diff --git "a/24-28datasets/28datasets/train.json" "b/24-28datasets/28datasets/train.json" new file mode 100644--- /dev/null +++ "b/24-28datasets/28datasets/train.json" @@ -0,0 +1,9998 @@ +[ + { + "text": "Gap is trying to recapture the zeitgeist the way the clothing chain did in its ’90s heyday, this time with a marketing push featuring a new single by a cutting-edge rap producer. The ad campaign, which will debut on TV during Sunday’s Grammy Awards, includes a song created by Metro Boomin, the hit-making artist reshaping the sound of pop music. Gap plans to release the song, a contemporary take on the Thompson Twins’s ’80s smash “Hold Me Now,” on music-streaming services this week. The song will play in the television ad.... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "BRUSSELS, Jan 29 (Reuters) - European Union antitrust investigators said on Monday they had extended their investigation into Bayer’s bid for Monsanto by five working days until March 12, without giving a reason. The $66 billion deal would make Bayer the world’s largest pesticides and seeds company, an outcome already facing strong criticism from environmentalists and some farm groups. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, writing by Philip Blenkinsop; editing by Robert-Jan Bartunek)" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 7:06 PM / Updated 18 minutes ago U.S. to provide $60 million in Palestinian aid, withhold $65 million Arshad Mohammed 4 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will give a U.N. agency $60 million (43.50 million pounds) in aid for Palestinians but withhold a further $65 million for now, a U.S. official said on Tuesday as the Trump administration appeared to carry out a threat it made two weeks ago to cut funding. Boxes containing aid from the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) are seen ahead of their transfer to the Gaza Strip, inside the Kerem Shalom border crossing terminal between Israel and Gaza Strip January 16, 2018. REUTERS/Amir Cohen While saying the decision would sustain schools and health services, the U.S. official echoed U.S. President Donald Trump in calling on other nations to provide more funds because he believes the United States pays more than its share. The decision to keep back some money is likely to compound the difficulty of reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and to further undermine Arabs’ faith that the United States can act as an impartial arbitrator, particularly following Trump’s Dec. 6 announcement reversing decades of U.S. policy and recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. A Palestinian official quickly criticized Washington’s decision to keep back some of the money and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was unaware of any change on aid but he was “very concerned” about the possibility of a cut in funding. The U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) that will receive the money needed to be fundamentally reevaluated “in the way it operates and the way it is funded.” “Without the funds we are providing today, UNRWA operations were at risk of running out of funds and closing down. The funds provided by the United States will prevent that from happening for the immediate future,” the official said, saying the additional “$65 million will be held for future consideration.” In a Twitter post on Jan. 2, Trump said that Washington gives the Palestinians ”HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect. “They don’t even want to negotiate a long overdue peace treaty with Israel ... with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?” Trump added in his tweet. While the U.S. official did not link the U.S. decision to Trump’s tweet, he made a point often advanced by the president by saying the United States had been UNRWA’s single largest donor for decades and demanded other nations do more. “It is time other countries, some of them quite wealthy, step in and do their part to advance regional security and stability,” the official said. Trump’s aides initially debated whether to cut off all UNRWA aid after the tweet, a second U.S. official said. But those opposed to the idea argued that it could further destabilize the region, the official said. “This decision confirms the U.S administration is continuing in wiping out the rights of the Palestinian people,” Palestine Liberation Organization official Wasel Abu Youssef told Reuters. “First was declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and today the refugee issue,” he said. Historically, U.S. administrations had said the status of Jerusalem must be decided in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. The city is holy to three major monotheistic faiths. At the United Nations, Guterres told reporters that the services provided by UNRWA were “of extreme importance, not only for the wellbeing of these populations ... but also in my opinion and an opinion that is shared by most international observers, including some Israeli ones, it is an important factor of stability.” “So if UNRWA will not be in a position to provide the vital services and the emergency forms of support that UNRWA has been providing this will create a very, very serious problem and we will do everything we can to avoid this situation,” he said. Reporting By Arshad Mohammed; Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick in Washington, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Grant McCool" + }, + { + "text": "Google teams up with China's Tencent Friday, January 19, 2018 - 01:30 Alphabet's Google signed a patent licensing deal with Tencent as it looks to expand in China where many of its products are blocked by regulators. Aleksandra Michalska reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Alphabet's Google signed a patent licensing deal with Tencent as it looks to expand in China where many of its products are blocked by regulators. Aleksandra Michalska reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "AMMAN, Jan 30 (Reuters) - The head of the Syrian opposition delegation to a Russia-sponsored conference on Tuesday said his group was boycotting the meeting because of broken promises to end the bombardment of civilians and remove Syrian state emblems from the premises. Ahmed Tomah said in a video statement received by Reuters that his group had decided to go back to Turkey in protest. The Turkish delegation would represent the Syrian opposition delegation’s demands, he said in the statement, which was recorded at Sochi airport. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Peter Graff)" + }, + { + "text": "CLEARWATER, Fla., Jan. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AmeriLife has appointed James \"Jim\" Quinn as its Chief Financial Officer to oversee its accounting, finance, tax and acquisition functions. Prior to joining AmeriLife, Quinn served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development for Marsh & McLennan Agency, the middle market platform of Marsh. While at MMA, he managed a team of corporate development professionals responsible for the organization's acquisition activities, completing a number of acquisitions ranging in size from $1 million to $130 million. Quinn graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in economics and a MBA from Stanford University. He has more than 25 years of experience as an investor, executive and advisor in the financial services industry. He began his career with Goldman Sachs and spent over a decade with Olympus Partners, a middle market private equity firm. \"Jim's experience in the insurance and investment industries will be a tremendous asset to our company,\" said AmeriLife CEO Scott Perry. \"His mergers and acquisition expertise will add a new dimension as we continue our focus on acquiring new businesses in 2018.\" Karen Surplus, who has served as AmeriLife's Chief Financial Officer, will remain with the company in a transitionary role as Senior Vice President of Finance in charge of special projects, supporting the Office of the CFO. \"Karen has been instrumental in building AmeriLife's strong finance function,\" said Perry. \"She has helped to shape the AmeriLife strategy with multiple acquisitions, including the company's sale to J.C. Flowers and Company in 2015.\" AmeriLife is a national leader in developing, marketing and distributing affordable annuity, life and health insurance solutions to enhance the lives of others. Leveraging a national distribution network of over 140,000 insurance agents and brokers via nearly 20 marketing organizations, and 45 insurance agency locations, AmeriLife, and its more than 75 insurance carrier partners, offers value and quality to insurance agents, advisors and customers served. Visit www.amerilife.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest news and information. View original content with multimedia: SOURCE AmeriLife" + }, + { + "text": "2017 costliest year on record for U.S. natural disasters 7:56pm GMT - 00:57 Weather and climate-related disasters cost the United States a record $306 billion in 2017, the third-warmest year on record, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said on Monday. Weather and climate-related disasters cost the United States a record $306 billion in 2017, the third-warmest year on record, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said on Monday. //uk.reuters.com/video/2018/01/08/2017-costliest-year-on-record-for-us-nat?videoId=381259334&videoChannel=118171" + }, + { + "text": "Whether you like it or not, driverless vehicles are going to become an increasingly important cog in 21st century living. As technology moves at a rapid pace, the world's biggest companies are looking to develop and deploy increasingly sophisticated self-driving technology. To give one example, Vehicles at Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, have software and sensors designed to detect everything from pedestrians and cyclists to road works and other vehicles. Ride-hailing powerhouse Uber is also looking to make a mark in the self-driving market. \"In 2019, we've committed to buy 24,000 Volvo SUVs that we're going to equip with our autonomous driving technology and start to roll out on the Uber app,\" Fred Jones, the business' head of cities in the U.K. and Ireland, told CNBC. Autonomous vehicles will not only change the way we get around our cities. Their economic impact will also be significant. The U.K. government, for instance, has said that the driverless technology market is set to be worth as much as £50 billion to the economy by 2035. As the way we drive undergoes a transformation, regulations will have to be modified. Unsurprisingly, that is going to be a big, big job. \"There are no rules right now, international rules, on how to regulate automated vehicles,\" Philippe Crist, project manager for the International Transport Forum (ITF), told CNBC. \"The safety regulation of automated vehicles will have to be the same as for regular vehicles, using the same principles.\" The ITF is an intergovernmental organization at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The \"object\" of regulation, Crist explained, may change. Before, it was a driver and their vehicle. Now, it would need to include the algorithms and code that operate in an autonomous one. He added that future regulation would also include, to a certain extent, \"the fitness of the sensor systems that are providing input to the vehicle (and) replacing human eyes and human ears.\" This was a new space for regulation, he said. And, as the way we drive morphs from using our hands to using smart, autonomous vehicles, Crist pointed to another striking development taking place. \"One of the things we've seen is the knowledge about what's taking place on the streets, on roads, has shifted from the public sector to the private sector,\" he said. \"Now, instantaneously, several companies know better what's happening on city streets, and public authorities who are mandated to manage those streets and manage transport infrastructure and investment don't have that insight.\" Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook ." + }, + { + "text": "Senior guard Gabe DeVoe scored 17 points to lead four teammates in double figures, as No. 20 Clemson defeated Notre Dame, 67-58, in an Atlantic Coast Conference game Saturday at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, S.C. Clemson improved to 16-3 overall and 5-2 in ACC play, while the Fighting Irish slipped to 13-7, 3-4 with their fourth consecutive ACC loss. The Tigers are 11-0 at Littlejohn Coliseum this season, including 4-0 in ACC games, and defeated Notre Dame for the first time in six tries since the Irish joined the league in basketball five seasons ago. The bad news for Clemson? Senior forward Donte Grantham suffered an apparent knee injury with 10:54 left in the game and did not return. Grantham, the Tigers’ second-leading scorer, had 11 points before the injury. Junior guard Shelton Mitchell scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half while Marcquise Reed also had 12. Freshman guard T.J. Gibbs had 18 points for Notre Dame, and sophomore forward John Mooney came off the bench to add a career-high 13 points. Senior forward Martinas Geben added 10 points and nine rebounds. Clemson never trailed in the contest. The Tigers made their first seven shots from the floor to start the game, jumping out to a 17-8 lead behind DeVoe, who had 14 points in the first half. The Tigers extended their advantage to as many as 11 on three occasions in the first half before a late flurry by Notre Dame enabled the Fighting Irish to cut their deficit to just three, 33-30, by halftime. The Fighting Irish pulled within one point, 47-46, with 10 minutes remaining, but Mitchell scored five straight points to give Clemson some breathing room. Notre Dame cut its deficit to three, 59-56, on a 3-pointer by Matt Farrell with 2:20 remaining, but Clemson freshman Aamir Simms responded with a 3-pointer -- the first of his career at Littlejohn Coliseum -- and the Tigers connected on four of seven free throws in the final 46 seconds to keep Notre Dame at bay. Farrell was held to a season-low six points and Notre Dame shot just 38.7 percent, its third-lowest percentage of the season. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in the Afrin region said Turkish air strikes killed six civilians and three fighters there on Saturday. YPG spokesman Birusk Hasaka told Reuters one of the fighters belonged to the YPG and the two others were from its all-female affiliate, the YPJ. The attacks also wounded 13 civilians, he said. Turkey opened a new front in Syria’s war on Saturday with airstrikes against Afrin that raised the prospect of worsening relations between Ankara and NATO ally Washington. Reporting by Ellen Francis, Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 7:18 PM / Updated 36 minutes ago Top U.S. House Democrat wants to call 'dozens' more witnesses in Russia probe Reuters Staff 1 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, said on Thursday there are dozens of witnesses he would like called before the panel as it investigates whether President Donald Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 election. Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff (D-CA) speaks after U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions attended a closed door interview with the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol in Washington, U.S., November 30, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts Those witnesses would include Trump’s daughter Ivanka and Steve Bannon, his former adviser, U.S. Representative Adam Schiff told reporters. He also said he would like Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to appear again before the committee while noting that the choice of witnesses is determined by the panel’s Republican leadership. Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Susan Thomas" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Republicans on Friday downplayed the likelihood of a deal soon with Democrats on saving 700,000 young, undocumented U.S. immigrants from being kicked out of the country in March, a possibility created by President Donald Trump. FILE PHOTO: 'Dreamers' react as they meet with relatives during the 'Keep Our Dream Alive' binational meeting at a new section of the border wall on the U.S.-Mexico border in Sunland Park, U.S., December 10, 2017. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez/File Photo Trump in September ordered an Obama-era program that provided the young “Dreamer” immigrants with work permits and prevented them from being deported to end in six months. The program is known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. Despite his order, the Republican president has vacillated in his view of the Dreamers. Young people brought to the United States as children illegally and raised and educated in the country, most of them have little or no experience of their parents’ homelands in Latin America, Asia, Africa and elsewhere. Saving the Dreamers is a high priority for Democrats, but the issue has been swept up in other debates, including one on the wall that Trump wants to build along the U.S.-Mexico border. Republican Senator John Cornyn, in a tweet on Friday, accused Democrats of trying to force a deal on Dreamers by doing a “slow walk” on efforts to approve critical disaster aid and defense spending. Two other Republicans late on Thursday said both sides remained far apart. “Our discussions on border security and enforcement with Democrats are much further apart, and that is key to getting a bipartisan deal on DACA,” senators Thom Tillis and James Lankford said in a statement. Democrats have said they are open to tying DACA to additional funding for border security technology. But they oppose Trump’s wall, projected to cost over $21 billion. The struggle over the Dreamers carries political weight for both parties heading into the November 2018 midterm congressional elections. Most of the Dreamers came from Mexico and Hispanics tend to vote for Democrats, who hope to gain seats in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Republican lawmakers met with Trump at the White House on Thursday and initially emerged saying they were optimistic that they could find a legislative fix for DACA. On Friday and Saturday, Trump and senior Republican congressional leaders are also likely to discuss the issue at a conference held at Camp David, the U.S. president’s mountain retreat in Maryland. A meeting between leaders of both parties was set for Tuesday. Cornyn, in an interview on Fox News on Friday, said Trump would demand that an immigration deal address the current visa lottery system and chain migration that unites family members. “Those are things that he’s insisted upon,” and Democrats would have to embrace them along with border security, said Cornyn. Additional reporting by Richard Cowan and Makini Brice; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Alistair Bell" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar pared losses against a basket of currencies on Monday, after news that Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate had rounded up enough votes to move a stopgap funding bill that would end a government shutdown. The U.S. government shutdown took effect at midnight on Friday after Democrats and Republicans failed to agree on a last-minute deal to fund government operations. Slideshow (2 Images) On Monday, Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer said the government would reopen in a “few hours.” The dollar index .DXY, which tracks the greenback against six major currencies, was down 0.04 percent to 90.538, after falling as low as 90.155 earlier in the session. The greenback jumped to a four-day high of 111.22 yen against the Japanese currency. Reporting by Saqib Iqbal AhmedEditing by Chizu Nomiyama" + }, + { + "text": "Balance of power 7:31am EST - 01:58 In the age of #metoo, gender equality has taken on a profound new importance for companies. Advocates want Davos discussions to lead to results at higher rungs on the corporate ladder. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript In the age of #metoo, gender equality has taken on a profound new importance for companies. Advocates want Davos discussions to lead to results at higher rungs on the corporate ladder. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 2:03 AM / Updated 9 minutes ago METALS-Cold weather heats up lead metal market Reuters Staff 4 Min Read SYDNEY, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Forecasts for more frigid weather in the United States this week supported Chinese lead futures on Thursday amid expectations of seasonally strong demand and likely winter shortages. More than 80 percent of global lead consumption is for batteries mainly for autos, and the peak demand period is during the height of winter when freezing temperatures cause battery failures. China accounts for about 40 percent of global lead demand, estimated at around 12 million tonnes this year, but faces a potential supply shortfall over coming months due to an environmental crackdown on polluting industries. FUNDAMENTALS * LEAD: Three-month lead on the LME slipped 1 percent to $2,553 a tonne by 0138, but remained close to the 11-week peak touched in the Wednesday London session. The most-trade lead contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange was up 0.2 percent to 19,290 yuan ($2,967) a tonne. * DEFICIT: Wood Mackenzie forecasts the lead market will see a deficit of 115,000 tonnes this year and 56,000 tonnes in 2019 after a 119,000 shortfall last year. * FREEZING TEMPERATURES: Much of the eastern United States is in the grips of a sustained cold spell. * DOLLAR UP: The dollar extended gains on Thursday after upbeat U.S. data and supportive minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting helped it shake off recent weakness. * PRICES: LME copper added 0.3 percent to $7,167 a tonne, while LME aluminium, nickel and zinc all fell. * COBALT UNEASE: The emergence of two companies holding large amounts of cobalt on the London Metal Exchange is creating nervousness about price volatility among market participants as interest in the metal continues to soar. * SAMARCO TALKS: Vale SA is in talks with BHP Billiton Ltd over the future of their joint venture, Samarco Mineração SA, and one alternative is for the Brazilian miner to buy out its partner, a source with knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday. * For the top stories in metals and other news, click or MARKETS NEWS * Asian shares scaled a 10-year high on Thursday as solid economic data from the United States and Germany reinforced investors’ optimism while oil prices hovered at 2-1/2-year high with unrest in Iran stoking supply disruption concerns. DATA/EVENTS 0145 China Service sector PMI Dec 0850 France Final composite PMI Dec 0850 France Final service sector PMI Dec 0855 Germany Final composite PMI Dec 0855 Germany Final service sector PMI Dec 0900 Euro Zone Final Service sector PMI Dec 0900 Euro Zone Final composite PMI Dec 0930 U.K. Mortgage approvals Nov 0930 U.K. Service sector PMI Dec 1230 U.S. Companies’ planned layoffs Dec 1315 U.S. ADP employment report Dec 1445 U.S. Final service sector PMI Dec 1445 U.S. Final manufacturing PMI Dec PRICES" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 7:23 PM / Updated 2 hours ago EU mulls new link between budget and civic rights Reuters Staff 3 Min Read BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The EU’s justice commissioner is working on a proposal that could oblige member states such as Poland, which has clashed with Brussels over reforms to its courts, to pass tests on the independence of their judicial systems before receiving funding. Vera Jourova said there was agreement within the executive European Commission to work on ideas to encourage strong judiciaries in planning for the new budget from 2021. “One way could be to insist that independent justice systems are necessary for effective control of the use of EU funds,” she said. “I would like to propose that link.” A Commission spokesman said on Monday the work by Jourova was part of broader preparations for a new, seven-year EU budget plan, due to be published in May, and was in line with policy outlines the EU executive has put forward since last year. The remarks by Jourova, the Commission’s Czech member, come as the EU executive is challenging Poland, a major recipient of Union funds, to amend judicial reforms which Brussels says will hurt democracy and its oversight of EU trading rules. Facing the prospect of filling a hole left in the budget by Britain’s exit from the EU, and irritated by Poland and other governments in the ex-communist east on a range of issues, some wealthy Western governments have pushed for a clearer link between getting subsidies and abiding by EU standards. The German commissioner in charge of the budget, Guenther Oettinger, warned Poland this month that it could lose some of its 7 billion euros annual funding if it fails to heed Brussels’ complaints about undermining the rule of law. More broadly, Jourova is also hoping for a review of EU policy on judicial standards in the second half of this year. EU officials say that might, for example, include regular reviews of the performance of national justice systems, along the lines of existing biennial reviews of government economic policies, which are meant to promote “convergence” toward EU-wide goals. As a former national official handling the regional funding that is a key part of EU efforts to bring poor regions closer to the prosperity of others, Jourova stressed that she saw any new rules applying to all EU funding for all states, not just to so-called “cohesion” policy. She also said it should not be seen as a punitive measure but designed to encourage good practice. She also said discussion on the proposals could be used to help simplify some of the hurdles to applying for EU funds. Any Commission proposal seen as too radical by governments risk being killed off by member states. Reporting by Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Catherine Evans" + }, + { + "text": "JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Chris Paisley of England carded a round of 70 on Saturday to hold a one-stroke lead going into the final round of the European Tour’s South African Open at the Glendower Golf Club. Paisley, seeking a first title on the tour, is 15 under-par for the tournament and leads home favorite Branden Grace (66). He sank three birdies, but spoilt his card with a bogey on the par-four 16th, just his third dropped shot in 54 holes. Grace, the world number 30 and highest ranked player in the field, finished strongly with five birdies on the back nine for a total of 14 under-par for the tournament. He has eight European Tour career victories but has yet to lift his country’s Open championship, which is the second oldest in the world having first been formally played in 1903. South African Jacques Blaauw (66), American Chase Koepka (68) and Frenchman Adrien Saddier (73) are a further two shots back. Saddier was joint overnight leader with Paisley but after a hot-streak on the greens on Friday he could not find his range in the third round, two-putting 17 holes and three-putting the other. Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Ken Ferris" + }, + { + "text": "PALM BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - President Donald Trump was briefed on Saturday by U.S. trade envoy Robert Lighthizer on U.S. trade with China and talks on revising the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico, a White House spokeswoman said, as the administration considers several new tariff moves in coming weeks. The meeting comes as Trump mulls whether to impose broad restrictions on steel and aluminum imports and punitive actions against China arising from an investigation into Beijing’s alleged theft of intellectual property. Lighthizer also briefed Trump on China’s economy and pending trade enforcement actions, as well as the NAFTA negotiations, White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said in a statement from Florida, where Trump is staying at his Mar-a-Lago resort. She did not provide details. Lighthizer currently is preparing for the next round of NAFTA talks in Montreal. Washington has taken a hard line in the negotiations, which appear stalled with just two rounds of left, saying that concessions are the only way for Canada and Mexico to keep the deal. Canada this week welcomed Trump’s suggestion that NAFTA talks could be extended beyond March when Mexico’s presidential election campaign kicks into high gear. Trump’s opportunity to impose new tariffs or trade quotas follows a U.S. Commerce Department Section 232 investigation that looked into whether foreign steel imports are a threat to U.S. national security. The department submitted the long-awaited report to the White House on Thursday. Next week, the results of a separate investigation of rising aluminum imports will go to the White House. China’s excess production capacity for both steel and aluminum has emerged as a major trade irritant for the United States and Europe, prompting them to consider new steps to protect domestic industries and jobs from a flood of Chinese imports. Meanwhile, China reported on Friday that exports and imports growth slowed in December after surging in the previous month, adding to signs of ebbing economic momentum as the government extends a crackdown on financial risks and factory pollution. A synchronized uptick in the global economy over the past year has been a boon to China and much of trade-dependent Asia, with Chinese exports in 2017 growing at their quickest pace in four years. The sharp December imports slowdown, however, is raising concerns that the world’s second-biggest economy faces domestic-demand pressure as authorities turn off cheap credit and restrict speculative financing. Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Will Dunham and Bill Trott" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 22 (Reuters) - Adventure Inc : * Says it plans to buy a Yokohama-based firm which is mainly engaged in operation of shop and site for sale of discount ticket, at price of 671 million yen * It also plans to buy a Yokohama-based firm which is mainly engaged in shop and site operation business for sale of Gift certificates and vouchers, at price of 15 million yen * Transaction date is in February Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/6b1VCt Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rigrodsky & Long, P.A.: Do you own shares of Callidus Software Inc. (NASDAQ GM: CALD )? Did you purchase any of your shares prior to January 29, 2018? Do you think the proposed buyout is fair? Do you want to discuss your rights? Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. announces that it is investigating potential legal claims against the board of directors of Callidus Software Inc. (“Callidus” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ GM: CALD ) regarding possible breaches of fiduciary duties and other violations of law related to the Company’s entry into an agreement to be acquired by SAP SE (“SAP”) (NYSE: SAP ) in a transaction valued at approximately $2.4 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of Callidus will receive $36.00 in cash for each share of Callidus common stock. If you own common stock of Callidus and purchased any shares before January 29, 2018, if you would like to learn more about this investigation, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests, please contact Seth D. Rigrodsky or Gina M. Serra at Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., 300 Delaware Avenue, Suite 1220, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, by telephone at (888) 969-4242, or by e-mail at [REDACTED] . Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. , with offices in Wilmington, Delaware, Garden City, New York, and San Francisco, California, has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of investors and achieved substantial corporate governance reforms in numerous cases nationwide, including federal securities fraud actions, shareholder class actions, and shareholder derivative actions . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View source version on businesswire.com : Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. Seth D. Rigrodsky Gina M. Serra 888-969-4242 302-295-5310 Fax: 302-654-7530 [REDACTED] Source: Rigrodsky & Long, P.A." + }, + { + "text": "Hyundai Hyundai Is Investing in Grab, Uber's Biggest Rival in Southeast Asia Models stand beside Grab cars during the launch of the ride hailing-firm's services in in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Dec. 19, 2017. Charly Two—AFP/Getty Images By Kirsten Korosec 9:05 PM EST Hyundai Motor (hyundai-motor) has invested in Singapore-based ride-hailing firm Grab (grabtaxi) , Uber’s (uber) biggest ride-hailing rival in Southeast Asia, as the South Korean automaker looks to expand beyond its traditional business of producing and selling vehicles. Grab did not disclose the value of Hyundai’s investment. Hyundai joined other investors, including Didi Chuxing, SoftBank and Toyota Tsusho (Toyota’s Next Technology Fund) in the latest fundraising round, Grab said. The two companies will work on a new mobility service platform that will use Hyundai vehicle models such as the Ioniq Electric. Ioniq is available in three electrified powertrain-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure battery electric. For more on Hyundai, watch Fortune’s video: The strategic partnership aims to give Hyundai an inside view into what works in the so-called sharing economy that Grab is a central player in. Grab is now in eight Southeast Asian countries. It could also help Hyundai position itself to offer its own mobility services in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets, Southeast Asia. Hyundai is looking into several mobility services including car-sharing and ride-hailing. For instance, Hyundai partnered with WaiveCar in January 2017 to launch a car-sharing program that runs on advertising money, using IONIQ Electric model in the United State. Hyundai opened in October its first company-operated electric car sharing service in Amsterdam, Netherlands. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Belden Inc. (NYSE: BDC), a global leader in high quality, end-to-end signal transmission solutions for mission-critical applications, will report results for the fiscal fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017, before trading begins on Thursday, February 1, 2018. Management will discuss the Company’s results during a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern. The listen-only audio of the conference call will be broadcast live via the Internet at . The dial-in number for participants in the U.S. is 800-281-7973; the dial-in number for participants outside the U.S. is 323-794-2093. A replay of this conference call will remain accessible in the investor relations section of the Company’s website for a limited time. About Belden Belden Inc. delivers a comprehensive product portfolio designed to meet the mission-critical network infrastructure needs of industrial, enterprise and broadcast markets. With innovative solutions targeted at reliable and secure transmission of rapidly growing amounts of data, audio and video needed for today’s applications, Belden is at the center of the global transformation to a connected world. Founded in 1902, the company is headquartered in St. Louis and has manufacturing capabilities in North and South America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit us at www.belden.com or follow us on Twitter @BeldenInc . BDC-E View source version on businesswire.com : Belden Investor Relations 314-854-8054 [REDACTED] Source: Belden Inc." + }, + { + "text": "BRUSSELS, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Monday that his Forza Italia (Go Italy) party would seek to ensure that Italy respected the EU’s limit on budget deficits if it was elected to power. The EU limits public sector deficits to 3 percent of GDP. Italy’s budget deficit came in at 2.5 percent of gross domestic product in 2016 and was below that level last year, according to Italy’s central bank. “The 3 percent deficit rule can be a debatable one, but we intend on respecting it,” Berlusconi told reporters in Brussels. Opinion polls show the centre-right grouping involving Berlusconi is in the lead ahead of an election on March 4. (Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek, writing by Philip Blenkinsop)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 22 (Reuters) - Raysum Co Ltd * Says it set up a Tokyo-based wholly owned global investment unit on Nov. 17, 2017 * Says the new unit is capitalized at 10 million yen and mainly engaged in bad debt and corporate revitalization business in overseas Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/rYjaTn Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "MANILA, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte personally made a decision to let China conduct scientific research off the Philippines’ Pacific coast, his spokesman said on Monday, despite concern among critics about threats to maritime sovereignty. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that as chief architect of foreign policy, Duterte allowed China to work with the University of the Philippines in Benham Rise, an area roughly the size of Greece and believed by some scientists to be rich in biodiversity and tuna. The United Nations declared Benham Rise, off the Pacific coast, part of the continental shelf of the Philippines in 2012. Manila last year renamed it the “Philippine Rise”. Though China does not lay claim to the area, the lingering presence of its vessels for several months in late 2016 triggered concern about its intentions. The Philippines granting of the permission to China was not announced and was revealed a few days ago by a lawmaker who has been fiercely critical of Duterte’s close ties with Beijing. The Philippines and China have a long history of maritime squabbles over sovereignty in the South China Sea, but there has been no disagreement about waters off Manila’s Pacific coast. Roque said anyone opposed to the joint research project should go to Congress and raise the issue there. “If this is not a wise move of the president, then a law could be enacted to prohibit it,” he said. The Philippines would grant permission to any other country that might show interest in conducting maritime research at Benham Rise, he added. (Reporting by Manuel Mogato; Editing by Martin Petty, Robert Birsel)" + }, + { + "text": "Published: Jan 12, 2018 11:12 a.m. ET Share Hikvision has repeatedly said its devices are safe and secure and the company hasn’t been accused of using its devices to spy By Dan Strumpf The U.S. Army said it removed surveillance cameras made by a Chinese state-backed manufacturer from a domestic military base, while a congressional committee plans to hold a hearing this month into whether small businesses face cybersecurity risks from using the equipment. Fort Leonard Wood, an Army base in Missouri’s Ozarks, replaced five cameras on the base branded and made by Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., said Col. Christopher Beck, the base’s chief of staff. He said officials at the base acted after reading media reports about the company. “We never believed [the cameras] were a security risk. They were always on a closed network,” Col. Beck said. The decision to replace the cameras was meant to “remove any negative perception” surrounding them following media reports, he added, without elaborating. A Wall Street Journal article in November highlighted the prevalence in the U.S. of devices made by Hikvision , the world’s largest maker of surveillance cameras, which is 42% owned by the Chinese government. The Journal reported that some security-system vendors in the U.S. refuse to carry Hikvision cameras or place restrictions on their purchase, concerned they could be used by Beijing to spy on Americans. A Hikvision spokeswoman said the company “believes the products it builds and distributes around the world must meet the highest standards of not only quality but also security. We stand by our products and processes.” A Defense Department spokesman said the Hikvision cameras at Fort Leonard Wood weren’t connected to the military network. He said the department is conducting a review of all network-connected cameras on the base to ensure they are “in compliance with all security updates.” The spokesman declined to comment on whether Hikvision cameras are in use at other military facilities." + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 2:54 PM / Updated 12 minutes ago British bobsledder Tasker to miss Games after suffering stroke Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - British bobsledder Bruce Tasker will miss next month’s Pyeongchang Olympics after suffering a minor stroke last week, Team GB said on Thursday. Winter Olympics - Team GB PyeongChang 2018 Media Summit - Edinburgh, Britain - August 18, 2017 Bruce Tasker poses during the media summit REUTERS/Russell Cheyne The 30-year-old Welshman, who is being treated for groin and hip injuries at home, was taken to Wexham Park Hospital on Jan. 4 after experiencing dizziness and nausea. Tasker was subsequently transferred to the stroke unit at High Wycombe Hospital on Saturday. “I‘m gutted not to be able to conclude the four-year cycle by going to the Olympics but I‘m very grateful that I‘m still fit and healthy,” Tasker, who, who was due to compete in his second Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, said in a statement. “I‘m set to make a 100 percent recovery and I already feel as though I‘m most of the way there.” Tasker is expected to resume training next season. “We are desperately sorry for Bruce to lose his chance of becoming a two-time Olympian so close to the Pyeongchang 2018 Games,” Team GB Chef de Mission Mike Hay added. “Bruce is an outstanding person and athlete with proven leadership skills and was a hugely valued and popular member of Team GB in Sochi.” Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "ROME (Reuters) - Italy will ask European authorities to reconsider whether the European Medicines Authority (EMA) could be moved to Milan after Brexit, in light of concerns about its planned move to Amsterdam, an Italian government source said on Monday. Milan lost out when the new destination for the authority, which must leave its current home in London when Britain leaves the European Union, was decided by drawing lots in November. But in light of concerns raised by Executive Director Guido Rasi on Monday about the temporary space available in Amsterdam, Italy would try again for the chance to host the agency, the source said. “The government will take all appropriate action with the European Commission and the relevant authorities to make sure that ... the decision by which Milan lost out at the draw is (reconsidered),” he said. Rasi said his organization had little choice other than to accept a temporary Amsterdam base with half the space of its London offices as it rushes to relocate ahead of Britain’s March 2019 exit from the EU. The Dutch health ministry specified in a separate statement EMA will occupy the “Spark” building in western Amsterdam during 2019, ahead of the scheduled completion of a new, building to house the EMA in south Amsterdam starting in 2020. Reporting by Crispian Balmer and Toby Sterling; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg" + }, + { + "text": "New documentary looks at life and career of musician Eric Clapton Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - 01:14 Eric Clapton attends the UK premiere of ''Life in 12 Bars'', directed by Lili Fini Zanuck. narration). Eric Clapton attends the UK premiere of \"Life in 12 Bars\", directed by Lili Fini Zanuck. narration). //reut.rs/2AP3Ke5" + }, + { + "text": "A preliminary magnitude 4.5 earthquake shook San Francisco Bay Area residents out of their slumber early Thursday. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake's epicenter was 2 miles (3 kilometers) from Berkeley, California. The earthquake had a preliminary depth of 8 miles (13 kilometers). No damage or injuries was immediately recorded. The USGS website says people reported feeling the quake 40 miles (64 kilometers) south in San Jose." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - Shares of British greeting cards retailer Card Factory were on track for their worst single day since listing after predicting lower core earnings for 2017 on tighter margins. The retailer, which went public in 2014, said it expects underlying EBITDA for the year ended Dec. 31 to come in between 93 million pounds-95 million pounds ($128.10-$125.40 million). The range is lower than 98.5 million pounds reported last year. Shares of the company were down 21 percent at 222.8 pence at 0846 GMT, making them the top drag on the FTSE Mid Cap index. The retailer, which sells most of its products for under a pound, said like-for-like sales in the Christmas trading period were driven by lower margin non-card categories, such as gifts and dressings. The company said profit would be hurt by previously flagged pressure from a weaker pound, as about half of the company’s annual costs of its goods come from products sourced in U.S. dollars, and higher costs for wages. Britain’s finance minister in 2016 raised the minimum wage to 7.50 pounds from 7.20 pounds. The company said it expects the combined impact of foreign exchange and wage inflation to result in 7 million to 8 million pounds of additional costs in 2019 “...whilst we have plans to mitigate this impact as far as possible, we recognise that against this backdrop, any EBITDA growth for the year is likely to be limited,” its Chief Executive Karen Hubbard said on Thursday. ($1 = 0.7416 pounds) (Reporting by Rahul B in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 5:10 PM / in 34 minutes UPDATE 1-Venezuela to resume local trading of hard-currency securities Reuters Staff (Recasts with dollar-denominated securities) By Corina Pons and Deisy Buitrago CARACAS, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Venezuela will allow securities denominated in hard currency to trade on a local bourse, the central bank said on Thursday, allowing citizens to legally acquire foreign exchange without going through the country’s 15-year-old currency controls. The crisis-stricken OPEC nation is struggling under hyperinflation and product shortages that economists widely blame on currency controls that even ruling Socialist Party officials recognize have been plagued with corruption. Creating legal mechanisms to obtain dollars could make it easier for businesses to import raw materials or machine parts. But it is unlikely to ease the economic crisis because the local bolivar currency has lost more than 99 percent of its value on the black market, leaving local firms largely unable to afford products acquired abroad. “This currency arrangement will reopen the market for securities for private citizens,” Central Bank Director Pedro Maldonado said in a press conference. “Any private company that wants to issue debt in hard currency can sell it on the Bicentenary Exchange,” he said, referring to a state-run bourse. Between 2004 and 2010, local trading of dollar securities served as a parallel foreign exchange market known as “permuta” that provided hard currency to buyers who did not have permits to acquire it at a state-backed favorable rate. The government of late President Hugo Chavez shut down the legal avenue for such trading in 2010, arguing that speculators were using it to damage the economy. Buying dollars on the black market continues to be seen as legally suspect despite being routine. The central bank separately said the government-backed DICOM auction system, which was halted last year, will start selling euros. President Nicolas Maduro suspended DICOM in responses to financial sanctions by Washington. Venezuela’s exchange controls provide dollars at the official rate of 10 bolivars for import of priority goods such as food and medicine. The black market rate is currently 263,803 per dollar, according to web-site DolarToday, which is the most widely-used reference. The central bank did not say what the new DICOM exchange rate would be. A Powerpoint presentation about DICOM says buyers will “pay the price they proposed.” Before the auctions were halted, DICOM was selling dollars at 3,345 bolivars. Though the DICOM rate has been consistently more favorable than the black market, businesses generally say it is of little use because it sells limited volumes, meaning it does not provide a steady supply of hard currency for imports. (Reporting by Corina Pons; Writing by Brian Ellsworth; Editing by Susan Thomas)" + }, + { + "text": "BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Jan. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE: VMC), the nation's largest producer of construction aggregates, today announced that it has completed its planned acquisition of Aggregates USA, LLC. The acquisition, which closed on December 29, includes three granite quarries in Georgia and 16 rail distribution yards in Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. Pursuant to its previously planned and announced agreement with the United States Department of Justice, Vulcan has divested certain former holdings of Aggregates USA, LLC relating to its operations in Tennessee and Virginia to Blue Water Industries LLC, for a sales price of $290 million. \"We look forward to bringing the outstanding employees and operations of Aggregates USA into our Company,\" said Vulcan's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tom Hill. \"This acquisition complements and expands our footprint in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida, adds to our product offering, expands our distribution network and service areas, and will help us better serve our customers. The Aggregates USA team has developed an outstanding reputation for quality products and efficient, productive and safe operations. We are delighted that they are now part of the Vulcan team.\" About Vulcan Materials Vulcan Materials Company, a member of the S&P 500 index with headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, is the nation's largest producer of construction aggregates—primarily crushed stone, sand and gravel—and a major producer of aggregates-based construction materials, including asphalt and ready-mixed concrete. For additional information about Vulcan, go to www.vulcanmaterials.com . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Vulcan Materials Company" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 26(Reuters) - Zhejiang Jolly Pharmaceutical Co Ltd * Sees FY 2017 net profit to decrease by 20 percent to 40 percent, or to be 43.2 million yuan to 57.6 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 72 million yuan * Says decreased gross margin of core business is the main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/Do4DPy Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Travis Kalanick set to be an Uber billionaire 7:24am EST - 01:44 Uber co-founder and ousted CEO Travis Kalanick is selling nearly a third of his 10% stake in the ride-hailing company. Reuters’ Liana Baker says the deal will make him a billionaire for the first time, not just on paper. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Uber co-founder and ousted CEO Travis Kalanick is selling nearly a third of his 10% stake in the ride-hailing company. Reuters’ Liana Baker says the deal will make him a billionaire for the first time, not just on paper. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Bollywood superstar on his Davos award Friday, January 26, 2018 - 01:27 Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan speaks with Reuters' Ciara Lee about the need for gender equality in film and the prestige of winning a WEF Crystal Award for his work with Indian acid attack victims. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan speaks with Reuters' Ciara Lee about the need for gender equality in film and the prestige of winning a WEF Crystal Award for his work with Indian acid attack victims. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Masonite International Corporation (NYSE:DOOR) today announced that it has completed the acquisition of DW3 Products Holding Limited (“DW3”), a leading UK provider of high quality premium door solutions and window systems, supplying products under brand names such as Solidor, Residor, Nicedor, and Residence. Solidor utilizes a leading online offering, including a door designer and a specialized online portal, which allows trade customers to specify and purchase products online. DW3 employs approximately 300 people located in Stoke-on-Trent and Gloucester, England. DW3’s net sales for the twelve months ended December 2017 were approximately £45 million. The purchase price for all of DW3’s outstanding shares was approximately £70 million, net of cash acquired and subject to customary post-closing adjustments. “DW3 fits exceptionally well with Masonite’s existing business in the UK,” said Tony Hair, Masonite’s President, Global Residential. “Their online quick ship capabilities and product portfolio both complement and expand the strategies we are pursuing in this important market.” “DW3’s products and service model are a natural addition to Masonite’s business, and Masonite is an excellent cultural fit for our company,” said Gareth Mobley, CEO of DW3. “We are excited about the opportunities this will bring our employees and customers.” Masonite expects the acquisition to be immediately accretive to adjusted EBITDA margin and adjusted EPS in 2018. DW3 is Masonite’s eighth acquisition in the last four years, and the fourth in the UK during that period. About Masonite Masonite International Corporation is a leading global designer and manufacturer of interior and exterior doors for the residential new construction; the residential repair, renovation and remodeling; and the non-residential building construction markets. Since 1925, Masonite has provided its customers with innovative products and superior service at compelling values. Masonite serves more than 7,000 customers in 65 countries. Additional information about Masonite can be found at www.masonite.com . Forward-looking Statements This press release may contains forward-looking information and other forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian and/or U.S. securities laws, including information related to the expected financial impact of the acquisition of DW3 Products Holding Limited. When used in this press release, such forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of such words as “may,” might, “could,” “will,” would,” “should,” “expect,” “believes,” “outlook,” “predict,” “forecast,” “objective,” “remain,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “potential,” “continue,” “plan,” “project,” “targeting,” or the negative of these terms or other similar terminology. Forward-looking statements involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Masonite, or industry results, to be materially different from any future plans, goals, targets, objectives, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. As a result, such forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, should not be unduly relied upon, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our ability to successfully integrate the products, employees and operations of DW3, as well as the ability to ensure continued performance of DW3's products; the potential that the expected benefits and opportunities of the transaction may not be realized or may take longer to realize than expected; general economic, market and business conditions; competition; increases in the costs of raw materials or any shortage in supplies; the actions by, and the continued success of, certain key customers; our ability to maintain relationships with certain customers; retention of key management personnel; and other factors publicly disclosed by the company in its Form 10-K for fiscal 2016 and subsequent 10-Qs filed with the SEC. View source version on businesswire.com : Masonite International Corporation Joanne Freiberger, CPA, CTP, IRC, 813-739-1808 VP, TREASURER [REDACTED] or Brian Prenoveau, CFA, 813-371-5839 DIR. INVESTOR RELATIONS [REDACTED] Source: Masonite International Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "BERLIN (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has extended the deadline for registration of North Korean athletes for the Pyeongchang winter Olympics and is planning more talks with all sides, it said on Monday The IOC, which is eager to have North Korean athletes at the Games, did not say until when the registration deadline had been extended until but most sports have completed their Olympic qualifying events. Only a figure skating pair from North Korea has secured a spot in the Games in South Korea in February, although several other athletes could qualify through special places offered by the Olympic body. “We welcome the discussion which will take place on Wednesday between the governments of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK),” an IOC spokesman said. South Korea offered talks with North Korea this week, amid a tense standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs, after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in a New Year’s Day speech that he was “open to dialogue” with Seoul. Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump have exchanged fiery barbs in the last year and Trump has warned that the United States would have no choice but to “totally destroy” North Korea if forced to defend itself or its allies. “As far as the participation of athletes from the National Olympic Committee of DPRK in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 is concerned, the IOC has been having discussions with both sides for a long time,” the spokesman said. “In doing so we have kept the door open by extending the deadline for registration, and by offering support to North Korean athletes in the qualification process, whilst always respecting United Nations sanctions.” North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in his New Year’s Day speech that he would consider sending a delegation to the Winter Olympics and North Korea last week reopened a long-closed border hotline with South Korea for talks. “The IOC will at very short notice continue its talks with all the parties concerned so that we can take the necessary decisions about participation and the format of any participation in due time,” the IOC spokesman said. ”The IOC’s mission is always to ensure the participation of all qualified athletes, beyond all political tensions and divisions. “With regard to the very particular situation on the Korean peninsula we need the political commitment from all parties concerned to make such a participation possible. Once this political commitment is clear the IOC will take the final decision.” Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Saturday ordered a monthly payment of 1,000 riyals ($267) to state employees over the next year in compensation for rising cost of living after the government hiked domestic gas prices and introduced value-added tax (VAT). In a royal decree published by state news media, the king also ordered the payment of 5,000 riyals to military personnel serving at the front lines with Yemen where the kingdom is fighting a nearly three-year-old war. Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, roughly doubled gasoline prices on Monday as part of a broad reform initiative aimed at diversifying its economy. A 5 percent VAT on a broad range of goods and services came into effect on the same day. The new payment orders were an acknowledgment of “the increased burdens for some segments of the population following from the necessary measures which the state took to restructure the economy,” according to the decree. King Salman directed the state to bear the burden of VAT in some situations, including special health and education services as well as the first purchase of a house that is valued at up to 850,000 riyals ($226,660). Allowances for students, retirees and social security recipients were also boosted. The decree did not reveal the total cost of the new allowances, but it appeared to be considerably smaller than some past handouts by Saudi kings, and therefore unlikely to have much impact on economic growth or the state budget deficit. About 1.18 million Saudis are employed in the government sector and there are more than 1.23 million pensioners and beneficiaries of pension payments, the central bank says. That suggests a total package cost of about 23 billion riyals, according to Reuters calculations. That compares to a projected 2018 deficit of 195 billion riyals, according to a budget plan released last month. A package of handouts marking King Salman’s accession to the throne in early 2015 was estimated to cost more than 100 billion riyals. Saudi Arabia will slow plans to eliminate subsidies for a wide range of energy products, according to a new long-term fiscal plan in the 2018 state budget. (This version of the story was refiled to add dropped budget deficit figure; paragraph 8) Reporting by Stephen Kalin and Andrew Torchia; Editing by Chris Reese and Clarence Fernandez" + }, + { + "text": "MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sensient Technologies Corporation (NYSE: SXT) will hold its conference call to discuss 2017 fourth quarter and year end results at 10:00 a.m. CST on Friday, February 9, 2018. To participate in the conference call, contact InterCall Teleconferencing at (888) 818-9025 and refer to conference identification number 6468858. A webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Information section of the Company’s web site at www.sensient.com . A replay will be available from InterCall Teleconferencing beginning at 1:00 p.m. CST on February 9, 2018, through midnight on February 16, 2018, by calling (404) 537-3406 and referring to conference identification number 6468858. An audio replay and written transcript of the call will also be posted on the Company’s web site at www.sensient.com after the call concludes. ABOUT SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES Sensient Technologies Corporation is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of colors, flavors, and fragrances. Sensient employs advanced technologies at facilities around the world to develop specialty food and beverage systems, cosmetic and pharmaceutical systems, inkjet and specialty inks and colors, and other specialty and fine chemicals. The Company’s customers include major international manufacturers representing most of the world’s best-known brands. Sensient is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. www.sensient.com View source version on businesswire.com : Sensient Technologies Corporation Kim Chase (414) 347-3706 Source: Sensient Technologies Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 8:56 PM / Updated 14 minutes ago Atletico see off Lleida to reach King's Cup quarters Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BARCELONA (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid put on a second half show to beat third-tier Lleida Esportiu 3-0 on Tuesday and progress to the King’s Cup quarter-finals 7-0 on aggregate. The Catalonian side put up a good fight to stay level in the first half at a half-empty Wanda Metropolitano stadium, with Lucas Hernandez hitting the post and Diego Costa denied when one-on-one with the visiting keeper. The former Chelsea striker, however, made amends by teeing up Yannick Carrasco to slot home in the 57th minute, giving the few fans inside the stadium something to cheer. Kevin Gameiro fired home Atletico’s second 17 minutes later after good work by Angel Correa, before new signing Vitolo netted his first goal for the club after racing onto Fernando Torres’s through ball. Valencia host Las Palmas later on Tuesday after the first leg ended in a 1-1 draw. Reporting by Rik Sharma; Editing by Toby Davis" + }, + { + "text": "SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) _ Fair Isaac Corp. (FICO) on Thursday reported fiscal first-quarter net income of $27.3 million. On a per-share basis, the San Jose, California-based company said it had profit of 86 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to $1.30 per share. The financial services company posted revenue of $235.3 million in the period. Fair Isaac expects full-year earnings to be $6.09 per share. Fair Isaac shares have increased slightly more than 6 percent since the beginning of the year. The stock has risen 30 percent in the last 12 months. This story was generated by Automated Insights ( ) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on FICO at" + }, + { + "text": "SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China plans to hold government officials to account for the protection of farmland, part of its efforts to guarantee food production amid soaring levels of urbanization. Local governments will be held fully responsible for retaining and protecting arable land under their jurisdiction, and for improving land quality, according to new guidelines issued by China’s cabinet, the State Council, on Thursday. Central government funding for soil remediation projects will depend on how well a local government performs when it comes to protecting land, the guidelines published on China’s official government website said. Protecting land will also become one of the criteria on which local officials are assessed, with failures likely to affect promotion prospects or even result in dismissal. Food security has long been regarded as a key source of political legitimacy for the Chinese government, with the country having to feed nearly a quarter of the world’s population with just 7 percent of the world’s arable land. But its farmland has come under increasing pressure due to soaring rates of urbanization and industrial development, which have encroached on traditional farming belts and left large stretches of territory unusable as a result of pollution. The country’s environmental drive could also put more farmland out of reach, with the government committed to increasing forest coverage and establishing so-called “ecological red lines” that will make large swathes of territory off-limits to development. Reporting by David Stanway; editing by Richard Pullin" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 2:20 PM / Updated 36 minutes ago UPDATE 1-Verdict in Hexagon CEO's trial to come Jan. 10 Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Adds exact time in final paragraph) OSLO, Jan 8 (Reuters) - The verdict in the insider trading trial of Hexagon Chief Executive Ola Rollen will be issued in the evening of Jan. 10, an Oslo court said on Monday. Prosecutors have called for an 18 month prison term for Rollen over his 2015 purchase of shares in Norway’s Next Biometrics, a transaction which did not involve Hexagon. One of Sweden’s best known business leaders, Rollen maintained his innocence during the trial. The verdict will be published at around 1830 CET (1730 GMT) on Jan. 10, the Oslo District Court said in a statement. (Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Camilla Knudsen)" + }, + { + "text": "(Corrects to show online sales are included in the data, paragraphs 10-11) By Wayne Cole SYDNEY, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Australian retail sales boasted the biggest monthly rise in four years in November as consumers splashed out on Apple iPhones and Black Friday promotions, a major boost for an economy that had been struggling with sluggish spending. The local dollar jumped a third of a U.S. cent to $0.7874 as the surprising strength helped counter concerns consumers had lapsed into a near-permanent depression. Thursday’s figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed retail sales jumped 1.2 percent in November from October, when they rose a solid 0.5 percent. That was three times the market forecast and the steepest gain since early 2013. Sales were up 2.9 percent on a year earlier at a record seasonally adjusted high of A$26.38 billion ($20.75 billion). Gains were led by a hefty 4.5 percent rise in household goods and a 2.2 percent increase for other retailing. “Seasonally adjusted sales in both these industries are influenced by the release of the iPhone X and the increasing popularity of promotions in November, including Black Friday sales,” the ABS said in a note. Consumer spending has been under pressure from record-high household debt and sluggish wage growth, one reason the Reserve Bank of Australia is in no rush to raise interest rates from record lows. Futures markets still imply around a 50-50 chance of a hike by September and are not fully priced for a rise from 1.5 percent until February next year. The marked revival in sales in October and November greatly improved the outlook for gross domestic product growth in the fourth quarter, given household spending accounts for around 57 percent of annual economic output. Household consumption had expanded at its slowest pace since 2008 in the third quarter, marring an otherwise respectable annual growth outcome of 2.8 percent. THEN THERE‘S ONLINE The retail series also showed rapid growth in online sales, which are only set to take a bigger share as Amazon set up shop late last year and is rapidly expanding its offerings. The ABS measure showed online sales surged 22 percent in original terms in November to A$1.51 billion. National Australia Bank (NAB) produces an online measure of its own that showed a sharp 4.7 percent rebound in sales in November, the fastest pace since late 2014. In all, NAB estimates consumers spent A$24 billion online in the year to November, with annual growth running atop 14 percent. Anecdotal evidence from traditional retailers still suggest they had a better December holiday season than first feared, while surveys found a marked brightening in the consumer mood. A survey from ANZ and Roy Morgan out this week showed confidence had improved to the best since late 2013. Notably, those saying they were “better off” financially picked up to 35 percent, helping offset concerns about slow wages growth. ($1 = 1.2711 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Paul Tait) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 2:31 PM / Updated 6 minutes ago CORRECTED-Brookfield Business Partners to buy Westinghouse for about $4.6 bln Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Corrects New York stock symbol for Brookfield Business Partners to BBU.N from BAM.N in first paragraph) Jan 4 (Reuters) - A group of investors led by Brookfield Business Partners LP said on Thursday it would buy bankrupt nuclear services firm Westinghouse Electric Co from Toshiba Corp for about $4.6 billion. Westinghouse filed for bankruptcy in March after two nuclear power plants it had designed and was constructing in the U.S. Southeast had gone billions of dollars over their fixed-cost contracts. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2018. Reporting by John Benny in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila" + }, + { + "text": "2018 年 1 月 18 日 08:50 JST 2018 年 1 月 18 日 08:50 JST Article Not Supported We're sorry but this article contains media that is not currently supported in this app. You will be redirected to the article on wsj.com in 5 seconds. If you are not redirected automatically, click this link.... 全文記事を読むには" + }, + { + "text": "BRUSSELS, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Belgium’s D‘Ieteren wants 35-40 percent of its vehicle sales to be electric vehicles by 2025, the head of its car sales division has told Belgian business daily L‘Echo. D‘Ieteren, which sells cars and parts of Volkswagen brands including Skoda, Audi and Lamborghini in Belgium, has a more ambitious target than the German group which wants electrified vehicles to be a quarter of deliveries by 2025. “In Belgium, particularly in Flanders and Brussels, the (short) driving distances are very suitable for electric,” D‘Ieteren Auto chief Denis Gorteman told L‘Echo, adding that the high percentage of people living in houses, rather than apartments, meant it was easier for them to charge vehicles. Gorteman said that to achieve the target Belgium needed to invest in the sector and have policies that encouraged electric vehicle use, although he said the sector was not looking for subsidies. Volkswagen approved in November a 34 billion euro ($40.6 billion) spending plan to accelerate its efforts to become a global leader in electric cars. As well as selling cars, D‘Ieteren also has a division repairing and replacing windshields and owns notebook maker Moleskine. ($1 = 0.8372 euros) (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; editing by Robert-Jan Bartunek) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 22(Reuters) - Kushikatsu Tanaka Co * Says it will offer an off-floor distribution of 456,400 shares on Tokyo Stock Exchange between Jan. 29 and Jan. 31 * Offering price will be determined based on the closing share price of the day before the distribution * Says the limitation for distribution is up to 5,000 shares for each customer Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/daEyFu Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "VANCOUVER, Jan 18 (Reuters) - The National Energy Board on Thursday set out a process for resolving permit disputes related to Kinder Morgan Canada’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, which has faced repeated delays due to difficulty in obtaining permits. The regulator said that under the new process it will consider future disputes between the company and provincial and municipal authorities, and provide a response within three to five weeks, providing a “measure of certainty” for all parties. The announcement came a day after Kinder Morgan Canada, a division of Houston-based Kinder Morgan Inc, said the start-up of the expanded pipeline would be delayed until December 2020 due to permitting struggles. The Trans Mountain expansion, which would nearly triple capacity to 890,000 barrels per day, is hotly opposed by environmental groups, the province of British Columbia, and some local municipalities, including the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby, where the pipeline ends. While the project has federal approvals, Burnaby last year refused to issue key construction permits, forcing Kinder Morgan to appeal to the NEB for permission to proceed with its work. The company won that appeal in December. The NEB said it hopes the new process, which was requested by Kinder Morgan, will be used sparingly and that all participants will approach future permitting on a good faith basis, noting that the company must comply with all local laws. Separately, the NEB said it will hold hearings in Burnaby starting next week on the final route of the expansion, which is a twinning of an existing line from Alberta’s energy heartland to the British Columbia coast. (Reporting by Julie Gordon in Vancouver; Editing by Tom Brown)" + }, + { + "text": "By David Z. Morris 2:57 PM EST CoinMarketCap, arguably the most prominent global index of cryptocurrency prices, triggered a wave of anxiety and anger this morning when it removed a group of Korean cryptocurency exchanges from its price calculations. Though the change was apparently made at midnight Sunday U.S. EST, CoinMarketCap did not publicize it until midday on Monday, saying that the Korean exchanges showed “extreme divergence in prices from the rest of the world and limited arbitrage opportunity.” This morning we excluded some Korean exchanges in price calculations due to the extreme divergence in prices from the rest of the world and limited arbitrage opportunity. We are working on better tools to provide users with the averages that are most relevant to them. — CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) January 8, 2018 The move resulted in a sharp drop in CoinMarketCap’s measurement of nearly all cryptocurrencies. That gave the impression that a broad market decline , already in progress, had become even more dramatic overnight. As news of the cause for the sharp drop spread Monday, most cryptocurrency prices began recovering losses. Get Data Sheet , Fortune’s technology newsletter. The delisting itself seems to have been relatively uncontroversial—as CoinDesk points out , local exchanges can sometimes show sharp divergence from global prices, masking broad trends. According to CoinDesk, the Korean exchanges Bithumb, Coinone and Korbit, which consistently had prices well above the global market, were removed from CoinMarketCap’s calculations. Ripple’s David Schwartz acknowledged that the new price is “more accurate and meaningful.” They are outliers due to a shortage of cryptos in Korea and difficulty getting KRW out. The new price is more accurate and meaningful, IMO. — David Schwartz (@JoelKatz) January 8, 2018 But cryptocurrency watchers on Twitter responded with understandable anger to the lateness of CoinMarketCap’s announcement, calling it “unprofessional” and saying it may have triggered panic selling. Do a better job of communicating this type of thing BEFORE you do it! — Steven Blanton (@steveruno) January 8, 2018 Well why didn't you let the community know instead surprised many people and the newbies likely sold (luckily us more seasoned investors held and looked for facts of why the dip before making a rash decision) your actions without notice likely caused a loss of money for many! — Chris B. (@BaradaranChris) January 8, 2018 Some went further, accusing CoinMarketCap of market manipulation. That echoes recent suspicion of insider trading by employees of the Coinbase cryptocurrency exchange. This was one of the most unprofessional deliberate price manipulation I’ve ever seen smh still Hodl though — Mr. Sanchez (@faly_sanchez) January 8, 2018 Cannot find the right words for this really...Either extreme incompetence or pure evil manipulation.Both deserve severe consequences! — Pierre Dekkers (@pierre_dekkers) January 8, 2018 If there’s one clear takeaway from the incident, it’s that the infrastructure of cryptocurrency markets, much like cryptocurrencies themselves, is still evolving, unstable, and subject to shocks based on nothing more than avoidable missteps. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 5:44 AM / Updated 15 hours ago Ferrer shows up-and-comer Wu the door in Auckland Reuters Staff 2 Min Read AUCKLAND (Reuters) - Experience was more than a match for youthful exuberance at the Auckland Classic on Monday as four-times champion David Ferrer beat Chinese teenager Wu Yibing 7-6(7) 6-4 to advance to the second round. The 35-year-old Ferrer, who was ranked as high as third in the world in 2013, battled it out from the baseline against his 18-year-old opponent in a first set that lasted 75 minutes. Wu, the world’s top-ranked junior, held a set point in the tiebreak at 6-4 but could not convert and a double fault handed the first set to Ferrer, who is now ranked 38th. The Spaniard then began to show the court craft and tactical nous built up from 15 years on the ATP Tour in the second set as he began to pick off Wu, who became China’s first boys’ grand slam singles champion last year at the U.S. Open. The world’s top-ranked junior, who is playing his first full season on the ATP Tour, continued to play some aggressive, high-risk tennis that allowed him to break when the Spaniard was serving for the match, but it was only delaying the inevitable. Ferrer advanced to the second round to face Portugal’s Joao Sousa, last year’s runner-up, when Wu belted a forehand long after two hours on court. Sousa had earlier overcome Donald Young 6-7(8) 6-4 6-2 in a match that lasted two hours. Canadian Denis Shapovalov will face Brazilian Rogerio Dutra Silva later on Monday. The men’s top four seeds, defending champion Jack Sock, 2009 winner Juan Martin Del Potro, two-times champ John Isner and his American compatriot Sam Querrey, have been given byes into the second round. Reporting by Greg Stutchbury in Wellington; Editing by Peter Rutherford" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 9:25 AM / Updated 25 minutes ago Slovenian public sector workers strike for higher wages Marja Novak 3 Min Read LJUBLJANA (Reuters) - More than 10,000 Slovenian public servants including customs officers, nurses, social workers and university professors started a one-day strike on Wednesday to demand higher wages. Several thousand people are expected to protest for more pay in front of the government building in the centre of Ljubljana later on Wednesday, trade unions said. “Although this is the fifth year of economic growth some wage restrictions imposed in 2012 have not been lifted yet. It is time to scrap all restrictions and increase wages,” said Jakob Pocivavsek, the unions’ head of strike coordination. He told Reuters public sector wages should rise by 16 to 20 percent over a period of time due to be determined in negotiations with the government. Slovenia curbed public sector wage growth in 2012 amid a severe financial crisis which ended with a bank overhaul in 2013 that enabled the country to narrowly avoid an international bailout. It returned to economic growth a year later. “We are trying to share the effects of economic growth as fairly as possible ... and only in the past two years the public sector wage bill was increased by 10.7 percent while the average wage rose by seven percent,” Prime Minister Miro Cerar told parliament on Monday. “That is why it is really hard to understand these extreme pressures of trade unions with enormous demands for more money,” he said, adding “we cannot share what we do not have”. The government has said unions’ demands have reached almost one billion euros (877.3 million pounds) and are unacceptable as they are not justified by productivity and economic growth and would threaten the planned fiscal consolidation. “If we increase the cost of labour in the public sector by one billion euros, we break macroeconomic balances. As a society we cannot survive that,” Public Administration Minister Boris Koprivnikar said. Policemen, nurses and teachers plan separate strikes in February unless the government agrees to raise wages by then. Analysts said unions have increased their demands in recent months because they hope the centre-left government may be more generous ahead of a parliamentary election due in June. Slovenia, a 40-billion-euro economy, expects economic expansion of 3.9 percent this year versus 4.4 percent in 2017, boosted by higher exports and investments. The government plans to run a budget surplus of 0.4 percent of GDP this year versus a deficit of 0.8 percent in 2017. Reporting By Marja Novak, Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan 25 (Reuters) - U.S. fund investors piled into technology stocks during the latest week, pouring the most money into the market than in any week since March 2000, Lipper said on Thursday. The funds pulled in $1.7 billion during the week ended Jan. 24, according to the research service. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by James Dalgleish)" + }, + { + "text": "SYDNEY (Reuters) - Garbine Muguruza’s preparations for next week’s Australian Open were thrown into disarray when the world number three pulled out of the Sydney International due to a leg injury on Wednesday. Hours after battling past Kiki Bertens 6-3 7-6(6) to advance to the quarter-finals in her opening match, the 24-year-old Spanish top seed withdrew with a right thigh complaint. “I am disappointed but I have talked to the WTA doctors and my team after the match and following their recommendation, I have to withdraw from the tournament,” Muguruza said in a statement. “I have felt pain in my right adductor since I started practicing here. Yesterday, I felt better and wanted to play. However, during the match today the pain has been there all the time but I wanted to compete.” The Wimbledon champion accepted a wildcard into the tournament after retiring with leg cramps during her opening match at the Brisbane International last week and called for a medical timeout after just three games against Bertens. Muguruza, however, returned to the Ken Rosewall Arena and appeared to be moving freely, initially allaying fears of another injury setback by overcoming a woman who had beaten her in straight sets in their three previous meetings. ”Since the start I felt a little bit my adductor,“ Muguruza said after registering her first win of the season. ”I already felt it in Brisbane, so I thought I was going to be much better, but it came back. ”You always have to adapt... Sometimes you don’t need to have a pain. You just want to play a certain style of game or some tactic. “I figured out that being a little bit more aggressive, shorter points, that might help me and might help me also for my game. So it’s like a winning situation.” Muguruza’s withdrawal allows Daria Gavrilova a direct route to the semi-finals after the Spaniard’s scheduled last eight opponent won an all-Australian clash against Samantha Stosur 6-4 6-2. Elsewhere, Agnieszka Radwanska, the 2013 champion and last year’s losing finalist in Sydney, kept her preparations for the year’s first grand slam on track with a 7-6(4) 6-0 win over teenage American qualifier CiCi Bellis. The Polish 28-year-old will meet Camila Giorgi for a place in the last four after the Italian qualifier ousted twice Wimbledon and former Sydney champion Petra Kvitova 7-6(7) 6-2. Giorgi, belying her ranking of 100th in the world, beat U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens in the first round and added another grand slam champion to her list of victims in just under two hours when Kvitova blasted a forehand wide. In the men’s draw, Italian veteran Paolo Lorenzi ousted top seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain in the second round. Ramos-Vinolas needed treatment for a leg problem early in the second set and fell 6-3 7-5 to the 36-year-old Lorenzi, who is ranked 45 in the world. Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 12:50 AM / Updated 28 minutes ago Asian shares hit record high, euro near three-year top Lisa Twaronite 4 Min Read TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares erased early modest losses and pushed to a fresh record high, while the euro remained within sight of a 3-year peak on rising expectations that the European Central Bank could pare its monetary stimulus. FILE PHOTO -Men exchange greetings in front of an electronic board displaying the Nikkei average outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan January 4, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon European stock futures STXEc1 were flat, suggesting a more subdued opening for the region. DAX futures FDXc1 were up 0.1 percent, and FTSE futures FFIc1 and CAC FCEc1 each up 0.2 percent. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was up 0.5 percent, extending record highs set in the previous session. U.S. markets were closed for a public holiday on Monday. But Australian shares slipped 0.5 percent, as miners were pressured by weaker Chinese iron ore prices. The materials and mining index .AXMM dropped as much as 0.8 percent, with mining giants BHP Billiton Ltd ( BHP.AX ) and Rio Tinto Ltd ( RIO.AX ) each falling over 1 percent before ending off lows. Chinese iron ore futures edged up after tumbling 2 percent on Monday, when stockpiles of the steelmaking commodity at China’s ports surged to the highest since at least 2004. [IRONORE/] Japan's Nikkei stock index .N225 rallied 1 percent after touching its highest intraday level since November 1991 as the yen's recent surge took a breather, with expectations for strong corporate earnings underpinning sentiment. “The yen’s appreciation against the dollar has stopped and this brightened sentiment, along with expectations for robust company quarterly results,” said Masahiro Ichikawa, senior strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management. The euro edged up slightly to $1.2270 EUR= , within sight of its Monday high of $1.2296, its loftiest peak since December 2014. The euro had blipped higher on Monday and German benchmark bond yields hit session highs after European Central Bank rate-setter Ardo Hansson said the central bank could end its bond purchase scheme in one go after September if the economy and inflation develop as expected. Adding to the euro’s ascent, data showed the trade surplus in the 19-country euro area rose to its highest level in eight months, indicating companies were so far weathering the impact of a stronger currency. The dollar index, which gauges the U.S. currency against a basket of six major rivals, wallowed at more than three-year lows. It was last at 90.456 .DXY, after dropping as low as 90.279 on Monday, its deepest nadir since December 2014. Against the yen, the dollar clawed back some lost ground, adding 0.3 percent to 110.82 JPY= . It fell as low as 110.32 yen on Monday, which was its weakest level since Sept. 15. Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday that he did not see problems with the dollar weakening to around 110.80 yen, but that big swings in currencies would be problematic. “The dollar’s problems began last week, when investors sold the dollar on expectations that the Bank of Japan might begin to taper its stimulus,” said Mitsuo Imaizumi, Tokyo-based chief foreign-exchange strategist for Daiwa Securities. “It then continued as the euro rose on suggestions that the ECB would take further normalization steps, showing how sensitive markets are to perceived signals from central banks,” he said. Crude oil prices were mixed after rising to their highest levels since December 2014, helped by the dollar’s recent weakness as well as signs that production cuts by OPEC and Russia are tightening supplies. [O/R] Brent crude futures LCOc1 were down 30 cents, or 0.4 percent, at $69.96 a barrel after touching a high of $70.37 a barrel on Monday. U.S. crude futures CLc1 were up 19 cents, or 0.3 percent, at $64.49 a barrel. Additional reporting by Shinichi Saoshiro in Tokyo; Editing by Sam Holmes" + }, + { + "text": "Facebook's virtual reality division has come up with a new unit of time — called Flicks — to measure the speed of digital audio and video. In an online forum used by developers of open source software, the company described Flicks as \"a unit of time, slightly larger than a nanosecond that exactly subdivides media frame rates and sampling frequencies.\" One of the creators of Flicks is Christopher Horvath, a former architect with Facebook's Story Studio. Horvath left that team in May and began later that month at Facebook's social virtual reality unit, according to a representative from Oculus. He noted in a Facebook post that his invention had made it into the real world: Story Studio, which Facebook closed last year, was nominated for an Emmy for the VR film \"Dear Angelica.\" Horvath won an Emmy for an earlier Oculus film called \"Henry.\" Facebook shuttered the unit after deciding it didn't want a stand-alone studio.. According to Facebook, Flick \"is the smallest time unit which is LARGER than a nanosecond.\" Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that Christopher Horvath began working with Facebook's social virtual reality unit in May, according to a representative from Oculus." + }, + { + "text": "SYDNEY, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Sweltering weather across southern Australia sparked power price spikes on Friday and prompted the national grid operator to put emergency generators on standby. Temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104°F) represent the first major test of the energy grid this year after nearly 2,000 megawatts of extra capacity were added to prevent blackouts that have previously hit household and industrial users. The extra capacity includes the world’s biggest lithium ion battery built by Tesla Inc, which was switched on last month and provides 120 megawatts. Scorching conditions stretch the grid as people crank up power-hungry air conditioners, while the heat reduces the capacity of transmission wires to carry electricity. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), which runs the national electricity market, expected a decline in reserves in the states of Victoria and South Australia on Friday afternoon, but no disruption to supply. It asked generators that feed power into the grid to be on standby to supply extra power in those states. Forecast wholesale spot power prices for dispatch on Friday afternoon in South Australia and Victoria have spiked to the capped level of A$14,200 ($11,366) per megawatt hour (MWh), AEMO said on its website. Last summer was the first in eight years to see power failures in Australia’s southeastern states, including outages that forced BHP Billiton to stop production at its Olympic Dam mine for two weeks and Alcoa Corp to shut one of two potlines at its Portland aluminium smelter. Alcoa, one of the biggest electricity users in Victoria, is one of several industrial customers asked by AEMO to go on standby to reduce electricity demand if necessary on Friday afternoon. “If managed appropriately Portland smelter can be safely curtailed for short time periods (up to one hour) to provide much needed capacity during peak demand periods,” Alcoa said in a statement. A spokeswoman for Nyrstar, operator of the world’s biggest lead refinery at Port Pirie in South Australia said it was running as usual. BHP declined to comment on whether its operations could be impacted. Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Joseph Radford" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 1:15 PM / in 27 minutes Dutch ABP pension fund to pull investments in tobacco, nuclear arms makers Reuters Staff 1 Min Read AMSTERDAM, Jan 11 (Reuters) - ABP, the largest Dutch pension fund, said on Thursday it will sell all its remaining holdings in tobacco companies and nuclear arms manufacturers, worth roughly 3.3 billion euros ($4 bln). ($1 = 0.8319 euros) (Reporting by Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Susan Fenton)" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK (Reuters) - Their 1977 song “Don’t Stop” helped power Bill Clinton into the White House in 1992, and on Friday it was the former U.S. president doing the honors for Fleetwood Mac. Clinton presented Fleetwood Mac with statuettes as the 2018 MusicCares honorees, making them the first band to win the annual award given to a musician for creative achievements and charitable work. Clinton chose the British-American band’s single “Don’t Stop” as the theme song for his 1992 presidential campaign, helping to revive their popularity and encouraging the fractious soft rock band to reunite for his inaugural ball in 1993. “They let me use it as a theme song and I have been trying to live by it ever since,” Clinton told the audience at Radio City Music Hall in New York. “I owe a great deal to all of them,” he added. At the concert and ceremony on Friday, Miley Cyrus, Lorde, Keith Urban, Harry Styles and Juanes were among musicians across genres to perform their own interpretations of Fleetwood Mac’s biggest hits over a 50-year career. Band members Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham ended the three-hour celebration by taking to the stage to perform “Go Your Own Way” and “Little Lies.” Former U.S. President Bill Clinton (L) and Neil Portnow (R), President & CEO of The Recording Academy, stand with honorees (2nd L-2nd R) Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood, and John McVie during the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year show honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, New York, U.S., January 26, 2018. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly Fleetwood Mac formed in London in 1967 and went on to become one of the best-selling bands in the world, with more than 100 million records sold, including Grammy-winning 1977 album “Rumours” and hit singles “Songbird,” “Rhiannon” and “Dreams.” After romantic and creative tensions, some members going solo and several changes of line-up, Fleetwood, McVie, Nicks, Buckingham and Christine McVie put their differences behind them and reunited in 2014 for the first time since 1998, and embarked on a sell-out world tour. Slideshow (2 Images) “Fleetwood Mac is well known for being a dysfunctional family... and it was certainly much of the fuel for our material,” said Buckingham. “But what we are feeling really more now than ever in our career is love,” he added. Proceeds from the annual MusiCares gala support members of the music industry in times of financial and medical need. Friday’s event, held two days before the Grammy Awards, raised some $7 million for MusiCares, Recording Academy chairman Neil Portnow said. Previous recipients include Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney. Editing by Nick Macfie" + }, + { + "text": "YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- United Community Financial Corp., (Nasdaq: UCFC) holding company of Home Savings Bank, announced today there will be an earnings conference call on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. ET., to provide an overview of the Company's fourth quarter 2017 results. The earnings release will be made available at ir.ucfconline.com at the close of business on January 23, 2018. Important User Information: Webcast: To access the live webcast, go to ir.ucfconline.com and click on Fourth Quarter 2017 Earnings Call on our corporate profile page. Participants are asked to access the webcast approximately 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the discussion. Conference Call: To participate in the conference call, dial 1.877.272.7661 10 minutes prior to the start time. Please ask to be joined into the United Community Financial Corp. (UCFC) call. After the live presentation, the webcast will be archived on this website for at least 90 days. A replay of the call will also be available for two weeks by dialing 1.877.344.7529; the Conference Access code is 10115412. To Ask Questions: Participants who call in via phone will have the opportunity to ask questions. Instructions will be given on the call. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Community Financial Corp., Home Savings operates 35 banking offices, 13 loan production offices and 3 wealth management offices throughout Ohio, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Additional information on UCFC and Home Savings may be found at ir.ucfconline.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Media Contact: Home Savings Kathy Bushway, 330-742-0638 SVP, Director of Marketing [REDACTED] or Investor Contact: Home Savings Troy Adair, 330-742-0472 Treasurer [REDACTED] Source: United Community Financial Corp." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19 (Reuters) - Britain’s Dixons Carphone Plc’s CEO Sebastian James is quitting to join Boots, the high street chemist, Sky News reported on Friday. James’s reported resignation comes just days after Dixons’ finance chief Humphrey Singer quit to join Marks and Spencer Group Plc. Dixons could not immediately be reached for comment. The electricals and mobile phones retailer reported a 60 percent slump in first-half profits in December. Dixons Carphone is set to release a trading statement on Jan. 23. The chief executive's resignation will be formally notified to the London Stock Exchange on Monday, Sky News reported, citing unidentified sources. bit.ly/2BeLZoH (Reporting by Bhanu Pratap in Bengaluru; Editing by Adrian Croft)" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 7:12 AM / Updated an hour ago Tennis: Sabalenka upsets Zhang in Hobart, Watson advances Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Belarus teen Aryna Sabalenka blasted top seed Zhang Shuai out of the Hobart International on Wednesday while former champion Heather Watson had a smooth ride to the quarter-finals with a 6-2 6-2 win over wildcard Jaimee Fourlis. Big-hitting Sabalenka had felled former world number five Eugenie Bouchard in the first round and the Belarusian’s aggressive strategy paid dividends again as she triumphed 7-6(3) 6-4. “It was a really good fight between us,” Sabalenka told reporters after firing 37 winners and committing 39 unforced errors. “This was a match that I really enjoyed. She fights for every point, and it’s always so special when you feel this fight on court.” Broken early, Sabalenka won four games in a row en route to a 5-2 lead in the first set when Zhang staged a comeback to level it at 5-5 before the Belarusian clinched the set. Sabalenka was more in control in the second set when she claimed a decisive break at 4-3 before serving out to set up a quarter-final clash with fifth seed Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine. “It’s always special when you beat two good players in a row in the same tournament,” Sabalenka said. “It gives me more confidence. You finish the match and you really just think, ‘When is the next one? I want to go back on court, I want to beat someone.'” Briton Watson had little difficulty in beating Australian Fourlis, a victory which moves the 2015 champion into a quarter-final against Donna Vekic, and Alison Riske also advanced after Belgian qualifier Kirsten Flipkens pulled out with a right shoulder injury. Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Peter Rutherford" + }, + { + "text": "Republicans and Democrats spin the government shutdown 1:09am IST - 01:40 With a government shutdown on the one year anniversary of Trump’s inauguration, the president on Twitter trying to shift the blame onto the Democrats. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript With a government shutdown on the one year anniversary of Trump’s inauguration, the president on Twitter trying to shift the blame onto the Democrats. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - U.S. drugmaker Biogen Inc reported a quarterly loss compared with a year-ago profit on Thursday due to a hefty income tax charge for recent changes to the U.S. tax code. The company paid $1.57 billion in income tax in the quarter. Net loss attributable to Biogen was $297.4 million, or $1.40 per share, in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31. The company had a profit of $649.2 million, or $2.99 per share, a year earlier. Total revenue rose to $3.31 billion from $2.87 billion. Reporting by Tamara Mathias in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will travel to Latin America in a few weeks in his first official visit to that region, the State Department said on Thursday. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert did not provide more specific dates for the trip or further details. Reporting by David Alexander and Doina Chiacu; editing by G Crosse" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19(Reuters) - SG Micro Corp * Sees 2017 net profit to increase by 10 percent to 18 percent, or to be 88.8 million yuan to 95.2 million yuan * Says 2016 net profit was 80.7 million yuan * Says that increased product sales as the main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/R5CQPn Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "DENVER, Jan. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- After more than a decade of planning and fundraising, Wings Over the Rockies (Wings), an aerospace focused Colorado non-profit, is proud to announce its unique to the nation entertainment and education campus, Exploration of Flight. Designed to incorporate future-focused aviation and space centers, Exploration of Flight is a 15-acre campus located on the south side of Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colorado. The sister facility to Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum in Denver's Lowry neighborhood, Exploration of Flight will be housed at one of the busiest general aviation airports in the nation, offering visitors incredible experiences that focus on aerospace. Slated for completion in summer 2018, phase one of Wings' Exploration of Flight campus, the Boeing Blue Sky Aviation Gallery, will offer a visitor experience unlike any facility before it. Entering a world of active flight, the gallery will be filled with interactive exhibits and activities designed to excite and thrill while educating visitors about aviation. Visitors will have the opportunity to engage with world-class exhibits, experience a thrilling simulator, tour Centennial Airport, witness live takeoffs, landings and even indulge in flight itself. \"This facility will be unique to the nation,\" explained Wings Over the Rockies President & CEO, John Barry. \"Our Air & Space Museum in Lowry will concentrate on the past while the Exploration of Flight Campus at Centennial Airport will focus on the present and future. One organization, two locations.\" For more information about the Boeing Blue Sky Gallery opening or the Exploration of Flight Center, visit ExplorationOfFlight.org . About Wings Over the Rockies: Wings Over the Rockies is a Colorado-based non-profit organization dedicated to educating and inspiring all people about aviation and space endeavors of the past, present and future. By utilizing the Air & Space Museum in Denver's historic Lowry neighborhood to preserve the past and the Exploration of Flight Center at Centennial Airport to focus on the present and future, Wings strives to encourage the future aerospace leaders of tomorrow. For more information about Wings Over the Rockies please visit WingsMuseum.org , ExplorationOfFlight.org or like us on Facebook , follow us on Twitter & Instagram , connect with us on LinkedIn , join us on G+ and subscribe to our YouTube channel. View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum" + }, + { + "text": "36 AM / in 36 minutes Hong Kong stocks hit a fresh record, helped by Chinese money inflows Reuters Staff * Hang Seng index ends up 1.7 pct * China Enterprises index HSCE rises 2.2 pct * HSI financial sector sub-index is 2 pct higher; property sector up 1.3 percent. Jan 23 (Reuters) - Hong Kong stocks hit another fresh record on Tuesday, aided by continuous inflows of mainland money, and strength in IT and financial stocks. ** At close of trade, the Hang Seng index was up 537.29 points or 1.66 percent at 32,930.70. The Hang Seng China Enterprises index rose 2.16 percent to 13,490.45. **The sub-index of the Hang Seng tracking energy shares rose 1 percent while the IT sector rose 2.47 percent, the financial sector was 1.98 percent higher and property sector rose 1.28 percent. ** The top gainer on Hang Seng was Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd , up 5.67 percent, while the biggest loser was China Resources Power Holdings Co Ltd, down 0.98 percent. ** China’s main Shanghai Composite index closed up 1.3 percent at 3,546.9816 points while its blue-chip CSI300 index ended up 1.08 percent. ** Around the region, MSCI’s Asia ex-Japan stock index was firmer by 0.87 percent while Japan’s Nikkei index closed up 1.29 percent. ** The yuan was quoted at 6.4035 per U.S. dollar at 08:12 GMT, 0.02 percent firmer than the previous close of 6.405. ** So far this year, the Hang Seng index is up 10.1 percent, while China’s H-share index is up 15 percent. ** The top gainers among H-shares were China Citic Bank Corp Ltd up 5.71 percent, followed by China Merchants Bank Co Ltd gaining 4.76 percent and China Minsheng Banking Corp Ltd up by 4.17 percent. ** The three biggest H-shares percentage decliners were Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric Co Ltd which was down 1.28 percent, Huatai Securities Co Ltd which fell 1.3 percent and China Communications Construction Co Ltd down by 0.9 percent. ** About 4.08 billion Hang Seng index shares were traded, roughly 196.6 percent of the market’s 30-day moving average of 2.07 billion shares a day. The volume traded in the previous trading session was 2.97 billion. ** At close, China’s A-shares were trading at a premium of 28.57 percent over the Hong Kong-listed H-shares. ** The price-to-earnings ratio of the Hang Seng index was 14.76 as of the last full trading day while the dividend yield was 2.7 percent. ** So far this week, the market capitalisation of the Hang Seng index has risen by 0.63 percent to HK$21.30 trillion. (Reporting by the Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Richard Borsuk)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19 (Reuters) - Speculators' net bearish bets on U.S. 10-year Treasury note futures fell earlier this week as the benchmark 10-year yield was heading for three straight weeks of increases, according to Commodity Futures Trading Commission data released on Friday. The amount of speculators' bearish, or short, positions in 10-year Treasury futures exceeded bullish, or long, positions by 89,259 contracts on Jan. 16, according to the CFTC's latest Commitments of Traders data. Last week, speculators held 196,853 net short positions in 10-year T-note futures. Below is a table of the speculative positions in Treasury futures on the Chicago Board of Trade and in Eurodollar futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in the latest week: U.S. 2-year T-notes (Contracts of $200,000) 16 Jan 2018 Prior week week Long 413,792 414,419 Short 704,434 682,041 Net -290,642 -267,622 U.S. 5-year T-notes (Contracts of $100,000) 16 Jan 2018 Prior week week Long 562,812 598,720 Short 1,049,072 1,042,485 Net -486,260 -443,765 U.S. 10-year T-notes (Contracts of $100,000) 16 Jan 2018 Prior week week Long 650,652 561,307 Short 739,911 758,160 Net -89,259 -196,853 U.S. T-bonds (Contracts of $100,000) 16 Jan 2018 Prior week week Long 193,344 184,034 Short 126,243 117,297 Net 67,101 66,737 U.S. Ultra T-bonds (Contracts of $100,000) 16 Jan 2018 Prior week week Long 54,978 64,293 Short 178,893 171,080 Net -123,915 -106,787 Eurodollar (Contracts of $1,000,000) 16 Jan 2018 Prior week week Long 787,709 991,778 Short 3,459,896 3,533,032 Net -2,672,187 -2,541,254 Fed funds (Contracts of $1,000,000) 16 Jan 2018 Prior week week Long 163,640 115,417 Short 172,969 187,992 Net -9,329 -72,575 (Reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by James Dalgleish)" + }, + { + "text": "SYDNEY (Reuters) - A remote island volcano in Papua New Guinea has begun spewing ash into the air, forcing the evacuation of more than 500 residents, media and non-profit groups have said. Kadovar Island, a 365-metre (1,197-ft) -tall volcano on the north coast of PNG, was thought to be dormant until it began erupting on January 5. “It’s just a continuous emission of volcanic ash at the moment,” Cheyne O’Brien, a forecaster at the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, told Reuters by telephone on Sunday. The ash clouds have been thrown up steadily to a height of 2,133 meters (7,000 feet), forming a plume that is travelling west-northwest, he added. The plume does not yet pose a hazard to aviation, but a change in wind direction could hit operations at PNG’s Wewak airport, O‘Brien said. All residents of the island have been evacuated with no loss of life, U.S.-based charity Samaritan Aviation, which operates seaplanes to remote areas of PNG, said on Facebook. “We do not have any details yet as to where all of the families have gone and hope to have further information in the near future,” the non-profit added. Reuters could not immediately reach authorities in Papua New Guinea by telephone for comment. The population of the island ranges from at least 500 to more than 600, media have estimated. The eruption may become explosive, bringing a risk of tsunamis and landslides, domestic online media Loop PNG Quote: d the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory as saying. There are no confirmed records of a previous eruption of Kadovar, said Chris Firth, a vulcanologist at Macquarie University, but scientists speculate it could have been one of two “burning islands” mentioned in the journals of a 17th-century English pirate and maritime adventurer, William Dampier. Dampier may have recorded the last eruption of Kadovar during a voyage in search of “Terra Australis”, the southern continent once thought to be mythical, Firth said. Vulcanologists are interested to observe its behaviour now, Firth added. “It’s hard to predict what might happen, as there’s nothing to compare it to.” Reporting by Alison Bevege; Editing by Clarence Fernandez" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 9:08 AM / Updated 4 hours ago Leader of Britain's UKIP splits with girlfriend after 'appalling' Markle comments Michael Holden 3 The leader of Britain’s anti-European Union UKIP Party said he had split with his new girlfriend after a newspaper published derogatory comments she made about Prince Harry’s fiancee Meghan Markle and black people. FILE PHOTO - Meghan Markle visits radio station Reprezent FM, with her fiancee Britain's Prince Harry, in Brixton, London January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Dominic Lipinski/Pool Henry Bolton, 54, who became the ailing UK Independence Party’s fourth leader in a year when he was elected last September, said he had ended his relationship with model Jo Marney after the “appalling” text messages she sent to a friend were published. Marney, 25, who began dating Bolton just after Christmas, had described U.S. actress Markle, whose father is white and mother is African-American, as a “dumb little commoner” and said “her seed with (sic) taint our royal family”, according to the texts printed in the Mail on Sunday newspaper. Marney also described black people as ugly. “The romantic element of the relationship is over,” Bolton told BBC radio, saying they had split up on Sunday night. “However appalling and insulting those comments she made in those direct personal messages were ... I honestly don’t believe those are her core beliefs.” Harry said Markle had been subjected to “outright sexism and racism” on social media when he revealed they were first dating in 2016 and that there had also been racial undertones in newspaper comment pieces. The couple announced in November that they were engaged and will marry in May. Led by the charismatic Nigel Farage, UKIP won nearly four million votes in 2015, 12.6 percent of those cast, on its anti-EU platform, projecting it to the forefront of British politics even though it only managed to win one seat in parliament. Its success helped force former Conservative prime minister David Cameron, who once dismissed the party as being full of “fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists”, to agree to hold the 2016 referendum on whether to leave the EU and played a role in encouraging Britons to vote for Brexit. But UKIP has been riven by internal strife since the referendum as it struggles for direction and a clear purpose and it won just 1.8 percent of the total votes cast in a national election last June. Marney was suspended from UKIP after the texts became public on Sunday and senior party figures called for Bolton, a former army infantry officer who also served in the police, to step down himself. “People have been able to use Jo in order to attack me,” he said. “I have no intention of resigning and indeed the people who have been calling for my resignation are people who for some time have been trying to work to undermine the leadership of the party in any case.” He said there had not been a “cold parting of the ways” but his job had to take priority. “She is utterly devastated. I‘m not defending the comments she made, she’s not defending the comments she made,” he said. “Jo is incredibly upset as am I, I‘m going to stand by her and the family in terms of trying to put her life back together.” Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "VERBATIM: Puerto Rico's governor makes a big push for statehood 7:49pm EST - 01:04 Puerto Rico governor, Ricardo Rosello, held a news conference in Kissimmee, Florida after lobbying for statehood and for receiving the full benefits of U.S. citizenship. Puerto Rico governor, Ricardo Rosello, held a news conference in Kissimmee, Florida after lobbying for statehood and for receiving the full benefits of U.S. citizenship. //reut.rs/2D6foaz" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 12:04 PM / Updated an hour ago Italian postman never rings once, hoards mail instead Reuters Staff 1 Min Read ROME (Reuters) - Italian police have arrested a postman from the northern town of Vicenza after finding more than half a tonne (1,100 lb) of undelivered mail stashed away in his garage. Police were called in when workers from a recycling plant were sent to empty the garage and found 43 yellow plastic postal containers stuffed full of letters, bills, bank statements and even electoral pamphlets dating back to 2010. The postman, who was not named, was 56 and came from the southern city of Naples, police said. They added that it was the largest ever haul of undelivered mail in Italy. The Vicenza postal service has promised to deliver the huge pile of post, albeit several years late. Writing by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Janet Lawrence" + }, + { + "text": "January 7, 2018 / 7:15 AM / Updated 14 minutes ago China December forex reserves rise to $3.1 trillion, highest since September 2016 - central bank Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s foreign exchange reserves rose to their highest in more than a year in December and grew at a faster-than-expected pace, as tight regulations and a strong yuan continued to discourage capital outflows, data showed on Sunday. FILE PHOTO - Chinese banknotes are seen at a vendor's cash box at a market in Beijing February 14, 2014. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo Notching up their 11th straight month of gains, reserves rose $20.2 billion in December to $3.14 trillion, the highest since September 2016 and the biggest monthly increase since July, central bank data showed on Sunday. That compares with an increase of $10 billion in November. Economists polled by Reuters had expected reserves to rise by $6 billion to $3.125 trillion. Capital flight had been seen as a major risk for China at the start of 2017, but a combination of tighter capital controls and a faltering dollar helped the yuan stage a strong turnaround, bolstering confidence in the economy. The yuan rose around 6.8 percent against the greenback in 2017, recovering from a 6.5 percent loss in 2016 and reversing three straight years of depreciation. The value of gold reserves rose to $76.47 billion at the end of December, from $75.833 billion at the end of November, data on the PBOC website also showed. Related Coverage" + }, + { + "text": "January 1 saw the official legalization of recreational marijuana in California, and with it a potential huge boost to an industry that one research company estimated could be worth $6 billion by 2021 . And those living in and around Los Angeles should get set for trucks driving around the city wrapped in advertising for MedMen, one of the stores \"mainstreaming marijuana,\" and a company that has spent more than $500,000 on marketing already. But the ads — which have already run on billboards around LA's wider metropolitan area — won't feature any buds, blunts or bongs. Instead, the posters will show close-ups of people's faces with phrases such as \"Heal. It's legal,\" and \"Relax. It's legal.\" MedMen An ad for marijuana store MedMen They are real MedMen customers, said Daniel Yi, the firm's vice president of corporate communications. \"This is not about marijuana,\" he told CNBC in an email. \"This is about the people who use cannabis for all the reasons people have used cannabis for hundreds of years. Yes for recreation, just like alcohol, but also for wellness.\" MedMen lists six stores in Southern California and three in New York on its website, and Yi added that each has more than 1,000 different products. \"Many of them have nothing to do with 'getting high'... This is about giving choice and a safe and inviting environment for adults who want to make cannabis a part of their lives,\" he said. Bloomberg | Getty Images A MedMen store in West Hollywood, California, on 2 January 2018. As well as the pure product itself, stores will sell skin creams, bath bombs and teas infused with cannabidiol (known as CBD), one of the active elements of cannabis. MedMen's \"Faces\" ads have featured on billboards around the Whisky a Go Go nightclub on Sunset Boulevard and the company has also run print and digital ads in what Yi claims is the \"largest marijuana marketing campaign in history.\" It's an adspend that MedMen will be hoping will keep sending people into its shops. CEO Adam Bierman told CNBC's \" The Profit \" in August 2017 that each customer spends $85 on average. With about 180 customers a day, that would equate to $15,000 takings per store. show chapters A hi-tech high 6:52 PM ET Mon, 7 Aug 2017 | 01:08 Until 2018, marijuana use was allowed only for medicinal purposes and not recreational purposes in California. But, as of January 1, not all businesses have yet received state licenses to sell it . Delivery business Eaze, for example, sells vaporizers, drinks and mouth sprays, among other products, and expects to be able to deliver in San Francisco from January 5. Rules will operate in the state, governing opening hours and advertising — for example, cannabis must not be marketed to those under 21." + }, + { + "text": "BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany’s would-be coalition parties have agreed in a working paper to pass legislation to guarantee adherence to a goal to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 55 percent by 2030 from 1990 levels, a working paper seen by Reuters showed. Reporting by Markus Wacket; Writing by Paul Carrel" + }, + { + "text": "ZURICH, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Christine Novakovic has been named head of UBS wealth management in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the bank said, replacing Paul Raphael, who was in charge of Europe and emerging markets. A spokeswoman confirmed a report by finews that Raphael was leaving his job at UBS, which on Monday announced it was merging its global and Americas wealth management businesses. Novakovic has most recently headed UBS’s investment banking and corporate customers business in Switzerland. Sylvia Coutinho is taking on the new role as UBS head of Wealth Management Latin America. She is now chairman of UBS Brazil. Reporting by Angelika Gruber, Writing by Michael Shields, Editing by Adrian Croft" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 2:13 PM / Updated 32 minutes ago Vice President Pence to lead U.S. delegation to Winter Olympics Reuters Staff 2 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence will lead the U.S. delegation to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, next month, a senior White House official said on Wednesday. FILE PHOTO - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence speaks to troops in a hangar at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan on December 21, 2017. REUTERS/Mandel Ngan/Pool Pence will also visit Alaska and Japan as part of the trip. Pence will review ICBM defence systems in Alaska and reaffirm to the leaders of Japan and South Korea that the United States is fully committed to stability in the region, the official said. The Pyeongchang Olympics, which start on Feb. 9, coincide with high tensions on the Korean Peninsula due to North Korean nuclear tests and contentious exchanges between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea will also send high-ranking officials, athletes, and a cheering squad to the Olympics, a senior South Korean official said on Tuesday. The U.S. State Department said in a briefing on Tuesday that there are not any current plans for the American delegation to meet with the North Korean delegation. Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has said he opposed inviting the North Korean delegation to the Games. “I don’t mind talks with North Korea but I do have serious concerns about legitimising the most barbaric leader on the planet,” Graham wrote in a post on Twitter on Tuesday. Reporting by Blake Brittain; Editing by Andrew Hay" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Depression and anxiety afflict Americans who are concerned with the fate of the environment, according to a study of the mental health effects of climate change. Most hard-hit are women and people with low incomes who worry about the planet’s long-term health, said the study published this week in the journal Global Environmental Change. Symptoms include restless nights, feelings of loneliness and lethargy. “Climate change is a persistent global stressor,” said Sabrina Helm, lead author of the paper and professor of family and consumer sciences at the University of Arizona. Risks to mental health from climate change are a “creeping development,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Due to climate change, scientists predict sea levels are on track to surge as temperatures rise, posing threats such as deadly heat, extreme weather and land swallowed by rising water. World leaders mobilized to curb man-made greenhouse gas emissions to fight global warming in a 2015 agreement, although the United States has since said it would withdraw from the landmark deal. Signs of depression do not appear in people concerned about climate change’s risks to humanity but do appear in people worried about its impact on other species, plants and nature overall, the research said. The study pulled from 342 online surveys of respondents whose views broadly reflect the wider U.S. population, it said. Experts have looked at ways extreme weather such as hurricanes and floods, whose intensity has increased due to climate change, can cause mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, it said. But little research has looked into anxiety arising from climate change as an everyday concern, the study said. Reporting by Sebastien Malo @sebastienmalo, Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit news.trust.org" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 4:50 PM / Updated 20 minutes ago Pope Francis to visit Peru as Fujimori pardon roils country Mitra Taj , Philip Pullella 5 Min Read LIMA/VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis next week visits Peru, a country divided over former autocrat leader Alberto Fujimori, whose pardon from prison by the current president has reopened wounds from one of the country’s darkest periods. FILE PHOTO - People rest near Lima Cathedral with a banner of Pope Francis prior to his visit to Peru from January 18 to 21, in Lima, Peru, January 3, 2018. REUTERS/Mariana Bazo Peruvians will watch closely to see if the Argentine pope signals any concern over the pardon after he arrives on Thursday from Chile on the second leg of a South America trip, where corruption and the plight of indigenous people will likely come up. President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, a former Wall Street banker, last month narrowly survived an impeachment bid over a graft scandal with the help of Fujimori’s loyalists in Congress, and pardoned Fujimori three days later. Fujimori, 79, had served less than half of a 25-year sentence for corruption and human rights crimes for commanding death squads to combat a Maoist-inspired insurgency during his 1990-2000 right-wing populist government. Opponents of both Fujimori and Kuczynski will be seeking a papal condemnation, even if only in general terms, of human rights abuses and corruption. “Hopefully the Pope will show solidarity with the victims,” said human rights activist Gisela Ortiz, whose brother was one of nine university students killed in a massacre of civilians that Fujimori was found guilty of ordering. She called on Francis to meet with her and other family members of Fujimori’s victims. “We want to express how worried we are about the injustice we’re living in,” she said. Kuczynski, 79, cited medical reasons for granting Fujimori the pardon and has said it was fundamentally about forgiveness. He denies it was part of a backroom deal. Rosa Rojas, who is also seeking a meeting with the pope, said she still struggles with the loss of her husband and eight-year-old son, who were killed in Fujimori’s battle against the Shining Path rebels. Combat between state security forces and the Shining Path and other guerrillas left an estimated 69,000 dead in Peru between 1980 and 2000, with 75 percent of victims comprised of indigenous people, according to Peru’s truth commission. “With the pardon, wounds that were healing have reopened,” Rojas said. FILE PHOTO - Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori accompanied by his son Kenji Fujimori leaves the Centenario hospital in Lima, Peru, January 4, 2018. REUTERS/Alexis Pasquel ‘CORRUPTION IS THE PLAGUE’ Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, hinted strongly that the pope would address corruption during the trip. Parolin, who ranks only second to the pope in the Church’s hierarchy, told Vatican media that the pope feels fighting corruption is important because “it blocks development and the overcoming of poverty”. During a previous trip to Latin American Francis said: “Corruption is the plague, it’s the gangrene of society”. But Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said there were no plans for the pope to meet the family members of Fujimori’s victims. Despite his downfall, many Peruvians admire Fujimori, crediting him with pacifying Peru, fixing a broken economy and tending to the needs of the poor. Recent polls show that a majority of Peruvians support the pardon. His populist following, led by daughter Keiko and son Kenji, remains one of the country’s most potent political forces. Fujimori’s supporters are also seeking a gesture of papal understanding for the pardon, but Church sources say that is unlikely. Human rights is expected to come up when Francis visits the Amazonian town of Puerto Maldonado to address increasing risks to the region’s indigenous people - including reclusive tribes that shun contact with outsiders - from rampant wildcat gold mining, illegal logging and drug trafficking. “Their territory is increasingly being invaded, their space is becoming smaller and smaller; the livelihoods with which they have survived for so many centuries are being destroyed,” said Father Manuel Jesus Romero. “Fishing, hunting, trees and rivers are more and more in danger. Therefore their lives are in danger,” he told the newsletter of REPAM, a Pan-Amazonian Church Network. The South America trip will be 22nd overseas trip of Francis’ pontificate and the sixth to the continent of his birth." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24(Reuters) - Petpal Pet Nutrition Technology Co Ltd * Sees 2017 net profit to increase by 21.9 percent to 31.9 percent, or to be 98 million yuan to 106 million yuan * Says 2016 net profit was 80.4 million yuan * Says that increased sales income as the main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/XAuJie Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Portugal eyes bid to rival Californian cannabis 4:04pm GMT - 02:07 Portuguese lawmakers have begun debating a draft bill that would legalize medical marijuana as a 20 million dollar cannabis farm opens in the country. Emily Wither reports. Portuguese lawmakers have begun debating a draft bill that would legalize medical marijuana as a 20 million dollar cannabis farm opens in the country. Emily Wither reports. //reut.rs/2AV6NBv" + }, + { + "text": "DUBAI—Saudi Arabia is assuming supervisory control of the Saudi Binladin Group and could take a stake in the construction giant, people familiar with the matter said, a sign of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s willingness to disrupt the established corporate order in the kingdom. The move further upends a decades-old alliance with the country’s rulers that made the bin Ladens one of the kingdom’s wealthiest families. It comes as the company’s septuagenarian chairman, Bakr bin Laden, remains detained after his arrest in November... RELATED VIDEO Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Ambitious Plans for Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has huge ambitions for change in Saudi Arabia. But will his reforms also mean greater turbulence in the Middle East? WSJ's Niki Blasina reports. Photo: Getty To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 10 (Reuters) - Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group Plc: * JARDINE LLOYD THOMPSON GROUP PLC - ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF LUCY CLARKE AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF GROUP‘S WORLDWIDE INSURANCE BROKING ACTIVITIES * JARDINE LLOYD THOMPSON GROUP PLC - LUCY WILL TAKE UP HER NEW ROLE FROM BEGINNING OF APRIL 2018 * JARDINE LLOYD THMPSN - LUCY CLARKE APPOINTED GLOBAL CEO OF JLT SPECIALTY" + }, + { + "text": "HONG KONG, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Esprit Holdings Ltd said it expected to post losses in the fiscal first half, ended in December 2017, hit by weak sales at its brick-and-mortar retail stores as the fashion group rationalized its distribution footprint and a decline in China business. The Europe-focused clothing retailer expected to post a net loss of up to HK$980 million ($125.4 million) for July-December period, as compared with HK$61 million profit in the year-ago period, the company said in a filing late on Wednesday. Esprit said its gross profit margin had slightly increased and operating expenses had further reduced, but were not sufficient to outweigh the negative impact of the revenue decline during the period. The operating environment continues to be “very challenging” amid the rapidly-changing industry dynamics, and the financial performance in the second half remains “uncertain”, the company added. It is due to release the interim results on Feb. 28. Esprit is undergoing a multi-year revamp that includes store closures, price adjustments, new return policies, and technology and distribution upgrades. It said in November it would continue downsizing effort to accelerate closure of loss-making retail stores and expect improvement in gross profit margin and operating expenses to outweigh the negative impact of revenue decline. The company has expected controlled retail space to shrink by single digits in percentage terms in the current financial year with falling revenue. Esprit shares dived more than 15 percent in early trade at HK$3.44, their lowest since April 1999. $1 = 7.8176 Hong Kong dollars Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips" + }, + { + "text": "The deadly flu strain hits every U.S. state 4:37am IST - 01:04 This year’s seasonal flu epidemic is especially severe, according to the Centers for Disease Control, which says the deadly virus is now in every U.S. state. Jillian Kitchener reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript This year’s seasonal flu epidemic is especially severe, according to the Centers for Disease Control, which says the deadly virus is now in every U.S. state. Jillian Kitchener reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Circus maintains flesh-and-blood appeal, says Charlie Chaplin's son 01:03 As the Budapest International Circus Festival celebrates 250 years of the modern circus, it's remaining relevant even in the digital era, says Eugene Chaplin. Rough cut (no reporter narration). As the Budapest International Circus Festival celebrates 250 years of the modern circus, it's remaining relevant even in the digital era, says Eugene Chaplin. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2D1TfdD" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19 (Reuters) - SOHO DEVELOPMENT SA: * RESOLVES TO BUY BACK UP TO 12.2 MILLION OF ITS OWN SHARES AT 3.27 ZLOTY PER SHARE * UNDER FIRST ROUND OF SHARE BUYBACK PROGRAM, CO BOUGHT 32.99 PERCENT OF OWN SHARES FOR 98.5 MILLION ZLOTYS Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Ford still has work to do to be a truly \"fit\" company, said CEO Jim Hackett on Wednesday. The second-largest automaker said it is not yet fit enough to offset headwinds from higher commodity prices, which the company expects to continue to affect finances in 2018. \"Ford is a strong company,\" Hackett said on a conference call Wednesday, after the company released earnings for the fourth quarter and full year of 2017 . \"I am proud of it, but we have not done enough to be fit today.\" In particular, it is less fit than its peers, who have said they are not feeling the same pressure from commodity prices. Higher commodities and unfavorable foreign exchange rates have hindered Ford in recent quarters. The company is attempting a turnaround under Hackett, who was appointed CEO in early 2017. Ford spends about $10 billion in commodities annually, and about two-thirds of that go to steel and aluminum. The company benefited from falling prices in 2015 and 2016. But the market began to turn in late 2016 and prices are expected to continue their climb through 2018. Ford uses a larger amount of aluminum than competitors in some of its vehicles, particularly in its trucks and SUVs. But aluminum is not the primary problem, said CFO Bob Shanks on Wednesday's conference call. Steel is the real issue, he said. Ford expects revenues in 2018 to be flat or modestly higher over 2017, and is expecting flat to lower profits from its automotive business. It is also expecting lower profits from its Ford Credit business. At the same time, Ford plans to spend about $7.5 billion in capital in 2018. The company is plowing profits into investments in new mobility initiatives, such as developing self-driving cars. Ford is battling a perception that it is behind rivals and tech firms on mobility technologies. Ford has a plan to improve fitness, Hackett said, but he did not disclose many details on what action the firm plans to take, saying he wanted to discuss plans within the company first." + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - France welcomes long-term investments from China, but only after screening deals to ensure French assets are not “looted”, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday in Beijing. In China on a three-day state visit, French President Emmanuel Macron is pushing for a more balanced trade relationship, hoping in particular to reduce France’s 30 billion euro ($35.8 billion) trade shortfall with the country. Le Maire said more balance would mean better access to Chinese markets while protecting French technologies and setting limits on Chinese investments in France. Asked if his ministry would from now on screen Chinese investments, Le Maire said: “Yes, and I reject many.” He added that he would announce plans on Jan. 15 to boost a 2014 decree requiring foreign companies to get permission from the French state before taking control of French firms in the energy, telecoms, transport, water and the health sectors “We accept long-term investments but not looting,” he added. Reporting by Michel Rose; writing by Leigh Thomas" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 5:20 AM / Updated 7 hours ago Chung blazes trail into Australian Open semi-finals Ian Ransom 4 Min Read MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Chung Hyeon’s trailblazing run through the Australian Open continued on Wednesday as the relentless South Korean tossed American Tennys Sandgren aside 6-4 7-6(5) 6-3 to become his nation’s first grand slam semi-finalist. Bespectacled like Clark Kent but playing like Superman at a sunbathed Rod Laver Arena, world number 58 Chung became the lowest ranked player into the last four at Melbourne Park since Marat Safin in 2004. The muscular 21-year-old will meet either champion Roger Federer or Tomas Berdych for a place in the final, and should head into that clash brimful of confidence. As in his fourth round elimination of six-times champion Novak Djokovic, Chung had all the answers against world number 97 Sandgren, returning virtually everything the battling American could throw at him. A near-perfect display finished with a wobble when serving out the match, as he squandered a 40-0 lead and saw a total of five match points evaporate into a cloudless sky. He later admitted to thinking prematurely about victory and what it might mean for his expectant nation. “I think (in the) last game, many things come together. If I win one more point, I make history in Korea,” he told reporters. “Something I (was) thinking like that. I have to think about the ceremony. Anyway, I had to stay calm because... the match was not finished yet.” Chung’s raw power ultimately prevailed, a blazing forehand into the corner causing a scrambling Sandgren to push his desperate retrieve well past the baseline. Chung flashed a broad grin as South Koreans draped in flags roared in the terraces and his mother shaped a love heart with her arms from the players’ box. South Korea has been late to the party in global tennis but Chung’s success could light a fire for the sport in the east Asian nation. It has also been a devastating raid by a player barely spoken about before the tournament, with most of the buzz around young guns like Germany’s Alexander Zverev, who Chung dismantled in the third round, and Australian Nick Kyrgios. Tennis - Australian Open - Quarterfinals - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 24, 2018. Chung Hyeon of South Korea reacts after winning against Tennys Sandgren of the U.S. REUTERS/Thomas Peter FALSE ALARM The match began in an unnerving way for all concerned, a false alarm ringing out and warning to “evacuate, evacuate, evacuate” early in the first set. Play was halted for a few moments and some fans scurried for the exits. Chung broke Sandgren in the third game and served out the set to love, then took the heavy-legged American’s serve again to take a 2-0 lead in the second. Slideshow (2 Images) Sandgren rallied strongly, breaking Chung twice but he faltered when serving for the set at 5-3. The Korean converted a second break point to get back on serve and the pair fought furiously in a breathless tiebreak. Sandgren wound his forehand up for a straightforward winner to secure two set points but instead thumped the ball into the net to allow Chung to level at 5-5. Another rush of blood saw the American fire long, and a clinical Chung needed only one chance to take the set. The Korean flapped his hands at the crowd in triumph, as a red-faced Sandgren retired to his chair to shake his head and fume. The American appeared spent and slumped to a 3-1 deficit, but gave the crowd their money’s worth with brilliant volleying to save a fifth match point. The 26-year-old bowed out to warm applause from the crowd, though a storm over his social media links with right wing nationalists raged on in the background. “I‘m happy with being resilient,” Sandgren said. “It’s not easy to come off some big wins, biggest wins of my career, crazy stages, like quarter-finals of a slam... and to deal with the stuff off the court as well.” Editing by Greg Stutchbury/John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "EditorsNote: revises ninth graf Colin Miller scored a goal and supplied two assists as the Vegas Golden Knights completed a solid road trip with their best performance, striking early in a 5-1 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday night at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Jonathan Marchessault, James Neal and Brendan Leipsic also scored for Vegas, which was denied reaching the six-goal mark -- something it has done only twice previously this season. The Golden Knights wrapped up a four-game road trip with five of a possible eight team points. Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 27 shots, including all 18 across the final two periods. The Hurricanes replaced goalie Scott Darling after the third goal came just 12:59 into the game. Defenseman Jaccob Slavin cut the Hurricanes’ deficit to 3-1 with 45 seconds left in the first period with a power-play goal. Carolina was coming off a five-day layoff when it won Saturday night at Detroit, but it was unable to duplicate that kind of performance. The Golden Knights had scored only 45 first-period goals this season, the fewest in any period, so the three-goal burst to begin the game was an unexpected boost. Bellemare opened the scoring at 2:55. Miller’s power-play goal at 12:20 was followed 39 seconds later by Marchessault finding the net. Darling stopped only five of eight shots before Cam Ward, who played a night earlier, was summoned to the ice. Darling’s record dropped to 9-13-6, adding to a disappointing recent stretch for the player who was supposed to claim the No. 1 goaltending role. Ward allowed two goals on 25 shots in his relief effort. Vegas has posted more shots than its opponent in seven consecutive games. Since mid-December, the Hurricanes also have taken 8-1 and 7-1 losses, but those results were on the road. The Hurricanes have lost four consecutive home games, going 0-3-1 on home ice this month. This was the only home game for the Hurricanes between their five-day break and the upcoming All-Star weekend. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "The stock market has incredible price momentum and broad participation but the challenges are \"truly increasing,\" widely followed strategist Jim Paulsen told CNBC on Tuesday. In fact, he called the optimism of late \"really overwhelming.\" \"It's so striking because we haven't had it in the entire recovery. The wall of worry was probably the cornerstone of this bull market. ... That is gone,\" the chief investment officer at the Lethold Group said in an interview with \" Power Lunch .\" \"That opens you up to the bear's bite,\" he added. The Dow Jones industrial average broke above 26,000 for the first time on Tuesday , less than a month after hitting its record 25,000. However, stocks pulled back later in the afternoon as investors weighed the possibility of a government shutdown. Full-fledged correction? While Paulsen isn't exiting the market right now, he does think it is technically overbought and due for a pause. \"The pressures are building ... particularly if inflation picks up in any major way here ... of not just a pullback but a full-fledged 10 or 15 percent correction sometime this year,\" he said. In the meantime, if the market continues \"roaring ahead,\" with the S&P 500 breaking through 3,000 and the 10-year Treasury yield heading up toward 3 percent, Paulsen said he then may get more defensive with cash. For now, though, he would look to own more capital goods stocks and fewer consumer and bond-like names.Richard Weiss, chief investment officer of multi-asset strategies at American Century Investments, believes it makes sense right now to sell some equities. \"We've ridden this bull for all it's worth,\" he told \"Power Lunch.\" If investors want to hedge their bets, Weiss suggests cash, which he called the \"safest place to be,\" or the CBOE Volatility Index. \"I don't know that there's any safe havens in the [U.S.] stock market at this point,\" he said. — CNBC's Fred Imbert contributed to this report." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - OLYMPIC ENTERTAINMENT GROUP AS : * Q4 2017 TOTAL REVENUE EUR 50.5 MILLION VERSUS EUR 47.2 MILLION YEAR AGO * 12M 2017 TOTAL REVENUE EUR 197.2 MLN VERSUS EUR 189.5 MILLION YEAR AGO Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Published: Jan 15, 2018 4:30 p.m. ET Share Sergio Marchionne says he’ll unveil new strategy June 1 Jeep By Chester Dawson DETROIT—Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV’s chief executive said Monday he has no plans to sell its Jeep business or split up the company, cooling speculation but leaving the company’s long-term strategy unclear. CEO Sergio Marchionne last year sparked talk that the auto maker might be willing to part with its Jeep sports utility and Ram truck brands, and he has courted rivals with talk of merger. But he backed away from both those options as he prepares to step down next year “We have no intention of breaking it up” and selling parts of the business to Chinese or other buyers, Marchionne said at a news conference at the Detroit auto show. The outspoken CEO, who once touted the idea of joining forces with General Motors Co. to boost profitability and cut excess production, said that is no longer something he is interested in pursuing. “The merger [talk] is done. That’s history, that’s three years ago,” he said. The about-face leaves Fiat Chrysler’s FCAU, -0.13% future unclear, though he promised Monday to unveil a new strategic plan on June 1 ahead of his resignation early next year." + }, + { + "text": "PRAGUE, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Inflation risks to the Czech central bank’s latest forecasts are slightly higher and can allow faster interest rate rises than the bank’s outlook sees, board member Vojtech Benda said in an interview on news website info.cz. Benda was one of two board members who voted for a rate hike at the bank’s last meeting in December. The bank paused with raising rates then after lifting borrowing costs twice since August, and analysts expect the next move in February. “I was one of two who thinks inflation risks are slightly higher,” Benda said in the interview. “This basically justifies, or would give us the possibility to raise interest rates at a slightly faster tempo than the trajectory we have in the forecast.” (Reporting by Jason Hovet)" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - China will not attend an international meeting of foreign ministers in Canada to discuss North Korea, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. Speaking at a daily news briefing, ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the meeting would not help resolve tensions on the Korean peninsula because not all of the main parties would be there. Canada and the United States are co-hosting the meeting in Vancouver on Jan. 16 to demonstrate international solidarity against North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests. Representatives of the countries that sent troops or other military support to the U.N.-backed effort to repel North Korean forces after the 1950 invasion of South Korea will attend. Reporting by Michael Martina; Writing by Philip Wen; Editing by Michael Perry" + }, + { + "text": "This week at CES, Japanese company Seven Dreamers demoed its laundry-folding robot, Laudroid. The machine was set up in a mock living room and is about the size of a very tall dresser. Clothing dropped in the bottom drawer is picked up by two robotic arms and unfolded so that software can recognize the garment From there, artificial intelligence takes over. \"For this t-shirt, visual analysis technology and AI has to measure the length and width of the shirt to determine where to fold, which direction to fold, and see where the collar position is and to see if it's a front and back,\" says Seven Dreamers CEO Shin Sakane. \"And then once it measures everything, it could fold nicely.\" Laundroid can organize clothing either by family member or type. It's also WiFi connected and comes with an app that tracks everything the machine folds, creating a type of virtual closet. The process is still very slow. It takes about five hours for Laundroid to fold a full load and it doesn't work with socks. Preorders for Laundroid start this fall. The robot will be initially available in Japan, the U.S. and parts of China for $16,000." + }, + { + "text": "Jay Leno learns how this steam powered train is similar to a bicycle 4 Hours Ago The Mt. Washington Cog Railway transports visitors up the highest peak in the Northeastern United States. The historic locomotive uses steam power and coal to travel along a cog railway. Owner Wayne Presby explains how the track is just like the chain and sprocket on a bicycle to Jay Leno. All New Jay Leno's Garage Thursdays 10P ET/PT SHARES" + }, + { + "text": "ANKARA (Reuters) - Two rockets fired from the Syrian region of Afrin struck the Turkish border town of Kilis on Wednesday, wounding 13 people, the local governor said. The rockets hit two locations in the city center, including a mosque during prayer times, Governor Mehmet Tekinarslan said. Eight people were wounded, with two in critical condition, at the mosque, and another five injured at the second location. Turkish media footage showed security forces clearing the areas of civilians following the attacks, as ambulances and emergency teams arrived at the site. As Turkey’s operation against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in Afrin entered its fifth day, several rockets have hit the Turkish border towns of Kilis and Reyhanli. On Saturday, as Turkey started its operation, rockets fired across the border hit Reyhanli, killing a Syrian national and wounding 46 people, the local governor’s office said. Another five were wounded when rockets hit Kilis, a Reuters witness said. Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay; Editing by David Dolan Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "VW condemned for testing diesel fuel on monkeys 01:54 Volkswagen's supervisory board called on Monday for an immediate inquiry into who ordered scientific tests in which monkeys were exposed to toxic diesel fumes, while the German government said such studies were unjustifiable. Volkswagen's supervisory board called on Monday for an immediate inquiry into who ordered scientific tests in which monkeys were exposed to toxic diesel fumes, while the German government said such studies were unjustifiable. //reut.rs/2noIWWb" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds details on results, background) Jan 11 (Reuters) - British staffing company Hays Plc reported higher second-quarter net fees on Thursday, helped by strong performance in its international businesses. The company said it continues to see vigorous trading conditions in the majority of its international markets, reporting a 16 percent rise in net fee growth in its Asia Pacific business. The company, which places workers in areas such as finance and IT, reported a 13 percent rise in second-quarter group net fees at constant currencies in the three months ended Dec. 31. Net fees from its UK and Ireland operations rose 1 percent and the company said business in the UK remained stable. Most British staffing companies are relying on their overseas business to drive growth as uncertainty following Britain’s June 2016 vote to leave the European Union curbs domestic demand. The company, which has operations in 33 countries, said 24 of those markets grew in excess of 10 percent in the period. (Reporting by Radhika Rukmangadhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16 (Reuters) - Guangzhou Improve Medical Instruments Co Ltd * Says it sees net profit for FY 2017 to decrease by 40 percent to 70 percent, or to be 9.1 million yuan to 18.3 million yuan * Says the net profit of FY 2016 was 30.5 million yuan * Comments that increased income and financial costs as main reasons for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/5U8DKD Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "DUBAI (Reuters) - A house fire killed seven children on Monday near the eastern city of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, the education ministry said in a statement. The victims from the Rabia family ranged from kindergarten age to the eighth grade, the ministry added on its official Twitter page. Gulf News, a UAE newspaper, Quote: d a local police and civil defense officials saying that their mother reported the fire at dawn and though the cause of the blaze remained unknown, a short-circuit was suspected. A tourism and trade hub, the UAE has suffered several high-profile fires among its trademark high-rise buildings in recent years, few of which caused deaths. “We have today instructed the state’s civil defense to ensure immediately that all necessary fire protection systems are in place in all citizens’ homes”, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice-President of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai, said in a tweet. Relatively poorer than fellow emirates Dubai and Abu Dhabi, mountainous Fujairah sits astride the Indian Ocean on the country’s East coast. Reporting by Noah Browning, editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump hosted Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev at the White House on Tuesday, praising the relationship between the two nations. The two leaders met in the Oval Office and delivered statements to reporters before holding a working lunch. The visit marks the first to the White House by a leader of Kazakhstan since 2006. Mr.... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "The dollar pared losses against a basket of currencies on Monday, after news that Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate had rounded up enough votes to move a stopgap funding bill that would end a government shutdown. The U.S. government shutdown took effect at midnight on Friday after Democrats and Republicans failed to agree on a last-minute deal to fund government operations. On Monday, Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer said the government would reopen in a \"few hours.\" The dollar index , which tracks the greenback against six major currencies, was down 0.21 percent to 90.39, after falling as low as 90.155 earlier in the session. The greenback jumped to 110.96 yen against the Japanese currency." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15 (Reuters) - SBERBANK: * DECEMBER 2017 NET PROFIT UNDER RAS OF RUB 49.9 BILLION * 2017 NET PROFIT TO RAS OF RUB 674.12 BILLION (EXCLUDING THE EFFECT OF SUBSEQUENT EVENTS) VERSUS RUB 498.29 BILLION YEAR AGO (INCLUDING SUBSEQUENT EVENTS) * 2017 NET INTEREST INCOME TO RAS OF RUB 1.21 TRLN VERSUS RUB 1.13 TRLN YEAR AGO * 2017 TOTAL PROVISION CHARGE UNDER RAS OF RUB 287.44 BILLION VERSUS RUB 253.79 BILLION YEAR AGO Source text: bit.ly/2r7aQuU Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Apple Inc. is being investigated by the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission over potential securities violations related to the company’s disclosure of a software update that slowed older iPhones, people familiar with the matter said. The two probes add pressure on the tech giant to address criticism from customers and lawmakers after it acknowledged in December that it was throttling the performance of older iPhones as batteries aged. The company later apologized for the issue and slashed the price... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Struggling commodities trader Noble Group has completed the sale of its U.S.-focused oil business to the world’s largest oil trader Vitol, but net proceeds from the deal are lower than a previously announced estimate, the company said on Monday. In a statement, Noble Group said net proceeds from the sale of Noble Americas Corp (NAC) to Vitol were expected to be about $400 million. In October, Hong-Kong based Noble said gross proceeds from the deal would be about $1.42 billion and it expected to make about $580 million after repaying loans. Noble said the lower return on the sale that closed on Jan. 12 was “primarily due to operating losses of NAC from Oct. 1 2017 to the closing date.” The Singapore-listed company, which had a market capitalization of $6 billion in early February 2015, was plunged into crisis after a report by blogger Iceberg Research later that month questioning its accounting. Noble stood by its accounts and rejected the report’s allegations but coupled with a major commodities downturn, the firm was unable to recover investor confidence. Its market value has shrunk to around $200 million as it has progressively sold off large parts of its business to stay afloat. Noble also sold U.S. gas and power business to Mercuria for less than previously announced - $168 million compared with $250 million. Paul Brough, a restructuring specialist who oversaw part of the liquidation of Lehman Brothers, was appointed chairman last year and said he was taking steps to avoid insolvency. The company has also been closing what remains of its global oil trading business, returning to its roots as an Asian hard commodities trader. Noble said it had generated about $525 million in net proceeds after the sales to Mercuria and Vitol as well as monetizing what was left of its oil business within UK incorporated Noble Clean Fuels Ltd. On top of the approximately $400 million from the Vitol deal, the trader said it had “generated over $100 million of cash proceeds” from the wind down of working capital balances in NCFL, which was largely concluded in December 2017. Included in the total was $20 million released from escrow to the group from the deal with Mercuria. Reporting by Julia Payne; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "Most of us can find areas to cut back in. How much do you spend on takeout? Uber? What about coffee? If you want to build more wealth in 2018, start by identifying where you're wasting money. Do any of the purchases below sound familiar? If so, try giving them up and redirecting the savings toward your savings goals or retirement account, where it could grow significantly over time . ATM fees It'll cost you a record high of $4.57 to withdraw money from an out-of-network ATM. There's no reason to continue paying these fees, which can add up significantly over time. A simple 2018 resolution: If your bank's logo isn't on the ATM, don't use it. Late fees Like ATM fees, late fees are a pointless money suck. And there's more to late payments than simply paying a fee. Missing payments can also lower your credit score , which affects your ability to borrow money for bigger purchases, like a home or car , in the near future. Never miss a bill again by setting up automatic payments online for fixed costs such as cable, internet, and insurance. For expenses that can't be paid online, such as rent, set up calendar reminders and pay them at the same time each month so it becomes routine. show chapters 5 lifestyle changes you can make to get rich 2:41 PM ET Wed, 27 Dec 2017 | 00:53 Underused subscriptions While you're doing some deep cleaning and purging at the start of the new year, also go through all of the subscriptions you're signed up for. Look over your last couple of credit card statements and figure out exactly what you're paying for, whether it be subscriptions to magazines, software or online services. Next, ask yourself which you can eliminate, and cancel them on the spot to save a couple hundred dollars a year. You could also use Trim , which automatically finds and cancels your subscriptions with a text. Buying lunch every day Dining out can add up quickly . The more food you can prepare at home , the better off your food budget will be. Plus, packing lunch also tends to be better for your waistline. Of course, it's OK to treat yourself and buy the occasional meal out, but if you're aiming to hit major financial goals in 2018, going homemade is one of the simplest ways to cut back without making dramatic sacrifices. show chapters 5 easy chicken meals you can prep for the week that will save you time and money 12:48 PM ET Tue, 19 Dec 2017 | 04:46 Bottled water While you're getting into the habit of packing your lunch, start filling up a water bottle too. Whether it's bottled water or grabbing a coffee on your way to work, it's all too easy to spend mindlessly . But that money leaving your pocket could be directed toward your 2018 savings goals. Unused gym membership If you're a gym rat, power to you, but if you can't remember the last time you stepped foot inside the facilities, it may be time to cancel your membership. Plus, if you're ever itching to work out, there are plenty of ways to do it without a gym. Try following free YouTube workouts at home, walking, biking or hiking outside, making the most of training apps or joining a running club. show chapters How to stay fit without joining a gym 3:09 PM ET Wed, 10 May 2017 | 02:35 Cable The average American spends more than $100 a month on cable . That's a large sum to pay for a service that people often don't take full advantage of. Consider cutting the cord in 2018 and getting your TV from the internet, through services like Netflix ($8 a month), Hulu ($8 a month) or HBO Now ($15 a month). Excess groceries Collectively, we waste a lot of food . Every time you throw away excess groceries, that's money down the drain. Before you grocery shop, think about the meals you're going to make for the week and write down exactly what ingredients you'll need to prepare those meals. When you actually go to the store, stick to just the ingredients on your list. show chapters One simple hack will help you turn your food scraps into delicious veggie stock 5:24 PM ET Mon, 18 Dec 2017 | 01:52 Brand-name products Going generic — for certain groceries, toiletries or pet supplies — is an easy way to save money over time. You don't have to buy generic for everything. Identify what's really important to you and what you're willing to sacrifice. Then buy brand-name for the stuff you care about and go generic for everything else." + }, + { + "text": "A market correction is well overdue and investors should expect a price drop of up to 15 percent this year, Julius Baer Chief Executive Bernhard Hodler told CNBC Wednesday. \"Generally I think we will see sooner or later a correction — hopefully it will be like a 5, 10, 15 percent correction, another very large one, but I think that will happen sometime in 2018,\" Hodler said, sounding not in the least perplexed at the prospect. The private Swiss banking group manages more than 388 billion Swiss francs ($416 billion) in assets. Hodler acknowledged the current rosy picture for the global economy, saying, \"We are actually comfortable with the underlyings, corporate earnings, balance sheet quality, the GDP (gross domestic product) growth is predicted to be quite nice in 2018.\" He did note at the same time that \"there are some political risks and threats from protectionism.\" A market correction is a backtrack of at least 10 percent in a stock, an index or other security to account for an overvaluation in price, interrupting the market's upward trajectory. Valentin Flauraud | Bloomberg | Getty Images A sign sits on a wall outside the offices of Julius Baer Group Ltd. in Geneva, Switzerland. The CEO's forecast is the latest of several such comments from investors and banking executives, who warn that the combination of highly overvalued markets and historically low volatility is simply not sustainable. During the World Economic Forum at Davos last week, Allianz CEO Oliver Bate echoed the same sentiment, albeit with more concern in his delivery, warning that markets are \"very dangerous\" and that the certainty of an impending market correction is \"absolutely clear.\" Prominent market commentators have noted that today's stock market is the most overvalued on record — more so than in 1929, 2000 and 2007. The benchmark Dow Jones and S&P 500 indexes repeatedly hit record highs for the past several months until Monday, when the markets saw their first significant dips since the summer. Julius Baer on Wednesday reported it would increase its dividend after seeing double-digit growth for its net profits for 2017. Net profits rose 14 percent on 2016, reaching 705 million Swiss francs. The bank is the third-largest in Switzerland. show chapters Julius Baer CEO: We are largest independent wealth manager in Brazil 12 Hours Ago | 01:55" + }, + { + "text": "Amazon is set to report earnings next Thursday after the market closes, and the options market is implying a relatively large post-earnings move for the stock. One derivative strategist said the move is expected to be quite notable. \"Investors are really nervous about this stock, just in terms of how big the movement could be,\" Stacey Gilbert, head of derivative strategy at Susquehanna, told CNBC's \" Trading Nation \" on Friday. Here are her reasons. • The options market is implying a move of about 7 to 8 percent on its earnings report. This is high relative to its average post-earnings move of around 5 percent. Amazon's last earnings report , in October, saw an initial move higher of over 7 percent. • The move is likely to be bullish, but investors are bracing for the sheer magnitude of the options market's implied move. • The bullish options buying is driving up this volatility, but the sentiment continues to appear positive despite the rather volatile expectations. • As the stock is already up a hefty 20 percent year to date, it's not entirely surprising to see investors utilizing options to express their opinions heading into this earnings report. Bottom line: Investors are expecting a significant move post-earnings for Amazon shares. Vote Vote to see results Total Votes: Not a Scientific Survey. Results may not total 100% due to rounding. Disclaimer" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 11:53 AM / Updated 26 minutes ago Big Bash League Standings Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 17 (OPTA) - Standings of the Big Bash League on Wednesday P W L T Ded RR PTS Adelaide Strikers 8 6 2 0 0 .886 12 Perth Scorchers 8 6 2 0 0 .103 12 Hobart Hurricanes 8 5 3 0 0 -.269 10 Melbourne Renegades 7 4 3 0 0 .345 8 Brisbane Heat 8 4 4 0 0 .167 8 Sydney Thunder 8 3 5 0 0 -.200 6 Sydney Sixers 8 2 6 0 0 -.233 4 Melbourne Stars 7 1 6 0 0 -.917 2 Note: Ded-Deductions; RR-Net Run Rate" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 6:38 AM / in 34 minutes Nikkei ends at 26-year high as oil, securities shares shine Reuters Staff 3 Min Read TOKYO, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks rallied on the first trading day of 2018, with the Nikkei and Topix pushing to multi-decade highs as brokerage and oil shares surged. Catching up to overseas gains after the long Japanese New Year’s holiday, the Nikkei share average finished up 3.26 percent at its session high of 23,506.33, its highest level since January 1992. Thursday’s gain was the Nikkei’s biggest for one day since Nov. 10, 2016. “The market was mostly domestically-driven in the morning, with foreign buyers emerging in the afternoon,” said Yutaka Miura, a senior technical analyst at Mizuho Securities, who added that further gains were possible as the Nikkei topped a resistance point at 23,500. The broader Topix added 2.55 percent to end at a session high of 1,863.82, its best level since November 1991. Advancers outnumbered decliners 492 to 143, with 40 issues ending unchanged. In 2017, the Nikkei gained 19.1 percent and the Topix rose 19.7 percent, as the stronger global economy as well as domestic political stability and the Bank of Japan’s ultra-easy monetary policy underpinned Japanese corporate earnings. On Thursday, gains in many sectors helped power brokerage shares, with the securities subindex surging 4.86 percent. Nomura Holdings added 3.16 percent and Daiwa Securities Group was up 3.82 percent. Buoyant crude prices boosted the oil & coal subindex by 3.73 percent. JXTG Holdings added 3.99 percent and Cosmo Energy Holdings was 7.29 percent higher. Crude oil futures rose about 2 percent on Wednesday to their highest in 2-1/2 years, lifted by unrest in OPEC member Iran and strong U.S. and German economic data Semiconductor-related shares also outperformed, in line with their U.S. counterparts and PHLX Semiconductor Sector gains. Tokyo Electron shares rose 6.18 percent, and Screen Holdings shares were up 6.51 percent. Nintendo shares climbed 4.90 percent. The Financial Times reported on Monday that game developer Niantic Inc plans to launch its blockbuster Pokemon Go augmented reality game, in which Nintendo has a stake, in China through a partnership deal with local company NetEase. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shares were 2.57 percent higher, after the head of the company’s aircraft unit said it was on track to deliver its repeatedly delayed commercial jet by mid-2020 despite risk of an order cancellation. (Reporting by Lisa Twaronite; Editing by Richard Borsuk)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 12 (Reuters) - Infosys Ltd: * FY 18 REVENUE GUIDANCE IN CONSTANT CURRENCY RETAINED AT 5.5 PERCENT-6.5 PERCENT * FY 18 OPERATING MARGIN RANGE UNCHANGED AT 23 PERCENT-25 PERCENT * NET EMPLOYEE ADDITION 3,251 IN DEC QUARTER * COMMITTEE OF DIRECTORS STANDS DISSOLVED W.E.F JAN 12 Source text: bit.ly/2FvlsqE" + }, + { + "text": "As Trump heads to Davos, survey points to rising risk of war 2:38pm GMT - 01:12 The risk of political and economic confrontations between major powers, including outright military conflicts, has risen sharply, according to a survey released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) days before its annual gathering in Davos. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript The risk of political and economic confrontations between major powers, including outright military conflicts, has risen sharply, according to a survey released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) days before its annual gathering in Davos. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "A single ticket wins the $450 Mega Millions prize 01:08 Lottery officials say one Mega Millions ticket holder in Florida is the winner of the $450 million jackpot prize -- the fourth largest in the game's history. Jillian Kitchener reports. Lottery officials say one Mega Millions ticket holder in Florida is the winner of the $450 million jackpot prize -- the fourth largest in the game's history. Jillian Kitchener reports. //reut.rs/2CNHneV" + }, + { + "text": "January 27, 2018 / 9:01 PM / Updated 33 minutes ago Wild Woods entertains with recovery shots at Torrey Pines Andrew Both 2 Min Read LA JOLLA, California (Reuters) - Tiger Woods drove the ball wildly but hit some sensational recovery shots to slightly improve his position halfway through the third round at the Farmers Insurance Open on Saturday. Woods found the fairway with his tee shot only once, and some of his misses were by wide margins as he picked up three birdies and two bogeys on his outward half at Torrey Pines. He began his inward nine at two under par, 10 strokes behind leaders Ryan Palmer and Luke List. A huge gallery watched 14-times major champion Woods, who started his round at the 10th hole on the South course, where he has won eight times. Jan 26, 2018; San Diego, CA, USA; Tiger Woods plays his shot from the 15th tee during the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports His putter was much hotter than his driver. Four times he holed putts from eight feet or longer, including an 11-footer at the par-five 18th, which conjured up memories from a decade ago. Woods sank a putt from much the same distance at the 72nd hole of the 2008 U.S. Open to get into a playoff which he won. Jan 26, 2018; San Diego, CA, USA; Tiger Woods lines up a putt on the 11th green during the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports This week he is playing his first official tournament since a spinal fusion last April. Palmer, meanwhile, was joined at the top of a crowded leaderboard by fellow American List. Both had completed seven holes. Australian former world number one Jason Day charged within one stroke of the lead approaching the turn, while Swede Alex Noren and Americans Michael Kim and Tony Finau were also 10 under. Reporting by Andrew Both, editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "If you haven't stress-tested your portfolio recently, now might be the time. U.S. stocks fell sharply for the second day in a row Tuesday, in the year's first major sell-off. Monday was the worst session of the year for both the Dow and the S&P 500 . It's a notable reversal given the market's strong start to 2018. Up markets represent a prime opportunity to stress-test your portfolio against future volatility and downturns, certified financial planner Lynn Ballou, regional director at EP Wealth Advisors in Lafayette, California, told CNBC.com earlier this year. Make sure you're comfortable with all the investments you're holding. show chapters Market pause 'natural' after long rally: JP Morgan strategist 7 Hours Ago | 04:00 \"We get lulled into complacency in times like this ... then we kick ourselves if there's a market correction,\" she said. As part of that analysis, examine allocations to make sure they're in line with your time horizon and risk tolerance. That favorable stock performance may mean your portfolio has gotten more aggressive over time. \"If you're talking about a short-term goal of four years or less, I don't care how appetizing the market looks. Cash is your best friend.\" -Douglas Boneparth, Bone Fide Wealth \"Ask, 'Has my portfolio become unbalanced, because my equities have completely taken over the garden?'\" Ballou said. \"It's time to do some pruning and take some money off the table.\" Gauging your tolerance for risk is especially key. For more risk-averse investors, forgoing some gains now might be preferable to the pain and panic of a market downturn, certified financial planner Mark LaSpisa, president of Vermillion Financial Advisors in South Barrington, Illinois, told CNBC.com earlier this year. \"The real question is, for the person that hasn't experienced a correction in the past nine years, how are they going to react?\" he said. Depending on your goals, strategically shifting your investments could help reduce risk and still meet return your objectives, LaSpisa said. For example, he said, an investor who only needs 3 percent to 5 percent to meet retirement income obligations — and has already benefitted from several years of above-average returns — may not need to chase double-digit returns or stay in riskier investments to achieve that goal. \"Why are we reaching for that return if it's not needed?\" LaSpisa said. Keep goal timelines in mind, too, both for current investments and money you're thinking of investing, Douglas Boneparth, a certified financial planner and president of Bone Fide Wealth in New York, told CNBC.com earlier this year. \"Long-term goals, the ones that are seven, 10 years plus ... it's easier to remain unemotional because you have time on your side,\" he said. show chapters Market moving towards bearish extreme on bonds, says investor 9 Hours Ago | 03:19 Those long-term investors can benefit from dollar-cost averaging, he said, continuing regular contributions into their retirement accounts, 529 plans and the like. But it's a different story for goals you need to fund on a short timeline. \"If you're talking about a short-term goal of four years or less, I don't care how appetizing the market looks,\" Boneparth said. \"Cash is your best friend.\" More from Personal Finance: Equifax free credit protection offer ends Jan. 31 Unused vacation costs workers $66 billion in lost benefits Here's what fans will likely spend on the Super Bowl" + }, + { + "text": "Good morning, Shutdown Showdown It will be a busy day in Washington, with the funding of the federal government in doubt. On Thursday evening, the House narrowly passed a temporary spending bill, but rising opposition in the Senate leaves lawmakers without a clear path for avoiding a partial government shutdown at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday. The House approved the bill that would keep the government funded through Feb. 16—as well as reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program for six years—with a 230-197 vote. But that... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Russian opposition leader Navalny says police will not prevent him from joining protest 2:05pm IST - 01:24 Alexei Navalny says he is determined to protest March's presidential election in Russia on Sunday, despite a significant police presence surrounding him. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Alexei Navalny says he is determined to protest March's presidential election in Russia on Sunday, despite a significant police presence surrounding him. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2niQQAc" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One U.S. service member was killed and four others wounded during a “combat engagement” in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar, the U.S military said in a statement on Tuesday. The incident took place on Monday in Achin, Nangarhar province, the statement said. Two of the wounded service members are being treated at a medical facility and in stable condition, it added. Nangarhar, on the porous border with Pakistan, has become a stronghold for Islamic State, generally known as Daesh in Afghanistan, which has grown to become a dangerous militant group since it appeared around the start of 2015. The Taliban and Islamic State have frequently fought each other in Nangarhar and both have been targeted by sustained U.S. air strikes. The exact nature of the relationship between the two groups is little understood. There have been isolated incidents in Afghanistan in which the fighters of both appear to have cooperated. There are currently about 14,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan and under President Donald Trump’s South Asia strategy, U.S. troops are allowed to accompany Afghan forces at the battalion level, potentially putting them at greater risk. Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Tom Brown" + }, + { + "text": "Who Is Going to Run for President in 2020? 1/9/2018 6:00AM People are already starting to talk about who is going to run for president in 2020, following a highly publicized speech by Oprah Winfrey at the Golden Globes. WSJ's Gerald F. Seib explains whether the speculation is meaningful at this stage of the game. Photo: Getty" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 3:21 PM / Updated an hour ago Eleven EU members back Swiss in dispute with Brussels Reuters Staff 3 Min Read ZURICH/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Finance ministry officials from 11 European Union countries have backed non-member Switzerland in a dispute with Brussels over Swiss stock exchange access to the single market, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Tuesday. The letter to the European Commission from the 11 -- including Germany, Austria and Britain -- said Switzerland was treated unfairly last month when its exchanges got only one year of market access. Bern has threatened to retaliate against what it calls unacceptable discrimination, hurting ties with its main trading partner that had been easing after the Swiss parliament in 2016 skirted voters’ demands for immigration quotas on EU citizens. The Commission must certify that other countries’ exchanges have rules in place that are equivalent to new EU standards. All 28 EU members except Britain, which is leaving the EU, backed the one-year access proposal in December after the Commission changed tack from an original proposal in November for unlimited Swiss access, which won member approval. Such a switch was warranted “only in very exceptional cases”, the letter said. “Although we did not express our opposition to the resubmitted draft equivalence decision due to the need for an equivalence decision to be in place for 3 January 2018, we continue to pursue the goal of an unlimited equivalence recognition of the legal and supervisory framework applicable to stock exchanges in Switzerland,” it added. One EU diplomat said there was a risk of setting a dangerous precedent that might be used for Britain after its exit from the bloc. A Commission spokesman stressed that the eventual decision had been unanimous. “The fact that somebody then after the decision wrote a letter is another matter,” he said. Bern wants the same regulatory status for Swiss bourses as those in other countries have, enabling EU investors to trade in Switzerland, a crucial source of exchange volume. Diplomatic sources say the hardball approach arose from Commission ire over Swiss foot-dragging on a new treaty that Brussels wants to replace a patchwork of 120 bilateral accords now governing ties. The project has hit obstacles as right-wing and conservative parties in Switzerland baulk at giving the European Court of Justice a say in settling disputes over EU laws that Switzerland would have to adopt as the price of enhanced access to the single market. Many argue that Switzerland should await the outcome of British-EU Brexit negotiations before signing any new accord. New Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis is supposed to present his cabinet colleagues on Wednesday with proposals to break the logjam. Reporting by Michael Shields in Zurich, Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels; Editing by Adrian Croft" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 3:58 PM / a few seconds ago India's Kohli says team must reflect on South Africa defeat Reuters Staff 2 Min Read PRETORIA (Reuters) - India captain Virat Kohli wants his team to reflect on their decision-making and commitment after a 135-run second test defeat by South Africa on Wednesday handed the hosts an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Kohli cut a visibly disappointed, and at times irritated, figure after his side failed to chase down 287 for victory, losing seven wickets in the morning session on the final day to be bowled out for 151 in their second innings. “We have not come here to play the way we have done,” Kohli told reporters at the post-match news conference. “That is something that we need to definitely speak about. We need to be hard on ourselves. We need to ask ourselves if we are giving 120 percent for the team every time we bowl a ball or play a ball or field a ball. “That is something individuals need to reflect on themselves, but as a team we are definitely going to lay out these things in the open. We will ask the guys to be honest about what they were feeling at particular stages in the game. “Unless you speak about it and lay it out in front of everyone, there is very little chance of improving. The mistakes that we made have been really about not putting attention to detail at important stages of the game.” Kohli appeared particularly irritated when quizzed on team selection and whether the right XI had been selected for the second test, saying he and the selectors had picked a side they believed could win the test. “What’s the best XI?” he said. “You are telling me we could have played the best XI. So you tell me the best XI and we’ll play that. I‘m saying the loss obviously hurts. But you make one decision and you back it. “We certainly don’t sit here and say, ‘Oh, if you fail in one game you are not good enough to be at this level. “We played with teams before that have looked really strong and have lost as well.” The third test starts in Johannesburg on Jan. 24. Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Ken Ferris" + }, + { + "text": "BUENOS AIRES, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Argentine biotechnology firm Bioceres will use the $100 million it seeks by way of an initial public offering to power its current business, pay debt and make a minor acquisition, company CEO Federico Trucco said in a telephone interview on Wednesday. Two days earlier the company applied to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to operate on Wall Street. Bioceres is a developer of agricultural genetics in Argentina, the world’s top exporter of soymeal livestock feed. “The capitalization is fundamentally for a growth plan having to do with the commercialization of products that we have ready today,” Trucco said. “There is going to be a minor acquisition and repayment of debt.” Rosario-based Bioceres develops genes for soy, corn and wheat that withstand drought and cold temperatures. It makes insecticides, fungicides, bio-fertilizers and chemical-based fertilizers. On Monday it filed a registration statement with the SEC for a proposed initial public offering of American depositary shares (ADSs) representing its ordinary shares. The number of ADSs to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. Bioceres also has filed a petition to offer its ordinary shares in Argentina before the local market regulator. Foreign investors have been seeking more opportunities to buy Argentine equities since market-friendly President Mauricio Macri took office in December 2015. (Reporting by Maximilian Heath; Editing by Bill Trott) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Global markets: oil slides, dollar in the dumps 2:12pm GMT - 01:53 Share markets continue to take heart after China's GDP data adds more brushstrokes to an improving global growth picture. But, as David Pollard reports, fears of a US government shutdown dominate the dollar, and oil prices slide sharply on supply concerns. Share markets continue to take heart after China's GDP data adds more brushstrokes to an improving global growth picture. But, as David Pollard reports, fears of a US government shutdown dominate the dollar, and oil prices slide sharply on supply concerns. //reut.rs/2DrkvCg" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iran will dominate many of U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s conversations in Europe next week, when he is visiting London, Paris, Warsaw and Davos, Switzerland, a senior U.S. State Department official said on Friday. “Inevitably, Iran will dominate a lot of the conversations that the secretary has with our NATO allies and partners in Europe,” the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters. “We really emphasize close coordination with the British, in particular, and the French in our efforts to close the gaps (in the Iran nuclear deal) and in next steps on how we curtain Iranian malign influence in the (Middle East) region, so I think that will be a very high priority of his conversation.” Reporting By Arshad Mohammed" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday sold $20 billion of 10-year government notes to strong demand at a yield of 2.579 percent, which was the highest since July 2014, Treasury data showed. The ratio of bids to the amount of 10-year notes offered was 2.69, which was the strongest since June 2016. The gauge of overall auction demand was 2.37 at the previous 10-year note auction in December. (Reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by Jonathan Oatis) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 2:47 PM / Updated 6 hours ago French cycling hero retires - at 106 Reuters Staff 1 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - French cyclist Robert Marchand is retiring at the age of 106, a friend of the bike-mad centenarian has announced. FILE PHOTO: French cyclist Robert Marchand, aged 105, rides on his way to cover 22.528 km (14.08 miles) in one hour to set a new record at the indoor Velodrome National in Montigny-les-Bretonneux, southwest of Paris, France, January 4, 2017. REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen/File Photo The decision to quit comes a year after the tenacious sportsman set what was widely billed as a world record for the over-105s category: he completed 22.528 km (14.08 miles) in one hour. The feat, at an indoor track near Paris, drew intense media coverage and a moment of international celebrity for Marchand, an amateur who has been in the saddle for well over 90 years. His retirement, at not far off twice the average retirement age in France and three or four times the age at which top-notch athletes usually bow out, was announced to AFP news agency by a neighbour and friend. Reporting By Brian Love Editing by Jeremy Gaunt" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 7:37 PM / Updated 25 minutes ago White House: Trump to host bipartisan meeting on immigration next week Reuters Staff 1 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Thursday that President Donald Trump would hold a bipartisan meeting on U.S. immigration reform next week. Flanked by Senator Chuck Grassley (L) and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen (R), U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Republican members of the Senate about immigration at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 4, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque “Next week the president is inviting a bipartisan group of senators to the White House to discuss the next steps on responsible immigration reform,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters. Reporting by Jeff Mason; Writing by Katanga Johnson; Editing by David Alexander" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15 (Reuters) - Medical Data Vision Co Ltd * Says it will sign business and capital alliance agreement with MRSO, which is engaged in operation of portal site related to health screening reservation, on Jan. 25 * Says it will buy stake in MRSO, effective Jan. 31 * Says two entities will mainly cooperate on development of health screening related services Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/v4yXym Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "ROME (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A crop munching worm that can fly up to 100 km (60 miles) at night is spreading rapidly across Africa, threatening food production and the livelihoods of millions of farmers already struggling with conflicts and drought, experts said on Friday. The larvae form of fall armyworm prefers maize, but can feed on more than 80 plant species including rice, sorghum, millet, sugarcane, vegetable crops and cotton, said the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). “There are roughly 35 million hectares of maize planted per year in Africa and if (the worm is) not in all those maize fields now, it will be very soon in the next planting season or so,” said Allan Hruska, principal technical coordinator at FAO. The fields are tended by some 30 million smallholder farmers who depend on maize for food and income, Hruska said. “Fall armyworm poses a great challenge to the survival of agriculture in Africa,” with potential to put hundreds of millions at risk of hunger, Mark Green, head of the U.S. Agency for International Development told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a statement. The invasive species, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, was first detected in Central and Western Africa in early 2016. It has now spread to virtually all of sub-Saharan Africa, according to an FAO map seen by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The female moth can lay up to 1,000 eggs in her lifetime. In December, Malawi declared 20 out of 28 districts disaster areas after an outbreak of fall armyworm. In Zimbabwe, fall armyworm destroyed 20 percent of the country’s maize crop last season, according to government figures, at a time when the country was recovering from devastating drought. Losses in Africa could range from 8 to 20 million tonnes in just 12 maize-producing countries alone if the pest is not controlled, and could be more severe in areas already suffering drought and conflict, said Ken Wilson, professor of evolutionary ecology at Lancaster University in England. Drought-affected plants are less able to resist the pests while conflict may prevent farmers from accessing much-needed help, he said. Farmers in America use genetically modified plants and advanced pesticides to control the pests, but these options may be too expensive, and harm the environment and crops. “(The farmers) can get pesticides from the government this year, but what happens next year, or the year after that?” said Wafaa El Khoury, technical specialist at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome. Mixing crops and encouraging natural predators may be more effective, from the experience of smallholder farmers in the Americas, said FAO’s Hruska. But Wilson said fall armyworm’s presence in Africa is irreversible. “It’s here to stay and we need to develop strategies on how best to manage this pest long-term,” he said. Reporting By Thin Lei Win, Editing by Ros Russell; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, corruption and climate change. Visit www.trust.org" + }, + { + "text": "WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell: We're yet to see whether Trump's foreign policies work 2 Hours Ago CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera speaks with Sir Martin Sorrell, WPP CEO, about whether he is optimistic on U.S. economic growth as well as how President Trump might frame his economic message to the forum and the global digital advertising market." + }, + { + "text": "12 PM / Updated 17 minutes ago British PM May says honored by French loan of Bayeux Tapestry SANDHURST, England (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Thursday she was honored that France will lend Britain the Bayeux Tapestry, an 11th century treasure that tells the story of William the Conqueror’s invasion of England in 1066. “Our shared history is reflected in the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry to the UK in 2022, the first time it will be on British soil in more than 900 years,” May said in a statement as she welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron on a visit to Britain. “I am honored at the loan of such a precious piece of our shared history which yet again underscores the closeness of the UK-France relationship,” May said. The loan would be part of a wider cultural exchange between Britain and France over the next four years, she said. Slideshow (4 Images) The 70-metre long work, the precise origins of which are obscure and which has not left France in its nearly 950-year known history, is currently on display in the town of Bayeux, in the northwestern French region of Normandy. Macron told reporters that the France and Britain were now fighting wars together, a reference to cooperation between the two former European adversaries against armed Islamist movements including in countries Mali. “We are in a way making a new tapestry together,” he said. A French official said on Wednesday the loan would not take place immediately because work needed to be done on the tapestry to ensure it was safe to move it. Writing by William Schomberg; editing by Guy Faulconbridge" + }, + { + "text": "Paul LaDue scored his first NHL goal and Drew Doughty scored his 100th as the Los Angeles Kings throttled the Dallas Stars 3-0 Tuesday night at American Airlines Arena in Dallas. Darcy Kuemper, getting a start in net as Los Angeles placed Jonathan Quick on injured reserve, stopped 28 shots to earn his second shutout in just 11 starts this season. Quick missed the All-Star Game with what the team termed a lingering injury, but he would have drawn a one-game suspension from the NHL for opting out of the event had he remained on the active roster. Alec Martinez also scored for the Kings, who won their second consecutive game after dropping six of seven just before the All-Star break. The Stars stayed in fourth place in the Central Division with 60 points, only one point ahead of the Minnesota Wild. LaDue initiated the scoring at 3:05 of the first period, thanks to big efforts from linemates Alex Iafallo and Anze Kopitar. Iafallo kept the puck in the zone, and Kopitar skated around multiple defenders to set up LaDue in the right circle. LaDue wired a wrister past goalie Ben Bishop. Doughty made it 2-0 on the power play at 5:09 of the second period. Fellow defenseman Jake Muzzin teed him up at the right point for a one-timer that Bishop appeared to stop. However, the puck escaped Bishop and appeared to nick defenseman Stephen Johns in the skate just before crossing the goal line. Martinez added insurance only 65 seconds into the third period, shortly after a Dallas power play concluded. Bishop stopped Tanner Pearson on a breakaway, but Torrey Mitchell collected the rebound, and Martinez picked up the puck along the left boards. Martinez’s wrister tipped off a defender’s stick and beat Bishop to the short side. Bishop made 39 saves in the losing effort as the Stars dropped their second consecutive game. Dallas failed to convert any of its four power-play chances. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "A numbing cold wave grips the U.S. 2:06am IST - 01:08 The torrent of arctic air that poured into many parts of the United States this week tightened its grip on Saturday and brought record cold to some spots. Havovi Cooper The torrent of arctic air that poured into many parts of the United States this week tightened its grip on Saturday and brought record cold to some spots. Havovi Cooper //reut.rs/2CmuZm6" + }, + { + "text": "49 AM / Updated 18 minutes ago South Korea considering shutting down all virtual currency exchanges Dahee Kim 2 Min Read SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea’s financial regulator chief said the government is considering shutting down all local virtual currency exchanges in a national policy committee meeting on Thursday. “(The government) is considering both shutting down all local virtual currency exchanges or just the ones who have been violating the law,” said Choi Jong-ku, chief of Financial Services Commission, to a question from a parliament member. His comments came after the world’s most popular virtual currency, bitcoin, slid 18 percent on Wednesday on reports suggesting South Korea could ban trading of cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin stood at $11,560 on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange as of 0218 GMT, paring a bit of its previous losses. Hong Nam-ki, minister of the office for government policy co-ordination, said that opinions on cryptocurrency trading are sharply divided within the government, but vowed to make a decision on regulations during Thursday’s meeting. South Korea’s justice minister had said last week the ministry was preparing a bill to ban cryptocurrency trading, which sent bitcoin prices plummeting. The shift toward tighter regulation sparked strong reaction from many South Koreans, thousands of whom signed a petition on the website of the presidential Blue House to stop a ban on cryptocurrency trading. Reporting by Dahee Kim; Editing by Michael Perry and Sam Holmes" + }, + { + "text": "Amazon, Berkshire, JPMorgan create healthcare company to cut costs 6:08am IST - 01:21 Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JPMorgan Chase will form a healthcare company aimed at cutting costs for their U.S. employees. Aleksandra Michalska reports. Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JPMorgan Chase will form a healthcare company aimed at cutting costs for their U.S. employees. Aleksandra Michalska reports. //reut.rs/2nsujBj" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 1:43 PM / in 8 hours A Canadian hockey brat drives the women's game in Korea Dan Burns 5 Min Read NORTH HAVEN, Connecticut (Reuters) - As the daughter of a former NHL coach and a two-time U.S. collegiate champion in her own right, Sarah Murray knows a thing or two about ice hockey and its culture. She knows you “pinch” the boards with your body to keep a puck in the offensive zone. You jump over the boards for a fast line change. And you hang on to your stick and helmet during the national anthem. What is second nature to a Canadian like her, though, has sometimes been a foreign concept to the players she now coaches on the South Korean women’s hockey team. Murray, hired in 2014 by Stanley Cup winner Jim Paek, now the head of South Korean hockey, recalls her first world championship tournament behind the bench when her players dropped their sticks, helmets, even gloves to the ice as the national anthem started - a major taboo in the hockey world. “No one had taught them to do it differently. There’s a lot of pieces of hockey culture that they weren’t taught,” Murray said during a recent pre-Olympic U.S. tour. “The first year was a lot of learning as we go,” Murray said. “Now it’s a lot better. The team is very professional.” ON THE UP The team is also a lot better at hockey. Under Murray, South Korea has surged six spots to No. 22 in the world rankings. Last year, they won their division’s world title and earned a promotion. When she took over, her main goal was growing the sport in a country that has not taken much to ice hockey, especially not by women and girls. The International Ice Hockey Federation counts just 319 female players in Korea, out of a total fewer than 3000. ”It’s really difficult, the system in Korea,“ Murray said. ”Girls can play youth hockey, but there are no teams once they become teenagers. ”They can practice with the boys teams, but they don’t get to play any games. So that’s not any fun. So then they quit. “Unless they make our team.” The result is a squad with the oldest player, at 30, being roughly twice the age of her youngest teammates, who are 16. “They started with our team when they were 13 because they didn’t have anywhere else to go,” Murray said. ”They were skilled enough that we knew that they had potential. So then we have 13-year-olds and 30-year-olds practicing on the same team. Sarah Murray, head coach of the South Korean women's ice hockey team, leads practice in Hamden, Connecticut, U.S., December 27, 2017. Picture taken December 27, 2017. REUTERS/Brian Snyder “It’s really ... interesting.” FROM HOGWARTS TO SEOUL Murray grew up in an ice hockey household. Her father Andy Murray is an IIHF Hall of Famer who coached the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues and has had stints behind the bench with Canada, She played at Shattuck-St. Mary‘s, a Minnesota prep school broadcaster ESPN once called the “Hogwarts of hockey.” Then she played defense on two national champion teams at the University of Minnesota Duluth. After college she played professionally in Switzerland before deciding to do something with her teaching degree and heading to a school in China. Slideshow (8 Images) Even there, hockey was never far away, and she was soon playing in a men’s “beer league” in Beijing. “I realized I had that fire still,” she said. She headed to her father’s in Michigan, training to return to the Swiss pro ranks. While she was there, her father bumped into Paek at a wedding. He had just been named head of South Korean hockey and needed a women’s team coach. In no time she found herself in an interview at the kitchen table. She did not hear from Paek before returning to Switzerland for the start of her season, so thought she had missed the job before an email appeared. “It was my contract.” The 29-year-old Murray is by far the youngest of the eight head coaches prepping their teams for the Olympics, but her final preparations have been thrown with the International Olympic Committee announcing a unified women’s team with the North would be formed. Murray told Reuters this week that the team had been placed in a “tough situation”, but she would just adapt. The decision came after the team had reset their Olympic goals. Their previous aim was to emerge knowing they had done their utmost and with no regrets. But after some battling performances on a recent U.S." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - Phoenix Group Holdings: * WITH EFFECT FROM 31 JANUARY 2018 CENTRAL MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL, AND HEAD OFFICE, OF PGH WILL MOVE FROM JERSEY TO UNITED KINGDOM * PGH WILL BE RESIDENT IN UNITED KINGDOM FOR TAX PURPOSES FROM JAN. 31 * CHANGE IN TAX RESIDENCY IS NOT EXPECTED TO IMPACT PGH SHAREHOLDERS, OTHER THAN UK STAMP DUTY RESERVE TAX Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: ([REDACTED])" + }, + { + "text": "PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil—Leftist icon Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva lost a much-awaited appeal on Wednesday to overturn a corruption conviction against him, a ruling that clouds his bid to run for president in an October election that polls show he would win. Mr. da Silva denied the charges and his lawyers vowed to “use all legal methods possible” to appeal the decision, including taking their battle to Brazil’s top courts in an unprecedented scenario that has prompted widespread debate among legal experts. ... To" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Purcell Julie & Lefkowitz LLP, a class action law firm dedicated to representing shareholders nationwide, is investigating a potential breach of fiduciary duty claim involving the board of directors of Versum Materials, Inc. (NYSE: VSM). If you are a shareholder of Versum Materials, Inc. and are interested in obtaining additional information regarding this investigation, free of charge, please visit us at: You may also contact Robert H. Lefkowitz, Esq. either via email at [REDACTED] or by telephone at 212-725-1000. One of our attorneys will personally speak with you about the case at no cost or obligation. Purcell Julie & Lefkowitz LLP is a law firm exclusively committed to representing shareholders nationwide who are victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty and other types of corporate misconduct. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View original content: SOURCE Purcell Julie & Lefkowitz LLP" + }, + { + "text": "Japan orders checks on cryptocurrency after $530 million heist Monday, January 29, 2018 - 01:36 Tokyo-based cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck has until February 13 to explain to the Japanese government how hackers stole $530 million worth of digital coins. Rosanna Philpott reports. Tokyo-based cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck has until February 13 to explain to the Japanese government how hackers stole $530 million worth of digital coins. Rosanna Philpott reports. //reut.rs/2nm9ibg" + }, + { + "text": "ADEN (Reuters) - Yemen’s internationally-recognized government said on Saturday it had banned public gatherings in Aden ahead of a deadline given by southern separatists to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to dismiss the cabinet. Tensions have risen in the southern port city since the United Arab Emirates-allied Southern Transitional Council vowed to overthrow the government of Ahmed bin Daghr unless Hadi dismissed his cabinet within a week. The Southern Transitional Council has accused bin Daghr’s government of starving Yemenis and pushing the impoverished country to the verge of famine. The crisis could jeopardize a rare opportunity offered by the death of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh last month that had given a Saudi-led coalition the chance to isolate Iran-aligned Houthi fighters and end a devastating war that began in 2015. In a statement carried by the state-run Saba news agency, the Yemeni Interior Ministry said it had ”decided to ban any gatherings, sit-ins or marches in the interim capital, Aden. “These actions will be considered acts that target stability and calm,” the statement said, adding that all armed groups will also be banned from entering Aden. Trying to head off any protests, Bin Daghr’s office said the prime minister met with senior commanders of the Saudi-led coalition in Aden. “The meeting expressed its utter opposition to any call for chaos, violence or vandalism in the interim capital, Aden,” bin Daghr’s office said in a statement. GATHERING EXPECTED ON SUNDAY Residents said they had not seen any extra security in Aden, where armed forces loyal to Hadi’s government, the Southern Transitional Council and the Saudi-led coalition are all present. But witnesses said government forces were deployed on roads leading to the presidential palace in Aden’s al-Maasheeq district, where the government is based. Witnesses also said that thousands of people had arrived in Aden from across the former South Yemen, which merged with North Yemen in 1990, to participate in a gathering expected to be held on Sunday. Yemen has been torn by armed conflict since the Houthis captured the capital Sanaa in 2014 before they marched south towards Aden the following year in a military campaign that culminated in Hadi fleeing into exile. The Saudi-led coalition that entered the war after Hadi sought refuge in Saudi Arabia in March 2015 has helped local fighters free Aden from Houthi control and made other military gains in different parts of the country. But the Houthis continue to control most of northern Yemen, including Sanaa. The Southern Transitional Council was formed last year to push for a split between the former South Yemen and North Yemen. Southern forces have previously clashed with Hadi supporters, including members of the Islamist Islah party, over control of strategic areas, such as Aden airport and oil facilities. Writing by Sami Aboudi; Editing by Andrew Bolton and Louise Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 9:16 AM / Updated 5 hours ago Vandeweghe hit with $10k fine for obscene outburst Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MELBOURNE (Reuters) - CoCo Vandeweghe was fined $10,000 for shouting an obscenity at her opponent in her first round match at the Australian Open on Monday, organizers revealed on Friday. The fine, the highest levied at the tournament so far, was for unsportsmanlike conduct during the American 10th seed’s loss to Hungarian Timea Babos. Vandeweghe, who had been suffering from flu, told reporters that Babos had been “getting in my face”, prompting her to shout at her and fling her racket to the ground. The 2017 Australian Open semi-finalist was docked a point for the outburst after already having been handed a code violation for refusing to play while she waited for a banana to be delivered to her on court. Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, editing by Amlan Chakraborty" + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 11:45 AM / Updated 27 minutes ago Sri Lankan rupee ends steady in dull trade Reuters Staff 2 Min Read COLOMBO, Jan 3 (Reuters) - The Sri Lankan rupee closed steady on Wednesday in dull trade, as demand for dollars from importers and banks offset conversion of the U.S. currency by exporters, dealers said. The spot rupee, which traded at 153.80 per dollar during the day, ended at 153.70/80 per dollar, unchanged from Tuesday’s close. The currency fell 2.5 percent last year and dropped 3.9 percent in 2016. “It was a dull day. There were not many importers in the market and the exporters are also reluctant to come as they are awaiting the central bank’s directive on derivatives,” said a currency dealer. The central bank, while announcing its key economic policies for this year, said the conduct of monetary policy is dependent on an effective and prudent exchange rate policy. “It has allowed more flexibility in determining the exchange rate based on the market conditions and has intervened only to smoothen volatility and to build up reserves,” the central bank said in its policy statement. “It is noteworthy that there has been a build-up of non-debt creating international reserves during 2017, with minimal impact on the exchange rate.” It also said that foreign exchange intervention policies will be adopted consistent with a flexible exchange rate regime and supportive of improving foreign exchange market functionality, and maintaining a competitive exchange rate will be an important objective. Dealers said the import pressure will be seen until the central bank sorts out the new derivatives regulations, which has slowed forward trading in the currency. (Reporting by Ranga Sirilal and Shihar Aneez; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath)" + }, + { + "text": "(Updates with details) JOHANNESBURG, Jan 15 (Reuters) - South African white maize futures prices hit 11-month highs on Monday as a spell of hot, dry weather raised concerns about plantings and yields over a swathe of the maize belt. Maize is South Africa’s staple crop and policy makers such as the central bank, which will meet later this week on interest rates, monitor its price because of its implications for inflation, especially for lower-income households. The contract for delivery in March rose over 2 percent to 2,123.80 rand a tonne, its highest level in 11 months, before easing back to be 1.35 percent higher at 2,098 rand, according to Reuters’ data. Industry group Grain SA said last Monday the western part of South Africa’s maize belt had been hit by drought and farmers there had only planted 70 to 75 percent of the area they had intended to put in the ground, with the growing season near its midpoint. Weather conditions across a swathe of the maize belt have remained mostly hot and dry since then. In October, South Africa’s official Crop Estimates Committee said farmers were expected to plant 6 percent fewer hectares of the staple grain in the 2017/2018 season, after last year’s record harvest of over 16.7 million tonnes depressed prices. (Reporting by Ed Stoddard; Editing by Mark Potter)" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 5:25 AM / Updated 44 minutes ago PRESS DIGEST- New York Times business news - Jan 17 Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 17 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. - General Electric Co delivered another disappointing surprise to investors on Tuesday, taking a $6.2 billion charge to pay for lingering problems in its finance unit. nyti.ms/2mKCrgS - General Motors Co Chief Executive Mary Barra urged the Trump administration on Tuesday not to scrap the North American Free Trade Agreement, and said any changes in the pact should account for the effect on American automakers and workers. nyti.ms/2mNG7yk - The legal fight against the Federal Communications Commission's recent repeal of so-called net neutrality regulations began on Tuesday, with a flurry of lawsuits filed to block the agency's action. nyti.ms/2mMmOFA Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 3:08 AM / Updated 3 hours ago Golf-Johnson cruises to victory in Hawaii Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 7 (Reuters) eased to an eight-shot victory Sunday. Johnson entered the final round with a two-shot advantage and blew away the field with an eight-under-par 65 at the wide open The 33-year-old, who won four times last season, picked up four birdies on the first nine and added three more to go along with an eagle at the par-4 12th hole to shut the door on the competition. His only blemish was a bogey at the 11th. Spain’s Jon Rahm shot a four-under-par 69 and finished second at 16-under. Brian Harman, who entered the day as the nearest challenger at two shots back, ended at 15-under. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and Americans Rickie Fowler and Pat Perez were another shot back at 14-under. (Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)" + }, + { + "text": "MADRID, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Telefonica and Netflix are close to reaching an accord which will permit the Spanish telecommunications company to include the U.S. group’s content as part of its television service, a source close to the talks said on Monday. The two companies were close to an agreement which would most likely take a few weeks to finalise, the source said. Telefonica, which has some 3.7 million subscribers for its television service Movistar+, declined to comment. Netflix, which was not immediately available for comment, has around 1.16 million subscribers in Spain. (Reporting by Carlos Ruano; writing by Paul Day; editing by Jason Neely)" + }, + { + "text": "OAKVILLE, ON, Jan. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Romana Food Brands Corp. (OTC: RFBC) announced today it will be changing its name to Romana Food Blockchain Corp. further to the announcement on the development of the next generation blockchain food traceability and control application. According to the company, the name change is representative of the change to its core corporate focus on the development of the next generation blockchain food traceability and control application. The company intends on filing the name change with FINRA in the coming days. \"The popularity of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency, such as Ethereum, is not surprising due to the great underlying blockchain technology which enables the coins.\" said Mr. Morrie Fogelbaum, Chairman of Romana Food Brands Corp. \"Using the same blockchain protocols, and designing a new approach to traceability, Romana will be able to capture a significant portion of the growing $16 billion market\" further added Mr. Fogelbaum. About Romana Food Bands Corp. Romana Food Brands Corp is an emerging leader in the authentic Italian Food sector. The company is in the process of acquiring food processing plants specializing in Italian products. It is currently in the final stages of acquiring plants in North America and in Italy. Safe Harbor Act: Forward-Looking Statements are included within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements regarding our expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, including words such as \"anticipate,\" \"if,\" \"believe,\" \"plan,\" \"estimate,\" \"expect,\" \"intend,\" \"may,\" \"could,\" \"should,\" \"will,\" and similar expressions are forward-looking statements and involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements. We are under no obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For more information visit Romana's website at: SOURCE Romana Food Brands Corp" + }, + { + "text": "SANTIAGO (Reuters) - China invited Latin American and Caribbean countries to join its “One Belt, One Road” initiative on Monday, according to a draft statement seen by Reuters, as Beijing continues to diverge from the United States’ increasingly protectionist tack. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the region was a natural fit for the initiative, which China has leveraged to deepen economic and financial cooperation with developing nations worldwide. “China will always stay committed to the path of peaceful development and the win-win strategy of opening up and stands ready to share development dividends with all countries,” Wang said in opening remarks on Monday at a meeting between China and 33 members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). Representatives from China and CELAC are expected to sign a declaration later on Monday in the second time China has met with CELAC - a bloc formed in Venezuela in 2011 that does not include the United States or Canada. The “One Belt, One Road” initiative, proposed in 2013 by Chinese President Xi Jinping, promotes a vision of expanding links between Asia, Africa and Europe, with billions of dollars in infrastructure investment. China has sought a bigger role overseas since U.S. President Donald Trump was elected, presenting its Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade agreement as an alternative to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which the United States has abandoned. The country is already testing U.S. dominance in Latin America, offering the region $250 billion in investment over the next decade. It is the top trading partner of many countries in the region, including Brazil, Chile and Argentina. Still, Wang played down the idea of a race for influence. “It has nothing to do with geopolitical competition. It follows the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration,” Wang said in his remarks. “It is nothing like zero sum game.” Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, whose government updated its bilateral trade deal with China a few months ago, said the forum would give “strength to the political and strategic dialogue that provides mutual benefits and contributes to a new world order.” Wang highlighted several areas of cooperation under a potential agreement with Latin American and Caribbean nations, including better connectivity between land and sea, and cited the need to jointly build “logistic, electricity and information pathways.” In recent years, Chinese companies have moved away from merely buying Latin American raw materials and are diversifying into sectors such as auto manufacturing, e-commerce and even technology businesses such as car-hailing services. Additional reporting by Felipe Iturrieta; Editing by Susan Thomas" + }, + { + "text": "Lawmakers in the New York region are starting the new year with a drive to ban the sale and possession of “bump stocks,” devices that allow semiautomatic weapons to essentially act as automatic firearms. Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy on Tuesday said the Las Vegas mass shooting in October demonstrated the need for more action. In that attack, gunman Stephen Paddock used at least one rifle outfitted with a bump stock to spray gunfire over an outdoor music festival, killing 58 people and injuring more than 400. ... RELATED VIDEO The Legal Device That Enabled Rapid Fire in Las Vegas Bump stocks, legal gun accessories found in the suspected Las Vegas shooter's hotel room, make semiautomatic weapons simulate machine guns. Shelby Holliday explains how bump stocks work and why they're legal in the U.S. Photo: Allen Breed/AP To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "January 2, 2018 / 11:12 PM / Updated 24 minutes ago UPDATE 1-Insurance Australia Group cuts catastrophe reinsurance coverage Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Adds details on coverage and payouts, background) Jan 3 (Reuters) - Insurance Australia Group Ltd said on Wednesday it has finalised its catastrophe reinsurance program for the 2018 calendar year, cutting its catastrophe coverage on a net of quota share basis. The new program means IAG’s gross main cover for a so-called “first catastrophe event” drops by A$970 million ($759.32 million) to A$5.23 billion. However, the insurer will only pay up to A$169 million in losses for such an event, instead of the A$200 million losses it paid out previously. IAG said the amount placed under the program was 67.5 percent, compared to 80 percent for the prior year, due to new quota share agreements which came into effect on Jan. 1. On Dec. 8, 2017, one of Australia’s biggest general insurers said it would share 12.5 percent of its premiums and costs with Munich Re, Swiss Re and Hannover Re , to help release capital. The firm, whose entities sell insurance in Australia, New Zealand and countries in Southeast Asia, added it experienced “modest upwards pressure” on reinsurance rates during the renewal process. $1 = 1.2775 Australian dollars Reporting by Aaron Saldanha Cynthia Osterman and Tom Brown" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers has announced plans to retire this spring and has said he expected a successor to be nominated and approved by the U.S. Senate this month, according to a report on Friday. Rogers, who heads the U.S. Cyber Command, made the announcement to agency staff, a Washington Post reporter said in a post on Twitter. NSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Susan Heavey" + }, + { + "text": "SANTIAGO, Chile, Jan. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ITAÚ CORPBANCA (NYSE:ITCB) (SSE:ITAUCORP) announced today that it will release its results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017, after the market closes in New York on Wednesday, February 28, 2018. On Thursday, March 1, 2018, at 11:00 A.M. Santiago time (9:00 AM ET), the Company’s management team will host a conference call to discuss the financial results. The call will be hosted by Milton Maluhy, Itaú Corpbanca’s Chief Executive Officer, Gabriel Moura, Itaú Corpbanca’s Chief Financial Officer, and Claudia Labbé, Itaú Corpbanca’s Head of Investor Relations. Conference Call Details: Participants should dial into the call 10 minutes before the scheduled time using the following numbers: [REDACTED] (US Toll Free Dial In), 0(800) 953-0329 (UK Toll Free Dial In) or [REDACTED]-301 (Standard International Dial In). Please Quote: “Itaú Corpbanca” to the operator. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available until Thursday, March 8, 2018, by dialing [REDACTED] (US Toll Free Dial In), 0(800) 953-1533 (UK Toll Free Dial In) or [REDACTED]-000 (Standard International Dial In). Access Code: 2339939# Slides and Audio Webcast: There will also be a live, and then archived, webcast of the conference call, available through the Company’s website. Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast. The webcast can be found at: About Itaú Corpbanca ITAÚ CORPBANCA (NYSE:ITCB) (SSE:ITAUCORP) is the entity resulting from the merger of Banco Itaú Chile with and into Corpbanca on April 1, 2016. The current ownership structure is: 36.06% owned by Itaú Unibanco, 30.65% owned by CorpGroup and 33.29% owned by minority shareholders. Itaú Unibanco is the sole controlling shareholder of the merged bank. Within this context and without limiting the above, Itaú Unibanco and CorpGroup have signed a shareholders’ agreement relating to corporate governance, dividend policy (based on performance and capital metrics), transfer of shares, liquidity and other matters. The merged bank has become the fourth largest private bank in Chile and will result in a banking platform for future expansion in Latin America, specifically in Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Central America. Itaú Corpbanca is a commercial bank based in Chile with operations also in Colombia and Panama. In addition, Itaú Corpbanca has a branch in New York and representative offices in Madrid and Lima. Focused on large and medium companies and individuals, Itaú Corpbanca offers universal banking products. In 2012, the bank initiated a regionalization process and as of the date hereof has acquired two banks in Colombia -Banco Santander Colombia and Helm Bank-, becoming the first Chilean bank having banking subsidiaries abroad. The merger with Banco Itaú Chile and the business combination of our two banks in Colombia, represent the continued success of our regionalization process. As of November 30, 2017, according to the Chilean Superintendence of Banks, Itaú Corpbanca was the fourth largest private bank in Chile in terms of the overall size of its customer loan portfolio, equivalent to 10.9% market share. As of the same date, according to the Colombian Superintendence of Finance, Itaú Corpbanca Colombia was the sixth largest bank in Colombia in terms of total loans and also the sixth largest bank in Colombia in terms of total deposits, as reported under local regulatory and accounting principles. As of November 30, 2017, its market share by loans reached 5.0%. Investor Relations – Itaú Corpbanca [REDACTED] / [REDACTED] Source:Itau Corpbanca" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May will not hold a second referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union, her spokesman said on Thursday in response to growing calls for a new vote on Brexit. Earlier, Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage said he was warming to the idea of holding a second referendum, arguing that another vote would see “Leave” win again and end the debate. Many pro-EU supporters also support another vote, saying Britons were not given all the information in the first referendum and that public opinion was changing. Reporting by William James, writing by Elizabeth Piper" + }, + { + "text": "AVON, Conn., Jan. 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gil Lowerre, president of Eastbridge, announces that Nick Rockwell has been promoted to Vice President effective the first of the year. Nick came to Eastbridge at the beginning of 2016 with over 14 years of experience in sales, distribution and marketing strategy development, management, training and business leadership. Immediately prior to joining Eastbridge, Nick brought LifeLock into the voluntary benefits market. At Eastbridge, Nick has been involved in managing and delivering consulting projects for more than two years. He also leads the company’s involvement in working with new forms of voluntary benefits and on distribution-related product development. Nick has developed a growing reputation for knowledge and understanding of the voluntary business and is a frequent speaker at industry events and webinars. Also effective January 1 st , Bonnie Brazzell was promoted to Senior Vice President. Bonnie is in her 19 th year with Eastbridge. In addition to handling numerous consulting projects, she manages the company’s research and marketing areas. She is an industry spokesperson, author and presenter on all aspects of the voluntary industry. “Both Nick and Bonnie have been instrumental in our company’s growth and success over the years,” adds Lowerre. “I am confident they will continue to thrive as they take on their new leadership roles at Eastbridge.” Eastbridge Consulting Group, Inc. is a marketing advisory firm serving insurance and financial services organizations in the United States and Canada. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Jennifer Davis (860-676-9633) Source:Eastbridge Consulting Group, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "9:19 AM ET Thu, 4 Jan 2018 | 01:14 SHARES For many people, going to work is simply a way to make a living, unhappily trudging through each day to make ends meet. But happiness expert and bestselling author Annie McKee wants people to escape this harmful cycle. \"If you have adopted that mindset that says, 'Work is grueling, just be happy you have a job, that you're getting a paycheck, it's a good company,' but you're not actually happy, you don't have to accept that,\" McKee tells CNBC Make It . \"Everyone deserves to be happy at work because if we're not happy at work, we're not happy in life,\" she adds. show chapters 11:05 AM ET Fri, 15 Dec 2017 | 01:04 As a leadership adviser for Fortune 500 companies and governments around the world, McKee has spent decades researching effectiveness and happiness at work. She details portions of this research in her latest book: \" How to Be Happy at Work: The Power of Purpose, Hope, and Friendship .\" \"There are three ways to tell if things are not well,\" McKee says. \"There are physical clues that tell us something is wrong, emotional clues based on how we feel on a daily basis over time and clues from the health of our relationships.\" If you have seen your unhappiness at work taking a toll on other areas of your life, such as your sleeping patterns, nutrition or family relationships, McKee recommends that you follow these two steps to regain a sense of purpose and happiness. Step one: Reflect Once you understand you aren't happy at work, the first thing McKee recommends that you do is carve out some time for deep reflection and introspection. Ask yourself, \"What is causing me to feel sad or unhappy at work?\" \"It's far too easy to habitually tell yourself, 'I'm sad because don't like my manager' or 'I'm sad because didn't get promotion'\" McKee says. \"And while those things might be true, there's almost always something deeper than that.\" show chapters 1:00 PM ET Tue, 20 Dec 2016 | 01:25 McKee further recommends that you be honest with yourself and ask if there is something about your own mindset and life that may be contributing to your unhappiness at work. \"Have you gotten trapped by overwork? Has your ambition gotten out of control? Have you chosen jobs and work projects because you think you should or because you actually want to?\" McKee says. \"Don't get caught in these traps.\" Step two: Find a friend Whether it's at work or outside of work, McKee suggests finding a friend to discuss this state of being with. \"Find someone who you can really talk with, who can really tell you the truth about what they see in you, whether it's the strengths or some developmental areas they see in you,\" McKee says. show chapters 12:22 PM ET Tue, 21 Nov 2017 | 00:59 Your friend can help you decide if you seem to fit in with your current workplace or if the job is not the right fit for you. \"Talking with a friend as if they were your [career] coach could also help you see your attitude about work from a different perspective,\" McKee says. \"And be open to all possibilities. Maybe you need to change your mindset, maybe you need to change what you do on a daily basis\" \"We have a lot more freedom than we like to think we do,\" she adds." + }, + { + "text": "#Market News 30 PM / Updated 2 minutes ago BRIEF-GE - Harbin Electric Corp Awarded GE Power Order For 2 9F.05 Gas Turbines For State Power Investment Corporation's Langfang Power Plant Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 8 (Reuters) - General Electric Co: * GE - HARBIN ELECTRIC CORPORATION AWARDED GE POWER ORDER FOR 2 9F.05 GAS TURBINES FOR STATE POWER INVESTMENT CORPORATION’S LANGFANG POWER PLANT Source text ( bit.ly/2Fc5wcN )" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19 (Reuters) - Crematorium operator Dignity said it would reduce simple funeral prices by about 25 percent to draw back customer after warning on results for 2018. The funeral operator said the price cut was meant to protect market share, adding that customers are becoming “increasingly price-conscious” in an over-supplied industry. The company said it will also freeze prices for traditional funerals in the majority of its locations. (Reporting by Rahul B in Bengaluru; Editing by Sunil Nair)" + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 10:34 AM / Updated 6 hours ago Russian student injures six in an ax attack at his school Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian teenager attacked a group of younger students with an ax, injuring six people, before setting his school on fire, investigators said on Friday. Russia’s Investigative Committee said the attacker, a ninth-grader, attacked a group of seventh-grade students with an ax at a school just outside the Siberian city of Ulan-Ude, then set the room ablaze. Five students and one teacher were injured in the attack, the committee said. The attacker was detained and was now hospitalized after a suicide attempt, the committee said. Earlier this week, investigators opened a criminal case into a knife attack that injured 15 people at a school in the city of Perm. The case was initially reported as an assault by two masked men, but authorities later said it grew out of a knife fight between two students. Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber, editing by Larry King" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 8:30 AM / Updated 33 minutes ago Daily Briefing: UK-France summit - entente cordiale with limits Reuters Staff 7 Brexit is officially off the agenda when France's Emmanuel Macron meets Theresa May in London today but British media are wondering whether his loan of the some 950-year-old Bayeux Tapestry to the UK isn’t his idea of a clever anti-Brexit gag. The artwork recalls the Norman invasion of Britain, which ultimately gave the host country a proper court system, reshaped its language and boosted the local economy - in short, a shining example of the benefits of immigration (albeit by the sword in this case..) The more serious purpose of the summit is to nurture some UK-French goodwill and demonstrate that ties between the two will continue to function despite Brexit - hence the UK decision to send helicopters to Mali to help in counter-insurgency efforts there. Yet there are suggestions that Brexit has nonetheless curtailed the scope of what Macron and May can announce today: the FT reports that Britain tried ahead of the summit to win a public assurance it could remain close to the EU’s new defence cooperation framework but Paris declined to play ball. Romania's prime minister-designate Viorica Dancila starts work today on forming her new cabinet , which will be judged abroad almost entirely on whether it will help or hamper the effort to stamp out high-level corruption. Dancila in particular has to prove that she is more than just a proxy for Liviu Dragnea, the leader of the ruling PSD party who faces trial on graft charges. According to Romanian law, Dancila has 10 days to ask parliament for a vote of confidence for her cabinet, which she should win easily given the PSD majority. The leader of Germany's Social Democrats is sounding more optimistic on whether his party will this weekend give the green light for formal talks with Angela Merkel's conservatives on a new grand coalition. Martin Schulz said he was upbeat after a meeting SPD members in the southern state of Bavaria and taking the temperature in the large western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which will send about a quarter of the delegates to Sunday’s vote in Bonn. The party’s youth wing has other ideas - it is pursuing its “No Grand Coalition” tour to rally delegates to reject the talks. MARKETS Romania's prime minister designate Viorica Dancila delivers a speech in Bucharest, January 17, 2018 Underlining the sheer momentum of the world economic expansion into the back end of last year and how synchronised it has become, Chinese fourth-quarter growth of 6.8 percent beat forecasts, and industrial output growth of 6.2 percent last month was also ahead of expectations. Together with a U.S. tax-cut-fuelled New Year rally on Wall St, where underlying fourth-quarter earnings so far are coming in ahead of the already pretty punchy consensus annual growth of 12 percent, then it’s clear that many investors see a head of steam building. Another surge in the major U.S. stock indices saw another round of record closing highs, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing above 26,000 for the first time. MSCI’s all-country world index hit a new lifetime high late Wednesday too, before ebbing slightly today as Japan’s Nikkei underperformed a generally buoyant session elsewhere in Asia. Unusually, the latest rise in stock markets is being accompanied by a rising Vix volatility gauge – which closed just below 12 percent on Wednesday, at its highest since mid-November – as stock indices show signs of accelerating rather than just eking out new highs on thin daily moves. The resulting pressure on the bond is evident too, with 10-year Treasury yields hitting 2.60 percent for the first time since March early on Thursday and 2-year yields hitting another near 10-year high. European stocks are expected to follow suit, aided by Wednesday’s sharp peak-to-trough retreat in euro/dollar back below $1.22, about which it’s hovering early on Thursday. The dollar’s modest recovery more generally on Wall St’s new found bullishness comes in tandem with a series of European Central Bank speeches insisting the bank won’t rush into any change of policy guidance and will stay accommodative unless there’s some change in the still-benign inflation picture. Some concerns about what a higher euro does to the latter also provided a shot across the bow of the currency market. ECB policymakers Coeure, Weidmann and Villeroy speak at various stages through Thursday. Sterling has pushed higher against both the dollar and the euro, meantime, as Bank of England policymaker Saunders on Wednesday sounded a relatively upbeat and hawkish note about wages, inflation and future interest rate rises ." + }, + { + "text": "The pound is also eyeing the positive signals surrounding the resumption of Brexit talks later this month, with French President Macron in London for talks with UK PM May on Thursday. Bitcoin steadied just above $11,000 , meantime, after a withering two-day slide of more than 25 percent took it below $10,000 for a period on Wednesday amid rising regulatory crackdown fears. In emerging markets, both Turkish and South African central banks meet today. The lira was 0.3 percent firmer ahead of the meeting at which a Reuters poll expects the key rate to stay on hold at 12.75 percent. The rand was a touch weaker, giving back some of the gains that lifted it to 2-1/2 year highs earlier in the week against a generally weaker dollar. Deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed moves taken by prosecutors against companies accused of corruption, saying he wants to “deal with the rot” in some of his toughest comments yet about graft ." + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 10:48 PM / Updated 13 minutes ago Real Madrid stumble against Numancia but reach Cup quarters Rik Sharma 2 Min Read BARCELONA (Reuters) - Troubled Spanish champions Real Madrid stumbled to a 2-2 draw with third tier Numancia on Wednesday but qualified for the King’s Cup quarter-finals 5-2 on aggregate. With a comfortable first-leg advantage, Zinedine Zidane rested much of his first team, making 10 changes from the line-up that struggled to a disappointing draw at Celta Vigo on Sunday to fall 16 points behind league leaders Barcelona. Madrid opened the scoring in the 11th minute, Vazquez heading home Dani Carvajal’s deep cross when left unmarked at the back post. Numancia hit back in the 45th minute, however, with substitute Guillermo, just on for the injured Higinio Marin, applying the finishing touch to a stunning breakaway goal. Dani Nieto charged into space and fed Marc Mateu on the left, who delivered the perfect low cross for Guillermo to finish and delight the small band of travelling fans at the Santiago Bernabeu. Vazquez, who won two penalties for Madrid in the first leg, slammed home his second from close range in the 59th minute, but Guillermo pegged back Madrid again with a brilliant header to cap a superb display and a fine result for his team. Numancia’s Dani Calvo was sent off in the dying minutes for a cynical foul to stop Isco that earned him a second yellow card. Earlier, Leganes reached the quarter-finals for the first time in their history after losing 2-1 at Villarreal but progressing on away goals after their 1-0 first-leg win at Butarque. Leganes winger Nabil El Zhar scored a delicious chip to break the deadlock, with Dani Raba’s well-taken strike and Denis Cheryshev’s late winner completing a Villarreal comeback that was not enough to send the hosts through. Last season’s King’s Cup runners-up Alaves beat third division Fomentera 2-0 to wrap up a 5-1 aggregate win thanks to second-half goals from Ermedin Demirovic and Alfonso Pedraza. On Thursday, Levante host Espanyol, Cadiz travel to Sevilla and holders Barcelona welcome Celta Vigo to the Nou Camp. Editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "U.S. government debt prices rose Thursday as the U.S. dollar pared earlier losses after President Donald Trump said he wants to see a stronger dollar. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell two basis points to 2.624 percent at 2:28 p.m. ET, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond slipped to 2.887 percent. Bond yields move inversely to prices. Earlier, the yield on the 10-year note hit 2.676 percent, its highest level since Jul. 2014, when the 10-year yielded as high as 2.692 percent. The yield on the 2-year note hit 2.104 percent, its highest level since Sept. 2008. The dollar rebounded against the euro Thursday afternoon after President Trump told CNBC that he would like see a stronger dollar. The president's comment come a day after the dollar fell the most in 10 months to three-year lows Wednesday. \"The dollar is going to get stronger and stronger, and ultimately I want to see a strong dollar,\" Trump said in an exclusive interview from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. \"Our country is becoming so economically strong again and strong in other ways, too.\" Symbol Yield Change %Change US 3-MO --- US 1-YR --- US 2-YR --- US 5-YR --- US 10-YR --- US 30-YR --- The dollar had been falling after Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said a weak dollar is good for the United States. \"Obviously a weaker dollar is good for us as it relates to trade and opportunities,\" Mnuchin told reporters, according to Bloomberg, adding that the currency's short-term value is \"not a concern of ours at all.\" His comments reinforced statements from President Donald Trump , who previously stated that the dollar was \"too strong\" and that U.S. exporters can't compete because of the exchange rate. But when the dollar depreciates, the price of foreign goods increase relative to domestically priced goods, making imports more expensive, leading to an increase in inflation in the U.S. Increasing inflation, in turn, undermines the real value of each coupon payment from holding debt, forcing the price of bonds down while simultaneously raising yields to attract buyers. The euro also got a boost Thursday after European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi failed to convince investors that the central bank's easy monetary policies will last much longer. The European currency has been trending northward over the past few weeks as the region's economy strengthens and national politics stabilize. A stronger euro could eventually hamstring European exports and weaken inflation. The Treasury Department auctioned $28 billion in 7-year notes at a high yield of 2.565 percent. The bid-to-cover ratio, an indicator of demand, was 2.73. Indirect bidders, which include major central banks, were awarded 78.1 percent. Direct bidders, which includes domestic money managers, bought 10.2 percent. —CNBC's Patti Domm contributed to this report." + }, + { + "text": "Duke freshman guard Gary Trent Jr. scored a season- and game-high 30 points and freshman forwards Marvin Bagley III and Wendell Carter Jr. each posted double-doubles to rally No. 5 Duke to an 83-75 victory over No. 25 Miami in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup Monday night in Coral Gables, Fla. Carter scored 15 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and Bagley had 13 points with 12 boards as the Blue Devils (16-2, 4-2 ACC) overcame a 13-point second-half deficit. After falling behind 66-53 with 11:25 left in the game, the Blue Devils went on an 18-0 scoring run, slowing Miami’s offense with a zone defense. Duke caught the Hurricanes at 66-all with 5:12 left. The Blue Devils closed the game by outscoring Miami 30-9 over the final 11 minutes. Freshman guard Lonnie Walker scored 19 point to lead the Hurricanes (13-4, 2-3 ACC). Sophomore forward Dewan Huell scored 18 points and hauled in 13 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Duke led by seven points midway through the first half and after losing that cushion rebuilt it to six, 37-31, with 2:36 left before half. But the Hurricanes responded with a 9-2 spurt for a 40-39 lead and appeared headed to the locker room with the lead after forcing a turnover with 4.3 seconds left. But guard Grayson Allen stripped Miami guard Chris Lykes of the ball and guard Trent hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to put the Blue Devils up 42-40 at the break. The Blue Devils shot 55.2 percent (16-of-29) in the first half, hitting half of their 3-point attempts, and enjoyed a 20-16 advantage in rebounds. The Hurricanes shot only 42.1 percent from the field but had nine more field goal attempts, hitting 16 of 39 for the first 20 minutes. Carter had his eighth double-double of the season by halftime with 11 points and 10 rebounds in 16 minutes. It was Bagley’s 15th double-double. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "47 AM / Updated 18 minutes ago Exclusive: Trump's EPA aims to replace Obama-era climate, water regulations in 2018 Valerie Volcovici , David Shepardson 5 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will replace Obama-era carbon and clean water regulations and open up a national debate on climate change in 2018, part of a list of priorities for the year that also includes fighting lead contamination in public drinking water. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt speaks during an interview with Reuters journalists in Washington, U.S., January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque The agenda, laid out by EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt in an exclusive interview with Reuters on Tuesday, marks an extension of the agency’s efforts under President Donald Trump to weaken or kill regulations the administration believes are too broad and harm economic growth, but which environmentalists say are critical to human health. ”The climate is changing. That’s not the debate. The debate is how do we know what the ideal surface temperature is in 2100?... I think the American people deserve an open honest transparent discussion about those things,” said Pruitt, who has frequently cast doubt on the causes and implications of global warming. Pruitt reaffirmed plans for the EPA to host a public debate on climate science sometime this year that would pit climate change doubters against other climate scientists, but he provided no further details on timing or which scientists would be involved. Pruitt said among the EPA’s top priorities for 2018 will be to replace the Clean Power Plan, former President Barack Obama’s centrepiece climate change regulation which would have slashed carbon emissions from power plants. The EPA began the process of rescinding the regulation last year and is taking input on what should replace it. “A proposed rule will come out this year and then a final rule will come out sometime this year,” he said. He did not give any details on what the rule could look like, saying the agency was still soliciting comments from stakeholders. He said the agency was also planning to rewrite the Waters of the United States rule, another Obama-era regulation, this one defining which U.S. waterways are protected under federal law. Pruitt and Trump have said the rule marked an overreach by including streams that are shallow, narrow, or sometimes completely dry - and was choking off energy development. Pruitt said that in both cases, former President Barack Obama had made the rules by executive order, and without Congress. “We only have the authority that Congress gives us,” Pruitt said. Pruitt’s plans to replace the Clean Power Plan have raised concerns by attorneys general of states like California and New York, who said in comments submitted to the EPA on Tuesday that the administrator should recuse himself because as Oklahoma attorney general he led legal challenges against it. BIOFUELS AND STAFF CUTS Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt sits down for an interview with Reuters journalists in Washington, U.S., January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Pruitt said he hoped for legislative reform of the U.S. biofuels policy this year, calling it “substantially needed and important” because of the costs the regulation imposes on oil refiners. The Renewable Fuel Standard, ushered in by former President George W. Bush as a way to help U.S. farmers, requires refiners to blend increasing amounts of biofuels like corn-based ethanol into the nation’s fuel supply every year. Refining companies say the EPA-administered policy costs them hundreds of millions of dollars annually and threatens to put some plants out of business. But their proposals to change the programme have so far been rejected by the Trump administration under pressure from the corn lobby. The EPA in November slightly raised biofuels volumes mandates for 2018, after previously opening the door to cuts. The White House is now mediating talks on the issue between representatives of both sides, with input from EPA, and some Republican senators from states representing refineries are working on possible legislation to overhaul the programme. Pruitt said he also hoped Congress could produce an infrastructure package this year that would include replacing municipal water pipes, as a way of combating high lead levels in certain parts of the United States. “That to me is something very tangible very important that we can achieve for the American people,” he said. Pruitt added that EPA also continuing its review of automobile fuel efficiency rules, and would be headed to California soon for more meetings with the California Air Resources Board to discuss them. California in 2011 agreed to adopt the federal vehicle emission rules through 2025, but has signalled it would opt out of the standards if they are weakened – a move that would complicate matters for automakers serving the huge California market. In the meantime, Pruitt said EPA is continuing to reduce the size of its staff, which fell to 14,162 employees as of Jan." + }, + { + "text": "The painful search for loved ones detained by Islamic State 9:58am EST - 02:10 Thousands of people that were detained by Islamic State remain missing their loved ones are demanding answers about where they've gone now the militant group has collapsed. Reuters Emily Wither reports from Istanbul. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Thousands of people that were detained by Islamic State remain missing their loved ones are demanding answers about where they've gone now the militant group has collapsed. Reuters Emily Wither reports from Istanbul. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 4:51 PM / Updated 31 minutes ago Patient Pujara proud of effort on 'tough' Wanderers pitch Reuters Staff 2 Min Read JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara said his side’s first innings 187 was “like scoring 300 on any normal pitch” and puts them on top after the opening day of the third and final test against South Africa on Wednesday. South Africa are six for one in reply to India’s modest total and face a difficult day on Thursday as they look to build a first innings lead at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. Batting at number three, Pujara took 54 balls to get off the mark as South Africa’s all-seam attack exploited a grassy pitch after India had won the toss and elected to bat. He was eventually out for a battling 50 from 179 deliveries, tamely edging Andile Phehlukwayo to South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, but he was pleased with both his and the team’s batting efforts. ”It was one of the toughest pitches I have batted on and I really had to work hard to score some runs,” he told SuperSport after the close of play. “To be honest, I think we batted well. With the number of runs we have on the board, we think we can bowl them out (for less).” The pitch, which offered both bounce and prodigious lateral movement, is likely to deteriorate as it bakes under the Highveld sun for a few days, posing an even greater challenge for a South African side that has to bat last. “There was a lot of deviation ... as the game progresses it will get harder to bat on,” Pujara said. “I never felt in on this pitch. If we bowl well, we have a very good chance. It’s as good as scoring 300 on any normal pitch. Our bowlers are used to bowling better lengths than the South Africans did.” The home side have lead after wins in Cape Town and Pretoria but can seal a first clean-sweep against India if they win at The Wanderers. Reporting David Goodman" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - B+S BANKSYSTEME AG: * H1 2017/18 PRELIM OPERATING PERFORMANCE OF AROUND EUR 5.4 MILLION (PREVIOUS YEAR: EUR 4,713 THOUSAND) * H1 EBIT OF AROUND EUR 1.3 MILLION (PREVIOUS YEAR EUR 845 THOUSAND) Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 14, 2018 / 12:19 PM / Updated 8 hours ago Lauda to again bid for stricken airline Niki - paper Reuters Staff 2 Min Read FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Former Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda has re-emerged as a potential bidder for Niki, the Austrian budget airline he founded whose messy insolvency proceedings may derail an agreed sale to Britain’s IAG ( ICAG.L ). F1 - Formula One - British Grand Prix 2017 - Silverstone, Britain - July 14, 2017 Mercedes Formula One team chairman Niki Lauda REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff Lauda weighed in after an Austrian court appointed an administrator for Niki on Friday, in response to legal action brought by a passenger rights group seeking to recover money it says the airline owes. [nL8N1P34I0] That turn of events followed the reversal of an earlier decision by a Berlin court to locate the insolvency in Germany. The German administrator had agreed on a sale of Niki to British Airways owner IAG. “I will, of course, make an offer for Niki by Jan. 19,” Lauda told Germany’s Handelsblatt business daily, referring to a deadline set by the court in the Austrian town of Korneuburg. Lauda, 68, has previously been in the frame as a possible buyer of Niki as part of the breakup of its failed parent Air Berlin ( AB1.DE ). He had come forward with partners but said he would be a sole bidder in this case. Lauda did not say how much he was prepared to bid for Niki but welcomed the transfer of the insolvency proceedings to Austria, where the company he founded in 2003 is registered. “The insolvency process is finally there where it belongs - in Austria,” he said. “I regret that so much time was wasted with the detour through Germany.” Reporting by Douglas Busvine, editing by Louise Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 3:34 AM / Updated 15 hours ago Cold comfort: China's Wuhan eases gas rationing as snow hits Chen Aizhu , Meng Meng 3 Min Read BEIJING (Reuters) - The industrial city of Wuhan eased restrictions on gas use on Friday for residents facing freezing temperatures and heavy snow falls, as increased supplies offered some respite to China’s winter gas shortage. Frigid weather in northern and eastern parts of the country have stoked worries over a worsening crunch in gas supply as the government pushes millions of households and industrial plants to switch to the cleaner fuel for heating from coal. The move by the central city of Wuhan to provide more gas for heating reflected improving supplies from state energy firms in recent weeks, although China’s overall shortage persisted, said Chen Zhu, managing director with Beijing-based consultancy SIA Energy. “The heavy snow boosted the demand for heating ... but improving supplies give the state firms more space to coordinate supplies between consumers,” said Chen. “This still comes at the expense of curbs to industrial firms and gas-fired power plants,” she added. Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, will allow households to buy up to 220 cubic meters of natural gas a month, from 150 cubic meters previously, local media reported on Friday. The city sits alongside the country’s two gas trunk lines, the West-to-East project that brings in fuel from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, and the Sichuan-East China line that carries gas from the top Chinese gas basin Sichuan. Improving gas supplies, due partly to record imports of both pipeline gas and tanker shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG), have led to a 40 percent fall in domestic LNG prices over the past 10 days or so, giving some respite to industries grappling with record fuel costs. Gas volumes from China’s largest supplier Turkmenistan have increased from late December after sliding to the lowest since December 2016 in November, according to SIA Energy’s Chen. State companies have also been diverting supplies from the south to north via pipeline grids, as well as turning to long-haul transport by trailers to increase supplies. Sinopec said on Friday it has delivered its first truckload of LNG to the city of Zibo in Shandong province from its Beihai terminal in the southern province of Guangxi, some 2,000 kms (1,240 miles) away. That followed a similar effort by CNOOC, which hired a convoy of 100 trucks to move LNG from its import terminals in the south to northern regions. China’s weather bureau lifted a blizzard alert on Friday with fewer areas likely to face heavy snow, but it warned of a second wave of snow and sleet in parts of the country. Reporting by Chen Aizhu and Meng Meng; Editing by Joseph Radford and Richard Pullin" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 12:20 PM / in 26 minutes Sri Lankan shares extend fall on foreign selling Reuters Staff 2 Min Read COLOMBO, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan shares fell for a seventh straight session on Thursday and closed at their lowest in nearly three weeks, as foreign investors turned net sellers for the first time in 14 sessions while local players stayed on the sidelines. Foreign investors, who have been net buyers of 2.7 billion rupees worth shares so far this year, sold equities worth net 279.5 million rupees ($1.82 million) on Thursday, especially banks and blue chips. They net bought 18.5 billion rupees worth equities in 2017 and 633.5 million rupees in 2016. The Colombo Stock Index ended 0.45 percent weaker at 6,410.11, its lowest close since Dec. 29. It has shed 2 percent in the past seven sessions. “Market came down on some foreign selling. But turnover was pushed up by foreign trade,” said Atchuthan Srirangan, a senior research analyst with First Capital Holdings PLC. Turnover stood at 1.3 billion rupees, higher than last year’s daily average of 915.3 million rupees. Shares in Commercial Bank of Ceylon Plc dropped 2.8 percent, Hemas Holdings Plc declined 4.1 percent, and Ceylon Cold Stores Plc fell 2.1 percent. ($1 = 153.8000 Sri Lankan rupees) (Reporting by Ranga Sirilal and Shihar Aneez; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)" + }, + { + "text": "Brandon Ingram scored 26 points, and Lonzo Ball contributed 18 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as the Los Angeles Lakers knocked off the San Antonio Spurs 93-81 on Thursday in Los Angeles. Larry Nance Jr. added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who won their season-best third consecutive game. Los Angeles forced 20 turnovers and halted a seven-game home losing streak versus San Antonio. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 20 points for the Spurs, who were without standout small forward Kawhi Leonard (shoulder) for the third straight game. Bryn Forbes added 18 points for San Antonio. Ingram made 11 of 21 shots while scoring 20 or more points for the third time in the past four games. “My teammates give me confidence to be in the right spot and make plays,” Ingram said in a postgame interview on TNT. “It feels pretty good.” The Lakers racked up 15 steals, including five by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and four by Ball. Nance delivered a dunk to give the Lakers a 72-62 lead early in the fourth quarter before San Antonio controlled the next four-plus minutes and pulled within 77-75 on a 21-footer by Forbes with 6:23 remaining. Los Angeles answered by putting the game away. Caldwell-Pope and Nance slammed home back-to-back dunks and Ingram scored consecutive baskets as part of a 13-0 surge to push the Los Angeles advantage to 90-75 with 3:11 to play. San Antonio recovered from an 11-point halftime lead to take a 53-52 lead on a 3-pointer by Forbes with 6:42 left in the third quarter. Los Angeles followed with a 16-4 burst with Caldwell-Pope scoring eight of the points, including a 3-pointer to cap the spurt to give the Lakers a 68-57 lead. The Spurs tallied the final five points of the stanza to move within six. Ingram scored 18 first-half points and Ball added 11 as the Lakers took a 49-38 advantage into halftime. Los Angeles used a 25-3 spurt to turn a three-point deficit with 3:01 left in the first quarter into a 37-18 lead with 7:16 left in the half. A dunk by Nance ended a run of 17 straight Lakers points to make it 29-15 early in the second quarter, and Ball knocked down a 3-pointer to make it a 19-point margin. San Antonio answered with a 13-3 push to cut its deficit to nine and later got within 42-36 after a 3-pointer by Pau Gasol with 2:01 left before the break. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co ( JPM.N ) plans to expand its African presence into countries including Ghana and Kenya, Chief Executive Jamie Dimon said in an interview on Wednesday. “You’ll see us open in some countries we are not in, in Africa you’ll be hearing about some of that stuff,” Dimon told Bloomberg Television on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Dimon said the bank would target Ghana and Kenya, two countries in which local regulators have previously blocked the U.S. banking giant’s expansion plans, according to media reports at the time. The announcement follows JPMorgan’s unveiling of a $20 billion investment plan on Tuesday which will see it hike wages, hire more, and open new branches as it takes advantage of sweeping changes to U.S. tax law and a more favorable regulatory environment. The five-year plan will see the U.S. bank ramp up overseas investment in addition to its domestic growth plans, after it finished cleaning up troubled mortgages following the 2007-09 financial crisis. Reporting by Lawrence White; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "With the National Football League playoffs in full swing, fans will spend their weekends rooting for their team to make it to the Super Bowl. For the players, a Super Bowl win doesn't just mean glory. It also comes with a hefty bonus check. But, surprisingly, not one as hefty as the bonus check some other winning athletes can expect. SB Nation crunched the numbers to determine approximately how much athletes in every sport would take home after winning their respective championship game, looking at professional football, hockey, baseball and basketball. To compile the data, SB National analyzed major American sports leagues' collective bargaining agreements. show chapters Dallas Cowboys running back Alfred Morris drives a $2 car 9:47 AM ET Thu, 19 Oct 2017 | 00:49 In total, Super Bowl 52's champs will receive around $191,000 each, though the number can fluctuate depending on the team's starting position and schedule. A team that has a bye during the wild card round will earn less than a lower-ranked team that goes on to win all four of their games. Last year, every member of the winning New England Patriots took home $107,000 , even if they didn't play a single minute. Even the losing team was compensated: The Atlanta Falcons received $53,000 each. In comparison, baseball players on the Houston Astros who claimed a world series win in 2017 earned around $438,901.57. That's 130 percent more than their NFL counterparts for scoring a victory at the championship game. show chapters This NFL starting quarterback drives a dented van he bought from his grandma for $5,000 11:38 AM ET Fri, 17 Nov 2017 | 00:52 Basketball falls somewhere in the middle — $221,000, as estimated by SB Nation — while hockey is decidedly less at around $163,000 per player. Although $191,000 is a sizable amount of money by normal standards, it pales in comparison to many NFL players' salaries. Take Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons and Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, who all earn more than $20 million per season . There is one thing you can't put a price on, however: a Super Bowl ring. They can be worth anywhere from $5,000 to $37,000 or more, but the prestige that comes with being the best in the league, if only for a season, is priceless. Don't miss: Here's how much the highest-paid NFL players make now, compared to their first year in the league Why an NFL player who earns millions still drives a 26-year-old car he bought for $2 Why these 5 pro athletes earn millions but still drive super cheap cars Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook ! show chapters Why top MLB players are leaving major bat brands for this upstart company 7:25 AM ET Wed, 18 Oct 2017 | 01:50" + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT (Reuters) - International and German investors have sued Deutsche Bank ( DBKGn.DE ) for 740 million euros ($890 million) in connection with the bank’s takeover of Postbank, their lawyer said on Wednesday. Oliver Krauss, a lawyer at Munich-based firm Tricon, said Deutsche Bank should have paid his 31 clients, former Postbank shareholders, around 64 euros per share rather than the 25 euros they received when they accepted the takeover offer in 2010. They argue, in a suit filed in late December in a district court in Cologne, that Deutsche Bank effectively took control of Postbank in 2008 when it bought a stake of just under 30 percent at a much higher price than 25 euros. They say as a result Postbank shareholders are entitled to a much higher price for their holdings. A spokesman for Deutsche Bank said the complaint was unfounded, as were other similar suits that are currently making their way through the courts. A spokeswoman for the court declined to comment. German weekly WirtschaftsWoche first reported the lawsuit. Krauss, citing client confidentiality, declined to provide a copy of the lawsuit but confirmed the accuracy of the WirtschaftWoche article. WirtschaftsWoche said the lawsuit detailed examples of Postbank and Deutsche Bank acting in concert in 2008, including a strategy change to focus on retail customers and dropping riskier forms of business. In addition, WirtschaftsWoche said Postbank and Deutsche Bank agreed on details of a planned capital increase, board changes and the elimination of a 2008 dividend. December 31 marked a deadline for taking legal action on the takeover. Reporting by Hans Seidenstuecker; Writing by Tom Sims. Editing by Jane Merriman" + }, + { + "text": "Rep. Adam Schiff has many talents, though few compare to his ability to function as a human barometer of Democratic panic. The greater the level of Schiff hot, pressured air, the more trouble the party knows it’s in. Mr. Schiff’s millibars have been popping ever since the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, on which he is ranking Democrat, last week voted to make a classified GOP memo about FBI election year abuses available to every House member. Mr. Schiff has spit and spun and apoplectically accused his Republican" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 6:11 PM / Updated an hour ago Spiders and fleas pack Albert Hall as Cirque du Soleil's Ovo hits London Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - London’s Royal Albert Hall was crawling with spiders, crickets, ants and fleas on Wednesday as Cirque du Soleil brought its insect-themed show Ovo to the famous venue for the first time. ‘Ovo’, which means egg in Portuguese, is about a day in the life of a community of 17 insects - portrayed by humans, not by insects - and how they cope with the arrival of a mysterious egg and the foreigner inside. The show features eye-catching aerial displays to vibrant South American musical rhythms and is the 25th live production from Cirque du Soleil, the one-time Canadian street performer troupe that grew into a global circus and entertainment colossus. Artistic director Tim Bennett said the show, which has been seen by over 5 million people since its premiere in Montreal eight years ago also carried an important message about social inclusion. “It’s an insular colony of insects into which walks a foreigner, and he’s initially rejected because he’s different,” Bennett told Reuters. “As they get to know him they realize that he’s actually much more similar to them than he is different.” Ovo opens on Wednesday and runs for eight weeks. Reporting by Sarah Mills; Writing by Patrick Johnston; Editing by Hugh Lawson" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 5:21 PM / Updated 4 hours ago FA to adopt Rooney Rule in appointing future England managers Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - The Football Association will adopt a version of the “Rooney Rule” when appointing future England managers by interviewing at least one applicant from a black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) background. FILE PHOTO: Football Soccer - EURO 2016 - England News Conference - Auberge du Jeu de Paume, Chantilly, France - 28/6/16 FA chief executive Martin Glenn during the press conference REUTERS/Lee Smith Livepic FA chief executive Martin Glenn said on Tuesday that a BAME candidate would be interviewed for all England coaching jobs in the future as part of plans aimed at improving inclusivity within English soccer’s governing body. Glenn told the BBC that the decision sent out a message that the “FA is for all”. “The Rooney rule is to make sure that provided the candidate has the right level of technical qualifications... on the shortlist for the England manager’s job in the future there will be one candidate from a BAME background,” Glenn said. “What it will say is the opportunity to have a career beyond playing is something that the FA is serious about promoting.” The Rooney Rule, named after former NFL diversity committee chairman Dan Rooney, was introduced in the NFL in 2003 and obliged clubs to interview at least one minority candidate for every senior head coach role. Glenn also said the FA would make it easier for players and staff to air grievances and that he intended to oversee attempts to change the culture around the England women’s team following allegations of race discrimination by Eniola Aluko. The FA issued a public apology in October to Aluko and her fellow England women’s international Drew Spence after comments deemed “discriminatory on grounds of race” were made to them by the team’s former coach Mark Sampson. That incident led to a British government hearing in which Glenn and FA chairman Greg Clarke were questioned about the FA’s culture. Reporting by Toby Davis, editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 3:56 PM / Updated 4 minutes ago Time up for summer? Finns push EU to scrap clock changes Reuters Staff 3 Min Read HELSINKI/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - From the depths of its northern winter darkness, Finland called on the European Union on Friday to scrap summer -- or at least the EU’s twice-yearly switch of clocks to daylight saving time. In Brussels, however, the EU executive showed little sign of haste to comply, confirming only that a long-term review of its 2001 Summer Time Directive was still going on. A study for the European Commission in 2014 found the overwhelming majority of member states were happy with the current arrangements. The problem is that in Helsinki, most northerly of the EU’s national capitals there is less than six hours of daylight in late December. So politicians have argued that moving clocks forward and back by an hour in March and October has disrupted sleep and work and could cause long-term health problems. The country’s EU ministerial committee discussed the matter on Friday and Transport Minister Anne Berner tweeted: ”The government has decided to propose abolition of daylight saving. “Our objective is to abandon the changing of clocks uniformly within the EU. Member states should jointly agree whether to move permanently to winter or to summer time.” Like neighbors across the Baltic, Finland also shares an inconvenience of the time difference changing at its borders with non-EU Russia, Belarus and Ukraine -- they all gave up daylight saving after a decision taken by Moscow in 2011. The practice gained popularity in many countries during the energy crises of the 1970s as a means of saving power and money by effectively shifting daylight from the sleepy early hours to the busy evening. To end variations in when clocks changed, the EU standardized a policy in the 1990s by which all member states now must move clocks an hour forward at 0100 GMT on the last Sunday in March and an hour back on the last Sunday in October. A Commission spokesman declined to speculate on how quickly the EU executive might act on the Finnish request: “This is a complex issue,” Enrico Brivio told reporters. “The Commission is currently examining the summer time question based on all available evidence.” Pressed again, he replied: “I can sing you ‘Summer Time’.” Reporting by Tuomas Forsell in Helsinki and Alastair Macdonald in Brussels; Writing by Alastair Macdonald Editing by Jeremy Gaunt" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 11:50 AM / Updated 7 minutes ago Spanish authorities on alert for any bid by exiled Catalan leader to return Reuters Staff 3 Min Read MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish authorities are monitoring borders to make sure that fugitive Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont does not sneak back into Spain to take up the presidency of the regional parliament again, a senior minister said on Tuesday. Puigdemont has said he can rule from self-imposed exile in Belgium, where he fled to in October to avoid arrest for his part in organising an illegal referendum on a Catalonian split from Spain and a subsequent unilateral declaration of independence. The Madrid government, however, says no one can be named or rule remotely. Spanish Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido said he was worried that the 55-year old, who faces arrest the minute he steps back in Spain, could now try to discreetly return to the parliament in Barcelona for a vote on his candidacy. “We’re making sure this cannot happen, at the borders and within the borders, everywhere,” Zoido told Antena 3 TV. Spanish authorities were working day and night to prevent any attempt by him to return undetected, Zoido said. “We’ll make sure he cannot get in, even (hidden) in the boot of a car,” he said. Catalan lawmakers are set to vote on Puigdemont’s candidacy by Jan 31. Puigdemont on Tuesday withdrew a request to be allowed to vote for himself by proxy, a source in his party said, without saying why he had dropped that demand or if it meant he planned to be in parliament in person for the leadership vote. He was visiting Denmark on Tuesday, his first trip outside Belgium since he arrived there in October following his dismissal by the Madrid government and its imposition of direct rule on the semi-autonomous region. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called a new regional election in December in a bid to defuse the crisis but his gamble failed when separatist parties won a majority, giving new impetus to the independence movement. Puigdemont, a former journalist, potentially faces decades in prison in Spain if he is convicted of the charges levelled against him, including rebellion and sedition. Rajoy has said the Madrid government would appeal to the courts and maintain direct rule of Catalonia if Puigdemont was elected while abroad. Reporting by Ingrid Melander and Inmaculada Sanz, Editing by Paul Day" + }, + { + "text": "January 21, 2018 / 3:00 AM / Updated 3 hours ago Tennis-Suarez Navarro hits back to reach quarter-finals Reuters Staff 2 Min Read MELBOURNE, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro became the first player through to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open as she dug herself out of a hole to beat Estonian Anett Kontaveit 4-6 6-4 8-6 on Sunday. Kontaveit was bidding to reach the last eight of a grand slam for the first time and the 22-year-old had victory in her grasp when she took the first set and broke twice to lead 4-1 in the second set on a muggy day alongside the Yarra river. Unseeded Suarez Navarro was given heart when Kontaveit double-faulted to hand one break of serve back and the 29-year-old stormed back to take the second set. The deciding set was a real battle and Kontaveit again looked like closing it out when she broke at 4-4 but she faltered and was broken as she served for the match. Suarez Navarro enjoyed an outrageous slice of luck when Kontaveit served to stay in the match at 6-7, striking a forehand that hit the net tape twice before wobbling over to give her a second match point. She missed that one but on her third opportunity Kontaveit smacked a forehand long to send Suarez Navarro into the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park for the third time where she will face either second seed Caroline Wozniacki or Magdalena Rybarikova. (Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 10 (IFR) - Oman has opened books on a triple-tranche US dollar bond offering, according to leads. The sovereign has started marketing five-year notes at Treasuries plus 205bp area, a 10-year bond at plus 325bp area and a 30-year tranche at plus 410bp area. All three tranches will be of benchmark size. The deal is today’s business via Citigroup, HSBC, JP Morgan, Standard Chartered and SMBC Nikko. Oman is rated Baa2 by Moody’s and BBB- by Fitch. Reporting by Robert Hogg; editing by Sudip Roy Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16 (Reuters) - Lanzhou Huanghe Enterprise Co Ltd : * Sees to swing to net profit at 14 million yuan to 18 million yuan in FY 2017 versus net loss at 25.1 million yuan in FY 2016 * Says increased securities investment gains as main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/DnUjgy Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "EMERGING MARKETS-Currencies jump as dollar dips; Argentina's Merval breaches 35,000 Rodrigo Campos Published 11:05 AM 35,000@ (Updates with final prices, Mexico details) NEW YORK, Jan 25 (Reuters) - The Mexican peso touched its strongest against the dollar in nearly four months on Thursday as the U.S. currency continued to weaken, while Argentina's Merval stock index briefly broke above the 35,000-point mark for the first time. Many emerging currencies hit multi-year highs against the greenback, with the dollar index languishing at more than three-year lows after U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin departed from traditional U.S. currency policy, saying \"obviously a weaker dollar is good for us.\" Colombia's peso added to Wednesday's 1.4 percent gain against the dollar to reach its strongest since July 2015, while the Chilean peso could close under 600 per dollar for the first time since May 2015. Brazilian markets were closed for the Sao Paulo anniversary holiday but are expected to soon extend a rally that boosted the benchmark Bovespa stock index to an all-time high above 83,000 points on Wednesday. That advance came after an appeals court upheld a corruption conviction of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Although the conviction could derail his plans to run again for the presidency, Lula, who is leading opinion polls for the October election, said on Thursday he would appeal the decision. Brazilian and Argentine shares have led a Latin American equities rally to start the year that has MSCI's gauge of the region's stocks set for its largest January gains since 2006. Key Latin American stock indexes and currencies at 1545 GMT: Stock indexes daily % YTD % Latest change change MSCI Emerging Markets 1262.45 0.29 8.66 MSCI LatAm 3198.99 0.92 12.09 Brazil Bovespa 9.53 Mexico IPC 50881.41 0.27 3.09 Chile IPSA 5824.19 0.45 4.67 Chile IGPA 29265.95 0.4 4.59 Argentina Merval 34773.14 -0.5 15.66 Colombia IGBC 12262.79 -0.42 7.85 Currencies daily % YTD % change change Latest Brazil real 3.1470 0.35 5.28 Mexico peso 18.4500 0.29 6.77 Chile peso 598.68 0.62 2.67 Colombia peso 2790.37 0.73 6.87 Peru sol 3.209 0.12 0.87 Argentina peso (interbank) 19.5400 0.67 -4.81 Argentina peso (parallel) 19.9 0.65 -3.37 (Reporting by Rodrigo Campos; Editing by Bernadette Baum)" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 24 (IFR) - KfW returned to the long end of the US dollar market with a bang on Wednesday, attracting over US$6.2bn of demand for a US$3bn trade expected to be priced later today. The German development bank has not tapped the 10-year tenor since 2015, instead favouring shorter maturities in US dollars. “We’ve had plenty of good trades in 10-year US dollars, so it’s not like the market hasn’t been opened, but KfW is always keen to take out size and they’ve been able to do that in the euro market,” said a lead. “But a combination of attractive outright yields, spread to US Treasuries, the shape of the yield curve and the move in swaps spreads all contributed to the success of the trade.” The 10-year US Treasury yield was at 2.65% on Wednesday, the highest it has been since 2014. Leads Bank of America Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan and TD started marketing the trade at 23bp area over mid-swaps but were able to revise the level twice - to 22bp area, then 21bp area, for a final print at 20bp over. “It’s a brilliant trade. They’d been away from that market for three years and one of their concerns was that they weren’t going to be able to get a US$3bn size,” said a banker away. “They did three €5bn last year for the first time ever, they did more euros than anything else put together last year and if they’d done a US$2bn 10-year when they can do €5bn, it would have looked pretty bad. They need both markets to look good.” (Reporting by Helene Durand; Editing by Philip Wright)" + }, + { + "text": "20 AM / Updated 15 minutes ago Tullow Oil tiptoes back into exploration Ron Bousso 4 Tullow Oil ( TLW.L ) is cautiously reviving its search for new oil and gas resources in Africa and Latin America, its chief executive said, warning that the sector will need to walk a thin line to balance spending discipline with a desire to grow. Africa-focused Tullow, which grew rapidly earlier this decade, has emerged from one of the longest downturns in the sector’s history with a $3.5 billion debt pile. However, deep spending cuts since 2014, asset disposals, the start-up of a major project in Ghana and a recovery in oil prices to more than $60 a barrel helped it to boost cash generation sharply in 2017. Still, uncertainty over how high oil prices can go amid surging U.S. shale production means Tullow and the sector as a whole need to remain disciplined, Chief Executive Paul McDade told Reuters. “What will be critical for us and the industry is to ensure we maintain margins as oil prices pick up ... and not to get distracted by the higher oil prices.” The temptation is nevertheless big as some industry executives expect oil supplies to tighten by the end of the decade due to a drop in investment in recent years and as drilling costs remain extremely low. Tullow plans to start drilling with the Maersk Venturer rig in Ghana in February to search for new oil and gas resources in the vicinity of its Tweneboa, Enyenra, Ntomme (TEN) and Jubilee offshore fields. “We are carefully looking at whether we should add some rig capacity and we will only add that if we can maintain the financial strength of the company.” The company has used the weak price environment to acquire exploration licences in Ivory Coast, where it will begin seismic studies this year and which would be relatively quick and low-cost to develop if they prove to hold resources, McDade said. Tullow said on Wednesday it had also acquired six new licences offshore Peru and could start some exploration this year or in early 2019 if it obtained government approval. “It is high-risk but very high-reward if it works,” he said. Despite the strongest start for oil prices in four years, global exploration spending is set to drop in 2018 for a fifth straight year, masking a recovery in drilling activity as costs continue to fall. “For a much lower exploration budget we can stretch that money much more because of the lower cost base.” In another sign of the sector’s revival, Tullow expects it and its partners Total ( TOTF.PA ) and CNOOC will approve the development of a new project in Uganda in the first half of 2018. Tullow said on Wednesday that it generated around $500 million of free cash flow in 2017, beating expectations, due to higher production and oil prices. Its shares were up 1.4 percent by 0923 GMT, compared with a 0.3 percent rise in the broader energy index .SXEP. It expects its production to average 90,300 barrels of oil and gas equivalent per day (boed) in 2018, down from 94,700 boed in 2017, mainly due to several weeks of repairs planned on the Jubilee field. The company reduced its debt burden by some $1.3 billion throughout 2017 and refinanced a $2.5 billion credit facility in November. Reporting by Ron Bousso; Editing by Dale Hudson" + }, + { + "text": "You are here: Home / Bitcoin / Judges to Rule Whether Government Can Regulate Bitcoin Judges to Rule Whether Government Can Regulate Bitcoin January 30, 2018 Judges to Rule Whether Government Can Regulate Bitcoin | Fortune A Court Is Going to Decide Whether the Government Can Regulate Bitcoin Like Stocks Search" + }, + { + "text": "COPENHAGEN, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Danish toymaker Lego is teaming up with Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd to jointly develop online games and potentially a social network aimed at Chinese children. Privately-owned Lego has seen a slowdown in sales growth in recent years, but the Chinese market has been a bright spot with sales growing 25-30 percent in 2016. It is competing with Barbie maker Mattel Inc and Hasbro, the firm behind My Little Pony, for a slice of the $31 billion toys and games market in China. Lego said on Monday the partnership with Tencent, China’s biggest social network and gaming company, aimed to create a safe online environment covering content, platforms, and experiences tailored for Chinese children. “We’ve seen more and more Chinese children engage with the world digitally, and the partnership will bring them safe and imaginative digital LEGO content that also supports their needs of learning, development and entertainment,” Jacob Kragh, head of LEGO in China, said in a statement. The partnership includes developing a Lego video zone for children on the Tencent video platform, as well as developing and operating Lego branded licensed games, the toymaker said. It also includes LEGO BOOST - a building and coding set that lets children turn their brick creations into moving objects - and will explore developing a joint social network for children in China. Tencent is Asia’s most valuable company with a market capitalisation of $537 billion. Last year, Mattel struck deals with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and online content developer BabyTree to sell interactive learning products based on its Fisher-Price toys. Lego has about a 3 percent market share in China, followed by Mattel and Hasbro with around 2 percent and 1 percent, respectively, according to Euromonitor International. In November 2016, Lego opened a factory in Jiaxing, China, which it expects to produce 70-80 percent of all Lego products sold in Asia. (Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Editing by Mark Potter)" + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 12:31 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Golf - Chapchai takes clubhouse lead in weather-hit Singapore Reuters Staff 2 Min Read SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat carded a spotless seven-under-par 64 in the second round of the Singapore Open on Friday to grab the clubhouse lead with Masters champion Sergio Garcia lurking behind on another day hit by threats of lightning. The 34-year-old Thai, who lost his Asian Tour card last season and only made the field because of his career money earnings, started the day with four straight birdies and picked up three more shots to be at seven-under 135. Spaniard Garcia was a shot behind and one-under after completing only eight holes in his second round. Chapchai’s compatriot Tirawat Kaewsiribandit (70), South Africa’s Shaun Norris (67) and American Kurt Kitayama were also alongside Garcia on six-under when play was suspended and later abandoned for the day. “To finish the round seven-under-par was beyond my expectation. Before coming to this tournament, I tried to adjust and fix my swing flaws with my coach,” Chapchai told reporters. ”Today, I was attempting to play the same way as I did during practice and follow my coach’s advice. “For this tournament, I didn’t think too much and I didn’t set any target. I‘m just enjoying the experience and trying to get used to my new golf swing as well as getting a better swing rhythm.” “For the next two days, I will do the same as I did today and don’t think much about the result.” India’s Shiv Kapur shot a 67 to lie just two shots off the lead alongside Americans Jarin Todd (66) and Casey O‘Toole, who could complete only six holes in his second round. Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by Toby Chopra" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - North Korea has cancelled the planned visit of a delegation to South Korea to prepare for a trip by an art troupe during next month’s Winter Olympics, South Korean authorities said on Friday. The North did not give a reason for the cancellation, the Unification Ministry said. It said a seven-member team had been scheduled to visit on Saturday to check venues for the performances. It was unclear whether the cancellation cast any doubt over the preparations for the North’s participation in the Winter Olympics in South Korea’s Pyeongchang, an apparent diplomatic breakthrough after months of high tension over the North’s nuclear and missile programme. North Korean Olympic officials arrived in Switzerland on Thursday ahead of weekend talks at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to finalise Pyongyang’s participation. North Korean IOC member Chang Ung met the delegation. Asked whether he expected North Korea and South Korea to settle outstanding issues at Saturday’s talks, he appeared optimistic. ”Everything’s fine,” he told Reuters. Reporting by Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru and Soyoung Kim in Seoul; Writing by Andrew Roche; Editing by Kevin Liffey Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Lowe's has appointed two new board members following talks with activist hedge fund D.E. Shaw, which recently built a stake in the home improvement chain. The company's shares were up 1.8 percent in premarket trading on Friday. D.E. Shaw had built up about a $1 billion stake amid approaching the company about changing the board, sources tell CNBC. The firm, which was looking to close Lowe's gap in revenue-per-store, margin, and valuation multiple versus Home Depot, had had a 50-page presentation that was shared with the Lowe's board, those sources added. David Batchelder, co-founder of Relational Investors, and Lisa Wardell, CEO of Adtalem Global Education, were named to the board after \"constructive discussions\" with D.E. Shaw, Lowe's said. The retailer also said it would nominate Brian Rogers, chairman of T. Rowe Price Group and its former chief investment officer, for board election at its annual shareholder meeting. Batchelder was recommended by D.E. Shaw, while Wardell and Rogers were the company's candidates, a source close to the matter said. The appointments of Batchelder, who will serve on the board's compensation committee, and Wardell, who will sit on the audit committee, are effective March 22. Last week, CNBC reported that D.E. Shaw had built an activist stake in Lowe's, concerned about the home improvement retailer's performance, but was not planning to push for consolidation with another home retailer at this time. —CNBC's Leslie Picker contributed to this report." + }, + { + "text": "TACOMA, Wash., Jan. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Banking System, Inc. (\"Columbia\" NASDAQ: COLB) expects to report fourth quarter and full-year 2017 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, January 25, 2018. Management will discuss these results on a conference call scheduled for that afternoon at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time (4:00 p.m. ET). Interested parties may listen to this discussion by joining one of two ways: Option 1: Live-streamed event Join the call through a web-based live streamed-event. If you choose this option, it is recommended that you listen through your phone or computer speakers and not dial into the conference number listed below in option 2. Click here to register and save the event to your calendar: Please test your connection prior to joining to ensure a successful user experience. Connection Test: Click Here For system requirements, visit our FAQ Option 2: Dial-in only Join the call on the day of the event using the toll-free number: 888-286-8956 Conference ID: 9288084 A replay of the call can be accessed beginning Friday, January 26, 2018 using the link below: About Columbia Headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, Columbia Banking System, Inc. is the holding company of Columbia Bank, a Washington state-chartered full-service commercial bank with locations throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho. For the eleventh consecutive year, the bank was named in 2017 as one of Puget Sound Business Journal's \"Washington's Best Workplaces.\" Columbia ranked in the top 30 on the 2017 Forbes list of best banks. More information about Columbia can be found on its website at www.columbiabank.com . Investor Relations Contact: [REDACTED] 253-305-1921 Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which can be identified by words such as \"may,\" \"expected,\" \"anticipate,\" \"continue,\" or other comparable words. In addition, all statements other than statements of historical facts that address activities that Columbia expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Readers are encouraged to read the SEC reports of Columbia, particularly its form 10-K for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2016, for meaningful cautionary language discussing why actual results may vary materially from those anticipated by management. View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Columbia Banking System, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "EPS DPS EPS DPS A2A Dec-2017 0.12 0.06 Dec-2018 0.12 0.07 PRX GENERALI Dec-2017 1.43 0.84 Dec-2018 1.57 0.90 PRX ATLANTIA Dec-2017 1.36 1.03 Dec-2018 1.52 1.13 PRX AZIMUT Dec-2017 1.35 1.48 Dec-2018 1.44 1.20 PRX BANCA GENERALI Dec-2017 1.78 1.30 Dec-2018 1.96 1.40 PRX BANCO BPM - - - - - - - BANCA POPOLARE EMILIA ROMAGNA Dec-2017 0.29 0.07 Dec-2018 0.47 0.12 PRX BUZZI UNICEM Dec-2017 1.30 0.22 Dec-2018 1.57 0.32 PRX CNH INDUSTRIAL Dec-2017 0.48 0.16 Dec-2018 0.63 0.21 PRX CAMPARI Dec-2017 0.21 0.05 Dec-2018 0.22 0.05 PRX ENEL Dec-2017 0.36 0.23 Dec-2018 0.40 0.28 PRX ENI Dec-2017 0.57 0.80 Dec-2018 0.76 0.81 PRX EXOR Dec-2017 5.70 0.37 Dec-2018 6.60 0.38 PRX FERRARI Dec-2017 3.28 0.89 Dec-2018 3.54 1.03 PRX FCA Dec-2017 2.28 0.01 Dec-2018 2.81 0.07 PRX FINECOBANK BANCA FINECO Dec-2017 0.36 0.28 Dec-2018 0.40 0.32 PRX BREMBO Dec-2017 0.86 0.22 Dec-2018 0.83 0.24 PRX INTESA SANPAOLO Dec-2017 0.21 0.20 Dec-2018 0.23 0.19 PRX LEONARDO Dec-2017 0.78 0.14 Dec-2018 0.97 0.19 PRX LUXOTTICA Dec-2017 1.89 0.99 Dec-2018 2.07 1.07 PRX MEDIASET Dec-2017 0.12 0.06 Dec-2018 0.17 0.10 PRX MEDIOBANCA Jun-2018 0.84 0.40 Jun-2019 0.86 0.42 PRX MONCLER Dec-2017 0.98 0.22 Dec-2018 1.08 0.28 PRX PIRELLI & C. Dec-2016 - - Dec-2017 0.36 0.02 PRX POSTE ITALIANE Dec-2017 0.52 0.41 Dec-2018 0.61 0.45 PRX PRYSMIAN Dec-2017 1.56 0.46 Dec-2018 1.78 0.51 PRX RECORDATI Dec-2017 1.42 0.83 Dec-2018 1.55 0.90 PRX SAIPEM Dec-2017 0.18 0." + }, + { + "text": "00 Dec-2018 0.15 0.01 PRX SALVATORE FERRAGAMO Dec-2017 0.82 0.43 Dec-2018 0.86 0.44 PRX SNAM Dec-2017 0.27 0.22 Dec-2018 0.28 0.22 PRX STMICROELECTRONICS Dec-2017 0.90 0.24 Dec-2018 1.14 0.26 PRX TELECOM ITALIA Dec-2017 0.07 0.00 Dec-2018 0.08 0.01 PRX TENARIS Dec-2017 0.28 0.42 Dec-2018 0.48 0.44 PRX TERNA Dec-2017 0.34 0.22 Dec-2018 0.34 0.23 PRX UNICREDIT Dec-2017 1.45 0.29 Dec-2018 1.50 0.36 PRX UBI BANCA Dec-2017 0.17 0.10 Dec-2018 0.31 0.13 PRX UNIPOL Dec-2017 (0.42) 0.18 Dec-2018 0.45 0.18 PRX UNIPOLSAI Dec-2017 0.19 0.13 Dec-2018 0.19 0.13 PRX YOOX Dec-2017 0.42 0.00 Dec-2018 0.56 0.00 PRX NOTA - Utili per azione e dividendo per azione sono espressi in euro. Il consensus sugli EPS è calcolato sulla base del dato che raccoglie il numero più alto di previsioni fra EBG (utile prima di ammortamenti e voci straordinarie) PRX (utile prima di voci straordinarie) REP (as reported) Italgas non è indicata nella tabella poiché i dati raccolti non sono sufficienti. Il consensus è basato su previsioni raccolte entro il 18 gennaio 2018. Fonte: EIKON (stime: Thomson Reuters Knowledge) \"Pagina Italia\" o \"Panorama Italia\"" + }, + { + "text": "MUMBAI (Reuters) - India’s Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) said on Friday that Price Waterhouse can continue to service existing clients whose financial year started on Jan. 1 2018, but it refused to grant a stay on a two-year audit ban ordered by the market regulator. The markets regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India, last week barred Price Waterhouse from auditing listed companies in the country for two years, after a probe into a nearly decade-old accounting fraud case in a software services company that became India’s biggest corporate scandal. It had however allowed Price Waterhouse to continue auditing books for the current fiscal year ending in March. Most Indian companies follow an April-March financial year. Price Waterhouse had appealed to SAT to lift the SEBI ban, but the Tribunal only agreed to give it a reprieve to permit it to complete audits it had already taken on for the 2018 calendar year. Reporting by Abhirup Roy; Writing by Swati Bhat; Editing by Euan Rocha" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 6:05 AM / Updated 13 minutes ago Fed leaves rates unchanged, sees inflation rising this year Ann Saphir , Jason Lange 4 The U.S. Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged on Wednesday but said inflation likely would rise this year, bolstering expectations borrowing costs will continue to climb under incoming central bank chief Jerome Powell. Citing solid gains in employment, household spending and capital investment, the Fed said it expected the economy to expand at a moderate pace and the labor market to remain strong in 2018. “Inflation on a 12-month basis is expected to move up this year and to stabilize” around the Fed’s 2 percent target over the medium term, the central bank said in a statement following a two-day policy meeting, the last under Fed Chair Janet Yellen. It also said its rate-setting committee had unanimously selected Powell to succeed Yellen, effective Feb. 3. Powell, a Fed governor who has worked closely with Yellen, was nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Powell is expected to hew closely to the policies embraced by Yellen, who spearheaded the gradual move away from the near-zero interest rates adopted to nurse the economy back to health and spur job growth after the 2007-2009 recession. Fed policymakers have been encouraged in recent months as the economy picked up speed and the unemployment rate fell to a 17-year low of 4.1 percent. The Fed, which raised rates three times last year and in December forecast three more hikes for this year, said on Wednesday it expected “further gradual” rate increases will be warranted. The target range for the federal funds rate currently is 1.25 percent to 1.50 percent. “The use of ‘further’ opens the door to four hikes and likely closes the door on two,” Michael Gapen, chief U.S. economist for Barclays, wrote in a note to investors. U.S. stocks rose slightly after the Fed statement before paring gains. Short-term interest rate futures showed traders adding slightly to bets the Fed would raise rates three times in 2018, starting at its next meeting in March. INFLATION VIEW UPGRADED The Fed’s gradual path of rate increases will hinge on a continued pickup in inflation, which has lingered below target despite a strong job market. Fed policymakers have said they expect an acceleration this spring, once short-term factors that held down inflation are squarely in the rear-view mirror. In its statement, the central bank noted that market-based measures of inflation have increased in recent months. The statement did not address the likely impact of the Trump administration’s tax overhaul on economic growth, and gave no hint of concern about overshooting on inflation. Several Fed policymakers recently have said they expected the tax changes, which include an estimated $1.5 trillion in corporate and individual tax cuts, to provide an economic lift by boosting business and household spending. Related Coverage Instant View: Fed leaves rates unchanged, sees inflation firming The economy grew 2.3 percent in 2017. U.S. stocks have soared to record highs in recent weeks as investors calculated that corporate profits would rise after the passage of Trump’s tax legislation. There were no dissents in the Fed’s decision on Wednesday. Reporting by Ann Saphir and Jason Lange; Additional reporting by Sinead Carew and Richard Leong in New York and Noel Randewich in San Francisco; Editing by Paul Simao" + }, + { + "text": "23 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago 'Ample time' before next Bank of England rate move needed - Tenreyro Reuters Staff 3 The Bank of England probably has “ample time” before it needs to consider raising interest rates again after its first rate hike in more than a decade in November, BoE policymaker Silvana Tenreyro said on Monday. FILE PHOTO: A sign is displayed outside the Bank of England in London, Britain August 4, 2016. REUTERS/Neil Hall/File Photo/File Photo Tenreyro said in a speech that she felt comfortable at last month’s rate-setting meeting to keep on monitoring the impact of the 25 basis-point increase the BoE announced on Nov. 2. “In December, with unit labour cost growth still subdued and inflation likely to be around its peak, my view was that there was ample time for us to continue to monitor the transmission of the November policy change before voting for another change in interest rates,” Tenreyro said in a speech. The Argentinean-born economics professor, who joined the BoE last year, was among the seven members of the central bank’s nine-strong Monetary Policy Committee who voted for the November rate hike. The other two MPC members voted for no change. In her speech on Monday, Tenreyro said she expected that a couple more increases in Bank Rate would be needed over the next three years. Her comment echoed those of BoE Governor Mark Carney and other top officials at the central bank. However, Tenreyro said it was possible that productivity growth, a key driver of the overall economy but which can help keep a lid on inflation, could be stronger than the weak improvement that the BoE has predicted. Most of the fall in productivity growth was due to just two sectors - finance and manufacturing - and they both could see a turnaround soon, while weak investment by companies could recover as the world economy picks up, she said. “Whether a more or less positive scenario for productivity materialises, as always, the question from an MPC perspective will be how quickly demand responds,” Tenreyro said in a lecture to be delivered at Queen Mary University of London. “A key part of my job will be to gauge the size of any emergent gaps between demand and output potential.” Most economists polled by Reuters at the start of December predicted that the BoE’s next rise in rates would come in late 2018, though some saw a chance of a rise as early as May. Reporting by David Milliken; Editing by William Schomberg" + }, + { + "text": "PARIS/BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A day before Donald Trump’s Jan. 12 ultimatum to “fix” the Iran nuclear deal, European powers met Iran’s foreign minister to show support for it, but the effort failed to soften Trump’s aversion to the accord, U.S. and European officials said. The gathering in Brussels may even have reinforced the U.S. president’s antipathy, according to three U.S. officials involved in the discussions. Trump instead gave the European allies, Britain, France, Germany, and the U.S. Congress 120 days to come up with a tougher approach on Tehran or see U.S. sanctions reimposed, they said. With Trump warning of a last chance for “the worst deal ever negotiated”, Britain, France and Germany have begun talks on a plan to satisfy him by addressing Iran’s ballistic missile tests and its regional influence while preserving the 2015 accord that curbed Iran’s nuclear ambitions for at least a decade. It is hard to say what might mollify the Trump administration, which is split between those who would like to tear up the agreement and those who wish to preserve it and which has said inconsistent things about its demands to keep the accord, U.S. and European officials said. Under U.S. law, Trump must decide again whether to renew the U.S. sanctions relief every 120 days, giving Congress, as well as U.S. and European diplomats, until mid-May to see if there is a way to finesse the issue. But the Brussels meeting has left European powers wary that whatever they agree, it may not be enough. “We’re going to work in the spirit that we’re ready to talk about everything, from the nuclear accord to Iran’s ballistic missiles,” said a senior European diplomat. “But we want to compartmentalise the subjects; we’re not going to mix them.” At stake is not just an historic accord negotiated - before Trump took office - by the United States, China, France, Russia, Britain, Germany and the European Union, and one that Europe sees as its biggest diplomatic achievement in decades. A collapse of the nuclear deal could see a breakdown in the relations between the United States and Europe that have underpinned the West’s security since World War Two, European diplomats and the senior U.S. official said, and could confirm Europe’s fears that it can no longer count on U.S. leadership. Britain, France, Germany and the EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, are adamant that the deal cannot be renegotiated, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also ruled that out this month, speaking at the United Nations. Initial contacts between the three European powers in Washington, European capitals and at the EU’s headquarters in Brussels suggest that Paris, London and Berlin will present a package of measures to the United States to allay Trump’s concerns about Iran but that do not reopen the nuclear accord. BALLISTIC THREAT The strategy could include threatening Iran with targeted economic sanctions if it does not agree to curtail its ballistic weapons arsenal, which the West believes contains longer-range missiles potentially capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson attends a news conference with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel and European Union's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini after meeting Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (unseen) in Brussels, Belgium January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir European diplomats favor creating a high-level working group with Iran to discuss the missile issue, while reminding Trump that NATO’s ballistic missile defense shield in southeastern Europe will boast a new site in Poland this year. Washington wants U.N. nuclear inspectors to be able to visit military sites as part of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s verification of the nuclear deal. The IAEA says it does not distinguish between military and non-military sites and has repeatedly said Iran is honoring its commitments under the deal. Diplomats say the IAEA has not yet inspected a military site, and if Washington wants it to do so it needs to provide new information showing that this is necessary. For its part, Iran has said its military sites are beyond the IAEA’s purview and repeatedly denied that its nuclear program has military dimensions, namely to develop bombs. Another part of the potential European strategy is pressure on Iran to rein in Middle East proxies such as Hezbollah, and to stop arming Houthi fighters combating government forces in Yemen’s war, which has devastated the country. There is discussion to push Iran to embrace U.N-backed peace talks for Syria, where Tehran is sharply at odds with the West in its support for President Bashar al-Assad and whose departure the United States and its EU allies have long sought. That could dovetail with U.S." + }, + { + "text": "legislative efforts to change the nuclear deal’s so-called sunset provisions as they expire from 2025, so that if Iran were eventually to launch a nuclear arms program, U.S. sanctions would kick in again. In the U.S. Congress, the leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are working with the White House to write legislation they hope can meet Trump’s demand to eliminate “the disastrous flaws” in the pact. “Presented the right way, it could be just enough to allow Trump to claim a diplomatic victory and sign legislation from Congress,” said a senior EU diplomat. Mogherini will brief EU foreign ministers on Monday, while U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will meet his British and French counterparts in London and Paris this week on a trip where Iran “will dominate” many conversations, an aide said. “RAGING DISAGREEMENTS” While Britain, Germany and France appear united, Mogherini has so far been unwilling to consider EU sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missiles to avoid jeopardizing the nuclear deal. Iran already rejected a call in November by French President Emmanuel Macron for talks on its missiles, saying they were solely defensive in nature. “Their concept of dialogue is to explain that they are right,” a Western diplomat said of Iran. Britain, France and Germany also face a divided U.S. government - current and former U.S. officials said it is unclear whether Trump wants to save the pact or has set the Europeans and Congress an impossible task, giving him an excuse to end the deal and for someone to take the fall. ”There are these raging disagreements within the (Trump) administration,“ ” said a former U.S. official. “While one group wants to keep the agreement, the other wants this outreach to the Europeans and the Congress to fail and to be able to blame it on them.” Additional reporting by Andrea Shalal in Berlin, Michelle Nichols in New York, Francois Murphy in Vienna, John Walcott and Patricia Zengerle in Washington; editing by Mark Heinrich, William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Malaysia, the world’s second-largest palm producer, said on Monday it would work with other producing countries to voice “strong concerns” to the World Trade Organization, following the European Union’s move to back a ban on using palm oil to make biofuels. European lawmakers approved draft measures last week to reform the power market there and reduce energy consumption to meet more ambitious climate goals. The plan includes a ban on the use of palm oil in motor fuels from 2021. Indonesia and Malaysia, who produce nearly 90 percent of the world’s palm oil, called the move discriminatory and said there should be fair treatment for all vegetable oils. A large portion of European palm oil imports is used to make biofuels, giving the industry’s top two producers cause for concern as they fear overall demand will fall. Malaysia’s trade minister called the move a “regressive step which will fuel further uncertainty surrounding global trade,” according to a statement on Monday evening. “Malaysia will intensify collaboration with other palm oil producing countries to consider more concerted efforts to voice our strong concern before the various committees under the WTO,” said Mustapa Mohamed, minister of international trade and industry, in the statement, adding that the ministry would raise the issue with two committees in March and April. Mustapa also said Malaysia would seek a solution through the Malaysia-EU free trade agreements and the proposed ASEAN-EU free trade agreement. Palm oil exports are a key source of revenue for Malaysia. The European Union is its second-biggest market after India. Reporting by Emily Chow; Editing by Sunil Nair" + }, + { + "text": "China's central bank told a top-level government internet finance group that the monetary authority can tell local governments to regulate the power usage of bitcoin miners to gradually reduce the scale of their production, a source said. While the People's Bank of China (PBOC) can't directly regulate bitcoin miners' power usage, it can ask local authorities to do so, the central bank told members of the Leading Group of Beijing Internet Financial Risks Remediation at a meeting at the end of 2017, the source said. Experts say China is one of the world's biggest sources of bitcoin mining, where miners solve complex mathematical puzzles with computers in order to be awarded virtual coins. The intensive use of computers for bitcoin mining has boosted demand for electricity. In September China ordered all initial coin offerings to cease and all cryptocurrency trading exchanges to be shuttered with the aim of containing financial risks. Bitcoin miners have feared that they could be the next target. At the meeting, the PBOC said development of bitcoin mining will be limited, according to the source, who declined to be named as he is not authorized to speak on the matter. The PBOC could not be reached for immediate comment outside business hours." + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ethiXbase, a leading RegTech third party due diligence and risk management solutions provider today announced the appointment of Richard Russell as Chief Operating Officer, a new position based in the London operations of the rapidly growing company. \"Business communities today have never been more challenged by the risk of corruption within their supply chains. The time is now for organisations to know who they are doing business with, not just for those deemed high risk, but for all third parties across their entire business network,\" said Leas Bachatene, Chief Executive Officer of ethiXbase. \"Against this backdrop, we have made tremendous progress since launching the ethiXbase 2.0 100% third party compliance platform – helping our customers to leverage technology to monitor and manage every single third party relationships throughout their supply chain for effective anti-corruption compliance.\" \"Richard has an impressive track record in advancing business growth while ensuring operational excellence. Having him on board as COO is a key appointment to strengthen our senior executive leadership team. This will ensure we have the right organisational structure in place as we accelerate the technology-led transformation of our solutions to better serve and shape the business community as part of our collective mission to enhance business ethics and anti-corruption compliance,\" said Bachatene. Effective immediately, Richard will spearhead ethiXbase's roadmap of next generation product development, innovation and technology while heading up our London operations as the company expands its global footprint. Following his tenure with Lexis Nexis, Richard started his extensive career with Complinet UK Limited in 2004 as Business Solutions Director. He was a significant stakeholder in successfully developing Complinet's KYC/screening business, advancing technology, data and clients' acquisition for the organisation. By the time Richard left Complinet in 2011 (acquired by Thomson Reuters in 2010), he was Group Managing Director, Global Screening. He has since held various senior executive positions at Euromoney, Optimus Education and IFRS Foundation. About ethiXbase Headquartered in Singapore, ethiXbase is a rapidly growing RegTech company driven by innovation and focused on achieving customer satisfaction. Known for making a difference with ethiXbase 2.0, the industry's leading end-to-end third party compliance and risk management platform, ethiXbase helps small businesses to major Fortune 500 brands achieve 100% third party compliance through advancements in technology, data, services and due diligence. For more information on ethiXbase's third party due diligence solutions, visit www.ethiXbase.com/2-0 Contact Natasha Martin [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Related Links ethiXbase 2.0 View original content with multimedia: SOURCE ethiXbase" + }, + { + "text": "United States needs to pay attention to \"treasured\" relationship with Britain, Tillerson says 10:33am EST - 01:41 Rex Tillerson and UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson praise bilateral relations between Britain and the U.S. Rough cut (no reporter narration) Rex Tillerson and UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson praise bilateral relations between Britain and the U.S. Rough cut (no reporter narration) //reut.rs/2n1oqL5" + }, + { + "text": "NAPLES, Fla., Jan. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Catalyst OrthoScience, Inc., a cutting-edge medical device company focused on the upper extremity orthopedics market, today announced the addition of Greg Rainey to its Board of Directors. Mr. Rainey brings over forty years of experience to the Catalyst OrthoScience Board. Mr. Rainey's career has been in sales management and business development, serving a cross section of the healthcare industry including orthopedics, medical supplies and equipment, and biologics. Mr. Rainey is the founder and principal of CCI Performance Group, an executive consulting firm designed to deliver sustainable business solutions for both leading Fortune 500 healthcare companies and early-stage medical device ventures. Most recently, he served on the Board of Directors for RTI Surgical (RTIX), and currently sits on the Board of CAS Medical (CASM). Mr. Rainey's experience includes Stryker Corporation where he served as Vice President of Sales for the Orthopedic Division. Prior to Stryker, Mr. Rainey held sales leadership positions Joint Medical Corporation and U.S. Surgical Corporation. Mr. Rainey received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Loyola University. \"We are privileged to have Greg join our board at such an important time in our company's history. Greg's successful track record in orthopedics is critical to us as we expand the market presence of our disruptive, stemless shoulder replacement technology. We look forward to his contributions,\" said Bob Kaufman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst OrthoScience. The Catalyst CSRTM Total Shoulder System provides consistently reproducible shoulder joint restoration with a canal-sparing humeral implant that is smaller, more anatomically-shaped, and less invasive than traditional shoulder replacement Catalyst OrthoScience was founded in 2014 by orthopedic surgeon Steven Goldberg, M.D. saw the need to make shoulder replacement surgery less invasive and give patients a more normal feeling shoulder after surgery. About Catalyst OrthoScience Inc. Headquartered in Naples, FL, Catalyst OrthoScience develops and markets innovative medical device solutions that make orthopedic surgery less invasive and more efficient for both surgeons and patients. The company's first offering, the Catalyst CSRTM Total Shoulder System, represents the next evolution in stemless total shoulder arthroplasty. The Catalyst CSRTM is a single-tray total shoulder arthroplasty system containing a non-spherical humeral implant for consistent anatomic joint line restoration and specialized, patented glenoid instrumentation for a less invasive approach that preserves the natural anatomy and removes less of the patient's bone. The Catalyst CSRTM System is optimal for use in both the inpatient and outpatient settings and was cleared for use by the FDA in 2016. Catalyst OrthoScience's products are marketed under a variety of brands including Catalyst OrthoScience® and Catalyst CSRTM. For additional information on the Company, please visit . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Catalyst OrthoScience, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "There's no denying that Amazon 's retail business had an impressive 2017 and there's still plenty of room for the company to grow in certain categories this year. The internet giant was responsible for about 44 percent of all U.S. e-commerce sales last year, or about 4 percent of the country's total retail sales figure, according to One Click Retail, an e-commerce analytics provider. \"Every major trend we see across 2017 can be explained by the fact that more of Amazon's core demographic (millennials) are growing up: they're increasingly owning homes, raising children, and buying a TON of stuff to go with it,\" One Click Retail CEO Spencer Millerberg wrote in an annual review of Amazon. To be sure, he added: \"This raises the question: will this create long-term changes and tailwinds for Amazon? Will 300-ish Whole Foods stores be enough to compete meaningfully in the brick-and-mortar space against Walmart 's 4000+ stores?\" One Click Retail found the fastest-growing product groups on Amazon.com in 2017 were luxury beauty (up 47 percent from a year ago), pantry items (up 38 percent), grocery (up 33 percent) and furniture (up 33 percent). The most sales last year on Amazon.com — more than $8 billion — stemmed from the company's consumer electronics division, which includes laptops, headphones and other computer components. Home and kitchen, publishing (which includes books) and sports and outdoors were other top-grossing categories. In 2017, Amazon worked to quietly build out an automated marketing system that caters to the brands that sell on its website (taking market share from the likes of Google and Facebook ). It also rolled out additional private-label lines across numerous retail categories and took its voice-enabled platform, Alexa, to new highs. Millerberg said 2018 should bring more of the same, as Amazon gets more ambitious with its private labels , experiments with Alexa , grows with Whole Foods and lures new shoppers to its Prime membership base. \"Ultimately, success — for both Amazon itself and for brands that sell through the platform — comes down to knowing your audience,\" he wrote. \"It's clear that Amazon catered to the right crowd in 2017.\" Amazon didn't immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on One Click Retail's data. At the end of December, One Click Retail said Amazon's private-label brands by themselves had almost $450 million in sales in 2017, with the majority of those sales stemming from AmazonBasics, which sells items such as batteries and computer cables. \"This year, Amazon's private brands showed enough success stories to guarantee that Amazon won't be backing off any time soon,\" Millerberg explained at the time." + }, + { + "text": "Breakingviews Predictions 2018: Trump and NAFTA Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - 01:15 Michael Sabia, President and CEO of CDPQ, discusses the possible impact of Trump's administration pulling out of NAFTA, and the effect it will have on business, Canada, and the rest of the world's economy. Michael Sabia, President and CEO of CDPQ, discusses the possible impact of Trump's administration pulling out of NAFTA, and the effect it will have on business, Canada, and the rest of the world's economy. //reut.rs/2AP4z6O" + }, + { + "text": "A Brooklyn federal judge criticized President Donald Trump’s comments about Latino immigrants as “vicious” and “extremely volatile” during court arguments Tuesday over whether to stop the Trump administration from rescinding protections for undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. as children. In a 90-minute hearing, U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis, an appointee of President Bill Clinton, repeatedly denounced Mr. Trump’s previous comments about Latinos, saying they were “incendiary” and often “completely erroneous.” ... RELATED VIDEO What to Expect From the Dreamers Debate Senate Democrats agreed to reopen the government on Monday after it was shuttered over the weekend, in return for a promise to both debate and then vote on a plan in the Senate to give Dreamers a path to legal status. WSJ's Gerald F. Seib explains what may be next for an immigration bill. Photo: Getty To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 11:04 AM / Updated 36 minutes ago Philander takes six as South Africa beat India Nick Said 3 Min Read CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Seamer Vernon Philander took career-best figures as rampant South Africa claimed a 72-run victory over India on a gripping fourth day of the first test on Monday. Cricket - India v South Africa - First Test cricket match - Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa - January 8, 2018. India cricket players celebrate the dismissal of South Africa's Faf du Plessis, bowled by Mohammed Shami. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham Set 208 for victory, India were skittled out for 135 in 42.4 overs in their second innings on a lively wicket with Philander the chief destroyer, recording figures of 6-42. India had looked to seize control of the test when they bowled South Africa out for 130 in the morning session, but found the home attack on the seamer-friendly wicket too much of a challenge. ”I was nervous we did not have enough runs,“ South Africa captain Faf du Plessis told reporters. ”I knew the new ball would be key for us, if we could strike early we believed we could get through their batting line-up. “But I came in this morning hoping to get a 350 lead and bowl at them tonight, so obviously that did not go to plan.” After day three had been a washout, 18 wickets fell in 64 overs on Monday, all going to seamers. South Africa resumed on 65 for two, but were only able to double their score before they lost their last eight wickets. Mohammed Shami (3-28) and debutant Jasprit Bumrah (3-39) were the pick of the Indian bowlers. Only an attacking 35 from AB De Villiers stemmed the tide to a degree before he was the last man out. Cricket - India v South Africa - First Test cricket match - Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa - January 8, 2018. South Africa's Vernon Philander bowls to India's Murali Vijay. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham South Africa, without injured seamer Dale Steyn who will miss the rest of the series with a heel problem, weathered a first-wicket stand of 30 for India in reply. Shikhar Dhawan (16) was out first as he sparred a rising deliver from Morne Morkel (2-39) to gully. Philander picked up his first wicket as fellow opener Murali Vijay (13) edged to third slip. Slideshow (11 Images) Cheteshwar Pujara (four) became Morkel’s second victim with the score on 39, before Indian captain Virat Kohli (28) took the attack to the South Africans. He was undone playing across a straight delivery from Philander. Rohit Sharma (10) was bowled off the inside edge by Philander before the tourists’ first-innings hero Hardik Pandya edged Kagiso Rabada to De Villiers in the slips. Rabada claimed the wicket of Wriddhiman Saha (eight) with the last ball before tea. Philander then took three wickets in four balls to seal victory after a seventh-wicket stand of 49 between top-scorer Ravichandran Ashwin (37) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (13 not out) had briefly sent jitters through the Newlands crowd. “We were in the game for the three days and it was a wonderful match to be part of,” Kohli said. “But we need to rectify our mistakes... the mindset really matters when you travel away from home.” South Africa are hosting India in a three-test series this month, with matches to come in Pretoria, starting on Saturday, and Johannesburg. Reporting by Nick Said, editing by Ed Osmond and Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 2:36 AM / Updated an hour ago China drawing up new 2018-2020 crackdown on smog: official Reuters Staff 3 Min Read BEIJING (Reuters) - China is drawing up plans to extend curbs on smog over the 2018-2020 period, an environment ministry official said on Wednesday, after a five-year crackdown on pollution helped it meet its air quality targets last month. Liu Youbin, a spokesman at the Ministry of Environmental Protection, said officials were working on “a three-year battle plan in the war to protect blue skies”, involving tighter regulations for major industrial regions like Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and the Yangtze and Pearl River deltas. The new three-year plan was expected to be completed in the first half of this year, Liu told reporters after a formal briefing. “It will continue to make Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei its key focus but it will also focus on other major regions like the Yangtze river delta, the northeast and Chengdu-Chongqing,” he added. China’s previous action plan, covering 2013-2017, forced the smog-prone Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region to take action to reduce concentrations of hazardous particles known as PM2.5 by more than 25 percent. Despite near-record PM2.5 readings in January and February last year, northern China managed to meet 2013-2017 air quality targets by the end of 2017, largely thanks to a campaign that forced polluting factories in 28 cities to reduce output over the winter. The campaign is due to end in March and China has been trying to “normalize compliance” and put firms under more permanent scrutiny amid concerns that enterprises and local governments could lower their guard after meeting 2017 targets. A coal worker walks next to wagons amid smog in Huaibei, Anhui province, China January 29, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer Beijing has already sought to impose new “special emissions restrictions” on enterprises in major industrial sectors in northern China. Liu said China would continue to tackle “scattered” coal-burning sources - a major source of uncontrolled pollution in provinces like Hebei - and would also “steadily” promote clean energy heating. According to local media reports this week, Hebei was forced to suspend its plans to convert large numbers of coal-fired heating boilers to natural gas after winter supply shortages left thousands of households without heat. However, Liu denied the reports, telling reporters the Hebei government would “continue to pay close attention” to its coal-to-gas conversion efforts. Liu Zhiquan, head of the MEP’s monitoring office, told the briefing that average PM2.5 readings for the whole of China from Jan. 1-28 stood at 64 micrograms per cubic meter, down 20 percent on the year. Concentrations in Beijing fell 70.5 percent to 36 micrograms per cubic meter, close to the state standard of 35 micrograms. However, average readings in the Yangtze and Pearl river deltas, which include Shanghai and Guangzhou respectively, actually increased over the month, he said, without giving details. Reporting by Muyu Xu and David Stanway; Editing by Joseph Radford and Richard Pullin" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Amtrak engineer aboard a passenger train that derailed last month in Washington state has told the National Transportation Safety Board he misread a signal and tried to brake before the crash that killed three people, the agency said on Thursday. All 12 cars and one of two engines jumped the tracks at a curve on Dec. 18, sending some cars tumbling from a bridge onto an interstate highway near Seattle. The NTSB this month said the crash, which also injured 70 people, could have been prevented if a safety technology system known as positive train control had been operational. It said the train was traveling at 79 miles per hour (126 km per hour) when it derailed, far above the 30 mph speed limit. The agency said it was not able to interview the engineer and the qualifying conductor, who were in the lead locomotive, until last week because both had suffered serious injuries in the crash. The engineer told investigators he was aware that the curve with a 30 mph (48 kph) speed restriction was at milepost 19.8 of the track, and that he had planned to start braking about one mile (1.6 km) prior to the curve, the agency said. The engineer said he did not recall seeing milepost 18 or the 30 mph advance speed sign that was posted two miles (3.2 km) ahead of the speed-restricted curve, the NTSB said. The engineer also mistook another signal at the accident curve for another signal located to the north, it said. The train was on its inaugural run on a faster route from Seattle to Portland, Oregon. The agency reported last month that six seconds before the derailment, the engineer remarked that it was speeding, and that he then applied the brakes but apparently not the emergency brake. The NTSB did not disclose the name of the engineer, 55, who was hired by Amtrak in 2004. It said he had completed about seven to 10 observational trips in the locomotive as well as three trips operating the equipment in the weeks before the accident. The agency said the engineers reported being well rested and that the qualifying conductor was not a distraction. Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Will Dunham" + }, + { + "text": "By Bloomberg January 18, 2018 The roller coaster January for cryptocurrency investors eased for a few hours on Thursday as Bitcoin held steady after roaring back from its first plunge below $10,000 since December . The largest digital currency climbed 2.1% to $11,620 at 11:34 a.m. in London, Bloomberg composite pricing showed. It held fairly steady for much of the Asia trading day as investors took a breath following a frantic 24 hours in which the digital coin swung through a trading range of $2,600. Rivals ethereum and litecoin were little changed, while Ripple jumped 12%. “This market is volatile and there is not enough capital in it to stabilize,” Darren Franceschini, chief executive with Blockchain Technologies Consulting, said in an email. Bitcoin’s gyrations in 2018 has investors, regulators and onlookers debating whether the speculative bubble has popped after a 1,400 percent ascent last year. Jitters across the globe over a potential bloodbath helped wipe about $400 billion off the global market value of digital assets in 10 days through Wednesday. Read: Did Bitcoin Just Burst? How It Compares to History’s Big Bubbles While Bitcoin and peers staged multiple comebacks in 2017 following double-digit daily losses, the digital coin has not been able to string together a rally through the first three weeks of this year. Cryptocurrencies across the board are coming under increasing scrutiny from regulators around the world, with South Korean authorities debating a potential ban on local exchanges while China is widening its crackdown on the industry. Bixin, one of China’s larger operators for the so-called wallets that hold digital coins, said it was suspending all OTC trading and escrow trading on Wednesday, blaming “uncertainties regarding regulation policies.” No re-start date was set.B SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "The cryptocurrency market will strengthen after bitcoin alternatives that lack substance have failed, a former chief executive and co-founder of Ethereum said. \"My personal opinion is that we're going to see a consolidation after a crash,\" Charles Hoskinson told CNBC in an interview Friday. Hoskinson now runs blockchain research firm IOHK, but was previously in charge of Ethereum, which develops the underlying technology for the cryptocurrency ether (also known as ethereum). A number of alternative cryptocurrencies — including Cardano, a cryptocurrency overseen by Hoskinson's company — have rallied substantially in recent weeks as investors look beyond the most prominent cryptocurrency bitcoin. Ripple's XRP, for instance, temporarily overtook ether as the second-largest cryptocurrency in December. Blockchain, the technology that underpins cryptocurrencies, records all transactions of a digital currency on a dispersed network instead of one centralized server. Meanwhile, a slew of lesser-known digital tokens have surged to unprecedented levels over the last few weeks, sending the total market capitalization of all virtual currencies up to three quarters of $1 trillion. But Hoskinson raised concern about \"unrealistic\" cryptocurrency projects entering the space. \"What's going to occur is a lot of these ventures that don't have strong fundamentals, don't have good tech, or just unrealistic projects, they will eventually run into some major wall they can't quite overcome. They will fracture up and you will see a lot of them are certain to fail.\" But the entrepreneur added that many of these cryptocurrency projects might not fail any time soon as they have enough funding behind them to sustain themselves. \"The problem is a lot of them have a lot of money,\" Hoskinson said. \"It's really hard to fail when your burn rate is $5 million or $10 million a year, and you have $1 billion of capital.\" On Sunday, dogecoin, a meme-inspired cryptocurrency that was introduced as a joke in 2013, saw its market value increase to $2 billion just days after hitting $1 billion . Meanwhile, dentacoin, a dental care-focused digital currency that dubs itself \"the blockchain solution for the global dental industry,\" briefly surpassed $2 billion in market capitalization on Sunday, according to Coinmarketcap data. Dogecoin's founder Jackson Palmer said Friday that it was concerning that the virtual coin he helped create had reached such a high valuation despite the fact that the project hasn't released a software update in more than two years. \"I have a lot of faith in the Dogecoin Core development team to keep the software stable and secure, but I think it says a lot about the state of the cryptocurrency space in general that a currency with a dog on it which hasn't released a software update in over two years has $1 billion market,\" he said on Twitter. WATCH: The brains behind ethereum and ripple on bitcoin, cash and ICOs show chapters The brains behind ethereum and ripple on bitcoin, cash and ICOs 9:07 AM ET Fri, 17 Nov 2017 | 01:15" + }, + { + "text": "VALHALLA, N.Y., Jan. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- USI Insurance Services (“ USI ”) announced today it has acquired Ridge Consulting Group, Inc. The employee benefits firm will be integrated into USI’s Wichita, KS, office. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Donald McG. Woods, USI Mountain regional chief executive officer, said: “We are excited to welcome Robert and his team to the USI family. Their strong insurance knowledge, consultative selling approach, and long-term relationships across the state of Kansas complement our USI ONE Advantage ® platform.” Robert J. Langhofer, president, Ridge Consulting Group, Inc., said: “We are looking forward to joining USI. Our clients will continue to benefit from our coordinated solutions and support on a local level, but now they will also have access to USI’s expanded suite of employee benefits solutions and proprietary resources on a national level.” A bout USI USI is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the world, delivering property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk, program and retirement solutions to large risk management clients, middle market companies, smaller firms and individuals. Headquartered in Valhalla, New York, USI connects together over 6,000 industry leading professionals across more than 150 offices to serve clients’ local, national and international needs. USI has become a premier insurance brokerage and consulting firm by leveraging the USI ONE Advantage ® , an interactive platform that integrates proprietary and innovative client solutions, networked local resources and expertise, and enterprise-wide collaboration to deliver customized results with positive, bottom line impact. USI attracts best-in-class industry talent with a long history of deep and continuing investment in our local communities . For more information, visit usi.com . ### Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at Edward J. Bowler USI Insurance Services 914.749.8504 [REDACTED] Diana R. Saglimbeni USI Insurance Services 914.747.8637 [REDACTED] Source:USI Insurance Services" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - Data-sharing business Dropbox Inc has filed confidentially for a U.S. initial public offering led by Goldman Sachs Group Inc and JPMorgan Chase & Co, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Dropbox is in talks with other banks to fill additional roles on the IPO and is aiming to be listed in the first half of 2018, the report said. The company, valued at almost $10 billion in a private fundraising round in 2014, was seeking to hire underwriters for an IPO, Reuters had reported in June. Dropbox could not be immediately reached for comment. (Reporting by Shariq Khan in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)" + }, + { + "text": "Since launching apparel line FUBU with only $40 in 1992 and turning it into a $6 billion brand , entrepreneur Daymond John has invested in a lot of companies. The \"Shark Tank\" star has scored big with ventures like Three Jerks Jerky and Bubba's Q Boneless Ribs. He's also taken some big losses, including one that cost him $6 million: an investment in women's fashion label Heatherette in the early 2000s. It's the worst investment he's ever made, John tells Chris Kornelis of the Wall Street Journal . By Greg Doherty | Getty Images Daymond John The label, which John was trying to help become accessible to a more mainstream audience, went under because neither he nor the co-founders knew the market very well, he says. His main takeaway, as Kornelis puts it: \"Invest in companies that want to scale what they're already doing well, not companies that need to enter a new market if they want to grow.\" If John doesn't personally know the market but the entrepreneurs can prove to him that they do, that's good enough: \"I may not need to know anything about it, but you do know, and you showed me you've scaled a little bit, you've done some great work. And you have a history? All right, I'm down.\" As for winning over the shark, or any other investor, it's all about turning your attention to the person you're pitching, John tells CNBC Make It : \"We all have our own problems and dreams. What's in it for the other person?\" \"Ask yourself,\" John continues, \"What makes them tick? What are they interested in? What do they want?\" show chapters How I Made It: Daymond John and the Power of Broke 1:24 PM ET Tue, 6 June 2017 | 01:46 The $6 million mistake with Heatherette was not the first time John made a business decision that backfired and forced him to learn a painful but important lesson. Early in his career, before he made his fortune, he lost $16,000 on a party he threw to which nobody came. He was throwing it \"for the pure fact that I wanted to make money,\" John said in 2016, speaking at Forefront . But he came to learn that success requires more than just the desire to get rich. \"Money is not success,\" said John. \"Money just drives your problems in a Bugatti.\" \"See, success can be stopping human trafficking, it can be dedicated to your faith, saving carbon imprint on this planet, saving those furry little friends of ours who can't fight for themselves, being a great husband, a great wife, a great mother, maybe you are going to be one of the most underappreciated commodities in this country: a teacher,\" he continued. \"That is success.\" Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook ! Don't miss: Daymond John and 2 other 'Sharks' say this 80-year-old book on wealth changed their lives show chapters This is the reason Daymond John doesn’t binge-watch TV 11:00 AM ET Mon, 1 Jan 2018 | 01:06" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 4:52 PM / Updated 23 minutes ago 'Doomsday Clock' closest to midnight since Cold War over nuclear threat Barbara Goldberg 3 Min Read (Reuters) - Scientists on Thursday moved ahead by half a minute the symbolic Doomsday Clock, saying the world was at its closest to annihilation since the height of the Cold War due to world leaders’ poor response to threats of nuclear war. It was the second occasion the timepiece, created by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists as an indicator of the world’s susceptibility to cataclysm, was moved forward since the 2016 election of U.S. president Donald Trump. At two minutes to midnight, the clock is at its closest to catastrophe since 1953, due to dangers of a nuclear holocaust from North Korea’s weapons program, U.S. Russian entanglements, South China Sea tensions, and other factors, the Chicago-based group said in a statement. “Hyperbolic rhetoric and provocative actions on both sides have increased the possibility of nuclear war by accident or miscalculation,” the group said of North Korea’s nuclear program and the Trump administration’s response to it. Unchecked dangers linked to climate change were another factor scientists cited for moving the clock forward. An overarching concern was what scientists described as the demise of diplomacy under the Trump administration. ”International diplomacy has been reduced to name-calling, giving it a surrealistic sense of unreality that makes the world security situation ever more threatening,” they said. TURN BACK THE CLOCK To rewind the clock, scientists recommended Trump refrain from provocative rhetoric regarding North Korea, the two countries open multiple communication channels and the world community seek a cessation of North Korea’s nuclear weapon and ballistic missile tests. The bulletin was founded by scientists who helped develop the United States’ first atomic weapons. Its Science and Security Board decides on the clock’s hands in consultation with its Board of Sponsors, which includes 15 Nobel laureates. When the clock was created in 1947, it was set at 7 minutes to midnight. Last year the clock’s hands were pushed forward 30 seconds to their second closest point to midnight - two minutes and 30 seconds - after Trump’s statements regarding the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the prospect of actually using them. In 2016, the clock remained unmoved, its hands staying at three minutes to midnight. The clock is displayed on the group's website thebulletin.org/ Reporting by Barbara Goldberg in New York; Editing by Andrew Hay" + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 12:08 PM / Updated an hour ago Morgan Stanley to take $1.25 bln hit in Q4 from tax bill Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 5 (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley said on Friday it would take a $1.25 billion hit in its fourth-quarter earnings due to a cut in corporate tax rate as part of the U.S. tax code overhaul. The net blow of the bill to the bank will include about a $1.4 billion net discrete tax provision, mainly due to the remeasurement of certain net deferred tax assets using the lowered corporate tax rate, the company said in a filing. It would be offset by $160 million in other positive effects, Morgan Stanley added.( bit.ly/2m0QVsB ) Reporting by Diptendu Lahiri in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur" + }, + { + "text": "PARIS, Jan 21 (Reuters) - French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH said on Sunday it has appointed former Yves Saint Laurent star designer Hedi Slimane as artistic director of its Celine label. His predecessor Phoebe Philo left the high-end ready-to-wear brand in January after turning Celine into one of fashion’s most sought-after labels over the past 10 years. LVMH Chief Executive Bernard Arnault said Slimane will oversee and develop both women’s and men’s fashion, leather goods, accessories and fragrances. “Hedi ... is one of the most talented designers of our time ... His arrival at Celine reinforces the great ambitions that LVMH has for this house,” Arnauld said in the company’s statement. Slimane, who has designed clothes for rock star David Bowie and actor Brad Pitt, worked for LVMH group’s Dior Homme in the 2000s. Reporting by Geert De Clercq; Editing by Susan Fenton" + }, + { + "text": "Power plant: getting electricity from algae 11:37am GMT - 02:21 Researchers at Cambridge University have designed a new algae-powered fuel cell that brings this green form of energy closer to reality. Researchers at Cambridge University have designed a new algae-powered fuel cell that brings this green form of energy closer to reality. //reut.rs/2B6zyLD" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 5:36 PM / Updated 21 minutes ago Hexagon's CEO Rollen found not guilty of insider trading Reuters Staff 1 Min Read OSLO, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Hexagon’s chief executive, Ola Rollen, has been found not guilty of insider share trading, an Oslo court said on Wednesday. Prosecutors had asked for an 18-month prison term for Rollen’s 2015 purchase of shares in Norway’s Next Biometrics , a transaction which did not involve Hexagon. One of Sweden’s best known business leaders, Rollen had maintained his innocence throughout the trial. Prosecutors can still appeal the verdict to a higher court. (Reporting by Terje Solsvik and Joachim Dagenborg; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)" + }, + { + "text": "LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Houlihan Lokey Inc. (HLI) on Monday reported fiscal third-quarter earnings of $61.6 million. On a per-share basis, the Los Angeles-based company said it had profit of 93 cents. Earnings, adjusted for pretax gains, were 69 cents per share. The investment banking company posted revenue of $258.9 million in the period. Houlihan Lokey shares have climbed 12 percent since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Monday, shares hit $51.07, an increase of 63 percent in the last 12 months. This story was generated by Automated Insights ( ) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on HLI at" + }, + { + "text": "SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) will release first-quarter fiscal 2018 financial results after the stock market closes on February 14. The company will host a live webcast of its investor conference call in listen-only mode. Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2018 Time: 1:30 p.m. (Pacific Time) Web access: Listeners may log on and select “Q1 2018 Agilent Technologies Inc. Earnings Conference Call” in the “News & Events -- Calendar of Events” section. The webcast will remain on the company site for 90 days. In addition, a telephone replay of the conference call will be available at approximately February 14, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. (Pacific Time) after the call and through February 21 by dialing [REDACTED] (or [REDACTED] from outside the United States) and entering pass code 1482568. About Agilent Technologies Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global leader in life sciences, diagnostics and applied chemical markets. With more than 50 years of insight and innovation, Agilent instruments, software, services, solutions, and people provide trusted answers to its customers' most challenging questions. The company generated revenues of $4.47 billion in fiscal 2017 and employs 13,500 people worldwide. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com . NOTE TO EDITORS: Further technology, corporate citizenship and executive news is available on the Agilent news site at . View source version on businesswire.com : INVESTOR CONTACT: Agilent Technologies Inc. Alicia Rodriguez, [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Source: Agilent Technologies Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 9:37 AM / Updated 22 minutes ago Japanese pop group chants cryptocurrency choruses Kwiyeon Ha 3 Min Read TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese pop group hopped on the bitcoin bandwagon on Friday, dedicating themselves to singing and dancing about the cryptocurrencies that have taken the world by storm, and especially their homeland. In their debut, the eight “Virtual Currency Girls”, or Kasotsuka Shojo in Japanese, cavorted in maid costumes with frilly skirts and full-face professional wrestling-style masks with fuzzy pom-pom ears, extolling the virtues of decentralized digital currencies such as bitcoin. “They’re so convenient you kind of have to wonder why we didn’t have them before,” said Rara Naruse, 18, the group’s leader. “We want everyone to learn more about them.” Each group member adopted the guise of a different cryptocurrency, offering a brief self-introduction to 20 fans gathered at the venue in downtown Tokyo. Then they launched into “The Moon, Cryptocurrencies and Me”, a stirring anthem incorporating lines such as “Be careful about your password! Don’t use the same one!” to warn against the dangers of trading cryptocurrency, and also more obscure ones, in English, such as “Hot day, forget myself, go to the moon.” Members of Japan's idol group \"Virtual Currency Girls\" wearing cryptocurrency-themed masks pose after performing in their debut stage event in Tokyo, Japan, January 12, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon Naruse emphasized on the group’s website that it is not out to promote investment, but rather to teach people about cryptocurrencies in an entertaining way. The maid costumes aimed to raise the group’s popularity with the use of a globally recognizable “uniform,” she added. Naturally, all merchandise sold at the venue is paid for in bitcoin, as are concert tickets and the members’ salaries. Slideshow (8 Images) “I know absolutely nothing about bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but I want to make sure I have some on hand for further concerts and to buy merchandise,” said fan Kensaku Nagao, 46. Japan and South Korea are home to some of the bigger digital exchanges, with investors piling in as growth in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies soared last year, provoking regulators’ concerns. On Thursday, South Korea said it planned to ban cryptocurrency trading, sending bitcoin prices plummeting and throwing the virtual coin market into turmoil. Writing by Elaine Lies; Editing by Clarence Fernandez" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 8:32 PM / Updated 14 minutes ago Belgian police shoot man armed with knife at station Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian police shot a man armed with a knife at the main railway station in the western city of Ghent on Tuesday and the man was taken to hospital, state broadcaster VRT said. Belgium reduced its national threat level on Monday, saying a militant attack had become less likely almost two years after bombings killed 32 people in Brussels. The government reduced the threat level to two on a four-tier scale, indicating a medium risk. Authorities had been on alert at level three for the serious chance of an attack since the bombings on March 22, 2016. Local police were not immediately available for comment on the incident in Ghent. Reporting by Robin Emmott; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 8:06 AM / Updated 8 hours ago AstraZeneca's three-in-one inhaler helps COPD patients in trial Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - AstraZeneca said an inhaler for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) delivered improved lung function in a late stage trial that could challenge GlaxoSmithKline’s new three-in-one inhaler. The inhaler, PT010, showed “statistically significant” improvement in eight of nine main lung function goals in patients with moderate to very severe COPD, the company said on Friday. AstraZeneca said patients in the trial were given two inhalations twice a day of PT010, which is a single inhaler, fixed-dose triple combination therapy. There were no unexpected safety or tolerability signals for PT010 identified in the 24-week trial, it added. GSK’s Trelegy Ellipta was the first once-daily triple medicine for COPD to market, putting Britain’s biggest drugmaker ahead of rivals such as AstraZeneca and Novartis. GSK’s inhaler, which it developed with Innoviva, has already been approved for sale in the United States and Europe. “GSK is already on the market with its Trelegy Ellipta product so is well ahead, nevertheless PT010 should still find a place in the market,” Liberum analysts said in a client note, adding the inhaler was not a critical product for AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca said it anticipated making regulatory submissions in Japan and China in the second half of this year, followed by possibly submitting it in the United States and Europe next year. AstraZeneca shares were up 0.5 percent at 0807 GMT. Reporting by Justin George Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Jason Neely and Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 4:08 AM / Updated 36 minutes ago Singer Neil Diamond diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, to retire from touring Jon Herskovitz 2 Min Read (Reuters) - U.S. singer-songwriter Neil Diamond, one of pop music’s all-time best-selling artists, has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and plans to retire from touring, his official website said on Monday. The onset of the disease has made it difficult for him to travel and perform on a large-scale, a statement on the site said, adding he will be cancelling upcoming concert dates in Australia and New Zealand and offering refunds. “It is with great reluctance and disappointment that I announce my retirement from concert touring. I have been so honored to bring my shows to the public for the past 50 years,” Diamond said in the statement, offering apologies to those who purchased tickets to his upcoming shows. Diamond, known for hits including “Sweet Caroline” and “Cracklin’ Rosie,” said he plans to remain active in song writing and recording. FILE PHOTO: Honoree Neil Diamond performs a medley of his songs at the 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year gala in Los Angeles, U.S. February 6, 2009. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo Later this week, Diamond will turn 77 and on Sunday the Recording Academy plans to honor him with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Diamond has sold more than 130 million albums worldwide and 38 of his singles have made it to the Top 40, according to the academy. FILE PHOTO: U.S. singer Neil Diamond performs at the Glastonbury Festival 2008 in Somerset in south west England June 29, 2008. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor/File Photo Grammy-award winner Diamond, a fixture in American pop music since he began recording in the 1960s, has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “My thanks goes out to my loyal and devoted audiences around the world. You will always have my appreciation for your support and encouragement,” Diamond said. “This ride has been ‘so good, so good, so good’ thanks to you,” he said. Reporting by Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas; Editing by Neil Fullick" + }, + { + "text": "Breakingviews TV: Bank-tax bingo 12:40pm EST - 03:03 John Foley and Richard Beales start spotting the effects of U.S. tax cuts on the first big bank earnings of the season from JPMorgan and Wells Fargo. One took a hit, the other a gain. Another buzzword may be CEO pay, where targets need to change. John Foley and Richard Beales start spotting the effects of U.S. tax cuts on the first big bank earnings of the season from JPMorgan and Wells Fargo. One took a hit, the other a gain. Another buzzword may be CEO pay, where targets need to change. //reut.rs/2D9bY6I" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15 (Reuters) - Australian shares climbed on Monday, with material and financial stocks leading the gains following a jump in commodity prices and record closing highs on Wall Street. Zinc prices touched a decade-peak on Friday, supported by potential shortages and low inventories, while Wall Street continued its rally as fourth-quarter earnings kicked off with strong results from banks. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.3 percent, or 18.3 points, to 6,088.4 by 0033 GMT. “We had some very strong gains on Friday night in Europe and the U.S., so it is likely that all of the markets across the Asia-Pacific region will see positive starts today,” said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets. “We are also seeing good support for commodity prices, and given Australia’s exposure to those sectors, that’s also a positive for the market.” Australia’s metals and mining index rose as much as 1.6 percent to a five-year high. That index is “leading the charge, and does look like the sector to watch,” said McCarthy. BHP Billiton Ltd gained as much as 2 percent to its highest in more than three years, while fellow mining heavyweight Rio Tinto Ltd jumped to a more than six-year high, rising as much as 1.4 percent. Further pushing materials up were gold stocks, on track to gain for a third straight session. They rose as much as 2.5 percent, as the yellow metal hit a four-month high on a weakening U.S. dollar. The top gainer on Australia’s main index was Evolution Mining Ltd, rising as much as 4.7 percent and posting its biggest intraday percentage gain in nearly five months. Financial stocks climbed as much as 0.5 percent, with the ‘Big Four’ banks adding between 0.3 percent and 0.7 percent. New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index inched up 0.098 percent, or 8.06 points, to 8,250.41, with utilities, materials and industrial stocks outperforming other sectors. Metro Performance Glass Ltd jumped as much as 2.1 percent and was the biggest gainer on the index. (Reporting by Christina Martin in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Nikhil Nainan; Editing by Richard Borsuk)" + }, + { + "text": "VIENNA, Jan 16 (Reuters) - After a legal spat, Airline Niki’s German administrator Lucas Floether and his Austrian counterpart Ulla Reisch said in a joint statement on Tuesday that they would cooperate closely on sealing a deal on the future of the insolvent airline. Floether said as recently as Friday that he was considering legal action against an Austrian court ruling that Niki’s main insolvency proceedings had to move to Austria from Germany after Floether had already agreed Niki’s sale to British Airways owner IAG. “The signatures of both administrators will guarantee the buyer legal security for the closing of the sales contract,” Floether and Reisch said, reiterating that bidders from previous rounds could issue fresh offers until Friday. Reporting by Shadia Nasralla and Kirsti Knolle; editing by Jason Neely" + }, + { + "text": "Missile alert mistakenly sent out in Hawaii Saturday, January 13, 2018 - 01:49 An emergency message alerting Hawaiians of an incoming ballistic missile was sent out by human error, sparking fear and confusion. An emergency message alerting Hawaiians of an incoming ballistic missile was sent out by human error, sparking fear and confusion. //reut.rs/2AYbxGC" + }, + { + "text": "Katherine Siemionko is organizing a mass demonstration in New York City Saturday, something the former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. banker has done only once before, for the Women’s March last year that drew more than 400,000 participants. Over the past year, Ms. Siemionko has left her Wall Street job and become a full-time organizer for women’s issues, motivated by her success coordinating one of the biggest of hundreds of protests around the country last January over the election of President Donald Trump. ... RELATED VIDEO Women's March Floods Washington The Women's March on Washington saw more than double the expected crowds on Jan. 21, 2017, filling the National Mall and surrounding streets. Hundreds of thousands of attendees marched in a rebuke to newly-elected President Donald Trump and to defend the rights of women, immigrants and LBGTQ. Photo: David Cole for The Wall Street Journal (Originally published Jan. 21, 2017)" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 2:38 PM / in an hour Gates backs Central America malaria elimination plan with $31 million Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Philanthropist Bill Gates promised $31 million on Wednesday as part of a new Central America malaria elimination fund aimed at wiping out the disease in seven of the region’s countries and the Dominican Republic. In a joint plan with the Inter-American Development Bank and the Carlos Slim Foundation, Gates said the Regional Malaria Elimination Initiative (RMEI) would bring a total of $83.6 million in new funds “to ensure malaria remains a top health and development priority despite dwindling numbers of cases”. The new money would also help leverage more than $100 million in domestic financing and $39 million of existing donor money in the region by 2022, the philanthropist’s Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said in a statement. Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - 6/6/09 Bill Gates watches the Women's Final from in the crowd Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Scott Heavey Livepic Although Central America has seen a more than 90 percent drop in malaria cases since 2000, progress against the mosquito-borne disease has stalled and several countries in the region still have significant problems with malaria. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 40,270 confirmed cases of malaria were reported in 2016 in Central America, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Gates said the collaboration would help cover “financial and technical gaps” in the region as well as strengthening health systems to tackle other diseases carried by mosquitoes, including Zika, dengue and Chikungunya. Worldwide, malaria infects around 216 million people a year, killing around half a million of them. Most deaths are among babies and young children in the poorest parts of Africa. The WHO says that in 2016, some $2.7 billion was invested in global malaria control and elimination efforts. Reporting by Kate Kelland; Editing by Alison Williams" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15 (Reuters) - Samty Co Ltd : * Says it plans to sell 1,386 shares in unit Samty Asset Management Co Ltd, on Feb. 1 * It is also in deal to sell 24 properties on Feb. 1, for totaling 20.12 billion yen Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/1ecbab Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 2:00 PM / Updated 30 minutes ago MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf moves little, Egypt rises on presidential election date Reuters Staff * Qatar slows after surge on dividend-hunting * Aamal Co rises on industrial plans * PetroRabigh surges again in Saudi Arabia * Dubai’s Air Arabia, Dubai Islamic Bank strong * Egypt market anticipates Sisi win in March 26-28 poll By Andrew Torchia DUBAI, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Gulf stock markets were mostly sluggish on Tuesday as Qatar slowed after surging for two days, but Egypt’s bourse rose after authorities announced a date for presidential elections. The Qatari stock index closed 0.3 percent higher, well off early lows, as trading volume shrank by nearly a third. The index had gained 2.6 percent on Monday as investors positioned for annual dividend announcements in a few weeks. Some of the best performers of the past two days pulled back, with Doha Bank losing 1.5 percent. But Aamal Co rose 2.4 percent after announcing plans for an affiliate which it owns 50-50 with Egypt’s El Sewedy Electric Co to build three factories to produce copper wires, aluminium bars and drums for cables -- the country’s first such factories. In Saudi Arabia, the index fell 0.3 percent as petrochemical giant Saudi Basic Industries dropped 0.5 percent. But PetroRabigh gained a further 3.9 percent in the wake of the opening of facilities in its Phase II petrochemical complex. Dubai’s index rose 0.4 percent as Air Arabia climbed 3.2 percent to its highest level since early February 2017, in its heaviest trade since mid-October. Dubai Islamic Bank rose 1.7 percent to its highest since August 2015. But builder Drake & Scull dropped a further 3.5 percent on further profit-taking after big gains since November. After the close, Dubai Financial Market released a list of the first 19 stocks for which it will permit regulated short-selling. They include Air Arabia and Drake & Scull as well as blue chips such as Emaar Properties. In Egypt, the index gained 1.4 percent to a record high in its heaviest trade since November after the presidential elections were scheduled for March 26-28. Incumbent Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has yet to announce his candidacy but is widely expected to run and win, which could extend a period of relative political stability and provide more time for Egypt’s economic reforms to bear fruit. HIGHLIGHTS * The index fell 0.3 percent to 7,291 points. DUBAI * The index rose 0.4 percent to 3,505 points. ABU DHABI * The index was flat at 4,586 points. QATAR * The index rose 0.3 percent to 9,002 points. EGYPT * The index gained 1.4 percent to 15,159 points. KUWAIT * The index rose 0.3 percent to 6,519 points. BAHRAIN * The index fell 0.4 percent to 1,315 points. OMAN" + }, + { + "text": "VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis renewed an appeal on Wednesday for an end to violence in Democratic Republic of Congo, where security forces have gunned down protesters during pro-democracy demonstrations called by the local Catholic Church. “Unfortunately, worrying news continues to arrive from the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Francis told a crowd in St. Peter’s Square after a regular general audience. “I, therefore, renew my appeal that everyone make all efforts to avoid any form of violence. From its side, the Church wants nothing other than to contribute to peace and to the common good of society.” The Catholic Church, which is highly influential in Congo, has become increasingly vocal in its condemnation of President Joseph Kabila’s insistence on staying in office long after the end of his mandate. At least six people were killed and dozens wounded as government-backed forces dispersed a protest on Sunday. Reporting by Isla Binnie; Editing by Robin Pomeroy" + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL, Jan 18 (Reuters) - South Korea’s central bank held interest rates steady on Thursday, as expected, as it monitored the effects of its November hike and remained wary of triggering disruptive capital flows. Following are key remarks from Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol’s news conference, translated by Reuters: RATE DECISION: “Today’s decision to raise the base rate to 1.50 percent was unanimous.” “We decided to keep rates unchanged today as there are still uncertainties inside and outside the country and it is necessary to observe the effect of these factors. Also, inflationary pressures are not high, also leading to our decision.” “Going forward, monetary policy will be kept accommodative to support economic growth.” “In November, we raised interest rates and whether we will make additional moves will come after we look at growth and inflation closely, in addition to other factors.” ECONOMIC GROWTH: “South Korea’s economic growth this year is now seen at 3.2 percent versus 3.0 seen earlier.” “We raised our growth forecast for 2018 because global economic growth has been expanding more than we expected back in October.” “This year, economic growth will be stronger in the first half of the year compared to the second half.” INFLATION: “Inflation this year is expected at 1.7 percent compared to our previous projection of 1.8 percent.” CRYPTOCURRENCY: “It’s a little too early for us to assess the impact virtual currency trade has had, or will have on the South Korean economy in detailed numbers.” “Currently, we believe the impact from sudden changes in cryptocurrency levels will be limited on the financial system.” “Cryptocurrency is not a legal currency and is not being used as such as of now. However, we have started looking at virtual currency from a long-term standpoint, as central banks could start issuing digital currencies in the future. This sort of research has begun at the Bank of International Settlements and we are part of that research.” FOREX: “The won has been strengthening and part of that may be because geopolitical risks linked to North Korea have eased somewhat and the dollar weakened broadly, in addition to South Korea’s growth expanding quickly. However, some of the won’s gains were also due to herd behaviour.” (Reporting by Christine Kim; Editing by Sam Holmes)" + }, + { + "text": "TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian cannabis stocks fell on Thursday after the U.S. government said it would resume enforcement of federal laws banning marijuana in states that had legalized pot, disrupting a seven-day rally that boosted shares to record highs. The U.S. Department of Justice rescinded an Obama administration policy that discouraged federal prosecutors from pursuing marijuana-related crimes in states that had legalized the drug. The action by Attorney General Jeff Sessions could harm the burgeoning marijuana industry in six states including California and Colorado. The U.S.-listed ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF, which launched on Dec. 26, closed down 6.2 percent. Canada’s Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences ETF ended down 8.7 percent. Aphria Inc, which has operations in Florida and Arizona, closed 13.8 percent lower, after falling as much as 22.7 percent earlier in the day. CannaRoyalty Corp, tumbled 15.8 percent. The company operates in California, which legalized recreational marijuana sales starting Jan. 1. TMX Group Ltd, the operator of the Toronto Stock Exchange, said in October it might delist stocks of marijuana companies with interests in the United States. TMX representatives could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday afternoon on the moves by Sessions. FILE PHOTO: A Canadian flag with a marijuana leaf on it is seen during the annual 4/20 marijuana rally on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, April 20, 2017. REUTERS/Chris Wattie/File Photo Canadian securities regulators have said companies must disclose any connection to the U.S. marijuana industry but have not prohibited them from listing in Canada. That could leave room for any firms rejected by TMX to move to other exchanges. Canadian Securities Administrators could also not be immediately reached for comment. Slideshow (2 Images) Jonathan Sherman, a marijuana securities lawyer at Canadian law firm Cassels Brock, said he expects regulators to change that policy, noting that the Canadian Securities Administrators said in October it would review the matter if there was a change in the U.S. government’s approach. “This would be of significant concern to Canadian cannabis companies with U.S. operations,” Sherman said in a statement. Still, the majority of Canadian marijuana companies, which do not have U.S. operations, are unlikely to be harmed by the policy change in Washington, Chris Damas, editor of the BCMI Cannabis Report, said in an interview. He said investors responded so strongly to the news because Canadian pot stocks just posted a strong rally. “They’ve gone up so much in the last few trading days,” Damas said. “This is a reasonable retracement.” Reporting By Nichola Saminather; Editing by Jim Finkle and Lisa Shumaker" + }, + { + "text": "BERLIN (Reuters) - Britain wants to have a comprehensive trade deal with the European Union as well as a defence pact in place once its leaves the bloc, Prime Minister Theresa May said in remarks published in a German newspaper on Saturday. May added that her government was not seeking to “cherry pick” in the negotiations and that it wanted a trade deal that goes further than that which the EU has with Norway or Canada simply because Britain is negotiating from a different position to those two countries. “It is not about cherry picking,” May told the mass-selling Bild newspaper. “We want to negotiate for a comprehensive free trade deal and security pact. We are in a different starting position than Canada or Norway.” Britain and the EU struck a divorce deal last month that paved the way for talks on future trade ties and boosted hopes of an orderly Brexit. “We are leaving the EU but not Europe,” she said. Reporting by Joseph Nasr; Editing by Hugh Lawson" + }, + { + "text": "Thousands mourn lives lost in mudslides Tuesday, January 16, 2018 - 01:19 The search for victims of last week's deadly Southern California mudslides pushed into Monday, with hundreds of rescue workers searching for four people still listed as missing after the rain-driven slides that killed 20 people. Colette Luke has more. The search for victims of last week's deadly Southern California mudslides pushed into Monday, with hundreds of rescue workers searching for four people still listed as missing after the rain-driven slides that killed 20 people. Colette Luke has more. //reut.rs/2DdYwP7" + }, + { + "text": "SILVER SPRING, Md., Jan. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SLI Global Solutions, LLC has appointed Steven Esposito as President and Chief Executive Officer. Esposito will be responsible for SLI's corporate strategy and execution and will lead the company's growth in systems development oversight markets and in its children and family services program and policy improvement arena. Esposito will report to President and CEO of the GLI Group, James Maida. He replaces Mark Phillips, who announced his retirement earlier last year. \"Steven's knowledge of the challenges facing government program and experience in taking and executing a strategic vision will strengthen SLI Global Solutions' position as an industry leader. With a proven track record for successfully directing large public-sector initiatives and driving innovation, Steven's leadership skills are well suited to drive SLI's efforts as we continue in our mission to help government entities improve service delivery,\" Maida said. \"We are grateful to Mark Phillips for the tireless service gave to SLI. His leadership has created a positive situation for the smoothest possible transition.\" Esposito brings more than 30 years of experience in leading IT and program operations to SLI Global Solutions. Most recently, he served as President of the Government Solutions Division of SLI. Prior to SLI, he was Senior Vice President at MAXIMUS where he was responsible for managing the Systems Integrity Division in the Consulting Segment of the firm. He also worked for the State of Arizona's Department of Economic Security for 10 years, where he led the Systems and Automation Administration for the Division of Child Support Enforcement. Esposito received his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration/Marketing from Arizona State University. He is a PMI-certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) by ISACA. About SLI Global Solutions SLI Global Solutions (SLI) is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, with project locations in over a dozen capital cities across the US. SLI is committed to helping state agencies build quality and innovation into their system implementations and program improvement initiatives. SLI is committed to the use of a standards-based quality management methodology that has been proven effective in a wide range of system implementations and process improvement projects. SLI's SQM3 methodology is ISO 9001:2015 certified. For more information, visit www.sliglobalsolutions.com . Contact: Mark Joyce, Director of Business Development 307-220-8855, [REDACTED] View original content with multimedia: SOURCE SLI Global Solutions" + }, + { + "text": "PARIS (Reuters) - European planemaker Airbus ( AIR.PA ) on Wednesday named new top executives for its Chinese division, which has been a key focus during French President Emmanuel Macron’s trip to China, with Airbus hoping to finalize a major Chinese contract soon. Airbus named George Xu as chief executive officer for Airbus China, and added that Eric Chen - previously president of Airbus Commercial Aircraft China - would succeed Laurence Barron as chairman of Airbus China. Earlier on Wednesday, Macron said a contract with China for 184 Airbus A320 narrow-body jets would be finalised soon, and that his country also had ambitions to sell A350 and A380 planes to China in the coming weeks or months. Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 12 (Reuters) - China Zhengtong Auto Services Holdings Ltd: * COMPANY AND ITS CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER, JOY CAPITAL, ENTERED INTO PLACING AGREEMENT * INTENDS TO APPLY PROCEEDS FROM PLACING FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ITS AUTOMOBILE FINANCE BUSINESS. * DEAL FOR PLACING PRICE OF HK$7.70 PER PLACING SHARE. * NET PROCEEDS FROM PLACING WILL AMOUNT TO HK$1.73 BILLION Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "ST. LOUIS, Jan. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, Peabody (NYSE: BTU) will announce results for the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2017. A conference call with management is scheduled for 10 a.m. CST on Wednesday, Feb. 7. Participants may access the call using the following phone numbers: U.S. and Canada (888) 312-3049 Australia 1800 849 976 United Kingdom 0808 238 9907 For all other international participants, please contact Peabody Investor Relations at (314) 342-7900 prior to the call to receive your dial-in number. The call, replay and other investor data will also be available at PeabodyEnergy.com . Peabody is the world's largest private-sector coal company and a leading voice in advocating for sustainable mining, energy access and clean coal technologies. Peabody serves metallurgical and thermal coal customers in more than 25 countries on five continents. For further information, visit PeabodyEnergy.com . Contact: Stephanie Weiler 314.342.7900 View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Peabody" + }, + { + "text": "COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- State Auto Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:STFC) will discuss its fourth quarter and year 2017 results in a conference call on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, at 11 a.m. ET. The company plans to release its results on Feb. 20, 2018, before the open of regular trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market. WHAT: STFC fourth quarter and year 2017 earnings conference call WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, at 11 a.m. ET HOW: Webcast at REPLAY: Available via the link above approximately one hour after the call ends CONTACT: Tara Shull, 614.917.4478 About State Auto Financial Corporation State Auto Financial Corporation, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, is a super regional property and casualty insurance holding company and is proud to be a Trusted Choice® company partner. STFC stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, which represents the top fourth of all NASDAQ listed companies. The insurance subsidiaries of State Auto Financial Corporation are part of the State Auto Group. The State Auto Group markets its insurance products throughout the United States, through independent insurance agencies, which include retail agencies and wholesale brokers. The State Auto Group is rated A- (Excellent) by the A.M. Best Company and includes State Automobile Mutual, State Auto Property & Casualty, State Auto Ohio, State Auto Wisconsin, Milbank, Meridian Security, Patrons Mutual, Rockhill Insurance, Plaza Insurance, American Compensation and Bloomington Compensation. Additional information on State Auto Financial Corporation and the State Auto Insurance Companies can be found online at . View source version on businesswire.com : State Auto Financial Corporation Media contact: Kyle Anderson, 614-917-5497 [REDACTED] or Investor contact: Tara Shull, 614-917-4478 [REDACTED] Source: State Auto Financial Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "January 6, 2018 / 2:35 AM / Updated 8 hours ago U.S.-Korea trade talks pit pickup trucks against nuclear threat Lesley Wroughton , Hyunjoo Jin 4 Min Read WASHINGTON/SEOUL (Reuters) - The United States and South Korea on Friday completed the first round of review talks on a bilateral trade deal with Washington saying there was “much work to do” to reach a new pact. FILE PHOTO - U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korea's President Moon Jae-in hold a joint press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, November 7, 2017. REUTERS/Jung Yeon-Je/Pool Since taking office in 2017, President Donald Trump has pulled the United States out of talks on a 14-nation Asia-Pacific trade pact, started negotiations on a new deal for the North American Free Trade Agreement between the U.S., Mexico and Canada and initiated a review of the 2012 Korea deal. Washington has taken a hard line in the NAFTA talks, which appear stalled with just two rounds of negotiations left, saying that concessions are the only way for Canada and Mexico to keep the deal. The Korea trade talks will have to strike a balance between Trump’s domestic agenda and the need to contain a nuclear-armed North Korea. A swift agreement would have aided that, officials from both sides told Reuters ahead of the talks on Friday. The U.S. goods trade deficit with South Korea has doubled since the 2012 signing of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS). Almost 90 percent of the 2016 shortfall of $27.6 billion came from the auto sector, an issue the United States is expected to press hard in the Washington talks. A quick Korea deal could give Trump his first trade victory at a time when NAFTA negotiations are dragging on and pressure on China to change trade practices has yielded little progress. The talks, led by Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Michael Beeman and Yoo Myung-hee, director general for FTA negotiations at South Korea’s trade ministry, begin at a time of heightened tension with Pyongyang. The United States had primarily raised the issue of the automobile sector, Yoo told reporters in Washington after the first round of talks, Yonhap News Agency said, but gave no details. A top priority for the Americans is maintaining a tariff of 25 percent on imports of Korean pickup trucks, which the existing deal envisaged to be phased out from 2019, according to a U.S. official and a South Korean car industry source. South Korea has two major automakers, Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors, that rely heavily on exports because of the small size of the domestic market. Critics say South Korea discriminates against imports with a range of non-tariff barriers. South Korean auto companies believe Washington will also seek to increase the 25,000-vehicle per U.S. automaker threshold for U.S. car shipments to South Korea that can enter the country without meeting Seoul’s domestic industry regulations. The official at a South Korea auto company, who was not authorized to speak to the media, also said the United States was interested in easing Seoul’s vehicle emissions targets. These are viewed as discriminating against U.S. autos. NUCLEAR THREAT Since Kim Jong Un took power in North Korea in 2011, Pyongyang has run a series of increasingly powerful nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches, drawing ever tighter sanctions and a freeze on contacts between the two Koreas. This week, however, Seoul agreed to high-level talks with the North in response to a New Year’s speech in which the North Korean leader offered an opening to diplomacy. Pyongyang has a long history of seeking to play off Seoul and Washington as well as Beijing and Moscow in its diplomacy. Washington is wary of separate approaches and there are concerns that disagreements over KORUS could fuel a rift between South Korea and the United States. The election of a left of center government in South Korea has raised concerns in Washington that Seoul may now be more willing to engage in talks. Under two previous right of center South Korean administrations, economic and other links between the countries were severed. “I have a feeling that we will not take any precipitous action on KORUS for the time being,” a senior U.S. official said while acknowledging that Trump and trade hawks within his administration had concerns over the deal. Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick and Eric Beech in Washington, and Jane Chung in Seoul; Editing by David Chance, Andrew Hay and Lisa Shumaker" + }, + { + "text": "JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa’s social development ministry has provoked an outcry after admitting it agreed to pay state broadcaster SABC 149,000 rand ($12,200) of public money to conduct a lengthy interview with its scandal-prone head last month. The SABC aired the interview with Bathabile Dlamini, an ally of President Jacob Zuma and senior figure in the ruling African National Congress (ANC), on a popular talk show just a week before the ANC elected its new leadership. Dlamini was sharply criticized by South Africa’s top court last year for her role in a fiasco which threatened the payment of welfare benefits to 17 million people. She was re-elected to the ANC’s national executive in December. Dlamini’s spokeswoman said it was normal practice for the social development ministry to pay to get its message across and that the interview was not been timed to coincide with the ANC leadership conference. A spokesman for the SABC said the interview was filmed for an entertainment program and that 149,000 rand was not a large sum for such an interview. He said the SABC had decided not to accept the cash from the government and recognized it had broken its editorial policies. As president, Zuma appoints the board of the SABC. His presidency has been tarnished by a series of corruption scandals, including allegations that Zuma’s friends have influenced government appointments. Zuma denies any wrongdoing. Anton Harber, a professor of journalism at Wits University in Johannesburg, said the Dlamini interview had harmed the SABC’s journalistic credibility because the broadcaster had not disclosed that it was paid for. Harber joked on Twitter: ”Welcome to the SABC, Madam Minister. Are you an interviewee today, or a client? Reporting by Alexander Winning; Editing by Richard Balmforth" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16 (Reuters) - British homewares retailer Dunelm Group Plc said on Tuesday its comparable sales rose 3.4 percent in the second quarter, helped by higher online sales. The company said revenue rose 13.6 percent to 297.5 million pounds ($410.43 million) in its second quarter ended Dec. 30. Dunelm, which sells cushions, bedding and kitchen equipment, said it expects margin improvement in the second half. ($1 = 0.7248 pounds) (Reporting by Radhika Rukmangadhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr)" + }, + { + "text": "NORFOLK, Va., Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) announced that its board of directors today approved an 18 percent increase in its quarterly dividend on the company's common stock, from 61 to 72 cents per share. \"This dividend increase demonstrates the board's confidence in Norfolk Southern's ability to invest in our business and in technology to grow and provide service to our customers, while returning capital to our shareholders consistent with our Strategic Plan,\" said James A. Squires, Norfolk Southern chairman, president, and CEO. The dividend is payable March 10, to shareholders of record on Feb 2. Since its inception in 1982, Norfolk Southern has paid dividends on its common stock for 142 consecutive quarters. About Norfolk Southern Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway Company subsidiary operates approximately 19,500 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal, automotive, and industrial products. releases/norfolk-southern-board-increases-quarterly-dividend-18-percent-300586928.html SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 2:00 PM / Updated 9 minutes ago Thousands of German industrial workers to stage strikes next week Reuters Staff 2 Min Read FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of workers in the German metals and engineering industries will stage walkouts at companies across the country from next week as part of a campaign for higher pay, powerful union IG Metall said. FILE PHOTO - A worker holds a sign with text 'We are for 5%' as steel workers of Germany's IG Metall union protest for higher wages in Cologne, Germany May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay The country’s biggest union is demanding a 6 percent wage rise this year for about 3.9 million workers in the sector. “We will build pressure with our first wave of warning strikes so the employers finally show some movement in negotiations,” Juergen Wechsler, head of IG Metall in Bavaria, said in a statement on Friday. Employers have dismissed IG Metall’s pay claim as excessive and so far offered only a 2 percent increase as well as a 200 euro (£177.71) one-off payment in the first quarter. The union, which also wants a shorter working week, is entitled to stage walkouts after a non-strike period ended on Sunday, and many workers usually respond to its calls for action. IG Metall fired the opening salvo this week when it called for strikes at companies including sports car maker Porsche. More are set to follow ahead of a next round of pay negotiations. Talks have been set for Jan. 11 for workers in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, home to Volkswagen’s ( VOWG_p.DE ) Porsche, Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler ( DAIGn.DE ) and automotive suppliers including Bosch. In Bavaria, where major companies such as premium carmaker BMW ( BMWG.DE ) and engineering group Siemens ( SIEGn.DE ) are based, negotiations will resume on Jan. 15. The populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia, home to companies such as Thyssenkrupp ( TKAG.DE ), is to follow on Jan. 18. “Should there still be no progress then, we will add more warning strikes and decide whether to go for 24-hour strikes,” Knut Giesler, head of IG Metall in North Rhine-Westphalia, said. Reporting by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - A Jackson, Mississippi, woman was shot and killed by police early Saturday after she fled a traffic stop and tried to hit two officers with her car, police said. The woman, identified by police as Crystaline Barnes, 21, was shot around 7:30 a.m. Saturday after she reportedly forced another motorist off the road, local media including CBS affiliate WJTV reported. When police stopped her, she tried to flee in her car, reversed direction, and then drove at the officers, according to the WJTV report. Jackson Police said in an official statement that the “Incident has resulted in the driver being shot after attempting to strike officers.” No other information was immediately available about the shooting. Reporting by Rich McKay. Editing by Jane Merriman" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 5:05 PM / in 40 minutes BRIEF - Chile's Salmones Camanchaca IPO set for Feb. 2 Reuters Staff 1 Min Read SALMONES CAMANCHACA SA ( IPO-SALMON.OL ): * Chile’s Salmones Camanchaca will hold an initial public offering on the Santiago stock exchange on Feb. 2, the company said on Tuesday. It will also issue deposit certifictes (Norweegian Depositary Receipts)in Oslo. * The company’s controller, Pesquera Camanchaca will hold a secondary share offering. Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: Further company coverage: IPO-SALMON.OL (Reporting by Felipe Iturrieta)" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 1:59 PM / Updated 17 hours ago Tri-Series in UAE 2018 Scoreboard Reuters Staff 3 Min Read Jan 23 (OPTA) - Scoreboard at close of play of match 6 between United Arab Emirates and Scotland on Tuesday at Dubai, United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates win by 4 wickets Scotland 1st innings Michael Leask c Amir Hayat b Mohammad Naveed 15 Kyle Coetzer c Imran Haider b Rohan Mustafa 75 Matthew Cross c&b Rohan Mustafa 12 Richard Berrington b Mohammad Naveed 90 Calum MacLeod b Zahoor Khan 10 George Munsey c Zahoor Khan b Imran Haider 47 Craig Wallace b Zahoor Khan 8 Safyaan Sharif c Adnan Mufti b Mohammad Naveed 8 Michael Jones b Zahoor Khan 4 Mark Watt Not Out 10 Scott Cameron Not Out 8 Extras 0b 7lb 1nb 0pen 4w 12 Total (50.0 overs) 299-9 Fall of Wickets : 1-16 Leask, 2-49 Cross, 3-133 Coetzer, 4-177 MacLeod, 5-253 Munsey, 6-257 Berrington, 7-271 Wallace, 8-277 Sharif, 9-277 Jones Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Mohammad Naveed 10 0 47 3 4.70 2w Amir Hayat 8 0 40 0 5.00 Zahoor Khan 10 0 62 3 6.20 1w 1nb Rohan Mustafa 10 1 60 2 6.00 Imran Haider 10 0 69 1 6.90 1w Shaiman Anwar 2 0 14 0 7.00 United Arab Emirates 1st innings Rohan Mustafa lbw Scott Cameron 2 Ashfaq Ahmed c Michael Leask b Safyaan Sharif 92 Ghulam Shabeer b Mark Watt 17 Rameez Shahzad Not Out 121 Mohammad Usman Run Out Safyaan Sharif 11 Shaiman Anwar lbw Mark Watt 5 Adnan Mufti b Safyaan Sharif 38 Mohammad Naveed Not Out 3 Extras 0b 0lb 0nb 0pen 11w 11 Total (49.1 overs) 300-6 Fall of Wickets : 1-16 Mustafa, 2-50 Shabeer, 3-175 Ahmed, 4-195 Usman, 5-213 Butt, 6-288 Mufti Did Not Bat : Haider, Hayat, Khan Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Safyaan Sharif 10 0 50 2 5.00 3w Michael Leask 8 0 43 0 5.38 1w Scott Cameron 8.1 1 59 1 7.22 Mark Watt 10 0 52 2 5.20 2w Calum MacLeod 7 0 56 0 8.00 2w Richard Berrington 6 0 40 0 6.67 Umpire Akbar Ali Umpire Nitin Menon Match Referee Manu Nayyar" + }, + { + "text": "French dairy firm under fire over Salmonella outbreak 10:48pm IST - 01:23 One of the world's biggest dairies has come under fire for its slow response to a Salmonella outbreak. French company Lactalis has promised to compensate victims of a Salmonella contamination in its baby milk. Anna Bevan reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript One of the world's biggest dairies has come under fire for its slow response to a Salmonella outbreak. French company Lactalis has promised to compensate victims of a Salmonella contamination in its baby milk. Anna Bevan reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "SHARES Essam Al-Sudani | Reuters A rally that kicked off in June has boosted oil prices to the highest closing levels in more than three years. The oil price downturn is now 31⁄2 years old, but it didn't gather devastating momentum until OPEC's fateful Thanksgiving day meeting in 2014. During that meeting, Saudi Arabia , OPEC's biggest producer and the world's top exporter, refused to cut production to kill a global oil glut and stop a five-month slide in prices. Crude futures, which were down about 30 percent from their June highs at that point, collapsed 10 percent in the next session and eventually plunged to 12-year lows . The Saudis strategy of letting the oil market balance itself failed as U.S. producers learned to pump at lower prices. OPEC eventually conceded and agreed in November 2016 to curb output . Now, oil prices are at the highest closing levels since December 2014 and within close range of prices last seen on Nov. 28, 2014, the day after OPEC's decision. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude ended Tuesday's session at $62.96 per barrel, compared with $66.15 on Nov. 28, 2014. Brent crude , the international benchmark, settled at $68.82, versus $70.15 the day after Thanksgiving 2014, when the market was closed. On Wednesday, WTI hit a session peak of $63.67, its highest level since Dec. 9, 2014. Brent topped out at $69.37 on Wednesday, coming within 30 cents of taking out its May 2015 high. It's uncertain whether the rally has enough momentum to close the gap with the post-Thanksgiving 2014 levels. From there, it's a long way to the pre-OPEC decision levels. WTI closed at $73.69 and Brent settled at $77.75 on Nov. 26, 2014. In the first half of 2018, the seasonal drop in oil demand could pull crude futures out of sync with other commodities that are rallying, said Kevin Book, head of research for oil, gas and coal at Clearview Energy Partners. \"On a fundamental basis, the first half of year is about 1.5 million barrels per day weaker from a demand perspective than the second half of the year,\" he told CNBC's \" Squawk Box \" on Wednesday. show chapters 5 Hours Ago | 03:35 On the other hand, OPEC's production cuts helped reduce huge stockpiles of oil around the world toward the five-year average, and Brent crude prices could average closer to $60 per barrel this year if supply and demand remain roughly balanced, he said. OPEC's output curbs should continue to pay off, Scott Nations, president and chief investment officer at NationsShares, told CNBC's \" Futures Now \" on Tuesday. \"We're now at the top of this trading channel we've been in since June,\" he said. \"It now looks like we've shifted into another gear once we got the news that crude oil in storage in Cushing has fallen below 50 million barrels for first time in nearly three years.\" Traders closely watch stockpile levels at the Cushing, Oklahoma delivery hub for U.S. crude for signs of oversupply and undersupply. Those levels slipped below 50 million barrels in the week through Dec. 29 and dropped by another 2.4 million barrels in the latest week. It was last below 50 million barrels in February 2015." + }, + { + "text": "PARIS (Reuters) - France’s prime minister on Monday renewed a push to tempt bankers to Paris after Britain leaves the European Union by pledging to temporarily exempt expats from paying into state pension schemes and making more places available in bilingual schools. France has already announced measures to cut labour costs to make Paris more attractive to the banking sector post-Brexit following the election of President Emmanuel Macron, who has made labour rules more flexible and cut wealth tax. Now EU expatriates in France will be able to opt out of compulsory contributions to the state pension scheme which make up about 2.3 percent of an employee’s gross salary. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe told investors that there would be 1,000 places available in the Paris region’s multilingual schools next September, while three new multilingual high schools would be created by 2021. France would also be ready to handle disputes over financial contracts governed by British law in March with new international sections at the Paris Commercial Court and the Paris Court of Appeal, Paris Europlace financial lobby said in a statement. “The Paris financial centre now has strong momentum to welcome companies and international investors and strengthen its leading position in post-Brexit Europe,” Gerard Mestrallet, the head of the Paris Europlace financial lobby said in a statement. The announcement came at a highly-publicised summit on Monday of global CEOs - including Goldman Sachs’s ( GS.N ) Lloyd Blankfein and JP Morgan’s Jamie Dimon ( JPM.N ) - in Versailles, where the prime minister explained French reforms, in English, over lunch. Macron is expected to join the more than 140 CEOs in the evening, after unveiling a 300 million euro investment by Japanese carmaker Toyota in northern France. Reporting by Jean-Baptiste Vey and Maya Nikolaeva; editing by Richard Balmforth" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - Shanghai Material Trading Co Ltd * Says it sees net profit for FY 2017 to increase by 110 percent, or to be 30.8 million yuan * Says the net profit of FY 2016 was 14.7 million yuan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/6frwNp Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 7:50 PM / in 40 minutes Businesses warn of risks of tighter rules on U.S. foreign investment Diane Bartz 3 Min Read WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Proposals before the U.S. Senate and House to tighten rules on foreign investment into critical technologies could cause companies to take their research and development overseas to avoid scrutiny, critics said on Thursday. Businesses that see risks from the bills testified at a hearing by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. The bills before the House of Representatives and the Senate would allow the inter-agency Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, known as CFIUS, to review minority investments and some intellectual property arrangements. International Business Machines Corp is worried that it would be forced to ask permission to sell computers or license software overseas, company Vice President Christopher Padilla said. “This bill would impose a very onerous - and entirely unilateral - set of restrictions on outbound transactions of U.S. companies,” Padilla said in written testimony. Scott Kupor, chair of the National Venture Capital Association, said Chinese investments in U.S. funds could make those funds vulnerable to CFIUS reviews if they tried to invest in high-tech companies, even though those investors were given no sensitive information beyond valuation and accounting data. Republican Senator John Cornyn, the driving force behind the bill, told the committee that he was an ardent supporter of foreign investment but that investment from China needed new, tougher scrutiny because of the threat it poses. “China uses both legal and illegal means to turn our own technology and know-how against us and erase our national security advantage. One of these tools is investment,” Cornyn told the committee. Former Democratic President Barack Obama had increased scrutiny of Chinese investment, but Republican President Donald Trump’s administration has taken a harder line on issues ranging from Beijing’s role in restraining North Korea to Chinese efforts to acquire U.S. strategic industries. The hearing came a day after CFIUS approved a $15 million deal for Beijing-based Naura Microelectronics Equipment Co Ltd to buy Akrion System LLC, a U.S. semiconductor manufacturing equipment company. The approval is one of only a handful granted to Chinese transactions by CFIUS under the Trump administration. The agency has killed a series of high-profile deals since Trump took office. The Senate version of the CFIUS bill has 10 co-sponsors. The House version, which recently picked up Representatives Pete Sessions as a co-sponsor, has 23, according to a congressional aide who spoke privately. (Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Leslie Adler)" + }, + { + "text": "15 AM / in 27 minutes LIVE MARKETS-European stock futures edge up Reuters Staff 3 Min Read * European shares seen little changed * Novartis beats analyst forecasts Jan 24 (Reuters) - Welcome to the home for real time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Danilo Masoni. Reach him on Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves: [REDACTED] EUROPEAN STOCK FUTURES EDGE UP (0703 GMT) European shares are expected to open just marginally higher with stock index futures moving between flat and a gain of 0.1 percent. Some strong corporate updates including from drugmaker Novartis, which we mentioned in out previous post, and Dutch-Belgian supermarket Ahold Delhaize could provide support, while on the macro front PMI data will grab the attention ahead of tomorrow's European Central Bank meeting. And Talking about the ECB here is a graphic piece from Reuters with five questions for Mario Draghi. Here is your futures snapshot: (Danilo Masoni) PHARMA IN FOCUS AFTER NOVARTIS BEAT (0632 GMT) The healthcare sector could be one to watch this morning after Swiss-based heavyweight Novartis posted better than expected results. European healthcare stocks have underperformed the broader market so far this year as expectations over stronger economic caused a switch from defensives into cyclicals. The Swiss drugmaker forecast 2018 operating profit would grow faster than sales as revenue from drugs including its latest blockbuster Cosentyx accelerates and the company exits a period when patent losses dented results. Will Novartis figures help the sector catch up today? (Danilo Masoni)" + }, + { + "text": "AT&T won't sell smartphones from Huawei, sources told the Wall Street Journal . Huawei was rumored to be in talks to sell its Mate 10 smartphone through AT&T by February. It would have been the first time the Chinese company, which is currently the world's third largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer, partnered with a major U.S. carrier. The deal was expected to be announced at CES in Las Vegas on Tuesday. However, the breakdown in the deal means Huawei's foray in the American market will be delayed. AT&T and Huawei did not immediately respond to CNBC requests for comment. - Additional reporting by Todd Haselton ." + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT, Jan 16 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank is unlikely to ditch a pledge to keep buying bonds at next week’s meeting as rate setters need more time to assess the outlook for the economy and the euro, three sources close to the matter said. The sources -- on or close to the ECB’s policy-making Governing Council -- said any fundamental change to guidance was likely to come only later, with the March meeting, when policymakers get updated economic forecasts, seen as a more likely option. (Reporting by Francesco Canepa and Balazs Koranyi Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)" + }, + { + "text": "Two former French presidents have expressed concern to Saudi Arabia’s crown prince that the arrest and detention of billionaire Prince al-Waleed bin Talal has raised worries among foreign investors, according to French and Saudi government advisers. The messages from François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s two most recent previous presidents, highlight the business uncertainty caused by the arrests of hundreds of people in early November in what Saudi authorities said was an anticorruption campaign. ... RELATED VIDEO Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Ambitious Plans for Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has huge ambitions for change in Saudi Arabia. But will his reforms also mean greater turbulence in the Middle East? WSJ's Niki Blasina reports. Photo: Getty" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - PRO KAPITAL GRUPP AS : * POSITIVE PROFIT WARNING FOR 2018 FROM AS PRO KAPITAL GRUPP * SAYS ESTIMATES TURNOVER AND NET PROFIT OF COMPANY TO INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY IN 2018 * SAYS PROJECTED REVENUES IN RANGE 35-40 MILLION EUR , WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 200-250% COMPARED TO 2017 * SAYS CONCLUDE 2018 WITH A POSITIVE NET RESULT IN RANGE OF 2-3 MILLION EUR * SAYS CHANGE IN ITS DIVIDEND POLICY AND HAS JUST PAID OUT DIVIDENDS OF 0,015EUR PER SHARE Source text : bit.ly/2DqGSqU Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Breakingviews TV: Chip Meltdown 5:58pm GMT - 04:31 Liam Proud and Richard Beales discuss the recently discovered security flaws – dubbed Meltdown and Spectre – in computer processors made by Intel, ARM and AMD and what they reveal about the riskiness of a concentrated market for the brains of our digital devices. Liam Proud and Richard Beales discuss the recently discovered security flaws – dubbed Meltdown and Spectre – in computer processors made by Intel, ARM and AMD and what they reveal about the riskiness of a concentrated market for the brains of our digital devices. //reut.rs/2AqGQcH" + }, + { + "text": "VIENNA (Reuters) - Former motor racing champion Niki Lauda may not have enough pilots for the planned relaunch of his Niki airline in March unless he offers attractive contracts, the head of the airline’s works council said on Wednesday. Lauda, who won the bidding for the insolvent airline he founded after months of legal disputes, has said he has secured 15 aircraft to restart the carrier under the name Laudamotion by the end of March. He told staff on Wednesday that everyone would get a chance to sign a new contract with salaries broadly unchanged, but did not elaborate on the conditions, employees who joined the staff meeting in Vienna said. After months of uncertainty, many of the nearly 1,000 employees have applied to other airlines such as Austrian Air ( LHAG.DE ) and Eurowings, which began advertising for Niki staff weeks ago. “Around 90 percent of Niki’s 220 pilots are currently in an application process with other airlines,” works council chief Stefan Tankovits told journalists on the sidelines of the staff meeting. “(People) are still skeptical,” he said. Slideshow (3 Images) There are reservations about Lauda among Niki employees as previously he has not provided contracts under a collective wage agreement. Asked about the possibility there might be not enough pilots to restart operations in the Spring, Tankovits said: “This is to be feared ... that will certainly become a critical issue.” Tankovits, who is a pilot himself, said around 180 pilots were needed to operate the 15 planes. He called on Lauda to talk to staff representatives about future conditions and pay. “I think it is very important to reach consensus with the staff to convince them to stay.” Niki planes have been granted around 1,700 slots, or about 0.8 percent of available slots in Austria, for the summer season which begins late March. The airline plans to focus on tourist destinations in Turkey, Greece and Spain. Reporting by Kirsti Knolle; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 18(Reuters) - Wingtech Technology Co Ltd * Says an individual shareholder and a Tibet-based firm jointly sold 5.5 percent stake (35.1 million shares) in the co to a limited partnership * Says the individual shareholder and the Tibet-based firm hold a 2.3 percent stake and a 7.9 percent stake in the co respectively after transaction Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/y9NVCz Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 9 (Reuters) - Otonomy Inc: * OTONOMY INC - EXPECTS GAAP OPERATING EXPENSES FOR 2017 TO TOTAL IN RANGE OF $95-$100 MILLION * OTONOMY PROVIDES CORPORATE AND PRODUCT PIPELINE UPDATE * OTONOMY INC - SEES 2017 NON-GAAP EXPENSES TOTALING $73-$78 MILLION * OTONOMY - CASH BALANCE INCLUDING CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, & SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS TOTALED $120 MILLION AT END OF 2017 * OTONOMY SAYS CASH BALANCE EXPECTED TO FUND COMPLETION OF CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT REQUIRED FOR U.S. REGISTRATION OF OTIVIDEX IN MÉNIÈRE‘S DISEASE Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "HONG KONG, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Wanda Hotel Development Co Ltd , a unit of conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group, will post a HK$434 million ($55 million) gain from the sale of a 60 percent stake in a company that invests in the high-profile One Nine Elms project in London. Wanda Hotel is selling the stake in Wanda International Real Estate to an unidentified independent third party for 35.61 million pounds ($49 million), the company said in a statement. The buyer has also agreed to repay 159.5 million pounds ($220 million) in debt owed by Wanda International Real Estate, it said. Wanda Hotel said its controlling shareholder, Wanda Commercial Properties (Hong Kong) Co Ltd, would also sell the remaining 40 percent stake in the property project in southwest London. It did not elaborate. Shares of Wanda Hotel surged as much as 11.3 percent in early trade on Wednesday. ($1 = 7.8237 Hong Kong dollars) ($1 = 0.7241 pounds) (Reporting by Donny Kwok and Clare Jim; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)" + }, + { + "text": "Container shipping underpins the global economy, moving $4 trillion of goods every year, from clothes and electronics to food and heavy machinery. But how did we get here? It took one idea in the mid 20th-century to revolutionize the industry and ignite a spark in globalization that changed the world. At times, it’s been a rough sailing.... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan’s government has called China’s recent unilateral expansion of civil aviation routes in the Taiwan Strait an irresponsible act that threatens regional security, in the latest row between Beijing and the self-ruled island. China opened several disputed air routes last week, including a northbound M503 route in the Taiwan Strait, without informing Taiwan, contravening what the democratic government in Taipei said is a 2015 deal to first discuss such flight paths. Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, after meeting with ministry heads to assess the situation on Sunday, said the move ”not only seriously affects aviation safety, but also damages the current situation in the Taiwan strait. “This kind of unilateral changing of the situation, this practice that harms regional stability, is not something that will be viewed favourably by the international community,” Tsai said in a statement. Tsai, who also said during her meeting with officials that China’s increased military activities in the region were threatening stability, called on Beijing to give priority to restore technical discussions on the flight paths. Beijing’s move comes as China has pressed ahead with a military modernisation programme that includes building aircraft carriers and stealth fighters to give it the ability to project power far from its shores, and stepped up what it calls “island encirclement patrols” near Taiwan. Last Thursday, China’s civil aviation authority said in a statement announcing the new routes that planes “will strictly follow the announced flight path”. “In recent years, the scheduled flights for the strait’s west coast airspace have quickly increased, and the delays are becoming more critical. Using the northbound M503 and related routes will effectively ease the currently existing air route’s traffic pressure,” it said. China considers Taiwan a wayward province, and broke off official communication with the Taiwan government after Tsai’s independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party won power in 2016. China suspects Tsai wants to push for formal independence though, she has said she wants to maintain the status quo with China and is committed to ensuring peace. Reporting by Jess Macy Yu; Additional reporting by Brenda Goh and Michael Martina; Editing by Michael Perry" + }, + { + "text": "January 27, 2018 / 11:55 PM / in 7 hours Colombia's FARC launch 2018 campaign with anti-poverty pledge Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia’s FARC political party, made up of former members of the rebel group, on Saturday launched its campaign for this year’s legislative and presidential elections with a promise to fight poverty and corruption. The ballots will mark the party’s electoral debut after thousands of members handed in their weapons under a deal signed with the government of President Juan Manuel Santos in 2016 that ended more than 52 years of war. The group has renamed itself the Revolutionary Alternative Common Force, preserving its FARC initials. “I am committed to heading up a transitional government which will create the conditions for the birth of a new Colombia,” said long-time rebel leader and presidential candidate Rodrigo Londono, known by his nom de guerre Timochenko, to cheering supporters in a working-class neighborhood in southern Bogota. “May the voice of those below, those millions and millions of poor who have never counted, may they be listened to, may they decide their future,” Londono added. Slideshow (6 Images) The group’s platform includes free university education, improvements to healthcare paid for by the rich, the construction of roads and electrical lines, and spending on scientific research. Hundreds of supporters, many wearing shirts with the party’s rose logo, danced to a campaign jingle and waved white flags emblazoned with “Timo President,” referring to Londono’s nickname. Besides the May presidential election, the party will field 74 candidates in legislative elections in March, hoping to win more than the 10 seats that it is guaranteed through 2026 under the terms of the peace deal. Many Colombians remain angry at the FARC, infamous for kidnappings, bombings and displacements, and believe its members should be in prison, not running for congressional seats. Recent opinion polls have shown little support for the party. Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Helen Murphy and Daniel Wallis" + }, + { + "text": "45 PM / in 2 minutes UK Takeover Panel extends deadline for IWG bidding Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - The UK’s Takeover Panel has extended the deadline for a consortium of companies to make an offer for British office firm IWG Plc ( IWG.L ) until 1700 GMT on Feb. 2. IWG received an approach in December from a consortium comprising Canadian private equity firm Onex Corp ( ONEX.TO ) and Brookfield Asset Management ( BAMa.TO ). Initially the consortium had until Jan. 20 to make an offer or walk away for at least six months, under Takeover Panel rules. Reporting by Bhanu Pratap in Bengaluru; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 18 (Reuters) - SCHMOLZ & BICKENBACH AG: * INCREASES OFFER FOR ASCO INDUSTRIES * INCREASED OFFER INCLUDES A TOTAL FINANCIAL COMMITMENT OF EUR 195 MILLION * OFFER INCLUDES EUR 82 MILLION IN INVESTMENTS IN ASCO INDUSTRIES' PRODUCTION FACILITIES OVER NEXT 4 YRS Source text: bit.ly/2mOG6tt Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Japanese government bond prices were little changed across the board on Monday, with results of a liquidity-enhancing auction highlighting firm underlying investor demand for debt. The benchmark 10-year yield was unchanged at 0.075 percent. The 20-year yield dipped half a basis point to 0.585 percent. The finance ministry sold 550 billion yen ($4.96 billion) of off-the-run JGBs on Monday with the auction drawing ample investor demand. The ministry regularly conducts these auctions in an attempt to enhance market liquidity. The bid-to-cover ratio, a gauge of investor demand at auctions, rose to 3.34 from the previous sale’s 3.13. The auction results helped offset negative pressures from U.S. Treasuries, which saw its 10-year yield edge up to a 3-1/2-year high amid the U.S. government shutdown. $1 = 110.7800 yen Reporting by the Tokyo markets team; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 5:21 PM / Updated 10 minutes ago Nigeria sues JP Morgan for $875 million over Malabu oilfield deal Libby George , Julia Payne 4 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Nigeria has filed a claim against JP Morgan Chase for more than $875 million, accusing it of negligence in transferring funds from a disputed 2011 oilfield deal to a company controlled by the country’s former oil minister. A spokeswoman for JP Morgan dismissed the accusation on Thursday, saying the firm “considers the allegations made in the claim to be unsubstantiated and without merit”. The suit filed in British courts relates to a purchase of the offshore OPL 245 oilfield in Nigeria by oil majors Royal Dutch Shell and Eni in 2011. At the core of the case is a $1.3 billion payment from Shell and Eni to secure the block that the lawsuit says was deposited into a Nigerian government escrow account managed by JP Morgan. The lawsuit said JP Morgan then received a request from finance ministry workers to transfer more than $800 million of the funds to accounts controlled by the previous operator of the block, Malabu Oil and Gas, itself controlled by former oil minister Dan Etete. The lawsuit said that JP Morgan then transferred the funds to two accounts controlled by Etete, without sufficient due diligence to make sure the money did not leave accounts controlled by the Nigerian government. Reuters was unable to reach either Etete or Malabu for comment. MILAN CASE The filing seen by Reuters was made in London in November on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and says that JP Morgan acted with gross negligence by allowing the transfer of the money without further checks. It said JP Morgan should have known that, under Nigerian law, the money should never have been transferred to an outside company. “If the defendant acted with reasonable care and skill and/or conducted reasonable due diligence it would or should have known or at least suspected ... that it was being asked to transfer funds to third parties who were seeking to misappropriate the funds from the claimant and/or that there was a significant risk that this was the case,” the filing said. Late last year, a Milan judge ruled that Shell and Eni must stand trial in Italy, where Eni is headquartered, for a separate legal case in which Milan prosecutors allege bribes were paid to Etete and others as part of the same oilfield deal, including sums that went to Etete’s Malabu.[nL8N1OK25L] Both Eni and Shell have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in relation to that case. Malabu has never commented on the case and Reuters has not been able to contact it. [nL8N1HI1NA] Shell last year said it knew some of its payment to the Nigerian government as part of the deal would go to Malabu “to settle its claim on the block”, but that it was a legal transaction. [nL8N1HJ4EN] [nL8N1OK25L] There are also ongoing investigations regarding the deal in Nigeria and the Netherlands, where Shell is based. [nL8N1O53PS][nL5N1FG757] The license for the offshore block was awarded to Malabu in 1998 under then-President Sani Abacha, but Shell finalised a deal for the block with the Nigerian government in 2011. A British court, in a judgment late last year that agreed to return to Nigeria $85 million in frozen funds related to the deal, said that Malabu was controlled by Etete. [nL8N1N244M] Additional reporting by Alexis Akwagyiram in Lagos, Writing by Libby George; Editing by Andrew Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 6:23 AM / Updated 3 hours ago Exclusive: Amazon Studios to cut back on indie films in programming shift - sources Jeffrey Dastin , Jessica Toonkel 4 Min Read SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc, which has made waves in recent years buying art-house movies at the Sundance Film Festival, is heading to the prestigious event this week with a long-term change in the works: It plans to shift resources from independent films to more commercial projects, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The move reflects a new phase in the online retailer’s entertainment strategy. Initially, Amazon worked on high-brow movies that would win awards, put it on the map in Hollywood and help it attract top talent. Now, Amazon wants programming aimed at a far wider audience as it pursues its central business goal: persuading more people to join its video streaming service and shopping club Prime. The change in the movie strategy parallels a similar shift in Amazon Studios’ TV operation, which is also moving to bigger-budget fare. Amazon expects to go after films with budgets in the $50 million (£36 million) range at the expense of indie projects costing around $5 million, one person familiar with the plans said on the condition of anonymity. Another person confirmed the overall strategy, adding that the Culver City, California, studio is still working out the details on how much of its film budget will go to these bigger releases. Amazon declined to comment. The course change comes after Roy Price, who led Amazon Studios from its inception in 2010 and was a champion of projects with awards potential, resigned in October. Albert Cheng, the studio’s chief operating officer, has stepped in as interim head and is in charge of television projects, while Vice President Jason Ropell runs the film division. Both report to Jeff Blackburn, a Seattle-based senior vice president who wields broad authority at the company. It is unclear who will permanently replace Price. On the film side, Amazon is not moving all the way into blockbuster territory. The TV group had offered $250 million just for the rights to a fantasy prequel series of “The Lord of the Rings,” according to people familiar with the matter. That is a far more expensive project, representing a bigger change in direction than what the movie division is considering, one source said. Nor is Amazon abandoning indie films entirely. But industry sources are unsure how active the company will be at Sundance this year. The festival’s lineup is not believed to have a standout like “Manchester by the Sea,” which Amazon bought at Sundance for $10 million and which went on to win two Oscars. Amazon and rival Netflix Inc in general have pushed up prices for such prestige fare. Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s chief executive, recently told at least one industry executive that it is business as usual at the movie studio, a person familiar with the matter said. At Sundance, that could mean multi-million-dollar deals for films destined for theatres, as well as small deals by a separate team - Amazon Video Direct - that offers more modest payments for a project’s online streaming rights. Still, several filmmakers were surprised recently when the studio turned away a handful of projects with budgets up to $6 million, which they believed fit the mould of Amazon’s 2017 hit “The Big Sick,” another person familiar with the matter said. It was not immediately clear if their rejection was due to Amazon’s new priorities. Reporting by Jeffrey Dastin in San Francisco and Jessica Toonkel in New York; Additional reporting by Lisa Richwine and Piya Sinha Roy in Los Angeles; Editing by Jonathan Weber and Leslie Adler" + }, + { + "text": "The S&P 500 concluded Tuesday its longest stretch ever without back-to-back declines of at least half a percent. The broad index went 310 trading days without consecutive pullbacks of that magnitude, before falling 0.7 percent on Monday and 1 percent on Tuesday, according to data from Bespoke Investment Group. \"Translation — bulls have been spoiled,\" Paul Hickey, the company's co-founder, said in a note Tuesday. Source: Bespoke Investment Group Stock investors had enjoyed an unprecedented period of low market volatility prior to this sell-off. The Cboe Volatility index ( VIX ), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, closed below 10 more than 50 times last year. It also failed to break above 20 at any time in 2017. Equities have been under pressure during the past two days as fears of rising inflation pushed the U.S. 10-year yield to its highest levels since 2014, thus giving investors pause about the market's rally. Several strategists have also begun calling for a pullback. Last week, Stifel strategist Barry Bannister predicted the Federal Reserve will cause a correction this quarter as it leads other central banks into tighter monetary policy. Meanwhile, a Goldman Sachs strategist said Monday there is a \" high probability \" the stock market experiences a correction in the coming months. Equities had kicked off 2018 with a bang. The S&P 500 had risen 7.5 percent prior to this week's pullback. The index remains up 5.7 percent for the young year." + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 7:02 PM / Updated 32 minutes ago Germany finds no evidence of substantial breaches of money laundering rules by banks Reuters Staff 3 Min Read FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany has found no evidence of substantial breaches of money laundering rules by 11 of its banks named in the so-called Panama Papers, the country’s financial watchdog Bafin said on Wednesday. The Panama Papers detailing how the rich and powerful used offshore corporations to hide money and potentially evade taxes, were leaked to the media in 2016. “So far, it appears that none of the 11 banks which were involved in such dealings have substantially breached money laundering rules,” Bafin president Felix Hufeld said at an event in Frankfurt on Wednesday. “Due to lack of a mandate, we could not verify if taxes were evaded,” he said. “What you make of the fact that banks let themselves be used to avoid taxes - even though in a legal way - that is a completely different matter.” Bafin is tasked with making sure German banks are not involved in activities such as money laundering or are involved in funding illegal organisations, while fiscal authorities are in charge of making sure they adhere to tax laws. While tax evasion refers to illegal ways to avoid paying taxes, tax avoidance refers to often legal methods of paying the least amount of tax possible. Hufeld said he remained sceptical about how the 11 banks with ties to Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca - which was at the heart of the global scandal - were able to monitor whether anti-money-laundering standards were applied in the offshore businesses. The banks include Deutsche Bank ( DBKGn.DE ), Commerzbank ( CBKG.DE ), Berenberg and BayernLB [BAYLB.UL], which have all said that they adhered to the rules. Some 11.5 million documents from Mossack Fonseca were leaked to a German newspaper in 2016 and Germany’s Federal Crime Office(BKA) said last year that it had obtained a copy of the Panama Papers. In the wake of this and multiple other reports about tax avoidance by the rich and the powerful, European Union finance ministers in December adopted a blacklist of 17 jurisdictions, including Panama, deemed as tax havens. European tax commissioner Pierre Moscovici late last year likened tax professionals that help evasion to “vampires that fear the light,” and against which only transparency can work as a deterrent. However, in a potential blow to the campaign against tax avoidance, this week European Union officials proposed removing Panama from the blacklist of tax havens. Reporting by Arno Schuetze; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle" + }, + { + "text": "SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Taylor Morrison Home Corporation (\"Taylor Morrison\") announced today that it will release its fourth quarter 2017 results before the market opens on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. Taylor Morrison will hold a conference call to discuss the fourth quarter results the same day, at 8:30 a.m. ET. A live audio webcast, as well as an archive of the conference call, will be available on Taylor Morrison's website at investors.taylormorrison.com . For call participants, the dial in number is: 1 (855) 470-8731 or 1 (661) 378-9962 and the conference ID is: 8699167. This call will be recorded and available for replay at investors.taylormorrison.com . Taylor Morrison's filings will be available at investors.taylormorrison.com or with the SEC at sec.gov . About Taylor Morrison Taylor Morrison Home Corporation (NYSE: TMHC) is a leading national homebuilder and developer that has been recognized as America's Most TrustedTM Home Builder for 2016, 2017 and 2018 by Lifestory Research. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona we operate under two well-established brands, Taylor Morrison and Darling Homes. We serve a wide array of consumer groups from coast to coast, including first-time, move-up, luxury, and 55 plus buyers. In Texas, Darling Homes builds communities with a focus on individuality and custom detail while delivering on the Taylor Morrison standard of excellence. For more information about Taylor Morrison and Darling Homes please visit www.taylormorrison.com or www.darlinghomes.com . CONTACT: Investor Relations Taylor Morrison Home Corporation (480) 734-2060 [REDACTED] View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Taylor Morrison" + }, + { + "text": "LANHAM, Md., Jan. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ: TWOU) announced today that it will report its fourth quarter and full year 2017 financial results on Monday, February 26, 2018. Christopher \"Chip\" Paucek, chief executive officer and co-founder, and Cathy Graham, chief financial officer, will hold an audio webcast and conference call at 5 p.m. ET to discuss the results. To access the live webcast, visit investor.2u.com . To participate in the conference call by telephone in the U.S., dial 1-877-359-9508, or outside of the U.S., dial 1-224-357-2393. A recording of the webcast will be posted to 2U's Investor Relations site as soon as it is available. About 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ: TWOU) 2U partners with great colleges and universities to build what we believe is the world's best digital education. Our platform provides a comprehensive fusion of technology, services and data architecture to transform high-quality and rigorous campus-based universities into the best digital versions of themselves. 2U's No Back Row ® approach allows qualified students and working professionals around the world to experience a first-rate university education and successful outcomes. To learn more, visit 2U.com . Investor Contact : Ed Goodwin [REDACTED] Media Contact : Shirley Chow [REDACTED] View original content with multimedia: SOURCE 2U, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 8:18 PM / Updated 9 hours ago 'Jersey Shore' star Sorrentino to plead guilty in tax case Jonathan Stempel 3 Min Read (Reuters) - Former reality TV celebrity Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino is expected to plead guilty in a tax evasion case where U.S. prosecutors accused him and his brother of hiding millions of dollars he made while starring in the MTV series “Jersey Shore.” In a letter dated Wednesday, prosecutors said Sorrentino and his brother Marc “have agreed to plead guilty,” and will enter their pleas on the morning of Jan. 19 before U.S. District Judge Susan Wigenton in Newark, New Jersey. The pleas avert a trial scheduled to begin on Feb. 8. Both brothers faced nine criminal charges, including alleged conspiracy to defraud the United States. It was not immediately clear which charges they will plead guilty to. Henry Klingeman, a lawyer for Michael Sorrentino, confirmed the hearing schedule but declined further comment. Michael D‘Alessio, a lawyer for Marc Sorrentino, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for Interim U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito in New Jersey declined to comment. “Jersey Shore” ran from 2009 to 2012, and featured young Italian-Americans partying, tanning and complaining about their jobs at a beachfront T-shirt stand. FILE PHOTO: Reality television personality Michael \"The Situation\" Sorrentino arrives at the 2011 American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., November 20, 2011. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok/File Photo Michael Sorrentino, now 35, popularized the phrase “gym, tan, laundry” to describe the pre-party routine of cast members. Prosecutors accused the Sorrentinos of trying to avoid taxes on $8.9 million of Michael Sorrentino’s income from 2010 to 2012, including by trying to label purchases of clothes, vehicles other personal items as business expenses. Michael Sorrentino also faced charges including filing a false return for his company Situation Nation Inc, and having, on several days, made multiple cash deposits of less than $10,000 in different bank accounts to avoid federal reporting requirements. The brothers’ accountant, Gregg Mark, pleaded guilty in December 2015 to filing fraudulent tax returns on their behalf. Mark has yet to be sentenced, his lawyer Jack Arseneault said in an email. Michael Sorrentino faces a maximum 10 years in prison on two counts related to the bank deposits, and five years for alleged tax evasion. Marc Sorrentino faces up to 20 years in prison on a grand jury obstruction charge. The case is U.S. v. Sorrentino et al, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, No. 14-cr-00558. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Bernadette Baum" + }, + { + "text": "(Changes dateline, adds company comments, details) By Laurence Frost and Robert Hetz PARIS/MADRID, Jan 30 (Reuters) - PSA Group struck a cost-cutting deal with Spanish unions at its newly acquired Opel division, as the French carmaker’s chief executive Carlos Tavares wrings concessions from workers in return for investment. The maker of Peugeot and Citroen cars said in a statement on Tuesday it had reached agreement on a new contract with unions representing 75 percent of employees at Opel’s Zaragoza plant. Opel, which PSA bought last year from General Motors, had warned that production of the next Corsa mini could move elsewhere unless a deal was reached to align costs with PSA’s other two Spanish plants in Vigo and Madrid. Tavares is applying similar pressure at Opel’s Vauxhall factory in Ellesmere Port, northern England, where he says production costs are twice those at PSA’s French sites, adding to Brexit uncertainties weighing on the plant. To take effect, the Spanish labour deal needs to be ratified by a full ballot of Opel workers, PSA said. The Zaragoza plant in northeastern Spain employs around 5,300 people and ran at 80 percent capacity last year. The group is “convinced that the employees will understand the need to secure the future of the site through the performance plan, which will pave the way for new investments and projects,” it added. PSA gave no details of the five-year framework agreement, which local newspaper Heraldo said provides for a wage freeze for 2018 followed by increases at half the level of inflation and a 5 percent cut to overtime pay. Union sources said late on Monday that an accord was reached after more than 12 hours of talks and shortly before a deadline imposed by PSA. (Additional reporting by Paul Day in Madrid; Editing by Louise Heavens and Alexander Smith)" + }, + { + "text": "ST. LOUIS, Jan. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Spire Inc. (NYSE: SR) has changed the date of its earnings conference call for the first quarter of fiscal 2018 to Thursday, February 1, one day later than originally scheduled in order to avoid a scheduling conflict. All other details for the conference call and webcast are unchanged and are included below for your convenience. Date and Time: Thursday, February 1 8:00 a.m. CT (9:00 a.m. ET) Phone Numbers: U.S. and Canada: 844-824-3832 International: 412-317-5142 The call will be webcast in a listen-only format for the media and general public and can be accessed at Investors.SpireEnergy.com under the Events & presentations tab. A replay of the call will be available from 10 a.m. CT (11:00 a.m. ET) on February 1 until March 2 by dialing 877-344-7529 (U.S.), 855-669-9658 (Canada) or 412-317-0088 (international). The replay access code is 10115276. A replay of the webcast will be available on our website at Investors.SpireEnergy.com under Events & presentations. About Spire At Spire Inc. (NYSE: SR) we believe energy exists to help make people's lives better. It's a simple idea, but one that's at the heart of our company. Every day we serve 1.7 million customers making us the fifth largest publicly traded natural gas company in the country. We help families and business owners fuel their daily lives through our gas utilities serving Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri. Our non-utility operations include Spire Marketing, which provides natural gas marketing and related services. We are committed to transforming our business and pursuing growth through 1) growing organically, 2) investing in infrastructure, 3) acquiring and integrating, and 4) innovation and technology. Learn more at SpireEnergy.com . Investor Contact: Scott W. Dudley Jr. [REDACTED] 314-342-0878 Media Contact: Jessica B. Willingham [REDACTED] 314-342-3300 View original content: SOURCE Spire Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 10:44 AM / in 7 minutes UPDATE 1-EU officials reject City of London's Brexit blueprint for banks - sources Reuters Staff (Adds details) By Andrew MacAskill and Huw Jones LONDON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - European Commission officials have rejected the City of London’s proposal to strike a post-Brexit free trade deal on financial services, a major blow to Britain’s hopes of keeping full access to EU markets for one of the world’s top two financial centres. Ever since Britain voted to leave the EU nineteen months ago, some of the world’s most powerful finance companies in London have been searching for a way to preserve the existing cross-border flow of trading after it leaves the bloc in 2019. Officials from the European Union’s executive told British financiers in meetings in recent weeks that they won’t agree to a deal that would allow finance companies to operate in each others’ markets without barriers because Britain has said it will leave the single market, according to two people who attended the meetings. The plan proposed that Britain and the EU would allow cross border trade in financial services on the condition that each side preserve regulatory standards in line with the best international standards. This model would be maintained by close co-operation between regulators and financial policymakers. The proposals are the most detailed so far on how a long-term agreement on financial services with the EU may work after Brexit, with papers setting out how a pact could be structured and policed, and it has been endorsed by Britain’s Brexit minister David Davis. But EU officials are dismissive of any trade models that would see Britain retain similar levels of market access while leaving the single market regime. “They have made it very clear to us that this is unacceptable to them,” said one senior British finance executive present at one of the meetings. “This was our best and frankly only proposal. We don’t have a plan B.” Britain’s vast financial services looks set to be one of the most divisive areas in the Brexit negotiations, with Britain demanding a generous deal while the EU refuses to shift from its insistence that Britain’s red lines -- such as ending the free movement of workers from the EU -- make that impossible. Britain is currently home to the world’s largest number of banks and hosts the largest commercial insurance market. About six trillion euros ($7.47 trillion), or 37 percent, of Europe’s financial assets are managed in the UK capital, almost twice the amount of its nearest rival, Paris. And London dominates Europe’s 5.2 trillion euro investment banking industry. But unless it can secure a trade deal, for all its geographic proximity, Europe’s largest financial capital will end up adrift with the same access to the EU as other countries like Singapore. ($1 = 0.8035 euros) (Editing by Guy Faulconbridge)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 23 (Reuters) - DP Eurasia, which operates the Domino’s Pizza brand in Turkey and Russia, reported a 32.8 percent rise in annual sales on Tuesday helped by expansion of its store networks. DP Eurasia, the largest pizza delivery firm in Turkey and the third biggest in Russia by number of stores, also said it expects its adjusted EBITDA to be in line with expectations. Its system stores sales, comprising those from its corporate and franchised stores, rose to 859.8 million Turkish lira ($227.02 million) from 647.4 million lira. The company, which debuted on the London Stock Exchange last year, reported 10 percent growth in like-for-like sales in Turkey and 28.9 percent in Russia driven by online orders. Online orders, supported by revamped mobile apps and investment in its technology, accounted for 51.8 percent of all deliveries in the period compared to 42.4 percent in 2016, it said. $1 = 3.7874 lira Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka in Gdynia; editing by Jason Neely" + }, + { + "text": "While stock investors are loading up like kids in a candy store, shareholders of real-estate investment trusts are more like sad street urchins pressing their faces up against the window. Last year, while the S&P 500 index soared 21.8%, the FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs index rose just 8.7%. So far this year, the S&P is up more than 6%, while the REIT index is down 2.4%. REIT... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 11:17 AM / Updated 22 minutes ago Elton John says quitting touring after one last world tour in 2018 Alicia Powell 2 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - British pop musician Elton John said on Wednesday he is quitting touring after nearly 50 years, but will perform one last world tour starting in September 2018. The 70-year-old singer, one of the best-selling recording artists in the world, told a news conference in New York that his priorities have changed after becoming a parent to two children with his husband David Furnish. “I love them so much. I don’t want to miss them and I don’t want them to miss me,” he said. “I’ve had a good run.” He said the tour would last about three years and take him all around the world. Slideshow (5 Images) “It will be a wonderful way to thank people,” he said. “It’s a way of going out with a bang.” John made the announcement at an event that was promoted with the tagline “I’ve finally decided my future lies....” using the lyrics of his 1973 album and single “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” He denied British media reports that he was quitting touring because of ill health. John is due to perform at the Grammy Awards in New York on Sunday, and on Jan 30, musicians including Miley Cyrus, John Legend, Chris Martin and Sam Smith will pay tribute to his music and career at a previously announced special concert in New York City. Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge in London and Alicia Powell in New York. Editing by Andrew MacAskill" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15(Reuters) - Haining China Leather Market Co Ltd : * Says its unit will invest 30 million yuan to set up a Haining-based equity investment company with partners * Says its unit will hold 29.8 percent stake in the target company Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/9DGtaq Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 11:30 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago Suncor, Teck buy part of Total stake in Canada oil sands mine Reuters Staff 2 Min Read WINNIPEG, Manitoba/CALGARY, Alberta, Jan 3 (Reuters) - S uncor Energy Inc, Canada’s second-largest energy producer, said on Wednesday it and Teck Resources Ltd have taken higher stakes in the Fort Hills oil sands mine from partner Total SA, resolving a dispute over building costs. Under terms of the deal, Suncor and Teck will fund more of the C$17 billion ($13.56 billion) project’s capital cost - C$300 million and C$120 million more respectively. Suncor’s share of the project will be 53.06 percent, compared to 20.89 percent for Teck and 26.05 percent for Total. Fort Hills in northern Alberta produced 6,000 barrels per day during fourth-quarter test runs and is expected to fully start production in mid-January when the first of three secondary extraction trains starts up, Suncor said in a statement after markets closed. Fort Hills’ startup comes as increasing oil sands supply outpaces Canadian pipeline capacity, creating a deepening price discount for Western Canada Select compared to benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI). ($1 = 1.2538 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Nia Williams in Calgary, Alberta; Editing by James Dalgleish)" + }, + { + "text": "Iran protests grow, death toll mounts 2:52am IST - 01:44 Demonstrations continued for a fifth day, after 13 people were reported to have been killed in the worst wave of unrest since 2009 when huge crowds took to the streets to condemn the re-election of then-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Demonstrations continued for a fifth day, after 13 people were reported to have been killed in the worst wave of unrest since 2009 when huge crowds took to the streets to condemn the re-election of then-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Facebook shares slip after News Feed overhaul 01:20 Shares of Facebook fell after chief executive Mark Zuckerberg announced changes to News Feed that he said would hit user engagement in the near term. Aleksandra Michalska reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Shares of Facebook fell after chief executive Mark Zuckerberg announced changes to News Feed that he said would hit user engagement in the near term. Aleksandra Michalska reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "KIEV, Jan 25 (Reuters) - The Ukrainian central bank plans to initiate talks with the International Monetary Fund on a new loans programme as Ukraine faces high foreign debt payments in 2018-2020, the acting head of the regulator, Yakiv Smoliy, said on Thursday. “The current programme ends in the first quarter of 2019. We have not yet started talks but we’re already thinking about when this would be possible. We will initiate such talks with the IMF at a meeting with the finance ministry,” Smoliy said. (Reporting by Natalia Zinets; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; editing by Matthias Williams and Toby Chopra)" + }, + { + "text": "NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has increased the number of ports that can handle imports of non-prime steel to a total of six, with the addition of three new ports, the ministry of commerce and industry said. A ministry notification dated Jan 18. and made public on Saturday implies all types of steel can be imported through the new ports. The is set to encourage foreign purchases of non-prime category steel. [ bit.ly/2DRagUO ] The news comes after India imposed anti-dumping duty on several stainless steel and flat steel products from China, the United States, South Korea and the European Union, to curb the influx of cheaper imports and help local producers. Reporting by Aditi Shah" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 22(Reuters) - Chuo Malleable Iron Co Ltd * Says it will offer an off-floor distribution of 275,000 shares of its stock at the price of 632 yen per share, on the Nagoya Stock Exchange on Jan. 23 * Says the limitation for purchase of the distribution is up to 3,000 shares for each customer Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/JtWfpE Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 2:44 PM / Updated 6 minutes ago German industrial strikes to hit Daimler, Porsche Reuters Staff 3 Min Read FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Workers at German companies including carmakers Daimler ( DAIGn.DE ) and Porsche ( VOWG_p.DE ) and automotive supplier Bosch are set to stage strikes over the coming days amid a row over wages and working hours, union IG Metall said. Walkouts lasting 24 hours at a time will begin late on Tuesday and run until Friday, the union has said, after its members voted overwhelmingly in favour of action after last-ditch regional talks over wages and working hours failed to reach a deal at the weekend. Emboldened by the fastest economic growth in six years and record low unemployment, the union is demanding an 8 percent pay rise over 27 months for 3.9 million metals and engineering workers across Germany. The union has also asked for workers to be given the right to reduce their weekly hours to 28 from 35 to care for children, elderly or sick relatives, and return to full time after two years. Employers have offered a 6.8 percent increase but have rejected the demand for shorter hours unless they can also increase workers’ hours when necessary. Nearly a million workers have already taken part in short walkouts lasting no more than a few hours at a time across the country this month to support IG Metall’s demands. Slideshow (2 Images) An escalation to 24-hour strikes is the union’s last warning shot before it ballots for extended industrial action that could be crippling to companies reliant on a well-oiled supply chain of car parts and other components. Across Germany, around 260 companies are expected to be affected by walkouts this week. Workers at automotive supplier ZF Friedrichshafen [ZFF.UL] in the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg will go on strike from 5 am local time (0400 GMT) on Wednesday, while staff at Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler and sportscar firm Porsche will walk out on Friday, IG Metall said. “The employers haven’t sufficiently budged in negotiations, now we are going to push them into action with full-day warning strikes,” said Roman Zitzelsberger, head of IG Metall in Baden-Wuerttemberg, where 16 hours of negotiations failed to yield a deal. To the north, workers at Kion’s ( KGX.DE ) Still brand of forklift trucks in Hamburg and at valve maker Gestra in Bremen will down their tools. Both the union and the employers have left the door open to resuming talks after the planned strikes end on Friday but each said they demanded more willingness to make concessions. Reporting by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Gareth Jones" + }, + { + "text": "SAP buys $2.4 bln U.S. software firm 4:08pm EST - 01:06 Europe's top technology company SAP has announced a $2.4 billion U.S. acquisition to help it boost revenues from its cloud platform and CEO Bill McDermott said it would streamline its overall business this year to bolster margins. As Sonia Legg reports, the German company is midway through a strategic transition. Europe's top technology company SAP has announced a $2.4 billion U.S. acquisition to help it boost revenues from its cloud platform and CEO Bill McDermott said it would streamline its overall business this year to bolster margins. As Sonia Legg reports, the German company is midway through a strategic transition. //reut.rs/2DQzSEI" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Britain called on Iran to engage in meaningful debate about issues raised by protesters, Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman said on Tuesday. “We believe there should be meaningful debate about the legitimate and important issues that the protesters are raising, and we’re looking to the Iranian authorities to permit that,” the spokesman said. Reporting By William James, writing by Andrew MacAskill, editing by Guy Faulconbridge" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 9:19 AM / Updated 2 hours ago Alibaba, Foxconn lead $350 million funding in electric car startup Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BEIJING (Reuters) - Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and Foxconn Technology Co Ltd have led a 2.2 billion yuan ($347.74 million) funding round in Chinese electric car maker Xiaopeng Motors as competition escalates in the new energy vehicle (NEV) market. The latest injection brings the startup company’s total funding to 5 billion yuan, it said in a statement. It follows an earlier round in December in which Alibaba also participated. Xiaopeng, which debuted its electric car at CES in Las Vegas this month, is one of several Chinese start-ups looking to speed up development of battery-powered technology and compete with global leaders including Tesla Inc. China’s new energy vehicle sales are expected to grow by 40 percent in 2018, according to an industry body, even as the country’s traditional automotive market slowed sharply in 2017. Xiaopeng says its first vehicle, the ‘G3’, will hit the market this year. Alibaba has invested heavily in smart car technology and partnered with a handful of traditional western and Chinese carmakers, including Ford Motor Co and BMW. Other investors in the round include IDG Capital as well as previous investors GGV Capital, Morningside Venture Capital and Matrix Partners, Alibaba said on its press site on Sunday. Russian billionaire investor Yuri Milner is also supporting the initiative, the web site said. ($1 = 6.3265 Chinese yuan)" + }, + { + "text": "January 21, 2018 / 6:46 PM / Updated 8 minutes ago La Rochelle reach quarter-finals, Saracens sneak through Reuters Staff 2 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - French side La Rochelle reached the Champions Cup quarter-finals on their first appearance in Europe’s premier club competition with a 16-7 win over Harlequins as holders Saracens sneaked through on Sunday. England’s Saracens beat Northampton Saints 62-14 on Saturday but faced an anxious wait to see if they would advance as one of the top three runners-up. They will face Leinster for a last-four spot after the Irish side made sure they would be top seeds in the last eight by beating Top 14 leaders Montpellier 23-14 on Saturday. La Rochelle, who lie second in the Top 14, qualified at the top of Pool 1 and will take on Scarlets, who became the first Welsh team to reach the last eight in six years by beating three-times champions Toulon 30-27 on Saturday. Toulon advanced as one of the best runners-up and will face a tough challenge in the last eight from Ireland’s Munster, who demolished Castres 48-3 on Sunday to win Pool 4 ahead of Racing 92 who beat Leicester 23-20. In the quarter-finals, Racing will face fellow French side Clermont Auvergne, who topped Pool 2 after beating Ospreys 24-7. Reporting by Julien Pretot, Editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "Trump says he's 'not a racist,''ready' for DACA deal 07 President Trump said on Sunday that he is 'not a racist' despite reports of his derogatory comments about immigrants from Haiti and Africa, adding that he was 'ready, willing and able' to reach a deal to protect immigrants brought to the United States as children. President Trump said on Sunday that he is 'not a racist' despite reports of his derogatory comments about immigrants from Haiti and Africa, adding that he was 'ready, willing and able' to reach a deal to protect immigrants brought to the United States as children. //reut.rs/2B1eZ3e" + }, + { + "text": "January 28, 2018 / 11:56 AM / Updated 31 minutes ago Tennis-Roger Federer v Marin Cilic - match stats Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MELBOURNE, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Key statistics from Roger Federer's victory over Croatia's Marin Cilic in the final of the Australian Open on Sunday (prefix denotes seeding): 2-Federer 6-Cilic Aces 24 16 Double faults 4 5 Break points won 6/13 2/9 Net points won 14/18 14/19 Winners 41 45 Unforced errors 40 64 Total points won 152 128 Match duration: Three hours, three minutes (Compiled by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar)" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 3:00 PM / Updated 4 hours ago Lukoil calls for exit from output deal if oil holds at $70 Olesya Astakhova 3 Min Read MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia should start exiting a global deal to cut oil output if crude prices remain at $70 per barrel for more than six months, Lukoil chief executive Vagit Alekperov said on Friday as he unveiled a $2-3 billion share buyback program. Russia and Saudi Arabia are leading the wider OPEC and non-OPEC effort to limit production to prop up prices and Brent crude oil futures have risen by more than 50 percent since mid-2017, hitting $70 a barrel this week for the first time since December 2014. “If the price of $70 remains for more than half a year, we should start exiting smoothly,” Alekperov, who is also a major shareholder in the Russian oil company, told reporters. Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, said that while oil prices at $65 to $70 a barrel were good for oil producers now, there was a risk it would encourage more oversupply from U.S. shale drillers. Alekperov said a price of $60 to $70 a barrel was a comfortable level for Russian oil firms. “We should not repeat the mistakes of 2000s when the oil price crossed over $100,” he said. BUYBACK Lukoil also said it would establish a share buyback program “as an incremental mechanism to distribute capital to shareholders” and planned to cancel around 10 percent out of a total 16 percent of the treasury shares it holds. “I think these changes will further support the growth of the company’s shareholder value,” Alekperov said. The board has supported the management initiative to cancel the major part of Lukoil treasury shares and use the remainder in a new long-term incentive program for key employees. The company would be cancelling the treasury shares it once planned to use for acquisitions during 2018, while the buy back program worth $2-3 billion would last for five years, Alekperov told reporters. The stakes held by both Alekperov and his business partner Leonid Fedun would increase following the changes, with Alekperov’s holdings rising to 30 percent and Fedun’s to just over 10 percent, Alekperov said. Lukoil shares rose by 5 percent to 3,880 roubles, giving the company a market capitalization of $55 billion, Thomson Reuters data showed. Reporting by Olesya Astakhova; Writing by Maria Tsvetkova and Katya Golubkova; Editing by Jack Stubbs/Edmund Blair/Alexander Smith" + }, + { + "text": "By Bloomberg 12:17 PM EST Oprah Winfrey won over the Golden Globes, and that was good news for Weight Watchers International Inc. investors. Winfrey, who owns 10 percent of the weight-loss company and is featured in its ads, dominated coverage of the Hollywood awards show Sunday night. After receiving the Cecil B. DeMille award for lifetime achievement, she delivered a well-received speech that rekindled rumors she’ll run for president in 2020. While the 63-year-old media mogul told Bloomberg News backstage that she has no plans to run, an anonymous report from CNN that she is “actively thinking” about a bid fanned the flames on Monday. That helped drive Weight Watchers share up as much as 13 percent to $52.96 in New York, the biggest intraday gain in two months. Weight Watchers, which was hammered by free fitness apps and years of subscriber losses, has mounted a comeback since Winfrey bought a stake, joined the board and agreed to pitch the brand in 2015. Since then, her tweets about weight loss on the program have buoyed the shares, which almost quadrupled last year. The billionaire’s marketing halo has also helped the company add customers and increase revenue and profit in recent quarters. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Russian gold producer Arlan plans to have doubled gold output from its mine in 2020, expecting the price for the precious metal to rise further, the firm’s director for development said. Russia, the world’s third largest gold producer, has seen its gold mining expand in recent years with a weakened rouble helping cope with relatively low global gold prices since 2014. Arlan opened its Pavlik gold mine in Magadan in Russia’s far east in 2015 with a $550 million loan from a company affiliated with the Russian state development bank Vnesheconombank, or VEB. The privately-owned company produced 6.5 tonnes of gold in 2017 and expects to raise that to 6.8 tonnes this year. Arlan targets a further output increase to 13 tonnes in 2020 and aims to maintain that level for 10 years, Sergei Terentyev, Arlan’s director for development, told Reuters in an interview. To raise output, the firm needed to double the amount of ore it could process to 10 million tonnes a year by 2020 from five million tonnes, he said. The expansion would cost about $200 million, which the firm aimed to borrow from Russian state banks, Terentyev said, adding that talks could be concluded soon. He said selling bonds to raise funds was also an option. Gold prices rose 13 percent last year, reaching a high of $1,357 per ounce in early autumn. “I think we will see gold prices at $1,400 an ounce this year,” Terentyev said, adding that he expected the $2,000-mark to be crossed in future. Gold peaked at $1,920 in 2011. Russia’s far eastern Magadan region, also known as Kolyma, is famous for gold deposits, where prisoners of Stalin’s Gulag labour camps were forced to work during Soviet times. The area will host Russia’s largest gold mine, Natalka, when its owner Polyus hikes its output by 2019. Russia produced 193.58 tonnes of gold in the first eight months of 2017, up from 179.73 tonnes in the same period of 2016. (Reporting by Diana Asonova; Writing by Polina Ivanova; Editing by Katya Golubkova and Edmund Blair)" + }, + { + "text": "The following statements were posted to the verified Twitter accounts of U.S. President Donald Trump, @realDonaldTrump and @POTUS. The opinions expressed are his own. Reuters has not edited the statements or confirmed their accuracy. @realDonaldTrump : - Tremendous investment by companies from all over the world being made in America. There has never been anything like it. Now Disney, J.P. Morgan Chase and many others. Massive Regulation Reduction and Tax Cuts are making us a powerhouse again. Long way to go! Jobs, Jobs, Jobs! [0658 EST] -- Source link: ( bit.ly/2jBh4LU ) ( bit.ly/2jpEXYR ) Compiled by Bengaluru bureau" + }, + { + "text": "LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Jan. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Uniti Group Inc. (“Uniti”) (Nasdaq:UNIT) announced today that it will report its fourth quarter and year end 2017 financial results after the close of trading on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange on March 1, 2018. A conference call to discuss those earnings will be held the same day at 4:15 PM Eastern Time. The dial-in number for the conference call is (844) 513-7153 (or (508) 637-5603 for international callers) and the conference ID is 4379417. The call will also be webcast live and can be accessed at the Company’s website at www.uniti.com . A replay of the call will be available on the Company’s website beginning on March 1, 2018 at approximately 8:00 pm Eastern Time and will remain available for 14 days. ABOUT UNITI Uniti, an internally managed real estate investment trust, is engaged in the acquisition and construction of mission critical communications infrastructure, and is a leading provider of wireless infrastructure solutions for the communications industry. As of September 30, 2017, Uniti owns 4.8 million fiber strand miles, 652 wireless towers, and other communications real estate throughout the United States and Latin America. Additional information about Uniti can be found on its website at www.uniti.com . INVESTOR and MEDIA CONTACTS: Mark A. Wallace, 501-850-0866 Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer [REDACTED] Jim Volk, 501-850-0872 Vice President, Finance & Investor Relations [REDACTED] Source:Uniti Group Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - Torex Gold Resources Inc: * TOREX ANNOUNCES FILING OF PRELIMINARY BASE SHELF PROSPECTUS * TOREX GOLD RESOURCES - BASE SHELF PROSPECTUS WILL ALLOW CO TO MAKE OFFERINGS OF UP TO $500 MILLION OF COMMON SHARES, DEBT SECURITIES, AMONG OTHERS * TOREX GOLD RESOURCES INC - BASE SHELF PROSPECTUS WILL BE EFFECTIVE FOR A 25 MONTH PERIOD Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: ([REDACTED])" + }, + { + "text": "Jay-Z is honored with The Recording Academy's President Merit Award 9:06am EST - 01:59 Jay-Z makes peace with Grammys as he is honoured at Clive Davis party. Rough Cut (No reporter narration) ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Jay-Z makes peace with Grammys as he is honoured at Clive Davis party. Rough Cut (No reporter narration) Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "INSIGHT: Divers unearth world's biggest underwater cave 1:17pm IST - 00:40 A group of divers in eastern Mexico have discovered what is believed to be the largest flooded cave on the planet. The divers connected two giant underwater caverns to make the find. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript A group of divers in eastern Mexico have discovered what is believed to be the largest flooded cave on the planet. The divers connected two giant underwater caverns to make the find. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—A top federal regulator said Monday he opposes a government takeover of the next-generation 5G wireless system, casting further doubt on an idea that has been floated by some Trump administration officials. In a statement, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said, “I oppose any proposal for the federal government to build and operate a nationwide 5G network.” Some... RELATED VIDEO The Modern Cell Carrier: How We Got Here The U.S. wireless industry is dominated by four major players: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. Now that just about everyone has a cellphone, each operator is looking for new ways to grow. But how did we go from the days of one giant landline monopoly to four competitive cell companies? Illustration: Shaumbe Wright/WSJ To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Oprah awards speech sparks talk of White House run 1:43pm GMT - 01:24 Actress and media mogul Oprah Winfrey has ignited buzz about a possible presidential run in 2020 with a stirring speech at the Golden Globes, followed by speculation from friends that she was considering a run. Ashraf Fahim reports. Actress and media mogul Oprah Winfrey has ignited buzz about a possible presidential run in 2020 with a stirring speech at the Golden Globes, followed by speculation from friends that she was considering a run. Ashraf Fahim reports. //reut.rs/2CXc956" + }, + { + "text": "After 35 years, Saudi Arabia lifts ban on cinemas Tuesday, January 16, 2018 - 00:58 Saudi Arabia began screening feature-length animated children’s films in a makeshift theater, after a decades-old ban on cinemas was lifted in the conservative Islamic kingdom. Saudi Arabia began screening feature-length animated children’s films in a makeshift theater, after a decades-old ban on cinemas was lifted in the conservative Islamic kingdom. //reut.rs/2B6Ynaw" + }, + { + "text": "26 AM / Updated 38 minutes ago Premier Foods third-quarter sales up on non-branded products Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Premier Foods, owner of Mr Kipling cakes and Oxo stock cubes, reported higher third-quarter sales on Tuesday, helped by strength in its non-branded products. The company said sales for the quarter rose 4 percent to 261.4 million pounds ($360.3 million), with branded sales up 0.7 percent and non-branded rising 17 percent. The company said its expectations for the current year were unchanged and that net debt at the end of 2018 will be lower than the prior year. ($1 = 0.7256 pounds) (Reporting by Martinne Geller, editing by Louise Heavens)" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 5:14 PM / Updated 4 hours ago Canada's Aurora to sell medical marijuana to Italy Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Canada’s Aurora Cannabis Inc said on Thursday its German unit Pedanios won a contract to supply medical marijuana to the Italian market. Aurora, Canada’s second largest pot producer, will export medical cannabis into Germany through Pedanios, which will supply the Italian market through the Italian Ministry of Defence. Cannabis-based medicines are legal in several European Union countries including Italy as a treatment for chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, side effects from cancer therapy and other ailments. While the Italian Ministry of Defence currently produces medical cannabis for the Italian market, a sharp rise in demand led the government to seek external parties for more supply, Aurora said. The company said earlier this month it would partner with Danish tomato and pepper producer Alfred Pedersen & Son to produce and sell cannabis in Europe. Its expansion plans come as Canada prepares to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana by July, becoming only the second country to do so after Uruguay. Reporting by Taenaz Shakir in Bengaluru" + }, + { + "text": "Twitter Inc. operating chief Anthony Noto is leaving to become head of online lender Social Finance Inc., dealing a blow to Twitter’s strategy for growth and raising questions about who will run day-to-day operations at the company. Mr. Noto will take over the top spot at SoFi on March 1. At that time, board member Tom Hutton, who has been serving as interim CEO since SoFi co-founder Mike Cagney resigned from the financial-technology startup in September, will become its nonexecutive chairman. ... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "American International Group on Monday said it would buy property and casualty reinsurer Validus for $5.56 billion in cash to strengthen its general insurance business. AIG's offer of $68 per share represents a 45.5 percent premium to Validus' Friday close. Validus' shares were up nearly 16 percent at $54 before the bell. The deal, part of Chief Executive Brian Duperreault's turnaround plan, is expected to immediately add to AIG's earnings per share and return on equity. The deal, expected to close in mid-2018, will also boost AIG's talent and underwriting business apart from general insurance, the company said. Citigroup Global Markets, Perella Weinberg Partners, and Debevoise & Plimpton advised AIG on the transaction, while Validus was advised by J.P. Morgan Securities and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom." + }, + { + "text": "RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NewMarket Corporation (NYSE: NEU) announced today it will release fourth quarter 2017 and year-end earnings at the close of business on Tuesday, February 6. The earnings announcement will also be available on the company’s website at www.NewMarket.com beginning Wednesday, February 7. A conference call and Internet webcast is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 to review fourth quarter and year-end 2017 financial results. You can access the conference call live by dialing 1-877-407-9210 (domestic) or 1-201-689-8049 (international) and requesting the NewMarket conference call. To avoid delays, callers should dial in five minutes early. A teleconference replay of the call will be available until February 14, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. EST by dialing 1-877-481-4010 (domestic) and 1-919-882-2331 (international). The replay ID number is 23857. The call will also be broadcast via the Internet and can be accessed through the Company’s website at www.NewMarket.com or www.investorcalendar.com . A webcast replay will be available for 30 days. NewMarket Corporation, through its subsidiaries, Afton Chemical Corporation and Ethyl Corporation, develops, manufactures, blends, and delivers chemical additives that enhance the performance of petroleum products. From custom-formulated additive packages to market-general additives, the NewMarket family of companies provides the world with the technology to make engines run smoother, machines last longer, and fuels burn cleaner. View source version on businesswire.com : NewMarket Corporation Investor Relations Brian D. Paliotti, 804-788-5555 Fax: 804-788-5688 [REDACTED] Source: NewMarket Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "STAMFORD, Conn., Jan. 11, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hexcel Corporation (NYSE:HXL) announced today that it will report results for its fiscal 2017 fourth quarter on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 after the market close. The company will host a webcast and conference call to discuss highlights of its financial results on Thursday, January 25, at 10 a.m. ET. The call will be hosted by Chairman, CEO and President Nick Stanage and Chief Financial Officer Patrick Winterlich. The event will be webcast via the investor relations webpage at www.Hexcel.com . A replay of the call will be available on the investor relations page of the Hexcel website approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call. The event can also be accessed by dialing [REDACTED]. The conference ID is 9299630. About Hexcel Hexcel Corporation is a leading advanced composites company. It develops, manufactures and markets lightweight, high-performance structural materials including carbon fibers, specialty reinforcements, prepregs and other fiber-reinforced matrix materials, honeycomb, adhesives, engineered core and composite structures for use in commercial aerospace, space and defense and industrial applications. Learn more at www.Hexcel.com . Contact Information Kurt Goddard, Vice President - Investor Relations [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Source:Hexcel Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16 (Reuters) - KREZUS SA, BORYSZEW, IMPEXMETAL: * BORYSZEW AND ITS UNIT IMPEXMETAL SAID ON MONDAY THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED AN OFFER FROM KREZUS FOR AN ACQUISITION OF WALCOWNIA METALI DZIEDZICE (WMD) FOR 160 MILLION ZLOTYS * KREZUS SAYS THAT THE FINAL PRICE WOULD BE SET AFTER DUE DILIGENCE CHECKS AND THE COMPANY PLANS TO PAY FOR THE TRANSACTION FROM AN INVESTMENT LOAN AND OWN FUNDS * BORYSZEW AND IMPEXMETAL INFORMED THAT THEY HAVE JOINED PRELIMINARY TALKS WITH KREZUS BUT THAT NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE YET REGARDING THE POTENTIAL TRANSACTION * ALL THREE FIRMS ARE CONTROLLED BY THE POLISH BUSINESSMAN RYSZARD KARKOSIK Source text for Eikon:,, Further company coverage:,, (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "RENO, Nev., Jan. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ormat Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ORA) announced today that it plans to announce its fourth quarter and year-end 2017 financial results in a press release that will be issued on Thursday, February 22, 2018, before the market opens. The Company has scheduled a conference call to discuss the results at 10 a.m. EST on Thursday, February 22, 2018. To participate, please dial 1-877-511-6790 approximately 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. If calling from Canada, please dial 1-855-669-9657. If calling outside of the United States and Canada, please dial 1-412-902-4141. Please request the “Ormat Technologies, Inc. call” when prompted by the conference call operator. The conference call will also be webcast live from the Investor Relations section of the Company's website. A replay will be available one hour after the end of the conference call. To access the replay, please dial 1-877-344-7529, or from outside of the United States 1-412-317-0088 and use the replay conference ID number 10116087. The webcast will also be archived on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website. About Ormat Technologies With over five decades of experience, Ormat Technologies, Inc. is a leading geothermal company and the only vertically integrated company engaged in geothermal and recovered energy generation (REG), with the objective of becoming a leading global provider of renewable energy. The company owns, operates, designs, manufactures and sells geothermal and REG power plants primarily based on the Ormat Energy Converter – a power generation unit that converts low-, medium- and high-temperature heat into electricity. With 73 U.S. patents, Ormat’s power solutions have been refined and perfected under the most grueling environmental conditions. Ormat has 530 employees in the United States and 720 overseas. Ormat’s flexible, modular solutions for geothermal power and REG are ideal for the vast range of resource characteristics. The company has engineered, manufactured and constructed power plants, which it currently owns or has installed to utilities and developers worldwide, totaling over 2,200 MW of gross capacity. Ormat is the largest US-based geothermal operator with its current 800 MW generating portfolio spread globally in the U.S., Guatemala, Guadeloupe, Honduras, Indonesia and Kenya. Ormat also intends to expand its operations and provide energy management and energy storage solutions, by leveraging its core capabilities and global presence. Ormat’s Safe Harbor Statement Information provided in this press release may contain statements relating to current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about future events that are \"forward-looking statements\" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally relate to Ormat's plans, objectives and expectations for future operations and are based upon its management's current estimates and projections of future results or trends. Actual future results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, see \"Risk Factors\" as described in Ormat Technologies, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2017. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Ormat Technologies Contact: Smadar Lavi VP Corporate Finance and Investor Relations 775-356-9029 (ext. 65726) [REDACTED] Investor Relations Agency Contact: Rob Fink Hayden - IR 646-415-8972 [REDACTED] Source:Ormat Technologies, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "'Game of Thrones' last season set for 2019 Friday, January 05, 2018 - 00:45 Hit television show 'Game of Thrones' will bow out in 2019 after 8 seasons with a six-episode final season, HBO has announced. Rollo Ross reports. Hit television show 'Game of Thrones' will bow out in 2019 after 8 seasons with a six-episode final season, HBO has announced. Rollo Ross reports. //reut.rs/2AqZtNJ" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19 (Reuters) - Wipro Ltd CEO Abidali Neemuchwala and Chief Human Resources Officer Saurabh Govil: * CEO SAYS SEEING LARGE DIGITAL DEAL IN OUR PIPELINE * CEO SAYS “WE SEE SPEND COMING BACK IN CALENDER YEAR 2018 BUT SOME CUSTOMER SPECIFIC CHALLENGES EXISTS” * CEO SAYS “DON‘T SEE ANY SPECIFIC POLITICAL CHALLENGES IN THE US” * EXEC SAYS CONTINUE TO HIRE IN ALL THE NEW AREAS, ESPECIALLY IN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY" + }, + { + "text": "LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- J&L Marketing announced today that Kirk Cave has been named the new Vice President of Sales. Kirk Cave has over twenty years of experience in the automotive industry, and has most recently held the role of Vice President of Sales at Dealer Product Services. “Very excited to join an organization that understands and has repeatedly demonstrated what it means to grow the dealer’s revenue, increase owner retention and enhance the customer experience through multi-communication channels,” Cave said. “Kirk is a magnetic guy,” said Scott Joseph, CEO & Founder of J&L Marketing. “He’s a guy that has meaningful partnerships throughout the automotive industry, and he’s thrived at every company that he’s been at.” For more information about the changes in leadership at J&L Marketing, contact Jamil Zabaneh at [REDACTED] or 800.651.5508. J&L MARKETING J&L Marketing is a digital and direct marketing company based in Louisville, KY. The company has specialized in increasing traffic and conversions for the automotive industry since 1991. J&L Marketing has more than 200 employees and representatives throughout the United States. More information is available at www.jandlmarketing.com . View source version on businesswire.com : J&L Marketing Jamil Zabaneh, 800-651-5508 President [REDACTED] Source: J&L Marketing" + }, + { + "text": "Boston has recorded its highest tide in nearly a century on the heels of this week's snowstorm. The Boston office of the National Weather Service said the city reached the record in a tweet sent Friday: NWS Boston This tide is the highest in the area the weather service has seen since it began keeping records in 1921. The tide has already contributed to icy flooding across the city. show chapters Boston cleans up in aftermath of 'bomb cyclone' 4 Hours Ago | 01:29 For example, this tweet from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Transit Police shows water gushing down the stairs of one of Boston's underground rail stations. MBTA \"I think what to take away from this is how unprecedented it is,\" said Benjamin Sipprell, a meteorologist with the weather service in Boston. The new record edges out the one set during the Blizzard of '78, another time when a winter storm flooded the streets of Boston. Apart from beating the record, though, there is something else about this storm that makes it so unique: it happened so quickly. In the case of the 1978 blizzard, it took several tide cycles over days for the highest tide levels to develop, Sipprell said. In contrast. this week's record was set in a single tidal cycle. This was partly due to the rapidly dropping pressure of the storm, which made it intensify rapidly, and the fact that there had been a \"supermoon,\" or a moon at perigee, or its closest point to Earth. Full moons tend to intensify tides, and have an even greater impact when the moon is at perigee. This is what sent waves of ice and water into Boston's days before temperatures are expected to fall below zero. \"I think we are still trying to grasp the magnitude of what happened yesterday,\" Sipprell said, referring to Thursday. \"This is a storm that should be remembered.\"" + }, + { + "text": "MILAN, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Telecom Italia is considering cutting thousands of jobs in Italy through incentivised layoffs, union sources said on Monday. Italy’s biggest phone group, which employs almost 60,000 people in its domestic operations, has not made any official announcements on the matter. According to the sources, TIM would like to cut some staff to make space for new hires, reducing the average age of its workforce. The company declined to comment. The phone group, whose biggest shareholder is French media group Vivendi, is already using so-called solidarity contracts, under which workers agree to work less on condition that nobody is laid off. The current solidarity contracts, whose unworked hours are the equivalent of around 5,000 jobs, expired at the end of 2017 and a decision has yet to be taken on whether to extend them. If not, most those jobs could be cut, the sources added. Another 4,000-5,000 workers may meet the requirements of a legislation that allows for early retirement, the people said. First meeting with unions is scheduled for Jan. 18. Reporting by Stefano Rebaudo, writing by Agnieszka Flak" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 25 (Reuters) - The chairman and founder of Britain’s Atom Bank stepped down on Thursday, saying his job was done after helping the business grow from a big idea in 2012 to an established lender. Anthony Thomson, who previously co-founded Metro Bank , one of the most successful challengers to Britain’s big four lenders, will be succeeded by Bridget Rosewell, chair of Atom Bank’s audit committee. Since opening for business in 2014 as a digital-only bank focused on savings accounts and mortgages, Atom has collected more than 1 billion pounds ($1.43 billion) in deposits and lent the same amount to small businesses and homeowners. It is one of a number of branch-free banks that have sprung up in Britain in recent years to take on the likes of Barclays , HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds. Atom has gone from “being a big idea disguised as a small bank to a big idea and a big bank”, Thomson said in a statement. “I have loved doing this with Atom but, as the bank moves into a new phase of development, I feel the time is right for me to step down from the role of chairman.” While attracting less limelight than some of its peers, such as app-only bank Monzo, Atom has quietly raised significant funding from high-profile backers including Spanish lender BBVA . So far it has received 250 million pounds from investors and is planning a further fundraising round. ($1 = 0.7018 pounds) (Reporting by Emma Rumney; Editing by David Goodman)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - Shares of United Continental Holdings Inc fell more than 7 percent before the bell on Wednesday after the airline said it plans to add capacity, likely threatening its profit margin, as it is locked in a price war with low-cost carriers. The parent of the No.3 U.S. airline plans to increase capacity by between 4 percent and 6 percent in 2018, and aims to likely grow by a similar rate in 2019 and 2020, saying it would give the carrier a competitive edge in its fight against low-cost airlines such as Southwest Airlines and JetBlu Airways. The decision comes months after United ordered 10 extra Airbus A350 jetliners, while ditching the largest model, the A350-1000, in favor of the smaller and more popular A350-900 and delaying deliveries to save cash. United’s shares are poised to open lower despite the bigger-than-expected jump in quarterly profit it reported on Tuesday. Shares of other U.S. airline companies such as American Airlines Group and Delta Air Lines also fell in premarket trading. (Reporting by Rachit Vats in Bengaluru; Editing by Supriya Kurane)" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 8:29 AM / Updated 11 hours ago Four senior BBC male journalists agree pay cuts after inequality row Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Four of the highest paid male BBC journalists have agreed to pay cuts, the broadcaster said on Friday, following revelations that its top male news reporters and presenters were earning significantly more than women doing similar jobs. Radio broadcasters Jeremy Vine and John Humphrys, news anchor Huw Edwards and North America editor Jon Sopel had all agreed either formally or in principle to salary cuts, the BBC said on its website. The broadcaster was forced to disclose last year that two thirds of the highest earners on air were men. Funded by a licence fee levied on TV viewers, the BBC is closely scrutinised and held to exacting standards by the public and rival media. The pay disclosures, which it had resisted, highlighted a broader debate about gender inequality. Director-General Tony Hall pledged to close the gender pay gap by 2020, but the organisation has been criticised by its own journalists and by lawmakers for not acting fast enough. Its China editor Carrie Gracie, who was paid significantly less than her male counterparts, resigned her role last month to fight against what she called the “secretive and illegal BBC pay culture”. North America editor Sopel, one of the four who had agreed to a salary cut, earned between 200,000 pounds and 249,999 pounds ($285,100-$356,373) in 2016/17, the disclosures showed. Gracie said she was paid 135,000 pounds a year as China editor. The highest paid of the four was Jeremy Vine, who earned between 700,000 pounds and 749,999 pounds for radio and TV work. Today radio programme presenter Humphrys earned between 600,000 pounds and 649,999 pounds, while news anchor Edwards was paid between 550,000 pounds and 599,999 pounds. The BBC said the level of the cuts was not yet known. Tony Hall and Carrie Gracie will be questioned by a committee of lawmakers on Wednesday about BBC pay. ($1 = 0.7015 pounds)" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Battery maker Energizer Holdings Inc ( ENR.N ) said on Tuesday it would buy the battery and portable lighting business of Spectrum Brands ( SPB.N ) in a $2 billion cash deal, adding brands such as Rayovac and Varta to its lineup. The deal comes two weeks after Spectrum said it was exploring strategic options, including a sale, for its global batteries and appliances businesses. Spectrum said it was still “actively marketing” its appliances business, which includes brands such as George Foreman cookware and Remington grooming products. The deal will add heft to Energizer’s battery unit and give it more pricing power, while also expanding its international business. Shares of Energizer, known for the Energizer and Eveready batteries, were up 15 percent in early trading on Tuesday, despite regulatory concerns given the deal will significantly increase the company’s marketshare. Spectrum’s shares were up 3.6 percent. SunTrust analyst William Chappell said Energizer will control more than 40 percent of the U.S. market and over 85 percent of the total market following the deal, helping it gain from improved pricing and margins in the sector. “We believe having the category controlled by two rational players as a ‘functional duopoly’ should yield pricing and margin benefits for both companies for years to come.” The deal is expected to generate annual savings of $80 million to $100 million, and the combined company will have greater presence in EMEA and Latin America, Energizer said on a conference call. Spectrum’s battery and portable lighting business generated revenue of $866 million in 2017, accounting for 17 percent of the total revenue. The unit posted earnings before interest tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of $169 million. The sale will allow the company to focus on its remaining businesses - hardware, auto care and pet and gardening products. Spectrum said it expects to use proceeds to pay down debt, reinvest in its core businesses both organically and through bolt-on acquisitions, and repurchase shares. Barclays was the financial adviser to Energizer, while RBC Capital Markets advised Spectrum Brands. King & Spalding was legal counsel to Energizer, while Kirkland & Ellis LLP was the legal adviser for Spectrum Brands. The deal is expected to close before the end of this year, the companies said. Reporting by Munsif Vengattil and Sanjana Shivdas in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty" + }, + { + "text": "ATLANTA, Jan. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc. (NYSE: CTT) will release its fourth quarter 2017 earnings on Thursday, February 15, 2018, following the market close. The company will host a conference call and live webcast at 10 a.m. ET on Friday, February 16, 2018 to discuss these results. Investors may listen to the conference call by dialing 1-888-347-1165 for U.S/Canada and 1-412-902-4276 for international callers. Participants should ask to be joined into the CatchMark call. Access to the live webcast will be available at www.catchmark.com . A replay of this webcast will be archived on the company's website shortly after the call. About CatchMark CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc. (NYSE: CTT) is a self-administered and self-managed, publicly-traded REIT that strives to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns for all stakeholders through disciplined acquisitions, sustainable harvests and well-timed sales. Headquartered in Atlanta and focused exclusively on timberland ownership, CatchMark began operations in 2007 and owns interests in approximately 502,400 acres* of timberland located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. For more information, visit www.catchmark.com . From time to time, CatchMark releases important information via postings on its corporate website. Accordingly, investors and other interested parties are encouraged to enroll to receive automatic email alerts regarding new postings. Enrollment information is found in the \"Investors Relations\" section of www.catchmark.com . *As of September 30, 2017 View original content with multimedia: SOURCE CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Department stores and general merchandisers led job losses in the retail industry for the month of December. The U.S. economy created 148,000 jobs in December, missing Wall Street expectations of 190,000. The retail industry suffered job losses of roughly 20,000. The downward trend in retail jobs is believed to be a result of an ongoing shift to e-commerce sales. Here are the net changes in the retail industry for the month of December, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a whole, retail posted a net job loss in 2017, shedding nearly 70,000 jobs over 12 months as e-commerce giants like Amazon hurt traditional brick and mortar retailer sales. Breaking down the job losses in December, department stores and general merchandisers dragged down gains in food and beverage and electronics retailers. Department stores lost more than 8,000 jobs while others general merchandisers — which include wholesale clubs and dollar stores — shed nearly 20,000, the government said. Health and personal care stores also posted losses, down 3,900 in December. Clothing and accessories stores lost 3,800 jobs. On the flip side, food and beverage stores added 6,500 jobs and electronics and appliances retailers gained 3,800. Furniture stores and motor vehicle parts dealers also added jobs in the final month of 2017, adding 2,200 and 2,900 jobs respectively." + }, + { + "text": "STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The rivalry between Sweden and Finland in men’s ice hockey burns with an incredible intensity, and the Nordic neighbors are set to ignite their feud once again in the group stage at the Pyeongchang Olympics. The Swedes have twice won the Olympic gold medal, first in 1994 and famously beating their bitter rivals 3-2 in the 2006 final in Turin. No Finnish hockey fan needs reminding that their team has never won the Olympic tournament. “For us Swedes, we just cannot lose to Finland - that would never work,” Sweden’s two-time Olympic champion Peter Forsberg told Reuters. “It’s powerful,” explains Hakan Loob, who was a team mate of Forsberg’s when Sweden won gold at Lillehammer in 1994, and the two are set to pair up again as experts for Eurosport’s hockey broadcasts in Sweden during the Games. “A long time ago, the Finns saw us as the big brother and felt sorry for themselves, but recently they have become very good, so now it’s a more even rivalry,” Loob said. For the Finns, it is no different. “Of course you want to win all games, but there’s a special atmosphere every time you play Sweden,” current Finland general manager and former player Jere Lehtinen said. “When I played those games it was always a little more physical on the ice, to show you wanted to win. Those were special games.��� SEMI-FINAL DEFEAT The two sides meet in the final qualifying game in group C on February 18, with the Finns determined to avenge their semi-final defeat in Sochi four years ago when they ended up with the bronze medal and the Swedes went one better by winning silver. The historical roots of the Swedish-Finnish rivalry are long and deep, with Finland part of Sweden for almost 700 years until it became an autonomous part of Russia for more than a century, eventually declaring independence in 1917. The two countries share a border and Swedish is still one of Finland’s official languages, but the relationship is not without its problems, and never is this more apparent than when the two sides clash on the ice. The players Reuters spoke to all recall the rivalry beginning for them while they were still in the junior ranks, continuing through their international careers and even onto the rinks of North America, where most of them plied their trade. “There were good rivalries in the NHL against players like Forsberg and (Nicklas) Lidstrom - good, honest battles,” remembers Lehtinen, who spent 14 seasons with the Dallas Stars. “Forsberg was tough and he came hard at you, but in the same way he was honest, and you could go hard at him too. It was a tough rivalry.” The creative force at the heart of the Swedish team, Forsberg was often given a hard time by the Finns, not least when the two countries clashed. “I always had to play against Saku Koivu, Teemu Selanne, Jere Lehtinen and a few other big players. Every single tournament you knew you’d have to play against them, and you knew it was going to be tough,” Forsberg said. “But there was something, we just had to win.” SHOCK VICTORY With Forsberg in the team the Swedes secured their fair share of victories but as time went on Finland improved, even pulling off a shock victory against the then-Olympic champions in the World Championship final in Stockholm in 1995. For Lehtinen, who played in that winning side, the victory was a watershed in the rivalry. “It changed things, because Sweden had been beating us most of the time, so that was a big moment for us. There was a lot of Finnish fans there too, so it was very loud when we took the lead,” the 44-year-old said. The scenes of joy were not limited to Finnish players and fans in Stockholm’s Globen arena. “I was a young boy back then, and it was a huge thing at that time, it was an unbelievable victory for the whole nation,” defenseman Sami Lepisto, who will be a key part of Finland’s team in Pyeongchang, told Reuters. Lepisto went on to be in the Finnish squad that hammered the Swedes 6-1 in the 2011 World Championship final, and he now hopes they can improve their Olympic record against the Swedes and finally make it to the top step of the podium. “Of course, we have those two World Championship finals that we won, but at the Olympics it’s been mainly Sweden that has been winning those battles,” he said, adding that he will be keeping an eye on the Swedes when the knockout stages begin." + }, + { + "text": "PARIS (Reuters) - Nearly 1,500 people have been evacuated from homes in the Paris region, with authorities on alert for any major flood risk after the levels of the swollen River Seine rose further on Sunday. Michel Delpuech, head of the Paris police body, told reporters that around 1,500 people had been moved out of homes in the Ile de France region comprising the French capital and its suburbs. “The waters will only go away slowly,” added Delpuech. A ticket booth for sightseeing boats is partly submerged by the River Seine after days of almost non-stop rain caused flooding in the country, in Paris, France January 27, 2018. REUTERS/Mal Langsdon The Seine’s waters were set to peak later on Sunday or early on Monday close to levels which led to similar flooding in 2016, authorities said. The overflowing waters have already engulfed riverside walkways in Paris and led the world-famous Louvre museum to close a basement display of Islamic art. [nL8N1PJ4N4] Paris’s “Bateaux Mouches” tourist boats have been shut down due to the high waters while swans have been seen swimming where there are usually pavements and rats forced up onto the streets. Flooding caused destruction in Paris in 1910 when the Seine rose by 8.65 meters, although no deaths were recorded there. Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Pascale Antonie; Editing by Catherine Evans" + }, + { + "text": "It was a week of breaking records on Broadway. Several shows, from “Hamilton” to two-decade-old hits such as “The Lion King” and “Chicago,” reported all-time sales highs for the seven-day period that ended Sunday, according to The Broadway League, the trade group that tracks the industry. Broadway itself also set a new weekly sales high of $50.3 million, beating the previous record of $49.7 million, set about a year ago. The... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Closing Bell Ringer, January 2, 2018 1 Hour Ago Ringing today's closing bells are Cheddar Inc. with founder & CEO Jon Steinberg in honor of the company’s second anniversary at the NYSE and Achilles Kids in honor of the Nasdaq’s 7th annual “Fit Week” with founder & CEO Dick Traum at the Nasdaq." + }, + { + "text": "KOLKATA (Reuters) - At least 36 people were killed in West Bengal when a bus with 55 passengers on board plunged into a river early on Monday, a provincial minister said. The state-owned road transport bus fell 30-feet into river Bhairav off a bridge after the driver lost control, about 280 km (175 miles) north of state capital Kolkata, West Bengal’s Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikari said. The bodies were recovered after six hours of rescue operations, he said, adding that survivors had been admitted to a local hospital. The West Bengal government has launched an inquiry into the incident and announced compensation of 500,000 rupees ($7,865) for each of the families of the victims. ($1 = 63.5700 Indian rupees) Reporting by Subrata Nag Choudhury; Writing by Sudarshan Varadhan; Editing by Sankalp Phartiyal and Richard Balmforth Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Procter & Gamble Co. is scheduled to report earnings for the quarter ended Jan. 23 before the market opens Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know. EARNINGS FORECAST: Analysts expect P&G to report “core” earnings of $1.14 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters. That compares with core earnings of $1.08 cents a share a year earlier. ... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 10:29 AM / Updated 7 hours ago Lloyds Bank readying Berlin base ahead of Brexit - source Lawrence White , Emma Rumney 3 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Lloyds Banking Group ( LLOY.L ) aims to get its Berlin branch ready for business in Europe by the end of the year ahead of Britain leaving the European Union, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Lloyds this month filed an application with Germany’s financial regulators to convert its local branch into a subsidiary, the person said, which will enable it to keep its continental operations within the EU, unaffected by Brexit. The move is more than a formality and will require Lloyds to inject capital into the business to underpin its activities. The amount will depend on the ultimate size of the Berlin business but is expected to be in the low hundreds of millions of pounds, the person said, representing less than 1 percent of the bank’s overall capital. Banks are taking steps to ensure their European operations can continue to sell across Europe should Britain leave the EU without a trade deal. IG Group Holdings, a British online financial trading company, said on Tuesday it plans to create a subsidiary in Dusseldorf. While banks are acting now, large-scale staff moves will likely come only later. In Lloyds’ case, the Berlin outpost is set to remain small. It currently employs about 300 staff and that is expected to rise by just a handful. Reuters reported last February that Lloyds, Britain’s largest mortgage lender, was examining steps to turn its branch in the German capital into a subsidiary. It is the only major British retail lender without a subsidiary in another EU country. Frankfurt has been the preferred base for U.S. banks preparing for EU trading after Brexit, with Morgan Stanley, Citi and JPMorgan so far choosing the city which hosts the European Central Bank. For Lloyds, Berlin’s appeal is that it already has the bank’s main European branch with a full management team in place, including the finance, risk and human resources staff. The bank is still expecting to transfer only a handful of jobs to the new subsidiary, the person said. Reporting By Lawrence White and Emma Rumney; Editing by Hugh Lawson" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 8:02 PM / a few seconds ago Alcoa Canada workers' union rejects contract offer Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Unionized workers at Alcoa Corp’s aluminum smelter in Becancour, Quebec rejected the company’s latest contract offer. About 80 percent of the workers rejected the contract offer but the president of the local steelworker’s union urged the company to continue negotiations. The company and United Steelworkers had agreed in November to resume contract talks with a government-appointed conciliator. Becancour produces 430,000 metric tonnes of aluminum annually. Alcoa owns 74.95 percent of Becancour with Rio Tinto Alcan holding 25.05 percent. Reporting by Akshara P in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta" + }, + { + "text": "TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israel’s Space Communication Ltd, operator of the Amos satellites, said on Tuesday Nepal’s Dish Media Network has contracted for more capacity on the Amos-4 satellite starting in the fourth quarter. The additional capacity will increase Spacecom’s revenue from Dish Media Network by $16.7 million, bringing total future revenue expected from the customer to $76.9 million. Amos-4 provides services to customers from South Asia to East Africa. Dish Media Network owns fast growing operator, Dishhome, whose network covers all of Nepal. With substantial satellite capacity on Amos-4, Dishhome will expand service offerings. Dishhome’s capacity on Amos-4 is contracted for the satellite’s lifetime. Reporting by Tova Cohen" + }, + { + "text": "Kim Kardashian announces birth of third child 2:49am IST - 00:45 Reality television star Kim Kardashian announces she and husband Kanye West now have a third child by surrogate. Rollo Ross reports. Reality television star Kim Kardashian announces she and husband Kanye West now have a third child by surrogate. Rollo Ross reports. //reut.rs/2DhYbLs" + }, + { + "text": "Published: Jan 22, 2018 4:52 p.m. ET Share Rum giant plans wider distribution of the premium tequila Getty Images Patrón is now the premium-tequila industry’s leader, with U.S. sales of $1.6 billion in 2016. By Cara Lombardo Bacardi Ltd. is buying the maker of Patrón tequila in a deal that values the premium brand at $5.1 billion, said people familiar with the matter, one of the biggest liquor deals in years as rivals scramble to own more top shelf spirits. Bacardi, best known for its namesake rum, has held a roughly 25% stake in Patrón Spirits International AG for nearly a decade, the people said. Bacardi is now buying full control with plans to distribute the Mexican-made liquor more widely and cash in on demand for high-end tequila, they added. The two privately held companies are expected to announce the transaction as soon as Monday, the people said. Over the last decade, global liquor makers have tried to adjust their portfolios to keep up with changing consumer tastes, especially as overall volumes fall and drinkers shift away from beer, vodka and rum. As part of that effort, producers have tried to change tequila from an inexpensive party drink to a more refined spirit comparable to a single-malt Scotch." + }, + { + "text": "China's spending in Central and Eastern European countries is helping clear a path towards more investment in Western Europe, one former economic adviser to the Serbian government told CNBC on Wednesday. Beijing's interest in Central and Eastern Europe is \"because they see big potential in their return regarding their path to the European Union ,\" Vladimir Krulj, also president of Serbia's Komercijalna Bank, said. He explained that China was forging relationships with countries that were \"more embracing (of) European values.\" China has pumped $9 billion into Central and Eastern European nations , according to state-run news outlet Xinhua. Sixteen countries in this region of Europe have signed up to China's Belt and Road Initiative , a project to revive ancient trading routes. Serbia is enabling a \"more clear path for Chinese investment into Western Europe,\" Krulj said. He also expressed the hope that Chinese investment, by aiding Serbia's economic growth, would \"bring the bridges around ... making Serbia being a part of the European Union easier.\" TPG | Getty Images Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic attend the completion ceremony of a new bridge across the River Danube on December 18, 2014, in Belgrade, Serbia. China's gross domestic product data released Thursday beat expectations — and the government's own target — by revealing 6.9 percent growth in 2017. China pulling back on overseas investment But China's investment last year was focused on the more developed economies of Western Europe, according to a report by law firm Baker McKenzie out Wednesday. It showed that Switzerland, the U.K. and the Netherlands received the most Chinese capital. The report said that foreign direct investment in Europe was up 76 percent to $81 billion due to the delayed finalizing of ChemChina's takeover of Swiss agribusiness firm Syngenta. Otherwise, the figure would have fallen 22 percent to $30 billion. French President Emmanuel Macron was in China earlier this month touting Franco-Sino economic corporation. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May is rumored to have a China visit on the cards. show chapters 2017 Chinese foreign direct investment fell 35% in North America: Baker & McKenzie 6:00 AM ET Wed, 17 Jan 2018 | 04:10 European attempts to woo China could founder. \"You see a clear pull-back in the desire of China to invest overseas,\" Tim Gee, global head of mergers and acquisitions at Baker McKenzie told CNBC Wednesday. He attributed this to China's intention to \"exert some control over foreign exchange flows,\" adding that future spending could focus on \"real economy investments rather than hotels, resorts, entertainment (and) football clubs.\" \"I wouldn't overplay One Belt, One Road at the moment in terms of foreign direct investment,\" Gee added, saying that the construction and infrastructure contracts the plan is currently known for \"(don't) translate into permanent capital investment into those countries.\" \"I think there are still opportunities for investment of that sort (one-off contracts) in advanced economies which can support the development of construction in One Belt, One Road countries,\" Gee said." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15 (Reuters) - Gem Diamonds uncovered a 910 carat, colourless diamond, the fifth largest gem quality diamond ever found, it said on Monday, sending the shares up more than 10 percent. The company said the diamond was the largest found at the Letseng mine in the southern African kingdom of Lesotho. The diamond belongs to a category that represents less than 1 percent of all mined diamonds in the world and is more valuable as it is colourless, the diamond miner said. (Reporting by Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 22 (Reuters) - Kentucky’s attorney general on Monday accused the drug distributor McKesson Corp of helping fuel the opioid epidemic by failing to halt shipments of suspiciously large or frequent orders by pharmacies of prescription painkillers. The complaint by Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear was filed in a state court and came amid a flurry of lawsuits by states and local governments against opioid manufacturers and distributors seeking to hold them accountable for the epidemic. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 23 (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson: * SAYS DOES NOT EXPECT TO SEE GENERIC COMPETITION FOR ZYTIGA IN 2018 * CFO SAYS $12 BILLION OF OVERSEAS CASH “WILL COME BACK IMMEDIATELY” * CFO SAYS COMPANY WILL USE REPATRIATED CASH TO FUND U.S. OPERATIONS, PAYING DOWN DEBT * CEO SAYS COMPANY IS ACTIVELY LOOKING AT STRATEGIC OPTIONS FOR DIABETES BUSINESS Further company coverage: (Reporting By Michael Erman)" + }, + { + "text": "Four sentenced to prison in fraternity hazing death 6:00am GMT - 01:59 A Pennsylvania court on Monday sentenced four members of a national college fraternity to a maximum of two years in prison and banned the group from operating in the state for 10 years because of the 2013 death of a student during hazing incident. A Pennsylvania court on Monday sentenced four members of a national college fraternity to a maximum of two years in prison and banned the group from operating in the state for 10 years because of the 2013 death of a student during hazing incident. //reut.rs/2CVo4Ar" + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT, Jan 22 (Reuters) - The German economy ended 2017 on a high note, with “excellent” conditions for businesses and consumers alike, the country’s central bank said on Monday. “The German economy is continuing to expand at a very fast pace,” the Bundesbank said in its monthly report. “Industry orders and conditions on the labour market are as excellent as the mood of companies and consumers.” (Reporting By Francesco Canepa; Editing by Toby Chopra)" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 10:23 AM / Updated 10 minutes ago China's Xi supports progress in inter-Korean talks - South Korea's Blue House Hyonhee Shin 1 Min Read SEOUL (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday welcomed recent progress in inter-Korean talks during a phone call with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Moon’s office said. FILE PHOTO - Chinese President Xi Jinping smiles as he delivers a speech during the Korea China Investment Forum at a hotel in Seoul July 4, 2014. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji At Tuesday’s talks, North Korea said it would attend the Winter Olympics in the South next month, and both sides agreed to resolve problems through dialogue and revive military consultations to avoid accidental conflict. Xi said he supported Moon’s stance that the advancement of inter-Korean ties and the denuclearisation of the peninsula should “go in parallel”, the South’s Blue House said in a statement. Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Clarence Fernandez" + }, + { + "text": "Employers posted fewer open jobs in November, the second straight month of decline after openings reached a record high in September. The Labor Department said Tuesday that the number of available jobs slipped 0.8 percent to 5.88 million, down from 5.93 million in October. September's peak was 6.18 million. Job openings are still 4.4 percent higher than a year ago. With the economy expanding at a solid pace and businesses confident about future demand, hiring is likely to remain solid going forward. Still, the drop off echoes last Friday's monthly jobs report, which saw employers add 148,000 jobs in December. That is a decent total but lower than October and November job gains, which topped 200,000. The unemployment rate remained 4.1 percent for a third month, the government said Friday. Economists forecast that hiring may slow this year as businesses struggle to find enough qualified workers. Here are some other key takeaways from the report: Job openings fell in November in manufacturing; professional and business services, which includes engineers, architects and other high-paying jobs; and government. Openings rose in construction, retail, and hotels and restaurants. The number of Americans quitting their jobs fell slightly in November from October, but is still up 3 percent from a year ago. More quitting is a good sign because people typically quit for a better job, often at higher pay. Total hiring also fell, to 5.49 million from 5.59 million in October. That figure represents all hiring, while job gains reported last week reflect a net figure after layoffs, quits and retirements are subtracted." + }, + { + "text": "January 6, 2018 / 9:04 AM / Updated 5 hours ago Trump book author says his revelations will bring down U.S. president William Schomberg 3 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - The author of a book that is highly critical of Donald Trump’s first year as U.S. president said his revelations were likely to bring an end to Trump’s time in the White House. Michael Wolff told BBC radio that his conclusion in “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House”-- that Trump is not fit to do the job -- was becoming a widespread view. “I think one of the interesting effects of the book so far is a very clear emperor-has-no-clothes effect,” Wolff said in an interview broadcast on Saturday. “The story that I have told seems to present this presidency in such a way that it says he can’t do his job,” Wolff said. “Suddenly everywhere people are going ‘oh my God, it’s true, he has no clothes’. That’s the background to the perception and the understanding that will finally end ... this presidency.” Trump has dismissed the book as full of lies. It depicts a chaotic White House, a president who was ill-prepared to win the office in 2016, and Trump aides who scorned his abilities. Author Michael Wolff is seen on the set of NBC's 'Today' show prior to an interview about his book \"Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House\" in New York City, U.S., January 5, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Trump took to Twitter late on Friday to renew his attacks on Wolff, and on his former top aide Steve Bannon who was quoted in the book. “Michael Wolff is a total loser who made up stories in order to sell this really boring and untruthful book,” Trump said. “He used Sloppy Steve Bannon, who cried when he got fired and begged for his job. Now Sloppy Steve has been dumped like a dog by almost everyone. Too bad!” Bannon, formerly Trump’s chief strategist, is chairman of the so-called alt-right Breitbart News website In his interview with the BBC, Wolff was asked if he believed that Bannon felt Trump was unfit to serve as president and would try to bring him down. “Yes,” Wolff replied. He also hit back at claims that the book was untruthful. “This is what’s called reporting. This is how you do it.” he said. “You ask people, you get as close as you can to the event, you interview the people who were privy to the event, you interview other people who were privy to the event, you come to know the circumstance as well as anybody and then you report it.” Additional reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Writing by William Schomberg; Editing by Jeremy Gaunt" + }, + { + "text": "Trump denies offensive language on immigration Trump denies offensive language on immigration Trump denies offensive language on immigration Reuters TV United States 42 AM / a few seconds ago Iraq nears oil output capacity of 5 million bpd, says committed to OPEC cuts ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Iraqi Oil Minister Jabar al-Luaibi said on Saturday that the OPEC member’s oil output capacity is near reaching 5 million barrels per day, but the country will remain in full compliance with its output target under a global pact to cut supplies. A view shows the al-Shuaiba oil refinery in southwest Basra, Iraq April 20, 2017. REUTERS/Essam Al-Sudani Luaibi, who was speaking at an industry conference in Abu Dhabi, also said that his ministry plans to conclude three contracts with international gas companies by mid-2018 to utilize gas from the south of the country. He said that by 2021, the country plans to “reach zero gas flaring”. Iraq is forced to flare some of the gas produced alongside crude oil as it lacks the facilities needed to capture and process it into usable fuel. Reporting by Rania El Gamal; editing by Alexander Smith" + }, + { + "text": "BERLIN, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Germany’s caretaker government has decided to put on hold any decision on upgrading German-made Leopard tanks in Turkey as requested by its NATO ally Ankara. A government spokesman confirmed a report by Der Spiegel magazine that conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel from the centre-left Social Democrats had agreed Berlin would not decide on the Turkish request before both blocs had sealed a new coalition deal. Germany is the world’s third-biggest arms exporter, but weapons sales remain a domestically sensitive issue given the country’s World War Two history. The debate has been fuelled by a Turkish offensive in northern Syria in which Turkey, a NATO member, has been using German-made Leopard 2 tanks. (Reporting by Michael Nienaber and Andreas Rinke; Editing by Paul Carrel)" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 4:30 PM / in 8 minutes BRIEF-S&P Affirms Validus' Rating, Revises Holding Co Outlook To Negative On AIG Deal Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 22 (Reuters) - S&P: * S&P SAYS VALIDUS HOLDINGS RATINGS AFFIRMED; HOLDING CO OUTLOOK REVISED TO NEGATIVE ON ANNOUNCED ACQUISITION BY AIG * S&P SAYS REVISED OUTLOOK ON HOLDING CO OF VALIDUS TO NEGATIVE FROM STABLE, OUTLOOK ON OPERATING COS REMAINS STABLE; RATINGS ON AIG ARE UNAFFECTED Source text : ( bit.ly/2Dvc4WJ ) Further company coverage: [AIG.N VR.N]" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks eked out small gains on Monday, with strength in securities and insurers offsetting falls in resources-related sectors including trading houses, steelmakers and shippers. The Nikkei index was flat at 23,816.33 and the broader Topix added 0.1 percent to 1,891.92. Nomura Holdings gained 0.7 percent, Daiwa Securities Group advanced 1.1 percent and T&D Holdings soared 1.6 percent. Shippers were the worst performers, falling 1.6 a more than 0.8 percent drop in non-ferrous metal shares and steelmakers. (Reporting by Hideyuki Sano and Ayai Tomisawa; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 6:20 PM / in 2 minutes Google says its security patches not slowing down systems Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Jan 11 (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc’s Google said on Thursday it had already deployed software patches against the Spectre and Meltdown chipset security flaws last year, without slowing down its cloud services. The flaws, which affect chips from Intel, AMD and ARM, allow hackers to read a computer’s memory and steal passwords, putting virtually all phones, computers and servers at risk. Researchers with Google’s Project Zero, in conjunction with academic and industry researchers from several countries, first reported the flaws publicly on Jan. 3, but major tech firms have said they knew about the flaws months ago. Google said it started deploying patches for Meltdown and one variant of Spectre in September, and by December created a patch for Variant 2 of Spectre, which is more difficult to fix without slowing down systems. “This set of vulnerabilities was perhaps the most challenging and hardest to fix in a decade,” Google executive Ben Treynor Sloss said in a blog post. Microsoft has also released patches for the flaws, but earlier this week admitted that its Spectre Variant 2 patch slowed down some personal computers and servers, with systems running on older Intel Corp processors seeing a noticeable decrease in performance. Intel said on Thursday it would issue patches for 90 percent of the chips less than 5 years old by Jan 15 and will then focus on providing patches for the older chips. ( intel.ly/2D0vgv8 ) (Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)" + }, + { + "text": "ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP) will release its fourth quarter 2017 results on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 , prior to the opening of the market, followed by a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (7:30 a.m. Central Time). This call will be webcast by NASDAQ OMX and can be accessed at www.tupperwarebrands.com . Tupperware Brands Corporation is the leading global marketer of innovative, premium products across multiple brands utilizing a social selling method through an independent sales force of 3.2 million. Product brands and categories include design-centric preparation, storage and serving solutions for the kitchen and home through the Tupperware brand and beauty and personal care products through the Avroy Shlain, Fuller Cosmetics, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, and Nuvo brands. View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Tupperware Brands Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds more sources, adds background on Dell) Jan 25 (Reuters) - U.S. computer maker Dell Technologies Inc is exploring a range of options that could see the world's largest privately held technology company grow further through acquisitions or going public, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Dell's board of directors will meet later this month to consider the biggest shakeup in the company's history since it acquired data storage provider EMC Corp for $67 billion in 2016, the sources said. The Round Rock, Texas-based company, headed by its founder Michael Dell, is under pressure to boost its profitability after the EMC deal failed to deliver the cost savings and performance it projected, while higher manufacturing costs have eroded its margins. Dell is reviewing a list of several possible acquisition targets that would boost its cash flow and expand its offerings, the sources said. Dell's review is at its very early stages and no deal is certain. It is also considering a sale or IPO of its faster growing software unit, Pivotal Software Inc, the sources added. It may also consider a transaction with its majority-owned VMware Inc , a public virtualization software maker. VMware shares, which have gained more than 62 percent in the past 12 months, touched an all-time high on Thursday. As part of Dell's takeover of EMC in 2016, shareholders received VMware tracking stock, a move intended to give investors exposure to VMware, which is growing faster than EMC. Dell and VMware were not immediately available for comment outside regular U.S. business hours. The news was first reported by Bloomberg. (Additional reporting by Ismail Shakil in Bengaluru; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri and Jacqueline Wong)" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Chloe Kim has the chance to become the youngest female snowboarder to win Olympic gold when the 2018 Pyeongchang Games kick off in South Korea next month and the American teen says she owes much of her success to her dedicated dad. Kim met the qualifying standards for Sochi four years ago but was deemed too young to compete. She shrugged off that disappointment to claim her first X Games silver medal the same year aged 13. Kim went on to become the first athlete to win three X Games gold medals under the age of 16 and won two golds at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics in Lillehammer, where she was also her nation’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony. Kim is also the first female athlete to land back-to-back 1080s and score a perfect 100, according to U.S. Ski and Snowboard. Kim, who will not turn 18 until two months after February’s Games, qualified for Team USA with a podium finish at the Olympic qualifier in Colorado on Dec. 15. If being an Olympic favorite was not enough pressure for a 17-year-old to handle, Kim’s Korean heritage means there will be two nations counting on her to win gold in Pyeongchang. With family still living in South Korea, Kim knows she can expect plenty of attention from the host nation at the Feb. 9-25 Games. Born in California, she says she identifies more with American culture but is proud of her Korean heritage and tries to visit her family once a year. ”My grandmother lives in Korea and I love her. She is the cutest little old lady I have ever seen in my life,” she said at the Team USA Media Summit in September. OLYMPIC FEVER As Olympic fever takes hold in South Korea, Kim says she has been overwhelmed by the support she received on previous visits to the country. “It was really crazy, I had a real paparazzi moment there. It was kind of cool, I felt like Kim Kardashian,” said Kim. “I was doing something where I got to ride with young Korean riders and it kind of freaked me out. I have never had that many cameras around me before. I look up and there’s like 25 cameras around me and I straight up ran away I was so scared.” Kim says she is “obsessed” with snowboarding and credits her father’s determination with getting her to the Olympics. Her father, Kim Jong-jin, first encouraged her to get on a snowboard aged four and later gave up his job to focus on his daughter’s budding snowboarding career. “Obviously when I was eight I didn’t know what they were doing. I was like, why is dad home more?” she said. “Now that I think about it, I think it was a really bold move and I can’t believe my mum was okay with it. I think that’s so cool. My dad is a very dedicated, determined person; once he sees something he wants he has to get it. ”I‘m not saying he forced me to snowboard, I genuinely love snowboarding so it was nice he was that determined to bring me to the Olympics.” Additional reporting by Steve Keating; Editing by Peter Rutherford" + }, + { + "text": "15 AM / Updated 42 minutes ago Earthquake of magnitude 6.4 strikes off Japan - USGS Reuters Staff 1 Min Read SINGAPORE (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck off Japan on Wednesday, the United States Geological Survey said. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the quake, which hit 103 km (64 miles) northeast of the island of Honshu, at a depth of 64 km (40 miles). Reporting by Clarence Fernandez; Editing by Himani Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "The bitter cold that followed a massive East Coast snowstorm should begin to lessen as temperatures inch up and climb past freezing next week, weather forecasters said. Patrick Burke, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland, said temperatures Sunday morning could hit record lows from South Carolina to Maine. But he said the wind won't be as punishing as it was on Friday and Saturday. \"With the wind dying down it will probably feel significantly better although many of these areas will still be below freezing,\" Burke said. Sunday afternoon's high temperatures should range from the low- to mid-20s in areas from Philadelphia to Boston. They are expected to reach the 30s and 40s on Monday and Tuesday. Many Northeast residents endured jaw-clenching temperatures and brutal wind chills on Saturday as cleanup continued from the storm that dropped as much as 18 inches (46 centimeters) of snow in some places on Thursday. As aviation crews at South Carolina's busiest airport , Charleston International Airport, struggled to clear runways of snow and ice so they could be reopened, in New England water main breaks, frozen hydrants and burst pipes created new problems for officials. Hartford, Connecticut, registered 10 degrees with a wind chill of minus 20 while Burlington, Vermont, was minus 1 degree and had a wind chill of minus 30. The temperature registered minus 37 Saturday at the Mount Washington Observatory in New Hampshire, one of the coldest places on the planet. The wind chill was minus 93. It tied for second place with Armstrong, Ontario, as the coldest spot in the world. Meteorologist Mike Carmon said people at the observatory were \"layering up as a much as we can.\"" + }, + { + "text": "01 AM / in 38 minutes Malaysia's c.bank raises policy rate to 3.25 pct, as expected Reuters Staff 1 Min Read KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Malaysia’s central bank on Thursday raised its key interest rate for the first time in three and a half years, at a time inflation has crept up and growth is robust. Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) hiked its overnight policy rate by 25 basis points to 3.25 percent. The central bank said its monetary policy committee “decided to normalise the degree of monetary accomodation” as the economy remains firmly on a steady growth path. A slim majority of economists in a Reuters poll - six out of 10 - had predicted the hike. The last time BNM changed its key rate was in July 2016, shortly after Britain’s Brexit vote, when it made a 25 basis point cut. Until Thursday, the last BNM hike was in July 2014, when the key rate was increased to 3.25 percent. (Reporting by Joseph Sipalan; Editing by Richard Borsuk)" + }, + { + "text": "SINGAPORE, Jan 23 (Reuters) - * Crude oil trader Joshua Yew has left Japanese trading house Itochu Corp and will join AOT Energy in Singapore from February, three trade sources said * Itochu declined to comment on individual staff, while AOT could not be immediately reached for comment (Reporting by Florence Tan in SINGAPORE and Yuka Obayashi in TOKYO)" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 7 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s former strategist Steve Bannon on Sunday sought to back away from derogatory comments ascribed to him about Trump’s son in a controversial book that sparked White House outrage and could threaten his job. Bannon, who was ousted from the White House in August, was Quote: d in “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,” by journalist Michael Wolff, as saying a June 2016 meeting with a group of Russians attended by Donald Trump Jr. and his father’s top campaign officials was “treasonous” and “unpatriotic.” The president said Bannon had lost his mind, and the White House suggested the hard-right news site Breitbart News should part ways with him as its executive chairman. “Donald Trump, Jr. is both a patriot and a good man. He has been relentless in his advocacy for his father and the agenda that has helped turn our country around,” Bannon said in a statement released on Sunday, adding that his comments were directed at Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign manager, and not aimed at the president’s son. “I regret that my delay in responding to the inaccurate reporting regarding Don Jr. has diverted attention from the president’s historical accomplishments in the first year of his presidency,” Bannon said. (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Howard Goller)" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 5:15 PM / in 21 minutes MOVES-Houlihan Lokey hires Pund from Lazard Philip Scipio 1 Min Read NEW YORK, Jan 9 (IFR) - Houlihan Lokey hired Nathan Pund as a managing director in its consumer group working out of Dallas and focusing on the active lifestyle sector. Pund joins Houlihan from Lazard’s middle market group, where he was a managing director. Prior to Lazard, he was a managing director at DA Davidson, which hired Pund in 2010 as part of a deal to acquire Silver Steep Partners, the boutique investment banking firm he co-founded in 2005. (Reporting by Philip Scipio; Editing by Jack Doran)" + }, + { + "text": "Mexicans mark feast of the Three Kings with giant cake 12:36am IST - 00:37 Thousands of Mexicans gathered to enjoy a piece of a mammoth King Cake provided by Mexico City's government for the New Year and ahead of Three Kings Day. Rough cut (no reporter narration) Thousands of Mexicans gathered to enjoy a piece of a mammoth King Cake provided by Mexico City's government for the New Year and ahead of Three Kings Day. Rough cut (no reporter narration) //in.reuters.com/video/2018/01/06/mexicans-mark-feast-of-the-three-kings-w?videoId=379488170&videoChannel=117762" + }, + { + "text": "DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has asked banks for proposals to refinance its $10 billion international syndicated loan and to help the sovereign raise funds through other means, the country’s debt management office said on Sunday. In addition to the request for proposals (RFP) on the loan refinancing, the government has issued RFPs covering further U.S. dollar debt capital market issuance and financing supported by other countries’ export credit agencies, the office said. The refinancing of the loan, which was raised in 2016, will include a repricing of the facility and the extension of its maturity to 2023 from 2021. An Islamic finance tranche using a murabaha structure will be added to the loan. The plans are a step toward Saudi Arabia’s ambition of establishing a prominent position in international debt markets as part of its economic reforms, said Fahad al-Saif, president of the debt management office. ”We look forward to a satisfactory conclusion of the process over the coming months,” he said. The Saudi government started issuing debt in the international markets through loans and bonds two years ago in order to refill state coffers hit by a slump in oil prices. Its $10 billion syndicated loan in early 2016 was followed later that year by a $17.5 billion debut bond issue, the largest bond ever sold by an emerging market issuer. Reporting by Davide Barbuscia; Editing by Andrew Torchia" + }, + { + "text": "January 2, 2018 / 3:38 AM / Updated 5 hours ago U.S. airport immigration computers go down temporarily: agency Reuters Staff 2 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Immigration desk computers at various airports went down for about two hours on Monday, causing long lines for travelers entering the United States after year-end holidays, according to Customs and Border Protection and posts on social media. The processing system outage began at about 7:30 p.m. EST and was resolved about 9:30 EST, the customs agency said in a statement. All airports were back on line after wait times for travelers that were longer than usual, it said. “At this time, there is no indication the service disruption was malicious in nature,” the agency said. It gave no explanation for the disruption and said travelers were processed using alternative procedures. Travelers entering the United States from overseas posted photos on social media of long lines at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. “No one has been getting past JFK Airport immigration for the last hour. Line is a few 100 deep. Seems like their system did completely go down. Happy New Year!” said Jessica Yang, a program manager at Microsoft, in a Twitter post. Other airports, including Denver International Airport, also said they were affected. A similar computer outage occurred a year ago. “Operations returning to normal as @CustomsBorder computer issue resolved. Issue affected other US airports. Thanks for your patience,” Miami International Airport said in a Twitter post. Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Paul Tait" + }, + { + "text": "MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Highlights of Monday’s opening day of the Australian Open, the first grand slam tournament of the year: 0015 PLAY UNDERWAY AT MELBOURNE Play got underway on schedule under sunny skies at 11 am local time (0000) GMT with temperatures hovering just under the 20 degrees Celsius mark. READ MORE Order of play Venus to battle Bencic as Australian Open gets underway FACTBOX-Venus Williams v Belinda Bencic Federer says he should not be favorite at 36 Kyrgios can become global superstar, says Becker Tomic slide continues with Australian Open failure Compiled by Nick Mulvenney and Hardik Vyas, editing by Greg Stutchbury" + }, + { + "text": "Reuters TV United States January 2, 2018 / 4:29 PM / a minute ago Ryanair applies for UK license to shore up routes before Brexit Reuters Staff 2 Min Read DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ryanair ( RYA.I ) recently applied for a British air operating license in a move it said on Tuesday may be required to keep its small domestic UK service operating in the event of a hard Brexit. FILE PHOTO: A pilot disembarks a Ryanair flight at Stansted airport in London, Britain September 27, 2017. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne Flying rights are currently governed by EU-wide deals and because it is not part of the World Trade Organization, the aviation sector has no natural fallback arrangement to protect flights if there is no deal between Britain and the European Union. Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers, follows fellow budget airline Wizz Air in applying for a separate license in Britain via a UK subsidiary. “A subsidiary company Ryanair UK filed an application on Dec 21 last for an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) with the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK. This may be required for Ryanair’s three UK domestic routes in the event of a hard Brexit in March 2019,” the airline said in a statement. Ryanair said last year that it planned to pivot its growth away from Britain over the next two years as it fears the lack of clarity over Brexit will cause major travel disruption and hit demand. The Dublin-based airline’s three intra-UK routes only account for around 2 percent of its business. Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Adrian Croft" + }, + { + "text": "4 Hours Ago CNBC.com Professional athletes are known for splurging on the finer things in life, especially when they get their first big paycheck. Former NBA player Shaquille O'Neal admitted that after signing his first professional contract, he went on an expensive shopping spree and blew through $1 million in an hour. Philadelphia 76ers player Ben Simmons said on a recent episode of \" Kneading Dough ,\" that after becoming a millionaire he regretfully spent $10,000 on two Savannah Cats. But one athlete who took a more conservative route with his first big check is former New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz. In a recent interview with Uninterrupted, Cruz admitted that he put his first big paycheck into savings and didn't spend a dime. Twitter In 2010, Cruz signed a three-year $1.215 million contract with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent. In 2013, he signed a five-year contract with the team worth $43 million. \"That first check was probably the largest check I've ever seen with my own eyes at that time,\" he said. \"So I saved it. I wanted to make sure that this isn't the last check that I receive. I wanted to make sure every check from here on out I saved and multiplied.\" He tells CNN Money that it was the early advice he received from Giants staffer Charles Way for helping him to stay on track financially throughout his career. show chapters 10:36 AM ET Fri, 14 July 2017 | 01:01 \"He was like, 'Man, make sure you understand what your money is doing and understand what's happening with your money. Don't just give it to some accountant and just let him do whatever he wants with it,'\" said Cruz. After a Super Bowl win, a few injuries and a seven-year run in the league, Cruz's NFL career came to an end when he was released by the Giants in February 2017. Since receiving that first paycheck, Cruz says he's always thought about the future and how he can make his money last. \"It's not about the right now. It's about the longevity and making sure that your finances are taking care of you not just right now, but forever,\" he says. \"And making that money last for yourself, for your family and for the people that you care about.\"" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 8:17 AM / Updated 7 hours ago Ex-players ask BCCI to back Olympics push Reuters Staff 3 Min Read (Reuters) - The MCC World Cricket committee has asked the powerful Indian board to back the bid for the sport’s Olympics inclusion, saying it would greatly benefit the game. A policeman walks past a logo of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) during a governing council meeting of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at BCCI headquarters in Mumbai April 26, 2010. REUTERS/Arko Datta/Files Cricket was last played at the Olympics in the 1900 Paris Games and the governing International Cricket Council (ICC) has said most of its members backed the inclusion of the 20-overs format in Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is open to cricket’s future inclusion provided all top teams compete but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the game’s richest and most influential board, has been rather reluctant. After the MCC Committee meetings this week, the panel of former players requested the BCCI to reconsider its stance. “It’s one of those things that has frustrated me,” committee chairman Mike Gatting told a news conference. ”We would like to urge the BCCI to have a look at it again and support the main body of boards that would like to get into the Olympics... “It seems strange that everyone else seems happy to get in there because it’s just going to be so good for the game,” said the former England captain. “Free-to-air TV all over the world. It’s only once every four years. It’s not going to be a scheduling matter. It just seems they seem reticent to try and get involved.” The Indian board has not been keen on cricket’s Olympic inclusion partly because of apprehensions that BCCI might lose its autonomy and be answerable to the country’s Olympic committee. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who is part of the 14-person independent committee along with Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara, Indian Sourav Ganguly and Rod Marsh of Australia, said the sport must be represented by its best players at the Olympics. “We’re very conscious of not lessening the product we’re putting out,” Ponting said. ”If cricket makes it into the Olympics it has to be the best players and showcasing the sport for what it is. “The players would want it because of how beneficial they would see that being for the game going forward.” The independent committee also discussed the wage gap in the international game, making helmets compulsory and DRS technology among a variety of other topics. Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru; editing by Amlan Chakraborty" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 2:25 PM / Updated 25 minutes ago With Versailles business summit, Macron seeks to bank on global appeal Michel Rose 3 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron sought on Monday to show that his activity on the world stage and his pro-business reforms were bearing fruit with a highly-publicised summit of global CEOs in Versailles and a flurry of investment announcements. A 300 million euro (264.49 million pounds) investment by Japanese carmaker Toyota ( 7203.T ) to increase capacity at its northern French plant producing the Yaris model was set to be the centrepiece of the day, with 800 new jobs to be added by 2020. Smaller but “emblematic” investment projects would also be unveiled, Macron’s office said, including new research centres by digital giants and new factories in the agrobusiness. Facebook, whose chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg was to meet Macron in Versailles, said on Monday it would double the number of staff at its Paris artificial intelligence hub. “Showcasing these projects will create a snowball effect,” a presidential adviser said. Slideshow (4 Images) Eight months into his presidency, Macron is keen to convince the French that the tax cuts he is providing to corporates and millionaires are not a giveaway to the rich but can yield higher investment and curb an unemployment rate of nearly 10 percent. Some 140 of the world’s most powerful business executives are expected at the gilded Palace of Versailles on Monday afternoon, where they will “speed date” with French ministers and be joined by Macron in the evening. The summit dubbed “Choose France” is held just two days before Macron heads to the global elite’s annual gathering at Davos, making sure the event catches the top executives on their way to the Swiss Alps. If the list of attendees - including Goldman Sachs’s ( GS.N ) Lloyd Blankfein and Google’s Sundar Pichai - is a sign of the 40-year old leader’s pulling power, it is also a reminder of France’s more pressing need for foreign investment to reduce a trade deficit of almost 50 billion euros. In a study published last week, the COE-Rexecode think-tank said French companies had continued to lose market share to their euro zone rivals on global markets, with French goods and services accounting for 12.9 percent of the bloc’s exports last year, down from 13.2 percent in 2016 and 17 percent in 2000. In 2016, France was the 16th highest recipient of foreign direct investments in the world, UN data showed, with $28 billion, well below Europe’s top two inflow hosts, Britain and the Netherlands, with $254 billion and $92 billion respectively. Related Coverage" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 9:14 AM / Updated 20 minutes ago Saudi Arabia says depositing $2 billion in Yemen central bank to back currency Reuters Staff 1 Min Read RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia’s King Salman ordered a deposit of $2 billion (£1.4 billion) into Yemen’s central bank on Wednesday to shore up the weak Yemeni currency, the Saudi government’s media office said. The move comes a day after the Yemeni prime minister issued a public plea for funds to prop up the rial and help stave off hunger in the war-torn country. Reporting by Sarah Dadouch; Writing by Noah Browning; Editing by Andrew Torchia" + }, + { + "text": "Turkey says U.S. needs to withdraw from Syria's Manbij region immediately Reuters Staff 1 Min Read ANKARA (Reuters) - The United States needs to withdraw from northern Syria’s Manbij region immediately, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday. President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said Turkish forces would sweep Kurdish fighters from the Syrian border and could push all the way east to the frontier with Iraq, including Manbij - a move which risks a possible confrontation with U.S. forces allied to the Kurds. Speaking to reporters, Cavusoglu also said Turkey wanted to see concrete steps by the United States to end its support for the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia. Ankara said earlier it had been told by U.S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster that Washington would not provide the YPG with weapons anymore. Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 7:17 PM / in 2 hours Germany plans temporary nationalisation of truck toll company Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BERLIN, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The German government plans to nationalise lorry motorway toll company Toll Collect temporarily until a new operator has been found, a transport ministry spokesman said on Monday. Toll Collect, the world’s first satellite-based truck toll system, is 45 percent-owned by German carmaker Daimler , 45 percent by Deutsche Telekom and 10 percent by Vinci unit Cofiroute. Confirming a pre-released report by business daily Handelsblatt, the transport ministry spokesman said that the federal government intends to take over the Toll Collect in September before starting the bidding process to renew the operating contract, which expires this year. “It is not intended that the government will hold the shares in the operating company permanently,” the spokesman said. Handelsblatt’s report said the reason for the planned nationalisation was unresolved legal disputes between the federal government, Toll Collect and its shareholders. There are currently two arbitration proceedings involving Toll Collect. In the first case, the government is claiming damages from Toll Collect and its consortium for the late introduction of the truck toll and for contractual penalties. In the second case, Toll Collect is seeking compensation from the government for operation of the toll system. The Handelsblatt report said that Berlin is still in negotiations with the shareholders in an effort to resolve the disputes and ensure that potential liabilities arising from the cases do not hinder a sale. The ministry spokesman declined to comment further on the matter. Daimler and Deutsche Telekom did not immediately respond to calls or emails seeking comment outside business hours. (Reporting by Michael Nienaber in Berlin and Tom Sims in Frankfurt; Editing by David Goodman)" + }, + { + "text": "45 AM / Updated 9 minutes ago Activist investors sell Clariant stake to Saudi's SABIC ZURICH, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Activist investor White Tale has sold its nearly 25 percent stake in speciality chemicals group Clariant to Saudi Arabia’s SABIC, the Swiss group said on Thursday. The sale comes despite White Tale’s previous assertions that it was a long-term investor in Clariant, which had snubbed the activist’s demands for an independent strategic review and three seats on its board of directors. Reporting by Michael Shields, editing by John Revill" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 10 (Reuters) - Lonkey Industrial Co Ltd Guangzhou * Says it will invest 39.96 million yuan to set up a Guangzhou-based investment fund with partner and hold 99.9 percent stake in the fund after transaction Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/PDER5w Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 11:48 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Tennis - Brazil's Bellucci banned five months for doping Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci was given a five-month, back-dated doping suspension but was considered not guilty of any “significant fault or negligence,” the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme said on Thursday. Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - 31/5/17 Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci in action during his second round match against France's Lucas Pouille Reuters / Benoit Tessier Bellucci, who reached a career-high 21st in the world rankings in 2010 but has fallen to 112th, provided a urine sample at last July’s Swedish Open that contained hydrochlorothiazide, which can mask other substances. The 30-year-old Brazilian, who said the positive test was the result of a contaminated vitamin supplement, refused to accept a voluntary provisional suspension and so was free to compete pending resolution of his case. The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme said in a statement it accepted Bellucci’s account of how the banned substance got in his system. It also said that his period of ineligibility was backdated due to the player’s prompt admission and for delays not attributable to him. Bellucci can start competing again from Feb. 1, meaning he will miss the Jan. 15-28 Australian Open. Bellucci, who has never been beyond the second round at Melbourne Park, would have had to qualify for the tournament given his low ranking. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 8:53 AM / in 4 hours Russia's Putin to meet Israel's PM Netanyahu on Jan. 29: RIA Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when the Israeli leader visits Moscow on Jan. 29, RIA news agency cited a Kremlin spokesman as saying on Thursday. reporting by Andrey Ostroukh; writing by Denis Pinchuk; Editing by Christian Lowe" + }, + { + "text": "23 PM / in 4 minutes Kala Pharma posts mixed results from dry eye disease drug studies Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Dec 28 (Reuters) - Kala Pharmaceuticals Inc on Friday reported mixed results from two late-stage trials testing its drug to provide temporary relief from the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. The drug, KPI-121, met the main goals of reducing redness and discomfort in the eye in one trial, but failed to show statistical significance on a scale that tested patients’ eyes using a corneal staining technique. The second trial met the main goal of reducing a sign of dry eye, but failed another main goal of reducing discomfort in the eye, a symptom of the disorder. Reporting by Manas Mishra and Tamara Mathias in Bengaluru; Editing by Martina D'Couto" + }, + { + "text": "PARIS (Reuters) - France has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council over Syria following a Turkish incursion into northern Syria’s Afrin province, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Sunday. “Ghouta, Idlib, Afrin - France asks for an urgent meeting of the Security Council,” Le Drian said on his Twitter feed. He added that he had spoken with his Turkish counterpart on Sunday morning. Turkish ground forces pushed into northern Syria’s Afrin province on Sunday, the army said, after Turkey launched artillery and air strikes on a U.S.-backed Kurdish militia it aims to sweep from its border. Reporting by Geert De Clercq; Editing by Susan Fenton" + }, + { + "text": "DALLAS, Jan. 22, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dougherty’s Pharmacy, Inc. (the “Company”) (OTCQB:MYDP) today announced that Mr. Mark Heil, the Company’s President and Chief Financial Officer, has resigned from the Company to pursue other professional business opportunities. Mr. Heil will continue in his present capacity until January 28, 2018, after which time he will work in a transitional role through March 2, 2018. Mr. Heil has served as the Company’s President since April 2014 and as its Chief Financial Officer since 2007. Mr. James C. Leslie, the Company’s Chairman of the Board, will serve as the Company’s interim President and Chief Financial Officer until the Company’s Board of Directors has determined Mr. Heil’s successor. During this transitional period, the Company has expanded its engagement with a national consulting firm with experience in the pharmaceutical industry to provide assistance to Mr. Leslie and the Company’s Board of Directors. “For the past decade, Mark has been an integral part of the Dougherty’s leadership team, and he will certainly be missed,” said Mr. Leslie. “We want to thank him for his contributions to Dougherty’s, and sincerely wish him the best in his future professional endeavors. \"As discussed previously, we continue to focus on enhancing the strategic growth and financial strength of Dougherty's,” continued Mr. Leslie. “Our emphasis on streamlining operations, improving sales, and enhancing the efficiency of Dougherty's pharmacy operations continues, and we are stepping up our sales and marketing efforts throughout the organization. We believe these initiatives will strengthen our business and lead to enhanced long-term value for our shareholders.\" About Dougherty’s Pharmacy, Inc. Dougherty’s Pharmacy, Inc. is a retail pharmacy chain focused on successfully acquiring, managing and growing community-based pharmacies in the Southwest Region of the United States. On June 9, 2017, the Company changed its name from Ascendant Solutions, Inc. to Dougherty’s Pharmacy, Inc. to better reflect the corporate vision and operating structure. Dougherty’s currently has approximately $48 million in net operating loss carryforwards which can be used to shelter future income, thus enhancing free cash flow or debt service capabilities. Interested investors can access financials and stock trading information for Dougherty’s at OTCMarkets.com or at www.doughertys.com . Contacts: Mark S. Heil Geralyn DeBusk or Tom Carey President and CFO Halliburton Investor Relations 972-250-0945 972-458-8000 Source:Dougherty's Pharmacy, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Qualcomm Technologies Inc ( QCOM.O ) has signed memorandums of understanding for sales worth at least $2 billion with top Chinese smartphone vendors, receiving vocal support from the firms as it fights an unsolicited buyout bid from Broadcom Ltd ( AVGO.O ). Lenovo Group ( 0992.HK ), Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp, vivo Communication Technology and Xiaomi Communications have expressed an interest in buying Qualcomm components with a total value of no less than $2 billion over three years, the U.S. chip maker said on Thursday. The non-binding agreement will be subject to further agreements and covers technology related to RF Front-End components, Qualcomm said in a statement. The companies announced the multi-year agreement at a Qualcomm-hosted event in Beijing attended by the U.S. firm’s chairman and chief executive. At the event representatives from the Chinese companies expressed concerns that a possible acquisition of Qualcomm by Broadcom could hurt investment in chip technology. Broadcom in November made an unsolicited $103 billion bid for Qualcomm, which Qualcomm says undervalues it. A potential merger would likely face regulatory scrutiny in China, where Qualcomm has been fined before over anti-trust issues and where the government is promoting local chip production. China aims to become a dominant global chip maker by 2030 and has allocated extensive public funding to support local firms. “I was surprised about the reaction of some of those customers ... but it’s probably what you would expect,” Qualcomm President Cristiano Amon told media. China is currently Qualcomm’s second-largest market but will soon become its top market, said Amon. Reporting by Cate Cadell in Beijing and Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Hugh Lawson" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 6:34 AM / Updated 6 minutes ago Aryzta's problems deepen as Europe, U.S. weakness leads to profit warning Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 25 (Reuters) - Swiss-Irish baked goods maker Aryzta AG said on Thursday 2018 core profit was expected to fall 15 percent on a like-for-like basis as recent weakness in the European and U.S. markets was not likely to improve this year. The profit warning comes two weeks after it announced the appointment of a new chief in North America, where issues with undocumented workers and a failed strategy led to Aryzta’s record $1 billion loss in 2017. The company had previously forecast 2018 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to be broadly in line with 2017. In Europe, Brexit-related pressures hurt its UK business, while double-digit inflation in distribution costs and higher-than-expected labour costs dent U.S. profits. (Reporting by Thyagaraju Adinarayan in Gdynia; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19(Reuters) - Shandong Buchang Pharmaceuticals Co Ltd : * Controlling shareholder proposed to pay a cash dividend of 16.14 yuan(pre-tax) for every 10 shares and use additional paid-in capital to distribute 3 new shares for every 10 shares, as FY 2017 dividend payment plan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/QWtr2n Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "U.S. stocks closed sharply lower on Tuesday, falling for a second day as the first major sell-off of the new year intensified. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 362.59 points to finish at 26,076.89, with UnitedHealth as the biggest decliner. The 30-stock index also posted its biggest percentage decline since May. It fell 411.06 points at its session low. The S&P 500 pulled back 1.1 percent to 2,822.43, with health care as the worst-performing sector. The index also snapped its longest stretch ever without back-to-back declines of at least half a percent. It also had its worst day since August The Nasdaq composite fell 0.9 percent to close at 7,402.48. \"We've had a unilateral move higher [in stocks] to start things off and people are realizing this is not sustainable,\" said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley FBR. \"You're also seeing some cracks in the global story with interest rates rising.\" The Dow fell 177 points on Monday, on the back of a rise in the 10-year treasury yield, raising concerns that higher interest rates could douse the bull market. The Dow, along with the S&P 500, posted its worst decline of the year on Monday. show chapters Dow and S&P could post first back-to-back losses of the year 4 Hours Ago | 03:38 Long-dated Treasury yields climbed further on Tuesday, with the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield trading near levels not seen since 2014, amid fears of higher inflation. The benchmark yield started the year trading around 2.4 percent. Higher inflation could also lead central banks to tighten monetary policy faster than the market expects. Last week, Stifel strategist Barry Bannister predicted the Federal Reserve will cause a correction this quarter as it leads other central banks into tighter monetary policy. The Fed kicked off its latest two-day monetary policy meeting on Tuesday. Market expectations for a rate hike are just 5.2 percent, according to the CME Group's FedWatch tool. But Robert Pavlik, chief investment strategist at SlateStone Wealth, said he does not think this is the start of a major pullback. \"I think people are looking for an excuse to sell,\" he said. \"This is the first wave of selling we've seen in a while.\" Pavlik added this selling pressure could present a buying opportunity for investors who have cash on the sidelines. The Cboe Volatility index (VIX), widely considered the best fear gauge in the stock market, rose to its highest level since August. Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images A trader wearing a 'Dow 26,000' hat works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York. \"It's interesting because the VIX started the month trading around 10, but has surged with stocks,\" said Jeff Chang, managing director at Cboe Vest. \"Usually, you don't see that. ... A central explanation for this could be investors are looking to add some hedging to their portfolios\" as stocks continue to rise. Shares of UnitedHealth were the worst performers on the Dow, falling 4.4 percent. UnitedHealth fell after Amazon, J.P. Morgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway announced plans to partner on ways to cut health-care costs. As of Monday's close, health care was on pace for its best monthly performance since Oct. 1999 when it gained 10.98 percent. On Tuesday, the sector fell 2.1 percent. In economic news, consumer confidence rose to 125.4 in January as Americans expect the U.S. economic momentum from 2017 to carry over into the new year. Elsewhere, President Donald Trump is expected to deliver his State of the Union address on Tuesday night. The address will come after the administration announced Monday that it wouldn't immediately inflict further sanctions on Russia under a new law designed to punish Moscow's alleged meddling in the U.S. 2016 election. The administration stated that the measure was already having an impact on companies in Russia. —CNBC's Gina Francolla and Chris Hayes contributed to this report. Clarification: This story has been updated to reflect the Dow posted its biggest percentage decline since May." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 8 (Reuters) - MONDO TV SPA: * EXECUTES LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH NEOVISION FOR FIRST AND SECOND SEASONS OF SISSI, THE YOUNG EMPRESS * LICENSE PROVIDES FOR GRANTING OF RIGHTS UNTIL 2020 * LICENSEE WILL BEAR COSTS FOR REALIZATION OF POLISH AUDIO COLUMN OF WHICH MONDO TV WILL ACQUIRE PROPERTY Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Baby dies, many injured after car rams into beachgoers at Copacabana Friday, January 19, 2018 - 00:57 A car plows through crowds on Rio de Janeiro's famous Copcanaba beach, killing an infant and injuring more than 15 people. Ryan Brooks reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript A car plows through crowds on Rio de Janeiro's famous Copcanaba beach, killing an infant and injuring more than 15 people. Ryan Brooks reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 5:26 PM / Updated 3 hours ago Kim Kardashian announces birth of 3rd child, this one by surrogate Reuters Staff 2 Min Kim Kardashian and her rapper husband Kanye West announced their third child on Tuesday, a girl born to a surrogate. FILE PHOTO - Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala - Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between - Arrivals - New York City, U.S. - 01/05/17 - Socialite Kim Kardashian. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson “Kanye and I are happy to announce the arrival of our healthy, beautiful baby girl,” Kardashian said in a message on her app. The couple thanked the unidentified surrogate “who made our dreams come true with the greatest gift one could give.” They said the baby was born on Monday but they did not announce a name. Kardashian, 37, and West are already parents to North, 4, and Saint, 2. The “Keeping Up with the Kadashians” reality and social media star has said she decided to use a surrogate after doctors warned of serious health risks if she became pregnant again. Kardashian has given detailed accounts on her blog about the difficulties she experienced during her two labors. Two of Kardashian’s sisters are also expecting babies. Khloe Kardashian, 33, announced in December that she is six months pregnant with her basketball player boyfriend Tristan Thomas, while their half-sister Kylie Jenner, 20, is reported to be expecting her first child soon. The arrival of Kardashian and West’s third child swiftly became on of the top five trending topics on Twitter. David Gregorio and Bill Trott" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - The winning location for Amazon.com’s $5 billion second headquarters project and its promise of up to 50,000 new jobs will likely receive a credit boost, S&P Global Ratings said on Thursday. The largest e-commerce retailer announced last week that it had pared the list of 238 proposals for its so-called HQ2 project down to 19 metropolitan areas in the United States and one in Canada. “We think the arrival of HQ2 could have significant and sustained positive effects on the chosen community’s economic characteristics, which could affect local government credit quality in a variety of ways under our local government general obligation (GO) criteria, particularly for communities with relatively low economic scores,” S&P said in a report. Short-listed candidates for the headquarters include several with AAA ratings, such as Boston and Virginia’s Fairfax County, ranging down to BBB-plus-rated Chicago. The credit rating agency said that the incentive packages Amazon is seeking from the governments for the project could offset local gains as a result of direct costs or foregone revenue. S&P said that taxpayer and employment concentration from the new Amazon headquarters, although unlikely, could pose a long-term risk to the winning government’s credit quality. Amazon has said it expects to pick a location this year. Reporting By Karen Pierog; Editing by Daniel Bases and Grant McCool" + }, + { + "text": "BOSTON, Jan. 11, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ViralGains , the industry's only digital video advertising journey platform, today announced the appointment of Vic Pierni as Chief Financial Officer. Pierni will be responsible for all aspects of the company’s infrastructure, running the finance, legal and human resources departments. As chief architect of ViralGains’ financial strategy, he will be responsible for driving one of the fastest growing startups in the country towards greater growth, market presence and success. Pierni’s appointment follows ViralGains’ recent Series B equity and debt funding . “Vic is one of the strongest CFOs in New England,” said Tod Loofbourrow, CEO, ViralGains. “He brings a tremendous amount of financial and operational leadership expertise that will prove valuable to our team as our highly successful technology and Fortune 2000 customer base continues to grow in size and scope.” Pierni previously served as CFO of Global Capacity, Verivo Software and Macgregor, in addition to senior roles at KPMG. He is a highly regarded CFO, having been named a CFO of the Year by Boston Business Journal in 2010. He earned his MBA from Babson College, a BS in Accounting from Boston College and is a CPA. “ViralGains is uniquely positioned within the fast-growing digital video advertising area to help brands facilitate and manage authentic connections with consumers,” said Pierni. “Through the power of interactive video technology and machine learning, brands and agencies can better target their ideal audiences, gain unique consumer insights and drive those consumers to tangible business outcomes. I am excited to help drive continued major and strategic growth to ViralGains in 2018 and beyond.” About ViralGains ViralGains is a digital video ad journey platform that enables marketers to engage targeted audiences with relevant brand stories in the contexts they most favor. Using the platform to engage in two-way conversations, brands and agencies discover exactly what people want — and how they feel — and leverage those insights to build unique, full-funnel ad journeys that can generate increased awareness, motivate intent, and drive purchasing decisions. ViralGains is headquartered in Boston, with regional offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta and Detroit. please contact us at www.viralgains.com . Media Contact Brook Terran Blast PR for ViralGains 805-570-3309 [REDACTED] Source: ViralGains" + }, + { + "text": "MILAN, Jan 22 (Reuters) - The bids received in the auction to broadcast Italy’s Serie A soccer matches for the 2018-2021 seasons did not reach the minimum amount required, a source told Reuters on Monday. The bids for the various packages amounted to a total of just under 800 million euros, below the 1.05 billion euro minimum threshold set for the auction, the source added. Private talks to assign the different lots are now being considered, the person said. A previous tender had failed given that Italian private broadcaster Mediaset had deserted the auction and the offers put forward by the remaining operators did not reach the minimum amount required. Reporting by Elvira Pollina, writing by Giulia Segreti; editing by Agnieszka Flak" + }, + { + "text": "37 PM / Updated 28 minutes ago Lack of forward options giving Conte the biggest headache Peter Hall 3 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Antonio Conte voiced his concerns over a lack of transfer activity at Chelsea after his side’s League Cup exit on Wednesday and it is the manager’s paucity of striking options that will be causing him most concern. Chelsea are clearly not at crisis point as before their 2-1 semi-final second-leg defeat at Arsenal they were unbeaten in 12 games and are still in the Champions League and the FA Cup. But a look at Chelsea’s forward resources and their lack of goals recently shows why Conte cut such a frustrated figure in the aftermath of the Arsenal loss. Take the 4-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday out of the equation and Chelsea have scored two goals in their last five games and two of the matches were against Championship side Norwich City. In the absence of Alvaro Morata, Michy Batshuayi acted as an excellent attacking pivot in the victory over Brighton but it is clear Conte remains unconvinced by the Belgium international. Batshuayi was again dropped to the bench for the Arsenal clash and when Willian left the pitch early due to injury Conte turned to midfielder Ross Barkley, who had not played all season because of a hamstring injury. Leading marksman Morata’s goals have dried up. After six in his first six Premier League games, the Spaniard has scored four in his last 14 since picking up an injury in late September. “You expect him to be a little bit cooler in front of the goalkeeper,” former Chelsea forward Gianfranco Zola said after Chelsea’s 2-2 Premier League draw at Arsenal. “He needs to be a bit more ruthless.” Unless Conte deploys Eden Hazard as a striker, as he did against Arsenal on Wednesday, that is about it in terms of forward options. “We don’t have many players to make subs,” Conte said after the Arsenal loss. “My first task is to do my job and be a coach. I don’t have a big impact in the transfer market.” A host of names have been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this transfer window, including West Ham United’s Andy Carroll and Stoke City’s Peter Crouch, but there have been no arrivals apart from Barkley. Without new additions, Chelsea’s season may depend on whether Morata can rediscover his sharpness in front of goal. Reporting by Peter Hall, editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian youth during a confrontation in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, a Palestinian official said. An Israeli spokeswoman said a large crowd of Palestinians set tyres ablaze and threw rocks at the troops, who responded with “dispersal means”. She could not confirm initially whether troops had used live rounds but said the military was aware of the Palestinian fatality and that the incident was being investigated. The Palestinian health ministry named the dead youth as Layth Abu Naeem and said he was 16-years-old. Faraj al-Nassan, the head of al-Mugheir village, said a confrontation had erupted after Israeli troops entered his village and that the youth was hit from close range. He was taken to hospital in nearby Ramallah. Tensions in the region have risen since U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement on Dec. 6 recognizing disputed Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and at least 19 Palestinians and one Israeli have been killed since. Reporting by Ali Sawafta, Writing by Ori Lewis, Editing by Angus MacSwan" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - The Singaporean billionaire trying to buy Millennium & Copthorne Hotels(M&C) has hired advisory firm Georgeson to help to drum up investor support for the deal in the face of shareholder opposition that could derail the bid. City Developments Limited (CDL), the vehicle of businessman Kwek Leng Beng, has offered 620 pence per share to acquire the 34.8 percent of M&C that it does not already own in a bid that values the London-listed hotelier at 2 billion pounds ($2.74 billion). However, the offer has been criticised by three of M&Cs minority investors, who have spurned the bid and called on other shareholders to follow suit. The trio -- International Value Advisers, MSD Partners and Classic Fund Management -- have said they represent about 37 percent of the stock that Kwek, who also acts as M&Cs chairman, has offered to buy. If opposition to CDL’s bid mounts, the offer is at risk of failing because the Singaporean suitor needs acceptance from minority shareholders holding more than 50 percent of the stock not already owned by Kwek. CDL has enlisted the help of Georgeson to galvanise support for its offer, said four people close to the matter. Georgeson is one of the leading shareholder advisory firms, which work to help clients to understand the views of investors and profile shareholder bases. It is not known when CDL first appointed Georgeson. CDL has declared its offer final, meaning it cannot be increased under Britain’s takeover rules. It initially proposed buying out M&Cs minorities for 552.5 pence a share but was forced to raise its bid after some minority shareholders argued that it undervalued the hotelier. M&Cs global business spans 137 hotels it either invests in, owns, franchises or operates. The first closing date for investors to tender their shares to CDL is Jan. 23, though that deadline can be extended. CDL, Georgeson and M&C declined to comment. ($1 = 0.7306 pounds) Reporting by Ben Martin; Editing by David Goodman" + }, + { + "text": "BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Oil exports from Iraq’s southern Basra ports rose to a record high of 3.535 million barrels per day (bpd) in December from 3.5 million bpd the previous month, two oil officials said on Monday. Southern exports are on the rise as Iraq seeks to offset the halting of shipments from its Kirkuk oilfields in the north in mid-October after Iraqi forces took back control of fields from Kurdish fighters. The bulk of Iraq’s oil is exported via the southern terminals. The December figure for southern exports beat the previous record of 3.51 million bpd set in December 2016, the last month before an output cut agreement led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries took effect. Rising output from small oilfields developed by the state-run Basra Oil Company helped push up December exports, an oil official told Reuters. The increase last month, though, has not completely offset the halt of shipments from the north. “Our plan is to keep boosting exports from the southern oilfields to make up for the lost Kirkuk shipments,” said another oil official with the state-run Basra Oil Company. Iraq is OPEC’s second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia with an output capacity of 4.8 million bpd which Baghdad aims to increase to 5 million bpd. Reporting by Aref Mohammed and Ahmed Rasheed; editing by Jason Neely and Adrian Croft" + }, + { + "text": "LAS VEGAS, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Nvidia Corp will partner with Uber Technologies Inc and Volkswagen AG as the graphics chipmaker’s artificial intelligence platforms make further gains in the autonomous vehicle industry. The company, which already has partnerships in the industy with companies such as carmaker Tesla and China’s Baidu , makes computer graphics chips and has also been expanding into technology for self-driving cars. CEO Jensen Huang told an audience at the CES technology conference in Las Vegas that Uber’s self-driving car fleet was using Nvidia technology to help its autonomous cars perceive the world and make split-second decisions. Uber has been using Nvidia’s GPU computing technology since its first test fleet of Volvo SC90 SUVS were deployed in 2016 in Pittsburgh and Phoenix. Uber’s autonomous driving program has been shaken this year by a lawsuit filed in San Francisco by rival Waymo alleging trade secret theft. Nevertheless, Nvidia said development of the Uber self-driving program had gained steam, with one million autonomous miles being driven in just the past 100 days. With Volkswagen, Nvidia said it was infusing its artificial intelligence technology into the German automakers’ future lineup, using Nvidia’s new Drive IX platform. The technology will enable so-called “intelligent co-pilot” capabilities based on processing sensor data inside and outside the car. So far, 320 companies involved in self-driving cars - whether software developers, automakers and their suppliers, sensor and mapping companies - are using Nvidia Drive, formerly branded as the Drive PX2, the company said. Nvidia also said its first Xavier processors would be delivered to customers this quarter. The system on a chip delivers 30 trillion operations per second using 30 watts of power. Bets that Nvidia will become a leader in chips for driverless cars, data centers and artificial intelligence have more than doubled its stock price in the past 12 months, making the Silicon Valley company the third-strongest perfomer in the S&P 500 during that time. (Reporting By Alexandria Sage; Editing by Susan Thomas)" + }, + { + "text": "German leader Angela Merkel said that multilateralism was under threat and said that protectionism is not the answer to the world's problems. \"Frankly speaking, the country I have the honor to represent and where I am chancellor has difficulties. And polarization is something that we see in our country as well, which we haven't had for decades,\" Merkel said. She attributed increasing populism and polarization to both the euro zone crisis and migration crisis seen in Europe over the last few years following an influx of refugees, but said Germany would not shrink from the world stage. \"Germany wishes to be a country that lends its contribution in the future to solve the problems of the world together, we think that shutting ourselves off and isolating ourselves will not lead us into a good future. Protectionism is not the proper answer,\" she said. show chapters Germany needs 'new political blood': Pro 3 Hours Ago | 03:22 Merkel is just the latest leader at Davos to criticize a protectionist and isolationist stance towards the world's problems . Such comments appear to be directed towards President Donald Trump who has adopted an \"America First\" stance in his foreign and economic policies. 'Not learned the lessons from history' In contrast, Merkel said the answer to the world's problems was to see multilateral solutions instead of a \"unilateral, protectionist course\" of action. At the start of her address, Merkel referenced both world wars in the 20th century, saying that the \"political actors involved had almost sleepwalked into a horrendous situation.\" She said there was a danger that the world had not learned the lessons from history. She said the foundation of the United Nations (UN) was a multilateral and cooperative solution that was borne out of World War II, adding that a multilateral response helped to resolve the global financial crisis of 2008-2009. Check out the world leaders and celebrities who are at Davos this year Larry Busacca | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images German coalition talks Merkel's comments come amid continued speculation over Germany, and indeed Merkel's, political future after months of negotiations aimed at forming a coalition government. This after no one party gained a majority in last September's election. Merkel's conservative alliance of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) first attempted to form a coalition with the Green party and pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP), but it failed after the parties couldn't agree on various policies ranging from immigration to euro zone integration. With no prospect of an alliance, Merkel's coalition partner in several former governments, the Social Democratic party (SPD) led by Martin Schulz, did a U-turn on an earlier pledge to voters not to go into government with the CDU-CSU again and began talks with Merkel's conservative alliance in January. The decision could backfire on the SPD which performed badly in the last election due to its supporters' disapproval of its alliance with the CDU-CSU. As such, the SPD is likely to extract many concessions from the CDU-CSU during upcoming negotiations in return for its support in government. There is also doubt over whether Merkel, known as \"Mutti\" (mother) in Germany, will see out the whole of what will be her fourth term as chancellor and there is speculation on who her successor might be. Merkel said Wednesday that she would continue to hold talks aimed at forming a government \"as quickly as possible.\" Speaking on Germany's economy, she said it had enjoyed 11 years of consecutive growth but needed to modernize and make more progress in terms of digitization." + }, + { + "text": "'They directed us to jump': Passengers react to Florida boat fire Monday, January 15, 2018 - 00:37 At least one woman was killed and fifteen people were injured when a fire engulfed a boat off the coast of Florida on Sunday. The incident, which started from an apparent engine issue, forced the 50 people aboard to jump into the Gulf of Mexico and swim to shore, according to authorities. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). At least one woman was killed and fifteen people were injured when a fire engulfed a boat off the coast of Florida on Sunday. The incident, which started from an apparent engine issue, forced the 50 people aboard to jump into the Gulf of Mexico and swim to shore, according to authorities. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2B4g61Y" + }, + { + "text": "CHICAGO (Reuters) - Farmers in Iowa, where a third of U.S. hogs are raised, have ratcheted up swine barn construction while capitalizing on low-cost feed and thriving U.S. pork exports. Higher profits have prompted pork producers to build new packing plants. Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) data shows that this has pushed permits for pig buildings in Iowa to a five-year high as farmers look to house record numbers of U.S. hogs. “The main factors for increased pork investment in buildings are attractive feed costs and very strong exports,” said Gregg Hora, a hog farmer in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Hora is not adding space to his swine farms, but said others are doing so given the annual U.S. hog herd growth of 3 to 4 percent, tied to robust global demand for pork. DNR’s 2017 statistics showed approvals for construction of new hog barns capable of holding more than 1,250 head, and expansions of existing ones, totaled 451, up nearly 12 percent from 2016. The U.S. hog herd reached an all-time high 73.2 million head as of Dec. 1, 2017, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. U.S. corn prices are hovering around $3.50 per bushel, well under the all-time high exceeding $8 in 2012, when there was an historic drought in the Midwest. U.S. Meat Export Federation data showed U.S. pork exports from January through November of 2017 were on pace for a new volume record at 2.23 million tonnes valued at $5.9 billion. Hog farmer profit improved after new packing plants sprang up in the United States last year. Industry slaughter capacity in 2017 grew 8 percent versus 2016 after new or revamped facilities came online in Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri and Iowa, said John Nalivka, president of Oregon-based Sterling Marketing. He expects capacity to rise another 6 percent in 2018 when another Iowa plant comes online. “A solid hog market coupled with low-cost feed have allowed producers to make money while chasing this capacity,” he said. He calculated that farmers last year on average made about $21 per head on hogs sold to packers versus $5 the year before. Shoppers are embracing plentiful budget-friendly pork chops and bacon, with robust demand expected this year thanks to the booming U.S. economy. “The thinking is that the ‘wealth effect’ on demand will be more than sufficient to gobble up all that meat - despite the big supplies,” said Chicago Mercantile Exchange livestock futures trader Dan Norcini. Reporting by Theopolis Waters; Editing by David Gregorio" + }, + { + "text": "8 Hours Ago | 00:58 A new product can take 3D images of your face in just seconds. It's built by a company named Bellus3D and plugs into an Android phone. Then, using built-in cameras, will scan your face and show you an exact replica of yourself. Kind of creepy, but it might one day have some real world uses. Bellus3D says it's working with partners and developers so that its technology might one day be used to provide realistic 3D images of people inside VR, for medical purposes (maybe imagining a before and after of plastic surgery, for example) and potentially for shopping -- like using a 3D image to see how clothes might fit before you buy them, for example. Bellus3D is only available for developers now and production and delivery is expected to begin in the first quarter of this year. Todd Haselton Technology Product Editor Playing" + }, + { + "text": "Amazon.com opens its own rainforest in Seattle 9:07pm GMT - 01:38 Amazon.com has opened a rainforest-like office space in Seattle that it hopes will spark new ideas for employees. Rosanna Philpott reports Amazon.com has opened a rainforest-like office space in Seattle that it hopes will spark new ideas for employees. Rosanna Philpott reports //reut.rs/2DLyseq" + }, + { + "text": "Morgan Freeman hopes SAG life achievement award doesn't mean \"get off the stage, you're done\" 01:56 Morgan Freeman reacts to his SAG life achievement award, while Kidman and other SAG winners say ''Time's Up''. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Morgan Freeman reacts to his SAG life achievement award, while Kidman and other SAG winners say \"Time's Up\". Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2n10O9g" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s main opposition Labour Party is not supporting or calling for a second referendum on EU membership, its leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Sunday. Corbyn told ITV’s Peston on Sunday show: “We are not supporting or calling for a second referendum; what we’ve called for is a meaningful vote in parliament.” Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by David Goodman" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Jack Del Rio was close to tears as he revealed he had been fired as head coach by the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, shortly after the National Football League (NFL) team completed their final game of the season. Del Rio’s departure came just three hours after the Indianapolis Colts said they also had sacked their head coach Chuck Pagano. The 57-year-old Pagano, who had been in charge of Indianapolis for six seasons, was widely expected to be sacked after the Colts posted a 4-12 record that ended with a 22-13 win over the Houston Texans. But Del Rio’s sacking after three seasons was less predictable, coming less than a year after he signed a four-year contract extension following a successful 2016, when the Raiders went 12-4 and finally made the playoffs after a 13-season drought. But the team regressed in 2017, going 6-10. An emotional Del Rio, 54, said it had been a dream to coach his “childhood team” but he acknowledged the reality of the business. “It’s a results business, I understand,” he told a press conference, his voice cracking. Del Rio went 25-24 in his three seasons with the Raiders. Local media reported that former Raiders coach Jon Gruden was likely to replace Del Rio. Gruden coached the Raiders from 1998-2001, before guiding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to victory in the 2002 season Super Bowl. He most recently has been working as a television analyst. The Colts, meanwhile, thanked Pagano for his body of work, while at the same time showing him the door. “Chuck’s first season was one of the more inspirational stories in NFL history as he courageously battled and overcame leukemia,” Colts Owner & CEO Jim Irsay said in a statement. Pagano, speaking before his firing had been announced, said: “I‘m just grateful I‘m on this side of the dirt,” referring to his recovery from leukemia. Pagano guided the Colts to a 56-46 overall record (including the post-season) after joining the team in 2012. He led them to three consecutive 11-5 seasons and playoff appearances from 2012-14, which included the 2014 AFC Championship game. But the team failed to compile a winning record the past three seasons as they were hampered by multiple injuries to quarterback Andrew Luck. Del Rio and Pagano are likely to be joined by several other sacked head coaches over the next couple of days. Ben McAdoo of the New York Giants was the only head coach fired during the season. Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Greg Stutchbury" + }, + { + "text": "GUELPH, Ontario, Canadian Solar Inc. (\"Canadian Solar\" or the \"Company\") (NASDAQ: CSIQ), one of the world's largest solar power companies, today updated its guidance for the fourth quarter and full year 2017 in part to reflect the timing of certain utility-scale solar project sales. The updated guidance is subject to adjustments based upon completion of the Company's internal review process. Final reported results could differ materially from the estimates provided below. In the guidance provided in its press release dated November 9, 2017, the Company noted that in September and October 2017, it had entered into definitive agreements with two buyers to sell a portfolio of six solar power projects in California, totaling 703 MWp. The parties hoped to close the transactions in the fourth quarter of 2017 or the first quarter of 2018, depending on the timing of receipt of the required governmental approvals. These transactions were not completed in 2017 and have not yet received the required government approvals. The Company will update the timing for the completion of these transactions once the parties receive the required government approvals. As a result of the delay in completing the transactions, the Company now expects its total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2017 to be in the range of $1.04 billion to $1.08 billion, compared to $1.77 billion to $1.81 billion guided previously. Meanwhile, Canadian Solar updates its solar module shipment guidance for the fourth quarter of 2017 to be in the range of approximately 1,720 MW to 1,820 MW, compared to 1,650 MW to 1,750 MW guided previously. Gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2017 is now expected to be in the range of 16.5% to 18.5%, compared to 10.5% to 12.5% previously guided. The sales of the portfolio of six solar power projects in California have low margins and, therefore, had lowered the gross margin estimate in the previous guidance. On the other hand, in the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company sold a portfolio of Japanese solar projects to Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund, Inc., which went public in October 2017, as well as sold certain other solar projects in the U.S. and other countries. These transactions had healthy margins. The new guidance reflected the blended gross margin of Canadian Solar's module and solutions businesses, as well as these project sales. The Company will provide more details in the fourth quarter 2017 business update of its regular earnings press release. For the full year 2017, Canadian Solar now expects its total solar module shipments to be in the range of approximately 6.8 GW to 6.9 GW, compared to 6.7 GW to 6.8 GW guided previously. The Company now expects its total revenue for the full year 2017 to be in the range of $3.33 billion to $3.37 billion, compared to $4.05 billion to $4.09 billion previously guided. About Canadian Solar Inc. Founded in 2001 in Canada, Canadian Solar is one of the world's largest and foremost solar power companies. As a leading manufacturer of solar photovoltaic modules and provider of solar energy solutions, Canadian Solar also has a geographically diversified pipeline of utility-scale power projects in various stages of development. In the past 16 years, Canadian Solar has successfully delivered over 25 GW of premium quality modules to over 100 countries around the world. Furthermore, Canadian Solar is one of the most bankable companies in the solar industry, having been publicly listed on NASDAQ since 2006. For additional information about the Company, follow Canadian Solar on LinkedIn or visit www.canadiansolar.com . Safe Harbor/Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release regarding the Company's expected future shipment volumes, gross margins, and its ability to receive the required government approvals for the sale of six solar power projects in California, are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These statements are made under the \"Safe Harbor\" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by such terms as \"believes,\" \"expects,\" \"anticipates,\" \"intends,\" \"estimates,\" the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology." + }, + { + "text": "Factors that could cause actual results to differ include general business and economic conditions and the state of the solar industry; governmental support for the deployment of solar power; future available supplies of high-purity silicon; demand for end-use products by consumers and inventory levels of such products in the supply chain; changes in demand from significant customers; changes in demand from major markets such as Japan, the U.S., India and China; changes in customer order patterns; changes in product mix; capacity utilization; level of competition; pricing pressure and declines in average selling prices; delays in new product introduction; delays in utility-scale project approval process; delays in utility-scale project construction; delays in the completion of project sales; continued success in technological innovations and delivery of products with the features customers demand; shortage in supply of materials or capacity requirements; availability of financing; exchange rate fluctuations; litigation and other risks as described in the Company's SEC filings, including its annual report on Form 20-F filed on April 27, 2017. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance, or achievements. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All information provided in this press release is as of today's date, unless otherwise stated, and Canadian Solar undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law. View original content: SOURCE Canadian Solar Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 11:24 AM / Updated 10 minutes ago Steinhoff says notified Dutch Authority on delaying 2017 results Reuters Staff 1 Min Read JOHANNESBURG, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Steinhoff International said on Tuesday it has informed the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets that it will not publish its audited 2017 consolidated financial statements by Jan. 31. Steinhoff said it would only do so “as soon as it is able to do so”. Steinhoff, owner of more than 40 retail brands globally, has admitted “accounting irregularities”, triggering an 85 percent share slide. (Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by James Macharia)" + }, + { + "text": "Smart investors used to be able to identify market tops and bottoms by watching the weekly flows of money into and out of mutual funds. Then came the stampede into exchange-traded funds, and the crystal ball for predicting market shifts grew cloudy. Because weekly flow data now measures not just money moving into or out of mutual funds or... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Oil rally pushes to 3-year high Tuesday, January 09, 2018 - 00:54 Crude oil prices pushed further higher in a New Year's rally, with U.S. oil rising to a December 2014 peak as a drain in global supplies extends into 2018. Crude oil prices pushed further higher in a New Year's rally, with U.S. oil rising to a December 2014 peak as a drain in global supplies extends into 2018. //reut.rs/2AKkFhN" + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 11:47 PM / Updated 6 minutes ago Conte defends profligate Morata Rik Sharma 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Antonio Conte defended Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata after the Spaniard missed three one-on-one chances which cost his side victory over Arsenal in the Premier League on Wednesday. Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 26, 2017 Chelsea manager Antonio Conte at the end of the match. REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo The Blues drew 2-2 at the Emirates but Morata fluffed his lines in front of goal, twice firing off target when clean through and then at Petr Cech in stoppage time. Morata has 10 Premier League goals in 19 appearances since joining from Real Madrid last year, but after failing to find the net with simple chances against Stoke City in Chelsea’s 5-0 win on Saturday he has not enjoyed the festive season. ”It is not a lucky period for him,“ Conte told a news conference. ”In the last game against Stoke I said it was important for the striker to have chances to score. ”Today he had chances but this is football. I‘m happy with his commitment, he worked hard for the team and they are the most important things for me. Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea vs Southampton - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - December 16, 2017 Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata in action Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley/File Photo “For the striker it’s very important to score and in this case your confidence can go down. He’s very young, he has to continue to work, continue to improve. The goal is coming.” Morata, 25, fired well wide when sent through on goal early in the match. Arsenal took the lead through Jack Wilshere but Eden Hazard’s penalty and Marcos Alonso put the Blues in front before Hector Bellerin equalised in stoppage time. Morata should have given Chelsea a last-gasp winner but Cech saved his effort when he only had the goalkeeper to beat before Davide Zappacosta crashed a shot against the crossbar. A disbelieving Conte beat the turf in frustration, admitting the wasted chances cost third-placed Chelsea as they try to catch runaway leaders Manchester City. “To draw at the Emirates is a good result,” added the Italian. “(But) at the end of the game if we see the chances we created to score, for sure I think we dropped two points.” Reporting by Rik Sharma, editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT, Jan 22 (Reuters) - European wholesale power prices for next day delivery rose on Monday, along with those for the week starting Feb. 5, due to bullish weather and demand patterns that overrode comfortable thermal supply in mid-winter. * “January will turn out to have been a warm winter month while February could be a lot colder,” one trader said. “Nearby, there is rising demand, wind will be slow to arrive, and a French nuclear plant is out,” he added. * German baseload for Tuesday delivery, at 37.5 euros ($45.94) a megawatt hour (MWh), was up 4.2 percent from Monday’s over-the-counter closing price. * The equivalent French contract, at 38.5 euros, was up 9.2 percent. * Thomson Reuters data showed German wind production on Tuesday would be slow to arrive, but then ramp up strongly late in the day to hit 12.1 gigawatts (GW) for the entire day, compared with 10.9 GW expected for Monday. * On Wednesday, it may reach 26.1 GW, but this could possibly be the peak seen for the next fortnight. * French nuclear supply, meanwhile, remains at a comfortable 91.6 percent of total availability but the Tricastin 1 plant is due to remain offline in an unscheduled stoppage at least up to Tuesday. * On the demand side, day-on-day increases of 2 GW and 2.5 GW were respectively forecast for Germany and France. * Prices for the week starting Feb. 5 gained 7.9 percent in Germany and 12.2 percent in France, when a cold front is due to arrive and protective buying took account of this. * Along the forward power curve, Germany’s Cal ‘19 baseload contract, the European benchmark, nudged 5 cents higher to 35.4 euros/MWh. * The equivalent French contract was at 40.6 euros/MWh, up 20 cents from its close. * December 2018 expiry European carbon emissions permits lost 0.6 percent to 8.71 euros a tonne. * Cif Europe coal for 2019 was down 0.4 percent at $85.5 a tonne. * In eastern Europe, the Czech baseload contract for Tuesday delivery was at 38 euros, down from 52.5 euros paid for Monday. Czech year-ahead power shed 15 cents to 36.3 euros. ($1 = 0.8163 euros) (Reporting by Vera Eckert; Editing by Mark Potter)" + }, + { + "text": "LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NewTV (working name), the mobile-first media platform incubated at WndrCo and founded by Jeffrey Katzenberg, today announced that Meg Whitman is joining the company as CEO, effective March 1. Whitman will be headquartered in Los Angeles. Katzenberg will serve as Chairman. NewTV will bring the highest quality Hollywood production values and storytelling to mobile, in bite-sized formats of 10 minutes or less. NewTV will provide a custom-designed, purpose-built technology platform for mobile, on-the-go viewing of the highest caliber curated content. Whitman’s more than 30 years of executive leadership experience span the technology and media industries. Most recently, Whitman served as CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) where she continues to serve on the board. From 2011 through 2015, she served as President and CEO for Hewlett-Packard Company, leading the company’s turnaround and subsequent separation into two Fortune 100 companies: Hewlett Packard Enterprise and HP Inc. From 1998 to 2008, Whitman served as President and CEO of eBay Inc. where she oversaw its growth from 30 employees and $4 million in annual revenue to more than 15,000 employees and $8 billion in annual revenue. She has also held executive-level positions at Procter and Gamble Company, Hasbro Inc., The Walt Disney Company and Bain & Company. She currently serves as a director for Dropbox, The Procter & Gamble Company, Teach For America, and The Nature Conservancy and previously served on the board of DreamWorks Animation SKG. “Meg is one of the most accomplished and sought-after executives of our time. She has built and scaled some of the most important global companies today,” said Katzenberg. “To say I am thrilled that Meg will be at the helm would be an understatement. Her leadership, operational expertise, and deep understanding of technology and consumer behavior will be invaluable in creating the future of mobile entertainment.” “NewTV is one of the most disruptive and timely ideas I’ve come across during my career,” said Whitman. “I share Jeffrey’s vision that top-quality programming tailored to our mobile lifestyles is the next big touchpoint in entertainment. I’m very excited to bring my experience to a company that I believe will transform an industry and I am thrilled to be employee #1.” About WndrCo WndrCo is a holding company that acquires and develops businesses operating at the intersection of media and technology. Founded by entertainment and technology veterans, Ann Daly, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Sujay Jaswa, WndrCo leverages its expertise and relationships to help companies recruit talent, expand operations, and grow revenue. WndrCo is co-headquartered in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Please visit www.wndrco.com for more information. About NewTV NewTV is a mobile-first media platform incubated at WndrCo and founded by Jeffrey Katzenberg. NewTV will bring the highest quality Hollywood-style productions to mobile, in bite-sized formats of 10 minutes or less. NewTV is headquartered in Los Angeles. View source version on businesswire.com : Media: Dena Cook Brew PR [REDACTED] m: 310-600-7160 Source: WndrCo" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 4:10 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago LPGA Rankings Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Dec 18 (Opta) - The LPGA Rankings Rnk Prv Total 1. (1) Shanshan Feng (China PR) 399.90 2. (2) Sung Hyun Park (Korea Republic) 418.51 3. (3) So-Yeon Ryu (Korea Republic) 368.06 4. (4) Lexi Thompson (US) 332.00 5. (5) In Gee Chun (Korea Republic) 307.61 6. (6) Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand) 369.45 7. (7) Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) 307.01 8. (8) I.K. Kim (Korea Republic) 241.14 9. (9) Lydia Ko (New Zealand) 296.82 10. (10) Cristie Kerr (US) 267.05 11. (11) Sei Young Kim (Korea Republic) 257.45 12. (12) Inbee Park (Korea Republic) 166.72 13. (13) Hye Jin Choi (Korea Republic) 166.20 14. (14) Brooke Henderson (Canada) 293.06 15. (15) Amy Yang (Korea Republic) 204.00 16. (16) Stacy Lewis (US) 203.01 17. (17) Mirim Lee (Korea Republic) 192.21 18. (18) Minjee Lee (Australia) 206.43 19. (19) Jin Young ko (Korea Republic) 213.85 20. (20) Carlota Ciganda (Spain) 193.39 21. (21) Danielle Kang (US) 191.31 22. (22) Moriya Jutanugarn (Thailand) 203.07 23. (23) Jeong-Eun Lee (Korea Republic) 193.27 24. (24) Mi Jung Hur (Korea Republic) 171.10 25. (25) Jiyai Shin (Korea Republic) 184.51" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19 (Reuters) - ELMA ELECTRONIC AG: * HAS TO ADJUST UNEXPECTEDLY VALUE OF ITS DEFERRED TAX ASSETS IN THE US BY APPROXIMATELY CHF 1 MILLION * ADJUSTMENT DUE TO THE US TAX REFORM WHICH HAS BEEN SIGNED ON DECEMBER 22, 2017 * PREVIOUSLY ESTIMATED NET PROFIT FOR 2017 OF CHF 4 MILLION WILL THEREFORE BE LOWERED BY THIS ITEM Source text: bit.ly/2mVdBuI Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 2, 2018 / 8:55 AM / Updated an hour ago West Brom complain to Premier League about fixtures - reports Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - West Bromwich Albion have complained to the Premier League, urging them to reschedule Tuesday’s clash at West Ham United because of the vast difference in recovery periods for the two teams, British media reported. Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Crystal Palace - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 2, 2017 West Bromwich Albion manager Alan Pardew reacts as a West Brom player lies injured REUTERS/Phil Noble West Brom snatched a 1-1 home draw against Arsenal on Sunday and while they are set for a second game in 48 hours, West Ham have not played since last week’s 3-3 draw at Bournemouth but are in action again on Thursday against Tottenham Hotspur. Reports said West Brom chairman John Williams spoke to Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore about Tuesday’s match with 18th-placed West Ham at the London stadium. “We all know there’s pressure on TV companies for ratings and everything else and games -- I understand that. But the league’s got to be stronger and say two days is not right,” West Brom manager Alan Pardew said. West Ham’s televised fixture at Spurs was scheduled for New Year’s eve but moved because of safety concerns over the reduced capacity at underground stations around Wembley Stadium which meant the arena would only accommodate 43,000 spectators. Asked if he was forced to make changes to his side because of the frequency of games, Pardew said: “Of course I am. There’s some players who won’t be able to cope with that. I’d be putting them at risk.” West Brom are 19th in the table with 16 points from 21 games and are winless in 19 games. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "January 21, 2018 / 9:41 PM / Updated 28 minutes ago Protesters demanding jobs clash with police in Tunisian town Tarek Amara 3 Min Read TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators demanding jobs in the southern town of Metlaoui on Sunday, witnesses said, days after violent protests across the country against price hikes subsided. The protesters closed roads and burned tyres to demand jobs after the state-owned phosphate company Gafsa (CPG) released the results of a recruitment campaign. “Police are pursuing protesters and firing gas bombs, as youths closed the streets in Metlaoui,” Issam Chahbani, a resident, told Reuters. “There is feeling of injustice and marginalization here ... We’re only asking for jobs and development.” In Mdihla town in the same region, protesters clashed with police to press for jobs in CPG, witnesses told Reuters. Violent protests erupted this month in several towns and cities across Tunisia following tax and price hikes imposed on Jan. 1 by a government seeking to reduce a budget deficit to meet an agreement with its international donors. One demonstrator was killed during the protests. The unrest subsided last week after the government responded by pledging extra aid for poor families and those in need. Tunisian unemployment is running at 15.6 percent, rising to about 30 percent among the young. Once one of the world’s largest producers of phosphates, Tunisia saw its market share fall after a 2011 uprising against then president Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali. Since then protests and strikes have steadily cut into production and caused billions of dollars in losses. The CPG is the biggest employer in Gafsa, one of Tunisia’s poorest areas. Tunisia has been hailed as the only democratic success of the Arab Spring: the one Arab country to topple a long-serving leader in that year’s uprisings without triggering widespread violence or civil war. But Tunisia has had nine governments since Ben Ali’s overthrow, none of which have been able to resolve deep-rooted economic problems. The economy has worsened since the vital tourism sector was nearly wiped out by a wave of deadly militant attacks in 2015, and has yet to recover despite improved security. Reporting By Tarek Amara, Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "Trump to travel to WEF; Davos says dialogue is key 8:46pm IST - 01:46 Representatives of the World Economic Forum have welcomed the opportunity for dialogue with the U.S. President Trump’s, who’s attending the annual meet-up of global political and business leaders next week. But, as David Pollard reports, many are wondering how his “America First” message will go down in Davos. Representatives of the World Economic Forum have welcomed the opportunity for dialogue with the U.S. President Trump’s, who’s attending the annual meet-up of global political and business leaders next week. But, as David Pollard reports, many are wondering how his “America First” message will go down in Davos. //reut.rs/2Dir0Y9" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 9:35 PM / Updated 23 minutes ago Spotify reaches 70 million subscribers Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Music streaming service Spotify, which filed confidentially with U.S. regulators for an initial public offering on Wednesday, has 70 million subscribers, it said in a tweet on Thursday. Headphones are seen in front of a logo of online music streaming service Spotify in this February 18, 2014 illustration picture. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann/File Photo Spotify, valued at as much as $19 billion last year, is targeting a direct listing in the first half of 2018. ( bit.ly/2Ar9PwY ) Spotify is the biggest global music streaming company and counts Apple Inc and Amazon.com Inc as its main rivals. Apple in September told Billboard magazine it has 30 million subscribers to Apple music. Reporting by Sonam Rai in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17(Reuters) - Zhejiang Jinfei Kaida Wheel Co Ltd : * Actual controller proposed to pay a cash dividend of 0.8 to 1 yuan for every 10 shares, and use additional paid-in capital to distribute 7 new shares for every 10 shares, as the dividend payment plan for FY 2017 Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/TXGD8G Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Oil's run to multiyear highs may soon run out of fuel. But that bearish turn will likely be short-lived, according to RBC Capital Markets' Helima Croft. Even though the oil markets are entering a period of seasonal softness, she sees geopolitical trends supporting pricier oil. Croft, RBC's head of commodity strategy, says the floor has risen to the mid-to-high $50 a barrel price range. \"We're constructive on oil,\" she said Wednesday on CNBC's \" Trading Nation .\" \"I f we do move lower, we think that's a buying opportunity.\" In April, Croft predicted on CNBC that oil would surge nearly 20 percent — trading in the low $60s a barrel within months. That's exactly what happened about nine months later. Just last week, WTI crude pushed above $65 a barrel for the first time since December 2014. It has now rallied nearly 40 percent in the last six months. Brent crude is also seeing a breakout to more than three-year highs — with the commodity hitting above $70 a barrel on Monday. Croft, who's confident that OPEC's 2018 production cut extension will stick, lists Mideast tensions as a bullish catalyst for oil prices. \"I've been amazed that we've had multiple ballistic missiles fired from Yemen into Saudi Arabia, and the market shrugs that off,\" she said. \"One of the big geopolitical stories for this year is to really watch what happens in Yemen. If one of those missiles hits a civilian target in Saudi Arabia, the entire region will be on a war footing.\" Venezuela is also high on Croft's watch list. \"They need more revenue. But they just don't have the barrels to do so. Their production is going in one direction, and that's down,\" she said. \"Same thing with Nigeria. They look pretty tapped out. In fact, you have reports out there that militant groups are threatening to take more production offline.\" And if any of those scenarios materialize, she said, it will create a tighter demand picture against a vibrant environment. \"We are still very conservative on the U.S. production especially in this price environment for this year. But again, it's against a backdrop or a very, very healthy demand picture,\" Croft said. Vote Vote to see results Total Votes: Not a Scientific Survey. Results may not total 100% due to rounding. show chapters Top commodity strategist says the outlook for crude is constructive 20 Hours Ago | 04:49 Disclaimer" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19 (Reuters) - Air-conditioner maker Amber Enterprises India Ltd’s initial public offering (IPO) of shares to raise 6 billion rupees ($93.98 million) was subscribed more than 165 times on the last day of the sale on Friday. Investors bid for 813.8 million shares, or 165.1 times the 4.9 million shares on offer, stock exchange data as of 1304 GMT showed. Edelweiss, IDFC Bank, SBI Capital Markets and BNP Paribas are managing the IPO. ($1 = 63.8450 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Vishal Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)" + }, + { + "text": "By Nicole Pinto Jan 22 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets rose on Monday with the Philippine and Indonesia indexes scaling record levels, while broader Asian equities pulled back slightly after the U.S. government was forced to shut down. The Philippine Stock Exchange PSEi Index rose as much as 0.7 percent to an all-time high of 8,975.12 on optimism about the economy a day ahead of the release of fourth-quarter GDP data. DBS Group Research said in a note that it forecast GDP growth of 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter. \"Overall domestic demand is likely to remain strong in 2018, supported by the government's infrastructure push. Our current forecast pencil in steady GDP growth of 6.7 percent in 2018/19,\" said DBS Group. The country's statistics agency revised last Friday the third-quarter GDP growth rate to 7 percent from 6.9 percent. Industrial and real estate stocks led the rise. Property developer SM Prime Holdings Inc rose as much as 1.3 percent, while property investment company LT Group Inc gained as much as 5.4 percent to its highest in over four years. Indonesian shares extended gains into a sixth session and hit a life high. Energy stocks led the gains. Coal miners Indo Tambangraya Megah Tbk PT and Adaro Energy Tbk PT climbed as much as 6.6 percent and 7.8 percent, respectively. An index of the country's 45 most liquid stocks rose 0.4 percent. Vietnam shares gained as much as 1.3 percent to a more than 10-year high. Utilities and financials were the top performers, with Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Viet Nam hitting a record high and Petrovietnam Gas Joint Stock Corp rising 4.3 percent. Singapore shares were flat as gains in industrials were offset by lagging financial and consumer discretionary stocks. Index heavyweight Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd rose as much as 3.1 percent, while United Overseas Bank Ltd fell up to 1.1 percent. Thai shares rose slightly, helped by gains in energy and industrial stocks. Data released earlier in the day showed that the country's customs-cleared annual exports rose for a tenth straight month in December, but at a slower pace than the previous month and below expectations, and posted the first trade deficit in five months. For Asian Companies click; SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS AS AT 0419 GMT STOCK MARKETS Change on the day Market Current previous close Pct Move Singapore 3553.24 3550.36 0.08 Bangkok 1824.77 1821.34 0.19 Manila 8965.13 8915.92 0.55 Jakarta 6515.258 6490.896 0.38 Kuala Lumpur 1826.52 1828.83 -0.13 Ho Chi Minh 1079.19 1062.07 1.61 Change so far this year Market Current End 2017 Pct Move Singapore 3553.24 3402.92 4.42 Bangkok 1824.77 1753.71 4.05 Manila 8965.13 8558.42 4.75 Jakarta 6515.258 6355.654 2.51 Kuala Lumpur 1826.52 1796.81 1.65 Ho Chi Minh 1079.19 984.24 9.65 (Reporting by Nicole Pinto in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 6:41 AM / Updated 20 minutes ago South Africa's Ramaphosa piles pressure on Zuma with anti-graft call Mfuneko Toyana 4 Min Read JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday called on prosecutors to act urgently in pursuit of a firm owned by friends of scandal-plagued President Jacob Zuma, as pressure mounted on him to step down. Ramaphosa succeeded Zuma as head of the ruling African National Congress last month, making him likely to replace Zuma as the country’s next president in 2019 - or even earlier, if Zuma resigns. In recent days he has gone on the offensive against companies controlled by the Gupta family, businessmen friends of Zuma accused of unduly using political connections to win work with the state. “We want to deal with the rot. It is unacceptable, totally unacceptable, that companies owned by the nation and set up to benefit the people have been hijacked,” Ramaphosa said at a meeting of business leaders and cabinet ministers. The rand currency has rallied around 16 percent since Ramaphosa’s ANC leadership victory as investors bet he will crack down on corruption and implement policy reforms. The Gupta family and Zuma have denied wrongdoing and say they are victims of a politically-motivated witchhunt. A spokesman for Zuma and a lawyer for the Gupta family did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday. South Africa’s state prosecutor said on Wednesday it would serve a court order on McKinsey relating to a 1.6 billion-rand ($130 million) contract with state utility Eskom that the global consultancy worked on with Trillian, a local firm that was then controlled by Gupta family associates. “We welcome the actions they are beginning to take and we encourage them to act with urgency,” Ramaphosa said. International firms being probed by South African authorities over work done with the Guptas include German software maker SAP, auditor KPMG and consultancy McKinsey. ESKOM IN TURMOIL McKinsey has apologised for working with Trillian at Eskom in 2016 without a contract and is offering to pay back its fee, but denies doing anything illegal. Parliament is carrying out a wide-ranging investigation into Eskom, Africa’s biggest power utility. The firm’s financial turmoil and allegations of mismanagement and corruption are a major concern for investors and ratings agencies. Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba said on Thursday the Treasury could not afford to bail out Eskom. Separately, South Africa’s companies registry office is pursuing criminal complaints against SAP, KPMG and McKinsey in relation to Gupta-controlled companies. SAP, KPMG and McKinsey all said on Wednesday they were happy to cooperate with any police enquiries. KPMG cleared out its South African leadership in September last year after an internal investigation found work done for Gupta family firms “fell considerably short of KPMG’s standards”. KPMG denied it had done anything illegal. SAP, Europe’s biggest technology company, said last year it had “let down South Africa” by paying $7.7 million in commissions to Gupta-related companies between December 2014 and November 2016. Zuma, who has denied numerous corruption allegations since taking office in 2009, said last week he would set up a commission of inquiry into allegations of influence-peddling in the government. In last month’s ANC vote, Ramaphosa edged out Zuma’s ex-wife, and his preferred successor, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana; Ed Stoddard; Writing by Joe Brock; Editing by Andrew Roche" + }, + { + "text": "(This version of the story corrects to show one of three unions accepted the proposal.) PARIS (Reuters) - The largest of three French prison guard unions spearheading a nationwide strike said on Friday it would accept a government proposal on better pay and staff safety. The UFAP-Unsa union said its acceptance would end picketing and work stoppages by its members. Two other labor unions have rejected the government offer of more hires, pay bonuses and measures to better contain inmate violence. President Emmanuel Macron is under pressure to bring an end to industrial action, sparked by inmate attacks on guards, as tension among prisoners rises in France’s crowded jails. Reporting by Emmanuel Jarry; writing by John Irish; editing by Leigh Thomas" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 4:45 PM / Updated an hour ago India's IOC buys U.S. Light Louisiana Sweet oil via tender Reuters Staff 1 Min Read NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India’s top refiner Indian Oil Corp has bought 2 million barrels of U.S. Light Louisiana Sweet (LLS) crude via a tender for April delivery, its head of finance A. K. Sharma said on Thursday. FILE PHOTO: A logo of Indian Oil is seen on the shirt of an employee at a fuel station in New Delhi, India August 29, 2016. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File Photo This is the first purchase of LLS crude by an Indian refiner. IOC has purchased the sweet oil from trader Trafigura, he said. IOC will import the cargo at the eastern port of Paradip. IOC will process the crude at its Mathura and Barauni refineries, he said. This is the third purchase of the U.S. oil by IOC, Sharma said. Reporting by Nidhi Verma; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "IOC says North Korea to have 22 athletes in 5 Olympic sports Both Korean teams will march together in the opening ceremony next month The North Koreans will compete in five sports, including a unified women's hockey team Published 7 Hours Ago SHARES Getty Images People walk in front of mascots of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games Soohorang (L) and Bandabi (R) on January 5, 2018 in Seoul, South Korea. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says 22 North Korean athletes will compete in the Pyeongchang Olympics next month and both Korean teams will march together in the opening ceremony. IOC President Thomas Bach says the North Koreans will compete in five sports disciplines, including a unified women's hockey team. The others are figure skating, short track speed skating, Alpine skiing and cross-country skiing. The North Korean delegation will include 24 coaches and officials at the Feb. 9-25 Winter Games. Bach offers \"sincere thanks to the governments of North and South Korea.\" The agreement became possible after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said three weeks ago that a team could cross the border to compete. Bach did not take questions and was flanked by Olympic and government officials from both countries at a brief news conference." + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Newly-imposed U.S. sanctions against two Russian energy ministry officials are “unlawful” and Moscow will seek explanations from Washington, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Saturday, according to local news agencies. The United States added Russian officials and energy firms to a sanctions blacklist on Friday, days before details of further possible penalties against Moscow are due to be released. One person added to the list was Russian Deputy Energy Minister Andrey Cherezov, who was put under sanctions by the European Union over his role in the delivery of turbines to Crimea last year. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Mark Potter)" + }, + { + "text": "Turkish airstrike hits YPG targets in Syria's Afrin 9:54am GMT - 00:32 Video shot by Haberturk showed an explosion in the area followed by plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Video shot by Haberturk showed an explosion in the area followed by plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2n8jpQR" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 10:58 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago Unconvincing Juve keep up the pressure on Napoli Reuters Staff 2 Min Read MILAN (Reuters) - Juventus moved back within a point of Serie A leaders Napoli with a 1-0 win at home to Genoa on Monday although it was hardly a convincing display from the defending champions. Douglas Costa scored in the 16th minute, ending Genoa keeper Mattia Perin’s run of four successive clean sheets in the league, to keep his second-placed team on Napoli’s heels. Napoli and Juve have each won their last five Serie A games, to reach 54 and 53 points respectively, with Lazio and Inter Milan now trailing the Turin side by 10 points. Slideshow (8 Images) Costa found Mario Mandzukic on the left and he wrong-footed the Genoa defence with a neat pass back to the Brazilian who was left unmarked to slip the ball past Perin from close range. Genoa were penned into their half for most of the opening period although Diego Laxalt threatened with a long-range drive which fizzed over Wojciech Szczesny’s crossbar. Juventus continued to dominate possession after halftime but could not to find the killer second goal. Genoa grew in confidence and pushed forward near the end, causing rare panic in the Juve area before Giorgio Chiellini cleared the ball, but they never looked truly threatening. Writing by Brian Homewood; editing by Ken Ferris" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - Shanghai Fortune Techgroup Co Ltd : * Sees FY 2017 net profit to increase by 10.5 percent to 21.7 percent, or to be 54.5 million yuan to 60 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 49.3 million yuan * Says growth of business in emerging markets as main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/qczWYo Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "BERLIN, Jan 18 (Reuters) - German state-backed lender NordLB and its owners have decided not to sell property lender Deutsche Hypothekenbank after all, a spokesman for NordLB said on Thursday, confirming a Reuters report. “Analysis has shown that the future earnings potential of Deutsche Hypo is still high and stable, so the long-term benefits of keeping it outweigh the short-term advantages of a sale for the capital ratio,” the spokesman said. For months, NordLB had been weighing a possible sale as it sought to repair its balance sheet following heavy writedowns related to its exposure to bad shipping loans. A person familiar with the matter had told Reuters on Friday that NordLB decided in the end to hold on to the unit as it promises regular profits. (Reporting by Klaus Lauer; Writing by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Ludwig Burger)" + }, + { + "text": "The White House will bar staff and guests from using personal phones in the White House starting next week. The devices will no longer be allowed because \"the security and integrity of the technology systems at the White House is a top priority for the Trump administration,\" press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement Thursday. Some White House aides expressed concerns about being able to text family members during busy days, as their work phones cannot text, Bloomberg reported. \"Staff will be able to conduct business on their government-issued devices and continue working hard on behalf of the American people,\" Sanders said. President Donald Trump and other White House officials have repeatedly decried leaks of information from the administration to journalists. The decision was \"not about leaks,\" Sanders added, according to The Associated Press. The press secretary said that individuals would have a place to store phones at the West Wing entrance. The statement didn't address whether Trump would be exempt from doing so. Personal cellphones are barred in many sensitive areas across the U.S. government." + }, + { + "text": "NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Jan. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) will announce its fourth-quarter 2017 financial results on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, before the market opens. AbbVie will host a live webcast of the earnings conference call at 8 a.m. Central time (9 a.m. Eastern). It will be accessible through AbbVie's Investor Relations website investors.abbvie.com . An archived edition of the session will be available later that day. About AbbVie AbbVie is a global, research-driven biopharmaceutical company committed to developing innovative advanced therapies for some of the world's most complex and critical conditions. The company's mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to markedly improve treatments across four primary therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, virology and neuroscience. In more than 75 countries, AbbVie employees are working every day to advance health solutions for people around the world. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com . Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE AbbVie" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 9:40 AM / Updated an hour ago Unhindered Halep dashes past Bouchard into third round Reuters Staff 3 Min Read MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Top seed Simona Halep eased fears over her fitness with a brisk 6-2 6-2 demolition of Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard to reach the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday. The world number one sprained her ankle in her first round match at Melbourne Park on Tuesday but showed no sign of restricted movement in a 65-minute romp on Margaret Court Arena. Marching around the court like she meant nothing but business, Halep’s confidence appeared to increase as she grew into the match and she broke Bouchard seven of the eight times the Canadian served. ”I felt the pain but I didn’t think about it,“ Halep said. ”I couldn’t practice much but during the match I just forgot about it. I had a very tight tape. I could move. “The most important thing is that I could play my game not thinking about the ankle. I did it great today.” Bouchard beat Halep in the 2014 Wimbledon semi-finals, the same year she reached the last four at Melbourne Park, but is now ranked a lowly 112th in the world. Tennis - Australian Open - Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 18, 2018. Canada's Eugenie Bouchard waves after losing her match against Romania's Simona Halep. REUTERS/Issei Kato She broke the Romanian at the start of both sets and had her moments in what was at times a hard-fought contest but it was her inability to hold her own serve that put paid to her hopes of advancing. Her faulty forehand did not help her cause and contributed greatly to a tally of 26 unforced errors, the last of which brought defeat after Halep had fired down a huge forehand which she could only balloon wide. Tennis - Australian Open - Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 18, 2018. Romania's Simona Halep in action during her match against Canada's Eugenie Bouchard. REUTERS/Issei Kato Halep moves on to a third round encounter with American world number 76 Lauren Davies, happy to have avoided the early exits that befell her on her last two visits to Melbourne and with her tenuous grip on the number one ranking still holding. Rather than concern her, the 26-year-old said the injury would actually allow her to play with more freedom. ”For sure I‘m not 100 percent,“ she said. ”But I don’t feel pressure. I feel a little bit more relaxed because I have nothing to lose. “I‘m just trying to stay focused on my game, nothing else. Definitely to be careful with the movement on the court, not forcing anything. I‘m just going out there and feeling the ball.” Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, editing by Amlan Chakraborty and Pritha Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "(This version of the Jan. 24 story corrects the number of Baxter plants in Puerto Rico making small IV bags to two from three in paragraph five) By Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO (Reuters) - Baxter International informed customers on Wednesday that it has been given approval by U.S. regulators to import large saline bags from its plant in Mexico in an effort to ease hospital shortages of the product as the nation faces a severe flu season. Supply issues related to Baxter’s small-volume saline bags - which are produced in the U.S. market in Puerto Rico - have begun to ease as production there improves, Scott Luce, general manager of Baxter’s U.S. Hospital products division, wrote in a letter addressed to customers and seen by Reuters. Drugmakers including Baxter have been scrambling to meet demand for essential hospital products including IV saline and smaller IV bags, which have been disrupted by prolonged power outages in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria pummeled the Caribbean island on Sept. 20. “Overall, we are making progress on product supply,” Luce wrote. Both of Baxter’s two plants in Puerto Rico that make small IV bags - used to mix and deliver a host of medicines to hospital patients - are now connected to the commercial electric grid, the company said. The company has maintained diesel generators to handle intermittent power outages and has installed backup satellite communications to support plant operations. Baxter only makes the smaller volume IV products in Puerto Rico; it manufactures larger IV bags elsewhere in the United States. Shortages of the smaller bags in the wake of the hurricane caused many hospital pharmacists to turn to larger IV bags to deliver medications. Now, with the United States in the throes of one of the worst flu seasons in several years, demand for the larger volume bags - used to hydrate flu patients - has increased dramatically. “We’ve been producing as much as we can, but we’re not the only one in the market,” said Baxter spokesman William Rader. The market for the larger bags had been constrained even before the hurricane. In August, B. Braun Medical warned customers that production interruptions had caused decreases in supply of the company’s small- and large-volume products. In a statement issued earlier this month, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the agency had given B. Braun and Baxter temporary approval to import products from some of their overseas operations, including allowing Baxter to import product from Brazil. At that time, Gottlieb said he believed the IV fluid shortage would improve shortly. The FDA has also been working with companies to extend expiration dates on products, when it can be done safely. It recently approved two additional companies - Fresenius Kabi, a unit of Germany’s Fresenius, and Spain’s Laboratorios Grifols - to supply saline to the U.S. market. In its letter to customers, Baxter said the FDA has now granted it permanent approval to bring larger IV bags manufactured in Mexico into the U.S. market. “The news is very good,” said Christi Guess, senior director of contract services for Vizient, which negotiates with medical companies on behalf of its member hospitals. She said with the addition of the products from the Mexico plant, Baxter is now up to 100 percent allocation for most saline products, which means clients can order 100 percent of what they have historically ordered in the past, but no more. Erin Fox, who tracks nationwide drug shortages and heads the University of Utah health system’s drug information and support services, said saline supply issues remain. “We’re not even close to getting what we used to,” she said. Hospital pharmacists have turned to a number of workarounds to address the shortages. For example, hospitals have used syringes to deliver some medications but that has resulted in shortages of syringes, Fox said. “It’s a house of cards,” Fox said. “Each solution you come up with has resulted in some kind of a roadblock.” Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Cynthia Osterman, Leslie Adler and Frances Kerry" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday Britain would be able to have a bespoke deal with the European Union after Brexit, one of Prime Minister Theresa May’s objectives. But in an interview with the BBC, Macron said London’s financial center could not enjoy the same level of access to the EU under May’s current Brexit plan, which envisages Britain leaving the EU’s single market and customs union. Macron has said in the past Britain could have pacts with the EU along the lines of those with Canada or Norway but not its own, special deal. But asked in the interview whether that was fair, given how long Britain had been part of the EU, Macron said: “No, it’s not a question to be fair or unfair. I take that as a reference. But for sure, you will have your own solution.” Asked whether there would be a bespoke, special solution for Britain, he replied: ”Sure, but you will ... I take these two references because this special way should be consistent with the preservation of the single market and our collective interests. “And you should understand that you cannot by definition have the full access to the single market if you don’t tick the box.” Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May and France's President Emmanuel Macron hold a news conference at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, Britain, January 18, 2018. REUTERS/Stefan Rousseau/Pool Macron insisted Britain would not get full access to the EU’s single market without accepting its basic principles of freedom of movement and willingness to abide by EU jurisdiction. “As soon as you decide not to join these preconditions, it’s not full access,” he said. “So it’s something perhaps between this full access ... and a trade agreement.” Slideshow (2 Images) Macron repeated a warning he made during a visit to Britain on Thursday that full access to the EU single market for Britain’s financial services was not possible. [nL8N1PD1PY] “It depends on the proposals made by the UK,” he said. “But for sure, full access for financial services to the single market is not feasible, given the functioning of the single market - so by definition it’s not a full access.” Britain and the EU struck a divorce deal last month that paved the way for talks on future trade ties and boosted hopes of an orderly Brexit. The BBC released extracts on Saturday of the Macron interview which it will broadcast in full in the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday. Reporting by Stephen Addison; Editing by Janet Lawrence" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is deeply concerned by reports that Iran has imprisoned thousands of its citizens and tortured or killed some of them in detention, the White House said on Wednesday. “We will not remain silent as the Iranian dictatorship represses the basic rights of its citizens and will hold Iran’s leaders accountable for any violations,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement. Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by David Alexander" + }, + { + "text": "lauded a New Mexico police officer who stopped a pregnant woman from injecting heroin — and then adopted her child — as he called for a crackdown on \"drug dealers and pushers\" to stem the massive opioid epidemic. Trump, during a State of the Union address that recognized Officer Ryan Holets sitting in the audience, said reforms pushed by his administration will \"support our response to the terrible crisis of opioid and drug addiction.\" \"In 2016, we lost 64,000 Americans to drug overdoses: 174 deaths per day. Seven per hour. We must get much tougher on drug dealers and pushers if we are going to succeed in stopping this scourge,\" Trump said. \"For those who have been so terribly hurt.\" \"My administration is committed to fighting the drug epidemic and helping get treatment for those in need. The struggle will be long and difficult — but, as Americans always do, we will prevail.\" \"As we have seen tonight, the most difficult challenges bring out the best in America,\" Trump said. \"We see a vivid expression of this truth in the story of the Holets family of New Mexico,\" the president said. \"Ryan Holets is 27 years old, and an officer with the Albuquerque Police Department. He is here tonight with his wife, Rebecca. Last year, Ryan was on duty when he saw a pregnant, homeless woman preparing to inject heroin. When Ryan told her she was going to harm her unborn child, she began to weep. She told him she did not know where to turn, but badly wanted a safe home for her baby.\" CNBC First Lady Melania Trump, Albuquerque Police Office Ryan Holets, Rebecca Holets, and their adopted daughter Hope, whose mother was a homeless heroin addict. \"In that moment, Ryan said he felt God speak to him: 'You will do it — because you can.' He heard those words.\" \"He took out a picture of his wife and their four kids. Then, he went home to tell his wife, Rebecca. In an instant, she agreed to adopt. The Holets named their new daughter Hope.\" Trump, speaking directly to the Holets, said, \"You embody the goodness of our nation. Thank you, and congratulations.\"" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 10 (Reuters) - * STATE OF ISRAEL FILES PROSPECTUS RELATED TO ISSUE OF $1 BILLION OF 3.250% BONDS DUE 2028 AND $1 BILLION OF 4.125% BONDS DUE 2048 - SEC FILING * STATE OF ISRAEL - ISSUE PRICE IS 99.291% FOR THE 2028 BONDS AND 99.098% FOR THE 2048 BONDS Source text ( bit.ly/2mm74sT ) ([REDACTED]) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "6 COMMENTS Waymo LLC on Tuesday signaled a large expansion of its robot taxi fleet as the company prepares to open its driverless ride-hailing service to the general public. The self-driving tech unit of Google-parent Alphabet Inc. revealed an agreement to acquire thousands of minivans from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles FCAU -1.08% NV for delivery beginning later this year. The auto maker had previously provided 600 Pacifica minivans to Waymo, which has equipped cars with its driverless technology in 25 U.S. cities, including most recently in Atlanta, for testing. Since October, Waymo has tested the minivans without people behind the steering wheel in suburban Phoenix, where the weather is sunny and in a state receptive to the technology. The company announced in November plans to begin giving rides to select residents as part of a public trial. On Tuesday, Waymo said it expects to open the ride-hailing service to the general public in the Phoenix area this year as a commercial service. During a demonstration in October , the minivans had screens welcoming customers aboard and instructing them to push a blue “start ride” button on the ceiling. The vans otherwise seem like any other, except for its empty front seats. “With the world’s first fleet of fully self-driving vehicles on the road, we’ve moved from research and development, to operations and deployment,” John Krafcik, Waymo’s chief executive, said in a statement. Waymo is facing increasing pressure from auto makers and other tech companies to commercialize the fast-developing technology. General Motors Co. , the largest U.S. auto maker by sales, has said it aims to run a large-scale fleet of driverless cars in big cities in 2019 while Volvo Cars said in November it has an agreement to supply ride-hailing firm Uber Technologies Inc. with a fleet of 24,000 self-driving vehicles beginning in 2019. Write to Tim Higgins at [REDACTED]" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 12:56 PM / Updated 3 minutes ago Aurora Cannabis teams up with Danish tomato producer to sell pot in Europe Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 4 (Reuters) - Canadian marijuana company Aurora Cannabis Inc on Thursday decided to partner with Danish tomato and pepper producer Alfred Pedersen & Son to produce and sell cannabis in Europe. Aurora’s growth plan comes at a time when Canada is set to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana by July, becoming the second country in the world to do so after Uruguay. Tomato and pepper - often grown in greenhouses - are the most common choices to convert to weed as they have similar growth requirements. The joint venture, which is majority owned by Aurora Cannabis, will focus on selling cannabis in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland, through Aurora’s German unit. The newly formed company, Aurora Nordic Cannabis A/S, will set up a production facility, which can produce up to 120,000 kg of cannabis per year, Aurora said. Aurora’s partner received its license to cultivate cannabis from Denmark’s Medicines Agency on January 1. (Reporting by John Benny in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)" + }, + { + "text": "Two Major Shareholders Push Apple to Study Harmful Effects of Smartphone Addiction in Children Christina Kilgour—Getty Images By Bloomberg 9:49 PM EST Two big shareholders of Apple (aapl) are concerned that the entrancing qualities of the iPhone have fostered a public health crisis that could hurt children—and the company as well. In a letter to the smartphone maker dated Jan. 6, activist investor Jana Partners LLC and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System urged Apple to create ways for parents to restrict children’s access to their mobile phones. They also want the company to study the effects of heavy usage on mental health. “There is a growing body of evidence that, for at least some of the most frequent young users, this may be having unintentional negative consequences,” according to the letter from the investors, who combined own about $2 billion in Apple shares. The “growing societal unease” is “at some point is likely to impact even Apple.” “Addressing this issue now will enhance long-term value for all shareholders,” the letter said. An Apple spokesman declined to comment on the letter, which was reported earlier by the Wall Street Journal . Parental Controls It’s problem most companies would kill to have: Young people liking a product too much. But as smartphones become ubiquitous, government leaders and Silicon Valley alike have wrestled for ways to limit their inherent intrusiveness. France, for instance, has moved to ban the use of smartphones in its primary and middle schools. Meanwhile, Android co-founder Andy Rubin is seeking to apply artificial intelligence to phones so that they perform relatively routine tasks without needing to be physically handled. Apple already offers some parental controls, such as the Ask to Buy feature, which requires parental approval to buy goods and services. Restrictions can also be placed on access to some apps, content and data usage. The activist pressure is the latest in a series of challenges for the tech giant. Last week, Cupertino, California-based Apple said that all of its Mac computers and iOS devices, which include both the iPhones and iPads, faced security vulnerabilities due to flawed chips made by Intel (intc) . At the tail end of 2017, the company apologized to customers for software changes that resulted in older versions of its iPhones running slower than newly introduced editions. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - Growth in Irish residential property prices cooled slightly to a four-month low in annual terms in November, data from the country’s central statistics office showed on Thursday. A recovery in prices that began in 2013 accelerated sharply in 2017. But growth in the year to the end of November slowed to 11.6 percent from 11.8 percent in October. On the month, house prices rose by 1.1 percent, after a 0.4 percent rise in October. A long-standing lack of supply combined with surging demand has boosted prices. Still, prices are now 23 percent below the peak hit at the height of a property bubble a decade ago. (Reporting by Andy Bruce; Editing by William Schomberg) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Erik Guay, a three-time Olympian and Canada’s most successful alpine skier, will miss the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang due to continuing back pain, Alpine Canada said on Wednesday. Guay, the reigning super-G world champion, has been battling back pain the entire World Cup season and ruled himself out just two days after being selected for the Canadian Olympic team. ”It was an incredibly difficult decision to stay home from the Olympics,“ Guay said in a statement. ”Despite everything we did, I do not feel I can attend the Games and be at a competitive performance level that I would proud representing Canada with. “I will be cheering on all of Team Canada from home, especially my team mates at Alpine Canada.” The leader of Canada’s alpine teams that have become known as the Canadian Cowboys, Guay has reached the World Cup podium 25 times and has three world championship medals including downhill gold in 2011 and the super-G in 2017. He also has a world downhill silver from last year’s championships in St Moritz. ”It’s definitely disappointing to have Erik miss out on the Olympics and we know this was a difficult decision for him to make,“ said Martin Rufener, Athletic Director, Alpine Canada. ”He would certainly have been a medal contender if he was healthy. “Despite Erik missing out, I‘m very proud of the contingent of athletes we are sending to the Games and I know we will make Canada proud.” Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto. Editing by Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 3:24 PM / Updated 14 minutes ago Banks chosen for car parts company Autodis - sources Arno Schuetze , Dasha Afanasieva 3 Min Read FRANKFURT/LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. buyout firm Bain is moving ahead with preparations for the initial float of French vehicle spare parts distributor Autodis, which could take place in March or April, sources familiar with the matter said. BNP Paribas ( BNPP.PA ) and Goldman Sachs ( GS.N ) are organising the deal as so called global coordinators, with Citi ( C.N ), HSBC ( HSBA.L ) and Natixis ( CNAT.PA ) acting as bookrunners and Rothschild as independent adviser on the Paris listing, they said. BNP Paribas, HSBC, Citi and Rothschild declined to comment. Bain, Goldman Sachs and Natixis were not immediately available for comment. Bankers are hoping the IPO will value the company at more than 1.2 billion euros (£1.1 billion) including debt, based on a valuation of 12 times earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation which is forecast at just above 100 million euros for 2018, one of the sources said. German peer Stahlgruber was sold to Chicago-based LKQ ( LKQ.O ) at that multiple in late 2017. The issue volume will be around 25-50 percent, depending on investor feedback with a mix of new shares and existing ones from Bain, the source said. Some of the proceeds will be used to reduce Autodis’ leverage, which stands at around five times its core earnings. Based in Arcueil, on the edge of Paris, Autodis specialises in selling spare parts for light vehicles and trucks and has a history of private equity ownership as buyout funds have repeatedly injected capital for more than a decade. In 2006, Bahrain-based Investcorp acquired the firm, also known as Autodistribution Group, but struggled to make profits as the industry suffered a dramatic fall in demand, with manufacturers, dealers and suppliers all affected. Autodis went through a long restructuring with private equity firm TowerBrook Capital taking a majority stake in 2009 as part of a debt-for-equity swap deal and managing its turnaround until 2015 when it sold it to Bain. As part of its buy-and-build strategy Bain made several bolt-on acquisitions to take Autodis into other European markets, including the purchase of three Italian businesses - Ovam, Top Car and Ricauto. Editing by Alison Williams" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 6:29 PM / Updated 39 minutes ago Six West Bromwich players hit by flu ahead of Liverpool clash Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Six West Bromwich Albion players have been struck down by a flu bug ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round match against Liverpool, manager Alan Pardew said. Ben Foster, Ahmed Hegazi, Gareth McAuley, Jay Rodriguez, Sam Field and James McClean are all struggling, but Pardew wants to field a strong side and will wait until few hours before the kick off to assess their fitness levels. ”We’ve got a little bit of a flu bug in terms of a few players,“ Pardew told reporters on Friday. ”McClean, Rodriguez, Foster, Hegazi and G-Mac, so there’s a few. But certainly there’s enough players available to not make too many changes. “I’d rather be in a stronger position in the league to attack the cup. Having said that we take less pressure into this game.” Pardew celebrated his first win as West Brom manager in the FA Cup third round against Exeter City and followed up with a 2-0 Premier League victory against Brighton and Hove Albion earlier this month. FILE PHOTO - Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Brighton & Hove Albion - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - January 13, 2018 West Bromwich Albion's Ben Foster celebrates after Craig Dawson scores their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine However, they remain in the relegation zone and three points from safety after 24 matches. With Hegazi and McAuley struggling with illness, Pardew confirmed Jonny Evans will feature in the weekend’s clash at Anfield. Slideshow (4 Images) British media reports have linked Evans with a move to Arsenal in a swap deal, which includes Mathieu Debuchy going the other way. But Pardew dismissed the reports, saying no official bids have been made for the player. “That’s not a deal that’s been put to us... we haven’t had a bid put to us that is anywhere near acceptable,” he added. “What I will confirm is what you already know, Jonny Evans is a target for other clubs, we might sell if the price is right, that’s that deal, everything else is pure speculation.” Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 10:52 AM / Updated 9 minutes ago No ex-divs on the FTSE 100 on Jan 25 Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Jan 22 (Reuters) - No FTSE 100 companies will go ex-dividend on Thursday, although several mid-caps will go ex-div, after which investors will no longer qualify for the latest dividend payout. Among FTSE 250 companies going ex-dividend are: COMPANY (RIC) DIVIDEND (pence) Bankers 4.8 Investment Trust City of London 4.3 Investment Trust Fenner 2.8 GCP 1.9 Infrastructure Investments Limited Pennon Group 11.97 Sequoia 1.5 Economic Infrastructure Income Fund Stagecoach 3.8 Group (Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Editing by Helen Reid)" + }, + { + "text": "1 Hour Ago | 01:38 In Janet Yellen 's final meeting as Fed chair, the central bank decided Wednesday against increasing its benchmark interest rate but indicated it expects inflation pressures to heat up as the year moves on. The policymaking Federal Open Market Committee said current conditions indicate that the overnight funds rate should remain anchored at 1.25 to 1.5 percent. The decision, which came at the end of a two-day meeting, was widely expected. Rather than looking for a move on rates, market participants were watching the January Fed meeting for clues on how the central bank might proceed for the rest of the year. According to projections released in December, officials expect three rate hikes this year so long as there is no significant disruption to market conditions. However, the market recently has been entertaining thoughts that the Fed could add another increase, likely at the final meeting of 2018. Government bond yields have been moving up considerably in anticipation of inflation pressures and a more active Fed.\"We had a hawkish hold here,\" said Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM. \"What that growth forecast implies is there are upward revisions coming to growth and likely a change in the balance of risks due to inflation moving toward the central bank's target.\" Bruseulas thinks the Fed should alter its forecast for three rate hikes this year to four. A tweak in the post-meeting statement could influence the market's view on the rate path. \"Inflation on a 12-month basis is expected to move up this year and to stabilize around the Committee's 2 percent objective over the medium term,\" the statement said. \"Near-term risks to the economic outlook appear roughly balanced, but the Committee is monitoring inflation developments closely.\" The observation on inflation differed from the December statement, which noted that core and headline measurements \"have declined\" and were \"running below 2 percent.\" In addition, this week's statement noted that \"market based measures of inflation compensation have increased in recent months but remain low,\" a tweak from December which simply noted that the measures \"remain low.\" Inflation has been running consistently below the Fed's mandated target, most recently hovering around the 1.5 percent range. But there have been signs lately that wage pressure is heating up. The Employment Cost Index, a gauge believed to be watched closely within the Fed's halls, showed a 2.6 percent increase for the full year in 2017, the biggest gain since before the financial crisis. Prior to the meeting, the market was pricing in just a 28 percent or so chance of a December rate hike. The market widely expects a quarter-point increase in March. Other parts of the Fed statement were little changed from the December meeting. Committee members removed language that discussed the effects that the violent hurricane season had on economic activity. Officials had not expected the storms to have long-range impacts on growth but did note that there would be effects over the near term. The decision not to hike rates passed unanimously. The January meeting marked Yellen's last as chair; Jerome Powell will take over as chairman within the next few days." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29(Reuters) - Hengkang Medical Group Co Ltd : * Sees net profit for FY 2017 to decrease by 25.67 percent to 50.45 percent, compared to net profit of FY 2016 (403.6 million yuan) * In the previous outlook, the company expected the net profit for FY 2017 to be 420 million yuan to 490 million yuan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/PZ8ise Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Tuesday she did not think it would be a good idea for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to run for re-election though it would be up to the Venezuelans to decide. Asked if it would be good for Venezuela if Maduro ran again, as he has expressed a willingness to do, Nauert told reporters: “That is news to me. I don’t think so. I don’t think that that’s a good idea. Certainly the people would have to decide.” Reporting By Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Andrew Hay" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 6:31 AM / Updated 15 hours ago India to set up $350 million fund to finance solar projects Reuters Staff 2 Min Read NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India will set up a $350 million fund to finance solar projects, Power Minister R.K. Singh said, as the country steps up efforts to achieve its ambitious target of adding 175 gigawatts (GW) in renewable energy by 2022. India will need at least $125 billion to fund a plan to increase the share of renewable power supply in the country’s grid by 2022, underlining the immense financing challenge ahead. The country, which receives twice as much sunshine as European nations, wants to make solar central to its renewable expansion. It expects renewable energy to make up 40 percent of installed power capacity by 2030, compared with 18.2 percent at the end of 2017. “The country would achieve its target of 175 GW of installed renewable energy capacity well before 2020,” Singh said on Wednesday at an event organised by the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in Abu Dhabi. Installed renewable power capacity is currently about 60 GW, and India plans to complete the bidding process by the end of 2019/20 to add a further 115 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2022. India’s Yes Bank Ltd has committed to financing solar projects worth $5 billion, while state-run NTPC Ltd will contribute $1 million to an ISA fund, the power ministry said in a statement. India wants foreign capital to account for a bulk of its investments to meet its renewable energy target. But industry experts say most of the financing for the country’s renewables drive so far has come from domestic banks and such banks have to account for the lion’s share of new renewable investments in the future. Reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath" + }, + { + "text": "T-Mobile will move to 100 percent renewable electricity by the year 2021. The telecoms company said Monday that it had also finalized a contract for wind power from the Solomon Forks Wind Project in Kansas. Power generation there is due to begin at the beginning of 2019, and will supplement the energy T-Mobile receives from the Red Forks Wind Power Project in Oklahoma. John Legere, T-Mobile's president and CEO, said moving to renewable energy was the right thing to do and smart business. \"We expect to cut T-Mobile's energy costs by around $100 million in the next 15 years thanks to this move,\" he added. T-Mobile has also joined the RE100, a group of global businesses committed to renewable power. Other members of the RE100 include Apple , Facebook and Google. The RE100's head, Sam Kimmins, welcomed the news that T-Mobile was joining the initiative. \"It's great to see T-Mobile U.S. shifting to renewables for its power consumption,\" he said. \"As a large electricity consumer in the U.S., they can truly transform energy systems by bringing significant renewable capacity online — all of that while delivering real value to their customers.\"" + }, + { + "text": "Collapse of Colombian bridge kills nine workers, injures five Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BOGOTA (Reuters) - At least nine construction workers were killed and five injured when a partially-constructed bridge collapsed in central Colombia on Monday, an official from the disaster response agency said. The bridge, located in Chirajara on the border of Cundinamarca and Meta provinces, was to be part of the highway that connects the capital Bogota and the city of Villavicencio, and was not yet in public use. The cause of the collapse, which sent pieces of the bridge down into a canyon below, is under investigation, Reinaldo Romero, head of disaster response for Meta province, told Reuters. “Up to now there are nine dead and five injured,” Romero said. “We are doing a check to rule out other victims.” Reporting by Bogota newsroom; Editing by Nick Zieminski" + }, + { + "text": "Lufthansa urges Alitalia to slim down ahead of deal Thursday, January 11, 2018 - 01:08 Lufthansa's plan to buy Alitalia hit a stumbling block as the German carrier calls for major cuts before it moves forward. Silvia Antonioli reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Lufthansa's plan to buy Alitalia hit a stumbling block as the German carrier calls for major cuts before it moves forward. Silvia Antonioli reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 7:24 AM / in an hour LIVE MARKETS-Is the risk of a stock market correction rising? Reuters Staff 3 Min Read Jan 25 (Reuters) - Welcome to the home for real time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Julien Ponthus. Reach him on Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves: [REDACTED] IS THE RISK OF A STOCK MARKET CORRECTION RISING? (0715 GMT) On the theme of if/when we see a market pullback, economists at Oxford Economics say that short-term risks are broadly balanced between a downward correction and a further 'melt-up' rally, according to their analysis. But a continued 'melt-up' could risk an equity correction of \"well over 10%\". Oxford Economics reckons a stock market correction of 25 percent could cut U.S. growth to around 1 percent by 2019. (Kit Rees) EUROPEAN STOCK FUTURES POINT TO A START IN THE RED (0703 GMT) Earlier financial spreadbetters' indications made it hard to call in what direction European markets would open but futures now seem to point downward. (Julien Ponthus) WANTED: \"HEALTHY PULLBACK\" (0630 GMT) Just spotted an interesting quote in Chuck Mikolajczak's Wall Street report which highlights the fact that the continuous rise of markets is actually making some investors so nervous that a slight correction would be greeted with relief. \"The trend is higher and it is so universally, and with such conviction believed that any meaningful pullback is going to be aborted because investors simply don’t want to miss out,\" said Peter Kenny, senior market strategist at Global Markets Advisory Group in New York. \"So we are not seeing that healthy pullback that most investors would actually welcome.\" (Julien Ponthus)" + }, + { + "text": "BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) have agreed to provide income tax relief for high earners, a source said on Monday, signaling progress in their talks on forming a coalition government. Tax relief was an election promise by Merkel’s conservatives, and the initial agreement to raise the bar for a top income tax rate to an annual income of 60,000 euros indicates that the SPD are willing to compromise. Sealing a deal with the SPD on renewing the coalition with the conservatives that has governed Germany since 2013 is Merkel’s best chance at securing a fourth term in office after an election in September that weakened both parties. The compromise on taxation is only a small step in the talks between the would-be partners who have to bridge major differences on immigration, the future of the European Union and the economy. The source said the SPD, Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Christian Social Union (CSU) Bavarian allies want to raise a top tax rate of 42 percent that at the moment applies for those who earn 53,700 euros and above ($64,375.56) annually. SECOND TIME LUCKY? Merkel, who in November failed to form a coalition with the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), said on Sunday at the start of five days of talks with the SPD that the negotiations could succeed. Members of her conservative party sounded similarly upbeat on Monday. “Yesterday, we worked very factually and we did well,” said Julia Kloeckner, a senior member of the CDU. “We are aware of the fiscal limitations and we are optimistic.” SPD leader Martin Schulz has vowed to put any agreement with the conservatives up for a vote by party members, many of whom are opposed to a so-called ‘grand coalition’ of the two largest parties in parliament. The SPD want to improve the right of workers and scrap Germany’s dual healthcare system of premium private care and more widely accessible public care to replace it with a single “citizen’s insurance”. They also oppose a plan by the conservatives to extend a ban that expires in March on family reunifications for some asylum seekers. Writing by Joseph Nasr, Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "JENIN, West Bank (Reuters) - Israeli police killed a Palestinian gunman and captured another in a clash in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, saying they were part of a cell responsible for an ambush in which a Jewish settler was shot dead. Two police commandos were wounded in the raid in the city of Jenin, a spokesman said. Such flare-ups have been rare in the West Bank, where Palestinian security forces last year resumed cooperation with Israel despite the stalling of negotiations on statehood. An official of the Palestinian health ministry said it had been informed by the Israelis the dead man was Ahmed Jarrar, a Hamas gunman and the son of a senior commander of the Islamist group, Naser Jarrar, who was killed by Israeli forces in 2002. But the official said the Palestinian side had not seen the body, and his family could not confirm the death. Three other Palestinians were wounded, the official said. Witnesses said the Israeli forces had bulldozed at least one building as they closed in on their targets, and that it was possible another gunman was buried under the rubble. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the commandos had gone after the suspected killers of Rabbi Raziel Shevah, a resident of a settlement outpost near the Palestinian town of Nablus who was shot in his car in a drive-by attack on Jan. 9. “We will reach anybody who will try to harm Israel’s citizens and we will bring them to justice,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, commenting on the operation, said during a visit to India. Members of Israeli armed forces aim their weapons during a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, January 18, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman Tensions in the region have risen since U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement on Dec. 6 recognizing disputed Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and at least 18 Palestinians and one Israeli have been killed since. “The cell in Jenin is not the first and will not be the last,” Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement. Slideshow (3 Images) “The criminal role of (Palestinian) security coordination (with Israel) will not succeed in preventing the resistance from confronting Trump’s decision and protecting Jerusalem.” Hamas opposes coexistence with Israel. Trump’s reversal of decades of U.S. policy has enraged Palestinians, who want to create an independent state including Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Israel captured those areas in the 1967 Middle East War and annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognized internationally. It says the entire city is its eternal, indivisible capital. U.S.-led peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down in 2014. A bid by Trump’s administration to restart them has shown no real signs of progress. Vice President Mike Pence is due to visit the region from Jan 20 to 23. Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Writing by Ori Lewis; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Andrew Roche" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 9:03 AM / in 43 minutes Capitec's CFO dismisses research report as bank shares fall Reuters Staff 1 Min Read JOHANNESBURG, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Capitec’s Chief Financial Officer Andre du Plessis on Tuesday dismissed a report by U.S. firm Viceroy Research accusing the South African lender of overstating its income and assets, saying the allegations were “totally unfounded.” “It’s very surprising that someone writes a report who knows nothing about us. There’s a total lack of understanding of what we do,” du Plessis told Bloomberg TV. (Reporting by Tiisetso Motsoeneng and James Macharia)" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 4:00 PM / in an hour U.S. condemns Russia deal with South Ossetia on joint military force Reuters Staff 1 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States condemned Russia’s agreement with leaders of Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia region regarding a joint military force on Friday, saying the agreement is not a valid treaty. “The United States’ position on Abkhazia and South Ossetia is unwavering: The United States fully supports Georgia’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. Reporting by Justin Mitchell" + }, + { + "text": "January 6, 2018 / 8:40 PM / Updated an hour ago SEC probing Kushner Cos use of wealthy investor visas -WSJ Reuters Staff 3 Min Read Jan 6 (Reuters) - The real estate company of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law, is being investigated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its use of a federal program that grants visas to wealthy foreigners investing in the United States, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. Kushner Cos was asked by the SEC for information on its use of the visa program, known as EB-5, in May 2017, according to a person the Journal said was familiar with the matter. The EB-5 visa is a method for eligible immigrants to become lawful permanent residents, or “green card” holders, by investing at least $500,000 into a business in the United States that will employ 10 or more American workers. Most holders are wealthy Chinese individuals. The Journal said the company also received a separate request from New York federal prosecutors in the same month for information on development projects financed in part by the EB-5 program. Kushner, Kushner Cos, the White House and New York prosecutors did not reply to requests for comment from Reuters. The SEC could not be reached for comment. Kushner Cos referred the Journal to a previous statement on its use of the EB-5 program: “Kushner Cos utilized the program, fully complied with its rules and regulations, and did nothing improper. We are cooperating with legal requests for information.” The exact subject of the SEC’s inquiry, or whether it identified particular projects, is not clear, the Journal reported. The Kushners use of EB-5 visas to raise cash to finance developments came to broad attention in May last year, when Kushner’s sister, Nicole Kushner, spoke at a publicly advertised event in Shanghai to attract Chinese investment into a two-tower luxury apartment complex in New Jersey, called One Journal Square, being developed jointly by Kushner Cos and KABR Group. The company later apologized for mentioning Jared Kushner’s name while wooing investors. The developers were seeking to raise $150 million, or 15.4 percent of funding for the project, from investors through the EB-5 visa program, according to marketing materials posted by the event’s organizer, immigration agency Qiaowai, Reuters reported at the time. Kushner Cos is not a publicly traded company but the EB-5 is considered a securities offering, the Journal said, hence the SEC’s interest. Kushner resigned from his role leading Kushner Cos when he was appointed Trump’s senior White House adviser early last year but still owns a stake in parts of the business, according to his most recent personal financial disclosure form, the Journal said. (Reporting by Bill Rigby; Editing by Bill Trott)" + }, + { + "text": "Bill Gates can add a new accomplishment to his resume: serving as the first-ever guest editor of Time Magazine. According to Gates, the issue he oversaw is all about optimism. \"We've been working for the past few months on an issue that's all about something that seems to be sorely lacking these days: reasons to be optimistic about the future,\" he writes on his blog . In one of his articles for Time , he shares his explanation for why the world seems to be down in the dumps. \"Reading the news today does not exactly leave you feeling optimistic. Hurricanes in the Americas. Horrific mass shootings. Global tensions over nuclear arms, crisis in Myanmar, bloody civil wars in Syria and Yemen. Your heart breaks for every person who is touched by these tragedies,\" he writes. \"Even for those of us lucky enough not to be directly affected, it may feel like the world is falling apart.\" However, Gates argues that the world is actually stronger than ever before. \"These events — as awful as they are — have happened in the context of a bigger, positive trend,\" says Gates. \"On the whole, the world is getting better.\" show chapters Why this entrepreneur swears by unreasonable optimism 9:41 AM ET Fri, 12 Aug 2016 | 01:48 The billionaire explains that statistics actually suggest that there are many reasons to be hopeful. \"This is not some naively optimistic view; it's backed by data,\" he writes. \"Look at the number of children who die before their fifth birthday. Since 1990, that figure has been cut in half. That means 122 million children have been saved in a quarter-century, and countless families have been spared the heartbreak of losing a child.\" Gates also points to other indicators of progress including decreasing poverty rates, improved human rights for LGBTQ people and increasing representation of women in governments around the globe. \"I'm not trying to downplay the work that remains. Being an optimist doesn't mean you ignore tragedy and injustice,\" he explains. \"It means you're inspired to look for people making progress on those fronts, and to help spread that progress.\" show chapters The plan for Bill and Melinda Gates' $1.7 billion investment in America's public education system 10:21 AM ET Mon, 30 Oct 2017 | 01:16 According to Gates, news coverage and cultural shifts are to blame for the disconnect between pessimistic sentiments and evidence for hope. \"So why does it feel like the world is in decline? I think it is partly the nature of news coverage. Bad news arrives as drama, while good news is incremental — and not usually deemed newsworthy,\" he writes. \"A video of a building on fire generates lots of views, but not many people would click on the headline 'Fewer buildings burned down this year.'\" \"To some extent, it is good that bad news gets attention. If you want to improve the world, you need something to be mad about,\" he writes. \"But it has to be balanced by upsides.\" Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook ! Don't miss: 5 tricks for paying for college in 2018 What to do if you win the lottery in 2018 3 ways Bill Gates is spending billions to change the world show chapters How optimism breeds success 7:11 AM ET Fri, 3 June 2016 | 01:39" + }, + { + "text": "Aldi pursues UK expansion after record Christmas 4:52pm GMT - 01:48 Aldi UK, the British arm of the German discount supermarket, said it would press ahead with its aggressive expansion in 2018 after a record Christmas sales performance, boosted by demand for its premium ranges. Ciara Lee reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Aldi UK, the British arm of the German discount supermarket, said it would press ahead with its aggressive expansion in 2018 after a record Christmas sales performance, boosted by demand for its premium ranges. Ciara Lee reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "The Justice Department and SEC is requesting documents from Apple related to the company's decision to slow down older iPhones, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. The news agency said any possible investigation is still in \"early stages.\" Apple's stock, which was already trading lower on Tuesday, was down 1.4 percent in the afternoon. Apple was criticized recently when users discovered that iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus units were purposefully being slowed down by the company. Apple said it made the decision to throttle the iPhone speeds in an effort to preserve aging batteries and to prevent the phones from turning off. Apple responded by dropping the price of battery replacements for phones from $79 to $29 . A battery replacement would bring the phone back up to its full speed potential. The company has since apologized and says an update coming this spring, iOS 11.3 , will allow users to turn off the speed-throttling function at the cost of battery life. Apple was not immediately available for comment. The SEC declined to comment. The Justice Department was not immediately available for comment. Todd Haselton Technology Product Editor Related Securities" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - V Technology Co Ltd : * Says it received orders from overseas mega display maker worth 15 billion yen in total, to provide two kinds of exposure apparatus Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/TsBif9 Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "(Repeats to more subscribers) HONG KONG, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Germany’s central bank has decided to include China’s currency, the yuan, in its foreign exchange reserves, Bundesbank board member Andreas Dombret said in Hong Kong on Monday. “I can today say that also the German central bank, the Bundesbank, has decided to include renminbi in our currency reserves,” Dombret told a finance forum. The European Central Bank in June switched 500 million euros worth of its U.S. dollar reserves into yuan, reflecting the increased use of the Chinese currency and Beijing’s importance as one of the euro area’s biggest trading partners. (Reporting by Michelle Chen; Writing by John Ruwitch in Shanghai; Editing by Sam Holmes) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "By Natasha Bach 5:19 AM EST Pierre Agnes, CEO of Boardriders, the parent company of surfwear brand Quiksilver, is still missing more than 24 hours after his boat washed up in a town not far from where he departed. Agnes takes his boat out frequently in the mornings off the coast of Capbreton, in southwestern France, where he lives with his family. After setting sail Tuesday morning, Agnes reportedly sent a message to port authorities , explaining that due to thick fog he was delaying his return to shore. Winds were reportedly light, but big waves inhibited visibility. Read: Quiksilver Parent Buys Billabong, Combining Surf Apparel Competitors Not long after Agnes sent the message, his empty boat was found in Hossegor, a town not far from Capbreton. French authorities then deployed four vessels and four helicopters to search for Agnes . The search was suspended Tuesday evening, due to resume Wednesday morning. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "Bloomberg | Getty Images SHARES Rebecca Walser, a wealth management advisor who specializes in financial planning for high net worth individuals, tells CNBC Make It that the rich use plenty of tricks to build wealth, but \"the most common one is something that most regular Americans don't even know a thing about: Investing in permanent life insurance policies.\" Permanent life insurance policies, which Walser discusses in detail in her book, \" Wealth Unbroken: Growing Wealth Uninterrupted By Market Crashes, Taxes, And Even Death ,\" allow you to build savings in a tax-advantaged account. Unlike term life insurance policies, which are cheaper, temporary and have pay-outs that are only accessible upon death, permanent policies offer a cash-value component. Here's how they work: You invest a lot of money into an account, basically \"over-funding\" it, and watch it grow, tax-free, says Walser. And that's money you can access during your lifetime. show chapters 6:33 PM ET Wed, 25 Jan 2017 | 02:53 There are a couple different types of permanent policies, whole life and universal life . A whole life plan is a more long-term one with fixed premium payments and death benefits, whereas a universal life plan is more flexible. There's also an indexed policy, which allows you to invest in an equity index account. But the shared benefit of each of these is the accumulation of cash value. When it comes to withdrawals, you can take out what you've already put in, but if you want to touch the gains, you'll be taxed. As for your beneficiary at the time of your death, his or her insurance payout is not taxable , but what happens to the cash value part of the policy can vary. Sometimes the insurer actually gets to keep it. Not touching the money at all allows for maximum growth. By Walser's estimate, if you start putting $2,000 a year into an account when your child is born, by the time they are 60, they will have access to hundreds of thousands of tax-free dollars. show chapters 7:24 PM ET Tue, 28 March 2017 | 01:02 On the flip side, cash value life insurance, which can either grow at a stated rate of interest set by an insurer or be pegged to the market, will likely not beat market returns these days, considering its current height. And because these permanent policies are significantly more expensive than term policies, they're not always a great investment for the average American family. Other tax-deferred options like IRAs, 529 accounts and 401(k)s are all available at a lower cost. In fact, many advisors actually don't recommend buying life insurance for children, unless you are doing it to replace a family breadwinner's income. Also, for those who can afford to over-fund their cash value policy, there can be complex tax consequences. Broadly speaking, paying too much in premiums can turn the policy into a modified endowment contract (MEC). That shifts how your cash-value withdrawals are taxed and imposes a 10 percent penalty on any taxable withdrawals. For all these reasons, these policies might not necessarily be the best option for the average American family. For most, life insurance is a protection tool, not an investment. Overall, though, Walser thinks these accounts could be an under-the-radar strategy worth considering. \"The wealthy have been creating a lot of wealth in life insurance,\" she says." + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 9:14 AM / Updated 2 hours ago Ex-EU lawmaker Goulard to be named to French central bank post Reuters Staff 2 Min Read PARIS, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Former EU lawmaker Sylvie Goulard is set to be named deputy governor of the French central bank on Wednesday, two sources said, putting her in the frontline of European Central Bank policymaking. Goulard, 53, was a member of the European Parliament from 2009 until French President Emmanuel Macron named her defence minister following his 2017 election victory. She quit weeks into the job saying that she did not want to stay on in light of an investigation into her centre-right Modem party’s affairs in the EU parliament. In the European Parliament, Goulard was a member of the economic and monetary affairs committee and played a central role in drafting legislation on financial supervision and surveillance of fiscal discipline. Goulard is set to replace Anne Le Lorier, who along with Bank of France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau often represented France at the European Central Bank. Goulard’s nomination is expected to be confirmed at a French government cabinet meeting later on Wednesday, the sources said. The appointment comes ahead of an important period of decision-making in the euro zone with ECB President Mario Draghi scheduled to end his second term in November next year and changes to be made to the bank’s powerful executive board. At a time when the ECB is under pressure to appoint more women, the move could position Goulard to take over from France’s Benoit Coeure when he leaves the board in 2019. There are just two women on the ECB’s 25-member governing council and one on its six-member board. (Reporting by Leigh Thomas; additional reporting by Noah Barkin in Berlin)" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 25 (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose less than expected last week, pointing to tightening labor market conditions. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 17,000 to a seasonally adjusted 233,000, for the week ended Jan. 20, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast claims rising to 240,000 in the latest week. Claims have been volatile in recent weeks because of difficulties adjusting the data for seasonal fluctuations around year-end and the start of a new year. Unseasonably cold temperatures also had an impact on the data. (Reporting By Lucia Mutikani Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)" + }, + { + "text": "Taxes South Korea's President: We can never give up goal of denuclearizing Korean Peninsula South Korean President Moon Jae-in said that denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula remains an aim that will not be abandoned North and South Korea have agreed to resolve inter-Korean matters through dialogue after the first formal talks in more than two years Published 19 Hours Ago SHARES South Korean Presidential Blue House | Getty Images South Korean President Moon Jae-in a meeting at the National Security Council on November 29, 2017. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Wednesday denuclearizing the Korean peninsula is an aim that cannot be abandoned, but also that he did not want the immediate reunification of North and South Korea. \"The denuclearization of the Korean peninsula the two Koreas agreed upon jointly (in the past) is our basic stance that will never be given up,\" Moon said in an address during his New Year's news conference. North and South Korea agreed at their first formal talks in more than two years on Tuesday to resolve all inter-Korean matters through dialogue and to revive military talks to avert accidental conflict. Tensions have risen on the Korean Peninsula over the North's missile and nuclear weapons programs." + }, + { + "text": "Week ahead: markets fixate on Fed officials 10:04am GMT - 01:52 With global stock markets smashing record after record last week, the December minutes from the Federal Reserve hardly appeared on many traders' radars. But this week, FOMC thinking will loom large amid a slew of US central banker appearances. David Pollard reports. With global stock markets smashing record after record last week, the December minutes from the Federal Reserve hardly appeared on many traders' radars. But this week, FOMC thinking will loom large amid a slew of US central banker appearances. David Pollard reports. //reut.rs/2AFPIvk" + }, + { + "text": "MOSS, Norway (Reuters) - Norway’s Arctic region of Lofoten, Vesteraalen and Senja will remain off-limits to oil exploration at least until the next election for parliament, which is due in 2021, the government said on Sunday. Conservative Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Sunday announced an agreement to include in her cabinet the centrist Liberal Party, which had demanded that the cod-rich region’s waters continue to be shielded from oil drilling. Norway is western Europe’s top producer of oil and natural gas. Reporting by Joachim Dagenborg, writing by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Kevin Liffey" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - Us Auto Parts Network Inc: * US AUTO PARTS NETWORK INC - BOARD APPROVED AN INCREASE IN ANNUAL BASE SALARY FOR COMPANY‘S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS * US AUTO PARTS NETWORK SAYS ANNUAL BASE SALARY INCREASES OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WILL BE EFFECTIVE BEGINNING ON JAN 8- SEC FILING Source text: ( bit.ly/2FqM1x2 )" + }, + { + "text": "An architecturally quirky Hollywood Hills home—with a facade constructed from cement board panels—is listing for $29.95 million. Tucked behind large gates, with a large motor court and a four-car garage, the 9,000-square-foot, five-bedroom home was designed by Zoltan Pali of SPF:architects, who designed the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. There are geometric angled louvers that “create different shades and moods and feelings throughout the day, yet don’t block the view no matter which way you look,” said listing... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "19 Hours Ago | 00:47 Investors really love Eastman Kodak 's makeover. One day after the 130-year-old industrial company announced plans for its own cryptocurrency, shares are soaring 72 percent. KodakCoin will roll out after an initial coin offering later this month, Kodak said Tuesday. Blockchain, the technology underpinning popular digital currencies like bitcoin , is going to be used to build KodakOne, the company's new photo rights and royalties tracking product for digital photographers. KodakCoin will be the currency used on that platform. Kodak shares jumped more than 60 percent Wednesday and have now tripled since the announcement. The shares were around $3.13 before the announcement was put out and were last trading above $11. It is another step in the evolution of the faded American brand, once synonymous with film cartridges, paper and camera equipment. Kodak entered bankruptcy six years ago and emerged with a new focus on digital printing and packaging. But it still struggled to regain momentum. Like many old-line companies it has embraced cryptocurrencies and blockchain to remake its image, and time will tell whether that will stick. Shares of Long Blockchain Corp. doubled after the beverage company changed its name from Long Island Iced Tea Corp. in December. The biotech equipment maker Bioptix got a similar boost when it changed its name to Riot Blockchain last year." + }, + { + "text": "U.S. President Trump arrives in Switzerland for Davos meeting 12:41pm GMT - 00:41 Donald Trump arrived in Zurich on Thursday to attend the Davos summit where he is expected to push his ''America First'' agenda. Donald Trump arrived in Zurich on Thursday to attend the Davos summit where he is expected to push his \"America First\" agenda. //uk.reuters.com/video/2018/01/25/us-president-trump-arrives-in-switzerlan?videoId=388605997&videoChannel=13422" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 4:59 PM / Updated 34 minutes ago Grammy Awards TV audience drops sharply, nears record low Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The U.S. television audience for Sunday’s Grammy Awards show on CBS Corp. fell by more than eight million viewers and could be one of the lowest audiences on record, early Nielsen ratings data showed on Monday. Variety and TVLine.com reported that 17.6 million Americans tuned in for the three and a half hour broadcast, a more than 30 percent drop from 2017 when some 26.1 million television viewers watched. If the early figures are confirmed when final data comes out later on Monday, it will be the least-watched Grammy Awards show since 2008, when 17.2 million people saw the television broadcast. The lowest audience for any Grammy Awards show came in 2006, which drew an audience of 17 million. Sunday’s 60th anniversary Grammy Awards, staged in New York over three and a half hours, saw R&B singer Bruno Mars win six statuettes, while rapper Kendrick Lamar won five. Jay-Z, who had gone into the show with eight nominations, won nothing. Audiences for the Grammys had risen in 2016 and 2017. Final, official audience data for the show will be released later on Monday. Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Andrew Hay" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 8:48 AM / Updated 12 minutes ago Chinese investment in Cambodian province pushes up crime rate, says governor Prak Chan Thul 3 Min Read PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - China’s growing presence and investment in a fast-developing Cambodian port and province have pushed up the crime rate and brought instability, its governor said in a letter to the government. Anti-China comments are rare in a country that has welcomed Chinese investment with open arms. Prime Minister Hun Sen is a close Beijing ally and China is Cambodia’s biggest source of foreign direct investment by far. Preah Sihanoukville province in the southwest has seen a construction boom in recent years supported by a steady stream of Chinese money into building hotels, casinos and thousands of apartments. Govenor Yun Min said in a three-page letter sent to the interior minister that the Chinese influx had “created opportunities for Chinese mafia to come in and commit various crimes and kidnap Chinese investors, causing insecurity in the province”. Reuters obtained the letter on Friday and confirmed its authenticity with Yun Min and the Interior Ministry. Sihanoukville is an illustration of how China’s money has transformed a sleepy backpacker town into an economic hub, binding Cambodia’s economy even closer to China. China’s support has allowed Hun Sen to defy Western criticism of a crackdown on his opponents. The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party was dissolved by Cambodia’s Supreme Court at the request of Hun Sen’s government. That followed a crackdown on opposition figures, independent media and civil society groups. In his letter to the government, Yun Min also complained about drunk Chinese getting into fights in restaurants and about rising hotel prices as a result of Chinese interest in Sihanoukville. Not all his comments were negative, however. Yun Min said Chinese investment had created jobs and pushed up real estate prices in the province. Khieu Sopheak, a spokesman for the interior ministry, said he had not yet seen the letter but added that Cambodia would not be controlled by the Chinese. “We still keep our sovereignty, the Chinese can’t control us,” Khieu Sopheak told Reuters. “If they come as proper investors and respect our laws, it’s fine.” Editing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Nick Macfie" + }, + { + "text": "San Diego, CA, Brain Corp (“Brain”), an A.I. company specializing in the development of self-driving technology for robots, today announced that Christian Cornelius-Knudsen has joined the company’s management team as Senior Vice President, Global Sales and Services. Cornelius-Knudsen will be responsible for Brain’s robotics technology commercialization, market development and expansion, as well as OEM manufacturing, supplier and customer partnerships. A visionary leader with an impressive record of transforming domestic and global manufacturing and service businesses, Cornelius-Knudsen brings more than 25 years of experience leading organizations through aggressive organic growth, acquisitions, consolidations, sourcing initiatives and technology development. Cornelius-Knudsen was previously engaged with Brain lending his strategic counsel to transition the company from a contract software technology provider to a global industry leader in artificial intelligence, machine learning and indoor and outdoor navigation for robotics. “Working with Christian has been instrumental to the evolution of our organization and its technology platform, BrainOS,” said Brain Corp’s CEO, Dr. Eugene Izhikevich. “He is known for his unwavering commitment to excellence in developing people, strategy and businesses leading to growth and international expansion. As a well-established and respected leader in the commercial cleaning industry, I am extremely pleased to welcome Christian to our management team.” During the past four years, Cornelius-Knudsen has led the C-K Group which has been focused on transforming emerging and established businesses. Prior to founding the C-K Group, Cornelius-Knudsen served as President and CEO of Nilfisk-Advance, Americas for 13 years. He led the company’s successful turnaround to regain its position as one of the industry leaders in design, manufacture and marketing of professional cleaning equipment. “I have known Christian for the past 15 years,” commented John Barrett, Executive Director, ISSA. “Christian is an outstanding addition to the Brain team as he brings adeep blend of leading growth strategies, executing business expansions, and driving efficient market development and strategic customer relationships.” Brain recently announced a $114 million Series C funding round led by the SoftBankVision Fund. The investment will be used to further develop A.I. technology and create brains for multiple types of commercial and consumer robots. Brain Operating System (BrainOS) BrainOS® is the foundation of Brain Corp’s platform technology. It is a proprietary operating system that integrates with off-the- shelf hardware and sensors to provide acost-effective “brain” for robots. It plays the same role as Android OS for smartphones, but also includes computer vision and A.I. libraries that provide advanced self-driving capabilities for cluttered and dynamic indoor and outdoor environments. About Brain Corp Brain Corp is a San Diego-based A.I. company that partners with manufacturers of commercial equipment and consumer electronics, to convert their manually-operated products into autonomous robots. Brain Corp’s technology represents the nextgeneration of artificial brains for robots. Brain Corporation is funded by the SoftBank Vision Fund and Qualcomm Ventures. For more information or to access videos of its robots, please visit www.braincorp.com . Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at Karen Fisher Brain Corp [REDACTED] Source:Brain Corp" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Russia’s Credit Bank of Moscow plans to issue 5-year, U.S. dollar-denominated Eurobonds, a financial market source said on Tuesday. Investor meetings in Europe and the United States will begin on Feb. 1, the source said. (Reporting by Oksana Kobzeva Writing by Polina Nikolskaya Editing by Maria Kiselyova)" + }, + { + "text": "Actor Bruce Willis and his wife Emma Willis are putting their sprawling Central Park West apartment on the market for $17.75 million The couple purchased the apartment, which is in a prewar co-op building at 271 Central Park West, from Milwaukee Bucks basketball team owner Wesley Edens and his wife Lynn Edens for $16.995 million in 2015, New York City property records show. The... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer was heading to the White House on Friday to meet President Donald Trump to discuss ways to avert a government shutdown, a source familiar with the situation said. Trump, a Republican, telephoned Schumer to invite him to the White House, the source said. The U.S. Congress faced a midnight deadline to come up with funding legislation to avoid federal agency shutdowns. Reporting by Susan Cornwell" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 1:55 PM / Updated an hour ago Manchester City complete Laporte signing for club-record fee Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Manchester City have signed French central defender Aymeric Laporte from Spanish club Athletic Bilbao, the Premier League leaders said on Tuesday. British newspapers reported that City paid a club-record 57 million pounds for the 23-year-old Laporte who has signed a contract until 2023. The club’s previous record fee was 55 million pounds paid to Wolfsburg for midfielder Kevin de Bruyne in 2015. ”I am very happy to be here,“ Laporte said in a club statement. ”City are a club with a lot of ambition and they are one of the best teams in Europe. ”I am looking forward to working under Pep Guardiola and trying to help the Club to achieve success. “It means a lot that the Club have shown faith in me and I am excited to get started.” City coach Guardiola wanted to add another centre back to his squad to challenge Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones with ongoing injury concerns surrounding captain Vincent Kompany. Laporte, a left-footed defender, was a first-team regular at Bilbao since breaking through in the 2012-13 season and he helped them win the 2015 Spanish Super Cup. He clocked up a total of 222 appearances for the Basque club, scoring 10 goals. On the international stage, Laporte has featured 19 times for France at Under-21 level. Laporte becomes City’s sixth signing of the season following the arrival of Ederson, Danilo, Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy and Bernardo Silva at the start of the campaign. Speaking at a news conference ahead of Wednesday’s league clash against West Bromwich Albion, Guardiola said Laporte has all the attributes required to adapt to the demands of the English game. “We are very aware of his skills. He’s an experienced central defender on the big stages and has the skills to help us,” Guardiola said. ”He will be able to start right away. The Premier League is special in many senses. But he is intelligent. “It’s always tough for a new player but we will be patient with him. He is the perfect age to be with us for a while.” Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond and Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 1:02 AM / Updated 5 minutes ago Global stocks pause after rally; U.S. bond yields hit 10-month high Chuck Mikolajczak 4 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - A gauge of world stock markets slipped on Thursday, pausing after notching a run of record highs, as a decline in Boeing and interest-rate sensitive sectors such as utilities and real estate weighed on U.S. equities. Shares on Wall Street took a breather after the strongest performance of the year for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the benchmark S&P 500 saw the indexes close above 26,000 and 2,800, respectively, for the first time on Wednesday. Equities were held in check by a 3.09 percent drop in aerospace company Boeing ( BA.N ), the best performing Dow component so far the year. Utilities .SPLRCU, down 0.62 percent and real estate .SPLRCR, off 0.98 percent, also came under pressure as yields on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note touched a 10-month high. “Maybe it takes a breather for a couple of days but I don’t see a big selloff,” said Andrew Slimmon, portfolio manager at Morgan Stanley Investment Management in Chicago. “When we get through earnings season and the market starts talking more macro, we are going to hit a problem, just because we are overbought.” Shares in Morgan Stanley ( MS.N ) advanced 0.89 percent after it reported an adjusted quarterly profit that topped Wall Street estimates. Investors have looked to an improving global economy and the onset of the U.S. corporate earnings season in the recent run higher. Earnings growth for the quarter is forecast at 12.3 percent, according to Thomson Reuters data through Thursday morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 97.84 points, or 0.37 percent, to end at 26,017.81, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 4.53 points, or 0.16 percent, to 2,798.03 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 2.23 points, or 0.03 percent, to 7,296.05. People are reflected in a display showing the Nikkei average (top in L) and the NASDAQ average of the U.S outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan, November 7, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon - S1AEULJVTGAA European shares closed modestly higher, led by a rise in cyclical stocks. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index .FTEU3 rose 0.21 percent and MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD PUS shed 0.06 percent. Yields on 10-year Treasury notes reached a 10-month high after China reported fourth-quarter growth that accelerated for the first time in seven years. The benchmark notes US10YT=RR were last down 11/32 in price to yield 2.6163 percent, from 2.578 percent late on Wednesday. The data drove European counterparts higher as well, with Germany’s 10-year bond yield DE10YT=RR hitting a six-month top at 0.595 percent. The U.S. dollar fell as traders piled into the euro, yen JPY= , sterling GBP= and other major currencies amid worries over a possible U.S. government shutdown as lawmakers struggled to cobble together a federal budget deal. The trade-weighted dollar index =USD was last down 0.45 percent with the euro EUR= up 0.45 percent to $1.2239. Congressional Republicans struggled to line up support on Thursday for a short-term extension of government funding that would avert a politically embarrassing shutdown, after President Donald Trump offered mixed signals on the stopgap plan. Oil prices recovered from early losses after a record drawdown of U.S. crude stockpiles at the Cushing, Oklahoma delivery hub. U.S. crude CLcv1 settled at $63.95 per barrel, down 2 cents, and Brent LCOcv1 settled at $69.31, down 7 cents. Editing by Bernadette Baum and James Dalgleish" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 11:58 AM / Updated 30 minutes ago UPDATE 1-Norway's sovereign fund seeks permission to invest in unlisted firms Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Adds background, detail) OSLO, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Norway’s $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest, is seeking permission to broaden its investments to potentially include unlisted companies, the central bank, which manages the fund, said in a letter to the Norwegian finance ministry. A gradual build-up of unlisted stakes would most likely take place via investments in private equity funds or by investing alongside such funds, it said. The Norwegian fund has in the past lamented its inability to make early investments in companies that grow rapidly without a stock market listing, naming sharing-platforms Uber Technologies and Airbnb Inc. among the missed opportunities. The finance ministry last year asked the fund to review options for unlisted firms. “If the Ministry does permit unlisted equity investments, the Bank will approach investment opportunities and build expertise gradually, invest via and alongside others,” the central bank said. The fund said it would only go ahead with unlisted investments if and when this was expected to improve the trade- off between risk and return. The wealth fund currently has a value of 8,500 billion Norwegian crowns ($1.06 trillion), with about 65.9 percent held in listed stocks at the end of the third quarter, 31.6 percent in bonds and 2.5 percent in real estate. The equity portfolio, consisting of stakes in some 9,000 companies, corresponds to about 1.4 percent of all global listed shares. ($1 = 8.0375 Norwegian crowns) (Reporting by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Mark Potter and Jane Merriman)" + }, + { + "text": "SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG) will hold a conference call for members of the financial community on February 9, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its fourth quarter 2017 results. The public can access the conference call via a simultaneous webcast. The link is provided below and will also be available from the PG&E Corporation website. What: Fourth Quarter 2017 Earnings Call When: Friday, February 9, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time Where: How: Live over the Internet – log on to the web at the address above If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the call will be archived at . Alternatively, a toll-free replay of the conference call may be accessed shortly after the live call through February 23, 2018, by dialing (866) 415-9493. International callers may dial (205) 289-3247. For both domestic and international callers, the confirmation code 3265# will be required to access the replay. Please contact Investor Relations at (415) 972-7080 if you have any questions. PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG) is a Fortune 200 energy-based holding company, headquartered in San Francisco. It is the parent company of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, California's largest investor-owned utility. PG&E serves about 16 million Californians across a 70,000 square-mile service area in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit the Web site at . View original content: SOURCE PG&E Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "A federal appeals court on Tuesday declined to reconsider an earlier decision invalidating Helsinn Healthcare SA’s patents on its anti-nausea treatment Aloxi, rejecting arguments by the pharmaceutical industry that letting the ruling stand would hinder innovation. Siding with the generic drug company Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit declined to rehear en banc its May 1 Aloxi ruling by a 12-0 vote. To read the full story on Westlaw Practitioner Insights, click here: bit.ly/2Dj8JWz" + }, + { + "text": "BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union has set import duties on certain cast iron articles to counter what it sees as dumping by Chinese producers, the latest in a series of trade measures against China. The European Commission launched a case in December 2016 following a complaint from seven EU producers, including two units of French group Saint Gobain, about imports of products made from lamellar graphite cast iron, known as gray iron, and spheroidal graphite cast iron, known as ductile cast iron. The products in question are wide-ranging and include gratings, drains and manhole covers. The EU has set duties of between 15.5 and 38.1 percent for Chinese manufacturers, the EU said in its official journal on Tuesday. The tariff will enter into force on Wednesday and last for five years. The duties are lower than the provisional duties of between 25.3 and 42.8 percent set in August. The EU said the amounts collected should be held, but the difference refunded. The EU at the same time terminated its investigation into cast iron imports from India, finding there to be no dumping. The case could well lead to a legal challenge as China complained that it should no longer have been treated as a non-market economy from December 2016. The non-market economy status allowed its prices to be compared with those of an “analogue” country, where normal market economics did apply. In this case, India was chosen. The EU has subsequently changed the way it handles anti-dumping cases for China. Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, editing by Louise Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 3:28 PM / Updated 16 minutes ago IOC to host talks on North Korean participation on January 20 Stephanie Nebehay 2 Min Read LAUSANNE (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will host talks on Jan. 20 to discuss key details about North Korea’s participation at next month’s Winter Olympics in neighbouring South Korea. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters is pictured on the day of an Executive Board meeting on sanctions for Russian athletes in Lausanne, Switzerland December 5, 2017. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse The two countries agreed on Tuesday, following their first talks in over two years, that North Korea would send a large delegation to next month’s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. The IOC said the meeting at its headquarters in Lausanne would take a series of “essential decisions” on the North’s participation. These would include the number of names of athletes from the North Korean Olympic Committee as well as questions related to official protocol, including flags, ceremonies and uniform. The IOC said that its president Thomas Bach would host the talks which would also include the delegations from the national Olympic committees of both countries. North Korean IOC member Chang Ung spent four hours at the IOC building on Wednesday, Reuters witnesses said. He left in a black car without talking to reporters. This week’s talks took place amid a tense standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programmes, after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in a New Year’s Day speech that he was “open to dialogue” with Seoul. Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump have exchanged fiery barbs in the last year and Trump has warned that the United States would have no choice but to “totally destroy” North Korea if forced to defend itself or its allies. Additional reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi; Writing by Brian Homewood, Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 1:22 AM / Updated 13 hours ago PRECIOUS-Gold edges higher on easier U.S. dollar Reuters Staff 3 Min Read Jan 29 (Reuters) - Gold prices inched higher early on Monday as the U.S. dollar hovered around three-year lows, trading not far off more than 17-month highs hit last week. FUNDAMENTALS * Spot gold rose 0.1 percent to $1,350.99 per ounce at 0101 GMT. It rose about 1.4 percent last week. * U.S. gold futures for February delivery fell 0.2 percent to $1,349.50 per ounce. * The dollar wobbled near three-year lows against a basket of major currencies on Monday, struggling to pull ahead from six straight weeks of losses amid its evaporating yield advantage and doubts about Washington's commitment to a strong currency. * Asian shares looked to extend their recent bull run amid upbeat corporate earnings and strong global economic growth, while more rumblings from the White House about \"unfair\" trade practices kept the U.S. dollar on the defensive. * U.S. economic growth unexpectedly slowed in the fourth quarter as the strongest pace of consumer spending in three years resulted in a surge in imports. * Attempts to target exchange rates risk setting off a currency war, a top European Central Bank executive argued on Friday, just days after U.S. officials made their case for a weaker dollar to boost trade. * The euro zone's economy could prove to be a shining star again this year, but persistently tepid inflation will probably keep the European Central Bank from following its peers and tightening monetary policy anytime soon. * U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is hopeful about talks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement but realizes a great deal of work remains, Republican U.S. Congressman Dave Reichert said on Sunday after a briefing. DATA AHEAD (GMT) 1330 U.S. Personal consumption Dec 1530 U.S. Dallas Fed manufacturing index Jan (Reporting by Nithin Prasad in Bengaluru; editing by Richard Pullin)" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 11:34 AM / Updated 2 hours ago Big Bash League Standings Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 16 (OPTA) - Standings of the Big Bash League on Tuesday P W L T Ded RR PTS Perth Scorchers 8 6 2 0 0 .103 12 Adelaide Strikers 7 5 2 0 0 .936 10 Hobart Hurricanes 7 5 2 0 0 -.228 10 Melbourne Renegades 7 4 3 0 0 .345 8 Brisbane Heat 8 4 4 0 0 .167 8 Sydney Thunder 8 3 5 0 0 -.200 6 Sydney Sixers 8 2 6 0 0 -.233 4 Melbourne Stars 7 1 6 0 0 -.917 2 Note: Ded-Deductions; RR-Net Run Rate" + }, + { + "text": "January 13, 2018 / 11:14 AM / Updated 2 hours ago UPDATE 2-Big Bash League Scoreboard Reuters Staff 3 Min Read Jan 13 (OPTA) - Scoreboard at close of play on the first day of match 28 between Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder on Saturday at Sydney, Australia Sydney Sixers win by 8 wickets Sydney Thunder 1st innings Usman Khawaja lbw Carlos Brathwaite 8 James Vince c Nic Maddinson b Nathan Lyon 34 Shane Watson b Sean Abbott 3 Callum Ferguson c Joe Denly b Moises Henriques 7 Chris Green Run Out Moises Henriques 49 Arjun Nair c Jordan Silk b Moises Henriques 17 Ben Rohrer Not Out 7 Jay Lenton Not Out 18 Extras 4b 4lb 0nb 0pen 5w 13 Total (20.0 overs) 156-6 Fall of Wickets : 1-39 Khawaja, 2-48 Watson, 3-58 Vince, 4-63 Ferguson, 5-122 Nair, 6-129 Green Did Not Bat : McClenaghan, Sandhu, Ahmed Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Ben Dwarshuis 3 0 21 0 7.00 4w Carlos Brathwaite 4 0 31 1 7.75 Nathan Lyon 4 0 24 1 6.00 Sean Abbott 3 0 25 1 8.33 1w Johan Botha 3 0 22 0 7.33 Moises Henriques 3 0 25 2 8.33 Sydney Sixers 1st innings Joe Denly b Fawad Ahmed 43 Daniel Hughes Not Out 66 Nic Maddinson c Ben Rohrer b Arjun Nair 28 Moises Henriques Not Out 18 Extras 0b 1lb 0nb 0pen 1w 2 Total (20.0 overs) 157-2 Fall of Wickets : 1-69 Denly, 2-127 Maddinson Did Not Bat : Silk, Brathwaite, Botha, Nevill, Abbott, Dwarshuis, Lyon Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Gurinder Sandhu 2 0 26 0 13.00 1w Mitchell McClenaghan 4 0 34 0 8.50 Chris Green 4 0 22 0 5.50 Shane Watson 2 0 26 0 13.00 Fawad Ahmed 4 0 22 1 5.50 Arjun Nair 4 0 26 1 6.50 Umpire Greg Davidson Umpire Simon Lightbody Video Claire Polosak Match Referee Peter Marshall" + }, + { + "text": "BEAVERTON, Ore., Jan. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Genesis Financial Solutions announced the appointment of Mark E. Denman as President of Genesis Credit, the private label financing business unit of Genesis Financial Solutions. The programs offered through the Genesis Credit brand allows retailers to provide customers, who are typically turned down by prime lenders, access to high quality financing solutions with flexible payment plans and attractive promotions. As President, Mark will focus on driving Genesis Credit's long term strategic development and immediate incremental growth, while building strong relationships with current and future retail partners. \"We are excited to have someone of Mark's stature join our executive team at Genesis,\" said Bruce Weinstein, President and CEO, Genesis Financial Solutions. \"Mark's extensive retail consumer credit expertise and proven ability to increase top line growth, aligns with our long term strategic objectives for our private label business.\" Mark comes to Genesis Financial Solutions with over 20 years of leadership experience in the consumer leasing industry. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President at AcceptanceNow (A Rent-A-Center brand). In this role, he drove a 30% revenue increase in their kiosk lease business, a 25% reduction in time to open stores, a 20% increase in store openings, and implemented the company's first virtual kiosks. Prior to his EVP role at AcceptanceNow, Mark was Divisional Vice President at both Rent-A-Center and AcceptanceNow brands as well as Operations Manager at TRS (The Rental Store) who Rent A Center acquired in 2010. About Genesis Financial Solutions Genesis Financial Solutions, Inc. is the leading provider of non-prime consumer financing solutions with over 1.5 million customers, 150,000 new cardholders monthly, and 1,000 team members. Genesis provides top quality financing solutions and respectful service for non-prime consumers through our merchant and direct-to-consumer credit card programs. Our programs offer consumers, who are typically turned down by a prime lender, a second chance to access financing and credit cards with simple terms, competitive rates, and excellent customer service. For more information visit Genesis' website at www.genesis-fs.com . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Genesis Financial Solutions, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Ivan Barbashev, Patrik Berglund and Alexander Steen provided the scoring as the St. Louis Blues maintained their momentum in the first game back from the All-Star break, posting a 3-1 victory over the visiting Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night. The Blues have won three consecutive games and are making a push to take over first place in the Central Division. Goalie Carter Hutton, who started his sixth straight game, finished with 34 saves and was just 1 minute, 7 seconds away from his third shutout of the year. St. Louis was outshot 34-31 but made the most of its chances. The Blues won 34 of 58 faceoffs to dictate the run of play. Carey Price had 28 saves and took the hard-luck loss for the Canadiens, who have lost three of their past four games. Montreal sits near the bottom of the Atlantic Division, and its playoff hopes are fading. St. Louis also beat the Canadiens 4-3 on Dec. 5 and have now won four straight in the series. The Blues took the lead 4:38 into the second period on an unassisted goal by Barbashev. He picked up a loose puck and took a shot around three Montreal defenseman that appeared to screen Price. Canadiens right winger Logan Shaw was penalized for holding with 12:36 left in the second period, giving the Blues their first power play of the night. However, St. Louis could not capitalize on several opportunities. Montreal increased the pressure in the final period to try and find a game-tying goal. That opened up opportunities for the Blues to mount effective counterattacks. The Canadiens committed a costly penalty for too many players on the ice, and Berglund made them pay with a close-range goal with 14:46 left in the game. Montreal never recovered, and Steen scored a short-handed goal in an empty net to increase the lead to 3-0. Charles Hudon’s late power-play goal allowed the Canadiens to avoid their seventh shutout defeat of the season. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "BOSTON (Reuters) - Och-Ziff Capital Management director William Barr is leaving the hedge fund’s board at the end of the month, marking the first visible fallout from a battle over who will run the firm in the future. The hedge fund firm said in a regulatory filing on Monday that Barr’s decision to step down from the seven-member board “relates to a disagreement over CEO succession, as well as business and governance plans for the Company.” Barr notified the firm of his plans last week and Och-Ziff made the news public on Monday. The firm, which invests $32 billion and is one of only a few publicly traded hedge funds, made headlines last week with news that its succession plans had been ripped up. The firm told investors late last month that it was “not the right time” to promote co-Chief Investment Officer James “Jimmy” Levin to CEO. The firm also said that founder, chairman and chief executive officer Daniel Och and the firm’s board of directors hoped that the 34-year-old Levin, Och’s longtime protégé and heir apparent, would remain as co-CIO. David Windreich is the other co-CIO and is also a board member. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that the board had wanted to move ahead with the succession plan to let Levin take over this year but that Och soured on Levin and refused to accept the plan. Och, through a spokesman, and Levin did not respond to requests last week for comment. Barr, a lawyer who had served as a U.S. Attorney General, joined Och-Ziff’s board in 2016. He sent a one paragraph note informing Och and others of his plans on January 23. “This is to advise you that I am resigning from the board of directors, effective at the end of this month (January). If that timing causes any difficulties for the company, please let me know.” The email was attached as an exhibit to the filing. He serves as Chairman of Och-Ziff’s Corporate Responsibility and Compliance Committee and as a member of the Audit Committee and the Nominating Committee. Och-Ziff built itself into one of the hedge fund industry’s biggest firms by staying out of the limelight and delivering steady returns that delighted pension funds. But it made headlines when a subsidiary admitted to bribing African officials and after paying $412 million to settle criminal and civil charges with the U.S. government. This prompted clients to pull out billions, shrinking assets from $50 billion at its peak before the financial crisis in 2005. Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 5:52 AM / Updated an hour ago Aussie shares extend losses as banks weigh; NZ hits 5-wk closing low Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Updates to close) Jan 11 (Reuters) - Australian shares extended losses to a second session on Thursday, led by declines in financials, after a report that China may dial down purchases of U.S. government debt rattled Wall Street. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.5 percent, or 29.1 points, to 6,067.60. The benchmark lost 0.6 percent in the previous session. The three major indexes on Wall Street snapped a six-session rally on Wednesday as investors grew jittery after Bloomberg reported that China, the world’s biggest foreign holder of U.S. Treasuries, could slow or halt U.S. government bond purchases. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group finished 0.2 percent weaker at its lowest close in a week, while Westpac Banking Corp and Commonwealth Bank of Australia fell 0.5 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively. Materials stocks reversed early gains in the session to end lower, with heavyweight BHP Billiton Ltd slipping 0.4 percent. Australia’s Port Hedland iron ore terminal, used by the nation’s top miners, has begun clearing all vessels in its harbour as a tropical storm intensifies off the western Australian coast. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index registered broad losses and dropped 1.4 percent to finish at 8,250.44, its lowest close since Dec. 8. Dairy firm A2 Milk Company shed 4.4 percent to touch a near two-month closing low, while Auckland International Airport dropped 2.3 percent, hitting its lowest close in six weeks. (Reporting by Devika Syamnath in Bengaluru; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri)" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s relations with Britain will not change because of changes in British-EU relations, Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday. Speaking after meeting visiting British Prime Minister Theresa May in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, Li said the two discussed upholding free trade and that China would become more open to agricultural products. Reporting by Ben Blanchard and William James; Editing by Nick Macfie" + }, + { + "text": "CANONSBURG, Pa., Jan. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CONSOL Coal Resources LP (NYSE: CCR) will issue its fourth quarter earnings release before the market opens on Tuesday, February 6, 2018. This will be followed by a conference call hosted by members of the management team at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The webcast will be accessible on the 'Investor Relations' page of the company's website, www.ccrlp.com . An archive of the webcast will be available for at least 30 days after the event. Beginning first quarter of 2018, we expect to hold a combined earnings conference call with our sponsor, CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE: CEIX), which owns the remaining 75% interest in the Pennsylvania Mining Complex. Participant dial in (toll free) 1-855-656-0928 Participant international dial in 1-412-902-4112 Participants should ask to be joined into the CONSOL Coal Resources earnings conference call. CONSOL Coal Resources is a growth-oriented master limited partnership formed by CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE: CEIX) to manage and further develop all of CONSOL's active coal operations in Pennsylvania. Its assets include a 25% undivided interest in, and operational control over, CONSOL's Pennsylvania mining complex, which consists of three underground mines and related infrastructure. More Information is available on our website www.ccrlp.com Contacts: Investor: Mitesh Thakkar, at (724) 485-3133 [REDACTED] Media: Zach Smith, at (724) 485-4017 [REDACTED] View original content with multimedia: SOURCE CONSOL Coal Resources LP and CONSOL Energy Inc." + }, + { + "text": "HOUSTON/NEW YORK, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Cody Moore, president of the power trading group at global commodities firm BioUrja, has left, several sources familiar with the matter said this week. Moore had served as president of BioUrja’s power group since June 2015, according to his LinkedIn profile, and was a co-founder of the group, according to the company’s website. Moore and BioUrja did not respond to requests for comment. Before joining BioUrja, he held senior roles at EDF Trading and Lehman Brothers, according to his LinkedIn profile. It was not immediately clear where Moore was going. The sources declined to be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. Reporting by Liz Hampton in Houston and Devika Krishna Kumar in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis" + }, + { + "text": "ST. LOUIS, Jan. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Energizer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ENR) announced that its Board of Directors has declared a dividend for the second quarter of its fiscal 2018 of $0.29 per share of Common Stock, payable on March 13, 2018 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 20, 2018. About Energizer Holdings, Inc. Energizer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ENR), headquartered in St. Louis, MO, is one of the world's largest manufacturers of primary batteries and portable lighting products and is anchored by its two globally recognized brands Energizer® and Eveready®. Energizer is also a leading designer and marketer of automotive fragrance and appearance products from recognized brands such as Refresh Your Car!®, California Scents®, Driven®, Bahama & Co.®, LEXOL® and Eagle One®. As a global branded distributor of consumer products, our mission is to lead the charge to deliver value to our customers and consumers better than anyone else. Visit www.energizerholdings.com for more details. View original content: SOURCE Energizer Holdings, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 11:49 PM / Updated 4 minutes ago Syrian opposition will not attend Sochi peace talks: spokesman Reuters Staff 1 Min Read VIENNA (Reuters) - The Syrian opposition will not attend a peace conference that Russia is hosting in Sochi next week, a spokesman for the opposition delegation to U.N.-brokered peace talks in Vienna said on Saturday. The Syrian government and its ally Russia had not provided the necessary commitments and the Sochi conference was an attempt to undermine the United Nations’ efforts to broker a peace deal, the spokesman, Yahya al-Aridi, said. Related Coverage" + }, + { + "text": "Trump at Davos: U.S. 'Open for Business' 1/26/2018 10:45AM President Donald Trump said the U.S. is \"open for business” and asserted the nation’s interest in partnering with other countries, in an address Friday to foreign leaders and business executives gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Photo: Reuters" + }, + { + "text": "Halliburton's revenue surges 50 pct. 10:35am EST - 01:00 Revenue at oil services giant Halliburton grew in every region and in both drilling and production. As Fred Katayama reports, its CEO was upbeat about its outlook. Revenue at oil services giant Halliburton grew in every region and in both drilling and production. As Fred Katayama reports, its CEO was upbeat about its outlook. //reut.rs/2Dv4J9D" + }, + { + "text": "Unilever makes strides in Africa's most populous country Wednesday, January 24, 2018 - 02:00 Global consumer goods maker Unilever has increased manufacturing in Nigeria to cut costs as it seeks to grow in Africa's most populous country. Global consumer goods maker Unilever has increased manufacturing in Nigeria to cut costs as it seeks to grow in Africa's most populous country. //reut.rs/2DzoZ9Y" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 10:56 AM / Updated 19 minutes ago Yemen seeks Saudi cash as plunging currency deepens war woes Reuters Staff 3 Min Read ADEN (Reuters) - War-torn Yemen said it needs a $2 billion (£1.45 billion) deposit pledged by key ally Saudi Arabia in November to stabilise a currency that hit new lows this week, pushing its impoverished people closer to starvation. FILE PHOTO - Yemen's President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi holds his hat during a visit to the country's northern province of Marib July 10, 2016. REUTERS/ Ali Owidha Yemen has been divided by nearly three years of civil war between the internationally recognised government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, backed by Saudi Arabia, and the Iran-aligned Houthis. The conflict has unleashed the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, including one of the most deadly cholera epidemics in modern times and economic collapse, which has spread hunger. Authorities sought to boost liquidity by printing money, but the rial plunged from 250 to the dollar to 350 after the first batch of newly printed notes was rolled out last year. The rial traded for 440 to the dollar by year’s end and this week crashed to around 500. “Government action in this regard is done on several tracks, according to the limited options available, including intensifying communication ... to expedite the completion of the Saudi depository procedures,” state news agency Saba quoted government spokesman Rajeh Badi as saying on Monday. Saudi officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the allegedly promised funds. President Hadi announced on Nov. 11 that Riyadh had agreed to deposit $2 billion into Yemen’s central bank to shore up the rial and secure shipments of badly needed fuel. Hadi’s government moved the central bank in 2016 from the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa to the southern port city of Aden, where the government is currently based. Both the central bank in Aden and the one in Sanaa suffer from depleted reserves, but they have played a key role in mitigating widespread economic pain by paying some public sector salaries, as soaring prices threaten to push basic commodities out of reach for many Yemenis. The Aden authorities accuse the Houthis of plundering the bank’s foreign reserves to fund their war effort when it was based in the capital, charges the group and the Sanaa bank deny. Reporting By Mohammed Ghobari and Noah Browning, editing by Larry King" + }, + { + "text": "January 2, 2018 / 10:11 AM / Updated an hour ago SE Asia Stocks-Singapore hits near 3-wk high on growth data Reuters Staff 3 Min Read By Aditya Soni Jan 2 (Reuters) - Singapore shares climbed nearly 1 percent on Tuesday, buoyed by data showing the city-state's economy grew last year at its fastest pace since 2014, while Indonesia reversed course to end lower after touching a record high. The Singapore index closed at its highest since Dec. 14, with financials leading the gainers. Index heavyweight DBS Group Holdings Ltd was up 1.4 percent, while Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp Ltd rose 0.8 percent. \"Today's data affirm that the recovery is broadening out,\" said Irvin Seah, an economist at DBS Bank. \"The services sector is likely to take over from the manufacturing sector as the main engine of growth in 2018.\" Although advance estimates showed Singapore's economic growth slowing in the fourth quarter as factories lost steam, a services sector recovery has bolstered expectations the central bank could tighten monetary policy as early as April. The affluent-state's full-year growth came in at the top end of the government's official 3.0-3.5 percent forecast range, its fastest expansion in three years. In Indonesia, shares closed down 0.3 percent, dragged down by financials and stocks of telecommunication services providers. It hit a record high earlier in the session. Bank Mandiri lost 1.9 percent, while clove cigarettes maker Gudang Garam fell 2.7 percent. Malaysia snapped three consecutive sessions of gains, led by consumer staples and telecommunication services. \"This is most likely the reaction towards strong share prices in the previous (trading) days,\" said Jolynn Kek, investment manager at Aberdeen Asset Management. \"It's only the first day of trading for the year, so it's hard to say (if) it's indicative of a longer term trend.\" Sime Darby Plantation Bhd slumped 8.5 percent, while Malayan Banking Bhd slipped 1.4 percent. Vietnam shares rose for a seventh straight session to end at their highest since November 2007, with financial stocks leading. BIDV climbed to a more than two-year high, while VPBank hit a record high. Stock markets in Thailand and the Philippines were closed for a holiday. For Asian Companies click; SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS Change on day Market Current Previous close Pct Move Singapore 3430.3 3402.92 0.80 Jakarta 6339.238 6355.654 -0.26 Kuala Lumpur 1782.7 1796.81 -0.79 Ho Chi Minh 995.77 984.24 1.17 Change on year Market Current End 2017 Pct Move Singapore 3430.3 3402.92 0.80 Jakarta 6339.238 6,355.65 -0.26 Kuala Lumpur 1782.7 1796.81 -0.79 Ho Chi Minh 995.77 984.24 1.17 (Reporting by Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Liz Lee from Kuala Lumpur; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath)" + }, + { + "text": "Globalization is losing its lustre, India's Modi tells Davos summit 8:18am GMT - 01:26 India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Globalization is losing its lustre, adding he hopes the Davos summit will bring a solution. Rough cut (no reporter narration). India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Globalization is losing its lustre, adding he hopes the Davos summit will bring a solution. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2n7HcAG" + }, + { + "text": "Third-ranked Purdue set a school record by hitting 20 3-pointers in 87-64 romp over Iowa on Saturday in Iowa City. The Boilermakers, who won their 15th consecutive game, sank 20 of 33 3-point shots for 60.6 percent. It was the most 3-pointers made by a Big Ten team in a conference game. Northwestern hit 20 twice in a non-conference game. Carsen Edwards led four Boilermakers in double figures with 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 6 of 9 3-pointers. Vincent Edwards was right behind with 19 points for Purdue (19-2, 8-0 Big Ten) with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting. P.J. Thompson scored 14 and Dakota Mathias 12 points for Purdue. Thompson and Mathias each hit 4 of 6 3-point shots. Ryan Cline came off the bench to hit 3 of 6 3-pointers for nine points for Purdue. Luka Garza led the Hawkeyes (10-11, 1-7) with 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Tyler Cook, Brady Ellingson and Jordan Bohannon each scored nine points for Iowa. The Boilermakers’ largest lead was 37 points. The Boilermakers shot 56.9 percent for the game. The Hawkeyes shot 66.7 percent (18 of 27) in the second half to finish with a 43.9 percent overall. Iowa was 6 of 18 from 3-point range overall. Purdue missed its first five shots in the first half but proceeded to hit 20 of its last 24 shots to take a 51-20 lead at halftime. The Boilermakers sank 11 of 16 3-point attempts in the opening half. Iowa made just 8 of 32 shots (25 percent) before halftime. With the score tied at 6-all, the Boilermakers went on an 18-0 run to take a 24-6 advantage. In those first 10 minutes, the Hawkeyes made just 2 of 15 shots. Leading 29-14, the Boilermakers engineered an 18-2 spurt to push the lead to 47-16 with 1:51 remaining in the half. -- Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "January 6, 2018 / 8:20 AM / Updated 4 hours ago Mine blast injures Yemeni army chief-of-staff Reuters Staff 3 Min Read ADEN (Reuters) - The chief of staff of the Yemeni army has been injured by a land mine that went off while he was visiting the northern al-Jouf province, where heavy fighting between government forces and Houthi fighters is underway, a senior government official said. The official said Brigadier General Taher al-Aqeeli suffered minor injuries in the explosion, which happened on Friday while he was inspecting government positions in Khub wa al-Sha‘af, the largest district in al-Jouf province. Forces loyal to exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s government captured most of the district in heavy fighting with the Houthis last month. Anti-Houthi forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, have intensified an offensive against the Iran-aligned group that controls most of northern Yemen since former President Ali Abdullah Saleh was killed after he switched sides in Yemen’s nearly three-year-old civil war. The Houthis, who killed Saleh after they surrounded his compound in Sanaa, accused the former president of trying to sow sedition in the country. Saleh’s General People’s Congress party accused the Houthis of trying to monopolize running the country. The Houthis said Aqeeli and several of his aides were injured in the blast, describing Aqeeli’s injuries as serious. Hadi appointed Aqeeli last September, replacing Major General Mohammed al-Maqdeshi, who was appointed as a presidential adviser. The United Arab Emirates news agency WAM reported earlier this week that local Yemeni fighters in the southwest, backed by Emirati forces, killed dozens of armed Houthi group members and cut one of their main supply routes to the country’s third largest city of Taiz. The Houthis, who have swept across Yemen since 2014 and overthrew Hadi’s internationally-recognized government in 2015, hold the capital Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, where most of the country’s 25 million people live. The conflict - widely seen as a proxy war between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran - has displaced more than 2 million people, caused a cholera epidemic and pushed the country to the brink of famine. At least 10,000 people have been killed. Writing by Sami Aboudi; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "Investors cheer upcoming earnings - Royce Funds' David Nadel 12:30am GMT - 03:34 The outlook for international stocks, especially small caps, is pretty strong, says David Nadel, portfolio manager and principal at the The Royce Funds. Aleksandra Michalska reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript The outlook for international stocks, especially small caps, is pretty strong, says David Nadel, portfolio manager and principal at the The Royce Funds. Aleksandra Michalska reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Self-balancing smart suitcase follows you around 4:08pm EST - 01:23 The latest so-called smart suitcase, that's a suitcase that follows you around, has only two wheels and auto-balancing technology and a price yet to be announced. Stuart McDill reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript The latest so-called smart suitcase, that's a suitcase that follows you around, has only two wheels and auto-balancing technology and a price yet to be announced. Stuart McDill reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15 (Reuters) - Peru’s economy grew by 1.78 percent in November from the same month a year earlier thanks to a surge in foreign demand for the country’s mineral exports, state statistics agency Inei said on Monday. A Reuters poll had forecast a 2.55 percent year-over-year expansion. In the first 11 months of the year, Peru’s economy grew by 2.38 percent, Inei said. On Friday, the central bank said it expected that the Andean country’s economy grew slightly below 2.7 percent in 2017. Export activity grew 12.7 percent in November, driven primarily by greater demand for copper, zinc and gold. Mining activity grew 5 percent, driven by increases in zinc, lead and copper output. Peru is the world’s No. 2 exporter of the red metal. Strong mining activity was partly offset by a sharp 45.6 percent decline in the fishing sector and a 6.6 percent decline in manufacturing output. (Reporting by Luc Cohen; Editing by Peter Cooney)" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds comment from Uiltrasporti union) ROME, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Three Italian unions representing cabin crews, pilots and ground crews called for its members to strike on February 10 to protest against Ryanair’s plans to negotiate labour issues exclusively with one union. Ryanair has said it would negotiate with Anpac, the main pilots’ association in Italy, but not other unions representing cabin crews, ground crews and pilots who are not members of Anpac. “There must be an immediate discussion about salaries and safeguards for all of the workers, and not just a portion of them,” the Filt Cgil, Fit Cisl and Uiltrasporti unions said in a statement sent by email. “It is unacceptable that the company is choosing which unions it speaks with, in total disregard of the most elementary principle that is part of our legal system that says workers can choose freely who they want to represent them,” the statement said. A Ryanair spokeswoman said the company met with the Italian unions in Rome on Tuesday and the discussions would continue. “We will not comment further on these discussions,” she said. One of the union leaders backing the strike, Claudio Tarlazzi of Uiltrasporti, said he had not met with the company this week and Ryanair’s response was “a distortion of reality”. “Until we are recognised, we will fight to safeguard the Ryanair workers, and to defend one’s freedom to join a union,” Tarlazzi said in a statement on Thursday. The Irish budget airline in December said it would recognise pilot unions for the first time in its 32-year history. Ryanair pilots in several countries mobilised after the company announced in September the cancellation of around 20,000 flights, which it blamed on a lack of standby pilots. It blamed rostering problems following a rule change by Irish regulators. Pilot groups have complained of a toxic work atmosphere and said Ryanair is facing a major staffing shortage. Management has repeatedly denied this and says it offers some of the best pay and conditions in the sector. (Reporting by Alberto Sisto, additional reporting by Padraic Halpin in Dublin; writing by Steve Scherer; editing by Elaine Hardcastle) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 27, 2018 / 10:16 AM / in 9 hours ACS/Hochtief consortium picked for L.A. airport rail project Reuters Staff 2 Min Read FRANKFURT (Reuters) - A consortium including ACS ( ACS.MC ) and its German builder Hochtief ( HOTG.DE ) has been named as the recommended developer for a $1.95 billion rail project at Los Angeles International Airport, Hochtief said on Saturday. The public-private partnership (PPP) rail project includes planning, financing, construction, and 25-year operation of an automated above-ground transport system connecting parking lots, hire car points and metro light rail stations with the airline terminals at the second-biggest airport in the United States. The consortium comprises ACS Infrastructure Development, ACS’s Dragados USA, HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions, Hochtief’s Flatiron, Fluor ( FLR.N ), Balfour Beatty ( BALF.L ) and Bombardier ( BBDb.TO ). ACS Infrastructure Development and HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions each have an 18 percent stake in the consortium. The project includes the delivery of 44 Bombardier trains. Construction is expected to be completed by early 2023, Hochtief said. Reporting by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Elise Mertens fended off Daria Gavrilova while David Goffin blitzed his way past Thanasi Kokkinakis as Belgium secured a 3-0 victory over Australia in the Hopman Cup on Wednesday. Mertens fought back from a set down to outlast Gavrilova 2-6 6-4 6-2 in a two-hour battle at the Perth Arena to help Belgium keep their hopes of reaching Saturday’s final alive. Gavrilova broke Mertens early in the match and clinched the opening set with ease. She continued to attack her rival in the second set but world number 36 Mertens saved a break point and changed her gameplan to counter the Australian. ”I started to be more aggressive, stepped up to the baseline and came to the net more,“ Mertens said. ”I made her play more defensive, so I‘m happy with my game in the end. “I’ve worked a lot on my offence. Tennis at the top is so aggressive, so direct, that’s the style I want to play.” FILE PHOTO - Tennis - Davis Cup Final - France vs Belgium - Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille, France - November 26, 2017 Belgium's David Goffin celebrates winning his match against France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga REUTERS/Yves Herman Mertens reeled off three games in a row to level the contest at one set all and used the momentum to prevail in the decider. Goffin, who beat world number four Alexander Zverev in his opening match, struck 27 winners in his 6-4 6-2 victory over Kokkinakis to clinch the tie. Belgium then won the mixed doubles dead rubber. “I‘m feeling so well on the court since I arrived here in Australia,” Goffin said. “I‘m playing really well, I’ve won two good matches with a high level, so I‘m very happy how I’ve started the year.” Belgium can reach the final if they beat Canada in their next match and Australia fail to better their result against Germany. Earlier, Angelique Kerber beat Eugenie Bouchard 6-1 6-3 while Alexander Zverev defeated Vasek Pospisil 6-4 6-2 as Germany sealed a comfortable 3-0 victory over Canada. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 22 (Reuters) - Chongqing Zongshen Power Machinery Co Ltd : * SAYS IT REVISES ASSET ACQUISITION PROPOSAL TO ACQUIRE EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING FIRM FOR 950 MILLION YUAN ($148.44 million) VIA CASH Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2DoFfqc ; bit.ly/2DqtW0J Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.4000 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 9:08 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago Big portion of future GM electric vehicles for China market -exec Paul Lienert , Nick Carey 3 Min Read DETROIT, Jan 17 (Reuters) - General Motors Co’s China unit will sell a “substantial portion” of the automaker’s future electric vehicles, GM China President Matt Tsien said on Wednesday. In a briefing at GM headquarters, Tsien said, “China is at the heart of our electrification strategy.” Tsien did not say which GM brands would sell electric vehicles in China. But Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen told Reuters at the Detroit auto show the luxury brand “will play a central role” in GM’s electrification strategy, including China. Cadillac will be “the technology spearhead for General Motors,” de Nysschen said, adding the brand will be “at the forefront” of rolling out new electric vehicles in the United States and China. The broader electrification strategy, detailed in mid-November by Chief Executive Mary Barra, includes the introduction in 2021 of a new dedicated electric vehicle architecture and an advanced battery system, which will support the development of at least 20 new models in the United States and China. The automaker has promised investors it will produce profitable electric vehicles by 2021 and that the 20 new battery electric and fuel cell vehicles will join its global lineup by 2023. Barra said GM aims to sell 1 million pure electric vehicles worldwide by 2026. Cadillac’s de Nysschen said the new electric vehicle architecture “will feature prominently” in U.S. and Chinese plans. GM has a long way to go to reach Barra’s lofty target. Last year, GM China and local partners sold 4 million vehicles - about 40 percent of the automaker’s global tally - but only 11,000 were pure electric vehicles, sold under GM’s local Baojun brand. The automaker sold about 50,000 pure electric vehicles worldwide in 2017, most of them the Chevrolet Bolt EV, or roughly 0.5 percent of its global sales. Tsien said plug-in electric vehicles, including hybrids, are expected to account for about 20 percent of the industry’s projected 35 million vehicle sales in China in 2025. Next year, a new Chinese quota system will require that 8 percent of an automaker’s sales be plug-in electrics. Tsien said GM expected to meet that quota, which would require selling more than 300,000 battery electrics and plug-in hybrids in 2019 or purchasing offsetting credits from other manufacturers. The automaker’s new electric vehicle will support models for “multiple brands in multiple segments,” Tsien said, and the flexible battery system will enable GM to offer a variety of driving ranges in those models. (Additional reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu in Detroit; Editing by Matthew Lewis)" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - England cricketer Ben Stokes has been charged with affray following an incident in the city of Bristol last September, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said on Monday. FILE PHOTO: Cricket - England Nets - Brightside Ground, Bristol, Britain - September 23, 2017 England's Ben Stokes during nets Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra/File Photo Stokes, 26, and two other men are due to appear before Bristol Magistrates’ Court at a date to be fixed. The Durham all-rounder has not played for England since the incident outside a nightclub, missing out on the Ashes tour to Australia. He did play in six domestic matches in New Zealand in December. The England and Wales Cricket Board has also given Stokes permission to play in the Indian Premier League, which starts in April. The CPS said Avon and Somerset police had passed on a file of evidence on Nov. 29 in relation to the incident, which left a 27-year-old man with a fractured eye socket, and further material was received in late December. The other two men charged were named as Ryan Ali, 28, and Ryan Hale, 26. Stokes was named last week in England’s Twenty20 squad for a Tri-series against Australia and New Zealand next month but his participation was dependent on whether he was charged. Stokes issued a statement thanking those who had continued to support him. “I gave a full and detailed account of my actions to the police on day one - the same day as the incident - and have cooperated at each step of the police inquiry,” he said on Twitter. ”I am keen to have an opportunity to clear my name but, on advice, the appropriate time to do this is when the case comes to trial. “The CPS’ decision to charge me, as well as Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale, at least means that my account of what happened that night can come out in court and be made public. Until then, my focus is very much on cricket.” Reporting by Keith Weir/Alan Baldwin, editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "(Changes sourcing) Jan 11 (Reuters) - Data-sharing business Dropbox Inc has filed confidentially for a U.S. initial public offering, a source close to the matter said on Thursday. The IPO will be led by Goldman Sachs Group Inc and JPMorgan Chase & Co, Bloomberg reported earlier, citing people familiar with the matter.( ) Reuters reported in June that the company, valued at almost $10 billion in a private fundraising round in 2014, was seeking to hire underwriters for an IPO. Dropbox is in talks with other banks to fill additional roles on the IPO and is aiming to be listed in the first half of 2018, the Bloomberg report said. Dropbox could not be immediately reached for comment. (Reporting by Shariq Khan in Bengaluru, Liana Baker in San Francisco; Editing by Maju Samuel)" + }, + { + "text": "Cirque Du Soleil’s 'Ovo' in London 01:55 As Cirque Du Soleil’s production 'Ovo' comes to London one of the shows stars, British gymnast Alanna Baker, gives a behind the scenes sneak peek. Jayson Mansaray reports. As Cirque Du Soleil’s production 'Ovo' comes to London one of the shows stars, British gymnast Alanna Baker, gives a behind the scenes sneak peek. Jayson Mansaray reports. //reut.rs/2D5uP2w" + }, + { + "text": "STAMFORD, Conn., Hexcel Corporation (NYSE:HXL) today announced that the Company’s Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per share on the common stock of Hexcel, payable on February 13, 2018 to stockholders of record as of February 6, 2018. Hexcel Corporation is a leading advanced composites company. It develops, manufactures and markets lightweight, high-performance structural materials, including carbon fibers, specialty reinforcements, prepregs and other fiber-reinforced matrix materials, honeycomb, adhesives, engineered core and composite structures, used in commercial aerospace, space and defense and industrial applications. Learn more at www.Hexcel.com . Contact Information Kurt Goddard, Vice President – Investor Relations (203) 352-6826 [REDACTED] Source:Hexcel Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "Markets on launch pad after 'Rocket Man' boost 8:04am EST - 01:29 European markets start the first trading day of the year on a nervous footing despite record manufacturing surveys for the euro zone. But as Ivor Bennett reports, Asian shares scaled a decade peak after a surprisingly upbeat survey of Chinese manufacturing and signs of a thaw in Korean relations. European markets start the first trading day of the year on a nervous footing despite record manufacturing surveys for the euro zone. But as Ivor Bennett reports, Asian shares scaled a decade peak after a surprisingly upbeat survey of Chinese manufacturing and signs of a thaw in Korean relations. //reut.rs/2A6S6e8" + }, + { + "text": "UK: jobs data points way up for surging pound 12:29pm EST - 01:46 The number of people in work in Britain surged unexpectedly in the three months to November and regular wages rose at their fastest rate in almost a year. As David Pollard reports, it's helped sterling rise even further amid renewed confidence over Brexit. The number of people in work in Britain surged unexpectedly in the three months to November and regular wages rose at their fastest rate in almost a year. As David Pollard reports, it's helped sterling rise even further amid renewed confidence over Brexit. //reut.rs/2DCEoXh" + }, + { + "text": "SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Unionized workers at Glencore Plc’s ( GLEN.L ) Lomas Bayas copper mine in Chile rejected a final contract offer and began government-facilitated mediation on Thursday to avoid a strike, the union said, adding that they were still far from agreement. Union president Pedro Valdivia said workers agreed to lay down tools on Jan. 10 if no agreement was reached during the mediation. New labor laws and rising copper prices have emboldened miners throughout Chile, the world’s top producer of the red metal. “The atmosphere is tense. For now, we’re far from reaching a deal,” Valdivia said in an interview. Glencore did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A 105-member union at Teck Resources Ltd’s ( TECKb.TO ) Quebrada Blanca mine walked off the job for a week last month. In late November, workers at BHP’s ( BHP.AX ) Escondida mine, the world’s largest, also put down their tools for 24-hours following layoffs there. Chile’s National Mining Society (Sonami) has said more than 30 pending negotiations over expiring workers’ contracts in 2018 could curb output if strikes continue to hit the sector. Lomas Bayas produced 67,000 tonnes of copper between January and October of 2017. Reporting by Antonio De la Jara, writing by Dave Sherwood; Editing by Andrew Hay" + }, + { + "text": "KENMORE, Scotland (Reuters) - On the banks of the River Tay in the Scottish highlands, a parade of pipers and a whisky-based blessing helped mark the start of the country’s salmon fishing season on Monday. The village of Kenmore has been the traditional starting place for the Scottish salmon fishing for over 70 years, with the Tay being the first of the scores of river systems on which the season takes place. Monday’s event saw dozens of anglers, many sipping glasses of whisky, cast lines in a bid to bag a big fish but, as of late in the afternoon, one participant said that he had seen only one salmon actually caught by anyone - a fact that neither surprised nor bothered him. “It’s kinda the highlight of the season. You know you’re coming here not really to catch any fish. At the end of the day you’re coming to savor the atmosphere,” fisherman Leigh Kelly, 36, told Reuters. ”If you’re gonna catch a few fish, you need to be nearer the sea to get at any, you know? The estuary here is right at the top of the river, so that’s difficult. But it’s good to be on the bank.” The event kicked off with a parade by the Vale of Atholl pipe band, who marched the anglers to the river, which was then blessed with the contents of a quaich - a traditional drinking vessel - of whisky being thrown into the river. The salmon season on the Tay runs from Jan. 15 to Oct. 15. On other Scottish rivers it runs as late as Nov. 30. Writing by Mark Hanrahan in London Editing by Jeremy Gaunt" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 3:10 AM / Updated 2 hours ago China rights lawyer says legal licence revoked after criticising President Xi Jinping Christian Shepherd 3 Min Read BEIJING (Reuters) - A prominent Chinese rights lawyer who wrote an open letter criticising President Xi Jinping said on Monday that authorities had revoked his licence to practice law. Beijing-based lawyer and activist Yu Wensheng has repeatedly criticised the ruling Communist Party over a multi-year sweeping crackdown on rights lawyers and activists, which has seen hundreds detained and dozens arrested. Chinese authorities briefly detained Yu in October after he wrote an open letter saying Xi was unsuited to lead China as he had strengthened “totalitarian” rule over the country. Yu told Reuters on Monday that he believed the revoking of his legal licence was part of reprisals for penning the open letter, but that it only made him more determined to persevere with his rights activism. “It won’t slow me down,” he said. The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice told Yu in a letter that his licence had been cancelled because he had not been employed by a registered law firm for over six months, according to a picture of the letter seen by Reuters. A man who answered the telephone at the bureau said he was unfamiliar with the case and declined to make further enquiries. A set of measures on the practice of Chinese law firms and lawyers was revised in late 2016 to include higher levels of scrutiny of the speech and conduct of lawyer, as well as greater requirements of political loyalty for firms and practitioners. Rights groups say the revisions were aimed at preventing the legal community from taking on sensitive rights cases or speaking out against political prosecution of legal work. Yu had also been involved in attempting to defend a fellow rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang, who was detained during a spate of lawyer detentions in July 2015. Authorities have blocked his attempts to meet Wang. Wang, who has been detained for over 900 days, has been charged with subversion of state power. Wang’s wife, who has protested on her husband’s behalf, had asked Yu to defend him after rejecting court-appointed lawyers. Yu’s wife Xu Yan said in a statement sent to Reuters that she and Yu had spent over 150,000 yuan attempting to set up an independent legal practice for Yu after he left his old firm last year. “Now, the Beijing justice bureau says its not going to happen, so it’s not going to happen,” she said. Reporting by Christian Shepherd; Additional reporting by Philip Wen; Editing by Michael Perry" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 6:06 PM / Updated an hour ago Namibia reports first cholera case after deadly outbreak in Zambia Reuters Staff 2 Min Read WINDHOEK (Reuters) - A 10-year old schoolboy has become the first person diagnosed with cholera in Namibia for four years, the health ministry said on Wednesday, raising fears of an outbreak similar to one that killed dozens last month in neighbouring Zambia. Two other boys who attend the same school as the child who contracted the disease and shared food with him were also suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea, the Ministry of Health and Social Services said in a statement. The school is in Katutura, an the impoverished suburb of the capital Windhoek. The ministry said further investigation is ongoing and health workers have been alerted to be on the lookout for cholera cases. The case comes three weeks after the Namibian government provisionally banned the import of all perishable food and water from Zambia, which was at that time struggling under the weight of a cholera outbreak that claimed 78 lives. Zambia says it now has the situation under control. Cholera is transmitted through eating or drinking contaminated food or water. It causes severe watery diarrhoea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated. Reporting by Nyasha Nyaungwa; Editing by Joe Brock and Andrew Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "While exercising at the gym with his wife Ondrea , Marquez Fernandez found himself scrolling through his phone, looking at pictures of food. The couple was struck with inspiration to take something generally laden with fat and sugar — a doughnut — and try to recreate it as a health food. \"A light bulb just went off, 'Hey what if we make healthy doughnuts?\" Marquez says on ABC's \"Shark Tank.\" \"The next day we went out and bought all this stuff, and we were acting like mad scientists making doughnuts.\" That idea led to over $1.2 million worth sales for their business, The Dough Bar, which ships baked doughnuts with 11 grams of protein in flavors like \"cookie monster\" and \"apple pie\" directly to consumers. Ondrea and Marquez Fernandez came on \"Shark Tank\" seeking $300,000 for a 15 percent stake in their business. To help demonstrate their product, they brought along professional body builder Daniel Zigler, a spokesman for the product. The business launched in April of 2015 , and has since sold over 280,000 doughnuts, Marquez says on the show. The doughnuts are packaged and sent plain, and customers can frost and decorate the snack themselves. A plain doughnut is 150 calories , and with toppings, it is about 200 calories. \"Our average price for one box of four [doughnuts] is $15.50,\" Ondrea says on the show. \"The box actually costs us about $7.30, we make about a 53 percent margin right now.\" For Marquez, who left a job as a nurse and respiratory therapist for the family upstart, The Dough Bar is a way to build something to support his family, and set an example for his young son Mason. It was a mindset he learned from his own father. \"I grew up in a pretty rough neighborhood, my father was a single parent and worked really hard to just really grind and put food on the table for us,\" Marquez says. \"I've always known that I wanted to be an entrepreneur and take care of my family.\" So far, the dedication to the business has paid off: The Dough Bar has a 31 percent customer return rate, he explains on the show. And Marquez's father is a full-time employee. \"The fact that you have a 30 percent re-order rate, that is phenomenal in the online food business,\" investor Barbara Corcoran says. \"It means that people really like it.\" That number, along with the entrepreneurs themselves, was enough to convince her to make an offer to invest $300,000 for a 30 percent stake in the company. \"I love the fact that you bootstrapped your business,\" Corcoran says. \"We don't hear it enough anymore. You have such a happy relationship, it is bouncing off your skin. Happy partners make money together.\" The Fernandez family's story also resonated with guest shark and former MLB baseball player Alex Rodriguez. \"I love to do business with people who have a 'PhD,'\" Rodriguez says. \"I don't mean from Harvard or Yale, I mean poor, hungry and driven. And both of you have that.\" Tweet Tweet Rodriguez made an offer together with investor Lori Greiner to invest a combined $400,000 for 30 percent of the business, but Corcoran was quick to negotiate. She outbid Greiner and Rodriguez, agreeing to drop the amount of equity she would take and invest $300,000 for a 20 percent stake in the business. \"Happy to do it,\" Corcoran says on the show. Tweet \"This means the world,\" Marquez says about the investment. \"We started the business really about family, and I think about my father ... we're excited to get this thing going.\" Don't miss: Daymond John broke his 'Red Lobster' rule to do these 'Shark Tank' deals—now they're his top 2 companies, making millions show chapters How to get on 'Shark Tank,' according to those who have been there 12:50 PM ET Fri, 17 March 2017 | 00:50 Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook ! Disclaimer: CNBC owns the exclusive off-network cable rights to \"Shark Tank.\"" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 3:15 PM / Updated 16 minutes ago Schneider Electric says bug in its technology exploited in hack Jim Finkle 3 Min Read MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (Reuters) - Schneider Electric SE said on Thursday that hackers had exploited a flaw in its technology in a watershed incident discovered last month that halted operations at an undisclosed industrial facility. News of the breach surfaced on Dec. 14, when cyber security firms disclosed that hackers, likely working for a nation state, had invaded one of Schneider’s Triconex safety systems. Neither Schneider nor cyber experts have identified the target. Schneider initially told customers it believed the hack did not exploit a bug in the Triconex system. The system is used in nuclear facilities, oil and gas plants, mining, water treatment facilities and other plants to safely shut down industrial processes when hazardous conditions are detected. It is the first reported cyber attack on this type of system. While the target’s identity is unknown, one cyber security firm, Dragos, has said it occurred in the Middle East. Others have speculated it was in Saudi Arabia. Cyber experts have called it a watershed incident because it demonstrates how hackers might cause physical damage to a plant, or even kill people, by sabotaging safety systems before attacking industrial plants. France-based Schneider said in a customer advisory released on Thursday that hackers had exploited a previously unknown vulnerability in an older version of the Triconex firmware that allowed attackers to install a remote-access Trojan as “part of a complex malware infection scenario.” The advisory urged customers to follow previously recommended protocols for securing Triconex systems, which it said would have blocked the attack. The malware is capable of scanning and mapping an industrial network to provide reconnaissance and can also give hackers remote control over those systems, the advisory says. Schneider said it was developing tools to identify and remove the malware, which are expected to be released in February. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is also investigating the attack, according to Schneider. A DHS spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment. Schneider’s Triconex technology is used globally. DHS helps investigate attacks and vulnerabilities that have the potential to impact critical infrastructure, businesses and consumers in the United States. The company plans to release a software update to fix the security bug, Schneider’s global cyber security architect, Paul Forney, said in an interview on the sidelines of the S4 security conference in Miami Beach, Florida. He declined to say when it would be available. One of Schneider’s rivals, ABB Ltd, last month urged its customers to look out for attacks, saying hackers might use similar approaches to target any type of safety system. Editing by Andrea Ricci, Bernadette Baum and Leslie Adler" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 1:33 PM / Updated 12 minutes ago At least 15,000 Cameroonian refugees flee to Nigeria amid crackdown Paul Carsten 3 Min Read ABUJA (Reuters) - More than 15,000 Cameroonian refugees have fled to Nigeria amid a crackdown on Anglophone separatists, the United Nations (UN) refugee agency and Nigerian government officials said on Thursday. The once-fringe English-speaking movement in majority French-speaking Cameroon has gathered pace in the last few months after a military crackdown on protests, leading it to declare independence in October for a breakaway “Ambazonia” state it wants to create. The move poses the biggest challenge yet to the 35-year rule of President Paul Biya, who will seek re-election this year, and the violent repression he has unleashed has driven thousands of people from English-speaking regions across the border into Nigeria. More than 8,000 refugees have been registered in the southeastern state of Cross River alone, said Antonio Jose Canhandula, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) representative in Nigeria, at a briefing in Abuja. A further 6,700 or so Cameroonian refugees have crossed into neighbouring Benue state, said Sadiya Umar Farouq, the head of Nigeria’s National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, citing Benue officials. There are also at least 350 refugees in the states of Taraba and Akwa Ibom, said Tamuno Dienye Jaja, deputy comptroller general of the Nigeria Immigration Service. The refugees are mostly children, women and the elderly, with very few young men, the officials said. “Certainly there are more, how many more we are not able to state,” said the UNHCR’s Canhandula. “They are still coming, and they are coming daily,” he said. “It is a crisis.” More food assistance, education and social services are needed, particularly as a number of the women are pregnant at a young age, were are all issues, Canhandula said. Nigeria’s Farouq pledged the government’s support. “We are going to do all that we can to bring some kind of relief,” she said. Nigerian and Cameroonian officials have met to discuss the refugees and those talks are ongoing, she said, although she declined to give details. The separatist movement, including armed radical elements, has strained bilateral relations between the two countries. Last week, Nigerian authorities took 12 leaders of the separatists, including the chairman of the self-declared Governing Council of Ambazonia, into custody after they gathered for a meeting in a hotel in the Nigerian capital Abuja, people familiar with the matter said. Cameroonian troops last month crossed into Nigeria in pursuit of rebels without seeking Nigerian authorization, leading to diplomatic wrangling behind the scenes. The unrest in Cameroon began in November, when English-speaking teachers and lawyers in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon that neighbour Nigeria, frustrated with having to work in French, took to the streets calling for reforms and greater autonomy. French is the official language for most of Cameroon, but English is spoken in the two regions. Reporting by Paul Carsten; Editing by Hugh Lawson" + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL (Reuters) - North and South Korea’s plan to march together under the same blue-and-white Korean peninsula flag at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics next month marks the revival of an emblem of warmer ties between the old foes from years past. The two countries will be hoping for some of the same sort of “feel good factor” they enjoyed at the Olympics in 2000, when they were greeted by a standing ovation in Sydney’s Olympic Stadium after marching in under the unified flag for the first time. The “Korean Unification Flag,” showing the Korean peninsula in blue against a white background, traces its origin to 1989, when North and South Korea agreed to use a new flag for a possible joint team in the 1990 Asian Games. While plans for a joint team at those games fell apart, the flag made its first public appearance in 1991 when Seoul and Pyongyang formed a unified team to contest the world table tennis championship in Japan. When the unified Korean women’s team won gold there, the flag was raised in triumph, accompanied by “Arirang”, a traditional Korean folk song played in lieu of the national anthem of either of the two. The emotional scene later formed the basis of a popular movie in the South. During the South’s “Sunshine” policy era of engaging North Korea between 1998 and 2008, athletes from both countries used the single flag to march together at several major games, including the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics and the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics in Italy, as well as the Sydney Olympics. FILE PHOTO: For the first time in Olympic history athletes from North and South Korea joined hands and marched together under one flag during the opening ceremony of the XXVII Summer Olympic Games, Sydney, Australia September 15, 2000. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo The two Koreas competed separately in the 2000 games with their own flags and national anthems, as well as in the subsequent Olympics. In 2007, a large “unification” flag was displayed at the border when then-South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun walked into North Korea for a summit with former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. However, the flag has not been seen at a high-profile public event since 2008, when South Korea’s conservative Lee Myung-bak administration took power. Relations chilled dramatically in 2010 after the sinking of a South Korean warship that the South blamed on the North. Pyongyang denied any involvement, but the relationship has continued to suffer as the North accelerated its nuclear and missile programs in defiance of U.N. sanctions. Although the two Koreas have agreed to compete together and use the single flag at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the matter has not been finalised, an official from the games’ organizing committee told Reuters. South and North Korean representatives will discuss the matter with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) when they meet on Saturday in Lausanne, Switzerland. Although some South Koreans oppose using the flag instead of South Korea’s “Taegukgi” flag at the Pyeongchang Olympics, the flag is still a powerful symbol of peace, said Jang Man-jae, the owner of a company that makes the unification flag. “Although ideologies are different, the flag can give us a sense of unity, which is a good thing,” said Jang. “I would feel uncomfortable making North Korea’s national flag but this flag, I can definitely keep making it.” Editing by Soyoung Kim and Lincoln Feast" + }, + { + "text": "DAVOS, Switzerland Jan 24 (Reuters) - The appointment of a new leader of South Africa’s ruling party has removed political uncertainty that contributed to the depreciation of the rand currency and has been welcomed by investors, the country’s central bank governor said on Wednesday. The new leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), Cyril Ramaphosa, narrowly won the race to succeed President Jacob Zuma as party leader in December. South Africa’s rand currency has surged since Ramaphosa - the deputy president - won the contest. It steadied against the dollar early on Wednesday, holding at a two-and-a-half-year high. At 0645 GMT it traded at 12.0300 per dollar. “The depreciation of the rand last year was overdone and it was overdone because there was so much political uncertainty,” said South Africa Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago. “High frequency indicators in South Africa do show that the South African economy is demonstrating a resurgence,” he told Reuters speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meeting of business and political leaders in Davos. “For a long time we had spelled out that the exchange rate is sensitive to the political uncertainty. The uncertainty is gone,” he added. (Writing by Alexis Akwagyiram; Editing by Toby Chopra)" + }, + { + "text": "Pope Francis says fake news is satanic 5:13pm GMT - 02:01 Pope Francis on Wednesday condemned fake news as satanic, saying journalists and social media users should shun and unmask manipulative ''snake tactics'' that foment division to serve political and economic interests. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Pope Francis on Wednesday condemned fake news as satanic, saying journalists and social media users should shun and unmask manipulative \"snake tactics\" that foment division to serve political and economic interests. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - The government of Curacao said it has scrapped a preliminary agreement with Guangdong Zhenrong Energy to operate the island’s aging Isla refinery, saying the Chinese firm misrepresented itself and was unable to take on such a large endeavor. The two sides signed a deal in 2016 to invest some $10 billion in upgrading the facility. Curacao’s government said Guangdong Zhenrong does not have the muscle to invest in the refinery and lacks “unconditional support” from the Chinese government. “GZE turned out to be the contrary of what it said at the time of signing the MoU (memorandum of understanding),” Curacao said on its government website in a statement dated Sunday. “Curacao is looking for a viable alternative to guarantee the future of the refinery,” it added. Guangdong Zhenrong was not immediately available for comment. Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA [PDVSA.UL] has for decades operated the refinery, which opened in 1918, under a lease agreement. But cash-poor PDVSA has been reluctant to invest some $1.5 billion that Curacao authorities requested several years ago to modernize the 335,000 barrel-per-day facility. Reporting by Sailu Urribarri; Writing by Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc: * PFIZER SEES $2 BILLION IMPACT OF PATENT EXPIRATIONS EACH YEAR THROUGH 2020 * PFIZER CEO SAYS REVIEWING CAPITAL ALLOCATION PLANS UNDER NEW TAX CODE * PRIZER SAYS ABOUT $24 BILLION CEILING ON REPATRIATION OF OVERSEAS CASH IN 2018 * PFIZER CFO SAYS EXPECTS TO SUSTAIN ADJUSTED EFFECTIVE TAX RATE OF ABOUT 17 PERCENT PER YEAR GOING FOREWARD * PFIZER CEO SAYS NO PRESSURE TO IMMEDIATELY DO DEALS, HAS CAPACITY TO DO BOTH SMALL AND LARGE DEALS Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Reporting By Bill Berkrot)" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed hear a bid by Louisiana landowners seeking to limit the federal government’s power to designate private land as critical habitat for endangered species in a case involving a warty amphibian called the dusky gopher frog. The justices will hear an appeal by the landowners, backed by business groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, of a lower court ruling upholding a 2012 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision to include private land where the frog does not currently live as critical habitat, putting limits on future development opportunities. Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham" + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 1:28 PM / Updated 8 hours ago Ineos’ plan to build British 4X4s started as a pub chat Susanna Twidale 3 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - What started as a discussion in a pub could end up creating as many as 1,500 jobs in Britain by late 2020 as privately-owned Ineos moves ahead with plans to build a new 4x4 vehicle, one of its directors told Reuters. Ineos, better known as a chemical manufacturer, wants to build an offroader along the lines of Land Rover’s iconic Defender which ceased full production in 2016 after 68 years. “Jim (Ratcliffe, Ineos’ CEO) was a big fan of the Land Rover Defender,” Tom Crotty said in an interview, talking of the British billionaire’s disappointment when production ended. “It was initially a pub conversation. Why don’t we make one? But we are extremely serious about it and have around 200 engineers working on the product.” Ineos plans to make around 25,000 vehicles a year, starting production in 2020, and has said it will make a decision this year on where they will be built. The engineers, currently based in Germany, and the company would prefer to make them in a new factory in Britain, which could create 1,000-1,500 direct jobs, Crotty said. “Jim has a long held view that the decline of UK manufacturing needs to be reversed,” he said. Ratcliffe has previously said he could invest 600 million pounds in a new British plant, but Crotty said this would also depend on the company receiving support from the government. Without giving specifics he said several sites could be considered in Britain, while other options include setting up at an existing factory with spare capacity, likely in continental Europe, or manufacturing through a third party. In an effort to boost Britain’s output and cope with upheaval caused by leaving the European Union, the government last year launched an industrial strategy. But support for the automotive industry has so far focused on development of electric and automated vehicles. Crotty said the company planned to make petrol, diesel and hybrid versions of the 4x4 but that current battery technology was unsuitable for making a full electric version due to the weight involved. Britain and parts of Europe are seeking to phase out traditional combustion engines, but Crotty said for some markets, such as sub-Saharan Africa, where electricity supplies are scarce, diesel is the only option. Reporting by Susanna Twidale; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "TOLEDO, Ohio, Jan. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Welltower Inc. (NYSE: HCN) announced today that Joe Weisenburger has been named Senior Vice President, Business Development of Welltower. Mr. Weisenburger has been with the company since 1998 and previously served as Vice President - Business Development. \"Joe's long and successful tenure at Welltower has been defined by his deep industry relationships and specialized knowledge base in seniors housing,\" said Mercedes Kerr, Executive Vice President - Business and Relationship Management. \"Joe will play a critical role going forward as we continue to improve, on what is already the leading industry platform, for a new generation of residents.\" As Senior Vice President, Mr. Weisenburger will continue to lead domestic deal origination and relationship management efforts for Welltower's seniors housing portfolio. He will continue to report to Mercedes Kerr. Mr. Weisenburger has served in various leadership roles throughout his tenure with Welltower, including positions in asset management and investments and leading the underwriting team. Prior to joining Welltower, Mr. Weisenburger worked for Northwest Ohio Venture Fund where he was responsible for the evaluation of new and add-on investments for a $20 million venture fund. Mr. Weisenburger holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Miami University and an MBA in Finance from The Ohio State University. About Welltower Welltower Inc. (NYSE: HCN), an S&P 500 company headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, is driving the transformation of health care infrastructure. The company invests with leading seniors housing operators, post-acute providers and health systems to fund the real estate infrastructure needed to scale innovative care delivery models and improve people's wellness and overall health care experience. WelltowerTM, a real estate investment trust (\"REIT\"), owns interests in properties concentrated in major, high-growth markets in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, consisting of seniors housing and post-acute communities and outpatient medical properties. More information is available at www.welltower.com . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Welltower Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 10:16 AM / Updated 3 hours ago BoE's Carney sees 10 billion-pound Brexit hit to UK economy - Times Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Bank of England Governor Mark Carney told business leaders that the 2016 Brexit vote is costing Britain’s economy around 10 billion pounds a year, the Times newspaper said on Thursday. Carney was asked by an attendee at a meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos to quantify lost economic growth since the referendum, the newspaper said. While Britain’s economy has performed better than the BoE forecast after the June 2016 referendum, it grew at the slowest pace of all Group of Seven rich economies over the first three quarters of 2017. Carney said he thought the loss to economic growth was equivalent to between two-thirds and three-quarters of the weekly 350 million-pound boost to public spending that Brexit supporters said was a key advantage of Brexit, the Times reported. Government statisticians have accused Britain’s foreign minister Boris Johnson of misusing state data by repeating the 350 million-pounds-a-week figure. A spokesman for the BoE declined to comment on the report which was based on comments from people who attended the meeting. Media were not allowed to attend. Carney has been criticised by Brexit supporters for previous public comments he has made on the impact of a vote to leave the bloc on Britain’s economy. Reporting by Andy Bruce; Editing by William Schomberg" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds dropped word Toulon’s in first para) LONDON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - France centre Mathieu Bastareaud has been suspended for three weeks for making homophobic comments during Toulon’s Champions Cup win over Benetton Treviso on Sunday, and will miss the start of next month’s Six Nations. Bastareaud was cited for “verbally abusing the Benetton Rugby flanker, Sebastian Negri Da Oleggio, in the 80th minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.12,” European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) said in a statement on Wednesday. The ban for Bastareaud, who apologised on social media for his remarks, followed an independent EPCR Disciplinary Hearing and means he will miss his country’s opening Six Nations game against Ireland on Feb. 3. (Writing by Ken Ferris; Editing by Ossian Shine)" + }, + { + "text": "ZURICH (Reuters) - Novartis’s Kisqali (ribociclib) has won U.S. Food and Drug Administration breakthrough therapy designation for treating some breast cancer patients, the Swiss drugmaker said on Wednesday. Swiss drugmaker Novartis' logo is seen at the company's plant in the northern Swiss town of Stein, Switzerland October 23, 2017. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann The designation covers initial endocrine-based treatment of pre- or perimenopausal women with hormone-receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 negative (HR+/HER2-) advanced or metastatic breast cancer in combination with tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor. It was based on results released last month from a Phase III MONALEESA-7 trial demonstrating Kisqali in combination with tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor significantly prolonged progression-free survival compared to endocrine therapy alone. Reporting by Michael Shields; Editing by Maria Sheahan" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 10 (Reuters) - AMPER SA: * SAID ON TUESDAY THE BOARD HAD APPROVED A SHARE CAPITAL INCREASE WITH PREFERENTIAL SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS FOR A MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF 5.0 MILLION EUROS * THE CAPITAL INCREASE THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF 49.7 MILLION SHARES, NOMINAL VALUE OF 0.05 EURO PER SHARE AND SHARE PREMIUM OF 0.05 EURO PER SHARE * SAID 20 PREFERENTIAL SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS WOULD ENTITLE THE HOLDERS TO SUBSCRIBE ONE NEW SHARE * THE CAPITAL INCREASE IS AIMED AT OPTIMIZING THE STRUCTURE COSTS AND FINANCING POSSIBLE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 6:23 PM / in an hour Catalan parliament set to vote for regional leader on Jan. 30 Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MADRID (Reuters) - The Catalan parliament will vote to choose a new regional leader on Jan. 30, the Catalan parliament said in a statement on Thursday. The only candidate for president of the northeastern Spanish region is sacked former leader Carles Puigdemont who is in self-imposed exile in Brussels after spearheading a drive for secession from Spain. Reporting By Sonya Dowsett; Editing by Jesus Aguado" + }, + { + "text": "BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary’s nationalist government outlined legislation on Wednesday to tackle illegal immigration that it says is undermining European stability and has been stoked in part by U.S. financier George Soros. Right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban is embroiled in an escalating feud with Soros, who has rejected an extended Hungarian government campaign against him as “distortions and lies” meant to create a false external enemy. Orban is expected to secure a third straight term in a general election due on April 8. The legislative package, dubbed “Stop Soros” by government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs, includes mandatory registration of some non-government organizations that “support illegal immigration”, according to an emailed government position paper. Kovacs told a news conference that a 25 percent tax would be imposed on foreign donations that such NGOs collect, and activists could face restraining orders that preclude them from approaching the EU’s external borders in Hungary. Those borders have been fortified since a migrant influx in 2015. Kovacs added that third-country nationals could also be subject to a restraining order anywhere in the country. Details were not immediately clear as the bills will only be published and submitted for public debate on Thursday. But pro-government media reported that the bills could lead to a ban on Soros, who has U.S. and Hungarian citizenship, entering the country. Soros, 87, is a Hungarian-born Jew whose longtime support for liberal and open-border values in eastern Europe have put him at odds with right-wing nationalists, especially in Hungary. Orban’s government said in its position paper that it opposed migration through “every means possible.” “Illegal mass immigration is a problem that affects Europe as a whole, posing serious security risks,” it said. Asked about implications for Soros himself, Kovacs said: “If Soros is found to have engaged in such activity, meaning he organizes illegal immigration, then the rules will apply to him.” An aide for Kovacs declined to elaborate. Last year, the Orban government introduced a measure requiring NGOs that get money from abroad to register with the state, raising alarm in the European Union and United States. The European Commission said late last year it was taking Budapest to the EU’s top court over its NGO laws as well as a higher education law that targets Central European University in Budapest founded by Soros. Orban is locked in a series of running battles with the EU, where Western member states and the Brussels-based executive Commission decry what they see as his authoritarian leanings, the squeezing of the opposition and the free media. Reporting by Marton Dunai; editing by Mark Heinrich" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - A tanker carrying Iranian oil and run by the country’s top oil shipping operator was ablaze and spewing cargo into the East China Sea on Sunday after colliding with a Chinese bulk ship, leaving its 32 crew members missing. FILE PHOTO - Volunteers walk on a beach after they have removed crude oil spilled from the oil tanker Hebei Spirit in Taean , about 150 km (93 miles) southwest of Seoul, in this picture taken January 14, 2008. REUTERS/Jo Yong-Hak/Files The Panama-registered tanker was sailing from Iran to South Korea, carrying 136,000 tonnes of condensate, an ultra light crude. That is equivalent to just under 1 million barrels. The damage and volume of oil spilled are not yet known. Tanker incidents causing large oil spills - greater than 700 tonnes - have steadily reduced from an average 24.5 a year in the 1970s to 1.7 on average per year since 2010, according to the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF). Below is a list of the major oil tanker spills since 1970 from ITOPF’s database: 2007: Hebei Spirit off South Korea - 11,000 tonnes 2002: Prestige off Spain - 63,000 tonnes 1999: Erika off France - 20,000 tonnes 1996: Sea Empress off Wales, United Kingdom - 72,000 tonnes 1991: ABT Summer off Angola - 260,000 tonnes 1989: Khark 5 off Morocco - 70,000 tonnes Exxon Valdez, Alaska - 37,000 tonnes 1983: Castillo de Bellver off South Africa - 252,000 tonnes 1979: Atlantic Empress in the Caribbean - 287,000 tonnes The tonnages include all oil lost, including product which burnt or remained in a sunken vessel. Reporting by Josephine Mason; Editing by Susan Fenton" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds fourth quarter figure, background on GDP warrants and Argentina economy) BUENOS AIRES, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Argentina’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 2.9 percent in 2017, and grew 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter from the third quarter, a Treasury Ministry source said on Friday, bouncing back from a 2.2 percent contraction the prior year. The annual growth figure means Argentina will not have to make a coupon payment on growth-linked bonds known as GDP warrants this year, the source said. Growth of more than 3 percent would have triggered a payment. Payments on the warrants, issued as part of debt exchanges in 2005 and 2010 following Argentina’s 2001 default, could have totaled as much as $3 billion. Latin America’s No. 3 economy could still make payments in future years if growth exceeds 3 percent. The government’s 2018 budget estimates growth of 3.5 percent this year. The economy grew 4.2 percent in the third quarter compared with the third quarter of 2016 and expanded 2.5 percent in the first nine months of the year, according to the most recent data from Argentina’s Indec government statistics agency. Indec is expected to publish fourth quarter GDP data on March 21. The official determination of whether the GDP warrant payments will be made depends on revised data Indec will publish later this year. (Reporting by Luc Cohen and Walter Bianchi; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Grant McCool)" + }, + { + "text": "ESSEN, Germany (Reuters) - German energy group Innogy is trying to win financing partners for its planned £2 billion British offshore wind farm Triton Knoll, a group executive said. With about 860 megawatts of generating capacity, Triton Knoll is due to go live in 2021 and is expected to supply the equivalent of 800,000 British households with renewable electricity. “We are in talks with several interested parties. We won’t do this alone,” Hans Buenting, board member in charge of Innogy’s renewable business, said, adding that the group could keep either a minority or majority stake in the project. Innogy, majority owned by utility RWE, expects to make a final investment decision about Triton Knoll by the end of June. For 2017, Innogy’s renewable business is expected to have contributed about 12.5 percent, or 350 million euros ($429 million), to its total adjusted operating profit, with profits to remain stable this year before growing from 2019, he said. Innogy also plans to expand its business further in the United States, where it signed a deal last month to buy onshore wind power projects with more than 2 gigawatts of capacity. “The U.S. market is one of our most significant growth markets for renewable energy,” Buenting said. He declined to comment on the sudden departure of former Chief Executive Peter Terium, who stepped down last month just days after a profit warning. Reporting by Tom Kaeckenhoff; Writing by Christoph Steitz; Editing by Douglas Busvine and Dale Hudson" + }, + { + "text": "January 14, 2018 / 6:30 PM / Updated 3 hours ago U.S. transit chief to unveil revised self-driving car guidelines Reuters Staff 1 Min Read DETROIT, Jan 14 (Reuters) - The Trump administration plans to unveil revised self-driving car guidelines this summer as the government works to rewrite regulations that pose legal barriers to robot vehicles, U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said on Sunday. Chao said the revised guidelines would address not only self-driving automobiles but also “barriers to the safe integration of autonomous technology for motor carriers, transit, trucks, infrastructure and other modes.” General Motors Co, Alphabet Inc and many other companies are aggressively pursuing self-driving car technologies and want Congress and regulators to remove barriers to the vehicles. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)" + }, + { + "text": "BRATISLAVA, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial markets on Wednesday. ALL TIMES GMT (Slovak Republic: GMT + 1 hour) ECONOMIC DATA Real-time economic data releases Summary of economic data and forecasts Recently released economic data Previous stories on Slovak data **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: here #/1C/events-overview PRESS DIGEST VOLKSWAGEN: Volkswagen's Slovak plant resumed operations on Tuesday after a month-long holiday break, the company said. here (Reuters has not verified the stories, nor does it vouch for their accuracy.) For real-time stock market index Quote: s click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX Main currency report TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets News editor of the day: Jan Lopatka [REDACTED] E-mail: [REDACTED] (Reporting by Prague Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15(Reuters) - Hebei Changshan Biochemical Pharmaceutical Co Ltd : * Sees FY 2017 net profit to increase by 10 percent to 30 percent, or to be 193.0 million yuan to 228.1 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 175.5 million yuan * The reasons for the forecast are increased sales price of raw heparin and improved product sales Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/ZivUj1 Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - Yang Guang Co Ltd: * SAYS IT EXPECTS TO RETURN TO NET PROFIT OF 125-170 MILLION YUAN IN 2017 VERSUS NET LOSS OF 468.2 MILLION YUAN ($73.90 million) YEAR AGO Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2rMqVqo Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3353 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "SEC warns bitcoin investors at risk 01:24 The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission warned Thursday that investors should 'exercise caution' with cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, noting state and federal regulators may not be able to recoup any lost investments from illegal actors. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission warned Thursday that investors should 'exercise caution' with cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, noting state and federal regulators may not be able to recoup any lost investments from illegal actors. //reut.rs/2CHlZbp" + }, + { + "text": "MELBOURNE, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Singapore-based metals trader Kyen Resources said it was setting up a trading desk in London as it pushes to expand its recycled metals and concentrates trading business. Kyen, part owned by Chinese company Shenzhen Feima International Supply Chain Co, said late last week that it had hired 12 staff for its British office and that more would join in coming months. Matthew Hadfield, formerly of ICBC Standard Bank, will lead the London office. The step marks the latest example of a China-backed firm seeking a slice of the international metals trading business amid a global revival in manufacturing, filling a gap left by large banks and brokers that have been increasingly hamstrung by tougher regulations and higher costs. For example, NCCL Natural Resources Investment Fund, partly owned by China Molybdenum Co Ltd, in December agreed to buy the global metals business of commodity trader Louis Dreyfus. Kyen scaled up when it bought the metals trading book of Switzerland’s Gunvor in 2016, partly as the Swiss trader dismantled its metals business to focus on more lucrative oil markets and cut counterparty risk. Kyen is also following in the footsteps of global merchant Viant Commodities which last year launched a tie up with a European copper products maker, and Indian industrial metals firm UD Trading Group, which linked with Switzerland’s TMT Metals in 2016. (Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Joseph Radford)" + }, + { + "text": "OSLO, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Finnish utility Fortum will expand Hungary’s electric car charging network in partnership with local NKM National Utilities, the company said in a press release on Monday. The network expansion will consist of 100 charging stations, which will be installed across Hungary during 2018. At the moment, Hungary’s only charging stations are in its capital Budapest and on the motorway connecting the city to Austrian capital Vienna, servicing the country’s current fleet of about 1,000 electric cars, Fortum said. (Reporting by Lefteris Karagiannopoulos, editing by Terje Solsvik)" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MVF , a global customer generation business, has announced the acquisition of technology news brand, Tech.co . Founded in 2006, Tech.co has transformed from a community-building 'Tech Cocktail' event to an influential media brand with millions of readers around the world. MVF presently operates a suite of global publishing sites, using expert articles and informative reviews to connect active customers with businesses all over the world. The purchase is part of MVF's ambitious growth plans as it aims to expand its global reach by acquiring high authority digital brands. MVF US CEO Bjorn Zellweger: \"We are really excited to acquire Tech.co and add it to our portfolio of leading online publishers. With an established brand and engaged audience, it's the perfect fit for MVF. \"We're looking forward to furthering the brand's reach through our digital marketing expertise, while continuing to invest in great content, bringing the latest tech news and useful resources to even more global readers.\" Tech.co cofounder Frank Gruber commented: \"We are incredibly proud of the brand we have created over the last decade, growing it from a community event series to one of the world's leading tech publishers.\" Cofounder Jen Consalvo added, \"The leadership team behind MVF impressed us with their excitement for the brand and their ability to scale businesses. We feel confident Tech.co is in the right hands and look forward to watching it grow and evolve.\" In 2015 MVF opened its first US offices in Austin, Texas. The US remains the biggest area of growth for the business and this acquisition is set to further extend its presence in this market. Notes to editors: MVF was founded in the UK by five friends in 2009, and has enjoyed incredibly fast growth over the past 9 years; achieving compound annual growth of 278% over its first four years of trading. Since then, MVF has opened offices in Austin, Texas, and expanded its workforce to over 400 staff. Tech.co founders Frank Gruber and Jen Consalvo will focus on their work advising, investing, and consulting while they continue to grow Startup of the Year and Innovate Celebrate . Tech.co cofounder Frank Gruber shares more details: View original content with multimedia: SOURCE MVF" + }, + { + "text": "BUENOS AIRES—Argentina significantly overshot its inflation target in 2017 as prices rose almost 25% from the previous year, raising questions about the country’s ability to tame a problem that has plagued it off and on for decades. Consumer prices surged 3.1% in December from the previous month, pushing the annual inflation rate to 24.8%, far beyond the central bank’s target of 17%. Last... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "LAS VEGAS—Oooh, an adorable robot puppy! Two hours until he plays dead—for real. A cordless hair dryer! Hope you have short hair, it only lasts 14 minutes. A foldable electric scooter! When you forget the midweek charge, remember that hitchhiking is dangerous. Some people see the future at the annual CES tech trade show. I see more batteries we will have to charge. The... RELATED VIDEO Smart Cars, Sweet Robots, Scary Wheels: CES 2018 in 2 Minutes An adorable robot dog, a TV that could fill up a wall, a car whose entire dashboard is a touch screen. WSJ's Joanna Stern went on the hunt for the most exciting and unusual products at this year's biggest tech show. Photo/Video: Emily Prapuolenis/The Wall Street Journal" + }, + { + "text": "STRASBOURG (Reuters) - It would not be “anti-democratic” for Britons to reverse their Brexit vote in a second referendum, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said at the European Parliament on Wednesday, but he denied working to promote one. During exchanges in Strasbourg, Varadkar rejected an accusation by the UK Independence Party’s Nigel Farage that he was conspiring with the likes of former British premier Tony Blair to thwart Britain’s departure from the European Union by resisting London’s efforts to keep full access to EU markets. Varadkar cited close cultural ties between Ireland and Britain, including his own immediate family, as a reason why he was arguing for the closest possible relationship between the EU and Britain after Brexit next year. But he insisted London could not keep EU rights while rejecting some of its obligations. “I‘m certainly not party to any plot against the United Kingdom,” he told reporters. “I‘m a friend of the United Kingdom.” Farage, the former UKIP leader who still leads the party in the EU legislature, accused Varadkar of risking Irish trade with Britain out of loyalty to an EU integration project which he said would unravel further after Brexit. He suggested Varadkar was pushing for Britain to reverse its referendum vote to leave. Having revived debate in Britain this month about a second referendum by saying he believed that one was increasingly likely, Farage noted how Ireland reversed its veto of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty by holding a second referendum in 2009: “You are part of course of a big attempt here and elsewhere to frustrate and to attempt to overturn Brexit,” he told Varadkar. “I don’t want a second referendum on Brexit. Absolutely not. But I fear that you are all working together with Tony Blair and Nick Clegg to make sure we get the worst possible deal.” Varadkar told reporters he had never met Blair though had encountered Clegg, a former deputy prime minister. He insisted, however, that it would be counter-productive for him as a foreigner to tell Britons what they should do. Nonetheless, he added, Ireland had reversed referendum decisions before, including to overturn a ban on divorce, and might soon reverse a previous referendum vote curbing abortion: “I don’t think it’s anti-democratic for anyone to change their mind or have a second vote. But any decision on the second referendum must only be one for the UK parliament and the UK people.” British Prime Minister Theresa May, who campaigned against Brexit in 2016, has insisted that she will see it through, despite a flurry of statements this week by EU leaders that they would welcome Britain changing its mind. During an earlier debate in Strasbourg on Wednesday, EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker said he would also welcome Britain applying to re-join the bloc in the future. Reporting by Alastair Macdonald and Samantha Koester in Brussels; @macdonaldrtr; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky" + }, + { + "text": "VW faces inquiry call over diesel fumes test on monkeys Tuesday, January 30, 2018 - 01:49 Volkswagen's supervisory board has called for an immediate inquiry into who commissioned tests in which monkeys were exposed to toxic diesel fumes. As Matthew Larotonda reports, the German government said such studies were unjustifiable. Volkswagen's supervisory board has called for an immediate inquiry into who commissioned tests in which monkeys were exposed to toxic diesel fumes. As Matthew Larotonda reports, the German government said such studies were unjustifiable. //reut.rs/2nq2sle" + }, + { + "text": "Carrier sends jobs to Mexico despite Trump deal 4:33am IST - 02:13 More than 200 workers clocked in for their final shifts on Thursday at Carrier Corp. in Indianapolis in the latest round of layoffs at a plant President Donald Trump toured in December 2016 to trumpet a deal to save jobs and prevent its closure. More than 200 workers clocked in for their final shifts on Thursday at Carrier Corp. in Indianapolis in the latest round of layoffs at a plant President Donald Trump toured in December 2016 to trumpet a deal to save jobs and prevent its closure. //reut.rs/2AQ283H" + }, + { + "text": "With the dollar index trading near a three-year low, one strategist sees further downside looming against major currencies like the euro . Though the dollar index recovered some of its losses on Tuesday and Wednesday, it traded near its lowest levels since January 2015, just above the 90 mark. Pressure on the greenback likely will continue, said Kathy Lien, managing director of foreign exchange strategy at BK Asset Management. Here are her reasons why. • The U.S. dollar is falling as U.S. equities come under pressure after a remarkable rally, and U.S. Treasury yields haven't seen much of an uptick after surging last week. • What makes the dollar's decline durable, however, is global central banks' simultaneous shift toward tightening monetary policy. Last week, the European Central Bank said it was revisiting its monetary policy early this year, which were perceived as hawkish for the euro. • Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan earlier this month adjusted its bond purchases, sending the Japanese yen higher, and it was reported that the Chinese government was moving toward halting U.S. Treasury purchases. • The Federal Reserve has reiterated it plans to hike interest rates this year. Still, there's little question that central banks around the world are slowly catching up. Bottom line: The U.S. dollar may weaken further as central banks around the world tighten monetary policy and foreign currencies weigh on the greenback. Vote Vote to see results Total Votes: Not a Scientific Survey. Results may not total 100% due to rounding. Disclaimer" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 4:05 PM / in 9 minutes Boeing delivers 763 jets in 2017, topping Airbus as biggest planemaker Reuters Staff 1 Min Read NEW YORK, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Boeing Co said on Tuesday it delivered 763 jetliners in 2017, likely retaining the title of the world’s biggest plane maker compared with European rival Airbus SE. Airbus delivered over 700 aircraft in 2017, Reuters reported earlier in January, citing industry sources. (Reporting by Alwyn Scott in New York and Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)" + }, + { + "text": "STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Malmo University in the south of Sweden informed students and teachers on Thursday it would be closed on Monday due to a threat emailed to the university. The university said on its website the threat was serious and targeted Jan. 8 specifically. It gave no further details but said the police had launched a preliminary criminal investigation. The police were not immediately available for comment. On April 7 last year a man drove a truck into people on a busy pedestrian street in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, killing five. He later confessed to committing an act of terrorism. Reporting by Anna Ringstrom; Editing by Robin Pomeroy" + }, + { + "text": "Chinese police seize bookseller again, says daughter Tuesday, January 23, 2018 - 01:06 Chinese agents have seized Swedish citizen and Hong Kong-based bookseller Gui Minhai from a Beijing-bound train, according to his daughter. He was abducted while on holiday in Thailand in 2015, one of five booksellers who went missing that year only to turn up later in Chinese custody. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Chinese agents have seized Swedish citizen and Hong Kong-based bookseller Gui Minhai from a Beijing-bound train, according to his daughter. He was abducted while on holiday in Thailand in 2015, one of five booksellers who went missing that year only to turn up later in Chinese custody. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland’s financial markets on Thursday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 1 hour): PKN ORLEN Poland’s biggest oil refiner PKN Orlen plans to reverse a 0.8 billion zlotys ($234.32 million) impairment related to Orlen Lietuva due to the unit’s better than expected results, PKN said in a statement on Wednesday evening. SMOG Poland’s new law on heating tariffs which was designed to encourage citizens to switch to modern, cleaner boilers will result in higher heating costs for households, Parkiet daily said citing calculations by antismog campaigners. Also, the energy ministry has resigned from tightening regulations defining the acceptable content of sulphur in coal, which environmentalists had hoped would help remove the worst-quality coal from the market and improve air quality, Gazeta Wyborcza daily said. POWER CAPACITY Poland’s new law on power capacity scheme comes into force on Thursday, but the changes still need to be accepted by the European Commission, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna daily said. ORANGE POLSKA Orange Polish unit plans to invest around 4.2 billion zlotys ($1.23 billion) in the next five years in fibre and fast mobile network, Orange Polska CEO told Rzeczpospolita daily. ****Reuters has not verified stories reported by Polish media and does not vouch for their accuracy.**** For other related news, double click on: Polish equities E.Europe equities Polish money Polish debt Eastern Europe All emerging markets Hot stocks Stock markets Market debt news Forex news For real-time index Quote: s, double click on: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX ($1 = 3.4171 zlotys) (Reporting by Warsaw Bureau)" + }, + { + "text": "It's now 2018, and a raft of changes to the tax code are in effect – including updates to income tax brackets. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act , signed into law by President Donald Trump in December, maintains the same seven-bracket structure that was in force previously. However, Congress has tweaked the rates and the income levels at which they apply. Prior to the new law, the seven tax brackets were 10 percent, 15 percent, 25 percent, 28 percent, 33 percent, 35 percent and 39.6 percent. Now, the tax code pegs the new rates at 10 percent, 12 percent, 22 percent, 24 percent, 32 percent, 35 percent and 37 percent. See below for a breakdown of the income tax brackets for singles. Rate Taxable Income Bracket 10% 0 to $9,525 12% $9,525 to $38,700 22% $38,700 to $82,500 24% $82,500 to $157,500 32% $157,500 to $200,000 35% $200,000 to $500,000 37% $500,000 and up Here are the rates for married couples who file jointly. Rate Taxable Income Bracket 10% 0 to $19,050 12% $19,050 to $77,400 22% $77,400 to $165,000 24% $165,000 to $315,000 32% $315,000 to $400,000 35% $400,000 to $600,000 37% $600,000 and up Finally, these are the rates for heads of household. Rate Taxable Income Bracket 10% 0 to $13,600 12% $13,600 to $51,800 22% $51,800 to $82,500 24% $82,500 to $157,500 32% $157,500 to $200,000 35% $200,000 to $500,000 37% $500,000 and up For comparison, here's how 2018 brackets would have looked under the old tax code. Rate Single Married Filing Jointly Head of Household 10% 0 to $9,525 0 to $19,050 0 to $13,600 15% $9,525 to $38,700 $19,050 to $77,400 $13,600 to $51,850 25% $38,700 to $93,700 $77,400 to $156,150 $51,850 to $133,850 28% $93,700 to $195,450 $156,150 to $237,950 $133,850 to $216,700 33% $195,450 to $424,950 $237,950 to $424,950 $216,700 to $424,950 35% $424,950 to $426,700 $424,950 to $480,050 $424,950 to $453,350 39.60% $426,700 and up $480,050 and up $453,350 and up Financial advisors have been concerned about the rates and brackets because they are instrumental in shaping financial planning strategies. That includes managing retirees' income in order to get the preferential rate of zero on long-term capital gains and dividends." + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 11:49 AM / Updated 10 hours ago Advocacy group calls on McDonald's to remove antibiotics from beef, pork Lisa Baertlein 3 Min Read (Reuters) - A consumer and public health group is pressing McDonald’s Corp to set a timeline for phasing out the routine use of medically important antibiotics in the beef and pork it serves, amid warnings that the practice fuels dangerous drug-resistant superbug infections in people. The petition drive by U.S. PIRG Education Fund is the latest in a broad campaign from the World Health Organization (WHO), investors, advocacy groups, and even nuns, to pressure farmers to curb or eliminate the use of those life-saving drugs on food animals. In the United States, an estimated 70 percent of antibiotics that are important to fighting human infections and ensuring the safety of invasive procedures such as surgeries are sold for use on farms. Scientists warn that the use of antibiotics to promote growth and prevent illness in healthy farms animals contributes to the rise of dangerous antibiotic-resistant superbug infections, which kill at least 23,000 Americans each year and pose a significant threat to global health. As the world’s biggest hamburger chain and a significant buyer of pork for its bacon and McRib sandwiches, McDonald’s has an outsize influence on farm practices. “The Big Mac can make a big dent in stopping the misuse of antibiotics in our food system,” said Matthew Wellington, antibiotics program director for U.S. PIRG. McDonald’s in 2016 was the first major fast-food chain to shift its U.S. chicken supply to birds raised without medically important antibiotics, its effort spurred most of its rivals and major chicken suppliers to follow. McDonald’s in August said would begin curbing the use of high-value human antibiotics in its global chicken supply in 2018 and begin working on antibiotic plans for other meats, dairy cows and laying hens. The company was not immediately available after normal business hours for comment. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently said sales and distribution of medically important antibiotics for food production fell 14 percent from 2015 to 2016, the first decline in year-to-year sales since the agency began collecting the data in 2009. FDA said chicken accounted for 6 percent of medically important antibiotic sales, while swine and cattle came in at 37 percent and 43 percent, respectively. Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Lisa Shumaker" + }, + { + "text": "The White House declined Wednesday to echo Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin 's comment that a weaker dollar helps the United States. Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters that the dollar is \"stable\" and reflects a \"strong\" American economy. When pressed if President Donald Trump supports a stronger or weaker dollar, she did not specify. \"We believe in free-floating currency. The president has always believed in that,\" Sanders said. Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty Images President Donald Trump Earlier, Mnuchin said \"a weaker dollar is good for us as it relates to trade and opportunities.\" U.S. Treasury secretaries typically talk up a strong dollar. The greenback fell against a trade-weighted basket of global currencies after Mnuchin's comment. The dollar index was down about 1 percent Wednesday afternoon." + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 11:29 AM / in 41 minutes Ex-Baer boss says desire to be entrepreneur drove sudden exit Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BERN, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Former Julius Baer chief executive Boris Collardi said on Thursday the chance to go from employee to entrepreneur drove his decision to quit his job to become a partner at Geneva-based rival Pictet Group. “I’ll go from being an employee to an entrepreneur,” Collardi said on Thursday on the sidelines of a private banking event in the Swiss capital. “That had a lot of importance for me.” Julius Baer is publicly listed while Pictet is a private partnership. Collardi had been CEO at Julius Baer since 2009 and he had faced disputes with shareholders over his pay. He has not previously publicly stated a reason for his departure. Collardi was replaced by Chief Risk Officer Bernhard Hodler, who has agreed to take on the job while the bank evaluates the group’s long term leadership. Reporting by Angelika Gruber; editing by John Miller and Jane Merriman" + }, + { + "text": "Trump: 'I am not a racist' 5:28pm IST - 01:07 President Trump said on Sunday that he is 'not a racist' despite reports of his derogatory comments about immigrants from Haiti and Africa, adding that he was 'ready, willing and able' to reach a deal to protect immigrants brought to the United States as children. President Trump said on Sunday that he is 'not a racist' despite reports of his derogatory comments about immigrants from Haiti and Africa, adding that he was 'ready, willing and able' to reach a deal to protect immigrants brought to the United States as children. //reut.rs/2B1eZ3e" + }, + { + "text": "North Korea willing to talk but not about nukes Tuesday, January 09, 2018 - 01:37 North and South Korea on Tuesday agreed on negotiations to resolve problems and military talks aimed at averting accidental conflict, after their first official dialogue in more than two years, as Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme fuels tension. Scarlett Cvitanovich reports. North and South Korea on Tuesday agreed on negotiations to resolve problems and military talks aimed at averting accidental conflict, after their first official dialogue in more than two years, as Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme fuels tension. Scarlett Cvitanovich reports. //reut.rs/2CZaITS" + }, + { + "text": "As the competition for shoppers intensifies, a California mall is now offering customers the perk of having gas delivered to their cars in the parking lot while they shop. The Great Mall in Milpitas, Calif., recently joined with Booster Fuels, an app-based company that comes directly to cars at offices and retail parking spaces and refuels them. Customers... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile’s state-run Codelco, the world’s largest copper producer, presented on Tuesday a $250 million plan to move its Andina mine away from glaciers. The company said in a statement the changes, which will take 36 months to implement once an environmental impact study is improved, would not change expected output or the mine’s lifespan. “It modifies the shape of the current pit, maintaining its size but redirecting the mining extraction toward zones where glaciers are not present,” Codelco said. Andina’s proximity to glaciers has generated sharp criticism from environmentalists. Andina produced 164,000 tonnes of copper from January to September of last year. Reporting by Felipe Iturrieta; Writing by Caroline StaufferEditing by Chizu Nomiyama" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 5:28 AM / Updated 8 hours ago West Ham boss Moyes unaware of Chelsea's Carroll interest Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - West Ham United manager David Moyes is not aware of Chelsea’s interest in his striker Andy Carroll and hopes to add to his squad in January transfer window rather than sell. British media reports say Chelsea are desperate to boost manager Antonio Conte’s attacking options and have made contact with West Ham with the intent of signing Carroll on a permanent deal. “They (Chelsea) have not made contact with me, so if they have made contact with someone else I don’t know about it,” Moyes told reporters. ”At the moment Andy Carroll is one of my squad, I want to add to the squad, not lose players. “I know nothing about it. There have been a lot of rumours regarding a loan but as far as I know it has never officially come from Chelsea. I am not keen to lose any players.” Carroll, who has 18 months remaining on his current contract, remained on the sidelines with an ankle injury as West Ham laboured to a 1-0 win over third-tier Shrewsbury Town after extra-time in the FA Cup third round replay on Tuesday. “At the moment Andy has an ankle injury so we are hoping that will settle quickly and he will be back training shortly,” Moyes added. “We started tonight with a lot of young players due to injury and people not being available for the game. I knew with the team we were playing it was going to be touch and go to beat Shrewsbury.” West Ham, currently 11th in the Premier League table, host Bournemouth on Saturday. Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; editing by Amlan Chakraborty" + }, + { + "text": "DETROIT (Reuters) - Japanese luxury auto brands Lexus and Infiniti are using the Detroit auto show to test new ways to regain momentum against Germany’s prestige automakers and Silicon Valley’s Tesla Inc ( TSLA.O ). Toyota Motor Corp’s ( 7203.T ) Lexus brand unveiled at Detroit its “LF-1 Limitless” concept SUV model, signaling that Lexus may start to focus more on SUVs than its traditional large sedans. The LF-1 proposed a blend of an aggressive, sleek profile with a system called “Chauffeur mode” which allows the driver to take hands off the wheel and let the SUV handle most of the driving. The LF-1’s also previews a futuristic navigation technology that anticipates where the driver is going based on driving habits and history, and provides hotel recommendations or other concierge services. “We don’t want to be the ‘race car’ brand; we don’t want to be the ‘quiet ride’ brand. We want to be the brand which is emotionally connected with the customer,” said Cooper Ericksen, vice president of U.S. marketing for Lexus. The Japanese luxury brands are fighting to gain ground in the U.S. luxury market as Volkswagen AG’s ( VOWG_p.DE ) Audi brand and Mercedes-Benz have expanded sales, and Tesla has provided a fresh alternative to the established brands. FILE PHOTO: The Infiniti booth displays the company logo at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, U.S. January 16, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst Last year the Lexus brand suffered a 7.6 percent slide in U.S. sales last year. At Honda Motor Co Ltd’s ( 7267.T ) Acura luxury brand, 2017 sales fell 3.9 percent from 2016. Nissan Motor Co Ltd’s ( 7201.T ) Infiniti pushed up sales by 11.3 percent, mainly by selling almost twice as many sport utility vehicles as cars. However, Infiniti’s total 2017 sales of 153,415 vehicles put it behind the leading Germany luxury car brands, as well as Acura, Lexus and General Motors Co’s ( GM.N ) Cadillac brand. Lexus, Infiniti and Acura launched in the U.S. market in the late 1980s and took advantage of quality problems at Audi and a lack of innovation at the then-leading luxury brands in the market, General Motors Co’s ( GM.N ) Cadillac and Ford Motor Co’s ( F.N ) Lincoln brand. Now, the structure of the U.S. luxury vehicle market has changed. Four brands - Daimler AG’s ( DAIGn.DE ) Mercedes-Benz, BMW AG ( BMWG.DE ), Volkswagen’s Audi brand and Lexus dominate sales in the U.S. luxury market. Tesla, meanwhile, has gathered more than 400,000 orders for its Model 3 sedan, which is just starting to reach customers as the automaker tries to iron out production problems. In Detroit, Infiniti showed a future sedan powered by a high efficiency gasoline engine. While the prototype is not electric, its exterior might appeal to customers of the Tesla Model S. “We don’t look at Tesla and try to do the same idea of luxury, but there has been a natural evolution of luxury,” Infiniti’s executive design director Karim Habib said at the North American International Auto Show earlier this week. Reporting by Naomi Tajitsu; Editing by Lisa Shumaker" + }, + { + "text": "Kawhi Leonard scored 19 points and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs built a big early lead and rolled to a 112-80 win over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. Leonard was not in the lineup in the Spurs’ previous three games because of a small tear in a muscle in his left shoulder. He also missed the first 27 contests of the season with a quad injury. The Spurs led by 13 entering the fourth quarter but ended any chance of a Denver comeback by outscoring the Nuggets 19-5 over the next six minutes. San Antonio owned a 101-74 lead with 6:06 to play, relegating the final few minutes to mop-up time for the teams’ reserves. San Antonio is now 19-2 at home this season; no other team in the NBA has fewer than four home losses. The current streak of 13 straight home victories is the Spurs’ longest since 2015-16, when the franchise record of 48 consecutive wins at home was snapped. Davis Bertans poured in 18 points (15 of those in the first half), LaMarcus Aldridge hit for 15 points, and Danny Green added 11 of the Spurs, who outshot Denver 52.6 percent to 34.9 percent and owned a 53-25 edge in bench scoring. Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Gary Harris added 18 points. Denver scored just 11 points in the fourth quarter. The Spurs led by as many as 18 points in the first half before settling for a 56-44 lead at halftime. Denver ended the half on a 13-7 run to cut into the lead, with the final points of the half coming on a 3-pointers by Jokic and Bertans, the two teams’ leading first-half scorers. Jokic poured in 16 points over the first 24 minutes for the Nuggets while Bertans led the Spurs with 15 points while hitting five 3-pointers before the break. Denver cut the Spurs’ lead to 56-50 on Jamal Murray’s pullup jumper with 9:51 to play in the third quarter. However, San Antonio roared back, scoring 14 of the game’s next 16 point to re-establish an 18-point margin. The Spurs led 82-69 at the end of the period. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 6:24 PM / in 21 minutes Ex-Honduran minister gets nearly two-and-a-half years prison in U.S. drug case Brendan Pierson 3 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former member of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez’s cabinet was sentenced by a New York federal judge to nearly 2-1/2 years in prison on Friday, after pleading guilty to attempting to launder drug money from the Central American country. Yankel Rosenthal, who served as minister of investment under Hernandez, received his 29-month term from U.S. District Judge John Koeltl in Manhattan. He was also fined $50,000. Rosenthal, 49, pleaded guilty in August, admitting that he tried to buy a property for $1 million in Florida on behalf of a lawyer he knew in Honduras. He said he knew the lawyer did business with drug traffickers and suspected the money was from drug sales, but went ahead with the deal anyway, planning to take a commission for himself. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emil Bove said at the hearing that the deal never closed only because the seller backed out. Samidh Guha, a lawyer for Rosenthal, did not dispute that. In a courtroom filled with family and friends, Rosenthal said before being sentenced that he regretted his actions but was “not a threat to society.” “I don’t need to rehabilitate myself,” he said. “I need to redeem myself in the eyes of my god, family and my country.” Prosecutors had sought a sentence of at least five years, citing federal guidelines, while Rosenthal’s lawyers had asked for time served. Koeltl agreed that guidelines called for more than five years, but said the lighter sentence was warranted because Rosenthal never closed the real estate deal and had a history of charitable giving. Rosenthal gave up the right to appeal any sentence below federal guidelines as part of his plea deal. He had been arrested in October 2015 and released on bail two months later, court records show. U.S. prosecutors have also charged Rosenthal’s father Jaime Rosenthal, a former vice president of Honduras; his cousin Yani Rosenthal, a veteran politician and two-time presidential candidate; and Andres Acosta Garcia, a lawyer with the family’s Grupo Continental. Prosecutors have said the three men took part in a long-running money laundering scheme involving the Cachiros, a Honduran drug trafficking ring. Yani Rosenthal and Acosta Garcia have both pleaded guilty to money laundering. Yani Rosenthal was sentenced to three years in prison in December, while Acosta Garcia is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 26. Jaime Rosenthal remains at large. Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Richard Chang" + }, + { + "text": "SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Microsoft has temporarily stopped fixing a serious security flaw on personal computers powered by certain chips from Advanced Micro Devices because the repair is crippling the affected machines. The suspension will delay efforts to protect the AMD machines from potential intrusions caused by security bugs known as \"Spectre\" and \"Meltdown.\" The problem primarily threatens devices running on processors from AMD's larger rival, Intel, but also could cause trouble on devices running on other chips. Microsoft began offering updates to its Windows operating system to address the flaw last week, but is withholding the repair from some AMD-powered machines that have been rendered inoperable by its fix. The company said in a notice Tuesday on its website that it's working with AMD to resolve the problem so people can resume installing the recommended repairs. After the bugs were announced last week, AMD declared there is \"near zero risk\" to its own processors, partly because of Microsoft's security patches. In other developments, Microsoft also warned that some computers powered by older processors probably won't work as well as they once did after the antidotes to Spectre and Meltdown are installed." + }, + { + "text": "Lebanon bomb wounds Hamas official 5:45pm GMT - 00:49 A bomb has wounded a member of the Palestinian group Hamas in Sidon, southern Lebanon. Al-Manar television, run by Hezbollah, said he had an important security role and was being tracked by Israel. Rough cut (no reporter narration). A bomb has wounded a member of the Palestinian group Hamas in Sidon, southern Lebanon. Al-Manar television, run by Hezbollah, said he had an important security role and was being tracked by Israel. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2Dc9Lrt" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan’s Fujifilm Holdings said it is cutting 10,000 jobs globally at its joint venture with Xerox Corp, saying it needed to overhaul the photocopying business amid a tough market environment. The company said it would book restructuring costs of 49 billion yen ($450.95 million) in the current fiscal year, lowering its operating profit forecast for the year to 130 billion yen from a previous 185 billion yen outlook. It said the restructuring would lower annual costs by 50 billion yen from the year ending March 2020. Earlier, the Wall Street Journal reported citing people familiar with the matter that Xerox Corp is nearing a deal with Fujifilm that would cede control of the U.S. photocopier pioneer to Fujifilm. Reporting by Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman" + }, + { + "text": "BERLIN, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The German government has raised its 2018 growth forecast to 2.4 percent from 1.9 percent previously, people familiar with the updated projections said on Monday. The government expects exports to grow by 5.3 percent this year and imports to rise by 5.8 percent, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity, adding that unemployment was seen falling to 5.3 percent from 5.7 percent in 2017. The German economy, Europe’s largest, last year grew by 2.2 percent, the strongest rate since 2011. Adjusted for calendar effects, the economy expanded by 2.5 percent in 2017. Acting Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries, a senior member of the Social Democrats, will present the government’s updated growth forecast during a news conference on Wednesday. (Reporting by Gernot Heller,; Writing by Michael Nienaber,; Editing by Joseph Nasr)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 10 (Reuters) - Colopl Inc * Says Nintendo Co Ltd has filed a lawsuit again the company, claiming compensation of 4.4 billion yen and the relevant delay damages, for patent infringement, on Dec. 22, 2017 * Says Nintendo Co Ltd requested the co to stop providing the service related to the application Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/wgZeHz Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "By David Meyer January 19, 2018 While efforts to revive net neutrality in the United States continue—by way of states suing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and senators trying to overturn the FCC’s December repeal —two European countries have thumbed their noses at the U.S. by reaffirming their commitment to the principle. As part of a wide-ranging agreement to strengthen links in the tech sector, the U.K. and France said Friday: “[Our] industrial strategies highlight the role that digital technology will play in the economy of the future. In this context, we wish to restate our commitment and support for the principle of net neutrality, which promotes a free and open internet.” The countries said they would “make sure users can access websites without internet service providers favoring or blocking particular sites,” according to a statement from the British culture ministry. This is largely a restatement of the obvious. A regulation came into effect across the European Union in 2016 that mandates net neutrality across the bloc and, unlike the now-stricken U.S. net-neutrality rule that was introduced under the Obama administration, the EU’s law won’t be going anywhere for a long time. That suggests the statement was partly a jab at the U.S. and a message to European tech firms that they’re on safer ground in France and the U.K. However, it also carries a lot of significance for the U.K., which is preparing to leave the EU. When Brexit happens next year, the EU’s net neutrality regulation will no longer apply in the U.K. So Friday’s statement indicates that the country will maintain the principle nonetheless. What that means in practice—whether there will be loopholes, and how well net neutrality will be enforced—remains to be seen. The EU’s net neutrality law already has one significant loophole: it permits the practice of “ zero rating ,” where internet service providers can exempt particular services from a customer’s data cap. European telecoms regulators say they will monitor the situation to ensure zero-rating offers don’t give an unfair advantage to particular sites and services, but the practice is nonetheless a form of net neutrality infringement. In their Friday statement, the British and French culture ministers said they would establish a “digital conference” this year to “foster cross-Channel collaboration between academics, industry and government.” The conference will cover topics such as AI, cybersecurity and digital government. The statement came as French president Emmanuel Macron made his first state visit to the U.K. Boris Johnson, the British foreign secretary, used the occasion to propose the construction of a literal, 22-mile bridge across the English Channel. According to a Guardian report, Macron is “understood to have responded positively.” SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "ATLANTA, Jan. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Secretariat is pleased to announce the promotions of Ted Scott and Mike Saulsbury to Managing Directors. Ted has done an outstanding job of expanding our West Coast practice and has testified on some major international projects. Mike has helped establish the firm's presence in the UAE (Dubai) and has a reputation second to none in the Middle East. Their unwavering commitment to integrity and quality reinforce the firm's core principles. To view more on Ted and Mike please click on the links below: / / View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Secretariat" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 2:34 PM / Updated 5 hours ago Icahn demands removal of two SandRidge board members Taenaz Shakir 2 Min Read (Reuters) - SandRidge Energy’s ( SD.N ) biggest shareholder Carl Icahn on Tuesday called for the resignation of two of the company’s board members, after forcing the management to abandon the purchase of Bonanza Creek Energy Inc ( BCEI.N ). Icahn said in a letter to the oil and gas producer's board that he wanted to nominate one new director, while the other would be determined by other large shareholders. ( bit.ly/2maIfz6 ) Oklahoma-based SandRidge, which emerged from bankruptcy last year, had said in November it would pay $746 million for rival Bonanza Creek to expand its presence in the Denver-Julesburg Basin of Colorado. Icahn, the largest shareholder with a 13.5 percent stake, had called the offer “value-destroying”, forcing SandRidge to give to call off the deal. “We believe the current directors were remiss in attempting to ram through a dilutive, overpriced and value-destroying acquisition without at the very least reaching out and discussing this with the company’s shareholders,” the activist investor wrote in the letter. He also criticized Chief Executive James Bennett for the company’s actions under his management. “We question why you refuse to hold James Bennett accountable for his history with SandRidge during a period of massive value destruction,” Icahn said in the letter. Icahn also demanded the company either terminate a “poison pill” shareholder rights plan announced in November or raise its threshold to 25 percent from 10 percent. SandRidge spokeswoman declined to comment on Icahn’s letter. Reporting by Taenaz Shakir in Bengaluru and Gary McWilliams in Houston; Editing by Arun Koyyur" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 7:31 AM / Updated 7 hours ago Beijing to launch campaign to root out 'low taste' video games: Xinhua Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing is starting a special investigation campaign into online video games to root out those with “low taste”, the official Xinhua news agency reported. The month-long campaign that began Monday will seek to identify games that “have severe deviation in value, distort history, smear historical figures, violate government policies on ethnicities and religions, promote content that are lurid, violent or related to gambling,” Xinhua said. China’s booming video game market, the world’s largest, is being driven by game developers like Tencent and NetEase. The Chinese government has a tight grip on content distributed in the country, including movies, music and video games. Last year, Tencent had to change a popular battle royale-style game that the regulator said was too gory and violent and bring it closer in lines with “socialist core values” before being allowed to release it in China. The Xinhua report did not identify any games or companies. It also said authorities would block any illegal content that originate from overseas and violates Chinese law. Reporting by Pei Li and Adam Jourdan; Editing by Malcolm Foster" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - Econocom Group Se: * FY REVENUE EUR 2.98 BILLION VERSUS EUR 2.54 BILLION YEAR AGO * AIMS REVENUE OF EUR 4 BILLION BY 2022 * AIMS ALMOST TWOFOLD INCREASE IN OPERATING PROFIT TO REACH EUR 300 MILLION BY 2022 Source text: bit.ly/2BqjLYh Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 7, 2018 / 11:50 AM / Updated 8 minutes ago Man dies in Stockholm blast; police see no terrorism link Reuters Staff 1 Min Read STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - One man died after an explosion outside an underground station in Stockholm on Sunday, police said, adding they did not believe the incident was terrorism-related. The man sustained fatal injuries after he picked up an object, a police spokesman said. Daily newspaper Aftonbladet said it was thought to have been a hand grenade. Police declined to confirm that report, for which the newspaper named no sources. “There is obviously something that has exploded strongly ...But we will have to wait for the technical investigation,” the spokesman said, adding that a murder investigation had been launched. There was no reason to believe the event was linked to terrorism, he said. A second person was injured in the explosion, which occurred at the Varby Gard station in the south of the city. It and an adjacent square were closed while police carried out checks. Reporting by Helena Soderpalm; editing by John Stonestreet" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19 (Reuters) - SYGNITY SA SGN.WA: * SAID ON THURSDAY THAT ITS PRELIM. Q1 2017/2018 EBITDA WAS 6 MILLION ZLOTYS AND OPERATING PROFIT WAS 4.1 MILLION ZLOTYS ON REVENUE OF 97.6 MILLION ZLOTYS * IT ALSO SEES 2017/2018 EBITDA OF 22.3 MILLION ZLOTYS, OPERATING PROFIT OF 12.8 MILLION ZLOTYS AND REVENUE OF 346.8 MILLION ZLOTYS * ALSO ON JAN. 18, THE COMPANY INFORMED ABOUT PRELIM. FY 2016/2017 LOSS Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 14, 2018 / 8:32 AM / Updated 9 hours ago Saudi Prince Alwaleed in settlement talks with government - sources Rania El Gamal , Stephen Kalin 3 Min Read DUBAI/JEDDAH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia’s billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, detained for over two months in an anti-corruption crackdown, is negotiating a possible settlement with authorities but so far has not agreed on terms, a senior Saudi official said. Owner of Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Holding, billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal attends the traditional Saudi dance known as 'Arda', which was performed during Janadriya culture festival at Der'iya in Riyadh February 18, 2014. Picture taken February 18, 2014. REUTERS/Fayez Nureldine/Pool (SAUDI ARABIA - Tags: ROYALS BUSINESS) Prince Alwaleed, whose net worth has been estimated by Forbes magazine at $17 billion, is chairman and owner of international investment firm Kingdom Holding 4280.SE, and one of the country’s most prominent businessmen. “He offered a certain figure but it doesn’t meet the figure required from him, and until today the attorney-general hasn’t approved it,” the official said on condition of anonymity under government briefing rules. A second source familiar with Prince Alwaleed’s case told Reuters on Saturday that the price had offered to make a “donation” to the Saudi government, which would avoid any admission of wrongdoing, and to do so from assets of his own choosing. The government refused those terms, the source said. Kingdom Holding’s share price jumped as much as 9.8 percent on Sunday in response to news of the negotiations, adding about $860 million to the company’s capitalisation. The stock price was still 7 percent below its level just before Prince Alwaleed was detained. FILE PHOTO - Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed bin Talal leaves the High Court in London July 2, 2013. REUTERS/Neil Hall/File Photo Since early November Prince Alwaleed has been held, with dozens of other members of Saudi Arabia’s political and business elite detained in the crackdown, in Riyadh’s opulent Ritz Carlton hotel as authorities seek to reach settlements with the detainees. Saudi officials say they aim to claw back some $100 billion of funds that rightfully belong to the state. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who launched the crackdown, has indicated he wants to close existing cases quickly and expects most suspects to cut a deal. The allegations against Prince Alwaleed include money laundering, bribery and extorting officials, a Saudi official told Reuters soon after his detention. Neither he nor his company has commented publicly on the charges. Kingdom Holding, which has said it is continuing to operate normally, did not respond to requests for comment when asked about any settlement talks. Construction giant Saudi Binladin Group said on Saturday that some of its shareholders might transfer part of their holdings to the state in a settlement with authorities. Chairman Bakr Bin Laden and several family members were detained in the crackdown. In late November, senior Saudi Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, once seen as a leading contender to the throne, was freed after reaching a settlement with authorities that involved paying more than $1 billion, according to a Saudi official. Additional reporting by Saeed Azhar in Dubai and Marwa Rashad in Riyadh; Editing by Andrew Torchia and Dale Hudson" + }, + { + "text": "Business leader with decades of experience at Proofpoint, Hitachi Data Systems, NetApp and Symantec joins A10 Networks to lead global sales team SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A10 Networks (NYSE: ATEN), a Secure Application ServicesTM company, today announced the appointment of Chris White to lead the company’s global sales organization as executive vice president, worldwide sales, effective Jan. 2, 2018. “Chris brings extensive global sales and channel leadership experience to A10, and his cybersecurity background will help the company in its mission to protect businesses and their critical applications from cyber threats through deep intelligence and automation in any environment,” said Lee Chen, president and chief executive officer of A10 Networks. In the role as executive vice president reporting to the CEO, White is responsible for managing and growing A10's global sales organization, sales operations and business development. White’s charter is to drive A10’s global sales and channel strategy. White is known for being a versatile leader and strategic problem solver during his long career in the cybersecurity industry as an accomplished global sales executive. Before joining A10 Networks, White was vice president of sales at Proofpoint, a leading security-as-a-service provider, where he led the Strategic Accounts and Archive Sales Teams in the US market. Prior to Proofpoint, White held senior leadership positions at Hitachi Data Systems, NetApp, Symantec and ADP. About A10 Networks A10 Networks (NYSE: ATEN) is a Secure Application ServicesTM company, providing a range of high-performance application networking solutions that help organizations ensure that their data center applications and networks remain highly available, accelerated and secure. Founded in 2004, A10 Networks is based in San Jose, Calif., and serves customers globally with offices worldwide. For more information, visit: www.a10networks.com and @A10Networks. The A10 logo, A10 Networks, A10 Thunder and Secure Application Services are trademarks or registered trademarks of A10 Networks, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com : Media and Analyst Contact A10 Networks Ben Stricker [REDACTED] Source: A10 Networks" + }, + { + "text": "President Donald Trump talked to CNBC's Joe Kernen from the World Economic Forum in Switzerland on Thursday. In the interview, Trump clarified comments from his Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , who suggested that the White House may prefer a weaker dollar. Trump said he ultimately wants to \"see a strong dollar.\" Read Trump's comments on the dollar below: I think they were taken out of context 'cause I read his exact statement. I'll tell you where I stand, which ultimately is very important. No. 1, I don't like talking about it because, frankly, nobody should be talking about it. It should be what it is. It should also be based on the strength of the country. We are doing so well. Our country is becoming so economically strong again — and strong in other ways, too, by the way — that the dollar is going to get stronger and stronger. And ultimately, I want to see a strong dollar. Right now, it floats. But it's your great reserve currency. There can never be anything even close to it. There is nothing close to it. There never will be. But ultimately, the dollar, because our country is going to get so much stronger economically, if you look at what's happened to our country over the — look, I've been talking about this with you for 25 years." + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 12:44 PM / Updated 8 minutes ago Wall St. slides as Apple weighs Reuters Staff 1 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street pulled back from record highs on Monday with the S&P 500 marking its biggest one-day percentage decline in about five months, weighed down by a slide in Apple shares. The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 177.23 points, or 0.67 percent, to 26,439.48, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 19.34 points, or 0.67 percent, to 2,853.53 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 39.27 points, or 0.52 percent, to 7,466.51. Reporting by Stephen Culp; Editing by Nick Zieminski" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order directing government departments to try to prevent suicide among military veterans by treating mental health problems before they become more serious. Trump’s order directs the departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs to ensure all uniformed service members have access to mental health treatment and suicide prevention resources in the first year following military service. “They get out of the military and they have nobody to talk to,” Trump said as he signed the order. “It’s a very sad situation.” Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin said the White House wants to address an alarming trend, that of 20 veterans a day taking their own life. “That 12-month period after you leave service is the highest risk for suicide,” Shulkin told reporters. Currently, only 40 percent of military members have mental health coverage, he said. The new order will cost about $200 million year to implement, money that will be diverted from the agencies’ current budgets, a senior administration official said. Reporting By Steve Holland and Roberta Rampton; Editing by David Gregorio" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 7:24 AM / Updated 16 minutes ago Nestle to cut 400 jobs in France Reuters Staff 2 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - Swiss food group Nestle ( NESN.S ) said on Friday it planned to cut as many as 400 jobs in France in support services and HQ functions, as it sees to cut cost and boost efficiency, confirming a media report.[nL4N1PK5VH] The group, which employs 13,000 people in France, wanted to avoid layoffs and attrition may account for some reduction in headcount as Nestle consolidates seven sites around Paris into one by 2020, a spokesman said. Earlier this week, Europe’s largest retailer Carrefour ( CARR.PA ) unveiled a voluntary redundancy plan for 2,400 employees at its French head office as part of plans to save 2 billion euros by 2020. [nL8N1PI1EY] Nestle, the world’s largest packaged food firm, already announced in September plans to cut 450 out of 550 jobs at its Galderma skincare research center near Nice on the French Riviera. Nestle has come under pressure to shift gear from activist shareholder Third Point, which in June revealed a $3.5 billion stake. Nestle has satisfied some demands, such as buying back shares and setting a margin target. Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; editing by Leigh Thomas" + }, + { + "text": "January 2, 2018 / 1:00 PM / Updated 9 minutes ago At least 23 people injured in Bronx apartment fire Reuters Staff 2 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - At least 23 people, including one firefighter, were hurt on Tuesday morning after a fire tore through an apartment building in New York City’s Bronx borough, days after another blaze in the area killed 12 people, a fire department spokesman said. All of the injuries, which included adults and children, were non-life-threatening, according to Daniel Nigro, commissioner of the Fire Department of New York. “Our units arrived and were immediately faced with heavy fire. Numerous people were brought out of the building by the firefighters on scene,” Nigro said during a news conference. “They’ve all been transported, and they will all be OK, thankfully.” The seven-alarm fire broke out at about 5:30 a.m. local time (1030 GMT) in a four-story brick structure with a furniture store on the ground floor, fire officials said on Twitter. More than 200 firefighters battled the blaze in frigid temperatures as low as 13 Fahrenheit (minus 10.6 Celsius) for hours before getting it under control around 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT). The cause of the fire was yet to be determined. Last Thursday, 12 people, including four children, were killed in the New York City’s deadliest blaze in a quarter of a century in another part of the Bronx less than 2 miles (3 km) away. That fire was caused by a 3-year-old boy playing with the burners of a kitchen stove in one of the apartments, officials said. Reporting by Brendan O'Brien and Peter Szekely; Additional reporting by Gina Cherelus; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Lisa Shumaker" + }, + { + "text": "CAIRO, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Egypt’s foreign reserves are sufficient to cover imports for eight-months, Central Bank Sub-governor Rami Aboul Naga said on Tuesday. Egypt’s foreign reserves stood at $37.02 billion in December from $36.723 billion at the end of November. Cairo’s foreign reserves have been climbing since the country secured a $12 billion, three-year International Monetary Fund loan programme in 2016 in a bid to lure back foreign investors and revive its ailing economy. (Reporting by Ehab Farouk, Editing by William Maclean)" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 12:22 AM / Updated 10 hours ago Rahm and Landry in playoff at La Quinta Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Spain’s Jon Rahm and American Andrew Landry were headed for a playoff at the Career Builder Challenge after Landry made a birdie putt at the last hole on Sunday. Both finished regulation at 22-under 266 at the Stadium Course at La Quinta in southern California. Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Greg Stutchbury" + }, + { + "text": "BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission has begun a new investigation into whether Argentine biodiesel exporters benefit from unfair subsidies, following a complaint in December by the European Biodiesel Board (EBB). The EU’s official journal said on Wednesday that the Commission had found the complaint contained evidence that Argentine producers had benefited from government subsidies. These came in the form of artificially cheap goods and services, such as soybeans, excessively high prices paid for the biodiesel or price support, preferential loans and government revenue, such as tax, foregone or not collected, it said. “I hope the Commission will go as fast as possible in its investigation, because every day makes things more difficult on the ground,” Arnaud Rousseau, president of French oilseed producer group FOP said. Oilseed processor Saipol has said it plans to cut its biodiesel production in France by around half this year, blaming renewed imports of Argentine biodiesel for exacerbating poor market conditions. The EU’s new investigation would offer another channel for imposing effective tariffs on imported biodiesel as Argentina, and Indonesia, both major producers, have mounted successful challenges to anti-dumping duties, which the European Union set for five years in 2013. Argentina and Indonesia have called the trade measures protectionist. The General Court of the European Union, the second-highest EU court, delivered a series of rulings in September 2016 to annul those duties. The EU initially appealed the ruling, but decided last week to withdraw that appeal. Argentina and Indonesia have also both won cases at the World Trade Organization. The European Commission cut the anti-dumping duties for Argentinean biodiesel last year to between 4.5 and 8.1 percent from initial rates of 22-25.7 percent. The rates for Indonesia remain those set in 2013 - between 8.8 and 20.5 percent. French producers are now concerned the EU decision will also lower duties on imports of Indonesian biodiesel. The European Union’s case was based on export duties both countries impose on the raw material, soybeans in the case of Argentina and palm oil for Indonesia. The EU view was that this gave an unfair advantage to biodiesel producers there, allowing them to “dump” product at unfairly low prices. The EBB said in its latest complaint that the flow of subsidized imports was likely to increase because of the reduced anti-dumping tariffs and the recent imposition of duties of more than 70 percent by the United States. EU anti-subsidy investigations last up to 13 months, with the possibility of applying provisional duties after nine. Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; additional reporting by Sybille de la Hamaide in Paris; editing by Robert-Jan Bartunek and Alexander Smith" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar extended recent weakness, hitting three-year lows again, and U.S. bond prices eased on Wednesday after U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he welcomed its weakness in the currency. Fear of protectionism from the U.S. economy, the world’s largest, had already pushed the greenback to a three-year low, but Mnuchin’s remark at the annual Davos summit of business and political leaders pushed it down further. [nL8N1PJ1EG] Adding to those fears, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said U.S. trade authorities are investigating whether there is a case for taking action over China’s infringements of intellectual property. [nL8N1PJ5HI] U.S. President Donald Trump had slapped steep tariffs on imported washing machines and solar panels on Monday. [nL2N1PH1WV] The dollar index .DXY, which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was down 0.93 at 89.283, slipping below 90 for the first time since December 2014. [nL8N1PJ4FN] “It’s quite significant given that this is the first time in a very long time that a Treasury secretary has spoken against a strong dollar,” said Sireen Harajli, FX strategist at Mizuho. The S&P 500 was flat, paring gains after the Ross comments, which fueled trade war fears. The dollar’s weakness, however, was providing some support since it helps U.S. multinationals’ earnings. [nL4N1PJ4ZF] FILE PHOTO: The London Stock Exchange Group offices are seen in the City of London, Britain, December 29, 2017. REUTERS/Toby Melville “To the extent that global growth is solid and a sizable portion of S&P earnings are earned overseas, I don’t look at this as being dollar negative at all,” said Joseph LaVorgna, chief economist for Americas at Nations in New York. Also weighing on the S&P 500, GE ( GE.N ) shares were down 2.7 percent. In the latest blow to the largest U.S. industrial conglomerate, U.S. securities regulators are probing a massive insurance charge GE announced last week. GE also forecast more weakness at its power business this year, a unit that produced 60 percent of profits as recently as 2016. [nL4N1PJ43B] The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 51.4 points, or 0.2 percent, to 26,262.21, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 3.03 points, or 0.11 percent, to 2,836.1 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 43.40 points, or 0.58 percent, to 7,416.89. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index .FTEU3 lost 0.51 percent and MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD PUS gained 0.12 percent. [nL8N1PJ1VY] Euro zone businesses enjoyed a much better start to 2018 than anyone polled by Reuters expected, ramping up activity at the fastest rate since the middle of 2006, a survey showed on Wednesday. [nL9N1LS01D] U.S. Treasury debt prices slumped, also after Mnuchin’s comments. [nL2N1PJ136] Benchmark 10-year notes US10YT=RR last fell 8/32 in price to yield 2.6502 percent, from 2.622 percent late on Tuesday. In the oil market, U.S. crude CLcv1 rose 0.51 percent to $64.80 per barrel and Brent LCOcv1 was last at $69.85, down 0.16 percent on the day. [nL4N1PJ1GE] Additional reporting by Abhinav Ramnarayan and Marc Jones in London, and Saqib Iqbal Ahmed in New York and Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Nick Zieminski" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds housing minister) DUBAI, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia’s central bank lifted the maximum loan-to-value rate on Thursday for mortgages for first-time homebuyers to 90 percent from 85 percent in an effort to stimulate mortgage lending. “Raising the maximum limit of the percentage of financing of the value of the first house for citizens will contribute to supporting the growth of the real estate financing sector,” the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) said in a statement on its website. It said the decision also aims to help the kingdom achieve its national housing strategy, part of wider economic reform plans, but added that the move must not affect the stability of the financial sector. Housing Minister Majed al-Hogail welcomed the move as a step to enable low-income Saudis to own their first home. “My colleagues in @SAMA_GOV have helped us ease the burden on citizens by reducing the advance payment to 10 percent,” he said in a message on his Twitter account, adding that all interest on mortgage loans of first time-buyers who earn less than 14,000 riyals ($3,733) will be paid by the ministry. SAMA raised the loan-to-value rate for first-time buyers to 85 percent from 70 percent a year ago. $1 = 3.7503 riyals Reporting by Marwa Rashad; Writing by Sami Aboudi; Editing by Peter Graffand Leslie Adler Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "WINNIPEG, Manitoba/CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - Suncor Energy Inc said on Wednesday it and Teck Resources Ltd have taken higher stakes in the Fort Hills oil sands mine from partner Total SA, resolving a dispute over building costs. Under terms of the deal, Suncor and Teck will fund more of the C$17 billion ($13.56 billion) project’s capital cost - C$300 million and C$120 million more respectively. Suncor’s share of the project will be 53.06 percent, compared to 20.89 percent for Teck and 26.05 percent for Total. Calgary-based Suncor, Canada’s second-largest energy producer, told investors last July it was in dispute with the French company, which had refused to provide any more funding for the massive project in northern Alberta. “We’re pleased to have reached this agreement and taken a bigger stake in what is arguably the best long-term growth project in our industry,” Suncor chief executive Steve Williams said in a statement. Fort Hills produced 6,000 barrels per day during fourth-quarter test runs and is expected to fully start production in mid-January when the first of three secondary extraction trains starts up, Suncor said. The company had previously said it would produce first oil at Fort Hills by the end of 2017. Once ramp-up operations are complete, Fort Hills will produce 190,000 barrels per day and Suncor expects the plant to reach 90 percent of capacity by year-end 2018. The startup comes as increasing oil sands supply outpaces Canadian pipeline capacity, contributing to a deepening price discount for Canadian heavy crude compared to benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI). Suncor produced 736,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the fourth quarter of 2017, in line with record production in the previous quarter. Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Nia Williams in Calgary, Alberta; Editing by James Dalgleish" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 1:54 PM / Updated 19 minutes ago Life's a beach: Cannes ships in sand for film festival Reuters Staff 2 Min Read CANNES, France (Reuters) - Every year the French Riviera town of Cannes rolls out the red carpet to A-list celebrities at the world’s most glamorous film festival. Now it wants to roll out a bigger beach too. The Mediterranean resort is shipping in 80,000 cubic metres of white sand - enough to fill 32 Olympic swimming pools - to widen the beach along a 1.4 kilometre (0.9 mile) stretch of seafront beside the famed “Croisette” promenade. From Brigitte Bardot in the 1950s to Nicole Kidman and Leonardo DiCaprio in more recent years, the Croisette’s fine sands, glitzy hotels and gourmet restaurants have hosted film’s biggest stars during the annual festival. By the time of this year’s event in May, the expanded stretch of sand should be in place and for private beach managers means more room to make money. Slideshow (2 Images) “We had a strip of sand which was about 20 metres wide, now we’ll get an extra 10 to 12 metres,” said Bruno Richard, manager of the privately owned Long Beach, where a sunlounger costs 25 euros ($31) for the day. More than half the sand is arriving by boat from a quarry in the neighbouring Var region. Mixed with sea water, the sand is pumped via a floating pipe onto the beach, where bulldozers shape the new waterfront. Locals are divided over the development. While some applaud a bigger public beach, others fret it may be a waste of tax payers’ money. “What worries me is whether the sea will just take it all back. It cost the town a lot of money,” said resident Gerard Rollandin. Reporting by Michel Bernouin; Writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Susan Fenton" + }, + { + "text": "ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Emerson (NYSE: EMR) will report its first quarter 2018 results prior to market open on Tuesday, February 6, 2018. Emerson senior management will discuss the results during an investor conference call that same day, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 1:00 p.m. Central Time. All interested parties may listen to the live conference call by going to the Investors area of Emerson’s website at www.Emerson.com/financial and completing a brief registration form. A replay of the conference call will be available for three months following the webcast at the same location on the Emerson website. About Emerson Emerson (NYSE: EMR), headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global technology and engineering company providing innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and residential markets. Our Emerson Automation Solutions business helps process, hybrid, and discrete manufacturers maximize production, protect personnel and the environment while optimizing their energy and operating costs. Our Emerson Commercial & Residential Solutions business helps ensure human comfort and health, protect food quality and safety, advance energy efficiency, and create sustainable infrastructure. For more information visit Emerson.com . View source version on businesswire.com : For Emerson Patrick Kane, 314-982-8726 [REDACTED] Source: Emerson" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 10 (IFR) - Israel has started marketing 10-year and 30-year US dollar bonds, according to a lead. The sovereign is offering notes due January 2028 at 90bp area over Treasuries, and January 2048s at Treasuries plus 145bp area. The total deal size is expected to be US$2bn. Books are open for today’s business via Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs. Israel is rated A1/A+/A+. (Reporting by Robert Hogg; editing by Sudip Roy) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "David Tepper of Appaloosa Management, one of the most respected investors in the hedge fund business, told CNBC on Thursday the bull market still has room to grow. \"Explain to me where this market is rich? It's not rich with the tax thing that just changed earnings projections. With earnings forecasts going up and interest rates where they are, how is this market expensive? I don't see the overvaluation. World growth is higher,\" Tepper said in a phone interview. \"There's no inflation. The market coming into this year doesn't look rich, in fact, it looks almost as cheap as coming into last year.\" The tax overhaul, which President Donald Trump signed into law last month, lowers the corporate tax rate to 21 percent from 35 percent. The billionaire investor's comments that the market is nearly as inexpensive as the beginning of 2017 is noteworthy since the S&P 500 rallied 19 percent last year. Tepper said bond prices are the key indicator of whether the stock market can keep going higher. \"The market can't go down until the bond market gets hit. It's amazing where interest rates are,\" he added in the interview on CNBC's \" Fast Money Halftime Report. \" Appaloosa managed $17 billion as of March." + }, + { + "text": "Spike TV's Twitter Account Is Going Absolutely Bonkers Right Before the Channel Is Replaced by Paramount Network David Spade on Lip Sync Battle, a Spike TV show that will move over to Paramount Network. Trae Patton—Spike By Chris Morris 12:16 PM EST When you’re an edgy TV network that’s about to go into the void forever, the little decorum you held onto for the past 18 years apparently goes right out the window—especially on social media. Spike TV’s Twitter account erupted in a series of hilarious and often profane tweets Tuesday night, skewering itself, its programming, and the culture it has embraced. Remarkably (and perhaps indicating the “rebellious” act was cleared in advance by the higher-ups at parent company Viacom), the tweets have remained posted. “Welp, since I’m outta here anyway I might as well tell you all the things I’ve been holding in for the past 18 years. Brace yourself bros.,” the pinned tweet at the top of the page begins. And from there, it’s off to the races. Truth be told, there are a lot of tweets we can’t publish here. So head over to the channel’s Twitter page for the full panoply of salvos. Here’s a sampling of the tweets: Spike will be replaced with the Paramount Network on Thursday. Viacom made the move to differentiate the network and widen its audience. Rather than focusing on reruns and testosterone-driven shows with narrower demographics as Spike often does, Paramount will air shows and specials focused on a wider audience, such as a miniseries about the Waco, Texas tragedy airing in March and a half-hour comedy based on the film Heathers , starting in June. Programs along those lines are more appealing to advertisers, which should boost revenues at the company. The new channel will, however, keep Spike’s most popular shows, to retain some of the existing audience. Spike has been having fun with the shutdown on social media for some time now. It all started when the announcement was made last December. Hang on, hang on... what?! #GoodbyeSpike" + }, + { + "text": "For some hard-line euroskeptics, it is an article of faith that the European Union is an unstable construction liable at any moment to fall apart. Every political storm in Europe is consequently seen through the prism of the EU’s imminent collapse. In the past three years, they have pinned their hopes on Grexit (Greece exit), Nexit (Netherlands exit) and Frexit (France exit). Now the focus has swung to Polexit (Poland exit). The theory runs that the conservative Law & Justice party government, mired in conflict with the... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 12:13 PM / Updated 42 minutes ago Conservative Party deletes tweet congratulating new chairman Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - British May’s Conservative Party deleted a tweet announcing a new chairman on Monday, adding unexpected drama to what was expected to be a routine reshuffle of her top ministers. FILE PHOTO: Chris Grayling, Transport in London, October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo The party had tweeted “Congratulations to Chris Grayling following his appointment as Conservative Party Chairman” before deleting it. BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg had also named Grayling, citing two unnamed sources, but later tweeted that another source said immigration minister Brandon Lewis would be the new chairman. Lewis was pictured entering May’s office in Downing Street. A spokesman for the party declined to confirm the reports that Grayling, the transport minister, was the new chairman. Reporting by Alistair Smout and Elizabeth Piper" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May urged workers employed by failed services and construction company Carillion for public service contracts to keep going to work confident that they will be paid. “This has been a difficult time for a number of people concerned about their jobs, about public services and about their pensions,” she told parliament. “I want first of all ... to provide reassurance to all employees who were working on public services for Carillion that they should continue to turn up to work confident in the knowledge that they’ll be paid for the work they’re providing.” Reporting by William James, writing by Elizabeth Piper. Editing by Andrew MacAskill" + }, + { + "text": "ZURICH, Jan 12 (Reuters) - The European Union approved Roche’s multiple sclerosis medicine Ocrevus, one the Swiss company’s key new drugs that likely neared $1 billion in revenue in its first nine months on sale in the United States. Roche said on Friday the EU backed Ocrevus for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis was well as primary progressive multiple sclerosis, a form of the neurological disease that previously was without an approved medicine. Through September 2017, Ocrevus racked up $500 million in revenue. Roche will report full-year sales of the medicine approved last March 29 in the United States when it delivers 2017 figures on Feb. 1. (Reporting by John Miller; Editing by Michael Shields)" + }, + { + "text": "HAVANA (Reuters) - The European Union’s top diplomat met with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Thursday, saying a landmark accord ratified in November had opened the door to broader economic ties between the Communist-ruled island and 28-nation bloc. Rodriguez and the EU’s Federica Mogherini called the provisional Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement a new chapter in their relations. “The agreement provides new potential in the fields of cooperation, trade, investment and also political dialogue,” Mogherini said in brief comments to journalists before the meeting began. The officials, who have met several times over the last four years, appeared relaxed and positive in brief comments to journalists before the meeting began. ”This is an example of goodwill and mutual respect that will lead to understanding and mutually beneficial progress in all areas despite our differences,” Rodriguez said. As the U.S.-Cuba rapprochement unfolded in 2015-2016 the EU dropped all sanctions and negotiated the agreement, the first between Cuba and the EU. Mogherini’s visit contrasts with the Trump administration’s partial rollback of a fragile detente between the old Cold War foes begun by former U.S. President Barack Obama. “I want to express my appreciation for the very constructive dialogue we have managed to establish at the informal level so far, based on mutual respect, on human rights,” she said. Diplomats said the EU appeared to sense opportunity with President Raul Castro expected to retire in April and market-oriented reforms already underway. “I believe that Europe has the potential and interest to take an independent agenda in Cuba in economic and political matters for strategic purposes,” said a senior Latin American diplomat, who asked not to be identified. “Cuba does not cost so much and is very symbolic worldwide. At the same time it balances the growing Russian and Chinese influence,” he said. EU member countries have emerged as the most important investors in Cuba, led by Spain, France and Italy, and the bloc is the second trading partner. EU countries also account for around 30 percent of tourists who visit the country. “Today, Cuban commerce is so spread around the world that no single country accounts for more than 20 percent of total merchandise trade.” Richard Feinberg, an economist and expert on Latin America and Cuba at the Brookings Institution, said. “Strong relations with Europe fits into their international diversification strategy so as not to be dependent on anyone,” he said. Reporting by Marc Frank; Addiitonal reporting by Nelson Acosta in Havana; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Tom Brown" + }, + { + "text": "January 20, 2018 / 7:58 AM / Updated 16 minutes ago Tennis-Zverev collapses to defeat by South Korea's Chung Martyn Herman 2 Min Read MELBOURNE, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Relentless South Korean Hyeon Chung ground fourth seed Alexander Zverev into submission in a ferocious battle of young guns to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open on Saturday. German wunderkind Zverev, tipped as a title contender, led by two sets to one but 58th-ranked Chung was unflappable and roared back to win 5-7 7-6(3) 2-6 6-3 6-0. It all proved too much for 20-year-old Zverev, who began to unravel in the fourth set, complaining bitterly to the umpire that the lights should be switched on despite it being only 6 p.m. in overcast Melbourne. “I can’t see anything,” the German told the official. The lights were duly switched on but once the bespectacled Chung took the fourth set, there only looked to be one winner. Zverev, who is yet advance past the last 16 at a grand slam, double-faulted twice to gift Chung a break at the start of the fifth and when he dropped serve again two games later he demolished his racket, earning a warning. The end came quickly as Zverev capitulated, netting a backhand to hand Chung victory as he became only the third South Korean slam. “It was a really tough match, I was just trying to play 100 percent out there,” Chung, a year older than Zverev, said on court. He will play either six-times champion Novak Djokovic or Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the next round. (Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by John O‘Brien)" + }, + { + "text": "Breakingviews TV: GM's stock drive 6:20pm GMT - 04:30 CEO Mary Barra reckons the carmaker's new trucks and self-driving strategy deserve more investor love. Antony Currie and Reuters News' Joe White explain the rationale and look under the hood of GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler's prognostications at the Detroit Auto Show. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript CEO Mary Barra reckons the carmaker's new trucks and self-driving strategy deserve more investor love. Antony Currie and Reuters News' Joe White explain the rationale and look under the hood of GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler's prognostications at the Detroit Auto Show. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 1:17 AM / Updated 5 minutes ago South Korea says economic recovery to continue, employment remains weak Reuters Staff 1 Min Read SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea’s economy is expected to continue its recovery, helped by robust exports and global economic growth although employment remains weak, the finance ministry said on Friday. FILE PHOTO - A South Korea won note is seen in this illustration photo May 31, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration Pending issues around trade as well as workers’ strikes in the automobile industry also remain risks for the economy, the ministry said in its monthly assessment of the economy. Reporting by Dahee Kim; Editing by Sam Holmes" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 3:40 PM / in 2 minutes CANADA STOCKS-TSX falls as Magna, Valeant weigh Reuters Staff (Adds details throughout on sectors and stocks; updates prices) * TSX falls 23.85 points, or 0.15 percent, to 16,260.36 * Eight of the index’s 10 main groups decline * Magna International falls 1.4 percent * Celestica declines 4.6 percent, Valeant down 4.7 percent TORONTO, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Canada’s main stock index fell on Thursday as Magna International Inc and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc weighed, offsetting gains for energy shares as oil prices rose. * At 10:28 a.m. ET (15:28 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index fell 23.85 points, or 0.15 percent, to 16,260.36. * One of the biggest drags on the index was Magna International, which fell 1.4 percent to C$72.35. The automotive supplier is among companies that could be impacted by negotiations to update the North American Free Trade Agreement. * U.S. negotiators have held firm in their demands for a wide-ranging overhaul of NAFTA, three sources close to the talks said on Thursday, raising questions about whether any real movement is happening at the latest negotiating round on the treaty. * Electronics manufacturing services company Celestica Inc fell 4.6 percent to C$12.99 after reporting fourth-quarter earnings after the bell on Wednesday that missed estimates. * Valeant added to Wednesday’s sharp losses. Its shares fell 4.7 percent to C$23.37. * The financials group, which accounts for more than one-third of the weight of the TSX, dipped 0.1 percent. * The materials group, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, lost 0.4 percent. * Eight of the index’s 10 main groups fell. * The energy group rose 0.3 percent as oil prices climbed. * Canadian Natural Resources Ltd gained 0.8 percent to C$44.97, while U.S. crude prices were up 1.1 percent at $66.3 a barrel. (Reporting by Fergal Smith; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli)" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 12:35 PM / Updated an hour ago Shanghai will strengthen property market regulation Reuters Staff 2 Min Read SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The Shanghai government will continue to strengthen its regulation of the city’s property market, Mayor Ying Yong said on Monday, as China moves to curtail real estate speculation. Ying signalled that the government would continue targeting speculation and soaring prices, echoing remarks by President Xi Jinping last year. “We must adhere to the position that houses are for living, not for speculation, and stick to the view that the strict control of high house and land prices is not a stopgap measure,” Ying said. “Lowering the reliance on the property market of economic growth and tax revenue growth is also not a stopgap measure.” He added, “The strengthening of regulation of the property market is unwavering and will not be relaxed.” Home prices have surged in China over the past two years, with the biggest cities, including Shenzhen and Shanghai, the first to see huge spikes, followed by provincial capitals and smaller cities. In response, local governments have adopted measures to slow home property sales, bear down on speculators and check soaring property prices. Ying said prices of commercial property had been stable last year after a series of government measures, while an index of second hand residential home prices fell month-on-month in November and December. A top priority for the government this year would be speeding up the development of a system that encouraged both ownership and rental of housing, and change the “over-emphasis” on home purchases, Ying said. This year, he said, the government will continue to offer land plots for the construction of housing rental units, citing a government report that it intended to build or convert more than 200,000 new units for rental. Reporting by John Ruwitch; Writing by Beijing Monitoring Desk; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Clarence Fernandez" + }, + { + "text": "Is a bitcoin worth the $15,000 it commands today, or is it really worth about $3,000? The huge runup in value since September suggests the lower figure. Cryptocurrency fans typically fall into two groups. One sees the currencies as ways to buy and sell things; the other views them as investments. For now, the investment crowd is winning out: Bitcoin remains a cumbersome way to purchase most goods, but its value has skyrocketed, nearly quadrupling since mid-September. ... RELATED VIDEO Bitcoin vs. Regulators: Who Will Win? As bitcoin has emerged from the underground world of nerds and criminals to become a mainstream investment, the risk of hacks and scandals has also blossomed. What's a government to do? The WSJ's Steven Russolillo travels the world (sort of) to see how regulators are responding to the remarkable rise of cryptocurrencies. Video: Sharon Shi and Crystal Tai To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will most probably visit Britain in the second half of this year, but officials are discussing whether it will be a state visit and when exactly it will take place, a British senior government source said on Thursday. After Trump met Prime Minister Theresa May in Davos, the source agreed that it would probably happen in the second half of the year. “It will be later this year and that’s what the PM and the President have tasked all the officials with - to come up with a time that works best.” (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper. Editing by Andrew MacAskill)" + }, + { + "text": "Redmayne, Maisie Williams talk gender equality at \"Early Man\" premiere 19 Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne says Hollywood's gender equality campaign has been 'a long time coming' and a 'huge amount of change' is still needed. Rough cut Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne says Hollywood's gender equality campaign has been 'a long time coming' and a 'huge amount of change' is still needed. Rough cut //reut.rs/2AZwT6r" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 9:00 AM / in 12 hours Euro falls below 87 vs sterling to lowest since June 2017 Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON, Jan 25 (Reuters) - The euro fell below the 87 pence mark against the sterling for the first time in seven months as the British pound’s rally against the dollar this week spread to other currencies. Against the euro, which itself is basking in the afterglow of a booming economy, sterling strengthened to 86.96 pence, its highest since June 2017, taking its gains to more than 2 percent against the single currency so far this month. Its gains against the dollar have been more pronounced, with sterling rising more than 5.6 percent so far this month, on track for its best monthly performance since June 2009. (Reporting by Saikat Chatterjee and Tommy Wilkes; Editing by Abhinav Ramnarayan)" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Ontario (Reuters) - The threat of the United States quitting NAFTA has to be taken seriously, Canada’s foreign minister said on Thursday, even as Ottawa prepares creative ideas to unblock talks to update the tri-nation treaty. Chrystia Freeland said the U.S. administration had repeatedly stated it could walk away from the 1994 pact between the United States, Canada and Mexico. President Donald Trump has insisted it must be reworked in favor of his country. Canadian government sources told Reuters on Wednesday they were increasingly convinced the United States plans to announce it intends to pull out of NAFTA. “The United States has been very clear since before the talks started that (a pull out) was a possibility,” Freeland told reporters. “I think we need to take our neighbors at their word, take them seriously, and so Canada is prepared for every eventuality.” A White House spokesman said on Wednesday there had been no change in Trump’s position on NAFTA. In any case, Trump may have trouble persuading Congress to scrap the treaty, which could be required under U.S. law. But even the prospect of disruption to the heavily-integrated North American economy knocked the Canadian and Mexican currencies as well as some stocks of firms that rely heavily on North America’s integrated economy. FILE PHOTO: Canada's Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland takes part in a news conference with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (not shown) on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, December 19, 2017. REUTERS/Blair Gable Officials are due to meet for a sixth and second-last round of scheduled negotiations on updating NAFTA in Montreal from Jan. 23-28, but the talks are in trouble. Canada and Mexico are unhappy about U.S. demands to establish rules of origin for NAFTA goods that would set minimum levels of U.S. content for autos, a sunset clause that would terminate the trade deal if it is not renegotiated every five years and ending the so-called Chapter 19 dispute mechanism. Still, Freeland said it was “absolutely possible to have a positive outcome” in Montreal if all three sides showed good will. “When it comes to the more unconventional U.S. proposals, we have been doing some creative thinking,” she said. “We have some new ideas,” she added, but declined to give details. One person familiar with government thinking said some of the ideas related to auto content. The Canadian dollar steadied against the greenback on Thursday after hitting a nearly two-week low earlier in the session as investors weighed chances of a Bank of Canada interest rate hike next week and worried about NAFTA. Stocks also recovered. But the Mexican peso fell by the most in nearly three weeks on Thursday, extending Wednesday’s slide, on worries over NAFTA. Mexican officials told Reuters that if Trump triggered the withdrawal process then Mexico would break off NAFTA negotiations. Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Andrea Ricci and Susan Thomas" + }, + { + "text": "CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB), a leader in the global specialty chemicals industry, announced today that Matt Juneau, executive vice president, Corporate Strategy & Investor Relations, is retiring from the company in March 2018 and that it has named Eric W. Norris as Albemarle's chief strategy officer, effective immediately. As chief strategy officer, Norris will be responsible for both Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations. Juneau will be retiring after more than 35 years with Albemarle Corporation and its predecessor, Ethyl Corporation. During his career at Albemarle, Juneau has served in positions of increasing responsibility, including senior vice president, president, Performance Chemicals, vice president, Polymer Solutions and vice president, Global Sales and Services. \"On behalf of the Board of Directors and the leadership team, we thank Matt for his many years of dedicated service to Albemarle,\" stated Albemarle Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Luke Kissam. \"We wish Matt the best in his retirement.\" Norris joins Albemarle as a seasoned executive with over 20 years of diverse experience in corporate development and business leadership. Prior to joining Albemarle, he served in several roles with FMC Corporation over a 15-year period. Most recently, he served as president, FMC Health and Nutrition, where he was responsible for leading a segment with over $750 million of revenue, 13 stand-alone plants and 12 globally dispersed R&D centers, and over 1,000 employees. Prior to taking on that role, Norris served for five years in FMC's Lithium segment, first as global commercial director before moving up to vice president and global business director. Other roles at FMC included director, Corporate Development, and in its BioPolymer segment, director, Healthcare Ventures. \"We are delighted to welcome Eric to Albemarle,\" stated Kissam. \"We look forward to the leadership and contributions his wealth of experience will bring to us. I am confident that his business experiences and insights, combined with his leadership skills, will allow him to make significant contributions to Albemarle's future success.\" About Albemarle Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB), headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is a global specialty chemicals company with leading positions in lithium, bromine and refining catalysts. We power the potential of companies in many of the world's largest and most critical industries, from energy and communications to transportation and electronics. Working side-by-side with our customers, we develop value-added, customized solutions that make them more competitive. Our solutions combine the finest technology and ingredients with the knowledge and know-how of our highly experienced and talented team of operators, scientists and engineers. Discovering and implementing new and better performance-based sustainable solutions is what motivates all of us. We think beyond business-as-usual to drive innovations that create lasting value. Albemarle employs approximately 4,500 people and serves customers in approximately 100 countries. We regularly post information to www.albemarle.com , including notification of events, news, financial performance, investor presentations and webcasts, non-GAAP reconciliations, SEC filings and other information regarding our company, its businesses and the markets it serves. \"Safe Harbor\" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Albemarle Corporation's business that are not historical facts are \"forward-looking statements\" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see \"Risk Factors\" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K. View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Albemarle Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - “Unilateral actions” by the United States in Iran and Syria have infuriated Turkey, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Kommersant newspaper in an interview. “Many political scientists are asking why do we care and say that the worst is the best: let the United States prove its inability to find an agreement, (to show) its destructive role in global affairs, let it be in Iran or Syria and where the unilateral actions have already infuriated Turkey,” he said. In the interview to Kommersant, conducted earlier this week and published on Sunday, Lavrov also said that an attempt by the U.S. via the possible new sanctions to change Russian foreign policy was ‘unpromising’. Reporting by Katya Golubkova; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said on Tuesday he had faith in the job Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was doing at the Justice Department, when asked about reports President Donald Trump was considering firing him. “I think Rod Rosenstein is doing a fine job. I have no reason to see why he should do that,” Ryan told reporters. Reporting by Richard Cowan; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Tim Ahmann" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 7:51 AM / in 7 hours Philippines prepares for three-month-long volcano emergency Ronn Bautista , Roli Ng 3 Min Read LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines (Reuters) - The Philippines is bracing for a possible three-month-long emergency in areas around an erupting volcano, which has already displaced more than 81,000 and led to overcrowded temporary shelters, the disaster agency said on Friday. Mount Mayon in central Albay province remained at alert level 4, a notch below the highest level, as it continued to spew lava, ash and other superheated material, volcanologists said. “We’re gearing up for three months” of emergency, said Romina Marasigan, spokeswoman of the country’s disaster agency, citing similar situations during previous eruptions of the 2,462-metre (8,077-foot) volcano. (Graphic: Mayon volcano's 9-km radius danger zone - tmsnrt.rs/2E1X3bI ) Displaced families may need to stay in evacuation centres for that long, she said. Food and other supplies remain adequate but concerns are growing over health and hygiene conditions at all the 69 temporary shelters away from the danger zone. Respiratory illnesses are possible because of the series of ash falls, she said. “We remain on red alert,” Marasigan told a media briefing, adding that 69,672 evacuees were housed in schools while nearly 12,000 took shelter in tents or went to relatives in more secure locations. Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) stand on guard beside evacuees waiting for relief inside an evacuation center in Legazpi city, Albay province, Philippines January 26, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco Health workers are giving free check-ups and medicine to elderly women and children in evacuation centres grappling with a sanitation shortage. “The province is doing everything to close the gaps for these toilet facilities,” said Nestor Santiago, assistant secretary at the health ministry. Slideshow (4 Images) The number of cancelled flights has risen to 97, the disaster agency said. Volcanologists said there were seven more episodes of intense but sporadic lava fountaining at the crater lasting several minutes during a 21-hour period from Thursday morning. The lava fountains, shooting up between 150 m. (492 ft) and 500 m. (1,640 ft), generated ash plumes that spurted as high as 3 km (1.8 miles) above the crater, they said. Despite the warnings, some residents have refused to abandon the danger zone, with farmers worrying about leaving crops and cattle unattended, while others split their time between homes and evacuation centres they say are crowded and uncomfortable. Mayla Miraflor has a vehicle loaded and ready to flee if Mayon rages unchecked. “We have this jeep when we need to run,” said Miraflor, who has eight children. “This is what we’ll use when the time comes. We will leave as soon as possible.” Writing by Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by Martin Petty and Clarence Fernandez" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 12:41 PM / Updated 8 minutes ago Petkovic dumps Kvitova out of Australian Open after marathon Ian Ransom 2 Min Read MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova’s return to the Australian Open a year after being attacked by an intruder at her home ended in disappointment with a marathon 6-3 4-6 10-8 first-round loss to German Andrea Petkovic on Tuesday. A former quarter-finalist at Melbourne Park, Kvitova missed last year’s event as she recovered from surgery to her left hand which was injured by a knife-wielding assailant weeks before the tournament. Kvitova showed she was back to a level approaching her dominant best with a last-eight appearance at the U.S. Open, but her clash with former top-10 player Petkovic ended in heartbreak after she double-faulted on match point when serving at 5-4 in the third set on Show Court Two. Petkovic saved another match point with a forehand winner to level at 5-5 and fought back from another break down. Serving to stay in the contest, 27th seed Kvitova suffered an attack of nerves, missing a straightforward volley before surrendering the match with her 10th double-fault and sixth of the set. The crowd groaned in disappointment, while Petkovic roared in triumph and Czech Kvitova walked off to warm applause in the twilight. “I just thought about not thinking and it worked,” Petkovic said of holding on during the nervous finish. Editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds detail from paragraph one) HAMBURG, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Europe’s largest sugar refiner, Suedzucker, said EU deregulation enabled it to boost sugar exports in the third quarter but falling bioethanol prices hit its overall operating earnings. Suedzucker confirmed its previous forecast of group operating profit for its 2017/18 financial year of 425 million to 500 million euros ($508 mln-$597 mln) against 426 million euros in the previous year. It raised its guidance for full year sales revenues to a range of 6.9 billion to 7.1 billion euros, from a previous forecast for 6.7 billion to 7 billion euros. Operating earnings in the third quarter to the end of November fell 13.1 percent on the year to 103 million euros, but sales rose 6.4 percent to 1.8 billion euros, Suedzucker said. “The quarterly operating earnings fall was largely due to decreased prices for bioethanol and increased raw materials costs in the special products sectors, the result from sugar was on the previous year’s level,” a Suedzucker spokesman said. “High costs for cheese and other diary products such as for pizza production were a factor in the special products sector.” A radical deregulation of the EU’s sugar market took effect at the end of September, with farmers free to grow as much as they want and refiners free to export sugar globally after decades of restrictive output quotas and export limits. Guaranteed minimum sugar prices also ended. One impact of EU market liberalisation is that EU sugar prices are linked to world prices, which are currently weak. ”Since the beginning of the new sugar marketing year in October 2017, sales revenues for both EU and export (sugar) volumes have declined significantly,” Suedzucker said. “Higher export volumes since October partially compensated for the decline and as a result the third quarter operating result remained slightly above last year’s.” Suedzucker’s third quarter operating earnings from sugar rose 1.9 percent to 38 million euros, sugar sales rose 9.2 percent to 831 million euros. Suedzucker said its new sugar harvest is looking good. It expects to produce about 5.7 million tonnes of sugar in the harvest and production season this winter, up from 4.4 million tonnes last season. $1 = 0.8370 euros Reporting by Michael Hogan; Editing by Maria Sheahan and Susan Fenton Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "57 AM / Updated 8 minutes ago Head of security at Mexican refinery shot dead Reuters Staff 2 Min Read MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The head of security at one of Mexico’s six state-run oil refineries was shot dead on Thursday, becoming the latest victim of violent crime that has seeped into the industry. State prosecutors in the central state of Guanajuato said Tadeo Lineol Alfonzo was killed in the city of Salamanca, home to one of the refineries operated by state oil firm Pemex. Drug cartels seeking to diversify income streams have preyed upon Salamanca and other refineries, making fuel theft one of Mexico’s most pressing security dilemmas, sapping more than $1 billion in revenue from state coffers annually. Local media said that two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle shot Alfonzo in his car early on Thursday as he was taking two of his children to school. The prosecutors’ office said it is investigating the case to identify the culprits. Workers at Mexican refineries are targeted by the criminal gangs, and sources familiar with the situation in Salamanca said Alfonzo had received threats before his death. Several Pemex workers have been killed in the city in recent years. Pemex condemned the killing in a statement, and the company’s chief executive officer Carlos Trevino expressed his condolences about the loss of Alfonzo. This week Reuters published an investigation into fuel theft and the problems it is causing in Mexico, which has sought to increase foreign investment by opening up the long-closed oil and gas industry to private firms. Guanajuato, a centre of industry in Latin America’s no. 2 economy, has recently suffered a substantial increase in murders, which hit a record high in Mexico in 2017. Reporting by Lizbeth Diaz and Ana Isabel Martinez; Editing by Sandra Maler" + }, + { + "text": "PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mobile Mini, Inc. (NasdaqGS: MINI) today announced that it will issue its financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017 on Friday, February 2, 2018 before the financial markets open. Management will conduct a conference call that day at 12:00 noon ET to review these results. To listen to the call live, dial (201) 493-6739 and ask for the Mobile Mini Conference Call. To listen to the call via the Internet, please visit www.mobilemini.com and click on the Investors Section. Additionally, a slide presentation, which will accompany the call, will be posted at www.mobilemini.com on the Investors Section and will remain available after the call. Please go to the website 15 minutes early to download and install any necessary audio software. If you are unable to listen live, a replay of the conference call may be accessed for approximately 14 days after the call at Mobile Mini’s website. About Mobile Mini, Inc. Mobile Mini, Inc. is the world’s leading provider of portable storage solutions, and a leading provider of tank and pump solutions in the U.S. Mobile Mini is included on the Russell 2000® and 3000® Indexes and the S&P Small Cap Index. For more information visit www.mobilemini.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Mobile Mini, Inc. Van A Welch, 602-308-3879 Executive VP & CFO www.mobilemini.com or Investor Relations Counsel: The Equity Group Inc. Fred Buonocore, 212-836-9607 or Kevin Towle, 212-836-9620 Source: Mobile Mini, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 14, 2018 / 7:42 AM / Updated 3 hours ago Israel says it destroyed Gaza attack tunnel under Egyptian border Nidal al-Mughrabi , Maayan Lubell 4 Min Read GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli said on Sunday it had destroyed a cross-border attack tunnel that ran from Gaza into Israel and Egypt dug by Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the Palestinian enclave, and that it would destroy all attack tunnels by the year’s end. Palestinian security forces loyal to Hamas patrol near the border between Egypt and Gaza, in the southern Gaza Strip January 14, 2018. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa Residents in Gaza said Israeli jets bombed an area east of the southern town of Rafah, by the Egyptian and Israeli borders, late on Saturday night. Israel confirmed the attack immediately after, but gave no details until Sunday. There was no immediate comment from Hamas or Egypt, or any reports of casualties. Israel says it has developed new means which it has declined to disclose, to find tunnels. Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman lauded the breakthrough in an interview on commercial television news, saying they would all be destroyed by the end of the year. “By the end of 2018, we will eliminate all the Hamas attack tunnels ... we may even manage to do this sooner, but the task is to destroy them all by the end of the year,” Lieberman said. Tensions have risen since President Donald Trump reversed decades of U.S. policy on Dec. 6 by recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Gaza militants have launched 18 cross-border rockets or mortar bombs, causing no fatalities or serious injuries in Israel, and 15 protesters and two gunmen have been killed by Israeli fire. The attacks from Gaza, which Israel has blamed on groups not affiliated with Hamas, have drawn Israeli air strikes, usually on targets that have been evacuated. “There are those who say the Israeli military attacks sand dunes - that is incorrect,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing criticism from lawmakers who have called for a stronger armed response, told reporters after the tunnel was targeted. Palestinian security forces loyal to Hamas patrol near the border between Egypt and Gaza, in the southern Gaza Strip January 14, 2018. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa Netanyahu cautioned Hamas that Israel “will respond with even greater force” if rocket strikes continue. Israel has said Hamas, as the dominant force in Gaza, bears overall responsibility for any attacks from the enclave. But Yoav Galant, a member of Netanyahu’s security cabinet, said on Army Radio that Israel is “not looking for confrontation with Hamas”. Nonetheless, he said Israel “could not abide by a situation in which Israelis are harmed by fire (from Gaza)”. Colonel Jonathan Conricus, an Israeli military spokesman, described the target hit on Saturday as 1.5 km (one mile)-lone “terror tunnel” running the Kerem Shalom border crossing into Israel, and into Egypt. Slideshow (3 Images) “It could also have served to transfer terrorists from the Gaza Strip into Egypt in order to attack Israeli targets from Egypt,” he said. Kerem Shalom, the main passage point for goods entering Gaza, was shut down on Saturday before the Israeli attack. Underground tunnels are used to smuggle in all manner of commercial goods to Gaza, and to bring in weapons for militants from Hamas and other groups. They have also been used by Hamas to launch attacks inside Israel. During the last Gaza war, in 2014, Hamas fighters used dozens of tunnels to blindside Israel’s superior forces. The Israeli military said it has destroyed three tunnels in the past two months. Israel has been constructing a sensor-equipped underground wall along the 60-km (36-mile) Gaza border, aiming to complete the $1.1 billion project by mid-2019. Additional reporting by Ori Lewis, Editing by Jeffrey Heller, Raissa Kasolowsky and David Evans" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 1:02 PM / Updated 33 minutes ago Wall St. ends lower as industrial shares weigh Reuters Staff 1 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street ended lower on Thursday as losses in industrial stocks and interest-rate sensitive sectors offset marginal gains in tech stocks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 97.01 points, or 0.37 percent, to 26,018.64, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 4.45 points, or 0.16 percent, to 2,798.11 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 2.23 points, or 0.03 percent, to 7,296.05. Reporting by April Joyner; Editing by Nick Zieminski" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - Mobcast Inc * Says it will restructure the company into a holding company, effective April 1 * Says it will complete establishment of a split preparatory company, Mobcast Games Inc, in Mid-February * Says it will transfer game business to split preparatory company Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/tFEow1 Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "SAO PAULO, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Brazilian real estate group JHSF Participatipações SA is studying a possible initial public offering of its shopping mall unit after an ongoing restructuring, the company said in a securities filing on Tuesday. (Reporting by Aluisio Alves; Writing by Carolina Mandl; Editing by Marguerita Choy) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 5:31 PM / in 13 minutes Nigeria central bank injects $210 mln into currency market Reuters Staff 1 Min Read ABUJA, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Nigeria’s central bank said on Monday it had injected $210 million into the interbank foreign exchange market, extending efforts to boost liquidity and alleviate dollar shortages. The bank said in a statement it had released $100 million earmarked for the wholesale market, $55 million for small businesses and individuals, and $55 million for certain dollar expenses such as school fees and medical bills. The central bank said it: “will continue to manage the forex with a view to reducing the country’s import bills and halting accretion to its foreign reserves.” (Reporting by Paul Carsten; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg)" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 4:35 AM / Updated 9 hours ago China online quiz craze lures prize seekers, tech giants Pei Li , Adam Jourdan 4 Min Read BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - It seems like a game everyone wins: some of China’s biggest tech companies, looking to hook in new consumers, are using cash prizes to draw millions of contenders to mobile-based online quiz shows. Up to 6 million people at a time log into the free, live games on their smartphones to answer a series of rapid-fire questions in an elimination battle, with those remaining sharing the prize money. Over the weekend, search engine giant Baidu Inc and video game maker NetEase Inc launched their own online shows, joining news feed platform Toutiao, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd-owned UCWeb and Wang Sicong, the scion of Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin. But how they will cash in on the games and stay on the right side of government censors might prove to be a tricky question. The trivia games have drawn some controversy, heightened by a broader crackdown on online content during the last year under President Xi Jinping, from livestreams and blogs to a campaign against internet addiction. This month, one quiz show, “Millions Winner,” backed by internet security company Qihoo 360, apologised after it was chastised by a regulator for listing Taiwan and Hong Kong, over which China claims sovereignty, as independent countries in a question. How firms will monetise the craze is also not yet clear, though some companies, such as online retailer JD.com Inc, have already jumped on the trend, sponsoring shows to help raise their profiles. Many of the games show ads to players during the shows. “If you ask me why I do this, to be honest, I don’t really know if I can make money,” Zhou Hongyi, chairman of Qihoo, said at an event where he presented a contestant with a 1 million yuan ($156,115.84) prize cheque two weeks ago. “But from a user’s perspective, I think this is really fun.” The quiz mania underlines the fierce appetite of China’s consumers for internet entertainment, a trend helping drive billions of dollars of investment into digital news portals, online gaming, internet advertising and television content. “I heard about this game from a friend who won 1,700 yuan in one day. I immediately decided to join up myself,” Wang Ting, a 26-year-old graduate student in Qingdao, told Reuters. She now spends three hours each day on her phone playing the games. Questions, read by a live host, might include: “From which country were pineapples imported to China in the 16th century?”“In which dynasty was the lamb hot pot invented?” or “How many fingers does Mickey Mouse have?” Contestants get 10 seconds - a time frame designed cut out cheating - to select the correct answer from a choice of three. Winnings can be up to 3 million yuan per game, but are often split between many winners. Toutiao parent Bytedance said that “millions of our users” had taken part in its live quiz “Million Dollar Hero” since the show launched at the start of January. It also has a tougher “Hero Game” with harder questions and bigger prizes. “We’ve been running for just two weeks, so it’s still in the very early stages, but it’s encouraging to see how the game has taken off across the country, and with all age groups,” the company said in a statement to Reuters. Toutiao, a highly popular news feed app, was valued at around $20 billion in a fund-raising last year, sources close to the company told Reuters. Raymond Wang, managing partner at Beijing law firm Anli Partners, said the shows were a “relatively low-cost way to get to users,” but cautioned there were political and technical risks. Wang Ran, a prominent investor and head of Beijing-based private investment bank CEC Capital Group, posed a question on his WeChat account about the future of the online quiz show trend. “A) Growing numbers will jump into the market. B) Someone will win 10 million yuan in one go. C) Authorities will strictly crack down on it. 10 seconds. Go!” ($1 = 6.4055 Chinese yuan renminbi) Reporting by Pei Li and Adam Jourdan; Editing by Gerry Doyle" + }, + { + "text": "LEXINGTON, Ky., Jan. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Coach Federation (ICF) has finalized elections for its 2018 Global Board of Directors with the naming of this year's Secretary/Treasurer, Jean-François Cousin, MCC (Thailand) and Vice Chair, Sara Smith, MCC (USA). Supporting 2018 ICF Global Board Chair Tracy Sinclair, PCC (United Kingdom), Smith and Cousin will work with a global leadership team that includes ICF Global Board Directors José Augusto Figueiredo, ACC (Brazil); Rajat Garg, MCC (India), Wai K. Leong, MCC (Malaysia), Marcia Reynolds, Psy.D., MCC (USA), and Valerie Robert, ACC (Switzerland), along with Immediate Past Chair Hilary Oliver, PCC (United Kingdom). Cousin has been an Executive Coach for more than a decade. A longtime member of ICF Singapore, he has contributed to multiple coaching conferences and actively supported the launch of ICF's Bangkok Chapter. He served as a Director on the 2017 ICF Global Board. \"I am honored and excited to serve as the Secretary/Treasurer for the 2018 ICF Global Board of Directors. Together with the Board and our global staff, I will strive to deliver increasing value to our members and other stakeholders, while expanding the scope and influence of our organization so that coaching becomes an integral part of a thriving society,\" Cousin said. Smith is CEO and Principal of Smith Leadership LLC. She served as a co-leader for ICF's Southeast Region and is a past member of the ICF Global Nominating Committee. She served as a Director on the 2017 ICF Global Board. \"I am honored to have been chosen to be a part of the ICF Global leadership team. Members can count on my commitment to their success as well as to the orderly growth of our ICF and increasing the impact of coaching in the world,\" Smith said. Tracy Sinclair was elected 2018 ICF Global Board Chair in November 2017. She joined the ICF Global Board in January 2016 and most recently served as Secretary/Treasurer. She has extensive experience in the field of leadership development and is a past president of ICF United Kingdom. During the election process, the ICF Nominating Committee also slated her to serve a second two-year term as a Global Board Director. The International Coach Federation (ICF) is dedicated to advancing the coaching profession by setting high ethical standards, providing independent certification and building a worldwide network of credentialed coaches across a variety of coaching disciplines. ICF is active in representing all facets of the coaching industry, including Executive, Life Vision and Enhancement, Leadership, Relationship, and Career Coaching. Its 29,000-plus members located in more than 135 countries work toward the common goal of enhancing awareness of coaching, upholding the integrity of the profession, and continually educating themselves with the newest research and practices. ICF HEADQUARTERS CONTACT Abby Tripp Heverin +1.859.219.3529 [REDACTED] View original content: SOURCE International Coach Federation" + }, + { + "text": "January 2, 2018 / 12:55 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago Israel's Spacecom expands deal for satellite service to Nepal TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israel’s Space Communication Ltd, operator of the Amos satellites, said on Tuesday Nepal’s Dish Media Network has contracted for more capacity on the Amos-4 satellite starting in the fourth quarter. The additional capacity will increase Spacecom’s revenue from Dish Media Network by $16.7 million, bringing total future revenue expected from the customer to $76.9 million. Amos-4 provides services to customers from South Asia to East Africa. Dish Media Network owns fast growing operator, Dishhome, whose network covers all of Nepal. With substantial satellite capacity on Amos-4, Dishhome will expand service offerings. Dishhome’s capacity on Amos-4 is contracted for the satellite’s lifetime. Reporting by Tova Cohen" + }, + { + "text": "31 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago Alpine Skiing - Shiffrin the best I've ever seen: Bode Miller Philip O'Connor 3 Min Read INNSBRUCK, Austria (Reuters) - Olympic gold medallist and two-time world champion Bode Miller has told Reuters that Mikaela Shiffrin is the best alpine ski racer he has ever seen and that she could win a slew of medals for the U.S. at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. FILE PHOTO - Alpine Skiing - FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup - Women's Slalom - 1st run - Zagreb, Croatia - January 3, 2018 - Mikaela Shiffrin of the U.S. in action. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic Shiffrin, who won gold in the slalom at the Sochi Olympics in 2014, is currently top of the overall World Cup standings after racking up a series of good results so far this season. Miller, the most decorated U.S. Olympic skier with six medals, believed that the 22-year-old could even equal his record tally next month at the Games in South Korea. “I think she’s maybe the best ski racer I’ve ever seen, male or female. She’s so balanced, dynamic, intense and focussed, so for me, I think she’s got a chance in any event she skis in,” the 40-year-old said. “I would say it’s likely she wins two (Olympic) golds, I would say an outside shot at five medals, and I think probably, at her best, maybe three or four of them are golds,” he added. Miller, who retired last November after 20 years in ski racing, is looking forward to embracing technology as part of his role at Eurosport covering the Games to help viewers gain a better understanding of Alpine skiing. “I‘m going to try to bring knowledge to people, so that I can educate them and make watching the sport more fun and more exciting,” Miller said. Part of his brief is to use the Eurosport Cube, a studio incorporating augmented reality and enhanced data, to explain the technical details to look out for in the various disciplines. “If it was just verbal, if I was on the radio I couldn’t explain anything, but then television brings it to the next level, where people can see what I‘m talking about,” he added. Miller also said that media work was not something he had planned for in his retirement. ”This is more of an experiment. I’ve made a really strong effort of the last six years or seven years to stay in the sport because I love it, and because I think it needs people who love it to make it exciting and make it fun for people to watch. “If I can help and it works and it’s good, and I can make the athletes be inspired and ski harder and take more risks, and make it better for the people at home to watch, then maybe I’ll stay in it,” he said. The Winter Games open in Pyeongchang on Feb. 9. Reporting by Philip O'Connor;" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 9:04 AM / Updated an hour ago Syrian army to end U.S. presence in the country: state TV citing FM source Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian army is determined to end any form of U.S. presence in the country, state television said on Monday, citing an official source in the foreign ministry. The U.S.-led coalition is working with Syrian militias to set up a new border force of 30,000 personnel. The move has also heightened Turkey’s anger over U.S. support for Kurdish-dominated forces in Syria. The Syrian foreign ministry blasted the U.S.-backed border force as a “blatant assault” on its sovereignty, state media had also said. Reporting by Ellen Francis; Editing by Catherine Evans" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 7:06 AM / in 8 minutes Suicide attack kills at least 11 at Yemen military checkpoint: officials Reuters Staff 1 Min Read ADEN (Reuters) - At least 11 people were killed on Tuesday in a suicide car bomb attack on a checkpoint in southeastern Yemen run by local forces backed by the United Arab Emirates, officials and residents said. Residents said gunmen opened fire on the checkpoint after a suicide bomber drove his booby-trapped car into the checkpoint northeast of Ataq, the capital of the province of Shabwa. They said at least 12 people were killed. Reporting by Mohammed Mukhashaf; Writing Sami Aboudi; Editing by Paul Tait" + }, + { + "text": "WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Friday she was pregnant with her first child, and planned to take a short break after the birth in June. Ardern said in an emailed statement that she would resume all her duties following a six-week pause after she gave birth, with deputy prime minister Winston Peters taking over during that time. “From a personal perspective, I am so looking forward to my new role as a parent. But I am equally focused on my job and responsibilities as Prime Minister,” she said. The popular 37-year-old politician’s pregnancy is one of the very few examples of an elected leader holding office while pregnant and represents a milestone in New Zealand’s history. Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto gave birth while in office in 1990. Ardern, who came to power through a coalition deal after a closely fought election last year, has experienced a meteoric rise to power as New Zealand’s youngest prime minister in more than a century, and its third female leader. Ardern said in Friday’s statement that her and her partner, television presenter Clarke Gayford, had found out they were expecting a child on Oct. 13, just six days before she secured power. Ardern’s rise to power has generated intense interest in her personal life and drew comparisons with other youthful leaders such as France’s Emmanuel Macron and Canada’s Justin Trudeau. But unlike her male counterparts, Ardern has attracted unwelcomed questions over how she planned to balance political and family life. After being asked by a television presenter whether she planned to have children just hours after being appointed Labour leader, Ardern said it was “totally unacceptable in 2017 to say that women should have to answer that question in the workplace”. Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield in WELLINGTON; editing by Clive McKeef" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30(Reuters) - Luoniushan Co Ltd : * Says net profit for FY 2017 to up 72.8 percent to 80.3 percent, or to be 138 million yuan to 144 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 79.9 million yuan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/UPybpC Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Mulvaney slams Schumer over shutdown Saturday, January 20, 2018 - 01:15 During a White House press briefing Budget Director Mick Mulvaney slams Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, saying 'you have to ask yourself, at what point does it even become profitable to continue to work with somebody like that?' Rough Cut (no reporter narration). During a White House press briefing Budget Director Mick Mulvaney slams Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, saying 'you have to ask yourself, at what point does it even become profitable to continue to work with somebody like that?' Rough Cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2DtXHSv" + }, + { + "text": "25 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago Qualcomm reports quarterly loss on $6 billion tax charge Reuters Staff 1 Qualcomm Inc ( QCOM.O ) on Wednesday reported a loss for the first fiscal quarter as the chipmaker took a $6 billion (4.24 billion pounds) one-time charge because of new U.S. tax laws. Net loss attributable to Qualcomm was $5.95 billion or $4.03 per share in the quarter ended Dec. 24, compared to a profit of $682 million or 46 cents Revenue rose 1.2 percent to $6.07 billion. The results come as Qualcomm tries to fend off a $103 billion takeover bid by Broadcom ( AVGO.O ) and close its long-pending deal to buy automotive chip maker NXP Semiconductors ( NXPI.O ). Reporting by Sonam Rai Sai Sachin Ravikumar" + }, + { + "text": "MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Kyle Edmund has the most destructive forehand in tennis and it can power him into the world’s top 10, according to three-times Australian Open champion Mats Wilander. The 23-year-old Britain used his favorite weapon to devastating effect on Tuesday to subdue world number three Grigor Dimitrov and reach the semi-finals in Melbourne. Edmund rifled away 18 clean forehand winners, taking his tournament total on the stroke to 127, but even when Dimitrov did retrieve it there was usually more punishment to come. “It’s an unbelievable weapon,” Wilander, who got a close-up view of Edmund’s hammer while working as a commentator for Eurosport, told Reuters. ”It’s as good as anyone‘s. Actually I would say it’s the best forehand in the game. You can most probably push him to make mistakes but in terms of when he has time, for sure it’s the best forehand in the world. “In terms of hitting winners off a sitting duck in the middle of the court there is no one even close. (Juan Martin) Del Potro maybe, but Kyle has more wrist snap goes both ways.” Wilander insists 49th-ranked Edmund is no one-trick pony, though, as he showed during his 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory to become only the sixth British player to reach a grand slam semi-final in the professional era. “What really impressed me is that even with that weapon he still did other things, he hit the backhand hard and came to the net too, I thought it was a brilliant performance,” Wilander said. Edmund is not the only young gun to impress Wilander in Melbourne. South Korean Chung Hyeon, 21, could join Edmund in the semi-finals if he beats American surprise package Tennys Sandgren on Wednesday. Chung ground down six-times Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets on Monday with a sensational display of counter-punching tennis reminiscent of the Serb at his best. ”He was excellent, a great mover,“ Wilander said. ”It’s frightening that the way he moves is reminiscent of Djokovic at his best but somehow it’s more intimidating. ”He is thick-set, it must be intimidating to play against him. But he has a serve like mine! There is so much room for improvement. The most important shot in men’s tennis he is still a five out of 10. That’s a scary thought for the others. “He is doing all this without being a threat in his service games, but he’s learned to play the game around not having a great serve. We knew about (Alexander) Zverev and (Nick) Kyrgios, but now Chung has presented himself and it’s like ‘wait we forgot about this guy, he’s much better than we realized’.” Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "PRAGUE, Jan 19 (Reuters) - The Czech lower house voted on Friday to allow prosecution of Prime Minister Andrej Babis in a case of alleged EU subsidy fraud, which has blocked his attempts at creating a government. Lawmakers voted 111-69 to lift Babis’ parliamentary immunity. Babis denies wrongdoing in the case, in which police allege he hid ownership of a farm and convention centre a decade ago to receive a 2 million-euro subsidy involving European Union funds. (Reporting by Petra Vodstrcilova and Jason Hovet, editing by Larry King)" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 9:21 PM / Updated 13 minutes ago Golf - Woods gives thumbs up on eve of PGA Tour return Andrew Both 3 Min Read LA JOLLA, California (Reuters) - A relaxed and seemingly content Tiger Woods gave his body a thumbs up on Wednesday and said he has not “felt this good in years” on the eve of his official PGA Tour comeback. Woods beamed his trademark smile multiple times as he spoke to the media for 23 minutes at Torrey Pines, a day before the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open, a tournament he almost owns with seven victories. He had just played a pre-tournament pro-am. He began like the Tiger of old, with a birdie on the first hole, and finished the same way, with an eagle and birdie and the last two, for a final score of two under. He addressed in detail questions about his swing and also spoke at length about the thought process that went into the apparently successful spinal fusion he underwent last April after three failed microdiscectomies. As usual, he said little about his personal life, other than to say his two children were well. He did not address last year’s arrest after he was found asleep at the wheel of his car with multiple prescription drugs in his system. But when it came to his health in general and golf in particular, the 42-year-old could hardly contain his enthusiasm at being pain-free after years of searing pain in his back and legs. ”My quality of life is infinitely better than it was last year at this point,“ he said. ”I have no more pain in my back. Jan 24, 2018; San Diego, CA, USA; Tiger Woods plays his shot from the 17th tee during the ProAm of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course - North Co. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports ”It feels good not to have a burning sensation going down my leg into my foot, or collapse when I‘m walking, things of that nature. “It’s been so bad for so long, but turning it around and having my back fused, I haven’t felt this good in years, so I‘m excited about it.” Slideshow (4 Images) Woods has played just one tournament since his spinal fusion, the unofficial Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in December. Of all Woods’ victories, perhaps his greatest came here at the 2008 U.S. Open. He won despite having, in his own words, “no ACL” (anterior cruciate ligament) and a “broken leg” (two stress fractures in his lower left leg). But that was 10 years ago, and he has not won a major championship since. He tees off this week with different expectations. ”My expectations have tempered a little bit because I haven’t played,“ he said. ”I just want to start playing and getting into a rhythm of playing a schedule again. “I haven’t done that in such a long time, so I don’t know what to expect. I‘m going to grind, give it everything I possibly have.” Reporting by Andrew Both" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - Betta Pharmaceuticals Co Ltd : * Sees net profit for FY 2017 to decrease by 20 percent to 40 percent, compared to net profit of FY 2016 (368.8 million yuan) * Says R&D input and increased depreciation expense as main reasons for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/oKPZ4a Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "MILAN, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Poste Italiane said on Thursday it aimed to reap at least 1.8 billion euros ($2.2 billion) in fees this year from selling postal bonds and certificates on behalf of state lender CDP. State-controlled Poste last year signed a three-year distribution contract with CDP that awards the Italian post office between 1.55 billion and 1.85 billion euros depending on performance targets. The targets for 2018-2020 factor in an average decrease of 4 billion euros a year in net inflows of postal savings, the head of Poste’s banking division Andrea Novelli told an analyst call. Novelli said the group was “extremely confident” it could reach those targets because in recent years it had been able to curb the drop in new postal savings. Poste Italiane will present a new business plan under CEO Matteo Del Fante on Feb. 27. ($1 = 0.8182 euros) (Reporting by Francesca Landini; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)" + }, + { + "text": "January 27, 2018 / 7:03 AM / Updated 14 hours ago Pelicans' Cousins suffers ankle injury Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - New Orleans Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins could be out for the remainder of the season after sustaining a left ankle injury in Friday’s game against the Houston Rockets. Cousins went down in the final seconds after pursuing his own free throw and had to be helped off the court. Slideshow (3 Images) He finished with 15 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry says Cousins would get an MRI on Saturday. He had just been picked as part of LeBron James’ team in the upcoming All Star Game. ”We just have to keep going, that’s all we can do,“ team mate Anthony Davis told reporters. ”We have just got to move on to the next game Sunday and try and go out there and do the same thing.” Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29 (Reuters) - I‘rom Group Co Ltd * Says it will set up a Hong Kong-based wholly owned unit, I’ROM LIMITED in February, to management and support the company’s business in China * Says the unit will be capitalized at HK$100,000 (about 1.5 million yen) Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/fHsQmN Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "GRAINS-U.S. wheat rallies as temperatures fall; corn, soy firm Mark Weinraub SHARES (Updates with closing prices, adds details) CHICAGO, Jan 2 (Reuters) - U.S. wheat futures rallied 1.7 percent to their highest in nearly four weeks on Tuesday on concerns about sub-zero temperatures damaging the dormant crop in crucial growing areas of the United States, traders said. The gains in wheat spurred increases in corn futures. Soybeans also closed higher after trading both sides of unchanged during the session. Traders were also digesting the latest export data from the U.S. Agriculture Department on the first trading day of 2018. Wheat notched its biggest daily percentage gain since Nov. 22 as much of the crop was not protected by a blanket of snow to mitigate the freezing conditions. \"Damage occurred in about a quarter of the hard red wheat belt in the central Plains, with about 5 percent of the soft red wheat belt in the Midwest seeing impacts,\" Don Keeney, senior agricultural meteorologist for Radiant Solutions, said in a note. Chicago Board of Trade soft red winter wheat for March delivery settled up 6-1/2 cents at $4.33-1/2 a bushel. Prices peaked at $4.36-1/4, matching a level last seen on Dec. 5. CBOT March corn futures ended 2-1/2 cents higher $3.53-1/4 a bushel. CBOT March soybeans gained 3 cents to close at $9.64-3/4 a bushel. Ongoing concerns that heat in Argentina will limit the size of that country's harvest supported soybean prices. \"While Argentina did receive good coverage over the past week, temperatures could top 100 degrees (Fahrenheit) (37.8 C) again in some areas by the end of the week before rains return,\" said Bryce Knorr, analyst at Farm Futures. A shortfall in South American crop production could boost demand for U.S. exports and help alleviate the glut of domestic supplies following the recent bumper harvest. USDA said on Tuesday morning that weekly U.S. soybean export inspections were 1.139 million tonnes, in line with forecasts for 1.1 million to 1.3 million tonnes. Corn export inspections were 683,898 tonnes, also in line with trade estimates that ranged from 575,000 to 800,000 tonnes. Export inspections of wheat totalled 274,506 tonnes, below estimates for 300,000 to 600,000 tonnes. (Reporting by Mark Weinraub; Editing by Frances Kerry and Lisa Shumaker)" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 10:36 AM / in 5 minutes PRESS DIGEST-Canada - Jan 9 Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Jan 9 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories from selected Canadian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. THE GLOBE AND MAIL ** The federal ethics commissioner has dismissed opposition accusations that Bill Morneau benefited from insider trading, but has yet to rule on whether the finance minister was in a conflict of interest when he introduced pension legislation. tgam.ca/2AHT3tV ** Ontario is investigating reports of businesses that have allegedly violated workplace rules after the hike to the minimum wage, and the province's Labour Minister says he's hiring up to 175 new inspectors to enforce the law. tgam.ca/2maiK0R ** Loblaw Companies Ltd offer of free $25 gift cards to make amends for fixing bread prices over 14 years is \"a misleading and deceitful public relations\" campaign designed to benefit the grocer, says a complainant seeking to launch a class-action lawsuit against the retailer. tgam.ca/2qKRgnV NATIONAL POST ** In an email, the Department of National Defence told Postmedia the decision to hold off on the $20 million military spending. Construction on the vessels, at Seaspan Shipyards in Vancouver, is supposed to start this year, but the project's timing now appears uncertain. bit.ly/2CWTxSU (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "25 PM / Updated 40 minutes ago Dalit protests cause disruptions in India's financial capital MUMBAI (Reuters) - Thousands of Dalits, who rank at the lower end of India’s ancient caste hierarchy, disrupted traffic and threw stones at buses in Mumbai on Tuesday as they protested against violence in a nearby city in which a man was killed. Riot police walk past a damaged public bus during a protest in Mumbai, India January 2, 2018. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui The protest came a day after celebrations by Dalits in Pune, 150 km (95 miles) from Mumbai, of the 200th anniversary of a battle they won, fighting alongside British colonial forces, against an upper caste ruler, were marred by clashes with right-wing Hindu groups. Those clashes resulted in the death of a 28-year-old man, according to the Maharashtra state government. It was not immediately clear which side the man was on. Tuesday, Dalit protesters threw stones at buses in various parts of Mumbai, while rail services on a main line across the city were disrupted, said a senior police official who declined to be identified as he is not authorised to speak to the media. “Traffic has been disrupted in the eastern part of the city after protesters blocked a few roads,” the official said. A police van carrying personnel drives past a damaged public bus during a protest in Mumbai, India January 2, 2018. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui More than 100 protesters were arrested, and Dalit leaders have called for more protests in Mumbai and elsewhere in Maharashtra state on Wednesday. Government authorities appealed for calm. Members of the Dalit community are detained by police during a protest in Mumbai, India January 2, 2018. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a judicial inquiry into the clashes in Pune. India has about 200 million Dalits, who were previously known as untouchables, and many suffer social deprivation and economic exclusion. (This story has been refiled to fix typographical errors in paragraphs one and two.) Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Robert Birsel" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK—A 13th person has died from injuries suffered in one of New York City’s deadliest fires in decades. Police say 27-year-old Holt Francis was critically injured in the Dec. 28 Bronx apartment building fire and died at a hospital on Thursday. They say the fire was caused by a 3-year-old boy playing with stove burners. Mr. Francis’ wife,... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Who: Bottomline Technologies (NASDAQ:EPAY) helps make complex business payments simple, smart, and secure. Corporations and banks rely on Bottomline for domestic and international payments, efficient cash management, automated workflows for payment processing and bill review, and state of the art fraud detection, behavioral analytics and regulatory compliance solutions. Thousands of corporations around the world benefit from Bottomline solutions. Headquartered in Portsmouth, NH, Bottomline delights customers through offices across the U.S., Europe, and Asia-Pacific. For more information visit www.bottomline.com . What: Announcement of Second Quarter Fiscal 2018 Financial Results When: On Thursday, February 1, 2018, a press release summarizing the company’s financial results will be issued at 4:00 p.m. EST. An investor conference call will follow at 5:00 p.m. Conference Call Details: Dial-In Number: U.S. (800) 288-8960 International (612) 288-0329 A digital replay of the conference call will be available from 7:00 p.m. on February 1, 2018 through midnight on February 15, 2018. The replay can be accessed by dialing U.S. (800) 475-6701 or International (320) 365-3844, Access Code 443571. The conference call will also be available live at www.bottomline.com . Following the call, a replay will be available on the website and will remain accessible for a period of 12 months. Contact: Rick Booth Bottomline Technologies 603-501-6270 [REDACTED] Bottomline Technologies and the BT logo are trademarks of Bottomline Technologies (de), Inc. which may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other brand/product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Source:Bottomline Technologies, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 5:27 PM / Updated 38 minutes ago German prosecutors extend Wirecard investigation Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BERLIN, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Munich prosecutors are extending an investigation into suspected market manipulation after a report criticised an acquisition by German payment processor Wirecard, sending its shares tumbling on Tuesday. A spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office said a new phase of the investigation was being opened over the report by the Southern Investigative Reporting Foundation (SIRF), which was critical of Wirecard's acquisition of the Indian payments business GI Retail Group in 2015. ( bit.ly/2BmCGTX ) Wirecard rejected the report but its shares still closed 3.7 percent down on Tuesday, having dropped as much as 8 percent. The initial Munich investigation was launched in 2016 after the stock took a battering from short-sellers when previously unknown Zatarra Research accused the company of misleading accounting and fraud, charges Wirecard has strongly denied. (Reporting by Joern Poltz; Writing by Emma Thomasson; Editing by David Goodman)" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Pernod Ricard USA today announced that Jonas Tåhlin CEO, Absolut Elyx, is appointed Chief Marketing Officer Spirits USA & Chief Executive Officer Absolut Elyx USA. He will remain a member of the North American Pernod Ricard executive team, reporting to Paul Duffy, Chairman and CEO. \"We are thrilled to welcome Jonas into this important position. Jonas has been a key member of the Pernod Ricard USA team over the past 10 years and has extensive knowledge of the Pernod Ricard Group and Brand Companies. His experience, coupled with his expertise and familiarity of the US market, makes him the perfect candidate to lead spirits marketing at Pernod Ricard USA,\" said Paul Duffy, Chief Executive Officer of Pernod Ricard USA. Added Tåhlin, \"I am delighted to take on this new challenge while retaining my US based responsibilities and commitment to driving continued success for Absolut Elyx which remains a top strategic priority.\" Since joining Pernod Ricard 10 years ago, Jonas has expanded key brands, built extensive knowledge of the Pernod Ricard portfolio, and has developed a deep understanding of the US market and its consumers. Jonas assumed the role of CEO of Absolut Elyx in 2014 and was named to the Pernod Ricard USA Executive Committee in 2016. Jonas earned a Master of Science degree in Marketing from the Stockholm School of Economics. He began his career at Procter & Gamble, where he held various marketing positions until joining The Absolut Company in 2006 as the Head of Western Europe. In 2008, after Absolut became part of Pernod Ricard, he served as Regional Vice President, Americas and subsequently Vice President, Marketing, Vodkas at Pernod Ricard USA. In July 2010, he became Vice President, Brand Development and then Vice President, Global Marketing at The Absolut Company. About Pernod Ricard USA® Pernod Ricard USA is the premium spirits and wine company in the U.S., and the largest subsidiary of Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard SA. The company's leading spirits and wines include such prestigious brands as Absolut® Vodka, , Avión® Tequila, Chivas Regal® Scotch Whisky, The Glenlivet® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Jameson® Irish Whiskey, Kahlúa® Liqueur, Malibu®, Martell® Cognac, Olmeca AltosTM Tequila , Beefeater® Gin, Del Maguey® Single Village Mezcal, Monkey 47® Gin, Plymouth® Gin, Seagram's® Extra Dry Gin, Hiram Walker® Liqueurs, Lot No. 40® Canadian Whiskey, Midleton® Irish Whiskey, Powers® Irish Whiskey, Redbreast® Irish Whiskey, Smithworks® Vodka, Smooth Ambler® Whiskey, Pernod®, and Ricard®; such superior wines as Jacob's Creek®, Kenwood® Vineyards, Campo Viejo® and Brancott Estate®; and such exquisite champagnes and sparkling wines as Perrier-Jouët® Champagne, G.H. MummTM Champagne and Mumm Napa® sparkling wines. Pernod Ricard USA is based in New York, New York, and has roughly 650 employees across the country. Pernod Ricard USA urges all adults to consume its products responsibly and has an active campaign to promote responsible drinking. For more information on this, please visit: www.responsibility.org . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Pernod Ricard USA" + }, + { + "text": "56 Mins Ago | 03:25 Bonds have entered a bear market, but it's not one that is necessarily extreme, bond guru Bill Gross told CNBC on Wednesday. He predicts the benchmark 10-year Treasury will go \"very gradually but not significantly higher,\" in the next 12 months, hitting a yield of 3 percent. Rising yields mean lower prices, which in turn cut into returns for bond investors looking for capital appreciation. While bondholders will get the income from the yield, they'll lose about 3 points in terms of price \"so they'll get nothing,\" the manager of the Janus Henderson Global Unconstrained Bond fund said in an interview with \" Power Lunch .\" \"To me, that's a mild bear market.\" However, he noted that the bear market will certainly not be the extreme inverse of the 30-year bull market, where interest rates declined from 15 percent to below 2 percent. \"To suggest that we're going back up there, I certainly wouldn't do that,\" he pointed out. Government bond yields have been moving up in anticipation of inflation pressures and a more active Federal Reserve . On Monday, the yield on the 10-year Treasury jumped to 2.727 percent, its highest since April 2014. As expected, the central bank decided not to raise its benchmark interest rate on Wednesday, keeping it at 1.25 percent to 1.5 percent. However, the Fed indicated it expects inflation pressures to increase as the year goes on. Another factor fueling Gross' \"mildly bearish\" view is the significant increase in Treasury issuance over the next 12 months. At the same time, the Fed is reducing is balance sheet, which is comprised mostly of Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities. \"The question becomes who's going to buy these bonds,\" Gross said. \"The public must be induced to buy them if interest rates go higher.\" — CNBC's Jeff Cox contributed to this report." + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 25 (Reuters) - The U.S. securities regulator is investigating practices by some participants in the $3.8 trillion municipal securities market, the California treasurer’s office said on Thursday. The California State Treasurer’s Office received an inquiry from the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is conducting an investigation into transactions in the municipal securities market, a spokesman for the office said. The inquiry was not directed at any conduct of the treasurer’s office, he confirmed. The SEC declined to comment. The investigation of the market, where states, cities, schools and others issue bonds, was first reported by Bloomberg. It was not clear if the probe was nationwide. The SEC began ramping up its oversight of the muni bond market in 2014, when it launched the Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation initiative. The program offers favorable settlement terms to municipal bond underwriters and issuers that self-report material misstatements and omissions in offering documents. The program has led to a slew of enforcement actions, with the SEC charging 71 municipal issuers for violations in municipal bond offerings in August 2016. (Reporting by Michelle Price; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)" + }, + { + "text": "KIEV (Reuters) - Germany is worried about the situation in Iran escalating, Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters on a visit to Ukraine, Gabriel also said he was skeptical that a decision by the United States to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine would help lead to a resolution of the Donbass conflict. Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; writing by Matthias Williams" + }, + { + "text": "BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Liquidity Services (NASDAQ:LQDT), a global solution provider in the reverse supply chain with the world’s largest marketplace for business surplus, announced today that it will report the results of its first quarter fiscal year 2018 ended December 30, 2017 on Thursday, February 1, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The earnings press release will be distributed prior to market open on the same day. Bill Angrick, Chairman and CEO, Jorge Celaya, CFO, and Michael Sweeney, Chief Accounting Officer, will host the earnings event. Investors and other interested parties may access the teleconference by dialing (844) 795-4614 or (661) 378-9639 and providing conference identification number 5597427. A live web cast of the conference call will be provided on the Company's investor relations website at . An archive of the web cast will be available on the Company's website until February 1, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. ET. An audio replay of the teleconference will also be available until February 15, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. ET. To listen to the replay, dial (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 and provide conference identification number 5597427. Both replays will be available starting at 1:30 p.m. ET on the day of the call. About Liquidity Services Liquidity Services (NASDAQ:LQDT) employs innovative e-commerce marketplace solutions to manage, value and sell inventory and equipment for business and government clients. The company operates a network of leading e-commerce marketplaces that enable buyers and sellers to transact in an efficient, automated environment offering over 500 product categories. Our superior service, unmatched scale and ability to deliver results enable us to forge trusted, long-term relationships with over 10,000 clients worldwide. With approximately $7 billion in completed transactions, and 3 million buyers in almost 200 countries and territories, we are the proven leader in delivering smart commerce solutions. Visit us at LiquidityServices.com . Contact: Liquidity Services, Inc. Julie Davis Senior Director, Investor Relations 202-558-6234 [REDACTED] Source:Liquidity Services, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Ole Miss got 22 points from forward Bruce Stevens and overcame an 8-point deficit early in the second half in rallying for a 78-72 victory over Florida on Saturday afternoon at The Pavilion in Oxford, Miss. After missing the previous game because of illness, guard Deandre Burnett added 20 points -- 15 in the second half -- and guard Markel Crawford added 17 for the Rebels (10-7, 3-2 Southeastern Conference). Sophomore forward Keith Stone scored a career-high 23 for the Gators (12-5, 4-1 SEC), who managed only one field goal over the last seven minutes and saw their winning streak snapped at six games. The Rebels were down 52-44 early in the second half before pulling even on an 8-0 run. The game was tied for the 13th time at 64-64 when Stevens hit a go-ahead layup with under six minutes left to give Ole Miss the lead for good. Forward Egor Koulechov and guard Jalen Hudson scored 11 points each for the Gators. Hudson, the team’s leading scorer with a 16.6 average entering the game, fouled out with 40 seconds left after a replay review overturned what would have been his fifth foul with 1:46 remaining. The two teams were deadlocked at 31-31 at the half when Florida guard KeVaughn Allen drilled a 3-pointer from the wing at the buzzer. The Gators led by as many as seven points, 17-10, after going on an 8-0 run midway through the first half and were still up by four, 22-20, on Koulechov’s 3-pointer before the Rebels rallied. Two free throws by Marcanvis Hymon at the 3:30 mark put the Rebels up 27-25, and Crawford’s jumper with under a minute left in the period had Ole Miss up 31-28, but Burnett forced a layup with 24 seconds remaining to give Florida its late opportunity. The Gators shot well early in the period but cooled off and ended up shooting only 35.5 percent (11-of-31) for the half. The Rebels slogged their way to a 30.3 percent first half (10-of-33). --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "January 27, 2018 / 12:38 PM / in 9 hours German union IG Metall says to call for 24-hour strikes Reuters Staff 1 Min Read FRANKFURT, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The leadership of German union IG Metall has decided to call on industrial workers to stage 24-hour walkouts across Germany after regional talks ended with no agreement, the union said on Saturday. It will also prepare to ballot workers for extended strikes if no deal can be reached swiftly, it said. (Reporting by Maria Sheahan, editing by Thomas Escritt)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29 (Reuters) - Hengli Industrial Development Group Co Ltd * Says it expected FY 2017 net loss to be 22 million yuan to 33 million yuan versus net profit of 48 million yuan year ago * Comments that decreased investment income as main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/jahp6w Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "The $450 Million Mega Millions Winning Ticket Was Sold at 7-11 A clerk prints a Mega Millions lottery ticket at a convenience store. Scott Olson Getty Images By Jamie Ducharme 11:32 AM EST One lucky person in Florida will walk away with Mega Millions’ $450 million jackpot, after his or her winning ticket broke the game’s dry spell on Friday . A single ticket sold at a Port Richey, Fla., 7-Eleven matched all six Mega Millions numbers — white balls 28, 30, 39, 59 and 70, as well as Mega Ball 10 — during Friday night’s drawing, according to Mega Millions . The winner, who has not yet been named, will claim the $450 million jackpot, or about $281 million cash, and the 7-Eleven that sold the ticket will get $100,000 in commission. Nearly 3 million ticket holders won prizes of varying value on Friday, including the jackpot winner and eight tickets that matched five of six numbers, according to Mega Millions . The game’s jackpot is now back down to $40 million ahead of Tuesday night’s drawing. Saturday may bring another big win, as Powerball prepares to draw for its $570 million jackpot at 10:59 p.m. E.T. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Insight Venture Partners (Insight), a leading global venture capital and private equity firm, announced today the appointments of Anika Agarwal, Rachel Geller and Ross Devor to Managing Director. In addition, the firm has announced the appointments of Matt Gatto, Kevin Hurth and Philip Vorobeychik to Principal, and the hiring of Teddie Wardi as Principal. \"At Insight Venture Partners, we could not be more thrilled to elevate our team through these key promotions and additions,\" said Deven Parekh, Managing Director, Insight Venture Partners. \"These individuals reflect the best Insight has to offer, which is an asset to the growth of our firm and our diverse portfolio. We are excited to kick off 2018 with a spotlight on not just these individuals, but their collective accomplishments on behalf of Insight.\" Insight Venture Partners' team is more than 130 professionals strong, with over $18 billion raised, and has overseen investments in more than 300 companies across the globe. \"At Insight, we understand that growth equals opportunity, and take immense pride in driving that vision forward both internally and externally,\" said Ian Sandler, Chief Operating Officer, Insight Venture Partners. \"Insight works to ensure greater opportunity for all, and we are excited for our new promotions and their commitment to building our future. Congratulations to all on these tremendous accomplishments.\" About Anika Agarwal Agarwal joined the Insight team in 2014. She focuses on leveraged buyouts and majority recapitalizations of application and infrastructure software companies. Agarwal was included in The Wall Street Journal's Private Equity Women to Watch 2017 list and profiled as a Private Equity Rising Star. Prior to Insight, she was a member of the investment team at Vista Equity Partners and the Merchant Banking Division at Goldman Sachs. About Rachel Geller Geller has been a member of Insight since 2008. As a Managing Director on the Insight Onsite team, she leads due diligence for Insight investments and engagements with portfolio company executives, focused on strategy, pricing and M&A. She has been a key team member for several portfolio company exits over the past three years. Geller previously worked as a strategy consultant and marketer at American Express. She mentors emerging leaders as part of the Parity Professional Program and is active in several Chicago non-profits. About Ross Devor Devor joined Insight in 2013 and has consummated seven platform investments across enterprise software while at the firm. He is a board member at several Insight portfolio companies and leads new investments in high growth application and infrastructure software companies. Prior to joining Insight, Devor was a member of the investment team at Thoma Bravo. About Teddie Wardi Wardi joined Insight in 2017 as Principal, and was previously a Partner at Atomico, one of the largest European venture funds based in London, and a VP at Dawn Capital, a SaaS focused early stage fund. Prior to venture investing, he served as co-founder and CTO of Nervogrid, a leading cloud service marketplace platform, which was acquired by ALSO. About Matt Gatto Gatto has grown his career at Insight Venture Partners since 2010 and was recently named as a \"Rising Star\" on GrowthCap's 40 Under 40 Growth Investors of 2017. Before joining Insight, Gatto's career included online advertising optimization at Verizon Information Services, debt restructuring and issuance at Deutsche Bank Asia, and electronic communications risk management at Merrill Lynch. About Philip Vorobeychik Another longtime member of the Insight team, Vorobeychik joined in 2010 and has been involved with 22 stand-alone investments and 23 add-on acquisitions, many of which he has led. These deals have spanned over 10 countries, and involved 12 board appointments for Vorobeychik. He focuses on infrastructure and application software companies. Before joining Insight, Vorobeychik founded several internet ventures, including a series of specialty eCommerce stores. About Kevin Hurth Hurth joined Insight in 2016 in a dedicated Capital Markets role. He manages Insight's relationships with financing partners and investment banks and coordinates debt and equity capital markets activities across the portfolio. Prior to joining Insight, Hurth was a member of BMO Harris Bank's Sponsor Finance group. About Insight Venture Partners Insight Venture Partners is a leading global venture capital and private equity firm investing in high-growth technology and software companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. Founded in 1995, Insight has raised more than $18 billion and invested in over 300 companies worldwide. Our mission is to find, fund and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with practical, hands-on growth expertise to foster long-term success." + }, + { + "text": "8 Hours Ago | 00:48 Apple set a new record for App Store sales on New Year's Day, thanks to a 25 percent increase from the same day a year earlier. Consumers spent $300 million on apps on Jan. 1, the most for a single day since the App Store launched in 2008. It marked the end to a booming gift-giving season, with $890 million spent on apps between Christmas and New Year's Day, Apple said on Thursday. Those numbers are sure to excite investors who are betting that Apple will expand its software business as it becomes harder to squeeze growth out of a saturated smartphone market. Apple redesigned the App Store over the past year and has made other changes, including adding search advertising, improving developer tools and introducing new ways for third-party apps to make money. It appears to be working. In 2017, iOS developers earned $26.5 billion, a 30 percent increase over the prior year, Apple said. For smaller developers, these efforts could provide more incentives to build products, especially on emerging platforms like ARKit and the Apple Watch." + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan 23 (Reuters) - TransCanada Corp’s Keystone crude pipeline is still operating at 20 percent reduced pressure, a spokesman for the company said on Tuesday, more than two months after a leak forced the line to be shut. Calgary-based TransCanada shut the 590,000 barrel-per-day pipeline, one of Canada’s main crude export routes linking Alberta to U.S. refineries, on Nov. 16 after the leak was detected. The pipeline was restarted about two weeks later, but the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) ordered TransCanada to operate at reduced pressure after the 5,000-barrel oil leak in South Dakota. Energy data provider Genscape said on Thursday the pipeline flow averaged an estimated 524,000 bpd last week. The reduced flows have contributed to inventory declines at the Cushing, Oklahoma storage hub and pressured Canadian crude differentials, traders said. PHMSA did not immediately comment on when the line would be allowed to return to full capacity. (Reporting by Devika Krishna Kumar in New York; Editing by Marguerita Choy)" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 2:45 PM / Updated 26 minutes ago CANADA STOCKS-TSX slips as financials and industrials weigh Reuters Staff 1 Min Read TORONTO, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Canada’s main stock index dipped on Monday as financial and industrial shares lost ground, offsetting gains for the healthcare group, which climbed to its highest since March 2016. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index fell 15.12 points, or 0.09 percent, to 16,334.32, shortly after the open. Six of the index’s 10 main groups were lower. (Reporting by Fergal Smith Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 10:48 AM / Updated 31 minutes ago UK stocks end two days of currency-driven declines Reuters Staff * FTSE index climbs 0.6 pct * Buyers return after two days of declines * UK Q4 growth quickens but economy still patchy * GVC down on Greek tax bill By Tom Pfeiffer LONDON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - British shares rose across the board on Friday as buyers returned to the market following two days of declines driven by a strengthening sterling. The FTSE index dipped briefly after the pound rose on figures which showed an unexpected acceleration in British economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2017. At 1037 GMT, the FTSE had recovered and was up 0.6 percent at 7,659.65 points with all sectors pointing higher and healthcare and financials contributing most to the index’s rise. Online gambling firm GVC fell 5 percent, the top faller on the FTSE 250 index, after making a provision of about 200 million euros for a tax bill from Greek authorities. Britain’s FTSE is the only major European index to have fallen (-0.4 percent) this year while others rallied, with France’s CAC 40 up 4 percent and Germany’s DAX gaining 3.2 percent, helped higher by a more marked pick-up in business activity on the continent and receding political risks. Market analysts said the UK’s underperformance and a slightly weaker pound had prompted some opportunistic “dip buying” on Friday. “You’ve actually had some downside momentum for the past few days,” said Chris Beauchamp at IG. “The number of stocks above their 20 and 50 day moving averages has been declining, but this usually signifies a buying opportunity, and that appears to be materialising this morning.” Stark divisions with government over Brexit returned to the fore, with Finance minister Philip Hammond calling in Davos for Britain to remain closely aligned to the EU, drawing a rebuke from a source in Prime Minister Theresa May’s office. Editing by Julien Ponthus" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 6:28 PM / Updated 21 minutes ago Canadian pharmaceutical billionaire couple was murdered - police Reuters Staff 3 Min Read TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian pharmaceutical billionaire couple Barry and Honey Sherman were murdered in a targeted killing, Toronto police investigators said on Friday in their first detailed comments on the case since the couple’s bodies were found on Dec. 15. Police said they are treating the case as a double murder, but declined to say if they had any suspects. The Shermans were found hanging by belts from a railing next to a swimming pool at their Toronto mansion, police said. Toronto homicide detective Susan Gomes said at a press conference that authorities believed the Shermans were targeted, but did not elaborate. Police have “an extensive list of people we’re looking forward to speaking to,” she said. The Sherman family said in a statement that it had expected police would classify the deaths as homicides. The family hired a private investigator in late December and conducted an independent autopsy after complaining that police mishandled the case in its early days. Slideshow (3 Images) Citing unnamed police sources, multiple news organizations had reported last month that investigators were operating on the working theory that the deaths were a murder-suicide. Gomes said those reports were wrong and that investigators initially reviewed three possibilities: double suicide, murder suicide and double homicide. Sherman was 75 and his wife was 70. Their deaths stunned the worlds of Canadian business, politics and philanthropy, and drew public condolences from prominent figures including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who attended a memorial service on Dec. 21 that was broadcast on television. Barry Sherman founded Apotex Inc in 1974 and built it into a pharmaceutical giant before stepping down as chief executive in 2012. He and his wife were known for their donations to hospitals, universities and Jewish organizations. Separately, Apotex said on Friday that its Chief Executive Jeremy Desai had resigned and would be replaced by his predecessor and company co-founder Jack Kay. Apotex is in a legal dispute with Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries ( TEVA.TA ) ( TEVA.N ), the world’s biggest maker of generic drugs, over allegations that a former Teva executive shared trade secrets with Desai. An Apotex representative said Desai’s departure was not related to Teva’s lawsuit against Apotex. Reuters could not immediately reach Desai for comment. Reporting by Anna Mehler Paperny, Matt Scuffham and Amran Abocar; Editing by Jim Finkle, Bernadette Baum and Daniel Wallis" + }, + { + "text": "South African grannies get fit and fight old age with a mean punch 5:31pm IST - 01:04 A group of elderly women in Johannesburg are using their fists to fight the aches and pains of old age. Rough cut (no reporter narration). A group of elderly women in Johannesburg are using their fists to fight the aches and pains of old age. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2AdVe8k" + }, + { + "text": "President Donald Trump sat down for an interview Thursday morning with four reporters from The Wall Street Journal: Rebecca Ballhaus, Michael C. Bender, Peter Nicholas and Louise Radnofsky. White House attendees included Communications Director Hope Hicks, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Director of the National Economic Council Gary Cohn. Here is the expedited transcript of that interview. Portions of the interview were off the record, and have been excluded from this transcript. ... RELATED VIDEO WSJ Interview: Trump Signals Openness to North Korea Diplomacy The Wall Street Journal interviewed President Trump in the Oval Office on Thursday. Mr. Trump spoke about his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and signaled openness to diplomacy with North Korea. WSJ's Gerald F. Seib gives us more insight from the interview. Photo: Getty To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea sent a rare announcement addressed to “all Koreans at home and abroad” on Thursday, saying they should make a “breakthrough” for unification without the help of other countries, its state media said. It said all Koreans should “promote contact, travel, cooperation between North and South Korea” while adding Pyongyang will “smash” all challenges against reunification of the Korean peninsula. The announcement, issued after a joint meeting of government and political parties, added Koreans should wage an energetic drive to defuse the acute military tension and create a peaceful climate on the Korean peninsula. Military tension on the Korean peninsula was a “fundamental obstacle” for the improvement of inter-Korean relations and unification, the North’s official news agency said. It added joint military drills with “outside forces” has shown to be unhelpful for the development of relations between North and South Korea. North Korea did not provide details why the meeting had been held but the statement said it was aimed to support leader Kim Jong Un’s remarks regarding unification from his New Year’s address. It said this year is meaningful for both North and South Korea as it is the 70th anniversary of the founding of North Korea while South Korea will be hosting the Winter Olympics next month. Reporting by Christine Kim; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Susan Thomas Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 18 (Reuters) - Railroad operator Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd’s quarterly profit more than doubled, helped by an income tax gain of C$527 million ($424 million) due to the new U.S. tax code. CP’s net income rose to C$984 million, or C$6.77 per share, in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, from C$384 million, or C$2.61 per share, a year earlier. The Calgary-based company’s total revenue rose to C$1.71 billion from C$1.64 billion. ($1 = C$1.24) (Reporting by John Benny in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 6:56 AM / in 14 hours Heavy snowfall shuts three China airports, delays at nine others Reuters Staff 2 Min Read SHANGHAI (Reuters) - At least three Chinese airports have been shut and nine others are experiencing extensive delays because of heavy snowfall, Chinese aviation data provider VariFlight said on Thursday. The national observatory put China’s snow alert on its second-highest level this week, state news agency Xinhua said. Parts of the central, northern and eastern regions could see up to 30 cm (12 inches) of snow, it said. VariFlight said Hefei Xinqiao Fuyang Xiguan Airport in eastern Anhui province, and Jining Qufu Airport in coastal Shandong province had been shut. Some runways at other airports had been closed, causing delays, it said. Beijing Capital one of China’s busiest, was also experiencing some delays, it said. China’s National Meteorological Center has also urged domestic authorities to take precautions regarding roads, railways, electricity supplies and telecommunications, according to Xinhua. The northwestern part of central Hubei province saw its first snowfall of 2018 on Wednesday. Some highways were shut due to snow in central Henan province and northwestern Ningxia Autonomous Region. Snowfall in Xian, the capital of Shaanxi province, also led to the delay of many high-speed trains. The meteorological center expects widespread rain or snow in China’s central and eastern regions over the next week. Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Paul Tait" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 6:20 PM / Updated an hour ago Baltimore hospital probes release of thinly clad patient in cold Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - A Baltimore hospital has opened an investigation into why a patient was discharged on a freezing night this week and left outside wearing only a thin medical gown, after a video of the incident posted on Facebook attracted wide attention. The video taken by a bystander shows what appear to be security guards, one with a wheelchair, walking away from a woman at a bus stop outside the University of Maryland Medical Center midtown hospital on Tuesday. The woman is dressed in a gown and socks with a hospital mask around her neck, and her belongings are packed in bags placed at the bus stop. The woman appears disoriented and does not speak, waving her hands and screaming when asked if she needs help. The bystander called an ambulance, which picked up the woman. “We share the shock and disappointment of many who have viewed the video showing the discharge of a patient from the Emergency Department,” the hospital said in a statement on Wednesday. “We are taking this matter very seriously, conducting a thorough review, and are evaluating the appropriate response, including the possibility of personnel action.” The hospital did not identify the woman, give her condition or say why she had been released. The National Weather Service said the overnight temperature in Baltimore on Tuesday fell to the 20s Fahrenheit (minus 1 to minus 6 Celsius). Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Alistair Bell" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - China exported no oil products to North Korea in December except for a tiny cargo of jet fuel, data showed on Thursday, the latest sign that Beijing has kept up pressure on its isolated neighbor amid tensions over its nuclear and missile program. The country sold 5 tonnes of jet fuel to North Korea, but did not send any other oil products, marking the third straight month of no diesel, gasoline or fuel oil shipments, data from the General Administration of Customs showed. China is the main source of North Korea’s fuel. The breakdown by product comes after data earlier this week showed China’s imports from North Korea plunged last month to their lowest level in dollar terms since at least the start of 2014. Beijing also imported no iron ore, coal or lead from North Korea in December, the third full month of the latest United Nations trade sanctions aimed at persuading Pyongyang to abandon its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs. Reporting by Josephine Mason; editing by Richard Pullin" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 12:00 PM / in a minute Cycling: Wellens says asthma inhaler use amounts to 'cheating' Reuters Staff 2 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - Belgian rider Tim Wellens described the use of anti-asthma inhalers as tantamount to cheating, after four-times Tour de France champion Chris Froome failed a test for Salbutamol during last year’s Tour of Spain. Briton Froome, who suffers from asthma and denies breaking any rules, could potentially be stripped of his Vuelta a Espana title after results showed a urine test he gave during the race in September showed excessive levels of the asthma medication. “To me, it’s cheating. Sometimes, when you are sick, you don’t have a choice and you have to take it . But you can also choose to pull out (of the race),” Belgian TV station RTBF quoted Wellens as saying. Wellens pulled out of the Tour de France last year because of breathing problems. “I underwent tests at the hospital and I learnt that with an inhaler, I could increase my breathing capacity by 7 or 8 per cent. But I am against inhalers, I don’t want to increase my breathing capacity in that way,” the Lotto Soudal rider said. “I would want things to be black or white, not grey.” Froome, who rides for Team Sky, says he has done nothing wrong and would provide whatever information world cycling’s governing UCI requires. Salbutamol is permitted as a legal asthma drug by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and the UCI said Froome’s failed urine test did not necessitate a mandatory provisional suspension. But riders have been banned for excessive use of it in the past, notably Italian Alessandro Petacchi who was given a 12-month suspension and stripped of his five stage victories in the 2007 Giro d‘Italia. Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ralph Boulton" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19(Reuters) - Create Restaurants Holdings Inc * Says its unit SFP Holdings Co Ltd will repurchase up to 3.8 million shares (13.1 percent stake) for up to 7.68 billion yen in total, instead of up to 550,000 shares (1.9 percent stake) for up to 1.21 billion yen in total previously * Says SFP Holdings Co Ltd changes share repurchase period to a deadline of March 31, instead of Feb. 28 previously * Says SFP Holdings Co Ltd will repurchase 3.3 million shares through takeover bid, at the price of 2,030 yen per share, during period from Jan. 22 to Feb. 19, and settlement starts on March 13 * Says the company plans to sell 3.2 million shares (worth about 6.5 billion yen)of SFP Holdings Co Ltd through the takeover bid * Says SFP Holdings Co Ltd will retire treasury shares after March 13 Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/VbhcYb Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 12:03 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Philadelphia refiner's woes pose test for U.S. biofuel policy Jarrett Renshaw 4 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - The worsening financial condition of East Coast oil refiner Philadelphia Energy Solutions will present a new test for America’s controversial biofuels policy, legal experts say, revealing whether the government can collect a massive biofuels-related debt from a company in distress. The outcome could have implications for other refiners struggling to cope with the Renewable Fuels Standard, a law administered by the Environmental Protection Agency that requires refiners to blend biofuels into the nation’s fuel supply every year, or buy credits from those who do. PES, the oldest and largest refiner on the East Coast, is carrying a shortfall of such credits owed to the EPA likely worth over $100 million, while its management also considers filing for bankruptcy ahead of a separate $550 million short-term loan that comes due in March. If the company goes bust, it would be the first test of how courts and the EPA treat the outstanding credit obligations of a bankrupt company under the RFS. An EPA official did not say if the agency would pursue the credits, saying “EPA cannot comment on potential future bankruptcy proceedings.” PES also declined to comment. Robin Phelan, a veteran bankruptcy attorney and head of Dallas-based Phelan Law, said the answer may come down to the discretion of the EPA, which he said would be legally permitted to pursue the claim in court but which has in the past shown flexibility in collecting from distressed companies. “In my experience, sometimes they are totally inflexible and other times they will work with you,” Phelan said. The administration of President Donald Trump has already demonstrated a willingness to consider the concerns of the refining industry, and is mediating talks between representatives of the refiners and ethanol producers aimed at coming up with tweaks acceptable to both sides. The political stakes are high, observers say. PES employs thousands of blue-collar workers from various trades, such as pipefitters and sheet metal workers, and sits in the key electoral state of Pennsylvania. Chris Ward, chair of the Polsinelli law firm’s bankruptcy group, said EPA is likely to deal with a biofuel credit situation less aggressively than it would, say, an urgent waste cleanup or some other threat to public safety, but said there was no clear precedent to look at either. Manny Grillo, chair of the financial restructuring practice at the Houston-based Baker Botts law firm, said that whatever the outcome, it would be widely watched, as other refining companies like PBF Energy ( PBF.N ) and Valero ( VLO.N ) also gripe about the financial strains of the RFS. “The government could... allow the cost to be discharged. The question is how the government treats the compliance issues moving forward,” he said. “The EPA could be violating the Equal Protection clause if they grant relief to one refiner without giving it to all of them. It’s a slippery slope,” said Ed Hirs, an energy economist at the University of Houston. PES, majority owned by the Carlyle Group ( CG.O ), entered 2017 with a $111.4 million short position in the biofuels credit market, federal filings show. In recent months, it has been adding to that short position by selling credits, two sources say. The Philadelphia refinery’s struggles have emerged as a potential flashpoint in the ongoing debate between Big Oil and Big Corn over the future of the RFS. Critics have argued the company’s woes are an example of what is wrong with the program, while supporters say the company’s troubles are more closely related to its lack of access to cheaper crude oil supplies. Writing by Richard Valdmanis; Editing by Bernadette Baum" + }, + { + "text": "NASHVILLE, Tenn., MedEquities Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: MRT) announced details for the release of its results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017. The Company plans to issue its earnings release before the market opens on Wednesday, February 21, 2018, and will host a conference call and live audio webcast, both open for the general public to hear, later that morning at 8:00 a.m. Central Time. The number to call for this interactive teleconference is (412) 542-4116. A replay of the call will be available through February 28, 2018, by dialing (412) 317-0088 and entering the replay access code, 10116328. The live audio webcast of the Company's quarterly conference call will be available online in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at ir.medequities.com . The online replay will be available approximately one hour after the end of the call and archived for approximately twelve months. About MedEquities Realty Trust MedEquities Realty Trust (NYSE: MRT) is a self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust that invests in a diversified mix of healthcare properties and healthcare-related real estate debt investments. The Company's management team has extensive industry experience in acquiring, owning, developing, financing, operating, leasing and monetizing many types of healthcare properties and portfolios. MedEquities' strategy is to become an integral capital partner with high-quality and growth-oriented facility-based providers of healthcare services on a nationwide basis, primarily through net-leased real estate investment. For more information, please visit www.medequities.com . View original content with multimedia: releases/medequities-realty-trust-schedules-fourth-quarter-2017-earnings-release-and-conference-call-dates-300586069.html SOURCE MedEquities Realty Trust, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "ZEELAND, Mich., Jan. 05, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ:GNTX), the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of automotive automatic-dimming rearview mirrors, automotive electronics, dimmable aircraft windows and fire protection products, is pleased to announce that it will release its Fourth Quarter 2017 and year-end financial results on Friday, January 26, 2018, before the market opens. The Company will host a conference call for the investment community at 9:30am ET to discuss the results. The call will also be available to the general public via a live audio webcast. The dial-in number to participate in the call is (844) 389-8658, passcode 4777948. Participants may listen to the call via audio streaming at www.gentex.com or by visiting . A webcast replay will be available approximately 24 hours after the conclusion of the call at . Contact Information: Gentex Investor Relations 616-772-1590 x5814 Source:Gentex Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 6:12 PM / in 6 minutes UPDATE 1-Five missing workers in Oklahoma well fire presumed dead Reuters Staff 3 Min Read (Adds detail from briefing, names of victims) HOUSTON, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Officials on Tuesday called off the search for five missing workers and declared it “a recovery mission,” a day after a fiery explosion at an oil and gas drilling site in eastern Oklahoma. Three men from Oklahoma, one from Texas and one from Colorado were presumed dead, officials said. If confirmed, the accident would be the deadliest U.S. drilling mishap since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon offshore rig explosion that claimed 11 lives. “We’re focused on difficult days ahead of us,” Tony Say, chief executive of Red Mountain Energy, the operator of the well site, said at a briefing. He said the cause of the explosion had not been determined. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the blast, said Andy Hendricks, president and chief executive of drilling contractor Patterson-UTI. Three of the company’s employees were among those missing. There were 22 workers at the site outside of Quinton, Oklahoma, about 146 miles (235 km) from Oklahoma City, involved in drilling Monday morning when the explosion occurred. Officials said 16 workers got away safely while one was treated for burns and released. The fire was extinguished late Monday. Investigators have been combing the scene for clues to what caused the blast, said Kevin Enloe, director of the Pittsburg County Emergency Management Department. Red Mountain Energy is a privately-held oil and gas exploration company based in Oklahoma City. The company shares management with natural gas marketing and investment firm Clearwater Enterprises LLC. Red Mountain officials did not respond to requests for further comment. The explosion is the latest in a series of accidents at oil and gas fields in the state. A gas explosion occurred at a Trinity Resources well in the same area in February 2017, injuring a worker. Accidents during oil and gas drilling claim about 100 lives a year in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the CDC reported 1,189 workers were killed in the 11 years ended 2013, a period of intensive drilling. The men missing and feared dead were identified as Josh Ray, 35, from Fort Worth, Texas; Cody Risk, 26, of Wellington, Colorado; Parker Waldridge, 60, of Crescent, Oklahoma; Roger Cunningham, 55, of Seminole, Oklahoma; and Matt Smith, 29, of McAlester, Oklahoma. (Reporting by Bryan Sims; Additional reporting by Liz Hampton; Editing by Susan Thomas and Tom Brown)" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—The Senate voted to advance a bill that would reopen the federal government after a brief shutdown, as Democrats agreed to a short-term pause in their standoff with Republicans over immigration policy. The vote was 81-18, easily passing the needed 60-vote threshold. Two Republicans joined 15 Democrats and one independent in opposing the measure. Once... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - SFK Polkap SA: * WILL NOT BUY BACK SERIES B BONDS OF TOTAL NOMINAL VALUE OF 2.4 MILLION ZLOTYS ON MATURITY DAY * SERIES B BONDS MATURITY DAY IS JAN 24, 2018 * WILL NOT BUY BACK SERIES B BONDS DUE TO LACK OF SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO DO SO * IS IN TALKS WITH BONDHOLDERS REGARDING FURTHER REDEMPTION OF BONDS Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 7:02 PM / Updated an hour ago FDA expects IV fluid shortage to improve in coming weeks, months Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday it expects a shortage of intravenous saline fluids for hospitals due to damage to key manufacturing facilities in Puerto Rico to improve over the coming weeks and months. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said that the FDA has approved IV saline products from more companies, which is expected to boost U.S. supply. He said the tight supply of saline products had been exacerbated by increased demand as a result of a worse-than-normal flu season. At the same time, Gottlieb said the agency is concerned about a potential shortage of IV containers as demand for empty IV containers increases as an alternative to filled bags. “We understand that, with the shortage of filled bags, hospitals and other healthcare providers are turning to the repackaging or compounding of IV saline fluids and utilizing empty IV containers,” he said. “This is resulting in diminished supplies of these containers and concerns that supplies of empty bags could tighten further.” Reporting by Toni Clarke in Washington; Editing by Susan Thomas" + }, + { + "text": "Following are excerpts from a CNBC interview with Hussain Sajwani, Founder and Chairman of DAMAC Properties and CNBC's Hadley Gamble, Steve Sedgwick and Geoff Cutmore from the World Economic Forum 2018. AF: And you can catch more of Hadley Gamble's conversation there with Lebanese Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, tomorrow, that's at 16:30 Central Time there. But, Hadley, joining me here on set to shift gears a bit, to talk about property in the Middle East. HG: Absolutely, and we're joined now by Hussain Sajwani, now, I want to get in to this immediately, because you have such a strong affiliation with President Trump, we're expecting him here, in just a couple of days, in Davos. There has been a lot of pushback, though, particularly around the controversial decision on Jerusalem. Is there a-, you know, a danger that the brand could suffer, as a result of President Trump's popularity, if it ebbs and flows? HS: We, as an organization, as you appreciate, signed a commercial deal with the Trump organization, to build for us two golf courses, and we have opened the first golf course in February, 20th, we're very happy with the design, the quality, and I think it's one of the best golf courses, not in the Middle East, but around the world. Our second golf course is on the way, and I don't see any impact, any effect on our business, we are doing business as usual. As a matter of fact, last year, our sales, I think, are going to be up by a few percentage, it's going to be announced soon, when our results will be announced. HG: So, a lot of optimism, but you've also mentioned that you're looking to sell about a 15% stake in the company. What's the right price that you're looking for? HS: The question was, would I be willing to sell some stake in the company, and for creating the liquidity, yes, I'm willing to sell. Is it 5, or 10, or 15%? This, you know, depends on the market, depends on the price, depends on the-, on the timing. HG: And what's your outlook for the Dubai property market, in particular, given what we've seen over the last couple of years? And there are fears that there's going to be, you know, a danger of overcapacity there. HS: I don't see a danger of capacity, because we have about half a million freehold units in Dubai, we're growing at least 3% to 4%. We need, minimum, 15,000 units every year. In the last three years, we've produced less than 10,000. Going forward, I don't see more than 10,000, 12,000 units, so I see supply and demand equilibrium, I see the market is stable. I don't see a surprise of '08 or '09 of crash, neither do I see a surprise of '13, or '12, of market going up by, you know, 30%. I see a stable market, last year it grew about 6%, the market, as per the information, or the data they-, they announced, and I think there's a very healthy, stable market going forward. HG: Okay. I wonder if we can, very quickly, talk about some of the business opportunities here in the region. You've talked about the softening property market in the UK, perhaps a potential for investments there. Very quickly, what, specifically, are you looking at? HS: We're looking to expand, we're looking to grow. Our cashflow is very strong, our balance sheet is not fully leveraged-, HG: Mm. HS: And we're looking at Europe, we're looking at North America. I think UK, especially London, provides a major opportunity, especially with the softening of the property market after Brexit, and the pound is more reasonably priced, compared to the dollar two years ago. AF: Okay, unfortunately, we'll have to leave it there. Our thanks to both of you for joining us here. That's the very latest, a wrap here from Davos, but we will, of course, continue our coverage all throughout the day, and the week. ENDS" + }, + { + "text": "Warren Buffett's right-hand man, Charlie Munger, blasted the frothiness in venture capital funding and bitcoin. During a phone interview on CNBC's \" Squawk Box \" on Wednesday, Munger was asked if bitcoin was a bubble. \"Yeah sure [on bitcoin] and venture capital, too,\" Munger replied. \"There are always bubbles ... that are going to end badly.\" On \"Squawk Box\" on Wednesday, Buffett also said the craze over bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies won't end well. The billionaire Munger, who turned 94 on New Year's Day, said there was \"too much money\" in venture capital, and he compared the current environment to the dot-com bubble in 2000. \"Bitcoin and the other cryptocurrencies are also bubbles,\" he added. Investors \"are excited because things are going up at the moment and it sounds vaguely modern. ... But I'm not excited.\" Munger made waves when he said bitcoin is \"total insanity\" and avoid it \"like the plague\" at a University of Michigan Ross School of Business event last year. Munger is one of the most celebrated investors in the world and was an essential partner in Buffett's success. Before becoming vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, he had quite the track record himself. From 1962 to 1975, Munger's investment partnership generated 20 percent annual returns versus the S&P 500's 5 percent. WATCH: Iconic investor Warren Buffett on bitcoin, his health and the state of markets show chapters Iconic investor Warren Buffett on bitcoin, his health and the state of markets 38 Mins Ago | 03:42" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Japan’s Nikkei share average edged lower on Friday as weakness in exporters weighed on the index, but strong gains in index-heavy Fast Retailing on record quarterly profit limited the losses. The Nikkei ended 0.2 percent lower at 23,653.82, slightly below its 5- 23,743.39. For the week, it dropped 0.3 percent. Fast Retailing Co jumped 6 percent and contributed a hefty 104 positive points to the Nikkei after it posted a 28.6 percent surge in its operating profit to 113.9 billion yen ($1 billion) for the first quarter. Exporters took a hit as the yen stayed on the stronger side. The dollar was at 111.22 yen after plumbing a six-week low of 111.05 yen on Thursday. Olympus tumbled 3.8 percent, Kyocera dropped 1.7 percent and Nissan Motor declined 0.8 percent. The broader Topix declined 0.6 percent to 1,876.24. (Reporting by Ayai Tomisawa; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri)" + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 1:19 PM / Updated an hour ago Stylish Kyrgios sets up Dimitrov semi-final in Brisbane Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Nick Kyrgios turned on the style in time to beat Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov and set up a semi-final against top seed and holder Grigor Dimitrov at the Brisbane International on Friday. FILE PHOTO - Tennis - China Open - Men's Final - Beijing, China - October 8, 2017 - Nick Kyrgios of Australia in action against Rafael Nadal of Spain. REUTERS/Thomas Peter The mercurial Australian huffed and puffed in a miserable first set but eventually found some rhythm to come through a tricky encounter 1-6 6-3 6-4. Bulgarian Dimitrov also had to battle hard against Britain’s Kyle Edmund, winning 6-3 6-7(3) 6-4 in two hours and 23 minutes at the Pat Rafter Arena. Kyrgios, who will be under the home spotlight at this month’s Australian Open, made 36 unforced errors against Dolgopolov but there were 27 winners too. “As bad as it is to say, it’s kind of like a tap. I can turn it on when I want to,” the third seed told reporters. “I‘m feeling pretty good. I‘m hitting the ball well and I‘m serving really well. So the first two matches of the year, I’ve got through two tough three-setters,” added Kyrgios, who beat compatriot Matthew Ebdon 6-7(3) 7-6(5) 6-2 in the second round. “The only positive I can say about losing that first set (against Dolgopolov) is I‘m putting myself in some pressure situations and getting some more court time out there which is good... I’ve got to try and maintain as much energy as I can.” Dimitrov was in control against Edmund as he took the first set but was dragged into a second-set tiebreak which the Briton edged to set up the decider. Dimitrov, who survived two match points to beat local hope John Millman in the previous round, needed a solitary break to close out the match. Kyrgios was joined in the last four by fellow Australian Alex De Minaur as the teenager followed up his win over Milos Raonic by beating American qualifier Michael Mmoh 6-4 6-0. De Minaur will play unseeded American Ryan Harrison for a place in the final. Harrison was leading 7-6(6) 4-2 when Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin retired from the contest. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris and Martyn Herman" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29 (Reuters) - Eris Technology Corp : * Says it plans to use T$250 million to acquire all equipments and facilities of packaging and testing production line and 60 percent stake in Yea Shin Technology Co Ltd * It also plans to use T$776 million to acquire property located in Taoyuan city Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/DjtW2S Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Why Kim Forrest is cautious on Amazon shares 1:43am IST - 04:47 Fort Pitt Capital's senior portfolio manager tells Reuters' Fred Katayama Amazon is good at retailing but not at merchandising. Fort Pitt Capital's senior portfolio manager tells Reuters' Fred Katayama Amazon is good at retailing but not at merchandising. //reut.rs/2n2HE2T" + }, + { + "text": "BUCHAREST, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Romania’s Prime Minister Mihai Tudose resigned on Monday, after his ruling Social Democrat Party (PSD) leaders withdrew political backing for him in an overwhelming vote, the second premier to be ousted by his party in less than seven months. “The vote was overwhelming, to dismiss Prime Minister Tudose,” one member of the PSD’s leadership told Reuters by telephone. “Tudose resigned,” another PSD leader said. PSD senior Paul Stanescu will be appointed as interim, the officials said. (Reporting by Radu Marinas; Editing by Alison Williams)" + }, + { + "text": "MURRIETA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Commerce Bank of Temecula Valley (CKTM OTC) provided the following letter to shareholders: January 3, 2018 Dear Commerce Bank of Temecula Valley Shareholder, Happy New Year! I am pleased to announce that Commerce Bank of Temecula Valley (“CBTV”) has entered into a Definitive Agreement to be acquired by Nano Financial Holdings, Inc. (“Nano”) whereby Nano will acquire all the outstanding shares of CBTV for total consideration of approximately $23.3 million. Under the terms of the agreement, CBTV shareholders will have the right to receive $14.41 per share in cash. In order to preserve and protect the goodwill of CBTV, in conjunction with entering into the Definitive Agreement Nano requested that certain accredited CBTV shareholders agree to exchange a portion of their CBTV shares of common stock for newly issued shares of Nano Class A Common Stock (“Exchange”) estimated to be not less than 25% and up to 49% of the total number of outstanding shares of CBTV common stock. Through the acquisition of the CBTV shares acquired for cash and in the Exchange, Nano will acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of CBTV. The Board of Directors of CBTV voted unanimously in favor of the acquisition, which is subject to customary shareholder and regulatory approval, and is expected to close mid-year 2018. Nano recently announced over $60 million in stock subscriptions raised through a private placement to accredited investors to provide capital for the acquisition and future growth. Your Board of Directors is very pleased to partner with Nano in this endeavor, and look forward to a smooth transition upon consummation of the transaction. Additional information and details on the acquisition will be communicated to shareholders and customers over the coming several months. If you have specific questions, please call me at (951) 973-7400. Sincerely, Scott R. Andrews President & Chief Executive Officer About Commerce Bank of Temecula Valley Commerce Bank of Temecula Valley is an independent community bank headquartered in Murrieta, California and was organized in 2007. More information about Commerce Bank of Temecula Valley may be obtained at www.commercebanktv.com . Certain statements in this letter to shareholders, including statements regarding the proposed acquisition of CKTM, and the intent, belief or current expectations of CKTM, its directors or its officers, are \"forward-looking\" statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks related to the completion of the acquisition, shareholder approval, local and national economy, the Bank's performance, loan performance, interest rates, and regulatory matters. View source version on businesswire.com : Commerce Bank of Temecula Valley Scott R. Andrews President & CEO (951) 973-7400 [REDACTED] Source: Commerce Bank of Temecula Valley" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16 (Reuters) - Shanghai Carthane Co Ltd * Says it sees net profit for FY 2017 to increase by 32 percent * Says the net profit of FY 2016 was 88.7 million yuan * Comments that increased business income as main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/nYTQ4L Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "BERLIN, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Germany's Federal Statistics office reported the following retail sales data on Wednesday: RETAIL SALES DEC 2017 NOV 2017 DEC 2016 M/M pct change (real) - 1.9 1.9 1.1 M/M pct change (nominal) - 1.5 2.0 1.4 Y/Y pct change (real) - 1.9 4.3 2.2 Y/Y pct change (nominal) - 0.2 6.0 3.9 NOTE - Month-on-month changes were adjusted for calendar and seasonal factors, the Office said. The mid-range forecast of analysts polled by Reuters was for retail sales to fall by 0.3 percent month-on-month and to increase by 2.8 percent year-on-year . (Reporting by Berlin Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "It’s not Apple ’s fault that you feel enslaved by your phone. But the company that gave the world the modern smartphone has a perfect opportunity this year to create a brave and groundbreaking new take on that device: a phone that encourages you to use it more thoughtfully, more deliberately — and a lot less. Tech “addiction” is a topic of rising national concern. I put the A-word in Quote: s because the precise pull that our phones exert over us isn’t the same as that of drugs or alcohol . The issue isn’t really new, either; researchers who study how we use digital technology have for years been warning of its potential negative effects on our cognition, psyche and well-being . What is new is who has joined the ranks of the worried. Recently, a parade of tech luminaries, including several former Facebook employees , have argued that we’re no match for the sophisticated machinery of engagement and persuasion being built into smartphone apps. Their fears are manifold : They’re worried about distraction, productivity, how social networks alter our emotional lives and relationships, and what they’re doing to children . It’s hard to know what to make of these confessions of regret. Come on, guys — you gave us these wondrous machines, you made billions of dollars from their ubiquity, and now you tell us they’re bad? Also, what do we do about it? Like air pollution or intrusive online advertising, tech addiction is a collective-action problem caused by misaligned incentives. Companies that make money from your attention — that is, ad-supported apps like Facebook , Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube — now employ armies of people who work with supercomputers to hook you ever more deeply into their services. Sure, we should call on them to act more ethically — and Facebook, for its part, has said it’s willing to lose money to improve its users’ well-being — but I’m skeptical they’ll be able to suppress their economic interests. Government regulation and more restraint from users might also help, but the former is unlikely and the latter is insufficient. So who’s left? More from The New York Times: How Technology Is (and Isn't) Changing Our Reading Habits Meet Your Art Twin: A 400-Year-Old With an Oily Complexion Facebook Doesn't Like What It Sees When It Looks in the Mirror The same company that always seems to turn up when it’s time to cross into a new era of technology: Apple. I got to thinking about Apple’s responsibility last week when two large investors wrote an open letter asking the company to do more about its products’ effects on children. I was initially inclined to dismiss the letter as a publicity stunt; if you’re worried about children and tech, why not go after Facebook? But when I called several experts, I found they agreed with the investors. Sure, they said, Apple isn’t responsible for the excesses of the digital ad business, but it does have a moral responsibility to — and a business interest in — the well-being of its customers. And there’s another, more important reason for Apple to take on tech addiction: because it would probably do an elegant job of addressing the problem. “I do think this is their time to step up,” said Tristan Harris, a former design ethicist at Google who now runs Time Well Spent, an organization working to improve technology’s impact on society. “In fact,” Mr. Harris added, “they may be our only hope.” For one thing, Apple’s business model does not depend on tech addiction. The company makes most of its money by selling premium devices at high profit margins. Yes, it needs to make sure you find your phone useful enough to buy the next one, but after you purchase your phone and sign up for some of its premium services, Apple doesn’t really need you to overdo it. Indeed, because it can’t make infinite battery life, Apple would probably be O.K. if you cooled it with your phone a little. Yet even though Apple is not part of the ad business, it exerts lots of control over it. Every tech company needs a presence on the iPhone or iPad; this means that Apple can set the rules for everyone. With a single update to its operating system and its app store, Apple could curb some of the worst excesses in how apps monitor and notify you to keep you hooked (as it has done, for instance, by allowing ad blockers in its mobile devices). And because other smartphone makers tend to copy Apple’s best inventions, whatever it did to curb our dependence on our phones would be widely emulated. Mr. Harris suggested several ideas for Apple to make a less-addictive smartphone. For starters, Apple could give people a lot more feedback about how they’re using their devices. Imagine if, once a week, your phone gave you a report on how you spent your time, similar to how your activity tracker tells you how sedentary you were last week. It could also needle you: “Farhad, you spent half your week scrolling through Twitter." + }, + { + "text": "Do you really feel proud of that?” It could offer to help: “If I notice you spending too much time on Snapchat next week, would you like me to remind you?” Another idea is to let you impose more fine-grained controls over notifications. Today, when you let an app send you mobile alerts, it’s usually an all-or-nothing proposition — you say yes to letting it buzz you, and suddenly it’s buzzing you all the time. Mr. Harris suggested that Apple could require apps to assign a kind of priority level to their notifications. “Let’s say you had three notification levels — heavy users, regular users and lite, or Zen,” Mr. Harris said. Apple could set rules for what kind of notifications were allowed in each bucket — for instance, the medium bucket might allow notifications generated by other people (like a direct message in Instagram) but not those from the app itself (Instagram just sending you an alert to remind you that your high school friend’s mom’s brother posted a new picture recently). “And then Apple could say, by default, everyone is in the middle level — and instantly it could save a ton of users a ton of energy in dealing with this,” Mr. Harris said. There’s a danger that some of these anti-addiction efforts could get too intrusive. But that’s also why Apple would shine here; building a less-addictive phone is chiefly a problem of interface design, which is basically Apple’s entire corporate raison d’être. Another thing that Apple is good at is marketing, and I suspect it could make a lot of gauzy ads showing people getting more out of iPhones and iPads by unplugging from them for a little while. Note that it already sells a device, the Apple Watch, whose marketing extols the magic of leaving your phone behind. Done right, a full-fledged campaign pushing the benefits of a more deliberative approach to tech wouldn’t come off as self-interest, but in keeping with Apple’s best vision of itself — as a company that looks out for the interests of humanity in an otherwise cold and sometimes inhumane industry. “How we live with technology is the cultural issue of the next half-century,” said James Steyer, the founder and chief executive of Common Sense Media, a nonprofit group that studies how children are affected by media. He suggested that the feeling was ripe for Apple to tap into. “It’s something that everyone cares about — whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, liberal or conservative, wheth" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - India’s Bajaj Corp Ltd: * RECOMMENDED DIVIDEND OF 12 RUPEES PER SHARE * DEC QUARTER PROFIT 551.6 MILLION RUPEES VERSUS PROFIT 578 MILLION RUPEES YEAR AGO * DEC QTR TOTAL INCOME 2.13 BLN RUPEES VS 2.01 BLN RUPEES YR AGO Source text - bit.ly/2D2vlNW Further company coverage: Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 1:57 PM / Updated 8 minutes ago German would-be coalition partners agree news blackout during talks - Spiegel BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) have agreed to impose a news blackout during exploratory talks next week on forming another ‘grand coalition’, Der Spiegel magazine said on Thursday. Outgoing Bavarian state premier and leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU) Horst Seehofer and Alexander Dobrindt of the Christian Social Union of Bavaria attend a CSU party meeting at 'Kloster Seeon' in Seeon, Germany, January 4, 2018. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle A tie-up between Merkel’s bloc, comprising her Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian CSU sister party, and the SPD is her best chance of securing a fourth term after efforts to form a coalition with two smaller parties failed last year. The breakdown of those talks in November was widely blamed on politicians leaking information from meetings, eroding trust between prospective partners. Merkel, CSU leader Horst Seehofer and SPD leader Martin Schulz have agreed that negotiators should not be allowed to give interviews or appear in television talk shows during the exploratory talks, Der Spiegel reported. Both sides agreed that no advance word of a possible outcome should be leaked during the talks to shore up trust among the negotiators, the magazine added. Germany’s largest parties on Wednesday expressed optimism about the chances of forming a government after several hours of talks. The parties talked of growing confidence - good news for Merkel, whose reputation as Europe’s consummate consensus-builder is on the line in this second bid to form a coalition government after weeks of sniping between its would-be partners. SPD leader Martin Schulz arrives for talks to discuss forming a government with the Christian Social Union (CSU) and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Berlin, Germany, January 3, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke The exploratory talks are due to start on Sunday and could lead to official coalition negotiations in a few weeks. To keep its rank and file on board, the SPD leadership has said it will let its members vote on Jan. 21 on going ahead with detailed coalition talks after the first phase has been completed. Outgoing Bavarian state premier and leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU) Horst Seehofer and Andreas Scheuer of CSU arrive for the party meeting at 'Kloster Seeon' in Seeon, Germany, January 4, 2018. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle Merkel’s arch-conservative CSU allies meanwhile warned the SPD not to make too many demands in coalition talks but were keen to show their core voters that there would be no compromise on sensitive issues like immigration. “We want this coalition,” CSU leader Seehofer told a news conference ahead of a parliamentary caucus meeting. “The project can succeed if the potential partner doesn’t overbid.” Seehofer added the CSU’s proposals to tighten immigration and asylum laws were not meant to upset the SPD. “It’s not aimed against anybody. It’s rather about stating our positions clearly,” Seehofer said. “This project (of another grand coalition) can succeed if our potential coalition partner doesn’t take it too far,” he said. Merkel is under increasing pressure to reach a deal with the SPD, which also lost ground in the September election, but the two sides have bickered over a range of issues, notably immigration and taxation. Reporting by Michael Nienaber, additional reporting by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Richard Balmforth" + }, + { + "text": "BERLIN, Jan 11 (Reuters) - The German economy grew by a less than expected 2.2 percent in 2017, the strongest rate in six years and an improvement on the previous year, a preliminary estimate from the Federal Statistics Office showed on Thursday. Europe’s largest economy is benefiting from rising private consumption and resurgent exports buoyed by a recovery of the global economy. Economists polled by Reuters had expected growth in gross domestic product (GDP) of 2.4 percent after an expansion rate of 1.9 percent in the previous year. Adjusted for calendar effects, the growth rate was 2.5 percent last year, the statistic office said. (Reporting by Michael Nienaber and Joseph Nasr) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 7:19 AM / Updated 14 minutes ago Estate agent Foxtons expects challenging 2018 after earnings drop Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - London-focused estate agent Foxtons ( FOXT.L ) expects a challenging 2018 after last year’s core earnings and revenue fell in line with market expectations, hit by a slump in sales. The compay’s 2017 revenue was down 12 percent at 117 million pounds ($167 million) with adjusted core earnings sliding 40 percent to about 15 million pounds, Foxtons said on Thursday, adding that it will also take a one-off 2 million pound charge as it manages its cost base. Foxtons, which had been a symbol of the British capital’s property boom, saw profits more than halve in 2016 and had said in as early as 2014 that the real estate market was cooling. Known for its fleet of Mini cars and coffee shop-style outlets, Foxtons suffered a particularly heavy fall in sales during the first quarter of last year ahead of a property tax increase. “We expect trading conditions to remain challenging throughout 2018,” Chief Executive Nic Budden said. “We are well placed to withstand these conditions due to our strong balance sheet, with no debt, and will provide an update on a number of strategic initiatives we have been working on.” The company said its lettings business, where revenue fell by 3 percent to about 66 million pounds, remained a “consistent and recurring revenue stream”. However, government plans to ban lettings fees are likely to to hit a key income stream for Foxtons and its rivals. The proposed ban follows criticism that such fees give an unfair boost to the price of renting property, particular in London. ($1 = 0.7008 pounds)" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that terminating the North American Free Trade Agreement would result in the “best deal” to revamp the 24-year-old trade pact with Canada and Mexico in favor of U.S. interests. Lawmakers as well as agricultural and industrial groups have warned Trump not to quit NAFTA, but he said that may be the outcome. “We’re renegotiating NAFTA now. We’ll see what happens. I may terminate NAFTA,” Trump said in an interview with Reuters. “A lot of people are going to be unhappy if I terminate NAFTA. A lot of people don’t realize how good it would be to terminate NAFTA because the way you’re going to make the best deal is to terminate NAFTA. But people would like to see me not do that,” he said. Trump’s comments come less than a week before trade negotiators from the United States, Canada and Mexico meet in Montreal for the sixth of seven scheduled rounds of negotiations to update NAFTA. The talks are viewed as pivotal for the success of the NAFTA renegotiation effort because major differences remain over aggressive U.S. demands on autos, dispute settlement and a five-year sunset clause -- proposals that some business groups have labeled “fatal.” Trump discussed NAFTA and other trade issues last weekend in Florida with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who is leading the U.S. negotiating strategy. Trump’s comments appeared to validate concerns voiced last week by Canadian government sources that the U.S. president, now a year in office, looked increasingly likely to announce a pullout from NAFTA.. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland added that U.S. threats to quit NAFTA had to be taken seriously. The Reuters interview with Trump also reversed gains on Wednesday in Mexico's peso MXN= , which has been highly sensitive to NAFTA withdrawal talk. But Trump told the Wall Street Journal last week that he would be “a little bit flexible” on the withdrawal threat. Farm state lawmakers have been making the case to Trump in recent weeks that a NAFTA withdrawal could cause a major tariff increase on U.S. corn and other crops sold to Mexico, hurting a major political support base for Trump in the rural United States. On Monday, automakers from Detroit and around the world urged the Trump administration not to quit NAFTA and to back away from some of its demands in the negotiations. Reporting by Jeff Mason, Roberta Rampton, Ayesha Rascoe James Oliphant and David Lawder, writing by David Lawder" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Friday a decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission dismissing a trade complaint by Boeing Co against Canada’s Bombardier Inc ”shows how robust our system of checks and balances is.” The ITC’s commissioners earlier on Friday voted 4-0 that Bombardier’s prices did not harm Boeing and discarded a U.S. Commerce Department recommendation to slap a near 300-percent duty on sales of the company’s 110-to-130-seat CSeries jets for five years. Reporting by Mohammad Zargham; Writing by Eric Walsh; Editing by James Dalgleish" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Japan’s Nikkei share average edged up on Friday with financial stocks leading the gains after U.S. yields rose, while GMO Internet soared after an activist fund called on the company to change its governance structure. The Nikkei rose 0.2 percent to 23,808.06. For the week, it gained 0.7 percent. Shares of internet and cryptocurrency firm GMO Internet climbed 4.7 percent after Hong Kong-based activist investor Oasis Management Co made proposals aimed at changing the company’s governance, which included reducing the power of its founder. Banks and insurers, which invest in high-yielding products, soared after yields on U.S. 10-year notes reached a 10-month high. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group advanced 1.4 percent and Mizuho Financial Group gained 0.8 percent. Sompo Holdings soared 2.0 percent and Dai-ichi Life Holdings gained 1.8 percent. The broader Topix advanced 0.7 percent to 1,889.74. (Editing Sam Holmes) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Euro zone yields stay high on hawkish ECB comments Wednesday, January 03, 2018 - 01:34 Euro area borrowing costs held near recent highs on Wednesday, after comments by ECB rate-setters are seen giving its monetary policy a hawkish new edge. David Pollard reports. Euro area borrowing costs held near recent highs on Wednesday, after comments by ECB rate-setters are seen giving its monetary policy a hawkish new edge. David Pollard reports. //reut.rs/2CAnhEV" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 9:01 AM / Updated 8 hours ago UPDATE 2-WTA International, Hobart Results Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 10 (OPTA) - Results from the WTA International, Hobart Women's Singles matches on Tuesday .. 1st Round .. Alison Riske (USA) beat 8-Katerina Siniakova (CZE) 2-6 6-3 7-5 Monica Niculescu (ROU) beat 6-Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) 6-3 6-2 .. 2nd Round .. 5-Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) beat Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 6-3 6-2 Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU) beat Anna-Lena Friedsam (GER) 7-5 6-4 Donna Vekic (CRO) beat Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) 6-4 6-4 2-Elise Mertens (BEL) beat Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) 6-4 6-4" + }, + { + "text": "Apple to pay $38 billion in U.S. taxes, open a new campus 6:08am EST - 01:24 Thanks to the GOP tax bill, Apple will be able to bring back its treasure trove of cash parked overseas. That means a $38 billion check for uncle Sam, but also a new campus for Apple in the U.S. Thanks to the GOP tax bill, Apple will be able to bring back its treasure trove of cash parked overseas. That means a $38 billion check for uncle Sam, but also a new campus for Apple in the U.S. //reut.rs/2Dq5ikM" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Saturday that he would campaign for a liberalization of the country’s restrictive abortion laws ahead of a referendum in the coming months, adding that his views on the issue had evolved. Varadkar’s government plans to hold the referendum as soon as May to loosen some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world. His Fine Gael party has agreed to let individual members campaign on either side of the debate. While the country remains overwhelmingly Catholic - a complete ban on abortion was only lifted in 2013 - public opinion has become far more socially liberal in recent years. Varadkar, a medical doctor by training, in 2014 described himself as pro-life, but also said that the rules in Ireland, where terminations are only allowed in cases where the mother’s life is in danger, were too tight. “I believe Ireland’s abortion laws are too restrictive and need to be liberalised,” Varadkar said in an interview with BBC radio on Saturday. “I’ll be campaigning for them to be changed.” MISUNDERSTOOD Asked about his previous position, Varadkar said that his views had evolved in recent years. “I think sometimes that pro-life and pro-choice can be misunderstood ... I think even people who are in favor of abortion in certain circumstances are pro-life,” he said. “These terms pro-life and pro-choice don’t really comprehend the complexity of this issue, which is a very private and personal one and one, I think, that contains a lot of gray areas.” Ireland has yet to decide the exact wording of the referendum. A cross-party parliamentary committee last month recommended that the state legislate to allow terminations with no restrictions up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy, a more liberal position than some had anticipated. An opinion poll on Friday found that a majority of Irish voters would support a proposal to allow abortion up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy, but that many older voters opposed the change. Reporting by James Davey; Writing by Conor Humphries; Editing by Andrew Bolton" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24(Reuters) - Tsinghuatongfang Co Ltd * Says co’s Shenzhen-based wholly owned unit plans to acquire shares of GuoDu Securities Co.,Ltd, with transaction amount of up to 800 million yuan * Says unit is holding 4.3 percent stake (227.8 million shares) in GuoDu Securities Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/NfHLB5 Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Peru bus crash leaves at least 36 dead 9:20am IST - 01:07 At least 36 people are dead after a bus collided with a truck on the Panamericana Norte highway in Peru. No reporter narration. At least 36 people are dead after a bus collided with a truck on the Panamericana Norte highway in Peru. No reporter narration. //reut.rs/2CtDfR2" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 18 (Reuters) - Geox Spa: * FY PRELIM REVENUE EUR 884.5 MILLION VERSUS EUR 900.8 MILLION YEAR AGO * GREGORIO BORGO RESIGNS AS CEO, THE COMPANY TO APPOINT MATTEO MASCAZZINI AS NEW CEO * MATTEO MASCAZZINI WILL STEP DOWN AT END-JANUARY AS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF GUCCI AMERICA Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "WATERTOWN, Conn., Jan. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crystal Rock Holdings, Inc. (NYSE MKT:CRVP) announced its financial results for its fiscal year that ended October 31, 2017. These results will be filed on Form 10-K with today. Operating income was $1.9 million for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2017 compared to $3.5 million for the same period last year. Net income in fiscal 2017 was $560 thousand compared to a net income of $1.2 million for fiscal year 2016. On a per share basis, net income was $.03 per fully diluted share in fiscal 2017, compared to $.06 per fully diluted share in fiscal 2016. Gross profit as a percentage of sales rose to 54% in fiscal 2017 compared to 51% in fiscal 2016. Gross profit dollars declined $1.3 million in fiscal 2017 going from $33.1 million in 2016 to $31.8 million in 2017 while sales declined $6.3 million from $65.3 million in fiscal 2016 to $59.1 million in fiscal 2017. Much of the sales reduction was attributable to lower sales of non-water related products, which is consistent with the Company’s strategy to focus on higher-margin categories. “We increased volume for our core product category sales in water and machine rentals. We will continue to transform our customer base and product mix to focus on key customer targets, higher margin and dollar categories and the ongoing exploration of adjacent markets and services,“ stated Peter Baker, President and CEO, Crystal Rock Holdings. “With a challenging economic business climate that includes declining demographics and regulatory and competitive pressures within our operating footprint, we also recognize it’s critically important our back office is efficiently aligned with our front end experience to maintain profitability while delivering the highest levels of service to our customers.” ABOUT CRYSTAL ROCK HOLDINGS, INC. Crystal Rock Holdings, Inc. (NYSE MKT:CRVP), operating through its subsidiary Crystal Rock LLC, markets and distributes water and coffee service, office supplies, refreshment beverages and other break room items to the commercial office and at home markets throughout the Northeast. For over 100 years, the company has provided quality and high value service, and it’s the largest independent delivery provider of its kind in the United States. It bottles and distributes natural spring water under the Vermont Pure ® brand, purified water with minerals added under the Crystal Rock ® Waters label and it roasts and packages coffee under its Cool Beans ® brand. Launched in 2010, the Crystal Rock Office® brand features traditional office supplies, break room items, furniture and janitorial and sanitation products. The majority of its sales are derived from a route distribution system that delivers water in 3- to 5-gallon reusable, recyclable bottles, and coffee in fractional packs or pods. Crystal Rock believes “Little Things Matter TM ” to the customer experience with high standards for delivering premium service excellence and results in customer productivity - at work or at home. Through technical innovation, a branded customer experience and a commitment to community and environment, Crystal Rock family values are integral to the relationships between employees and customers. More information is available at CrystalRock.com . (Audited) (Unaudited) Twelve Months Ended: Three Months Ended: October 31, October 31, October 31, October 31, [REDACTED] (000's $) Sales $ 59,070 $ 65,343 $ 15,000 $ 16,106 Income from operations $ 1,947 $ 3,523 $ 850 $ 788 Net Income $ 560 $ 1,202 $ 490 $ 263 Basic net earnings per share $ 0.03 $ 0.06 $ 0.02 $ 0.01 Diluted net earnings per share $ 0.03 $ 0.06 $ 0.02 $ 0.01 Basic Wgt. Avg. Shares Out. (000's) 21,358 21,358 21,358 21,358 Diluted Wgt Avg. Shares Out." + }, + { + "text": "(000's) 21,358 21,358 21,358 21,358 Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements including about our strategic direction, customer service, technology platforms and product channels. Such forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statement. These risks, uncertainties, and factors include, but are not limited to, those factors set forth in our Annual Report for the Fiscal Year ended October 31, 2016 and subsequent filings we make with . We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The reader is cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented in this news release. Contact: Peter Baker, CEO 860-945-0661 Ext. 3001 David Jurasek, CFO 860-945-0661 Ext. 3004 Source:Crystal Rock Holdings Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 2:36 PM / Updated 42 minutes ago UPDATE 2-Nigerian stocks record biggest daily rise in seven months Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Releads with closing index move, traders comment) LAGOS, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Nigerian stocks posted their biggest daily gain in seven months on Wednesday, extending the 2017 rally into the new year with the main share index rising 3.6 percent in late trades. Stocks extended gains for a fifth session to a new three-year high. The index which has gained 5.5 percent after seven trading days this year, closed at 41,816 points, a level last seen in August 2014. Last year it jumped 42 percent, its biggest gain since 2013, and traders had said they expected further advances fuelled by hopes of lower interest rates and a more stable currency. Investors have been snapping up consumer goods and banking shares this year with year-end results due in March, especially after data showed that Nigeria’s forex reserve had started to increase after a currency crisis, a sign of support for the naira, traders said. The central bank on Monday said Nigeria’s dollar reserves rose by nearly $1 billion from December to $40.4 billion as of Jan. 5. Though they remain shy of $64 billion peak reached in August 2008. The index of Nigeria’s top 10 lenders led the charge, rallying 5.3 percent. Diamond Bank, Wema Bank and Sterling Bank each rose more than 9 percent. Fuel retailer Conoil, Eterna Oil and Champion Brewery gained the maximum 10 percent allowed. (Reporting by Chijioke Ohuocha; Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)" + }, + { + "text": "Andrew Wiggins and Karl Anthony-Towns hit clutch 3-pointers down the stretch as the Minnesota Timberwolves withstood a 40-point night by Toronto point guard Kyle Lowry and recorded a 115-109 victory over the Raptors Saturday night at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Wiggins, who scored a season-high 29 points, gave Minnesota the lead at 107-106 by knocking down a 3-pointer from the left wing with 2:05 remaining. Towns, who scored all of his 22 points after halftime, added a top of the key 3-pointer with 1:43 left for a 110-106 edge. Lowry recorded his most productive night of the season and posted his fourth career game with 40 points. He made 14 of 25 shots and hit six 3-pointers. Wiggins and Towns helped Minnesota extend its home winning streak to nine games on a night when Jimmy Butler (sore right knee) and Jamal Crawford (sprained left big toe) did not play. The duo combined to make 17 of 28 from the field as Minnesota shot 46.9 percent. DeMar DeRozan added 20 for Toronto, which shot 47 percent. Taj Gibson added 14 points, eight rebounds and a key block of Jonas Valanciunas that preceded Towns’ 3-pointer. Marcus Georges-Hunt contributed 12 and also drew a charge on DeRozan with 22 seconds left. Minnesota led 113-108 when Georges-Hunt drew the offensive foul and the guard split a pair with 15.3 seconds left. After Serge Ibaka missed a long 3-pointer and Lowry split a pair at the line with 8.4 seconds left, Jeff Teague provided the final margin. Before getting the late 3-pointers, Minnesota took an 87-83 lead into the fourth when Gorgui Dieng’s 3-pointer banked off the glass to cap a 12-3 run. Toronto was within 92-90 on a 19-footer by DeRozan with 9:06 left in the fourth but Minnesota responded again with a 10-2 run to get a 102-92 lead on two free throws by Wiggins with 7:10 left. Lowry and DeRozan then combined on seven points as Toronto scored the next 11 points shortly before the late 3-pointers. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "Time Inc. said Wednesday it had sold has sold Essence, the monthly African-American women’s lifestyle magazine, for an undisclosed sum to Essence Ventures LLC, a company formed in 2017 by Sundial Brands co-founder Richelieu Dennis. Essence has been on the block since July, when Time Inc. said it intended to sell a majority stake in the brand as part of its effort to slim down its portfolio. Time... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 7:57 AM / Updated 14 hours ago Everton's Coleman back in training, says Allardyce Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Everton defender Seamus Coleman has returned to training as he continues his recovery from a broken leg sustained while playing for Ireland last year, the Premier League club’s manager Sam Allardyce has said. FILE PHOTO: Britain Football Soccer - Everton v Arsenal - Premier League - Goodison Park - 13/12/16 Everton's Seamus Coleman celebrates scoring their first goal Reuters / Phil Noble Livepic Coleman last featured in Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Wales last March when he suffered the injury. “Seamus Coleman is due back. He has started training,” Allardyce said at Everton’s general meeting on Tuesday. The 29-year-old’s return will be a welcome boost for Everton, who have regained some decent form under Allardyce and climbed to ninth in the league. Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford" + }, + { + "text": "08 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago Brazil's Caixa may cut mortgage lending if court blocks capitalization Reuters Staff 2 Min Read SAO PAULO, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Brazilian state bank Caixa Econômica Federal may reduce mortgage lending if it cannot get approval to use money from a worker severance fund known as FGTS to bolster its capital, the bank��s president said in a newspaper interview published on Thursday. Gilberto Occhi said Caixa plans to use 15 billion reais ($4.7 billion) in FGTS funds to capitalize the bank if it gets approval from federal audit court TCU, which is expected in February, according to the O Estado de S. Paulo paper. A press representative for Caixa confirmed the comments attributed to Occhi. Caixa is the biggest mortgage lender in Brazil and the main driver of the low-income housing segment, where homebuilders such as MRV Engenharia e Participações SA and Construtora Tenda SA focus their activity. As Caixa is the manager of the FGTS funds, a capitalization of the bank using that money could represent a conflict of interest, prosecutors have argued before the TCU. Failure to strengthen its capital structure, on the other hand, could reduce Caixa’s ability to finance infrastructure projects, Occhi told the paper. Brazilian workers are legally required to deposit a share of their wages into the FGTS, which pays a fixed monthly rate. Surpluses are typically invested in infrastructure projects. $1 = 3.23 reais Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by Bernadette Baum" + }, + { + "text": "Trump's new 'America First' tariffs spark outcry in Asia 5:29am EST - 01:18 U.S. President Donald Trump slaps steep tariffs on imported washing machines and solar panels, sparking complaints and criticism from Asian nations. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript U.S. President Donald Trump slaps steep tariffs on imported washing machines and solar panels, sparking complaints and criticism from Asian nations. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Members of Volkswagen’s supervisory board have called for an inquiry into tests in which monkeys were exposed to toxic diesel fumes, German media reported on Monday. The New York Times reported on Friday that German carmakers had used the European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector, also known as EUGT, to commission the study, which was designed to defend diesel following revelations that the fuel’s exhaust fumes were carcinogenic. Reuters could not immediately confirm the details of the study and a representative for EUGT, which was dissolved last year, could not be reached for comment. EUGT received all of its funding from Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW, the New York Times said. It remains unclear whether the carmakers were aware of monkeys being used in the experiments. Volkswagen and fellow German carmakers Daimler and BMW on Saturday denounced the study, which was conducted in 2014. Revelations about the study are the latest aftershock from the Volkswagen emissions-rigging scandal, which are continuing to rock the auto industry. Bernd Althusmann, a member of Volkswagen’s supervisory board representing the carmaker’s home state of Lower Saxony, said such experiments were “absurd and inexcusable”, German news agency DPA reported on Monday. Althusmann demanded “harsh consequences” for whoever was responsible for the study, DPA Quote: d him as saying. Bernd Osterloh, Volkswagen’s works council chief, who is also on the carmaker’s board, called for a detailed investigation into the matter, German daily Die Welt said. Commissioning such a study involving live animals did not reflect ethical or moral behaviour, Osterloh said. “If the people who were responsible at the time are still on board, then personnel consequences must be considered,” he said. On Sunday, German daily Stuttgarter Zeitung reported that EUGT also sponsored scientific studies testing nitrogen dioxide, a gas found in exhaust fumes, on people. (Reporting by Maria Sheahan; editing by Susan Fenton and Alexander Smith)" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - U.S. regulators have charged privately held My Big Coin Pay Inc and two individuals over alleged fraud and misappropriation as part of an ongoing virtual currency scam, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission said on Wednesday. The CFTC, in a statement, said it had charged Las Vegas-based My Big Coin, Randall Crater of New York and Mark Gillespie of Michigan with “misappropriating over $6 million from customers by, among other things, transferring customer funds into personal bank accounts, and using those funds for personal expenses and the purchase of luxury goods.” (Reporting by Susan Heavey Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 4:18 AM / Updated 16 minutes ago All Blacks flyhalf Sopoaga heading to Europe at end of season Reuters Staff 2 Min Read WELLINGTON (Reuters) - All Blacks back-up flyhalf Lima Sopoaga will leave New Zealand rugby at the end of the season after signing with a club in Europe, the 26-year-old said on Thursday. Rugby Union - Championship - New Zealand All Blacks vs South Africa Springboks - Auckland, New Zealand - September 16, 2017 New Zealand's Lima Sopoaga reacts after scoring a try. REUTERS/Nigel Marple British media reported that he would be moving from the Otago Highlanders to English club Wasps next year, removing him from All Blacks coach Steve Hansen’s plans for the 2019 World Cup in Japan. “It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make but is one I‘m at peace with,” he posted on Instagram. ”I have loved every minute of being a professional footballer here in NZ, I’ve made life long friends and memories that I’ll cherish forever. “So here’s to 2018 one last roll of the dice before I head off to experience life on the other side of the world. I‘m ready.” Sopoaga made his All Blacks debut against South Africa in 2015 and played 16 tests but only got his second start in the loss to Australia last October as back-to-back World Player of the Year Beauden Barrett kept him out of the number 10 jersey. He won the 2015 Super Rugby title with the Highlanders and his cool head and solid tactical game, backed up by his fine kicking from hand, should hold him in good stead in the English Premiership. Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford" + }, + { + "text": "ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopian authorities have dropped charges against a senior opposition leader and hundreds of others who had been jailed for involvement in unrest that gripped the country in 2015 and 2016, the country’s attorney general said on Monday. Hundreds have been killed in violence in the Horn of Africa country since protests first erupted in its central Oromiya province over allegations of land grabs. Several dissident politicians have since been jailed having been charged with involvement in terrorism and collusion with the secessionist Oromo Liberation Front, which the government has branded a terrorist group. Facing mounting unrest, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced earlier this month that jailed politicians would be released and those facing trial would have their cases dismissed in a bid to foster reconciliation. On Monday, Attorney General Getachew Ambaye told journalists that 528 people had so far been selected for clemency, including Merera Gudina - leader of the opposition group Oromo Federalist Congress who was arrested in late 2015. Getachew said criteria for their selection involved taking into account proof that the suspects did not take part in actions that led to killings and severe injury, damaging infrastructure, and “conspiracy to dismantle the constitutional order by force”. “All 528 will be released within two months,” he said. Merera was arrested after a trip to Brussels to meet members of the European Parliament, and formally charged with attempting to “dismantle or disrupt social, economic and political activity”. He was also accused of backing a secessionist group Addis Ababa labels a terrorist movement, as well as flouting guidelines on a state of emergency that was imposed for nine months during his trip to Belgium. Nearly 700 people died in one bout of unrest during months of protests in 2015 and 2016, according to a parliament-mandated investigation. Rallies over land rights broadened into demonstrations over political restrictions and perceived rights abuses, before spreading into the northern Amhara region and - to a smaller extent - in its SNNP province in the south. In recent months, a spate of ethnic clashes have also taken place. Dozens of people were killed in several bouts of violence between ethnic Oromos and Somalis in the Oromiya region last year. Hailemariam made his announcement after the ruling EPRDF coalition concluded a weeks-long meeting meant to thrash out policies to address grievances. The unrest had triggered growing friction within the party. Some high-ranking members had subsequently submitted their resignation, while officials have openly squabbled with each other over the cause of clashes. Getachew said more pardons and releases are set to follow. Ethiopia, sandwiched between volatile Somalia and Sudan, is often accused by rights groups of using security concerns as an excuse to stifle dissent and media freedoms. It denies the charge. Reporting by Aaron Maasho; Editing by Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AV Homes, Inc. (Nasdaq:AVHI), a developer and builder of residential communities in Florida, the Carolinas and Arizona, today announced the completion of its previously announced acquisition of the homebuilding assets of Oakdale - Hampton Homes, a regional homebuilder in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas market targeting first-time buyers and move-up buyers. About AV Homes AV Homes, Inc. is engaged in homebuilding and community development in Florida, the Carolinas, Arizona and Texas. Its principal operations are conducted in the greater Orlando, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Raleigh, Phoenix and Dallas-Fort Worth markets. The Company builds communities that serve both active adults (55 years and older) as well as people of all ages. AV Homes common shares trade on NASDAQ under the symbol AVHI. For more information, visit www.avhomesinc.com . Investor Contact: Mike Burnett EVP, Chief Financial Officer 480-214-7408 Source:AV Homes, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - Jiangsu Hongtu High Technology Co Ltd : * SAYS IT PLANS TO ISSUE MEDIUM-TERM NOTES WORTH UP TO 1.2 BILLION YUAN * SAYS IT PLANS TO ISSUE COMMERCIAL PAPER WORTH UP TO 600 MILLION YUAN Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2mN9Rvr ; bit.ly/2mE0cX2 Further company coverage: (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 9:43 AM / Updated 7 hours ago Britain, France to sign new immigration treaty during Macron visit Reuters Staff 2 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - France and Britain will sign a new immigration treaty at a summit between President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Theresa May in Britain on Thursday, French officials said. The treaty will “complement” but not replace the 2003 Le Touquet border agreement, which has drawn criticism in France after the town of Calais became a hub for migrants and refugees on their way to Britain, just 33 km (20 miles) across the English Channel. France wants Britain to provide more money and resources to tackle the migrant flows and has suggested that the Le Touquet accord may have to be ended if a compromise or a new set of arrangements can’t be reached. Under Le Touquet, Britain has its border in France and France runs border checks in Britain, a deal that French officials say favours the United Kingdom. Both parties can withdraw from the treaty, which would mean a return to hard national borders. That move that would symbolically cut Britain off from the continent just as it is implementing Brexit. A French official said issues of unaccompanied children, asylum requests, border police cooperation and possible British support to the economic development of the Calais region will be part of the new agreement, which is still being discussed. “We’ll boost British financial support to the securisation of transport infrastructure, border police and security and we’ll raise this question of economic development,” the presidential adviser said. Pro-Brexit lawmakers from Britain’s governing Conservative Party have dismissed as “absurd” suggestions that London should pay more, saying Britain already provides extra security to France, including border infrastructure. Reporting by Michel Rose and Jean-Baptiste Vey; editing by Luke Baker and Matthew Mpoke Bigg" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - SK Hynix Inc: * SK Hynix says DRAM chip demand expected to be up about 20 percent in 2018 versus 2017 * SK Hynix says NAND flash chip demand expected to be up about 40 percent in 2018 versus 2017 Further company coverage: (Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 12 (Reuters) - NEC Networks & System Integration Corp * Says it will set up a corporate venture capital(CVC) fund, with working capital of 500 million yen, to invest IoT and AI related venture business * Says the fund will start operation from February Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/91qm1D Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 12:20 AM / Updated 14 hours ago Japan starts culling chicken after confirming bird flu outbreak Reuters Staff 2 Min Read TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan’s western Kagawa prefecture has begun a cull of 91,000 chickens after the discovery of a highly contagious form of bird flu on a farm, the local government said. The confirmation of the outbreak, which was reported earlier in the week, marked the country’s first cases of bird flu in poultry this winter. The local government and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) said late Thursday that chickens at a farm in the area of Sanuki city in Kagawa had been confirmed testing positive for a highly pathogenic avian influenza. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that the government on Friday held a ministerial meeting to ensure all-out efforts to prevent the spread of flu following the outbreak. The meeting was held after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday instructed MAFF and other relevant government agencies to urge poultry farmers to stay alert and take prompt measures to prevent the epidemics. Japan’s last outbreak of bird flu occurred in March. Between November 2016 and March 2017, a total of 1.67 million chickens were culled due to the H5N6 strain of bird flu, according to the ministry. Reporting by Osamu Tsukimori and Kaori Kaneko; editing by Richard Pullin and Amrutha Gayathri" + }, + { + "text": "OSLO (Reuters) - Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg said on Tuesday she hoped Brexit would tie Britain “as close as possible” to the single European market to which non-EU member Norway belongs. She said Norway was ready to negotiate in any policy areas that were left outside an eventual agreement between the EU and Britain. “Of course we hope for Brexit that connects the British ... as close as possible to the single market. That will be the easiest way to work together in the future,” Solberg told Reuters on the sidelines of a business conference. “If not we are prepared to negotiate in all of the areas. We feel we have a good cooperation both with Britain and the EU,” she added. Norway is western Europe’s top producer of oil and gas, and has an intricate network of pipes for transporting its natural gas to Britain, Germany and other European nations, but Brexit was unlikely to affect energy exports, Solberg said. “I don’t think it affects the energy sector for the cooperation in the our gas trade,” she added. Reporting by Lefteris Karagiannopoulos; editing by Jeremy Gaunt" + }, + { + "text": "25 PM / Updated 8 minutes ago Magellan fuel pipeline in Minnesota leaks 300 barrels of gasoline (Reuters) - Magellan Midstream Partners LP said on Monday an estimated 300 barrels of gasoline leaked from its pipeline system that hauls fuel from Rosemount, Minnesota to Minneapolis - The leak occurred in Eagan, Minnesota and was caused by third-party excavation equipment, the company said. - Magellan said emergency responders are on site and a few business operations in the immediate area have been evacuated. - Several roads have been temporarily closed. Reporting by Devika Krishna Kumar in New York; Editing by Lisa Shumaker" + }, + { + "text": "January 14, 2018 / 10:25 AM / Updated 7 hours ago Search for California mudslide survivors goes on Reuters Staff (updates for Sunday morning) By Paula Lehman-Ewing LOS ANGELES, Jan 14 (Reuters) - The search for survivors of the deadly mudslides in parts of California’s scenic Santa Barbara County continued Sunday even as hopes dwindled to find anyone else alive, officials said. “We’re still in rescue mode and we still hope to find someone alive, although the chances of that are becoming slim,” said Justin Cooper, a spokesperson for the multi-agency response team. The death toll rose to 19 on Saturday and one person was found alive the same day as the hunt continued for five people who remain missing, Cooper said. They range in age from 2 to 62. Another 900 emergency personnel arrived this weekend to join the relief effort conducted by more than 2,100 personnel from local, state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy and the American Red Cross. The ramped-up rescue effort is in response to urgent requests for additional manpower made earlier in the week. The disaster struck on Tuesday after heavy rains soaked the area near Montecito, north of Los Angeles, where vegetation had been denuded by the largest wildfire in California’s history. Sodden hillsides gave way, unleashing a torrent of mud, water, uprooted trees and boulders onto the valley below and killing victims aged from 3 to 89. The destruction covered 30 square miles (78 square km), the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said, and forced the partial closure of one of California’s most celebrated coastal roads, Highway 101. Officials ordered residents in most of the southeastern corner of Montecito, which is east of Santa Barbara, to leave their homes for what was likely to be one or two weeks. Many fled to nearby Carpinteria, where local resident Tessa Nash said more than a few were communicating via a Facebook page called Carpinteria Swap, which is usually focused on the buying and selling of secondhand goods. These days, Nash said, it carries information about community-led blood drives and transportation tips. “We’re really joined together,” she said. “We’re affected here in Carpinteria in the sense that we’re taking these people in and a lot of people are out of work because they can’t travel. It’s a trickle-down effect.” Additional reporting by Keith Coffman in Denver, Barbara Goldberg in New York, Ian Simpson in Washington and Rich McKay in Atlanta.; Editing by Diane Craft and Louise Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "Mexican Warlock's 2018 predictions 2:37pm GMT - 01:36 Mexico’s Grand Warlock makes his predictions for 2018 covering the World Cup Final, North Korea and who his country's next president might be. Jayson Mansaray reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Mexico’s Grand Warlock makes his predictions for 2018 covering the World Cup Final, North Korea and who his country's next president might be. Jayson Mansaray reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Archer Daniels Midland Co. has made a takeover approach to Bunge Ltd., according to people familiar with the matter, setting up a possible bidding war after Glencore PLC earlier made an overture to the agricultural powerhouse. Details of the ADM approach are unclear, and it is possible neither company would succeed in buying Bunge, which had a market value of about $9.8 billion as of Friday afternoon. ADM’s valuation was $22.6 billion. ... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Organizational shift demonstrates company commitment to managed and hybrid cloud services NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Computer Design & Integration LLC (CDI LLC) announced today the promotion of Rob Sienrukos to Vice President of Managed Services Sales. In this capacity, Sienrukos is responsible for continuing to grow CDI’s managed cloud services while overseeing a technical sales team and building client relationships. During his decade-long tenure with the Company, Sienrukos has been instrumental in demonstrating CDI’s value proposition as a true consulting company with many annuitized and repeatable services independent of selling products. Sienrukos also significantly grew CDI’s managed and hybrid cloud offerings within the commercial and enterprise markets. “We’ve done an excellent job at evolving our managed and cloud services portfolio to stay ahead of the hybrid IT curve,” said Sienrukos, Vice President of Managed Services Sales, CDI Managed Services. “I’m honored to accept this expanded role at a time where CDI is uniquely positioned to provide significant value to our customers through the use of cloud in their own infrastructure, CDI’s cloud, or the public cloud. I look forward to accelerating sales momentum, revenue growth and driving greater value and innovation for our client base.” Sienrukos holds numerous industry certifications and has more than three decades of experience designing and implementing complex IT solutions and successfully managing sales and technical teams. About Computer Design & Integration LLC (CDI LLC): CDI LLC was founded in 1995, with corporate headquarters in New York City, as well as office locations in Teterboro, N.J., Philadelphia, Charlotte and Atlanta. The firm has been recognized as one of the nation’s top 500 IT solution providers offering clients and businesses of all sizes the most up-to-date hybrid IT technology solutions that solve today’s most complex business challenges. CDI LLC continually focuses on achieving client satisfaction by developing and implementing comprehensive and innovative technology solutions that enhance day-to-day business workflow processes. As one of the largest solution providers, CDI LLC combines the required experience, exceptional talent, quality assurance and stability that its clients strive to achieve. For more information, visit cdillc.com or call 1-800-234-5531. Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn and YouTube . View source version on businesswire.com : Media: CDI LLC Stephanie Clark, 201-426-9259 [REDACTED] Source: Computer Design & Integration LLC" + }, + { + "text": "U.S. government debt yields started the year higher on Tuesday. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note was higher at around 2.462 percent at 3:32 p.m. ET, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was up at 2.809 percent. Bond yields move inversely to prices. Symbol Yield Change %Change US 3-MO --- US 1-YR --- US 2-YR --- US 5-YR --- US 10-YR --- US 30-YR --- U.S. markets finished last Friday's session — and ended 2017's last trading day — on a negative note , although the S&P 500 posted its best year since 2013; U.S. Treasury yields traded mostly lower on the final day of trade in 2017. In data, IHS Markit reported December U.S. manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) at 55.1, up from 53.9 in November. The latest reading was the highest since March 2015 and signals marked improvement in the health of the sector, according to the report. The manufacturing metric precedes the widely-anticipated monthly jobs report from the Labor Department later this week. With unemployment near historic lows, investors will be watching for any changes in the average hourly pay rate and subsequent signs of inflation as the U.S. economy rallies into the new year. Looking at markets overseas, Asian indexes closed mostly higher while trade in Europe came under pressure on its first day back after the holiday break. Markets worldwide are currently watching the geopolitical space, after news emerged that Iranian protesters had attacked police stations Monday, according to social media and news agency reports. Concerns lingered regarding North Korea's relationship with the West, after the isolated state's leader Kim Jong-Un warned the U.S. that he had a \"nuclear button\" on his desk, ready for use if his country was threatened. The leader did, however, offer optimism to South Korea , saying during his New Year's address that he was open to dialogue with the country." + }, + { + "text": "ATLANTA, Jan. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) will hold a live conference call and webcast to discuss its December quarter and full year 2017 financial results at 10 a.m. ET Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. A live webcast of this event will be available at . An online replay will be available at the same site shortly after the webcast is complete. Delta Air Lines serves more than 180 million customers each year. In 2017, Delta was named to Fortune's top 50 Most Admired Companies in addition to being named the most admired airline for the sixth time in seven years. Additionally, Delta has ranked No.1 in the Business Travel News Annual Airline survey for an unprecedented seven consecutive years. With an industry-leading global network , Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 314 destinations in 54 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 800 aircraft. The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance and participates in the industry's leading transatlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia as well as a joint venture with Virgin Atlantic . Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 15,000 daily flights, with key hubs and markets including Amsterdam , Atlanta, Boston , Detroit , Los Angeles , Mexico City, Minneapolis/St. Paul , New York-JFK and LaGuardia , London-Heathrow , Paris-Charles de Gaulle , Salt Lake City , São Paulo, Seattle , Seoul, and Tokyo-Narita . Delta has invested billions of dollars in airport facilities, global products and services, and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Additional information is available on the Delta News Hub , as well as delta.com , Twitter @DeltaNewsHub , Google.com/+Delta , and Facebook.com/delta . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Delta Air Lines" + }, + { + "text": "President Donald Trump said Wednesday his administration plans to \"take a strong look at our country's libel laws,\" calling the current rules \"a sham and a disgrace.\" Speaking at a White House Cabinet meeting, Trump said the goal of the effort would be \"so that when somebody says something that is false and defamatory about someone that person will have meaningful recourse in our courts.\" Trump has a long record of threatening to sue journalists who write things about him that he does not like. Just last week, Trump's lawyers threatened to sue author Michael Wolff over his best-selling book, \"Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,\" which was released on Friday. Wednesday's comments, however, marked a significant escalation of Trump's attacks on the press over what he calls \"fake news.\" \"Our current libel laws are a sham and a disgrace, and do not represent American values or American fairness,\" Trump said, reading from prepared notes. \"So we're going to take a strong look at that. We want fairness. You can't say things that are false, knowingly false, and be able to smile as money pours into your bank account ... I think what the American people want to see is fairness.\" Trump tweet: We should have a contest as to which of the Networks, plus CNN and not including Fox, is the most dishonest, corrupt and/or distorted in its political coverage of your favorite President (me). They are all bad. Winner to receive the FAKE NEWS TROPHY! The remarks were startling for a few reasons. One is that they may have been first time that Trump's desire to change the nation's libel laws made it into the president's official written remarks. Equally striking was Trump's attempt to couch defamation laws in the rhetoric of his populist political movement. According to the president, the current libel laws \"do not represent American values or American fairness.\" But unless you work in journalism, Hollywood or politics, it is unlikely you will ever have to learn much about defamation law, a patchwork of state laws that govern the crime of publishing deliberately false statements about someone with the intent of damaging that person. A White House spokesman did not respond to questions from CNBC about what law Trump might actually want to change. Nor did he identify what, exactly, the administration will be \"taking a very very strong look at.\" That official silence, however, could be due in part to the fact that there is little Trump could actually do to change how libel laws work. \"Trump is not changing — and he never will change — the libel laws in this country, despite his rhetoric,\" said Richard Roth, a New York-based white-collar litigator and founder of the Roth Law Firm. \"These are laws that originated hundreds of years ago in England.\" Today, Roth said, \"libel and slander are state court causes of action, not federal laws. So there actually is no federal statute that Trump could try to get Congress to rewrite.\" Additionally, no single state could change its laws to make it easier for public figures like Trump to win libel suits against the press. That standard derives from a 1964 Supreme Court ruling, New York Times Co. v. Sullivan . \"He's trying to usurp the judiciary, and it's not going to work,\" Roth said. \"If there is any likely change to libel-related laws as a result of Donald Trump the individual or Donald Trump the government official, it is likely to come in the form of increased protection for libel defendants who face a potential increase in frivolous lawsuits of the type he has filed (and lost) in the past,\" Kevin Goldberg, a First Amendment attorney at Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, told Poynter . For now, Roth said, Trump's threat to change libel laws is just \"another silly declaration\" from the White House." + }, + { + "text": "World stock rally rolls on, best start in 8 years 2:04pm GMT - 01:51 European shares hit a two year high and world stock markets hover close to all-time highs as the best start to a year in eight years shows little sign of running out of steam. As Ciara Lee reports, the combination of strong global growth and limited inflation is powering risk-taking. European shares hit a two year high and world stock markets hover close to all-time highs as the best start to a year in eight years shows little sign of running out of steam. As Ciara Lee reports, the combination of strong global growth and limited inflation is powering risk-taking. //uk.reuters.com/video/2018/01/08/world-stock-rally-rolls-on-best-start-in?videoId=381075371&videoChannel=5" + }, + { + "text": "× × Former CEA chair: Significant shutdown economic impact unlikely, but's it not an efficient way to run the government 1 Hour Ago Jason Furman, Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government professor and former Council of Economic Advisors chair, discuss the economic impact of the government shutdown across the country." + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 9:47 AM / Updated an hour ago Bulgaria expects to apply to join ERM-2 by June-finmin Reuters Staff 1 Min Read SOFIA, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Bulgaria expects to apply to join the European exchange rate mechanism known as ERM-2 by June as a preliminary to adopting the euro, Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov said on Thursday. “Most likely we will apply in the first six months,” Goranov told reporters through an interpreter. A spokeswoman confirmed that he was referring to an application in the first half of 2018. “In no way we can present any risk to the euro zone,” he said, describing Bulgaria’s two-decade linking of the lev currency to the euro and the country’s strong economic fundamentals, which are well within the criteria for euro zone membership. The EU executive has said it supports the move but not all the 19 members of the single currency area are comfortable with Bulgaria joining. (Reporting by Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Alison Williams)" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 10:00 AM / Updated 9 minutes ago Delegates at Syria peace talks heckle Russian foreign minister SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Some delegates at a Syrian peace congress in Russia stood up and heckled Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a speech he was making on Tuesday, accusing Moscow of killing civilians in Syria with its air strikes, a Reuters witness said. The incident was also broadcast live on Russian state TV where two security guards were shown approaching one man in the audience indicating that he should sit down and be quiet. Other delegates at the conference in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi stood up at the same time and shouted their support for Russia, the Reuters witness said. Lavrov told the delegates to let him finish speaking, saying they would have their own say later on Tuesday. Related Coverage" + }, + { + "text": "Tension in camps as Rohingya return is delayed Monday, January 22, 2018 - 01:15 Bangladesh has delayed the repatriation of Rohingya Muslim refugees to Myanmar, set to start on Tuesday, because officials say the process of compiling and verifying the list of people to be sent back is incomplete. Rosanna Philpott reports ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Bangladesh has delayed the repatriation of Rohingya Muslim refugees to Myanmar, set to start on Tuesday, because officials say the process of compiling and verifying the list of people to be sent back is incomplete. Rosanna Philpott reports Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp ( 9984.T ) is in talks with banks to raise as much as $5 billion in new debt by using its UK unit ARM Holdings as collateral, The Information website reported, citing people familiar with the matter. SoftBank Group is also considering how to use its newly acquired 15 percent stake in ride-hailing firm Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] to raise additional capital, although it is not clear if Uber would allow it, the website reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. bit.ly/2F9mPtU The new funds would be in addition to billions of dollars which SoftBank has access to through the Vision Fund, the Information said. Earlier this month, SoftBank closed a deal with Uber at a discounted valuation of $48 billion for the U.S. firm and became its largest stakeholder. SoftBank had bought ARM, Britain’s most valuable technology company, for $32 billion in 2016. A SoftBank spokesman declined to comment. Reporting by Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru and Sam Nussey in Tokyo; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier" + }, + { + "text": "26 PM / in 17 minutes U.S. consumer watchdog bureau gets new chief of staff Pete Schroeder 2 (Reuters) - A top staffer for one of the most vocal U.S. congressional critics of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was named on Friday as the watchdog’s chief of staff as it undergoes a major transformation under the Trump administration. Kirsten Sutton Mork, former staff director for the House Financial Services Committee, will assume the role “in the coming weeks,” Representative Jeb Hensarling, who chairs that panel, said in a statement. He is one of the CFPB’s most vociferous critics. The position was last filled by Leandra English, who is now the agency’s deputy director. English had been a top deputy of former Director Richard Cordray, who resigned in November and contended English should take over the agency. She sued the administration in November, claiming that Cordray had legal grounds to name his successor until a full-time director was named by Trump and confirmed by the Senate. Mick Mulvaney, President Donald Trump’s budget director who is CFPB acting director, has vowed to move the agency away from its agenda under President Barack Obama. The financial industry has long complained the CFPB was too aggressive in its rulewriting and enforcement, and that its single director enjoyed too much power. But consumer advocates have called it a critical safeguard for Americans. Also on Friday, Hensarling said that Shannon McGahn would return to the Financial Services Committee to fill the staff director role. McGahn most recently was a top advisor to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. (Reporting by Pete Schroeder; Editing by Richard Chang)" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 11:28 AM / Updated 18 minutes ago FACTBOX-Tennis-Roger Federer v Chung Hyeon - match stats Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MELBOURNE, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Key statistics from Swiss Roger Federer's 6-1 5-2 victory (Chung retired injured) over South Korea's Chung Hyeon in the semifinal of the Australian Open on Friday (prefix denotes seeding): 2-Federer Chung Aces 9 1 Double faults 1 3 Break points won 4/11 0/1 Net points won 6/7 0/5 Winners 24 6 Unforced errors 15 17 Total points won 57 33 Match duration: One hour, 2 minutes (Compiled by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Kevin Liffey)" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 12:37 AM / Updated 3 hours ago Asia stocks edge back from record highs, Trump comments support dollar Shinichi Saoshiro 5 Min Read TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian stocks came off record highs on Friday but were still poised to end the week with strong gains, while the battered dollar won back some ground after President Donald Trump said he wanted a strong U.S. currency. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was effectively flat at 609.50 after reaching a record intraday high of 611 on Thursday, capped after Wall Street shares lost momentum overnight. MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index was still poised to rise about 1.8 percent on the week and headed for its seventh straight week of gains. World equity markets have rallied over the past year, buoyed by a synchronized uptick in global economic growth in a boon to corporate profits and stock valuations. South Korea's KOSPI .KS11 was flat and the dollar's bounce against the yen lifted Japanese stocks, with the Nikkei .N225 rising 0.15 percent. Australian markets were closed for a public holiday. The Dow .DJI and S&P 500 .SPX ended at their highest closing levels ever on Thursday although Wall Street relinquished bigger intraday gains after President Trump's strong dollar comments.[.N] Trump said on Thursday he ultimately wants the dollar to be strong, contradicting comments made by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin one day earlier. The dollar index against a basket of six major currencies was at 89.221 .DXY. It had sunk to a three-year low of 88.438 on Thursday after Mnuchin said he welcomed a weaker greenback, which the markets initially took as Washington’s departure from its strong dollar policy. “Trump did say he wanted a stronger dollar, but at the same time made no intention of changing his stance towards pursuing U.S. interest through trade policies,” said Junichi Ishikawa, senior FX strategist at IG Securities in Tokyo. “Comments from U.S. top officials regarding the dollar are likely to continue lacking consistency going forward,” he said. Even if the Trump administration does push for a weaker dollar, the current U.S. monetary policy trend was expected to complicate the agenda. “Help from the Federal Reserve would be needed to weaken the dollar. But right now, the Fed is in midst of raising interest rates and this is not conducive to a weaker currency,” said Makoto Noji, senior strategist at SMBC Nikko Securities in Tokyo. The Fed conducted three rate hikes in 2017 and is expected to tighten as many as three more times in 2018. The euro was 0.1 percent higher at $1.2417 EUR= but still some distance from $1.2538, its highest since December 2014 scaled on Thursday. The common currency had soared to the fresh three-year high on Thursday after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said economic data pointed to “solid and broad” growth with inflation likely to rise in the medium term from subdued levels. Draghi also said the recent surge in the euro was a source of uncertainty, although this had little impact on the currency as some market participants had expected the ECB chief to use stronger language. The dollar was flat at 109.420 yen JPY= , rebounding from a four-month low of 108.500 set the previous day. The pound was 0.3 percent higher at $1.4175 GBP=D3 following its ascent to a 1-1/2-year high of $1.4346 the previous day. The Australian dollar climbed 0.3 percent to $0.8049 AUD=D4 , edging back towards a four-month peak of set $0.8119 overnight. The dollar’s bounce weighed on commodity prices, which had risen to multi-year peaks earlier this week. A stronger greenback tends to weigh on commodities as is seen making it more expensive for non-U.S. buyers of dollar-denominated products. U.S. crude futures CLc1 were 0.2 percent lower at $65.39 per barrel after reaching $66.66 on Thursday, highest since December 2014. Spot gold XAU= was a shade higher at $1,350.80 per ounce after sliding 0.8 percent overnight. It set $1,366.06 earlier on Thursday, its highest since August 2016. Editing by Sam Holmes" + }, + { + "text": "Jay Leno teaches comedian Gilbert Gottfried how to drive ... in a Ferrari 2 Hours Ago Jay Leno puts himself in harm’s way when he attempts to teach comedian Gilbert Gottfried how to drive a Ferrari. Only issue, Gilbert has never driven before, let alone driven a powerful sports car that can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds. All new Jay Leno’s Garage Thursdays 10P ET/PT SHARES" + }, + { + "text": "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive for radio station visit 4:18pm GMT - 00:51 Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle visit Reprezent Radio station in Brixton, south London, to learn about its work supporting young people. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle visit Reprezent Radio station in Brixton, south London, to learn about its work supporting young people. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2AITy71" + }, + { + "text": "WARSAW, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Poland’s foreign trade surplus stood at 1.81 billion euros ($2.20 billion) in the first 11 months of 2017, the statistics office said on Friday. Exports rose by 10.7 percent year-on-year to 187.7 billion euros in the January-November period, while imports increased by 12.1 percent to 185.9 billion euros. ($1 = 0.8241 euros) (Reporting by Anna Koper; Writing by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Agnieszka Barteczko)" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 4:38 PM / in 26 minutes UPDATE 1-Supply disruptions could boost copper prices -Chile's Cochilco Reuters Staff (Adds details on potential supply disruptions, quote from Cochilco VP) By Fabian Cambero SANTIAGO, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Chile’s state copper commission, Cochilco, on Wednesday raised its estimated 2018 average price for the metal to $3.06 per pound from its previous forecast of $2.95 per pound, pointing to the potential for global supply disruptions in the coming year. Cochilco Vice President Sergio Hernandez cited a “perception of vulnerability” that he attributed to the large number of anticipated labor negotiations in Chile, the world’s top copper producer, and in neighboring Peru. That, in combination with new Chinese environmental regulations on smelters to counter pollution and curbs on scrap copper imports by the country, is likely to make prices rise more quickly than originally anticipated, he said. “There are between 20 and 25 collective negotiations expected (locally). If some of them lead to significant strikes that would have a positive impact on prices,” Hernandez said. Given the potential for supply issues, Cochilco predicted a global copper supply deficit of 175,000 tonnes in 2018, versus 67,000 in 2017. Cochilco expects Chile to produce 5.74 million tonnes this year, up 4.9 percent from the 2017, when a strike at BHP’s Escondida copper mine, the world’s largest, sharply reduced output. Production would rise slightly to 5.91 million tonnes in 2019, the agency said in a statement. Chile’s largest producer of copper is state-miner Codelco, the world’s top copper producer. (Reporting by Fabián Andres Cambero, writing by Hugh Bronstein and Dave Sherwood, Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The European Union is setting a bad example by allowing some of its members to stifle human rights groups, which is encouraging crackdowns elsewhere in the world, a top United Nations official charged with defending rights activists said. Michel Forst said officials in Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Israel and other countries pointed at recent laws in Hungary and Poland to justify their own regulations which may curb the independence of non-governmental organizations. “There is a need for European countries to be more coherent ... not to teach human rights outside of Europe and then not respecting human rights inside Europe,” said Forst, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders. Charities in dozens of countries, from Angola to India and Tajikistan have faced restrictions targeting their funding and operations over the past two years, according to an EU report. The trend is part of a global backlash on civil society that has seen rights activists in some parts of the world criminalized or branded as troublemakers, Forst told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview in London. In 2017, thousands of activists were detained and at least 312 killed because of their work, up 11 percent on the previous year, according to Front Line Defenders, a watchdog group. Forst said the EU has historically done a good job supporting and protecting rights advocates worldwide but the bloc’s authority is now being undermined from within. Last year, Hungary introduced a measure requiring NGOs that get money from abroad to register with the state, a bill that NGOs say stigmatizes them and is intended to stifle independent voices. Poland instead introduced legislation to set up a centralized authority controlling charities’ funding. As countermeasure, the EU should boost direct funding of rights groups operating within its borders, Forst said. “What is absurd for me is that the EU is funding organizations in Latin America, in Africa - which is good - but there is no more funding for EU NGOs,” he said. Money should be allocated from a dedicated fund and not channeled through governments, he said. The European Commission said last year it was taking Hungary to the EU’s top court over its NGO laws that the government says aim to protect the country from foreign influence. Besides Europe, Forst also singled out Australia for its treatment of asylum seekers held in offshore camps, adding it was “not a safe place” for human rights defenders due to pressure from the government. A December report by Pro Bono Australia and the Human Rights Law Centre, two rights groups, found Australian NGOs were often pressured into “self-silencing” their advocacy work fearing funding cuts and political retribution. “(Global civil society) space is shrinking because it is shrinking in Europe, because it is shrinking in the Americas, in Australia,” said Forst. Reporting by Umberto Bacchi @UmbertoBacchi, Editing by Ros Russell; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit news.trust.org" + }, + { + "text": "Music streaming company Spotify was sued by Wixen Music Publishing Inc last week for allegedly using thousands of songs, including those of Tom Petty, Neil Young and the Doors, without a license and compensation to the music publisher. Wixen, an exclusive licensee of songs such as \"Free Fallin\" by Tom Petty, \"Light My Fire\" by the Doors, (Girl We Got a) Good Thing by Weezer and works of singers such as Stevie Nicks, is seeking damages worth at least $1.6 billion along with injunctive relief. Spotify failed to get a direct or a compulsory license from Wixen that would allow it to reproduce and distribute the songs, Wixen said in the lawsuit, filed in a California federal court. Wixen also alleged that Spotify outsourced its work to a third party, licensing and royalty services provider the Harry Fox Agency, which was \"ill-equipped to obtain all the necessary mechanical licenses\". Spotify declined to comment. In May, the Stockholm, Sweden-based company agreed to pay more than $43 million to settle a proposed class action alleging it failed to pay royalties for some of the songs it makes available to users. Spotify, which is planning a stock market listing this year, has grown around 20 percent in value to at least $19 billion in the past few months." + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 6:26 AM / Updated 15 hours ago All Blacks take Bledisloe Cup clash to Japan with eye on 2019 Reuters Staff 3 Min Read WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand Rugby (NZR) have confirmed the third Bledisloe Cup clash with Australia later this year will be held in the Yokohama Stadium, the venue for the 2019 Rugby World Cup final. NZR had already signalled they were keen on taking the trans-Tasman clash to Japan after announcing in May that they would face the Brave Blossoms before heading to Europe for the end-of-year tour. The world champion All Blacks face the Wallabies on Oct. 27 in Yokohama before they play Japan at the National Stadium in Tokyo on Nov. 3. “We’re delighted to confirm that a Bledisloe Cup test match will be played in Japan for the second time in the history of this great rivalry,” NZR chief executive Steve Tew said in a statement on Wednesday. ”The last match in 2009 was a fantastic event but this year’s test at the 72,000-seat stadium in Yokohama will be at another level. “The All Blacks have huge support in Japan, so the Bledisloe Cup test will be important for the team as we build support ahead of Rugby World Cup 2019.” All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said having two tests on consecutive weeks in Japan would also help the side acclimatise for the 2019 World Cup. Hansen conducted a similar exercise in 2014 when he primed the All Blacks for their 2015 World Cup-winning campaign by replicating the final four weeks of the tournament on their end-of-season tour, with the team experiencing similar selections, tactics and preparation. “It will be great for the team to prepare in two of the Rugby World Cup cities and play at the same venues,” Hansen said of the two clashes in Japan. “As well as preparing for a huge Bledisloe Cup test and another important test against Japan, it’ll also give the team a chance to have a really good ‘dummy run’ of the facilities, and experience the unique Japanese culture.” The All Blacks have held the Bledisloe Cup, the symbol of trans-Tasman supremacy, since 2003. The first Bledisloe Cup test, which doubles as the opening clash of the Rugby Championship, is in Sydney on Aug. 18, with the second match at Auckland’s Eden Park on Aug. 25. After the Japan game, the All Blacks then face Eddie Jones’s England side at Twickenham on Nov. 10, before meeting Ireland in Dublin on Nov. 17. They conclude their tour against Italy on Nov. 24. Reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "CHICAGO (Reuters) - Arkansas agricultural regulators stuck with a proposal on Wednesday to prohibit sprayings of a controversial weed killer after mid-April, despite a lawsuit over the plan by manufacturer Monsanto Co. The state’s plant board decided to move forward with a ban on the use of dicamba-based herbicides from April 16 to Oct. 31, after state lawmakers recommended last month that the panel review its recommendation. The ban threatens to hurt demand for the products made by Monsanto and rival BASF SE because the chemicals are designed to be sprayed on dicamba-resistant crops during the summer growing season. The United States faced an agricultural crisis last year caused by new versions of the herbicides, which farmers and weed experts said evaporated and drifted away from where they were applied, damaging millions of acres of crops that could not tolerate dicamba. Monsanto and BASF say the products are safe when used properly. They oppose the proposed ban in Arkansas and say it would hurt growers there by removing a tool to fight stubborn weeds. Monsanto is banking on its dicamba-based herbicide and soybean seeds engineered to resist it, called Xtend, to dominate soybean production in the United States, the world’s second-largest exporter. Last month, an Arkansas legislative subcommittee advised the plant board to review its proposed restrictions to consider scientific-based evidence and other factors, in a win for the agri-chemical companies. The panel is set to consider the proposal again on Jan. 16. “They feel like having looked back over the revisions suggested, that the rule change is based on scientific evidence and is the lowest-risk option,” said Adriane Barnes, a spokeswoman for the plant board. Other farm states, including Minnesota, Missouri and North Dakota, have imposed new limits on dicamba sprayings for 2018 in an attempt to prevent a repeat of the crop damage last year. Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by Leslie Adler" + }, + { + "text": "MGM China Holdings , one of Macau's six major casino operators, has delayed for a fourth time the opening of its much anticipated $3.4 billion new resort, MGM Cotai, saying it was still going through an administrative approval process. The company's second integrated casino, hotel and entertainment complex in Macau, MGM Cotai was originally scheduled to open on January 29, and invitations to the opening ceremony had already been sent out. The complex was first scheduled for opening in 2016, a date that was pushed back to the first half of 2017 and then to the second half of 2017, before the company announced in September last year the date would be January 29. \"The company is going through the administrative approval process of obtaining relevant licences to operate MGM Cotai,\" MGM China said in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange. \"As a result, it is now expected that the public opening date of MGM Cotai will be within the month of February 2018.\" Read more from the South China Morning Post: While Macau loses its lustre, a Cambodian casino bets on Chinese tourists to hit jackpot Economist adds voice to calls for China to cut US Treasury holdings to hit back at Trump's tariffs This drone is as light as an iPhone and flies as fast as a car It said that the overall budget of the project was expected to remain unchanged at about HK$27 billion (US$3.4 billion). In a separate statement, MGM China said it was \"working closely with the Macau government\" on the issue. Shares of MGM China shed around 7.6 percent on Thursday morning, before the announcement. MGM Cotai has 1,390 hotel rooms and has taken five years to build. The company has said it was being built \"to drive greater product diversification and bring more advanced and innovative forms of entertainment to Macau\". MGM China, a joint venture between Pansy Ho Chiu-king, the daughter of gaming tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun, and Las Vegas gaming giant MGM Resorts , already operates the MGM Macau resort in the city. It employs close to 6,000 people and posted HK$3.68 billion in revenue in the third quarter of 2017, a 5 per cent rise from the second quarter. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook ." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - Gold prices on Thursday held firm near 1-1/2-year highs hit in the previous session, with the dollar near three-year lows in the wake of comments by U.S. Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin that he welcomed a weaker currency. FUNDAMENTALS * Spot gold was nearly unchanged at $1,357.25 per ounce at 0109 GMT. It rose over 1 percent on Wednesday to hit its highest since Aug. 5, 2016 at $1,361.81. * U.S. gold futures were mostly unchanged at $1,356.50 per ounce. * The dollar slumped after Mnuchin told the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday that \"obviously a weaker dollar is good for us as it relates to trade and opportunities\". His comments were seen by markets as a departure from traditional U.S. currency policy. * The dollar index , which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, hit its weakest since Dec, 2014 at 89.158 on Thursday, matching a more than three-year-low touched on Wednesday. * The immediate focus was on the ECB's policy setting meeting later in the global day as markets look for any signs that the central bank is worried about the rapidly appreciating euro. * The euro zone economy may be roaring ahead but a rapidly strengthening euro may see European Central Bank President Mario Draghi pour cold water on the view the bank is speeding towards an interest rate hike. * Asian stocks held near a record-high on Thursday though concerns about the Trump administration's protectionist stance cast a shadow on financial markets. * Democratic Republic of Congo's new proposed mining code, which the industry has warned will stifle investment in the copper and cobalt-rich nation, sailed through the Senate without opposition late on Wednesday. * The field of prospective bidders for ScotiaMocatta, the metals trading arm of Canada's Bank of Nova Scotia , has narrowed to two, three banking and industry sources said on Wednesday. * Zimbabwe's full-year gold production rose to 24.8 tonnes in 2017 from 22.7 tonnes the previous year, the central bank's refining and printing subsidiary said on Wednesday. DATA AHEAD (GMT) 0700 Germany GfK consumer sentiment Feb 0900 Germany Ifo business climate Jan 1245 European Central Bank interest rate announcement followed by press conference by ECB President Mario Draghi 1330 U.S. Advance goods trade balance Dec 1330 U.S. Wholesale inventories Dec 1330 U.S. Retail inventories Dec 1330 U.S. Weekly jobless claims 1500 U.S. New home sales Dec 1500 U.S. Leading index Dec (Reporting by Nallur Sethuraman in Bengaluru; Editing by Joseph Radford)" + }, + { + "text": "Tunisia arrests 237 in clashes and protests 2:50am EST - 00:55 Tunisian authorities arrested at least 237 people on Wednesday, the third day of anti-austerity rage across the country. Lucy Fielder reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Tunisian authorities arrested at least 237 people on Wednesday, the third day of anti-austerity rage across the country. Lucy Fielder reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "GOLETA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Deckers Brands (NYSE:DECK), a global leader in designing, marketing and distributing innovative footwear, apparel and accessories, today announced that the Company's conference call to review third quarter fiscal 2018 results will be on Thursday, February 1, 2018 at approximately 4:30 pm Eastern Time. The broadcast will be hosted at www.deckers.com . To listen to the webcast, your computer must have Windows Media Player installed. If you do not have Windows Media Player, go to the latter site prior to the call, where you can download the software for free. The broadcast will be available for at least 30 days following the conference call. About Deckers Brands Deckers Brands is a global leader in designing, marketing and distributing innovative footwear, apparel and accessories developed for both everyday casual lifestyle use and high performance activities. The Company's portfolio of brands includes UGG®, KOOLABURRA®, HOKA ONE ONE®, Teva®, and Sanuk®. Deckers Brands products are sold in more than 50 countries and territories through select department and specialty stores, Company-owned and operated retail stores, and select online stores, including Company-owned websites. Deckers Brands has a 40-year history of building niche footwear brands into lifestyle market leaders attracting millions of loyal consumers globally. For more information, please visit www.deckers.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Investor Relations Contact: Deckers Brands Steve Fasching VP, Strategy & Investor Relations 805.967.7611 Source: Deckers Brands" + }, + { + "text": "HAMBURG (Reuters) - The river Rhine in south Germany remained closed to shipping on Wednesday after a sharp rise in water levels, a German inland navigation authority official said. About 80 km of the river is closed to shipping from around Maxau near Karlsruhe to a point south of Mannheim, preventing sailings to and from Switzerland, he said. Northern and central sections of the river are operating normally. Water levels are starting to fall again in some areas and a reopening to shipping later this week or at the weekend could be possible, he said. Repeated rain and warm weather which has melted snow have raised water levels and stopped shipping at the beginning of this week. High water means vessels do not have enough space to sail under bridges. The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities including oil products such as heating oil, grains, animal feed and coal. It is an important route for Swiss commodity imports. The river was also closed due to high water in early January. Reporting by Michael Hogan; editing by Jason Neely" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Kleenex and Huggies maker Kimberly-Clark Corp said on Tuesday it expects to eliminate 5,000-5,500 jobs, or 12-13 percent of its workforce, as part of its global restructuring program. The company said it expects to close or sell about ten manufacturing facilities and would exit or divest some lower-margin businesses. The restructuring is expected to broadly impact all the business segments of the company, it said. The cost-savings program, which will begin in the current quarter, is expected to be completed in two years and the company sees incurring related pretax charges of $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion over that period. Kimberly-Clark said the program would generate annual pretax cost savings of $500 to $550 million by the end of 2021. It expects cash costs for the restructuring, mainly related to workforce reductions, to be between $900 million to $1 billion. The company on Tuesday also reported a near 1 percent rise in fourth-quarter net sales to $4.6 billion, compared with a year earlier. Kimberly-Clark said it expects net sales in 2018 to improve by 1 percent to 2 percent. “Although we expect market conditions will remain challenging in the near-term, we plan to deliver better results in 2018 while we begin to implement our new restructuring”, Chief Executive Thomas Falk said in a statement. Shares of the company, which also raised its quarterly dividend by 3.1 percent, were marginally up at $117.24 in early trading. Reporting by Sangameswaran S in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - INDATA SA: * SAID ON TUESDAY THAT IT SIGNS COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH 156 CAPITAL SP. Z O.O. * UNDER AGREEMENT COMPANIES TO CREATE INVESTMENT FUND WHICH WILL INVEST IN POLISH PROJECTS RELATED TO R&D WORKS IN PRE-SEED PHASE * 156 CAPITAL RECEIVED 40.0 MILLION ZLOTY FINANCING FROM NCBIR (NATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT) ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT * TOTAL VALUE OF PROJECT AMOUNTS TO 50.0 MILLION ZLOTYS * INDATA TO CONTRIBUTE 10.0 MILLION ZLOTYS TO PROJECT FINANCING Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "The dollar sank on Tuesday to its lowest in more than three months, weighed down on the first trading day of 2018 by expectations of a slower pace of interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve amid a tepid U.S. inflation picture. The dollar's decline continued the momentum of 2017, the greenback's weakest annual performance in 14 years. \"Investors remain skeptical about the Fed's outlook for three additional interest rate increases this year, especially given the extremely benign inflation backdrop in the U.S.,\" said Omer Esiner, chief market analyst, at Commonwealth Foreign Exchange in Washington. show chapters How to play a weak dollar in 2018: Pro 5:09 PM ET Thu, 28 Dec 2017 | 01:12 The dollar's upside was also capped as many of the world's major central banks such as the Bank of England and European Central Bank are moving toward normalizing their own monetary policies. The dollar index hit a 3-1/2-month trough of 91.751 and was last down 0.29 percent at 91.85. For 2017, the dollar index slid more than 9.8 percent, its weakest year since 2003. \"Any further drop below 91.00 would confirm a continuation of the dollar's bearish trend from the beginning of 2017, with the next major downside target around the 90.00 psychological support level,\" said James Chen, head of research at Forex.com in Bedminster, New Jersey. The euro, meanwhile, has been on a tear especially since the second half of last year, on optimism over a brightening economic picture in the euro zone. In 2017, the single currency posted its strongest year against the dollar since 2003 as European economies strengthened and expectations grew that the ECB will wind down monetary stimulus. The euro rose to start the new year, climbing to a nearly four-month high of $1.2082. It was last up 0.39 percent at $1.2055. Euro zone manufacturers ended 2017 by ramping up activity at the fastest pace in more than two decades, a survey showed on Tuesday, and rising demand suggests they will start the new year on a high. Also boosting the euro was a comment from an ECB official over the weekend. The ECB's Benoit Coeure said on the weekend he saw a \"reasonable chance\" the bank's bond purchases would not be extended beyond September. Against the yen , the dollar fell 0.35 percent to 112.25. The yen continues to benefit from last week's release of the Bank of Japan 's minutes of its meeting. The minutes showed some members are considering tightening monetary policy if the economy continues to improve next year, which would be a significant shift in strategy for a central bank thought to be the last to exit easier monetary policies." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16 (Reuters) - PANDORA SAYS: * SEES 2018 FINANCIALS IN LINE WITH 5 YEAR STRATEGY AMBITION; 7-10% GROWTH IN LOCAL CURRENCY, AROUND 35 PERCENT EBITDA MARGIN * TO LAUNCH NEW “SHINE” CONCEPT IN SPRING 2018; TO MAKE GOLD AFFORDABLE * TO ACQUIRE 75-150 CONCEPT STORES IN 2018 FURTHER COMPANY COVERAGE: (Reporting by Julie Astrid Thomsen)" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Japan’s Nikkei share average ended lower on Thursday, pulling back from a new 26-year high as investors turned cautious, while real estate stocks and financial firms underperformed. The Nikkei dropped 0.4 percent to 23,763.37, after hitting 24,084.42 in early trade, the highest since November 1991. Mitsubishi Estate declined 1.6 percent and Sumitomo Realty & Development dropped 1.0 percent. Insurers and banking stocks lost ground, with Dai-ichi Life Holdings and T&D Holdings both declining 1.3 percent, while Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group shed 0.9 percent and Mizuho Financial Group fell 1.8 percent. On the other hand, chip making equipment manufacturers jumped, with Advantest surging 3.1 percent and Tokyo Electron soaring 2.8 percent after the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index rose. The broader Topix shed 0.7 percent to 1,876.86. (Reporting by Ayai Tomisawa; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 6:03 PM / in 39 minutes EU keen to avoid a fight with Warsaw but will want real concessions Gabriela Baczynska 5 Min Read BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A new charm offensive should buy Poland time in its confrontation with the EU over backsliding on democracy, but Warsaw will have to make some real policy changes to match the warmer words or risk losing some funds from the bloc. Poland, under the Catholic, nationalist Law and Justice Party (PiS) in power since 2015, has become one of the main headaches for the EU, worried that some ex-communist states in eastern Europe are becoming more authoritarian. The EU complains about Warsaw’s steps to impose more direct government control of the courts, and has threatened to take action to defend the bloc’s liberal values. The EU also wants Poland to drop its refusal to accept refugees to share the burden of a migration surge. Last month, Beata Szydlo stepped down as prime minister after two years of unrelenting confrontation with Brussels. Her successor, former banker Mateusz Morawiecki, has taken a less strident tone toward both the EU and domestic political foes, suggesting a PiS effort to ease tensions with Brussels and reach out to more moderate voters at home. Morawiecki’s milder words are a relief in Brussels and capitals of EU member states, anxious to avoid being pushed to go ahead with the so-called “nuclear option”: an unprecedented Article 7 procedure to punish Poland. Such a move would deepen divisions and consume the energy of a bloc already coping with Britain’s departure. It would also almost certainly fail in the end anyway, subject to a veto by the chief PiS ally, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Still, officials and diplomats in Brussels say they are not prepared to settle for mere words. They have other tools they can use to apply pressure, notably a coming round of funding decisions for EU spending in 2021-2027. The bloc is considering attaching conditions that could limit some funds to states that fail to meet rule-of-law standards. “Whether the rule of law, or migration, it will all come to its head in the budget talks. There will be some real deals to make or break,” said an EU diplomat. Some speak of even tougher measures. Two diplomats said that EU states could threaten to reintroduce temporary border controls with Poland, a step that was made easier for security reasons since the bloc’s migration crisis. “The joint budget is a lot of money - but only that much. The other fish to fry is being able to travel and trade with no border checks that hurt business,” said one of the diplomats. FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE Morawiecki’s opening visit in Brussels will be followed with talks between his Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz and the executive European Commission’s deputy head, Frans Timmermans, on Sunday. “We need full respect for the rule of law in all our member states,” Timmermans told the European Parliament this week. “It is a fundamental issue for the functioning of the EU.” Few in Brussels expect Morawiecki to sharply change the PiS line. He has said he is fully behind the PiS overhaul of the judiciary, which he says is needed to rid Poland of post-communist relics. While Morawiecki is unlikely to backtrack soon on the major points of conflict with Brussels, he could offer some concessions in other areas, such as the environment, including disputes over forest logging and tightening of rules for greenhouse gas emissions. Progress on the logging dispute could even be portrayed in Brussels as a step forward on the rule of law, since Brussels accuses Warsaw of violating European court rulings by felling too many trees despite being told by a tribunal to stop. Brussels diplomats point to Hungary’s Orban as an example of someone who has avoided any major retribution from the bloc despite antagonizing Brussels for years. Rights groups say his steps to tighten the screws on critics, media, judges, academics and non-governmental organizations are weakening democracy. They are also similar to those pursued by Poland’s PiS. But unlike the PiS so far, Orban, in power since 2010, has not shied away from debating his policies with Brussels, keeping dialogue open and offering occasional concessions. “Poland has to start a real dialogue and then we’ll see. Article 7 can be pursued with more or less energy, it can still be on the agenda but not decided for now,” another senior diplomat said. “Eventually, a nicer face won’t be enough.” Editing by Peter Graff" + }, + { + "text": "Russian FM hits back at U.S. attempts to change Iran nuclear deal 6:50am EST - 01:09 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow ''will not support'' Washington's attempts to modify the Iran nuclear deal. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow \"will not support\" Washington's attempts to modify the Iran nuclear deal. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2B1rYSu" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said on Tuesday he appreciated U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments in favor of a strong dollar and said the U.S. economy continued to look strong even if other economies had also recently shown strength. “I appreciated the president’s comments of last Friday on the dollar,” Carney told members of the upper house of Britain’s parliament when asked about the recent weakness of the U.S. currency. “The U.S. economy is very strong, but relative to a strong U.S. economy, and arguably a strengthening U.S. economy, are others strengthening more, or in a more surprising way? And then there’s an adjustment. But certainly the fundamentals at present in the U.S. are quite robust.” The U.S. dollar extended its fall against other currencies last week when U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he was not concerned about where the dollar was in the short term. Trump later said he wanted to see a strong dollar. Mnuchin’s comments raised concerns among some policymakers including European Central Bank President Mario Draghi. Reporting by David Milliken and Alistair Smout; Writing by William Schomberg; Editing by Gareth Jones" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 8 (Reuters) - Indian shares ended at record closing highs for a second straight session on Monday as investors remained optimistic over corporate results, with sentiment also boosted by broader world markets hovering near all-time highs. The broader NSE index closed 0.61 percent higher at 10,623.60, while the benchmark BSE index finished 0.58 percent up at 34,352.79. IT stocks led the gains with Infosys Ltd, which is due to report December-quarter results on Friday, rising 2.4 percent. For the mid-day report, click (Reporting by Krishna V Kurup in Bengaluru; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)" + }, + { + "text": "Celgene Corp. on Monday said it agreed to buy Juno Therapeutics Inc. for $87 a share in cash, or about $9 billion, in a move that will expand Celgene’s portfolio of blood-cancer drugs. The Wall Street Journal reported last week the two companies were in deal talks. The deal will add a lymphoma treatment, expected to gain regulatory approval... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Thousands of Belgians brave the cold to take a dip in the North Sea 12:58pm EST - 00:54 Brave Belgians swam - or paddled - in the North Sea as part of Ostend's traditional New Year's plunge. Rough cut (no reporter narration) ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Brave Belgians swam - or paddled - in the North Sea as part of Ostend's traditional New Year's plunge. Rough cut (no reporter narration) Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese authorities plan to block domestic access to Chinese and offshore cryptocurrency platforms that allow centralized trading, Bloomberg reported Monday citing sources. Chinese authorities will also target individuals and companies that provide market-making, settlement and clearing services for centralized trading, Bloomberg reported. Last year, Chinese regulators banned initial coin offerings, shut down local cryptocurrency trading exchanges and limited bitcoin mining - but activity in the cryptocurrency and bitcoin space has continued through alternative channels in China despite the crackdown. Reporting by Beijing Monitoring Desk; Editing by Nick Macfie" + }, + { + "text": "January 13, 2018 / 1:11 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago UPDATE 1-Cricket-Markram shines as Proteas make solid start to second test Reuters Staff * Markram out for 94 and denied third test ton * Hashim Amla dropped twice, not out on 35 * South Africa won the toss and elected to bat (adds details at tea) PRETORIA, Jan 13 (Reuters) - South Africa’s Aiden Markram fell six runs short of what would have been a sparkling century as the hosts continued to dominate the opening day of the second test against India, reaching 182 for two at tea on Saturday. Markram edged a delivery from spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel on 94 coming from 150 balls as he was denied a third test century in his seventh innings. Hashim Amla (35 not out) and AB de Villiers (16 not out) will resume after the interval, looking to build a commanding first innings total for South Africa on what is a slow wicket that is due to quicken up on the second and third days. The home side can clinch the three-match series with a win, having taken the first test in Cape Town with a 72-run victory. Amla has had two pieces of good fortune already, dropped on 30 by Hardik Pandya off Ashwin and then again on the same total when Patel made a hash of a nick down the leg-side from the bowling of seamer Ishant Sharma. Ashwin (2-53) also claimed the wicket of opener Dean Elgar (31) as the left-hander stroked a delivery into the body of silly point Murali Vijay, who reacted brilliantly to grasp the ball as it rebounded off him. South Africa had resumed after lunch on 78 without loss and 23-year-old Markram seemed set for his century as he took the attack to the Indian bowlers. After test tons against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe since his September debut, Markram now also has two scores in the 90s having made a fine start to his five-day career as the answer to South Africa’s long-running issues with the opening position. South Africa, who won the toss and elected to bat, handed a debut to tall seamer Lungi Ngidi who is regarded as a hugely promising talent and will expect to get steep bounce at a brisk pace on his home pitch in provincial cricket. India made three changes from the first test as opener Lokesh Rahul, wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel and seamer Ishant Sharma replaced Shikhar Dhawan, Wriddhiman Saha and Bhuvneshwar Kumar respectively. (Reporting By Nick Said; Editing by John O‘Brien and Ken Ferris)" + }, + { + "text": "SHARES David A. Grogan | CNBC Jamie Dimon speaking at the 2017 Delivering Alpha conference in New York on Sept. 12, 2017. JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon walked back a previous prediction that President Donald Trump would only serve one term, telling Fox Business in an interview that the Democrats don't appear to have a particularly deep bench of contenders for the 2020 general election. When asked by Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo on Friday about a comment he made suggesting Trump could be defeated after four years , Dimon said flatly that \"I wish I hadn't said it, I was talking probabilistically.\" He spoke favorably about the passage of comprehensive tax reform, and speculated that Trump could also make headway with plans for infrastructure and education. Predicting presidential candidates, he stated, is \"...not my job. My job is to help get good public policy done, help the economy grow and help finance cities...I am not a political expert.\" Kevin Lamarque | Reuters President Donald Trump smiles as he speaks to the media in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, October 16, 2017. When asked, he immediately dismissed the idea that he'd want to run for president himself, but lamented that the Democrats didn't appear to have a pro-business, centrist candidate to run in the next general election. Dimon is known for being a donor to Democrats, with he and his wife having donated large sums to the party's candidates, according to Open Secrets, a website that tracks political contributions. \"The thing about the Democrats is they will not have a chance, in my opinion. They don't have a strong centrist, pro-business, pro-free enterprise person,\" Dimon told Fox Business. \"The American public is not clamoring for more government. They were angry about the Great Recession, they blamed banks, they blamed Washington, but they're also angry about the bureaucracy,\" he added. Even still, recent polls suggest the party is poised to make big strides in the 2018 midterm elections, and could retake the House of Representatives if current trends hold. An unnamed Republican strategist told the political website Axios that a flipped Congress was now \"baked in\" and the GOP was bracing itself for that likelihood. In his interview, Dimon faulted both Democrats and Republicans for being unwilling to \"get rid of [policy] that didn't work,\" and trying things that might. Dimon serves on Trump's business advisory council, but was sharply critical of the president after the events in Charlottesville, Virginia last year, where white supremacist protesters clashed with counter-demonstrators." + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 1:05 AM / Updated 15 minutes ago China workplace deaths fall to 38,000 in 2017: report Reuters Staff 2 Min Read SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The number of deaths caused by workplace accidents in China fell 12.1 percent to 38,000 in 2017 compared to the previous year, state media reported on Tuesday, citing figures from the country’s safety watchdog. But fines for work safety violations rose 58 percent in the year to around 3.3 billion yuan ($521.10 million), the official China Daily reported, quoting the Minister of the State Administration of Work Safety Wang Yupu. Wang said more than 4.6 million onsite inspections were conducted last year, but warned China faced growing pressures in the workplace with around 43 million people traveling to work every day and one billion tonnes of hazardous chemical substances transported each year. According to the official Xinhua news agency, China’s coal sector - once notoriously unsafe - saw 375 fatalities in 2017, down 28.7 percent on the year. Following a series of nationwide campaigns against illegal mining, the number of deaths in the coal sector has fallen steadily from a peak of nearly 5,000 in 2003. A recent campaign against overcapacity in the sector has also helped boost safety, with a total of 6,100 small-scale mines shut down over the course of 2017. Huang Yuzhi, head of China’s State Administration of Coal Mine Safety, warned that around 28 percent of China’s total coal mines still had annual production capacity of less than 90,000 tonnes, and were therefore more accident prone. ($1 = 6.3328 yuan)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29 (Reuters) - Nanjing King-Friend Biochemical Pharmaceutical Co Ltd : * Says the Board proposed to pay a cash dividend of 1.5 yuan for every 10 shares and use additional paid-in capital to distribute 3 new shares for every 10 shares, as the dividend payment plan for FY 2017 Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/qxfjmV Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL (Reuters) - Hyundai Motor Group plans to invest about 23 trillion won ($21.56 billion) over the next five years in areas such as electric cars, self-driving automobiles and artificial intelligence, South Korea’s finance ministry said on Wednesday. The announcement comes as South Korea’s second-largest conglomerate, which also includes Kia Motors, is foraying into newer growth areas after its sales slumped last year due to an inadequate product line-up in the United States and diplomatic tensions with China. Hyundai Motor Group will also target hiring about 45,000 people for the next five years, the ministry said in a statement after Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon’s visit to Hyundai Motor earlier on Wednesday. Besides electric and self-driving cars, the planned 23 trillion won will also include investments into fields such as batteries and hydrogen energy, as well as start-ups, the ministry said. A Hyundai Motor Co spokeswoman confirmed the hiring plan but did not comment on the investment sum. She said the statement was discussed with the company beforehand. “Global trends are changing fast,” Hyundai Motor Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun said, according to the statement. “We will recruit better, top-level talent in these new businesses and develop them going forward.” Hyundai Motor said earlier this month it had invested in Southeast Asian ride-hailing firm Grab, as it seeks to expand into the region to reduce its reliance on China following a damaging diplomatic row between Seoul and Beijing. Finance Minister Kim also said on Wednesday authorities will leave foreign exchange rates to market participants but take action if needed. The won was trading down 0.3 percent at 1,065.8 per dollar as of 0442 GMT. Currency dealers have suspected foreign exchange authorities of engaging in intervention to slow the won’s rise. Reporting by Shin-hyung Lee and Joyce Lee; Additional reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Muralikumar Anantharaman" + }, + { + "text": "DALLAS, Jan. 18, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tuesday Morning Corporation (NASDAQ:TUES), today announced that the Company will hold a conference call to discuss its second quarter fiscal 2018 financial results and provide a general business update on Thursday, February 1st, 2018 at 8:00 am Central Time. A press release detailing the Company's financial results will be issued before the market opens and prior to the conference call. A live webcast of the conference call will be available in the investor relations section of the Company's website, www.tuesdaymorning.com . Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial (877) 312-5376 approximately ten minutes prior to the start of the call. A replay of the webcast will be posted on the website for 90 days. A replay of the conference call will also be available from 11:00 am Central Time, Thursday, February 1, 2018 through 10:59 am Central Time, Sunday, February 4, 2018 by dialing (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 and entering conference ID number 9882325. About Tuesday Morning Tuesday Morning Corporation (NASDAQ:TUES) is one of the original off-price retailers specializing in name-brand, high quality products for the home, selling luxury textiles, furnishings, housewares and seasonal decor. Based in Dallas, Texas, the Company opened its first store in 1974 and operates over 715 stores in 40 states. More information and a list of store locations may be found on the Company’s website at www.tuesdaymorning.com . INVESTOR RELATIONS: Farah Soi / Caitlin Morahan ICR 203-682-8200 [REDACTED] [REDACTED] MEDIA: Blynn Austin Perry Street Communications 214-965-9955 [REDACTED] Source:Tuesday Morning Corp." + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - U.S. hedge fund Tiger Global Management has invested more than $1 billion in Britain’s Barclays Plc, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. The hedge fund had bought most of its roughly 2.5 percent stake in Barclays in November, FT reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. on.ft.com/2G2ihqK Tiger Global Management is also extending a vote of confidence in Barclays Chief Executive Jes Staley’s plans to strip back the bank to concentrate on its U.S.-led investment banking operations and its British-based consumer banking business, the report said. Barclays did not respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours. Tiger Global Management said the hedge fund had no comment on the report. Staley has championed investment banking amid calls from some analysts and investors to ditch a business which has in recent years struggled to match the profitability of Barclays’ more mundane retail and credit card units. Investment banks globally have struggled in recent years to make returns in excess of their cost of capital, as tighter regulations, pressure on fees from automation and low global interest rates combined to squeeze profits. Barclays is cutting up to 100 senior jobs at its investment banks, Reuters reported on Wednesday. In 2016, around 1,000 jobs were cut from Barclays’ investment banking business worldwide in an attempt to reduce costs and boost revenues. Barclays cut a total of 10,000 employees that year alone. Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Adrian Croft and Paul Simao" + }, + { + "text": "January 2, 2018 / 8:02 AM / Updated 7 hours ago Marks & Spencer sells Hong Kong business to partner Al-Futtaim Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Marks & Spencer ( MKS.L ) has sold its retail business in Hong Kong and Macau to its franchise partner Al-Futtaim as it retreats from international markets to focus on its core business in Britain, the company said on Tuesday. The logo of Marks & Spencer is seen in front of the store on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris, France, November 8, 2016. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer Al-Futtaim, which already operates 72 M&S stores across 11 markets in Asia and the Middle East, purchased 27 shops in the deal, which completed on Dec. 30, M&S said. The move follows a strategic review by M&S in November 2016, in which the company laid out plans to shut more than 80 stores at home and abroad as well as to seek joint ventures and franchise partnerships. Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by David Goodman" + }, + { + "text": "SAO PAULO (Reuters) - China’s ride-hailing application Didi Chuxing has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Brazilian app 99, newspaper Valor Economico said on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the talks. FILE PHOTO: A woman works at the reception of ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing at its headquarters in Beijing, China, May 18, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo According to the paper, Didi valued 99 at $1 billion, and acquired stakes owned by current shareholders Riverwood Capital, Monashees Inc., Qualcomm Ventures, Tiger Global Management LLC and Softbank Group Corp. Contacted by Reuters, 99 declined to comment and said it will issue a statement “at an appropriate time”. Buyout firms Riverwood and Monashees did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Calls to Tiger Global were not picked up outside business hours. The paper said a $100 million investment announced by Didi in 99 a year ago gave the Chinese company a minority stake in the app. The acquisition intensifies Didi’s global rivalry with Uber, especially in Latin America. Reuters reported on Dec. 7 that Didi plans to enter Mexico this year. The company has made no secret of its desire to expand beyond China, particularly in light of the growing number of Chinese customers who travel overseas. In April, Didi raised $5.5 billion from investors, in part to fund global expansion. Reporting by Tatiana Bautzer, Gabriela Mello and Gram Slattery; Editing by Adrian Croft" + }, + { + "text": "WENGEN, Switzerland (Reuters) - When Aksel Lund Svindal discovered that he would have to undergo knee surgery for the second time in a year, his reaction was simply: “Here we go again”. One year on, the remarkably resilient Norwegian is not only back skiing but leads the World Cup downhill standings and is hoping to crown his career with an Olympic gold in the blue riband event at the age of 35. It would be a fitting reward for a skier who has savoured the taste of success and endured the pain and frustration of injury in almost equal measure. Svindal’s last two seasons ended prematurely in January due to knee injuries, the most recent at Wengen where he will race in the prestigious downhill on Saturday. Those came on top of an absence of nearly a year following a crash at Beaver Creek in November, 2007 and another long layoff in 2014 with an Achilles tendon injury he sustained kicking a ball around with his team mates. But each time he has bounced back, making him something of an expert in injury recovery. Part of his secret, he told Reuters in an interview, was focusing on the positives rather than negatives. “I‘m good at focusing on what’s important,” he said. “When you’re in hospital on crutches, there’s a lot you can’t do so you have to focus on what you can do.” He also looked on it as a challenge. “You sense that people think that this is going to be a tough one you hear them say ‘I‘m not sure he’ll make it back this time’,” he said. “As well as proving them wrong, it’s also a personal challenge....I want to do this again and see how far I can take it.” FILE PHOTO: Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway skis during the men's Alpine Skiing World Cup downhill race on the Lauberhorn course in Wengen, Switzerland January 16, 2016. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich/File photo SKIING WELL Svindal said it was surprising how quickly his goals went from simply being able to ski again to skiing well and then winning. “You start wondering if you can win World Cup races and it’s strange how quickly the mindset changes,” he said. But he confessed it has been tough. “I‘m really happy I‘m back because, honestly, the last two years were not super easy. A big knee injury is probably the worst injury you can have as a ski racer.” At the moment, it bothers him more in practice than when racing. “I can race with it, but I have a hard time in training because then it’s hard to forget about it,” he said. Despite all the interruptions to his career, Svindal has won the overall World Cup title twice and is a five-times winner of the Super G category, twice downhill champion, once giant slalom and once combined. He has also won five world championship golds, plus an Olympic gold in the Super G in Vancouver in 2010. The Olympic downhill would fit nicely into his medals cabinet. “If I could choose one race to win this year, it would be the Olympic downhill,” he said, adding that he was at a disadvantage from not having raced in Pyeongchang before. “The rest of the guys have been racing there and I haven‘t. I was in hospital when they were racing...so I haven’t seen the course. That’s a disadvantage but it’s not a hopeless situation,” he said. “I need a good start...if there’s bad weather and the training runs are canceled, that’s going to be a problem.” Additional reporting by Henrik Stolen in Oslo; Editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- General Cable Corporation (NYSE: BGC) will release fourth quarter earnings after the market closes on Monday, February 26, 2018. General Cable (NYSE:BGC), with headquarters in Highland Heights, Kentucky, is a global leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of aluminum, copper and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, communications, transportation, industrial, construction and specialty segments. General Cable is one of the largest wire and cable manufacturing companies in the world, operating manufacturing facilities in its core geographical markets, and has sales representation and distribution worldwide. For more information about General Cable visit our website at www.generalcable.com . View source version on businesswire.com : General Cable Corporation Len Texter, 859-572-8684 Senior Vice President, Finance Global Controller and Investor Relations Source: General Cable Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - Alternative investment firm Angelo, Gordon & Co LP said on Thursday it had named Ryan Mollett as global head of distressed debt. Mollett, who will report to co-chief investment officer Josh Baumgarten, most recently served as senior managing director of GSO Capital Partners. (Reporting by Diptendu Lahiri)" + }, + { + "text": "Apple has notified suppliers that it will halve its iPhone X production target for the first quarter to around 20 million units, Nikkei reported on Monday without citing a source. The cut was prompted by slower-than-expected sales in the holiday shopping season in Europe, the United States, and China, Nikkei reported . The report added that Apple is expected to maintain a total production target of 30 million units for lower-priced models such as the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone 7. Apple Japan replied to Nikkei's request for comment by stating that it would confirm the details with headquarters. Reuters could not immediately reach Apple's U.S. headquarters for comment outside regular business hours. WATCH: Tech investor on Apple: You either love or hate the iPhone X show chapters Tech investor on Apple: You either love or hate the iPhone X 12:11 PM ET Thu, 25 Jan 2018 | 02:49" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Japan Airlines Co (JAL) said on Wednesday that President Yoshiharu Ueki, who helped lead the company’s recovery from bankruptcy, will be replaced by managing executive officer Yuji Akasaka in April. Ueki, a former pilot who was named president in 2012, is credited for helping revitalising the once-bankrupt carrier by slashing costs and clinching code-sharing deals. He will become chairman, while Akasaka, currently in charge of engineering and maintenance, will become the new president, the company said. (Reporting by Minami Funakoshi; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 10:03 AM / Updated 11 minutes ago Some Russians can compete as neutrals at Pyeongchang Paralympics - IPC Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MOSCOW (Reuters) - The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said on Monday it was upholding the suspension of Russia’s Paralympic Committee but will allow some Russians to compete as neutrals at the Pyeongchang Paralympics in March. Russia did not compete in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics after the country’s Paralympic committee was suspended over allegations of a state-sponsored doping. Dozens of Russians were banned from competing at the Rio Olympics for the same reason. Reporting by Polina Devitt; Writing by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber; editing by Polina Devitt" + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 8:26 AM / Updated 4 hours ago Jones backs England captain Hartley despite poor club form Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - England coach Eddie Jones has backed Dylan Hartley to lead the team into next month’s Six Nations championship despite criticism of his leadership in Northampton Saints’ dismal run of results. Rugby Union - England Training - Brighton College, Brighton, Britain - January 2, 2018 England's Dylan Hartley during training Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers The 50-21 loss to Harlequins last weekend was Northampton’s seventh consecutive Premiership defeat but Jones believes Hartley can “compartmentalise” his club and country forms. “When you are captain of a club that is struggling and has just sacked their coach it becomes a difficult time and I think that has been reflective of his play,” Jones told reporters. “But the very good players compartmentalise things and he’s done that terrifically well. He’s led with effervescence here and trained well ... he’s been good.” “As long as Dylan’s attitude and his body are right, he brings something to the table we need and that is strong leadership.” Hartley still has an opportunity to improve his club displays this month under interim boss Alan Gaffney, who replaced Jim Mallinder at Northampton. Saracens number eight Billy Vunipola, who is recovering from a knee injury, will also need to prove his fitness ahead of England’s Six Nations opener in Italy on Feb. 4. ”It is just a matter of him (Vunipola) being ready for Test rugby,“ Jones added. ”I gambled with him against Ireland last year and it was a bad gamble. “He wasn’t ready so I am a bit more cautious about putting him in at the right time and allowing him to find his feet. We are desperate to beat Italy but there are longer-term goals.” Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; editing by Amlan Chakraborty" + }, + { + "text": "Brazilian prosecutors ask BNY Mellon to return $2.5 bln to local fund Published 12 Hours Ago Reuters SHARES SAO PAULO, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Brazilian prosecutors in Sao Paulo asked on Thursday that the local unit of Bank of New York Mellon Corp return 8.2 billion reais ($2.56 billion) to local pension fund Postalis, according to a statement. Prosecutors said the unit of BNY Mellon, which managed part of the assets held by Postalis, caused losses to the fund by performing irregular practices. BNY Mellon was not immediately available for comment. ($1 = 3.2090 reais) (Reporting by Iuri Dantas; Writing by Marcelo Teixeira; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)" + }, + { + "text": "The euro jumped against the dollar on Thursday after the European Central Bank said it could revisit its communication stance in early 2018, boosting expectations that policymakers are preparing to reduce their vast monetary stimulus program. With the euro zone seeing its best growth in a decade, the ECB should gradually shift its stance to avoid a more disruptive move later and look at a broader revision of its policy guidance to reduce the focus on bond purchases and raise the emphasis on interest rates, accounts of the ECB's December meeting showed. Krisztian Bocsi | Bloomberg | Getty Images Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank (ECB), reacts during a news conference to announce the bank's interest rate decision at the ECB headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. \"It's certainly more of a hawkish tilt in the minutes,\" said Karl Schamotta, director of global product and market strategy at Cambridge Global Payments in Toronto. \"This has been long expected but there was more formality in the minutes around how the bank will manage the forward guidance process as they exit unconventional policy,\" Schamotta said. \"There was quite a bit of money sitting on the sidelines looking for this hint.\" The euro was up 0.73 percent to $1.2032, on pace for its biggest single-day percentage gain against the greenback in about two months. \"This ought not to be a big surprise, given the pace of recovery we have seen and time horizon for the QE program, but it has nevertheless given euro bulls a reason to be more confident,\" Neil Wilson, analyst at ETX Capital said in a note. The dollar index , which measures the greenback against six rival currencies, was down 0.48 percent at 91.89, after falling to a nearly one-week low 91.808. The greenback extended losses after data showed U.S. producer prices fell for the first time in nearly 1-1/2 years in December amid declining costs for services. Weak inflation at the producer level could add to concerns that the factors restraining inflation could become more persistent and result in the Federal Reserve being more cautious about raising interest rates this year. The U.S. central bank's preferred inflation measure, the personal consumption expenditures price index excluding food and energy, has undershot its target since May 2012. The Canadian dollar steadied against the greenback after hitting a nearly two-week low as investors weighed chances of a Bank of Canada interest rate hike next week and worried about the possibility of a U.S. withdrawal from NAFTA. Bitcoin was 10.47 percent lower at $13,332.24 on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange after South Korea's government said it plans to ban cryptocurrency trading." + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 3:12 PM / Updated 31 minutes ago Bank of Canada hikes rates, takes dovish tone amid NAFTA clouds Andrea Hopkins , Leah Schnurr 3 Min Read OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada raised interest rates on Wednesday, as expected, as job growth and firmer inflation outweighed the cloud of NAFTA uncertainty, but the head of the central bank admitted the decision was not a no-brainer. In sounding a cautious tone on the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement as it raised rates for the third time in seven months, taking borrowing costs to their highest level since 2009, the bank accomplished the so-called dovish hike that many analysts had predicted. “We didn’t walk into this as if it was a no-brainer, that it was time to move rates. There was a good debate around that. It’s not that we were arguing but we were debating the pros and cons ... the big cloud over the forecast, as well as our discussion, is NAFTA,” Governor Stephen Poloz told a news conference. While more rate hikes are probably warranted, some continued monetary policy accommodation will likely be needed to maintain optimal growth and inflation, the bank said, signaling it will not rush to return rates to more normal levels after they were slashed to historic lows in the wake of the financial crisis. FILE PHOTO: A sign is pictured outside the Bank of Canada building in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on May 23, 2017. REUTERS/Chris Wattie/File Photo The future of NAFTA, which U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to terminate, was the most significant downside risk cited by the bank in an otherwise bullish report on the outlook for Canada’s economic growth. The Canadian dollar weakened modestly after the hike as investors realized that markets may have gone too far in pricing in more or faster rate hikes than the bank is contemplating. “It seems the Bank of Canada is leaning towards a more dovish stance and certainly playing up the concerns around NAFTA. That should pose some questions to all those rate hikes priced into the market,” said Adam Cole, chief currency strategist at RBC Capital Markets in London. Related Coverage Bank of Canada: trade uncertainty, U.S. tax changes to weigh on business investment The hike acknowledges that recent data has come in stronger than the bank had expected, inflation is close to the bank’s 2 percent target, and the economy is now operating at full potential with no output gap. The bank said that trade uncertainty is expected to cut investment by about 2 percent by the end of 2019, while U.S. tax reforms will trim another 0.5 percent as firms may decide to redirect spending from Canada to the United States to benefit from lower corporate taxes. Additional reporting by Fergal Smith in Toronto and Saikat Chatterjee in London; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Phil Berlowitz" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 23(Reuters) - Jilin Chemical Fibre Co Ltd : * Says net profit for FY 2017 to up 146.2 percent to 192.3 percent, or to be 80 million yuan to 95 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 32.5 million yuan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/cTeH5r Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "JAKARTA, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Indonesia’s Trade Ministry said on Monday it would keep the export tax for crude palm oil (CPO) and cocoa at zero in February, unchanged from this month, as reference prices were seen remaining below certain thresholds. It would be the tenth month of no export tax for Indonesian CPO and second month for cocoa. The government imposes an export tax on cocoa when its reference price is above $2,000 per tonne and on CPO when its reference price is above $750 per tonne. (Reporting by Bernadette Christina Munthe; Writing by Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)" + }, + { + "text": "CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Littelfuse, Inc. (NASDAQ: LFUS) today announced it will release results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 prior to the opening of the market on Wednesday, January 31, 2018. Company management will host a conference call later that morning, Wednesday, January 31, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. Central / 10:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss the results. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed through the company’s website: www.littelfuse.com . The call will be available for replay on the company’s website. About Littelfuse Founded in 1927, Littelfuse is the world leader in circuit protection with growing global platforms in power control and sensing. The company serves global customers in the electronics, automotive and industrial markets with technologies including fuses, semiconductors, polymers, ceramics, relays and sensors. Littelfuse has over 10,000 employees in more than 40 locations throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit the Littelfuse website: Littelfuse.com . LFUS-F View source version on businesswire.com : Littelfuse Elizabeth Saha Finance and Investor Relations Coordinator (773) 628-0572 Source: Littelfuse" + }, + { + "text": "Animals are freezing in Florida 8:43pm EST - 01:34 Fish are dying in Florida, frozen iguanas are falling from trees, manatees are seeking out warmer water and sea turtles are being rescued from frigid water during this January cold snap. Fish are dying in Florida, frozen iguanas are falling from trees, manatees are seeking out warmer water and sea turtles are being rescued from frigid water during this January cold snap. //www.reuters.com/video/2018/01/08/animals-are-freezing-in-florida?videoId=380532958&videoChannel=13978" + }, + { + "text": "Republican Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado promised on Thursday to put holds on all nominees for Attorney General Jeff Sessions ' Justice Department, amid a furor over a policy change that aims to reverse the federal government's permissive stance toward states that legalize marijuana. On the Senate floor, a visibly agitated Gardner decried a \"complete reversal\" of the position he said Sessions and President Donald Trump had taken with respect to enforcing federal laws that outlaw marijuana use. \"Prior to his confirmation, then-Senator Sessions told me there would be no plans to reverse the Cole memorandum,\" Gardner said. He referred to a 2013 memo penned by former Deputy Attorney General James Cole essentially assuring that the Obama administration would not stop states from legalizing marijuana. \"One tweet later, one policy later, a complete reversal of what many of us on the Hill were told before the confirmation, what we had continued to believe the last year,\" Gardner said. \"And without any notification, conversation, or dialogue with Congress [the policy was] completely reversed.\" Gardner said he will be putting holds on every nomination to the Justice Department until Sessions \"lives up to the commitment that he made to me in my pre-confirmation meeting with him.\" A Senate hold enables a single senator to block a nomination, a motion or even a piece of legislation from being seen in the Senate. To put holds on all nominations is especially consequential for the Justice Department, which reportedly is still missing Senate-confirmed leaders in at least six divisions. On Thursday, Sessions issued a directive rescinding Cole's policy . The former Alabama senator directed federal prosecutors \"to use previously established prosecutorial principles that provide them all the necessary tools to disrupt criminal organizations, tackle the growing drug crisis, and thwart violent crime across our country.\" The Department of Justice later said in a public statement that Sessions' decision represented \"a return to the rule of law.\" Trump, Gardner noted on the Senate floor, had previously stated that as a presidential candidate, he wouldn't use federal authority to shut down sales of recreational marijuana. \"I think it's up to the states,\" Trump said in a 2016 interview. \"I'm a states person. I think it should be up to the states. Absolutely.\" Brandon Rittiman tweet: Had to ask @ realDonaldTrump about # marijuana in light of his alliance with @ GovChristie :# 9NEWS # COpolitics \"I would like to know from the attorney general what has changed,\" Gardner said on Thursday. \"What has changed President Trump's mind that the Cole memorandum would be reversed and rescinded?\" Cory Gardner tweet 1: .@realdonaldtrump had it right. This must be left up to the states. Cory Gardner tweet 2: I am prepared to take all steps necessary, including holding DOJ nominees, until the Attorney General lives up to the commitment he made to me prior to his confirmation. Marijuana has remained federally prohibited for decades, and Colorado is one of the pioneers of legalization at the state level. In 2016, the state topped $1 billion in legal weed revenues, allowing the government to reap a $198.5 million windfall in marijuana taxes. In 2012, Colorado became the first state in the nation to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Since then, marijuana sales have created hundreds of millions in revenue for the state every year. The Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment on Gardner's remarks in time for publication of this story." + }, + { + "text": "RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Performance Food Group Company (PFG) (NYSE: PFGC) will host a live audio webcast on Wednesday, February 7 at 9 a.m. EST to discuss its second-quarter fiscal 2018 financial results. PFG will issue a press release with those results at approximately 7 a.m. EST that same day. George Holm, PFG President & CEO, and Tom Ondrof, EVP & Chief Financial Officer, will discuss the company’s second-quarter fiscal 2018 results and answer questions from the investment community and news media. The webcast will be available in a listen-only mode on investors.pfgc.com . Pre-event registration is necessary. An archived copy of the webcast will be available later that same day. About Performance Food Group Company Through its family of leading foodservice distributors – Performance Foodservice, Vistar, and PFG Customized – Performance Food Group Company (PFG) markets and distributes approximately 150,000 food and food-related products from 76 distribution centers to over 150,000 customer locations across the United States. PFG’s 14,000+ associates serve a diverse mix of customers, from independent and chain restaurants to schools, business and industry locations, hospitals, vending distributors, office coffee service distributors, big box retailers, and theaters. The company sources its products from more than 5,000 suppliers and serves as an important partner to its suppliers by providing them access to the company's broad customer base. For more information, visit www.pfgc.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Performance Food Group Company Investor Contact: Michael Neese Vice President, Investor Relations 804-287-8126 [REDACTED] or Media Contact: Joe Vagi Manager, Corporate Communications 804-839-4995 [REDACTED] Source: Performance Food Group Company" + }, + { + "text": "JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel said it will restore full electricity supply to the Hamas dominated Gaza Strip on Monday following a request last week by the Palestinians who said they will resume payments. Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas withdrew his guarantee to pay Israel for power in April, leaving Gaza’s two million residents with only three to four hours of electricity a day as supplies were cut by about half. Abbas’s move, which affected schools, factories, hospitals and households, was part of a bid to press Hamas to loosen its hold over the enclave a decade after the Islamist movement seized the territory from forces loyal to him. A brief statement by Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz on Sunday said he had ordered the power lines, that can deliver up to 120 megawatts of electricity, to be prepared for full operation “no later than tomorrow (Monday).” The move will restore an additional 50 megawatts of power to Gaza. A Gaza economist said the restoration of electricity from Israel, the enclave’s main electricity supplier, could raise power delivery to six hours. Gaza’s sole power station generates only a small amount of power. Prompted partly by Abbas’s sanctions and fears of financial and political isolation, Hamas signed an Egyptian-brokered reconciliation agreement with his Fatah movement in October and agreed to hand over administrative control of the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority. But both groups have failed to finalize details of the deal, which had been due to be completed on December 1. The Authority’s decision to resume the electricity payments could help smooth the way towards completing the accord. The resumption of power delivery comes at a time of heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions. Palestinians have been mounting protests in the occupied West Bank and violence has flared along the Israel-Gaza border since U.S. President Donald Trump announced on December 6 that he was recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a state they seek to establish in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza, Writing by Ori Lewis; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle" + }, + { + "text": "By Jeff John Roberts January 2, 2018 Amazon will make a big splash in 2018 by announcing the location of its second corporate headquarters—a prize expected to bring prestige and as many as 50,000 high paying jobs to the winning city. When cities submitted their bids in late October, Fortune turned to a popular betting site to see which of the more than 200 candidates had the early edge. Fast forward to the new year, and the initial favorite —Atlanta—is still at the top of the list, but its chances have declined from 2/1 to 3/1 and it now shares the perch with southern rival, Austin, Tex. Here is a screenshot of the latest odds, pulled from PaddyPower, an Irish betting site that lets people put their money where their mouth is on everything from sports to world events: As you can see by comparing the above list to the original odds below, there have been a number of other developments in the race to attract Amazon . These include a larger list of contenders to bet on (from 13 to 23), and a slight improvement in the outlook for the cities of Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Here are some other developments worth noting: Chicago and Denver, which represents two notable omissions from the first list, and are now there but are marked as relative long shots (16/1 and 20/1) Boston, which is regularly mentioned as one of the favorites, is still hanging tough but has fallen slightly from 6/1 to 7/1 The prospects for Toronto have dimmed significantly, from 7/1 to 16/1. Overall, the three leading candidates—Atlanta, Austin and Boston—are not a surprise since they all possess many criteria Amazon is seeking, including a tech savvy workforce and urban amenities. Moreover, their location may prove an advantage since most people think it’s unlikely Amazon will add a second headquarters on the west coast. Get Data Sheet , Fortune’s technology newsletter. Meanwhile, the chances of Toronto or any other non-American city seem far-fetched since it would give President Trump, who has already been assailing Amazon, an excuse to pummel the company for a lack of patriotism. Finally, while there has been little in the way of leaks during the process, the city of Atlanta may take encouragement from reports that Amazon recently engaged a lobbyist there. Sites like PaddyPower (which does not accept bets from Americans) may seem frivolous to some, but many economists view them as valuable “ prediction markets ,” which provide insight into real world outcomes. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "OTTAWA—Positive business sentiment in Canada is widespread, with companies ramping up investment and hiring plans to meet sustained demand at home and abroad, the Bank of Canada said Monday. The results of the central bank’s quarterly business-outlook survey likely set the stage for a Bank of Canada interest-rate increase Jan. 17, when it issues its next scheduled rate decision and economic outlook. Those expectations rose late last week after a blockbuster employment report for December, which showed the unemployment rate... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "DUBAI, Jan 15 (Reuters) - First Abu Dhabi Bank, the largest bank in the United Arab Emirates, has issued a $610 million Formosa bond, sources familiar with the matter said on Monday. Formosa bonds are sold in Taiwan by foreign borrowers and are denominated in currencies other than the Taiwanese dollar. First Abu Dhabi Bank did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reporting by Davide Barbuscia and Tom Arnold, editing by Louise Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SigmaSense LLC ( SigmaSense ), today announced their name change from 3AxisData LLC, and has introduced their SigmaTouch and SigmaScribe technologies, both of which utilize their new approach to Capacitive Imaging. The technology uses an innovative Sigma-delta based architecture to provide concurrent digital signal creation and noise filtering for superior sensing. SigmaTouch, which breaks new ground in noise immunity, and SigmaScribe, which \"gets the pen write,\" are the key technologies that employ SigmaSense's Capacitive Imaging Technology. These are the first digital and fully scalable sensing technologies to solve the noise immunity and tuning challenges of traditional PCAP sensors. \"Analog can't touch digital ® ,\" said Rick Seger, CEO of SigmaSense . \"SigmaSense Capacitive Imaging will work with sensors that are in use today, and it will provide game changing performance even for large PCAP sensors. The SigmaTouch Controller effectively senses the entire screen in video while others work like slow line scanners. Never before has there been a controller solution that offers such noise immunity, programmability, and scalability.\" SigmaTouch : Machines must be capable of learning from their environments and from their interactions, so they can respond in ways that delight users. The SigmaTouch Controller operates more like a high resolution digital imager as opposed to the current solutions that use switched capacitive technologies. More information means better decisions and enables the next generation of perceptive machines. SigmaScribe : A simplified active pen tip module delivers truly ground-breaking features and ultra-realistic writing and drawing. The superior pen performance is achieved by sensing TruePressureTM, the actual amount of force applied to the pen at the touch screen, regardless of pen orientation. About SigmaSense: SigmaSense LLC provides the first digital and fully-scalable sensing technology to solve the noise immunity and tuning challenges of traditional touch sensors. Our SigmaTouch Controller utilizes a breakthrough in Capacitive Imaging to concurrently transmit and receive for self-capacitance, mutual capacitance, and pen from a single pin. The unique approach to Capacitive Imaging has the potential to affect positive disruption across many industries where intuitive machine interfaces will decide the winners. SigmaSense technology enables access to game-changing information about interactions with mobile devices, large format interactive displays, and limitless custom sensing applications. Join us in pioneering the next evolutionary progression of perceptive machines. SigmaSense.com View original content with multimedia: SOURCE SigmaSense LLC" + }, + { + "text": "A glimpse at the future of real wireless charging 01:58 Wireless charging has been promised for years, but the solution has been slow to come. Now some technology companies believe they have the answer to a clean, cable free future. Wireless charging has been promised for years, but the solution has been slow to come. Now some technology companies believe they have the answer to a clean, cable free future. //reut.rs/2D879e0" + }, + { + "text": "To build good credit and stay out of debt , you should always aim to pay off your credit card bill in full every month. If you want to be really on top of your game, it might seem logical to pay off your balance more often, so your card is never in the red. But hold off. It's actually possible to pay off your credit card bill too many times per month. Once is enough. In fact, once, most of the time, is ideal. \"If you're paying with every single transaction, it may not even show that you're even using credit and it's reporting to the credit bureau as a zero balance all the time,\" Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com , tells CNBC Make It . Instead of proving that you can responsibly pay back what you owe, frequently clearing your balance makes it look like you're not using credit at all. show chapters Mark Cuban shares his No. 1 negotiation strategy 8:29 AM ET Wed, 25 Oct 2017 | 01:05 \"To build credit, what you want to do is have a demonstrated track record of using credit responsibly, and over time different forms of credit,\" McBride says. \"With regard to revolving lines like credit cards, you want to demonstrate the ability to put expenses on the card and then to pay that off.\" To demonstrate that ability, it's smarter to focus on not letting your balance exceed more than 10 percent of your credit limit at any given time. \"The 10 percent threshold is the point at which it's beneficial to your credit score,\" McBride says. \"Between 10 and 30 percent it's neutral, and it's only when your balance is above 30 percent of your credit line that it actually works against your score.\" show chapters Why millennials are making a huge mistake by not using credit cards more often 11:49 AM ET Mon, 24 July 2017 | 00:52 That's because part of your credit score is comprised of your credit utilization ratio, which which is calculated by dividing your balance by your credit limit. If you have a card limit of $10,000, you never want your balance to exceed $3,000. Ideally, you'll keep it under $1,000. Of course, using your card for larger purchases, such as furniture or a new phone, could cause you to exceed the optimal 10 to 30 percent of your credit limit on a given card. \"That's when you might want to make an additional payment, just so at whatever point your balance gets reported to the credit bureau, it's less than 10 percent of your credit limit,\" McBride says. If you're responsible about paying off your bill every month on one card, consider opening a second, third or fourth . Owning additional cards could help boost your credit score by increasing your amount of available credit. Plus, credit cards offer a host of perks, such as airline miles, hotel points and cash back, which can pay off, big time, when used strategically. Don't miss: Here's how many credit cards you should have Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook ! show chapters A couple who paid off $127,000 of debt shares their No. 1 money saving tip 12:38 PM ET Wed, 23 Aug 2017 | 01:08" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - SENDR SE: * NET INCOME FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2017 IS EUR 3,953,125.37 * TO PROPOSE DIVIDEND OF EUR 3.01 PER DIVIDEND-BEARING SHARE * RESOLVES CAPITAL INCREASE FROM COMPANY FUNDS AND AT THE SAME TIME A CAPITAL REDUCTION; TO DISTRIBUTE AN AMOUNT OF EUR 4.50 MILLION TO SHAREHOLDERS AS PART OF THE CAPITAL REDUCTION * THIS CORRESPONDS TO A DISTRIBUTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL DIVIDEND-BEARING SHARE IN THE AMOUNT OF EUR 2.46 PER SHARE Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "TULSA, Okla. (Reuters) - A federal judge in Oklahoma has dealt a blow to a Cherokee Nation lawsuit seeking to stop the flow of addictive opioid painkillers in its territory by issuing a preliminary injunction to prevent the case from being heard in tribal court. In a decision late Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Terence Kern ruled the tribal court lacked jurisdiction because the lawsuit involving six wholesale drug distributors and pharmacy operators does not directly concern tribal self-government. “While noting Defendants’ (Cherokee Nation‘s) evidence of the harm opioid abuse has caused to individual tribal members and families, and costs borne by the tribe, the Court cannot plausibly find that such harm is ‘catastrophic for tribal self-government’,” Kern said. The Cherokee Nation in April 2017 became the first major Native American tribe to seek redress in tribal court from wholesale drug distributors and pharmacy operators. The tribe said the highly addictive painkillers were saturating its territory and contributing to violence, delinquency and mortality. It argued in its lawsuit that the defendants had turned a blind eye to problems in their supply chains by failing to protect opioids from theft or refusing to fulfill suspicious orders by pharmacies, doctors and patients. The suit came as several states, local governments and tribes have sued drug makers and distributors over a drug crisis declared a national public health emergency by U.S. President Donald Trump. Wholesale drug distributors and pharmacy operators McKesson Corp, Cardinal Health Inc, AmerisourceBergen, CVS Health, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc and Wal-Mart Stores Inc responded with a lawsuit in federal court in Tulsa in June 2017, saying the tribe lacked jurisdiction. The companies said the lawsuit attempted to civilly enforce a federal statute, the Controlled Substances Act, under the guise of the tribe’s statutory and common law. In a statement on Wednesday, Cherokee Nation Attorney General Todd Hembree said, “We continue to believe in our case, and we are prepared to fight to hold these companies accountable in state court.” The sovereign Cherokee Nation is the largest tribal nation in the United States with 335,000 citizens, according to the tribe’s court filing. The lawsuit said that from 2003 to 2014, more than 350 opioid-related deaths occurred within the Cherokee Nation, which comprises 14 counties in northeast Oklahoma. The case is McKesson Corporation, et al, v. Hembree, et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Oklahoma, No. 17-cv-323. Reporting by Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton; additional reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, writing by Jon Herskovitz; editing by Colleen Jenkins and Marguerita Choy" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 12 (Reuters) - create restaurants holdings inc : * Says IKSPIARI Co Ltd will set up a new unit in Tokyo on March 31 and to transfer its direct management restaurants business into the new unit (target company) * The company will acquire 100 percent stake in the target company from IKSPIARI on March 31 Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/eh3yQE Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Latest on a management shake-up at The Los Angeles Times (all times local): 5:30 p.m. The Los Angeles Times' parent company says Jim Kirk has been officially named the newspaper's editor in chief. In a move that was expected, Tronc, Inc. announced Kirk's hiring late Monday. The previous top editor, Lewis D'Vorkin, has been named chief content officer for Chicago-based Tronc, Inc.. Kirk is a former editor and publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times. He was briefly interim editor in chief at the LA Times before D'Vorkin got the job in August. The moves come at a time of tension and upheaval at the Times, where publisher Ross Levinsohn is on leave and under investigation for workplace misconduct on previous jobs. The newsroom recently voted to unionize. 10 p.m. A spokeswoman for Los Angeles Times' parent company says it plans to announce Monday that Jim Kirk will be named the newspaper's editor in chief. Tronc, Inc. spokeswoman Marisa Kollias said Sunday The Times' current top editor, Lewis D'Vorkin, is expected to be named chief content officer. The newspaper reported that Kirk was previously publisher and editor of the Chicago Sun-Times and joined Tronc in August. He was named interim editor of the Times on Aug. 21 after a shake-up but stepped aside after D'Vorkin joined The Times in early November. The Times said its newsroom has become alarmed by recent hirings of several news executives who report to business executives — not to editors in the newsroom." + }, + { + "text": "Amazon is raising its monthly Prime membership rates 18 percent. The premium membership that grants faster shipping and access to Amazon Video will now cost $12.99 per month, up from $10.99, according to the company's membership page. Amazon is also increasing the discounted student monthly rate from $5.49 to $6.49 per month for new sign-ups. The cost of a yearly membership, $99, will not change. Recode first noticed the new price. Amazon started the monthly pricing model less than two years ago as a more flexible way of taking advantage of Prime's fast shipping and other benefits. Prime members spend considerably more on Amazon than non-Prime members. Amazon issued this statement Friday morning: \"Prime provides an unparalleled combination of shipping, shopping and entertainment benefits, and we continue to invest in making Prime even more valuable for our members. The number of items eligible for unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping increased in recent years from 20 million to more than 100 million items. We have expanded Prime Free Same-Day and Prime Free One-Day delivery to more than 8,000 cities and towns. We also continue to introduce new, popular and award-winning Prime Originals, like The Grand Tour, Sneaky Pete, and the Golden Globe-winning The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – all included with Prime Video. Members also enjoy a growing list of unique benefits like Prime Music, Prime Reading, exclusive products and much more. We will keep introducing new ways to make members' lives even better.\" The company doesn't disclose the number of Prime members in its earnings. Instead, the company shows revenue from \"subscription services,\" which includes Prime in the U.S. and overseas, as well as subscriptions for things such as e-books and music. In the third quarter of 2017, subscription revenue grew 59 percent from the prior year, to $2.4 billion. Research firm GBH Insights estimates 88 million people subscribe to Amazon Prime and expects only a 2 percent churn from the price hike as the more expensive monthly rate nudges users to an annual subscription, analyst Daniel Ives said. Morgan Stanley said in a note published in December that Amazon Prime growth is plateauing in the U.S., showing the first signs of a slowdown. It based its conclusion on a survey of 1,000 U.S. adults. Amazon shares were up modestly midmorning Friday. — Reuters contributed to this report. WATCH: The evolution of Jeff Bezos: See if you can recognize him through the years show chapters The evolution of Jeff Bezos: See if you can recognize him through the years 3:57 PM ET Tue, 18 July 2017 | 00:51" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan 23 (Reuters) - New York City said on Tuesday it has sued several companies that make or distribute prescription opioids, seeking to hold them accountable for their role in what it called a deadly epidemic afflicting the city. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the lawsuit, saying it seeks to recoup $500 million of costs to combat the epidemic. Among the defendants are manufacturers such as Allergan Plc , Johnson & Johnson, Purdue Pharma LP and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, and distributors such as AmerisourceBergen Corp, Cardinal Health Inc and McKesson Corp, the city said. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Tom Brown)" + }, + { + "text": "AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Parsley Energy, Inc. (NYSE: PE) plans to report fourth quarter 2017 financial results on Wednesday, February 21, 2018, after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The company will host its quarterly conference call at 9:00 AM EST (8:00 AM CST) on Thursday, February 22, 2018. By Phone: Dial 877-407-0672 (United States/Canada) or 412-902-0003 (International) approximately 10 minutes before the scheduled start time and request the Parsley Energy earnings conference call. A telephone replay will be available through Thursday, March 8 by dialing 877-660-6853 (United States/Canada) or 201-612-7415 (International). Conference ID: 13674991. By Webcast: www.parsleyenergy.com Select \"Events & Presentations\" under the \"Investors\" section of the Company's website. Please log on at least 10 minutes in advance to register and download any necessary software. A replay will be available shortly after the call. About Parsley Energy, Inc. Parsley Energy, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas company focused on the acquisition and development of unconventional oil and natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin in West Texas. For more information, visit our website at www.parsleyenergy.com . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Parsley Energy, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 12:07 PM / Updated 4 minutes ago EU tells Kosovo relations will suffer if it scraps war crimes court Fatos Bytyci 3 Min Read PRISTINA (Reuters) - The European Union warned Kosovo on Friday that its relations with the bloc will suffer if it scraps a war crimes court linked to its bloody independence struggle. The EU’s message, echoing one by the United States last month, came amid uncertainty as to whether Kosovo’s parliament will put a vote on the court back on its agenda next week after shelving it on Dec. 22 under U.S. and EU pressure. “This initiative, still pending before the Kosovo parliament, is of extreme concern to the EU and its member states,” the EU office in Pristina said in a statement. “This would adversely impact Kosovo relations with the EU.” Envoys from Germany and France arrived in Pristina this week to try to lobby Kosovo leaders to drop any move to abolish the Specialist Chamber set up in 2015 to try ex-Kosovo Liberation Army guerrillas alleged to have committed atrocities in the 1998-99 war that led to independence from Serbia. It has yet to hear any cases. Kosovo media have said the court, based abroad in The Hague, could indict or call as witnesses some current government officials. It was set up in the Netherlands to minimize the risk of witness intimidation and judicial corruption. Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, President Hashim Thaci and parliamentary speaker Kadri Veseli are former KLA commanders. The court’s judges and prosecutors are foreigners, but authorities in Kosovo have jurisdiction as it was established under Kosovo law. The United States told Pristina last month the overwhelmingly ethnic Albanian country in the western Balkans would face “isolation” if it abolished the court. Washington is Kosovo’s staunchest ally but the European Union’s warning also carries weight as the small, impoverished nation hopes for eventual closer ties to the wealthy bloc. NATO air strikes on Serbia forced it to withdraw troops from Kosovo in 1999 and the U.S.-led alliance keeps 5,000 soldiers there to maintain a fragile peace. More than 100 countries, but not Serbia, recognized Kosovo’s independence in 2008. Between 10,000 and 12,000 people, mainly ethnic Albanians, were killed in the conflict between the KLA and security forces loyal to then-nationalist Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic. A small Serb minority remains in Kosovo. Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; editing by Mark Heinrich" + }, + { + "text": "PARIS (Reuters) - The world famous Ritz hotel in Paris has decided to sell off more than 3,500 pieces of furniture and “objets d‘art” that it no longer has a home for after a renovation. Ranging from sofas that once filled the salon frequented by novelist Marcel Proust to bar stools that propped up Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald in the 1920s, the lots cover the sweep of the hotel’s illustrious 120-year history. The sale, to take place from April 17-21, is being held by Artcurial, an auction house that has previously sold off the contents of the Hotel de Crillon and Plaza Athenee in Paris, and the Hotel de Paris in Monaco. “Collectors and enthusiasts of 15 Place Vendome will have the unique opportunity to return home with a piece of the Ritz legend during the sale,” Artcurial said in its brochure. The hotel, which occupies one side of the octagonal Place Vendome near the city’s most fashionable boutiques, has been owned by Egyptian billionaire Mohammed al-Fayed since 1979, when he purchased it for $30 million. FILE PHOTO: General exterior view of the Ritz Hotel in Paris, France, August 4, 2016. Picture taken August 4, 2016. REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen/File Photo It is where his son, Dodi, dined with Diana, the princess of Wales, the evening they died in a car crash in 1997. The hotel, founded in 1898 by Swiss hotelier Cesar Ritz, reopened in 2016 after a four-year renovation. It has 71 rooms and 71 suites, including several named after its most-famous residents, from Coco Chanel to opera diva Maria Callas. Among the quirkier items to be auctioned are a Louis XVI style dog bed (estimate 200-300 euros), an old barber’s chair (400-600 euros), a Ritz-monogrammed minibar (300-500 euros) and three stools from one of its famed bars (1,000-1,500 euros). The entire sale is expected to raise between 1 and 1.5 million euros, Artcurial said. While the Ritz is a byword for elegance, it has enjoyed less welcome headlines in recent weeks. This month, robbers wielding axes stole jewelry worth $5 million from a store inside the hotel. The thieves were quickly apprehended and the jewelry recovered. Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg" + }, + { + "text": "SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- P&M Corporate Finance (PMCF) is pleased to announce the sale of Plymouth Packaging, Inc. (\"Plymouth\", \"Box on Demand\" or the \"Company\") to WestRock Company (\"WestRock\", NYSE: WRK). Headquartered in Battle Creek, Michigan, Plymouth is an innovator in the corrugated packaging industry and pioneered an on-demand packaging system that uses corrugated fanfold materials and proprietary box making machinery. Plymouth's \"Box on Demand\" systems provide customers with the ability to make right-sized corrugated boxes at their facilities to cost effectively package a wide range and variability of products, reducing both packaging and shipping costs when compared to traditional corrugated boxes. Plymouth has successfully installed these integrated packaging systems at a large number of companies across a variety of end markets including e-commerce, building products, furniture, industrial and many others. Plymouth serves its Box on Demand customers across North America from three strategically located corrugated fanfold manufacturing facilities as well as numerous distribution centers. These facilities are equipped with industry leading corrugated fanfold manufacturing technology including many custom and proprietary modifications. In addition to its Box on Demand product offering, Plymouth has traditional corrugated box manufacturing capabilities and operates a niche, short to medium volume sheet plant that serves the Southeast Michigan market. Also included in the transaction were Plymouth's ownership stake in Panotec, its Box on Demand machinery manufacturer based in Italy, and the Company's investment in Alliance Sheets, one of the largest corrugators in the United States. Plymouth was founded in 1991 by Paul Magnell and was owned by the Magnell family prior to the sale. Greg Magnell served as president of the Company and will continue in his leadership role under WestRock's ownership. \"We are excited to become part of WestRock and believe there is a strong cultural fit with our two organizations,\" said Greg Magnell. \"The combination provides access to a much broader geographic footprint and significant additional resources that will help this business continue to grow and serve our customers.\" The Magnells selected John Hart and PMCF's Plastics & Packaging Group to serve as Plymouth's M&A advisor / investment banker in the transaction. Greg Magnell noted, \"We are very happy with our decision to hire PMCF as our M&A advisor. John and his team are clearly experts in the packaging industry and knew how to best position a unique company like ours to the right group of prospective buyers. They provided heavy senior level involvement throughout each stage of the process and were instrumental in making this a successful transaction for us. We would highly recommend PMCF to other packaging companies considering a transaction.\" About PMCF PMCF is an award-winning middle market investment bank providing global merger and acquisition advisory services to private, public, and private equity owned companies. PMCF provides a broad range of services including sale advisory, acquisition advisory, capital raising, and strategic advisory. The firm has dedicated industry teams providing services to the plastics and packaging, medical technology, industrials, and business services industries. PMCF has offices in Chicago and Detroit and around the globe via its Corporate Finance International associates. PMCF is an affiliate of Plante Moran one of the nation's largest professional services firms. For more information, visit www.pmcf.com . John Hart Managing Director, Plastics & Packaging Group 248.223.3468 [REDACTED] View original content with multimedia: SOURCE P&M Corporate Finance" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 10:36 AM / a few seconds ago SE Asia Stocks-Rise; Thai closes at record high Reuters Staff 4 Min Read By Devika Syamnath Jan 15 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets rose on Monday with Thailand closing at a record high, tracking gains in broader Asia after Wall Street extended its record-setting run. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.3 percent, having finally cleared the former all-time top of 591.50 from late 2007. Wall Street was on a roll on Friday as the fourth-quarter earnings season kicked off with solid results from banks and robust retail sales, driving investor optimism about economic growth. \"U.S. markets have had their strongest year-to-date gains in more than 10 years, so that's having a positive spillover to Asian markets,\" said Joel Ng, an analyst with KGI Securities in Singapore. Thailand's SET Index rose as much as 1.1 percent to an all-time high before finishing 0.7 percent higher, with energy and industrial stocks leading the gains. Oil and gas firm PTT PCL climbed 3 percent to a record, while Airports of Thailand added 2.5 percent. Vietnam shares rose 1.3 percent to their highest close since November 2007, on the back of gains in financials and real estate. Vietcom Bank and Vingroup JSC climbed 3.5 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively, to all-time closing highs. Singapore shares climbed 0.5 percent to their highest close since April 2015 with financials accounting for majority of the gains. Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp Ltd and United Overseas Bank Ltd rose 0.7 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively, to record closing levels. Philippine shares added 0.5 percent, helped by real estate and industrial stocks. Index heavyweight SM Investments Corp rose 1.1 percent, while Ayala Corp gained 1.9 percent to its highest close since early November 2017. Indonesian shares closed slightly higher, supported by gains in financial and energy stocks. The Jakarta Stock Exchange reopened for the afternoon session after about a dozen people were injured in a floor collapse earlier in the day. Bank Negara was the top boost to the index with a gain of 2.4 percent, while Unilever Indonesia added 0.7 percent. Indonesia posted a trade deficit of $270 million in December in its second month of deficit booked in 2017. Economists polled by Reuters had expected a surplus of $640 million. For Asian Companies click; SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS: Change on the day Market Current Previous close Pct Move Singapore 3536.41 3520.56 0.45 Bangkok 1822.66 1810.19 0.69 Manila 8857.72 8814.62 0.49 Jakarta 6382.195 6370.065 0.19 Kuala Lumpur 1825.91 1822.67 0.18 Ho Chi Minh 1063.47 1050.11 1.27 Change on year Market Current End 2017 Pct Move Singapore 3536.41 3402.92 3.92 Bangkok 1822.66 1753.71 3.93 Manila 8857.72 8558.42 3.50 Jakarta 6382.195 6355.654 0.42 Kuala Lumpur 1825.91 1796.81 1.62 Ho Chi Minh 1063.47 984.24 8.05 (Reporting by Devika Syamnath in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)" + }, + { + "text": "Tom Petty died from accidental drug overdose -coroner 3:08am GMT - 00:50 Rocker Tom Petty died in October due to ''multisystem organ failure'' brought on by an accidental overdose of seven medications, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office said. Jane Ross reports. Rocker Tom Petty died in October due to \"multisystem organ failure\" brought on by an accidental overdose of seven medications, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office said. Jane Ross reports. //reut.rs/2DqR0k7" + }, + { + "text": "DUBAI (Reuters) - Growth of the United Arab Emirates’ non-oil private sector accelerated to a 34-month high in December, partly because of a rise in consumer spending to beat the introduction of value-added tax (VAT) in January, a survey showed on Thursday. The seasonally adjusted Emirates NBD UAE Purchasing Managers’ Index, which covers manufacturing and services, rose to 57.7 last month from 57.0 in November. Above 50 indicates expansion and below shows a contraction. Output growth fell sharply last month to 60.7 from 64.3 but remained strong by historical standards, while growth in new orders rose sharply to a 35-month high of 64.8 from 60.1. Employment continued to grow at the same moderate pace. “The UAE’s non-oil sector expanded sharply in the last two months of the year, largely due to a strong rise in output and new orders,” said Khatija Haque, head of regional research at Emirates NBD. ”It is likely that the introduction of VAT in January has spurred activity and purchasing in the fourth quarter of 2017, which is in line with our expectations. Nevertheless, employment and wage growth have been relatively muted, not just in December but for 2017 as a whole.” Output price inflation was negative for a fourth straight month in December, while input price inflation slowed slightly. Reporting by Andrew Torchia; Editing by Hugh Lawson" + }, + { + "text": "Hundreds attend anti-austerity protests in Tunis amid heavy police presence Sunday, January 14, 2018 - 01:18 Demonstrations in Tunisia against tax and price hikes continue on the anniversary of the ousting of former President Ben Ali. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Demonstrations in Tunisia against tax and price hikes continue on the anniversary of the ousting of former President Ben Ali. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //in.reuters.com/video/2018/01/14/hundreds-attend-anti-austerity-protests?videoId=385132942&videoChannel=13423" + }, + { + "text": "TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisian police on Tuesday fired tear gas on protesters in the capital who were storming a Carrefour supermarket in an anti-government protest, a witness said. Police also clashed with protesters in two districts in Tunis as demonstrations against recent austerity measures continued, residents said. Reporting by Tarek Amara, Writing by Ulf Laessing, Editing by Angus MacSwan" + }, + { + "text": "Joan Rivers' career highlighted in book 53 Mellisa Rivers, the daughter of Joan Rivers, talks about the book put together from her mother's archives detailing the story of her career. Rollo Ross reports. Mellisa Rivers, the daughter of Joan Rivers, talks about the book put together from her mother's archives detailing the story of her career. Rollo Ross reports. //reut.rs/2DFhgHo" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 7:12 PM / Updated an hour ago Nigeria central bank injects $262.5 million into currency market Reuters Staff 1 Min Read ABUJA, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Nigeria’s central bank said on Friday it had injected $262.5 million into the interbank foreign exchange market, extending efforts to improve liquidity and alleviate dollar shortages. The bank said in a statement it had released the funds for use by businesses in the agricultural and petroleum sectors as well as airlines. The bank said it would continue to intervene in the foreign exchange market to sustain liquidity. Reporting by Paul Carsten and Alexis Akwagyiram, editing by Larry King" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 18 (Reuters) - Steinhoff International Holdings NV said on Thursday Jayendra Naidoo resigned as a member of its supervisory board to focus his efforts on the board of its unit, Steinhoff Africa Retail Ltd, where he is the chairman. Steinhoff International added Naidoo’s position would be filled by a new independent director. (Reporting by Radhika Rukmangadhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri)" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 2:39 PM / Updated 4 hours ago Afghanistan reports two bird flu outbreaks - OIE Reuters Staff 1 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - Afghanistan has reported two outbreaks of a highly contagious bird flu virus, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said on Tuesday, citing a report from the Afghan agriculture ministry. The H5 virus was detected in a backyard in Kabul where it killed 6 birds and in the Bagrami village nearby, where it killed 15, the Paris-based OIE said in a report posted on its website. No details were given on the virus and on the type of birds involved. Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide, editing by Bate Felix" + }, + { + "text": "COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Houston’s Apartment Market Makes a Comeback The Houston rental apartment market is rebounding after years of pain caused by overbuilding and the weak energy sector. Apartment rents and occupancy are expected to grow strongly in the next five years thanks partly to stronger job growth. Demand Surges for Science Lab Space The booming life-sciences industry is causing a scramble for laboratory space in real-estate markets across the U.S., lifting rents even as construction accelerates. At the same... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 9 (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chief Executive Jamie Dimon regrets calling bitcoin a 'fraud' but added that he still is not interested in the cryptocurrency at all, he said in an interview on Fox Business on Tuesday. Dimon had called bitcoin a fraud at a bank investor conference in New York in September. \"The currency isn't going to work. You can't have a business where people can invent a currency out of thin air and think that people who are buying it are really smart,\" he had said. Several banks, exchange operators and companies have embraced bitcoins, fuelled by increasing consumer and investor interest. Bitcoin was down nearly 2 percent at $14,786 in early trading on Tuesday. It traded at $909 a year ago and breached $19,000 in December. Dimon made the comments at the JPMorgan Health Care Conference in San Francisco. ( ) (Reporting By Aparajita Saxena in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)" + }, + { + "text": "ALAMEDA, Calif., Jan. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Penumbra, Inc. (NYSE: PEN) today announced that it will host a conference call to discuss financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017 after market close on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. A press release with fourth quarter and full year 2017 financial results will be issued after market close that day. Webcast & Conference Call Information The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (866) 393-4306 for domestic callers or (734) 385-2616 for international callers (conference id: 6884769), or the webcast can be accessed on the \"Events\" section under the \"Investors\" tab of the Company's website at: www.penumbrainc.com . The webcast will be available on the Company's website for two weeks following the completion of the call. About Penumbra Penumbra, Inc., headquartered in Alameda, California, is a global healthcare company focused on innovative therapies. Penumbra designs, develops, manufactures and markets medical devices and has a broad portfolio of products that addresses challenging medical conditions and significant clinical needs. Penumbra sells its products to hospitals primarily through its direct sales organization in the United States, most of Europe, Canada and Australia, and through distributors in select international markets. The Penumbra logo is a trademark of Penumbra, Inc. For more information, visit www.penumbrainc.com . Investor Relations Penumbra, Inc. 510-995-2461 [REDACTED] View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Penumbra, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Donald Trump flew into the sanctum of the global elite on Thursday to promote his tax cuts and deregulation policies to CEOs and bankers, many of whom are eager to invest in the United States despite reservations about his turbulent presidency. The first sitting U.S. president to visit the World Economic Forum in Davos since Bill Clinton in 2000, Trump helicoptered into the Swiss ski resort and was greeted by hundreds of curious delegates who snapped pictures as he entered the congress center. After meeting the prime ministers of Britain and Israel, Trump hosted a dinner with leaders of some of the world’s largest corporations, including Nestle, SAP and Siemens, Deloitte and Bayer. Senior members of his cabinet were also present. “A lot of people are coming back to the United States. We are seeing tremendous investment and today has been a very exciting day. Very great day and great for our country. Thank you very much,” Trump told reporters in Davos. Trump, a real estate mogul and former reality TV star, had never been invited to Davos before. He basked in the praise of several executives, who applauded his tax cuts. Two European executives told Reuters they were staying away from the dinner because they did not want to shake Trump’s hand. One of them consulted with his wife and children before deciding to dine elsewhere. Those that showed up were treated to a meal of grilled beef tenderloin with green pea puree or fried Swiss pike perch with purple carrot puree. Trump gave each corporate leader an opportunity to describe their businesses briefly. Many mentioned the corporate tax cuts that Trump pushed through the U.S. Congress late last year as a positive sign of growth and investment, according to a Reuters reporter who was present. Trump is due to address the forum on Friday and White House aides said his message would be the same that he has given during other trips abroad over the past year: The United States wants strong ties with its allies but is also determined to reduce its chronic trade deficits with many of them. U.S. President Donald Trump attends a dinner with business men and CEO's during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland January 25, 2018. Siemens CEO's Joe Kaeser (C) looks on. REUTERS/Carlos Barria His speech comes after a week of warnings by European leaders on the dangers of nationalism, isolationism and protectionism. Without naming Trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel evoked the build-up to the two world wars and openly questioned whether leaders had learned the lessons from those 20th century conflicts. Before his trip to Davos, Trump imposed 30 percent tariffs on imported solar panels, among the first unilateral trade restrictions made by the administration as part of a broader protectionist agenda. Slideshow (2 Images) On Wednesday in Davos, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin made comments supportive of a weaker dollar. Markets interpreted the remarks as a shift in U.S. policy and sent the dollar sharply lower, sparking concerns from European allies about a trade war. European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi took a swipe at Mnuchin’s remarks, saying they threatened a decades-old pact between the world’s leading economies not to target currencies. Trump later told CNBC in an interview that he supported a strong dollar and expected the currency to rise. Trump’s decision to come to Davos came as a surprise because he has railed against “globalists” and elites, while promoting an “America First” agenda that goes down poorly in this bastion of free trade, multilateralism and capitalism. French President Emmanuel Macron said he had “strongly recommended” that Trump attend the forum during a recent phone conversation, saying he thought it was a good thing for Trump to explain his strategic goals and hear different viewpoints. There is broad concern in European capitals that 2018 could be the year Trump’s bark on trade turns into bite, as he considers punitive measures on steel and threatens to end the 90s-era North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico. Policymakers have been openly critical of his foreign policy but with the U.S. stock market soaring, corporate tax cuts padding companies’ pockets and U.S. consumers spending again, some companies here are quietly applauding the U.S. president. Additional reporting by Steve Holland and Silvia Aloisi; Writing by Noah Barkin and Yara Bayoumy; editing by Grant McCool and Mark Bendeich" + }, + { + "text": "Indycar champion Josef Newgarden unveils new design at Detroit Autio Show Tuesday, January 16, 2018 - 00:51 VIDEO SHOWS NEW INDYCAR DESIGN PRESENTATION WITH CHAMPION DRIVER JOSEF NEWGARDEN SHOWS: DETROIT, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES. (JANUARY 16, 2018)(REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 1. PHOTOGRAPHERS 2. SHOT OF NEW RACE VIDEO SHOWS NEW INDYCAR DESIGN PRESENTATION WITH CHAMPION DRIVER JOSEF NEWGARDEN SHOWS: DETROIT, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES. (JANUARY 16, 2018)(REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 1. PHOTOGRAPHERS 2. SHOT OF NEW RACE //reut.rs/2B8hvom" + }, + { + "text": "Ohio has begun settlement talks with opioid-painkiller makers it has sued alleging illegal marketing, and will meet with a federal judge urging settlement of hundreds of similar suits, in early steps toward resolution of the sprawling litigation. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said his staff held separate meetings with Johnson & Johnson and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Wednesday. He described the meetings as “settlement discussions.” ... RELATED VIDEO The Way to Save Opioid Addicts | Moving Upstream Addiction experts are in wide agreement on the most effective way to help opioid addicts: Medication-assisted treatment. But most inpatient rehab facilities in the U.S. don’t offer this option. WSJ’s Jason Bellini reports on why the medication option is controversial, and in many places, hard to come by. Image: Ryno Eksteen and Thomas Williams To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 12:04 PM / Updated 6 hours ago OPEC sees more oil supply from rivals, countering its cuts and Venezuelan woes Alex Lawler 4 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - OPEC has raised its forecast for oil supply from non-member countries in 2018 as higher prices encourage U.S. shale drillers to pump more, offsetting an OPEC-led deal to clear a supply glut and a deepening plunge in Venezuelan production. In a monthly report on Thursday, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said outside producers would boost supply by 1.15 million barrels per day (bpd) this year, up from 990,000 bpd expected previously. “Higher oil prices are bringing more supply to the market, particularly in North America and specifically tight oil,” OPEC said in the report, using another term for shale. OPEC, Russia and several other non-OPEC producers began to cut supply a year ago to get rid of a global glut of crude that had built up since 2014. They have extended the pact until the end of 2018. The OPEC forecast of higher rival supply could add to a debate about the effectiveness of keeping the curbs in place. A ministerial monitoring panel meets this weekend in Oman and is expected to discuss the eventual exit strategy from the deal. But the forecast was balanced by figures in the report showing OPEC’s compliance with the supply cuts remained high in December and a further sharp slide in Venezuelan oil output. Oil prices edged higher after the report was released to trade above $69 a barrel and later steadied. Prices are close to the highest since December 2014. In a further sign excess supply is easing, OPEC said inventories in developed economies declined by 16.6 million barrels in November to 2.933 billion barrels, 133 million above the five-year average. OPEC’s stated goal is to reduce stocks to the five-year average. VENEZUELA, UAE OPEC’s production in December based on figures it collects from secondary sources showed overall production rising. Total output rose by 42,000 bpd to 32.42 million bpd, led by a gain in Nigeria which along with Libya was exempted from the supply cut because unrest had curbed their production. But adherence by the 11 OPEC members with output targets rose to 129 percent, according to a Reuters calculation based on the OPEC figures, higher than 121 percent in November based on last month’s report. The figures that OPEC members reported themselves showed deeper declines in production. Venezuela, whose output is dropping amid an economic crisis, told OPEC its production sank by about 216,000 bpd to 1.621 million bpd in December, believed to be the lowest in decades. The UAE, which lagged many of its peers on compliance last year, said it cut output by 38,000 bpd to below its OPEC target for the first time. The compliance improvement comes as the country prepared to assume the rotating OPEC presidency in 2018. With outside producers expected to pump more, OPEC in the report cut its estimate of global demand for its crude in 2018 by 60,000 bpd to 33.09 million bpd. Should OPEC keep pumping at December’s level and other things remain equal, the market could move into a deficit of about 670,000 bpd next year, suggesting inventories will be drawn down further. Last month’s report pointed to a similar deficit of about 700,000 bpd. Editing by Jason Neely and Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "ZURICH, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Swiss National Bank Chairman Thomas Jordan said negative interest rates were still needed to tame the Swiss franc, which he said remained “highly valued.” “Switzerland has had a strong franc for a long time and it remains highly valued,” Jordan told an event in Zurich on Tuesday. (Reporting by John Revill and Angelika Gruber) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "COLOMBO (Reuters) - A ban on selling alcohol to women will remain in place in Sri Lanka, after the finance minister reversed his earlier decision to lift the ban. President Maithripala Sirisena had said on Sunday the ban would be reimposed. On Thursday, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said he had canceled his decision to lift it at the “request of the Cabinet of Ministers”. In a filing to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, a group of 11 women activists opposed reinstating the ban, which also prevents women from working in liquor stores. “Any such measure would deprive the members of the female gender who have attained the requisite age specified by law from being lawfully employed at places of production and sale of liquor,” the petitioners said in their filing. Officials at the finance ministry said the ban was lifted after repeated requests from the tourism industry to extend bar hours and allow female tourists to buy alcohol. But that move was criticized by opposition parliamentarians, who said the move would damage Sri Lanka’s Buddhist values. Sinhalese Buddhists account for more than 70 percent of the island nation’s 21 million population. Sri Lanka will hold local government elections on Feb. 10. Reporting by Shihar Aneez and Ranga Sirilal, editing by Larry King" + }, + { + "text": "Qantas Airways Has Changed Its Website After a Warning From China A Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in Melbourne, Australia on Dec. 15, 2017. James D. Morgan—Getty Images By Reuters 10:30 PM EST Australia’s Qantas Airways (qubsf) said on Tuesday it had amended its website to no longer refer to Taiwan and Hong Kong as countries, rather than Chinese territories, after China issued a warning to foreign airlines last week. China has stepped up efforts to police how foreign businesses refer to parts of China, or territories claimed by Beijing, including Taiwan and Hong Kong — even if only in pull-down menus on websites. “Due to an oversight, some Chinese territories were incorrectly listed as countries on parts of our website. We are correcting this error,” said Qantas in an emailed statement. China’s civil aviation authority told foreign airlines to check their websites and make any needed changes, but the campaign goes beyond just airlines. China last week suspended Marriott International’s (mar) Chinese website for a week to punish the world’s biggest hotel chain for listing Tibet, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau as separate countries in a customer questionnaire. A Qantas spokeswoman did not immediately respond to questions as to whether the airline expected a similar action by the Chinese authorities. Public apologies from Delta Air Lines (dal) , Zara and Medtronic (mdt) for similar offenses have so far satisfied China, which has grown increasingly sensitive to issues of sovereignty. Qantas is the first Australian company to respond to Beijing’s heightened vigilance, though all firms exporting everything from iron ore to baby formula should be taking heed. For more about China, watch Fortune’s video: China, which is easily Australia’s biggest trading partner, bought A$93 billion ($73.98 billion) worth of Australian goods and services last year. Hong Kong and Macau are former European colonies that are now part of China but run largely autonomously. China annexed Tibet in 1950, although Beijing has long claimed the Himalayan region has been an indivisible part of China throughout history. Taiwan is China’s most sensitive territorial issue. The ruling Communist Party considers the self-ruled, democratic island a wayward province and refuses to renounce the threat of force to bring it into the fold. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "Benchmark Capital will end up selling about $900 million of its Uber stock to SoftBank and other buyers, or about 14.5% of the venture capital firm's holdings in the company. Benchmark, which said last year that Uber could soon be worth more than $100 billion, tried to sell about 25 percent of its shares in the company last month at a price that was less than half that. But because so many shareholders wanted to sell their position in Uber, Benchmark was able to sell only 58 percent of what it sought to tender — or about 14.5 percent of its holdings, according to people familiar with the transaction. More from Recode: Spotify's chief content officer is leaving ahead of its IPO Should I rent a hotel room by the minute? (And for what?) Travis Kalanick is now a real-life billionaire Uber stock was being sold at a significant discount that valued the company at $48 billion. At that pricing, Benchmark would receive about $900 million in cash in return for their 14.5 percent sale. Benchmark owned about 13 percent of the company. Benchmark led the company's Series A financing round in 2011 and the company has made the firm a tremendous amount of money — even though relations have soured between Benchmark and the company's first CEO, Travis Kalanick. Benchmark's decision to sell some of their earnings will weaken its power in company decision-making, but also locks in some of their winnings ahead of an uncertain IPO in 2019. But it also could look foolish if Uber's growth keeps exploding and Benchmark left money on the table. The venture capital firm said in August that its analysis \"shows Uber could comfortably be worth over $100B in just two years.\" Kalanick himself also tucked away some of his earnings. The Uber founder sold about $1.4 billion in the tender offer, despite previously signaling that he wouldn't sell any of his stock. Other large sellers to the SoftBank-led group include Kalanick's co-founder Garrett Camp and Menlo Ventures, which led Uber's Series B round. Benchmark declined to comment. — By Theodore Schleifer, Recode.net . CNBC's parent NBCUniversal is an investor in Recode's parent Vox, and the companies have a content-sharing arrangement." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 23 (Reuters) - Kimberly-Clark Corp said on Tuesday it expects to eliminate 5,000-5,500 jobs, or 12-13 percent of its workforce, as part of its global restructuring program. The Kleenex and Huggies maker said the restructuring program would generate annual pre-tax cost savings of $500 to $550 million by the end of 2021. The program is expected to broadly impact all its business segments and organizations in every major region, Kimberly-Clark said. The company also reported a near 1 percent rise in fourth-quarter net sales to $4.6 billion, compared with a year earlier. The company said it expects net sales in 2018 to improve by 1 percent to 2 percent. (Reporting by Sangameswaran S in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)" + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Healthineers, Siemens AG’s medical equipment division, will launch a cost-cutting drive to address modest earnings growth this year as it prepares for a separate listing expected to value it at around 40 billion euros ($49 billion). “Structural cost savings initiatives are targeting 240 million euros of cost savings per year with a first full impact visible in 2020, and the company aims to achieve continuous productivity improvements going forward,” Siemens Healthineers said in a statement on Tuesday, ahead of an event for analysts and investors. The maker of medical gear such as X-ray and MRI machines expects an adjusted operating profit margin of 17-18 percent for 2018 and comparable revenue growth of 3-4 percent. Healthineers made a profit margin of 18.1 percent in the fiscal year to September, while comparable revenue growth was 3 percent. Siemens plans to list its healthcare unit in March, two people close to the matter told Reuters last week. The German industrial conglomerate reiterated on Tuesday the listing was planned for the first half of 2018. ($1 = 0.8174 euros) (Reporting by Ludwig Burger; Editing by Georgina Prodhan)" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 2:04 PM / Updated 30 minutes ago Tennis-Giant killers Chung and Sandgren primed for big battle Reuters Staff 3 Min Read MELBOURNE, Jan 24 (Reuters) - The Australian Open will lose one of its giant killers when South Korean Chung Hyeon meets American Tennys Sandgren in an unlikely quarter-final showdown at the Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday. Chung subjected his boyhood idol to arguably the biggest upset of the year’s first grand slam when he prevailed 7-6(4) 7-5 7-6(3) over six-time champion Novak Djokovic, who was out-gunned by a younger and fitter version of himself on Monday. The bespectacled 21-year-old’s fairytale win made him the first South Korean to reach a grand slam quarter-final, not a mean achievement for someone who took up tennis because doctors said it would improve his failing eyesight. Chung was not sure if he should consider himself lucky to face world number 97 Sandgren, whom he beat in their only previous meeting in Auckland earlier this month. “Maybe yes, maybe not, because he beat every good player. I‘m just focused for tomorrow,” he said after beating Djokovic. Chung is naturally cautious about taking on the American journeyman who, like the Korean, finds himself in unknown territory after overcoming fifth seed Dominic Thiem in a five-set thriller on Monday. Sandgren failed to win a match in his two previous main draw appearances at grand slams before arriving at Melbourne Park and he attributes the turnaround to his round of 32 defeat to Chung in Auckland. “I think a big deal was playing Chung in Auckland,” said the Tennessee native, only the second debutant to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals in 20 years. ”I think that helped me a lot going into this week, seeing I could play a good level. “Being able to play a good level like that made me feel like, okay, maybe I can do it in three-out-of-five sets, on a bigger stage, against other players, too, maybe not just one time, maybe I am somewhere around there.” In the nightcap, defending champion Roger Federer will take on Tomas Berdych in a quarter-final rematch of last year’s third round contest, which the Swiss maestro won in straight sets. “I‘m looking forward to playing him. He seems in good shape, and I‘m happy he’s over his back issues that he also had at the end of last year. That’s a good thing,” Federer said. Elsewhere, women’s top seed Simona Halep takes on sixth seeded Karolina Pliskova, while Angelique Kerber will face American Madison Keys in the German’s first grand slam quarter-final since 2016 on Rod Laver Arena. (Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by John O‘Brien)" + }, + { + "text": "OSLO (Reuters) - Norway’s $1.07 trillion sovereign wealth fund has excluded nine more companies from its portfolio based on breaches of its ethical investment criteria, the Norwegian central bank, which manages the fund, said in a statement on Tuesday. Evergreen Marine Corp (Taiwan) Ltd, Korea Line Corp, Precious Shipping PCL, Atal SA and Thoresen Thai Agencies PCL were among those that were excluded. AECOM, BAE Systems, Fluor Corp and Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc were also removed from the portfolio, while the earlier exclusion of Honeywell International Inc was maintained. Pan Ocean Co. Ltd was placed under observation, the central bank added. ($1 = 7.8783 Norwegian crowns) Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Louise Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia’s central bank may lower its key rate once Russians get accustomed to macro-economic stability, President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday. “We have managed to lower inflation to a historic minimum of 2.5 percent... People need to get used to the fact that the situation is stable. Then the bank will start lowering its rate,” the president said. Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya; Writing by Polina Ivanova; Editing by Christian Lowe Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16 (Reuters) - Battery maker Energizer Holdings Inc said on Tuesday it would buy the global battery and portable lighting business of Spectrum Brands in a $2 billion all-cash deal. The acquisition is expected to close before the end of this year, the company said. (Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- THRUUE is pleased to announce that James E. Williams, who as president and CEO of Easter Seals helped turn the organization into a national force for social good, has been named the first Executive in Residence of THRUUE, Inc. Williams helped Easter Seals grow into a multi-billion dollar organization and the largest national service provider for children and adults living with disabilities including autism. His leadership experience and long track record working with corporate boards will provide crucial guidance and insight to companies looking to close the gap between their strategy and culture. \"I am delighted to join the THRUUE team,\" Williams said. \"I look forward to helping both profit and non-profit companies and organizations align their culture and strategy.\" In addition to his work at Easter Seals, Williams currently serves as Chairman of the National Trust for Our Wounded and as a director of the United States Veterans Chamber of Commerce. He also served as Chairman of the National Health Council, as Chair of the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and on the Pfizer Advisory Board on Patient Engagement and the Advisory Board of Campaign Partners. Other boards he has served on include the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation for Military Caregivers, the Institute for Philanthropy, the National Foundation for Dentistry for People with Disabilities, the JM Foundation Search for Excellence, the Missouri Commission on Comprehensive Health Planning, and the Montessori School of Lake Forest. As Executive in Residence, Williams will be responsible for expanding THRUUE's strategic planning and culture change offerings, identifying market trends and expansion opportunities and advising CEOs on social impact, business and governance. He will be based in Chicago and Washington. \"Jim is a national leader and a professional CEO who has helped people with disabilities achieve success for decades,\" THRUUE CEO Daniel Forrester said. \"Companies and organizations realize that to be successful they need to align their corporate culture with their business objectives and also be a force for social good. Jim is going to be an integral part of strengthening our expertise in corporate social responsibility and increasing our client's employee and customer loyalty. Jim knows that making a profit remains a necessary goal of every company, but he also sees the awakening of the C-suite to clarity of purpose, values and vision.\" Contact: Emily Paquin ( [REDACTED] ) Related Links THRUUE View original content with multimedia: SOURCE THRUUE, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - Novartis: * INCOMING CEO SAYS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SOLID SALES GROWTH OVER NEXT FIVE YEARS * INCOMING CEO SAYS PRICE PRESSURE ON SANDOZ IN UNITED STATES CAUSING COMPANY TO LOOK AGGRESSIVELY AT RESHAPING U.S. GENERIC PORTFOLIO * INCOMING CEO SAYS HAS NOT YET MADE ANY DECISIONS ON SANDOZ‘S ORAL SOLIDS GENERICS BUSINESS IN U.S., UNDER REVIEW * INCOMING CEO SAYS INITIALLY SAW “BUMPS” IN KYMRIAH ROLLOUT IN PEDIATRIC ALL, NOW SEES ACCELERATION * INCOMING CEO SAYS NO CHANGE TO NOVARTIS‘S POSITION ON GSK JOINT VENTURE OR ROCHE STAKE * INCOMING CEO SAYS ALMOST EVERY PATIENT IN KYMRIAH LAUNCH HAS UNIQUE INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT PROFILE, STILL CONSIDERING PRICING MODEL FOR ADDITIONAL INDICATIONS * INCOMING CEO SAYS NO ACTION ON ALCON SPINOFF BEFORE FIRST HALF 2019 * INCOMING CEO SAYS ON TRACK TO DELIVER CORE MARGIN EXPANSION IN 2018 * INCOMING CEO SAYS WE CONTINUE TO HOLD TO OUR STRATEGY OF BOLT-ON ACQUISITIONS TO SUPPORT CORE AREAS INCLUDING ONCOLOGY * GENERAL COUNSEL SAYS “LOOKING AT ALL OPPORTUNITIES” WITH REGARDS TO RESOLVING U.S. DOJ LEGAL ACTION TARGETING SPEAKERS PROGRAM * INCOMING CEO SAYS SANDOZ REMAINS PILLAR, DESPITE REVIEW OF U.S. GENERICS BUSINESS AMID PRICE PRESSURE Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Reporting by John Miller)" + }, + { + "text": "MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican authorities are not investigating and prosecuting money laundering in a proactive and systematic fashion, but rather on a reactive, case-by-case basis, according to a report on Mexico’s efforts to fight illicit finance. “Mexico could do more to ensure that the relevant authorities are better equipped with the right tools in terms of training, expertise, and priority setting to be able to effectively detect and disrupt terrorist financing,” said the report by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). FATF is an international organization that sets global standards for fighting illicit finance. Mexico is the top source of illegal drugs to the United States and both countries’ authorities have been criticized by civil society groups for leaving drug gang finances largely intact. In a draft of the report previously seen by Reuters, FATF commended efforts to clean up the Mexican banking sector after U.S. investigations in the mid-2000s showed global banks processed billions of dollars in drug gang cash. But it said tax authorities did not do enough to monitor businesses outside the financial sector used for money laundering, such as real estate. Reporting by Anthony EspositoEditing by Chizu Nomiyama" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 12:13 PM / in 6 minutes UPDATE 2-Total to buy shares in Kenyan oil blocks from A.P. Moeller-Maersk Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Adds Total Comment) NAIROBI, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Total SA is to buy shares in three Kenyan oil blocks from A.P. Moeller-Maersk , the office of Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta said on Tuesday. Britain’s Tullow Oil and its Canadian partner Africa Oil discovered commercially viable crude in the Turkana region in the far north of Kenya in 2012. A.P. Moeller-Maersk later bought equity in these blocks. Full production is expected in early 2021 after completion of a planned $2.1 billion pipeline to transport the crude through the proposed port of Lamu. Kenyatta’s office said Total had committed to the pipeline, prompting the government to agree to a proposal for the French oil major to buy “the issued and to-be-issued share capital of Maersk Oil Exploration International (Mogas Kenya) in respect of Blocks 10BA, 10BB and 13T”. The statement followed a meeting between Kenyatta and Momar Nguer, a member of Total’s executive committee and its head of marketing and services. It did not give any details on the size or value of the proposed transaction. A spokeswoman for Total said the company will gain access to oil reserves in Kenya after it acquires the Maersk Oil assets. “Total respects the commitments made by Maersk Oil. Kenyan oil will be shipped via a pipeline in Kenya with the agreement of the government,” she said. Kenya’s recoverable oil reserves are estimated at 750 million barrels and considered feasible for production at a price of $55 a barrel. The spokeswoman added that Total’s separate project in neighbouring Uganda’s Lake Albert region, which includes a separate pipeline running through Tanzania, has been confirmed and maintained. (Reporting by Duncan Miriri; Additional reporting by Bate Felix in Paris; Editing by Jane Merriman and David Goodman)" + }, + { + "text": "ABIDJAN, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Unidentified gunmen overran a military camp near Timbuktu in northern Mali early on Saturday, killing at least 14 soldiers, two army officers said. “Around 6 a.m. (0600 GMT), unidentified armed men attacked the post in Soumpi. The provisional toll is 14 dead, 17 wounded and two enemies killed. The search is still on for those missing,” one of the sources said. (Reporting by Adama Diarra; Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Mark Potter)" + }, + { + "text": "ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The statement issued by the White House regarding Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump does not accurately reflect the content of their conversation, a Turkish source said on Thursday. “President Trump did not share any ‘concerns about escalating violence’ with regard to the ongoing military operation in Afrin,” the source said, referring to one comment in the White House summary of their phone call. “The two leaders’ discussion of Operation Olive Branch was limited to an exchange of views,” the source said. Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by David Dolan" + }, + { + "text": "Self-balancing smart suitcase follows you around Friday, January 12, 2018 - 01:23 The latest so-called smart suitcase, that's a suitcase that follows you around, has only two wheels and auto-balancing technology and a price yet to be announced. Stuart McDill reports. The latest so-called smart suitcase, that's a suitcase that follows you around, has only two wheels and auto-balancing technology and a price yet to be announced. Stuart McDill reports. //reut.rs/2D5t2La" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May has been clear she wants to negotiate a Brexit deal that works for the whole of the United Kingdom and does not believe it is time for a second referendum on independence for Scotland, her spokesman said on Monday. “The prime minister has been absolutely clear on her determination to secure a deal and that will be a good deal which works for all parts of the United Kingdom as well as for the EU. And second, she has been very clear over a number of months that now is not the time for a second referendum in Scotland,” the spokesman told reporters. Reporting by Elizabeth Piper. Editing by Andrew MacAskill" + }, + { + "text": "Taxes Putin says 'shrewd and mature' Kim Jong Un has 'won this round' against the West Russian President Vladimir Putin says North Korea's Kim Jong Un got the best of the West over his nuclear and missile programs. Russia has voted for international sanctions against North Korea at the U.N. over its nuclear program. Kim \"is already a shrewd and mature politician,\" Putin says. Published 1 Hour Ago SHARES STR | AFP | Getty Images North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un at the test-fire of the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 at an undisclosed location. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was \"shrewd and mature\" and had won the latest standoff with the West over his nuclear and missile programs. \"I think that Mr. Kim Jong Un has obviously won this round. He has completed his strategic task: he has a nuclear weapon, he has missiles of global reach, up to 13,000 km, which can reach almost any point of the globe,\" Putin told Russian journalists at a televised meeting. Russia has voted at the United Nations in favor of international sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear program, while urging the West to show restraint and calling for talks over the issue. Putin reiterated that dialogue with North Korea was warranted, and said Kim now wanted to calm the situation. \"He is already a shrewd and mature politician,\" Putin said. North Korea and South Korea held talks on Tuesday after a prolonged period of tension on the Korean peninsula over the North's missile and nuclear programs." + }, + { + "text": "ZAGREB (Reuters) - Holders Germany took a stride toward the European handball championship semi-finals with a rugged 22-19 win over the Czech Republic while Olympic champions Denmark followed in their footsteps after a 31-28 victory against Slovenia on Friday. The results put both teams level on four points atop the main round’s Group II, one more than surprise package Macedonia who face Spain (two points) on Sunday. In Group I, the top four teams are locked on four points each ahead of their doubleheader on Saturday when hosts Croatia play Norway and Sweden meet world champions France. The top two from each of the six-team groups will advance to the semi-finals, with the final scheduled for Jan. 28. Handball - Men's EHF European Handball Championship - main round Group II - Germany v Czech Republic - Arena Varazdin, Varazdin, Croatia - January 19, 2018. Finn Lemke of Germany reacts. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic Following a pair of fortunate draws with Slovenia and Macedonia in their preliminary pool, Germany dug deep to avoid another upset and overpowered the Czechs thanks to eight goals from Steffen Fath and good goalkeeping from Andreas Wolff. The Germans scored six goals without reply to wipe out an 18-16 deficit and Wolff pulled off several stunning saves during the streak, including a penalty by the Czech Republic’s top scorer Ondrej Zdrahala. Slideshow (6 Images) Zdrahala had a quiet game after rifling in 14 goals in a 33-27 preliminary round pool win over Hungary which sent the Czechs through but was held to four goals from 12 shots by the stubborn Germany defense. The Danes pulled away from battling Slovenia, who were roared on by a full house of their fervent fans in the Varazdin Arena, midway through the second half with winger Lasse Svan netting 11 goals to claim the Man of the Match award. Denmark made good use of the space on both flanks and their quick movement of the ball in attack allowed Casper Mortensen to thrive and net six goals. Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic in Belgrade; Editing by Ken Ferris" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 3:34 PM / Updated 6 hours ago Farm spending to focus on environment after Brexit - Michael Gove Nigel Hunt 4 Min Read OXFORD, England (Reuters) - Britain will only pay public funds to farmers who provide public benefits such as wildlife habitats or improved soil quality under a post-Brexit shake-up in agricultural policies announced on Thursday. FILE PHOTO: A stack of hay bales shaped as a tractor is seen in a field near Downham Market in Norfolk, in eastern England, October 20, 2016. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo Environment Secretary Michael Gove, who spoke at two farming conferences in Oxford, also said the government would “look at ways to support farmers who may choose to leave the industry.” British farming is set for a radical overhaul after the country leaves the European Union in March 2019, when, for the first time in decades, the country will have a chance to create its own agricultural policy. Farmers in Britain will have to compete for government funds with departments such as health and education once Brussels hands over the purse strings for farming budgets to London. Under the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), british farmers receive about 3 billion pounds a year in public funds. Gove, who criticised the CAP’s “fundamentally flawed design”, estimated that around 80 percent of the funding was based on the size of farmers’ productive agricultural land. “I think that money is poorly spent. Ultimately public money should go towards people who are thinking hard and working hard in order to ensure our environment is enhanced,” he said. “If we are going to have 3 billion pounds spent then that money should be an investment in the future rather than an incentive to carry on just as people have been doing.” The new policy announced by Gove will apply only in England, after a transition period. Policies may differ in Scotland and Wales where devolved administrations control farm spending. FILE PHOTO: Farmers fields are seen above Gatwick airport near London Britain, April 19, 2017. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo WARNING ON WORKFORCE Gove said the current system of area-based funding, known as the basic payment scheme (BPS), would continue over a transition period in England after Britain leaves the EU to give farmers enough time to change their business model if necessary. “After the transition, we will replace BPS with a system of public money for public goods,” he said. FILE PHOTO: Workers planting Punkin's at Poskitts farm in Goole, Britain May 23, 2016. REUTERS/Andrew Yates/File Photo Gove said BPS payments may continue until the end of 2024 although they would be reduced in England “either through a straight cap at the maximum level or through a sliding scale of reductions, to the largest payments first.” On average, British farmers get about 15,000 pounds a year from direct payments and an EU rural development fund. For some, direct payments account for 70 percent of their income. But a significant chunk goes to wealthy individuals who are large landowners. Gove also warned farms and food companies that rely heavily on migrant labour while saying the government would pursue a “flexible migration policy overall.” “Industries which come to rely on importing cheap labour run the risk of failing to invest in the innovation required to become genuinely more productive,” he said. “Labour-intensive production inevitably lags behind capital intensive production.” Since the June 2016 British vote to leave the EU, some farmers have reported difficulties in recruiting enough workers. Gove said the British government would provide more details of its future agricultural policy in a document to be published in the spring. Reporting by Nigel Hunt; Editing by Adrian Croft" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 7:39 AM / Updated 26 minutes ago Cambodia's Hun Sen appoints son-in-law to senior police post Prak Chan Thul 3 Min Read PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen has appointed his son-in-law as deputy national police chief, in a move apparently aimed at consolidating his power ahead of an election this year. Dy Vichea, who is married to Hun Sen’s eldest daughter, Hun Mana, was promoted to the post on Tuesday, according to a government decree seen by Reuters on Thursday. The appointment comes amid political tension in the Southeast Asian nation, including a government clamp down on critics, civil rights groups and independent media. “Prime Minister Hun Sen aims to cement total control over Cambodian government and business, and appointing his son-in-law as deputy police chief is part of that ongoing effort,” Phil Robertson, deputy director for Asia at the Human Rights Watch group, told Reuters. Hun Sen celebrated 33 years in power on Sunday, and has spoken of staying on for many more years. The main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, which had attracted the support of a new generation of voters not content with what they see as the corruption and nepotism that has stalked Cambodia’s politics, was dissolved in November at the request of Hun Sen’s government. Exiled critics of Hun Sen recently said they had founded a new movement following the ban but signs of division have emerged over the new group. Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak defended Dy Vichea’s appointment and compared it with how U.S. President Donald Trump made his daughter, Ivanka Trump, his informal adviser. “There is no law that says we can’t appoint him,” Khieu Sopheak told Reuters. Business and government are entwined in Cambodia and the leadership and its family members control many of its biggest enterprises. National police chief Neth Savoeun is married to Hun Sen’s niece. Hun Sen’s daughter, Hun Mana, is chairwoman of the Kampuchea Thmey Daily and Bayon TV and Radio among at least a dozen other firms. Hun Sen’s eldest son, Lieutenant-General Hun Manet, is deputy commander of the armed forces and has for years been seen as likely to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a national leader. Editing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre, Robert Birsel" + }, + { + "text": "January 1, 2018 / 12:13 PM / Updated 8 minutes ago Arsenal draw can help West Brom build momentum, says Rodriguez Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - West Bromwich Albion forward Jay Rodriguez believes the relegation-threatened club can fight for more positive results after an uplifting 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday. Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - December 31, 2017 West Bromwich Albion's Jay Rodriguez celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff Rodriguez, 28, converted an 89th-minute penalty for West Brom to cancel out Alexis Sanchez’s free kick, which was deflected in by James McClean in the 83rd minute, and level the scores. The result leaves West Brom second-bottom in the table and on a 19-game winless streak in the league but Rodriguez is hopeful that the hard-fought draw against the fifth-placed team can help the Hawthorns outfit turn their fortunes around. ”It’s a good result, especially against a great side like Arsenal,“ Rodriguez told the club’ website (www.wba.co.uk). ”They’re always a difficult team to play because of the quality players they’ve got. ”It’s all about momentum now and we’re putting our game to other teams which is something we are working hard at. “Every lad is working to the maximum and we just need that little bit of luck, maybe, to kick us off... It’s been difficult but I really hope the momentum has changed and things will be more positive.” West Brom travel to fellow strugglers West Ham United, who are two points ahead in 18th position, on Tuesday. Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "SOFIA (Reuters) - Chung Hyeon will miss next week’s Sofia Open after failing to recover from the foot injury that forced him to retire from his Australian Open semi-final against Roger Federer, organizers said on Tuesday. The 21-year-old South Korean, who beat six-times champion Novak Djokovic in the fourth round at Melbourne Park, has climbed from 58th to 29th in the world, the highest ranking achieved by a Korean player. Bulgarian world number four Grigor Dimitrov faces a race against time to get fit to defend his title in Sofia after shoulder pain and exhaustion prevented him from practicing. Reporting by Angel Krasimirov, editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Russia’s European Medical Center (EMC), one of Moscow’s largest private healthcare providers, is considering an initial public offering this year, three financial market sources told Reuters on Thursday. Founded in 1989, EMC was initially focused on providing medical care for foreigners living in Moscow. The Baring Vostok investment funds group has held a blocking stake in EMC since 2012, while the key shareholder is businessman Igor Shilov. EMC declined to comment. So far, Russia’s only listed medical group is MD Medical Group, which specialises in fertility treatments and maternity care. It is controlled by Mark Kurtser. (Reporting by Olga Popova; writing by Katya Golubkova; Editing by Christian Lowe)" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds prices, detailed purchase breakdown from paragraph 1) HAMBURG, Jan 10 (Reuters) - The Taiwan Flour Millers’ Association last week bought 73,635 tonnes of milling wheat to be sourced from the United States, European traders said on Wednesday. The wheat was bought in two consignments for shipment from the U.S. Pacific North West coast. The first consignment for shipment between Feb. 19 and March 5 involved 18,575 tonnes of U.S. dark northern spring wheat of 14.5 percent protein content bought at $284.64 a tonne FOB U.S. Pacific North West coast; 12,375 tonnes of hard red winter wheat of 12.5 percent protein content bought at $238.95 a tonne FOB; and 6,005 tonnes of soft white wheat with 9 percent protein bought at $196.84 a tonne FOB, the traders said. The first consignment has an additional freight charge of $37.60 a tonne for ocean shipping from the United States to Taiwan, they said. The second consignment for shipment between March 8 and March 22 involved 19,200 tonnes of dark northern spring wheat of 14.5 percent protein content bought at $284.64 a tonne FOB; 11,900 tonnes of hard red winter wheat of 12.5 percent protein content bought at $240.83 a tonne FOB; and 5,580 tonnes of western white wheat with 9 percent protein bought at $199.43 a tonne FOB. The second consignment has an additional charge of $37.92 a tonne for ocean shipping from the United States to Taiwan, they said. The wheat was all sold by trading house ADM, they said. (Reporting by Michael Hogan; Editing by Mark Potter) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Gates backs Central America malaria elimination plan 7:12pm GMT - 01:30 Philanthropist Bill Gates promised millions more in funding on Wednesday as part of a new Central America malaria elimination fund aimed at wiping out the disease in seven of the region’s countries and the Dominican Republic. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Philanthropist Bill Gates promised millions more in funding on Wednesday as part of a new Central America malaria elimination fund aimed at wiping out the disease in seven of the region’s countries and the Dominican Republic. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Tech Guide I ran a DNA test on my dogs — here's what I found out Wisdom Panel 4.0 is a dog DNA test that will tell you your dog's ancestry, up to three generations. As more people seek to find out more about their ancestry, genetic test sales have become a growing businesses for companies like Amazon . But it's not just humans who can search for the code to their past. Dog DNA tests have emerged on the market as a way to find out about more about your furry companion and where they came from. It might seem silly to run a genetic test on your pets – after all, they're not going to care about the results – but when you adopt a dog, you're often left wondering about the life they led before they became a permanent member of your family. Ancestry tests can also help you anticipate health concerns typical of certain dog breeds. The DNA subjects My husband and I have a 9-year-old dog named Roscoe Jenkins and a (probably) 1-year-old dog named Amy Ruth. In 2010, I moved into my first solo apartment, and to keep up with the adulting process I wanted to get a dog. After looking on rescue sites and shelters, I stumbled across a Craigslist post from an owner in the Bronx who was looking to get rid of her 2-year-old dog. Not only did he look like he fit the bill, his name was Roscoe. Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles was my favorite restaurant when I went to college in Los Angeles, so I took it as a sign. Despite his quirks and medical maladies – he can't eat grains, beef or chicken without scratching off his fur, he went blind because of a genetic disease about a year after I got him, and he's had to get many of his teeth removed – I quickly fell in love. More than seven years later, he's still by our side. I tracked down the original owner who told me he's a Yorkipoo. But no one else believed it -- the average Yorkipoo ranges from 3 to 14 pounds, much lighter than Roscoe's 18 pounds. Roscoe doesn't shed so we always thought he was some kind of poodle mix. He loves to take toys and shake them to death, which we were told was terrier behavior. People on the street most often think he's a West Highland Terrier-poodle mixt. We wanted to add another dog, so in October 2017, we started fostering a skinny 12-pound rescue dog with the original name of Lil' Booger. She was between 1 and 2 and had just given birth to a litter of puppies. She also came with the note \"REALLY shy but adorable. Needs help with confidence.\" She had never walked on a leash, and didn't know how to play with toys. After fostering her for a few weeks, we decided to keep her and rename her Amy Ruth after my favorite fried chicken and waffles place in Harlem. We thought she looked like a Chihuahua, but she's definitely much larger than the average 3 to 7 pounds. She also has ridiculously long legs for her size and is an incredible jumper, so maybe she had rat terrier in her. We then saw a Xoloitzcuintli but with hair (otherwise known as a Mexican hairless dog), and decided that was the closest to what she looked like. Amy Ruth (left) and Roscoe Jenkins the day they met. The test I purchased the Wisdom Panel 4.0 online from the website, which usually costs $84.99. (I got a Black Friday discount.) It claims to be able to identify more than 250 dog breeds and track your dog's ancestry up to three generations. The test itself was pretty easy. You rip the box open, register the ID online, fill out basic information on the box with a pen, use two swabs to swab the inside of your dog's cheek and gums, let it dry, pack everything up, seal it up with pre-placed adhesive, and mail it out with the pre-paid postage. The company notifies you when it receives the test via email. You then get a link to a website where you can check the test's progress. It took about three weeks. The results The results include a page with a snippet of your dog's unique DNA code. The next section then shows you your dog's ancestry, followed by a little description of the breeds that make up your dog. The final section, titled \"health and traits,\" shows you if your dog has the genetic markers for multidrug sensitivity, exercise-induced collapse, and approximates your dog's weight based on its breeds, and what the genetic trait markers show your dog looks like. Roscoe Jenkins We learned that Roscoe was actually a Yorkipoo, for the most part!" + }, + { + "text": "He was 50 percent Yorkshire terrier, 25 percent miniature poodle and 25 percent mixed-breed terrier and sporting dogs. The test can only go back three generations, so for dogs that may have a ton of other breeds mixed in the results give you a \"mixed-breed\" category and tell you which kinds of dogs are in their ancestry. He was predicted to be about 8 to 17 pounds, so it was pretty accurate. Amy Ruth Amy was a quarter Chihuahua, a quarter Rat Terrier, a quarter Australian Cattle Dog (a total surprise) and a quarter of \"mixed-breeds\" from terrier, companion and herding backgrounds. In other words, she's got a little bit of everything. She was predicted to be between 19 and 33 pounds. While she's definitely gaining weight, I don't know if she'll hit that range. The one thing I did find strange is some of reported traits did not line up with what my dogs looked like, especially Roscoe. For example, his ears flop down but according to the genetic test they \"could be prick or upright.\" He also was supposed to have a saddle tan pattern of dark pigment on his back, but he's pretty much beige. Wisdom Panel lead researcher Angela Hughes pointed out Roscoe's miniature poodle breed often carries the \"prick\" allele, but doesn't always express it. It usually results in \"base-erect\" ears, which stand up at some point then flop over, instead of fully dropped ears. (That's exactly what he has.) She also said that the test showed Roscoe would be mostly tan, and have black parts like his nose and pads. When Yorkies age they can \"lighten\" or \"grey,\" which can make darker colors stand out. Roscoe's coat has become darker over the years. Hughes, who ran the test on her own rescue, said the test could give me insights into how to train my dogs. Her adopted dog was driving her nuts barking out all the windows until the DNA test revealed she was part terrier. She was able to find proper terrier training techniques to help calm her dog down. Do the results change how I feel about my dogs? Not a single bit. But at least now when someone asks me what kind of dog I have, I'll be able to answer the question. Roscoe Jenkins (left) and Amy Ruth" + }, + { + "text": "DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power IPO-ACPO.SE has invited banks to bid to arrange an initial public offer of its shares, which is expected to value the company at up to $1 billion, sources told Reuters on Wednesday. ACWA Power, a developer of electricity and water projects in the Middle East, Africa and southeast Asia, sent a request for proposals to banks last week, the sources said, declining to be named because of the commercial sensitivity of the matter. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The firm could become one of the main beneficiaries of Saudi Arabia’s effort to develop its power industry, particularly renewable energy. It is looking to sell a 30 percent stake to investors and list in Riyadh, two banking sources said. One of the sources said the company could be valued between $800 million and $1 billion, while another estimated 3.5 billion riyals ($933 million) to 4 billion riyals. Saudi Arabia aims to produce 10 percent of its power from renewable sources in the next six years as it pushes ahead with a multi-billion-dollar plan to diversify its energy mix and free up more crude oil for export. According to its own figures, ACWA Power’s portfolio generates more than 22 gigawatts of power, with investments valued at over $30 billion. ACWA has close relations with the Saudi government, with the country’s top sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, owning 13.7 percent indirectly through a subsidiary. In November 2016, the Public Investment Fund hired HSBC ( HSBA.L ) to advise it on a potential purchase of an increased stake in ACWA. It is not clear whether that purchase might still go ahead. ACWA said in September it aims to acquire one or two power generation companies owned by Saudi Electricity Co 5110.SE, whose assets are to be privatized. Additional reporting by Nawied Jabarkhyl, Saeed Azhar and Reem Shamseddine; Editing by Andrew Torchia and David Evans" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 2:57 AM / Updated 7 hours ago Lawmakers in Illinois, New York propose tackle football bans for youth Chris Kenning 3 Min Read CHICAGO (Reuters) - An Illinois lawmaker on Thursday proposed a bill that would ban tackle football in youth sports before age 12, one day after a similar bill was reintroduced in New York. Both measures highlighted the sport’s growing brain injury concerns ahead of the Feb. 4 Super Bowl, likely to be seen by hundreds of thousands of U.S. children who play youth football. Illinois Democratic state Representative Carol Sente dubbed her bill the “Dave Duerson Act to Prevent CTE,” after the former Chicago Bears player diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease linked to head trauma. Hers and a similar one from a New York legislator seek to protect developing brains from repeated blows that could cause neurological damage, said Chris Nowinski, the head of the Concussion Legacy Foundation. He said studies have linked the duration of a player’s career to the risk for such damage. “We have an obligation to protect children’s futures, especially when we know how brain trauma can be prevented,” Duerson’s son, Tregg Duerson, told Chicago’s ABC7-TV on Thursday. Both the National Football League, which has grappled with fallout from CTE in recent years, and youth football leagues have made changes to limit injury and head contact, enacting measures such as requiring players who suffer a suspected head injury to receive medical clearance before returning to play. “We hope that all youth sports will continue to take measures to reduce head contact through similar rules changes, education and improved protective equipment,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement, without directly addressing the proposed youth tackle bans. A Boston University study last year found boys who start playing American football before their 12th birthday may be at increased risk of behavioral and mood problems later in life compared with peers who hit the gridiron later. It found youth football players sustain about 250 head impacts per season. Scott Hallenbeck, executive director of USA Football, told the Washington Post that the organization has not taken a position on outlawing tackle football for children under a certain age but said it needs to look into the possibility. He could not be reached by Reuters on Thursday. It is unclear if the bills will gain traction but Nowinski said next month’s big game will focus attention. “This is a good time to be talking about this because the eyes of the country are on the Super Bowl,” Nowinski said. Reporting by Chris Kenning; Editing by Lisa Shumaker" + }, + { + "text": "Barely 16 trading days into the new year, the stock market already has exceeded many expectations for its 2018 performance. With its rise in early trading Wednesday, the S&P 500 has topped no fewer than seven full-year forecasts . That's come as the index has registered a gain of more than 6.5 percent so far and the influx into stocks shows no signs of abating. Of course, it's still early in the year. But the trend is impressive . \"I don't understand the pessimism. It doesn't make any sense. Old habits die hard,\" said Joe LaVorgna, chief economist for the Americas at Natixis. \"It's not to say we may not end the year where we started, but the momentum for higher stock prices is there because you've got all the excuses lining up for it.\" Indeed, the willingness of investors to jump into the market has fooled many top Wall Street experts, who were convinced the year would be positive but with considerably more muted returns than the market has delivered in recent years. The list of firms whose price targets were at least momentarily topped when the S&P 500 rose above 2,850 in mid-morning trade reads like an all-star lineup of prognosticators: Morgan Stanley (2,750), Goldman Sachs (2,850), Deutsche Bank (2,850), Citigroup (2,800), Wells Fargo (2,850), CFRA (2,800 12-month target) and BNY Mellon (2,850). Market watchers have a plethora of theories for the ever-rising market, from the more skeptical view that this is a late-cycle rush from the last of the bears to the more fundamental view that tax cuts and upward revisions for earnings are removing any reason for bearishness. Whatever the truth, it's undeniable that the market is defying expectations and making pessimism a losing strategy. \"As we have seen in past secular bull markets, stocks can keep rising longer than most think possible, so until we start to see signs of deterioration, we don't think it wise for most investors to get too cautious for no other reason than the appearance of a lack of caution,\" Andrew Adams, a strategist at Raymond James, said in a note. \"What it does mean, though, is that continued vigilance is crucial, and we do recommend staying tuned into what the market is telling us just in case its message begins to change.\"" + }, + { + "text": "SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GSI Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:GSIT) will release financial results for its third quarter fiscal 2018 ended December 31, 2017 at the market close on Thursday January 25, 2018. Management will also conduct a conference call to review the Company's financial results. Any investor or interested individual can listen to the teleconference, which is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Pacific (4:30 p.m. Eastern) on January 25, 2018. To participate in the teleconference, please call toll-free 866-676-1141 approximately 10 minutes prior to the above start time and provide Conference ID 3698266. You may also listen to the teleconference live via the Internet at www.gsitechnology.com . For those unable to attend, this web site will host an archive of the call. About GSI Technology Founded in 1995, GSI Technology, Inc. is a provider of high performance semiconductor memory solutions to networking, industrial, medical, aerospace and military customers. The company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California and has sales offices in the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.gsitechnology.com . CONTACT : GSI Technology, Inc. Hayden IR Mr. Douglas M. Schirle, CFO Mr. Dave Fore or Mr. Brett Maas 408-331-9802 206-395-2711 Source:GSI Technology, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 15 (IFR) - Atul Sodhi has been appointed Credit Agricole’s global head of debt capital market corporates, a new role at bank, according to an internal memo seen by IFR. Sodhi is currently head of debt origination and advisory in Asia. He will relocate to Paris in the first quarter. He will report globally to Sebastien Domanico, global head of DCM, and locally to Pierre Gay, head of Europe for global markets. Christophe Cretot is promoted to head of debt origination and advisory for Asia. He was previously deputy head, having joined the bank in 2003. Cretot will report to Jamie Mabilat, global head of debt optimisation and distribution, and to Domanico. (Reporting by Helene Durand; editing by Alex Chambers, Julian Baker)" + }, + { + "text": "MONROE, La., CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE: CTL) plans to release its fourth quarter 2017 earnings results after the market closes on Wednesday, February 14, and host a related conference call at 4:00 p.m. CST that day. The conference call will be streamed live over CenturyLink's website at ir.centurylink.com . Additional information regarding the fourth quarter 2017 results, including the presentation management will review on the conference call, will be available on the Investor Relations website. If you are unable to join the call via the Web, the call can be accessed live at [REDACTED] (U.S. Domestic) or [REDACTED] (International). A telephone replay of the call will be available beginning at 6:00 p.m. CST on February 14, 2018, and ending May 8, 2018, at 11:59 p.m. CST. The replay can be accessed by dialing [REDACTED] (U.S. Domestic) or [REDACTED] (International), reservation code 21880624. A webcast replay of the call will also be available on our website beginning at 11:00 a.m. CST on February 15, and ending May 8, at 11:59 p.m. CST. Financial, statistical and other information related to the call will also be posted to CenturyLink's Investor Relations website at ir.centurylink.com . About CenturyLink CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is the second largest U.S. communications provider to global enterprise customers. With customers in more than 60 countries and an intense focus on the customer experience, CenturyLink strives to be the world's best networking company by solving customers' increased demand for reliable and secure connections. The company also serves as its customers' trusted partner, helping them manage increased network and IT complexity and providing managed network and cyber security solutions that help protect their business. with multimedia: releases/centurylink-schedules-fourth-quarter-2017-earnings-conference-call-300584687.html SOURCE CenturyLink, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30(Reuters) - Guangdong Transtek Medical Electronics Co Ltd * Sees FY 2017 net profit to decrease by 70 percent to 87.5 percent, or to be 10.1 million yuan to 24.2 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 80.5 million yuan * Says exchange loss and decreased gross margin are the main reasons for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/LJBBZv Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "\"Maze Runner: The Death Cure\" star talks fan support 01:09 Actor Dylan O'Brien talked about the importance of fan support at a special fan screening of the movie in London on Monday (January 22). Rough cut (no reporter narration) ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Actor Dylan O'Brien talked about the importance of fan support at a special fan screening of the movie in London on Monday (January 22). Rough cut (no reporter narration) Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "No. 15 Gonzaga never trailed Saturday but needed key defensive stops in the last four minutes to hold off San Francisco 82-73 for a West Coast Conference win at McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Wash. Five players reached double figures for the Bulldogs (19-4, 9-1 WCC), led by 16 points each from forwards Killian Tillie and Johnathan Williams. Rui Hachimura came off the bench to score 14, while Silas Melson contributed 13 points. Josh Perkins added 11, canning four free throws in the last minute to seal the outcome. The Dons (12-11, 4-6) also received balanced scoring, putting four men in double digits. Frankie Ferrari and Jordan Ratinho each tallied 15 points to lead the way. Chase Foster scored 13 in a reserve role, and Matt McCarthy hit for 10 points. Ferrari canned a 3-pointer to draw San Francisco within 74-71 with 3:09 left in the game, but the Dons didn’t make another field goal after that. Their only points for the game’s remainder were foul shots by Ratinho with 2:21 remaining that made it 76-73. Williams answered with two free throws 20 seconds later, and Gonzaga quashed the Dons’ upset hopes by stopping the visitors on their last four possessions. Gonzaga started the first half as though it might win by 50 points. Tillie’s 3-pointer gave the hosts a 13-3 lead less than four minutes into the game, and the Bulldogs expanded the advantage to 29-11 at the 10:23 mark when Melson drilled a 3-pointer. However, San Francisco suddenly found traction, making it a game again as it shacked Gonzaga for the half’s remainder. The Bulldogs managed only three points after Melson’s bucket, a Perkins jumper and a Williams free throw, while going through scoring droughts of 5:50 and 3:25. The Dons methodically reeled in Gonzaga, eventually cutting the deficit to 31-29 as Lull converted a layup with 2:10 left in the half. San Francisco went into the locker room trailing by just 32-29. Both teams finished the game shooting at or just over 50 percent from the floor, but Gonzaga converted 19 of 23 free throws to San Francisco’s 8 of 11. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "U.S. company to search for missing flight MH370 9:05am EST - 01:01 Malaysia has signed a deal with Houston-based private firm Ocean Infinity to pay it up to $70 million if it can find missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 within 90 days. The jet went down in the Indian Ocean in 2014 and disappeared along with all 239 people on board. Malaysia has signed a deal with Houston-based private firm Ocean Infinity to pay it up to $70 million if it can find missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 within 90 days. The jet went down in the Indian Ocean in 2014 and disappeared along with all 239 people on board. //reut.rs/2ALCP2V" + }, + { + "text": "BLOOMFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cigna Corporation (NYSE:CI) will release its Fourth Quarter 2017 financial results on Thursday, February 1, 2018 and will host a conference call on the same day. Fourth Quarter 2017 financial results will be released no later than 6:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Management will review these results on a conference call beginning at 8:30 a.m. EST that same morning. The call-in numbers for the conference call are as follows: Live Call (888) 324-7575 (Domestic) (210) 234-0013 (International) Passcode: 2012018 Replay (888) 566-0596 (Domestic) (203) 369-3072 (International) It is strongly suggested you dial in to the conference call by 8:15 a.m. EST on February 1st. The operator will periodically provide instructions regarding the call. A replay of the call will be available from 12:30 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 1st until 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday February 15, 2018. Additionally, the conference call will be available on a live Internet web cast at under the About Cigna, Investor Relations section. Please note that this feature will be in listen-only mode. A copy of the company's news release and financial supplement will be available online at under the About Cigna, Investor Relations section, no later than 6:30 a.m. EST on February 1st. To ensure fair dissemination of information, no inquiries regarding Cigna's results should be made to the Investor Relations Department until after the conference call on February 1st. About Cigna Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) is a global health service company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. All products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North America and Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other related products including group life, accident and disability insurance. Cigna maintains sales capability in over 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has more than 95 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Cigna Corporation Investor Relations Will McDowell, 215-761-4198 [REDACTED] or Matt Asensio, 860-226-2599 Media Relations [REDACTED] Source: Cigna Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 10 (Reuters) - Industrial & Infrastructure Fund Investment Corp : * Says it plans to take out loans worth totaling 6 billion yen from banks, to fund the acquisition of properties Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/ExUKXf Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 20, 2018 / 6:29 PM / Updated 24 minutes ago Two dead, several hurt in Prague hotel fire Reuters Staff 1 Min Read PRAGUE (Reuters) - Two people died and nine were injured in a fire at a hotel in the centre of Prague on Saturday night, fire and rescue officials said. The fire occurred at Eurostars David Hotel, a block away from the Vltava River and near the Czech capital’s National Theatre. Of those hurt, five people were seriously injured, the Prague Emergency Medical Service said. “Unfortunately we were not able to help two people,” the EMS said on its Twitter. Slideshow (3 Images) No other details on the victims were given. Seznam Zpravy news website reported the hotel has 152 beds. Rescue officials had earlier said 40 were injured, although Czech media reported that most were treated for smoke inhalation on the spot and not taken to hospital. The cause of the fire was not clear. Reporting by Jiri Skacel and Jason Hovet; Editing by Andrew Bolton" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 6:14 PM / Updated 25 minutes ago Britain's anti-EU party in chaos over racist messages Guy Faulconbridge 4 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - The United Kingdom Independence Party, which transformed British politics by securing a referendum on EU membership, was close to meltdown on Monday over the fate of its leader, whose lover made racist comments about Prince Harry’s fiancee Meghan Markle. Under Nigel Farage, UKIP became a significant force in British politics by convincing the government to call a national vote and then campaigning successfully for Britain to leave. But since Farage quit, UKIP has descended into chaos, partly as its main objective - leaving the EU - is now the official policy of both the Conservative and Labour parties. Farage, a fan of U.S. President Donald Trump who has accused traditional politicians of failing voters, dismissed speculation that he may be plotting to create a new political party to ensure a full break with the EU. “No thoughts of a new party, whatever some may speculate,” Farage told Reuters. Asked if he would return to frontline politics, he said: “Doubt it.” Farage declined to comment on the confusion inside UKIP, whose leader Henry Bolton has refused to resign after his lover, Jo Marney, made offensive comments about Markle and black people in text messages to a friend. Marney, who began dating Bolton just after Christmas, described Markle, a U.S. actress whose father is white and mother African-American, as a “dumb little commoner” and said “her seed with (sic) taint our royal family”, according to the texts printed in a Sunday newspaper. Marney also described black people as ugly. She later apologised for the text messages and Bolton said they were ending their relationship. Henry Bolton, the leader of UKIP (United Kingdom Independence Party) gives a statement in Folkestone, Britain, January 22, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay ‘DRAIN THE SWAMP’ Without the charisma of Farage, a former metals trader who charmed right-wing media, UKIP has suffered. His first successor, Diane James, resigned after just 18 days and her successor, Paul Nuttall, quit after UKIP won only 1.8 percent of votes in last June’s parliamentary election. Bolton lost a vote of confidence from the party’s national executive committee on Sunday but told reporters in Folkestone, southern England, on Monday that “I shall not be resigning as party leader”. Bolton promised to “drain the swamp” of UKIP and remove those responsible for infighting. “During the next four weeks I shall be calling for the coordination and mobilisation of all Leave campaigns, to ensure that the government delivers full independence from the European Union,” he said. Bolton has said Marney’s texts were abhorrent, unwise and offensive. UKIP’s deputy leader, Margot Parker, resigned in protest at Bolton’s refusal to go, the BBC reported. Under Farage, UKIP had won nearly 4 million votes - a share of 12.6 percent - in the 2015 election on its anti-EU platform, projecting it to the forefront of British politics even though it only managed to win one seat in parliament. Its popularity prompted then-prime minister David Cameron, who once dismissed the party as being full of “fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists”, to hold the Brexit referendum. Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Michael Holden and Kevin Liffey" + }, + { + "text": "'Chain migration' to U.S. takes a tumble under Trump Thursday, January 04, 2018 - 02:13 Even without action by Congress, the number of immigrants approved for family-based visas has dropped this year to the lowest level in more than a decade, a Reuters review of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Department of Homeland Security data shows. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Even without action by Congress, the number of immigrants approved for family-based visas has dropped this year to the lowest level in more than a decade, a Reuters review of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Department of Homeland Security data shows. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 12:30 AM / Updated 13 minutes ago South Korea sends athletes for joint training at North Korean ski resort Christine Kim 3 Min Read SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea will begin a joint training programme at the Masikryong ski resort in North Korea on Wednesday as had been initially planned, the South’s Ministry of Unification said, with a 45-person delegation engaging in a two-day trip. The South Korean delegation, which includes roughly 30 athletes, flew in a chartered Asiana Airlines plane at 0140 GMT on Wednesday from Yangyang International Airport in northeastern South Korea to Kalma Airport in Wonsan, the ministry said. The charter had been set up in order not to conflict with existing sanctions imposed against North Korea by the United States, spokesman Baik Tae-hyun told a regular briefing. Baik said he could not say how Asiana was selected for the charter flight. According to U.S. unilateral sanctions against North Korea, no ship or aircraft can visit the United States within 180 days of going to North Korea. “Negotiations were made (with the United States) to avoid conflict with sanctions for this time only,” said Baik, adding Washington had given its consent for the flight on Wednesday. The South Korean delegation will be joined on their return trip by North Koreans who will visit the South to prepare for the Pyeongchang Olympics that begin on Feb. 9. North and South Korea launched rare talks early in January to bring North Koreans to the Winter Olympics after the North’s leader, Kim Jong Un, said in a New Year’s address he was willing to open discussions with Seoul. The two Koreas have since agreed on several things, including cultural performances by North Korea in the South and a unified women’s ice hockey team for the Olympics. They were also scheduled to hold a joint cultural performance in North Korea’s Mount Kumgang resort but Pyongyang decided to call it off late on Monday, blaming South Korean media for encouraging “insulting” public sentiment about the North. Asked why South Korea or North Korea had not called off Wednesday’s joint training, Baik said it was “inappropriate” to try to assess Pyongyang’s intentions while the South was only carrying out its agreements made with the North. “Whatever North Korea is thinking, we believe stable peace on the Korean peninsula should be created by utilising new developments and North Korea’s participation in the Winter Games, led by us,” said Baik. Reporting by Christine Kim; Editing by Paul Tait and Michael Perry" + }, + { + "text": "January 28, 2018 / 4:57 PM / Updated 30 minutes ago Bailey scores again as Leverkusen are back in second Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BERLIN (Reuters) - Bayer Leverkusen struck twice in the second half to beat Mainz 05 2-0 on Sunday and reclaim second place in the Bundesliga on goal difference from Schalke 04. Leon Bailey fired them into the lead with a 20-metre missile three minutes after the restart with the sensational 20-year-old Jamaican taking his goal tally to eight this season. Wendell added another with a penalty in the 68th as Leverkusen equalled a club record of having scored in their last 25 consecutive Bundesliga matches. Argentine Lucas Alario should have grabbed a late goal but keeper Robin Zentner kicked his bouncing close-range header wide. The result lifted them to second place and 34 points, as many as third-placed Schalke 04, and one point ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt. Leverkusen have now lost just once in their last 15 league games. Bayern Munich are on track for a record-extending sixth consecutive Bundesliga title after coming from 2-0 down to crush Hoffenheim 5-2 on Saturday to stay 16 points clear at the top on 50. Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Pritha Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "HOUSTON, Jan. 31, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via OTC PR WIRE-- Quantum Medical Transport, Inc. (OTCBB:DRWN) announces plans to launch a $50 Million ICO (Initial Coin Offering) via Private Placement to raise capital for growth, debt restructuring, stock repurchase and acquisitions. The company is in the process of having its white paper/private placement memorandum developed to launch its Pre-ICO offering. The digital tokens or custom coins known as cryptocurrency similar to (e.g. Bitcoin and Ether) will be offered via a known credible Fintech public blockchain Etherum based platform, which will enable digital coin traders known as miners to purchase the utility coins in fiat currency, Bitcoin or Ether. A formal prospectus/white paper will be released soon. Our prospectus will be offered to accredited investors pursuant to Rule 506(c). We believe this will become the norm for venture capital type capital raises. The company will seek to develop a FINTECH blockchain technology that enables secure encryption data sharing (Health Information Data Exchange) that will be HIPAA compliant. We believe this technology platform can be a significant revenue generator for the company as healthcare professionals such physicians, medical facilities including nursing homes we currently service will be able to utilize the subscription service that will use a multi-signature, multi-layer secure key code through a set of customized nodes to transport data. (This announcement appears as a matter of record only and is not an offer to sale any securities. No party has been authorized to sale securities on behalf of the company. Any offer and sale will be conducted via prospectus only to qualified investors). About Quantum Medical Transport/United Ambulance QUANTUM MEDICAL TRANSPORT, INC. /UNITED AMBULANCE, LLC is an emergency and non-emergency medical services transportation company that operates in the State of Texas. The Company provides basic and advanced life support ground transport in an emergency and non-emergency setting, 24 hours a day, and seven days a week. The Company makes both local and regional out-of-town services available on a daily dispatch basis. Management remains focused on providing prompt, high-quality patient care at the Advanced and Basic Life Support levels. Employees will work diligently to achieve goals while maintaining the highest standards of care. CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as \"believes,\" \"expects,\" \"may,\" \"will,\" \"intends, \"plans,\" \"should,\" \"seeks,\" \"pro forma,\" \"anticipates,\" \"estimates,\" \"continues,\" (including their use in the negative), or by discussions of strategies, plans or intentions. A number of factors could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated by such forward-looking statements, including those discussed under \"Risk Factors\" and \"Our Business.\" Forward- subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated for many reasons. Source: QUANTUM MEDICAL TRANSPORT, INC. Investor Relations: Ricky Bernard 832-436-1831 x100 [REDACTED] www.quantummedicaltransport.com Source:Quantum Medical Transport, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration supports bipartisan bills in Congress to toughen U.S. foreign investment rules amid growing concern about Chinese efforts to buy U.S. high-tech companies, the White House said in a statement on Wednesday. The legislation would broaden the government’s power to stop foreign purchases of U.S. firms by strengthening the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). The bills “would achieve the twin aims of protecting national security and preserving the longstanding United States open investment policy,” the White House said. The bills, introduced in November by Republican Senator John Cornyn and Republican Representative Robert Pittenger, have Republican and Democratic co-sponsors. The Senate Banking Committee will hold a hearing on the topic on Thursday. The legislation would expand CFIUS’ reach to allow it to review, and potentially reject, smaller investments and add new national security factors for CFIUS to consider. Those factors include whether information about Americans, such as Social Security numbers, would be exposed as part of the transaction or whether the deal would facilitate fraud. CFIUS already has a reputation for being tough on high-tech deals involving China in particular and has blocked transactions that involve sophisticated semiconductors. It has become more cautious since President Donald Trump was inaugurated a year ago amid growing political and economic tensions between the United States and China. The panel has balked at approving a broader range of deals from China since the inauguration, according to lawyers who specialize in representing proposed transactions to the board. Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Paul Tait" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider the legality of President Donald Trump’s latest ban on travelers from certain countries, giving the justices a chance to settle a yearlong legal battle over one of the White House’s most controversial initiatives. The justices in a brief written order said they would hear the Trump administration’s appeal of lower-court rulings that said the president’s efforts were likely unlawful, a case that began with a lawsuit filed by the state of Hawaii. ... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16 (Reuters) - Qualcomm Inc on Tuesday gave a much higher than expected outlook for 2019 revenue and profit as the U.S. semiconductor firm tries to rebuff a hostile bid from Broadcom Ltd. Qualcomm forecast adjusted per share profit to be between $6.75 and $7.50 on a revenue of $35 billion to $37 billion in 2019. Analysts on an average expected a profit of $3.79 per share on revenue of $23.59 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. In November, Qualcomm’s board rejected Broadcom’s $103 billion cash-and-stock bid, saying it undervalued the company. Shares of the San Diego, California-based Qualcomm rose 2.2 pct to $66.84 in early trading. (Reporting by Muvija M and Aishwarya Venugopal in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 11:10 AM / Updated 9 minutes ago MOVES-Swiss banking group EFG names new COO Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 11 (Reuters) - Swiss private banking group EFG International AG on Thursday said it appointed Christian Flemming as its new chief operating officer. Flemming will replace Mark Bagnall, who will become EFG’s chief technology officer. Both will start their roles on Jan. 15. Flemming was head of finance at Banco BTG Pactual S.A. and before that COO at BSI until the acquisition by EFG. EFG also said that Peter Fischer will step down as head of strategy and will focus on post-integration optimization of BSI as well as certain strategic projects. (Reporting by Ahmed Farhatha in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D‘Souza)" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 8:51 PM / in 11 minutes LG Electronics to hike washer prices in U.S. after tariffs Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. unit of LG Electronics Inc will raise prices of most of its washers in the United States after the government announced tariffs on imports of large, residential washers, according to a letter sent by LG to its partners. U.S. President Donald Trump approved recommendations to impose safeguard tariffs on imported large residential washing machines and imported solar cells and modules, a trade official said on Monday. (Reporting by Arunima Banerjee in Bengaluru; editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30(Reuters) - Nanning Department Store Co Ltd : * Sees FY 2017 net profit to be 1.7 million yuan to 2.5 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net loss was 34.3 million yuan * The reasons for the forecast are enhanced promotion and closing of net loss shops as well as contribution from subsidy Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/4bzwEA Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has cleared Boeing Co’s ( BA.N ) 787-10 Dreamliner for commercial use, the planemaker said on Monday. The Boeing 787-10, which competes with Airbus SE’s ( AIR.PA ) A350, is a stretched version of the earlier 787-9 Dreamliner and can carry 330 people, seven more than originally designed for. Boeing said it has more than 170 orders for the fuel-efficient jetliner so far, from nine customers worldwide, and deliveries will start in first half of 2018. Reporting by Sanjana Shivdas in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 4:25 PM / in 32 minutes Republican U.S. Representative Issa of California to retire: statement Reuters Staff 1 U.S. Representative Darrell Issa, who as head of the House of Representatives’ Oversight Committee pursued the investigation of American deaths in Benghazi, Libya, said on Wednesday he would not seek re-election in November. “Throughout my service, I worked hard and never lost sight of the people our government is supposed to serve. Yet with the support of my family, I have decided that I will not seek re-election in California’s 49th District,” he said in a statement.Issa is from one of the 23 congressional districts won by Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election that are currently held by Republicans, who are now considered vulnerable in November congressional elections. Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Jonathan Oatis" + }, + { + "text": "(Refiles to widen distribution) DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 24 (Reuters) - China will this year roll out fresh market-opening measures that could exceed international expectations, Liu He, a member of the Communist Party’s 25-person politburo, said in Davos on Wednesday. China will ease restrictions for foreign companies in its manufacturing and services sectors, said Liu, who was leading the Chinese delegation to the annual World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort town. (Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)" + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 8:11 AM / in 13 hours Nokia signs its first official 5G equipment deal with NTT DoCoMo Reuters Staff 2 Min Read FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Finland’s Nokia said on Friday it signed its first major deal to supply new 5G wireless radio base stations to Japanese telecom operator NTT DoCoMo, which boasts nearly half of the country’s mobile subscribers. The contract marks Nokia’s first sizeable deal for its flagship mobile base station equipment based on official global New Radio (NR) standards for the fifth generation of wireless networks, which were only finalised in December 2017. Financial terms were not disclosed. The deal contemplates DoCoMo starting commercial 5G network service by 2020, in time for the Tokyo Olympics, Nokia said. Initial installations are expected in greater metropolitan Tokyo with a national roll-out to follow in subsequent years. Nokia, a major supplier to DoCoMo in both the 3G and 4G network eras, has been working with the Japanese operator since at least 2014 on trials of 5G equipment, which promises far faster data rates, greater capacity and quicker response times. The 5G antennas and related base stations act as the local connections between users of mobile phones and computing devices with the backbone of any operator’s network. The new equipment also promises to enable DoCoMo to provide new services for autonomous driving, industrial automation and smarter homes by providing wireless links to millions even billions of wireless sensors. Nokia said it will work with DoCoMo to ensure a smooth transition from existing 4G networks. Reporting by Eric Auchard; Editing by Christoph Steitz" + }, + { + "text": "SHANGHAI (Reuters) - A Chinese salvage team recovered two bodies on Saturday from a stricken Iranian oil tanker, that was still blazing a week after it caught fire and was left adrift following a collision in the East China Sea, state news agency Xinhua reported. The four members of the salvage team wore respirators to board the “Sanchi”, where they found the two bodies on the deck. They tried to get to the living quarters but were driven back by temperatures on the burning ship of around 89 Celsius (192 Fahrenheit), Xinhua said. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif by telephone that “as long as there is 1 percent of hope, China will continue to make 100 percent effort” in the rescue effort, according to a report on the ministry website. The body of a mariner suspected to be from the ship was recovered on Monday and sent to Shanghai for identification. The rest of the crew, which included 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis, remains missing. The salvage team recovered the voyage data recorder, or “black box” from the bridge, before leaving the vessel less than half an hour after boarding because the wind had shifted and “thick toxic smoke” had complicated the operation, Xinhua said. Reporting by Winni Zhou and John Ruwitch; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Ros Russell" + }, + { + "text": "Week ahead: markets fixate on Fed officials 10:04am GMT - 01:52 With global stock markets smashing record after record last week, the December minutes from the Federal Reserve hardly appeared on many traders' radars. But this week, FOMC thinking will loom large amid a slew of US central banker appearances. David Pollard reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript With global stock markets smashing record after record last week, the December minutes from the Federal Reserve hardly appeared on many traders' radars. But this week, FOMC thinking will loom large amid a slew of US central banker appearances. David Pollard reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 10 (Reuters) - Apollo Global Management Llc: * NORTHWOODS ENERGY, A PORTFOLIO COMPANY OF FUNDS AFFILIATED WITH APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT, ANNOUNCES ITS ACQUISITION OF SM ENERGY’S POWDER RIVER BASIN ASSETS FOR $500 MILLION * NORTHWOODS ENERGY LLC - ACQUISITION COMPRISED OF OVER 112,200 PREDOMINANTLY CONTIGUOUS NET ACRES OF LEASEHOLD IN CONVERSE, CAMPBELL, JOHNSON COUNTIES" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 4:59 PM / in 21 minutes MOVES-Eaton Vance Management adds global fixed-income team Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 31 (Reuters) - Eaton Vance Management, a unit of Eaton Vance Corp, said it would hire a five-person global fixed-income team to bolster its global income group. Team leader Astrid Vogler, who previously led the group at Oechsle International Advisors, will assume the role of lead portfolio manager. At Oechsle, Vogler was head of fixed income for 27 years. The team currently advises about $830 million and will continue to be based in Frankfurt. (Reporting by John Benny)" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 3:08 AM / Updated 29 minutes ago Magnitude 7.8 quake strikes off Central America -USGS Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 9 (Reuters) - A massive earthquake of magnitude 7.8 struck north of Honduras in the Caribbean Sea on Tuesday, sparking a tsunami warning in the area, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. (Reporting by Sandra Maler in Washington; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 1:52 PM / Updated 21 minutes ago South Africa's ANC debating Zuma's exit, no date agreed Reuters Staff 2 Min Read JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa’s ruling party discussed this week removing President Jacob Zuma as head of state but no decision or date for his departure was agreed, Secretary General Ace Magashule said on Monday. There has been widespread speculation in local media that the African National Congress’ (ANC) 80-member Executive Committee passed a resolution this week calling for the removal of Zuma as South African president. “We have not arrived at the decision that Zuma must go, or Zuma must not go. It is you the media who says Zuma must go,” Magashule told reporters after the four-day ANC meeting. “Officials were seized with this matter, and officials will remain to be seized with this matter.” It is expected that Zuma’s deputy and the new leader of the ANC, Cyril Ramaphosa, will succeed him as head of state. Since Ramaphosa won a tightly contested party leadership race in December he has pledged to clean up the image of the ANC and tackle the corruption that has dogged Zuma’s tenure, piling pressure on the scandal-plagued president. The rand has rallied to a 2-1/2 year high since Ramaphosa’s ANC leadership victory as investors bet he would crack down on corruption and implement policy reforms. Reporting by Alexander Winning; Writing by Joe Brock; Editing by Ed Cropley" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 4:09 AM / Updated 6 minutes ago South Korea says still pushing forward on other projects with North Korea Christine Kim 3 Min Read SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea will go ahead with other Winter Olympics projects with North Korea despite Pyongyang calling off a joint cultural performance that was less than a week away, a South Korean government official said on Tuesday. North Korea called off the joint cultural performance, which had been scheduled for Feb. 4, late on Monday, blaming South Korean media for encouraging “insulting” public sentiment. However, the North and South were still in negotiations over plans for South Korean athletes to train at North Korea’s Masikryong ski resort, an official at the Ministry of Unification in Seoul told Reuters. There seemed to be no problems regarding plans for the joint training programme, said the official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter. However, given the North’s decision on Monday, the official said it was unlikely any joint performance would be held before the Winter Olympics begin in Pyeongchang on Feb. 9. The Unification Ministry sent a statement to the North in response, saying all events agreed upon for success of the Pyeongchang Olympics should be held without fail. “In this situation, where North and South Korea have taken their first step towards improving relations, agreements should be upheld out of mutual respect and understanding,” the ministry said. North and South Korea launched rare talks early in January to bring North Koreans to the Pyeongchang Games after the North’s leader, Kim Jong Un, said in a New Year’s address he was willing to open up discussions with Seoul. President Moon Jae-in has seen his support rate drop over his administration’s response to North Korea’s participation in the Games, especially after it decided to form a combined women’s ice hockey team with athletes from the two Koreas for the Winter Olympics. Many South Koreans have complained that the unified women’s hockey team - the only such joint team to be formed - was unfair to the South Korean players. More than a hundred petitions against the unified team have been sent to the presidential Blue House’s website. Government and opposition parties criticised Pyongyang’s decision to call off the performance on Tuesday, with Moon’s Democratic Party saying in a statement “frequent promise-breaking leads to fatigue”. “It’s North Korea’s responsibility to show its sincerity. It’s no help flipping on agreements like one would flip their hand,” the party said. Reporting by Christine Kim; Editing by Paul Tait and Clarence Fernandez" + }, + { + "text": "Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices on Wednesday pushed back on a statement from Intel about a recently documented security flaw, saying its chips are mainly not affected. AMD expects to publish security research on the flaw later on Wednesday but did provide an initial statement of its own: To be clear, the security research team identified three variants targeting speculative execution. The threat and the response to the three variants differ by microprocessor company, and AMD is not susceptible to all three variants. Due to differences in AMD's architecture, we believe there is a near zero risk to AMD processors at this time. AMD rose slightly after AMD issued the statement. The stock had fallen after Intel issued its statement earlier. On Tuesday the Register suggested that the flaw did not impact AMD's chips but instead primarily impacted chips from Intel. But Intel's public statement on Wednesday indicated that the flaw isn't restricted to Intel's CPUs. That said, Intel did indicate it's working with other companies, including AMD, to resolve the issue, and AMD's initial statement shows it is cooperating. \"As we typically do when a potential security issue is identified, AMD has been working across our ecosystem to evaluate and respond to the speculative execution attack identified by a security research team to ensure our users are protected,\" AMD said. Intel CEO Brian Krzanich spoke about the incident in a conversation with CNBC's Jon Fortt, saying that Google first informed Intel about the issue and that to Intel's knowledge the flaw had not been exploited." + }, + { + "text": "GENEVA, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Taiwan has launched a demand for compensation for U.S. safeguard tariffs on solar panels, opening a 30-day window for negotiations, a World Trade Organization filing showed on Tuesday. Taiwan said that as an exporter with a substantial interest, it was requesting consultations with the United States under the WTO’s Agreement on Safeguards, which gives exporting countries the right to trade sanctions if no agreement on compensation is agreed. South Korea took similar action last week. (Reporting by Tom Miles, Editing by William Maclean)" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 5:58 PM / Updated 3 hours ago Macron sings praises of Italian prime minister ahead of election Reuters Staff 3 Min Read ROME (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron heaped praise on Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in Rome on Thursday, less than two months before national elections in Italy that opinion polls say the ruling centre-left government will lose. Italy's Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni embraces French President Emmanuel Macron at the end of a news conference at Chigi palace in Rome, Italy, January 11, 2018, REUTERS/Max Rossi Macron told reporters at the end of a two-day visit to Rome that he had no intention of interfering in the Italian ballot, which is set for March 4. But his comments left little doubt over where his sympathies lay. “It is up to Italians to decide how to vote, but let me say that Europe has been very lucky to have Gentiloni and I hope we can continue the work that we have started,” he told a news conference, standing alongside the Italian leader. Gentiloni’s Democratic Party (PD) is trailing in the opinion polls to both the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and a centre-right bloc that includes the far-right Northern League party and the nationalist Brothers of Italy. All the main opposition parties are seen as hostile to Brussels to various degrees and all are seeking significant changes to EU budget rules. The League is also pushing for Italy to quit the euro currency, although its partners reject this. French President Emmanuel Macron gestures during a news conference at Chigi palace in Rome, Italy, January 11, 2018, REUTERS/Max Rossi Macron took power in France in May promoting a fiercely pro-EU agenda. On Thursday he again stressed the importance of a united and purposeful Europe. “Can I say that the European Union is positive for Italy, and can I also say that an Italy which believes in Europe is positive for Europe,” Macron said. Italy's Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni and French President Emmanuel Macron arrives prior a news conference at Chigi palace in Rome, Italy, January 11, 2018, REUTERS/Max Rossi The ruling PD, which is led by former prime minister Matteo Renzi, has often clashed with Brussels over budget rigours, but at the same time, it has championed ever-closer integration. Looking to strengthen Franco-Italian ties, Macron and Gentiloni unveiled a new treaty on Thursday which they said would provide a strong framework for relations between the second- and third-largest economies in the euro zone. “We have always worked together in an extraordinary way, but we are convinced that this will make our relations even stronger and more systematic,” Gentiloni said. Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte; Writing by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Hugh Lawson" + }, + { + "text": "January 27, 2018 / 6:13 AM / in 6 hours Yang Chin-Long to be next governor of Taiwan's central bank: sources Reuters Staff 1 Min Read TAIPEI (Reuters) - Yang Chin-long, deputy governor of Taiwan’s central bank, will replace Perng Fai-nan at the helm when the 79-year-old financial veteran retires next month, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Saturday. Perng, the bank’s governor for 20 years, will become a central bank adviser when his term expires, the sources said. According to the sources, Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has recently invited Perng to talks at the presidential palace in a last-ditch effort to persuade him to stay on as governor. Yang’s appointment must still be approved by the presidential palace. The central bank and presidential office could not be immediately reached for comment outside business hours. Yang was born in 1953. The 64-year-old holds a doctorate degree from the Institute of Economic Research at the University of Birmingham. Before becoming the central bank’s vice governor, Yang was director of the bank’s London representative office. Reporting by Liang-Sa Loh; Writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by Tom Hogue" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 9:07 AM / Updated 10 minutes ago U.S. aircraft carrier to visit Vietnam in March - defence ministry Reuters Staff 1 Min Read HANOI (Reuters) - In a post-war first, the United States will send an aircraft carrier to Vietnam, Hanoi’s defence ministry said on Thursday, in a major demonstration of deepening military ties between the former enemies more than four decades after the Vietnam War. The announcement of the proposed visit, that could bring the most U.S. forces to the country since the conflict ended in 1975 came during a two-day visit by U.S. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis to Hanoi which was expected to focus on shared concerns about China. The arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier in Vietnam is expected to be welcomed by an emerging network of countries who are nervously eyeing China’s military rise, particularly its assertive stance and island-building activities in the South China Sea, a vital global trade route linking Northeast Asia with the Middle East and Europe. Reporting by Phil Stewart and James Pearson; Editing by Jacqueline Wong" + }, + { + "text": "Hanks on 'delegitimizing the media' at 'The Post's' European premiere 01:10 Tom Hanks says U.S. President Donald Trump calling publications fake news is a form of ''guerrilla war.'' Rough cut (no reporter narration). Tom Hanks says U.S. President Donald Trump calling publications fake news is a form of \"guerrilla war.\" Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2AOIWU6" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 3:05 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Cricket-Philander bags career-best figures as S Africa beat India Reuters Staff 1 Min Read CAPE TOWN, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Seamer Vernon Philander took career-best figures as rampant South Africa claimed a 72-run victory over India in a gripping first test at Newlands on Monday. Set 208 for victory, India were skittled for 135 in 42.4 overs in their second innings on a lively wicket with Philander the chief destroyer, recording figures of 6-42 for his first five-wicket haul in tests since 2013. India had looked to seize control of the test when they bowled South Africa out for 130 in the morning session, but found the home attack on the seamer-friendly wicket too much of a challenge. South Africa are hosting India in a three-test series this month, with matches to come in Pretoria, starting on Saturday, and Johannesburg. (Reporting By Nick Said, Editing by William Maclean)" + }, + { + "text": "2 Hours Ago | 04:03 Top White House officials derided President Donald Trump for his intelligence, according to claims in an upcoming book seen by NBC News. Michael Wolff's book, \"Fire and Fury,\" describes colorful comments made by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , former chief of staff Reince Priebus , chief economic advisor Gary Cohn and national security advisor H.R. McMaster. \"There was now a fair amount of back-of-the-classroom giggling about who had called Trump what. For Steve Mnuchin and Reince Priebus, he was an 'idiot.' For Gary Cohn, he was 'dumb as s--t.' For H.R. McMaster he was a 'dope.' The list went on,\" an excerpt reads, according to NBC. show chapters 46 Mins Ago | 02:51 The book, set to be released Jan. 9, follows reports this summer that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called the president a \"moron.\" Tillerson has not specifically denied making that comment. The comments in the book extended beyond the president himself. Former chief strategist Steve Bannon, whose comments about Donald Trump Jr. drew the president's ire , also called Ivanka Trump \"dumb as a brick\" in the book, according to NBC and The Wall Street Journal. Earlier Wednesday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the book was \"filled with false and misleading accounts from individuals who have no access or influence with the White House.\" WATCH: Trump disavows Steve Bannon: 'He not only lost his job, he lost his mind' show chapters" + }, + { + "text": "January 13, 2018 / 10:41 AM / Updated 40 minutes ago ATP World Tour 250 / WTA Premier, Sydney Results Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 13 (OPTA) - Results from the ATP World Tour 250 / WTA Premier, Sydney Men's Singles matches on Saturday .. Final .. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) beat Alex De Minaur (AUS) 1-6 6-4 7-5" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - The U.S. government will create a division within its health agency that focuses on guaranteeing “conscience and religious freedom” for health workers who say their beliefs prevent them from carrying out abortions and other procedures. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement on Thursday that the creation of the new division in its Office of Civil Rights would give it “the focus it needs to more vigorously and effectively enforce existing laws protecting the rights of conscience and religious freedom.” The effort is likely to please conservative Christian activists, many of whom voted for President Donald Trump, and congressional Republicans but upset reproductive rights advocates and Democrats. Politico reported on Wednesday that the department is aiming to give protections for workers who do not want to provide abortions, care for transgender patients, or perform other procedures because of moral or religious grounds. The division would enforce that protection and conduct compliance reviews, audits and other enforcement actions to ensure that health care providers are allowing workers with religious or moral objections to opt out. Trump last May signed an executive order called “Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty,” which was followed by new rules aimed at removing a legal mandate that health insurance provide contraception. The creation of the division is in accordance with that order, according to HHS documents." + }, + { + "text": "SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The Chinese government is considering a plan to allow companies involved in the Belt and Road initiative to raise money via yuan-denominated initial public offerings in Hong Kong, the China Daily reported on Wednesday. Under the plan, the government would pick top companies linked to the Belt and Road scheme and facilitate their fundraising in the offshore market, the newspaper said, quoting Zhang Xiaoqiang, vice chairman of the China Center for International Economic Exchange. Introduced in 2013, the Belt and Road project is aimed at building a modern-day economic “Silk Road”, connecting China by land and sea to Southeast Asia, Pakistan and Central Asia, and beyond to the Middle East, Europe and Africa. The IPO plan remained under discussion and there was no timeline for when it might be implemented, the newspaper said. The report did not include details of how the government would facilitate fundraisings in Hong Kong. Zhang is a former vice director of the National Development and Reform Commission, or NDRC. The newspaper said he had been consulted on a “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area” scheme. “Through such attempts, the government hopes Hong Kong would be able to play a greater role in facilitating the initiative on the investment front and further promoting internationalisation of the yuan,” he was Quote: d as saying. He added that Hong Kong’s lack of restrictions on capital and currency convertibility made it “ideal as a core center” for Belt and Road-related fundraising. Reporting by John Ruwitch; Editing by Sam Holmes" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 23 (Reuters) - Fine DNC Co Ltd : * Says 3.5 billion won worth of its 2nd series convertible bonds have been converted into 1.9 million shares of the co, at 1,881 won/share * Says listing date of new shares is Feb. 6 Source text in Korean: goo.gl/oCExd9 Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 2:33 PM / Updated 34 minutes ago FedEx commits $3.2 billion to raise pay, expand hubs after U.S. tax overhaul Eric M. Johnson 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Package delivery company FedEx Corp said on Friday it will spend more than $3.2 billion on wage increases, bonuses, pension funding and capital investment, taking advantage of the U.S. tax overhaul signed into law in December. The Memphis, Tennessee-based company said it would invest $1.5 billion to significantly expand its hub in Indianapolis over the next seven years and modernize and enlarge its Memphis SuperHub. The new tax code allows companies to immediately write off the full value of capital costs, which helps make projects more financially attractive, but that benefit starts to phase out in 2023. It also permanently lowers the U.S. corporate rate to 21 percent from 35 percent. The announcement makes FedEx the latest U.S. company to promise higher pay for workers, citing the tax cuts. FedEx, which said the recent tax changes would likely boost economic growth and investment in the United States, also said it would contribute $1.5 billion to an employee pension plan. The company plans more than $200 million in higher compensation, about two-thirds of which will go to hourly employees with the remainder funding increases in performance-based incentive plans for salaried workers. FedEx shares were down 0.3 percent in morning trading. Reporting by Rachit Vats in Bengaluru, Eric M. Johnson in Seattle, and Nick Carey in Detroit; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Meredith Mazzilli" + }, + { + "text": "MILAN (Reuters) - Italian oil and gas group Eni said on Thursday it had installed new capacity at its supercomputing centre near Milan to create the world’s most powerful industrial computer. The new capacity quadruples the group’s computing power, allowing it to process up to 22.4 quadrillion operations per second, the company said. “In our industry it is increasingly important to be able to process ever-increasing amounts of data, ensuring more accurate and faster results,” Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi said. The state-controlled firm has invested heavily in high-powered computing to give it an edge over rivals in exploration and get its resources to market faster. After giant gas discoveries in Mozambique and Egypt, it has one of the industry’s best discovery track records in recent years. In December, it said it had produced first gas from its Egyptian supergiant Zohr field in just two and a half years, a record time for this type of field. Reporting by Stephen Jewkes; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - FCAU.N: * FCA ANNOUNCES PLAN TO INVEST MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN MICHIGAN PLANT, ADD 2,500 NEW JOBS AND PAY $2,000 BONUS TO U.S. EMPLOYEES; ACTIONS SUPPORTED BY U.S. TAX REFORM * FCA US LLC - ANNOUNCED TWO ACTIONS -- ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IN U.S. MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS, SPECIAL PAYMENT TO EMPLOYEES * FCA US LLC - RAM HEAVY DUTY TRUCK PRODUCTION WILL RELOCATE FROM MEXICO TO MICHIGAN IN 2020 * FCA US LLC - ACTIONS ANNOUNCED ON THURSDAY MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY PASSAGE OF U.S. TAX REFORM LEGISLATION LATE LAST YEAR * FCA US LLC - WILL MAKE SPECIAL BONUS PAYMENT OF $2,000 TO ABOUT 60,000 FCA HOURLY AND SALARIED EMPLOYEES IN THE U.S., EXCLUDING SENIOR LEADERSHIP Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Power management company Eaton has been named among America’s best employers for diversity by Forbes magazine. “We are very pleased to be recognized for the progress we’ve made on our inclusion and diversity journey and we’re committed to getting better every day,” said Cathy Medeiros, vice president, Global Inclusion and Diversity, Eaton. “It’s important to our organization that all employees experience a culture of inclusion where everyone’s uniqueness is appreciated and there is a sense of belonging that allows everyone to contribute their best.” The ranking was compiled by asking a sampling of 30,000 U.S. employees to evaluate their employers on issues of diversity in the workplace. Participation in the survey was voluntary, and respondents were recruited from thousands of sources to maximize reach and representation of the U.S. workforce. A company’s score is determined by three parts, direct employee recommendations, a public perception score and an index of objective and publicly available diversity key performance indicators. Eaton is a power management company with 2016 sales of $19.7 billion. We provide energy-efficient solutions that help our customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power more efficiently, safely and sustainably. Eaton is dedicated to improving the quality of life and the environment through the use of power management technologies and services. Eaton has approximately 96,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 175 countries. For more information, visit Eaton.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Eaton Scott R. Schroeder, [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Source: Eaton" + }, + { + "text": "SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - The deportation of alleged gang members to El Salvador from the United States surged close to 140 percent in 2017, the Central American country’s migration authority said on Wednesday. The United States deported 1,241 Salvadorans in 2017 for alleged connection to gangs, compared to 524 in the previous year, the government said. Ninety of those individuals were later arrested in El Salvador, the migration authority said. U.S. President Donald Trump implemented a crackdown on illegal immigrants that has included nationwide raids to arrest teenagers who entered the country without guardians and are suspected gang members. The raids were a sharp departure from practices during the presidency of Barack Obama. Under Obama, minors could only be targeted for deportation if they had been convicted of crimes, but were not arrested simply for suspected gang activity or membership. Impoverished El Salvador has been plagued by a wave of violence attributed to the gangs, popularly known as “maras.” The government touted a 25 percent drop last year in homicides as a sign that its strategy to fight gangs is working, but it still has one of the highest murder rates in the world. Reporting by Nelson Renteria; Editing by Sandra Maler" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19 (Reuters) - Beijing Global Safety Technology Co Ltd : * SAYS IT PLANS TO BUY ANHUI‘S KDLIAN FOR 287.7 MILLION YUAN ($44.96 million) VIA SHARE ISSUE * SAYS IT AIMS TO RAISE UP TO 173 MILLION YUAN IN SHARE PRIVATE PLACEMENT TO FUND PROJECT Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2EVG4Hu Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3990 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 7:48 AM / in 31 minutes UK's N Brown Group revenue rises 3.2 pct on good Christmas Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Jan 23 (Reuters) - British clothing retailer N Brown Group Plc reported a 3.2 percent rise in third-quarter revenue and said it had a robust Christmas season. The revenue rise at N Brown contrasts that of traditional British retailers, who have reported subdued trading on increasing online competition and pressure on consumer spending. The company, whose brands target women aged 30 and above, and those of a larger frame, revenue from its brand Simply Be rose 14.5 percent, partly helped by its Christmas campaigns. Revenue at its other two power brands, JD Williams and Jacamo, rose 3 percent and 4.6 percent respectively in the 18- week period to Jan. 6. N Brown said its overall online penetration rose 4 percentage points year-on-year to 74 percent, with total online sales rising 9 percent. The company, which maintained its full-year profit view, said it expected product gross margin for the year ending March to be down between 225 basis points and 250 basis points, due to higher promotional activity. That compares with its prior estimate of a fall of 70 basis points to 120 basis points. (Reporting by Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - BP Plc said it had invested $5 million in U.S. mobile electric vehicle charging company FreeWire, helping it provide rapid charging at its retail sites in Britain and Europe, as demand for cleaner vehicles is expected to soar. BP joins rival Royal Dutch Shell, which last year agreed to buy Dutch-based NewMotion, the owner of one of Europe’s largest electric vehicle charging networks, marking the company’s first deal in electric mobility. The expected rapid growth in the use of electric vehicles in the coming decades is threatening oil companies’ business model as demand for some road fuels could plateau as early as the late 2020s. BP, whose venturing business invested in FreeWire, said it plans to roll out the San Francisco- based technology firm's Mobi Charger units at selected retail sites in the United Kingdom and Europe this year. on.bp.com/2nquzkl “Mobility is changing and BP is committed to remaining the fuel retailer of choice into the future. EV charging will undoubtedly become an important part of our business, but customer demand and the technologies available are still evolving,” BP’s Downstream CEO, Tufan Erginbilgic, said. Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru and Ron Bousso in London; Editing by Keith Weir" + }, + { + "text": "MILWAUKEE, Jan. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MGIC Investment Corporation (NYSE: MTG) today announced that Melissa Lora has been elected to the Board of Directors for MGIC Investment Corporation and its principal subsidiary, Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation (MGIC). She will be a member of the Risk Management and Audit Committees. \"We are excited about Melissa's addition to the board,\" said Curt Culver, MGIC Investment's chairman. \"Her substantial executive management, financial and marketing experience makes her a natural fit and we look forward to her contributions.\" Melissa Lora, since 2013, has been President of Taco Bell International, a segment of Taco Bell Corp., which is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., one of the world's largest restaurant companies. Ms. Lora served in various roles at Taco Bell Corp., including Global Chief Financial and Development Officer (2012-2013), Chief Financial and Development Officer (2006-2012) and Chief Financial Officer (2001-2006). Ms. Lora will be retiring from Taco Bell Corp. in the summer of 2018. Since 2016 Ms. Lora has served as Lead Independent Director and chairs the Audit Committee for KB Home. About MGIC MGIC ( www.mgic.com ), the principal subsidiary of MGIC Investment Corporation, serves lenders throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and other locations helping families achieve homeownership sooner by making affordable low-down-payment mortgages a reality. At December 31, 2017, MGIC had $194.9 billion of primary insurance in force covering approximately one million mortgages. From time to time MGIC Investment Corporation releases important information via postings on its corporate website without making any other disclosure and intends to continue to do so in the future. Investors and other interested parties are encouraged to enroll to receive automatic email alerts and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds regarding new postings. Enrollment information can be found at under \"Newsroom.\" View original content: SOURCE MGIC Investment Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "January 7, 2018 / 4:02 PM / Updated an hour ago Yemen's Houthis shoot down Saudi-led coalition warplane: TV Reuters Staff 1 Min Read DUBAI (Reuters) - Yemen’s Houthi forces shot down a warplane of the Saudi-led coalition in Saada province, broadcasters said on Sunday. Saudi-owned TV channel Al Arabiya said the two pilots survived. The Houthi armed movement’s TV channel al-Massirah said the fighter was a Britain-made Tornado. It gave no details on the pilots. Reporting By Aziz El Yaakoubi; editing by John Stonestreet" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 3:44 PM / Updated an hour ago Exclusive: German government raises 2018 growth forecast to 2.4 percent: sources Gernot Heller 3 Min Read BERLIN (Reuters) - The German government has raised its 2018 growth forecast to 2.4 percent from 1.9 percent previously, two people familiar with the updated projections said on Monday. The revision follows a string of bullish economic data that showed Europe’s largest economy is still firing on all cylinders after posting its strongest growth rate last year since 2011. The buoyant economic outlook contrasts sharply with the uncertain political picture as Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives struggle to seal a coalition deal with the Social Democrats (SPD) more than four months after a federal election. The government expects exports to grow by 5.3 percent this year and imports to rise by 5.8 percent, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity, adding that unemployment was seen falling to 5.3 percent from 5.7 percent in 2017. The better-than-expected growth rate and falling joblessness are likely to boost the state’s overall tax take, pushing up an already high budget surplus and creating more fiscal leeway to lower taxes and increase state spending. Acting Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries, a senior member of the Social Democrats, will present the outgoing government’s updated growth forecast during a news conference on Wednesday. A ‘grand coalition’ of Merkel’s conservatives and the SPD have governed Germany since 2013 and the parties are now trying to relaunch their alliance for a further four years. Sentiment surveys last week showed that business confidence rose unexpectedly in January to match November’s record high, while consumer morale brightened heading into February to reach its highest level since 2001. Household spending has become the main source of economic expansion in Germany as consumers benefit from record-high employment, increased job security, rising real wages and low borrowing costs. The consumer-led upswing has been reinforced by a rebound in exports, propelling German economic growth to a calendar-adjusted 2.5 percent in 2017. The economy grew by 2.2 percent if not adjusted for the lower number of workdays last year. The Ifo economic institute is a bit more optimistic than the government, forecasting an expansion of 2.6 percent in 2018. Editing by Gareth Jones" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - The Office for National Statistics released the following consumer price indices on Tuesday: DEC NOV DEC FORECAST CPI (HICP) Mth-on-mth (pct) 0.4 0.3 0.4 Yr-on-yr 3.0 3.1 3.0 Core CPI (ex- energy, food, (alcohol and tobacco) Mth-on-mth (pct) 0.3 0.3 0.4 Yr-on-yr 2.5 2.7 2.6 CPIH (CPI plus owner occupier housing costs) Mth-on-mth 0.3 0.3 Yr-on-yr 2.7 2.8 RPI Mth-on-mth (pct) 0.8 0.2 0.6 Yr-on-yr 4.1 3.9 3.9 RPIX (RPI ex-mortgages) Mth-on-mth 0.8 0.1 Yr-on-yr 4.2 4.0 COMPONENTS OF CPI (pct): DEC YR/YR NOV YR/YR Food & non-alcoholic bevs 0.6 3.9 0.5 4.1 Alcoholic bevs & tobacco 0.5 5.6 -0.4 4.5 Clothing & footwear -0.9 3.1 1.2 3.0 Housing,water,elec,gas,fuels 0.1 2.3 0.1 2.4 Furniture, hhold equip, main. 1.3 3.2 0.3 2.8 Health 0.1 3.2 0.0 3.3 Transport 2.2 3.8 0.1 4.5 Communication -1.3 1.0 0.3 1.9 Recreation & culture -0.4 2.7 0.7 3.1 Education 0.0 2.8 0.0 2.8 Restaurants & hotels -0.1 3.1 0.3 3.2 Misc. goods & services 0.0 0.8 -0.1 0.6 All goods 0.1 3.4 0.6 3.3 All services 0.7 2.5 0.0 2.8 Fuels and lubricants 0.7 4.7 1.6 3.5 CPIH owner-occupier costs 0.1 1.3 0.0 1.5 (Reporting by UK Economics Team in London)" + }, + { + "text": "Gold Another tiny digital coin leaps into the top 10 cryptocurrencies Digital currency tron, or TRX, climbed 112 percent Thursday to 20.5 cents, according to CoinMarketCap. That put the digital coin briefly into eighth place by market capitalization. Tron's gains followed a tweet from founder Justin Sun early Thursday that the company \"will announce our partnership with a very prestigious public company next week.\" Tron is repeating a pattern seen in the last few weeks of lesser-known cryptocurrencies surging into the ranks of the largest digital currencies. SHARES Source: Samxmeg A digital coin worth about a dime a day ago has doubled in price, briefly climbing into eighth place among cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Tron climbed 112 percent Thursday to 20.5 cents, according to CoinMarketCap. The website showed that tron's latest gains gave the coin a market cap of $13.5 billion, greater than that of litecoin and just behind that of another coin, stellar. Litecoin had recovered eighth place by midafternoon Thursday. Tron's gains followed a tweet from founder Justin Sun early Thursday that the company \"will announce our partnership with a very prestigious public company next week.\" Sun tweeted later in the day that the news would come in a live stream event on \"January 6th 10 am GMT+8 Beijing time.\" Tron 30-days performance Source: CoinMarketCap The company is focused on creating a blockchain-based platform for monetizing digital entertainment. Investors listed on its website include some big names in Chinese business today, such as Wei Dai, founder of bike sharing company ofo. Tron's surge follows a pattern of the last few weeks in which lesser-known cryptocurrencies have dramatically climbed into the ranks of the top 10 coins by market cap. Ripple has soared more than 1,000 percent in the last month into second place. In just the last week, stellar has leaped more than 300 percent, climbing into the top 10 coins and rising as high as sixth place. \"We are seeing the beginnings of renewed speculative fever driven by fears of missing out on the big gains that have recently happened in the crypto space,\" William Mougayar, organizer of the Token Summit conferences, said in an email. \"Although there were some cryptocurrencies that were under-valued a month ago, and they deserved the run-up, things are getting a little over-heated right now,\" Mougayar said. Bitcoin, the largest and most well-known digital currency, has gained 1,300 percent over the last 12 months to near $15,000, according to Coinbase. Much of the buying in the smaller cryptocurrencies is coming from bitcoin holders. About 79 percent of tron trading volume was in bitcoin , and 19 percent in ethereum , according to CryptoCompare. It's not clear whether tron takes its name directly from the science fiction movie, but its 10-year projected development timeline on its website has heavy references to \"Star Trek.\" The project is still in the initial \"Exodus\" stage. CoinMarketCap data show tron began trading in September at a tenth of a penny." + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 10:17 AM / Updated 16 minutes ago Turkey says all court cases of coup participants to be concluded by year-end Reuters Staff 1 Min Read ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish courts will have ruled on all cases of suspects who allegedly took part in failed coup attempt by the end of this year, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Wednesday. FILE PHOTO - Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim looks on during his meeting with Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Costas Baltas Yildirim told a justice conference in Ankara that cases related to the July 2016 attempted putsch could be divided into two groups - those involving individuals who allegedly participated directly in the coup and those who are accused of indirect involvement. He said the former cases would be all concluded by the end of 2018. Reporting by Ece Toksabay and Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by David Dolan" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 11:03 AM / Updated 6 hours ago Britain's May clear she wants Brexit deal that works for UK - spokesman Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May has been clear she wants to negotiate a Brexit deal that works for the whole of the United Kingdom and does not believe it is time for a second referendum on independence for Scotland, her spokesman said on Monday. FILE PHOTO - Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May arrives to attend the European Union summit in Brussels, Belgium, December 14, 2017. REUTERS/Yves Herman “The prime minister has been absolutely clear on her determination to secure a deal and that will be a good deal which works for all parts of the United Kingdom as well as for the EU. And second, she has been very clear over a number of months that now is not the time for a second referendum in Scotland,” the spokesman told reporters. Reporting by Elizabeth Piper. Editing by Andrew MacAskill" + }, + { + "text": "Russia opposes U.S. bid to change Iran nuclear deal 12:48am IST - 01:26 Russia will not support U.S. attempts to modify the Iran nuclear deal, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday. Jihan Abdalla reports. Russia will not support U.S. attempts to modify the Iran nuclear deal, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday. Jihan Abdalla reports. //reut.rs/2B3Ith1" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 1:09 PM / in 8 hours Lobsters must be comfortably numb before cooking: Swiss gov't Reuters Staff 2 Min Read ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland has banned the common culinary practice of throwing fresh lobsters into boiling water as part of an overhaul of its animal protection rules. A lobster is seen after being caught in the fishnets aboard the seiner of fisherman Miltos Hondroudakis (not pictured) near the shores of the island of Fournoi, Greece July 1, 2017. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis/File Photo “Live crustaceans, including the lobster, may no longer be transported on ice or in ice water. Aquatic species must always be kept in their natural environment. Crustaceans must now be stunned before killing them,” say the rules adopted by the government on Wednesday that will take effect in March. The regulations also aim to crack down on illegal puppy farms, outlaw automatic devices that punish dogs for barking, spell out conditions for putting down sick or injured animals, and make organisers responsible for animal welfare at public events. The Swiss are not alone in trying to protect lobsters from what activists call cruel treatment in the kitchen. Neighbouring Italy’s highest court ruled in June that lobsters must not be kept on ice in restaurants because it causes them unjustifiable suffering before they head for death by fine dining. Reporting by Michael Shields; Editing by Hugh Lawson" + }, + { + "text": "Andre Berry scored a career-high-tying 20 points, Jared Terrell added 17 and No. 24 Rhode Island prevailed 78-58 against Fordham in a battle of Rams on Wednesday night at Rose Hill Gymnasium in New York. Stanford Robinson was the only other double-digit scorer with 16 for Rhode Island (16-3, 8-0 Atlantic 10). The visitors won their 11th consecutive game and extended their program-best start in conference play. The 11 straight victories marks the longest streak for Rhode Island in 70 years. The program’s last such streak began in the 1946-47 season and extended into the following campaign. Will Tavares led the hosts with 17 points while Prokop Slanina had 13 as Fordham (6-14, 1-7) saw its season-high losing streak swell to six. Joseph Chartouny, Fordham’s third-leading scorer, was held to three points on 1-of-7 shooting. The hosts shot 42.2 percent (19 of 45) for the game. Rhode Island made 29 of 61 shots, 47.5 percent. After jumping into the AP Top 25 poll this week for the first time this season, Rhode Island played with a sense of urgency to prove it belonged right from the start. The visitors jumped out to a 36-27 edge at the break and outscored Fordham 42-31 in the final period. A 3-pointer from Fordham’s Ivan Raut tied the game at 22 with 5:10 left in the opening half before Rhode Island rattled off a quick 8-0 run and took control at the break. Fordham was within 40-31 with 17:49 to go in the game before Rhode Island pulled away to complete the rout. Rhode Island returns to the floor on Saturday when it hosts Duquesne, a game that breaks up a stretch of four out of five on the road. Fordham is also in action on Saturday when it visits Massachusetts. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 6:04 PM / Updated 14 minutes ago Barclays to cut 100 senior jobs at its investment bank - source Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s Barclays is to cut 100 senior roles from its investment banking division, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The cutbacks will be split evenly between Europe and the United States and be weighted towards roles at the director and managing director level, the source added. The job cuts were first reported by Bloomberg. Reporting by Emma Rumney, editing by Silvia Aloisi" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday Moscow is ready to support direct talks between parties involved in the North Korea missile crisis. North Korea and South Korea held talks last week after a prolonged period of tension over the North’s missile and nuclear programs. Reporting by Jack Stubbs; Writing by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber; Editing by Jack Stubbs Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Transport, water, energy and health businesses in Britain could be fined as much as £17 million ($23.9 million) if they don't have the \"most robust\" safeguards in place to guard against cyber-attacks. In an announcement Sunday, the U.K. government said that a \"simple\" and straightforward system would be created to make it easy for businesses to report both IT failures and cyber breaches. Fines will be issued as a last resort, the government said, and will not apply to organizations deemed to have adequately assessed the risks, taken sufficient security measures and engaged with regulators. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published guidance — based around 14 key principles — on what organizations need to do to comply with the new system. The new rules relate to the implementation of the Network and Information Systems Directive, which will apply from May 2018. \"We want our essential services and infrastructure to be primed and ready to tackle cyber attacks and be resilient against major disruption to services,\" Margot James, the minister for digital and the creative industries, said in a statement. \"I encourage all public and private operators in these essential sectors to take action now and consult NCSC's advice on how they can improve their cyber security.\" NCSC CEO Ciaran Martin said the new guidelines would give \"clear advice\" on what organizations had to do to implement what he described as essential cyber security measures. \"Network and information systems give critical support to everyday activities, so it is absolutely vital that they are as secure as possible,\" he added. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the issue of cyber security is becoming more and more important. In 2017, a significant ransomware attack, WannaCry, hit 300,000 computers in 150 countries, according to authorities. In the U.K., dozens of National Health Service trusts were caught up in the incident. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook ." + }, + { + "text": "MILPITAS, Calif., Jan. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nanometrics Incorporated (NASDAQ:NANO), a leading provider of advanced process control systems, will release its fourth quarter and full year 2017 financial results after market close on February 6, 2018. A conference call to discuss the results will be held at 4:30 PM ET. To participate in Nanometrics’ Q4/FY 2017 conference call: Dial-In Numbers : (877) 374-4041 (U.S.) (253) 237-1156 (Int’l) Conference ID: 5497447 A live and recorded webcast of the conference call and supplemental financial information can be accessed from Nanometrics’ website at www.nanometrics.com . About Nanometrics Nanometrics is a leading provider of advanced, high-performance process control metrology and inspection systems used primarily in the fabrication of semiconductors and other solid-state devices, including sensors, optoelectronic devices, high-brightness LEDs, discretes and data storage components. Nanometrics' automated and integrated metrology systems measure critical dimensions, device structures, topography and various thin film properties, including three-dimensional features and film thickness, as well as optical, electrical and material properties. The company's process control solutions are deployed throughout the fabrication process, from front-end-of-line substrate manufacturing, to high-volume production of semiconductors and other devices, to advanced three-dimensional wafer-level packaging applications. Nanometrics' systems enable advanced process control for device manufacturers, providing improved device yield at reduced manufacturing cycle time, supporting the accelerated product life cycles in the semiconductor and other advanced device markets. The company maintains its headquarters in Milpitas, California, with sales and service offices worldwide. Nanometrics is traded on NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol NANO. Nanometrics' website is . Investor Relations Contact: Claire McAdams Headgate Partners LLC 530.265.9899 [REDACTED] Company Contact: Greg Swyt VP, Finance 408.545.6146 [REDACTED] Source:Nanometrics Incorporated" + }, + { + "text": "Japan's robot expo sparks debate on future of work 4:27pm GMT - 01:28 Nearly 200 companies have gathered in Tokyo to showcase the latest in robotic industry technology. As Sonia Legg reports, Japan is hoping they are part of the answer to a labour shortage caused by an ageing population. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Nearly 200 companies have gathered in Tokyo to showcase the latest in robotic industry technology. As Sonia Legg reports, Japan is hoping they are part of the answer to a labour shortage caused by an ageing population. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW, Jan 22 (Reuters) - International Bank of Azerbaijan has applied to a local district court for a 180-day extension to its restructuring proceeding, D.F. King, an agent to the lender on the restructuring, said in a statement. IBA, which is Azerbaijan’s biggest lender and is controlled by the state, is undertaking a $3.3 billion debt restructuring. (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Jack Stubbs and Toby Chopra)" + }, + { + "text": "CLINTON, Conn., Jan. 22, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Connecticut Water Service Inc. (Nasdaq: CTWS) today announced that its board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.2975 per common share payable on March 15, 2018, for shareholders of record as of March 1, 2018. This quarterly dividend remains unchanged from the previous quarter and represents an annualized dividend of $1.19 per share. The company’s annual dividend yield at the stock market closing price on Jan. 19, 2018, was 2.2 percent. Connecticut Water has paid quarterly dividends on its common stock since its founding in 1956 without interruption or reduction and has increased dividend payments for each of the past 48 years. Connecticut Water’s board of directors also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share on Preferred A shares (CTWSO) payable on April 16, 2018, for shareholders of record as of April 2, 2018, and a quarterly cash dividend of $0.225 on Preferred 90 shares (CTWSP) payable on May 4, 2018, for shareholders of record as of April 20, 2018. New direct stock purchase program The company is also pleased to announce that it has adopted a new direct stock purchase program. The program enables stockholders and new investors to purchase shares of CTWS common stock directly from CTWS. Previously, only customers of CTWS’s water utility subsidiaries and employees were able to purchase common shares directly from the company. The new program is a component of CTWS’s existing dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan. Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc., CTWS’s transfer agent and registrar, is the administrator of the plan. Stockholders and new investors may obtain a copy of the plan, the plan prospectus, enrollment information and forms at . All stockholders and new investors considering enrollment in the plan should carefully review the terms of the plan; the plan prospectus, including the investment objectives, business strategies and risks described therein; and CTWS’s periodic filings made with the SEC and should also consult with their advisers as to the implications of enrollment in the plan. Annual Meeting of Shareholders The board also announced the date of the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 10, 2018, at 2 p.m. at the Madison Beach Hotel in Madison, Conn. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sale of the shares referred to in this press release in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. About CTWS Through its regulated water utility subsidiaries, CTWS serves more than 134,000 water customers, or more than 425,000 people, in 80 communities across the states of Connecticut and Maine, and 3,000 wastewater customers in Southbury, Conn. It is New England’s largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility. Since January 2012, CTWS has grown its customer base by more than 45 percent, or more than 44,000 customers, primarily through large acquisitions in Maine in 2012 and Heritage Village Water Company and Avon Water Company in Connecticut in 2017. This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding the company’s results of operations, financial position and long-term strategy. These forward-looking statements are based on current information and expectations, and are subject to risks and uncertainties discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from expected results. We undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. News media contact: Daniel J. Meaney, APR Director of Corporate Communications Connecticut Water Service Inc. 93 West Main St., Clinton, CT 06413-1600 (860) 664-6016 Source:Connecticut Water Service, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "MEXICO CITY, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Mexico’s economy ministry on Monday criticized a U.S. decision to slap tariffs on imported washing machines and solar panels and said it would use all legal means at its disposal to ensure the United States met its international obligations. “Mexico’s government regrets the United States’ decision not to exclude Mexico from the measures taken today,” the ministry said in a statement, noting that the United States imported some $278 million worth of washing machines from Mexico in 2016. In addition, the United States imported some $1.127 billion worth of solar panels from Mexico that year, it added. Referring to the legal measures it would make use of to ensure the United States fulfilled its international obligations, Mexico pointed to compensation envisaged under an article of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). (Reporting by Dave Graham)" + }, + { + "text": "(The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters.) * GRAPHIC: China seaborne iron ore imports vs SGX price: reut.rs/2DWLToF By Clyde Russell LAUNCESTON, Australia, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Spot iron ore prices in Asia appear to be poised on the precipice of a steep decline as a myriad of factors suggest an imminent correction. Except for one factor, which is probably enough to hold them up, at least for a little longer. On the bearish side, port inventories SH-TOT-INV in top importer China are at a record high of 154.3 million tonnes, steel prices are starting to weaken as China’s vast property sector shows signs of easing growth, and supply from major exporters Australia and Brazil is expected to increase. In theory these factors should be more than enough to start a slide in spot prices, but so far this hasn’t happened. Iron ore futures traded on the Singapore Exchange (SGX), which are based on the spot price for China cargoes, ended at $76.46 a tonne on Monday, up 7.3 percent since the end of last year and 31 percent since the 2017 low of $58.53 on Nov. 1. China’s domestic iron ore benchmark futures ended Monday at 543 yuan ($84.84) a tonne, up 2.5 percent since the end of last year and 22.6 percent from their 2017 low in late October. While both contracts are off highs reached earlier in January, the decline so far has been modest, and certainly not enough to claim the current uptrend has been reversed. The strongest reason why iron ore prices are holding up well is that China’s imports have remained robust. China imported 1.07 billion tonnes of the steel-making ingredient in 2017, up 5 percent on the prior year, according to customs figures. December’s imports looked soft at 84.14 million tonnes, but vessel-tracking data compiled by Thomson Reuters Supply Chain and Commodity Forecasts suggest a strong January is in the offing. JANUARY REBOUND? Imports from the seaborne market are estimated at 106 million tonnes, a figure which if achieved would by a monthly record. There are some caveats to that number, with the main risk being the large number of ship arrivals forecast for the last two days of the month. The data has been filtered to show only vessels that have already discharged cargoes, are currently discharging or awaiting discharge at a Chinese port or are underway and expected to reach China by the end of the month. The detailed breakdown of the ships shows 36 vessels are due to arrive at Chinese ports on either Jan. 30 or Jan. 31, meaning the risk is that those cargoes will only be offloaded in February, and thus miss being counted in the official figures for January. While it’s likely that the vessel-tracking data is currently overstating the strength of imports in January, it’s unlikely to be doing so by a wide margin, and the takeaway from the numbers is that China’s appetite for imported iron ore remains strong. The SGX futures curve isn’t currently suggesting a rapid retreat in prices, with the April contract at $72.20 a tonne and December’s at $68.43. This is in stark contrast to the forecast from the Australian government, which expects the iron ore price to drop 20 percent in 2018 from 2017 to an average $51.50 a tonne. Rising supply and ongoing rationalisation of China’s steel sector were the main reasons for the bearish forecast, released on Jan. 8 by the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. If the department’s view is correct, this implies iron ore prices are going to have a fairly dramatic reversal at some stage this year. It will likely take an easing in imports to focus the market on the downside risks to iron ore prices, given the raft of bearish factors currently visible haven’t ended the rally. Editing by Richard Pullin" + }, + { + "text": "January 6, 2018 / 2:30 AM / Updated 11 hours ago Pixar's 'Coco' strikes a chord in Mexico guitar town Josue Gonzalez 2 Min Read PARACHO, Mexico (Reuters) - Pixar’s hit film “Coco” has struck all the right notes in the tiny Mexican hamlet of Paracho, home to the traditional Mexican guitar made famous in the movie. FILE PHOTO - Benjamin Bratt, who plays the voice Ernesto de la Cruz, attends Disney-Pixar's U.S. premiere of \"Coco\" in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California, U.S. November 8, 2017. REUTERS/David McNew Nestled in the western central highlands of the Sierra Madre, Paracho is seeing a boom in guitar sales following the worldwide success of “Coco.” The film follows a boy who accidentally finds himself in the land of the dead during the Mexican celebrations for the Dia de los Muertos. Central to the plot is the boy’s trusty Paracho-style guitar. The 16th century-style guitars have been a way of life in the town of 30,000 for centuries. According to legend, a priest with the original Spanish conquerors decided locals in the village should be taught a craft to support their economy. Paracho soon gained fame as Mexico’s capital for the manufacture of stringed instruments, and “Coco” has now brought its craftsmen global fame and booming sales, artisans said. The film, released by Walt Disney Co’s Pixar, has grossed more than $550 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. It ranks as the highest grossing movie in Mexico ever. Costs for the hand-made guitars range from around 2,000 Mexican pesos ($104 dollars) to those made with fine wood that fetch up to 20,000 pesos ($1,042 dollars). Due to popular request, local artisans have given the traditionally black guitar a Day-Of-The-Dead twist by painting the instrument white and adding a cartoon of the traditional Mexican skull on its front. Editing by Leslie Adler" + }, + { + "text": "SYDNEY (Reuters) - The New South Wales government has awarded a contract worth more than A$2 billion ($1.60 billion) to construction company Grocon, retail property firm Scentre Group ( SCG.AX ) and Chinese-backed developer Aqualand to build the final stage of the Barangaroo development in Sydney. Shipping facilities on prime harbour-front land in the heart of Australia’s largest city are being converted into a combination of office space, retail outlets, apartments, a hotel, a casino and recreational space. The development, valued at more than A$8 billion ($6.4 billion) overall, is expected to house more than 23,000 workers and residents, and host thousands more visitors daily, the NSW government’s Barangaroo Delivery Authority (BDA) said on its website. The BDA announced on Friday that it had chosen the consortium for Central Barangaroo which is to be built on a 5.2 hectare (52,000 square meter) disused container terminal. Central Barangaroo is the third and final stage of the development which is expected to be finished in 2024, the BDA says on its website. Aqualand, a Sydney-based subsidiary of Shanghai-based developer Shenglong Investment Group, will fund and develop the residential component of Central Barangaroo, the BDA said. Scentre Group which owns Westfield in Australia and New Zealand, will fund the retail centre. Grocon will lead the design and construction, develop the commercial office component and will appoint an investor in the coming months, the BDA said. Reporting by Alison Bevege; Editing by Jacqueline Wong" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 7:33 PM / in 35 minutes Tillerson to visit Latin America Feb. 1-7: State Department Reuters Staff 1 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will travel to Latin America from February 1 to 7, visiting Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, with a stop in Jamaica, and the crisis in Venezuela will be a focus of talks, the U.S. State Department said on Friday. “U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will travel to Austin, Texas, and then to Mexico City, Mexico; Bariloche and Buenos Aires, Argentina; Lima, Peru; Bogotá, Colombia; and Kingston, Jamaica on February 1-7,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. Reporting by David Alexander and Katanga Johnson; Editing by Mohammad Zargham" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Britain will have even more money to spend on public services than the disputed 350 million pounds a week Brexiteers promised after the country leaves the European Union, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said in an interview published on Tuesday. The 350 million pound ($482 million) figure was a central and controversial part of the pro-Leave campaign’s “Take back control” message in the runup to the 2016 referendum. Last September government statisticians accused Johnson of misusing state data by repeating it. Britain’s theoretical gross contribution to the EU in 2016 was 18.9 billion pounds -- more than 360 million per week -- but this was automatically lowered to 13.9 billion pounds by a rebate arrangement that has been in place since 1984. The government received a further 4.4 billion pounds back to spend mostly on farm subsidies and infrastructure in poorer regions. Overall, Britain’s net payment to the EU worked out at 181 million pounds a week. Brexit opponents say Johnson and other pro-Leave campaigners deliberately misled the public by saying 350 million pounds a week could be spent on the state-run National Health Service (NHS), a claim emblazoned on a campaign bus, and it has become symbolic of the divisions caused by the referendum. But in the Guardian interview Johnson said the UK’s weekly gross contribution to the EU would rise to 438 million pounds by the time Britain left the bloc. “There was an error on the side of the bus,” Johnson told the Guardian newspaper. “We grossly underestimated the sum over which we would be able to take back control. As and when the cash becomes available – and it won’t until we leave – the NHS should be at the very top of the list.” Johnson has previously said the 350 million pound figure referred to the gross payments to the EU, rather than the net amount. It also does not take account of EU funds given directly to other British bodies such as universities. In the last week, a number of senior Brexit campaigners such as Nigel Farage, the former head of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), suggested there needed to be another referendum to reaffirm the 2016 result of 52-48 percent in favour of leaving the EU. They fear Prime Minister Theresa May’s approach has led to the watering down of several of their demands, including the ability to reduce immigration and to reclaim sovereignty by leaving the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. May has ruled out another vote and Johnson also told the paper he did not think there should be another referendum. “We’ve just had one, and I think it went pretty well but it was something that caused an awful lot of heartache and soul-searching, and everybody went through the wringer on it,” he said. “I‘m not convinced that the public is absolutely gagging for another Brexit referendum.” ($1 = 0.7256 pounds) (Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Hugh Lawson)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - China Transinfo Technology Co Ltd : * SAYS IT ISSUES REVISED ACQUISITION PLAN, TO ACQUIRE 92.0435 PERCENT OF HANGZHOU TECH FIRM FOR 4.3 BILLION YUAN ($679.00 million) * SAYS IT WILL OWN 95.3202 PERCENT STAKE IN HANGZHOU FIRM AFTER TRANSACTION Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2DLGyDU Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3328 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "SAO PAULO, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Brazilian Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles said on Thursday that a recent decision by Standard & Poor’s to cut the nation’s credit rating is not scaring off investors. “Investors were already taking that into account and were already looking forward and seeing the measures that are being taken, which is that the fiscal issue...is being confronted,” he said in a radio interview. Meirelles, a potential candidate in a presidential election scheduled for October, added that he will make a decision on whether or not to run at the end of March. Reporting by Bruno Federowski; Writing by Gram Slattery" + }, + { + "text": "EditorsNote: rewords second sentence Darnell Nurse’s second goal of the game completed Edmonton’s comeback as the Oilers erased an early two-goal deficit to beat the Arizona Coyotes 4-2 Friday night in Glendale, Ariz. Oilers goalie Al Montoya, who entered in relief after starting netminder Cam Talbot surrendered two goals in just over three minutes of play, stopped all 19 shots he faced at the Gila River Arena to earn his first victory for the club that acquired him via trade from the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 4. Nurse netted the winner at 3:57 of the third period when he unloaded a slap shot from the top of the left circle that cleanly beat Arizona goalie Antti Raanta. Nurse’s fifth goal of the season it was remarkably similar to his first-period marker that began the comeback. The Oilers had lost three straight and recorded just one win in eight games prior to meeting the Coyotes, a stretch that has put their playoff hopes on thin ice. Nurse’s first goal put Edmonton on the board at 14:16 of the opening frame and provided some much needed life for a club that scored only four times in its previous six outings. Edmonton’s Patrick Maroon tied the contest at 2-2 when he scored with 38 seconds left in the first period. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added an empty-netter for the Oilers, who saw captain Connor McDavid record two assists. Talbot officially made only one save before he was hooked. It was yet another stinging defeat for the Coyotes, who sit last in the Western Conference, especially after they built an early lead thanks to goals by Brad Richardson and Josh Archibald in the game’s first 3:17. The Oilers finish a five-game road trip Saturday at the Vegas Golden Knights before having their bye week. The Coyotes, who did receive some good news with defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson returning to action after missing 16 games due to an upper-body injury, visit the San Jose Sharks on Saturday before starting their bye week. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds comment, details, table, byline) By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss NEW YORK, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Speculators' net short dollar bets rose in the latest week to their largest amount since mid-October, according to calculations by Reuters and Commodity Futures Trading Commission data released on Friday. The value of the net short dollar position, derived from net holdings of International Monetary Market speculators in the yen, euro, British pound, Swiss franc and Canadian and Australian dollars, was $11.47 billion, in the week to Jan. 23. The previous week's net short position on the dollar was $9.59 billion. In a wider measure of dollar positioning that includes net contracts on the New Zealand dollar, Mexican peso, Brazilian real and Russian ruble, the U.S. dollar posted a net short position valued at $14.458 billion, compared with $11.80 billion the week before. Net short U.S. dollar contracts have increased for four straight weeks, underscoring bearish sentiment on the greenback despite the prospect of higher U.S. interest rates this year. Other major central banks, such as the European Central Bank, have been normalizing their monetary policies, boosting their currencies, specifically against the dollar. It has been a choppy week for the dollar after U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin commented that a weak currency is good for the United States, only to backtrack after the greenback fell sharply. President Donald Trump did his own damage control, saying that the government still supports a strong dollar. \"If you take the overall stance of the U.S. administration, it's protectionist and still it's not clear what kind of dollar the president and the Treasury want, but it still doesn't sound like they really want a strong dollar given the fact that they are aiming to boost exports,\" said Vassili Serebriakov, currency strategist at Credit Agricole in New York. \"Ultimately when you think about the dollar, it's still in a downtrend,\" he said. \"I don't think it changes the overall picture very much. It's still in a downtrend.\" Speculators, meanwhile, pared back net short positions on bitcoin futures traded on CBOE Global Markets to 1,746 contracts this week, from a record high of 2,226 the previous week, CFTC data showed. Digital currency bitcoin has been on a highly volatile track in the last few months. After hitting an all-time high just shy of $20,000 on Dec. 17 on the Bitstamp platform, it plunged more than 50 percent in roughly a month to below $10,000. Bitcoin has stabilized since then and was last down more than 2 percent at $10,915.77. Japan Yen (Contracts of 12,500,000 yen) $13.926 billion Jan. 23, 2018 Prior week week Long 37,260 38,152 Short 160,130 157,502 Net -122,870 -119,350 EURO (Contracts of 125,000 euros) $-22.245 billion Jan. 23, 2018 Prior week week Long 262,175 254,344 Short 117,458 114,854 Net 144,717 139,490 POUND STERLING (Contracts of 62,500 pounds sterling) -$2.891 billion Jan. 23, 2018 Prior week week Long 99,369 84,661 Short 66,324 58,457 Net 33,045 26,204 SWISS FRANC (Contracts of 125,000 Swiss francs) $2.887 billion Jan. 23, 2018 Prior week week Long 14,245 14,233 Short 36,360 35,339 Net -22,115 -21,106 CANADIAN DOLLAR (Contracts of 100,000 Canadian dollars) -$1.817 billion Jan." + }, + { + "text": "23, 2018 Prior week week Long 69,446 61,473 Short 46,889 43,917 Net 22,557 17,556 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR (Contracts of 100,000 Aussie dollars) -$1.334 billion Jan. 23, 2018 Prior week week Long 63,551 50,348 Short 46,872 40,274 Net 16,679 10,074 MEXICAN PESO (Contracts of 500,000 pesos) -$1.636 billion Jan. 23, 2018 Prior week week Long 97,964 82,790 Short 36,809 35,995 Net 61,155 46,795 NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR (Contracts of 100,000 NZ dollars) $0.108 billion Jan. 23, 2018 Prior week week Long 24,620 17,795 Short 26,086 25,786 Net -1,466 -7,991 (Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Additional reporting by Stephanie Kelly; Editing by Leslie Adler)" + }, + { + "text": "SYDNEY, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Australia’s weather bureau has cut the forecast strength of a cyclone bearing down on the continent’s far northwest on Friday. Cyclone Joyce, a Category 1 storm, is holding just off the beaches of Pilbara iron ore belt, already prompting the closure of the world’s biggest iron ore export terminal at Port Hedland, 1,700 km (1,050 miles) north of Perth, as a safety precaution. The storm is forecast to cross the sparsely-populated coast about 250km northeast from Port Hedland later on Friday. But it is no longer predicted to reach Category 3, or severe strength, according to advice issued by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology overnight. Widespread heavy rain, wind gusts of up to 120 km per hour and strong tides are still predicted to pummel the region, and residents of Broome, a coastal town about 90 km from the storm, are ordered to take shelter. However the very destructive winds previously forecast are no longer expected and once the storm makes landfall it is predicted to weaken as it travels inland. Port Hedland, which accounts for over half of Australia’s iron ore exports, handling more than a million tonnes a day and most of it bound for Chinese steel mills, was cleared and closed on Thursday. Pilbara Ports Authority, which operates Port Hedland, said it was monitoring the storm’s effects on ports further south at Dampier and Ashburton as well, but has not updated its advice since the weather bureau’s revised forecast. The storm is the second to menace Australia’s northwest in as many weeks, since Cyclone Hilda blew down trees and caused minor damage at Broome last week. On average, there are 10 to 13 tropical cyclones between November and April in the Australian region, four of which typically cross the coast, data from the bureau shows. Reporting by Tom Westbrook; editing by Diane Craft Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "MINNETONKA, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Empresas Banmédica, a leading health care provider and insurer serving Chile, Colombia and Peru, and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) successfully completed the combination of the two companies. With the closing of the transaction, UnitedHealth Group now owns 96.8% of Empresas Banmédica. UnitedHealth Group and Empresas Banmédica share a strong commitment to increasing access to better care and improving the health and wellness of the people they serve and the communities where they live and work. Additional details on Empresas Banmédica can be found in an informational package on the Investor Information page of the UnitedHealth Group website, . About Empresas Banmédica Empresas Banmédica is a Chilean-based company focused on health care insurance and clinical services, with presence in Chile, Colombia and Peru. It is a leading private health care company across the markets in which it operates, serving more than 2.1 million consumers through health benefits and nearly 4 million patients through the delivery of health care across 13 hospitals and 143 medical centers. The company has had strong service and financial performance due to focusing on patient and member experience, business and process performance, and innovation. For more information, visit Empresas Banmédica at www.empresasbanmedica.cl . About UnitedHealth Group UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and helping make the health system work better for everyone. UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services. For more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at www.unitedhealthgroup.com or follow @UnitedHealthGrp on Twitter. Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for UnitedHealth Group. View source version on businesswire.com : UnitedHealth Group Media Contact: Christine Farazi, [REDACTED] [REDACTED] or Empresas Banmédica Media Contact: Carolina Contreras Haye, +569 9 649 11 24 ccontreras@empresasBanmédica.com Source: UnitedHealth Group" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Aetna Inc ( AET.N ), which has agreed to be bought by CVS Health Inc ( CVS.N ), reported a 75.5 percent rise in quarterly profit on Tuesday, due to lower restructuring and transaction and integration-related costs. U.S. drugstore operator CVS agreed in December to acquire Aetna for $69 billion seeking to tackle soaring healthcare spending through lower-cost medical services in pharmacies. Net income attributable to Aetna rose to $244 million, or 74 cents per share, in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, from $139 million, or 39 cents per share, a year earlier. Reporting by Ankur Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Martina D'Couto" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - The Bank of England probably has “ample time” before it needs to consider raising interest rates again after its first hike in more than a decade in November, BoE policymaker Silvana Tenreyro said on Monday. Tenreyro said she felt comfortable at last month’s rate-setting meeting to keep on monitoring the impact of the 25 basis-point increase the BoE announced on Nov. 2. “In December, with unit labor cost growth still subdued and inflation likely to be around its peak, my view was that there was ample time for us to continue to monitor the transmission of the November policy change before voting for another change in interest rates,” Tenreyro said in a speech. The Argentinean-born economics professor, who joined the BoE last year, was among the seven members of the central bank’s nine-strong Monetary Policy Committee who voted for the November rate hike. The other two MPC members voted for no change. In her speech on Monday, Tenreyro said she expected that a couple more increases in Bank Rate would be needed over the next three years. Her comments echoed those of BoE Governor Mark Carney and other top officials at the central bank. However, Tenreyro said it was possible that productivity growth, a key driver of the overall economy which can also help keep a lid on inflation, could be stronger than the weak improvement that the BoE has predicted. Most of the fall in productivity growth was due to just two sectors - finance and manufacturing - and they both could see a turnaround soon, while weak investment by companies could recover as the world economy picked up, she said. “Whether a more or less positive scenario for productivity materializes, as always, the question from an MPC perspective will be how quickly demand responds,” Tenreyro said in a lecture that she gave at Queen Mary University of London. “A key part of my job will be to gauge the size of any emergent gaps between demand and output potential.” Uncertainty about Britain’s prospects after it leaves the European Union next year could delay a pick-up, Tenreyro said. “Understandably, firms will postpone some of the investments and structural changes needed to increase productivity,” she added. Even if British productivity did improve, it was unlikely to return to the annual growth rate of around 2 percent of before the financial crisis. Most economists polled by Reuters at the start of December predicted that the BoE’s next rise in rates would come in late 2018, though some saw a chance of a rise as early as May. Editing by William Schomberg and John Stonestreet" + }, + { + "text": "President Donald Trump heads to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland this week with a large American delegation in tow. The U.S. group, which will leave Tuesday and Wednesday, will meet with business and government officials in Davos to discuss issues such as trade, border security and cybersecurity, according to the White House. \"We want the world to invest in America and create jobs for hardworking Americans,\" White House chief economic advisor Gary Cohn told reporters on Tuesday. Trump wants to \"remind the world that we are open for business,\" Cohn added. Aside from giving remarks to those gathered at the forum, Trump plans to attend a reception featuring government officials, Cohn said. He will meet with representatives from European companies that have a footprint in the U.S., the advisor added. Here's the U.S. group traveling to Switzerland: Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump holds a meeting in the Oval Office in Washington, D.C. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao Energy Secretary Rick Perry Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Mark Green National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb Homeland security advisor Tom Bossert White House advisor and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner White House advisor Chris Liddell Other officials who will go to Switzerland but are not part of the official delegation include White House chief of staff John Kelly, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, national security advisor H.R. McMaster and Cohn. The forum in Switzerland focuses largely on finding shared solutions to global economic and security issues. Those themes appear to contrast with many of the protectionist, isolationist policies Trump preached as a candidate. Trump's campaign for president shunned many of the things broadly preached by his predecessors in the White House, including free trade and a global security presence. He ran on pledges to change or scrap trade deals brokered by past presidents and to look out for the \"forgotten men and women\" of the United States. Cohn said Tuesday that Trump believes in \"America First,\" but \"not alone.\" Earlier, Trump said he would use his time at Davos to urge \"people to come and spend their money in the good ol' USA.\" WATCH: Trump wants everyone in Davos to understand what he's accomplished show chapters Cohn: Trump wants everyone in Davos to understand what he's accomplished 10 Hours Ago | 01:29" + }, + { + "text": "SIOUX FALLS, S.D.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Great Western Bancorp, Inc. ( NYSE:GWB ), the parent company of Great Western Bank ( www.greatwesternbank.com ), announced today that it will release First Quarter Fiscal Year 2018 financial results on Thursday, January 25, 2018. The company’s earnings will be discussed during a live conference call, beginning at 8:30 AM (ET), by Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Ken Karels, Chief Financial Officer Peter Chapman, Chief Risk Officer Steve Ulenberg, Chief Credit Officer Michael Gough, Regional President Doug Bass and Head of Investor Relations David Hinderaker. Interested persons may access the conference call by dialing (855) 238-8837 approximately 10 minutes prior to start time. Please ask to be joined into the Great Western Bancorp, Inc. (GWB) call. International callers should dial (412) 542-4114. This call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed in the Investor Relations section of Great Western’s website at www.greatwesternbank.com . A replay will be available beginning one hour following the conference call ending on February 8, 2018. To access the replay, dial (877) 344-7529 (U.S.) and use conference ID 10115205. International callers should dial (412) 317-0088 and enter the same conference ID number. About Great Western Bancorp, Inc. Great Western Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for Great Western Bank, a full-service regional bank focused on relationship-based business and agribusiness banking. Great Western Bank offers small and mid-sized businesses a focused suite of financial products and a range of deposit and loan products to retail customers through several channels, including the branch network, online banking system, mobile banking applications and customer care centers. The bank services its customers through more than 170 branches in nine states: Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. To learn more about Great Western Bank visit www.greatwesternbank.com. Forward Looking Statements The materials posted may contain forward-looking statements, including guidance, involving significant risks and uncertainties, which will be identified by words such as \"believe,\" \"expect,\" \"anticipate,\" \"intend,\" \"estimate,\" \"should,\" \"is likely,\" \"will,\" \"going forward\" and other expressions that indicate future events and trends and may be followed by or reference cautionary statements. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking information. These factors are outlined in our most recent earnings press release and in more detail in our most current 10-Q and 10-K filings. Great Western Bancorp, Inc. disclaims any obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements that are made from time to time to reflect future events or developments or changes in expectations. View source version on businesswire.com : Great Western Bancorp, Inc. Media Contact: Ann Nachtigal, 605-988-9217 [REDACTED] Source: Great Western Bancorp, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 11:12 AM / Updated 3 hours ago Sri Lanka in Bangladesh 2018 Scoreboard Jan 31 (OPTA) - Scoreboard at stumps on the first day of 1st test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on Wednesday at Chittagong, Bangladesh Bangladesh are 374 for 4 Bangladesh 1st innings Tamim Iqbal b Dilruwan Perera 52 Imrul Kayes lbw Lakshan Sandakan 40 Mominul Haque Not Out 175 Mushfiqur Rahim c Niroshan Dickwella b Suranga Lakmal 92 Liton Das b Suranga Lakmal 0 Mahmudullah Not Out 9 Extras 0b 0lb 4nb 0pen 2w 6 Total (90.0 overs) 374-4 Fall of Wickets : 1-72 Iqbal, 2-120 Kayes, 3-356 Rahim, 4-356 Das To Bat : Saikat, Miraz, Islam, Islam, Rahman Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Suranga Lakmal 17 3 43 2 2.53 2nb Lahiru Kumara 12 1 64 0 5.33 1w Dilruwan Perera 24 4 98 1 4.08 2nb Rangana Herath 20 1 100 0 5.00 Lakshan Sandakan 13 1 58 1 4.46 1w Dhananjaya de Silva 4 0 11 0 2.75 Umpire Rodney Tucker Umpire Marais Erasmus Video Joel Wilson Match Referee David Boon" + }, + { + "text": "Tech lifts indexes to record highs Friday, January 05, 2018 - 01:11 Investors shrugged off a weaker-than-expected December jobs report and drove stocks higher. As Fred Katayama reports, the Nasdaq gained more than 3 percent this week. Investors shrugged off a weaker-than-expected December jobs report and drove stocks higher. As Fred Katayama reports, the Nasdaq gained more than 3 percent this week. //reut.rs/2COER8b" + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 3:01 PM / Updated 3 hours ago 'Fast & Furious' star Diesel brings high-octane live show to London Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - The roaring engines and burning rubber of “The Fast & The Furious” films - one of cinema’s highest-grossing franchises - are skidding off the screen and into the real world, as a live stunt show based on the movies opens in London on Thursday. “Fast & Furious Live,” held in London’s O2 arena, aims to recreate the elaborate stunts for which the films are known. “We talked about a live show, but we’d never imagined it in the way that Rowland (creative director, Rowland French) imagined it,” actor Vin Diesel, one of the films’ main stars, told Reuters. The show features around 40 vehicles, including tanks, trucks, a submarine and dozens of fire-spitting, customized muscle cars. It uses 3D projection technology to help give the illusion that car chases are taking place over distances much greater than the inside of an arena. “Fast and The Furious,” about a gang of illegal street racers, has spawned eight films since 2001, with two more in development, a forthcoming spin-off film, video games and theme park rides. The franchise survived the death of one of its main stars, Paul Walker, killed in a car crash in 2013. “I think he would totally get a kick out of, out of seeing our little movie turn into this show at the O2 arena,” Diesel said. “He’d get a kick out of that.” Reporting by Jayson Mansaray; Writing by Mark Hanrahan; Editing by Robin Pomeroy" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump dissolved the commission he created just eight months ago to investigate his unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in the 2016 election, bringing an end to a panel that had faced resistance from state election officials. Mr. Trump formed the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity in May and installed Vice President Mike Pence as chairman after blaming voter fraud for his loss in the popular vote to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. The panel was created despite independent... RELATED VIDEO Russia's Sophisticated Efforts to Interfere in 2016 Election Based on the information that's now coming out of congressional committees, Russian goals to interfere in the 2016 election were very broad. WSJ's Gerald F. Seib explains just how sophisticated the Russian efforts were using social media. Photo: AP" + }, + { + "text": "Rublev leading the Russian advance into Melbourne Martyn Herman 4 Min Read Jan 10 (Reuters) - “Sound the alarm! The Russians are coming” sounds like Cold War paranoia but when applied to the world of men’s tennis it might be worth sitting up and taking notice. Since Marat Safin won the Australian Open in 2005 no Russian man has reached a grand slam final and only Nikolay Davydenko and still active Mikhail Youzhny have come close. It has been a different story in the women’s game during that period with Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova winning slams and Vera Zvonareva and Safin’s sister, former world number one, Dinara Safina reaching finals. Women’s bragging rights might be coming to an end though. In young firebrands Andrey Rublev, Karen Khachanov and Daniil Medvedev, Russia has a fearless trio of players all aged 21 or under who are determined to set the record straight. They all played at the ATP’s NextGen Finals in Milan in November where Rublev reached the final. Last week the 20-year-old began his season in style to reach the Qatar Open final which pushed him to a career-high 32 in the rankings and a seeded position at next week’s Australian Open. Khachanov is not far behind at 48 while the mercurial Medvedev, who stunned three-times grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka at Wimbledon last year, has been slightly later developing and is ranked at 84. The pugnacious Rublev, coached by Fernando Vicente, looks the best bet for a strong run in Melbourne where last year he was taught a lesson by Britain’s then world number one Andy Murray, gathering only five games. His game has caught fire since and former world number one Mats Wilander is watching his progress with interest. “I think he is going to have a breakthrough in terms of rankings because mentally he is there, he is consistent, even though the way he plays is kind of inconsistent because he hits the ball so damn hard,” Wilander, who will present his daily Game, Set and Mats feature for Eurosport in Melbourne, told Reuters in an interview. “He fights so hard. I don’t know whether it will be top 10 or has a great slam like he did at the U.S. Open where he got to the quarter-finals. That’s his mindset now, winning slams, especially when you’ve reached a quarter-final.” BEEF UP Rublev admitted after losing to South Korea’s Hyeon Chung in the NextGen final that he needed to beef up his physique and his work in the off-season with Vicente and Galo Blanco in Barcelona already looks to have paid dividends. “This time of my life, my career is the most important as I lay the foundations for a strong future,” he said in Doha. “In working with Fernando and Galo in Barcelona during the off-season, we worked on problems and weaknesses.” The big-hitting Khachanov also trains in Barcelona and he and Rublev are firm friends, while Medvedev took a different path having taken up the sport seriously at a later age. Medvedev, 21, says the presence of a bunch of players of the same age is a motivating factor, as is the prospect of emulating the charismatic former world number one Safin. ”It’s a big contest for us,“ Medvedev, who has trained in the south of France since the age of 18, told Reuters. ”We want to climb the rankings as a group, but at the same time each one of us wants to be the first in Russia. “Marat was an idol of mine, especially the way he crashed the rackets, and I hope that one of us can make half of what he did in tennis.” The Russian revolution spreads further too, when considering that Germany’s rising star Alexander Zverev, now ranked fourth in the world, has Russian parentage and Canadian 18-year-old sensation Denis Shapovalov’s family also hail originally from the country, moving to Israel in the 1990s. (Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Davis)" + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL—Athletes from North and South Korea will march together under a single flag at the Winter Olympics next month, the South said Wednesday—part of a sweeping agreement on the Games that marks Seoul’s most ardent and public embrace of its nuclear-armed rival in a decade. The accord comes after a year of rising tensions and exchanges of bellicose rhetoric between Washington and Pyongyang, as North Korea tested a nuclear weapon and ballistic missiles capable of hitting the U.S. ... RELATED VIDEO North Korea's New Strategy: Pop-Star Diplomacy North Korea’s best-known female pop star, Hyon Song Wol, was part of the reclusive state’s delegation to rare talks with the South on Monday. Who is this woman and why was she there? Photo: Unification Ministry via ZUMA Wire" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 18 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. Headlines Barclays to cut 100 senior investment bank staff ( on.ft.com/2mHbLNd ) Facebook agrees to expand Brexit investigation ( on.ft.com/2mHj1c2 ) Rolls-Royce considers sale of commercial marine unit ( on.ft.com/2mJb5qr ) Overview Barclays Plc is axing up to 100 senior staff at its investment bank globally, despite posting strong growth in the United Kingdom and stressing its continued commitment to the division. Facebook Inc has agreed to widen an investigation into alleged Russian interference in the Brexit referendum campaign after pressure from a UK parliamentary committee, which said the social media giant had done only a limited search for evidence. Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc will consider selling its commercial marine business, which has been hit by weak demand in offshore oil and gas markets, as chief executive Warren East launches a new round of cost-cutting in a bid to accelerate his shake-up of the blue-chip engineer. (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom; Editing by Sandra Maler)" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Iran said on Monday it might reconsider its cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog if the United States failed to respect its commitments in the nuclear deal Tehran struck with world powers in 2015. U.S. President Donald Trump must decide by mid-January whether to continue waiving U.S. sanctions on Iran’s oil exports under the terms of the nuclear pact that eased economic pressure on Tehran in exchange for limits on its nuclear program. In October, Trump refused to certify that Iran was complying with the deal, also known by its acronym JCPOA, even though the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was. “If the United States does not meet its commitment in the JCPOA, the Islamic Republic of Iran would take decisions that might affect its current cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” Iran’s nuclear chief, Ali Akbar Salehi, was quoted as telling IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano in a phone call. The IAEA is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and is scrutinizing Iran’s compliance with the agreement. Supporters of the deal insist that strong international monitoring will prevent Iran from developing nuclear bombs. Iran has denied that it is seeking nuclear weapons. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Monday that Tehran “would not prejudge the decision that America would take on January 13,” but said it was ready for all possible outcomes and “all options were on the table”. Deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said world powers should be ready for a possible U.S. withdrawal from the deal. “The international community might come to this conclusion that the United States will withdraw from the JCPOA in the next few days,” Araghchi was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA. “The international community must be ready for this development,” Araghchi added, warning that such a decision would affect stability in the region. Trump is weighing whether the pact serves U.S. security interests, while the other world powers that negotiated it - France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China - still strongly support it. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said in September that the United States should consider staying in the Iran deal unless it were proven that Tehran was not abiding by the agreement or that it was not in the U.S. national interest to do so. Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; Editing by Robin Pomeroy, William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "SAO PAULO, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Brazil’s top lenders are committed to changing overdraft credit rules aiming to lower interest rates for consumers, the central bank said on Wednesday. Last year, Brazil’s central bank regulated credit card debt, capping the usage period for revolving credit lines to one month. Credit card debt and overdraft protection are among Brazil’s most expensive credit lines. The head of banking lobbying group Febraban, Murilo Portugal, has a meeting later on Wednesday in the Finance Ministry. Reuters reported last June that the central bank and private lenders were discussing changes in overdraft protection. Reporting by Aluisio Alves; Writing by Tatiana Bautzer; Editing by Susan Thomas" + }, + { + "text": "Junior guard James Palmer Jr. hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 0.3 seconds left to lift Nebraska to a dramatic 64-63 victory over Illinois on Monday in Big Ten play at Lincoln, Neb. Palmer’s clutch shot came after Illinois junior forward Michael Finke converted a four-point play with 8.1 seconds left to give the Fighting Illini a two-point lead. The Cornhuskers got the ball to Palmer on the left wing and he swished the 3-pointer to cap off his game-high 24-point scoring effort. Senior guard Evan Taylor added 13 points as Nebraska (13-7, 4-3) improved to 10-1 at home. Nebraska shot 41.2 percent from the field but was just 5-of-23 from 3-point range. “I would rather be lucky than good so I’ll take it,” Cornhuskers coach Tim Miles said in a postgame interview on the Big Ten Network. Freshman guard Trent Frazier scored 19 points to pace Illinois (10-9, 0-6), which lost its fourth consecutive contest. Finke recorded 16 points and 10 rebounds and junior forward Leron Black added 11 points as the Illini lost their eighth straight conference game dating back to last season. The Illini posted a 46-29 rebounding advantage with 18 of the boards coming on the offensive end. Illinois shot just 39 percent from the field. A putback by Black pulled Illinois within 59-57 with 2:14 to play. But freshman guard Da‘Monte Williams turned the ball over while being double-teamed and Palmer picked up the ball and sped for the hoop that gave Nebraska a four-point edge with 1:02 to go. Finke scored on the inside to get the Illini within 61-59 with 32.6 seconds to play. Palmer missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 23.8 seconds left and Illinois appeared in good shape after Finke’s clutch shot before Palmer answered it. Williams hit two free throws to cap a half-opening 10-2 spurt to give Illinois a 40-34 lead with 15:42 remaining before the Cornhuskers took over and made six consecutive shots during a 14-0 run. Taylor’s layup tied the score at 40 and junior guard Glynn Watson Jr. hit a jumper as Nebraska inched ahead. Watson later knocked down a 3-pointer to culminate the run and give the Cornhuskers a 48-40 lead before Frazier’s basket ended the Illini’s scoring drought of 5:11. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "Delta Air Lines Inc. is scheduled to report fourth-quarter results on Thursday. The carrier last week reaffirmed its operating margin expectation even though its pretax income took a hit of up to $50 million from a December power outage at the Atlanta airport that led to 1,400 flight cancellations. Here’s what to watch: EARNINGS FORECAST: Analysts expect the No. 2 U.S. carrier by traffic to report net income of $643 million, or 90 cents a share, in the seasonally slow fourth quarter, up from $622 million, or 84 cents a share,... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Facebook has hired a former White House official as its first Head of Cybersecurity Policy. The company confirmed Nathaniel Gleicher would join Chief Security Officer Alex Stamos' team. He joined the company this month, according to his LinkedIn profile, from cybersecurity firm Illumio. The hire was first noted by cybersecurity website Cyberscoop. Gleicher's hire comes as Facebook struggles to keep a small number of users from posting hate speech and spreading fake news on the site. This week the company bought a start-up called Confirm that authenticates user identities. Last week Facebook said it was overhauling its News Feed in an effort to promote \"trusted\" news sources. Facebook has also come under fire for alleged failures to curtail Russian meddling during the 2016 presidential election. The company said in November it would expand its cybersecurity efforts . Gleicher previously served as the director for cybersecurity policy at the National Security Council and as senior counsel to the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section at the Department of Justice." + }, + { + "text": "Tom Petty died from accidental drug overdose -coroner Saturday, January 20, 2018 - 00:50 Rocker Tom Petty died in October due to ''multisystem organ failure'' brought on by an accidental overdose of seven medications, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office said. Jane Ross reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Rocker Tom Petty died in October due to \"multisystem organ failure\" brought on by an accidental overdose of seven medications, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office said. Jane Ross reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "46 PM / Updated 23 minutes ago Israel to approve hundreds of new settler homes in West Bank Reuters Staff 2 Min Read JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel will approve construction of hundreds of new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank, Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Tuesday. An Israeli border policeman points his weapon at Palestinian protesters during clashes, near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, near the West Bank city of Ramallah January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman Settlements are one of the most heated issues in efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, frozen since 2014. Palestinians want the West Bank for a future state, along with East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Most countries consider as illegal the Israeli settlements built in the territory which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war. Israel disputes that its settlements are illegal and says their future should be determined in peace talks with the Palestinians. Israeli authorities were due to approve on Wednesday the construction of 1,285 housing units to be built in 2018 and advance planning for 2,500 others in about 20 different settlements, Lieberman said in a statement. There was no immediate comment from the Palestinian officials. The Palestinians say Israeli settlements in the West bank, a key issue in peace talks. deny them a viable contiguous state. U.S.-brokered peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians collapsed in 2014 and a bid by the Trump administration to restart them have shown little sign of progress. The White House said on Monday U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will visit the region from Jan. 20 to 23, embarking on a tour originally planned for December after President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Pence will hold talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Jordan’s King Abdullah and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House said. Trump’s decision on Jerusalem and announcement in December that the United States would start the process of moving its embassy from Tel Aviv enraged the Palestinians who said the United States can no longer broker peace with Israel. (This version of the story removes extraneous words in paragraph 3) Reporting by Maayan Lubell, Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL, Jan 25 (Reuters) - South Korea’s SK Hynix Inc on Thursday said fourth-quarter operating profit nearly tripled from a year earlier to a record high, beating market expectations on strong demand for memory chips. The world’s second-biggest memory chip maker behind Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said October-December profit was 4.5 trillion won ($4.23 billion). That compared with a 4.3 trillion won Thomson Reuters StarMine SmartEstimate from a survey of 12 analysts. Revenue rose 69 percent to 9 trillion won. ($1 = 1,063.9700 won) (Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Sandra Maler)" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 3:00 PM / in 6 hours German prosecutors probe Bosch over Audi emissions Reuters Staff 2 Min Read MUNICH (Reuters) - German prosecutors said on Thursday they had launched another probe into Robert Bosch GmbH over its suspected involvement in emissions test cheating - this time in relation to its work with Volkswagen’s ( VOWG_p.DE ) premium carmaker Audi. Audi developed the V6 diesel engine that was fitted with illicit emissions control equipment and used in the United States in over 80,000 VW, Audi and Porsche models with 3.0 liter engines. Prosecutors in Stuttgart, where Bosch is based, said they started at the end of December to investigate unidentified staff at Bosch, which makes emission-control devices and software, confirming a report by Wirtschaftswoche earlier on Thursday. Bosch is fully cooperating with authorities, a spokesman said, without being more specific. The Stuttgart prosecutors launched an investigation over Bosch’s emissions dealings with Volkswagen (VW) in 2015 when VW’s diesel test-cheating scandal in the United States broke, and in 2017 in relation to alleged emissions irregularities at Daimler. On Wednesday, Bosch said it took “very seriously” allegations of diesel software manipulation by Ford Motor Co raised by a U.S. law firm which named the components maker as a defendant in a lawsuit. Reporting by Irene Preisinger; Writing by Andreas Cremer; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 31(Reuters) - Shenzhen Sunwin Intelligent Co Ltd * Sees 2017 net profit to increase by 60 percent to 90 percent, or to be 161.3 million yuan to 191.6 million yuan * Says 2016 net profit was 100.8 million yuan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/56GaKd Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "TORONTO (Reuters) - Police in Canada’s largest city of Toronto on Monday accused a landscaper of murdering five people and placing their dead bodies in large planters on his clients’ properties across the city in an “unprecedented” case. The deaths are tied to a series of missing-persons cases in Toronto’s gay village. Toronto police said they had laid a total of five charges of first-degree murder against Bruce McArthur, 66. McArthur, who is in custody, was originally charged with two counts of first-degree murder earlier this month. “It’s an alleged serial killer,” Detective-Sergeant Hank Idsinga told reporters at a news briefing, describing the case as “unprecedented.” Accused killer Bruce McArthur, a 66-year-old freelance landscaper who was accused by Toronto police January 29, 2018 of murdering five people and putting their dead bodies in large planters on his clients' properties, appears in a photo posted on his social media account. Facebook/Handout via REUTERS “The city of Toronto has never seen anything like this,” he said. Idsinga said police had found bodies hidden at the bottom of large planters at multiple addresses, and believed there were more victims than the five people identified so far. Slideshow (8 Images) Police are searching other properties where McArthur has done landscaping work, he said. “We do believe there are more and I have no idea how many more there are going to be,” he added. McArthur is accused of killing Selim Esen, Andrew Kinsman, Majeed Kayhan, Soroush Marmudi and Dean Lisowick. Reporting by Anna Mehler Paperny; Editing by Bernadette Baum" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AMC) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws. The investigation concerns whether AMC made material misstatements or failed to disclose material information in materials filed pursuant to its Secondary Public Offering. To obtain additional information, go to : or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at [REDACTED] or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972. Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, California, Connecticut and Washington D.C. The firm’s attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities and shareholder lawsuits. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. View source version on businesswire.com : Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Eduard Korsinsky, Esq. Tel: 212-363-7500 Toll Free: 877-363-5972 Fax: 212-363-7171 www.zlk.com Source: Levi & Korsinsky" + }, + { + "text": "Luciano Siani Pires Elected to Mosaic’s Board of Directors PLYMOUTH, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Mosaic Company (NYSE: MOS) announced today that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of Vale Fertilizantes from Vale S.A. Pursuant to the agreement, Luciano Siani Pires has been elected to Mosaic’s Board of Directors. Mr. Siani Pires has been Vale’s Chief Financial Officer since 2012, with additional responsibilities in Procurement and Information Technology. Prior to his current role, he held positions in strategic planning, human resources and governance at Vale S.A, and also worked at McKinsey & Company and the Brazilian Development Bank. Mr. Siani Pires, a Brazil native with an M.B.A in Finance from the Stern School of Business at New York University, brings extensive experience in finance, capital markets, strategy and fertilizer to the company’s Board of Directors. Mosaic expects to release its fourth quarter and full year 2017 earnings results at approximately 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on February 19, 2018 after market close of the New York Stock Exchange, simultaneously posting performance data on its website in a tabular form. Historical performance data for Mosaic’s past eight quarters is currently available at www.mosaicco.com/investor/financialdata . At the same time, Mosaic intends to provide preliminary historical pro forma financial information for seven quarters ending September 30, 2017 reflecting post acquisition segmentation, which will be effective beginning the first quarter 2018. The pro forma information will also include the impacts of the acquisition on certain segments. The company will host a conference call to discuss the results on February 20, 2017, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. A webcast of the conference call including the presentation slides can be accessed by visiting Mosaic’s website. An audio replay of the call will be available for up to one year from the time of the earnings call. About The Mosaic Company The Mosaic Company is one of the world's leading producers and marketers of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. Mosaic is a single source provider of phosphates and potash fertilizers and feed ingredients for the global agriculture industry. More information on the company is available at www.mosaicco.com . View source version on businesswire.com : The Mosaic Company Media Ben Pratt, 763-577-6102 [REDACTED] or Investors Laura Gagnon, 763-577-8213 [REDACTED] Source: The Mosaic Company" + }, + { + "text": "AUSTIN, Texas, Asure Software (NASDAQ:ASUR), a leading provider of Human Capital Management (HCM) and workplace management software, announced today that it has acquired Sheakley PaySystems, a division of Sheakley Group Inc, an Ohio based provider of Workers Comp, Risk Management, HR, Payroll and employee benefits services with locations in Ohio, Tennessee and Iowa. Since 1963, Sheakley’s family-operated, HR and Workers Comp Risk Management outsourcing firm has met the growing needs of employers and their employees through a blend of practical and innovative HR and Workers Comp Risk Management solutions. Asure Software’s CEO Pat Goepel commented, “The acquisition of Sheakley PaySystems will help solidify Asure’s expansion in the central US. Asure will be able to deliver our expanded employee engagement solutions to Sheakley PaySystems current customers by offering access to Asure’s complete suite of solutions for the modern workforce.” Goepel continues, “With the opportunity to leverage a variety of new products and services, including powerful digital workspace solutions, Sheakley PaySystems clients and prospects will ensure the success of their most valuable resources - their people.” Sheakley President Matt Sheakley said, “This is an exciting time as we begin to write the next chapter in our company’s history. Sheakley PaySystems clients will enjoy the same customer support experience that they have always valued and expected. As a result of this acquisition, Sheakley PaySystems will be able to offer our clients even more solutions to better manage their people and their space. The Asure brand will make our offering a truly comprehensive employer solution.” At Asure Software, we are continuing to provide exceptional workspace and workforce management solutions that increase employee productivity and engagement. We deliver on this promise every day by providing our clients with an innovative suite of SaaS solutions that take integral business processes to the next level, creating mobile, digital, agile organizations. About Asure Software Asure Software, Inc., headquartered in Austin, Texas, offers intuitive and innovative solutions designed to help organizations of all sizes and complexities build companies of the future. Our cloud platforms enable more than 80,000 clients worldwide to better manage their people and space in a mobile, digital, multi-generational, and global workplace. Asure Software’s offerings include a fully-integrated HCM platform, flexible benefits and compliance administration, HR consulting, and time and labor management as well as a full suite of workspace management solutions for conference room scheduling, desk sharing programs, and real estate optimization. Visit us at www.asuresoftware.com . Contact: Stacy Zellner Director of Marketing, Asure Software Telephone: 888-323-8835 x 3111 E-mail: [REDACTED] Source:Asure Software Inc" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 3:41 AM / Updated 20 minutes ago UPDATE 1-Tennis-Sharapova finds her groove on Melbourne return Reuters Staff * Sharapova back in Melbourne for first time since doping ban * Russian given second-set test by German opponent (Adds details) By Martyn Herman Maria Sharapova’s previous match at the Australian Open sent her career spiralling to the darkest of depths but she returned in bright sunshine on Tuesday with a performance that went some way to banishing those demons. The 30-year-old former champion, whose positive doping test after a quarter-final defeat by Serena Williams in 2016 resulted in a 15-month ban from the sport, was in dominant mood as she beat Germany’s Tatjana Maria 6-1 6-4 on Margaret Court Arena. There will be tougher tests to come for the five-times grand slam champion but the relish with which she pummelled 22 winners suggests that in her second grand slam event since returning from exile, she could do damage, despite not being seeded. Sharapova, who fell foul of the anti-doping regulations after failing to realise that heart drug meldonium had been added to the WADA prohibited list, attracted more unwanted headlines last week when she was selected for the draw ceremony. That decision by tournament director Craig Tiley raised a few disapproving eyebrows, but there was plenty of support for the 2008 champion on Tuesday with regular shouts of “C‘mon Masha, we’ve missed you”. After ending fellow 30-year-old Maria’s dogged second-set resistance with an ace, Sharapova admitted she had “shivers” walking on to court. Later, when addressing the media, it was very much business as usual with Sharapova reluctant to talk about the past. Asked if her return to Melbourne had produced flashbacks to that fateful day two years ago, she said: “No. It’s not the way I look at things moving forward.” SEVASTOVA NEXT Sharapova struck the ball with venom in the first set in which the only blemish was dropping serve to give Maria a game. The second set threatened to get a little tricky as Sharapova was broken to love to trail 1-3 but a forehand winner gave her break point in the next game and she converted it when Maria went wide. Sharapova broke again at 3-3 as her opponent, actually ranked a place higher at 47, double-faulted and Sharapova moved into a 5-3 lead as Maria began to feel the strain. The German managed to prolong the contest for another game but Sharapova finished off the match in style, belting a forehand winner at 30-30 and then aiming a searing first serve bang on the line. Next up is tricky Latvian 14th seed Anastasija Sevastova, who beat Sharapova at last year’s U.S. Open -- her first major since returning from the ban. Should she win, her path will appear to get even tougher with 2016 Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber and last year’s Wimbledon winner Garbine Muguruza also in her section of the draw. “You know, personally these are the players that I want to be playing. I want to be playing someone that has challenged me,” Sharapova said. “I want to be playing someone that’s on a hot streak and playing well. These are the players I should be playing and beating, as well. I expect that from myself.” (Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by John O‘Brien)" + }, + { + "text": "January 20, 2018 / 6:19 PM / Updated 25 minutes ago Atletico title hopes hit by Girona, Montella earns Sevilla win Richard Martin 3 Min Read BARCELONA (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid’s faint hopes of chasing down runaway Liga leaders Barcelona suffered a fresh blow on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Girona, meaning they could fall 11 points behind the Catalans by the end of the weekend. Antoine Griezmann capitalised on a cushioned Diego Costa header to volley Atletico ahead in the 34th minute and score for the first time in five league games, but Liga debutants Girona have caused problems for the top teams all season and hit back. Visiting striker Portu slid in to beat goalkeeper Jan Oblak in the 73rd minute after Atletico midfielder Koke failed to properly clear the danger in the area and the ball landed at the feet of Bernardo Espinoza who played the ball through. Atletico were fortunate not to have Oblak sent off late on when the Slovenian rushed out of his area and brought down Kenyan forward Michael Olunga but was only shown a yellow card. Diego Simeone’s second-placed side have 43 points from 20 games but Barca can stretch their advantage if they win at Real Betis on Sunday, while third-placed Valencia could move level with Atletico if they beat Las Palmas away later on Saturday. Sevilla coach Vincenzo Montella earned his first win in La Liga at the third attempt earlier on Saturday as his impressive side secured a 3-0 win at Espanyol to go fifth in the standings. Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Atletico Madrid vs Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 20, 2018 Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa sets up Antoine Griezmann to score their first goal REUTERS/Sergio Perez Franco Vazquez knocked in a loose ball on the rebound after a well crafted move to put Sevilla in front in the 15th minute, the first time they had taken the lead in a Liga game under the Italian coach, who succeeded Eduardo Berizzo in December. Pablo Sarabia added another before halftime and Luis Muriel rounded off the victory with a late third. Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Atletico Madrid vs Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 20, 2018 Girona's Portu celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Sergio Perez Sevilla lost to Real Betis and Alaves in their first two Liga games under Montella but were lifted by a late fightback that saw them beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 in their King’s Cup quarter-final first leg on Wednesday. On Saturday, Montella’s side doubled their advantage against Espanyol in the 34th minute with a scorching run through the defence and a top corner finish by midfielder Sarabia. Espanyol, who defeated city rivals Barcelona 1-0 in their King’s Cup first leg in midweek, improved after the interval and should have pulled a goal back when Leo Baptistao received the ball unmarked from close range but sent it flying over the bar. Sevilla’s Colombia forward Muriel netted the third goal in the 90th minute with an impressive run past three defenders in the box and a powerful finish. Sevilla, who face Manchester United in the last 16 of the Champions League, now have 32 points although Villarreal could climb back above them when they host Levante later on Saturday. Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Ken Ferris" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 1:47 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago Greece says it wants to settle Macedonia name dispute this year Reuters Staff 2 Min Read ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece wants to settle a decades-old row this year over the name of the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, its foreign minister said on Thursday - a move that could unblock the Balkan state’s ambition of joining the European Union. FILE PHOTO - Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias addresses the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 22, 2017. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Athens has blocked the ex-Yugoslav republic’s attempts to join NATO and objects to its EU membership bid because it says the name Macedonia implies a territorial claim over Greece’s own northerly region of that name. “I think 2018 will be the year when foreign policy issues that have been stuck in the mud for decades will be resolved,” Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias told reporters after a meeting of the inner cabinet. “We will all contribute to the wellbeing of all the Balkans,” he said. The small ex-Yugoslav republic of about 2 million people declared independence in 1991, avoiding the violence that accompanied much of the breakup of Yugoslavia. But Greece is withholding support for Macedonia’s further integration into international bodies, including NATO, until it agrees to change its name. Athens has only agreed that the country can be referred to in international venues as the “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, as an interim measure until the dispute is resolved. “On the name issue, the government is negotiating and supports a compound name that will be comprehensively used throughout,” Kotzias said on Thursday, without elaborating Reporting by George Georgiopoulos; Editing by Kevin Liffey" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - A Washington D.C. subway train derailed early Monday, but none of the 60 passengers aboard were injured, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority said. Around 6:40 a.m. (1140 GMT), a train derailed outside Farragut North Station in downtown Washington. The agency said in a posting on Twitter that “emergency personnel on scene. Shuttle buses are running in place of trains, both directions.” Reporting by David Shepardson in DetroitEditing by Chizu Nomiyama" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 11:42 PM / Updated 15 hours ago Golf-Hard-hitting Woods eschews swing coach after back surgery Andrew Both 2 Min Read LA JOLLA, California, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Tiger Woods was hitting the ball as hard as he ever had and has decided to work without a swing coach because no-one could really tell him how to react after back surgery last April and he would rather rely on his own instincts. “No-one’s had a spinal fusion at (this) level and been able to hit the ball as hard as I do,” Woods said on the eve of the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open. ”So I’d like to meet somebody who can swing it over 120 miles per hour (mph) with a fused back. Do you know anybody? ”No-one understands that, so I have to rely on my own feels and play around with what my body can and cannot do. “I don’t have the mobility that I used to and that’s just the reality.” Woods is now generating a clubhead speed of around 125 mph with his driver, comparable to the best on tour, and almost as fast as the 126-128 mph when he was at his prime. “My surgeon said once (the back is) fused, you’ll have speed like you did back in your early 30s,” said Woods. ”And he’s right, because there’s no pain. I‘m not flinching. It doesn’t hurt to take the club back, doesn’t hurt right before impact, doesn’t hurt after impact, doesn’t hurt when I walk. ”I can let it go, I can hit it and I‘m getting the ball out there a little bit. “Now I’ve got to start doing it in a tournament. It’s going to take a little time but I‘m looking forward to it.” (Editing by Greg Stutchbury)" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 7:28 PM / Updated 5 minutes ago Germany, Turkey resume bilateral meetings, still at odds over reporter's arrest Reuters Staff 3 Min Read BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany and Turkey on Wednesday resumed bilateral government consultations that had been suspended after Ankara’s arrest of German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel in February 2017, an issue that continues to divide the two NATO allies. State secretaries from both countries met at the German Interior Ministry for discussions about counterterrorism and other issues, ministry spokesman Johannes Dimroth said during a regular government briefing. He said common interests on fighting terrorism meant this was a good time to resume talks, but both sides remained at odds over issues such as the continued detention of Yucel. German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Adebahr added that German-Turkish relations still faced “significant challenges,” but Berlin was ready to continue working to “improve relations bit by bit”. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu earlier this month pledged to improve a relationship that soured amid disputes over Ankara’s crackdown following the failed 2016 coup and the arrests of German citizens in Turkey. Germany, home to some 3 million people with a Turkish background, remains critical of Turkey’s post-coup arrests of some 50,000 people, and the suspension or firing of 150,000 others, including teachers, judges and soldiers. Turkey says the crackdown on alleged supporters of a network of followers of a Muslim cleric it blames for the coup is needed to shore up security, and has criticised Germany’s refusal to hand over asylum seekers it says were involved in the putsch. Differences remain over the fate of Yucel, a reporter for German newspaper Die Welt, whom Ankara accuses of spreading propaganda for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). He denies the charge. Gabriel has vowed to block major arms sales to Turkey until Yucel’s case is resolved. But the foreign minister signalled after his meeting with Cavusoglu that Berlin would consider whether to deliver mine protection gear for armoured vehicles in Turkey, an issue not linked to arrests. Some members of Gabriel’s own Social Democrats and the radical Left party have rejected any such move. Sevim Dagdalen, a Left party lawmaker, said Germany should immediately halt all weapons exports to Turkey, voicing concerns about recent Turkish warnings about imminent military operations against Kurdish forces in northern Syria. “Plans by Foreign Minister Gabriel to conclude new weapons deals with Turkey are a slap in the face to the resistance against Islamic State,” she said in a statement. Stern magazine reported on Wednesday that Gabriel had met last fall with officials from Rheinmetall about potential Turkish exports. Rheinmetall has a joint venture with the Turkish firm BMC, and hopes to set up a factory that would build tanks, trucks and buses in the city of Karasu, east of Istanbul, it said. Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Andrea Shalal; Editing by Peter Graff" + }, + { + "text": "MANILA, Jan 15 (Reuters) - The Philippines’ chief volcanologist warned on Monday of a possible hazardous eruption at Mount Mayon “within weeks or even within days”, as magma continued to pile up at the summit of the Southeast Asian country’s most active volcano. The 2,462-metre (8,077-foot) high volcano, a tourist attraction in central Albay province because of its near-perfect cone shape, spewed ash and burning mud and rocks over the past two days, forcing more than 3,000 residents to evacuate from nearby villages. It showed a bright crater glow on Sunday, signifying lava had started to flow from the crater. Manila’s airport authorities said airline Cebu Pacific had cancelled flights to nearby Legazpi City for a second day on Monday, citing bad weather. Mayon’s most destructive eruption was in February 1841, when lava buried a town and killed 1,200 people. It last erupted in 2014, spewing lava and forcing thousands of people to evacuate. Renato Solidum, chief of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), described Mayon’s current activity as a non-explosive magmatic eruption, but he would not rule out a more dangerous volcanic explosion in coming days. “What we would like to see is if there would be enough pressure, gas pressure for the next magma that would go up,” he told ABS-CBN News Channel. Phivolcs raised the volcano alert to level 3 late on Sunday after detecting the lava flow. Solidum said raising the alert to level 4, under which the danger zone would be expanded and a hazardous eruption could happen within a few days, depended on how Mayon behaved in the next few hours. Level 5 indicates an eruption is in progress. People have been advised to stay away from a 6-km (4-mile) radius Permanent Danger Zone and a 7-km Expanded Danger Zone on the volcano’s southern flank. (Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by Martin Petty and Paul Tait)" + }, + { + "text": "At least one dead after oil tanker catches fire off India’s western coast 7:27pm IST - 00:45 Fire boats and tugboats managed to douse the flames completely, as no oil spillage was reported. narration). Fire boats and tugboats managed to douse the flames completely, as no oil spillage was reported. narration). //reut.rs/2mKSF8S" + }, + { + "text": "DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to use his maiden speech to the World Economic Forum on Friday to promote his tax cuts, deregulation and trade policies to chief executives, bankers and political leaders. Trump, who flew into the sanctum of the global elite at the Swiss ski resort of Davos on Thursday, will deliver the event’s main closing address after a week of veiled criticism of his America First agenda by several world leaders here. The first sitting U.S. president to visit the annual summit since Bill Clinton in 2000, Trump was greeted on arrival by hundreds of curious delegates who snapped pictures as he entered the congress center. He made an immediate impression: he talked up the dollar, going against the grain of previous remarks made by his treasury secretary at Davos, and threatened to withhold aid to Palestinians unless they pursued peace with Israel. But the main thrust of his visit will be to convince business leaders to step up investment in the United States. “A lot of people are coming back to the United States. We are seeing tremendous investment and today has been a very exciting day. Very great day and great for our country. Thank you very much,” Trump told reporters in Davos on Thursday. After meeting the prime ministers of Britain and Israel, Trump hosted a dinner with leaders of some of the world’s largest firms, including Nestle, SAP and Siemens, Deloitte and Bayer. Senior members of his cabinet were also present. Trump, a real estate mogul and former reality TV star, had never been invited to Davos before. He basked in the praise of several executives, who applauded his tax cuts. Two European executives told Reuters they were staying away from the dinner because they did not want to shake Trump’s hand. One of them consulted with his wife and children before deciding to dine elsewhere. Those that showed up were treated to a meal of grilled beef tenderloin with green pea puree or fried Swiss pike perch with purple carrot puree. Trump gave each corporate leader an opportunity to describe their businesses briefly. Many mentioned the corporate tax cuts that Trump pushed through the U.S. Congress late last year as a positive sign of growth and investment, according to a Reuters reporter who was present. Trump is due to address the forum on Friday afternoon and White House aides said his message would be the same that he has given during other trips abroad over the past year: The United States wants strong ties with its allies but is also determined to reduce its chronic trade deficits with many of them. His speech comes after a week of warnings by European leaders on the dangers of nationalism, isolationism and protectionism. U.S. President Donald Trump attends a dinner with business men and CEO's during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland January 25, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Barria Without naming Trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel evoked the build-up to the two world wars and openly questioned whether leaders had learned the lessons from those 20th century conflicts. Before his trip to Davos, Trump imposed 30 percent tariffs on imported solar panels, among the first unilateral trade restrictions made by the administration as part of a broader protectionist agenda. On Wednesday in Davos, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin made comments supportive of a weaker dollar. Markets interpreted the remarks as a shift in U.S. policy and sent the dollar sharply lower, sparking concerns from European allies about a trade war. European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi took a swipe at Mnuchin’s remarks, saying they threatened a decades-old pact between the world’s leading economies not to target currencies. Trump later told CNBC in an interview that he supported a strong dollar and expected the currency to rise. “The dollar is going to get stronger and stronger and ultimately I want to see a strong dollar,” he said, adding that Mnuchin’s comments had been misinterpreted. Trump’s decision to come to Davos came as a surprise because he has railed against “globalists” and elites, while promoting an “America First” agenda that goes down poorly in this bastion of free trade, multilateralism and capitalism. French President Emmanuel Macron said he had “strongly recommended” that Trump attend the forum during a recent phone conversation, saying he thought it was a good thing for Trump to explain his strategic goals and hear different viewpoints. There is broad concern in European capitals that 2018 could be the year Trump’s bark on trade turns into bite, as he considers punitive measures on steel and threatens to end the 90s-era North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico. Policymakers have been openly critical of his foreign policy but with the U.S. stock market soaring, corporate tax cuts padding companies’ pockets and U.S. consumers spending again, some companies here are quietly applauding the U.S. president." + }, + { + "text": "AMMAN, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Jordan’s largest lender, Arab Bank Group, said on Saturday its 2017 net profit came to $533 million, barely changed from $532.7 million with revenues coming mainly from core banking activities. The bank, one of the Middle East’s major financial institutions, said operational profits rose 12 percent without factoring exchange-rate fluctuations. Total loans rose 6 percent to $25.1 billion while deposits rose slighty to $33.8 billion at the end of last year compared with $33.6 billion in the same period the previous year. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)" + }, + { + "text": "(Refiles to add company name to headline) Jan 15 (Reuters) - British bookmaker William Hill said on Monday its adjusted operating profit for 2017 would rise 11 percent year-on-year, ahead of analysts’ expectations thanks to strong trading in recent weeks and favourable sporting results. The company said it expected full-year adjusted operating profit for the 52 weeks to Dec. 26 to be 290 million pounds ($398 million) The company said its retail and online gross margins were “significantly ahead” in the 9 weeks from Nov. 20, thanks to favourable soccer and horse-racing results. $1 = 0.7279 pounds Reporting by Rahul B in Bengaluru; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "President not to blame for shutdown impasse: Mulvaney Friday, January 19, 2018 - 00:45 White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney told reporters on Friday the chances of a government shutdown stood at 50-50 and that there was ''no way you could lay this at the feet of the President of the United States''. Rough cut (no reporter narration). White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney told reporters on Friday the chances of a government shutdown stood at 50-50 and that there was \"no way you could lay this at the feet of the President of the United States\". Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2DvGMiv" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 12:31 PM / Updated 26 minutes ago Italy's Northern League chief rules out govt role for party moderate Crispian Balmer 4 Min Read ROME (Reuters) - The leader of Italy’s far-right Northern League ruled out on Tuesday any future government role for party moderate Roberto Maroni, who has been touted as a possible prime minister if the centre-right bloc wins the March election. FILE PHOTO: Northern League leader Matteo Salvini gestures during the \"Europe of Nations and Freedom\" meeting in Milan, January 28, 2016. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo/File Photo Maroni, a former interior minister, unexpectedly announced at the weekend that he would not seek re-election this year as president of the wealthy Lombardy region, which is centred on Italy’s business capital Milan. He told reporters he was standing aside for unspecified “personal reasons”, but said he would be ready to help his allies in future, adding: “I know what it means to govern.” With the centre-right bloc leading in opinion polls ahead of the March 4 ballot, Italian newspapers interpreted Maroni’s words as meaning that he wanted to return to central government, perhaps as prime minister. Northern League leader Matteo Salvini, who has pushed the group to the far right during his four years at the helm, was caught off-guard by Maroni’s announcement and moved quickly to temper the political ambitions of the popular party veteran. Asked by Radio 24 if Maroni might have a future government role, Salvini said: “If you leave Lombardy ... which is worth much more than many ministries, if you feel you have reached the end of the road there, then obviously no”. Salvini has aligned the League with hard-right parties across Europe, including France’s National Front and the anti-Islam Freedom Party in the Netherlands. He wants Italy to exit the euro and promises zero tolerance on illegal immigration. PREMIER CANDIDATE Berlusconi has repeatedly told reporters that the League is a moderate party, saying Salvini is talking tough for electoral purposes. But Forza Italia officials in private acknowledge they find it much easier to work with League stalwart Maroni. “We have worked very well with Maroni in Lombardy and this is the model we would expect to reproduce at a national level if we win power,” said a Forza Italia lawmaker, who was not authorised to talk to the press and declined to be named. In the event of a centre-right victory, Berlusconi and Salvini have agreed that the party that takes more votes will decide who to put forward as prime minister. Salvini says he is the League’s candidate for premier, while Berlusconi, who cannot return to high office because of a 2013 conviction for tax fraud, has yet to decide on a name. Latest polls put Forza Italia roughly one percentage point ahead of the League. All surveys suggest the centre-right bloc will not win enough seats to claim an overall majority, meaning they will need external allies to govern. Salvini has ruled out any deals with the centre-left but shown a willingness to work with the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement. Marking a major difference between the two parties, Berlusconi has said his main enemy is 5-Star and Maroni echoed his sentiments in a news conference on Monday. “The equilibrium between the two main centre-right allies will be solid up to the elections, but afterwards it could prove to be more fragile than it seems,” Italy’s top-selling broadsheet Corriere della Sera newspaper wrote on Tuesday. Additional reporting by Stefano Bernabei; editing by Mark Heinrich" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia considers a U.S. proposal for an extraordinary meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the turmoil in Iran “harmful and destructive”, RIA news agency cited Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Thursday. “We see no role for the United Nations Security Council in this issue,” he said, according to the agency. “Iran’s domestic affairs have nothing to do with the United Nations Security Council’s role.” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said this week that Washington was seeking emergency sessions on Iran at the United Nations in New York and at the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. Anti-government protests have swept Iranian cities and towns over the past week and 21 people have been killed in the unrest. Commenting on the possibility of new U.S. sanctions on Iran, Ryabkov said such methods were “illegitimate”. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert had suggested the U.S. government could impose sanctions against Iranian officials who repress peaceful protests. Ryabkov said earlier on Thursday that the United States should not interfere in Iran’s domestic affairs, and that Moscow remained committed to the 2015 international deal to curtail Tehran’s nuclear program, which U.S. President Donald Trump has challenged. Writing by Denis Pinchuk; Editing by Kevin Liffey" + }, + { + "text": "22 PM / Updated 9 minutes ago BRIEF-Columbus McKinnon Expects To Pay Down About $55 Mln To $60 Mln Of Debt In FY 2018 Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 9 (Reuters) - Columbus Mckinnon Corp: * COLUMBUS MCKINNON - EXPECTS TO PAY DOWN APPROXIMATELY $55 MILLION TO $60 MILLION OF DEBT IN FY 2018 * COLUMBUS MCKINNON - EXPECTS TO PAY DOWN ABOUT $55 MILLION TO $65 MILLION OF DEBT IN FY 2019" + }, + { + "text": "By Reuters 8:05 PM EST Alphabet’s Google is exploring a potential sale of Zagat, the U.S. restaurant review guide which the search giant bought for $151 million in 2011, people familiar with the matter said. A sale of Zagat would mark a course reversal for Alphabet’s once ambitious plans for the brand, spearheaded by former Google executive Marissa Mayer, who went on to become Yahoo Inc’s chief executive. Zagat gradually became less of a priority as Google focused on drawing traffic to its Google+ social network. Google has held informal talks in recent months with multiple companies about offloading Zagat, the sources said, asking not to be named because the matter is private. Any deal would likely involve the Zagat brand name and website, the sources added. Google’s asking price is not known, and there is no certainty it will agree to sell Zagat, the sources said. A spokeswoman for Google declined to comment. Google Maps incorporates Zagat reviews into its restaurant listings, and a small team at the company maintains Zagat.com, which features articles about restaurants in major cities. The unit makes up just a fraction of Alphabet , a sprawling holding company whose units include Google and an array of unrelated pursuits in areas such as healthcare, self-driving cars and urban planning. Founded in 1979 by Tim and Nina Zagat, the eponymous service became known for its familiar burgundy pocket-sized guides to restaurants in cities around the world. Many establishments feature Zagat stickers on their doors and windows. Get Data Sheet , Fortune’s technology newsletter. Last June, Alphabet agreed to sell two robotics firms, Boston Dynamics and Tokyo-based Schaft to SoftBank. Last February, it announced it would sell the satellite imaging business it acquired in 2014 for $500 million called Terra Bella, to Planet Labs, a San Francisco-based private satellite operator. Alphabet also explored selling Nest, a maker of Wi-Fi enabled thermostats, in 2016, Reuters reported. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 12:22 AM / Updated 4 hours ago I'm not a quitter, says UK's May as leadership questions stack up William James 3 Min Read WUHAN, China (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday defied critics calling for her to resign, saying she was not a quitter and that she has a long-term job to do: delivering Brexit and domestic reform. May has come under fire in recent days from several factions within her own party. She has been accused by eurosceptics of watering down Brexit, by pro-EU lawmakers of risking Britain’s economy, and by others who say her domestic agenda is too timid. “I’ve said to you before, I‘m not a quitter and there is a long-term job to be done,” she told reporters on her way to China for a trade visit when asked about the recent criticism of her leadership and reports of a potential attempt to oust her. “That job is about getting the best Brexit deal, about ensuring that we take back control of our money, our laws, our borders, that we can sign trade deals around the rest of the world. But it is also about our domestic agenda.” The leadership question dominated a briefing with journalists on board a Royal Air Force jet to China where she will meet President Xi Jinping, with an eye on securing better access to Chinese markets and an eventual free trade deal. Media reports have said the number of ‘no confidence’ letters submitted by lawmakers from May’s own party is nearing the threshold which would trigger a leadership contest. The committee which holds the letters does not comment on the actual number. May’s future as leader of the ruling Conservative Party has been subject to heightened speculation after she gambled on a snap election last year which went badly wrong and cost her party its majority in parliament. During a similar trade-focused visit to Japan last year May first used the “I‘m not a quitter” phrase, vowing to fight the next British election as leader in 2022. Since then the pressure has been amplified by gaffes, scandals, and a growing concern among some that constant infighting over Brexit was drowning out attempts to win back the voters the party lost at the 2017 election. Responding to one of more than 10 questions about her leadership during a 25 minute briefing, May defended her record by singling out housing, education and employment rates as areas where her government has made progress. But, she acknowledged a need to make sure the messages are better heard by voters and her own party. “Are you asking me is there more for us to do, talk to people about, more generally about what we are achieving and what we are doing? ... Yes,” she said. “There is always more for us to be able to do to talk to people about what we’re achieving.” Reporting by William James; Editing by Paul Tait and Michael Perry" + }, + { + "text": "26 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago EMERGING MARKETS-Mexico peso rises on NAFTA hopes Reuters Staff 4 Min Read (Updates prices) By Bruno Federowski SAO PAULO, Jan 15 (Reuters) - The Mexican peso rose to a more than five-week high on Monday on hopes that U.S. President Donald Trump may soften his stance on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) after negotiations hit a bumpy patch last week. Renewed worries that Trump would scrap NAFTA had weighed on the peso last week. The talks between the United States, Mexico and Canada are edging closer to the start of campaigning for Mexico's July 1 presidential election, making a breakthrough more unlikely. However, market participants cited a media report by Axios news site on Sunday that said Trump may be shying away from terminating NAFTA, fearing it would disrupt a U.S. stock market rally and harm farmers and agricultural communities, part of his core constituency. Trump has said he wants the treaty renegotiated to better favor U.S. interests, and that he will scrap NAFTA if this cannot be achieved. Mexico sells around four-fifths of its exports to the United States so it is particularly vulnerable to increased U.S. protectionism. The peso strengthened just over 1 percent, by far the biggest gainer in Latin America. Low trading volumes on Monday due to the U.S. Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday helped to accentuate currency moves. In a client note, Continuum Economics said that strength in the peso should continue in the first quarter ahead of this year's elections. \"At least for a quarter, investors will be gaining a good carry in one of the most liquid currencies in emerging markets. After one quarter, we may see a return to defensive positions as the market dives into Mexican presidential elections,\" the note said. Key Latin American stock indexes and currencies at 2104 GMT: Stock indexes daily % YTD % Latest change change MSCI Emerging Markets 1209.83 0.14 4.29 MSCI LatAm 3005.28 0.61 5.61 Brazil Bovespa 79752.37 0.51 4.39 Mexico IPC 49410.81 0.56 0.11 Chile IPSA 5745.95 0.22 3.26 Chile IGPA 28911.17 0.28 3.33 Argentina MerVal 33622.84 2.76 11.83 Colombia IGBC 11553.76 -0.6 1.61 Venezuela IBC 1986.42 20.44 -93.73 Currencies daily % YTD % change change Latest Brazil real 3.2152 -0.17 3.05 Mexico peso 18.8425 1.03 4.55 Chile peso 602.4 0.08 2.03 Colombia peso 2859.55 -0.13 4.28 Peru sol 3.21 0.19 0.84 Argentina peso 18.7300 -0.21 -0.69 (interbank) Argentina peso 19.56 -0.10 -1.69 (parallel) (Reporting by Bruno Federowski; Editing by Frances Kerry and Diane Craft)" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 1:00 PM / Updated an hour ago London zoo names newborn Okapi after Meghan Markle Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Meghan Markle, the American actress who is engaged to Britain’s Prince Harry, has a new namesake after London zoo named a just-born Okapi after her in honour of her wedding in May. Meghan the Okapi was born on Saturday to Oni, in a roughly 30-minute labour captured on camera by zoo keepers. Okapis are members of the giraffe family - though they do not have the long neck. Native to the Democratic Republic of Congo, they are notable for zebra-like stripes on their hind quarters and upper legs. FILE PHOTO - Customers queue to enter London Zoo in central London, Britain December 24, 2017. REUTERS/Simon Dawson “We’re very pleased with how mother and baby are doing. Oni is being very attentive, making sure she regularly licks her clean and keeping a watchful eye over Meghan as she sleeps,” zookeeper Gemma Metcalf said in a statement. Okapis are listed as an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. Researchers cited by the San Diego Zoo estimate that around 25,000 Okapis remain in the wild. Markle is due to wed Prince Harry, fifth in line to the British throne, in May of 2018. Writing by Mark Hanrahan in London; Editing by Richard Balmforth" + }, + { + "text": "SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Zions Bancorporation (NASDAQ: ZION) announced today that its board of directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.20 per common share. The dividend is payable February 22, 2018 to shareholders of record on February 15, 2018. The board of directors also declared regular quarterly cash dividends on the company's various perpetual preferred shares. The cash dividend on the Series A, G, H and J shares are payable March 15, 2018 to shareholders of record on March 1, 2018, while the cash dividend on the Series I shares is payable on June 15, 2018 to shareholders of record on June 1, 2018. Zions Bancorporation is one of the nation's premier financial services companies with total assets exceeding $65 billion. Zions operates under local management teams and distinct brands in 11 western states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The company is a national leader in Small Business Administration lending and public finance advisory services, and is a consistent top recipient of Greenwich Excellence awards in banking. In addition, Zions is included in the S&P 500 and NASDAQ Financial 100 indices. Investor information and links to local banking brands can be accessed at zionsbancorporation.com . View original content: SOURCE Zions Bancorporation" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - President Hassan Rouhani, giving his first public reaction to four days of anti-government protests, said on Sunday Iranians had the right to protest and criticize the authorities but their actions should not lead to violence or damage public property. “People are absolutely free to criticize the government and protest but their protests should be in such a way as to improve the situation in the country and their life,” Rouhani was Quote: d by the official IRNA news agency as telling the cabinet. “Criticism is different from violence and damaging public properties.” Anti-government protesters demonstrated on Sunday in defiance of a warning by the authorities of a tough crackdown, extending for a fourth day one of the most audacious challenges to the clerical leadership since pro-reform unrest in 2009. Tens of thousands of people have protested across the country since Thursday against the Islamic Republic’s unelected clerical elite and Iranian foreign policy in the region. They have also chanted slogans in support of political prisoners. “Resolving the problems is not easy and would take time. The government and people should help each other to resolve the issues,” Rouhani said, according to IRNA. Rouhani also rebuffed U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments in support of the protests. “This man in America who is sympathizing today with our people has forgotten that he called the Iranian nation terrorists a few months ago. This man who is against the Iranian nation to his core has no right to sympathize with Iranians,” Rouhani said. Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania’s Social Democrat Party (PSD) proposed a close ally of party leader Liviu Dragnea as prime minister on Tuesday to succeed Mihai Tudose, who quit after falling out with Dragnea. European Parliament lawmaker Viorica Dancila, 54 could back efforts to dilute the penalties for corruption, which would help pave the way for Dragnea, barred from government by a vote-rigging conviction and on trial for abuse of office, to return to front-line politics. However, President Klaus Iohannis, a bitter critic of the government, is not obliged to nominate Dancila to parliament. Tudose resigned suddenly on Monday after only seven months in the job after failing to force the resignation of Interior Minister Carmen Dan, also close to Dragnea, who serves as the speaker of the lower house. The argument over how hard to fight corruption in Romania, one of Europe’s most graft-prone states, has dominated its politics since the ex-communist state joined the European Union just over a decade ago. Dragnea, a former deputy prime minister, has been pulling strings behind the scenes since his conviction in 2016. In June, his PSD pushed out its previous prime minister, Sorin Grindeanu, less than six months into his term after he failed to relax anti-graft rules in the face of widespread public protests. Last month, a group of PSD lawmakers published a draft bill last month proposing that abuse of office offences that cause financial damage of less than 200,000 euros ($237,000) should no longer be punishable. If approved, the bill would halt a trial in which Dragnea is accused of abuse of office when he was chair of a county council. “‘Save soldier Dragnea’ would be the theme of the year 2018. His political fate and that of his other colleagues depends crucially on amending judicial legislation,” said independent political commentator Cristian Patrasconiu. “Dancila has been a vehement supporter of the need to amend justice laws and she is regarded as an advocate of Dragnea’s thinking. She is 100 percent controllable and accountable.” PRESIDENT‘S CHOICE Complicating the outlook, Iohannis on Monday appointed Defence Minister Mihai Fifor, also president of PSD’s national Council, as interim prime minister, leading to speculation that Fifor was Iohannis’s preferred replacement for Tudose. Iohannis is due to nominate the next prime minister on Wednesday, who will then face a parliamentary vote of confidence. Under Romanian law, he has leeway in his selection and is expected to pick a candidate from the biggest party. “I want us to have a swift procedure that will lead to a new government because ... I want to avoid ... potential negative economic consequences,” he said. Analysts said Iohannis, an outspoken critic of the government and its anti-corruption record, might nominate Fifor in the hope that, by winning a vote of confidence in parliament, he would undermine Dragnea within the PSD. “The president may be seeking to dilute Dragnea’s power and impose a new balance of power in the party,” said Adrian Basaraba, professor of political sciences at West Timisoara University. Dancila is a vice-chair of the European parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. An oil and gas drilling engineer, she was born in the same county as Dragnea and served under him on the Teleorman County Council. Fifor, 47, has overseen the large-scale acquisition of military equipment and hardware to modernise Romania’s army, including Patriot missiles from the United States. There was little market reaction on Tuesday, with investors preferring to focus on the economy, which grew at 8.8 percent in the third quarter, the fastest rate in the EU. Additional reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Kevin Liffey" + }, + { + "text": "KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwait’s oil minister Bakhit al-Rashidi said on Wednesday there is no plan or intention so far to exit from a production-cutting agreement among OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers. “The production-reduction agreement will remain for a long time and there is no thinking right now to exit it,” Rashidi told a news conference in Kuwait City. He said a Jan. 21 committee meeting of some OPEC and non-OPEC ministers in Oman would focus on reviewing adherence to the cuts, adding that compliance in December was at 125 percent. Russia and Saudi Arabia are leading the joint effort to limit crude production and prop up prices. The agreement runs until the end of 2018. Reporting by Ahmed Hagagy; Writing by Rania El Gamal; Editing by Dale Hudson" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 9:58 AM / Updated 9 hours ago Standard Chartered creates fintech investment unit Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Standard Chartered said on Wednesday it had established a business unit to invest in financial technology and promote innovation. Dubbed SC Ventures, it will include internal consultants to help the rest of the group solve problems with technology and a team to sponsor and oversee new disruptive technology ventures owned by StanChart. Another part of the new unit will focus on managing the bank’s minority investments in ‘fintech’ and seeking new ones to back. “As new technology continues to play an ever more important role in banking, there is a huge opportunity for us to promote more innovation,” said Michael Gorriz, group chief information officer. StanChart already backs Ripple, a payments company built on distributed ledger technology, and data firm Paxata. The unit will be managed by Alex Manson, previously global head of transaction banking at StanChart. Reporting by Emma Rumney; editing by Jason Neely" + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 3:16 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago Sanchez deal not done yet, says Mourinho Reuters Staff 3 Min Read (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said the club are still trying to sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal but added that the deal, which British media report could involve Henrikh Mkhitaryan moving in the other direction, was not done at all. As talks continue, the Armenian midfielder has been left out of United’s squad for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Burnley but Mourinho said at a news conference on Friday that he was unclear as to how close the two clubs were to closing the transfers. “I think clearly everybody knows that we are there, and especially when the Arsenal manager speaks so clearly like he did there is no point in trying to hide or deny,” Mourinho said in reference to Arsene Wenger’s admission on Thursday that Sanchez might move to United within 48 hours. “But it is not done at all, so in this moment Mkhitaryan our player, Sanchez an Arsenal player and with a match tomorrow I want to switch off and focus on the most important thing, which is the match.” Sanchez was pictured training with Arsenal on Friday and could feature in the club’s game at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday. Mourinho said he was not involved in the negotiations and, like everyone else, was waiting to be updated on their progress. “Sometimes people think transfers involve a lot the managers in the negotiations, I think it depends on the profile of the club, the way we establish our jobs and in my case when it goes to the table of negotiations I like to be out, I am out and I will just calmly be waiting for news, no more than that,” he said. The Portuguese coach added that he will inform the media on his view on Sanchez if they eventually sign the Chile international. “I will speak with you if one day we sign him, I can speak with you about him and what he can bring to our team. He’s an Arsenal player, he’s not my player, there’s no point in me speaking about something that may or may not happen.” Mourinho said that defender Daley Blind has been ruled out of the Burnley game with injury. Reporting by Neil Robinson; Editing by Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "Dolly Parton Has Just Been Awarded Two Guinness World Records Record breaker, Dolly Parton. By Emily Price January 19, 2018 Over the span of her career, Dolly Parton has won a ton of different awards. Now the singer can add another one to the list: World Record Holder. This week Parton was awarded two Guinness World Records , one for “Most decades with a Top 20 hit on the U.S. Hot Country Songs chart” and another for “Most hits on the U.S. Hot Country Songs chart by a female artist,” FOX News reports . Dolly Parton’s reign at the top of the charts started in 1967 with “Something Fishy” and continued to 2016 with her release of an updated version of “Jolene” recorded with Pentatonix. She beat out fellow country music icons, George Jones, Elvis Presley and Reba McEntire, for the honor and is the only artist with Top 20 hits on across six consecutive decades (1960s–2010s). It’s also an honor Parton is likely to keep for some time. In order for someone to surpass her record, someone would need to have 73 consecutive top 20 hits. That’s not an easy proposition. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "Verizon Communications Inc. has chosen Samsung Electronics Co. as a major supplier in the telecom giant’s push to offer high speed internet over its wireless network, as the first commercial launches of fifth-generation offerings take shape. Verizon’s 5G network will launch in the second half of this year in Sacramento, Calif., before adding the service in other U.S. markets. It will use cellular antennas to beam high-speed internet into consumers’ homes. Samsung will make network equipment for Verizon—including the small... RELATED VIDEO The Modern Cell Carrier: How We Got Here The U.S. wireless industry is dominated by four major players: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. Now that just about everyone has a cellphone, each operator is looking for new ways to grow. But how did we go from the days of one giant landline monopoly to four competitive cell companies? Illustration: Shaumbe Wright/WSJ To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "0 32 To solve its “fake news” problem, Facebook is asking its users to complete surveys on what they determine is “high quality” news content. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on a post on his Facebook page Friday that the company will ask users if they are familiar with a specific news source — and whether they trusted it — in order to help weed out less reliable sources. As a result of the changes, people can expect the level of news in the News Feed to drop from the current 5 percent to 4 percent, Zuckerberg said. The move is another effort by the company to re-establish trust with the public, after much of that trust was eroded in wake of revelations about Russian interests using the platform to influence the 2016 U.S. election. (The company’s image was further tarred by some former high-level employees criticizing the platform, including co-founder Sean Parker saying that the network was specifically built to exploit vulnerabilities in human psychology .) “There’s too much sensationalism, misinformation and polarization in the world today,” Zuckerberg wrote . “Social media enables people to spread information faster than ever before, and if we don’t specifically tackle these problems, then we end up amplifying them,” he wrote. Facebook said earlier this month it would be shifting its News Feed algorithms to prioritize “meaningful social interactions.” The News Feed is currently designed to prioritize relevant content from friends and family, but now will highlight content that people are likely to comment, view and share regardless if it comes from a peer or a company. The company added in a blog post it is highlighting content that is trustworthy, informative and relevant to local communities. The survey process will begin in the U.S. and expand globally." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 22 (Reuters) - FIFA President Gianni Infantino and his world athletics (IAAF) counterpart Sebastian Coe are unlikely to be put up for International Olympic Committee membership next month despite a three-year wait, a source said on Monday. The two international federations - among the Olympics’ most popular sports - have been snubbed since 2015 as they struggled with wide-scale corruption and doping scandals which tarnished their images. “My understanding is they will not be recommended,” a source with knowledge of the membership procedure ahead of the IOC session in Pyeongchang, South Korea next month, told Reuters on condition of anonymity. The IOC elects new members at its annual session with the list of proposed names being published a few days before the vote. Another snub of two of the world’s biggest sports federations who held IOC seats for decades before 2015 will do little to mend ties that have been strained by the ongoing corruption and doping investigations. The source said the IOC had discussed the matter of Infantino and Coe and a final decision had yet to be taken but they were “unlikely” to be proposed for membership. Infantino was elected head of FIFA in 2016 to succeed scandal-plagued Sepp Blatter and lead the federation out of its biggest graft crisis. Former double Olympic champion Coe took over the IAAF in 2015 as a doping scandal unfolded, severely damaging the organisation’s credibility. Coe triggered the ire of the IOC when the IAAF blocked Russian track and field athletes from competing at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics last year over the doping affair. Coe’s predecessor Lamine Diack faces a bribery and embezzlement investigation in France. Both Blatter and Diack were IOC members until 2015. Blatter’s predecessor at FIFA, Joao Havelange, was an IOC member from 1963 to 2011. Diack’s predecessor, Primo Nebiolo, was also an IOC member. (Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Ed Osmond)" + }, + { + "text": "AMMAN (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Sunday at the end of talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah that he had “agreed to disagree” with the monarch about Washington’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Earlier the monarch had warned the visiting top U.S. official about the consequences of President Donald Trump’s move, saying it destablised the region, fuelled radicalism and could hamper efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea’s presidential office said it welcomed Kim Jong Un’s New Year speech where he raised the possibility of sending a delegation to the upcoming Winter Olympic Games to be held in Pyeongchang in the South, Yonhap news agency reported. Kim on Monday warned the United States that he has a “nuclear button” on his desk ready for use if North Korea is threatened, but said he was “open to dialogue” with Seoul and may send a North Korean delegation to the Games as part of efforts to lower military tensions on the Korean peninsula. Reporting by Soyoung Kim in SEOUL; Editing by Michael Perry" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 2:40 PM / Updated 38 minutes ago Membership momentum sparks race to settle German coalition deal Thomas Escritt 3 Min Read BERLIN (Reuters) - A flood of new members signing up to Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) in the hope of voting down a renewed coalition deal with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives is raising time pressure on negotiators trying to thrash out an accord. The SPD voted on Sunday to begin formal coalition talks with Merkel’s bloc despite reservations among some members after the centre-left party suffered its worst result of the postwar era in last September’s federal election. However, the leader of the party’s Jusos youth wing, Kevin Kuehnert, spoke out against any re-run of the ‘grand coalition’ that has ruled Germany since 2013, and he urged more Germans to join the party to help block any final deal. Party leader Martin Schulz, desperate to win over a sceptical rank-and-file and end Germany’s political uncertainty, has pledged to consult the party’s 450,000-odd members in a postal ballot before inking any deal. SPD spokesman Philipp Geiger said on Wednesday the party presidency would meet next Monday to agree rules for the eventual ballot of members on a coalition deal. He denied media reports that the SPD would tighten its voting rules. In a similar ballot in 2013, people joining the party less than one month before the SPD clinched a coalition agreement with Merkel’s party were barred from voting on the deal. The process of screening individual applications can take three to four weeks, meaning that the hundreds of Germans joining the SPD since Kuehnert’s appeal might not get to vote on any new coalition deal if it comes before late March. Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) youth wing leader Kevin Kuehnert attends the SPD's one-day party congress in Bonn, Germany, January 21, 2018. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay JUMP IN APPLICATIONS Regional party organisations have reported a jump in SPD membership applications, costing from 5 euros a month, since the weekend. In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany’s largest state, the SPD had received 600 new applications, in Berlin, 300 and in Lower Saxony, some 400, though they do not all necessarily come from those sharing Kuehnert’s opposition to a new coalition. The numbers are still small compared with the 30,000 who streamed into the party during 2017 amid the initial euphoria that surrounded Schulz’s appointment as party leader. Many in Jusos liken themselves to “Momentum”, a left-wing dissident membership group that has influence in Britain’s opposition Labour Party, securing the election of outsider Jeremy Corbyn as leader over the objections of the then-leadership. But SPD leaders warned against a short-term influx of new members joining with just one purpose in mind. “The SPD isn’t eBay,” Michael Groschek, the SPD’s chief in NRW, told newspaper Die Welt. “We don’t put our political decisions up for auction.” Reporting by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Alison Williams and Gareth Jones" + }, + { + "text": "HOUSTON, Jan. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (NYSE: COG) will host its fourth quarter and year end 2017 earnings conference call on Friday, February 23, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The Company plans to issue its financial and operating results prior to the market opening on the same day. To access the live audio webcast, please visit the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.cabotog.com . A replay of the call will also be available on the Company's website. Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a leading independent natural gas producer with its entire resource base located in the continental United States. For additional information, visit the Company's website at www.cabotog.com . View original content: SOURCE Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "5 days ago | 1,012 shares About North Korean Insight aggregates the latest stories, tweets and videos about North Korea and Kim Jong-un. Updated every minute, this website is a primer on all things North Korea. Learn more Content Our automated aggregation service scans hundreds of media sources, as well as blogs and social networks, to deliver live and objective news coverage without editorial control. Newsletter Subscribe to our daily email updates: Subscribed - look for the confirmation email! Email" + }, + { + "text": "ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Jan. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SKUlocal , a national direct marketing company, is pleased to announce that Elyse Salpeter has joined the company as its new Sales Director, Healthcare Activation. She will offer consultative expertise in developing activation strategies for OTC and RX brands. Salpeter is a senior-level sales executive, bringing more than 20 years of experience in marketing, sales and leadership to SKUlocal. Her direct marketing and targeting knowledge and experience are a great fit with SKUlocal. Most recently, Salpeter was Sr. Director of Lifestyle Sales with a point-of-care company, and a Sr. Digital Sales Rep with Prevention. She also spent more than 10 years as a Sales Manager for USA Weekend Magazine, specializing in shopper marketing, lifestyle and pharmaceutical sales, including accounts such as Allergan, Glaxo, KFC, CMS and others. Salpeter earned a bachelor's degree from Stony Brook University in New York. She lives on Long Island with her husband and 16-year-old twins. About SKUlocal Based in St. Petersburg, FL, SKUlocal is a national direct marketing company that offers targeted shopper solutions to identify and activate specific shopper segments. It provides marketers with strategic insights into how shoppers think while consulting on which tactics are optimal for driving desired behaviors. SKUlocal's combination of targeted direct mail, customized social integration and geo-specific digital activations -- coupled with powerful, precise targeting and consumer insights -- delivers measurable results for our valued partners in the consumer packaged goods (CPG), over-the-counter (OTC) and retail grocery marketplace. SKUlocal's client list includes Procter & Gamble, Kellogg's, Blue Bunny, L'Oreal, Bayer, Walgreens and HEB grocery stores. SKUlocal is owned by Platinum Equity, a global investment firm based in Los Angeles. CONTACT: Dave Williams 727-319-5443 [REDACTED] View original content with multimedia: SOURCE SKUlocal" + }, + { + "text": "January 14, 2018 / 9:14 PM / Updated 18 minutes ago China absence looms over Canada meeting on how to pressure North Korea David Ljunggren 5 Min Read VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Foreign ministers from around 20 nations gather on Tuesday to discuss how to curb North Korea’s nuclear ambitions through diplomatic and financial pressure, but China, seen as a key player in any long-term solution, will be absent. Head of North Korean delegation Ri Son Gwon, Chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country (CPRC) of DPRK, reaches out to shake hands with a South Korean official as he crosses a concrete border to attend their meeting at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas, South Korea, January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Korea Pool The Vancouver meeting, co-hosted by Canada and the United States, comes amid signs that tensions on the peninsula have eased, at least temporarily. North and South Korea held talks for the first time in two years last week and Pyongyang says it will send athletes across the border to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. But the United States and others say the international community must look at ways of expanding a broad range of sanctions aimed at North Korea’s nuclear program. “There is growing evidence that our maximum pressure campaign is being felt in North Korea. They are feeling the strain,” said Brian Hook, the State Department’s director of policy planning. Hook told a briefing in Washington that participants, including U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, would examine how to boost maritime security around North Korea to intercept ships trying to defy sanctions as well as “disrupting funding and disrupting resources.” The 17-nation Proliferation Security Initiative, which aims to prevent the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction, on Friday said “it is imperative for us to redouble our efforts to put maximum pressure on North Korea”. But North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has shown no sign of willingness to give in to U.S. demands and negotiate away a weapons program he sees as vital to his survival. Another challenge in Vancouver will be the absence of China, which has significant influence in North Korea. Beijing is Pyongyang’s only ally and its chief trading partner. The meeting primarily groups those nations that sent troops to the Korean war of 1950-53, when China fought alongside the North. Beijing condemned the gathering. “Holding this kind of meeting that doesn’t include important parties to the Korean peninsula nuclear issue actually cannot help in advancing an appropriate resolution to the issue,” foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular briefing. Other invitees include Japan and South Korea, front-line U.S. allies in the Washington-led effort against North Korea. Hook said China and Russia - which is also not attending - would be fully briefed on the conclusions. That said, Beijing’s absence will be felt, say diplomats. “Without China there is a real limit as to what can be achieved,” said one senior diplomatic source. Zhao Tong, a North Korea expert at the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center in Beijing, said the United States did not want Russia and China potentially distracting the discussion by raising their proposal to halt joint U.S.-South Korean military drills that the North says are a prelude to an invasion. Fears of war have eased somewhat after the first round of intra-Korean talks in more than two years, and Trump, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, appeared to signal more of an openness toward diplomacy after a period of exchanging insults and threats with Kim. But U.S. officials say hawks in the Trump administration remain pessimistic that the North-South contacts will lead anywhere. Even so, debate within the U.S. administration over whether to give more active consideration to military options, such as a pre-emptive strike on a North Korean nuclear or missile site, has lost momentum ahead of February’s Olympic games, the officials said. For his part, Trump has vacillated between praising and criticizing China, which he has cast as critical to reining in North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. The White House on Friday welcomed news that China’s imports from North Korea plunged in December to their lowest in dollar terms since at least the start of 2014, with trade curbed by United Nations sanctions. Last month, however, Trump accused China of allowing oil into North Korea, which he said would prevent “a friendly solution” to the nuclear crisis. Beijing denied the charge. Additional reporting by Arshad Mohammed, John Walcott, David Brunnstrom, Matt Spetalnick and David Alexander in Washington and Christian Shepherd and Michael Martina in Beijing; Editing by Mary Milliken and James Dalgleish" + }, + { + "text": "By Jen Wieczner January 25, 2018 George Soros, the billionaire investor and philanthropist working to ease the global refugee crisis , said Thursday that he’s found a new way to help migrants: blockchain technology . Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Soros explained how the technology underpinning cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin can play important roles in immigration. “Blockchain technology can be put to positive use. And we use it actually in helping migrants to communicate with their families and to keep their money safe and to carry it with them,” Soros told the Davos crowd during a question-and-answer session following his speech. It wasn’t immediately clear how the billionaire was harnessing the technology for these purposes. Soros’ Open Society Foundations , a philanthropic organization dedicated to worldwide democracy, last fall awarded a $100,000 grant to the Center for Human Rights Science at Carnegie Mellon University, which is exploring using blockchain and other new technologies to record rights violations and atrocities. (A spokesperson for Soros’ foundations did not initially respond to a request for more information.) Blockchains are distributed ledgers that keep a secure record of transactions, whether financial or otherwise. The most obvious way migrants could use blockchain technology to securely store money while traveling would be to convert cash into digital currency, but Soros dismissed the value of cryptocurrency, making clear he believed its primary appeal was “for tax evasion” and “the rulers of dictatorships.” Others, however, such as angel investor and entrepreneur Naval Ravikant, have praised cryptocurrency as a means of escaping the oppression “from oligarchs and tyrants.” Bitcoin is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme. — Naval (@naval) January 24, 2018 An octogenarian immigrant from Hungary, Soros added: “Cryptocurrency is a misnomer and it’s a typical bubble which is always based on some kind of misunderstanding. Bitcoin is not a currency, because a currency is supposed to be a stable store of value, and a currency that can fluctuate 25% in a day can’t be used, for instance, to pay wages, because the wages could drop by 25% in a day.” Indeed, cryptocurrencies crashed as much as 40% in a 24-hour period last week, amid a longer selloff in which the Bitcoin price has fallen to half of its peak of $20,000. Soros’ viewpoint echoed the perspective of other influential financiers, including J.P. Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon , who has called Bitcoin a “fraud” but is investing in blockchain technologies that could make various banking operations more efficient. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 12:18 AM / in 3 minutes Japan's Topix rises to highest level since 1991 Reuters Staff 1 Min Read TOKYO, Jan 4 (Reuters) - The Topix share index rose to its highest level since 1991 on Thursday, catching up to global equities gains on Japan’s first trading day of 2018. The Topix was up 1.6 percent at 1847.26, topping a high of 1,844.05 set on Nov. 9. Reporting by Tokyo markets team; Editing by Sam Holmes" + }, + { + "text": "BOSTON, The Board of Directors of The New Ireland Fund, Inc. (NYSE:IRL) is pleased to announce that it has filed its Annual Report for the year ended October 31, 2017 with the SEC on Form N-CSR. A full copy of the Annual Report is available on the Fund's Website at: www.newirelandfund.com . Shareholders may also receive a hard copy of the Fund's complete audited financial statements free of charge upon request. This may be done by emailing the Fund at [REDACTED] or writing to the Fund at: The New Ireland Fund, Inc. c/o KBI Global Investors (North America) Ltd One Boston Place 201 Washington Street, 36th Floor, Boston, MA 02108 The New Ireland Fund, Inc. is a closed-end diversified investment company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol \"IRL\". The Fund, which seeks long-term capital appreciation through investment of at least 80% of its assets in a portfolio of Irish securities, invests primarily in equity and fixed income securities of Irish companies. The Fund is managed by KBI Global Investors (North America) Ltd. Up-to-date information, as well as monthly portfolio updates, is available on the Fund's website - www.newirelandfund.com For further information, please contact The New Ireland Fund, Inc. at (800) 468-6475. Source:The New Ireland Fund, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Zimbabwe is 'open for business,' new president Emmerson Mnangagwa tells Davos The newly-inaugurated president, tasked with repairing Zimbabwe's economy, tells investors it is \"open for business\" Years of isolation and economic sanctions have left Zimbabwe's once-rich sectors in complete disrepair Mnangagwa took power after a military-led coup peacefully removed longtime former president Robert Mugabe in November 2017 SHARES JEKESAI NJIKIZANA | Stringer | Getty Images Zimbabwe is open for business, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa told attendants at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday. \"On my day of inauguration, I mentioned economics and trade cooperation would be my priority in Zimbabwe, rather than politics, in order to catch up with the region,\" the newly-inaugurated Mnangagwa told a panel audience at the Swiss mountain resort. \"Zimbabwe has lagged behind in many areas as a result of isolation for past 16, 18 years. Now we are saying to the world: Zimbabwe is now open for business.\" \"To do so, we need to look at all the legislation that has been constraining business coming into Zimbabwe to improve the ease of doing business,\" he said, citing the country's land reform and indigenization laws, which have forced international investors out of the mineral-rich country for many years. The new president, inaugurated in late November of 2017 after a dramatic deposition of former longtime president Robert Mugabe, is tasked with repairing Zimbabwe's battered economy and bringing the country back into the international community after years of isolation and economic sanctions. The IMF (International Monetary Fund) has called Zimbabwe's economy one of the \"most fragile in the world.\" Zimbabwe captured the world's attention in November of 2017 when a military coup, largely supported by the local population, peacefully removed Mugabe from power after 37 years. Mnangagwa was close to Mugabe for nearly all that time, formerly serving as his vice president, as well as speaker of parliament before that and head of the country's intelligence agency during a period of violent civil conflict in the 1980s. Mugabe and his wife Grace were widely reviled across the country despite having a traditional base of support. The former president was well-known for his violent and repressive tactics, and for driving the country's once vibrant economy and agricultural sector into ruin. Widespread food shortages and hyperinflation marked the last decade of Zimbabwe's history. Investors are now talking about a range of opportunities within the country's agricultural and extractive sectors, to name a few, but risks abound, including a dense and inefficient bureaucracy, corruption, and severely lacking infrastructure." + }, + { + "text": "The Nifty and Sensex scaled significant landmarks of 11,000 and 36,000 levels respectively during the week as unabated fund inflows continued amid robust corporate earnings and optimism over the upcoming Union Budget on February 1. The momentum was further fuelled by the IMF’s projection that India could emerge as the fastest-growing major economy in the world in 2018 at 7.4 percent. Sentiment was also boosted by hopes that the government could meet its fiscal deficit target after it announced generating 370 billion rupees ($5.8 billion) through a stake sale in a petroleum refinery. On the currency front, the rupee ended at a one-week high of 63.54 on Thursday as the dollar stumbled to a fresh three-year low. Brent oil jumped to $71 per barrel as the dollar continued to weaken and crude inventories in the U.S. fell for a 10th straight week. Meanwhile, the results season saw key companies like Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, PNB Housing, Indiabulls Housing, Indiabulls Real Estate and Asian Paints meet estimates, while Biocon and Wipro reported lower-than-expected numbers. On the stock specific front, ONGC gained 7 percent after its board approved acquisition of the entire 51.11 percent of the government’s stake in HPCL. ONGC will now control over 40 mmt of refinery and over 14,700 retail outlets. IT stocks, which underperformed the broader markets in 2017, have joined the rally as optimism about global economic growth, tech spending and third-quarter earnings of some IT companies have lifted sentiment. The government released recapitalisation plans for PSU banks during the week while deferring a decision on a road-map for consolidation in the banking sector. The finance minister announced that the government will infuse 881.39 billion rupees ($12.62 billion) into PSU banks, but their shares turned weak as the amount was below market expectation. The coming week will be action-packed for stock markets as the government unveils the Union Budget. The week will also see prominent companies like L&T, ICICI Bank, HDFC, Dabur, Tech Mahindra, Bajaj Auto, Hindalco, NTPC, IOC, JSW Steel, Ashok Leyland and Vedanta release their quarterly earnings. In addition, a series of macro-economic data will also be out - fiscal deficit, eight infrastructure industries data and annual GDP estimates are scheduled to be announced on January 31, while January Nikkei India PMI manufacturing data will be announced on February 2. Monthly automobile sales numbers will start flowing in from February 1. On the global front, the U.S. Federal Reserve holds its next two-day monetary policy meet on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by the monthly U.S. jobs report on Friday. The Fed had raised interest rates by 25 bps in December, and is not expected to make any substantive changes this time. However, the central bank’s comments and outlook will likely set the tone for monetary policy going forward into 2018. Thursday’s budget, the last before India’s general election in 2019, will be crucial for the government as it faces various challenges - from the impact of the rollout of a national goods and services tax to the plight of farmers and increasing rate of inflation. In parliament, opposition parties may also raise the issue of law and order in the country due to the controversy over the film “Padmaavat”. The government is expected to prioritise rural spending in the budget given that rural distress entails political costs. Thus, MGNREGA, rural roads, rural housing and irrigation may get higher allocations, while infrastructure spending will be pushed through off-budget sources. No changes in indirect taxes are expected as the GST Council decides on rates now, and corporate tax cuts are also unlikely given fiscal pressure. However, some relaxation in individual income tax slabs or tax rate is expected in order to boost urban disposable incomes. The markets seem to be in a distribution phase with the Nifty continuing to hold up while mid-cap and small-cap stocks are under pressure. It’s still unclear whether the budget will act as the trigger for a further rally. About the Author Ambareesh Baliga has about 25 years of experience in the stock market and has worked with Karvy and Kotak groups in the past. He is a regular market commentator on various business channels. He is a commerce graduate from Calcutta University and a qualified cost accountant. The views expressed in this article are not those of Reuters News." + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Friday that he believes the Republican tax cuts will ultimately become revenue neutral over 10 years due to higher growth, but the Treasury will likely ask Congress for more money to implement the plan. “We think there will be over $1 trillion in growth, so I do think this will pay for itself,” Mnuchin told an event hosted by the Economic Club of Washington, dismissing estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation that the tax cuts will increase U.S. deficits by $1.1 trillion to $1.5 trillion over 10 years. Mnuchin said that for modeling purposes, the plan assumes 2.9 percent annual U.S. growth, but “we do think we can get to three percent or higher.” (Reporting by David Lawder Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16 (Reuters) - Guangdong Xinhui Meida Nylon Co Ltd : * Sees to swing to net profit at 33 million yuan to 38 million yuan in FY 2017 versus net loss at 81.5 million yuan in FY 2016 * Says increased gross margin and decreased cost of supervision as main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/MptQFe Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Breakingviews TV: Infrastructure hopes 10:00am EST - 10:13 Mike Burke, CEO of Aecom, talks to Rob Cox in Davos about the prospect for a U.S. infrastructure funding bill, Saudi Arabia’s big plans and China’s One Belt One Road initiative. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Mike Burke, CEO of Aecom, talks to Rob Cox in Davos about the prospect for a U.S. infrastructure funding bill, Saudi Arabia’s big plans and China’s One Belt One Road initiative. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "MILAN (Reuters) - The family of Italian designer Gianni Versace has distanced itself from a long-awaited U.S. television series about his violent death. The mosaic on the the patio of the South Beach mansion formerly owned by fashion designer Gianni Versace in Miami Beach, Florida July 23, 2013. REUTERS/Gaston De Cardenas/File Photo The nine-part series, made by 21st Century Fox and premiering next week, stars Spanish actress Penelope Cruz and Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin. Versace was gunned down in 1997 at the entrance gate of his Miami beach mansion by serial killer Andrew Cunanan. The Versace company “did not authorise and was not involved in the television series,” it said in a statement on Monday. The series had to be considered “an act of fiction”, it said, given it drew inspiration from a book that was not authorised - Maureen Orth’s ‘Vulgar favours’. A spokesman for 21st Century Fox had no immediate comment. Versace founded his eponymous fashion house, famous for its Medusa head logo, in 1978. In 2014 U.S. private equity firm Blackstone bought a 20 percent stake. Gianni’s sister Donatella is artistic director and vice-president of the group. Reporting by Giulia Segreti; editing by John Stonestreet" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday the release of a U.S. list of Russian businessmen close to the Kremlin was an unfriendly act, but Moscow did not currently plan to retaliate. The U.S. Treasury Department named major Russian businessmen in a so-called “oligarchs’ list” which was released earlier on Tuesday. The list, drawn up as part of a sanctions package signed into law in August last year, does not mean those included will be subject to sanctions, but it casts a potential shadow of sanctions risk over a wide circle of wealthy Russians. “It is, of course, an unfriendly act. It will complicate the difficult situation Russian-American relations are already in, and of course harm international relations as a whole,” Putin said. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with his confidants ahead of the upcoming presidential election in Moscow, Russia January 30, 2018. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor Speaking at meeting with election campaign officials in Moscow, Putin said it was “stupid” to treat Russian in the same way as North Korea and Iran, while also asking Moscow to help broker a peace deal on the Korean peninsula. But the Russian leader said he still wanted to improve ties with the United States and would refrain from any immediate retaliation. “We were waiting for this list, and I will not hide it, were ready to take retaliatory steps, serious ones, which would have reduced our relations to zero,” Putin said. “For now, we will refrain from these steps. But we will carefully watch how the situation develops.” Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya; Writing by Jack Stubbs; Editing by Christian Lowe" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 12:05 PM / in 5 minutes Keitany eyes Radcliffe marathon world record in London Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Mary Keitany has set her sights on breaking Paula Radcliffe’s world record at the London Marathon this year and will run with male pacemakers as the Briton did when she set the mark of two hours, 15 minutes and 25 seconds at the event in 2003. Kenyan Keitany, 36, clocked 2:17:01 to break Radcliffe’s women-only marathon world record en route to her victory in London last year and is looking to rewrite the record books once more. “I know the record was set by Paula Radcliffe on this course in 2003 and that she is a popular person in Britain, but I really hope the London crowds get behind my challenge and can help drive me on to achieve something incredible,” Keitany said. “Obviously, any world record is contingent on everything being right on the day. London has shown it has the course for world records to be broken and I hope my form and health stay strong and that the weather is kind on the day.” Keitany will be challenged by Ethiopian rival Tirunesh Dibaba, who confirmed her participation on Tuesday, while last year’s world champion Rose Chelimo will also be part of the elite women’s field for the April 22 event. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 22(Reuters) - Citic Guoan Wine Co Ltd * Sees FY 2017 net loss to be 85 million yuan to 100 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 12.7 million yuan * Says decreased income from wine is the main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/tYjpoz Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "JOHANNESBURG, Jan 15 (Reuters) - South African white maize futures prices hit 11-month highs on Monday as a spell of hot, dry weather raised concerns about plantings and yields over a swathe of the maize belt. The contract for delivery in March rose over 2 percent to 2,123.80 rand a tonne, its highest level in 11 months, before easing back to be 1.35 percent higher at 2,098 rand, according to Reuters’ data. (Reporting by Ed Stoddard; Editing by Mark Potter)" + }, + { + "text": "DENVER, Jan. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PDC Energy, Inc. (“PDC” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:PDCE) today announced plans to host a conference call to discuss fourth quarter and full-year 2017 results. The Company plans to issue its fourth quarter and full-year 2017 news release after market close on the previous day, followed thereafter by supporting materials. The release and materials will be available on the Company’s website, www.pdce.com . With fourth quarter and full-year 2017 earnings results, the Company plans to provide 2018 financial guidance to complement its previously released 2018 production and capital investment guidance. The Company does not plan on hosting a 2018 analyst day, but rather intends to provide additional operational updates and outlooks on its earnings calls. Conference Call and Webcast: Date/Time: Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. ET Domestic (toll free): 877-312-5520 International: 253-237-1142 Conference ID: 1897819 Webcast: available at www.pdce.com Replay Information: Domestic (toll free): 855-859-2056 International: 404-537-3406 Conference ID: 1897819 Webcast Replay: available for six months at www.pdce.com About PDC Energy, Inc. PDC Energy, Inc. is a domestic independent exploration and production company that produces, develops, and explores for crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs, with primary operations in the Wattenberg Field in Colorado and the Delaware Basin in Reeves and Culberson Counties, Texas. The Company also has operations in the Utica Shale in Southeastern Ohio, which it plans to divest. PDC’s operations are focused in the horizontal Niobrara and Codell plays in the Wattenberg Field and in the Wolfcamp zones in the Delaware Basin. Contacts: Michael Edwards Senior Director Investor Relations 303-860-5820 [REDACTED] Kyle Sourk Manager Investor Relations 303-318-6150 [REDACTED] Source:PDC Energy, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 3:33 AM / Updated an hour ago South Korea says North Korea may stage 'threatening' military parade on Olympics eve - Yonhap Reuters Staff 1 Min Read SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea’s Unification Minister said on Friday that North Korea may stage a “threatening” military parade to mark its new military anniversary on Feb. 8, the day before the start of the Winter Olympics, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said. North Korea announced on Tuesday it would celebrate the founding of its military on Feb. 8, which is typically marked with a large military parade. Minister Cho Myoung-gyun said in a lecture in Seoul that the North is preparing an anniversary event in Pyongyang involving “large-scale” military forces and weapons, Yonhap said. Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Michael Perry" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 9:27 PM / in 13 minutes Japan's Renesas in talks to buy U.S. chipmaker Maxim: CNBC Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Japanese chip company Renesas Electronics Corp ( 6723.T ) is in talks to acquire U.S. chipmaker Maxim Integrated Products Inc ( MXIM.O ) in a deal that could be valued up to $20 billion, CNBC reported on Monday. A deal is not imminent and one may not happen, CNBC said. cnb.cx/2nrkjIe Neither company was immediately available for comment when contacted by Reuters. Maxim’s shares ended 12.3 percent higher at $66.27 on the Nasdaq on Monday following the report. Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru; Editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK (Reuters) - Verizon Communications Inc said on Wednesday the tax overhaul bill signed into law by U.S. President Donald Trump late last year will result in a one-time reduction in net deferred income tax liabilities of about $16.8 billion. The reduction will increase earnings for the fourth quarter and year ending Dec. 31, 2017, but will not have any impact on the 2017 statement of cash flows, Verizon said in a filing. Verizon estimates that the impact of the law to earnings per share for the year ended Dec. 31 is about $4.10. Analysts and investors had expected that the law, which slashes the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, to boost corporate earnings. Telecom companies stand to benefit because they are primarily domestic businesses. Verizon also said it expects a separate accounting change implemented on Jan. 1, 2018 to increase pre-tax retained earnings by $4 billion to $4.6 billion. Reporting by Anjali Athavaley; Editing by Sandra Maler and Lisa Shumaker" + }, + { + "text": "CALGARY, Jan. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) announced today the completion of the first share repurchase program (the \"Program\") of its two share repurchase programs announced on December 11, 2017. CP purchased an aggregate of 134,000 common shares under the Program for an aggregate purchase price of $29,479,258.90. All common shares acquired under the Program were cancelled upon purchase by CP. The Program formed part of CP's normal course issuer bid announced on May 10, 2017. About Canadian Pacific Canadian Pacific is a transcontinental railway in Canada and the United States with direct links to major ports on the west and east coasts, providing North American customers a competitive rail service with access to key markets in every corner of the globe. CP is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of CP. CP-IR SOURCE Canadian Pacific" + }, + { + "text": "53 PM / Updated 8 minutes ago Embraer exec says Brazil wishes must be respected in any Boeing deal Reuters Staff 1 Min Read DUBLIN, Jan 23 (Reuters) - The head of Embraer’s civil planemaking division said that the Brazilian government’s wishes must be respected in any tie-up between the Brazilian aerospace group and Boeing. Speaking at the Airline Economics conference in Dublin, Embraer Civil Aircraft Chief Executive John Slattery said there was a history of co-operation between the two companies, which last month disclosed talks aimed at a business combination. “As leader of thee largest business in Embraer, I am positive towards what the potential outcome could be. I think there are a lot of cultural synergies between Embraer and Boeing,” Slattery said. “Boeing is deeply respected within Brazil and within Embraer and now we have to respect the requirements of our government,” he said. “Conversations are ongoing and I can’t make any more commentary,” he added. (Reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 12:52 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago Turkish military cargo plane crashes, kills three soldiers: army Reuters Staff 1 Min Read ANKARA (Reuters) - A Turkish military cargo plane crashed in the Western province of Isparta while on training exercises on Wednesday, killing three soldiers, the army said. Two pilots and one technician were on the aircraft and all three were killed in the crash near the Egirdir Lake, the army said in a statement. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, but communication with the plane was lost around 0950 GMT, the army said, adding that several emergency teams were dispatched to the crash site. Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun; Writing by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by David Dolan" + }, + { + "text": "Takata Recalls Another 3.3 Million Air Bags Under U.S. Order Kazuhiro Nogi—AFP/Getty Images By Bloomberg 10:24 AM EST Takata Corp., the parts supplier that filed for bankruptcy after sparking the largest auto recall in history, called back 3.3 million air bags as part of a U.S. order that scheduled repairs of the potentially deadly devices over several years. The supplier identified at least 15 automakers that purchased the air bags, including Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., General Motors Co., BMW AG and Tesla Inc. Takata said it will work with the companies to develop a remedy for each of their vehicles, and urge consumers to get their air bags replaced. Defective Takata inflators can explode in a crash and spray vehicle occupants with metal shards. The parts have been linked to 13 deaths in the U.S. and hundreds of injuries, and mounting liabilities from the recalls pushed Takata to file for bankruptcy in June. Key Safety Systems Inc., a supplier owned by China’s Ningbo Joyson Electronic Corp., plans to acquire the company. Almost two-thirds of the 31.5 million U.S. vehicles containing defective air-bag inflators made by Takata remain unrepaired as of mid-September, according to a November report released by the independent monitor overseeing the recalls. About 65 million inflators are set to be recalled by the end of 2018 under a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plan to replace the parts in phases, scheduling the riskiest parts for repair first. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Japan wants to raise the matter of two Reuters reporters detained in Myanmar with the Myanmar government at appropriate opportunities, including a visit by Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono to that country this week, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Wednesday. Myanmar prosecutors sought charges on Wednesday against the two reporters under the Official Secrets Act, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years, the reporters’ lawyer said. “The Japanese government has conveyed its concern about this matter to the government of Myanmar and going forward, wants to discuss and make appeals at appropriate opportunities, including Foreign Minister Kono’s visit to Myanmar,” Suga said in response to a question about the issue. He said it was important to guarantee freedom of expression and basic human rights in any country. (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka, Writing by Linda Sieg; Editing by Martin Howell) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "10 PM / Updated 23 minutes ago U.S. has not moved an inch during the NAFTA talks, say sources Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MONTREAL, Jan 25 (Reuters) - U.S. negotiators have held firm in their demands for a wide-ranging overhaul of NAFTA, three sources close to the talks said on Thursday, raising questions about whether any real movement is happening at the latest negotiating round on the treaty. Officials from Canada, Mexico and the United States are in Montreal for the sixth and penultimate round of talks on the North American Free Trade Agreement. Major differences remain to be settled ahead of the end-March deadline. The sources, who spoke to reporters on the condition that they not be identified, said the United States has not moved “an inch” from its initial demands. (Reporting by Anthony Esposito and David Ljunggren; Editing by Christian Plumb and David Gregorio)" + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 4:30 AM / Updated 14 minutes ago Huddersfield sign Kongolo on loan from Monaco Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Huddersfield Town have signed AS Monaco defender Terence Kongolo on loan for the rest of the season, the Premier League club have said. Soccer Football - Champions League - AS Monaco Press Conference - Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal - December 5, 2017 Monaco's Terence Kongolo during the press conference REUTERS/Miguel Vidal The 23-year-old, who joined Monaco from Dutch side Feyenoord at the start of the season, bolsters Huddersfield boss David Wagner’s defensive options ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Bolton Wanderers. “Terence is a top player who we’ve followed from his time at Feyenoord,” Wagner said in a statement. ”His big summer move to Monaco put him out of our reach at the time, but we’re delighted we can bring him in on loan now. He is a high-quality young centre-back and will provide us with a great option for the rest of the Premier League season. “He’s athletic and mobile and he plays on the front foot in the way he defends and uses the ball. I‘m excited to work with him during the course of the season.” Kongolo, who has won three caps for Netherlands, made six appearances for Monaco this season, mostly at left-back position. Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; editing by Amlan Chakraborty" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—Congressional leaders and White House officials will restart negotiations Wednesday to iron out differences over spending on the Pentagon and other government agencies, with lawmakers hoping to avoid more short-term patches. Congress ran out of time last year to tackle the spending fight, instead opting to keep the government open with a stop-gap spending bill and pushing the debate into the new year. Lawmakers returning to Washington have just three weeks before that current spending measure expires on Jan. 19. ... RELATED VIDEO What Big Stories to Look Out for in 2018 As members of Congress head home for the Christmas break, WSJ's Gerald F. Seib lists his big stories to look out for in 2018. Photo: Getty (Originally Published December 22, 2017)" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The Bank of England said on Friday it was working to catch up on processing financial transactions after a communications outage hit one of its payment systems on Thursday. “Technology communications problems reported by the Bank yesterday have been fixed overnight. Systems are now working normally although there is some catch-up work to complete,” the central bank said in a statement. The BoE expected to process payments as normal on Friday, but added that wholesale counterparty transactions may be dealt with later in the day than normal. The outage did not affect the general public or the main high-speed interbank payments service, CHAPS, the BoE said. Reporting by David Milliken; editing by Costas Pitas" + }, + { + "text": "Merkel may join Macron in epic Davos Trump clash 56 German Chancellor Angela Merkel is considering joining French President Emmanuel Macron at the World Economic Forum in Davos next week. Reuters' Noah Barkin explains it could be an ideological battle pitting two of Europe's most powerful leaders against U.S. President Donald Trump. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is considering joining French President Emmanuel Macron at the World Economic Forum in Davos next week. Reuters' Noah Barkin explains it could be an ideological battle pitting two of Europe's most powerful leaders against U.S. President Donald Trump. //reut.rs/2B2BuES" + }, + { + "text": "Consumer optimism pushed higher than anticipated in January, after a surprise decline the previous month. The Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence rose to 125.4 in January, higher than the 123.1 anticipated by economists polled by Reuters. The measure had declined to 122.1 in December. The key index rose to 129.5 in November, the highest mark since the index hit 132.6 in November 2000.' \"Expectations improved, though consumers were somewhat ambivalent about their income prospects over the coming months, perhaps the result of some uncertainty regarding the impact of the tax plan,\" Lynn Franco, Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board, said in a statement. \"Consumers remain quite confident that the solid pace of growth seen in late 2017 will continue into 2018,\" Franco said. The index takes into account Americans' views of current economic conditions and their expectations for the next six months. Economists pay close attention to the numbers because consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity." + }, + { + "text": "By Emily Price January 17, 2018 You’re not going to find the newest version of Samsung’s Note 8 in a Best Buy . The Korean company unveiled a new version of the popular smartphone Tuesday evening, a special Olympic Games Limited Edition to commemorate the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games . Rather than sell the handset in stores, Samsung will instead be passing the phone out as a gift to all of the athletes participating in games. That means it’s made a little over 4,000 of the phones. The special Olympic-branded version of the phone will offer the same features as the traditional Note 8 available to all consumers, including a 6.3-inch infinity display and a built-in S Pen. The back of the phone will be a shiny white to celebrate the winter season and will have gold Olympic Rings on it, inspired by the Olympic Torch. The phones will also come pre-loaded with Olympic wallpapers as well as useful apps” to “help cultivate the utmost Olympic Games Experience.” So, we’re guessing that means Lyft and Grubhub, right? SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - The U.S. International Trade Commission on Friday said in an initial finding that imports of aluminum alloy sheet metal from China harm U.S. producers, allowing a U.S. probe into whether the product was being dumped or subsidized to move forward. Employing a seldom-used tactic aimed at speeding up the imposition of duties, the U.S. Commerce Department in November “self-initiated” anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations of the imports, which are typically used in construction and in transportation and electrical equipment. It estimated it would impose anti-dumping duties of about 56.54 percent to 59.72 percent in the case. About $603.6 million worth of the flat-rolled metal was imported from China in 2016. (Writing by Eric Walsh; Reporting by Tim Ahmann; Editing by Susan Heavey and Tom Brown)" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A global fund aiming to raise $1.5 billion to halve the number of modern slaves in the world’s hardest-hit countries could be a “game-changer”, leaders said at the World Economic Forum (WEF). The Global Fund to End Modern Slavery, a U.S-based partnership that unites governments, businesses and charities, hopes to replicate the success of a similar initiative that boosted financing to tackle AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. “We need a global fund to deal with this ... much like the international community did with HIV/AIDS,” U.S. Republican Senator Bob Corker said on a panel of activists, lawmakers and investors at the political and business summit in Davos. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the world’s largest project aimed at tackling the three diseases, says it has saved at least 22 million lives since it was set up in 2002 - having disbursed at least $36 billion in that time. About 40 million people were living as modern slaves last year - either trapped in forced labor or forced marriages - according to the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) and human rights group Walk Free Foundation. The fund to end slavery is seeking $250 million from the United States, $500 million from other nations and $750 million in private funding to coordinate global anti-slavery efforts and finance projects that prosecute criminals and protect survivors. It has raised about $75 million - mainly from the United States and Britain - since it was set up in 2015. “This (slavery) fund ought to focus our global efforts ... so far they have been completely uncoordinated,” said Gary Haugen, head of the International Justice Mission (IJM). “This is a game-changing effort.” Businesses have a big role to play, not just by pledging cash, but also in ensuring workers making their products across their supply chains are not exploited, said John Studzinski, vice-chairman of the private equity giant Blackstone Group. With investors’ increasing focus on ethical business, companies should take action, Studzinski said. “There is a need for corporations to bring the discussion into the boardroom and on to the front page of their annual reports,” he said, calling on companies to develop best practices for eradicating slavery in their supply chains. More people are enslaved today than ever before in a trade estimated to generate $150 billion a year, according to Indian child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi, a Nobel Peace laureate. “Every number has a beating heart, a face, a name,” he said at the Swiss ski resort. “Slavery is an assault on humanity.” Reporting By Kieran Guilbert, Editing by Katy Migiro. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit news.trust.org" + }, + { + "text": "By Reuters 6:23 AM EST Volkswagen’s CEO said he was “stunned” by reports the carmaker had sponsored tests that exposed monkeys and humans to toxic diesel fumes and, two years after an emissions cheating scandal, pledged once again to get to the bottom of the wrongdoing. Europe’s largest automaker has come under fresh scrutiny after the New York Times said last week that Volkswagen (vlkay) and German peers BMW (bmwyy) and Daimler (ddaif) funded an organization called European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT) to commission the tests. The report came more than two years after Volkswagen (VW) admitted to cheating U.S. diesel emissions tests , sparking the biggest business crisis in its history, and pledged sweeping changes to ensure such misconduct never happened again. “Over the weekend we had to learn once more that there is still a long way ahead of us to regain lost trust,” VW CEO Matthias Mueller said at a reception in Brussels late on Monday, in his first public remarks on the tests. “The methods used by EUGT in the United States were wrong, they were unethical and repulsive,” he said. “I am sorry that Volkswagen was involved in the matter as one of the sponsors of EUGT.” The study, conducted in 2014, was designed to defend diesel following revelations that the fuel’s exhaust fumes were carcinogenic, the New York Times reported. Reuters could not confirm the details and purpose of the study and EUGT, which was dissolved last year, could not be reached for comment. BMW and Daimler have also denounced the tests. Read: Volkswagen Is Going to Start Making Electric Cars in the U.S. Mueller, a company veteran who become CEO after the emissions test cheating scandal broke in September 2015, has complained on several occasions that tackling VW’s closed-off corporate culture was proving tougher than expected. He said the New York Times report showed VW had to raise its game in improving ethical standards, and pledged to take the necessary action once it had finished investigating EUGT’s work. “We must live and deal with setbacks,” he said. VW said on Monday the EUGT study was never discussed in any management board meetings, after the Bild newspaper earlier reported an internal e-mail showed at least some senior managers were informed about the design of the research. The study risks dealing another blow to diesel technology, in which the German auto industry has invested heavily. Mueller and CEOs from German manufacturers and suppliers including Daimler and Continental will on Tuesday discuss ways of trying to regain the initiative after the fume test revelations, two auto industry sources told Reuters. Executives are expected to meet in Berlin on Tuesday to elect the new head of Germany’s VDA car industry lobby. German autos supplier Robert Bosch said on Tuesday the revelations were damaging for the entire industry and that a decline in demand for diesel could pose a threat to jobs. “Bosch had nothing to do with the animal experiments. I am as appalled as you all are,” CEO Volkmar Denner said. Separately, the VDA said on Tuesday carmakers were in talks with cities including Berlin and Hamburg about ways to speed up and expand steps to tackle pollution from diesel vehicles in a bid to avoid possible bans. German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks is meeting with European peers in Brussels to discuss government measures designed to improve air quality in badly polluted cities. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "By Emma Hinchliffe January 11, 2018 If you don’t need your Christmas tree after Dec. 25, you might be able to get a full refund. A woman in Santa Clara, California was spotted returning a Christmas tree to Costco on Jan. 4. She returned the tree “because it [was] dead,” a shopper waiting in line behind her said according to The Sun , and got her money back. “I can’t make this stuff up,” Scott Bentley, who took a photo in the refund line, wrote on Facebook . Costco gave the woman her refund after questioning her, verifying the purchase on her Costco account and shaming her “to a small degree,” the other shopper said. The refund attempt riled up people online who couldn’t believe someone would try to return their Christmas tree well into the new year. “People like this are miserable. Seriously, how cheap can you be?” one commenter said . But Costco — like Nordstrom and REI — is famous for its lenient return policy. The store will take back almost anything at nearly any time. “Sister works for Costco, can confirm. People do this all the time. They will even demand a refund without bringing back the tree,” one commenter said. On one Reddit thread , Costco employees recounted the weirdest returns they’d seen. Dead plants, old mattresses, empty wine bottles and personal photos have all been exchanged for refunds. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "January 21, 2018 / 5:51 PM / Updated an hour ago Cambodia PM berates media at correspondents' dinner Prak Chan Thul 3 Min Read PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia’s long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen berated journalists on Sunday at a dinner his government hosted for correspondents and accused some of spreading fabricated stories. Hun Sen regularly accuses outlets that are critical of his government of spreading fake news. In recent months his ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) has gone after critics including members of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), which was banned by a court last year, civil rights groups and independent media. The English-language The Cambodia Daily newspaper - one of the few remaining independent newspapers left in the country - shut last year after it was handed a a $6.3 million tax bill which its publishers said was politically motivated. A further 18 independent radio stations were stopped from broadcasting. Hun Sen referred to an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump this month that he would hand out awards for what he calls “fake news”. Trump often uses the term “fake news” to cast doubt on reports critical of him or his administration. “I think President Donald Trump has correctly created an award that he just announced in recent days, the Fake News Award,” he said. “And in Cambodia there is also this type of media.” At the dinner, the second state dinner he has hosted for journalists, Hun Sen also accused some reporters of extorting money from loggers. Illegal exports of timber from Cambodia to Vietnam are a sensitive and politically charged issue in Cambodia which is seeing rapid deforestation. Hun Sen has called for a bigger effort to curb illegal logging and the country has a long-standing ban on log exports. “We must not let it continue to exist, this media that acts as a mafia,” Hun Sen told the gathering of over 3,000 journalists and media officials. He also singled out, but did not identify, a news organisation for refusing to pay taxes. “They don’t respect laws, they are not registered by law and they avoid paying taxes,” Hun Sen said. Reporting by Prak Chan Thul; Editing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Adrian Croft" + }, + { + "text": "SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- QuickLogic Corporation (NASDAQ: QUIK), a developer of ultra-low power multi-core voice enabled SoCs, embedded FPGA IP, display bridge and programmable logic solutions, has scheduled a conference call to discuss the company's fourth quarter and fiscal year 2017 financial results on Wednesday, February 14, 2018, at 2:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST) / 5:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). QuickLogic will issue a press release reporting the results at approximately 1:00 p.m. PST / 4:00 p.m. EST on February 14, 2018. The dial-in number for the live audio call is (877) 377-7094 and international participants should dial (253) 237-1177. The conference code is 5749499. The conference call will be webcast at and the webcast will be available for 12 months. A recording will be available approximately one hour after the completion of the call until Thursday, February 22, 2018. To access the recording, please dial (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 and enter the passcode 5749499. About QuickLogic QuickLogic Corporation (NASDAQ: QUIK) enables OEMs to maximize battery life for highly differentiated, immersive user experiences with Smartphone, Wearable, Hearables and IoT devices. QuickLogic delivers these benefits through industry leading ultra-low power customer programmable SoC semiconductor solutions, embedded software, and algorithm solutions for always-on voice and sensor processing. The company's embedded FPGA initiative also enables SoC designers to easily implement post production changes, and increase revenue by providing hardware programmability to their end customers. For more information about QuickLogic, please visit www.quicklogic.com and . The QuickLogic logo and QuickLogic are registered trademarks of QuickLogic Corporation. All other brands or trademarks are the property of their respective holders and should be treated as such. Code: QUIK-E View original content: SOURCE QuickLogic Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "The Buffalo Bills will soon have to decide whether to renovate its existing stadium or build a new facility. We discuss the options with Bruce Popko, chief operating officer of Pegula Sports and Entertainment, which manages the franchise. Pegula Sports also runs the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, the American Hockey League’s Rochester Americans and the National Lacrosse League’s Buffalo Bandits, so Popko talks about his role dealing with them too. Rick Horrow is the CEO of Horrow Sports. As an attorney and consultant, he has been the architect of 100+ deals worth more than $20 billion in sports, performing arts, and other urban infrastructure projects. Horrow pioneered the public/private partnership and infrastructure branding concepts that, to date, have enticed more than $4 billion in corporate funding to cities and development projects. The opinions expressed here and in videos and podcasts hosted by Rick are his alone and do not represent the views of Reuters" + }, + { + "text": "U.S. President Trump arrives in Switzerland for Davos meeting 00:41 Donald Trump arrived in Zurich on Thursday to attend the Davos summit where he is expected to push his ''America First'' agenda. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Donald Trump arrived in Zurich on Thursday to attend the Davos summit where he is expected to push his \"America First\" agenda. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //in.reuters.com/video/2018/01/25/us-president-trump-arrives-in-switzerlan?videoId=388605997&videoChannel=13423" + }, + { + "text": "ABUJA (Reuters) - A suicide bomber killed 11 people on Wednesday in an attack on a mosque in northeast Nigeria, the epicentre of the conflict with Islamist insurgency Boko Haram, military officials and an aid worker said. The bomber hit the mosque in the town of Gamboru in Borno state, near Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, during dawn prayers, said Ali Mustapha, an aid worker. “I was on my way to dawn prayer, then I heard the sound of a loud bomb explosion inside the mosque,” Mustapha told Reuters. “The mosque was destroyed and burnt,” he said. “After some hours, when we came to evacuation of the people, we saw 11 corpses, with the suicide bomber making (the total number of dead) 12.” Pictures of the aftermath of the blast showed the bodies of the dead uncovered and lined up on the ground. A building had been reduced to rubble, with only a few sections of wall left standing. Nobody claimed responsibility for the attack, but it bears the hallmarks of Boko Haram, a jihadist group which frequently uses suicide bombers, often women and girls, to attack crowded public spaces such as mosques and markets. Despite repeated government and military assertions that the insurgency has been defeated, Boko Haram continues to carry out lethal attacks on the military and civilians. Last week four civilians were killed in an attack by suspected Boko Haram militants on Maiduguri, the Nigerian city at the centre of the conflict with the Islamists. In November a suicide bomber killed at least 50 people in an attack on a mosque, in one of the deadliest bombings of recent years. Reporting by Ola Lanre in Lagos and Ahmed Kingimi in Maiduguri; Writing by Paul Carsten; Editing by Gareth Jones" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 5:28 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Norfolk Southern pushing for 'more stable' rail service in 2018: CEO Eric M. Johnson 2 Min Read LOMBARD, Ill. (Reuters) - Norfolk Southern Corp is working toward a “more stable, resilient” network for 2018 following service issues in recent months, the No. 4 U.S. railroad’s top executive said on Thursday. Asked at a rail shipper conference outside Chicago when the railroad’s service environment and network will stabilize after experiencing volatility in 2017, Chief Executive Jim Squires said he is working for a “more stable, resilient company.” “I am not here to make excuses. Yeah, it’s been tough,” Squires said. “When it gets cold in the south ... we struggle. It’s tough and it has been tough.” Norfolk’s rail network, which spans 22 states across the eastern United States, grappled with a storm in the Southeast earlier this month and struggled with other service issues such as periodic crew shortages in 2017. Its average train speed was down to 20 miles (32 km) per hour as of last week, versus 23 miles per hour a year ago, and the average time rail cars were idle in terminals was 28.4 hours versus 24.7 hours a year ago, according to company data. “What you want from us is an action plan,” Squires said. “My commitment in 2018 is to a more resilient, durable, predictable, marketplace.” “I am not going to stop until we achieve that goal,” he added. Asked about crew shortages, Squires said the railroad had experienced problems in some locations but “we do not think that’s systemic in nature.” “We think that we have adequate resources to handle foreseeable demand, but we’ve got to get that resources equation right in each and every place we operate. That can be a challenge.” The Norfolk, Virginia-based operator will report fourth-quarter results on Jan. 24. Reporting by Eric M. Johnson, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 5:37 PM / Updated 22 minutes ago Boxing - Joshua decries 'fake news' about his chin Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s Anthony Joshua has dismissed as ‘fake news’ suggestions that he has a weak chin ahead of his world heavyweight unification bout with New Zealander Joseph Parker. Boxing - Anthony Joshua & Joseph Parker Press Conference - London, Britain - January 16, 2018 Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker go head to head during the press conference Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge The 28-year-old, who holds the WBA and IBF versions of the crown, goes into the March 31 fight in Cardiff with a perfect 20-fight, 20-knock-out record. WBO champion Parker is unbeaten in 24, with 18 knockouts, and he and his camp have brought attention to past occasions where Joshua was knocked down in the ring as amateur and professional. There has been talk of Joshua having a ‘glass chin’, with Parker using the Twitter hashtag #neverbeendropped to emphasise his own ring record. Appearing at his first pre-fight news conference with Parker in London on Tuesday, however, Joshua said it would take ‘more than a human’ to beat him and accused his opponent of a PR stunt. “When you talk about myself getting dropped and what you done, it’s a marketability strategy,” he added. Boxing - Anthony Joshua & Joseph Parker Press Conference - London, Britain - January 16, 2018 Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker go head to head during the press conference Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge “The rumours that you have heard, they’re all fake news. Hand on my heart. PR, whatever you want to use it for, is between you and your camp.” Parker recognised he had a big challenge but remained confident. Slideshow (8 Images) “I’ve watched him for a long time. I know he’s watched me. I know his strengths, I know that he knows mine. I know his weaknesses and he thinks he knows my weaknesses,” he told reporters. “And I‘m hoping to catch him on the chin and knock him out.” The winner of the fight will take a step towards becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999-2000. American Deontay Wilder holds the WBC belt in the heavyweight division. Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 3:10 PM / in an hour UPDATE 3-Royal Bank of Canada boss sees greater chance NAFTA may be scrapped Reuters Staff * RBC CEO says bank spending C$3 bln annually on technology * Scotiabank CEO says C$3.1 bln spent on technology in 2017 * CIBC CEO says bank pursuing possible IPO of FirstCaribbean (Adds Scotiabank comment on tech spending, paragraph 10) By Matt Scuffham TORONTO, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Royal Bank of Canada’s Chief Executive Dave McKay said on Tuesday he believes there is now a greater chance that the North American Free Trade Agreement could be scrapped. “I think the probabilities are increasing that you’ll have some type of dynamic where there is an announcement of a scrapping of NAFTA,” he said at a conference hosted by RBC in Toronto. Canadian bankers have expressed concern about the progress of talks to rework the trade agreement and how renegotiations could hamper the ability of clients to do business with customers in the United States and Mexico. McKay said he agreed with other business leaders and the Canadian government that no deal would be better than a bad deal. “We don’t want to be stuck long-term with a deal that hurts our economy,” he said at the 2018 Canadian Bank CEO Conference. The bosses of Canada’s seven biggest banks were all speaking at the event which covered themes such as technology and Canada’s housing markets as well as the banks’ international expansion plans and the potential impact of trade negotiations. McKay also said RBC, Canada’s biggest bank by market value, is now spending C$3 billion a year developing new technologies. The bank is one of the biggest Canadian investors in technology such as artificial intelligence and blockchain and has increased the proportion of its technology spending on innovation compared with maintaining existing systems. Smaller rival Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce’s Chief Executive Victor Dodig said the bank was spending around C$1 billion a year on technology, split roughly 50:50 between new technology and existing systems. Bharat Masrani, chief executive of TD Bank Group, Canada’s second biggest bank, declined to say how much his bank spent annually on technology. TD said on Tuesday it had bought Layer 6, a Toronto-based artificial intelligence firm, for an undisclosed sum. Brian Porter, chief executive of Bank of Nova Scotia , said Canada’s third biggest lender spent C$3.1 billion on technology last year. Dodig also said that CIBC was continuing to consider a possible stock market listing of its FirstCaribbean business in New York. Reuters reported last month that the bank was considering the move. “In a market like New York, we’ve seen examples of other franchises that have listed there to the benefit of shareholders and to the benefit of those financial institutions and that’s precisely why we’re pursuing this,” he said. (Reporting by Matt Scuffham; Editing by David Gregorio)" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 3:28 PM / Updated 43 minutes ago Trump's ex-aide Bannon strikes deal to avoid grand jury testimony - CNN Reuters Staff 2 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former White House strategist Steve Bannon has struck a deal to be interviewed by U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team rather than appearing before a grand jury, CNN reported on Wednesday, citing sources close to Bannon. Bannon had been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in Mueller’s probe of alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and any ties with President Donald Trump’s campaign, according to a person familiar with the matter. A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment on the CNN report. A lawyer who represented Bannon in an appearance before the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee on Tuesday could not be immediately reached. Bannon was a close adviser during Trump’s campaign and in his first months in office, but he was fired from his White House job in August as the president sought to bring more order to his staff operations. Earlier this month, Trump attacked Bannon for comments he made to the author of a book highly critical of the president and his family. They included scathing remarks about Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, for meeting during the campaign with a Russian lawyer who was said to have damaging information on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Mueller is investigating allegations that Russia interfered in the 2016 campaign to try to tip the vote in Trump’s favour, as well as any potential collusion by Trump’s campaign with Moscow. Russia denies any attempt to interfere and Trump has denied any collusion. According to a person familiar with the arrangement, the attorney who represented Bannon for Tuesday’s House appearance, William Burck, is not representing him in connection with Mueller’s investigation. The person did not believe Bannon had hired a counsel for that yet. Reporting by Susan Heavey; Additional reporting by Karen Freifeld; Writing by Tim Ahmann; Editing by Frances Kerry" + }, + { + "text": "By Fortune Editors January 25, 2018 As Philips CEO Frans van Houten has transformed the one-time electronics and lighting maker into a health care technology company, he’s also put the 126-year-old Dutch firm on track toward a more sustainable future. In 2016, Philips launched a five-year sustainability program that sought, in part, to generate 15% of revenues from so-called circular solutions by 2020. On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland this week, van Houten won the Fortune Award for Circular Economy Leadership for his pursuit of a circular economy—development without waste. And in accepting the award, van Houten extended Philips’ sustainability goals even further: “You saw our pledge: 15% [in revenue from circular solutions] by 2020,” he said, “Well, I want 100% by 2025.” Van Houten added that such an aim “is entirely reconcilable with the interests of shareholders and any other stakeholders; it’s just you have to put your mind to it.” Philips has so far returned some 7,000 tons of refurbished medical imaging equipment to the market and incorporated 6,000 tons of recycled plastics into new consumer products. Van Houten received his honor at an annual awards ceremony, known as The Circulars, put on by WEF and the Forum of Young Global Leaders, in collaboration with Accenture Strategy. Fortune is a media partner. In its fourth year, the program seeks to draw attention to circular economy business models by celebrating organizations and individuals that deploy them successfully. In addition to van Houten’s, six other awards were handed out at the ceremony: —The Accenture Strategy Award for Circular Economy Multinational was awarded to IKEA, the Swedish furniture retailer. —The Young Global Leaders Award for Circular Economy SME, which recognizes small- to medium-sized enterprises with $10 million to $100 million in turnover, was awarded to Apto Solutions, a provider of IT asset disposition services. —The World Economic Forum Award for Circular Economy Public Sector was awarded to Sitra, Finland’s innovation fund. —The CNBC Award for Circular Economy Investor, recognizing investment bodies or individuals that are providing financial backing for the circular economy, was awarded to ABN AMRO Bank NV, the Dutch bank. —The Ecolab Award for Circular Economy Tech Disruptor for an investment body or individual providing financial backing for the circular economy to become mainstream, was awarded to AMP Robotics, a firm that uses computer vision, machine learning, and robotics for recycling and industrial applications. —The Dell Circular Economy People’s Choice Award was awarded to Banyan Nation, a plastic recycling startup. In Davos, van Houten said that Philips recruited other firms—the likes of Dell, HP , and Cisco—to join its vow to take “equipment back once the customer doesn’t want it anymore.” “When you make a courageous statement, people start to follow you and that’s nice,” he said. “I think we need more courageous leaders who say, ‘Come with us!’ because there’s so much more needed.” SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19(Reuters) - AVCON Information Technology Co Ltd * Says it plans to invest 5 million yuan to set up a wholly owned information technology unit in Xingyi City, Guizhou Province * Says it plans to invest 10 million yuan to set up a wholly owned electronic technology unit in Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/Uz8kxY ; goo.gl/QQVgQS Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Davos - World Economic Forum Forget oil, 'human capital is the new currency' for Saudi Arabia Reema bint Bandar Al Saud said: \"Please just don't look at us as oil... Human capital is the new currency and I really would encourage you to look at us that way.\" While the shifting social dynamics would be \"necessary\" to improve the Saudi economy, it was also the \"right thing to do\" she said. SHARES Brad Barket | Getty Images for Fast Company HRH Princess Reema Bint Bandar Al-Saud speaks onstage during Fast Company Innovation Festival 2016 - HRH Princess Reema Bint Bandar Al-Saud at Skirball Center, NYU on November 3, 2016 in New York City. Saudi Arabia 's modernizing reforms show human capital is the new currency for the Arab kingdom, a member of the royal family said Thursday. During a panel at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Reema bint Bandar Al Saud said: \"Please just don't look at us as oil... Human capital is the new currency and I really would encourage you to look at us that way.\" The role of women in Saudi's economic transformation beyond a predominantly oil-based economy was critical to its success, Al Saud said. \"What is now happening is a woman has the choice to breathe, a woman has the choice to dream and she can (take) action.\" Al Saud said reforms aimed at improving the integration of both men and women in society would also translate into how people spent their money. Ultimately, while the shifting social dynamics would be \"necessary\" to improve the economy, it was also the \"right thing to do.\" 'Post oil-era' While Saudi Arabia has long been seen as one of the world's most restrictive places for women, the government's modernizing reforms have seen some issues improve in recent years. A combination of social custom, religion and government regulation dictates what Saudi women wear. It had also banned women from driving, traveling as they wish and holding a range of jobs. In recent months, the kingdom's attempts to loosen some gender restrictions has meant women in the country are now able to drive , go to the cinema and attend sporting events. Al Saud said the royal decree allowing Saudi women to drive was a \"monumental change by a leader listening to the community.\" show chapters 11:13 AM ET Tue, 23 Jan 2018 | 02:11 On Tuesday, Fahd al Rasheed, managing director and chief executive of King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), the world's first publicly listed city, told CNBC: \"The message is that we are entering a post-oil era in which we are diversifying the economy. \"We had a hard 2016 to 2017 in terms of economic growth, but I think 2018, with the highest ever government budget announced in the kingdom's history, (it should improve).\" Sam Meredith Digital Reporter, CNBC.com Playing" + }, + { + "text": "SCRANTON, Pa., Jan. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kevin Vincent has been named Director of National Sales at Vycom, a world leader in plastics. He will be responsible for leading and managing all aspects of Vycom's sales force and for driving increased market share and revenue growth by cultivating relationships with customers, the exploration of additional product applications and strategic sales management. \"It is very exciting to lead the exceptional sales team at Vycom,\" said Vincent. \"Vycom is a world-class innovator in the plastics industry and I look forward to exploring growth opportunities for all of our Vycom product families.\" Vycom's diverse product lines serve the marine, graphics, chemical & corrosion, semi-conductor, food processing and outdoor living markets to name just a few. In his previous position, Vincent was Vycom's Director of Sales Operations for 10 years, transitioning from the customer service department to the inside sales team. With a proactive focus, he led many initiatives that included implementing business plans, standard operating procedures, pricing strategies and inventory guidelines. Overall, Vincent has 18 years of experience in the plastics industry. \"We are very excited for Kevin's transition into his new role as the leader of our national sales team,\" said Kevin Duffy, Vycom's Vice President of Sales & Marketing. \"His strong relationships with our customer base and years of experience in plastics will position Vycom for growth as we enter 2018.\" Vincent attended Indiana University where he received a BS degree in Business Administration. For more information about Vycom, visit www.vycomplastics.com . About Vycom: Vycom, a division of The AZEK Company, manufacturers market leading brands of highly innovative plastic sheet products designed to replace wood, metal and other traditional materials in a variety of applications. Vycom strives to be the essential partner in creating solutions that optimize quality, performance and provide a more sustainable future. View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Vycom" + }, + { + "text": "PRAGUE, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Czech car factory TPCA, run by Toyota and Peugeot-Citroen, will raise wages by an average 16.4 percent over the next two years, the plant’s unions said on Wednesday. The export-oriented economy is driven largely by the car sector and has been growing at a strong clip in recent years, helping push unemployment to a two-decade low and boosting wages. The average wage grew by a nominal 6.8 percent in the third quarter last year. (Reporting by Robert Muller; Editing by Jason Hovet)" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 12:34 PM / Updated 7 hours ago Google to expand cloud infrastructure with new regions, submarine cables Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc’s Google said on Tuesday it would add five regions and build three new submarine cables as it expands its infrastructure for cloud customers. FILE PHOTO - The Google logo is pictured atop an office building in Irvine, California, U.S. August 7, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo The company, which has invested $30 billion in infrastructure over the past three years, said its Netherlands and Montreal regions will open in the first quarter of 2018, followed by Los Angeles, Finland, and Hong Kong. Google plans to commission the three subsea cables in 2019, the internet giant said in a blog post. ( bit.ly/2FHFpdS ) The subsea cables include: Curie, a private cable connecting Chile to Los Angeles; Havfrue, a consortium cable connecting the United States to Denmark and Ireland; and Hong Kong-Guam Cable system, a consortium cable interconnecting major subsea communication hubs in Asia. Subsea cables form the backbone of the internet by carrying more than 90 percent of the world’s data traffic. The companies setting up the cables include TE SubCom, a unit of NYSE-listed TE Connectivity Ltd, and Tokyo-listed NEC Corp, Google said. The company said it has direct investment in 11 cables, including those planned or under construction. Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 12:41 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago Boeing forecasts sharp rise in profit, jet output in 2018 Alwyn Scott 2 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing Co ( BA.N ) on Wednesday forecast full-year profit well above Wall Street estimates as it expects its busiest year ever for plane deliveries, sending its shares up more than 5 percent in pre-market trading. The world’s biggest planemaker said it aims to ship between 810 and 815 commercial aircraft in 2018, as much as 6.8 percent more than the industry-record 763 jets it delivered in 2017, putting it ahead of European rival Airbus ( AIR.PA ). Helped by the strong demand for jets, Boeing forecast core profit would rise to $13.80 to $14.00 a share in 2018, ahead of analysts’ average estimate of $11.96, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The Boeing logo is seen at their headquarters in Chicago, in this April 24, 2013 file photo. REUTERS/Jim Young/File Photo For the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, Boeing’s core earnings nearly doubled to $4.80 per share from $2.47 a year earlier, buoyed by rising plane output and a gain from changes to the U.S. tax law. It booked a one-time tax gain of $1.74 a share due to the lower U.S. corporate tax rate signed into law last month reducing its deferred tax liabilities in the future. Excluding the gain, Boeing reported earnings of $3.06 a share. On that basis, Wall Street had been expecting $2.89 a share. Boeing forecast that operating cash flow, a key measure of its financial performance, will rise to about $15 billion in 2018, compared with $13.34 billion last year. Reporting by Alwyn Scott in New York and Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Bill Rigby" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 12 (Reuters) - For other diaries, please see: U.S. Federal Reserve Polling Unit Diary Today in Washington Political and General News This Diary is filed daily. ** Indicates new events FRIDAY, JANUARY 12 STOCKHOLM - Swedish Central Bank Deputy Governor Cecilia Skingsley will discuss the economic situation and current monetary policy at the Skagen Fonder’s new year conference – 0825 GMT. SAN DIEGO - Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Eric Rosengren speaks on the economic outlook and receives the GIC Frederick Heldring Award for Global Leadership at an event hosted by the Global Interdependence Center - 2115 GMT. MONDAY, JANUARY 15 LONDON - Bank of England Economist Silvana Tenreyro speaks on “The Fall in Productivity Growth: Causes and Implications” at the 2018 Peston Lecture at Queen Mary University – 1815 GMT. TUESDAY, JANUARY 16 ** LONDON - Bank of England Deputy Governor Sam Woods speaks at parliament treasury committee - 0915 GMT. ZURICH - Swiss National Bank Chairman Thomas Jordan speaks at Zurich University of Education - 1700 GMT. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY - Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester gives a lecture on monetary policy communications – 2130 GMT. PALM BEACH - Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Charles Evans and Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Robert Kaplan participate in a moderated discussion on current economic conditions and monetary policy before the American Council of Life Insurers Executive Roundtable - 2000 GMT. OTTAWA - The Bank of Canada issues its monetary policy report – 1500 GMT. OTTAWA - Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz and Bank of Canada Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Wilkins will hold a press conference to discuss the contents of the monetary policy report – 1615 GMT. THURSDAY, JANUARY 18 PARIS - Bank of France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau gives annual start-of-year address to the financial sector - 1730 GMT. MONDAY, JANUARY 22 BRUSSELS - Eurogroup finance ministers’ meeting. TOKYO - Bank of Japan monetary policy meeting (to Jan. 23). TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 BRUSSELS - EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting. THURSDAY, JANUARY 25 FRANKFURT - ECB Governing Council meeting, followed by an interest rate announcement and a press conference by President Mario Draghi. OSLO - Norway Central Bank interest rate decision – 0900 GMT. TOKYO - Bank of Japan releases the minutes of its Dec. 20-21 monetary policy meeting - 2350 GMT. FRIDAY, JANUARY 26 LONDON - Bundesbank Vice President Claudia Buch speaks at the Imperial College – 1530 GMT. STOCKHOLM - Riksbank executive board meeting – 0800 GMT. TUESDAY, JANUARY 30 WASHINGTON - U.S. Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) starts its two-day meeting on interest rates (to Jan. 31). TOKYO - Bank of Japan to release a summary of opinions from board members at its Jan. 22-23 policy meeting – 2350 GMT. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31 OITA, Japan - Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Kikuo Iwata speaks to business leaders - 0130 GMT. WASHINGTON - U.S. Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announces its decision on interest rates, followed by statement – 1900 GMT. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5 LONDON - OMFIF lunch discussion with Cecilia Skingsley, deputy governor of the Swedish central bank and co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s working group, examining the prospects for central bank-issued digital currencies - 1200 GMT WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 FRANKFURT - ECB Governing Council meeting. No interest rate announcements scheduled. STOCKHOLM - Riksbank executive board meeting – 0800 GMT. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8 ** FRANKFURT - Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Robert Kaplan speaks on “Monetary Policy Issues in an European Context” before the Global Interdependence Center “Central Banking Series: Frankfurt” – 0915 GMT. OTTAWA – Speech by Carolyn Wilkins, Bank of Canada Senior Deputy Governor at Bank of Canada – 1800 GMT." + }, + { + "text": "LONDON - European Central Bank executive board member Yves Mersch gives a lecture. LONDON - Bank of England releases its inflation report. LONDON - Bank of England announces its rate decision and publishes the minutes of the meeting – 1200 GMT. WELLINGTON - Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s Official Cash Rate (OCR) and Monetary Policy Statement. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9 STOCKHOLM - Riksbank general council meeting - 1200 GMT. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13 STOCKHOLM - Riksbank monetary policy meeting – 0800 GMT. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 STOCKHOLM - Swedish Central Bank interest rate decision and monetary policy report - 0830 GMT. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15 WINNIPEG, Canada - Speech by Lawrence Schembri, Bank of Canada Deputy Governor at Manitoba Association for Business Economics – 1845 GMT. STOCKHOLM - Riksbank executive board meeting – 0800 GMT. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16 STOCKHOLM - Riksbank general council meeting - 1200 GMT. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19 BRUSSELS - Eurogroup meeting. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 WASHINGTON - Federal Open Market Committee will release the minutes from its January policy meeting. FRANKFURT - ECB Governing Council meeting. No interest rate announcements scheduled. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27 STOCKHOLM - Swedish Central Bank minutes of its monetary policy meeting will be published – 0830 GMT." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - IndusInd Bank Ltd said on Thursday third-quarter net profit rose nearly 25 percent, helped by higher interest income. Net profit climbed to 9.36 billion rupees ($146.87 million) in the quarter ended Dec. 31, from 7.51 billion rupees a year ago, the country's sixth-largest private sector lender by assets said. bit.ly/2mqTC6W Gross bad loans as a percentage of total loans stood at 1.16 percent at end-December, compared with 1.08 percent in the previous quarter and 0.94 percent a year ago. Interest earned by the bank jumped about 16 percent in the quarter to 42.87 billion rupees. $1 = 63.7300 Indian rupees Reporting by Jessica Kuruthukulangara in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "The White House said President Donald Trump believes in enforcing U.S. marijuana laws after the Department of Justice moved on Thursday to rescind the Obama-era policy that had eased enforcement of federal marijuana laws in states that have legalized pot. “The president believes in enforcing federal law -- that’s his top priority -- regardless of what the topic is, whether it’s marijuana or immigration.” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters. (Corrects to show DOJ rescinded Obama-era easing of federal drug laws.) Reporting by Jeff Mason; Writing by Katanga Johnson; Editing by David Alexander" + }, + { + "text": "BANGKOK, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Thailand’s exports are expected to rise 5.5 percent this year after increasing at least 10 percent in 2017, a group of Thai shippers said on Tuesday. The Thai National Shippers’ Council said Thailand’s exports are climbing thanks to improved global demand. “This year we have a conservative forecast at 5.5 percent,” Ghanyapad Tantipipatpong, council chairwoman, told a briefing. Exports, a key driver of Thai growth, rebounded strongly in 2017 after three years of contraction. In the first 11 months of 2017, exports increased 10 percent from a year earlier, according to customs data, even though the baht has strengthened significantly. The currency hit a 40-month high against the dollar on Monday. (Reporting by Satawasin Staporncharnchai; Writing by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Richard Borsuk)" + }, + { + "text": "Zak Brown is trying to turn his McLaren F1 team into winners again. With the new season's opening race in Melbourne exactly two months away the team's executive director says he's excited because, \"I think you'll see us leap to the front in Australia.\" Speaking in Davos on CNBC's Life Hack's Live the former racing driver admitted that \"last year was the worst year in the history of McLaren.\" The team's poor performance was largely down to the disastrous engine partnership that began in 2015 with Japanese company Honda, which was ended at the end of last season. \"The last three years have been very painful,\" said Brown who believes that to be successful on the track the team need to first compete financially. show chapters Europe is the foundation of F1, McLaren’s Browne says 3 Hours Ago | 00:47 \"It's an expensive sport — we're not able to compete financially with the top two teams. We're still definitely one of the top four teams. We need to continue to improve there to put as much resource into our race team as possible. If we can get all of that right we're going to start to move up the grid significantly.\" As well as changing the team's engine supplier to Renault , McLaren's majority owners have also made big changes in the boardroom. Ron Dennis, who was in charge of McLaren for the last 40 years was forced out in 2016 after losing a high court battle against his removal from the McLaren board. While it's been a turbulent last few years for the British-based team, Brown believes that there are reasons to be optimistic, one of which is that they have a strong driver line-up which still contains arguably one of the best drivers in the recent history of F1, Fernando Alonso. \"Fernando is very diligent, he's very focused and very demanding of himself and the team. When Fernando comes into the garage you see everyone stand up a little more upright.\" Taking questions from a live audience both in Davos and on Facebook, Brown was asked what he deemed as success? \"Making sure that when you make mistakes, which are inevitable, that you learn by those mistakes and don't make the same one twice.\" —CNBC has announced a new multi-year partnership with McLaren." + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 11:20 AM / Updated an hour ago Lennar sees strong demand in 2018; shares hit record high Ankit Ajmera 3 Min Read (Reuters) - Lennar Corp ( LEN.N ) on Wednesday reported a surprise drop in quarterly profit but said strong economic growth in 2018 would offset concerns about housing demand being hit by cuts to tax relief on mortgages. Shares of the Miami-based builder rose to a record of $68. Investors have been concerned that caps on deduction of interest payment on mortgage debt and state and local tax could make housing more expensive and hurt demand in luxury home markets such as California. Lennar, whose California homes can cost upwards of $1 million, said any impact from the caps was likely to be offset this year by continuing economic and job growth. “We have carefully studied the specific impacts of the tax law on our typical buyer profile in each of our markets, and we found out that the effect is generally positive at their income levels,” Lennar CEO Stuart Miller said. The new tax law allows interest payment deductions on mortgage debt up to $750,000, down from $1 million. The reform also introduced an annual cap of $10,000 on deduction of state and local tax. Lennar on Wednesday forecast its fiscal 2018 home deliveries to rise 8.9-10.6 percent and said gross margins for the full year will be in line with last year’s levels at 22 percent after having fallen for three years. LOWER Q4 PROFIT The company’s shares fell in morning trading after reporting a lower-than-expected fourth-quarter profit, citing a transaction that got pushed to the first quarter. Lennar did not disclose further details on the transaction, but the No. 2 U.S. homebuilder said it would more than make up for the shortfall in the first quarter. The company’s orders rose 11.5 percent, with buyers signing up for 7,357 homes in the quarter ended Nov. 30. Lennar’s orders have climbed for seven straight years as the U.S. housing market recovered from the sub-prime crash of 2007-2008. The homebuilder, which agreed to buy smaller rival CalAtlantic Group Inc ( CAA.N ) for $5.7 billion in October, said the deal was expected to close on Feb. 12. The CalAtlantic deal would give it more tools to deal with higher labor and land costs. Lennar’s total revenue rose 12.1 percent to $3.79 billion topping the analysts’ estimate of $3.57 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Net income attributable to Lennar fell 1.2 percent to $309.6 million, or $1.29 per share, missing the average estimate of $1.48 per share. Reporting by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Shounak Dasgupta" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan’s Fujifilm Holdings is set to take over Xerox Corp, and combine the U.S. company into their joint venture Fuji Xerox in an effort to cut costs, the companies said on Wednesday. Fujifilm will own 50.1 percent of Xerox shares, and combine Xerox with Fuji Xerox, their joint venture in which the Japanese company already holds a 75 percent stake. Reporting by Naomi Tajitsu; Editing by Jacqueline Wong" + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 8:45 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago Canada exchange asks pot firms to disclose risks on U.S. operations Alastair Sharp 4 Min Read TORONTO (Reuters) - A small Canadian stock exchange said on Friday it has asked marijuana companies to provide details on risks they face from any U.S. operations in the wake of a Trump administration move to boost enforcement of anti-cannabis laws. FILE PHOTO: The exterior of the U.S. Department of Justice headquarters building in Washington, DC, U.S., July 14, 2009. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday rescinded an Obama-era policy that had eased enforcement of federal marijuana laws in states that have legalized the drug, instead giving federal prosecutors wide latitude on pursuing criminal charges. “In light of yesterday’s announcement there are certainly some disclosure issues that companies should address,” Canadian Securities Exchange Chief Executive Richard Carleton told Reuters via telephone. The exchange has contacted 17 cannabis companies with U.S. exposure whose shares it lists, asking for public statements on how the policy announced by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions could impact their businesses, Carleton said. Those companies include CannaRoyalty Corp ( CRZ.CD ) and Liberty Health Sciences Inc ( LHS.CD ), he said. The move follows an October notice from Canadian securities regulators that U.S.-linked marijuana companies must clearly warn investors about the risks, given the federal ban on marijuana production and sales. Dozens of marijuana companies have gone public over the past few years in Canada, helping them finance expansion in the existing medical cannabis market and prepare to enter the nation’s recreational market, which is slated to open up in mid 2018. Marijuana stocks have posted strong gains over the past year, making the group one of the hottest sectors in the Canadian stock market. CannaRoyalty was one of the first CSE-listed firms to comment on the impact of the new U.S. policy. “We do not foresee the memorandum meaningfully impacting the way that existing cannabis business is conducted within legal states,” CannaRoyalty CEO Marc Lustig said in a statement. Carleton said he expects all firms to respond within days. The others are: Alternate Health Corp ( AHG.CD ), MPX Bioceutical Corp MPX.CD, Nutritional High International Inc ( EAT.CD ), Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd ( GLH.CD ), iAnthus Capital Holdings Inc ( IAN.CD ), Marapharm Ventures Inc ( MDM.CD ), Friday Night Inc TGIF.CD, Vodis Pharmaceuticals Inc ( VP.CD ), International Cannabrands Inc JUJUa.CD, CannTrust Holdings Inc ( TRST.CD ), NanoSphere Health Sciences Inc ( NSHS.CD ), Body and Mind Inc ( BAMM.CD ), High Hampton Holdings Corp ( HC.CD ), Wildflower Marijuana Inc ( SUN.CD ), and Tinley Beverage Company Inc ( TNY.CD ). Some 60 marijuana companies have listed on the CSE, choosing it over TMX Group Ltd’s ( X.TO ) larger Toronto Stock Exchange. TMX said in October that it might delist pot stocks with U.S. ties. TMX told Reuters via email on Thursday that its guidance on the matter from October stands. Additional reporting by Nichola Saminather; Editing by Jim Finkle and Lisa Shumaker" + }, + { + "text": "SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China’s central bank on Tuesday set its official yuan midpoint at the highest level in more than two years, to 6.4372 per dollar, underpinned by a solid spot yuan performance a day earlier. Tuesday's official midpoint CNY=PBOC was 202 pips, or 0.31 percent, firmer than the previous fix of 6.4574 on Monday and was the strongest since Dec.11, 2015. China's yuan CNY=CFXS leapt to its strongest in more than two years against the dollar at the official local close on Monday, buoyed by the Bundesbank's decision to include the yuan in its reserves and as corporate banking clients offloaded dollars. [nB9N1M9012] Reporting by Winni Zhou and John Ruwitch; Editing by Shri Navaratnam" + }, + { + "text": "STAMFORD, Conn., Jan. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA) announced today that Tom Smith has been named President, Customer Development and Sales Operations, effective Monday, January 15, 2018. Smith, formerly Chief Integration Officer for Nestlé Business Excellence (NBE) in North America, will oversee Nestlé Waters North America's sales operations in the United States. Smith will serve as a member of the NWNA Executive Team and will report to Fernando Mercé, President and Chief Executive Officer. At NBE, Smith was responsible for leading the successful integration and implementation of a series of projects to standardize and streamline key services in Nestlé companies across the U.S. market. Smith brings to NWNA more than 30 years of sales experience and has held numerous management positions within the sales organizations of Nestlé companies. Before moving to NBE, Smith served as President of the Nestlé Walmart Team where he was the strategic leader and single point of contact for Nestlé with Walmart on all matters across Nestlé companies. Additionally, he was President of Nestlé Business Services for all Nestlé companies in North America. He has also served as President for the Nestlé Sales Division for Nestlé USA; Vice President Sales Operations & Customer Development for Nestlé USA; Division Vice President, Category Sales Development for Nestlé Chocolate & Confections; and Division Vice President, Category Sales Development for Friskies® PetCare. Smith began his career with Nestlé in 1985 and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Providence College. \"I am delighted that Tom will be joining the Nestlé Waters North America family,\" said Fernando Mercé, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé Waters North America. \"His more than thirty years of sales experience will help to strengthen our core business as we look to identify new areas of growth and further our leadership position in the bottled water industry.\" \"As America's number one beverage of choice, more and more consumers are choosing bottled water over carbonated soft drinks,\" said Tom Smith. \"I'm looking forward to leading the sales organization at NWNA and delivering profitable growth that drives the company's healthy hydration ambitions.\" Smith replaces John Zupo, who is leaving NWNA to pursue opportunities outside of the company. \"We are grateful for John's dedication to Nestlé Waters North America over the past 19 years, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors,\" said Mercé. About Nestlé Waters North America Nestlé Waters North America provides people with an unrivaled portfolio of bottled waters for healthy hydration. Brands such as Poland Spring ® , Nestlé ® Pure Life ® , Perrier ® and S. Pellegrino ® have driven Nestlé Waters North America to be the third largest non-alcoholic beverage company by volume in the U.S. Nestlé Waters North America also owns and operates ReadyRefresh SM by Nestlé ® , the largest home and office water delivery service by volume in the U.S. Based in Stamford, Connecticut with some 8,500 associates, Nestlé Waters is committed to reducing its environmental footprint across its operations. As a natural resource company, Nestlé Waters sustainably manages our 47 spring sources and maintains 21,000 acres of natural watershed area. The company is also committed to creating shared value and being a good neighbor in the 140 communities where it operates in the U.S. View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Nestlé Waters North America" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds details, analyst comments, updates markets) Producer price index dips 0.1 percent in December * PPI rises 2.6 percent on year-on-year basis * Core PPI edges up 0.1 percent; up 2.3 percent year-on-year * Weekly jobless claims increase 11,000 By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - U.S. producer prices fell for the first time in nearly 1-1/2 years in December amid declining costs for services, which could temper expectations that inflation will accelerate in 2018. Other data on Thursday showed initial claims for unemployment benefits increasing for the fourth straight week to more than a three-month high. That probably does not signal weakness in the labor market as the number of Americans receiving jobless benefits is at levels last seen in 1973. Bitter cold and snow in parts of the country likely kept some workers at home, accounting for last week's jump in jobless claims. Weak wholesale prices could stoke fears that the causes of weak inflation will become more persistent and prompt the Federal Reserve to be more cautious about raising interest rates this year. \"Factories aren't producing as much inflation, which is sure to bedevil the doves at the Fed who are worried about too low inflation,\" said Chris Rupkey, chief economist at MUFG in New York. \"Today's data strike at the heart of the argument over whether Fed officials should let the economy run hot for a while longer with a shallower path of rate hikes.\" The U.S. central bank is forecasting three rate hikes for 2018. It raised rates three times last year. The Labor Department said its producer price index for final demand slipped 0.1 percent last month. That was the first drop in the PPI since August 2016 and followed two straight monthly increases of 0.4 percent. In the 12 months through December, the PPI rose 2.6 percent after accelerating 3.1 percent in November. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the PPI rising 0.2 percent last month and increasing 3.0 percent from a year ago. A key gauge of underlying producer price pressures that excludes food, energy and trade services edged up 0.1 percent last month. The so-called core PPI increased 0.4 percent in November. It rose 2.3 percent in the 12 months through December after increasing 2.4 percent in November. The PPI data came on the heels of a report on Wednesday showing a sharp moderation in import prices in December. While the correlation between those two reports and the consumer price index is weak, they underscore the challenge for the Fed to achieve its 2 percent inflation target. Economists are hoping that a tightening labor market and recent weakness in the dollar will boost price pressures this year. The Fed's preferred inflation measure, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index excluding food and energy, has undershot its target since May 2012. The dollar fell against a basket of currencies on the wholesale inflation data and expectations that the European Central Bank was preparing to reduce its monetary stimulus program. Prices of U.S. Treasuries fell, while stocks on Wall Street rose broadly. SOLID LABOR MARKET The price of services fell 0.2 percent in December after nine straight monthly rises. The decline reflected a 10.7 percent drop in margins for automotive fuels and lubricants retailing. Wholesale food prices recorded their biggest drop since May, while energy prices were unchanged. The cost of healthcare services increased 0.2 percent last month after being unchanged in November. Those costs feed into the core PCE price index. In a second report on Thursday, the Labor Department said initial September. Economists had A large part of the country faced rose by Claims have risen since mid-December, though the data tend to be volatile during year-end holidays. \"We advise against extrapolating unless the rise is sustained in coming weeks,\" said Jim O'Sullivan, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics in Valhalla, New York. The number of people receiving benefits after an initial week of aid dropped 35,000 to 1.87 million in the week ended Dec. 30, the lowest level since December 1973. (Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Paul Simao)" + }, + { + "text": "45 PM / Updated 3 minutes ago Ahead of Trump's Davos visit, European leaders warn against nationalism Noah Barkin , Yara Bayoumy The leaders of Germany and Italy warned on Wednesday against a return to nationalism and protectionism, with Angela Merkel evoking the two world wars and openly questioning whether the world had learned from them. The speeches, given in quick succession, came one day before U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at the annual gathering of the global elite in the Swiss Alps to promote his “America First” policies. Trump has pulled the United States out of international agreements on trade and climate since taking power one year ago, unsettling countries in Europe and Asia who have looked to Washington to help shape global rules since World War Two. “We are seeing nationalism, populism and in a lot of countries a polarised atmosphere,” Merkel told a packed auditorium where French President Emmanuel Macron will speak later on Wednesday and Trump on Friday. “We believe that isolation won’t help us. We believe we need to cooperate, that protectionism is not the answer,” she said, asking: “Have we really learned from history, or haven’t we?” Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, asked what his message to Trump was, offered a defence of multilateral cooperation and warned against steps to undermine that. “It is totally legitimate, understandable, the desire for political leaders to defend their own citizens, their own companies, their own economy,” he said. “I respect that, but obviously there is a limit.” A migrant speaks to Italy's Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, and Nigeria's Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo as they attend The scene in Davos of two of the former Axis powers in World War Two cautioning the United States against nationalism was a sign of how much Trump’s election has unsettled governments in Europe and altered the relationships that have existed since the war. Still, after suffering a series of crises over the past decade - from euro turmoil, to Ukraine, refugees and Brexit - Europe is feeling confident again. Its economy has rebounded and the election of pro-European centrist Macron in France has injected new momentum into efforts to reform the European Union. Merkel, weakened by an inconclusive German election in September which has given way to months of political limbo as she tries to form a coalition, urged Europe to complete its banking union project, make progress on a single digital market and take steps to shield the bloc from future crises. “Europe must take its fate into its own hands,” she said, echoing a message she sent after a contentious Group of Seven summit with Trump back in May. She said Germany and its European partners wanted a “good partnership” with Britain after it leaves the EU, but said it was up to London to decide what kind of link it wanted and said there could be no concessions on core EU principles. “Being a member of the single market is tied to the principle of free movement. On that we can’t make compromises,” Merkel said. “It is up to Britain to tell us how close a partnership they want. We are open to every kind of partnership.” Reporting by Noah Barkin and Yara Bayoumy" + }, + { + "text": "VERBATIM: Sen. Flake compares Trump to Stalin Wednesday, January 17, 2018 - 01:23 Arizona Senator Jeff Flake compares President Donald Trump's rhetoric to Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, and blasts the president for his attacks on 'the free press.' Arizona Senator Jeff Flake compares President Donald Trump's rhetoric to Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, and blasts the president for his attacks on 'the free press.' //reut.rs/2mKlVwz" + }, + { + "text": "I will be retiring in a few years and want to learn more about managing my finances in retirement. Who are some of your favorite financial writers? What do you look for when reading about retirement planning? I look, first, for people who write clearly, and frequently, about the fundamentals: the mix of assets in your nest egg, budgeting, tapping your savings, Social Security, taxes, estate planning, etc. The basics are hard enough; a guide who makes sense of them—month after month, year after year—is invaluable. ... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 7:33 AM / Updated 22 minutes ago BRIEF-Premaitha Health Says Secured Right To Appeal First Instance Judgment Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 24 (Reuters) - Illumina Inc: * HAS SECURED RIGHT TO APPEAL A FIRST INSTANCE JUDGMENT IN ITS ONGOING LITIGATION WITH ILLUMINA INC. AND OTHERS * JUDGE ACCEPTED PREMAITHA‘S APPLICATION FOR LEAVE TO APPEAL AGAINST FIRST INSTANCE JUDGMENT HANDED DOWN ON 21 NOVEMBER 2017 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: ([REDACTED])" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 10 (Reuters) - Waste Management Inc: * WASTE MANAGEMENT INC - WILL DISTRIBUTE $2,000 IN 2018 TO EVERY NORTH AMERICAN EMPLOYEE NOT ON BONUS OR SALES INCENTIVE PLAN * WASTE MANAGEMENT INC - TO PAY SPECIAL BONUSES TO HOURLY AND OTHER EMPLOYEES IN LIGHT OF NEW U.S. CORPORATE TAX STRUCTURE" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Capital Bank of Washington (NCB) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a dividend of $0.50 per share for shareholders of record as of February 15, 2018. The dividend payout of $144,388.50 on 288,777 shares is payable February 28, 2018. The National Capital Bank of Washington was founded in 1889 and is Washington's Oldest Bank. NCB is headquartered on Capitol Hill with a second branch located in Friendship Heights, as well as residential mortgage and commercial lending offices and a wealth management services division. NCB product and service offerings include personal and business deposit accounts, robust online and mobile banking, sophisticated treasury management solutions, remote deposit capture and merchant processing – all delivered with top-rated personal service. NCB is well-positioned to serve all the banking needs of those in our community. For more information about NCB, visit www.nationalcapitalbank.com . The Bank trades under the symbol NACB View original content with multimedia: SOURCE The National Capital Bank of Washington" + }, + { + "text": "LIMA (Reuters) - Peruvian center-right President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski replaced nearly half of his 19-member Cabinet on Tuesday, after back-to-back crises in his government last month triggered political resignations and protests. Kuczynski had promised to reveal a “Cabinet of reconciliation” nearly two weeks ago amid an uproar over his Christmas Eve pardon for former authoritarian leader Alberto Fujimori, whose loyalists in Congress saved Kuczynski from an impeachment bid three days prior. A 79-year-old former Wall Street banker, Kuczynski has struggled to govern alongside a Congress controlled by Fujimori’s sympathizers. At least 19 ministers have left Kuczynski’s Cabinet since he took office less than two years ago, including four forced from office by Congress. However, Fujimori’s loyalists have divided the main opposition party and could help Kuczynski govern, possibly offsetting support that Kuczynski has lost from centrists and leftists. Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and new Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Jose Arista attend a swearing-in ceremony at the government palace in Lima, Peru January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Guadalupe Pardo “Despite our differences, I ask you for us to join together to fight the real problems facing our nation: poverty, unequal services and opportunities, the lack of security, corruption,” Kuczynski said in a brief speech after swearing nine ministers into his Cabinet. Kuczynski promoted Deputy Energy Minister Angela Grossheim to become energy and mines minister and kept Finance Minister Claudia Cooper and Trade Minister Eduardo Ferreyros in their posts. Slideshow (4 Images) Cayetana Aljovin, the outgoing energy and mines minister and a former journalist and lawyer, was named the foreign minister, replacing Ricardo Luna, who had helped Peru lead regional efforts to demand democratic reforms in Venezuela. Only three out of the eight new ministers who were sworn in on Tuesday have political experience. The rest mostly worked as career civil servants or in the private sector. Two of the new ministers were members of the rightwing party, Apra, which is affiliated with former President Alan Garcia. Apra announced on Twitter that it was expulsing both for defying the party’s decision to not form part of Kuczynski’s new Cabinet. Reporting by Mitra Taj; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Leslie Adler" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 9:34 AM / in an hour ECB's Nowotny says strengthening euro \"not helpful\" Reuters Staff 1 Min Read VIENNA, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The euro’s recent strength against the U.S. dollar is ‘not helpful’, European Central Bank policymaker Ewald Nowotny said on Wednesday when asked about the currency’s recent gains. Speaking to reporters in Vienna, Nowotny added that the ECB had no exchange rate target so it would monitor the developments. The euro has gained 4 percent against the dollar in the past three months and now trades 4.5 percent above the level used in the ECB’s December macroeconomic projections. (Reporting by Shadia Nasralla; Writing by Balazs Koranyi; Editing by Toby Chopra)" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 10:43 AM / Updated an hour ago U.S. general says not planning Manbij troop withdrawal - CNN Reuters Staff 2 Min Read ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The United States has no plans to withdraw troops stationed near the town of Manbij in northern Syria despite warnings from Turkey to remove its forces immediately, CNN quoted the U.S. Central Command chief General Joseph Votel as saying. Pulling U.S. forces from Manbij is “not something we are looking into”, the channel’s website reported Votel as saying on Sunday during a trip to the Middle East. Turkey, which is waging a military offensive against Kurdish YPG fighters in Syria’s northwestern region of Afrin, has repeatedly said it will also drive the YPG militia from the mainly Arab town of Manbij, east of Afrin. The United States has around 2,000 military personnel in northern Syria supporting an umbrella group of fighters, dominated by the YPG, which drove Islamic State from its Syrian strongholds last year. Turkey, which considers the YPG to be a terrorist organisation, has called on Washington to end its military support for the group and to pull back from the Manbij region where some of its troops are stationed. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday the United States “needs to break its link with (the) terrorist organisation and make them drop their weapons completely. They need to collect the weapons they gave, they need to withdraw from Manbij immediately.” Reporting by Dominic Evans, Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "In the next few weeks, don’t fail to go over your paycheck withholding. You could avoid a bad surprise. Recently the Treasury Department announced revisions to the 2018 withholding tables to reflect the massive tax changes Congress enacted late last year. These and other changes allow employers to use workers’ W-4 forms already on file to adjust their withholding to reflect tax cuts in the new law. The... RELATED VIDEO Winners and Losers of the GOP Tax Bill Christmas may be over but WSJ’s Richard Rubin keeps the holiday spirit alive by explaining who’s getting presents and who’s getting coal with the GOP tax bill." + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 3:23 AM / in 7 hours Japanese astronaut apologizes for 'fake news' of height increase TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai, on a mission to the International Space Station, apologized on Wednesday for saying he had grown 9 cm (3.5 inches) while in space and expressing concern about whether he’d be safe on his return to Earth. Most astronauts “grow” during protracted space missions because their spines extend in the absence of gravity, but the gains are usually limited to a couple of centimeters (inches) maximum and disappear once they are back on the ground. The 41-year-old Kanai, who went to space last month for a nearly six-month mission, posted on Twitter on Monday that he had “a big announcement.” “My height’s been measured here in space and somehow, somehow, I’ve grown 9 cm! In only three weeks I’ve really shot up, something I haven’t seen since high school,” he tweeted. “This makes me a little worried that I might not be able to fit in the Soyuz seats for our return.” But a bit over a day later - and in the wake of a flurry of news stories - he apologized, saying that he’d measured himself after his captain raised questions about the apparent growth and he had stretched only 2 cm from his Earth-bound height. “This mis-measurement appears to have become a big deal, so I must apologize for this terrible fake news,” he tweeted, without explaining how the original miscalculation had occurred. “It appears I can fit on the Soyuz, so I‘m relieved.” Reporting by Elaine Lies; Editing by Michael Perry" + }, + { + "text": "LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - And the name is .... Chicago West. Kim Kardashian’s new baby daughter with rapper husband Kanye West has been named Chicago, the reality star announced on her app on Friday. The baby girl was born to a surrogate on Monday, a third child for the celebrity couple. FILE PHOTO - Kim Kardashian attends the Tom Ford Spring Summer 2018 collection during New York Fashion Week in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., September 6, 2017. REUTERS/Brenna Weeks Kardashian revealed the name, without explanation, in a simple update to the birth announcement she made earlier this week. West, 40, was born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago. Kardashian, 37, and West are already parents to North, 4, and Saint, 2. The “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” reality and social media star has said she decided to use a surrogate after doctors warned of serious health risks if she became pregnant again. Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Andrew Hay Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 8:38 PM / in an hour Fiat Chrysler recalls 162,000 minivans over glitch that may cause stall Reuters Staff 1 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV ( FCHA.MI ) said on Friday it was recalling more than 162,000 2017 Chrysler Pacifica minivans because a software glitch may cause the vehicles to stall. The Italian-American automaker said one accident had potentially been linked to the defect. Under a rare set of conditions, a vehicle’s engine control module may incorrectly assess the engine’s operating status and cause it to stall, Fiat Chrysler said. Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Tom Brown" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The damage from a deadly Amtrak train crash in Washington state in December topped $40.4 million, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report on Thursday. The safety board also said the crash that killed three and injured 70 could have been prevented if a safety technology system known as positive train control had been operational. The board previously said Amtrak 501 was traveling at 78 miles per hour (126 km per hour) when it derailed, far above the 30 mph speed limit. The NTSB also said it has not been able to interview either operating crewmember due to their injuries from the accident. The NTSB reported last month that six seconds before the derailment off a bridge and onto a highway, the engineer remarked that the train was speeding. The engineer then applied the brakes but apparently not the emergency brake, NTSB said. U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, in letters released on Tuesday, urged the nation’s railroads and transit agencies to “take all possible measures” to meet congressional deadlines to install positive train control to prevent crashes. Chao said she wanted railroads to “greatly accelerate” efforts to meet congressional deadlines. Positive train control (PTC) is designed to prevent derailments caused by excessive speed. The NTSB has said several deadly U.S. train crashes in recent years could have been prevented if the system was in place and has for years urged its universal adoption. In 2008, Congress mandated the implementation of PTC nationwide by the end of 2015, then extended that deadline until the end of 2018 when its installation became more complex than anticipated. The government can extend the deadline to 2020 to complete some aspects of the system. Amtrak said last month it was “imperative that the rail industry urgently work together to get PTC activated on the national network as soon as possible - and certainly by the December 2018 federal deadline, if not before.” Washington state officials have said PTC was installed and being tested but was not yet been operational on the line where the derailment occurred. Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli" + }, + { + "text": "Venture Capital Hedge fund managers reap 3,175% profit off bitcoin in 2017 The HFR Cryptocurrency Index rose 88 percent in December and 3,175 for all of 2017. A similar blockchain index posted respective returns of 88 percent and 2,690 percent. That performance was part of a larger trend that saw hedge funds up every month of the year for a total return of 8.5 percent, its best since 2013. SHARES Donat Sorokin | TASS | Getty Images A girl poses for a photograph on a stone sphere monument that unidentified persons have painted with the white Bitcoin cryptocurrency symbol in Oktyabrskaya Square, Yekaterinburg, Russia. For hedge funds, 2017 ended with a clean sweep — positive returns in every month that resulted in the best total performance in four years. That kind of a winning streak hasn't happened since 2013 and was part of a 14-month run of monthly growth that resulted in a gain of 8.5 percent for the HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index, an industry barometer of total hedge fund performance. The index rose 0.9 percent for December. The relatively strong overall performance for the year, though, was dwarfed by returns from the HFR Blockchain and HFR Crypotcurrency indexes, the latest additions to the hedge fund universe. Launched publicly in December, the indexes tracks managers who are investing in bitcoin, ethereum and others in the cryptocurrency space, as well as companies involved in blockchain and related technologies. The blockchain index surged 88.5 percent in December and would have risen 2,690 percent for the year. Separately, the cryptocurrency Index rose 88.4 percent in December and 3,175 percent for all of 2017. \"The powerful combination of surging global equity markets, dynamic M&A trends, commodity volatility and divergent interest rate cycles has created an exciting opportunity set for hedge funds coming into 2018,\" HFR President Kenneth J. Heinz said in a statement. \"Developing opportunities in risk parity, blockchain and cryptocurrency trading, each of which have posted outstanding performance in 2017, are likely to further complement and contribute to record industry growth in 2018,\" he added. Of course, hedge funds continue to underperform the broader market. The S&P 500 was up about 19 percent for 2017 — 21.8 percent including dividends. For hedge funds, fundamental growth proved to the best strategy for the year, with an 18.9 percent gain. Health care rose 17 percent. Betting against the market proved to be the worst strategy, with the HFR Short Bias index down 10.2 percent. WATCH: The clamor for bitcoin ETFs continues . show chapters" + }, + { + "text": "Jan. 3, 2018 Europe’s new Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, or Mifid II, is “designed to make finance fairer and safer. But that laudable aim comes at a heavy cost,” Neil Unmack writes for Reuters Breakingviews. In addition to the money spent preparing for their rollout and compliance costs in years to come, Mifid II could lead banks to conduct less financial analysis and spur consolidation, he says. “The rules may also create new loopholes in financial markets” and “may encourage more trading to shift outside the... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Turkish forces press into Syria in new operation Sunday, January 21, 2018 - 01:17 Military convoys on Turkish border with Syria were seen on Sunday (January 21) as Turkey continued to fire artillery at a U.S.-backed Kurdish militia in northern Syria. The cross-border fire marked the second day of Turkey's new front in the nearly seven-year-old Syrian civil war. Military convoys on Turkish border with Syria were seen on Sunday (January 21) as Turkey continued to fire artillery at a U.S.-backed Kurdish militia in northern Syria. The cross-border fire marked the second day of Turkey's new front in the nearly seven-year-old Syrian civil war. //reut.rs/2mZ5qgi" + }, + { + "text": "WAYNE, Pa., Jan. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Diversified Staffing Group \"DSG\", a regional provider of technology, accounting & finance, and executive search services, announced today the appointment of Andy Hicks as Division Manager, Direct Hire. \"Andy's consistent success, leadership capability and desire to win are what makes him an outstanding leader in the direct hire business. We could not be happier with his decision to join DSG. He is a natural relationship builder with an outstanding track record of delivering creative, efficient solutions for his customers and candidates,\" said Michael Masiello, CEO Diversified Staffing Group. Andy joins the DSG leadership team from his role as Senior Recruiting Manager for a regional staffing and recruiting firm. About Diversified Staffing Diversified (DSG) is more than a company, it's a mission. DSG was built and launched to solve a problem in the human capital industry. In an age where technology has replaced human touch, and the business has become less personal, DSG has diversified its approach. DSG focuses on what matters; the associates of Diversified, the consultants that solve problems, and the clients who give them the opportunity, and trust the company to partner in their key business initiatives. Media Contact: [REDACTED] 610-255-2011 www.dsgstaff.com Related Images image1.jpeg Andy Hicks image2.png Diversified Staffing Group Logo View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Diversified Staffing Group" + }, + { + "text": "China warned of a \"bumpy journey\" in trade with the U.S. and \"retaliatory measures\" a day after Washington blocked MoneyGram's proposed sale to a financial services firm affiliated with Chinese tech giant Alibaba . \"It is not surprising that a number of Chinese companies have hit the buffers in Washington as trade tensions between the two countries are flaring,\" state news agency Xinhua said in a commentary published on Wednesday afternoon. On Tuesday, the U.S. government torpedoed MoneyGram's multi-million-dollar merger with Ant Financial, which is controlled by Alibaba founder Jack Ma . A U.S. government panel rejected the deal due to national security concerns, Reuters reported , citing sources familiar with confidential discussions. show chapters US blocks MoneyGram sale to Alibaba's Ant Financial 9:51 AM ET Wed, 3 Jan 2018 | 01:17 The current U.S. administration has taken a tough stance on the sale of U.S. companies to Chinese entities, with the MoneyGram deal the latest to fall through. That decision came despite high-profile meetings between President Donald Trump and his Chinese counter, Xi Jinping , last year that were seemingly amicable. Xinhua said on Wednesday the U.S. \"is stuck in a zero-sum mentality,\" and \"U.S. politicians have failed to catch up with China's understanding of cooperation and adopted an increasingly protective and isolationist approach.\" \"The bonhomie that grew between China and the United States in Beijing in November, when the two signed hundreds of billions of dollars of deals, seems to be fading away as the U.S. side is stuck in a zero-sum mentality,\" the commentary said. \"China and the United States are about to ride a bumpy journey in trade in 2018 if the U.S. government goes it own way, and retaliatory measures by China could be on the table,\" it added. The Xinhua comments followed comments from China's foreign ministry on Wednesday afternoon on the same issue. \"The Chinese government always encourages Chinese enterprises to conduct outward investment and cooperation in accordance with market principles and on the basis of abiding by the local laws and regulations,\" said Geng Shuang , the ministry's spokesman. \"Meanwhile, we also hope the U.S. will provide a fair and predictable environment for the Chinese enterprises to invest and develop there,\" he added." + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 5:20 PM / a minute ago Dutch minister says reduce output at Groningen gas field by \"as much as possible\" Reuters Staff 1 Min Read AMSTERDAM, Jan 8 (Reuters) - The Dutch minister for the economy said on Monday that output at the large Groningen gas field should be reduced “by as much as possible” during the current government term. The comment followed a magnitude 3.4 tremor earlier on Monday that was the largest in recent years. (Reporting by Anthony Deutsch, editing by David Evans)" + }, + { + "text": "By Grace Donnelly 9:51 AM EST ‘Jeopardy!’ has stopped taping new episodes to allow host Alex Trebek, 77, time to recover from brain surgery . Trebek, who has hosted the trivia show for more than 33 years, was treated for blood clots on the brain — called a subdural hematoma — in late December after a fall in October. He was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Dec. 15 and underwent surgery on Dec. 16. “The prognosis is excellent, and I expect to be back in the studio taping more ‘Jeopardy!’ programs very, very soon!” he said in a video posted to the show’s official site Thursday. He’s had other public health scares: A heart attack in 2007 and another in 2012 . Trebek is expected to make a full and complete recovery and return to the ‘Jeopardy!’ studio for taping in mid-January, according to the program’s producer Sony Pictures Entertainment. Since the trivia show is taped months in advance, there are plenty of new episodes that will air during Trebek’s recovery. The only change to the ‘Jeopardy!’ schedule will be a delay of the annual college championship, which will air in April rather than February. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 1:22 PM / Updated 18 minutes ago EU to Poland - comply with rules or you could lose cash Justyna Pawlak , Gabriela Baczynska 4 Min Read WARSAW/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The man in charge of the European Union’s budget raised the possibility on Wednesday of Poland losing out financially if it refuses to give ground in a bitter dispute with the bloc over its judicial reforms. FILE PHOTO - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker poses with Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki ahead of talks at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir EU Budget Commissioner Guenther Oettinger’s comments came after Poland’s new prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, pressed a charm offensive in Brussels aimed at smoothing relations badly strained by disputes over the courts and also over migration. But Morawiecki, a former banker who took the reins of the conservative government in Warsaw last month, showed no sign of scrapping the judicial overhaul that critics, including Brussels, say weaken judicial independence and the rule of law. “I genuinely believe that with added effort to explain our intentions we will be able to clarify misunderstandings,” Morawiecki told reporters in Warsaw on Wednesday on his return from Brussels. “I believe dialogue will lead to de-escalation.” Poland’s nationalist ruling party, Law and Justice (PiS), says the reforms are needed because the judiciary is still steeped in the mindset and practices of the postwar communist era. The party has also tightened control over state media. Poland’s feud with Brussels have left a country once seen as the posterchild of post-communist transition increasingly isolated in the EU as crucial negotiations over the bloc’s next seven-year budget begin. Poland is currently the biggest beneficiary of EU funds, receiving 7 billion euros in 2016. Asked whether Poland could see its funds cut in the new EU budget starting in 2021 because of issues concerning the rule of law, Oettinger told a news conference in Brussels: “Either... the rule of law and the independence of courts would constitute a condition for claiming European budgetary resources. Or otherwise the restoration of the rule of law could be seen as a possible way of getting more resources.” The remarks, which seemed to contradict an earlier statement from his boss, Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, suggest Poland could also be rewarded for compliance with EU recommendations. PRESSURE Oettiner said the executive Commission would come up with a proposal in April. Juncker said last week it would be wrong to put pressure on Poland by cutting funds, though some EU states including Italy have openly called for this. Morawiecki has made clear he sees the EU funds as key to helping Poland close the economic gap with wealthier countries in western Europe. Before flying to Brussels for dinner with Juncker on Tuesday, Morawiecki sacked several ministers who have clashed most sharply with the EU since PiS took power in late 2015. Despite Morawiecki’s conciliatory gestures and rhetoric, it remains unclear whether Poland can reach a compromise with Brussels over its judicial reforms by Feb.27, when the 28 EU member states are due to debate the matter. The Commission has opened an unprecedented legal case against Warsaw over its backsliding on the rule of law and democracy. However, the EU is unlikely to impose the ultimate sanction of suspending Poland’s voting rights because its ally Hungary has vowed to veto any such move. PiS, which faces a string of elections from late 2018, can also draw comfort from opinion polls putting its support at 40-45 percent, well ahead of its rivals, a performance reinforced by Poland’s strong economic growth. Additional reporting by Philip Blenkinsop and Peter Maushagen in Brussels, Marcin Goclowski in Warsaw, Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Gareth Jones" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 9:53 PM / Updated 28 minutes ago Australia shares to extend rally to 6th session; NZ up Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 10 (Reuters) - Australian shares were set to open higher for a sixth straight session on Wednesday, with robust commodity prices seen lifting material and energy stocks, and as Wall Street extended its new year rally. Wall Street's major indexes gained on continued optimism among investors ahead of quarterly earnings reports. Meanwhile, U.S. crude climbed to three-year highs, boosted by OPEC-led production cuts and expectations that U.S. crude inventories have dropped for an eighth week. The local share price index futures rose 0.4 percent, or 23 points, to 6,111, a 24.8-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close. The benchmark rose 0.1 to close at a 10-year high on Tuesday. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index was slightly higher in early trade. (Reporting by Chris Thomas in Bengaluru)" + }, + { + "text": "January 20, 2018 / 1:31 AM / Updated 3 hours ago Possible Buffett heir Abel has small Berkshire stake, likely to grow Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Greg Abel, considered by many investors the top contender to succeed Warren Buffett as Berkshire Hathaway Inc��s ( BRKa.N ) chief executive officer, on Friday reported owning about $2.1 million of the conglomerate’s stock. Abel, who along with Ajit Jain was named a Berkshire vice chairman and director last week, disclosed his stake a day after Jain reported a $109 million ownership stake. The stakes were disclosed in regulatory filings. Abel, 55, who has run the Berkshire Hathaway Energy unit, was appointed vice chairman to oversee non-insurance operations such as the BNSF railroad, Dairy Queen ice cream, Fruit of the Loom underwear and NetJets planes. Jain, 66, Berkshire’s top reinsurance executive and the other strong contender to succeed Buffett, was appointed vice chairman to oversee insurance operations such as Geico auto insurance and General Re reinsurance. Abel reported holding his Berkshire stake indirectly for the benefit of his family. Berkshire Hathaway Energy said about a year ago that Abel owned a stake in that unit that could be converted into Berkshire stock worth more than $400 million at the time. Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire said last week that relevant factors in its succession planning were that both possess “integrity, business savvy, an owner-oriented attitude and a deep genuine interest in Berkshire.” Buffett, 87, has run Berkshire since 1965 and has not signalled any plans to leave soon. He owns roughly one-sixth of the company, comprising most of what Forbes magazine said on Friday is his $91.6 billion fortune. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman" + }, + { + "text": "Siemens Q1 profit falls on power and gas decline 11:47am EST - 01:55 German engineering group Siemens posted a 14 percent decline in quarterly industrial profit, dragged down by continued weak demand from the power and gas sector while it ramps up investments in factory software. Silvia Antonioli reports. German engineering group Siemens posted a 14 percent decline in quarterly industrial profit, dragged down by continued weak demand from the power and gas sector while it ramps up investments in factory software. Silvia Antonioli reports. //reut.rs/2DQef7f" + }, + { + "text": "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Cardiff Castle 9:41pm IST - 01:05 Britain's Prince Harry and his fiancee, U.S. actor Meghan Markle, greeted cheering crowds outside Cardiff Castle in Wales. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Britain's Prince Harry and his fiancee, U.S. actor Meghan Markle, greeted cheering crowds outside Cardiff Castle in Wales. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2mNGmIS" + }, + { + "text": "Freshman forwards Wendell Carter Jr. and Marvin Bagley III dominated in the lane as fifth-ranked Duke rolled to an 81-54 victory against visiting Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. Carter scored 21 points on 9-for-10 shooting from the field and Bagley finished with 20 points on 6-for-10 shooting. They each made a 3-point basket, while Carter shared game-high honors with eight rebounds. Gary Trent Jr. added 17 points and Grayson Allen dumped in 16 points for Duke (17-2, 5-2 ACC), which has won four games in a row and is unbeaten in 10 home games this season. Parker Stewart’s 15 points and Marcus Carr’s 12 points paced last-place Pittsburgh (8-12, 0-7). Jonathan Milligan added nine points off the bench. Allen, who has been in a shooting slump, drained back-to-back 3-pointers as the Blue Devils stretched their lead to 64-30 with more than 13 minutes to play. He ended up 4-for-10 on 3-point attempts. Duke shot 51.8 percent from the field. That included a 12-for-26 mark on 3-pointers. None of the Blue Devils reserves scored until the game’s final 90 seconds. Duke’s non-starters combined to shoot 1-for-11 from the field in the game. The outcome completed a season series sweep for Duke, which won 87-52 less than two weeks ago at Pittsburgh. Duke’s 48-26 halftime lead came courtesy of 60.7-percent shooting from the field. Carter and Bagley were a combined 10-for-12 in the first half, racking up 27 points between them. Pittsburgh shot 50 percent (10-for-20) from the field in the first half, but the Panthers gave up 11 turnovers by the break. Stewart and Carr accounted for all except five of the team’s first-half points. Other than Stewart’s 3-for-6 contribution on 3-pointers, the other Panthers ended up 1-for-10 from long range in the game. Duke forward Javin DeLaurier, who had been the most-used reserve for the first couple months of the season, returned after a three-game absence with a hamstring injury. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE: WD) announced today that it finished 2017 as the largest Fannie Mae DUS ® Lender by volume of multifamily loans originated. Walker & Dunlop moved up in the 2017 rankings from second place last year. Fannie Mae provided $66.1 billion of capital to the multifamily housing market in 2017, up 20 percent from 2016. Executive Vice President and Chief Production Officer for Walker & Dunlop's Agency lending business, Don King , commented, \"We have added the top mortgage bankers in the country to the Walker & Dunlop platform to build the very best multifamily finance company in the industry. It's exciting to see the scale and continued success we have achieved with Fannie Mae benefiting Walker & Dunlop's clients every day. To finish 2017 as Fannie Mae's largest partner for the fourth time in six years is truly amazing, and we look forward to a continued strong partnership in 2018.\" Walker & Dunlop will provide details on its total transaction volume for the fourth quarter and full year 2017 during its earnings call on February 7, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. About Walker & Dunlop Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is one of the largest commercial real estate services and finance companies in the United States providing financing and investment sales to owners of multifamily and commercial properties. Walker & Dunlop, which is included in the S&P SmallCap 600 Index, has over 600 professionals in 28 offices across the nation with an unyielding commitment to client satisfaction. View original content: SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 2, 2018 / 7:24 PM / Updated 12 minutes ago Amazon says over 5 billion items shipped in 2017 via Prime Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Online retailer Amazon.com Inc said on Tuesday it shipped over 5 billion items worldwide via its subscription based Prime service in 2017 while adding more new members than ever before. FILE PHOTO: An Amazon.com Inc driver stands next to an Amazon delivery truck in Los Angeles, California, U.S. on May 21, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo The e-commerce giant, which revealed its Prime shipment numbers for the first time, did not give comparable full-year shipment number for 2016. Amazon claimed that its Fire TV Stick and voice controlled smart device Echo Dot were the best-selling products among U.S. Prime members from any manufacturer in any category across all of its product offerings. Amazon Prime, which offers its users services like free two-day shipping for certain purchases, unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Prime Video, has been attracting more subscribers every year. The company said it shipped over 1 billion items worldwide via Prime during holiday season in 2016. Amazon Prime, which entered countries including Mexico, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Singapore last year, now is present in 16 countries around the world. Shares of the Seattle, Washington based company were up 1.5 percent at $1,187 in afternoon trading. Reporting by Vibhuti Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds details on online sales, background) Jan 16 (Reuters) - British homewares retailer Dunelm Group Plc said on Tuesday its comparable sales rose 3.4 percent in the second quarter, helped by strong online sales. Like-for-like online sales grew 30.5 percent in the second quarter to 26.2 million pounds and accounted for 10.3 percent of total comparable sales. “Continuing rapid like-for-like online growth, of 36.8% in the first half, coupled with passing the first anniversary of the Worldstores acquisition, has helped our online sales grow to 16 percent of total sales in the first half,” Dunelm Chairman Andy Harrison said. Dunelm, which agreed to buy Worldstores, Kiddicare and Achica brands in November 2016 for 8.5 million pounds, has been focusing on growing its online offerings to attract new customers. The company, however, added it experienced a sales mix hit on margins in the first-half from the Worldstores acquisition and more seasonal and end of season products. The company said revenue rose 13.6 percent to 297.5 million pounds ($410.43 million) in its second quarter ended Dec. 30. Dunelm, which sells cushions, bedding and kitchen equipment, said it expects margin improvement in the second half. $1 = 0.7248 pounds Reporting by Radhika Rukmangadhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr" + }, + { + "text": "MONTREAL, Jan. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) will issue its fourth-quarter and year-end 2017 financial and operating results today, Jan. 23, 2018, at 4.01 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). CN's senior officers will review the results and the railway's outlook in a webcast/conference call starting at 4.30 p.m. ET today. Luc Jobin, CN president and chief executive officer, will lead the call. Parties wishing to participate in or listen to the fourth-quarter and year-end 2017 presentation and question-and-answer period by telephone should call 1-800-355-4959 or 416-641-6122 by 4.20 p.m. ET today. CN will webcast the presentation live and furnish slides supporting the officers' remarks via the Investors section of its website, www.cn.ca/en/investors . The slides will be posted on the website after the close of markets today. A webcast replay will be available after the call ends. CN is a true backbone of the economy whose team of approximately 23,000 railroaders transports more than C$250 billion worth of goods annually for a wide range of business sectors, ranging from resource products to manufactured products to consumer goods, across a rail network of approximately 20,000 route-miles spanning Canada and mid-America. CN – Canadian National Railway Company, along with its operating railway subsidiaries – serves the cities and ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the metropolitan areas of Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Chicago, Memphis, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information about CN, visit the Company's website at www.cn.ca . SOURCE CN" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 8:23 PM / Updated 16 minutes ago Warming set to breach Paris accord's toughest limit by mid century-draft Environment Correspondent Alister Doyle 4 Min Read OSLO (Reuters) - Global warming is on track to breach the toughest limit set in the Paris climate agreement by the middle of this century unless governments make unprecedented economic shifts from fossil fuels, a draft U.N. report said. Buildings are seen in heavy smog during a polluted day in Jinan, Shandong province, China, December 20, 2016. REUTERS/Stringer The draft, of a report due for publication in October, said governments will also have to start sucking carbon dioxide from the air to achieve the ambition of limiting temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times. “There is very high risk that ... global warming will exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels,” the U.N. panel of experts wrote, based on the current pace of warming and current national plans to limit their greenhouse gas emissions. There were no historic precedents for the scale of changes required in energy use, to shift from fossil fuels to renewable energies, and in reforms ranging from agriculture to industry to stay below the 1.5C limit, it said. The draft, by the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of leading scientists and obtained by Reuters, says average surface temperatures are about 1C above pre-industrial times and that average temperatures are on track to reach 1.5C by the 2040s. Curbing warming to 1.5C would help limit heat extremes, droughts and floods, more migration of people and even risks of conflict compared to higher rates of warming, according to the draft summary for policymakers. But a 1.5C rise might not be enough to protect many coral reefs, already suffering from higher ocean temperatures, and ice stored in Greenland and West Antarctica whose melt is raising sea levels. At a 2015 summit in Paris, almost 200 nations set a goal of limiting a rise in the world’s average surface temperatures to “well below” 2C (3.6 F) above pre-industrial times while “pursuing efforts” for the far tougher 1.5 ceiling. They commissioned the IPCC report to map the risks of each goal. The 1.5C limit is favoured especially by developing nations most at risk from disruptions to food and water supplies. The current draft was sent out for comments from governments and other experts this week. Jonathan Lynn, spokesman for the IPCC, said the text was a work in progress not intended for publication. “The text can change substantially” he said. U.S. President Donald Trump, who doubts climate change is man-made, plans to pull out of the Paris Agreement and instead focus on U.S. fossil fuels. By contrast, the draft said that renewable energies such as solar and wind power would have to become the dominant form of primary energy by 2050 to achieve the 1.5C goal. “Coal would be phased out rapidly in most 1.5C pathways,” it said. And limiting global warming to 1.5C by 2100 would “involve removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,” it said. That could mean planting vast forests, which soak up carbon dioxide as they grow, or building power plants that burn wood or other plant matter and then capturing and burying the carbon dioxide they release. But that it might not be feasible because forests could divert land from food crops. The draft estimated that humanity could emit just 580 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases to give a better than 50 percent chance of limiting warming to 1.5C - roughly 12-16 years at current rates of emissions. The amounts could be bigger if governments let temperatures exceed 1.5C and found a way of turning down the global thermostat later in the century. Reporting By Alister Doyle; Editing by Toby Chopra" + }, + { + "text": "Delta raises profit outlook 10:05pm IST - 00:58 After a busy holiday season, the second largest U.S. carrier lifted its forecasts for unit revenue for the quarter and profit for the full year. Fred Katayama reports. After a busy holiday season, the second largest U.S. carrier lifted its forecasts for unit revenue for the quarter and profit for the full year. Fred Katayama reports. //reut.rs/2ARFfgd" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moscow-based cyber security company Kaspersky Lab is sure that it will win its legal process in the United States and that a ban on the use of its products by the U.S. government will be lifted, it was Quote: d as saying by RIA news agency on Thursday. The United States banned civilian government agencies from using Kaspersky products in September. Reporting by Polina Devitt; Editing by Polina Ivanova" + }, + { + "text": "DUBLIN, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Irish retail sales volumes increased 7.2 percent in December compared to the same month the previous year, data showed on Monday. But monthly volumes were 0.1 percent lower than November, which saw bumper retail activity on “Black Friday,” the Central Statistics Service data showed. (Reporting by Graham Fahy; Editing by Toby Chopra)" + }, + { + "text": "MILAN, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Italian shoemaker Geox said on Thursday it was set to appoint senior Gucci manager Matteo Mascazzini as its new chief executive from next month, replacing Gregorio Borgo. Mascazzini, 48, is currently the chief operating officer of Gucci America. He joined the Italian brand which is owned by French luxury goods group Kering back in 2007, arriving from rival Giorgio Armani. Geox, famous for patenting shoes with breathable soles, reported sales of 884.5 million euros ($1.1 billion) last year, down 1.8 percent compared with 2016, hit by a downsizing of its network of shops. The company closed 66 shops in net terms in 2017 as it shrinks its presence in Europe to expand in Russia, eastern Europe and China, areas where wholesale revenues grew double-digit. Geox, headquartered in northeastern Italy, said same-store sales rose 0.5 percent last year after a 1 percent decline in 2016.($1 = 0.8169 euros) (Reporting by Valentina Za; Editing by Adrian Croft)" + }, + { + "text": "'addiction'@ (Adds details from Apple, shareholders' letter) NEW YORK, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Apple Inc said it \"has always looked out for kids\", defending its technology policy for children, after two major investors urged it to address what they said was a growing problem of young people getting addicted to Apple's iPhones. Shareholders Jana Partners, a leading activist shareholder, and California teacher pension investor CalSTRS, one of the nation's largest public pension plans, delivered a letter to Apple on Saturday asking the company to consider developing software that would allow parents more options to limit children's phone use. Jana and CalSTRS also asked Apple to study the impact of excessive phone use on mental health. They said they own about $2 billion of Apple stock. Apple on Monday said that since 2008 the iPhone's software has allowed parents to control which apps, movies, games and other content children can access. \"We think deeply about how our products are used and the impact they have on users and the people around them,\" Apple said in the statement. \"We take this responsibility very seriously and we are committed to meeting and exceeding our customers expectations, especially when it comes to protecting kids.\" It said it had new features in the works to make tools more robust. The social rights issue is a new turn for Jana, which is known for pushing companies it invests in to make financial changes. However, the issue of phone addiction among young people has become a growing concern in the United States as parents report their children cannot give up their phones. CalSTRS and Jana worry that \"even\" Apple's reputation could be hurt if it does not address those concerns. Their letter was originally reported by the Wall Street Journal. Half of teenagers in the United States feel like they are addicted to their mobile phones and report feeling pressure to immediately respond to phone messages, according to a 2016 survey of children and their parents by Common Sense Media. The phone addiction issue got a high-profile boost from the former Disney child star Selena Gomez, 24, who said she canceled a 2016 world tour to go to therapy for depression and low self-esteem, feelings she linked to her addiction to social media and the mobile photo-sharing app Instagram. (Reporting by Elizabeth Dilts in New York, Stephen Nellis and Peter Henderson in San Francisco; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd said on Monday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had granted ‘fast track’ status to its vaccine for the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which erupted as a major public hazard in Brazil three years ago. The drug, TAK-426, is currently being tested on 240 patients between the ages of 18 and 49 and is in early stages of development. The virus might be responsible for an increase in birth defects in the United States and its territories, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report last week. The Zika outbreak was declared an international public health emergency by the World Health Organization in 2016 due to linkages found between the virus and severe birth defects. The FDA’s ‘fast track’ designation aims to facilitate the development and expedite the review process for certain drugs and vaccines for serious conditions with unmet medical need. Reporting by Divya Grover in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel" + }, + { + "text": "BOGOTA (Reuters) - Ten people were killed when a Colombian army helicopter crashed near the town of Segovia, in northern Antioquia province, on Tuesday, the army said. The Russian-made MI-17 helicopter, carrying eight army personnel and two civilians, crashed on Tuesday morning on route from the town of Caucasia. Staff onboard the helicopter were set to inspect army gasoline storage facilities. “The hypothesis is of an accident, it is being investigated,” General Juan Vicente Trujillo, head of the army’s aviation division, told journalists, ruling out an attack as the cause of the crash. The National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group, which recently restarted attacks after the end of a ceasefire with the government, is active in the area. Troops were at the site working to recover the bodies of the victims, Trujillo said. Colombia reached a peace agreement with the now-disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group last year, ending five decades of war. But the ELN, FARC dissidents, right-wing ex-paramilitaries and crime gangs remain active. Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Andrew Hay" + }, + { + "text": "MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican deputy finance minister Vanessa Rubio has left her post to join the campaign team of ruling party presidential hopeful Jose Antonio Meade amid a reshuffle at the ministry, officials said on Friday. Rubio, whose departure was announced by Meade’s campaign, is due to be replaced by Miguel Messmacher, the deputy minister for revenue, a ministry official familiar with the matter said. Meade was in charge of the finance ministry until stepping down to seek the presidential candidacy for the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) in late November. Rubio said on Twitter she would act as Meade’s office coordinator. Separately, the finance ministry confirmed that treasurer Irene Espinosa had been proposed by President Enrique Pena Nieto as the next board-member of the central bank. Espinosa, a former university teacher who has also worked at the Inter-American Development Bank, would be the first woman to sit on the Banco de Mexico board. Espinosa would fill the vacancy left by newly installed Banco de Mexico Governor Alejandro Diaz de Leon, a former deputy governor who took over the top job at the bank late last year, replacing Agustin Carstens. The five-person central bank board is responsible for setting interest rates. CAMPAIGN STRUGGLES The campaign of the 48-year-old Meade has struggled to gain traction and escape the taint of corruption surrounding the PRI and Mexico’s unpopular president, Enrique Pena Nieto. A poll this week showed Meade losing ground to leftist front-runner Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, leaving him stuck in third place in the race to win the July election. Also joining the finance ministry is Juan Pablo Newman, who will leave his role as chief financial officer at state oil company Pemex to head the ministry’s public credit unit, according to three people familiar with the matter. The changes require Senate approval, which is likely to be a formality. Congress is in recess, but the legislature’s permanent commission can also ratify the appointments. The finance ministry is now run by former Pemex chief executive officer Jose Antonio Gonzalez Anaya. Reporting by Dave Graham; Editing by Phil Berlowitz and Daniel Wallis" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 7:40 AM / Updated 21 minutes ago Puma CEO says has no plans to take on other brands Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BERLIN (Reuters) - Puma ( PUMG.DE ) has no plans to take on other brands such as Kering’s ( PRTP.PA ) Volcom for the moment, the German sports brand’s chief executive said on Friday. FILE PHOTO: The logo of German sports goods firm Puma is seen at the entrance of one of its stores in Vienna, Austria, March 18, 2016. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo “Having more brands in the portfolio is not the focus at the moment,” Bjorn Gulden told journalists during a conference call after French conglomerate Kering announced late on Thursday that it planned to spin off Puma to its shareholders. Gulden said there were very few operational synergies with Kering. “We are already very independent,” he said, adding that Kering had granted Puma a lot of freedom. Reporting by Emma Thomasson; Writing by Maria Sheahan" + }, + { + "text": "KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - China’s Li Haotong held his nerve to birdie his final hole and give hosts Asia a slender lead over champions Europe on the opening day of the 2018 EurAsia Cup in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. Paired with Malaysian Nicholas Fung, the 22-year-old Li won the hole to halve the day’s final fourball match against Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger as Asia opened up a 3 1/2-2 1/2 lead. In the last edition of the event, a Darren Clarke-captained European team romped to an 18 1/2-5 1/2 blowout win over their Asian counterparts in the second edition of the biennial matchplay contest in 2016. However, Thomas Bjorn’s side were far less convincing this time around, with Europe finding themselves down in four matches and all-square in the other two as Asia dominated the early stages of the first day at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club. Europe did manage to fight back as the rounds progressed with the English pairing of Tommy Fleetwood and Paul Casey putting the team on the board with a 4 and 3 victory over Korean An Byeong-un and Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat in the first match. ”It feels great. I love matchplay, especially when you have a partner like Tommy Fleetwood,“ said Casey, who was one of Bjorn’s two wildcard selections. ”What a blast, what great golf we played, but the Asians threw a lot at us, as well. “I‘m ecstatic to get this going and get a point because it’s going to be a tough week.” Asia rallied to take the lead with Yuta Ikeda and Gavin Green beating Thomas Pieters and Matthew Fitzpatrick 2 and 1, before Poom Saksansin and Kang Sung-hoon defeated Henrik Stenson and Alex Levy 5 and 4. Another English pairing, Ross Fisher and Tyrrell Hatton, then tied the scores with a 5 and 4 win over Indian duo of Anirban Lahiri and S.S.P Chawrasia. However, Hideto Tanihara and the 18-year-old Phachara Khongwatmai put Asia back in front with a 2-up victory over Alex Noren and Paul Dunne, leaving it to Cabrera-Bello and Wiesberger to ensure the champions headed into the weekend on level terms. Cabrera-Bello’s immaculate putting saw the pair lead by one at the 18th tee but they failed to match Asia’s birdie and had to settle for a half point. Bjorn will also captain Europe in the Ryder Cup, which takes place in France this September, with the hosts looking to regain the trophy they lost to the United States at Hazeltine in 2016. Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—When President Donald Trump makes his first State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, it will offer an opportunity to build momentum behind his second-year agenda on the heels of a government shutdown and ahead of a contentious immigration policy fight. Even for Mr. Trump, who has ready access to millions of Twitter followers, the presidential speech is an extraordinary megaphone, reaching a national TV audience and foreign capitals. ... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15 (Reuters) - Azimut Holding Spa: * AZIMUT SAYS SHAREHOLDERS DISCUSSING POSSIBLE STRENGTHENING OF STAKE IN COMPANY * AZIMUT SAYS INVESTORS IN SHAREHOLDER PACT COULD BUY UP TO 10 PERCENT OF AZIMUT HOLDING * AZIMUT SHARES EXTEND GAINS UP 2 PERCENT * AZIMUT SAYS INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR COULD TAKE PART IN STAKEBUILDING BUT PLANNING TO STAY BELOW MANDATORY BID THRESHOLD Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - China said on Thursday protectionist sentiment is rising in the United States and criticized Washington for blocking a high-profile Chinese takeover of a U.S. financial firm on security grounds. Ant Financial’s planned $1.2 billion purchase of transfer firm MoneyGram International Inc ( MGI.O ) collapsed last week after a U.S. government panel rejected the deal over national security concerns. It was the most high-profile Chinese deal to be torpedoed since Donald Trump was elected U.S. president a year ago on promises to put America first and protect U.S. jobs from foreign competitors. “We’ve noticed recently that protectionist voices have been rising in the U.S.,” Ministry of Commerce spokesman Gao Feng said in a briefing. China was particularly worried about countries using national security concerns as a way to block foreign investment, he added. Ant Financial is owned by Chinese internet conglomerate Alibaba Group Holding Ltd ( BABA.N ). In another blow to the global ambitions of Chinese firms, Huawei Technologies Co’s HWT.UL planned deal with U.S. carrier AT&T Inc ( T.N ) to sell its smartphones in the United States also fell apart because of security concerns, people with knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday. The failed deals come as the U.S. considers several new tariff moves in the coming weeks, including broad restrictions on steel and aluminum imports and punitive actions against China arising from an investigation into Beijing’s alleged theft of intellectual property. “(Trade) remains foremost in my mind as a risk for China because it’s something they can’t control,” said Michael Spencer, chief Asia Pacific economist for Deutsche Bank. “But my base case is that we will see more trade frictions this year than last, but that it’s not going to led to a significant decline in real exports from China.” An editorial in the official China Daily on Thursday blamed the termination of the Huawei-AT&T deal on political pressure instead of business considerations, and said this threatened the kind of win-win deals China sought. “This is not the first time U.S. politicians have stooped to mudslinging to prevent the entry of Chinese high-tech companies into the U.S. market on the pretext they pose national security threats,” it said. Washington’s criticism of China’s tightly controlled economy and restrictions on foreign investment rang hollow, it added. “Its blocking of deals involving Chinese companies in sectors where it has traditionally had an advantage shows its criticisms have more validity if directed at the U.S. market,” the editorial said. Reporting by Elias Glenn and Stella Qiu; Editing by Stephen Coates" + }, + { + "text": "SAO PAULO, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Brazilian petrochemical producer Braskem SA is in talks with banks to secure a $1 billion revolving credit facility for five years, a person familiar with the negotiations said on Wednesday. The new credit line would replace one for $750 million expiring in December, said the source, who requested anonymity because of not being authorized to speak publicly on the matter. (Reporting by Gabriela Mello Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - Zhejiang China Commodities City Group Co Ltd: * SAYS IT EXPECTS 2017 NET PROFIT TO RISE 35-65 PERCENT Y/Y FROM 1.06 BILLION YUAN ($167.26 million) YEAR AGO Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2DQPhEI Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3375 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17(Reuters) - Shanghai Shenhua Holdings Co Ltd * Says it plans to sell entire 20 percent stake and 50 percent stake owned by its wholly owned unit in two Liaoning-based firms respectively, for 11.4 million yuan in total Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/nUiHwU ; goo.gl/twmUCU Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "DOHA/DUBAI (Reuters) - Qatar has sent out a request for proposals to banks to arrange an international bond issue, which would be Qatar’s first appearance in the international debt markets since the beginning of a diplomatic crisis in the Gulf last year. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic and transport ties with Doha on June 5 last year, accusing it of supporting terrorism. Doha vehemently denies the charges. The government of Qatar issued its last international bond in 2016, raising $9 billion through the debt sale. There is no clarity on the size of the upcoming, potential bond sale, but banking sources say Qatar will likely raise a similar amount. A spokesman for the government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Governments in the Gulf have been borrowing huge amounts of money internationally over the past few years to refill their coffers, hit by a slump in oil prices. Qatar’s request for proposal (RFP) comes just after Saudi Arabia’s RFP, sent out to banks last week, for the refinancing of an outstanding $10 billion syndicated loan and for further U.S. dollar-denominated bond sales. Reporting by Hadeel Al Sayegh and Tom Arnold; Writing by Davide Barbuscia; Editing by Sam Holmes" + }, + { + "text": "Exclusive: Trump says Russia helping N. Korea evade sanctions Wednesday, January 17, 2018 - 01:45 U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday Russia is helping North Korea get supplies in violation of international sanctions and that Pyongyang is getting “closer every day” to being able to deliver a long-range missile to the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday Russia is helping North Korea get supplies in violation of international sanctions and that Pyongyang is getting “closer every day” to being able to deliver a long-range missile to the United States. //reut.rs/2DnShby" + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL—South Korean regulators said they have started on-site inspections of the country’s large commercial banks, marking a change of tack in authorities’ efforts to clamp down on cryptocurrency speculation in one of Asia’s hottest bitcoin markets. South Korea’s lead securities regulator said Monday that it is inspecting six of the country’s biggest financial institutions to monitor their compliance with anti-money-laundering obligations related to cryptocurrency trading. ... RELATED VIDEO Bitcoin vs. Regulators: Who Will Win? As bitcoin has emerged from the underground world of nerds and criminals to become a mainstream investment, the risk of hacks and scandals has also blossomed. What's a government to do? The WSJ's Steven Russolillo travels the world (sort of) to see how regulators are responding to the remarkable rise of cryptocurrencies. Video: Sharon Shi and Crystal Tai" + }, + { + "text": "January 7, 2018 / 1:59 PM / Updated 8 hours ago Fresenius CFO backs acquisition course - Boersen-Zeitung Reuters Staff 2 Min Read FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German healthcare group Fresenius ( FREG.DE ) will continue to look for acquisitions even if that leads to a temporary rise in debt, Boersen-Zeitung quoted the company’s finance chief as saying. A Fresenius SE logo is pictured in Bad Homburg near Frankfurt, Germany February 22, 2017. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski Last year Fresenius bought U.S. generic drugmaker Akorn Inc ( AKRX.O ) for $4.8 billion, the biosimilars arm of Germany’s Merck KGaA for as much as 670 million euros ($806 mln) and closed a 5.8 billion euro acquisition of Spanish hospital chain Quironsalud. Rachel Empey, finance chief since last August, was asked in an interview with Boersen-Zeitung whether she unhesitatingly backed the proactive acquisition strategy. “By all means,” she said. “Fresenius generates a very high and above all stable free cash flow and is able to scale back the debt burden after acquisitions quickly,” Empey, a British national who joined Fresenius in August from Telefonica Deutschland 02Dn.DE, said in the interview published on Saturday. Reporting by Kathrin Jones; Writing by Andreas Cremer; Editing by Susan Fenton" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 8:02 AM / Updated 20 minutes ago Syrian Kurdish PYD urges action against Turkish bombing of Afrin region Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria’s main Kurdish party appealed on Wednesday to world powers to stop Turkish bombardment of the Afrin region in northern Syria. Ankara has warned in recent days of an imminent military operation in Afrin, one of three autonomous cantons under the control of Kurdish forces and their allies. “Afrin will not be alone,” the PYD said in a statement, vowing that all of northern and eastern Syria would stand with it. Since the conflict began in 2011, the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia and its allies have set up autonomous cantons in the north of the country. Their sphere of influence expanded after they joined forces with the United States to fight Islamic State - although Washington opposes their autonomy plans. “We call on the international community...to take responsibility towards more than a million people living in Afrin,” the PYD said. The party - the YPG’s political affiliate - urged the United Nations to take immediate action to turn Kurdish-led parts of northern and eastern Syria into a safe zone. “The Turkish regime...has become a threat to any solution to the Syrian crisis,” it added. The YPG and Turkish forces inside Syria have accused each other of shelling around the Afrin region in recent days. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which has fought an insurgency in southeast Turkey since 1984. The U.S.-led coalition said this week that it is building a new 30,000-strong border force with its Syrian militia allies in the north, a plan that has infuriated NATO ally Ankara. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan pledged to crush the new force before it came into existence. Reporting by Ellen Francis; Editing by Toby Chopra and Hugh Lawson" + }, + { + "text": "CNBC | Getty Images Leslie Moonves, Chairman and CEO of CBS Corporation (l) and Shari Redstone Vice Chairperson of Viacom. Viacom Inc Chief Executive Bob Bakish and CBS Corp CEO Leslie Moonves have had an exploratory discussion about merging the two companies, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters on Thursday. The discussion signifies a potential first step toward a recombination of CBS and Viacom. The boards of both companies have regularly scheduled meetings in the next couple of weeks and are expected to discuss the potential merger, the sources said. The discussion, which took place earlier this month, was preliminary and no decisions have been made, but they signal that Moonves, who has had reservations about a potential deal between the companies, could be more open to the idea. The sources wished to remain anonymous because they are not permitted to speak to the media. Viacom and CBS declined to comment. A spokeswoman for Shari Redstone did not immediately return calls." + }, + { + "text": "(Adds details, updates prices to close) * TSX ends down 42.23 points, or 0.26 percent, at 16,284.47 * Half of the TSX’s 10 main groups move lower * Energy stocks down 1.4 pct, materials group off 1.2 pct TORONTO, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Canada’s main stock index slipped on Thursday, weighed by gold miners and energy stocks including Husky Energy Inc and Barrick Gold Corp , which were both hit by sanctions from regulators, while banks moved higher. * The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index ended down 42.23 points, or 0.26 percent, at 16,284.47. Half of the index’s 10 main groups were in positive territory, although decliners were slightly outnumbering advancers. * Husky fell 6.8 percent to C$17.77 after it said on Wednesday evening that Canadian regulators had ordered it to halt operations at its SeaRose floating production vessel after an iceberg came too close to the facility in March 2017. At least two brokerages lowered their ratings on the stock following the news. * The broader energy group retreated 1.4 percent, although oil prices held steady. * Barrick fell 2.5 percent to C$17.71 after environmental regulators ordered the world’s largest gold producer to close the Chilean side of its stalled Pascua-Lama mining project but reduced a 2013 fine for violations to $11.5 million. * The materials group, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, lost 1.2 percent. * Oceanagold Corp rose 4.4 percent to C$3.32 after saying it produced a record amount of gold in 2017, while Hudbay Minerals Inc fell 6.2 percent to C$11.73 after it released its 2018 production and cost guidance. * The financials group gained 0.1 percent, boosted by banks, after the Bank of Canada raised interest rates on Wednesday. Royal Bank of Canada gained 0.6 percent to C$106.91 and Toronto-Dominion Bank was up 0.4 percent at C$73.76. (Reporting by Alastair Sharp; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli and Rosalba O‘Brien)" + }, + { + "text": "SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China will seek new sources of residential land supply and the government will gradually withdraw from being the sole provider of these plots, the state news agency Xinhua reported. Authorities will work on plans to let non-real estate companies build residential housing on land for which they have use rights, it Quote: d Minister of Land and Resources Jiang Daming as saying at a conference. The government will also allow rental housing on rural land to increase rental options, Jiang said. Xinhua did not give further details. In August, the land ministry said China would launch pilot programs in 13 major cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, to build rental housing projects in rural areas as part of efforts to ease a housing supply shortage. Chinese land is divided into urban and rural land regimes, granting ownership rights over urban land to the state while rural land is owned collectively and cannot be bought and sold freely. The move to boost rental supply comes as the government is trying to limit bubbles in its hottest markets where an increasing number of people are being priced out, raising concerns for policymakers who prize stability. Reporting by John Ruwitch; Editing by Shri Navaratnam" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 8:33 AM / in 2 hours Rhine in Germany reopens to river shipping as water level falls Reuters Staff 1 Min Read HAMBURG (Reuters) - The river Rhine in Germany was reopened to shipping on Wednesday after a fall in water levels, the German inland navigation authority said. The river was closed to inland shipping at the beginning of the week after rain and melting snow raised water levels. High water means vessels do not have enough space to sail under bridges, but drier weather means water levels have dropped enough to enable navigation to resume, an official said. The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities including minerals, coal and oil products such as heating oil, grains and animal feed. Reporting by Michael Hogan; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "supported@ * U.S. crude, gasoline inventories climb -API * Traders take put options to sell crude * But production cuts, strong economy prevent bigger falls (Adds Novak price comment, updates prices) SINGAPORE, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Wednesday, weighed by data showing an increase in U.S. crude oil and gasoline inventories. Brent crude futures were at $69.79 a barrel at 0749 GMT, down 17 cents from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $64.45 a barrel, down 2 cents from their last settlement. Prices were pressured by U.S. data showing an increase in crude and gasoline stocks. The American Petroleum Institute said on Tuesday crude inventories rose by 4.8 million barrels in the week to Jan. 19 to 416.2 million, after nine weeks of drawdowns. Gasoline stocks climbed by 4.1 million barrels, while refinery crude runs fell by 420,000 barrels per day. In Asia, oversupply of gasoline has pulled down refinery profits their lowest level since 2015. Amid these indicators, traders are taking measures to protect themselves from a potential fall in crude prices. Trading data shows open interest for Brent put options to sell at $70, $69 and $68 per barrel has surged since the middle of last week on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). \"The options market shows increased demand for downside protection. This makes sense considering how one-sided (to the upside) the speculative bets have become,\" said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank. There is now far more demand for options to sell Brent than there is for call options, which are the right to buy Brent at a certain price. Sukrit Vijayakar energy consultancy Trifecta said the rising options to sell were a result of huge amounts of long positions that have been built up over the past months of rising prices. \"We still have...nine long barrels for every short barrel, so a reversal should be interesting to watch,\" he said. STILL STRONG SUPPORT Despite this, traders said oil would unlikely tumble far as markets remain supported by strong economic growth and by supply restrictions led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday that an average Brent price of around $60 was a reasonable forecast for this year, Interfax news agency reported. In the latest sign of healthy economic growth, Japanese manufacturing activity expanded at the fastest pace in almost four years in January, a survey showed on Wednesday. Economic growth is translating into oil demand growth and comes at a time that OPEC and Russia lead production cuts aimed at tightening the market. The deal to withhold output started in January last year and is currently set to last through 2018. Stephen Innes, head of trading for Asia-Pacific at futures brokerage Oanda in Singapore said a \"beaming economic forecast along with stout compliance from OPEC (to withhold production) is providing convincing support.\" (Reporting by Henning Gloystein; Editing by Joseph Radford)" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 7:24 AM / Updated an hour ago UK house prices grow more slowly in 2017, fall in London - Nationwide Reuters Staff 2 British house prices grew last year at their slowest pace since 2012 and in London they fell for the first time in a full year since 2009, mortgage lender Nationwide said on Thursday. Terraced houses are seen in Primrose Hill, London, Britain September 24, 2017. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh Nationwide said it expected growth in British house prices to slow further to just 1 percent in 2018. Britain’s housing market has weakened since the country voted in 2016 to leave the European Union. A fall in the value of the pound after the Brexit referendum pushed up inflation and added to pressure on the finances of many households. Nationwide said British house prices rose by 2.6 percent in the 12 months to December, slower than growth of 4.5 percent in 2016 but stronger than a median forecast of a 2.0 percent rise in a Reuters poll of economists. In monthly terms, prices also rose more strongly than expected, up 0.6 percent from November and the biggest increase since June last year. In London, prices fell by 0.5 percent in 2017 and the capital was the weakest region across Britain for the first time since 2004, Nationwide said. Writing by William Schomberg; editing by John Stonestreet" + }, + { + "text": "CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. Healthstat, Inc., one of the country's most innovative workplace health promotion and wellness providers, has hired John Dawson, FSA, MAAA as Senior Vice President and Chief Actuary. Prior to joining Healthstat, John Dawson served as a Health and Benefits Consultant and Actuary for over 20 years with Willis Towers Watson. In this new role of Chief Actuary for Healthstat, John will create models to measure the financial impact of Healthstat's program on patient lives and clients' overall healthcare costs. \"I look forward to focusing all my attention on understanding and maximizing the value that Healthstat delivers through its Employer-Sponsored Onsite Clinics,\" says John. \"Healthstat has a unique approach to health promotion and behavioral change. Its embedded systems create new models of impact - for the employer and patient. Professionally, I have seen the Healthstat method at work, and have been impressed with its success. Personally, I am passionate about using my skills and my expertise to do good in the world. I see Healthstat's goals and objectives as being closely aligned with my own.\" \"Our goal is to change lives and discover how healthy a population can be,\" says Healthstat CEO Crockett Dale. \"Employers continue to be concerned about the rising cost of healthcare as well as employee productivity, retention, and well-being. In this environment, onsite clinics are more popular than ever as a means of delivering value-based care. In turn, it becomes more crucial than ever for employers to be able to define and measure the outcomes that will direct their onsite programs toward the best results. Only then can employers maximize the value of the resources they invest in employee health. Our clients trust us to guide them, and John's actuarial skills will help to validate their confidence. We are honored that John is joining us in pursuit of this critical objective.\" About Healthstat, Inc. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Healthstat, Inc. is a leading provider of employer sponsored onsite primary care, health-risk intervention, chronic care management and occupational medicine in employer facilities. Established in 2001, Healthstat currently manages and operates more than 300 health centers across the U.S. with a combined employee and dependent population of more than 300,000 people. Healthstat's nationally recognized, proprietary healthcare delivery model that centers around patient engagement and behavioral modification is considered the most successful solution for improving health and productivity and lowering healthcare costs for employers and their employees. Healthstat provides customized health and wellness solutions for any type of industry, including Manufacturing, Retail, Government, Distribution, University, and Not-For-Profit Human Services. For more information, visit www.healthstatinc.com . Press Contact Jennifer Maze 704.960.0317 [REDACTED] View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Healthstat Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Governments must help in fight against hacking – Microsoft President 12:42am IST - 03:25 In a wide-ranging interview with Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen Adler, Microsoft President Brad Smith discusses topics including how to combat hacking, U.S. immigration policy, and what to do now about the ‘Dreamers’. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript In a wide-ranging interview with Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen Adler, Microsoft President Brad Smith discusses topics including how to combat hacking, U.S. immigration policy, and what to do now about the ‘Dreamers’. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Tension in Rohingya camps as return plan is delayed 10:30am GMT - 01:17 Bangladesh has delayed the repatriation of Rohingya Muslim refugees to Myanmar. Officials say it's because the process of compiling and verifying the list of people to be sent back is incomplete. Bangladesh has delayed the repatriation of Rohingya Muslim refugees to Myanmar. Officials say it's because the process of compiling and verifying the list of people to be sent back is incomplete. //reut.rs/2n4IZpN" + }, + { + "text": "Bridge collapses in Colombia killing at least 9 6:26am EST - 01:05 At least nine construction workers have been killed in Chirajara, Colombia, after the partially-constructed bridge they were working on collapsed. At least nine construction workers have been killed in Chirajara, Colombia, after the partially-constructed bridge they were working on collapsed. //reut.rs/2B6LNIe" + }, + { + "text": "Denver has a plan for its glut of sparkling new, high-end rental apartments with amenities like gyms, roof decks and sometimes even pet spas: It will use them to house teachers, medical technicians and others who can’t afford the city’s soaring rents. Under a program to be unveiled later this month, the city, along with employers and charitable foundations, will pay the difference between what a lower-income resident can afford and the market rent of an apartment. ... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 7:12 PM / Updated 6 minutes ago Czech lower house adjourns session, delaying confidence vote until January 16 Reuters Staff 1 Min Read PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech lower house voted on Wednesday to adjourn a session due to hold a confidence vote on a minority government led by Prime Minister Andrej Babis until Jan. 16. Babis, a billionaire businessman and leader of the anti-establishment ANO party, was expected to lose the vote after other factions in parliament said they would not back the cabinet due to a police investigation of alleged subsidy fraud by Babis. He denies any wrongdoing. Reporting by Petra Vodstrcilova; Writing by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Hugh Lawson" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 12:04 PM / in 9 minutes UPDATE 1-Homebuilder D.R. Horton's profit, revenue beat on higher sales Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Adds details on earnings, estimates) Jan 31 (Reuters) - D.R. Horton Inc reported first-quarter profit and revenue on Wednesday above Wall Street estimates as the largest U.S. homebuilder sold more homes in a robust housing market. Orders, an indicator of future revenue for homebuilders, rose 16.4 percent to 10,753 homes in the quarter, a reflection of how job growth is powering demand despite high construction costs keeping prices up. The company said it expects fiscal 2018 gross margin to be around 20-21 percent, with some fluctuations in the quarters ahead, compared with its prior forecast of around 20 percent. D.R. Horton said it expects to sell between 50,500 and 52,500 homes in fiscal 2018 and reaffirmed its revenue forecast to be between $15.5 billion and $16.3 billion. On Tuesday, smaller rival PulteGroup Inc warned of decline in gross margin this year, citing higher land, labor and raw material costs. But, Pulte joined Lennar Corp in staying upbeat on housing demand despite climbing interest rates and changes in U.S. tax laws related to mortgage debts. D.R. Horton, which mainly sells single-family homes, said it sold 10,788 homes in the quarter, up from 9,404, a year earlier. Net income attributable to the company fell to $189.3 million, or 49 cents per share, in the quarter ended Dec. 31, from $206.9 million, or 55 cents per share, a year earlier. Excluding a one-time charge, the company earned 77 cents per share, well above the average analysts’ estimate of 49 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Revenue rose 14.8 percent to $3.33 billion, beating the estimate of $3.26 billion. Up to Tuesday’s close, the Fort Worth, Texas-based company’s shares had risen 58 percent this year. Reporting by Arunima Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur" + }, + { + "text": "PARIS (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council will hold talks about the situation in Syria on Monday, French Foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on his Twitter feed on Sunday. He added that France would press for humanitarian access. Le Drian said earlier on Sunday that France had called for an emergency meeting of the Security Council over Syria following a Turkish incursion into northern Syria’s Afrin province. He also condemned indiscriminate bombing by the Syrian regime in Idlib province and asked for immediate access for humanitarian aid to eastern Ghouta, where 400,000 citizens face a critical situation. Reporting by Marine Pennetier; Writing by Geert De Clercq; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg" + }, + { + "text": "Chinese logistics company ZTO Express said Tuesday the allegations by a U.S. pension fund that it exaggerated its profit margins have no merit. The company was sued by Birmingham Retirement and Relief System. The pension fund alleged that ZTO left out certain low-margin business segments from its financial statements in order to inflate overall profit margins to lure investors into its initial public offering in 2016. ZTO's $1.4 billion listing in the U.S. was the largest that year, according to Reuters. The company counts e-commerce giants Alibaba and JD.com as its customers. \"We don't think those allegations have any merits, we'll defend ourselves rigorously. We have engaged U.S. lawyers to help us, to protect the rights of the company,\" James Guo, ZTO's chief financial officer, told CNBC at the Morgan Stanley China Technology, Media and Telecomm Conference in Beijing. Despite the ongoing lawsuit, the company has continued to outpace the industry's average volume growth in China , Guo claimed without revealing numbers. He said, however, the company processed more than 100 million orders on Singles Day last year — among the highest volume handled by a courier in the country. Singles Day, started as a kind of anti-Valentine's day for singles, has become one of the largest shopping events in the world along with Black Friday and Cyber Monday." + }, + { + "text": "Republican Senator Hatch to retire, opening door for bid by Romney 10:02am IST - 01:13 U.S. Republican Senator Orrin Hatch said on Tuesday he will not seek re-election in November, opening the door to a potential Senate bid by Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential candidate and one of the party's harshest critics of President Donald Trump. Andy Sullivan reports. U.S. Republican Senator Orrin Hatch said on Tuesday he will not seek re-election in November, opening the door to a potential Senate bid by Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential candidate and one of the party's harshest critics of President Donald Trump. Andy Sullivan reports. //reut.rs/2Aa3feo" + }, + { + "text": "President Trump and his onetime chief strategist Steve Bannon are feuding over revelations from a new book in which Mr. Bannon is quoted as saying that a 2016 meeting in Trump Tower between Donald Trump Jr. and some Russian representatives was \"treasonous.\" WSJ's Gerald F. Seib explains the implications of the rift. Photo: Getty" + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German sportswear maker Adidas ( ADSGn.DE ) wants to increase its U.S. market share to around 15-20 percent from levels that are now “significantly lower”, its chief financial officer said. “In every market we have a share of at least 15 to 20 percent,” CFO Hans Ohlmeyer told the Boersen Zeitung in an interview published on Saturday. “Our medium-term goal in the United States is also to reach that level. Currently we are significantly lower,” he added. Market researchers estimate Adidas’ share of the U.S. market at about 10 percent, implying a goal to at least double it. Adidas has been taking market share in North America and China from its main competitor Nike ( NKE.N ), and hopes the launch of new team kits before this year’s soccer World Cup will revive its relatively weak sales in Europe. An Adidas logo is pictured on a shoe before the company annual general meeting in Fuerth near Nuremberg, Germany, May 11, 2017. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle Growth in the U.S. market has, however, “been too fast for our infrastructure”, Ohlmeyer said, adding that Adidas would build out its logistics capacity there this year to clear supply bottlenecks. Adidas expects to keep its Reebok brand, which has undergone a restructuring and is expected to return to growth in the United States this year, he said, although it is not yet making money. “The brand is far from the level that we are striving for,” said Ohlmeyer, who started the job last May. Adidas will also this year open a new warehouse facility in the German state of Lower Saxony to help scale up its e-commerce business, he said. Online sales rose by around half last year to 1.5 billion euros ($1.83 billion). ($1 = 0.8201 euros) Reporting by Douglas Busvine; editing by Clelia Oziel" + }, + { + "text": "While Americans have been promised a future of electric cars that can drive themselves, dealer showrooms are going back in time, as auto makers launch a slate of roomy off-roaders with nostalgia-inducing names. Ford’s Bronco, the bulky SUV, is returning to the market in 2020, ending a nearly quarter-century hiatus. It is part of a comeback parade for throwback-mobiles including the Chevrolet Blazer, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Land Rover Defender and Ford Ranger. Jeep is resurrecting the Wagoneer and the Scrambler, while Volkswagen... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Primark owner Associated British Foods maintained its full-year earnings guidance on Thursday, reporting quarterly revenue growth in all of its businesses apart from sugar. The firm said it still expected “progress” in adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings in its full 2017-18 year. AB Foods said group revenue for the 16 weeks to Jan. 6 rose 4 percent at constant currency rates and by 3 percent at actual rates. Primark sales were up 7 percent at constant currency rates. Reporting by James Davey; editing by Kate Holton" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 4:19 PM / in 3 hours Key Democrats urge social media companies to investigate Russia-linked accounts Patricia Zengerle 3 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senior U.S. congressional Democrats urged social media companies on Tuesday to investigate reported actions by automated Russia-linked accounts, in connection with a Republican memorandum that was said to be critical of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe of President Donald Trump’s ties with Russia. Senator Dianne Feinstein, a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Representative Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, wrote to Twitter Inc ( TWTR.N ) and Facebook Inc ( FB.O ), requesting an “in-depth forensic examination.” Republicans have been calling for the release of a classified memorandum commissioned by the House Intelligence committee’s Republican chairman, Devin Nunes, which they say shows anti-Trump bias at the Justice Department, backed by a social media campaign with the hashtag #ReleasetheMemo. Democrats have criticized the memo as a “misleading set of talking points.” Last week, the Alliance for Securing Democracy, a project of the nonpartisan German Marshall Fund think tank, said a network of Kremlin-controlled accounts was put into action to amplify the Republicans’ demand on social media. This prompted the letter from Feinstein and Schiff, whose committees - along with special counsel Mueller - are investigating whether Russia sought to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election and allegations of collusion between Trump’s campaign and Moscow. Moscow denies seeking to influence the election, and Trump denies any collusion. “If these reports are accurate, we are witnessing an ongoing attack by the Russian government through Kremlin-linked social media actors directly acting to intervene and influence our democratic process,” Feinstein and Schiff said in the letter to Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. “This should be disconcerting to all Americans, but especially your companies as, once again, it appears the vast majority of their efforts are concentrated on your platforms,” they said. The two lawmakers asked for a public report to Congress and the public by Jan. 26, and for immediate steps to expose and deactivate such accounts. Officials at Twitter and Facebook did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Aides to the Republican leaders of the Senate and House intelligence and Senate judiciary committees also did not immediately respond. Reporting by Patricia Zengerle, Editing by Bernadette Baum" + }, + { + "text": "7 Hours Ago | 01:17 President Donald Trump referred to Haiti and African nations as \"s---hole countries\" in a meeting with lawmakers, a Democratic aide briefed on the matter told NBC News. The Washington Post first reported the news, citing two people briefed on the meeting. The newspaper said that lawmakers had convened with the president in the Oval Office on Thursday to discuss a bipartisan immigration deal. When lawmakers brought up protections for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries, Trump asked, \"Why are we having all these people from s---hole countries come here?\" The president then said that the U.S. should let in more people from countries like Norway. Trump met with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Wednesday. On Monday, the Trump administration said that they would be ending the Temporary Protected Status designation for Salvadorans. It made a similar announcement for Haiti in November. TPS is a humanitarian program which allows citizens from other countries to temporarily remain in the U.S. This special designation is given to people from countries that are undergoing hardships like armed conflict or recovery from natural disasters. When reached for comment, the White House said in a statement that the president \"will only accept an immigration deal that adequately addresses the visa lottery system and chain migration – two programs that hurt our economy and allow terrorists into our country.\" The White House's statement did not deny that the president made those remarks. \"Certain Washington politicians choose to fight for foreign countries, but President Trump will always fight for the American people. The President will only accept an immigration deal that adequately addresses the visa lottery system and chain migration – two programs that hurt our economy and allow terrorists into our country. Like other nations that have merit-based immigration, President Trump is fighting for permanent solutions that make our country stronger by welcoming those who can contribute to our society, grow our economy and assimilate into our great nation. He will always reject temporary, weak and dangerous stopgap measures that threaten the lives of hardworking Americans, and undercut immigrants who seek a better life in the United States through a legal pathway.\" This is breaking news. Please check back for updates." + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 2:02 PM / Updated an hour ago Ancient Greek tragedy tells timeless story of Syrian flight Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BERLIN (Reuters) - A group of Syrian women are adapting the Euripides’ tragedy “Iphigenia”, using a a play set during an ancient war to bring Berlin audiences closer to the plight of women driven from their homeland by conflict. Baian Aljeratly attends a rehearsal for the Greek tragedy 'Iphigenia' with Syrian refugee women at Volksbuehne Theatre in Berlin, Germany January 12, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke The play, staged this month and next in Berlin’s historic Volksbuehne, is an adaptation of Euripides’ 2,500-year-old story of a princess sacrificed by her father, the Greek King Agamemnon, to placate an angry goddess. Nine Syrian young women living in Germany stood on the stage last Friday, telling their personal stories of escape and of their lives in a new country in this adaptation of a play set on the eve of Agamemnon’s 10-year war to capture the city of Troy. “The project, through its different episodes, intends to produce a document of the lives of Syrians in different phases(of the Syrian war), especially from the point of view of women,” said Omar Abusaada, the play’s director. Hebatullah Alabdou attends a rehearsal for the Greek tragedy 'Iphigenia' with Syrian refugee women at Volksbuehne Theatre in Berlin, Germany January 12, 2018. Picture taken January 12, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke It is the third part of an international theater project aimed at showing the lives of displaced Syrian women, inviting audiences to identify them as individuals rather than as refugees from a war-torn country. The first two episodes were performed in Jordan and Lebanon in 2013 and 2014. More than a million migrants, many of them fleeing conflict in the Middle East, have arrived in Germany since mid-2015, and around a third of them are girls and women. Slideshow (4 Images) The adaptation was first performed as stories in September in the echoing halls of the former Tempelhof airport, which now serves as one of Berlin biggest refugee camps. “(In the play) we start thinking of their stories not as those of refugees but as individuals who have their rich characters,” said Mohammad Al Attar, author of the adaptation. “(Women) who are similar to their German, French, Sudanese or Canadian fellows,” Al Attar said. Reporting By Riham Alkousaa, editing by Thomas Escritt/Jeremy Gaunt" + }, + { + "text": "ATHENS, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Greece’s state-owned subway operator, Attiko Metro, will finalise a short-list of four interested contractors in a tender to build a 1.45 billion euro ($1.80 billion) expansion project by March, its managing director said on Monday. The investors who expressed interest in the project last year are Greek contractor GEK Terna with France’s Vinci and Siemens; J&P Avax with Italy’s Ghella and France’s Alstom; Greek construction firm Aktor with Hitachi Rail Italy; Spain’s FCC with Archirodon and Mytilineos. Attiko Metro had been expected to complete a shortlist of potential contractors by the end of last year. The operator shortlisted all four contractors last month, but it will review the list by March after examining objections filed by all interested investors over whether some of their rivals met the criteria set in the tender, managing director Theodoros Papadopoulos told Reuters. Attiko Metro is now evaluating the objections, while investors also have the right to take their case to Greece’s top administrative court, the Council of State, Papadopoulos said. “Once we finalise who they (shorlisted investors) are, we will invite them to submit their financial and technical offers,” he said. “I hope that all these (shorlisting and invitation) will conclude in March”. Construction of the 13 km (8 miles) expansion - which will be co-financed by European funds and loans by the European Investment Bank - is expected to begin in 2019 and will be completed within eight years. $1 = 0.8077 euros Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou, editing by Louise Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 9:50 PM / in 5 minutes Tiger Woods starts slowly in PGA Tour comeback at Torrey Pines Andrew Both 3 Min Read LA JOLLA, California (Reuters) - Tiger Woods made a quiet start on his return to the PGA Tour on Thursday as a large but mainly subdued gallery followed his every shot in the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open. In his first official start since this time last year, Woods bogeyed the opening hole on the South course at Torrey Pines after hooking his drive into rough and finding the green with his second shot. He added a bogey at the par-four fifth after pulling another drive, this time into a bunker. But he hit a perfect drive at the par-five sixth, splitting the fairway and giving the old Woods walk, picking up his tee and striding off without even bothering to watch his ball. He knew it would end up in the middle of the fairways, and from there he found the putting surface with his second shot to set up his first birdie of the day. Woods remained one-under after nine holes, six strokes behind early leader Ted Potter on another delightful winter’s day on the layout next to the Pacific Ocean. A gallery of about two thousand people lined the first fairway to watch the 14-times major champion tee off at 10.40 AM local time (1840 GMT). Perhaps it was the relatively early hour, and the apparent sobriety of the gallery, but there were no “you the man” screams or anything of that nature, just a few calls here and there of “we love you Tiger”. Woods is using this week’s event as the start of what he hopes will be a successful build-up to the U.S. Masters in April, when he will try to end his decade-long major drought that stretches back to the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. The 42-year-old is on the comeback trail after undergoing apparently successful spinal fusion surgery on his lower back last April. He was in a relaxed mood on the fourth tee where he wandered over to the nearby cliff to watch a pod of dolphins playing in the ocean below. The fourth hole, which follows the cliff high above the crashing waves, also afforded a perfect opportunity for a couple of hang gliders to gatecrash the event for a bird’s eye view. Editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 10:34 PM / Updated 20 minutes ago Darabont files new lawsuit against AMC Networks over 'The Walking Dead' Jonathan Stempel 3 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - Frank Darabont, a key creator behind “The Walking Dead,” on Thursday filed a second lawsuit against AMC Networks Inc, claiming to have been deprived of tens of millions of dollars of additional profit from the hit cable TV series. The complaint by Darabont and Creative Artists Agency, which represents him, deepens a legal battle that began with a December 2013 lawsuit, in which they now claim to have been deprived of more than $280 million of profit over the show’s first seven seasons. AMC’s lawyer Orin Snyder in a statement accused the plaintiffs of seeking an “unjustified windfall,” and said his Manhattan-based client is confident it will prevail in court. “At the heart of this lawsuit - and all the litigation related to ‘The Walking Dead’ - is the greed of CAA,” Snyder said. “AMC has been an honest steward of the series and has paid all of its creative partners handsomely and appropriately.” Darabont also directed movies including “The Shawshank Redemption” and “The Green Mile.” He had helped develop “The Walking Dead,” a show about a zombie apocalypse, but was fired after the first season, which began in 2011. In Thursday’s complaint, which seeks at least $10 million, Darabont and CAA accused AMC of engaging in “shady accounting practices” they discovered after a recent audit of the first three years of “The Walking Dead.” They said the audit revealed alleged problems such as AMC having reported just 20 percent of revenue it received from Apple Inc for iTunes sales of “The Walking Dead,” and overcharged for distribution agreements in international and home video markets. Darabont and CAA also said AMC withheld “key terms” about a more generous fee agreement it had given Robert Kirkman, who created the comic book that “The Walking Dead” was adapted from. The lawsuit was filed with the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, where the parties are awaiting a decision from State Supreme Court Justice Eileen Bransten on the merits of the 2013 lawsuit. The cases are Darabont et al v AMC Network Entertainment LLC et al, New York State Supreme Court, New York County, Nos. 650251/2018 and 654328/2013. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Susan Thomas" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 12:02 AM / in 6 minutes Google aims to get 'diverse perspectives' into search results Paresh Dave 3 Min Read SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc’s Google will put more of a premium on “diverse perspectives” in its search results, saying in a blog post on Tuesday that answers highlighted at the top of result pages would soon display multiple viewpoints on topics for the first time ever. The move comes as internet companies face increasing political pressure to rid their services of misleading or fake news, extremist content and hoaxes. Google said it was also is considering new labeling so its users could see when a featured answer is an imperfect match based on a proximate question. Other changes announced by Google last year were aimed at helping stem conspiracy theories and offensive information from making it into the highlighted results, which Google calls “featured snippets.” Google typically plucks snippets from third-party websites and shows them in a large box before the traditional list of links in search results. Snippets are relied on by Google’s virtual assistant to read out answers to searches conducted through smart speakers such as the Google Home. The company introduced featured snippets four years ago to get people to desired information faster. But the feature has drawn scrutiny for highlighting inaccurate answers, with mishaps last year including snippets that said women were evil and that former U.S. President Barack Obama was planning a coup. The latest changes address queries such as “are reptiles good pets,” Danny Sullivan, Google’s public liaison for search, wrote in the blog post. Google tries to answer with information “strongly aligned” with the search so a webpage contending reptiles are nice pets would likely be shown, Sullivan said. But users ultimately want to know how reptiles rate as pets one way or the other. The featured snippet for “are reptiles bad pets” would be valuable too even if it contradicts the first snippet, he said. If Google succeeds in delivering multiple viewpoints in one answer for other queries, it could help lead users away from potentially skewed results when looking up topics such as “is the Earth flat” and “are vaccines dangerous.” ”There are often legitimate diverse perspectives offered by publishers, and we want to provide users visibility and access into those perspectives from multiple sources,” Matthew Gray, Google’s software engineer overseeing featured snippets, was quoted in the blog post as saying. The display for multiple featured snippets and how they would be presented over voice search has not been determined, Google said. (Reporting by Paresh Dave; Editing by Tom Brown)" + }, + { + "text": "Beauty lifts P&G's sales 9:47pm IST - 00:53 Strong demand for Olay skincare products and premium SK-II cosmetics boosted Procter & Gamble's sales in the latest quarter. Fred Katayama reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Strong demand for Olay skincare products and premium SK-II cosmetics boosted Procter & Gamble's sales in the latest quarter. Fred Katayama reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "U.S. government debt yields rose Wednesday ahead of key economic data. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.658 percent at 11:21 a.m. ET, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was higher at 2.945 percent. Bond yields move inversely to prices. Symbol Yield Change %Change US 3-MO --- US 1-YR --- US 2-YR --- US 5-YR --- US 10-YR --- US 30-YR --- Existing homes sales continued their downward slide in December as the supply of houses on the market dropped to a record low, according to the latest housing data. Sales fell 3.6 percent in December vs. a 1.5 percent fall expected. Over the weekend, the U.S. government shut down after a bill that would have kept it funded was voted down in the Senate. This marked the first U.S. government shutdown since 2013 . Shutdown concerns lingered on Wall Street on Monday ; however, by the end of trade, major indexes hit all-time highs after it emerged the Senate had enough votes to stop the shutdown. They continued to post strong gains during Tuesday's session. However, concerns over trade weighed on sentiment overseas, after President Donald Trump approved tariffs on solar cells and washing machines imported to the U.S. on Tuesday. South Korea said it would bring the matter to the World Trade Organization. Vote Vote to see results Total Votes: Not a Scientific Survey. Results may not total 100% due to rounding. The U.S. Treasury is set to auction $34 billion in five-year notes. Investors will be looking out for key headlines from the World Economic Forum (WEF) should any industry or national leaders comment on global growth or the state of the U.S. economy. The European Central Bank will be delivering its latest monetary policy decisions Thursday." + }, + { + "text": "January 2, 2018 / 5:14 PM / Updated 19 minutes ago Exclusive - Liberian President-elect Weah tempers expectations, plans agriculture push Edward McAllister 4 Min Read MONROVIA (Reuters) - Liberian President-elect George Weah on Tuesday set modest goals for his six-year term, calling for Liberia to start exporting crops and repairing decrepit infrastructure, in his first interview since winning election last week. President-elect George Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) speaks during an interview with REUTERS at his residence in Monrovia, Liberia, January 2, 2018. REUTERS/Thierry Gouegnon Weah rode a wave of youth support to capture more than 60 percent of the vote in last Tuesday’s run-off, but he will need to manage expectations as he attempts to revive one of Africa’s worst-performing economies. Later this month, he will replace President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female head of state and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, in Liberia’s first democratic transfer of power since 1944. Seated outside his unfinished new house on a quiet dirt backstreet near the capital Monrovia, where a concrete sign announces, “Friends of Weah say welcome”, the 51-year-old ex-soccer star began to tentatively fill in some of the gaps in his vague campaign promises. “I want for us to be self-sustained so we can export,” he said, appearing at ease in a dark blue dress shirt and gold watch. “The government has a responsibility to have agricultural programmes so people are able to grow their own food.” “Ghana exports, our neighbouring countries export - we have the capacity to export,” he continued. “They export and we can do the same.” Liberia spent years recovering from civil wars from 1989-2003 that killed hundreds of thousands of people and then was hit more recently by low prices for its chief exports, iron ore and rubber, and an Ebola outbreak from 2014-16. INFRASTRUCTURE A PRIORITY Slideshow (2 Images) More than 60 percent of Liberians depend on agriculture for their livelihood and multinationals like Malaysia-based Sime Darby ( SIME.KL ) have invested heavily in palm oil plantations. But the sector has languished due to low productivity, forcing Liberia to import more than 80 percent of its staple foods. Weah has also made repairing Liberia’s hollowed-out infrastructure a priority. He grew up in Monrovia’s Clara Town slum and can look out on the derelict lots and gutted streets from the upstairs balcony where he spoke to Reuters. “The roads for connectivity are vital. We have partners and we have revenue that we will make sure will come in to build our roads,” he said. Weah, who starred for top European clubs such as AC Milan and Paris Saint Germain in the 1990s, has parlayed his rags-to-riches biography into political success but faces criticism that he lacks the experience and knowledge for the job. He has in turn promised to surround himself with first-rate advisers and appealed to Liberians living overseas to return home. “We will have economists who will put us on track. They will look at what is in the coffers and then work out how to move forward,” he said. In the days since he became president-elect, security guards in sharp suits and ties have appeared outside the house and a new watch tower rises above 10-foot walls reinforced with barbed wire. But Weah insisted that his new-found status would not go to his head. “I don’t want my title to define my character,” he said as he walked the property, exchanging jokes with the staff. “I don’t think as a president I will change.” Writing by Aaron Ross, Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "January 14, 2018 / 10:39 AM / Updated 21 minutes ago HNA's Tianjin Tianhai says reports that firm plans to sell Ingram Micro are false Reuters Staff 1 Min Read SHANGHAI, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Tianjin Tianhai Investment Co Ltd, a unit of Chinese aviation and shipping conglomerate HNA Group, said on Sunday that media reports that the firm planned to sell Ingram Micro were false. The firm said the company was not involved in a situation as described by Chinese media reports, which said Tianjin Tianhai was looking to sell its U.S. electronics distributor subsidiary, Ingram Micro Inc, to Synnex Corp. “Ingram Micro is an important, strategic investment project to the company and is a key cornerstone and asset to the company’s transformation and development,” it said in a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange. It said that Ingram Micro’s operating income in the third quarter grew 10.79 percent year-on-year and net profits rose 6.14 percent over the same period. Tianjin Tianhai bought Ingram Micro last year for about $6 billion. The company on Friday halted share trading and said that it planned to disclose a “major plan”. Reporting by Brenda Goh, editing by Louise Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 2:02 PM / Updated 7 hours ago Airbus in talks to sell at least 100 jets to China - sources Reuters Staff 2 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - Airbus ( AIR.PA ) is in talks to sell 100 or more jetliners to China during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Beijing next week, people familiar with the negotiations said. FILE PHOTO - The logo of Airbus Group is seen on the company's headquarters building in Toulouse, Southwestern France, April 18, 2017. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau Macron plans to visit on January 8-10, accompanied by 50 company executives including planemaking officials from Airbus. The value of a deal for around 100 aircraft would be over $10 billion (£7.37 billion) at list prices, but could rise sharply depending on the breakdown between single-aisle and wide-body jets. The total number of aircraft has yet to be agreed and has historically depended on last-minute commercial negotiations that coincide with such diplomatic visits. China’s central purchasing agency, China Aviation Supplies Holding Company, did not respond to a request for comment. A spokeswoman for Airbus in China said: “Discussions with customers are always going on, but we do not comment on speculation.” In November, Boeing ( BA.N ) agreed to sell 300 planes worth $37 billion at list prices to China during a state visit by U.S. President Donald Trump. Reporting by Tim Hepher, Brenda Goh, Michel Rose; Editing by Mathieu Rosemain" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 23 (Reuters) - Jiangsu Yuyue Medical Equipment & Supply Co Ltd: * SAYS IT SIGNS LETTER OF INTENT TO BUY 38.4 PERCENT STAKE IN PHARMA TECHNOLOGY RELATED FIRM FOR UP TO 550 MILLION YUAN ($85.95 million) Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2rusd9f Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3990 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina’s corn crop will suffer yield losses due to drought this year and the estimated planting area may drop further because dry weather in the northern part of the country has blocked late-season planting, a top Agriculture Ministry official said. Regarding the country’s main cash crop, soybeans, no more planting area losses are expected for the 2017/18 season and the size of the harvest hinges on February rains, which will be crucial after three consecutive months of near constant sun, ministry Chief of Staff Santiago del Solar said in an interview. The government last week trimmed its 2017/18 soy planting area estimate to 16.75 million hectares - which would be a 10-year low as growers pile into corn - from its previous 16.8 million hectare forecast. Forecasted corn area was reduced to 8.7 million hectares from 8.8 million hectares. Of that 8.7 million hectares, 2.2 million is non-commercial corn that will feed livestock without ever leaving the farm. “The drought had an impact on early-planted corn, particularly during the silking stage around Christmas time,” del Solar said. “When you travel around you can see that. Late planted corn may get some rains that could still help.” Elaborating further on the corn area, del Solar said: “Maybe it’s going to be a little less” than the most recent 8.7 million hectare estimate. Argentina is the world’s No. 3 exporter of both corn and soybeans, and the No. 1 supplier of soymeal livestock feed. U.S. soybean futures climbed for the 10th time in 12 sessions on Tuesday while corn scaled to the highest level in more than five months amid concerns that the weather in South America could hamper production of the crops in Brazil and Argentina. Drought-hit Argentina received only scattered rain over the weekend, mostly in northern and central portions of the country, meteorologists said. They expect most crop areas to turn drier and warmer than normal this week. “Soy yields depend on how much rain we get in February, but the rain has to start now. It’s really critical,” del Solar said. “But we can see that over the next three or four days it’s not going to rain,” he added, gesturing toward the pristine blue skies outside the window of his Buenos Aires office. Although sunny, temperatures on the Pampas grains belt have not been excessively high. “It was not very hot over the last week, that helps a bit to mitigate the effect,” del Solar said. With some U.S. trade agreements in doubt, del Solar said Argentina will be on the outlook for new export markets that could be left without U.S. farm products. “We don’t know exactly what’s going on with the trade agreements of the United States, but we will be there with great products at great prices offered to the countries that will need to buy from us,” del Solar said. “We are opening our economy.” President Mauricio Macri was elected in late 2015 on a platform of ditching trade and currency controls and reducing grains export taxes that had weighed on the farm sector during the administration of previous President Cristina Fernandez, who expanded the government’s role in Latin America’s No. 3 economy. Additional reporting by Karl Plume in Chicago; Editing by Tom Brown" + }, + { + "text": "After a long stretch of stock market tranquility, more investors are concluding that paying for hedges to protect against any sudden downturn is a waste of money. Howard Marella, founder of broker Icon Alternatives, is one. He had been a regular buyer of put options on individual stocks and indexes. These contracts are a form of insurance that pay out when stocks fall. Heading... RELATED VIDEO Dow Hits 25000: Here's Why It Matters The Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed 25000, marking the latest big-number milestone for the index. So why does it matter? WSJ Markets Reporter Akane Otani explains. Photo: Reuters" + }, + { + "text": "MANILA (Reuters) - Dozens of Chinese and Taiwanese nationals have been arrested in the Philippines on suspicion of extortion of money from people in China via a telecoms scam, police said on Saturday. Philippine police apprehended the suspects involved in voice phishing operations in two separate raids, one in San Vicente town in the northern province of Ilocos Sur and another in Las Pinas in the Philippine capital Manila. Philippine TV station ABS-CBN reported that as many as 153 people were arrested, but Reuters could not immediately confirm this number. The suspects were posing as policemen, prosecutors or judges, and telling their victims they were involved in some irregularities. “The victims are told they are facing charges or being investigated, that their cellphone number is involved,” Senior Inspector Artemio Cinco Jr., spokesman of the Philippine National Police anti-cybercrime group, told ABS-CBN. The victims were asked to transfer money to the fraudsters’ bank accounts in order to avoid questioning, he said. ABS-CBN showed footages of the raid in Ilocos Sur where improvised phone booths were found, and the arrests. Similar operations have been uncovered in recent years in the Philippines and elsewhere, including Cambodia and Indonesia, leading to the arrest of thousands of suspects. Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz; editing by Clelia Oziel" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - The euro jumped more than half a percent higher on Friday as comments by senior U.S. officials this week advocating their support for a weak dollar reverberated through currency markets. Though U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments on Thursday that he wanted a “strong dollar” contradicted earlier comments made by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, investors suspect a protracted decline in the greenback may be likely. “While President Trump has since said that he expects the dollar to get ‘stronger and stronger’, it will be hard for Washington to put the ‘weak dollar’ genie back in the bottle,” Viraj Patel, an FX strategist at ING in London said in a note. In keeping with the rising theme of expecting more dollar weakness, UBS Wealth Management upgraded its six-month forecasts for the euro and sterling on Friday to $1.28 and $1.45 respectively. After Trump said on Thursday he ultimately wanted the dollar to be strong, the dollar pared losses against major currencies. But against a basket of six major currencies, the dollar last traded on Friday at 88.87, after hitting a three-year low of roughly around 88.43. The dollar index has slid more than three percent so far in January and is set for its biggest monthly drop since March 2016. Some market participants are also concerned that Trump may encourage more protectionist policies at a speech in Davos around 1300 GMT and at a State of the Union speech next week, policies that may ultimately end up pushing the dollar lower. Against the euro, the dollar’s weakness was the most apparent, with the single currency up half a percent at $1.2465 and not far away from a December 2014 high of above $1.25 hit on Thursday. With European Central Bank President Mario Draghi declining to lean against the recent euro rally and instead signalling that economic data pointed to “solid and broad” growth, investors were encouraged to push the currency higher. Draghi also warned that the surge in the euro was a source of uncertainty and said the ECB might have to review strategy if U.S. comments on the benefits of a weak dollar lead to a change in monetary conditions. “Draghi’s reluctance to offer any resistance to the euro means that euro/dollar is only set to rise more in the coming months,” said Manuel Oliveri, an FX strategist at Credit Agricole in London. Sterling rose 0.4 percent to $1.4191, but remained well below its peak on Thursday of $1.4346, which was the pound’s highest level since the Brexit vote in June 2016 as some investors turned bullish on the currency’s outlook. Against the yen, the dollar held steady at 109.42 yen, staying above a four-month low of 108.50 yen struck on Thursday. Asked about the comments on the dollar by Trump and Mnuchin, Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Friday that major economies have agreed to avoid targeting currencies for the purpose of trade competitiveness. Reporting by Saikat Chatterjee, Editing by William Maclean Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Car-industry profits depend as much on the type of cars sold as on their number. Even a high plateau for car sales could be an inhospitable place for investors. U.S. car sales remain strong by historical standards, but last year slipped 1.8%—the first annual decline since the 2008 recession. A major reason for this downturn, despite the strong economy, is increasingly stiff competition from the secondhand market, which is inundated with cars coming off three-year leases. The average gap between new and three-year-old vehicle... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 3:30 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago Tesco UK to cut net 800 jobs in cost-cutting drive Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s biggest retailer Tesco ( TSCO.L ) said on Monday it will cut a net 800 jobs from its UK business in its latest move to simplify operations and achieve targeted cost savings. The supermarket group, the UK’s largest private sector employer with a staff of over 310,000, said the role of “people manager” and “compliance manager” will be removed from large UK stores and fulfillment centers, as will the role of “customer experience manager” from 226 stores. These changes will affect 1,700 Tesco workers who will be offered alternative roles within the business where possible. Tesco said it would, however, create 900 new roles - “people partners”, “learning partners” and “colleague relations partners” - who will work across multiple sites, in distribution, stores and fulfillment. A new “colleague administration role” will also be created to support management teams in each large store and fulfillment center. Tesco set out a plan in October 2016 to reduce operating costs by 1.5 billion pounds ($2.1 billion) over three years through efficiencies in its distribution network and stores and from procurement savings. It needs the savings to help achieve its target of a group operating margin of 3.5 percent to 4.0 percent by the 2019-20 financial year, up from 2.3 percent in 2016-17. “We recognize these are difficult changes to make but they are necessary to ensure our business remains competitive and set up for the future,” said Matt Davies, Tesco’s UK and Ireland CEO. Last June, Tesco cut 1,200 jobs at its head office and 1,100 jobs in Cardiff, with the closure of a customer service center. In February it cut 1,700 deputy managers at “Express” convenience stores and in January last year cut a net 500 jobs from its distribution network. Shares in Tesco, which disappointed with a Christmas trading update earlier this month, were down 0.3 percent at 207.2 pence at 1511 GMT. ($1 = 0.7184 pounds)" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 5:56 PM / Updated an hour ago Nigeria's Buhari blames communal violence on population growth Reuters Staff 3 Min Read ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria’s president on Tuesday blamed clashes between Muslim cattle herders and Christian farmers on the clamour for land in the face of a population rapidly approaching 200 million people. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari addresses the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton At least 83 people have been killed in the communal violence since Dec. 31. Muhammadu Buhari, who called for calm, has already ordered a heightened police presence in the central state of Benue, where most of the killings took place in the last few weeks, including the relocation of the country’s police chief. Muslim herdsmen, mainly of the Fulani ethnic group, and Christian farmers often clash over the use of land in parts of central Nigeria, known as the Middle Belt. “President Buhari holds the view, as do many experts, that these conflicts are more often than not, as a result of major demographic changes in Nigeria,” said an emailed statement issued by the presidency. “While the land size has not changed and will not change, urban sprawl and development have simply reduced land area both for peasant farming and cattle grazing,” said the statement, urging people to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies. It said Nigeria’s population was around 63 million when the west African country gained independence in 1960, compared with a population now “estimated at close to 200 million”. The United Nations estimates that Africa’s most populous country is set to become the country with the world’s third largest population, behind India and China, by 2050. The presidency said a conference would be set up in an attempt to identify short and long term solutions to the problem of clashes between the semi-nomadic farmers and the mostly settled farmers. The Middle Belt region is a diverse region in which differing religious, ancestral and cultural differences have frequently kindled conflict in the last few decades. Despite the most recent outbreaks of violence, Nigerians, split roughly equally between Christians and Muslims from around 250 different ethnic groups, mostly live peacefully together. Reporting by Felix Onuah; Writing by Alexis Akwagyiram" + }, + { + "text": "Egypt's Sisi to run for second term in March election 3:35pm GMT - 01:17 Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Friday he will run for a second term in office in an election in March, which the former military commander is widely expected to win. Scarlett Cvitanovich reports ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Friday he will run for a second term in office in an election in March, which the former military commander is widely expected to win. Scarlett Cvitanovich reports Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Masonite International Corporation (NYSE: DOOR) today announced it will release fourth quarter and full year 2017 financial results after the market close on Wednesday, February 21, 2018. A conference call will be held at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Thursday, February 22, 2018, to discuss the 2017 fourth quarter and full year results. A live internet audio webcast of the conference call will be available on the Masonite website at Q4'17 Earnings Webcast . It is recommended that listeners log-on at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. Telephone access to the live call will be available at 877-407-8289 (in the U.S.) or by dialing 201-689-8341 (outside U.S.). A telephone replay will be available approximately one hour following completion of the call through March 8, 2018. To access the replay, please dial 877-660-6853 (in the U.S.) or 201-612-7415 (outside U.S.). Enter Conference ID #13675896. About Masonite Masonite International Corporation is a leading global designer and manufacturer of interior and exterior doors for the residential new construction; the residential repair, renovation and remodeling; and the non-residential building construction markets. Since 1925, Masonite has provided its customers with innovative products and superior service at compelling values. Additional information about Masonite can be found at www.masonite.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Masonite International Corporation Joanne Freiberger, CPA, CTP, IRC, 813-739-1808 VP, TREASURER [REDACTED] or Brian Prenoveau, CFA, 813-371-5839 DIR. INVESTOR RELATIONS [REDACTED] Source: Masonite International Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan 3 (Reuters) - U.S. fund investors closed out 2017 in the same cautious stance where they started the year, favoring bonds and world stocks over equities in their home market, Investment Company Institute (ICI) data showed on Wednesday. Stock funds attracted $4.1 billion during the week ended Dec. 27, the trade group said, with about 70 percent of that moving into funds focused on stocks abroad and the remainder into domestic-oriented products. Bond funds also attracted $4.1 billion. The holiday week marked the 56th in a row of inflows for taxable-bond and world stock funds. Investors have preferred those funds out of a belief that they can grow their investments and harvest income without over-committing to a U.S. stock market that has recorded nearly a decade of gains. The ICI data covers mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) based in the United States. The S&P 500 index gained more than 19 percent in 2017, or nearly 22 percent if you count dividends, yet domestic equity funds posted outflows for the third straight year in 2017, according to preliminary data from Thomson Reuters' Lipper unit. Debt and non-domestic stock funds were strongly positive on the year. The following table shows estimated ICI flows for mutual funds and ETFs (all figures in million of dollars): 12/27 12/20 12/13 12/6 11/29/2017 Equity 4,106 -1,573 6,838 8,621 3,141 Domestic 1,208 -9,544 5,347 5,962 -640 World 2,898 7,971 1,491 2,659 3,782 Hybrid -940 -2,122 -1,419 -2,139 -651 Bond 4,104 1,608 5,015 6,161 6,533 Taxable 4,484 1,521 4,943 6,471 6,361 Municipal -381 87 72 -311 172 Commodity -296 -434 5 421 -295 Total 6,974 -2,522 10,438 13,064 8,728 (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)" + }, + { + "text": "SANTIAGO, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Chilean development agency Corfo said on Wednesday that it had struck a deal with lithium company SQM, putting an end to a long-running dispute over royalties in Chile’s Salar de Atacama, home to one of the world’s richest lithium deposits. SQM and Corfo had been embroiled in a bitter, high-stakes arbitration over royalties since May 2014. Chilean authorities had accused SQM of underpaying royalties and violating environmental regulations at lithium deposits leased from the government. (Reporting by Felipe Iturrieta; Writing by Dave Sherwood; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)" + }, + { + "text": "Davos: EU leaders show united front 5:14pm GMT - 01:48 European leaders are out in force at the World Economic Forum. As Kate King reports, they’re keen to put on a united front ahead of a visit by President Trump. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript European leaders are out in force at the World Economic Forum. As Kate King reports, they’re keen to put on a united front ahead of a visit by President Trump. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 10:21 AM / Updated 7 hours ago Sanchez can be catalyst in Rashford development - Mourinho Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - New Manchester United signing Alexis Sanchez can act as a catalyst in the development of fellow forward Marcus Rashford, manager Jose Mourinho said. Chile international Sanchez, who joined United from Arsenal last week, impressed on his debut for the club days later, setting up Rashford for the opener in a 4-0 FA Cup fourth round victory at League Two Yeovil Town. Rashford’s strike took his goal tally to double figures for the season. “The kid is having a hell of an experience at every level so there is an amazing future waiting for him, and being surrounded by these players can only help him,” Mourinho said ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League clash at Tottenham Hotspur. Rashford burst onto the scene with a brace for United against Midtjylland in the Europa League in 2016 and has quickly established himself as a key member of the squad. “Marcus’s story is quite interesting because he started playing with (former manager Louis) Van Gaal when the team was really in trouble to have options, and then the monster that kills the little kids arrives but he plays every game.” The 20-year-old has played a part in all 24 of United’s league games this season and has featured in every match in the Champions League and domestic cup competitions. “Rashford is a very important player for us... He plays every game -- starting or coming from the bench as a striker, as a left winger, as a right winger,” Mourinho added. United are second in the league table with 53 points and trail runaway leaders Manchester City by 12 points. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "CINCINNATI, Jan. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its continued national expansion, Fairway Wholesale Lending (a division of Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation) is excited to welcome Kelly Scovanner as Regional Vice President of Sales for the Northeast Region . With over 30 years' experience recruiting, developing and mentoring billion dollar sales teams, Kelly will further Fairway's success in third party originations throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states . It is the culture and operational support that separates Fairway Wholesale Lending from its competition. Kelly's ability to train and coach team members makes her a valued addition to the Fairway family. Kelly is looking for experienced Account Executives in several markets throughout her region, so please email Kelly or contact her at (513) 884.6618). Why Not Fairway? For more information, please visit the Fairway website at www.FairwayIndependentMC.com . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 5:05 PM / Updated 5 hours ago Jimmy Iovine to leave Apple Music in August: Billboard Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Music mogul Jimmy Iovine is said to leave Apple Inc’s music streaming service in August, the Billboard magazine reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources and music industry website Hits Daily Double. Music producer Jimmy Iovine poses at LACMA's 50th anniversary gala in Los Angeles, California, April 18, 2015. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok Iovine is best known as the co-founder of Interscope Records, a rap music pioneer that branched out to include artists like Lady Gaga and U2. Iovine's departure is likely timed to his Apple shares fully vesting, according to the Billboard story, which followed an initial report in Hits Daily Double's \"rumor mill\" section. ( bit.ly/2E6gAGX ) The former Interscope CEO joined Apple in 2014 after the iPhone maker bought Beats Electronics, the audio technology firm co-founded by influential hip-hop producer Dr Dre and Iovine, for $3 billion. Apple declined to comment. The company told Billboard in September it had 30 million Apple Music subscribers. Reporting by Sonam Rai in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta" + }, + { + "text": "PLEASANTON, Calif., Jan. 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Natus Medical Incorporated (NASDAQ:BABY) today announced that the Company will release its 2017 fourth quarter financial results before the market opens on Wednesday, February 7th. Natus management will host an investment-community conference call the same day beginning at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time) to discuss those results and to answer questions. Individuals interested in listening to the conference call may do so by dialing 1-844-634-1441 for domestic callers, or 1-508-637-5658 for international callers, and entering reservation code 6794299. A telephone replay will be available for 48 hours following the conclusion of the call by dialing 1-855-859-2056 for domestic callers, or 1-404-537-3406 for international callers, and entering reservation code 6794299. The conference call also will be available real-time via the Internet at and a recording of the call will be available on the Company's Web site for 90 days following the completion of the call. About Natus Medical Incorporated Natus is a leading provider of healthcare products and services used for the screening, detection, treatment, monitoring and tracking of common medical ailments in newborn care, hearing impairment, neurological dysfunction, neurosurgery, epilepsy, sleep disorders, and balance and mobility disorders. Additional information about Natus Medical can be found at www.natus.com . COMPANY CONTACT: Natus Medical Incorporated Jonathan A. Kennedy Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (925) 223-6700 [REDACTED] Source:Natus Medical Incorporated" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - Secure Trust Bank said it continued to reposition its lending portfolios away from higher-risk consumer lending during the final quarter of 2017 and was looking for deals this year. The former retail bank of Arbuthnot Banking Group said customer numbers and retail finance, motor finance, mortgages and SME lending balances had continued to grow, in a “carefully controlled manner”, last year. In 2017, Secure Trust had maintained its cautious stance on consumer lending due to ongoing economic uncertainty and regulatory warnings. Secure Trust sold a portfolio of unsecured personal loans to a company owned by AnaCap Credit Opportunities III LP last month. The sale of the portfolio, with a net book value of 48.5 million pounds ($66.8 million) at June end, marked the bank’s exit from the unsecured personal loan market. Britain’s financial regulators have warned that lenders are being too complacent about the risks from rapid growth in consumer credit at a time when household incomes are barely rising. ($1 = 0.7264 pounds) (Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - Diplomats from Russia and the United States are likely to hold their next round of consultations on North Korea in Moscow on a date yet to be decided, TASS news agency Quote: d Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov as saying on Saturday. He also said a delegation from North Korea might visit Moscow before the start of next month’s Olympic Games. Morgulov told the news agency that he has sent an invitation for talks to Joseph Yun, the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy. The talks about North Korea’s missile programme and nuclear aspirations are taking place amid accusations from U.S. President Donald Trump that Moscow was helping Pyongyang evade international sanctions. Russia denies the allegations. Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; editing by John Stonestreet" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 Apple employees may be getting a big bonus this year. The consumer technology giant plans to give its employees $2,500 in restricted stock units, which will vest at a later date, according to a Bloomberg News report published Wednesday that cites unnamed sources. It’s unclear how many Apple (aapl) employees will receive the bonus, but the report said it would be given to “most employees worldwide.” Apple has over 120,000 global workers, with 84,000 based in the U.S. News of the stock grants come on the same day that Apple said it would hire 20,000 new worker s and build a new Apple campus in an unspecified location, part of what the company pitches as a $350 billion investment in the U.S. over the next five years. Get Data Sheet , Fortune’s technology newsletter. Apple’s planned bonus also comes shortly after President Trump signed tax legislation that lowers corporate taxes and gives companies like Apple a break on money that they bring back to the U.S. from overseas. Apple said on Wednesday that it would pay $38 billion in taxes this year on the money that it plans to repatriate from its overseas cash hoard of more than $250 billion. Apple shares were relatively flat in after-hours trading on Wednesday at $179.30 after rising 1.7% in regular trading to an all-time closing high. Fortune contacted Apple for more information and will update this story if it responds. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "Kenya's Odinga swears himself in as 'president' 1:28pm EST - 01:57 Kenya opposition leader Raila Odinga took a symbolic presidential oath of office on the Bible in front of thousands of ecstatic supporters on Tuesday in a direct challenge to President Uhuru Kenyatta's rule. Kenya opposition leader Raila Odinga took a symbolic presidential oath of office on the Bible in front of thousands of ecstatic supporters on Tuesday in a direct challenge to President Uhuru Kenyatta's rule. //www.reuters.com/video/2018/01/30/kenyas-odinga-swears-himself-in-as-presi?videoId=389778000&videoChannel=13421" + }, + { + "text": "January 14, 2018 / 5:17 AM / Updated 23 minutes ago Ford unveils future Ranger pickup for segment rivals dominate Joseph White 3 Min Read DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co ( F.N ) on Sunday will officially take the wraps off its long-awaited Ranger midsize pickup truck, a year ahead of its arrival in showrooms, as rivals consolidate positions in a segment Detroit automakers once gave up for dead. The 2019 Ford Ranger is pictured in this undated handout photo obtained by Reuters January 13, 2018. Ford Motor Company/Handout via REUTERS Ford executives did not disclose prices or fuel efficiency ratings for the new Ranger during a briefing for the media ahead of the official unveiling at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. More than two years ago Ford telegraphed its decision to re-launch the Ranger midsize truck in North America after killing the model in 2011. At the time, Ford executives said they could satisfy pickup truck demand - and make more money - by widening the price range and engine options of its larger F-150 pickup model line. Detroit rivals General Motors Co( GM.N ) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV( FCHA.MI ) abandoned the segment around the same time. However, in late 2014, GM launched new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Sierra pickups, and Japanese automakers Toyota Motor Corp( 7203.T ) and Nissan Motor Co( 7201.T ) reinvigorated their midsize pickup trucks, aiming at customers who wanted to haul bikes, surfboards and other bulky recreational gear, not sheets of plywood. As gasoline prices stabilized, more customers turned to the new, smaller pickups. GM in 2017 sold more than 145,000 Colorado and Canyon trucks. Toyota, the segment leader, sold more than 198,000 Tacoma trucks in 2017, up 3.4 percent from a year earlier and 27 percent ahead of 2014, according to figures compiled by Autodata. Sales in the U.S. compact pickup segment as a whole grew in 2017 to more than 417,000 vehicles, up more than 70 percent from 2014, according to Autodata. “We see more of an opportunity that didn’t exist five years ago,” Ford truck marketing manager Todd Eckert said. Ford executives said the North American Ranger will share engineering and some design elements with a work-oriented pickup the company builds and sells in Southeast Asia and other markets. The exterior and interior styling of the North American Ranger will be aimed at a more affluent, recreational use buyer. The new Ranger will start arriving in North American dealerships in early 2019 and be assembled at its Wayne, Michigan, factory in suburban Detroit. Ford’s decision to invest $850 million in the Wayne plant to build the Ranger and a new Bronco SUV won praise last year from U.S. President Donald Trump. Reporting By Joe White; Editing by Bill Trott" + }, + { + "text": "January 7, 2018 / 12:33 AM / Updated 32 minutes ago Golf-Johnson grabs lead in Tournament of Champions Jan 6 (Reuters) - World number one Dustin Johnson put the hammer down and surged to a two-shot lead after the third round at Saturday. Boosted by an eagle at the par-four 12th, where he flicked a 70-yard shot into the hole, Johnson matched the day’s best score with a seven-under-par 66. Johnson, who drove the ball prodigious distances, posted a 16-under 203 total, while joint halfway leader Brian Harman remained in the hunt with a steady 69 to stand alone at 14-under on another breezy day at the Kapalua Maui. Spaniard Jon Rahm played the final five holes in five under to match Johnson’s 66 and trail by four shots. “I drove it really well, obviously that’s a big bonus around here, and I hit a lot of good iron shots and I feel like I‘m rolling it well (on the greens),” Johnson told Golf Channel. His eagle did not hurt his score either. “I landed my shot perfect and it got on the green and tracked to the hole,” he said of the shot, which he landed some 30 yards short of the cup and watched as he ball rolled down the steep slope and into the hole. Johnson had been in similar imperious form early last season before he had to withdraw from the Masters following a fall down some stairs. A bruised back kept him out of action for four weeks and by time he regained his form the majors had passed, and attention had turned to the likes of Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth. Johnson, however, is showcasing similarly good form in Hawaii and is determined not to repeat the experience of last October when he surrendered a six-shot lead in the final round at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai. “That was just kind of a fluke day,” he said. ”I was playing a new set of irons and I wasn’t that comfortable with them. I‘m a lot more comfortable with them now. I feel like I can control the ball very well. “I’ve got a good game plan around here. I‘m not going to play any different tomorrow.” Editing by Greg Stutchbury" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - Kaiser China Culture Co Ltd: * SAYS IT SIGNS STRATEGIC AGREEMENT WITH JAPAN‘S FILOSOPHIA ON GAMES DEVELOPING * SAYS UNIT SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH TENCENT'S ANIMATION UNIT ON ANIMATION PRODUCTION Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2CSdMNh Further company coverage: (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "DUBAI (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell has agreed to sell its stake in Iraq’s West Qurna 1 oilfield to Japan’s Itochu, a Shell spokesman said on Monday. “Itochu and Shell have reached agreement on the sale of Shell’s interest in the West Qurna 1 oilfield and are now working to secure all the necessary approvals from the government of Iraq,” the spokesman said. “Details of the discussions are commercially confidential.” Iraq has approved the sale by Shell of its 20 percent stake in the West Qurna 1 oilfield to Itochu, a senior Iraqi oil official told Reuters last week. The deal comes as the Anglo-Dutch company agreed to exit the Majnoon oil venture, one of the largest fields in OPEC member Iraq, and hand over its operation to the state-run Basra Oil Co. (BOC) by the end of June 2018. The West Qurna 1 oilfield, operated by Exxon Mobile, currently produces around 405,000 barrels per day. Reporting by Rania El Gamal, editing by Louise Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds comment from Eder) FRANKFURT, Jan 12 (Reuters) - German chipmaker Infineon Technologies said its supervisory board would propose appointing Voestalpine Chief Executive Wolfgang Eder to the board with an eye to having him take over the chairmanship eventually. “The Supervisory Board considers Dr. Eder perfectly suited to take on the chairmanship of the supervisory board in the medium term,” it said in a statement on Friday. Current supervisory board Chairman Wolfgang Mayrhuber, 70, will resign, effective as of the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting on Feb. 22. Supervisory board member Eckart Suenner will succeed Mayrhuber until Eder becomes chairman, Infineon said. Eder will present his candidacy at the shareholders’ meeting, a Voestalpine spokesman said. “The time investment required of a member of Infineon’s supervisory board is limited and therefore should be viewed as completely independent of the position as Chief Executive of Voestalpine,” Eder said in an emailed statement. (Reporting by Maria Sheahan, additional reporting by Shadia Nasralla in Vienna; editing by Christoph Steitz and Jason Neely)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16 (Reuters) - * ROMANIA‘S BANCA TRANSILVANIA SAYS ACQUIRES INITIAL INDIRECT STAKE OF 39 PERCENT IN MOLDOVA‘S VICTORIABANK * Victoriabank is the third largest bank in the Republic of Moldova * As a result of the planned investment, Banca Transilvania and the EBRD will jointly hold over 66 percent of the share capital of Victoriabank and will offer to buy the remaining shares in accordance with the applicable legal provisions. Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: [ ] (Reporting by Radu-Sorin Marinas)" + }, + { + "text": "Warmer temperatures at Great Barrier Reef causing sea turtles to be born female 4:02pm IST - 01:34 Rising temperatures in Australia's northern Great Barrier Reef are causing the vast majority of Green Turtles born to be female, a new study has found. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Rising temperatures in Australia's northern Great Barrier Reef are causing the vast majority of Green Turtles born to be female, a new study has found. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Eminem, The Killers, and Muse will headline the 2018 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tenn. from June 7th-10th. Future, Sturgill Simpson, Bassnectar, Sheryl Crow, Paramore, Alt-J, Anderson .Paak, and Khalid will perform as well and Bon Iver is billed for \"two unique sets.” Bonnaroo released the official lineup for its 17th-annual festival on Tuesday. Your #bonnaroo 2018 lineup! Tickets on sale FRIDAY at 10am ET! Check our website for ticket info, tips on planning, and a chance to win VIP tickets: pic.twitter.com/bychepJrBW — Bonnaroo (@Bonnaroo) January 9, 2018 The Killers, Muse, and Future will all be making their Bonnaroo debuts, while Eminem will return for his second performance at the festival. He’s got a busy festival season ahead of him, also playing at Coachella in California and Governor's Ball in New York following the release of his album Revival in December. While the lineup usually grabs headlines, this year there’s also news of the festival having renegotiated the way it financially contributes to Coffee County in Tennessee, where the event takes place, according to the Tullahoma News . Fun fact: The city of Manchester and Coffee County have used their status as Bonnaroo hosts to give the key to the community to some very high profile musicians. BB King receives the key to the community of Manchester and Coffee County during the 2008 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival on June 14, 2008 in Manchester, Tennessee. Gary Miller/WireImage Be that as it may, the organizers spent the better part of 2017 at the negotiating table with county officials. Previously, Bonnaroo paid the county $3 for each ticket sold along with a $30,000 fee. This generated about $250,000 annually , which Bonnaroo organizers argued should be used to improve the roads out to \"the Farm\" off Interstate 24 where the event is held, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press . The new arrangement proposed in late December eliminates the flat fee and allocates ticket funds to infrastructure projects around the Bonnaroo site, according to the Tullahoma News . An aerial view of the 2017 Bonnaroo Arts And Music Festival during Day 3 on June 10, 2017 in Manchester, Tennessee. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival Tickets, which cost $299.50 for general admission, go on sale Friday, January 12 at 10 a.m. EST on the Bonnaroo website . Attendance to Bonnaroo rebounded last year after an all-time low for ticket sales in 2016. Still, with more than 65,000 tickets sold, 2017 was the third-worst year for the festival since its inception, according to the Tennessean ." + }, + { + "text": "Amazon, Berkshire, JPM join forces to tackle healthcare costs 10:11pm GMT - 01:45 Amazon.com, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase are forming a healthcare company aimed at cutting costs for their U.S. employees. Amazon.com, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase are forming a healthcare company aimed at cutting costs for their U.S. employees. //reut.rs/2DPElXY" + }, + { + "text": "January 20, 2018 / 1:43 PM / Updated 21 minutes ago 'Nouvelle cuisine' pioneer Bocuse dies at 91 Reuters Staff 1 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - Paul Bocuse, one of France’s most celebrated chefs, has died at the age of 91, the interior minister said on Saturday. Bocuse was an early exponent of “nouvelle cuisine”, which reinterpreted traditional French cooking using less butter and cream and focusing on fresh ingredients and stylish presentation. Interior Minister Gerard Collomb announced Bocuse’s death on his official twitter feed. “Paul Bocuse is dead... The pope of gastronomy has left us,” posted Collomb, a former mayor of Bocuse’s home city of Lyon. Reporting by Geert De Clercq; editing by John Stonestreet" + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL, Jan 23 (Reuters) - South Korea’s LG Display Co Ltd said on Tuesday its annual operating profit for 2017 reached 2.5 trillion won ($2.34 billion), up 88 percent from the previous year. The increase was due to rising prices for large liquid crystal display (LCD) panels during the first half of the year as well as a more diversified product lineup, LG Display said in a regulatory filing. The Apple supplier said its 2017 sales reached 27.8 trillion won, up 4.9 percent from the previous year. ($1 = 1,068.4800 won) (Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Tom Brown)" + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 2:44 PM / Updated an hour ago Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter Zara expecting second baby Zara Tindall, the granddaughter of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, is pregnant with her second child, her spokeswoman said on Friday. FILE PHOTO: Britain's Zara Phillips and her husband English former rugby player Mike Tindall arrive for a service of thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth's 90th birthday at St Paul's cathedral in London, Britain, June 10, 2016. REUTERS/Ben Stansall/Pool/File Photo “The queen and members of the royal family were very pleased to hear this news,” a spokeswoman for Buckingham Palace said. Zara, who is married to former England rugby union captain Mike Tindall, gave birth to the couple’s first child, Mia Grace in January 2014, but lost a previous baby in 2016. The queen currently has five great-grandchildren, however grandson Prince William and his wife Kate, officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are expecting their third child next April. No date was given for when the Tindalls’ new baby was due. Their second child will either be 18th or 19th in line to the throne depending on when the Cambridges’ baby is born. Zara, 36, the daughter of the queen’s only daughter Anne, won an equestrian silver at the London Olympic Games in 2012 while her 39-year-old husband was part of the England team that won the rugby World Cup in 2003. Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Stephen Addison" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 6:19 AM / Updated 5 minutes ago Canon sees 2018 profit jumping to decade high on cost cuts, medical unit Reuters Staff 2 Min Read TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan’s Canon Inc said it expects operating profit to surge in 2018 to its highest level in a decade, helped by cost cuts in its copier and printer business as well as growth in new fields such as medical equipment and surveillance cameras. It forecast operating profit to rise 27 percent to 420 billion yen ($3.9 billion), representing a second consecutive year of profit gains and beating a consensus estimate of 376 billion yen from Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Cost savings and expanded sales of consumable products such as ink cartridges will help drive operating profit in its copier and printer business some 30 percent higher this year, it said. Acquisitions made to make up for revenue lost as consumers use smartphones instead of compact cameras will also help. Recent purchases include CT scanner and ultrasound equipment maker Toshiba Medical Systems and Swedish video surveillance firm AXIS. Canon, which has a market value of some $52 billion, is also benefiting from robust demand for organic light emitting diode (OLED) screens in smartphones, with its OLED panel-making equipment unit flooded with new orders. Additionally, strong demand for memory chips used in data centers and smartphones is expected to boost sales of its semiconductor lithography equipment. Expectations of a profit jump come despite Canon assuming a stronger yen for this year. It expects the Japanese currency to average 110 against the U.S. dollar, a rise of around 2 yen. ($1 = 108.7200 yen)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. - The percentage of young adult women who filled prescriptions for drugs used to treat attention deficit disorder has increased more than fivefold since 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Thursday. nyti.ms/2mTnskQ - Lebanon's internal intelligence agency appears to have been caught spying on thousands of people - including journalists and military personnel - in more than 20 countries, according to researchers at the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Lookout, a mobile security company. nyti.ms/2mVjBUx - Driving a car into the busiest parts of Manhattan could cost $11.52 under a major proposal prepared for Gov. Andrew Cuomo that would make New York the first city in the United States with a pay-to-drive plan. nyti.ms/2mVrl8L - William Bain Jr., who founded the business consulting firm Bain & Company and was an early mentor to Mitt Romney, died on Tuesday at his home in Naples, Fla. He was 80. nyti.ms/2mUYAJo (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "PLANO, Texas, Jan. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- NetFortris® Inc. , a leader in secure cloud-based communication solutions and collaboration applications, today announced that it has brought on new channel managers to champion its sales and support efforts. Mary Young, formerly a Regional Channel Manager at RingCentral, joins NetFortris as a Channel Manager supporting the Mid-West and West region; Richard Morris formerly the Mid-Atlantic Channel Manager with Windstream, joins NetFortris as the Channel Manager supporting the Northeast. Together, these two professionals bring more than 15 years of experience selling and supporting large enterprise clients. \"NetFortris has an exploding channel program and we could not be more pleased that two industry proven leaders have joined this outstanding group of channel managers,\" said Rob Shelby, Vice President, Channel Program. \"Mary and Rich bring a long history of excellence, work ethic, and professionalism. We're proud to welcome these talented sales and support leaders as we continue to expand and build our strategic channel program.\" ABOUT NETFORTRIS NetFortris provides flexible, scalable, cloud-based voice and data communications customized with the exact security your business needs. Multi-level protection, cloud-based backup and bi-directional failover ensure business continuity while big data analytics with real-time service control improves your operational performance. NetFortris also serves its customers with carrier-grade networks, business and communications applications, and expert service. Our solution engineers work with you to design a fully managed and automated system tailored for your business. NetFortris is headquartered in Seattle, WA and Plano, TX. Contact: Rob Shelby Vice President, Channel Program [REDACTED] 214.723.7091 www.netfortris.com View original content with multimedia: SOURCE NetFortris" + }, + { + "text": "Stars at 'Black Panther' premiere express high hopes for film 12:24pm EST - 01:45 The latest Marvel superhero movie is set to break box office records in the U.S. and beyond. Saskia O'Donoghue reports The latest Marvel superhero movie is set to break box office records in the U.S. and beyond. Saskia O'Donoghue reports //reut.rs/2nuBTeO" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 8:02 AM / Updated 34 minutes ago Grand Slam, Australian Open Women's Singles Results Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 25 (OPTA) - Results from the Grand Slam, Australian Open Women's Singles matches on Thursday .. Semi-final .. 1-Simona Halep (ROU) beat 21-Angelique Kerber (GER) 6-3 4-6 9-7 2-Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) beat Elise Mertens (BEL) 6-3 7-6(2)" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Bitcoin slid as much as 14 percent on Tuesday to hit a four-week low below $12,000, as fears grew of a regulatory crackdown after reports that South Korea’s finance minister had said banning trading in cryptocurrencies was still an option. South Korean news website Yonhap reported that Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon had told a local radio station that the government would be coming up with a set of measures to clamp down on the “irrational” cryptocurrency investment craze. Bitcoin slid on the news, trading as low as $11,730 on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange, down 13.6 percent on the day. The latest tumble leaves bitcoin more than 40 percent down from the record highs of around $20,000 reached in mid-December, wiping about $125 billion from its “market cap” - the price of bitcoin multiplied by the total number of bitcoins that have been “mined”, or released into the market. (Reporting by Jemima Kelly; Editing by Tommy Wilkes)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - Ningbo GQY Video & Telecom Joint-stock Co Ltd : * Sees FY 2017 net loss to be 97 million yuan to 117 million yuan * Says the net loss of FY 2016 was 21.7 million yuan * Says that decrease in operation revenue as main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/2yDjTT Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea’s industrial production unexpectedly fell in December, failing to recover after barely expanding in November as car output contracted sharply, national statistics agency data showed on Wednesday. Factory output contracted by 6 percent in December from a year earlier, marking another sharp decline after a 6.3 percent drop in October, the biggest fall since 2013. The median forecast of analysts surveyed by Reuters was for output to rise 0.1 percent from November, and dip by 1.4 percent from a year earlier. “Growth momentum from auto sector was weak in both November and December because of union strikes. Overall production growth is still led by the IT sector,” Park Sang-hyun, chief economist, HI Investment & Securities. Car production dropped 11.4 percent from a month earlier while output of machine tools fell 4 percent. Park added the Bank of Korea will not be able to raise its policy interest rate in the first quarter given the uneven growth path, but “may be able to make a move in the second quarter should exports and the global economy hold up”. The BOK held its policy interest rate KROCRT=ECI steady in January after raising it for the first time in more than six years to 1.50 percent in November. The bank flagged concerns over economic uncertainties and soft inflation, which remain hurdles to policy tightening this year. Thursday’s data showed production of memory chips expanded 2.9 percent from a month earlier and the output of communications equipment surged 27.3 percent. In annual terms, car production contracted by 25.2 percent, while output of electronic equipment grew 19.3 percent, the statement showed. December service sector output gained 0.2 percent from previous month after growing 2.5 percent in November. Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Eric Meijer" + }, + { + "text": "Wall Street cuts bonuses 4:38am IST - 01:41 Some traders at the largest Wall Street banks are about to get big, fat zeroes for bonuses while they watch markets thrive. Aleksandra Michalska reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Some traders at the largest Wall Street banks are about to get big, fat zeroes for bonuses while they watch markets thrive. Aleksandra Michalska reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three moderate Republican U.S. senators on Monday, emerging from a bipartisan meeting aimed at trying to end the government shutdown, said there could enough support if Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell made a firmer commitment to move legislation that would address so-called Dreamer immigrants. Slideshow (2 Images) “It would ... be helpful if Senator McConnell’s language were stronger,” Senator Susan Collins, standing alongside fellow Republicans Lindsey Graham and Jeff Flake, told reporters. Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Tim Ahmann" + }, + { + "text": "BRUSSELS, Jan 8 (Reuters) - The European Commission released the following data on economic sentiment and business climate in the 19 countries sharing the euro in December 2017: EURO ZONE DEC NOV OCT Economic sentiment 116.0 114.6 114.1 Industry 9.1 8.1 8.0 Services 18.4 16.4 16.2 Consumer 0.5 0.0 -1.1 Retail trade 6.2 4.3 5.5 Construction 2.7 1.5 0.4 Producer price expectations 13.4 11.1 8.7 Consumer price expectations 13.6 16.0 14.7 Business climate 1.66 1.49 1.43 For European Commission data click on: here (Reporting By Jan Strupczewski) nB5N1IL01X" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 10:43 AM / Updated 5 hours ago Peugeot's new UK Vauxhall boss says car plant's future linked to sales Costas Pitas 3 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - The new boss of Peugeot’s ( PEUP.PA ) British Vauxhall brand said the future of the carmaker’s Ellesmere Port plant, where a third of the workforce is being cut, is closely linked to Opel-Vauxhall’s sales, which have nosedived in Britain. FILE PHOTO: A Vauxhall Astra car is seen in the car park of the Vauxhall car plant in Ellesmere Port, Britain, January 10, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo Peugeot acquired Vauxhall and Opel last year when it bought General Motors’ loss-making European arm and has been pursuing a restructuring plan to return it to profitability. On Thursday the French automaker appointed sales and marketing officer Stephen Norman to lead its British Vauxhall brand and Irish Opel unit, just days after the French carmaker announced further job cuts in Britain. On Monday it said another 250 jobs would go at its Ellesmere Port plant in northwest England, on top of 400 cuts last year, reducing the workforce by a third to make it more efficient, but renewing workers’ fears about the future. Stephen Norman, who takes over as Vauxhall managing director on Feb. 1, told reporters on Thursday the future of Ellesmere Port was connected to the firm’s sales performance. A Peugeot car is seen in the car park of the Vauxhall car plant in Ellesmere Port, Britain, January 10, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Nobl “The two are inextricably linked,” Norman said. “If we manage to make a radical improvement in Vauxhall’s fortunes in the UK and my future colleagues in Opel across the continent do the same in their markets, particularly in Germany, then there will be a requirement not only for every possible unit of production that we’ve got but maybe even more besides.” Norman will need to turn around sliding sales in what has traditionally been Opel-Vauxhall’s biggest market and where demand fell 22 percent in 2017, compared with an overall market decline of 5.7 percent, according to industry data. He faces the challenge of defending Ellesmere Port with Peugeot due to decide as soon as this year whether to keep the plant open with new models, in the latest test of Britain’s ability to attract investment as it leaves the European Union. Norman, who joined PSA Group in May 2014 as Chief Marketing Officer and was appointed Senior Vice President, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer in 2016, said Brexit made planning harder. “So long as there are two, three or possibly more sets of viable hypotheses (due to Brexit) with different forecasts and different financial parameters, it’s very difficult to make a clear decision,” he said. Editing by Stephen Addison and Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "BERLIN, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Germany’s conservatives and Social Democrats (SPD) want to raise the bar for a top income tax rate for high earners to an annual income of 60,000 euros, a source with knowledge of their coalition talks said on Monday. The measure, an election promise by the conservatives, is designed to provide tax relief for high earners. It signals a compromise by the SPD who had wanted to raise taxes for high earners and expand welfare payments. A top tax rate of 42 percent at the moment applies for those who earn some 53,700 euros and above ($64,375.56) annually. $1 = 0.8342 euros Writing by Joseph Nasr; Editing by Paul Carrel" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 22(Reuters) - Netac Technology Co Ltd * Sees FY 2017 net profit to increase by 20 percent to 25 percent, or to be 53.3 million yuan to 55.5 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 44.4 million yuan * Says increased income from sales, rent and patent licensing is the main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/NGH1Q8 Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "TYLER, Texas, Jan. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Southside Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:SBSI), the holding company for Southside Bank, announced today it will release its fourth quarter and year end December 31, 2017 financial results before the market opens on Tuesday, February 6, 2018. Southside will host a conference call to discuss its results on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. CST. The call will be hosted by Lee R. Gibson, President and CEO, Julie Shamburger, Sr. EVP and CFO and Suni Davis, Sr. VP and CRO. Following prepared remarks there will be a question and answer session for the analyst community. The Conference Call Details The call can be accessed by dialing 844-775-2540 and by identifying the conference ID number 8799149 or by identifying “Southside Bancshares, Inc., Fourth Quarter and Year End 2017 Earnings Call”. To listen to the call via webcast, register at www.southside.com/about/investor-relations . For those unable to listen to the conference call live, a recording will be available from approximately 3:00 p.m. CST February 6, 2018 through February 18, 2018 by accessing the company website, www.southside.com/about/investor-relations . It is recommended that those wishing to participate in the conference call dial-in or register on the website approximately 5 to 10 minutes prior to the call to ensure a more efficient registration process. For further information contact Julie Shamburger, Sr. EVP and CFO at 903-531-7134. About Southside Bancshares, Inc. Southside Bancshares, Inc. is a bank holding company that owns 100% of Southside Bank. Southside Bank currently has 60 full service branches in Texas and operates a network of 85 ATMs/ITMs. To learn more about Southside Bancshares, Inc., please visit our investor relations website at www.southside.com/about/investor-relations . Our investor relations site provides a detailed overview of our activities, financial information and historical stock price data. To receive e-mail notification of company news, events and stock activity, please register on the E-mail Notification portion of the website. Questions or comments may be directed to Julie Shamburger at (903) 531-7134, or [REDACTED] . Source:Southside Bancshares, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "PARIS, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Airbus has studied the possibility of selling China a stake in its flagship A380 superjumbo programme in exchange for orders as it tries to shore up declining production, but no immediate deal is on the table, industry sources said. The Financial Times reported earlier that Airbus was offering an industrial partnership on the world’s largest airliner as part of a visit to China by French President Emmanuel Macron this week. Macron is being accompanied by industry leaders including Airbus planemaking president Fabrice Bregier. The idea, which has been on the back-burner in Toulouse for some time, would resemble Airbus’s decision to take a stake in the Bombardier CSeries, but so far there has been little traction and no deal is imminent, one source said. “It’s not tomorrow,” another source added, which others dismissed the prospect of quick progress in China on the A380, whose fate rests instead on sales talks with Dubai’s Emirates. Airbus is however expected to agree to boost local assembly of A320-family single-aisle jets in the northern port city of Tianjin, from the current 50 a year, as it finalises a new China order which sources have said could involve around 100 jets. The final number of jets to be sold has not been determined. (Reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Mathieu Rosemain)" + }, + { + "text": "Hillary Clinton surprises with Grammy 'Fire and Fury' spoof 12:40pm GMT - 00:30 Hillary Clinton reads excerpt from controversial book 'Fire and Fury' at Grammy Awards. Rough cut (no reporter narration). ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Hillary Clinton reads excerpt from controversial book 'Fire and Fury' at Grammy Awards. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Jan. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. (NASDAQ:WHLR) (“Wheeler” or the “Company”), a company specializing in owning, acquiring, financing, developing, renovating, leasing and managing income-producing assets, such as community centers, neighborhood centers, strip centers and free-standing retail properties, announced today that it will host a conference call and live webcast at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 17, 2018. The conference call will address the recent volatility of the Company’s stock price. The dial-in numbers are: Live Participant Dial-In (Toll-Free US & Canada): (877) - 407-8919 Live Participant Dial-In (International): (201)-689-8428 The conference call will also be webcast. To listen to the call, please go to the Investor Relations section of Wheeler’s website at www.whlr.us , or click on the following link: About Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust Inc. Headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA, Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. a fully-integrated, self-managed commercial real estate investment company focused on acquiring and managing income-producing retail properties with a primary focus on grocery-anchored centers. Wheeler’s portfolio contains well-located, potentially dominant retail properties in secondary and tertiary markets that generate attractive risk-adjusted returns, with a particular emphasis on grocery-anchored retail centers. Additional information about Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. can be found at the Company’s corporate website: www.whlr.us CONTACT: Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. Wilkes Graham Chief Financial Officer (757) 627-9088 [REDACTED] Laura Nguyen Director of Investor Relations (757) 627-9088 [REDACTED] Source:Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "For Ron Sturgeon, a pile of rusty, broken down cars isn't trash. It's a gold mine. \"What one man might call junk, I call treasure,\" he says on CNBC's Blue Collar Millionaires . Salvaging parts from wrecked automobiles is a business that has made Sturgeon rich, or to be exact, \"filthy rich,\" he says on the show. \"When you can pay $100 for a junk car, sell the engine out of it for $150 and still have the rest of the car, that is pretty good business,\" he explains. CNBC | Blue Collar Millionaires Wealth was new to Sturgeon. As a young person, he had been nearly homeless. \"When I was a senior in high school, my dad died and left me a '65 Volkswagen, $2,000 and no place to live,\" Sturgeon says. \"I moved into a mobile home and started working on other people's Volkswagens. That was all I knew, I had to do something to eat.\" As he was repairing vehicles, he realized a different business model would be more lucrative. \"I accumulated about 35 junk cars that we were using to fix the other cars,\" he explains. \"Within weeks, I realized that I could make more money selling parts off the cars than I ever could working on them. Every week I would go to the salvage auction and buy a few more cars, drag them in, and we would sell a few more parts.\" Sturgeon founded his salvage business, AAA Small Car World in 1978, and over the next two decades, his business boomed: \"We grew to six locations, 150 employees and $15 million in sales with a 30 percent net profit,\" he says. Ford acquired the business in 1999 for about $15 million, according to \"Blue Collar Millionaires.\" But Sturgeon says the auto giant had trouble operating it. \"In the long run, it was a terribly bad fit for Ford,\" Sturgeon says on the show. \"They ended up divesting the division, selling it back to me.\" In 2003, Sturgeon bought his business back from Ford. Just two years later, after working to re-structure the company's finances, Sturgeon sold it again to Schnitzer Industries for $23.5 million, Dallas News reports. Sturgeon, who says he had no formal business training, achieved his success with the help of one important habit: reading. \"I read the Wall Street Journal every day for 25 years,\" Sturgeon tells CNBC Make It. If you want to see dollars piling up in your bank account, he advises following suit. \"My advice is read a minimum of one book a month,\" he says. \"Even today, I still read voraciously.\" Two books in particular — \" Customers for Life ,\" by Carl Sewell, and \" Secrets of the Millionaire Mind ,\" by Harv Eker — gave him footing during his early career. That, and hard work. \"I don't think there is anything unusual about me, I'm not a prodigy. I didn't do better than anybody else in high school,\" he says. \"I think I'm smart from learning a lot through the years.\" Still, he hasn't forgotten the feeling of not having a bed to sleep in. Sturgeon, who is now in commercial real estate, offered up his two mansions in Colleyville, Texas to families whose homes were destroyed during a 2015 tornado, according to CBS DFW. \"A light bulb just went off in my head that I've got these two big houses sitting vacant, surely I could help somebody that would need housing,\" he tells the local CBS station . Today, Sturgeon is certainly comfortable — he tells CNBC Make It he bought himself a $1.5 million Bugatti Veyron for Christmas, although he adds that he opted for a used model — but he's still focused on learning and living new experiences. \"I'm loving life,\" he says. Don't miss: This former Texas cop turned $5,000 into a multimillion-dollar business cleaning up crime scenes Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook show chapters This man is making millions from cleaning radioactive waste and infectious fluids 11:50 AM ET Thu, 30 Nov 2017 | 01:15" + }, + { + "text": "Oil prices have surged more than 50% since the summer—a sign investors are reassessing what was once the biggest risk in the market: U.S. shale. For more than three years, the ability of shale producers to rapidly dial production up or down has haunted the oil market, cutting off nascent rallies and keeping prices trapped around $50 a barrel or lower. Any move above that level stoked fears that producers would flood the market with oil once again, causing dramatic reversals in prices. ... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile’s foreign minister welcomed Chinese representatives to a meeting with Latin American and Caribbean countries on Sunday, praising the Asian nation for rejecting protectionism as the United States backs away from global trade. Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz, who has criticized U.S. President Donald Trump in the past, told a news conference that Latin America could do a lot more to stimulate trade with China and called on its nations to take advantage of the talks to improve ties. “We are in uncertain and complex times, and China is playing a very constructive role in addressing these complexities,” he said. China has sought a bigger role overseas since Trump was elected, presenting its Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade agreement as an alternative to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which was abandoned by the United States. Representatives from China and the 33 members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) are holding meetings on Sunday and Monday in the Chilean capital, Santiago. China sees it as “natural” to expand its westward infrastructure drive - the “One Belt, One Road” initiative - to Latin America, China’s foreign minister said in an interview with a local newspaper on Sunday. “China wants the participation of all the countries of the region to be involved in the construction of the ‘One Belt, One Road’ ... so they can share the great opportunities and dividends of this platform of global cooperation,” Minister Wang Yi said in an interview with El Mercurio. Proposed in 2013 by President Xi Jinping, the project promotes a vision of expanding links between Asia, Africa and Europe, with billions of dollars in infrastructure investment. China is already testing U.S. dominance in Latin America, offering the region $250 billion in investment over the next decade. It is the top trading partner of many countries in the region, including Brazil, Chile and Argentina. In recent years, Chinese companies have moved away from merely buying Latin American raw materials and are diversifying into sectors like auto manufacturing, e-commerce and even technology businesses like car-hailing services. Chile, one of the most open economies in Latin America, updated its bilateral trade deal with China in November 2017 on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific economic summit. “Like Chile, China rejects protectionism in favor of openness, connectivity, investment, trade and cooperation,” Munoz said. Writing by Caroline Stauffer; Editing by Paul Simao" + }, + { + "text": "35 PM / Updated 5 minutes ago France's Macron to speak at Davos economic forum Reuters Staff 1 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters on Wednesday that he would give a speech at the next World Economic Forum of world leaders and CEOs in Davos on Jan. 24. Macron has seen his popularity bounce back in recent weeks despite what opinion polls show is an image of “president of the rich” that could chime with the world’s business elite congregation in the Swiss Alps. Reporting by Jean-Baptiste Vey; Writing by Ingrid Melander; editing by Grant McCool" + }, + { + "text": "Corruption prosecutors investigate FIFA dealings with Austria VIENNA (Reuters) - Austrian corruption prosecutors are investigating transactions between FIFA, the world soccer governing body, and its Austrian counterpart OFB, a spokeswoman for the prosecutors said on Wednesday. Austrian websites addendum.org and 90minuten.at reported on Tuesday that the OFB president, Leo Windtner, was being investigated for facilitating a $100,000 transfer from FIFA to a charity project in Africa that his wife was involved with. Asked about the report, a spokeswoman for the corruption prosecutors’ office in Vienna on Wednesday confirmed an investigation was underway but declined to name any suspects. She added the investigation relates to events in 2014. “We are investigating the accusation that OFB officials demanded $100,000 from FIFA officials with regard to the election of the FIFA president. The money was supposed to go to an African soccer academy,” the spokeswoman said. Addendum.org 90 and minuten.at reported that the money was sent from FIFA to OFB, but OFB then sent it back. FIFA eventually sent the money directly to the African project, they reported. At the time of the transfer, Sepp Blatter was lobbying to get re-elected as FIFA president. He is currently in the midst of a six-year ban from all soccer-related duties imposed by Zurich-based FIFA’s ethics committee after a corruption scandal. Windtner, who became OFB president in 2009, confirmed the transfer had taken place but said it was used for a good cause and that he had nothing to reproach himself for. OFB, FIFA and the charity were not immediately available for comment. In 2015, FIFA was caught in the worst corruption crisis of its existence. Several officials were indicted in the United States for graft, and two out of three former officials were convicted in New York in the first trial of those charged. Blatter was re-elected FIFA president in 2015, but was suspended later that year amid the corruption investigations. Reporting By Shadia Nasralla, additional reporting by John Revill in Zurich, editing by Larry King" + }, + { + "text": "BERLIN, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Some 10,000 workers at German carmaker Daimler AG walked off their shifts for an hour on Tuesday as they sought to persuade employers to give engineering workers around Germany more pay and a shorter working week. Some 4,000 employees at other companies in the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg took part in strikes on Tuesday and further warning strikes are due on Wednesday at other companies, including at domestic appliance maker Miele. With Europe’s largest economy steaming ahead and unemployment at a record low, IG Metall - Germany’s biggest trade union - is calling for a 6 percent pay increase for around 3.9 million workers in the metal and engineering sectors, including the car industry. “The economy is booming because the employees like those here at Daimler do good work every day,” regional IG Metall head Roman Zitzelsberger said in a rally at the gates of Daimler’s factory in the town of Sindelfingen, near Stuttgart. “So 6 percent is appropriate and we won’t be fobbed off with 2 percent,” he said. The union says workers should be able to cut their weekly hours to 28 from 35 if they need to care for children, elderly or sick relatives and have the right to return to work full time after two years. Employers reject the demands to cut hours unless working time could be increased temporarily as well. They argue that workers in Germany’s industrial sector already have shorter weeks than their peers in other countries and worry that reducing their hours further would hurt German competitiveness. IG Metall said more than 376,000 employees in the engineering sector had gone on warning strikes so far this year since a non-strike period ended on Dec. 31. (Reporting by Michelle Martin, editing by Larry King)" + }, + { + "text": "ALGONQUIN, Ill., Jan. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Young Innovations, a leading global manufacturer and distributor of dental supplies and equipment, today announced the acquisition of Mydent International Enterprises Corp. (\"Mydent\"). Launched in 1985, Mydent is a leading supplier of infection control products, disposables, preventives, impression material systems, rotary instruments and restoratives, including under the DEFEND brand, in over 45 countries. \"We are incredibly proud to lead Mydent through its next phase of growth in partnership with our distributor customers,\" said Dave Sproat, CEO of Young Innovations. \"The DEFEND brand has developed a reputation for high quality at great value that resonates well with clinicians and dental organizations around the world.\" \"Our acquisition of Mydent complements our robust infection control, preventive and restorative brand and product portfolio and aligns well with our commercial strategy,\" added Andrew Jones, Vice President of Corporate Development at Young Innovations. \"This also demonstrates our commitment to continuing our focused acquisition strategy as an important pillar of our ongoing growth.\" \"We built Mydent and the DEFEND brand over the last 30 years to provide trusted products to dental professionals at a reasonable price,\" said Andy Parker, Founder and CEO of Mydent. \"I am confident that Young is the best partner to steer Mydent toward continued success and the sustained growth of the DEFEND brand.\" Andy Parker will serve in an advisory role for a transitional period. There will be no immediate changes to ordering and service procedures for customers or vendors. Young Innovations was represented by Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Mydent was represented by Zukerman Gore Brandeis & Crossman, LLP of New York City. Young Innovations, Inc. is a portfolio company of The Jordan Company. About Young Innovations, Inc. Young Innovations is a leading global manufacturer and distributor of supplies and equipment used by dentists, hygienists, dental assistants and consumers. Our portfolio of brands includes products that hold leadership positions in the preventive, restorative, orthodontic, endodontic and diagnostic segments. With its mission of Creating Smiles, Creating Possibilities, Young focuses on delivering innovative, high-quality products and solutions to clinicians and their patients. We seek out opportunities to enhance our portfolio of brands and products through organic growth and acquisitions. About The Jordan Company TJC ( www.thejordancompany.com ), founded in 1982, is a middle-market private equity firm with original capital commitments in excess of $8 billion and a 35-year track record of investing in and contributing to the growth of many businesses across a wide range of industries. The senior investment team has been investing together for over 20 years and is supported by the Operations Management Group, which was established in 1988 to initiate and support operational improvements in portfolio companies. Headquartered in New York, NY, TJC also has an office in Chicago, IL. View original content: SOURCE Young Innovations" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 1:20 PM / Updated 12 minutes ago Petrobras CEO says change on gas prices purely business decision Reuters Staff 1 Min Read SAO PAULO, Jan 18 (Reuters) - The chief executive officer of Brazil’s state-controlled oil company Petrobras, Pedro Parente, said on Thursday the change on the pricing policy for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) was “purely a business decision.” Earlier Thursday Petrobras announced changes in the way it calculates final prices for LPG, largely used for cooking in Brazil, which will result in a reduction of 5 percent in prices starting on Friday. The company has been criticized in Brazil for recent increases in prices for the product. (Reporting by Marta Nogueira; Writing by Marcelo Teixeira; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)" + }, + { + "text": "January 21, 2018 / 10:39 AM / in 9 hours Tensions mount in Rohingya camps ahead of planned relocation to Myanmar Zeba Siddiqui 3 Min Read GUNGDUM, Bangladesh (Reuters) - Tensions mounted on Sunday at refugee camps in Bangladesh holding hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims over an operation to send them back to Myanmar, from where they have fled following a military crackdown. Dozens of refugees stood holding cloth banners opposing their transfer as United Nations Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee visited camps along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border over the weekend. Some refugee leaders said Bangladesh military officials had threatened to seize their food ration cards if they did not return. Under an agreement signed last week, Myanmar is set to receive Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh at two reception centers and a temporary camp near their common border starting on Tuesday and continuing over the next two years. The refugees refuse to go back unless their safety can be guaranteed and Myanmars grant their demands to be given citizenship and inclusion in a list of recognized ethnic minorities. They are also asking that their homes, mosques and schools that were burned down or damaged in the military operation be rebuilt. Over 655,500 Muslim Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after the Myanmar military cracked down in the northern part of Rakhine state in response to militant attacks on security forces on Aug. 25. The United Nations described the operation as ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, which Myanmar denies. Rohingya elders told Reuters that Bangladeshi army officials have called or met them over the last two days, asking them to prepare lists of families from their camps for repatriation. Four of them said they were among more than 70 camp leaders – representing thousands of refugees – who met army officers at the Gungdum camp on Saturday. Rohingya refugees walk along the Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, January 21, 2018. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain “When we said we cannot provide the lists because people are not ready to return, they asked us to bring their WP cards,” said Musa, a leader at the Gungdum camp, referring to relief cards provided by the UN’s World Food Programme. Rashedul Hasan, a spokesman for the Bangladesh army, said he was not aware of army men threatening to take away food cards. Slideshow (2 Images) Hundreds of refugees queue up at relief centers across the camps each morning to collect food using the cards. These centers are managed by the Bangladesh army. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has repeatedly said Rohingya returns need to be voluntary. “UNHCR has not been part of discussions (on repatriation) to date, but has offered support to engage in the process to ensure that the voices of refugees are heard,” Caroline Gluck, a senior protection officer for the agency, said by email on Saturday. “The pace of returns should be determined by the refugees themselves.” Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan" + }, + { + "text": "When the going gets good, it can be tough to avoid overconfidence. Investors fear United Continental Holdings could be making exactly that mistake. Late Tuesday United reported fourth-quarter earnings that topped analyst estimates, but by Wednesday morning nobody was paying attention to that. Instead, the focus was on the airline’s plan to... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "The Dow industrials leapt past 25000 for the first time, the blue-chip index’s fastest run to a fresh 1,000-point milestone in history. The Trump administration proposed opening up nearly all of the country’s offshore areas for oil drilling, a move that would touch every coastal state. Intel and other tech companies and experts have... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "REITs Why this homeowner will accept bitcoin for his $45 million mansion The seller of a 9,000-square-foot Malibu, California, home is willing to accept bitcoin as part of the payment. Buying up brick-and-mortar real estate might take some of the volatility out of a cryptocurrency investment. \"I'm not saying it's safe,\" the seller said. \"I'm just willing to take the risk for investment.\" 4 Hours Ago | 01:39 Dr. Wei Tzuoh Chen is putting his 9,000-square-foot beachfront Malibu home on the market for $45 million. It's a stunning masterpiece, designed by architect Ed Niles, unlike any other house on the ultra-luxurious strip of California beach. Angles jut out in every direction, most of the walls are windows, and a catwalk crosses the two-story entry foyer connecting the upstairs bedrooms. Perhaps most unusal, Chen is willing to accept bitcoin as part of the payment from a buyer. The kidney specialist, who has lived in the United States since the 1970s, says he is fascinated with cryptocurrencies and considers them to be just as legitimate as a dollar, pound or yen. \"I've been interested since it started, and I'm always watching what's going on,\" said Chen. \"It's going to be the future. It just depends which one is going to be stabilized in the current market. Do his neighbors think he's crazy? CNBC Dr. Wei Tzuoh Chen \"Oh yes!\" he laughed. Chen, who says he has already invested in cryptocurrencies, said he believes banks are on the verge of buying in, which would give more support to the cryptomarket. That, in turn, could push values even higher. Chen is also quite pragmatic about the benefits of accepting a currency that is largely unregulated. \"According to current situation, if you buy the property with cryptocurrency, it's difficult to identify the cost of the real estate because it fluctuates so much,\" he said. \"The government will have a hard time to tax or put a property value on the house you are going to sell.\" \"I'm not saying it's safe. I'm just willing to take the risk for investment. Just like everybody else.\" -Dr. Wei Tzuoh Chen, Malibu home seller And that opens up the potential buyer market for his home. There may not be a ton of $45 million buyers, but there are more now than there were even a year ago, thanks to cryptocurrencies. New millionaires are now looking for ways to take some of the volatility out of their cryptogains, and brick-and-mortar real estate is the perfect way. CNBC \"The majority of bitcoin purchasers are outside of this country,\" Chen said. \"And for this type of house and this amount, I think we'll attract more international buyers than from our country.\" Chen said if he does get bitcoin in the sale, he will keep some of it and change some for dollars. Given the volatility of bitcoin, he could gain or lose money within days, essentially getting more or less for his home than he intended. And that's why he only wants part of the payment in cryptocurrency. \"I'm not saying it's safe,\" Chen said. \"I'm just willing to take the risk for investment. Just like everybody else.\" Diana Olick CNBC Real Estate Reporter Playing" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 12(Reuters) - Sino Wealth Electronic Co Ltd : * Says net profit for FY 2017 to up 20 percent to 30 percent, or to be 129.2 million yuan to 139.9 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 107.6 million yuan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/UcJWAo Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT, Jan 16 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank announced the following results for its latest liquidity providing operation: Main Refinancing Operation-Allotment Intended Volume: Reference Number: 20180003 Min Allotment: Transaction Type: Reverse Transactions Fixed Rate: 0.00 % Operation Type: Liquidity Providing Max Bid Limit: Procedure: Standard Tender Max Bids per Cpty: 1 Tender Date: 16/01/2018 11:30 Marg. Rate: Start Date: 17/01/2018 % of All. at Fixed Rate: 100 Maturity Date: 24/01/2018 Tot Amount Allotted: 2417.7 mn Duration (days): 7 Weight. Avg. Allot. Rate: Tot Bid Amount: 2417.7 mn Auction Type: Fixed Rate Tender Tot Number of Bidders: 35 Allotment Method: Min Rate (bids): Max Rate (bids): ///Estimate on 16/01/2018 of the average autonomous factors for the period 15/01/2018 to 23/01/2018 amounts to EUR 1183.7 bn. Benchmark allotment based on the ECB's liquidity forecast as of 16/01/2018 amounts to EUR -564.0 bn. For general information on the calculation of the benchmark allotment amount, please see www.ecb.europa.eu/mopo/liq/html/index.en.html as well as ECB page Operational Communications./// This page is updated by Thomson Reuters based on data disseminated by the ECB. For more information refer to here" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds detail of LNG source, Gail’s 2018 buying strategy) By Nidhi Verma and Oleg Vukmanovic NEW DELHI/LONDON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Gas utility GAIL (India) Ltd has renegotiated the terms of a long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchase deal with Russia’s Gazprom , the Indian company said on Tuesday. This is the third such negotiation by India to make the imported fuel more affordable to its price-sensitive customers. India has been making the most of its position as one of the world’s biggest energy consumers to strike better bargains for its companies. In recent years it renegotiated long-term LNG deals with Qatar’s RasGas and Exxon Mobil Corp as spot prices declined substantially amid a supply glut, strengthening the hand of buyers chafing at high contract prices. Under the re-worked deal, GAIL and Gazprom have extended the duration of the deal by two to three years and the Indian company has agreed to buy an additional six million tonnes of LNG volumes, a source familiar with the matter said. The pricing of the super-cooled fuel has been changed from 9 month linkage to Japanese Customs cleared crude to three months average of Brent, the source said. In the initial three-year period, GAIL will be buying lower volumes -- 0.5 million tonnes in the first year, 0.75 million tonnes in the second year and 1.5 million tonnes in the third year. “Remaining volumes of the first three years will be picked up in the subsequent years,” this source said. GAIL signed the deal with Gazprom Marketing & Trading Singapore in 2012 to buy 2.5 million tonnes of LNG per year for 20 years on a delivered basis. The supplies were scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2018. “The two parties have agreed to an adjustment to the price and the volume of LNG supply, thus enabling GAIL to develop incremental gas markets to offtake these volumes, thereby mitigating volume risk,” GAIL said. The move will diversify GAIL’s LNG portfolio by spreading price reference indexes across multiple geographies, so as to give consumers greater flexibility in service, Chairman B. C. Tripathi said in a statement. When the deal was first signed, Gazprom envisaged supplying India with LNG from its planned Schtokman project in the Barents Sea, which was subsequently scrapped as the shale gas revolution in the United States removed a key customer base. The resulting contractual inconsistency gave GAIL a foothold to re-open the Gazprom deal, sources familiar with the matter said, kicking off talks in which it sought to delay the first LNG deliveries until 2020. Gazprom Marketing & Trading Chief Executive Vitaly Vasiliev said LNG supplies would begin in 2018. In talks with GAIL, Gazprom discussed changing the origin of the LNG to the newly built Yamal plant in the Russian Arctic, industry sources said. Gazprom agreed to buy 2.9 million tonnes of LNG per annum over 20 years from Yamal, which shipped its first cargo in December. GAIL has also signed contracts for sourcing up to 5.8 million tonnes of LNG from the United States. However, under GAIL’s 2018 delivery programme, the company does not expect to receive any LNG from the United States following a series of swap deals with Royal Dutch Shell and trader Gunvor, a source with knowledge of the matter said. Separately, GAIL is renegotiating its LNG purchase deals with U.S.-based Cheniere Energy and Dominion Energy, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told lawmakers last month. The importer over-committed to new LNG volumes earlier this decade when supply was scarce and buyers pounced to sign new deals. (Reporting by Nidhi Verma; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu, Alexander Smith and Adrian Croft)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - GigaDevice Semiconductor Beijing Inc : * SAYS IT PLANS TO BUY CHIP MAKER SILEAD FOR 1.7 BILLION YUAN ($269.17 million) VIA CASH, SHARE ISSUE * SAYS IT AIMS TO RAISE UP TO 1.08 BILLION YUAN IN PRIVATE PLACEMENT OF SHARE TO BOOST COMPANY‘S PROFITABILITY * SAYS IT EXPECTS 2017 NET PROFIT TO RISE 116.2-136.0 PERCENT Y/Y FROM 176.4 MILLION YUAN YEAR AGO Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2Gurbxf ; bit.ly/2BGbSyc Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3156 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fitch Ratings said on Friday its top AAA debt rating for the United States would not be directly impacted by a possible federal shutdown, which will begin on Saturday if lawmakers fail to clinch a deal to fund the government. “Partial federal government shutdowns have occurred in the past and this shutdown does not have a direct impact on the sovereign’s ‘AAA’/Stable rating,” the rating agency said in a statement. On Friday, the U.S. Senate was racing to avert a government shutdown that will begin at midnight if it cannot reach an agreement on legislation that will fund the government through Feb. 16. The House of Representatives approved the measure late Thursday, which would be the third such temporary deal since the new fiscal year began in October. “Its main implication for the U.S.’s sovereign creditworthiness would depend on whether it foreshadowed a further destabilization of US budget policymaking, or brinkmanship over the federal debt limit,” Fitch said. The Congressional Budget Office has said the government would run out of cash in late March and early April when the Treasury Department exhausts extraordinary measures to fund various federal obligations. Reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama" + }, + { + "text": "Mannie Garcia | Getty Images North America. Dr. Robert L. DuPont A marijuana policy advisor to Attorney General Jeff Sessions is promoting an aggressive drug testing regimen — and stands to gain from it, The Daily Beast reported. Dr. Robert DuPont met with Sessions and an exclusive group of drug policy experts to discuss the federal government's response to increasingly lenient state-level marijuana policies. The meeting came just before California's recreational marijuana legalization on Jan. 1. According to The Daily Beast, the 81-year-old DuPont's contribution was on \"the effect of marijuana on drugged driving.\" DuPont is well-known for his stance on driving under the influence of marijuana — and what exactly he means by \"under the influence.\" He drafted a model driving under the influence bill in 2010 calling for law enforcement to administer a drug test for all controlled substances to anyone suspected to be driving impaired. He also called for the arrest of individuals with any trace of any controlled substances in their system, according to The Daily Beast. The bill makes it clear that there is no exception for residents of states where marijuana is technically legal. DuPont stands to gain financially from his proposed mandatory drug testing. Throughout the years, he has been at times shareholder, advisor and consultant to various drug testing companies, including Psychemedics and CAM International Ventures, The Daily Beast reported. He has denied claims of financial motivation. DuPont is a former drug czar to Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Chloe Aiello News Associate for CNBC.com Related Securities" + }, + { + "text": "'America is open for business': Trump in Davos 2:23pm GMT - 01:32 During his address at Switzerland Friday, President Donald Trump told the audience, 'America is open for business'. Rough Cut During his address at Switzerland Friday, President Donald Trump told the audience, 'America is open for business'. Rough Cut //reut.rs/2DH2nVm" + }, + { + "text": "TUBAS, West Bank (Reuters) - Palestinian mother Ezzeya Daraghmeh opens up a pillowcase and pulls out large clumps of her multi-colored hair that she has kept for nearly seven decades. Ezzeya Daraghmeh, an 82-year-old Palestinian woman who said she has kept parts of her hair she cut over 67 years, stuffs a pillow with her hair in the West Bank town of Tubas January 2, 2018. Picture taken January 2, 2018. REUTERS/Raneen Sawafta “I like my hair and I hate to throw it away. Even when Icomb my hair or wash it I keep the hair that falls off,” the 82-year-old told Reuters at her home in Tubas in the West Bank. Daraghmeh started collecting her hair when she was 15, storing the different shades of black, brown, grey and white colored locks in a mattress before opting to use it to stuff three big pillows in her home. She uses the hair pillows as decoration. “God is great, all this hair came from a single head, myhead,” she said. Reporting by Raneen Sawafta and Nidal al-Mughrabi. Editing by Patrick Johnston and Ralph Boulton Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Justin Sullivan | Getty Images A customer holds a handful of Powerball tickets. It's been a billion-dollar lottery weekend after a lone Powerball ticket sold in New Hampshire matched all six numbers and will claim a $570 million jackpot, one day after another single ticket sold in Florida nabbed a $450 million Mega Millions grand prize . The winning Powerball numbers drawn Saturday night were 12-29-30-33-61 and Powerball 26. The Powerball jackpot was the nation's seventh largest. The Florida Lottery says the winning Mega Millions ticket was bought at a 7-Eleven convenience store in Port Richey. The retailer will receive a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. The winning numbers to claim the Mega Millions jackpot were 28-30-39-59-70-10. The jackpots refer to the annuity options for both games, in which payments are made over 29 years. Most winners opt for cash options, which would be $281 million for Mega Millions and $358.5 million for Powerball. The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are one in 302.5 million. Powerball odds are one in 292.2 million. The identity of either winner was not immediately available. However, under Florida law, the Mega Millions winner cannot remain anonymous. The winner has 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim the prize. However, to elect the one-time, lump-sum cash payment option for $281.2 million the claim must be filed within 60 days, according to lottery officials. The winner's name, city of residence and details on the winnings can be made public; however, the winner's home address and telephone numbers are to be kept \"confidential.\" According to the website, only three Mega Millions jackpots have been larger than the most recent grand prize: a jackpot of $656 million in 2012; a jackpot of $648 million in 2013; and $536 million in 2016." + }, + { + "text": "By Susie Gharib January 2, 2018 Just about every old-line American company talks about the actions it’s taking to be an innovator and a disruptor these days. If you want to know how that works in real life, take a look at 175-year-old Stanley Black & Decker (swk) , the legendary manufacturer of tools and household hardware, and its leadership under James Loree. When Loree took charge of the Connecticut-based company in 2016, he said it bothered him that the company had not articulated its “purpose.” Even though Loree had been involved in the 2010 merger of Stanley Works with Black & Decker and had worked at the company for 20 years, he wanted an answer to the question, “what societal need do we fulfill?”. It took learning new leadership skills and an entire year of working closely with the company’s 45,000 employees to answer that. Loree, who spent his career working on the finance side of the business, says the hardest part was “letting go” of the traditional command and control style of leadership. “It’s letting loose and being confident enough to believe the answer will come and it will be a very good answer. And it did,” Loree says of the company-wide process of reinventing Stanley Black & Decker. “It was a great answer.” Stanley Black & Decker defines its purpose as providing the best tools “for those who make the world.” One of the positive outcomes of this team effort, Loree says proudly, is that he now has constant conversations with employees, mostly through social media. “People feel like they can say what they want to say. If they have an issue they want to get on the table, they can do it,” he says. “I cannot overstate the importance of social media to fulfilling this initiative and purpose.” Watch the video above for more of our conversation with Loree. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "(Repeats with no changes) By Trevor Hunnicutt Jan 22 (Reuters) - Investors are getting a high-octane way to bet on or against the stock market’s technology leaders. A new product aims to let investors triple the return of 10 stocks, including the so-called FANG stocks - Facebook Inc , Amazon.com Inc, Netflix Inc and Google parent Alphabet Inc. The BMO REX MicroSectors FANG+ Index 3X Leveraged Exchange Traded Note (ETN) starts trading on Tuesday under the ticker FNGU, the product’s backers said in a note on Monday. If the target stocks gain 10 percent, the notes should trade up 30 percent. A companion product, BMO REX MicroSectors FANG+ Index -3X Inverse Leveraged Exchange Traded Notes, which will trade under the ticker FNGD, aims to let investors triple the inverse of the same index. If FANG and the other stocks fall by 10 percent, the notes would gain 30 percent. FANG stocks have profited tremendously during the U.S. bull market since the 2007-2009 global financial crisis, and for some investors they have come to symbolize the market’s excesses. Netflix, the best performer of the four, has gained more than 5,000 percent since the end of 2008. Apple Inc, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, Baidu Inc, Nvidia Corp, Tesla Inc and Twitter Inc round out the other holdings in the index. A unit of Intercontinental Exchange Inc developed the index and the notes are also being listed on its NYSE Arca exchange. They did not immediately respond for comment. The note’s issuer, Bank of Montreal, also did not respond to a request for comment. ETNs, like debt, constitute a pledge by an issuer. Payouts are based on the performance of the underlying index, but the notes do not actually own those stocks, unlike most of the ETFs to which they are often compared. The stocks are equally weighted regardless of market capitalization. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)" + }, + { + "text": "OLD GREENWICH, Conn., Jan. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Spencer Trask & Co. , a privately held advanced technology development firm, is pleased to announce the sale of ImThera Medical, Inc. (\"ImThera\"), a privately owned company focused on neurostimulation for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (\"OSA\"). The company was purchased by LivaNova PLC , a market-leading, medical technology company, as part of a transaction valued at approximately $225 million. Spencer Trask & Co. co-founded ImThera with Marcello Lima in keeping with the company's long tradition of helping develop innovative healthcare solutions that treat important medical conditions. ImThera designed and developed a non-drug therapy for OSA that cyclically and continuously stimulates six muscles of the tongue via an implantable device. This therapy received its European CE mark in March 2012 and is currently being tested as part of a 141 patient Phase III clinical trial in the U.S. Led by Alan R. Schwartz, MD at Johns Hopkins University, the clinical trial is expected to be completed by March 2018. \"This transaction with LivaNova accelerates the ImThera mission of providing its life-changing therapy to the millions of Americans who are living with obstructive sleep apnea,\" said Spencer Trask & Co. Chairman Kevin Kimberlin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies insufficient sleep as a \"public health epidemic,\" noting that one third of U.S. adults report that they usually get less than the recommended amount of sleep. Victims of OSA stop breathing during the night, sometimes several hundred times. This often undiagnosed condition is a major contributor to neurocognitive, metabolic and cardiovascular disease and may affect as many as 25 million Americans. ImThera developed a programmable chip which stimulates the hypoglossal nerve that supplies the muscles of the tongue with signals from the brain. By so doing, the ImThera implant keeps the air passageway open throughout the night. According to a retrospective study published in the Journal of Thoracic Disease ( Feb. 2016 ), individuals suffering from OSA face between a 35% and 85% higher mortality rate compared to healthy people. Approximately 50% of those with sleep apnea suffer from hypertension, a contributing factor in the approximately 38,000 annual cardiovascular deaths (high blood pressure, hypertension, stroke) attributed to the disease. Kimberlin added, \"This is a prime example of the Spencer Trask & Co. mission in action, transforming the standard of care for conditions that affect millions of people.\" Spencer Trask & Co. is known for discovering and bringing to market technical solutions that improve the human condition. About ImThera Medical, Inc. ImThera Medical is a global leader in neurostimulation for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Headquartered in San Diego, ImThera was founded to improve the lives of patients suffering from the debilitating effects of OSA. ImThera's sleep therapy product is comprised of an implanted small generator and multi-channel electrode lead, along with an external handheld remote control that can start, stop or pause therapy. ImThera collaborates with the world's top scientists and medical experts in sleep medicine, and its product is commercially available in several countries outside the United States. About LivaNova LivaNova PLC is a global medical technology company built on nearly five decades of experience and a relentless commitment to improve the lives of patients around the world. LivaNova's advanced technologies and breakthrough treatments provide meaningful solutions for the benefit of patients, healthcare professionals and healthcare systems. Headquartered in London and with a presence in more than 100 countries worldwide, the company employs more than 4,500 employees. LivaNova operates as three business franchises: Cardiac Surgery, Neuromodulation and Cardiac Rhythm Management, with operating headquarters in Mirandola (Italy), Houston (U.S.A.) and Clamart (France), respectively. About Spencer Trask & Co. Spencer Trask & Co. is a privately held advanced technology development firm that helps entrepreneurs, CEOs and corporate partners start and grow high impact ventures that are changing the world. The company has been instrumental in helping companies pioneer many technological and scientific advancements in the fields of genomics, healthcare technology, mobile technology, the Internet and Open Innovation. Please visit www.spencertraskco.com for more information. View original content: SOURCE Spencer Trask & Co." + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 1:58 AM / Updated 32 minutes ago Oil dips, still set for biggest January rise in five years Bryan Sims 3 Min Read HOUSTON (Reuters) - Oil prices slipped 1.5 percent on Monday, pressured by a strengthening dollar and rising U.S. crude output, but prices remained on track for the biggest January increase in five years. Brent crude futures LCOc1 were down $1.05 at $69.45 a barrel at 11:26 EST (1626 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were $1 lower at $65.14 a barrel. Brent has risen 6.3 percent so far this month, headed for its biggest January rise since 2013. “There seems to be a little profit-taking today because the stock market is weaker and longs keep adding to the long side of the equation,” said Phil Flynn, analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago. Oil prices have been buoyed by the U.S. dollar’s six straight weekly slides. The greenback is set to fall 3 percent for this month. .DXY Oil is priced in the U.S. currency, so a falling dollar can boost demand for crude from buyers using other currencies. The dollar index had been below $90 since Jan. 24. But the currency has rebounded nearly 0.5 percent since Friday to $89.59, which has weighed on crude prices. “After six weeks of losses balance is inevitable. Its influence has really resurged as of late to where the dollar index below $90 has propped up oil,” said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York. Crude prices also had drawn support from a large premium in the front-month Brent oil contract over those for future delivery, as investment in crude futures and options reached a new record high last week. Oil consumption is surging as a result of growth in major economies, while OPEC and its allies have made repeated commitments to limiting their crude output. On Monday, Iraq’s oil minister said in London that the oil market was improving, and that the country would comply with OPEC output cuts even though it is trying to increase its oil export capacity. Somewhat offsetting the OPEC-led cuts has been rising oil output in North America. “We believe that today’s oil prices project a too rosy picture,” said Julius Baer’s head of macro and commodity research Norbert Ruecker. U.S. output C-OUT-T-EIA has jumped more than 17 percent since mid-2016, reaching 9.88 million barrels per day (bpd) in mid-January. It is expected to exceed 10 million bpd soon. U.S. energy firms added 12 drilling rigs for new production in the week to Jan. 26, taking the total to 759, Baker Hughes reported on Friday. U.S. production is now on par with top exporter and OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia. Only Russia produces more, averaging 10.98 million bpd in 2017. Additional reporting by Nina Chestney and Amanda Cooper in London and Henning Gloystein in Singapore; Editing by David Gregorio" + }, + { + "text": "MISSION, Kan., Jan. 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xact Data Discovery (XDD), a leading international provider of eDiscovery, data management and managed review services for law firms and corporations, announced today that it has been acquired by JLL Partners, a middle market private equity firm based in New York. As part of the transaction, JLL is partnering with XDD Founder and President Bob Polus. JLL will support Bob and his leadership team in the Company’s next phase of its growth as it continues to strengthen its market position as an industry leader and innovator within the eDiscovery and legal process outsourcing markets. “As part of our growth strategy, finding an investment partner with a similar culture, strategic vision and focused energy was critical to our success,” said Bob Polus. “We look forward to advancing our common interests, experience and capital as we pursue additional acquisitions to add new locations and service capabilities.” XDD has established itself as an industry leader in the eDiscovery market with a reputation for high-touch client service, fast turnaround times and deep domain expertise across a number of industries. XDD’s discovery experts bring a unique mix of insights across the lifecycle of client matters to alleviate “pain-points,” reduce costs, and drive predicable and reliable outcomes. “We have been very impressed with Bob and the entire team at XDD during our discussions over the past year and believe the Company represents a compelling platform in the eDiscovery space at a time when the growing complexity of litigation has made outsourced service providers like XDD more necessary than ever,” said Frank Rodriguez, Managing Director at JLL Partners. XDD is the fifth platform investment for JLL Partners Fund VII. About Xact Data Discovery Xact Data Discovery is a leading international provider of eDiscovery, data management and managed review services for law firms and corporations. XDD helps clients optimize their eDiscovery matters by orchestrating pristine communication between people, processes, technology and data. XDD services include forensics, eDiscovery processing, Relativity hosting and managed review. XDD has 16 offices throughout the United States and two locations in India. XDD offers exceptional customer service with a commitment to responsive, transparent and timely communication to ensure clients remain informed throughout the entire discovery life cycle. Visit for more information. Press Contact: Bob Lorum Xact Data Discovery 951.378.1991 [REDACTED] About JLL Partners JLL Partners is a leading middle-market private equity firm with a 29-year track record of building and transforming businesses through its financial and operational expertise. Since its founding in 1988, JLL Partners has committed approximately $5 billion across seven funds. JLL Partners is a control investor and sources its deals from its deep network of industry contacts, applying its proven, value-oriented and growth-driven investment approach to provide limited partners with attractive risk-adjusted returns throughout all investment cycles. The firm is headquartered in New York. Visit for more information. Source: Xact Data Discovery" + }, + { + "text": "January 27, 2018 / 7:15 PM / Updated 9 minutes ago Around 800 migrants rescued in Mediterranean, two bodies recovered Reuters Staff 2 Min Read MILAN (Reuters) - Around 800 migrants were rescued in the Mediterranean on Saturday as they tried to reach Europe and two bodies were recovered, Italy’s coast guard, which coordinated the rescues, said in a statement. No details about the nationalities of those rescued were given, nor was there further information about the deaths. The migrants were picked up from two barges, two rubber dinghies and one small boat in five separate rescue operations. During one of the rescues, two helicopters from the Italian navy were used to pick-up seven children with water in their lungs and transport them to the nearest hospital in Tunisia where they were given the necessary care, the coast guard added. Immigration is a key issue ahead of a national election in Italy on March 4. The ruling Democratic Party has pointed to a sharp fall in arrivals from Libya since July as proof that it is now managing what before seemed like an endless flow of migrant boats. Arrivals fell by a third last year to 119,000 compared with a year earlier, and they tumbled by two thirds in the second half of the year. The declines came after a deal with the Tripoli government sealed in February, which foresaw aid and training for the Libyans to fight people smuggling and to bolster their coastguard. More than 20,000 are estimated to have died attempting the crossing to Italy in the past four years, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates, making it the deadliest border for migrants in the world. As of Jan. 25, 4,742 people had reached Europe by sea so far this year, the IOM said. Reporting by Agnieszka Flak, editing by Louise Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday dismissed a proposed class-action lawsuit by a New York vegetarian who accused Buffalo Wild Wings Inc of failing to disclose that it cooked french fries and other “non-meat” items in beef fat. U.S. District Judge Katherine Forrest in Manhattan said the plaintiff Alexa Borenkoff did not show how the chain’s use of beef tallow affected the “economic value” of the fries and mozzarella sticks she bought at two restaurants. The judge said this meant Borenkoff’s alleged loss was limited to what she paid, which was not an “actual injury” under a New York law targeting deceptive business practices, despite her being “frustrated” that her expectations were not met. Michael Braunstein, a lawyer for Borenkoff, declined immediate comment, saying he was reviewing the decision. Francis Riley, a lawyer representing Buffalo Wild Wings, said he was “very satisfied” with the decision. Restaurants often face lawsuits over their ingredients and cooking methods. Borenkoff has said the issue is not limited to vegetarians, and that people with religious restrictions, such as kosher diets, also care about how food is cooked and served. Buffalo Wild Wings recently had more than 1,250 restaurants nationwide. The Minneapolis-based chain agreed in November to a $2.4 billion takeover by Arby’s Restaurant Group Inc, which is controlled by an affiliate of Roark Capital Group. The case is Borenkoff v Buffalo Wild Wings Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 16-08532. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 12:13 PM / Updated 27 minutes ago Iraqi parliament votes to lift sanctions on Kurdistan region banks - TV Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The Iraqi parliament voted on Monday to lift sanctions imposed on banks in the Kurdistan region over an independence referendum, two main Iraqi TV channels reported. Lawmakers in Baghdad approved that sanctions be lifted after they had “fulfilled their purpose�� by enforcing federal controls on the Kurdish banking industry, said a copy of the measure published by Baghdad-based al-Sumariya TV. The government will now enact the decision. The sanctions included restrictions on dollar and foreign currency transfers and sales to four Kurdish-owned banks by the central bank in Baghdad. [L8N1MF2OM] A ban on direct international flights to and from the Kurdistan region, also imposed in retaliation for the Sept. 25 Kurdish independence referendum, is still in place. The central government in Baghdad said the vote, which delivered an overwhelming yes for independence, is illegal. In October, Iraqi government forces dislodged Kurdish fighters from several disputed areas including the oil region of Kirkuk. Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Janet Lawrence" + }, + { + "text": "Senior guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk erupted for 24 points Saturday, including 17 during a sizzling first half, as No. 5 Kansas tripped Texas A&M 79-68 at the Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. The Jayhawks (17-4) led by 18 at the break and then cruised throughout the second half while recovering from a loss at Oklahoma earlier in the week. Texas A&M (13-8) crawled within nine inside the final media timeout of the second half, but could get no closer despite 18 points and nine rebounds from junior center Tyler Davis. Sophomore guard Malik Newman added 15 points and a team-high seven rebounds for the Jayhawks, who lost two nonconference games earlier in the season against Washington and Arizona State. The game against Texas A&M, a former Big 12 rival, was part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge. The loss was the seventh in nine games for the Aggies, who also got 11 points and nine rebounds from sophomore forward Robert Williams. Texas A&M managed a 40-33 advantage on the boards, but was outscored 15-2 on fast-break points. Kansas used an 18-3 run, which included 9-for-13 shooting from 3-point range, to gain a 38-21 margin in the first 15 minutes. The Jayhawks went on to grab their biggest lead of the half, 45-27, on a 3-pointer by Mitch Lightfoot just 3 seconds before the break. Mykhailiuk netted 17 first-half points as one of five Jayhawks to drain 3-pointers. Kansas hit 10 of 19 from that distance for the half while holding Texas A&M to 36.4 percent shooting. The victory was the 200th at home for Kansas against nonconference opponents in 15 seasons under coach Bill Self. The Jayhawks have lost just nine nonconference home games during that stretch. Kansas stands 4-1 all-time in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. The Jayhawks sit atop the Big 12 with a 6-2 record and take a one-game lead into a Monday matchup at Kansas State, which has won four straight and sits in a four-way tie for second at 5-3. Kansas claimed a 73-72 home win over Kansas State in the first meeting on Jan. 13. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "Evan Fournier scored a career-high 32 points as the Orlando Magic stunned the Minnesota Timberwolves 108-102 Tuesday night at the Amway Center in Orlando. Fournier hit 6 3-pointers and D.J. Augustin had 11 points in the fourth quarter as Orlando snapped a seven-game losing streak and won for only the second time in its last 18 games. Jimmy Butler scored 28 points for Minnesota, which saw a five-game winning streak snapped in surprising fashion. Augustin keyed a big fourth quarter for the Magic, who won only their fifth game since getting out to an 8-4 start. Augustin hit a 3-pointer at the 4:07 mark of the fourth quarter and later made three straight free throws after he was fouled attempting another triple to extend Orlando’s lead to 101-92. But Tuesday was all about Fournier, who broke the 30-point barrier for only the third time in his career. Fournier, who entered averaging a career-best 17.6 points per game this season, made up for an off-night by teammate Aaron Gordon. Fournier made 12 of 22 shots, including 6 of 12 from 3-point range. The sixth-year guard scored 15 in the third quarter to keep Orlando within two points of Minnesota, which entered tied for the third-best record in the Western Conference. Bismack Biyombo and Khem Birch also played a big role in the Magic upset as they combined for 26 rebounds. Orlando outrebounded the Timberwolves 51-37. Biyombo finished with 10 points and five blocked shots. Gordon finished with 14 points on 5-of-17 shooting and added seven rebounds. Augustin had 18 points, six rebounds and six assists in the victory. He keyed a Magic bench that outscored Minnesota 42-19. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds in the loss. Taj Gibson had 18 points and seven rebounds for Minnesota, which only got nine points from Andrew Wiggins in 34 minutes of action. Jeff Teague scored 13 in the losing effort. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "CNBC.com SHARES Bank of America 's global head of technology, media and telecommunications investment banking Anwar Zakkour is planning to depart to pursue other opportunities, according to an internal e-mail obtained by CNBC and confirmed by a bank spokesman. His departure marks the second global head of the group to leave in less than a year. Zakkour's co-head, Chet Bozdog, retired in March. Zakkour has been the sole head of the group since Bozdog's departure. Zakkour joined the bank in 2013 after eight years at J.P. Morgan Chase, including the last two as global vice chairman of investment banking. Some of his recent deals include selling the Los Angeles Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, representing Verizon on its acquisition of Yahoo's Internet core business, and selling Time Inc. to Meredith. Zakkour will be replaced by Jack MacDonald, currently co-head of global M&A. MacDonald will remain in Palo Alto, California, and report to Diego De Giorgi, head of global investment banking, according to the memo. MacDonald has been with the firm since 1995 and has advised on more than $500 billion of deals during his career, according to the memo. Zakkour will depart next month and will take some time before deciding on his next position, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the matter is private. Before joining Bank of America, Zakkour worked on some of the largest and most influential media and telecom deals ever, including Verizon's $130 billion deal with Vodafone to buy the 45 percent stake in Verizon Wireless it didn't already own, and General Electric's sale of NBCUniversal to Comcast . Disclosure: Comcast is the owner of NBCUniversal, parent company of CNBC and CNBC.com. show chapters" + }, + { + "text": "WHEN ARNOLD Schwarzenegger stepped into the lights at the Michigan Theater Sunday night—the surprise guest at the unveiling of Mercedes-Benz’s redesigned G-Wagen SUV before the 2018 North American International Auto Show—it was one slow-moving dinosaur celebrating another. Originally designed as a military vehicle, the G-Wagen (for Gelande meaning “cross-country”) is the handiwork of trusted subcontractor Magna Steyr, based in Graz, Austria, just an Atlas-stone’s throw from Arnold’s birthplace in Thal. With heavy-duty body-on-frame... RELATED VIDEO Test Driving the Future of Racing: Formula E Formula E racing aims to reinvent motor sports. WSJ’s Dan Neil travels to Mexico City to test the electric race car’s power—and its brakes. (5/19/2017) To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds details on the quarter, background) Jan 29 (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter revenue on Monday, helped by higher sales from the F-35 fighter jet program, while also forecasting a rise in earnings in 2018. The U.S. defense contractor took a $1.9 billion charge in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, mainly due to the change in U.S. tax law. On an adjusted basis, however, Lockheed earned $4.30 per share in the quarter. Net sales rose to $15.14 billion from $13.75 billion a year earlier compared with $14.72 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Adjusted for new accounting standards from Jan. 1, Lockheed said it expects 2018 net sales in the range of $50.00 billion-$51.50 billion and earnings per share of $15.20-$15.50. Lockheed, like its peers in the United States, is expected to gain from an increase in defense spending under President Donald Trump’s administration. The U.S. Defense Department expects to spend some $391 billion over 15 years to develop and buy 2,456 of the supersonic warplanes. Lockheed said sales in its aeronautics business, its biggest, grew 11.8 percent to $6.05 billion. (Reporting by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "ABUJA (Reuters) - An explosion ruptured a major Nigerian gas pipeline on Thursday, the state oil firm said in a statement, days after the same line was repaired following damage from a fire that shut it down earlier this month. The Escarvos-Lagos Pipeline was hit by an explosion along Egbokodo-Omadino in the Warri region of Delta state, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said. The NNPC did not say whether gas distribution had already been hit, but added that supplies from other sources would be increased to offset any shortfalls as repair works commence. The pipeline supplies gas to plants producing about one-sixth of Nigeria’s power, as well as the West Africa Gas Pipeline System. Blackouts in Nigeria are common and many businesses and households are forced to rely on their own power generators or, for the less wealthy, not have any electricity. The country’s dilapidated power grid is often blamed for hobbling growth in Africa’s largest economy. Reporting by Paul Carsten; editing by Jason Neely and David Evans" + }, + { + "text": "HOUSTON, Jan. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Parker Drilling Company (NYSE: PKD) announced today it intends to report its fourth quarter 2017 results after the market closes on Wednesday, February 14, 2018. In conjunction with the release, the Company has scheduled a conference call on Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time). Those interested in listening to the call may do so by telephone or by audio webcast. By Webcast: Connect to the webcast via the Investor Relations section of the Parker Drilling website at . Please log in at least 10 minutes in advance to register and download any necessary software. A replay will be available shortly after the call and can be accessed on the Company's website for 12 months. By Phone: Dial (+1) (412) 902-0003 at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time and request the Parker Drilling call. A recording of the call will be available through February 22, 2018 by dialing (+1) (201) 612-7415 and using the conference ID 13675091#. A copy of the earnings report and related information will be available on the Company's website. Parker Drilling provides drilling services and rental tools to the energy industry. The Company's Drilling Services business serves operators in the inland waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico utilizing Parker Drilling's barge rig fleet and in select U.S. and international markets and harsh-environment regions utilizing Parker-owned and customer-owned equipment. The Company's Rental Tools Services business supplies premium equipment and well services to operators on land and offshore in the U.S. and international markets. More information about Parker Drilling can be found on the Company's website at . Contact: Jason Geach, Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development, (+1) (281) 406-2310, [REDACTED] . View original content: SOURCE Parker Drilling Company" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15 (Reuters) - Daiwa Securities Group Inc * Says it and Samty Co Ltd will invest about 15.1 billion yen in Samty Residential Investment Corp * Says it will acquire 33 percent stake in Samty Asset Management Co Ltd, from Samty Co Ltd * Effective Feb. 1 Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/4HkPhG Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 6:13 PM / Updated 17 minutes ago Goldman, Citi final bidders for Scotiabank's metals business - sources Peter Hobson , Clara Denina 3 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - The field of prospective bidders for ScotiaMocatta, the metals trading arm of Canada’s Bank of Nova Scotia ( BNS.TO ), has narrowed to two, three banking and industry sources said on Wednesday. The two - Goldman Sachs Group ( GS.N ) and Citi ( C.N ) - are undertaking due diligence checks, the sources said. The sources said Japanese trading house Sumitomo ( 8053.T ) and Australian bank ANZ (Australia and New Zealand Banking Group) ( ANZ.AX ), which had also expressed interest, were not taking their offers forward and there was no certainty a deal would be reached. Scotiabank did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Goldman and Citi declined to comment. Scotiabank hired JPMorgan ( JPM.N ) to help with the sale after conducting a review of its metals business in 2016 following a string of lawsuits related to the manipulation of gold and silver price benchmarks and due to dissatisfaction over its performance, sources said. It aims to complete the process by the end of March 2018. The sources said that Scotiabank’s price tag of up to $1 billion for ScotiaMocatta was unlikely to be met by the suitors. FILE PHOTO - The logo of Citi bank is pictured at an exhibition hall in Bangkok, Thailand, May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha “I think the process will see the great majority of the business move to a new owner but would definitely expect there to be subsequent trimming, either by sale or closure,” one said. The bulk of ScotiaMocatta’s business is in precious metals and it is one of five banks that clear bullion in London’s $5 trillion a year gold market, the world’s biggest. Citi trades precious metals and does some hedging and financing business for some of Canada’s gold producers. Buying Scotia’s business would give them a much larger precious metals trading book, one of the sources said. Goldman Sachs has been seeking to turn around its commodities business by hiring a number of executives after reporting weak revenues in 2017. Goldman was one of five banks that invested several million dollars in designing and building gold and silver contracts launched by the London Metal Exchange in July. A fourth source said Goldman would be mostly interested in Scotia’s mine finance business. ScotiaMocatta is one of London’s main gold trading banks with a history dating back to the 17th century. It was acquired by Scotiabank from Standard Chartered ( STAN.L ) in 1997 and employs more than 160 people in 10 offices around the world, according to its website. Market sources put Scotiabank’s annual revenues from the precious metals unit at $100-$180 million with operating margins of around 25 percent. Reporting by Peter Hobson and Clara Denina; Editing by Veronica Brown and Jane Merriman" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 9:41 AM / Updated 8 hours ago Cricket: Kohli fined, handed demerit point for on-field behaviour Reuters Staff 2 Min Read PRETORIA (Reuters) - The International Cricket Council (ICC) has sanctioned India captain Virat Kohli for repeatedly complaining to the umpires about a damp ball and then aggressively throwing it to the floor during the second test against South Africa in Pretoria. Cricket - India v South Africa - Second Test match - Centurion Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa - January 15, 2018. India’s Virat Kohli plays a shot. REUTERS/James Oatway Kohli has been fined 25 percent of his match fee and received one demerit point for what the ICC described as constant complaining, followed by him angrily throwing the ball to the floor on the third day of the contest. “Monday’s incident happened in the 25th over of South Africa’s second innings when Kohli continued to complain to umpire Michael Gough about the ball being affected by a damp outfield following a rain delay, before throwing the ball into the ground in an aggressive manner,” the ICC said in a statement on Tuesday. The Level 1 offence carried a maximum penalty of a fine of 50 percent of his match fee and two demerit points. Earlier in the day, Kohli scored a magnificent 153 to keep India in contention in the second test, having lost the opening match of the three-game series by 72 runs in Cape Town. It is not the first time that Kohli has fallen foul of the ICC. He was fined 30 percent of his match fee in 2014 following an altercation with Australia’s Steve Smith following a rejected lbw appeal against Rohit Sharma. He was also fined 30 percent of his match fee for showing dissent after being given out in a one-day international against Pakistan in 2016. Should a player receive four or more demerit points within a two-year period, these are converted into suspension points. A suspension point amounts to a ban from one test or two ODIs, or two T20Is, whichever come first. Kohli has picked up his first demerit point for this period. Reporting By Nick Said; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING, Jan 17 (Reuters) - * Chinese brokerage Gelin Dahua has cut long position on April Shanghai copper contract by 75 percent over past two days, according to Reuters calculations based on Shanghai Futures Exchange (ShFE) data * Brokerage, owned by Shanxi Securities Co, now only 4th-biggest position holder among futures brokerages for April, but remains top for May and June * Gelin Dahua offloaded 4,835 lots on Wednesday, on top of 4,160 lots it cut from its position on Tuesday, ShFE data shows * Now has just 2,968 lots on April contract, versus 11,963 lots at the end of Monday, according to ShFE data * Gelin Dahua has held the biggest long position on forward contracts on the exchange since at least October, placing bullish bets on behalf of a coal mining investor, according to a person familiar with the matter * Shanghai copper prices ended down 1.9 pct on 53,580 yuan ($8,323.75) a tonne on Wednesday, the lowest close since Dec. 15 * Company did not immediately answer call seeking comment ($1 = 6.4370 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Tom Daly; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 14 (Reuters) - U.S. immigration authorities said on Saturday that it will resume accepting requests under a program that shields young people brought to the United States illegally from deportation after a court order blocked a government decision to end the program. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said on its website that people who previously received a grant of protection under the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA) may apply for a renewal under the terms in place before it was rescinded in September. The announcement comes after a U.S. judge on Thursday temporarily blocked a decision by President Donald Trump to end DACA later this year. Congress is debating whether or not to write new legislation that would grant legal status to these immigrants that were brought to the U.S. as children and remain illegally. Former President Barack Obama enacted DACA to keep the undocumented immigrants, known as dreamers, from being deported. The immigration office said that deferments under DACA do not confer legal residency but gives prosecutors discretion on enforcing immigration laws. (Reporting by Rich McKay; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)" + }, + { + "text": "PANAMA CITY, Jan. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE: CPA) announces the following events: Earnings Release – Fourth Quarter 2017 Date: February 21, 2018 Time: After US market close This release will be available on our website: Earnings Conference Call and Webcast Date: February 22, 2018 Time: 11:00 AM US ET (11:00 AM Local Time) Conference telephone number: 877-293-5456 (US Domestic Callers) 707-287-9357 (International Callers) Webcast: Speakers: Pedro Heilbron, Chief Executive Officer José Montero, Chief Financial Officer Webcast listeners should access the website several minutes prior to the scheduled start time, allowing sufficient time to register, download and install any necessary software. If you are unable to listen or access this presentation at the scheduled time, a webcast replay option will be available at the above website shortly after the conferencej. Copa Holdings is a leading Latin American provider of passenger and cargo services. The Company, through its operating subsidiaries, provides service to 75 destinations in 31 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean with one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the industry, consisting of 101 aircraft: 81 Boeing 737NG aircraft and 20 EMBRAER-190s. For more information visit www.copa.com . CPA-G CONTACT: Raúl Pascual – Panamá Director – Investor Relations 011 (507) 304-2774 View original content: SOURCE Copa Holdings, S.A." + }, + { + "text": "Seton Hall star big man Angel Delgado became the Big East’s all-time leading rebounder, and Myles Powell scored 21 points as the Pirates rolled over DePaul 86-70 on Saturday at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill. Delgado scored 10 points and grabbed his 702nd career rebound in the first half, moving him past former Syracuse star Derrick Coleman to become the Big East’s all-time leading rebounder. He finished with 19 rebounds to record his 65th career double-double while raising his career rebounding total to 719. Khadeen Carrington scored 15 points, and Desi Rodriguez added 14 points for the Pirates (16-5, 5-3 Big East), who snapped a two-game slide. Tre‘Darius McCallum scored 16 points, and Eli Cain added 11 points for the Blue Demons (9-12, 2-7), who have lost four of five. Seton Hall was up 19 early in the second half, before DePaul made a run. Cain hit a 3-pointer and McCallum followed with a layup to trim the Pirates’ lead to 66-58 with eight minutes to play. Powell hit a couple 3-pointers to quell the DePaul rally, and Seton Hall maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way. Powell finished with four 3-pointers, including two within a few minutes of each other, as DePaul was making its second-half challenge. Carrington hit an up-and-under layup, and Ismael Sanogo had a breakaway dunk in the final minutes to put away DePaul. The game’s first 10 minutes were tight. The Pirates pieced together a 9-0 run to gain some separation from the Blue Demons late in the first half. Delgado scored in the post and Eron Gordon hit a 3-pointer, as Seton Hall’s lead grew. Delgado finished with eight points and 10 rebounds in the first half, helping the Pirates take a 46-31 lead into halftime. The Pirates return home to host Providence on Wednesday, before traveling to No. 1 Villanova next Sunday. The Blue Demons have a week off to regroup, before playing at Butler on Saturday. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "Jimmy Butler had 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves broke away in the second half to post a 104-88 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday in Minneapolis. Andrew Wiggins scored 19 points as the Timberwolves won for the third consecutive time and 10th in their past 13 games. Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points and 12 rebounds for his NBA-leading 35th double-double of the season. Russell Westbrook recorded 38 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who have lost three straight games and five of their past seven. Carmelo Anthony scored 15 points on 5-of-19 shooting and Paul George had 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting for Oklahoma City, which had 19 turnovers, one shy of its season high. The Timberwolves, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2004, have an impressive 27-16 record and steamrolled the Cleveland Cavaliers 127-99 on Monday. Butler scored 20 second-half points as Minnesota outscored Oklahoma City 57-41 over the final 24 minutes. “We’re starting to play hard and starting to compete on the defensive end,” Butler said in a postgame interview with ESPN. “When we play like that, we’re really tough.” Towns and Tyus Jones hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give Minnesota an 86-71 edge with 8:06 to play. Oklahoma City cut its deficit to nine on Westbrook’s three-point play with 4:09 left before Butler drained a 22-footer just before the shot clock expired and Taj Gibson scored in the interior to start a 7-0 run that pushed the margin to 99-83 with 2:47 left. Butler knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 102-86 with 1:54 left to complete his strong second half. The contest was tied at 47 at halftime before Minnesota used a 12-2 run early in the third quarter to open up a 61-53 lead on Butler’s basket with 6:58 to play. The advantage was 76-65 at the end of the stanza. Westbrook had 19 points and nine rebounds in the first half. He scored 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting in the first quarter, which ended with the score knotted at 23. --Field Level Media Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 4:37 PM / Updated 18 hours ago Cricket-Amla backs South Africa to chase 270 in third test v India Reuters Staff 3 Min Read JOHANNESBURG, Jan 25 (Reuters) - South Africa’s Hashim Amla says they could chase down 270 in the final innings of the third and final test against India, but they will need some luck on a wicket that has considerable pace, bounce and lateral movement. Amla led the way for South Africa with 61 in their first innings score of 194 at the Wanderers, but India have an overall lead of 42 with nine wickets remaining in their second innings and seem to have seized control of the game after day two. “It’s quite difficult, there are a few cracks in good areas and once the ball lands there it is shooting up quite alarmingly. You have to get in line and take it on,” Amla told SuperSport after Thursday’s play. “If you are not in line with the ball you might glove it. There is a lot in it for the seamers, you almost feel like you can get out any ball.” Amla tried to nullify the prodigious seam movement from the Indian bowlers by shuffling across to outside off-stump, an attempt to get in line with the ball to ensure that if he missed it, he could take a blow to the body rather than edge to the slip cordon. “Before I went out to bat I had the idea that I would try and get into the channel and play as straight as possible,” Amla said. ”It’s just about trying to hit it. If you miss it, so be it, but on a wicket like this you have to have a plan and some days those plans work out. “AB (De Villiers) joked with me when he walked out (to bat) and said, ”that’s like scoring 150“, but I wish it was! You have to grind it out and get whatever runs you can. The element of fortune is quite big in situations like this.” Neither team has managed to top 200 in the test yet, but Amla believes his side could chase down more than that in the fourth innings. ”I think about 250 ... even if it gets to 270,“ he said when asked what target South Africa could manage. ”You don’t know how the wicket is going to play, it hasn’t got significantly worse over the last two days. “If it gets to 250, as a batting unit you always feel like you have a chance.” South Africa have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, but are seeking a first ever clean-sweep over India. (Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Toby Davis)" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 7:03 AM / Updated 7 hours ago Sanofi to market new hemophilia drug in deal with Alnylam Reuters Staff 2 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - French pharmaceutical group Sanofi said it has obtained the right to develop and sell a new hemophilia drug in a restructuring of its partnership with U.S. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. FILE PHOTO: French multinational pharmaceutical company SANOFI logo seen at their headquaters in Paris, France, March 8, 2016. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer/File Photo Under the agreement, Sanofi will obtain global development and commercialization rights to fitusiran, currently in development for the treatment of people with hemophilia A and B. Global commercialization of fitusiran will be done by Sanofi Genzyme, the specialty care global business unit of Sanofi, while Alnylam will receive royalties based on net sales of fitusiran products. Fitusiran complements Sanofi Genzyme’s rare hematology portfolio and will bring an innovative new treatment for people living with hemophilia, one of the most common rare diseases. Alnylam will obtain global development and commercialization rights to a new treatment of ATTR amyloidosis, a rare disease caused by the build-up of an abnormal protein. “The restructured alliance reflects Sanofi Genzyme’s sustained interest in the strong potential of Alnylam’s portfolio of genetic medicines,” said Bill Sibold, Executive Vice President and Head of Sanofi Genzyme. Sanofi said it will continue to have the right to opt into other Alnylam rare genetic disease programs for development and commercialization in territories outside of the United States, Canada and Western Europe, as well as one right to a global license. Reporting by Geert De Clercq; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath" + }, + { + "text": "SYDNEY (Reuters) - At least 15 people were injured on Monday when a train crashed into a barrier in the northwest of Sydney, Australia’s largest city, and were being treated by emergency services personnel, an ambulance spokesman said. Television pictures showed the train had run into buffers at the end of the railway line at Richmond, about 65 km (40 miles)northwest of central Sydney. The injured were being carried on stretchers into waiting ambulances. “It’s everything from walking patients with minor injuries to patients that will require hospital transport,” Ambulance NSW spokesman Chris Bray said. Slideshow (3 Images) He said five people would require hospital treatment and 10 others had suffered less serious injuries, although it was likely those numbers would rise. Train operator NSW Trains said on Twitter the train had hit a buffer at the end of the line. Television footage showed that it was still upright on the tracks and that its carriages did not appear to be crumpled. Bray said the apparent accident happened shortly before 10 a.m. local time (2300 GMT Sunday) and that 10 ambulance crews were sent to the scene. Reporting by Tom Westbrook in SYDNEY; Editing by Paul Tait" + }, + { + "text": "TORONTO (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar weakened to its lowest this year against the greenback on Wednesday as worries of a U.S. NAFTA withdrawal tempered bets that the Bank of Canada will raise interest rates next week. Canada is increasingly convinced that U.S. President Donald Trump will soon announce that the United States intends to pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement, two government sources said. Canada sends about 75 percent of its exports to the United States. Developments on NAFTA could throw a “monkey wrench” into prospects of a rate hike next week, said Mark McCormick, North American Head of FX Strategy at TD Securities. Chances of the Bank of Canada raising rates next week slipped to 64 percent, the overnight index swaps market indicated. They had climbed to nearly 90 percent after much stronger-than-expected domestic jobs data on Friday and a business survey on Monday that showed optimism. BOCWATCH At 4 p.m. EST (2100 GMT), the Canadian dollar CAD=D4 was trading at C$1.2545 to the greenback, or 79.71 U.S. cents, down 0.6 percent. The currency touched its weakest level since Dec. 29 at C$1.2583, extending its retreat from a three-month high on Friday at C$1.2355. The price of oil, one of Canada’s major exports, was buoyed by a fall in U.S. crude inventories. U.S. crude oil futures CLc1 settled nearly 1 percent higher at $63.57 a barrel. The U.S. dollar .DXY fell against a basket of major currencies after a report that China may slow or halt its purchases of U.S. Treasury bonds, with the greenback on track to post its biggest single-day drop against the Japanese yen in seven weeks. The value of Canadian building permits fell by 7.7 percent in November from October, Statistics Canada said. Analysts surveyed by Reuters had expected a decrease of 0.3 percent. Canadian government bond prices were higher across the yield curve, with the two-year CA2YT=RR up 11.5 Canadian cents to yield 1.734 percent and the 10-year CA10YT=RR rising 36 Canadian cents to yield 2.160 percent. Earlier in the session, the 10-year yield had touched its highest since September 2014 at 2.231 percent. The gap between Canada’s two-year yield and its U.S. counterpart widened by 7.3 basis points to a spread of -24.3 basis points. Reporting by Fergal Smith; Editing by Tom Brown and Sandra Maler Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 7:44 PM / Updated an hour ago With swirls and cages, Dior goes surrealist for Haute Couture week Reuters Staff 2 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - Christian Dior plunged spectators into a surrealist dreamworld on Monday at Paris’ Haute Couture week, as models dressed in black-and-white hypnotic patterns took to the runway under sculptures of body parts suspended from the ceiling. The LVMH ( LVMH.PA ) label unveiled its latest collection on the first day of a fashion week dedicated to the highest echelon of couturiers, which runs until Jan. 25. The creations, often handmade, are not meant for shops, and when sold are usually exclusively tailored to one person. Dior showed off its almost completely monochrome outfits on a chequered catwalk. Models peered out from behind facemasks: some feline, others like mailboxes, all of them black. Famed Surrealist artists such as Salvador Dali or Rene Magritte often depicted bird cages or disjointed body parts in their art, a motif evoked in the show with giant noses and ears dangling over the runway and cage-like corsets worn on it. Slideshow (10 Images) Gowns and capes strewn with feathers or featuring waspy, see-through fabrics also gave the collection a dream-like feel, as did the geometric patterns or swirls on many dresses. “Black and white is the colour of the subconscious and I think when you dream, you dream in black and white, so I decided it would be great to make a collection in black and white,” Dior’s chief designer Maria Grazia Chiuri told Reuters after the show. Chiuri said in a press release she was also inspired by Italian Surrealist artist Leonor Fini, a friend of Christian Dior, the late founder of the house in the last 1940s. The fashion house is set to host a masqued ball later on Monday, also in the grounds of Paris’ Rodin museum, the setting for the show. Dior’s latest collection from Chiuri comes amid a shake-up at the label, as former Fendi boss Pietro Beccari prepares to replace long-standing CEO Sidney Toledano, who is moving to run several other labels in the LVMH group. Reporting by Johnny Cotton, Writing by Sarah White, Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 9:24 PM / Updated 13 minutes ago Chelsea midfielder Musonda joins Celtic on loan Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea’s highly-rated Belgium Under-21 attacking midfielder Charly Musonda has joined Celtic on an 18-month loan deal, the two clubs announced on Monday. Scottish champions Celtic said the player and Chelsea both believe Musonda’s his football development will be best served at Celtic Park under the guidance of manager Brendan Rodgers. The 21-year-old, who recently signed a new contract with the English champions until 2022, came through the youth ranks at Anderlecht before moving to Stamford Bridge in 2012. Musonda has played seven times for Chelsea, scoring on his full debut in a League Cup victory over Nottingham Forest in September. He also spent one year on loan at Real Betis. Writing by Ken Ferris, editing by Pritha Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "January 2, 2018 / 7:10 PM / Updated 15 minutes ago Seeds Carreno Busta and Berdych suffer early exits at Doha Reuters Staff 2 Second-seeded Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta and third seed Tomas Berdych fell in the first round of the Qatar Open on Tuesday, losing in hard-fought matches to Borna Coric and Jan-Lennard Struff respectively. Tennis - ATP World Tour Finals - The O2 Arena, London, Britain - November 17, 2017 Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta makes entrance before his match against Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien Carreno Busta was expected to shine in his season-opening event after featuring in the 2017 ATP Finals but Coric came out on top in the two-hours-and-41-minutes encounter after launching an impressive comeback to win 5-7 6-2 7-6(8). Coric held his nerve to beat the world number 10 and will face Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili in the second round. “It was such a tough match,” Coric said after the game. “I think he was serving two times for the match and I was just thinking to myself (that) I was playing good for the whole match, and that was my main focus.” The Czech Republic’s Berdych slipped early in his match and lost the first set before recovering to win the second in dominant fashion. But German Struff dug deep to force a tie-break in the final set and went on to win 6-4 1-6 7-6 (4). Struff, who is ranked 53rd in the world, will take on the winner of the match between Italian Paolo Lorenzi and France’s Gael Monfils in the next stage. Aljaz Bedene, now representing his home country of Slovenia again, set up a second-round encounter with top seed Dominic Thiem after beating Tunisian wildcard Malek Jaziri 7-5 6-1. Sixth seed Filip Krajinovic also lost to unseeded German Peter Gojowczyk, who will take on Italian Matteo Berrettini in the next round while eighth-seeded Spaniard Feliciano Lopez is set to face Bosnia’s Mirza Basic. Qatari Jabor Al-Mutawa was defeated by Italy’s Stefano Travaglia, who fill face either fourth-seeded Albert Ramos-Vinolas or Argentine Guido Pella. Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru,; Editing by Neville Dalton" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - Perfect World Co Ltd : * Says its unit plans to sell 100 percent stake and related debts in three cinematic operations firms to the company’s controlling shareholder, for totaling 1.49 billion yuan * Says the company’s investment unit is in deal to sell 99 percent stake in a cinema firm to the company’s controlling shareholder, at price of 176.6 million yuan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/d89JK9 Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan 11 (Reuters) - The U.S. bond market’s gauges of inflation expectations pared earlier gains on Thursday as the government’s producer price index unexpectedly fell in December, reducing expectations of a pickup in domestic inflation toward the Federal Reserve’s 2-percent goal. At 8:36 a.m. (1336 GMT), the 10-year inflation breakeven rate, or the yield gap between 10-year Treasury Inflation Protected Securities and regular 10-year Treasury notes, was 2.04 percent, down marginally from late on Wednesday. The 10-year inflation breakeven rate was just a shade below a 10-month peak of 2.05 percent set earlier this week, according to Tradeweb and Reuters data. (Reporting by Richard Leong Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 3:01 PM / in 11 minutes Teva Pharm directors cut their salaries in half -board member Reuters Staff 1 Min Read JERUSALEM, Jan 10 (Reuters) - The board of directors at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries , which is reducing its workforce by more than a quarter as part of a global overhaul, has taken a 50 percent pay cut, a board member said on Wednesday. The world’s biggest generic drugmaker announced its cost-cutting plan last month, setting a target to reduce costs by $3 billion by the end of 2019, from about $16.1 billion in 2017. “This pay cut that the board took upon itself was done the same day that the cuts and job reductions were discussed,” board member Dan Suesskind said at the Israel Business Conference in Jerusalem. The Israeli company, which is laden with heavy debt, said it would reduce its workforce by 14,000 jobs. (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch)" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds quote from ruling, DHS declined to comment) SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge blocked President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday from ending a program that shielded from deportation children brought to the United States illegally by their parents. Trump decided in September to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled in San Francisco on Tuesday the program must remain in place while litigation over Trump's decision unfolds. The ruling came as Trump and U.S. congressional leaders negotiated broad immigration reforms. Alsup's decision follows on from stands taken by other U.S. judges to rein in Trump's immigration policies, striking down moves against sanctuary cities and limiting the scope of a ban against travel from some Muslim-majority counties. The DACA program has provided protection from deportation and the right to work legally to nearly 800,000 young people since it was authorized by President Barack Obama in 2012. Several states, organizations and individuals have filed lawsuits seeking to protect DACA recipients, who are known as Dreamers. Alsup said in his ruling the federal government did not have to process new applications from people who had never before received protection under the program. However, he ordered the government to process renewal applications people who had previously been covered. \"DACA gave them a more tolerable set of choices, including joining the mainstream workforce,\" Alsup wrote. \"Now, absent an injunction, they will slide back to the pre-DACA era and associated hardship.\" A Department of Homeland Security spokesman declined to comment, and representatives for the White House and the Department of Justice could not be reached immediately for comment. Trump ran on a hardline immigration platform during the 2016 presidential election, promising to end DACA and strengthen border protections to increase jobs for U.S. workers. (Reporting by Dan Levine; Editing by Paul Tait & Simon Cameron-Moore)" + }, + { + "text": "IKEA's Swedish founder dies aged 91 8:13pm IST - 01:08 Billionaire IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad has died at the age of 91, the Swedish company said on Sunday (January 28). He founded IKEA in 1943 when he was just 17, but the company didn't hit gold until 1956, when it pioneered flat-pack furniture. It's now heading towards annual revenues of 50 billion euros ($62 billion). Billionaire IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad has died at the age of 91, the Swedish company said on Sunday (January 28). He founded IKEA in 1943 when he was just 17, but the company didn't hit gold until 1956, when it pioneered flat-pack furniture. It's now heading towards annual revenues of 50 billion euros ($62 billion). //reut.rs/2DIpm1Z" + }, + { + "text": "By Natasha Bach 5:47 AM EST More than two in five American employers are providing a paid day off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, a significant increase from years past. According to a survey published by Bloomberg BNA , 43% of employers surveyed will mark Monday as a paid holiday, compared to the previous all-time high of 37% recorded in 2016 and 2017. Read: The GOP Tax Bill Repeals Obamacare’s Individual Mandate. Here’s What That Means for You The percentage of employers giving their workers the day off varies considerably from industry to industry. Bloomberg BNA notes that 73% of employees at non-business organizations and 53% of workers in unionized organizations will get the day off, but only 14% manufacturers and a third of non-manufacturing businesses will follow suit. Approximately one in four employers will host a commemorative event to mark Dr. King’s life and achievements. However, no manufacturers intended to sponsor an event. Bloomberg BNA surveyed close to 450 employers and has conducted this nationwide survey each year since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was officially recognized as a federal holiday. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - Haining China Leather Market Co Ltd : * Says it plans to buy 70 percent stake in an investment development unit via share issue * Transaction price is 740.9 million yuan * The company will hold 100 percent stake in target firm after transaction Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/mUZkHV Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Hundreds attend anti-austerity protests in Tunis amid heavy police presence 1:07pm EST - 01:18 Demonstrations in Tunisia against tax and price hikes continue on the anniversary of the ousting of former President Ben Ali. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Demonstrations in Tunisia against tax and price hikes continue on the anniversary of the ousting of former President Ben Ali. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2AZzM76" + }, + { + "text": "IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST) announced today that it will report its 2017 fourth quarter financial results before the market opens on Tuesday, February 27, 2018. The Company will host a conference call and webcast at 10:00 a.m. ET that morning to review the results. To access the conference call, interested parties may dial 719/325-4797, conference ID 7292381 (domestic and international callers). Participants can also listen to a live webcast of the call through the “Events and Presentations” section under “Investor Relations” on Nexstar’s website at www.nexstar.tv . A webcast replay will be available for 90 days following the live event at www.nexstar.tv . Please call five minutes in advance to ensure that you are connected. Questions and answers will be taken only from participants on the conference call. For the webcast, please allow 15 minutes to register, download and install any necessary software. About Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Nexstar Media Group is a leading diversified media company that leverages localism to bring new services and value to consumers and advertisers through its traditional media, digital and mobile media platforms. Nexstar owns, operates, programs or provides sales and other services to 170 television stations and related digital multicast signals reaching 100 markets or approximately 39% of all U.S. television households. Nexstar’s portfolio includes primary affiliates of NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, MyNetworkTV and The CW. Nexstar’s community portal websites offer additional hyper-local content and verticals for consumers and advertisers, allowing audiences to choose where, when and how they access content while creating new revenue opportunities. For more information please visit www.nexstar.tv . View source version on businesswire.com : Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Thomas Carter, Chief Financial Officer, 972/373-8800 or JCIR Joseph Jaffoni, Jennifer Neuman, 212/835-8500 [REDACTED] Source: Nexstar Media Group, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - UBS Wealth Management upgraded its six-month forecasts for the euro and sterling on Friday after upgrading its short-term forecasts earlier this week, citing protracted dollar weakness. The firm upgraded its euro forecast against the dollar to $1.28 for six months from a previous forecast of $1.22, according to a report published by the Chief Investment office at UBS Wealth Management. It also upgraded the forecast for the British pound against the dollar to $1.45 from $1.36 for a similar time frame. The CIO’s office oversees the investment policy and strategy for approximately $2 trillion in invested assets. Reporting by Saikat Chatterjee; Editing by Dhara Ranasinghe" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday he wanted to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in to convey Japan’s stance on the two countries’ 2015 agreement on “comfort women”, confirming his plans to attend the Pyeongchang Olympics next month. “I want to hold a summit meeting to firmly convey Japan’s stance on the agreement over the ‘comfort women’ issue,” Abe told reporters at the prime minister’s official residence. “I also want to drive home the need for strong collaboration between Japan, South Korea and the United States to counter the North Korean threat, and to maintain the maximum level of pressure (against Pyongyang),” he added. Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Chris Gallagher" + }, + { + "text": "When used responsibly, credit cards are a helpful tool for making purchases, building credit and earning valuable perks . The average American holds 3.1 cards , with an average balance of $6,354 across all cards. But how many is too many credit cards — or too few? Is there a magic number? No, \"there's not a one-size-fits-all answer,\" Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com, tells CNBC Make It . \"It depends on what you're using credit for and if you're disciplined about paying the balance in full every month.\" How many cards you can reasonably keep track of without accruing debt? If you consistently pay off your entire balance every month, opening additional cards can actually boost your credit score. show chapters This couple goes on round-the-world trips for free using credit card points 7:56 AM ET Mon, 24 July 2017 | 01:10 That's because part of your credit score is determined by your credit utilization ratio, which is calculated by dividing your balance by your credit limit. Ideally, you want to use below 10 percent of your available credit line, and no more than 30 percent, McBride says. Say your card has a $10,000 credit limit. You'll want to keep your balance below $1,000 and no higher than $3,000. When you open a new card, the amount of overall credit available to you increases. If your spending habits stay the same, your credit utilization ratio automatically improves. Credit cards also offer a host of perks, such as airline miles, hotel points and cash back. With regular use, a card tailored to your lifestyle can pay off big. show chapters Mark Cuban shares his No. 1 negotiation strategy 8:29 AM ET Wed, 25 Oct 2017 | 01:05 However, plastic might tempt you to spend more, in which case you're better off sticking with fewer cards or zeroing out your use of them altogether. \"If you've got problems with overspending or a credit card represents temptation, then opening more is the last thing you want to do,\" McBride says. It's never worth going into debt to earn credit card bonuses or to try and boost your credit score. \"The bottom line is this: Are you paying the balance in full every single month?\" McBride says. \"If the answer to that question is yes, then you're in a position where you can go out and open up more cards and utilize different cards for different purposes.\" If the answer is no, focus first and foremost on getting yourself free from debt. Don't miss: Here's the best credit card if you love to travel Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook ! show chapters Little kids talk about the big responsibility of owning a credit card 11:13 AM ET Fri, 9 June 2017 | 01:14" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia’s only major independent pollster, the Levada Center, said on Tuesday it had stopped publishing polls about the forthcoming presidential election because it feared the authorities might shut it down for perceived meddling. The move, which the Kremlin later endorsed as a necessary step to comply with the law, will reduce open source information about public sentiment ahead of the March 18 election which polls suggest incumbent Vladimir Putin, who is backed by state TV and the ruling party, will comfortably win. Levada is regarded as one of Russia’s three main pollsters and the only one not to be close to the authorities. But it was officially designated ‘a foreign agent’ in 2016 because of its funding, a move it and others said was designed to hobble it. Out of the other pollsters, VTsIOM is state-owned, while FOM, which broke away from VTsIOM in the 1990s, provides a lot of research for the Russian presidential administration. Stepan Goncharov, a sociologist at Levada, told Reuters his organisation had decided to suspend publishing pre-election polls because of its designation as “a foreign agent.” Lev Gudkov, director of Levada, was cited by the daily Vedomosti newspaper as saying it faced fines or even closure if accused of breaking the foreign agent law and engaging in politics. “We are trying to understand our situation,” said Goncharov, who said Levada would continue to conduct pre-election research, but not publish it “for now” pending consultations with lawyers. Research might be published after the election, he said. TURNOUT IN FOCUS Whilst there is little suspense about the outcome of the March election, which Putin is seen as steamrolling, there is keen interest in voter turnout as media reports say the Kremlin wants to ensure Putin is re-elected on a turnout of around 70 percent as it sees high turnout as lending him greater legitimacy. The question has become politicised because opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who has been barred from running against Putin on what he says is a trumped up conviction, has launched a spoiler campaign aimed at lowering turnout. Levada, citing its own research, has previously said that as few as one third of Russians have said they will definitely vote, while state-owned VTsIOM has reported that 70 percent of Russians are certain to vote. When asked about Levada’s decision to stop publishing pre-election polls, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Levada had been left with little choice. “Levada is a big organisation that has authority, but unfortunately, based on the law, it is a (foreign) agent ...(and) will not be able to do this line of work,” said Peskov. The foreign agent law is designed to stop other countries interfering in Russian politics, something Putin has said foreign intelligence services are attempting. Editing by Richard Balmforth Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 21, 2018 / 6:55 PM / Updated 30 minutes ago Pope warns Latin America about corruption, mentions Odebrecht Reuters Staff 3 Min Read LIMA (Reuters) - Pope Francis wrapped up his trip to Chile and Peru on Sunday by warning that Latin America was in a deep crisis from corruption, with politics in most countries “more sick than well.” Speaking in improvised remarks to bishops, he mentioned the scandal involving construction company Odebrecht, which has admitted to paying billions in bribes, as an example of greed run amok across the continent of his birth. While sitting beside embattled Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski on Friday, the pope said all parts of society needed to work to combat corruption. On Sunday he spoke more broadly. “Politics is in crisis, very much in crisis in Latin America,” he said, while also mentioning tax havens and drug trafficking. In a rare turn of phrase for a pope, he named a specific company. Francis said Brazil’s Odebrecht, which confessed in a 2016 plea deal to paying out billions in exchange for contracts across 10 Latin American countries, was actually only a small part of the problem. In Peru alone, a former president has been detained for allegedly receiving bribes from Odebrecht. Pope Francis meets with bishops at the archbishop's residence in Lima, Peru, January 21, 2018. REUTERS/Alessandra Tarantino/Pool Kuczynski was nearly impeached in December for not revealing that a company he used to run did business with Odebrecht. He denies wrongdoing. Days after surviving an impeachment vote in Congress, Kuczynski pardoned former President Alberto Fujimori less than halfway through his 25-year sentence for corruption and human rights abuse. Slideshow (8 Images) This was widely seen as a political deal struck with Fujimori supporters in Congress to allow Kuczynski to stay in office. Kuczynski, 79, cited medical reasons for granting Fujimori the pardon and has said it was fundamentally about forgiveness. He denies it was part of a backroom deal. Revelations from the Odebrecht scandal have also roiled the region’s largest economy of Brazil for years, sending dozens of high-profile executives and lawmakers to jail. The pope has spoken on corruption on previous trips to Latin America. In Paraguay in 2015 he said it was a “plague, a gangrene of society” and has since expanded the illness metaphor." + }, + { + "text": "DAVOS TODAY: Catalonia not 'main concern' anymore -FM 9:53am GMT - 01:17 Spain's foreign minister tells Reuters' Axel Threlfall that the Catalonia secession crisis has calmed to a point where his office can focus on other affairs, and that Madrid's seizure of direct rule over the region won't be permanent. Spain's foreign minister tells Reuters' Axel Threlfall that the Catalonia secession crisis has calmed to a point where his office can focus on other affairs, and that Madrid's seizure of direct rule over the region won't be permanent. //reut.rs/2n5SnJW" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 1:27 PM / Updated 25 minutes ago EU rules on asylum are splitting Europe, says EU presidency Bulgaria Reuters Staff 2 Min Read SOFIA (Reuters) - The European Union’s rules on asylum which state that requests be handled by the country where asylum is first claimed are splitting Europe, the prime minister of Bulgaria, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, said on Monday. Nationalist-minded, eurosceptic governments in Poland and Hungary have refused to take in a single asylum-seeker under a scheme to have each member state host a number of refugees to ease pressure on the main sea gateways of Greece and Italy. Slovakia and the Czech Republic, citing security concerns, have also been reluctant to accept migrants from other EU countries. “The Dublin Regulation does not work the way we want it to,” said Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, referring to one of the main EU laws on asylum. “It not only divides but also literally splits Europe,” Borissov said at a news conference with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis in Sofia. “I think that, with the trust we have with each other, we will find a compromise,” he said, adding that borders should be closed with people entering only through official border checkpoints. Borissov also said security centres should be built in non-EU countries such as Turkey and Libya to accommodate migrants. Bulgaria, the EU’s poorest country, assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the bloc three weeks ago for the first time since it joined the EU in 2007. Babis stressed that the Czech Republic, sharing similar views on migrant quotas with other countries from the Visegrad Four, including ex-communist states Slovakia, Poland and Hungary, would not change its stance. “It is known that we want to fight against these quotas,” Babis said. “The quotas are ineffective and a compromise is needed.” Reporting by Angel Krasimirov; Editing by Richard Balmforth" + }, + { + "text": "By Susie Gharib January 11, 2018 Ed Heffernan describes Alliance Data Systems (ads) as a “behind the scenes” kind of company. But Heffernan is the company’s very visible, very approachable CEO. Whether it’s a town hall gathering or face-to-face meetings at Alliance’s operations around the world, Heffernan is always talking with the company’s 20,000 employees. “Actually, I love it. It’s the best part of the job,” he tells Fortune. That personal touch is also a key reason behind Alliance’s success and Heffernan is credited with playing a big part in the company’s growth. He joined Alliance 20 years ago as chief financial officer and was responsible for engineering several critical acquisitions. Today, Alliance, based in Plano, Texas, has revenues of more than $7 billion and is ranked on Fortune ’s list of America’s biggest companies . Many people may not have heard of Alliance, but the company knows a lot about them. It is a giant in the field of “big data” as it gathers information about consumers on everything from where they live to what car they drive and what they buy. Heffernan, who became CEO in 2009, says the most critical leadership lesson he has learned is the importance of communication with employees. “I know it’s squishy and it’s more of a soft skill type of thing,” he says. “I am a believer that a well-educated employee is someone who can be much more productive.” He adds, “To ignore it, I think is folly.” SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29 (Reuters) - Anhui Tongfeng Electronic Co Ltd : * Sees to swing to net profit at 12.5 million yuan to 18 million yuan in FY 2017 versus net loss at 209.8 million yuan year ago * Says cost control, less assets impairment loss, investment revenue and subsidy received as main reasons for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/yRTRMK Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 3:25 AM / Updated 4 minutes ago BOJ keeps policy steady, slightly more upbeat on price outlook Reuters Staff 1 Min Read TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan kept monetary policy steady on Tuesday and offered a slightly more upbeat view on inflation expectations, underscoring its conviction the economy is making slow but steady progress towards its elusive 2 percent price target. In a widely expected move, the BOJ maintained its short-term interest rate target at minus 0.1 percent and a pledge to guide 10-year government bond yields around zero percent. The decision on maintaining its interest rate targets was made by an 8-1 vote with board member Goushi Kataoka dissenting on the view additional stimulus was needed to hit the target. “Inflation expectations are moving sideways recently,” the BOJ said in a quarterly report, offering a more optimistic view than three months ago when it said they were moving on a weak note. BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda will hold a news conference at 3:30 p.m. (0630 GMT) to explain the policy decision. Reporting by Leika Kihara, Stanley White, Tetsushi Kajimoto and Minami Funakoshi; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 3 (Reuters) - Researchers from Google, academia and cybersecurity firms discovered two flaws in computer chips that affect nearly all modern computers. * \"Meltdown\" is a flaw that affects laptops, desktop computers and internet servers with Intel chips and could let hackers steal data, such as passwords saved in Web browsers. Microsoft Corp, Apple Inc and Linux, the three major operating systems, are all issuing updates, though the Apple and Microsoft have not said precisely when. * \"Spectre\" affects chips in smartphones and tablets, as well as computer chips from Intel and Advanced Micro Devices Inc . Hackers can trick apps into leaking sensitive information. * Spectre is less dangerous than Meltdown, but will be more difficult to patch. * Consumers should check with their device maker and operating system provider for security updates and install them as soon as possible. * Alphabet Inc's Google said Android phones with the most recent security updates are protected, and users of popular web services like Gmail are also safe. Chromebook users on older versions will need to install an update whose release date has not been set. Chrome web browser users are expected to receive a patch Jan. 23. * Researchers say an update is in the work for Apple laptops and desktops, but it is not yet clear whether the company's iPhones and iPads are at risk. * Major cloud services aimed at business customers - including Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure - say they have already patched most of their services and will fix the rest soon. For more information: * Google's security blog: * Amazon Web Services: (Reporting by Stephen Nellis, Salvador Rodriguez and Paresh Dave in San Francisco; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)" + }, + { + "text": "BEIRUT/TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israel described as “very provocative” on Wednesday a Lebanese offshore oil and gas exploration tender in disputed territory on the countries’ maritime border, and said it was a mistake for international firms to participate. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, whose country considers Israel an enemy state, said the comments were one of several “threatening messages” from Israel to Lebanon in recent days. Hariri and other Lebanese ministers responded angrily after Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said: “When they issue a tender on a gas field, including Block 9, which by any standard is ours ... this is very, very challenging and provocative conduct here.” “Respectable firms” bidding on the tender “are, to my mind, making a grave error - because this is contrary to all of the rules and all protocol in cases like this,” he told an international security conference hosted by Tel Aviv University’s INSS think-tank. Lebanon in December approved a bid by a consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek for two of the five blocks put up for tender in the country’s much-delayed first oil and gas offshore licensing round. One of the awarded blocks, Block 9, borders Israeli waters. Lebanon has an unresolved maritime border dispute with Israel over a triangular area of sea of around 860 sq km (330 square miles) that extends along the edge of three of the blocks. “Lieberman’s words about Block 9 are a threat to Lebanon and its right to sovereignty over its territorial waters,” Lebanese President Michel Aoun said on his official Twitter account. Hariri said the country would take up the comments with the “relevant international bodies to affirm its right to act in its territorial waters”. In a statement from his press office, Hariri said Lieberman’s words were “blatant provocation”. Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said he had sent a letter to the United Nations two weeks ago affirming Lebanon’s right to defend itself and its economic interests. Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil said: “Lebanon will use all available methods to fend off the Israeli aggression that was announced today.” Israel last went to war in Lebanon in 2006, against the Iran-backed Shi‘ite group Hezbollah. With tensions rising anew, Lieberman, a far-rightist in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conservative coalition government, said Lebanon would “pay the full price” for any new Hezbollah attacks on Israel. Related Coverage Hezbollah vows to defend Lebanon's 'oil and gas rights' He said that the Lebanese army was indistinguishable from Hezbollah and both were fair game in any future war. But he said Israel sought no war, adding: “We try to conduct ourselves determinedly and responsibly.” The offshore exploration and production contracts are expected to be officially signed on Feb. 9, Abi Khalil said, allowing exploration to begin. Lebanon is on the Levant Basin in the eastern Mediterranean where a number of big sub-sea gas fields have been discovered since 2009, including the Leviathan and Tamar fields located in Israeli waters near the disputed marine border with Lebanon. Reporting by Lisa Barrington in Beirut and Dan Williams in Tel Aviv; Editing by Dale Hudson and Adrian Croft" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 23(Reuters) - Shenzhen Capstone Industrial Co Ltd * Sees FY 2017 net profit to raise to 320 million yuan to 380 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 233.3 million yuan * Says inclusion of new companies is the main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/pShj4H Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Tech Guide Microsoft says Meltdown and Spectre fixes will slow some PCs down significantly Microsoft said most Windows 7 and Windows 8 users relying on older chips will notice the performance impact of updates to protect against Meltdown and Spectre. The company also said Windows Server performance will be degraded if customers choose to install updates that are meant to protect against untrusted code. SHARES Getty Images Microsoft on Tuesday provided new details on the performance impact of updates to protect against recently disclosed security vulnerabilities. In certain cases, performance on Windows will be significantly slowed by patches for the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities . Some people have found that their servers and PCs are performing differently after installing updates, so the news shouldn't come as a big surprise. Still, the new information doesn't line up perfectly well with what Intel said last week when the vulnerabilities were first officially announced. \"Any performance impacts are workload-dependent, and, for the average computer user, should not be significant,\" the chipmaker said . Microsoft expects most people using Windows 7 and Windows 8 on chips that are from 2015 or older will notice performance degradations, Terry Myerson, executive vice president for Microsoft's Windows and Devices Group, wrote in a blog post . The company did not publish specific performance benchmarks to back up the claims. Some people using Windows 10 with Intel Haswell chips or anything older will notice performance impacts, Myerson wrote. But those people running Windows 10 on Skylake, Kaby Lake or newer Intel chips probably won't notice performance issues, although internally run benchmarks show single-digit slowdowns, Myerson wrote. The case is different for Windows Server, Microsoft's operating system for servers. Should customers choose to install updates to protect against issues stemming from untrusted code running on those machines, there will be a more significant performance impact, Myerson wrote. \"This is why you want to be careful to evaluate the risk of untrusted code for each Windows Server instance, and balance the security versus performance tradeoff for your environment,\" he wrote. At this point, Microsoft has provided Meltdown and Spectre patches for 41 of the 45 versions of Windows through Windows Update, Myerson wrote. Intel stock went down after Microsoft released the news. It traded as low as $43.75, about 2 percent lower than opening price, falling from about $44.34 per share immediately after the announcement. Microsoft stock initially faltered but then reversed its decline. Later on Tuesday Intel offered new details on PC performance impacts because of security updates. \"Based on our most recent PC benchmarking, we continue to expect that the performance impact should not be significant for average computer users. This means the typical home and business PC user should not see significant slowdowns in common tasks such as reading email, writing a document or accessing digital photos,\" Intel said in a statement . The testing on PCs with the latest Intel silicon found an impact of 6 percent or less, the company said. Intel said it's still trying to get a sense of performance changes for chips used in data centers. Jordan Novet Technology Reporter for CNBC.com Related Securities" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - National Grid Plc said on Monday it filed a proposal to update rates for one of its U.S. electric and gas distribution utilities in a bid to boost its performance in the country. The three-year rate proposal for the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation electric and gas distribution utility would increase revenue, before the impact of deferred credits, by $206 million in 2018-2019, compared to the company’s initial request of $317 million, National Grid said. For 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 incremental year-on-year revenue increases would be $36 million and $60 million, respectively. The company also expects to invest a total of $2.5 billion over the three-year period, down from the initial proposal of $2.7 billion. The proposal, filed jointly with the New York Public Service Commission, also includes an allowed 9 percent return on equity for the utilities and estimates customer savings of $76 million from the prospective impact of U.S. tax reform. The settlement will contribute to the improving financial performance of U.S. operations, National Grid said. Niagara Mohawk gas and electricity utility serves 2.2 million customers in the upstate New York region and represents about 30 percent of the company’s U.S. rate base. The final decision of the Commission is expected in the spring of 2018 with new rates effective as of April 2018. Reporting by Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Sunil Nair" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 5:53 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Pope stops popemobile to comfort fallen horseback policewoman Reuters Staff 1 Min Read IQUIQUE, Chile (Reuters) - Pope Francis ordered his popemobile to stop on Thursday after a mounted Chilean policewoman was thrown off her frightened horse, which had reared up as the pontiff passed by. Francis stepped from his vehicle and waited several minutes on the pavement, at times talking to the woman, until an ambulance arrived to take her away. She was not seriously injured, officials said. Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds details, background) ABUJA, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Annual inflation in Nigeria slowed for the 11th month in a row in December, to 15.37 percent from 15.90 percent a month before, the head of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in a tweet on Tuesday. Yemi Kale also said on his personal Twitter account that a separate food price index showed inflation at 19.42 percent in December, down from 20.30 percent in November. In October, Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele said he expected inflation rates to fall at a faster pace and reach the high single-digits by the middle of 2018. The bank has kept its main interest rate at 14 percent for over a year now as it battles inflation and seeks to attract foreign investors to support the naira currency. The government wants to see rates come down to lower its borrowing costs and stimulate the economy. The West African nation emerged from its first recession in 25 years in the second quarter of 2017 as oil revenues rose, although the slow pace of growth suggests the recovery remains fragile. (Reporting by Paul Carsten; Editing by Catherine Evans)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16(Reuters) - Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp * Says its unit NTT Docomo Inc bought back 75.7 million shares through a takeover bid, at the price of 2,681 yen per share, during period from Dec. 12, 2017 to Jan. 15 * Says settlement starts on Feb. 6 Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/hD46yr Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc ( WMT.N ) Chief Operating Officer Judith McKenna will take up the role of chief executive of its international unit, according to a source with knowledge of the matter. The role is seen by many as a stepping stone to the top job at the world’s largest retailer, with current CEO Doug McMillon and his predecessor Mike Duke having run the international unit previously. The current International CEO David Cheesewright will stay with the retailer and work on company projects, the source said. The nature of the projects were not immediately known. McKenna could take up the new job on Feb. 1, Bloomberg reported earlier, citing people familiar with the matter. bloom.bg/2mH0eh4 Wal-Mart’s international business reported net sales of $29.55 billion in the last reported quarter, accounting for nearly a quarter of the company’s total net sales. Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru and Nandita Bose in New York; Editing by Maju Samuel and Sandra Maler" + }, + { + "text": "F1 legend Lauda wins race for Niki airline 10:32pm IST - 01:28 Former motor racing champion Niki Lauda has won the bidding for the Niki airline he founded, convincing the insolvent carrier's administrators to undo an agreed deal with British Airways owner IAG. Kate King reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Former motor racing champion Niki Lauda has won the bidding for the Niki airline he founded, convincing the insolvent carrier's administrators to undo an agreed deal with British Airways owner IAG. Kate King reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 12 (IFR) - Long-standing UniCredit executive Vittorio Ogliengo is to leave the bank at the end of February. The 59-year-old has been in charge of the firm’s investment banking activities in its domestic heartland of Italy for the last six years. Before that, he was head of financing and advisory globally for several years, until the appointment of Olivier Khayat as co-head alongside him in May 2011. Khayat is now co-head of CIB with Gianfranco Bisagni. The bank has appointed Alfredo Maria De Falco to replace Ogliengo as head of CIB Italy and Nicola D’Anselmo as deputy head. De Falco has run UniCredit’s CIB Americas since October 2016. He will report to Khayat and Bisagni. D‘Anselmo has been with the bank since 2012. Before, he was head of CIB Italy for BNP Paribas. (Reporting by Christopher Spink; Editing by Philip Wright)" + }, + { + "text": "January 14, 2018 / 12:00 PM / Updated 4 hours ago Merkel could join Macron in Davos for epic clash with Trump Noah Barkin 5 Min Read BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel is considering joining French President Emmanuel Macron at the World Economic Forum in Davos next week in what could turn into an epic clash of competing world views with U.S. President Donald Trump. Merkel, who has been struggling to put together a government since a German election in September, had been expected to skip the annual gathering of leaders, CEOs, bankers and celebrities in the Swiss Alps for a third straight year. But after clinching a preliminary coalition agreement with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) on Friday, German officials said Merkel could travel to Davos after all, possibly setting up a major confrontation with Trump, who is expected to speak on the final day of the forum. An appearance would signal Merkel’s return to the world stage after months of political limbo in which she has avoided the limelight and been dismissed by some in the German and international media as a spent force. It would also allow her and Macron, who is scheduled to speak at the forum on Jan. 24, two days before Trump, to reaffirm their commitment to reforming the European Union after Britain’s decision to leave, and to defend liberal democratic values in the face of Trump’s “America First” policies. Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert was coy last week when asked whether she might attend the WEF, which will run from Jan. 23-26 under the banner “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World” and will attract some 60 heads of state and government. But after clinching a preliminary deal with the SPD, the chances that she could attend appear to have risen. German officials said no final decision had been taken and that Merkel may wait for the outcome of an SPD congress in Bonn next Sunday - where the party will formally decide whether to enter coalition talks with her conservatives - before committing. Officials at the WEF said they believed Merkel was still considering whether to attend. If she does, it is unlikely that she or Macron would overlap with Trump, who is expected to arrive on the afternoon of Jan. 25. This year’s forum will be opened by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Jan. 23. Britain’s Theresa May, Canada’s Justin Trudeau and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu are also expected, as well as celebrities such as actress Cate Blanchett and musician Elton John. Last year’s gathering took place in the week leading up to Trump’s inauguration and was headlined by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who signaled his readiness to fill the vacuum in global leadership created by America’s shift inward. UNITED IN ANTIPATHY FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Donald Trump confer at the start of the first working session of the G20 meeting in Hamburg, Germany, July 7, 2017. REUTERS/John MacDougall/Pool/File Photo Since then, Trump has pulled the United States out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade deal with Asian countries, announced a withdrawal from the Paris climate accord and threatened to torpedo an agreement between Western powers and Iran aimed at curbing its nuclear program. He has stirred fears of conflict with North Korea by engaging in an escalating war of words with its leader Kim Jong Un. Last week, he stirred international outrage by referring to Haiti and African nations as “shithole countries”, according to members of Congress who attended a meeting in the White House. On Saturday, some 500 demonstrators marched in the Swiss capital Bern to protest against Trump’s plans to attend the WEF. U.S. President Donald Trump meets French President Emmanuel Macron in New York, U.S., September 18, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque “There are very few things in the world that unite countries as much as their antipathy towards Trump and what he is doing,” said Ian Bremmer, president of political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, and a regular at Davos. “In the United States he may have 40 percent who approve of what he’s doing. In the Davos crowd it is closer to 5 percent.” The visit by Trump will be the first by a U.S. president since Bill Clinton in 2000. He will be accompanied by a large delegation that is expected to include his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Merkel has had a frosty relationship with Trump, who accused her during his campaign for the presidency of “ruining Germany” by allowing hundreds of thousands of refugees, many fleeing war in the Middle East, into the country in 2015. She was hailed in some Western media as the last defender of liberal democratic values after Trump’s victory." + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT, Jan 10 (Reuters) - German drugs and pesticides group Bayer on Wednesday said it was further reducing its stake in chemicals group Covestro, aiming to raise about 1.5 billion euros ($1.8 billion) in an accelerated bookbuilding process. Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs are acting as joint bookrunners for the placement. Bayer, which in September sold a 6.9 percent stake in Covestro for 1 billion euros, has agreed to a 90-day lock-up period. Currently, Bayer’s direct stake in Covestro stands at 24.6 percent, while the Bayer Pension Trust holds a further 8.9 percent stake. ($1 = 0.8358 euros) (Reporting by Christoph Steitz) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "(Updates jobs figures and clarifies technology) By Munyaradzi Makoni CAPE TOWN, Jan 11 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - South Africa may still get most of its energy from coal, but in the country’s sunny Northern Cape province, a different electricity source is taking hold: solar steam. A Spanish renewable energy company has opened three thermal solar plants – which use the sun’s heat to create electricity - in the province. The plants - which use sun-heated salt to drive turbines - produce enough electricity to provide power to just short of a million people, or almost the province’s entire population, according its operators. That represents an important shift in a country that suffered power shortages as recently as 2015, but that now has excess power to sell to neighbouring southern African countries. Just as important, the plants have provided new jobs in a province with one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the country, at more than 40 percent, according to U.N. officials. They recognised the clean-energy project at climate change talks in Bonn in November as a creative model for bringing scarce private cash into renewable energy projects in Africa. The first solar steam plant – KaXu Solar One, opened in 2015 in Pofadder – provided about 80 new permanent jobs, and about 1,700 temporary jobs, according to Sarah Marchildon, a spokeswoman for the U.N. climate change secretariat’s Momentum for Change initiative. The other two plants, including Xina Solar One, completed last year in Uppington, on the banks of the Orange River, have created another 45 permanent and 1,300 temporary jobs, she said. “The region is now benefiting from stable, clean energy, and we are happy to have played a role in helping to solve South Africa’s electricity needs and improving the nation’s sustainability and energy security,” said Gerardo Rodriguez Pagano, the general director of Abengoa South Africa, which developed the plants. MORE POWER, FEWER EMISSIONS The power plants – jointly owned by Abengoa Solar, the government’s Industrial Development Corporation and a community trust – are part of South Africa’s push to cut its climate changing emissions by 2030, in line with its promises under the 2015 Paris Agreement. In 2011, the government announced plans for 28 renewable energy projects around the country. The solar thermal technology is generally a more expensive way to produce clean energy than traditional wind or solar-panel energy, said Kruskaia Sierra-Escalante, a finance manager with the International Finance Corporation, a World Bank group organisation that provided part of the funding for the project. But it produces a more stable and predictable supply of power as sun-tracking mirrors concentrate the sun’s rays to heat salt, which is then used to produce steam that powers turbines to produce electricity. Energy can be stored both in molten salt and as electricity in batteries, something crucial to building a reliable power grid, Sierra-Escalante said. The World Bank came under huge criticism in 2010 when it agreed to provide a $3 billion loan to help South Africa build Medupi, one of the world’s largest coal-fired power plants, as world leaders were trying to seal a global deal to curb climate change. The World Bank has since agreed, in 2013, that it would finance coal plants only in unusual circumstances, when there are no reasonable alternatives to meet basic energy needs. MORE CASH FOR CLEAN ENERGY The solar project, with its mix of public and private finance, is seen as a model for helping boost large-scale clean energy projects in Africa. “By involving private sector funds to begin operating in an emerging market, the KaXu Solar One project is an innovative and transformative financial solution that addresses climate change,” Marchildon said. “Leveraging private sector finance has proven to be a major obstacle for the funding of renewable energy projects in emerging economies,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Up-front costs to build large-scale solar plants are significant, and international investors can be hesitant to jump into developing markets, she said. But solar projects, once put in place, have lower operating costs, she said, which can be a draw for investors. “KaXu has helped to unlock the South African concentrated solar power plant market, attract financiers, and drive down costs,” Marchildon said. It is now ”the first operational private-sector utility-scale concentrated solar power plant project in South Africa - and in the developing world,” she said. Pagano, of Abengoa South Africa, said the Northern Cape’s sunny conditions – the best in the country – were the reason to put the first solar thermal plants there, but the company would be open to looking at replicating the plants in other areas of South Africa. “We are more than willing to participate in new projects in the country if the conditions allow it,” he said." + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 5:19 AM / Updated 31 minutes ago Myanmar's Suu Kyi says army admission on killings a positive step Reuters Staff 3 Min Read YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Friday it was “positive” that the country’s military was taking responsibility for the actions of troops, after the army said soldiers were involved in killing 10 captured Rohingya Muslims. A Rohingya refugee child looks at the vill from a hill at Unchiparang refugee camp, near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu The military said in a statement on Wednesday that soldiers and Buddhist villagers had murdered 10 Muslim “terrorists” at a village in northern Rakhine State at the beginning of September and that action would be taken against those responsible. Asked at a joint news conference with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono about the rare admission of wrongdoing by the military, known as the Tatmadaw, Suu Kyi said: ”The Tatmadaw investigated and will take necessary action on that. “It is a new step for our country,” she said, according to a transcript posted on her Facebook page. “I see it that way because a country needs to take responsibility for the rule of law in the country, and this is the first step on the road of taking responsibility and it is a positive thing.” Suu Kyi rarely speaks to the media and has said little in public about the crisis in the western state. The army, which is not under the control of the civilian government, launched a sweeping counteroffensive in northern Rakhine in response to Rohingya militant attacks on Aug. 25, triggering an exodus of more than 650,000 Rohingya villagers to Bangladesh. Asked if the revelations about the killing at the village of Inn Din, about 50 km (30 miles) north of the state capital Sittwe, could be a concern for refugees who are being asked to return, Suu Kyi said: ”Some people might be afraid, but this is not something that has happened right now. Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi speaks during a news conference with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono in Naypyidaw, Myanmar January 12, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer “It was an investigation into a case that happened before. So doing this investigation is a deterrent so that similar cases don’t happen later.” Suu Kyi was speaking following a meeting in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw at which Kono asked her to ensure the “safe and voluntary” resettlement of those who have fled, according to Japanese news agency Kyodo. Slideshow (3 Images) The Japanese foreign minister said Tokyo, one of Myanmar’s biggest foreign aid donors, planned to give about $20 million (£14.63 million) for humanitarian support to Rohingya refugees, subject to parliamentary approval, Kyodo said. “Japan wants to actively support Myanmar’s efforts,” Kyodo quoted Kono as telling the news conference. Myanmar and Bangladesh have been discussing a plan to repatriate the refugees. Prior to the joint news conference, the Japanese government announced emergency grant aid of around $3 million to Myanmar to help facilitate the return of the Rohingya. Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo, Shoon Naing in Singapore and Simon Lewis in Yangon; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Alex Richardson" + }, + { + "text": "BEIRUT (Reuters) - At least 18 people were killed and tens more injured, including civilians, in an explosion in Syria’s northwestern city of Idlib, a war monitor reported on Sunday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the explosion targeted the headquarters of an opposition faction in Idlib. It was not immediately clear what the nature of the attack was. Editing by Alison Williams" + }, + { + "text": "China looks to call bluff on Trump trade action 10:30am EST - 01:55 As influential voices within the U.S. business community warn China that U.S. President Donald Trump is serious about tough action over Beijing’s trade practices, there is little sense of a crisis in the Chinese capital, where officials think he is bluffing. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript As influential voices within the U.S. business community warn China that U.S. President Donald Trump is serious about tough action over Beijing’s trade practices, there is little sense of a crisis in the Chinese capital, where officials think he is bluffing. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Thousands mourn lives lost in mudslides 4:38pm EST - 01:19 The search for victims of last week's deadly Southern California mudslides pushed into Monday, with hundreds of rescue workers searching for four people still listed as missing after the rain-driven slides that killed 20 people. Colette Luke has more. The search for victims of last week's deadly Southern California mudslides pushed into Monday, with hundreds of rescue workers searching for four people still listed as missing after the rain-driven slides that killed 20 people. Colette Luke has more. //reut.rs/2DfBN5p" + }, + { + "text": "January 20, 2018 / 1:17 AM / Updated 12 hours ago Golf - Landry halfway PGA Tour leader as Rahm falls one behind Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Jon Rahm missed a five-foot birdie putt to end the second round one stroke behind leader Andrew Landry at the CareerBuilder Challenge in Palm Springs on Friday. Spaniard Rahm started the day with the lead, but a five-under-par 67 at the Nicklaus Tournament course at PGA West was not enough to stay in front on another perfect day for low scoring in the California desert. Landry assumed the mantle with a 65, also at the Nicklaus course, one of three layouts used for the pro-am event. Landry, a 30-year-old Texan in his second year on tour, posted a 16-under 128 halfway total. Rahm is alone on 15-under, while American Jason Kokrak (67) is next on 14-under. Birdies are not likely to be as plentiful on Saturday, when the winds are expected to kick up after two calm days. Five-times major champion Phil Mickelson struggled for much of the round before picking up four birdies in a five-hole stretch for a 68 that still left him 10 strokes from the lead. Mickelson said his approach shot to his first hole had been an early candidate for “worst shot of the year” but he made amends by pitching in his third shot for an adventurous birdie. “It was an interesting start,” he said, before lamenting the state of his iron play. ”I’ve been pretty pleased overall with the way I’ve been driving the ball and displeased with the way my iron game has been. ”I’ll go work on it and hopefully improve each round this tournament and build a solid foundation (for upcoming tournaments). ”If I get my iron play back to my normal standard I should have the results I‘m expecting. This is the best I’ve driven it in a lot of years. “I think it’s going to be a good year. It’s only the second round of the year. I should get better.” Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Greg Stutchbury" + }, + { + "text": "January 13, 2018 / 1:04 AM / Updated 17 hours ago Trump names lawyer at firm advising him as pick for labor board Reuters Staff 2 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump plans to nominate as his choice to fill a vacant seat on the National Labor Relations Board a labor lawyer and partner at a law firm that has advised him and the Trump Organization on taxes since 2005. The White House said on Friday that John Ring, a partner at Morgan Lewis and Bockius, would succeed Phil Miscimarra, another Republican whose term ended on Dec. 16 and who served as the NLRB’s chairman. Ring’s appointment, which is subject to Senate confirmation, would restore a Republican majority at the five-member board, which now has two Democrats and two Republicans. The NLRB oversees union elections and disputes between private-sector employers, workers and unions. Under Trump, lawyers and business groups expect the board to roll back a series of policy changes adopted during the administration of former Democratic President Barack Obama. They include rules designed to speed the union election process and a 2015 decision that made it easier for companies to be held liable for legal violations by contractors, staffing agencies and franchisees. Ring leads the Labor & Employment Practice Group at Morgan Lewis’ Washington office, the White House said in a statement. If confirmed, he would begin a five-year term dating from Dec. 17, 2017, it said. According to the firm’s website, Ring “represents management interests in collective bargaining, employee benefits, litigation, counseling, and litigation avoidance strategies.” Last year, Morgan Lewis wrote a letter released by the White House that said a review of the previous 10 years of Trump’s tax returns did not reflect ties to Russia “with a few exceptions.” Reporting by Eric Walsh; Editing by Peter Cooney" + }, + { + "text": "SHARES Google Earth A Google Earth map showing the site of a shooting at Marshall County High School in Kentucky on Jan. 23rd, 2018. Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin confirmed on Twitter that one person died and several more were injured in a school shooting Tuesday morning. The shooter is in custody, according to the governor. The shooting occurred at Marshall County High School, in rural Kentucky. Two injured victims were transferred to Vanderbilt University Medical Center by helicopter, spokesman Craig Boerner told CNBC. Kentucky State Police Public Affairs Officer, Sgt. Josh Lawson, confirmed the governor's comments to CNBC. Lawson said there was \"no motive that we know of\" at this time. Trooper Jody Cash, a police spokesman, told CNBC that the scene is secure. Marshall County Hospital, located a few miles from the high school, declined to comment to CNBC. The Marshall County sheriff's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Kevin Breuninger Special to CNBC.com Related Securities" + }, + { + "text": "A FedEx employee from Tennessee has made mathematical history with the discovery of the largest known prime number. Jonathan Pace, a 51-year-old engineer living in Germantown, Tennessee, discovered the number after running a special piece of computational software for six days straight. Pace is a volunteer for a project called the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search (GIMPS). Thousands, armed with \"reasonably modern\" computers and GIMPS software, volunteer on the project, according to the GIMPS website . The number, called M77232917, is the 50th \"Mersenne prime\" to be discovered. Mersenne primes are a group of prime numbers named for the French monk Marin Mersenne, who studied the numbers more than three centuries ago. The number is more than 23 million digits long — 1 million digits longer than the 49th known Mersenne prime, discovered in January 2016. It is calculated by raising the number 2 to the 77,232,917th power, and then subtracting 1. This is Pace's first discovery since he began volunteering for the GIMPS project 14 years ago. These primes are exceedingly rare and sporadic, said Chris Caldwell, a professor of mathematics and statistics at the University of Tennessee at Martin, who studies prime numbers and has written a history of the Mersenne primes. There are, after all, only 50 Mersenne primes among all the numbers that run up to 23 million digits. But it is easier to prove the Mersenne numbers are primes than it is to prove other primes, he said. Prime numbers have been an interest of mathematicians for more than 2,000 years. \"Finding a prime is not going to change any theorems in mathematics, but this is a type of prime that has been interesting to mathematicians since several centuries before Christ,\" Caldwell said. Even the ancient Greek mathematician Euclid talked about what would later become the Mersenne primes, he sald. Caldwell added that the discovery was akin to breaking a land speed record. The last few Mersenne primes have been closer to each other than the researchers expected, he said. The numbers seem to occur sporadically, because researchers don't fully understand the pattern they follow, he said. \"So you expect in any process that appears random to have some close groupings of numbers. But we didn't expect to find another one so soon after the last one.\" \"In the long run, we hope to use these data to predict how often these occur,\" he added. Since its founding in 1996, GIMPS has discovered the last 16 Mersenne primes. The software GIMPS uses is complex enough that it has even been able to detect bugs in Intel processors that would rarely have been encountered by normal users ." + }, + { + "text": "19 PM / in 6 minutes U.S. urges Turkey to remain focused on Islamic State, not attack Syria's Afrin Reuters Staff 1 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department urged Turkey on Thursday not to take military action against Afrin region in Syria and called instead for Ankara to remain focused on fighting Islamic State militants in the region. Asked about signs that Turkey was preparing to strike a Kurdish militia in Afrin, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told a briefing: “We would call ... on the Turks to not take any actions of that sort. ... We don’t want them to engage in violence but we want them to keep focused on ISIS.” Reporting by Arshad Mohammed; Writing by David Alexander; Editing by Mohammad Zargham" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25(Reuters) - Hankyu REIT Inc * Says it will issue 39,000 new units through public offering * Says it will issue 2,000 new units through private placement to Nomura Securities Co., Ltd., with subscription date on March 12 and payment date on March 13 * Proceeds to be mainly used to acquire property * Says it will acquire property for 5.4 billion yen, on Feb. 15 Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/i9vCit ; goo.gl/jYCc2r Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian Defense Minister Raul Jungmann told Saab SAABSb.ST Chief Executive Officer Hakan Buskhe that the transfer of control of Embraer EMBR.SA to Boeing ( BA.N ) is off the table, the defense ministry said in a statement on Thursday. Jungmann also ruled out a spin-off or sale of Embraer’s defense or commercial units, the statement added. Saab and Embraer are partners in the development of the Gripen NG fighter. “We are concerned and contractually committed to maintaining control and confidentiality in the transfer of technology developed both by Saab and jointly” with Embraer, Jungmann said according to the ministry. U.S. planemaker Boeing proposed a tie-up with Embraer in December, but the plans have faced resistance from Brazil’s government, which has a so-called golden share, giving it a right to veto any change of control. Jungmann has asked the Air Force as well as the Defense and Finance Ministries to keep Saab executives informed of any progress in talks between the companies, adding that any deal would mean building safeguards for Saab with its input. Reporting by Marta Nogueira; Editing by Cynthia Osterman" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Bitcoin was the star of the white-knuckle ride that cryptocurrencies offered in 2017 but lesser-known names, such as Ripple and Ethereum, are seen gaining prominence in 2018. While bitcoin jumped more than 1,200 percent last year, Ripple, created by the founder of bitcoin exchange Mt Gox, surged 35,000 percent in the same period. That means $100 invested in Ripple in January 2017 would have grown to about $35,000 at the start of this year. To be sure, bitcoin is still the biggest cryptocurrency by far - with market value exceeding $250 billion - and is expected to keep that mantle in the months to come. Here is a list of the top 10 cryptocurrencies - including bitcoin - and how they performed in 2017: Ripple (XRP): Launched in 2012, Ripple had a market cap of $91.79 billion as of Tuesday, second after Bitcoin. It is used by companies such as UBS and Santander as payment technology. In November 2017, American Express Co also launched an instant blockchain-based payment system using Ripple. Percentage gain in 2017: About 35,000 percent Trading price as of Wednesday: $2.73 NEM (XEM): Launched in 2015, NEM is a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency platform. It is used in a commercial blockchain called Mijin, tested mainly in Japan, by financial institutions and private companies. Percentage gain in 2017: About 29,000 percent Trading price as of Wednesday: $1.27 Stellar (XLM): Released in early 2014, Stellar comes in at number three in terms of percentage growth in 2017. In October 2017, Stellar and IBM entered into a deal aimed at improving the speed of global payments. Percentage gain in 2017: Close to 14,000 percent Trading price as of Wednesday: About $0.76 Dash (DASH): Originally launched as XCoin in early 2014, Dash got its name in March 2015. It offers instant transactions. Transactions done with Dash get confirmed in seconds, whereas Bitcoin transaction can take up to 10 minutes to confirm. Percentage gain in 2017: About 9,300 percent Trading price as of Wednesday: $1,162.84 Ethereum (ETH): Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum’s main aim is to operate ‘smart contacts’, instead of acting as a form of money. Smart contracts are scripts of code that can be deployed in Ethereum blockchain. Percentage gain in 2017: About 9,200 percent Trading price as of Wednesday: $879.91 Litecoin (LTC): Introduced in October 2011, Litecoin is very similar to bitcoin. It is number six in terms of market cap, according to coinmarketcap. Percentage gain in 2017: About 4,800 percent Trading price as of Wednesday: $250.31 Cardano (ADA): Cardano was founded in 2014 and began trading on Bittrex exchange in October 2017. Within three months, it has garnered a market cap of over $18.6 billion, to secure itself at the fifth position (in terms of market cap). Percentage gain in 2017: Close to 3,000 percent Trading price as of Wednesday: About $0.99 Bitcoin (BTC): Invented by an unknown person/group called Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin was released in January 2009. Bitcoins are created by mining and was the first decentralised cryptocurency. Percentage gain in 2017: Over 1,200 percent Trading price as of Wednesday: $15,003.90 Bitcoin Cash (BCH): Born from bitcoin itself, Bitcoin Cash is a segregated version of bitcoin that was released on Aug. 1, 2017. Bitcoin Cash was branched out to increase the blocksize limit to 8 MB and allow faster transactions. Percentage gain in 2017: Over 500 percent Trading price as of Wednesday: $2,748.33 IOTA (MIOTA): IOTA was introduced in June 2016 and started trading on Bitfinex in June 2017. With a market cap of about $11.19 billion, it is ranked ninth, according to coinmarketcap. Percentage gain in 2017: Over 450 percent Trading price as of Wednesday: $4." + }, + { + "text": "Ten U.S. citizens killed in Costa Rica plane crash Sunday, December 31, 2017 - 00:41 Officials say a plane crash in Costa Rica killed 10 U.S. citizens and two local pilots. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). Officials say a plane crash in Costa Rica killed 10 U.S. citizens and two local pilots. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2zV9zWY" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 4 (Reuters) - PIXIUM VISION SA: * PIXIUM VISION RECEIVES FDA APPROVAL TO BEGIN HUMAN CLINICAL STUDY OF ITS PRIMA SUB-RETINAL IMPLANT IN THE US * RECEIVES FDA APPROVAL TO BEGIN HUMAN CLINICAL STUDY OF ITS PRIMA SUB-RETINAL IMPLANT IN US * FEASIBILITY CLINICAL STUDY IS DESIGNED TO EVALUATE PRIMA IN PATIENTS WITH ATROPHIC DRY AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION * EXPECTS TO START US STUDY IN FIRST HALF OF 2018. Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom:) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "MEXICO CITY, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The United States, Canada and Mexico plan to meet in Mexico City from February 26 to March 6 for the seventh round of talks to renegotiate the North America Free Trade Agreement, Mexico’s Economy ministry said in a statement on Monday. (Reporting by Anthony Esposito Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29 (Reuters) - Shandong Yisheng Livestock & Poultry Breeding Co Ltd: * SAYS IT EXPECTS TO SWING TO NET LOSS OF 325-345 MILLION YUAN ($51.38-54.54 million) IN 2017 VERSUS NET PROFIT OF 562.2 MILLION YUAN YEAR AGO Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2DY1o24 Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3251 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 10:48 AM / Updated 8 minutes ago Storm kills three in the Netherlands, three in Germany Reuters Staff 3 Min Read AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Three people were killed in the Netherlands and three people died in Germany on Thursday as powerful winds toppled trees, blew trucks off the road and forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights. Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport briefly suspended all air traffic on Thursday as gusts of up to 140 kph (85 mph) were recorded along the coast. At least 260 flights were scrapped and falling roof tiles led to the closure of airport terminals. Nationwide train services and many tram and bus services were halted after the highest weather alert was issued. Police said three people were killed by falling trees or debris in separate incidents. In Rotterdam, shipping containers were toppled and entire roofs ripped off homes. Schiphol later said some flights would resume as the storm moved inland, but that there would be severe delays. In Germany, a 59-year-old man was killed by a falling tree in Emmerich near the Dutch border, a town spokesman said and a 68-year-old lorry driver was killed in a storm-related accident in Lippstadt, western Germany, police said. Slideshow (2 Images) In Bad Salzungen, Germany, a 28-year-old fireman was killed when a tree fell on him while trying to help a woman who had been trapped in her car by fallen trees, the district administration said. In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany’s most populous state, 41 people were injured in weather-related traffic accidents, police said. Some 100,000 people in NRW and in the northern state of Lower Saxony were left without power, a spokesman for the energy company Westnetz said. He said the company hoped to restore power within hours, provided the storm did not cause further damage. The German railway operator Deutsche Bahn [DBN.UL] said it had suspended nearly all long-distance rail service due to the storm and significant disruptions were expected again on Friday. Regional trains were also halted across northern and eastern Germany and some other areas, it said in a statement. In a statement, the rail operator said only a limited number of trains were operating on international routes. It said it had dispatched emergency crews to deal with storm damages. Some bridges and some stretches of road were closed in NRW. In Munich, eight domestic flights by Lufthansa ( LHAG.DE ) were cancelled, the airport operator said. Reporting by Anthony Deutsch, Michael Nienaber and Michelle Martin; Editing by Andrew Roche and Richard Balmforth" + }, + { + "text": "Smart Cars, Sweet Robots, Scary Wheels: CES 2018 in 2 Minutes 1/10/2018 12:17PM An adorable robot dog, a TV that could fill up a wall, a car whose entire dashboard is a touch screen. WSJ's Joanna Stern went on the hunt for the most exciting and unusual products at this year's biggest tech show. Photo/Video: Emily Prapuolenis/The Wall Street Journal" + }, + { + "text": "Iran’s new offensive against social media is showing signs of backfiring. Authorities in Tehran have ratcheted up their policing of the internet in the past week and a half, part of an attempt to stamp out the most far-reaching protests in Iran since 2009. But the crackdown is driving millions of Iranians to tech tools that can help them... RELATED VIDEO Iran's Protests: What's Next? Here's what could be next for Iran and what the unrest means for more than 80 million Iranians. Video: Karan Deep Singh / Photo: Getty Images" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 1:55 PM / Updated 9 minutes ago Pfizer's biosimilar of Biogen, Roche's lymphoma drug succeeds in study Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 24 (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc said on Wednesday its biosimilar version of Biogen Inc and Roche’s lymphoma drug, Rituxan, was as effective as the original drug in treating patients with a type of follicular lymphoma in a study. The trial met its main goal by demonstrating equivalence in overall response rate for the first-line treatment of patients with follicular lymphoma, Pfizer said. Rituxan has been approved to treat several types of blood cancer and is sold outside of the United States, Japan and Canada as MabThera. (Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D‘Silva)" + }, + { + "text": "Controversial sheriff pardoned by Trump to run for Senate 6:12pm GMT - 01:35 Former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a close ally of President Donald Trump, said on Tuesday he was running for the U.S. Senate to replace retiring Republican Senator Jeff Flake. Former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a close ally of President Donald Trump, said on Tuesday he was running for the U.S. Senate to replace retiring Republican Senator Jeff Flake. //uk.reuters.com/video/2018/01/09/controversial-sheriff-pardoned-by-trump?videoId=381440183&videoChannel=13422" + }, + { + "text": "ISTANBUL, Turkey and NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TFI Tab Food Investments (“TFI”) today announced that it has commenced an initial public offering of 22,000,000 American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), with each ADS representing 12 ordinary shares, including 4,500,000 ADSs to be sold by the Company and 17,500,000 ADSs to be sold by certain existing shareholders. The underwriters will have an option to purchase up to an additional 3,300,000 ADSs from certain existing shareholders. The Company will use the net proceeds it receives to repay a portion of outstanding indebtedness and will not receive any proceeds from the ADSs sold by the selling shareholders. The price range for the initial public offering is currently estimated to be between $9.00 and $11.00 per share. The Company has applied to list its ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “TFIG”. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, are acting as bookrunning managers and representatives of the underwriters for the proposed offering. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC are acting as bookrunners for the proposed offering. Rabo Securities U.S.A., Inc. is acting as a co-manager for the proposed offering. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to the offering of these securities may be obtained from: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014; Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Attn: Prospectus Department, One Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010, telephone: 1-800-221-1037 or by emailing [REDACTED] ; or Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, telephone: 1-866-471-2526, facsimile: 212-902-9316 or by emailing [REDACTED] . A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About TFI TFI Tab Food Investments, Inc. is one of the world’s largest global restaurant operators by number of restaurants, with over 1,800 restaurants and more than 30,000 employees. During its 22-year history, TFI has grown its portfolio to include a broad range of quick service restaurants, or QSRs, mainly in Turkey and China. Its brand portfolio includes some of the most widely-recognized QSR brands in the world, including Burger King®, Popeyes®, Sbarro®, and Arby’s®, as well as its own brand, Usta Dönerci®. For media inquiries, please contact: In Turkey V Emir IŞIK TFI Tab Food Investments [REDACTED] [REDACTED] In the U.S. Richard Jacques / Patricia Graue Brunswick Group [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Source: TAB Food Investments" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds context, detail from report) LUANDA, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Moody’s assumes the Angolan government does not intend to default on its debt after ambiguous wording in official statements, the ratings agency said in a research report. Angola this month unveiled plans to restructure its foreign debt and devalued the kwanza currency after the collapse in global oil prices from mid-2014 had battered its economy. The exchange rate changes in Africa’s second-largest oil producer garnered most attention, with investors saying the kwanza needed to fall further before it reached fair value. Moody’s said in a report sent to media on Thursday that the new kwanza regime and the government’s desire to renegotiate debt underscored existing pressures on Angola’s credit ratings, which include falling economic growth and liquidity risks. It said it expected Angola’s debt-to-GDP ratio to rise and for higher inflation to weigh on growth, although it said the country’s current account was likely to improve over time. The ratings agency said it had discussed the recent policy changes with the Angolan government. Angolan President Joao Lourenço has embarked on a series of policy and personnel shifts since taking over from long-serving predecessor Jose Eduardo dos Santos in September. Earlier this week, Lourenço removed the son of dos Santos as head of Angola’s sovereign wealth fund, in a move to wrest control of another key area of the state. Writing by Alexander Winning; Editing by Dale Hudson Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "LaMarcus Aldridge scored 30 points, and new starting point guard Dejounte Murray added 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven steals as the San Antonio Spurs rolled to a 114-102 win over the reeling Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. Cleveland cut the Spurs’ lead to 100-94 on a 3-pointer by LeBron James with 5:08 to play. However, San Antonio responded with a left-handed tip-in by Murray, who has taken over at point guard position from stalwart Tony Parker, and a ringing 3-pointer off a mini-break by Danny Green to get the Spurs out of harm’s way for the final minutes. Patty Mills’ 3-pointer with 1:16 to play pushed San Antonio’s cushion to 112-96 and sent the Cleveland starters to the bench. Parker added 14 points off the bench for San Antonio while Davis Bertans hit for 13 and Kyle Anderson scored 10 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for the Spurs, who ended a two-game losing streak. James scored 28 points to lead Cleveland, which lost for the third time in four games and for the eighth time in their past 11 contests. By scoring eight points in the first quarter, James became the seventh player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points, as well as the youngest to do so at 33 years and 24 days of age (supplanting Kobe Bryant, 34 years and 104 days). Isaiah Thomas scored 14 for the Cavaliers, Jae Crowder added 13 points, and Dwyane Wade and Kevin Love tallied 12 and 10 points, respectively, for Cleveland. Love also led the Cavaliers with 11 rebounds, all on the defensive end. San Antonio finished strong to end the first half, breaking out of a tie game with 2:47 to play in the second quarter by forging an 11-3 run. The sequence featured six points from Parker and garnered the Spurs a 63-55 lead at intermission. The Spurs led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter before settling for an 89-81 advantage heading into the final 12 minutes. San Antonio outshot Cleveland 52 percent to 47.4 percent in the first half, 50 percent to 48.6 percent overall. The Spurs played without forwards Kawhi Leonard (rehab from an offseason quad injury) and Rudy Gay (right heel bursitis), center Pau Gasol (right wrist) and reserve guard Manu Ginobili (right thigh contusion). --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "January 20, 2018 / 1:34 PM / Updated 22 minutes ago Golf: Thai duo lead by two strokes in weather-hit Singapore Reuters Staff 2 Min Read SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Thai Chapchai Nirat was joined by compatriot Danthai Boonma at the top of the Singapore Open leaderboard as the duo took a two-stroke lead after the third day of the weather-disrupted event on Saturday. Only six players completed the third round before play was called off due to bad weather for the third consecutive day. Danthai was five-under-par through 15 holes in his third round and had reached nine-under overall when play was suspended. “I played very well today, especially my putting,” he told reporters after firing six birdies against a lone bogey. “I‘m just going to rest tonight to prepare for the long day. I must be focused and stick to my plan. I’ll just think about my swing, smile and have fun.” The 34-year-old Chapchai, who lost his Asian Tour card last season and only made the field because of his career money earnings, started the third round at a total of seven-under 135. He was two-under-par through nine holes when play was stopped. “I‘m still adopting the same approach coming into round three. That is to use the tournament to experiment and adapt to my swing,” Chapchai said. “I won’t be overthinking about the tournament, (I‘m) just going to enjoy the experience here.” Seven players were tied for third place at seven-under-par including Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and South Africa’s Shaun Norris. Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by Ken Ferris" + }, + { + "text": "Amazon's automated grocery store of the future 11:28am EST - 02:03 Amazon will open its checkout-free grocery store to the public on Monday after more than a year of testing, moving forward on an experiment that could dramatically alter brick-and-mortar retail. Amazon will open its checkout-free grocery store to the public on Monday after more than a year of testing, moving forward on an experiment that could dramatically alter brick-and-mortar retail. //reut.rs/2mWZqVm" + }, + { + "text": "Tunisia arrests 237 in clashes and protests 12:07am IST - 00:55 Tunisian authorities arrested at least 237 people on Wednesday, the third day of anti-austerity rage across the country. Lucy Fielder reports. Tunisian authorities arrested at least 237 people on Wednesday, the third day of anti-austerity rage across the country. Lucy Fielder reports. //reut.rs/2ANiVED" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- LeBaronBrown Industries LLC (\"LeBaronBrown\") announced today that it has acquired a majority interest in American International Chemical, Inc. (\"AIC\"), a leading specialty chemical and ingredients distributor based in Framingham, Massachusetts. AIC's management team, led by its President and Founder Mike Schrage, will continue to manage the business. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. As part of the agreement, AIC has changed its legal status from American International Chemical Corporation to American International Chemical LLC. LeBaronBrown is a private investment firm with a multi-decade orientation and a strategy to bring capital and resources to company management teams to enable growth over a multi-decade period. AIC joins Charkit Chemical Company LLC, acquired in June of 2017, under the same parent company. AIC is entering its 46th year of operations and undertook this transaction to position the company for long-term, continued growth. \"The investment puts AIC in the best position for future growth, building upon the success of our dedicated AIC team,\" commented Mike Schrage, President of AIC. \"We are excited about our future and the partnership with LeBaronBrown.\" Simon Brown and Matt LeBaron, co-founders of LeBaronBrown, stated \"We are thrilled by the addition of AIC to the LeBaronBrown platform. The company's high-quality, multi-decade performance history and reputation as a premier specialty chemical and ingredients provider made it an ideal choice. We look forward to the opportunity to provide resources and support to the existing management team to fuel continued growth.\" For more information about LeBaronBrown, please contact Simon Brown or Matt LeBaron at 212.841.8500. About American International Chemical Founded in 1972, American International Chemical LLC is an ISO Certified specialty chemical, raw materials, and ingredient supplier servicing the food, pharmaceutical, nutrition, personal care, biotech, and industrial markets of North America. Through a team of 30 sales representatives and 19 strategically located warehouses, AIC offers a wide range of globally sourced products and ensures both quality and adherence to regulatory requirements. To meet the changing requirements of its customers, AIC also offers a range of custom manufacturing capabilities to the North American market. About LeBaronBrown Industries LeBaronBrown Industries LLC is a private investment firm with a multi-decade investment horizon. LeBaronBrown's objective is to support the creation of long term equity value and compounding of performance. LeBaronBrown's capital and resources will be dedicated to supporting the growth of its operating companies over the long term, including by actively seeking complementary acquisitions. LeBaronBrown Industries LLC 400 Park Avenue, 21st Floor New York, NY 10022 www.lebaronbrown.com View original content with multimedia: SOURCE LeBaronBrown Industries" + }, + { + "text": "LEXINGTON, Ky., Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV), a leading worldwide supplier of premium branded lubricants and automotive services, today announced that Brad Patrick will join the company on Jan. 22 as its chief people and communications officer. He will report to ValvolineTM Chief Executive Officer Sam Mitchell and be based at the company's world headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky. In this role, Patrick will be responsible for the strategic direction and global management of all aspects of human resources, including talent development management, compensation and benefits, and labor and employee relations. He will also oversee corporate communications. Patrick brings more than 30 years of strategic leadership in progressive HR practices, enhancing both people and organization capability and building performance cultures in high-growth environments. He has held senior HR leadership roles at the Sara Lee Corp., The Gillette Co. (Procter & Gamble Co.), Delta Air Lines Inc. and Frito-Lay Inc. Most recently, he was chief HR officer at Tempur Sealy International and Shearer's Snacks. \"Brad is a seasoned executive with a proven track record helping growth-oriented global organizations — and their people — succeed,\" Mitchell said. \"We are extremely pleased to welcome him to Valvoline's leadership team.\" Patrick holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Kentucky, where he is also an MBA advisory board member of the Gatton College of Business and Economics. About ValvolineTM Valvoline Inc. (NYSE:VVV) is a leading worldwide producer and distributor of premium branded automotive, commercial and industrial lubricants, and automotive chemicals. Valvoline ranks as the #2 quick-lube chain by number of stores and #3 passenger car motor oil brand in the DIY market by volume in the United States. The brand operates and franchises more than 1,070 Valvoline Instant Oil Change SM centers in the United States. It also markets ValvolineTM lubricants and automotive chemicals; MaxLifeTM lubricants created for higher-mileage engines; SynPowerTM synthetic motor oil; and ZerexTM antifreeze. Visit www.valvoline.com to learn more. TM Trademark, Valvoline or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries SM Service mark, Valvoline or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Investor Relations Sean T. Cornett [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Media Relations Valerie Schirmer [REDACTED] [REDACTED] with multimedia: releases/brad-patrick-to-join-valvoline-as-chief-people-and-communications-officer-300579307.html SOURCE Valvoline Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 11:50 AM / a day ago Motor racing-McLaren's Alonso to drive for Toyota at Le Mans Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Jan 30 (Reuters) - Fernando Alonso will drive for Toyota in this year’s Le Mans 24-hour race and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), his McLaren Formula One team said on Tuesday. The Spanish twice F1 world champion has been considering taking part in endurance events as he bids to emulate Graham Hill, the late Briton who won the Formula One world title, Indianapolis 500 and Le Mans in the 1960s. “I’ve never been shy about my aim of winning motorsport’s Triple Crown – the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indy 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We tried for Indy last year, came close, but just missed out,” Alonso said in a statement. “This year, I have the chance thanks to McLaren to race for the win at Le Mans. It is a big challenge – much can go wrong – but I am ready, prepared and looking forward to the fight.” Following his appearance in the 24 Hours of Daytona last week, a deal has been reached with Toyota for the 36-year-old Alonso to take part in as many WEC rounds as possible. McLaren and Alonso have agreed, however, that Formula 1 remains their shared priority and he will miss the Japanese leg of the WEC season on Oct. 21 due to it clashing with the U.S. Formula One Grand Prix. (Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)" + }, + { + "text": "DUBAI, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Demand for business loans in the United Arab Emirates increased marginally in the fourth quarter of last year, mainly because of stronger demand in Dubai, while total demand for personal loans was flat, a central bank survey showed on Tuesday. The net balance measure for business lending - the weighted percentage of respondents reporting an increase in demand for loans minus those reporting a fall in demand - was plus 7.3 in the latest quarter, up from plus 6.3 in the previous quarter. More than 30 percent of respondents reported a moderate tightening of credit standards during the latest quarter while around 60 percent reported no change. For the current quarter, respondents expect the net balance measure to rise to plus 17.6. (Reporting by Andrew Torchia)" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Japanese government bond prices slipped on Thursday, nudged lower when U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin backed a weaker dollar and sent U.S. bonds lower. The benchmark 10-year yield rose 1 basis point to 0.0805 percent and the 30-year yield was 0.5 basis point higher at 0.825 percent. JGB losses were limited as an auction of 20-year debt attracted ample investor demand and as Japanese stocks suffered losses. The bid-to-cover ratio, a gauge of demand, at Thursday’s 1 trillion yen ($9.17 billion) 20-year JGB auction was 4.17, slightly above 4.12, the average ratio from the past 10 sales. Japan’s Nikkei share average dropped to a 10-day low as a stronger yen hurt exporters. Mnuchin’s comments sparked concerns that a weaker dollar could dampen overseas investor demand for U.S. debt, hurting U.S. Treasuries overnight. ($1 = 109.0100 yen) (Reporting by the Tokyo markets team; Editing by Eric Meijer)" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 3:27 AM / Updated an hour ago Grateful Obafemi keen to kick on after Southampton debut Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Southampton forward Michael Obafemi is eager to kick on after becoming the first player born after the year 2000 to feature for the club in a Premier League match. The 17-year-old made his league debut in Sunday’s 1-1 home draw with Tottenham Hotspur. He came off the bench in the 82nd minute and missed a glorious opportunity to grab the winner shortly after. “I am very thankful to all the staff and club for helping to make this happen,” Obafemi told the club’s website. (southamptonfc.com) ”I can’t stop here, this is just the start of what I hope is my career. When the chance came, I should have used my left foot but I hope I will get another opportunity to prove I can make it at this level. “I was nervous but the welcome from the supporters was brilliant and the senior guys told me to just relax and prove myself. I want to move on from here and keep working hard.” Southampton are winless in 11 consecutive league games and sit 18th in the table. Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford" + }, + { + "text": "STRASBOURG, France, Jan 17 (Reuters) - European lawmakers voted on Wednesday to ramp up climate goals in draft measures to reform the power market, setting up for tough talks with EU member states. The proposal aims to help implement the European Union’s climate goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, in the wake of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to no more than 2 degrees. Voting on its position ahead of negotiations with EU nations on the final legislation, European Parliament set more ambitious renewable energy targets for the bloc than agreed by national governments. It is also voting on energy efficiency targets later on Wednesday. Parliament also backed banning the use of palm oil, a major import Southeast Asian nations such as Indonesia and Malaysia, in draft rules on motor fuels from 2021. (Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek; Editing by Alissa de Carbonnel)" + }, + { + "text": "January 21, 2018 / 12:31 PM / Updated 2 hours ago American hero Tennys is good for tennis, says Wilander Martyn Herman 2 Min Read MELBOURNE (Reuters) - American outsider Tennys Sandgren’s fairytale run at the Australian Open is just what the sport needs to make it less predictable, according to former champion Mats Wilander. The 97th-ranked Sandgren arrived in Melbourne without a grand slam match win on his CV but the man from Gallatin, Tennessee is now one victory away from the quarter-finals. “It’s great for Tennys, and tennis,” Europsport commentator Wilander told Reuters ahead of 26-year-old Sandgren’s last-16 clash with Austrian fifth seed Dominic Thiem. ”He came through the hard way playing college tennis and Futures and Challengers. We need these guys to break through because to do what he is doing gives hope for the journeyman. “It shows you can be 100, 200 in the world and make it through to the second week of a slam. It shows if you keep pushing you can have your day.” Sandgren has spent most of his career traveling the American circuit, often making overnight road trips. Before his shock victory over 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka in round two, he admitted he had often stood in bars watching on TV as the likes of Wawrinka, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer slugged it out at the majors. ”I used to watch them and think “jeez these guys are pretty damn good,” Sandgren, who is guaranteed A$240,000 ($192,000) in prize money, said this week. Now he is mixing it with the best and Wilander believes it adds a touch of unpredictability to the men’s game. “It helps illustrate to fans the depth of tennis and maybe tennis could become a bit more like golf,” he said. “The PGA Tour has benefited from the fact that, yeah, they have the stars but there is the whole field that can win any event, that’s why we need guys like Sandgren in tennis.” Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Nick Mulvenney" + }, + { + "text": "HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Jan. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CDK Global, Inc. (Nasdaq:CDK) is scheduled to release its financial results for the fiscal second quarter ending December 31, 2017 before the opening of the Nasdaq on Tuesday, January 30, 2018. CDK will also be hosting a conference call at 7:30 a.m. CT on January 30, 2018 to discuss the results for the fiscal quarter. Brian MacDonald, President and Chief Executive Officer, Joe Tautges, Chief Financial Officer, and Katie Coleman, Senior Director Investor Relations, will be participating on the call. Investors and interested participants are invited to listen to the conference call and view the accompanying slide presentation via live webcast which can be accessed through CDK's Investor Relations home page, . The slide presentation will be available approximately 60 minutes before the webcast at CDK's Investor Relations home page. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Events & Presentations section of CDK's Investor Relations home page. About CDK Global With more than $2 billion in revenues, CDK Global (Nasdaq:CDK) is a leading global provider of integrated information technology and digital marketing solutions to the automotive retail and adjacent industries. Focused on enabling end-to-end automotive commerce, CDK Global provides solutions to dealers in more than 100 countries around the world, serving approximately 28,000 retail locations and most automotive manufacturers. CDK solutions automate and integrate all parts of the dealership and buying process from targeted digital advertising and marketing campaigns to the sale, financing, insuring, parts supply, repair and maintenance of vehicles. Visit www.cdkglobal.com . Investor Relations Contact: [REDACTED] 847.485.4000 Source:CDK Global, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "PLANO, Texas, Jan. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- LegacyTexas Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:LTXB) (the \"Company\"), the holding company for LegacyTexas Bank, today announced that it plans to release its fourth quarter and full year 2017 results after the close of the market on Tuesday, January 23, 2018. The earnings release will be available on the Company's website, www.LegacyTexasFinancialGroup.com . The Company will also host an investor conference call to review the results on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 8 a.m. Central Time. Participants may pre-register for the call by visiting and will receive a unique PIN that can be used when dialing in for the call. This will allow attendees to enter the call immediately. Alternatively, participants may call (toll-free) 877-513-4119 at least five minutes prior to the call to be placed into the call by an operator. International participants are asked to call 1-412-902-4148 and participants in Canada are asked to call (toll-free) 1-855-669-9657. The call and corresponding presentation slides will be webcast live on the home page of the Company's website, www.LegacyTexasFinancialGroup.com . An audio replay will be available one hour after the conclusion of the call at 877‐344-7529, Conference #10115614. This replay will be available until February 24, 2018. About LegacyTexas Financial Group, Inc. LegacyTexas Financial Group, Inc. is the holding company for LegacyTexas Bank, a commercially oriented community bank based in Plano, Texas. LegacyTexas operates 44 banking offices in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and surrounding counties. For more information, please visit www.LegacyTexasFinancialGroup.com or www.LegacyTexas.com . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE LegacyTexas Financial Group, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department has dropped corruption charges against Democratic Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, according to a court filing on Wednesday, days after the trial judge threw out several counts. Menendez, a Democrat who is expected to seek reelection this year, was accused of accepting gifts from a wealthy benefactor, ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen, in exchange for official favors. His first criminal trial last year ended in a mistrial after a jury could not come to a unanimous verdict, and federal prosecutors said this month they would seek to retry him. “From the very beginning, I never wavered in my innocence and my belief that justice would prevail,” Menendez said in a statement. “I am grateful that the Department of Justice has taken the time to reevaluate its case and come to the appropriate conclusion.” The Justice Department’s decision to drop the case marks a major political victory not only for Menendez, but also for the Democratic party, which is hoping to regain control of the U.S. Senate in the upcoming midterm elections. Last week U.S. District Judge William Walls threw out some of the bribery charges on the grounds that prosecutors had failed to show that about $660,000 in political contributions from Melgen to help benefit Menendez’s 2012 reelection campaign were part of any bribery scheme. The mere fact that some of the money arrived around the same time that Menendez took actions that could benefit Melgen was not enough to prove a “quid pro quo” arrangement, Walls said. “Given the impact of the Court’s Jan. 24 Order on the charges and the evidence admissible in a retrial, the United States has determined that it will not retry the defendants on the remaining charges,” the Justice Department said in a statement. The department also said on Wednesday that it was dropping federal charges against Melgen, who was separately convicted of a Medicare fraud in Florida and is still awaiting sentencing in that case. Reporting by Joseph Ax and Sarah N. Lynch, editing by G Crosse and Susan Thomas" + }, + { + "text": "Stripe, which four years ago said it would become the first major online payments platform to accept bitcoin for payments, is ditching the idea. The company said Tuesday that the cryptocurrency had almost become a victim of its own popularity — the time needed to complete a transaction has increased, meaning that payments sometimes fail. And the rise in transaction fees helped convince Stripe that bitcoin is meant to be more of an asset and less of a currency for daily payments. \"By the time the transaction is confirmed, fluctuations in bitcoin price mean that it's for the 'wrong' amount,\" Stripe's Tom Karlo said . \"For a regular bitcoin transaction, a fee of tens of U.S. dollars is common, making bitcoin transactions about as expensive as bank wires.\" More from Recode: A lobbying group for Amazon, Facebook and Google is kicking off a new diversity initiative thanks to pressure from Congress Why people are buying more expensive smartphones than they have in years Facebook bought a startup that specializes in verifying government IDs So the company said it doesn't make sense to keep allowing merchants to accept a payment method that no one wants to use. The last bitcoin transactions will be processed on April 23. Stripe says it remains bullish on the crypto-economy, and CEO Patrick Collison was certainly ahead of the curve on bitcoin's rise. Collison told Recode back in 2014 that it was important for the payments platform to accept a currency that anyone around the world could access. \"Universality is the big one for me,\" he said. \"Bitcoin is something that anyone can get ahold of.\"" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 1:25 PM / in an hour MOVES-Citi's Winter springs to BNP Paribas Christopher Spink 3 Min Read LONDON, Jan 11 (IFR) - Investment banker Eirik Winter has left Citigroup after over 20 years to take up a senior position at BNP Paribas as chief executive officer for the French bank in the Nordic region and head of corporate and institutional banking Nordics. At Citigroup Winter was head of debt capital markets and syndicate for EMEA in London until March 2010, when he became head of investment banking for the Nordics, also based in London. “BNP Paribas has several hundred people in the region and a range of businesses, so this is a management and strategic exercise for me but I will remain deal-focused,” Winter told IFR. Winter is Swedish but was born in Finland. He originally joined what was Salomon Brothers in 1996, prior to its incorporation into Citi. Earlier this week Citigroup said that Lars Ingemarsson and Ari Makela had been appointed co-heads of investment banking for the Nordic region. Both joined the bank in 2011. Ingemarsson is based in Stockholm and Makela in Helsinki. They cover Swedish and Finnish markets, respectively. Winter will start his role at BNP Paribas on April 3, reporting to Yannick Jung, who on December 1 was promoted to head of global banking EMEA. Jung was previously head of corporate clients financing and advisory EMEA. In his new position he is responsible for global banking, supervising all the bank’s country managers as well as financing, advisory and transaction banking service lines for its corporate clients across EMEA. Jung is based in Paris and reports to Yann Geradin, head of CIB. Winter will be a member of the global banking EMEA board. The French bank has set out regions outside France in which it wants to grow, with the Nordics being one of them. Winter will also develop relationships with potential clients in the tech and digital sectors. In addition, the bank has appointed George Holst as vice chairman of the corporate executive sponsorship board, chaired by Jung to whom he will report. This position also develops relationships with corporate clients. He joins from JP Morgan, where he was global head of retail investment banking. He will also be on the global banking EMEA board, and will be based in Paris. Matthew Ponsonby, head of global banking in the UK, will also report to Jung and Anne Marie Verstraeten, UK country head. He is also on the global banking EMEA board. He joined in October from Barclays. (Reporting by Christopher Spink; additional reporting by Alex Chambers)" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 6:44 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Barclays to cut up to 100 senior jobs at its investment bank: source Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s Barclays ( BARC.L ) is axing up to 100 jobs at its investment bank, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday, following another set of disappointing results from the division in the third quarter. The cuts will be split evenly between Europe and the United States and be weighted more towards roles at the director and managing director level, the source added, although Reuters’ sister publication IFR reported last week that Europe would bear the brunt of the reductions. Chief Executive Jes Staley has championed the investment bank, even amid calls from some analysts and investors to ditch a business that has in recent years struggled to match the profitability of Barclays’ retail and credit card units. He said at the bank’s third-quarter results in October that Barclays would push ahead with reinvesting in the business, which he wants to be able to compete with Wall Street heavyweights, and add more products and derivatives without returning to the aggressive practices of the past. In 2016, around 1,000 jobs were cut from Barclays’ investment banking business worldwide, as it strove to reduce costs and boost revenues. Barclays cut a total of 10,000 staff that year alone. The story was first reported by Bloomberg. Reporting by Emma Rumney; Editing by Silvia Aloisi and Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Britain should charge a 25-pence ($0.34) “latte levy” on disposable coffee cups to cut down waste and ban them if a recycling target is not met by 2023, a committee of lawmakers said on Friday. Less than 1 percent of coffee cups are recycled in Britain because of the tightly bonded plastic liner, the difficulties of recycling packaging which has been in contact with food and drink and a lack of facilities, the lawmakers said. Chains Pret A Manger, Costa Coffee, Caffe Nero and Greggs alongside U.S. firm Starbucks are among the biggest coffee-sellers in Britain and have rapidly expanded in the last 10 years to meet increasing demand. Although some outlets give a discount to customers using their own cup, only 1-2 percent of buyers take up the offer, according to parliament’s environmental audit committee which said a “latte levy” was needed instead. “The UK throws away 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups every year; enough to circle the planet five and a half times,” said Chair of the committee, Mary Creagh. “We’re calling for action to reduce the number of single use cups, promote reusable cups over disposable cups and to recycle all coffee cups by 2023,” she said. The committee said that money raised by the charge should help improve recycling facilities and if the 2023 target is not met then disposable coffee cups should be banned. The Irish parliament is considering banning single-use coffee cups whilst the German city Hamburg said in 2016 it will no longer use coffee-makers with aluminum capsules in its own offices or buildings. A commuter carries a disposable coffee cup in London, Britain, January 5, 2018. REUTERS/Toby Melville In October 2015, Britain introduced a charge of 5 pence on all single-use plastic bags provided by large shops, which led to an 83 percent reduction in UK plastic bags used in the first year. On Friday the environment ministry said the government was working closely with the sector and had made progress in increasing recycling rates. Slideshow (4 Images) “We are encouraged by industry action to increase the recycling of paper cups with some major retail chains now offering discounts to customers with reusable cups,” said a ministry spokeswoman. “We will carefully consider the committee’s recommendations and respond shortly,” she said. Caffe Nero said it was working with others to understand and address the issues which prevent the widespread recycling of paper cups. Costa Coffee and Greggs said they offered a discount to those using reusable cups but Costa said the government also needed to focus on improving recycling infrastructure. Pret A Manger’s customers have benefited from a 50 pence discount from this week. U.S chain Starbucks will trial a 5 pence levy at up to 25 London branches in February for three months. “We will investigate the impact of a 5p charge on a paper cup, coupled with prominent marketing of reusable cups, on customer behavior,” it said in a statement posted on its website. Editing by Kate Holton/Guy Faulconbridge" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia’s gas exports increased by 8.1 percent to a record high 193.9 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2017, Alexei Miller, head of Gazprom, said in a statement on Wednesday. Gazprom’s gas production, the world’s largest, rose by 12.4 percent to 471 bcm, Miller said. Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; editing by Jason Neely" + }, + { + "text": "MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal knows his path to a 17th grand slam title will only get tougher after a relatively routine run of opponents since his French Open triumph last June when he lines up against Marin Cilic in Tuesday’s Australian Open quarter-final. The 31-year-old Spaniard dropped his first set of the tournament on Sunday before prevailing in a slugfest against Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman, the first true test of Nadal’s famed grit after three straightforward wins in Melbourne. The victory set up a quarter-final clash with world number six and former U.S. Open champion Cilic, Nadal’s first top-10 opponent in his last 16 grand slam matches. “All the matches are tough, and if you are in the quarter-finals of a grand slam, you can’t expect an easy match,” Nadal said after suppressing Schwartzman in seven minutes under four hours. “Against Marin will be a tough one, but at the same time, is a beautiful match to play against a great player. We know each other. We played a couple of times already.” Tennis - Australian Open - Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 21, 2018. Marin Cilic of Croatia hits a shot against Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain. REUTERS/Toru Hanai Nadal will take heart from his 5-1 head-to-head record against the Croatian 29-year-old, who won their first meeting in 2009 but has since struggled against the powerful left-hander. Cilic, however, would like to believe he is better equipped to take on top players like Nadal following his 2014 U.S. Open triumph and run to last year’s Wimbledon final. ”Throughout my career, I knew that if I‘m playing well, if I‘m top of my game, that I can challenge most of the guys on the tour,“ he said. ”With the win at the U.S. Open that, you know, I believe it just became stronger. “I believe in my own game, I believe in what I‘m doing. I think I‘m moving the right direction. You know, it’s obviously a big challenge playing them, but that’s what we also work for on the training.” Third seed Grigor Dimitrov, survivor of a fourth-round thriller against home favorite Nick Kyrgios, will also be in action against the sole surviving Briton, Kyle Edmund. Women’s fourth seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine will seek to maintain her season-opening winning streak against Elise Mertens in the Belgian’s first grand slam quarter-final appearance. Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "SINGAPORE, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Brent crude prices were on Tuesday settling in around $70 per barrel, levels last seen before the start of an oil market slump in late 2014. Prices have been driven up by production curbs in OPEC nations and Russia, as well as by robust demand on the back of healthy global economic growth. Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, had dipped 22 cents to $70.04 per barrel by 0213 GMT on Tuesday from the previous day's close. But traders said Brent was well supported overall around this level. Brent hit $70.37 a barrel on Monday, its strongest since December, 2014, which was at the beginning of a three year oil price slump. U.S. West futures were at $64.53 a barrel, up 23 cents, or 0.36 percent from their last settlement. WTI hit a December-2014 peak of $64.89 a barrel in early trading. \"We have updated our supply/demand balances to reflect a faster-than-expected tightening in the global oil market due to improving cyclical conditions, cold winter weather, and higher than expected OPEC compliance,\" Bank of America Merrill Lynch said. In an effort to tighten markets and prop up prices, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia started to withhold production in January last year, and the cuts are set to last through 2018. This restraint has coincided with healthy oil demand and economic growth, pushing up crude prices by more than 13 percent since early December. \"We now see a deficit of 430,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2018 compared to 100,000 bpd prior, and thus see Brent crude oil prices averaging $64 per barrel in 2018 compared to $56 prior. Our WTI projection also moves up from $52 per barrel to $60 per barrel for the same reasons,\" Bank of America Merrill Lynch said. Crude futures have also been supported by a weak dollar, which fell to its lowest level in three years late on Monday against a basket of other leading currencies. A weakening dollar often triggers investment into liquid commodity futures like gold and crude oil. The major factor that in late 2017 held back crude prices, the surge in U.S. production, has stalled at least temporarily as icy winter weather in North America has shut down some facilities. Instead of hitting 10 million bpd this month, as widely expected, U.S. production fell from 9.8 million bpd in December to 9.5 million bpd currently. Despite this, most analysts still expect U.S. production to break through 10 million bpd soon. (Reporting by Henning Gloystein; Editing by Joseph Radford)" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Wall Street paused its rally on Tuesday, weighed down by weakness in General Electric shares and as lower oil prices dragged down the energy sector. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 10.33 points, or 0.04 percent, to 25,792.86, the S&P 500 lost 9.82 points, or 0.35 percent, to 2,776.42 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 37.38 points, or 0.51 percent, to 7,223.69. (Reporting by April Joyner; Editing by James Dalgleish)" + }, + { + "text": "MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. The board of directors of Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) has declared a quarterly dividend of 62 cents per common share. The dividend is payable March 10, 2018 to shareholders of record at the close of business February 21, 2018. The 1st quarter dividend will be the company's 202nd consecutive dividend paid since October 1967 when the company became publicly held. About Target Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at 1,834 stores and at Target.com . Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit to communities, which today equals millions of dollars a week. For more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom . For a behind-the-scenes look at Target, visit Target.com/abullseyeview or follow @TargetNews on Twitter. View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Target Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 3:53 PM / Updated 8 minutes ago Russia's Alrosa to plunder diamond inventory as output drops Polina Devitt , Diana Asonova 3 Min Read MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian diamond miner Alrosa ( ALRS.MM ) will dip into its inventory in 2018 as it fights to keep sales constant despite lower output after an accident shut one of its mines, the head of its sales division told Reuters. Evgeny Agureev, who joined the state-controlled company last August, has signed long-term supply contracts with 65 companies, accounting for up to 70 percent of expected sales in 2018-2020. The rest of Alrosa’s output is sold through auction and on the spot market subject to its resource base, which has been dented by the shutdown at its Mir mine in Siberia. Mir had accounted for 9 percent of Alrosa’s annual output before it was partially flooded in August, killing eight miners. As well as the human tragedy, Alrosa has been hit by the loss of diamonds that Agureev says were held in high regard by the market. “We are working to compensate for this amount (of production) in other mines,” Agureev said in his first media interview. “Diamonds from the Verkhnyaya Muna deposit (in Siberia) will come to the market in 2019.” Despite falling production, Alrosa aims to keep its sales broadly stable at 40 million carats by reducing its inventory to 14 million carats in 2018. Slideshow (4 Images) VTB Capital estimated Alrosa’s inventory at 18 million carats at the end of 2017. Though Western sanctions over Moscow’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 have cast a shadow over some Russian businesses, Agureev said Alrosa’s long-term clients -- diversified across diamond polishing centres such as Belgium, Israel, India and China -- did not raise the issue during sales meetings. Washington could release reports as early as Monday detailing possible expansion of sanctions, but Agureev said Alrosa is prepared for worst-case scenarios. “If we have to leave Belgium, we will work in other centres,” Agureev said without providing further details. Alrosa and Anglo American’s ( AAL.L ) De Beers produce about half of the world’s rough diamonds. Alrosa does not foresee any significant changes in the supply side of the global rough diamond market in 2018-2020 and expects demand and prices to remain broadly flat for the period, Agureev said. A January trade session with customers suggested that strong demand is likely to continue in the first quarter of 2018, he added. Reporting by Polina Devitt and Diana Asonova; Editing by David Goodman" + }, + { + "text": "By David Z. Morris 11:18 AM EST A security researcher with Kaspersky Labs has found pirated digital copies of Michael Wolff’s Fire and Fury containing malware that could help hackers gain access to other people’s computers. The exploit was highlighted by researcher Michael Molsner and reported by the Daily Beast . The Beast noted that the compromised version of the book, in PDF format, has only a little over 230 pages, instead of the 328 pages in the official version. In tests conducted by the Daily Beast , the included malware was easily detected by antivirus software. Sometimes we come across strange malware 8667949f8fd4ce4da0424af4208104e3 pic.twitter.com/D9l4xu62A6 Get Data Sheet , Fortune’s technology newsletter. It’s intriguing that the discovery of the malware came from a researcher with Kaspersky Labs. The Russian-headquartered cybersecurity firm has recently faced allegations that it is linked to Russian intelligence services . According to U.S. intelligence reports, those agencies interfered with U.S. election systems and online news, in ways that appear to have been broadly supportive of Trump’s candidacy. The U.S. government recently banned the use of Kaspersky products by its agencies. To avoid being a hacker’s plaything, readers should stick to official e-book versions of Fire and Fury , as sold by Amazon and other retailers. Torrent sites serving pirated material infect as many as 12 million users a month with malware. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hexion Inc. (“Hexion” or the “Company”) today announced it has sold its Additives Technology Group (ATG) business to MÜNZING CHEMIE GmbH (MÜNZING), a privately-owned specialty additive company headquartered in Abstatt, Germany (“Transaction”). The Company received approximately $50 million in proceeds from the transaction, which is subject to customary post-closing adjustments. Hexion will use the sale proceeds for general corporate purposes. The Transaction involved the sale of two manufacturing sites located in Somersby, Australia and Sungai Petani, Malaysia, along with certain intangible property. These sites produce a range of specialty chemical materials for the engineered wood, paper impregnation and laminating industries, including catalysts, release agents and wetting agents. The ATG business operated within Hexion’s Forest Products Resins Segment. No other terms of the transaction were announced. “We are pleased to successfully complete the sale of our ATG business,” said Craig A. Rogerson, Chairman, President and CEO. “We continue to position the Company for profitable growth by strategically managing our portfolio and optimizing our cost structure.” About the Company Based in Columbus, Ohio, Hexion Inc. is a global leader in thermoset resins. Hexion Inc. serves the global wood and industrial markets through a broad range of thermoset technologies, specialty products and technical support for customers in a diverse range of applications and industries. Hexion Inc. is controlled by investment funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, LLC. Additional information about Hexion Inc. and its products is available at www.hexion.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Hexion Inc. John Kompa, 614-225-2223 [REDACTED] Source: Hexion Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 8 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. Headlines Airbus woos China with A380 industrial partnership offer ( on.ft.com/2CRaBtr ) Shell looks to shale production for rapid growth ( on.ft.com/2CPhH1w ) PwC launches specialist UK drone unit with eye to the future ( on.ft.com/2CRSqny ) BBC China editor stands down in gender pay row ( on.ft.com/2CTo9EA ) Overview Airbus was offering an industrial partnership on the A380 with China if Chinese airlines place orders for the company’s jet, whose future is in doubt unless it wins new customers. The growth of Royal Dutch Shell’s oil and gas operations in the next decade will depend on shale production, Chief Executive Ben van Beurden told the Financial Times, in the latest sign of western energy groups pinning their hopes for expansion on those “unconventional” resources. PwC has launched a UK drones team as the company looks to increase demand from investors, local authorities and companies for real-time data that can be more easily obtained by unmanned flight systems than by humans. BBC China editor Carrie Gracie resigned from her position after learning that the broadcasting company operates a “secretive and illegal pay culture” that systematically discriminates against women. Gracie learned that two of her male peers were paid significantly more. She accused her bosses of taking a “divide-and-rule” approach to female staff in an open letter published online late on Sunday. (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom; Editing by Sandra Maler)" + }, + { + "text": "OKLAHOMA CITY, Jan. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PANHANDLE OIL AND GAS INC. (NYSE: PHX) announced today that it plans to release results for its fiscal 2018 first quarter ended Dec. 31, 2017, on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018. Panhandle Oil and Gas Inc. (NYSE: PHX) is engaged in the exploration for and production of natural gas and oil. Additional information on the Company can be found on the Internet at www.panhandleoilandgas.com . View original content: SOURCE PANHANDLE OIL AND GAS INC." + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 2:53 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago Zimbabwe names judge Chigumba as election commission chief before crucial vote Reuters Staff 2 Min Read HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has named High Court Judge Priscilla Chigumba as head of the election agency, according to an official letter, ahead of a vote this year whose credibility will be key in rebuilding the nation’s foreign relations. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has not had a permanent chair since Rita Makarau resigned in December. Makarau was seen as an ally of 93-year-old former president Robert Mugabe, whose increasingly repressive 37-year rule alienated African and Western nations alike. But she gave no reason for her resignation, a month after Mugabe stepped down when the army and his ZANU-PF party turned against him. A copy of Chigumba’s appointment letter written by the chief secretary to Mnangagwa and his cabinet showed that Chigumba would start her new job immediately and was expected to be sworn-in on Thursday. A government source also confirmed her appointment. Mnangagwa said last week the southern African country would hold transparent elections by July and he would respect the result if the opposition wins. Chigumba’s last high-profile case was in November when she freed activist pastor Evan Mawarire, who had faced trial on charges of attempting to subvert Mugabe’s government. Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by James Macharia and Mark Heinrich" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 6:13 PM / Updated 8 minutes ago BRIEF-Justice Dept, SEC Are Said To Be Probing Apple Over Updates That Slow Down Older iPhones - Bloomberg Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 30 (Reuters) - * JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, SEC ARE SAID TO BE PROBING APPLE OVER UPDATES THAT SLOW DOWN OLDER iPHONES - BLOOMBERG, CITING SOURCES Source text - bloom.bg/2DNzZ3z Further company coverage: (Bengaluru Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 11:51 AM / Updated an hour ago Malaysia’s Najib says waiting for 'inspiration' to call polls Reuters Staff 3 Min Read KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Tuesday said he was waiting for inspiration to decide the right time to call a general election, with less than six months remaining until the end of his five-year term. Najib faces an unprecedented challenge in this year’s election from his former mentor and ex-premier, Mahathir Mohamad, who turned on the prime minister over his handling of a multi-billion dollar scandal involving a state fund. “I’m waiting for some sort of spark, or what the Malays call ‘ilham’,” Najib told a news conference, using the Malay word for inspiration. Najib has until June 24 to call for elections, failing which parliament dissolves automatically. Polls must be held within 60 days from the date of dissolution. “Whether we wait until June or make it earlier, we’ll see how things develop,” the prime minister said. After news broke in 2015 of hundreds of millions of dollars allegedly misappropriated from state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Najib moved quickly to quell dissent, sacking critics from his cabinet and ruling party and clamping down on a damaging internal probe. He has denied any wrongdoing. The scandal has since pit him against Mahathir, who joined hands with old rivals in the opposition to lead efforts to unseat Najib and his undefeated United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) coalition. But Najib is still widely expected to win, thanks to a divided opposition, an upbeat economy and the redrawing of electoral boundaries that critics say favours the government, according to a survey published in December by independent polling firm Merdeka Center. Mahathir, 92, met senior EU ambassadors last week and called for foreign intervention in the forthcoming elections, a move the government criticised. “They (the opposition) have run out of opportunities in the country, so they have to bring in foreign powers,” Najib said, regarding the meeting. “They want to create controversy, claiming that our system is not fair,” he said. Opposition parties have long accused UMNO, which has ruled Malaysia since independence, of election-rigging and fraud. UMNO has consistently denied the accusations. Reporting by Joseph Sipalan; Editing by Clarence Fernandez" + }, + { + "text": "12 Hong Kong drowning in waste as China rubbish ban takes toll Farah Master 5 Min Read HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong boasts glittering skyscrapers, seamless transportation and billion dollar infrastructure projects, but it is struggling with a much more mundane problem: disposing of its trash. The former British colony is grappling with a growing mountain of waste resulting from China’s ban this year on imports of 24 types of unprocessed rubbish – part of an effort to upgrade its recycling industry and reduce pollution. The Hong Kong government acknowledges its inability to cope with the problem, saying that it lacks the land to develop an effective recycling industry. Critics say, meanwhile, that the city has done too little to upgrade and develop its waste management system. “Hong Kong is a rich city with third-world quality recycling,” said Doug Woodring, founder and managing director of Ocean Recovery Alliance, a Hong Kong-based non-government organisation. “It has been too easy to send unprocessed waste to China.” Until last year, Hong Kong exported over 90 percent of its recyclables to China. That all changed at the end of 2017 as the effects of the Chinese ban – which included Hong Kong despite its status as a special administrative region of China – started to be felt around the world. Huge mountains of old newspapers, cardboard and office scrap have piled up on Hong Kong’s docks over the past few months while plastic waste has been dumped into the landfills. A city of more than 7 million people, Hong Kong deposits around two thirds of its waste into landfills - 5.6 million tonnes annually. Little is recycled. Hong Kong’s deputy director for environmental protection, Vicki Kwok, said in an interview that the densely populated city was unable to absorb all the recyclables due to a lack of available land in one of the world’s most expensive property markets. “We have to rely on exports and that makes us more susceptible, compared to other jurisdictions, to external market factors,” she said. Kwok said the government had announced multiple measures over the past few months to stymie the flow of garbage, including funding support to help upgrade local recyclers, and was prioritizing waste reduction at the source by appealing to businesses and consumers. Green groups say the measures will do little to alleviate pressure on Hong Kong as the local recycling industry is unable to process all the waste that used to be sent to China. Woodring said the government was too reliant on expanding landfills as a means of disposing of trash rather than reallocating land for waste management. Tonnes of waste paper to be shipped to mainland China are piled up at a dock in Hong Kong, China September 15, 2017. Picture taken September 15, 2017. REUTERS/Bobby Yip “Hong Kong has the capability to build processing plants,” he said, referring to recycling. “There is plenty of land. The land has just been misused and misallocated.” An average Hong Kong resident throws away around 1.4 kilograms daily, more than double that of Asian cities such as Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei, which have implemented extensive recycling programs, according to the government. Food waste, which accounts for the bulk of total waste generated, amounts to some 3,600 tonnes each day - the equivalent of 300 double-decker buses. The government is aiming to open a facility this year that would convert food waste into energy and usable resources. However, the total recycling capacity will be a maximum of 200 tonnes daily while a second phase starting operations in 2021 will process a maximum of 300 tonnes per day. Kwok said the government was planning to expand three active landfills set to reach capacity starting next year. Hong Kong, which has already filled up 13 landfills in its history, is planning to start charging consumers for what they throw out but implementation is unlikely to take effect in the coming two years, the government has said. Landfill waste is typically highly toxic and can severely damage surrounding ecosystems. The planned expansion of the landfills is likely to further impact a growing number of residents in affected areas, green groups have said. In the meantime, municipal waste continues to rise unabatedly, surging 80 percent over the past 30 years, while Hong Kong’s population has grown 36 percent, according to the government. The environmental group Green Earth estimates that Hong Kong throws 5 million plastic bottles into landfills each day. Edwin Lau, executive director of Green Earth, said the government needed to put in resources to subsidize and manage the industry directly. Hong Kong’s recycling industry is dominated by private players that operate in a piecemeal fashion with overlapping logistics. “The government has a role to tackle social issues such as the waste management issue,” he said. “Just expanding the landfills to cope with more waste, that is really backward thinking." + }, + { + "text": "52 PM / Updated 19 minutes ago France registers record asylum requests in 2017 Reuters Staff 2 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - France registered a record number of asylum requests in 2017, when Albanians topped the list despite far slimmer prospects of obtaining refugee status than people from war-torn places such as Syria or Afghanistan. A more than two-year long migration crisis has caused immigration to become a major political issue in many European countries, including France. Official asylum requests rose 17 percent to exceed 100,000, the highest “in at least four decades”, according to Pascal Brice, head of France’s refugee office (Ofpra). “This is not a massive inflow and we are capable of handling the situation,” Brice told CNews television on Monday. The number is sensitive after an election where President Emmanuel Macron faced off against Marine Le Pen of the anti-immigrant National Front. Macron, who won power in May, has promised to slash the time it takes French officials take to rule on asylum requests - to two months maximum from what Brice said was now about three months on average. Asylum requests from Albanians rose 66 percent from 2016 but the acceptance rate was low, at just 6.5 percent, Ofpra figures showed. By comparison, the acceptance rate was 95 percent for Syrians, 85 percent for Afghans and 59 percent in the case of people from Sudan, Ofpra said. Brice called the surge in Albanian requests “a cyclical phenomenon”. Albanians rose from third place in 2016 to the front of the queue of asylum-requesters in 2017, ahead of Afghanistan and Sudan, with Syria further down the line. The new French number -- precisely 100,412 asylum requests in 2017 - compares to 140,000 asylum requests recorded in the first nine months of 2017 in neighboring Germany, where limits on the inflow are one key issue in talks where Chancellor Angela Merkel is seeking to forge a governing coalition. Reporting by Julie Carriat and Brian Love; editing by Richard Lough" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 2:15 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago Italy's Benetton appoints founder Luciano Benetton as executive president Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MILAN (Reuters) - Italy’s clothing company Benetton Group appointed its founder Luciano Benetton as executive president, a company statement said on Wednesday. Last November Luciano Benetton announced he would return to the company after many years, with the aim of reviving the loss-making company. Reporting by Elisa Anzolin, editing by Giulia Segreti" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Read the full report: The Asia-Pacific (APAC) water meter market, comprising basic water meters, automated meter reading (AMR), and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) technologies is growing steadily due to the region-wide focus on improving metering penetration and reducing non-revenue water (NRW) losses. The market is likely to grow at a modest Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.5% between 2016 and 2022, propelled by the growing rate of metering in the region and the adoption of smart water metering in key developed nations. In addition to the analysis of market growth factors, this study offers insights into the broader trends influencing the water meter market and its participants. Utilities have realized the importance of increasing cost recovery in ensuring the financial and environment sustainability of water supply. Strong private sector investment is also expected in the market due to a shift in the investment focus from China and India toward emerging markets. This environment of change has proved beneficial to the water meter market, with the region witnessing an increase in the pace of project implementation and a leapfrogging in adoption of smart metering systems. The water meter market in APAC is still nascent with a highly fragmented market. Water meter market leaders from Japan and Europe have already begun capitalizing on the largely underdeveloped Southeast Asian meter market. Key companies in the region include Itron, Elster, Aichi Tokei Denki, Sensus, Arad, and K-Water. While Japan and Australia are currently the markets with the most activity, developing markets such as Indonesia, Singapore, and South Korea are expected to offer strong growth opportunity in the coming years. Frontier markets such as the Philippines and Vietnam will be fail-safe long-term bets. In terms of market segment performance, the market share of basic meters will gradually be eroded by smart metering technologies due to the need for better demand management and increased cost recovery from customers. Read the full report: About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place." + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 12:54 AM / Updated an hour ago Saudi women-only motorshow opens in Jeddah Reuters Staff 3 Min Read JEDDAH (Reuters) - Women flocked to Le Mall in Jeddah on Thursday to check out the kingdom’s first car exhibition aimed at women, a few months after Saudi Arabia granted them the right to drive. Saudi women are seen at the first automotive showroom solely dedicated for women in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Reem Baeshen Pink, orange and yellow balloons hung in the mall’s showroom as women posed for photos and selfies in front of the cars. One woman in the driver’s seat fixed her face cover. Another wrapped her turquoise-painted fingernails around the steering wheel, feeling it out. In a decree issued in September, King Salman ordered by June an end to the ban on women drivers, a conservative tradition that has limited women’s mobility and been seen by rights activists as an emblem of their suppression. Saudi Arabia is the only country that bans women drivers. The landmark royal decree has been hailed as proof of a new progressive trend in the deeply conservative Muslim kingdom. A Saudi woman is seen at the first automotive showroom solely dedicated for women in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Reem Baeshen Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 32, is the face of that change. Many young Saudis regard his recent ascent to power as proof their generation is taking a central place in running a country whose patriarchal traditions have for decades made power the province of the old and blocked women’s progress. “I’ve always been interested in cars, but we didn’t have the ability to drive,” said Ghada al-Ali, a customer. “And now I‘m very interested in buying a car but I would like the payments and prices to not be very high.” Slideshow (7 Images) Saudi Arabia’s cost of living has risen after the government hiked domestic gas prices and introduced value-added tax (VAT) in January. The exhibition focussed on fuel-efficient cars and provided a team of saleswomen to help their new customer base. The showroom carried signs emblazoned with the slogan “Drive and Shop”, a play on words in Arabic, using the female form of the verbs. “It is known that women are the largest section who shop in malls,” said Sharifa Mohammad, the heads the exhibition’s saleswomen. “This whole mall is run by women anyway. All the cashiers are women. Everyone in the restaurants are women.” Reporting by video team in Jeddah; Writing by Sarah Dadouch in Riyadh; Editing by Richard Chang" + }, + { + "text": "Astronauts complete first spacewalk of 2018 1:41am GMT - 00:45 Astronauts spacewalked outside the International Space Station to make adjustments to the robotic arm on Tuesday, marking the first spacewalk of 2018. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). Astronauts spacewalked outside the International Space Station to make adjustments to the robotic arm on Tuesday, marking the first spacewalk of 2018. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2n67UJG" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Global oil markets are tightening quickly on falling supplies from Venezuela, which posted 2017’s biggest unplanned output fall and could see a further decline in 2018, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Friday. Debt and infrastructure problems cut Venezuela’s output in December to 1.61 million barrels per day (bpd), somewhere near a 30-year low. That helped oil prices climb above $70 per barrel in early January, their highest level in 3 years. “The general perception that the market has been tightening is clearly the overriding factor and, within this overall picture, there is mounting concern about Venezuela’s production,” the IEA, which coordinates energy policy in industrialised nations, said in its monthly report. “Given Venezuela’s astonishing debt and deteriorating oil network, it is possible that declines this year will be even steeper... U.S. financial sanctions are also making it tougher for Venezuela’s oil sector to operate,” the IEA said. As a result of lower Venezuelan production, the IEA said OPEC’s crude output in December fell to 32.23 million bpd, boosting the group’s compliance with a deal to curb output to 129 percent. (Reporting by Dmitry Zhdannikov; editing by Jason Neely)" + }, + { + "text": "January 7, 2018 / 8:47 AM / Updated 29 minutes ago Cricket-Fraternal centuries make for a special day for the Marshes Nick Mulvenney 3 Min Read SYDNEY, Jan 7 (Reuters) - It was understandable the Australian batsman Shaun Marsh got a bit carried away when his little brother Mitchell scored his century on the fourth day of the fifth Ashes test against England on Sunday. It was not only that his sibling had been at the other end when he himself had reached the magic milestone at the Sydney Cricket Ground little more than an hour earlier. It was perhaps as much as anything because only a few months ago, it looked highly unlikely that either brother would be wearing the baggy green against England, let alone playing key roles in a crushing series triumph. Shaun, at 34 the elder by eight years, had been dumped from the test side for the seventh time and lost his central contract, while Mitch was struggling to find his way back into the international reckoning after a shoulder surgery. It made their moment on a scorching hot Sydney morning all the sweeter and Shaun got so carried away he nearly ran Mitchell out as they completed the two runs that gave the younger brother his second test ton only a few weeks after his first. “I pretty much went for the high five and Shaun went for the hug,” said Mitchell. “We somewhere parked in the middle and had a quick split second level of panic and hugged again after that.” Shaun was happy to take the blame. ”I think emotions sort of got the better of me and I just wanted to give him a hug,“ he said. ”I saw him starting to celebrate and sort of lost all concept of where the ball was and what was happening with the ball. “Thankfully it all worked out. I was just really happy for him.” All-rounder Mitchell’s first test hundred came after he was called into the team for the third Ashes clash in Perth and was a reward for the hard work he did on his batting after his recuperation from surgery. “To be honest I really didn’t think I was going to play any part for Australia this summer,” he said. “It’s been a whirlwind month for both of us really and we’re just both really happy to be here now and to be contributing to a winning Australian team.” Shaun’s recall for the series was his eighth and caused huge controversy, the selectors being vindicated when he scored an unbeaten 126 in Adelaide. “Six months ago I lost my contract and was left out of the test team and didn’t know what the future held at this level,” he recalled. “I went away and wanted to just enjoy myself and when I did get picked again it was emotional.” Shaun’s 156 on Sunday was his sixth test century and, combined with Mitchell’s 101, helped put Australia in a strong position to claim a 4-0 series victory on the final day on Monday. Neither brother, though, was prepared to consider yet whether they might retain their places for the tour of South Africa later this year. “It’s been nice contributing to the team over the last few weeks and today,” said Shaun. “I’ll just keep working hard, keep enjoying it, and not look too far ahead.” (Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)" + }, + { + "text": "ZURICH, Jan 22 (Reuters) - The Swiss blue-chip SMI was seen opening 0.23 percent higher at 9,532 points on Monday, according to premarket indications by bank Julius Baer . The following are some of the main factors expected to affect Swiss stocks. UBS Switzerland’s biggest bank on Monday proposed an increased dividend and new share buyback programme despite a hefty writedown from the tax overhaul in the United States. For more click RICHEMONT The Swiss luxury goods maker on Monday offered nearly 2.8 billion euros ($3.42 billion) to buy Yoox Net-A-Porter shares it does not already own for 38 euros each, a nearly 26 percent premium to the Italian Internet retailer’s closing price last week. For more click BANK BONUSES The Schweiz am Wochenede paper reported that the 2017 bonus pool at Credit Suisse was likely to rise nearly 10 percent to around 3.4 billion Swiss francs, more than the 6 percent rise in 2016. The pool at UBS was also set to rise by a single-digit amount after falling 17 percent to 2.9 billion in 2016, it cited, without citing its sources. COMPANY STATEMENTS * Novartis said on Monday that it completed its tender offer for France’s Advanced Accelerator Applications, a $3.9 billion acquisition announced last October to strengthen the Swiss company’s cancer portfolio. * Sika’s rising share price offers an opportunity to settle its ongoing takeover fight with is founding family by offering its founding a higher price than Saint-Gobain has offered them, Sika CEO Paul Schuler told Finanz und Wirtschaft in an interview. * Daetwyler Holding said it has extended a partnership with Nestle’s Nespresso. * CPH Chemie und Papier Holding said its unit Perlen Packaging bought a majority stake in Sekoya Industria e Comercio Ltda. * Interroll Holding said full-year net sales rose 12.3 percent 450.7 million francs. * Zur Rose Group said it is opening additional “shop-in-shop” pharmacies in Swiss retailer Migros locations. U.S. COMPANIES Swiss Economy Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann said he was not worried that U.S. companies based in Switzerland would move back home to take advantage of a new tax regime ushered in by President Donald Trump’s administration. ECONOMY The Swiss National Bank is due to release data on sight deposits at 0900 GMT. $1 = 0.9630 Swiss francs $1 = 0.8184 euros $1 = 0.8179 euros Reporting by Zurich newsroom" + }, + { + "text": "January 28, 2018 / 2:36 PM / Updated 32 minutes ago Lidington calls for unity after latest Brexit skirmishes Andrew MacAskill 3 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s Cabinet Office minister David Lidington urged his party to unite to heal growing rifts over how to leave the European Union that could threaten the prime minister’s fragile grip on the leadership. After a series of public rows in recent days, Lidington, who works closely with Prime Minister Theresa May, said all sides of the ruling centre-right Conservative party should unite to confront Jeremy Corbyn’s opposition Labour party. “What I say to all my colleagues is the Conservative family needs to come together in a spirit of mutual respect and look at what the bigger picture is showing,” Lidington told the BBC. May is struggling to juggle competing demands from within her party on the best route out of the bloc which Britain is scheduled to leave in March 2019. In comments likely to galvanise supporters of a clean break with the EU, U.S. President Donald Trump criticised the way May is negotiating Brexit. He said he would take a tougher line in the talks in an interview that will be broadcast later on Sunday. Lidington stepped in after a series of public clashes over Brexit, the latest of which saw the former Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers warn that Britain risked remaining in the EU “in all but name”. Britain's Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington appears on The Andrew Marr Show in London, Britain, January 28, 2018. Jeff Overs/BBC/Handout via REUTERS Villiers, a cabinet minister under Prime Minister David Cameron and who campaigned to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum, used an article in the Sunday Telegraph to warn against a deal that could lead to a “a dilution of Brexit”. Many Brexit backers are voicing concern that the referendum result may be betrayed with the government agreeing to have a two-year transition period with the EU in which little changes. Britain’s finance minister Philip Hammond enraged members of his party last week for saying the UK’s trade relations with the EU would change only “very modestly” after Brexit. May has appeared vulnerable after calling an election last June only to lose her parliamentary majority. She has remained in power in part because her party remains too divided to rally around a potential successor. Corbyn has also faced criticism from his party to clarify what relationship he wants with the EU amid signs of growing support for a second vote on whether to leave the trading bloc. On Sunday, Corbyn said he is not calling for a second referendum, but said his party may consider making future payments into the EU budget for access to the single market. “That’s some way down the line whether we need to do that or not,” he said. Reporting By Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Keith Weir" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - Avaco Co Ltd : * Says it will sell 3,000 shares of common stock on Jan. 12 * Says offering price is 4,298 won/share, 12.9 million won in total Source text in Korean: goo.gl/mh7Wf4 Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "$1.55 million Manhattan One bedroom, one bathroom This co-op apartment is on the third floor of the 1979 Philip Johnson-designed postmodernist building known as 1001 Fifth. The living room features a built-in dining banquet and the kitchen has gray-lacquered cabinetry and yellow-onyx countertops. ... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "After a slow start in the tournament and a tense five-set win against a low-ranked qualifier, Grigor Dimitrov has started playing like himself again—and just in time. On Sunday in Melbourne he defeated Nick Kyrgios, 7-6(3), 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(4) in a grueling match to advance to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. Dimitrov, 26 years old, has never reached a Grand Slam final. At last year’s Australian Open, he lost in the semifinals to Rafael Nadal, who could be his opponent in the semifinals this year, too. Nadal advanced... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "HOUSTON, Jan. 18, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Archrock Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ:APLP) (“Archrock Partners”), today announced a cash distribution of $0.285 per common unit, a rate of $1.14 per common unit on an annualized basis, payable on February 13, 2018, to unitholders of record at the close of business on February 8, 2018. The fourth quarter 2017 distribution covers the period from October 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017. The fourth quarter 2017 distribution to be paid in February 2018 is unchanged from the third quarter 2017 distribution. About Archrock Partners Archrock Partners, a master limited partnership, is the leading provider of natural gas contract compression services to customers in the oil and natural gas industry throughout the United States. Archrock, Inc. (NYSE:AROC) owns an equity interest in Archrock Partners, including all of the general partner interest. For more information, visit www.archrock.com . Non-U.S. Withholding Information This press release is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100.0%) of Archrock Partners’ distributions to non-U.S. investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, Archrock Partners’ distributions to non-U.S. investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, which may include statements about Archrock Partners’ distributions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or actions. Forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. Archrock Partners expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. A further list and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in Archrock Partners’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, and as set forth from time to time in Archrock Partners’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings are available online at www.sec.gov and www.archrock.com . For information, contact: David Skipper, 281-836-8155 Source:Archrock Partners, L.P." + }, + { + "text": "By Don Reisinger 11:25 AM EST Apple has revealed when it will hand over the operation of its iCloud data center in China in a bid to comply with local law. In an e-mail to affected customers on Wednesday, Apple said that it will hand over Chinese iCloud data center operations to Guizhou on the Cloud Big Data (GCBD) on February 28. The move will ensure iCloud data owned by Chinese users will remain inside the country’s borders. But Apple was quick to note in the e-mail, which was obtained by 9to5Mac, that it will maintain the same security and encryption protocols and will not build a “backdoor” that would allow a third-party to access user data. China has proven to be a unique challenge for Apple and other foreign companies trying to do business there. Last year, China began clamping down on foreign companies that store Chinese user data overseas. The country’s regulators pointed to increasingly strict local data laws that make it nearly impossible for a company doing business there to offload user data to servers in other countries. Get Data Sheet , Fortune’s technology newsletter Apple, which considers China a critical market, has chosen to comply with local law and keep Chinese user data in China. The move allows Apple to continue to operate in the country and according to the company, maintain user privacy. However, some critics have wondered whether China’s regulations are an attempt by the country to control user data and ultimately spy on its people—something the government is believed to do on a regular basis. For its part, Apple said in the e-mail to its customers that it wants to maintain “transparency” with them and will continue to keep them abreast of how the changes will affect them in the coming weeks. Apple also said that it would allow customers to deactivate their iCloud accounts if they’d prefer not to have their information stored in China. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel said her conservatives still had high hurdles to clear in Thursday’s talks on forming a coalition with Social Democrats (SPD) pressing for accelerated European integration. Merkel, weakened by an election setback in September, turned to the left-leaning SPD to seek a re-run of their so-called “grand coalition” after the collapse in November of talks on a three-way coalition untested at national level. The chancellor, who has won widespread respect abroad in more than 12 years in power, needs the coalition talks to succeed to avoid her personal authority being further undermined and Germany’s international standing diminished. Speaking at the start of the final day of exploratory talks that could lead to formal negotiations, Merkel said it would be a tough day but she recognized that Germans expected results. “Of course we also have in mind that we have to create a good policy platform for our country. So it’s going to be a tough day,” she said. SPD leader Martin Schulz, a former president of the European Parliament, made clear his priority was Europe. “On the last day of exploratory talks we will make clear that above all this must be a new start for the European Union,” he told reporters. “If we join a government it will be on the condition that it makes Europe strong.” Social Democratic Party (SPD) leader Martin Schulz arrives for exploratory talks about forming a new coalition government at the SPD headquarters in Berlin, Germany, January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke Schulz has called for a United States of Europe by 2025 - an idea rejected by senior conservatives, many of whom are wary of such ambitious reform plans that they worry could see Germany funnel more of its taxpayers’ money to other EU states. However, Merkel helped lead Europe through its twin euro zone and refugee crises and is adept at finding compromises, especially on European issues. Slideshow (2 Images) Should the parties fail to reach a deal on Thursday they could extend the talks, though President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is eager for an agreement, keenly aware that businesses want a stable coalition to end the uncertainty and avoid another vote. Participants have described the negotiations as “good”, but SPD leaders need to convince their party members and are offering them a vote on Jan. 21 on whether to proceed. Merkel has ruled with the SPD in a sometimes unwieldy “grand coalition” in two of her three previous terms in office, including in the last parliament from 2013-2017. But both parties bled support in the Sept. 24 election, which saw the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) enter the Bundestag lower house of parliament for the first time. Many in the SPD rank-and-file oppose a repeat of the grand coalition as they fear it will further diminish the identity of the party, which suffered its worst result in September’s vote since the modern Federal Republic was founded in 1949. Some SPD members are also concerned that a new grand coalition would make the AfD the main opposition party. Should the two biggest party groups fail to agree on moving ahead, Merkel could try to form a minority government or Germany could face new elections. Additional reporting by Michelle Martin and Madeline Chambers; Writing by Paul Carrel" + }, + { + "text": "A former Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCHA.MI) executive pleaded guilty on Monday in connection with a U.S. probe into accusations that he made at least $1.5 million (1.07 million pounds) in improper payments to United Auto Workers union officials, the U.S. attorney’s office in Detroit said. Alphons Iacobelli, 58, who was a vice president of employee relations, plead guilty to conspiracy to violate the Labour Management Relations Act and to subscribing a false tax return based on failing to report hundreds of thousands of dollars in income diverted from Fiat, the government said. He was charged in July in U.S. District Court in Detroit with taking part in a conspiracy to pay prohibited money and gifts to union officials. uk.reuters.com" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 8:51 PM / in 34 minutes In Davos, Gulf Arabs slam an absent Iran Yara Bayoumy 4 Min Read DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Gulf Arab officials used the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday to slam Iran for what they said was its destabilizing behavior in the region, taking advantage of Tehran’s conspicuous absence at the annual event. Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had been a regular presence at the annual forum that brings together top politicians, CEOs and bankers and he often clashed with his Gulf Arab counterparts at competing sessions. But this year, he did not show. As a result, the platform was wide open for Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to criticize Iran, as well as more measured criticism from others. Iran, the leading Shi‘ite Muslim power, and Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally, are rivals for influence in the Middle East where they support opposing sides in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. “In the Middle East, we have two competing visions. Vision of light ... and we have a vision of darkness, and the vision of darkness is sectarianism, it’s trying to restore an empire that was destroyed thousands of years ago, it’s using sectarianism and terrorism in order to interfere in the affairs of other countries,” Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told a panel at the forum. “History has shown that light always prevails over darkness.” Iran denies interference in Arab countries’ affairs. Last year at Davos, Zarif said Iran and Saudi Arabia should be able to work together to help end conflicts in Syria and Yemen. Saudi-led forces, which back the Yemeni government, have also fought the Iran-allied Houthis in Yemen’s civil war. Saudi Arabia’s crown prince has described Iran’s supply of rockets to the Houthis as “direct military aggression” that could be an act of war. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri gave a more measured critique. His coalition government, which includes the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, means that he has had to tread carefully. His Saudi allies accuse Hezbollah of waging war across the Middle East as agents of Iran. Hariri’s shock resignation from Riyadh last year had thrust Lebanon to the forefront of the regional quarrel between Saudi Arabia and Iran. He later rescinded his decision. “Iran is a country that we need to deal with ... As prime minister, I would like to have the best relationship with Iran, but I would like it state to state,” Hariri said at a separate panel. “Iran represents a challenge in the region maybe but dialogue also is a part of resolving these issues,” Hariri said. “Iran cannot meddle in Yemen.” German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, while acknowledging that Berlin had issues with Iran, used the moment to defend the 2015 Iran nuclear deal sealed with world powers, which U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to abandon. “We have many worries about Iran, without any question and we see a lot of problems with Iran without any question. But we think that the Iran (nuclear) deal encapsulates the core problem and therefore we think we should stick to the deal as long as Iran sticks to the deal too,” she said. Editing by Mark Bendeich" + }, + { + "text": "01 PM / Updated an hour ago Death toll from Peru bus crash rises to 48 - emergency services Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LIMA (Reuters) - At least 48 people were killed in Peru when a bus collided with a truck and careened off a cliff along a sharply curving highway north of the capital Lima, emergency services officials said. Rescue workers and police work at the scene after a bus crashed with a truck and careened off a cliff along a sharply curving highway north of Lima, Peru, January 2, 2018. REUTERS/Guadalupe Pardo The accident on Tuesday took place on the Panamericana Norte highway near the area of Pasamayo on the Pacific coast. The new death toll of 48 was updated from 36 people, according to Lewis Mejia Prada, a representative of the local fire-fighting company, and police late Tuesday. Six people survived the crash and were being treated for injuries, and the government rushed emergency medical services to the site. Road accidents are common in Peru because of unsafe highways. Police are investigating Tuesday’s accident. Reporting by Marco Aquino and Marion Giraldo; Writing by Hugh Bronstein; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe" + }, + { + "text": "ANKARA (Reuters) - An avalanche in Turkey’s southeastern province of Bitlis killed two soldiers and injured another seven during a military operation, hospital sources said. The avalanche fell on the team of soldiers, the daily Hurriyet said, adding that three soldiers were still missing. It said search and rescue teams were carrying out efforts to find the soldiers. Southeastern Turkey is scene to decades of fighting between the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and Turkish security forces. The PKK is considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and European Union. Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Ece Toksabay" + }, + { + "text": "SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Starbucks Corporation (Nasdaq: SBUX) plans to release its first quarter fiscal year 2018 financial results after the market close on Thursday, January 25, 2018 with a conference call to follow at 2:00 p.m. PT. The conference call will be webcast, including closed captioning, and can be accessed on the company’s website: . A replay of the webcast will be available on the company’s website until end of day Saturday, February 24, 2018. About Starbucks Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at or www.starbucks.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Starbucks Contact, Investor Relations: Tom Shaw, 206-318-7118 [REDACTED] or Starbucks Contact, Media: Reggie Borges, 206-318-7100 [REDACTED] Source: Starbucks Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "Carrier sends jobs to Mexico despite Trump deal Thursday, January 11, 2018 - 02:13 More than 200 workers clocked in for their final shifts on Thursday at Carrier Corp. in Indianapolis in the latest round of layoffs at a plant President Donald Trump toured in December 2016 to trumpet a deal to save jobs and prevent its closure. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript More than 200 workers clocked in for their final shifts on Thursday at Carrier Corp. in Indianapolis in the latest round of layoffs at a plant President Donald Trump toured in December 2016 to trumpet a deal to save jobs and prevent its closure. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "28 PM / Updated an hour ago France's Lactalis will pay damages in salmonella scare: report Richard Lough 3 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - French dairy group Lactalis will pay damages to families affected by a Salmonella contamination at one of its plants producing baby milk, the company’s Chief Executive Emmanuel Besnier told the weekly Journal du Dimanche. An employee walks in front of the Celia dairy company's infant milk factory, Lactalis Group, in Craon, western France, January 12, 2018. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe On Friday, Lactalis widened a product recall to cover all infant formula made at its Craon plan, regardless of the manufacture date, in an effort to contain the fallout from a health scare that risks damaging France’s strategic agribusiness in overseas markets. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening and the families of three dozen children who have fallen sick in France as a result of the contaminated baby milk have announced a raft of lawsuits. “We will compensate every family which has suffered a prejudice,” Besnier told the newspaper in a rare interview published on Sunday. Besnier did not say how much the damages might amount to. Implementing the global recall will be challenging. Privately owned Lactalis, one of the world’s biggest dairies, exports its baby food products to 83 countries across Europe, Africa and Asia. The recall involves up to 12 million tins of baby milk. “It’s not easy to evaluate the number of items that need to be returned because we don’t know what’s been consumer already,” he said. Friday’s recall was the third in a month and Lactalis has come under fire for its botched response. Besnier also told the French weekly that the company had acted as quickly and efficiently as possible and denied slowing the process to curb losses. Besnier has also been criticized for failing to speak out publicly during the salmonella scare. While his family are France’s 11th wealthiest, according to a 2017 ranking by Challenges magazine, the dairy tycoon has long shunned the public limelight and schmoozing with politicians. His workers nickname him the “invisible man.” “We’re a discreet business. In this region there is a mentality of ‘work first, speak later,” he said. But he acknowledged lessons had been learned during the past few weeks. Lactalis has become an industry giant, with annual sales of 17 billion euros ($20.73 billion) and 18,900 employees across some 40 countries. He said the Craon plant was likely to remain closed for several months. The recall risks damaging Lactalis in China, a fast-growing market for baby food and dairy products where scares after melamine-tainted baby milk led to the deaths of six children in 2008. That scandal caused distrust in locally produced infant formula and benefited foreign suppliers such as Nestle, Danone and Lactalis. Reporting by Richard Lough; editing by Diane Craft" + }, + { + "text": "ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish defense electronics company Aselsan said on Tuesday it had signed, along with Roketsan, TUBITAK SAGE business partnership, an accord for a national long-range defense system project for defense industries undersecretariat. It said in a statement to the Istanbul stock exchange that Aselsan’s share under the agreement was 869 million lira ($227 million) and 279.3 million euros ($342 million) and that the deliveries will be completed in 2021. Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Ezgi Erkoyun" + }, + { + "text": "1 Hour Ago | 02:40 Dell Technologies could emerge as a public company through a reverse-merger with VMware , the $60 billion cloud computing company it already controls, according to people familiar with the matter. The reverse merger, whereby VMware would actually buy the larger Dell, would then allow Dell to be traded publicly without going through a formal listing. It would also likely be the biggest deal in tech industry history, giving investors who backed Dell's move to go private in 2013 a way to monetize their deal, while helping Dell pay down some of its approximately $50 billion debt. VMware's stock fell sharply on the news. At midday, it was down 8.5 percent. While Dell may also pursue a more traditional initial public offering, said the people, a reverse merger would allow the company to avoid a new public offering. Dell hasn't decided on a strategic option and is also considering several other paths forward, including other acquisitions or buying the remaining stake of VMware it doesn't own, as has been previously reported . Dell is unlikely to sell the company outright or sell its stake in VMware, one of the people said. VMware was seen as the crown jewel in 2015 when Dell acquired EMC for $67 billion. That gave Dell 80 percent of VMware, which was an early pioneer in a technology called virtualization. That process gave companies a way to run the large computers in their data centers more efficiently by packing multiple \"virtual\" computers on a single piece of hardware. While the technique is still widely used, VMware's growth prospects have been tempered as companies have moved more of their infrastructure from their own data centers to large cloud providers like Amazon and Microsoft . In 2016, the company agreed to let customers run its software on arch-rival Amazon's cloud service, an admission that the cloud model is taking precedence. The reverse-merger is one of the more audacious strategic initiatives being looked at by Dell and its advisers, said the people, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private. Dell's board of directors will meet next month to consider a slew of options, many of which are still in the early stages of examination, including the reverse merger. If VMware were to buy Dell, VMware would issue shares to Michael Dell and Silver Lake, the private owners of Dell. The owners could then sell shares on the public market as a way of monetizing their investment in Dell, the people said. The exact valuation of Dell isn't known because the company is private. Dell took itself private in a $24.4 billion deal in 2013. It then acquired EMC for $67 billion in 2015, a deal that still stands as the largest technology acquisition of all time. Ralph Orlowski | Getty Images Theoretically, a VMware acquisition for Dell would top that, making it the largest technology deal ever. Dell acquired more than 80 percent of VMware when it completed its deal for EMC in 2016. VMware's platform virtualization software was a key reason Dell pursued EMC two years ago. While VMware's revenue has consistently grown each year, that has slowed. Annual sales rose 6.7 percent in 2016 from 2015 after six consecutive years of double-digit percentage growth. Still, net income of $1.2 billion was an all-time high for the company for 2016, and 2017 full-year estimates suggest the company will top that mark. Spokespeople for Dell and VMware declined to comment. Alex Sherman Technology Reporter for CNBC.com Related Securities" + }, + { + "text": "ATLANTA, Jan. 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Enterprises has named Robert Woodard to the position of vice president of Cox Talent Acquisition, effective March 12. He reports to Jill Campbell, executive vice president. Woodard will lead a team of more than 150 talent acquisition specialists and oversee the company's talent acquisition strategy and organization, which recruits on behalf of all Cox Enterprises businesses — broadband communications, automotive services and media. His team is responsible for recruiting technology and marketing programs as well as promoting Cox as a great place to work through social media, recruiting events and conferences. He will continue to improve recruiting centers of excellence and leverage his deep knowledge of Cox's businesses, industries and people to ensure the right skillsets are in place as Cox Enterprises continues to grow and diversify. \"Robert is a proven Cox leader, with over 15 years of experience,\" said Campbell. \"He understands that our values and employees are what sets Cox apart. I am confident in his ability to lead our Cox Talent Acquisition team and know that he and Cox will thrive in his new role.\" Before Cox, Woodard worked for Verizon Wireless, formerly GTE Mobilnet, in Illinois, Texas, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. He started as a collections agent and worked his way up through the ranks to director of the Great Lakes Region, where he managed three collections call centers for Verizon Wireless. Woodard earned a master's degree in business administration from Auburn University and is a graduate of East Carolina University. He is a graduate of The Dartmouth College — Tuck School of Business/SCTE Leadership Development Program; The Harvard Business School — Executive Development Program; and the University of Georgia, Terry College of Business — Cox Executive Development Program. About Cox Enterprises: Cox Enterprises is a leading communications, media and automotive services company. With revenues exceeding $21 billion and approximately 60,000 employees, the company's major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications (cable television distribution, high-speed internet access, telephone, home security and automation, commercial telecommunications and advertising solutions); Cox Automotive (automotive-related auctions, financial services, media and software solutions); and Cox Media Group (television and radio stations, digital media, newspapers and advertising sales rep firms). The company's major national brands include Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book and Manheim. Through Cox Automotive, the company's international operations stretch across Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America. To learn more about Cox's commitment to people, sustainability and our communities, please visit www.CoxCSRReport.com . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Cox Enterprises" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - ATHOS IMMOBILIEN AG: * CHAIRMAN OF SUPERVISORY BOARD WINFRIED SATTLEGGER TO COMPLETE FUNCTIONS AS CHAIRMAN AS OF 28.02 * SUPERVISORY BOARD MEMBERS HIRSE, WAGNER AND WURM TO END THEIR MANDATE WITH EFFECT FROM FEB. 28, 2018 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 2:18 PM / Updated 7 hours ago Ibrahimovic free to go if he wants, says Mourinho Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester United will not stand in the way of Zlatan Ibrahimovic if he wants to leave the club, manager Jose Mourinho said on Monday. But the Swedish striker, linked by British media with a move to LA Galaxy, has not mentioned the subject to his manager. “If that is true and Zlatan wants a future in another club in another country then I give to help and create conditions for that to happen,” Mourinho told reporters. The 36-year-old Ibrahimovic, who joined United in 2016 and is out of contract in the summer, has hardly played this season after suffering a knee ligament injury last year. FILE PHOTO - Soccer Football - Carabao Cup Quarter Final - Bristol City vs Manchester United - Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol, Britain - December 20, 2017 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho shakes hands with Zlatan Ibrahimovic as he is substituted Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley But Mourinho said Ibrahimovic was striving to get back to peak condition. “He’s working hard to be fit. I’m not saying injured because he’s not injured. I think he’s in a moment of trying to feel really ready for the demands of Premier League football.” Mourinho also gave an update on midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who is free to talk to other clubs as his contract ticks down. “He knows I want him and the club wants him and I think that’s very important for him. But then there is a paper to sign but you only sign the paper when you are happy with what’s on the paper,” Mourinho said. The 30-year-old Belgian has been linked with a move to Turkish side Besiktas. Reporting by Neil Robinson, editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17(Reuters) - Beijing Centergate Technologies Holding Co Ltd * Says co sets up a Hainan-based development and construction JV with partner and holds 51 percent stake in the JV * Says the development and construction JV and partner will jointly invest 10 million yuan to set up a Hainan-based operation and management JV * Says the operation and management JV and partners will jointly invest 10 million yuan to set up a Foshan-based JV * Says the Foshan-based JV and partner will jointly invest 10 million yuan to set up Foshan-based development and construction JV Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/Rzi3v4 Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican U.S. Senator Mike Rounds said he would not vote for a measure to temporarily fund the government and avoid a government shutdown this week, citing concerns about defense spending and Congress’ inability to pass budgets on time. “I‘m opposing the CR (continuing resolution) in its current form,” Rounds told CNN in an interview on Thursday. Reporting by Susan Heavey" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 1:22 PM / Updated an hour ago UK business minister tells banks not to blame small companies for Carillion's collapse Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Britain’s business minister Greg Clark told banks on Wednesday that it is important they do not blame small businesses for failed construction company Carillion’s collapse, the prime minister’s spokesman said. Britain’s banks are offering overdraft extensions and other emergency measures to help firms hit by the collapse. Reporting By William James. Writing by Andrew MacAskill; editing by Stephen Addison" + }, + { + "text": "EXCLUSIVE: Bill Richardson quits Myanmar crisis panel 01:52 Veteran U.S. diplomat Bill Richardson resigns from an international panel set up by Myanmar to advise on the Rohingya crisis, saying it was conducting a ''whitewash'' and that Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi lacks ''moral leadership.'' Sareena Dayaram reports. Veteran U.S. diplomat Bill Richardson resigns from an international panel set up by Myanmar to advise on the Rohingya crisis, saying it was conducting a \"whitewash\" and that Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi lacks \"moral leadership.\" Sareena Dayaram reports. //reut.rs/2nbUhIZ" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - EirGenix Inc * Says it sets subscription record date at Feb. 13 for new share issuance * Last date before book closure on Feb. 8 * Book closure period from Feb. 9 to Feb. 13 * Payment period for the existing shareholders and employees is between Feb. 27 to March 6 Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/xRu9KT Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 1:16 PM / in 22 minutes MOVES-UBS names Marc Wursdorfer EMEA head of private funds group Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 26 (Reuters) - Swiss lender UBS named Marc Wursdorfer as a managing director and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) head of its private funds group. Wursdorfer, who joins from Credit Suisse, will report to global head of private funds group Kevin Kuryla and Javier Oficialdegui, head of EMEA corporate client solutions. (Reporting by Anirban Paul in Bengaluru; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 9 (Reuters) - Biocartis Group Nv: * REG-BIOCARTIS GROUP NV: BIOCARTIS AND AMGEN SIGN NEW COMPANION DIAGNOSTIC AGREEMENT FOR NOVEL ONCOLOGY COMPOUND * AGREEMENT AIMED AT DEVELOPMENT OF IDYLLA(TM) CDX BIOMARKER TESTS * FINANCIAL DETAILS ON NEW CDX AGREEMENT WITH AMGEN ARE NOT DISCLOSED. Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 5:20 AM / in an hour China says sunken Iranian tanker may now be leaking heavy oil Chen Aizhu , Muyu Xu 3 Min Read BEIJING (Reuters) - A sunken Iranian oil tanker may be leaking heavy bunker fuel as well as light oil off the east coast of China and the best remedy was to recover the vessel, officials said on Friday. It was unclear how much bunker fuel was left aboard the tanker when it sank on Sunday after being ablaze for days but experts estimated it may have been carrying about 1,000 tonnes at the time of collision. “There have been multiple appearances of oil slicks of different sizes and types at the sinking spot and nearby... the slicks exceeded 200 sq kilometers (77 sq miles) on Thursday,” Huo Chuanlin, of the State Oceanic Administration’s Ecological Protection Department, told reporters. It was not immediately clear where the oil could wash up or the extent of the damage it could cause. The large tanker Sanchi (IMO:9356608) sank in the world’s worst oil ship disaster in decades. The crew of 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis are all believed to have been killed. The tanker had been adrift and ablaze after crashing into the freighter CF Crystal (IMO:9497050) on Jan. 6. Strong winds pushed it away from the Chinese coast, where the collision happened, and into Japan’s exclusive economic zone. FILE PHOTO: Flames and smoke from the Iranian oil tanker Sanchi is seen in the East China Sea, on January 15, 2018 in this photo provided by Japan's 10th Regional Coast Guard. 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters/Handout via REUTERS Huo said no oil spills had been detected near the coast, though it was hard to predict the impact on ocean life. The SOA on Thursday reported three slicks covering a combined area of just 20.7 square km. FILE PHOTO: A Chinese rescue ship works to clean oil slicks from the sunken Iranian oil tanker Sanchi in the East China Sea, in this January 15, 2018 handout picture released by China's Ministry of Transport January 17, 2018. China's Ministry of Transport/Handout via REUTERS Bunker fuel is the heavy oil used in ships’ engines and is difficult to remove from the sea once spilled, unlike condensate fuel - an extremely light form of oil - that was being shipped at the time of the collision. Officials on Friday said the ship was carrying 111,300 tonnes of condensate before the accident. Most of the fuel evaporated after the ship caught fire. Related Coverage They said recovering the vessel was risky and challenging, as the remaining condensate could catch fire again. (INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC: Tanker blaze burns bright interactive - tmsnrt.rs/2DmrPvL ) (MAP: Ship collision - tmsnrt.rs/2CBgqai )" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 9:10 AM / Updated 7 minutes ago BRIEF-PIC agrees 725 mln stg longevity deal with PartnerRe Reuters Staff Jan 22 (Reuters) - PartnerRe: * PENSION INSURANCE CORP SAYS AGREES 725 MILLION STG LONGEVITY DEAL WITH PARTNERRE * PENSION INSURANCE CORP SAYS WRITES 3.7 BILLION STG IN NEW BULK ANNUITY BUSINESS IN 2017, REINSURES 4 BILLION STG OF LONGEVITY EXPOSURE Further company coverage: (Reporting By Carolyn Cohn)" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - Total profit of the enterprises owned by China’s central government rose by 15.2 percent in 2017 to 1.4 trillion yuan ($217.5 billion), the country’s state-owned Xinhua news agency reported on Monday. Xinhua said operating revenue for the enterprises also rose 13.3 percent last year to 26.4 trillion yuan, State-owned China National Radio reported similar figures separately on Monday and said the enterprises’ profit growth rate was the fastest in five years. Xinhua also said the central government-owned enterprises will target coal capacity cuts of 12.65 million tonnes in 2018. Reporting by Beijing Monitoring Desk; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Louise Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "France's Elis doubles targeted cost synergies from Berendsen acquisition Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 30 (Reuters) - French laundry and services group Elis said on Tuesday it now expects cost synergies of at least 80 million euros ($98.83 million) by 2020 from its acquisition of British peer Berendsen, double the amount previously announced. The company said it expects 2018 revenue of over 3.2 billion euros, with EBITDA margin improving by around 150 basis points and EBIT margin up around 100 basis points compared to 2017. The company reported on Tuesday revenue of 2.21 billion euros, up 46 percent on the previous year. ($1 = 0.8095 euros) (Reporting by Alan Charlish; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)" + }, + { + "text": "Tension in camps as Rohingya return is delayed 3:23pm IST - 01:02 Bangladesh has delayed the repatriation of Rohingya Muslim refugees to Myanmar, set to start on Tuesday, because officials say the process of compiling and verifying the list of people to be sent back is incomplete. Rosanna Philpott reports ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Bangladesh has delayed the repatriation of Rohingya Muslim refugees to Myanmar, set to start on Tuesday, because officials say the process of compiling and verifying the list of people to be sent back is incomplete. Rosanna Philpott reports Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 5:22 AM / Updated 6 hours ago Hyundai Motor considering plant in Southeast Asia after China setback Hyunjoo Jin 2 Min Read SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea’s Hyundai Motor ( 005380.KS ) said it is considering building a car plant in Southeast Asia with Indonesia and Vietnam possible locations - part of efforts to diversify after a sales slump in China. The automaker does not have a car manufacturing factory in Southeast Asia, although it has some pure assembly operations in Indonesia and Vietnam where cars are made from “knock-down” kits comprised of major component groups. A diplomatic row between Beijing and Seoul last year over the South Korea’s planned deployment of U.S. anti-missile defense system THAAD has hurt Hyundai and other South Korean firms that are highly reliant on the Chinese market. Hyundai expects its China sales to reach about 900,000 vehicles in 2018, a recovery from levels last year, vice chairman and heir apparent Chung Eui-sun also said on the sidelines of the consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, according to a company spokeswoman. Hyundai has not disclosed estimates for 2017 China sales but sales of 900,000 would still be far below its production capacity of 1.65 million vehicles in its biggest market. Chung added that Hyundai is planning to enter China’s fuel cell electric car market, after the automaker unveiled its new fuel cell electric vehicle, NEXO, with an estimated driving range of 370 miles, at the show. Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Edwina Gibbs" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 2:02 PM / Updated 21 minutes ago Tennis-Nadal braced for tough Cilic test in Melbourne showdown Reuters Staff 3 Min Read MELBOURNE, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal knows his path to a 17th grand slam title will only get tougher after a relatively routine run of opponents since his French Open triumph last June when he lines up against Marin Cilic in Tuesday’s Australian Open quarter-final. The 31-year-old Spaniard dropped his first set of the tournament on Sunday before prevailing in a slugfest against Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman, the first true test of Nadal’s famed grit after three straightforward wins in Melbourne. The victory set up a quarter-final clash with world number six and former U.S. Open champion Cilic, Nadal’s first top-10 opponent in his last 16 grand slam matches. “All the matches are tough, and if you are in the quarter-finals of a grand slam, you can’t expect an easy match,” Nadal said after suppressing Schwartzman in seven minutes under four hours. “Against Marin will be a tough one, but at the same time, is a beautiful match to play against a great player. We know each other. We played a couple of times already.” Nadal will take heart from his 5-1 head-to-head record against the Croatian 29-year-old, who won their first meeting in 2009 but has since struggled against the powerful left-hander. Cilic, however, would like to believe he is better equipped to take on top players like Nadal following his 2014 U.S. Open triumph and run to last year’s Wimbledon final. ”Throughout my career, I knew that if I‘m playing well, if I‘m top of my game, that I can challenge most of the guys on the tour,“ he said. ”With the win at the U.S. Open that, you know, I believe it just became stronger. “I believe in my own game, I believe in what I‘m doing. I think I‘m moving the right direction. You know, it’s obviously a big challenge playing them, but that’s what we also work for on the training.” Third seed Grigor Dimitrov, survivor of a fourth-round thriller against home favourite Nick Kyrgios, will also be in action against the sole surviving Briton, Kyle Edmund. Women’s fourth seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine will seek to maintain her season-opening winning streak against Elise Mertens in the Belgian’s first grand slam quarter-final appearance. (Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by John O‘Brien)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15 (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc’s Google will relaunch its map service in China after an eight-year absence, Nikkei reported on Monday. The company has set up a China-specific version of the Google Maps website and introduced a map app for Chinese iPhones, Nikkei said. ( s.nikkei.com/2DcmYjU ) When users of the app attempt to use its navigation features, they are automatically transferred to an app from AutoNavi, a mapping company owned by Chinese internet giant Alibaba Group Holding, Nikkei said. This comes after Google joined an investment in Chinese live-stream mobile game platform Chushou earlier this month, as the company eyes new inroads to China, where its search engine is blocked. Google’s map service has not been available in China since the company largely pulled its services out of the country in 2010 after refusing to continue self-censoring its search results. Since then, it has maintained a limited presence in the world’s biggest smartphone market. (Reporting by John Benny in Bengaluru; Editing by Bill Trott)" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 7:54 PM / in 12 minutes Double car bombing in Libya's Benghazi kills at least 11 Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - A double car bombing in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Tuesday left at least 11 people dead and others wounded, according to officials and a Reuters witness. The attack happened in Benghazi’s Al Salmani district as worshippers were leaving a mosque after prayers. It was not immediately clear who was responsible. The victims included both military personnel and civilians, officials said. Benghazi was the scene of more than three years of conflict from 2014 until late last year, as forces loyal to eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar battled Islamists and other opponents. Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) claimed control of their rivals’ final holdout in the port city in December. There have been occasional bomb attacks in Benghazi in recent months, often outside mosques. The fighting in Benghazi was part of a broader conflict that developed in Libya after former ruler Muammar Gaddafi was removed from power and killed in a Nato-backed uprising in 2011. Reporting by Ayman al-Warfalli; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg" + }, + { + "text": "Richard Peddie served as CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment where he oversaw the Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs and other teams. He expresses concerns about the amount of attention paid to the amenities at stadiums instead of what’s happening on the court. He also explains why he thinks owners will have to shell out more for new facilities and rely less on public financing. Rick Horrow is the CEO of Horrow Sports. As an attorney and consultant, he has been the architect of 100+ deals worth more than $20 billion in sports, performing arts, and other urban infrastructure projects. Horrow pioneered the public/private partnership and infrastructure branding concepts that, to date, have enticed more than $4 billion in corporate funding to cities and development projects. The opinions expressed here and in videos and podcasts hosted by Rick are his alone and do not represent the views of Reuters." + }, + { + "text": "By Emily Price 3:30 PM EST If you’d rather reach for a piece of pizza than a bowl of cereal in the morning, one dietician says go ahead. In a recent interview with The Daily Meal dietitian, Chelsey Amer suggested that reaching for a slice of pepperoni might actually be better for you than pouring yourself a bowl of Rice Krispies. “You may be surprised to find out that an average slice of pizza and a bowl of cereal with whole milk contain nearly the same amount of calories,” Amer said. “However, pizza packs a much larger protein punch, which will keep you full and boost satiety throughout the morning.” Yes, that slice of pie is probably loaded with grease, but Amer says it contains less sugar than your average bowl of cereal, preventing you from having a mid-morning sugar crash. That doesn’t mean you should start placing 8am calls to Dominos . While a slice of pizza might be healthier than a big bowl of sugary cereal, it’s still not the best choice you can make for the first meal of the day. Instead, look for other high-protein and low-fat alternatives such as scrambled eggs. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "Philip Morris International is seeking approval from the Food and Drug Administration to sell iQOS, a heat-not-burn tobacco product. An independent advisory committee is voting Thursday on whether evidence supports PMI's claims, such as that it cuts the risk for tobacco-related disease. The meeting is part of a process to market iQOS as being less risky than cigarettes. If this all sounds like a foreign language, here are the basics. What are heat-not-burn tobacco products? As the name suggests, they heat tobacco but don't burn them. Igniting tobacco causes it to undergo a chemical process that emits toxins in cigarettes. Unlike e-cigarettes, which use nicotine-laced liquid, heat-not-burn products use real tobacco. They warm tobacco sticks to a temperature that's high enough to release an aerosol but not enough to cause combustion.They may significantly reduce risk while satisfying users' nicotine cravings. Philip Morris has already launched iQOS in more than 30 markets. Rival British American Tobacco 's version, glo, is available in six markets. The company plans to file a substantial equivalence application, a less onerous process, for glo to the FDA this year. How does iQOS work? The iQOS tobacco heating system contains three parts: a holder, tobacco stick and a charger. The pen-like device contains a ceramic and gold plate that heats Philip Morris-branded tobacco sticks up to 350 degrees Celsius. Tobacco in cigarettes burns at temperatures at or greater than 600 degrees Celsius. The tobacco sticks are designed specifically for the device. In the U.S., PMI wants to offer Marlboro, Marlboro Smooth Menthol and Marlboro Fresh Menthol HeatSticks. PMI says the product is a closer experience to smoking cigarettes than other alternatives, such as e-cigarettes, because it uses actual tobacco. The company says that could convince adult smokers to switch exclusively to iQOS. Critics point to e-cigarettes being used in addition to and perhaps even leading users into conventional cigarettes. PMI is quick to note iQOS is not an e-cigarette, and the presence of tobacco may not have the same appeal as fruity, sweet nicotine-laced liquid. Is iQOS safe? PMI says iQOS is not risk-free, rather it's less risky than conventional cigarettes. The company stresses quitting smoking is the best way to reduce risk and that iQOS is meant for adult smokers who want to continue using tobacco, not kids or non-smokers. PMI has found exclusively using iQOS significantly lowers users' risk of harm than if they were to continue smoking cigarettes. The FDA's review of iQOS identified lower levels of toxic chemicals than cigarettes. It could not say that using the device led to a decreased risk of illnesses associated with smoking because doing so would require a longer study. The FDA will decide whether iQOS can be marketed as being safer than cigarettes. When might I see iQOS on shelves? Philip Morris is outlining its findings this week to an independent committee that will make a recommendation to the FDA on whether to approve the company's reduced-risk marketing claims. The committee's decision is only a suggestion, meaning the FDA is not required to follow it. The timing of the agency's ultimate decision is unclear. Some have suggested May, which would mark one year since the FDA said it would review the application. Even if the FDA rejects PMI's modified-risk application, going through the process may help its application to sell the device. The Tobacco Control Act calls for the FDA to respond to premarket tobacco applications within 180 days. The agency began reviewing PMI's in August, so it could give an answer in February." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - Activist hedge fund Starboard Value LP has started a proxy fight on Wednesday for control of Mellanox Technologies Ltd, calling the Israeli chipmaker deeply undervalued. Starboard, the largest shareholder of Mellanox with a 10.7 percent stake, said it would nominate a slate of nine candidates for election to the company’s board. The nominations include Starboard head Jeffrey Smith, who has become the face and name behind the fund’s multiple proxy contests. “We are appreciative of the constructive dialogue we have had with various members of management and the Board over the last few months ... However, we do believe substantial change is needed after years of poor performance,” Starboard said in a letter to Mellanox shareholders. Mellanox was not immediately available for comment. In December, Mellanox forecast low- to mid-teens revenue growth for fiscal 2018, compared with an estimated 0.5 percent rise, but a far cry from 19 percent to 30 percent growth rates between 2014 and 2016. ( bit.ly/2nCz1zI ) Starboard had criticized Mellanox’s 2018 targets last week, saying they were insufficient. The New York hedge fund said on Wednesday that substantial change is “required and warranted” on the board of Mellanox in order to provide a new plan for the future. Shares of Mellanox have risen nearly 14 percent since Starboard disclosed its stake in the company in November. Mellanox reports its fourth-quarter results on Thursday. (Reporting by Sonam Rai in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)" + }, + { + "text": "AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Citizens, Inc. (NYSE: CIA) today announced its intention to pursue Board diversity. It further announced that Steve Shelton, age 62, independent director and member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, notified the Company of his intention not to stand for re-election as a director at the completion of his current one-year term, which will expire at the Company's 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Mr. Shelton will continue to serve on the Company's Board of Directors and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee until that time. Mr. Shelton's service with the Citizens' Board began in 1987, making him the Board's longest serving director with 31 years of service. As a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Mr. Shelton has played an active role in the Committee's best practices review for continued Board service that has focused on areas such as Board expertise, diversity and tenure. In light of his long standing tenure, Mr. Shelton indicated his intention not to stand for re-election. \"We, as a Board and Company, have made great progress, especially over the last two years,\" Shelton said. \"It has certainly been an honor and privilege to serve with the Board and executive team, and I value the professional relationships we have developed. For that, I will forever be grateful.\" \"On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Company, I want to express our sincere appreciation to Steve for his strength of character and wisdom, exercised over a 30-year tenure as a director of Citizens,\" said Dr. Robert Sloan, Chairman of Citizens. \"You've been with the company through much change, and all of us express our heartfelt gratitude to you.\" \"Steve has been a reliable and selfless Board member, and I appreciate his many contributions to Citizens,\" said Geoff Kolander, chief executive officer of Citizens. \"I look forward to working with the Board to address diversity, identify a new director candidate and continue advancing the Company's strategic objectives,\" concluded Kolander. The Company expects to hold its 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 4, 2018. About Citizens Inc. Citizens, Inc. is a financial services company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CIA. The Company utilizes a three-pronged strategy for growth based upon worldwide sales of U.S. Dollar-denominated whole life cash value insurance policies, life insurance product sales in the U.S. and the acquisition of other U.S.-based life insurance companies. Information herein contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which can be identified by words such as \"may,\" \"will,\" \"expect,\" \"anticipate\", \"intends,\" \"continue\" or comparable words. In addition, all statements other than statements of historical facts that address activities that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding Mr. Shelton's intention not to stand for re-election at the end of his current term and the Board's intention to identify a qualified, diverse independent director to join the Board. Readers are encouraged to read the SEC reports of the Company, particularly its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its current reports on Form 8-K, for \"Risk Factors\" and other meaningful cautionary language disclosing why actual results may vary materially from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in the Company's expectations. Accordingly, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements. The Company also disclaims any duty to comment upon or correct information that may be contained in reports published by the investment community. For further information contact: Investor Relations [REDACTED] View original content: SOURCE Citizens, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "FDA releases review of new smoking device 1:53am IST - 01:43 An electronic tobacco product made by Philip Morris that heats rather than burns tobacco contains lower levels of harmful and potentially harmful compounds than cigarettes, a preliminary review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded on Monday. An electronic tobacco product made by Philip Morris that heats rather than burns tobacco contains lower levels of harmful and potentially harmful compounds than cigarettes, a preliminary review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded on Monday. //reut.rs/2DvGIPQ" + }, + { + "text": "BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU regulators are searching for ways to increase recycling of plastic, as waste piles up in ports after China banned imports of “foreign garbage” from the start of 2018. Announcing a new policy push on Tuesday, European Commission Vice President Jyrki Katainen said Brussels is mulling a tax, curbs on throw-away items like plastic bags, imposing quality standards and new rules at ports among other restrictions. “We have all this raw material, and from the beginning of the year now even more, because China will not take our waste,” Katainen told reporters. The Commission is eyeing environmental taxes - including revenue from its carbon cap-and-trade Emission Trading System (ETS) - as a way to plug the whole left in its budget when Britain’s exit from the bloc at the end of 2020 deprives it of revenue. Such proposals are opposed by some member states, who prefer to keep the revenues in national coffers, and environmental campaigners, who want to see the proceeds reinvested in efforts to stem pollution. Europe’s budget commissioner Gunther Ottinger tweeted on Tuesday that he had won the support of fellow Commission officials for a levy on the production of polluting plastics. Oil-derived plastic mostly ends up in landfills or incinerated, with less than 30 percent of 25 million tonnes of plastic waste generated each year being recycled in Europe. EU nations and European Parliament reached an agreement last month to set a legally-binding target for the bloc to recycle 55 percent of plastic packaging waste by 2030 and a ban on landfilling separately collected waste. EU regulators now want to ensure that the plastic packaging itself is fully recyclable and to improve consumer labeling by creating new quality standards. The Commission said it will introduce measures to curb ocean-polluting microplastics, such as those used in cosmetics. New port reception facilities will seek to streamline waste management to ensure less gets dumped in the Ocean. “More and more it is becoming a health problem because it is degrading, going to little chips, fish are eating it and it is coming back to our dinner table,” Katainen said. Before the ban, China was the world’s dominant importer of plastic waste. A senior EU officials said he now expected the waste to go to other countries in Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam and Malaysia. Reporting by Alissa de Carbonnel @AdeCar; Editing by Robert-Jan Bartunek" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 12:18 PM / Updated 12 minutes ago South Africa police conduct raids in case involving Zuma friends Reuters Staff 3 Min Read JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African police raided the offices of the provincial government in the Free State on Friday in a case involving a friend of President Jacob Zuma and a top official in the African National Congress (ANC) considered a Zuma ally. The raid reflects Zuma’s weakened position following his replacement by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa as leader of the ruling party last month. Zuma, whose presidency has been marred by corruption scandals, could be ousted as head of state within weeks as top party officials discuss forcing him to resign. A spokesman for the elite ‘Hawks’ crime-fighting unit said police were searching for documents in the Free State premier’s office and agriculture department over the Estina dairy project in the town of Vrede. One of the ANC’s “top six” most powerful officials, Ace Magashule, is the outgoing premier of the Free State. The Estina dairy received public money and was meant to benefit the local community. But prosecutors say funds were illegally diverted to bank accounts of people including Atul Gupta, a wealthy businessman. Atul Gupta, as well as his brothers Ajay and Rajesh, is a friend of Zuma. The South African government has launched a judicial enquiry into allegations the brothers influenced the appointment of cabinet ministers. Zuma and the Guptas have denied wrongdoing. As part of the investigation into the dairy, prosecutors have obtained a court order freezing 220 million rand (£13 million) in bank accounts, a spokesman for the state prosecutors’ office said. Atul Gupta was mentioned in the court order as having received the proceeds of crime. The investigation could have important political repercussions, as it could lead to Magashule losing his job as ANC secretary general, a post that puts him in charge of the day-to-day running of the ruling party. Ramaphosa did not want Magashule to be chosen as secretary general in December. Should Magashule end up in legal trouble over the dairy project, Ramaphosa could try to replace him with a loyalist. Magashule said earlier this week that no person was guilty until proven in the courts. “Wherever there is corruption, the law must take its course. ... We will treat the Vrede dairy in that way,” he told reporters. An ANC spokeswoman was not immediately available for further comment on Friday. The Hawks spokesman said the investigation into the Estina dairy was at an advanced stage. Reporting by Alexander Winning; Editing by Ed Cropley and William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24(Reuters) - Qianhe Condiment and Food Co Ltd * Sees 2017 net profit to increase by 40 percent to 50 percent * Says 2016 net profit was 100.1 million yuan * Says that increased sales income and promotion of product profitability as main reasons for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/v1gD4q Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 2:36 PM / Updated 35 minutes ago US STOCKS SNAPSHOT-S&P, Dow open flat as trade concerns loom Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 23 (Reuters) - The S&P and the Dow opened little changed on Tuesday as U.S. President Donald Trump’s move to impose steep import tariffs sparked concerns about potential retaliation. The Nasdaq was slightly higher, helped by a 13 percent jump in Netflix, following the company’s upbeat results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.38 points, or 0.01 percent, to 26,212.22. The S&P 500 gained 0.91 points, or 0.032122 percent, to 2,833.88. The Nasdaq Composite added 17.00 points, or 0.23 percent, to 7,425.04. Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16 (Reuters) - Bookoff Corporation Ltd * Says unit bookoffonline Corp, which is engaged in sale of CD, DVD and game software, will merge with used goods sale unit hugall Inc, effective March 21 * Says unit hugall Inc will be dissolved after merger Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/FsU6kn Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: * CMS ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIODS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY HURRICANES IN PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS * CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES SAYS SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD OPPORTUNITIES EXTENDED THROUGH MARCH 31, 2018 Source text: ( go.cms.gov/2EPXrtn )" + }, + { + "text": "WSJ Interview: Trump Signals Openness to North Korea Diplomacy 1/11/2018 5:10PM The Wall Street Journal interviewed President Trump in the Oval Office on Thursday. Mr. Trump spoke about his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and signaled openness to diplomacy with North Korea. WSJ's Gerald F. Seib gives us more insight from the interview. Photo: Getty" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - Union Pacific Corp, the No. 1 U.S. railroad by revenue, reported a rise in quarterly net profit on Thursday, boosted by slightly higher freight volumes and changes to the U.S. tax law. The Omaha, Nebraska-based company said fourth-quarter net income rose to $7.3 billion, or $9.25 per share, from $1.14 billion, or $1.39 per share, a year earlier. After adjustments for one-time items, the railroad earned $1.53 per share, in line with the $1.53 Wall Street analysts expected. (Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)" + }, + { + "text": "Turning lead into gold in the digital era Tuesday, January 30, 2018 - 02:08 Pencil manufacturer Faber-Castell is hoping that embracing the online world and a counter-digital creative trend will mean the company can still thrive in the digital era. Pencil manufacturer Faber-Castell is hoping that embracing the online world and a counter-digital creative trend will mean the company can still thrive in the digital era. //reut.rs/2nmUdX0" + }, + { + "text": "HONG KONG, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Chinese property developer China Jinmao Holdings Group Ltd said on Monday it aimed to raise HK$3.31 billion ($423.1 million) in a share sales for general working capital. The property group said it planned to sell 900.12 million new shares to its majority shareholder Sinochem Hong Kong (Group) Co Ltd at HK$3.70 apiece, representing a 6.8 percent discount to the previous close. Sinochem will buy the new shares on completion of sales of the same amount of existing shares to third party investors, including Kerry Holdings Ltd and New China Life Insurance Co Ltd , at the same price, the Hong Kong-listed firm said in a filing to the Hong Kong bourse. Sinochem’s stake in China Jinmao will be reduced to 49.76 percent on completion of the deal, from the current 53.95 percent, it added. Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp Ltd are the placing agents. ($1 = 7.8234 Hong Kong dollars) (Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)" + }, + { + "text": "Woods gives thumbs up on eve of PGA Tour return 2:47am GMT - 01:17 A relaxed and seemingly content Tiger Woods gave his body a thumbs up on Wednesday on the eve of his official PGA Tour comeback and could hardly contain his enthusiasm at being pain-free after years of searing pain in his back and legs. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). A relaxed and seemingly content Tiger Woods gave his body a thumbs up on Wednesday on the eve of his official PGA Tour comeback and could hardly contain his enthusiasm at being pain-free after years of searing pain in his back and legs. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2n8ZBNj" + }, + { + "text": "STOCKHOLM, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Volkswagen-owned truckmaker Scania will invest 10 million euros in Northvolt’s more than 4 billion euro ($5 billion) project to build Europe’s biggest battery plant in northern Sweden. Sweden’s Northvolt, whose CEO Peter Carlsson used to work for Tesla, is racing against rivals such as South Korea’s LG Chem to set up large-scale battery cell plants across Europe, where automakers and industrial firms have so far been largely reliant on Asian imports. European automakers such as BMW, Daimler , Volkswagen and Volvo Car Group are all set to ramp up electric car production in the coming years. Northvolt and Scania said on Thursday they had agreed to develop and commercialise battery cell technology for heavy commercial vehicles with Scania’s investment going toward building Northvolt’s planned demo line and research facility. They have also struck a deal over future purchases of battery cells, they said in a joint statement. Northvolt’s Carlsson wants the Swedish plant to rival U.S. electric carmaker Tesla’s Gigafactory in the Nevada desert, targeting annual production equal to 32 gigawatt-hours by 2023. Last year Northvolt signed partnership deals with Swiss engineering group ABB and Danish wind turbine maker Vestas, but still needs to raise the vast majority of the financing required for the plant. ($1 = 0.8063 euros) (Reporting by Niklas Pollard; editing by Alexander Smith)" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 10 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump is privately reluctant to waive sanctions on Iran despite recommendations from advisers that he do so and will seek to make a decision during a meeting with national security aides on Thursday, a senior administration official said. The official told Reuters that Trump’s top advisers would recommend that he extend Iran relief from sanctions as part of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal by a Friday deadline. If he did so, the official said, the move would likely be accompanied by new, targeted sanctions on Iranian businesses and people. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Jonathan Oatis) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 3:51 PM / a few seconds ago U.S. 30-year mortgage rates hit 10-month high: Freddie Mac Reuters Staff 1 U.S. 30-year mortgage rates rose to a 10-month peak this week in line with rising Treasury yields on expectations faster global economic growth and speculation of reduced stimulus from overseas central banks, Freddie Mac ( FMCC.PK ) said on Thursday. The borrowing cost on 30-year mortgages, the most widely held type of U.S. home loan, averaged 4.15 percent in the week ended on Jan. 25, which was the highest level since the 4.23 percent recorded in the week of March 23, 2017. Last week, the average 30-year mortgage rate was 4.04 percent, the mortgage finance agency said. Reporting by Richard LeongEditing by Chizu Nomiyama" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 5:22 AM / Updated 2 hours ago Tennis - Dream grand slam debut continues for 15-year-old Kostyuk Ian Ransom 4 Min Read MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Ukrainian 15-year-old Marta Kostyuk became the youngest player to reach the third round of a grand slam in over 20 years when she defeated local wildcard Olivia Rogowska at the Australian Open on Wednesday. Croatia’s Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, who made the third round of the 1997 U.S. Open also at 15, was the previous youngest player to advance to that stage of a grand slam. In her grand slam debut and first main draw appearance at a WTA tournament, qualifier Kostyuk had already become the youngest player to win a match at the Australian Open since Martina Hingis’s quarter-final run in 1996, when the Swiss was 15 years and four months old. The reigning Australian Open junior champion’s 6-3 7-5 win over Rogowska at Margaret Court Arena made 521st-ranked Kostyuk A$142,500 ($113,500) richer in prizemoney, having earned only $6,733 coming into the match. “Well, I already know a little bit where I‘m going to spend this, but I didn’t really think, because, you know, like (making) some big investment or something,” Kostyuk told reporters. ”Now I‘m still keeping money. It’s like I got it and I go and spend. Maybe I will get the presents for my family, first of all, of course. Because I have a big family. “And then for myself a bit. Yeah.” It also set up a glamour tie with compatriot and fourth seed Elina Svitolina. Appearing completely at ease during her post-match media duties, Kostyuk said she still had to process her achievement before worrying about her next round. ”I still didn’t think about that match,“ she said. ”I‘m still, with emotions, I‘m still with this match, and it’s my sixth match here. “I feel like with every match, I‘m doing better and better.” The daughter of tennis parents, home-schooled Kostyuk is managed by Ukrainian former top-10 player Ivan Ljubicic, a member of Roger Federer’s entourage. She despatched Chinese first round opponent Peng Shuai, a former U.S. Open semi-finalist, 6-2 6-2 in the first round and bashed 22 winners against 26-year-old Rogowska. “I didn’t feel like she was 15 at all,” Rogowska told reporters. “Yeah, honestly, the power of her shots were -- I didn’t feel like she was 15, but obviously, yeah, she’s swinging freely ... I feel she’s going to be a dangerous player when she grows up.” Despite her comprehensive win over the Australian, Kostyuk said she had struggled to control her emotions and was fuming when given a code violation for coaching after her mum gestured at her from the players’ box. ”I was so mad, because I didn’t see what mom was showing me. “Then when the referee said code violation, I was, like, ‘What? I didn’t even see her, like -- like, I swear I didn’t see what she was showing me’.” After the match, her mum made another intervention, swiping her phone away from her before she could check congratulatory messages. “Well, I take the phone, and I had to eat at the same time,” said Kostyuk. “My mom told me leave the phone and eat properly. Because I didn’t have normal breakfast, that’s why I felt quite bad today on court.” ($1 = 1.2553 Australian dollars)" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 1:52 PM / Updated 28 minutes ago Marino leads new wave of American snowboard hopes Jack Tarrant 4 Min Read LONDON(Reuters) - Julia Marino will head to next month’s Winter Games as a major medal contender, yet the American snowboarder may not have been on the plane to Pyeongchang at all were it not for a twist of fate during her teenage years. Marino emerged seemingly out of nowhere two years ago and has transformed herself into a major force in the discipline, with the 20-year-old leading a vibrant group of American freestyle snowboarders looking to take the Olympics by storm. At the age of 18, Marino leaped into the limelight when she won the Big Air World Cup event at the iconic Fenway Park baseball stadium in Boston, arriving as an alternate but seizing her chance when fellow American Ty Walker withdrew. Marino’s stock continued to soar at the 2017 Winter X Games in Aspen, where she became the first female snowboarder to win medals in two categories -- gold in slopestyle and bronze in big air. However, speaking to Reuters at a team freestyle camp in Stubai, Austria, Marino admitted that the extra attention heading into an Olympic year was causing her some anxiety. “But it is a good kind of stress,” she added quickly. “It is fun to have that and it is not something that psyches you out too much I guess, it just pumps you up and it is just a little adrenaline high that makes you want to work harder.” For young athletes, constant acclaim can become a little overwhelming, particularly in an individual discipline, but Marino says the U.S. team dynamic, which groups all the coaches and athletes together, has helped steady the nerves. “When you ride with someone, I think you progress at a faster rate because one, you are having fun and two, when you see something that they are doing, you want to do the same thing and then you guys just build off each other,” Marino said. OLYMPIC DESTINY If all goes to plan, Marino will lead a group of young snowboarders to their first Olympics, with teenage prospects Chloe Kim, Hailey Langland and Chris Corning all expected to make the team at the expense of more experienced riders. Marino long believed she was destined to one day compete at a Winter Games but had it not been for an incident on a family holiday when aged 13, she could have been on skis instead. Growing up near New York, her family regularly embarked on winter holidays in Colorado where, despite an early flirtation with snowboarding, the young Marino was an avid skier. Marino admits that she was so passionate about improving that she pushed herself and her equipment to the limit, and during that fateful trip, her “girlyish” skis snapped while attempting an audacious jump. Despite his daughter’s pleas to rent another pair of skis, Marino’s father John stood his ground and unwittingly changed her choice of sport for good. “I asked if I could rent another pair of skis as it was the first day of vacation and I wanted to keep skiing but my dad was like ‘no, you have a perfectly good snowboard at home and you are going to use that the rest of time,'” Marino said. “I was really bummed about it but then as soon as I started getting into it and accepting the fact that I am going to have to snowboard the rest of the trip I really started to enjoy it.” The rest, as they say, is history. Marino says she has only donned a pair of skis once more, something she will not be attempting again after falling flat on her face and promptly reverting straight back to her board. That Colorado incident may have sparked a chain of events that finishes on a podium in South Korea but while Marino and her father are refusing to get too carried away, the U.S. team may well have found their star of the future. Reporting by Jack Tarrant; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 7:07 PM / Updated 25 minutes ago Brazil central bank calls for Caixa VPs to step down -source Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BRASILIA, Jan 16 (Reuters) - The Brazilian central bank has called for all vice presidents of state lender Caixa Econômica Federal to step down following the investigation of alleged corruption at the bank, a person with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Tuesday. The central bank’s request follows similar demands by federal prosecutors last month which the government initially ignored, sources told Reuters last week. The central bank is in charge of regulating the nation’s financial system. (Reporting by Ricardo Brito Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)" + }, + { + "text": "ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE: NNN), a real estate investment trust, declared a quarterly dividend of 47.5 cents per share payable February 15, 2018 to common shareholders of record on January 31, 2018. National Retail Properties is one of only four publicly traded REITs and 88 publicly traded companies in America to have increased annual dividends for 28 or more consecutive years. National Retail Properties invests primarily in high-quality retail properties subject generally to long-term, net leases. As of September 30, 2017, the company owned 2,687 properties in 48 states with a gross leasable area of approximately 28.2 million square feet with a weighted average remaining lease term of 11.4 years. For more information on the company, visit www.nnnreit.com . View original content: SOURCE National Retail Properties, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Economy: Japan to wag its tail in year of the dog? 10:46am EST - 01:47 Japan's celebrates its first stock market trading day of the year with a three per cent jump, pushing shares to their highest level in a quarter of a century. As David Pollard reports, there were also signs that that steady economic growth in Japan will continue into the new year. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Japan's celebrates its first stock market trading day of the year with a three per cent jump, pushing shares to their highest level in a quarter of a century. As David Pollard reports, there were also signs that that steady economic growth in Japan will continue into the new year. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 28, 2018 / 4:26 PM / Updated 2 minutes ago U.S. trade chief sees hope for NAFTA talks, says congressman David Lawder , David Ljunggren 3 Min Read MONTREAL (Reuters) - U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is hopeful about talks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement but realizes a great deal of work remains, Republican U.S. Congressman Dave Reichert said on Sunday after a briefing. Officials from the United States, Canada and Mexico will wrap up the sixth of seven planned rounds of talks on NAFTA in Montreal on Monday, with little sign of agreement on U.S. proposals to overhaul the $1.2 trillion pact. The United States is open to the idea of extending the NAFTA talks, Reichert indicated after a briefing from Lighthizer in Montreal. The negotiations are supposed to wrap up by the end of March. “From trying to evaluate his words today, I would say he (Lighthizer) recognizes there’s a great deal of work to be done, but he’s hopeful,” said Reichert, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee’s subcommittee on trade. U.S. President Donald Trump, who blames the 1994 treaty for job losses and a big trade deficit with Mexico, has repeatedly threatened to withdraw unless major changes are made. Markets have been nervous about the potential economic turmoil. With the slow progress so far, Lighthizer, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland and Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo will meet in Montreal on Monday to review what has been achieved. Speaking separately, Democratic Congressman Sander Levin told reporters in Montreal he was sure the United States would stay in the talks. FILE PHOTO - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on during a news conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China December 4, 2017. REUTERS/Fred Dufour/Pool Lighthizer could not be reached after the lawmakers’ comments. Officials say that if the three conclude the process should continue, an additional round of talks will start in Mexico on Feb. 26. Slideshow (3 Images) The talks are scheduled to finish by the end of March to avoid clashing with Mexico’s presidential election in July. Mexican officials now suggest the deadline could be extended. “We believe it’s more important to get a quality agreement than to tailor the negotiations to a strict timeline,” said Reichert. A senior source close to the talks told reporters late Saturday that “the United States needs to show flexibility” when it comes to its major proposed reforms to NAFTA. “Do we feel optimistic? I would say cautiously so,” added the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Chief negotiators had the day off on Sunday. With additional reporting by Anthony Esposito in Montreal; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Jeffrey Benkoe" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday he is optimistic bipartisan negotiations on immigration, government funding and other issues will lead to results and strongly prefers an agreement before Feb. 8, when current funding for the government expires. McConnell, a Republican, said in a Senate floor speech that a bipartisan, bicameral group was working on immigration, and he looked forward to seeing a promised White House framework on the matter next week. “I‘m optimistic,” he said, adding: “It is my strong preference that senators reach bipartisan agreement on these issues in advance of February 8.” McConnell restated his own pledge that if a long-term agreement by Feb. 8 eludes the Senate, the chamber will proceed to legislation on immigration and border security, as long as the government stays open. Reporting by Susan CornwellEditing by Chizu Nomiyama" + }, + { + "text": "UPPSALA, Sweden, Jan. 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial overview Q4 2017 Total net revenues SEK 191.0 million (184.7) Zubsolv® US net revenue SEK 126.5 million (128.2). In local currency a growth of 7.2 percent. EBIT SEK 30.1 million (33.2) EBITDA SEK 35.3 million (44.1) Earnings per share, before and after dilution, SEK 0.77/0.77 (0.97/0.96) Cash flow from operating activities SEK -23.0 million (71.4) Cash and cash equivalents SEK 327.9 million (282.4) Financial overview Full Year 2017 Total net revenues SEK 643.7 million (705.9) Zubsolv US net revenue SEK 485.8 million (481.8) EBIT SEK 57.4 million (51.7) EBITDA SEK 78.2 million (73.1) Earnings per share, before and after dilution, SEK 0.67/0.67 (0.84/0.84) Cash flow from operating activities SEK 146.6 million (156.2) Full year 2017 guidance confirmed Other highlights Q4 2017 Issue of new corporate bond amounting to a nominal value of SEK 325 million and redemption of 2014 corporate bond The European Commission approved Zubsolv for treatment of opioid dependence in Europe Improved market access position for Zubsolv US, as of January 1 and July 1, 2018. Mainly explained by exclusive contracts signed with Humana Medicare Part D, Humana Commercial, Envision Rx and a preferred position on CVS Caremark ́s and Ohio FFS Medicaid ́s formulary list. AstraZeneca has decided to discontinue OX-CLI and Orexo will not reacquire the rights to the program The Board of Directors proposes that no dividend is paid for the financial year 2017 CEO comments Entering an exciting 2018 The fourth quarter of 2017 developed as anticipated on all important parameters. I am proud to announce the second full year with a positive bottom line result and a slight increase in operating earnings compared to 2016, despite significantly lower milestone income during 2017. We know the main driver of changes in volume and market share for Zubsolv® in the US is market access and to improve our market access position has been a key strategic focus for the company in 2017. We have worked closely with the managed care providers to prepare the implementation of the new agreements starting 2018 and to prepare the organization to fully leverage these opportunities in 2018. With the new improved market access position we have invested in additional field force in regions where market access provides growth opportunities in 2018. In Q4, Zubsolv US net revenues grew 7.2 percent, in local currency, compared to the same quarter last year. I am pleased to report such an increase in the closing quarter of the year as we faced some negative developments related to United Health Group leaving the Health Exchanges early in the year, a large healthcare provider leaving WellCare and Maryland adding all products to their formulary list as from July 1. We strive to expand our commercial platform in the US through business development or by developing our own proprietary products. To ensure we have the financial flexibility to capture opportunities when they emerge, we decided to issue a new corporate bond, even though we have a positive net cash position and expect to continue with a positive cash flow from operating activities on an annual basis in 2018 as well. With the financial position secured for the next four years, we will intensify our efforts in business development and further accelerate the development of our internal projects when feasible. During the fourth quarter our internal pipeline progressed according to plan. The European Commission approved Zubsolv for treatment of opioid dependence in Europe, and our partner Mundipharma will commence launch of the product in Europe during the first half of 2018. For OX382, where we aim to be first-to-market, with a novel formulation of buprenorphine that enables oral administration, we initiated the clinical phase I trial, with trial results expected in Q2, 2018." + }, + { + "text": "We also continue the work to strengthen our pipeline with early stage projects that will fall into the addiction category and with the ambition to provide clear clinical differentiation versus currently available treatment alternatives. During the quarter, the OX-CLI program was discontinued by AstraZeneca, but the decision to discontinue the program has no financial impact on Orexo. With the positive financial results, our improved market access and a final decision in the appeal process against Actavis upcoming, I am confident that we have paved the way for growth and an exciting 2018. Nikolaj Sørensen President and CEO For further information, please contact: Henrik Juuel, EVP and CFO, Tel +46-18-780-88-00 E-mail [REDACTED] Nikolaj Sørensen, President and CEO Tel +46-18-780-88-00 E-mail [REDACTED] Presentation At 2.00 pm CET, the same day as the announcement of the report, Orexo invites analysts, investors and media to attend an audiocast with a web presentation where Nikolaj Sørensen, CEO, and Henrik Juuel, CFO, will present the report. After the presentation a Q&A will be held. Questions can also be sent in advance to [REDACTED] , no later than 11.00 am CET. Please view the instructions below on how to participate. Internet: . Telephone: (SE) +46-8-566-42-662, (UK) [REDACTED]-98-01 or (US) [REDACTED]. The presentation material will be available on Orexo ́s website one hour prior to the audiocast. This information is information that Orexo AB (publ.) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 8.00 am CET on January 25, 2018. This information was brought to you by Cision The following files are available for download: PDF View original content: SOURCE Orexo" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s smog-prone capital Beijing met its air quality targets last year following a crackdown on polluters and a sustained period of favorable weather, the local environmental agency said in a statement on Wednesday. The yearly average concentrations of particulate matter with a length of 2.5 microns or less, known as PM2.5 and which damage the lungs when inhaled, dropped by 35.6 percent in 2017 from 2012 to 58 micrograms per cubic meter, the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau said. The figures were in line with Reuters estimates made last week. The Chinese capital was ordered to cut PM2.5 concentrations to less than 60 micrograms as part of a 2013 action plan designed to head off public anger about rising pollution. The city has since closed nearly 2,000 factories in the cement, foundry and furniture-making sectors, shut down coal-fired power plants and eliminated over 2 million high-emission vehicles over the past five years. Beijing, along with 27 other northern Chinese cities, is part of a government campaign that started in October to ensure the 2017 targets were met. As the region prepared to switch on residential winter heating systems, it started phasing out coal-fired boilers and switching to gas- or electric-powered equipment. It has also shut or curbed production at heavy industrial plants to limit smog build-ups. But the city’s environment agency acknowledged that drier and windier weather conditions played a role in meeting air quality targets for the year, especially in the fourth quarter. The government blamed bad weather for the near-record levels of smog last January and February, which saw PM2.5 readings spike by 26.7 percent in the key Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in the first quarter of 2017. The province of Hebei, which surrounds Beijing and is a major source of smog drifting over the capital, also saw PM2.5 concentrations decline 7.1 percent from a year ago to 65 micrograms in 2017, the province’s environmental protection bureau said on Tuesday. But the region is still some distance away from meeting its official PM2.5 standard of 35 micrograms. The World Health Organization recommends levels of no more than 10 micrograms. “Current air pollutant levels remain a lot higher than the national air quality standard, indicating the improvement in air quality will still be a long-term process,” Beijing’s environment agency said. Reporting by Muyu Xu in Beijing and David Stanway in Shanghai" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - British charities should stop chasing celebrities to promote their projects and focus instead on the people they were set up to help, the outgoing head of a charity watchdog said on Monday. William Shawcross, who has chaired the Charity Commission for England and Wales since 2012, urged charities to measure success in terms of their impact, rather than their image. “I worry that too many large charities are too focused on chasing the next public service contract, or a bigger fundraising return, or a celebrity patron,” Shawcross, who is set to step down in February, wrote in The Telegraph newspaper. “Charities, small and large, should be lean and agile, focusing on the people they were set up to help,” he added. From British singer Ed Sheeran to actor Emily Watson and Olympic champion Mo Farah, aid groups are increasingly turning to celebrities to champion their cause and attract donors. Charities say celebrity endorsements are crucial to raise public awareness of important issues, such as children going hungry or women facing violence and abuse around the world. “Celebrities have a unique ability to bring our brand to wider audiences ... helping us raise much needed funds for us to continue our vital work on the ground,” Claire Wilkinson, head of media at ActionAid UK, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The International Rescue Committee announced on Monday that British actor Lena Headey, best known for her portrayal of Cersei Lannister in the hit television series Game of Thrones, would work with the group to highlight the plight of refugees. “I believe it is vital to do everything I can to bring people together and to recognize that at our core, we are all connected,” Headey said in a statement. A 2015 survey of the world’s 50 biggest humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) by expenditure found their annual spending had more than doubled to $18 billion over the previous decade - with large amounts spent on fundraising. The Thomson Reuters Foundation survey found that almost $1.5 billion (6.6 percent of expenditure) was spent on fundraising in 2013-14, compared to some $500 million (5.8 percent) in 2003-04. Almost 170,000 charities were registered in England and Wales in 2017, with a total annual income of 75 billion pounds ($105 billion), according to the Charity Commission. Reporting by Umberto Bacchi @UmbertoBacchi, Editing by Kieran Guilbert; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit news.trust.org" + }, + { + "text": "New Orleans Is Spending Millions to Remove Tons of Mardi Gras Beads From Storm Drains Mardi Gras beads along the Uptown parade route. Erika Goldring Getty Images By Jamie Ducharme 12:08 PM EST Overdue efforts to clear New Orleans’ clogged storm drains have yielded literal tons of abandoned Mardi Gras beads. The city allotted $7 million to clear the blocked catch basins, which were blamed for contributing to widespread flooding in August, NOLA.com reports . Since September, crews have tackled 15,000 of the city’s 68,000 catch basins — and discovered a staggering number of Mardi Gras beads in the process, according to NOLA.com. Just along one five-block stretch of St. Charles Avenue, the main Mardi Gras parade route, crews recovered 93,000 pounds of the beads, NOLA.com reports. “Once you hear a number like that, there’s no going back,” Dani Galloway, interim director of the city’s Department of Public Works, said during a news conference Thursday. “So we’ve got to do better.” New Orleans officials are also exploring other ways to keep the city’s drainage system clear, including manually blocking openings so beads and other debris can’t make it down the drain, to avoiding future flooding and costly cleanup efforts. Residents from neighborhoods across the city have also been trained on how to clean the catch basins, NOLA.com reports. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 7:51 PM / Updated 22 minutes ago British regulator told to apologise to RBS whistleblower Reuters Staff 3 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s markets regulator has been told to apologise to a former Royal Bank of Scotland employee after it offered “unconvincing” arguments for why it revealed his identity to the bank in a whistleblower case in 2013. The Financial Regulators Complaints Commissioner, which handles complaints against watchdogs, said on Tuesday that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) had failed to take sufficient care to establish whether the complainant had sought anonymity. “I have found some of the FCA’s arguments unconvincing: they have sought to justify the disclosure (to the bank) through inferring reasons when there is no contemporaneous record to confirm it,” said Complaints Commissioner Antony Townsend in a statement. But he stopped short of ordering any compensation. The decision anonymised the name of the bank and complainant. But Steve Middleton, a spokesman for former RBS employee Mark Wright, confirmed that the case concerned Wright. Wright has argued that the FCA should not have disclosed his name to RBS in 2013, after he made a series of allegations against the bank, because he had whistleblower protection. Middleton welcomed the decision but told Reuters that Wright had battled the regulator for a “disgraceful” 10 months to establish that a whistleblower should be able to remain anonymous. The FCA said in a statement that it accepted the recommendation that it apologise. But it noted that relevant staff at the time were aware that the complainant had authorised a parliamentarian to raise the case with the bank and that he had disseminated details and allegations to bank staff, senior management, board members and public figures in 2012 and 2013. It added: “The disclosure in question took place over four years ago and the FCA’s policies to support whistleblowing now reflect the Commissioner’s determination.” A RBS spokeswoman said the bank was aware of the concerns and that they had been thoroughly investigated and responded to. The bank has denied any wrongdoing. Reporting by Kirstin Ridley; Editing by Alison Williams" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30(Reuters) - Pietro Co Ltd * Says it plans to buy back up to 190,000 shares of its common stock, representing 3.04 percent of outstanding on Jan. 31 * Share repurchase price is 1,663 yen per share, the closing price of Jan. 30, or up to 316 million yen in total Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/ASFtve Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 18 (Reuters) - Zhonglu Co Ltd: * SAYS IT PLANS TO BUY SHANGHAI COSMETICS FIRM FOR ABOUT 5.6 BILLION YUAN ($871.73 million) VIA CASH, SHARE ISSUE * SAYS IT PLANS TO RAISE UP TO 1.4 BILLION YUAN IN SHARE PRIVATE PLACEMENT TO FUND ACQUISITION, PROJECTS Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2BcdCP8 Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.4240 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 18 (Reuters) - Greattown Holdings Ltd : * Says its shareholder Fuzhou Dongfu Industry Development Co Ltd will sell shares of co, lowering stake in co to 9.52 percent from 16.17 percent * Fuzhou Chuangyuan Trade ltd will lower stake in co to 0.4 percent from 3.75 percent * Yu Li will raise stake in co to 6.93 percent from 1.93 percent * Yu Jin will directly and indirectly own 5.4 percent stake after transaction, raising from from 3.75 percent (indirectly owning) Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/o9zAkh Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "PARIS (Reuters) - French uranium mining and nuclear fuel group Areva rebranded itself as Orano on Tuesday, closing the book on a years-long restructuring but still facing an uncertain future, with uranium prices at decade lows and the nuclear industry in the doldrums. Chief Executive Philippe Knoche said a new name and logo were necessary to start another chapter in the history of the state-owned company, which was split in two and recapitalized in 2017 after years of losses wiped out its equity. “We had to change our name - we are a new company with a different perimeter, focused on the fuel cycle,” Knoche said at a presentation of the new brand. Orano refers to uranium, the core of the firm’s business, and its new circular yellow logo references the yellowcake uranium concentrate that it extracts from the ore. To mark the change - and reduce real estate costs by 10 million euros (8.78 million pounds) a year - Orano will move out of its prestigious Paris headquarters, a distinctive black-slab skyscraper inspired by the monolith in Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey”. The move is part of a plan to cut costs by about 250 million euros in the 2018-2020 period. With its nuclear reactor building unit sold to fellow state-owned utility EDF last year, Orano goes back to being a pure nuclear fuel company, similar to its predecessor Cogema, before it was merged into Areva. Orano has net debt of close to 3 billion euros and by 2025 plans to invest about 2 billion euros in its plants and a similar amount in its mines, Knoche said. The logo with the new company name \"Orano\" of the French nuclear fuel group Areva is seen on the Areva Tower in La Defense near Paris, France, January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer The company aims to be cash-flow positive from this year, but Knoche said nothing about profit targets and admitted that market prices for uranium are too low to invest in new mines. He said long-term contract prices for uranium were about $10 per pound higher than spot prices, but declined to say what price Orano needed to operate profitably in the long run. Slideshow (4 Images) Uranium prices are down 80 percent from a decade ago as Japan’s 2011 Fukushima disaster has led to a slowdown in reactor newbuilds and countries such as Germany abandon nuclear. Knoche said Orano was banking on nuclear growth in Asia. He expects the firm to earn 30 percent of its turnover there by 2020, up from 20 percent last year. Talks about selling a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant to China were “accelerating”, Knoche said, but would not give a deadline. Discussions about the project have been going on for a decade, while the price the firm hopes to get has fallen to around 10 billion euros from 15 billion euros. He said the reprocessing plant deal was not essential for Orano’s survival. This month, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said the operation could “save” the French nuclear industry. With an order book worth nearly eight years of turnover and solid business in service and maintenance for a large part of the world’s more than 400 nuclear reactors, Orano faces the prospect of rebuilding a profitable operation. “We will do it with humility. That is why the name is written in lower case,” Knoche said. Reporting by Geert De Clercq and Benjamin Mallet; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Dale Hudson" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 8:42 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago France reinforces financial support for Tunisia as Macron visits Reuters Staff 1 Min Read TUNIS (Reuters) - France said on Wednesday that it would provide Tunisia with more than 272 million euros (£238 million) in new financing as it seeks to bolster the North African nation’s democratic transition. The support includes 177 million euros in loans, 50 million euros in aid, 30 million euros in debt relief and a 15 million euro credit line, and was announced during a visit to Tunis by French President Emmanuel Macron. Slideshow (2 Images) France had already pledged to provide Tunisia with 1.2 billion euros in aid from 2016-2020, a commitment that Macron reaffirmed at the start of his two-day state visit. France intended to provide a further 500 million euros of support for the period 2020-2022, he said. Reporting by Marine Pennetier; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Catherine Evans" + }, + { + "text": "Egypt's Sisi to run for second term in March election 9:05pm IST - 01:17 Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Friday he will run for a second term in office in an election in March, which the former military commander is widely expected to win. Scarlett Cvitanovich reports Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Friday he will run for a second term in office in an election in March, which the former military commander is widely expected to win. Scarlett Cvitanovich reports //in.reuters.com/video/2018/01/20/egypts-sisi-to-run-for-second-term-in-ma?videoId=387494783&videoChannel=13423" + }, + { + "text": "DUBAI, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Dubai Islamic Bank, the largest sharia-compliant bank in the United Arab Emirates, is expected to issue as soon as next week a U.S. dollar-denominated Islamic bond in the region of $750 million, sources familiar with the matter said. The bank, which this week reported a 26 percent increase in fourth-quarter net profit, has appointed a group of banks including HSBC and Standard Chartered for the planned Islamic bond, or sukuk. The bank’s chief executive Adnan Chilwan said on Wednesday during a conference call to discuss the lender’s fourth-quarter results that Dubai Islamic Bank was considering capital raising options in 2018, including a rights issue and an Islamic bond. A spokeswoman at the bank declined to comment on the sukuk plans. In February last year, the bank issued a $1 billion five-year sukuk which was arranged by a group of nine banks comprising Bank ABC, Dubai Islamic Bank itself, Emirates NBD Capital, HSBC, KFH Capital, Maybank Investment Bank, National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah Islamic Bank and Standard Chartered. The issuance was part of a $5 billion sukuk programme. Dubai Islamic Bank is rated A3 by Moody’s and A by Fitch. (Editing by Jane Merriman)" + }, + { + "text": "DALLAS, Jan. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Comerica Incorporated today declared a quarterly cash dividend for common stock of 30 cents ($0.30) per share. The dividend is payable April 1, 2018, to common stock shareholders of record March 15, 2018. Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Business Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. Comerica reported total assets of $71.6 billion at Dec. 31, 2017. View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Comerica Incorporated" + }, + { + "text": "Space has a junk problem. Roughly 100 million pieces of debris larger than a millimeter are orbiting the Earth -- ranging from defunct satellites to astronauts’ gloves. The junk poses a threat to working satellites which are used for things like navigation in cars and beaming television signals. Now a mission led by the U.K.’s Surrey Space Centre and its partners aims to clean it up with a unique new method using a high-tech harpoon and net. In the video above, we visit the RemoveDebris mission for a behind-the-scenes look... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "You'll never have to shovel your driveway again if you install these snow-melting mats SHARES Published 7:55 PM ET Thu, 4 Jan 2018 show chapters Updated Moments Ago | 01:14 After a week of bone-chilling temperatures across much of the United States, a massive winter storm pounded the Eastern Seaboard, forcing millions outside to shovel their driveways. Shoveling snow is not only a chore, its' also dangerous. A national study found that between 1990 and 2006 there were 11,500 snow shoveling-related injuries each year, according to the American Journal of Emergency Medicine. And while some people will be heading outside to shovel others are turning to heated driveways. The company WarmlyYours, which provides radiant heating solutions, has created snow-melting mats. The mats are designed to be installed under asphalt as a driveway is built or resurfaced. During the winter months, they heat up and melt the snow on the surface above them. After installing the snow melting system, you can choose to set it to different specifications like air temperature or moisture level on the pavement. The mats cost between $10 to $20 per square foot." + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—The brewing budget deal on Capitol Hill could get much larger thanks to a late Republican push for a bigger boost in defense spending. As the spotlight has been on immigration negotiations, lawmakers and aides have been working behind the scenes to hammer out a two-year deal that would not only prevent the budget limits known as the sequester from kicking in, but potentially raise spending beyond that. While... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 7:48 AM / Updated 38 minutes ago England line up Nigeria, Costa Rica for World Cup warm-ups Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - England will play international friendlies against Nigeria and Costa Rica ahead of the World Cup finals in Russia, the Football Association (FA) announced on Wednesday. Soccer Football - Premier League - Burnley vs Tottenham Hotspur - Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain - December 23, 2017 England manager Gareth Southgate in the stands REUTERS/David Klein England are to host Nigeria at Wembley on June 2 and face Costa Rica at Elland Road five days later, before kicking off their World Cup Group G campaign against Tunisia on June 18. Manager Gareth Southgate is confident that the fixtures will help prepare England for their World Cup opener as well as their second group match against Panama on June 24. “We’ve mostly played European opposition up to now and the Brazil game (a 0-0 draw in November) acted as a reminder that we need to challenge ourselves in different ways as a team,” Southgate said. ”We’re going into a World Cup where we will play African and Central American opposition so we get that with the games against Nigeria and Costa Rica, but it’s not just about the games we’ve got in the group but hopefully beyond that as well. “We want to expose the team to different styles and different experiences.” England will conclude pool play against Group G top seeds Belgium on June 28. Southgate’s side have also scheduled March friendlies against Netherlands and Italy, both of whom failed to qualify for the World Cup finals. Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 8:12 AM / in an hour John Laing Infrastructure Fund aims to replace collapsed Carillion on projects Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Jan 29 (Reuters) - John Laing Infrastructure Fund (JLIF) one of Europe’s largest listed investors in public infrastructure projects, said it was working to replace collapsed Carillion as facilities management provider on nine projects. There would be minimal service disruption, with advisory and transaction costs related to the appointment of replacement facilities managers to cost about 3 million pounds ($4.24 million), the fund said. Britain’s biggest corporate failure in a decade took place after banks pulled the plug on lending to Carillion. As a result, Carillion went into liquidation, forcing the government to step in to guarantee public services provided by the company ranging from school meals to road works. JLIF nine operational PPP projects where Carillion manages facilities include four schools projects, four emergency services projects and one road project, the fund said last week The value of these projects is about 8.5 percent of the total portfolio value and about 9.6 percent of its net asset value, it said then. “The (fund‘s) investment adviser believes that the compulsory liquidation of Carillion should have no material impact on the Company and no impact on the company’s dividend policy,” JLIF said in a statement on Monday. British investment firm HICL Infrastructure said on Friday the collapse of Carillion had triggered loan defaults at projects and management subcontracts with the construction outsourcing company, sending its shares to a three-year low. ($1 = 0.7081 pounds) Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru, editing by Louise Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "Wave of looting shutters stores, spreads fear in Venezuela 01:22 A wave of looting by hungry mobs across Venezuela has left streets of shuttered shops in provincial towns and pushed some store owners to arm themselves with guns and machetes, stirring fear that the turmoil could spread to the capital Caracas. A wave of looting by hungry mobs across Venezuela has left streets of shuttered shops in provincial towns and pushed some store owners to arm themselves with guns and machetes, stirring fear that the turmoil could spread to the capital Caracas. //reut.rs/2BaUlOb" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29(Reuters) - Jiangsu Yitong High-tech Co Ltd * Sees FY 2017 net profit to decrease by 13.1 percent to increase by 10.6 percent, or to be 3.3 million yuan to 4.2 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 3.8 million yuan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/fqXRqS Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "ATLANTA, Jan. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Enterprises today announced the promotion of Andre Reese to Vice President of Information Systems Operations. Reese is responsible for ensuring the integrity, quality of service and cost effectiveness of the production systems that support the company's operations and adapt to meet new and evolving business requirements. Reese oversees a variety of organizational functions, including Production Operations, Application and Database Support, IT Service Management, Desktop and Telephone Support, the Network Operations Center as well as the Customer Support Center. \"Information systems and technology is a world that is constantly evolving and requires the forward-thinking abilities of experts like Andre Reese,\" said Greg Morrison, Senior Vice President of Corporate Information Services. \"Andre is an outstanding leader, and I look forward to seeing how he will continue to influence the innovation and growth of Cox Enterprises' information system's department.\" Prior to joining Cox in 2004, Reese held a variety of IT system and agency support roles at Prudential, leading large systems development and modernization efforts, as well as technology deployments to sales agents nationwide. \"I am extremely fortunate to work for a company that makes delivering high-quality information technology services a priority,\" said Reese. \"I look forward to continuing to work with partners from across the company's divisions to provide enterprise-shared services such as Oracle Financials and PeopleSoft.\" Reese earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Computer Science from the University of Florida. He is a member of the IT Senior Management Forum, the Society for Information Management and previously served on the board of the Auditory Verbal Center. About Cox Enterprises: Cox Enterprises is a leading communications, media and automotive services company. With revenues exceeding $21 billion and approximately 60,000 employees, the company's major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications (cable television distribution, high-speed internet access, telephone, home security and automation, commercial telecommunications and advertising solutions); Cox Automotive (automotive-related auctions, financial services, media and software solutions); and Cox Media Group (television and radio stations, digital media, newspapers and advertising sales rep firms). The company's major national brands include Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book and Manheim. Through Cox Automotive, the company's international operations stretch across Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America. To learn more about Cox's commitment to people, sustainability and our communities, please visit www.CoxCSRReport.com . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Cox Enterprises" + }, + { + "text": "Pfizer Inc. said Saturday it will stop trying to discover new drugs for Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, abandoning costly but futile efforts to find effective treatments for the disorders. The cutback will result in layoffs of 300 employees in Cambridge and Andover in Massachusetts and in Groton, Conn., over several months, according to a company statement." + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 12:15 PM / Updated 24 minutes ago Japan's cryptocurrency girl band stays loyal to virtual money after cyber heist Reuters Staff 3 Min Read TOKYO (Reuters) - Members of a Japanese girl pop group, the Virtual Currency Girls, said on Monday they had refused an offer to be paid in yen and would stay loyal to cryptocurrencies despite a $530 million cyber heist jeopardizing their chances of getting paid. A cryptocurrency account that pays part of the band’s salary was among those frozen as a result of the suspension of trading at Tokyo-based Coincheck exchange on Friday following the theft of NEM, one of the world’s most popular digital currencies. “Our manager offered to pay us in yen, but we declined,” said Hinano Shirahama, who is the band’s bitcoin character. Dressed in maid costumes and wearing wrestling masks adorned with fuzzy pom-pom ears and cryptocurrency symbols the eight Virtual Currency Girls are a pop music manifestation of the digital currency frenzy that has swept Japan and other parts of the world. Shirahama and other group members said they would stay together regardless of the setback. Formed by an entertainment promoter the band debuted this month and have yet to garner a significant following. Virtual Currency Girls, which performs songs such as “The Moon, Cryptocurrencies and Me” are paid in cryptocurrency for tickets and merchandise at their concerts. A member of JapanÕs idol group \"Virtual Currency Girls\" wearing a mask featuring the NEM cryptocurrency logo poses after performing on their debut stage in Tokyo, Japan, January 12, 2018. Picture taken January 12, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon Regulators fear both the rampant speculation in cryptocurrencies and risk that the markets could be used for funding criminal and terrorist groups. Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) only began requiring exchanges to register from April 2017. Half of the 32 operators are still awaiting approval. Slideshow (2 Images) In 2014, Japan’s Mt. Gox, which once handled 80 percent of the world’s bitcoin trades, filed for bankruptcy after losing around half a billion dollars worth of bitcoins. Last month, South Korean exchange Youbit shut down and filed for bankruptcy after being hacked twice. Japan’s FSA on Friday criticized Coincheck for failing to take adequate security precautions to foil hacking attacks and said it would begin inspections at other exchanges. “Coincheck has some responsibility, but the real culprit is the hacker,” said Koharu Kamikawa wearing her fur-eared mask with the NEM cryptocurrency logo on her forehead. Reporting by Hyun Oh and Tim Kelly; editing by Simon Cameron-Moore" + }, + { + "text": "January 20, 2018 / 10:33 AM / Updated 13 minutes ago Tennis-Fognini battles past Benneteau in five-set thriller Reuters Staff 2 Min Read MELBOURNE, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Italy’s Fabio Fognini progressed to the round of 16 for the second time at the Australian Open with a 3-6 6-2 6-1 4-6 6-3 victory over French journeyman Julien Benneteau on Saturday. The 30-year-old Fognini, kitted out in a striking combination of black, white and red with a skull-emblazoned headband, got off to a slow start but soon found his rhythm and went on to record 57 winners in a pulsating encounter. “For sure I‘m happy, because at the end I win,” 25th seed Fognini told reporters. “Second time here on the fourth round. I was telling the last day it was always difficult to play for me here, so I‘m really, really happy.” Benneteau, ranked 59th in the world, was struggling with dehydration five games into the second set and eventually lost his cool as he bemoaned a lack of electrolyte drinks on Hisense Arena. “Where is my drink,” Benneteau asked. “I don’t care... I don’t play without my drink. It’s not my fault.” Two games later, Benneteau let his frustration boil over at the chair umpire as the volunteers searched for the drinks. “It’s unbelievable, you don’t do anything except to give me a warning,” he added. Benneteau ended up losing the second set before dropping the third as the incident appeared to unsettle him. The 36-year-old eventually shrugged off the issue with a counter-punching approach to the fourth set, claiming two breaks of serve against Fognini to force a decider. Fognini, however, found another gear to clinch the final set and set up a last 16 clash against big-serving Czech Tomas Berdych. (Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru)" + }, + { + "text": "ZURICH, Jan 12 (Reuters) - The Swiss blue-chip SMI was seen opening 0.3 percent higher at 9,529 points on Friday, according to premarket indications by bank Julius Baer . Here are some of the main factors that may affect Swiss stocks: ROCHE The European Union approved Roche’s multiple sclerosis medicine Ocrevus, one the Swiss company’s key new drugs that likely neared $1 billion in revenue in its first nine months on sale in the United States. For more news see BANKS British Prime Minister Theresa May told bankers from firms such as UBS and Goldman Sachs they were a priority for her in the Brexit talks, just as new warnings emerged of job losses in the London financial sector unless there is a trade deal. May met in Downing Street with some of Europe’s most powerful financiers including Mark Tucker, the HSBC chairman, Axel Weber, the UBS chairman, and Richard Gnodde, chief executive of Goldman Sachs International. DAVOS President Donald Trump’s delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos this month will include Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, a senior administration official told Reuters. The Swiss Alpine town of Davos is used to celebrities and high-rollers, but even it is relishing new attention being heaped on it with U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to attend the World Economic Forum COMPANY STATEMENTS * SwissQuote: Group Holding SA revises income and profit growth upwards; FY total earnings now expected to amount to 186 million Swiss francs, pre-tax profit around 45 million * Inficon Holding AG prelim fy sales of $373 million (prior year $309.7 million); prelim fy operating income of $73 million (prior year $51 million) * Wisekey International Holding AG full-year 2017 preliminary unaudited pro forma revenue $54.3 million * Aryzta AG appoints Dave Johnson as CEO North America * Valora Holding AG raises Schuldschein issue worth EUR 170 million ECONOMY (Reporting by Zurich newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 22 (Reuters) - Guangzhou Kingmed Diagnostics Group Co Ltd: * SAYS IT PLANS TO INVEST 150 MILLION YUAN ($23.44 million) IN GENE TESTING FIRM HONG KONG'S DRA CO LTD FOR 50 PERCENT STAKE Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2rpBaAs Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.4000 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Iran crisis: France criticizes U.S. over U.N. meeting 10:48am EST - 01:52 A United Nations Security Council discussion on Iran's civil unrest turned into criticism of the United States for requesting to meet over what some member states said was an internal issue for Tehran. Matthew Larotonda reports ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript A United Nations Security Council discussion on Iran's civil unrest turned into criticism of the United States for requesting to meet over what some member states said was an internal issue for Tehran. Matthew Larotonda reports Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30(Reuters) - NanJing Aolian AE&EA Co Ltd * Sees FY 2017 net profit to increase by 13.5 percent to 17.4 percent, or to be 58 million yuan to 60 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 51.1 million yuan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/yvmdX6 Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 7:52 AM / Updated 24 minutes ago BRIEF-SES Says Global Eagle Increases Ku-Band Capacity On SES-15 HTS Satellite Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 23 (Reuters) - SES SA: * GLOBAL EAGLE HAS SECURED A MAJOR INCREASE OF KU-BAND CAPACITY ON ITS NEW HYBRID SES-15 HTS SATELLITE Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom:)" + }, + { + "text": "TORONTO (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar steadied against its American counterpart on Thursday, after volatile trading the day before when the Bank of Canada raised interest rates, as investors shrugged off worries that the United States will pull out of NAFTA. At 4 p.m. EST (2100 GMT), the Canadian dollar CAD=D4 was trading at C$1.2419 to the greenback, or 80.52 U.S. cents, up 0.1 percent. The currency traded in a range of C$1.2414 to C$1.2489. “The Canadian dollar has been very well supported,” said Colin Cieszynski, chief market strategist at The Fundamental Technician. “In time, I think the Canadian dollar can continue to work higher as people anticipate further Canadian rate hikes.” On Wednesday, the Bank of Canada raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 1.25 percent, its highest since January 2009, after recent data showed stronger inflation and strong job growth. The future of the North American Free Trade Agreement was the most significant downside risk cited by the central bank. Canada sends about 75 percent of its exports to the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that terminating NAFTA would result in the “best deal” to revamp the 24-year-old trade pact with Canada and Mexico in favor of U.S. interests. “For the last three weeks now the (Mexican) peso has been on fire, which says to me that the NAFTA concerns are a bit overblown,” Cieszynski said. The price of oil, one of Canada’s major exports, was little changed as the market remained wary of increased supply from the United States. U.S. crude oil futures CLc1 settled 2 cents lower at $63.95 a barrel. Canadian government bond prices were lower across much of the yield curve, with the two-year CA2YT=RR down 4 Canadian cents to yield 1.809 percent and the 10-year CA10YT=RR falling 11 Canadian cents to yield 2.219 percent. The 10-year yield touched its highest intraday since September 2014 at 2.232 percent. Still, the gap between it and its U.S. equivalent widened by 2.9 basis points to a spread of -40.3 basis points, its widest since Dec. 27. A report by ADP showed that Canada shed 7,100 jobs in December, driven by cuts in the manufacturing, education and trade sectors. Reporting by Fergal Smith; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Grant McCool" + }, + { + "text": "1 Hour Ago | 00:47 SpaceX successfully launched a secret U.S. government payload called Zuma on Sunday and landed its rocket back on Earth, in the company's first mission of 2018. The Zuma spacecraft was attached to one of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets. It was launched into orbit from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The Falcon 9 successfully landed back to base. Landing and reusing rockets is the main aim of SpaceX scientists, who argue that it reduces the cost of launches and allows it to perform more missions. SpaceX did not reveal the purpose of Zuma because it is classified, but the mission marked Elon Musk's company's first in 2018. TWEET Last year, SpaceX carried out 18 successful launches, the highest in any calendar year. The firm is aiming to carry out one launch every two weeks. SpaceX is now looking towards its next challenge, launching the Falcon Heavy, its largest rocket to date. Musk announced on social media last week that the Falcon Heavy would be launched at the end of the month , after several delays. For the test flight, the rocket will not carry a customer's payload. Instead, Musk will launch an original Tesla Roadster playing David Bowie's \"Space Oddity\" into \"a billion year elliptic Mars orbit.\"" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 3:09 AM / in 5 hours Apple should address youth phone addiction, say two large investors Elizabeth Dilts 2 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - Apple Inc shareholders Jana Partners and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System are urging the smartphone maker to take steps to address what they say is a growing problem of young people getting addicted to Apple’s iPhones, Jana partner Charles Penner said. FILE PHOTO: (L-R) iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X and iPhone 8 models are displayed during an Apple launch event in Cupertino, California, U.S., September 12, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam/File Photo Jana, a leading activist shareholder, and CalSTRS, one of the nation’s largest public pension plans, delivered a letter to Apple on Saturday asking the company to consider developing software that would allow parents to limit children’s phone use, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Sunday. Jana and CalSTRS also asked Apple to study the impact of excessive phone use on mental health, according to the publication. CalSTRS and Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Jana and CalSTRS together control about $2 billion worth of Apple shares, the Journal reports. The social rights issue is a new turn for Jana, which is known for pushing companies it invests in to make financial changes. However, the issue of phone addiction among young people has become a growing concern in the United States as parents report their children cannot give up their phones. CalSTRS and Jana worry that Apple’s reputation and stock could be hurt if it does not address those concerns, according to the Journal. Half of teenagers in the United States feel like they are addicted to their mobile phones and report feeling pressure to immediately respond to phone messages, according to a 2016 survey of children and their parents by Common Sense Media. The phone addiction issue got a high-profile boost from the former Disney child star Selena Gomez, 24, who said she canceled a 2016 world tour to go to therapy for depression and low self-esteem, feelings she linked to her addiction to social media and the mobile photo-sharing app Instagram. Reporting by Elizabeth Dilts; Editing by Lisa Shumaker" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission warned Thursday that investors should “exercise caution” with cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, noting state and federal regulators may not be able to recoup any lost investments from illegal actors. Many promoters of initial coin offerings (ICOs) and other cryptocurrency investments are not following federal and state securities laws, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton and Commissioners Kara Stein and Michael Piwowar said in a statement. While regulators are trying to police these quickly growing markets, the SEC urged investors to be vigilant. “The SEC and state securities regulators are pursuing violations, but we again caution you that, if you lose money, there is a substantial risk that our efforts will not result in a recovery of your investment,” the officials said. Reporting by Pete Schroeder; Editing by David Gregorio" + }, + { + "text": "SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia’s Port Hedland iron ore terminal reopened on Saturday afternoon after a cyclone bearing down on the continent’s far northwest dissipated, the port’s operator said on Saturday evening. Cyclone Joyce, a Category 1 storm, had weakened to a tropical low and was expected to weaken further, the Pilbara Ports Authority said on its website. Port Hedland had been expected to open on Saturday morning, after the Bureau of Meteorology announced that destructive winds were no longer expected, although heavy rain and strong gusts were forecast in the southwest. Instead, the port reopened at 1.30pm local time. The storm had been expected to hit the beaches of Pilbara iron ore belt, prompting the closure on Thursday of the world’s biggest iron ore export terminal, 1,700 km (1,050 miles) north of Perth, as a safety precaution. The port accounts for over half of Australia’s iron ore exports, handling more than a million tonnes a day from the Pilbara iron belt, the majority bound for Chinese steel mills. Port Hedland was cleared of ships and closed on Thursday evening. The storm is the second to menace Australia’s northwest in as many weeks. Cyclone Hilda blew down trees and caused minor damage at Broome last week. On average, there are 10 to 13 tropical cyclones between November and April in the Australian region, four of which typically cross the coast, data from the bureau shows. The possibility of a protracted closure at Port Hedland if Cyclone Joyce had intensified failed to stoke iron ore buying, despite China’s strong reliance on supplies from Australia. Iron ore futures on the Dalian Commodity Exchange were down 2 percent in trading at the Shanghai Futures Exchange, after falling 0.4 percent in the previous session. Iron ore for spot delivery to China’s Qingdao port rose 77 cents, or about 1 percent, to $79.08 a ton on Thursday. Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Additional reporting by Alison Bevege & James Regan & Alana Schetzer; editing by Diane Craft" + }, + { + "text": "Britain: inflation eases, Brexit debate doesn't... Tuesday, January 16, 2018 - 01:49 British inflation eased off its post-Brexit vote high in December suggesting the financial squeeze could be about to get a little easier. As David Pollard reports, the new data comes as the European Council president weighed into a new debate about whether to hold a second referendum on Brexit. ▲ Hide British inflation eased off its post-Brexit vote high in December suggesting the financial squeeze could be about to get a little easier. As David Pollard reports, the new data comes as the European Council president weighed into a new debate about whether to hold a second referendum on Brexit. //reut.rs/2DhSMEg" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Russian farming conglomerate Rusagro reported on Monday an 18 percent drop in total revenue for the fourth quarter as prices for sugar and agricultural products declined on the year. Global prices for many agriculture commodities have been weak due to large output in the main producing countries, including in Russia. The latter got a record grain crop in 2017 and its sugar production from its own beet is expected to rise to a new record this season. By the end of 2017 inflation in Russia had reached its lowest since the fall of the Soviet Union and, at 2.5 percent against 5.4 percent in 2016, came in well below the central bank’s target level. Food prices were up 1.1 percent in December on the year compared with a rise of 4.6 percent a year earlier. Rusagro, which produces sugar as well as grains, mayonnaise, bottled oil and pork, said its total revenue fell to 30.5 billion roubles ($542.2 million) in the last quarter of 2017. Sugar production rose 11 percent year on year to 637,000 tonnes, but the average sale price fell 27 percent and sales volumes dropped 5 percent, resulting in a 32-percent drop in sugar business revenue, the company said. Revenue in the agricultural business dropped 17 percent to 10.7 billion roubles as average sale prices for barley, sugar beet, wheat, soybean and corn declined by 3 to 28 percent. In 2017 as a whole, total revenue declined 7 percent to 89 billion roubles, with a 19 percent decrease in sugar revenue being partly offset by 15 percent growth in the revenue of its meat business where average sale prices mostly inched up. London-listed shares in Rusagro were down 1.3 percent by 1114 GMT at $10.20 each. ($1 = 56.2524 roubles) (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; additional reporting by Polina Devitt; editing by Louise Heavens)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 9 (Reuters) - Heren Health Co Ltd : * Sees net profit for FY 2017 to decrease by 34.7 percent to 38.55 percent, compared to net profit of FY 2016 (52.1 million yuan) * Says increased sales expenses and less subsidies received than last year as main reasons for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/Ch24qW Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 8 (Reuters) - AKBANK: * SEES NET FEES AND COMMISSION GROWTH AT ABOUT 15 PERCENT AND NPL AT ABOUT 2.1 PERCENT IN 2018 * SEES ROA AT ABOUT 1.8 PERCENT AND ROE AT ABOUT 15.5 - 16 PERCENT IN FY 2018 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Published: Jan 23, 2018 4:49 p.m. ET Share Trump reaffirms hard line on contentions issue Reuters President Donald Trump is seeking benchmark requirements in any immigration bill. By Louise Radnofsky WASHINGTON — A bipartisan immigration proposal is “totally unacceptable” to President Donald Trump and “should be declared dead on arrival,” the White House said Tuesday, reaffirming a hard line on a contentious issue that has become entangled with U.S. government funding in recent weeks. The proposed legislation by GOP Sens. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, in conjunction with Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, was criticized by White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders from the White House briefing room on Tuesday. The bill doesn’t meet benchmarks set by Trump, Sanders said, which include border-security funding and an end to the visa lottery program and family-based immigration in exchange for permanently shielding from deportation young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children. Her remarks were in keeping with past statements from the White House on the issue, but took on increased significance Tuesday as lawmakers take up the immigration issue again in the wake of the brief government shutdown. Sanders had said Monday that Trump would follow through on a promise to work on immigration policy after Republicans and Democrats reached a deal to reopen federal agencies." + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 11:05 AM / Updated 7 minutes ago PRESS DIGEST-Canada- Jan 22 Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Jan 22 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories from selected Canadian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. THE GLOBE AND MAIL ** Bombardier Inc and union leaders representing its aerospace employees in Toronto will start talks on a new work contract earlier than normal as labour seeks to learn more about the company's plans for its Downsview operations in Canada's biggest city. tgam.ca/2BkSaHS ** Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau intends to play down U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to abrogate NAFTA in meetings with corporate executives at the World Economic Forum. tgam.ca/2n0fRB7 ** Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd's latest $250 million debt and warrants investment in Seaspan Corp has more to offer than just profits, the company says. It could create new opportunities in the United States, where Fairfax's strategy of taking stakes in undervalued companies has yet to be built out. tgam.ca/2n1FLUU NATIONAL POST ** The prime minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, who is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos for the second time since his mandate began, plans to send a message that Canada's doors are open for business and that now is the ideal time to invest. bit.ly/2n0nEyF (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 11:58 PM / Updated 12 hours ago Brazil's death toll from yellow fever triples: WHO Reuters Staff 2 Min Read RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The number of confirmed cases of yellow fever outbreak in Brazil has tripled in recent weeks, with 20 deaths since July, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday. Of 35 confirmed cases, 20 were in Sao Paulo state, which includes South America’s largest city, Sao Paulo. Earlier this month, a case of the disease was confirmed in the Netherlands for a traveler who had recently been in that state. The WHO recommended last week that foreign travelers get vaccinated before visiting. But Brazil’s Health Ministry has said the recommendation, coming just weeks before Carnival, a holiday event in which tens of thousands of tourists descend on Brazil, would not cause it to change its advisory that only travelers going to rural areas be vaccinated. Last week, Brazilians lined up for hours to get yellow fever vaccinations in the country’s largest states, alarmed by the increase in the number of fatal cases of infection and a warning from the WHO to tourists visiting parts of the country. Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes in tropical regions and is still a major killer in Africa. It had largely been brought under control in the Americas. The first sign that the fever was back in Brazil was the death last year of hundreds of monkeys in the Atlantic rain forest in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo and Sao Paulo. Reporting by Alexandra Alper; Editing by Sandra Maler" + }, + { + "text": "Billionaire investor Warren Buffett told CNBC on Wednesday the recent craze over bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies won't end well. \"In terms of cryptocurrencies, generally, I can say with almost certainty that they will come to a bad ending ,\" the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway said. \"When it happens or how or anything else, I don't know,\" he added in an interview on CNBC's \" Squawk Box \" from Omaha, Nebraska. \"If I could buy a five-year put on every one of the cryptocurrencies, I'd be glad to do it but I would never short a dime's worth.\" show chapters Warren Buffett: Cryptocurrency will come to a bad ending 4 Hours Ago | 01:28 Also on the show, Buffett's right-hand man, Charlie Munger, also blasted frothiness in bitcoin — and in venture capital funding. Earlier Wednesday, the Omaha-based conglomerate announced the appointment of two new vice chairs. Gregory Abel, 55, will be vice chair of non-insurance businesses. Ajit Jain, 66, will be vice chair of insurance operations. Buffett said he would not take a short position on bitcoin futures. \"We don't own any, we're not short any, we'll never have a position in them,\" he said. David A. Grogan | CNBC \"I get into enough trouble with things I think I know something about,\" he added. \"Why in the world should I take a long or short position in something I don't know anything about.\" Exchange operators such as CME Group and Cboe Global Markets have opened their platforms to allow bitcoin futures trading. The price of bitcoin declined 3.69 percent to $13,907 Wednesday, according to data from industry website CoinDesk. The digital currency is up more than 1,500 percent in the past 12 months. Buffett's comments came a day after J.P. Morgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon backpedaled his earlier criticisms of cryptocurrencies. In September, Dimon called bitcoin a fraud. —Reuters contributed to this report. Read more from CNBC's interview with billionaire investor Warren Buffett: Warren Buffett: 'I feel terrific,' and moves toward succession are not related to my health Warren Buffett says 'huge' corporate tax cut is 'not baked in' stock market Morning Squawk: CNBC's before the bell news roundup Sign up to get Morning Squawk each weekday Job Industry Advertising/Marketing Automotive Communications/PR Construction/Manufacturing Education Finance/Banking/Insurance Legal Media/Entertainment Medical/Health Care Mining/Oil/Gas/Utilities Gov't/Non-Profit Real Estate Retail Technology/IT Transportation/Shipping Travel/Hospitality Other Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about about our products and service. Privacy Policy . Submit Please enter a valid email address WATCH: Iconic investor Warren Buffett on bitcoin, his health and the state of markets show chapters Iconic investor Warren Buffett on bitcoin, his health and the state of markets 4 Hours Ago | 03:42" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 7:59 PM / Updated 9 minutes ago Italy's soccer league in talks with Mediapro on Serie A TV rights Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MILAN (Reuters) - Italy’s soccer league has launched talks with Spanish broker Mediapro on its 950-million-euro (£832.7 million) bid for the rights to broadcast Serie A soccer matches for the 2018-2021 seasons, the CEO of the league’s advisor Infront said on Friday. Previous attempts to sell the rights - through an official auction that included bids from Italian broadcaster Mediaset and Sky Italia and later through a private sale - failed to reach the 1.05-billion-euro minimum threshold set for the deal. Infront CEO Luigi De Siervo said the league’s representatives on Friday rejected Mediapro’s initial offer, which included the creation of a TV channel together with the Italian soccer league that could be distributed on various platforms, but negotiations were then launched that would last at least a week. The league will also prepare a new tender for the rights targeting media operators such as Mediaset and Sky that will be launched if no deal is reached with Mediapro, De Siervo added. Reporting by Elvira Pollina, writing by Agnieszka Flak, editing by Steve Scherer" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Facebook Inc said on Tuesday it will ban ads promoting financial products and services tied to cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings. “We’ve created a new policy that prohibits ads that promote financial products and services that are frequently associated with misleading or deceptive promotional practices, such as binary options, initial coin offerings and cryptocurrency,” Facebook’s product management director, Rob Leathern, said. The new policy will be implemented across its platforms, including Facebook, Audience Network and Instagram, the company said. bit.ly/2FuwawS Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva" + }, + { + "text": "New York City’s new transit chief Andy Byford said he intends to lead a top-to-bottom modernization of the agency that oversees the city’s subway, which has been plagued by repeated delays and disruptions. He also said he wants to focus on the basics, which include providing safe, clean, reliable service. “We’ve got to get the basics right, day in, day out,” he said. In... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "By Kate Samuelson January 19, 2018 Instant messaging service WhatsApp has officially launched WhatsApp Business, a separate app that small businesses can use to connect with their customers. The free-to-download Android app allows businesses to quickly respond to customers as well as provide them with away messages, letting them know when the business is busy. It also allows businesses to review simple metrics, such as the number of messages sent by their company that have actually been read, according to the company. Businesses using WhatsApp Business can connect with ordinary WhatsApp users as normal, as there’s no need for ordinary WhatsAppers to download the separate app, the company said. WhatsApp users will know when they are being contacted by a business rather than an individual, as it will be listed as a business account. Over time, some businesses will have confirmed accounts once it has been confirmed that the account phone number matches the business phone number, a blog post from WhatsApp explains. The new app is available to download from today in the U.S. as well as the U.K., Italy, Mexico and Indonesia. It will roll out around the world over the next few weeks. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—Demand for long-lasting factory goods rose in December, capping a solid year for U.S. business investment and the manufacturing sector. Orders for durable goods—products designed to last at least three years, such as airplanes and industrial robots—increased 2.9% from the prior month to a seasonally adjusted $249.45 billion in December, the Commerce Department said Friday. That... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Microsoft Corp issued an emergency security update on Monday to plug Intel Corp’s buggy Spectre firmware patch after the chipmaker’s fix caused computers to reboot more often than normal. Microsoft said it was rolling out an out-of-band update that specifically disables Intel’s Spectre variant 2 patch. The latest update comes nearly four weeks after Intel confirmed that its chips were impacted by vulnerabilities known as Spectre and Meltdown, which make data on affected computers susceptible to espionage. The Windows maker said system instability triggered by Intel's faulty patch can in some cases cause \"data loss or corruption\". ( bit.ly/2rW1bYL ) Microsoft said its latest update prevented computers to reboot unexpectedly and urged affected customers to manually download it from the Microsoft Update Catalog website. Meltdown was specific to chips from Intel as well as one from SoftBank Group Corp’s ARM Holdings. Spectre affected nearly every modern computing device, including ones with chips from Intel, ARM and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. Last week, Intel said that patches it released to address the two high-profile security vulnerabilities in its chips are faulty, advising customers, computer makers and cloud providers to stop installing them. Reporting by Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 9:57 AM / Updated 6 hours ago Veteran Forlan signs for Hong Kong's Kitchee Reuters Staff 1 Min Read HONG KONG (Reuters) - Former Uruguay and Manchester United striker Diego Forlan has signed for Hong Kong side Kitchee ahead of their appearance in the group stages of the Asian Champions League, the club announced on Thursday. FILE PHOTO - Football Soccer - Penarol v Nacional - Uruguayan Championship - Centenario stadium - Montevideo, Uruguay - 15/5/16. Penarol's Diego Forlan. REUTERS/Andres Stapff Forlan, who last played professionally in 2016 for Indian Super League side Mumbai City, will arrive in Hong Kong Wednesday and will be unveiled at an official press conference the following day. The 38-year-old, who played 112 times for Uruguay and won the Golden Ball Award for the best player at the 2010 World Cup finals, finished as the top scorer in Spain’s La Liga while with Villarreal in 2005 before going on to join Atletico Madrid. Hong Kong champions Kitchee are appearing in the group stages of the Asian Champions League for the first time and their campaign will kick off on Feb 13. Reporting by Michael Church in Hong Kong, Editing by Amlan Chakraborty" + }, + { + "text": "DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Russian pension funds are considering investing in Saudi Arabian state oil major Aramco when it lists its stock in a move to strengthen the partnership between the world’s two top oil producers, Russia’s top state investment officer said. The head of Russia’s Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev, told Reuters on Tuesday that Moscow and Riyadh should be coordinating oil policies for many more years. “We see great interest in the Aramco IPO from Russian pension funds as well as from our Chinese partners,” said Dmitriev, who two years ago was the first Russian official to suggest the possibility of a joint oil output deal with OPEC. He said he could not disclose the names of the funds or the amount they were prepared to invest. Sources told Reuters last year Chinese state oil companies were willing to become cornerstone investors in the Aramco IPO which could become the world’s biggest, valuing the firm at up to $2 trillion and raising more than $100 billion. “Russia already has significant positions in the oil business so it is hard to expect us taking a very significant stake during the IPO,” Dmitriev said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. He added that the deal would help strengthen growing cooperation with Riyadh. Non-OPEC Russia and OPEC led by Saudi Arabia agreed to cut oil output by 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) or around 2 percent of global production throughout 2017 and 2018, in a move that has helped oil prices to double from their 2016 lows to around $70 a barrel. “Extending such cooperation for many more years would be very useful for the market. It has proven its efficiency, when we were targeting balancing supply and demand rather than targeting a particular oil price,” said Dmitriev. OPEC has said it wanted global oil stocks to return to a five-year average and the group’s officials have said that target could be reached by the middle or end of 2018. But even when the target is reached, OPEC has insisted it would exit from cuts gradually in order not to shock the market. “Future mechanisms of cooperation and concrete tools could differ,” said Dmitriev. He said oil producers had generated an extra $600 billion in revenues thanks to oil cuts and higher prices over the past year, which allowed them to resume investments and guarantee no supply shortages in the future. For Russia and Saudi Arabia the deal has also paved the way for dialogue on many other fronts despite the two countries effectively fighting a proxy war in Syria. “The deal has created elements of trust in investments and in political cooperation. It did help political dialogue. It showed Russia and Saudi Arabia can work together,” Dmitriev said. “Without the deal, a visit of the Saudi king to Russia wouldn’t have been possible and wouldn’t have been that successful,” said Dmitriev, referring to King Salman’s visit in October. Dmitriev’s $10 billion fund has joint projects with Saudi Arabia, including a $1 billion technology fund. He expects the number of projects to grow. He also said Russia should embark on reforms such as cutting the state’s presence in the economy after the presidential election in March, in which the current leader Vladimir Putin is widely anticipated to be re-elected. “In some sectors, the role of the state represents more than 70 percent. It is clearly too much,” said Dmitriev. “From the investment point of view, we see the need for reform such as the sale of non-core assets by state companies. This could boost Russia’s economic growth,” he said. Reporting by Dmitry Zhdannikov; Editing by Mark Bendeich" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - MUFG Union Bank N.A., a unit of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, appointed Ann Hamilton as a fiduciary management executive, and Peter Bogardus as a private wealth adviser. Hamilton will be responsible for managing a team of specialists in trust and estate services, wealth planning, and risk management. Bogardus will be responsible for advising high net-worth individuals, families, and non-profit organizations. Hamilton joins from Pioneer Wealth Partners LLC, where she most recently served as a director of strategic alliances. Bogardus has worked as a financial advisor at Wells Fargo & Co and at Morgan Stanley prior to Union Bank. Both Hamilton and Bogardus will be based in San Francisco. Reporting by Arunima Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 18 (Reuters) - Trans Genic Inc * Says it starts discussion regarding business and capital alliance with Public Interest Incorporated Foundation BioSafety Research Center (BSRC) * Says it will set up a wholly owned unit, to take over CRO business from BSRC * Others details not disclosed Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/iUu8uX Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday a military operation in Syria’s Kurdish-controlled Afrin region had begun after cross-border shelling by the Turkish army. Turkey’s army said on Saturday it hit shelters and hideouts used by militants from three groups - the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), PYD and YPG, after militants fired on Turkish positions inside Turkey. “We will destroy the terror corridor gradually as we did in Jarabulus and El-bab operations, starting from the west. Afrin operation has de-facto started in the field. Manbij will follow,” Erdogan said. Slideshow (4 Images) Erdogan has repeatedly said he would crush the Syrian Kurdish militia in Afrin, which he views as a security threat to Turkey. Direct military action against territory held by Kurdish militia opens a new front in Syria’s civil war and sees Ankara confronting Kurds allied to the United States at a time when Turkey’s relations with Washington are reaching breaking point. The U.S. State Department called on Turkey to focus on the fight against Islamic State militants and described Turkish activity in Afrin as destabilizing. Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli said on Friday that Turkey’s operation in the region had started with cross-border shelling, but no troops have gone into Afrin. [nA4N1N700Y] Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by Janet Lawrence" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 10 (Reuters) - China Wuyi Co Ltd: * SAYS IT PLANS TO SET UP PROPERTY UNIT WITH REGISTERED CAPITAL OF 600 MILLION YUAN ($92.25 million) * SAYS UNITS PLAN TO INVEST IN TWO CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS PRODUCTION PROJECTS IN KENYA Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2CXXNRb Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.5040 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "General Electric Co. is set to report fourth-quarter earnings before the market opens Wednesday, breaking from its traditional Friday morning schedule. Here is what you need to know: EARNINGS FORECAST: Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect earnings per share of 29 cents, compared with adjusted earnings per share of 39 cents during the... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Russia opposes U.S. bid to change Iran nuclear deal 26 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday Moscow will not support attempts by Washington to modify the Iran nuclear deal, arguing such a move could also complicate diplomacy over North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday Moscow will not support attempts by Washington to modify the Iran nuclear deal, arguing such a move could also complicate diplomacy over North Korea's nuclear weapons program. //reut.rs/2DfUeHf" + }, + { + "text": "Consumers! Update! Update! Update! 47 Meltdown and Spectre, two flaws in computer chips, affect almost all modern computers. So what should consumers do? Reuters tech reporter Stephen Nellis explains. Meltdown and Spectre, two flaws in computer chips, affect almost all modern computers. So what should consumers do? Reuters tech reporter Stephen Nellis explains. //reut.rs/2CFGvsP" + }, + { + "text": "CAIRO, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Egypt’s aviation ministry said on Monday reports of a ban on all U.S.-bound cargo from Cairo airport were “inaccurate and old” saying the ban was in placed since 2015. “There is positive cooperation with the U.S. authorities, in addition, Egypt is currently participating in the information program presented on shipments to prepare for lifting the ban permanently,” the statement said. Five Cairo airport and EgyptAir sources told Reuters earlier that the U.S. authorities had banned the transport of all cargo from Cairo International Airport destined for the United States. Sources said U.S. authorities had suspended the cargo transportation due to lack of confidence in security measures at Cairo airport. (Reporting by Amina Ismail; Editing by Janet Lawrence)" + }, + { + "text": "ZURICH (Reuters) - Sika’s ( SIK.S ) rising share price could bring an end to a long-running takeover fight with French construction group Saint-Gobain ( SGOB.PA ), Sika CEO Paul Schuler told Finanz und Wirtschaft in an interview. The founding Burkard family could get a “very good price” for their controlling stake by selling to Sika rather than Saint-Gobain, Schuler said. Sika’s share price has more than doubled since Saint-Gobain’s offer was announced in Dec. 2014, higher than the French company’s bid which was at an 80 percent premium. This “offers a change for all three parties to come out of this as winners,” Schuler told the newspaper in an interview to be published on Saturday. “Sika stays independent, the Burkard family sell their shares and receive a very good price. We are working towards this goal,” he said. The family would sell their shares to Sika, he said. “The board has an offer ready for the family,” he said. Reporting by John Revill. Editing by Jane Merriman" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 9:33 AM / Updated 2 hours ago VW faces inquiry call over diesel fumes test on monkeys Jan Schwartz , Edward Taylor 4 Min Read FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Volkswagen’s ( VOWG_p.DE ) supervisory board called for an immediate inquiry into who commissioned tests in which monkeys were exposed to toxic diesel fumes, while the German government said such studies were unjustifiable. “I will do everything possible to ensure that this matter is investigated in detail,” Volkswagen supervisory board Chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch said in a statement on Monday. “Whoever is responsible for this must of course be held accountable,” Poetsch said in response to a New York Times report on Friday that German carmakers had used an organization called European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT) to commission the tests. The study, conducted in 2014, was designed to defend diesel following revelations that the fuel’s exhaust fumes were carcinogenic, the newspaper reported. Reuters could not immediately confirm the details and purpose of the study and EUGT, which was dissolved last year, could not be reached for comment. EUGT received all of its funding from VW and fellow German carmakers Daimler and BMW, the New York Times said. UNJUSTIFIABLE TESTS Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW on Saturday denounced the study, whose revelation is the latest aftershock from the VW emissions-rigging scandal, which continues to rock the auto industry. Volkswagen has pledged never to test with animals again, Thomas Steg, VW’s chief lobbyist, told German daily Bild in an interview to be published on Tuesday. “We want to absolutely rule out testing on animals for the future so that this doesn’t happen again,” Bild quoted Steg as saying. A car with the Volkswagen VW logo badge is seen on display at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., January 16, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst On Monday Volkswagen said that some staff members, whom it did not identify, including some in its legal department, at the VW brand’s technical development division and at Volkswagen of America, had been aware of the tests at the time. But Volkswagen said the study was never discussed in any management board meetings, after Bild earlier reported that an internal e-mail showed that at least some senior managers were informed about the design of the research. In another related development, German daily Stuttgarter Zeitung reported on Sunday that EUGT also sponsored scientific studies testing nitrogen dioxide, a gas found in exhaust fumes, on people. Aachen University’s research hospital confirmed on Monday that EUGT had sponsored a study in 2013 and 2014 but said it was related to workplace safety, not diesel emissions. As part of the study, 25 people were exposed to varying levels of nitrogen dioxide for three hours to investigate the possible health effects of the chemical compound in concentrations below the limit for workplaces, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen said in a statement. The German government said on Monday that any auto emissions testing on monkeys or people was unjustifiable. “These tests on monkeys or even people are in no ethical way justifiable and raise many critical questions about those who are behind the tests,” government spokesman Steffen Seibert told a regular government news conference in Berlin. Stephan Weil, who represents the German state of Lower Saxony, a VW shareholder, on the carmaker’s supervisory board, said the board was pressing the carmaker to urgently provide information about what the aim of the studies was. “After the matter has been cleared up there will also be the question of who was personally responsible,” he said at a news conference on Monday. Related Coverage" + }, + { + "text": "P.K. Subban scored for the third straight game Thursday night and Pekka Rinne made 27 saves for his fourth shutout as the Nashville Predators blanked the New Jersey Devils 3-0 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Subban’s 12th goal of the season came at 9:48 of the second period, shortly after a faceoff win by Ryan Johansen. The puck came to Mattias Ekholm, who teed up Subban at the left point for a slapper that squirted through the pads of rookie goalie Ken Appleby. Ekholm added insurance at 5:36 of the third period with his seventh marker, thanks in large part to Viktor Arvidsson. After firing a shot wide of the net to start the sequence, Arvidsson provided a jump screen on Ekholm’s blast from the left point and appeared to deflect the puck past Appleby, although the goal was given to Ekholm. Arvidsson then ended remaining suspense at 15:11 with a shorthanded goal, his 15th of the season. Subban took the puck away and set up Arvidsson for a slapper. Rinne and the Nashville defense took care of the rest, although New Jersey didn’t offer much in the way of a threat. Missing Taylor Hall (hand) and Marcus Johansson (concussion), two of their top forwards, the Devils managed a meager 12 shots on net through two periods. New Jersey did create a good scoring chance just under 12 minutes into the game, but Rinne smothered John Moore’s wrister from the slot. Nico Hischier managed four shots on net, but few of his teammates were dangerous against the Predators’ strong defense. The result gave Nashville a point in eight straight games, six of which have been wins, and allowed it to tie Winnipeg for first place in the Central Division. Meanwhile, the Devils dropped their fourth straight game. Appleby made 24 saves in his first NHL start, necessitated by a groin injury that sidelined regular starter Cory Schneider. Appleby appeared in two previous games in a relief role, stopping all 28 shots he faced. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "BURR RIDGE, Ill., Jan. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Wireless Information Networks (WIN), a leading distributed antenna systems (DAS) and smart building integrator, announced two promotions today: Andrew Maier to president and Brian Hough to vice president of sales. The two will provide strategic guidance as WIN continues to evolve the enterprise market and engage new verticals. Maier began his career at WIN as a radio frequency technician 17 years ago. After a strong start, a move into operations started him on the path to the leadership role he now holds. As president, Maier will run the day-to-day operations of the organization and focus on business growth, particularly directing the creation of multiple design and funding options for prospects. Like Maier, Hough has been in the industry for 17 years, but came on board at WIN in 2017. Previously, he was senior VP of sales and marketing for RF Industries, focusing on demand creation and new product development for emerging markets. As WIN's vice president of sales, Hough will focus on leading the expansion into new verticals and structuring the company for scalability. \"Maier and Hough represent what we're most proud of as an organization: deep expertise in the industry and a flexible, forward-looking perspective,\" said CEO Thomas Crotty. \"My new role, with Andrew at the helm as president, will be to grow WIN inorganically via mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures. Both Maier and Hough have already contributed greatly to our company's growth and evolution, especially recently, and I look forward to watching the company continue to progress under their leadership.\" For more information about WIN and its DAS solutions, visit winconnectivity.com or call 630.325.6254. About Wireless Information Networks WIN is the nation's leading provider of indoor distributed antenna system (DAS) solutions for high-rises. For nearly 20 years, WIN has solved connectivity challenges for major mobile network carriers and enterprises up to 20,000 employees. They are experts at helping clients overcome radio frequency (RF) obstructions and customizing DAS solutions for enhanced cellular technologies. They are the only provider who offers a 100% guarantee of ubiquitous coverage in the segments they are hired to address. Learn more at winconnectivity.com View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Wireless Information Networks" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 10:13 AM / Updated 9 hours ago German car suppliers could lose thousands of jobs over hard Brexit - study Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BERLIN (Reuters) - A so-called “hard Brexit” involving tariffs and a lasting devaluation of the pound could cause thousands of job losses at German automotive suppliers, a study by accounting firm Deloitte showed. FILE PHOTO: Worker moves a new Audi R8 car body in the automotive welding and assembly lines hall of the German car manufacturer's plant in Neckarsulm July 3, 2013. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle An arrangement where Britain gives up full access to the single market and customs union could threaten as many as 14,000 jobs at automotive suppliers in Germany and shrink their sales by 3.8 billion euros (£3.36 billion), the study published on Thursday found. Britain will leave the European Union in 2019. Germany is the largest exporter of car parts to the UK, with companies such as Continental ( CONG.DE ) and Robert Bosch providing nearly a fifth of all components used in UK-based car production. Some 42,500 jobs in Germany depend on suppliers’ ties with Britain and German parts makers generated 16.9 billion euros in sales in 2016 from UK car production, a study by global accounting firm Deloitte published on Thursday showed. “Trade barriers emerging in the course of Brexit such as tariffs or regulation would considerably harm supply chains and raise the costs for suppliers,” Thomas Schiller, head of automotive at Deloitte, said. Reporting by Andreas Cremer; Editing by Catherine Evans" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 8(Reuters) - Shenzhen Sunwin Intelligent Co Ltd * Says co’s Hefei-based wholly owned intelligent unit plans to invest 52 million yuan in Anhui-based construction engineering firm (target firm) * Says unit will hold 51 percent stake in target firm after transaction, up from 0 percent Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/DSLMmt Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Jan. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNOB) (the “Company” or “ConnectOne”), parent company of ConnectOne Bank (the “Bank”), today announced that it plans to release results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017 before the market opens on Thursday, January 25, 2018. Management will also host a conference call and audio webcast at 10:00 a.m. ET on January 25, 2018 to review the Company's financial performance and operating results. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frank Sorrentino III and Chief Financial Officer William S. Burns will host the call. The conference call dial-in number is 719-457-2620, access code 1979139. Please dial in at least five minutes before the start of the call to register. An audio webcast of the conference call will be available to the public, on a listen-only basis, via the \"Shareholders\" link on the Company's website www.ConnectOneBank.com or at . A replay of the conference call will be available beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 25, 2018 and ending on Thursday, February 1, 2018 by dialing 719-457-0820, access code 1979139. An online archive of the webcast will be available following the completion of the conference call at www.ConnectOneBank.com or at . About ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. ConnectOne is a New Jersey corporation and a registered bank holding company pursuant to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and serves as the holding company for ConnectOne Bank (\"the Bank\"). The Bank is a community-based, full-service New Jersey-chartered commercial bank that was founded in 2005. The Bank operates from its headquarters located at 301 Sylvan Avenue in the Borough of Englewood Cliffs, Bergen County, New Jersey, and through its 20 other banking offices. For more information visit . Investor Contact: William S. Burns Executive VP & CFO 201.816.4474; [REDACTED] Media Contact: Jake Ciorciari, MWWPR 646.376.7042; [REDACTED] Source:ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 9:55 AM / Updated 40 minutes ago Russian military helicopter crashes in Syria, killing two - agencies Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian military MI-24 helicopter crashed in Syria on Dec. 31 due to a technical fault, killing both pilots, Russian news agencies cited the Ministry of Defence as saying on Wednesday. The helicopter crashed en route to the Hama air base, RIA news said, citing the ministry. Writing by Polina Ivanova; Editing by Alison Williams" + }, + { + "text": "BRASILIA, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s cut Brazil’s credit rating on Thursday as doubts grew about the result of a presidential election in October and a push to trim its costly pension system, seen as vital to closing a huge fiscal deficit. S&P lowered its long-term rating for Brazil sovereign debt to BB- from BB previously, with a stable outlook, citing less timely and effective policymaking. S&P also said there was a risk of greater policy uncertainty after this year’s elections. The decision underscored concerns that a business-friendly reform agenda proposed by the unpopular President Michel Temer may stall this year as a looming presidential race shortens the legislative calendar. Brazilian Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles had met with ratings agencies to try and stave off a downgrade after the government delayed to February a vote on pension reform that had initially been expected last year. The move by S&P brings its long-term sovereign rating for Brazil three notches below investment grade. Brazil is rated Ba2 by Moody’s Investors Service and BB by Fitch Ratings -- both two notches into “junk” territory. The S&P downgrade “is a negative development but it was expected, particularly after pension reform was delayed. It’s not breaking news for markets,” said Goldman Sachs economist Alberto Ramos in by telephone. A spokesman for Brazil’s central bank declined to comment. The finance ministry did not immediately comment. “This was already on the horizon as a possibility, given the process around the pension vote,” said Wellington Moreira Franco, secretary-general for President Michel Temer’s office. “I think it’s a warning of the economic and social consequences of not approving pension reform.” (Reporting by Jake Spring and Lisandra Paraguassu; Additional reporting by Bruno Federowski in Sao Paulo and Kanika Sikka in Bengaluru; Editing by Brad Haynes and Sandra Maler) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30(Reuters) - Beijing Tianli Mobile Service Integration Inc * Sees to swing to net loss at 22.7 million yuan to 27.2 million yuan in FY 2017 versus net profit at 15.1 million yuan year ago * Says decreased income from MAS business and litigation compensation are the main reasons for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/ddtG2x Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 7, 2018 / 9:13 PM / Updated 6 minutes ago Syrian army breaks siege of army base near Damascus: state media Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria’s army has broken the siege of an army base encircled by opposition forces on the eastern outskirts of Damascus, state-run al-Ikhbariya TV reported on Sunday. Last Sunday, rebels, mainly belonging to the Islamist Ahrar al Sham faction, widened their control of parts of the Military Vehicles Administration base in the Eastern Ghouta town of Harasta. The army, backed by Russian jets, launched an offensive to break the siege and liberate at least 200 troops who were believed to be trapped within its sprawling, heavily defended grounds. Reporting by Kinda Makieh; Editing by Alison Williams" + }, + { + "text": "January 21, 2018 / 5:51 PM / Updated 27 minutes ago Colombian negotiator returning to Ecuador for talks with ELN rebels Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BOGOTA (Reuters) - The Colombian government’s head negotiator at peace talks with the ELN rebel group will return to Ecuador to seek a new ceasefire, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said on Sunday, after being recalled to Bogota following a surge in guerrilla attacks. The National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group and the government have been in formal peace talks for nearly a year, but the guerrillas launched a new offensive this month, killing security force members, bombing major oil pipelines and kidnapping an oil contractor after the expiration of a 101-day ceasefire. In response to the renewed attacks, Santos recalled Gustavo Bell, the head of the government’s team at the Quito talks, to discuss the future of the negotiations. “Gustavo Bell will travel to Quito to explore the possibility of a new ceasefire that will allow a continuation of peace negotiations with the ELN,” Santos said on Twitter. United Nations Secretary General António Guterres called on the two sides to return to the talks during a visit to Colombia this month. The ELN is considered hardline in its ideology and was not known for compromise during past attempts at peace. Inspired by the Cuban revolution and the Liberation Theology beliefs of the Catholic priests who founded it in 1964, the 2,000-strong ELN has sought an end to the war before, holding talks in Cuba and Venezuela between 2002 and 2007. Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe" + }, + { + "text": "Bulls charge into Hanesbrands & this airline. Plus, a trade update on a stock that's soared 1 Hour Ago \"Halftime Report\" trader Pete Najarian spots unusual activity in Hanesbrands and Delta. Plus, a trade update on Juno Therapeutics, which is up more than 90% since he saw unusual in the name last month." + }, + { + "text": "Tom Brady is going to live forever. Of this, we are almost certain. The handsome man is 40 years old, coming off his fifth Super Bowl title, and just submitted another MVP season in leading the New England Patriots to the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Brady has poreless skin, an Olympian’s body fat, and a beautiful family which looks like the families in the photos that come with a new wallet. He remains the best quarterback in the NFL, even though he is older than Alan Alda was when Alan Alda scrubbed in on “M*A*S*H.” ... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Chinese telecommunications equipment companies Huawei [HWT.UL] and ZTE, which face strong political headwinds in the United States, sharply cut lobbying expenditures last year, according to fourth-quarter spending disclosures. Despite the cuts, Huawei in particular has continued to sponsor telecom conferences and spread money around in other ways they are not required to disclose. Huawei Technology Cos Ltd spent $50,000 in 2017, down from $348,500 in 2016 and the $1.2 million it spent in 2012, the same year it first registered that it was lobbying, according to its spending disclosure made on Friday to the U.S. Senate. Huawei, which makes handsets and networking equipment, and handset maker ZTE Corp have been struggling to sell more of their products in the United States but have run into criticism that their presence in the U.S. telecom network would raise national security concerns. Both are named in legislation that would bar any U.S. company that uses their technology from bidding on American government contracts. [nL1N1PB08Q] FILE PHOTO: People stand at ZTE's booth during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 27, 2017. REUTERS/Paul Hanna/File Photo ZTE’s reduction in lobbying expenditures was not quite as sharp as Huawei‘s. The company spent $90,000 for the fourth quarter of 2017, the same as the second and third quarters but sharply down from the $240,000 spent in the first quarter, according to its filing. It spent $130,000 to $250,000 every quarter from 2014 to late 2015. Given the bad press that Russia and China are getting, it makes sense for Huawei and ZTE to bide their time, said Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia. “I think they made a rational decision not to waste their money,” said Sabato. “This is not a good time for any foreign company to make an argument for entry when national security experts disagree.” Huawei has continued to spend money wooing potential customers around the world, for example sponsoring two Norwegian sports teams and providing equipment for the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. In the United States this year, Huawei is a top sponsor of the NFV & Carrier SDN conference in Colorado in September for wireless, internet and data companies. It is also a top sponsor of the Open Source Convention in Oregon in July, a Big Communications Event in Austin in May and an RSA Conference on network security in San Francisco in April, according to websites for the conferences. Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Jonathan Oatis" + }, + { + "text": "ST. LOUIS, Jan. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Bamboo Equity Partners, a leading real estate investor of office and industrial properties based in St. Louis, announced today the latest acquisition by the Bamboo Micro Opportunity Fund I, L.P. The fund will acquire 11960 Westline Industrial Drive, an office property located near Westport Plaza in Maryland Heights, MO. Bamboo plans to attract strategic tenants to increase the 72% occupancy rate and update the property for energy efficiency. Current building tenants include Lindenwood University, professional staffing service YOH, and Kantar Health. \"Bamboo is very excited about this acquisition in the Westport Plaza area,\" said Principal Dan Dokovic in a recent interview. \"With its proximity to highways and the airport, and considering the surge in investment we've seen in Maryland Heights, the building on Westline represents a great opportunity for our fund and for potential tenants.\" While 11960 Westline will be the first acquisition in Maryland Heights for Bamboo Micro Opportunity Fund I, L.P, Bamboo Equity Partners has made numerous Westport acquisitions over the last ten years. The 93,000 square foot, three-story office building was built in 1971. It enjoys close proximity to major highways I-270, I-70 and the Page Extension, as well as Highway 141 and Lindbergh Blvd. Visibility to Page Avenue exposes the building to traffic estimated at 67,651 vehicles per day. Westport Plaza, formerly a restaurant and entertainment spot in St. Louis County, has been revitalized as a focus of corporate activity including a new $75 million World Wide Technology headquarters. As a city, Maryland Heights has made nearly a $100 million investment in infrastructure in recent years, and the corporate real estate market has responded. Worldwide Technology completed its new global headquarters in 2017 and Edward Jones continues to expand its flagship campus. According to the most recent Co-Star Quarterly Report, office vacancy in the Maryland Heights/I-270 market is 4.4%. \"The fundamentals of the area are strong, especially for a regional headquarters. The St. Louis area has a large and qualified workforce available for a variety of industries,\" said Dokovic. A third acquisition in the Micro Opportunity Fund is expected next month. Last year, the fund acquired 10777 Sunset Office Dr., a medical office building with prestige healthcare tenants in Sunset Hills, MO. Bamboo Equity Partners is a team of real estate professionals positioned to acquire undervalued multi-tenant office, and industrial assets. The return objective for Bamboo is a risk-adjusted return in the mid-teens to mid-twenties. Find out more at www.bambooequity.com . Contact: Alice Benner, Managing Director T: 314.744.8998 View original content: SOURCE Bamboo Equity Partners" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK What do you get when you cross the feverish world of crypto-currencies and a faded industrial icon desperate for a new lease on life? The answer, provided Tuesday by Eastman Kodak, is KodakCoin. The iconic company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2012 after fumbling the shift to digital images. Now it’s betting its future on digital currencies with an initial coin offering designed to help photographers sell their work. The crypto buzz more than doubled its stock, but it’s unlikely to do anything like the same to the company’s sales or profit. The Rochester, New York-based company emerged from bankruptcy in 2013 relieved of much of its debts and patents. It refocused around digital printing, packaging and a legacy film business that’s a shadow of the glory days when Paul Simon had a hit song rhapsodizing about Kodachrome. None of those has caught on. Sales fell by a third in the first three years after bankruptcy. They dropped another 8 percent in the first three quarters of 2017, to $1.1 billion, and the bottom line dipped into the red. The company’s market cap, nearly $30 billion at its peak in the late 1990s, fell to just $135 million early this week. The announcement of the planned blockchain platform and initial coin offering changed the stock’s trajectory on the day. Kodak is just the latest to see the potential halo effect of crypto-currencies after bitcoin soared some 14-fold in 2017. In December, stock in tiny Long Island Iced Tea tripled after it renamed itself Long Blockchain. Startups raised more than $3 billion with ICOs last year, led by Filecoin, a blockchain data-storage network that raked in $257 million. Yet the field is growing crowded. ICO Alert lists roughly 80 offerings currently in the market and a similar number planning to launch in the next two months. Kodak Chief Executive Jeffrey Clarke will take whatever he can get. The company has been looking for assets to sell to pay down some of its $845 million in debt, according to Eikon data. A blockchain platform could give photographers a better way to license their images and receive payment. But it’s hard to see how that will reverse Kodak’s decades-long decline." + }, + { + "text": "UPDATE 1-Toys \"R\" Us says to shut a fifth of its U.S. stores Published 12:06 AM ET Wed, 24 Jan 2018 Reuters (Adds details on closure timing, background) Jan 23 (Reuters) - Toys \"R\" Us Inc said on Tuesday it will shut about one-fifth of its stores in the United States in the coming months, as the toy store chain tries to emerge from one of the largest ever bankruptcies by a specialty retailer. The closure of about 180 U.S. stores will begin in early February and continue until mid-April, Chief Executive David Brandon said in a letter on its website. The company filed for bankruptcy protection just ahead of the crucial holiday season in the U.S. and Canada to restructure $5 billion of long-term debt, casting doubt over the future of its 64,000 employees and nearly 1,600 stores. All 83 Toys \"R\" Us stores in Canada will remain open, said president of the Canadian unit, Melanie Teed-Murch, in a letter to customers. Toys 'R' Us, which like other traditional brick-and-mortar retailers has struggled as more and more consumers shop online, is taking steps to try and entice customers to its stores. The retailer planned to close unprofitable locations and improve its website and loyalty programs while investing in its stores, according to bankruptcy court papers. Toys \"R\" Us, which also operates the Babies 'R' Us chain, has set aside more than $400 million out of its$3.1 billion in bankruptcy loans for sprucing up about 900 stores over the next three years with more experiences and better-paid staff. As the Wayne, New Jersey-based company aims to exit bankruptcy in 2018, its efforts to reinvent its stores will shape how other retailers look to experiential shopping to tackle e-commerce. (Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Bengaluru; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—Federal agents have issued a subpoena to former presidential adviser Steve Bannon, who plans to fully cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, a person close to Mr. Bannon said. FBI agents arrived last week at Mr. Bannon’s home in Washington, D.C.’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, where the now estranged confidant of President Donald Trump referred them to William Burck, an attorney he had hired hours earlier to represent him in a separate House Intelligence... RELATED VIDEO The Trump-Bannon Rift: What Are the Implications? President Trump and his onetime chief strategist Steve Bannon are feuding over revelations from a new book in which Mr. Bannon is quoted as saying that a 2016 meeting in Trump Tower between Donald Trump Jr. and some Russian representatives was \"treasonous.\" WSJ's Gerald F. Seib explains the implications of the rift. Photo: Getty" + }, + { + "text": "Kabul mourns more than 100 dead after ambulance bomb Sunday, January 28, 2018 - 01:22 Kabul was in despair on Sunday, a day after a Taliban suicide bomber killed more than 100 people and wounded at least 235 in the worst attack in the Afghan capital in months. Kabul was in despair on Sunday, a day after a Taliban suicide bomber killed more than 100 people and wounded at least 235 in the worst attack in the Afghan capital in months. //reut.rs/2no7Zc7" + }, + { + "text": "VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Jan. 30, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. (NASDAQ:WHLR) (“Wheeler” or the “Company”), a fully-integrated, self-managed commercial real estate investment company focused on acquiring and managing income-producing retail properties with a primary focus on grocery-anchored centers, today reported that the Board of Directors has terminated Jon S. Wheeler as the Company’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. In addition, Mr. Wheeler resigned his position from the Board of Directors. Effectively immediately, the Board of Directors named David Kelly as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Kelly has over 28 years of experience in the real estate industry. Mr. Kelly joined the Company in 2013 and served as Senior Vice President, Director of Acquisitions for the Company, and most recently as the Chief Investment Officer. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Kelly served as a Principal with Kelly Development, LLC, a real estate development firm he founded in March 2011, which specializes in the acquisition and management of retail properties in the Mid-Atlantic region. From 1998 to 2011, Mr. Kelly served as the Director of Real Estate for Supervalu, Inc., a Fortune 100 supermarket retailer. Mr. Kelly has served as a director of the Company since 2011. About Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. Headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA, Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. is a fully-integrated, self-managed commercial real estate investment company focused on acquiring and managing income-producing retail properties with a primary focus on grocery-anchored centers. Wheeler’s portfolio contains well-located, potentially dominant retail properties in secondary and tertiary markets that generate attractive risk-adjusted returns, with a particular emphasis on grocery-anchored retail centers. Additional information about Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. can be found at the Company’s corporate website: www.whlr.us . CONTACT: Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. Laura Nguyen Director of Investor Relations (757) 627-9088 [REDACTED] Source:Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV said on Friday it was recalling more than 162,000 2017 Chrysler Pacifica minivans because a software glitch may cause the vehicles to stall. The Italian-American automaker said one accident had potentially been linked to the defect. Under a rare set of conditions, a vehicle’s engine control module may incorrectly assess the engine’s operating status and cause it to stall, Fiat Chrysler said. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Tom Brown)" + }, + { + "text": "20 AM / Updated 3 minutes ago Philippines suspends work at call centre of U.S. firm, mall after deadly fire Reuters Staff 2 Min Read MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines has suspended operations of a shopping mall and a call centre run by a U.S. firm where a fire killed 38 people, citing failure to fully comply with fire safety requirements for five successive years. A view of a mall after it was gutted by a fire in Davao city, Philippines, December 29, 2017. REUTERS/Lean Daval Jr Investigators looking into the Dec. 23 blaze in Davao City, which broke out at a furniture and fabric store on a lower floor before engulfing the call centre’s offices, said there were indications of fire safety lapses that may have contributed to the tragedy. Charito Plaza, director-general of the government’s Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), said the agency has suspended the registration of the New City Commercial Centre (NCCC) and American firm Research Now SSI in Davao for failing to meet certain safety requirements since 2013. “Violations were more of the non-compliance of annual emergency drills to test the fire safety equipment, response and rescue capability, sprinklers and emergency exits,” Plaza told Reuters in a text message. The suspension took effect on Dec. 29, which meant NCC and SSI, will be barred from any further expansion in the Philippines. NCCC could not immediately be reached for comment. An SSI official declined to comment and referred Reuters to its legal representative. SSI employed 500 people at the Davao call centre and since the fire said it would not comment until after investigations were concluded. NCCC has insisted it had met safety requirements. Four fire officials being questioned over the blaze have been relieved of their duties after initial findings from a probe showed they have “some liabilities” a government investigator said on Monday. Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by Martin Petty and Michael Perry" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30(Reuters) - Zhongxin Information Development Inc Ltd Shanghai * Sees FY 2017 net profit to increase by 13.3 percent to 23.3 percent, or to be 34 million yuan to 37 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 30 million yuan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/j8idLG Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "There was no malice in Warren Buffett 's prediction that the craze over bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies won't end well , CNBC's Jim Cramer said Wednesday. Earlier in the day, the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway told CNBC that he would \"never have a position in\" cryptocurrencies and said he believes \"that they will come to a bad ending.\" \"He doesn't know when it's going to crash, but he didn't say it was a fraud,\" Cramer said on \" Squawk on the Street .\" \"But he basically told you what a lot of the people at the network were trying to do. Not hurt people. He didn't want to hurt people.\" Buffett isn't afraid to say what he thinks, Cramer said. Buffett's comments came a day after J.P. Morgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon backpedaled on his earlier criticisms of cryptocurrencies. In September, Dimon called bitcoin a fraud. Cramer also has been critical of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, telling investors last month that they should be a little more careful and know the risks. \"I'm not denying the cryptoworld, I'm supporting the cryptoworld. I think that crypto is great. ... But I think we have to be a little more careful,\" he said in December. On Wednesday, Cramer said he's \"a believer in anything because it trades.\" \"But if we're going to start saying if bitcoin comes down, we got to get out of stocks — that doesn't ... it just doesn't compute to me,\" said Cramer, host of \" Mad Money .\" ALSO WATCH: Warren Buffett: Cryptocurrency will come to a bad ending show chapters Warren Buffett: Cryptocurrency will come to a bad ending 42 Mins Ago | 01:28 Morning Squawk: CNBC's before the bell news roundup Sign up to get Morning Squawk each weekday Job Industry Advertising/Marketing Automotive Communications/PR Construction/Manufacturing Education Finance/Banking/Insurance Legal Media/Entertainment Medical/Health Care Mining/Oil/Gas/Utilities Gov't/Non-Profit Real Estate Retail Technology/IT Transportation/Shipping Travel/Hospitality Other Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about about our products and service. Privacy Policy . Submit Please enter a valid email address Disclaimer" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 5:40 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Facebook, Sony/ATV sign music licensing deal Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Sony/ATV said on Monday it signed a licensing agreement with Facebook Inc that will allow the social media platform’s users to upload and share videos from the music publishing company’s catalog on Facebook and Instagram. The multi-year deal will allow artists associated with Sony/ATV — whose catalog includes Bob Dylan, Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran — to earn royalties from the use of their music on the social media platforms. Facebook’s deal with Sony/ATV follows a similar deal with Universal Music Group in December, to retain users and attract advertisers. Reporting by Sonam Rai in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta" + }, + { + "text": "Tech Guide Akamai jumps on report of a strategic review by Morgan Stanley Shares of cloud service provider Akamai jumped Tuesday on a report of a strategic review by Morgan Stanley. SHARES Source: Akamai Shares of cloud service provider Akamai jumped Tuesday on a Bloomberg report of a strategic review by Morgan Stanley. The stock rose as much as 5 percent in afternoon trading. Akamai saw a similar bump in December on news that Elliott Management had bought a 6.5 percent stake in the company. The hedge fund at the time indicated it would push the company to curtail wasteful spending and to improve what it deemed poor strategic planning for expanding into new markets, sources told Reuters. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates." + }, + { + "text": "The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on jobs has become a hot topic of debate with gloomy headlines predicting that it will replace millions of jobs in the next decade. CNBC spoke to chief executives at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, for their take on workplaces in the future and what effect AI will have on labor markets. \"I understand fully that people are very concerned because they really don't know what the future brings for them personally,\" Ulrich Speisshofer, the chief executive of ABB, told a CNBC-hosted panel on \"The Future of Work\" on Wednesday. \"But if you look at the facts I think we can all be a little bit more relaxed. In 1990, one-third of mankind lived below the extreme poverty line and today, it's 8 percent. And that development has been made possible through the adaptation of technology in many parts of the world, like China and India.\" One of the main fears regarding AI is that robots are going to take over millions of jobs. One report, by McKinsey & Company in November, indicated that by 2030, as many as 800 million workers worldwide could be replaced at work by robots. But Speisshofer said the countries where \"robot density\" was high — Germany, South Korea and Japan, all with more than 300 robots per 10,000 workers — have the lowest unemployment rates. \"So it's not about technology replacing people, it's about technology augmenting people and creating wealth and prosperity... so the uncertainty is clear, people don't know what's coming, so we need to take the people with us, we need to make sure we educate and train people.\" Bill McDermott, chief executive of SAP, said the future of work was one of \"augmented humanity.\" \"We should be optimistic. We see augmented humanity as the opportunity. It's there to enrich our lives, not take anything away from us,\" he said. Mindset, not skillset AI is fast-becoming a feature in the workplace, according to a report by software services company Infosys. The survey of 1,000 \"chief experience officers and IT decision makers\" who were responsible for the deployment of AI technology within their companies showed that a majority were confident that using AI offered \"measurable benefits\" and that employees could be trained for the new job roles that AI would create in their firms. Mark Weinberger, chief executive of EY, said AI was likely to bring disruption, but that was part of an evolution in the skillset demanded by employers. \"I do agree that in the long-term everything's going to be great... but there's a lot of disruption that's going to happen as we get from point A to point B,\" he said. Weinberger said the skills needed in the future were going to be \"extremely different.\" \"If you think of people in a factory, at one point they had to be moving boxes around, now they have to operate robots,\" he said. EY hired 65,000 people in 2017 and would do the same in 2018, Weinberger said, adding that the company hired now \"for the mindset not the skillset.\" \"I tell people in universities that, 'You are going to have a job that doesn't exist today, using technology that hasn't been invented yet, to solve a problem that we don't know what it is yet,'\" he said. \"What are you learning in school that's going to prepare you for that? Nothing, except the adaptability of your mindset.\"" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 12:05 AM / Updated 5 hours ago 'Jackpotting' hackers steal over $1 million from ATMs across U.S. - Secret Service Dustin Volz 3 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A coordinated group of hackers likely tied to international criminal syndicates has pilfered more than $1 million by hijacking ATM machines across the United States and forcing them to spit out bills like slot machines dispensing a jackpot, a senior U.S. Secret Service official said on Monday. Within the past few days there have been about a half-dozen successful “jackpotting” attacks, the official said. The heists, which involve hacking ATMs to rapidly shoot out torrents of cash, have been observed across the United States spanning from the Gulf Coast in the southern part of the country to the New England region in the northeast, Matthew O‘Neill, a special agent in the criminal investigations division, told Reuters in an interview. The spate of attacks represented the first widespread jackpotting activity in the United States, O‘Neill said. Previous campaigns have been spotted in parts of Europe and Latin America in recent years. “It was just a matter of time until it hit our shores,” O‘Neill said. Diebold Nixdorf Incand NCR Corp, two of the world’s largest ATM makers, warned last week that cyber criminals are targeting ATMs with tools needed to carry out jackpotting schemes. The Diebold Nixdorf alert described steps that criminals had used to compromise ATMs. They include gaining physical access, replacing the hard drive and using an industrial endoscope to depress an internal button required to reset the device. A confidential U.S. Secret Service alert seen by Reuters and sent to banks on Friday said machines running XP were more vulnerable and encouraged ATM operators to update to Windows 7 to protect against the attack, which appeared to be targeting ATMs typically located in pharmacies, big box retailers and drive-throughs. While initial intelligence suggested only ATMs running on outdated Windows XP software were being targeted, the Secret Service has seen successful attacks within the past 48 hours on machines running updated Windows 7, O‘Neil said. “There isn’t one magic solution to solve the problem,” he said. A local electronic crimes task force in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area first reported an unsuccessful jackpotting attempt last week, O‘Neill said. A few days later another local partner witnessed similar activity and “developed intelligence” that indicated a sustained, coordinated attack was likely to occur over the next two weeks, O‘Neill said. He declined to say where that partner was located. Jackpotting has been rising worldwide in recent years, though it is unclear how much cash has been stolen because victims and police often do not disclose details. Reporting by Dustin Volz in Washington, D.C.; Editing by David Gregorio" + }, + { + "text": "A Russian military aircraft engaged \"in an unsafe interaction\" with a U.S. Navy surveillance plane in international airspace, the U.S. State Department said. The incident took place over the Black Sea on Monday, the State Department said. The pilot of a Russian Su-27 fighter was \"closing to within five feet and crossing directly in front of\" the American EP-3 aircraft's flight path, department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. That caused the American surveillance plane \"to fly through the Su-27's jet wash,\" the U.S. 6th Fleet said . The intercept lasted two hours and 40 minutes, the Navy said. The Russian defense ministry said the Su-27 returned to its base after the American plane changed its course, according to Reuters, citing the Russian news agency RIA. \"While the U.S. aircraft was operating under international law, the Russian side was flagrantly violating existing agreements and international law,\" Nauert said. \"This is but the latest example of Russian military activities disregarding international norms and agreements,\" it continued. \"We call on Russia to cease these unsafe actions that increase the risk of miscalculation, danger to aircrew on both sides, and midair collisions.\"" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 11:48 AM / Updated 6 hours ago Dutch PM Rutte: Britain must clarify post-Brexit relationship Reuters Staff 2 Min Read AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Tuesday called on Britain to clarify its future relationship with key trading partners after it leaves the European Union. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the VVD Liberal party campaigns for the 2017 Dutch election in The Hague, Netherlands, March 8, 2017. REUTERS/Yves Herman Tweeting after a meeting with EU negotiator Michel Barnier, Rutte said: “It is essential that UK clarifies its position on our future relationship. Transition period important to minimize impact on citizens and businesses.” The Netherlands is one of the top EU trading partners with Britain and a disorderly departure from the trading bloc in March 2019, without a replacement trade deal, is expected to trim several percentage points off Dutch GDP. Rutte also repeated the backing of the Netherlands of Barnier as “sole EU-negotiator”. Dutch economic forecaster CPB has projected a hit to the $770 billion economy of the Netherlands of up to 2 percentage points by 2030. Analysts at the Rabobank have forecast a loss of as much as 4.25 percentage points. In a worst-case scenario, Rabobank estimated the loss for the Netherlands would be 4,000 euros (3,525 pounds) per worker by 2030, and 13,500 euros per British worker. Reporting by Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Alison Williams" + }, + { + "text": "$18 million Longboat Key, Fla. Six bedrooms, six full bathrooms, two half-baths Located in Longboat Key Club, this 12,095-square-foot home on the Gulf of Mexico has two grand staircases: One from the entrance to a two-story portico, and a curved, two-sided one from the foyer to a formal living room. The home, built in 2002, has four guest... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines has suspended clearance for Sanofi’s dengue vaccine Dengvaxia and fined the French drugmaker a symbolic $2,000 citing violations on product registration and marketing, the health secretary said on Thursday. FILE PHOTO: A logo is seen in front of the entrance at the headquarters French drugmaker Sanofi in Paris October 30, 2014. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann/File Photo Concerns over the dengue immunisation of nearly 734,000 children aged nine and above resulted in two Philippine congressional inquiries and a criminal investigation. The country ordered Sanofi to stop the sale, distribution and marketing of Dengvaxia after the company last month warned the vaccine could worsen the disease in some cases. “They were fined and their certificate of product registration was suspended,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque told Reuters. The Food and Drugs Administration of the Philippines found Sanofi violating post-marketing surveillance requirements, he said. “Sanofi Pasteur will continue to cooperate in full transparency with the Philippines FDA and is committed to comply with the Philippines laws and regulations,” a Sanofi spokesman said in an emailed statement. The government spent 3.5 billion pesos ($70 million) on a Dengvaxia public immunisation programme in 2016 to reduce the 200,000 dengue cases reported every year. ($1 = 49.8500 Philippine pesos) Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; additional reporting by Matthias Blamont; editing by Gopakumar Warrier and Jason Neely" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - COMPUGROUP MEDICAL SE: * GUIDANCE FOR 2018 * 2018 GROUP REVENUE IS EXPECTED TO BE IN RANGE OF EUR 700 MILLION TO EUR 730 MILLION * 2018 GROUP OPERATING INCOME (EBITDA) IS EXPECTED TO BE IN RANGE OF EUR 175 MILLION TO EUR 190 MILLION Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT, Jan 30 (Reuters) - The chief executive of Volkswagen said tests in which monkeys were exposed to toxic diesel fumes were “unethical and repulsive”, apologising for the misconduct of those who were responsible for the study. Volkswagen has come under fire after the New York Times reported last week that German carmakers had used an organisation called European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT) to commission the tests. The study, conducted in 2014, was designed to defend diesel following revelations that the fuel’s exhaust fumes were carcinogenic, the newspaper reported. The revelation is the latest aftershock from the VW emissions-rigging scandal, which continues to rock the auto industry. “The methods used by EUGT in the United States were wrong, they were unethical and repulsive,” Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller said at a New Year’s Reception in Brussels late on Monday, in his first public remarks on the report. “I am sorry that Volkswagen was involved in the matter as one of the sponsors of EUGT,” he added. Reuters could not confirm the details and purpose of the study and EUGT, which was dissolved last year, could not be reached for comment. EUGT received all of its funding from VW and fellow German carmakers Daimler and BMW, the New York Times said. Mueller said Volkswagen was investigating EUGT’s work and would take necessary action based on its findings. Reporting by Maria Sheahan, editing by Louise Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s main opposition party called on the government on Monday to explain why it awarded Carillion ( CLLN.L ) contracts worth nearly 2 billion pounds ($2.75 billion) after the company had posted profit warnings. Construction and services company Carillion, a major government supplier, has been in talks with creditors on a rescue plan, and ministers overseeing everything from justice to transport have been discussing how they should respond to the possible demise of the business. The Labour Party’s Jon Trickett said he wanted to know what due diligence the government had undertaken after the company issued its first profit warning and whether plans were in place to protect workers. “Alarm bells have been ringing for over six months about the state of Carillion’s finances, so the government must come forward and answer questions on exactly what due diligence measures were undertaken before awarding contracts to Carillion worth billions of taxpayers’ money,” he said in a statement. “Labour urges the government to stand ready to intervene and bring these crucial public sector contracts back in-house. The government cannot outsource its responsibility and duty of care to these workers and vital public sector projects.” Government officials have said they are keeping a close eye on the business and have contingency plans in place. But they have offered little detail and, on Saturday, Sky News said Carillion could enter administration unless the government backs a rescue plan - a headache that will stretch ministers trying to deliver Britain’s exit from the European Union. One of many private companies to run public services in Britain, Carillion is fighting to survive after contract delays and a downturn in new business prompted profit warnings and a first-half loss of more than 1 billion pounds. The company, which employs about 43,000 people, said on Friday that it was having “constructive discussions” with its creditors, rejecting suggestions that they did not like the plan put forward by the company. Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by David Goodman Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "These 100 Companies Are Leading the Way in A.I. CLICK TO ENLARGE THE GRAPHIC By Nicolas Rapp and Brian O'Keefe 7:00 AM EST Whether you fear it or embrace it, the A.I. revolution is coming—and it promises to have an enormous impact on the world economy. PwC estimates that artificial intelligence could add $15.7 trillion to global GDP by 2030. That’s a gargantuan opportunity. To identify which private companies are set to make the most of it, research firm CB Insights recently released its 2018 “A.I. 100,” a list of the most promising A.I. startups globally (grouped by sector in the graphic above). They were chosen, from a pool of over 1,000 candidates, by CB Insights’ Mosaic algorithm, based on factors like investor quality and momentum. China’s Bytedance leads in funding with $3.1 billion, but 76 of the 100 startups are U.S.-based. COMPANY" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has invited all permanent members of the U.N. Security Council as well as Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia to attend a forthcoming peace congress on Syria, the RIA news agency reported on Tuesday. Russia, a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is hosting what it has called a Syrian congress of national dialogue in the Russian city of Sochi on Jan. 29-30. Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Mark Heinrich" + }, + { + "text": "52 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago Kazakhstan oil output to rise 1 pct in 2018 to 87 mln T - energy ministry Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MOSCOW, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan will increase its oil and gas concentrate production in 2018 by 1 percent to 87 million tonnes, compared to 86.2 million tonnes the previous year, its energy ministry told Reuters on Tuesday. Oil production at its giant Kashagan oil field will rise by 33 percent to 11 million tonnes this year, the ministry said. (Reporting by Alla Afanasyeva; Writing by Polina Ivanova; Editing by Vladimir Soldatkin)" + }, + { + "text": "The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday said that it has sent letters to the CEOs of several major technology companies about their agreement to delay disclosing information about security flaws currently rocking the industry. The Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities , which were publicly revealed earlier this month, affect nearly every modern computer chip on the market. If exploited, they could make it easier for attackers to steal information stored in a wide variety of places, from personal computers to cloud services. The congressional committee sent letters to the CEOs of Apple , Amazon , AMD, Arm, Google , Intel and Microsoft. These companies have already scrambled to release updates for the affected products. Government scrutiny could add another headache and additional cost. The letters raise questions about why the companies agreed to delay disclosure, and seek to find out whether the involved companies considered how the delay might hurt other companies who were not kept in the loop. Additionally, the letters bring up the matter of when the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team was informed. \"While we acknowledge that critical vulnerabilities such as these create challenging tradeoffs between disclosure and secrecy, as premature disclosure may give malicious actors time to exploit the vulnerabilities before mitigations are developed and deployed, we believe that this situation has shown the need for additional scrutiny regarding multi-party coordinated vulnerability disclosures,\" representatives Greg Walden, Marsha Blackburn, Robert Latta and Gregg Harper wrote in their letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook. The letters ask executives to arrange to provide a briefing to staffers from the House committee by Feb. 7. \"We appreciate the questions from the Energy and Commerce Committee and welcome the opportunity to continue our dialogue with Congress on these important issues,\" an Intel spokeswoman told CNBC in an email. \"In addition to our recent meetings with legislative staff members, we have been discussing with the Committee an in-person briefing, and we look forward to that meeting.\" WATCH: Intel's 'Meltdown' sparks security concerns show chapters Intel's 'Meltdown' sparks security concerns. Here's what we know: ZeroFOX CEO 9:06 AM ET Fri, 5 Jan 2018 | 02:42" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 9:11 AM / Updated 7 hours ago IOC Q3 profit beats estimates on higher inventory gains Nidhi Verma 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Indian Oil Corp Ltd said its third-quarter profit nearly doubled, handily beating estimates, as the company booked higher inventory gains due to a sharp rise in global oil prices. Oil prices have rallied by more than 30 percent since OPEC and non-OPEC producers agreed to limit production from January 2017. Net profit surged 97 percent to 78.83 billion rupees ($1.24 billion) in the quarter ended Dec. 31, well above the average estimate of 51.49 billion rupees, Thomson Reuters data showed. bit.ly/2nnsaHG The company posted an inventory gain of 63.01 billion rupees on crude and refined products in the quarter compared with 30.51 billion rupees a year ago, said A.K. Sharma, director of finance, at a press conference on Tuesday. Average gross refining margin (GRM) improved to $8.28 per barrel in the April-December period from $7.36 per barrel in the year-ago period, the country’s top refiner said. Excluding inventory gains, the company posted GRM of $7.42 per barrel for the quarter compared to $5.10 per barrel a year ago, said Chairman Sanjiv Singh. Shares of the company rose as much as 5.7 percent, before closing up 4.2 percent in a broader Mumbai market that ended 0.73 percent lower. ($1 = 63.7300 Indian rupees) Reporting by Nidhi Verma and Jessica Kuruthukulangara; Additional reporting by Aby Jose Koilparambil in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Sunil Nair" + }, + { + "text": "Germany, ECB drive euro; stocks gain too 9:43am EST - 01:50 The euro climbs to a three-year high as German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and rival Social Democrats reach a breakthrough in coalition talks. As David Pollard reports, the single european currency had already been lifted by hawkish ECB minutes. The euro climbs to a three-year high as German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and rival Social Democrats reach a breakthrough in coalition talks. As David Pollard reports, the single european currency had already been lifted by hawkish ECB minutes. //reut.rs/2D66LNl" + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 11:16 PM / Updated 6 hours ago Nishikori withdraws from Australian Open Japan’s Kei Nishikori has pulled out of this month’s Australian Open as he continues to recover from a wrist injury, the world number 22 said on Wednesday. Tennis - Wimbledon - London, Britain - July 7, 2017 Japan’s Kei Nishikori reacts during his third round match against Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge The former U.S. Open finalist, who last year reached the fourth round of the first grand slam of the season in Melbourne, has been sidelined since August and said he still could not handle playing best-of-five-set matches. “The Aussie Open is my favourite slam... it’s my ‘home’ slam ... and it hurts that I will have to miss it this year,” Nishikori, 28, said in a statement posted on his website. “My rehab is going well but I am just not ready 100 percent to come back yet in best-of-five-set matches.” Nishikori was ninth in the world rankings before sustaining a season-ending wrist injury ahead of the Cincinnati Masters last August. He had been hoping to make his return at the season-opening Brisbane International, where he was runner-up in 2017, but withdrew from that event 11 days ago. Nishikori became the first Japanese man to reach a grand slam final at the 2014 U.S. Open but did not compete at Flushing Meadows last year because of his injury. The Australian Open will be played from Jan. 15-28. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Ed Osmond/John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 7:36 PM / Updated 26 minutes ago MOVES-Citadel hires ex-Goldman manager as commodities COO - source Reuters Staff 1 Min Read NEW YORK, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Will Evans, global franchise manager for commodities at Goldman Sachs is joining hedge fund Citadel LLC as commodities chief operating officer, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Evans will report to the head of commodities Sebastian Barrack, the source said, adding that he will start in April and be based in Chicago. Citadel’s commodities arm invests in natural gas, power, crude oil, refined products and agricultural commodities. Evans did not immediately respond to a request for comment via Linkedin. (Reporting by Devika Krishna Kumar and Catherine Ngai in New York)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - BETA SYSTEMS SOFTWARE AG: * FY CONSOLIDATED SALES AT EUR 49.8 MILLION, UP APPROX 7% YOY * FY EBIT 9.0 MILLION EUROS (YEAR AGO: 5.3 MILLION EUROS), EBITDA OF 10.8 MILLION EUROS (YEAR AGO: 6.9 MILLION EUROS) * TO PROPOSE DIVIDEND OF EUR 0.41 PER SHARE Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "NEW DELHI/MUMBAI (Reuters) - India has extended by six months an exemption to its policy for crop cargoes to be fumigated with methyl bromide, a gas once widely used as a pesticide but now banned or restricted in most parts of the world, two government officials said. The country’s plant quarantine authority had earlier said that after Dec. 31 India would only accept cargoes fumigated for pests with methyl bromide at the country of origin, threatening to disrupt supplies of pulses from Canada and wheat from Europe and the Black Sea region. India is the biggest importer of pulses, protein-rich crops that include peas and lentils. For the first half of the year India will accept cargoes not fumigated with methyl bromide in the country of origin, said one of the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media. Methyl bromide has been banned or restricted by many countries because it is considered an ozone-depleting chemical. Reporting by Mayank Bhardwaj and Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by David Goodman" + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 1:07 AM / Updated an hour ago Australian shares recover as miners rally; NZ hits record high Chris Thomas 3 Min Read Jan 3 (Reuters) - Miners gave Australian shares a jump-start on Wednesday, supported by rallying metal prices, while investors were also cheered by Wall Street’s strong start to 2018. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.2 percent, or 11 points, to 6,072.3 by 0026 GMT. The benchmark had closed marginally lower on its first day of trade in the year. “We saw pretty strong Chinese data yesterday... so commodity prices are strong, with a weak U.S. dollar, and that’s pretty positive for resources,” said Mathan Somasundaram, market portfolio strategist at Blue Ocean Equities. Growth in China’s manufacturing sector unexpectedly picked up to a four-month high in December as factories cranked up production to meet a surge in new orders, a private business survey showed on Tuesday. U.S. stocks rose in the first session of the new year and the Nasdaq closed above 7,000 for the first time on Tuesday as investors were optimistic that 2018 will bring more gains for the market. In Australia, bellwethers of the mining sector led the climb, with BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto gaining 2.3 percent to 2.4 percent, respectively. BHP rose to its highest level since May 2015 and was headed for its seventh straight session of gains, while Rio clocked a near six-and-a-half year high and looked set to post its 11th session in positive territory. Chinese steel futures rose on the first trading day of the new year, while London copper was pushed higher on bets that demand in top consumer China will improve in 2018. The Australian metals and mining index rallied for a 15th consecutive session, rising 2 percent to its best position in nearly five years. Strong gold prices drove miners of the metal higher, with the gold index touching its best level in over a year. Meanwhile, shares of Insurance Australia Group Ltd posted its sharpest drop in four weeks after the company cut its catastrophe reinsurance coverage for the 2018 calendar year. New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index ushered in the new year with a bang, with dairy and industrial stocks pushing the bourse to a record high on its first day of trade in 2018. The index posted a 22 percent gain in 2017 - its best year since 2012, largely carried by solid gains in dairy company A2 Milk, which climbed 278.9 percent in its strongest ever year. A2 Milk rose 2.5 percent to a four-week high on Wednesday, while Auckland International Airport Ltd logged its biggest intraday percentage gain in more than two weeks. (Reporting by Chris Thomas in Bengaluru; Editing by Sam Holmes)" + }, + { + "text": "January 14, 2018 / 12:10 AM / Updated 4 minutes ago Sturgeon sees \"golden\" chance to argue for UK to remain in single market Elisabeth O'Leary 3 Min Read EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon said on Sunday there was a “golden opportunity” to argue for Britain to remain in the European single market after Brexit, as no-one had yet demonstrated the benefit of loosening trade ties with the EU. FILE PHOTO: Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon arrives to offer her reaction to the attack in Manchester to journalists in Edinburgh, Britain May 23, 2017. REUTERS/David Cheskin/Pool/File Photo Before publishing a study of the economic impact of Brexit on Scotland on Monday, Sturgeon, whose nationalist SNP runs the devolved Scottish government, said there was no alternative to EU membership that could deliver the same economic benefits. She said Prime Minister Theresa May must defend whatever trade option the UK government chose to pursue with hard evidence, damaging the economy as little as possible. “There is zero credible evidence to suggest leaving the Single Market will bring any benefit to our economy. Indeed, as our analysis will show – the harder the Brexit, the worse will be the outcome,” Sturgeon said. May is preparing for the start of talks about Britain’s trade relationship with the EU once it is no longer a member. Agreeing a united stance has been made harder by infighting in May’s cabinet and Conservative Party over their vision for the new relationship with the EU, while the biggest opposition party, Labour, is also split on the best way forward. Speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Marr, Sturgeon again urged for Labour to sign up for Britain to remain in the single market, but leader Jeremy Corbyn said membership of the market was dependent on being a member of the EU. “So I don’t quite understand why she would keep saying join the single market when leaving the EU means you leave the single market,” Corbyn told the ITV’s Peston on Sunday programme. “You have to make a special relationship with the EU,” he said, adding that there were “aspects of the single market” he would want to challenge such as state aid rules. May has said she is targeting the closest possible economic ties with the EU after Brexit to reduce future problems for companies, but also wants to reduce immigration and restore sovereignty by ending the jurisdiction of the European court. The British government has also said it is seeking a one-size-fits-all Brexit that would suit all parts of the UK, ruling out the possibility of a second referendum on independence, a vote Sturgeon said she would be able to have a view on by the end of the year. But Sturgeon’s party says continued single market membership would be the option that best reflects the fact that a majority of Scots vote in the 2016 referendum to stay in the EU. “(Those defending Brexit) have completely failed to explain how their approach could even remotely come close to replacing the enormous lost trade and investment,” Sturgeon said. “That means there is now a golden opportunity for those moderate voices who are making the case for Scotland and the UK to remain in the single market.” additional reporting by Elizabeth Piper in London; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Raissa Kasolowsky" + }, + { + "text": "BRUSSELS, Jan 10 (Reuters) - The Belgian state could float part of its holding in retail bank Belfius on the stock market between April and June, the country’s finance minister told public broadcaster VRT in an interview shown on Wednesday. Belfius, the Belgian retail arm of bailed-out lender Dexia , was nationalised by Belgium in 2011 when France, Belgium and Luxembourg had to come to the aid of the group caught up in the credit crunch. “June would be an ideal moment. I think the end of April also still is not excluded, but then things have to move fast,” Finance Minister Johan Van Overtveldt told VRT television. Belgium business daily De Tijd reported on Wednesday that Citigroup, JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch and UBS had been tasked with leading the initial public offering (IPO) of a 25-35 percent stake in the bank. (Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek; editing by Philip Blenkinsop) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 12:03 AM / in 13 minutes UK new car sales record biggest drop since 2009 Costas Pitas 3 Min Read LONDON, Jan 5 (Reuters) - British new car sales recorded their biggest drop since 2009 last year, falling by more than 5 percent due to uncertainty over potential new diesel charges and weakening consumer confidence since Brexit, an industry body said on Friday. Registrations ended 2017 at around 2.54 million vehicles, according to provisional data, and are set to fall up to 7 percent this year, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. Demand for diesel cars fell 17 percent as consumers were put off by potential new charges, pushing up average CO2 emissions for new cars for the first time in two decades as some switched to petrol. Last year’s drop in total sales is the biggest since demand nosedived in 2009 in the wake of the financial crisis, but comes after two years of record highs in 2015 and 2016. Sales in December fell 13.9 percent and SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said further declines were likely over the next few months. “The two main reasons are business-led and consumer confidence and the confusion around diesel which has caused hold-off,” he said of last year’s fall. “The first quarter is going to be tough and March (last year) in particular was an all-time record month. We ain’t going to get that next March.” Britain’s automotive sector is also concerned its cars could face tariffs of up to 10 percent and be hit by customs delays if the government fails to strike the right Brexit deal. There are investment decisions which are pending as companies await clarification on the terms of a transitional deal which will bridge Britain’s exit from the EU in March 2019 into a new relationship with the bloc, Hawes said. “Some of those decisions are overdue, they need clarity urgently and certainly the turn of the first quarter is what they have been saying to me,” he said. Honda is one of several carmakers considering contingency plans involving possible extra warehousing and stockpiling of parts and has said it needs clarity by March on a transitional deal. Hawes said any additional cost borne by British plants could hit the sector. “That’s the thin end of the wedge ... How do you secure that next piece of investment when you’re less competitive because you’ve got to warehouse?” (Editing by Mark Potter)" + }, + { + "text": "SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of The Macerich Company (NYSE: MAC) declared a quarterly cash dividend of $.74 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable on March 2, 2018 to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 21, 2018. Macerich, an S&P 500 company, is a fully integrated self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust, which focuses on the acquisition, leasing, management, development and redevelopment of regional malls throughout the United States. Macerich currently owns 53 million square feet of real estate consisting primarily of interests in 48 regional shopping centers. Macerich specializes in successful retail properties in many of the country's most attractive, densely populated markets with significant presence in the Pacific Rim, Arizona, Chicago and the Metro New York to Washington, DC corridor. A recognized leader in sustainability, Macerich has earned NAREIT's prestigious \"Leader in the Light\" award every year from 2014-2017. For the third straight year in 2017 Macerich achieved the #1 GRESB ranking in the North American Retail Sector, among many other environmental accomplishments. Additional information about Macerich can be obtained from the Company's website at www.macerich.com . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Macerich Company" + }, + { + "text": "Shares of Intel fell 5 percent on Wednesday following reports that a security bug was present in the chip maker's processors. According to one technician, who has been bullish Intel, the move presents the perfect opportunity for investors to buy the chip dip. \"Shares are still above rising 50 and 200-day moving averages,\" Piper Jaffray chief market technician Craig Johnson wrote in an email to CNBC on Wednesday. \"[Intel] would need to close below the December lows of $43 for the technical picture to change.\" With Intel trading at around $45.73 on Wednesday, the stock would have to fall another 5 or 6 percent in order for Johnson to get nervous. \"This stock has broken out of a huge base,\" he said Tuesday in a \"Trading Nation\" segment on CNBC's \"Power Lunch.\" \"It looks a little bit extended ... but I think we can continue to see this stock push a little bit higher, about another 9 percent or so.\" Additionally, Johnson also believes that the chip makers as a group are set for an even bigger rally. The semiconductor ETF ( SMH) has started the year off strong, rallying more than 3 percent since Tuesday and bouncing back to levels unseen since the end of November. Given the move, Johnson believes that SMH will have to break the $101 region around which the 50-day moving average sits for the recent jump to be meaningful. \"For now, you have to stick with this SMH trade to the long side, but you have to be watching that 50-day moving average,\" he said. On Wednesday, SMH was trading at $101.30, slightly above the 50-day moving average that Johnson said was key. Chad Morganlander, a portfolio manager at Washington Crossing Advisors, remains overall bullish on the space and sees more upside ahead. He does, however, caution that there are fundamental factors that could derail the chip rally. \"In the long run, this ... is hypersensitive to global growth, so if you start to see any kind of deceleration of investment spending, you have to not be quite complacent with this one,\" he said on \"Power Lunch.\" \"But we think in [the first quarter], you're going to see an outperformance in relationship to the S&P 500.\" While Intel is one of the biggest components of SMH, the group as a whole continued to move higher on Wednesday as other names surged on the back of Intel's processor issues. Vote Vote to see results Total Votes: Not a Scientific Survey. Results may not total 100% due to rounding." + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 5:23 PM / Updated 15 minutes ago Van Persie comes full circle with return to Feyenoord Bart Meijer 3 Min Read ROTTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch soccer star Robin van Persie returned to his home ground on Monday as he signed with Feyenoord Rotterdam hoping for a positive ending to his dwindling career. Van Persie completed the free transfer from Turkish side Fenerbahce, having not played since a knee last August raised questions over the long-term fitness of the 34-year-old former Arsenal and Manchester United player. ”I have made a fantastic journey since leaving Feyenoord 14 years ago, but I‘m happy to return now,“ he told reporters at Feyenoord’s De Kuip stadium. ”I hope to bring a lot to this team, but we’ll have to wait and see what’s possible. “I have trained with the team today and I feel good. But feeling good is not the same as being able to play matches and it will certainly take time before I reach that level.” Having spent two frustrating years at Fenerbahce, Van Persie will hope to mimic the glorious return to Rotterdam of former national team mate Dirk Kuyt, who retired in May after securing Feyenoord’s first league title in 18 years. But memories of that long-awaited trophy are fading fast, with Feyenoord already trailing league leaders PSV Eindhoven by 17 points halfway through the season. Robin van Persie attends a news conference, after the Dutch player signed a contract with Feyenoord, in Rotterdam, Netherlands January 22, 2018. REUTERS/Cris Toala Olivares Feyenoord clearly lacked offensive creativity in their 2-0 defeat against Ajax Amsterdam on Sunday, but Van Persie warned against too high hopes of his return. “I mainly hope to help younger players by setting an example, like experienced players such as (Dennis) Bergkamp, (Thierry) Henry and (Patrick) Vieira helped me at Arsenal,” Van Persie said of his expected role at Feyenoord. Slideshow (5 Images) “Besides that, no one can say what will happen.” Van Persie played his first matches for Feyenoord as a teenager 16 years ago, before his 2004 move to Arsenal set him up for international fame as a free-scoring centre forward. The last real moment of glory came at the 2014 World Cup, where his magnificent diving header set the Dutch national side on course for a 5-1 victory against world champions Spain, but since then injuries have taken over and Van Persie’s star faded. “I am grateful for my career, which was bigger than I could have ever imagined,” he said. “But it would be a fantastic feeling to end it on a high note at Feyenoord.” Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by David Goodman" + }, + { + "text": "At least three dead in Thai market bombing 9:02pm IST - 00:59 A motorcycle bomb exploded in a market in Thailand's southern Yala province on Monday, killing at least three people and wounding 22, a spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) said, the first such attack in the region in months. Saskia O'Donoghue reports. A motorcycle bomb exploded in a market in Thailand's southern Yala province on Monday, killing at least three people and wounding 22, a spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) said, the first such attack in the region in months. Saskia O'Donoghue reports. //reut.rs/2DwNTHm" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 12:56 AM / Updated 15 minutes ago North Korean ice hockey players arrive in South Korea for joint Olympics practice - Yonhap Reuters Staff 1 Min Read SEOUL (Reuters) - Fifteen North Korean hockey players crossed the border into South Korea on Thursday on their way to their first practice as part of a joint women’s Olympic team with South Korea, the Yonhap news agency reported. The two Koreas agreed during rare talks to form a combined women’s ice hockey team to take part in next month’s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and march together under a unified peninsula flag at the opening ceremony. Reporting by Josh Smith; Editing by Paul Tait" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 6:01 PM / Updated 29 minutes ago 'Mississippi Burning' KKK leader Edgar Ray Killen dies in prison Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Edgar Ray Killen, the preacher and Ku Klux Klan leader convicted and imprisoned more than 40 years after he plotted the 1964 slayings of three civil rights activists in the “Mississippi Burning” case, has died, correction officials said on Friday. Killen, who would have turned 93 on Jan. 17, was pronounced dead Thursday night at the hospital at Mississippi State Penitentiary, according to a statement on the state’s Department of Corrections website on Friday. Reporting by Barbara Goldberg in New York; Editing by Paul Simao" + }, + { + "text": "SWORDS, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ingersoll-Rand plc (NYSE:IR), a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, will host a conference call to discuss its 2017 fourth-quarter and full-year financial results on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018, at 10 a.m. ET. The company will issue its fourth-quarter and full-year 2017 earnings release and earnings presentation in advance of the call; both will be available on the Ingersoll Rand website. A real-time, listen-only webcast of the conference call will be broadcast live over the internet. Individuals wishing to listen can access the call through the company’s website at www.ingersollrand.com under the investor relations section. For those unable to listen to the live event, a replay will be available on the company’s website at approximately 1 p.m. ET, Jan. 31, 2018. About Ingersoll Rand Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) advances the quality of life by creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments. Our people and our family of brands — including Club Car ® , Ingersoll Rand ® , Thermo King ® and Trane ® — work together to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings; transport and protect food and perishables; and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. We are a $13 billion global business committed to a world of sustainable progress and enduring results. For more information, visit www.ingersollrand.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Ingersoll-Rand plc Media: Perri Richman, 732-652-6943 [REDACTED] or Analysts: Zac Nagle, 704-990-3001 [REDACTED] Source: Ingersoll-Rand plc" + }, + { + "text": "President Donald Trump 's description of the climate on planet Earth doesn't quite match what data show and scientists say. In an interview with Piers Morgan airing Sunday on Britain's ITV News, the president said the world was cooling and warming at the same time and that claims of melting ice caps haven't come true. TRUMP: \"There is a cooling, and there's a heating. I mean, look, it used to not be climate change, it used to be global warming. That wasn't working too well because it was getting too cold all over the place.\" Ten different climate scientists contacted by The Associated Press said the president was not accurate about climate change. Rutgers University climate scientist Jennifer Francis responded in an email: \"Clearly President Trump is relying on alternative facts to inform his views on climate change. Ice on the ocean and on land are both disappearing rapidly, and we know why: increasing greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels that trap more heat and melt the ice. \" THE FACTS: The world hasn't had a cooler than average year since 1976 and hasn't had a cooler than normal month since the end of 1985, according to more than 135 years of temperature records kept by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The last four years have been the four hottest years on record globally, with 2010 the fifth hottest year, according to NOAA. Every year in the 21st century has been at least three quarters of a degree (0.4 degrees Celsius) warmer than the 20th century average and in the top 25 hottest years on record, NOAA records show. And while a good chunk of the United States had a frigid snap recently, most of the rest of the world was far warmer than normal, according to temperature records. Zeke Hausfather of the Berkeley Earth temperature monitoring program — initially funded by non-scientists who doubt that the world is warming — said in an email: \"The world has been warming steadily over the past 50 years, with 17 of the past 18 years being the warmest since records began in the 1850s. It is not accurate to say that the climate has been 'cooling as well as warming'.\" TRUMP: \"The ice caps were going to melt, they were going to be gone by now, but now they're setting records. They're at a record level.\" THE FACTS: It is a bit more nuanced, but not quite right. While a small number of experts a decade ago had predicted that Arctic would be free of summer sea ice by now, most mainstream scientists and the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change did not, instead they said Arctic sea ice would shrink, which it has, said Pennsylvania State University ice scientist Richard Alley. Most scientists, including the director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center, are predicting that the Arctic will be free of summer sea ice sometime around the 2040s. The Arctic set a record for the lowest amount of sea ice in the winter, when sea ice usually grows to its maximum levels, in March 2017. In 2012, the Arctic set a record for lowest sea ice levels. Sea ice recovered slightly from that record and in 2017 in September, the annual low was only the eighth lowest on record, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. But the 10 lowest years of sea ice have been all in the last 11 years. Arctic sea ice is declining at a rate of 13.2 percent per decade, according to NASA. Princeton University climate scientist Michael Oppenheimer said the Antarctic sea ice pack, less directly influenced by global climate change, varies from year to year. Antarctica hit a record low for sea ice in March 2017, the same month the Arctic hit a record winter low. Antarctic sea ice also reached a record high in 2014. \"Both of the large ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica are losing hundreds of billions of tons of ice per year. Sea ice continues to decline significantly in the Arctic decade by decade, and the thickness of Arctic ice is now less than 50 percent of what it was 40 years ago,\" National Snow and Ice Data Center scientist Ted Scambos said in an email." + }, + { + "text": "AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- On the heels of a $32.64 million capital raise, HNI Healthcare, a technology-enabled company dedicated to transforming hospital-based medicine, announces the appointment of Michael Saunders as President. Michael Gonzales, CEO of HNI Healthcare, stated, “Given accelerated demand for HNI’s products and services, coupled with our expansion into Post-Acute hospitals and alternative payment models, the timing couldn’t be better to welcome Michael to the team. Saunders’ proven track record in organizational leadership and operational excellence, coupled with his hunger to drive profitable growth, will be of significant value.” Saunders brings 23 years of innovative healthcare and practice management experience to HNI. He provided 14 years of transformational leadership at Pinnacle (Anesthesia) Partners in Medicine which was ultimately acquired by US Anesthesia Partners, where he served most recently as Chief Operating Officer. “In an evolving healthcare landscape, HNI Healthcare’s visionary, metric-driven approach provides a disciplined pathway to the highest quality of care, while driving transformational efficiencies in hospital performance,” Saunders said. “I look forward to joining an organization with a proven track record of success and with such potential for real change.” Saunders joined the company January 8 th . About HNI Healthcare (HNI) HNI is a technology-enabled physician practice management company focused on the delivery of full-service facility-based physician programs to improve the quality of patient care. The Company’s physicians, processes and technologies enable hospitals to improve key quality and performance metrics through a more clinically integrated care model. HNI is based in Austin, Texas. Visit our website at www.hnihealthcare.com. View source version on businesswire.com : HNI Healthcare Katryn Chansley, 512-422-6769 Vice President, Marketing & Communications [REDACTED] Source: HNI Healthcare" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor donated $1 million to five charities working with refugees worldwide on Wednesday in a bid to alleviate a record-breaking global displacement crisis. Kapoor, who was born to an Indian father and Iraqi Jewish mother, won the Genesis Prize - dubbed the Jewish Nobel - last year, for his commitment to Jewish values. “Like many Jews, I do not have to go far back in my family history to find people who were refugees,” he said in a statement. “Directing Genesis Prize funds to this cause is a way of helping people who, like my forebears not too long before them, are fleeing persecution.” The United Nations (U.N.) says the world is witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record, with more than 65 million people forced to flee their homes, surpassing numbers after the Second World War more than 70 years ago. U.N. efforts to agree a voluntary pact on safe, orderly and regular migration suffered a setback in December when the United States quit the negotiations. “In recent months, awareness of the plight faced by tens of millions of refugees and displaced persons worldwide has fallen significantly while the refugee crisis continues unabated,” said Kapoor, a longtime social activist. Kapoor, who lived in Israel briefly before settling in Britain in the 1970s, won the Turner Prize in 1991 and created a Holocaust memorial for London’s Liberal Jewish Synagogue. Winners of the Genesis Prize, which is granted via a partnership with the Genesis Prize Foundation, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Israeli government, award $1 million to charities of their choice, with the aim of inspiring the next generation of Jews. One of Kapoor’s grantees is the International Rescue Committee, which is working with refugees in Uganda - home to more than 1 million people who have fled war in South Sudan - and with stateless Rohingya in Myanmar. He is also providing food for refugees in Greece and France and medical care for Syrian refugees. Kapoor’s other chosen charities are the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees (MFA), HIAS (founded as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), Help Refugees and Hillel International. Previous winners of the prize include former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the actor Michael Douglas. The 2018 winner, the Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman, plans to focus her award funds on promoting women’s equality. Reporting by Karla Mendes. Editing by Katy Migiro. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women’s rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit news.trust.org to see more stories." + }, + { + "text": "Builds leadership in U.S. Plant-Based Proteins Market MISSISSAUGA, ON, Jan. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Maple Leaf Foods (MFI: TSX) today announced the closing of its acquisition of Field Roast Grain Meat Co., (\"Field Roast\"), a leading manufacturer and brand of premium grain-based 'meat' and vegan cheese products, for USD$120 million plus related costs. Field Roast has established a leadership position and considerable brand equity in the rapidly growing premium segment of plant-based protein. This acquisition advances Maple Leaf's vision to be the most sustainable protein company on earth, including a core strategy to diversify into plant-based protein. With the acquisition of Field Roast, along with Lightlife Foods acquired in early 2017, Maple Leaf is now positioned as a leader in the U.S. retail market for plant-based proteins. The transaction was financed from a combination of cash on hand and drawings under the existing credit facility. Based on current operating results, the acquisition is expected to be accretive to Maple Leaf's earnings in 2018. Maple Leaf Foods Inc. is a leading consumer protein company, making high quality, innovative products under national brands including Maple Leaf ® , Maple Leaf Prime ® , Maple Leaf Natural Selections ® , Schneiders ® , Schneiders ® Country Naturals ® , Mina ® , and Lightlife TM . The Company employs approximately 11,500 people and does business in Canada, the U.S. and Asia. The Company is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario and its shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MFI). SOURCE Maple Leaf Foods Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Warren Buffett says 'huge' corporate tax cut is 'not baked in' stock market Warren Buffett believes the corporate tax reform bill is very bullish for stockholders. He said the size of the tax cut is \"not baked in\" to the stock market. Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Warren Buffett believes the corporate tax reform bill is very bullish for stockholders. The tax overhaul, which President Donald Trump signed into law last month, lowers the corporate tax rate to 21 percent from 35 percent. \"The tax act is a huge factor in valuation,\" he said on CNBC's \"Squawk Box\" on Wednesday. \"You had this major change in the silent stock holder in American business who has been content with 35 percent ... and now instead of getting 35 percent interest in the earnings they get a 21 percent and that makes the remaining stock more valuable.\" The billionaire chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway also explained the magnitude of the tax cut is not reflected in the stock market yet. \"I think 21 percent was not baked in. That's a huge reduction,\" he added. Buffett was interviewed by CNBC in Omaha, Nebraska." + }, + { + "text": "Merkel promises swift end to four-month limbo Friday, January 26, 2018 - 02:13 German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives opened coalition talks with their Social Democrat (SPD) partners on Friday, promising swift progress in negotiations aimed at ending four months of political limbo in Europe's largest economy. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives opened coalition talks with their Social Democrat (SPD) partners on Friday, promising swift progress in negotiations aimed at ending four months of political limbo in Europe's largest economy. //in.reuters.com/video/2018/01/26/merkel-promises-swift-end-to-four-month?videoId=388900979&videoChannel=13423" + }, + { + "text": "15 AM / Updated 7 minutes ago BRIEF-Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Says Expect To File A Registration Application (Bla) With FDA For Rolontis Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 8 (Reuters) - Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc: * SPECTRUM PHARMACEUTICALS SAYS EXPECT TO FILE A REGISTRATION APPLICATION (BLA) WITH FDA FOR ROLONTIS IN Q4 2018 - SEC FILING ( bit.ly/2EmWf09 )" + }, + { + "text": "Thai PM uses cardboard cutout to avoid tricky questions 12:48pm GMT - 01:29 Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, known for his temperamental outbursts, has adopted a unique tactic to avoid tricky questions from reporters - leave a cardboard cutout of himself for reporters to quiz. Julian Satterthwaite reports. Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, known for his temperamental outbursts, has adopted a unique tactic to avoid tricky questions from reporters - leave a cardboard cutout of himself for reporters to quiz. Julian Satterthwaite reports. //reut.rs/2AIEo1o" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds analyst, background) HELSINKI, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Finnish deparment store and fashion chain group Stockmann will fall short of its profit guidance for 2017 after weak fourth-quarter sales, the company warned on Thursday. The retailer has struggled in recent years amid slowdowns in Finland and Russia and a consumer shift to online shopping, prompting a shake-up including the disposal of one of its fashion chains and withdrawal from Russian retail businesses. Stockmann said full-year adjusted core operating profit in continuing operations would be about 12 million euros ($14 million), down from 31 million euros in 2016. The company had previously estimated the profit to be flat or slightly smaller compared to 2016. “An ugly profit warning from Stockmann ... This performance raises concerns over their turnaround,” Research firm Inderes said on its Twitter account. Stockmann cut its full-year outlook in September and followed up by posting an adjusted operating loss for the third quarter, hit by weak sales at its Lindex fashion chain. Shares in the company fell as much as 4 percent after the announcement. ($1 = 0.8309 euros) (Reporting by Tuomas Forsell; Editing by David Goodman) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 12:18 PM / Updated 9 minutes ago Manchester City's quadruple dream starts to look possible Neil Robinson 3 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - For all Pep Guardiola’s insistence that the quadruple represents an impossible dream, Manchester City have never been better placed to win all four trophies in one season. A further boost to their chances should be delivered this week with British media reporting that City will break their own transfer record by paying Athletic Bilbao 57 million pounds for Aymeric Laporte. The Frenchman, who would be eligible for the Champions League, is considered one of Europe’s most promising defenders and would provide cover at left back, where City have been weakened by injury, or at the heart of the back four. Laporte’s arrival ahead of Wednesday’s transfer deadline would be a welcome boost for Guardiola as he ponders how to martial his resources on four fronts. That task is made much easier by City’s 12-point lead in the Premier League which they are on course to win in record time, well ahead of the Manchester United team of 2000-01 who did so with five games to spare. City are also well placed on the other three fronts with a final berth secured against Arsenal in the League Cup, a comfortable-looking Champions League last-16 tie against Basel coming up and a place booked in the FA Cup fifth round. The best measure of City’s progress is that two years ago they also went into February contesting on four fronts, although six points adrift in the Premier League. WEAKENED SIDE Determined to make up ground, and with a Champions league tie coming up, manager Manuel Pellegrini played a weakened side in the FA Cup fifth-round tie at Chelsea, which City lost 5-1. Although Guardiola also rotated in City’s fourth-round tie at Cardiff on Sunday, starting Sergio Aguero on the bench, City’s side remained strong with man of the season Kevin De Bruyne directing operations in midfield and Raheem Sterling up front. Aguero was sent on when Leroy Sane was injured. Predictably, Guardiola used the German winger’s likely absence over the next few weeks to deflect attention away from quadruple talk. “I do not have enough players, I have players out injured. It is impossible,” said the Spaniard, who twice won variations of the treble with Barcelona. Only one British team, Celtic in 1967, have won all four major trophies in one season, but others have gone close. Liverpool bagged the League, European Cup and League Cup in 1984 while Manchester United secured an even more illustrious treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in 1999. Eight years later Chelsea competed on all four fronts until May 1 when Liverpool knocked them out in the Champions League semi-finals. The Blues went on to win both domestic cups and finished second in the Premier League. City look on course to better that and their former England defender Joleon Lescott is among those who think they can. “If anyone can, they can,” he told the BBC. “If they get some luck, they could do it.” Just don’t mention it to Guardiola. Reporting by Neil Robinson, editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMCI ) , a global leader in high-performance, high-efficiency server, storage technology and green computing, today announced that it has scheduled a conference call and webcast to provide a general business update. The Company also announced it intends to release preliminary information regarding its second quarter fiscal 2018 financial results in a press release on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, immediately after the close of regular trading, followed by a teleconference beginning at 2:00 p.m. (Pacific Time). Conference Call/Webcast Information for January 30, 2018 Supermicro will hold a teleconference to provide a general business update on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, beginning at 2:00 p.m. (Pacific Time). Those wishing to participate in the conference call should dial 1-888-394-8218 (International callers dial 1-323-794-2149) a few minutes prior to the call’s start to register. The conference ID is 5210439. A replay of the call will be available through 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, February 13, 2018, by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (International callers dial 1-412-317-6671) and entering replay PIN 5210439. Those wishing to access the live or archived webcast via the Internet should go to the Investor Relations tab of the Supermicro website at www.Supermicro.com . About Super Micro Computer, Inc. Supermicro®, a global leader in high-performance, high-efficiency server technology and innovation is a premier provider of end-to-end green computing solutions for Data Center, Cloud Computing, Enterprise IT, Hadoop/Big Data, HPC and Embedded Systems worldwide. Supermicro's advanced Server Building Block Solutions® offer a vast array of components for building energy-efficient, application-optimized, computing solutions. Architecture innovations include Twin, TwinPro, FatTwinTM, Ultra Series, MicroCloud, MicroBlade, SuperBlade®, Double-sided Storage®, Battery Backup Power (BBP®) modules and WIO/UIO. Products include servers, blades, GPU systems, workstations, motherboards, chassis, power supplies, storage, networking, server management software and SuperRack® cabinets/accessories delivering unrivaled performance and value. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in San Jose, California, Supermicro is committed to protecting the environment through its \"We Keep IT Green®\" initiative. The Company has global logistics and operations centers in Silicon Valley (USA), the Netherlands (Europe) and its Science & Technology Park in Taiwan (Asia). Supermicro, FatTwin, TwinPro, SuperBlade, Double-Sided Storage, BBP, SuperRack, Building Block Solutions and We Keep IT Green are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Super Micro Computer, Inc. All other brands, names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. SMCI-F View source version on businesswire.com : Investor Relations Contact Super Micro Computer, Inc. Perry G. Hayes, 408-895-6570 SVP, Investor Relations [REDACTED] Source: Super Micro Computer, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Bombardier wins trade dispute with Boeing Friday, January 26, 2018 - 01:10 The International Trade Commission rejected the U.S. Commerce Department's recommendation to slap Bombardier's CSeries with 300-percent duty on sales to American carriers. Aleksandra Michalska reports. The International Trade Commission rejected the U.S. Commerce Department's recommendation to slap Bombardier's CSeries with 300-percent duty on sales to American carriers. Aleksandra Michalska reports. //reut.rs/2nfuf7W" + }, + { + "text": "Saudi Arabia's economy is entering a post-oil era in which the kingdom's mega-cities, a number of which are under construction, will provide the country's future growth, Riyadh officials told CNBC on Tuesday. Fahd al Rasheed, managing director and chief executive of King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), the world's first publicly listed city, spoke to CNBC at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday. \"We are now in the business of building cities,\" he said. \"We are talking now about moving to a service economy post oil , and I think the economic driver in the future in Saudi Arabia is going to be these mega-cities.\" Al Rasheed said the economy was transforming away from oil. \"The message is that we are entering a post-oil era in which we are diversifying the economy. We had a hard 2016 to 2017 in terms of economic growth, but I think 2018, with the highest ever government budget announced in the kingdom's history, (it should improve),\" he said. \"We have seen as a post-oil economy, also lots of growth in areas like the port industry, leisure as well as residential (construction), so we truly believe in the post-oil era and I believe we're going in the right direction there.\" David Degner/Getty Images A scale model showing the plans for the eventual size of the King Abdullah Economic City on April 07, 2016 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) is a massive project to create a port and manufacturing city on the Red Sea Al Rasheed is overseeing the creation of KAEC, a port and manufacturing city on the Red Sea that, it is hoped, will boost Saudi's trade relations with the rest of the world. The city was founded in 2006 by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the former king of Saudi Arabia, although it is not yet complete. The ambition behind the new industrial city was for it to play a part in Saudi's economic transformation beyond a predominantly oil-based economy. With a national population forecast to double to 1.5 billion by 2050, Riyadh officials believe that the Red Sea region has the potential to be a major growth driver for the global economy. show chapters Saudi minister: We're providing stimulus for digital economy 2 Hours Ago | 02:53 It's not the only mega-project that Saudi Arabia has in mind. Late in 2017, the Saudi government announced that it was going to build a $500 billion mega-city, with the goal of diversifying its economy to focus less on crude oil. Called NEOM, the city is planned to run on 100 percent renewable energy. It will be funded by the government and private investors. \"Nobody knows how it (NEOM) will look because no-one has ever built anything like this before,\" al Rasheed told CNBC, adding that it was a difficult project. \"I've been in the business for a decade now with KAEC, and it is hard, it's hard to attract people, but it is NEOM and it has the kingdom's and Crown Prince's backing.\" Goodbye oil Saudi Arabia has announced recently a raft of economic and societal reforms under the aegis of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of the kingdom's move to diversify itself away from its traditional, but volatile, oil-based economy. show chapters Saudi energy minister to investors: The kingdom is reformed 7 Hours Ago | 05:51 Energy Minister Khalid al Falih told CNBC earlier on Tuesday that the kingdom had been \"transformed\" on an economic level. \"Our message to investors is that the kingdom is transformed, we're serious about change, it's comprehensive change,\" he said. \"(We need to) not only be ready for the future but to create the future through initiatives that are not only around our traditional strength in oil and gas, which we're going to build on, but also about creating new industries, through mining, through more advanced manufacturing, through tourism and at the same time socially there are a lot of reforms - all of these are coordinated and they're bringing a lot of hope,\" he said." + }, + { + "text": "PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Umpqua Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:UMPQ), parent company of Umpqua Bank and Umpqua Investments, today announced that it will host its fourth quarter 2017 earnings conference call on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. PT (1:00 p.m. ET). During the call, the Company will provide an update on recent activities and discuss its fourth quarter and full-year 2017 financial results, which are expected to be released after the market closes on January 23, 2018. There will be a live question-and-answer session following the presentation. To join the call, please dial (877) 440-5803 ten minutes prior to the start time and enter conference ID: 8419276. A re-broadcast will be available approximately two hours after the call by dialing (888) 203-1112 and entering conference ID 8419276. The earnings conference call will also be available as an audiocast, which can be accessed on the Company’s investor relations page at www.umpquaholdingscorp.com . About Umpqua Holdings Corporation Umpqua Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:UMPQ) is the parent company of Umpqua Bank, an Oregon-based community bank recognized for its entrepreneurial approach, innovative customer experience, and distinctive banking solutions. Umpqua Bank has locations across Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho and Nevada. Umpqua Holdings also owns a retail brokerage subsidiary, Umpqua Investments, Inc., which has locations in Umpqua Bank stores and in dedicated offices in Oregon, and Pivotus Ventures, an innovation studio headquartered in Silicon Valley focused on creating key technologies and business models that transform finance and commerce. Umpqua Holdings Corporation is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. For more information, visit www.umpquaholdingscorp.com . Contacts: Ron Farnsworth EVP/Chief Financial Officer Umpqua Holdings Corporation 503-727-4108 [REDACTED] Brad Howes SVP/Director of Investor Relations Umpqua Holdings Corporation 503-727-4226 [REDACTED] Source:Umpqua Holdings Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The build-up of large current account surpluses in countries such as Germany is partly responsible for the rise of protectionism elsewhere, the head of the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday. Germany has come in for criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration for its large trade surplus with the United States, while scepticism toward free trade is mounting in some poorer euro zone countries. “A reduction of Germany’s surplus would help reduce global imbalances, which clearly we are concerned about at the IMF,” International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde told a conference in Frankfurt. “The rise of rampant protectionism or protectionism threats is certainly not unrelated to the accumulation of current account surpluses in some countries,” she said. Germany’s current account surplus was the world’s largest in 2017, data showed this week, and the government in Berlin is expected to post record fiscal surpluses this year and next. The IMF and the European Commission have for years urged Germany to increase domestic spending and imports. Lagarde told German broadcaster ARD in an interview broadcast later on Thursday that the IMF considered the current level of German surpluses “unjustified”, and said greater German investments would help reduce the imbalances. Speaking earlier at the same conference, Germany’s central bank governor Jens Weidmann defended his country’s record budget and current account surpluses. Weidmann said Germany needed to build a fiscal buffer to help it withstand the effect of an ageing society and that it would be “futile” for Berlin to spend more in order to try to help its neighbors. “Raising public spending in order to reduce Germany’s current account surplus would likely be a futile undertaking,” the Bundesbank president said. In the ARD interview, Lagarde said the IMF supported the European Central Bank’s pursuit of a loose monetary policy as long as its inflation targets had not been met, but said that policy could not go on forever. Reporting by Francesco Canepa and Andrea Shalal; editing by Mark Heinrich" + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 4:51 PM / Updated 16 hours ago Rugby - Wales winger North doubtful for Six Nations opener Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Wales winger George North is a doubt for the side’s opening Six Nations fixture against Scotland after sustaining a knee injury while playing for his club Northampton Saints in the Premiership last weekend. Rugby Union - Premiership - Harlequins vs Northampton Saints - Twickenham Stoop, London, Britain - December 30, 2017 Northampton Saints' George North comes out of the tunnel at the start of the second half Action Images/Paul Childs North returned from a lengthy layoff due to a knee ligament injury, which ruled him out of Wales’ November internationals, as a substitute in Saturday’s 50-21 defeat by Harlequins and picked up another knock to the same area. Saints said that the 25-year-old will require up to four weeks of rehabilitation. “I‘m sure George will be diligent in his rehab and we all wish him a swift recovery,” Northampton Technical Coaching Consultant Alan Gaffney said on the club’s website (www.northamptonsaints.co.uk). North, who has 69 caps for Wales, is the latest to join a lengthy injury list for Warren Gatland’s side, with the likes of Taulupe Faletau, Sam Warburton, Jonathan Davies and Dan Lydiate also sidelined. Wales kick off their Six Nations campaign against Scotland on Feb. 3 in Cardiff. Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "You can now ask Siri to recite music, sports and business news -- here's how SHARES Todd Haselton | @robotodd Published 25 Mins Ago iOS 11.2.5, a new update available today for iPhones and iPads, lets you ask Siri to recite the news. Unlike earlier versions, you can now get sports, music and business news, too. Here's how to ask Siri to tell you the news. UberImages | Getty Man listening to a podcast Apple rolled out an update for iPhones and iPads on Tuesday, iOS 11.2.5, which lets you ask Siri to play a variety of news content. It builds on a feature introduced in the last update, iOS 11.2.2, which let you ask Siri to recite the news but was limited to content from select sources. Now you can ask it to play music, sports and business news, too. Here's how. First, make sure you're updated to iOS 11.2.5. Todd Haselton | CNBC You can do this by visiting Settings > General > Software Update. Next, ask Siri to play the news. Todd Haselton | CNBC Siri plays the news. Simply say \"Siri, play new news,\" and it will default to playing news from NPR in the United States, but you can say \"switch to The Washington Post,\" \"switch to Fox news\" or \"switch to CNN,\" too. The feature is currently only supported in the U.S., UK and Australia. Now ask Siri to play sports, business or music news Todd Haselton | CNBC Siri plays music news. You can switch it up, too, by saying \"Siri, play me sports news,\" or \"Siri, play me music news,\" and it will pull from ESPN and Apple Music, respectively. It also defaults to CNBC if you ask for business news. It'll automatically play the latest podcast from the Apple's podcast application. Coming soon to HomePod Getty Images A prototype of Apple's new HomePod is displayed during the 2017 Apple Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) at the San Jose Convention Center on June 5, 2017 in San Jose, California. The feature is almost certainly one that was developed for Apple's smart HomePod speaker, so expect it to appear there when the device launches early next month ." + }, + { + "text": "Armed robbers steal millions from Ritz Paris hotel 9:14am GMT - 00:45 Axe-wielding robbers stole jewellery on Wednesday possibly worth more than $5 million from a store in the famed Paris hotel. Rough cut (No reporter narration.) Axe-wielding robbers stole jewellery on Wednesday possibly worth more than $5 million from a store in the famed Paris hotel. Rough cut (No reporter narration.) //reut.rs/2D01hU0" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 10:53 AM / Updated 22 minutes ago UPDATE 1-Rugby-England head coach Jones extends contract until 2021 Reuters Staff * Jones extends England contract to 2021 * Contract includes break clause after 2019 World Cup * Planning in place for his eventual replacement (Adds details) LONDON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - England head coach Eddie Jones has signed a contract extension to keep him in the role until 2021, working with his eventual successor in the final year, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said on Wednesday. Jones, who took over the reins in November 2015, was originally contracted until the end of the 2019 World Cup campaign and the new contract includes a break clause based on England’s performance in Japan. The 57-year-old Australian has led England to consecutive Six Nations triumphs as well as series wins in Australia and Argentina. The RFU said a process for appointing Jones’s eventual successor had been agreed. “This is likely to involve appointing a new head coach by the end of the 2019/2020 season, with a view to a smooth coaching transition,” it said. The future head coach would work with Jones until mid-2021, before taking over to lead England into the 2023 World Cup in France. Jones said he was delighted to be asked to stay on in what had become a dream job. “I have been completely focussed on developing a team capable of being the number one rugby team in the world and winning the World Cup in 2019,” he said in a statement. “I never take my role as England head coach for granted and did not presume I would be asked to stay on, but, once the conversations started very recently, it was not a difficult decision to make.” Steve Brown, the RFU chief executive, said Jones’s results spoke for themselves with the Australian enjoying a 95 percent win rate. “Under Eddie’s leadership, we have risen from eight to second in the world -- and Eddie won’t be satisfied until we are number one,” he said. “We now have a robust succession planning process in place which will avoid the historically disruptive pattern of resetting the coaching team and performance system every four years,” added Brown. “Eddie will be a big part of this process, and wants to ensure a smooth handover to his successor.” Jones is set to name his squad on Thursday ahead of England’s opening Six Nations match against Italy on Feb. 4. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin/Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Christian Radnedge)" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 6:29 AM / a few seconds ago India sends its 100th satellite into space to watch borders Rupam Jain 2 Min Read NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India launched its 100th satellite on Friday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks to project the country as a global low-cost provider of services in space. A total of 31 small satellites were launched into space on Friday. More than half of the micro and nano satellites were for the Unites States, and the remainder India, Canada, Finland, France, South Korea and the United Kingdom. “The launch of the 100th satellite by @isro signifies both its glorious achievements and also the bright future of India’s space programme,” Modi said on Twitter. India’s space programme has a budget of around $4 billion and Modi’s government hopes the latest launches will improve its prospects of winning a larger share of the more than $300 billion global space industry. Modi’s government has been promoting a domestic space programme as a demonstration of low-cost technology and last February launched 104 satellites in a single mission, most of them for foreign customers. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) used its workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C40), part of an advanced remote sensing satellite Cartosat-2 series or “eye in the sky”, for the Friday launch from Sriharikota in southern Andhra Pradesh state at 9.28 a.m. (3:58 GMT). The rocket weighs about 1,323 kgs, said a senior official at state-run ISRO, who did not wish to be named. India will use its latest satellites for better border surveillance and obtaining high resolution images of the earth. “PSLV-C40 is a highly sophisticated surveillance tool to keep an eye on Indian borders and will help the government track progress of infrastructure projects,” said Pallava Bagla, a science writer and co-author of “Reaching for the Stars: India’s Journey to Mars.” Two scientists at ISRO said images collected by the satellites will be used by the Indian security agencies to track military activities in neighbouring Pakistan, China, Bangladesh Sri Lanka and Nepal. Editing by Malini Menon and Michael Perry" + }, + { + "text": "The Dollar Menu war is coming and Taco Bell isn't pulling any punches. The innovative fast food Mexican chain owned by Yum Brands announced Wednesday that it will begin selling Nacho Fries for a limited time starting Jan. 25 for $1. It has long been speculated that Taco Bell would be bringing this international menu item to the U.S., especially after the company held market tests in West Virginia and California last spring. This newest addition to Taco Bell's menu comes just a month after the company said it would introduce 20 $1 menu items in test markets and nationwide this year. The restaurant's dollar menu already contains more than 20 items ranging from breakfast tacos to cinnamon twists. Already two fast food giants have followed suit with Jack in the Box's \"Value Done Jack's Way,\" a a value menu with items priced between $1 and $5 and McDonald's relaunching its previously discontinued Dollar Menu with a new three-tiered value menu that includes items ranging from $1 to $3. Customers can order Taco Bell's new seasoned fries with a side of nacho cheese from the dollar menu or opt to make the order \"Supreme\" — adding pico de gallo, beef and sour cream on top — for $2.49 or \"Bell Grande\" — all the same toppings as the \"Supreme,\" just larger — for $3.49. In addition, Taco Bell will be including this new menu item in its $5 box, which comes with the fries, a Doritos Locos taco, a Cheesy Gordita Crunch and a medium drink. As consumers enjoy more and more dining options, restaurants remain focused on value, convenience and quality to stay competitive. For Taco Bell, limited-time offers and value promotions have been a steady part of the playbook. Taco Bell told CNBC that its $1 menu items garnered more than $500 million in sales in 2017 and its $5 boxes, which often contain its limited-time offerings, generated an additional $1 billion in sales for the brand." + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—White House Chief of Staff John Kelly is emerging from his usual behind-the-scenes role to become one of the president’s chief conservative anchors on the immigration issue, a spot once occupied by former chief strategist Steve Bannon. While Mr. Kelly drew the president’s ire last week after suggesting his boss’s campaign promises were uninformed and had “evolved,” he also helped scuttle a bipartisan Senate deal and made the phone call that ended immigration negotiations on Friday. That paved the way for the partial... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Jay Leno explores a vehicle that runs on wood and possibly even pine cones 4 Hours Ago Father and son team Bill Redcorn and Guy Nixon show off their 1913 Ford Model T, which uses wood as a fuel source. Nixon even shows Leno how he uses pine cones instead of wood to get his Model T rolling. All New Jay Leno's Garage Thursdays 10P ET/PT SHARES" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Seven & i Holdings Co Ltd , the Tokyo-based parent company of the 7-Eleven network of stores, agreed to sell and divest some fuel outlets in its proposed $3.3 billion acquisition of 1,100 Sunoco LP outlets, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said Friday. Under the terms of the consent agreement, 7-Eleven will sell 26 retail fuel outlets that it owns to Sunoco, and Sunoco is required to retain 33 fuel outlets that 7-Eleven otherwise would have acquired. The FTC said without the sales the acquisition would harm competition in 76 local markets across 20 metropolitan areas. The deal was announced in April 2017. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)" + }, + { + "text": "WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Jan. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Insignia Capital Group today announced it has hired Sean Kelly as Vice President of Business Development. In his new position, Kelly will focus on increasing the number of investment opportunities for the firm by further developing Insignia's relationships with companies and intermediaries. \"We are thrilled to welcome Sean to our growing team,\" said David Lowe, CEO and Partner of Insignia. \"Sean brings a wealth of experience in deal origination that will help us continue to differentiate Insignia as a preferred partner for management teams and their advisors. We look forward to his contributions to our firm.\" Most recently, Sean was a Director of Business Development at Serent Capital, a San Francisco-based private equity firm with over $1.1 billion in capital under management. At Serent, Sean was responsible for deal origination and qualification, as well as the development of investment themes and intermediary relationships. Prior to Serent, Sean worked at Bainbridge Capital, a capital advisory firm in San Diego, where he originated and evaluated acquisition opportunities for middle-market private equity firms. Sean graduated from the University of San Diego with a B.A. in Business Administration and a minor in Finance. About Insignia Capital Group Insignia Capital Group is a San Francisco Bay Area private equity firm focused on lower middle-market companies. Insignia partners with company founders and management teams to help drive growth and achieve true business potential. The firm's principals have significant experience building businesses across a range of industries including consumer, business services and healthcare. For more information please visit www.insigniacap.com . View original content: SOURCE Insignia Capital Group" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan’s Line Corp said on Wednesday that it had entered an agreement with SoftBank Group Corp to give the telecoms and technology firm a majority stake in Line’s mobile unit. Line said SoftBank would hold a 51 percent stake in the mobile business after the issuance of new shares, with Line holding the remaining 49 percent. Myriad companies have entered Japan’s telecoms market in recent years through the use of virtual networks - where capacity is leased from conventional operators - including Line, which launched its mobile service in September 2016 leasing capacity from Japan’s top wireless carrier NTT DoCoMo Inc. Growth among the mobile virtual network operators has done little to challenge the dominance of the big three players - NTT DoCoMo, KDDI Corp and SoftBank - despite the encouragement of regulators keen to drive down user fees. Rakuten Inc’s announcement in December that it aims to become Japan’s fourth wireless carrier points to a broader shakeup of the telecoms industry, with SoftBank this month saying it is considering listing its domestic wireless business. Separately on Tuesday, Line said it intended to use its popular messaging app to begin offering users financial services including cryptocurrency trading, loans and insurance. Reporting by Sam Nussey; Editing by Jacqueline Wong" + }, + { + "text": "PARIS (AP) — French authorities have deployed boats and helicopters off the coast of southwest France to search for the chief executive of sportswear maker Quiksilver after his empty boat was found washed ashore. The port authority of the Atlantic beach town of Capbreton said the search was launched after Pierre Agnes' empty boat was found washed up Tuesday in nearby Hossegor. Maritime authorities said two boats and three helicopters are involved in the search. The area is known for intense, sometimes dangerous waves that are prized by surfers. Quiksilver, known for its surf wear, was founded in Australia but is now majority-owned by an American investment group and based in Huntington Beach, California. Agnes was the head of its France-based European headquarters before being named CEO of the whole company in 2015." + }, + { + "text": "Trump tips hand on controversial GOP memo 9:48am EST - 01:27 After the State of the Union, President Donald Trump was overheard saying that he ''100%'' plans to release a controversial memo alleging the FBI abused its surveillance tools. Havovi Cooper reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript After the State of the Union, President Donald Trump was overheard saying that he \"100%\" plans to release a controversial memo alleging the FBI abused its surveillance tools. Havovi Cooper reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29 (Reuters) - Obuv Rossii: * Q4 REVENUE RUB 3.6 BILLION, UP 6.5% VERSUS YEAR AGO * Q4 LIKE-FOR-LIKE SALES UP 10.9% * IN 2017 GROUP RETAIL CHAIN INCREASED BY 83 NEW STORES * PLANS TO OPEN ABOUT 500 STORES OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Microsoft halts some AMD chip patches 3:03pm EST - 01:21 Microsoft says it suspended Meltdown and Spectre security patches for computers running AMD chips after complaints that the software updates froze some machines. Elly Park Microsoft says it suspended Meltdown and Spectre security patches for computers running AMD chips after complaints that the software updates froze some machines. Elly Park //reut.rs/2CVr2ox" + }, + { + "text": "SYDNEY (Reuters) - Ashleigh Barty overcame a slow start to win her all-Australian semi-final against Daria Gavrilova 3-6 6-4 6-2 and advance to the final of the Sydney International. The 21-year-old needed one hour, 58 minutes on Friday to see off the challenge of the Russian-born Gavrilova as both players struggled to hold serve throughout the match. Barty held just once in the first set but reversed the momentum in the second when she broke in the ninth game after Gavrilova double faulted twice, which prompted the 23-year-old to smash her racquet in frustration and earn a code violation. Barty then broke early in the decider and again in the seventh game to ease to victory and set up a final against either Camila Giorgi or Angelique Kerber. ”I certainly shot myself in the foot with my serve today,“ she said. ”But happy to get through in the end and get another opportunity tomorrow. “Its been a pleasure playing here this week.” Gavrilova was playing her third successive Australian opponent in Sydney. She had already beaten Olivia Rogowska in the first round and former U.S. Open champion Sam Stosur in the second and advanced to the semi-finals after Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza withdrew with a hip injury. Reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "HONG KONG, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Wanda Hotel Development Co Ltd said late on Tuesday a unit has entered into an agreement to sell the rights and interests in certain property projects in Australia to an independent third party. The company’s shares, which were put on a trading halt on Friday, would remain suspended pending announcement of the disposal, the Hong Kong-listed firm said. It gave no further details. Sources last week said Wanda Hotel’s parent company Dalian Wanda Group was expected to announce the sale of two Australian property projects, which The Australian newspaper said were worth about A$1 billion ($800 million). The sales are expected to lessen financial strains on Dalian Wanda following a major acquisition spree by helping it meet upcoming debt deadlines. China’s regulators last year told banks to stop providing funding for several of Wanda’s overseas acquisitions, sources have said, part of a crackdown on what Beijing sees as irrational spending by some domestic conglomerates. Since then, Wanda, whose businesses range from real estate to football and cinemas, has embarked on a string of asset sales. (Reporting by Donny Kwok; editing by Richard Pullin)" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 10:44 AM / Updated an hour ago Farage meets Barnier, warns of 'no deal' on Brexit Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BRUSSELS (Reuters) - British member of the European Parliament Nigel Farage said on Monday Britain should opt for a hard Brexit if the European Union does not offer an agreement on financial services. Farage, a former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) who campaigned for Britain to leave the EU, said that without a deal on financial services, Britain might just as well base its future relations with the EU on World Trade Organization rules, or what is called the hard Brexit option. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, Farage said the bloc appeared ready to offer a free trade deal for goods but was reluctant to give Britain’s financial services industry open access to its markets: “Unless he can compromise somewhat and be prepared to give on services and financial services, the calls to go out of the EU under WTO rules will increase,” Farage said. Both sides described the meeting as civil, although Farage said he did not think Barnier, a former French foreign minister, understood the role open EU immigration had played in the Brexit vote of 2016. “I really don’t think he gets it,” said Farage, who leads UKIP in the European Parliament, describing his visit to Barnier as a response to meetings he had held with Britons who argue for Brexit to be called off or watered down: “I‘m trying to represent the view of those who voted Brexit,” he said. Reporting by Christopher Stern, Jan Strupczewski, Alastair Macdonald and Philip Blenkinsop" + }, + { + "text": "MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Unseeded Briton Kyle Edmund bludgeoned his way to a shock 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory over third seed Grigor Dimitrov to reach the Australian Open semi-finals on Tuesday. The South Africa-born 23-year-old, playing in his first grand slam quarter-final, showed no nerves as he blazed away with his fearsome forehand to subdue a jaded-looking Dimitrov. Edmund crunched 46 winners to Dimitrov’s 32 on a packed Rod Laver Arena sprinkled with vocal fans of both players. There were nerves as Edmund served for victory but he held firm to become only the sixth British player to make a grand slam semi-final in the professional era. Not only that but he began the tournament as the only British man in the draw after five-times Australian Open runner-up Andy Murray withdrew to have surgery on his injured hip. Murray, recovering back at home, reacted to Edmund’s achievement on Twitter. “Wow!” the Scot said. Coached by Swede Fredrik Rosengren, who once worked with Magnus Norman and big-hitting Robin Soderling, Edmund produced nearly three hours of raw aggression on his first appearance on the Rod Laver showcourt. His moment of victory was slightly delayed after a Hawkeye challenge confirmed Dimitrov’s backhand was out. “It’s an amazing feeling, very happy,” 49th-ranked Edmund, who will face sixth seed Marin Cilic in the last four, said on court. He could even overtake Murray, Britain’s number one since 2006, in the rankings if he gets to the final. Tennis - Australian Open - Quarterfinals - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 23, 2018. Kyle Edmund of Britain shakes hands with Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria after Edmund won their match. REUTERS/Thomas Peter “I know what it feels like to be Andy Murray for the last eight years or however long,” Edmund said of the spotlight now on him after his incredible run in Melbourne. Dimitrov was heavy favorite after his superb fourth-round defeat of home favorite Nick Kyrgios but the portents were not good when he dropped serve in the opening game. “Today was just one of those days, I just couldn’t find a way,” Dimitrov, still awaiting his first major final, said. Slideshow (3 Images) BLISTERING FOREHAND The 26-year-old squared the match when Edmund misfired in the sixth game but the Briton thumped a blistering forehand winner off a weak second serve to grab a 5-4 lead. Dimitrov had two break points and saved a set point in the next game but Edmund earned another chance with a volley and moved ahead with a heavy first serve. Related Coverage Edmund's forehand is best in the business, says Wilander Tennis: Inspiration runs dry for jaded Dimitrov Edmund dipped a little in the second set and Dimitrov took full advantage to level. But the silky Bulgarian never looked comfortable against an ultra aggressive opponent and a double-fault at 3-4 in the third set proved costly. The players swapped breaks in the fourth but Dimitrov was winning only half his first-serve points and the pressure finally told as a backhand error gave Edmund a break at 4-4. In a tense final game, Edmund double-faulted but an ace brought up match point before Dimitrov sliced long. “I am loving it right now, just the way I‘m playing,” Edmund told reporters. “I‘m 23 years old, my first grand slam semi-final. First time I played on one of the biggest courts in the world. To beat a quality of player like Grigor. They’re great feelings.” Editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "27 AM / Updated 26 minutes ago Ngidi named in South Africa squad for India ODI series Reuters Staff 2 Min Read JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Uncapped seamer Lungi Ngidi has been named in South Africa’s one-day International squad to face India in the first three fixtures of a six-match series next month. Ngidi, 21, made his test debut against the touring Indians in Pretoria earlier in January, taking 6-39 in the second innings for a match haul of seven wickets. He also played two Twenty20 Internationals against Sri Lanka 12 months ago but missed the ODI series that followed through injury. Batsman Khaya Zondo, who toured India in 2015 with the side but was not selected, has also been included. “Lungi has achieved a remarkable double in being named man of the match on both his T20 and test match debuts and he now gets the chance to show what he can do in the 50 overs format,” selection panel convener Linda Zondi said in a statement from Cricket South Africa. “Khaya has been on the fringes of selection for some time now which included leading the South Africa A side on their recent 50 overs campaign against the England Lions.” Fast bowler Morne Morkel, all-rounder Chris Morris and leg-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi all return for the series that starts in Durban on Feb. 1. Squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Lungisani Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Khayelihle Zondo Reporting By Nick Said; editing by Sudipto Ganguly" + }, + { + "text": "January 6, 2018 / 5:37 PM / Updated 4 hours ago UPDATE 1-UK's Carillion to discuss rescue with creditors on Jan. 10 Reuters Staff 3 Min Read (Updates with comment from company spokesman) LONDON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Struggling British building and services company Carillion, which is involved in Britain’s planned high-speed rail link HS2, said on Saturday it will meet creditors on Wednesday as it seeks a financial rescue plan. Carillion, a provider of infrastructure projects in several countries beyond Britain, has been fighting for its survival after costly contract delays and a downturn in new business. It is also under investigation by regulators over “the timeliness and content” of statements it made before it issued a profit warning in July, the first of three such warnings issued in quick succession. “The group is currently finalising its business plan, which it intends to present to its financial creditors and certain other stakeholders on Jan. 10, in line with the previously announced timetable,” a company spokesman said. Carillion was in talks to “reduce net debt and recapitalise and/or restructure the group’s balance sheet,” he said. “Once finalised, the business plan will provide the basis for the agreement of a proposal to restore Carillion’s balance sheet,” the spokesman said. Earlier on Saturday, Sky News said Carillion’s rescue plan would involve handing back loss-making contracts, revising the terms of others and possibly accepting government financial support if it cannot secure private funding. That government support could be a loan on commercial terms, a deal to reprice some contracts, or to allow Carillion to hand back loss-making work to the government, Sky News said, quoting unidentified sources. Analysts have estimated the company has debt including provisions, pensions and accounts payable of about 1.5 billion pounds ($2.04 billion) compared with its market capitalisation of about 70 million pounds, according to Thomson Reuters data. In December, Carillion said discussions with stakeholders about its options to cut debt and avoid a breach of debt covenants were “progressing well”. Sky News said the company faced a funding gap of hundreds of millions of pounds and the precise size of the shortfall depended on whether it was able to get out of loss-making contracts. The company’s lenders included Barclays, HSBC and Santander UK, it said. Carillion, which operates in Canada and the Middle East as well as Britain and employs more than 30,000 people, last month brought forward the start date for new chief executive Andrew Davies to Jan. 22. ($1 = 0.7370 pounds) (Writing by William Schomberg; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Adrian Croft)" + }, + { + "text": "SARAJEVO (Reuters) - Bosnia’s economy needs to grow at a faster pace to attain convergence with European Union living standards, but economic reforms may lose momentum this year due to elections, the governor of its central bank said on Monday. Senad Softic said he expected growth to have reached around 3 percent in 2017, the same level as in the previous two years, but did not provide projections for 2018. “With such growth rates we cannot expect significant changes in living standard,” he told Reuters in an interview. “We need a more significant growth of 5 percent over a long period.” In November, the World Bank said it would take as many as six decades for income levels in the Western Balkans to catch up with the EU if economies in the region continued to grow at the average speed achieved between 1995 and 2015. The International Monetary Fund estimated Bosnian growth in 2017 at 2.5 percent and forecast 2.6 percent for 2018. The World Bank’s figures are 3.0 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively. The IMF, EU and other international lenders froze aid for Bosnia last year after agreed economic reforms were interrupted by internal political bickering and ethnic tensions. Senad Softic, Governor of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Central Bank, poses for a photo after the interview for Reuters in his office in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina December 20, 2016. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic In December, parliament passed a long-delayed law on raising road tolls and excise taxes on biofuel, paving the way for unlocking about 1 billion euros ($1.23 billion) of international loans intended primarily for infrastructure projects. Softic said he expected direct foreign investment to have reached 700 million Bosnian marka ($435 million) in 2017, up about 45 percent from the previous year. Developments this year would however depend on how the reform program fared, the pace of economic recovery in the euro zone - Bosnia’s key trade partner - and trends on global markets. “It is essential to direct resources in the economic development of the country, the process of European integration and reforms,” said Softic. “But this is an election year and the focus may rather be on political than on economic issues.” Political campaigning has already started for parliamentary and presidential elections that will be held in October. Softic said Bosnia’s banking sector was stable and liquid, with a 6.6 percent annual rise of new loans up to October 2017, while the rate of bad loans was down to 10.8 percent in the third quarter of 2017 from 12.1 percent in 2016. Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by John Stonestreet, William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 23 (Reuters) - Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp : * Says it plans to issue 18.3 million new shares with par value of T$10 per share and tentative issue price at T$27 per share for working capital supplement * Says 2,742,000 new shares will be offered to the company’s employees, remaining 15,540,000 shares will be offered via public offering Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/c486UT Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT, Jan 15 (Reuters) - The following are some of the factors that may move German stocks on Monday: AIRBUS Airbus is in talks with German prosecutors to end a probe into the sale of Eurofighter jets to Austria in exchange for a settlement of 70-80 million euros ($85 million to $98 million), the Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported. IAG Former Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda has re-emerged as a potential bidder for Niki, the Austrian budget airline he founded whose messy insolvency proceedings may derail an agreed sale to Britain’s IAG. DEUTSCHE BANK Deutsche Bank expects to move fewer than 4,000 jobs to Frankfurt following Britian’s departure from the European Union, CEO John Cryan told Swiss daily Neue Zuercher Zeitung on Saturday. VOLKSWAGEN VW launched an all-new Jetta compact car, its biggest seller in America, at the Detroit Auto Show as the carmaker looks to revive sales in the world’s second-largest auto market and move on from an emissions scandal. VW’s core autos division increased vehicle sales to a new record last year, as rising demand for VW brand models in the Americas and the key Chinese market offset a decline in western Europe. VW plans to spend more than $3.3 billion on development and production of new models in North America from 2018 to 2020 as it reboots operations in the world’s second-largest auto market. C&A German retailer C&A is examining partnerships and other types of outside investment as it develops a turnaround plan focusing on China and other emerging markets, its owner said in response to a report the company may be sold. FRAPORT December air passenger traffic rose by 7.3 percent while cargo was down by 4.5 percent. AUTO1 Japan’s Softbank will invest 460 million euros ($561 million) in used-car dealing platform Auto1, marking the first investment in Germany by its Vision Fund, according to sources familiar with the matter. METRO Q1 trading statement due. OVERSEAS STOCK MARKETS Dow Jones +0.9 pct, S&P 500 +0.7 pct, Nasdaq +0.7 pct at close. Nikkei +0.3 pct, Shanghai stocks -0.1 pct. Time: 6.17 GMT. GERMAN ECONOMIC DATA No economic data scheduled. EUROPEAN FACTORS TO WATCH DIARIES REUTERS TOP NEWS (Reporting by Arno Schuetze and Douglas Busvine)" + }, + { + "text": "BERWYN, Pa., January 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE: AME) will issue its fourth quarter 2017 earnings release before the market opens on Thursday, February 1, 2018. AMETEK will webcast its fourth quarter 2017 investor conference call on Thursday, February 1, 2018, beginning at 8:30 AM ET. The live audio webcast can be accessed by clicking on the Events & Presentations link in the \"Investors\" section of www.ametek.com . A replay of the call will also be archived on the website and will be available until the next quarterly earnings call. Corporate Profile AMETEK is a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with annual sales of approximately $4.0 billion. AMETEK's Corporate Growth Plan is based on Four Key Strategies: Operational Excellence, Strategic Acquisitions, Global & Market Expansion and New Products. AMETEK's objective is double-digit percentage growth in earnings per share over the business cycle and a superior return on total capital. The common stock of AMETEK is a component of the S&P 500 Index. Contact: AMETEK, Inc. Kevin Coleman Vice President, Investor Relations 1100 Cassatt Road Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312 [REDACTED] Phone: 610.889.5247 View original content: SOURCE AMETEK, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Uber competitor Didi expands from China to Brazil Wednesday, January 03, 2018 - 00:51 China's ride-hailing application Didi Chuxing has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Brazilian app 99, newspaper Valor Economico said on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the talks. China's ride-hailing application Didi Chuxing has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Brazilian app 99, newspaper Valor Economico said on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the talks. //reut.rs/2AiRxhE" + }, + { + "text": "Rising gas, tortilla prices unnerve Mexicans Friday, January 05, 2018 - 01:15 Mexico's government denounced price hike forecasts for gasoline and tortillas, saying the increases are unjustified. As Fred Katayama reports, this comes protest threats ahead of the presidential election in July. Mexico's government denounced price hike forecasts for gasoline and tortillas, saying the increases are unjustified. As Fred Katayama reports, this comes protest threats ahead of the presidential election in July. //reut.rs/2CF59cZ" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30(Reuters) - Guangzhou Amsky Technology Co Ltd * Sees FY 2017 net profit to decrease by 10 percent to 30 percent, or to be 32.7 million yuan to 42 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 46.7 million yuan * Says exchange loss and investment loss are the main reasons for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/LZs8jr Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - The White House has released a list of requirements for immigration legislation that it said President Donald Trump would support, offering a path to citizenship for up to 1.8 million young illegal immigrants while tightening border security and clamping down on family sponsorship of immigrants. Here is a look at what the White House said on Thursday that it wants. “DREAMERS” - Expand protections from deportation to 1.8 million so-called “Dreamer” immigrants brought illegally into the country as children, up from the 700,000 people currently signed up for a program begun in 2012 to protect them from deportation and provide work permits. Trump in September rescinded the program, effective in March. - The increase would include people who were eligible for the protections but did not initially sign up. - Allow “Dreamers” to become citizens in 10 to 12 years, with requirements yet to be determined for work and education, as long as they do not commit crimes. BORDER SECURITY - Establish a $25 billion trust fund to pay for a wall on the U.S. southern border with Mexico and security improvements on the northern border with Canada. The trust fund would ensure that Congress in the future could not claw back the money. - Agree to spend more money to hire border guards, immigration judges and other law enforcement personnel, and overhaul the hiring system and pay grades. Trump estimated that would cost $5 billion, but the White House said it was subject to further discussion. - Immediately deport illegal immigrants who cross the southern or northern border even if they are not from Mexico or Canada. That would affect Central American migrants who often arrive at the U.S. border after crossing through Mexico. FAMILY SPONSORSHIP - Limit immigration sponsorship to spouses and minor children, ending the ability to sponsor parents, older children and siblings. That change would annually cut at least 287,700 green cards signifying legal permanent U.S. resident status, according to the Migration Policy Institute think tank. - The change would apply prospectively, meaning people caught in the backlog would still be processed by the old rules. END DIVERSITY VISA LOTTERY - End a lottery for green cards offered to applicants from countries with low immigration rates. The program offers up to 50,000 visas a year. Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Will Dunham" + }, + { + "text": "As Trump heads to Davos, survey points to rising risk of war 9:38am EST - 01:25 The risk of political and economic confrontations between major powers, including outright military conflicts, has risen sharply, according to a survey released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) days before its annual gathering in Davos. The risk of political and economic confrontations between major powers, including outright military conflicts, has risen sharply, according to a survey released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) days before its annual gathering in Davos. //reut.rs/2DkhGDd" + }, + { + "text": "1 COMMENTS Logistics hiring stalled in December even as the larger shipping economy surged and parcel carriers added workers ahead of the holidays. Warehousing and storage payrolls shrank by 4,800 jobs last month, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Friday, halting an eight-month expansion as employers added thousands of workers to handle e-commerce orders heading into the holidays. The dip after the warehousing sector added 8,000 jobs in November is based on preliminary figures that could be revised. It comes as early reports suggest robust retail sales during the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas that were led by strong consumer spending online. Courier and messenger companies added 2,100 jobs in December, the fourth straight monthly increase for parcel delivery firms. Last month, United Parcel Service Inc., which had said it planned to hire roughly 95,000 seasonal workers for the peak season, called in hundreds of its office workers to help handle a late wave of holiday shipments. The U.S. economy overall added 148,000 jobs last month, fewer than economists had expected, while unemployment remained steady at 4.1%. The manufacturing and construction sectors added a combined 55,000 jobs, signaling stronger growth in the industrial economy that would fuel more shipping in the coming months. The U.S. factory sector posted a 14-year-high in sales in December, and falling inventories suggested that production may have to increase in 2018 to satisfy demand, according to the Institute for Supply Management. “The manufacturing segment is very strong and that’s going to be a good boost for freight activity,” said Jonathan Starks, chief operating officer for transportation research group FTR. The national pullback in warehouse hiring contrasted with reports from operators of distribution centers who said they were scrambling to add workers last fall for an anticipated surge in online commerce. ProLogistix, a large logistics staffing firm, boosted its head count by more than 25% during the 2017 holiday peak, with no drop-off in late December, said Senior Vice President Brian Devine. He expects to lose about 15% of those seasonal workers after the holidays. Transportation companies are riding a wave of increased demand from retailers and manufacturers. But carriers say they are having a hard time recruiting and retaining drivers to satisfy freight demand. Trucking companies lost 600 jobs last month, according to the Labor Department, even as some firms are boosting driver pay or other incentives. Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Covenant Transportation Group Inc. said this week it is offering bonuses of up to $20,000 for each driver who signs up to work under a “team driver” operation where drivers switch off time behind the wheel on long-haul deliveries. Drivers often leave the industry for construction or energy jobs that allow them to spend more time at home. Some are retiring, and others may be driving fewer miles than previously because of a new safety mandate requiring truckers to electronically monitor their hours behind the wheel. “The freight is coming to us. We’ve got to have the capacity to fulfill it,” said Jason Beardall, president of England Logistics Inc. “It’s completely dependent on will we have enough trucks to see it through.” Write to Jennifer Smith at [REDACTED]" + }, + { + "text": "(Corrects to read 14.7 trillion, paragraph 4) * Sees production falling 7 percent in 2018 * Looking for partner for Miran and Bina Bawe gas fields * Shares fall 2.2 percent By Ron Bousso and Arathy S Nair Jan 25 (Reuters) - Iraqi Kurdistan-focused Genel Energy expects oil and gas production to fall for a third year in 2018, it said on Thursday, as it shifts its focus to two new gas fields. The decline in production is due to a continuing slide in output from the Taq Taq field, once considered Genel’s flagship field, after the well hit water in 2016. Genel’s operations in the northern Iraqi region were, however, largely unaffected following the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) independence referendum late last year that led to a military confrontation with Baghdad as well as sanctions from neighbouring countries, its Chief Financial Officer Esa Ikaheimonen told Reuters. Although the unrest slowed Genel’s efforts to find a partner to develop the Miran and Bina Bawe gas fields, Genel is increasingly betting on their development after a recent survey showed a 40 percent increase in gas resources to 14.7 trillion cubic feet. “Things are not on hold when it comes to Miran and Bina Bawe ... The referendum did not accelerate anything but it is not bad news for Genel,” Ikaheimonen said. Field development plans, carried out by Baker Hughes , will be completed shortly and the company will carry out further test wells this year, it said. Genel plans to spend between $25 and $40 million on the project in 2018 out of a total capital spending programme of $95 to $140 million. The search for a partner for the fields is ongoing, Ikaheimonen added. London-listed Genel said its 2018 production would fall 7 percent to 32,760 barrels of oil and gas equivalent per day (boed) after 2017 output declined by 34 percent. At 0940 GMT, its shares were down 2.2 percent at 132 pence. The company continued receiving regular payments from the KRG throughout 2017. Genel’s cash proceeds, however, grew by around 30 percent in 2017 to $263 million due to higher oil prices. Free cash flow totalled $140 million last year, while net debt dipped to $135 million following the refinancing of existing bonds in December. (Reporting by Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr and Mark Potter)" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 12:18 PM / Updated 27 minutes ago Factbox: Effect on commodities markets due to U.S. government shutdown Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Commodities markets should trade normally on Monday even though key regulators, including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), will be operating with skeleton crews due to the U.S. government shutdown. During shutdowns, non-essential government employees are furloughed, or placed on temporary unpaid leave. Workers deemed essential, including those dealing with public safety and national security, keep working. Private exchange operators are generally not affected, but weekly economic reports from the U.S. Energy Department and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), key for traders, have in the past been delayed until the government re-opens. FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said it would have to furlough 95 percent of employees immediately. An agency spokeswoman said the derivatives regulator could, however, call in additional staff in the event of a financial market emergency. The 2013 shutdown caused weekly figures on positions in options and futures to be delayed until after the government reopened. ENERGY: The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters. In 2013, the EIA did not send out weekly reports on U.S. inventories, as well as other reports, during the furloughs. Respondents to the department’s surveys were told they could continue to submit data - but no one will be able to answer technical questions. A notice on the Energy Department’s website says that the only functions that will continue are those related to public safety or the protection of property. AGRICULTURE: The USDA said that the shutdown may cause a lapse in the preparation and release of the monthly World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates report, though the next release is not until Feb. 8. Updates to the USDA website will cease, the department said in a notice on its website, so USDA reports will not be provided. Reporting By David Gaffen; Editing by Christian Schmollinger" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 3:21 PM / Updated an hour ago Turkey is an aggressive neighbor, Greek PM tells Europeans in Davos Reuters Staff 3 Min Read DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Wednesday his European partners couldn’t always appreciate the challenges of living with an ‘aggressive’ neighbor such as Turkey, remarks reflecting the strained ties between the two NATO partners. Tsipras was speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos in a discussion about stabilizing the Mediterranean and addressing the migration crisis. Hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants crossed from Turkey into Greece and further into the European Union at the height of the migration crisis in 2015. It coincided with Greece negotiating its third financial bailout from international creditors to stave off bankruptcy. Tsipras, who came to power in early 2015, said he took the helm at a very difficult time for Greece which didn’t only have to grapple with its worst debt crisis and the refugee crisis, but also an “aggressive neighbor, sometimes unpredictable with an aggressive military activity in the Aegean,” Tsipras said. Greece's Prime Ministers Alexis Tsipras gestures as he speaks during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland January 24, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse NATO partners Greece and Turkey have a long history of differences that have outlived the Cold War, ranging from jousting over airspace in the Aegean Sea to minority rights and the ethnically split island of Cyprus. The two now cooperate in a deal brokered between Ankara and the European Union in March 2016 aimed at slowing migrant flows. Tsipras described the deal, which has been criticized by human rights groups, as ‘a difficult but necessary agreement’. Slideshow (3 Images) Tsipras said that implementing the agreement, making sure that international laws were not being violated as Greece has been processing thousands of asylum requests, and ensuring that national interests were also safeguarded, was important. “At the same time we have to take a decision on what we are going to do with this aggressive behavior of Turkey,” he said in response to an observation that Turkey could change its mind on the migration deal at any time. “For somebody (sic), it is very easy to be also aggressive if they are living in Luxembourg or Netherlands, because their neighbors are Belgium and Luxembourg, and not Turkey. But it’s not so easy for us.” Reporting By Michele Kambas and Renee Maltezou, Writing by Michele Kambas, Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "Bankrupt plastics maker M&G USA Corp is seeking court approval to enter into an agreement to sell a shuttered plant in West Virginia and a research center in Ohio for $10 million to chemicals company Indorama Ventures Public Co Ltd of Thailand. Indorama, which has 75 production sites in 25 countries, would serve as a stalking-horse for the transaction, meaning its offer would set a minimum for potential bidding for the facilities in Apple Grove, West Virginia and Sharon Center, Ohio. To read the full story on Westlaw Practitioner Insights, click here: bit.ly/2DisBgC" + }, + { + "text": "ATLANTA, Jan. 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WestRock Company (NYSE:WRK) today announced that it will host a conference call to discuss its fiscal 2018 first quarter results, as well as a strategic announcement, on Monday, January 29, 2018 at 8:30 EST. This call replaces WestRock’s first quarter earnings conference call, previously scheduled for Wednesday, January 31, 2018. The webcast of the call, along with a presentation, press release and other relevant financial and statistical information, will be accessible on the Investors section of WestRock's website at westrock.com . The webcast and presentation will also be archived on westrock.com . Investors who wish to participate in the webcast via teleconference should dial 833-287-0804 (inside the U.S.) or 647-689-4463 (outside the U.S.) at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call and enter the passcode 4387815. About WestRock WestRock (NYSE:WRK) partners with our customers to provide differentiated paper and packaging solutions that help them win in the marketplace. WestRock’s 45,000 team members support customers around the world from more than 300 operating and business locations spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Learn more at www.westrock.com . WestRock Investors: James Armstrong, 470-328-6327 Vice President – Investor Relations [REDACTED] John Stakel, 678-291-7901 Senior Vice President – Treasurer [REDACTED] Media: John Pensec, 470-328-6397 Director, Corporate Communications [REDACTED] Source:WestRock Shared Services, LLC" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Wednesday launched a public review of its operations, indicating broad changes could be coming to the agency after U.S. President Donald Trump appointed an interim director. The regulator, which came under the control of Trump's budget director Mick Mulvaney in November, said it would be seeking comment on its \"enforcement, supervision, rulemaking, market monitoring, and education activities.\" Established under President Barack Obama, the agency has become a partisan lightning rod as Democrats see it as a critical consumer watchdog while Republicans regard it as an excessively powerful bureaucracy. Under new leadership, it is natural for the Bureau to critically examine its policies and practices to ensure they align with the Bureaus statutory mandate,\" Mulvaney, a vocal critic of the CFPB when he served as a Republican lawmaker, said in a statement. The CFPB will start its review seeking public comment on how the agency conducts investigations as part of its enforcement work. The comments could provide the foundation for a significant reworking of the agency's operations. In a sign of a new direction at the agency, Mulvaney on Tuesday said it would reconsider rules it finished in October that would drastically curb the payday lending industry. Former Director Richard Cordray, who resigned in November and is now running for governor of Ohio, criticized the decision on Twitter, calling it a \"truly shameful action by the interim pseudo-leaders of the CFPB.\" Mulvaney is leading the agency until Trump nominates a full-time head. His control is facing a legal challenge from CFPB deputy director Leandra English. She filed a lawsuit arguing she was the legal head of the agency until a new full-time director was in place. A federal judge ruled in Mulvaney's favor earlier this month and English has appealed that ruling. (Reporting by Pete Schroeder; Editing by Andrew Hay)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30(Reuters) - Huizhou Speed Wireless Technology Co Ltd * Sees FY 2017 net profit to decrease by 27 percent to 55.3 percent, or to be 30 million yuan to 49 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 67.2 million yuan * Says decreased investment income is the main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/QNRgJM Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Europe’s currency union - not so long ago on its sickbed - has started the year in rude health. The winning streak looks set to continue since economic confidence in the euro area is at its highest for almost two decades, but it will have an unwelcome side-effect. The more the euro zone economy thrives, the less pressure there will be on European politicians to take steps to prevent future crises. The resurgence is welcome because it bolsters public support for the single currency. However, the boom fostered by the European Central Bank’s (ECB) easy money policies will tempt politicians to shun the hard decisions involved in deeper integration. Further reforms remain vital because the monetary union of 19 states lacks the same fiscal and political foundations that underpin a national currency. Instead there is a divide between northern economies that can cope with the rigor of a common currency and those in southern Europe that have found it hard going. The ECB has rescued the weaklings with its ultra-loose monetary policy, but that offers no more than temporary respite. A rare opportunity for pressing ahead with reforms appeared to open up last year when Emmanuel Macron prevailed over populist euro-skeptic forces in France. The new French president made clear he wanted to rev up the Franco-German engine for closer European integration, which had lapsed when the euro debt crisis was gravest between 2010 and 2012 and Germany took the lead owing to its stronger economy and sounder public finances. Specifically, Macron advocates a euro zone budget and finance minister, in effect the rudiments of a fiscal union to support the monetary union. Just as the reform locomotive was getting up steam in France, it ran into the political sidings in Germany. First, Angela Merkel’s governing CDU/CSU party bloc did much worse than expected in the German election in September, getting its lowest share of the vote since 1949. Then, the chancellor’s first attempt at creating a coalition government, with two ideologically opposed small parties, the pro-business FDP and the environmentalist Greens, collapsed in late November when the FDP abruptly broke off negotiations. Following the breakthrough in this month’s exploratory talks, a renewed coalition with the center-left SPD, with which Merkel has ruled Germany for eight of the past 12 years, now looks possible. But obstacles remain because any eventual formal agreement will have to be put to the SPD’s members, many of whom oppose a further partnership with Merkel since they believe it has undermined the party’s popular support. If they do not endorse a deal the chancellor faces an unpalatable choice between ruling as a minority government or another election, whose result might be as inconclusive as last year’s vote. Even if the strongly pro-European SPD does swallow its reservations and join a coalition government led by Merkel, the euro zone reform train Macron aimed to set rolling looks less likely to make progress than hoped. The German chancellor undoubtedly wants to engage with the French president, who saved Europe from a potentially shattering populist revolt following the Brexit vote. But her response is likely to be a more of a gesture than a genuine change of heart. Angela Merkel (CDU) addresses a media conference after exploratory talks about forming a new coalition government at the SPD headquarters in Berlin, Germany, January 12, 2018. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Merkel after all devoted much time and effort during the crisis to minimizing calls on German taxpayers to support the monetary union, recognizing that this was essential if Germans were to continue backing the venture. She strongly opposed the idea of issuing eurobonds whose liabilities would be jointly shared across the monetary union, making this rejection one of her main campaign points in the 2013 federal election. German policymakers and advisers continue to argue that the euro area can work without a fiscal union. Tighter fiscal bonds would require in effect a political union as well, a project likely to fall foul of popular opposition in some countries to the necessary changes to the European treaties. As a result any reforms that are made this year are likely to be more show than substance. The most likely of these will be a rebranding of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), the euro zone’s bail-out fund created as a result of the crisis, as the European Monetary Fund. But Germany is likely to resist attempts to wrest away the effective national veto over the release of funds that it secured when the ESM was set up. In fact, the most feasible reform that the euro area could make at this stage is to complete the banking union that it embarked upon at the height of the crisis, in mid-2012. This remains a work in progress. The most solid part of the construction is the creation of a single supervisor, a job given to the ECB. A new body has been created to tackle failing banks so that they can go under without causing disruption. But an essential component of a genuine banking union, a shared system of deposit insurance, remains on the drawing board." + }, + { + "text": "The failure to introduce deposit insurance illustrates the obstacles to the reform locomotive. Northern countries fear that it is their depositors who will pick up the bill when less sturdy banks in southern Europe fail. Policymakers such as Jens Weidmann, head of the German Bundesbank, insist that there can be no shared insurance for banks weighed down by bad loans. However, efforts by the ECB to accelerate that weight loss have encountered fierce resistance in Italy, where bad loans are especially oversized. Italian policymakers for their part worry that a crackdown on bad loans could stifle a recovery that has only recently gathered momentum. Yet if completing banking reform is hard, moving towards a fiscal union will be harder still. Just as Italian politicians are reluctant to grasp the nettle of bad loans, so German and Dutch politicians are loath to ask their citizens to make further potential fiscal sacrifices. That was difficult enough when the euro area appeared close to collapse. Now that all is apparently going well, it is even tougher. This isn’t the first time the ECB may have won time for painful reforms only for politicians to waste it. During the first decade of the euro, which was launched in 1999, they did nothing to tackle the flaws in its design as a credit boom papered over the multiple defects. The harsh truth is that institution-building in Europe tends to occur when the continent is in crisis. Growth is the enemy rather than the friend of reform. About the Author Paul Wallace is a London-based writer. A former European economics editor of The Economist, he is author of “The Euro Experiment,” published by Cambridge University Press. The views expressed in this article are not those of Reuters News." + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 9:25 PM / Updated 6 minutes ago Illumina wins $26.7 million in patent fight with Roche unit Ariosa Jan Wolfe 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Gene testing company Illumina on Thursday won a $26.7 million jury verdict in a U.S. lawsuit accusing rival Ariosa Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Roche Holdings AG, of using patented prenatal testing technology without authorization. A federal jury in San Francisco said Ariosa’s Harmony non-invasive prenatal test kits infringed on two Illumina patents. Illumina and Ariosa compete in the growing market for non-invasive prenatal tests, which screen for chromosomal conditions like Down syndrome. San Diego, California-based Illumina had sought more than $100 million in damages. The jury rejected a counterclaim by Ariosa that Illumina had breached a contract between the companies by bringing the lawsuit. Ariosa had sought $88 million in damages from Illumina on that counterclaim. Illumina and Ariosa did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Roche acquired San Jose, California-based Ariosa for $625 million in January 2015. Reporting by Jan Wolfe; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Richard Chang" + }, + { + "text": "1:38 PM EST Now you can buy into the world’s first publicly traded whiskey investment fund. The Single Malt Fund is a unique investment opportunity where Swedish investors can opt to own a small part of a large collection of rare and limited-edition whiskeys. Unlike similar funds that invest in the whiskey companies, this one invests in the actual liquid. “Instead of gold, we buy liquid gold,” Christian Svantesson, the fund’s founder and CEO told Atlas Obscura . While at first glance it might sound absurd, whiskey has actually been a pretty decent investment in recent years. Over the past decade, the return on rare whiskeys has been roughly 25% and the world’s 100 most valuable whiskeys have gone up in value 447% since 2010. The Single Malt Fund has a target return rate of 10 percent, a pretty conservative estimate. The Single Malt Fund will be listed on the Nordic Growth Market and will liquidate after six years. Investors will also have the opportunity to buy bottles from the fund’s inventory online, essentially buying from themselves indirectly. Early responses to the fund are pretty positive. In an interview with Business Insider , Svantesson calls early investors “cautiously cheerful.” SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call on Wednesday that U.S. troops should withdraw from northern Syria’s Manbij region, Turkey’s foreign minister said on Thursday. On Wednesday, prior to his phone call with Trump, Erdogan said Turkey would extend its military operation in Syria to the town of Manbij, a move that could potentially bring Turkish forces into confrontation with those of their NATO ally the United States. Speaking to reporters following a news conference with his Austrian counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu also said Turkey would not attack Syrian government forces unless they made a move against Turkey. Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun; Writing by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by David Dolan" + }, + { + "text": "TORONTO, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Canada’s main stock index edged higher on Friday as broad-based gains offset losses for the energy group after oil prices fell. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index rose 17.93 points, or 0.11 percent, to 16,302.40, shortly after the open. Eight of the index’s 10 main groups were higher. (Reporting by Fergal Smith Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)" + }, + { + "text": "36 AM / Updated 37 minutes ago METALS-Copper prices slide on resurgent U.S. dollar Reuters Staff (Updates prices) By James Regan SYDNEY, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Copper markets in London and Shanghai eased on Tuesday, reversing an earlier uptrend, as the dollar pulled up from a three-year low. Earlier in the session, copper prices edged up in London and Shanghai, helped by a weaker U.S. dollar, which strengthened during Asian trading hours. The dollar’s index against a basket of six major currencies stood at 90.626, having pulled up from Monday’s three-year low of 90.279. A weaker greenback makes dollar-denominated commodities cheaper for holders of other currencies, while a stronger dollar has a reverse effect. Monday’s decision by the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) to lift the yuan’s official midpoint to the greenback to a 1-1/2 year high also supported copper prices. “The moves by the PBOC to raise the fixing of the yuan against the U.S. dollar helped improve the already positive sentiment in the market,” ANZ Bank said. * LONDON COPPER: Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 0.9 percent at $7,142.25 a tonne, as of 0723 GMT. * SHANGHAI COPPER: The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange ended 0.6 percent lower at 54,300 yuan ($8,435.61)a tonne. * RIO TINTO: Rio Tinto stuck to a 2018 production target of 510,000-610,000 tonnes of mined copper and 225,000-265,000 tonnes of refined copper. Aluminium production is targeted at 3.5-3.7 million tonnes. For 2017, aluminium production eased 1 percent and mined copper output fell 9 percent. * CHINA GDP: China’s economic growth is expected to have slowed slightly in the fourth quarter from the previous quarter, a Reuters poll showed, as the government extended a crackdown on debt risks and factory pollution. * YUAN: China’s central bank on Monday lifted its official yuan midpoint to the highest level in more than over 1-1/2 years, to 6.4574 per dollar, reflecting solid spot yuan performance on Friday and broad dollar weakness in overseas markets. * CME COPPER: CME Group won a bigger slice of the copper market in 2017 from its rivals in London and Shanghai, a Reuters analysis of exchange data showed, a trend that is expected to continue though this year. * OTHER METALS: The rise in the U.S. dollar led to an across-the-board decline in ShFE base metals, with aluminium showing the most dramatic loss of nearly 3 percent. PRICES" + }, + { + "text": "ZURICH, Jan 30(Reuters) - The Swiss blue-chip SMI was seen opening 0.2 percent lower at 9,442 points on Tuesday, according to premarket indications by bank Julius Baer . Here are some of the main factors that may affect Swiss stocks: SWATCH The world’s biggest watchmaker says it expects “very positive” growth in 2018 after net profit rose 28 percent in 2017, helped by an improvement in global demand for Swiss watches Shares indicated up 2.9 percent. For more news see UBS The Swiss bank is one of three European banks against whom the U.S. Justice Department and the country’s derivatives regulator said they had filed civil and criminal charges for alleged manipulation in U.S. futures and commodities market. The banks have paid a total of $46.6 million to settle the cases. For more news, click on JULIUS BAER The private bank will announce on Wednesday that Bernhard Hodler, named as chief executive in November when Boris Collardi abruptly left, plans to remain in charge for years to come, the Financial Times reported, citing an unnamed person familiar with the matter. COMPANY STATEMENTS * Julius Baer said it will redeem all of the outstanding perpetual Tier 1 bonds issued on 18 September 2012 at par value on the first call date of 19 March 2018, in accordance with the terms of the bonds. The bonds were used to raise 250 million Swiss francs. * Banque Cantonale Du Jura SA FY net profit up 8.9% at CHF 9.6 million * Wisekey places 162,718 newly issued class B shares * Helvetia Holding AG says Doris Russi Schurter proposed as chairwoman of board of directors, Patrik Gisel will not stand for re-election * Mikron Holding AG says Javier Perez-Freije to become new chief financial officer as of Aug. 1 ECONOMY * December trade surplus steady * KOF leading indicator for January due at 0800 GMT Reporting by Zurich newsroom" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 7:40 AM / Updated 8 hours ago China says Canada meeting on North Korea showed 'Cold War' mentality Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BEIJING (Reuters) - China said on Wednesday a just concluded meeting in Canada about North Korea showed a Cold War mentality and would only undermine a settlement of the North Korea issue. Foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang made the comment at a daily news briefing. China did not attend the meeting in Vancouver, saying it would not help with efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. Reporting by Philip Wen; Writing by Ben Blanchard" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 10 (Reuters) - The chairman of a U.S. Senate committee overseeing business issues asked Apple Inc to answer questions about its disclosure that it slowed older iPhones with flagging batteries, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Wednesday. The California-based company apologized over the issue on Dec. 28, cut battery replacement costs and said it will change its software to show users whether their phone battery is good. Senator John Thune, a Republican who chairs the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said in a Jan. 9 letter to Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook that \"the large volume of consumer criticism leveled against the company in light of its admission suggests that there should have been better transparency.\" Apple said it will cut the price of a replacement for an out-of-warranty battery to $29 from $79 for an iPhone 6 or later. The company also will update its iOS operating system so users can see whether the battery is in poor condition and affecting the phone's performance. Thune asked if Apple considered making free battery replacements available or if it explored offering rebates for customers who paid full price for replacement batteries. He also wants to know if Apple notified consumers of the throttling feature in software updates, which slows the phone, and if customers had the option of declining the update. The letter also asked if similar software was used in earlier iPhone models. Thune wants Apple's answers by Jan. 23 An Apple spokesman did not respond to a request for comment early Wednesday. Apple addressed the concerns about the quality and durability of its products at a time when it is charging $999 for its newest flagship model, the iPhone X. \"We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down,\" it said last month. \"We apologize.\" Apple acknowledged earlier in December that iPhone software can slow down some phones with battery problems. Apple said the problem was that aging lithium batteries delivered power unevenly, which could cause iPhones to shut down unexpectedly to protect the delicate circuits inside. That disclosure played on a common belief among consumers that Apple purposely slows down older phones to encourage customers to buy newer iPhone models. While no credible evidence has emerged that Apple engaged in such conduct, the battery disclosure struck a nerve on social media and elsewhere. Lawsuits have been filed in California, New York and Illinois alleging the company defrauded users by slowing down devices without warning. The company also faces a legal complaint in France, where so-called \"planned obsolesce\" is against the law. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)" + }, + { + "text": "55 AM / Updated 17 minutes ago Britain interested in joining Trans-Pacific trade deal after Brexit: FT LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is interested in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade bloc after it leaves the European Union, the Financial Times newspaper said. Protesters wave the EU and Union flags outside the Palace of Westminster, London, Britain, December 20, 2017. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls The FT said that Britain had started informal talks about joining the bloc in a bid to boost post-Brexit exports. Although the United States pulled out of the talks to form the bloc nearly a year ago, other TPP countries have pledged to move forward with plans for a trade group. The TPP has so far involved only countries around the Pacific Rim such as Japan, Canada and Mexico. However, junior trade minister Greg Hands said there was no geographical restriction that would prevent Britain’s participation. “Nothing is excluded in all of this,” he told the Financial Times. “With these kind of plurilateral relationships, there doesn’t have to be any geographical restriction.” EU rules state that Britain cannot agree new trade deals before it leaves the bloc in March 2019. The newspaper quoted an official from a TPP country as saying it was “way too soon” to discuss UK accession before a Brexit deal. Reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by Guy Faulconbridge" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 10 (Reuters) - Ji Lin Ji En Nickel Industry Co Ltd * Says it received verdict regarding loan lawsuit filed by Jilin branch of China Huarong Asset Management Co Ltd again the co and two other firms * According to the verdict, the co was ordered to repay loan of 180 million yuan and related interest, and bear other lawsuit fees Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/jvCbT9 Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "HONG KONG, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Chinese live-video streaming start-up Kuaishou, backed by Tencent, is nearing the close of a $1 billion funding round led by the tech giant and plans to list as soon as this year, three people familiar with the matter said. The latest funding round values Kuaishou at about $18 billion and has attracted venture capital firm Sequoia Capital China, among other investors, the people said. The fundraising, which is expected to close in the coming weeks, comes as Kuaishou is considering an initial public offering (IPO) as soon as the second half of this year, according to one of the people. It prefers to list in Hong Kong, the person said, adding the IPO plan has not been finalized. The fundraising by seven-year-old Kuaishou, meaning “fast hand” in Chinese, comes as live streaming in China has seen rapid growth, attracting a rush of investment led by tech heavyweights Tencent, Alibaba Group Holding and Baidu Inc. They hope live streaming can boost their existing offerings in e-commerce, social networking and gaming. Kuaishou declined to comment. Tencent and Sequoia China did not immediately respond to requests for comments. The sources declined to be named as the information was confidential. ($1 = 6.3340 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Julie Zhu and Kane Wu in HONG KONG; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)" + }, + { + "text": "In the advertising and marketing-services industry, the word of 2017 was “duopoly”—shorthand for Google and Facebook, and their dominance of the digital media market. The word of 2018 may well be “Amazon.” There are two reasons for this. The first is the leading role played by Amazon in disrupting retailers and brand owners. The second is Amazon’s ambitions to become a leading search and advertising platform itself. More... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "One of the founders of cloud-based supply chain firm Tradeshift said Monday that the U.S. government shutdown will not be a crisis if it lasts less than 10 days. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers woke up today to find the U.S. government still shut down. Senators were set to vote at 12 p.m. ET on a funding bill to get the government moving again. Christian Lanng, Tradeshift's CEO and co-founder, said it was unusual to see \"peak Dow\" and a government shutdown at the same time. \"It is kind of strange and obviously, it will have some impact but I do think this is political grandstanding rather than a real economic impact,\" he told CNBC at The Sanctuary in Davos, Switzerland. \"I think it will be resolved within 10 days, but if not it will be a crisis.\" Tradeshift is a firm that claims to simplify procurement, expenses management and business travel. It stands to benefit from flourishing international trade. But Lanng said isolationist policies, such as those that have been espoused by the U.S. government of late, would not harm his company. \"Globalization is a trend that has lasted 4,000 years. I don't think people realize how deeply it is integrated into our daily lives. \"If the U.S. steps out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) then what America might discover is, while it is a very powerful nation with a big economy, the world will move on,\" he said." + }, + { + "text": "11 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago BRIEF-Spirit Airlines sees 'pretty big' tax deferral following tax overhaul Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 23 (Reuters) - Spirit Airlines Inc: * SPIRIT AIRLINES TREASURER SAYS WOULD WANT TO SECURE AGREEMENT WITH PILOTS BEFORE CONFIRMING A NEW PLANE ORDER * SPIRIT AIRLINES TREASURER SAYS THE TAX REFORM IS A ‘BIG DEAL’ FOR THE AIRLINE; HAS A PRETTY BIG TAX DEFERRAL LIABILITY * SPIRIT AIRLINES TREASURER SAYS IF RIGHT OPPORTUNITY THERE SPIRIT WILL ALWAYS LOOK AT CONSOLIDATION OPPORTUNITIES Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Reporting By Conor Humphries)" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 2:25 AM / Updated 3 hours ago Three still missing in California's deadly mudslides Reuters Staff 3 Min Read (Reuters) - The number of people missing from last week’s deadly Southern California mudslides fell to three on Monday as hundreds of rescue workers searched for survivors from the rain-driven slides that killed 20 people. A search and rescue dog is guided through properties after a mudslide in Montecito, California, U.S. January 12, 2018. REUTERS/ Kyle Grillot A 53-year-old transient, John Keating, had been listed among the four still missing but was found safely in Ventura, California, with his dog, the Santa County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Three people ages 2 to 28 are still listed as missing after sheriff’s detectives investigated more than 100 missing persons cases, the statement said. Emergency officials said hopes were diminishing that they would pull more survivors from the ravaged landscape of hardened muck, boulders and twisted debris left behind by the Tuesday mudslides that scoured a landscape already barren from last year’s record-setting wildfires. The mudslides that scoured the affluent community of Montecito, 85 miles (137 km) northwest of Los Angeles, caused the greatest loss of life from a California mudslide in at least 13 years. Rescue workers scour through cars for missing persons after a mudslide in Montecito, California, U.S. January 12, 2018. REUTERS/Kyle Grillot Ten people perished in January 2005 when a hillside saturated by weeks of torrential rains collapsed in the seaside hamlet of La Conchita, 18 miles (29 km) southeast of Montecito, burying more than a dozen homes in seconds. The White House on Monday said that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the situation. “The President and First Lady extend their deepest sympathies to the families affected, their appreciation for the first responders saving lives, and their prayers for those who remain missing,” the White House said in a statement. Another 900 emergency personnel arrived this weekend to join the relief effort conducted by more than 2,100 personnel from local, state and federal agencies. The destruction covered 30 square miles (78 square km), leaving 65 single-family homes demolished and more than 450 damaged. Nearly 30 commercial properties were damaged or destroyed, officials said. As a precaution against further slides, officials have ordered residents in most of the southeastern corner of Montecito to leave their homes for what was likely to be one or two weeks. Reporting by Scott Malone in Boston; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Lisa Shumaker" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 3:44 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Treasury secretary asks Congress to lift debt ceiling by Feb. 28: report Reuters Staff 1 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has asked Republican leaders in Congress to lift the federal government’s debt ceiling by Feb. 28, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing two sources familiar with the talks. The U.S. Treasury Department will exhaust all of its borrowing options and run dry of cash to pay its bills by late March or early April if Congress does not raise its borrowing authority by then, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said. Writing by Susan Heavey" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 8:31 AM / Updated 9 minutes ago MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi edges up as Kingdom continues rebound, rest of Gulf sluggish Reuters Staff 2 Min Read DUBAI, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia’s stock market rose in early trade on Monday as investment firm Kingdom Holding continued rebounding after its owner Prince Alwaleed bin Talal was released from custody, while other Gulf markets were sluggish. The Saudi index gained 0.5 percent in the first hour as Kingdom added 4.8 percent to 10.52 riyals in heavy volumes, rising above the 10.28 riyal level where it traded before Prince Alwaleed was detained in a corruption probe last November. During Prince Alwaleed’s detention, the Saudi stock index rose over 8 percent. Nevertheless, Kingdom’s rebound was seen as a vote of confidence in the company. Saudi officials said the prince would keep control of Kingdom after his release. Rising Saudi stocks outnumbered losers by 102 to 68. Petrochemical firm Sipchem gained 2.4 percent after it estimated fourth-quarter net profit jumped to 164.4 million riyals ($43.8 million) from 31.9 million riyals, beating SICO Bahrain’s forecast of 154 million riyals and NCB Capital’s 135 million riyals. Top petrochemical producer Saudi Basic Industries, which dropped 2.8 percent on Sunday after weak quarterly earnings, rebounded 1.0 percent. But fashion retailer Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co, which had jumped 6.8 percent on Sunday after some of its major shareholders were released in the broad corruption probe, fell back 0.7 percent. Dubai’s index was flat and Abu Dhabi edged down 0.2 percent as Abu Dhabi National Energy retreated 3.5 percent. Qatar’s index slipped 0.4 percent as drilling rig provider Gulf International Services, which had climbed 3.6 percent on Sunday in heavy trade, pulled back 1.8 percent. (Reporting by Andrew Torchia; Editing by Catherine Evans)" + }, + { + "text": "KINGSEY FALLS, QC, Jan. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Cascades Inc. (TSX: CAS), a leader in the recovery and manufacturing of green packaging and tissue products, announced that it has completed the sale of the building and land of its Maspeth plant, located in the state of New York, for US$72 million. The Company accepted an offer from a private buyer and will continue to use the facility until December 31, 2018, the date the plant is scheduled to close. Last August, as part of the modernization and optimization of its operations in the Northeastern U.S., Cascades announced that it had decided to shut down the Maspeth packaging plant due to the physical limitations of the site. The volumes will be progressively redeployed to other Cascades units over the course of the year. Charles Malo, President and Chief Operating Officer of Cascades Containerboard Packaging, noted \"The reorganization of our activities in the region will be done gradually to ensure a smooth transition for our customers, thus continuing to reinforce our commitment and ability to act as a preferred partner in their ongoing development.\" Founded in 1964, Cascades produces, converts and markets packaging and tissue products that are composed mainly of recycled fibres. Cascades employs 11,000 women and men, who work in more than 90 production units across North America and Europe. With its management philosophy, half a century of experience in recycling, and continuous efforts in research and development as driving forces, Cascades continues to deliver the innovative products that customers have come to rely on. Cascades' shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CAS. Website: www.cascades.com Green by Nature blog: blog.cascades.com Facebook: facebook.com/Cascades Twitter: twitter.com/CascadesDD | twitter.com/CascadesSD | twitter.com/CascadesInvest YouTube: youtube.com/Cascades SOURCE Cascades Inc." + }, + { + "text": "SOMERSET, N.J.,, Jan. 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MTBC (Nasdaq: MTBC) (Nasdaq: MTBCP), a leading provider of proprietary, cloud-based healthcare IT solutions and services, will release its financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2017 before the market opens on Wednesday, March 7, 2018. The Company will follow with a conference call for investors on March 7 at 8:30 a.m. ET, during which management will review certain highlights of the fourth-quarter and full-year 2017, including: Achievement of full-year revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance; 30% year-over-year revenue growth for full-year 2017; Highest quarterly and full-year adjusted EBITDA in MTBC’s history; Payoff of virtually all corporate debt during 2017; and Closing 2017 positioned for additional growth with an untapped $5 million credit facility and more than $4 million in cash. The live webcast of the conference call can be accessed at ir.mtbc.com or by dialing 412-317-5131 and referencing “MTBC Fourth Quarter 2017 Earnings Call.” A replay of the conference call will be available approximately one hour after conclusion of the call at the same link , and will be accessible through June 30, 2018. The replay can also be accessed by dialing 412-317-0088 and providing access code 10116612. Please visit MTBC’s Investor Relations website at ir.mtbc.com to view the MTBC Fact Sheet, Corporate Presentation, and listen to interviews with the MTBC leadership team. About MTBC Medical Transcription Billing, Corp. (MTBC) is a healthcare information technology company that provides a fully integrated suite of proprietary web-based solutions, together with related business services, to healthcare providers practicing in ambulatory care settings. Our integrated Software-as-a-Service (or SaaS) platform helps our customers increase revenues, streamline workflows and make better business and clinical decisions, while reducing administrative burdens and operating costs. MTBC's common stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker symbol “MTBC,” and its Series A Preferred Stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the ticker symbol “MTBCP.” For additional information, please visit our website at www.mtbc.com . Follow MTBC on TWITTER , LINKEDIN and FACEBOOK . SOURCE MTBC Company and Investor Contact: Bill Korn Chief Financial Officer Medical Transcription Billing, Corp. [REDACTED] (732) 873-5133 Source: MTBC" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - China’s JD.com Inc is preparing to enter the United States by the end of this year, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, in a move that will challenge its Chinese rival Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and U.S.-based Amazon Inc. JD.com is seeking funds for its international expansion and is in final talks to sell 15 percent of its logistics arm to shareholder Tencent Holdings Ltd and other investors in an early fundraising round, Bloomberg reported. ( bloom.bg/2DBxEZw ) Tencent will get about a third of the shares on offer and the deal will be completed by the middle of next month, JD.com founder Richard Liu told Bloomberg in an interview. JD.com and Tencent were not immediately available for comment. (Reporting by Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri)" + }, + { + "text": "January 14, 2018 / 4:43 PM / Updated 26 minutes ago Twenty dead as search for California mudslide survivors grinds on Paula Lehman-Ewing 3 Min Read LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The search for survivors of the deadly mudslides in parts of California’s Santa Barbara County continued Sunday even as hopes dwindled to find anyone alive, officials said. “We’re still in rescue mode and we still hope to find someone alive, although the chances of that are becoming slim,” said Justin Cooper, a spokesperson for the multi-agency response team. The death toll rose to 20 on Sunday with four people still missing, Cooper said. Another 900 emergency personnel arrived this weekend to join the relief effort conducted by more than 2,100 personnel from local, state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy and the American Red Cross. The ramped-up rescue effort is in response to urgent requests for additional manpower made earlier in the week. Heavy rains on Tuesday soaked the area near Montecito, north of Los Angeles, where vegetation had been stripped away by the largest wildfire in California’s history last month. Rescue workers scour through cars for missing persons after a mudslide in Montecito. REUTERS/Kyle Grillot Sodden hillsides gave way, unleashing a torrent of mud, water, uprooted trees and boulders onto the valley below and killing people aged 3 to 89. The destruction covered 30 square miles (78 square km), according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and forced the partial closure of one of California’s most celebrated coastal roads, the heavily used Highway 101. Slideshow (4 Images) Officials ordered residents in most of the southeastern corner of Montecito, which is east of Santa Barbara, to leave their homes for what was likely to be one or two weeks. Many fled to nearby Carpinteria, where local resident Tessa Nash said they were communicating via a Facebook page called Carpinteria Swap, which is usually focused on buying and selling secondhand goods. In the last few days, Nash said, it has been carrying information about community-led blood drives and transportation tips. “We’re really joined together,” she said. “We’re affected here in Carpinteria in the sense that we’re taking these people in and a lot of people are out of work because they can’t travel. It’s a trickle down effect.” Additional reporting and writing by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Louise Heavens asnd Jeffrey Benkoe" + }, + { + "text": "Global markets: oil slides, dollar in the dumps 9:12am EST - 01:53 Share markets continue to take heart after China's GDP data adds more brushstrokes to an improving global growth picture. But, as David Pollard reports, fears of a US government shutdown dominate the dollar, and oil prices slide sharply on supply concerns. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Share markets continue to take heart after China's GDP data adds more brushstrokes to an improving global growth picture. But, as David Pollard reports, fears of a US government shutdown dominate the dollar, and oil prices slide sharply on supply concerns. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "DUBAI (Reuters) - Yemen’s Houthi movement fired a ballistic missile toward the southern Saudi province of Najran on Saturday, the group’s official al-Masirah TV reported, and a Saudi military spokesman said air defense forces had intercepted the missile. The TV channel said the short-range missile targeted a military base. There were no reports of casualties or damage. The Iranian-aligned Houthis have launched scores of missiles at the kingdom. While causing little serious damage, they have deepened tensions between Riyadh and Tehran. Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of supplying missile parts and expertise to the Houthis, who have taken over the Yemeni capital Sanaa and other parts of the country during its civil war. Iran and the Houthis deny the charge. A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in the conflict in March 2015 after the movement drove Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi into exile. The conflict has killed more than 10,000 people, displaced over two million and unleashed a wave of hunger and disease. Reporting By Noah Browning and Mostafa; Editing by Janet Lawrence" + }, + { + "text": "MILAN Opponents of the euro are rearing their heads again, this time in Italy. Matteo Salvini, leader of the country’s anti-immigration Northern League party, has reiterated his opposition to the single currency. Growing Italian discontent with the European Union could help to make the issue a vote-winner in elections planned for March 4. Despite a widespread economic revival, monetary union remains a political target. Investors thought they had put the threat of a euro breakup to bed after opponents of the currency bloc were trounced in French, Dutch and German elections last year. But they are springing up elsewhere. Salvini, who has an outside chance of becoming Italy’s next prime minister, this week told newspaper La Repubblica he remained convinced that the euro was a mistake and vowed to rectify the error. In his manifesto, Salvini pledges to renegotiate EU treaties in order to regain political and monetary sovereignty. He has also spoken of introducing a parallel currency. The tactic is probably designed to steal votes from the 5-Star Movement, currently projected to become Italy’s largest single party with 28 percent of votes. The anti-establishment group had previously promised a referendum on leaving the single currency. But in a bid to appease moderate voters, leader Luigi Di Maio last year declared the plan would be a last resort. Relative political calm and resurgent growth in the euro zone’s third-largest economy helped propel Milan’s FTSE MIB Index to a two-year high in November, making it among Europe’s best-performing indexes. Yet bashing Brussels could yield political gains in the boot-shaped country. Once staunchly pro-EU Italians have become more sceptical about the union. According to a Eurobarometer poll published in November only 34 percent of Italian respondents said they tended to trust the EU, the lowest level in the bloc outside Greece, Britain and France. Anti-euro rhetoric can backfire, though. Marine Le Pen’s vague plan to pull out of the single currency cost her votes in last year’s French presidential election. If the threat of a return to the lira becomes too real, savers could get cold feet. Even so, Italy’s election is shaping up to be another political test for the euro." + }, + { + "text": "11 Saudi princes detained in protest: report Saturday, January 06, 2018 - 01:03 Local media report that 11 Saudi princes were arrested at a rare protest at the royal palace, coming after last year's corruption crackdown that hit dozens of the country's elite. Local media report that 11 Saudi princes were arrested at a rare protest at the royal palace, coming after last year's corruption crackdown that hit dozens of the country's elite. //in.reuters.com/video/2018/01/06/11-saudi-princes-detained-in-protest-rep?videoId=379443464&videoChannel=101" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15(Reuters) - Shenzhen Centralcon Investment Holding Co Ltd * Says it signs agreement to sell 100 percent stake and creditor’s rights in Centralcon Investment Holding(Hong Kong)Company Limited to Centralcon (Group) Holdings Company Limited, for HK$2.15 billion in total Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/T4msSd Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "SHANGHAI, Jan 11 (Reuters) - China stocks were little changed on Thursday, with the benchmark index up for a 10th successive session even as investors took profit in consumer and energy firms after a recent robust rally. A media report that China was considering reducing or halting purchases of U.S. Treasuries had little impact on the share market. ** At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was up 3.74 points or 0.11 percent at 3,425.57, its highest in seven weeks. ** The blue-chip CSI300 index was down 0.05 percent, with its financial sector sub-index higher by 0.29 percent, the consumer staples sector down 1.24 percent, the real estate index down 0.39 percent and healthcare sub-index down 0.39 percent. ** The smaller Shenzhen index ended up 0.38 percent and the start-up board ChiNext Composite index was higher by 0.73 percent. ** Around 0.27 percent while Japan’s Nikkei index closed down 0.33 percent . ** At 07:03 GMT, the yuan was Quote: d at 6.5085 per U.S. dollar, 0.02 percent weaker than the previous close of 6.5071. ** The largest percentage gainers in the main Shanghai Composite index were Chengdu Xuguang Electronics Co Ltd up 10.05 percent, followed by Beijing Vantone Real Estate Co Ltd gaining 10.04 percent and Sunyard System Engineering Co Ltd up by 10.03 percent. ** The largest percentage losses in the Shanghai index were Anhui Conch Cement Co Ltd down 7.27 percent, followed by Zhuzhou Kibing Group Co Ltd losing 7.1 percent and Gansu Qilianshan Cement Group Co Ltd down by 5.91 percent. ** So far this year, the Shanghai stock index is up 3.47 percent, the CSI300 is up this year, while China’s H-share index listed in Hong Kong is up 5.0 percent. ** About 17.38 billion shares were traded on the Shanghai exchange, roughly 109.7 15.85 billion shares a day. The volume in the previous trading session was 20.91 billion. ** As of 07:04 GMT, China’s A-shares were trading at a premium of 28.16 Shanghai stock index is above its 50-day moving average and above its 200-day moving average. ** The price-to-earnings ratio of the Shanghai index was 15.45 1.9 Shanghai stock index has risen by 1.05 percent to 30.02 trillion yuan. (Reporting by Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)" + }, + { + "text": "Senior guard Jalen Lindsey made four 3-pointers while scoring 18 points to help Providence post a 71-64 victory over DePaul on Friday in Big East play at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Sophomore guard Alpha Diallo scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half and collected nine rebounds for the Friars (12-6, 3-2 Big East). Junior guard Isaiah Jackson added 15 points, and senior forward Rodney Bullock had 12 points and eight rebounds for Providence, which used a 22-0 second-half run to overcome a 12-point deficit. Senior center Marin Maric scored 15 points for DePaul (8-9, 1-4), which lost for the fourth time in five games. Junior guard Eli Cain and senior forward Tre‘Darius McCallum added 10 points apiece. Blue Demons junior guard Max Strus missed a tying 3-point attempt with 20 seconds left. Bullock scored on a fast-break dunk with 15.6 seconds to go and Jackson added two free throws to seal it for Providence. DePaul led 35-34 at halftime and rolled off the first 11 of the second half to open up a 12-point lead. Maric scored the final five of the burst, including a 3-pointer to end the run and make it 46-34 with 17:02 remaining. The Blue Demons then missed 13 consecutive shots to help fuel the Providence comeback. Diallo scored three straight inside baskets to pull the Friars within six, and they eventually moved ahead at 47-46 when Lindsey knocked down a 3-pointer with 12:44 to play. Another 3-pointer by Lindsey made it 54-46, and Bullock capped the 22-0 run with a layup with 9:48 to play. DePaul moved within 60-53 on McCallum’s basket with 6:02 to play, but the Friars answered with six straight to make it a 13-point margin with 4:16 to go. The Blue Demons responded with an 11-1 burst, and back-to-back 3-pointers by Cain and Strus pulled them within 67-64 with 1:40 left. Providence led 20-12 after a 3-pointer by Jackson with 13:15 left in the first half and later increased the edge to 29-18 on Cartwright’s jumper with 8:42 to play. The Blue Demons erupted with a 17-4 run to take the lead. A three-point play by freshman forward Jaylen Butz pulled DePaul within 31-28 with 5:19 left and the Blue Demons moved ahead 35-33 on McCallum’s jumper with 55 seconds left. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "Goldman Sachs Group Inc. posted its first quarterly loss in six years as a dismal showing by its trading unit compounded a one-time charge related to the new tax law. The Wall Street firm posted a $1.93 billion loss, or $5.51 a share, on $7.83 billion in revenue. A $4.4 billion tax-related charge wiped out the firm’s entire quarterly profit and more than half of its earnings for the year. Goldman... RELATED VIDEO A Brief History of Retail Banking The retail banking industry is undergoing another major shift, and the future looks high-tech, sophisticated, and, for big banks, very urban. So what has changed? Photo: Shaumbé Wright/The Wall Street Journal" + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 5:20 PM / in 3 minutes N.Y. Fed sees U.S. first-quarter GDP slowing near 3 percent Reuters Staff 2 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Federal Reserve on Friday reduced its estimate on U.S. gross domestic product growth for the first quarter of 2018 as a steeper-than-forecast drop in homebuilding in December offset a stronger-than-expected increase in industrial production last month. The regional central bank’s “Nowcast” model calculated the U.S. economy was expanding at an annualized pace of 3.07 percent in the first quarter, slower than the 3.21 percent rate calculated a week earlier. The New York Fed raised its GDP estimate for the final three months of 2017 to 3.94 percent from 3.88 percent last week. On Thursday, the government said domestic home construction fell 8.2 percent in December for its biggest percentage decline in 13 months to an annualized pace of 1.192 million units. Economists blamed the drop on unusually chilly weather at the end of December. The Federal Reserve said on Wednesday factory production grew 0.9 percent last month stemming from a pickup in heating demand from the cold weather. Reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Susan Thomas" + }, + { + "text": "VIENNA, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Austrian lender BAWAG’s online banking services and its website were down on Thursday due to technical problems, a spokeswoman said, adding she could rule out a cyber attack. “We are currently experiencing problems with online banking, our app and our website due to a technical malfunction at our (internet services) provider,�� the spokeswoman said, adding that BAWAG’s subsidiary Easybank was also affected. “A hacking attack can be ruled out,” she said. Reporting by Kirsti Knolle; Editing by Shadia Nasralla Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Snow, Trump set to besiege World Economic Forum 10:06am GMT - 02:18 The World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland is being overwhelmed by the biggest snowfall in 10 years and President Trump's 'America First' agenda, the latter threatening to turn the annual event into the geopolitical version of 'The Apprentice.' The World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland is being overwhelmed by the biggest snowfall in 10 years and President Trump's 'America First' agenda, the latter threatening to turn the annual event into the geopolitical version of 'The Apprentice.' //reut.rs/2Dx38jG" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29 (Reuters) - Cattolica Assicurazioni: * SAYS SEES OPERATING PROFIT AT 2020 AT 375-400 MILLION EURO, UP MORE THAN 60% VERSUS 2016 * SAYS SEES SOLVENCY II RATIO BETWEEN 160% AND 180% AT 2020 * GROSS WRITTEN PREMIUMS WILL INCREASE BY 64% WITH EXPECTED TOTAL PREMIUMS AT EUR 7.6- 8 BILLION AT 2020 * SEES NON-LIFE PREMIUMS AT EUR 2.4- 2.6BLN (+27%) AT 2020 * SEES LIFE PREMIUMS BETWEEN EUR 5.2-5.4 BILLION AT 2020 (+91%) * SAYS SEES DIVIDEND PER SHARE UP BY ABOUT 50% IN 2020 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Published: Jan 8, 2018 1:46 p.m. ET Share The North American Free Trade Agreement has been good for farmers By System/Daniel Dale Has Trump been good for farmers? When President Donald Trump addresses the U.S. agricultural community Monday, farmers will be looking for signs that a recent push to lobby him in support of the North American Free Trade Agreement has been successful. That effort, which has included Republican senators from farm states offering charts and graphs illustrating the benefits of the trade deal, has left some hopeful that the administration has softened an earlier tough stance on Nafta. Fueling those hopes has been the president’s refraining from harsh anti-Nafta rhetoric since his last tweet regarding the pact in August. “We’re doing everything we can to have our voices heard,” said Sen. Deb Fischer (R., Neb.), a rancher and one of several lawmakers who attended a steak lunch with Trump in December. Sen. Joni Ernst (R., Iowa) brought a chart showing a negative impact of Trump’s anti-Nafta messages on hog futures. Last week, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R., Kan.) led another group to the White House to reinforce the message. White House officials say Trump has continued to meet with “stakeholders on all sides” on the issue. One official familiar with the strategy said that in staying relatively quiet on Nafta, the president is giving U.S. negotiators maximum leverage in the talks." + }, + { + "text": "19 AM / in 18 minutes Poland's PKN Q4 net profit falls 11 pct, misses forecast Reuters Staff 1 Min Read WARSAW, Jan 25 (Reuters) - PKN Orlen, Poland’s top oil refiner, said on Thursday fourth-quarter net profit fell by 11 percent year-on-year to 1.59 billion zlotys ($477.42 million) as higher oil prices hit its refining margins. Analysts had expected the state-run PKN Orlen to report a net profit of 1.72 billion zlotys in the fourth quarter compared with 1.79 billion zlotys a year ago, when refinery shutdowns weighed on the results. $1 = 3.3304 zlotys Reporting by Anna Koper; Writing by Marcin Goclowski and Agnieszka Barteczko, Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 5:34 PM / Updated 21 minutes ago New York City sues drug companies over opioid epidemic Jonathan Stempel , Nate Raymond 2 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City on Tuesday sued eight companies that make or distribute prescription opioids, blaming them for a deadly epidemic afflicting the most populous U.S. city. Mayor Bill de Blasio said the lawsuit seeks $500 million of damages to help fight the epidemic in the city, which kills more people annually than homicides and car accidents combined, including more than 1,100 from opioid-induced overdoses in 2016. The defendants include the manufacturers Allergan Plc ( AGN.N ), Endo International Plc ( ENDP.O ), Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ.N ), Purdue Pharma LP and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd ( TEVA.TA ), and the distributors AmerisourceBergen Corp ( ABC.N ), Cardinal Health Inc ( CAH.N ) and McKesson Corp ( MCK.N ). In a 256-page complaint filed in a state court in Manhattan, New York accused manufacturers of having for two decades misled consumers into believing that prescription opioids were safe to treat chronic non-cancer pain with minimal risk of addiction. The city also accused distributors of fueling the abuse by failing to control the distribution of opioids, including by not identifying suspicious orders and reporting them to authorities. Endo and Purdue denied the city’s allegations and McKesson declined to comment on the lawsuit. They and AmerisourceBergen emphasized the importance of fighting opioid abuse. The other defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York and Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Tom Brown and Marguerita Choy" + }, + { + "text": "ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - At least seven people died after clashes broke out between security forces and worshippers taking part in a religious ceremony marking Epiphany in northern Ethiopia over the weekend, officials said. Authorities in the Horn of Africa country’s Amhara region said they were yet to determine the causes of the violence that first erupted on Saturday in the town of Woldiya, more than 500 kilometers north of the capital Addis Ababa. “Attempts to unblock roads and prevent the destruction of property are still ongoing. The situation has improved (since Sunday) but we are still having to undertake such measures,” said Amare Goshu, a police commissioner of the district. One member of security forces deployed to quell the violence was among the dead, he said. Orthodox Christians use Epiphany celebrations to mark the baptism of Jesus Christ. It was not immediately clear if the violence is related to unrest that plagued the country in 2015 and 2016. In Ethiopia’s central Oromiya province, hundreds were killed over that period in violence triggered by allegations of land grabs, with protests then broadening into demonstrations over political restrictions and perceived rights abuses. Protests had also previously taken place in the Amhara region, with dozens dying in violence sparked by a territorial dispute. Ethiopia is a Western ally against Islamist militants in neighboring Somalia and an economic power seen as a center of relative stability in a fragile region. The government in Addis Ababa has sought to calm political turmoil by announcing reforms and releasing dissidents. Last week, a senior opposition leader jailed for collusion with anti-government rebel groups was freed alongside 114 other inmates. Reporting by Aaron Maasho; Editing by Toby Chopra" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 9:39 PM / a few seconds ago Capital One Financial reports $1.05 billion quarterly loss Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - U.S. credit card issuer Capital One Financial Corp ( COF.N ) reported a fourth-quarter loss of $1.05 billion on a provision for income taxes. The company swung to a loss of $1.05 billion, or $2.17 per share from a profit of $710 million, or $1.45 per share, a year earlier. The income tax provision rose to $2.17 billion from $342 million last year. Reporting by Diptendu Lahiri in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Eleven companies selling products to help people addicted to opioids have no proof to support claims that their pills and treatments aid in overcoming an opioid addiction, two government agencies said on Wednesday. The Federal Trade Commission and Food and Drug Administration said they had posted warning letters to 11 companies that market or distribute the treatments. “Health fraud scams like these can pose serious health risks. These products have not been demonstrated to be safe or effective and may keep some patients from seeking appropriate, FDA-approved therapies,” the FTC said in its release. Opioids, including prescription painkillers and heroin, played a role in 42,249 U.S. deaths in 2016, up 28 percent from 2015 and 47 percent from 2014, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The opioid crisis has lowered overall life expectancy in Americans. The 11 companies and products named were Opiate Freedom Center (Opiate Freedom 5-Pack); U4Life, LLC (Mitadone); CalmSupport, LLC (CalmSupport); TaperAid (TaperAid & TaperAid Complete); Medicus Holistic Alternatives, LLC (Natracet); NutraCore Health Products, LLC (Opiate Detox Pro); Healthy Healing, LLC (Withdrawal Support); Soothedrawal, Inc (Soothedrawal); Choice Detox Center, Inc (Nofeel); GUNA, Inc (GUNA-ADDICT 1); and King Bio, Inc (AddictaPlex). Reuters attempted to reach out to 11 companies for comment. The websites for several appeared to be offline and no contact information was available. Others could be reached but did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Susan Thomas" + }, + { + "text": "stimulus@ (Adds market reaction, economist quote) WASHINGTON, Jan 3 (Reuters) - U.S. Federal showed worry over the fate of currently low inflation and saw recent tax changes as providing a boost to consumer spending, according to the minutes of the U.S. central bank's last policy meeting on Dec. 12-13 released on Wednesday. The details of the meeting, at which the Fed raised interest rates for the fifth time since the 2008 financial crisis, also showed that officials have a similar lack of certainty over the impact of fiscal stimulus on raising price pressures. \"Most participants reiterated their support for continuing a gradual approach to raising the target range, noting that this approach helped to balance risks to the outlook for economic activity and inflation,\" the Fed said in the minutes. They then mulled the dual possibilities that the Trump administration's tax cuts or easy financial conditions could cause inflation pressures to build unduly, while at the same time also considering that actual or expected inflation may fail to rise U.S. stocks were little changed following the publication of the minutes and U.S. Treasury yields were little changed. The U.S. dollar extended gains against a basket of currencies. The inflation shortfall is set to dominate incoming Fed Chair Jerome Powell's first few months as chief of the central bank with further rate increases more difficult to justify without an upswing. He is set to take over from Janet Yellen by the time of the next rate-setting meeting on Jan. 31-Feb. 1. \"They have been taking a middle-of-the road on their policy approach...if inflation picks up, they will go faster 1/8on rate rises 3/8. If things slow down, they will go slower,\" said Stephen Stanley, chief economist at Amherst Pierpont Securities in Stamford, Connecticut. FED SEES FISCAL BOOST At its December meeting, the Fed kept its forecast for three rate rises this year and in 2019 unchanged even as policymakers anticipated a short-term boost in U.S. economic growth from the Trump administration's sweeping $1.5 trillion tax overhaul signed into law on Dec. 22. The tax changes reduce the corporate rate from 35 percent to 21 percent and temporarily cuts the taxes paid by most individuals as well. In the minutes, many policymakers \"expected the proposed cuts in personal taxes to provide some boost to consumer spending\" and many characterized the changes in business taxes as likely to provide a modest boost to capital spending. \"However, some business contacts...noted that the increase in cash flow that would result...was more likely to be used for mergers and acquisitions or for debt reduction and stock buybacks,\" the minutes said. In December, the Fed forecast ultra-low unemployment of below 4 percent in 2018 and 2019, but still predicted inflation would remain below 2 percent at the end of 2018. The mystery of low inflation in such a robust economy has prompted debate at the Fed for the past several months and was the concern of the two policymakers who voted against a rate increase at last month's meeting. The latest minutes showed that while participants generally viewed inflation rising back to target over the medium term, several said \"other persistent factors may be holding down inflation.\" Investors have all but ruled out an interest rate increase at the Fed's upcoming meeting but currently see another nudge upwards at the following one in March. (Reporting by Lindsay Dunsmuir; Additional reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Chizu Nomiyama)" + }, + { + "text": "Algorithm-based sensors designed for 24/7 post-op monitoring 7:22am EST - 01:45 Danish researchers are developing algorithms that work in conjunction with existing 'wear and forget' sensors to monitor the vital signs of cancer patients continuously after surgery, as Jim Drury reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Danish researchers are developing algorithms that work in conjunction with existing 'wear and forget' sensors to monitor the vital signs of cancer patients continuously after surgery, as Jim Drury reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 11:27 AM / Updated 10 hours ago U.S. court invalidates Johnson & Johnson cancer drug patent, hitting UK's BTG Jan Wolfe , Michael Erman 2 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. administrative court invalidated a Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ.N ) patent on its blockbuster prostate cancer drug Zytiga, bringing rivals closer to selling generic versions and hitting shares in its British partner BTG Plc ( BTG.L ). The Patent Trial and Appeal Board said a Johnson & Johnson patent describing a method of administering Zytiga should not have been granted because the process it described was obvious. Wednesday’s ruling was a victory for U.S. generic drug company Argentum Pharmaceuticals LLC, which had asked the board to invalidate the patent in the hope of being able to bring its own version to market. Johnson & Johnson said it strongly disagreed with the decision and might ask a federal appeals court to reverse it. Argentum did not immediately return a request for comment. The patent is due to expire in 2027. Argentum and other generic drug makers have been blocked from launching their own versions of the cancer drug until its expiration date. Zytiga generated nearly $2.3 billion (£1.66 billion) in sales for Johnson & Johnson in 2016. The drug is also a money-spinner for healthcare group BTG, which earns royalties on sales of a medicine that was originally developed by cancer researchers in Britain. BTG shares fell 5 percent on Thursday on fears for this revenue stream. A BTG spokesman said its previous guidance on Zytiga royalties was unchanged and the group maintained that the earliest likely U.S. generic entry would be October 2018. Reporting by Michael Erman and Jan Wolfe in New York and Ben Hirschler in London; Editing by Tom Brown and Alexander Smith" + }, + { + "text": "KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. military authorities are investigating a video widely circulated on Afghan social media that apparently shows a U.S. service member firing into a civilian truck driving along a road in Afghanistan, a spokesman said. “The video in question is not official, not authorized and does not represent the professionalism of the service members of U.S. Central Command,” Air Force Col. John Thomas, a spokesman for the U.S. military Central Command, said in an emailed statement. “We are conducting an investigation into this video, and will take appropriate actions as a result of this investigation,” he said. It was not clear when or where the video was made. The clip, filmed from the perspective of the apparent shooter as they sit in a moving vehicle, shows a civilian truck being overtaken when a shot appears to be fired into its window. The video, which Thomas said had caused “serious concern”, comes as the United States has stepped up operations in Afghanistan against both Taliban insurgents and radical fighters from Islamic State and other militant groups. Commanders have been very sensitive to reports of civilian casualties, mindful of the serious tensions with the Afghan government and public opinion caused by such casualties in previous years. “I have reviewed the video and I am disappointed and also concerned that the American people, our Coalition partners, the Afghan government, and the Afghan people will believe that American service members are callous and indifferent to the horrors of war or the suffering of innocent people trapped in conflict,” Gen. Joseph Votel, Commander, U.S. Central Command, said in the emailed statement. “I can assure you that this video does not represent the professionalism or humanity of the men and women of U.S. Central Command. We reject the unprofessional and callous message this video conveys,” he said. Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Hugh Lawson" + }, + { + "text": "46 AM / Updated 19 minutes ago French group Novares takes further step towards IPO Reuters Staff 2 Min Read PARIS, Jan 26 (Reuters) - French plastics maker Novares ( IPO-NOVARES.PA ) on Friday took a step towards re-launching its initial public offering (IPO) on the Paris stock exchange as it filed its “Document de Base” with the country’s AMF stock market authority. Novares had previously said last November that it planned to postpone its IPO schedule, without giving any reasons. “I am confident in the group’s ability to seize the significant growth opportunities in a dynamic market,” Pierre Boulet, chief executive of Novares, said in the filing. “The proposed IPO will help Novares to increase the group’s financial flexibility to leverage these opportunities and reinforce its global positioning,” he added. Novares mostly produces plastic items for car interiors, such as door handles, dashboard components or air vents. Investment fund Equistone owns a 72.3 percent stake in the company, while French state investment bank BPI holds 15.1 percent. Its 2017 revenue is expected to grow to 1.2-1.25 billion euros ($1.5-$1.6 billion) from 1.88 billion in 2016. $1 = 0.8019 euros Reporting by Gilles Guillaume and Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - Premium drinks maker Fevertree Drinks said its full-year results would significantly exceed current market expectations on strong sales in the UK. Fevertree, which makes flavoured tonic water and other mixers, forecast a 66 percent rise in full-year revenue to about 169 million pounds ($237.1 million). Full-year UK revenue is expected to rise about 96 percent, Fevertree said, citing “particularly notable” performance over the Christmas period. Fevertree, which plans to set up an office in North America, said full-year U.S. revenue was expected to grow 39 percent. Shares of the company, which have jumped more than 14 times since their debut on London’s junior market in November 2014, rose last week on speculation that Unilever Plc was looking to buy the company. ($1 = 0.7128 pounds) (Reporting by Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri)" + }, + { + "text": "CVS to stop 'photo-shopping' beauty product ads Monday, January 15, 2018 - 01:13 CVS Health on Monday announced it would no longer use digitally manipulated photographs of models to market its own brand of beauty products. CVS Health on Monday announced it would no longer use digitally manipulated photographs of models to market its own brand of beauty products. //reut.rs/2DgmoBS" + }, + { + "text": "By Sy Mukherjee 2:04 PM EST Google parent Alphabet’s venture arm GV (formerly Google Ventures) is among the companies backing U.K. biotech Vaccitech , which has set out to achieve one of medicine’s most-sought milestones: developing a universal flu vaccine . The company has drawn in $27 million in new funding to help, in part, fund large clinical trials of its vaccine as the most widespread flu season in at least a dozen years rages in the U.S. The 2018 flu season is already so deadly that it’s stretching hospital resources to the breaking point in states like California. In fact, Dan Jernigan, director of the influenza division at the national Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, says this flu season represents “the first year we have had the entire continental U.S. be the same color on the [flu tracking] graph, meaning there is widespread activity in all of the continental U.S. at this point.” Public health officials say the flu outbreak may be peaking right now; but since flu season can last into May, millions of more people may get sick (and tens or hundreds of thousands more hospitalized) before all is said and done. The dominant H3N2 strain of the flu going around in 2018 is a particularly nasty one, especially for older Americans, and several more strains like H1N1 are expected to arise within the next few months. Part of what makes outbreaks like the 2018 flu season so difficult to control is the imperfection of current flu vaccination methods. This year’s vaccine may only be about 30% to 40% effective (although public health officials still strongly urge all Americans who can to get a flu shot , no matter how late into the season). In any given year, flu vaccine effectiveness ranges from about 40% to 60%. And a major factor is that scientists must try to predict which strains of the flu will be most dominant months ahead of peak flu, since millions of vaccine doses need to be created in time for the fall. Their projections, however educated, aren’t always correct. And the flu virus itself can always evolve. A universal flu vaccine would theoretically address this problem by attacking the parts of the influenza virus which don’t change over time, thus offering longer protection against more strains. That’s what Vaccitech, which was founded by Oxford University scientists, is attempting to do with its vaccine technology—attack proteins at the flu virus’ core rather than the dynamic ones on its surface and stimulate immune T-cells rather than antibodies. The universal vaccine is moving into mid-stage trials, which means successful studies could lead to a commercial launch by the mid-2020s, according to Vaccitech CEO Tom Evans. This essay appears in today’s edition of the Fortune Brainstorm Health Daily. Get it delivered straight to your inbox. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "Ice sculpture artists cut their finest at international design contest 9:25am EST - 01:32 Over 60 participants from 14 different countries competed in an international ice sculpture contest in northern China, pulling blocks from a local river. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Over 60 participants from 14 different countries competed in an international ice sculpture contest in northern China, pulling blocks from a local river. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //www.reuters.com/video/2018/01/07/ice-sculpture-artists-cut-their-finest-a?videoId=380231054&videoChannel=3" + }, + { + "text": "Arsenal sign Greek defender Mavropanos Reuters Staff 1 Arsenal have signed defender Konstantinos Mavropanos from Greek side PAS Giannina for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club said on Thursday. Mavropanos, 20, made his senior debut in November 2016 and has featured in 16 games across all competitions for the Superleague Greece side this campaign. “We’d like to welcome Konstantinos to the club and wish him well for the future,” the north London outfit said on their website. (www.arsenal.com) British media reports say Arsenal paid a fee of around 2.2 million pounds ($2.98 million) for the Greece under-21 international, who will be sent on loan to German team Werder Bremen until the end of the season. ($1 = 0.7382 pounds)" + }, + { + "text": "BEIRUT—When protests against Iran’s theocratic Shiite regime erupted late last month, the reaction from the region’s two main Sunni powers couldn’t have been more different. Saudi Arabia, which is the custodian of Islam’s holy cities of Mecca and Medina and aspires to lead the entire Sunni world, quietly gloated over the unexpected troubles of its Iranian nemesis. Saudi-run... RELATED VIDEO Iran's Protests: What's Next? Here's what could be next for Iran and what the unrest means for more than 80 million Iranians. Video: Karan Deep Singh / Photo: Getty Images" + }, + { + "text": "Several dead in latest Brazilian prison riot Tuesday, January 02, 2018 - 00:58 Nine inmates were killed, 14 injured, and dozens escaped in a prison riot in Brazil in the latest example of the country’s continuing difficulties maintaining control over its notoriously violent penal system. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Nine inmates were killed, 14 injured, and dozens escaped in a prison riot in Brazil in the latest example of the country’s continuing difficulties maintaining control over its notoriously violent penal system. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "LILONGWE (Reuters) - A dry spell and worsening pest infestation are threatening Malawi’s staple maize crop, prompting President Peter Mutharika on Friday to call on government officials to lead prayers for rain. Impoverished Malawi is periodically hit by food shortages as the tropical southern African country relies heavily on rain-fed agriculture and most of its maize is grown on small plots by subsistence farmers. The current dry spell has been exacerbated by an outbreak of crop-munching fall armyworms, a pest from Latin America that first threatened African crops late in 2016. In a statement, Mutharika asked cabinet ministers and all senior government officials to lead prayer vigils at mosques and churches starting on Friday and throughout the weekend. “The President urges the faith community and all Malawians to pray for good rains and a productive season this Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” the statement said. Such a call can have resonance in deeply religious Malawi, which has high rates of church and Mosque attendance. Official estimates of the damage to maize by both the drought and armyworms are underway, government and farmer organisations have said. The president declared the armyworms a national disaster in December after it was discovered that they had spread to 20 of Malawi’s 28 districts. Albert Changaya, a senior official in the department of agriculture, told journalists the armyworm infestation had spread from an initial 35,000 hectares to 206,000 hectares of maize. Malawi’s maize production in the 2016/17 farming season rose a third to 3.2 million tonnes. The surplus harvest led to maize prices falling and contributed to lower inflation as food accounts for 50.1 percent of Malawi’s CPI (consumer price inflation) basket. Malawi’s consumer inflation slowed to 7.1 percent year-on-year in December from 7.7 percent in November, the National Statistical Office said on Wednesday, with food inflation easing to 4.3 percent from 4.7 percent. The Tobacco Association of Malawi said separately on Thursday it was undertaking field estimates of the cash crop amidst the drought. Tobacco is a key export earner. Editing by Ed Stoddard and Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 4 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. - Electric-car maker Tesla Inc said on Wednesday that production of the new vehicle, the Model 3, in the final quarter of 2017 was far behind what its Chief Executive, Elon Musk, forecast when it went into production six months ago. nyti.ms/2qlibqk - Computer security experts have discovered two major security flaws in the microprocessors inside nearly all of the world's computers. The two problems, called Meltdown and Spectre, could allow hackers to steal the entire memory contents of computers, including mobile devices, personal computers, servers running in so-called cloud computer networks. nyti.ms/2qltuyD - Spotify filed a confidential registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission in late December, with the intention of listing its shares on the New York Stock Exchange in the first quarter of this year. nyti.ms/2qjHNUp Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "U.S. President Donald Trump's lawyer is threatening legal action against former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon for making \"disparaging\" and \"outright defamatory\" statements in a new book. Those statements were made to Michael Wolff, the author of a book that chronicles Trump's first year in office. The president's attorney Charles Harder sent a letter to Bannon on Wednesday, demanding him to \"cease and desist\" any more of such claims. show chapters A Trump-Bannon feud may be positive for Republican incumbents 14 Hours Ago | 02:50 In the book \"Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,\" Bannon was Quote: d as saying that a June 2016 Trump Tower meeting between the president's eldest son, Donald Jr., and a Russian lawyer was \"treasonous\" and \"unpatriotic.\" Bannon also said there was \"zero\" chance that then-candidate Trump did not meet with the attendees at a later date or time. The book will hit shelves on Jan. 9 but excerpts of key sections were published on Wednesday. Trump, in a Wednesday statement , blasted Bannon. He said the former chief strategist had \"not only lost his job\" but also \"lost his mind\" when he left the White House. The president added that Bannon had little to do with his election victory and blamed him for the loss in the Alabama special U.S. senate election last month. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon attends a ceremony at the White House April 10, 2017 in Washington, DC. Bannon was fired from the Trump administration in August last year as part of a broader purge of some of the most hardline nationalist voices in the West Wing. He has made some of the harshest criticisms about the president, such as calling the firing of former FBI Director James Comey the \"biggest mistake in modern political history.\" On Thursday, Harder sent a cease and desist letter to Wolff and his publisher, Henry Holt & Co., and demanded an apology for the content of the book. — CNBC's Jacob Pramuk contributed to this report." + }, + { + "text": "Hydrogen smart box cuts emissions from cars 11:14am EST - 02:07 A 'smart box' that fits neatly into a car's engine bay promises to cut emissions by up to 80 percent and improve fuel efficiency, according to its makers. Matthew Stock reports. A 'smart box' that fits neatly into a car's engine bay promises to cut emissions by up to 80 percent and improve fuel efficiency, according to its makers. Matthew Stock reports. //reut.rs/2DBT0pV" + }, + { + "text": "Getty Images Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe. FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, who abruptly stepped down on Monday , told friends that he felt pressure to leave from the bureau's Director Christopher Wray, The New York Times reported . Wray raised concerns about an impending inspector general report about the actions of FBI officials when the bureau was investigating both Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election, the report said. After Wray suggested putting McCabe into another job, which would have been a demotion, the FBI's No. 2 official chose to leave, according to the Times. An FBI spokeswoman declined to comment. McCabe already planned to leave in March, when he was eligible for full retirement benefits. President Trump has repeatedly and publicly blasted McCabe for what he calls political motivations behind the investigations into Clinton's email server and the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. The president and some congressional Republicans accused him of bias. McCabe was a holdover from the tenure of former FBI Director James Comey, whom Trump fired in May. He had served in the FBI's No. 2 role since January 2016. McCabe briefly was acting FBI director until Wray got confirmed to the post." + }, + { + "text": "LUANDA, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Angola’s central bank left its benchmark lending rate unchanged at 18 percent at a meeting of its monetary policy committee on Monday, the regulator said in a notice on its website. The next meeting of Angola’s monetary policy committee is on Feb. 28, the notice said. (Reporting by Joe Brock; Editing by Richard Balmforth)" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 12:38 PM / Updated 23 minutes ago Tennis-No holidays from tennis for Federer and Cilic Ian Ransom 2 Min Read MELBOURNE, Jan 26 (Reuters) - A family holiday in the Maldives might seem a good time for Roger Federer to put the racket down, but the Swiss master could not resist the offer of a hit when he found out Marin Cilic was also relaxing in the islands. The pair will face off in Sunday’s Australian Open final, having snuck off from their families for a couple of sessions while holidaying in the Indian Ocean nation in November. “I was there first, I think, and (Cilic) arrived later on the island,” Federer told reporters on Friday after Chung Hyeon retired hurt with foot blisters when trailing 6-1 5-2 in their semi-final. “I was told that Marin was coming. I was like, ‘Oh, that’s cool’.” ”When he arrived, I didn’t want to bother him. He didn’t want to bother me. ”After two days, he wrote me: ‘I‘m here, too, in case you want to catch up and stuff, let me know’. “I was like, ‘Sure, let me know if you want to hit’.” Defending champion Federer thrashed Cilic in the Wimbledon final and will be favourite to beat him at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday as he bids for his 20th grand slam title. Former U.S. Open champion Cilic, the sixth seed, is going for his second. Federer said the Croatian was eager to hit to stay in the rhythm even in the off-season. “We also met up later for drinks, met his fiancée. We had cake together, my whole family and him. We had a good time,” the Swiss master added. ”It’s not like we’re hanging out all the time, but our paths crossed a few times. We actually went to practice twice for 45 minutes. ”It’s great fun. No coaches, no nothing, just the two of us on the court hitting balls. “It was just nice and laid back. To get to know the man behind the tennis player, I guess.” (Editing by William Maclean)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - Futures pointed to a lower opening for Canada’s main stock index on Tuesday as oil prices continued to fall on rising U.S. crude output and a strengthening dollar. March futures on the S&P TSX index were down 0.19 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET. Canada’s main stock index fell on Monday, touching a six-week low, as energy and other resource shares tumbled alongside commodity prices. Dow Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures were down 0.72 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures were down 0.45 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures were down 0.44 percent. (Morning News Call newsletter here ; The Day Ahead newsletter here ) TOP STORIES U.S. private equity firm Blackstone Group LP is in advanced talks to buy an approximate 55 percent stake in the Financial and Risk business of Thomson Reuters Corp , a deal that would value the unit at about $20 billion including debt, three sources familiar with the matter said on Monday. U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade chief rejected Canadian proposals for unblocking NAFTA modernization talks on Monday but pledged to seek “breakthroughs” by late February, easing concerns that Washington would soon withdraw from the trilateral pact. ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Aphria Inc: Canaccord Genuity raises price target to C$26.50 from C$23.50 Teck Resources Ltd: CIBC raises price target to C$46 from C$45 Toronto-Dominion Bank: National Bank of Canada raises target to C$80 from C$78 COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET Gold futures: $1,345.4; +0.24 pct US crude: $64.92; -0.98 pct Brent crude: $69.07; -0.56 pct LME 3-month copper: $7,078.50; -0.1 pct U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON TUESDAY 0900 CaseShiller 20 mm SA for Nov: Expected 0.7 pct; Prior 0.7 pct 0900 CaseShiller 20 mm NSA for Nov: Prior 0.2 pct 0900 CaseShiller 20 yy for Nov: Expected 6.4 pct; Prior 6.4 pct 1000 Consumer Confidence for Jan: Expected 123.0; Prior 122.1 FOR CANADIAN MARKETS NEWS, CLICK ON CODES: TSX market report Canadian dollar and bonds report Reuters global stocks poll for Canada Canadian markets directory ($1= C$1.23) (Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Americans are expected to spend nearly $340 billion in 2018 to upgrade or to patch up their homes, a 7.5 percent increase from last year, a report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University released on Thursday showed. This year is shaping up to be the best year for home remodeling in more than a decade, according to the center. In addition to a strong housing market, rebuilding efforts stemming from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, which devastated Texas, Puerto Rico and other parts of the southern United States in 2017, will likely spur spending on remodeling, Chris Herbert, the center’s managing director, said in a statement. “Steady gains in the broader economy, and in home sales and prices, are supporting growing demand for home improvements,” Herbert said. “We expect the remodeling market will also get a boost this year from ongoing restoration efforts in many areas of the country impacted by last year’s record-setting natural disasters.” Reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by Steve Orlofsky" + }, + { + "text": "SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Jan. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: BMRN) today announced that Jean-Jacques Bienaimé, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BioMarin, will host a conference call and webcast on Thursday, February 22, at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss fourth quarter and full year 2017 financial results and provide a general business update. Dial-in Number U.S. / Canada Dial-in Number: (866) 502-9859 International Dial-in Number: (574) 990-1362 Conference ID: 5289587 Replay Dial-in Number: (855) 859-2056 Replay International Dial-in Number: (404) 537-3406 Conference ID: 5289587 Interested parties may access a live audio webcast of the conference call via the investor section of the BioMarin website, www.biomarin.com . A replay of the call will be archived on the site for one week following the call. About BioMarin BioMarin is a global biotechnology company that develops and commercializes innovative therapies for patients with serious and life-threatening rare and ultra-rare genetic diseases. The company's portfolio consists of six commercialized products and multiple clinical and pre-clinical product candidates. For additional information, please visit www.biomarin.com . Contacts: Investors Media Traci McCarty Debra Charlesworth BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (415) 455-7558 (415) 455-7451 View original content with multimedia: SOURCE BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc." + }, + { + "text": "CLEVELAND, Jan. 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc., (the “Company”) (Nasdaq:LECO) announced today that it will release its fourth quarter and full year 2017 results on Wednesday, February 14, 2018 prior to market open. An investor conference call and webcast will take place at 10:00 a.m. (ET) later that day. The conference call will be webcast live on the Company's Investor Relations home page at . Listeners should go to the web site prior to the call to register and download and install any necessary audio software. Investors who are unable to access the webcast may listen to the conference call live via telephone by dialing (877) 344-3899 (domestic) or (315) 625-3087 (international) and should use confirmation code 7491736. Telephone participants are asked to dial in 10 to 15 minutes prior to the start of the conference call. A replay of the earnings call will be available via webcast on the Company's website . About Lincoln Electric Lincoln Electric is the world leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc welding systems, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment and has a leading global position in the brazing and soldering alloys market. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Lincoln has 63 manufacturing locations, including operations and joint ventures in 23 countries and a worldwide network of distributors and sales offices covering more than 160 countries. For more information about Lincoln Electric and its products and services, visit the Company's website at www.lincolnelectric.com . Contact Amanda Butler Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications Tel: (216) 383-2534 Email: [REDACTED] Source:Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Irish PM at Davos: 'don't throw snowballs' 5:23pm IST - 03:24 Speaking ahead of appearances by Donald Trump and Theresa May at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar dismissed concerns of a currency war with the U.S. and reiterated the EU's stance that the UK can not 'cherry pick' a trade deal. Speaking ahead of appearances by Donald Trump and Theresa May at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar dismissed concerns of a currency war with the U.S. and reiterated the EU's stance that the UK can not 'cherry pick' a trade deal. //reut.rs/2DBZcOG" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK (Reuters) - The euro slipped on Wednesday, pulling back from a three-year high above $1.23 as some European Central Bank officials voiced worries about the currency’s strength. The euro’s decline helped stabilise the greenback, which was also supported by a weaker Canadian dollar after the Bank of Canada struck a cautious tone on an expected rate hike on Wednesday. The outlook for the dollar, however, remains dour on the view that other central banks besides the Federal Reserve are moving away from the ultra low-rate stance and unconventional tools they adopted after the 2008 global credit crisis. “There’s still a lot of bearish sentiment on the dollar,” said Minh Trang, senior foreign currency trader at Silicon Valley Bank in Santa Clara, California. Still, the greenback snapped a four-session losing streak. At 11:22AM/16:22 GMT, the index that tracks the dollar against a basket of currencies was up 0.20 percent at 90.574. It hit a three-year low of 90.341 earlier. The Canadian dollar fell 0.38 percent to C$1.2477. The euro was down 0.16 percent at $1.2239 after hitting a three-year peak versus the greenback at $1.2322, Reuters data showed. (Graphic for Euro valuations, click reut.rs/1KbTvEA ) FILE PHOTO: A U.S. Dollar note is seen in this June 22, 2017 illustration photo. REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration/File Photo Digital currencies suffered another day of heavy losses on worries about a widening regulatory crackdown. Bitcoin fell more than 10 percent to below $10,000 for the first time since Dec. 1 on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange. The biggest digital currency has lost half its value since it peaked near $20,000 about a month ago. ECB WEIGHS IN ON RISING EURO The speed of the euro’s rise in early 2018 - up more than 3 percent in the last two weeks - has prompted comments from ECB officials, highlighting growing concerns, according to analysts. ECB policymaker Ewald Nowotny told reporters on Wednesday the euro’s recent strength against the dollar is “not helpful,” which encouraged a bout of profit-taking before a policy meeting next week. In an interview with Italian newspaper la Repubblica Vitor Constancio, the ECB vice president, said he did not rule out that monetary policy would still continue to be “very accommodating for a long time”. “The euro’s strength will cause some concerns to the ECB and it will definitely complicate their policymaking thinking, and some investors are taking profits after the recent rally,” said Adam Cole, chief FX strategist at RBC Capital Markets in London. (Graphic for World FX rates in 2017, click tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh ) Additional reporting by Saikat Chatterjee in London; Editing by William Maclean and Susan Thomas" + }, + { + "text": "SEATTLE (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - City mayors in the two U.S. states with the oldest legal cannabis industries are leading the pushback against the Trump administration’s announcement of stricter enforcement of the drug, saying its regulated use is a boost to city coffers. Cannabis is banned by federal law but it has become legal in one form or another in a number of states, most recently California. Last week, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded an Obama-era set of guidelines known as the Cole and Ogden memos, which indicated the federal government would not interfere with state cannabis regulations as long as the drug was not marketed to minors, trafficked by cartels, sold across state lines, or cultivated on federal land. Voters made Colorado and Washington the first two states to legalise recreational marijuana in 2012 and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan were the lead authors of a Jan. 10 letter to Sessions from 10 U.S. mayors, including New York City’s Bill de Blasio. Activists say the regulated use of the drug was good for city economies and an important weapon in the fight against an epidemic of opioid abuse in the United States. “Reversing course now is a misguided legal overreach and an attack on cities where legal, safe, and high(ly) regulated recreational sale and use occurs,” wrote the mayors. “With overdose deaths, primarily caused by opioids, at an all-time high throughout this country, the federal government should be a better partner to help combat this epidemic.” Under the Cole and Ogden memos, legal cannabis markets flourished in places like Seattle, where pot shops outnumber locations of the city’s famous hometown Starbucks coffee chain, and Denver, where dispensaries out number Starbucks two to one. Advocates for legal marijuana cite that kind of economic growth, which produces taxes for state coffers, along with evidence that access to legal cannabis reduces the risk of opioid death. “Over the past years, over 150,000 jobs have been created in the legal cannabis market,” said Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. “Regulated statewide marijuana markets have provided an economic boost to numerous cities and states – leading to increased tax revenues, tourism, and home values.” Washington expects $730 million in combined revenue from sales in 2017 and 2018. Last year, Colorado tax revenue since the first dispensaries opened in 2014 topped $500 million. On Jan. 1, California became the largest state to legalize recreational marijuana. Reporting by Gregory Scruggs, Editing by Ros Russell.; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit news.trust.org" + }, + { + "text": "Before Michael Lewis wrote his best-sellers \" Moneyball ,\" \" The Big Short \" and \" Flashboys ,\" he had turned a degree in art history into a six-figure job on Wall Street. His first job in finance came along serendipitously. While getting his master's in economics, he attended a dinner party where he sat next to, and charmed, \"these women whose husbands ran Salomon Brothers International,\" he writes for Money . \"I got along quite well with one of the women, and she made her husband hire me after the dinner. It was just about the best possible place to land on Wall Street at that moment.\" By his late 20s, Lewis was earning a $60,000 salary, plus a bonus of $160,000. That's about when he knew he wanted to leave Salomon Brothers and pursue his dream of writing full-time. \"I remember when I told my dad that I wanted to quit. ... My dad thought I was crazy to walk away from that kind of money,\" Lewis recalls. \"He said, 'Stay ten years and you won't have to work any longer. Then you can write your novels till you die.'\" \"But when I looked around at the guys who were ten years older than me, I saw that none of them could leave. If I'd stayed, I would have been trapped by that success; the money would have gotten too big, and my life would've changed.\" Getty Images Michael Lewis participates in a discussion at George Washington University on April 4, 2014. Lewis also notes that he didn't have any student loans or a family to provide for at the time: \"So I didn't have to let money rule my decisions. Some people don't have that liberty.\" He quit at age 27. Two years later, his first book came out: \" Liar's Poker ,\" an account of his time working on Wall Street. Since then, he has become a New York Times-bestselling author, and three of his books have been turned into acclaimed, Oscar-nominated movies. \"Looking back, it seems like a giant risk to quit a job that paid me all kinds of money at Salomon for a fairly unknown future as a writer. But I knew I really wanted to do it,\" says Lewis. \"There wasn't a shred of doubt, and I was getting so sick of going to work there every morning. So it was not a terribly hard decision, and it didn't feel like that much of a risk.\" He's not the only advocate of following your passion . \"Late Night\" host Seth Meyers encourages it, even if you don't have a back up plan . \"If you're going to go for it, really go for it and put yourself at risk,\" especially at the beginning of your career, Meyers said at The New Yorker Festival . \"Failure is a lot easier the younger you are. It's like gravity, and each year you get older you get farther away from the ground — so the fall is worse.\" Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook ! Don't miss: Michael Lewis endorses a strategy for getting out of anything you don't want to do show chapters PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi shares tips on how to succeed at work 12:28 PM ET Wed, 1 Feb 2017 | 00:51" + }, + { + "text": "Unilever makes strides in Africa's most populous country 6:52am GMT - 02:00 Global consumer goods maker Unilever has increased manufacturing in Nigeria to cut costs as it seeks to grow in Africa's most populous country. Global consumer goods maker Unilever has increased manufacturing in Nigeria to cut costs as it seeks to grow in Africa's most populous country. //reut.rs/2DzoZ9Y" + }, + { + "text": "The Dow's 31% gain during Trump's first year is the best since FDR The 30-stock index has surged more than 31 percent since Trump's inauguration. That marks the index's best performance under the first year of a president since Roosevelt. \"You've got lower taxes, less regulation and confidence in the economy is high,\" said one investor. T he S&P 500 surged 23 percent during Trump's first year in office. SHARES Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images President Donald Trump speaks prior to signing a Presidential Proclamation shrinking Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City, Utah, December 4, 2017. Donald Trump lifted the Dow Jones industrial average in his first year in office more than any other president since Franklin Roosevelt. The Dow has surged more than 31 percent since Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, 2017. That marks the index's best performance under a president's first year since Roosevelt. The Dow skyrocketed 96.5 percent during Roosevelt's first year in office. (Returns measured from the day before the inauguration.) \"This is all about policy,\" said Bruce Bittles, chief investment strategist at Baird. \"You've got lower taxes, less regulation and confidence in the economy is high. Things are firing on all cylinders.\" Trump quickly moved to cut regulations enacted by previous administrations. He also successfully pushed to overhaul the U.S. tax code. That revamp included slashing the corporate tax rate to 21 percent from 35 percent. The president made it to the White House saying he would \"put America first.\" Since taking office, Trump has pushed to have companies bring back jobs to the U.S. and has said repeatedly said his policies would help to accomplish this. show chapters 30 Mins Ago | 02:20 These policy and rhetoric shifts have helped the so-called old guard of the stock market rally. Shares of Boeing and Caterpillar — both founded in the early 1900s — are up 115 percent and 82 percent respectively since Trump entered the White House. They are also the best-performing Dow stocks since Trump took office. These companies benefit greatly from lower taxes and less regulation, and tend to rise the most when people believe the economic cycle is accelerating. Some investors believe Trump is getting too much credit for the run-up and it's really the strength of the global economy boosting these industrial stocks. \"There is clearly a coincidence between Trump's election and the run-up in stock prices over the past year,\" Ed Yardeni, president and chief investment strategist at Yardeni Research, said in a note earlier this week. \"However, coinciding with Trump's victory was mounting evidence of a global synchronized boom. In our opinion, the run-up in stock prices over the past year has been a continuation of the bull market within a bull market that started on February 12, 2016.\" Trump doesn't see it that way often patting himself on the back about the Dow's successes during his first year in office. He's tweeted about the index at least a dozen times in the last year. The president also mentioned the Dow repeatedly in meetings and press conferences. Most recently, Trump took credit for the index breaking above 25,000 for the first time. He also told reporters: \" I guess our new number is 30,000 .\" He talks less about the S&P 500, perhaps because its name recognition isn't as strong as the Dow's, but also because it's gains are slightly less impressive. The broader S&P 500 jumped 23 percent during Trump's first year in office. But the index did better during the first year of three other presidents: Roosevelt, Barack Obama and Harry Truman. The S&P 500 rose 96 percent in Roosevelt's first year. It gained 33.5 percent when Truman took office and 34 percent after Obama was sworn in. Obama took office in January 2009, less than two months before the market started to recover from the financial crisis." + }, + { + "text": "World food prices fall 3.3 pct in December - UN FAO Published 10 Hours Ago Reuters SHARES ROME, Jan 11 (Reuters) - World food prices fell in December from the month before, as dairy, vegetable oils and sugar values declined sharply, the United Nations food agency said on Thursday. The Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) food price index, which measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar, averaged 169.8 points in December, down 3.3 percent from November. In 2017 the index averaged 174.6 points, up 8.2 percent from 2016, reaching its highest annual value since 2014 although food on international markets was still 24 percent cheaper than in 2011. (Reporting by Isla Binnie, editing by Steve Scherer)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - Tata Consultancy Services Ltd: * DECLARED INTERIM DIVIDEND OF 7 RUPEES PER SHARE * DEC QUARTER GROSS EMPLOYEE ADDITION OF 12,534 * DEC QTR CLIENTS IN $50 MLN + REV BAND UP BY 3; $20 MLN + REV BAND UP BY 7; $10 MLN + REV BAND UP BY 9; $5 MLN + REV BAND UP BY 15 Source text: bit.ly/2FpDbQd Further company coverage: Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "BATESVILLE, Ind., Jan. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE: HI) will hold a conference call and simultaneous webcast Thursday, February 1, 2018, at 8:00 a.m. ET. They will discuss the results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2018, which ended December 31, 2017. The live webcast, including a slide presentation, will be available at under the \"Events & Presentations\" tab and will be archived on the company's investor relations website through Friday, March 2, 2018. To access the conference call, listeners in the United States and Canada may dial [REDACTED], and international callers may dial [REDACTED]. Please use conference call ID number 5275987. A replay of the call will be available until midnight ET, Thursday, February 15, 2018, by dialing [REDACTED] toll free in the United States and Canada or [REDACTED] internationally and using the conference ID number 5275987. Hillenbrand will issue a press release reporting its results after the market closes on Wednesday, January 31, 2018. The full text of the release and financials will be available at . About Hillenbrand Hillenbrand ( www.hillenbrand.com ) is a global diversified industrial company with multiple market-leading brands that serve a wide variety of industries across the globe. We pursue profitable growth and robust cash generation in order to drive increased value for our shareholders. Hillenbrand's portfolio is composed of two business segments: the Process Equipment Group and Batesville. The Process Equipment Group businesses design, develop, manufacture and service highly engineered industrial equipment around the world. Batesville is a recognized leader in the North American death care industry. Hillenbrand is publicly traded on the NYSE under \"HI\". View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Hillenbrand, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 5:41 AM / Updated 9 minutes ago Swiss stocks - Factors to watch on Jan 9 Reuters Staff 3 Min Read ZURICH, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Here are some of the main factors that may affect Swiss stocks on Tuesday. SWISS NATIONAL BANK The Swiss National Bank expects an annual profit of 54 billion Swiss francs ($55.25 billion) for 2017, the central bank said on Tuesday, the biggest profit in its 110-year history. SIKA The construction chemicals group said it expected record 2017 net profit after sales grew 8.9 percent in local currencies to 6.25 billion Swiss francs; it forecast sales would increase more than 10 percent in 2018 For more news, click on NESTLE The Financial Times, citing unidentified sources, reported that Rhone Capital, the U.S.-based private equity group, has placed a binding offer to acquire Nestle’s U.S. confectionary business, joining a $2.5 billion race that includes Italy’s Ferrero and The Hershey Company. COMPANY STATEMENTS * Novartis said it is starting a head-to-head superiority trial of its drug Cosentyx versus AbbVie’s Humira in psoriatic arthritis and a head-to-head superiority trial versus a proposed Humira biosimilar in ankylosing spondylitis. * SGS is buying U.S.-based food safety testing group Vanguard Sciences, which had 2017 sales of $11 million * Crealogix Holding AG acquires Barcelona-based Innofis * DKSH Holding AG started a collaboration with Cheplapharm to renew sales growth of its branded products across Asia * Burckhardt Compression Holding AG expects consolidated sales for fiscal year 2017 to reach the prior-year level and the EBIT margin to range between 6 and 9 percent; presents mid-range plan – systems division will maintain its market leadership – growth will come from the services division * Alpiq Holding AG and the Swiss hotel association establish partnership * Swiss Prime Site AG launches 300 million Swiss franc convertible bonds due 2025 ECONOMY * The Swiss unemployment rate rose to a non-seasonally adjusted 3.3 percent in December from 3.1 percent in the previous month. When adjusted for seasonal factors, the unemployment rate stood at 3.0 percent after a revised 3.1 percent in the previous month. * The Swiss National Bank is due to release data on its foreign currency reserves at 0800 GMT. * Swiss retail sales data for November is expected to be published by the Federal Statistics Office at 0815 GMT. Reporting by Zurich newsroom" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Masters champion Sergio Garcia and American Kurt Kitayama both carded five-under-par 66 to share the lead after the first round of the Singapore Open on Thursday. The duo were joined by South African Louis Oosthuizen and Thailand’s Tirawat Kaewsiribandit at the top of the leaderboard at five-under after 16 holes before play was stopped because of lightning at the Sentosa Golf Club’s Seropang course. “It was a great day, but also challenging. I was one-over after (my) seventh hole but it didn’t feel like I was playing badly,” said Spaniard Garcia, who hit four birdies and an eagle. “Then I hit two great shots in a row on the 17th and 18th, and that settled me a little bit.” Kitayama finished third at the Asian Tour qualifying school last week and earned his spot in the field through qualifiers on Monday. The 25-year-old made six birdies as he matched the world No.10’s score. “I feel really good now, really confident. I started with a birdie (at the third hole) and just let it roll from there,” Kitayama said. “It’s great to have a good round early in the tournament, as it proves that I am able to do it.” India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar was four-under after 17 holes and is matched by Australian Lucas Herbert, who had played 14 holes before play was suspended, with play due to resume on Friday. American Casey O’ Toole, Japan’s Koumei Oda and Indian Jyoti Randhawa shot three-under-par 68s, with Oda’s compatriot Satoshi Kodaira also three-under after 15 holes. Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru; Editing by David Goodman" + }, + { + "text": "Ty Jerome hit a huge 3-point basket in the final minute as No. 2 Virginia held on to defeat No. 4 Duke 65-63 in a showdown Saturday afternoon at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. Kyle Guy’s 17 points led Virginia (20-1, 9-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), which stretched its lead in the conference by defeating the team that entered the day in second place. Devon Hall scored 14 points, Jerome poured in 13 points and De‘Andre Hunter had 12 points as the Cavaliers stretched their winning streak to 12 games. Of their past four games, three have been on the road. Duke erased a 13-point second-half hole but didn’t hold the lead for long stretches. Virginia shot 7-for-9 on free throws, but was 0-for-2 on a pair of front ends of 1-and-1 situations in the final 25 seconds before Guy sank both ends with 6.1 seconds left for a four-point lead. Marvin Bagley III’s 3-pointer for Duke with 7.4 seconds left closed the gap to 63-61. After Guy’s foul shots, Bagley’s putback at the buzzer accounted for the final score. Duke was 5-for-11 from the foul line as its five-game winning streak was snapped. Bagley finished with 30 points and 14 rebounds and Wendell Carter Jr. tallied 14 points and 15 rebounds for Duke (18-3, 6-3), which was charged with 16 turnovers compared to five for the Cavaliers. It was a matchup pitting a Duke team that leads the nation in scoring and a Virginia team that has the country’s best defensive numbers. The Blue Devils entered the game averaging 91.7 points per outing. Virginia led 60-55 before Carter made the first of two free-throw attempts at the 2:26 mark to set up the final stretch. After Jerome’s shot was blocked, Bagley dunked on a baseline move at the other end. Jerome had another chance in the last minute and drilled a dagger. Duke cut into a 13-point deficit with a 9-0 run early in the second half. Shortly after, a five-point possession helped the Blue Devils to a 41-39 lead. Virginia led 32-22 at halftime, marking the fewest points in any half this season for Duke. The Blue Devils were without a 3-point basket in the first half. The contest the 33rd time in ACC history that two conference members rated in the top four faced off. Of those, 15 of the encounters have been at Cameron Indoor Stadium, where Duke fell to 11-4 in those games. This was the only regular-season meeting of the season between the teams. -- Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 31 (Reuters) - Australian winemaker Treasury Wine Estates said on Wednesday that its half-year profit rose 37.4 percent, supported by strong demand in Asia. Net profit after tax for the half-year ended Dec. 31 rose to A$187.2 million ($151.3 million) from A$136.2 million a year ago, the company said. The world’s biggest listed stand-alone winemaker declared an interim dividend of 15 cents per share, up from 13 cents a share a year earlier. $1 = 1.2375 Australian dollars Reporting by Chandini Monnappa in Bengaluru; Editing by Adrian Croft" + }, + { + "text": "January 7, 2018 / 8:51 AM / Updated 7 hours ago Iraq to export Kirkuk oil to Iran before end-January: Iraqi oil minister Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq will start exporting oil from the northern Kirkuk fields to Iran before the end of January, Iraqi Oil Minister Jabar al-Luaibi told reporters on Sunday in Baghdad. About 30,000 barrels per day of crude will be trucked to Iran’s Kermanshah refinery in the first instance, he said. '‘God willing, we will start before the end of the month,‘’ he added. Trucking crude to Iran comes under a swap agreement announced last month by the two countries to allow a resumption of oil exports from Kirkuk. Iraq and Iran have agreed to swap up to 60,000 barrels per day of crude produced from Kirkuk for Iranian oil to be delivered to southern Iraq, Luaibi said last month. Kirkuk crude sales have been halted since Iraqi forces took back control of the fields from the Kurds in October. Kurdish forces took control of Kirkuk in 2014, when the Iraqi army collapsed in the face of Islamic State. The Kurdish move prevented the militants from seizing the region’s oilfields. Iraq and Iran are also planning to build a pipeline to carry the oil from Kirkuk to avoid having to truck the crude, Luaibi said last month. The planned pipeline could replace the existing export route from Kirkuk via Turkey and the Mediterranean. Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed, writing by Maher Chmaytelli; editing by John Stonestreet and Jane Merriman" + }, + { + "text": "Saudi Arabia's King Salman ordered a monthly payment of 1,000 riyals ($267) to state employees over the next year in compensation for rising cost of living after the government hiked gas prices and introduced value-added tax (VAT). In a royal decree published by state news media, the king also ordered the payment of 5,000 riyals to military personnel serving at the Yemen frontlines. ($1 = 3.7501 riyals)" + }, + { + "text": "SALEM, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Standex International Corporation (NYSE: SXI) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per share, which is payable February 23, 2018 to shareholders of record February 8, 2018. The dividend represents the Company’s 214th consecutive quarterly cash dividend. Standex has paid dividends each quarter since it became a public corporation in November 1964. About Standex Standex International Corporation is a multi-industry manufacturer in five broad business segments: Food Service Equipment, Engineering Technologies, Engraving, Electronics, and Hydraulics with operations in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey, South Africa, India, China and Japan. For additional information, visit the Company's website at www.standex.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Standex International Corporation Thomas DeByle, 603-893-9701 CFO [REDACTED] Source: Standex International Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were curious. The former Oklahoma City Thunder teammates had a rare off night at home, and there was a college game nearby between Davidson and Oklahoma. Durant and Westbrook knew they needed to be there. They had to see Stephen Curry. It was November 2008, only a few months after Davidson’s electric and improbable NCAA tournament run, and anyone who cared about basketball was mesmerized by Curry. Among the many people under Curry’s magical spell was a 10-year-old boy named Trae Young. He... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Goldman Sachs swings to a loss 4:41pm GMT - 00:51 Goldman Sachs swung to a quarterly loss topping $2 billion. Wiping out its earnings: a $4.4 billion one-time charge stemming from the new tax law. Revenue fell, dragged down by a sharp drop in its ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Goldman Sachs swung to a quarterly loss topping $2 billion. Wiping out its earnings: a $4.4 billion one-time charge stemming from the new tax law. Revenue fell, dragged down by a sharp drop in its Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - Australian shares are expected to open lower on Thursday, taking their cues from Wall Street, where stocks faltered after comments by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross hinted at action against China in a trade war. Nasdaq Composite lost ground after the comments by Ross . Material stocks are expected to weigh on the main index, following iron ore futures in China, which fell overnight . The local share price index futures fell 0.3 percent or 19 points, a 72.7-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close. The benchmark rose 0.3 percent on Wednesday. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index was flat in early trade. (Reporting by Sandhya Sampath in Bengaluru, editing by Larry King)" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 10:02 AM / Updated 6 minutes ago GE appoints new CEO for Europe Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 17 (Reuters) - Industrial conglomerate General Electric has appointed Peter Stracar chief executive and president of its European region, the company said in a statement. Stracar, has been chief executive of GE Central and Eastern Europe since 2013, succeeds Mark Hutchinson, who the company said was retiring from GE as of Jan. 1. ( bit.ly/2mH0tZn ) The U.S. conglomerate, which launched a major rethink of its business late last year, indicated on Tuesday it was looking closely at breaking itself up as it announced more than $11 billion in charges from its long-term care insurance portfolio and new U.S. tax laws. Europe is the company’s largest market outside the United States and currently employs over 92,000 employees at over 900 locations across the region, generating revenues of more than $20 billion. About 30 percent of GE’s global patents are filed in Europe. (Reporting by Sanjana Shivdas in Bengaluru; editing by Patrick Graham)" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 10:17 AM / Updated an hour ago Warmer temperatures at Great Barrier Reef causing sea turtles to be born female Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Rising temperatures at Australia’s Great Barrier Reef are causing more green turtles to be born female, which could lead to the species dying out, a new scientific study has found. FILE PHOTO: Tourists snorkel near a turtle as it looks for food amongst the coral in the lagoon at Lady Elliot Island north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, June 9, 2015. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo As the gender of green turtles is determined by temperature, the hotter weather caused by climate change induces warmer incubations of eggs, and that has led to a greater number of female hatchlings. The study published last week revealed that more than 99 percent of the juvenile and sub adult population on the northern part of the reef are female, and 69 percent are female on the southern reef. The two populations are genetically distinct. “We’re now seeing on those northern beaches virtually no males being born,” said WWF-Australia Chief Executive Dermot O‘Gorman. “That really rings alarm bells for the long-term survival of those northern green turtle population.” Turtles are seen on the beach at sunset on Ingram Island, Queensland, Australia in this handout photo dated August 28, 2014. WWF Australia/Handout via REUTERS The study was carried out by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, California State University, and Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) Australia. O‘Gorman said urgent measures were needed to tackle climate change. Scientists conduct turtle sampling in the Howick group of islands on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, in this handout photo dated August 19, 2014. WWF Australia/Handout via REUTERS The Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection have been testing various measures to lower the temperature of the sand, where the turtles lay their eggs. Options include providing shade or inducing artificial rain to cool the beach, said chief scientist Colin Limpus. “Protecting some of the big breeding males from threats like nets and bycatch is going to be really important going on into the future as well,” said O‘Gorman. The Great Barrier Reef, covering 348,000 square km (134,000 square miles), was listed as a World Heritage site in 1981 as the most extensive and spectacular coral reef ecosystem on the planet. Writing by Dewey Sim; Editing by Karishma Singh and Robert Birsel" + }, + { + "text": "Twenty-First Century Fox : \"I think it's fine. I think the stub is going to be worth a lot. I do absolutely prefer Disney . Why not go buy Disney? That's the better [option].\" Chimera Investment Corp. : \"You can never even tell what they own. And I'm not going to recommend the stock of a company where I do not know what they own.\" Intel : \"That stuff [about faulty chips] is nonsense. There was some degradation. It will not even matter. You will not look back. You will not be able to see why that stock went down. I trust [CEO] Brian Krzanich. He's a good man. If he tells me the problem's solved, the problem is solved.\" Exelon Corporation : \"No, I prefer to make [mad money] in Dominion , American Electric Power , which has come down a great deal, or ConEd , which has also gotten hammered.\" Watch the full lightning round here: show chapters Cramer's lightning round: I prefer Disney to Twenty-First Century Fox 17 Hours Ago | 03:18 Questions for Cramer? Call Cramer: 1-800-743-CNBC Want to take a deep dive into Cramer's world? Hit him up! Mad Money Twitter - Jim Cramer Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - Vine Questions, comments, suggestions for the \"Mad Money\" website? [REDACTED]" + }, + { + "text": "John Foraker, Organic Food Industry Veteran, Joins As Independent Board Director POINT RICHMOND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Urban Remedy , the pioneering plant-based food company offering an organic, non-GMO and ultra-fresh product roster of ready-to-eat meals, snacks, and cold pressed juices, has closed a $17 million series B fundraising round with lead investment from 301 INC. The company also announces that industry leader, John Foraker, will be joining the Board of Directors. The backing from 301 INC and partnership with John Foraker help Urban Remedy accelerate their mission to make fresh, clean food more accessible to an increased number of customers. “We believe the future of food is fresh, clean and convenient,” said Paul Coletta, CEO of Urban Remedy . “We are on a mission to reimagine our industrialized food system and empower consumers to seek unprocessed, nutrient-dense healing food. Two consecutive years of over 100% revenue growth indicate that we are on the right path. Scaling a high quality fresh food business is very challenging. Our new partnership with 301 INC and John Foraker brings significant strategic resources and experience to our effort.” Urban Remedy was founded in 2009 by licensed acupuncturist Neka Pasquale with the belief that Food is Healing. Neka continues to utilize the wisdom of Chinese medicine to craft modern-day food by using quality, organic ingredients that naturally lower inflammation and nourish the body. “We are thrilled to partner with Urban Remedy , a company whose multi-channel go-to-market strategy thrives at delivering fresh, healthy food to consumers,” said John Haugen, Vice President and General Manager of 301 INC. “Through retail stores, branded kiosks, and direct-to-consumer delivery, Urban Remedy excels at providing convenient access to organic products. We are excited to help Urban Remedy achieve its mission to deliver food that’s healing to people and the planet.” “I am a big believer in the Urban Remedy product and mission,” said, John Foraker, Member of the Board of Directors of Urban Remedy . “I see Urban Remedy’s food at the helm of bringing consumers fresh, great tasting meals and snacks that are better for the planet and better for their bodies. I am very excited to be a part of this systemic change in food culture.” Urban Remedy is available at stores across California and nationally online. For more information, please visit www.urbanremedy.com . About Urban Remedy Urban Remedy delivers plant-based, organic prepared meals that embody the belief that Food is Healing and empowers consumers to conveniently eat ultra-fresh and clean. All of Urban Remedy 's ultra-fresh and ready-to-eat meals, snacks and cold pressed juices are certified organic, certified non-GMO Project Verified, gluten free, and low glycemic. Urban Remedy ships directly to customers nationally from its headquarters in Point Richmond, CA and operates 13 retail locations and 30 Whole Foods kiosks across northern and southern California. Learn more at www.urbanremedy.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Urban Remedy Rebecca Campbell [REDACTED] Source: Urban Remedy" + }, + { + "text": "January 28, 2018 / 7:11 AM / Updated 4 minutes ago Russia, Turkey foreign ministers discuss Syrian congress in Sochi Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed preparations for a Syria peace congress in the Russian city of Sochi on Jan. 29-30 with Turkey’s foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in a phone call on Saturday, the Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday. Reporting by Katya Golubkova. Editing by Jane Merriman" + }, + { + "text": "MORRISTOWN, N.J., Jan. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ProSight Specialty® Insurance announced today the sixth consecutive year of growth and profit for its Media and Entertainment program. A leading provider of niche insurance offerings, ProSight offers tailored solutions for the film, touring, sports and live event industries, and has become one of the most sought-after insurance carriers in the media and entertainment industry. \"We're proud to have cemented our place as one of the biggest and most reliable providers of media and entertainment insurance, covering projects around the globe. ProSight continues to innovate solutions that best serve the nuances and unique needs of the media and entertainment industry,\" said Kevin Topper, niche president at ProSight Specialty Insurance. \"Each day, we utilize a combined 300 years of underwriting experience to create insurance that has impacted the marketplace and we take pride in delivering seamless and unparalleled support.\" ProSight's investments in technology and commitment to efficient processes have been instrumental to its continued success. As ProSight's market share grows, its Media and Entertainment team continues to expand to provide unmatched programs and support as evidenced by its current operational efficiency. 96 percent of renewals are Quote: d 21 or more days ahead of expiration date 85 percent of all renewal accounts are retained 85 percent of new business Quote: d within 5 days 50 percent of new business Quote: s turn into policies 20-day average turnaround for policy issuance \"I've been in this business for more than 25 years and I've never witnessed a program accelerate so quickly. ProSight's evolution from startup business to industry leader is truly remarkable,\" said Joe Finnegan, customer group president at ProSight Specialty Insurance. \"Our immense growth, profit, differentiated offerings and stellar retention rates prove that we're positioned to dominate the media insurance industry now and in the future.\" In 2017, ProSight continued to be recognized as an innovator in insurance, winning awards for Best New Service by the Best in Biz Awards and for Business-to-Business Service by the American Business Awards. Both were given for ProSight's original endorsement called Music Mends. The coverage is triggered when a musical artist's concert is impacted by a terrorist attack and the artist wants to use music to bring healing to the affected community—a situation that has become far too common. To learn more about ProSight's media and entertainment coverage offerings, please visit www.prosightspecialty.com or call (973)-532-1900 and speak to someone around the corner. About ProSight Specialty Insurance ProSight Specialty Insurance is an innovative property and casualty insurance company that designs solutions to help customers solve their business problems. Each solution is targeted to enhance customers' operating performance. ProSight focuses on select niche industries, deploying differentiated underwriting and claims expertise, and then works exclusively with specialized distributors to deliver value. ProSight is fueled by a cultural desire to succeed at uncommon challenges, making the business performance of its customers a top priority. The underwriting members of the ProSight Specialty Insurance (ProSight) group of companies are rated \"A-\" (Excellent) by A.M. Best. Based in Morristown, NJ, ProSight has regional offices in Los Angeles, CA, Petaluma, CA, Alpharetta, Georgia and New York, NY. More information about ProSight and its member insurers can be found at www.prosightspecialty.com . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE ProSight Specialty Insurance" + }, + { + "text": "The growing hype around China's massive global infrastructure push may be due to a fear of missing out, according to a research chief at real estate agency Knight Frank. That is, more countries are expressing interest in China's so-called Belt and Road Initiative because of just how big it is growing, Nicholas Holt, the firm's Asia Pacific head of research, told CNBC. \"A lot of markets outside the initial sort of program are now trying to get a piece of the action,\" Holt said. \"We're seeing that the Belt and Road, which is a very inclusive and very large initiative, is starting to talk about countries in South America and even in Western Europe .\" The Belt and Road Initiative aims to connect Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa with a vast logistics and transport network, using roads, ports, railway tracks, pipelines, airports, transnational electric grids and even fiber optic lines. The plan, which continues to evolve, at one point included 65 countries, which together accounted for one-third of global GDP and 60 percent of the world's population, or 4.5 billion people, according to Oxford Economics. It's all part of Beijing's push to increase global clout — building modern infrastructure can attract more investment and trade along the route. The policy could also boost the domestic economy with demand abroad, and might soak up some of the overcapacity in China's industrial sector . Holt predicted that more countries would join the Belt and Road in the near future. \"If you remember when it was first announced in 2013, people were very confused with what it is,\" Holt said. \"I don't even think the Chinese knew what it was back then. But, it's taken more form over the last four years.\" The initiative, he added, has \"really gained a lot of momentum.\" \"So yes, the initiative is growing and we do expect more countries to get on board as it builds up steam.\" Etienne Oliveau | Pool | Getty Images Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hand with British Prime Minister Theresa May on September 5, 2016. Holt also said he believes the trade relations between the U.K. and China remains strong, predicting that trade relations between the two countries would improve. \"We're still really in the golden era or golden age that was announced a couple of years ago,\" Holt said of the bilateral relationship. \"Trade has grown significantly between the U.K. and China. The bilateral trade now accounts for $60 billion.\" The researcher also said he hopes U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May's upcoming visit to China will help open up dialogue and increase access into the Chinese market." + }, + { + "text": "Markets around the world have had a strong start to the year, with many major indexes notching new all-time highs, as investors bet on continued global growth. U.S. stocks rose to record levels last Friday, with the positive sentiment also seen in other major markets: The pan-European STOXX 600 was within sight of its all-time high of 415.18 and MSCI's broad index of shares in Asia Pacific excluding Japan touched a fresh record high on Monday. But amid the optimism, some investors also have an eye on potential causes for concern, including the end of the bull run for bonds and persistent low volatility in markets. Others are convinced that the Federal Reserve is unlikely to hit its 2 percent inflation target this year as low U.S. inflation is set to continue. Vote Vote to see results Total Votes: Not a Scientific Survey. Results may not total 100% due to rounding." + }, + { + "text": "Macron, Merkel lay out anti-Trump strategy in Davos 01:45 French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel used separate speeches at the World Economic Forum in Davos to highlight Europe's plans to offset President Donald Trump's 'America First' rhetoric. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel used separate speeches at the World Economic Forum in Davos to highlight Europe's plans to offset President Donald Trump's 'America First' rhetoric. //reut.rs/2n9Fkao" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 10:06 PM / Updated a day ago Swiss airline Belair taken over by investment company SBC Reuters Staff 3 Min Read ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss airline Belair, formerly part of collapsed low-cost carrier Air Berlin ( AB1.DE ), has been taken over by German investment company SBC. SBC, based in Duesseldorf, said on Monday it wanted flights to resume as soon as possible and former Belair staff would be offered their jobs back after it made a deal with Air Berlin’s administrators. A spokesman for SBC declined to say how much it paid for the low-cost Swiss airline, which had sales of around 90 million Swiss francs ($93.47 million) in 2016. The takeover is the latest chapter in the breakup of Air Berlin’s business, with Austrian low-cost airline Niki also attracting interest from fresh bidders. Around 200 Belair staff lost their jobs when it closed last year following the collapse of parent company Air Berlin, which filed for insolvency in August 2017 and halted operations at the end of October. “We have laid the foundation for reactivating Belair,” said SBC board member Juergen Bremer in a statement. He said the company had a long tradition, motivated workforce and an excellent reputation. “We want to use this potential in a new business model,” he said. Talks with potential clients are under way, but it has not been decided when the airline will relaunch and what name it will use. Earlier on Monday the German administrator of insolvent airline Niki said he still wanted to sell the leisure carrier to British Airways parent IAG ( ICAG.L ) despite a battle between Austria and Germany over where insolvency proceedings should be handled. Meanwhile Irish airline Ryanair ( RYA.I ) also expressed an interest in buying some of Niki’s assets, and former Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda has re-emerged as a potential bidder for the business he founded, ahead of a Jan. 19 deadline for fresh offers an Austrian court has set. Niki, another unit of collapsed German carrier Air Berlin, filed for insolvency in Berlin in December after Lufthansa [LHAG.DE] scrapped plans to buy part of it. Reporting by John Revill; editing by Andrew Roche" + }, + { + "text": "January 7, 2018 / 3:38 PM / Updated 42 minutes ago Zambia declares curfew in Lusaka slum struck by cholera Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambia has declared a curfew in a poor Lusaka township badly affected by a cholera outbreak that has killed 58 people across the country since September, the government said on Sunday. The curfew in Kanyama, a densely populated slum of iron-roofed shacks and winding dirt tracks, begins on Sunday and will run from between 1800 and 0600, Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya told reporters. The township has a population of 370,000 people. Street vending and public gatherings have been banned in Lusaka to prevent the spread of cholera but the residents of Kanyama have been defying this order in the evenings after soldiers deployed to clean the streets have left. “Kanyama has recorded the highest number of fatalities because of the poor compliance with interventions that have been put in place,” Chilufya said. The cholera outbreak was initially linked to contaminated water from shallow wells, but investigations indicated that contaminated food was the main culprit. Zambia last week shut three of South African retailer Shoprite’s Hungry Lion fast-food restaurants after their food tested positive for the bacterium that causes cholera. Hungry Lion said on Saturday that the restaurants had been closed for disinfection and it hoped that the government would soon allow them to reopen. President Edgar Lungu on Dec. 30 directed the military to help to fight the spread of the waterborne disease. Cholera causes acute watery diarrhea. It can be treated with oral hydration solutions and antibiotics but spreads rapidly and can kill within hours if not treated. Reporting by Chris Mfula; Editing by Joe Brock and David Goodman" + }, + { + "text": "Russian VC funds set up shop in Silicon Valley 3:16pm EST - 02:03 Russian technology investors, faced with a stagnating startup scene in Russia and the threat of isolation from the West, are setting up funds in Silicon Valley in a bid to place million-dollar bets on young tech companies. Russian technology investors, faced with a stagnating startup scene in Russia and the threat of isolation from the West, are setting up funds in Silicon Valley in a bid to place million-dollar bets on young tech companies. //reut.rs/2DyceN8" + }, + { + "text": "MAHTOMEDI, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Chuck & Don’s , a destination pet supplies store with excellent customer experience and a wide selection of products, is excited to announce its expansion into Kansas. The acquisition of All Paws Pet Center , which occurred Jan. 11, 2018, consists of three existing locations, which provide pet food, supplies and support to pets and their owners across the Wichita region. Since its inception in 1990, Chuck & Don’s has continued to grow throughout the Midwest and beyond, boasting 30 Minnesota locations, 10 Colorado locations and one location in Wisconsin. With a desire to grow the business and offer an outstanding customer experience to new regions, Chuck & Don’s has acquired All Paws Pet Center which is a family owned business whose values and culture mirror its own. Similar to Chuck & Don’s, All Paws Pet Center provides the highest quality pet foods and supplies, and has a knowledgeable and caring staff that is dedicated to the wellbeing of their customer’s pets. Additionally, All Paws Pet Center takes pride in supporting local rescues and adoption agencies, which share Chuck & Don’s commitment to making a positive difference in the communities in which they operate. Operating since 2006, All Paws Pet Center was founded by Paul and Tammy Baumann in Wichita, Kansas and has grown to three locations: All Paws Pet Center - West (1444 N. Maize, Wichita), All Paws Pet Center - East (2244 N. Greenwich Rd., Wichita), and All Paws Pet Center - Derby (1821 E. Madison, Derby). As part of the acquisition by Chuck & Don’s, employees of All Paws Pet Center will remain, including minority owners David and Pat Lebus. Company co-founder, Paul Baumann, will become a Board Member for Chuck & Don’s moving forward. “Geographic expansion beyond our current locations in Minnesota, Colorado, and Wisconsin has been a strategy for the company,” said Bob Hartzell, CEO and President of Chuck & Don’s. “We’ve been looking for the right fit and I’m happy to say we’ve found that in All Paws Pet Center. Our companies have a similar history in that they were founded to meet the need for high quality pet products in their community, and found success when they paired it with friendly, knowledgeable service.” “When we were looking to sell, we wanted to find the best company possible to continue our values and mission of offering quality pet foods in Wichita for every budget,” said Paul Baumann, Co-Founder of All Paws Pet Center. “We’re excited to be joining forces with a like minded company who provides a unique experience for pet owners in comparison to big box stores, and cares about the communities they serve. We’re confident that our customers and their pets will continue to experience the highest quality care with Chuck & Don’s.” To learn more about Chuck & Don’s and the acquisition, visit www.chuckanddons.com . About Chuck & Don’s Founded by Charles “Chuck” Anderson and Don Tauer in 1990, Chuck & Don’s is the local destination pet supply store offering brand name, specialty and hard-to-find pet foods and supplies for dogs, cats, small animals, birds, reptiles and aquatic creatures. Chuck & Don’s is known for its outstanding customer service, highly knowledgeable staff and commitment to the communities it serves. Chuck & Don’s has 28 Minnesota, 10 Colorado locations and one location in Wisconsin. Chuck & Don’s was featured on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in 2016 and the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s Fast 50 for the fastest-growing privately held companies in the Twin Cities in 2017. Additionally, the company has been named a top workplace by Minnesota Business and the Star Tribune. Shop online for all your favorite Chuck & Don’s products delivered to select locations. To learn more, visit www.chuckanddons.com . View source version on businesswire.com : For Chuck & Don's Brittany Trangsrud, 612-333-1723 [REDACTED] Source: Chuck & Don's" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday her government will cut the stakes on fixed odds betting terminals but had had to wait for the conclusion of a consulation. She told parliament a decision on the stakes would be made “in due course” after the consultation ended earlier this week. (Reporting by William James, writing by Elizabeth Piper. Editing by Andrew MacAskill)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - HNA Investment Group Co Ltd: * SAYS IT TERMINATES HNA COMMERCIAL REIT PROJECT IN SINGAPORE * SAYS IT TERMINATES THE COOPERATION PLAN WITH SINGAPORE‘S AEP INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTE LTD * SAYS IT SIGNS AGREEMENT TO SELL PETROLEUM FIRM IN SHANDONG PROVINCE FOR 2.8 MILLION YUAN ($443,066.02) * SAYS IT SIGNS AGREEMENT TO SELL 67 PERCENT STAKE AND CREDITORS' RIGHTS IN MINING FIRM FOR 35 MILLION YUAN Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2Ff4zzF ; bit.ly/2DGk5r9 ; bit.ly/2rE1dEk ; bit.ly/2n8Hvfg Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3196 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Germany’s central banker defended his country’s record budget and current account surpluses on Thursday from criticism from the International Monetary Fund that they are hobbling growth in the euro zone and widening global economic imbalances. Jens Weidmann said Germany needed to build a fiscal buffer to help it withstand the effect of an ageing society and that it would be “futile” for Berlin to spend more in order to try to help its neighbours. “Raising public spending in order to reduce Germany’s current account surplus would likely be a futile undertaking,” Weidmann told a conference in Frankfurt. He was speaking alongside Christine Lagarde, managing director of the IMF which, along with the European Commission, has for years urged Germany to increase domestic demand and imports. Germany’s current account surplus was the world’s largest in 2017, the Munich-based Ifo economic institute said on Tuesday, and the government in Berlin is expected to post record fiscal surpluses this year and the next. (Reporting by Francesco Canepa; editing by Jason Neely)" + }, + { + "text": "Source: Jason DeCrow, AP Images | Microsoft Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at a company event in New York in May 2017. Microsoft on Wednesday announced that it has acquired Avere Systems , a start-up specializing in data storage. The technology could ultimately help Microsoft pick up more Azure revenue by serving customers who want to use cloud computing while still keeping data in their own facilities. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed. Avere offers hardware for storing data in data centers, but the acquisition seems more about strengthening and increasing the use of Microsoft's Azure public cloud. The technology lets companies use remote computing resources while keeping their data in place, and it can ease the migration of data to public clouds as well. Avere offers tools for working with Microsoft's top two cloud competitors, Amazon Web Services and the Google Cloud Platform. Avere said it would bring its tools to Azure in 2015, but today the company's website primarily advertises its integrations with the Amazon and Google clouds. \"We are excited to welcome Avere to Microsoft, and look forward to the impact their technology and the team will have on Azure and the customer experience,\" Jason Zander, corporate vice president of Azure at Microsoft, wrote in a blog post . Overall, Microsoft has taken more of a hybrid approach than Amazon or Google in the cloud business. It offers the Azure Stack private cloud software that mirrors what's available from the Azure public cloud. And Microsoft continues to sell server and database software for corporate data centers. \"Over the years, Microsoft has made significant investments to provide its customers with the most flexible, secure and scalable storage solutions in the marketplace and has made Azure the natural home for enterprise applications. This shared focus on large enterprise applications makes Microsoft a great fit for Avere,\" Avere CEO Ron Bianchini, a former vice president of storage hardware company NetApp , wrote in a blog post. Google, the main business unit of Alphabet, made a rare direct investment in Avere last year. (Most Alphabet investments come through its venture arms.) Other investors include Western Digital Capital, Menlo Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Tenaya Capital. In total Avere raised $97 million. Avere was founded in 2008 and is based in Pittsburgh. Its customers include Johns Hopkins University, Sony Pictures' Imageworks and the Library of Congress. Jordan Novet Technology Reporter for CNBC.com Related Securities" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 12:25 PM / Updated an hour ago Sri Lankan shares extend declines, foreign buying curbs fall Reuters Staff 2 Min Read COLOMBO, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan shares ended down for a sixth consecutive session on Wednesday, hitting their lowest close in more than two weeks, as retail investors sold blue chips, but foreign buying in the island nation’s risky assets capped further decline. The Colombo Stock Index ended 0.13 percent weaker at 6,439.34, its lowest close since Jan. 2. It has shed 1.6 percent in the past six sessions. “Things were a bit slower and the trend is continuing,” said Dimantha Mathew, head of research, First Capital Holdings. “Market is coming towards a correction rather than profit-taking as the latter lasted far more than expected. However, foreigners are still on the buying side.” Foreign investors bought shares worth net 146.2 million rupees ($949,968) on Wednesday, extending the net foreign inflow so far this year to 3 billion rupees. They had net bought 18.5 billion rupees worth equities in 2017 and 633.5 million rupees in 2016. Turnover stood at 491.1 million rupees on Wednesday, less than last year’s daily average of 915.3 million rupees. Shares in Hemas Holdings Plc ended 1.8 percent lower, Sri Lanka Telecom Plc closed 1.4 percent down, and Overseas Realty Plc closed 2.9 percent lower. $1 = 153.9000 Sri Lankan rupees Reporting by Ranga Sirilal and Shihar Aneez; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips" + }, + { + "text": "SHARES With a new year comes new career goals, and for many people that includes a new job. But an ever-changing job market and predictions of job-stealing robots make it hard to predict what positions will still be in demand in the future. Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. News & World Report built this list of 2018's Best Jobs to help job seekers narrow their search. To rank the positions, seven components were measured, including 10-year growth volume, 10-year growth percentage, median salary, employment rate, future job prospects, stress level and work-life balance. The technology and healthcare industries having the jobs with the strongest combinations of these factors, with software developer and dentist taking the top two spots, respectively. Obstetrician and gynecologist, oral and maxillofacial surgeon and physician rounded out the top 10 list with a tie. Stefano Gilera | Credit: Cultura RM Exclusive To see the top 10 jobs that offer not only a high salary, but also potential for growth in the future, take a look at the list below. 1. Software Developer" + }, + { + "text": "Reuters TV United States January 4, 2018 / 1:07 PM / Updated 16 minutes ago German tax office targets Chinese online retailers: Handelsblatt Reuters Staff 2 Min Read FRANKFURT/BERLIN (Reuters) - German tax investigators have seized goods and accounts of about 100 Chinese online retailers selling products via Amazon.com Inc ( AMZN.O ) in Germany and failing to pay sales taxes, daily Handelsblatt reported on Thursday, citing industry sources. FILE PHOTO: A view of the new Amazon logistic center with the company's logo in Dortmund, Germany November 14, 2017. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen The investigation is led by the Berlin-Neukoelln tax office, which is responsible for value added tax (VAT) registration of Chinese retailers in Germany, the paper said. The federal state of Berlin declined to comment. Amazon said that retailers using the U.S. group’s platform as a marketplace are independent enterprises and are responsible for their own tax obligations. A German taxpayers’ union said in November that Germany could be losing out on 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) annually because online retailers from China, or other non-EU states, fail to pay value added taxes of 19 percent, knowingly or not. Britain in November said it would introduce measures to hold online marketplaces like eBay ( EBAY.O ) and Amazon.com accountable when sellers on their platforms do not collect and pay VAT. Reporting by Matthias Inverardi and Tom Koerkemeier; Writing by Christoph Steitz; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle" + }, + { + "text": "THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY) will hold a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2017 results on Thursday, February 1, 2018, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific. A press release with the fourth quarter and full year financial results will be issued before the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, February 1, 2018. To access the call, go to www.teledyne.com approximately ten minutes before the scheduled start time. A replay will be available at this website for approximately one month starting at 9:00 a.m. Pacific on Thursday, February 1, 2018. Teledyne Technologies is a leading provider of sophisticated instrumentation, digital imaging products and software, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems. Teledyne Technologies’ operations are primarily located in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Western and Northern Europe. For more information, visit Teledyne Technologies’ website at www.teledyne.com . //www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180124006257/en/ Teledyne Technologies Incorporated Jason VanWees (805) 373-4542 Source: Teledyne Technologies Incorporated" + }, + { + "text": "BELOIT, Wis., Jan. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Regal Beloit Corporation (NYSE: RBC) announced today that it plans to release its fourth quarter 2017 financial results after the market closes on Monday, February 5, 2018. Regal will hold a conference call to discuss the earnings release at 9:00 AM CST (10:00 AM EST) on Tuesday, February 6, 2018. To listen to the live audio and view the presentation during the call, please visit Regal's Investors website: . To listen by phone or to ask the presenters a question, dial 888.317.6003 (U.S. callers) or 1.412.317.6061 (international callers) and enter 9006547 when prompted. A webcast replay will be available at the link above, and a telephone replay will be available at 877.344.7529 (U.S. callers) or 1.412.317.0088 (international callers), replay access code 10115694. Both will be accessible until May 8, 2018. Regal Beloit Corporation (NYSE: RBC) is a leading manufacturer of electric motors, electrical motion controls, power generation and power transmission products serving markets throughout the world. The company is comprised of three business segments: Commercial and Industrial Systems, Climate Solutions and Power Transmission Solutions. Regal is headquartered in Beloit, Wisconsin, and has manufacturing, sales and service facilities throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit RegalBeloit.com . View original content: SOURCE Regal Beloit Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 10:25 AM / Updated 39 minutes ago SE Asia Stocks-Largely higher; Indonesia marks record close Reuters Staff 4 Min Read * Most rise tracking broader Asia * Indonesia posts record close * Singapore records 10-yr closing high By Devika Syamnath Jan 16 (Reuters) - Indonesian shares notched up an all-time closing high on Tuesday and the Philippine index came off record levels while most other Southeast Asian stock markets ended the day on a positive note after a wary start, tracking gains across broader Asia. The Indonesian index rose 0.7 percent to 6,429.692, buoyed by telecom and consumer staples stocks. Telekomunikasi Indonesia climbed 2.2 percent while cigarette maker Gudang Garam added 2.4 percent. The Philippine index edged up 0.1 percent, led by consumer stocks and telcos, easing off an earlier peak of 8,969.18. \"That (record) level offers strong resistance given that the market has been on a rally since the start of the year,\" said Jeffrey Lucero, equity research analyst at RCBC Securities. \"The 8,900 level would be hard to break this week, particularly as investors would like to take a wait-and-see position before upcoming corporate earnings,\" he added. Consumer goods manufacturers Universal Robina Corp and Jollibee Foods led the gains with the latter adding 5.2 percent to hit a record close. Consumer stocks could benefit from the recent tax reform program which can increase the disposable income of consumers, Lucero added. Singapore stocks reversed earlier losses to end 0.4 percent higher at levels not see since December 2007. Gains in financials and industrial stocks pushed the city-state's main index higher. Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp and United Overseas Bank marked record closing levels, having added 0.7 percent and 1 percent respectively. Thailand's SET Index rose as much as 0.5 percent to an all-time high before closing 0.05 percent higher, propped up by real estate and consumer staples. Berli Jucker and CP All rallied more than 3.5 percent each. Malaysia closed marginally higher while Vietnam bucked the trend to close slightly lower. For Asian Companies click; SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS Change on the day Market Current Previous Pct Move close Singapore 3550.21 3536.41 0.39 Bangkok 1821.83 1822.66 -0.05 Manila 8865.13 8857.72 0.08 Jakarta 6429.692 6382.195 0.74 Kuala Lumpur 1826.03 1825.91 0.01 Ho Chi Minh 1062.96 1063.47 -0.05 Change on year Market Current End 2017 Pct Move Singapore 3550.21 3402.92 4.33 Bangkok 1821.83 1753.71 3.88 Manila 8865.13 8558.42 3.58 Jakarta 6429.692 6355.654 1.16 Kuala Lumpur 1826.03 1796.81 1.63 Ho Chi Minh 1062.96 984.24 8.00 (Reporting by Devika Syamnath; Editing by Sunil Nair)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - Gaiax Co Ltd * Says unit adish co. ltd. will issue 15,500 shares to two Tokyo-based investment limited liability partnerships, freebit investment inc and Osaka-based management consulting firm * Payment date on Jan. 18 * Says it will sell 6,000 shares to a Tokyo-based investment limited liability partnerships * Says it will hold 65.5 percent stake in adish co. ltd., down from 78.1 percent, after transaction Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/KoX1ZE Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19 (Reuters) - Reliance Industries Ltd, India’s largest listed company by market value, said on Friday that its $30 billion telecom start-up Jio has turned around in less than a year and a half since its launch. Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, or Jio, which disrupted the country’s telecom industry with free voice and cut-price data, swung to a profit of 5.04 billion rupees ($78.97 million) in the third quarter from a loss of 2.71 billion in the second quarter. Reliance Industries’ profit on a standalone basis, which includes the company’s refining, petrochemicals and oil and gas exploration businesses, but primarily excludes retail and telecom operations, stood at 84.54 billion rupees in the quarter ended Dec. 31, up from 80.22 billion a year earlier. Analysts on average had expected a standalone profit of 83.94 billion rupees, Thomson Reuters Eikon data showed. $1 = 63.8200 Indian rupees Reporting by Krishna V Kurup in Bengaluru; editing by Jason Neely" + }, + { + "text": "BRUSSELS, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Euro zone consumer confidence jumped much more than expected in January, a flash estimate from the European Commission showed on Tuesday, further underlining the momentum in the economy that is growing at its fastest in a decade. The Commission said consumer confidence in the 19 countries sharing the euro in January rose to 1.3 points from 0.5 points in December, well above market consensus of a rise to 0.6. In the wider European Union, confidence jumped 1.0 point to 0.4 points, the Commission said. (Reporting By Jan Strupczewski)" + }, + { + "text": "SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Gunmen shot and killed at least 14 people early on Saturday in a crowded dance club in the northeastern Brazil city of Fortaleza, authorities said. At least another six people were injured and are hospitalized in Fortaleza, said Andre Costa, who heads the Ceara state security secretariat, which oversees police forces. Costa told journalists that a motive was not yet known, but authorities were investigating whether the killings were part of an ongoing fight between two drug gangs. No suspects are in custody. Eyewitnesses told the Globo TV network that three cars full of armed men arrived at the dance club around 12:30 a.m. and fired rounds into the front of the building for at least a half-hour before fleeing. Brazil routinely has more homicides than any other nation, according to an annual United Nations compilation of violence. In recent years, homicides have increased significantly more in the country’s northeast area than in the rest of the nation. Reporting by Brad Brooks; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn" + }, + { + "text": "SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China’s yuan rose to its firmest against the U.S. dollar in nearly four months in thin trade on Tuesday, breaching a key threshold, supported by a stronger fixing and broad dollar weakness. The dollar slipped to its lowest in more than three months against a basket of major currencies, marking its steepest annual drop since 2003, on doubts over durability of a pick-up in U.S. economic growth in the wake of the country’s tax overhaul. The Chinese currency registered a rise of around 6.8 percent against the greenback in 2017, the biggest gain in nine years, also recovering from a roughly 6.5 percent loss a year earlier and reversing three straight years of depreciation. Prior to market opening on Tuesday, the People's Bank of China set the midpoint rate CNY=PBOC at 6.5079 per dollar, 263 pips or 0.4 percent firmer than the previous fix of 6.5342 on Friday. Tuesday’s fixing was the strongest since Sept. 11, 2017. The firmer fixing lifted spot yuan higher. The onshore yuan CNY=CFXS opened at 6.5030 per dollar, breaching the psychologically important 6.5 per dollar level and rose to a high of 6.4922 at one point, the firmest since Sept. 8. As of midday, the onshore spot yuan was changing hands at 6.5012, 57 pips firmer than the previous late session close and 0.10 percent stronger than the midpoint. Its offshore counterpart CNH=D3 was trading only 1 pip higher than the onshore spot at 6.5011 per dollar at midday. Traders said the rally in the yuan on the first trading day of the year was catching up with dollar weakness in overseas markets. Tommy Xie, economist at OCBC Bank in Singapore, said in a note on Tuesday that gains in the yuan in the past two weeks were mainly driven by “thin liquidity and a weaker dollar”. Trading remained tepid on Tuesday as many market participants were still on holiday. The daily trading volume CNYSPTVOL=CFXT stood at $7.925 billion, compared with around $15 billion typically. Xie Yaxuan, an analyst at China Merchants Securities, said he expects the yuan to trade in a range of 6.45 to 6.95 per dollar in 2018, due to the central bank’s “counter-cyclical factor”, domestic foreign exchange supply and demand, and potential gains in the dollar. The “counter-cyclical factor” was introduced by the central bank in May 2017, and was designed to reduce price swings and stabilize market expectations. On a trade-weighted basis .CFSCNYI, the yuan was largely flat from a year earlier against a basket of currencies of China’s trading partners at the end of 2017, according to official data from the China Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS). The index, published on a weekly basis, stood at 94.85 on Friday, up 0.02 from 94.83 at the end of 2016. The Thomson Reuters/HKEX Global CNH index .RXYH, which tracks the offshore yuan against a basket of currencies on a daily basis, stood at 95.95, firmer than the previous day’s 95.89. The global dollar index .DXY rose to 92.183 from the previous close of 92.124. Offshore one-year non-deliverable forwards contracts (NDFs)CNY1YNDFOR=, considered the best available proxy for forward-looking market expectations of the yuan’s value, traded at 6.6325, 1.88 percent weaker than the midpoint. One-year NDFs are settled against the midpoint, not the spot rate. Reporting by Winni Zhou and Brenda Goh; Editing by Jacqueline Wong" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 9:49 AM / Updated 6 hours ago Irish poll shows majority support abortion up to 12 weeks Reuters Staff 2 Min Read DUBLIN (Reuters) - A majority of Irish voters would support a proposal to allow abortion up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy in a referendum due in the coming months, the first major national poll on the question showed on Friday. The government has pledged to hold a plebiscite as soon as May to loosen some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world, but the wording of the referendum and subsequent legislation have not yet been agreed. A cross-party parliamentary committee last month recommended that the state legislate to allow terminations with no restrictions up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy, a more liberal position than some had anticipated. While the country remains overwhelmingly Catholic, public opinion has become far more socially liberal in recent years. A complete ban on abortion was only lifted in 2013 to allow terminations in cases where the mother’s life was in danger. The Irish Times/MRBI poll found that 56 percent of voters would support a change in the constitution so the government can legislate for abortion on request up to 12 weeks, with 29 percent opposed and 15 percent undecided. But it showed sharp divisions remain on the issue. While 74 percent of voters under the age of 25 were in favour of the change, only 36 percent of voters over 65 supported it. The Irish Times in an editorial about the poll said that while there had been a striking move towards liberalisation of abortion in the past year, the referendum result was far from a foregone conclusion. Reporting by Conor Humphries; editing by Ralph Boulton" + }, + { + "text": "LIVONIA, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS) announced today that it will hold a conference call regarding 2017 fourth quarter and full-year results on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. ET. The conference call will be hosted by Masco President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Allman. Participants in the call are asked to register five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time by dialing (855) 226-2726 (855-22MASCO) and from outside the U.S. at (706) 679-3614. Please use the conference identification number 3391036. The 2017 fourth quarter results and supplemental material will be distributed at 7:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, February 8, 2018 and will be available on the Company’s website at www.masco.com . The conference call will be webcast simultaneously and in its entirety through the Masco Corporation website. Shareholders, media representatives and others interested in Masco may participate in the webcast by registering through the Investor Relations section on the Company’s website. A replay of the call will be available on Masco’s website or by phone by dialing (855) 859-2056 and from outside the U.S. at (404) 537-3406. Please use the conference identification number 3391036. The telephone replay will be available approximately two hours after the end of the call and continue through March 10, 2018. Headquartered in Livonia, Mich., Masco Corporation is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of branded home improvement and building products. Our portfolio of industry-leading brands includes Behr ® paint; Delta ® and Hansgrohe ® faucets, bath and shower fixtures; KraftMaid ® and Merillat ® cabinets; Milgard ® windows and doors; and HotSpring ® spas. We leverage our powerful brands across product categories, sales channels and geographies to create value for our customers and shareholders. For more information about Masco Corporation, visit masco.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Investor Contact Masco Corporation David Chaika Vice President, Treasurer and Investor Relations 313.792.5500 [REDACTED] Source: Masco Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan wants to raise the matter of two Reuters reporters detained in Myanmar with the Myanmar government at appropriate opportunities, including a visit by Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono to that country this week, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Wednesday. Journalists take part in a protest outside the court where Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo attend a hearing in Yangon, Myanmar January 10, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer Myanmar prosecutors sought charges on Wednesday against the two reporters under the Official Secrets Act, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years, the reporters’ lawyer said. “The Japanese government has conveyed its concern about this matter to the government of Myanmar and going forward, wants to discuss and make appeals at appropriate opportunities, including Foreign Minister Kono’s visit to Myanmar,” Suga said in response to a question about the issue. He said it was important to guarantee freedom of expression and basic human rights in any country. Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka, Writing by Linda Sieg; Editing by Martin Howell" + }, + { + "text": "Following are excerpts from a CNBC interview with Francisco González, BBVA's Group Executive Chairman and CNBC's Steve Sedgwick and Geoff Cutmore from the World Economic Forum 2018. GC: Francisco González is with us, the Group Executive Chairman of BBVA. Good to see you this morning, thanks for joining us-, FG: Thank you. GC: Just-, can we just get a response from you on this? The-, the-, the Parliamentary Speaker has proposed Carles Puigdemont as President. The government, clearly, is not very happy about this. Does it, again, raise issues around the way Spanish banks, and Spanish businesses, are going to have to deal with this ongoing crisis? FG: Not at all. I think the Catalonian process is-, is done. The government has enforced the law, under the Spanish Constitution, and there is no way for Catalonia to be independent. So, it's a-, it's a pity what has happened, because independence has, in my view, misled their voters, promising a lot of unachievable things, and they have-, and they have frustrated the emotions of many people. So, it's gone. There will be, of course, a lot of fuss, but it is impossible for Catalonia not to be in Spain, so-, SS: Sir, and I'm not wishing to take away the ardor for nationalism, but for me, from the outside, the key moment seemed to be when all those huge companies, or even the smaller companies, said, 'Right, okay, if you're going to be independent, we're going to move our HQ out of Catalonia.' FG: Yes. SS: So, you've gone from being a rich, corporate-heavy part of the country, to having a lot less corporates, and a lot less economic wealth, potentially-, FG: Yes. SS: That, for me, seemed like a key moment. FG: Yes, it's not easy to understand, but a lot of companies have left Catalonia, but the legal headquarters-, SS: Yes. Exactly. FG: That-, so, I don't think there will be any particular effect in the Catalonian economy. SS: But, for the Exchequer of an independent Catalonia, they-, those companies wouldn't have their money based there. FG: Yes, so, there will be a time of fuss and noise, but-, of course, the economy is suffering a little bit in Catalonia, a couple of decimals, but nothing real, because, in the last elections-, SS: Sir, let's-, FG: Independence have lost ground. SS: Let's move on from that, I want to talk about you, actually-, FG: Okay. SS: Because I, and Geoffrey, chatted to you two years ago, and you opened my eyes a little bit, about the threat that you face, not from other banks, but from fintech, as well, and you said, 'We've got to get with it.' Two years later, how's that going? FG: Yes. You know that we have been working on the digital process for two years now, now we are reaping the benefits. This year, 50% of our clientele will be digital. That means a lot of things. They are very happy, and digital customers give us 2.4 more profits, or revenues, I would say, margins, really, than the conventional ones, and they are extremely happy. So, we are advancing very rapidly in this transformation process, and the world is going in that direction. GC: How's the world going to look for you, do you think, 2018? It does feel as though there's now a-, a tailwind, for European economies. How will BBVA fare? FG: You know, the economy is gathering momentum, really, Europe is-, you know, is in good shape, and Spain is in good shape, as well, in terms of the economy. So, BBVA will perform very well, not just in the financial, which is important metrics, but in the transformation process, which, for us, is-, is really the-, is the real target. So, I feel it's going to be a very good year for BBVA. GC: Mm. And in terms of the-, I mean, the old problems, about debts lingering in the system, you feel Spain has done enough now, and is well away from the crisis? FG: Yes. Spain has done a very good job, in my view. They started-, well, Spain started in 2012, leveraging the financial system, addressing the banking system problems, the several problems, and now the situation is quite normal and calm GC: Alright. We've got to let you go. Francisco, nice to see you, thanks very much for coming along. FG: Thank you to you. GC: Francisco González, the Group Executive Chairman of BBVA. ENDS" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 9:59 PM / Updated 2 hours ago UPDATE 1-Capital One Financial posts $1 bln quarterly loss Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Adds details on results) Jan 23 (Reuters) - U.S. credit card issuer Capital One Financial Corp on Tuesday reported a fourth-quarter loss of $1.05 billion on large provisions for income taxes, credit losses and recent changes to the U.S. tax law. The provision for income taxes rose to $2.17 billion from $342 million last year, and the provision for credit losses increased 10 percent to $1.92 billion. Capital One also took a hit of $1.77 billion related to the recent tax code changes. The company swung to a quarterly loss of $1.05 billion, or $2.17 per share from a profit of $710 million, or $1.45 per share, a year earlier. U.S. banks are being pressured as a rising number of Americans fall behind on their credit card payments, forcing them to set aside more money to cover defaults. The company said net interest income in the quarter rose 6.7 percent to $5.81 billion. Excluding items, Capital One earned $1.62 per share. Period-end loans held for investment, which includes domestic card and commercial banking loans, increased 1 percent to $254.5 billion. Shares of Capital One were down about 1.5 percent at $104.01 after the bell. (Reporting by Diptendu Lahiri in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr)" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 10:38 AM / Updated 9 hours ago French police search Lactalis sites after baby milk scare Reuters Staff 1 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - French police were searching several sites belonging to dairy producer Lactalis on Wednesday following a salmonella contamination scare that prompted a global recall of several baby food products, a source at the Paris prosecutor’s office said. The scandal deepened this month when it emerged some of the recalled baby foods had still made their way onto shop shelves in a number of supermarket chains. The Paris prosecutor opened a preliminary probe into the salmonella contamination scare in late December. Reporting by Emmanuel Jarry, Writing by Sarah White, Editing by Richard Lough" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 7:54 AM / Updated 9 hours ago UK should have almost identical market access to EU after Brexit: health minister Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Britain should be able to agree an almost identical level of market access to the European Union with a free trade agreement after Brexit because the two sides start from a point of regulatory alignment, the health minister said on Friday. Jeremy Hunt was asked about Britain’s future trading relationship with Europe after finance minister Philip Hammond called for a modest Brexit that would keep Britain as closely aligned as possible with the bloc after its 2019 exit. “The issue here is not the extent of divergence but the freedom to diverge,” Hunt told BBC Radio. “We start in the unique position with the EU of total regulatory alignment and that actually makes it much easier to negotiate. That means that we should be able to expect very limited and possibly no changes to market access as a result of the free trade deal that we negotiate.” Hunt added that Britain would over time be able to take a “sovereign decision” as to where its regulations do or do not diverge. Reporting by Kate Holton; editing by Costas Pitas" + }, + { + "text": "Brazil court upholds Lula conviction Wednesday, January 24, 2018 - 01:59 A Brazilian appeals court on Wednesday upheld the corruption conviction of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva... a major blow to his planned presidential run later this year. A Brazilian appeals court on Wednesday upheld the corruption conviction of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva... a major blow to his planned presidential run later this year. //reut.rs/2DAD6vM" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO (Reuters) - Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said there was a shared agreement among Group of Seven advanced economies that currency rates should move stably reflecting economic fundamentals, Kyodo news agency reported. Kuroda’s remarks were made to reporters in Davos on Thursday, when asked about U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s comments that a weak dollar was good for the U.S. economy, Kyodo reported. Kuroda also shrugged off lingering market speculation that the BOJ would dial back its huge stimulus program earlier than expected. “There is still quite some distance to our 2 percent inflation target. It’s inappropriate to talk about an exit strategy or a change in policy,” Kuroda said. Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Shri Navaratnam" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - WestRock Co ( WRK.N ) agreed to buy smaller rival KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp ( KS.N ) for about $3.5 billion to expand in the western United States and boost margins in its North American corrugated packaging business. KapStone shareholders can receive $35 per share in cash, or elect to get 0.4981 WestRock shares, representing a premium of 32 percent to KapStone’s Friday close. KapStone’s shares were trading at $34.52 before the bell on Monday. WestRock said the deal was valued at about $4.9 billion, including net debt of about $1.36 billion. The equity value is based on 98.7 million diluted outstanding shares of KapStone as of Sept. 30, according to Reuters calculation. The deal, which is set to close in the quarter ending Sept. 30, is expected to generate savings of about $200 million by the end of fiscal 2021, the companies said. KapStone, which produces containerboard, unbleached kraft paper and corrugated products, will be integrated into WestRock’s corrugated packaging business. WestRock will fund the deal through issuance of new debt under a fully committed financing package and expects to refinance KapStone’s debt. Lazard and Wells Fargo were WestRock’s financial advisers while Rothschild & Co and Moelis & Co LLC advised KapStone. Reporting by Arunima Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 3:45 PM / in 22 minutes BRIEF-CIBC CEO says U.S. tax reforms will have $100 million impact Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 9 (Reuters) - Canadian Imperial Bank Of Commerce : * CIBC CEO SAYS EXPECTS ABOUT $100 MILLION IMPACT FROM U.S. TAX REFORMS, NEGLIGIBLE UPTICK TO EARNINGS INITIALLY * CIBC CEO SAYS BANK HAS BEEN SPENDING AROUND C$1 BILLION PER YEAR ON TECHNOLOGY Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Reporting by Matt Scuffham)" + }, + { + "text": "Experienced security executive to drive revenue, build partnerships, and grow sales channels IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cylance® Inc. , the company that revolutionized the antivirus and endpoint protection industry with true AI powered prevention that blocks malware, fileless attacks, and today’s most advanced cyberthreats, announced that Chris Scanlan has been named Senior Vice President of North America Sales. Scanlan brings extensive sales and executive experience to Cylance, including deep relationships with global enterprise customers, strong sales operations leadership, and proven field sales team development. In his role as the SVP of North America Sales, Scanlan will be focused on continuing Cylance’s industry-leading revenue growth, building business partnerships, and growing the capabilities of the sales team. Scanlan will report to John Giacomini, Cylance’s Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales. Scanlan comes to Cylance after serving as Senior Vice President of worldwide sales at Optiv, where he was responsible for a $2.3 billion business unit with more than 650 employees. Under Scanlan’s direction, Optiv experienced three changes of control and six company acquisitions. Prior to Optiv, Scanlan served in several executive positions at Accuvant, including Senior Vice President of North American Sales, where he led a $1.6 billion business unit with more than 300 employees. At Accuvant, Scanlan increased business by $750 million and was the driving force behind the highly successful acquisition and integration of Fishnet Security in 2015. “We are thrilled to have Chris join Cylance and drive our North America sales team. He is a proven leader that will continue to drive our industry-leading revenue growth,” said John Giacomini, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Cylance. “His extensive experience in the channel, his enterprise customer relationships, and vast knowledge of the cybersecurity landscape will accelerate our growth and enhance customer satisfaction in North America.” “Cylance is changing the way security is implemented and driving the AI revolution. I bring a unique perspective to the business having been a recommender of Cylance products to many customers for years,” said Scanlan. “Cylance has the right product mix to service customers, while enabling the partner community to leverage Cylance technology for branded service offerings.” About Cylance Inc. Cylance is the first company to apply artificial intelligence, algorithmic science, and machine learning to cybersecurity to prevent the most advanced security threats in the world. Built on a breakthrough predictive analysis process, the Cylance AI Platform serves as a foundation for innovative, AI driven security products to address critical attack vectors. The company’s flagship product, CylancePROTECT ® , quickly and accurately identifies what is benign and what is a threat, and prevents malicious code from ever executing on a targeted system. By coupling advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning with a unique understanding of an attacker’s mentality, Cylance provides products and services that are truly predictive and preventive against the most advanced threats. For more information visit: www.cylance.com . Social Networks Blog: blog.cylance.com Twitter: LinkedIn: YouTube: www.youtube.com/cylanceinc View source version on businesswire.com : Cylance PR Team [REDACTED] [REDACTED] or Bateman Group Kerry Tescher, [REDACTED] [REDACTED] or Smile on Fridays LLP Lara Lackie, [REDACTED] 2834 / [REDACTED] 892 [REDACTED] Source: Cylance Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 2, 2018 / 11:00 PM / Updated 28 minutes ago Trump threatens to withhold funding to Palestinians Reuters Staff 1 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said in a tweet on Tuesday the United States may withhold payments to Palestinians because they are “no longer willing to talk peace.” FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump talks to reporters before departing the White House for a visit to the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC, U.S., December 21, 2017. REUTERS/Jim Bourg/File Photo He said Washington gives Palestinians “HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect. They don’t even want to negotiate a long overdue peace treaty with Israel.” Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Sandra Maler" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said Britain’s economy could start to grow more quickly and stop lagging behind the global economy later this year if there is clarity about Britain’s future relationship with the European Union. “The world economy is accelerating, and we haven’t seen that yet,” Carney told BBC radio in an interview on Friday. “There is the prospect this year, as there is greater clarity about the relationship with Europe and subsequently with the rest of the word, for a recoupling – if I can use that term borrowed from Gwyneth Paltrow - a conscious recoupling of the UK economy with the global economy.” Britain grew more slowly than every other G7 country over the first three quarters of 2017 after the 2016 Brexit vote. Official data due later on Friday is expected to show growth remained unchanged in the fourth quarter. Most economists expect the BoE will raise interest rates towards end of 2018, but some think it could move as soon as May. The central bank raised rates for the first time in more than a decade in November as it saw signs that wages would rise more quickly after falling behind inflation. Carney told the BBC that Brexit had cost Britain’s economy tens of billions of pounds in lower economic growth and companies had scaled back on their investment as they waited for more clarity on what Brexit means for them. “Investment in advanced economies is growing at double-digit rates, and it is low single digits here,” he said. Carney said he would not provide updated forecasts for Britain’s economy ahead of the BoE’s quarterly inflation report which is due to be published on Feb. 8. Reporting by David Milliken; Writing by William Schomberg; editing by Ralph Boulton" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has enough forces remaining in Syria to withstand possible attacks on its bases, a Kremlin spokesman said on Tuesday. “That contingent that remains, the military infrastructure that remains, at the Hmeimim and Tartus military bases, they are completely capable of fighting these occasional terrorist acts,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call. The Russian Defence Ministry said on Monday that militants had attacked its bases overnight on Jan. 6 using thirteen armed drones. Reporting by Polina Ivanova; Editing by Andrey Ostroukh" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 4:07 PM / Updated 15 minutes ago China's JD.com complains of 'serious' U.S. protectionism Soyoung Kim 3 Min Read DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - The head of China’s second-biggest e-commerce company, JD.com Inc, accused the United States on Wednesday of practicing “serious” protectionism against Chinese firms and said this would ultimately backfire on the world’s largest economy. “Many friends from other countries discuss protectionism in China but I think things have completely reversed,” JD.com Chairman and Chief Executive Richard Liu said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “One day it will hurt the U.S. economy too,” said Liu, whose $67 billion online retailer competes with bigger rival Alibaba Group Holding. The United States on Tuesday slapped steep import tariffs on washing machines and solar panels in moves billed as a way to protect American jobs by President Donald Trump. They sparked condemnations from China and South Korea. The U.S. government also recently rejected Chinese firm Ant Financial’s plan to acquire U.S. money transfer firm MoneyGram International Inc over national security concerns, the most high-profile Chinese deal to be torpedoed under the Trump administration. The U.S. government has toughened its stance on the sale of American companies to Chinese entities, at a time of already tense trade ties, with Washington vowing to narrow a large trade deficit with China which reached $347 billion in 2016. Liu said Nasdaq-listed JD.com not only wants to overtake Alibaba as the largest online retailer in China, but also become a global player. But like other Chinese CEOs, he said he had found it difficult to make forays into the U.S. market. For now, the company is focused on Southeast Asia, and would look to grow in the region both organically and by acquisition. “It’s hard to use only one model. In Southeast Asia, we look for local partners to develop business, but we don’t want to exclude acquisitions,” Liu said. In January, JD.com said it had made an investment in Vietnamese e-commerce firm Tiki.vn, the latest move in a strategic push into the region where Alibaba and Amazon have also made significant investments in the past year. Reporting by Soyoung Kim; Editing by Mark Bendeich" + }, + { + "text": "(Corrects paragraph 7 to read Archbishop Giorgio Lingua, not Archbishop Giorgorio Lingua) HAVANA, Jan 3 (Reuters) - The European Unions top diplomat Federica Mogherini arrived in Cuba on Wednesday to help strengthen member countries' economic and political ties with the Communist-run island. Mogherinis visit reconfirms the strong EU-Cuban relationship, and she will press for an ambitious and swift joint implementation of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement, the EU said in a statement. As the U.S.-Cuba rapprochement unfolded in 2015-2016 the EU dropped all sanctions and negotiated the agreement, the first accord between Cuba and the 28-nation bloc. Signed in December 2016 and ratified in November, the EU said at the time that it hoped to position its companies for Cubas transition to a more open economy and allow it to press for political freedoms on the island. Mogherinis visit contrasts with the Trump administrations partial rollback of a fragile detente between the old Cold War foes begun by former U.S. President Barack Obama. Her first official meeting on the two-day visit was with Foreign Investment and Cooperation Minister Rodrigo Malmierca. She was also scheduled to meet with the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Archbishop Giorgio Lingua, and Cuban Foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez on Thursday. Cuba's weak economy has been battered by the collapse in Venezuela, making it more vulnerable and open to foreign capital. Europe is seizing the moment, Economist Andrew Zimbalist, a Cuba expert at Smith College in the United States, said. Cuba faces a host of challenges, including declining aid from socialist ally Venezuela. Last month it extended the term of its current leadership to April, signaling a two-month delay in the historic handover from Raul Castro to a new president, while announcing tighter regulations on the non-state sector. The official Juventud Rebelde newspaper reported on Wednesday that the EU is the most important exporter and second trading partner of Cuba, and also the most important donor of cooperation and foreign investment. (Reporting by Marc Frank; Editing by Susan Thomas)" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 10:45 PM / Updated 8 hours ago Australia's Port Hedland set to reopen as Cyclone Joyce moves away Tom Westbrook , James Regan 3 Min Read SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia’s Port Hedland iron ore terminal will likely reopen on Saturday after Australia’s weather bureau cut the forecast strength of a cyclone bearing down on the continent’s far northwest, the port’s operator said on Friday. Cyclone Joyce, a Category 1 storm, is holding just off the beaches of Pilbara iron ore belt, prompting the overnight closure of the world’s biggest iron ore export terminal, 1,700 km (1,050 miles) north of Perth, as a safety precaution. Shipping operations are expected to resume at 6 a.m. Saturday (2200 GMT Friday) should weather conditions improve. The port accounts for over half of Australia’s iron ore exports, handling more than a million tonnes a day from the Pilbara iron belt, the majority bound for Chinese steel mills. The storm is forecast to cross the sparsely populated coast about 250 km northeast from Port Hedland later on Friday. It is no longer expected to reach Category 3, or severe strength, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. The storm is forecast to make landfall later on Friday and is predicted to weaken further as it travels inland. Port Hedland was cleared of ships and closed on Thursday evening. The storm is the second to menace Australia’s northwest in as many weeks. Cyclone Hilda blew down trees and caused minor damage at Broome last week. On average, there are 10 to 13 tropical cyclones between November and April in the Australian region, four of which typically cross the coast, data from the bureau shows. The possibility of a protracted closure at Port Hedland if Cyclone Joyce had intensified failed to stoke iron ore buying, despite China’s strong reliance on supplies from Australia. Iron ore futures on the Dalian Commodity Exchange were down 2 percent in trading at the Shanghai Futures Exchange, after falling 0.4 percent in the previous session. [IRONORE/] Iron ore for spot delivery to China’s Qingdao port rose 77 cents, or about 1 percent, to $79.08 a ton on Thursday. Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Additional reporting by James Regan; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell and Tom Hogue" + }, + { + "text": "Missouri governor admits to extramarital affair, denies blackmail 12:51pm EST - 01:50 Missouri Governor Eric Greitens has admitted to cheating on his wife in 2015 before he was elected, but denies allegations he blackmailed the woman he was having an affair with. Linda So reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Missouri Governor Eric Greitens has admitted to cheating on his wife in 2015 before he was elected, but denies allegations he blackmailed the woman he was having an affair with. Linda So reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Updated 10 minutes ago Salmonella outbreak to cost French dairy hundreds of millions: CEO Reuters Staff 2 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - A salmonella contamination of baby milk produced by Lactalis could cost the French dairy group several million euros, its CEO said in a newspaper interview. Lactalis has recalled 12 millions tins nationwide and from stores around the world after discovering salmonella bacteria in some baby milk last month at a factory in western France. “We can’t say definitively but (the cost) will be very high, several million euros,” Lactalis Chief Executive Emmanuel Besnier told business daily Les Echos in an interview to be published in its Thursday edition. “This case has cost us our export license for a still undetermined period. It’s the biggest crisis I’ve ever had to face as a boss,” he added. Besnier did not give details of what the costs would be. French authorities have said that “Salmonella Agona” infections were reported in 38 cases between mid-August and December, 36 of them clearly linked to Lactalis milk. A group representing victims’ families say at least 10 more cases are unaccounted for. Besnier said that the company did not know how much of the contaminated milk had been consumed but less than half of the recalled product had so far been recovered. Supermarket chains Leclerc, Auchan, Carrefour and Systeme U have all acknowledged that some of the baby milk had remained on their shelves after the recall. Besnier said that Lactalis was the target of multiple legal complaints. Reporting by Leigh Thomas; Editing by Susan Fenton" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 3:58 AM / Updated 9 hours ago BlackBerry launches cybersecurity software for self-driving cars Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Canadian software maker BlackBerry Ltd ( BB.TO ) on Monday launched a new cybersecurity software, which identifies vulnerabilities in programs used in self-driving cars. A banner for BlackBerry Ltd hangs to celebrate the company's transfer trading to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., October 16, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid The product, called Blackberry Jarvis, is being marketed first to automakers - a group of customers the former smartphone maker is hoping will power its turnaround efforts - but could also have applications in healthcare and industrial automation. BlackBerry said it was offering Jarvis on a pay-as-you-go basis. Once initiated, automakers will have online access to Jarvis and can scan files at every stage of software development, the company said. Last year, the global “ransomware” attack, dubbed WannaCry, helped raise awareness of BlackBerry’s security software business, which is largely focused on managing secure connections to mobile devices. BlackBerry said it had already tested Jarvis with automaker Tata Motors’ ( TAMO.NS ) Jaguar Land Rover unit, whose chief executive said Jarvis reduced the time needed to assess code from 30 days to seven minutes. BlackBerry in September announced it would partner with auto supplier Delphi Automotive Plc ( DLPH.N ) on a software operating system for self-driving cars. Earlier this month BlackBerry and Chinese internet search firm Baidu Inc ( BIDU.O ) signed a deal to jointly develop self-driving vehicle technology. BlackBerry has also recently signed automotive-related deals with chipmaker Qualcomm, auto supplier Denso and Ford Motor Co ( F.N ). Reporting by John Benny in Bengaluru and Alastair Sharp in Toronto; Editing by Lisa Shumaker" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 12 (Reuters) - HELMA EIGENHEIMBAU AG: * PUBLISHES NEW ORDER INTAKE FIGURES AND CONFIRMS 2017 EARNINGS ESTIMATES / GUIDANCE FOR 2018-2019 CONVERTED TO CONSOLIDATED EARNINGS BEFORE TAX * ORDER INTAKE OF EUR 245.4 MILLION IN 2017 FINANCIAL YEAR (FY 2016: EUR 286.8 MILLION) * WILL NOT ACHIEVE ITS EXPECTED CONSOLIDATED REVENUE LEVEL OF AT LEAST EUR 290.0 MILLION FOR 2017 * EARNINGS BEFORE TAX IN 2017 WILL MOST LIKELY LIE IN TARGETED RANGE, BETWEEN EUR 18.5 MILLION AND EUR 19.5 MILLION * NOW SEES CONSOLIDATED REVENUE IN 2017 ABOUT AT, OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE, PR YEAR‘S LEVEL (EUR 263.8 MILLION) * RESOLUTION TO WITHDRAW ITS REVENUE PLANNING FOR 2018 AND 2019 * EARNINGS BEFORE TAX OF BETWEEN EUR 21.0 MILLION AND EUR 22.5 MILLION ARE EXPECTED FOR 2018 * SEES EARNINGS BEFORE TAX OF BETWEEN EUR 23.5 MILLION AND EUR 26.0 MILLION FOR 2019 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 9:43 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago Juniper Networks quarterly revenue drops 10.5 percent Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Network gear maker Juniper Networks Inc’s fourth-quarter revenue fell 10.5 percent, as its cloud computing business struggled against stiff competition. Net loss was $148.1 million, or 40 cents per share, in the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with a profit $188.9 million, or 49 cents per share, a year earlier The company took a $289.5 million charge related to the new U.S. tax law. Revenue fell to $1.24 billion from $1.39 billion. Reporting by Muvija M in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 10 (Reuters) - KRUK SA: * PRELIM FY 2017 NET PROFIT AT 300 MILLION ZLOTYS, UP 20.6 PERCENT YOY * NOMINAL VALUE OF DEBT PORTFOLIOS PURCHASED IN Q4 AT 6.41 BILLION ZLOTYS, DOWN 22 PERCENT YOY * EXPENDITURE ON DEBT PORTFOLIOS PURCHASED IN Q4 AT 210 MILLION ZLOTYS, DOWN 40 PERCENT YOY * RECOVERIES FROM MANAGEMENT OF PURCHASED PORTFOLIOS IN Q4 AT 375 MILLION ZLOTYS, UP 29 PERCENT YOY Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Updated 31 minutes ago Locust swarms pose threat to World Cup pitches - Russian official Reuters Staff 2 Min Read MOSCOW (Reuters) - Swarms of locusts pose a threat to Russia’s soccer World Cup as they could attack stadium pitches and cause a “global scandal”, an Agriculture Ministry official said on Wednesday. President Vladimir Putin is hoping to use the World Cup from June 14 to July 15 to showcase his country as a superpower at a time of frayed relations with the West over Syria and Ukraine. Matches will be played in 12 stadiums in 11 cities. Pyotr Chekmarev, head of the agriculture ministry’s crop farming department, said the pitches could be targeted by locusts during the summer months. “One way or another, we have learnt how to deal with locusts, but how do we not fall into a global scandal with locusts this year?” he said at an agricultural event in Moscow. “The whole world is coming here. Football fields are green. Locusts love it where there is lots of green. How would they not come to the place where football is being played?” Chekmarev said around a million hectares of land in southern Russia was infested with locusts, including around the World Cup host city of Volgograd. Reporting by Olga Popova; Writing by Jack Stubbs; Editing by Andrew Osborn" + }, + { + "text": "BERLIN/FRANKFURT, Jan 15 (Reuters) - The state owners of Germany’s HSH Nordbank on Monday granted prospective buyers J.C. Flowers and Cerberus exclusivity as long-running attempts to privatise the ailing bank near conclusion, two people close to the matter said. The buyout groups were given a certain amount of time to negotiate a deal with the German regional states of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg, which hold 89 percent of the bank, one of the sources said on Monday. J.C. Flowers - which owns 5 percent of HSH - and Cerberus submitted a joint bid with a headline price of more than 700 million euros ($860 million), a person familiar with the matter had said last week, adding it remained unclear what conditions were attached to the offer. HSH, its owners and the bidders, declined to comment or were not immediately available for comment. ($1 = 0.8143 euros) (Reporting by Klaus Lauer and Arno Schuetze; Editing by Ludwig Burger)" + }, + { + "text": "KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockton Benefit Group (LBG) is pleased to announce the addition of Mike Mascolo as Chief Operating Officer (COO). In his new role, Mascolo will focus on coordination and collaboration across the benefits group as well as play an essential role in working with insurers and other business partners. Mascolo is highly regarded in the benefits industry for his client consulting and management skills. He has been in the healthcare and insurance business for more than 20 years, spending the last decade with Wells Fargo Insurance. \"I'm thrilled to welcome Mike as COO. His stellar reputation in our industry, coupled with his personable nature, makes him a natural fit for Lockton,\" said Bob Reiff, President, Lockton Benefit Group. \"We have some of the best minds in the business and Mike's leadership will certainly enhance our already outstanding capabilities.\" In his most recent role as the Employee Benefits National Practice Resource Leader for Wells Fargo Insurance, Mascolo guided his client consulting teams in their thought leadership and resource development activities. Under his direction, the Employee Benefits Practice implemented a data-driven performance and execution model to deliver outstanding client solutions through an innovative alignment of resources and enhanced priority action planning. \"Lockton has a great reputation for client advice and innovation,\" said Mascolo. \"I'm excited to join this winning team and look forward to new successes for our clients and the continued growth of our benefits business.\" Mascolo will be based out of Lockton's Kansas City, Missouri office. About Lockton Lockton is a global professional services firm with 6,500 Associates who advise clients on protecting their people, property and reputations. Lockton has grown to become the world's largest privately held, independent insurance broker by helping clients achieve their business objectives. For nine consecutive years, Business Insurance magazine has recognized Lockton as a \" Best Place to Work in Insurance .\" View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Lockton" + }, + { + "text": "Hong Kong democracy leader Joshua Wong jailed a second time for 2014 protest Published 17 Hours Ago SHARES Damir Sagolj | Reuters Student protest leader Joshua Wong shouts as he is carried by policemen as protesters are arrested at a monument symbolizing the city's handover from British to Chinese rule, a day before Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to arrive for the celebrations, in Hong Kong, China June 28, 2017. Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong, 21, was sentenced to a second jail term of three months on Wednesday for his role in the 2014 pro-democracy \"Umbrella Movement\" street occupations. Wong had chosen not to fight the contempt of court charge that was laid against him after he refused to obey a court injunction order and leave a protest site. Several other activists were also jailed including Lester Shum. Wong began serving a six-month jail term last August for a separate unlawful assembly charge, but the bespectacled activist was granted bail by Hong Kong's highest court, which heard the appeal against the sentence on Tuesday. It would decide upon the case on a later date." + }, + { + "text": "Trump waives Iran nuclear sanctions 'for last time' 4:05pm EST - 01:08 U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he would waive nuclear sanctions against Iran for the last time to give Washington and its European allies a chance to fix the “terrible flaws” of the 2015 nuclear deal. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he would waive nuclear sanctions against Iran for the last time to give Washington and its European allies a chance to fix the “terrible flaws” of the 2015 nuclear deal. //reut.rs/2AWLMWZ" + }, + { + "text": "January 27, 2018 / 6:35 PM / Updated 17 minutes ago Wolves extend Championship lead Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Wolverhampton Wanderers won 1-0 at Ipswich Town on Saturday to move 12 points clear at the top of the Championship. Full back Matt Doherty headed the winner after 15 minutes and Wolves created several good chances to extend their lead. Diogo Jota forced two good saves from Ipswich goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski and the hosts rarely threatened to get an equaliser as they slipped eight points adrift of a playoff spot in 12th place. Wolves lost 2-0 at home to Nottingham Forest last time out to end a 13-match unbeaten league run but they are in a strong position to return to the Premier League after a six-year absence. Bristol City overcame the first-half sending-off of defender Nathan Baker to beat Queens Park Rangers 2-0 and climb to fourth in the table while Fulham won 3-1 at Barnsley to move up to sixth. Reporting by Ed Osmond; Editing by Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "The \" Fast Money \" traders shared their first moves for the market open. Pete Najarian was a buyer of Lowe's . Tim Seymour was a buyer of Bank of America . Dan Nathan was a seller of FedEx . Guy Adami was a buyer of FedEx . Trader disclosure: On January 9, 2018, the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC's \"Fast Money\" were owned by the \"Fast Money\" traders: Pete Najarian is long calls AEO, AKS, BABA, BKD, C, DAL, ESV, FCX, GDX, GM, GOOGL, INTC, KKR, KRE, MAC, MSFT, MU, NBR, NUE, OA, ORCL, RIG, SBUX, SPY, T, WBA, WEN, XLE, XLF, XOM. Pete is long stock AAPL, BAC, BKE, C, CMCSA, CSX, DIS, DLTR, GILD, GIS, GM, HAL, HUM, IBM, KMI, KMX, KO, LOW, MRK, MSFT, MU, NKE, PEP, PFE, STZ, TGT, TPX, UPS, WBA, WDC, WFC. Bought GILD, LOW stock; DAL, KKR, XOM calls. Tim Seymour is long AMZA, APC, BABA, BAC, C, CCJ, CLF, CMG, CSCO, CX, DAL, DPZ, DVYE, EEM, EUFN, EWM, FB, FXI, GE, GILD, GM, GOOGL, HAL, INTC, LOW, M, MAT, MCD, MO, MOS, MPEL, PHM, PYPL, RAI, RH, RL, SBUX, SQ, T, TIF, TWTR, UA, UAL, VALE, VIAB, VOD, VRX, XLE, XRT, 700.HK. Tim is short IWM, RACE, SPY. Dan Nathan is long puts SPY, XLF. Dan is long calls AN, GM, INTC. Dan is short SMH. Guy Adami is long CELG, EXAS, GDX, INTC. Guy Adami's wife, Linda Snow, works at Merck." + }, + { + "text": "If you want to win the New Year, it's important to break bad habits – like consuming things that aren't good for you. We're not just talking about cutting back on calories. There's something else you should slash from your life: complaints. Complaining is a bad habit. Your brain likes to identify patterns. So when you moan, you become a pessimist who trains your brain to look for the \"bad\" in things. Your mind will detect things you don't like more often. This will only leave you feeling dissatisfied, frustrated and powerless because you can't do anything about it. Consider all the things you might carp about – the cold weather, slow traffic, underpaid job, mean manager, or a jealous spouse. Unless you're actually going to do something about it – like get a new job or change your commute – it doesn't help to whine. In fact, complaining is downright unhealthy because it can boost your cortisol levels and cause stress. Moreover, you might even turn off others because nobody wants to be around a downer. Instead, start 2018 by hitting the reset button on complaints and follow these three steps of the \"complaint diet.\" First, close your eyes and notice whatever it is that you want to grumble about. Just observe how it makes you feel. Second, tell yourself that you can't do anything about it. Third, take a deep breath and let it go. Source: Kabir Sehgal Kabir Sehgal You can even add a fourth step which is to recite to yourself the things for which you're grateful like good health, loving family, a decent paycheck. By doing so, you'll start to focus on what's going right versus what isn't. When you follow these steps, you will stop saying negative things aloud and to yourself. And eventually, you won't even think them. Rather, you will train your brain to see the \"good\" in things, and that can lead to all sorts of positive effects. Indeed, complaining less might be more beneficial to your health then a new gym membership. Perhaps you will feel less physical pain and discomfort, as positive thinking has been credited with reducing cardiovascular disease and increasing lifespan. By reducing or even eliminating your desire to criticize, you will adopt an impactful habit that will set you up for success in the coming year. Commentary by Deepak Chopra and Kabir Sehgal. Chopra is the founder of The Chopra Foundation and co-founder of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing and a pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. Sehgal is a New York Times bestselling author. He is a former vice president at JPMorgan Chase, multi-Grammy Award winner and U.S. Navy veteran. Chopra and Sehgal are co-creators of Home: Where Everyone Is Welcome , inspired by American immigrants. Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook ! Don't miss: Mark Zuckerberg just made a 2018 resolution—here's how he and other leaders approach their goals show chapters Former Google career coach shares a visual trick for making the new year more productive and happy 11:27 AM ET Thu, 21 Dec 2017 | 01:03" + }, + { + "text": "ATHENS (Reuters) - Thousands of Greek protesters marched in central Athens on Friday against new reforms, including restrictions on the right to strike, that parliament is set to approve next week in return for bailout funds. In the first major industrial upheaval of 2018, the shutdown of the Athens metro, used by some 938,000 commuters daily, caused traffic gridlock in the city of 3.8 million people. Ships were unable to sail as workers went on strike and state-run hospitals had to rely on reserve staff as doctors walked off the job. More work stoppages were expected on Monday. The bill pending parliament approval on Monday would restructure family benefits, introduce a new process for foreclosures on overdue loans, and make it harder to call a strike. “Hands off strikes!” protesters with Communist-affiliated group PAME chanted during a march of about 20,000 people, as lawmakers debated in parliament. Others held banners reading “Uprising!” and “No to modern slavery!”. There were some clashes outside parliament when some protesters attempted to approach the building. They were pushed back by police who sprayed teargas, but the altercation was brief. Protesters from the communist-affiliated trade union PAME shout slogans during a demonstration against planned government reforms in Athens, Greece January 12, 2018. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis The draft law has outraged many Greeks, who have seen living conditions and incomes plummet since the country first sought international aid to stave off bankruptcy in 2010, and required another two bailouts thereafter. It is a bitter pill for ruling Syriza, the dominant party in the government elected in 2015, which has its roots in left-wing labor activism. An elderly protester from the communist-affiliated trade union PAME takes part in a demonstration against planned government reforms in Athens, Greece January 12, 2018. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis “This essentially abolishes the right to strike ... such things only happened during the junta,” said retired ship officer George Papaspyropoulos, referring to the military dictatorship that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974. “This government is a leftist in name only, but in deeds its a junta.” At present, unions can call strikes with the support of one-third of their members. The new law would raise that to just over 50 percent, which creditors hope would limit the frequency of strikes and improve productivity that lags about 20 percent behind the European Union average. The government says it needs the reforms to receive tranches of bailout aid. The latest bailout, worth up to 86 billion euros ($104 billion), expires in August. So far Greece has received 40.2 billion euros, and a new tranche is expected to be worth around 4.5 billion euros. ($1 = 0.8288 euros) Reporting by Michele Kambas and Lefteris Papadimas; Writing by Michele Kambas; Editing by Jeremy Gaunt" + }, + { + "text": "Hormel Foods Corp. : \"I like Hormel. One of the few food stocks with great growth.\" Acuity Brands : \"This is too many [missed] quarters , Acuity.\" Greenbrier Companies : \"Greenbrier's interesting, but you know, when I speak of rails, I always speak of Union Pacific .\" Baidu Inc. : \"I like Baidu. It's one of the only Chinese stock I'm recommending other than Alibaba .\" Vale : \"Look, it's $13. You can wait until it comes back up, but it really is pure commodity and I'm not going to recommend it because my charitable trust lost too much money in the stock. Bad feelings.\" Howard Hughes : \"That stock, I feel, I'm not crazy about. Why? Because Bill Ackman is a big shareholder [and] once told me it's going to go to the moon and he's been a seller, so that makes me feel like don't buy, don't buy, don't buy.\" Symantec Corporation : \"There's too many good companies in that space. I am going to say buy Palo Alto Networks .\" Watch the full lightning round here: show chapters Cramer's lightning round: Hormel's one of the few food stocks I like 20 Hours Ago | 03:06 Questions for Cramer? Call Cramer: 1-800-743-CNBC Want to take a deep dive into Cramer's world? Hit him up! Mad Money Twitter - Jim Cramer Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - Vine Questions, comments, suggestions for the \"Mad Money\" website? [REDACTED]" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 12:18 PM / Updated 17 minutes ago Russia's Putin says Moscow wants to develop relations with the United States Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MOSCOW, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow wanted to develop relations with the United States instead of taking any retaliatory steps after the report on the people with ties to Putin was published on Tuesday. “We want to establish long-term and stable relations,” Putin said. (Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya; writing by Katya Golubkova)" + }, + { + "text": "January 27, 2018 / 7:00 PM / Updated 43 minutes ago Cavani breaks PSG record as Neymar nets double on return Reuters Staff 2 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - Edinson Cavani became Paris St Germain’s all-time top scorer and Neymar signalled his returned from injury with a double as the capital side extended their Ligue 1 lead to 11 points with a 4-0 home demolition of Montpellier on Saturday. The Uruguay striker, who joined the club in 2013, struck in the 11th minute as he tapped in from Adrien Rabiot’s cross to move past the record of Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic with his 157th goal in his 229th game in all competitions for PSG. Neymar, who had missed the three previous games through injury, found the back of the net each way of the interval and Angel Di Maria also scored, putting PSG on 59 points from 23 games. Second-placed Olympique Lyonnais, on 48 points, travel to Girondins de Bordeaux and third-placed Olympique de Marseille take on Monaco, fourth, on Sunday. At the Parc des Princes, Montpellier entered the pitch with the best defence in the league with 15 goals conceded in 22 matches, but their back four were torn up by the home forwards. Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain vs Montpellier - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - January 27, 2018 Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar reacts after his goal was disallowed due to a handball REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes Cavani beat Ibrahimovic’s record of 156 goals for PSG from close range before Neymar doubled the tally from the penalty spot after Pedro Mendes was sanctioned for handball in the area five minutes from the break. Referee Frank Schneider congratulated Cavani on his record but still showed him a yellow card for taking off his shirt in celebration. Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain vs Montpellier - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - January 27, 2018 Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani and team mates celebrate in front of the fans at the end of the match REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes Di Maria added a third from Thomas Meunier’s cross with 20 minutes left as PSG continued to pile on the pressure. Neymar scored the last goal with his knee as he latched onto Cavani’s cross eight minutes from time. PSG have now scored 72 league goals, more than any team in the five major European leagues. Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Russian state bank VTB said on Thursday it has agreed to provide the phone operator Megafon with banking guarantees of up to 4 billion roubles ($70.5 million), which would last for 4 years. Megafon plans to use the tool to meet its current financial needs. $1 = 56.7237 roubles Reporting by Katya Golubkova; editing by Vladimir Soldatkin" + }, + { + "text": "Stocks shrug off U.S. shutdown, dollar dips 1:46pm GMT - 01:47 World stocks and U.S. bond markets on Monday shrugged off a government shutdown in Washington, although the dollar pulled back as the euro continued its strong start to the year. Kate King reports. World stocks and U.S. bond markets on Monday shrugged off a government shutdown in Washington, although the dollar pulled back as the euro continued its strong start to the year. Kate King reports. //reut.rs/2DxBrHy" + }, + { + "text": "52 PM / in 5 minutes Venezuela opposition condemns move to sideline coalition from presidential vote Reuters Staff 2 Min Read CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan opposition leaders on Friday condemned the sidelining of their coalition from upcoming presidential elections, saying it was trickery by President Nicolas Maduro’s administration to rig the vote in its favor. The pro-Maduro Supreme Court’s move late on Thursday to exclude the coalition from registering in the vote placed yet another obstacle ahead of the already disparate opposition. The vote is due by April 30, however, the opposition’s most popular leaders, Leopoldo Lopez and Henrique Capriles, are already banned from standing. Critics say Maduro is depriving Venezuelans of a free and fair election during an unprecedented economic implosion. “This demonstrates the fear felt by Maduro of the people,” opposition lawmaker Stalin Gonzalez said on Thursday. FILE PHOTO: Venezuela's opposition leader Henrique Capriles casts his vote on a polling station during a nationwide elections for new governors in Caracas, Venezuela, October 15, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins International pressure is also piling on the government. The United States said this week that the vote will “deepen, not help resolve, national tensions,” and Vice President Mike Pence called Maduro a “dictator.” Thursday’s ruling said the coalition violated the principle of avoiding “double affiliation” in politics and therefore could not be validated. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro takes a selfie next to his wife Cilia Flores as they arrive for a rally with workers of transport sector in Caracas, Venezuela January 24, 2018. Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS Critics see that as baseless, and the opposition is discussing its next move. “If the opposition opts to participate, it risks legitimizing (an election) process that has already been questioned by the international community,” said IHS analyst Diego Moya-Ocampos. “However, if the opposition chooses not to contest the elections, Maduro will be enabled to straightforwardly extend his mandate for a new six-year presidential term.” Reporting by Vivian Sequera, Corina Pons and Andreina Aponte; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 12 (Reuters) - Star Asia Investment Corp : * Says it plans to issue 53,641 new investment units via public offering, with payment date on Feb. 1 * It will also issue 2,683 units via private placement to Nomura Securities, with subscription date on Feb. 26 and payment date on Feb. 27 Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/zmmefH Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "UK Fat Cats still getting the Cream 4:02am EST - 01:47 The average boss of one of Britain's top companies will on Thursday have earned the same as the typical worker will make in the entire year, according to a new report, stepping up pressure on companies ahead of the annual reporting season over their remuneration policies. Kate King reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript The average boss of one of Britain's top companies will on Thursday have earned the same as the typical worker will make in the entire year, according to a new report, stepping up pressure on companies ahead of the annual reporting season over their remuneration policies. Kate King reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "06 AM / Updated 20 minutes ago Tennis-Federer breezes through opener in Melbourne Reuters Staff Defending champion Roger Federer got quickly into his majestic stride with a straight-sets win over Slovenian Aljaz Bedene in his opening match at the Australian Open on Tuesday. The 36-year-old Swiss turned the evening clash on Rod Laver Arena into an exhibition as he breezed past Bedene with consummate ease 6-3 6-4 6-3. A single break in each set was enough for Federer who looked in total control from beginning to end. The world number two, bidding for a 20th grand slam title after claiming his 18th here last year and 19th at Wimbledon, broke Bedene’s serve in the fourth game of the first set in which he conceded only three points on his serve. Federer pounced immediately at the start of the second to gain another break and cantered through the rest of the match against a player who he had never played before. One member of the sell-out crowd yelled “Give him a chance Rog” late on but the Swiss was not listening and finished the match on Bedene’s serve when his opponent netted a backhand. (Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond)" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 3:46 PM / Updated 14 minutes ago Global markets watchdog issues warning on initial coin offerings Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Initial coin offerings (ICOs) are highly speculative and raise investor protection concerns, global securities regulatory body IOSCO said on Thursday. Start-ups have begun issuing new digital currencies via ICOs, also known as token or coin sales, that are sold to investors in return for a crypto-currency like bitcoin or ether. “There are clear risks associated with these offerings,” the International Organization of Securities Commissions said in a statement. “ICOs are highly speculative investments in which investors are putting their entire invested capital at risk.” IOSCO groups regulators like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority, which said in December it would step up scrutiny of ICOs. Reporting by Huw Jones, editing by Carolyn Cohn" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 11:53 AM / Updated 17 minutes ago Honeywell results beat, raises 2018 profit forecast Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - U.S. industrial conglomerate Honeywell International Inc’s ( HON.N ) adjusted earnings narrowly beat estimates on Friday and the company raised its forecast for 2018 profit, citing lower tax rates. The net loss was $2.41 billion, or $3.18 per share, in the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with a profit of $1.03 billion, or $1.34 per share, a year earlier. Excluding the $3.8 billion tax provision, Honeywell earned $1.85 per share in the quarter, compared with expectations of $1.84. The company’s revenue rose 8.6 percent to $10.84 billion, topping estimates of $10.75 billion. Honeywell, which makes everything from jet engines to thermostats, said it now expects 2018 earnings in the range of $7.75 to $8.00 per share, compared with $7.55 to $7.80 per share previously. Shares of the company were little changed in premarket trading. Reporting by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19 (Reuters) - OTE Group says: * Intends to distribute to shareholders annual free cash flows if macroeconomic conditions remain stable * Remuneration will be a combination of dividend payouts, share buybacks * Total shareholders payout to reach about 260 mln euros this year, including spectrum acquisition, other one-offs Further company coverage: (Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou)" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Safety, Income & Growth Inc. (NYSE:SAFE) announced the tax treatment of its 2017 common stock dividends. NYSE: SAFE CUSIP: 78649D-104 Record Date Payment Date Distribution per Share Return of Capital (Non-Dividend Distribution) 09/19/17 10/16/17 $0.1566000 $0.1566000 The Company’s dividend paid on January 16, 2018 to holders of record on December 29, 2017 will be treated as a 2018 distribution for tax purposes. Safety, Income & Growth Inc. (NYSE: SAFE) is the first publicly traded company that focuses on acquiring, owning, managing and capitalizing ground leases. The Company seeks to provide safe, growing income and capital appreciation to shareholders by building a diversified portfolio of high quality ground leases. The Company, which is taxed as a real estate investment trust (REIT), is managed by its largest shareholder, iStar Inc. Additional information on SAFE is available on its website at www.safetyincomegrowth.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Safety, Income & Growth Inc. Jason Fooks, 212-930-9400 Vice President of Investor Relations & Marketing [REDACTED] Source: Safety, Income & Growth Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Egypt's Sisi to run for second term in March election 10:35am EST - 01:17 Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Friday he will run for a second term in office in an election in March, which the former military commander is widely expected to win. Scarlett Cvitanovich reports Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Friday he will run for a second term in office in an election in March, which the former military commander is widely expected to win. Scarlett Cvitanovich reports //reut.rs/2DqLdei" + }, + { + "text": "Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished eight assists as the Milwaukee Bucks pulled away for a 110-96 win over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday afternoon at the United Center. Khris Middleton contributed 20 points and seven rebounds for the Bucks. John Henson, Jason Terry and Sterling Brown added 12 points apiece as Milwaukee won its third game in a row. Denzel Valentine scored 18 points off the bench to lead the Bulls. Rookie Lauri Markkanen maintained his hot play with 17 points and 10 rebounds, but it was not enough as Chicago’s losing streak stretched to four. Milwaukee topped 100 points for the fifth time in the past six contests. The Bucks jumped to a 26-20 lead at the end of the first quarter and increased the advantage to 61-42 at the break. Chicago chipped the deficit to 14 points at the end of the third quarter, but Milwaukee quickly regained a 20-point advantage in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter. Antetokounmpo hit a step-back jump shot to put the Bucks up by 17 points, and Terry drained a 3-pointer to make it 95-75 with 9:23 remaining in the contest. Antetokounmpo has averaged 34 points in his past two games and has topped 20 points in each of his past seven contests. He helped the Bucks beat the Bulls for the first time in three meetings this season. Jerian Grant (15 points), Justin Holiday (12 points) and Nikola Mirotic (10 points) also finished in double figures for the Bulls. Zach LaVine struggled offensively as he finished with only six points on 2-for-11 shooting. Milwaukee shot 53.2 percent (41 of 77) from the field and 46.4 percent (13 of 28) from beyond the 3-point line. The Bucks struggled at the free-throw line, making 15 of 25 attempts (60 percent). Chicago shot 41.4 percent (36 of 87) overall and 35.3 percent (12 of 34) from beyond the arc. At the free-throw line, the Bulls made 12 of 15 attempts (80 percent). -- Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "'America is open for business': Trump in Davos 01:32 During his address at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland Friday, President Donald Trump told the audience, 'America is open for business'. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). During his address at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland Friday, President Donald Trump told the audience, 'America is open for business'. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2nivdQT" + }, + { + "text": "15 gennaio (Reuters) - Azimut Holding Spa: * AZIMUT VEDE IN 2017 UTILE NETTO TRA 215 E 225 MILIONI * AZIMUT PROPORRÀ DIVIDENDO SU 2017 DI 2 EURO PER AZIONE * AZIMUT CONFERMA OBIETTIVO UTILE NETTO DI 300 MILIONI ENTRO 2019 * AZIMUT, DIVIDENDO DI 2 EURO SARÀ CORRISPOSTO PER 50% IN CONTANTI E 50% IN AZIONI PROPRIE * PROPOSTA DI DIVIDENDO EQUIVALENTE A PAYOUT SUPERIORE AL 100% E YIELD DEL 12% * RECLUTAMENTO DI NUOVI CONSULENTI FINANZIARI E PRIVATE BANKER CON INSERIMENTO, NEL CORSO DELL‘ANNO, DI 94 PROFESSIONISTI, PORTANDO COSÌ IL TOTALE A 1638 UNITÀ A FINE 2017 Per il comunicato integrale: Per altre informazioni (Redazione Milano)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - Post Holdings said on Thursday it plans to explore options for its private brands businesses, which makes nut butter, pasta and granola products for top retailers, distributors and manufacturers. The company said it was looking at options, including an initial public offering, a placement of private equity, a sale or a strategic combination. Reporting by Vibhuti Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16(Reuters) - Haoyun Technologies Co Ltd * Sees 2017 net profit to increase by 10.1 percent to 37.7 percent, or to be 96 million yuan to 120 million yuan * Says 2016 net profit was 87.2 million yuan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/hyH4qX Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "SAN FRANCISCO(AP) — In a storyJan. 26about damage toCalifornia'sOroville Dam,The Associated Pressreported that the stateDepartment of Water Resources'estimate of$870 millionfor emergency response and repairs \"should stand.\" The story should have included an explanation by DWR spokeswomanErin Mellonthat while all known costs so far are included in the total, unforeseen events could change the final bill." + }, + { + "text": "KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Singapore-based Vickers Venture Partners is looking to raise its largest fund yet of up to $500 million later this year as it seeks to increase investment in biotechnology, nanotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI), said its chairman, Finian Tan. The venture capital firm is already looking for investors to participate in its Fund VI, Tan said in an interview. “It’s not so soon (but) we are soft-marketing right now, looking for anchor investors for our new fund,” he told Reuters. At $500 million, Fund VI will be one of the largest venture capital funds to be raised in Southeast Asia. Singapore-based venture capital firms, which benefit from government incentives, have enjoyed robust fundraising in 2017. Fundraising in the island city has attracted foreign investors ranging from family offices to corporate backers who want a finger in the technology investment space. Vickers adopts a largely non-thematic strategy globally but is keen to ride on the growth it sees in biotechnology, nanotechnology and AI, Tan said. “In these three megatrends, if you follow them and invest in them, the growth will be exponential,” he said. The firm closed its fifth fund of $230 million in October. Of that, it has committed to about $130 million in deals and expects another $20 million worth to be closed soon. “We still have some reserves for follow-on investments, and we probably have space for perhaps another seven new deals,” he said. Biotechnology is the best-performing sector in Vickers’ portfolio, achieving a multiple of more than 10 times for the firm, Tan said, due largely to an investment five years ago in San Diego-based regenerative medicine technology company Samumed LLC, a unicorn startup valued at $12 billion. The current average valuation multiple across its first four funds is 5.8 times, with a net internal rate of return of 37 percent. “All our life science investments are in the U.S. and U.K. currently, but we plan to invest more in Asia,” he said. Tan’s investment track record includes China’s Baidu Inc ( BIDU.O ) five years before it went public - a deal he entered as then-head of Asia at DFJ Eplanet Ventures, and which has since become the one he is most recognized for. The investment made DFJ Eplatnet Ventures the largest shareholder of Baidu when the search engine provider listed. Reporting by Liz Lee; Editing by Christopher Cushing" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Three British ministers wrote a joint letter to business leaders on Friday assuring them they will be able to trade with the EU as normal during a transition period before Britain finally leaves the bloc. Common rules and regulations would still apply, EU citizens would continue to be able to live and work in Britain and international accords like free trade agreements would remain in the place, the letter said. The duration of the transition or implementation period would be strictly limited and last about two years, it added. EU diplomats say talks to finalise the implementation deal could begin as early as next week with negotiators aiming to reach a swift deal. The letter, signed by Brexit minister David Davis, business minister Greg Clark and finance minister Philip Hammond, said both sides wanted to agree details of the transition period by the end of March. It was sent to businesses after Davis had laid out his plans for the transition period in a speech earlier on Friday. “As this new year gets underway, we are conscious that many businesses are examining the implications of our withdrawal from the EU for themselves and their supply chains,” the letter said. Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond arrives in Downing Street, London, January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls ”This is why, during the implementation period, we are clear that the UK’s and the EU’s access to one another’s markets should continue on current terms, meaning there will only be one set of changes at the end of the implementation period, as we move into our future partnership.” To keep Britain’s terms of trade unchanged during the period, they will be based on the existing structure of EU rules and regulations, the letter said. ”Our intention is to mimic the breadth of our current arrangements, from goods to agriculture to financial services, meaning that every business, small or large, will be able to go on trading with the EU as it does today until it’s time to make any changes necessary for the future partnership,” the letter said. On the free movement of people within the bloc, it said EU citizens would continue to be able to come and live and work in the UK. ”We will introduce a registration scheme for new arrivals in preparation for our future immigration system, but this will not place any new burdens on businesses during the implementation period,” it added. Reporting by Stephen Addison; editing by Alistair Smout" + }, + { + "text": "Taxes Trump to jack up defense spending request to $716 billion in 2019 budget, report says The Trump administration will request a $716 billion budget for defense spending in 2019, the Washington Post reports. The 2018 budget still hasn't made it through Congress. The U.S. spent about $634 billion on defense in 2017, the Post reported. CNBC.com Artur Widak | NurPhoto | Getty Images The Trump administration is expected to raise its defense spending target to $716 billion for the 2019 budget, a significant increase from the prior year, the Washington Post reported Friday . The budget, expected to be unveiled next month, would mark an increase of more than 7 percent over the defense spending allotment from the 2018 budget — which still has not passed through Congress. The Post reported that Defense Secretary James Mattis argued in favor of the larger defense budget, despite reservations from budget director Mick Mulvaney that the spending increase would inflate the deficit. Mulvaney had suggested that a boost in defense spending should be accompanied by cuts to other government programs. The U.S. spent about $634 billion on defense in 2017, the Post reported. The yet-to-be-released 2019 budget would represent an increase of 13 percent over the 2017 figure." + }, + { + "text": "48 AM / Updated 13 minutes ago Carillion collapse regrettable, but government cannot bail it out - PM May's spokesman Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - The British government cannot be expected to bail out construction and services firm Carillion , Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman said on Monday, after the firm’s collapse. “It’s regrettable that Carillion has not been able to find suitable financing options with its lenders, but tax payers cannot be expected to bailout a private sector company. Since the profit warnings were first issued in July the government has been closely monitoring the situation ... we remained hopeful that a solution could be found while putting robust contingency plans in place, ” he told reporters. “Our primary responsibility as always (was) being able to keep our essential public services running safely.” (Reporting Elizabeth Piper, editing by William James)" + }, + { + "text": "January 13, 2018 / 12:36 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Erdogan says Turkey will crush Kurdish militia in Afrin Reuters Staff 3 Min Read ISTANBUL (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that Turkey’s military incursion in northern Syria’s Idlib province would crush Kurdish militia forces that control the neighbouring region of Afrin. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of parliament from his ruling AK Party (AKP) during a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara, Turkey, January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Umit Bektas The Kurdish YPG militia said Turkish forces inside Syria fired shells into Afrin on Saturday, but no one was wounded. Turkish troops entered Idlib three months ago after an agreement with Russia and Iran for the three countries to try to reduce fighting between pro-Syrian government forces and rebel fighters in the largest remaining insurgent-held part of Syria. But the few observation posts which the Turkish army says it has established are close to the dividing line between Arab rebel-held land and the Kurdish-controlled region of Afrin. “If the terrorists in Afrin don’t surrender we will tear them down,” Erdogan told a congress of his ruling AK Party in the eastern Turkish city of Elazig. The Kurdish YPG militia said Turkish forces stationed in Syria shelled several Kurdish villages in the Afrin region on Saturday, without causing casualties. Rojhat Roj, the YPG spokesman in Afrin, told Reuters the shelling was carried out by Turkish forces in Dar Taizaah and Qalat Seman - areas where he said Turkish forces had deployed as part of the agreement with Russia and Iran. “From our side, there is no shelling at present,” he added. Erdogan has said the Kurdish YPG militia is trying to establish a “terror corridor” on Turkey’s southern border, linking Afrin with a large Kurdish-controlled area to the east. In 2016 Turkey launched its Euphrates Shield military offensive in northern Syria to push back Islamic State from the border and drive a wedge between the Kurdish controlled regions. “With the Euphrates Shield operation we cut the terror corridor right in the middle. We hit them one night suddenly. With the İdlib operation, we are collapsing the western wing,” Erdogan said, referring to Afrin. He also said Turkey could drive YPG forces out of Manbij. The mainly Arab town lies west of the Euphrates, and Turkey has long demanded that Kurdish fighters pull back east of the river. “In Manbij, if they break the promises, we will take the matter in our own hands until there are no terrorists left. They will see what we’ll do in about a week,” Erdogan said. Turkey was a major supporter of rebels fighting to overthrow Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, but is alarmed by the strength of Kurdish forces - which Ankara says are linked to Kurdish militants fighting in southeast Turkey. It has criticised the United States for arming YPG and Arab fighters in the Syrian Democratic Forces, which drove Islamic State out of Raqqa and other parts of Syria. “The U.S. sent 4,900 trucks of weapons in Syria. We know this. This is not what allies do,” Erdogan said. “We know they sent 2,000 planes full of weapons.” Reporting by Irem Koca in Istanbul and Tom Perry in Beirut; Writing by Dominic Evans; Editing by Alexander Smith" + }, + { + "text": "DEARBORN, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) today reported its December 2017 sales results. Click here or visit media.ford.com to view the news release. Ford will begin its monthly sales call at 10 a.m. ET this morning when Erich Merkle, Ford U.S. sales analyst, will host a conference call for the investment community and news media to discuss the results and related market trends. He will be joined by Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service, and Emily Kolinski Morris, Ford’s chief economist. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: View source version on businesswire.com : Ford Motor Company Erich Merkle [REDACTED] 313-206-9164 Source: Ford Motor Company" + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 3:34 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Big designers step off London men's catwalk amid digital disruption Mark Hanrahan 3 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Models will strut their stuff on catwalks when London’s menswear fashion week gets under way on Saturday, but absent will be some big industry names who have chosen to skip the event, or make digital presentations in place of runway shows. The event will see around 50 traditional catwalk shows over three days, with the remainder of the 80 designers on the bill showcasing their wares through a variety of other events, including digitally. The transition to new methods of connecting with buyers has cost the event some of its biggest catwalk names. Punk icon Vivienne Westwood announced last month that she would eschew a runway show and showcase her collection via an audio-visual presentation. Other big Brands, including Britain’s Burberry and J.W. Anderson, decided to skip the event last year and this year respectively, in favor of holding ‘co-ed’ shows during London’s fashion week for womenswear in February. “All we’re trying to do is shorten the distance from a consumer to a pair of trousers,” said London Fashion Week Men’s Chairman Dylan Jones, who is also the editor of British GQ magazine. “If a brand or a designer deems that it’s much better for them to do a joint show, a show out of season, a digital show, go direct to consumer – doesn’t matter. It’s all about amplifying British creativity and selling.” FILE PHOTO: Models present creations at the Burberry catwalk show during London Fashion Week in London, Britain February 20, 2017. REUTERS/Neil Hall/File Photo YOUNG BRITISH TALENT Designers have been placing more emphasis on their digital presence in recent years, courting social media influencers with the same assiduousness that they traditionally reserved for the fashion press. A model presents a creation from the Burberry catwalk show at the \"London Collections: Men\" Autumn/Winter 16 in London, Britain January 11, 2016. REUTERS/Neil Hall Online sales are a particularly important revenue stream in Britain’s over 14 billion pound ($19 billion) menswear industry, growing by over 17 percent between 2010 and 2015 - outpacing all other categories in the sector - according to researchers IbisWorld. With a shortage of big names on the catwalk this year, organizers said the event was returning to how it was originally envisioned - as a platform for young British talent. “International media and retailers come to London for this excitement, these new businesses, the ones that are setting the menswear world on fire and you can only get that in London,” said British Fashion Council Chief Executive Caroline Rush. It was a sentiment echoed by Jones, who saw the changes in the industry as a source of excitement. “It’s mutating and developing and changing each season. And that’s the great thing about fashion – it keeps changing.” Reporting by Mark Hanrahan and Pedro Caiado; Writing by Mark Hanrahan; editing by Ralph Boulton" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds background, Quote: ) By Libby George LONDON, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Nigerian state oil company NNPC has issued a tender to buy up to 1.55 million tonnes of gasoline from January to April in its latest effort to stave off shortages that have recently plagued Africa’s most populous nation. The tender, which was issued on Monday afternoon and closed on Tuesday, sought 42 cargoes of gasoline, each 37,000 tonnes, on top of the volumes NNPC is taking via ongoing crude-for-product swap contracts. Traders said the call for cargoes went only to the companies holding the swap contracts, dubbed direct sale, direct purchase agreements (DSDP). NNPC is asking for pre-delivery of the gasoline, with payment up to 45 days after delivery in either cash or crude oil. It is seeking 15 cargoes for delivery in each of January and February, and 6 in each of March and April. Nigeria has been eagerly purchasing fuel since queues popped up across the country last month. December is typically the peak demand season in Nigeria, but traders said imports sagged in October, November and even December due to the structure of NNPC’s oil swap contracts. The latest tender would mark a substantial addition to imports that are typically around 1 million tonnes per month. “Even if full volumes are not ultimately delivered, this tender shows that NNPC is serious about rebuilding onshore and offshore stocks following dismally low imports in November and December,” said James McCullagh, oil products analyst with Energy Aspects. Queues are not uncommon in the oil producer that refines very little of its own petroleum, but gasoline prices and shortages are a politically charged subject. Price caps at 145 naira per litre make it tough for many importers to profit on gasoline, and NNPC has imported as much as 90 percent of the nation’s gasoline needs over the past year through its swaps programme. NNPC late last month said it had more than doubled the daily supply of fuel, attributing the shortage to a “hiccup in the supply chain” after rumours of a planned increase in the petrol price led to hoarding. It said there were no plans to increase prices. According to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, President Muhammadu Buhari also set up a special committee “to identify the immediate and remote causes of the fuel scarcity with a view to finding both immediate and long lasting solutions to the challenge.” (Additional reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar; Editing by Mark Potter) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 12:25 PM / in an hour UPDATE 2-Britain's banks provide support for firms hit by Carillion collapse Reuters Staff * Nationwide to guarantee 250 jobs * Lloyds launches 50 mln stg support fund * RBS opens 75 mln stg support fund * HSBC opens 100 mln stg support fund * Measures follow construction firm’s collapse (Adds details of RBS, HSBC measures) By Lawrence White and Emma Rumney LONDON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Britain’s biggest banks have announced a range of measures to support firms and contractors hit by the collapse of construction outsourcing company Carillion. The banks, including the Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking Group and HSBC, said on Thursday they would open funds for business customers in Carillion’s supply chain. Meanwhile Nationwide Building Society will employ around 250 contractors from the company, meaning their jobs will be saved. The 250 contractors provide services such as cleaning and security. Lloyds said it would make 50 million pounds ($69.52 million)available, while RBS and HSBC said they would open funds worth 75 million pounds and 100 million pounds respectively. Business customers of these banks that were experiencing financial difficulty as a result of Carillion’s collapse would be able to apply for payment holidays, fee support or, in the case of Lloyds, working capital, the banks said. Britain’s biggest corporate failure in a decade took place after banks pulled the plug on lending to the company. As a result, Carillion went into liquidation, forcing the government to step in to guarantee public services provided by the company ranging from school meals to road works. Barclays is contacting its small business customers affected by the Carillion collapse to offer advice and assistance on overdrafts, a bank spokesman said. The bank has also set up a dedicated hotline for such customers, he said. The measures by the banks follow a statement by the banking sector’s trade body UK Finance on Wednesday, which said that lenders were offering overdraft extensions and other emergency measures. UK Finance said banks were taking steps to ease the impact on small firms affected by the liquidation. Nationwide said in its statement there were another 1,500 staff engaged by separate, third-party suppliers who work on Nationwide contracts with Carillion. Those suppliers will now have their contracts directly with the building society, Nationwide said. ($1 = 0.7193 pounds) (Editing by Jason Neely and Jane Merriman)" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 3:01 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago Former Trump adviser Bannon will not go to House panel Thursday: source Reuters Staff 2 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former White House strategist Steve Bannon was not expected to return to testify before the House of Representatives’ intelligence committee on Thursday, a committee source said. Bannon refused to answer questions about his time with the Trump administration or the transition period leading to it when he first appeared before the panel on Tuesday. The congressional source told Reuters that Bannon was not expected on Thursday. It was unclear whether he would appear before the panel again. Earlier in the day, Democratic Representative Adam Schiff told CNN: “He’s supposed to come back. Whether he will or not I can’t say.” “This broad declaration that ‘I won’t answer questions’ - not just about the transition but anything that happened after the campaign including up to the present date - is unsustainable,” Schiff said. Bannon, a nationalist who ran the right-wing Breitbart News, directed the final stage of President Donald Trump’s campaign and was a key presidential adviser until being fired in August. The rift between Bannon and Trump widened this month with the release of “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,” a book that was highly critical of Trump and used Bannon as a prominent source. The intelligence panel is investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and whether there was any collusion with the Trump campaign. Former FBI Director Robert Mueller is leading a federal special counsel investigation into the matter and was expected to interview Bannon. A lawyer for Bannon, William Burck, did not return a request for comment. Reporting by Makini Brice and Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Bill Trott and Susan Thomas" + }, + { + "text": "BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Britain should opt for a hard Brexit if the European Union does not offer an agreement on financial services, British member of the European Parliament Nigel Farage said on Monday before a meeting with the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator. Farage, a former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) who campaigned for Britain to leave the EU, noted that without a deal on financial services, Britain might just as well base its future relations with the EU on World Trade Organisation rules, or what its called the hard Brexit option. Speaking to reporters before a meeting with the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, Farage said: “Are we going to get a sensible deal on services and in particular financial services? Because if we’re not... going to get that then,... we may as well go, just getting out of this thing and going to WTO rules.” “My guess is that’s why the prime minister is going to appoint a minister for a no deal Brexit, so he (Barnier) needs to understand that actually this is a serious opinion within the United Kingdom and, boy, it would do actually quite real damage,” Farage said. Reporting by Christopher Stern, Jan Strupczewski and Philip Blenkinsop" + }, + { + "text": "Japanese astronaut apologises for tall tale 01:07 Norishige Kanai announced on monday that he'd grown 9cm while he was in space, but by Wednesday his claim was looking like a rather tall story. Norishige Kanai announced on monday that he'd grown 9cm while he was in space, but by Wednesday his claim was looking like a rather tall story. //reut.rs/2AN21Gb" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 12:37 AM / Updated 4 hours ago Stoke sign Austria defender Bauer from Rubin Kazan Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Stoke City may have sacked manager Mark Hughes at the weekend but on Tuesday they signed one of his transfer targets, Austria right back Moritz Bauer. FILE PHOTO - Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - Austria vs Georgia - Vienna, Austria - September 5, 2017 Austria’s Moritz Bauer in action REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger The 25-year-old defender has joined the club from Russian team Rubin Kazan on a 4-1/2 year deal for 5.5 million pounds, the struggling Premier League club announced. Bauer agreed terms and had a medical last week but has now completed the move to Stoke, who sacked Hughes on Saturday after a shock FA Cup third round defeat by fourth-tier Coventry City. “Moritz is a player we have been trailing for some time and was someone Mark Hughes wanted to bring into the club,” Chief Executive Tony Scholes said on the club’s website. “Moritz came over to England last week to undergo his medical and discuss terms and we have now been able to conclude his transfer.” Stoke are in the relegation zone with 20 points from 22 matches and visit Manchester United on Monday. They will hope Bauer can help tighten up a defence that has by far the worst record in the Premier League this term with 47 goals conceded. Although Bauer represents Austria, he was born in Switzerland and started his career with Grasshoppers Zurich, making more than 90 league appearances. He joined Rubin Kazan in 2016 and played 37 league games for the Russian Premier League side. Writing by Ken Ferris; Editing by Nick Mulvenney" + }, + { + "text": "19 AM / Updated 26 minutes ago Dance bars, mobile phones and Chelsea jerseys: changing face of Bhutan Cathal McNaughton 3 Min Read THIMPHU (Reuters) - For decades Bhutan had no television, no traffic lights and a culture that had barely changed in centuries. Today, bars dot the capital, Thimphu, set in mist-covered mountains, teenagers crowd internet cafes to play violent video games, and men smoke and gamble in snooker halls. There are still no traffic lights after residents protested against the installation of one, but otherwise the once-isolated Buddhist country tucked between India and China is changing, and bringing the modern world's problems in its wake. (Click reut.rs/2Dc5U9E for a picture package of Bhutan's changing face.) Inside a gaudily lit dance club, guests watch a 38-year-old woman swaying to the songs they choose, usually traditional folk music but sometimes a Bollywood number or two. Lhaden, a divorced mother-of-two, dances until midnight, and like thousands of her compatriots, is struggling to make ends meet. “I‘m not happy or sad about things, I have no other choice,” said Lhaden, who only has one name. Bhutan measures its national wealth by a Gross National Happiness index aiming to build a contented, fulfilled society. But Lhaden, who earns $125 a month, is counting the pennies. A man sings in a Karaoke bar beside a portrait of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in the capital city of Thimphu, Bhutan, December 16, 2017. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton “I live in such a small flat so I can afford food and clothes.” Signs of change are everywhere, pulling the country of snow-capped, jagged mountains, forests, rivers and clean air into the modern world. Smoke billows from construction sites across the country and a giant bronze-and-gold Buddha statue that commands the entry to the Thimphu valley now shares space with modern telecom towers. Slideshow (27 Images) On the streets and even in the countryside, jeans have become as commonplace as the traditional Bhutanese knee-length gho robes for men and the ankle-length kira dresses that women wear. Bhutan’s $2.2 billion economy remains predominantly agricultural, but mobile phones and TV sets are everywhere, even in the Phobjikha valley, a tourist haven about seven hours’ drive from Thimphu and in winter, home to Bhutan’s famed black-necked cranes. “Children are spending more time on their mobile phones and not studying,” said Ap Daw, 43, a farmer who also bemoans the rising mounds of trash by the road. Next to his house, a squad of Buddhist monks has discarded their crimson robes to play football, in Manchester United and Chelsea jerseys. Daw’s 13-year-old son, Sonam Tshering, a football fan himself, has big dreams too. “I would love to become a science teacher and watch Cristiano Ronaldo play for Real Madrid,” said Sonam as he helped feed the family cattle. Writing by Tony Tharakan; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Rowley Law PLLC is investigating potential claims against Callidus Software Inc. (NASDAQ: CALD) and its board of directors for breach of fiduciary duty concerning the proposed acquisition of the company by SAP SE. Stockholders will receive $36.00 for each share of Callidus Software Inc. that they hold. The transaction is valued at approximately $2.4 billion and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2018. If you are a stockholder of Callidus Software Inc. and are interested in obtaining additional information regarding this investigation, please visit us at: . You may also contact Shane Rowley, Esq. at Rowley Law PLLC, 50 Main Street Suite 1000, White Plains, NY 10606, by email at [REDACTED] , or by telephone at 914-400-1920 or 844-400-4643 (toll-free). Rowley Law PLLC represents shareholders nationwide in class actions and derivative lawsuits in complex corporate litigation. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View original content: SOURCE Rowley Law PLLC" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - U.S. House Republican Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said “we’re in very good shape” for passage of a spending bill to avert a government shutdown and he expected the chamber to vote Thursday night on the stopgap measure. Additionally, Republican Representative Mark Meadows, leader of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said new proposals for helping shore up the U.S. military will be floated by House leaders and that progress was being made to avert a government shutdown. (Reporting by Richard Cowan; Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by Eric Walsh)" + }, + { + "text": "Harnessing the power of algae for real green energy 12:20pm EST - 02:17 Cambridge researchers say their new algae-powered fuel cell is cheaper than existing plant and algal models, self-repairing, self-replicating, biodegradable and much more sustainable, as David Doyle reports. Cambridge researchers say their new algae-powered fuel cell is cheaper than existing plant and algal models, self-repairing, self-replicating, biodegradable and much more sustainable, as David Doyle reports. //reut.rs/2Dh8Equ" + }, + { + "text": "U.S immigration system is \"stuck in the past\": Trump 9:23am EST - 00:47 In his speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that ''America is a cutting edge economy but our immigration system is stuck in the past''. Rough cut (no reporter narration). In his speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that \"America is a cutting edge economy but our immigration system is stuck in the past\". Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2neZU9z" + }, + { + "text": "January 27, 2018 / 10:05 AM / Updated 7 hours ago Pellegrino backs Carrillo to fire Southampton to safety Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino believes new signing Guido Carrillo’s Champions League experience with French club AS Monaco can help rejuvenate the club’s attack and guide them towards Premier League safety. Southampton, who are 18th in the Premier League standings, signed the Argentine forward from the French side on Thursday for a reported club record fee of about 19 million pounds ($26.94 million). Carrillo, 26, spent two-and-a-half years at Monaco, helping them win the French title and reach the Champions League semi-finals last season. “I think that the main thing he has been working in Monaco more than two years in the top team, playing Champions League, high level,” Pellegrino said ahead of Southampton’s FA Cup fourth round clash against Watford. The south coast club have struggled up front with 24 goals in as many league games but Pellegrino, who has worked with Carrillo during their time at Argentina’s Estudiantes in 2015, believes his compatriot offers solutions similar to injured striker Charlie Austin. Austin, who has six goals for Southampton, was ruled out for two months or more after a suspected hamstring tear in last month’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Huddersfield Town. “He’s a profile of player who can replace in this moment the profile of Charlie. A big body, can hold the ball, good in the air and can be good to help us to be stronger,” Pellegrino said. Southampton, who are a point from safety, return to Premier League action against Brighton and Hove Albion on Feb. 1. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; editing by Amlan Chakraborty" + }, + { + "text": "Acorda Therapeutics is exploring a sale of the company, the Wall Street Journal reported , citing people familiar with the matter. Shares of the company closed up nearly 12 percent at $23.55 on Friday. The Ardsley, New York-based company, which has a market value of about $980 million, may not move forward with any formal action as the proceedings were at an early stage, the WSJ report said. Acorda was not immediately available for comment. The U.S. drugmaker's investors in August had called for the company to explore a sale, after a judge in March struck down key patents of its MS drug Ampyra, which accounts for most of its revenue. The company also recently discontinued the development of its Parkinson's drug after reports of death. Read the full report in The Wall Street Journal." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 22 (Reuters) - Sichuan Golden Summit (Group) Joint-stock Co Ltd : * Sees to swing to net profit at 25 million yuan to 29 million yuan in FY 2017 versus net loss at 28.2 million yuan year ago * Says increased sale price and production volume of calcium oxide as main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/W49k5D Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Frankenstein Gets Spot on U.K. 2-Pound Coin in 2018 Collection Mary Shelley, 1831. Artist : Stump, Samuel John (1778-1863). (Photo by Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images) Heritage Images Heritage Images/Getty Images By Bloomberg 4:03 PM EST The U.K. will make new coins this year to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein’’ as well as commemorate a century since women started gaining the right to vote. Designs on special two-pound coins will also honor the end of the First World War and the creation of the Royal Air Force in 1918, the U.K.’s Royal Mint said in a statement. Each year the Royal Mint, the world’s largest exporter of coins, releases commemorative designs to mark major anniversaries, such as the deaths of national figures or prominent historical events. Frankenstein will feature on a two-pound coin as well, but without any picture of the monster of Shelley’s Gothic novel. One side of the coin has the word “Frankenstein” in the steel-colored center, with the description “The Modern Prometheus” in the yellow outer ring. A 50-pence coin will mark a century since the Representation of the People Act of 1918, which first gave women over 30 the right to vote in Britain. Servicemen over 19 and men over 21 also got the right at the same time. Coins were minted in 2017 to mark the bicentenary of the death of author Jane Austen and the 1,000th anniversary of the coronation of King Canute. The mint, based in South Wales, traces its history back more than a millennium, to the time when Alfred the Great had his monogram struck on coins in 880. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "A federal judge on Wednesday questioned why the Food and Drug Administration was delaying putting out a congressionally-mandated final rule requiring graphic health warnings on cigarette packs and advertising and said she may need to order it to do something. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston said during a court hearing that she had no evidence before her showing that FDA was trying to move expeditiously to put forward new rules that it has now indicated could take it until 2021 to complete. To read the full story on Westlaw Practitioner Insights, click here: bit.ly/2na4xBB" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 1:33 PM / Updated 7 hours ago Google rolls out new addition to 'Mute This Ad' feature Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc’s Google rolled out a new addition to its ads settings that will enable users to mute reminder ads in apps and on websites that partner with the company to show the ads. Reminder ads are reminders of a website that users have browsed in the past for a product. With the new feature, Google users will be able to mute the reminder ads. Google plans to expand the new tool to control ads on YouTube, Search, and Gmail in the coming months, Jon Krafcik, group product manager for data privacy and transparency wrote in a blog post on Thursday. ( bit.ly/2n9mzUH ) The new feature is an addition to Google’s ad-muting tools that have been around since 2012 that allow users to hide specific unwanted ads or advertisers. Reporting by Muvija M in Bengaluru; Editing by Supriya Kurane" + }, + { + "text": "Chicken poo power could be alternative to coal 10:18am GMT - 01:52 Israeli researchers develop a way to mimic coal formation by heating wet chicken waste, potentially providing an alternative energy source to the fossil fuel and find a use for growing amounts of waste from poultry. Amy Pollock reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Israeli researchers develop a way to mimic coal formation by heating wet chicken waste, potentially providing an alternative energy source to the fossil fuel and find a use for growing amounts of waste from poultry. Amy Pollock reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 5:43 PM / in an hour Fed's Bostic says three rate hikes in 2018 may be too much Howard Schneider 3 Min Read ATLANTA (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve may only need to raise interest rates two times in 2018 given weak price pressures and possible loss of public confidence in the central bank’s ability to hit a 2 percent inflation target, Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic said on Monday. Bostic, a voter on interest rate policy this year, also added his voice to a group of Fed officials concerned that central bank action may “invert” the yield curve and make long-term rates lower than short-term ones, historically a signal of future recession. The Fed’s recent increases in short-term rates have not been matched by similar increases in 10-year Treasury note yields. “Long-term rates have been much stickier...I am going to do all I can to make sure our policy does not invert the yield curve,” Bostic said. “If we got close to it I would argue strongly that we should be extremely cautious.” Bostic said his base case for 2018 was for two or three rate increases, slightly below the median of three rate increases expected by his colleagues. The central bank raised rates three times in 2017. Bostic is the second Fed official in recent days to say the central bank may only raise two times this year, a sign that continued low inflation may reshape the Fed’s actions in 2018. “The chorus seems to be growing more vocal about the need to raise rates more slowly...No inflation, not many more rate hikes. Bet on it,” said Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at MUFG. Though unemployment is low and growth may hit 2.5 percent in 2018, Bostic said weak wage growth and inflation are two reasons to be guarded. In addition, he said he is concerned the public may be losing confidence in the Fed’s commitment or ability to reach its inflation target, “anchoring” expectations below that level. Public and market expectations are considered an important component in inflation outcomes, and Bostic said recent survey evidence “indicates that individuals may not be completely convinced...This possibility is one factor that might argue for being somewhat more patient.” Bostic added that the estimated “neutral” rate of interest that would keep inflation at target and economic growth at trend may have slipped to “close to” 2 percent. If true, it means the Fed could only raise rates two or three more times, from the current range of between 1.25 percent to 1.50 percent, before monetary policy is no longer “loose” and encouraging economic activity. Even as it raises rates the Fed wants to remain “accommodative,” with a federal funds target below neutral. Reporting by Howard Schneider; Editing by Paul Simao and Andrea Ricci" + }, + { + "text": "Daily before the bell news roundup Evening Brief Daily recap of the day's top headlines Guest Alerts Guest information & reminders for your calendar Your Wealth Weekly advice on managing your money Options Action Insight from the Options Action panel Your Money Your Vote Everything you need to know about the coming election Please enter a valid email address Get these newsletters delivered to your inbox, and more info about about our products and service. Privacy Policy . Submit" + }, + { + "text": "Twitter doesn't want to get in the way of elected officials and political leaders communicating via the platform — no matter how \"controversial\" their tweets may be. \"Blocking a world leader from Twitter or removing their controversial Tweets, would hide important information people should be able to see and debate,\" the company wrote in a blog post . \"It would also not silence that leader, but it would certainly hamper necessary discussion around their words and actions.\" Twitter said it reviews the context of political figures' tweets, but takes an \"unbiased\" view when it applies its existing rules. Back in September 2017, it defended its decision to keep President Donald Trump' s tweets against North Korea even though his assertions that the country \"won't be around much longer\" could be seen as a threat. The company said it weighs a tweet's \"newsworthiness\" and the general public interest when making these decisions. In other words, the tweets are here to stay." + }, + { + "text": "ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday defended his decision to marry a couple aboard a plane in Chile last week, responding to criticism by conservatives that it flew in the face of Church rules and set a bad precedent. “Someone told me I was crazy to do something like that,” he joked during a news conference on the plane taking him back to Rome from Lima, were he ended a trip to Chile and Peru. In the first such ceremony on a papal flight, Francis married Paula Podest Ruiz, 39, and Carlos Ciuffardi Elorriga, 41, both cabin attendants on Latam airlines. While the gesture made world headlines and was mostly well-received by Catholics, conservative Catholic commentators and bloggers who regularly criticise the pope on a host of issues blasted the wedding at 36,000 feet. REFILE - CORRECTING TYPO Pope Francis celebrates the marriage of crew members Paula Podest (C) and Carlos Ciufffardi (L) during the flight between Santiago and the northern city of Iquique, Chile January 18, 2018. Osservatore Romano/Handout via REUTERS They said it would make it difficult for pastors to deal with Catholic couples who want to get married in unusual secular locations instead of a church. Those couples would say “the pope did it, why can’t you?” one commentator wrote. But the pope said the situation of the Chilean couple was a particular one because they had been already been married in a civil service eight years ago and were not able to marry in their parish church because it collapsed in a 2010 earthquake. “I questioned them (about marriage) and the responses were clear ... it was clear they had made a commitment for life,” the pope said, adding that the couple had even remembered subjects from the Catholic pre-marriage courses they had taken long ago. “Tell the pastors that they were prepared and I made a judgement call. The sacraments are for people. All the conditions were clear,” he said. Reporting By Philip Pullella; Editing by Toby Chopra" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 11:14 AM / Updated 12 minutes ago EU expected to give states more leeway to cut sales tax rates Reuters Staff * EU countries could scrap VAT on several consumer products * Would end ban on new VAT-free goods that caused UK uproar * Proposal to be published on Thursday By Francesco Guarascio BRUSSELS, Jan 17 (Reuters) - European Union states will get more leeway to set lower sales tax rates or even scrap them on some goods, under a draft law seen by Reuters that would reform the EU’s centralised rate-setting mechanism for value-added tax (VAT). The proposal by the European Commission would allow EU states to charge no VAT on a wide variety of items, lifting an existing ban on new VAT-free products that several states have long opposed. Reduced or zero rates could be applied to all items, except those explicitly excluded. Those excluded range from oil and gas fuel to weapons and from financial services to alcohol and tobacco. But EU states would need to maintain a “weighted average VAT rate” of at least 12 percent and to apply only “a limited number” of reduced rates. The 28 EU countries currently must choose between two VAT rates: at least 5 or 15 percent for goods on sale. Countries that had lower rates before those rules were adopted in the 1990s were allowed to maintain them. As part of a broader overhaul of sales tax rules, the Commission is now proposing that states may use an additional rate “between five and zero percent” - effectively allowing to scrap VAT on some goods. Before the 2016 Brexit referendum, the EU ban on expanding the list of VAT-free goods caused an uproar in Britain for the so-called “tampon tax,” as VAT on female hygiene products could not be cut from its existing 5 percent rate. Under the new proposal, tampons could be exempted from VAT. But if the proposed rules are adopted, they probably won’t be applied before 2022, and Britain is set to leave the EU next year anyway. The requirement for a weighted average of 12 percent is meant to prevent EU states from rushing to set low VAT rates to attract foreign consumers or please voters that could excessively lower public revenues. The Commission also stressed in its proposal that reduced rates should be applied only to goods sold to consumers, not to intermediate products that companies trade between themselves to put together in final consumers goods. The 12 percent threshold should be “flexible” to take into account lower revenues in periods of recession, said Chas Roy-Chowdhury, head of tax at ACCA, a global accounting body. The Commission will publish the proposal on Thursday. It is still subject to change and would need the approval of EU states and lawmakers to become law. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio, editing by Larry King)" + }, + { + "text": "RIYADH—A Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen said it plans $1.5 billion of new relief funding for the war-torn country and will open new routes for vital imports. Riyadh and its allies face increasing international pressure over the conflict’s toll on civilians. The aid package, announced early Monday local time, comes as the fight between the U.S.-backed coalition and Yemen’s Houthi rebels produces escalating hardship in a country that was already the Arab world’s poorest before the conflict started in 2015.... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17(Reuters) - TDG Holding Co Ltd * Says it signed an agreement to sell 22.8 percent stake in a Chengdu-based tech firm to Hubei Dinglong Co Ltd, for 22.4 million yuan * Says it holds a 10.7 percent stake in the tech firm after the transaction Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/JXiwq4 Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 2:38 PM / in 5 hours Exclusive: HSBC side-steps high-profile Qatar deals in Gulf gauntlet Davide Barbuscia , Sudip Roy , Saeed Azhar 5 Min Read DUBAI/LONDON (Reuters/IFR) - A boycott of Qatar by its neighbors has prompted HSBC ( HSBA.L ) to turn down a leading role on Doha’s new dollar bond as the bank treads a political tightrope in the Gulf, four banking sources familiar with the decision told Reuters. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt in June cut diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar, which they accuse of backing terrorism. The move initially hit Qatar’s growth but by the end of 2017 its economy had largely recovered. The Qatari government, which denies the allegations, is now planning its first international bond since the crisis began and has approached banks in recent weeks to arrange the deal. But HSBC, which has led almost every sovereign bond issue in the Gulf over the past two years, will not do so this time, reflecting a more cautious approach by banks in the region. “This is not a problem of HSBC only, it’s a problem of all international banks with a strong presence in the region. Each bank solves it in its own way,” one of the sources said. An HSBC spokesman said: “We never comment on market rumor and speculation”, while a spokesman for the government of Qatar did not respond to a request for comment. When Riyadh launched its boycott, it said it would seek understandings with international firms to cut ties with Doha. Banks from the four Arab countries have pulled deposits from Qatar and reduced, though not ended, other business with it. While the Gulf allies have not publicly warned banks to avoid business in Qatar, bankers have told Reuters that it is clear close ties with Doha could hurt business relations. The UAE central bank has blacklisted some Qatari individuals and organizations and told its own banks to apply enhanced due diligence in their dealings with six Qatari banks. This has made many foreign banks more cautious and in some cases prompted them to handle Qatari business from Europe or the United States, rather than regional headquarters in Dubai. When Qatar sold its last international bond in 2016, raising $9 billion, HSBC took a leading role alongside JP Morgan, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi and Qatar National Bank. Qatar is now close to choosing which banks will run its latest bond issue, which could be for around $9 billion, and has provisionally chosen some of them, bankers familiar with the process told Reuters. Although HSBC decided not to undertake high-profile roles in major Qatari debt transactions after it was approached for the dollar bond in November, it is unclear whether the bank could still play a smaller part. Bankers said the move did not mean any disengagement from the country, where HSBC retains a branch. However, in another indication of its new approach, HSBC has not pitched for a “bookrunner” role on a separate $3 billion loan refinancing by Qatar National Bank, the first such deal by a Qatari government-owned firm since the crisis began. HSBC was one of the top banks in QNB’s original loan and a banker close to the matter said the decision not to take a top role in the refinancing was a result of the political situation and a “repositioning” of its Qatar business. COMPETING DEMANDS The Gulf’s diplomatic rift is forcing banks to tread cautiously in order to maintain relations on both sides. Saudi Arabia is opening up to foreign investors as part of economic reforms pushed forward by its new crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, including the sale of a stake in oil giant Aramco. Banks compete to obtain top roles in public bonds not so much for the fees they yield, but rather to establish or strengthen relationships with the borrowers in order to obtain more profitable mandates on future transactions. Earlier this week Saudi Arabia said it had requested offers from banks to organize a range of its own international debt deals, including a bond and refinancing a $10 billion loan. These plans have complicated matters for banks in the region as, depending on the timing, Saudi Arabia and Qatar could end up in direct competition for funds from international investors. For HSBC, which was bookrunner last year on 42 bond deals in the Gulf Cooperation Council, which comprises Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait, this could present a particularly tricky juggling act. HSBC arranged $14.8 billion of bond issuance out of a total of $90.4 billion, the largest share of bond bookrunning for the GCC region in 2017, Thomson Reuters data shows. Editing by Andrew Torchia and Alexander Smith" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 5:51 AM / Updated 8 minutes ago Turkey orders dozens of soldiers arrested in Gulen-related probe: state media Reuters Staff 2 Min Read ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for 70 people, including 58 serving soldiers, in an investigation targeting supporters of the U.S.-based cleric accused of orchestrating an attempted coup in July 2016, state media said on Thursday. The operation was focused on the central Turkish province of Konya, with police carrying out simultaneous raids at addresses across 27 provinces, state-run Anadolu news agency reported. Twelve of the 70 suspects had previously been expelled from the Turkish armed forces, Anadolu said. Police operations to detain suspects accused of links to the Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen have been a near daily occurrence since the failed putsch of July 15, 2016, in which Gulen has denied any involvement. Since then more than 50,000 people, including thousands of security personnel and civil servants, have been jailed pending trial and some 150,000 suspended or dismissed from their jobs. Rights groups say the crackdown has been exploited to muzzle dissent. The government says the measures have been necessary due to the security threats which Turkey has faced since the failed coup, in which 250 people were killed. Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Jacqueline Wong" + }, + { + "text": "January 27, 2018 / 10:34 AM / in 2 hours U.S. says planned Russian pipeline would threaten European energy security Marcin Goettig , Lidia Kelly 3 Min Read WARSAW (Reuters) - The United States sees the planned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany as a threat to Europe’s energy security, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Saturday. Poland, Ukraine and Baltic states fear the pipeline would increase Europe’s dependence on Russian gas and provide the Kremlin with billions of dollars of additional revenue to finance a further military build-up on European Union’s borders. “Like Poland, the United States opposes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. We see it as undermining Europe’s overall energy security and stability,” Tillerson said at a joint news conference with the Polish foreign minister in Warsaw. “Our opposition is driven by our mutual strategic interests,” he said. The United States has already sanctioned Russian companies over Moscow’s involvement in the Ukraine crisis, and foreign companies investing in or helping Russian energy exploration. Poland, an EU member since 2004, sees Russia as its biggest potential threat, especially since Moscow annexed the Crimean peninsula from neighboring Ukraine in 2014. Russia is also engaged in the long civil war in Syria, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people, driven millions from their homes, and fueled a refugee crisis in the European Union. “SUPPLY SECURITY” Nordic nations have already voiced security concerns over the pipeline being laid near their shores under the Baltic. But Germany and Austria have focused more on the commercial benefits of having more cheap gas, arguing there could be little harm from an additional pipe. “Any additional gas infrastructure can contribute to increased supply security in Europe,” Germany’s economy ministry spokesman said, adding Berlin’s stance was that Nord Stream 2 was a commercial venture that must comply with relevant laws. German energy groups Uniper and Wintershall, Austria’s OMV, Anglo-Dutch group Shell and France’s Engie have invested in the 1,225 km (760 mile) pipeline, which is to pump more Russian gas via the Baltic Sea. Poland, which spent four decades under Soviet domination after World War Two, still imports Russian gas to meet about two-thirds of its consumption. But it has invested in a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on the Baltic coast to diversify supplies and plans to build a gas link to Norway. Poland, whose main trade partner is Germany but main security ally Washington, signed in November a long-term deal to buy LNG from the United States. “We are proud to support Poland’s energy diversification and security,” Tillerson said. Reporting by Marcin Goettig and Lidia Kelly in WARSAW, additional reporting by Thomas Escritt in BERLIN, writing by Marcin Goettig; Editing by Andrew Bolton/Jeremy Gaunt" + }, + { + "text": "AT&T to launch 5G in U.S. by late 2018 Published 12:02 AM ET Thu, 4 Jan 2018 Reuters SHARES Jan 4 (Reuters) - AT&T Inc, the No. 2 U.S. wireless carrier, said it would launch fifth-generation (5G) mobile network service in a dozen cities in the United States by late 2018, after international wireless standards for the network were finalized last month. The 5G technology is expected to provide higher speed and response times than 4G networks used today. (Reporting by Rama Venkat Raman in Bengaluru; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24(Reuters) - Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund Inc * Says it will acquire two properties for 992 million yen in total, on Feb. 1 * Says it will take out a loan of 900 million yen to fund the acquisition, from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, on Feb. 1 Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/Y5Y1QW ; goo.gl/ZEf69j Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - The leader of Britain’s eurosceptic UK Independence Party faced calls on Sunday to stand down after a newspaper published racist messages sent by his girlfriend about Prince Harry’s fiancee Meghan Markle. Last year, Henry Bolton was the fourth leader in a year to be appointed to the helm of UKIP, a party which helped bring about a Brexit vote. He hit the tabloid newspapers over Christmas when they reported that he had left his wife for 25-year-old model and UKIP member Jo Marney. The Mail on Sunday published a series of messages sent by Jo Marney to a friend in which she made offensive comments about Markle and black people. The newspaper also published an apology from Marney, who said her comments had been “taken out of context”. UKIP’s Bill Etheridge, a member of the European Parliament, said: “The time has come for Henry Bolton to resign as leader of UKIP. He must go, he must go quickly, he must go as quietly as possible.” “It appears to me that the lack of experience in politics from Henry has got the better of him,” he said in a video statement, describing the last few months as “hell” for the party. Peter Whittle, UKIP’s member of the London Assembly, also criticized the remarks, saying they were “disgraceful”. “This person should not just be suspended from @UKIP but expelled altogether,” he said on Twitter. Led by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, UKIP won nearly 4 million votes in 2015, 12.6 percent of those cast, on its anti-European Union platform, putting it at the forefront of British politics even though it managed to win one seat in parliament. But its fortunes have sunk since, hurt by internal fights over its future direction. At last year’s election in June, UKIP won 1.8 of the vote. Reporting by Elizabeth Piper, editing by Louise Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 11:21 PM / Updated 8 hours ago Brexit campaigners gear up for fight back to stop betrayal Elizabeth Piper 3 Brexit supporters are gearing up for a fightback against “ultra-Remainers” to ensure the result of Britain’s referendum on leaving the European Union is fully respected, a prominent campaigner said on Wednesday. Steven Woolfe, a member of the European Parliament and former leadership hopeful for the UK Independence Party (UKIP), said on Wednesday he was coordinating Brexit groups to challenge what he called the Remain campaign’s “rearguard action” to weaken Britain’s hand and secure a divorce in name only. After winning the June 2016 referendum, many Brexit or Leave campaigners feel they are losing ground to voices questioning the meaning of the vote, a debate which has deepened divisions and prompted some to predict a “Brexit betrayal”. “The Leavers are having a fightback,” Woolfe told Reuters in an interview. Woolfe was not a leading light in the Brexit campaign, dominated by Boris Johnson, who went on to become foreign minister, and former UKIP leader Nigel Farage. But after becoming concerned over Brexit, Woolfe said he had stepped into the role of engaging other groups in the search for a united message against those campaigning for continued EU ties, who he said were better funded and organised. “After the referendum the Brexit movement left the pitch ... What they didn’t anticipate was the virulent and strident Remain, and some call it ultra-Remain, reaction to Brexit.” This time, instead of sending people out onto the streets, Woolfe said the groups would produce policy papers detailing their vision for the future relationship with the EU, including on immigration and financial services. “ONE VOICE” “We will talk with one voice,” he said. “We have something that is mission critical, the next six weeks ... is really the time when most of the decisions will be made on our trade future.” The referendum, in which 52 percent voted to leave the EU and 48 percent to remain, exposed deep geographic, social and economic divisions in Britain. While England and Wales voted to leave, Scotland and Northern Ireland backed remain. Many cities, including London, voted to remain, while voters supported Brexit in northern England, where many have been hurt by the demise of the coal and steel industries, and in coastal towns and villages. For some of those who backed Brexit, talk of overturning the 2016 vote, holding a second referendum or even the Conservative government’s agreement to having a two-year transition period with the EU in which little changes, amounts to a betrayal. To turn the tide, Woolfe and his supporters want to press what he calls his four freedoms - of Britain having control over all its laws, its finances, trade agreements and immigration. “If the final deal has a conclusion that means that those four key points are not in the control of the UK government ... it is an absolute betrayal of the people who voted to leave the European Union,” he said. Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Gareth Jones" + }, + { + "text": "SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile’s government has given the go-ahead for state development agency Corfo to proceed with a deal to resolve a dispute with miner SQM over lithium royalties, newspaper La Tercera reported on Saturday. Government ministers who sit on Corfo’s board of directors indicated their support at a meeting Friday afternoon in which Corfo Vice President Eduardo Bitran said the two parties’ lawyers were drafting an agreement. The final round of talks before the conciliation period expires is expected on Jan. 17. “We have unanimously decided to ask the executive vice president, Eduardo Bitran, to reach an understanding with the other party in front of the arbitrator next Wednesday,” Economy Minister Jorge Rodriguez Grossi said upon leaving the meeting in Corfo’s offices, according to La Tercera. SQM and Corfo have been embroiled in a high-stakes arbitration since May 2014 over the Salar de Atacama, home to some of the world’s most productive deposits of lithium, which is used in the batteries that power electric vehicles. Chile accuses SQM of underpaying royalties and violating environmental regulations. Last month, the two parties agreed to suspend their arbitration for 30 days in a push to settle their differences after SQM agreed to changes in its corporate governance. Under the deal, Corfo would raise SQM’s production quota to 180,000 tonnes per year through 2030. That could boost revenues to state coffers from taxes and royalties from SQM’s lithium production by up to $7.5 billion by 2030. If the two sides do not reach a deal, SQM would hit its total output limit in 2022. The dispute between SQM and Corfo over the Salar de Atacama, which is responsible for half the company’s earnings, also has complicated Canadian Potash Corp of Saskatchewan’s bid to divest its stake in SQM as part of its proposed merger with Canadian rival Agrium Inc. Reporting by Antonio de la Jara; Writing by Luc Cohen; Editing by Bill Trott" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Japanese government bond prices dipped on Thursday, with the benchmark 10-year yield briefly hitting a six-month high, before reversing early losses to end flat on bargain-hunting. The 10-year yield rose to as high as 0.090 percent , its highest since July 12, before stepping back to 0.080 percent. The price of 10-year JGB futures dipped initially to 150.25, their lowest since late October, on a rally in Japanese stocks and a rise in U.S. bond yields overnight. But bargain-hunting in 10-year bonds helped the contract to recover from the loss to end 0.06 point higher at 150.37 . “Those who traded the 10-year bonds at (the six-month high of) 0.09 percent were said to be offenders for pleasure. The selling was limited and wasn’t serious at all. A few players think the Bank of Japan will change its policy target any time soon,” said a trader at a Japanese brokerage. Earlier this month, the BOJ reduced its buying in long-dated bonds in its regular operation earlier this month, sparking speculation the central bank may be inching towards exit from its massive stimulus. But a majority of market players expect the BOJ to maintain its policy target of “around zero percent” in the 10-year yield in the coming months, and not certainly before Governor Haruhiko Kuroda’s current term expires in April. An auction of 800 billion yen ($7.2 billion) 30-year JGB auction drew tepid demand as the tenor was currently not cheap on the yield curve. The yield spread between 10- and 30-year yields stood at 74.5 basis points, the tightest since June. The 30-year yield rose 0.5 basis point to 0.835 percent . The 20-year yield was steady at 0.595 percent . $1 = 111.12 yen Reporting by Tokyo Markets Team; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu" + }, + { + "text": "Afghan soldiers killed in latest Kabul attack 01:17 Militants raid a military academy in Kabul, killing several soldiers, the fourth major attack in a wave of violence over the past nine days. Grace Lee reports. Militants raid a military academy in Kabul, killing several soldiers, the fourth major attack in a wave of violence over the past nine days. Grace Lee reports. //reut.rs/2DJFwbD" + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd posted a record quarterly profit, as expected, for the three months through December, led by strong demand for memory chips. Operating profit for the world’s biggest chipmaker was 15.15 trillion won ($14.12 billion) in the fourth quarter, up 64.3 percent from a year ago and in line with the 15.1 trillion won the company had estimated. Revenue jumped 23.7 percent to 66 trillion won, also in line with its earlier estimate. ($1 = 1,072.6500 won) (Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Stephen Coates)" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will abide by all of its international commitments, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday when asked about U.S President Donald Trump’s allegation that Moscow was in breach of U.N. sanctions on North Korea. Trump said in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday that Russia was helping North Korea evade international sanctions. Reporting by Polina Nikolskaya; Editing by Alison Williams" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - Kaile Science and Technology Co Ltd Hubei : * SAYS IT EXPECTS 2017 NET PROFIT TO RISE 300-350 PERCENT Y/Y FROM 182.2 MILLION YUAN ($28.83 million) YEAR AGO Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2nnR9uo Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3200 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 6:30 AM / Updated 5 hours ago Indian police detain dozens protesting against controversial movie Rupam Jain , Swati Bhat 4 Min Read NEW DELHI/MUMBAI (Reuters) - Right-wing Hindu groups in India stepped up protests on Wednesday against the release of a controversial Bollywood film, as several states boosted police patrols a day after the Supreme Court refused to allow bans on the movie. Groups critical of the film, set to be released on Thursday, have accused its director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, of distorting history by portraying a Muslim ruler as the “lover” of the Hindu Queen Padmavati of the Rajput warrior clan. The filmmakers deny the accusation. Violence over the film, “Padmaavat”, reached the outskirts of India’s capital just as New Delhi began to receive southeast Asian leaders for a major summit on Thursday, to be followed the next day by a parade and celebrations of India’s Republic Day. Security for the parade showcasing India’s military might, which is to be attended by ten leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has been tightened more than in previous years. Television broadcast images of gangs of young men, their faces concealed by swathes of cloth, throwing stones in the streets of Gurgaon, 30 km (19 miles) from New Delhi, while the hollowed-out shell of a bus smouldered nearby. The protesters carried sticks and caused minor injuries to 14 people, said B.S. Sandhu, a senior police official, adding that police had detained 15 protesters. “We will not tolerate any violence in the name of protests against a movie,” Sandhu added. “Sporadic rioting did take place but no one will be allowed to protest now.” Indian films that touch upon the historical relationships of Hindus, India’s majority religion, and Muslim leaders are often controversial. In the financial capital of Mumbai, police have boosted security at all theatres screening the film, and detained more than 100 members of protest groups, such as the conservative Sri Rajput Karni Sena, as a precaution, a senior police official said. Police stand guard outside a multiplex during a protest against the release of the upcoming Bollywood movie \"Padmaavat\" in Ahmedabad, India, January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Amit Dave Police are also closely monitoring social media, he added. Police had to open fire to disperse crowds on Tuesday night as protests against the film turned increasingly violent, with vandalism around multiplexes in the western state of Gujarat and dozens of motorcycles being set on fire. Police have arrested 20 men involved, said Kalpesh Patel, a police officer in the state’s key industrial city of Ahmedabad. The protests are expected to continue around the country. Slideshow (3 Images) “We have decided not to play the movie in any of our properties in Gujarat and Rajasthan,” Deepak Asher, director of Inox multiplexes, India’s second largest theatre chain, told Reuters, referring to the two states hit by the worst protests. “Our primary concern is the security of our employees and audiences. I think this is a decision that almost every theatre owner in these two states has taken,” he added. In the central state of Chhattisgarh, dozens of members of the Rajput community staged protests and burned an effigy of Bhansali on Tuesday, Rakesh Singh Bais of the community group Sarwa Kshatriya Mahasabha told Reuters. Police in northwestern Rajasthan have enforced tight security for protests planned by the Karni Sena and other Rajput groups, its police chief, O. P. Galhotra, said. “We have been talking to the leaders of the Karni Sena and they don’t want to end their protest,” Galhotra added. “We have decided to allow them to hold small protests, and have made adequate arrangements to maintain law and order.” Anyone trying to depict history as fiction will have to pay a price for their mistake, said Rajvansh Singh, an official of the Karni Sena in the city of Chittorgarh in Rajasthan, who called himself the custodian of respect for Rajput women. “We will not allow the movie to be released,” he said. “Queen Padmini is like our goddess, no one will be allowed to insult our goddess and our Hindu pride.” Additional reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar and Rajendra Jadhav; Writing by Swati Bhat; Editing by Euan Rocha and Clarence Fernandez" + }, + { + "text": "U.S. military to accept transgender recruits 1:28pm EST - 01:27 Transgender people will be allowed for the first time to enlist in the U.S. military starting on Monday, as ordered by federal courts, after President Donald Trump's administration decided not to appeal rulings that blocked his transgender ban. Transgender people will be allowed for the first time to enlist in the U.S. military starting on Monday, as ordered by federal courts, after President Donald Trump's administration decided not to appeal rulings that blocked his transgender ban. //reut.rs/2zYmVBX" + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 9:30 AM / in 28 minutes Norway's wealth fund expands management team with 3 appointments Reuters Staff 1 Min Read OSLO, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Norway’s $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest, has elevated three women to its top management team, expanding the leadership group to 11 people from eight, Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) said in a statement on Wednesday. Carine Smith Ihenacho was appointed chief corporate governance officer, Hege Gjerde was made chief financial officer, and Sirine Fodstad chief HR officer, it added. NBIM’s top management team previously consisted only of men. (Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Nerijus Adomaitis)" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 6:23 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Self-driving car experts offer online degree in 'flying cars' Paul Lienert 3 Min Read (Reuters) - Self-driving car pioneer Sebastian Thrun has shifted his gaze to the skies, as his Silicon Valley online school Udacity launches what it calls the first “nanodegree” in flying car engineering. With companies from Airbus ( AIR.PA ) and Amazon ( AMZN.O ) to Uber [UBER.UL] throttling up development of their own autonomous aerial vehicles, Thrun believes “in a few years time, this will be the hottest topic on the planet.” As usual, Thrun intends to be on the cutting edge of this emerging technology. The 50-year-old PhD computer scientist and former Stanford University professor, co-founded Udacity in 2012 and says the online school’s self-driving car program has attracted 50,000 applicants since 2016. He expects the new flying car curriculum, which opens in late February and begins taking applications on Tuesday, to draw at least 10,000. Udacity is offering two 12-week terms, at $1,200 each, including a course in Aerial Robotics and one in Intelligent Air Systems, that provide an online certification in a fraction of the time of a traditional degree course. In an interview, Thrun said his motivation in creating the flying-car program was similar to what drove the school’s widely publicized self-driving car course. Udacity co-founder Sebastian Thrun is pictured in this undated handout photo obtained by Reuters January 23, 2018. Udacity/Handout via REUTERS Thrun said “it’s almost impossible to hire qualified people” to design and engineer future vehicles - both terrestrial and aerial - that employ advanced technology, including robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning. “There is a huge shortage of engineers. There are plenty of smart people - the missing link is education,” said Thrun, who headed the team that launched Google’s self-driving car project, since renamed Waymo. Thrun remains an advisor to Google parent Alphabet Inc ( GOOGL.O ) and retains close ties to Alphabet CEO and co-founder Larry Page. Page is an investor in Kitty Hawk Corp, a two-year-old startup based in Mountain View, California, whose stated mission is “to make the dream of personal flight a reality.” Thrun is chief executive of Kitty Hawk and a co-owner. Kitty Hawk’s first prototype, dubbed the Flyer, is not exactly a flying car, but more of a one-person drone that is capable of vertical takeoff and landing and does not need wheels. “‘Flying car’ might be a bit of a misnomer - more of an attention grabber,” admits Thrun, who said he has been working with Page and others to develop autonomous aerial vehicles. “It feels like science fiction now,” Thrun said. “But with Google and Amazon moving in, there is going to be enormous activity around this in the next year or two.” Reporting by Paul Lienert in Detroit; Editing by Andrew Hay" + }, + { + "text": "(Repeats item issued earlier. The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters) * GRAPHIC: China iron ore imports vs. futures price: reut.rs/2D7vL2C By Clyde Russell LAUNCESTON, Australia, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Imagine for a moment that iron ore was still priced the way it was for decades, in closed-door meetings between miners and steel makers, and then try to visualise what the current level would be. Whatever number you may have come up with, it’s unlikely to be anything close to the $76.57 a tonne iron ore futures traded in Singapore fetched at the close on Monday. It’s likely that it would be a far lower figure, given the current seaborne market dynamics of ample, and growing supply, and reasonable, but no longer, surging demand growth. But the main difference between the long-term contract talks that prevailed up until around 2010 and the current system of short-term deals and spot pricing is the volatility of seaborne iron ore prices. The SGX futures, which mirror the spot price for cargoes delivered to China, is up 7.4 percent in the first half of January, part of a longer rally that has seen it surge some 31 percent since the start of November. Normally a gain of this magnitude would imply that a commodity is either supply constrained, or experiencing a surge in demand, or a combination of both. But iron ore is definitely not in short supply given the addition of new capacity in top producers Australia and Brazil. Demand growth in top consumer China has been steady but unspectacular, with imports rising 5 percent in 2017 from a year earlier. It appears that the market pricing dynamic has become somewhat divorced from underlying fundamentals, and the defining characteristic of the past year has been volatility. Iron ore futures ended 2016 at $79.75 a tonne, peaked at $90.16 in mid-March, then plunged to $53.66 by mid-June, before recovering to $77.80 in early September. This was followed by another sharp drop to $58.53 on Nov. 1, before the current rally, which has taken the price back to levels close to where it was a year ago. A range of around $36 a tonne between the highs and lows of 2017 appears at odds with the largely steady growth in imports by China, which buys about two-thirds of global seaborne supplies. While there was a spike and plunge in China’s imports in September and October, this was most likely the result of cargoes being counted as having arrived in September, ahead of a week-long holiday period in October. In other words, the physical iron ore market is nowhere near as volatile as the financial market has become. SENTIMENT OUTWEIGHS FUNDAMENTALS Some of the blame for this is laid at the door of domestic investors in China, who are prepared to trade large volumes of iron ore futures on the Dalian Commodity Exchange on a day-to-day basis, responding rapidly to swings in sentiment. In general it appears that the market has become much more responsive to news events, with the current rally largely resting on a rally in Chinese steel prices late last year and expectations that the world’s top producer will enjoy both robust production and demand in 2018. The iron ore market has largely shrugged off, so far at least, the steadily rising inventories at Chinese ports, which reached 152.3 million tonnes as of Jan. 12, the highest since at least 2004, according to data compiled by consultancy SteelHome. Inventories SH-TOT-INV have climbed even as iron ore prices rose in recent months, with the current level some 21 million tonnes, or 16 percent, above that which prevailed three months ago. It’s not immediately clear how all this iron ore will be used up, with China’s steel output expected to increase only modestly in 2018, by about 0.7 percent to 838 million tonnes from 2017’s 832 million, according to the China Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute. As things stand, there is no reason for iron ore to extend its rally, and several good factors as to why it should be in retreat. But in the new era of increased financial market trading, price volatility driven by sentiment and momentum may hold sway more than fundamentals. For the iron ore miners, this is most likely a better situation than the old system of fixed-price contracts, as it’s probably more profitable to deal with volatility and enjoy higher overall prices. Editing by Richard Pullin" + }, + { + "text": "SYDNEY, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Seven survivors from a ferry that went missing in the Pacific Ocean a week ago were found adrift in a dinghy by a search plane on Sunday, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said. The 17-metre (56 foot) ferry with 50 people on board was reported missing on Jan. 20 two days after it departed Nonouti Island on a 250 km (155 mile) trip to Betio in Kiribati. A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion aircraft spotted the dinghy within two hours of reaching the search area on Sunday morning, the (NZDF) said in a statement. “The crew has dropped them aid supplies containing water, food and a radio and are currently trying to establish communication with them,” Air Commodore Darryn Webb said. A fishing vessel was on its way and was expected to reach the survivors later on Sunday, he said. “The Orion will continue to search the area, making every effort to locate any more survivors, while awaiting the rendezvous with the fishing vessel,” he said. New Zealand has been coordinating the search since Saturday. The search continues for the missing ferry, a wooden catamaran which ran aground and underwent repairs to its propeller shaft before it left Nonouti Island. (Reporting by Stephen Coates; Editing by Keith Weir)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 8 (Reuters) - ITALEAF SPA: * SAYS THAT TERNIENERGIA HAS SOLD TO GENERA SPA A LIGHTING SAVING SYSTEM FOR A CEMENT FACTORY IN SICILY AND THE ENERGY SAVING WORKSITE OF A BUILDING IN TURIN * THE DISPOSALS PROVIDE FOR A CONSIDERATION OF EUR 480,000 (SICILY) AND EUR 1.7 MILLION (TURIN), INCLUDING EUR 1 MILLION IN TRADE PAYABLES AND EUR 170,000 FOR WORK STILL TO BE CARRIED OUT Source text: bit.ly/2AF8Jhh Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "U.S. job growth slows in December 3:35pm GMT - 01:06 The U.S. economy added 148,000 jobs last month. But as Fred Katayama reports, a pickup in wage growth could pave the way for the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates in March. The U.S. economy added 148,000 jobs last month. But as Fred Katayama reports, a pickup in wage growth could pave the way for the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates in March. //reut.rs/2Axo3wx" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 7:22 AM / Updated 11 hours ago Sanofi and partner seek European Medicines Agency review for sleep sickness product Reuters Staff 1 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - French healthcare group Sanofi, along with its business partner, has asked the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to review the fexinidazole product for the treatment of sleeping sickness, the company said on Wednesday. Fexinidazole is being developed in collaboration with the Drugs for Neglected Disease initiative (DNDi), a not-for-profit research organization. It would be the first all-oral treatment under examination for Trypanosoma brucei gambiense human African trypanosomiasis (g-HAT), commonly known as sleeping sickness which affects many in Africa, added Sanofi. The EMA has accepted the application under a special procedure called “Article 58” which allows the EMA to give a scientific opinion, in co-operation with the World Health Organization, for the evaluation of medicinal products intended exclusively for markets outside of the European Union. Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) or “sleeping sickness” is a tropical disease affecting sub-Saharan African countries. Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Bate Felix" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. oil prices rose on Wednesday, boosted by a record 10th straight weekly decline in U.S. crude inventories, though reduced refining activity and rising production signaled U.S. stocks should rise in coming weeks. U.S. crude inventories fell by 1.1 million barrels last week, short of expectations, but the 10-week streak of declines represents a record, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data going back to 1982. At 411.6 million barrels, stocks are at their lowest since February 2015. [EIA/S] The steady draw has triggered record buying by speculators, pushing oil benchmarks to three-year highs. Also supporting oil prices was a 0.7 percent drop in the U.S. dollar after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s comments that a weaker currency was positive for American trade. [USD/] A weaker dollar makes greenback-denominated commodities less expensive for investors using other currencies. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were up 36 cents at $64.83, after hitting their highest since December 2014, as of 12:44 p.m. EST (1744 GMT). Brent futures slipped five cents to $69.92 a barrel, after also hitting their highest since December 2014. “The market has rallied by 50 percent and a lot of investors have been involved for a long time,” said Saxo Bank senior manager Ole Hansen. U.S. crude production rose to 9.9 million barrels per day last week, nearing the all-time record of 10.04 million bpd set in 1970, the EIA data showed. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Khalid al-Falih, Saudi Arabia’s energy minister, said he is not concerned about the threat of U.S. production, citing declining output from Venezuela and Mexico. U.S. refining capacity use declined by 2.1 percentage points as maintenance season began, though gasoline and diesel demand still exceeded year-ago levels, the EIA said. “It is only a matter of weeks until lower crude oil processing and rising domestic production lead to crude stock builds,” said Carsten Fritsch, oil analyst at Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt, Germany. Money managers hold more bullish positions in crude futures and options than at any time on record, encouraged by falling global inventories after production cuts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and others. Some investors now appear to be seeking protection against a possible fall in prices. Trading data shows open interest for Brent put options for selling at $70, $69 and $68 a barrel has climbed since the middle of last week. Sukrit Vijayakar of energy consultancy Trifecta said rising sell options are a result of large long positions built in previous months. “We still have ... nine long barrels for every short barrel, so a reversal should be interesting to watch,” he said. However, traders said oil prices were unlikely to fall far because strong global economic growth has boosted oil demand while supply has been restraint by the OPEC-led deal to limit production. Additional reporting by Amanda Cooper and Henning Gloystein; Editing by Marguerita Choy and David Goodman" + }, + { + "text": "BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- EBSCO Industries, Inc. (EBSCO), headquartered atop Oak Mountain off Highway 280, announced today that Ryan Loy is joining the company as Chief Information Officer (CIO), and will be reporting to David Walker, President and Chief Executive Officer. Loy comes to EBSCO from ADTRAN where he was CIO. “As we plan for significant organic and acquisition growth over the next five to ten years, building the proper foundation of leadership is critical to creating and sustaining our momentum. We are delighted to have Ryan join our team,” said David Walker, CEO. “We look forward to his leadership in information technology—an important component in enabling our businesses to differentiate, grow, and create even more value for our customers.” Having held leadership positions at Eli Lilly and Deloitte prior to ADTRAN, Loy joins EBSCO as an accomplished IT professional focused on building customer value through IT innovations. “EBSCO has a long history of success and giving back to the community. The roadmap for the next several years will serve to continue to strengthen EBSCO. I’m humbled by this opportunity to lead IT and be a part of this organization,” said Ryan Loy. “I’m looking forward to working with the Corporate IT department and the EBSCO leadership team to uncover new ways for IT to add value for EBSCO customers.” About EBSCO Industries, Inc. Founded in 1944 by the late Elton B. Stephens, EBSCO Industries, Inc. has evolved into a global company with businesses in a range of industries including Information Services, Outdoor Brands, Real Estate, Manufacturing and Distribution, and Business Services. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., EBSCO operates divisions and subsidiaries in 23 countries and employs almost 6,000 people. EBSCO Information Services, the largest EBSCO business, is the leading provider of discovery services, databases, and other information resources for libraries worldwide. For a complete listing of EBSCO’s businesses, please visit www.ebscoind.com . View source version on businesswire.com : EBSCO Industries, Inc. Karla M. Wiles, 205-980-6707 Vice President, Marketing Communications [REDACTED] Source: EBSCO Industries, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "CEDAR FALLS, Iowa, Jan. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AgencyBloc , an agency management system and commissions processing software provider built specifically for life and health insurance agencies, has acquired GBS, a pioneer of the Insuretech industry founded in 1979. AgencyBloc began as a bootstrap startup in the Midwest's \"Silicon Prairie\", founded in 2008 by 17-year internet and technology experts Adam Lewis, Cory Schmidt, and Marc Reifenrath. The three first partnered in another internet-based company, Spinutech, in 2000. In 2008, after several years of hands-on research and development of custom solutions for GAs, they built AgencyBloc, an SaaS (software-as-a-service) platform. AgencyBloc has since become the #1 agency recommended management system for life and health agencies. In the last three years, AgencyBloc has quadrupled their staff size, spanning two offices in Des Moines and Cedar Falls, and gained 45 percent year-over-year client and revenue growth. With this acquisition, AgencyBloc maintains their self-funded expansion. \"We couldn't be more excited about this opportunity,\" said Adam Lewis, President of AgencyBloc. \"This acquisition is an opportunity to continue to learn and serve the needs of our industry. Our entire team is energized by this acquisition which will only add fuel to the pace at which we improve our product and services.\" AgencyBloc intends to continue to improve Insuretech as the nextgen pioneers advancing Richard Seale's legacy with GBS, Inc. SaaS technologies are a leading innovation in the Insuretech industry, and AgencyBloc is proud to have been pioneers in this area. \"Adam and Cory are good guys with a great system,\" said Richard Seale, President of GBS. \"I've seen a lot in this industry over the last several decades, and I'm confident AgencyBloc is positioned to take not only GBS clients to the next level, but any life/health agency looking to grow.\" AgencyBloc is rooted in client-centric relationships and continues to be the most recommended agency management system on the market. Their team is regularly improving the product based on client feedback, providing top tier customer service via one-on-one dedicated client relationships, and an internal culture based on trust and transparency. AgencyBloc's mission is to provide powerful solutions by making the convoluted straightforward, and to transform the organizations that use it. The acquisition of GBS is another step on that path. About AgencyBloc: AgencyBloc helps life and health insurance agencies grow their business by organizing and automating their operations using a combination of an industry-specific CRM, commissions processing, and integrated marketing automation. For more information, contact Erica Kiefer at 866-338-7075 ext.178 or [REDACTED] . Related Links Schedule Demo of AgencyBloc AgencyBloc Overview Video View original content: SOURCE AgencyBloc" + }, + { + "text": "Even when a cryptocurrency calls itself “useless,” the money floods in. Regulators have warned that investors who rush to buy freshly created digital tokens could end up holding worthless tokens. The creators of a cryptocurrency launched last July pretty much promise that. “Seriously, don’t buy these tokens,” Useless Ethereum Token announces... RELATED VIDEO As bitcoin has emerged from the underground world of nerds and criminals to become a mainstream investment, the risk of hacks and scandals has also blossomed. What's a government to do? The WSJ's Steven Russolillo travels the world (sort of) to see how regulators are responding to the remarkable rise of cryptocurrencies. Video: Sharon Shi and Crystal Tai" + }, + { + "text": "Seine river expected to slowly subside, after reaching maximum level Monday, January 29, 2018 - 00:40 River Seine swells to maximum of 5.84 metres as city remains on high alert. Rough cut (no reporter narration). River Seine swells to maximum of 5.84 metres as city remains on high alert. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2DNmrp2" + }, + { + "text": "New Chief Revenue Officer Ken Archer to lead sales, revenue and partnership success JERICHO, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nectar Services Corp. , the leader in the development and deployment of proactive network monitoring and performance management software for the Unified Communications (UC) industry, today announced it has added a new C-level position, naming Ken Archer as Chief Revenue Officer. In this role, Archer will oversee Nectar’s global sales, revenue goals and strategic partnerships. “The expansion of Nectar’s C-suite signals ambitious new goals and growth that Nectar plans to pursue in 2018 and beyond. Ken Archer is esteemed throughout the industry and is a welcomed addition to our executive team in this new role,” said David Giangano, Nectar’s Chief Executive Officer. “Archer’s global channel experience and proven track record of innovative ideas and partner enablement will strengthen our channel relationships and enhance success throughout our partner community.” Archer has over 37 years of sales and management experience in the technology sector. He headed and grew North American Channels for Avaya from $1B in 2005 to over $2B by 2007, and most recently served as the Vice President of Global Channels for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) where he was responsible for $8B in channel services revenue. There, he accelerated the sales and revenue growth through the design and implementation of a world class channel program. His extensive work in managing various channel partner organizations, managed services providers and strategic manufacturers has equipped him with a unique skill set that will be vital in leading Nectar’s sales and revenues to new horizons. “The channel has always been integral to Nectar’s business, and I am honored to take on this new role at Nectar where I am able to help accelerate new sales initiatives that further support our success,” said Archer. About Nectar Services Corp. Nectar, a global market leader in providing the most comprehensive monitoring and diagnostics software solution for Unified Communication services enables IT and operation organizations to proactively ensure the end-user experience. Our flagship offering, the Unified Communications Management Platform (UCMP), which improves visibility and service delivery across integrated voice, video and data application solutions by providing unique and critical performance information. Nectar provides monitoring and diagnostics for millions of enterprise endpoints to over 2,100 enterprises in over 86 countries—including some of the largest global banking, search engine, service provider, healthcare and manufacturing organizations in the world. View source version on businesswire.com : Nectar Media Contact: Witz Communications Ashley Schulte, 919-435-9112 [REDACTED] Source: Nectar Services Corp." + }, + { + "text": "DUBAI (Reuters) - OPEC is monitoring unrest in Iran as well as Venezuela’s economic crisis, but the group will only boost output if there are significant and sustained production disruptions from those countries, a senior OPEC source from a major Middle Eastern oil producer said. A flag with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) logo is seen during a meeting of OPEC and non-OPEC producing countries in Vienna, Austria September 22, 2017. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo Venezuela’s economic troubles have hit the country’s oil output, which is at near 30-year lows, but Iran’s output has not been affected by a wave of anti-government protests. Traders said political tensions in Iran, the third-largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), had pushed prices higher. Brent crude, the international benchmark, was trading at around $67.52 a barrel, on Monday. Brent hit $68.27 high last week, the highest since May 2015, on Iran tensions. Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s de-facto leader, wants to see oil prices above $60 a barrel, to boost the valuation of its national oil company Aramco ahead of an initial public offering (IPO) later this year and to reduce the gap in its state budget, Saudi sources have said. “Even if there was a supply disruption (from Iran or Venezuela)... OPEC will not raise output,” the senior OPEC source said. “OPEC’s policy is to bring inventories down to their normal levels and will stay the course, unless the disruption in supply of something like 1,000,000 barrels per day persists for more than a month, and causes shortages of crude supply to consumers.” Venezuela’s dilapidated energy sector is struggling as U.S. sanctions and a lack of capital hobble operations, and its economic crisis threatens to do further harm to the OPEC country. The senior OPEC source also said the oil market was on its way to being re-balanced, but so far global oil inventories remained above their five-year average and much more time was needed to drain the oil glut. “Any change in production limits must be driven by a change in market fundamentals and not just speculations for a short period of time, for OPEC to change the output ceiling,” he said. The protests in Iran that began in late December have posed no immediate threat to oil production but there is concern that U.S. President Donald Trump may reimpose sanctions on Iranian oil, which could disrupt oil exports. Trump must decide by mid-January whether to continue waiving U.S. sanctions on Iran’s oil exports under the terms of an international nuclear deal. The senior OPEC source said that while more U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil were possible, they would take time to affect oil supplies and so their impact was difficult to gauge. OPEC, supported by Russia and other non-members, began to reduce output a year ago to remove an oil glut built up in the previous two years. Compliance has been high, as producers have decided to extend the supply pact until the end of 2018. OPEC’s cuts are helping to reduce global inventories, even as production continues to rise in the United States. U.S. production rose to 9.78 million barrels in the last week. Reporting by Rania El Gamal. Editing by Dmitry Zhdannikov and Jane Merriman" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 12:09 AM / Updated 4 minutes ago Motor racing-Dan Gurney, all American racer, dies at 86 Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 14 (Reuters) - American racer Dan Gurney, a Formula One and Le Mans 24 Hours winner in the 1960s who started a trend by spraying champagne on the victory podium, died in California on Sunday aged 86. The news was announced by his wife Evi and family in a statement. “With one last smile on his handsome face, Dan drove off into the unknown just before noon today, January 14, 2018,” it said. The family said Gurney, whose Formula One career spanned one of the most glamorous and dangerous periods of the sport’s history from 1959 to 1970, had died of complications from pneumonia. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Greg Stutchbury)" + }, + { + "text": "LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - “Lady Bird,” a coming-of-age tale about a teenage girl and her fractured but endearing relationship with her mother, won the Golden Globe award for best comedy/musical film on Sunday. The film, written and directed by Greta Gerwig, beat out “The Disaster Artist,” “The Greatest Showman,” “Get Out” and “I, Tonya.” It also won best comedy actress for its star, Saoirse Ronan. Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Sandra Maler" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - Universal Mcloud Corp: * UNIVERSAL MCLOUD CORP. SIGNS LETTER OF INTENT TO PURCHASE CSA, INC, A GLOBAL LEADER IN INTELLIGENT 3D AND LASER SCANNING SOFTWARE * UNIVERSAL MCLOUD CORP - FOLLOWING REQUISITE APPROVALS, DEAL IS EXPECTED TO CLOSE IN Q1, 2018, AND WILL BE VALUED AT UP TO US$4.8 MILLION * UNIVERSAL MCLOUD CORP - AFTER CLOSING OF DEAL, CSA SHAREHOLDERS WILL END UP OWNING ROUGHLY 16PCT OF MCLOUD SHARES Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Facebook will chip away at Google's dominance in digital advertising thanks to the growth of Instagram and video ads, according to a new research note from Cowen. Cowen analysts, which surveyed 50 senior ad buyers, said Facebook and Instagram ad budgets will increase in 2018 and 2019, and budgets for Google ads will decline slightly. Google and Facebook together dominate digital advertising, with about 63 percent between the two of them in 2017, according to eMarketer. This year, the firm projects Google will make $40.08 billion in U.S. digital ad revenue, while Facebook is poised to bring in $21.57 billion. Though YouTube is still the preferred digital video platform to advertise on, Facebook is encroaching on its top position. In particular, 41 percent of the survey takers considered Facebook video the best place to launch a new ad campaign over TV (25 percent) and YouTube (10 percent). While the digital ad market is expected to have a compound annual growth rate of 13 percent between 2018 and 2023, Google is only expected to increase 11 percent. There was also increasing interest in advertising on Snapchat -like service Instagram Stories, with ad buyers saying they preferred Instagram Stories over Snapchat. Both Facebook and Google shares are expected to outperform, with Facebook's price target at $220 while Alphabet's at $1,230." + }, + { + "text": "From an interview with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) on “Face the Nation,” Dec. 31: Graham: You’ll ask me in a minute how my relationship has evolved with the president. It’s evolved because he is president of the United States. He beat me like a drum, and I want to help him where I can because there’s a lot on this man’s plate and we... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "On Tuesday night, for the second year in a row, President Donald Trump delivered an impressive and effective speech to a joint session of Congress. Also for the second year in a row, many Democrats chose to offer minimal or no applause for ideas that are broadly popular in the United States. “Resistance” to our duly-elected President may be big fun for left-wing activists, but it’s not a strategy for reclaiming the Congress in 2018 or the White House in 2020. After the conclusion of Mr. Trump’s State of the Union address... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 12:15 AM / Updated 8 hours ago UK economy set for 'underwhelming' 2018, says British Chambers of Commerce Andy Bruce 3 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s economy looks set for an underwhelming 2018, according to a major survey on Wednesday that showed businesses are in a subdued mood ahead of Brexit. FILE PHOTO - A man and woman use their mobile phones as commuters walk past the columns of the Bank of England in the City of London, July 3, 2012. REUTERS/Andrew Winning/File Photo Companies continued to grapple with cost pressures in the last three months of 2017 and were reluctant to invest more, the British Chambers of Commerce’s (BCC) Quarterly Economic Survey showed. The services sector, which represents the lion’s share of Britain’s economy, continued to expand at a subdued pace, the BCC said. Manufacturers did better than services firms, but still reported a slowdown in both domestic and export sales. Overall the survey suggested the economy grew modestly at the end of last year, after picking up slightly in the three months to September with quarterly growth of 0.4 percent - below a historic trend of nearer 0.6 percent. “The economy is set to continue on an underwhelming growth trajectory over the near term with uncertainty over the impact of Brexit coupled with high inflation and weak productivity likely to dampen overall economic activity,” the BCC’s head of economics, Suren Thiru, said. Economists polled by Reuters generally think the world’s sixth-largest economy will expand modestly during 2018, underperforming most of its peers but doing better than the gloomy predictions made around the time of the shock vote to quit the European Union in mid-2016. The survey of 7,000 companies - the largest of its type - showed the proportion of services companies reporting recruitment difficulties rose to 71 percent, the highest since records started in 1989. FILE PHOTO - A man is silhouetted as he walks past the Bank of England in the City of London, Britain, December 12, 2017. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne The BCC warned that this could prove to be the biggest drag on businesses in 2018, and urged its members to train more staff, rather than simply complain about staff shortages. More than a third of services companies expected to raise prices over the next three months, the most since late 2008. FILE PHOTO - A woman carrying an umbrella walks through \"The Lanes\" shopping area in Brighton, southern England January 8, 2015. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor That will concern Bank of England officials, since the BCC’s gauges link well with official measures of producer prices that are a guide to future inflation pressure, even if past reports of skills shortages have not brought faster wage growth. Last month the BoE said inflation was likely to fall slowly in 2018. Consumer price inflation rose to its highest in nearly six years in November at 3.1 percent. The central bank also anticipates a further improvement in business investment in 2018. But the BCC survey showed no sign of a firm upswing in investment plans among either services or manufacturing companies, similar to a Deloitte survey of major company bosses out earlier this week. Official data for industrial and construction output in November, as well as trade, are due at 0930 GMT. Reporting by Andy Bruce, editing by David Milliken" + }, + { + "text": "HONG KONG/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China’s state-backed Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC) will take its electric vehicle unit public by injecting it into another listed subsidiary, boosting its financial muscle as the battle for the country’s hotly contested green car market heats up. The de facto backdoor listing values the unit, Beijing Electric Vehicle Co, at $4.5 billion and comes as the government engineers a dramatic shift away from conventional gasoline cars with strict quotas for electric and hybrid vehicles set to come into effect next year. The shift has prompted major investment and a spate of deals between global automakers, tech firms and local rivals as companies rush to bring out new vehicle models and set up local ventures and facilities in the world’s biggest car market. The deal is also a rare listing for China’s green car sector and marks the first time that a state-owned manufacturer of so-called new energy vehicles (NEVs) will debut on one of the country’s main stock exchanges. Beijing Electric, established in 2009, said this month that sales jumped 98 percent in 2017 to 103,199 vehicles. FILE PHOTO: An electric vehicle (EV) taxi is displayed at the booth of Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC) during the Auto China 2016 auto show in Beijing, China April 26, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo That puts it just behind Warren Buffett-backed BYD Co Ltd ( 002594.SZ ) which said its NEV sales last year totalled 113,669, up around 13.5 percent. Under the deal, ChengDu QianFeng Electronics Co ( 600733.SS ), one of the listed arms of BAIC, will buy the electric car unit and then sell 761.1 million shares at 37.66 yuan per share. Beijing Electric will become the listed entity. China’s automotive market slowed sharply in 2017, but new energy vehicles have been a bright spot. An industry body said this month NEV sales would likely grow 40 percent this year, topping 1 million vehicles. Car makers, however, are worried about the rapid pace of the shift to fully electric vehicles and some have called for Beijing to maintain financial support for the auto market to help drive consumer demand. ($1 = 6.4003 Chinese yuan) Reporting by Meg Shen and Twinnie Siu in HONG KONG and Adam Jourdan in SHANGHAI; Editing by Edwina Gibbs" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 4:59 PM / Updated an hour ago FDA clears radioactive drug for cancer that killed Steve Jobs Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved a radioactive drug to treat the ultra-rare type of digestive tract cancer that killed Steve Jobs in 2011. The approval for Advanced Accelerator Applications SA’s Lutathera comes just days after Swiss giant Novartis AG closed its $3.9 billion acquisition of the French company. Lutathera is unusual in that it harnesses the same molecule that is used to diagnose cancer to also deliver the treatment. The radiopharmaceutical injection works by hitting cancer cells with high energy electrons, just like radiotherapy, but targets gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) that over-express a certain protein. Advanced Accelerator said Lutathera’s list price is about $47,500 per dose, with the usual treatment period including four doses. This price is not necessarily what patients actually pay, as out-of-pocket costs vary based on a patient’s insurance plan and rebates offered by drugmakers. The treatment reduced the risk of the disease progressing by 79 percent in a late-stage clinical trial, on the basis of which it was approved, Accelerator Applications said. In general, patients with well-and-moderately differentiated tumors, compared with healthy cells, have a roughly 35 percent probability of surviving for five years, the company estimates. This is the first U.S. approval for this kind of treatment, known as peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. The European Medicines Agency approved Lutathera in September and Novartis offered to buy Advanced Accelerator a month later. The FDA estimates that each year, one out of 27,000 people are diagnosed with GEP-NETs, a disease that killed Apple co-founder Jobs in 2011. It has been a long journey for Lutathera. The FDA rejected the drug in 2016, asking for more study data. The company resubmitted its marketing application in July last year. Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar and Savio D'Souza" + }, + { + "text": "HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sidley Austin LLP is pleased to announce that Heather Palmer has joined the firm in its Houston office as a partner in its Environmental practice. She joins Sidley from Bracewell LLP. Ms. Palmer brings a wealth of environmental regulatory knowledge and experience in handling complicated energy-related environmental transactions. Ms. Palmer is a well-versed environmental lawyer who advises clients in the energy, petrochemical, power and utility sectors. She handles a variety of regulatory counseling and enforcement matters, including onshore and offshore oil and gas regulation, solid and hazardous waste, oil and gas waste, wastewater and stormwater permitting, wetlands, water rights, Superfund litigation and compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. Ms. Palmer also advises clients on environmental issues relating to shale play development, hydraulic fracturing and the permitting, construction and operation of liquefied natural gas import and export facilities in the U.S. On the transactional side, Ms. Palmer has extensive experience identifying and managing sources of environmental risks. This includes coordinating due diligence and advising clients on energy-related deals, M&A transactions, public offerings, financings, real estate transactions, bankruptcy and other matters where environmental issues become an important component. “In the current regulatory environment, we are seeing an uptick in the number of challenges presented to our clients in energy-related transactions, particularly disputes over areas such as hydraulic fracturing and offshore oil and gas drilling,” said David Buente, co-leader of Sidley’s Environmental practice. “Heather’s substantial knowledge of the energy regulatory landscape, in addition to her experience working with federal and state energy and environmental agencies, will be beneficial in addressing various environmental concerns that may arise from transactions in the energy space.” Ms. Palmer’s arrival in Houston is a continuation of the firm’s strategic expansion in this key market. Her deep experience in the energy and environmental sectors will augment the expansive transactional team in Houston as well as the range of high-level services we offer. With 2,000 lawyers in 20 offices around the globe, Sidley is a premier legal adviser for clients across the spectrum of industries. Follow Sidley on Twitter @SidleyLaw . For purposes of the New York State Bar rules, this press release may be considered Attorney Advertising and our headquarters are Sidley Austin LLP, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, [REDACTED]; One South Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60603, [REDACTED]; and 1501 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005, [REDACTED]. View source version on businesswire.com : Sidley Austin LLP Kellie Mullins, Director, Public Relations [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Source: Sidley Austin LLP" + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 1:34 AM / Updated 2 minutes ago Oil falls 1 percent amid growing U.S. crude output concerns Bryan Sims 3 Min Read Houston (Reuters) - Oil prices slid 1 percent on Friday and were on track for the biggest weekly falls since October despite hitting three-year highs earlier this week as concerns over growing U.S. production outweighed tightening global supplies. Brent crude futures LCOc1 were trading 68 cents lower at $68.63 a barrel at 1:26 p.m. EST (1826 GMT). On Monday, they hit their highest since December 2014 at $70.37. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were trading at $63.65 a barrel, down 65 cents. WTI marked a December-2014 peak of $64.89 a barrel on Tuesday. Both benchmarks were on track for a weekly loss of nearly 2 percent. The International Energy Agency (IEA), in its monthly report, said that global oil stocks have tightened substantially, aided by OPEC cuts, demand growth and Venezuelan production hitting near 30-year lows. But it warned that rapidly increasing production in the United States could threaten market balancing. “Explosive growth in the U.S. and substantial gains in Canada and Brazil will far outweigh potentially steep declines in Venezuela and Mexico,” the IEA said of 2018 production. The energy watchdog forecast U.S. supply growth will push its output past 10 million barrels per day (bpd), overtaking Saudi Arabia and rivaling Russia. U.S. crude oil production C-OUT-T-EIA rose nearly 300,000 bpd to 9.75 million bpd last week, according to government data. [EIA/S] “Prices are encouraging drilling and I think there is a race to cash in here at these elevated prices,” said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC. However, the U.S. oil rig count, an indicator of future production, fell by five this week but at 747, was still much higher than the 551 rigs a year ago, according to General Electric Co’s ( GE.N ) Baker Hughes energy services firm. [RIG/U] RIG-OL-USA-BHI “Oil prices will need to go higher for rig counts to go higher from here,” said Chris Jarvis, president of Caprock Risk Management in Frederick, Maryland. Overall, however, oil prices remain well supported, and most analysts do not expect steep declines. The main price driver has been a production cut by major producers led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia since January last year. The supply cuts, scheduled to last throughout 2018, were aimed at tightening the market to prop up prices. Even in the United States, not part of the pact to curb output, crude inventories fell 6.9 million barrels last week to 412.65 million barrels, the lowest seasonal level in three years and below the five-year average marker around 420 million barrels. “U.S. production growth remains a relative counterweight for OPEC/non-OPEC to continue to balance this market,” Again Capital’s Kilduff said. Additional reporting by Libby George in London, Henning Gloystein in Singapore and Jane Chung in SEOUL; Editing by Marguerita Choy" + }, + { + "text": "IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Evolus, Inc. today announced that it has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) relating to a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not been determined. Evolus has applied to list its common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market under the trading symbol \"EOLS.\" Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and Mizuho Securities USA LLC are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and JMP Securities LLC are acting as lead managers. The proposed offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. A copy of the preliminary prospectus, when available, may be obtained from Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Attention: Capital Markets, 499 Park Ave., 6th Floor, New York, New York 10022, or by e-mail at [REDACTED] ; or Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Attention: Equity Capital Markets, 320 Park Ave., New York, New York 10022, or by e-mail at [REDACTED] , or by telephone at (212) 205-7600. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Evolus, Inc. Evolus, Inc. is a medical aesthetics company focused on providing physicians and their patients with expanded choices in aesthetic procedures and treatments. Evolus, Inc. focuses on the self-pay aesthetic market and its lead product candidate is an injectable 900 kDa purified botulinum toxin type A complex. Evolus Press Contacts: September Riharb, Vice President, Marketing Tel: [REDACTED] Email: [REDACTED] Jeff Plumer, Vice President, Legal Tel: [REDACTED] Email: [REDACTED] View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Evolus, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "By Adam Lashinsky 8:49 AM EST This article first appeared in Data Sheet, Fortune’s daily newsletter on the top tech news. Sign up here . My hunch is that Mark Zuckerberg has never covered a local hearing on a telephone utility’s desire to raise rates. He probably hasn’t sat in an airless room listening to citizens berating the Air Force’s decision to close a local base. Zuckerberg likely hasn’t waded into an animal-rights protest at a dry cleaner’s shop that stores fur coats in the summertime. While he was designing a proto-“Hot or Not” web site at Harvard he undoubtedly didn’t ponder a feminist art professor’s attack on male-dominant statues on campus. I covered all these topics in my very first experience as a reporter, with the outstanding college newspaper The Daily Illini at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign—home to a computer science department that begat oodles of Silicon Valley luminaries. (I studied history.) This is all relevant today because the Facebook (fb) boss said Monday his company would begin to promote local over national news. He said people in his travels across the land “kept telling (him) ... how much we all have in common if we can get past some of the most divisive national issues.” We can make great progress, as these simple folk relayed to Zuckerberg, “if we could turn down the temperature” on this prickly national fare in favor of “concrete” concerns at the local level. It can’t be easy being a clueless billionaire or the head of the company that has helped decimate the news industry’s business model without being willing to accept the responsibility of being branded a media company. The suggestion that local issues are less contentious than national ones merely because they somehow involve a bunch of happy neighbors cordially engaging in the American democratic experiment is laughable. It’d even be amusing if the stakes weren’t so high. First Facebook decides to de-emphasize news altogether. Then it proposes a popularity contest to determine quality. Now it hopes to calm criticism of its own culpability in poisoning the political well by deflecting what its users see away from national topics. The tech backlash pendulum will swing back one day. But not today. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 12:29 PM / Updated 8 hours ago UK economy likely picked up in fourth quarter, rate hike seen in May - NIESR Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - British economic growth likely hit a one-year high in the three months to December, the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR) said on Wednesday. FILE PHOTO: A statue is silhouetted against the Bank of England in the City of London, Britain, December 12, 2017. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File Photo The think tank said it forecast quarterly growth of 0.6 percent during the fourth quarter of 2017, compared with 0.4 percent in the previous quarter. Based on this, NIESR said it predicted annual average economic growth for 2017 at 1.8 percent. Its forecasts followed better-than-expected industrial production data for November published earlier on Wednesday. “This recovery, combined with above-target CPI inflation, is consistent with a gradual withdrawal of monetary policy stimulus,” Amit Kara, NIESR’s head of UK macroeconomic forecasting, said. The Bank of England was now on track to raise interest rates again in May, Kara said. Reporting by Andy Bruce; Editing by William Schomberg" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 1:50 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Turkey's Erdogan says military operation to make big sweep east across Syria Ece Toksabay , Lisa Barrington 6 Min Read ANKARA/BEIRUT (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday Turkish forces would sweep Kurdish fighters from the Syrian border and could push all the way east to the frontier with Iraq -- a move which risks a possible confrontation with U.S. forces allied to the Kurds. The Turkish offensive in northwest Syria’s Afrin region against the Kurdish YPG militia has opened a new front in the multi-sided Syrian civil war but has strained ties with NATO ally Washington. Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist group but the militia has played a prominent role in U.S.-led efforts to combat the hardline Islamic State in Syria. Since the start of the incursion, dubbed “Operation Olive Branch” by Ankara, Erdogan has said Turkish forces would push east towards the town of Manbij, potentially putting them in confrontation with U.S. troops deployed there. “Operation Olive Branch will continue until it reaches its goals. We will rid Manbij of terrorists, as it was promised to us, and our battles will continue until no terrorist is left until our border with Iraq,” Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara. A senior official in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias of which the YPG is the strongest, said any wider Turkish assault would face “the appropriate response”. Redur Xelil also said in an interview that he was sure the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State, which has backed the SDF in its battle against the jihadists, was trying to put pressure on Turkey to limit its offensive. Any drive by Turkish forces towards Manbij, part of Kurdish-held territory some 100 km (60 miles) east of Afrin, could threaten U.S. efforts to stabilise northern Syria. The United States has about 2,000 troops in Syria, officially as part of the international coalition against Islamic State. U.S. forces were deployed in and around Manbij to deter Turkish and U.S.-backed rebels from attacking each other and have also carried out training missions in the area. Washington has angered Ankara by providing arms, training and air support to the Syrian Kurdish forces. Turkey sees the YPG as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a deadly insurgency in Turkey’s largely Kurdish southeast for three decades. ���How can a strategic partner do this to its partner?” Erdogan said, referring to the United States. “If we wage a battle against terror together, we will either do this together or we will take care of ourselves.” HUMAN TOLL Although the campaign is now in its seventh day, Turkish soldiers and their Free Syrian Army rebel allies appear to have made limited gains, held back by poor weather that has limited air support. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends a meeting of the ruling AK Party in Ankara, Turkey January 26, 2018. Yasin Bulbul/Presidential Palace/Handout via REUTERS Three Turkish soldiers and 11 of their Syrian rebel allies have been killed in clashes so far, Turkey’s health minister said on Friday. A further 130 people were wounded, he said, without saying if they were civilians or combatants. Turkey said it had killed at least 343 militants since the operation started. The Kurdish-led forces have said Turkey was exaggerating the number it had killed. The SDF said 308 fighters from the Turkish side had been killed in the first week of the incursion. Forty-three SDF fighters had died, including eight women, the SDF said. In addition, 134 civilians had been wounded and at least 66 killed, it said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group, said at least 38 civilians have been killed since the start of the operation, two of them by SDF shelling. Seven members of one family died and one was injured when a house collapsed under Turkish shelling in the early hours of Friday in the town of Maatala in Afrin region, the head of the Kurdish Red Crescent in Afrin, Nuri Sheikh Qanbar, said. U.S. POLICY RETHINK? Erdogan’s chief diplomatic adviser said Turkey’s military action in Syria should prompt Washington to rethink its policy. “The moment Turkey starts using its military power instead of soft power in the region, however sour ties are at that moment, it encourages Washington to stop and think,” Gulnur Aybet told Reuters in an interview. “I believe the U.S. will put forward some truly satisfying alternative solutions to ease Turkey’s security concerns,” she said. Related Coverage U.S." + }, + { + "text": "-backed SDF warns Turkey against widening attack While Aybet did not elaborate on what such measures could include, she said they would follow on from a recent U.S. proposal to establish a “safe zone” in northern Syria. Turkey has said the United States has offered to work on a 30 km (19 mile) safe zone, but it says trust between the allies must first be restored. Aybet said Turkey was aware that a confrontation on the ground in Manbij risked pushing ties to breaking point: “Everyone is aware of that risk. We hope that the Americans are aware, too.” The Kurdish-led autonomous administration that runs Afrin urged the Syrian government on Thursday to defend its border with Turkey despite Damascus’ stance against Kurdish autonomy. The Syrian government has said it is ready to target Turkish warplanes in its airspace, but has not intervened so far. It suspects the Kurds of wanting independence in the long-run. Additional reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen in Istanbul; Tuvan Gumrukcu and Tulay Karadeniz in Ankara; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Gareth Jones" + }, + { + "text": "Kim Kardashian announces birth of third child Tuesday, January 16, 2018 - 00:45 Reality television star Kim Kardashian announces she and husband Kanye West now have a third child by surrogate. Rollo Ross reports. Reality television star Kim Kardashian announces she and husband Kanye West now have a third child by surrogate. Rollo Ross reports. //reut.rs/2DgmLMG" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - Shenzhen Overseas Chinese Town Co Ltd : * Says its property unit plans to set up a JV as project company, jointly with a Shenzhen-based investment firm * JV will be capitalized at 100 million yuan and co’s unit will own a 60 percent stake * Says new project company will obtain development and operation rights of a Shenzhen-based property project Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/9gKKNo Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "MILAN, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Italy’s debt with the European Central Bank rose to a new record high in December, data from the Bank of Italy showed on Monday. Italy’s net debt towards the ECB’s Target 2 payment system, which settles cross-border payments in the euro zone, stood at 439.02 billion euros ($526 billion) in December. In November it rose to 435.9 billion euros from 412.4 billion euros in October. Euro zone countries’ Target 2 positions are monitored because they highlight imbalances within the bloc and the potential for colossal sovereign defaults were it to fall apart. ($1 = 0.8352 euros) (Reporting by Giulia Segreti)" + }, + { + "text": "Wendell Carter Jr.’s 23 points led another strong offensive showing for No. 4 Duke in an 84-70 victory against Wake Forest on Tuesday night at Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C. Gary Trent Jr. provided 19 points, Grayson Allen scored 17 points and Marvin Bagley III supplied 16 points for Duke, which has won five consecutive games. Carter had 12 rebounds and Bagley grabbed 11 boards. The Blue Devils (18-2, 6-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) can now prepare for a Saturday home showdown against No. 2 Virginia. Center Doral Moore scored 18 points on 9-for-9 shooting and added 12 rebounds for Wake Forest (8-12, 1-7). Brandon Childress also had 18 points, Chaundee Brown added 16 points and Bryant Crawford posted 10 points for the Demon Deacons, who lost their sixth game in a row and committed 21 turnovers. Duke scored eight of the game’s first 10 points, but Wake Forest caught up at 13-13. However, the Demon Deacons never led. Duke built a 20-point lead early in the second half before the Demon Deacons closed to within 58-50 before the 10-minute mark. It would have been closer, but Olivier Sarr missed on a transition dunk. The Blue Devils were on top 41-30 at halftime, with Wake Forest charged with 15 turnovers by the break. The Demon Deacons shot 1-for-10 on 3-pointers in the opening half. Wake Forest committed 10 turnovers in the first 11 minutes but stayed within five points at that juncture. Allen had 10 points in the first 12 minutes, while Moore countered with eight points by that stage. Wake Forest played without guard Keyshawn Woods, who is still trying to recover from a knee injury, though he played in the previous four games. Duke won for the eighth time in a row in the series. That string includes an 89-71 victory Jan. 13 in Durham, N.C. Unlike the first meeting of the season, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was on the bench. He stayed away because of a virus in the first game. He missed last year’s visit to Winston-Salem following back surgery. This was Wake Forest’s second game against a top-four team in three nights. Virginia defeated the Demon Deacons 59-49 on Sunday. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "27 PM / in 7 minutes Mexico retail group projects sales to rise 5.8 pct in 2018 Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MEXICO CITY, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Mexico’s retailers’ association on Tuesday estimated that sales at stores open for at least a year would rise 5.8 percent this year compared to 2017. The group, known as ANTAD, includes retail chains such as Wal-Mart de Mexico and Soriana, said so-called same-store sales rose 4.7 percent in December and 4.5 percent during all of 2017. (Reporting by Sharay Angulo)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30(Reuters) - SI-TECH Information Technology Co Ltd * Sees FY 2017 net profit to increase by 15.4 percent to 29.8 percent, or to be 64 million yuan to 72 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 55.5 million yuan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/i2pKv5 Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Davos goes plant-based with ‘Impossible Burger’ 1:35pm GMT - 01:42 This year’s World Economic Forum is going a bit veggie as a way to reduce delegates' environmental footprint, bringing in silicon valley's Impossible Foods to help. They create plant-based foods, engineered to taste like meat. Reuters' Ciara Lee tried their signature dish. This year’s World Economic Forum is going a bit veggie as a way to reduce delegates' environmental footprint, bringing in silicon valley's Impossible Foods to help. They create plant-based foods, engineered to taste like meat. Reuters' Ciara Lee tried their signature dish. //reut.rs/2n60JB8" + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 10:43 AM / Updated 28 minutes ago C.Suisse to move staff out of one of its Canary Wharf offices Reuters Staff 1 Min Read ZURICH, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Swiss bank Credit Suisse Group intends to move staff out of one of its office buildings in Canary Wharf in London as it consolidates its property portfolio after cutting jobs and costs, a source familiar with the situation said on Friday. Bloomberg had earlier reported that Credit Suisse would relocate staff from 17 Columbus Courtyard in Canary Wharf to a neighbouring office in One Cabot Square in about two years. The bank may then try to sublease the smaller property until the lease ends in 2024, or negotiate an early exit with the building’s owner, HNA Group Co, Bloomberg reported, citing two unidentified sources. Under Chief Executive Tidjane Thiam, Switzerland’s second-biggest bank has cut thousands of jobs while increasing its focus on wealth management and scaling back investment banking. (Reporting by Angelika Gruber. Editing by Jane Merriman)" + }, + { + "text": "South Korea says it uncovered about $600 million in cryptocurrency crimes Asia's fourth-largest economy says it detected cryptocurrency crimes worth a total of $594.35 million Published 11 Hours Ago Reuters Dan Kitwood | Getty Images South Korea has uncovered cryptocurrency crimes worth 637.5 billion won ($594.35 million), which includes illegal foreign exchange trading, a statement released by the country's customs service said on Wednesday. The statement said domestic investors bought 1.7 billion won worth of cryptocurrencies, which they sent to overseas partner companies through virtual wallets. The transfers were then converted back into fiat currencies, which amount to unrecorded capital outflows. The customs office added that it would continue to monitor the use of cryptocurrencies in cases like illegal currency trading or money laundering." + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 5:46 PM / Updated 14 minutes ago Facebook, Sony/ATV sign music licensing deal Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Sony/ATV said on Monday it signed a licensing agreement with Facebook Inc that will allow the social media platform’s users to upload and share videos from the music publishing company’s catalogue on Facebook and Instagram. FILE PHOTO: Facebook logo is seen at a start-up companies gathering at Paris' Station F in Paris, France on January 17, 2017. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer/File Photo The multi-year deal will allow artists associated with Sony/ATV — whose catalogue includes Bob Dylan, Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran — to earn royalties from the use of their music on the social media platforms. Facebook’s deal with Sony/ATV follows a similar deal with Universal Music Group in December, to retain users and attract advertisers. Reporting by Sonam Rai in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 11:47 AM / Updated 2 hours ago Big Bash League Scoreboard Reuters Staff 3 Min Read Jan 25 (OPTA) - Scoreboard at close of play of match 38 between Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers on Thursday at Perth, Australia Perth Scorchers win by 4 wickets Adelaide Strikers 1st innings Jono Dean c Mitchell Johnson b Matthew Kelly 7 Jake Weatherald b Matthew Kelly 56 Colin Ingram c Cameron Bancroft b Tim Bresnan 5 Jonathan Wells c Mitchell Johnson b Tim Bresnan 15 Jake Lehmann Not Out 21 Alex Carey b Jhye Richardson 25 Michael Neser b Jhye Richardson 0 Rashid Khan Not Out 5 Extras 0b 2lb 0nb 0pen 1w 3 Total (20.0 overs) 137-6 Fall of Wickets : 1-22 Dean, 2-42 Ingram, 3-68 Wells, 4-94 Weatherald, 5-126 Carey, 6-126 Neser Did Not Bat : Agar, Laughlin, Stanlake Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Mitchell Johnson 4 0 17 0 4.25 1w Matthew Kelly 4 0 31 2 7.75 Jhye Richardson 4 0 23 2 5.75 Ashton Agar 4 0 30 0 7.50 Tim Bresnan 4 0 34 2 8.50 Perth Scorchers 1st innings Sam Whiteman c Billy Stanlake b Michael Neser 8 Michael Klinger c Colin Ingram b Billy Stanlake 5 Cameron Bancroft b Rashid Khan 49 Hilton Cartwright c Michael Neser b Rashid Khan 2 Ashton Turner lbw Rashid Khan 0 Adam Voges Not Out 56 Ashton Agar c Alex Carey b Ben Laughlin 7 Tim Bresnan Not Out 7 Extras 0b 1lb 0nb 0pen 6w 7 Total (19.3 overs) 141-6 Fall of Wickets : 1-8 Whiteman, 2-25 Klinger, 3-28 Cartwright, 4-28 Turner, 5-105 Bancroft, 6-124 Agar Did Not Bat : Richardson, Kelly, Johnson Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Michael Neser 3.3 0 35 1 10.00 2w Billy Stanlake 4 0 23 1 5.75 3w Rashid Khan 4 0 20 3 5.00 Wes Agar 3 0 26 0 8.67 1w Ben Laughlin 4 0 27 1 6.75 Colin Ingram 1 0 9 0 9.00 Umpire Greg Davidson Umpire Simon Lightbody Video Claire Polosak Match Referee David Talalla" + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 5:13 AM / Updated 9 minutes ago UK Stocks-Factors to watch on Jan 3 Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Jan 3 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening up 2 points at 7,649.6 on Wednesday, according to financial bookmakers. * ICAG: A group representing airline passengers has taken legal action to shift insolvency proceedings for budget airline Niki to Austria from Germany, in a move that could endanger the sale of the Air Berlin unit to Britain's IAG. * RYANAIR: Ryanair recently applied for a British air operating licence in a move it said on Tuesday may be required to keep its small domestic UK service operating in the event of a hard Brexit. * UBS/FCA: A former junior UBS trader, who is challenging a plan by Britain's regulator to ban him from financial services over Libor-related conduct, is alleging in a London court this week that his actions were sanctioned and mandated by managers. * The UK blue chip index ended the session 0.5 percent lower at 7,648.10 points on Tuesday, slightly underperforming European peers, with dollar-earning exporters hit hardest as sterling rose. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets * UK CORPORATE DIARY: Next Plc Christmas Trading Update TODAY'S UK PAPERS > Financial Times > Other business headlines Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for: * 3000 Xtra : visit topnews.session.rservices.com * For Top News : topnews.reuters.com (Reporting by Rahul B in Bengaluru)" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 12:07 PM / Updated 28 minutes ago MOVES-Investcorp hires head for new credit funds unit in Europe Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 9 (Reuters) - Alternative investments and asset manager Investcorp named Phil Yeates managing director for its newly created European credit funds unit, under its larger credit management business. Yeates will be based in London and report to Jeremy Ghose, head of Investcorp Credit Management. (Reporting by Ahmed Farhatha in Bengaluru)" + }, + { + "text": "Samsung is being sued in France for misleading advertising related to alleged workers' rights violations. The lawsuit was filed by two non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Sherpa and ActionAid France, in a Paris court on Thursday. It names Samsung Global, the electronics giant's worldwide parent company, and local subsidiary Samsung Electronics France. Sherpa and ActionAid France claim to have gathered evidence from a number of sources, including the NGO China Labor Watch, which they say infiltrated Samsung factories in China and South Korea to reveal human rights violations. Some of the alleged violations include exploitation of children under 16 and excessive working hours, as well as the use of certain chemicals that have led to incurable diseases for some employees. Samsung is not accused of human rights violations, however, but of misleading advertising because published on its website are ethical commitments that guarantee workers' rights. \"Everything we do is guided by a moral compass that ensures fairness, respect for all stakeholders and complete transparency,\" Samsung says on its website. The NGOs argue that Samsung is engaging in misleading advertising by allegedly violating human rights, even though it claims otherwise online. \"The gap between these ethical commitments and the reality in factories as described by the NGOs is unacceptable and should be sanctioned,\" Sherpa and ActionAid France said in a press release Thursday. Samsung has not commented on the allegations and has yet to reply to a request for comment by CNBC. It's not the first time that Samsung's supply chain has been placed under scrutiny. In 2014, it promised to pay compensation to employees who got cancer while working at its semiconductor plants across South Korea, after a nine-year legal battle." + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 12:53 PM / in an hour UPDATE 1-Steinhoff's Conforama unit secures 115 mln euros financing Reuters Staff * Financing deal struck with Tikehau Capital * Conforama is part of South African group Steinhoff * Steinhoff under pressure after accounting woes (Adds details) By Dominique Vidalon PARIS, Jan 24 (Reuters) - French furniture chain Conforama, which is a unit of troubled South African group Steinhoff , said it had reached agreement with Tikehau Capital for a financing line of 115 million euros ($141.9 million) over three years. The deal comes two weeks after Conforama had agreed to sell a 17 percent stake in online fashion retailer Showroomprive.com to French supermarket retailer Carrefour for 79 million euros. “The Conforama group now has almost 200 million euros of additional liquidity, ensuring its long-term financial independence and stability,” Conforama chief executive Alexandre Nodale said in a statement. “This will allow the group to continue to carry out its multi-channel development projects in France and in each of the countries where it operates,” he added. Steinhoff, owner of more than 40 retail brands including Poundland in Britain, is trying to plug a liquidity gap after admitting “accounting irregularities” last month, which triggered an 85 percent share price slide for the group. Earlier this month, Steinhoff secured a 60 million euros lifeline for its European operations. Conforama has 14,000 employees and 315 stores. The bulk of its stores are in France while it is also present in Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, Luxembourg, Italy, Croatia and Serbia. $1 = 0.8106 euros Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta" + }, + { + "text": "CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- EnPro Industries, Inc. (NYSE: NPO) intends to release financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017 on Tuesday, February 13, 2018, after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The company will hold a conference call to discuss the results at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, February 14. Steve Macadam, president and chief executive officer, and Milt Childress, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will review the company’s performance on the call. The call can be accessed by dialing 1-800-851-4704 approximately 10 minutes before it is scheduled to begin and providing the access code number 53479824. The company’s financial results and a webcast of the conference call and an accompanying slide presentation will also be available on the company’s website, . EnPro Industries, Inc. is a leader in sealing products, metal polymer and filament wound bearings, components and service for reciprocating compressors, diesel and dual-fuel engines and other engineered products for use in critical applications by industries worldwide. For more information about EnPro, visit the company’s website at . View source version on businesswire.com : EnPro Industries, Inc. Chris O’Neal, 704-731-1527 Senior Vice President – Strategy, Corporate Development and Investor Relations [REDACTED] Source: EnPro Industries, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 6:20 PM / Updated 20 minutes ago Ethiopian protesters killed for singing anti-government songs: U.N. Reuters Staff 2 Min Read GENEVA (Reuters) - Ethiopian security forces opened fire on protesters who were singing anti-government songs, U.N. human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said on Tuesday. Authorities said on Monday that at least seven people died in clashes between security forces and worshippers taking part in a religious ceremony marking Epiphany in Amhara region in northern Ethiopia at the weekend, but they had yet to determine the cause of the violence. Shamdasani told a U.N. briefing in Geneva that the U.N. human rights office was extremely concerned by the deaths. “The incident, in Woldiya City in Amhara Regional State on 20 January, reportedly took place when the security forces tried to stop people from chanting anti-government songs and allegedly opened fire on them. Protesters reportedly later blocked roads and destroyed a number of properties.” Ethiopian government spokesman Negeri Lencho, reacting to Shamdasani’s statement, told journalists on Tuesday that demands by the public should be “raised peacefully.” Security forces should exercise restraint and avoid actions that could lead to death and injury, he said. Shamdasani did not specify the source of the information but said the U.N.’s regional office in Addis Ababa had collected information from several sources, including local media, trusted civil society sources and official statements. The incident was all the more regrettable as it came just two weeks after Ethiopia’s ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, announced its intention of undertaking reforms, she added. “We understand that the President of Amhara Regional State, who confirmed that there had been deaths and injuries, said there would be what he termed a ‘careful examination’ of the incident.” She said it should be prompt, independent, impartial and effective and ensure anybody responsible for violating human rights was held accountable. Reporting by Tom Miles,; Additional reporting by Aaron Masho in Addis Ababa,; Editing by Richard Balmforth" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 12:02 AM / in 7 hours Hurry up, German conservative urges Social Democrats on coalition Andrea Shalal 4 Min Read BERLIN (Reuters) - A leading member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives has urged Social Democrats (SPD) to finish coalition talks within two to three weeks, warning that Germans were losing trust in democracy after months without a new government. Volker Kauder, who leads conservatives in parliament, rejected calls by Martin Schulz, the embattled leader of the center-left SPD, for revisiting key issues already agreed in a coalition blueprint. Schulz met with Merkel and the leader of the Bavarian CSU conservatives, Horst Seehofer, on Monday evening for what party sources called “constructive” discussions about the way forward on building a new government. The political blocs are due to meet separately on Tuesday before formal coalition negotiations, which could start later this week. Failure to reach agreement on a coalition could result in a minority government or new elections. “We should finish the coalition negotiations in two to three weeks,” Kauder told the Funke Mediengruppe newspaper chain in an interview published on Tuesday. “The citizens are tired of waiting. Every day that passes without a new government does not exactly increase trust in the parties and democracy.” A weary Schulz, whose leadership was in play on Sunday, told reporters on Monday that he aimed to build a government that “improved the lives of the people in this country, but also meets Germany’s international commitments, especially with regard to the (European Union) and the unity of Europe.” Earlier, he said negotiators “will talk about all the topics we addressed in the exploratory talks again”. Conservatives reject a wholesale re-look at the blueprint, arguing that it would delay and complicate the negotiations. “We shouldn’t even talk about improvements. The blueprint is the basis for a coalition,” Kauder told the Funke group. Only 56 percent of SPD delegates at party congress on Sunday voted to launch formal coalition on the basis of that blueprint. German Chancellor Angela Merkel gives a statement at the CDU headquarters in Berlin, Germany, January 21, 2017, after Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) voted to begin formal coalition talks with Chancellor Merkel's conservatives. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt The narrow victory margin - and continued opposition by the party’s youth wing - puts pressure on Schulz to secure further concessions from conservatives on immigration and healthcare, something that conservatives have rejected thus far. The SPD had wanted to go into opposition instead of redoing the tie-up that ruled Germany the past four years after gaining just 20.5 percent of the vote in September national elections, the worst result for Germany’s oldest party since 1933. DROPPING SUPPORT FOR SPD A new RTL poll conducted on Monday showed the party’s support had dropped a point to 17 percent, just four points ahead of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The stakes are high because Schulz has promised that the SPD’s 443,000 members will be allowed to vote on a final deal. For Merkel, a rerun of the conservative-SPD Grand Coalition that has governed Europe’s economic powerhouse since 2013, is her best shot at securing a fourth term as chancellor. She said she looked forward to intensive talks on forming a stable government and her priorities were preserving Germany’s economic strength and ensuring social justice and security. Investors and partner countries are worried that policymaking in Germany and Europe may become hamstrung by a political deadlock that is about to enter its fifth month. Wolfgang Tiefensee, designated leader of the SPD in the eastern state of Thuringia, on Tuesday urged Schulz to stick to his vow to refrain from seeking a ministerial post in a new government. “An 180-degree pivot on this issue would shatter the credibility of Martin Schulz,” Tiefensee, a former federal transportation minister, told Die Welt newspaper. Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg/Jeremy Gaunt" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May will pledge on Thursday to eliminate avoidable plastic waste within 25 years, in an attempt to shift the focus away from her government’s divisions over Brexit to a more wide-ranging domestic agenda. After months of headlines dominated by Brexit, scandal and an ill-judged election, May will try to show that she has a grip on domestic issues to help counter the rising popularity of the opposition Labour Party. In a speech on the environment, May will announce plans to close the exemption that means retailers with fewer than 250 employees do not have to charge customers 5 pence for a single-use plastic bag. Avoidable plastic waste is a term used by industry to describe products including plastic bags, straws, coffee stirrers, soda and water bottles and most food packaging. May will also urge supermarkets to introduce plastic-free aisles where all the food is loose and announce a consultation on changes to the tax system to help reduce the use of other single-use plastic items. “This truly is one of the great environmental scourges of our time,” May will say, according to excerpts of a speech released by her office. “In years to come, I think people will be shocked at how today we allow so much plastic to be produced needlessly.” May will say over 1 million birds and over 100,000 other sea mammals and turtles die every year from eating and getting tangled in plastic waste, while one in three fish caught in the English Channel contains pieces of plastic. In 2015, Britain introduced a charge of 5 pence on all single-use plastic bags provided by large shops, which led to an 83 percent reduction in UK plastic bags used in the first year. Earlier this week, a ban on plastic microbeads used in cosmetics and personal care products came into force across Britain. Worries about overuse of 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups each year have also been raised by campaigners, and the environmental audit committee last week called for a 25 pence “latte levy” to be charged on top of the price of a hot drink. Environment Secretary Michael Gove showed he was ready to practise what he preached, by turning up for a cabinet meeting clutching a reusable coffee mug earlier this week. Reporting By Andrew MacAskill; editing by Stephen Addison Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 12:52 PM / Updated 4 hours ago Lobsters must be comfortably numb before cooking: Swiss government ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland has banned the common culinary practice of throwing fresh lobsters into boiling water as part of an overhaul of its animal protection rules. “Live crustaceans, including the lobster, may no longer be transported on ice or in ice water. Aquatic species must always be kept in their natural environment. Crustaceans must now be stunned before killing them,” say the rules adopted by the government on Wednesday that will take effect in March. The regulations also aim to crack down on illegal puppy farms, outlaw automatic devices that punish dogs for barking, spell out conditions for putting down sick or injured animals, and make organizers responsible for animal welfare at public events. The Swiss are not alone in trying to protect lobsters from what activists call cruel treatment in the kitchen. Neighboring Italy’s highest court ruled in June that lobsters must not be kept on ice in restaurants because it causes them unjustifiable suffering before they head for death by fine dining. Reporting by Michael Shields; Editing by Hugh Lawson" + }, + { + "text": "January 13, 2018 / 11:13 AM / Updated 8 hours ago Egypt GDP growth for fiscal 2017-18 revised up to 5.3-5.5 pct -minister Reuters Staff 1 Min Read CAIRO, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Egypt has revised its GDP forecast for the 2017-18 fiscal year beginning in July up to 5.3-5.5 percent, from 4.8 percent previously, Planning Minister Hala al-Saeed said on Saturday. Saeed said the economy is expected to have grown 5.2-5.3 percent during the second quarter of the current fiscal year, which ended in December. The economy is expected to grow by 6 percent in the next fiscal year, she added. Egypt’s economy has struggled since a 2011 uprising drove tourists and foreign investors away, two main sources of hard currency, but the government hopes that IMF-backed reforms it has embarked on over the past year will put it back on track. (Reporting by Ehab Farouk; Writing by Eric Knecht; Editing by Clelia Oziel)" + }, + { + "text": "ANKARA, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Turkey’s armed forces are striking targets in Syria by land and air, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday, hours after the military launched an operation in Syria’s Afrin region. Cavusoglu said the military was targeting terrorists only. He said Turkey had informed the actors involved in Syria about the developments in the Afrin region, adding that Ankara expected its allies to not side with terrorist organisations. In a phone interview with broadcaster NTV, Cavusoglu also said Turkey had also sent a written statement to the Syrian government. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by David Dolan)" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Jefferies has hired Dai Clement and Lorna Shearin from Royal Bank of Canada to develop its investment banking business in power, utilities and infrastructure, two banking sources said on Tuesday. Dai Clement will become global head of power, utilities and infrastructure investment banking at Jefferies, while Lorna Shearin will be the European head from April. Both will be based in London, the sources told Reuters. Clement is European head of utilities at RBC, while Shearin heads the bank’s infrastructure team in Europe. Jefferies, a unit of Leucadia National Corp, has been on a recent hiring spree, adding 11 managing directors over the past year. Jefferies declined to comment and RBC was not immediately available for comment. Clement and Shearin did not respond to requests for comment on their moves. (Reporting by Clara Denina and Ron Bousso; editing by Alexander Smith)" + }, + { + "text": "Some lucky invitees were given tickets to President Donald Trump's \"State of the Uniom\" speech on Tuesday. The Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeepers is responsible for issuing the State of the Union tickets for spouses and guests of members of Congress to attend the speech--but it appears that some featured a glaring typo. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) tweeted a photo of the misspelling on Monday, getting in a dig at Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in the process. Just received my ticket for the State of the Union. Looks like @BetsyDeVosEd was in charge of spell checking... #SOTUniom pic.twitter.com/ZgFTGtTkzv — Raul M. Grijalva (@RepRaulGrijalva) January 29, 2018 While the issue was quickly addressed and tickets reprinted, this is far from the first spelling-related gaffe from the Trump White House. Not long after Trump was sworn into office in January last year, the White House misspelled British Prime Minister Theresa May's name--three times. The misspelled version of her name, Teresa (with no h) May, happens to belong to a model and porn actress. The original version of Trump's inauguration poster also featured a typo. The message overlaid on his photo read \"No dream is too big, no challenge is to great,\" with the second \"o\" missing from the second \"too.\" Then there was the time the White House issued a statement before Trump's trip to Israel, saying that he hoped the visit would \"promote the possibility of lasting peach.\" And who could forget when the White House Snapchat account referred to Betsy DeVos as the \"Secretary of Educatuon\"? Of course, Trump himself has had his own share of typos (\"covfefe,\" anyone?), but responsibility for the \"State of the Uniom\" error falls much farther down the chain of command." + }, + { + "text": "ZURICH (Reuters) - UBS’s investment banking business in the United States is doing well but lags its boss’s ambitions, he said on Friday. “In our case, we continue to grow -- not as fast as I would have liked, but certainly profitably,” group head of investment banking Andrea Orcel told Bloomberg TV in an interview from the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos. “So it’s a question we’re facing in the way we rebuild, in the way we gradually take share, and do that while we are exceeding our cost of equity there. And if you took that metric we’re very happy with the progress we’re making.” Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi, Editing by Michael Shields" + }, + { + "text": "January 20, 2018 / 6:48 AM / in 7 hours Athletics: Coleman stock continues to rise with record indoor dash Gene Cherry 3 Min Read (Reuters) - Double world silver medallist Christian Coleman was keen to keep his name in the spotlight after a breakthrough campaign and the American sprinter ensured that was the case with an astonishing dash on Friday. The 21-year-old continued his meteoric rise to the upper echelons of global sprinting when he shattered a two-decade old 60 metres world record with a blazing time of 6.37 seconds at Clemson, South Carolina. “Great start to my career,” tweeted Coleman, in his first full year as a professional athlete. The time, if ratified by global governing body IAAF, shaves 0.02 seconds off the mark countryman Maurice Greene initially established in 1998 and then matched in 2001. “I‘m in disbelief,” Coleman’s coach Tim Hall told Reuters. “This was his season opener. It was totally unexpected.” The two had chosen the small meeting at Clemson University to see where the talented sprinter stood in terms of upcoming competitions, including next month’s Boston Indoor Grand Prix and March’s world indoor championships in Birmingham, England. “So we got through the prelims and felt pretty good since he backed off a little before the finish and still ran 6.47,” Hall said. The time was the fastest in the world this year and 0.02 seconds slower than Coleman’s personal best. ”So we talked a little bit more before the final,“ Hall said. ”And like I always tell him, I said: ‘Relax, no pressing and allow the run to happen.’ “That was the result.” Coleman’s tag as America’s next sprint hope was established last year when he clocked a world-best 9.82 seconds in the 100m at the U.S. collegiate championships before he edged the legendary Usain Bolt for silver at the world championships. He went on to claim a second silver medal in London as the American quartet were edged out by hosts Great Britain in the 4x100m relay. “We have been having some great practice sessions,” Hall said. “And he has been improving his strength development, so I guess it is all coming together.” Ironically, after the race, Hall said Coleman told him the start had not felt right, which pleased the coach. “Anytime I hear that from an athlete that means they are getting close to doing what we are trying to get accomplished,” Hall said. “It might not have felt right to him, but it couldn’t have been wrong if he ran that fast.” So how fast can the former Tennessee sprinter run? “We will get back to Knoxville and look at the tape and see the technical things we can improve on to get even faster,” Hall added. “Today was a pretty good starting point.” Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadians spent an estimated C$5.7 billion ($4.63 billion) on cannabis in 2017, Statistics Canada said on Thursday, with the country on track to legalize recreational use of the drug nationwide later this year. About 4.9 million Canadians between the ages of 15 to 64 purchased both medical and non-medical cannabis last year, the statistics agency said. Medical marijuana is already legal in the country. The average cannabis user spent about C$1,200 spent on the drug last year, mostly on non-medical marijuana, the report said. Recreational use of cannabis is currently illegal nationwide. Canadians’ spending on cannabis was well below 2016 levels for alcohol at C$22.3 billion and tobacco at C$16 billion. The report, which looked at cannabis consumption going back to 1961, was based on surveys and other data sources. Statistics Canada cautioned that the numbers were provisional and subject to potentially large revisions due to assumptions made and as data on illegal cannabis production is sparse. The report is part of Statistics Canada’s efforts to measure the economic and social impacts of legalized cannabis. The agency said in November that it would begin incorporating marijuana consumption and spending estimates into economic growth figures in November 2019. The price of non-medical cannabis has declined by an average of 1.7 percent a year since 1990 and stood at around C$7.50 a gram last year, probably due to increased supplies, the report said. Nearly all cannabis consumed in Canada came from within the country, accounting for C$5.4 billion in 2017. The size of the country’s cannabis-producing industry was C$3 billion last year, down from C$3.4 billion in 2014, due to declining prices. That put it on par with the beer industry, which was C$2.9 billion in 2014. Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn" + }, + { + "text": "Intel shares fell again Thursday morning amid revelations surrounding widespread security exploits that could affect almost every type of electronic device. Although the vulnerabilities, called Meltdown and Spectre, affected leading processors in many devices, Intel is bearing most of the fallout after rival AMD distanced itself from the bulk of the issues. Intel shares were down nearly 5 percent, around $43 apiece, after posting a 3 percent decline on Wednesday. Intel CEO Brian Krzanich told CNBC on Wednesday evening that his company had been working with researchers at Google for a couple of months on fixing a security exploit. The company said the exploit, which was first leaked to industry bloggers at The Register , has likely never been used by any bad actors. The vulnerabilities could theoretically allow a hacker to steal information stored in the memory of chips themselves : One, dubbed Meltdown, is known to affect Intel chips, while another, Spectre, could affect chips from many vendors, including Intel as well as AMD and Arm. Microsoft, Amazon and Google all said they are rolling out fixes for the issues. Additionally, Intel's CEO sold shares during the period that the exploit was being addressed, according to a Dec. 1 SEC filing, although some of those stock sales were planned in advance, as part of an Oct. 30 agreement. According to those filings, Krzanich owned 250,000 shares at the end of the transaction, the minimum level required by Intel's proxy statement . Some on Wall Street think that Intel's loss could mean gains for rivals: AMD and Nvidia could use it as a \" marketing edge, \" according to Mizuho Securities analyst Vijay Rakesh." + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House praised China’s moves to reduce its trade with North Korea on Friday, saying it will help the U.S.-led effort to apply maximum pressure on Pyongyang over its nuclear program. “The Donald J. Trump Administration is pleased that China is sharply reducing its trade with North Korea,” the White House press secretary said in a statement. “This action supports the United States-led global effort to apply maximum pressure until the North Korean regime ends its illicit programs, changes its behavior, and moves toward denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.” Reporting by Doina Chiacu" + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 2:24 PM / Updated 12 minutes ago Everton's Barkley a good prospect for Chelsea, says Conte Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - England international Ross Barkley would be a good addition to the Chelsea squad, manager Antonio Conte said on Friday after media reports the Everton midfielder had undergone a medical. FILE PHOTO - Britain Football Soccer - Everton v Watford - Premier League - Goodison Park - 12/5/17 Everton's Ross Barkley applauds fans after the match Reuters / Andrew Yates Livepic “We are talking about an English player and a young player - he is a good prospect for Chelsea. Good opportunity for the club to buy this player...” Conte said at his weekly news conference. Barkley, 24, has yet to feature for Everton this season as he recovers from a long-term hamstring injury, having turned down a move to the English champions in the close season, according to the Merseyside club’s chairman Farhad Moshiri. “He’s very young. I think he has a lot of space for improvement... He’s strong physically and had good technique,” added Conte. “It’s important to understand about when he can recover from his injury. This player has not played for seven months. If this player signs for the club we must have patience and help him recover quickly.” Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru; editing by Ken Ferris" + }, + { + "text": "KYOTO, Japan, Jan. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nidec Corporation (TSE:6594) (OTC US:NJDCY) today announced its consolidated financial results under the International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) for the period of April 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017. The highlights are as follows: Record-high nine months net sales, operating profit, profit before income taxes and profit attributable to owners of the parent Record-high three months net sales, operating profit, profit before income taxes and profit attributable to owners of the parent EPS: 320.06 yen (basic and diluted) Selected Consolidated Results of Operations (Unaudited) Yen in millions, except for per share amounts and percentages Nine months ended December 31, Increase (Decrease) % Three months ended December 31, Increase (Decrease) % [REDACTED] Net sales 1,105,921 868,228 27.4 % 390,031 304,198 28.2 % Operating profit 127,127 106,173 19.7 % 44,678 37,188 20.1 % Ratio of operating profit to net sales 11.5 % 12.2 % - 11.5 % 12.2 % - Profit before income taxes 119,723 107,747 11.1 % 43,256 41,473 4.3 % Ratio of profit before income taxes to net sales 10.8 % 12.4 % - 11.1 % 13.6 % - Profit attributable to owners of the parent 94,763 81,617 16.1 % 34,776 31,523 10.3 % Ratio of profit attributable to owners of the parent to net sales 8.6 % 9.4 % - 8.9 % 10.4 % - Earnings per share attributable to owners of the parent -Basic 320.06 275.18 - 117.46 106.28 - Earnings per share attributable to owners of the parent -Diluted 320.06 275.18 - 117.46 106.28 - Full copy of Nidec’s financial statements for the third quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2017: A conference call webcast (audio-only, user-control slides attached) discussing Nidec’s financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2017 is scheduled for 09:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday, January 24, 2018. To listen to the webcast, please visit Nidec website at: About Nidec Corporation Nidec Corporation (TSE:6594) (OTC US:NJDCY) is a global leader in electric motor drive technology. For the nine months ended December 31, 2017, 34.5% of its consolidated sales were represented by appliance, commercial and industrial products; 31.2% by small precision motors; 19.6% by automotive products; 9.6% by machinery; 4.9% by electronic and optical components, and 0.3% by the remaining product lines. Nidec was founded in Kyoto, Japan in 1973 by Shigenobu Nagamori, its current President and CEO. Contact: Masahiro Nagayasu General Manager Investor Relations [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Source:Nidec Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 4:56 PM / Updated 25 minutes ago Grammy Awards TV audience falls sharply to 17.6 million viewers Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LOS ANGELES, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. television audience for Sunday’s Grammy Awards show on CBS Corp. television fell sharply to 17.6 million, early Nielsen ratings data seen by Variety showed on Monday. That was a more than 30 percent drop from 2017 when some 26.1 million television viewers tuned in for the live television broadcast in the biggest audience in two years, Variety reported. Sunday’s 60th anniversary Grammy Awards, staged in New York over three and a half hours, saw R&B singer Bruno Mars win six statuettes, while rapper Kendrick Lamar won five. Jay-Z, who had \\gone into the show with eight nominations, won nothing. Final, official audience data for the show will be released later on Monday. Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Andrew Hay" + }, + { + "text": "Breakingviews TV: Prime health 5:26pm GMT - 04:15 Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan are setting out to shake up the U.S. healthcare market. Robert Cyran and Richard Beales explore why, and ask whether the three big employers can succeed where others haven’t. Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan are setting out to shake up the U.S. healthcare market. Robert Cyran and Richard Beales explore why, and ask whether the three big employers can succeed where others haven’t. //reut.rs/2DOKzre" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 4:57 PM / Updated 28 minutes ago UPDATE 3-World Rankings Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Jan 15 (Opta) - The World Rankings on Dec 31 Rnk Prv Total 1. (1) Dustin Hunter Johnson (US) 468.41 2. (2) Jordan Spieth (US) 441.98 3. (3) Justin Thomas (US) 434.75 4. (4) Jon Rahm (Spain) 322.17 5. (5) Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) 388.06 6. (6) Justin Rose (England) 352.71 7. (7) Rickie Fowler (US) 326.16 8. (8) Brooks Koepka (US) 297.44 9. (9) Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 259.66 10. (11) Sergio Garcia (Spain) 249.25 11. (10) Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) 225.54 12. (13) Marc Leishman (Australia) 266.05 13. (12) Jason Day (Australia) 211.81 14. (14) Paul Casey (England) 229.79 15. (15) Matt Kuchar (US) 246.39 16. (16) Tyrrell Hatton (England) 231.54 17. (17) Tommy Fleetwood (England) 236.73 18. (18) Alexander Noren (Sweden) 207.05 19. (19) Pat Perez (US) 170.82 20. (20) Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spain) 206.12 21. (21) Francesco Molinari (Italy) 192.24 22. (23) Charley Hoffman (US) 196.79 23. (22) Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) 164.90 24. (24) Patrick Reed (US) 192.10 25. (25) Xander Schauffele (US) 179.49" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 4:40 AM / Updated 8 minutes ago Iranian oil tanker burns for third day as winds, high waves lash rescuers Reuters Staff 4 Min Read BEIJING (Reuters) - Lashing winds, high waves and toxic gases are hindering dozens of rescue boats struggling to locate missing sailors from a stricken oil tanker in the East China Sea and to extinguish a fire that has burned for the past three days on the ship. Smoke is seen from Panama-registered Sanchi tanker carrying Iranian oil that caught ablaze after it collided with a Chinese freight ship in the East China Sea, in this January 9, 2018 handout picture released by China's Ministry of Transport. China's Ministry of Transport/Handout via REUTERS The poor conditions, with strong winds, rain and waves as high as 3 metres (10 feet), frustrated efforts to tame the fire and search for the 31 remaining tanker crew members, the Ministry of Transport said in a statement on Tuesday. The flames were forcing the South Korean Coast Guard’s search and rescue team to stay as far as 3 miles (4.8 km) away from the tanker, two South Korean officials told Reuters. The body of a crew member was found on Monday in the water near the tanker, China’s transport ministry said. It had been handed over to the civil affairs bureau. Concerns were growing that the tanker may explode and sink while a flotilla of 13 search and rescue vessels comb a 900-square-nautical-mile (3,100 sq km) area around the ship for the crew. The tanker hit a freight ship on Saturday night in the East China Sea, burst into flames and has been spilling oil. The tanker Sanchi (IMO:9356608), run by Iran’s top oil shipping operator, National Iranian Tanker Co, collided with the CF Crystal (IMO:9497050), carrying grain from the United States, about 160 nautical miles (300 km) off China’s coast near Shanghai and the mouth of the Yangtze River Delta. The Sanchi was carrying 136,000 tonnes of condensate, an ultra-light crude oil that becomes highly volatile when exposed to air and water, to South Korea. The size of the oil spill from the ship and the extent of the environmental harm were not known, but the disaster has the potential to be the worst since 1991 when 260,000 tonnes of oil leaked off the Angolan coast. Smoke is seen from Panama-registered Sanchi tanker carrying Iranian oil that caught ablaze after it collided with a Chinese freight ship in the East China Sea, in this January 9, 2018 handout picture released by China's Ministry of Transport. China's Ministry of Transport/Handout via REUTERS “We can’t grasp the level of oil contamination at this moment. The cargo is still on fire, so it is hard to figure out if oil is being spilled,” Park Sung-dong, an official from South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, told Reuters. Chinese state media CCTV showed footage on Monday of boats dousing the flames with water as plumes of thick dark smoke continued to billow from the tanker. The crew of the Sanchi are all Iranian nationals except for two Bangladeshi citizens. The CF Crystal suffered limited damage and the 21 crew members, all Chinese nationals, were rescued. The freighter has been taken to a port near Shanghai where investigators will start work on assessing the cause of the disaster. China’s transport ministry warned that toxic gas from the tanker was harmful to the rescue workers and that protective clothing and gas testing equipment was being dispatched to the emergency teams. When condensate meets water, it evaporates quickly and can cause a large-scale explosion as it reacts with air and turns into a flammable gas, the ministry said on Monday. Trying to contain a spill of condensate, which is extremely low in density, highly toxic and much more explosive than normal crude oil, may be difficult. (For a graphic on ship collision off China's coast click tmsnrt.rs/2CBgqai ) Reporting by Josephine Mason and Beijing News Monitoring in BEIJING; Jane Chung and Yuna Park in SEOUL; Editing by Christian Schmollinger" + }, + { + "text": "NASHVILLE, Jan 8 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump was expected on Monday to sign an executive order to make it easier for the private sector to locate broadband infrastructure on federal land and buildings, part of a push to expand high-speed internet in rural America. Faster internet speeds in rural areas have long been seen as key to addressing the economic divide between rural and urban America, but the costs have so far been prohibitive. About 39 percent of rural Americans lack access to high- speed internet service, the Federal Communications Commission said in a 2016 report. “We need to get rural America more connected. We need it for our tractors, we need it for our schools, we need it for our home-based businesses,” a White House official told reporters ahead of Trump’s speech at the annual convention of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “We’re not moving mountains but we’re certainly getting started,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to preview Trump’s actions. The White House described the moves as an incremental step to help spur private development while the administration figures out what it can do to help with funding, something that could become part of Trump’s plan to invest in infrastructure. “We know that funding is really the key thing to actually changing rural broadband,” a second White House official said. (Reporting by Jeff Mason in Nashville and Roberta Rampton in Washington; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)" + }, + { + "text": "We've marked up our GDP forecast to 2.5 - 2.75% in 2018: Fed's Robert Kaplan 7:22 AM ET Fri, 12 Jan 2018 In an exclusive CNBC interview, Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan provides his outlook the economy, including inflation targets, tax reform, rate hikes, and the challenge to find skilled worker jobs." + }, + { + "text": "On the 50th anniversary of Houston’s seminal win over UCLA in the Astrodome, the current Cougars gave a new generation of fans an upset to remember. Rob Gray scored a game-high 24 points as Houston earned revenge on No. 7 Wichita State with a 73-59 American Athletic Conference victory at Texas Southern’s H&PE Center in Houston. In the teams’ first meeting earlier this month, the Shockers (15-4, 5-2) rolled up 53 first-half points en route to a comfortable win in Wichita. This time, the Cougars (15-4, 5-2) held them to 26 in the opening 20 minutes and never let them closer than six points in the second half. Gray led the charge, going 10 of 21 from the field and punctuating the result with an emphatic transition dunk with 3:48 left that gave Houston a 67-51 advantage. Corey Davis added 17 and Devin Davis chipped in 12 points as the Cougars improved to 9-0 in their temporary home. Their on-campus arena is undergoing a $60 million renovation and will re-open next season. Shaquille Morris tallied 12 points for Wichita State, which lost consecutive conference games for the first time since the 2012-13 season, when it played in the Missouri Valley Conference. The result also ended the Shockers’ 11-game road winning streak, which was tied for the longest in Division I. Houston set an immediate tone. After Morris started the scoring with a free throw 26 seconds into the game, the Cougars promptly rattled off eight straight points. Wichita State was in chase mode from that point on and simply never had the firepower to overtake an inspired opponent. A free throw by Nura Zanna gave Houston its first double-figure lead at 17-7 with 9:36 left in the half. The teams went back-and-forth for the half’s remainder, and the Cougars owned a 35-26 margin at intermission. The Shockers trailed by 14 points early in the second half, but ripped off eight unanswered points to close within 42-36 at the 15:56 mark on Rashard Kelly’s dunk. But Houston quickly upped the lead to 14 and never really looked back. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 9:08 PM / in 7 minutes MOVES- Stifel Financial, Barclays, Julius Baer Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Jan 17 (Reuters) - The following financial services industry appointments were announced on Wednesday. To inform us of other job changes, email [REDACTED]. BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ The unit of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc has appointed Diana Coronel-Singson as head of global corporate banking for its Manila branch, Reuters IFR reported. BARCLAYS PLC The British bank has expanded the responsibilities of Kathryn McLeland to running treasury and investor relations as part of an internal reorganisation, according to people familiar with the matter, Reuters IFR reported. JULIUS BAER The Swiss private banking group said it appointed Calum Brewster as head of U.K. regional offices, based in Edinburgh. ARROW GLOBAL GROUP PLC The debt purchaser and manager said it hired Dave Sutherland for the newly created role of chief operating officer. MUFG UNION BANK NA The unit of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group appointed Ann Hamilton as a fiduciary management executive, and Peter Bogardus as a private wealth adviser. STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP The financial services company said financial advisers Tom Hankins and Jay Lauzon have joined its broker-dealer unit, Stifel, Nicolaus & Co Inc’s private client group in Flint, Michigan. (Compiled by Arunima Banerjee in Bengaluru)" + }, + { + "text": "BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian Kurdish officials will likely not attend a Syrian peace congress planned by Russia which has been rendered meaningless by “Russian collusion” with Turkey in its attack in the Afrin region, a Syrian Kurdish politician said on Monday. Russia plans to host the congress in Sochi on Jan. 29-30. Officials in the Kurdish-led administration that governs swathes of northern Syria had previously said they had been invited to the Sochi meeting, and would attend. But Aldar Khalil, co-leader of a Movement for a Democratic Society, told Reuters the likelihood that Kurdish officials would not go to Sochi was now greater than the likelihood of them attending the meeting. “Naturally in light of the Turkish attack on our areas and the Russian collusion with them (Turkey), and the Russian support for them, Sochi no longer has any meaning in order to participate in it,” he added. He was referring to a Turkish offensive in the Kurdish-run Afrin region of northwestern Syria, launched with the stated aim of crushing the YPG militia which controls the area. The YPG, an ally of the United States in its campaign against Islamic State, has accused Russia of giving Turkey a greenlight for the attack by withdrawing its own forces from Afrin in recent days. Khalil, seen as one of the most influential Syrian Kurdish politicians, said that while Kurdish officials had been invited earlier in the preparations for Sochi, they had subsequently received no formal invitations or details about the meeting. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Turkey had an agreement with Russia regarding its military campaign against the YPG in Afrin and that Ankara would not take a step back from the operation. The Kremlin said that Russian officials are in contact with the Turkish leadership over the Afrin military operation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment when asked if Moscow had known in advance about the operation. He said Russia continued to believe in the fundamental importance of Syria’s territorial integrity. The main Syrian Kurdish groups have been left out of U.N.-led peace talks on Syria, in line with the wishes of Turkey which views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has fought a three-decade-long insurgency in Turkey and is listed as a terrorist group by the United States, the European Union and Turkey. Editing by Janet Lawrence and William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16 (Reuters) - Savills Plc: * SAYS THAT JEREMY HELSBY WILL RETIRE AS GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE AT END OF 2018 * SAYS JEREMY WILL BE SUCCEEDED BY MARK RIDLEY, CURRENTLY CEO OF SAVILLS UK AND EUROPE, EFFECTIVE 1 JANUARY 2019 * SAYS MARK WILL JOIN BOARD OF SAVILLS PLC AS DEPUTY GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE ON 1 MAY 2018 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: ([REDACTED])" + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT, Jan 12 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank reported the following daily data on liquidity provision, in millions of euros. TODAY PREV Use of overnight loan facility 154 176 Use of overnight deposit facility 703,429 702,610 For additional details click here For details of previous ECB overnight lending operations, see: here For data on ECB market operations please click For Reuters calculation of money market liquidity level please click . To see graph, right-click and select 'graph' option. (Reporting by Frankfurt newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "ADP January payrolls up 234,000 1 Hour Ago CNBC's Steve Liesman, and Mark Zandi, Moody's Analytics chief economist, break down the latest data on the jobs front, and discuss whether the Federal Reserve is likely to hike rates at least four times in 2018. The Fed has got to get going here, says Zandi." + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 11:52 PM / Updated 14 hours ago First session of fifth Ashes test washed out Reuters Staff 1 Min Read SYDNEY (Reuters) - Light rain washed out the opening session of the fifth Ashes test between Australia and England at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday. Lunch was taken early and, weather permitting, the toss will now take place at 12:10 p.m. (0110 GMT) with play starting half an hour later. The weather forecast predicts clearing skies and sunshine for the rest of the day. Australia have secured the Ashes after taking a 3-0 lead in the five-match series. The fourth test in Melbourne was drawn. Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, Editing by Ed Osmond/John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "0 COMMENTS Good morning. While most of the conversation at the CES tech trade show in Vegas this week is likely to be dominated by gripes about the abysmal wet weather, there’s plenty of marketing programming between the puddles. Away from the official schedule, Twitter CMO Leslie Berland is hosting an all-female panel Wednesday dubbed #HereWeAre. “There’s been a lot of discussion about the lack of women keynotes at CES. Well guess what? We’ve got six!,” Ms. Berland tweeted earlier this week. Check out this article from Forbes for more about how marketers have been wielding their influence to promote more diversity at the event. Number of the Day As a public company, Snap releases lots of numbers each quarter. But here’s “the data Snapchat doesn’t want you to see,” courtesy of the Daily Beast’s Taylor Lorenz, who got her hands on “five months of DAU [daily active user] metrics for nearly every feature in the app.” Content in the Discover section, for instance, is reportedly consumed by an average of 20% of Snapchat’s 178 million DAUs each day. Is that a good number? It’s hard to tell without an apples-to-apples comparison with another platform. But on the surface, that doesn’t seem terrible, considering it’s a daily, global number that appears to be ticking upward. A more-concerning stat relates to Snap Stories: The number of users posting Stories each day has shown barely any growth, according to the report, which could be troublesome from an ad load perspective. The leaked figures also suggest usage of Snap Maps, the new feature released in June that some observers think could grow into a powerful location-based ads tool , is on the wane. Those stats might explain why Snapchat’s new redesign brings the Maps and Stories to more-prominent sections within the app. —Bonus— Be sure to peruse the 37 charts at the bottom of the Daily Beast article for data on daily usage and views for Snap’s sponsored Geofilters and Lenses. Hit Subscribe CMO Today’s Suzanne Vranica reports : Fresh off its wins at the Golden Globes, Hulu disclosed Tuesday that it has more than 17 million U.S. subscribers for its on-demand and live TV packages, more than a 40% increase since the spring of 2016. The streaming service also said it had $1 billion in ad revenue for 2017, the first time it hit that mark. The milestone caps a banner year in which Hulu won its first Emmy for best drama with “The Handmaid’s Tale” and launched a new live TV service. Industry observers are watching Hulu’s performance closely, as it may play a key role in Disney’s attempt to challenge Netflix as traditional pay TV comes under pressure. If Disney closes its $52.4 billion deal to buy a significant portion of 21st Century Fox’s assets, Disney will become the majority owner of Hulu with a 60% stake. Taking on Netflix won’t be a small task. As of September, the streaming company had 51 million paid subscribers in the U.S. Groupthink If you’re a casual Facebook user, you might sometimes be surprised by the number of notifications that greet you on your return. Often, those notifications come from the Groups you are a member of as Facebook, fresh from overhauling its mission from making the world more open and connected to bringing the world closer together, has placed more emphasis on communities. Publishers, known for leaning into Facebook’s whims faster than you can say “algorithm tweak,” are quickly following suit and working to develop their own Groups , Digiday reports. While the monetization options aren’t as obvious within Groups as they are elsewhere on Facebook, this area of the platform offers publishers an opportunity to link to articles on their own sites and have conversations with their audience about the biggest stories of the day. And it makes sense at a time when Facebook is actively pushing users toward Groups via their notifications and more than 1 billion people are using Groups each month. Until Facebook moves on to the next thing. I Can Pee Clearly Now Sorry for bringing down the tone of this reputable newsletter, but when you gotta go, you gotta go. Adweek’s most-read story this morning is about a magazine ad designed for you to pee on . No, we haven’t suddenly time-traveled to April 1—it’s the latest ad from the creative and often-wacky marketers at IKEA and the furniture retailer’s Swedish agency, Åkestam Holst. The ad, which will run in Swedish women’s magazine Amelia, contains a pregnancy test strip. If a pregnant woman decides to pee on the marked area, it’ll reveal a discount for the advertised baby crib. Long live print advertising! Although my heart goes out to the poor cashiers that have to convert the pee-soaked magazines into crib discounts." + }, + { + "text": "Best of the rest Facebook reportedly is working on a video chat device currently named “Portal” that it plans to unveil at its annual developer conference in May and begin shipping in the second half of the year. [ Cheddar ] You’re going to be hearing a lot more about blockchain in 2018, so here’s a handy glossary of all the blockchain-related terms marketers need to brush up on. [ Martech Today ] YouTube says it is looking into “further consequences” for Logan Paul, the vlogger who posted a video from Japan’s so-called suicide forest that appeared to show a suicide victim. “We know that the actions of one creator can affect the entire community, so we’ll have more to share soon on steps we’re taking to ensure a video like this is never circulated again,” YouTube said in a tweeted statement. [ CNN ] Sue Kroll is stepping down as the president of worldwide marketing and distribution at Warner Bros. to become a producer. Amid a wider reorganization designed to bring film and home entertainment marketing closer together, Toby Emmerich has been named chairman of the Warner Bros. Pictures Group and will have full oversight of world-wide theatrical production, marketing and distribution. [ Hollywood Reporter ] Steve Bannon has resigned from his post as executive chairman of Breitbart News. Sirius XM also ended its relationship with Mr. Bannon. [ New York Times ] Fox Sports is partnering with Twitter to stream a live show and with Snapchat to showcase match-day highlights of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Fox Sports owner 21st Century Fox and The Wall Street Journal parent News Corp share common ownership. [ Reuters ] NBC and State Farm have formed an ad partnership that will see the insurer run commercials designed by the network that will make use of the flashback and flash-forward format from “This Is Us.” Members of the drama’s cast will provide voice-overs for the ads. [ Variety ] About Us Follow us on Twitter: @wsjCMO , @larakiara , @VranicaWSJ , @alexbruell , @BenMullin , @srabil , @asharma Subscribe to our morning newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox, at . Write to Lara O’Reilly at [REDACTED]" + }, + { + "text": "ALMATY (Reuters) - A bus fire in northwestern Kazakhstan killed 52 Uzbek citizens on a route used by migrant workers heading to Russia, the Kazakh Interior Ministry said on Thursday. The bus was travelling along a road in the remote Aktobe region that links the Russian city of Samara to Shymkent, a city in southern Kazakhstan close to the Uzbek border. The bus was travelling from southern Kazakhstan to Russia’s Kazan, Kazakh officials said. The route is widely used to transport Uzbek workers to and from Russia where they often take work on building sites. Only five people managed to escape the burning vehicle, the interior ministry’s emergencies department said in a statement. A view shows a burnt-out bus in which people travelling on a route used by migrant workers heading to Russia died in a fire, in the Aktobe region, Kazakhstan January 18, 2018. The Committee for Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan/Handout via REUTERS The ministry said the apparent accident had happened at 10.30 a.m. (0430 GMT), but provided no details about its cause. It said senior government officials would investigate the matter. A photograph posted online from the site showed the bus completely burnt out. Video footage also posted on the Web showed it positioned diagonally across a two-lane freeway in the middle of a snow-covered steppe, in flames and emitting heavy black smoke. People put a bandage on a man's hand at the scene of an incident involving a bus burning on a route used by migrant workers heading to Russia, in the Aktobe region, Kazakhstan January 18, 2018. The Committee for Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan/Handout via REUTERS Uzbekistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement its embassy staff were en route to the area, roughly midway between the Russian border and the Aral Sea. Separately, Uzbekistan’s Emergencies Ministry said it was sending a plane with its own team of doctors and rescuers to the site. Last October, another Kazakh-operated bus carrying over 50 Uzbeks was hit by a train in Russia after getting stuck on the tracks; 17 people died in that accident. Reporting by Mariya Gordeyeva; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Toby Chopra" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 12:16 AM / Updated 8 hours ago Shell agrees on five-year solar energy deal in Britain Reuters Staff 1 Shell Energy Europe and British Solar Renewables (BSR) have agreed on a five-year supply deal for power generated from Britain’s second-largest solar power plant in Bradenstoke, BSR said in a statement. The plant consists of 269,000 panels and has a 69.8 megawatt peak capacity. On an annual basis, it generates approximately 65 gigawatt-hours of solar energy, saving over 21,000 tonnes of CO2 a year, BSR said. Shell Energy Europe, an energy marketing and trading division of Royal Dutch Shell, is present in 14 European power markets, which includes the offtake of renewable power from wind farms and solar parks in Britain and Europe. Shell will be taking all the power from the solar plant, Graham Harding, BSR chief financial officer, told Reuters. No details were provided on the cost of the deal. Reporting by Ron Bousso; Editing by Edmund Blair" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - The euro briefly extended gains and German benchmark bond yields hit the day’s high after European Central Bank rate-setter Ardo Hansson said the central bank could end its bond purchase scheme in one go after September if the economy and inflation develop as expected. Minutes of the ECB’s December meeting published on Thursday suggested growing appetite for revising the bank’s communication stance, fueling expectations the central bank may withdraw its record policy stimulus sooner than expected. The yield on Germany’s 10-year bond hit the day’s high at 0.526 percent after Hansson’s comments. The euro extended gains after his comments to rise 0.64 percent on the day before easing slightly to stand at $1.2270 against the dollar. (Reporting by the London Markets Team; Editing by Tommy Wilkes)" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 5:54 PM / in 42 minutes Tennis: Russian teen Rybakina stuns Garcia to reach St Petersburg quarters Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Russian qualifier Elena Rybakina saved a match point on her way to a stunning 4-6 7-6(6) 7-6(5) victory over third seed Caroline Garcia in the second round at the St Petersburg Ladies’ Trophy on Wednesday. Rybakina, returning from a hand injury and ranked 450th in the world, defeated Timea Bacsinszky in the first round and followed up with a sublime performance to reach her first WTA quarter-finals. The 18-year-old came back from a break down twice in the second set to force a tiebreak before pulling off a dramatic comeback to take world number seven Garcia to the decider. She led by a mini-break in the third-set tiebreak and needed to dig deep to win the final two points, wrapping up her first victory against a top-10 player in two hours and 27 minutes. Rybakina, making her 2018 debut in St Petersburg, will face the winner of the match between fifth seed Julia Goerges and Italian Roberta Vinci in the quarter-finals. French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko overcame former world number two Vera Zvonareva of Russia 7-6(6) 6-3 to book a spot in the quarter-finals. The world number six withstood a strong start from Zvonareva before edging the opening set after trailing 5-3 and held off a late surge by the 33-year-old to claim the victory in an hour and 39 minutes. “It wasn’t an easy match today... she played really well,” the 20-year-old Ostapenko said. “In the first set I was down a break with her serving for the set, but I‘m really glad I came back. I fought for every point.” Twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova kick-started her campaign with a 6-2 6-0 opening-round victory over seventh- seeded Russian Elena Vesnina. Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "Skyrocketing New York rents are down to the rise of the home-sharing service Airbnb, a new study has claimed. The report, released Tuesday, analyzed Airbnb activity between September 2014 and August of 2017 and was published by McGill University, but commissioned by the Hotel Trades Council. The study found Airbnb had removed between 7,000 and 13,500 units of housing stock from New York City's long-term rental market. It calculated that by reducing supply, Airbnb activity had in fact increased median long-term rent in the city by 1.4 percent over three years \"resulting in a $380 rent increase for the median New York tenant looking for an apartment this year.\" The study further claimed that in Manhattan the increase is more than $700. Airbnb has questioned the methodology, noting that the report uses \"available for rent\" instead of actual booked nights in determining that listings have been removed from the long-term market. Airbnb has argued that many people don't update their listing availability. Under New York State's Multiple Dwelling Law, short-term rentals of fewer than 30 days are illegal in buildings with three or more units, unless the owner is present. Private room rentals would also be unlawful if the owner wasn't there. The report estimated that given those laws, at least two-thirds of Airbnb revenue in New York is likely generated from illegal listings. In response to that charge, Josh Meltzer, head of northeast policy at Airbnb said in a statement Tuesday that the home-sharing service actually supports a change in the law. \"Although inconvenient for this author's anti-home sharing bias, Airbnb supports legislation that would restrict home sharing to one single home,\" he said. \"This would finally allow enforcement to focus on illegal hotel operators while protecting regular New Yorkers who are trying to make some extra money to live in a city that gets more expensive by the year,\" he added. The study also refreshed an earlier study which looked at listings in 72 predominately black neighborhoods across New York and found that three-quarters of the Airbnb hosts in those areas were white. The latest study suggested that Airbnb \"continues to have a strongly racialized impact\" as the loss of housing, which it blamed on the company, was six times more likely to affect black New Yorkers." + }, + { + "text": "January 14, 2018 / 2:55 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Golf: Perfect Paisley claims maiden European Tour victory at SA Open Reuters Staff 2 Min Read JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - England’s Chris Paisley produced six birdies in a faultless final round of 66 to claim a maiden European Tour victory by winning the South African Open at the Glendower Golf Club outside Johannesburg on Sunday. Paisley, 31, finished with a tournament total of 21 under-par, three shots ahead of home favourite Branden Grace (68), the world number 30 and highest ranked player in the field. It was another round of consistent golf from Paisley, whose wife Keri acted as his caddie this week with his regular bagman on holiday. He only dropped three shots over the four days and improves on his previous best European Tour finish of third at the 2015 BMW International Open. “I just can’t believe it to be honest,” Paisley said at the trophy presentation. “I just played great, I played out of my skin. I didn’t think I was capable of playing that well to be honest.” Paisley had special praise for his wife, the first time she has carried his bags. ”I can’t say enough about how good a job she did all week. It is her first time as a caddie and she didn’t put a foot wrong. I can’t thank her enough.” Starting one shot behind Paisley overnight, Grace had briefly hit the front after he started his round birdie-eagle. Yet a double-bogey on the sixth for Grace restored the lead for the Englishman, who held on to his advantage with birdies at regular intervals. South African JC Ritchie (65) finished third after a colourful final round that included two eagles, six birdies and three bogeys to leave him at 16 under par. His previous best finish on the European Tour was tied for 23rd at the Tshwane Open in 2016. Tournament host Ernie Els (69) finished at eight under-par, tied for 31st position. The tournament is the second oldest Open championship in the world having first been formally played in 1903. Reporting By Nick Said; Editing by Toby Davis" + }, + { + "text": "SANTA ANA, Calif., Jan. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kush Bottles, Inc. (OTCQB: KSHB), a leading provider of packaging, supplies , vaporizers , accessories and branding solutions for the regulated cannabis industry, announced today that it has changed the date of its previously announced first fiscal quarter of 2018 earnings press release and results conference call. The Company will now issue its first quarter 2018 results press release on January 16, 2018 before U.S. markets open. The company will also host a conference call on the same day, Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. Participant Dial-In Numbers: Toll-Free: 1-800-281-7973 Toll / International: 1-323-794-2093 *Participants should request the Kush Bottles Earnings Call or provide confirmation code 8151586 Investors are also invited to listen via webcast on the Kush Bottles investor section of the Company website at . Please visit the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to register, download, and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the call will be available on the Kush Bottles investor website approximately two hours after the conference call has ended. Nick Kovacevich, Chief Executive Officer of Kush Bottles, and Jim McCormick, Chief Financial Officer, will be answering shareholder questions at the end of the call. Should you have questions during or prior to the conference call please send an email to [REDACTED] with \"KUSH Question\" in the subject line. Mr. Kovacevich and Mr. McCormick will answer as many questions as time will allow. To be added to the distribution list please email [REDACTED] with \"Kush\" in the subject line. About Kush Bottles, Inc. Kush Bottles, Inc. is a dynamic sales platform that provides unique products and services for both businesses and consumers in the cannabis industry. Founded in 2010 as a packaging and supplies company for dispensaries and growers, Kush Bottles has sold more than 100 million units and now regularly services more than 4,000 legally operated medical and adult-use dispensaries, growers, and producers across North America, South America, and Europe. The company has facilities in the three largest U.S. cannabis markets and a local sales presence in every major U.S. cannabis market. Kush Bottles aims to be the gold standard for responsible and compliant products and services in the cannabis industry. Kush Bottles has no direct involvement with the cannabis plant or any products that contain THC. The company has been featured in media nationwide, including CNBC , Los Angeles Times , TheStreet.com , Entrepreneur , and business magazine Inc. For more information, visit www.kushbottles.com or call (888)-920-5874. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may include predictions, estimates or other information that might be considered forward-looking within the meaning of applicable securities laws. While these forward-looking statements represent our current judgments, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect our opinions only as of the date of this release. Please keep in mind that we are not obligating ourselves to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events. When used herein, words such as: \"potential,\" \"look forward,\" \"believe,\" \"dedicated,\" \"building,\" or variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements made by us herein are often discussed in filings we make with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), available at: www.sec.gov , and on our website, at: www.kushbottles.com . Investor Contact: Elizabeth Barker / Phil Carlson KCSA Strategic Communications 212-896-1203 / 212-896-1233 [REDACTED] PR Contact: Anne Donohoe KCSA Strategic Communications 212-896-1265 [REDACTED] View original content: SOURCE Kush Bottles, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Seoul credits Trump for sparking North Korea talks 01:58 South Korean President Moon Jae-in credits U.S. President Donald Trump for helping to spark the first inter-Korean talks in more than two years, and warns that Pyongyang would face stronger sanctions if provocations continued. South Korean President Moon Jae-in credits U.S. President Donald Trump for helping to spark the first inter-Korean talks in more than two years, and warns that Pyongyang would face stronger sanctions if provocations continued. //reut.rs/2CXFaxr" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19 (Reuters) - Bluedon Information Security Technologies Co Ltd: * SAYS IT EXPECTS 2017 NET PROFIT TO RISE 10-40 PERCENT Y/Y VERSUS NET PROFIT OF 322.9 MILLION YUAN ($50.47 million) YEAR AGO Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2EWY8B3 Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3976 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 7:02 PM / Updated 2 hours ago EasyJet-Air, Air France have offer for Alitalia - Industry Minister Reuters Staff 1 Min Read ROME (Reuters) - Budget airline EasyJet ( EZJ.L ) and Air France-KLM ( AIRF.PA ) have presented an offer for Italy’s struggling national airline Alitalia, Italian Industry Minister Carlo Calenda said on Friday. An Alitalia Airbus A320-216 aircraft is seen at Zurich Airport January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann The joint EasyJet-Air France offer is one of three, Calenda said, and he will meet the commissioners who have received the bids and are running Alitalia on Monday to discuss the details. An Air France spokeswoman declined to comment. “I’ll ask them (the commissioners) to give me the details not only about the offers, but about what kind of offers they are,” Calenda said during the taping of a talk show for La7 TV channel. “Afterwards there will be a brief period to understand which of these offers is the best or which can be improved.” U.S. private equity fund Cerberus and Germany’s Lufthansa ( LHAG.DE ) have also made offers, he said. Reporting by Massimiliano Di Giorgio, additional reporting by Cyril Altmeyer, writing by Steve Scherer, editing by Valentina Za" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16 (Reuters) - Hailun Piano Co Ltd * Says art education investment unit will buy 38.9 percent stake in Ningbo-based culture development firm for 26.4 million yuan and raise stake to 49 percent from 10.1 percent after transaction Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/cVVvG3 Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May believes she has the right government team to tackle the challenges Britain faces, her spokesman said on Tuesday, dismissing criticism that a reshuffle of her top team was shambolic. “I think what the reshuffle is about, is getting in place the right team to tackle the challenges the country faces. Whether that be on housing, on improving school standards, on the NHS (health service), she believes that she’s got the right team in place to do that,” her spokesman told reporters. Reporting by Elizabeth Piper. Editing by Andrew MacAskill" + }, + { + "text": "A dispute over the alleged theft of wind-turbine technology is slated to go to trial in Wisconsin on Monday in a test case for intellectual-property battles between the U.S. and China. Federal prosecutors accuse Chinese wind-turbine maker Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd. of stealing the source code for software that controls wind turbines from American Superconductor Corp., a Massachusetts-based engineering company that once counted Sinovel as its biggest customer. ... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Materials and Metals CIA believes North Korea weapons aimed at coercion, not just defense: Pompeo Pyongyang's next logical step would be to develop an arsenal of weapons and the capability to fire multiple missiles, Mike Pompeo said. Pompeo said a key risk of allowing North Korea to develop its nuclear and missile program is proliferation to other countries. Pompeo added that U.S. President Donald Trump's focus is on a diplomatic solution to the crisis, but the CIA is working to provide him with other options. Published 4 Hours Ago Getty Images CIA Director Mike Pompeo. The CIA believes North Korea's missile program is aimed at coercion, not just self-defense, and that Pyongyang's next logical step would be to develop an arsenal of weapons and the capability to fire multiple missiles, the agency's director Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday. Speaking at the American Enterprise Institute, Pompeo said a key risk of allowing North Korea to develop its nuclear and missile program is proliferation to other countries. Pompeo added that U.S. President Donald Trump 's focus is on a diplomatic solution to the crisis, but the CIA is working to provide him with a range of other options." + }, + { + "text": "NVIDIA’s new game is the self-driving car 7:23am EST - 01:33 Robots and self-driving cars are the darlings of technology conferences, but under the hood, a powerful processor by NVIDIA is putting on the real show. Robots and self-driving cars are the darlings of technology conferences, but under the hood, a powerful processor by NVIDIA is putting on the real show. //www.reuters.com/video/2018/01/08/nvidias-new-game-is-the-self-driving-car?videoId=381056973&videoChannel=6" + }, + { + "text": "Freshman guard Brad Davison scored 18 points and junior forward Ethan Happ contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds as Wisconsin rolled to a 75-50 victory over Illinois on Friday in Big Ten play in Madison, Wis. Sophomore guard Brevin Pritzl also had 16 points for the Badgers (10-10, 3-4), who halted a three-game slide. Junior guard Khalil Iverson added 13 on 6-of-8 shooting and the Badgers shot 53.1 percent from the field while beating the Fighting Illini for the 12th straight time and 19th in the past 23 meetings. Junior forward Leron Black scored 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting for Illinois (10-10, 0-7), which dropped its fifth straight contest. Freshman guard Trent Frazier added 11 points for the Illini, who suffered their ninth straight conference loss dating back to last season. Illinois shot 40.4 percent from the field, including 1 of 14 from 3-point range, while falling to 0-6 on the road. The Illini were just 3-of-7 from the free-throw line. Wisconsin blocked 10 shots with freshman big man Nate Reuvers posting a season-best five rejections. The Badgers were 7-of-19 shooting from 3-point range and made 16 of 21 free throws, with Davison sinking all 10 of his attempts. Happ’s double-double was his eighth of the season and 28th of his career. Pritzl scored 13 first-half points and the Badgers shot 66.7 percent from the field to take a 43-32 halftime lead. The Illini trailed 22-18 after Black’s jumper with 9:02 left in the half before Wisconsin rattled off seven straight to open up an 11-point lead. A short time later, Pritzl drained a 3-pointer and followed up with a three-point play as the Badgers held a 37-22 advantage with 4:17 remaining. Wisconsin led 42-26 after Iverson’s layup with 2:30 to play before Illinois closed the half with a 6-1 run to cut its deficit to 11. Happ scored back-to-back inside hoops to give the Badgers a 53-36 advantage with 15:43 left. The lead reached 20 for the first time when Davison knocked down a 3-pointer with 11:33 remaining -- the start of a 9-0 surge that pushed the margin to 68-42 with 8:53 to play. The Illini trailed by more than 20 the rest of the way. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "Louisville erased a double-digit halftime deficit to upset No. 23 Florida State 73-69 on Wednesday night and snap the Seminoles’ 28-game home winning streak at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Fla. The Cardinals (12-4, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) looked as if they were going to be blown out in this one, but they erased a 13-point halftime deficit and tied it at 55-55 with 8:44 left in the game. Louisville then took a 64-62 lead -- its first of the night -- with 4:46 remaining on a 3-pointer by guard Ryan McMahon. The Cardinals extended the lead to 68-63 two possessions later with 2:34 to go, and then the game was delayed roughly 10 minutes due to an issue with the net on Florida State’s goal. When the teams got back on the floor, Florida State tried to rally with two consecutive 3-pointers from guard Braian Angola and even held the ball down 71-69 with 16 seconds left with a chance to win. However, guard Terance Mann’s drive to the bucket was blocked by Louisville center Anas Mahmoud. Replays showed Mann was clearly fouled on the play by Mahmoud, but the Seminoles (12-4, 1-3) didn’t get the call. McMahon then iced the game with 1.5 seconds left with two free throws. The Cardinals outscored Florida State 41-24 in the second half en route to snapping the nation’s third-longest home win streak. The last time Florida State lost on its home floor was Feb. 17, 2016, when Georgia Tech earned a 86-80 victory. Louisville was led by forward Deng Adel with 16 points and six rebounds, and the Cardinals also got 15 points and six boards from forward Ray Spalding. They were the only two Louisville players to reach double figures. Mahmoud finished with eight points, six boards and four blocks. Florida State was paced Wednesday by Mann, who dropped a game-high 25 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Angola added 18 points and five rebounds, and Seminoles forward Phil Cofer notched 10 rebounds in the loss. Louisville next plays Saturday when it hosts Virginia Tech. Florida State, meanwhile, has now lost two straight games and will look to get back on track when its hosts Syracuse on Saturday. --Field Level Media Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - TransCanada Corp CEO Russ Girling said on Thursday that he does not see a route change for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline through Nebraska as a major issue, and that the Canadian company was advancing the project by acquiring land. Girling, speaking at a CIBC investor conference in Whistler, British Columbia, said the route change would likely add $100 million to $200 million in cost. Girling did not specify the currency. (Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba; editing by Grant McCool)" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 2:09 AM / Updated 6 hours ago Russia says Su-27 fighter jet intercepted U.S. spy plane; U.S. protests Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian Su-27 fighter jet intercepted a U.S. surveillance plane over the Black Sea on Monday, prompting the U.S. State Department to protest the maneuver as “an unsafe interaction.” The encounter, first reported by Russia’s RIA news agency, cited the defence ministry as saying the U.S. Navy aircraft, an ЕР-3E Aries II plane, did not violate Russian air space. In a statement, the State Department said the Russian jet “engaged in an unsafe interaction with a U.S. EP-3 in international airspace, closing to within 5 feet (1.5 meters) and crossing directly in front of the EP-3’s flight path.” “This is but the latest example of Russian military activities disregarding international norms and agreements,” the statement said, calling on Russia “to cease these unsafe actions.” “After the surveillance plane of the U.S. Navy had changed its course to move away from the border, the Su-27 returned to its base,” RIA quoted the Russian defence ministry as saying. Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Additional reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Richard Balmforth and Sandra Maler" + }, + { + "text": "7-Eleven targeted in immigration operation Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - 01:22 U.S. immigration agents fanned out to nearly 100 7-Eleven convenience stores nationwide on Wednesday, arresting 21 people suspected of being in the country illegally and giving owners a tight deadline to prove other employees are authorized to work. U.S. immigration agents fanned out to nearly 100 7-Eleven convenience stores nationwide on Wednesday, arresting 21 people suspected of being in the country illegally and giving owners a tight deadline to prove other employees are authorized to work. //reut.rs/2ANA8Ok" + }, + { + "text": "22 Hours Ago | 04:24 Want to feel healthier, happier and more productive? Put down your phones, turn off the television and get some shut eye. In a media-saturated world where most people are always plugged in, that advice may seem easier said than done. There's little doubt that, for those reasons, people are losing out on sleep: Experts recommend at least seven hours per night for adults aged 18 to 60 years old. Studies show that sleeping less than 7 hours increases the risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, stroke, depression and heart disease to name a few. Yet, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 35 percent of adults are not getting enough sleep . It's something that Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington knows all too well. Ten years ago, the media mogul says she collapsed due to exhaustion, and broke her cheek bone in the process. Huffington referred to it as her \"wake up call\" and knew she needed to make changes in her life. Huffington felt so strongly about the issue that she launched a new company called Thrive Global that focuses on reducing stress and improving wellness. \"I wanted to create a company that could both work with corporations to change their culture and help them see the connection between well-being and business metrics, and also have a media platform where we could have all the latest science and new role models,\" Huffington told CNBC's \"On the Money\" in an interview. For example, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos recently wrote a piece for Thrive on why he sleeps 8 hours per night. \"People did not expect a major executive to actually be getting the sleep he needed to make the best decisions,\" Huffington explained. If you're one of the estimated 83 million Americans that isn't getting the proper res t, Huffington recommended tips to help you achieve better sleep, including: Keep your phone out of your bedroom at night; Take a minute in the morning to remember what you're grateful for, and; Set your intention for the day before looking at your phone \"If you think about it, your phone is everybody else's agenda for you,\" said Huffington. \"Ending your day without your phone and starting your day without your phone are keys.\" \"... If somebody is taking care of themselves it means they are not going to burn out\" -Arianna Huffington, Thrive founder Thrive Global even sells a phone bed charging station , so that when you go to bed, so do your devices. In addition to products like the phone bed, Thrive offers what may seem like a counterintuitive solution, a mobile app that's currently available to Android users, with an iOS version in the works. Jodi Luchs The idea behind the app is to help users set up boundaries when it comes to using their phone. Turning on \"Thrive Mode\" blocks calls, texts, and allows users to set up an auto reply. So what would happen if Huffington emails an employee about work and gets a \"Thrive mode\" reply message? \"I actually love that,\" Huffington told CNBC. \"We all have to learn to work in teams. And if somebody is taking care of themselves it means they are not going to burn out. And we know that burnt out employees are over 30 percent more likely to change jobs.\" When it comes to social media, Huffington says we're at a major inflection point. \"It's about ten years since the smartphone has become so ubiquitous and such a big part of our lives, so now we're establishing the rules of the road,\" she said. Yet Huffington added that the responsibility to regulate social media usage isn't just on individuals, but companies as well. \"Companies are beginning to realize the backlash - and to take steps to basically produce products that are not so addictive,\" Huffington explained. \"Otherwise they are going to be regulated.\" PhotoAlto/Frederic Cirou/Getty Images On the Money airs on CNBC Saturdays at 5:30 am ET, or check listings for air times in local markets." + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 8:28 PM / Updated 16 minutes ago Exclusive: Trump considers big 'fine' over China intellectual property theft Jeff Mason 3 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States was considering a big “fine” as part of a probe into China’s alleged theft of intellectual property, the clearest indication yet that his administration will take retaliatory trade action against China. In an interview with Reuters, Trump and his economic adviser Gary Cohn said China had forced U.S. companies to transfer their intellectual property to China as a cost of doing business there. The United States has started a trade investigation into the issue, and Cohn said the United States Trade Representative would be making recommendations about it soon. “We have a very big intellectual property potential fine going, which is going to come out soon,” Trump said in the interview. While Trump did not specify what he meant by a “fine” against China, the 1974 trade law that authorized an investigation into China’s alleged theft of U.S. intellectual property allows him to impose retaliatory tariffs on Chinese goods or other trade sanctions until China changes its policies. Trump said the damages could be high, without elaborating on how the numbers were reached or how the costs would be imposed. “We’re talking about big damages. We’re talking about numbers that you haven’t even thought about,” Trump said. U.S. businesses say they lose hundreds of billions of dollars in technology and millions of jobs to Chinese firms which have stolen ideas and software or forced them to turn over intellectual property as part of the price of doing business in China. The president said he wanted the United States to have a good relationship with China, but Beijing needed to treat the United States fairly. Trump said he would be announcing some kind of action against China over trade and said he would discuss the issue during his State of the Union address on Jan. 30. Asked about the potential for a trade war depending on potential U.S. action over steel, aluminum and solar panels, Trump said he hoped a trade war would not ensue. “I don’t think so, I hope not. But if there is, there is,” he said. The president also said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had not discussed China’s plans with regard to purchases of U.S. Treasury bonds. Bloomberg reported earlier this month that Chinese officials reviewing the country’s foreign exchange holdings had recommended slowing or halting purchases of U.S. Treasury bonds. Trump said he was not concerned such a move would hurt the U.S. economy. “We never talked about it. They have to do what they do,” he said. Reporting by Jeff Mason, Steve Holland, Roberta Rampton, Ayesha Rascoe and James Oliphant; Editing by Alistair Bell" + }, + { + "text": "SOFIA, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Bulgaria will challenge euro zone states to make public any objections to it joining the single currency by applying to join the ERM-2 by mid-year if they fail to give it a green light before then, Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov said on Thursday “We are ready to file a formal application even if we are not convinced that the reply will be yes,” Goranov told foreign correspondents in Sofia. “This is not a threat. This is just our willingness to integrate further into the union’s structures ... A NO will also show us what to do in order to get there,” he said. (Reporting by Alastair Macdonald; Editing by Alison Williams) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 11:42 AM / Updated 7 hours ago Mobileye deal boosts Israeli high-tech exits to $23 billion in 2017 Reuters Staff 2 Min Read TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israeli high-tech acquisitions and initial public offering activity soared to $23 billion in 2017 from $10 billion in 2016 due to the $15.3 billion purchase of Mobileye by Intel Corp, data published on Wednesday showed. The acquisition of Neuroderm by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma for $1.1 billion also boosted the volume of exits - including M&A, IPOs and buyouts - last year, according to the Israel Venture Capital Research Center and the Meitar law firm. The total number of exits decreased by 7 percent to 112 deals in 2017 yet the number of exits over $100 million rose. “Alongside a 60 percent increase in the number of exits of large amounts, we also see an increase in large capital raisings,” Meitar partner Alon Sahar said. “This figure supports the thesis that both entrepreneurs and investors are trying to establish bigger companies.” There were 13 IPOs that raised a total of $440 million in 2017, compared with none the previous year. Only ForeScout Technologies raised money on Nasdaq, with the rest on alternative markets. Reporting by Tova Cohen, Editing by Ari Rabinovitch" + }, + { + "text": "Before LeBron James exploded onto the basketball scene, he and his single mom were struggling to make ends meet. Raised on welfare in Akron, Ohio, they moved from one apartment to the next every few months and fed themselves with food stamps. While he didn't have much as a kid, he learned how to manage the little money he did have, thanks to early money lessons from his uncles. \"My uncles always taught me — they taught me how to have a savings account,\" James told Maverick Cater on a new episode of \" Kneading Dough .\" \"They'd give me a dollar and they'd be like, 'Listen nephew, go spend 35 cents of it and keep the other 65.' Or, if they gave me two dollars, they'd be like, 'Go ahead and spend a dollar of it, but stash the other dollar.' \"So I'm always in my head about stashing and keeping my money sacred and to myself because I didn't know when my uncle was going to give me another dollar here and another 50 cents here.\" David Liam Kyle | NBAE | Getty Images LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers It was an early lesson in the important of paying yourself first , no matter your income. Whether you have $1 like James did as a kid, or $86 million , like the NBA star has now, put at least a small portion into a savings or investment account. The key to doing so is to make it automatic : Have a percentage of your income automatically taken out of your paycheck and sent straight to your savings. That way you'll never even see the money and learn to live without it. And when your earnings increase, don't boost your spending — instead, up your savings rate. Today, despite having earned millions over his NBA career, James still plays it safe with his money . He turns off data roaming on his phone to avoid the extra charges, refuses to buy mobile apps and uses the free version of Pandora with commercials. That's not to say he never treats himself. James splurges on something that matters to him: his car collection. As he told Carter, \"That's the one thing that I love, I love cars.\" Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook ! Don't miss: LeBron James may be the cheapest player in the NBA—but he still has one big money regret Video by Luqman Adeniyi show chapters LeBron James admits to being the cheapest player in the NBA 10:36 AM ET Tue, 17 Oct 2017 | 00:57" + }, + { + "text": "Starbucks to boost pay, benefits 2:36am IST - 01:10 Starbucks will use some of the savings from the new U.S. corporate tax cuts to give domestic employees pay raises, company stock and expanded benefits with a combined worth of more than $250 million. Aleksandra Michalska reports. Starbucks will use some of the savings from the new U.S. corporate tax cuts to give domestic employees pay raises, company stock and expanded benefits with a combined worth of more than $250 million. Aleksandra Michalska reports. //reut.rs/2n8fTGo" + }, + { + "text": "January 20, 2018 / 5:35 PM / Updated an hour ago Fire at a warehouse near India's capital kills 17 people Reuters Staff 1 Min Read NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Seventeen people died after a fire broke out at a warehouse in an industrial area on the outskirts of India’s capital on Sunday, a fire official said. The blaze happened in a building used to store firecrackers, an official in Delhi’s fire service department said, adding that rescue operations were underway. In December a fire swept through a rooftop restaurant in the Indian financial hub of Mumbai, killing at least 14 people, most of them women attending a birthday party. Earlier in December, 12 people sleeping in the loft of a store in Mumbai died in a fire. Reporting by Aditi Shah; Editing by Andrew Bolton" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 9:25 AM / in 12 hours China's war on smog hits fertilizer, pesticide output in December: stats Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s fertilizer and pesticide output fell in December to their lowest on records going back to February 2015, data showed on Monday, as Beijing’s war on smog and efforts to ensure winter heating forced producers to suspend operations. Fertilizer output dropped 7 percent from a year ago to 4.75 million tonnes, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Monday. The volume was also down 9.3 percent from the previous month’s 5.24 million tonnes, the data also showed. The drop came after natural gas shortages this winter forced many gas-based fertilizer plants to shut, tightening supplies and pushing up prices in the world’s top agricultural market amid a deepening winter heating crisis. The closure of the plants prompted China’s state planner to ask local governments and companies to ensure fertilizer output for spring planting. For all of 2017, China produced 60.65 million tonnes of fertilizer, down 2.6 percent from the previous year and the lowest in at least three years, the data showed. China’s pesticide output in December also hit the lowest on government records at 263,000 tonnes, down 5.1 percent year on year, the data showed. The monthly figure was down from 274,000 tonnes in November. This winter, China shut all pesticide plants that use volatile organic compounds during the winter heating season. China produced 2.94 million tonnes of pesticide last year, down 8.7 percent from 2016 and also the lowest in at least three years, according to the data. Beijing has said it is targeting zero growth of chemical fertilizer and pesticide by 2020. Reporting by Hallie Gu and Josephine Mason; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Tom Hogue" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 11:57 AM / Updated 20 minutes ago May defends record on Brexit and other policies after criticism Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Theresa May’s record on Brexit, the environment, housing and education stands for itself, her spokesman said on Monday, defending the prime minister against criticism over her leadership style. The spokesman told reporters the prime minister had secured an agreement with the European Union to move beyond the first phase of talks, and was now moving on to a discussion of the future relationship and an implementation phase, where there were differences over details. “I would say if you look at the Brexit negotiations, there were many people who said it wouldn’t be possible to complete the first phase. The prime minister did that ... we are now moving forward towards agreeing an implementation period and in beginning discussions on what the future partnership will look like,” he said. Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; editing by William James" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15 (Reuters) - VASTNED RETAIL N.V.: * ANNOUNCED ON SUNDAY INTENTION TO MAKE A VOLUNTARY AND CONDITIONAL PUBLIC TAKEOVER BID OF EUR 57.50 PER SHARE IN CASH FOR ALL NOT OWNED SHARES IN VASTNED RETAIL BELGIUM NV * CO DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY HOLDS 65.49% OF SHARES IN VASTNED RETAIL BELGIUM NV * PROPOSES TO CONVERT VASTNED RETAIL BELGIUM FROM A PUBLIC REGULATED REAL ESTATE COMPANY INTO SPECIALISED REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT FUND * IN CASE OF CONVERSION, STOCK LISTING OF VASTNED RETAIL BELGIUM WILL BE CANCELLED Source text for Eikon Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 3:47 PM / 6 days ago Growing obsession: Palestinian stuffs pillows with 67 years of hair Reuters Staff 1 Min Read TUBAS, West Bank (Reuters) - Palestinian mother Ezzeya Daraghmeh opens up a pillowcase and pulls out large clumps of her multi-colored hair that she has kept for nearly seven decades. Ezzeya Daraghmeh, an 82-year-old Palestinian woman who said she has kept parts of her hair she cut over 67 years, stuffs a pillow with her hair in the West Bank town of Tubas January 2, 2018. Picture taken January 2, 2018. REUTERS/Raneen Sawafta “I like my hair and I hate to throw it away. Even when Icomb my hair or wash it I keep the hair that falls off,” the 82-year-old told Reuters at her home in Tubas in the West Bank. Daraghmeh started collecting her hair when she was 15, storing the different shades of black, brown, grey and white colored locks in a mattress before opting to use it to stuff three big pillows in her home. She uses the hair pillows as decoration. “God is great, all this hair came from a single head, myhead,” she said. Reporting by Raneen Sawafta and Nidal al-Mughrabi. Editing by Patrick Johnston and Ralph Boulton" + }, + { + "text": "Breakingviews TV: Drugs at Davos 4:06pm GMT - 10:42 Christophe Weber, Takeda Pharma’s chief executive, talks to Una Galani at Davos about taking the Japanese company global, the opportunity of an ageing demographic, and being an outsider in Japan Inc. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Christophe Weber, Takeda Pharma’s chief executive, talks to Una Galani at Davos about taking the Japanese company global, the opportunity of an ageing demographic, and being an outsider in Japan Inc. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 3:07 PM / Updated 26 minutes ago Pope defends in-flight wedding from conservative headwinds Philip Pullella 2 Min Read ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday defended his decision to marry a couple aboard a plane in Chile last week, responding to criticism by conservatives that it flew in the face of Church rules and set a bad precedent. “Someone told me I was crazy to do something like that,” he joked during a news conference on the plane taking him back to Rome from Lima, were he ended a trip to Chile and Peru. In the first such ceremony on a papal flight, Francis married Paula Podest Ruiz, 39, and Carlos Ciuffardi Elorriga, 41, both cabin attendants on Latam airlines. While the gesture made world headlines and was mostly well-received by Catholics, conservative Catholic commentators and bloggers who regularly criticize the pope on a host of issues blasted the wedding at 36,000 feet. They said it would make it difficult for pastors to deal with Catholic couples who want to get married in unusual secular locations instead of a church. Those couples would say “the pope did it, why can’t you?” one commentator wrote. But the pope said the situation of the Chilean couple was a particular one because they had been already been married in a civil service eight years ago and were not able to marry in their parish church because it collapsed in a 2010 earthquake. “I questioned them (about marriage) and the responses were clear ... it was clear they had made a commitment for life,” the pope said, adding that the couple had even remembered subjects from the Catholic pre-marriage courses they had taken long ago. “Tell the pastors that they were prepared and I made a judgment call. The sacraments are for people. All the conditions were clear,” he said. Reporting By Philip Pullella; Editing by Toby Chopra" + }, + { + "text": "HAVERHILL, Mass., Jan. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Retail Automotive veteran and entrepreneur Louis Rylant of Bedford, NH has been named General Manager of Jaffarian Toyota in Haverhill, MA. Having spent the last 18 years in retail automotive, Rylant gained key experience with two of the largest groups in New England, Ira Motor Group and Prime Motor Group. Rylant sees the opportunity at Jaffarian Toyota as his most exciting yet, \"the store means a lot to the local community and has for a lot of years. I'm really looking forward to working with such a great team and continuing to be a big part of the Merrimack Valley business community.\" His goals include process improvements in the store and expanding an already growing operation including the service and parts department. Rylant says the dealership will be hiring across all departments to support the growth. The store is one of the oldest Toyota stores in New England still under the same family ownership and serves not only the greater Merrimack Valley, including Haverhill, Bradford, Lawerence, Andover and Lowell, but also southern New Hampshire. The timing for this move is well-aligned with Toyota's launch of the completely redesigned 2018 model year Camry. Rylant sees Toyota's revamp of America's best-selling sedan as bucking the trend toward SUVs and crossovers: \"Toyota is an incredible company and what they have done to enhance an already incredible car is proof of that.\" When Louis isn't working long hours at the dealership he spends time with his wife and his twin daughters. Travelling is the family's favorite pastime, and favorite spots include coastal Maine, Hawaii, and Disney World. View original content: SOURCE Louis Rylant" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 9:21 AM / in an hour Shanghai will strengthen property market regulation - mayor Reuters Staff 1 Min Read SHANGHAI, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Shanghai will continue to strengthen its regulation of the city’s property market, Mayor Ying Yong said on Monday, as China moves to curtail real estate speculation. Ying told reporters during a news briefing that housing is meant for people to live in as opposed to speculation, echoing similar remarks made by President Xi Jinping last year. (Reporting by John Ruwitch; Writing by Beijing Monitoring Desk; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)" + }, + { + "text": "SINGAPORE, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Struggling commodities trader Noble Group Ltd is negotiating with creditors to restructure its debt and talks with them have been “constructive”, the company’s chairman said. Speaking at a shareholders meeting in Singapore on Thursday, Paul Brough declined to confirm a media report that Noble had reached an agreement with its creditors to restructure about $3.5 billion in debt, but he said he hoped things were moving in the right direction. Noble plunged into crisis in 2015 when Iceberg Research started questioning its accounts and triggered a share price collapse, credit downgrades and writedowns, as well as fund-raising and management changes. Noble has stood by its accounts. Noble’s market value has fallen to just $268 million from the $6 billion it commanded in February 2015. (Reporting by Aradhana Aravindan; Writing by Anshuman Daga; Editing by Tom Hogue)" + }, + { + "text": "Nathan MacKinnon continues to score and the Colorado Avalanche are now riding a seven-game winning streak thanks to Monday afternoon’s 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Denver. MacKinnon’s tally midway through the second period served as the winner and capped a wild stretch at the Pepsi Center. Avalanche goalie Jonathan Bernier was under siege but made a series of stops - including a fantastic desperation diving save on Ryan Kesler - seconds before MacKinnon used a defender as a screen as he whipped home a shot from the slot for his 20th goal of the season. MacKinnon has scored in three straight games and is riding a seven-game streak in which he’s collected five goals and 14 points. Bernier, who’s won six straight starts and is holding the fort while No. 1 goalie Semyon Varlamov is on the shelf due to a lower-body injury, made 33 saves for the Avalanche. Colorado remains outside of a playoff position but has pulled itself within striking distance with this run. The Avs have missed the Stanley Cup playoffs the last three seasons and six of the last seven years. Also scoring for Colorado were Matt Nieto, in his 300th NHL game, and Colin Wilson, who netted a crucial power-play goal in the final minute of the second period to restore his team’s two-goal edge. Chris Wagner scored the goal for Anaheim, which received a 26-save performance from backup goalie Ryan Miller. J.T. Brown earned an assist in his first game for Anaheim after being claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano served the first of his two-game suspension, ending his streak of 830 games played. It was the longest active run and fourth longest in NHL history, and marked the first game Cogliano has not played since he started his pro career. -- Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian figure skater Ksenia Stolbova and ice dancer Ivan Bukin will not be allowed to take part in next month’s Olympic Games, the Russian Figure Skating Federation said on Tuesday, citing a directive from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). “The unfounded and absurd decision once again demonstrates the IOC’s inability to eschew external influences on its decision-making,” the federation said in a statement. The federation is poised to “immediately start fighting to restore a fair attitude toward Russian figure skaters and defend the honor and dignity of our athletes in all possible ways”. Stolbova and partner Fedor Klimov, who won silver in the pairs and gold in the team event in Sochi, took silver at the European championships in Moscow last week. Stolbova could not immediately be reached for comment. Bukin, who competes in ice dance with partner Alexandra Stepanova, won a European bronze medal this month. Figure Skating - ISU European Championships 2018 - Ice Dance Short Dance - Moscow, Russia - January 19, 2018 - Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin of Russia compete. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor The news came hours after the Russian Olympic Committee announced that short-track speed skater Viktor Ahn, biathlete Anton Shipulin and cross-country skier Sergei Ustyugov were not in the pool of Russian athletes eligible to compete at the Pyeongchang Olympics. Five members of the Russian men’s national hockey team, Anton Belov, Alexei Bereglazov, Mikhail Naumenkov, Valery Nichushkin and Sergei Plotnikov, were also deemed ineligible for Pyeongchang by the IOC, the Russian hockey federation said in a statement later on Tuesday. Belov, a defenceman who played one season with the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL), served a three-month doping suspension in 2012. The Russian hockey federation said it would seek explanations from the IOC about the players’ exclusion. The Olympic body said on Tuesday that the exclusion of certain athletes from the list of eligible Russians did not mean they had doped. “Not being included on the invitation list does not necessarily mean that an athlete has been doped – it should not automatically cast doubt on their integrity,” Valerie Fourneyron, chair of the panel overseeing the invitation process, said in an IOC statement. The IOC banned Russia last month from Pyeongchang over “systematic manipulation” of the anti-doping system at the 2014 Sochi Games, but left the door open to athletes with no history of doping to compete as “Olympic Athletes from Russia”. Writing by Polina Ivanova and Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber, additional reporting by Karolos Grohmann in Berlin; Editing by Ed Osmond and Christian Radnedge Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 6:31 AM / in 3 hours Roche wins FDA's breakthrough therapy designation for autism drug Reuters Staff 1 Min Read ZURICH, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Roche said on Monday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted its breakthrough therapy designation for Balovaptan to treat autism spectrum disorder (ASD), potentially accelerating its development and approval. Balovaptan, which may improve social interaction and communication in people with ASD, is being developed by Roche’s Swiss-based research unit and has an expected filing date of after 2020, according to the company’s website. “We look forward to working closely with the FDA in the hope that we can bring this medicine to these individuals as quickly as possible,” said Roche Chief Medical Officer Sandra Horning. (Reporting by John Miller; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)" + }, + { + "text": "MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Comparable sales growth of 3.4 percent in the November/December period was driven by strong traffic growth and continued strength in digital sales, which are expected to grow more than 25 percent in 2017. The Company raised its fourth quarter and full-year 2017 EPS guidance, based on the benefit of stronger-than-expected sales and recently-enacted federal tax reform. Stores fulfilled 70 percent of Target's digital volume in November/December, meaning that stores enabled approximately 80 percent of the Company's comparable sales growth in that period. Comparable sales were positive and accelerated from the third quarter in all five of the Company's core merchandise categories: Home, Apparel, Food & Beverage, Hardlines and Essentials. The Company now expects fourth quarter comparable sales growth in a range around 3.4 percent and full-year 2017 comparable sales growth of more than 1 percent. The Company is currently planning for a low single-digit increase in its 2018 comparable sales and year-over-year stability in EPS generated by its core business, excluding the benefit from recently-enacted federal tax reform. For more background on holiday performance, please visit: Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today announced that its comparable sales in the combined November/December period grew 3.4 percent, compared with the expected range of 0 to 2 percent. Comparable sales across all of the Company's core merchandise categories – Home, Apparel, Food & Beverage, Hardlines and Essentials – were positive and accelerated from the third quarter, reflecting strong traffic growth, positive store comps and continued strength in digital sales. Target now expects 2017 will be the fourth consecutive year in which its digital sales grow more than 25 percent. \"We are very pleased with our holiday season performance, which reflects the progress we've made against our strategy throughout the year,\" said Brian Cornell, chairman and chief executive officer of Target Corporation. \"We've positioned our stores at the center of a continually expanding suite of convenient fulfillment options and made significant investments in our team, which enabled our stores to fulfill 70 percent of all digital orders in the November/December period. As we look ahead to 2018, we will build on the foundation we established this year by launching additional exclusive brands, enhancing our digital capabilities, opening approximately 30 small-format stores and tripling the size of our remodel program to more than 325 stores. We will also remain focused on rapidly scaling up new fulfillment options including Same Day Delivery, which will be enabled by our acquisition of Shipt, and our recently launched Drive Up service.\" Updated Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2017 Guidance Target now expects fourth quarter comparable sales growth in a range around 3.4 percent, consistent with results in the November/December period. This would translate into full-year 2017 comparable sales growth of just over 1 percent. Sales from new and non-mature stores are expected to contribute approximately 70 basis points to Target's fourth quarter sales growth. Combined with the impact of a 53 rd week in the 2017 fiscal year, Target's total sales are expected to grow more than 9 percent in the fourth quarter. For fourth quarter 2017, the Company expects Adjusted EPS 1 of $1.30 to $1.40, compared to the prior range of $1.05 to $1.25. This expectation reflects a 6 to 8 cent benefit from a lower structural tax rate in January resulting from recently-enacted federal tax reform legislation. Fourth quarter GAAP EPS from continuing operations is expected to be higher than Adjusted EPS, reflecting an expected benefit driven primarily by a one-time change in Target's net deferred tax liabilities resulting from federal tax reform legislation. The impact of federal tax reform on the Company's net deferred tax liabilities remains under review and cannot be determined at this time. The Company expects to quantify this benefit in its fourth quarter earnings release on March 6. For full-year 2017, the Company now expects Adjusted EPS of $4.64 to $4.74, compared with prior guidance of $4.40 to $4.60. Full-year GAAP EPS from continuing operations is expected to be higher than Adjusted EPS, reflecting the previously-noted tax-reform benefit primarily related to Target's net deferred tax liabilities. In addition, full-year GAAP EPS from continuing operations will include the following two items recognized in prior quarters: (1) a 14-cent loss from the net impact of debt retirement costs; and (2) an 11-cent tax benefit related primarily to the Company's global sourcing operations." + }, + { + "text": "Initial Full-Year 2018 Guidance While Target continues to develop detailed financial plans for 2018, the Company is currently planning for a low single-digit increase in its 2018 comparable sales and year-over-year stability in EPS generated by its core business, excluding the benefit of federal tax reform. While the Company has not updated its expectations for 2018 capital expenditures, the benefit of recently-enacted federal tax reform legislation will create additional cash flow that Target will deploy in support of its longstanding capital deployment priorities, including capital investments, dividends and additional share repurchase. Combining expectations for stable core-business profitability with the benefit of federal tax reform, Target expects 2018 GAAP EPS from continuing operations and Adjusted EPS of $5.15 to $5.45. Fourth quarter, full-year 2017 and full-year 2018 GAAP EPS from continuing operations may include the impact of additional discrete items which will be excluded in calculating Adjusted EPS. The Company is not currently aware of any such discrete items. All earnings per share figures refer to diluted EPS. Miscellaneous Statements in this release regarding fourth quarter and full-year 2017 and 2018 earnings per share and comparable sales guidance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially. The most important risks and uncertainties are described in Item 1A of the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Jan. 28, 2017. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement. About Target Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at 1,834 stores and at Target.com . Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit to communities, which today equals millions of dollars a week. For more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom . For a behind-the-scenes look at Target, visit Target.com/abullseyeview or follow @TargetNews on Twitter. 1 Adjusted EPS, a non-GAAP financial measure, excludes the impact of certain discretely managed items. View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Target Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "DALLAS, Jan. 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Triumph Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:TBK) today announced that it expects to release its fourth quarter and full year 2017 financial results before the market opens on Monday, January 22, 2018. Upon filing, the financial results will be available on the Company’s website at www.triumphbancorp.com through the Investor Relations portal. Aaron P. Graft, Vice Chairman and CEO, and Bryce Fowler, CFO, will review the quarterly results in a conference call for investors and analysts beginning at 9:00 a.m. CST on the same day. To participate in the live conference call, please dial 1-855-940-9472 (Canada: 1-855-669-9657) and request to be joined into the Triumph Bancorp, Inc. (TBK) call. A simultaneous audio-only webcast may be accessed via the Company's website at www.triumphbancorp.com through the Investor Relations, News & Events, Webcasts and Presentations links, or through a direct link here at: . An archive of this conference call will subsequently be available at this same location on the Company’s website. About Triumph Triumph Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:TBK) is a financial holding company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Triumph offers a diversified line of community banking and commercial finance products through its bank subsidiary, TBK Bank, SSB. www.triumphbancorp.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Investors are cautioned that such statements are predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. Triumph’s expected financial results or other plans are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see \"Risk Factors\" and the forward-looking statement disclosure contained in Triumph’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 17, 2017. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and Triumph undertakes no duty to update the information. Investor Relations: Luke Wyse Senior Vice President, Finance & Investor Relations [REDACTED] 214-365-6936 Media Contact: Amanda Tavackoli Vice President, Marketing & Communication [REDACTED] 214-365-6930 Source:Triumph Bancorp, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK (AP) — Mark Zuckerberg says his \"personal challenge\" for 2018 is to fix Facebook. The Facebook CEO has declared a goal each year since 2009. Past challenges have included wearing a tie every day, learning to speak Mandarin and eating meat only from animals he killed himself. Last year, he visited every U.S. state he hadn't been to yet. This year, though, his challenge is directed at his company rather than personal ambitions. Zuckerberg wrote Thursday that he wants to focus this year on protecting Facebook users from abuse, defending against interference by nation-states and \"making sure that time spent on Facebook is time well spent.\" In other words, he wants to do his job as Facebook's CEO. \"This may not seem like a personal challenge on its face, but I think I'll learn more by focusing intensely on these issues than I would by doing something completely separate,\" Zuckerberg wrote. He added that while Facebook won't prevent all mistakes or abuse, \"we currently make too many errors.\" Facebook had a tough 2017. It testified before Congress about Russian election meddling using its platform and drew harsh criticism from early employees and investors about its role in the world. But Zuckerberg also has little choice but to fix Facebook's problems. Regulators in Washington, Europe and elsewhere are expecting concrete results. And while the platform has more than 2 billion users, there is nothing to guarantee they will stay and keep using Facebook as much as they do now if they feel depressed, lied to with fake news and hoaxes and manipulated by foreign powers. Zuckerberg compared this year's challenge to the first one he did nine years ago. It wasn't so much about him back then either, but about the social platform he created. \"That first year the economy was in a deep recession and Facebook was not yet profitable. We needed to get serious about making sure Facebook had a sustainable business model. It was a serious year, and I wore a tie every day as a reminder,\" he wrote. \"Today feels a lot like that first year.\" But fixing deep-rooted, existential problems is a taller order than turning a profit. Many of Facebook's problems are deeply rooted in how it's set up and why it's been so successful, financially and otherwise. Its secret formulas give users the content they are most likely to interact with and what's most likely to keep them coming back for more. Sometimes, that's heartfelt posts by their friends but other times it's viral fake news stories or inflammatory comments about political candidates." + }, + { + "text": "ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey would reject any offer of partnership with the European Union that falls short of membership, Ankara’s minister for EU affairs said, warning that the current impasse gave Turkey no reason to maintain its migrant deal with the bloc. In an interview with Reuters, Omer Celik batted back recent comments from French president Emmanuel Macron, who has mentioning the possibility of a partnership rather than full EU membership. Developments in Turkey did not allow for progress in its decades-long push to join the bloc, Macron has said. “A privileged partnership or similar approaches, we don’t take any of these seriously. Turkey cannot be offered such a thing,” Celik said. “Whatever it would be called, a privileged partnership or cooperation against terrorism, such an offer will not even be considered by Turkey.” The EU has expressed concern over Turkey’s crackdown on suspected supporters of a failed 2016 coup. Around 50,000 people have been arrested pending trial and 150,000, including teachers, journalists and judges, sacked or suspended from work. President Tayyip Erdogan says the crackdown is necessary to counter the multiple security threats Turkey faces. Turkey has said it wants a better ties with Germany in 2018. Nonetheless, Europe’s negotiations with Ankara have remained frozen since December 2016, European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, who oversees EU membership bids, told Reuters this week, adding there were no talks on a proposed free-trade deal. Hahn also played down Ankara’s overtures about a fresh start in 2018. “Nothing has changed,” he said. “It is good that Turkey understands we need a functioning relationship and that Turkey is not just President Erdogan. But the accession process is essentially frozen and for many member states, they feel it is best to leave it that way.” MIGRANT DEAL Celik said the European Union was not honoring all parts of a deal to stem the flow of migrants westwards from Turkey in return for 3 billion euros in financial aid to Turkey and other support. The financial aid was “not working well”, no new chapters had been opened in Turkey’s EU accession efforts and there had been no development on expanding a Turkish-EU customs deal, he said. “Technically there’s no reason for Turkey to maintain this deal,” Celik said. The migrant deal also included the lifting of short-term visa requirements on Turks. But its implementation has been waylaid by disagreement over Turkey’s anti-terror laws, which Europe says are too broad and need to be narrowed to meet European standards. “The Turkish offer for visa liberalization is largely complete, and will be presented to EU after approvals from the president and the prime minister,” Celik said. “But amendments to it, if any, will not change the main perspective on our fight against terrorism, or will not weaken it in any way.” Additional reporting by Robin Emmott in Brussels; Writing by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Catherine Evans" + }, + { + "text": "(Paul Wallace is a former European economics editor of The Economist and the author of “The Euro Experiment,” published by Cambridge University Press. The opinions expressed here are his own.) By Paul Wallace Jan 15 (Reuters) - Europe’s currency union - not so long ago on its sickbed - has started the year in rude health. The winning streak looks set to continue since economic confidence in the euro area is at its highest for almost two decades, but it will have an unwelcome side-effect. The more the euro zone economy thrives, the less pressure there will be on European politicians to take steps to prevent future crises. The resurgence is welcome because it bolsters public support for the single currency. However, the boom fostered by the European Central Bank’s (ECB) easy money policies will tempt politicians to shun the hard decisions involved in deeper integration. Further reforms remain vital because the monetary union of 19 states lacks the same fiscal and political foundations that underpin a national currency. Instead there is a divide between northern economies that can cope with the rigor of a common currency and those in southern Europe that have found it hard going. The ECB has rescued the weaklings with its ultra-loose monetary policy, but that offers no more than temporary respite. A rare opportunity for pressing ahead with reforms appeared to open up last year when Emmanuel Macron prevailed over populist euro-skeptic forces in France. The new French president made clear he wanted to rev up the Franco-German engine for closer European integration, which had lapsed when the euro debt crisis was gravest between 2010 and 2012 and Germany took the lead owing to its stronger economy and sounder public finances. Specifically, Macron advocates a euro zone budget and finance minister, in effect the rudiments of a fiscal union to support the monetary union. Just as the reform locomotive was getting up steam in France, it ran into the political sidings in Germany. First, Angela Merkel’s governing CDU/CSU party bloc did much worse than expected in the German election in September, getting its lowest share of the vote since 1949. Then, the chancellor’s first attempt at creating a coalition government, with two ideologically opposed small parties, the pro-business FDP and the environmentalist Greens, collapsed in late November when the FDP abruptly broke off negotiations. Following the breakthrough in this month’s exploratory talks, a renewed coalition with the center-left SPD, with which Merkel has ruled Germany for eight of the past 12 years, now looks possible. But obstacles remain because any eventual formal agreement will have to be put to the SPD’s members, many of whom oppose a further partnership with Merkel since they believe it has undermined the party’s popular support. If they do not endorse a deal the chancellor faces an unpalatable choice between ruling as a minority government or another election, whose result might be as inconclusive as last year’s vote. Even if the strongly pro-European SPD does swallow its reservations and join a coalition government led by Merkel, the euro zone reform train Macron aimed to set rolling looks less likely to make progress than hoped. The German chancellor undoubtedly wants to engage with the French president, who saved Europe from a potentially shattering populist revolt following the Brexit vote. But her response is likely to be a more of a gesture than a genuine change of heart. Merkel after all devoted much time and effort during the crisis to minimizing calls on German taxpayers to support the monetary union, recognizing that this was essential if Germans were to continue backing the venture. She strongly opposed the idea of issuing eurobonds whose liabilities would be jointly shared across the monetary union, making this rejection one of her main campaign points in the 2013 federal election. German policymakers and advisers continue to argue that the euro area can work without a fiscal union. Tighter fiscal bonds would require in effect a political union as well, a project likely to fall foul of popular opposition in some countries to the necessary changes to the European treaties. As a result any reforms that are made this year are likely to be more show than substance. The most likely of these will be a rebranding of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), the euro zone’s bail-out fund created as a result of the crisis, as the European Monetary Fund. But Germany is likely to resist attempts to wrest away the effective national veto over the release of funds that it secured when the ESM was set up. In fact, the most feasible reform that the euro area could make at this stage is to complete the banking union that it embarked upon at the height of the crisis, in mid-2012. This remains a work in progress. The most solid part of the construction is the creation of a single supervisor, a job given to the ECB. A new body has been created to tackle failing banks so that they can go under without causing disruption. But an essential component of a genuine banking union, a shared system of deposit insurance, remains on the drawing board." + }, + { + "text": "The failure to introduce deposit insurance illustrates the obstacles to the reform locomotive. Northern countries fear that it is their depositors who will pick up the bill when less sturdy banks in southern Europe fail. Policymakers such as Jens Weidmann, head of the German Bundesbank, insist that there can be no shared insurance for banks weighed down by bad loans. However, efforts by the ECB to accelerate that weight loss have encountered fierce resistance in Italy, where bad loans are especially oversized. Italian policymakers for their part worry that a crackdown on bad loans could stifle a recovery that has only recently gathered momentum. Yet if completing banking reform is hard, moving towards a fiscal union will be harder still. Just as Italian politicians are reluctant to grasp the nettle of bad loans, so German and Dutch politicians are loath to ask their citizens to make further potential fiscal sacrifices. That was difficult enough when the euro area appeared close to collapse. Now that all is apparently going well, it is even tougher. This isn’t the first time the ECB may have won time for painful reforms only for politicians to waste it. During the first decade of the euro, which was launched in 1999, they did nothing to tackle the flaws in its design as a credit boom papered over the multiple defects. The harsh truth is that institution-building in Europe tends to occur when the continent is in crisis. Growth is the enemy rather than the friend of reform. (Reporting by Paul Wallace)" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 30 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will say in his State of the Union address on Tuesday night he is extending an open hand to work with both Democrats and Republicans, according to excerpts of the speech released by the White House. Trump, who is scheduled to deliver the address on Capitol Hill at 9 p.m. (0200 GMT), will call on both parties to work together on a plan to rebuild the country’s infrastructure. On foreign policy, Trump will note that nearly all the territory in Syria and Iraq once controlled by Islamic State has been liberated but he says “there is much more work to be done” to defeat the militant group. (Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Eric Walsh)" + }, + { + "text": "January 27, 2018 / 12:49 PM / in 9 minutes Revolutionary Guards, Islamic State fighters clash in west Iran Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BEIRUT (Reuters) - Three members of the Revolutionary Guards and three Islamic State militants were killed in clashes in the west of Iran on Saturday, a top Guards’ commander said, according to Tasnim news agency. A team of 21 Islamic State fighters were tracked after they crossed Iran’s western border before being attacked by the Guards, the most powerful military force in the Islamic Republic, according to Sepah News, the Guards’ official news site. General Mohammad Pakpour, head of the Guards’ ground forces, said 16 militants were arrested and two fled but were now surrounded, Tasnim agency reported. In June, Islamic State militants attacked the parliament in Tehran and mausoleum of the Islamic Republic’s founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, killing at least 18 and wounding dozens. The attackers in the June assault were all Iranian Kurds from the Kurdish region of western Iran near the Iraqi border. The Guards fired several missiles at Islamic State bases in Syria on June 18 in response to that attack. Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Mark Potter and Edmund Blair" + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL, Jan 23 (Reuters) - South Korea will ban the use of anonymous bank accounts in cryptocurrency trading from Jan. 30, the nation’s financial regulator said on Tuesday. Local cryptocurrency traders will not be allowed to make deposits into their virtual coin exchange wallets unless the name on their bank account matches the account name in cryptocurrency exchanges, Kim Yong-beom, vice chairman of the Financial Services Commission told a news conference in Seoul. Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Sam Holmes" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 16 (IFR) - COUNCIL OF EUROPE DEVELOPMENT BANK, rated Aa1/AA+/AA+ (stable/positive/stable), has mandated Barclays, BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole CIB and Deutsche Bank to lead manage its upcoming new 10yr EUR benchmark maturing in January 2028. The issue is expected to be launched in the near future subject to market conditions. FCA/ICMA stabilization. The manufacturer target markets (MIFID II product governance) as assessed by the lead managers are retail, eligible counterparties and professional clients (all distribution channels)." + }, + { + "text": "GENEVA (Reuters) - At least 471 people in Yemen are believed to have been infected with diphtheria, killing one in 10 of them since the outbreak began in mid-August, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday. Yemen, one of the Arab world’s poorest countries, is embroiled in a proxy war between the Houthi armed movement, allied with Iran, and a U.S.-backed military coalition headed by Saudi Arabia. The United Nations calls Yemen the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with 8 million people on the brink of famine. Ibb and Al-Hodeidah governorates are the hardest hit by diphtheria, spread through close physical and respiratory contact, WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said in response to a query. “The overall case fatality ratio is 10 percent,” he said, noting that 46 fatalities had been recorded as of Jan. 2. FILE PHOTO: Nahla Arishi, a pediatrician, checks a boy infected with diphtheria at the al-Sadaqa teaching hospital in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen December 18, 2017. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman/File Photo The Saudi-led military coalition fighting in Yemen on Tuesday denied blocking aid and basic supplies from entering, following a Reuters story detailing how Yemen is struggling to cope with the diphtheria outbreak. The Reuters Special Report, published on Dec 29, said that in the past four months, doctors across Yemen had recorded at least 380 cases of diphtheria, a bacterial disease that last appeared in the country in 1992. The spread of diphtheria - which can be prevented by vaccine - compounds widespread hunger and one of the worst cholera outbreaks ever recorded, with more than 1 million cases and 2,227 deaths since April. The WHO, a U.N. agency, has delivered antibiotics and vials of diphtheria antitoxin to affected areas and is helping establish treatment centers. Along with UNICEF, it has vaccinated children around Ibb against the disease. Yemen’s health system has virtually collapsed, with chronic shortages of medical supplies, low immunization rates and most health workers unpaid throughout the war. Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Robin Pomeroy" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 23 (Reuters) - Livzon Pharmaceutical Group Inc : * RECEIVED NOTICE FROM SHAREHOLDER PROPOSING ISSUE OF 3 BONUS SHARES FOR EVERY 10 SHARES TO ALL SHAREHOLDERS * PROPOSED ISSUE OF 166 MILLION SHARES FOR RMB1.11 BILLION * RECEIVED NOTICE FROM SHAREHOLDER PROPOSING DISTRIBUTION OF RMB20 CASH DIVIDEND FOR EVERY 10 SHARES Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: ([REDACTED])" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 7:55 PM / in an hour North Korea Olympic officials in Switzerland ahead of IOC talks Stephanie Nebehay 2 Min Read GENEVA (Reuters) - North Korean Olympic officials arrived in Switzerland on Thursday ahead of weekend talks at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to finalize Pyongyang’s participation in the Winter Games in South Korea next month. North Korea’s involvement, marching under the same flag with the South Korean team, is seen by some as a sign of easing tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile program. But 20 nations agreed on Tuesday to consider tougher sanctions to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. Guk Kim Il, President of the Olympic Committee of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), arrived at Geneva’s Cointrin airport on a flight from Beijing, but made no comments to reporters. North Korean IOC member Chang Ung met the delegation. Asked whether he expected North Korea and South Korea to settle outstanding issues at Saturday’s talks, he appeared optimistic. North Korea's International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Chang Ung arrives at the airport in Geneva, Switzerland January 18, 2018. REUTERS/Pierre Albouy ”Everything’s fine,” he told Reuters. The IOC has said that Saturday’s meeting would take a series of “essential decisions” on the North’s participation at the Games that open in Pyeongchang on February 9. Slideshow (2 Images) These would include the number and names of athletes from the North Korean Olympic Committee as well as questions of protocol, including flags, ceremonies and uniform. Only a figure skating pair from North Korea has secured a spot although several other athletes could qualify through special places offered by the Olympic body. North and South Korea have already made progress in bilateral talks. They plan to march together under the same blue-and-white Korean peninsula flag, marking the revival of an emblem of warmer ties between the old foes from years past. Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; editing by Ralph Boulton" + }, + { + "text": "MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A powerful earthquake that struck in the Gulf of California shook buildings and sent people running outdoors across parts of northern Mexico on Friday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake measured at 6.3 magnitude, after initially reporting it at 6.6. The epicenter was 48 miles (77 km) north-northeast of the town of Loreto in the state of Baja California Sur, the USGS said. “It felt really awful,” said Rosita Ibarra, 34, a hotel worker in the city of Huatabampo in the state of Sonora. “I‘m still in shock because I was alone at the reception and suddenly I couldn’t believe it, I saw the desk moving, and I ran.” Mexican federal emergency services said there were no immediate reports of damage and ruled out a tsunami risk. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto confirmed on Twitter there were no initial reports of casualties. Miguel Diaz, who works at a hotel in the city of Los Mochis, Sinaloa state, about 100 miles (166 km) south of Huatabampo, said he felt light tremors and saw lamps sway. “We checked the rooms and saw that they were all in order, but thank god, everything was OK,” he said. Writing by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Dave Graham and Tom Brown" + }, + { + "text": "58 PM / a few seconds ago Britain's May says world cannot pull in different directions on trade in Davos on Thursday that countries must not start pulling in different directions on trade. She added that the World Trade Organization must go further in its reforms. “Too often our rhetoric in support of free trade here in Davos is not matched by our actions,” she said. “The World Trade Organization still needs to go much further in its reforms, ensuring its rule book keeps pace with developments in the global economy.” Reporting by Noah Barkin; writing by Kate Holton, editing" + }, + { + "text": "SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Shares in Noble Group ( NOBG.SI ) fell on Tuesday after it struck a deal with a group of creditors to restructure $3.5 billion of its debt in exchange for 70 percent of the firm, with existing equity holders’ combined stake diluted to only 10 percent. In early Tuesday trade, Noble shares fell as much as 23 percent to 0.200, the lowest since Jan. 22, and were last down 11.5 percent at 0.230. Noble, which has made heavy job cuts, sold key assets, taken writedowns and raised funds after a crisis-wracked three years, said on Monday that the debt-for-equity swap was backed by 30 percent of holders of its existing senior debt. Reporting by Anshuman Daga; Editing by Himani Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The California couple accused of keeping their 13 children captive in the family’s squalid home were charged on Thursday with torture, child abuse and false imprisonment, as prosecutors said the victims were beaten, starved and chained. David Turpin, 57, and his wife Louise Turpin, 49, each face 94 years to life in prison if convicted on the more than two dozen charges against them, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin told reporters at a press conference. “We’re fully prepared to seek justice in this case and do so in a way that protects these victims from further harm,” Hestrin said. David Turpin was also charged with one count of committing a lewd act on a child by force or duress, Hestrin said. Both parents, who were arrested after their emaciated 17-year-old daughter climbed out of a window of the family home in Perris, California and called police, were scheduled to make an initial court appearance in the case later on Thursday. The California Department of Education lists the Perris address, where the family has lived since 2014, as the location of the Sandcastle Day School, with David Turpin as principal. Experts say it may have been easier for the parents to shield their children from scrutiny because they were home-schooled. Reporting by Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Gina Cherelus in New York; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Cynthia Osterman" + }, + { + "text": "BUCHAREST, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Romania’s Nuclearelectrica will cut power by 27 percent at its second nuclear reactor at its Cernavoda power plant from Jan. 21 for 16 hours to fix “an early defect in one of the process systems of the U2’s classical part.” It said the reactor will remain connected to the national power grid during the process. Reporting by Radu Marinas" + }, + { + "text": "ABU DHABI (Reuters) - NMC Health has made two acquisitions worth $207 million, the London-listed and United Arab Emirates-based healthcare provider said on Monday. NMC acquired a 70 percent stake in UAE-based CosmeSurge for $170 million and an 80 percent stake in Saudi Arabia’s Al Salam Medical Group for $37 million, the company said in a bourse filing. The cash acquisition of CosmeSurge, which provides cosmetic surgery and aesthetic medicine, is expected to be completed during first quarter of 2018. It has an enterprise value of $250 million and is expected to report a 2017 EBITDA of $20.5 million on revenue of $67 million, the statement said. CosmeSurge operates 17 clinics with a 10-bed hospital and two new clinics currently under construction in the UAE. ”These value accretive and earnings enhancing transactions fit well with our growth strategy,” NMC CEO Prasanth Manghat said. The Al Salam transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of the year, the statement said/ It said the Riyadh-based group’s assets include a 100-bed Al Salam Medical Hospital, the Al Salam Medical Centre and the Ishbilia Medical Centre. NMC also said it signed new operations & management (O&M) contracts with Emirates Healthcare Group to manage its two Egyptian hospitals with a combined capacity of 860 beds. Reporting by Stanley Carvalho; editing by Jason Neely" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 2:17 PM / Updated 14 minutes ago BRIEF-Karen Singer - To Learn That Shawn O’Donnell,Upon Information,Belief, Recently Resigned Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 16 (Reuters) - Alaska Communications Systems Group Inc : * KAREN SINGER - TO LEARN THAT SHAWN O’DONNELL,UPON INFORMATION,BELIEF,ONLY INDEPENDENT MEMBER OF ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS BOARD, RECENTLY RESIGNED * KAREN SINGER-BELIEVES THAT SHAWN O’DONNELL MAY HAVE RESIGNED DUE TO ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS BOARD’S UNWILLINGNESS TO INCLUDE IN DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES Source text ( bit.ly/2mEnxaW ) Further company coverage: ([REDACTED])" + }, + { + "text": "Goldman Sachs swings to a loss 10:11pm IST - 00:51 Goldman Sachs swung to a quarterly loss topping $2 billion. Wiping out its earnings: a $4.4 billion one-time charge stemming from the new tax law. Revenue fell, dragged down by a sharp drop in its Goldman Sachs swung to a quarterly loss topping $2 billion. Wiping out its earnings: a $4.4 billion one-time charge stemming from the new tax law. Revenue fell, dragged down by a sharp drop in its //reut.rs/2Dj747f" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 22 (Reuters) - SGSG Science&Technology Co Ltd Zhuhai * Says it sees FY 2017 net profit could rise by up to 30 percent, or to be 78.9 million yuan to 102.5 million yuan * Says the net profit of FY 2016 was 78.9 million yuan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/XUGWsA Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "31 AM / Updated 16 minutes ago Stuttgart sack coach Wolf after Schalke loss Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BERLIN (Reuters) - Promoted VfB Stuttgart sacked their coach Hannes Wolf on Sunday, a day after their 2-0 loss to visitors Schalke 04 left them hovering just above the relegation spots place in the Bundesliga. Club bosses and Wolf, who had guided them to promotion last season, met straight after the game and decided a change was necessary to avoid relegation, Stuttgart said in a statement. The 2007 Bundesliga champions are in 15th place on 20 points, three above the relegation playoff spot after losing six of their last seven league games. “After this discussion we all came to the conclusion that the danger of turning the corner under the current structure was too great and a new impulse was needed to get back on track,” said sports director Michael Reschke. Wolf had taken over in September 2016 and achieved immediate promotion in his first season in charge. A successor will be named in the coming days, the club said. Reporting by Karolos Grohmann;" + }, + { + "text": "MILAN, Jan 22 (Reuters) - The Italian unit of British broadcaster Sky has bid for a package worth at least 310 million euros a year at a tender on Monday to sell screening rights for Italy’s Serie A soccer matches in 2018-2021, a source close to the matter said. Sky Italia also bid for a satellite package whose price started at 260 million euros per year, the source said. The multi-platform package includes the matches of all 20 Serie A teams while the other packages comprise only those of eight clubs including Juventus FC, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Napoli and Fiorentina. Telecom Italia, Sky Italia and Britain’s Perform all bid for an Internet package whose price starts at 160 million euros, the source said. Italian broadcaster Mediaset and Italia Way have presented an offer for the digital terrestrial television package, whose price also starts at 260 million euros a year. (Reporting by Elvira Pollina, writing by Valentina Za, editing by Francesca Landini)" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 3:53 PM / in 7 minutes Brazil judge upholds Lula corruption conviction; 2 more jurists must vote Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BRASILIA, Jan 24 (Reuters) - The first of three Brazilian judges weighing an appeal by former leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva voted on Wednesday to uphold a corruption conviction that will likely sideline him from running in this year’s presidential election. Appeals court judge Pedro Gebran dismissed defense lawyers’ arguments that the conviction for receiving a bribe and laundering money lacked proof and was politically motivated. Gebran said the so-called Car Wash investigation suggested Lula was an organizer of the kickback scheme operating within state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA, funding his Workers Party and its allies. (Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassú and Anthony Boadle; Editing by Andrew Hay)" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 4:13 PM / in 25 minutes Delta CEO says tax savings will not be used to pay CSeries duties Reuters Staff 1 Min Read NEW YORK, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines said on Thursday the carrier would not use savings from changes to the U.S. corporate tax rate to pay potential duties on its order of Bombardier Inc CSeries jets. “We are not using tax reform to pay tariff subsidies. We have no intent to pay any tariffs on the CSeries,” Chief Executive Ed Bastian said on the carrier’s fourth-quarter earnings call. (Reporting by Alana Wise, Editing by Franklin Paul)" + }, + { + "text": "IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) will hold a conference call to review results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017. The public is invited to listen to the conference call on Tuesday, February 20, 2018, at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time with Chairman and CEO David Seaton and Chief Financial Officer Bruce Stanski. Financial results will be released after the market close that day. A live webcast of the call and an accompanying slide presentation will be available at investor.fluor.com . The call will also be accessible by telephone at 800-289-0438 (U.S./Canada) or 323-994-2083. The conference ID is 5038292. A replay of the webcast will be available for 30 days. A replay of the call will be available by telephone for one week by dialing 888-203-1112 (U.S./Canada) or 719-457-0820, conference ID 5038292. About Fluor Corporation Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) is a global engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction and maintenance company that designs, builds and maintains capital-efficient facilities for its clients on six continents. For more than a century, Fluor has served its clients by delivering innovative and integrated solutions across the globe. With headquarters in Irving, Texas, Fluor ranks 149 on the FORTUNE 500 list with revenue of $19 billion in 2016 and has more than 60,000 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit www.fluor.com or follow Fluor on social media at Twitter , LinkedIn and YouTube . View source version on businesswire.com : Fluor Corporation Media Relations Brian Mershon, 469-398-7621 or Brett Turner, 864-281-6976 or Investor Relations Geoff Telfer, 469-398-7070 or Jason Landkamer, 469-398-7222 Source: Fluor Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "(This story corrects Reuters Instrument Code for Apple Inc in January 7 story.) By Elizabeth Dilts NEW YORK (Reuters) - Apple Inc ( AAPL.O ) shareholders Jana Partners and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System are urging the smartphone maker to take steps to address what they say is a growing problem of young people getting addicted to Apple’s iPhones, Jana partner Charles Penner said. Jana, a leading activist shareholder, and CalSTRS, one of the nation’s largest public pension plans, delivered a letter to Apple on Saturday asking the company to consider developing software that would allow parents to limit children’s phone use, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Sunday. Jana and CalSTRS also asked Apple to study the impact of excessive phone use on mental health, according to the publication. Slideshow (2 Images) CalSTRS and Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Jana and CalSTRS together control about $2 billion worth of Apple shares, the Journal reports. The social rights issue is a new turn for Jana, which is known for pushing companies it invests in to make financial changes. However, the issue of phone addiction among young people has become a growing concern in the United States as parents report their children cannot give up their phones. CalSTRS and Jana worry that Apple’s reputation and stock could be hurt if it does not address those concerns, according to the Journal. Half of teenagers in the United States feel like they are addicted to their mobile phones and report feeling pressure to immediately respond to phone messages, according to a 2016 survey of children and their parents by Common Sense Media. The phone addiction issue got a high-profile boost from the former Disney child star Selena Gomez, 24, who said she canceled a 2016 world tour to go to therapy for depression and low self-esteem, feelings she linked to her addiction to social media and the mobile photo-sharing app Instagram. [nL2N1GT1IG] Reporting by Elizabeth Dilts; Editing by Lisa Shumaker" + }, + { + "text": "House passes stopgap funding bill, but shutdown threat looms Friday, January 19, 2018 - 01:41 Legislation to avoid a U.S. government shutdown at midnight on Friday advanced in Congress as the House of Representatives on Thursday night approved an extension of federal funds through Feb. 16, although the bill faced uncertain prospects in the Senate. Legislation to avoid a U.S. government shutdown at midnight on Friday advanced in Congress as the House of Representatives on Thursday night approved an extension of federal funds through Feb. 16, although the bill faced uncertain prospects in the Senate. //reut.rs/2mZgOsi" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 7:46 AM / Updated 9 hours ago Cricket: Karthik replaces injured Saha in India squad for third test Reuters Staff 1 Min Read NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Batsman-wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik will replace the injured Wriddhiman Saha in the India squad for the third and final test against South Africa, the Indian cricket board said on Tuesday. Cricket - India v New Zealand - Second One Day International Match - Pune, India, October 25, 2017 - India's Dinesh Karthik plays a shot. REUTERS/Amit Dave Saha scored zero and eight but took 10 catches behind the stumps in the opening match of the three-test series at Cape Town, which India lost by 72 runs. He suffered an upper left hamstring tendon injury during training on Thursday and was replaced by Parthiv Patel in the ongoing second test at Centurion. Patel, the second stumper in the original test squad, has failed to make the most of the opportunity, dropping a couple of catches in South Africa’s first innings at Centurion. Karthik, part of the India squad for the six one-dayers that follow the tests, will fly to South Africa hoping to play his first test in eight years at Cape Town from Jan. 24. Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Peter Rutherford" + }, + { + "text": "CAYCE, S.C., Jan. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Public Service Commission of South Carolina will conduct an Allowable Ex Parte Communication Briefing by South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G) and Dominion Energy, Inc., (NYSE: D) in which the merger agreement between SCANA Corporation (NYSE: SCG), and Dominion Energy, Inc. will be discussed. The briefing is scheduled to begin at 3:00pm ET and will be live streamed. The link to the live stream can be found on the Public Service Commission of South Carolina website at . PROFILE SCANA Corporation, headquartered in Cayce, SC, is an energy-based holding company principally engaged, through subsidiaries, in electric and natural gas utility operations and other energy-related businesses. Information about SCANA and its businesses is available on the company's website at www.scana.com . SCE&G is a regulated public utility engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity to approximately 717,000 customers in South Carolina. The company also provides natural gas service to approximately 362,000 customers throughout the state. More information about SCE&G is available at www.sceg.com . SCANA Corporation Contacts: Media Contact: Investor Contact: Eric Boomhower Bryant Potter (803) 217-7701 (803) 217-6916 View original content with multimedia: SOURCE SCANA Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "(Removes garble from headline) FRANKFURT, Jan 20 (Reuters) - European tourism group TUI expects record earnings this year as sales of package holidays pick up and customers opt for more expensive trips, its Chief Executive told a newspaper. “Until mid-January we have had the strongest week of bookings in our corporate history, ” Fritz Joussen was Quote: d as saying by German daily Rheinische Post. The tour operator is aiming for record sales of package holidays and cruises and expects 2018 revenues to increase by 3 percent compared to 2017, he said. “We saw our earnings rise by more than ten percent annually over the last three years and aim to continue that in the next three years,” he was Quote: d as saying. TUI expected sales per customer and booking to increase to 920 euros from 900 euros currently, driven by artificial intelligence tools that help predict customers’ wishes. In its 2017 financial year, TUI reported a 12 percent rise in underlying profit and said winter trading was in line with expectations, with Turkey picking up. (Reporting by Arno Schuetze; editing by John Stonestreet)" + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 1:23 PM / Updated 7 hours ago Trump cancels Florida trip as shutdown deadline looms: CNN Reuters Staff 1 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump canceled plans to travel to his Florida resort on Friday as Congress faced a midnight deadline to pass legislation providing short-term funding to avert a U.S. government shutdown, CNN reported, citing a White House spokesman. Reporting by Doina Chiacu" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 12:35 AM / Updated an hour ago Global stocks slip after Fed flags inflation, bonds rise Herbert Lash 4 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar edged higher on Wednesday and world stocks lost the shine they took from Boeing’s strong earnings report after the Federal Reserve indicated more interest rate hikes were in store. Market reaction to a statement from Fed policy-makers was mostly muted, but stocks turned lower after the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note - the benchmark for world lending - briefly shot up to 2.75 percent, a level last seen in April 2014. The Fed said it anticipated inflation would rise this year, signaling it remained on track to raise borrowing costs again in March under incoming central bank chief Jerome Powell. Most observers shrugged off the statement as expected, but some see the possibility the Fed raises interest rates four times this year, or one more than the market anticipates. “The Fed’s acknowledgment of the quickening pace of inflation today put three hikes in 2018 into the ‘base-case’ and perhaps raises the prospects for a fourth,” said Mike Terwilliger, portfolio manager of Resource Liquid Alternatives for the Resource Credit Income Fund in New York. The 10-year note later pared losses to rise 1/32 in price and drop yields to 2.7219 percent. But that is above the 2.70 percent mark some investors had set as a tipping point for the market, though many believe equities can easily handle 3 percent or more if the economy and profits continue to grow. MSCI’s gauge of equity markets in 47 countries shed 0.20 percent while the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading regional shares lost 0.25 percent as a bevy of healthcare stocks fell sharply. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.94 points, or 0.01 percent, to 26,078.83. The S&P 500 lost 6.34 points, or 0.22 percent, to 2,816.09 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 12.52 points, or 0.17 percent, to 7,389.96. The German share price index, DAX board, is seen at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, January 31, 2018. REUTERS/Staff/Remote Boeing Co, the world’s biggest planemaker, provided the most upside to both the benchmark S&P 500 stock index and MSCI’s all-country world index. Boeing forecast core profit would rise to $13.80 to $14.00 a share this year, well ahead of analysts’ average estimate of $11.96, Thomson Reuters data showed. Investors had been relieved when Boeing beat expectations for both earnings and revenue, said Michael Arone, chief investment strategist at State Street Global Advisors in Boston. A man walks past an electronic stock quotation board outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan, September 22, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai - RC16074E2450 The dollar initially rose against a basket of six currencies after the Fed statement, but later gave back those gains. The dollar index fell 0.08 percent, with the euro up 0.11 percent to $1.2414. The Japanese yen eased 0.28 percent versus the greenback at 109.09 per dollar. Oil prices rebounded from earlier losses to end higher after the U.S. Energy Department said oil inventories rose for the first time in nearly three months. But that outlook was offset by strong demand for gasoline and distillate products and news that OPEC countries maintained heavy supply cuts in January. U.S. crude rose 23 cents to settle at $64.73 per barrel and Brent settled up 3 cents at $69.05. U.S. gold futures for February delivery settled up $3.60 at $1,339. Editing by Bernadette Baum; Editing by David Gregorio" + }, + { + "text": "January 2, 2018 / 12:13 PM / Updated 9 hours ago London Bridge station opens new platforms as redevelopment nears completion Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Five new platforms and a large concourse opened at London Bridge station on Tuesday as the development of the busy commuter hub in Britain’s capital nears completion. Travellers look at a train information board at London Bridge train station in London, Britain January 2, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson The station reopened after ten days of engineering work over Christmas and New Year, and the latest milestone in the work allowed busy commuter trains to London’s Cannon Street station to stop at London Bridge once more. London Bridge is Britain’s fourth-busiest rail station, with 56 million passengers arriving into the city each year. It serves as a major hub for arrivals from southeast England, and the north-south “Thameslink” service will restore the station’s link with London’s Luton airport when the redevelopment is completed, scheduled for May. The latest progress came as unions protested at London Bridge and dozens of other UK stations on Tuesday against the introduction of higher ticket prices for the New Year. On average, train fares have gone up 3.4 percent, the steepest price increase in five years. Britain’s Network Rail said the average rise was below inflation, though campaigners say that fares should be pegged to a different measure of prices. Reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by Stephen Addison" + }, + { + "text": "The Swiss bank UBS reported a net profit of 1.165 billion Swiss francs ($1.25 billion) for the whole of 2017, weighed down by a writedown in the fourth quarter that related to the new U.S. tax overhaul. The consensus from a Reuters poll was for a figure of 1.257 billion Swiss francs, below the 2016 number of 3.3 billion Swiss francs and below the 2015 figure of 6.2 billion Swiss francs. \"2017 was an excellent year for us. We delivered stronger financial results and met our net cost reduction target,\" Sergio Ermotti, the group's chief executive officer, said in a statement. Speaking to CNBC about the results, Ermotti said the highlight of the year was more clarity on international banking regulation, and the fact that the bank reduced its litigation portfolio further. \"We are now in a position to continue and implement our attractive capital return policy, we increased our ordinary dividend and announcing (a) share buyback program,\" Ermotti told CNBC. show chapters Wealth management business to grow at double digits: UBS CEO 13 Hours Ago | 03:51 Net profit included a writedown of 2.865 billion Swiss francs in the fourth quarter of deferred tax assets due to the introduction a new tax cuts and the jobs act in the United States. It said that excluding this writedown, net profit would have increased by 26 percent year-over-year. New dividend UBS also said on Monday that it would increase its dividend for investors to 0.65 Swiss francs per share — an 8 percent jump from last year. The bank also introduced a three-year share buyback program of up to 2 billion Swiss francs. UBS also achieved its net cost reduction target of 2.1 billion Swiss francs but highlighted that low market volatility could affect client activity in its wealth management business. It also said it was creating a unified global wealth management division. \"Wealth creation in the world is set to continue to grow at least twice the GDP (gross domestic product) growth, so around 8 percent a year, and we as a leader, we are well positioned to capture superior growth, which is reflected in our targets,\" Ermotti told CNBC. show chapters US government shutdown will not change market paradigm: UBS CEO 12 Hours Ago | 03:31 Ermotti foresees a pick up in volatility, particularly in the second part of the year, but he said the company needs to be wary about the kind of volatility that lies ahead. \"We have to pay attention to what we are wishing for here, if volatility is triggered by sudden changes in the macroeconomic environment, which we don't expect, more particularly geopolitical events, that wouldn't be a welcomed volatility for sure,\" he said. \"In general I am not comfortable (with the political backdrop). If I look at the radar screen of geopolitical events, I don't think anybody in the world could be comfortable with what we see, because I see no issue disappearing from the radar screen and I see more and more stuff coming into the radar screen,\" Ermotti noted. The Swiss bank is also cautious about the positive impact that rising U.S. interest rates might actually have on margins, given that rates are still very low in the euro zone and negative in Switzerland. \"A little bit of a headwind when you talk about negative rates in Switzerland is an understatement,\" Ermotti said. \"I do think that the low rates environment is still going to stay with us for the foreseeable future. I would think in the next 12 months is very difficult to see how Europe and Switzerland will get out of that environment,\" he said. Shares of UBS were down 2.5 percent in the early hours of European trading on Monday." + }, + { + "text": "India's Modi mounts globalization defense at Davos 3:11am EST - 01:56 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sounded the alarm in the World Economic Forum's opening speech, urging listeners to take guard against rising protectionist policies. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sounded the alarm in the World Economic Forum's opening speech, urging listeners to take guard against rising protectionist policies. //reut.rs/2Dz1BcK" + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 3:40 AM / Updated 3 hours ago Ten crew missing as cargo vessel sinks off Shanghai Reuters Staff 1 Min Read SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Ten crew members were missing after a cargo vessel collided with another vessel in Wusongkou anchorage at Shanghai, China’s state-owned Xinhua News Agency reported, citing the Shanghai Maritime Search and Rescue Centre. Three people had been rescued, and the search for missing crew members was continuing, Xinhua said. Reporting by Ruby Lian and Ryan Woo; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore" + }, + { + "text": "24 PM / Updated 13 minutes ago BRIEF-Preferred Apartment Communities Announces Acquisition Of Multifamily Community In Jacksonville, Florida Reuters Staff Jan 9 (Reuters) - Preferred Apartment Communities Inc : * PREFERRED APARTMENT COMMUNITIES INC ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF A 265-UNIT MULTIFAMILY COMMUNITY IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA * PREFERRED APARTMENT COMMUNITIES - FINANCED DEAL WITH NON-RECOURSE FIRST MORTGAGE LOAN" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 3:55 PM / in 4 hours Hong Kong, London, New York shortlisted for Aramco IPO: sources Rania El Gamal , Alex Lawler 3 Min Read DUBAI/LONDON (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has shortlisted New York, London and Hong Kong - singly or in a combination of two or even all three - for the international portion of the listing of national oil company Aramco, two sources with knowledge of the discussions said. The initial public offering (IPO) will also include the Saudi stock exchange, Tadawul, and is still set for late 2018, the sources said. The shortlist means Tokyo, Singapore and Toronto are no longer in the running for what is likely to be the world’s biggest IPO. Riyadh could raise as much as $100 billion in the sale of up to 5 percent of Aramco [IPO-ARMO.SE] if it achieves a projected $2 trillion valuation. A final decision has yet to be made by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who oversees the kingdom’s economic and oil policies, the sources said. One of the sources said a phased listing was being considered, with the local listing occurring first, followed by an international listing or listings at a later stage. The second source said it was possible that Aramco would be listed on all three international exchanges, as well as the Saudi bourse, but cautioned that no decision had been taken. The first source said discussions involved listing on at least two of the three venues. “As far as Aramco goes, late 2018 remains the objective and the plan and everything is moving to deliver that,” the first source said. Saudi Aramco said in response to a Reuters request for comment: “A range of listing options continue to be held under active review. However, no decision has been taken.” The Aramco listing is a centrepiece of Vision 2030, an ambitious reform plan championed by Prince Mohammad to reduce the dependence of the Saudi economy on oil. Saudi officials have left the door open to other options for the Aramco IPO, including listing exclusively on Tadawul and a domestic listing coupled with a private placement to a strategic investor as a precursor to an international IPO. China has offered to buy up to 5 percent of Saudi Aramco directly, sources told Reuters in October. Senior industry sources say Riyadh is keen on China, its biggest buyer of oil, becoming a cornerstone investor in the company. The chief executive of the Saudi stock exchange, Khalid al-Hussan, told Reuters on Wednesday he believed Tadawul could handle the entirety of the IPO despite having a capitalization of about $450 billion in total. “As an exchange, it is natural for us to aspire to be the only place for listing and we are taking all necessary measures to be ready for that, if that is the decision. We are waiting for the decision,” he said in a telephone interview. Saudi Arabia changed Aramco to a joint-stock company as of Jan. 1. A senior Aramco source told Reuters the change was “a customary step in the preparation process” for an IPO in Saudi Arabia. The change also indicated the listing was moving ahead despite market speculation it could be delayed or totally shelved. Editing by Sonya Hepinstall" + }, + { + "text": "29 AM / Updated 6 hours ago Cricket-Shami takes three but South Africa move past 200-run lead PRETORIA, Jan 16 (Reuters) - India seamer Mohammed Shami took three crucial wickets but South Africa took their lead to 201 runs at lunch on the fourth day of the second test in Pretoria on Tuesday. The home side went to the interval on 173 for five, with captain Faf du Plessis (12 not out) and Vernon Philander (three not out) at the crease. On a wicket more similar to Indian conditions than those typically found in South Africa, it has been a hard slog for the batsmen and the tourists will feel very much in the game. There is variable bounce, plenty of turn and the pitch is still on the slow side as South Africa aim to protect a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. India’s rally came after an excellent spell of seam bowling from Shami whose figures were 3-38. The home side resumed on 90 for two. Positive batting from AB de Villiers in the first hour took him to 80 before a rising delivery from Shami forced an edge to wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel. De Villiers had wicket with opener Dean Elgar, who rode his luck to a half-century before he found Lokesh Rahul in the deep with a well-timed pull shot off Shami to fall for 61. Quinton de Kock (12) looks completely out of sorts and after edging three balls in a row past the slips for four, his luck ran out and he tickled a Shami delivery to Patel. South Africa seamer Morne Morkel suggested on Monday evening that chasing anything over 250 would be difficult for India, but with visiting skipper Virat Kohli coming off 153 in the first innings and looking in such good form, the hosts will be looking at 300 and above. Kohli will have to watch his behaviour for the rest of the test after he was fined 25 received one demerit point following a rain delay on Monday. (Reporting Osmond)" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Sam Sunderland’s Dakar Rally title defense ended on Tuesday after the British motorcycle rider crashed in Peru’s Ica desert while leading the race and had to be flown out by helicopter. Organizers said Sunderland, who had won two of the first three stages on his KTM, had been ruled out of further participation after hurting his back in the fall. The Dubai-based 28-year-old was evacuated back to the bivouac, the rally’s traveling support and logistics center. KTM manager Alex Doringer told the Motorcycle News website that Sunderland was searching for a control point when he hit a big hole. “He felt a sharp pain in his back immediately, but carried on for another 5km before stopping again due to the pain and a lack of feeling in his legs,” added Doringer. Dakar Rally - 2018 Peru-Bolivia-Argentina Dakar rally - 40th Dakar Edition stage four, San Juan de Marcona to San Juan de Marcona - January 9, 2018. Britain's Sam Sunderland receives medical care after suffering an accident while driving his KTM. REUTERS/Andres Stapff “He said that the feeling in his legs has returned, but he will now be transferred to Lima for more tests.” Sunderland had led by more than four-and-a-half minutes going into the 330km fourth stage in the dunes around the Pacific port of San Juan de Marcona. Slideshow (2 Images) His exit meant that Yamaha’s French rider Adrian van Beveren took over the lead, one minute and 55 seconds clear of Chilean Pablo Quintanilla, after winning the stage. Sunderland last year became the first Briton to win the Dakar, a grueling endurance rally that moved to South America from Africa in 2009 for security reasons, in any category. The rally ends in Argentina on Jan. 20 after also traveling through Bolivia. Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Christian Radnedge and Toby Davis" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moscow received the news about Turkish military engagement in Syria’s Afrin region with concern, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday, calling on the sides to exercise restraint. It said Russia was sticking to its position on solving the Syrian crisis which is based on safeguarding Syria’s territorial integrity and respecting its sovereignty. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday a military operation in Syria’s Kurdish-controlled Afrin region had begun after cross-border shelling by the Turkish army. Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Janet Lawrence" + }, + { + "text": "U.S. grocers are playing catch-up. Held back by razor-thin profit margins, which have made investing difficult, grocery retailers lagged behind their peers in Europe and parts of Asia in making strides with technology that reduces the time shoppers spend navigating aisles, ringing up purchase and bagging items. Then Amazon showed up and acquired Whole Foods. Now, there's more pressure to roll out projects that may have been in a pilot phase — or try new things entirely. \"The technology is more mature now, and these things are becoming easier to do,\" Mike McNamara, the executive vice president, chief information and digital officer for Target , told CNBC. He said retailers have complained that the technology for such innovations as speeding up checkout has been bulky and visually unpleasant. \"You have to design something that's practical,\" he said. The future of America's grocery stores will include more scanning devices, smart shelves with digital displays and self-driving shopping carts. The Innovation Lab at The National Retail Federation's Big Show this year featured a slew of companies showing off their ideas that would revamp the grocery shopping experience. Start-up SwiftGo was previewing a device to weigh an item as it's placed into a cart, ensuring everything is accounted for as a shopper scans food and drinks, and checks out from a mobile app. As more companies look to add \"scan and go\" options inside their stores, theft remains a major issue of concern, but weight scales in carts offer one way to mitigate that challenge. SwiftGo had also added red lights to grocery carts that would light up to notify employees when it appeared a customer hadn't scanned an item to pay for it. Focal Systems showed off grocery carts equipped with a tablet to help a shopper navigate the store, locate relevant promotional offers, and automatically pay without a cashier. Anheuser-Busch InBev and other food brands are also working with Focal Systems to monitor out-of-stock items, by accessing the images taken from cameras on the sides of shopping carts. Target's partnership with Zebra , which sells scanning devices and label printers, among other items, was highlighted at the Big Show. The big-box retailer is also working with payment platform Verifone , which can help a retailer \"save the sale\" on the floor of a store with portable credit card readers. \"All around the world people want to save money and they want to save time,\" Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said during a keynote speech at the event. \"We want to foster a culture that supports change and helps us go along the journey we're all on, which will lead to even more change in the future.\" Source: Walmart Walmart's scan and go technology. Walmart and Kroger are some of the biggest names currently testing some variation of a \"scan and go\" option for shoppers, with plans to roll out that technology to 500 additional stores combined in 2018. Meanwhile, Kroger (which owns Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer and Roundy's) is in the midst of rolling out Kroger Edge, a new shelving system for its grocery stores. The company is planing to outfit hundreds of stores with digital screens that will be able to instantly update an item's price or feature other information. Eventually, the technology will link to shoppers' phones to help them navigate the store. Then, just this week it was announced that New York-based Fairway Market chose FutureProof Retail, a line-free checkout provider, to power its mobile app, which will allow shoppers to scan and pay for groceries on their phones, the company said. Building on this trend, more companies and namely grocery chains will be piloting similar technology in 2018. Walmart's Lori Flees, who serves as the senior vice president of the company's Store No. 8 incubator group, said the company will make a bigger push in grocery and fresh food this year, with automation and personalization in mind. As options like buy online, pick up in store become more popular for grocery shopping, technology goes hand-in-hand with that, she said, and will start to roll out on a grander scale across the country." + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 8:31 PM / Updated 17 minutes ago Suspected Russian warplanes hit busy market in Idlib, kill 15 - rescuers, residents Reuters Staff 2 Min Read AMMAN (Reuters) - At least 15 people were killed on Tuesday when suspected Russian warplanes struck a crowded market in the rebel-held city of Ariha in the second such strike on a shopping area in opposition-held Idlib within 24 hours, residents and rescuers said. They said the aircraft were flying at high altitude, which differentiates it from ageing Syrian airforce. The opposition-run Civil Defence service said a further 20 people were wounded in the strike. Video released by local activists showed extensive damage, with produce mixed up with human parts. Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the footage A resident said the attack took place at the busiest time of the day. Russia’s defence ministry regularly says it is attacking hardline Islamist militants. It denies opposition and witness accounts that its warplanes target market places, medical centres and residential areas away from frontlines. Syrian media made no mention of the strikes. Civil Defence workers and residents said dozens of raids have since Sunday struck the towns of Khan Sheikhoun, Maarat al Numan, Saraqeb and scores of villages. On Monday, warplanes bombed a potato market in nearby Saraqeb, killing at least 11 people, mostly farmers and traders. Shortly after that warplanes knocked out of action the only public hospital in the city, which was supported by French charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). MSF said in a statement the attack on the hospital killed at least five people, including a child, and injured six. It said this was the second strike on the hospital in just over a week. Russia has escalated its strikes in Idlib in recent months, throwing its military weight behind a Syrian military campaign to push deeper into the mainly rebel-held northwestern province. Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Editing by Angus MacSwan" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp said on Thursday it had connected key components of its new long-range discrimination radar (LRDR) with its Aegis Ashore missile-defense system to enhance Aegis’s capabilities. With this technology, the Aegis missile-defense system - a collection of radar stations and interceptors - will be simultaneously able to detect threats from longer distances and combat targets with reduced reaction time, the U.S. weapons maker said. In December, Japan decided to expand its ballistic missile defense system with Lockheed’s ground-based Aegis in response to a growing threat from North Korean rockets. Japan intends to build two Aegis Ashore batteries that will likely cost at least $2 billion and are not expected to be operational at least until 2023. Raytheon Co’s solid-state radar offering, SPY-6, would be a competitor to Lockheed’s improved offering. Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington and Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 11:09 AM / Updated 23 minutes ago At least nine killed in clashes near airport in Libyan capital - official Reuters Staff 1 Min Read TRIPOLI (Reuters) - At least nine people were killed on Monday in clashes between rival armed groups near Mitiga airport in the Libyan capital Tripoli, a health ministry official said. Local media reported that nearly 30 people had been wounded in the fighting, which caused Mitiga to suspend all flights until further notice. Reporting by Ahmed Elumami; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Catherine Evans" + }, + { + "text": "RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Anglo American PLC said on Tuesday it expects to receive long-awaited licenses on Friday which will pave the way for the mining company to boost its Brazilian iron ore production capacity by about 56 percent. Anglo American plans to invest 1 billion reais ($308.94 million) to expand its iron ore extraction capacity at Minas-Rio mine in Minas Gerais state to 26.5 million tons per year from 17 million. The pre-installation and installation licenses are up for consideration Friday by a council at Semad, Minas Gerais’ state environmental regulator, part of a process begun in 2015. If the licenses are granted, the company will be able to start construction to extend the mining system, including upgrading a tailings dam and opening a pit. The company will still need an operating license from the state environmental agency to begin operations. In an email to Reuters, the company said it was confident it would receive approval Friday. “We believe in the robustness of the process, the support of communities and the endorsement of all relevant authorities,” the company said. Anglo American bought the project from businessman Eike Batista between 2007 and 2008 for nearly $5.5 billion, then the biggest foreign mining investment in Brazil. The mine made its first iron ore shipment in October 2014, following a series of delays. Anglo American had planned to boost its capacity to 26.5 million tonnes in the second quarter of 2016, but postponed the increase to 2018, citing licensing issues. ($1 = 3.2369 reais) (Reporting by Marta Nogueira; editing by Grant McCool)" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 9:43 PM / in 8 minutes American Airlines says storm prompts 1,300 flight cancellations Reuters Staff 1 Min Read WASHINGTON, Jan 4 (Reuters) - American Airlines Group Inc said Thursday it and its regional partners have canceled more than 1,300 U.S. flights due to a massive winter storm. The largest U.S. airline said it has canceled all remaining flights at New York City area airports on Thursday and expects to resume service on Friday. Both of New York City’s major airports are currently closed. The airline has also canceled all remaining flights Thursday from Boston, Hartford, Connecticut and Providence, Rhode Island. (Reporting by David Shepardson Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Britain’s most prominent campaigner for leaving the European Union, Boris Johnson, has suggested building a giant bridge across the English Channel to France after Brexit, The Daily Telegraph reported. Foreign Secretary Johnson, who led the campaign to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum, told French President Emmanuel Macron that he felt it was ridiculous that the two countries were linked by just a single railway. The leading Brexiteer then suggested building a second crossing, to which Macron said: “I agree. Let’s do it,” the newspaper reported. “Our economic success depends on good infrastructure and good connections. Should the Channel Tunnel be just a first step?” Johnson said on Twitter. Johnson did not mention the idea of a bridge explicitly in public and it was unclear if any detailed discussions had taken place about how such a large project might be built or financed. The Daily Telegraph said that Johnson believes a privately-funded 22-mile Channel Bridge may now be an option and would provide the capacity for increased tourism and trade after Brexit. “Technology is moving on all the time and there are much longer bridges elsewhere,” Johnson told his aides, according to the newspaper. A spokesman for the Foreign Office declined to comment. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Kate Holton)" + }, + { + "text": "Xiologix is pleased to announce and welcome respected, 20-year IT Veteran, James J. Pethigal as a Sr. Systems Engineer TUALATIN, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Xiologix is pleased to announce that James J. Pethigal will be serving as a Sr. Systems Engineer. This represents another strategic expansion of Xiologix’ growing team of IT experts. “ I’ve worked with James for several years and know him to be one of the top Citrix Engineers in the Pacific Northwest,” said Sid Herron, Sr. Account Manager at Xiologix. “He will bring a great deal of value to our Citrix clients.” Pethigal brings a highly valued set of skills to Xiologix. He has served in IT leadership roles and brings with him vast experience in multi-platform environments, networking design and implementation, Windows Server platforms, hypervisor and cloud infrastructure, Unix/Linux, enterprise security, backup/disaster recovery, compliance and more. Greg Still, Managing Partner at Xiologix adds, “James has a proven track record of success in enterprise datacenter implementation and support. His industry knowledge and experience will be of great benefit to our growing client base and to our team.” In addition to being a well-respected industry expert, Pethigal is also active as a volunteer in his community. Xiologix encourages and supports all employees to be engaged citizens in areas that are of interest and importance to them. “I am quite happy to be joining Xiologix,” said James after accepting the position. “I hear great things about the people and culture.” About Xiologix Xiologix is a leading provider of innovative information technology (IT) solutions serving corporate and public-sector customers. We provide technology solutions - including hardware, software, and services - to help customers resolve their most complicated IT needs. Our expertise includes enterprise architecture and high availability, infrastructure optimization, storage and resource management, identity management and business continuity. Xiologix is headquartered in Portland, OR area with sales and engineering offices throughout the western region. For additional information call (888) 492-6843 or visit . View source version on businesswire.com : Xiologix Dawn Woodward, 888-492-6843 Marketing Manager Source: Xiologix" + }, + { + "text": "SUNNYVALE, Calif. (AP) _ GSI Technology Inc. (GSIT) on Thursday reported a fiscal third-quarter loss of $1.5 million, after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier. The Sunnyvale, California-based company said it had a loss of 7 cents per share. The chipmaker posted revenue of $11.1 million in the period. For the current quarter ending in March, GSI Technology said it expects revenue in the range of $10 million to $11 million. GSI Technology shares have increased nearly 9 percent since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Thursday, shares hit $8.65, a rise of 41 percent in the last 12 months. This story was generated by Automated Insights ( ) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on GSIT at" + }, + { + "text": "15 gennaio (Reuters) - Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Nv , AD Sergio Marchionne a conferenza stampa a salone auto Detroit * FIAT CHRYSLER, SEPARAZIONE MARCHI E’ QUESTIONE COMPLESSA, NON MI ALLONTANEREI DA MODELLO SISTEMA INTEGRATO * FIAT CHRYSLER, PIANO AL 2022 DOVRA’ PORTARE A PIENA OCCUPAZIONE IN ITALIA, ANCHE UTILIZZANDO NUOVI MODELLI JEEP * FIAT CHRYSLER, COME UTILIZZO CASSA PENSO CHE ABBIA PIU’ SENSO ACQUISTARE AZIONI PROPRIE CHE PAGARE CEDOLA Per altre informazioni (Redazione Milano)" + }, + { + "text": "Citigroup loses $18 billion 4:08pm GMT - 01:07 The bank took a $22 billion one-time charge related to the new tax law. But as Fred Katayama reports, its rising adjusted profit and revenue beat estimates. The bank took a $22 billion one-time charge related to the new tax law. But as Fred Katayama reports, its rising adjusted profit and revenue beat estimates. //reut.rs/2B7uQ08" + }, + { + "text": "FALLS CHURCH, Va., Jan. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) will webcast its fourth-quarter and full-year 2017 financial results conference call on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, beginning at 9 am EST. The live webcast of the conference call will be available at www.generaldynamics.com . A replay will be available shortly after the live presentation. More information about General Dynamics is available at www.generaldynamics.com . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE General Dynamics" + }, + { + "text": "Josh Okogie scored 17 points, and Ben Lammers recorded his sixth double-double this season, as Georgia Tech took advantage of short-handed Notre Dame to pick up a 60-53 ACC win Wednesday at McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, Ga. Lammers finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Tadric Jackson added 11 points off the bench for the Yellow Jackets (9-7, 2-1 ACC), who have won three in a row. Notre Dame was missing its two top players in point guard Matt Farrell and forward Bonzie Colson. Farrell suffered a sprained ankle last week and missed his second straight game. Fighting Irish coach Mike Brey hopes Farrell can get back next week. Colson, who was leading Notre Dame in scoring and rebounding, will be out much longer, after fracturing a bone in his foot on Dec. 29. The All-American is expected to miss eight weeks. The Irish stayed in the game, even without their two stars, and were down 54-51 after D.J. Harvey hit a 3-pointer with four minutes to play. But Lammers hit a jumper, and Okogie scored the game’s final four points to put away the Irish (13-4, 3-1 ACC), who had their five-game winning streak snapped. Georgia Tech’s defense dominated the first half, holding the Irish to just 20 points. The Yellow Jackets went into halftime with a 10-point lead, but were unable to pull away from Notre Dame. The Irish’s John Mooney came off the bench to score a career-high 11 points, including a free throw midway through the second half that tied the game at 39. Okogie answered with a 3-pointer, igniting a 10-2 Georgia Tech run. The Yellow Jackets led the rest of the way and avenged a loss to Notre Dame in the teams’ first meeting on Dec. 30. Things don’t get any easier for the banged-up Irish. They host No. 20 North Carolina on Saturday. Georgia Tech travels to Pittsburgh on Saturday. --Field Level Media Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "'The Fakeys': Comedians turn tables on Trump's 'fake news' awards 2:49am IST - 01:11 Stephen Colbert campaigns to win one of the president's awards with a billboard in Times Square. Alicia Powell reports. Stephen Colbert campaigns to win one of the president's awards with a billboard in Times Square. Alicia Powell reports. //reut.rs/2DiK2O8" + }, + { + "text": "Tesla Inc. underwhelmed Wall Street with sales of its new Model 3 sedans in the fourth quarter, raising questions about whether the Silicon Valley luxury electric-car company can spark production this year and transform into a mainstream auto maker. The company on Wednesday said it sold 1,550 Model 3s in the final three months of the year, badly missing Wall Street’s already lowered expectations. Tesla again pushed backed its goal of making 5,000 Model 3s a week by another quarter, now expected by the end of the year’s first... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia plans to build nine desalination plants for more than 2 billion riyals ($530 million) on the Red Sea coast, its environment minister said on Sunday. The plants will have capacity of 240,000 cubic meters of water per day and will be completed in less than 18 months, Abdulrahman al-Fadhli wrote in a Twitter post. The project, which the minister said was ordered by King Salman in a royal decree, will help government-owned Saudi Saline Water Conversion Corp (SWCC) raise production efficiency and cut operating and capital costs, Fadhli added. He gave no details on funding. Saudi Arabia said in 2016 it planned to use public-private partnerships (PPP) with local and foreign companies to fund infrastructure projects. In August, it said it would develop resorts on about 50 Red Sea islands, completing the first phase of that project - which is backed by its Public Investment Fund (PIF) - in the fourth quarter of 2022. ($1=3.75 Saudi riyals) Reporting by Marwa Rashad; editing by John Stonestreet" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 9:51 AM / in an hour Magnitude-7.9 quake off Alaska sparks brief West Coast tsunami fears Yereth Rosen 3 Min Read ANCHORAGE (Reuters) - Tsunami alerts were lifted on Tuesday for the U.S. West Coast and western Canada after a magnitude-7.9 earthquake struck in the Gulf of Alaska, sending the state’s coastal residents inland to seek shelter from possible tidal waves. In Alaska, people packed into high schools and other evacuation centers after the quake hit shortly after midnight local time (0900 GMT). Officials had warned residents as far south as San Francisco to be ready to evacuate coastal areas but by 5:15 a.m. PST (1315 GMT) the U.S. National Weather Service had lifted all tsunami advisories, watches and warnings for California, Oregon Washington and Alaska. Canadian officials lifted one for coastal British Colombia. In Alaska, residents gathered in shelters on Kodiak Island, the closest land point to the temblor, around 160 miles (250 km) southeast of Chiniak, Alaska, at a depth of 25 km - considered shallow but with broader damage - according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage from the quake, which was initially measured at magnitude 8.2. “People are fine,” said Neil Hecht, assistant principal of Kodiak High School, which was sheltering a few hundred people. “Spirits are high.” People walk along the 101 coastal highway and past a tsunami sign in Cardiff, California, U.S., January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake Long lines of traffic formed in coastal communities including Homer and Seward, Alaska, residents said on social media. In Homer, a few hundred cars were packed into its high school parking lot. Shawn Biessel, a 32-year-old park ranger, and his mother were in the lot, a few hundred feet above sea level. Slideshow (2 Images) “It was a really obvious, pretty strong, long quake. A good rumbler,” Biessel said in a phone interview. “It went on for a solid minute and after a while we thought we should get outside.” Police drove through Biessel’s neighborhood with flashing lights to alert residents to evacuate, Biessel said. San Francisco briefly warned residents within three blocks of the Pacific Ocean or five blocks of San Francisco Bay to prepare to evacuate. That warning was later lifted. Earthquakes of similar magnitude are not uncommon in Alaska, which is seismically active. The state has recorded 11 tremors with a magnitude of 7 or greater within 373 miles (600 km) of Tuesday’s quake over the past century, according to Zachary Reeves, a USGS seismologist in Golden, Colorado. The largest U.S. earthquake ever recorded was a magnitude-9.2 temblor in Alaska in March 1964, causing tidal waves of more than 100 feet (30 m) high that killed 131 people. Additional reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Anglees, Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee, Nate Raymond in Boston and Andrea Hopkins in Ottawa; Writing by Scott Malone and Robin Pomeroy; Editing by John Stonestreet and Jeffrey Benkoe" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 2:05 PM / Updated 6 minutes ago Allianz to invest $59 million in digital U.S. healthcare provider Reuters Staff 1 Min Read FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The German insurer Allianz said on Monday that it has agreed to invest $59 million in American Well, a digital healthcare provider. Boston-based American Well connects patients to doctors and other healthcare providers over secure video. Allianz made the investment through its Allianz X digital investment unit, and the partnership will aim to make the business global, Allianz said. “Allianz and American Well will develop digital health solutions that build on American Well’s platform and leverage Allianz’s international expertise by combining wearable sensors, remote monitoring, and virtual visits,” Allianz said in a statement. Allianz declined to disclose the size of the stake in percentage terms. Reporting by Tom Sims; Editing by Maria Sheahan" + }, + { + "text": "January 28, 2018 / 3:42 AM / Updated 32 minutes ago Hacked Tokyo cryptocurrency exchange to repay owners $425 million Reuters Staff 3 Min Read TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo-based cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck Inc said on Sunday it would return about 46.3 billion yen ($425 million) of the virtual money it lost to hackers two days ago in one of the biggest-ever thefts of digital money. That amounts to nearly 90 percent of the 58 billion yen worth of NEM coins the company lost in an attack that forced it to suspend on Friday withdrawals of all cryptocurrencies except bitcoin. Coincheck said in a statement it would repay the roughly 260,000 owners of NEM coins in Japanese yen, though it was still working on timing and method. The theft underscores security and regulatory concerns about bitcoin and other virtual currencies even as a global boom in them shows little signs of fizzling. Two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) sent a notice to the country’s roughly 30 firms that operate virtual currency exchanges to warn of further possible cyber-attacks, urging them to step up security. The financial watchdog is also considering administrative punishment for Coincheck under the financial settlements law, one of the sources said. Japan started to require cryptocurrency exchange operators to register with the government only in April 2017. Pre-existing operators such as Coincheck have been allowed to continue offering services while awaiting approval. Coincheck’s application, submitted in September, is still pending. Coincheck told a late-Friday news conference that its NEM coins were stored in a “hot wallet” instead of the more secure “cold wallet”, outside the internet. Asked why, company President Koichiro Wada cited technical difficulties and a shortage of staff capable of dealing with them. In 2014, Tokyo-based Mt. Gox, which once handled 80 percent of the world’s bitcoin trades, filed for bankruptcy after losing around half a billion dollars worth of bitcoins. More recently, South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Youbit last month shut down and filed for bankruptcy after being hacked twice last year. World leaders meeting in Davos last week issued fresh warnings about the dangers of cryptocurrencies, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin relating Washington’s concern about the money being used for illicit activity. ($1 = 108.7000 yen)" + }, + { + "text": "CHENNAI, India (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - In a victory for labor unions, a global clothing brand has agreed to pay $2.3 million to meet fire and building safety regulations in 150 garment factories across its supply chain in Bangladesh, unions said Monday. The settlement is one the largest payments made by a brand to remedy workplace dangers in Bangladesh, the unions said in a statement. Dangerous working conditions and low wages have long been a concern in Bangladesh’s garment industry, which suffered one of the worst industrial accidents in 2013, when more than 1,100 people were killed in the collapse of the Rana Plaza complex. The unions took the brand - which cannot be named under the terms of the settlement - to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, arguing the company had not made it financially feasible for its factories to fix safety issues, endangering the lives of thousands of workers. From a lack of fire alarms, sprinkler systems and fire doors to not separating flammable materials from the factories’ boiler rooms, the unions listed numerous safety lapses. “The settlement makes real resources available to over 150 factories so they can finally make the necessary repairs that were needed years ago,” Christy Hoffman of UNI Global Union said in a statement. The settlement was reached through an arbitration process under the legally-binding Bangladesh Accord for Fire and Building Safety. “Under the Accord, brands must shoulder some of the financial responsibility for fixing the Bangladeshi factories that manufacture their products,” said Hoffman. The brand will also contribute $300,000 to a fund created by UNI Global Union and IndustriAll Global Union to improve pay and conditions for workers in global supply chains. The unions are fighting other similar cases and hope this brand’s financial commitment will serve as an example for others to follow. The Accord, established after the Rana Plaza disaster, has nearly 200 signatory clothing brands and retailers from over 20 countries, covering 2.5 million workers in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry. Accord inspectors have carried out inspections of more than 1,800 factories supplying over 200 brands, identifying over 118,500 fire, electrical, and structural hazards, unions said. “Brands have never really accepted responsibility for the working conditions or said sorry for the numerous accidents that keep occurring in these factories,” said Sultan Uddin Ahmed of the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies. “This is a good example because brands need to contribute to the improvement of workers’ conditions,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from Dhaka. Reporting by Anuradha Nagaraj, Editing by Ros Russell; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking and climate change. Visit www.trust.org" + }, + { + "text": "Bollywood film controversy sparks clashes in India 4:06pm GMT - 01:38 Right-wing Hindu groups in India stepped up protests on Wednesday against the release of a controversial Bollywood film, as several states boosted police patrols a day after the Supreme Court refused to allow bans on the movie. Right-wing Hindu groups in India stepped up protests on Wednesday against the release of a controversial Bollywood film, as several states boosted police patrols a day after the Supreme Court refused to allow bans on the movie. //reut.rs/2nax224" + }, + { + "text": "SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Strava , the social network for athletes, names Stephanie Hannon as Chief Product Officer. Hannon, an ex-Googler who served as Chief Technology Officer on the Hillary for America campaign, joins Strava to lead the next chapter of the company’s product and platform expansion. As the first female CTO on a presidential campaign, she oversaw a team of engineers and developers that leveraged the digital world to connect with real-world voters. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Strava Names Stephanie Hannon as Chief Product Officer (Photo: Business Wire) Coming off the campaign trail, she looked for the right opportunity to channel her skills into a new cause that could have a broad, positive global impact. As a relatively recent convert to triathlons, Hannon understood the impact that getting physically active could have. Joining the team at Strava, which sits at the center of the connected fitness world, was a natural step. “Sport can be an empowering and unifying force in the world at a challenging moment in history,” said Hannon. “Becoming active and fit transformed my life--it made me a happier, healthier, more resilient person both physically and emotionally. Being part of a company that brings useful analytics, community and inspiration to tens of millions of athletes is easy to get excited about.” At Google, Hannon led global teams while working from the United States, Australia and Switzerland. She launched Google Transit, helped grow Gmail from its early days to 100M users, built Google Wave, and brought Google Maps to most of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Additionally, she heavily focused on creating technologies to connect people to their cities and the physical world including the General Transit Feed Specification, Public Alerts and Google Timeline. She also worked on early experiments with Google Now to increase civic engagement and participation with local elections and government. She will apply this deep technical experience to further the development of Strava Metro, which anonymizes and aggregates millions of activities uploaded to Strava every week and partners with departments of transportation, city planners and engineering firms to improve infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians. “Steph brings an ideal combination of technical fluency, insight-led product development and international exposure from some of the best organizations in the world,” said James Quarles, Strava CEO. “Her career has been defined by a commitment to social impact and we’re thrilled to tap her leadership in pursuit of Strava’s mission to build the most engaged community of athletes in the world.” The Strava Platform supports 300+ compatible devices and more than 20,000 third-party apps. Strava recently demonstrated the vast reach of their global athletic community, which grows by one million new members every 40 days, with the unveiling of its Global Heatmap. The map visualizes more than 1.3 million activities a day from its community of athletes that span more than 31 activity types including running, climbing, cycling and backcountry skiing. About Strava Strava is the social network for athletes. Our mobile apps and website connect millions of active people every day. All athletes belong on Strava, no matter where they live, which sport they love or what device they use. Join the community at strava.com . Our favorite stats: 16 activities uploaded every second, 11 million every week 300+ compatible mobile phones and GPS devices 140+ employees, most in San Francisco with more in Hanover and Bristol 1,100+ professional athletes are on Strava 1 million athletes join every 40 days 2.3 billion kudos given between athletes last year $7.99 a month to make the most of your sport with Premium, or $59.99 a year 100+ cities making commuting better with Strava Metro About Strava Metro Strava Metro makes riding, running and walking in cities better. Metro anonymizes and aggregates the millions of human-powered activities uploaded to Strava every week, then partners with departments of transportation, city planners and engineering firms to improve infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians. View source version on businesswire.com : Max Borges Agency for Strava Media Contact: Jen Squilla, 305-204-9291 [REDACTED] Source: Strava" + }, + { + "text": "Deborah Harrison | Getty Images SHARES \"Making it\" in America means different things to different people: Landing your dream job. Getting married and having kids. Buying a home. But the No. 1 answer for many, it turns out, is reaching a certain salary. In ThermoSoft's 2018 \" Making it in America \" survey, the corporation asked 2,000 Americans: \"If you haven't yet 'made it,' what's missing?\" Two-thirds of respondents, or 67 percent, said \"income.\" To feel like they have \"made it,\" respondents said they would need an average annual income of $147,104. That's an income of more than double the national median ( $57,617 as of 2016). But it's not unattainable. In fact, depending on where you live and the size of your household, a salary around $150,000 can put you squarely in the middle class . And while many people want to earn more, immense wealth isn't necessarily the goal: 77 percent of respondents would not want a salary of more than $1 million, even if it was offered. After all, a separate study found that just 11 percent of Americans say getting rich is essential to achieving the American Dream . Instead, Americans prefer goals like freedom of choice, having a good family life and being able to retire comfortably. To be fair, all of those require having funds, since money can offer options and flexibility. Still, as both surveys suggest, it isn't everything. Grant Sabatier, a web designer in his 30s who went from broke to seven figures in five years , learned this the hard way. \"I have lost a few friends and strained other relationships because I've spent too much time staying late in the office or hustling on the weekends,\" he told CNBC Make It . show chapters 3:02 PM ET Mon, 20 March 2017 | 00:47 As a solution, Sabatier decided to set lifestyle goals instead of monetary ones, by asking questions like, What do you want to do with your money? How many hours a week do you want to work? How much do you want to travel? While money can pave the way to the American dream by allowing home ownership and a comfortable retirement, as Sabatier learned, it's best seen as a means to an end: \"Even though I truly believe that having money is freedom, money is really just a tool to make experiences in life possible.\"" + }, + { + "text": "GENEVA (Reuters) - Swiss luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet said it would launch a second-hand business this year, becoming the first big brand to announce plans to tap into a fast-growing market for pre-owned premium watches. The company told Reuters it had carried out a test run in one store in Geneva and would launch the business more widely at its outlets in Switzerland this year. If this proved successful, it said it would roll out the operation in the United States and Japan. “Second-hand is the next big thing in the watch industry,” Chief Executive Francois-Henry Bennahmias told Reuters in an interview at the SIHH watch fair in Geneva this week. Luxury watchmakers have hitherto eschewed the second-hand trade, fearing diluting the exclusivity of their brands and cannibalizing their sales. They have instead ceded the ground to third-party dealers. But some are now looking to change tack, driven by an industry-wide sales slowdown combined with a second-hand market that is expanding rapidly, fueled by online platforms like Chrono24 and The RealReal. “At the moment, in watches, we leave it to what I call the ‘dark side’ to deal with demand for pre-owned pieces,” added Bennahmias, whose company is known for its octagonal Royal Oak timepieces that sell for 40,000 Swiss francs ($41,680) on average. “Anybody but the brands (is selling second hand) - it’s an aberration commercially speaking,” he said, without giving any details about how they would price pre-owned watches. Several smaller brands, including H.Moser & Cie and MB&F, have signaled interest in the second-hand trade. “It is important to control the sale of second-hand watches to protect the owners and the value of watches already in the market by keeping the grey market in check,” H.Moser & Cie boss Edouard Meylan told Reuters. MB&F, which plans to launch second-hand sales via its website this year, told Reuters it expected to typically give a 20-30 percent discount on second-hand watches. A spokesman said customers buying from established watch brands could feel confident they were getting genuine products in good working order and with a valid warranty. Bigger brands Rolex, Patek Philippe, Swatch Group, Richemont and Breitling all declined to comment, when asked whether they planned to enter the second-hand market, while LVMH’s watch division was not immediately available. ‘WATCHES BY THE BUCKET’ Audemars Piguet said it would launch its second-hand business in several, but not all, of its 26 Swiss outlets, but declined to specify how many stores or give a more precise date. Royal Oak models are pictured on the Audemars Piguet stand at the \"Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie\" (SIHH) watch fair, in Geneva, Switzerland January 15, 2018. Picture taken January 15, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse It will initially allow customers to trade in old Audemars Piguet watches as part-exchange for new ones, and then sell on the second-hand watches. It has not yet decided whether to buy second-hand watches for cash, added the firm, saying its sales had come close to the 1 billion Swiss franc mark last year. Experts say the second-hand luxury watches business, mostly done via online platforms or specialized retailers, is growing rapidly as a new generation of customers that values variety more than permanent ownership enters the luxury world. In an example of the discounts offered online, a diamond-studded Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “with moderate scratches” sells for $9,450 on The RealReal, about a third of the “estimated retail price”. Kepler Cheuvreux analyst Jon Cox said he estimated the size of the second-hand market at around $5 billion a year in revenue, including watches sold at auction, and that it had outperformed the market for new pieces in the last couple of years. Slideshow (3 Images) That is still dwarfed by a new luxury watch sector worth 37 billion euros ($45.3 billion), according to consultancy Bain & Cie. However Swiss watch exports fell 3.3 percent in 2015 and 9.9 percent in 2016 before posting a modest 2.8 percent rise in the first 11 months of 2017. The United States, where sales of new watches have been falling for years, is the number one market for pre-owned watches, followed by Britain and Japan, said U.S. retailer Danny Govberg, who sells new watches for Rolex and other brands, but also an increasing number of second-hand timepieces. His company said its second-hand sales had grown by 37-40 percent year-on-year over the past five years." + }, + { + "text": "In an example of prices, it said it listed a second-hand Audemars Piguet Royal Oak for $24,950 compared with a $32,000 retail price. Together with a partner in Hong Kong and a Singapore-based investor, Govberg recently launched global e-commerce platform WatchBox for buying and selling pre-owned luxury watches. “People sell us watches by the bucket,” he said. He said many people sold watches to buy a new one so the pre-owned market was actually driving new sales, like in the car market. “The brands are still trying to figure it out, they don’t have the solution yet,” he said. Audemars Piguet’s Bennahmias said watchmakers had to amend business models to deal with changing consumer habits. “We’re witnessing a social and cultural change that forces us to think about what the business will look like in five or 10 years,” he added. “Time flies, we need to watch out.” ($1 = 0.9597 Swiss francs; $1 = 0.8173 euros) Editing by Pravin Char" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 12:11 PM / Updated 9 hours ago Rugby-Scotland team to play Wales in Six Nations Reuters Staff 1 Min Read EDINBURGH, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Scotland coach Gregor Townsend on Wednesday named the following team to play Wales in their Six Nations opener at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday: 15-Stuart Hogg, 14-Tommy Seymour, 13-Chris Harris, 12-Huw Jones, 11-Byron McGuigan, 10-Finn Russell, 9-Ali Price, 8-Cornell du Preez, 7-Hamish Watson, 6-John Barclay (captain), 5-Jonny Gray, 4-Ben Toolis, 3-Jon Welsh, 2-Stuart McInally, 1-Gordon Reid Replacements: 16-Scott Lawson, 17-Jamie Bhatti, 18-Murray McCallum, 19-Grant Gilchrist, 20-Ryan Wilson, 21-Greig Laidlaw, 22-Pete Horne, 23-Sean Maitland. (Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Ken Ferris)" + }, + { + "text": "GENEVA (Reuters) - Vietnam has challenged U.S. anti-dumping measures against Vietnam’s exports of fish fillets, a filing published by the World Trade Organization showed on Friday. Vietnam says Washington has broken WTO rules in the way it has imposed punitive tariffs on Vietnamese fish it claims are being ”dumped, or sold at an unfairly cheap price, on the U.S. market. U.S. imports of fish fillets from Vietnam have grown from $100 million in 2007 to more than $520 million in 2016. That made Vietnam the third-biggest U.S. supplier after Chile and China and the U.S. the top export market for Vietnamese fish. The United States has 60 days to settle the complaint, or Vietnam could ask the WTO to adjudicate. Washington has faced a slew of trade disputes over its use of anti-dumping duties in the past two decades, and has lost many of them after its calculation methods were found to be out of line with WTO rules. FILE PHOTO: The U.S. flag (L) flutters next to the Vietnamese flag during a welcoming ceremony for U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter (not pictured) at the Defense Ministry in Hanoi, Vietnam June 1, 2015. REUTERS/Hoang Dinh Nam/Pool Earlier this week, the WTO published a wide-ranging Canadian trade complaint, lodged in December, against the U.S. use of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs. The United States called that complaint a “broad and ill-advised attack” that could cause a “flood of imports from China and other countries”. The Vietnamese complaint was the fourth dispute initiated by Vietnam since it joined the WTO in 2007. Two of its previous complaints took aim at U.S. anti-dumping actions against Vietnam’s shrimp exports. The long-running shrimp battle finally ended in 2016 when the United States agreed to remove duties on a Vietnamese shrimp exporter and to refund duty deposits that it had paid. At the time, the two countries were partners in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks. But under President Donald Trump the United States has withdrawn from those negotiations. Reporting by Tom Miles; Editing by Larry King" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 12:27 PM / Updated 4 hours ago Endangered Bornean orangutan found stabbed in Indonesia Reuters Staff 2 Min Read JAKARTA (Reuters) - A Bornean orangutan, a critically endangered species, has been found stabbed to death in Indonesia’s Central Kalimantan province, a conservation official said on Tuesday. Authorities said the case was the latest in a string of “unnatural deaths” of orangutans on the island, to which they are native. The great ape was found floating in a river and had been dead for at least two days, said Adib Gunawan, head of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency in central Kalimantan. “We found that it was stabbed multiple times using a sharp tool,” Gunawan told Reuters. “We are still investigating the case.” The World Wildlife Fund estimates there are 104,700 Bornean orangutans, known for their broad faces and dark brown fur, left in the world. Last year, two orangutans that had been killed were discovered in East Kalimantan, media have said. Indonesia has vast swathes of plantations growing palm oil or coffee on deforested land that conservations say often encroach on or disrupt ecosystems. Plantation workers sometimes encounter wildlife and may capture or kill the animals. Reporting by Jessica Damiana; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Clarence Fernandez" + }, + { + "text": "PANAMA CITY, Jan. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Date and time: Friday, February 9, 2018 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time Presenting for Bladex: Mr. Rubens V. Amaral Jr., Chief Executive Officer Mr. Gabriel Tolchinsky – Chief Operating Officer Mrs. Ana Graciela de Méndez, Chief Financial Officer To participate, please dial: (800) 311-9401 (U.S. Participants) (334) 323-7224 (From outside the U.S.) Conference ID: 8034 This event will be webcast live at www.bladex.com Bladex's Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Earnings Release will be distributed on Friday, February 9, 2018 before the market opens and will be available on the Bank's corporate website, along with the webcast presentation. Contact Information: Irma Garrido Arango SVP, Corporate Development and Investor Relations E-mail address: [REDACTED] Tel: [REDACTED] View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. (Bladex)" + }, + { + "text": "Ford badly needs profits, and bets selling more SUVs will bring them — even really tiny ones. The company is rolling out its EcoSport subcompact SUV to dealerships now. With the move Ford wants to claim a piece of the fastest growing segment of the profitable and popular sport-utility market. Profits are especially important for Ford right now, which is still very much in the middle of a turnaround, since appointing CEO Jim Hackett in early 2017. The second-largest U.S. automaker is trying to improve its financial fitness and erase a perception that it is behind both rival carmakers and tech firms on the development of new mobility technologies. Ford shares were down nearly 5 percent on Thursday afternoon. Source: Ford Motor Company The Ford EcoSport The EcoSport is another step toward selling cars that will bring in more money. For one thing, subcompact SUVs are popular with buyers looking for a car that offers the ride height and flexible storage of SUVs in a nimbler package. It has been the fastest-growing segment in the U.S. since 2010, Ford said at an event with reporters on Thursday. Since 2014 alone, sales of subcompact SUVs have more than tripled. About 425,000 subcompact SUVS sold in in 2017, and Ford expects that number to rise above half a million in 2018. Buick's Encore, for example, is that brand's best-selling model. They also command higher prices than comparable small cars. Average transaction prices for subcompact SUVs such as the EcoSport are $4,500 dollars higher than Ford would get from a subcompact car like the Fiesta, and $2,500 more than the company would get from the compact Focus, Ford said at an event with reporters on Thursday. The EcoSport starts at around $20,000 but there are higher trim versions available, which allow Ford to charge more for the car at relatively little cost. Ford's sales of higher-trim SUVs, such as performance or luxury versions, make up 36 percent of all SUV sales. The cars are attractive to young buyers looking for a versatile entry level car, and older buyers looking to downsize from larger SUV models. About 41 percent of subcompact SUV buyers are aged 45-64, and just over 20 percent are so-called millennials. The segment also attracts increasingly important demographics, such as culturally diverse buyers, and a higher share of women than the overall car market. Ford released earnings on Wednesday that missed Wall Street expectations , and the company is facing some impatience from investors who are looking for more details on Hackett's plan to improve the company's future. Hackett's appointment generated a great deal of interest and enthusiasm on Wall Street. But the fact that Ford still has much work ahead of it is beginning to sink in. \"Ultimately, while we agree with the long-term approach of Hackett, arguably, there won't be much to get excited about with the Ford story until 2019 or perhaps 2020,\" said Barclays analyst Brian Johnson in a research note on Thursday." + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 12:55 AM / Updated 18 hours ago China punishes officials for tampering with smog monitoring Reuters Staff 3 Min Read SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China has punished officials in the provinces of Jiangxi and Henan for tampering with pollution monitoring equipment in order to reduce smog readings, the environment ministry said in a notice on Sunday. China has been waging a “war on pollution” since 2014 in a bid to reverse the environmental and political damage done by more than three decades of untrammelled economic growth, but enforcement has been a constant problem. The Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) said officials in the cities of Xinyu in Jiangxi and Xinyang in Henan, sought to reduce emissions readings by spraying water on their air quality sensors. Both cities are major producers of polluting and energy-intensive nonferrous metals like aluminum and copper. The two local governments said the officials responsible were dismissed or subjected to “administrative” punishments. “Regardless of whether they deny deliberately tampering and whether or not it has an obvious impact on emissions data, spraying water on air quality monitoring sampling points... disrupts the normal operations of air quality monitoring,” the ministry said on Sunday. The MEP has tried to establish a real-time nationwide emissions monitoring system to help fight against pollution and ensure its rules are being enforced throughout the country. But it has also been forced to crack down on the widespread falsification of data, with local officials accused of trying to evade responsibility by misusing or disabling monitoring equipment. Some firms have also sought to evade monitoring by operating only at night. The ministry has sought to reduce “administrative interference” in its emissions data by bringing all its 1,436 monitoring stations under central government control and denying local authorities access to the equipment. This isn’t the first time Henan has been castigated for failing to maintain the integrity of its air quality data, with the ministry accusing local firms of providing fraudulent emissions figures in March last year. Local environmental officials in the northwestern city of Xian have also been punished for stuffing sensors with cotton and removing surveillance tapes. Reporting by David Stanway; Editing by Michael Perry" + }, + { + "text": "Jay Leno isn't going to hire based on resumes. \"You can send resumes all day long and people say 'uh-huh.' They just flip through,\" the comedian and host of \" Jay Leno's Garage \" tells CNBC Make It . If you want to get hired, \"personal contact is the most important,\" he says. \"If they see you and they go, that young man or that young woman — they had something. They impressed me when I met them. They looked me in the eye. They shook my hand. That stuff really, really counts for something.\" NBC | Getty Images Jay Leno, former host of NBC's \"The Tonight Show\" It certainly does for Leno, who once hired someone after meeting them at a fast food joint. \"I was standing in line at El Pollo Loco, a chicken place, and the guy behind me says, 'Hi, Mr. Leno,'\" the former \"Tonight Show\" host recalls. Leno asked what the guy did for a living only to find out that he'd just graduated and was looking for a job as a sound engineer. \"I looked at him. His name was Patrick. I said, 'Come to NBC tomorrow,'\" Leno continues. \"He stayed with me 20 years. He became a sound guy. Something about him looked right. That doesn't always work, but nine times out of 10, it'll get you more response than an email.\" show chapters Why Jay Leno never touched his 'Tonight Show' money 11:17 AM ET Wed, 14 Dec 2016 | 01:01 If you can't meet face-to-face, write a personal letter, says Leno: \"If there's somebody you admire, be it in show business or finance or whatever, write those people a letter. Don't write it in crayon on a paper bag like a psycho. Write a proper business letter.\" It will stand out more so than an email or resume. \"I'm always amazed at the number of people that say, 'Well, I sent an email. I didn't get any response.' No, but if you send a handwritten letter or if you deliver it yourself,\" that can be more memorable, says Leno. Even if your personal letter or face-to-face meeting doesn't land you a job, chances are, you'll get something out of it, Leno says: \"I find most people like to help young people. I do. \"Whenever I meet people that want to be comedians, I'm excited for them. I sit down. I talk to them. I tell them what worked for me. What didn't work for me. And most people are willing to do that.\" Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook ! Don't miss: The brilliant reason Jay Leno has never touched a dime of his 'Tonight Show' money show chapters Jay Leno has no debt thanks in large part to abiding by this one rule 10:05 AM ET Tue, 13 Dec 2016 | 00:56" + }, + { + "text": "Trump is sharp, but needs to lose weight: White House doctor 59 After weeks of speculation over President Trump’s mental fitness, his physician Dr. Ronny Jackson Tuesday gave a very lengthy press conference giving the president’s mental and physical health a big thumbs up,: After weeks of speculation over President Trump’s mental fitness, his physician Dr. Ronny Jackson Tuesday gave a very lengthy press conference giving the president’s mental and physical health a big thumbs up,: //reut.rs/2B7ppys" + }, + { + "text": "14 PM / a minute ago Bannon to appear before Congress committee for Russia probe Karen Freifeld , Patricia Zengerle President Donald Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon will be interviewed next week by a U.S. House of Representatives committee investigating alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, a person familiar with the matter said on Thursday. The interview on Tuesday will focus on Bannon’s time on the campaign, not the transition or his time in the White House, the source said. An aide to Republican Representative Devin Nunes, the committee’s chairman, declined comment. The committee’s practice is not to comment on specific witnesses or the schedule for testimony at non-public hearings. Separately, Representative Adam Schiff, the panel’s top Democrat, told reporters on Thursday he would like “dozens” more witnesses, including Bannon, to appear before the committee, making clear he does not view its investigation of Russia and the election as near its end. Some of Trump’s fellow Republicans in Congress have been saying they expect the House Intelligence probe and other congressional investigations to wrap up quickly. Democrats have been disputing this, saying there is much work remaining to determine whether Russia attempted to influence the election on Trump’s behalf or whether Trump colluded. Moscow denies trying to meddle in the election, and Trump dismisses talk of collusion. “There are still dozens of witnesses that we could bring in,” Schiff told reporters. Besides Bannon, he said those witnesses would include Trump’s daughter Ivanka. He also said he would like Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to appear again before the committee while noting that the choice of witnesses is determined by the panel’s Republican leadership. Editing by Yara Bayoumy and Marguerita Choy" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian lender VTB has set aside 50 billion rubles ($882 million) in additional provisions against losses and agreed with the central bank to monitor a number of riskier loans, VTB’s chief executive told Reuters. Andrey Kostin’s comments show that major Russian banks are under tighter scrutiny from the central bank, which is on a heightened state of alert following the rescue of three big private lenders last year. His remarks come just days before Washington is scheduled to draw up a list of Russian businesspeople close to the Kremlin, on which Kostin himself said he may figure. Inclusion on the list could make it harder for the bank to finance itself. In an interview cleared for publication on Monday, Kostin said the central bank had been conducting checks on VTB’s financial health for 10 months. “We set aside around 50 billion rubles at the end of last year, of which around a half was recommended by our risk department and around the same amount was set aside based on the central bank’s recommendation,” Kostin told Reuters. “The central bank has finished checking us, there were a number of issues where we agreed that for half a year we would study how certain loans perform and would afterwards decide whether any other provisions would be needed,” he said. “I am an advocate of having a well-covered portfolio and feeling relaxed.” Kostin did not specify the type of loans which were covered by the additional provisions. He said despite the provisions the bank would earn a net profit of slightly over 100 billion rubles for 2017, in line with forecasts. The bank would be ready to pay 50 percent of its net profit in dividends on last year results, Kostin said. TOUGH SUPERVISION VTB already set aside 118.2 billion rubles in provisions in the first 9 months of 2017, which was 19 percent down on the same period of 2016. The non-performing loan ratio was at 6.4 percent at the end of September, unchanged from the start of 2017. Kostin said that in some cases the central bank acted “a little too harshly” in applying its powers over the banking sector. However, he said VTB had no problems in its dealings with the central bank. The central bank’s tough approach to banking regulation is “better than the weak-willed and spineless supervision that took place under Elvira Nabiullina’s predecessors,” Kostin said. Kostin said that VTB, which had a Tier 1 capital level of 13.1 percent at the end of November, planned to support its capital through its profits, and was not planning to raise capital from external sources over the next two years. On sanctions, Kostin said those already in place constrained VTB’s privatization plans and curbed its activities on international markets, but that otherwise they did not affect the operations of the bank. He declined to speculate about the possibility of the United States imposing tougher sanctions. The U.S. government is preparing to draw up a list of Russian oligarchs with close connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin by the end of this month. Kostin said the risk of him being on the new list was “quite high”. But he said: “What can I do? Apologize for who I am or aren‘t? I am who I am, and my role is what it is in this country,” Kostin said. “To be honest, I am not very afraid of this.” While inclusion on the new list would not automatically lead to sanctions, it could make foreign politicians, banks, and officials reluctant to have any dealings with individuals named on the list. Reporting by Katya Golubkova and Dmitry Antonov; Editing by Christian Lowe" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 3:32 PM / Updated 42 minutes ago Lottery operator Sazka Group raises stake in Casinos Austria Reuters Staff 2 Min Read VIENNA, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Czech-based lottery and gaming group Sazka Group, which is considering a stock market listing in London, has increased its stake in Casinos Austria, it said on Monday. Sazka, owned by Czech investors Karel Komarek’s KKCG group and Jiri Smejc’s EMMA Capital, got approval from Casinos Austria’s shareholders to increase its stake to 34 percent from 11.3 percent after buying the indirect shares held by investment fund LLI and insurer UNIQA. Sazka group companies took in bets worth over 15 billion euros ($19.62 billion) in 2016 in the Czech Republic, Austria, Greece and Italy, according to its website. Casinos Austria generated an operating profit of 150 million euros on revenue of 4 billion euros in 2016. “We are pleased to have strengthened our position as the largest strategic shareholder in Casinos Austria,” Sazka Group Chief Executive Robert Chvatal said. “Sazka Group’s lottery and gaming expertise comes from multiple markets and we are excited about leveraging that experience for the benefit of all of Casinos Austria stakeholders.” In November, Sazka said it had hired Citigroup, J.P. Morgan Cazenove and Morgan Stanley as joint global coordinators for a possible initial public offering, but said it was also evaluating other options to fund growth. ($1 = 0.8157 euros) (Reporting by Kirsti Knolle and Jason Hovets. Editing by Jane Merriman)" + }, + { + "text": "COPENHAGEN, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Danish jewellery maker Pandora said on Thursday it expects its profit margins to fall in the next few years as it reported 2017 revenues that were below both its own guidance and analysts’ expectations. “The 2017 results are close to the targets we set ourselves at the beginning of the year, but we are of course disappointed to not fully reach the targets,” Chief Executive Anders Colding Friis said, pointing to a difficult U.S. retail climate and unfavourable currency developments. Pandora said its EBITDA margin in the period from 2018-2022 would be around 35 percent, compared to the 37.3 percent achieved last year, while it expects revenue to increase annually by 7-10 percent in local currencies. (Reporting by Stine Jacobsen; Editing by Susan Fenton) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 4:29 AM / Updated 31 minutes ago Wing panel falls off Japanese prime minister's jumbo Reuters Staff 2 Min Read TOKYO (Reuters) - A panel the size of a laptop computer fell off one of the Japanese prime minister’s jumbo jets, the defence force said on Friday, a potentially embarrassing mishap amid concern over the dangers posed by parts falling off U.S. military aircraft based in Japan. Officials noticed the panel was missing from the Boeing 747, one of two jetliners used by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for foreign trips, after it flew from Tokyo to its base on the northern island of Hokkaido on Thursday, a spokesman for the Japan Air Self Defence Force (ASDF) said. The part, measuring 38 cm (15 inches) by 20 cm, has not been found. It is an access panel near the pylon connecting one of the engines to the right wing. “There was no sign of it on the runways so it’s going to be very difficult to locate,” the spokesman said. A recent string of incidents involving U.S. aircraft based on Japan’s southern island of Okinawa prompted Japan’s Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera on Tuesday to ask his U.S. counterpart James Mattis to implement measures that would prevent any recurrences. Those incidents, which included a window falling from a helicopter onto a school playground last month, have fuelled public opposition to the U.S. presence on the strategically located island at the edge of the East China Sea. The air force would conduct an investigation to determine why the panel had fallen off Abe’s plane, the ASDF spokesman said. The two government jumbos left Tokyo on Friday carrying Abe, government officials and Japanese business representatives on a six-day trip to Eastern Europe, including stops in Estonia, Lithuania, Serbia and Romania. Abe did not board the 747 that lost the panel. Japan has ordered two Boeing 777 planes to replace the ageing jumbos after March 2019. It also plans to switch to ANA Holdings for maintenance work from rival Japan Airlines Co.. Reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by Paul Tait" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 10 (Reuters) - Lens Technology Co Ltd : * Actual controller proposed to pay a cash dividend of 2.3 yuan for every 10 shares and use additional paid-in capital to distribute 5 new shares for every 10 shares, as the dividend payment plan for FY 2017 Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/CJv59r Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Uber Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi said the ride-hailing company’s relationship with former chief Travis Kalanick was “fine but strained”. Kalanick was pushed out by the company’s board last year amid a litany of regulatory problems, driver and consumer scandals, and court cases. Khosrowshahi replaced Kalanick in August. “The relationship with Travis is fine but its strained because obviously there was a lot that happened in the past that wasn’t right and I think the moral compass of the company was not pointed where it needed to be,” Khosrowshahi told CNBC on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos on Tuesday. FILE PHOTO: The chief executive of Uber Technologies Inc, Dara Khosrowshahi (R) attends a meeting with Brazilian Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles in Brasilia, Brazil October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Adriano Machado/File Photo “While you don’t want to blame individuals, in the end the CEO of the company has to take responsibility.” Khosrowshahi, however, said that Kalanick has been available as a board member to provide guidance. Last week, a consortium led by SoftBank Group Corp took a 17.5 percent stake in Uber, mostly by buying shares from early investors and employees at a discounted valuation of $48 billion for the company. Kalanick sold nearly a third of his 10 percent stake in the ride-services company for about $1.4 billion, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters. Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee and Arjun Panchadar in Bengaluru; Editing by Supriya Kurane" + }, + { + "text": "TEL AVIV, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Israeli defence firm Elbit Systems Ltd said on Thursday it won an $85 million contract to supply advanced ground-based Electronic Warfare and Signal Intelligence systems to an unnamed European country. The contract will be performed over a four-year period, the company said. (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch)" + }, + { + "text": "Following are excerpts from a CNBC interview with Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia and Steve Sedgwick from the World Economic Forum 2018. Steve Sedgwick: I'm delighted to welcome Juan Manuel Santos, the president of Colombia, to our show. Nice to see you Sir Juan Manuel Santos: Thank you for having me. SS: Well no it's absolute pleasure. Look, there are so many issues I can talk to you about. I mean, the electoral cycle, Colombian elections, 27th of May of course. You're not standing I believe. You had two terms as well. How well a place is Colombia? Given that everything that has gone on, everything you've done to bring peace to your country, to bring economic prosperity to your country. What kind of legacy are you leaving for the next man or woman? JMS: We are leaving a country at peace after more than fifty years of war; and a strong economy, an economy that has its fundamentals in place. It's growing. It's creating employment, farmer employment, it's at the centre of the integration, for example the Pacific Alliance which is doing very well. We leave a stronger democracy, more inclusive because of the peace. So I think Colombia is very well placed for the future and I hope that my successor simply builds on what we have built. SS: At this stage of peace, it can be fragile, and one hears reports about some troubles, perhaps they heard bombing here and there as well, about FARC resurgence in certain parts as well. Do you have concerns about the fragility of the peace accord or actually do you think it is built on pretty solid foundations? JMS: No it's build on pretty solid foundations. I say that building peace is like building a cathedral. You have to have a solid base and then you do it brick by brick. But the process is irreversible. There's no way back. And there are problems which are natural in the transition of a country that has been fifty years at war towards peace. There are some people who did not come into the democratic sphere, they are still outlaws. We have more than the capability to confront them. And all transitions are troublesome. But basically we are doing very well in less than a year. The FARC has given up their arms. They are now a political party. They are now doing politics which what a peace process was all about. SS: In terms of the economic dividend, turning farmers from illicit crops into ones that can actually boost your country's export, looking at mineral riots in parts of the country which were off bounds really for the federal government previously as well. What stage are we at? Because it is about domestic investment but also there's a huge number of international companies that I know you've worked so hard to get back into Colombia. JMS: Well, first... Simply to have peace brings huge investment. Areas like tourism, tourism is SS: Yeah JMS: one of the areas that SS: It's huge at the moment isn't it ? JMS: And it is growing at a very fast rate. Many people did not want to look at Colombia simply because we were on the list of countries with armed conflict. Not anymore. So we are seeing forward investment in many areas coming in, and you mentioned one which is very particular, where I think the benefit is going to be huge, which is the agro-business, the agriculture areas. More than one third of the country was out of bounds because of the war. And it is very fertile, very rich terrains. There are now being formalised. We are bringing infrastructure. We are giving part of the lands to the peasants. We are promoting investment in agro-business. So that's an area that has already been growing. The sector that is growing the fastest in Colombia strangely enough right now is the agricultural sector because of that. SS: One of your ministers was telling me I think it was about a year or so ago about how you would take advantage of perhaps Brazil's wows on the coffee production front and taking advantage on that as well. JMS: And we're doing that. SS: In some style sir. Now I do want to ask you about international partners. I haven't got a huge amount of time left with you; I know your time is very precious. Traditionally one would say the US is a very important international partner with you as well. Of course it has been on the war on drugs as well, amongst other things as well. Is US always looking now forward do you think into being the most reliable partner or is it... it almost seems conceivable that the country that countries such as China would be better investors and perhaps longer term partners given the different aspirations of the leadership of the two countries JMS: Well the US has been our number one for many, many years, in trade and in investment. And we are not one of the countries that have a negative balance with the US or..." + }, + { + "text": "we're not in trouble. SS: Ok. JMS: And we hope we can grow much more. We're very near, from the coast of Colombia to Miami, it's two hours by flight so it's a market that we have to take even more advantage of because our free trade agreement with the US is relatively recent, it's not more than six, seven years. So we need to have more activity with the US but we're seeing the Chinese and other areas of the... the Europeans of course are very good partners, more and more interested in Colombia. Not only because of Colombia but because of our geographical location. We are at the centre of the Americas. SS: Sure. JMS: Because of the Pacific Alliance which is becoming very attractive for any investor. And so we are in a very good position. SS: Mister Meirelles which I am sure you know well, Finance Minister of Brazil, said to me \"a bit of advice Mr Trump: don't do it, don't go down the protectionist route.\" Have you got some advice for Mr Trump? JMS: The same. The same. I am a believer in free trade, fair free trade. Protectionism is something that will hurt everybody but I think especially the US. SS: It is a real pleasure speaking to you." + }, + { + "text": "HOUSTON, Jan. 22, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its second quarter fiscal 2018 financial results at 10 a.m. (Eastern), Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. All interested parties are invited to listen online at investors.sysco.com . A replay of the webcast will be available online at investors.sysco.com shortly after the live webcast is completed. Prior to the conference call and webcast, the company will also issue a news release and post a slide presentation online at investors.sysco.com . For purposes of public disclosure, including this and future similar events, Sysco uses the investor relations portion of its website as the primary channel for publishing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information. About Sysco Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. With over 65,000 associates, the company operates approximately 300 distribution facilities worldwide and serves more than 500,000 customer locations. For fiscal 2017 that ended July 1, 2017, the company generated sales of more than $55 billion. For more information, visit www.sysco.com or connect with Sysco on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SyscoCorporation or Twitter at . For important news and information regarding Sysco, visit the Investor Relations section of the company's Internet home page at , which Sysco plans to use as a primary channel for publishing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information. Investors should also follow us at www.twitter.com/SyscoStock and download the Sysco IR App, available on the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Market . In addition, investors should continue to review our news releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is possible that the information we disclose through any of these channels of distribution could be deemed to be material information. For more information contact: Ronit Patel Investor Contact T 281-584-1439 Camilla Zuckero Media Contact T 281-899-1839 Source:Sysco Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "North Korea to send athletes, cheer squad to Winter Olympics Tuesday, January 09, 2018 - 01:51 North Korea says it will send a delegation of high-ranking officials, athletes and a cheering squad to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea next month, during rare talks with the South. North Korea says it will send a delegation of high-ranking officials, athletes and a cheering squad to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea next month, during rare talks with the South. //reut.rs/2AJarOW" + }, + { + "text": "By Aaron Pressman 10:13 AM EST Amazon announced in September that it was searching North America for a site for a second major headquarters, dubbed HQ2, in addition to its massive Seattle base. But the e-commerce giant may have given a clue about a region it likes in recently uncovered plans to expand in one city. Amazon is in talks to lease 500,000 square feet of offices in Boston’s Fort Point Channel neighborhood, a hot destination for tech companies, with an option to double the amount of space also being discussed, the Boston Globe reported on Thursday. The search started before Amazon publicly disclosed its HQ2 search, the paper said. That sounds a lot like the first stage of the plan Amazon laid out for HQ2. Though the second headquarters is ultimately projected to house 50,000 workers in a $5 billion, 8-million square foot campus by 2027, Amazon said the first phase of the project would be to open about 500,000 square feet of space in 2019 in the new city. Get Data Sheet , Fortune’s technology newsletter. Fortune asked Amazon for comment on its Boston office space and will update this story if a response is received. The Boston metro region has already seen rapid expansion by Amazon, where the company currently employs about 1,000 people. Amazon’s first major office was opened five years ago in the Kendall Square area of Cambridge near MIT. It later opened an office in Boston’s Back Bay and was already preparing 150,000 square foot of new space in the Fort Point Channel area. In the HQ2 search, which is supposed to be completed before the end of this year, Amazon (amzn) said it was targeting a metro area with at least 1 million residents with a “stable and business-friendly environment.” The company received some 238 proposals for HQ2, including one from Boston, along with Chicago, Dallas, New York, and Washington D.C. The proposals included all kinds of sweeteners to lure Amazon. Chula Vista, Calif., offered to give the company $100 million worth of land and Chicago mentioned refunding the company $1.3 billion in tax revenue collected from its employees, for example. Outsiders have tried to guess which region is most likely to win. One betting web site listed Atlanta as the favorite, followed by Austin, Boston, and Toronto. But the proposals have come in from all manner of towns, cities, and counties in the United States and Canada. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO, Jan 12 (Reuters) - A stricken Iranian oil tanker drifted into Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Wednesday afternoon, a spokesman for Japan’s Coast Guard told Reuters on Friday, as strong winds pushed the burning ship away from the Chinese coast. The ship, which has been burning for almost a week since it collided with another vessel on Saturday night, was about 300 kilometres (186 miles) northwest of Amami Oshima island as of Thursday afternoon, a spokesman from the Coast Guard’s 10th region based in Kagoshima said. The tanker Sanchi was carrying almost 1 million barrels of condensate, an ultra-light, highly flammable crude oil, to South Korea. He said that Chinese authorities turned down an offer from the Japanese Coast Guard to help, saying it would ask for help when needed. (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi in TOKYO; Writing by Josephine Mason in BEIJING; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "ISTANBUL (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday the United States was trying to create a “terror army” on Turkey’s southern frontier by training a Syrian border force that includes a Kurdish militia, and pledged to crush it before it came into being. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, January 10, 2018. Yasin Bulbul/Presidential Palace/Handout via REUTERS “A country we call an ally is insisting on forming a terror army on our borders,” Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara. “What can that terror army target but Turkey?” “Our mission is to strangle it before it’s even born.” On Sunday, the U.S.-led coalition said it was working with the mainly Kurdish YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to set up a new 30,000-strong border force. The plan has infuriated Turkey, which considers the YPG to be an extension of the PKK, a Kurdish group waging an insurgency in southern Turkey and deemed a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and European Union. “This is what we have to say to all our allies: don’t get in between us and terrorist organisations, or we will not be responsible for the unwanted consequences,” Erdogan said. “Either you take off your flags on those terrorist organisations, or we will have to hand those flags over to you ...Our operations will continue until not a single terrorist remains along our borders, let alone 30,000 of them.” Erdogan also said that Turkey’s armed forces had completed preparations for an operation against the Kurdish-controlled region of Afrin in northwest Syria and the town of Manbij. Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun and Ece Toksabay; Writing by Dominic Evans; Editing by David Dolan" + }, + { + "text": "SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NETGEAR, Inc., (NASDAQ:NTGR), a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers , today announced that it will hold a conference call with investors and analysts on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. PT) to discuss the Company’s fourth quarter and full year 2017 results and first quarter 2018 business outlook. The news release announcing the fourth quarter and full year 2017 results will be disseminated on February 6, 2018 after the market close. The toll free dial-in number for the live audio call beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. PT) on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 is (844) 709-2008. The international dial-in number for the live audio call is (647) 253-8663. The conference ID for the call is 2487009. A live webcast of the conference call will be available on NETGEAR’s Investor Relations website at . A replay of the call will be available via the web at . About NETGEAR, Inc. NETGEAR (NASDAQ:NTGR) is a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers. The Company's products are built on a variety of proven technologies such as wireless (WiFi and LTE), Ethernet and powerline, with a focus on reliability and ease-of-use. The product line consists of wired and wireless devices that enable networking, broadband access and network connectivity. These products are available in multiple configurations to address the needs of the end-users in each geographic region in which the Company's products are sold. NETGEAR products are sold in approximately 30,000 retail locations around the globe, and through approximately 25,000 value-added resellers, as well as multiple major cable, mobile and wireline service providers around the world. The company's headquarters are in San Jose, Calif., with additional offices in approximately 25 countries. More information is available at or by calling (408) 907-8000. Connect with NETGEAR at and . © 2018 NETGEAR, Inc. NETGEAR and the NETGEAR logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. and its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. NETGEAR shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. All rights reserved. Source: NETGEAR-F Contact: NETGEAR Investor Relations Christopher Genualdi [REDACTED] (408) 890-3520 Source:NETGEAR, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "SKÅNES FAGERHULT, Sweden, Jan. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Joshua Berin has joined the Concentric Group as Vice President of Sales for North America to lead the profitable and sustainable growth of our Hydraulics product sales throughout the region. Joshua has a B.A. in Communications, Marketing & Media, from the University of Missouri, St. Louis. He joins us from Actuant Corporation where he has spent the past 5 years in senior sales roles, most recently as the Vice President Sales for the Maximatecc business unit, specializing in operator-machine interface solutions and instrumentation for critical environments serving leading OEMs in Construction/Agriculture, Heavy Duty Industrial, Transportation, and Specialty Vehicle markets. Martin Bradford, Senior Vice President said of the appointment, \"Josh has a proven track record of developing profitable sales in new markets and territories through value based selling. He has experience working as a sales leader with both direct and cross functional teams globally. His background and drive will make him a valued member of my leadership team.\" Joshua Berin replaces Bill Ford who retires in the next 3 months. His appointment provides a smooth transition for the existing sales team and Concentric's customers. For further information about this appointment, please contact Martin Bradford at [REDACTED] . This information was brought to you by Cision The following files are available for download: PDF Josh Berin View original content: SOURCE Concentric AB" + }, + { + "text": "Barry Brown scored 38 points and Cartier Diarra added 17 as Kansas State outlasted Oklahoma State 86-82 on Wednesday in Big 12 Conference action at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kan. The game was tied at 58 with 6:56 to play before the Wildcats forged a 16-4 run and established a 74-62 advantage at the 3:02 mark. Diarra hit a key 3-pointer during that stretch. The Cowboys fought back in the final minute, cutting the Kansas State advantage to 84-80 with 14 seconds to play, but it was not enough. Xavier Sneed added 11 points for the Wildcats (12-4, 2-2), including six in the surge that decided the game, and grabbed 12 rebounds while Dean Wade scored 10. Kansas State outshot the Cowboys 50 percent to 45.2 percent in the game, but the Wildcats stayed close thanks to a 37-28 edge in rebounding. Brandon Averette led the Cowboys with 22 points while Jeffrey Carroll added 20 points. Kendall Smith contributed 14 points and Lindy Waters III scored 10 points for Oklahoma State (11-5, 1-3). Mitchell Solomon snatched 10 rebounds the Cowboys, who have lost three of their past four games. Oklahoma State trailed by as many as nine points in the first half but fashioned a 12-3 run to close the half and after a dunk by Solomon with 47 seconds remaining led 34-33 at halftime. The Cowboys were led by Carroll’s nine points over the first 20 minutes while Brown led all scorers with 12 points and canned two of Kansas State’s three 3-pointers. Kansas outshot by the Cowboys 48.1 percent to 36.4 percent in the first half but Oklahoma State grabbed 23 rebounds to just 15 for the Wildcats. Brown took the team on his shoulders early in the second half, scoring eight of Kansas State’s first 10 points and helping the Wildcats to a 43-38 lead. Oklahoma State returns to the court on Saturday when it hosts Texas. Kansas State’s next contest is a Sunflower State rivalry game at No. 12 Kansas, also on Saturday. --Field Level Media Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "(Adds Quote: s, detail) MOSCOW, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was “shrewd and mature” and had won the latest standoff with the West over his nuclear and missile programmes. “I think that Mr Kim Jong Un has obviously won this round. He has completed his strategic task: he has a nuclear weapon, he has missiles of global reach, up to 13,000 km, which can reach almost any point of the globe,” Putin told Russian journalists at a televised meeting. Russia has voted at the United Nations in favour of international sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear programme, while urging the West to show restraint and calling for talks over the issue. Putin reiterated that dialogue with North Korea was warranted, and said Kim now wanted to calm the situation. “He is already a shrewd and mature politician,” Putin said. North Korea and South Korea held talks on Tuesday after a prolonged period of tension on the Korean peninsula over the North’s missile and nuclear programmes. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Christian Lowe; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Peter Graff) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 1:13 PM / Updated 8 minutes ago Iran frees 440 people arrested during protests Reuters Staff 3 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Iran has freed 440 people arrested in Tehran during anti-government protests, a judiciary official said, amid continuing uncertainty over how many were detained around the country. The demonstrations, which began over economic hardships in late December, spread to more than 80 cities and towns and resulted in 25 deaths. Demonstrators initially vented their anger over high prices and alleged corruption, but the protests took on a rare political dimension, with a growing number of people calling on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to step down. Judicial officials have announced more than 1,000 arrests around the country, but lawmaker Mahmoud Sadeghi said last week that at least 3,700 people had been detained. Several detainees have died in custody, and human rights activists have called for an independent investigation of their cases. The deputy speaker of parliament, Ali Motahari, was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA on Sunday that based on reports received “one detainee in Tehran and two in other provinces” had died in jail. The judiciary has confirmed two deaths in custody but said they have committed suicide. “More than 440 people who were arrested in Tehran riots have been released,” Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi was quoted as saying by Mehr news agency on Sunday. Dolatabadi said most of those held during the protests were from low income families, and were 18 to 35 years old. Iran’s judiciary spokesman said on Sunday that Iranian authorities had arrested a dual national who was taking pictures during recent unrest, but gave no details of the person’s nationality. The United States imposed sanctions on 14 individuals and entities on Friday for human rights abuses in Iran and for supporting Iranian weapons programs, including the head of Iran’s judiciary, Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani. Larijani is a close ally of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Larijani was quoted by ISNA news agency as saying on Monday that imposing sanctions on him as the head of the judiciary was “crossing the line” and said Iran would not remain silent against such action. Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - And the name is .... Chicago West. Kim Kardashian’s new baby daughter with rapper husband Kanye West has been named Chicago, the reality star announced on her app on Friday. The baby girl was born to a surrogate on Monday, a third child for the celebrity couple. Kardashian revealed the name, without explanation, in a simple update to the birth announcement she made earlier this week. West, 40, was born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago. Kardashian, 37, and West are already parents to North, 4, and Saint, 2. The “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” reality and social media star has said she decided to use a surrogate after doctors warned of serious health risks if she became pregnant again. Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Andrew Hay" + }, + { + "text": "DETROIT, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Former Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV vice president Alphons Iacobelli is expected to plead guilty in connection with a U.S. federal investigation into allegations he made at least $1.2 million in improper payments to a former union vice president and his wife, a person briefed on the matter said Tuesday. Iacobelli, a former Fiat Chrysler vice president of employee relations, was charged in July in U.S. District Court in Detroit with taking part in a conspiracy to pay prohibited money and gifts to United Auto Workers union officials. A not guilty plea was initially entered on his behalf in August but he did not comment when asked by reporters about the case. A court notice made public Tuesday said Iacobelli is scheduled to enter a new plea on Jan. 22, but the details of the plea agreement are not known. A lawyer for Iacobelli declined to comment. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Frances Kerry)" + }, + { + "text": "U.S. government bonds fell as investors focused on diminishing support for debt as the global economy continues to show signs of strength. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.698%, according to Tradeweb, from 2.661% Friday. Bond yields rise as prices fall. The yield had reached 2.727% earlier Monday morning, the highest since April 2014. Some... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 6:18 AM / Updated 24 minutes ago Tennis-Chung hoping Melbourne run sparks Korean tennis boom Reuters Staff 2 Min Read SEOUL, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Chung Hyeon hopes his surprise run to the Australian Open semi-finals will give South Korean tennis a shot in the arm and the 21-year-old said his next target was breaking into the top 10 in the world rankings. Chung, who beat six-time champion Novak Djokovic in the fourth round at Melbourne Park last week, was forced to retire from his last four clash with eventual champion Roger Federer due to blistered feet on Friday. President Moon Jae-in issued a statement congratulating Chung for writing a “new chapter in South Korean sports history” and the player was welcomed home by hundreds of fans at Incheon International Airport on Sunday evening. “I didn’t expect this many people to be here,” he said of his reception. “I must have done something big.” Chung rose from 58th in the world to 29th when the latest rankings were released on Monday, the highest position ever achieved by a Korean player. “I really want a place in the top 10 now,” Yonhap News quoted Chung as saying. “I‘m setting my sights on something high and going after it.” The Korean Tennis Association is planning to pour more resources into the game to capitalise on Chung’s exploits, while sales of tennis equipment surged last week. “Tennis isn’t a popular sport here right now but I want it to become popular,” Chung said. Chung added that he would visit a hospital on Monday for treatment on his blisters before deciding on his upcoming schedule. (Writing by Peter Rutherford; Editing by John O‘Brien)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 18 (Reuters) - India’s Yes Bank CEO Rana Kapoor: * SAYS EXPECTS TO GET TO 60 PERCENT PROVISIONING RATIO BY JUNE 2018 * SAYS SOLD A STANDARD LOAN WITH 6 BILLION RUPEES PRINCIPAL VALUE TO ASSET RECONSTRUCTION CO IN Q3 * SAYS SEES 2017/18 CREDIT COSTS AT AROUND 75 BPS Further company coverage: (Reporting)" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 12:22 PM / Updated 31 minutes ago Investment banking fees at record high in 2017 - Thomson Reuters data Dasha Afanasieva 2 Min Read LONDON, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Buoyed by a recovery in equity issuance, global investment banking fees rose 16 percent to an estimated $104 billion in 2017, Thomson Reuters data shows, the highest level since its records began in 2000. The rebound in fees to above pre-crisis highs will be welcome news for global advisors who complain they are being squeezed by regulatory requirements amid competition from boutique players. Following a downbeat 2016, investment banking fees for equity products rose 41.5 percent to $22 billion on an issuance recovery. Fees for bonds beat mergers and acquisitions as the number one product, rising almost 15 percent to $31 billion. Japan Post Holdings Co Ltd, the biggest follow-on offering of the year, and Japanese SoftBank Group Corp, which agreed to buy a large number of shares of Uber Technologies Inc in late December, were the biggest corporate clients of 2017 - paying out $382 and $378 million respectively. Japan saw a 50 percent rise in total fees to $5.5 billion. Blackstone Group was the biggest financial sponsor fee payer, shelling out $679 million, an increase of 87 percent on the previous year. JP Morgan was the biggest global investment banking earner of the year once again, racking up an estimated $6.7 billion in fees, or 6 percent of the total. Reporting by Dasha Afanasieva; Editing by Adrian Croft" + }, + { + "text": "President Donald Trump arrived in Switzerland on Thursday to attend the World Economic Forum where he will push his \"America First\" agenda and seek more fair, reciprocal trade between the United States and its allies. Trump arrived in Zurich en route to the Swiss ski resort of Davos for two days of events culminating in a speech on Friday to the forum of business and political leaders. Trump, never invited as a businessman, will be the first U.S. president to attend Davos since Bill Clinton in 2000, giving him a chance to mingle with the same elite \"globalists\" he bashed in the 2016 election campaign. \"Will soon be heading to Davos, Switzerland, to tell the world how great America is and is doing,\" Trump tweeted before departure. \"Our economy is now booming and with all I am doing, will only get better...Our country is finally WINNING again!\" Trump tweet White House aides said Trump's message would be the same that he has given during other trips aboard over the past year: The United States wants strong ties with its allies but wants to reduce chronic trade deficits with many of them. \"America first is not America alone,\" said White House senior economic adviser Gary Cohn , who is traveling with Trump. \"When we grow, the world grows; when the world grows, we grow. We're part of it, and we're part of a world economy. And the president believes that.\" In the run-up to his trip to Davos, Trump slapped a 30 percent tariff on imported solar panels , among the first unilateral trade restrictions imposed by the administration as part of a broader protectionist agenda. Then on Wednesday in Davos, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he welcomed a weakening in the dollar. Fears of protectionist trade policies by the United States had already pushed the greenback to a three-year low, and Mnuchin's remark pushed it down further. Trump will use his trip for some diplomacy. He has meetings with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, current chairman of the African Union, and Swiss President Alain Berset on Friday. Kagame is a pro-American leader who went to the United States for training when he was in the Ugandan army. Iran's growing influence in the Middle East, North Korea's nuclear challenge and the battle against Islamic State militants figured to be prominent topics of his meetings. French President Emmanuel Macron told RTS channel that he had \"strongly recommended\" to Trump to attend the Davos forum during a recent phone conversation they had on Iran ... \"because I think it's a good thing for President Trump to explain his strategy for the U.S. and the world here in Davos. \"And that he encounters some form of confrontation and dialogue,\" Macron said. Trump will host a small dinner for European business executives on Thursday night. There is broad concern in European capitals that 2018 could be the year Trump's bark on trade turns into bite, as he considers punitive measures on steel and threatens to end the 90s-era North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico . Trump will appeal for increased global investment in the United States to take advantage of corporate tax cuts approved by Congress late in 2017 and Trump's deregulatory policies." + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 12:44 AM / in 5 hours China to create new forests covering area size of Ireland: China Daily Reuters Staff 2 Min Read SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China will plant new forests covering an area roughly the size of Ireland this year as it aims to increase forest coverage to 23 percent of its total landmass by the end of the decade, China Daily reported on Friday. Planting trees has become a key part of China’s efforts to improve its environment and tackle climate change, and the government has pledged to raise total coverage from 21.7 percent to 23 percent over the 2016-2020 period, said the China Daily, citing the country’s top forestry official. Zhang Jianlong, head of the State Forestry Administration, said at a meeting on Thursday that China would aim to grow at least 6.66 million hectares of new forest this year. He said 33.8 million hectares of forest had been planted nationwide over the last five years, with a total investment of more than 538 billion yuan ($82.88 billion), bringing the country’s total forest area to 208 million hectares. Three new state forests with a total area of 483,000 hectares would also be built in the new Xiongan development zone in Hebei province, he said. The heavily polluted Hebei, which surrounds the capital Beijing, has also pledged to raise total forest coverage to 35 percent by the end of 2020. China, which has to feed a quarter of the global population using just 7 percent of the world’s arable land, has long struggled to strike a balance between industrial growth, maximizing food production and protecting its environment. The government is currently promoting an “ecological red line” program which will force provinces and regions to restrict “irrational development” and curb construction near rivers, forests and national parks. The environment ministry said last month that 15 provinces had already drawn up plans, with the remaining 16 aiming to do so this year, but it is not yet clear what impact the policy will have on the country’s farmland. ($1 = 6.4915 yuan)" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 10:20 AM / in 3 minutes PRESS DIGEST- Canada - Jan 18 Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Jan 18 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories from selected Canadian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. THE GLOBE AND MAIL ** Canada's largest construction companies are urging the federal government to block the proposed C$1.5 billion ($1.21 billion) acquisition of Aecon Group Inc, a major domestic rival, by a state-controlled Chinese firm. tgam.ca/2mLN8Pv ** Bank of Montreal became the first major Canadian bank to lead an equity financing for a public company in the medical marijuana sector, underwriting a C$175 million ($140.69 million) stock sale for Canopy Growth Corp. tgam.ca/2mGCTMi ** The federal Liberals have already laid out their plans to ensure the national carbon price hits C$50 ($40.18) a tonne by 2022, but government documents indicate Ottawa is eyeing hikes beyond that time horizon. tgam.ca/2mLNvJT NATIONAL POST ** Kinder Morgan Canada Ltd's controversial Trans Mountain pipeline expansion has encountered further delays, the company said Wednesday, citing ongoing permitting issues. bit.ly/2mMta70 ** The minimum wage in Quebec will increase to C$12 ($9.64) per hour on May 1, the provincial labour minister announced Wednesday. It is an increase of 75 cents per hour. bit.ly/2mMa018 ** With Canada's \"progressive trade agenda\" meeting more apparent resistance from prospective trade partners than Prime Minister Justin Trudeau intended, Canadian officials are now discussing how the strategy might be reworked, according to sources in the Canadian foreign affairs community. bit.ly/2mMadRY ($1 = 1.2439 Canadian dollars) (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Wall Street falls on China, NAFTA concerns Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - 01:21 The three major U.S. stock indices ended lower as investors worried that China will slow U.S. government bond purchases and that U.S. is leaving NAFTA. Elly Park reports. The three major U.S. stock indices ended lower as investors worried that China will slow U.S. government bond purchases and that U.S. is leaving NAFTA. Elly Park reports. //reut.rs/2D1V2z6" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 1:12 PM / in an hour India's trade deficit widens to $14.88 billion in December Reuters Staff 1 Min Read NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India’s trade deficit widened to $14.88 billion from $13.83 billion in the previous month, government data showed on Monday. Trucks carrying containers enter the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) on the outskirts of Mumbai, June 28, 2017. REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade/Files Merchandise exports for December rose 12.36 percent from a year ago to $27.03 billion. Goods imports last month were $41.91 billion, a gain of 21.12 percent from a year ago, data from the commerce and industry ministry showed. Reporting by Nidhi Verma and Neha Dasgupta; Editing by Malini Menon" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 9:33 AM / Updated 8 hours ago Industry gives Brexit-bound UK economy a shot in the arm Andy Bruce , David Milliken 4 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - British industry enjoyed solid growth in November, benefiting from a global upturn that has allowed the economy to outperform gloomy forecasts made after 2016’s Brexit vote, although it still lags behind its international rivals. FILE PHOTO: A man works on the production line at the Toyota factory in Derby, central England, March 7, 2011. REUTERS/Darren Staples/File Photo The British economy grew more slowly than all other Group of Seven members in the first nine months of 2017 as consumer-facing sectors suffered from a surge in inflation caused by sterling’s post-Brexit vote plunge. With departure from the European Union set for March 2019, few economists think growth will improve this year. But the latest official data signalled that industry remains a bright spot: Manufacturers recorded their fastest annual growth since March 2011 in the three months to the end of November, expanding by 3.9 percent year-on-year. The sector, which accounts for around a tenth of British economic output, also posted its seventh consecutive monthly expansion - the longest unbroken run in more than 20 years. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) said the figures pointed to GDP growth of 0.6 percent in the last quarter of 2017, which would be the strongest of the year and would lift full-year growth to 1.8 percent. The Bank of England said in November it expected growth to stick at 0.4 percent in the last three months of the year, after it raised its key interest rate for the first time since 2007. If growth turns out faster, it might boost the chance of the BoE raising rates again in May rather than later in 2018 as most economists expect. Financial markets were unmoved by the data, however. “The UK will need more than just strong industrial production figures though if it is to fare well,” said Christian Jaccarini, economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research consultancy. Construction output in the three months to November contracted 2.0 percent compared with the previous three months, the biggest dip since August 2012, the Office for National Statistics said. Earlier on Wednesday, the British Chambers of Commerce said the economy looked set for an “underwhelming” 2018, with business subdued ahead of Brexit and reluctant to invest, according to its quarterly survey - the largest of its type. The ONS said industrial output rose by a monthly 0.4 percent in November, compared with 0.2 percent in October, the ONS said, spurring an annual rise of 2.5 percent. Economists taking part in a Reuters poll had expected to see output rise 0.3 percent on the month and 1.8 percent on the year. “There was strong and widespread growth across (British) manufacturing with notable increases from renewable energy projects, boats, planes and cars for export,” ONS statistician Ole Black said. Goods export volumes in the three months to November were 9.1 percent higher than the same period in 2016, though the goods trade deficit exceeded all forecasts in a Reuters poll. Other countries are doing better. German industrial output rose by 3.4 percent in November alone, its biggest gain since 2009 and one which puts the economy there on track for growth of at least 2.2 percent last year. Figures for Britain’s services sector - which is around eight times the size of manufacturing and has been growing slowly - are due out on Jan. 26. Wednesday’s data showed Britain’s total trade deficit, which includes goods and services, hit a five-month high of 2.8 billion pounds in November. Reporting by Andy Bruce and David Milliken; Editing by Hugh Lawson" + }, + { + "text": "January 21, 2018 / 9:45 AM / Updated an hour ago Saudi to build 9 desalination plants on Red Sea Reuters Staff 1 Min Read RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia plans to build nine desalination plants for more than 2 billion riyals ($530 million) on the Red Sea coast, its environment minister said on Sunday. The plants will have capacity of 240,000 cubic meters of water per day and will be completed in less than 18 months, Abdulrahman al-Fadhli wrote in a Twitter post. The project, which the minister said was ordered by King Salman in a royal decree, will help government-owned Saudi Saline Water Conversion Corp (SWCC) raise production efficiency and cut operating and capital costs, Fadhli added. He gave no details on funding. Saudi Arabia said in 2016 it planned to use public-private partnerships (PPP) with local and foreign companies to fund infrastructure projects. In August, it said it would develop resorts on about 50 Red Sea islands, completing the first phase of that project - which is backed by its Public Investment Fund (PIF) - in the fourth quarter of 2022. ($1=3.75 Saudi riyals)" + }, + { + "text": "January 13, 2018 / 12:07 PM / Updated 9 hours ago Magnitude 6.0 quake hits southeast of Solomon Islands - USGS Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 struck about 158 km (100 miles) southeast of the Solomon Islands in the Pacific on Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said. Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Alexander Smith" + }, + { + "text": "COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Realtors, Licking Their Wounds, Get Ready for Their Next Battle The National Association of Realtors, one of the largest and wealthiest lobby groups in the U.S., emerged from the recent tax overhaul hobbled and humbled. Now, the coming debate over the government’s role in backing mortgages for most Americans will test whether it can regain some of its clout in Washington politics. Howard Lutnick’s Real-Estate IPO Flops as Newmark Misses the Mark The stock market has been hitting records lately,... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds details, background) Jan 19 (Reuters) - Indian IT firm Wipro Ltd’s posted a surprise fall in third-quarter profit as higher costs weighed. Net profit fell to 19.31 billion rupees ($303 million). That lagged analysts’ average estimates for profit of 21.58 billion rupees, Thomson Reuters data showed. Bengaluru-headquartered Wipro said it expected revenue from the IT services business to be in the range of $2.03 billion - $2.07 billion in the quarter ending March 31. Revenue from IT services segment rose marginally to 132.35 billion rupees ($2.08 billion) in the quarter ended December, India's third-largest software services exporter said on Friday. bit.ly/2rjwAnr Total expenses rose 2.2 percent to 118.30 billion rupees in the quarter. Shares of the company gained 1.1 percent ahead of results in a Mumbai market that closed 0.72 percent higher. Bigger rival Tata Consultancy Services posted a dip in third-quarter profit last week, while India’s No.2 IT firm Infosys Ltd clocked a better-than-expected profit. ($1 = 63.7600 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Tanvi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by David Goodman and Alexander Smith)" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 8:32 PM / Updated 12 minutes ago BlackRock, Vanguard tapping more into electronic bond trading John McCrank 3 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - Electronic trading is becoming increasingly important when it comes to corporate debt as fund management firms try to knit together sources of liquidity in a fragmented market, executives from Vanguard Group Inc and BlackRock Inc said on Thursday. “Our goal by the end of the year is that every trade we do is going to be done electronically,” Jim Switzer, global head of credit trading at Vanguard, said at the inaugural meeting of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Fixed Income Market Structure Advisory Committee. That does not mean traders will not pick up the phone to make a trade anymore, but it does mean that all of those trades will be processed electronically, he said. Putting the information together electronically gives Vanguard, a $5 trillion mutual fund manager, a much better picture of the liquidity available in the market, making it easier to get the next trade done quickly, he said. BlackRock also aims to capture all of its bond trades electronically, said Richie Prager, head of trading, liquidity and investments platform at the world’s largest fund manager, which oversees $6 trillion in assets. Around two-thirds of BlackRock’s corporate debt transactions are now done electronically, Prager said at the SEC meeting. By volume, however, that number drops to around 30 percent, pointing to the lasting importance of large block trades done by voice, especially for less standardized offerings, he added. But electronic trading venues do help marry up the fragmented liquidity across the market, Prager said. Electronic trading platforms have proliferated in recent years in the over-the-counter debt market as big banks have scaled back their bond dealing in response to post-financial crisis rules that make such activity more expensive. The pullback by banks has raised concerns about a liquidity crunch as U.S. interest rates rise and the market heats up. That has helped drive the shift to more electronic trading, as well as automation, to make sense of an often opaque market that has exploded in size over years of cheap borrowing rates. Vanguard gets around 3 million unique trading messages a day and it is vital to be able to aggregate that information, especially as volatility begins to increase, Switzer said. “How do you have a trading desk ... of four guys with eight eyes that can look at 3 million messages and actually make any sense in rapidly changing and dynamic markets? That’s where we’re headed,” he said. Reporting by John McCrank, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "Pyongyang calls for Korean 'unity' ahead of Olympics 7:07am EST - 02:07 As North Korea calls for Koreans 'at home and abroad' to celebrate unity, a delegation of the North's officials and ice hockey players cross the heavily guarded boarder into the South for joint Olympics training. As North Korea calls for Koreans 'at home and abroad' to celebrate unity, a delegation of the North's officials and ice hockey players cross the heavily guarded boarder into the South for joint Olympics training. //reut.rs/2n9Ug8l" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - Shenzhen Absen Optoelectronic Co Ltd : * Sees net profit for FY 2017 to decrease by 25 percent to 45 percent, or to be 83.3 million yuan to 113.5 million yuan, compared to net profit of FY 2016 (151.4 million yuan) Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/T2t2ez Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 14, 2018 / 6:07 AM / Updated an hour ago People evacuated from Papua New Guinea island after volcano explodes Alison Bevege 2 Min Read SYDNEY (Reuters) - About 1,500 people are being evacuated from an island off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG) after a nearby volcano erupted, the local Red Cross said on Sunday. A volcano on the island of Kadovar, located about 24 km (15 miles) north of the Papuan mainland, began erupting on Jan. 5. That prompted the evacuation of 590 people on Kadovar to the nearby island of Blup Blup. After venting ash for several days, the volcano exploded on Friday, blasting out glowing red rocks and sulphur dioxide, the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory said in a bulletin. The PNG government then decided to evacuate Blup Blup as well because of issues with supplying people on the island along with the danger from the eruption. The evacuees are being moved to the mainland and the International Red Cross is providing about 87,000 kina ($26,274) in funding to help them, said PNG Red Cross Secretary General Uvenama Rova by telephone from the capital of Port Moresby. “The people there, as the volcano erupted, they rushed immediately to escape. So they are in immediate need of food, water, shelter and clothing as well,” he said. In the latest bulletin issued on Sunday, the Observatory said a dome of lava on Kadover was visible in the sea at the base of thick white steam clouds that are rising to 600 metres (1,969 feet) above sea level. Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced on twitter that the Australian Government was contributing A$25,000 ($19,775) worth of humanitarian supplies for those affected. There are no confirmed records of a previous eruption of Kadovar, said Chris Firth, a vulcanologist at Macquarie University, but scientists speculate it could have been one of two “burning islands” mentioned in the journals of a 17th-century English pirate and maritime adventurer, William Dampier. Reporting by Alison Bevege; Editing by Christian Schmollinger" + }, + { + "text": "The Vatican has given President Donald Trump its advice on what he should say during his address to global business and political leaders in Davos, Switzerland. When asked what he believed needed to be in Trump's address to attendees of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Friday, Cardinal Peter Turkson, Prefect at the Vatican's Dicastery for Integral Human Development, said: \"Recognizing that what decisions made over here impact on the conduct of society, I suppose that he probably should have a message that would bring hope.\" Turkson also underlined the importance for the president to widen his focus away from the world's business and political elite. Instead, Trump should recognize the people who protested against him and WEF earlier in the week, he said. \"Do not simply celebrate the world of economics and economic leaders, but have a sense for the very many (who demonstrated) and need to be helped out.\" On Tuesday evening, thousands of anti-capitalist activists marched through Swiss cities to protest Trump's visit to the Alpine town of Davos. Flag-waving demonstrators marching near Zurich's financial district carried anti-globalist and environmentalist placards such as, \"No Trump, no coal, no gas, no fossil fuels.\" Some protesters also broke through a security cordon in Davos — where protests are strictly forbidden — to demonstrate against WEF and the U.S. president. 'Ambition for profit at all costs' On Monday, Cardinal Turkson delivered a message on behalf of Pope Francis , sending a stern warning that capitalism was failing to serve society effectively. Evan Vucci | AFP | Getty Images Pope Francis (R) poses with US President Donald Trump (C), US First Lady Melania Trump and the daughter of US President Donald Trump Ivanka Trump (L) at the end of a private audience at the Vatican on May 24, 2017. In it, the Pope said an \"ambition for profit at all costs\" was driving individualism, rather than inclusiveness. The Pope also warned of the \"growing fragmentation between states and institutions.\" In recent months, Trump and Pope Francis have clashed on issues such as migration, climate change and a Mexico-U.S. wall. After meeting Pope Frances at the Vatican in May 2017, Trump said he was \"more determined than ever\" to pursue peace in the world." + }, + { + "text": "KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Najib Razak on Tuesday said Malaysia will not peg the ringgit currency against the U.S. dollar, and that the government will focus on lowering the deficit. “We have made it very clear that we would never repeat the measure (pegging ringgit to the dollar), trusting that while there may be short term fluctuations, in the longer term the level of the ringgit would reflect the strength of the Malaysian economy,” Najib said at a conference in Kuala Lumpur. He also it was essential for Malaysia to keep the fiscal deficit down, and to keep government debt below a self-imposed level of 55 percent of gross domestic product. Reporting by Praveen Menon; Editing Simon Cameron-Moore" + }, + { + "text": "LAKE FOREST, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- IDEX CORPORATION (NYSE:IEX) announced today that it has scheduled the broadcast of the company’s fourth quarter earnings conference call over the internet on Tuesday, January 30, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. CT. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Silvernail and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, William Grogan will discuss the company’s fourth quarter 2017 financial performance and respond to questions from the financial community. IDEX invites interested investors to listen to the call and view the presentation slides, which will be available on its website: www.idexcorp.com . To hear the live call, log on to the site several minutes before the discussion begins. After clicking on the presentation icon, follow the instructions to ensure your system is setup for the event, or download the correct applications at no charge. An archive of the webcast will be available through the IDEX website after the call. An audio replay of the call is also available through midnight, February 27, 2018 by dialing 877.660.6853 or (201.612.7415) for international participants using conference code # 13675214. About IDEX: IDEX is a global fluidics leader serving high growth specialized markets. We are best known for our expertise in highly engineered fluidics systems and components, as well for our expertise in fire and safety products including the Jaws of Life® family of rescue and recovery tools. Our products touch lives every day. Whether it’s a life-saving rescue operation, dispensing fresh juice to a first grader or fueling aircraft, IDEX is a leader in creating enabling technology used in many of the most common everyday activities. For more information, please visit www.idexcorp.com . IDEX shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “IEX”. View source version on businesswire.com : IDEX Corporation William K. Grogan Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 847.498.7070 Source: IDEX Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 6:46 PM / Updated an hour ago Republican Senator Graham says 'no' to stopgap funding bill: Politico Reuters Staff 1 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on Wednesday he would not vote for a Republican “continuing resolution” stopgap bill to fund the government temporarily and avert a partial shutdown this week, a Politico reporter said on Twitter. “I’m not gonna vote for a CR,” Graham, a backer of the bipartisan Senate immigration deal President Donald Trump rejected last week, was quoted as saying. Republicans who control Congress were working on a stopgap bill to fund the government through Feb. 16. Reporting by Makini Brice; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Jonathan Oatis" + }, + { + "text": "ZEELAND, Mich., Jan. 05, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ:GNTX), the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors, automotive electronics, dimmable aircraft windows, and fire protection products, today announced the retirement of Fred Bauer as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors and his resignation from the Board. During Mr. Bauer's remarkable career, Gentex has grown from a startup, to a company with approximately $17 million in market capitalization at its initial public offering in 1981, to approximately $6 billion in market capitalization today. While Gentex is sorry to see Mr. Bauer retire, it is pleased to continue to have access to Mr. Bauer's wealth of experience as Chairman Emeritus, Founder, and Advisor. Mr. Bauer created the Gentex foundations of devotion to quality and innovation, ownership mentality, and unpretentious management that allowed for its historical successes. Throughout his career, he created a cohesive and cooperative management team, with depth and breadth of talent. Under Mr. Bauer’s leadership, the Company has also become widely respected as an industry leader in technology and innovation. As part of Mr. Bauer’s retirement, the Board of Directors has unanimously appointed Mr. James Wallace, the current Lead Independent Director, as the Company’s Chairman of the Board. Mr. Wallace stated: \"On behalf of the entire Board of Directors and everyone at Gentex, I would like to thank Fred Bauer for his extraordinary vision, leadership, and significant track record of success as CEO and Chairman. While we all respect Fred's decision to retire from the CEO and Chairman roles, we are fortunate that the Company will still have access to Fred's knowledge and wisdom. This next step in Fred's life has been well earned and his enormous contributions will continue to be remembered for years to come.” Mr. Wallace also stated, “Our Board has been preparing and planning for the future and believes that the current management team is well prepared and fully capable of maintaining Gentex's historic levels of innovation, growth, and financial performance. Gentex’s new Chief Executive Officer, Steve Downing, is one example of the well prepared and capable management team. He is a respected leader with 15 years of demonstrated ability to deliver results using core Gentex principles. The promotion of Mr. Downing is a logical next step to maintaining the foundations for success established by Mr. Bauer.” Founded in 1974, Gentex Corporation (The Nasdaq Global Select Market: GNTX) is a supplier of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and electronics to the automotive industry, dimmable aircraft windows for aviation markets, and fire protection products to the fire protection market. Visit the Company's web site at www.gentex.com . Contact Information: Gentex Investor & Media Contact Josh O'Berski (616) 772-1590, ext. 5814 Source:Gentex Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "Trump defends mental state, says book 'work of fiction' 8:15pm GMT - 01:36 U.S. President Donald Trump explains his 'mental state' tweet, says author Michael Wolff is a 'fraud' and says he considers the 'Fire and Fury' book 'a work of fiction.' Rough Cut (no reporter narration). U.S. President Donald Trump explains his 'mental state' tweet, says author Michael Wolff is a 'fraud' and says he considers the 'Fire and Fury' book 'a work of fiction.' Rough Cut (no reporter narration). //uk.reuters.com/video/2018/01/06/trump-defends-mental-state-says-book-wor?videoId=379463634&videoChannel=13422" + }, + { + "text": "January 29th, 2018 Middle East Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one of the kingdom’s top international businessmen, was released from detention on Saturday, more than two months after he was taken into custody in a sweeping crackdown on corruption. His release came hours after he told Reuters in an interview at Riyadh’s opulent Ritz-Carlton hotel that he expected to be cleared of any wrongdoing and be freed within days. A senior Saudi official said Prince Alwaleed was freed after he reached a financial settlement with the attorney general. reuters.com" + }, + { + "text": "NAIROBI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The Sengwer, a tribe living in the forests of western Kenya, say they have faced a fresh round of evictions by Kenyan authorities to pave the way for a European Union-funded project to protect water catchment areas in the region. Some 100 Kenya Forest Service (KFS) guards started evicting Sengwer people from the Embobut forest on Dec. 29, activists said, in a case that illustrates tensions between indigenous people’s land rights and conservation projects. “They took a six-year-old boy and went around burning houses with him after his mother fled. They left him in the forest at night alone,” Milka Chepkorir, an activist from the community, said at a news conference in Nairobi on Thursday. The KFS said it was not aware of any evictions during the Christmas and New Year period, a position that was corroborated by Kenya’s environment ministry. “Some people have been trying to erect structures in the forest illegally and we’ve heightened our surveillance,” Dedan Nderitu, KFS head of conservancy in the North Rift region, told Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone. Vincent de Boer, a representative at the EU Commission in Nairobi, said they had been informed by the KFS that guards in Embobut forest were there to deal with cattle rustlers from the neighboring Pokot and Marakwet communities, not for evictions. “This being said the EU will take independent measures to ascertain the facts,” de Boer said in an emailed statement. The Sengwer hunter-gatherers have fought with the government for more than five decades for the right to live in the Embobut forest in the Cherengany Hills from where they were first evicted by British colonialists in the 19th century. Rights group Amnesty International wrote to Kenya’s environment ministry this week with reports it had received from Sengwer community members and local media that KFS guards burnt at least 15 huts, fired shots in the air and shot dead several animals. Amnesty said the December evictions were carried out despite a High Court injunction that forbids the eviction or arrest of Sengwer resident in the forest, pending the hearing of a court challenge to the legality of mass evictions carried out in 2014. The United Nations and the World Bank criticized the KFS in 2014 for forcibly evicting thousands of Sengwer from the forest by burning their homes, leaving many camped out by the roadside. “The approach of KFS is conservation without people,” Clement Lenachuru, a commissioner at National Lands Commission of Kenya. “(But) the Sengwer are also not ready to sit down and discuss. They are becoming antagonistic.” Sengwer community leaders called on the government to halt a six-year, 31 million euro ($37 million) program, launched in June 2016 to protect Kenya’s five water towers in the Mount Elgon and Cherangany ecosystems. “Our government has continued to burn houses and chase our people from our community land. They’d rather kill us on our own land than we go suffer elsewhere,” said Yator Kiptum, a Sengwer activist. Reporting by Kevin Mwanza , Editing by Katy Migiro and Ros Russell.; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit news.trust.org" + }, + { + "text": "A report alleging Intel chips have a security flaw is moving semiconductor stocks. The British tech website Register reported Tuesday that some Intel processors have a \"fundamental design flaw\" that will spur a significant security update of Linux and Microsoft Windows operating systems to work around it. Shares of AMD were up 5.2 percent Wednesday, while Intel's stock declined 3.4 percent. \"Programmers are scrambling to overhaul the open-source Linux kernel's virtual memory system,\" the report said. \"Crucially, these updates to both Linux and Windows will incur a performance hit on Intel products.\" show chapters AMD shares surge on report of an Intel chip security flaw 6 Hours Ago | 00:49 The Register cited a post from an AMD employee that implied the company's chips are \"not affected\" by this particular security issue. The \"story backs up what many in the Linux community have been working on for a while now, an undisclosed bug on CPU architectures at the hardware level,\" Shrout Research's Ryan Shrout wrote in an email. \"This vulnerability will affect a tremendous number of machines and is a very valid concern.\" \"As for it affecting AMD processors or not, high-level developers have been quoted on development forums that the issue only exists on Intel platforms, and that the fix doesn't need to be enabled on AMD hardware,\" he added. AMD declined to comment on the report. Intel released the following statement Wednesday: \"Intel and other technology companies have been made aware of new security research describing software analysis methods that, when used for malicious purposes, have the potential to improperly gather sensitive data from computing devices that are operating as designed. Intel believes these exploits do not have the potential to corrupt, modify or delete data. Recent reports that these exploits are caused by a 'bug' or a 'flaw' and are unique to Intel products are incorrect.\" Intel shares rose 27 percent in 2017 versus AMD's stock 9 percent decline. Disclaimer" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING, Jan. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- China Biologic Products Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBPO) ( \"CBPO\" or the \"Company\"), a leading fully integrated plasma-based biopharmaceutical company in China, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of 80% equity interest in Tianxinfu (Beijing) Medical Appliance Co., Ltd. (\"TianXinFu\") from PW Medtech Group Limited (\"PWM\"), a company listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (Stock Code: 1358). The transaction was first announced on October 12, 2017. Mr. David (Xiaoying) Gao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of China Biologic, commented, \"We are pleased to welcome TianXinFu into the China Biologic family. We look forward to working with the team at TianXinFu to capitalize on the rapid growth of the regenerative medical bio-material industry in China while leveraging TianXinFu's extensive sales networks and professional marketing expertise to maximize growth opportunities for our plasma products. We believe this acquisition will create synergistic value to further solidify our core plasma leadership position in China.\" In connection with the acquisition of TianXinFu, CBPO issued 5,521,000 ordinary shares to PWM, representing approximately 16.7% of the outstanding share capital of CBPO after taking into effect the new issuance. The board of directors of CBPO has appointed Ms. Yue'e Zhang as a director of CBPO. Ms. Zhang currently serves as the chairman of the board of directors and an executive director of PWM. About China Biologic Products Holdings, Inc. China Biologic Products Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBPO) is a leading fully integrated plasma-based biopharmaceutical company in China. The Company's products are used as critical therapies during medical emergencies and for the prevention and treatment of life-threatening diseases and immune-deficiency related diseases. China Biologic is headquartered in Beijing and manufactures over 20 different dosage forms of plasma products through its majority owned subsidiary, Shandong Taibang Biological Products Co., Ltd., and its wholly owned subsidiary, Guizhou Taibang Biological Products Co., Ltd. The Company also has an equity investment in Xi'an Huitian Blood Products Co., Ltd. The Company sells its products to hospitals, distributors and other healthcare facilities in China. For additional information, please see the Company's website www.chinabiologic.com . Safe Harbor Statement This release contains certain \" \" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are These statements are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. All included in this release are based upon information available to CBPO as of the date of this release, which may change, and CBPO undertakes no obligation to update or revise any , except as may be required under applicable securities law. Contact: China Biologic Products Holdings, Inc. Mr. Ming Yin Senior Vice President Phone: [REDACTED] Email: [REDACTED] ICR Inc. Mr. Bill Zima Phone: [REDACTED] or [REDACTED] E-mail: [REDACTED] View original content: SOURCE China Biologic Products Holdings, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "07 AM / Updated 11 minutes ago Asian shares weaken on trade worries, bonds recover as China rebuts report, Bitcoin slumps Lisa Twaronite , Hideyuki Sano 5 Min Read TOKYO (Reuters) - The New Year rally in Asian shares petered out on Thursday due to concerns about rising U.S. protectionism, while bonds rebounded after China’s regulator called a report about Beijing slowing or halting of its U.S. bond buying possibly wrong. Pedestrians walk past an electronic board displaying the Nikkei average outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan January 4, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon Bitcoin fell more than 11 percent after South Korea said it was preparing a bill to ban trade in the cryptocurrency. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS shed 0.5 percent, slipping further from Tuesday's 10-year peak. Japan's Nikkei .N225 also lost 0.5 percent. Bitcoin dropped to $13,189 BTC=BTSP on the Bitstamp exchange, after South Korea's justice minister said a bill was being prepared to ban cryptocurrency trading. U.S Treasuries pared some of their losses, pushing down the 10-year yield to 2.531 percent US10YT=RR from Wednesday’s ten-month high of 2.597 percent, hit after a Bloomberg report that China is considering slowing or halting purchases of U.S. Treasury bonds. The country’s foreign exchange regulator said on Thursday the report may be based on erroneous information and could be “fake”, prompting investors to buy back bonds. “That should have been good news for the U.S. dollar, but it’s still trading very weakly - it’s a weak dollar story,” said Masashi Murata, currency strategist for Brown Brothers Harriman in Tokyo. “The market seems to have been looking for one-sided news to sell the dollar, this week.” Globally bonds markets had been spooked by the Bank of Japan’s routine announcement on Tuesday of a reduction in purchases of longer-tenor bonds and a jump in oil prices on top of the report about China’s investment in U.S. bonds. Those factors combined to push 10-year Treasury yields to their highest levels since March, and also pressured the dollar and stock markets. U.S. shares snapped their New Year rally on Wednesday while the Canadian dollar and the Mexican peso fell after a Reuters report said Canada increasingly believes that U.S. President Donald Trump will soon announce his intention to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement treaty. “I would think that China is flexing its muscles as the United States is looking into measures to deal with its trade deficit with China,” said Daisuke Uno, chief strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Bank. “I have been expecting rising trade frictions between the United States and China this year. It appears China is quick to touch the Achilles heel of the States,” he added. Reports on investigations into U.S. imports are due to be sent to Trump this month, including probes into whether imports of steel and aluminium threaten U.S. national security. A separate probe into Chinese intellectual property practices may also conclude as early as this month, Axios reported, and could result in tariffs on the country’s consumer-electronics exports. The speculation that China may reduce its buying in U.S. bonds helped to underpin the euro, the most obvious alternative to the dollar for assets. The euro traded at $1.1948 EUR= , nearly flat on the day, and holding above Tuesday's low of $1.1916. Against the yen JPY= , the dollar added 0.3 percent to 111.76, after hitting a six-week low of 111.27 yen in the previous session when it skidded 1.1 percent to mark its largest decline in almost eight months. The yen was buoyed this week after a cut in the Bank of Japan’s bond buying on Tuesday fuelled speculation that the central bank could eventually seek to exit from its stimulus later this year, following in the footsteps of other major central banks. The BOJ maintained the amount of its bond purchases on Thursday, helping to soothe a market rattled by its reduction earlier this week. The Canadian dollar traded at C$1.2550 per U.S. dollar CAD=D4 after having lost 0.7 percent on Wednesday. Crude oil prices jumped on Wednesday and settled near three-year highs after U.S. government data showed a drop in crude inventories and production, though the fall in the latter could be the result of extreme cold temperatures across the United States. traded at $63.50 per barrel, after hitting a high of $63." + }, + { + "text": "ANKARA (Reuters) - Anyone who opposes Turkey’s operation in northern Syria’s Afrin region is siding with terrorists and will be treated accordingly, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Sunday. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an official visit to Iraq, Cavusoglu said Ankara expected France to support Turkey’s operation, after France asked Turkey to act with restraint in Syria, saying it would call an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay; Editing by Daren Butler" + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 11:31 AM / Updated 8 minutes ago Halep rallies past Duan, ensures top billing for Australian Open Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - World number one Simona Halep assured herself of top billing for the Australian Open after powering past local hope Duan Yingying and into the quarter-finals of the Shenzhen Open in China on Wednesday. FILE PHOTO - Tennis - WTA Tour Finals - Singapore Indoor Stadium, Singapore - October 27, 2017 Romania's Simona Halep in action during her group stage match against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina REUTERS/Edgar Su Halep hit 21 winners and won five out of eight break points to prevail 3-6 6-1 6-2 and secure her number one ranking going into next week and top seeding for Melbourne ahead of Caroline Wozniacki and Garbine Muguruza. However, the Romanian did not have it easy until her rival suffered a thigh problem late on in the match after blazing through the first set to take the lead. Caught off guard by Duan’s big hitting early on, Halep turned things around in the second set and broke the world number 91 twice for a 5-1 lead before levelling the contest. Duan took a medical timeout and returned for the decider with heavy strapping on her left thigh. Halep, who battled past Duan in their previous meeting in Eastbourne last year, took advantage as Duan struggled to find her rhythm and raced to a 5-0 lead. She then subdued a late fightback to seal the win in 97 minutes. “I knew that she is playing really hard and hitting every ball. I knew I had to be strong on my legs,” Halep said. “After the first set I was thinking I have to find rhythm, to stay closer to the baseline and open the court better, which I did... It was a very tough match.” Halep’s compatriot and fourth seed Irina-Camelia Begu overcame Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova 4-6 6-1 6-2. She was joined in the quarter-finals by Czech Katerina Siniakova who beat China’s Wang Yafan 7-5 6-3. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "Bryce Brown poured in 28 points, and No. 17 Auburn rallied back from a double-digit halftime deficit to beat Georgia 79-65 Saturday in SEC play at Auburn Arena. The Tigers trailed by 14 at halftime, but opened the second half with an 18-2 run and took the lead, 44-42, on a Mustapha Heron dunk and free throw at the 14-minute mark. Heron finished with 14 points, and point guard Jared Harper added 13 points for the Tigers (17-2, 5-1 SEC), who bounced back from a loss to Alabama and won for the fifth time this season after trailing by double figures. The Bulldogs managed only two points in the first seven minutes of the second half and only four points in the first 12 minutes. They found themselves down 57-44 after a pair of free throws by Brown. Georgia didn’t make its first field goal in the second half until William Jackson II hit a layup with 6:45 to play. Auburn led 59-47 at that point. Yante Maten finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, and Juwan Parker added 16 points for the Bulldogs (12-6, 3-4 SEC). Georgia closed out a hot-shooting first half with a 15-5 run and led 40-26 at intermission. Parker scored 13 of his points in the first half, and the Bulldogs shot 56.0 percent from the field in getting out to the strong start. Georgia couldn’t maintain its performance in the second half, after Auburn switched to a 1-3-1 zone and Brown got going from beyond the 3-point arc. Brown connected of four of his five 3-pointers in the final 20 minutes, helping Auburn improve to 10-0 at home this season. The Tigers had won 14 straight games before falling at Alabama earlier in the week. They forced 19 Georgia turnovers to start a new win streak and remain atop the SEC. Georgia returns home to face Arkansas on Wednesday, before traveling to Kansas State on Jan. 27 for a Big 12/SEC Challenge matchup. Auburn will stick to SEC play and take on Missouri on the road Wednesday. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "Trump calls report he tried to fire Mueller 'fake news' Friday, January 26, 2018 - 01:47 The New York Times reports U.S. President Donald Trump ordered Special Counsel Robert Mueller fired but backed down after the White House counsel threatened to resign rather than follow his directive. The New York Times reports U.S. President Donald Trump ordered Special Counsel Robert Mueller fired but backed down after the White House counsel threatened to resign rather than follow his directive. //in.reuters.com/video/2018/01/26/trump-calls-report-he-tried-to-fire-muel?videoId=388792786&videoChannel=13423" + }, + { + "text": "[This livestream has ended.] National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the media from Minneapolis on Wednesday ahead of Super Bowl 52. \"The bold north is ready for the Big Game, and we are excited to be here,\" Goodell said on-stage in Minneapolis. Goodell has served as commissioner since 2006 and re-upped his contract in December for another five years . He discussed the state of the NFL, just days before thousands of fans flood the city to watch the New England Patriots take on the Philadelphia Eagles. The address follows closely on the heels of news that Fox Sports agreed to pay more than $3 billion to broadcast the NFL's \"Thursday Night Football\" for the next five seasons. The Patriots play the Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 4 at 6:30 p.m. EST." + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 8:54 PM / in 10 minutes Scathing Trump book 'Fire and Fury' heads to television Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Michael Wolff’s explosive behind-the-scenes book about U.S. President Donald Trump, “Fire and Fury,” is headed for television, Hollywood trade publications reported on Wednesday. Hollywood entertainment company Endeavor Content has bought the rights to the best-selling book and plans to adapt it for a television series, Variety and the Hollywood Reporter said. Wolff will executive produce the series, which will be shopped to various networks. No casting or air date has been set but the announcement set off speculation about who would play some of the key figures in the White House. “Fire and Fury” portrays a chaotic White House in Trump’s first year as president, based on extensive interviews with Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon and others. It sold more than 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week, according to NPD BookScan. The book, published on Jan. 5, characterized Trump as unstable, inept and unprepared to be president. Trump responded on Twitter that Wolff was “a total loser who made up stories in order to sell this really boring and untruthful book.” Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bill Trott" + }, + { + "text": "BALTIMORE, Jan. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Under Armour, Inc. (NYSE: UA, UAA) plans to release the results of its fourth quarter (ended Dec. 31, 2017) on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at approximately 7:00 a.m. ET. Following the news release, Under Armour management will host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET to review results. This call will be webcast live at and will be archived and available for replay approximately three hours after the live event. About Under Armour, Inc. Under Armour, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland is a leading innovator, marketer and distributor of branded performance athletic apparel, footwear and accessories. Designed to make all athletes better, the brand's innovative products are sold worldwide to consumers with active lifestyles. The company's Connected FitnessTM platform powers the world's largest digitally connected health and fitness community. For further information, please visit www.uabiz.com . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Under Armour, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT, Jan 19 (Reuters) - The following are some of the factors that may move German stocks on Friday: DEUTSCHE BANK Deutsche Bank’s CEO on Thursday said an overhaul of the bank would take time but plans to turn around its performance were on the right track. Also, deputy CEO Marcus Schenck said Deutsche Bank will generate around half of its revenues with IT services, according to an interview in Focus magazine. Separately, UniCredit CEO Jean Pierre Mustier has a long-term commitment to the Italian bank, he said on Thursday when asked about a report that he was the preferred candidate for the top job at Deutsche Bank. THYSSENKRUPP The German industrial and technology group will refine its corporate strategy soon, its chief executive told a German newspaper in the wake of growing investor criticism over the company’s structure and performance. CECONOMY The German consumer electronics retailer on Thursday said its operating profit fell 16 percent in the first quarter, citing price reductions around Black Friday and costs to set up its holding company. HOCHTIEF Atlantia will raise its offer for Abertis as soon as Hochtief’s rival bid is approved by Spanish regulator CNMV, Boersen-Zeitung reported, citing sources close to Atlantia. SOFTWARE AG Germany’s Software AG on Thursday said it would take a hit in the mid-single digit million euros range for 2017 due to U.S. federal tax reforms. In 2018 and in future years, however, the group’s earnings per share are expected to improve by 5-10 percent, it added. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS THYSSENKRUPP - 0.15 eur/shr dividend proposed ANALYSTS’ VIEWS COMMERZBANK - Morgan Stanley raises to “overweight” from “equal-weight”, lifts target price to 16 euros from 11.15 euros. OVERSEAS STOCK MARKETS Dow Jones -0.4 pct, S&P 500 -0.2 pct, Nasdaq unchanged at close. Nikkei +0.2 pct, Shanghai stocks +0.4 pct. Time: 6.14 GMT. GERMAN ECONOMIC DATA German December producer prices due at 0700 GMT. Seen +0.2 pct m/m, +2.3 pct y/y. EUROPEAN FACTORS TO WATCH DIARIES REUTERS TOP NEWS (Reporting by Christoph Steitz and Maria Sheahan)" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw federal protections from millions of acres of Utah wilderness will reopen much of the iconic terrain to gold, silver, copper, and uranium land claims under a Wild West-era mining law, according to federal officials. Starting at 6 a.m. on Feb. 2 – the moment Trump’s proclamation reducing the size of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments takes effect – private citizens and companies will be allowed to stake claims for hard rock mining in a process governed by the General Mining Law of 1872, according to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The process for staking a claim remains much as it did during the Gold Rush: A prospector hammers four poles into the ground corresponding to the four points of a parcel that can be as big as 20 acres, and attaches a written description of the claim onto one of them. A prospector then has 30 days to record the claim at the local BLM office. “We’re working on getting information and new monument maps ready for people interested in claims,” said Utah Bureau of Land Management spokesman Michael Richardson. The costs of claiming are low: a $212 filing fee, and an annual maintenance fee of $150. The claims provide prospectors mineral rights, with no requirement to pay the government royalties, but not ownership of the land. The law covers mining for uranium, gold, silver, copper and other precious metals, but excludes coal and petroleum. URANIUM RUSH? MAYBE NOT Conservation groups including the Southeastern Utah Wilderness Alliance are concerned that new prospecting in the area could cause environmental harm, but it’s unclear whether the rare opportunity to stake mining claims will draw much interest. The Bears Ears area is known to have uranium deposits, but prices are currently in the dumps - at around $25 a pound compared with $130 a decade ago - due to weak domestic demand from nuclear reactors. Kyle Kimmerle, whose family owns more than 100 uranium mining claims in Utah, said he won’t be rushing out for new land. “The current price of uranium is not likely to warrant any new claiming,” he said. “It would take $60-$70 for me.” FILE PHOTO: A man walks over a natural bridge at Butler Wash in Bears Ears National Monument near Blanding, Utah, U.S., October 27, 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Cullen/File Photo U.S.-based uranium mining companies Energy Fuels ( UUUU.A ) and Ur-Energy ( URG.A ) - both of which are pressing the White House for limits on uranium imports - also said they were not currently planning to run out into the Utah wilderness with poles to stake claims. Energy Fuels wrote a letter in May asking the administration to adjust the monument’s boundaries to accommodate its existing operations and said there were “many other known uranium and vanadium deposits located within the [original boundaries] that could provide valuable energy and mineral resources in the future.” A spokesman for Energy Fuels said Wednesday that the company has no intention of mining in any of the re-opened land and that its request to adjust boundaries would not have opened up new mining sites. When Trump announced his decision to shrink the monuments in December, he billed it as a victory for local governments against what he called abusive federal overreach on western lands. “Families and communities of Utah know and love this land the best, and you know the best how to take care of your land and how to conserve this land,” he said at the time. The administration has denied that it intended to boost drilling or mining in the region, a policy it has pursued on other federally protected lands. The decision reduced the size of the 1.3-million-acre (0.5 million hectare) Bears Ears monument, created by President Barack Obama in 2016, by more than 80 percent. It slashed the 1.9-million-acre (768,900-hectare) Grand Staircase-Escalante monument, designated by President Bill Clinton in 1996, in half. Republican Congressman John Curtis of Utah has since proposed legislation to withdraw all of Bears Ears region from future mining claims. But any claim submitted under the General Mining law before the legislation passes would be honored, Curtis’ spokeswoman Katie Thompson said. Democratic Congressman Raul Grijalva of Arizona has urged quicker action, pressing Republican colleagues to ask the Interior Department to block mining claims sooner. ”If we’re serious about preventing mining and drilling in Bears Ears, the administration needs to take concrete action now,” Grijalva said this week. Conservation groups and Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico, have long criticized the General Mining law as out-of-date. Writing by Richard Valdmanis; Editing by Brian Thevenot" + }, + { + "text": "Macron: China's new \"Silk Road\" cannot be one-way 3:43pm GMT - 01:48 French President Emmanuel Macron says China and Europe should work together on Beijing's ''Belt and Road'' initiative. As Ciara Lee reports, he hopes his first state visit to China will relaunch EU-China relations often strained by Beijing's restrictions on foreign investment and trade. French President Emmanuel Macron says China and Europe should work together on Beijing's \"Belt and Road\" initiative. As Ciara Lee reports, he hopes his first state visit to China will relaunch EU-China relations often strained by Beijing's restrictions on foreign investment and trade. //uk.reuters.com/video/2018/01/08/macron-chinas-new-silk-road-cannot-be-on?videoId=381197706&videoChannel=78" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Most base metals gained ground in early trade on Tuesday, with zinc hovering around a decade peak, as investors hoped for positive signals about infrastructure building in U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union address later in the day. FUNDAMENTALS * LME COPPER: Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was up 0.4 percent at $7,114 a tonne, as of 0216 GMT, after ending flat in the previous session. * SHFE COPPER: The most-traded March copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange gained 0.1 percent to 53,500 yuan ($8,449.15) a tonne. * ZINC: LME zinc edged 0.1 percent down to $3,547 a tonne, after hitting $3,584 a tonne on Monday, the highest since July 2007. * TIN: Tin prices in London slipped 0.3 percent to $21,870 a tonne, easing from a 14-month high of $21,940 a tonne in the previous session. * CHINA: The former head of China's Anshan Iron and Steel Group (Ansteel) has been named the new chairman of metals group China Minmetals Corp , the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) said on Monday. * CHILE: Chile is open to negotiating an additional quota of lithium for local miner SQM, to meet potential demand from U.S. electric car-maker Tesla, Eduardo Bitran, head of Chilean development agency Corfo, told Reuters on Monday. * ALASKA: Shares of mine developer Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd fell more than 20 percent on Monday, the first trading day after a U.S. regulator's surprise move to keep restrictions on the company's big copper and gold mine project in Alaska. * NORWAY: Norwegian aluminium maker Norsk Hydro plans to transfer energy-saving technology from a pilot project to primary smelters in the next five to six years, boosting output and cutting costs, the company's head of technology told Reuters. * For the top stories in metals and other news, click or MARKETS NEWS * Asian stocks retreated from record peaks on Tuesday after a selloff in Apple shares knocked Wall Street, while the dollar found support as U.S. bond yields climbed to near four-year highs. DATA/EVENT AHEAD (GMT) 0630 France Preliminary GDP Q4 0745 France Consumer spending Dec 1000 Euro zone GDP flash Q4 1000 Euro zone Business climate Jan 1000 Euro zone Consumer confidence final Jan 1300 Germany Consumer prices Jan 1400 U.S. Case-Shiller housing index Nov 1500 U.S. Consumer confidence Jan U.S. Federal Reserve starts two-day policy meeting PRICES BASE METALS PRICES 0216 GMT Three month LME copper 7114 Most active ShFE copper 53490 Three month LME aluminium 2233 Most active ShFE aluminium 14580 Three month LME zinc 3550.5 Most active ShFE zinc 26955 Three month LME lead 2618 Most active ShFE lead 19640 Three month LME nickel 13865 Most active ShFE nickel 105730 Three month LME tin 21870 Most active ShFE tin 150690 BASE METALS ARBITRAGE LME/SHFE COPPER LMESHFCUc3 954.74 LME/SHFE ALUMINIUM LMESHFALc3 -1823.33 LME/SHFE ZINC LMESHFZNc3 310.6 LME/SHFE LEAD LMESHFPBc3 -345.81 LME/SHFE NICKEL LMESHFNIc3 1835.01 ($1 = 6.3320 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Tom Daly; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)" + }, + { + "text": "Sign up for Pizza Hut's loyalty program ahead of the Super Bowl and you could find yourself eating free pizza. The pizza arm of Yum Brands said Monday that if the record for the fastest touchdown at a Super Bowl is broken, it will give its Hut Rewards members a free medium two-topping pizza on Feb. 9. The returning team just needs to score a touchdown in less than 14 seconds of the opening kickoff on Feb. 4. The record was set by Chicago Bears wide receiver Devin Hester in 2007 after he returned the opening kickoff 92 yards in 14 seconds. \"I'm teaming up with Pizza Hut to challenge players in this year's Big Game to score a touchdown faster than I did in 2007,\" Hester said in a statement. \"If they do, and I hope they do, Hut Rewards members will earn free pizza.\" This isn't the first Super Bowl stunt that Pizza Hut has pulled in recent years. For the 50th anniversary of the sporting event, the company sold 50 limited edition gold-covered pizzas . Last year, pizza boxes were transformed into Flick Football fields , with cardboard goal posts and football triangles. This year's promotion is all about Pizza Hut's loyalty program. The pizza chain has been aggressively discounting its pizzas and offering new rewards since the beginning of the year, hoping to grab market share from competitors. \"When we launched Hut Rewards in 2017, we were committed to bringing the best loyalty program in the pizza category to our customers,\" said Zipporah Allen, vice president of brand marketing and consumer insights at Pizza Hut U.S. Pizza Hut was an early adopter of digital and mobile ordering but has struggled to compete with tech-savvy Domino's . As part of a $130 million investment in the brand, Yum has been upgrading Pizza Hut's equipment, technology and advertising, hoping to turn around soft sales. The result has been a newly minted loyalty program, Hut Rewards, and the hiring of about 14,000 delivery drivers by the end of 2017. The loyalty program and commitment to technology is important for Pizza Hut, especially considering about half of its delivery and carryout orders are placed digitally and 70 percent of its online sales come from mobile devices. Mobile orders offer customers an easier way to pay and often can bump the total check an average of 20 to 30 percent higher than a traditional in-store order. The addition of the loyalty program gives customers an incentive to come back to earn free pizzas and other rewards. It also allows Pizza Hut to get important customer data to inform future investments and to remind customers if they haven't purchased from the brand in a while." + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - AT&T Inc, the No. 2 U.S. wireless carrier, has backed off from a deal to sell smartphones made by Chinese Huawei Technologies Co Ltd [HWT.UL], the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. FILE PHOTO: An AT&T logo and communication equipment is shown on a building in downtown Los Angeles, California, U.S. on October 29, 2014. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Huawei, the world's No. 3 smartphone maker by shipments last year, was expected to announce that it had struck an agreement with AT&T at a Las Vegas trade show on Tuesday, the report said.( on.wsj.com/2CSgV32 ) Both AT&T and Huawei could not be immediately reached for comment. Reporting by Sonam Rai in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump backs a short-term bill to fund the U.S. government that the House of Representatives will vote on Thursday to avert a government shutdown, the White House said after a presidential tweet cast doubt on his support. “The president supports the continuing resolution introduced in the House,” White House spokesman Raj Shah said in a statement. Questions about Trump’s support arose earlier on Thursday after he said on Twitter that a children’s healthcare provision in the stopgap legislation should be part of a long-term solution not a short-term bill. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29 (Reuters) - CRCAM ATLANTIQUE VENDEE SC: * FY GROSS OPERATING INCOME EUR 173.2 MILLION VERSUS EUR 181.1 MILLION YEAR AGO * FY NET INCOME GROUP SHARE EUR 108.3 MILLION VERSUS EUR 113.9 MILLION YEAR AGO * FY NET BANKING INCOME EUR 425.1 MILLION VERSUS EUR 429.1 MILLION YEAR AGO * AT SEPT 30, 2017 TRANSITIONAL CRD4 BASEL 3 SOLVENCY RATIO AT 18.47 PERCENT Source text: bit.ly/2EkeyV4 Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - U.S. specialty metals makers Arconic Inc said on Monday it would freeze defined benefit pension plans for all 7,900 of its U.S.-based salaried and non-bargained hourly employees, effective April 1. Arconic said it expects its pre-tax pension-related expense in 2018 to be about $50 million lower than a year earlier. The company expects its liabilities to fall by about $140 million in the first quarter of 2018 due to the reduction of future benefits. Arconic said it would also record a pre-tax charge of about $5 million in the first quarter. Reporting by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Roger Federer subdued a feisty Karen Khachanov while Belinda Bencic outlasted Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to help Switzerland beat Russia 3-0 in the Hopman Cup on Tuesday. Federer won 6-3 7-6(8) as his Australian Open preparation gained momentum but the 19-times grand slam champion was pushed hard in the second set by the 21-year-old in front of a record crowd of 13,943 at the Perth Arena. Playing with little inhibition and plenty of power, Khachanov broke Federer early on before the Swiss switched gears to march ahead and take the opening set in 29 minutes. Federer, who beat Khachanov in straight sets at Halle last year in their only previous meeting, showed his experience in the second-set tie breaker that swung back and forth and clinched the contest on his third match point. “It was nice to see him free swinging the entire match, which isn’t easy to do,” Federer said of his opponent. ”I remember those days, match point down, you go for it, you don’t care. That is what you have to remind yourselves sometimes when you’re older, to go for it. He mixed up the play well, so it was a tough match for me. “The tiebreak was close, it was good to play that early on in the season, to play those nervy situations with the pulse up high, you’re sweating loads. The match had a bit of everything, so I‘m very happy with the performance.” Bencic had a tougher outing against world number 15 Pavlyuchenkova but prevailed 6-1 3-6 6-3 before teaming up with Federer to win the mixed doubles dead rubber. Earlier, the United States scored a 2-1 win over Japan after Naomi Osaka was too ill to participate. Osaka’s withdrawal gave CoCo Vandeweghe a 6-0 6-0 victory in their singles match. Japan drew level after Jack Sock retired while trailing against Yuichi Sugita but Osaka’s absence meant the Americans were awarded a 4-0 4-0 win in the deciding mixed doubles rubber. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "12 PM / Updated 19 minutes ago France, Germany to make joint bitcoin regulation proposal at G20 summit Reuters Staff 1 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - France and Germany will make joint proposals to regulate the bitcoin cryptocurrency at the next summit of the G20 group of major economies in Argentina in March, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Thursday. “We will have a joint Franco-German analysis of the risks linked to bitcoin, regulation proposals and these will be submitted as a joint proposal to our G20 counterparts at the G20 summit in Argentina in March,” Le Maire told reporters. The world’s biggest and best-known cryptocurrency has fallen to half its record peak of almost $20,000 in recent days on fears that regulators could seek to curb speculation. “We have a responsibility towards our citizens to explain and reduce the risks,” Le Maire’s German counterpart Peter Altmaier said at the joint news conference in Paris. Reporting by Myriam Rivet, Yann Le Guernigou and Leigh Thomas; Writing by Michel Rose; Editing by Geert De Clercq" + }, + { + "text": "PLDT, one of the Philippines' leading telecommunications and digital services providers, and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications have signed a $300 million partnership with Missouri-based Amdocs. Under the deal, Amdocs, which provides software and services to media and communications businesses, will both manage and upgrade \"business technology systems\" that serve PLDT and Smart Communications customers. The agreement will involve the integration of both machine learning and artificial intelligence. Business IT systems that serve PLDT and Smart customers will also be updated via the introduction of advanced digital technologies and solutions, while \"intelligent operations\" will be used to bring efficiencies in the delivery of IT services. Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman and CEO of PLDT and Smart Communications, said the collaboration with Amdocs was a \"key component of our digital transformation to enhance customer experience, engagement and product delivery.\" Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook ." + }, + { + "text": "SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Jan. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Significant company growth and key initiatives lead to important management changes at HEIDENHAIN CORPORATION in North America. These exciting changes include the formation of two regional field sales teams located in Schaumburg, IL, and San Jose, CA, as well as the formation of an overall sales coordination team focused on North American customer satisfaction metrics. Three of the newly defined senior positions are appointments of highly experienced HEIDENHAIN leadership personnel, each with tenures in excess of 20 years, or 75 years combined. A fourth recent appointment strengthens the service organization leadership and was announced in October 2017. Specifically, Chris Weber, was appointed as Senior Eastern Field Sales Director and Robert Setbacken as Senior Western Field Sales and Business Development Director. John Thormodsgard, appointed as the new group formed within the company as Sales Operations Director - North America, will manage the collective sales operations functions located in Schaumburg, IL, supporting the regional customer sales and support teams directly. Each will manage teams supporting all product groups and markets that HEIDENHAIN serves. David Fuson, an external appointment made in August 2017, also now leads the technical service group headquartered in Schaumburg, IL, supporting all North American territories, including Canada and Mexico. As HEIDENHAIN's Service Operations Manager, David brings extensive field support and management experience to the group. \"Our recent investments in west coast personnel and executive presence, combined with our organizational changes, will facilitate geographical and operational infrastructure to optimize the proximity of staff to our customer base and focus on growth market segments. The changes are designed to enhance our customers' experience and our responsiveness to business demand,\" said President and Managing Director David Doyle, now also located in San Jose, CA. \"We worked on these and other staff changes throughout 2017 and all have become fully effective as of January 1, 2018.\" The changes come as HEIDENHAIN CORPORATION executes integration of the AMO product line, integrates its ACU-RITE manufacturing operations, and establishes a more significant west coast sales and support presence, with office locations including San Jose, Fremont, Santa Barbara and Irvine, CA. HEIDENHAIN CORPORATION also recently established an office in Houston, TX, and expects to add presence in Tacoma, WA, and Charlotte, NC, in Q1 2018. \"Our staff has executed extremely well throughout 2017 which was an outstanding year for HEIDENHAIN CORPORATION,\" Rick Korte, CEO added. \"Our new business development initiatives have created promising momentum in multiple areas and we have established a 'Customer First' ethos throughout the team. Continuous improvement with a total quality approach is the core to the company mission.\" About HEIDENHAIN Dr. Johannes HEIDENHAIN GmbH, headquartered in Traunreut, Germany, develops and supports motion control feedback solutions for the machine tool, semiconductor, electronics assembly and test, metrology, automation, medical, energy, biotechnology and other global markets. The North American subsidiary is HEIDENHAIN CORPORATION, headquartered in Schaumburg, IL, and San Jose, CA, and has been serving the U.S. industry for over 50 years. www.heidenhain.us For more information, contact HEIDENHAIN's North American Public Relations Manager Kathleen Stoneski at 847-519-4702 or [REDACTED] . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE HEIDENHAIN CORPORATION" + }, + { + "text": "Reuters TV United States January 5, 2018 / 2:19 PM / Updated an hour ago Barclays names Kunal Gandhi as head of corporate broking Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Barclays ( BARC.L ) has appointed Kunal Gandhi as head of corporate broking and Rob Mayhew as his deputy, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters on Friday. FILE PHOTO: A Barclays sign is seen on the exterior of the Barclays U.S. Corporate headquarters in the Manhattan borough of New York City, May 20, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo Gandhi helped build Barclays’ corporate broking business by advising clients including insurer Legal & General ( LGEN.L ) and the London Stock Exchange ( LSE.L ), the memo said. Corporate broking is a banking business common in Britain but little seen elsewhere and involves lenders providing long-term strategic advice to corporate customers. A spokesman for Barclays confirmed the contents of the memo. Reporting By Lawrence White; Editing by Susan Fenton" + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 12:05 AM / Updated 14 hours ago Golf - Rahm cards his lowest score on PGA Tour for first-round lead Reuters Staff 3 Min Read (Reuters) - Spaniard Jon Rahm carded his lowest score on the PGA Tour, a bogey-free 10-under-par 62, for a one-stroke lead after the first round at the CareerBuilder Challenge in the California desert on Thursday. Taking advantage of perfect conditions, Rahm roared off the starting line in a round that included an eagle and eight birdies at La Quinta Country Club, one of three courses used for the pro-am event. Americans Andrew Landry, Jason Kokrak and Austin Cook shared second place on 63 - Landry and Kokrak playing at La Quinta while Cook was on the Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West. World number three Rahm said he had thought briefly about the possibility of matching the 59 carded by Canadian Adam Hadwin during last year’s event. “Six under through seven holes with a couple of missed putts, anytime you have that going for you you get thoughts coming through your head of 59,” Rahm told Golf Channel. ”A couple of great shots on (holes) one and two set up birdies and then a great one on (the fifth) to set up eagle. “After that I knew I kind of kept it going and stayed patient.” A missed five-foot putt at the 10th hole put paid to any realistic hope of breaking 60, but Rahm still did enough to better his previous best tour score of 64. Rahm, 23, has made a meteoric rise up the rankings since arriving at this same event last year ranked outside the top 100. He rose to a career-high third in the world by finishing runner-up to Dustin Johnson at the Tournament of Champions at Kapalua in Hawaii two weeks ago. Not that desert golf has much similarity with the Kapalua course built on the side of the West Maui mountains. “That week (at Kapalua) is so unique - massive fairways, big slopes, lots of wind, really grainy greens, unlike what I play all year long. This (La Quinta) is really familiar to what I‘m used to playing,” said Rahm, who played his university golf in the adjacent state of Arizona. It was not such a great day for another former Arizona State University product Phil Mickelson, who made two late bogeys for a mediocre two-under 70 at La Quinta. Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina. editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 10:47 PM / Updated 20 hours ago A golden idea? Museum offered 18-karat toilet to Trump: Washington Post Alex Dobuzinskis 3 Min Read (Reuters) - New York’s Guggenheim Museum offered to lend an 18-karat gold toilet to President Donald Trump after the White House asked to borrow a painting by Vincent Van Gogh, the Washington Post reported on Thursday. The museum’s chief curator offered to loan the toilet, which had been used by tens of thousands of visitors, in a Sept. 15 email to a Trump administration official, the newspaper reported. A Guggenheim spokeswoman declined immediate comment on the Washington Post report and White House officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It was not clear how the White House responded to the Guggenheim curator’s offer. The piece, by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan‘s, is an 18-karat gold, fully functioning toilet. It is called “America.” FILE PHOTO: Maurizio Cattelan’s “America,” a fully functional solid gold toilet is seen at The Guggenheim Museum in New York City, U.S., August 30, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo It was put on display in 2016 in a single-stall bathroom at the Guggenheim, where it was used in private luxury by more than 100,000 people, according to a Guggenheim blog post. The museum said the object, which was on display for a year, “skewers social complacencies” and the extravagances of the wealthy. Trump, a real estate developer turned reality television star, campaigned for president as a savvy businessman with the commercial sense to succeed in the White House. His exact personal wealth is unknown. The offer came in response to a White House request to borrow the painting “Landscape with Snow” by 19th century Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh, for installation at the president and first lady’s private living quarters, the Washington Post reported. The request for the painting was declined. Guggenheim chief curator Nancy Spector had previously written about the toilet in a 2017 blog post, in which she took swipes at the president. She wrote that the “Trump reference” inherent in the gold toilet resonated with people “during the sculpture’s time at the Guggenheim.” “When the sculpture came off view on Sept. 15, Trump had been in office for 238 days, a term marked by scandal and defined by the deliberate rollback of countless civil liberties, in addition to climate-change denial that puts our planet in peril,” Spector wrote. Trump is known to have a taste for gold and gilded objects. On Christmas Eve, he took calls from children while seated on a gold chair in a tapestried room at his Florida vacation home. Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Scott Malone and Susan Thomas" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Australian teenager Alex De Minaur delighted his home fans with an inspired performance to stun fourth seed Milos Raonic and move into the Brisbane Open quarter-finals on Wednesday. The 18-year-old wildcard broke the big-serving former champion three times en route to a 6-4 6-4 upset in 94 minutes and set up a clash with American teenager Michael Mmoh. World number 208 De Minaur put his Canadian opponent under pressure early on in the contest, grabbing a break in the third game before hanging on to take the first set. A rusty Raonic tried to mount a comeback late in the second set but De Minaur resisted the charge of the world number 24 and pushed on for the biggest win of his career. Mmoh, 19, earlier saved six break points and converted four of his own to upset eighth seed Mischa Zverev 6-2 5-7 6-4 for only his second victory on the ATP Tour. Nick Kyrgios overcame pain in his knee to beat Australian compatriot Matthew Ebden 6-7(3) 7-6(5) 6-2 in his first singles match since a hip injury ended his season in October. Kyrgios, who took a medical timeout while trailing 4-5 in the opening set, received treatment again two games later and struggled to find his feet as Ebden edged the tiebreaker. The world number 21 hit back in the second set and pulled away in the decider to set up a clash with Alexandr Dolgopolov who beat Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos 6-1 6-2. “It took me a while to get used to playing a match again,” Kyrgios said after the 131-minute encounter. “I’ve been training here for so long and training on center court, it kind of didn’t feel like a match. The longer the match went, the better I played, the looser I got. I knew it was going to be a tough day today. He’s a tough competitor.” Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "Saudi Arabia will deposit $2 billion into Yemen's central bank in an effort to support the war-torn country's economic crisis, the kingdom's state news agency reported Wednesday. The cash injection — ordered by Saudi Arabia's King Salman — comes one day after Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed bin Daghr issued a public plea for international support. He called on allies to help shore up the country's currency and save Yemenis from \"inevitable starvation.\" Yemen has been polarized by almost three years of civil war with Saudi Arabia and Iran backing different sides in what is widely seen as a proxy conflict for regional and religious influence. The internationally-recognized government, backed by Riyadh, is based in the south of Yemen. Meanwhile, the Iran-aligned Houthi movement is situated in the north — which includes the capital Sana'a. 'Continued support' The move is an attempt to set up a \"functioning and legitimate\" Yemeni government, Marcus Chenevix, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) analyst at TS Lombard, told CNBC in a phone interview Wednesday. Chevenix added that while he anticipated the deposit to be a one-off in terms of its \"very large\" size, Yemen could expect \"continued support\" from Riyadh in the future. Yemen's central bank, which is based in the southern port city of Aden, has struggled to pay public sector salaries amid a sharp drop in foreign exchange reserves. Mohammad Huwais | AFP | Getty Images Huthi rebel fighters inspect the damage after a reported air strike carried out by the Saudi-led coalition targeted the presidential palace in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on December 5, 2017. Since the war began in 2015, the Yemeni rial has lost around half its value against the U.S. dollar. Meantime, food and fuel prices have skyrocketed, leaving the same basic commodities out of the reach for many Yemeni civilians. The ongoing conflict has caused widespread destruction and killed thousands of people, with the United Nations saying the death toll had reached 10,000 by mid-2017." + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 6:33 AM / Updated 17 minutes ago New Zealand storm sparks evacuations and cuts power Charlotte Greenfield 2 Min Read WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Gale-force winds battered New Zealand’s North Island on Friday, tearing off roofs, bringing down trees, cutting power and forcing residents to flee flooded seaside towns. The storm, which began on Thursday, was easing in the upper part of the North Island but would continue to wreak havoc as it moved south and hit the capital, Wellington, forecasters said. A tree smashed into a car in the eastern town of Rotorua, killing a woman, police said. “We ask that people avoid low lying roads and coastal areas across Bay of Plenty as water levels are high, making conditions extremely dangerous,” the statement added. In Kaiaua, a seaside town south of Auckland, authorities called for residents to evacuate as strong tides submerged the coast. “My husband said ‘I think we need to go’ and I looked to see where he was pointed and the sea was coming in like a tsunami. It came in real fast,” Kaiaua resident Diana Gausden told the New Zealand Herald. New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, was pummelled by two months’ worth of rain in 24 hours, according to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, prompting authorities to shut major roads and cancel ferry services and dozens of flights. Winds of up to 128 kph (80 mph) an hour tore off roofs, felled trees and ripped boats from their moorings overnight, according to media. More than 20,000 households had been left without power on Friday, including 12,000 in Auckland, according to media. Electricity providers said they were working to fix dozens of separate power outages centring on Auckland. The storm was a dramatic interlude in an unusually dry summer, which has led to drought in many farming regions and curbed production of milk. Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Nick Macfie" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 22 (Reuters) - ChengDu QianFeng Electronics Co : * SAYS IT PLANS TO ACQUIRE AUTO FIRM BAIC BJEV FOR 28.85 BILLION YUAN ($4.51 billion) VIA ASSETS SWAP, SHARE ISSUE * SAYS IT PLANS TO RAISE UP TO 2.0 BILLION YUAN IN SHARE PRIVATE PLACEMENT TO FUND INNOVATION CENTRE, VEHICLE PROJECTS Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2n0ah0R Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.4015 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "The two largest economies in the world are at the forefront of artificial intelligence development, but the jury is still out on which country is leading the race, according to a start-up with a presence in both the United States and China . \"I think it's still early days. China probably leads on the retail end and consumer front, whereas the U.S. probably leads on autonomous driving for now,\" Daniel Tu, president and chief product and platform officer at Gen.Life, said Monday at the UBS Greater China Conference in Shanghai. Gen.Life is a start-up that uses technology such as A.I. to measure risks and improve the pricing and distribution of insurance products. The one-year-old firm is backed by major insurance firms such as AIA and American Family Insurance. In terms of government support, however, China appears to have an edge, said Tu. China's State Council in July 2017 set out a goal to expand A.I. into a $150 billion industry in the next few years and turn the country into an innovation center for A.I. by 2030, the South China Morning Post reported. In the U.S., academics such as MIT President L. Rafael Reif have called for greater collective efforts by the government, companies and society to lead the way, noted Tu, who is a former executive at Chinese financial conglomerate Ping An . \"There's a sense of urgency within the leading academic institutions in the United States about a lack of central, coherent policy by the central government, whereas in China, if you look at the recent State Council White Paper on A.I., it's clear China has a clear vision on how they would like to see this go,\" Tu said. \"But I think it's still early days.\"" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 6:19 PM / Updated 3 hours ago Iran's leader accuses Saudis of 'treason' against Muslims Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Iran’s supreme leader accused Saudi rulers on Tuesday of committing “treason” against Muslims by aligning themselves with the United States and Israel. Addressing parliamentary representatives from Islamic countries gathered in Tehran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was “a big mistake” and “doomed to failure”. “Regional governments that are cooperating with the United States and the Zionist regime to fight against Muslims are certainly committing treason. That is what Saudi Arabia is doing,” Khamenei said, according to his official website. Iran, the leading Shi‘ite Muslim power, and Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally, are rivals for influence in the Middle East where they support opposing sides in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. U.S. President Donald Trump said on a visit to Jerusalem last year that shared concern about Iran was driving many Arab states closer to Israel. An Israeli cabinet minister said in November that Israel had covert contacts with Saudi Arabia amid common concerns over Iran. Iran does not recognize the state of Israel and has repeatedly called for its destruction. Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; Editing by Robin Pomeroy" + }, + { + "text": "SYDNEY, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Copper prices eased in early Asian trading on Friday, hurt by a shift to stocks due to U.S. earnings optimism and a rise in oil prices. Nickel was also weaker, with the active China futures contract following London metal lower. FUNDAMENTALS * COPPER: Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange dropped 0.1 percent to $7,135.50 a tonne by 0100 GMT, extending losses from the previous session. Capital Economics said it expects copper to continue its retreat, averaging just $6,800 a tonne in the first quarter and $6,250 in the second quarter. * SHFE: The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange retreated 0.9 percent to 54,610 yuan ($8,407) a tonne. * CHINA: Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group, one of China’s top copper smelters, will suspend production at its Jinguan Copper unit for three days from Friday for repairs, a source familiar with the matter said. * NEW GRASBERG PLAN: Indonesia hopes to finalise contract talks with Freeport McMoRan Inc over the Grasberg copper mine by June, although divestment issues are still unresolved, a mining ministry official said on Thursday. *NICKEL: ShFE Nickel dropped more than 2 percent to a 3-day low, while LME nickel recovered from an overnight selloff to trade 0.3 percent firmer at $12,660 a tonne. * LME DEPARTURE: Paul MacGregor, head of sales at the London Metal Exchange, left his position earlier this month and has not yet been replaced, an LME spokesperson said, declining to give any further detail. * OTHER METALS: The rest of the ShFE base metals complex was weaker, with the exception of zinc, which was showing modest gains in step with overnight gains that saw three-month metal trade near decade highs. LME zinc was flat at $3,386 a tonne. * For the top stories in metals and other news, click or MARKETS NEWS * Asian stocks resumed their ascent on Friday, supported by U.S. earnings optimism and a rise in oil prices while the euro edged higher as the European Central Bank signalled an end to its massive stimulus. DATA/EVENTS 1330 U.S. Core CPI Dec 1330 U.S. Retail Sales Dec PRICES Three month LME copper Most active ShFE copper Three month LME aluminium Most active ShFE aluminium Three month LME zinc Most active ShFE zinc Three month LME lead Most active ShFE lead Three month LME nickel Most active ShFE nickel Three month LME tin Most active ShFE tin ARBS ($1 = 6.4956 Chinese yuan renminbi) Reporting by James Regan; editing by Richard Pullin Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "A daily morning look at the financial stories you need to know to start the day. STOCKS/ECONOMY -Stock futures are higher after Thursday's broad rally and new closing highs for all three major indices. Investors are encouraged by the first raft of strong bank earnings coming in today. We get retail sales and consumer inflation data today. -JPMorgan Chase just posted better than expected earnings and revenue. BlackRock earnings and revenue beat expectations and now has assets under management of more than $6 trillion. -Dallas Fed chief Robert Kaplan says there's a chance unemployment will drop to 3 percent soon." + }, + { + "text": "The following statements were posted to the verified Twitter accounts of U.S. , @realDonaldTrump and @POTUS. The opinions expressed are his own. Reuters has not edited the statements or confirmed their accuracy. @realDonaldTrump : - The Wall Street Journal stated falsely that I said to them “I have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un” (of N. Korea). Obviously I didn’t say that. I said “I’d have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un,” a big difference. Fortunately we now record conversations with reporters... [0758] - ...and they knew exactly what I said and meant. They just wanted a story. FAKE NEWS! [0801] - DACA is probably dead because the Democrats don’t really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military. [0809 EST] - I, as President, want people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong and great again, people coming in through a system based on MERIT. No more Lotteries! #AMERICA FIRST [0819 EST] - ”President Trump is not getting the credit he deserves for the economy. Tax Cut bonuses to more than 2,000,000 workers. Most explosive Stock Market rally that we’ve seen in modern times. 18,000 to 26,000 from Election, and grounded in profitability and growth. All Trump, not 0... [0850 EST] - ...big unnecessary regulation cuts made it all possible” (among many other things). “President Trump reversed the policies of President Obama, and reversed our economic decline.” Thank you Stuart Varney. @foxandfriends [0859 EST] -- Source link: ( bit.ly/2jBh4LU ) ( bit.ly/2jpEXYR ) Compiled by Bengaluru bureau" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 9:42 AM / Updated 43 minutes ago French jail guards start nationwide strike in showdown with government Reuters Staff 3 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - French prison guards launched a nationwide strike on Monday in a showdown with President Emmanuel Macron’s government over staff levels and violence that they say is spiralling out of control inside the country’s overcrowded jails. The strike, starting with pre-dawn pickets, marked an escalation in protests after unions this weekend rejected a government proposal to employ 100 extra guards this year and a further 1,000 before the 2022 end of Macron’s mandate. Guards burned tyres and wooden pallets outside the gates to several jails ahead of talks hastily convened by Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet. “We will not be used as cannon fodder. We won’t give an inch,” Yoan Karar, a senior Force Ouvriere (FO) union official, told CNews. His union is demanding higher wages and rapid hiring of 2,400 staff. Macron’s pressure is under mounting pressure to resolve the unrest among prison staff after several attacks on guards by inmates in different jails in the past week. Prison wardens are surrounded by French gendarmes as they block the Lyon-Corbas jail near Lyon during a nationwide protest, France, January 22, 2018. REUTERS/Emmanuel Foudrot On Friday, riot police clashed with guards manning a picket outside the Fleury Merogis prison, where protests first erupted after an Islamist militant jailed over the killing of 21 people in Tunisia in 2000 slashed guards on the head and torso with a pair of scissors in northern France. Over the weekend, the government also proposed separating France’s most violent inmates from the rest of the 70,000 prison population, one of Europe’s largest. A prison warden stands in front of the Lyon-Corbas jail near Lyon during a nationwide protest, France, January 22, 2018. REUTERS/Emmanuel Foudrot President Emmanuel Macron said earlier this month that a plan would be presented in February that it would go beyond an existing pledge to build thousands of new prison cells. France’s prison population has more than doubled since the 1970s, and prison guards complain increasingly that they have neither the staff nor the equipment and support to deal with violent inmates, notably convicted Islamists and petty criminals who become radicalised while in prison. Union representative Karar, a guard for 13 years at Fresnes prison on the edge of Paris, said records put the number of attacks on security staff at 4,000 a year. “You cannot put a guard in charge of 100 or 150 prisoners and just give him a whistle,” said Karar, calling for guards to be armed with taser guns. Reporting By Brian Love; editing by Richard Lough" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 7:01 PM / in 6 minutes Honduran lawyer gets 14 months in U.S. money laundering case Brendan Pierson 3 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Honduran lawyer who once worked for a company owned by a powerful political family in the Central American country was sentenced in Manhattan to 14 months in prison on Friday after he pleaded guilty to laundering drug money. U.S. District Judge John Koeltl said Andres Acosta Garcia’s sentence, less than the 41 to 51 months sought by prosecutors, reflected the defendant’s “minor role in a very serious offense.” Acosta Garcia, 42, and his lawyers had asked Koeltl for a sentence of time served - about two months - so that he could return to his family. “Each day and night of this episode of suffering, they are waiting for me at home so we can continue our lives,” Acosta Garcia said in court before Koeltl sentenced him. Acosta Garcia worked for Grupo Continental, a conglomerate owned by Honduras’ politically influential Rosenthal family, according to court filings. He admitted in August that while working there, he helped launder money from narcotics trafficking through beef sales to the United States. Prosecutors have said the money was linked to the Cachiros, a Honduran drug trafficking ring. Koeltl said at Friday’s sentencing hearing that Acosta Garcia never earned any extra money for his role in the money laundering, and the company ultimately laid him off. Members of the Rosenthal family were also arrested and charged in the case. Yani Rosenthal, a former Honduran legislator who twice ran for president, pleaded guilty to helping the Cachiros launder money through beef sales and was sentenced to three years in prison on Dec. 15. His cousin Yankel Rosenthal, a former minister of investment, pleaded guilty to attempting to launder drug money through a real estate purchase in Florida and was sentenced to two years and five months in prison on Jan. 19. Yani’s father, Jaime Rosenthal, was also charged, but remains at large. The case is one of several drug-related prosecutions targeting prominent figures in Honduras, which U.S. authorities have long identified as a major transshipment point for drugs being smuggled into the United States. Fabio Lobo, son of former Honduran President Porfirio Lobo, was arrested in 2015. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and was sentenced to 24 years in prison in September. Prosecutors recently announced cocaine trafficking conspiracy charges against Honduran congressman Fredy Renan Najera Montoya, who is not in U.S. custody. Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 3:44 PM / Updated 8 minutes ago Pimco's Ivascyn says Pimco would consider adding Treasuries on further weakness Reuters Staff 1 Min Read NEW YORK, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Dan Ivascyn, group chief investment officer at Pimco, said Wednesday that Pacific Investment Management Co would consider adding U.S. Treasuries on further weakness in the bond market. Ivascyn said shorter-dated U.S. Treasuries are “looking more interesting at these levels” and added that Pimco “prefers (the) front end” of the U.S. Treasury yield curve. (Reporting By Jennifer Ablan)" + }, + { + "text": "14 PM / in 11 minutes BRIEF-Mattel And Netease Launch New Joint Venture Reuters Staff Jan 30 (Reuters) - Mattel Inc: * MATTEL AND NETEASE LAUNCH NEW JOINT VENTURE * MATTEL INC - HAS ENTERED INTO A JOINT VENTURE WITH NETEASE TO FORM A PUBLISHING AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIO MATTEL163 * MATTEL INC - GOING FORWARD, MATTEL163 WILL SEEK TO CREATE MORE MOBILE GAMES AND EDUCATION APPS INSPIRED BY MATTEL BRANDS" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 4:15 AM / Updated 3 hours ago Match points lost and saved drive Wozniacki Reuters Staff 3 Min Read MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Caroline Wozniacki has played 40 matches at the Australian Open over 11 years but one encounter in particular still haunts her, the Dane said after reaching the semi-finals for the second time in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Wozniacki was riding high as top seed and world number one on her previous visit to the last four at Melbourne Park seven years ago when she blew a match point in the second set and went on to lose to China’s Li Na. “It feels great to be back here in the semi-finals, it’s been a few years,” Wozniacki said after beating Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0 6-7(3) 6-2 in the quarter-finals. ”Last time I was in the semi-finals here, I had match point against Li Na. I lost it. That’s still haunting me till this day. So I‘m hoping for a different result this time. ”I remember very well that match. I usually forget matches and I don’t remember playing certain people. I don’t remember a lot of things, but that one is one that I remember very well. ”I went back on the practice court. I never do that after going far in a tournament and losing after a tough battle. Just needed to get some frustration out. Tennis - Australian Open - Quarterfinals - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 24, 2018. Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro celebrates winning the second set during her match against Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki. REUTERS/Issei Kato “I went on a roll after that and won a bunch of tournaments in a row. At the same time it was still that one match that was still hurting.” Wozniacki experienced the other side of the coin last week when she saved two match points and battled back from 5-1 down in the deciding set to beat Jana Fett in the second round. “That was a crazy comeback. Now everything that I do is just a plus,” she added. Seven years on from her previous semi-final and while Li has long retired with two major titles to her name, Wozniacki is still searching for her maiden grand slam crown. As second seed, the 27-year-old will again be a strong favourite to reach the Melbourne Park final against young Belgian Elise Mertens, who Wozniacki beat in three sets in their one previous meeting. “I have to serve well, return well, stay aggressive, make her move,” she said. “She’s a great player, has been having a great year so far. She’s very talented, obviously had a very good tournament this week. It’s going to be very difficult. But I‘m excited for the challenge and excited for playing the semi-finals.” Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "1 COMMENTS Federal Reserve officials are likely to keep interest rates steady at their two-day policy meeting that concludes Wednesday, but they could provide clues on whether their 2018 outlook has changed amid a steadily expanding economy. The meeting is the last Chairwoman Janet Yellen will attend before turning the reins over to her successor, Fed governor Jerome Powell. Ms. Yellen isn’t scheduled to convene a press conference after the meeting, and officials aren’t releasing new economic projections. This leaves just the policy statement to deliver any new clues about how officials’ thinking about the economy has evolved since they met in mid-December, when they raised their benchmark short-term rate to a range between 1.25% and 1.5% and penciled in three increases for 2018. Previously Yellen Leaving Fed With Full Employment, but Her Legacy Still Is Being Written (Jan. 30) GDP Grew 2.6% at Year End, Extending Strong Stretch (Jan. 26) Two of Fed’s Newest Faces to Join Rate-Setting Panel in 2018 (Dec. 28, 2017) Fed Raises Rates, Sticks to Forecast for 2018 Increases (Dec. 13, 2017) Because markets already expect the Fed to raise rates at its second meeting of the year in March, a bigger question looming over this meeting is the path of policy for the rest of the year. Will the statement offer any clues that officials are thinking about raising rates four times this year? Here are four things to watch when the Fed releases its statement at 2 p.m. EST: Taxes and Financial Conditions Since officials’ meeting last month, Congress approved and Mr. Trump signed into law a $1.5 trillion tax cut. Stocks have advanced to new records, raising concerns about potential market froth. And the dollar has moved lower, which should give a boost to economic growth by making U.S. exports cheaper in global markets. Ms. Yellen, at her press conference last month, said officials’ projections had largely incorporated the prospect that the tax cut will spur stronger growth. But this didn’t result in any change to their expectations for the path of interest rates. If the new statement notes the market movements or the tax cut stimulus, that might signal officials are considering more rate increases this year than they expected in December. The Balance of Risks In recent months, the Fed’s policy statement has referred to the near-term economic risks as “roughly balanced,” meaning the prospects of growth that is either stronger than anticipated or weaker than anticipated are about the same. The Commerce Department’s initial estimate of fourth-quarter growth showed final sales to private domestic purchasers, a key reading of output, rose 4.6% on the quarter, even though overall gross domestic product was up at a more measured 2.6% annual rate . Consumer spending was also strong. One way for the Fed to signal a shift in its thinking about the economy would be to indicate it now sees a bigger risk that growth will exceed expectations. Inflation Puzzles Inflation, as measured by the Fed’s preferred gauge, is still running below the central bank’s 2% target, with consumer prices rising 1.7% in the year ended December. So-called core prices, which exclude the volatile food and energy sectors, rose 1.5% last year. The recent decline in the U.S. dollar and upswing in oil prices should boost inflation in coming months. Also important to Fed officials, investors’ expectations of future inflation rose in January. The 10-year inflation break-even rate, which reflects the yield premium on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note over the comparable Treasury inflation-protected security, has settled recently at its highest levels since last March, before the inflation soft patch hit. The Fed’s December policy statement referred to market-based measures of inflation compensation that “remain low.” Watch how officials tweak this language. Dissents Dissents seem highly unlikely at Ms. Yellen’s final meeting, although this year’s voting members of the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee are slightly more inclined to raise rates than those of last year. Two officials who dissented against the December rate increase because they wanted to hold rates steady—Chicago Fed President Charles Evans and Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari —don’t have a vote this year, due to the FOMC’s rotation system. Two new voters—San Francisco Fed President John Williams and Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester —have expressed support for continued gradual rate increases. Two other voting members this year are Fed newcomers whose rate rise inclinations are less clear: Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic took office in June, and Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin started Jan. 1. Write to Nick Timiraos at [REDACTED]" + }, + { + "text": "Star Wars inspired arm allows amputee to play piano 9:10am GMT - 02:03 Amputee Jason Barnes plays the piano with a prosthetic arm that detects muscle movement in his stump using ultrasound technology and an algorithm to predict which metal finger he intends to use. Roselle Chen Amputee Jason Barnes plays the piano with a prosthetic arm that detects muscle movement in his stump using ultrasound technology and an algorithm to predict which metal finger he intends to use. Roselle Chen //reut.rs/2DM9BHy" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 3:05 PM / in 23 minutes BRIEF-Celgene Says Bluebird Car-T Therapy Remains A Top Priority Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 25 (Reuters) - Celgene Corp: * CELGENE CEO SAYS WORKING WITH BLUEBIRD BIO TO DEVELOP BB2121 CAR-T THERAPY FOR MYELOMA REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY * CELGENE CEO SAYS POSITIONED TO LAUNCH TWO CAR-T THERAPIES IN BLOOD CANCERS IN NEXT 3 YEARS * CELGENE SEES $1 BILLION SALES POTENTIAL FOR FEDRATINIB IN MYELOFIBROSIS, MID-2018 REGULATORY SUBMISSION Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Reporting By Bill Berkrot)" + }, + { + "text": "Storm kills three in the Netherlands, flights, trains cancelled 12:06pm EST - 00:56 Three people have been killed and houses damaged as storms hit land and sea across the Netherlands. Rough cut (no reporter narration) Three people have been killed and houses damaged as storms hit land and sea across the Netherlands. Rough cut (no reporter narration) //reut.rs/2DqR0AE" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 3:15 PM / in 10 minutes Easing capesize rates continue to weigh on Baltic index Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Jan 18 (Reuters) - The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, fell on Thursday, as capesize rates dropped to its lowest since August. * The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, shed 25 points, or 2.15 percent, to close at 1,139 points, the lowest since Aug. 11. * Baltic index was down for the seventh-straight session. * The capesize index fell 132 points, or 7.57 percent, to a more-than-five-months low of 1,611 points. * Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, fell $863 to $12,312 - lowest since Aug 2. * The panamax index slipped 6 points, or 0.46 percent, to close at 1,311 points. * Average daily earnings for panamaxes, which usually carry coal or grain cargoes of about 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes, eased $48 to $10,517. * Among smaller vessels, the supramax index remained flat at 910 points, while the handysize index shed 1 point to 580 points. (Reporting by Sumita Layek in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 8 (Reuters) - Arco Vara As: * CONDUCTED A BOND ISSUE AS A RESULT OF WHICH BONDS IN AMOUNT OF 800 000 EUROS WERE ISSUED * ISSUE DATE OF BONDS WAS 8 JANUARY 2018 AND MATURITY DATE IS 4 JANUARY 2019 * 80 BONDS WERE ISSUED IN NOMINAL VALUE OF 10 000 EUROS WITH INTEREST RATE 12% PER YEAR * ISSUED BONDS WERE NOT GUARANTEED. ISSUED BONDS HAVE BEEN PAID FOR IN FULL Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "By Reuters 6:32 AM EST Danish toymaker Lego is teaming up with Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings (tcehy) to jointly develop online games and potentially a social network aimed at Chinese children. Privately-owned Lego has seen a slowdown in sales growth in recent years , but the Chinese market has been a bright spot with sales growing 25-30% in 2016. It is competing with Barbie maker Mattel (mat) and Hasbro (has) , the firm behind My Little Pony, for a slice of the $31 billion toys and games market in China. Lego said on Monday the partnership with Tencent, China’s biggest social network and gaming company, aimed to create a safe online environment covering content, platforms, and experiences tailored for Chinese children. “What we are looking for now with Tencent is just to find more creative ways... (of) reaching children, and creating bespoke content with Tencent, in this case, video games,” Jacob Kragh, head of Lego in China, told Reuters on Monday at joint event with Tencent in Beijing. Read: Lego Swaps Out CEO Piece After Eight-Month Tenure The partnership includes developing a Lego video zone for children on the Tencent video platform, as well as developing and operating Lego branded licensed games, the toymaker said. It also includes LEGO BOOST — a building and coding set that lets children turn their brick creations into moving objects — and will explore developing a joint social network for children in China. Tencent is Asia’s most valuable company with a market capitalisation of $537 billion. Last year, Mattel struck deals with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding (baba) and online content developer BabyTree to sell interactive learning products based on its Fisher-Price toys. Lego has about a 3% market share in China, followed by Mattel and Hasbro with around 2% and 1%, respectively, according to Euromonitor International. In November 2016, Lego opened a factory in Jiaxing, China, which it expects to produce 70-80% of all Lego products sold in Asia. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "A new round of layoffs is taking effect at the Carrier factory in Indianapolis. The company says about 215 people are being let go starting Thursday, leaving about 1,100 workers at the plant. That's down from some 1,600 factory and office jobs when Carrier announced plans in early 2016 to move production to Mexico . The new layoffs follow about 340 job cuts from the factory in July. President Donald Trump frequently criticized Carrier's plant closing plans during the 2016 campaign. He traveled to the Indianapolis factory weeks after his election win to announce a tax-incentive agreement partially reversing the closure and keeping some 800 furnace production jobs." + }, + { + "text": "MOULTRIE, Ga., Jan. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ameris Bancorp (Nasdaq: ABCB) (the \"Company\") today announced that it intends to release its fourth quarter and full year 2017 financial results in a press release before the market opens on Friday, January 26, 2018. Edwin W. Hortman, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, Dennis J. Zember Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and Nicole S. Stokes, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will host a teleconference at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on that same day to discuss the Company's results and answer appropriate questions. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-877-504-1190 (or 1-855-669-9657 for participants in Canada and 1-412-902-6630 for other international participants). The conference ID name is Ameris Bancorp ABCB. A replay of the call will be available beginning one hour after the end of the conference call until February 9, 2018. To listen to the replay, dial 1-877-344-7529 (or 1-855-669-9658 for participants in Canada and 1-412-317-0088 for other international participants). The conference replay access code is 10115392. The conference call replay and the financial information discussed will also be available on the Investor Relations page of the Ameris Bank website at www.amerisbank.com . About Ameris Bancorp Ameris Bancorp is a bank holding company headquartered in Moultrie, Georgia. The Company's banking subsidiary, Ameris Bank, had 97 locations in Georgia, Alabama, northern Florida and South Carolina at the end of the most recent quarter. View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Ameris Bancorp" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 11:09 AM / Updated 9 hours ago Dakar 12th stage cancelled for bikes and quads Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Dakar Rally organisers cancelled the 12th stage for motorcycles and quadbikes in Argentina on Thursday for safety reasons due to the weather. The cars and trucks, which were due to take a different route, will continue as planned. “Having consulted the competitors groupped at Fiambala’s marathon bivouac, the race direction has taken the decision to cancel the 12th special stage for bikes and quads,” a statement said. Austrian Matthias Walkner is leading the motorcycle standings on a KTM, 32 minutes clear of Argentina’s Honda rider Kevin Benavides. The 12th stage from Fiambala to San Juan was scheduled as a 375km timed leg and 348km of liaison. The rally ends in Cordoba on Saturday. Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Pritha Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "JOHANNESBURG, Jan 20 (Reuters) - South Africa’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed a new board at state-owned power utility Eskom and named Telkom’s chairman Jabu Mabuza as its new chairman, the country’s presidency said on Saturday. Eskom has been in a leadership crisis after several board members, including the chairman and chief executive, resigned in 2017 amid growing concerns about governance at the country’s sole electricity provider. The presidency also said in a statement that the government has recommended the appointment of Phakamani Hadebe as acting group Chief Executive of Eskom, with immediate effect. (Editing by Alexander Smith)" + }, + { + "text": "SINGAPORE, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Struggling commodities trader Noble Group Ltd said on Monday that it had reached an in-principle agreement with a group of senior creditors for a restructuring of its debt. The in-principle agreement was reached with an ad hoc group of creditors representing about 30 percent of its senior debt instruments and will reduce Noble’s existing senior debt instruments to $1.7 billion from $3.4 billion, the company said in a statement. Noble was once a global commodity trader with ambitions to rival the likes of Glencore and Vitol. Now it has shrunk to its Asian roots as a hard commodities player after a crisis-wracked three years forced it to slash jobs and sell its key assets - some at losses - to cut debt. (Reporting by Aradhana Aravindan; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)" + }, + { + "text": "RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Highwoods Properties, Inc. (NYSE:HIW) will release its 2017 fourth quarter results on Tuesday, February 6 th , after the market closes. A conference call will be held the next day, Wednesday, February 7 th , at 11:00 A.M. Eastern time. For US/Canada callers, dial (800) 756-3565. A live, listen-only webcast can be accessed through the Company’s website at www.highwoods.com under the “Investor Relations” section. A replay of the call will also be available on the Company’s website. About Highwoods Highwoods Properties, Inc., headquartered in Raleigh, is a publicly-traded (NYSE:HIW) real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and a member of the S&P MidCap 400 Index. The Company is a fully-integrated office REIT that owns, develops, acquires, leases and manages properties primarily in the best business districts (BBDs) of Atlanta, Greensboro, Memphis, Nashville, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Richmond and Tampa. For more information about Highwoods, please visit our website at www.highwoods.com . Contact: Brendan Maiorana Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations 919-431-1529 Source:Highwoods Properties, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) _ Provident Financial Holdings Inc. (PROV) on Monday reported a fiscal second-quarter loss of $777,000, after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier. On a per-share basis, the Riverside, California-based company said it had a loss of 10 cents. Earnings, adjusted for pretax expenses and non-recurring costs, were 20 cents per share. The holding company for Provident Savings Bank posted revenue of $16.1 million in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $14.5 million. Provident Financial shares have increased slightly since the beginning of the year. The stock has fallen nearly 4 percent in the last 12 months. This story was generated by Automated Insights ( ) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on PROV at" + }, + { + "text": "Lula's Brazil presidential run in doubt after conviction upheld 01:10 A Brazilian appeals court unanimously upheld the corruption conviction of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday and added to his sentence, a major blow to the popular politician's plans to run again for the presidency this year. A Brazilian appeals court unanimously upheld the corruption conviction of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday and added to his sentence, a major blow to the popular politician's plans to run again for the presidency this year. //reut.rs/2DE2tgc" + }, + { + "text": "Wisconsin’s Menominee tribe has sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency, saying they failed to exercise jurisdiction over the permitting of a sulfide mine close to an important drinking water source and tribal burial grounds. Filed on Monday in federal court in Green Bay, Wisconsin the lawsuit said the Corps and EPA have improperly delegated the authority to grant a water and wetlands permit for the proposed open pit mine by Canada’s Aquila Resources to the state of Michigan. To read the full story on Westlaw Practitioner Insights, click here: bit.ly/2F8Shsz" + }, + { + "text": "27 minutes ago Bannon steps down from Breitbart News after comments critical of Trump Reuters Staff 1 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Steve Bannon has stepped down as executive chairman of Breitbart News, the right-wing news organisation said on its website on Tuesday, after the former White House chief strategist was quoted in a book criticizing President Donald Trump. FILE PHOTO: Political strategist Stephen Bannon speaks at a Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore campaign rally in Midland City, Alabama, U.S., December 11, 2017. Picture taken December 11, 2017. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo “Steve is a valued part of our legacy, and we will always be grateful for his contributions, and what he has helped us to accomplish,” Breitbart Chief Executive Larry Solov said in a statement on the website. Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Tim Ahmann" + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL (Reuters) - Japan said on Tuesday it can “by no means” accept South Korea’s call for more steps to help “comfort women”, a euphemism for girls and women forced to work in Japan’s wartime brothels, a divisive issue that Japan says was resolved with a 2015 deal. Japan and South Korea share a bitter history that includes Japan’s 1910-45 colonization but the U.S. allies are central to efforts to rein in North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. A South Korean investigation appointed by the government concluded last month the dispute over the women could not be “fundamentally resolved” because the victims’ demand for legal compensation had not been met. Japan responded by saying any attempt by South Korea to revise the 2015 deal, struck by a conservative South Korean government, would make relations “unmanageable”. South Korea would not seek to renegotiate the 2015 agreement, even though it failed to meet victims’ needs and resolve the feud, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said on Tuesday. But she added that she hoped Japan would make further efforts to help the women “regain honor and dignity and heal wounds in their hearts”. Japan rejected any suggestion it take steps to augment the 2015 deal, under which Japan apologized to the victims and provided 1 billion yen ($8.8 million) to a fund to support them. “We can by no means accept South Korea’s demands for additional measures,” Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono told reporters in Tokyo. Kono said the 2015 settlement was a “final and irreversible resolution”. “At a time when we are confronting the threat from North Korea, the Japan-South Korean agreement is an indispensable base for Japan-South Korean cooperation in various fields and the creation of a future-oriented relationship,” Kono said. South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-Wha speaks during a briefing on the 2015 South Korea-Japan agreement over South Korea's \"comfort women\" issue at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, South Korea January 9, 2018. REUTERS/JUNG Yeon-Je/Pool South Korea’s Kang did not elaborate on what additional steps South Korea was seeking but a senior foreign ministry official told Reuters it wanted a “voluntary, sincere apology rather than money”. South Korean activists estimate there may have been as many as 200,000 Korean women forced to work in the brothels. There are 31 surviving women registered with the government, a foreign ministry official said. In 2015, when there were 47, 36 accepted the settlement, a the official said. But others rejected it, and some have been protesting regularly in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul. Slideshow (2 Images) Those opposed to the 2015 deal want Japan to take legal responsibility and provide due compensation. South Korean President Moon Jae-in won an election last year after promises on the campaign trail to renegotiate the deal. But he has also vowed to “normalize” ties with Japan. The comfort women issue has been a regular cause for contention between Japan and neighbors China and North and South Korea since the war. Japan colonized the Korean peninsula between 1910 and 1945 and occupied parts of China before and after the war. Japan says the matter of compensation for the women was settled under a 1965 treaty. It says that in 2015, it agreed to provide the funds to help them heal “psychological wounds”. (Refiles to remove extraneous word from paragraph 13.) Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Additional reporting by Kaori Kaneko, Nobuhiro Kubo and Linda Sieg in TOKYO; Editing by Paul Tait, Robert Birsel" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 8:43 AM / Updated 31 minutes ago UK house prices fall for first time since June - Halifax Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON, Jan 8 (Reuters) - British house prices unexpectedly fell in December compared with November, their first fall in six months, mortgage lender Halifax said on Monday, adding to signs of weakness in the country’s housing market since the 2016 Brexit vote. House prices slipped by 0.6 percent month-on-month after a 0.3 percent rise in November, Halifax said. That compared with the consensus forecast for a 0.2 percent rise in a Reuters poll of economists. On an annual basis, house prices rose 2.7 percent in the three months to December compared with the same period in 2016, slowing from a 3.9 percent rise in November. The Reuters poll of economists had pointed to a 3.3 percent rise. (Writing by William Schomberg; Editing by Peter Graff)" + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 5:29 PM / Updated 4 hours ago Kaspersky Lab 2017 revenue up 8 percent, North America sales fall Reuters Staff 2 Min Read MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moscow-based cyber security company Kaspersky Lab said on Friday its revenue increased 8 percent year-on-year in 2017, though sales fell in North America because of allegations about its ties to the Russian government. The United States banned civilian government agencies from using Kaspersky products in September amid mounting concern among U.S. officials that the software could be exploited by Russian spy agencies. [nL1N1OI1D8] Kaspersky has repeatedly denied that it has ties to any government, saying it would not help Russia or other countries with cyber espionage. Revenue totaled $698 million in 2017, up from $644 million in the previous year but slightly below a target of more than $700 million set by founder and CEO Eugene Kaspersky in an interview with Reuters in October. [nL2N1N21OA] Sales in North America fell 8 percent year-on-year due to “geopolitical challenges and unsubstantiated allegations,” Kaspersky Lab said in a statement. European sales also declined slightly, down 2 percent from 2016, but this was offset by strong results in Latin America, as well as Russia and the CIS, Kaspersky said. “Despite the difficult geopolitical situation, unsubstantiated accusations, and attempts to undermine our business, the company maintains positive dynamics,” Eugene Kaspersky said. Reporting by Jack Stubbs; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 8:59 AM / Updated 32 minutes ago Trump warns Davos on unfair trade, says U.S. 'open for business' Steve Holland 4 Min Read DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump took his “America First” message to the world’s elite on Friday, telling a summit of business and political leaders that the United States would “no longer turn a blind eye” to what he described as unfair trade practices. Trump became the first sitting U.S. President in 18 years to address the annual conclave of the rich and powerful at the Swiss ski resort of Davos, closing the summit with a speech in which he declared the United States “open for business”. “Now is the best time to bring your money, your jobs, your businesses to America,” he said, singling out tax cuts and curbs to regulation as boosting the investment climate. “After years of stagnation, the United States is once again experiencing strong economic growth,” he said. “The world is witnessing the resurgence of a strong and prosperous America.” He said he would always promote “America First”, as he expected other world leaders to do on behalf of their own countries. “America First does not mean America alone. When the United States grows so does the world,” he said. But he swiftly turned to a theme of demanding tougher enforcement of trade rules, accusing unidentified countries of unfair practices, including stealing intellectual property and providing state aid to industry. “We will enforce our trade laws and restore integrity to the trading system. Only by insisting on fair and reciprocal trade can we create a system that works not just for the United States but for all nations,” Trump said. “The United States will no longer turn a blind eye to unfair trade practices,” he said. “We cannot have free and open trade if some countries exploit the system at the expense of others. We support free trade but it needs to be fair and it needs to be reciprocal.” President Donald Trump gestures as he delivers a speech during the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland January 26, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse While he has a record of opposing multi-lateral trade agreements involving many countries, he said the United States would consider “mutually beneficial” bilateral trade agreements with other individual states. That could include countries that have signed up to a Trans-Pacific trade agreement from which he has withdrawn, he said, adding that he would also consider negotiating with them collectively if that was in the U.S. interest. U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland January 26, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Before his trip to Davos, Trump imposed 30 percent tariffs on imported solar panels, among the first unilateral trade restrictions made by the administration as part of a broader protectionist agenda. NO “DAYLIGHT” ON DOLLAR The Trump administration’s debut at Davos caused a storm, not least because of comments by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who said this week the United States benefited from a lower dollar, which would make its exports cheaper. Mnuchin’s remarks sent the U.S. currency tumbling and drew sharp rebukes from the European Central Bank and other figures, who view countries talking down their own currencies as a violation of unwritten rules to keep trade balanced. On Thursday, Trump said he ultimately wants the dollar to be strong, lifting the greenback briefly. U.S. officials sought to dispel any impression of disarray, saying Mnuchin was making an observation about the impact of a lower dollar, not announcing a new policy to drive it down. “I don’t think there’s any daylight between the President and Secretary Mnuchin,” an administration officials told reporters in Davos. “I think that there were some people who took some comments that the secretary made where he was essentially reciting and explaining in descriptive manner a basic economic principle and took it to represent ... some sort of policy announcement or shift.” Additional reporting by Yara Bayoumy, Noah Barkin and Simon Robinson; Writing by Peter Graff; Editing by Mark Bendeich" + }, + { + "text": "Dell Inc. is considering a range of strategic alternatives that could transform the maker of PCs and data-storage devices, according to people familiar with the matter. In the review, which is in a preliminary stage, the closely held technology giant is expected to explore options including an initial public offering and a purchase of the rest of VMware Inc., a publicly traded cloud infrastructure company, the people said. VMware... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ruder Finn, a leading independent global creative and communications agency, today announced that Laura Ryan has joined the firm as an Executive Vice President in the Corporate Communications practice, further strengthening the group's leadership in executive thought leadership, crisis and issues strategy, and financial communications. Ryan brings more than 20 years' industry experience to Ruder Finn, both in-house and at global agencies such as Ketchum, Burson-Marsteller, and most recently, Cohn & Wolfe. She has worked with clients spanning a broad range of industries including consumer goods, hospitality, finance, pharma and food and beverage. She will be based in New York and report to CEO Kathy Bloomgarden. \"Laura's broad corporate experience will bring a tremendous amount of value to the group across multiple industries and sectors,\" says Bloomgarden. \"She has an impressive background delivering award-winning work for clients, and being able to work across multiple disciplines, including financial and crisis communications, a rapidly growing area of our corporate business.\" Ryan will also play a role in building current business and leading new business opportunities. \"Ruder Finn has an enviable track record in corporate communications and a strong reputation amongst top executives and today's leading companies and organizations,\" says Ryan. \"I'm thrilled to be joining such an established corporate team and look forward to contributing my background and expertise in building and protecting corporate reputation.\" About Ruder Finn Ruder Finn, Inc. is one of the world's largest independent global communications and creative agencies with dual headquarters in the United States and China. Founded in 1948, Ruder Finn serves the global and local communication needs of over 250 corporations, governments, not-for-profit organizations, and start-ups. The agency is organized around four strategic pillars that reflect its core areas of expertise: Health & Wellness, Corporate Reputation & Transformation, Technology & Innovation, and Consumer Connections. RFI Studios, the agency's full-service digital practice, leads the industry in designing and developing internal collaboration platforms, building conversations, and communities around brands, and staying top-of-mind in the world of mobile applications. For more information, visit www.ruderfinn.com . Media Contact Sarah Coles 212.593.6393 [REDACTED] View original content: SOURCE Ruder Finn" + }, + { + "text": "Morgan Stanley's profit drops 60 percent 9:04pm IST - 00:54 A tax charge Morgan Stanley took stemming from the new tax law hammered its profit, and trading revenue plunged. But as Fred Katayama reports, its adjusted profit and revenue beat estimates. A tax charge Morgan Stanley took stemming from the new tax law hammered its profit, and trading revenue plunged. But as Fred Katayama reports, its adjusted profit and revenue beat estimates. //reut.rs/2mONuoG" + }, + { + "text": "Angelina Jolie speaks to Syrian refugees at Zataari camp Monday, January 29, 2018 - 00:56 The film star visited the camp, which is home to 85,000 people, as part of her role as a U.N. Special Envoy. Rough cut (no reporter narration) The film star visited the camp, which is home to 85,000 people, as part of her role as a U.N. Special Envoy. Rough cut (no reporter narration) //reut.rs/2DK1tHz" + }, + { + "text": "Minnie Mouse finally gets Hollywood honor Monday, January 22, 2018 - 01:19 Forty years after Mickey, Minnie Mouse receives her star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Rough cut (no reporter narration). ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Forty years after Mickey, Minnie Mouse receives her star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - ADLER REAL ESTATE AG: * UPDATING 2017 GUIDANCE * AVERAGE RENT IN CORE PORTFOLIO HAD REACHED EUR 5.11 PER SQM/MONTH AT NINE MONTHS STAGE * TARGET OF 3 PERCENT INCREASE IN RENTAL INCOME INCLUDING VACANCY REDUCTION COULD REACH C.3.5% FOR FY17 * 2017 WACD, WHICH STOOD AT 3.69% AS OF FY 16 IS EXPECTED TO FALL TO AROUND 2.7% PERCENT * OTHER GUIDED FIGURES SUCH AS FFO I AND EPRA NAV ARE EXPECTED TO MEET REPORTED 2017 GUIDANCE Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "30 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago CANADA STOCKS-TSX slips as resource stocks retreat, pot stocks gain Reuters Staff (Adds details on specific stocks, updates prices) * TSX down 22.84 points, or 0.14 percent, at 16,348.97 * Six of the TSX’s 10 main groups move higher * Materials group down 1.7 percent, energy off 0.5 percent TORONTO, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Canada’s main stock index edged lower in morning trading on Tuesday as gold miners weighed down heavyweight resource stocks amid a commodity price retreat, even as marijuana producers extended a recent rally. * At 10:03 a.m. EST (1503 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index was down 22.84 points, or 0.14 percent, at 16,348.97. Only four of the index’s 10 main groups were in negative territory, but two of those - energy and materials - play an influential role overall. * The materials group, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, lost 1.7 percent while the energy group retreated 0.5 percent. * The most influential weights included Barrick Gold Corp , which fell 4.2 percent to C$18.67, and diversified miner Teck Resources Ltd, down 3.8 percent at C$37.18. * Gold slipped from a four-month high hit on Monday as the U.S. dollar clawed back some lost ground, while copper and nickel hit multi-week lows. Crude prices also pulled back after recent gains. * Goldcorp Inc declined 3.2 percent to C$18.49 after lowering its estimate for all-in sustaining costs. * On the positive side of the ledger, marijuana stocks extend Monday’s gains, with Aurora Cannabis up 9.5 percent to C$12.59, Canopy Growth Corp up 4.1 percent to C$38 and Aphria Inc adding 5.5 percent to C$22.90. * BlackBerry Ltd also added to Monday’s gains, advancing 1.2 percent to C$17.69, after launching new cybersecurity software which identifies vulnerabilities in programs used in self-driving cars. * Yellow Pages Ltd advanced 1.2 percent to C$8.31 after the company once well known for its thick-print directories said it would fire about 500 employees to cut costs and turn around its digital advertising platform. * SSR Mining Inc jumped 8.6 percent to C$11.1 after the precious metal miner reported fourth-quarter earnings and provided guidance for 2018. (Reporting by Alastair Sharp; Editing by Bernadette Baum)" + }, + { + "text": "MONTECITO, Calif, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Californian authorities called for public help in locating seven people still missing after mudslides that killed at least 18, as crews carried on searching for survivors on Saturday. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office made a plea for information on any of the missing residents, while acknowledging that finding anyone alive would be a “miracle”. “The missing persons were reported by family and friends, and resided in areas that were heavily damaged during the storm and subsequent mudslides,” the sheriff’s office said. The sheriff’s office listed the names of the missing, who range in age from two to 62, in a statement on Friday night. The disaster struck on Tuesday after heavy rains soaked the area near Montecito, north of Los Angeles, where vegetation had been denduded by the largest wildfire in California’s history. Sodden hillsides gave way, unleashing a torrent of mud, water, uprooted trees and boulders onto the valley below and causing what the police described as “traumatic injuries” to the victims, who ranged in age from 3 to 89. The destruction covered 30 square miles and more than 2,100 personnel from local, state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy and the American Red Cross are involved in “challenging” search, recovery and relief efforts, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. Officials ordered residents in most of the southeastern corner of Montecito, which is east of Santa Barbara, to leave their homes for what was likely to be one or two weeks. One of California’s most celebrated roads, coastal Highway 101, was partially closed, with mud was two feet deep in places, while in Montecito, mud reached the roof lines of houses, as residents surveyed their damaged homes. “We have a yard to redo and hopefully our insurance will help out with that, but the people across from me, newer homes, gone,” Garrett Speirs, a 54-year-old artist who has been living in Montecito for 20 years, said. “Everybody down below gone, two girls gone ...Two sixth-graders in the school our kids went to,” Speirs added. (Additional reporting by Keith Coffman in Denver, Chris Kenning in Chicago, Gina Cherelus and Peter Szekely in New York and Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas; Writing by Scott Malone and Jon Herskovitz; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe, James Dalgleish, G Crosse and Alexander Smith)" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 10:14 AM / Updated 15 minutes ago China considering merging its banking, insurance regulators - Bloomberg Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BEIJING (Reuters) - China is considering a merger of its banking and insurance regulators, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Government agencies under the direction of a Communist Party central reform group led by President Xi Jinping are drafting a plan that would combine the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) and the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC), Bloomberg reported without naming its sources. The State Council Information Office, which acts as the public relations arm of the government, said in a statement it does not have a grasp of the situation at the moment. The CBRC and CIRC did not immediately respond to faxed requests for comment. Regulators oversee different parts of China’s complex financial sector, and no single regulator has a complete picture of capital movements in the system. That complicates the job of authorities to catch market manipulators who secretly divert funds to risky financial products as they chase higher returns. The plan, which is under discussion and may yet still change, could be announced after the National People’s Congress in March, Bloomberg reported, citing two of the people. Alternative plans that have been discussed include creating a super-regulator that also brings into its fold the central bank and stock market watchdog, as well as giving the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) greater oversight over the other three main regulatory bodies, according to Bloomberg. Xi has said that financial security is a vital part of national security. Last year, a Financial Stability and Development Committee was established with Vice Premier Ma Kai as its head. Speculation of a super-regulator has been rife for years. After the Chinese stock market crash of 2015, there was talk that China was considering bringing together its banking, insurance and securities regulators into a single super-commission. The stock market crash was in part blamed on poor inter-agency coordination. Reporting by Ryan Woo; Additional reporting by Yawen Chen in BEIJING; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Jacqueline Wong" + }, + { + "text": "MANILA (Reuters) - Police in the Philippines on Monday resumed President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, making visits to the homes of users and dealers to convince them to surrender, but the national police chief said he could not promise a bloodless campaign. The announcement came as the justice department filed its first criminal case against police officers in the battle against drugs, bolstering human rights activists’ accusations of fabricated accounts of shoot-outs with drug suspects. The program of visits, known as “Oplan Tokhang”, made a comeback with an assurance from police chief Ronaldo dela Rosa that it should be free of violence if offenders agreed to go quietly and did not resist. But he could not promise a “foolproof anti-drug campaign that would be bloodless”, Dela Rosa added, as the police were “not dealing with people who are in their proper state of mind”. In the dialect of Duterte’s southern hometown of Davao, “Tokhang” is a combination of the words “knock” and “plead”. Besides the visits, police have also run so-called “buy-bust” or sting operations and raided suspected drug dens and illicit laboratories. In many of these operations, say rights activists, suspects did not get the chance to surrender, but were executed in cold blood instead. But police insist suspects died because they violently resisted arrest. Nearly 4,000 drug suspects have died in gun battles with police since June 2016, when Duterte came to power. The government lost 85 police and soldiers in the drugs war, police data show. More than 1.2 million people had also turned themselves in after the home visits. Duterte has stopped police anti-drugs operations twice due to questions over the conduct of the force, including the killing of a teenager in a supposed anti-drug operation. On Monday, the justice department filed murder charges and two drug-related cases against three police officers who killed the teenager, Kian Loyd delos Santos, after witnesses disputed the police version of the killing. National police spokesman Dionardo Carlos said the force welcomed the filing. “The police officers have to face their accusers in court and prove their innocence, they have to follow the procedures,” he said, urging due process for the officers. To ensure transparency, Dela Rosa invited human rights advocates, priests and the media to join the relaunched program of home visits. The police officers involved would also undergo a vetting process to weed out “rogue” officers, said Dela Rosa, adding that past abuses had involved the police seeking bribes to drop the names of people from the lists they compiled. “We are certainly hoping that it will be less controversial, because controversy will only blur the real intention, which is really the fight against dangerous drugs,” Harry Roque, Duterte’s spokesman, told a regular media briefing. Reporting by Karen Lema and Manuel Mogato; Editing by Clarence Fernandez" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 1:20 PM / Updated an hour ago Government cuts extra borrowing but markets still nervous Swati Bhat , Manoj Kumar 3 Min Read MUMBAI/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has cut its additional market borrowing requirement for the current fiscal year by 60 percent after reviewing trends in revenue receipts and expenditure patterns, the finance ministry said on Wednesday, sending bond yields sharply lower. The government would only borrow an additional 200 billion rupees ($3.13 billion) versus an initial plan of 500 billion rupees for the fiscal year ending in March, the ministry said in a statement. It was not immediately clear whether the revision was due to spending cuts, or if the government would tap the short-term T-bill market to raise the remainder and may roll it over into long-term borrowings in the next fiscal year. Asia’s third-largest economy faces the risk of missing its fiscal deficit target in the current fiscal year as lower revenue collection from slowing economic growth and teething troubles with value-added tax launched in July hit the economy. The benchmark 10-year bond yield fell sharply by as much as 20 basis points immediately after the announcement to 7.35 percent. At 0600 GMT, the bond yield was down 10 basis point at 7.45 percent. The government’s announcement for extra funds in late December exceeded market expectations by far, prompting traders and analysts to expect the fiscal deficit for the current year to reach 3.5 percent of gross domestic product versus the government’s target of 3.2 percent. Tax collection plunged after a Goods and Services Tax (GST) was implemented in July, which hit the economy and complicated tax filings for business, one of the key reasons for an increase in borrowing levels. Bond yields slumped to an 18-month low in late December after the additional borrowing announcement. “The market is still nervous ahead of the budget and the upcoming RBI policy next month,” said Harish Agarwal, a fixed income trader with First Rand Bank in Mumbai. The Reserve Bank of India had taken advantage of a period of extraordinary low inflation to cut rates by 200 basis points between January 2015 and August 2017. However, rising food prices pushed India’s retail inflation to a 17-month high in December, breaching the central bank’s medium-term target for the second straight month which could intensify pressure for it to raise policy rates in the next few months. Much of what happens next will hinge on how the government manages its fiscal deficit, with a key test looming as it prepares to unveil the annual budget for next year on Feb. 1. The RBI will hold its next monetary policy meeting on Feb. 7. “The market believes next year’s fiscal deficit target will be around 3 percent and RBI will refrain from hiking rates due to fiscal consolidation,” a senior trader at a private bank said. “The new 10-year bond yield will thus remain in a range of 7.20 to 7.40 percent in the near term,” he added. ($1 = 63.9975 Indian rupees)" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 5:16 PM / Updated 19 minutes ago Turkey's Erdogan tells NATO will take all precautions for national security - sources Reuters Staff 1 Min Read ISTANBUL (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan told NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in a phone call on Tuesday that Turkey would take all necessary precautions to ensure its national security, presidential sources said. Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of parliament from his ruling AK Party during a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara, Turkey, January 16, 2018. Yasin Bulbul/Presidential Palace/Handout via REUTERS The U.S.-led coalition in northern Syria has said it was working with the mainly Kurdish YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to set up a new 30,000-strong border force. The move has angered Turkey. Writing by Ali Kucukgocmen; editing by John Stonestreet" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Shari Redstone has discussed adding new directors to the board of CBS Corp ( CBS.N ) as she renews her push to merge the company with Viacom Inc ( VIAB.O ), The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. CBS and Viacom are both controlled by ailing Sumner Redstone, 94, and his daughter Shari, through their privately owned movie theatre company, National Amusements Inc. The Redstones attempted to merge the two companies in 2016 but the effort failed. Shari Redstone has had exploratory conversations with CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves and directors about recombining the companies, sources have told Reuters. While Moonves is receptive to a combination, he has some reservations, sources have told Reuters. A CBS spokesman was not immediately available for comment. A Viacom spokesman declined to comment. CBS’s annual shareholder meeting is set for May. CBS is looking to replace several of its directors at that meeting and Shari Redstone is gathering names of possible candidates, according to The Wall Street Journal. Reporting By Jessica Toonkel; Editing by Susan Thomas" + }, + { + "text": "MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Roger Federer eased into the second week of the Australian Open with a 6-2 7-5 6-4 win over Richard Gasquet on Saturday evening that kept the Swiss on course for a 20th grand slam title. The 36-year-old defending champion reached the fourth round of the Melbourne Park tournament for the 16th time by shifting up the gears when required to see off his French opponent in just under two hours on Rod Laver Arena. Slideshow (5 Images) Gasquet played a solid match, studded with his trademark occasional moments of shot-making brilliance, but that was never enough to overcome one of the best players of all time. Watched from the stands by 11-times grand slam champion Laver, second seed Federer sealed the victory with a backhand winner to set up a first career meeting with Hungarian Marton Fucsovics for a place in the quarter-finals. Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney," + }, + { + "text": "AUSTIN, Minn., Jan. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) announced today that it will issue its earnings press release before the markets open on Thursday, February 22, 2018. Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer and Jim Sheehan, senior vice president and chief financial officer, will discuss the company's first quarter results at 4:00 p.m. CT on Thursday, February 22, 2018, during their presentation at the 2018 CAGNY Conference. WHEN: Thursday, February 22, 2018 4:00 p.m. CT (5:00 p.m. ET) WEBCAST: To listen to a live Webcast of the presentation, go to the company's website, http:// www.hormelfoods.com , click on Investors, and you will find a link to the webcast. AUDIO REPLAY: To listen to a replay of the conference call, go to the company's website , then click on News & Events and you will find a link to the webcast. About Hormel Foods – Inspired People. Inspired Food.TM Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $9 billion in annual revenues across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Skippy ® , SPAM ® , Hormel ® Natural Choice ® , Applegate ® , Justin's ® , Wholly Guacamole ® , Hormel ® Black Label ® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of \"The 100 Best Corporate Citizens\" by Corporate Responsibility Magazine for the ninth year in a row, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. In 2016, the company celebrated its 125th anniversary and announced its new vision for the future - Inspired People. Inspired Food.TM - focusing on its legacy of innovation. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and . Investor Contact: Media Contact: Nathan Annis Wendy Watkins (507) 437-5248 (507) 437-5355 [REDACTED] [REDACTED] View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 2:57 AM / Updated an hour ago Landslide pushes Colombian bus into ravine, killing at least 13 Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BOGOTA (Reuters) - At least 13 people, including a newborn, were killed on Sunday when a landslide pushed a bus into a ravine in southwest Colombia, the disaster relief agency said. The mountainous highway where the accident occurred winds between the cities of Pasto and Tumaco in Narino province, along the border with Ecuador. The head of the disaster relief agency for the province told Reuters the landslide sent some 5,000 cubic metres of rock and earth down on to the highway and into the ravine. Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Peter Cooney" + }, + { + "text": "MMCC Launches Search for New Leadership CALABASAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Marcus & Millichap (NYSE: MMI) announced today that William E. Hughes, senior vice president and head of the company’s financing division Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp. (MMCC), is transitioning into retirement. “For more than 20 years Bill has worked tirelessly to build our financing services, support our professionals, and contribute to the firm’s overall growth,” says Hessam Nadji, president and CEO of Marcus & Millichap. “As a long-standing member of the senior management team, Bill has played a significant role in shaping the direction of MMCC and the firm in general.” Hughes will continue to oversee MMCC until new leadership is in place. Once his replacement is selected and oriented, Hughes will remain an active advisor for some time to ensure a seamless leadership transition. “Financing represents a critical and exciting growth opportunity for MMI,” notes Nadji. “We expect Bill’s successor to accelerate MMCC’s growth and its capital markets capabilities.” MMCC is a subsidiary of Marcus & Millichap (NYSE: MMI). Through its network of national, regional and local lenders, MMCC provides capital markets products for all major investment property types. In the 12 months ending September 30, 2017, the division closed 1,649 commercial real estate financing transactions totaling $5.29 billion. To learn more, please visit: www.mmCapCorp.com . About Marcus & Millichap (NYSE: MMI) With over 1,700 investment sales and financing professionals located throughout the United States and Canada, Marcus & Millichap is a leading specialist in commercial real estate investment sales, financing, research and advisory services. Founded in 1971, the firm closed nearly 9,000 transactions in 2016 with a value of approximately $42.3 billion. The company has perfected a powerful system for marketing properties that combines investment specialization, local market expertise, the industry’s most comprehensive research, state-of-the-art technology, and relationships with the largest pool of qualified investors. To learn more, please visit: www.MarcusMillichap.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Marcus & Millichap Gina Relva, Public Relations Director (925) 953-1716 Source: Marcus & Millichap" + }, + { + "text": "Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon was subpoenaed last week to testify before a grand jury in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election, The New York Times reported Tuesday. The move marks the first time Mueller's team has used a subpoena to try to get information from a person close to President Donald Trump , the newspaper reported. Citing a \"person with direct knowledge of the matter,\" the Times said Bannon may be able to skip grand jury testimony if he answers questions in a different setting. The special counsel's office declined to comment to CNBC, and Bannon's attorney did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment. The report came as Bannon answered questions Tuesday in a closed-door session with the House Intelligence Committee. It is one of multiple congressional panels also investigating Russia's role in the election and whether Moscow coordinated with the Trump campaign. Bannon was the Trump campaign's chief executive in the final months of the 2016 election. Comments attributed to Bannon in Michael Wolff's book \"Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House\" sparked more questions about the Russia investigation — and a feud between Bannon and the president. Bannon called a June 2016 meeting that included the president's eldest son Donald Trump Jr. , Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and a Russian lawyer \"treasonous.\" Bannon also said there was \"zero\" chance that the younger Trump did not bring the meeting attendees to see his father in Trump Tower. The White House has repeatedly defended Trump Jr.'s decision to take the meeting, during which he expected to get dirt on his father's opponent Hillary Clinton . After Bannon's remarks were published, Bannon's top financial backers, the Mercer family, pulled away from him, and he stepped down from Breitbart News . He apologized for his comments and said they were aimed at Manafort, not the president's son. Read the Times report here." + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Half of British voters believe Prime Minister Theresa May is incapable of getting the right Brexit deal, according to an ORB poll published on Monday. “There is still much work to be done to convince the British public that the prime minister is capable of getting the right deal for the UK,” ORB said in a statement. A year ago, just 35 percent of voters believed May was capable of getting the right Brexit deal. The poll also showed voters were divided on whether Britain would be better off after Brexit: 43 percent said it would be while 42 percent said it would not be. The poll showed 63 percent of voters disapproved of the British government’s handling of the Brexit negotiations, a slightly lower figure than in previous months. When asked whether controlling immigration was more important than having free trade with the EU, 47 percent of voters said they disagreed, though the responses have been volatile over the past year of surveys by ORB. ORB asked 2,023 UK voters on Jan. 5-7. The margin of error at the 95 percent confidence level was 2.2. percent. Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge. Editing by Andrew MacAskill" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Goldman Sachs sees more risks to the upside than the downside for metals demand in China, the bank said on Tuesday, playing down concerns of a sharp decline from policy changes. “Concern about a sharp slowdown in metals demand as the country adopts a new ‘quality over quantity’ growth model may be overblown,” it said, adding that metal producers apart from China are set to gain. “Ongoing supply-side reforms and environmental cuts in China translate into higher commodity prices and less Chinese production, both of which benefit ex-China producers.” Over the next six months, it sees an upside to demand for zinc and over the longer term it prefers copper to aluminium, Goldman said. The bank has forecast copper at $7,500 per tonne and aluminium at $1,900 a tonne in 2020. Reporting by Nithin Prasad in Bengaluru; editing by Jason Neely" + }, + { + "text": "BERLIN, Jan 8 (Reuters) - German industrial orders fell in November for the first time since July, data showed on Monday, easing slightly after a strong run as Europe’s largest economy enjoys robust form. Factories registered a 0.4 percent drop in orders. November’s reading from the Federal Statistics Office confounded expectations in a Reuters poll for a 0.5 percent rise. Contracts for ‘Made in Germany’ goods climbed by a revised 0.7 percent in October, an upward revision from a rise of 0.5 percent previously reported. Reporting by Joseph Nasr and Paul Carrel" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - Curocom Co Ltd : * Says 6 billion won worth of its 15th series convertible bonds have been converted into 2.5 million shares of the co, at 2,414 won/share * Says listing date of new shares is Feb. 6 Source text in Korean: goo.gl/r78Wgh Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 10:22 PM / Updated 12 hours ago The Fall's Mark E. Smith dies Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Mark E. Smith, lead singer and songwriter of British post-punk band The Fall, died at home on Wednesday aged 60, the band’s manager said in a statement. The statement by Pam Van Damned gave no details but said an update would follow in the coming days. bit.ly/2n911rO In 2017, The Fall cancelled shows due to concerns over the health of Smith who underwent treatment, media reports said. Smith formed the band in 1976 and remained its only constant presence with many other members changing around him. Smith also released two solo albums - 'The Post Nearly Man' in 1998 and 'Pander! Panda! Panzer!' in 2002. He is described as a \"singular figure in post-punk\" by Rolling Stone magazine. rol.st/2n9b93R Reporting by Kanishka Singh; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 8:12 PM / Updated an hour ago Exclusive: Boeing willing to keep Brazil's 'golden share' in Embraer deal Brad Haynes , Anthony Boadle 5 Min Read BRASILIA (Reuters) - Boeing Co ( BA.N ) is working to overcome the Brazilian military’s objections to its proposed tie-up with Embraer SA ( EMBR3.SA ) with alternatives that would preserve the government’s strategic veto rights and ensure safeguards for its defence programs, four people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The U.S. planemaker was forced back to the drawing board after Brazilian officials balked last week at the idea of turning Embraer into a subsidiary such as those that Boeing operates in Australia and Britain, according to the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss the negotiations freely. “Boeing came to buy Embraer, not for a partnership or a joint venture that we are open to, but to take control of the company. This was rejected,” one of the sources, a government official, said. “It is up to Boeing to come back with a new proposal.” Boeing’s proposed tie-up with Embraer, the world’s third largest planemaker, would give it a leading share of the 70- to 130-seat market and create stiffer competition for the CSeries programme designed by Canada’s Bombardier Inc ( BBDb.TO ) and run by European rival Airbus SE ( AIR.PA ) since last year. Since the news broke last month that it was in talks with Boeing, Embraer’s shares are up 22 percent in New York, where 51 percent of its stock is listed, bringing its market capitalisation to $4.6 billion. Boeing’s proposal would value the company at $5 billion to $6 billion, a person familiar with the negotiations said. Yet Boeing’s plan has snagged on concerns in Brasilia that Washington would get final say over Brazilian defence programs and use of technology developed in the country, including satellite and air-traffic control systems. The Brazilian government holds a ‘golden share’ in Embraer giving it veto power over strategic decisions involving military programs and any change in its controlling interest. Boeing would be willing to preserve the government’s golden share in Embraer, the people familiar with the matter said, but that may not be enough to win support. Embraer said it would not comment on the matter and representatives for Boeing and the Defense Ministry, which is coordinating talks with the government, did not immediately reply to requests for comment. AIR FORCE RESISTANCE Officials at the Finance Ministry and development bank BNDES, which owns 5 percent of the planemaker, have been supportive of the deal, but military officials are far more sceptical, according to the sources. The BNDES declined comment and the ministry did not reply. ”The Air Force is the main source of resistance, said an aide to President Michel Temer. “The military oppose any split up of Embraer.” He said Jungmann has yet to make a recommendation on a Boeing deal to the president. In an emailed comment, the Air Force said it “considers Embraer a strategic company that is fundamental for our national sovereignty, so a possible partnership with Boeing should be studied from this point of view”. Air Force commander Lt Brig Nivaldo Luiz Rossato joined Defense Minister Raul Jungmann last week in Brasilia at a meeting with senior Boeing executives including Chief Financial Officer Greg Smith, which failed to sway the Brazilians. Embraer’s special relationship with Brazil’s Air Force dates back to its creation in the 1960s as part of a government push to create a domestic aviation industry. The planemaker was opened to private capital in 1994 and fully privatised in 2006, but it still works closely with the Air Force, which is now financing development of the KC-390 military airlifter. Boeing, which struck a joint sales and services agreement on the KC-390, has underscored to officials that a tie-up would help to market Embraer’s defence products globally and bolster Brazil’s nascent space programme, one person said. Yet government officials are still steering Boeing towards a more narrow joint venture with Embraer focussed on commercial aviation — a prospect at which Boeing has turned up its nose, according to two people familiar with the talks. Neither the government nor the companies want to entirely split off Embraer’s commercial or defence operations, given the integration of their technology and engineering resources, the sources said. With a presidential election looming in Brazil this year and airlines delaying orders until the shape of the industry is clear, all sides of the negotiations are eager for a resolution. Yet government officials seem keen on pressing their hand." + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 11:35 AM / Updated an hour ago Volkswagen's Scania backs Northvolt's $5 billion Swedish battery plant Reuters Staff 2 Min Read STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Volkswagen-owned ( VOWG_p.DE ) truckmaker Scania will invest 10 million euros in Northvolt’s more than 4 billion euro ($5 billion) project to build Europe’s biggest battery plant in northern Sweden. Sweden’s Northvolt, whose CEO Peter Carlsson used to work for Tesla ( TSLA.O ), is racing against rivals such as South Korea’s LG Chem ( 051910.KS ) to set up large-scale battery cell plants across Europe, where automakers and industrial firms have so far been largely reliant on Asian imports. European automakers such as BMW ( BMWG.DE ), Daimler ( DAIGn.DE ), Volkswagen and Volvo Car Group ( 0175.HK ) are all set to ramp up electric car production in the coming years. Northvolt and Scania said on Thursday they had agreed to develop and commercialize battery cell technology for heavy commercial vehicles with Scania’s investment going toward building Northvolt’s planned demo line and research facility. They have also struck a deal over future purchases of battery cells, they said in a joint statement. Northvolt’s Carlsson wants the Swedish plant to rival U.S. electric carmaker Tesla’s Gigafactory in the Nevada desert, targeting annual production equal to 32 gigawatt-hours by 2023. Last year Northvolt signed partnership deals with Swiss engineering group ABB ( ABBN.S ) and Danish wind turbine maker Vestas ( VWS.CO ), but still needs to raise the vast majority of the financing required for the plant. ($1 = 0.8063 euros)" + }, + { + "text": "OLATHE, Kan., Jan. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Terracon is pleased to announce the expansion of its facilities services capabilities through the acquisition of Engineered Concepts of Greensboro, N.C., effective immediately. Terracon retains Engineered Concepts' 10 employees. Engineered Concepts, founded in 1991, specializes in building enclosure, structural engineering, and facility investigation services. The company serves a range of clients in the commercial, education, and government sectors on projects throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Engineered Concepts' experience in building enclosure design and investigation, as well as its structural expertise in new construction, rehabilitation, and preservation, reinforces Terracon's facilities capabilities and strengthens the firm's national resources and ability to serve clients. \"We are excited for Engineered Concepts to become part of Terracon's national facilities practice,\" said Bill Brickey, P.E., Terracon Facilities Division manager. \"Their significant building enclosure and structural diagnostics experience complements our existing facilities services and will be an asset in providing great value and solutions to our clients.\" Engineered Concepts' professionals hold licensures in 11 states. Their combined experience in building enclosure design and investigation, structural expertise in new construction, rehabilitation, and preservation, reinforces and deepens Terracon's facilities capabilities in the Greensboro area and nationally. \"Terracon's building enclosure and other facilities services are a great fit with our company,\" said Rob Kennerly Jr., P.E., president and co-founder of Engineered Concepts. \"We look forward to working together to bring an expanded complement of capabilities and resources to our clients going forward.\" Engineered Concepts will operate as Terracon Consultants, Inc. dba Engineered Concepts. Terracon is an employee-owned consulting engineering firm with more than 4,000 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 140 offices with services available in all 50 states. Terracon currently ranks 30th on Engineering News-Record's list of the Top 500 Design Firms. For additional information about Terracon, visit www.terracon.com . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Terracon" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 5:15 PM / Updated an hour ago New Stoke boss Lambert looks for instant impact Reuters Staff 3 Min Read (Reuters) - Stoke City’s new manager Paul Lambert will be hoping for a quick fix as he seeks to shore up one of Europe’s worst defences against Huddersfield Town and begin the long haul up the Premier League table. Lambert’s appointment, apparently as third choice to succeed Mark Hughes, has been questioned in some quarters but the former Champions League winner boasts an impressive record of sparking an improvement at almost all the clubs he has managed. Norwich, Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers all saw their points-to-games ratio increase markedly in the Scot’s first 10 games in charge, with Blackburn Rovers, where there has been turmoil for years, the only club proving resistant to Lambert’s arrival. The 48-year-old will be hard-pressed not to improve Stoke, who are 18th in the league having taken just four points from their past eight games. They are also the first club in Europe’s top five divisions to concede 50 goals this season. The new manager has had a busy week, watching his new side lose 3-0 at Old Trafford on Monday, overseeing training on Tuesday, helping negotiate the transfer of left-back Kostas Stafylidis and the possible return of Bojan Krkic from loan at Alaves, and then preparing for Saturday’s visit of Huddersfield, who themselves are dangerously near the drop zone. Just six points separate 10th-placed Watford from Stoke, with Huddersfield sitting four places and four points above them in what promises to be one of the most closely fought relegation fights in years. “I will have nerves as normal on Saturday but as soon as the whistle blows they will disappear,” said Lambert, who was out of work for nearly eight months since leaving Wolves at the end of last season. “I‘m looking forward to it because I know it will be a great atmosphere. I’ve not had time to sleep just yet because everything has been go, go, go but I’m really enjoying it.” Lambert has received a boost with the news that Ryan Shawcross and Glen Johnson have both trained this week after injuries. “We can’t keep conceding the goals we are conceding. It puts too much pressure on everybody and at the same time we have to score goals to take pressure off the back lads,” said Lambert. While he faces a struggle to return his flailing side to the “Stoke-alona” days when Bojan, Xherdan Shaqiri and Marko Arnautovic dazzled, Lambert is “100 percent confident” that he can ensure the club retain their 10-year top-flight status. Huddersfield are seeking their first league win since routing Watford 4-1 at Vicarage Road on Dec. 16 and may give first Premier League starts to new signings Alex Pritchard and Terence Kongolo. Both played bit parts in the 4-1 defeat by West Ham United, a performance that prompted some supporters to criticise Town’s players for their reluctance to shoot. But manager David Wagner has vowed to retain the approach that has allowed Huddersfield to hold their own. Reporting by Neil Robinson, editing by Pritha Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29 (Reuters) - DUBAI ISLAMIC BANK: * CALLS AGM ON FEB 21 TO APPROVE BORAD PROPOSAL ON CAPITAL INCREASE * CALLS AGM TO APPROVE BORAD PROPOSAL OF PAID-UP CAPITAL INCREASE UPTO 1.65 BILLION DIRHAMS THROUGH ISSUANCE OF UPTO 1.65 BILLION NEW SHARES Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: )" + }, + { + "text": "DETROIT (Reuters) - Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz faces a tough challenge to meet the next round of European CO2 goals and may fall short, Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche said on Monday. The German luxury carmaker still aims to hit its target of 100 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, Zetsche told reporters at the Detroit auto show. “I can’t guarantee we will be compliant,” he said. “Our objective is to be compliant ... but not every parameter is under our control.” Asked whether Mercedes would slash electrified vehicle prices to meet CO2 targets, Zetsche said protecting the brand would also weigh in the balance when comparing compliance costs with fines. “It’s not a pure economic question,” he said. “There might be some reputational aspect in there as well.” Reporting by Laurence FrostEditing by Chizu Nomiyama" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s central government-owned enterprises will target coal capacity cuts of 12.65 million tonnes in 2018, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Monday. The Xinhua report, which followed a meeting of the heads of companies controlled by China’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (Sasac), said elimination of coal-fired power generation capacity would also be actively encouraged. It provided a separate 80 million tonne target for consolidation of coal capacity by central government-owned firms in China, the world’s largest coal producer, this year. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China’s state planner, said on Jan. 5 it planned to create several “super-large” coal mining companies by the end of 2020, each with capacity to produce 100 million tonnes per year of coal. Reporting by Tom Daly; Editing by Mark Potter and David Evans" + }, + { + "text": "Wall Street set for higher open as Dow nears 25,000 BY THE NUMBERS U.S. stock futures were higher this morning, after the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all saw fresh record highs in yesterday's session. The S&P 500 closed above 2,700 for the first time, having its fourth positive session in five. The Dow was nearing 25,000. (CNBC) Tesla (TSLA) shares were lower in premarket after the electric carmaker released delivery numbers for the fourth quarter of 2017 that fell short of expectations. It will once again push back production targets on its highly-anticipated Model 3 sedan. (CNBC) Ethereum, the third-largest cryptocurrency by market value, broke a fresh record high on Wednesday. The digital currency was seen moving close to the $1,000 mark. (CNBC) The ADP national employment report is set to come out at 8:15 a.m. ET, followed by jobless claims at 8:30 a.m. Services purchasing managers' index (PMI) data will then come out at 9:45 a.m., all before the all-important nonfarm payrolls data Friday. (CNBC) St. Louis Fed President James Bullard is set to deliver a keynote address at Meltzer's Contributions to Monetary Economics and Public Policy in Philadelphia later today. (CNBC) SHARES IN THE NEWS TODAY A rare type of winter storm will undergo bombogenesis off the Eastern Seaboard today, bringing heavy snow, near-blizzard conditions and damaging winds. The National Weather Service had blizzard warnings in effect from Virginia to Maine. (The Weather Channel & Reuters) Sharp tremors lasting several seconds struck Oakland, California, early this morning, according to Reuters. There were no signs of earthquake damage in the immediate vicinity. The United States Geological Survey said the quake was of magnitude 4.4. Trump's lawyer is threatening legal action against former WH Chief Strategist Steve Bannon for \"disparaging\" and \"outright defamatory\" statements in a book. Bannon was quoted as saying a 2016 meeting between Donald Jr. and a Russian lawyer was \"treasonous.\" (CNBC) * Former British Prime Minister denies Trump spying claim (USA Today) Congress and the Trump administration are reportedly inching forward in budget talks after closed-door talks Wednesday. The groups have less than three weeks before another government funding deadline. (Politico) One of North Korea's test ballistic missiles last year reportedly crashed in a city not far from Pyongyang. The impact likely damaged a complex of buildings in Tokchon and may have resulted in a few casualties. (The Diplomat) The strength of protests shaking Iran was unclear today after a week of unrest that killed at least 21 people, with fewer reports of demonstrations as government supporters again took to the streets. Thousands rallied earlier in support of the government. (AP) Merrill Lynch financial advisors cannot buy bitcoin-related investments for their clients, according to The Wall Street Journal , citing a person familiar with the matter. A Merrill Lynch spokesperson confirmed the decision to the Journal. STOCKS TO WATCH AT&T (T), America's second-largest wireless carrier, has announced it will roll out next-generation 5G mobile internet in a dozen U.S. cities by late 2018. The company did not disclose which areas would receive 5G first. Intel (INTC) CEO Brian Krzanich sold a large chunk of his stake in the company after the chipmaker was made aware of serious security flaws, according to multiple reports. Rite Aid (RAD) beat third-quarter estimates for earnings and revenue, after adjusting to account for discontinued operations. Rite Aid reported a drop in year-over-year same-store sales. WATERCOOLER No-one won the Powerball jackpot worth an estimated $460 million Wednesday, the seventh-largest prize in the game's history. Lottery players have another chance Saturday, with the Powerball jackpot ballooning to an estimated $550 million. (Reuters)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 22 (Reuters) - Bacardi Ltd will buy premium tequila maker Patron Spirits International AG in a $5.1 billion deal, the family-owned liquor company said on Monday, as it seeks to expand in the United States. Bacardi, known for Grey Goose vodka and its namesake rum, has held a minority stake in Patron since 2008. The deal will make Bacardi the No.2 spirits company by market share in the United States, Bacardi said. (Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar)" + }, + { + "text": "SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unreel.me , a leading platform for networks and publishers launching OTT streaming services, today announced it has raised $1.5 million in Pre-Series A financing led by Michael Kelly , CEO of IoT Broadband, LLC, and former executive at DISH Network and Blockbuster, alongside a select group of media-focused angel investors. Previous investors included Digital Ignition, Vineyard Point Associates, Poise Ventures and several other media-focused angel investors. As part of the financing, Unreel.me has appointed Kelly to its board of directors along with John Pavia , Executive Vice President of Business & Corporate Development at LogicSource, a Bain Capital Ventures portfolio company based in Norwalk, Conn. Over the last 20 years, Pavia has played a pivotal role in the growth of several early-stage and mature companies. The financing will be used to expand the team, support the growth of Unreel’s O&O and partner streaming services, and scale the company to support larger industry leading partners. Unreel builds big data-focused OTT apps and sites for video networks as an alternative to traditional video distribution methods such as satellite and cable TV. The platform gives publishers full control over their content, providing them with a centralized hub to manage their data, content and users across multiple apps. Unreel’s strength is the ability to allow networks to launch OTT streaming services for multiple brands across Web, iOS, tvOS, Roku, Android, XUMO, Vewd, and SmartTV apps in a matter of weeks. In addition to funding, Unreel has also recently secured four U.S. patents focused on Artificial Intelligence known internally as Bumblebee. Bumblebee crawls the web for time-stamped comments surrounding videos in Unreel’s system. To date, more than 50 million points of data around this type of engagement have been indexed by the Unreel A.I. “Unreel’s belief is that the future of media and entertainment will evolve from the traditional satellite and cable TV model to look much more like the internet, where content moves seamlessly to consumers wherever and whenever they want it,” said Dan Goikhman , CEO of Unreel. “With this funding, we can continue to grow the company’s technology platform to universally onboard and distribute content, enabling a frictionless distribution of content.” The OTT market is booming as content owners start to think about building their distribution channels. With $25 billion in annual revenue, the OTT industry is predicted to exceed $64 billion in the next four years. In fact, Juniper Research predicts total global revenues of $120 billion by 2022 . Brands who partner with Unreel ensure they’re staying ahead of the game in the OTT video market, as they are given access to valuable tools to help them succeed. About Unreel.me Unreel Entertainment is a technology driven video streaming company focused on turnkey OTT distribution with a powerful video player for the world’s best video experience. Where Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and others are focused on building portals or \"walled gardens,” our belief is that media and entertainment will evolve from the traditional cable model to look more like the internet where content moves seamlessly to consumers wherever and whenever they want it. Unreel was launched in 2015 by advertising and media veterans Dan Goikhman , Krish Arvapally , Ryan James and Akshay Arvapally . The team has a track record of pioneering advertising and media companies, including a number of large exits. About IoT Broadband, LLC IoT Broadband, LLC, is a Denver-based technology and internet-of-things investment company, founded by former DISH Network Executive Vice President and Blockbuster President Michael Kelly. The company holds investments in commerce and technology solution companies including AlphaBay, LLC , ( www.alphabay.com ), a SaaS, Cloud and enterprise point-of-sale technology; Spindle, Inc . (OTCQB:SPDL) ( www.spindle.com ), a merchant and retail unified commerce solutions provider; Unreel.me , an enabler of video streaming services for network and content providers, and Yowza!! ( www.yowzarewards.com ) which offers eCoupons and merchant loyalty rewards programs. Press Contacts: Unreel.me - Andrew Wight, 646-480-0356, [REDACTED] IoT Broadband - Mindi Ringdahl, [REDACTED] Source: IoT Broadband" + }, + { + "text": "AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- American Campus Communities, Inc. (NYSE: ACC), the nation’s largest owner and manager of high-quality student housing properties in the U.S., announced that on January 23, 2018 its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.44 per share of common stock, payable on February 16, 2018, to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 2, 2018. About American Campus Communities American Campus Communities, Inc. is the largest owner, manager and developer of high-quality student housing communities in the United States. The company is a fully integrated, self-managed and self-administered equity real estate investment trust (REIT) with expertise in the design, finance, development, construction management and operational management of student housing properties. As of September 30, 2017, American Campus Communities owned 166 student housing properties containing approximately 102,500 beds. Including its owned and third-party managed properties, ACC's total managed portfolio consisted of 204 properties with approximately 131,300 beds. Visit www.americancampus.com . Forward-Looking Statements In addition to historical information, this press release contains under the applicable federal securities law. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions regarding markets in which American Campus Communities, Inc. (the “Company”) operates, operational strategies, anticipated events and trends, the economy, and other future conditions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. For discussions of some risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the , please refer to our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 under the heading “Risk Factors” and under the heading “Business - Forward-looking Statements” and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any , including our expected 2017 operating results, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com : American Campus Communities, Inc. Ryan Dennison, 512-732-1000 Investor Relations Source: American Campus Communities, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 7:05 PM / Updated 17 minutes ago Britain pledges to ease business fears over Brexit import tax Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - The British government pledged on Monday to ease the potential harm to more than 100,000 companies that may have to pay sales tax upfront on goods imported from the European Union for the first time after Brexit. The Canary Wharf financial district is seen at dusk in London, Britain, November 17, 2017. REUTERS/Toby Melville The changes included in a new taxation bill, one of many Brexit laws passing through parliament, have alarmed company bosses, who said the move would create cashflow problems and increase the cost of doing business. “It is an issue, (for) which the government and the Treasury has sympathy,” Mel Stride, a junior Treasury minister, said during a debate in parliament. “It is something that we will be closely looking at.” Business groups have warned that consumers are likely to suffer higher prices and companies may have to take out costly bank or insurance backed guarantees if they are forced to pay the tax upfront. Any British company that imports goods ready for sale from the EU can currently register with the government to bring them in without paying so-called Value-Added Tax (VAT) upfront. They register the tax and it is only added to the price of the product whenever it is sold to the final customer. Unless the government negotiates a deal where Britain can remain part of the EU-VAT area, companies may have to pay the tax when importing goods. Nicky Morgan, chair of the Treasury committee, said during the debate her committee is planning to investigate the issue. For some businesses “finding upfront cash in order to pay for that would be a real problem,” she said. The Treasury said in a statement it recognized the cashflow benefits for companies under existing arrangements. “The government will take this into account when considering potential changes following EU exit and will look at options to mitigate any cash flow impacts,” the statement said. Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; editing by Mark Heinrich" + }, + { + "text": "January 27, 2018 / 8:01 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago Argentine Pastore hints at PSG exit (Reuters) - Javier Pastore on Saturday opened the door to a Paris St Germain exit in order to secure his place in the Argentina World Cup squad. “I’m 14th in the coach’s pecking order. It’s tough. I don’t know if I am going to stay,” the Argentine playmaker said after PSG’s 4-0 home Ligue 1 win over Montpellier. “My goal is to play in order to take part in the World Cup.” Pastore, who joined from Palermo in 2011, is not among Unai Emery’s first choices at PSG, having only started eight games from 23 in Ligue 1 this season. “Here I always need a player to be injured to play,” he said before hinting at a possible return to Serie A. ”If I leave, Italy is the easiest choice for me.” Reporting by Julien Pretot, editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "DAVOS (Reuters) - Britain’s finance minister called for a modest Brexit on Thursday that would keep the world’s sixth-largest economy as closely aligned as possible with the European Union after its 2019 exit. Britain is due to exit the EU on March 29, 2019, but there are deep divisions inside Prime Minister Theresa May’s government and party about what sort of relationship should replace 46 years of membership. Philip Hammond, who in the 2016 referendum voted to stay in the EU, sought to allay investor concerns over Brexit turmoil by calling for arrangements that would ensure free and smooth trade and for the “closest possible future relationship”. “We are taking two completely interconnected and aligned economies with high levels of trade between them, and selectively, moving them, hopefully very modestly, apart,” Hammond said at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The EU and Britain agreed last month to move Brexit talks onto trade and a transition pact but some of the EU’s most powerful leaders have cautioned that the final year of divorce negotiations before Britain’s exit could be fraught with peril. The outcome of the negotiations will shape the future of Britain’s $2.7 trillion economy, and determine whether London can keep its place as the only global financial centre to rival New York. May’s finance chief said that hurting London’s financial centre would push business to New York and Singapore to the detriment of Europe as a whole, and he called for a bespoke trade deal with the EU. Brexit is cast by supporters and opponents alike as the most significant shift in British policy since World War Two. A source in May’s office rebuked Hammond, saying the changes that Britain will undergo cannot be described as “very modest”. Hammond later attempted to clarify his remarks saying he was clear Britain would be leaving the EU’s customs union and single market next year. “It’s a fact our economies are integrated, that’s the baseline from which we leave the single market and customs union – which clearly represents change,” he said on Twitter. Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland January 25, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse BREXIT TRANSITION Supporters of Brexit say that warnings of economic chaos are overblown and that Britain will eventually prosper once it leaves what they portray as a decaying, German-dominated experiment in European integration. Some of May’s Brexit-supporting lawmakers, such as Jacob Rees-Mogg, said Britain’s government must start promoting the opportunities from leaving the European Union and its negotiators should stop being “cowed by the EU”. In an effort to avoid a Brexit shock that could sow chaos through financial markets, halt trade and disrupt supply chains across Europe, Britain wants a transition deal agreed by the end of March that would roll for about two years after exit. Under current plans, Britain will remain an EU member in everything but name but will have no representation in EU decision-making bodies. Britain would remain part of the EU’s customs union and internal market and be bound by EU laws. Hammond said, “A transition period which allows us to continue under the present rules where everybody understands those rules gives us time to do this in an orderly fashion and gives us time to address some of the financial stability challenges.” But opponents of Brexit say there is little clarity on where Britain is transitioning to and hope to force a halt to the divorce, a prospect Hammond dismissed. “This decision is not going to be reversed. That is a matter of political reality,” he said. In Brussels, EU diplomats said the bloc is willing to be flexible on the duration and other terms of a Brexit transition period as Britain prepares to detail its hopes for what happens after it leaves the bloc. Some businesses, and many international banks in London, are concerned that either the detail of any transition deal could be lacking or that any deal could collapse due to domestic political upheaval in the months before Britain exits. “It’s all or nothing,” said a senior executive at one of the largest banks in London. “They can’t even give us political certainty, let alone legal certainty until much, much later in the process.” Additional reporting by Alastair Macdonald in Brussels; writing by Guy Faulconbridge and Andrew MacAskill; editing by Mark Heinrich" + }, + { + "text": "5 COMMENTS Some 45% of Americans get their news from Facebook , FB 2.25% according to Pew Research Center. For publishers, Facebook’s plans to shake-up its news feed may mean a dramatic change in traffic from the platform. The social media company has said its new algorithm will prioritize what it calls “meaningful social interactions”—posts, photos and videos that users share and discuss. Content directly from publishers won’t perform as well unless people engage with it. “The potential impact on publishers will depend on the extent to which traffic from Facebook is a significant percentage of a publisher’s traffic and, more significantly, its revenue,” says Nicco Mele of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University. Yet Facebook also has said that it will surface content from “reputable publishers,” ranking news sources based on user evaluations of credibility . Experience has shown, though, that users are more likely to comment on and share sensational articles than dry, fact-based news. Publishers who have built their businesses on virality may do better, at least relative to their more staid peers. That also raises a risk that the changes will amplify fake news, which could draw renewed criticism for the company. In the six countries where Facebook tested news feed changes last fall—Slovakia, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Bolivia, and Guatemala—emphasizing posts from friends and family over news sites seemed to promote fake news. Meanwhile, professional news organizations reported a plunge in traffic from Facebook. Publishers that invest in reducing their dependency on Facebook will be best positioned to weather social media’s shifting tides. Many already have begun to do so, as traffic from Facebook has steadily declined over the past year. Parse.ly, which tracks digital engagement, reported a 25% decline from February to October 2017 for 600 publications that it tracks. In the long-run, finding ways to engage with consumers directly, rather than through a third party, will be better for publishers. “Publishers have known that investing time and effort in Facebook gives the platform an awful lot of power—more data about consumers and more control of the relationship,” says Brian Wieser, a media analyst at Pivotal Research. “They were responding to short-term benefits at the cost of their long-term interests.” Now they will have to figure it out on their own. Write to Elizabeth Winkler at [REDACTED]" + }, + { + "text": "Alibaba hit a new record intraday high on Thursday, and TradingAnalysis.com founder Todd Gordon says the stock will see even more new highs when it reports earnings next Thursday. \"The stock had been consolidating in September, October and right through the end of 2017,\" he said Thursday on CNBC's \"Trading Nation.\" But in 2018, markets overseas are booming, he said. \"We're seeing a nice push up.\" This breakout of consolidation leads Gordon to believe the next leg up is upon us. He also noted that the stock broke above resistance at $190, which becomes support. He establishes this as a key level to watch into earnings. To take advantage of the rising implied volatility, or the price of options, going into Alibaba, Gordon wants to make a bullish bet on the stock by selling a put spread. Specifically, he is selling the Feb. 2 weekly 192-strike calls and buying the Feb. 2 weekly 197-strike calls for $1.95 credit. This means that if Alibaba closes above $197 on Feb. 2 expiration, then Gordon would receive the $195 credit on the trade. If Alibaba closes below $192 on Feb. 2 expiration, Gordon could lose $304. However, because Alibaba is already trading at $198.24, above the higher put strike level in Gordon's trade, he believes that the probability of the stock dropping by that much is small. So far this year, Alibaba has soared about 15 percent. Disclaimer Vote Vote to see results Total Votes: Not a Scientific Survey. Results may not total 100% due to rounding." + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 6:10 PM / Updated an hour ago Baghdad reports 'atmosphere of trust' in talks with Kurdistan region Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq’s central government said “an atmosphere of trust” marked talks held on Monday with the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region to resolve a conflict that triggered armed clashes in October. Envoys of the two sides met in the Kurdish regional capital Erbil in northern Iraq and discussed issues including security, control over the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) land borders, airports, the oil industry, customs revenue and river dams, a statement from the Iraqi cabinet said. “The meetings were held in an atmosphere of trust and understanding and concluded...by formulating a number recommendations” to help resolve the issues, the statement said, giving no further details. Conflict broke out after the KRG held a referendum on independence at the end of September, angering neighbouring states including Turkey and Iran, with their own restive Kurdish minorities, and drawing rebukes from the Iraqi Kurds’ key Western supporters, the United States and European Union. Under Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s orders, government forces responded to the referendum by dislodging Kurdish militia from disputed regions including the oil city of Kirkuk. Abadi also retaliated with a series of measures curtailing the KRG’s autonomy, including a ban on direct international travel to the two main Kurdish airports. The Iraqi and Kurdish negotiators agreed on a series of points to jointly manage the airports of Erbil and Sulaimaniya, in Kurdistan, said Rudaw, a TV channel close to the KRG. The KRG would accept that representatives of the Iraqi civil aviation authority would be posted in the two airports to oversee the implementation of federal regulations, it said. Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; editing by Ralph Boulton" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 3:53 AM / Updated 8 hours ago Tennis: No wildcard for Tomic at Australian Open Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Bernard Tomic is set to sit out the Australian Open after Tennis Australia (TA) decided not to award him a wildcard to the main draw, the organizers said on Thursday. TA boss and Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley also confirmed the 25-year-old Queenslander had rejected a chance to compete in next week’s qualifying event at Melbourne Park. “We made the offer, (Davis Cup captain) Lleyton (Hewitt) did, we said ‘We’d just like you to play the Australian Open wildcard playoff and if you just make yourself available, you give yourself a good chance to get in’,” Tiley told the Herald Sun. ”Now to get into the Australian Open, he’s not going to be getting a wildcard. He’d have to go into qualifying, so that’s a decision for him. “I would hope that Bernie would want to play (qualifying), but he’s indicated that that’s likely not the case. He’s one of Australia’s top players and we’d love to see him competing and playing. (But) his decision will be his.” Tomic, ranked a career high 17 in 2016, has plunged to 140 after a forgettable season in which he won only 10 of 19 matches at the elite level. He has reached the fourth round of the Australian Open on three occasions. The opening grand slam of the season takes place in Melbourne from Jan. 15-28. Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "January 7, 2018 / 9:34 PM / in 6 hours Australia shares set to extend rally; NZ flat Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 8 (Reuters) - Australian shares are poised to extend gains to a fourth straight session on Monday after touching 10-year highs last week, following a strong leads from Wall Street. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq notched their best weekly gains in more than a year on Friday as technology stocks helped lift major indexes to records. The local share price index futures rose 0.3 percent or 18 points to 6,092, a 30.3-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close. The benchmark rose 0.7 percent on Friday. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index slipped marginally lower after nudging a fresh record high in early trade. (Reporting by Chris Thomas in Bengaluru; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)" + }, + { + "text": "Tsunami alerts were lifted on Tuesday for the U.S. West Coast and western Canada after a magnitude-7.9 earthquake struck in the Gulf of Alaska, sending the state's coastal residents inland to seek shelter from possible tidal waves. In Alaska, people packed into high schools and other evacuation centers after the quake hit shortly after midnight local time (0900 GMT). Officials had warned residents as far south as San Francisco to be ready to evacuate coastal areas but by 5:15 a.m. PST (1315 GMT) the U.S. National Weather Service had lifted all tsunami advisories, watches and warnings for California, Oregon Washington and Alaska. Canadian officials lifted one for coastal British Colombia. In Alaska, residents gathered in shelters on Kodiak Island, the closest land point to the temblor, around 160 miles (250 km) southeast of Chiniak, Alaska, at a depth of 25 km - considered shallow but with broader damage - according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage from the quake, which was initially measured at magnitude 8.2. \"People are fine,\" said Neil Hecht, assistant principal of Kodiak High School, which was sheltering a few hundred people. \"Spirits are high.\" Long lines of traffic formed in coastal communities including Homer and Seward, Alaska, residents said on social media. In Homer, a few hundred cars were packed into its high school parking lot. Shawn Biessel, a 32-year-old park ranger, and his mother were in the lot, a few hundred feet above sea level. \"It was a really obvious, pretty strong, long quake. A good rumbler,\" Biessel said in a phone interview. \"It went on for a solid minute and after a while we thought we should get outside.\" NWS Tsunami Alerts tweet Police drove through Biessel's neighborhood with flashing lights to alert residents to evacuate, Biessel said. San Francisco briefly warned residents within three blocks of the Pacific Ocean or five blocks of San Francisco Bay to prepare to evacuate. That warning was later lifted. Earthquakes of similar magnitude are not uncommon in Alaska, which is seismically active. The state has recorded 11 tremors with a magnitude of 7 or greater within 373 miles (600 km) of Tuesday's quake over the past century, according to Zachary Reeves, a USGS seismologist in Golden, Colorado. The largest U.S. earthquake ever recorded was a magnitude-9.2 temblor in Alaska in March 1964, causing tidal waves of more than 100 feet (30 m) high that killed 131 people." + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 9:08 PM / in 15 minutes Ex-ArthroCare CFO gets four years in U.S. prison for fraud scheme Nate Raymond 3 Min Read (Reuters) - The former chief financial officer of medical device company ArthroCare Corp was sentenced on Friday to more than four years in prison after pleading guilty to participating in what federal prosecutors called a $750 million securities fraud. Michael Gluk, 59, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks in Austin, Texas, after pleading guilty in June to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and securities fraud, the U.S. Justice Department said. The sentencing came after Gluk in August testified at the trial of former ArthroCare Chief Executive Officer Michael Baker, who was convicted of securities fraud, wire fraud and other charges and sentenced in November to 20 years in prison. Both men were convicted at a trial in 2014. But a federal appeals court in January 2016 overturned their convictions after finding that evidence was improperly excluded from the trial. Gluk had been serving a prison sentence of 10 years when the appeals court overturned his conviction. He is expected, as part of his new sentence of 50 months in prison, to receive credit for the 13 months that his lawyers said he had already served. Sparks ordered Gluk to pay a $50,000 fine and to forfeit $677,804, the Justice Department said. A lawyer for Gluk did not respond to a request for comment. Prosecutors said Baker and Gluk, along with others, schemed from 2005 to 2009 to prop up ArthroCare’s stock price by artificially inflating sales and revenue through a series of transactions with distributors. Two other ex-ArthroCare executives, John Raffle and David Applegate, pleaded guilty to felonies in 2013 stemming from their involvement in the scheme. They were sentenced to prison terms of 80 months and 60 months. ArthroCare agreed in January 2014 to pay a $30 million penalty and enter a deferred prosecution agreement to end a Justice Department probe. The Austin-based company was acquired later that year by British medical equipment company Smith & Nephew Plc ( SN.L ) in a $1.7 billion deal. The case is U.S. v. Baker, et al, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, No. 13-cr-346. Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Tom Brown" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING, Jan 15 (Reuters) - China’s central government-owned enterprises will target coal capacity cuts of 12.65 million tonnes in 2018, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Monday. The Xinhua report came after a meeting of the heads of companies controlled by China’s state-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. (Reporting by Tom Daly; Editing by Mark Potter)" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Diebold Nixdorf Inc and NCR Corp, two of the world’s largest ATM makers, have warned that cyber criminals are targeting U.S. cash machines with tools that force them to spit out cash in hacking schemes known as “jackpotting.” The two ATM makers did not identify any victims or say how much money had been lost. Jackpotting has been rising worldwide in recent years, though it is unclear how much cash has been stolen because victims and police often do not disclose details. The attacks were reported earlier on Saturday by the security news website Krebs on Security, which said they had begun last year in Mexico. The companies confirmed to Reuters on Saturday they had sent out the alerts to clients. NCR said in a Friday alert that the cases were the first confirmed “jackpotting” losses in the United States. It said its equipment had not been targeted in the recent attacks, but that it was still a concern for the entire ATM industry. “This should be treated by all ATM deployers as a call to action to take appropriate steps to protect their ATMs against these forms of attack,” the alert said. Diebold Nixdorf said in a separate Friday alert that U.S. authorities had warned the company that hackers were targeting one of its ATM models, known as Opteva, which went out of production several years ago. A confidential U.S. Secret Service alert sent to banks said the hackers targeted stand-alone ATMs typically located in pharmacies, big box retailers and drive-thru ATMs, Krebs on Security reported. Diebold Nixdorf’s alert described steps that criminals had used to compromise ATMs. They include gaining physical access, replacing the hard drive and using an industrial endoscope to depress an internal button required to reset the device. Reuters was unable to obtain a copy of the Secret Service report and an agency representative declined comment. Officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation could not immediately be reached. Russian cyber security firm Group IB has reported that cyber criminals remotely attacked cash machines in more than a dozen countries across Europe in 2016. Similar attacks were also reported that year in Thailand and Taiwan. Reporting by Jim Finkle in Toronto; Additional reporting by Dustin Volz in Washington; Editing by Susan Thomas Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "(Corrects to read 4-month, four months in headline, paragraph 1) * U.S. dollar touches fresh 3-year low * Spot gold biased to rise towards $1,357.54/oz -Technicals * Asian stocks up 5 pct-10 pct since start of year By Eric Onstad LONDON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Gold prices hit the highest in more than four months on Wednesday after a U.S. official welcomed a weaker dollar and investors sought insurance against uncertainty. The dollar index touched fresh three-year lows after U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said a softer dollar was good for the United States. A decline in the dollar makes commodities priced in the greenback cheaper for buyers using other currencies. Spot gold was up 0.7 percent at $1,350.43 per ounce at 1042 GMT, while U.S. gold futures for February delivery climbed 1 percent to $1,349.80 per ounce. \"It's the weaker dollar, it's the inflation focus and it's also to some extent the market is continuing to look for a hedge against a world that's becoming incredibly complacent with stocks at record highs,\" said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank in Copenhagen. \"We're honing in on the 2017 high around $1,357, which is going to be the next big level.\" U.S. President Donald Trump is due to speak Friday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and investors are concerned he will use the speech to signal a more protectionist policy stance. \"Global investors are also concerned about potential trade wars... which is stirring up some risk-aversion trade, so that, in turn, is supporting gold,\" said Richard Xu, a fund manager at China's biggest gold exchange-traded fund, HuaAn Gold. \"I think gold prices will continue to trend higher along with other commodities, so $1,400 (an ounce) is our near-term target,\" Xu said. Markets also expect a U.S. interest rate hike in March. Gold is highly sensitive to rising U.S. interest rates, as these increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion while boosting the greenback. In other precious metals, silver gained 1.1 percent to $17.23 per ounce after touching a 3-1/2-week low of $16.73 in the previous session. Platinum added 0.4 percent to $1,010.50 per ounce, while palladium rose 0.9 percent to $1,101.47 per ounce. (Additional reporting by Nithin Prasad in Bengaluru, editing by Louise Heavens)" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pzena Investment Management, Inc. (NYSE:PZN) today announced that it will hold a conference call to discuss the Company’s financial results and outlook at 10:00 a.m. ET, Wednesday, February 7, 2018. The call will be open to the public. Webcast Instructions : To gain access to the webcast, which will be \"listen-only,\" go to the Events page in the Investor Relations area of the Company’s website, www.pzena.com . Teleconference Instructions : To gain access to the conference call via telephone, U.S. callers should dial 844-378-6482; Canada callers should dial 855-669-9657; international callers should dial 412-317-5106. Please reference the Pzena Investment Management call. Replay : The conference call will be available for replay through February 21, 2018, on the web using the information given above. About Pzena Pzena Investment Management, LLC, the firm’s operating company, is a value-oriented investment management firm. Founded in 1995, Pzena Investment Management has built a diverse, global client base. More firm and stock information is posted at www.pzena.com . Contact: Gary Bachman, 212-355-1600 or [REDACTED] . Source:Pzena Investment Management" + }, + { + "text": "Pai The state was only able to recall the alert 40 minutes after it was originally dispatched, which left fear-stricken residents in limbo awaiting catastrophe. In the incident's wake, a battery of officials that included Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, took to social networks to inform Hawaii residents and visitors that the alert was a mistake. Tulsi tweet Gabbard, told MSNBC in an interview that she questioned why the error wasn't corrected more swiftly. \"What my family went through and what so many families in Hawaii just went through is a true realization that they have 15 minutes to seek some form of shelter or else they're dead — gone,\" she told the network. Getty Images File photo of an ER tech escorting a victim of a mock nuclear blast into the decontamination tent during a disaster drill at Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. The alarm came on an otherwise picturesque day on the island, and stoked fears of a North Korean missile attack. Jodi Luchs, a doctor visiting Hawaii from Merrick, N.Y., told CNBC that he was enjoying breakfast at his hotel when every guest received the mistaken warning simultaneously. \"Most people were obviously very relieved about everything, [but] the concern was real given that the wording of the message did not leave much to the imagination,\" Luchs told CNBC. \"With tensions with North Korea, everyone regarded this as a serious threat.\" --CNBC's Javier E. David contributed to this article." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - PIXIUM VISION SA: * ANNOUNCES TODAY WORLD‘S FIRST SUCCESSFUL HUMAN IMPLANTATION AND ACTIVATION OF PRIMA, * PRIMA IS A NEW GENERATION MINIATURIZED WIRELESS PHOTOVOLTAIC SUB-RETINAL IMPLANT * PRIMA WAS IMPLANTED IN PATIENT WITH SEVERE VISION LOSS FROM ATROPHIC DRY AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD) * PATIENT TO START RE-EDUCATION PHASE AS PER TRIAL PROTOCOL * STUDY TO RECRUIT UP TO 5 PATIENTS WITH EVALUATION AT 6M FOLLOW-UP, AND LONGER-TERM FOLLOW-UP TO 36 MTHS Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "JUBA (Reuters) - A South Sudanese rebel group said on Monday it had released 15 army soldiers it had been holding to The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in line with a ceasefire agreed by the government and rebel groups last month. SPLA-IO spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel told Reuters the rebel group had released the prisoners on Sunday and that it was collecting names of prisoners of war from battlefields across the Equatoria region, which borders Uganda. More prisoners will be released in the coming days, he said. International monitors have said the truce negotiated by the East African regional bloc IGAD in December -- which included a commitment to release detainees -- was violated within hours. Contacted by Reuters on Monday, the ICRC referred to a statement it released on Sunday saying it had “informed parties involved in the conflict in South Sudan that it can facilitate any potential release of persons detained in relation to the conflict.” South Sudan descended into civil war in 2013 after clashes between troops loyal to former vice president Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and a third of the population have fled their homes. Editing by Catherine Evans" + }, + { + "text": "North Korea agrees to resolve issues with the South 4:28pm GMT - 01:36 North and South Korea on Tuesday agreed on negotiations to resolve problems and military talks aimed at averting accidental conflict, after their first official dialogue in more than two years, as Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program fuels tension. North and South Korea on Tuesday agreed on negotiations to resolve problems and military talks aimed at averting accidental conflict, after their first official dialogue in more than two years, as Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program fuels tension. //reut.rs/2AJFAlh" + }, + { + "text": "BOGOTA, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The president of Cerrejon, Colombia’s largest thermal coal miner, will leave his position at the end of June, the company said in a statement on Wednesday. Roberto Junguito, who has been president for six years, is leaving for personal reasons, the company said. Cerrejon’s board said in the statement it was satisfied with Junguito’s professionalism and the quality of his work during his tenure and that it would begin the search for his replacement. Production and exports at Cerrejon, which belongs in equal parts to BHP Billiton, Anglo American and Glencore, fell in 2017 for a third straight year as heavy rainfall affected operations, the mine’s owners said this month. The mining company is currently negotiating wages and benefits with the main workers’ union, which has threatened to strike if terms are not agreed by Friday. A strike could further reduce production and overseas sales from the world’s fifth-largest coal-exporting nation. Cerrejon, one of the world’s largest open-pit coal mines, is located in northern La Guajira province. It has a railway line spanning more than 90 miles (150-km) and a seaport to handle shipments. (Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Leslie Adler)" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 4:18 AM / Updated 13 hours ago China says 28 northern cities met late 2017 anti-smog targets Reuters Staff 3 Min Read SHANGHAI (Reuters) - All 28 Chinese cities in a demanding winter anti-smog campaign met their air quality targets from October to December, but weather conditions could pose challenges in early 2018, the environment ministry said on Wednesday. The 28 northern cities were ordered to cut concentrations of small, breathable particles known as PM2.5 by 10-25 percent during October 2017-March 2018. They have been curbing industrial output, thinning traffic and cracking down on coal use in a bid to limit smog build-ups. The Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) said that all the cities exceeded their targets in the final three months of 2017, with average concentrations across the region hitting 71 micrograms per cubic meter, down 34.3 percent from a year earlier. But the ministry, citing meteorologists, said unfavorable weather, including relatively warm temperatures, is expected to make smog dispersal more difficult in January and February. It said Shijiazhuang, one of China’s most polluted cities and the capital of heavily industrial Hebei province, saw the biggest improvement in late 2017, with PM2.5 falling 54.8 percent on an annual basis for October-December, more than double its 25 percent target. Average PM2.5 concentrations in Shijiazhuang remained at 85 micrograms, higher than China’s 35 microgram standard as well as the 10 micrograms recommended by the World Health Organization. The capital, Beijing, saw PM2.5 drop 53.8 percent during the three months. City environmental officials said last week that drier and windier weather conditions were a contributing factor. The six-month campaign to curb winter air pollution in northern China had appeared to start slowly, with only four of the 28 cities meeting their October targets. But an inspection and enforcement campaign - widely seen as China’s toughest to date - began to have a significant impact in November, even after the predominantly coal-fired winter heating system was activated. While China met its 2017 air quality targets, the winter campaign has not been without controversy, with businesses complaining about overzealous “one size fits all” crackdowns as well as gas supply disruptions. Residents have also complained about surging gas prices and supply shortages. Reporting by David Stanway; Editing by Richard Borsuk" + }, + { + "text": "BERLIN (Reuters) - The leader of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) cited progress on Wednesday in a bid to win support for formal talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and some colleagues said rejecting a coalition would further hurt party ratings. SPD members will vote on Sunday on whether to back coalition talks with the conservatives. Last week they agreed to a coalition blueprint but some in the party say it does not bear sufficient hallmarks of their party and they would be better off in opposition. SPD leader Martin Schulz is criss-crossing the country to convince delegates at the conference in Bonn to give him a mandate to pursue formal coalition talks in the face of a strong backlash from the party’s left and youth wings. Schulz said he was upbeat after a meeting with SPD members in the southern state of Bavaria on Wednesday, following stops this week in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which will send about a quarter of the delegates. “The mood was excellent,” he told reporters, saying discussions were lively but resulted in broad support for the blueprint he had agreed with the conservatives. Responding to calls from some in his party for changes to the framework agreement, he said the main points could not be altered but details could be added during coalition talks. “A paper from exploratory talks is not the same thing as a coalition deal,” he said, singling out rental caps and healthcare as areas where there could be more discussion. Schulz also said it made sense to review the coalition after two years, a provision that is set out in last week’s agreement. The outcome of any talks is considered crucial because Germany has Europe’s largest economy and Merkel has played a leading role in the continent’s economic and security affairs. SPD General Secretary Lars Klingbeil said he understood party scepticism about a re-run of the ‘grand coalition’ that governed Germany in the last four years but warned against the alternative. “Before voting at the party congress SPD delegates should be aware that there are only two realistic scenarios: negotiating further or new elections,” he told Die Zeit weekly’s online edition. The SPD had planned to reinvent itself in opposition after a poor election showing in September but was persuaded to enter the talks when Merkel’s attempt to form a coalition with two smaller parties failed in November. SLIDING IN POLLS The latest INSA poll showed the SPD slipping to 18.5 percent, its worst result in that particular survey, and weaker still than the 20.5 percent it achieved in September’s election - which was its poorest performance since 1933. The coalition question has split the SPD with branches in Berlin and the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt recommending their members vote against. The Jusos youth faction is on a “No Grand Coalition” tour to rally delegates to reject the talks. Norbert Roemer, head of the SPD’s parliamentary group in North Rhine-Westphalia said results of the exploratory talks did not make clear enough that there would be a fresh start. He told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper: “In our party - and this is true of me too - there’s a lot of mistrust of Ms Merkel and her troops.” The most divisive issues for the two blocs concern taxes, pensions, migration and healthcare but both parties are aware that a grand coalition is one of the last options on the table. Refusal by SPD delegates to hold further talks could lead to new elections or a minority Merkel-led government for the first time in the post-war era. By contrast, Brandenburg and Hamburg are in favour of coalition talks, as are trades unions and a dozen SPD mayors from big cities have also called on delegates to vote in favour. Highlighting fears about the destructive effects of the divisions within the SPD, senior party figure Carsten Schneider said “there is a real worry about the survival of the SPD”. Edgar Franke, of the SPD’s conservative “Seeheimer Kreis” wing, said if his party refused to join a grand coalition, it risked sliding to 15 or 16 percent. “And it won’t recover from that in the long term,” Franke told Focus magazine. Merkel, who needs the SPD to back the alliance to shore up her fourth term, said Germany needed a stable government and that she was counting on the SPD to “take a responsible decision” by giving the go-ahead to formal coalition talks. Additional reporting by Madeline Chambers, Holger Hansen, Tom Koerkemeier; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg" + }, + { + "text": "DALLAS, Jan. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Permian Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE: PBT) (\"Permian\") today declared a cash distribution to the holders of its units of beneficial interest of $0.059614 per unit, payable on February 14, 2018, to unit holders of record on January 31, 2018. This month's distribution increased from the previous month due to an increase in oil and gas pricing, and was offset by the number of days of production for the month of November. The Texas Royalty Properties had a slight decrease in oil and gas production offset by an increase in the pricing of both oil and gas production. Capital expenditures on the Waddell Ranch are lower this month than previous months, with it being mostly facility projects for the remainder of the year. WADDELL RANCH Production for the underlying properties at the Waddell Ranch was 55,470 barrels of oil and 313,618 Mcf of gas. The production for the Trust's allocated portion of the Waddell Ranch was 24,872 barrels of oil and 141,604 Mcf of gas. The average price for oil was $53.55 per bbl and for gas was $3.80 per Mcf. This would primarily reflect production and pricing for the month of November for oil and the month of October for gas. These allocated volumes were significantly impacted by the pricing of both oil and gas. This production and pricing for the Underlying Properties resulted in revenues for the Waddell Ranch Properties of $4,163,678. Deducted from these would be the Lease Operating Expense (LOE) of $1,357,615, taxes of $269,512, and Capital Expenditures (CAPEX) of $146,820 totaling $1,773,947 resulting in a Net Profit of $2,389,731 for the month of December. With the Trust's Net Profit Interest (NPI) of 75% of the underlying properties, this would result in a net contribution by the Waddell Ranch Properties of $1,792,298 to this month's distribution. Underlying Properties Net to Trust Sales Volumes Volumes Average Price Oil (bbls) Gas (Mcf) Oil (bbls) Gas (Mcf) Oil (per bbl) Gas (per Mcf) Current Month Waddell Ranch 55,470 313,618 24,872 141,604* $53.55 $3.80** Texas Royalties 22,661 23,957 21,528 22,759* $52.05 $7.87** Prior Month Waddell Ranch 57,410 330,294 21,777 127,175* $47.88 $3.12** Texas Royalties 22,646 27,750 21,514 26,363* $47.93 $5.83** *These volumes are the net to the trust, after allocation of expenses to Trust's net profit interest, including any prior period adjustments. **This pricing includes sales of gas liquid products. TEXAS ROYALTY PROPERTIES Production for the underlying properties at the Texas Royalties was 22,661 barrels of oil and 23,957 Mcf of gas. The production for the Trust's allocated portion of the Texas Royalties was 21,528 barrels of oil and 22,759 Mcf of gas. The average price for oil was $52.05 per bbl and for gas was $7.87 per Mcf. This would primarily reflect production and pricing for the month of November for oil and the month of October for gas. These allocated volumes were impacted by the pricing of both oil and gas. This production and pricing for the underlying properties resulted in revenues for the Texas Royalties of $1,368,039. Deducted from these would be taxes of $175,752 resulting in a Net Profit of $1,192,287 for the month of December." + }, + { + "text": "With the Trust's Net Profit Interest (NPI) of 95% of the Underlying Properties, this would result in net contribution by the Texas Royalties of $1,132,672 to this month's distribution. General and Administrative Expenses deducted for the month were $148,333 resulting in a distribution of $2,778,544 to 46,608,796 units outstanding, or $0.059614 per unit. The worldwide market conditions continue to affect the pricing for domestic production. It is difficult to predict what effect these conditions will have on future distributions. The 2017 tax information packets are expected to begin mailing directly to unitholders in early March 2018. A copy of Permian's 2017 tax information booklet is expected to be posted on Permian's website by March 1, 2018. In addition to the tax booklet the Permian website also offers two simple calculators for computing the income and expense amounts and the cost depletion. To facilitate unitholder tax preparation, both the income and expense and the depletion calculators are expected to be updated on Permian's website by the end of February for 2017 tax reporting. Permian's cash distribution history, current and prior year financial reports, including a summary of reserves as of 1/1/2017, tax information booklets, and a link to filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all can be found on its website at . View original content: SOURCE Permian Basin Royalty Trust" + }, + { + "text": "(Corrects Jan 12 story to make clear in paragraphs 5-7 that some of the reversals have already occurred) WASHINGTON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - plans to nominate as his choice to fill a vacant seat on the National Labor Relations Board a labor lawyer and partner at a law firm that has advised him and the Trump Organization on taxes since 2005. The White House said on Friday that John Ring, a partner at Morgan Lewis and Bockius, would succeed Phil Miscimarra, another Republican whose term ended on Dec. 16 and who served as the NLRB's chairman. Ring's appointment, which is subject to Senate confirmation, would restore a Republican majority at the five-member board, which now has two Democrats and two Republicans. The NLRB oversees union elections and disputes between private-sector employers, workers and unions. Under Trump, lawyers and business groups had expected the board to roll back a series of decisions and policy changes adopted during the administration of former Democratic President Barack Obama. The NLRB gained a Republican majority in late September after Trump's nominees to prior open seats on the board were confirmed and started issuing a spate of reversals in December. In the week leading up to the end of Miscimarra's term, the board overruled five decisions that were widely seen by companies and trade groups as favoring unions, involving issues such as when companies are liable for legal violations by contractors, staffing agencies and franchisees; the validity of workplace rules; and whether proposed bargaining units are appropriate. Ring leads the Labor & Employment Practice Group at Morgan Lewis' Washington office, the White House said in a statement. If confirmed, he would begin a five-year term dating from Dec. 17, 2017, it said. According to the firm's website, Ring \"represents management interests in collective bargaining, employee benefits, litigation, counseling, and litigation avoidance strategies.\" Last year, Morgan Lewis wrote a letter released by the White House that said a review of the previous 10 years of Trumps tax returns did not reflect ties to Russia \"with a few exceptions.\" (Reporting by Eric Walsh; Editing by Peter Cooney)" + }, + { + "text": "Venezuelan woes@ * OPEC lifts 2018 non-OPEC supply forecast, citing higher prices * Venezuela reports further decline in its oil output * OPEC compliance with supply cut deal remains high * Report still pointing to supply deficit in 2018 (Adds details on OPEC production, stock levels) LONDON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - OPEC has raised its forecast for oil supply from non-member countries in 2018 as higher prices encourage U.S. shale drillers to pump more, offsetting an OPEC-led deal to clear a supply glut and a deepening plunge in Venezuelan production. In a monthly report on Thursday, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said outside producers would boost supply by 1.15 million barrels per day (bpd) this year, up from 990,000 bpd expected previously. \"Higher oil prices are bringing more supply to the market, particularly in North America and specifically tight oil,\" OPEC said in the report, using another term for shale. OPEC, Russia and several other non-OPEC producers began to cut supply a year ago to get rid of a global glut of crude that had built up since 2014. They have extended the pact until the end of 2018. The OPEC forecast of higher rival supply could add to a debate about the effectiveness of keeping the curbs in place. A ministerial monitoring panel meets this weekend in Oman and is expected to discuss the eventual exit strategy from the deal. But the forecast was balanced by figures in the report showing OPEC's compliance with the supply cuts remained high in December and a further sharp slide in Venezuelan oil output. Oil prices edged higher after the report was released to trade above $69 a barrel and later steadied. Prices are close to the highest since December 2014. In a further sign excess supply is easing, OPEC said inventories in developed economies declined by 16.6 million barrels in November to 2.933 billion barrels, 133 million above the five-year average. OPEC's stated goal is to reduce stocks to the five-year average. VENEZUELA, UAE OPEC's production in December based on figures it collects from secondary sources showed overall production rising. Total output rose by 42,000 bpd to 32.42 million bpd, led by a gain in Nigeria which along with Libya was exempted from the supply cut because unrest had curbed their production. But adherence by the 11 OPEC members with output targets rose to 129 percent, according to a Reuters calculation based on the OPEC figures, higher than 121 percent in November based on last month's report. The figures that OPEC members reported themselves showed deeper declines in production. Venezuela, whose output is dropping amid an economic crisis, told OPEC its production sank by about 216,000 bpd to 1.621 million bpd in December, believed to be the lowest in decades. The UAE, which lagged many of its peers on compliance last year, said it cut output by 38,000 bpd to below its OPEC target for the first time. The compliance improvement comes as the country prepared to assume the rotating OPEC presidency in 2018. With outside producers expected to pump more, OPEC in the report cut its estimate of global demand for its crude in 2018 by 60,000 bpd to 33.09 million bpd. Should OPEC keep pumping at December's level and other things remain equal, the market could move into a deficit of about 670,000 bpd next year, suggesting inventories will be drawn down further. Last month's report pointed to a similar deficit of about 700,000 bpd. (Editing by Jason Neely and Mark Potter)" + }, + { + "text": "Mark Zuckerberg , the CEO and founder of Facebook , did not set out to build a business. Today the social media platform has a market capitalization of more than $500 billion and more than 2 billion monthly active users , and Zuckerberg is worth more than $70 billion, according to Forbes . But he was famously just a college student at Harvard when he launched \" theFacebook \" in 2004 . At the time, Zuckerberg says he was simply solving a problem he saw around him. \"Yeah, well, I never started this to build a company,\" says Zuckerberg, speaking to Freakonomics Radio as part of its six-week series called \"The Secret Life of CEOs,\" which launched Thursday. \" Ten years ago, you know, I was just trying to help connect people at colleges and a few schools. \"That was a basic need, where I looked around at the internet and there were services for a lot of things that you wanted,\" says Zuckerberg, according to a transcript. \"You could find music; you could find news; you could find information, but you couldn't find and connect with the people that you cared about, which as people is actually the most important thing. \"So that seemed like a pretty big hole that needed to get filled.\" show chapters The world's greatest leaders have these traits in common 9:14 AM ET Thu, 10 Aug 2017 | 00:59 Indeed. And the Silicon Valley social media titan isn't alone in his method. Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson also says the key to finding a good business idea is noticing what could be improved in your own life. \"Entrepreneurship in its truest form is about identifying a gap in the market and creating a product of use to fill that hole and make people's lives better,\" writes Branson in a blog post published in January. \"Often the best way to find this gap is to look around you — are there services that could be improved or a product that could make something easier?\" Starting with a small idea does not mean your business will be small, points out Branson. \"My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs thinking of starting their own business is: start small but always think big,\" says Branson. \"Technology also has allowed companies to think bigger than just selling to their local community and puts the world at their fingertips,\" Branson says. See also: Billionaire Richard Branson: This simple trick is the best way to come up with an idea for a successful business This is what motivates billionaire Richard Branson (Hint: It's not money) This is the No. 1 trait of great leaders, says a Wharton professor who's studied thousands of executives show chapters Billionaire Richard Branson says he's never been motivated by money — here's why 3:02 PM ET Wed, 18 Oct 2017 | 01:16 Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook ." + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 11:46 AM / in 8 hours Tennis: Young gun Chung fires a blank after blister trouble Ian Ransom 3 Min Read MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The fighting spirit that propelled Chung Hyeon to the Australian Open semi-finals went missing on Friday as the South Korean trailblazer cut short his much-anticipated clash with Roger Federer after suffering foot blisters. The bespectacled 21-year-old had won huge acclaim for becoming his home nation’s first ever grand slam semi-finalist, knocking out no less than six-times champion Novak Djokovic during his breathtaking run. But after being steamrolled by the Swiss master through the better part of two sets, Chung abruptly pulled the pin two games after taking a medical time-out to have his foot strapped. It was to the great dismay of a capacity Rod Laver Arena crowd that had hoped for far more than 62 minutes of one-sided tennis between South Korea’s rising star and the reigning champion.A poker-faced Chung packed up his rackets quickly as a smattering of spectators jeered but he trudged off into the bowels of Rod Laver Arena to mostly polite applause. A nonplussed Federer was left debating with himself as to whether a short game or a long one was better preparation for facing sixth seed Marin Cilic in Sunday’s final. “But I must admit, as well, you do take the faster matches whenever you can because there’s enough wear and tear on the body, there’s enough tough matches throughout the season that when they happen, you take them,” Federer told reporters. The last time the Swiss great met Cilic in a grand slam final - Wimbledon last summer - the Croatian was similarly laid low by a bad blister, fighting through the pain and tears but losing in straight sets. It was left to Chung’s agent Stuart Duguid to explain his client’s ailment as “blister under blister under blister.” Tennis - Australian Open - Semifinals - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 26, 2018. South Korea's Chung Hyeon leaves after retiring due to injury from his match against Switzerland's Roger Federer. REUTERS/Issei Kato It was “red raw” he told reporters, and pain killing injections had provided no relief. Chung made clear he was not interested in grinding through, however, fearing fans would be disaffected by a poor show. “Many things come together because I retired in (the) semis,” he said. ”But I think I did (the) right thing. If I play (a) bad thing on the court, it’s not good for the fans and audience as well. “I‘m happy to be able to make the semis in a grand slam. I want to be stronger next year.” Chung can certainly hope to fulfil those expectations after a giddy fortnight that included demolishing an injury-hampered Djokovic in three sets and a brilliant win over fourth seed Alexander Zverev, who many had regarded as the strongest young contender in the draw. Chung said he had already attained some of his goals by becoming South Korea’s top ranked player and achieving his best showing in a grand slam. “I really didn’t know I‘m going to make it in semis,” Chung added. “Next goal is I want to finish the season without injury.” Editing by Jon Boyle" + }, + { + "text": "WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE: CLDT), a lodging real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests in upscale, extended-stay hotels and premium-branded, select-service hotels and owns 135 hotels wholly or through joint ventures, today announced that its board of trustees has declared a monthly common share dividend of $0.11 for January 2018. The common dividend is payable February 23, 2018, to shareholders of record on January 31, 2018. About Chatham Lodging Trust Chatham Lodging Trust is a self-advised, publicly-traded real estate investment trust focused primarily on investing in upscale, extended-stay hotels and premium-branded, select-service hotels. The company owns interests in 135 hotels totaling 18,516 rooms/suites, comprised of 40 properties it wholly owns with an aggregate of 6,018 rooms/suites in 15 states and the District of Columbia and a minority investment in two joint ventures that own 95 hotels with an aggregate of 12,498 rooms/suites. Additional information about Chatham may be found at chathamlodgingtrust.com . Included in this press release are certain “non-GAAP financial measures,” within the meaning of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules and regulations, that are different from measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles). The company considers the following non-GAAP financial measures useful to investors as key supplemental measures of its operating performance: (1) FFO, (2) Adjusted FFO, (3) EBITDA, and (4) Adjusted EBITDA. These non-GAAP financial measures could be considered along with, but not as alternatives to, net income or loss, cash flows from operations or any other measures of the company’s operating performance prescribed by GAAP. View source version on businesswire.com : Chatham Lodging Trust Dennis Craven, 561-227-1386 [REDACTED] Source: Chatham Lodging Trust" + }, + { + "text": "Taxes Japanese Prime Minister Abe wants to convey stance on 'comfort women' accord to South Korea Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in to convey Japan's stance on the 2015 agreement on \"comfort women.\" \"I also want to drive home the need for strong collaboration between Japan, South Korea and the United States to counter the North Korean threat, and to maintain the maximum level of pressure (against Pyongyang),\" he said. Published 13 Hours Ago SHARES STR | AFP | Getty Images Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaking to journalists after North Korean missile launch on November 29, 2017. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday he wanted to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in to convey Japan's stance on the two countries' 2015 agreement on \"comfort women,\" confirming his plans to attend the Pyeongchang Olympics next month. \"I want to hold a summit meeting to firmly convey Japan's stance on the agreement over the 'comfort women' issue,\" Abe told reporters at the prime minister's official residence. \"I also want to drive home the need for strong collaboration between Japan, South Korea and the United States to counter the North Korean threat, and to maintain the maximum level of pressure (against Pyongyang),\" he added." + }, + { + "text": "19 PM / Updated 38 minutes ago Egypt files murder charges against man held for Coptic church attack CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt’s public prosecutor has filed murder charges against a man accused of killing 11 people in an attack on a Coptic church and a Christian-owned shop in a Cairo suburb last week, judicial sources said. Security forces stand guard at the site of attack on a church in the Helwan district south of Cairo, Egypt December 29, 2017. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh The man, arrested after the Dec. 29 attack, was receiving medical treatment in custody for injuries sustained in an exchange of gunfire with authorities outside the church. The prosecutor ordered him detained pending investigations, the sources said. “He is accused of premeditated murder, attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed weapon and using it for terrorist activity,” a judicial source said. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks shortly afterwards, in a statement carried out by its Amaq news agency, though it provided no evidence for the claim. Islamist militants have claimed several attacks on Egypt’s large Christian minority in recent years, including two bombings on Palm Sunday in April and a blast at Cairo’s largest Coptic cathedral in December 2016 that killed 28 people. Reporting by Haitham Ahmed; Writing by Nadine Awadalla, Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "SPRINGDALE, Ark., Jan. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tyson Ventures, the venture capital arm of Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN), has invested in food tech startup Memphis Meats , a leader in cultured meat produced directly from animal cells. The investment is an example of Tyson Foods’ commitment to explore innovative, new ways of meeting growing global demand for protein. While the terms were not disclosed, Tyson Foods investment represents a minority stake in the business. Tyson Foods joins a diverse group of investors in Memphis Meats, which includes industry leaders, top venture investors and mission-driven groups, such as DFJ, Atomico, Cargill, Bill Gates and Richard Branson. “We’re excited about this opportunity to broaden our exposure to innovative, new ways of producing meat, especially since global protein demand has been increasing at a steady rate,” said Justin Whitmore, executive vice president corporate strategy and chief sustainability officer of Tyson Foods. “We continue to invest significantly in our traditional meat business, but also believe in exploring additional opportunities for growth that give consumers more choices.” “We are excited that Tyson Foods will be joining us in our mission to bring meat to the table in a sustainable, affordable and delicious way,” explained Uma Valeti, M.D., co-founder and CEO of Memphis Meats. “Our vision is for the world to eat what it loves, in a way that addresses today’s challenges for the environment, animal welfare and public health. We are accelerating our work and building out a world-class team to make this a reality.” Memphis Meats expects to use the funds to accelerate product development. The company is currently recruiting to expand its team of chefs, scientists, creative people and business people. To learn more about why Tyson Foods is investing in cultured meat and plant-based protein, click here , where President and CEO Tom Hayes shares his perspective. About Tyson Foods, Inc. Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN) is one of the world’s largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under three generations of family leadership, the company has a broad portfolio of products and brands like Tyson ® , Jimmy Dean ® , Hillshire Farm ® , Ball Park ® , Wright ® , Aidells ® , ibp ® and State Fair ® . Tyson Foods innovates continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere it’s available and raise the world’s expectations for how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company has 122,000 team members. Through its Core Values, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, communities and team members and serve as a steward of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it. Visit www.tysonfoods.com . Contact: Gary Mickelson, 479-290-6111, [REDACTED] Source:Tyson Foods, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Self-balancing smart suitcase follows you around 7:03pm GMT - 01:23 The latest so-called smart suitcase, that's a suitcase that follows you around, has only two wheels and auto-balancing technology and a price yet to be announced. Stuart McDill reports. The latest so-called smart suitcase, that's a suitcase that follows you around, has only two wheels and auto-balancing technology and a price yet to be announced. Stuart McDill reports. //reut.rs/2D2zOBd" + }, + { + "text": "CAIRO (Reuters) - The Arab League will meet on Feb. 1 to discuss how to counter U.S. President Donald Trump’s move last month to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Egypt’s state news agency MENA said on Wednesday. Six Arab foreign ministers who met in Amman last week said Arab states would embark on a diplomatic drive to persuade the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war. Arab foreign ministers said in an emergency meeting held following Trump’s decision on December 6 that the move would spur violence throughout the region. They described Trump’s announcement as a “dangerous violation of international law” which had no legal impact. In recognizing Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, Trump reversed decades of U.S. policy, imperiling Middle East peace efforts and upsetting the Arab world and Western allies alike. The status of Jerusalem - home to sites holy to the Muslim, Jewish and Christian religions - is one of the biggest obstacles to reaching a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. Reporting by Ali Abdelaty, writing by Amina Ismail; Editing by Gareth Jones Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29 (Reuters) - AMS AG: * PRE-ANNOUNCES Q4 2017 REVENUES OF EUR 470.3 MILLION RESULTING IN RECORD FULL YEAR REVENUES FOR 2017 * 2017 FULL YEAR REVENUES OF EUR 1,063.8 MILLION, UP 93% FROM EUR 549.9 MILLION IN 2016 * INCREASE OF ITS REVENUE GROWTH EXPECTATION FOR 2016-2019 TO 60% COMPOUND ANNUAL GROWTH RATE (CAGR) * ADJUSTED EBIT MARGIN TARGET OF 30% FROM 2019 ONWARDS * UPWARD CHANGE PARTICULARLY DRIVEN BY A RANGE OF REVENUE PIPELINE OPPORTUNITIES IN SMARTPHONE AND CONSUMER APPLICATIONS Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 4:41 PM / Updated 4 hours ago Rees-Mogg urges May to change tone Reuters Staff 3 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s government must start promoting the opportunities from leaving the European Union and its negotiators should stop being “cowed by the EU,” the leader of an influential parliamentary group in Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative Party said. The European Research Group, led by hardline Brexit campaigner Jacob Rees-Mogg after both his predecessors were brought into the government’s Brexit department, has influence over several dozen Conservative lawmakers and ministers. The direct appeal to May and her government breaks with tradition, and follows criticism by Rees-Mogg on Wednesday that Brexit minister David Davis was helping make Britain a “vassal state” of the EU by agreeing to a status quo transition. “If (Brexit’s opportunities are) taken off the table then Brexit becomes only a damage limitation exercise. The British people did not vote for that ... They voted for hope and opportunity and politicians must now deliver it,” Rees-Mogg said in a speech he will deliver at an English independent school. “There is a great Brexit opportunity and some really obvious benefits that we can get that improve the condition of the people. This is currently at risk.” A spokesman for May told reporters the prime minister had set out a “positive vision for the UK post-Brexit” and was confident of securing that. Rees-Mogg is one of many in the Brexit campaign voicing concern that the referendum result may be betrayed. Some supporters have started to get ready for a fightback against what they call “ultra-Remainers” who they accuse of trying to stop the divorce. After the EU agreed its negotiating directives on Wednesday, the Conservative lawmaker listed his red lines for the Brexit talks which will enter a crucial phase later this year when the two sides start negotiating their future relationship. He said Britain could not stay in the EU’s customs union or hold closely to the bloc’s rules and regulations. May has repeatedly said Britain will leave the bloc’s single market and customs union, but Brexit campaigners fear that after negotiating a transition deal that changes little, she may opt for a future relationship along those lines. Rees-Mogg urged British negotiators to stop being “cowed by the EU”. “Their approach seems to be that we must accept what the EU will allow us to do and build from there. This is no way to negotiate and it is no way for this country to behave.” Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; editing by Stephen Addison" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 2:02 PM / Updated 9 minutes ago Germany and Poland look to experts on reparations row Reuters Staff 3 Min Read BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany and Poland said on Wednesday they would consider setting up a commission to explore Polish calls for reparations for German actions during World War Two. Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has revived the issue of war compensation although the government has stopped short of making an official demand. New Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz and his German counterpart, Sigmar Gabriel, said at their first meeting they did not want the issue to harm bilateral relations. Both ministers stressed the importance of the relationship between the neighbors and EU partners but acknowledged that the question of reparations was not going away. “We have a clear legal position that all questions about reparations have been cleared up,” Gabriel said, adding that Poland’s democratically elected government accepted that in the early 1990s after the fall of Communism. “But there is no point in talking about the legal situation if there is a debate within society in a neighboring country,” he said. “One way ahead could be to ask experts to look at this,” he said, making clear there was no concrete plan so far and the makeup of such a panel would have to be decided but it may constitute historians and lawyers. Six million Poles, including three million Polish Jews were killed during the war and the capital Warsaw was razed to the ground in 1944 after a failed uprising in which 200,000 civilians died. After the war, the victorious Allies awarded Poland a large swathe of German land as compensation for Polish territory annexed by the Soviet Union in the east. “We want to have this debate,” said Czaputowicz, who said he accepted Gabriel’s suggestion. Relations between Poland and Germany have improved in recent years but have taken a knock since the nationalist-leaning PiS won a parliamentary election in 2015. The PiS, which says Berlin wields too much influence within the European Union, frequently talks about Poland’s suffering under the German occupation in an effort it says aims to promote patriotism. Reporting by Madeline Chambers" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Sterling slipped against the dollar and euro on Wednesday on news that European Commission officials had rejected the City of London’s proposal to strike a post-Brexit free trade deal on financial services. The pound was still heading for its strongest month against the dollar since July 2010. It has climbed around 4.7 percent since the start of the year as the U.S. currency has weakened broadly and as investors have become optimistic about Britain’s economy and Brexit deal prospects. But it slipped on Wednesday after Reuters reported that EU officials had told British financiers they won’t agree to a deal that would allow finance companies to operate in each others’ markets without barriers, because Britain has said it will leave the single market. Having earlier been trading slightly higher on the day, sterling slipped to the day’s low of $1.4127 after the news, down around 0.2 percent. “That’s definitely knocked the pound but I‘m not that surprised by the news - I don’t think it’s going to be a game changer for sterling,” said Nomura currency strategist Jordan Rochester. “At this stage the UK is yet to even agree to a transitional deal and we haven’t yet started talking properly about future arrangements,” he added. Leaked analysis showed on Tuesday that Britain’s economy would be worse off after Brexit whether it leaves the EU with a free trade deal, single market access, or with no deal at all. It was another blow to Prime Minister Theresa May. Against a stronger euro, sterling slipped half a percent to 88.16 pence. The pound strengthened on Tuesday after Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said the central bank was turning its focus back to the more conventional business of bringing down inflation, as Britain’s economy showed it was getting over the damage wrought by the 2007-09 financial crisis. Carney pointed out that wages were gradually rising, something the central bank wants to see as it considers when to follow up on November’s first rate hike in a decade. “We sensed a more upbeat tone to his comments, which suggests that it might not take a lot for the BoE to alter its forward guidance,” wrote Derek Halpenny, MUFG’s European head of global markets research. “The risks are piling up that the BoE will be much more active than implied by current market pricing.” (This refiled version of the story corrects lead to show day is Wednesday, not Monday). Reporting by Jemima Kelly; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg" + }, + { + "text": "MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Defending champion Roger Federer welcomed the emergence of new challengers, after several unseeded players made the Australian Open semi-finals for the first time in nearly 20 years. The Swiss 19-times grand slam champion will face 21-year-old South Korean Chung Hyeon in one semi-final, while 23-year-old Briton Kyle Edmund will take on former U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic in the other. The last time so many unfamiliar faces reached the last four in Melbourne was in 1999 when Tommy Haas, Thomas Enqvist and Niclas Lapenti made the semis. “I think it’s a good thing. They got to make a move. I find it disappointing when their breakthroughs come at 27, because then we know them for seven years, let’s say,” 36-year-old Federer told reporters after beating Tomas Berdych on Wednesday. ”I like it when we don’t know the guys. I hardly know Chung. I’ve hardly spoken to him. I had one Nike appearance once with Edmund over in London. That’s about it. Federer expects the men’s game to become more unpredictable with a change back to 16 seeds, rather than 32, in slams. Tennis - Australian Open - Quarterfinals - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 23, 2018. Kyle Edmund of Britain celebrates winning against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria. REUTERS/Thomas Peter TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY “We like our rivalries that do exist on the tour. New names are good, from time to time, of course for the tour. I think next year when we’ll have 16 seeds, it’s going to be quite different,” said Federer, who has reached his 43rd grand slam semi-final and is favorite to win a 20th major. ”It’s nice to go back to that. I do believe in some ways it’s going to open some draws, it’s going to be some really tough ones from the get-go, which I think is a good thing. Tennis - Australian Open - Quarterfinals - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 24, 2018. Chung Hyeon of South Korea reacts after winning against Tennys Sandgren of the U.S. REUTERS/David Gray “Those first weeks sometimes have become really dull.” Chung defeated six-times Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic in the last 16 and followed up by beating Tennys Sandgren on Wednesday to set up a first-ever clash with Federer. “It’s an interesting match for me,” Federer said. ”Right now I couldn’t tell you how I need to play him. One thing I know is I‘m going to be playing aggressive. I don’t know how I‘m going to do that exactly yet. “I don’t know exactly how he returns and how he serves exactly. Those are two major aspects to the game. Those start the points. I have to figure that part out a little bit.” Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Alexander Smith" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury official who oversees the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) spoke on Thursday in support of efforts in Congress to strengthen the group, saying its case load has more than doubled since the financial crisis and cases have grown increasingly complex. Heath Tarbert, who heads the committee that reviews proposed purchases of U.S. assets by foreign companies to ensure they do not harm national security, praised proposed legislation to expand the remit of CFIUS, saying it will help the organization keep up with complex deals structured to hide foreign interests and more. “We continue to be made aware of transactions we lack the jurisdiction to review but which pose similar national security concerns to those already before CFIUS,” Tarbert said in testimony before the Senate Banking Committee. He said the average volume of CFIUS cases has been growing steadily from fewer than 100 in 2009 and 2010 to nearly 240 in 2017. In 2017 about 70 percent of cases ended up in an investigation, compared with just four percent 10 years earlier. His testimony came a day after the Trump administration confirmed its support of bipartisan bills in Congress to toughen U.S. foreign investment rules. The Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act would broaden the government’s power to stop foreign purchases of U.S. firms by expanding CFIUS’ reach to allow it to review, and potentially reject, smaller investments and add new national security factors for CFIUS to consider. Those factors include whether information about Americans, such as Social Security numbers, would be exposed as part of the transaction or whether the deal would facilitate fraud. The Act would also establish fees capped at 1 percent of the value of the transaction or $300,000, whichever is less, which would be deposited in a CFIUS fund. The proposed legislation is backed by some companies, including Oracle Corp ( ORCL.N ). The software maker supports the bill because it is focused on specific national security concerns and distinguishes between investments that are financially motivated and investments that are strategically motivated. Conversely IBM ( IBM.N ) opposes the bill, arguing that it would bog down an already busy panel with routine transactions. Reporting by Chris Sanders; Editing by Andrea Ricci" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 10:43 AM / Updated 3 minutes ago Scotland sees big hit to its economy with no UK Brexit deal Reuters Staff 2 Min Read EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Scotland will suffer an 8.5 percent hit to the size of its economy by 2030 if Britain leaves the European Union with no trade deal, the Scottish regional government said as it upped its calls for Britain to stay in the EU’s single market. FILE PHOTO - Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is seen speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show in this photograph received via the BBC, in London, Britain January 14, 2018. Jeff Overs/BBC/Handout via REUTERS Business investment in Scotland could fall by up to 10.2 percent, compared with continued membership of the EU, in the event of no Brexit deal, the devolved Scottish government said in an economic impact assessment published on Monday. Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon, who campaigned hard against Brexit, said Britain remaining in the EU’s single market, if not the bloc itself, was now the best realistic option. But it would still hurt Scotland. “If Brexit is to proceed then staying in the single market is the only option that makes sense,” she told reporters. Staying in the single market as a member of the European Economic Area would mean Scotland’s economy would be 2.7 percent smaller by 2030 than it would be if Brexit did not happen at all, Sturgeon said. “None of these options are as good as staying within the EU,” she said. Scotland’s economy represents less than a tenth of Britain’s economy as a whole. Voters in Scotland voted to remain in the EU in the June 2016 Brexit referendum. But UK voters overall backed leaving. Monday’s report said the only credible outcome of the Brexit negotiations between Brussels and London due to take place this year was for Britain to be a member of the EEA. However, Prime Minister Theresa May has ruled out Britain becoming part of the EEA which would involve continued unrestricted freedom of movement of workers from the EU into Britain, something May has vowed to end. Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has also said Britain should leave the single market. But Sturgeon said she believed his position could be changed if there was enough opposition from within Labour. Reporting by Elisabeth O'Leary; Editing by William Schomberg" + }, + { + "text": "COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont said Monday during a university debate in Copenhagen he will address the media on Tuesday, declining to answer questions about the current situation in Catalan parliament. “If I say something about the news in Catalonia in relation with the decision of the parliament or the decision of the Spanish (supreme court), I think nothing of what was discussed today will appear in the media,” Puigdemont said when asked about during a debate at University of Copenhagen. Earlier Monday, Catalonia’s parliament proposed Puigdemont as its candidate for regional leader. Puigdemont arrived in Denmark on Monday on his first trip away from Belgium in three months of self-imposed exile. Reporting by Teis Jensen, writing by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Editing by Toby Chopra" + }, + { + "text": "Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts was honest with CEO Tim Cook during her job interview. “He was kind of talking to me about what the role was, and I said, ‘I just want to be really honest with you, I'm not a techie,'” Ahrendts acknowledged in an interview with ABC Radio’s No Limits with Rebecca Jarvis . But ultimately, she took the job, after realizing that her as CEO of luxury fashion retailer Burberry would serve her well in her new role. “I think there’s just lessons all along the way that you learn, and they make you stronger and better,” Ahrendts said. “And you have no idea that it was part of preparing you for what was next.” Get Data Sheet , Fortune's technology newsletter Ahrendts joined Apple in 2014 and immediately made her presence felt. In her role, she has presided over an design overhaul of many Apple Stores and continued to grow the company’s retail presence by adding stores. Ahrendts has also been instrumental in guiding Apple’s broader retail plans by redesigning stores and turning them into “town squares” where people can browse products, meet up with friends, and learn how to use Apple’s products. She has also been credited for playing an integral role in Apple’s growth. But it wasn’t on her day-to-day job at Apple that Ahrendts focused during the interview. Rather, it was on the opportunity to try something new. She specifically cited Apple’s corporate culture and values as something that attracted her. She told ABC News that Apple does “business, but it’s also business for purpose.” Ahrendts didn’t share, however, what her plans are for expanding Apple’s retail footprint." + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 1:26 PM / Updated 3 hours ago Facebook to hand privacy controls to users ahead of EU law Julia Fioretti 3 Min Read BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Facebook ( FB.O ) will make it easier for its more than 2 billion users to manage their own data in response to a tough new European Union law that comes into force in May, the social network’s Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said. “We’re rolling out a new privacy centre globally that will put the core privacy settings for Facebook in one place and make it much easier for people to manage their data,” Sandberg said at a Facebook event in Brussels on Tuesday. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the biggest overhaul of personal data privacy rules since the birth of the internet and aims to give Europeans more control over their information and how companies use it. Companies found to be in breach of the law face a maximum penalty of 4 percent of global annual turnover or 20 million euros (17.57 million pounds), whichever is greater. “Our apps have long been focused on giving people transparency and control and this gives us a very good foundation to meet all the requirements of the GDPR and to spur us on to continue investing in products and in educational tools to protect privacy,” Sandberg said. Industries collecting large amount of customer data - from technology companies to insurers and banks - will be affected. Slideshow (6 Images) Facebook’s use of customer data and tracking of people’s online activities has already come under investigation from several EU data protection authorities. CLICK TO MAKE MONEY Sandberg said Facebook had not done enough to stop the abuse of its platform and would double the number of people working on safety and security to 20,000 by the end of the year. The EU has put Internet companies on notice that it will legislate if they do not do a better job self-policing their services for extremist propaganda, hate speech and other abuses. Facebook - which has been criticised for failing to stop Russian-based operatives using its platform to meddle in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections - is focusing on disrupting the economic incentives to spread fake news, Sandberg said. Moscow denies any interference in the U.S. election. “People write these headlines to get clicks to make money,” she said. “So if we can prevent people from being part of our ad networks, prevent people from advertising and take away the financial incentive, that is one of the strongest things we can do against false news, and we are very focused on this.” Reporting by Julia Fioretti; editing by Alexander Smith" + }, + { + "text": "Treasury Secretary Mnuchin on Tax Reform, Trade and a Weaker Dollar 1/26/2018 10:07AM U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin talks with WSJ Editor-in-Chief Gerard Baker about his recent controversial comments about the benefits of a weak dollar, trade policies and tax cuts. They met at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland." + }, + { + "text": "CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Medical device firm Attune Medical has received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a new EnsoETM TM model capable of administering tube feeds and/or medication while simultaneously cooling or warming patients using the esophageal space. The newly-cleared model of EnsoETM, which manages patient temperature through the esophagus, allows for enteral fluid administration with the ENFit ® connector while managing the important task of temperature management through the patient’s core. With this new extension of the EnsoETM product line, the need for a separate feeding tube is eliminated, and clinicians can leverage the EnsoETM for comprehensive temperature management as well as gain compliance with an increasingly accepted standard of care using the ENFit connector. “Attune Medical is focused on developing innovative targeted temperature management products with increasingly useful clinical features such as this new capability to administer tube feeds and medication through our device, all while delivering a safe, cost-effective and now more comprehensive alternative to other targeted temperature management options,” commented Attune Medical’s Chief Executive Officer Keith Warner. Maria Gray, VP of Clinical Services, noted, “The new EnsoETM with EnFit connection will offer customers a seamless way to adhere to increasing worldwide standardization toward a fail-safe approach to interfacing patients with feeding and medicinal support designed to prevent tubal misconnection.” Formerly known as Advanced Cooling Therapy, Attune Medical has developed proprietary medical device technology that simplifies access to the patient’s core to efficiently control core temperature. Whether warming or cooling, the company’s technology platform optimizes, or “tunes,” patient temperature safely and effectively. Attune’s initial product, the EnsoETM (formerly Esophageal Cooling Device or ECD), is designed to modulate and control patient temperature through a single-use, fully-enclosed system that is inserted into the esophagus. Two lumens attach to an external heat exchange unit while a third, independent, lumen simultaneously allows gastric decompression, drainage, or the administration of enteral fluids such as tube feeds and medications. The EnsoETM can be rapidly placed by most trained healthcare professionals, in similar fashion to a standard gastric tube, and can be used to control patient temperature in the operating room, recovery room, emergency room, and/or intensive care unit. No other products on the market are cleared for use in the esophageal environment for whole-body temperature modulation. Attune Medical (as Advanced Cooling Therapy) received US FDA de novo clearance for the EnsoETM (Esophageal Cooling Device or ECD) in 2015 for use with the Medi-Therm III by Stryker ® . The company received FDA 510(k) clearance in 2016 for use with the Blanketrol ® II and III Hyper-Hypothermia systems made by Cincinnati Sub-Zero, a Gentherm Company, and FDA 510(k) clearance for use with the Altrix System by Stryker ® in 2017. It received its CE Mark in Europe in 2014, with an expanded indication for use up to 120 hours in 2016 and a CE Mark for use with the Altrix System by Stryker ® in 2017. It is also licensed for sale in Canada and Australia. View source version on businesswire.com : for Attune Medical Lisa Owens, 210-601-6647 [REDACTED] Source: Attune Medical" + }, + { + "text": "DUBAI (Reuters) - Dubai-based ports operator DP World and India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), a quasi sovereign wealth fund, said on Monday they had created a fund to invest up to $3 billion of equity in the transport and logistics sectors in India. The money will target acquiring assets and developing projects in sea and river ports, freight corridors, special economic zones, inland container terminals, and logistics infrastructure such as cold storage, the two organisations said. It follows NIIF in October signing a $1 billion investment deal with another United Arab Emirates-based player, a unit of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world. DP World, which operates several ports in India, said in January last year it was partnering with Canadian pension fund manager Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec to create an investment vehicle worth $3.7 billion that would invest in ports and terminals worldwide. Reporting By Tom Arnold; Editing by Saeed Azhar" + }, + { + "text": "19 PM / Updated 22 minutes ago Olympics - Top U.S. downhill contender Nyman out of Games Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - American alpine skiing downhill contender Steven Nyman will miss next month’s Winter Olympics after tearing a ligament in his right knee during a training run in Germany last week, U.S. Ski & Snowboard said on Monday. The setback, on Thursday, marked the second consecutive year Nyman has suffered a season-ending injury on the bumpy Kandahar track in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. “I was really looking forward to not only representing our country at my fourth Olympics but trying to contend for a medal,” Nyman, 35, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, a year to the day from my left knee injury, I’ve learned that I’ve completely torn the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) on my other (right) knee. ”The good news is that this injury is much more straightforward than last year, and will be much easier to come back from.” Nyman tore his anterior cruciate, medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in the injury last year. ”This injury is a huge loss to the ski racing community of America and the U.S. Ski Team,“ said U.S. coach Sasha Rearick. ”He’s the leader of our family; he’s been the leader of the downhillers for a long time.” Although he will be 36 next month, Nyman said he hoped to continue his career. “If all goes well I should be back on snow for regular summer training camps, and in full form by the start of next season,” he said. “My focus is now on next year’s World Cup season and the 2019 World Championship.” Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Ken Ferris" + }, + { + "text": "DUBLIN (Reuters) - Four of the world’s largest airlines - U.S. heavyweights Delta, American and United as well as Dubai-based Emirates - said on Monday they had no plans to start hedging their fuel bills despite recent rises in oil prices. Speaking on the same panel at the Airline Economics conference in Dublin, executives from the four carriers said in response to a query that they had no plans to alter their separate strategies of not hedging their fuel exposure. The global Brent benchmark briefly climbed above $70 per barrel earlier this month for the first time in three years. “We have not hedged since the merger and our philosophy has not changed. We are the largest purchaser of jet fuel and we think we would be bidding against ourselves. The market is quite thin beyond 12 months,” Amelia Anderson, managing director and assistant treasurer at American Airlines, said. “I don’t envision our fuel hedging practice to change in the short term,” she added. American Airlines and US Airways merged in 2013. Michael Nissyrios, vice-president of financing at Emirates, said the carrier had no plans to order narrowbody jets, contradicting recent media reports. Sister airline flydubai ordered 175 Boeing narrrowbody jets in November and the two Dubai airlines have announced plans to cooperate more closely. Ted North, managing director of corporate finance at United Airlines, told the conference United was looking at acquiring some second-hand, “mid-life” aircraft. Such a move would be unusual for the airline which tends to buy new aircraft and operate them throughout their useful lives, financing them through debt. Any mid-life - or roughly 15-year-old - jets could be acquired via leasing deals, though no decision has been taken. United does not typically take aircraft on operating leases. Reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Conor Humphries" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - While many athletes dream of competing at successive Winter Olympics, American freestyle skier McRae Williams knows that at the age of 27, next month’s Games in Pyeongchang could be his first and last shot at Olympic glory. In a sport where even teenagers can dominate, Williams’ breakout year did not come until he was 24 when he won the men’s ski slopestyle competition at the 2013 X Games in Tignes, France. Since then, he has added two podium finishes and appears to have peaked at just the right time heading into an Olympic season. The previous Winter Games in Sochi came too early in Williams’ blossoming career. But whether he is successful or not in getting to South Korea, the Utah resident says he has already achieved everything he ever dreamed of growing up by competing and winning medals at the X Games. Speaking at Team USA’s training camp in Austria, Williams did say, however, that he was determined to make the most of what may be his only opportunity of adding an Olympic medal to his collection. “I didn’t make it in 2014 so it is a big deal and I am 27 so this might be my last shot at it so I am going to give it my all,” said Williams whilst relaxing on a slack line outside the team’s hotel. He added: “At 27 I am getting nervous. I am getting older and seeing the end of my career a little bit and starting to think about what is next and I can’t imagine doing anything else. I have been doing this for so long.” Freestyle Skiing - FIS Snowboarding and Freestyle Skiing World Championships - Men's Slopestyle final - Sierra Nevada, Spain - 19/03/17 - Mcrae Williams of the US in action. REUTERS/Albert Gea Williams, who resides in Salt Lake City - the venue of the 2002 Winter Games - insists that he will be happy as long as he performs to his maximum capability. He also plans to showcase a new trick, details of which he refused to disclose. “If it is something you have been working hard at and you have a particular trick you have been working on for a slopestyle run or in Big Air or whatever, just to land that under the pressure is an achievement in itself, personally,” he said. “Obviously winning feels good too but, if you ski your best and have a good time out there then that is a win for everybody.” Pyeongchang may be the pinnacle for Williams in his career, yet even though he cast doubt on being involved in the next Games scheduled to take place in Beijing in 2022, he will not be shelving his skis anytime soon. Williams will be found with his friends, shredding powder in the Utah backcountry. “I will probably end up going back to school one of these days and doing the real life thing,” said Williams. “But I am going to live this out as long as I can.” There remain two U.S. qualifying events this month for Williams to either collect enough ranking points or impress the judges sufficiently to book his place in South Korea. Reporting by Jack Tarrant; Editing by Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - A key market gauge of long-term inflation expectations in the euro zone rose to its highest level in about eleven months on Monday, as optimism around economic growth and higher oil prices boosts expectations for a pick up in price pressures. The five-year, five-year, breakeven forward rate -- a measure closely tracked by the European Central Bank -- rose to 1.7520 percent, a level not seen since February 20. Stronger economic growth in the euro zone, a signs of a pick up in U.S. inflation and rising in oil prices have all boosted expectations for a rise in euro zone inflation in coming months, which in turn could encourage the European Central Bank to end monetary stimulus. Reporting by Fanny Potkin; Editing by Dhara Ranasinghe" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 11:21 AM / Updated 18 minutes ago Bahrain sentences 58 on terrorism charges Reuters Staff 2 Min Read DUBAI (Reuters) - A court in Bahrain on Wednesday sentenced 58 people on terrorism charges, condemning two of them to death and stripping citizenship from 47, state news agency BNA reported. The ruling is the latest in a series of scores of harsh penalties in the Western-allied Gulf kingdom for defendants accused of Iranian-backed militancy but who activists say are mostly peaceful opposition members. Alleging they were part of a terrorist cell trained in the use of heavy weapons and explosives, the court jailed 19 for life and 37 for terms up to 15 years. Two defendants were acquitted. Bahrain accuses mainly Shi‘ite Iran of stoking militancy in the kingdom, which Tehran denies. Bahrain, a strategic island where the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet is based, has a Shi‘ite Muslim majority population but is ruled by a Sunni royal family. Bahrain has seen occasional unrest since 2011 when authorities crushed protests mainly by the Shi‘ite community demanding a bigger role in running the country. A London-based Bahraini activist rights group, the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), condemned the ruling. “Today’s ruling is the latest episode in Bahrain’s travesty of justice, and likely one of the most cruel. The authorities have further proved their willingness to exploit the vulnerability of its citizens,” Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, director of advocacy at BIRD, said in a statement. Reporting By Marilyn Feghali; Editing by Peter Graff" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 1:11 PM / Updated 16 minutes ago Japan's revised smoking measures threaten smoky 2020 Olympics, critics say Reuters Staff 3 Min Read TOKYO (Reuters) - Two Japanese doctors on Wednesday raised concerns about the government’s latest effort to prevent second-hand smoking, saying it could lead to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo being held in an “extremely smoky environment”. The criticism comes a day after the government announced the thrust of planned revisions to a law on second-hand smoking, saying smoking would continue to be permitted in small bars and restaurants that put up warning signs for potential customers. The health ministry gave no specifics, but Japan’s major newspapers said it contemplated allowing smoking in establishments with floor space of 150 square meters (1,615 square feet) or less. That would be far more accommodating to smokers than the ministry’s plan of last March that limited smoking to bars and other liquor-serving spots with a floor space of 30 square m. (323 sq feet) or less. “If establishments with a floor space of 150 square meters or less are exempt from the smoking ban, about 90 percent of bars will escape the restrictions,” said Yumiko Mochizuki, a doctor and member of the Japan Cancer Society. “If things stay this way, the Olympic Games in 2020 will be held in an extremely smoky environment.” Health ministry officials were not immediately available for comment. Japan ranks at the bottom globally in anti-smoking measures, going by the types of public spaces that are entirely smoke-free, says the World Health Organization, which has teamed with global Olympics officials to ensure smoke-free Games venues. Ahead of the 2020 Olympics, the International Olympics Committee (IOC) is among those pressuring the Japanese capital to follow Rio de Janeiro and other recent games hosts in banning smoking in all public areas. Asked how smoking restrictions at the 2020 Olympics would compare with previous Olympics, Toshiharu Furukawa, a ruling party lawmaker who is a medical doctor, said, “It would look considerably less favorable.” In contrast, Tomoyuki Utsuno, an official of an industry grouping of about 10,000 small bar and restaurant operators in Tokyo, welcomed the latest development. “This is one step forward,” Utsuno said. “Our activities, such as collecting signatures, are bearing fruit,” he added, referring to those who oppose tough measures against smoking. Reporting by Ami Miyazaki and Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Clarence Fernandez" + }, + { + "text": "Two new dog breeds join American Kennel Club Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - 01:38 A Dutch Spaniel-like dog and a French hunting hound join the purebred registry of the American Kennel Club. Elly Park reports. A Dutch Spaniel-like dog and a French hunting hound join the purebred registry of the American Kennel Club. Elly Park reports. //reut.rs/2APYu9W" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 10:19 PM / Updated 12 minutes ago Olympics - U.S. still eye ice hockey gold without NHLers Frank Pingue 3 Min Read (Reuters) - The U.S. men’s ice hockey team competing at next month’s Winter Olympics will feature a new mix of players given the absence of NHL players but the group’s expectations remain exactly the same. After five Winter Games featuring National Hockey League players, the North American league announced last year that it would not participate in the Feb. 9-25 Pyeongchang Olympics. As a result, the United States will be pinning their gold medal hopes on a group that includes former NHLers along with players from Europe, college and the U.S. minor leagues. “We put ourselves in a good spot with our roster,” U.S. head coach Tony Granato said during a conference call on Thursday to announce goaltenders David Leggio and Brandon Maxwell as the final two members of the 25-player roster. “We are expecting ourselves to play well and compete for a medal,” he added. “And like any other U.S. team that plays in any tournament in today’s age we expect to compete for a gold medal.” The U.S. carried similar lofty goals into the 2014 Sochi Olympics with the firm belief they were on the same level as the other world hockey powers like Canada and Sweden. But in Russia the American team disappointed, losing 5-0 to Finland in the bronze medal game, and went home empty-handed after winning silver at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The team competing next month, when they hope to end a 38-year American gold drought, is being billed as a fast, puck-moving and tenacious team. Leading them will be 38-year-old captain Brian Gionta, who won a Stanley Cup in 2003 with the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and has represented the United States in international competition on six previous occasions. “We have a great coaching staff, great support staff that’s going to take care of us over there and we have a great bunch of guys who are extra motivated and guys that are realizing their dreams come true,” Gionta said. “I love the hunger of our team. I like our team makeup and I am really looking forward to go over there with this bunch of guys.” Team USA will begin play in the Olympic Games on Feb. 14 against Slovenia in preliminary-round action. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "Lufthansa urges Alitalia to slim down ahead of deal 2:47am EST - 01:08 Lufthansa's plan to buy Alitalia hit a stumbling block as the German carrier calls for major cuts before it moves forward. Silvia Antonioli reports. Lufthansa's plan to buy Alitalia hit a stumbling block as the German carrier calls for major cuts before it moves forward. Silvia Antonioli reports. //reut.rs/2ASjCMT" + }, + { + "text": "JPMorgan, Wells Fargo beat Wall Street 01:49 JPMorgan Chase topped Wall Street's fourth-quarter earnings expectations after charges related to new tax code, while Wells Fargo also beat, but fell short on revenue. Aleksandra Michalska reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript JPMorgan Chase topped Wall Street's fourth-quarter earnings expectations after charges related to new tax code, while Wells Fargo also beat, but fell short on revenue. Aleksandra Michalska reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 11:28 AM / in 34 minutes UPDATE 1-Sri Lanka central bank sees recovery in 2018, cautious on easing Reuters Staff (Adds details, quotes) By Shihar Aneez and Ranga Sirilal COLOMBO, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka’s economic growth in 2018 is forecast at between 5-5.5 percent, bouncing back from an anticipated four-year low of less than 4 percent last year, central bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy said on Wednesday. The turnaround was expected in the wake of a stronger global economy, but the governor’s deputy said the central bank would be cautious easing monetary policy, though official interest rates stand at four-year highs. Tight fiscal and monetary policies along with periods of both drought and floods contributed to last year’s slower growth. “Economic growth is expected to pick up to between 5-5.5 percent. The economy is stabilising and on the right path but growth is still a challenge,” Coomaraswamy told the heads of banks, financial institutions, stockbrokerages and state-owned firms at an event to unveil economic policies for 2018. The central bank has kept policy interest rates unchanged since the last rise in March 2017, having embarked on a tightening cycle in December 2015. During that time the central bank had raised rates three times and increased commercial banks’ statutory reserve ratio (SRR) once to prevent sharp fall in the rupee and curb demand-driven inflation. Private sector credit growth has slowed to a near three-year low of 15.4 percent year-on-year in November from a four-year high of 28.5 percent hit in May 2016. Coomaraswamy said the central bank expect to maintain 15 percent credit growth this year and the decision to ease monetary policy in future would be “data-driven”. Consumer inflation was up 7.1 percent in December from a year earlier, slowing from a record high of 7.8 percent hit in October. The central bank is targeting inflation between 4-6 percent this year. Deputy Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said the central bank will be cautious before easing the monetary policy. “We don’t necessarily need to loosen the monetary policy achieve a growth which is below the potential,” he told reporters after the policy announcement. “Our forecast is right now 5-5.5 percent growth. If that is not going to realised, then obviously we have to take measures in future. If this trend of declining inflation and growth being below potential continue, I don’t see any reason why we should tighten monetary policy.” (Reporting by Shihar Aneez and Ranga Sirilal; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 2:50 PM / Updated 7 hours ago Empty British seats in EU parliament go up for grabs post-Brexit Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European parliament on Tuesday began divvying-up British seats that will be left empty post-Brexit from 2019 with Spain, France, Italy and the Netherlands scooping up most initially. Out of the 73 seats now held by Britain, 27 will be allocated to existing EU states, the parliament’s institutional affairs committee said, as it drew up the make-up of the legislature in the five years from 2019 when Britain quits. The remaining 46 British seats would stay empty for now and be filled later by EU newcomers - in all likelihood from the six Western Balkan countries now knocking on the EU’s door - or from “pan-European lists” in which citizens of one EU country can vote for a candidate from another member state. Spain and France will each get five seats from the vacated British pool, while the Netherlands and Italy will each add three more, in Tuesday’s decision. Some other EU members, including Denmark, Poland, Croatia and Austria, will each get one new seat on their national lists. Britain will leave the EU in March, 2019, and the remaining 27 countries in the bloc will vote in European Parliament elections two months later. The 27 are now getting ready for negotiations with London on a two-year transition period after Brexit, before launching talks in spring on a new deal from 2021. Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Richard Balmforth" + }, + { + "text": "ATLANTA, Jan. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Boys & Girls Clubs of America has appointed Sonia Syngal, President and CEO of Old Navy, to the organization's esteemed Board of Governors. The board offers strategic leadership for the organization, guiding the work of more than 4,300 Clubs and Boys & Girls Clubs of America-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. Each year Clubs impact 4 million kids and teens. A leader in youth development, Boys & Girls Clubs of America's vision calls for all Club members to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and leading a healthy lifestyle. To achieve this vision, Boys & Girls Clubs work to inspire success through life-changing programs and opportunities to ensure great futures for kids. \"We are very happy to add Sonia to the list of influential leaders on our board,\" said Jim Clark, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. \"Old Navy has been a valued partner for us for many years, championing great futures for all kids and teens. We look forward to Sonia's leadership and engagement as we work together to create a brighter tomorrow for America's kids.\" Syngal joins a board comprising many other prominent leaders from the business, civic, academic and entertainment fields, including: Thomas J. Falk, Chairman/CEO, Kimberly-Clark; Ronald L. Sargent, Chairman/CEO, Staples; Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, President, Charles Schwab Foundation; Jeff Fettig, Chairman and CEO Whirlpool; Rick Goings, Chairman/CEO, Tupperware Brands Corporation; Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State and Senior Fellow, Stanford University; and Denzel Washington, Oscar-winning actor and BGCA national spokesperson. Sonia Syngal Sonia Syngal is President and CEO of Old Navy leading the $7 billion business across all geographies and channels with a team of 56,000 employees. A design driven, innovative leader, Sonia has delivered growth and unlocked revenue potential across multiple functions and industries. In her 12 years with Gap Inc. Sonia has held leadership roles across Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta and Intermix, most recently leading the company's global supply chain and product to market model, and before that as Managing Director of Europe. Prior to Gap Inc., Sonia had a successful career in Fortune 500 product companies, including 10 years at Sun Microsystems and six years at Ford Motor Co. Sonia holds a Master's degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University. She serves on the Gap Foundation Board of Trustees. About Boys & Girls Clubs of America For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America ( bgca.org ) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, 4,300 Clubs serve 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at and . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America" + }, + { + "text": "One deputy killed, gunman dead in Colorado shooting 01:14 A gunman opened fire on sheriff's deputies responding to a disturbance near Denver on Sunday, killing one of the officers before the suspect was fatally shot. Colette Luke has more. A gunman opened fire on sheriff's deputies responding to a disturbance near Denver on Sunday, killing one of the officers before the suspect was fatally shot. Colette Luke has more. //reut.rs/2Ch1xh7" + }, + { + "text": "January 20, 2018 / 5:36 PM / Updated 27 minutes ago British singer Ed Sheeran gets engaged to school friend Cherry Seaborn Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - British singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran said on Saturday he is engaged to long-time friend Cherry Seaborn, whom he first met at school at the age of 11. “Got myself a fiancé just before new year,” he wrote on an Instagram photo of him and Seaborn. “We are very happy and in love, and our cats are chuffed as well xx.” Sheeran, 26, and accountant Seaborn, 25, were pupils at the same school in Suffolk, eastern England and began dating in 2015. The ginger-haired Grammy winner has enjoyed a string of hits since his debut album + (Plus) topped the UK charts in 2011 and reached No. 5 in the United States. His single “Shape of You” was 2017’s biggest selling single in the UK, according to the Official Charts Company, and “Perfect”, featuring Beyonce, was Britain’s Christmas No. 1 last year. Seaborn, a keen field-hockey player, studied at Duke University in North Carolina and later worked in the Wall Street financial district of New York before transferring back to England. A date for the wedding has yet to be announced. Reporting by Stephen Addison; editing by Alexander Smith" + }, + { + "text": "UK gift Macron $62 mln, but it doesn't buy Brexit love Friday, January 19, 2018 - 02:02 British Prime Minister Theresa May is offering France $62 million to bolster their border controls. But as French President Emmanuel Macron made his first state visit to the UK, this and other gifts may mean brushing awkward Brexit points under the carpet. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript British Prime Minister Theresa May is offering France $62 million to bolster their border controls. But as French President Emmanuel Macron made his first state visit to the UK, this and other gifts may mean brushing awkward Brexit points under the carpet. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Wix.com Ltd. (Nasdaq: WIX ), a leading cloud-based web development platform for small businesses to operate online, today announced that it will report its results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2017 before the market opens on Wednesday, February 14, 2018. Management will host a conference call and webcast that morning at 8:30 a.m. ET to answer questions about the Company's financial results. Prior to the conference call and webcast, Wix will issue a press release reporting these results along with a shareholder update and additional materials at . What: Wix.com Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Results Conference Call When: Wednesday, February 14, 2018 Time: 8:30 a.m. ET Live Call: US/Canada Toll-Free: 866-393-4306 International: 734-385-2616 Israel Toll-Free: 809-315-362 Conference ID: 4482927 Replay: US/Canada Toll-Free: 855-859-2056 International: 404-537-3406 Conference ID: 4482927 (Available approximately two hours after the completion of the live call until 11:59 p.m. ET on February 21, 2018) Webcast: About Wix.com Ltd. Wix is leading the way with cloud-based development platform for over 120 million registered users worldwide. Wix was founded on the belief that the Internet should be accessible to everyone to develop, create and contribute. Through free and premium subscriptions, Wix empowers millions of businesses, organizations, artists, and individuals to take their businesses, brands and workflow online. The Wix Editor, Wix ADI, a highly curated App Market, and Wix Code enable users to build and manage a fully integrated and dynamic digital presence. Wix's headquarters are in Tel Aviv with offices in Be'er Sheva, Berlin, Dnipro, Kiev, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, São Paulo and Vilnius. Investor Relations: Maggie O'Donnell [REDACTED] 415-223-2624 Media Relations: Vivian Hernandez [REDACTED] 415-517-6539 View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Wix.com Ltd." + }, + { + "text": "LAUSANNE, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Talks began at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters on Saturday to finalise details on North Korea’s participation at the Winter Olympics in the neighbouring South next month. North Korea’s possible involvement in Pyeongchang is seen by some as a sign of easing tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programme. The IOC said that Saturday’s meeting, which includes Olympic officials from both countries, would take a series of “essential decisions” on the North’s participation at the Games that open on Feb. 9. These would include the number and names of athletes and officials from the North Korean Olympic Committee, as deadlines had already passed, the IOC added. The IOC will also be tasked with deciding on questions of protocol, including flags, ceremonies and uniform. Currently, a figure skating pair are the only North Koreans to have secured a spot at the Games, although several other athletes could qualify through special places offered by the Olympic body. “The Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018 have opened the door for peaceful dialogue on the Korean peninsula. Our meeting today shows that Olympic sport always builds bridges,” IOC President Thomas Bach told reporters before the meeting. The IOC said that Bach would make a further statement following Saturday’s meeting. (Writing by Brian Homewood; Editing by John O‘Brien)" + }, + { + "text": "PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: Publicis Groupe (Paris:PUB): Publicis Groupe will release its Q4 Revenue & Full Year 2017 Results on Thursday, February 8, 2018 before the Paris stock market opens. Conference Call & Audio Webcast Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 10:00am (Paris time - CET) Arthur Sadoun Chairman & CEO Jean-Michel Etienne Executive Vice President & Group CFO Details will be communicated shortly. View source version on businesswire.com : PUBLICIS GROUPE Source: Publicis Groupe" + }, + { + "text": "47 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago MOVES-Stifel hires Greg Greenberg from Wells Fargo Advisors Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 19 (Reuters) - Stifel Financial Corp said Greg Greenberg has joined its broker-dealer unit, Stifel, Nicolaus & Co Inc’s private client group in Overland Park, Kansas. Greenberg joined from Wells Fargo Advisors. (Reporting by Arunima Banerjee in Bengaluru)" + }, + { + "text": "The longest winning streak by any team in the National Hockey League this season just got a little longer. Blake Comeau scored the game-winning goal with 7:43 remaining to help the Colorado Avalanche win their 10th consecutive game with a 4-2 triumph over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre on Monday. The Avalanche (27-16-3) also won their seventh straight game in regulation. They now have 57 points on the year and sit just two points behind St. Louis for third place in the Central Division. Colorado has three games in hand over St. Louis and two games in hand over Dallas, which is one point ahead of Colorado for fourth place. With the game tied 2-2, Comeau redirected a shot from Carl Soderberg past Toronto goalie Frederik Andersen to give the Avalanche a 3-2 lead. Gabriel Landeskog added an insurance empty-net goal with 54 seconds remaining for Colorado, which opened up a six-game road trip. The Avalanche will play at Montreal on Tuesday. Colorado opened the scoring 2:19 into the game on a goal by Gabriel Bourque, who banged home a rebound off of a shot by Tyson Jost. The Maple Leafs then scored twice in the second to take a 2-1 lead. The first goal came from Patrick Marleau just 19 seconds in the second period and the second came from Auston Matthews with 10:43 remaining in the period. Jonathan Bernier made 29 saves in goal for Colorado. Andersen made 23 saves for Toronto (26-18-5), which stayed at 57 points and still is in good shape for a playoff spot with the All-Star break looming. The Maple Leafs are 12 points ahead of Detroit for the third and final playoff spot out of the Atlantic Division. Toronto will now hit the road for its final two games before the All-Star break at Chicago on Wednesday and at Dallas on Thursday. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "21 AM / in 9 minutes Trump administration will allow states to test Medicaid work requirements Yasmeen Abutaleb 3 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration said on Thursday it would allow states to test requiring some Medicaid recipients to work or participate in community activities such as volunteering or jobs training as a condition of eligibility for the government health insurance program for the poor. U.S. President Donald Trump attends the Women in Healthcare panel hosted by Seema Verma (R), Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 22, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued guidance making it easier for states to design and propose test programs that implement such requirements. States must propose such changes through waivers and receive federal approval. Seema Verma, the agency’s administrator, said the policy guidance came in response to requests from at least 10 states that have proposed requiring some Medicaid recipients to work or participate in activities that may include skills training, education, job search, volunteering or caregiving. Those states include Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, Arizona, Indiana and Utah. Certain Medicaid populations would be exempt from the rules, including those with disabilities, the elderly, children and pregnant women. Verma also said states would have to make “reasonable modifications” for those battling opioid addiction and other substance use disorders. “This gives us a pathway to start approving waivers,” Verma said on a call with reporters on Wednesday. “This is about helping those individuals rise out of poverty.” Under the 2010 Affordable Care Act, former Democratic President Barack Obama’s signature domestic policy achievement commonly known as Obamacare, 31 states expanded Medicaid to those making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, adding millions of people to the rolls. Republicans have repeatedly failed to repeal and replace Obamacare, a top campaign promise of President Donald Trump. Instead, the Trump administration has sought to weaken the program through executive orders and administrative rules. The Obama administration opposed state efforts to implement work requirements in Medicaid because it could result in fewer people having access to health insurance. For instance, Kentucky last year proposed work requirements for able-bodied adults to get insurance and establishing new fees for all members based on income. A study found the proposal would reduce the number of residents on Medicaid by nearly 86,000 within five years, saving more than $330 million. Republicans argue that Medicaid was created to serve the most vulnerable and has become bloated under Obamacare. Verma and other Republicans said implementing work and community engagement requirements could help improve health outcomes by connecting people with jobs and training. Reporting by Yasmeen Abutaleb; Editing by Peter Cooney" + }, + { + "text": "Santa Monica, Calif.-based Tommy Kendall, 51, a retired champion auto racer in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and a current television broadcaster, on his 1973 “El Gallo” Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight, as told to A.J. Baime. I am fortunate enough to own some rare and expensive race cars, but I would sell any of them before I sold my rooster car. I... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 22 (Reuters) - Photoshop maker Adobe Systems Inc on Monday lifted its forecast for yearly earnings per share, helped by new U.S. tax laws, saying it expects its effective tax rate to decline “substantially.” Adobe said it expects earnings of $6.20 per share for fiscal year 2018, up from a previous forecast of $5.50. Shares of the company rose more than 5 percent to $208.02 in after-hours trading. (Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru; editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar)" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 10:55 AM / Updated an hour ago Champion Mertens reaches Hobart final with Watson win Reuters Staff 2 Min Read HOBART (Reuters) - Defending champion Elise Mertens of Belgium reached the Hobart International final with a 6-4 1-6 6-2 win over British qualifier Heather Watson on Friday. Aug 29, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Elise Mertens of Belgium hits a forehand against Madison Keys of the United States (not pictured) on day two of the U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports The second-seeded Mertens recovered from a second-set lapse to edge out Watson, who won the tournament in 2015, in one hour and 42 minutes. The 22-year-old world number 36 will play Mihaela Buzarnescu in Saturday’s final after the Romanian sailed past fifth-seeded Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko 6-2 6-2 in the second semi-final. “She made the same run (from qualifying) as I did last year, but I‘m happy to win today,” Mertens said in an on-court interview. ”I gave it all today, and I‘m still playing doubles later. “I tried to play a bit more aggressive in the third set and make her run a little bit more. She was dictating me in the second set, all credits to her. She played an amazing match.” After a tight opener which was decided by a single break of serve, Watson, ranked 74th in the world, fought back to square the match but her hopes of winning a fourth WTA title were dashed due to unforced errors. “(It is) just frustrating. Thought I made too many unforced errors,” Watson said. “Because I’d been playing so well, I expected more of myself.” Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 6:53 PM / Updated 10 minutes ago CIBC eyes FirstCaribbean valuation around $1.4 bln -sources Matt Scuffham , John Tilak 2 Min Read TORONTO, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is targeting a valuation of 10 times earnings for the potential listing of its FirstCaribbean business in New York, which would give it a market value of around $1.4 billion, five sources familiar with the matter told Reuters over the past week. That would represent a 30 percent discount to FirstCaribbean’s current market capitalization, based on the value of its thinly traded shares on the Barbados Stock Exchange. Reuters reported in December that CIBC, which holds a 91.5 percent stake in FirstCaribbean, was considering listing 20 percent of the business early in 2018, and, subsequently, selling more shares. While CIBC is pushing ahead with the listing plan, it could still decide not to proceed if it fails to achieve its targeted valuation, the sources said. The listing is expected to take place in the first half of 2018 and possibly as early as the first quarter, one of the sources said. CIBC is working with Barclays and UBS to advise it on the potential listing, three of the sources said. CIBC declined to comment on Thursday. Sources declined to be identified as the information is not public. The bank said in December it was considering a listing of FirstCaribbean in the United States but had yet to make a decision. (Reporting by Matt Scuffham and John Tilak; Editing by Denny Thomas and David Gregorio)" + }, + { + "text": "TORONTO and TAMPA, FL, Jan. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Cott Corporation (NYSE:COT; TSX:BCB) (\" Cott \" or the \" Company \") announced today that the Company will release its fourth quarter ended December 30, 2017 and fiscal year 2017 financial results before the markets open on Thursday, March 1, 2018. Cott will host a conference call, to be simultaneously webcast, on Thursday, March 1, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. A question and answer session will follow management's presentation. To participate, please call the following numbers: Fourth Quarter/Fiscal Year 2017 Earnings Conference Call North America: (888) 231-8191 United Kingdom: 0 (800) 051-7107 International: (647) 427-7450 Conference ID: 4588988 This is a live, listen-only dial-in telephone line. Webcast A live audio webcast will be available through the Company's website at . The webcast will be recorded and archived for playback on the investor relations section of the website for two weeks following the event. About Cott Corporation Cott is a route based service company with a leading volume-based national presence in the North America and European home and office bottled water delivery industry and a leader in custom coffee roasting, blending of iced tea, and extract solutions for the U.S. foodservice industry. Our platform reaches over 2.3 million customers or delivery points across North America and Europe supported by strategically located sales and distribution facilities and fleets, as well as wholesalers and distributors. This enables us to efficiently service residences, businesses, restaurant chains, hotels and motels, small and large retailers, and healthcare facilities. Website: www.cott.com SOURCE Cott Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "26 PM / Updated 12 minutes ago Davos organizer still counting on Trump to attend Reuters Staff 2 Min Read DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - The World Economic Forum (WEF) still expects U.S. President Donald Trump to attend its annual meeting in the Swiss Alps this week, the forum’s chairman Klaus Schwab said on Sunday. Schwab made the comments in an interview with Reuters a day after White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said the trip was up in the air because of the federal government shutdown in the United States. Trump is due to speak at the gathering of politicians, business chiefs and bankers on Friday, the final day of the four-day event. Asked if he had any indication that Trump’s trip was in flux, Schwab said: “No, we haven‘t. Until now we hope that the trip will be maintained ... we’ll see what the final outcome is.” Slideshow (2 Images) Heavy snow in the Alps has made travel difficult in many regions given the heightened danger of avalanches. The main road leading to Davos was covered with snow. The town’s website for avalanche information advised people in nearly 30 residences to seek more secure dwellings for Sunday evening. Schwab said he wasn’t worried that weather would prevent attendees from coming to the event, which officially starts on Tuesday. “No, I‘m happy because it provides Davos with what it should be -- the aspect of a global village, but a village where you know nature plays still a very important role and, in our discussion, the whole environmental issue will also be at the forefront of what we do here,” he said. Reporting by Alex Threlfall; Writing by Michael Shields; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—Rep. Gregg Harper, a Mississippi Republican and chairman of the House Administration Committee, will retire at the end of the year and won’t seek a sixth term. He is the 27th House Republican to announce his retirement during this Congress. Mr. Harper, 61, cited a desire to leave Congress to be with his family, including an adult son who has special needs and his daughter who is expecting her first child. “We... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Fifteen people hospitalized in Sydney train crash 3:51am EST - 01:00 An accident happened as a train travelling through Sydney crashed into a barrier in the northwest of the city. Rough cut (no reporter narration) An accident happened as a train travelling through Sydney crashed into a barrier in the northwest of the city. Rough cut (no reporter narration) //reut.rs/2DuBJyz" + }, + { + "text": "A Florida-based ambulance company and a related business have agreed to pay almost $5.5 million to resolve government claims that they billed Medicare for medically unnecessary transportation services. The settlement with AmeriCare Ambulance Service Inc and its sister company, AmeriCare ALS Inc, was announced on Tuesday by U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez in Tampa, whose office intervened in a whistleblower case by a former employee. To read the full story on WestlawNext Practitioner Insights, click here: bit.ly/2EpYDEQ" + }, + { + "text": "AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- National Instruments (Nasdaq: NATI) today announced participation in the following upcoming events with the financial community. National Instruments Q4 2017 Earnings Call January 30, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. CT A live webcast will be available at 20 th Annual Needham Growth Conference January 17, 2018 New York, NY A live webcast will be available at For general investor-related information about National Instruments, please visit ni.com/nati . About NI NI ( ni.com ) empowers engineers and scientists with a software-centric platform that incorporates modular hardware and an expansive ecosystem. This proven approach puts users firmly in control of defining what they need to accelerate their system design within test, measurement and control. NI’s solution helps build high-performance systems that exceed requirements, quickly adapt to change and ultimately improve the world. (NATI-F) National Instruments, NI, and ni.com are trademarks of National Instruments. Other product and company names listed are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies View source version on businesswire.com : National Instruments Amanda Roberson, 512-683-8092 Sr. Investor Relations Analyst [REDACTED] Source: National Instruments" + }, + { + "text": "Stock exchange collapse leaves scores injured 1:53pm GMT - 00:59 At least 77 people have been injured after the lobby floor at the Indonesian stock exchange collapsed. Francis Maguire reports At least 77 people have been injured after the lobby floor at the Indonesian stock exchange collapsed. Francis Maguire reports //reut.rs/2DbXx1Y" + }, + { + "text": "Alabama ecstacy; fans celebrate dramatic win over Georgia 8:01am EST - 01:00 University of Alabama fans erupt with joy when their team beats University of Georgia in dramatic fashion to clinch the College Football Playoff National Championship. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript University of Alabama fans erupt with joy when their team beats University of Georgia in dramatic fashion to clinch the College Football Playoff National Championship. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 20, 2018 / 10:43 AM / Updated 13 minutes ago Tennis-Berdych overpowers Del Potro to reach fourth round Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MELBOURNE, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Not many players overpower Juan Martin del Potro but Tomas Berdych did just that to win 6-3 6-3 6-2 and reach the fourth round of the Australian Open for the 10th time on Saturday. Del Potro arrived in Melbourne with high hopes having re-entered the world’s top 10 for the first time since 2014 but was no match for the 19th-seeded Czech. “Maybe it’s the good air here,” Berdych said on Hisense Arena to explain his consistency in the year’s first slam. Berdych struck 52 winners on his way to setting up a clash with Italian Fabio Fognini. “I think he was just better than me today,” del Potro, who had led 5-3 in their previous meetings, told reporters. “He hit very hard, he served very well and played a smart game. He deserved to win. No excuses today.” (Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Nick Mulvenney)" + }, + { + "text": "SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Marijuana-related stocks plummeted, cannabis boosters worried about the industry's future and defiant growers and sellers vowed to keep operating after U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions signaled a tougher approach Thursday to federal pot enforcement. The plunging stock prices reversed a weekslong rally driven by optimism for legal recreational sales that started Monday in California. Several marijuana stocks saw double-digit losses in the hours after Sessions' announcement, including the largest pot-producing company that is publicly traded. Canopy Growth, a Canada-based company with the ticker symbol WEED, lost $3.58 a share, or 10 percent, to close at $32.32 on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Shares of garden-supply company Scotts Miracle-Gro also skidded Thursday, following a steady rise last year after it added fertilizer, lights and other products to serve marijuana growers. The company's share price fell by as much as 7 percent before closing down 2.3 percent, or $2.49, to $106.17 on the New York Stock Exchange. \"Jeff Sessions' decision to rescind the Cole memoranda puts the marijuana industry and marijuana legalization efforts in a precarious position,\" said Aaron Herzberg, a California lawyer and founder of the cannabis investment company CalCann Holding, referring to an Obama-era memo that limited U.S. crackdowns on pot in states where it's legal. Brent Kenyon, a consultant who helps advise and establish recreational marijuana businesses in Oregon, said his phone had been ringing all Thursday with calls from worried clients. Investors, including some who are involved in his businesses, are spooked, he said. \"I'm just telling people to hold off. We need more information, we need to see what the president is going to say about this,\" he said by phone from a cannabis conference in Hawaii. Andy Williams, CEO of the Medicine Man Denver dispensary, is taking a wait-and-see approach to the new policy but pointed out the economic impact of legal pot. \"This industry around the United States has attracted a lot of investment. Billions of dollars in investment,\" he said. \"Just talking about what Sessions wants to do today has dropped the market.\" Steve DeAngelo, owner of California's largest marijuana retailer, said it will be \"business as usual\" at his Harborside dispensary in Oakland. \"I think the main impact of this is really going to be on investors, more than anything else,\" he said. \"Some investors might get a bit nervous about putting more money into the cannabis industry until the situation resolves itself.\" Another of California's largest marijuana operators said it also plans no changes in response to Sessions' announcement. \"For this industry and for this community, we are really based on resilience, going against the tide. This is no different,\" said Michael Steinmetz, CEO of Flow Kana, which distributes cannabis products from small, outdoor farmers. \"From my perspective, things don't change.\" Associated Press writers Terence Chea in Oakland, Gillian Flaccus in Portland, Oregon, and P. Solomon Banda in Denver contributed to this report." + }, + { + "text": "By Don Reisinger January 5, 2018 If you purchased an HP laptop recently, it could be subject to a flaw that could cause its battery to overheat and catch fire. HP said on Thursday that it’s commencing a battery recall for the company’s notebooks and mobile workstations, including the HP Probook 64x, HP x360 310 G2, HP Envy m6, and others. The affected laptops were sold worldwide between December 2015 and December 2017. Affected batteries were also sold as accessories during the period. According to HP, the batteries in question “have the potential to overheat” after use. In some cases, that overheating could cause the batteries to become unstable and catch fire. HP also warned that the batteries could be a “burn hazard to customers.” Get Data Sheet , Fortune’s technology newsletter The PC maker didn’t say in a support page posted to its website how many units are affected in the recall. However, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said in its own statement that “ about 50,o00 ” units sold in the U.S. are at risk. Nearly 3,000 more units sold in Canada could also be a problem. According to the CPSC, it has identified eight cases of the batteries “overheating, melting, or charring.” One person suffered a first-degree burn from the battery and three others had property damage totaling $4,500. HP has created a support page where its laptop owners can see whether their units are at risk of overheating. If owners discover they’re subject to the recall, HP will send them a free battery replacement and help them get it safely swapped out. “HP’s primary concern is for the safety of our customers,” the company wrote on its support page. “HP is proactively notifying customers, and will provide replacement battery services for each verified, eligible battery, at no cost.” SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "Amazon Echo owners are Amazon's most loyal and frequent shoppers, according to a new report by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP). The report says Amazon Echo owners spend on average of $1,700 a year on Amazon, more than the $1,300 Amazon Prime members are estimated to be spending a year on the e-commerce site. That's 66 percent more than the average spend by all Amazon customers, the report said. \"We've long thought that Amazon is keenly focused on building increasingly loyal and frequent shopping customers, and Echo seems to promote that goal,\" CIRP's cofounder Josh Lowitz said in the report. The results, based on a survey of 2,000 US shoppers in the 12-month period ended September 2017, partly explains why Amazon is so focused on expanding its Echo user base. The e-commerce giant has been offering steep discounts for its Echo devices and has come up with an array of product options targeting different needs, including an Echo device with a screen. Amazon has never disclosed the exact sales figure for the Echo devices. This week, the company announced that it sold \"millions\" of Amazon devices, and that the Echo Dot device was the best selling product among Prime members. During the holidays, Amazon dropped the price of the Echo Dot to as little as $29. \"Based on the spending patterns of Echo owners, Amazon can certainly subsidize sales its Echo devices,\" Lowitz said in the report." + }, + { + "text": "UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday the Iran nuclear deal cannot survive if the United States pulls out of the agreement. U.S. President Donald Trump said a week ago that European allies and Congress have to work with him to fix “the disastrous flaws” in the nuclear pact or face a U.S. exit. Trump wants it strengthened with a separate agreement within 120 days. “This agreement cannot be implemented if one of the participants unilaterally steps out of it. It will fall apart, there will be no deal then,” Lavrov told reporters at the United Nations in New York. Lavrov said he believed the United States was “going to try to convince the European states to take the same position that Washington has taken.” Most U.N. and Western sanctions on Iran were lifted two years ago under the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and key world powers, which is enshrined in a United Nations Security Council resolution. “It cannot keep alive in a re-negotiated form, especially regarding the demands by the United States. It would not be acceptable for Iran and it is clear now, I believe, that the Europeans do understand this danger right now,” Lavrov said. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said the deal was not renegotiable. Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by James Dalgleish" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Japan’s Nikkei share average edged up on Friday morning, with exporters supported by both the dollar regaining strength and a rise in U.S. stocks overnight, while Fujitsu soared after revealing talks to sell its mobile phone business. The Nikkei gained 0.1 percent to 23,700.32 in midmorning trade. For the week, the Nikkei has fallen 0.4 percent. The dollar rose 0.2 percent to 109.71 yen, having bounced from a four-month low of 108.50 yen struck on Thursday. Fujitsu Ltd surged more than 2 percent after it said on Friday it was in talks about selling its mobile phone business to investment fund Polaris Capital Group, a deal that local media reported could fetch up to around 50 billion yen ($456 million). Drugmakers gained ground, with Takeda Pharmaceutical rising 1.5 percent and Eisai Co advancing 0.5 percent. However, exporters were mixed, with Nissan Motor rising 1.3 percent, Subaru Corp adding 0.7 percent, Olympus Corp advancing 1.5 percent, but Advantest Corp fell 3.4 percent. The broader Topix added 0.1 percent to 1,886.85. (Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)" + }, + { + "text": "A California-based environmental group has sued Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel Corp, accusing it of violating the federal Clean Water Act by releasing toxic chromium into Lake Michigan. Filed on Wednesday in federal court in Hammond, Indiana, the lawsuit by the Surfrider Foundation seeks civil penalties and an order barring future illegal discharges by the steel company. To read the full story on Westlaw Practitioner Insights, click here: bit.ly/2rp0bfs" + }, + { + "text": "Intel on Thursday said that recently-issued patches for flaws in its chips could cause computers using its older Broadwell and Haswell processors to reboot more often than normal and that Intel may need to issue updates to fix the buggy patches. In a statement on Intel's website, Navin Shenoy, general manager of the company's data center group, said Intel had received reports about the issue and was working directly with data center customers to \"discuss\" the issue. \"We are working quickly with these customers to understand, diagnose and address this reboot issue,\" Shenoy said in the statement. \"If this requires a revised firmware update from Intel, we will distribute that update through the normal channels.\" Earlier on Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Intel was asking some of its cloud computing customers to hold off installing patches that address new security flaws that affect nearly all of its processors because the patches have bugs of their own. Intel has identified three issues in updates released over the past week for \"microcode,\" or firmware, the newspaper reported, citing a confidential document the company had shared with some customers that it had reviewed. The world's largest chipmaker confirmed last week that the security issues reported by researchers in the company's widely used microprocessors could allow hackers to steal sensitive information from computers, phones and other electronic devices." + }, + { + "text": "BoJ in uneasy spot as Japanese inflation lags 01:40 Japan's inflation in December continued to lag a strong economic revival, leaving the central bank in a dilemma on how to turn off crisis-era stimulus policies that even some of its own board members warn will start to hurt more than help if retained for too long. David Pollard reports. Japan's inflation in December continued to lag a strong economic revival, leaving the central bank in a dilemma on how to turn off crisis-era stimulus policies that even some of its own board members warn will start to hurt more than help if retained for too long. David Pollard reports. //reut.rs/2niyKyD" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he ultimately wants the dollar to be strong, contradicting comments made by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin one day earlier. “The dollar is going to get stronger and stronger and ultimately I want to see a strong dollar,” Trump said in an interview with CNBC, adding that Mnuchin’s comments had been misinterpreted. Related Coverage Greenback recovers ground after Trump says he wants 'strong dollar' Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Mohammad Zargham" + }, + { + "text": "VANCOUVER, Jan. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) today announced that it will hold a conference call on Thursday, March 1 st , 2018 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time) to review fourth quarter and full-year 2017 operating results as well as the company's business outlook for 2018. Randy MacEwen, President and CEO said, \"As we noted on our last quarterly conference call, with a substantial order backlog and order book of expected deliveries over the subsequent 12-months, Ballard was well positioned to deliver strong full-year 2017 results and have a solid set-up for 2018. In addition to confirming strong 2017 results on our March 1 st conference call, I am also looking forward to providing a business update and outlook.\" During the March 1 st conference call, management will review 2017 financial and operating results and will also provide a business update and market outlook, including – Ongoing execution of the Company's growth strategy in China – which contributed significantly to 2017 results – including: market development; joint venture fuel cell stack production; strategic & license partners' forward progress; expansion of hydrogen refueling infrastructure; and deployment of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs); and Growing opportunities for Heavy Duty Motive FCEV applications – including buses, commercial trucks and trams – in Asia, Europe and North America. The live March 1 st conference call will be accessible by dialing [REDACTED]. Alternatively, a live webcast will be accessible through a link on Ballard's homepage ( www.ballard.com ). Following the call, the webcast will be archived in the 'Investor Presentations & Events' area of the 'Investors' section of Ballard's website ( www.ballard.com/investors ). About Ballard Power Systems Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) provides clean energy products that reduce customer costs and risks, and helps customers solve difficult technical and business challenges in their fuel cell programs. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com . SOURCE Ballard Power Systems Inc." + }, + { + "text": "WINDHOEK (Reuters) - A 10-year old schoolboy has become the first person diagnosed with cholera in Namibia for four years, the health ministry said on Wednesday, raising fears of an outbreak similar to one that killed dozens last month in neighboring Zambia. Two other boys who attend the same school as the child who contracted the disease and shared food with him were also suffering from vomiting and diarrhea, the Ministry of Health and Social Services said in a statement. The school is in Katutura, an the impoverished suburb of the capital Windhoek. The ministry said further investigation is ongoing and health workers have been alerted to be on the lookout for cholera cases. The case comes three weeks after the Namibian government provisionally banned the import of all perishable food and water from Zambia, which was at that time struggling under the weight of a cholera outbreak that claimed 78 lives. Zambia says it now has the situation under control. Cholera is transmitted through eating or drinking contaminated food or water. It causes severe watery diarrhoea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated. Reporting by Nyasha Nyaungwa; Editing by Joe Brock and Andrew Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "Wall Street suffers biggest two-day drop since 2016 4:10pm EST - 01:21 The Dow Jones Industrials racked up their worst two-day stock market slump since September 2016 as inflation fears pushed government debt interest rates to four-year highs. Conway G. Gittens reports. The Dow Jones Industrials racked up their worst two-day stock market slump since September 2016 as inflation fears pushed government debt interest rates to four-year highs. Conway G. Gittens reports. //reut.rs/2DO9T0y" + }, + { + "text": "13 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago Nordic Aquafarms plans land-based salmon farm in U.S. state of Maine Reuters Staff 1 Min Read OSLO, Jan 30 (Reuters) - ** Norway’s privately held Nordic Aquafarms (NAF) has entered into agreements for a property in the U.S. state of Maine where it plans to develop a large land-based salmon farm ** NAF plans an initial capacity of 13,000 tonnes per year and to gradually raise this to 33,000 tonnes per year (66 million pounds), equal to approximately 8 percent of U.S. consumption of salmon ** The project will involve all-in investments between $450 million to $500 million by the time it is complete ** The first phase will involve investments of up to $150 million ** The facility will be an end-to-end operation, including hatcheries and fish processing ** The agreements are for a 40 acres property in the outskirts of the town of Belfast, which has approximately 7,000 residents ** NAF will now proceed with final due diligence, planning and permitting for the facility. Construction start is planned in 2019 (Reporting by Ole Petter Skonnord, editing by Terje Solsvik)" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 3:58 AM / Updated 2 hours ago Tennis - Svitolina struggling with injury after second round win Reuters Staff 3 Min Read MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Fourth seed Elina Svitolina revealed she had been dealing with injury issues at the Australian Open after successfully negotiating a tricky second round match against Katerina Siniakova on Wednesday. The Ukrainian conceded only her second set in seven matches this year but ultimately found a way past her Czech opponent 4-6 6-2 6-1 as the temperatures soared on Rod Laver Arena. “It was very tough for me today,” the 23-year-old said. “I didn’t feel good and hopefully I can recover and be ready for next match. I had some issues before the start of the (tournament), it was like big question that I‘m going to step on court for my first round.” The next match will be against 15-year-old compatriot Marta Kostyuk, the 521-ranked qualifier who doubled down on her maiden grand slam victory on Monday with a 6-3 7-5 win over local Olivia Rogowska on Wednesday. “First time I heard about her when she won here,” said Svitolina. “It’s pretty cool that I‘m playing someone from my country. It’s gonna be very exciting for me and hopefully I can be ready for that match.” Tennis - Australian Open - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 17, 2018. Katerina Siniakova of Czech Republic hits a shot against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine. REUTERS/Issei Kato Svitolina had been firming as one of the favourites in a wide open race for the Melbourne Park crown after winning the Brisbane International warm-up event. Her first set performance against Siniakova clearly sounded a warning to Svitolina about letting any kind of complacency creep into her head as she earned six break points but failed to convert a single one of them. Slideshow (3 Images) World number 59 Siniakova, who also took Svitolina to three sets at the U.S. Open last year, really went for her shots, hitting 11 winners, and it was she who managed to get the upper hand in an arm-wrestle of a 50-minute set. Svitolina finally got her first break at the eighth attempt to go 2-0 up in the second set. Siniakova never gave up but was not the same threat after a seven-minute medical timeout in the second set and Svitolina claimed the victory with an unreturnable serve after two hours and 14 minutes. “The second and third set was 6-2 6-1, but I felt like it was 7-6 in the third or 8-6 in the third,” Svitolina “It was very tough for me today. Not feeling great and was not focused on the right things.” Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, editing by Amlan Chakraborty/Peter Rutherford" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 9:15 AM / Updated an hour ago Lukewarm reception would not faze Sharapova - Wilander Martyn Herman 3 Min Read MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Former champion Maria Sharapova will not care less what reception she receives when she plays her first Australian Open match since completing a doping ban on Tuesday, according to three-times Melbourne winner Mats Wilander. The 30-year-old Russian will be second match on Margaret Court Arena against Germany’s Tatjana Maria in the first round, in what will be her first match in Melbourne for two years. Her last appearance came when she lost a 2016 quarter-final clash with Serena Williams, after which she provided a urine sample that revealed traces of the banned heart drug meldonium. Sharapova claimed she had not realized the drug had been added to the WADA list of banned substances but served a 15-month ban, returning last year to a mixed reception from her peers and tennis fans, although she was handed a wildcard into the U.S. Open having been snubbed at Roland Garros. Australian Open organizers were criticized for their choice of 2008 champion Sharapova for Thursday’s draw ceremony and it would be no surprise if the world number 48 faced a backlash on her return to action in Melbourne. “She will have earbuds in,” Wilander, host of the “Game, Set and Mats” show for Eurosport at the Australian Open, told Reuters on Monday as he looked ahead to Tuesday’s schedule. ”I really think she doesn’t care what the crowd will do or say. I don’t think she’s ever cared about what people think, which is what has made her a great champion. “She is out there to win tennis matches and I think she said it all at the U.S. Open, you can put her on any court and all she wants to do is win.” With reigning champion Williams yet to return from maternity leave, her sister Venus eliminated in round one and twice champion Victoria Azarenka also absent, Sharapova will be eyeing a strong run and Wilander thinks she should be welcomed back. “She has paid her dues,” he said. “She was suspended for a while, now she’s back and I‘m sure people will be in their seats to watch her come back.” However, the former world number one faces a tough path if she is to claim a sixth grand slam title against the odds. She could meet 14th seed Anastasija Sevastova in the second round, with 2016 champion Angelique Kerber a possible last 32 opponent and Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza a potential fourth round rival should she get that far. Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "INSIGHT: Circus still grips its audience, 250 years on 5:20pm GMT - 01:11 Budapest's International Circus Festival shows audiences are still captivated by the emotion of a live performance 250 years after its founding, says Charlie Chaplin's son Eugene. Budapest's International Circus Festival shows audiences are still captivated by the emotion of a live performance 250 years after its founding, says Charlie Chaplin's son Eugene. //reut.rs/2D0eLzp" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 4:28 PM / Updated 6 minutes ago Portuguese, Spanish police bust huge 'pineapple' cocaine ring Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LISBON (Reuters) - Police in Portugal and Spain said they seized hundreds of kilograms of cocaine hidden inside fresh pineapples, and arrested nine members of a gang that had transported the drug from South America. The seizure, from shipping containers, was part of an ongoing investigation across both countries that started April 2017, police said on Wednesday. Aside from the 745 kg (1,642 pounds) of cocaine seized and the arrests, police also dismantled a laboratory where the drug was cut with additives. “This organised international group had repeatedly brought large quantities of cocaine to the European continent,” Portuguese investigators said in a statement. The Iberian Peninsula is a major entry point for cocaine and other drugs to Europe, either directly from Latin America or via North and West Africa. Reporting By Andrei Khalip, editing by Axel Bugge and John Stonestreet" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 28 (Reuters) - Saudi Basic Industries Corp : * SAUDI‘S SABIC CEO SAYS SABIC HAS THE ABILITY TO SELF FINANCE CLARIANT DEAL * SAUDI‘S SABIC CEO SAYS OUT LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENTS WILL BOOST OUR LONG-TERM POSITION * SAUDI‘S SABIC CEO SAYS WE EXPECT 2018 COST CUTTING TO BE SIMILAR TO 2017 * SAUDI‘S SABIC CEO SAYS WE EXPECT 2018 COST CUTTING TO BE BETWEEN 5 TO 7 PERCENT * SAUDI‘S SABIC CEO SAYS AT THIS POINT WE DON‘T HAVE ANY OPTIONS TO RAISE DEBT, BUT WE WILL LOOK INTO IT IN FUTURE AS NEEDED * SAUDI‘S SABIC CEO SAYS IBN ROSHD HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, RESTRUCTURING HELPED CUT ITS LOSS TO 30 MILLION IN 2017 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Reporting by Marwa Rashad; Editing by Saeed Azhar)" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 6:55 AM / Updated 22 minutes ago Instone Real Estate plans Frankfurt listing Reuters Staff 1 Min Read FRANKFURT, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Instone Real Estate Group, a German residential property developer, said it planned to list its shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange this year. The placement will comprise new shares from a capital increase with total gross proceeds of around 150 million euros ($183 million) as well as existing shares from fund holdings by ActivumSG Capital Management Ltd, it said in a statement on Monday. The size of this placement is yet to be determined, it said, adding it planned to invest around two-thirds of the expected gross proceeds to acquire and develop new residential projects. Sources had told Reuters earlier this month that Instone was targeting a flotation on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in March. $1 = 0.8182 euros Reporting by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 7:35 AM / Updated 8 hours ago Earthquake hits Iran-Iraq border region, felt in Baghdad Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BAGHDAD/ANKARA (Reuters) - An earthquake jolted the Iran-Iraq border region on Thursday at around 10 a.m. (0700 GMT), causing some panic in Baghdad and central Iraq, according to residents and state-run media. The tremor hit the Iranian province of Kermanshah where an earthquake killed 620 people in November, Iranian state TV said, adding that rescue teams had been dispatched to the region. “The quake jolted the city of Sumar that is located between Ilam and Kermanshah provinces. So far, no fatalities or injuries have been reported,” a local official told Iranian TV. Aftershocks continued to be felt in central Iraq an hour after the initial tremor, causing residents to exit buildings in a hurry. Iraqi state TV said there were no reports of significant damage or fatalities in Baghdad or the central provinces of Wasit and Diyala where the tremor was also felt. Electricity and internet services were not interrupted in the Iraqi capital. The quake’s magnitude was 5.5, according to the United States Geological Survey. Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli in Baghdad and Parisa Hafezi in Ankara, Editing by Larry King and Alison Williams" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15 (Reuters) - The search for victims of last week’s deadly Southern California mudslides pushed into Monday, with hundreds of rescue workers with dogs and scanners hunting for four people still listed as missing after the rain-driven slides that killed 20 people. Emergency officials said hopes were diminishing that they would pull more survivors from the ravaged landscape of hardened muck, boulders and twisted debris left behind by the Tuesday mudslides that scoured a landscape already left barren by last year’s record-setting wildfires. “We’re still out there with search and rescue crews who will continue to work until we can account for those four still missing,” Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokeswoman Amber Anderson said in a phone interview. The mudslides that scoured the affluent community of Montecito, 85 miles (137 km) northwest of Los Angeles, caused the greatest loss of life from a California mudslide in at least 13 years. Ten people perished in January 2005 when a hillside saturated by weeks of torrential rains collapsed in the seaside hamlet of La Conchita, just 18 miles (29 km) southeast of Montecito, burying more than a dozen homes in seconds. The White House on Monday said that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the situation. “The President and First Lady extend their deepest sympathies to the families affected, their appreciation for the first responders saving lives, and their prayers for those who remain missing,” the White House said in a statement. Another 900 emergency personnel arrived this weekend to join the relief effort conducted by more than 2,100 personnel from local, state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy and the American Red Cross. The destruction covered 30 square miles (78 square km), leaving 65 single-family homes demolished and more than 450 others damaged. Nearly 30 commercial properties were damaged or destroyed, officials said. As a precaution against the possibility of further slides, officials have ordered residents in most of the southeastern corner of Montecito to leave their homes for what was likely to be one or two weeks. (Reporting by Scott Malone in Boston Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Britain scrambled two Royal Air Force Typhoon jets on Monday from Scotland to intercept Russian planes near the United Kingdom’s airspace, a defense ministry spokesman said. The Typhoons were scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. “This is a live operation and therefore we will not be providing any additional information until the mission is complete,” the spokesman said. Reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by Guy Faulconbridge" + }, + { + "text": "January 7, 2018 / 5:34 PM / in an hour Student killed, opposition leader detained as bread protests grip Sudan Khalid Abdelaziz 3 Min Read KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Protests over rising bread prices broke out across Sudan on Sunday, leading to the death of a student and the arrest of a prominent opposition leader as authorities confiscated newspapers and looked to clamp down on growing unrest. The demonstrations followed a similar protest in the southeastern city of Sennar on Saturday after bread prices doubled following the government’s announcement late last month that it was eliminating subsidies in its 2018 budget. In the southeastern city of al-Damazin, police fired tear gas on Sunday as about 400 demonstrators chanted “No, no to price rises!” and some burned tyres, a local resident told Reuters. The removal of subsidies is part of austerity measures as the country struggles in the face of inflation running at about 25 percent and an acute shortage of hard currency that has sapped import activity. Austerity measures in Sudan have sparked sporadic public protests in the past few years. Amnesty International says that up to 185 people may have been killed in 2013 when thousands took to the streets in demonstrations against fuel price increases. Protests have since been much smaller and the main opposition parties have called for peaceful demonstrations against the bread price rises. Protests spread to downtown Khartoum on Sunday as well as three cities to the south; the southwestern cities of Nyala and Geneina; as well as al-Damazin, residents in these areas told Reuters. A high school student was killed and six others wounded in Geneina during the protests, a statement from the Geneina governor said. It did not give a reason for the death but said the incident would be investigated. Authorities arrested Omar Al-Dageir, the president of one of the country’s largest opposition groups, the Sudanese Congress Party, members of the party said. Authorities also blocked the sale of six daily newspapers carrying critical coverage of the subsidy cut and price rises, editors of the papers told Reuters. The ministry of interior could not be reached for comment. Sudan has begun a series of economic reforms in line with International Monetary Fund recommendations to try to bolster the economy, months after a U.S. decision to lift sanctions raised hopes that badly needed investment may return. This month Sudan devalued its pound currency to 18 per U.S. dollar, more than double its previous peg of 6.7 pounds to the dollar. The rate on the black market hit about 29 pounds to the dollar last week. Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz; Writing by Eric Knecht; Editing by Susan Fenton and David Goodman" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co ( BMY.N ) will record a $3 billion charge in the fourth quarter of 2017 as a result of the U.S. tax reform law passed last month, the drugmaker said in a regulatory filing on Friday. The expense is primarily related to taxes on unremitted offshore earnings, the company said. Bristol said the charge will affect its previous forecast for net earnings per share and its tax rate, but will not have an impact on its outlook after adjusting for one-time items. In October, the company said it expected full-year 2017 net earnings per share of $2.36 to $2.46 with an effective tax rate of 25 percent to 26 percent, while adjusted earnings were forecast at $2.95 to $3.05 per share with a tax rate of 22 percent. Changes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act include a permanent reduction in the corporate income tax rate to 21 percent from 35 percent. It also exempts U.S. corporations from U.S. taxes on most future foreign profits, sets a one-time tax for U.S. business profits now held overseas, and prevents companies from shifting profits out of the United States to lower-tax jurisdictions abroad. Bristol-Myers said it is still evaluating all the provisions of the legislation and currently estimates that the net impact on its adjusted tax rate will be roughly neutral in 2018. The drugmaker plans an update when it provides a full-year outlook on Feb. 5. Reporting by Deena Beasley; Editing by Tom Brown" + }, + { + "text": "HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe is experiencing a dry spell that could cut crop yields, a farmers’ union said on Monday, but a government official said the country had enough grain reserves to last until next year. The southern African nation produced 2.1 million tonnes of the staple maize last year, the highest in two decades thanks to above normal rainfall and government funding to farmers. But rains have been erratic so far since the summer cropping season started at the end of November, while a long dry spell this month has raised alarm among farmers. Ben Gilpin, a director at the Commercial Farmers Union, said crops in the maize producing belts were showing signs of moisture stress while in the northern and southern parts of the country crops were wilting. Gilpin said early planted crops, which were at the critical flowering and tussling stages, urgently required rain water but those planted later could already be a complete right-off. “What we are seeing is that the crop situation is pretty dire throughout the country. In the more marginal areas crops are already wilting,” Gilpin said. The U.S. Famine Early Warning Systems Network (Fewsnet) in its January report said the poor rains were expected to affect the availability of seasonal green crops for consumption. “The high likelihood of below-average rains for the remainder of the season is likely to significantly reduce crop yields and harvests across most parts of the country,” said Fewsnet. Gilpin said the tobacco crop, which reaps more than $800 million annually and is the economy’s second-biggest export earner, was had not been affected yet because it was more resistant to dry spells. In 2016 Zimbabwe suffered a severe drought, which left more than four million people facing hunger. New President Emmerson Mnangagwa who came to power in November after a de facto military coup that forced Robert Mugabe to resign has said reviving the agriculture sector is one of his main goals to ensure food security in future. Agriculture has been starved of large-scale investment since Mugabe’s government began its seizure of white-owned farms in 2000, but Mnangagwa has said he welcomes investment, including from the white farmers whom he has promised to compensate. David Marapira, the deputy minister of agriculture, said although rains had been sparse, the country was holding enough grains in its reserves after the state grain agency bought excess maize from farmers. He said farmers were also holding maize reserves from last year. “Yes the rains have not been adequate so far but we do have in our strategic reserves more than 500,000 tonnes of maize that will last the country for a year,” said Marapira. Patchy rains and pest outbreaks have also threatened maize production in Zambia and Malawi, while Reuters journalists who traveled to Lesotho this weekend saw fields of stunted maize that looked in poor condition. Editing by Ed Stoddard and David Evans" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said in a post on Twitter on Friday that he was making progress with lawmakers to avoid a shutdown and advocated a four-week funding extension. Although Trump said he had an excellent preliminary meeting with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer earlier Friday, a senior White House official said differences still remained, and they had not yet reached an agreement between extending funding for four weeks compared to a five-day option that Schumer has touted. Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Eric Beech" + }, + { + "text": "DUBAI (Reuters) - Deposits by foreigners in Qatari banks rose in December for the first time since other Arab countries imposed an embargo on Doha last June, data from Qatar’s central bank showed on Tuesday. Banks and investors from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt began pulling deposits and other funds out of Qatar in June, when those four nations cut diplomatic and trade ties with Doha. But in December, deposits in Qatari banks by customers located abroad rose by 2.2 billion riyals ($606 million) from the previous month to 137.1 billion riyals, the data showed. They stood at 184.6 billion riyals in May, before the embargo. Bankers say the vast majority of the four countries’ deposits in Qatar have now been pulled out, leaving little money left to withdraw. Meanwhile, the Qatari economy’s stability since the embargo was imposed has helped banks attract money from other foreign depositors. To protect the banks from deposit outflows, Qatar’s government has been pumping some of its own money into the banks. The Qatari public sector boosted its deposits in local banks by 7.1 billion riyals in December to 315.4 billion riyals. Meanwhile, Qatari banks owed banks outside the country 177.3 billion riyals in December, up from 176.7 billion riyals in November. Qatari banks’ borrowing from foreign banks fell sharply in the initial months of the embargo as institutions from the four Arab countries stopped extending loans. But borrowing has started to edge up again as Qatari banks find other sources of loans in Asia and Europe. Reporting by Andrew Torchia; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 7:09 PM / Updated 39 minutes ago Congress should consult on confidential inquiries in Russia probes: White House Reuters Staff 1 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congress should consult with the White House whenever it seeks confidential information that may be covered by executive privilege, a White House spokeswoman said on Wednesday. “Whenever you have congressional inquiries touching upon (the) White House, Congress should consult with the White House prior to obtaining confidential material,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters. Sanders’ answer came in response to a question relating to former Trump adviser Steve Bannon’s refusal to answer questions on Tuesday before a House of Representatives committee probing alleged efforts by Russia to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Reporting by Jim Oliphant; Writing by Katanga Johnson; Editing by Tim Ahmann" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Several major U.S. Gulf Coast refineries were restarting operations on Wednesday as temperatures warmed following record lows across the region overnight, freezing instrumentation and snapping power lines, according to refining sources. The cold weather affected operations at Motiva Enterprises’ [MOTIV.UL] 603,000 barrel per day (bpd) Port Arthur, Texas, refinery, the nation’s largest, as well as Valero Energy’s refinery in the same city. Valero was returning to normal operations at its 335,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Port Arthur refinery after malfunctions overnight because of cold weather, upsetting instrumentation that regulates the production unit operations, said sources familiar with plant operations. The company did not respond to requests for comment. Motiva was able to keep units in operation as temperatures fell to 19 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 7.2 Celsius), freezing instrumentation and triggering flaring early on Wednesday on the plant’s largest crude distillation unit, which, along with two similar units, does the primary refining of crude oil. Motiva declined to comment on its operations. Instrumentation problems also led to the shutdown of the gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) at Marathon Petroleum Corp’s 459,000 bpd Galveston Bay, Texas, refinery in Texas City, Texas. Marathon began restarting the FCCU on Wednesday, according to sources. The company declined to comment. Temperatures had climbed to 32 Fahrenheit (0 C) by Wednesday afternoon. Citgo Petroleum Corp [PDVSAC.UL] also was restarting the FCCU at its 157,500 bpd Corpus Christi, Texas, refinery on Wednesday after cold weather forced the unit to shut on Tuesday, according to sources. The company earlier confirmed the unit’s shutdown. In Louisiana, two refineries lost power overnight as freezing temperatures snapped lines operated by local power provider Entergy Inc. Marathon said its 543,000 bpd Garyville, Louisiana, was hit by a power outage on Wednesday morning. Energy industry intelligence service Genscape said multiple units were shut at the refinery 36 miles (58 km) west of New Orleans. Valero’s 125,000 bpd Meraux, Louisiana, refinery also lost power on Tuesday night, according to sources familiar with plant operations, as part of a widespread outage on the east side of New Orleans. At Valero’s 190,000 bpd Memphis, Tennessee, refinery, a hydrogen plant was shut on Tuesday due to freezing temperatures, which have forced outages at production units over the past two weeks, sources said. Valero did not respond to a request for comment. Reporting By Erwin Seba; Editing by Marguerita Choy" + }, + { + "text": "January 2, 2018 / 6:10 PM / Updated 9 minutes ago Brazil backs down from naming lawmaker Fernandes as labor minister Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Michel Temer decided not to appoint Congressman Pedro Fernandes as the new labor minister to avoid clashing with former President José Sarney, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Jovair Arantes, the leader of Fernandes’ Brazilian Labor Party in the lower house of Congress, said last week that Fernandes would be tapped as labor minister following Ronaldo Nogueira’s resignation on Wednesday. But Sarney, a major figure in Temer’s Brazilian Democratic Movement party, vetoed the nomination due to Fernandes’ connections with Flavio Dino, the governor of Maranhão state and one of Sarney’s political rivals, the two sources said. In a text message to his peers in the lower house seen by Reuters, Fernandes expressed thanks for the appointment but acknowledged that taking on such a post would create friction between Temer and Sarney. Reuters phone calls to Fernandes went unanswered. Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; Writing by Bruno Federowski; Editing by Richard Chang" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - Lifenet Insurance Co : * Says its the third major shareholder, a Tokyo-based investment firm, cuts stake in co to 5.75 percent (29,444 voting rights) form 11.11 percent (56,838 voting rights), on Jan. 1 Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/W2xLCH Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "UK-U.S. relationship as strong as ever - British PM May 11:33am EST - 01:08 Theresa May reiterated the special relationship between the UK and U.S. ahead of an upcoming meeting with Donald Trump. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Theresa May reiterated the special relationship between the UK and U.S. ahead of an upcoming meeting with Donald Trump. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2DBSGqZ" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 18 (Reuters) - Gold prices on Thursday extended declines from the day before to hit their lowest in nearly a week, pressured as the U.S. dollar recovered from a 3-year low touched on Wednesday. FUNDAMENTALS * Spot gold had fallen 0.1 percent to $1,326.51 an ounce by 0112 GMT. It earlier marked its weakest since Jan. 12 at $1,324.60. * Spot gold fell 0.8 percent on Wednesday, its worst one-day percentage decline since Dec. 7. * U.S. gold futures on Thursday lost 1 percent to $1,324.70 an ounce. * The dollar index was up 0.4 percent at 90.885 , after dropping to its lowest since December, 2014 at 90.113 on Wednesday. * Asian stocks were near record highs on Thursday, with a rally by Wall Street supporting bullish investor sentiment. * Longer-term, gold will be supported by risk that global share prices could fall from record highs and strong growth around the world could stoke inflation. * Some European Central Bank officials on Wednesday voiced worries about the euro's strength. * In an interview with Italian newspaper la Repubblica Vitor Constancio, the ECB vice president, said he did not rule out that monetary policy would still continue to be \"very accommodating for a long time\". * Cleveland Federal Reserve President Loretta Mester said on Wednesday that her assumption the U.S. federal tax overhaul would add 0.25 to 0.5 percentage points in growth over the next two years might be too low. * The U.S. economy should grow at a good clip this year, boosted by tax cuts, two Fed officials said on Wednesday, though they disagreed on how close the economy is to overheating and the need for rate hikes this year. * Industrial gold production in Mali rose to 49.6 tonnes in 2017, up 5 percent from the previous year, said a senior Mines Ministry official in the West African nation. * Financial crime fighters at the U.S. Treasury are \"aggressively\" pursuing virtual currency platforms that lack strong internal safeguards against money laundering, a top official told a Senate panel on Wednesday. * Digital currencies suffered another day of heavy losses on Wednesday on worries about a widening regulatory crackdown. * Bitcoin on Wednesday fell more than 10 percent to below $10,000 for the first time since Dec. 1 on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange. The biggest digital currency has lost half its value since it peaked near $20,000 about a month ago. DATA AHEAD (IN GMT) 0130 China House prices Dec 0700 China GDP Q4 0700 China Industrial output Dec 0700 China Retail sales Dec 0700 China Urban investment Dec 1330 U.S. Housing starts Dec 1330 U.S. Building permit Dec 1330 U.S. Weekly jobless claims 1330 U.S. Philly Fed business index Jan (Reporting by Nallur Sethuraman in Bengaluru; Editing by Joseph Radford)" + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 9:55 PM / Updated 13 minutes ago Everton sign striker Tosun on four-and-a-half-year deal Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Everton completed the signing of Turkish striker Cenk Tosun from Besiktas on Friday, which may go some way to ease fans’ concerns hours after the Merseyside club sold midfielder Ross Barkley to Premier League rivals Chelsea. Soccer Football - Turkish Super League - Besiktas vs Galatasaray - Vodafone Park, Istanbul, Turkey - December 2, 2017. Besiktas' striker Cenk Tosun reacts after missing a goal chance against Galatasaray. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File photo The 26-year-old Tosun, who has long been linked with a move to Everton, arrives on a 4-1/2 year contract and pledged to bring goals to a side who have struggled to score this season. “It feels great to be an Everton player. I‘m really happy to be here and happy that everything is done. I‘m really excited to play for Everton as soon as possible,” Tosun told the club’s official TV platform. “Everton is a great club with a big history and a big culture and I‘m looking forward to showing the fans the kind of player I am.” Tosun had scored 14 goals in 24 appearances for Besiktas this campaign and will be a welcome boost for Everton, who have struggled to find the net since last season’s top scorer Romelu Lukaku moved to Manchester United in July. No financial details were released but British media reported that the Premier League club will pay around 27 million pounds ($36.57 million) for the Turkey international. “I‘m really excited to work with my new team mates because Everton has really, really big names, big players. I‘m excited to play with them and to learn from them as well, players like Wayne Rooney and the very good creative players we have here, too. They can help me score goals,” added Tosun. Everton manager Sam Allardyce had previously praised Tosun. “We looked at the qualities of the player, his talent and goalscoring, and his resilience, too. I do not think you can look any more than we have done and, for the price, he is the best in Europe at the moment,” he said. Everton are ninth in the league after recovering from a poor start to the season but have struggled in attack, scoring just 25 goals in 22 league games. Reporting by Christian Radnedge, editing by Pritha Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 10 (Reuters) - Bank Of India Ltd: * BANK OF INDIA - SIGNS MOU WITH RECEIVABLES EXCHANGE OF INDIA AS TRADE RECEIVABLES DISCOUNTING SYSTEM PARTNER Source text: [Bank of India, has entered into MOU with Receivables Exchange of India Ltd (RXIL) as a TReDS (Trade Receivables Discounting System) partner for discounting invoices of MSMEs on digital platform .] Further company coverage: Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Senior U.S. government officials held talks in recent weeks with California's Air Resources Board (CARB) to discuss the goal of maintaining one set of national requirements for automakers, a move that will determine the fate of vehicle emissions rules. The Dec. 15 meeting held in California included William Wehrum, head of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Air and Radiation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) deputy chief Heidi King, and Mike Catanzaro, a senior White House aide on environment and energy issues, a spokesman for CARB confirmed on Monday. Automakers want the White House and California to reach agreement on revisions because a legal battle over the rules could result in lengthy uncertainly for the industry. They also want changes in the rules to address lower gas prices and a shift in U.S. consumer preferences to larger, less fuel-efficient vehicles. \"We've had productive conversations under way with CARB and I would hope those conversations continue to be productive,\" Wehrum said in an interview Friday at EPA headquarters. \"I think a shared goal is to maintain one national program.\" In 2011, California's air emissions regulator and the Obama administration reached an agreement with major automakers to nearly double average fleetwide fuel efficiency to more than 50 miles per gallon by 2025, but included a \"midterm review\" to determine by April 2018 whether the final requirements were feasible. California, joined by nearly a dozen other states, could seek to enforce its own current stricter emissions rules even if the Trump administration softens the 2022-2025 requirements. The Obama administration announced it had completed the midterm review in its final days in January 2017 without making changes. In a move widely seen as a preamble to loosening fuel standards, U.S. President Donald Trump announced in March he was revisiting the 2025 requirements. \"The assault on the American auto industry is over,\" Trump said. \"We are going to ensure that any regulations we have protect and defend your jobs, your factories.\" Wehrum said if there was a \"good solid technical basis\" for revising the requirements, he hoped California would agree, adding the talks have been \"very collegial and collaborative,\" including that the December 15 meetings with California officials lasted for a couple of hours. He emphasized EPA has made no decisions on whether the requirements should be lowered. CARB spokesman Stanley Young confirmed the discussion but declined to elaborate. Catanzaro did not respond to a request for comment. NHTSA has said it plans to issue its proposed changes, if any, for the 2022-25 model years by March 30. NHTSA's King declined to comment Monday on the status of the agency's review or California talks. Regulators could also propose changes for 2021. In June, New York states attorney general and 12 other top state law officials said they would mount a court challenge to any effort to roll back vehicle fuel rules. Gloria Bergquist, a spokeswoman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group representing General Motors Co , Toyota Motor Corp, Volkswagen AG and others, said the companies \"fully support conversations between all the relevant parties.\" (Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Diane Craft)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - U.S. weapons maker Northrop Grumman Corp reported a 3.7 percent rise in quarterly revenue, helped by higher sales in its aerospace and mission systems businesses. Net sales rose to $6.63 billion in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31 from $6.40 billion a year earlier. ( bit.ly/2DBxzFn ) However, net income for the maker of Global Hawk surveillance planes fell to $178 million, or $1.01 per share, from $525 million, or $2.96 per share, a year earlier. Net earnings were hurt by a higher tax expense and $500 million discretionary pre-tax pension contribution. (Reporting by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru;Editing by Anil D‘Silva)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines Co on Thursday reported a quarterly profit that more than tripled, helped by a $1.4 billion benefit due to tax reform legislation in the quarter. The fourth-largest U.S. airline by passenger traffic said net income rose to $1.89 billion , or $3.18 per share, in the quarter ended Dec. 31, from $522 million, or $0.84 per share, a year earlier. Operating revenue rose 3.9 percent to $5.27 billion. (Reporting by Sanjana Shivdas in Bengaluru; Editing by Supriya Kurane)" + }, + { + "text": "President Donald Trump 's mental fitness for office is not up for debate, according to the president's personal physician, Dr. Ronny Jackson . That's because Trump scored a perfect 30/30 on a test called the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Jackson told the White House press corps on Tuesday. Developed in 1996, the MoCA uses 30 questions to test for mild cognitive impairment in adults. It takes about 10 minutes to do, and requires one administrator per test taker. The questions range from identifying certain kinds of animals, to repeating back specific sets of words. If you want to take the test, find someone to administer it, and then have them c lick here to read the instructions for administering the MoCa. If you're the test taker, here it is. Good luck. Christina Wilkie Political Reporter for CNBC.com Playing" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 2:22 PM / Updated 20 minutes ago With Versailles business summit, Macron seeks to bank on global appeal Michel Rose 4 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron sought on Monday to show that his activity on the world stage and his pro-business reforms were bearing fruit with a highly-publicized summit of global CEOs in Versailles and a flurry of investments worth about $3 billion. A 300 million euro ($368 million) investment by Japanese carmaker Toyota ( 7203.T ) to increase capacity at its northern French plant producing the Yaris model was the centerpiece of the day, with 800 new jobs to be added by 2020. But beyond the rare bricks-and-mortar factory investment, a trio of pledges by U.S. giants Facebook and Google and German software maker SAP to boost their footprint in the French technology sector was likely to catch the eye of investors. Facebook, whose chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg met Macron in the gilded palace of Versailles, said it would double the number of staff at its Paris artificial intelligence (IA) hub, while Google will open its own IA center at its campus in the French capital. “Showcasing these projects will create a snowball effect,” a presidential adviser said. “When on the same day two groups like Google and Facebook make these announcements, it’s natural to expect more in the sector to rethink how they view France.” Germany’s SAP committed to spend more than two billion euros in France over five years to help it develop internet-based cloud services and other advanced technologies. “There is a real sense of economic momentum in France,” Bill McDermott, the American-born CEO of SAP said in statement after meeting Macron. SUN KING‘S PALACE Slideshow (3 Images) Eight months into his presidency, Macron is keen to convince the French that the tax cuts he is providing to corporates and millionaires are not a giveaway to the rich but can yield higher investment and curb an unemployment rate of nearly 10 percent. Some 140 of the world’s most powerful business executives had lunch at the Sun King’s palace outside Paris, where Prime Minister Edouard Philippe answered questions in English before “speed dating” sessions with French ministers. The French premier also announced new measures to attract investors, including the opening of a new international court in March in Paris to handle English law disputes and 1,000 new places in multilingual schools from September The summit dubbed “Choose France” is held just two days before Macron heads to the global elite’s annual gathering at Davos, making sure the event catches the top executives on their way to the Swiss Alps. If the list of attendees - including Goldman Sachs’s ( GS.N ) Lloyd Blankfein and Google’s Sundar Pichai - is a sign of the 40-year old leader’s pulling power, it is also a reminder of France’s more pressing need for foreign investment to reduce a trade deficit of almost 50 billion euros. In a study published last week, the COE-Rexecode think-tank said French companies had continued to lose market share to their euro zone rivals on global markets, with French goods and services accounting for 12.9 percent of the bloc’s exports last year, down from 13.2 percent in 2016 and 17 percent in 2000. In 2016, France was the 16th highest recipient of foreign direct investments in the world, UN data showed, with $28 billion, well below Europe’s top two inflow hosts, Britain and the Netherlands, with $254 billion and $92 billion respectively. But a flurry of smaller agrobusiness investment projects announced on Monday showed producing in France may be starting to become more attractive. U.S. giant General Mills ( GIS.N ) said it would invest 17 million to make more ice cream at Arras in the north, Korean company SPC said it would create a 20 million euro factory to make frozen pastry, while Florida-based Fresh Del Monte ( FDP.N ) would build a nine million euro fresh fruit factory. Related Coverage" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Gabrielle Daleman shrugged off pneumonia-like symptoms to take the women’s short program lead as defending champion and favorite Kaetlyn Osmond took a tumble at the Canadian figure skating championships in Vancouver on Friday. A day before her 20th birthday, Daleman performed a clean program to earn 77.88 points, well ahead of Osmond’s 71.41. “And the end of the day that sounds bad, and it kind of is because you can’t breathe, but I look at it as extra cardio training,” Daleman told reporters. “If I can do this now, imagine what I can do at full strength. This was just a great confidence booster.” Osmond, meanwhile, fell on her first jump but displayed poise to skate cleanly thereafter. “It was a random mistake,” said the 22-year-old from Toronto, who is expected to be a major contender at next month’s Winter Olympics in South Korea. ”Obviously, I‘m not overly pleased with it. I don’t remember the last time that I missed a (triple) flip in competition. “But overall I‘m so happy that I was able to come back after a fall, a very uncharacteristic fall for me, and be able to keep my focus through the whole program.” Also on Friday, Olympic silver medalist Patrick Chan took the lead in the men’s short program with a routine that earned him 90.98 points, ahead of Kevin Reynolds. Chan did not quite display the form of his 2011-13 peak, when he won three consecutive world championships, but he looked sharp enough to suggest he will also be a factor in Pyeongchang. In the pairs, Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford opened a huge lead on 81.78 points, while in the ice dance, 2010 Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir were nearly perfect to lead with a stellar 85.12 points. The Canadian team is widely expected to be one of the powerhouses in South Korea, with 17 spots allotted for the country’s skaters, more than any other nation. Canada will name its team on Sunday at the completion of the championships. Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "5G FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Doesn't Want a Government-Backed 5G Network Ajit Pai, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), pauses while speaking during an open meeting in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. The FCC plans to vote in December to kill the net neutrality rules passed during the Obama era. Zach Gibson—Bloomberg via Getty Images By Chris Morris 11:33 AM EST The Trump administration is considering building a 5G wireless network , but not everyone is on board with the plan. Major wireless carriers have spent billions of dollars buying spectrum to launch 5G networks, but a national security team is exploring the idea of having the government launch one. The concept is aimed at addressing what officials see as China’s threat to U.S. cybersecurity and economic security—specifically the country’s ability to spy on U.S. phone calls. Ajit Pai, head of the Federal Communications Commission, has voiced his opposition to the proposal, which is currently coming from the lower levels of the administration and not from Trump himself. “I oppose any proposal for the federal government to build and operate a nationwide 5G network,” Pai said in a statement . “The main lesson to draw from the wireless sector’s development over the past three decades—including American leadership in 4G—is that the market, not government, is best positioned to drive innovation and investment....Any federal effort to construct a nationalized 5G network would be a costly and counterproductive distraction from the policies we need to help the United States win the 5G future.” Pai, who was formerly an attorney for Verizon , made a similar argument when repealing net neutrality rules, saying government regulation was stopping telecom and cable companies from investing in new technology. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 7:13 AM / in 3 hours Southeast Asia a 'hotspot' for antibiotic abuse, FAO official says Amy Sawitta Lefevre 2 Min Read BANGKOK (Reuters) - Overuse and misuse of antibiotics in food is rife in Southeast Asia, a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) official said on Wednesday, warning of serious risks for people and animals as bacterial infections become more resistant to treatment. The official from the United Nations’ food agency issued the warning on the sidelines of an international meeting in Bangkok focused on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). FAO‘s Chief Veterinary Officer Juan Lubroth told Reuters in Bangkok that threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was magnified in places, like Asia’s megacities, where there was high population growth and intense food and agriculture production. “Here in Southeast Asia ... we would consider it a hotpot because of the population growth, urbanization dynamics, the production of food,” Lubroth told Reuters. A report published on Monday by the World Health Organization said that a new global surveillance system had found widespread occurrence of antibiotic resistance among 500,000 people with suspected bacterial infections across 22 countries. “Some of the world’s most common – and potentially most dangerous – infections are proving drug-resistant,” Marc Sprenger, director of WHO’s Antimicrobial Resistance Secretariat, said in a statement. A 2016 report by economist Jim O‘Neill, commissioned by the British government, projects $100 trillion in losses by 2050 if nothing is done to reverse the trend, and estimated that the annual toll resulting from AMR will climb to 10 million deaths in the next 35 years. “Ninety percent of those deaths would be in the developing world, and that is scary,” Lubroth said. He said the FAO advocates educating farmers about the dangers of using antibiotics to promote growth in animals, and stronger enforcement of rules governing food production. “It’s not only about having the rules in black and white, they need to be applied.” Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore" + }, + { + "text": "'I'm not at all concerned\": Trump on Sessions being questioned by special counsel 7:12am IST - 00:28 President Donald Trump said he was 'not at all concerned' when asked by a reporter about Attorney General Jeff Sessions' reported interview with the special counsel's office investigating potential collusion between Russia and President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). President Donald Trump said he was 'not at all concerned' when asked by a reporter about Attorney General Jeff Sessions' reported interview with the special counsel's office investigating potential collusion between Russia and President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2n4UUnK" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 3:02 PM / in 17 minutes UPDATE 4-Trump team idea to nationalize 5G network to counter China is rejected Reuters Staff 6 Min Read (Adds White House comment, paragraph 4; lawmakers’ comments, context on 5G suppliers, Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE, paragraphs 12-18) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The top U.S. communications regulator, wireless companies and some lawmakers oppose an idea by members of President Donald Trump’s national security team for the government to build a 5G wireless network to counter China spying on phone calls. The Trump administration has taken a harder line with China on policies initiated by predecessor President Barack Obama on issues ranging from Beijing’s role in restraining North Korea to Chinese efforts to acquire U.S. strategic industries. The option of a nationalized 5G network was being discussed by Trump’s national security team, an administration official said on Sunday. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Monday that discussions were at “the very earliest stages” to ensure a “secure network,” and “absolutely no decisions” have been made. The government has blocked a string of Chinese acquisitions over national security concerns and the 5G network concept is aimed at addressing what officials see as China’s threat to U.S. cyber security and economic security. But the option was rejected by several of those who would have a say. “Any federal effort to construct a nationalized 5G network would be a costly and counterproductive distraction from the policies we need to help the United States win the 5G future,” Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai, a Republican appointed by Trump, said in a statement on Monday. CTIA, the trade group that represents AT&T Inc, Verizon Communications Inc, Apple Inc, Sprint Corp and others, said in a statement on Monday that the “government should pursue the free market policies that enabled the U.S. wireless industry to win the race to 4G.” Carriers have already spent billions of dollars acquiring spectrum and beginning to develop and test 5G networks, which are expected to be at least 100 times faster than current 4G networks and cut latency to less than one thousandth of a second from one one hundredth of a second in 4G, the FCC said. The more responsive networks could allow, for example, for real-time remote operations such as medical procedures and running large machines. A U.S.-built 5G network could in theory be more resilient to Chinese government intrusions. A leaked National Security Council memo published by Axios news website on Sunday said China is the dominant manufacturer of network infrastructure and notes the importance of building the network with “equipment from a trusted supply chain.” The primary suppliers for the 5G networks in the United States are expected to be firms such as Nokia and Ericsson, with networking firms such as Juniper Networks, Cisco Systems and Qualcomm Inc supplying chips and back end equipment. It was unclear whether the option discussed would involve working with those companies. The rules for 5G networks are still being worked out by industry players. The work has been complicated by an effective ban in the United States on two of the largest firms, Chinese suppliers Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and ZTE Corp since a 2012 investigation over links to potential Chinese spying, something the companies have denied. Earlier this year, U.S. lawmakers urged AT&T to cut commercial ties with Huawei. U.S. Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat and vice chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said that while he agreed there were “serious concerns relating to the Chinese government’s influence into network equipment markets” he thought the proposal for the federal government to build a standalone network would be “expensive and duplicative.” Any 5G nationalization plan would likely cost hundreds of billions of dollars, wireless carriers said. Representative Greg Walden, a Republican who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee, dismissed the idea. “We’re not Venezuela. We don’t need to have the government run everything,” Walden said. He noted that government data has been hacked, but said it was important 5G networks are “safe and secure.” Shares of the biggest U.S. wireless carriers fell at the start of trade on Monday, with Verizon and AT&T down 1 percent. The administration official who spoke to Reuters confirmed the gist of the Axios report and said the option was being debated at a low level in the administration and was six to eight months away from being considered by the president. “This has been building for months. I don’t think the White House options papers do justice to the issue. It goes much deeper,” said Michael Wessel, a commissioner on the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which works for Congress and follows China issues." + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Benchmark Japanese government bonds edged down on Friday, though superlong maturities rose after a 40-year auction met with solid demand. The 10-year cash JGB yield added half a basis point to 0.070 percent, while 10-year JGB futures ended flat on the day at 150.48. The Ministry of Finance offered 500 billion yen ($4.49 billion) of 40-year JGBs. The highest yield was 0.985 percent at the Dutch-style auction, in which all successful bidders paid the lowest accepted bid. The bid-to-cover ratio was 3.67, above 3.00 at the previous tender in November. A higher bid-to-cover ratio indicates stronger demand. “We know that 40-year issuance will be reduced next fiscal year, which helped demand,” said Naomi Muguruma, senior market economist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities. On Tuesday, the BOJ’s decision to trim its purchases of 10- to 25-year JGBs and 25- to 40-year JGBs by 10 billion yen in each zone from its previous operations, to 190 billion yen and 80 billion respectively. The move raised fears that Japan’s central bank could be gearing up to trim its massive stimulus. The BOJ maintained its buying ranges on Thursday. “I think foreigners and hedge funds probably built steepeners after they saw the BOJ‘S reduction on Tuesday, but they realized that probably this is not the beginning of the exit, so they unwound steepeners today,” Muguruma said. The 40-year yield was 1.5 basis points lower at 0.995 percent. Elsewhere in the superlong zone, the 20-year yield edged down half a basis point to 0.585 percent, while the 30-year yield shed 1 basis point to 0.830 percent . $1 = 111.2600 yen Reporting by Tokyo markets team; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 8:48 AM / Updated 4 minutes ago Tennis: Svitolina in Brisbane semis after Konta's injury pullout Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Elina Svitolina entered the Brisbane International semi-finals after her opponent Johanna Konta retired with a hip injury during the third set of the quarter-final contest on Thursday. World number nine Konta, who had made slow starts in her previous two matches at the Pat Rafter Arena, claimed the first set 6-1 but lost momentum in the next as Svitolina grew in confidence to level the contest at 1-1 after a tiebreak. The Briton called for an injury timeout to treat her right hip ahead of the decider but was unable to continue despite holding serve for two games to hand Svitolina victory. “I don’t feel too comfortable saying really too much because, actually, I don’t know yet until tomorrow morning,” Konta said after the match. “Hopefully it’s nothing more than a low-grade strain and more muscle spasm more than anything.” Third seed Svitolina next plays the winner of the clash between defending champion Karolina Pliskova and 2012 winner Kaia Kanepi. Aliaksandra Sasnovich came from behind to dump out France’s Alize Cornet 3-6 6-2 6-3. Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova plays Aleksandra Krunic in the other quarter-final. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; editing by Amlan Chakraborty" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - Shenzhen Stock Exchange : * FILING SHOWS BLOCK TRADE OF HANGZHOU HIKVISION DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CO LTD'S 8.45 MILLION SHARES INVOLVING 354.06 MILLION YUAN ($54.40 million) ON JAN 11 Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2grA0v1 Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.5081 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "47 PM / Updated 19 minutes ago As South Korea counts down to Olympics, a ghost ski resort festers Reuters Staff 2 Min Read GANSEOUNG, South Korea (Reuters) - The chairs of an abandoned ski lift sit on a barren, ghostly mountainside in South Korea; like gravestones for what was one a vibrant holiday resort. As the country prepares to host the 2018 Winter Olympics in a raft of new sporting venues, the abandoned Alps Ski Resort, only around 100 kilometres (60 miles) away, stands in grim contrast, as the future of South Korea’s new facilities remains uncertain. Located close to the border with North Korea, the resort had been used for skiing since the period of Japan’s colonial rule in the early 20th century and was South Korea’s oldest when it closed its doors in 2006. Its decline was caused by a drop in the number of people taking part in skiing, a phenomenon that has continued since the resort’s closure. The number of South Koreans skiing has been on the decline since 2012 from its peak around 6.8 million in the 2011-2012 winter ski season, according to data from the Ski Resort Business Association of Korea. Abandoned Alps Ski Resort is seen near the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas in Goseong, South Korea, January 17, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji In the 2016-2017 season around 4.8 million South Koreans took to the slopes. Whether local or national government will bear the cost of maintaining the 14 venues for the Pyeongchang Olympics after the games finish, is a matter of some debate. “We are making our point that (these facilities) should be managed by the state,” Choi Moon-soon, the governor of Gangwon Province, which will host the 2018 Winter Olympics, told Reuters this week. “(The) ski jump slope, for instance: this won’t be used only by Gangwon and this will be barely used by anyone else except national athletes ... So we’re asking those who will use to pay for it.” Whether South Korea’s new and revamped Olympic venues will thrive, or face the same struggles that led to the Alps Ski Resort’s closure remains to be seen. But the tattered buildings and piles of rubbish, including dozens of discarded toilet bowls, that litter the resort’s landscape are a reminder of the challenges the sport continues to face in South Korea. Writing by Mark Hanrahan in London; Editing by Robin Pomeroy" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 8 (Reuters) - Fortis Inc : * Says it will issue 14th series unregistered/unsecured convertible bonds worth of 10 billion won * Says a 100 percent conversion rate of bonds to common shares at 1,510 won/share * Says annual coupon rate is 0 percent and yield to maturity is 0 percent, and conversion period from March 20, 2019 to Feb. 27, 2021 Source text in Korean: goo.gl/ofCsSo Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "DUBLIN, Jan 22 (Reuters) - General Electric Co is unlikely to divest its aircraft finance unit GECAS as it likes its stable returns and global footprint, the unit’s chief executive Alec Burger said on Monday. GE indicated last week that it was looking closely at breaking itself up as the conglomerate announced more than $11 billion in charges from its long-term care insurance portfolio and new U.S. tax laws. “I think when GE looks at GECAS they ... like the (stable) returns in the business, they like the global nature, they like where the overall aviation industry is,” Burger told the Airline Economics conference in Dublin. “As you have read in the paper, the whole portfolio is being looked at and I think GECAS is viewed as a solid keeper,” he said. (Reporting by Conor Humphries; editing by Jason Neely)" + }, + { + "text": "AT&T : \"I like it. Cash flow's going to increase if they get the Time Warner deal done.\" Duke Energy Corp : \"Duke's fine. I prefer Dominion and I prefer ConEd and I also prefer American Electric Power .\" XPO Logistics : \"I keep waiting for the stock to go back to $90 so we can get back in for ActionAlerts. What a horse that is.\" Alarm.com Holdings : \"No. I've got too many home systems coming in. I don't want to touch them. But if they feel differently, they should come on the show.\" Watch the full lightning round here: show chapters Cramer's lightning round: AT&T's cash flow could get a boost 21 Hours Ago | 02:41 Disclosure: Cramer's charitable trust owns shares of XPO Logistics." + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 3:16 PM / in 23 minutes Italy's 5-Star says would respect EU's 3 percent deficit limit Gavin Jones 3 Min Read ROME (Reuters) - The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement said on Friday that if it wins power at Italy’s March 4 election it will respect the European Union’s budget deficit limit of 3 percent of gross domestic product, reversing an earlier stance. 5-Star’s leader Luigi Di Maio had repeatedly said the party would exceed the 3 percent limit to fund public investments. Five-star said on its website that even with 10-15 billion euros of deficit spending per year, it would remain “comfortably below the antiquated and stupid 3 percent level”. A 5-Star spokesman confirmed this meant they no longer planned to exceed 3 percent. 5-Star is Italy’s most popular party, according to opinion polls, but it is not expected to win enough seats to form a government alone. The maverick party has steadily moved away from unorthodox economic positions in a bid to reassure investors and Italy’s partners that it can be trusted with power. Di Maio had already backtracked on a pledge to hold a referendum on Italy’s membership of the euro zone. The latest shift on the deficit brings 5-Star broadly into line with the positions of two of its main rivals at the election. Centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi and Matteo Renzi, leader of the ruling Democratic Party, have both said they would not exceed the 3 percent limit, but Renzi has said he wants to raise it to 2.9 percent for the next five years. However, the EU’s Stability Pact does not only require Italy to hold the deficit below 3 percent, but to reduce it steadily towards a balanced budget. The outgoing center-left government has targeted the deficit to fall from 2.1 percent in 2017 to 1.6 percent this year and 0.9 percent in 2019. The European Commission says even these objectives are not ambitious enough in view of Italy’s huge public debt - the highest in the euro zone after Greece’s - and says supplementary deficit cuts may be needed for this year. 5-Star leads the polls with around 28 percent of voting support, 5 points ahead of the PD. A center-right alliance of smaller parties, led by Berlusconi’s Forza Italia (Go Italy!) totals about 37 percent and is seen winning most seats but probably not enough for a working majority, meaning a hung parliament looks likely. Reporting by Gavin Jones; Editing by Alison Williams" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 9:40 AM / Updated 3 minutes ago Israel's Delek Group partners in Gulf of Mexico drilling Reuters Staff 1 Min Read JERUSALEM, Jan 8 (Reuters) - * Israel’s Delek Group said on Monday it has signed a deal with GulfSlope Energy and Texas South Energy to explore 12 concessions in the Gulf of Mexico. * Delek, through a foreign subsidiary, agreed to cover 90 percent of the costs for the first two drill sites - up to $50 million - in exchange for 75 percent of the rights in those prospective drilling sites at the first stage. * Delek said it will use its own funds for the project and will have the option to buy rights in the other concessions as well. * A third-party resource report showed a first stage best estimate of 99 million barrels of oil and 177 billion cubic feet of natural gas, Delek said. (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Steven Scheer)" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 4:26 AM / Updated 19 minutes ago China's Xi tells Trump hard-earned easing of tensions on Korean peninsula must continue Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call on Tuesday that the hard-earned easing of tensions on the Korean peninsula must continue, Chinese state media reported. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago state in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., April 6, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo Unity on the issue was extremely important, Xi said, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Senior officials from 20 nations will gather in Vancouver on Tuesday for a summit on curbing North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, in a bid to increase diplomatic and financial pressure on Pyongyang to scrap its missile and nuclear programmes. Reporting by Christian Shepherd; Editing by Paul Tait" + }, + { + "text": "INSIGHT: George Weah sworn in as Liberia's president Monday, January 22, 2018 - 00:50 Former soccer World Player of the Year George Weah is inaugurated as President of Liberia. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Former soccer World Player of the Year George Weah is inaugurated as President of Liberia. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Q2 Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:QTWO), a leading provider of secure, cloud-based digital banking solutions for community-focused financial institutions, will release its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2017 after market close on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. Q2 will host a corresponding conference call at 8:30 a.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018. Conference Call Details: Date: Feb. 15, 2018 Time: 8:30 a.m. EST Hosts: Matt Flake, CEO / Jennifer Harris, CFO Dial in: U.S. toll free: 1-833-241-4254 International: 1-647-689-4205 Conference ID: 8194919 Please join the conference call at least 10 minutes early to ensure the line is connected. A live webcast of the conference call and financial results will be accessible from the investor services section of the Q2 website at . An archived replay of the webcast will be available at this website on a temporary basis shortly after the call. About Q2 Holdings, Inc. Q2 Holdings, Inc. (Q2) is a leading provider of secure, cloud-based digital banking solutions headquartered in Austin, Texas. Q2 is driven by a culture of partnership and dedication to empowering community-focused banks and credit unions with digital banking solutions that help them stand apart, scale smart and grow beyond with retail and commercial account holders. Q2’s solutions are designed to deliver a compelling, secure and consistent user experience on any device and enable customers to improve account holder retention and to create incremental sales opportunities. To learn more about Q2, visit www.q2ebanking.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Media Contact: Red Fan Communications Emma Chase, 512-551-9253 C: 512-917-4319 [REDACTED] or Investor Contact: Q2 Holdings, Inc. Bob Gujavarty, 512-439-3447 [REDACTED] Source: Q2 Holdings, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - Shanghai Fortune Techgroup Co Ltd : * SAYS UNIT PLANS TO ACQUIRE 49 PERCENT STAKE IN UPKEEN GLOBAL INVESTMENT, 49 PERCENT STAKE IN FAST ACHIEVE VENTURES FOR A COMBINED HK$174.9 MILLION ($22.35 million) Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2DjGE2j Further company coverage: ($1 = 7.8240 Hong Kong dollars) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Uber [UBER.UL] Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi said the ride-hailing company’s relationship with former chief Travis Kalanick was “fine but strained”. Kalanick was pushed out by the company’s board last year amid a litany of regulatory problems, driver and consumer scandals, and court cases. Khosrowshahi replaced Kalanick in August. “The relationship with Travis is fine but its strained because obviously there was a lot that happened in the past that wasn’t right and I think the moral compass of the company was not pointed where it needed to be,” Khosrowshahi told CNBC on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos on Tuesday. “While you don’t want to blame individuals, in the end the CEO of the company has to take responsibility.” Khosrowshahi, however, said that Kalanick has been available as a board member to provide guidance. Last week, a consortium led by SoftBank Group Corp took a 17.5 percent stake in Uber, mostly by buying shares from early investors and employees at a discounted valuation of $48 billion for the company. [nL1N1PD1WE] Kalanick sold nearly a third of his 10 percent stake in the ride-services company for about $1.4 billion, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters. [nL4N1P01K5] Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee and Arjun Panchadar in Bengaluru; Editing by Supriya Kurane" + }, + { + "text": "January 6, 2018 / 12:39 PM / Updated 9 hours ago VW U.S. sales chief quits amid falling deliveries Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BERLIN (Reuters) - A senior U.S. sales manager has quit Volkswagen’s ( VOWG_p.DE ) North America operations just as the carmaker’s deliveries in the world’s second-largest auto market fall steeply. FILE PHOTO: A Volkswagen logo is pictured at Volkswagen's headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, April 22, 2016. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/File Photo Ron Stach, senior vice president of sales at Volkswagen of America, has left the automaker, a spokesman for VW in the United States said on Saturday, confirming a report by Automotive News. He declined comment on the reason for Stach’s departure. A spokesman at VW’s global headquarters in Wolfsburg didn’t return calls seeking comment. Stach, who joined VW’s North America operations in 2006 and previously worked at Mazda Motor Corp’s ( 7261.T ) division in the region, couldn’t be reached for comment. VW said last Wednesday that its U.S. sales rose 5.2 percent to 339,676 brand models last year but plunged 19 percent in December after posting their first monthly drop in 2017 in November. The world’s largest automaker by sales is keen to end losses in the United States by the end of the decade, counting on a series of higher-margin new models and structural changes as it struggles to draw a line under its diesel emissions test cheating scandal which broke in the United States in 2015. Stach became vice president of sales in March 2016, the same month that Michael Horn, the carmaker’s then-CEO of North American operations, resigned. During VW’s initial response to the emissions scandal, Horn was the carmaker’s public face in the United States, apologising days after the scandal became public on Sept. 18, 2015 and testifying before Congress. Stach will be replaced temporarily by Derrick Hatami who joined VW of America last June as executive vice president for sales and marketing, VW said. Reporting by Andreas Cremer; Editing by Stephen Powell and Adrian Croft" + }, + { + "text": "For the first time in the 48-year history of the World Economic Forum (WEF), the 2018 summit in Davos, Switzerland will be chaired entirely by women. The move, a response to previous criticism about the prominence of men in the running of the event, will see seven women on 2018's meeting. The co-chairs of the event include International Monetary Fund Director Christine Lagarde, IBM Chief Executive Ginni Rometty and Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg. Solberg told CNBC ahead of the summit that it was \"an honor to be asked to be co-chair at the World Economic Forum this year.\" \"I look forward to meeting representatives from the business sector, politics and various organizations to discuss how we can bring the world forward,\" she said. \"For my part, as Norwegian Prime Minister, I am particularly concerned about the need to create a sustainable welfare society. Inclusive growth is essential to reach that goal. This means, among other things, that both women and men must be able to take part in the labor market on equal terms.\" 'Davos Man' WEF has faced criticism in the past that the summit, attended by more than 2,500 people including global leaders and policy makers, lacked female representation. This resulted in \"Davos Man,\" a catch-all term with negative undertones used to refer to elite, wealthy men that attend the event. Sharan Burrow, another of the forum's co-chairs, told CNBC that \"Davos Man\" must sit up and take notice. \"Davos Man needs to listen if he cares about his families and particularly about the question of equality and equal opportunity for his daughters,\" Burrow, general-secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), said. \"If you ask me whether this rise of the alpha leader has created a wave of misogyny, you know my answer is yes.\" Sean Gallup | Getty Images Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg who is a co-chair of the World Economic Forum in 2018 The other co-chairs this year are Isabelle Kocher, chief executive of French energy supplier ENGIE; Fabiola Gianotti, director-general of the Switzerland-based European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN); and Chetna Sinha, founder and chair of India's Mann Deshi Foundation, which supports female entrepreneurs. WEF said the co-chairs would \"lend a strong voice to all parts of society, ensuring a multi-stakeholder approach to the program and eventually the impact of the annual meeting 2018,\" WEF said, adding that the women \"represent both the public and private sectors, international organizations, organized labor, academia and science, as well as civil society and social entrepreneurship.\" Gender pay gap Despite the all-female line-up, women in senior roles in industry are still the exception rather than the norm and gender inequality remains a global problem, particularly the gender pay gap . WEF published a report in November, \"Global Gender Gap in 2017,\" which found that the gap in different spheres of society, including the economy, education and health, was still prominent and even deteriorating. The report looked at 144 countries' progress towards gender parity across the economic, education, health and political empowerment fronts. It found that the \"overall global gender gap can be closed in exactly 100 years\" and that the most challenging gender gaps were in the economic and health spheres. WEF noted that the gender pay pap was deteriorating and that \"given the continued widening of the economic gender gap, it will now not be closed for another 217 years.\" According to PwC's Women in Work Index 2017, achieving pay parity in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) could increase total female earnings by $2 trillion . Minouche Shafik, director of the London School of Economics and a WEF contributor, told CNBC that society needed more women at senior levels of corporate life. \"There are still many places where women are paid differently for equal work at the same level (as men) and every decent organization should look at itself and make sure everyone's being paid equally. That's a minimum that everyone should be able to do immediately. Then the longer-term issue is about getting more women to a senior level.\" Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook ." + }, + { + "text": "Several dead in latest Brazilian prison riot 6:26pm GMT - 00:58 Nine inmates were killed, 14 injured, and dozens escaped in a prison riot in Brazil in the latest example of the country’s continuing difficulties maintaining control over its notoriously violent penal system. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Nine inmates were killed, 14 injured, and dozens escaped in a prison riot in Brazil in the latest example of the country’s continuing difficulties maintaining control over its notoriously violent penal system. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Macron: 184 jet Airbus-China deal about to take off 12:16pm EST - 01:38 French President Emmanuel Macron says a contract with China for 184 Airbus A320 narrow-body jets will be finalised soon and that his country also has ambitions to sell A350 and A380 planes to China in coming weeks or months. Sonia Legg reports French President Emmanuel Macron says a contract with China for 184 Airbus A320 narrow-body jets will be finalised soon and that his country also has ambitions to sell A350 and A380 planes to China in coming weeks or months. Sonia Legg reports //reut.rs/2D0NrB2" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING, Jan 26 (Reuters) - China is considering a merger of its banking and insurance regulators, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Government agencies under the direction of a Communist Party central reform group led by President Xi Jinping are drafting a plan that would combine the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) and the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC), Bloomberg reported without naming its sources. The CBRC and CIRC could not be immediately reached for comment. (Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)" + }, + { + "text": "Apple Inc. will start selling its voice-activated speaker HomePod in stores Feb. 9, after a launch delay that cost the company sales during the critical holiday shopping season. The tech giant, in announcing the sales date Tuesday, didn’t explain why the product missed a promised December ship date. The HomePod can be preordered online beginning Friday. Market... RELATED VIDEO Apple's Next Moves: HomePod, iOS 11 and iPad Pro In a 2.5-hour keynote, Apple announced a slew of new hardware and software products. WSJ's Joanna Stern recaps what you need to know about the most important announcements (Originally published Sept. 8, 2017) . To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - RPX Corp ( RPXC.O ), a U.S. provider of patent management services, is exploring a sale as part of a review of its options, according to people familiar with the matter. The move comes one year after RPX CEO John Amster stepped down when he failed to convince the board of directors to allow the company to be taken private. Amster was succeeded as CEO by the company’s general counsel Martin Roberts. RPX has now hired an investment bank to run a sale process for the company, which has attracted interest from private equity firms, the sources said this week. There is no certainty that RPX will agree to any deal, the sources added. The sources asked not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential. RPX did not respond to a request for comment. RPX shares rose as much as 11 percent on the news and ended trading at up 3.0 percent at $13.93 on Wednesday, giving the company a market capitalization of $650 million. Based in San Francisco, RPX is one of the largest buyers of patents, having spent more than $3.5 billion to buy more than 18,500 patent assets to date. Companies concerned about the cost of patent litigation pay subscription fees to join RPX’s network, which then shields them from lawsuits on these patents. RPX also provide patent litigation insurance, as well as market intelligence on patents. The company been looking for ways to boost its relatively flat earnings. RPX reported total revenue of $85.7 million for the third quarter of 2017, compared to $88.5 million in the third quarter of 2016. Adjusted net income was $10.9 million versus $12.7 million a year ago. (This version of the story was refiled to add the dropped word ‘down’ in paragraph two) Reporting by Liana B. Baker in San Francisco and Greg Roumeliotis in New York; Editing by Andrew Hay" + }, + { + "text": "Actress Meryl Streep to join HBO's 'Big Little Lies' 5:20pm GMT - 00:58 HBO announced that Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep will be joining the star-studded cast of 'Big Little Lies' in the second season. Lisa Keddie reports. HBO announced that Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep will be joining the star-studded cast of 'Big Little Lies' in the second season. Lisa Keddie reports. //reut.rs/2nab1k3" + }, + { + "text": "January 14, 2018 / 9:57 AM / Updated 4 hours ago Carillion holds survival talks under close UK government watch Reuters Staff 3 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Carillion held further emergency funding talks on Sunday as the British government said it hoped that the struggling construction and services company’s partners will find the cash it needs to stay in business. With thousands of jobs and major infrastructure projects on the line, the chairman of the governing Conservatives said ministers were “keeping a very close eye” on the Carillion negotiations and contingency plans were in place. Brandon Lewis told the BBC that Carillion was still a going concern. The company said it was continuing to hold talks to avoid entering administration after contract delays and a downturn in new business, which have hit its profit and shares. “Hopefully, they will be able to work with their partners to get the working capital they need to continue to provide important services,” Lewis said. Carillion is part of a consortium that won a 1.4 billion pound ($1.9 billion) contract to help build Britain’s High Speed 2 railway on last year. The deal had offered it some respite after the company had lost other contracts. Carillion, which has been in discussions with stakeholders and creditors for nearly a week, said these were continuing as it battles for survival following several profit warnings and a first-half loss of more than 1 billion pounds ($1.37 billion). But deputy general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Paul Nowak, called on the government to step in. Cranes stand on a Carillion construction site in central London, Britain January 14, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson “Tens of thousands of jobs are now at risk, along with vital public services and major infrastructure projects across the country,” Nowak said in a statement. Carillion, which is a major provider of public services, employs about 43,000 people worldwide. Cranes stand on a Carillion construction site in central London, Britain January 14, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson “Workers, taxpayers and public service users could well be left to carry the can. Carillion is a textbook example of the failures of privatization and outsourcing. The government needs to step in, guarantee jobs and services, and explain how they let this mess happen in the first place.” The Conservative Party’s Lewis declined to comment on whether ministers were ready to bail out the company, which Sky News had said could enter administration as soon as Monday unless the government backs a rescue plan. [nL8N1P80CJ] Carillion said on Friday it was having “constructive discussions” with creditors, rejecting suggestions that they did not like the plan put forward by the company. [nL8N1P72UE] Shares in the company hit a new low of 14.2 pence on Friday after falling 30 percent. ($1 = 0.7283 pounds)" + }, + { + "text": "Job loss fears after collapse of Britain's Carillion 01:51 Britain's Carillion collapses after its banks lose faith in the construction and services company, throwing hundreds of major projects into doubt and forcing the government to step in to guarantee vital public services. Ciara Lee reports Britain's Carillion collapses after its banks lose faith in the construction and services company, throwing hundreds of major projects into doubt and forcing the government to step in to guarantee vital public services. Ciara Lee reports //reut.rs/2B2adlS" + }, + { + "text": "Westminster highlights Chinese-origin dog breeds ahead of Lunar New Year 12:48am IST - 00:59 In honor of the upcoming Chinese New Year, Westminster Kennel Club highlights dog breeds of Chinese origin. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). In honor of the upcoming Chinese New Year, Westminster Kennel Club highlights dog breeds of Chinese origin. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2DPX2ee" + }, + { + "text": "January 20, 2018 / 10:15 AM / Updated 5 hours ago North Korea says to send delegation to prepare for Olympics on Sunday: South Korea ministry Joyce Lee 2 Min Read SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea will send a delegation to South Korea on Sunday to prepare for a trip by an art troupe during next month’s Winter Olympics, pushing the visit back a day after earlier cancelling it, South Korea’s Unification Ministry has said. The North’s participation in the Winter Olympics in South Korea’s Pyeongchang has been interpreted as an apparent diplomatic breakthrough after months of high tension over the North’s nuclear and missile program. North Korea sent a statement on Saturday saying it would send the delegation by a land route on Sunday, and the schedule during the visit could be carried out as previously agreed, the Unification Ministry said in a statement. The South Korean government has agreed to the visit on Sunday, the ministry said. Slideshow (10 Images) A seven-member North Korean team had been scheduled to visit on Saturday to check venues for the performances, the ministry said, but late on Friday North Korea canceled the visit. At the Games, the two Koreas will field a combined women’s ice hockey team and march together under one flag, Seoul said earlier this week, after a new round of talks amid a thaw in cross-border ties. Meanwhile, North Korea has accused the United Nations Secretary General of bias over its nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches for not also taking the United States to task over its own nuclear program. The North criticized the U.S. and other nations for calling its nuclear program “violations of resolutions”. Pyongyang said the remarks it took issue with were in the vein of “the U.S. desperately trying to reverse the trend of detente and improvement of inter-Korean relations”, seemingly referring to the breakthrough surrounding the Winter Olympics, according to a statement from North Korea’s Permanent Mission to the UN. Reporting by Joyce Lee; Additional reporting by Haejin Choi; Editing by Michael Perry and Andrew Bolton" + }, + { + "text": "WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rigrodsky & Long, P.A.: Do you own shares of United American Bank (OTC PINK: UABK )? Did you purchase any of your shares prior to January 11, 2018? Do you think the proposed buyout is fair? Do you want to discuss your rights? Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. announces that it is investigating potential legal claims against the board of directors of United American Bank (“United American” or the “Company”) (OTC PINK: UABK ) regarding possible breaches of fiduciary duties and other violations of law related to the Company’s entry into an agreement to be acquired by Heritage Commerce Corp. (“Heritage”) (NASDAQ GS: HTBK ) in a transaction valued at approximately $44.2 million. Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of United American will receive 2.1644 shares of Heritage common stock for each share of United American common stock. If you own common stock of United American and purchased any shares before January 11, 2018, if you would like to learn more about this investigation, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests, please contact Seth D. Rigrodsky or Gina M. Serra at Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., 2 Righter Parkway, Suite 120, Wilmington, DE 19803, by telephone at (888) 969-4242, or by e-mail at [REDACTED] . Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. , with offices in Wilmington, Delaware and Garden City, New York, regularly prosecutes securities fraud, shareholder corporate, and shareholder derivative litigation on behalf of shareholders in state and federal courts throughout the United States. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View source version on businesswire.com : Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. Seth D. Rigrodsky Gina M. Serra 888-969-4242 302-295-5310 Fax: 302-654-7530 [REDACTED] Source: Rigrodsky & Long, P.A." + }, + { + "text": "13,000 stranded in snowbound Alpine resort 5:20am EST - 00:42 Authorities had to airlift some tourists stuck in a Swiss ski resort near the Matterhorn, after heavy snows and a power outage stranded thousands. Matthew Larotonda Authorities had to airlift some tourists stuck in a Swiss ski resort near the Matterhorn, after heavy snows and a power outage stranded thousands. Matthew Larotonda //reut.rs/2CVvC6a" + }, + { + "text": "U.S. holiday spending surges to 12-year high 01:32 U.S. holiday spending jumped in the biggest gain since 2005 - spurred by stronger employment and, rising consumer confidence, the National Retail Federation said on Friday. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript U.S. holiday spending jumped in the biggest gain since 2005 - spurred by stronger employment and, rising consumer confidence, the National Retail Federation said on Friday. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 2:51 PM / Updated 25 minutes ago Greece, FYROM to make new effort to resolve name dispute Reuters Staff 3 Min Read ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) agreed on Tuesday to make a renewed effort to settle a dispute over the latter’s name which has been dragging on for decades and holding up its aspirations of joining the EU. Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bujar Osmani gives a statement to the media following his meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias (not pictured) in Athens, Greece, January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Costas Baltas Athens has blocked the ex-Yugoslav republic’s attempts to join NATO and objects to its EU membership bid because it says the name Macedonia implies a territorial claim over Greece’s own northerly region of that name. “We are committed to finding a solution in this six months,” said Bujar Osmani, FYROM’s deputy prime minister responsible for European affairs. “2018 is the golden year of opportunity for my country to make progress in terms of Euro-atlantic integration. That is why we are committed to finding a solution.” Under a 1995 accord, Greece has only agreed that the country be referred to as the “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, as an interim measure until the dispute is resolved. It will not acquiesce to the country joining NATO or the EU, of which Greece is a member, under the FYROM banner. Osmani, who was visiting Athens, said he believed there was a “sincerity and commitment”’ by Greece to resolve the issue. Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bujar Osmani (C) arrives for a meeting with Greek Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs George Katrougalos (not pictured) in Athens, Greece January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis Greeks are very sensitive about the name issue, and rallies were planned in northern Greece later in January against any compromise which may use the name Macedonia. But Athens says there is now a window of opportunity to resolve the row following the election of a more moderate government in the neighbouring country which appears more amenable to a deal. “Right now the issue...is to create conditions for the widest possible consensus to put behind us a problem which has weighed on the country, and the wider region, for the past twenty five years,” Greek government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said. Greece and FYROM were due to hold a new round of talks with a United Nations mediator in late January. The Balkan state declared independence from ex-Yugoslavia in 1991 but almost immediately found itself at loggerheads with Greece. “There are a lot of emotional layers. We need to peel them off to find a rational solution,” Osmani told reporters after meeting Greek officials. Reporting by Renee Maltezou, writing by Michele Kambas; Editing by Angus MacSwan" + }, + { + "text": "ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- KSCA | Investment Banking represented Paul Fredrick MenStyle in its December 2017 sale to ClearLight Partners. Paul Fredrick MenStyle, Inc., founded in 1986 and headquartered in Fleetwood, PA, is a leading designer and direct-to-consumer retailer of men’s apparel and related accessories. Paul Fredrick sells merchandise direct-to-consumers through its catalogs and website. ClearLight Partners, headquartered in Newport Beach, CA, is a leading middle-market private equity firm specializing in acquisitions and growth capital investments. KSCA | Investment Banking ( www.ksca.com ) served as the exclusive financial advisor to Paul Fredrick in this sale transaction. KSCA is a leading industry-focused Mergers & Acquisitions advisory firm, having represented over 100 companies. Gary Catherman (404.898.7878 / [REDACTED] ) and Jon Harkey (404.253.0327 / [REDACTED] ) led the KSCA transaction team advising Paul Fredrick. View source version on businesswire.com : KSCA | Investment Banking Gary Catherman, 404-898-7878 [REDACTED] or Jon Harkey, 404-253-0327 [REDACTED] Source: KSCA | Investment Banking" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 12:01 PM / in 9 hours Amazon.com opens its own rainforest in Seattle Jeffrey Dastin 2 Min Read SEATTLE, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc on Monday opens a rainforest-like office space in Seattle that it hopes will spark new ideas for employees. While cities across North America are seeking to host Seattle-based Amazon’s second headquarters, the world’s largest online retailer is still expanding its main campus. Company office towers and high-end eateries have taken the place of warehouses and parking lots in Seattle’s South Lake Union district. The Spheres complex, officially open to workers on Tuesday, is the pinnacle of a decade of development here. The Spheres’ three glass domes house some 40,000 plants of 400 species. Amazon, famous for its demanding work culture, hopes the Spheres’ lush environs will let employees reflect and have chance encounters, spawning new products or plans. The space is more like a greenhouse than a typical office. Instead of enclosed conference rooms or desks, there are walkways and unconventional meeting spaces with chairs. Amazon has invested $3.7 billion on buildings and infrastructure in Seattle from 2010 to summer 2017, a figure that has public officials competing for its “HQ2” salivating. Amazon has said it expects to invest more than $5 billion in construction of HQ2 and to create as many as 50,000 jobs. Earlier this month, the online retailer narrowed 238 applications for its second headquarters to 20. The finalists, from Boston and New York to Austin, Texas, largely fit the bill of being big metropolises that can attract highly educated tech talent. Amazon started the frenzied HQ2 contest last summer and plans to pick a winner later this year. Seattle’s mayor, the governor of Washington and Amazon’s top real estate executive were expected to speak during the Spheres’ opening ceremony. The Spheres will become part of Amazon’s guided campus tours, and members of the public can also visit an exhibit at the Spheres by appointment starting Tuesday. (Reporting By Jeffrey Dastin in Seattle, editing by Peter Henderson and Cynthia Osterman)" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday sold $34 billion of five-year government notes at a yield of 2.434 percent, which was the highest yield at an auction of this debt maturity since April 2010, Treasury data showed. The ratio of bids to the amount of five-year Treasuries offered was 2.48, the strongest reading since September. This measure of overall auction demand was 2.36 at the previous five-year note sale held in December. (Reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by James Dalgleish)" + }, + { + "text": "We tried to cheat at HQ Trivia — and failed miserably SHARES Darren Weaver | @dgweav Published 1 Hour Ago If you've never played HQ you're probably asking \"why can't I just cheat the game by looking all the answers up on Google?\" CNBC recently discovered it's not quite that simple, and failed miserably at the task. HQ Trivia is a live game show app where people answer multiple choice trivia questions with the hope of winning real money. To win, a user has to make it to the end by correctly answering all 12 multiple choice questions. If you're still standing at the end, you win or split the prize money, which is typically about $2,000 split between a few hundred people. If you've never played HQ you're probably asking yourself \"why can't I just cheat the game by looking all the answers up on Google?\" But it's not quite that simple. Sure, people have been trying to hack the game the system using Google from the start. If you look at Google trends, you can see that searches for terms related to questions spike during the game: But from the time the host starts reading the question, you only have 10 seconds to choose the correct answer. While that might be enough time to search the question, it doesn't quite give you enough time to dissect the search results. We got together a team of nine CNBC reporters and producers, three using of them searching on computers, and the rest answering, on a total of 15 smartphones. The first few questions start off easy, so there wasn't really a need to bring Google into the mix. But as the questions got harder, we found that searching actually distracted us away from the game long enough to miss answering the question. Sure, searching did help us here and there, but most of the answers really came from the players. In the end, all of our phones except one were knocked out on question 10. And on the 11th question, the person searching took too long scrambling to find the answer online and missed the opportunity to answer in time. So in the end, I'd say you should give up your hopes of getting rich by trying to game HQ and just enjoy playing the game." + }, + { + "text": "Davos - World Economic Forum A weaker dollar is good for the US, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin says Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the U.S. is open for business and welcomed a weaker dollar , saying that it would benefit the country. He made a bid for investment into the U.S., saying the government was committed to growth of 3 percent or higher. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin during a press briefing at the White House in Washington. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the U.S. is open for business and welcomed a weaker dollar , saying that it would benefit the country. Speaking at a press conference at the World Economic Forum in Davos Wednesday, he made a bid for investment into the U.S., saying the government was committed to growth of 3 percent or higher. \"Obviously a weaker dollar is good for us as it relates to trade and opportunities,\" Mnuchin told reporters in Davos, according to Bloomberg, adding that the currency's short term value is \"not a concern of ours at all.\" \"Longer term, the strength of the dollar is a reflection of the strength of the U.S. economy and the fact that it is and will continue to be the primary currency in terms of the reserve currency,\" he said. On the eve President Donald Trump 's arrival at the event, he said that the U.S. delegation to Davos was its largest ever. \"(The) size of the delegation to Davos this year is testament to the scale of Trump's work over the past year,\" Mnuchin said. \"What's happening in the U.S. (is a) reflection of programs being put in place. As we look at U.S. growth, it continues to look quite good and is a very attractive place to invest,\" he added. The dollar dipped slightly after his comments and hit a session low, with the dollar index slipping 0.47 percent for the day. The British pound climbed to a post-Brexit vote high shortly after 8:30 a.m. London time. Mnuchin iterated that his country is \"absolutely\" committed to free and fair trade, according to the Associated Press. He added that strong U.S. growth was good for the economy and that there was no inconsistency with Trump's \"America First\" agenda, according to the news agency. —Reuters contributed to this report. Matt Clinch Digital News Editor, CNBC.com Related Securities" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 18 (Reuters) - UNIRITA Inc : * Says it plans to acquire 100 percent stake of shares in a Tokyo-based firm Mugen Corp, which is mainly engaged in system integration business and in-house software development business * Transaction amount is 632 million yen and transaction date is Feb. 15 Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/Y9mV5n Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—Vice President Mike Pence is jumping into the midterm elections, planning visits soon to Nevada and Pennsylvania and helping recruit a candidate in Ohio amid an aggressive push to retain Republican control of Congress. Mr. Pence, in an interview at his White House office Monday, conceded that history shows it is difficult for the president’s party to stave off midterm election losses, but said that economic gains could help Republicans strengthen their grip on the Senate. ... RELATED VIDEO President Trump and his onetime chief strategist Steve Bannon are feuding over revelations from a new book in which Mr. Bannon is Quote: d as saying that a 2016 meeting in Trump Tower between Donald Trump Jr. and some Russian representatives was \"treasonous.\" WSJ's Gerald F. Seib explains the implications of the rift. Photo: Getty" + }, + { + "text": "× × What has ‘Fire and Fury' taught us about Trump’s White House? Axios’ Mike Allen explains 14 Hours Ago It seems like the White House is doing everything it can to sell Michael Wolff's book, says Mike Allen, Axios co-founder, explaining how the controversy surrounding the book is a \"publisher's dream\" and providing an inside look at the Trump White House." + }, + { + "text": "By David Z. Morris January 20, 2018 Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Friday expressed no regret over the firing of James Damore, author of an infamous memo criticizing Google’s pro-diversity policies and culture. During an appearance with YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, Pichai said, “I don’t regret it,” when asked about Damore’s firing by Recode head Kara Swisher. He insisted that the firing was primarily a strategic decision for Google. “The last thing we do when we make decisions like this is look at it with a political lens,” Pichai said, according to TechCrunch . Google has been working to increase its hiring of women. Damore’s memo , which became public in August, argued in part that women might not be biologically suited for careers in engineering or technology. Many commentators felt that retaining Damore after the memo’s distribution would make Google a hostile work environment for women. Wojcicki also described the firing as “the right decision.” Get Data Sheet , Fortune’s technology newsletter. Though Google’s priority was internal cohesion, Damore’s memo was broadly criticized by many in the tech sector and beyond, including for faulty interpretations of biological science. Damore quickly revised inaccurate representations that he had completed a Harvard PhD in biology. At the same time, reports did indicate that Damore’s views were quietly widespread in the lower ranks of Google. Damore earlier this month initiated a lawsuit against Google , alleging that the company discriminates against white men. That case seems difficult to make on its face, since its most recent diversity report found that the company is 69% male and 91% white or Asian, with black or Hispanic people making up only 3% and 4% of new hires, respectively. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "TORONTO (Reuters) - Rio Tinto lifted force majeure on Jan. 1 for shipments of refined copper and acid from its Kennecott mine in the United States, 79 days after declaring it could not meet customer commitments, a spokesman said on Friday. The global miner declared force majeure Oct. 13, after halting production of refined copper at its Utah mine smelter following the death of a worker exposed to sulfur dioxide gases at the plant. It restarted the smelter Nov. 17. “It’s business as usual,” said spokesman Kyle Bennett. In the fourth quarter, refined copper production at Kennecott declined 67 percent compared with the same period in the previous year, to 22,100 tonnes from 67,000 tonnes, Rio said in an operations report last week. The smelter was expected to draw down an increased concentrate inventory during the first half of 2018, Rio said. In 2017, Kennecott produced 125,800 tonnes of refined copper, down some 20 percent from 2016. Reporting by Susan Taylor; Editing by Marguerita Choy" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - LEASINVEST REAL ESTATE SCA: * EXTENDS INVESTMENT IN GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG AND LEASED 100% OF MERCATOR BUILDING IN LUXEMBOURG * ALSO LEASED 25% OF OFFICE BUILDING UNDER CONSTRUCTION * EXTENSION OF FRUN RETAIL PARK ASTEN IN AUSTRIA TO BE DELIVERED SOON, IS ALSO NEARLY ENTIRELY LEASED Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - Spain’s NH Hotels CEO Ramon Aragones: * Says expects to beat original 2018 core profit (EBITDA) target of 260 million euros ($318 million) * Says expects dividend to rise to 0.15 euros per share in 2018 from 0.1 euros per share in 2017 * Says expects payout to reach 50 percent of profit by 2019 * Says average daily rate (ADR) for its hotel rooms to rise to above 100 euros this year * ADR has risen 5.8 percent a year on average over the last four years to 96 euros in September 2017 Further company coverage: ($1 = 0.8175 euros) (Reporting by Madrid Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "The Rough Road for Infrastructure Funding 1/29/2018 6:00AM The U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsed a 25 cent-a-gallon increase in the gas tax, to fund a plan to increase and improve the infrastructure in the U.S. WSJ's Gerald F. Seib explains why the tax is important and why the proposal being unveiled now. Photo: Getty" + }, + { + "text": "The brain makes waves at CES tech show 5:08am IST - 02:29 Move over self-driving cars, robots, and artificial intelligence. It’s time to show what we can do with brainwaves. Jane Lee reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Move over self-driving cars, robots, and artificial intelligence. It’s time to show what we can do with brainwaves. Jane Lee reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "ZURICH (Reuters) - The Swiss Alpine resort of Zermatt airlifted guests by helicopter on Tuesday after heavy snow and a power cut stranded thousands of visitors. An estimated 13,000 people were stuck in Zermatt after snow closed mountain lifts, ski runs, walking paths and train services to the village. With the onset of the wintery weather, avalanche danger in the rugged region of Wallis that includes Zermatt near the Italian border is now rated as “very great”, the highest level, according to the Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research. In the town of Visp, about 30 km (20 miles) down the valley from Zermatt, 20 people were evacuated from their homes after a mud- and snowslide sent debris into a portion of the village, Swiss broadcaster SRG reported on Tuesday. Nobody was injured. However, the tourist office said there was no reason for concern in Zermatt. Town officials say the airlift service was just arranged for those wishing to leave. “Power has returned, there’s still the chance that it could go out ... but at this time things look good,” a tourist office spokeswoman said. “The atmosphere in the village is relaxed and comfortable.” Helicopters flew for about two hours on Tuesday afternoon, she said. Guests seeking to leave the car-free village at the foot of the Matterhorn were flown to Taesch, about 5 km (3 miles) away. From there, Zermatt had enlisted buses in place of rail service to take people further down the valley following the opening of the road. Helicopters were also used to transport people seeking to reach Zermatt, officials said. Swiss mountain communities have been in the spotlight for geological risks since August, when the side of a mountain collapsed in the southern canton of Grisons, killing eight hikers. Their bodies have not been found. Reporting by John Miller; Editing by Alison Williams" + }, + { + "text": "SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regency Centers Corporation (“Regency”), a national owner, operator, and developer of grocery-anchored shopping centers has acquired Scripps Ranch Marketplace. The 132,000 square foot shopping center is anchored by Vons as well as CVS, Starbucks, and other local operators. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Vons at Scripps Ranch (Photo: Business Wire) “This property is a fantastic long-term acquisition for Regency and demonstrates our commitment to grow and enhance our portfolio in San Diego,” said Omar Hussein, Regency’s Vice President-Market Officer for the San Diego region. “Scripps Ranch Marketplace is located in a high-energy, growing retail corridor and will complement our two existing centers in the area, 4S Commons Town Center and Twin Peaks Plaza in Poway. Regency will ensure that Scripps Ranch Marketplace continues to be a go-to community destination, and we plan to enhance the center and merchandising mix over time.” Scripps Ranch Marketplace is strategically located near Interstate 15 off Scripps Poway Parkway, which services over 225,000 vehicles per day. This acquisition brings Regency’s footprint in the San Diego area to over two million square feet of community-serving retail. Other Regency shopping centers in the San Diego region include: Costa Verde Center, Balboa Mesa Shopping Center, Friars Mission Center, The HUB Hillcrest Market, Point Loma Plaza, Navajo Shopping Center, El Norte Parkway Plaza and Rancho San Diego Village. About Regency Centers Corporation (NYSE:REG) Regency Centers is the preeminent national owner, operator, and developer of shopping centers located in affluent and densely populated trade areas. Our portfolio includes thriving properties merchandised with highly productive grocers, restaurants, service providers, and best-in-class retailers that connect to their neighborhoods, communities, and customers. Operating as a fully integrated real estate company, Regency Centers is a qualified real estate investment trust (REIT) that is self-administered, self-managed, and an S&P 500 Index member. For more information, please visit regencycenters.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Regency Centers Corporation Eric Davidson, 904-598-7829 Communications Manager [REDACTED] or Omar Hussein, 858-847-4622 Vice President, Market Officer [REDACTED] Source: Regency Centers Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 2:35 PM / Updated 6 minutes ago Icahn, Deason push Xerox to explore strategic options Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Investors Carl Icahn and Darwin Deason said on Monday that photocopier pioneer Xerox Corp ( XRX.N ) should immediately start a process to explore strategic alternatives. Icahn and Deason together own over 15 percent of Xerox and have earlier separately called on the company to break off or renegotiate a joint venture with Fujifilm Holdings Corp ( 4901.T ), saying it was unfavourable to Xerox. Icahn, the biggest shareholder, had also called for Xerox CEO Jeff Jacobson to be replaced. Icahn and Deason, the third biggest shareholder, plan to push the copier maker to explore options, including a sale of the firm, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. Reporting by Muvija M in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur" + }, + { + "text": "January 2, 2018 / 12:56 PM / Updated 9 minutes ago Sri Lankan rupee falls on importer dollar demand Reuters Staff 2 Min Read COLOMBO, Jan 2 (Reuters) - The Sri Lankan rupee closed lower on Tuesday, as demand for dollars from importers and banks taking positions on the first working day of the new year outweighed inward remittances and conversion of the U.S. currency by exporters, dealers said. The spot rupee, which traded at 153.77 per dollar during the day, ended at 153.70/80 per dollar, compared with Friday’s close of 153.60/65. The foreign exchange market was closed on Monday for a public holiday. The currency fell 2.5 percent last year and dropped 3.9 percent in 2016. “The import demand was heavy today because of the three days of holidays. There had been some inflows but the import demand was there,” said a currency dealer. “The import pressure will be there for a while till the banks sort out the new derivatives regulation of the central bank which has slowed down the forward trading.” Although the rupee lost ground last year, currency dealers say dollar demand has waned slightly, lending support to the domestic currency. (Reporting by Ranga Sirilal and Shihar Aneez; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath)" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 3:04 PM / a minute ago Canada's Trudeau says backed two-state solution in Netanyahu talks Reuters Staff 1 Min Read DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday he had reiterated his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian question in talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The pair met on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos. Reporting by Noah Barkin; Editing by Mark Bendeich" + }, + { + "text": "MUMBAI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Urban planners in many cities around the world are imposing regulations that discourage the creation of affordable housing while slums expand, experts said. Nearly 55 percent of the world’s population lives in urban areas, a proportion that is expected to increase to two-thirds by 2050, according to data from the United Nations. At the same time, the number of people living in slums and informal settlements in cities is also rising, U.N. data showed. Much of their need for affordable housing could be met if city planners eased regulations that govern the use of land, said Alain Bertaud at New York University’s Marron Institute of Urban Management. They should instead allow markets to determine density and affordability, he said during a visit to Mumbai this week. “Poor planning regulations are responsible for unaffordable housing in many prosperous cities,” Bertaud told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. He pointed to Mumbai’s Floor Space Index (FSI), which regulates the amount of floor space in a building relative to the size of the plot of land it sits on. The FSI in Mumbai is set fairly low, which means there is less space available for residences and businesses. The policy has contributed to huge imbalances, said Bertaud. Mumbai has some of the priciest real estate in the world, while more than half its population lives in slums. Instead of imposing such strict regulations, planners should allow the market to determine how much floor space a building should have, Bertaud said. He said that would encourage the development of lower cost housing, which is in high demand. “The market will happily serve the poor if regulators allow it, with basic health and safety guidelines and fewer limits,” said Bimal Patel, president of CEPT University in Ahmedabad. With urban populations rising rapidly in India, Patel and Bertaud said that planners urgently need to change their approaches and use land more efficiently. Investing in public transport infrastructure is also important, as it would provide people with quicker access to suburban areas where they could afford housing, said Bertaud. Many people are forced to live in inner city slums, because they would otherwise face long and expensive commutes to their places of work. “Cities like Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore prove that with the right policy, cities can grow rapidly while improving their infrastructure and their environment,” he said. Reporting by Rina Chandran @rinachandran. Editing by Jared Ferrie. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit news.trust.org to see more stories." + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—A federal judge on Wednesday sided with the Trump administration for a second time in a fight over the control of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, denying a request for a preliminary injunction filed by an Obama-era official. Leandra English, the agency’s deputy director, has sought to unseat Mick Mulvaney, the White House budget director named by President Donald Trump in November as the agency’s interim chief. She has claimed she is the rightful acting director, having been chosen by former director Richard... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Saudi Arabia's involvement in Lebanese politics — notably its political crisis of November 2017 — is simply a matter of \"relationship ups and downs,\" Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Ghassan Hasbani said at the World Economic Forum on Monday. Speaking to CNBC in Davos, Switzerland, the deputy leader had far more positive things to say about the Sunni kingdom than some of his other government counterparts, who have accused it of aggression and interference. \"We count on the support of Saudi Arabia, and we believe that Saudi Arabia has always supported Lebanon positively,\" Hasbani insisted. \"It is not an intervention as much as it is always a positive support to allow the Lebanese to solve their own problems, within a stabilized environment.\" Lebanon was rocked by political chaos late last year after its Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his resignation from the Saudi capital of Riyadh, in a move many observers believe was forced by the Saudi kingdom. Hariri later rescinded his resignation, returning to a country far more united in support for their prime minister than ever before. Bandar Algaloud | Saudi Royal Council | Bandar Algaloud | Saudi Royal Council | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (R) shakes hands with Former Prime Minister of Lebanon Saad Hariri (L), who resigned recently, at King Salman Air Base Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 11, 2017. Hasbani's comments strike a decidedly different tone from that of Lebanese President Michael Aoun, who in mid-November directly accused Saudi Arabia of detaining Hariri, saying that \"Nothing justifies that Saad al Hariri has not returned to Lebanon in 12 days. We consider that he has been detained.\" \"This is not an intervention ... as much as a relationship situation, whereby this relationship had its ups and downs, depending on the rhetoric that comes out of certain parties in Lebanon,\" Hasbani said. He explained the events were triggered by what he described as \"strong negative rhetoric\" against Gulf countries from Shia militant and political group Hezbollah, which is the strongest wing of Lebanon's coalition government. \"That caused a lot of discontent in the relationship,\" Hasbani added, stressing that much of Lebanon's economic stability is credited to Saudi Arabia and its fellow Gulf countries, which provide the vast majority of Lebanon's foreign investment. \"We consider this to be a past event, and now we're looking forward to rebuilding that positive relationship with Saudi Arabia.\" The weeks-long crisis was seen as a manifestation of the intensifying proxy war between Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia and Shia-dominated Iran. Saudi Arabia's efforts are part of its campaign to isolate Hezbollah — which is financially supported by Iran — and freeze its involvement in regional conflicts in which the Sunni kingdom has interests, like Yemen and Syria. Hariri, a Sunni Muslim and Saudi citizen, had reached a political compromise in 2016 granting Hezbollah military autonomy. This, experts say, was the likely catalyst for Saudi Arabia's involvement. A diverse country of 18 different religious groups, Lebanon's fragile political system is based on power-sharing between Sunnis, Shiites and Christians. This often results in a fractured and gridlocked government and society, most vividly manifested in a bloody 15-year civil war that only ended in 1990." + }, + { + "text": "PARIS (Reuters) - France has asked Turkey to act with restraint in Syria, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Sunday after speaking by phone with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu. “France calls on Turkish authorities to act with restraint in a difficult context, with the humanitarian situation deteriorating in several regions of Syria as a consequence of the military actions of the Damascus regime and its allies,” Le Drian said in a statement. Turkish ground forces pushed into northern Syria’s Afrin province on Sunday, the army said, after Turkey launched artillery and air strikes on a U.S.-backed Kurdish militia it aims to sweep from its border. Le Drian also said that France condemned indiscriminate bombing by the Syrian regime in Idlib province and asked for the immediate access of humanitarian aid to eastern Ghouta, where 400,000 citizens are in a critical situation. He confirmed that France would call for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Reporting by Geert De Clercq; Editing by Susan Fenton" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 5:51 PM / Updated 2 hours ago What's up with Italy's Renzi, asks Fiat chief Marchionne Crispian Balmer 3 Min Read ROME (Reuters) - Italy’s centre-left leader Matteo Renzi is no longer the politician he once was, the chief executive of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles said on Tuesday, indicating their once strong ties had withered. FILE PHOTO: Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (L) receives a Ferrari's Formula One replica from FCA Chief Executive and Ferrari Chairman Sergio Marchionne during Ferrari's sport car maker debut at the Milan's stock exchange, downtown Milan, January 4, 2016. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini/File Photo Renzi resigned as prime minister in 2016 after losing a referendum on electoral reform. Although he remained in charge of the ruling Democratic Party (PD), he has struggled to regain the political initiative and is trailing in the opinion polls ahead of a March 4 national election. “I always liked him as a person. I don’t understand what has happened to him,” Fiat Chrysler’s Sergio Marchionne told Italian reporters at the Detroit auto show. “The Renzi that I used to support hasn’t been seen for a while,” he added. There was no immediate response from Renzi. As head of one of Italy’s iconic companies, Marchionne’s comment will carry far in the country. Renzi raised eyebrows when he struck up a close rapport with Marchionne during his three years in government, defying the leftist tradition of standing arm-in-arm with the unions rather than big bosses. An unapologetic Renzi explained the shift by saying his priority was to help job creators and accused unions of looking after the interests of pensioners rather than workers. Hardliners quit the PD last year, complaining that the party had shifted too far to the right. They have created a breakaway group called Free and Equal which has hurt Renzi in the polls. After winning 40 percent in European parliamentary elections in 2014, the PD is now predicted to win only around 23 percent backing in March against some 37 percent for the centre-right bloc and 27 for the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement. “Renzi has squandered political capital and has failed basically,” said Giovanni Orsina, professor of modern history at Rome’s Luiss University, predicting further schisms within the PD if it loses more ground in the forthcoming election. While Renzi’s own approval rating has dropped in line with that of his party, other PD heavyweights still enjoy strong support -- notably Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, who emerged as Italy’s most respected politician in a weekend poll. The Ixe survey said Gentiloni had a 35-percent approval rating, against 27 percent for the next most popular leader, the head of 5-Star, Luigi Di Maio. Renzi hinted on Sunday that he might not thrust himself forward once more as prime minister should the PD pull off a shock win in March, raising speculation that he might endorse instead the mild-mannered Gentiloni in an effort to win votes. French President Emmanuel Macron and European economic and financial affairs commissioner Pierre Moscovici have both warmly praised Gentiloni in recent days, making clear that he is their preferred candidate to regain power. “It is up to Italians to decide how to vote, but let me say that Europe has been very lucky to have Gentiloni and I hope we can continue the work that we have started,” Macron told a news conference in Rome last week. Reporting by Crispian Balmer Additional reporting by Agnieszka Flak in Milan Editing by Jeremy Gaunt" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 10:17 AM / in 21 hours Cricket-Brilliant Kohli leads India resistance against South Africa Reuters Staff 3 Min Read PRETORIA, Jan 15 (Reuters) - India captain Virat Kohli led a superb fightback with an unbeaten century before South Africa grabbed quick wickets with the new ball as the tourists went to lunch at 287 for eight on the third day of the second test on Monday. Kohli had spoken before the match about showing more “intent” against South Africa’s seam attack and he duly delivered, compiling a brilliant 141 not out from 193 balls to leave his side trailing the hosts by 48 runs. Kohli compiled his innings superbly, choosing his scoring shots well, and is just the second Indian batsman after Sachin Tendulkar to score two test centuries on South African soil. He now has 21 test tons to go with 15 half-centuries, a conversion rate when passing 50 that is only bettered in the game by great Australian Don Bradman who made 29 hundreds and 13 fifties. Having laboured through most of the morning, however, South Africa used the new ball to good effect, claiming two wickets in the final 15 minutes before the break to take some shine off the Indian effort. Kohli will resume after the interval with Ishant Sharma (nought) as the pair look to give India a potentially vital first-innings lead. India, trailing 1-0 in the three-match series, bowled South Africa out for 335 in their first innings on a wicket that looks to be flattening out, though it is still expected to break up on days four and five under what has been a baking Highveld sun all through the test. Resuming on 183 for five, India lost three wickets in the session, the first in farcical fashion as Hardik Pandya (15) became the fourth run out in the match. Having been refused a single by Kohli, Pandya ambled back to his end and failed to ground his bat behind his crease despite it being a foot over the line as a throw from Vernon Philander hit the stumps. Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin shared a quick-fire seventh wicket stand of 71 in 14.2 overs, before the latter fell to the first delivery with the new ball, caught by Faf du Plessis at second slip off the bowling of Philander. Mohammed Shami (1) did not last long before he edged a Morne Morkel delivery to Hashim Amla at first slip. (Reporting by Nick Said, editing by Ed Osmond)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15(Reuters) - Marimo Regional Revitalization REIT Inc * Says it will issue new units at the paid-in price of 104,868 yen per share (4.14 billion yen in total), through public offering * Says it will issue new units at the paid-in price of 104,868 yen per share, to raise up to 207.1 million yen in total, through private placement Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/p63HYu Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Whether it's a broken water heater, an unexpected medical bill or a car wreck, emergencies happen to everyone. But a startling number of Americans are unprepared to cope with them, money-wise. According to Bankrate's latest financial security index survey , 34 percent of American households experienced a major unexpected expense over the past year. However, only 39 percent of survey respondents said they would be able to cover a $1,000 setback using their savings. \"While tapping savings to pay off an emergency was the most common response, more than a third of Americans would sink into one type of debt or another, potentially harming their financial security,\" Bankrate says in the report . Using a credit card was the second most popular answer, with 19 percent of respondents saying they'd deal with an emergency with plastic and pay it off over time. The numbers aligned with respondents' annual incomes. \"Lower wage earners, those making less than $30,000 a year, were twice as likely to use some form of borrowing than savings, while households making more than $50,000 were more apt to use cash,\" Bankrate says. A similar 2016 GOBankingRates survey found that 69 percent of Americans had less than $1,000 in total savings and 34 percent had no savings at all. show chapters Suze Orman explains how much money you'll need to have when an emergency happens 12:46 PM ET Thu, 15 June 2017 | 01:01 The simple solution to keep an unexpected expense from bankrupting you or putting you into debt is to build an emergency fund. But that doesn't always take precedence as Americans focus on staying on top of bills, paying off debt and working toward other financial goals. However, even if you're in the red, it's still smart to put some money away. Personal finance expert Dave Ramsey says building a $1,000 emergency fund is the first \"baby step\" toward getting free from debt , because something is always bound to go wrong, no matter how careful you are. \"Car blows up. Transmission goes out. You bury a loved one. Grown kids move home again. Life happens, so be ready,\" Ramsey writes in \" The Total Money Makeover .\" \"This is not a surprise.\" show chapters Suze Orman says this mental shift is the key to saving money 7:59 AM ET Wed, 1 Nov 2017 | 00:59 Building a solid emergency fund first is crucial because it prevents a twist in the track from completely derailing the journey, Ramsey explains. \"I discovered that people would stop their whole Total Money Makeover because of an emergency — they felt guilty that they had to stop debt reducing to survive,\" he writes. \"If you use debt after swearing off it, you lose the momentum to keep going.\" Although the $1,000 cushion is a good start, most experts recommend socking away at least three to six months' worth of living expenses in a fully funded rainy day account. And Suze Orman, financial expert and former CNBC host, pushes for even more. Orman recommends putting away between eight and 12 months worth of living expenses to feel truly secure. show chapters This 26-year-old saved $100,000 in 3 years and is now traveling around the world 2:20 PM ET Fri, 1 Sept 2017 | 01:15 \"Go back to 2007... You lost your job, you lost everything, you were working on this tech thing and all the startups went down,\" she said at the eMerge Americas conference in 2017. \"Nobody had any money to invest, nobody wanted to touch anything, nobody wanted to IPO because the markets were going down and you couldn't find anything to do. Think it took you just three months to find another job? Think it took you six months to find another job?\" She goes on: \"It's not just about the economy. What if you get sick? What if you're hit by a car? What if something happens crazy in this world? We live in the craziest world I've ever seen in my life right now. And the only way you can take craziness out of that if for you to make yourself secure.\" Don't miss: A couple who paid off $127,000 in 4 years say their first step didn't involve spending a cent Here's how much money you should have in your emergency fund, according to financial expert Suze Orman You may be paying off your credit card bill wrong—here's the best way Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook !" + }, + { + "text": "BRUXELLES, 5 gennaio (Reuters) - The European Union's statistics office Eurostat released the following estimate of consumer price growth in the 19 countries sharing the euro in December. Economists polled by Reuters had expected headline inflation to slow to 1.4 percent year-on-year from 1.5 percent in November and the core inflation measures, which excludes the volatile unprocessed food and energy prices, at 1.0 percent from 1.1 percent. Euro area annual inflation and its components, % Weight (‰) 2017 Dec 2016 Jul 2017 Aug 2017 Sep 2017 Oct 2017 Nov 2017 Dec 2017 All-items HICP 1000.0 1.1 1.3 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.4e All-items excluding: 904.7 1.0 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2e > energy > energy, unprocessed food 829.5 0.9 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.1e > energy, food, alcohol & tobacco 708.8 0.9 1.2 1.2 1.1 0.9 0.9 0.9e Food, alcohol & tobacco 195.9 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.9 2.3 2.2 2.1e > processed food, alcohol & tobacco 120.8 0.7 1.9 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.2e > unprocessed food 75.1 2.1 0.6 0.6 1.5 2.8 2.4 1.9e Energy 95.3 2.6 2.2 4.0 3.9 3.0 4.7 3.0e Non-energy industrial goods 263.1 0.3 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.5e Services 445.7 1.3 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.2 1.2 1.2e e = estimate (Reporting By Jan Strupczewski)" + }, + { + "text": "REDMOND, Wash., Microsoft Corp. will publish fiscal year 2018 second-quarter financial results after the close of the market on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018, on the Microsoft Investor Relations website at . A live webcast of the earnings conference call will be made available at 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time. Microsoft (Nasdaq \"MSFT\" @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. View original content with multimedia: releases/microsoft-announces-quarterly-earnings-release-date-300577977.html SOURCE Microsoft Corp." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Wall Street Journal. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. - General Electric Co is considering breaking itself apart in a move that would mark the end of one of the oldest and largest U.S. conglomerates. on.wsj.com/2DCkdoU - U.S. cybersecurity firm Recorded Future in a report on Tuesday identified the Lazarus group - a hacking operation with links to the North Korean regime - as behind the malware campaign, which began targeting users of a South Korean exchange in the late fall and may still be active. on.wsj.com/2DglogR - Celgene Corp is in talks to buy Juno Therapeutics Inc, which is working on an experimental gene therapy drug to treat cancer, people familiar with the matter said. on.wsj.com/2mFEMca - YouTube is ordering workers to review thousands of hours of its most popular content and setting new limits on which videos can run ads, its latest moves to ease advertisers' worries that their brands are showing up alongside offensive or controversial videos. on.wsj.com/2DkLbob - Nissan Motor Co Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa said the company believes it will need to build a new plant in the U.S. in four or five years, when the car maker would be ready for another push to expand. on.wsj.com/2B8rjyK Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "TEESPORT, England (Reuters) - Britain’s Brexit minister said there was no difference between himself, finance minister Philip Hammond and Prime Minister Theresa May over their aims on Brexit. “There is no difference between the chancellor and myself and indeed the Prime Minister in terms of that we both want a Brexit which serves the British economy and serves the British people,” David Davis said during a speech in Teesport, northern England. On Thursday, a source in May’s office rebuked Hammond after he said at a business event in Davos that the changes Britain would undergo could be described as “very modest”. Reporting by Elizabeth Piper and William James; writing by Costas Pitas; editing by Stephen Addison" + }, + { + "text": "OSLO, Jan 23 (Reuters) - The spot price for farmed salmon fell by 1.40 Norwegian crowns to an average of 52.59 Norwegian crowns ($6.69)per kilo last week, according to statistics from the Nasdaq Salmon Index. The price is for producers and applies to freshly sliced salmon for delivery in Oslo. $1 = 7.8569 Norwegian crowns Reporting by Ole Petter Skonnord" + }, + { + "text": "29 AM / Updated 24 minutes ago Anti-U.S. base mayor leads ahead of Okinawa election-survey Reuters Staff 2 Min Read TOKYO (Reuters) - A mayor opposed to a U.S. Marines base on Okinawa is leading his ruling party rival as he seeks re-election in a poll on Sunday, raising the prospect the base will remain a thorn in U.S.-Japan ties. Japan’s central government and Okinawa authorities have been at odds for years over a plan, first agreed between Tokyo and Washington in 1996, to relocate the Marines’ Futenma air base from an urban part of Okinawa to the less populated Henoko district of the northern city of Nago. Base opponents such as Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine and Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga oppose the move and want Futenma’s functions moved off Okinawa entirely. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government wants to forge ahead with the relocation. Many Okinawa residents associate the U.S. military presence with crime, pollution and accidents, and resentment has been rekindled by a spate of incidents involving U.S. military aircraft. Last month a window fell from a U.S. helicopter onto a school sports field, fanning safety concerns. Inamine, who is seeking a third four-year-term with opposition party support, is leading challenger Taketoyo Toguchi, 56, who has the backing of Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior coalition partner, the Komeito party, according to a Yomiuri newspaper survey published on Tuesday. A win for Toguchi would make it easier for Abe’s government to move ahead with the relocation plan. Work is underway for construction of a Futenma replacement facility, but the Nago mayor’s approval is needed for some aspects so Inamine could cause further delays if re-elected. Sixty-nine percent of Nago voters responding to Yomiuri’s survey said that Futenma’s functions should be moved off Okinawa entirely; 17 percent said the original plan should go ahead. Reporting by Linda Sieg; Editing by Michael Perry" + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL, Jan 26 (Reuters) - South Korea’s finance minister on Friday said the government may consider tougher taxes on property ownership amid a spike in demand for homes in wealthier parts of Seoul. Questioned by reporters at a seminar in Seoul, Kim Dong-yeon said he sees any revision on property ownership taxes will be carried out after public opinions are collected. “A considerable part of the (rise) in Gangnam home prices seems to be based on speculative demand,” Kim said, referring to the wealthy Seoul district. (Reporting by Shin-hyung Lee, Cynthia Kim; Editing by Sam Holmes)" + }, + { + "text": "A federal magistrate judge on Friday ruled Cornell University must arbitrate its claim that a former co-plaintiff duped it into settling a gene-sequencing patent dispute with Illumina Inc. U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Pat Thynge in Delaware recommended Cornell’s bid to escape its deal with Illumina be put on hold so an arbitrator can determine whether the university was defrauded by its licensee Life Technologies Corp, a division of Thermo Fisher Corp. To read the full story on Westlaw Practitioner Insights, click here: bit.ly/2rqqb9U" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds Quote: s, details) MOSCOW, Jan 18 (Reuters) - The Russian central bank will have to scale back its rate-cutting programme if the United States imposes new sanctions on Russian debt, its monetary policy chief Igor Dmitriev said on Thursday. Washington is due to publish a new report on sanctions against Russia by early February which may include restrictions on holding Russian state bonds, known as OFZ bonds. When asked if the new round of sanctions would affect monetary policy, Dmitriev said the parameters of the possible sanctions were still unclear. “With all else being equal, sanctions envisage slower policy easing,” Dmitriev said, referring to the central bank’s rate-cutting plans. “We live in the real world and indeed we don’t ignore such things.” The central bank has previously said it has all tools necessary to address any possible impact from new U.S. sanctions. Dmitriev said in late November the central bank’s base scenario did not envisage restrictions on foreign investors’ ability to buy Russian state debt. The central bank will consider several options at its next rate-setting meeting on Feb. 9, including holding the main interest rate unchanged or cutting it by either 25 or 50 basis points, Dmitriev said on Thursday. The central bank last cut the key rate, by 50 basis points to 7.75 percent, in December and said further cuts were possible in the first half of 2018. (Reporting by Elena Fabrichnaya; Writing by Andrey Ostroukh; Editing by Jack Stubbs and Catherine Evans)" + }, + { + "text": "Sahara desert partly covered in blanket of snow 1:39pm IST - 00:47 Residents of Ain Sefra in northern Algeria encountered snow in the hottest desert in the world on Sunday. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Residents of Ain Sefra in northern Algeria encountered snow in the hottest desert in the world on Sunday. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Turkish ground forces pushed into northern Syria's Afrin province on Sunday, the army said, after Turkey launched artillery and air strikes on a U.S.-backed Kurdish militia it aims to sweep from its border. The Syrian-Kurdish YPG militia, supported by the United States but seen as a terrorist organization by Turkey, said it had repulsed the Turkish forces and their allies after fierce clashes. It marked the second day of fighting after Ankara opened a new front in the nearly seven-year-old Syrian war. Under what the Turkish government has called \"Operation Olive Branch\", Turkish air strikes on Saturday pounded YPG positions in Afrin. Turkey is targeting the U.S.-backed fighters at a time when ties with ally Washington appear close to breaking point. Turkey sees the YPG as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) which has carried out a deadly, three-decade insurgency in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast. The United States is backing the YPG in Syria, seeing it as an effective partner in the fight against Islamic State. \"The Olive Branch Operation is going on as planned, and the ground operation has started,\" the Turkish army, NATO's second-largest, said. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the operation would create a 30-km (19-mile) \"safe zone\", according to broadcaster HaberTurk. Artillery boom Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army rebel factions had captured a Kurdish village with no resistance and were clearing landmines, a Turkish official said. The YPG said it had repulsed the Turkish forces. \"All the Turkish military's ground attacks against Afrin have been repelled so far and they have been forced to retreat,\" Nouri Mahmoudi, a YPG official, said. Since the morning, the combatants have exchanged shelling and clashed along several frontlines around Afrin, he said. The Turkish military said it had hit 153 targets so far, including shelters and hideouts used by Kurdish militants. The YPG has said Turkey's strikes killed six civilians and three of its fighters and wounded 13 civilians. The YPG has also accused Turkey of striking civilian districts and a camp for the displaced in Afrin. Intense Turkish artillery fire and strikes continued to hit some villages, the YPG said. Fierce battles raged to the north and west of Afrin against Turkish forces and their Syrian rebel allies, said Birusk Hasaka, the YPG spokesman in Afrin. A Reuters reporter in the northern Syrian town of Azaz, under the control of rebels from the Free Syrian Army factions, could hear the boom of artillery being fired into the region. There were no other signs of conflict and life appeared to continue as normal, with traffic on the muddy, potholed roads and uniformed rebel police at the main roundabouts. Still, Azaz was bleak and the toll from the war was plainly seen in some of its crumbling buildings. At one of the car repair workshops on the outskirts of the town some men were fixing a gun-loaded vehicle. \"In its second day, #OliveBranchOperation continues to ensure peace and security for our people, protect Syria's territorial integrity and eliminate all terrorist elements in the region,\" Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Twitter. \"Turkey expects its allies to support its fight against terrorism in all of its forms,\" he added, in comments that appeared aimed at Washington. On Saturday, a Pentagon official said: \"We encourage all parties to avoid escalation and to focus on the most important task of defeating ISIS (Islamic State).\" Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency reported that four rockets fired from Syria hit the border town of Kilis overnight, damaging houses. Turkish security forces retaliated, it said." + }, + { + "text": "GREENVILLE, S.C., Jan. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- World Acceptance Corporation (NASDAQ: WRLD) will provide an online, real-time webcast and rebroadcast of its third quarter conference call to be held on Friday, January 26. The earnings release will be issued prior to the call. The live broadcast of World Acceptance Corporation's conference call will be available online at on January 26, beginning at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). The online replay will follow immediately and continue for 30 days. About World Acceptance Corporation World Acceptance Corporation is one of the largest small-loan consumer finance companies, operating 1,331 offices in 15 states and Mexico. View original content: SOURCE World Acceptance Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "(Updates to add PIX slug) MELBOURNE, Jan 29 (Reuters) - More than 10,000 homes in Australia’s second most populous state were stuck without power on Monday as a surge in demand amid scorching heat overloaded the grid, in the latest blow to the nation’s stretched power sector. The outages on distribution networks, which hit more than 50,000 homes on Sunday, came less than a year after Australia’s biggest city, Sydney, was hit by blackouts during a heatwave, and 16 months after a state-wide outage in South Australia. The latest blackouts, however, were caused by grid failures, rather than supply shortages, which had sparked a national debate over the nation’s rush to adopt renewable energy at the expense of coal-fired generation. Temperatures topped 40 degrees C (104°F) over the weekend in the state of Victoria, driving up power demand as homes cranked up their air conditioners and pool pumps and even forcing the Australian Open to close the stadium roof for the men’s championship match on Sunday night. Crews worked through the night to restore power, but some homes were likely to remain affected until Monday evening, United Energy, majority-owned by Hong Kong’s CK Infrastructure Holdings, said. “The prolonged high temperatures and humidity through the weekend ... resulted in multiple power outages,” a United Energy spokeswoman said, adding that the main cause was fuse faults at overloaded substations. The Australian Energy Market Operator, which coordinates energy supply from power stations and has been monitoring supply after last year’s failures, said there was ample supply over the weekend, when demand hit a record for a Sunday. “It was a really good test,” said AEMO spokesman Stuart Allott, adding that there was more than 1,380 megawatts of spare capacity when Victoria’s demand peaked on Sunday. The market operator came under pressure last year to beef up power supply after the closure of one of Victoria’s biggest power stations, but Australia has weathered a searing summer so far with the help of more gas-fired power and a huge battery installed by Tesla Inc in South Australia. Grid data in Thomson Reuters Eikon showed that Victoria required electricity imports from neighbouring South Australia and Tasmania to meet its record demand. Wholesale dispatch power prices in Victoria shot above A$3,000 ($2,425) per megawatt hour (MWh) on Sunday, compared with a usual price of below A$100 per MWh, but still well below the A$14,000 market price cap. “The issues seem quite localised around specific residential distribution areas,” said Andrew Koscharsky, director for energy at commodity trading house RCMA, which deals in Australian wholesale electricity. Victorian state premier Daniel Andrews warned that distribution companies may have to pay compensation to customers. “We will work with companies and we’ll compel them, if we have to, both to look at compensation and to look at improvements in that network,” he told reporters on Monday. Temperatures are set to drop in the coming days, but the next heat wave is expected in early February. ($1 = 1.2361 Australian dollars) Reporting by Sonali Paul; additional reporting by Henning Gloystein; editing by Richard Pullin" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 8:00 AM / in 2 minutes National Grid files rate proposal for U.S. electric, gas distribution utility Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Jan 22 (Reuters) - National Grid Plc said on Monday it filed a proposal to update rates for one of its U.S. electric and gas distribution utilities in a bid to boost its performance in the country. The three-year rate proposal for the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation electric and gas distribution utility would increase revenue, before the impact of deferred credits, by $206 million in 2018-2019, compared to the company’s initial request of $317 million, National Grid said. For 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 incremental year-on-year revenue increases would be $36 million and $60 million, respectively. The company also expects to invest a total of $2.5 billion over the three-year period, down from the initial proposal of $2.7 billion. The proposal, filed jointly with the New York Public Service Commission, also includes an allowed 9 percent return on equity for the utilities and estimates customer savings of $76 million from the prospective impact of U.S. tax reform. The settlement will contribute to the improving financial performance of U.S. operations, National Grid said. Niagara Mohawk gas and electricity utility serves 2.2 million customers in the upstate New York region and represents about 30 percent of the company’s U.S. rate base. The final decision of the Commission is expected in the spring of 2018 with new rates effective as of April 2018. Reporting by Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Sunil Nair" + }, + { + "text": "President Donald Trump railed on the American court system on Wednesday morning after a judge blocked his move to end an Obama-era program shielding hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation. \"It just shows everyone how broken and unfair our Court System is when the opposing side in a case (such as DACA) always runs to the 9th Circuit and almost always wins before being reversed by higher courts,\" the president wrote in a tweet. While Trump apparently referenced the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in his statement, that court did not issue Tuesday's ruling on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. It came from U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco, who said DACA must stay in place while lawsuits over Trump's move go forward . Trump ended the Obama-era program in September with a six-month delay to force congressional action on legislation. Under Trump's initial move, DACA would begin to phase out on March 5 if Congress cannot agree to a deal to continue to shield the nearly 800,000 young undocumented immigrants. States, individuals and other groups filed lawsuits over the administration's decision. The court ruling comes as Trump and congressional leaders try to hammer out a deal to protect the immigrants while authorizing more funding for border security measures. The president met with bipartisan congressional leaders on Tuesday to start to hash out an agreement . After the meeting, the White House said Trump and congressional leaders \"reached an agreement to negotiate legislation that accomplishes critically needed reforms in four high-priority areas: border security, chain migration, the visa lottery, and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy.\" Earlier Wednesday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called the court's decision \"outrageous,\" especially after the meeting aiming to strike a compromise. Trump won the White House partly on pledges to crack down on immigration. The standoff over DACA policy comes as the Trump administration this week reversed a policy allowing nearly 200,000 people from El Salvador to live in the United States." + }, + { + "text": "PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: GenSight Biologics (Paris: SIGHT) (Euronext: SIGHT, ISIN: FR[REDACTED], PEA-PME eligible), a biopharma company focused on discovering and developing innovative gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system disorders, announced it has appointed Julio J. Benedicto as Vice President of Marketing. Mr. Benedicto brings over 20 years of experience as a strategy consultant in life sciences, both in Europe and the United States. His expertise includes developing and implementing marketing and sales strategies, launch planning and execution, and building commercialization processes and capabilities. His clients included top pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as specialty firms, often focused on rare diseases, bringing their first product to market. In his role, Mr. Benedicto will oversee the global brand strategy, business intelligence, as well as design and roll out pre-commercialization and global launch roadmaps for the Company’s product candidates, and notably GS010 currently in Phase III trials. He will be a member of the Management team, and will initially be based in Paris. “Julio’s broad experience in developing global marketing strategies and launching new drugs, notably in rare diseases, is a brilliant addition to the management team at GenSight,” said Bernard Gilly , cofounder and Chief Executive Officer. “As we are now about to read out our first Phase III topline results of GS010 in just a few months, and have the ambition to go to market on our own, we need to transform the Company and gear up.” Prior to joining GenSight, Mr. Benedicto was a Principal at IQVIA, based in its Munich office, where he was a member of the Brand and Commercial Strategy and Launch Excellence centers of excellence. He also worked at Monitor Group (now Monitor Deloitte) in its New York and London offices and at Booz & Company (now Strategy&, the consulting subsidiary of PwC) in its Berlin office. Mr. Benedicto received a B.A. in Economics summa cum laude from Yale University (USA), and an M.A. and an M.Phil. in Economics from Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (USA). “I am energized to join the GenSight team at such an important time in the company’s evolution,” said Mr. Benedicto . “Turning the promise of path-breaking science into a novel life-changing treatment for patients is a complex but rewarding challenge, one that I am eager to help the company’s talented teams to navigate.” About GenSight Biologics GenSight Biologics S.A. is a clinical-stage biopharma company focused on discovering and developing innovative gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system disorders. GenSight Biologics’ pipeline leverages two core technology platforms, the Mitochondrial Targeting Sequence (MTS) and optogenetics to help preserve or restore vision in patients suffering from blinding retinal diseases. GenSight Biologics’ lead product candidate, GS010, is in Phase III trials in Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a rare mitochondrial disease that leads to irreversible blindness in teens and young adults. Using its gene therapy-based approach, GenSight Biologics’ product candidates are designed to be administered in a single treatment to each eye by intravitreal injection to offer patients a sustainable functional visual recovery. View source version on businesswire.com : GenSight Biologics Thomas Gidoin, +33 (0)1 76 21 72 20 Chief Financial Officer [REDACTED] or RooneyPartners Media Relations Marion Janic, [REDACTED] [REDACTED] or The Trout Group US Investor Relations Chad Rubin, [REDACTED] [REDACTED] or Europe Investor Relations James Palmer, +33 7 60 92 77 74 [REDACTED] Source: GenSight Biologics" + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea said on Wednesday it plans to raise safeguard issues during talks with the United States to revise a bilateral trade deal following Washington’s decision to slap steep tariffs on imported washing machines and solar panels. Experts say safeguard issues could toughen the outlook for the talks, which could risk alienating Seoul and Washington in the face of North Korea’s nuclear threat. “Trade remedies are an important issue to us. We plan to bring up the issue,” said Yoo Myung-hee, South Korea’s deputy minister for free trade agreement negotiations, referring to safeguard issues. “We will put the utmost priority on national interests during negotiations,” she told reporters ahead of the second round of talks that began in Seoul on Wednesday. She said autos and an investor-state dispute mechanism were also expected to be put on the table, without elaborating. Seoul said it would complain to the World Trade Organization after U.S. President Donald Trump slapped steep tariffs on imported washing machines and solar panels earlier this month, describing the move as “excessive”. The safeguard issue, a sensitive area for Washington, would “complicate” the outlook for the bilateral talks, said Wendy Cutler, a former chief negotiator on the bilateral deal that was first signed in 2007. She said Seoul pushed hard during the original talks to address anti-dumping and safeguard issues but did not succeed. “My advice would be you’re not going to succeed in that area. I think the same way Korea does not want to discuss agriculture, the U.S. is not going to discuss trade remedies,” Cutler told Reuters. She said the priority for U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration was to use trade remedy laws to act against countries that are dumping or subsidizing the imports they are selling in the United States. Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Michael Beeman, who is representing the U.S. during the trade talks, did not answer questions from Reuters. The talks to revise the almost 6-year-old trade deal started in Washington earlier this month after Trump threatened to scrap the “horrible” deal that has increased the U.S. trade deficit with South Korea. The second round will continue on Thursday. The United States wants to give U.S. automakers better access to the South Korea market while maintaining its high tariffs on pickup truck imports from South Korea, sources have said. Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Paul Tait" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 12:10 PM / in 4 hours Jaguar Land Rover warns on UK outlook after record 2017 global sales Costas Pitas 3 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Jaguar Land Rover’s sales rose 7 percent to a record 621,109 vehicles in 2017 but Britain’s biggest carmaker said it faced tough conditions in its home market due to weakening consumer confidence and a planned diesel tax rise on new cars. A tyre is seen on Jaguar Land Rover's I-PACE concept car on display ahead of it's 2018 production launch as Jaguar's first fully electric SUV at their 'Tech Fest' in London, September 7, 2017. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo The company has embarked on a major turnaround plan since being bought by India’s Tata group in 2008. This includes investment in new models and expansion of production with the aim of building around 1 million vehicles a year by the turn of the decade. It said growth in China, its largest market, and in the United States helped to offset difficult conditions in Britain and the rest of Europe, where demand was flat. “We have once again delivered year-on-year sales increases thanks to a world-class product range and new models such as the E-PACE and Velar, as well as China-specific models such as the XFL,” group sales operations director Andy Goss said on Monday. “But we are facing tough times in key markets such as the UK where consumer confidence and diesel taxes will hit us.” However, the company does expect domestic sales to rise this year from 2017’s 118,000 vehicles. Britain’s car industry body said last week that 2017 sales across the sector recorded their biggest drop since 2009, blaming plans to increase a levy on new diesel cars and weakening consumer confidence in the wake of Brexit. Around 90 percent of Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) sales in Britain are diesel models, which compares with around 45 percent globally. Britain’s finance minister Philip Hammond said in November that the vehicle excise duty would rise from April for those buying almost any new diesel car, potentially costing hundreds of pounds more for top-end models. “It’s difficult to fathom the latest decision in the budget,” Goss told reporters. Major carmakers are scrambling to meet tougher emissions targets and growing demand for cleaner technologies. JLR said last year that all of its new cars would be available in an electric or hybrid version from 2020. The British government hopes the JLR will build electric vehicles in the UK but JLR’s first such model, the I-PACE, will be made in Austria. JLR, based in central-England, builds roughly one in three of the 1.7 million cars produced in Britain each year. Goss told reporters that the firm would decide this year whether to build electric models in Britain. “We would understand why that would make sense but it is one of many options,” he said. “Within the next twelve months, we have to make that decision.” Editing by Jane Merriman" + }, + { + "text": "23 AM / Updated 36 minutes ago Uber partners with taxi firm ComfortDelGro for new Singapore service SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Uber Technologies and Singapore’s top taxi operator ComfortDelGro Corp Ltd will launch a new ride-hailing service in Singapore from Friday, as they team up against their key regional rival Grab. UberFLASH, that will connect riders to drivers closest to them - either a private vehicle or a taxi, is the first collaboration between the firms since they said in December that ComfortDelGro would buy a 51 percent stake in Uber’s Singapore car leasing unit, Lion City Rentals. The deal comes at a time when Uber’s new Asia Pacific chief is prioritising collaborations with traditional taxi firms. It is expected to give Uber a leg up in its battle for market share with Grab, Southeast Asia’s dominant ride-hailing player. Grab has partnered with other taxi operators in Singapore. ComfortDelGro operated about 13,700 taxis in the city state as of November, official data shows, which is more than the fleet of all the other taxi companies combined. Uber’s Lion City Rentals has a fleet of about 14,000 vehicles. UberFLASH fares will be, on average, 5-10 percent cheaper than low-cost option UberX, Uber and ComfortDelGro said in a joint statement on Thursday. UberFLASH is already available in Thailand and Malaysia. ComfortDelGro’s acquisition of a majority stake in Lion City is waiting for approval from the Competition Commission of Singapore. The anti-trust regulator is reviewing the deal and recently sought public feedback on it. Reporting by Aradhana Aravindan; Editing by Himani Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "LESHNICE, Albania (Reuters) - Many old Albanian Orthodox churches and the art they contain lie in ruins due to decades of neglect but they could attract tourists if they are repaired, according to experts. The government and the Orthodox church itself have started restoring some of the structures that date from the Byzantine period or later in the south of the country. The churches are often in picturesque locations and their fortunes reflect the twists of Albanian politics over the last century. Albania became a functioning state after World War One after domination under the Ottoman Empire. It became communist after World War Two but embraced democracy in 1990 and aspires to join the European Union. The post-Byzantine Saint Athanasius church in Leshnice is one example. Its frescoes have stared at the stars since last May when the roof caved in and its southern wall fell down. The church has plastic sheets over its walls for protection while debris with parts of frescoes is piled to one side. A damaged fresco is pictured in The Orthodox Church of Saint Athanasios in Leshnica, Saranda, Albania January 25, 2018. Picture taken January 25, 2018. REUTERS/Florion Goga Jorgo Sheka said it was taken care as a cultural shrine under late dictator Enver Hoxha, who was a hardline Stalinist, but has been neglected since then. “No one else lifted a finger but Hoxha cared for it,” he said, criticising the leaders who followed Hoxha for neglect. Slideshow (7 Images) Hoxha banned religion in the 1960s and destroyed many churches and mosques but he kept some for their art. More than 60 percent of Albanians are nominally Muslim and the rest are Christians. The Leshnice church is decorated with figures of saints in golden halos and biblical scenes in dark blue and red. Saint Athanasius dates to 1797 but frescoes underneath suggested it was older. Its fame and location in a village helped the Church at Labova of the Cross get a facelift. Its cross of solid gold weighing 0.8 kilos and carved wood from the cross Christ died on was a gift of Emperor Justinian I, two scholars said. The cross went missing in 1989 and has not been found. Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday that a government shutdown would impact military operations including some training, maintenance, and intelligence operations. “Our maintenance activities will probably pretty much shut down ... Over 50 percent, altogether of my civilian workforce will be furloughed ... We do a lot of intelligence operations around the world and they cost money, those obviously would stop,” Mattis said in response to a question about the impact of a potential shutdown. Separately, the Defense Department said a shutdown would not impact the U.S. military’s war in Afghanistan or its operations against Islamist militants in Iraq and Syria. Mattis, speaking during a question and answer period following a speech, said he would leave this weekend for a trip to Indonesia and Vietnam. The Pentagon said in a statement that Mattis’ trip to Asia would go ahead even in the case of a government shutdown because it was necessary for national security and foreign relations. The U.S. Congress raced the clock to avoid a federal government shutdown before a midnight deadline on Friday after a meeting between President Donald Trump and Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer failed to produce a deal. Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Grant McCool and James Dalgleish" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - India’s Jindal Steel and Power Ltd reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss, helped by higher revenue from the iron and steel business. The steel producer reported a loss of 2.66 billion rupees ($41.86 million) for the third quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with a loss of 4.07 billion rupees a year earlier, the company said in a statement on Thursday. bit.ly/2DHJIHT Analysts on average were expecting a loss of 3.53 billion rupees, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon. Revenue from its iron and steel segment rose 14 percent to 56.51 billion rupees. ($1 = 63.5450 Indian rupees) Reporting by Vishal Sridhar and Aby Jose Koilparambil in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Japan’s Nikkei share average dropped to a near two-week low on Thursday as a stronger yen hurt exporters, although firmer oil prices pulled up oil and mining stocks. The Nikkei ended 1.1 percent lower at 23,669.49, the weakest closing level since Jan. 12. Transport equipment stocks tumbled, with Honda Motor Co sliding 1.3 percent, Subaru Corp falling 1.5 percent, while electronic appliance maker Panasonic Corp shed 2.2 percent and chip-making equipment manufacturer Advantest Corp stumbled 2.5 percent. Oil and mining stocks outperformed after oil prices hit their highest since December 2014, pushed up after U.S. crude inventories posted a 10th straight week of declines and as the dollar continued to weaken. Inpex Corp added 0.2 percent, Japan Petroleum Exploration Co gained 2.0 percent and Showa Shell Sekiyu advanced 1.3 percent. The broader Topix declined 0.9 percent to 1,884.56. Editing by Sam Holmes & Shri Navaratnam" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Tuesday that President Vladimir Putin had discussed Turkey’s military operation in Syria’s Afrin with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan by phone and that Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty had to be respected. The Kremlin also said in a statement that both men had stressed the importance of continuing their two countries’ joint work to try to find a peaceful resolution to the Syrian crisis. Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Alison Williams" + }, + { + "text": "By Bloomberg 3:24 PM EST The global power needed to create cryptocurrencies this year could rival the entire electricity consumption of Argentina and be a growth driver for renewable energy producers from the U.S. to China. Miners of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies could require up to 140 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2018, about 0.6 percent of the global total, Morgan Stanley analysts led by Nicholas Ashworth wrote in a note Wednesday. That’s more than expected power demand from electric vehicles in 2025. “If cryptocurrencies continue to appreciate we expect global mining power consumption to increase,” Ashworth wrote in the note. While the figure is too small to be a major driver of global utility shares, it represents an important growth story for companies investing in wind and solar power combined with energy storage — a list that includes NextEra Energy Inc., Iberdrola SA and Enel SpA, according to the note. Other potential beneficiaries include big oil companies that are investing in renewable energy and green-power developers that are backed by initial-coin-offering capital raises. Miners will probably concentrate in low-cost power regions, including China and the U.S. Midwest and Pacific Northwest. Miners earn bitcoin-denominated rewards for performing the complex calculations needed to confirm transactions in the cryptocurrency. The report did, however, offer some caution. “There are plenty of uncertainties which means energy consumption could inflect in either direction,” Ashworth wrote. “This is clearly not an exact science.” SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "Carlos Acosta joins Christopher Bruce for upcoming performance Wednesday, January 24, 2018 - 01:16 Cuban dancer, and former The Royal Ballet star, Carlos Acosta joins with British choreographer Christopher Bruce for upcoming performance. Rough Cut (No reporter narration) ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Cuban dancer, and former The Royal Ballet star, Carlos Acosta joins with British choreographer Christopher Bruce for upcoming performance. Rough Cut (No reporter narration) Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "JOHNS CREEK, Ga., Jan. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAIA), a leading multi-regional less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier, truckload brokerage and value-added logistics company announced that it will release its quarterly financial results before the market opens on Friday, February 2, 2018. Saia management will host a conference call to discuss the results later that morning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To participate in the call, please dial 1-800-239-9838 or 323-794-2551 referencing conference ID #5145633. Callers should dial in five to ten minutes in advance of the conference call. This call will be webcast live via the company website at www.saiacorp.com . A replay of the call will be offered two hours after the completion of the call through March 2 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The replay will be available by dialing 1-888-203-1112. Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAIA) offers customers a wide range of less-than-truckload, non-asset truckload, expedited and logistics services. With headquarters in Georgia, Saia LTL Freight operates 154 terminals in 40 states. For more information on Saia, Inc. visit the Investor Relations section at www.saiacorp.com . CONTACT: Saia, Inc. Melanie Baker 770.232.4088 [REDACTED] Source:Saia, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Starbucks ' stock continued to slump Friday after the coffee chain posted another quarter of disappointing sales growth on Thursday and blamed holiday offerings for failing to draw in customers. Shares of the coffee giant were down nearly 5 percent in midday trading as investors question if the company can revitalize sales in the U.S. Although same-store sales came up short in all of Starbucks' regions, save for strong growth in China, investors have been focused on weak U.S. results. U.S. same-store sales grew 2 percent in the quarter, with the poor sales of holiday beverages, merchandise and gift cards a big factor. \"Our holiday merchandise that we had did not perform up to our expectations,\" CEO Kevin Johnson said on CNBC's \"Squawk on the Street\" Friday. \"That's not anything to do with the core execution of the company.\" Same-store sales in the U.S. could have been more than a percentage point higher if not for this weakness, he said. Joshua Trujillo | Starbucks Starbucks 2017 holiday cup design Starbucks hopes to bolster sales in the U.S. by luring in customers in the afternoon with discounts and promotions. It also plans on continuing to leverage mobile ordering and digital marketing to increase the number of times consumers visit the coffee shop. Starbucks said it added 1.4 million Starbucks Rewards members in the U.S. in the last quarter, raising its total number of members to 14.2 million. As more and more Starbucks customers pay for their coffees with their phones, the company has begun testing a cashless store in Seattle to gain more insight into customers' digital behavior. In addition, Starbucks stands to gain more revenue in the U.S. once it opens its Roastery location in New York City in 2018. The company said Thursday that in the first eight weeks of opening its Shanghai Roastery, the megastore rakes in more than $64,000 per day, double what U.S. stores make in one week. On its first day of operation, the Shanghai Roastery saw an average check of $29 and the location continues to draw customers, who often wait for hours to get in the door. A Roastery will also be opening in Chicago in 2019. WATCH: Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson talks earnings and future of the brand show chapters Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson talks earnings and future of the brand 15 Mins Ago | 11:12" + }, + { + "text": "Opening Bell, January 29, 2018 2 Hours Ago Rafael Acevedo, The Coca-Cola Company group director, highlighting the brand makeover of its new fruit-flavored versions of Diet Coke at the NYSE, and Caroline Rees, Shift president and founder, the leading center of expertise on the UN guiding principles on business and human rights at the Nasdaq, ring today's opening bells." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 18 (Reuters) - The chief financial officer of Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s investment vehicle, Kingdom Holding, is leaving the firm, sources familiar with the matter said, in the first prominent departure since the detention of the firm’s founder. Mohamed Fahmy, who has worked with the company for about five years and is believed to be a close aide of the Saudi billionaire, will leave the firm at the end of February, the sources told Reuters, requesting anonymity because of the commercial sensitivity of the matter. The sources said the reason for Fahmy’s departure was not clear but it was not related to the detention of Prince Alwaleed, who has been held since November among dozens of officials and businessmen in a government crackdown on corruption. Kingdom Holding did not respond to a request for comment. (Additional reporting by Saeed Azhar; Editing by Andrew Torchia)" + }, + { + "text": "MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippine foreign ministry on Friday said a government panel has been formed to look into the fuss over a newly erected “comfort women” monument in Manila that has irked Japan, a major source of aid and investment. Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano made the announcement a day after President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman said no action would be taken by the presidential palace regarding the statue, despite Tokyo’s objection. A spokeswoman from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday it was “extremely regrettable” that comfort women statues, including the one in the Philippines, had been erected. Cayetano said the existence of the monument, which commemorates the 1,000 Filipino women who were forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War Two, “will really affect certain feelings and relationships.” Duterte’s spokesman on Thursday said the statue was not an issue for the president to get involved in downplaying concern it could hurt ties with Japan. Cayetano said his department was never consulted about the project approved by a government agency, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). The monument was built just a few blocks from the headquarters of the foreign ministry. The panel will be composed of representatives from the foreign and public works ministries, the city government of Manila, the capital, and the NHCP. Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by Martin Petty and Clarence Fernandez" + }, + { + "text": "This owner breaks down when he takes a hard look at the financials of his business 1 Hour Ago Marcus Lemonis sits down with JD Custom Design owners Jeff and Aimee Dougherty and goes over the financials and points out that on paper, they’re out of business. All New The Profit Tuesdays 10P ET/PT SHARES" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - Maoye Communication And Network Co Ltd : * SAYS IT PLANS TO BOOST UNIT'S CAPITAL BY 100 MILLION YUAN ($15.38 million) TO 150 MILLION YUAN Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2AP6XdJ Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.5039 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Wall Street falls with oil prices 11:01pm GMT - 01:09 The Dow briefly surged above 26,000 for the first time Tuesday before lower oil prices dragged the index into the red. Fred Katayama The Dow briefly surged above 26,000 for the first time Tuesday before lower oil prices dragged the index into the red. Fred Katayama //reut.rs/2B5lKBg" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced Thursday it would delay the effective date of new restrictions on prepaid cards until April 2019, citing industry needs for more time to comply. The agency had already said in December it would push back the rule, which would require greater disclosures and overdraft limits for the cards, to an unspecified date. The rule was originally intended to take effect in April 2018. In June, the agency proposed changes to those rules, originally completed in 2016, in an effort to make it easier for the industry to comply. One proposed change would require customers to register accounts in order to receive fraud and error protection benefits. The rules finalized Thursday stipulate that customers cannot register to receive those protections retroactively, only for potential problems in the future, which the bureau said will “encourage prompt registration.” Reporting by Pete Schroeder; Editing by David Gregorio" + }, + { + "text": "A Korean tech giant on Thursday announced new robots that take aim squarely at the jobs of many services industry workers around the globe. There have long been predictions that advances in artificial intelligence and automation could end up eliminating millions of jobs over time, and tech companies have been testing robots to carry out a variety of tasks — from working in a pizza parlor to making deliveries that could greatly affect the services industry in the future. For its part, South Korean giant LG Electronics is the latest company that is planning to sell robots to solve tasks currently completed by humans. On Thursday, LG said it will showcase three new \"concept robots\" at the global consumer electronics show, CES, in Las Vegas next week. Those robots are designed for commercial use at hotels, airports and supermarkets, according to the company. An LG spokesman later told CNBC that the robots are still \"concept\" products and that they are \"a long way from ready to go public.\" Source: LG Electronics The three new concept robots from LG Electronics are aimed at the services industry, in areas like hotels, airports and supermarkets. The first one is a server robot that can deliver food and drinks to customers at hotels and airport lounges. It can essentially replace the work done by the waitstaff and be able to do it around the clock. Second is a porter robot that can handle check-in and check-out services at hotels and carry luggage to rooms. The hotel industry is already experimenting with replacing humans with machines. For example, there are hotels in Japan that are staffed by robots. Finally, LG's third new robot is made to work with customers at a supermarket, telling them the price of products and then guiding them through the aisles. If popularized, such technologies would likely be bad news for many of those working in the services industry. Source: LG LG is rolling out series of robots to replace many service industry jobs. The International Labour Organization said as of May that nearly 50 percent of the global workforce is employed by the services sector. That includes trade, transportation, accommodation, food and other administrative and business services. Meanwhile, a report released by McKinsey & Company last November suggested that by 2030, as many as 800 million workers globally could be replaced by robots. Even if automation adoption is slower, as many as 400 million people could still be affected, the report said. This is not the first time that technological developments are displacing labor markets. In the manufacturing sector, for example, companies introduced conveyor belts and assembly lines at factories in the early 20th Century that brought down labor costs and temporarily put people out of work. According to McKinsey, new technologies often create more jobs than they destroy, sometimes in areas that \"cannot be envisioned at the outset.\" To do that, displaced workers need to acquire new skills. But not everyone is convinced by the argument that automation will create enough new jobs — especially to service and program AI and robots. The former president of Google China told CNBC in November that robots are \"clearly replacing people jobs. They're working 24 by 7. They are more efficient. They need some programming. But one programmer can program 10,000 robots.\" — CNBC's Matthew J. Belvedere contributed to this report. WATCH: Here's why Japan's obsessed with robots show chapters Why is Japan obsessed with robots? 5:48 AM ET Fri, 21 April 2017 | 03:33" + }, + { + "text": "Drivers stranded overnight as heavy snow blankets Scotland 10:17am EST - 00:45 Footage shared on social media shows long traffic jams on Scottish roads as schools across the country announce closures. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Footage shared on social media shows long traffic jams on Scottish roads as schools across the country announce closures. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2DkoyjE" + }, + { + "text": "UPDATE 1-EU yields more on beef to accelerate Latam trade talks Philip Blenkinsop * EU makes improved agricultural offer including beef * EU wants cars, dairy, public procurement access in return * Chief negotiators to meet in Brussels on Friday (Adds Commission vice-president comments) BRUSSELS, Jan 31 (Reuters) - The European Union has offered to open its markets to more beef from Latin American bloc Mercosur to try to conclude negotiations for what could be its most lucrative trade deal to date. Ministers from the Mercosur countries Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay met EU trade and agriculture commissioners in Brussels on Tuesday to see how to drive forward negotiations stuck on the issue of beef. The EU has raised its offer for beef access to 99,000 tonnes per year from a previous 70,000 tonnes, people close to the talks said on Wednesday, though it was not clear how much would be more expensive chilled meat and if it would be tariff-free. The EU hopes an improved offer will encourage Mercosur to open its markets to cars and EU dairy produce more rapidly and allow EU companies to bid in public tenders. The European Commission, which negotiates trade deals on behalf of EU countries, described Tuesday's talks as \"constructive\" and said chief negotiators would meet on Friday to push discussions on. Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen told a news conference that negotiations had entered the \"end game\" and said he was optimistic a deal would be struck. \"Yesterday things moved forward and now we expect Mercosur to come back and give their view on how we could finalise negotiations,\" he said, adding both sides recognised a deal was politically and economically very important. \"It's always very, very difficult but if the political will is strong, as it is at the moment, I'm sure that we can get this exercise to the goal.\" In terms of tariff reduction, it could be the EU's most lucrative trade deal to date, with the savings potentially three times greater than for deals with Canada and Japan combined. EU farming nations such as Ireland and France, however, are worried their farmers will lose out and expressed concern when the initial offer of 70,000 tonnes was put forward in October. European farms group Copa and Cogeca called the new offer unacceptable, with three-quarters of all beef imports - or 246,000 tonnes - already coming from the Mercosur countries, and said the sector was also facing uncertainty over Britain's exit from the EU. \"With 52 percent of Irish beef destined for the UK market, we cannot put further pressure on the EU beef market in a trade pact with the Latin American countries,\" its chairman Jean-Pierre Fleury said. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Robert-Jan Bartunek and Mark Potter)" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds executive search, detail) By Hadeel Al Sayegh Jan 18 (Reuters) - The chief financial officer of Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s Kingdom Holding is leaving the firm, sources familiar with the matter said, in the first prominent departure since the detention of the investment firm’s founder. Mohamed Fahmy, who has worked with the company for about five years and is believed to be a close aide of the Saudi billionaire, will leave the firm at the end of February, the sources told Reuters, requesting anonymity because of the commercial sensitivity of the matter. The sources said the reason for Fahmy’s departure was not clear but it was not related to the detention of Prince Alwaleed, who has been held since November among dozens of officials and businessmen in a government crackdown on corruption. Kingdom Holding did not respond to a request for comment. Kingdom Holding is searching for an executive to succeed Fahmy, the sources said, and is likely to announce his departure when a new chief financial officer is appointed. Fahmy joined Kingdom Holding in 2013 as deputy chief financial officer, and then was appointed as chief financial officer in 2014. Alwaleed, a nephew of Saudi King Salman, is a closely-watched figure in international markets because of investments through Kingdom Holding in companies such as Citigroup Inc and Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. Kingdom’s most recent acquisition was a 16.2 percent stake purchased from Credit Agricole SA in Banque Saudi Fransi for 5.76 billion Saudi riyals ($1.54 billion). (Additional reporting by Saeed Azhar; Editing by Andrew Torchia and Gareth Jones)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co Ltd * Says unit Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Sunovion) announced topline results from its pivotal Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, CTH-300, that evaluated apomorphine sublingual film (APL-130277) in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who experience motor fluctuations (OFF episodes) * Study CTH-300 met its primary and key secondary endpoints, and the medicine was also generally well-tolerated by study participants Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/sE7Qks Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16 (Reuters) - BANK SOHAR: * FY NET PROFIT AFTER TAX 25.5 MILLION RIALS VERSUS 19.1 MILLION RIALS YEAR AGO * FY NET LOANS AND ADVANCES 2.10 BLN RIALS VS 1.91 BLN RIALS YEAR AGO * FY DEPOSITS FROM CUSTOMERS 1.64 BLN RIALS VS 1.53 BLN RIALS YEAR AGO Source: ( bit.ly/2mHUy75 ) Further company coverage: )" + }, + { + "text": "Sunken oil ship leaves 10-mile slick in East China Sea 6:58am EST - 01:53 Officials and local media say a burning Iranian oil tanker that sank in the East China Sea has produced a 10-mile long oil slick as black smoke continues to billow from the site, in the worst oil ship disaster in decades. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Officials and local media say a burning Iranian oil tanker that sank in the East China Sea has produced a 10-mile long oil slick as black smoke continues to billow from the site, in the worst oil ship disaster in decades. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16 (Reuters) - MOLECULAR MEDICINE SPA: * SAYS THAT AS OF JAN 15 ZALMOXIS CAN BE PRESCRIBED AND REIMBURSED IN GERMANY AT THE PRICE OF EUR 163,900 PER INFUSION * APPROVED DOSAGE FORESEES ONE OR MORE INFUSIONS, UP TO A MAXIMUM OF FOUR, TILL IMMUNE-RECONSTITUTION IS ACHIEVED * MOLMED WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PRODUCTION AND SUPPLY OF ZALMOXIS, WHILE DOMPÉ FARMACEUTICI WILL CONDUCT ACTIVITIES AIMED AT MARKETING THE THERAPY IN GERMANY * DOMPÉ WILL PAY MOLMED A PURCHASE PRICE PROPORTIONAL TO THE REIMBURSED PRICE OF THE PRODUCT Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Luxury watchmaker Audemars embraces second-hand 10:01am EST - 01:19 Swiss luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet said it would launch a second-hand business this year, becoming the first big brand to announce plans to tap into a fast-growing market for pre-owned premium watches. Scarlett Cvitanovich reports. Swiss luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet said it would launch a second-hand business this year, becoming the first big brand to announce plans to tap into a fast-growing market for pre-owned premium watches. Scarlett Cvitanovich reports. //reut.rs/2mRqllr" + }, + { + "text": "By David Z. Morris 12:36 PM EST Coca-Cola last week announced a major revamp of Diet Coke, including skinny cans and a variety of new fruit flavors. Diet Coke is still a pillar of Coke’s business, but the revamp comes as it is facing dramatic headwinds – according to one analysis, Diet Coke sales were down a staggering 6% in just the last three months of 2017. In part, Diet Coke has been hit by the broader, steady decline in soda consumption. According to an eye-opening new story in The Atlantic , that consumption peaked in the mid-2000s. Back then, Americans consumed, on average, a remarkable half-liter of soda per day. Those levels are down by nearly half after more than a decade of decline , and are projected to keep dropping. The decline of Diet Coke, though, has been faster than that of any other Coke beverage. According to Atlantic writer Derek Thompson, part of that involves dramatically shifting perceptions of what qualifies as healthy. A decade ago, the fact that Diet Coke has no sugar or calories made it seem, for many, like a healthy choice. Get Data Sheet , Fortune’s technology newsletter. But growing skepticism about artificial sweeteners — including evidence that they may still cause weight gain — means the most health-conscious consumers are shying away. Even the new Diet Coke flavors have invited scrutiny over the use of a newer artificial sweetener, known as Ace-K. That skepticism of all things artificial may explain why sales of full-sugar Coke are actually still growing. The fate of Diet Coke, and even of soda, doesn’t entirely indicate the future of the Coca-Cola company, which has aggressively diversified into growing categories like juices, energy drinks and bottled water. Nonetheless, the hit to one of Coke’s core products may be showing — Coke’s growth was flat for much of 2017. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "ABUJA, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Nigeria’s Oando has addressed all the issues raised by a key shareholder, Dahiru Mangal, and will consider a board appointment for him, the energy company said on Monday. Oando has been in a drawn-out conflict with Mangal, who petitioned Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last year, alleging financial mismanagement at the firm. The SEC has ordered a forensic audit into the oil company’s shareholding structure citing concerns about possible insider trading. (Reporting by Chiji Ohuocha in Abuja; Editing by Adrian Croft)" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING, Jan 12 (Reuters) - China's General Administration of Customs released preliminary trade data for December on Friday. The tables below show selected commodity and energy trade volumes, compared with the previous month and a year earlier, as well as year-to-date figures. The previous month and previous year figures do not reflect official revisions, which have not been provided. The percentage changes for year-to-date figures come directly from Customs. All other percentage changes are calculated by Reuters. Net figures are calculated by Reuters, including the percentage changes, even for year-to-date. Detailed final figures from Customs with a further breakdown will be released later in the month. CRUDE OIL & REFINED PRODUCTS Previous Pct Year Pct Year Pct Dec month change ago change to date change mln T mln T mln T mln T Imports: Crude oil 33.7 37.04 -9.0 36.38 -7.4 419.57 10.1 Refined products 2.74 2.54 7.9 2.59 5.8 29.64 6.4 Fuel Oil No. 5-7 1.33 1.07 24.3 1.17 13.7 13.47 16.1 Natural gas 7.89 6.55 20.5 6.07 30.0 68.57 26.9 Exports: Crude oil 0.16 0.85 -81.2 0.34 -52.9 4.86 65.3 Refined products 6.17 5.79 6.6 5.35 15.3 52.16 8 Net Imports: Crude oil 33.54 36.19 -7.3 36.04 -6.9 414.71 9.7 Refined products -3.43 -3.25 -5.5 -2.76 -24.3 -22.52 -10.00 Note: Natural gas and fuel oil No. 5-7 exports will appear in final trade data. BASE METALS Previous Pct Year Pct Year Pct Dec month change ago change to date change Imports: tonnes tonnes tonnes tonnes Unwrought 450,000 470,000 0.0 490,000 -8.2 4,690,000 -5.2 copper Copper ores & 1,650,000 1,780,000 -7.3 1,670,000 -1.2 17,350,000 2.3 concentrates Exports: Unwrought aluminium and products 440,000 380,000 0.2 390,000 12.8 4,790,000 4.5 Note: Unwrought copper imports includes anode, refined, alloy and semi-finished products. Unwrought aluminium exports include primary metal and alloy and semi-finished products. COAL, IRON & STEEL Previous Pct Year Pct Year Pct Dec month change ago change to date change Imports: mln T mln T mln T mln T Coal (incl 22.74 22.05 3.1 26.84 -15.3 270.9 6.1 lignite) Iron ore 84.14 94.54 -11.0 88.95 -5.4 1074.74 5.0 Steel products 1.2 1.14 5.3 1.19 0.8 13.3 0.6 Exports: Coal (incl 0.70 0.75 -6.7 0.76 -7.9 8.17 -7.0 lignite) Coke & 1.04 0.97 7.2 0.9 15.6 8.09 -20.0 semi-coke Steel products 5.67 5.35 6.0 7.8 -27.3 75.43 -30." + }, + { + "text": "5 Rare Earths 5,156 4,103 25.7 4,805 7.3 51,199 9.7 Net Exports: Steel products 4.47 4.21 6.2 6.61 -32.4 62.13 -34.8 Note: Rare earth export figures are in tonnes SOFTS & GRAINS Previous Pct Year Pct Year Pct Dec month change ago change to date change Imports: tonnes tonnes tonnes tonnes Soybeans 9.55 8.68 10.0 9 6.1 95.54 13.9 Edible veg oil 610,000 540,000 13.0 760,000 -19.7 5,770,000 4.4 Rubber* 840,000 670,000 25.4 730,000 15.1 7,160,000 23.2 (natural and synthetic) Exports: Rice 69,150 149,032 -53.6 37,059 86.6 1,196,781 147 Note: Soybean figures are in millions of tonnes (Reporting by Lusha Zhang, Judy Hua and Se Young Lee)" + }, + { + "text": "PALM BEACH, Florida, Jan 13 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump met with his trade envoy, Robert Lighthizer, on Saturday and was briefed on U.S. trade with China and upcoming talks on revising the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico, a White House spokeswoman said. “The President met with Ambassador Lighthizer and received an in-depth update on trade with China and their economy, pending enforcement actions, and also had a discussion on NAFTA negotiations,” spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said in a statement. Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Will Dunham" + }, + { + "text": "SINGAPORE, Jan 25 (Reuters) - China’s HNA Investment Group Co Ltd has terminated its plan for a REIT (real estate investment trust) project in Singapore, another setback for indebted parent HNA Group. HNA Investment Group has terminated its HNA Commercial REIT project with Singapore’s AEP Investment Management Pte Ltd, it said in a filing to the Shenzhen stock exchange. “Both parties have decided to terminate this cooperation as the HNA Commercial REIT’s IPO has been progressing very slowly due to many factors,” HNA Investment said. It did not give further details on what the factors were. HNA Investment said in March last year it had signed a framework agreement with AEP on the REIT, which will be listed in Singapore. HNA Investment is one of seven HNA Group units that has announced a trading halt as the parent faces rising financing costs after a two-year $50 billion acquisition spree. (Reporting by Lee Chyen Yee in SINGAPORE and Meg Shen in HONG KONG, editing by David Evans)" + }, + { + "text": "COVINGTON, La., Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. (NYSE: HOS) announced today that it will release its fourth quarter 2017 financial results after the market closes on Wednesday, February 7, 2018. In conjunction with the release, the Company has scheduled a conference call, which will be broadcast live over the Internet, on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern (9:00 a.m. Central). What: Hornbeck Offshore Fourth Quarter 2017 Earnings Conference Call When: Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern (9:00 a.m. Central) How: Live via phone -- By dialing (412) 902-0030 and asking for the Hornbeck Offshore call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time, or Live over the Internet -- By logging onto the web at the address below Where: , on the \"IR Home\" page of the \"Investors\" section of the Company's website For those who cannot listen to the live call, a telephonic replay will be available through February 22, 2018 and may be accessed by calling (201) 612-7415 and using the pass code 13675092#. Also, an archive of the webcast will be available after the call for a period of 60 days on the \"IR Home\" page under the \"Investors\" section of the Company's website. Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. is a leading provider of technologically advanced, new generation offshore service vessels to the energy industry primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and Latin America. Contacts: Jim Harp, CFO Hornbeck Offshore Services 985-727-6802 Ken Dennard, Managing Partner Dennard Lascar / 713-529-6600 releases/hornbeck-offshore-announces-fourth-quarter-2017-earnings-release-and-conference-call-schedule-300586159.html SOURCE Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Snap Inc said it is launching a new feature on Snapchat on Tuesday, allowing users to share public stories with friends and family who aren’t on the app. The company, which reported lower-than-expected 178 million daily active users in the third quarter ended Sept. 30, has been trying to attract new users and rolling out features, aiming to increase the time users spend on the app. Snap’s shares were up about 1 percent in premarket trading on Tuesday. Snapchat users will be able to press and hold on the tiles in Discover feature to share Official Stories, Our Stories and Search Stories via a shareable link, the company said. These links will then open through a player on Snap’s website. Snapchat, known for its messages that disappear seconds after they are read, said Our Stories and Search Stories will be available on the website for 30 days, while Official Stories will disappear after 24 hours. The company also added that it is not ruling out monetization of the stories. Earlier this month, Snap said it would partner with Fox Sports to showcase stories with matchday highlights on the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament to be hosted in Russia later this year. The Snapchat app was revamped last November to simplify navigation after complaints that it was difficult to use. Reporting by Parikshit Mishra and Sonam Rai in Bengaluru; Editing by Martina D'Couto" + }, + { + "text": "Kelan Martin scored 24 points, including a career-high-tying five 3-pointers, to lead Butler to a 79-67 victory over DePaul in Big East action at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Saturday. Martin made 7 of 15 shots, including 5 of 11 from 3-point range. Kamar Baldwin chipped in with 18 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Baldwin, a sophomore point guard, hit 5 of 6 shots and all eight free throws for the Bulldogs (14-7, 4-4 Big East). Aaron Thompson led Butler with eight assists. Max Strus led the Blue Demons (8-11, 1-6) with 27 points, hitting 8 of 17 shots, including 5 of 10 from 3-point range. Eli Cain added 14 points for DePaul, which has lost three in a row. Butler shot 51.1 percent overall, while DePaul hit 35.0 percent. Martin scored 15 in the opening half as Butler grabbed control. The Bulldogs sank 15 of 25 shots to grab a 41-19 lead at halftime. Butler closed the half with a 9-0 run. DePaul hit just 8 of 29 shots in the opening half. With Butler leading 44-22, the Blue Demons used a 12-2 run to cut the lead to 46-34. Butler rebuilt the lead to 55-38 before DePaul once again narrowed the deficit to 12 points. Butler coach LaVall Jordan was called for technical for protesting a no-call on the offensive end with 6:02 left. Strus hit both free throws to cut it to 58-46, but he then missed a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession. DePaul missed all five free throws in the first half, but were 15-of-16 from the foul line in the second half. Butler made 21 of 25 free throws. The Blue Demons were hampered by the loss of senior center Marin Maric, who suffered a knee sprain in Friday’s practice. Maric is averaging 13.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Butler used a 14-0 spurt to take 18-7 lead with 10:13 left in the first half. DePaul missed 10 shots in that 7 1/2-minute scoring drought. Strus finally hit a shot to trim the deficit to 18-9. The Bulldogs have won eight straight in the series and hold a 9-6 overall edge. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "1:43 PM EST How far would you go to get a real life version of Willy Wonka’s golden ticket? Candy company Cadbury decided to find out by announcing a special-edition white chocolate version of the beloved Cadbury Creme Egg in the U.K.—that comes with a prize of up to £2,000. The eggs have identical packaging to the original version, making it impossible to spot a winning egg unless you unwrap it. Unfortunately, Cadbury didn’t seem to consider the lengths some people would go to find the winning eggs, and greedy shoppers have reportedly been unwrapping eggs right in the grocery store, and leaving the remains strewn on the shelves. Read: Could Chocolate Really Vanish By 2050? According to The Independent , there are a total of 371 special edition white chocolate eggs. Any white egg is worth at least £100, but 34 of them are worth £1,000, and one lucky winner will get £2,000. The eggs have been distributed in a variety of grocery stores throughout the U.K., including Co-op, Sainsbury’s Local, Tesco Express, and local news agents. The prize will be valid until April 1. With a winning egg worth as much as £2,000, it could make up for the cost of the flight to the U.K.—don’t wait. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 12:22 AM / Updated 8 hours ago Exclusive: Senator Schumer recommends his chief counsel for Federal Trade Commission Reuters Staff 2 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer has recommended that the White House nominate one of his top aides, Rebecca Slaughter, to the Federal Trade Commission, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter. Schumer is the Senate Minority Leader and Slaughter is his chief counsel who has worked for him since 2009, according to her Linkedin page. She graduated from Yale Law School in 2008. President Donald Trump last week sent the names of four FTC nominees to the Senate for confirmation. They are Republicans Joe Simons, Noah Phillips and Christine Wilson along with Democrat Rohit Chopra, a former official at the Consumer Financial Protection Board, to the FTC. Simons was tapped to chair the commission. A spokesman for Schumer declined comment when asked if he had recommended Slaughter for the FTC position. The FTC works with the U.S. Justice Department to enforce antitrust law. The agency has five commissioners but only three can be from one political party. The agency is currently headed by acting Chairwoman Maureen Ohlhausen, a Republican, with Democrat Terrell McSweeny the only other commissioner. Ohlhausen has been nominated to be a judge on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. McSweeny’s term ended last fall, but she has stayed on pending confirmation of a replacement. The agency is reviewing a number of big mergers in industries where there are already few players. One is a deal to merge industrial gases companies Praxair Inc and Linde AG. It will also decide whether lens maker Essilor International SA will be allowed to merge with dominant frame-maker Luxottica Group SpA. Reporting by Diane Bartz; editing by Clive McKeef" + }, + { + "text": "By David Z. Morris 4:38 PM EST On Friday, Tesla’s Model 3 went on public display in only the second of its showrooms, attracting a crowd of gawkers big enough to generate long lines out the door. The showroom, in Los Angeles’ Century City, follows a Model 3 going on display in Tesla’s Palo Alto showroom, reports to the Los Angeles Times . The Model 3 has been trotted out at car shows and Tesla events, but so far it’s been hard for the public to get up close. Tesla now says display Model 3s will be spreading to showrooms around the country in the “near future.” Technology reporter Brooke Crothers posted two brief videos of the excitement at the debut, and compared the line snaking out the door to the ones that form when Apple launches a new phone. Get Data Sheet , Fortune’s technology newsletter. The difference, of course, is that the people lining up at Apple stores are usually there to buy something — but there’s no chance anyone in the Tesla crowd was driving home in a Model 3. Tesla has received more than 450,000 preorders for the Model 3, and production bottlenecks meant manufacturing got off to a slow start last year. More recent anecdotal evidence suggests things are picking up, but anyone ordering a Model 3 today could still end up waiting years to get it. So, it’s no surprise the Model 3 hasn’t gone on wide public display — it’s more important to get cars to the people who’ve already payed for them. In fact, it seems there might be more demand to just get close to the thing than Tesla can easily accommodate: the Century City store reportedly wasn’t even offering test drives, and staff were described as anxious as visitors swarmed around the car. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "Several dead in latest Brazilian prison riot 4:33am GMT - 00:58 Nine inmates were killed, 14 injured, and dozens escaped in a prison riot in Brazil in the latest example of the country’s continuing difficulties maintaining control over its notoriously violent penal system. Nine inmates were killed, 14 injured, and dozens escaped in a prison riot in Brazil in the latest example of the country’s continuing difficulties maintaining control over its notoriously violent penal system. //reut.rs/2CswKya" + }, + { + "text": "Gates backs Central America malaria elimination plan 4:11pm IST - 01:30 Philanthropist Bill Gates promises $31 million as part of a new $180 million Central America malaria elimination fund aimed at wiping out the disease in seven of the region’s countries and the Dominican Republic. Philanthropist Bill Gates promises $31 million as part of a new $180 million Central America malaria elimination fund aimed at wiping out the disease in seven of the region’s countries and the Dominican Republic. //reut.rs/2DCBMsd" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 10:23 AM / Updated 34 minutes ago Russian and Iranian foreign ministers to meet in Moscow on Wednesday: Interfax Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov plans to meet his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Moscow on Wednesday to discuss a wide range of issues, the Interfax news agency reported, citing the Russian Foreign Ministry. Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Andrew Osborn" + }, + { + "text": "Bitcoin The bitcoin plunge is crushing crypto-craze stocks The bitcoin-mania stocks that rode the cryptocurrency's stunning rise higher are now plunging as the digital currency falters. Longfin, Long Blockchain and Riot Blockchain are all down more than 10 percent Wednesday and more than 15 percent for the week. 37 Mins Ago | 00:52 Easy come, easy go. The stocks that rode bitcoin's rise higher are now plunging as the digital currency falters. The price of bitcoin is down nearly 50 percent in the past month and down more than 20 percent in a 24-hour period to $9,600, according to exchange Coinbase. Bitcoin is still up more than 900 percent in the past 12 months. As a result, Longfin, Long Blockchain and Riot Blockchain are all down more than 10 percent Wednesday and more than 15 percent for the week. Several of these crypto-related stocks had stunning moves higher in recent weeks. Longfin surged 1,342 percent in two days in December to a market value of more than $3 billion after buying a cryptocurrency company with no revenue. The rally spurred the company's CEO to say \"this market cap is not justified.\" And shares of the company formerly named Long Island Iced Tea rose 183 percent on Dec. 21 after it announced it was changing its name to \"Long Blockchain.\" The shares plunged this week even after the company said Wednesday that it intends to merge with Stater Blockchain, a company providing \"blockchain technology solutions in financial markets.\" Bitcoin Investment Trust , a publicly traded vehicle that invests in bitcoin, is also down 14 percent Wednesday. WATCH: Digital currency has real value — Here's why show chapters" + }, + { + "text": "To access the newsletter, click on the link: here If you would like to receive this newsletter via email, please register at: here FACTORS TO WATCH 11:45 am: Hero MotoCorp to launch next-gen Hero motorcycle in New Delhi. 3:00 pm: Auto Expo curtain raiser event in New Delhi. LIVECHAT - FED WATCH Reuters reporters and editors tracking the Federal Reserve take questions on the economics, politics, trade matters and rates policies facing America's central bank and others whose decisions drive markets day in and day out. To join the conversation at 2000 IST, click on the link: here INDIA TOP NEWS • India expects to regain pole position as fastest-growing major economy India on Monday forecast its economic growth would accelerate to 7 to 7.5 percent in the 2018/19 fiscal year, to once again become the world's fastest-growing major economy. • EXCLUSIVE-With Roman law doctrine, India moves to stub out tobacco industry rights The Indian government is pushing the Supreme Court to apply a rarely used doctrine that would strip the $11 billion tobacco industry's legal right to trade, an effort aimed at deterring tobacco companies from challenging tough new regulations. • Reliance Communications narrows loss as sells off wireless assets RCom reported a narrower quarterly loss, as its move out of consumer business helped cut losses. • Tech Mahindra Q3 profit rises over 10 percent Software services exporter Tech Mahindra posted a 10.2 percent rise in third-quarter net profit, helped by a rise in active clients. GLOBAL TOP NEWS • FBI's No. 2 official McCabe, blasted by Trump, steps down FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, criticized by President Donald Trump and other Republicans for alleged bias against him and in favor of his 2016 Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, has stepped down, U.S. officials confirmed on Monday. • Creditors to take 70 percent of Noble Group in $3.5 billion debt restructuring Struggling Noble Group has struck a deal with creditors to restructure $3.5 billion of its debt for 70 percent of the company, with existing equity holders' combined stake diluted to only 10 percent. • Trump team idea to nationalize 5G network to counter China is rejected The top U.S. communications regulator, wireless companies and some lawmakers oppose an idea by members of President Donald Trump's national security team for the government to build a 5G wireless network to counter China spying on phone calls. LOCAL MARKETS OUTLOOK (As reported by NewsRise) • The SGX Nifty Futures were trading at 11,135.50, trading down 0.06 percent from its previous close. • The Indian rupee will likely open lower against the dollar, as the greenback continued to recover from its 2014-lows tracking an uptrend in U.S. bond yields, even as traders await cues from the two-day Fed policy meet that begins today. • Indian government bonds are likely to fall tracking higher U.S. Treasury yields. Regular supply of the benchmark paper through weekly auctions may also hurt demand for the note, traders said. The yield on the 7.17 percent bond maturing in 2028 is likely to trade in a 7.43 percent - 7.48 percent band today. GLOBAL MARKETS • Wall Street pulled back from record highs on Monday, with the Dow and the S&P 500 indexes marking their biggest one-day percentage declines in about five months, weighed down by a slide in Apple shares. • Asian stocks retreated from record highs after a selloff in Apple shares knocked Wall Street, while the dollar found support as U.S. bond yields climbed to near four-year highs. • The dollar traded above a recent three-year low against a basket of major currencies, having drawn some support from a rise in U.S. bond yields as traders awaited a U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting for fresh catalysts. • U.S. Treasury yields surged to more than three-year highs on Monday after comments from a European Central Bank official added to expectations that central banks globally will reduce stimulus as the economic outlook improves. • U.S. oil slipped, extending losses into a second session, as a strengthening dollar sapped demand for crude, while rising U.S. output helped dampen prices. • Gold slipped, extending losses into a second session, as the dollar strengthened against a basket of currencies and U.S. bond yields rose. CLOSE FII INVESTMENTS EQUITIES DEBT PNDF spot 63.54/63.57 January 29 $45.76 mln $198.52 mln 10-yr bond yield 7.56 pct Month-to-date $1.97 bln $1.27 bln Year-to-date $1." + }, + { + "text": "Samsung on Thursday unveiled its new Exynos 9 Series 9810 processor , a chip that may be used in its upcoming Galaxy S9 smartphone. Samsung said the processor has new artificial intelligence technology that will enable devices to recognize faces, suggesting that Samsung will offer a new feature similar to Apple's Face ID in future products. Samsung's current smartphones offer facial recognition, but the sophistication and security aren't as advanced as Apple's. Of note: While Samsung has used its Exynos chip in smartphones in the U.S. before, it has also often used Qualcomm's chips while shipping Exynos models of its smartphones in other global markets. That means it's possible Samsung's U.S.-bound Galaxy S9 won't have the new processor and might instead use a chip from Qualcomm. The Exynos 9 Series 9810 isn't just built for smartphones. Samsung plans to use the chip in computers and in cars, though it didn't name any specific partners for the latter. Samsung's next phone is expected to be revealed in February ." + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 6:44 PM / in 26 minutes Delays to Paris metro expansion threaten smooth 2024 Olympics: senators Reuters Staff 3 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - France’s ability to deliver a smooth-running 2024 Olympic Games could be hurt by expected delays to a massive expansion of the Paris metro network which already faces multi-billion euro cost overruns, French senators warned on Wednesday. The 38.5 billion euro ($47.89 billion) ‘Grand Paris Express’ development, one of Europe’s biggest infrastructure projects, involves building 200 km (124 miles) of track and 68 stations, and will be key to linking transport hubs and Olympic sites. But surging cost projections may force President Emmanuel Macron’s government to delay the construction of some lines -- an announcement on which is expected by mid February -- to avoid creating too big a hole in the public finances and breaking once again European Union budget rules. “The delays and financing difficulties could harm the smooth running of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” a cross-committee grouping of Senators said in a statement. The Grand Paris Express project includes an express line linking the capital’s main international airport with the city center, metro lines serving deprived suburbs and another linked to a tech research center. It was central to Paris’ boast of “easy-to-access rapid public transport options to 100 percent of Games venues” in Paris’ 2024 bid for the Olympics. The new lines are also central to Paris’ efforts to improve public transport accessibility for handicapped users. Only three percent of the city’s more-than 300 metro stations are fully accessible to individuals with reduced mobility. The senators’ worries add to those expressed by the Cour des Comptes, France’s independent audit body, which on Jan. 16 estimated the projects’ overall cost at 38.5 billion euros, more than 12 billion euros higher than the last estimate of 2013. The audit body too said it had “serious doubts” about the project’s ability to open in time for the 2024 games. “We have six and a half years until the games. This may seem a comfortable gap but in reality it is very short given the slow pace and complexities of our urban procedures,” said senator Philippe Bas. Reporting by Julie Carriat; Writing by Richard Lough, Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "Published 2 Hours Ago CNBC.com This is a comparison of Wednesday's FOMC statement with the one issued after the Fed's previous policymaking meeting on December 12. Text removed from the December statement is in red with a horizontal line through the middle. Text appearing for the first time in the new statement is in red and underlined. Black text appears in both statements." + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 10:18 AM / Updated 36 minutes ago GECAS' Burger says GE break-up not on cards Reuters Staff 1 Min Read DUBLIN, Jan 24 (Reuters) - General Electric Co is looking at alternative structuring arrangements, not a break-up of the company, the head of its aircraft finance unit, GECAS, Alec Burger said on Wednesday. GE Chief Executive John Flannery last week said it was looking at restructuring options “including separately traded assets” after the conglomerate announced more than $11 billion in charges from its long-term care insurance portfolio and new U.S. tax laws. “I would like to say that John’s comments were not looking at breaking up GE, but looking at different structuring alternatives,” Burger told the Air Finance conference in Dublin. “I think his view is also that there will continue to be a General Electric company.” (Reporting by Conor Humphries, editing by Louise Heavens)" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 8:28 PM / in 27 minutes China's Sinovel convicted in U.S. of trade secret theft Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 24 (Reuters) - Chinese wind turbine maker Sinovel Wind Group Co was convicted on Wednesday of U.S. charges that it stole trade secrets from AMSC, causing the Massachusetts-based company to lose more than $800 million. A federal jury in Madison, Wisconsin, found Sinovel, once AMSC’s largest customer, guilty on all charges it faced, including conspiracy, trade secret theft and wire fraud, the U.S. Justice Department said. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe left his post on Monday after his bosses urged him to step aside, people familiar with the matter said, following weeks of criticism from President Donald Trump and other Republicans. Mr. McCabe will take leftover vacation time until he is technically eligible to retire from the Federal Bureau of Investigation in March, the people said. Mr.... RELATED VIDEO McCabe Tells Senate Comey Had FBI Support Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee, where he rejected the White House criticism that rank-and-file agents had lost faith in the bureau's former leader, James Comey. He also said he felt the FBI had adequate resources for the Russia investigation. Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/AP (Originally published May 11, 2017) To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil’s Workers Party said on Thursday that its founder and former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will be its candidate again in the October election, despite losing an appeal against a corruption conviction that will likely bar him. Party leader Senator Gleisi Hoffmann announced the plan for Lula’s presidential bid at a rally by labour unions. Wednesday’s unanimous ruling against Lula leaves him with little room to appeal to higher courts and electoral authorities are expected to block his candidacy if he registers to run. Reporting by Eduardo Simões" + }, + { + "text": "YANGON (Reuters) - Rohingya Muslim insurgents ambushed a vehicle in western Myanmar’s Rakhine State on Friday, wounding three people, including two members of the security forces, the military said. A wave of attacks by Rohingya Muslim insurgents on the security posts on Aug. 25 sparked sweeping army counter-insurgency operations in the Muslim-majority north of the state that led to widespread violence and arson and an exodus of some 650,000 Rohingya villagers to Bangladesh. The United Nations condemned the Myanmar military campaign as ethnic cleansing. Buddhist-majority Myanmar rejected that. But since Aug. 25, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) insurgents, who claimed responsibility for the coordinated raids on 30 security posts, have mounted only a few sporadic attacks. The government did not identify the insurgents involved in the Friday attack on a vehicle taking someone to hospital but the military said in a statement they were ”extremist Bengali terrorists ARSA”. “A vehicle ... was attacked by 20 insurgents from the mountain using homemade mines and small arms,” the government said. The military said there were about 10 attackers. An ARSA spokesman was not available for comment. There was no mention of any incident on a Twitter account that routinely carries statements from the group. The Yangon-based Frontier Myanmar magazine quoted a resident of a nearby village as saying sporadic gunfire had been heard at the time of the ambush. The area is largely off-limits to reporters. Myanmar and Bangladesh have been discussing a plan to repatriate the Rohingya refugees but more insecurity in Myanmar is likely to raise doubts about how quickly that might take place. Reporting by Shoon Naing; Editing by Robert Birsel" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- LivePerson, Inc. (Nasdaq: LPSN), a leading provider of cloud-based mobile and online business messaging, today announced the planned release of its fourth quarter financial results after the market close on Tuesday, February 20, 2018. CEO Robert LoCascio and CFO Daniel Murphy will host a conference call later that day, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The conference call will be simulcast live on the Internet and can be accessed by logging onto the investor relations section of the Company's web site at . To participate via telephone, callers should dial in five to ten minutes prior to the 5:00 p.m. Eastern start time; domestic callers (U.S. and Canada) should dial 877-507-3684, while international callers should dial 928-328-1244, and both should reference the conference ID \"8299121.\" If you are unable to participate in the live call, the teleconference will be available for replay approximately two hours after the call. To access the replay, call 855-859-2056 (U.S. and Canada) or 404-537-3406 (international); please reference the conference ID \"8299121.\" About LivePerson LivePerson, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPSN) is a leading provider of cloud-based mobile and online business messaging solutions, enabling a meaningful connection between brands and consumers. LiveEngage, the Company's enterprise-class platform, empowers consumers to stop wasting time on hold with 1-800 numbers, and instead message their favorite brands, just as they do with friends and family. More than 18,000 businesses, including Adobe, Citibank, HSBC, EE, IBM, L'Oreal, Orange, PNC and The Home Depot rely on the unparalleled intelligence, security and scalability of LiveEngage to reduce costs, increase lifetime value and create meaningful connection with consumers. For more information, please visit www.liveperson.com . To view other global press releases about LivePerson, please visit pr.liveperson.com . CONTACT: Investor Relations, Matthew Kempler, 212-609-4214 View original content with multimedia: SOURCE LivePerson, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Thousands of people gathered Sunday in Las Vegas for a “power to the polls” rally held on the first anniversary of a wave of marches organized by women across the U.S. The Las Vegas rally capped a weekend packed with more than 250 events nationwide that aimed to carry on the momentum from last year’s marches held in Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles and other major cities. National... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "09 AM / Updated an hour ago Golf-Day, Noren, Palmer headed to playoff at Torrey Pines Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Australian Jason Day, Swede Alex Noren and American Ryan Palmer are headed to a playoff after finishing the regulation 72 holes locked together at 10-under-par 278 on a warm and windy day Open at Torrey Pines on Sunday. Former world number one Day has won 10 times on the PGA Tour, while Palmer has three victories. Noren has won nine times on the European Tour. (Reporting by Andrew Both)" + }, + { + "text": "CHENNAI, India (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - High school teacher Rajkumar Kotal had run out of ideas. News about his students being pushed into early marriage and lured by traffickers reached him, but often too late to stop it. But when police officials put a letter box in a discreet corner of the Ramgarhat High School in east Indian state of West Bengal, the problem was suddenly solved. “The anonymity of that box gave students the confidence to ask questions, alert authorities and slowly we built a campaign around it to stop child marriages and prevent trafficking,” Kotal, who teaches English, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. West Bengal accounted for 44 percent of human trafficking cases reported in India in 2016 and also had the most missing children reports, according to government data. Young girls from poor families are lured with promises of marriage or jobs and trafficked to cities where they are sold to brothels or into domestic slavery, campaigners said. The state government and charities working to prevent human trafficking have initiated a host of measures, including efforts to create a database of known traffickers. The letter box scheme is part of a larger initiative by the West Bengal police which has proved so successful that now more than 20,000 students across 200 schools in the most vulnerable districts of the state have “shared secrets” and sought help. Recognising the impact of the initiative, the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF has now partnered with the police to expand the scope of the program across the state. “Girls from the state were being trafficked and then dumped on the streets of Delhi to die,” said police officer Ajey Ranade, who is heading the initiative that is largely targeting school girls in vulnerable districts. Police officers in plain clothes first started visiting schools in South 24 and North 24 Parganas districts - identified as trafficking hotspots - in 2016 to talk to students. Many policemen had been on rescue missions and had been “emotionally moved” by the plight of trafficking survivors as they saw the impact it was having on young girls, Ranade said. In schools, adolescents were at first reluctant to engage. “We started playing a game called share your secret and suddenly information was flowing,” said Suravi Sarkar of non-profit banglanatak.com which helped the police reach students. Under the program, the police set up committees in schools to educate students about trafficking traps. “Girls appear to be more alert now and information has started flowing in,” Ranade said. “Students are telling us if a classmate has missed school for a few days, strangers hanging around the school route are being reported and some of this information has even led to arrests.” Kotal, who has been a teacher for 10 years, said he found courage to confront his students’ problems with police backing. “Earlier some students would ask for help but we couldn’t do much. This initiative has brought students, law enforcement, parents and teachers on the same platform,” he said. Reporting by Anuradha Nagaraj, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking and climate change. Visit www.trust.org" + }, + { + "text": "BEIRUT (Reuters) - Turkish warplanes struck residential parts of Syria’s Afrin on Saturday, forcing people to hole up in their homes and in shelters, a senior Kurdish official there said. Hevi Mustafa, a top member of the civilian administration that governs Afrin, said several wounded people had arrived in the hospitals. Turkish jets hit positions of U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in Afrin on Saturday, a senior Turkish official said earlier. Reporting by Ellen Francis; editing by Alexander Smith" + }, + { + "text": "North Korea says it's considering proposal for united Korean women's hockey team, Yonhap reports Published 12 Hours Ago SHARES MANAN VATSYAYANA | AFP | Getty Images The North Korean flag is seen at mast past the barbed wire fencing of the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur North Korea's International Olympics Committee (IOC) official said it is considering South Korea's proposal for a united female hockey team, Yonhap news agency reported on Saturday. South Korea's unification ministry and sports and tourism ministry both said they have no knowledge of the matter. A senior South Korean official said on Friday that Seoul is seeking to form a joint women's ice hockey team with North Korea to participate in next month's Winter Olympics being hosted by the South." + }, + { + "text": "Valentino turns up volume at Paris Fashion Week 3:22pm IST - 01:15 The Italian fashion house Valentino delivers bold colors and an operatic soundtrack at their Haute Couture catwalk show in Paris. Rough Cut - no reporter narration. The Italian fashion house Valentino delivers bold colors and an operatic soundtrack at their Haute Couture catwalk show in Paris. Rough Cut - no reporter narration. //reut.rs/2nblQlP" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 4:45 PM / in 12 minutes Peugeot CEO to meet with UK unions, govt officials Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 18 (Reuters) - Peugeot SA Chief Executive Carlos Tavares said on Thursday he planned to meet next week with the automaker’s UK unions and government officials to discuss the future of Peugeot’s Vauxhall plant, where Tavares said production costs are twice those of its plants in France. Peugeot has already begun cutting jobs in the U.K., provoking protests from unions. (Reporting by Joe White in Detroit; additional reoprting by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru)" + }, + { + "text": "China says it will limit oil, refined product exports to North Korea Published 7 Hours Ago SHARES KCNA | Reuters A view of the newly developed intercontinental ballistic rocket Hwasong-15's test that was successfully launched is seen in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang November 30, 2017. China's Commerce Ministry said on Friday it will limit exports of crude oil, refined oil products, steel and other metals to North Korea , in line with tough new sanctions imposed by the United Nations for Pyongyang's missile tests. The statement comes after the U.N. Security Council last month unanimously voted in favor of new penalties on North Korea for its recent intercontinental ballistic missile test, seeking to limit its access to refined petroleum products and crude oil. The move by China will be effective on Jan. 6, it said. It also follows an agreement on Friday by North Korea to hold official talks with the South next week, the first in more than two years amid rising tensions over its nuclear and missile programs. On Tuesday, the Chinese government said it would continue to adhere to the recent U.N. sanctions. In November, China, one of North Korea's top trading partners, exported no oil products to the isolated country, apparently going above and beyond the U.N. restrictions. Among the measures in the December resolution, the U.N. prohibits nearly 90 percent of refined petroleum exports to North Korea by capping them at 500,000 barrels a year and limits crude oil supplies to 4 million barrels a year." + }, + { + "text": "SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Wood Partners, a national leader in real estate development and acquisition, announced today the closed acquisition and start of construction of a 172-unit mixed-use development in the Potrero Hill district of San Francisco. Alta Potrero Hill is located at 1301 Sixteenth Street near Showplace Square, and in close proximity to Jackson Playground, California College of Arts, new Warriors Arena, UCSF Medical Center and Kaiser Mission Bay. Strategically located near several major tech employers, including Airbnb and Adobe, Alta Potrero Hill is also just blocks away from public bus lines and a mile from both the 16th Street Bart Station and the 22nd Street Caltrain station. \"The Showplace Square District and Potrero Hill align perfectly with our approach to building communities that aim to complement and enhance surrounding neighborhoods,\" said Brian Pianca, Development Director for Wood Partners. \"We're excited to bring Alta Potrero Hill to San Francisco and add to our growing Bay Area portfolio.\" The 172-unit community will consist of over 40 percent family-sized units, that are two bedrooms or bigger, with the average size of the units being 800 square feet. 29 of the units will be below market rate. The seven-story building will include 8,000 square feet of rooftop deck with 360-degree skyline views. There will also be parking spaces for 65 percent of residents and bicycle parking spaces available for each unit. Alta Potrero Hill will consist of approximately 6,700 square feet of ground-floor retail and PDR space for artisans and craftsmen. This is the second Wood Partners project in San Francisco and the sixth project in the Bay Area. For more information please visit www.woodpartners.com . About Wood Partners Wood Partners is a national real estate development company that acquires, develops, constructs and property manages high density and mixed-use communities. It ranks consistently among the top five multifamily developers in the country. Through quality construction, responsible land development and intelligent design, its communities reflect the aesthetic and social fabric of the community and provide a luxurious living experience at a fair price. The company has been involved in the acquisition and development of more than 70,000 homes with a combined capitalization of more than $11.5 billion nationwide. The company currently owns 70 properties with a combined total of 20,000 units. Wood Partners has offices in 17 major markets nationwide including Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Southern California, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Raleigh-Durham, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and West Palm Beach. To learn more about Wood Partners, please visit WoodPartners.com . Media Contact Marissa Currie 415-227-9700 [REDACTED] View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Wood Partners" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - Shenzhen Kaifa Technology Co Ltd : * Sees FY 2017 net profit to increase by 142.5 percent to 189.2 percent, or to be 520 million yuan to 620 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 214.4 million yuan * Says investment revenue as main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/tSt3MW Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Japan’s Nikkei share average rose to its highest level since late 1991 on Tuesday, as a firmer dollar supported exporter stocks and expectations for strong corporate earnings bolstered investor sentiment. The Nikkei ended 1 percent higher at 23,951.81 after reaching an intraday peak of 23,962.07, its highest since November 1991. The index had slipped to as low as 23,588.07 on Friday when the dollar took a steep dive versus its Japanese peer. “The yen’s appreciation against the dollar has stopped and this brightened sentiment, along with expectations for robust company quarterly results,” said Masahiro Ichikawa, senior strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management. Information technology service provider Obic Co rose as much as 7.9 percent to an 18-year peak after the Nikkei business daily reported that the company’s operating profit for the nine months through December likely rose by a fifth. Exporters were lifted as the dollar on Tuesday bounced back from four-month lows versus the yen. Toyota Motor Corp added 1.05 percent, Tokyo Electron rose 1.6 percent and Panasonic Corp climbed 0.6 percent. The broader Topix rose 0.55 percent to 1,894.25. Out of Tokyo’s 33 subindexes, 22 were in positive territory, led by fish and forestry and electrical machinery . Iron and steel and sea transport led the losing sectors. (Reporting by the Tokyo markets team; Editing by Sam Holmes)" + }, + { + "text": "UK retailers suffer as consumers feel the pinch Thursday, January 11, 2018 - 01:50 Britain's biggest retailer Tesco tops a slew of Christmas trading snapshots from the UK high street, with a report that misses forecasts, while flagship department store John Lewis warns of 'volatile' conditions ahead. Ivor Bennett reports. Britain's biggest retailer Tesco tops a slew of Christmas trading snapshots from the UK high street, with a report that misses forecasts, while flagship department store John Lewis warns of 'volatile' conditions ahead. Ivor Bennett reports. //reut.rs/2D1PtRh" + }, + { + "text": "Russian man rams stolen armoured vehicle into shop to steal wine 4:52pm GMT - 00:45 A man rammed an armoured personnel carrier into a shop window before climbing through the rubble to steal a bottle of wine in a town in Russia on Wednesday morning. Rough cut (no reporter narration). ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript A man rammed an armoured personnel carrier into a shop window before climbing through the rubble to steal a bottle of wine in a town in Russia on Wednesday morning. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "CEO of Varian Medical Systems brings deep knowledge of the healthcare industry SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced that Dow R. Wilson, CEO of Varian Medical Systems, Inc., has been elected to its board of directors, effective March 20, 2018. Since 2012 Wilson has been CEO of Varian Medical, a Palo Alto, Calif-based medical device and software products company for treating cancer. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Wilson was chief operating officer and executive vice president, and before that he was president of Varian Medical’s Oncology Systems business. Wilson also had a 19-year career with GE Healthcare, culminating in his position as CEO of GE’s Healthcare Information Technology unit. “Dow brings an important breadth of experience in the healthcare industry. He is a well-respected leader, who is skilled at identifying new opportunities, and building new businesses,” said Mike McMullen, Agilent’s president and CEO. “His insights about healthcare trends worldwide will be particularly valuable as Agilent continues to expand in this field globally.” “I am very pleased to welcome Dow to the Agilent board,” said Koh Boon Hwee, Agilent chairman. “He adds an important and well-informed perspective about the medical technology needs of customers and about emerging markets. I look forward to working with him.” Wilson is also a member of the Board of Directors of AdvaMed, a U.S. trade association representing 80 percent of the medical technology firms in the U.S., and Varex Imaging Corporation, which was created through the successful spin-off of Varian Medical. His term on the Varex board naturally ends in February 2018. Formerly, Wilson was lead independent director of Saba Software, Inc. In 2014, he was appointed by then-U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker, to the newly formed President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa. Wilson received an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University, Utah. “I have long admired Agilent’s scientific solutions, as well as its strong customer focus and impeccable reputation for integrity. I am very pleased to be joining Agilent’s board at this exciting time as the company continues its expansion into medical healthcare,” Wilson said. About Agilent Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: A), a global leader in life sciences, diagnostics and applied chemical markets, working with customers in more than 100 countries, providing instruments, software, services and consumables for the entire laboratory workflow. The company generated revenues of $4.5 billion in fiscal 2017 and employs about 13,500 people worldwide. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Agilent Technologies Stefanie Notaney, [REDACTED] [REDACTED] - mobile [REDACTED] Source: Agilent Technologies, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Expands footprint in the U.S. with its new office in New York City SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AppViewX, a global leader in the management, automation, and orchestration of network services, today announced 56% bookings growth for the calendar year ending December 31, 2017. The company has seen a monumental growth of 422% in its annual subscription revenue, along with a 576% increase in its pipeline in 2017. AppViewX has also opened its second office in the east coast in New York City, in addition to its existing Raleigh office. The New York City office is part of the company’s continued efforts to address regional sales opportunities and better serve client needs. 2017 has seen AppViewX make great strides in launching new product innovations: AVX 12.x: An enhanced modular and micro-service based platform architecture Visual Workflow: An intuitive and visual system for designing self-serviceable, event-driven, intelligent, and automated workflows AppVision: A new and compelling app-centric topology view for managing application and network infrastructure services as well as initiating role-based automated workflows SSH key management and automation Additional ADC services: Amazon Elastic Load Balancing (ELB), HA Proxy, NGINX, and F5 BIG-IQ AppViewX has won multiple awards and recognitions that include the following: Gartner Cool Vendor Network World: Hot New Products At RSA 2017 Golden Bridge Awards IT World Awards ISPG Global Excellence Awards AppViewX also announced the appointment of Founder and Chairman, Anand Purusothaman, as its CEO. He succeeds Manuel Rivelo, who will continue to drive strategy as an advisor and member of the Board of Directors. Manuel Rivelo said, “I am extremely proud of the achievements made by the AppViewX team in the last two years. I am excited to continue to support the company and help them further succeed in the future.” “We have grown immensely in the last two years,” said Anand Purusothaman, CEO at AppViewX. \"We expect further acceleration this year as we help global enterprises digitally transform their network and security operations. Now is a very exciting time for AppViewX.” AppViewX demerged from parent company Payoda in early 2017 and has been operating as a separate entity. The company has approximately 100 global account wins to date. About AppViewX: AppViewX is a global leader in the management, automation and orchestration of network services in brownfield and greenfield data centers. The AppViewX Platform helps network operations (NetOps) adapt to technology and process demands, such as agile, DevOps, IoT, cloud, and software-defined infrastructure. AppViewX delivers greater business agility and efficiency at a lower cost. For more information, visit www.appviewx.com . Follow AppViewX: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook View source version on businesswire.com : AppViewX Suvesha Vengatesh, 212-400-7541 Ext: 363 [REDACTED] Source: AppViewX" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29 (Reuters) - Chongqing Sokon Industry Group Co Ltd : * SAYS IT EXPECTS 2017 NET PROFIT TO RISE 36-43 PERCENT Y/Y FROM 513.5 MILLION YUAN ($81.17 million) YEAR AGO Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2niJIoe Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3265 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "SAN DIEGO, Jan. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- BAM Communications, a California-based communications firm, today announced its appointment of Saramaya Penacho to director of the firm's growing health tech practice. Penacho will lead BAM's marketing and communications campaigns and team for clients in enterprise and consumer healthcare technology, as well as related wellness and science industries. \"Saramaya's experience at the intersection of healthcare and technology, for global companies and startups alike, makes her a great fit to develop this key area of growth for BAM,\" said Beck Bamberger, BAM founder and CEO. Penacho was previously a senior manager in BAM's San Diego headquarters. She will remain based in San Diego and report to senior vice president Katie Pierini. Prior to BAM, Penacho worked for Edelman, the largest global communications marketing firm, where she led award-winning earned, paid, owned and social communications campaigns for B2B and B2C Fortune 100 brands in healthcare insurance, cybersecurity, telecommunication and energy. \"The aging population and diversifying generational demands provide unique opportunities in healthcare technology. We're seeing companies in cybersecurity, transportation and cryptocurrency, among other sectors, intersect with healthcare and the care continuum,\" said Penacho. \"I'm thrilled to drive this practice as one that uniquely understands the health tech convergence in storytelling.\" \"The growth of the health tech market has contributed to BAM Communications' own rapid expansion, and Saramaya's exemplary client servicing and team leadership skills make her an ideal fit for the needs of our clients,\" said Pierini. \"We nearly doubled in size in 2017, and we look forward to Saramaya's talent helping us further contribute to our clients' successes as we continue to grow along with them.\" Penacho will also be responsible for attracting and developing top talent to support a roster of existing leading health tech brands, which are in medical device security, genomic databases, biosensors and artificial intelligence. About BAM Communications BAM Communications is a communications firm with offices in San Diego, California and New York City. Founded in 2008, the company offers forward thinking public relations strategy planning, media relations, and expert positioning to clients. BAM's mission is to shape the stories of barrier breaking technology and enterprise innovation companies, prompting rapid scalability, garnering investment dollars and spurring market dominance. For more information, visit www.bamcommunications.biz and follow us on Twitter , Facebook , or LinkedIn . Contact: Mike Melvin BAM Communications 267-353-5725 [REDACTED] View original content with multimedia: SOURCE BAM Communications" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 4:48 PM / in 5 minutes Russian police detain opposition leader Navalny's allies Reuters Staff 2 Police in Russia detained two of opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s allies after they landed at a Moscow airport on Tuesday and accused them of inciting unlawful protests. Around 1,500 people in Moscow and hundreds more in cities across Russia took to the streets on Sunday in a protest organized by Navalny to support a boycott of presidential elections in March. Incumbent Vladimir Putin is widely expected to be re-elected, but Navalny says he has been unfairly barred from running over what he says is a trumped-up suspended prison sentence. Kira Yarmysh, Navalny’s spokeswoman, and Ruslan Shaveddinov, an activist, hosted an online broadcast of Sunday’s protests to Navalny’s supporters from an undisclosed location outside Russia which the authorities were unable to stop. Police used power tools to force entry into Navalny’s Moscow headquarters where they shut down another online broadcast on the same day, citing a purported bomb threat. Police detained Yarmysh and Shaveddinov at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport soon after they landed back in Russia, footage the activists shared on social media showed. “My fan club is meeting me at the airport. They say they didn’t like our broadcast,” Shaveddinov quipped on social media, sharing a photograph of himself from the airport in which two policemen were clearly visible. Police took the pair to a Moscow police station and told them they would be kept in overnight until a court hearing, Shaveddinov wrote on Twitter. Navalny himself was detained for several hours on Sunday before being released without charge, his lawyer Olga Mikhailova told Reuters at the time, but would face court at a later date. Writing by Polina Ivanova; Editing by Andrew Osborn" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 23 (Reuters) - Dp Eurasia Nv: * FY TOTAL GROUP SYSTEM SALES OF TRY 859.8 MILLION VERSUS TRY 647.4 MILLION YEAR AGO * FY LFL SYSTEM SALES IN RUSSIA UP 28.9% VERSUS 41.6% YEAR AGO * FY LFL SYSTEM SALES IN TURKEY UP 10.0% VERSUS 7.0% YEAR AGO * BOARD EXPECTS FULL YEAR ADJUSTED EBITDA FOR 2017 TO BE IN LINE WITH EXPECTATIONS Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week, hitting their highest level in more than three months, likely as a cold snap kept some workers at home. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 11,000 to a seasonally adjusted 261,000 for the week ended Jan. 6, the highest level since late September, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Claims have now risen for four straight weeks. The increase likely does not suggest a material shift in labor market conditions as claims data tend to be volatile during year-end holidays. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast claims falling to 245,000 in the latest week. A large part of the country was hit by frigid temperatures and snow during the first week of 2018, likely making it hard for some people to report for work. Unadjusted claims for New York increased by 27,170 last week, more than half of the national total. The Labor Department said claims data for Maine were estimated. It also said claims-taking procedures continued to be disrupted in the Virgin Islands months after they were battered by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, while claims processing in Puerto Rico was still not back to normal. Last week marked the 149th straight week that claims remained below the 300,000 threshold, which is associated with a strong labor market. That is the longest such stretch since 1970, when the labor market was much smaller. The labor market is near full employment, with the jobless rate at a 17-year low of 4.1 percent. Last week, the four-week moving average of initial claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends as it irons out week-to-week volatility, rose 9,000 to 250,750. The continuing low level of claims suggests a strong labor market. The pace of job growth is, however, expected to slow this year as the labor market hits full employment. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 148,000 jobs in December after surging by 252,000 in November. Thursday's claims report also showed the number of people receiving benefits after an initial week of aid dropped 35,000 to 1.87 million in the week ended Dec. 30, the lowest level since December 1973. The four-week moving average of the so-called continuing claims fell 5,500 to 1.91 million." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Holdings Co Ltd * Says it signed cooperation agreement with Shenzhen-based tech firm * Says two entities mainly cooperate on construction of AI platform, AI industry park and AI related internet of Things Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/wXSP1L Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Turkey lifts plane stuck on Black Sea cliff after it skidded off runway 9:41pm IST - 00:48 The Pegasus Airways aircraft came off the runway on Saturday (January 13) but no one was hurt. narration) The Pegasus Airways aircraft came off the runway on Saturday (January 13) but no one was hurt. narration) //reut.rs/2mP0YRk" + }, + { + "text": "Shaquille O'Neal doesn't complicate things when leaving a tip. He simply asks the server how much they want. \"When I'm at restaurants, I am a big tipper,\" the retired NBA star told Jimmy Kimmel in 2017 . \"I like to show people my appreciation. So when they come up to the table, I say, 'The quicker I get my order, the bigger your tip will be.' And then the food will come fast. \"Then, when we're getting ready to leave, I'll ask them: 'How much do you want?'\" The most anyone has ever asked for was $4,000. \"And I said, 'OK no problem,'\" he recalls. As for the valet, they'll get about $300 for parking his car, O'Neal told Kimmel. show chapters Facebook alum and venture capitalist explains why he almost always tips 100% 12:35 PM ET Thu, 16 March 2017 | 00:53 When it comes to tipping, venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya also keep its simple, though in a slightly different way. He leaves 100 percent unless he had bad service, he tells CNBC on \" Squawk Box .\" \"If it's bad service, no, but most of the time [I tip 100 percent]. Because they just have such joy on their face and it's wonderful,\" says the sharp investor, whose early investments include Slack, Box and SurveyMonkey. Palihapitiya is also an original member of the Facebook management team and co-owner of the Golden State Warriors. \"Look, I got lucky, so I feel like I should just pay it forward.\" For those of you who aren't O'Neal or Palihapitiya, check out a more realistic guide to tipping . Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook ! Don't miss: Why this successful Facebook alum and venture capitalist almost always tips 100% show chapters Stephen Curry, LeBron James and other NBA champs are investing in start-ups 1:30 PM ET Tue, 1 Aug 2017 | 01:09" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 10:21 AM / Updated 7 hours ago BRIEF-Russian Helicopters Completes Additional Shares Placement Reuters Staff Jan 9 (Reuters) - RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS ( IPO-VTRS.L ): * COMPLETES PLACEMENT OF ADDITIONAL SHARES IN CLOSED SUBSCRIPTION * PLACES 318,305 SHARES, WHICH IS 4.897% FROM TOTAL NUMBER OF SHARES OF THE ISSUE" + }, + { + "text": "The World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, might not seem like the natural place for marketing, given its ambition to \"improve the state of the world\" in regards to issues such as global inequality and climate change. But included in the 92-page official participant list are several chief marketing officers (CMOs) who are due to attend this year's event, which begins on Tuesday. They include CMOs from Microsoft, Huawei, AT&T, Unilever, Sberbank and technology company ABB, as well as Davos regular Martin Sorrell, chief executive of agency group WPP, senior executives from the Dentsu Aegis group and Grey advertising, plus a delegation from ad tech company Salesforce. Miki Tsusaka, CMO and managing director at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Tokyo, has been going to WEF for seven years. It's an opportunity to meet clients and get inspiration from leaders at the event, as well as mix with other marketers, she said. \"I do meet with the CMOs when I'm there, there's a little bit of a club,\" she told CNBC by phone. Topics she expects to cover include squeezed marketing spend — \"No-one says 'I have too much budget'\" — and the rush to hire or train people in new digital communications. \"You have large organizations that have been marketing one way, then all of a sudden your marketing budgets above-the-line (in paid-for media) and below-the-line (such as for email marketing) go digital from (being) traditional and that talent pool doesn't change overnight,\" she said. \"The marketing 'tech stack' is incredible. It used to be Google and Facebook and now new startups and software companies allow you to do much more scientific marketing. It's been a breathtaking change in the past five years,\" she added. WEF partners WEF is largely funded by businesses that join the Forum as members and partners. Fees range from 60,000 Swiss francs ($62,243) to 600,000 Swiss francs (around $622,000) \"depending on the level of engagement.\" BCG is a \" strategic partner \" of Davos, as is Unilever, which has six delegates on the list. For Keith Weed, Unilever's CMO, Davos is one of two major events he attends each year, the other being the Cannes Lions advertising festival. At WEF 2017, the company published research on how gender stereotypes hold women back, and at Cannes last June it launched the \"Unstereotype Alliance,\" a group aiming to remove sexism in advertising, in partnership with Mars, Johnson & Johnson, Diageo and others. At Davos this year, Weed is taking part in a panel put together by campaigning organization the Female Quotient, on how to \"affect positive change,\" along with other senior marketers, including Uber Chief Brand Officer Bozoma Saint John, Kristin Lemkau, CMO of JP Morgan Chase, and Carolyn Everson, vice-president of global marketing solutions at Facebook. Weed didn't comment on his other plans for Davos 2018, but told CNBC by email that working with businesses at the event is a way to have a positive social and environmental impact. \"Davos provides us with a platform to build partnerships and to influence the debate,\" he said. For Henry Gomez, chief marketing and communications officer at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE, also a WEF strategic partner), marketers have a place at Davos because they are central to business. \"When I sit at HPE's executive leadership table, I'm there as a business leader — not just a marketer,\" he told CNBC by email. \"And while technology has brought the global economy growth and opportunity, there is no doubt that social media, AI, blockchain and other technological developments also present challenges. When it comes to determining responses, marketers are at the center of the action. \"Davos is a great place for CMOs to listen, learn and contribute.\" HPE has five delegates on the list, and will host a breakfast with UPS on Tuesday looking at how businesses can best find value from \"the data explosion,\" and Gomez will also meet HPE customers. Ultimately, WEF is a place to get inspiration, Tsusaka said. \"A lot of CMOs are there both to get the word out on what they stand, for but also digest like a sponge all the incredible things that are happening.\"" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - China implied on Monday a new job could be in the offing for Wang Qishan, the powerful former top graft-buster and a close ally of President Xi Jinping, with an announcement that he had been chosen as a delegate to the annual meeting of parliament. Wang stepped down from the seven-man Politburo Standing Committee, the apex of power in China, during a leadership reshuffle in October at the end of the once-in-five-years Communist Party Congress, amid intense interest in whether he would leave the post. Aged 69, Wang had reached the age at which top officials tend to retire, but sources with ties to the leadership have told Reuters Xi could keep him on in some capacity, thanks to his loyalty and history of successfully tackling tough issues such as corruption. Wang has been appointed a delegate to the largely rubber stamp parliament from the southern province of Hunan, according to a notice on the official Hunan Daily’s WeChat account that lists all the province’s parliamentary delegates. Wang was previously a parliament delegate from the same province. The notice gave no other details or reason why Wang had been kept on as a delegate, and it was not possible to reach him for comment. The move is significant because if Wang does not retire, that could set a precedent for Xi to stay on in power after he completes the traditional two terms in office. FILE PHOTO - China's President Xi Jinping (R) speaks to Wang Qishan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) during the preparatory meeting of the annual session of China's parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 4, 2015. REUTERS/China Daily The national parliament opens in March, and provinces are now selecting their delegates to it. It is unclear what new role Wang could be given, though leadership sources and diplomats say he might become the country’s new vice president, with a possible focus on relations with the United States. The State Council Information Office, which doubles as the party spokesman’s office, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Wang, who keeps a low public profile but is often described as China’s second most powerful politician, has not been totally out of the limelight since the end of the congress, for example, attending a banquet Xi hosted for U.S. President Donald Trump in November. Wang was at the forefront of Xi’s anti-corruption push launched some five years ago as head of the party’s graft fighting Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, which has been responsible for jailing dozens of top officials. He has a strong economic background also, previously serving as a vice governor of the central bank, and, as a vice premier with an economic portfolio, helped oversee China’s recovery from the 2008 global financial crisis. Wang has experience managing relations with the United States too, heading the China delegation for the economic track at the once annual U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Christian Shepherd; Editing by Clarence Fernandez" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK (Reuters) - Altice USA Inc said on Monday that Netflix Inc is now available through its new set-top box, the latest U.S. cable operator to form an alliance with the streaming service. Such partnerships help Netflix add customers as its growth matures in the United States. At the same time, cable executives see the tie-ups as a way to help fight cord cutting, the dropping of pay TV service. In November, Comcast Corp, the biggest U.S. cable provider, embedded Netflix into its Xfinity X1 set-top box. Reporting by Anjali Athavaley" + }, + { + "text": "CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (Brighthouse Financial) (Nasdaq: BHF) today announced that it plans to hold a conference call and audio webcast to discuss its financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, February 13, 2018. The call will follow the issuance of the Brighthouse Financial fourth quarter 2017 earnings release and fourth quarter 2017 financial supplement on Monday, February 12, 2018, after market close. To listen to the audio webcast via the internet, please visit the Brighthouse Financial Investor Relations web page at . To join the conference call via telephone, please dial (844) 358-9117 from within the U.S. or [REDACTED] from outside the U.S. A replay of the conference call will be made available until Friday, February 23, 2018 on the Brighthouse Financial Investor Relations web page at . About Brighthouse Financial, Inc. Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq: BHF) is a major provider of annuities and life insurance in the U.S. Established by MetLife, our mission is to help people achieve financial security by offering essential annuity and life insurance solutions designed to protect what they have earned and help ensure it lasts. Learn more at www.brighthousefinancial.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Brighthouse Financial, Inc. Investors: David Rosenbaum, 980-949-3326 [REDACTED] or Media: Tim Miller, 980-949-3121 [REDACTED] Source: Brighthouse Financial, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - Japan Real Estate Investment Corp * Says it plans to sell a Tokyo-based real estate property to MITSUBISHI ESTATE CO., LTD on Jan. 18, for 10 billion yen * Says it plans to buy a Tokyo-based real estate property on Jan. 19, at the price of 17.56 billion yen Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/7FUaGw Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Scotland’s government thinks campaigns to halt Brexit have little chance but believes it can persuade British negotiators to try to stay in the European Union’s single market, a senior Scottish minister said on Monday. Speaking to Reuters during a two-day visit to Brussels to sound out EU diplomats and lawmakers on Britain’s upcoming talks on post-Brexit relations with the bloc, Fiona Hyslop, the devolved Scottish government external affairs minister, said talk of a new referendum or of a parliamentary U-turn on Brexit was “wishful thinking”. “We’ve got to be realistic here,” Hyslop said. “The UK seems to be adamant that they want to leave. We think that continued membership of the EU is what’s in the best interests of Scotland and the rest of the UK. But I think perhaps it is overly optimistic to think that would happen.” British Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted that the whole United Kingdom will leave the single market and a customs union when it leaves the European Union in March next year, although little would change in practice for another two years. May is expected to offer more details next month on what her government wants in a future relationship. London has indicated it sees a broad free trade agreement, closer than a recent EU deal with Canada. But the pro-independence Scottish government says that would leave Scotland’s economy 6.1-percent smaller than it would be in 2030 if it had stayed in the EU. Noting that a Scottish government study last week showed that even staying in the single market would cost the economy 2.7 percentage points of GDP, Hyslop called said it was the “least worst option”. The goal was now to persuade May to seek that outcome before she finalizes her negotiating position. SINGLE MARKET PUSH Scottish Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs Fiona Hyslop talks during an interview with Reuters in Brussels, Belgium, January 22, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman While a substantial majority of Scots opposed Brexit in the 2016 referendum, many of those backing May’s plan to leave the EU rule out single market and customs union membership because of Brussels’ insistence that those would mean Britain accepting open immigration from the continent and prevent it making it own free trade agreements with other countries round the world. By contrast, the Scottish government argues that its ageing population means it actively wants to encourage immigration. Hyslop said she expected May’s government to compromise on some of the “red lines” it has set out. She noted that it agreed last month to avoid regulations in Northern Ireland diverging from EU member Ireland. That, she said, showed a willingness in London to allow for regional differences that might apply to Scotland too. And it might also signal a will to keep regulation in Britain in line with the EU, as the single market demands. “Politics is always very volatile and we need to be looking for opportunities to take things forward,” Hyslop said. “We want to ensure that Scotland’s place is protected whatever scenario transpires.” Her nationalist government remains committed to secession and to membership of the EU but has no immediate plan to seek a rerun of the failed 2014 independence referendum. Hyslop confirmed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s intention to look again at a push to secede from the UK once London and Brussels have struck an outline accord late this year on a post-Brexit relationship. Insisting the Scottish National Party wanted to keep trade open with both the continent and with a post-Brexit England, she said that if May rejects single market membership “we reserve our position to make sure the people of Scotland have a choice”. “Because,” she said, “Leaving the EU will have an absolutely potentially catastrophic impact on the economy of Scotland.” Reporting by Alastair Macdonald Additional reporting by Samantha Koester Editing by Jeremy Gaunt" + }, + { + "text": "BUENOS AIRES, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Argentina and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding to boost uranium exploration and production in the South American country that could include $250 million in investment, Argentina’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday. The agreement was sealed during a visit by Argentine President Mauricio Macri to Moscow. It was signed by Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie, chief executive of Russia’s Uranium One Group, and chief of London-based UrAmerica Ltd ( IPO-URAL.L ), which explores for uranium in Argentina and Paraguay. Argentina is seeking to boost domestic nuclear power production, which depends on uranium, in order to reduce its energy deficit. In a joint statement with Macri, Russian President Vladimir Putin said state nuclear agency Rosatom has proposed building a nuclear power station in Argentina. Latin America’s No. 3 economy already generates 5 percent of its electricity with three heavy-water nuclear reactors. The country plans to start building two new nuclear reactors in the second half of this year at a cost of $13 billion, most of it financed by Chinese organizations. Argentina’s foreign ministry said in a statement the goal of the deal was to achieve “national self-sufficiency in uranium.” Uranium One, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rosatom, is the world’s fourth-largest uranium producer. (Reporting by Luc Cohen; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 9:27 PM / in 5 minutes Trump tells France's Macron Iran must stop 'destabilizing activity' Reuters Staff 1 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump, in a call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, underscored that Iran “must stop its destabilizing activity in the region,” the White House said. Trump faces a Friday deadline on whether to waive sanctions on Iran or likely kill a nuclear agreement with Tehran by reimposing sanctions. Macron and the leaders of Britain and Germany on Thursday urged Trump to uphold the nuclear deal. Trump and Macron agreed in the call to continue to apply pressure on North Korea “until it returns to the path of denuclearization,” the White House statement said. Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by David Alexander" + }, + { + "text": "Abercrombie & Fitch bags held by shoppers Abercrombie & Fitch shares jumped Monday after the retailer raised its fourth-quarter guidance. The retailer said it expects same-store sales to be up in the high-single digits, compared with the previous outlook of low-single-digit gains. Net sales for the quarter is now expected to increase in the low-teens, compared with the previous guidance of an increase of mid- to high-single digits. Shares of the retailer were up 6.7 percent in early trading Monday following the report. Abercrombie & Fitch also said 78-year-old Arthur Martinez will retire as executive chairman on Feb. 3. Terry Burman, 72, who is chair of the board governance committee, will become nonexecutive chairman. Terri Cullen News Editor, CNBC.com Related Securities" + }, + { + "text": "By David Meyer 7:11 AM EST Around four years ago, people started attacking the shuttle buses that took Google employees to and from work, as a way of protesting the tech-company-driven gentrification taking place around San Francisco. Well, it seems to be happening again. This time it’s not just Google (googl) —it’s Apple’s charter buses too. At least five of the iPhone-maker’s shuttles have recently had their windows smashed while in transit. According to an email sent to Apple staff, the first attack took place last Friday, followed by four more on Tuesday. It’s suspected that someone is shooting out the windows using pellet guns, or perhaps throwing rocks. The attacks took place on highway 280, so Apple (aapl) is diverting its buses from that road, even though doing so will add 30-45 minutes to the commute time in either direction. A Google bus was also attacked on the same road on Tuesday, SFGate reported . Google, too, is rerouting its shuttles from the highway as a result. According to California Highway Patrol spokesman Art Montiel, cited in SFGate’s coverage, the attacks all took place while the buses were occupied and moving. However, no injuries have been reported. The buses were not marked with the logos of the companies that chartered them. However, according to a Guardian report , the companies are identifiable by the colors of the buses: white for Google, silver for Apple and blue for Facebook (fb) . “If someone was targeting the buses, I’m sure they are going to find them anywhere they go. It���s not like they are hidden,” the report quoted Montiel as saying. The protests that took place in 2013 and 2014 were prompted by gentrification in the Bay Area, due to the high salaries of tech company employees, and also by anger over surveillance and automation . SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said on Friday that President Donald Trump’s reported comments on African nations and Haiti at Thursday’s bipartisan immigration meeting were unfortunate and unhelpful, adding that any immigration reforms will be separate from spending bill negotiations. “The first thing that came to mind was very unfortunate and unhelpful,” Ryan said in an interview on CNN speaking about reports that fellow Republican Trump had referred to them as “shithole countries.” Trump has denied the remarks. Asked about how Trump’s comments could impact a congressional deal on immigration reform, Ryan said: “We just have to get it done.” Ryan also said that he is confident that there will not be a government shutdown next week, as lawmakers scramble to negotiate spending legislation to keep it operating. Reporting by Susan Heavey; Writing by Katanga Johnson; Editing by Lisa Lambert" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 3:49 PM / Updated 2 hours ago U.S. shutdown would pose 'small' drag on GDP: Morgan Stanley Reuters Staff 1 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government shutdown, which was in its third day, would be a “relatively small” drag on the U.S. economic expansion in the first quarter, but the effects depend on how long it lasts, Morgan Stanley’s analysts said on Monday. Each week of the shutdown would subtract up to 0.2 percentage point from the annualized quarterly growth rate of the gross domestic product, Morgan Stanley economist Ellen Zentner and strategist Michael Zezas wrote in a research note. Reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 10:00 AM / Updated 8 hours ago WTA International, Hobart Results Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 12 (OPTA) - Results from the WTA International, Hobart Women's Singles matches on Friday .. Semi-final .. Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU) beat 5-Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) 6-2 6-2 2-Elise Mertens (BEL) beat Heather Watson (GBR) 6-4 1-6 6-2" + }, + { + "text": "ABUJA (Reuters) - The Nigerian military said on Thursday it had rescued one of the schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram from the town of Chibok in 2014, one of the world’s most notorious kidnappings in recent years. The abduction of more than 270 students sparked international condemnation and heavy criticism of the Nigerian authorities at home along with a celebrity-backed “Bring Back Our Girls” campaign. Salomi Pogu was found by troops deployed in the town of Pulka with another girl and a young child. “(They) are in the safe custody of troops and receiving medical attention,” the military said in a statement. The second girl was not one of the abducted Chibok students. Of the 276 girls who were originally taken, about 60 escaped soon afterwards. Around 100 are still believed to be in captivity. Last May, Boko Haram exchanged 82 of the girls after mediation, involving a payment to the insurgents and the release of some of the group’s imprisoned senior members. Before that, 24 had been released or found in 2016. The Chibok case attracted global attention, but aid groups say Boko Haram has kidnapped thousands more adults and children, many of whose cases are neglected. (Corrects spelling of rescued girl’s name in third paragraph to “Salomi Pogu” after error in initial military statement) Reporting by Paul Carsten; Editing by Ralph Boulton" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co: * GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO SAYS PRELIMINARY Q4 TOTAL COMPANY VOLUME UP 2% - PRESENTATION * GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO SAYS CURRENT ESTIMATE OF ABOUT $230 MILLION FOR ONE-TIME, NON-CASH TAX CHARGE IN Q4 * GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO SAYS AT CURRENT SPOT RATES, SEE 2018 RAW MATERIAL TAILWIND OF $75 MILLION * GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO SAYS EXPECT 2018 SEGMENT OPERATING INCOME OF $1,800 MILLION - $1,900 MILLION Source text: ( bit.ly/2mFAX6S ) Further company coverage: (Bengaluru Newsroom: [REDACTED])" + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Swiss sensor maker Sensirion is gearing up for a Zurich stock market flotation in March or April as it seeks additional funds for expansion, people close to the matter said. The maker of sensors used in the medical, industrial and automotive industries is working with JP Morgan ( JPM.N ) and Credit Suisse ( CSGN.S ) as so-called global coordinators on the deal, with further help from Vontobel ( VONN.S ), they said. Sensirion declined to confirm that a transaction was imminent. “An IPO is one option,” a spokesman said on Tuesday, adding the timing was open. The banks declined to comment. The Finanz und Wirtschaft paper on Saturday reported the planned listing. Sensirion is expected to reap a valuation of 600-800 million Swiss francs ($642-856 million), including proceeds from a planned capital increase, one of the people said, adding that shares worth 200-300 million francs will likely be offered. The maker of gas and liquid flow sensors as well as gear to measure humidity, temperature or carbon dioxide levels was founded in 1998 by physicists Felix Mayer and Moritz Lechner as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH). Lechner and Mayer, along with other longer-term investors, own the company. Marc von Waldkirch, another ETH-trained physicist, is chief executive. With around 730 employees around the world, Sensirion competes in fragmented markets against rivals including well-established companies Honeywell ( HON.N ), Germany’s Robert Bosch ROBG.UL, Texas-based Silicon Labs ( SLAB.O ) and Japan’s Horiba ( 6856.T ). Sensirion’s sensors are used in cars, mobile phones, hospitals and petrochemicals plants, as well as aboard the International Space Station, the company said. It sells its sensors via large distributors including DigiKey Corp, Mouser Electronics, Conrad and Arrow Electronics. ($1 = 0.9347 Swiss francs) Additional reporting by Oliver Hirt and John Miller in Zurich; Editing by Michael Shields" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 3:31 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Russia says militants used drones to attack its bases in Syria: agencies Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Monday militants had used drones to attack its naval and air bases in Syria on Saturday, Russian news agencies reported. The Russian Defence Ministry said there were no casualties or damage as a result of the attacks, which involved thirteen armed drones, on its Hmeimim air base and Tartus naval base in western Syria, the agencies reported. The ministry said last week that two Russian service personnel were killed in a mortar attack on the Hmeimim base on Dec. 31. Reporting by Jack Stubbs; Writing by Polina Ivanova; Editing by Jack Stubbs" + }, + { + "text": "President Donald Trump will unveil plans for an aggressive trade crackdown over the coming weeks, according to a report by Politico. The White House is likely to introduce new tariffs designed to combat China's alleged unfair trade practices, the report said, citing administration sources that could not be verified by CNBC. Trump's administration could reportedly begin finalizing decisions on trade fights ranging from steel imports to policies regarding intellectual property as soon as this week. Senior officials have marked Trump's State of the Union address at the end of January as a provisional deadline to announce America's trade measures, the report said. Speaking in Beijing in November, Trump said the current relationship between the world's leading economies had been a \" very one-sided and unfair one ,\" before adding \"it is just not sustainable.\" The U.S. leader has frequently identified apparent trade imbalances as a problem he wants to resolve. By turning to trade policy, Trump is set to refocus on one of a handful of major policy areas on which the president can act without having to rely on Congress. A spokesperson for the White House was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC. Read the full Politico report here ." + }, + { + "text": "29 AM / Updated 33 minutes ago RPT-China QFII quota unchanged at $97.16 bln at end-Jan - FX regulator Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Repeats to attach to alerts. No change to text) BEIJING, Jan 31 (Reuters) - The outstanding amount of China’s dollar-denominated Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) programme stood at $97.16 billion as of Jan. 30, unchanged from end-December, the foreign exchange regulator said on Wednesday. The QFII scheme was created by China to allow foreigners to invest in Chinese capital markets. (Reporting by Beijing Monitoring Desk; Editing by Richard Borsuk)" + }, + { + "text": "Wall St drops over high bond yields 6:09am IST - 01:20 The Dow plunged as many as 411 points at its low Tuesday. As Fred Katayama reports, rising bond yields were the culprit for the second straight day. The Dow plunged as many as 411 points at its low Tuesday. As Fred Katayama reports, rising bond yields were the culprit for the second straight day. //reut.rs/2DNDd7r" + }, + { + "text": "MEXICO CITY—Mexicans have encountered some wide price variations in the country’s newly competitive retail gasoline market, drawing fears of steep increases like those that generated protests a year ago and prompting authorities to deny any inordinate rise of pump prices. Although average national gasoline prices were little changed from December, some service stations began charging more, generating headlines in local media about higher driving costs. “2018 Gets Under Way With Increases in Gasoline,” said the financial newspaper... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Tesla Inc. on Tuesday unleashed a bold pay package for Chief Executive Elon Musk that again ties his compensation entirely to key performance benchmarks. This time, the goals take the electric-car maker to cosmic heights, including an ultimate aim of hitting $650 billion in market value. The pay plan, which shareholders must still approve, is designed to keep the 46-year-old billionaire as Tesla’s top leader for years to come while also allowing for the possibility he will transition eventually from the day-to-day role of... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 11:22 AM / Updated 10 hours ago Grand Slam, Australian Open Men's Singles Results Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 25 (OPTA) - Results from the Grand Slam, Australian Open Men's Singles matches on Thursday .. Semi-final .. 6-Marin Cilic (CRO) beat Kyle Edmund (GBR) 6-2 7-6(4) 6-2" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Steve Bannon has stepped down as executive chairman of Breitbart News, the right-wing news organization said on its website on Tuesday, after the former White House chief strategist was Quote: d in a book criticizing President Donald Trump. “Steve is a valued part of our legacy, and we will always be grateful for his contributions, and what he has helped us to accomplish,” Breitbart Chief Executive Larry Solov said in a statement on the website. Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Tim Ahmann" + }, + { + "text": "BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Algerian state energy company Sonatrach will study possible investments in oil exploration and natural gas projects in Iraq, the Iraqi oil ministry said in a statement on Sunday. The statement cited comments by Iraqi Oil Minister Jabar al-Luaibi and Algerian Energy Minister Mustapha Guitouni, who arrived in Baghdad on Sunday. The Algerian delegation will hold meetings with Iraqi energy companies “to achieve concrete steps toward sealing a cooperation agreement with Sonatrach”, said Luaibi, mentioning specifically projects to develop Iraq’s gas wealth. Iraq continues to flare some of the gas extracted alongside crude oil at its fields because it lacks the facilities to process it into fuel for local consumption or exports. Algeria is a main supplier of gas to Europe, exporting it by pipelines to the continent and also shipping it on tankers after liquefying the gas in special plants. Guitouni expressed hope of strengthening cooperation in oil exploration and natural gas, the Iraqi ministry statement said. Iraq is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ second-largest crude producer behind Saudi Arabia, with output of 4.4 million barrels per day. Fellow OPEC member Algeria has estimated output of 1 million bpd. Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli and Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by John Stonestreet and David Goodman" + }, + { + "text": "21 AM / Updated 28 minutes ago Arbitration court to announce verdicts in Russian athletes' doping appeals on Thursday Reuters Staff 1 Min Read ZURICH (Reuters) - The verdicts on appeals from 39 Russian athletes who were given lifetime Olympic bans for doping violations at the 2014 Sochi Games will be announced on Thursday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said in a statement on Wednesday. CAS said that its secretary general Matthieu Reeb would make a statement at 1700 local time (0800 GMT) in Pyeongchang, South Korea, where the tribunal has set up a temporary office for next month’s Winter Olympics. The decisions will also be issued on its website, CAS said. The athletes were disqualified from their events, banned from participating in future Olympics and in some cases stripped of their medals following the International Olympic Committee’s investigation of widespread doping in Sochi. Russia has repeatedly denied any state involvement in the doping which was exposed by an independent report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Reporting by Brian Homewood; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky" + }, + { + "text": "ZURICH (Reuters) - Chinese bitcoin mining giant Bitmain Technologies is expanding to Switzerland in a move that will be key to widening its reach, the group told a Swiss newspaper. Bitmain Switzerland was registered in Zug, Switzerland in late December according to commercial registry filings accessed on Wednesday. Experts say China is one of the world’s biggest sources of bitcoin mining, where miners solve complex mathematical puzzles with computers in order to be awarded virtual coins. But a government clampdown on electricity-intensive cryptocurrency mining could soon see that activity move elsewhere. “Bitmain Switzerland will play a central role during our global expansion,” a spokesman for the Beijing-based group told Swiss paper Handelszeitung. The paper first reported the group’s expansion to Switzerland on Wednesday. Bitmain Technologies was not immediately available for comment nearing midnight Beijing time. Founded in Beijing in 2013, Bitmain is a leading bitcoin miner which also makes chips and computer hardware for mining. Besides Beijing it currently has offices in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Tel Aviv, Qingdao, Chengdu, Shanghai and Shenzhen, according to its website. Zug, a small canton in the middle of Switzerland, has become known as the Swiss “Crypto Valley” due to the proliferation of cryptocurrency groups setting up shop there. The Swiss company, Bitmain Switzerland, was registered to directors Jihan Wu, the name of Bitmain Technologies’ co-founder, as well as a Chinese national by the name of Ti Liu residing in Birrwil, Switzerland and a Swiss national, Christian Johannes Meisser, residing in Klosters-Serneus. Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi; Editing by Adrian Croft" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 12:08 PM / Updated 24 minutes ago Big Bash League Standings Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 11 (OPTA) - Standings of the Big Bash League on Thursday P W L T Ded RR PTS Adelaide Strikers 6 5 1 0 0 1.207 10 Perth Scorchers 7 5 2 0 0 .017 10 Melbourne Renegades 6 4 2 0 0 .606 8 Brisbane Heat 7 4 3 0 0 .300 8 Hobart Hurricanes 6 4 2 0 0 -.392 8 Sydney Thunder 7 3 4 0 0 -.221 6 Sydney Sixers 6 0 6 0 0 -.646 0 Melbourne Stars 5 0 5 0 0 -1.118 0 Note: Ded-Deductions; RR-Net Run Rate" + }, + { + "text": "Last year was a record year for mega-gifts, with three charitable donations of $1 billion or more, according to a new report. The Chronicle of Philanthropy compiled its list of the 10 biggest gifts of 2017, with three donations of $1 billion or more — the strongest year in the past decade. And while the top three names are familiar tech names, most of the names on the list are fairly unknown to the broader public, showing that many of America's biggest philanthropists keep a low profile. The 10 largest gifts totaled $10.2 billion in 2017, more than double the total from 2016, of $4.3 billion. First on the list was Bill and Melinda Gates , who gave Microsoft stock valued at around $4.6 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which focuses on global development, health and education. Ranking second was Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, who contributed around $1.9 billion to the Chan Zuckerberg Foundation, a non-profit arm of their LLC. Third on the list was Michael Dell and his wife Susan, who donated $1 billion to their foundation. But the fourth-place leader is a little-known name — Henry Hillman. The late Pittsburgh billionaire, who died in April and made his money in financial services and venture capital, left $800 million to the Hillman Family Foundations, mainly to benefit the Pittsburgh area. Ranking fifth is another person relatively unknown to the general public — Florence Irving, the widow of the co-founder of Sysco , the food products giant. She gave $600 million to the Columbia University Herbert and Florence Irving Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Here is the full list of the givers and causes, from the Chronicle of Philanthropy." + }, + { + "text": "SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The artificial intelligence researcher who has said he wants to free humanity from repetitive mental drudgery also wants to save AI entrepreneurs time spent raising funds. Andrew Ng (unh) says he's launching a $175 million fund to invest in AI startups, backed by private-equity firms NEA, Sequoia, Greylock Partners and Softbank. Ng's the co-founder of online education platform Coursera who's led AI teams at Google and Baidu. He says his background will help prioritize projects with the most potential, saving founders six months of development time otherwise lost explaining their idea. He's also tapping his personal network for leads: The fund, simply called AI Fund, isn't taking pitches from entrepreneurs. The fund is also investing an undisclosed sum in Ng's startup Landing.ai that aims to bring AI to manufacturing." + }, + { + "text": "DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. (NYSE: FBHS), an industry-leading home and security products company, will release fourth quarter and full-year 2017 financial results after the market close on Thursday, February 1, 2018. At 4:30 p.m. ET, Chris Klein, chief executive officer, Patrick Hallinan, chief financial officer, and Brian Lantz, senior vice president of communications and corporate administration, will host a conference call to discuss fourth quarter and full-year 2017 results, as well as the Company’s outlook for 2018. A live Internet audio webcast of the conference call will be available on the Fortune Brands website at . It is recommended that listeners log-on at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A recorded replay of the call will be made available on the Company’s website shortly after the call has ended. About Fortune Brands Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. (NYSE: FBHS), headquartered in Deerfield, Ill., creates products and services that fulfill the dreams of homeowners and help people feel more secure. The Company’s four operating segments are Cabinets, Plumbing, Doors and Security. Its trusted brands include more than a dozen core brands under MasterBrand Cabinets; Moen, Perrin & Rowe, Riobel, ROHL, Shaws and Victoria + Albert under the Global Plumbing Group (GPG); Therma-Tru entry door systems; and Master Lock and SentrySafe security products under The Master Lock Company. Fortune Brands holds market leadership positions in all of its segments. Fortune Brands is part of the S&P 500 Index. For more information, please visit www.FBHS.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. INVESTOR AND MEDIA CONTACT: Kaveh Bakhtiari 847-484-4573 [REDACTED] Source: Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 8:56 PM / in 11 minutes Russia says Su-27 fighter jet intercepts U.S. spy plane over Black Sea: RIA Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian Su-27 fighter jet intercepted a U.S. surveillance plane over the Black Sea on Monday, RIA news agency quoted the defense ministry as saying. The U.S. Navy aircraft, a ЕР-3E Aries II plane, did not violate Russian air space, it said. “After the surveillance plane of the U.S. Navy had changed its course to move away from the border, the Su-27 returned to its base,” the ministry was quoted as saying. Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Richard Balmforth" + }, + { + "text": "Trade deals between the U.S. and other nations are outdated, and any changes must work toward modernization, IBM chair and CEO Ginni Rometty told CNBC on Wednesday. \"If you line up a set of priorities and one of the things I work on from a policy perspective, trade would be one of them,\" Rometty told \" Squawk Box \" from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The U.S., Canada and Mexico are working to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement amid persistent criticism from the Trump administration that the U.S. is getting a raw deal. Adam Galica | CNBC Ginni Rometty, Chairman, president and CEO of IBM at the 2018 WEF in Davos, Switzerland. Rometty said she's \"a strong supporter of free and fair trade everywhere over the world\" given that IBM is in 170 countries. A handful of U.S. companies, including IBM, account for around 40 percent of total foreign direct investment in Mexico. Rometty said many trade deals did updating. \"There was really nothing like a digital chapter in them. Nothing to protect IP, nothing to let data flow. So, they absolutely need to be modernized,\" she said. Officials opened a key round of negotiations on NAFTA this week. President Donald Trump said the talks were going \"pretty well\" and Canada said it had high hopes for progress. During an appearance at Davos , Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized the importance of NAFTA and Canada's openness to including more nations in future trade deals. Canada also announced that it will join 10 other countries in signing a revised Trans-Pacific Partnership in March. Trump rejected the trade group. \"My hope on a NAFTA is we do find a common ground,\" Rometty said Thursday. \"I've spent a lot of time as well on digital trade.\" The IBM chief advocated for Trump to create \"new collar\" IT jobs, saying that IBM these days does not always require it's employees to have a college degree. Morning Squawk: CNBC's before the bell news roundup Sign up to get Morning Squawk each weekday Job Industry Advertising/Marketing Automotive Communications/PR Construction/Manufacturing Education Finance/Banking/Insurance Legal Media/Entertainment Medical/Health Care Mining/Oil/Gas/Utilities Gov't/Non-Profit Real Estate Retail Technology/IT Transportation/Shipping Travel/Hospitality Other Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about about our products and service. Privacy Policy . Submit Please enter a valid email address" + }, + { + "text": "Lower profit forecast for Carrefour but shares rise 8:40pm IST - 01:20 Carrefour shares rose on Thursday, with traders saying that stronger-than-expected fourth quarter sales from the French supermarket retailer had helped to offset the negative impact of a new profit forecast cut from Carrefour. Francis Maguire reports. Carrefour shares rose on Thursday, with traders saying that stronger-than-expected fourth quarter sales from the French supermarket retailer had helped to offset the negative impact of a new profit forecast cut from Carrefour. Francis Maguire reports. //reut.rs/2mMjj16" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds details from report) OTTAWA, Jan 10 (Reuters) - The value of Canadian building permits tumbled more than expected in November on fewer plans for commercial and industrial buildings, though intentions for single-family homes edged up, data from Statistics Canada showed on Wednesday. The overall 7.7 percent decrease in building permits from October exceeded economists’ forecasts for a decline of 0.3 percent. October was upwardly revised to an increase of 4.4 percent from an initially reported 3.5 percent gain. Permits for nonresidential structures declined 12.3 percent, with drops seen across the commercial, industrial and institutional components. Permits for single-family homes were up 0.6 percent, driven by increases in Ontario. But plans for multifamily buildings declined 10.1 percent, pulling residential building permits as a whole down 4.6 percent. Canada saw robust construction activity last year with housing starts exceeding economists’ estimates but activity is seen slowing in 2018 amid tighter mortgage rules and expected interest rate increases. Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe" + }, + { + "text": "Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has a vastly different message about the new tax law than some of his fellow governors up North, and it can be summarized in three words: Bring it on. The Republican, who is serving his second term as governor, says the old code advantaged residents in high-tax states because it allowed them to deduct an unlimited number of state and local taxes from federal ones. “That’s... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CNH Industrial (NYSE: CNHI / MI: CNHI) announced today that its financial results for the Full Year and Fourth Quarter of 2017 will be released on Tuesday, January 30. A live audio webcast of the 2017 Full Year and Fourth Quarter results conference call will begin at 4:00 p.m. CET / 3:00 p.m. GMT / 10:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday, January 30. Details for accessing the webcast presentation are available at the following address: . For those unable to participate in the live session, a replay will remain archived in the Investors section of the corporate website ( www.cnhindustrial.com ) for two weeks following the conference call. CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI /MI: CNHI) is a global leader in the capital goods sector with established industrial experience, a wide range of products and a worldwide presence. Each of the individual brands belonging to the Company is a major international force in its specific industrial sector: Case IH, New Holland Agriculture and Steyr for tractors and agricultural machinery; Case and New Holland Construction for earth moving equipment; Iveco for commercial vehicles; Iveco Bus and Heuliez Bus for buses and coaches; Iveco Astra for quarry and construction vehicles; Magirus for firefighting vehicles; Iveco Defence Vehicles for defence and civil protection; and FPT Industrial for engines and transmissions. More information can be found on the corporate website: www.cnhindustrial.com Contacts: Corporate Communications Email: [REDACTED] Investor Relations Email: [REDACTED] View original content with multimedia: SOURCE CNH Industrial N.V." + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 11:46 AM / Updated 8 minutes ago Italian economy minister accepts offer to stand as PD candidate: source Reuters Staff 1 Min Read ROME (Reuters) - Italian Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan has accepted an offer from the center-left Democratic Party (PD) to stand as a candidate in the March 4 national election, a PD source said on Monday. Padoan is a former economist at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) who joined the government in 2014. He has previously not been aligned with any political party and had indicated he would return to academia after the forthcoming ballot. Reporting by Massimiliano Di Giorgio; Writing by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Peter Graff" + }, + { + "text": "Connecticut Democrats on Monday renewed calls for reinstating highway tolls, reigniting a long-running debate over how the state should pay for transportation improvements. State Rep. Tony Guerrera, the House chairman of the transportation committee, said he would propose legislation instructing the Department of Transportation to draft a statewide plan to bring tolls back to Connecticut. “We... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 26(Reuters) - Shenzhen Sunshine Laser & Electronics Technology Co Ltd * Sees 2017 net profit to increase by 270 percent to 300 percent, or to be 60 million yuan to 64.9 million yuan * Says 2016 net profit was 16.2 million yuan * Says that increased business sales income and inclusion of new company as main reasons for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/q5vj4m Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Facebook is making a major change to its product to make sure that people feel like their time on the social network is \"well spent,\" the company announced Thursday evening. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the platform's News Feed will start prioritizing \"meaningful social interactions\" versus \"relevant content,\" and that he expects the time people spend on the social network will go down as a result. \"But I also expect the time you do spend on Facebook will be more valuable,\" he wrote. \"And if we do the right thing, I believe that will be good for our community and our business over the long term too.\" Although Zuckerberg said the changes will take time to roll out, users will start noticing they see fewer posts from publishers and businesses and more content from their friends and family. Meanwhile, Facebook warns Pages that they will see their reach, referral traffic, and video watch time decrease. show chapters Facebook just made a huge change to its News Feed 6 Hours Ago | 00:40 Facebook's own major video initiative, \"Watch,\" likely won't suffer though." + }, + { + "text": "Missile alert mistakenly sent out in Hawaii 5:04am IST - 01:49 An emergency message alerting Hawaiians of an incoming ballistic missile was sent out by human error, sparking fear and confusion. An emergency message alerting Hawaiians of an incoming ballistic missile was sent out by human error, sparking fear and confusion. //reut.rs/2AZb5Yt" + }, + { + "text": "When a company like Amazon raises the prices for its service and nobody cares, CNBC's Jim Cramer sees a clear next move. \"When you see something like that, it's about as clear a buy signal as you are ever, ever, ever going to get,\" the \" Mad Money \" host said on Friday after Amazon upped the price of its monthly Prime membership rate by 18 percent. The price boost — from $10.99 to $12.99 for full-paying members — will total $156 a year, a \"smart\" move considering Amazon's yearly membership rate of $99 will remain the same, Cramer said. \"It's basically a tax on people who only pay month-to-month,\" he said. Better yet, Cramer expected no resistance \"whatsoever\" to the price increase thanks to the quality and value that Amazon's Prime service provides. \"I bet most people don't even notice the price hike,\" he said. \"That's why Amazon remains a go-to name for anyone who needs a high-growth stock to round out their portfolio.\" The same goes for Netflix , Cramer argued. Nobody cared or resisted when the streaming giant raised the price of its 4K plan , which offers higher quality content, to $13.99 a month. \"Given that I pay $24 for two seats in a movie theater — $24 for a couple of maybe lousy hours of entertainment, pre-popcorn-and-candy, by the way — I'm thrilled to shell out a little more than just half that to binge on quality homegrown programming ... for a whole month,\" Cramer said. Customers of Costco , which boasts some of the biggest bargains on the market, also tend to overlook when the big-box retailer raises the price of its membership cards, Cramer noted. Apple's cloud service revenues also fall into this category. If privately-held music app Spotify ever comes public, its subscription-based service likely will, too, he said. \"The next time you get hit with a price increase and it doesn't bother you one bit, you need to pay up for the stock of that company in question, maybe even the next day,\" the \"Mad Money\" host concluded. \"In every instance I just mentioned ... it's been worth it.\" WATCH: Cramer on the right time to buy subscription stocks show chapters Cramer: This move by Amazon is a clarion call to buy the stock 21 Hours Ago | 05:45 Disclosure: Cramer's charitable trust owns shares of Apple. Questions for Cramer? Call Cramer: 1-800-743-CNBC Want to take a deep dive into Cramer's world? Hit him up! Mad Money Twitter - Jim Cramer Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - Vine Questions, comments, suggestions for the \"Mad Money\" website? [REDACTED]" + }, + { + "text": "SANTO DOMINGO (Reuters) - Talks between Venezuela’s government and the country’s political opposition are advancing, though no concrete agreement has yet been made, according to spokespeople from each side. Few are expecting much from the talks, which are being held in the Dominican Republic. The government and the opposition have been in on-off talks for years to reach an agreement to ease the deep political and economic crisis in the oil-rich country. Jorge Rodriguez, Venezuela’s communications minister, said in a statement to the press on Wednesday that a “pre-agreement” had been signed, but gave no further details. “Today is a day for joy, despite being long and arduous,” he said. However, former opposition-led National Assembly president Julio Borges denied that a pre-deal had been signed. “There are areas in which we have advanced and very important areas in which we have not advanced,” said Borges. Both delegations will now return to Caracas for consultations, before resuming talks at an unspecified date in the Dominican Republic. Presidential elections are scheduled to take place before April 30, a decision that has been rejected by the opposition. Reporting by Jorge Pineda; Writing by Girish Gupta, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "CAIRO, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Egypt’s core inflation fell to 19.86 percent in December from 25.54 percent in November, the central bank said on Wednesday. Inflation has climbed since Egypt floated the pound currency in November 2016, reaching a record high in July on the back of energy subsidy cuts. It has gradually eased since July. (Reporting by Arwa Gaballa; Editing by Robin Pomeroy) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that a U.S. report on people close to the Kremlin might damage the image of Russian firms, businessmen and officials and that everyone in it had been de facto labelled an enemy of the United States. The U.S. Treasury Department named major Russian businessmen including the heads of the two biggest banks, metals magnates and the boss of the state gas monopoly on a list of oligarchs close to the Kremlin. “Publication of such a wide list of everything and everyone could potentially damage the image and reputation of our firms, our businessmen, our politicians, and of members of the leadership,” said Peskov. He said Russia would analyse the U.S. report before drawing further conclusions and said the report was unprecedented. Reporting by Polina Nikolskaya; Editing by Andrew Osborn" + }, + { + "text": "Penguin Random House has acquired Rodale Books from Hearst, adding a stable of wellness and cooking titles to the world’s largest consumer book publisher, the companies announced Tuesday. Rodale Books also focuses on such categories as health and gardening, and includes the children’s imprint Rodale Kids. The deal price wasn’t disclosed. A... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "The brain makes waves at CES tech show Friday, January 12, 2018 - 02:29 Move over self-driving cars, robots, and artificial intelligence. It’s time to show what we can do with brainwaves. Jane Lee reports. Move over self-driving cars, robots, and artificial intelligence. It’s time to show what we can do with brainwaves. Jane Lee reports. //reut.rs/2AR5uUp" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 2:51 PM / Updated 5 hours ago German asylum numbers fall, but still too high, minister says Riham Alkousaa 3 Min Read BERLIN (Reuters) - The number of asylum seekers registered in Germany fell sharply in 2017, coming in well below the maximum 220,000 being targeted by the parties that are in talks on forming a new government, but the interior minister said numbers were still too high. FILE PHOTO - Acting German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere arrives for talks to discuss forming a government with the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) in Berlin, Germany, January 3, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke The number of new arrivals in Germany seeking asylum fell 33 percent on the year to 186,000 in 2017, data from the Federal Interior Ministry showed, down from 280,000 the previous year and 890,000 in 2015, when unprecedented flows overwhelmed Europe’s border controls. Immigration is one of the most sensitive topics in the talks between Chancellor Angela Merkel conservatives and the Social Democrats (SPD) on renewing the ‘grand coalition’ that governed Germany from 2013 to 2017. In a deal signed on Friday, the two camps agreed a soft target of 180,000 to 220,000 immigrants a year, to be achieved not via a formal cap but by interventions to manage flows. For many in the SPD, the measure is a “cap by another name”, prompting some activists to aim to torpedo the deal. But, presenting the new figures on Tuesday, interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said the number of asylum seekers was still too high, adding that Germany still had much work to do to integrate new arrivals into society and address higher levels of criminality among asylum seekers. “So far it is still the case that those who decide whether someone will come to Europe or to Germany are criminal people smugglers. This is the most inhuman selection committee,” de Maiziere said on Tuesday. The largest share of Germany’s asylum applicants came from Syria (47,434), followed by Iraq (21,043) and Afghanistan (12,346), the data showed. The number of asylum seekers deported after committing offences had also ticked up, he said, with 60 individuals removed from the country in 2017. De Maiziere added that authorities had nearly cleared a backlog in processing asylum claims, with the number of open applications down to 68,000 at the end of the year, compared to 433,719 at its start. About 30,000 asylum seekers returned to their homeland voluntarily last year. On Friday, Merkel’s conservatives and the SPD agreed to limit to 1,000 people a month the number of people allowed to join family now living as refugees in Germany. The topic has been a contentious one in talks between the conservatives and the SPD on forming a government. De Maiziere, a conservative, said that while family reunification could help refugees integrate, it could also encourage more people to send their children on the hazardous journey to Germany. Reporting By Riham Alkousaa, Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (NYSE: AXTA) will host a conference call to review its fourth quarter and full year 2017 financial results at 8:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, February 6, 2018. Charles W. Shaver, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Robert W. Bryant, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will review the company's financial performance for the periods. A live webcast of the conference call will be available online at www.axalta.com/investorcall . The U.S. dial-in phone number for the conference call is 877-407-0784 and the international dial-in number is [REDACTED]. For those unable to participate, a replay of the call will be available through February 13, 2018. The U.S. replay dial-in number is 844-512-2921 and the international replay dial-in number is [REDACTED]. The replay passcode is 1367 5328. About Axalta Coating Systems Axalta is a leading global company focused solely on coatings and providing customers with innovative, colorful, beautiful and sustainable solutions. From light OEM vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish applications to electric motors, buildings and pipelines, our coatings are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enable the materials we coat to last longer. With 150 years of experience in the coatings industry, the more than 13,600 people of Axalta continue to find ways to better serve our more than 100,000 customers in 130 countries every day with the finest coatings, application systems and technology. For more information visit axaltacoatingsystems.com and follow us on Twitter @axalta and on LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com : Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. Christopher Mecray D [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Source: Axalta Coating Systems Ltd." + }, + { + "text": "The roaring 1920s are given a German twist in “Babylon Berlin,” a lavish television series that chronicles the social turmoil leading up to the Third Reich. It premiered last October in Germany and became one of the country’s most-watched shows, just behind the seventh season of “Game of Thrones.” On Tuesday it begins streaming in the U.S. via Netflix, with subtitles. The show’s depiction of crime, corruption and political unrest led German newspaper Die Zeit to note its “almost eerie parallels to the present.” ... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "January 21, 2018 / 9:45 AM / Updated 12 hours ago Egypt targets 8-10 flotations of state firms over 18 months: finance minister Ehab Farouk 2 Min Read CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt is looking to offer shares in eight to 10 state companies on the stock exchange over the next 18 months, Finance Minister Amr El-Garhy told Reuters on Sunday, as part of a drive to attract foreign investors. The flotations will be the first batch in a program to float stakes in dozens of state-owned companies over the next three to five years in areas including oil, services, chemicals, shipping and real estate. “The companies will include companies listed on the exchange and those not listed,” Garhy told Reuters by phone, referring to the first batch. He did not specify the sectors or sizes of the companies under consideration. The government said previously that it expected the first share offering would be in oil company ENPPI, in the first quarter of 2018. Egypt’s stock market has taken off since the country floated its pound currency in November 2016, with the Egyptian blue-chip index gaining about 80 percent since then. The government has said previously it plans to offer 20 percent of state-owned Banque du Caire as well as a 40 percent stake in the Arab African International Bank (AAIB), in which the central bank owns a stake. The state owns vast swathes of Egypt’s economy, including three of its largest banks - National Bank of Egypt, Banque Du Caire, the United Bank of Egypt - along with much of its oil industry and real estate sector. The last time state-owned companies were listed on the exchange was in 2005 when shares of Telecom Egypt, the state’s landline monopoly, and oil companies Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals and AMOC were floated. Reporting by Ehab Farouk; Writing by Eric Knecht; Editing by John Stonestreet and Susan Fenton" + }, + { + "text": "31 minutes ago Survivors say about 50 migrants may have died off Libya Reuters Staff 2 Min Read TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Survivors from a boat that sank off Libya’s coast on Tuesday said about 50 people who had embarked with them were missing and feared dead. Migrants in a boat arrive at a naval base after they were rescued by Libyan coast guards, in Tripoli, Libya January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Hani Amara Libyan coastguard vessels picked up about 300 migrants from three boats off the coast of the North African country on Tuesday, but one of the boats foundered and the coastguard only found 16 survivors. “We found the migrant boat at about 10 o’clock this morning, it had sunk and we found 16 migrants. The rest were all missing and unfortunately we didn’t find any bodies or (other) survivors,” said Nasr al-Qamoud, a coastguard commander. Several of the survivors, who were brought back to a naval base in Tripoli, said there were originally about 70 people on board the boat when it set off near the town of Khoms, east of the capital. The two other migrant boats were found off Zawiya, west of Tripoli. A Nigerian woman who had been on board the boat that sank, Zainab Abdesalam, told Reuters the migrants had waited several hours to be rescued and that the survivors were extremely weak. “I feel so disappointed because I could not make it to where I want to go,” she said, sobbing. “I feel so disappointed and I don’t want to go to prison.” Libya is the most common departure point for migrants trying to reach Europe from Africa by sea. More than 600,000 have crossed the central Mediterranean in the past four years, generally travelling in flimsy inflatable craft provided by smugglers that often break down or puncture. Under heavy pressure from Italy, some Libyan armed factions have blocked smuggling since last summer. Libya’s Italian-backed coastguard has also stepped up interceptions, returning migrants to Libya where they are detained and often reenter smuggling networks. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimated that 2,832 migrants died last year trying to reach Italy from North Africa, down from 4,581 in 2016. Some 119,310 people made it alive to Italy in 2017 against 181,436 the year before. Reporting by Hani Amara; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Gareth Jones" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19 (Reuters) - KERNEL HOLDING: * SAYS IN Q2 2017/2018 TOTAL GRAIN SALE VOLUMES DECREASED BY 22.9 PCT TO 1.2 MILLION TONNES YEAR ON YEAR, DUE TO REDUCED SHIPMENTS FROM RUSSIA * VOLUMES OF SUNFLOWER OIL SOLD IN BULK DECLINED 22.3 PCT TO 0.3 MILLION TONNES YEAR ON YEAR IN Q2 REFLECTING THE SALES MOVED FROM Q2 TO NEXT QUARTERS * SALES OF BOTTLED OIL WERE DOWN 25.5 PCT IN Q2 TO 27 MILLION LITRES DUE TO THE EXPIRATION OF ONE-YEAR EXPORT CONTRACT WITH A CUSTOMER, WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR A SIZABLE PART OF THE BOTTLED SUNFLOWER OIL SALES IN THE Q2 2017 – Q1 2018 PERIOD Source text: bit.ly/2mTyPt6 Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Salvadorian families fear end of protected status Tuesday, January 09, 2018 - 01:59 Hundreds of thousands of Salvadoreans living in the U.S. had for years been protected from deportation by a special status that allowed them to live and work in the country. But the Trump Administration on Monday announced that program is coming to an end. Hundreds of thousands of Salvadoreans living in the U.S. had for years been protected from deportation by a special status that allowed them to live and work in the country. But the Trump Administration on Monday announced that program is coming to an end. //reut.rs/2AL8DES" + }, + { + "text": "Israel changes law to make it harder to cede Jerusalem control 3:22pm GMT - 01:44 Israel set a higher threshold on Tuesday for any future vote on ceding parts of Jerusalem to the Palestinians, who want the eastern part of the city for a future independent state. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Israel set a higher threshold on Tuesday for any future vote on ceding parts of Jerusalem to the Palestinians, who want the eastern part of the city for a future independent state. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 2, 2018 / 5:09 AM / Updated 14 hours ago Muguruza injury jinx continues with Brisbane retirement Reuters Staff 3 World number two Garbine Muguruza’s wretched run of injury problems at the Brisbane International extended to a fourth consecutive year on Tuesday when the Spaniard succumbed to leg cramps in the third set of her opening match. Tennis - WTA Tour Finals - Singapore Indoor Stadium, Singapore - October 26, 2017 Spain's Garbine Muguruza in action during her group stage match against USA's Venus Williams REUTERS/Edgar Su The top seed started well in her second round encounter against unseeded Serbian Aleksandra Krunic, converting her seventh set point in a marathon 12th game to claim the opener before roaring to a 5-2 lead in the second. The reigning Wimbledon champion was coasting but the 53rd-ranked Krunic mounted a stirring fight back and reeled off four of the next five games to force a tiebreak, which she claimed by a 7-3 margin to send the contest into a deciding set. Mugurza regrouped to break the Serb in the first game of the third and was serving at 2-1 up before she collapsed on the baseline and retired immediately when she was helped off the court to receive treatment for cramping in both legs. The early exit cost Muguruza a chance to replace Romania’s Simona Halep at the top of the world rankings ahead of the Australian Open later this month but the Spaniard’s immediate concern will be to get fit for the first grand slam of the year. “I cramp very few times, but I do remember that the last time I cramped up was actually (at the Australian Open in Melbourne. Maybe it’s the heat. Maybe it’s the conditions. I don’t know, but it’s rare for me,” Muguruza told reporters. Muguruza’s run of injury woes in the tournament dates back to 2015 when she withdrew on the eve of the event with an ankle problem, before a left foot injury ended her 2016 campaign and a right thigh problem led to her semi-final retirement last year. The Spaniard admitted that the cramping started early in the second set but she was otherwise happy with her performance and the general quality of the match despite being unable to continue through the pain. “I‘m pleased because we were playing very good points and good rallies. She was playing very good,” the 24-year-old added. Krunic, meanwhile, advances to a quarter-final meeting with either Romania’s Sorana Cirstea or Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova but was disappointed with the manner of her victory over Muguruza. “I‘m not happy with what happened today and I want to wish Garbine a fast recovery. I hope she gets better for the slam,” she said in a courtside interview. Writing by John O'Brien in Singapore; Editing by Greg Stutchbury and Sudipto Ganguly" + }, + { + "text": "Europe's economy will not be firing on all cylinders until its banking sector has resolved ongoing problems with non-performing loans (NPLs), according to the CEO of a major European bank. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, ING chief executive Ralph Hamers told CNBC on Wednesday: \"Some of them are still soul-searching. Until that is really over I think that we are not really there and banks will not be the real push for economic growth.\" NPLs have been a burden for banks — most notably in the European Union 's southern countries — since the global financial crisis, as businesses struggle to pay back their debt. The process of reducing the holdings of NPLs among those same banks is widely seen as integral to boosting economic strength in Europe. It would also likely help complete a banking union, the bloc's flagship project to protect itself against future financial crises. When asked what he believed was a priority for the European banking sector at present, Hamers replied: \"We really have to finish the European banking union.\"" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 4:35 PM / in 20 minutes China demand and tight supplies set to sustain nickel price rally Zandi Shabalala 4 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - A combination of surging China imports, tighter supplies and fund interest are expected to sustain prices of stainless steel ingredient nickel, which have reached their highest level in more than two years. Benchmark nickel on the London Metal Exchange hit $14,040 a tonne on Monday, the highest since May 2015 and a gain of more than 55 percent since June. “The fundamental story for nickel has started off well and it is looking good for at least the next couple of years,” said Wood Mackenzie analyst Adrian Gardner. Wood Mackenzie forecasts a deficit of between 80,000-90,000 tonnes this year following a deficit of similar levels in 2017. The shortfall is likely to be particularly acute in China, which accounts for about half of global consumption estimated at around 2.1 million tonnes this year but where an environmental crackdown has shut capacity. It is expected to ramp up imports. Latest data shows China’s nickel imports more than doubled in December from a year earlier to 41,315 tonnes. “There is still a decent amount of upside for prices from here,” said ETF Securities commodities strategist Nitesh Shah, citing declining stocks and higher demand in China. Fuelling the rally over the past couple of days was First Quantum Minerals, which said its nickel output dropped 24 percent last year to 17,837 tonnes due to its Ravensthorpe mine in Australia being shut since September. Traders said the possibility of a force majeure at the Ambatovy nickel and cobalt mine in Madagascar, where operations were halted due to a cyclone on Jan. 4, was making the market jittery about supplies. Also helping nickel is the U.S. currency’s slide to three-year lows, making dollar-denominated commodities cheaper for holders of other currencies; a relationship used by funds that trade using buy and sell signals from numerical models. The rally accelerated after nickel prices broke through a key technical level around $13,000 last week and funds bought the LME contract. LME data shows funds’ net long nickel positions at 47,708 lots or 286,248 tonnes on Jan. 26, the highest since a year ago and well above the 13,000 lots recorded in early December. One threat to the rally is the likelihood of higher production from Indonesia and the Philippines this year after a move by the top producers to pull back on restrictions targeting their mining sectors. Still, also supporting nickel is buying by some funds on the expectation of rising demand for the batteries used to power electric vehicles. Wood Mackenzie forecasts nickel usage in EV batteries at between 60,000-80,000 tonnes this year and 220,000 tonnes in 2025. However, stocks of nickel briquette -- easily crushed into small particles and dissolved in sulphuric acid to make nickel sulphate used in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries -- in LME warehouses are still elevated. They stand at 286,800 tonnes, up from 233,934 tonnes a year ago, or about 80 percent of total stocks. Headline stocks in LME-approved warehouses are down 7 percent from a 2017 high to around 360,700 tonnes, the lowest level since October 2016. “Nickel inventories are high, but note recent declines have pushed prices up nonetheless - the direction of stocks matters, not the level,” Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a note. GRAPHICS: Nickel supply and demand: reut.rs/2EmVtl2 LME Nickel vs U.S Dollar: reut.rs/2EmVtl2 LME funds net long nickel positions: reut.rs/2DIMzNI LME nickel stocks vs briquettes: reut.rs/2EmKPL5 Nickel breaches key technical level: reut.rs/2DN42ok LME nickel stocks vs LME nickel: reut.rs/2DIbdhf Reporting by Zandi Shabalala; Editing by Pratima Desai and Susan Fenton" + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 5:16 PM / 6 days ago Prickles and a paunch: Israel's overweight hedgehogs go on diet Reuters Staff 1 Min Read RAMAT GAN, Israel (Reuters) - Ten overweight hedgehogs have had to go on strict diets and exercise regimes after they ate so much on the streets of Israel they struggled to curl up into a ball to fend off predators. Animal lovers found them waddling around and brought them into the hospital Ramat Gan zoo. Staff there said the hedgehogs had probably been snacking on food left out for pets. “A lot of people put cat food on the streets for the stray cats, which is very nice but ... the problem is that there’s other wildlife that eats it,” zookeeper Becka Rifkin told Reuters. One adult male named Sherman was 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) when he arrived at the facility two months ago, almost double the average weight for a hedgehog his age. He has since lost 120 grams after staff monitored his diet and left him to run around an enclosure. They hope they will be able to release him by the summer. Reporting by Reuters TV; Writing by Mark Hanrahan in London; Editing by Andrew Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "Two new dogs breeds join American Kennel Club Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - 01:38 A Dutch Spaniel-like dog and a French hunting hound join the purebred registry of the American Kennel Club. Elly Park reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript A Dutch Spaniel-like dog and a French hunting hound join the purebred registry of the American Kennel Club. Elly Park reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Gold DoubleLine's Gundlach still betting on commodities \"While stocks have been doing great, commodities have been doing well too,\" DoubleLine CEO Jeffrey Gundlach said on a webcast. There's \"quite a lot of high octane [gas] in the commodities vs. stocks tank.\" The investor noted Tuesday that global growth is causing demand for commodities, while the weaker U.S. dollar should also help. \"Usually when you get a bad year in the dollar, it's followed by one or two more bad years,\" Gundlach said. Jeffrey Gundlach, founder of DoubleLine Capital LP. DoubleLine CEO Jeffrey Gundlach said Tuesday he expects commodities to run higher versus stocks. \"While stocks have been doing great, commodities have been doing well, too,\" Gundlach said on a webcast. There's \"quite a lot of high octane [gas] in the commodities vs. stocks tank.\" Gundlach said in mid-December on CNBC's \" Halftime Report \" that his best investment idea for 2018 is commodities, such as oil and metals. His thesis is that the relative performance of stocks to commodities goes through defined cycles, and that right now commodities are poised for a period of outperformance compared with stocks. The investor noted Tuesday that global growth is causing demand for commodities, while the weaker U.S. dollar should also help. \"Usually when you get a bad year in the dollar, it's followed by one or two more bad years,\" Gundlach said. The U.S. dollar index dropped to its lowest in more than three years last week. Meanwhile, oil prices have recovered over the last two years from a slump in 2014 and 2015. U.S. crude oil futures for March delivery hit a high of $66.66 last week, their highest since Dec. 5, 2014. While Gundlach did not comment Tuesday on oil prices, DoubleLine's Deputy Chief Investment Officer Jeffrey Sherman said in response to a question on the webcast that \"there is the structural support for oil prices to be where they are\" and that \"the energy market does still look pretty attractive.\" The DoubleLine Strategic Commodity Fund I-shares gained 9.13 percent in 2017, versus the Bloomberg Commodity Index's 1.7 percent rise. U.S. stocks tumbled Tuesday, with the S&P 500 falling more than 1 percent in its worst day since August." + }, + { + "text": "January 27, 2018 / 5:25 AM / in 9 hours Uber driver shot dead in Mexican border city Reuters Staff 2 Min Read MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A young woman who drove for U.S. ride-hailing application Uber Technologies Inc was shot dead in the northern Mexican border city of Tijuana following a dispute with another motorist, prosecutors said on Friday. According to witness reports, Karla Garrufe, 21, died on Thursday morning after being gunned down by a man whose car she had bumped into from behind, said Miguel Angel Guerrero, a spokesman for prosecutors in Tijuana. A witness said that after the two began arguing, the man pulled out a gun, shot her and drove off, he added. The suspect has not been caught, prosecutors said. In a statement, Uber expressed its condolences over what it called the “terrible” incident and said it was working with authorities to clear up the case. Uber said Garrufe was disconnected from the app when the shooting occurred. Tijuana, which lies on the border with California, has been one of the areas worst hit by a spike in violence in Mexico that pushed murders to a record high last year. Reporting by Lizbeth Diaz and Julia Love; Editing by Nick Macfie" + }, + { + "text": "SINGAPORE, Jan. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kenon Holdings Ltd. (\" Kenon \") (NYSE: KEN; TASE: KEN) announces that Inkia Energy Limited (\" Inkia \"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of IC Power Ltd. (\" IC Power \"), has completed the sale of its Latin American and Caribbean businesses to I Squared Capital (the \" Buyer \"), an infrastructure private equity firm. The sale is expected to generate proceeds of approximately $1,332 million, consisting of $1,110 million proceeds paid by the Buyer plus retained unconsolidated cash at Inkia of $222 million. This reflects the base purchase price of $1,177 million after certain adjustments, including estimated working capital, debt and cash at closing. The purchase price is subject to adjustments, including a final adjustment based on actual working capital, debt and cash amounts as of the closing date. As part of the transaction, the Buyer will assume Inkia's $600 million of bonds, which were issued in November and December 2017. Kenon intends to use a portion of the proceeds of the transaction to repay debt of IC Power ($43 million of net debt outstanding), and to repay its loan facility with Israel Corporation ($240 million outstanding, including accrued interest). The consideration that Inkia received in the transaction is before estimated transaction costs, management compensation, advisor fees, other expenses and taxes, which are estimated to be in the aggregate approximately $254 million. The estimated tax payment includes taxes payable in connection with a planned restructuring of some of the companies remaining in the Kenon group, which will simplify the holding structure. As a result of this restructuring, Kenon will hold its interest in OPC Energy Ltd. (\" OPC \") directly. Kenon does not expect any further tax liability in relation to any future sales of its interest in OPC. The proceeds from the buyer include a four year $175 million deferred payment obligation accruing 8% interest payable in kind. The net proceeds to be distributed to Kenon, following repayment of IC Power net debt and the Israel Corporation facility, and payment of transaction costs, management compensation, advisor fees, other expenses and taxes, are expected to be $619 million. Bank of America Merrill Lynch acted as financial advisor to the seller. Kenon's shareholders authorized a capital reduction to enable a potential distribution of a portion of the proceeds received from the transaction, but no determination has yet been made as to whether a distribution will be made or as to the timing or amount of any such distribution. Further details of the transaction are included in Kenon's press release announcing the agreement for this sale published on November 26, 2017. Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include statements about the sale of Inkia's Latin American and Caribbean businesses, including the estimated proceeds, estimated transaction expenses, management compensation and advisor fees other expenses and taxes payable in connection with the transaction, statements about expected uses of proceeds of the transaction, statements about the planned restructuring of Inkia and the statement that no further tax liability is expected in relation to future sales of OPC shares by Kenon and statements about the capital reduction authorized by Kenon shareholders. These statements are based on Kenon's management's current expectations or beliefs, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Kenon's control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements, including the amount of final closing adjustments to the purchase price, the final amount of transaction expenses, management compensation, advisor fees, other expenses and taxes payable in connection with the transaction, in each case which may be different from the estimated amounts discussed herein and potential changes in tax treatments described herein and the risk that tax authorities seek taxes beyond those anticipated in this release or that tax authorities take a different position than anticipated in each case which could result in higher taxes payable in respect of the transactions discussed herein and / or future sales of Kenon's interest in OPC and other risks and factors, including those risks set forth under the heading \"Risk Factors\" in Kenon's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC and other filings. Except as required by law, Kenon undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Contact: Jonathan Fisch Director, Investor Relations [REDACTED] View original content: SOURCE Kenon Holdings Ltd." + }, + { + "text": "DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Brazilian President Michel Temer vowed on Wednesday to press on with his reform agenda, including changes to social security, regardless of the approach of presidential elections this year. Slideshow (4 Images) Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the president said he would battle “day and night” to win passage of social security reform through Congress. The reform includes an overhaul of Brazil’s costly pension system. He also joined other world leaders at the annual summit in criticizing protectionism, comments delegates see as directed at U.S. Donald Trump, who is due to speak here this week. Reporting by Noah Barkin; Editing by Mark Bendeich" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 18 (Reuters) - Accenture Plc: * ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES WINS MODERNIZATION CONTRACT WITH VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION * ACCENTURE - CONTRACT HAS AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF $62 MILLION OVER THE PERFORMANCE PERIOD, WHICH INCLUDES A ONE-YEAR BASE PERIOD WITH FOUR ONE-YEAR OPTIONS Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Bengaluru Newsroom: [REDACTED])" + }, + { + "text": "By Jonathan Vanian January 2, 2018 Smart lock startup Otto has suspended its business before shipping any of its expensive locks, marking a huge failure for a high-profile Silicon Valley company. Otto CEO Sam Jadallah said in a Medium post last week that he was “so very saddened” that the startup would not be able to deliver its $700 web-connected door locks to customers who pre-ordered them. “Otto will not ship next month and it may never ship,” Jadallah wrote. “We will evaluate our options in the coming weeks and see what is open to us.” The Silicon Valley startup was founded in 2012, but revealed itself to the public in August while pitching its digital door locks as an easier way for people to open doors by using a smartphone app instead of a key. Otto’s board included LinkedIn’s well-known co-founder Reid Hoffman. Jadallah said that he had agreed to sell his startup to an unnamed public company and was blocked from seeking additional funding as part of the planned deal. However, the suitor backed out on the day the deal was supposed to be finalized, leaving Otto without the necessary cash to continue operations. Get Data Sheet , Fortune’s technology newsletter. “I was stunned. The reason is still not understood,” Jadallah wrote. “We had extended our cash to get to the closing date, and now were left without alternatives.” Jadallah attempted to spin the debacle as positive, saying that the process of starting Otto “wasn’t an easy or predictable journey, but it was incredibly rewarding.” “The only comfort I can find at this moment is to believe that Team Otto and the technology and product we created, will serve as seeds to grow and change industries in new and exciting directions,” he wrote. Jadallah also shared his thoughts about the risk of running a venture capital-backed company, most of which eventually collapse after failing to create sustainable businesses. He said that startups are companies that “lack a control of their own destiny because they rely on investor cash infusions to operate.” Although Otto’s digital door locks cost hundreds of dollars more than conventional locks, Jadallah said that “concerns about the $699 price point melted away as homeowners valued the security, design and performance of a new generation of home access that Otto represented” based on feedback from customers who tested its locks. August, another maker of web-connected door locks, dropped the price of its flagship August Smart Lock by $80 to $149 in September, and then sold itself to Swedish lock giant Assa Abloy the next month. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "DUBAI, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi National Oil Co said on Tuesday it had signed a three-year agreement with Lotte Chemical Titan, one of the largest polyolefin producers in southeast Asia, to sell the Malaysian firm up to 1 million tonnes of naphtha annually. “With this agreement we are implementing a new approach toward our sales of naphtha,” said Abdulla Salem al-Dhaheri, ADNOC’s director for marketing, sales and trading. “Previously we have sold the product on shorter-term, one-year contracts. By switching to a three-year contract we are capturing long-term market access and securing offtake.” ADNOC produces over 12 million tonnes of naphtha annually. (Reporting by Andrew Torchia)" + }, + { + "text": "KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia will allow a U.S.-based exploration firm to resume the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, an airline support group told families of the victims on Friday, in a bid to solve one of the world’s greatest aviation mysteries. Flight MH370, carrying 239 people, disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014. Australia, China and Malaysia ended a fruitless search in January last year. An email, sent from the MH Family Support Centre and seen by Reuters, said the government had accepted an offer by the company, Ocean Infinity, to resume the search on a “no cure, no fee” basis, meaning the company will only get paid if they find the plane. A government spokesman declined to confirm that an email had been sent to families but said more details on the deal would be forthcoming. Ocean Infinity did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company said on Wednesday it had moved a vessel closer to a possible search area. The vessel left Durban, South Africa, on Tuesday and was headed to Perth, Australia, Reuters shipping data showed. Investigators believe someone may have deliberately switched off the transponder of the Boeing 777 before diverting it over the Indian Ocean. Several pieces of aircraft debris have been collected from Indian Ocean islands and along Africa’s east coast, with at least three being confirmed as being from the missing plane. Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Nick Macfie" + }, + { + "text": "DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ServiceSource (NASDAQ: SREV), a global leader in outsourced inside sales, customer success and recurring revenue growth and retention solutions , today announced that it will release its financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017 after market close on February 12, 2018. ServiceSource will host a conference call at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time (4:30 p.m. Eastern Time) that day to review financial results and business outlook. To access the call, please dial (877) 293-5486 or outside the U.S. (914) 495-8592, at least five minutes prior to the 2:30 p.m. MT start time. A live webcast of the call will also be available on the ServiceSource Investor Relations website under Events and Presentations. A replay of the webcast will also be available on the Company's Investor Relations website at . About ServiceSource ServiceSource International, Inc. (NASDAQ:SREV) helps the world’s leading brands grow closer to their customers. As a global leader in outsourced inside sales, customer success and recurring revenue growth and retention solutions, ServiceSource expands customer lifetime value by helping companies to more efficiently and effectively find, convert, grow and retain their B2B customer relationships. Trusted by global market leaders in the cloud/XaaS, software, technology hardware, medical device & diagnostic equipment and industrial IoT sectors, ServiceSource sells, manages or renews $9+ billion of revenue annually on behalf of its clients. Leveraging a robust technology suite, predictive data models and more than 3,000 revenue delivery professionals speaking 35 languages, only ServiceSource brings to market over 15 years of expertise and the ability to drive recurring revenue growth to more than 170 countries. To learn more, visit www.servicesource.com . Connect with ServiceSource: Trademarks ServiceSource®, and any ServiceSource product or service names or logos above are trademarks of ServiceSource International, Inc. All other trademarks used herein belong to their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com : Investor Relations Contact for ServiceSource: Erik Bylin Investor Relations [REDACTED] Source: ServiceSource International, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Messi and Suarez visit children's hospital in Barcelona 4:08pm GMT - 01:30 Barcelona star strikers Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez visit young patients at a Sant Pau hospital in Barcelona. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Barcelona star strikers Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez visit young patients at a Sant Pau hospital in Barcelona. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 12:20 PM / in 8 hours Qualifier Giorgi ousts Radwanska to set up Kerber clash Reuters Staff 2 Min Read SYDNEY (Reuters) - Italian qualifier Camila Giorgi continued her impressive run at the Sydney International by racing past Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1 6-2 on Thursday to set up a last four clash with Angelique Kerber. Giorgi, belying her ranking of 100th in the world, beat U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens in the first round and then ousted twice Wimbledon and former Sydney champion Petra Kvitova. She is yet to drop a set over six matches in qualifying or the main draw and will next meet world number 22 Kerber who staged a 6-3 6-1 victory over Dominika Cibulkova in the last eight. Former world number one Kerber fell out of the top 20 last year but has made a strong start to the year ahead of next week’s Australian Open with victories over Lucie Safarova and Venus Williams this week. “I‘m not looking back 2017 any more,” Kerber, who won the Australian Open and the U.S. Open titles in 2016, said. ”I’ve had a great off-season and I‘m working hard. I‘m trying to do my best on court and win as many matches before going to Melbourne. “It’s just the beginning of the year. I‘m trying to play my game again, enjoy every minute on court. I‘m trying to be aggressive and play like I did the year before last.” The other semi-final in Sydney will be an all-Australian affair between Ashleigh Barty and Daria Gavrilova. Barty completed a confident 6-3 6-2 victory over Czech Barbora Strycova, while Gavrilova advanced after her last-eight opponent Garbine Muguruza withdrew due to a leg injury. “I think it’s amazing for Sydney and for Australian tennis – we’re gonna have an Aussie in the final, which is awesome,” Barty said after her win at the Ken Rosewall Arena. “Dash and I know each other very well so hopefully we can play some good tennis.” Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; editing by Pritha Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "Venezuela Venezuela Promises Pregnant Women a Handout That's Worth Almost Nothing A mother and her child wait in the emergency room of a hospital at Petare slum east of Caracas, Venezuela on Feb. 4, 2016. Carlos Becerra—Anadolu Agency/Getty Images By Laignee Barron 4:14 AM EST Venezuela’s President Nicholas Maduro announced during an annual address that pregnant women will soon be awarded a small cash subsidy. The monthly payment of 700,000 bolivars is, at the current exchange rate, worth about $3.83, according to CNN. The subsidy would have been worth $17 as recently as last November; hyperinflation amid a collapsing economy is likely to make the subsidy worth even less in the weeks to come. After the women give birth, their stipend will increase to 1 million bolivars, or $5.48, Maduro said. He did not provide a reason for starting the new payment scheme, which he reportedly expects will apply to 151,000 expecting mothers. The once-prosperous nation continues further into a recession started by the drop in global oil prices in 2014. A domestic survey of Venezuela’s living conditions found that over 73% of the population lost an average of 19 pounds due to food shortages in 2015 and 2016. For more on Venezuela, watch Fortune’s video: Pregnant women must have of one of Venezuela’s new national ID cards to redeem the stipend, CNN reports. But the cards are seen as a token of support for Maduro, and many citizens refuse to carry them. It is unclear if pregnant women without the card will be eligible for the subsidy. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "LUSAKA (Reuters) - A London court has ordered Zambia Vedanta unit KCM to pay a state mining company $139 million in a claim related to the copper price, raising by $36 million the amount it was originally ordered to pay, the state company said on Tuesday. The claim relates to outstanding payments under a 2013 copper price participation settlement agreement between Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) KCM and Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH). Vedanta officials were not immediately available for comment. Reporting by Chris Mfula; Editing by Ed Stoddard" + }, + { + "text": "SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Frazier Healthcare Partners today announced Mary Brainerd, former President and Chief Executive Officer of Minnesota-based HealthPartners, has been named a Senior Advisor to the firm’s Growth Buyout team. “We are delighted to have an executive of Mary’s caliber joining Frazier as a Senior Advisor. She has extensive leadership and management experience in integrated healthcare, including care delivery and health plans. Her insights and guidance will be most valuable to the firm and our growing slate of portfolio companies,” said Ben Magnano, General Partner. “Innovation, especially new services, products and approaches in health care, are essential to top-quality, affordable care, and improved health and well-being in our country,” said Ms. Brainerd. “I am looking forward to working with the team at Frazier Healthcare Partners as they bring forward innovative solutions to the health care challenges we face.” Ms. Brainerd joins an esteemed group of Frazier Senior Advisors including Dr. Tom Cooper, John Grotting, Bob Lefton, Dr. René Lerer, Mark Parrish, and Bob Zollars. About Mary Brainerd: Ms. Brainerd retired from her position as President and Chief Executive Officer of Minnesota-based HealthPartners in mid-2017 after a very successful 15-year career. HealthPartners is the largest, consumer-governed, nonprofit health care organization in the nation. The company incorporates both health care delivery, with 1,600 physicians and 6 hospitals, and a health plan covering 1.5 million members. Under her leadership and direction, HealthPartners experienced record growth and is recognized as a national leader in the health care industry. Prior to joining HealthPartners, Ms. Brainerd held senior level positions with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, including Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. She was also Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Plus. Ms. Brainerd grew up in St. Paul and has been actively involved in the Twin Cities community for many years. She is one of the founding CEOs and former Chair of the Itasca Project, a group of 40 government, civic and business leaders addressing the issues that impact long-term economic growth, including jobs, education, transportation, and economic disparities. She is previous chair of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank and currently serves on the boards of Minnesota Life/Securian, Bush Foundation and Stryker, Inc., Bremer Financial Corporation and Minnesota Public Radio. Ms. Brainerd holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas, and a Bachelor-of-Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. For more information about Frazier Healthcare Partners, visit the company’s website at . View source version on businesswire.com : Frazier Healthcare Partners Carol Eckert [REDACTED] Source: Frazier Healthcare Partners" + }, + { + "text": "ATLANTA, Jan. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UPS (NYSE:UPS) will announce its 2017 fourth-quarter results on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018, at approximately 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time. At 8:30 a.m. ET, UPS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Abney and Chief Financial Officer Richard Peretz will lead an investor conference call. This call will be open to reporters and the public via a live webcast. To listen to the live webcast, go to and click on Earnings Webcast. To ask a question online, go to . The webcast audio will remain accessible on the Investor Relations website for a limited time following the call. * This Media Advisory has been updated to reflect a 7:00am ET publishing of the company’s Q4 2017 earnings release (earlier than the previously announced 7:45am EST publishing). The investor call will still be held at 8:30am ET. # # # Kyle Peterson 404-828-4626 [REDACTED] Source: UPS" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 7:02 AM / Updated 14 hours ago South Korea says will consider temporary lifting of sanctions against North Korea to facilitate Winter Olympics participation Reuters Staff 1 Min Read SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea said on Tuesday it will consider a temporary lifting of sanctions against North Korea if it is necessary to facilitate the visit of North Koreans to the Winter Olympics in South Korea next month. South Korea has unilaterally banned several North Korean officials from entering the country in response to Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile tests. If Seoul needs to take “prior steps” to help the North Koreans visit for the Olympics, it will consider it together with the United Nations Security Council and other relevant countries, foreign ministry spokesman Roh Kyu-deok told a regular briefing. North Korea said during rare inter-Korean talks on Tuesday it will send a delegation of high-ranking officials, athletes and a cheering squad to the Pyeongchang Olympics. Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Michael Perry" + }, + { + "text": "BETHESDA, Md., The Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) board of directors has authorized a first quarter 2018 dividend of $2.00 per share. The dividend is payable on March 23, 2018 to holders of record as of the close of business on March 1, 2018. About Lockheed Martin Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com with multimedia: releases/lockheed-martin-declares-first-quarter-2018-dividend-300587911.html SOURCE Lockheed Martin" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 18 (Reuters) - India’s Yes Bank: * SAYS TOTAL EXPOSURE OF 13.42 BILLION RUPEES TO NINE BORROWERS ORDERED BY RBI TO BE TAKEN TO NCLT * SAYS CARRYING PROVISION OF 51 PERCENT ON LOANS IN RBI FIRST LIST FOR NCLT, 43 PERCENT FOR SECOND LIST Further company coverage: (Reporting By Devidutta Tripathy)" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Two Harbors Investment Corp . (NYSE: TWO), a leading hybrid mortgage real estate investment trust, announced today that it will release financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 after market close on February 6, 2018. The company will host a conference call to review the financial results on February 7, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. EST. To participate in the teleconference, please call toll-free (877) 868-1835, Conference Code 9173647, (or (914) 495-8581 for international callers) approximately 10 minutes prior to the above start time. You may also listen to the teleconference live via the Internet at www.twoharborsinvestment.com in the Investor Relations section under the Events and Presentations link. For those unable to attend, a telephone playback will be available beginning February 7, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. EST through February 14, 2018 at 12:00 a.m. EST. The playback can be accessed by calling (855) 859-2056 (or (404) 537-3406 for international callers) and providing the Conference Code 9173647. The call will also be archived on the company’s website in the Investor Relations section under the Events and Presentations link. Two Harbors Investment Corp. Two Harbors Investment Corp., a Maryland corporation, is a real estate investment trust that invests in residential mortgage-backed securities, mortgage servicing rights and other financial assets. Two Harbors is headquartered in New York, New York, and is externally managed and advised by PRCM Advisers LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pine River Capital Management L.P. Additional information is available at www.twoharborsinvestment.com . Additional Information Stockholders of Two Harbors and other interested persons may find additional information regarding the company at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Internet site at www.sec.gov or by directing requests to: Two Harbors Investment Corp., 590 Madison Avenue, 36 th floor, New York, NY 10022, telephone 612-629-2500. View source version on businesswire.com : Two Harbors Investment Corp. Investors: Margaret Field, 212-364-3663 Investor Relations [REDACTED] Source: Two Harbors Investment Corp." + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 8:45 AM / Updated an hour ago Vivendi shares fall after company lowers guidance over 2017 results Reuters Staff 1 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - Vivendi’s shares fell on Friday after it lowered its 2017 full-year guidance on core operating profit and revenues, penalized by higher restructuring costs tied to its pay-TV unit Canal Plus. Vivendi's Chief Executive Arnaud de Puyfontaine attends a conference at the Cannes Lions Festival, Cannes, France June 22, 2017. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard - RC12B7442C50 The group, led by billionaire Vincent Bollore, was the worst performer on France’s benchmark CAC-40 stock market index, dropping by around 3 percent in early trading. Vivendi said late on Thursday that it expected revenues to increase by close to 5 percent in 2017, compared with a previous forecast of more than 5 percent. It said earnings before interest, tax and amortisation (EBITA) would rise between 20 and 25 percent, compared with an earlier target of about 25 percent. Shares in Bollore’s holding company also fell by 1.8 percent. Reporting by Mathieu Rosemain; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Britain might ease a European Union rule blamed by insurers for jacking up capital requirements, the Bank of England said on Tuesday. British lawmakers want the BoE to “urgently” amend the risk margin in EU insurance capital rules known as Solvency II. This refers to a capital add-on to cover what a third party would need to safeguard policies if an insurer goes bust. “In our view the calculation in Solvency II is wrong,” Bank of England Deputy Governor Sam Woods told parliament’s Treasury Select Committee. The risk margin means that 50 billion pounds ($68.81 billion) worth of insurance liabilities are tied up, he said. Britain has asked the EU to amend the risk margin but has made no progress. Meanwhile, UK insurers are shipping out longevity risk to firms offshore via reinsurance contracts to minimise risk margin capital. “They are allowed to do that, but we don’t think it’s a sensible arrangement,” Woods said. “We do want to fix that, and I think we will be minded to take that forward, particularly as we haven’t got to where we wanted to in Europe on it,” Woods said. Britain is due to leave the EU in March 2019, but is expected to continue applying the bloc’s financial rules for a further two years or so until new trading relations are in place. $1 = 0.7266 pounds Reporting by Huw Jones; Editing by Gareth Jones" + }, + { + "text": "Snow blankets India’s northern hill town 5:49pm IST - 01:19 A thick blanket of snow covered the capital of Himalayan state whilst New Delhi woke up to dense fog with visibility down to 50 metres. Rough cut (no reporter narration) A thick blanket of snow covered the capital of Himalayan state whilst New Delhi woke up to dense fog with visibility down to 50 metres. Rough cut (no reporter narration) //reut.rs/2DECplk" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 3:00 PM / in 7 minutes UPDATE 1-U.S. top court takes up property rights case involving endangered frog Reuters Staff (Adds Weyerhaeuser involvement, background on dispute, high court declining to hear another endangered species case) By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON, Jan 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed hear a bid by timber company Weyerhaeuser Co seeking to limit the federal government’s power to designate private land as critical habitat for endangered species in a case involving a warty amphibian called the dusky gopher frog. Weyerhaeuser harvests timber on the Louisiana land in question and is backed in the case by business groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Weyerhaeuser challenged a lower court ruling upholding a 2012 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision to include private land where the frog does not currently live as critical habitat, putting limits on future development opportunities. The case pits property rights against federal conservation measures. The frog, found only in four locations in southern Mississippi, also previously inhabited Louisiana and Alabama. The U.S. government identified the Louisiana land partly owned by Weyerhaeuser as meeting the criteria for the frog’s habitat under the federal Endangered Species Act. The court did not act on a similar appeal brought by owners of other parcels of the land. The Fish and Wildlife Service’s critical habitat designation covered the tract of 1,544 acres (about 625 hectares) of private land in Louisiana as well as nearly 5,000 acres (about 2,025 hectares) in Mississippi. The owners of the Louisiana land filed a legal challenge to the designation, saying it would infringe on their rights to use the property as they see fit. The frog has been listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act since 2001. Critical habitat is defined as an area essential to the conservation of a species that may require special management or protection. In another endangered species case, the Supreme Court on Monday rejected a challenge to federal protections for a rare species of seal that were based on projections of future loss of habitat attributed to climate change. The decision not to hear appeals brought by the state of Alaska and industry groups left in place a 2012 decision by the administration of former President Barack Obama to protect a subspecies of the bearded seal that lives mainly off the coast of Alaska. Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham" + }, + { + "text": "Marcus Lemonis schools this husband for ‘punishing’ his wife 1 Hour Ago Andre Barrett has always been critical of his wife’s food packaging business, Southern Culture. Many of his criticisms can come off mean and hurtful. Eventually Marcus Lemonis confronts him about his attitude and judgement of his wife. All New The Profit Tuesdays 10P ET/PT SHARES" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. bond market’s gauges of inflation expectations held their earlier gains on Wednesday even as import prices posted its smallest monthly increase in December, supporting the notion that domestic inflation is not accelerating. At 8:46 a.m. (1346 GMT), the 10-year inflation breakeven rate, or the yield gap between 10-year Treasury Inflation Protected Securities and regular 10-year Treasury notes, was 2.05 percent, its highest level since early March. It was up 0.55 basis point from late on Tuesday, according to Tradeweb and Reuters data. (Reporting by Richard Leong)" + }, + { + "text": "January 20, 2018 / 10:23 AM / Updated 18 minutes ago South Africa to name new Eskom head within hours - eNCA TV Reuters Staff 1 Min Read JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African authorities are due to name a new executive chairman for troubled power utility Eskom within 24 hours, broadcaster eNCA television said on Saturday, adding that former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene was the front-runner. A spokesman for the state firm said he was not aware that such an announcement was scheduled. Eskom ESCJ.UL, which supplies virtually all of the power for Africa’s most advanced economy, has been embroiled in governance and graft crises and has delayed its interim results, a move that could see trading of its debt suspended on the Johannesburg bourse. Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba said on Thursday the Treasury could not afford to bail the firm out but would take unspecified action soon to tackle the company’s challenges. Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; editing by John Stonestreet" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 8:20 AM / Updated 10 minutes ago European prompt power prices rise as wind speeds recede Reuters Staff 1 Min Read FRANKFURT (Reuters) - European spot power prices rose sharply on Thursday as winter gales that hit the region this week receded, reducing wind power supply from the market. Technicians work on an electricity pylon as part of maintenance of high-tension electricity power lines, during sunset in Cantin, France, December 19, 2017. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol Traders also cited export demand from main producer Germany, a return to seasonally typical price levels after the weather-driven oversupply of recent days ebbed, and a looming cold weather front next week for the price jump. Friday delivery baseload in Germany was up 25.5 percent at 30.8 euros ($37.03) a megawatt hour TRDEBD1 and the equivalent French contract was up 21 percent at 34.5 euros.TRFRBD1 Thomson Reuters data showed that daily wind power output in Germany will likely fall to 20.2 gigawatts on Friday from 26.7 GW on Thursday and by Monday will have fallen to 14.7 GW. Reporting by Vera Eckert, editing by Susan Fenton" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - Chow Tai Seng Jewellery Co Ltd : * SAYS IT PLANS TO SET UP MICRO-CREDIT UNIT WITH REGISTERED CAPITAL OF 300 MILLION YUAN ($46.11 million) IN SHENZHEN Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2mpnzEG Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.5055 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "(Adds Kering confirmation, detail, background, share price) By Arno Schuetze and Pamela Barbaglia FRANKFURT/LONDON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Gucci-owner Kering plans to spin off German sports brand Puma to the French conglomerate’s shareholders as it sharpens the group’s focus squarely on its luxury brands. Kering said it planned to distribute 70 percent of Puma shares in kind to its investors, leaving it with only a 16 percent stake in the sportwear group, confirming an exclusive Reuters report. Puma shares were down 4.4 percent at the close, with Kerin down almost 1 percent. Kering is a little more than 40 percent controlled by the French Pinault family, who would receive about 29 percent of the sporting goods company, while Puma’s free float would stand at about 55 percent. Shedding Puma, meanwhile, would turn Kering into a pure player in the high-margin luxury business, where it rivals larger peers such as French conglomerate LVMH. “Kering would dedicate itself entirely to the development of its luxury houses,” Kering Chairman and CEO Francois-Henri Pinault said in a statement. Puma said it welcomed the transaction because it increases the company’s free float, adding that the move will not affect its current strategy. Puma struggled for years after it was bought by Kering for 5.3 billion euros ($6.4 billion) in 2007, but recent improved performance has raised expectations that the French group would sell its stake this year. The sports goods company is due to report full-year results on Feb. 12, having increased its profit outlook three times last year on the popularity of collections designed by singer Rihanna and shoes worn by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. Like German rival Adidas, Puma has enjoyed a revival in the United States as shoppers snap up its retro styles instead of basketball shoes, hurting Nike and Under Armour. Puma’s shares rose by 45 percent over the past year, bringing its market capitalisation to 5.3 billion euros, back at the level at which Kering bought. Kering emerged as one of the big winners in a luxury goods revival last year as Chinese demand picked up, with a stellar turn at brand-of-the-moment Gucci helping earnings and other labels such as Yves Saint Laurent and Balenciaga. ($1 = 0.8303 euros) (Additional reporting by Emma Thomasson, Alexander Hübner and Sarah White; Editing by David Goodman) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 28, 2018 / 6:21 AM / Updated 4 hours ago Grand Slam, Australian Open Mixed Doubles Results Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 28 (OPTA) - Results from the Grand Slam, Australian Open Mixed Doubles matches on Sunday .. Final .. 8-Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN) beat 5-Timea Babos (HUN) and 2-6 6-4 1-0(9) and Rohan Bopanna (IND) Mate Pavic (CRO)" + }, + { + "text": "rejected@ (Adds White House comment, paragraph 4; lawmakers' comments, context on 5G suppliers, Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE, paragraphs 12-18) WASHINGTON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The top U.S. communications regulator, wireless companies and some lawmakers oppose an idea by members of President Donald Trump's national security team for the government to build a 5G wireless network to counter China spying on phone calls. The Trump administration has taken a harder line with China on policies initiated by predecessor President Barack Obama on issues ranging from Beijing's role in restraining North Korea to Chinese efforts to acquire U.S. strategic industries. The option of a nationalized 5G network was being discussed by Trump's national security team, an administration official said on Sunday. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Monday that discussions were at \"the very earliest stages\" to ensure a \"secure network,\" and \"absolutely no decisions\" have been made. The government has blocked a string of Chinese acquisitions over national security concerns and the 5G network concept is aimed at addressing what officials see as China's threat to U.S. cyber security and economic security. But the option was rejected by several of those who would have a say. \"Any federal effort to construct a nationalized 5G network would be a costly and counterproductive distraction from the policies we need to help the United States win the 5G future,\" Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai, a Republican appointed by Trump, said in a statement on Monday. CTIA, the trade group that represents AT&T Inc, Verizon Communications Inc, Apple Inc, Sprint Corp and others, said in a statement on Monday that the \"government should pursue the free market policies that enabled the U.S. wireless industry to win the race to 4G.\" Carriers have already spent billions of dollars acquiring spectrum and beginning to develop and test 5G networks, which are expected to be at least 100 times faster than current 4G networks and cut latency to less than one thousandth of a second from one one hundredth of a second in 4G, the FCC said. The more responsive networks could allow, for example, for real-time remote operations such as medical procedures and running large machines. A U.S.-built 5G network could in theory be more resilient to Chinese government intrusions. A leaked National Security Council memo published by Axios news website on Sunday said China is the dominant manufacturer of network infrastructure and notes the importance of building the network with \"equipment from a trusted supply chain.\" The primary suppliers for the 5G networks in the United States are expected to be firms such as Nokia and Ericsson, with networking firms such as Juniper Networks, Cisco Systems and Qualcomm Inc supplying chips and back end equipment. It was unclear whether the option discussed would involve working with those companies. The rules for 5G networks are still being worked out by industry players. The work has been complicated by an effective ban in the United States on two of the largest firms, Chinese suppliers Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and ZTE Corp since a 2012 investigation over links to potential Chinese spying, something the companies have denied. Earlier this year, U.S. lawmakers urged AT&T to cut commercial ties with Huawei. U.S. Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat and vice chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said that while he agreed there were \"serious concerns relating to the Chinese governments influence into network equipment markets\" he thought the proposal for the federal government to build a standalone network would be \"expensive and duplicative.\" Any 5G nationalization plan would likely cost hundreds of billions of dollars, wireless carriers said. Representative Greg Walden, a Republican who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee, dismissed the idea. \"We're not Venezuela. We don't need to have the government run everything,\" Walden said. He noted that government data has been hacked, but said it was important 5G networks are \"safe and secure.\" Shares of the biggest U.S. wireless carriers fell at the start of trade on Monday, with Verizon and AT&T down 1 percent. The administration official who spoke to Reuters confirmed the gist of the Axios report and said the option was being debated at a low level in the administration and was six to eight months away from being considered by the president. \"This has been building for months. I don't think the White House options papers do justice to the issue. It goes much deeper,\" said Michael Wessel, a commissioner on the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which works for Congress and follows China issues. Apart from FCC chairman Pai, three of remaining four FCC commissioners also said on Monday that they opposed nationalizing the 5G network, while the fourth expressed skepticism. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat, said the memo \"correctly diagnoses a real problem." + }, + { + "text": "Turning lead into gold in the digital era 7:43am EST - 02:08 Pencil manufacturer Faber-Castell is hoping that embracing the online world and a counter-digital creative trend will mean the company can still thrive in the digital era. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Pencil manufacturer Faber-Castell is hoping that embracing the online world and a counter-digital creative trend will mean the company can still thrive in the digital era. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 11:05 AM / Updated 27 minutes ago Insurer UnitedHealth's quarterly profit more than doubles Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 16 (Reuters) - UnitedHealth Group Inc, the largest U.S. health insurer, reported quarterly profit on Tuesday that more than doubled from a year earlier, driven by a one-time tax benefit. UnitedHealth, which sells employer-based insurance as well as Medicare and Medicaid, said net earnings attributable to shareholders rose to $3.62 billion, or $3.65 per share, in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, from $1.68 billion, or $1.74 per share, a year earlier. The company had incurred a $1.2 billion provision for income tax a year earlier. Total revenue rose to $52.06 billion from $47.54 billion. (Reporting by Divya Grover in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)" + }, + { + "text": "Heidi Petty | CNBC Al Kelly Visa CEO Al Kelly is planning for the so-called internet of things and the day when, he says, washing machines will make purchases. \"As the internet of things emerges and we see many more connected homes, connected cars and connected offices, you may end up with four, five, six, eight places in your home where you could actually buy from,\" Kelly told CNBC for Fortt Knox . The payments processor has traditionally dealt in credit and debit cards but has moved into mobile payments as contactless systems like Apple Pay, which simply let users tap their device to a receiver, become more popular. Kelly said the company is thinking ahead to an eventual move beyond physical payment methods and traditional points of sale. \"Over time we want to talk much more about payment credentials, which could be real — a real form factor — or they could simply be numbers in the digital world,\" Kelly said. \"The word[s] 'merchant locations' or 'businesses' are also going to become obsolete.\" A growing catalog of connected devices — cars, refrigerators and washing machines all connected to a global internet — means broader purchasing power, he said. \"We at Visa are trying to make sure that we work with manufacturers around the world to create an on-ramp to facilitate payments from any of those locations,\" Kelly said. \"We just want to be in the middle of that.\" Kelly does draw a line for new-age payment methods, though. He told CNBC Visa wouldn't process transactions in bitcoin . Kelly also discussed his leadership style, years in the White House and decision to expand Visa's 401(k) program. Jon Fortt Squawk Alley Co-Anchor Related Securities" + }, + { + "text": "Davos 2018: CEOs eye more global growth 3:18am EST - 01:44 Chief executives are more optimistic about economic outlook than they have been for many years though anxieties are rising about geopolitics, cyber threats and terrorism, a survey has shown at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Sonia Legg reports. Chief executives are more optimistic about economic outlook than they have been for many years though anxieties are rising about geopolitics, cyber threats and terrorism, a survey has shown at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Sonia Legg reports. //reut.rs/2DxiAMx" + }, + { + "text": "BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Britain is likely to get stuck in a long transition period in which it will pay the European Union and abide by its laws but have no say in the bloc’s affairs, a European lawmaker handling Brexit said. The EU legislative will have to sign off on any Brexit deal and Philippe Lamberts, one of six in the 750-strong body to deal with Brexit, said any future trade deal between Britain and the EU was irreconcilable with avoiding an Irish border. “The transition period will be stretched,” Lamberts told Reuters on Tuesday in referring to a period after Britain’s departure in March, 2019, which the remaining 27 EU states have now agreed should last until the end of 2020. Many think time is too short to negotiate a full trade agreement with London to apply from 2021, but the remaining 27 EU states have for now held off on granting Britain a longer transition to mount pressure in the negotiations. British Prime Minister Theresa May has come under fire from rivals at home who accuse her of largely accepting the transition on the EU’s terms that would see London follow all the bloc’s rules but with no direct way to shape them. “Indeed, you are a sort of vassal state during the transition,” said the green Belgian lawmaker, adding the transition could last five years. “My best scenario is that we have an extended transition period that spans until the next general election in Britain in 2022 and then we’ll see if any new British government still wants out. Or, if they are satisfied with the Norway option.” Though outside the EU, Norway has a very close relationship with the bloc that goes well beyond trade. In exchange, however, it pays the EU for single market access and mostly follows the bloc’s laws, without having the power to decide on them. “But then the transition stage could become the final stage,” Lamberts said. While some of his comments are certain to upset British Brexit supporters, he said the EU could consider London’s concerns about any new EU laws being sealed during the transition, if not give Britain a direct role in deciding them. He said London, which wants to leave the EU’s single market and customs union eventually, would never be able to get an EU trade deal if it sticks to the Good Friday agreement that ended decades of violence on the island split between the Republic of Ireland and Britain’s province of Northern Ireland. “I hope no one wants to scrap the Good Friday agreement because that could spell disaster. But then you cannot square that circle unless you keep either Northern Ireland, or the whole of the UK, in the single market,” he said. Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg" + }, + { + "text": "PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Company, Arizona’s leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance since 1925, today announced it has completed its acquisition of Pacific Compensation Insurance Company (PacificComp) from Alleghany Insurance Holdings LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alleghany Corporation (NYSE: Y). The purchase price equates to $150 million in cash and is subject to post-closing adjustments. Terms of the agreement include the purchase of adverse development reinsurance cover on PacificComp’s pre-acquisition claims. CopperPoint announced the agreement to acquire Pacific Compensation on September 12, 2017. “We are thrilled to welcome Pacific Compensation to our CopperPoint family of companies,” said Marc Schmittlein, President & CEO of CopperPoint Insurance Companies. “This acquisition continues our focused effort of geographic diversification. In addition, it’s a natural fit for our policyholders growing West into California and other states.” About CopperPoint Insurance Companies Founded in 1925, CopperPoint Insurance Companies is dedicated to protecting and empowering conscientious business owners. Our vision is to be a top-tier regional commercial insurance company and the preferred partner for business owners, agents and brokers in every community we serve. For over 90 years CopperPoint has been a leading provider of workers compensation insurance. Today we are a multi-line commercial insurance company, offering additional products to ensure peace of mind to business owners, their employees and customers. As a mutual insurance company with $4.1 billion in assets, a policyholder surplus exceeding $1.5 billion and no debt, CopperPoint embodies stability and sustainability for over 13,000 policyholders generating approximately $420 million in revenue. Headquartered at CopperPoint Tower in Phoenix, Arizona our team of talented professionals embrace Corporate Responsibility through active engagement in the communities we serve. The CopperPoint Family of Insurance Companies are rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best. For more information, visit www.copperpoint.com . View source version on businesswire.com : CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Company Becca Hare, 917-595-3054 [REDACTED] or Michael Goldman, 602-686-7726 [REDACTED] Source: CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Company" + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 7:06 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Fed policymakers see future rate rises guided by inflation, fiscal stimulus Lindsay Dunsmuir , Jason Lange 4 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers showed worry over the fate of currently low inflation and saw recent tax changes as providing a boost to consumer spending, according to the minutes of the U.S. central bank’s last policy meeting on Dec. 12-13 released on Wednesday. FILE PHOTO - The Federal Reserve Building stands in Washington April 3, 2012. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo The details of the meeting, at which the Fed raised interest rates for the fifth time since the 2008 financial crisis, also showed that officials have a similar lack of certainty over the impact of fiscal stimulus on raising price pressures. “Most participants reiterated their support for continuing a gradual approach to raising the target range, noting that this approach helped to balance risks to the outlook for economic activity and inflation,” the Fed said in the minutes. They then mulled the dual possibilities that the Trump administration’s tax cuts or easy financial conditions could cause inflation pressures to build unduly, while at the same time also considering that actual or expected inflation may fail to rise to the Fed’s 2 percent target. U.S. stocks were little changed following the publication of the minutes and U.S. Treasury yields were little changed. The U.S. dollar extended gains against a basket of currencies. The inflation shortfall is set to dominate incoming Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s first few months as chief of the central bank with further rate increases more difficult to justify without an upswing. He is set to take over from Janet Yellen by the time of the next rate-setting meeting on Jan. 31-Feb. 1. “They have been taking a middle-of-the road on their policy approach...if inflation picks up, they will go faster [on rate rises]. If things slow down, they will go slower,” said Stephen Stanley, chief economist at Amherst Pierpont Securities in Stamford, Connecticut. FED SEES FISCAL BOOST At its December meeting, the Fed kept its forecast for three rate rises this year and in 2019 unchanged even as policymakers anticipated a short-term boost in U.S. economic growth from the Trump administration’s sweeping $1.5 trillion tax overhaul signed into law on Dec. 22. The tax changes reduce the corporate rate from 35 percent to 21 percent and temporarily cuts the taxes paid by most individuals as well. In the minutes, many policymakers “expected the proposed cuts in personal taxes to provide some boost to consumer spending” and many characterized the changes in business taxes as likely to provide a modest boost to capital spending. “However, some business contacts...noted that the increase in cash flow that would result...was more likely to be used for mergers and acquisitions or for debt reduction and stock buybacks,” the minutes said. In December, the Fed forecast ultra-low unemployment of below 4 percent in 2018 and 2019, but still predicted inflation would remain below 2 percent at the end of 2018. The mystery of low inflation in such a robust economy has prompted debate at the Fed for the past several months and was the concern of the two policymakers who voted against a rate increase at last month’s meeting. The latest minutes showed that while participants generally viewed inflation rising back to target over the medium term, several said “other persistent factors may be holding down inflation.” Investors have all but ruled out an interest rate increase at the Fed’s upcoming meeting but currently see another nudge upwards at the following one in March. Reporting by Lindsay Dunsmuir; Additional reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Chizu Nomiyama" + }, + { + "text": "Bitcoin vs. Regulators: Who Will Win? 1/4/2018 6:22AM As bitcoin has emerged from the underground world of nerds and criminals to become a mainstream investment, the risk of hacks and scandals has also blossomed. What's a government to do? The WSJ's Steven Russolillo travels the world (sort of) to see how regulators are responding to the remarkable rise of cryptocurrencies. Video: Sharon Shi and Crystal Tai" + }, + { + "text": "OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sonic Corp. (NASDAQ:SONC), the nation's largest chain of drive-in restaurants, today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per share of common stock to be paid to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 7, 2018, with a payment date of February 16, 2018. In addition to the dividend, the company has a share repurchase authorization for up to $160 million of its common stock through August 31, 2018. Future declaration of quarterly dividends and the establishment of future record and payment dates are subject to the final determination of the company's Board of Directors. About Sonic SONIC, America's Drive-In is the nation's largest drive-in restaurant chain serving approximately 3 million customers every day. Nearly 94 percent of SONIC's 3,500 drive-in locations are owned and operated by local business men and women. For 65 years, SONIC has delighted guests with signature menu items, 1.3 million drink combinations and friendly service by iconic Carhops. Since the 2009 launch of SONIC's Limeades for Learning philanthropic campaign in partnership with DonorsChoose.org , SONIC has donated $9.5 million to public school teachers nationwide to fund essential learning materials and innovative teaching resources to inspire creativity and learning in today's youth. To learn more about Sonic Corp. (NASDAQ/NM: SONC), please visit sonicdrivein.com and please visit or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. To learn more about SONIC's Limeades for Learning initiative, please visit Limeadesforlearning.com . This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect management’s expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or underlying, these forward-looking statements are detailed in the company’s annual and quarterly report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly release revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unforeseen events, except as required to be reported under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. SONC-F View source version on businesswire.com : Sonic Corp. Corey Horsch, 405-225-4800 Vice President of Investor Relations and Treasurer Source: Sonic Corp." + }, + { + "text": "According to co-founder of AE Wealth Management David Bach, getting rich boils down to a simple formula: Setting aside at least 14 percent of your income. It's \"what the average American has done to become a millionaire by the age of 59 years old,\" Bach tells CNBC Make It . \"You need to be saving 14 percent of your gross income. That's the formula.\" 14 percent may sound like a lot, but it's the equivalent of just over one hour's worth of income each day, the self-made millionaire points out: \"I want you to keep the first hour of the day of your income. So from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., that hour goes to you.\" Courtesy of David Bach Self-made millionaire and bestselling author David Bach Think about it this way, he suggests: \"You're going to work 90,000 hours over your lifetime. Most Americans get to the age of 60 and they have nothing to show for it. What you're going to have is at least a million dollars in your retirement account if you pay yourself first, one hour a day of your income.\" You may be thinking, \"I don't make enough money to save and invest, let alone save and invest 14 percent of my income.\" That's \"poor thinking,\" says Bach. \"Chances are, you actually do make enough money to be rich — you're just spending it on little things. I call this 'the latte factor.'\" The basic idea of \"the latte factor\" is that eliminating your $5 daily coffee, or any other regular splurge, could help you save significantly over time. \"I don't know what you're spending small amounts of money on, but I know this: $10 a day can change your life. If you're in your 20s and you start investing $10 a day automatically into your retirement account, at a rate of 8 percent, by the time you hit 60, you've got over a million dollars.\" show chapters The biggest mistake millennials are making is not buying a home, says financial expert 11:07 AM ET Thu, 4 Jan 2018 | 01:06 Writers who take issue with Bach's idea of \"the latte factor\" argue that it'll take more than giving up small, daily luxuries to save big or really solve financial woes. As Helaine Olen, personal finance expert and author of \" Pound Foolish ,\" says , the bigger issue for most Americans is \"the fixed costs, the things that are difficult to cut back on. Housing, health care, and education cost the average family 75 percent of their discretionary income in the 2000s.\" Still, many people find it helps them gain control over their finances to start with small changes . More importantly, automate your finances so that 14 percent of your income, for example, goes straight from your paycheck to your retirement savings account. You'll never even see the money you're setting aside and will learn to live without it. After all, \"you can't spend what you don't have in your pocket,\" says Bach. Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook ! Don't miss: Self-made millionaire: Use this simple trick to save $44,000 on your mortgage show chapters Here's what to do with the money you may save on taxes 10:38 AM ET Wed, 10 Jan 2018 | 01:11" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Buyout firm Vintage Capital Management LLC has agreed not to raise its stake in its acquisition target Rent-A-Center Inc ( RCII.O ) or seek to gain control of its board as they talk about a potential deal, the furniture retailer said on Friday. Vintage Capital made a new, but lowered $693 million offer to buy Rent-A-Center in November after the rent-to-own furniture retailer said it was exploring strategic options. The buyout firm, which has a 5.9 percent stake in Rent-A-Center, signed a non-disclosure agreement regarding its offer on Jan. 17, which also included a so-called standstill provision that generally lasts for a year, Rent-A-Center said in a regulatory filing. Besides preventing Vintage Capital from raising its stake in Rent-A-Center or seeking board representation, the standstill provision also prevents the buyout firm from joining any proxy contest against the company. Rent-A-Center has been under pressure from activist hedge funds Marcato Capital Management LP and Engaged Capital LLC to sell itself, with Marcato arguing that an overhaul of the company could be best achieved in the hands of private owners. Last July, Rent-A-Center rejected Vintage Capital’ offer of $800 million. Reuters has reported that even before that, the company had snubbed takeover interest from private equity firms HIG Capital and Lone Star Funds. Rent-A-Center Chief Executive Mark Speese resigned earlier this month. Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 9:42 AM / Updated an hour ago U.S. case against banker is \"political coup attempt\", Turkey's Erdogan says Reuters Staff 1 Min Read ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey’s Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday condemned a U.S. sanctions-busting case against a Turkish bank executive as a “political coup attempt” and a joint effort by the CIA and FBI to undermine Ankara. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a joint press conference with the French president at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 5, 2018. REUTERS/Ludovic Marin/Pool A U.S. jury last week convicted the executive of Turkey’s majority state-owned Halkbank of evading Iran sanctions, capping a trial that has strained relations between the NATO allies. Erdogan, speaking to members of his ruling AK Party in parliament, said the CIA, the FBI and the network of the U.S.-based cleric Turkey blames for a 2016 coup were together using the case to undermine Ankara. Reporting by Ercan Gurses; Writing by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by David Dolan" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 1:09 PM / Updated an hour ago Wells Fargo quarterly profit rises on one-time tax benefit Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 12 (Reuters) - Wells Fargo & Co posted an 18 percent rise in fourth-quarter profit, driven by a one-time tax benefit related to President Donald Trump’s new tax laws. Net income applicable to shareholders rose to $5.74 billion, or $1.16 per share on GAAP basis, in the quarter ended Dec. 31, from $4.87 billion or 96 cents per share a year ago. reut.rs/2ATeBng Analysts on average were looking for $1.07 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. It was not immediately clear if the reported figures were comparable. The quarter included a $3.35 billion one-time after-tax boost from writing down its deferred tax liabilities to reflect the new U.S. corporate tax rates. (Reporting By Aparajita Saxena in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr)" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - There are no talks yet about any potential new meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was Quote: d as saying on Sunday by state run RIA news agency. Putin will have a chance to speak with Trump on the sidelines of upcoming international events but nothing is planned in the near future, Peskov said. “So this is more a mid-term perspective ... The second part of the year,” RIA Quote: d him as saying. Reporting by Katya Golubkova; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 1:20 PM / in 16 minutes UPDATE 1-Jefferies poaches RBC senior bankers in expansion drive Reuters Staff (Adds Jefferies additional hires, RBC comment) By Clara Denina and Ron Bousso LONDON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Jefferies has hired Dai Clement and Lorna Shearin from Royal Bank of Canada to develop its power, utilities and infrastructure business, as part of a wider investment banking expansion, banking sources said on Tuesday. Dai Clement will become global head of power, utilities and infrastructure investment banking at Jefferies, while Lorna Shearin will be the European head from April. Both will be based in London, the sources told Reuters. Clement was European head of utilities at RBC, while Shearin headed the bank’s infrastructure team in Europe. RBC said on its website that during the first half of 2017, it had advised on nine infrastructure transactions, totalling more than $27 billion globally. Jefferies declined to comment on the new hires, while RBC confirmed both Clement and Shearin had decided to leave the Canadian bank at the start of the year. Clement and Shearin did not respond to requests for comment on their moves. Jefferies, a unit of Leucadia National Corp, has been on a recent hiring spree, adding 11 managing directors in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) over the past year, including investment bankers from JP Morgan, HSBC, Nomura and boutique bank Perella Weinberg. It has also hired Raj Khatri from Australia’s Macquarie as its European head of metals and mining. Khatri is due to start in February, while Ed Matthews is expected to join the UK investment team from investment group Shore Capital in April. Jefferies ranked 19 in the 2017 European M&A financial advisory table compiled by Thomson Reuters, up from 39 in 2016. (Reporting by Clara Denina and Ron Bousso; additional reporting by Dasha Afanasieva; editing by Alexander Smith)" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Departing American Express Co ( AXP.N ) Chief Executive Kenneth Chenault will become Airbnb Inc’s first non-affiliated independent board director, the home rental service’s CEO Brian Chesky said. This is the first addition to board since the company was founded in 2008, an Airbnb spokesman said. Last week, Facebook Inc ( FB.O ) appointed Chenault to its board, making him the first non-white director on the social network’s board. Chenault is leaving American Express on Feb. 1, ending a nearly 17-year tenure at the helm of the No. 1 U.S. card issuer by spending. “As the CEO of American Express, Ken has built one of the most successful trust based companies in the world,” Chesky wrote in a letter to a group of Airbnb hosts that was shared with Reuters. Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru and Heather Somerville in San Francisco; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 2:58 PM / Updated 9 minutes ago CANADA STOCKS-TSX falls as energy and financial shares weigh Reuters Staff 1 Min Read TORONTO, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Canada’s main stock index fell on Wednesday as energy and financial shares declined, while gold mining stocks were boosted by higher gold prices. At 9:53 a.m. EST (1453 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index fell 17.14 points, or 0.1 percent, to 16,340.41. Six of the index’s 10 main groups were lower. (Reporting by Fergal Smith Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)" + }, + { + "text": "Dennis Schroder scored 26 points, including two big buckets in the final 40 seconds, as the Atlanta Hawks picked up a rare win over the San Antonio Spurs 102-99 Monday in a Martin Luther King Day matinee at Philips Arena in Atlanta. Schroder hit a pull-up jumper and then followed it with a difficult, high-arching left-handed layup to help the Hawks beat the Spurs for only the second time in the last 15 meetings. After Schroder hit a pair of free throws to put the Hawks up three with seven seconds left, Spurs guard Danny Green missed a contested, potential tying 3-pointer as time expired. LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Spurs, who were without Kawhi Leonard and saw Manu Ginobili leave the game in the first quarter with an injury. Leonard has missed five of eight games in January, battling a quad injury. Ginobili suffered a right thigh contusion early in the game, went to the locker room and did not return. The Spurs led 73-72 heading into the fourth quarter, setting the stage for a tense finish. Schroder scored four straight points to give the Hawks an 89-82 lead with six minutes left. He had 12 points in the fourth quarter. Aldridge started hot, scoring nine early points and leading the Spurs out to an 18-4 lead. Atlanta endured the early San Antonio surge and answered back with a 17-5 run to close out the first quarter. The Spurs led 48-44 at halftime. Ersan Ilyasova added 20 points for the Hawks, and Dewayne Dedmon made a big impact off the bench with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Atlanta outrebounded San Antonio 50-37 and made 13 of 14 free throws. The Spurs finish their three-game road trip at Brooklyn on Wednesday and at Toronto on Friday. The Hawks entered the game having lost five of six, but moved to 1-1 through two games of a six-game homestand with the win over the Spurs. Atlanta hosts New Orleans on Wednesday. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "NEWARK, N.J., Jan. 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic Corporation of North America today announced that Jeffrey D. Werner will join the company as Vice President, Corporate and Government Affairs, from January 29. Mr. Werner comes to Panasonic from Daimler North America Corporation, where he served as General Manager, International and Public Policy, since 2007. Mr. Werner will succeed Peter M. Fannon, who is retiring after having led the company's government and corporate relations since 1997. \"We are delighted to welcome Jeff Werner to Panasonic, where his expertise in government relations, including trade, investment and key public policy matters, as well as his automotive industry experience, will be especially helpful as the company continues its growth in B2B solutions,\" said Damien Atkins, Vice President and General Counsel, to whom Mr. Werner will report. \"As Jeff's transition begins, we want to express our gratitude to Pete Fannon for the two decades he devoted to representing Panasonic before the government, in industry organizations and in public forums. Pete has made incredible contributions to our company.\" Prior to joining Daimler, Mr. Werner served as executive director of the Transatlantic Business Dialogue and worked for the European-American Business Council. He holds an MS degree from The London School of Economics and graduated with a BA in Political Science from Hobart College. \"I am looking forward to joining Panasonic and supporting the company's great work such cutting-edge areas as connected and self-driving vehicles, smart highways, energy generation and storage, video and entertainment media,\" Mr. Werner said. \"There are so many challenges ahead in the arenas in which Panasonic works. It's a very exciting time, and I'm thrilled to become part of this global company's dynamic North American operations.\" Mr. Werner will manage multiple activities in his new role including the government and public affairs office in Washington, DC, and related units at the company's Newark, NJ, headquarters. About Panasonic Corporation of North America Newark, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America is a leading technology partner and integrator to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation and leverages its strengths in Immersive Entertainment, Sustainable Energy, Automated Supply Chains and Connected Solutions to provide secure and resilient integrated solutions for B2B customers. Panasonic was highlighted in Forbes Magazine's Global 2000 ranking as one of the Top Ten Best Regarded Companies for 2017. The ranking is based on outstanding scores for trustworthiness, honesty with the public and superior performance of products and solutions Learn more about Panasonic's ideas and innovations at PanasonicMovesUs.com . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Panasonic Corporation of North America" + }, + { + "text": "Lavrov heckled at Syria peace talks 4:24pm GMT - 01:56 Some delegates at the Syrian peace conference in Sochi stood up and heckled Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, marking a shaky start to the Moscow organised event. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Some delegates at the Syrian peace conference in Sochi stood up and heckled Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, marking a shaky start to the Moscow organised event. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 10:21 AM / in 27 minutes Airbus wins Emirates deal for A380 jets worth $16 bln at list price Reuters Staff 1 Min Read PARIS, Jan 18 (Reuters) - European planemaker Airbus on Thursday announced it has sealed an order with Emirates worth $16 billion for Airbus’ flagship A380 superjumbo, in a deal which looks set to protect the future of the A380 programme. It said Emirates has made a commitment for 20 A380s along with an option for 16 more with deliveries to start in 2020, valued at $16 billion at latest list prices. Airbus’ sales chief John Leahy had said that the future of the A380 lay with Emirates, even though other airlines are interested in smaller numbers of the 544-seat jets. If the deal had fallen through, Airbus would have had “no choice” but to close production, he had said. (Reporting by Tim Hepher; Writing by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Richard Lough)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 21 (Reuters) - Former Guatemalan presidential candidate Manuel Baldizon was detained while trying to enter the United States without a visa and is awaiting deportation, the Central American nation’s prosecutor’s office said on Sunday, adding he would face graft charges upon his return. Baldizon, a wealthy businessman who ran for president twice, was detained at the airport in Miami on Saturday after flying in from the Dominican Republic, according to prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Yesenia Enriquez. His deportation is expected to be swift. On his return to Guatemala, Baldizon will face accusations of illicit association, bribery and money laundering, the prosecutor’s office said in a statement. The charges are part of a giant corruption scandal that involves Brazilian construction company Odebrecht SA and has claimed high-level political scalps across the region. The statement said former Infrastructure Minister and brief presidential candidate Alejandro Sinibaldi was also wanted on suspected corruption charges related to the investigation, and was now a fugitive. The prosecutor’s office did not give any information on the link with Odebrecht, which has admitted to paying multimillion-dollar bribes across Latin America and has already spent $3.5 billion for settlements in the United States, Brazil and Switzerland. Enriquez said it was unclear which U.S. federal department was holding Baldizon. The prosecutor’s office carried out 10 raids on Saturday and arrested three people as part of the Odebrecht investigation, the statement added. In 2016, the head of Guatemala’s special anti-corruption prosecutor’s office told Reuters he had already been investigating Odebrecht’s bribes to a government official, and President Jimmy Morales said his administration would check all of the company’s contracts. Guatemala has long struggled with political corruption. In August, Morales came under fire for attempting to expel a United Nations-backed International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala prosecutor seeking to put him on trial for alleged corruption. The investigation into allegations of illicit campaign financing, which followed separate graft probes into members of the president’s family, had threatened to condemn Morales to impeachment. With powers to prepare crime and corruption cases, the commission was instrumental in removing former President Otto Perez Molina from office in 2015 after identifying him as a key player in an alleged multibillion-dollar graft scheme. (Reporting by Sofia Menchu; Writing by Gabriel Stargardter; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)" + }, + { + "text": "HOUSTON, Jan. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sterling Group, a Houston-based middle market private equity firm, announced that its portfolio company, Construction Supply Group (\"CSG\"), has completed the acquisition of Brock White of Wisconsin, a construction supply distributor in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. Construction Supply Group is a leader in the distribution of construction materials, accessories and tools, primarily for professional concrete and masonry contractors in the United States and Canada. The combined company has 73 branches with 1,150 employees and offers over 70,000 SKUs to nearly 25,000 customers. Brock White of Wisconsin is the sixth acquisition by Sterling as a part of the Construction Supply platform. Brock White of Wisconsin spun out of CSG's Brock White subsidiary in 1973 and has been operating in the Milwaukee area since that time. Following the transaction, Brock White of Wisconsin will be integrated into Brock White and will continue to go to market under the Brock White name. \"Construction Supply Group and Brock White are the perfect fit for our company,\" said Julie Anderson, Owner and President of Brock White of Wisconsin. \"My father acquired the business from Brock White in 1973. By rejoining with Brock White, the business has come full circle. We are excited about the combined company's future.\" \"This acquisition continues our path toward building North America's leading construction supply distributor. The business gives us better access to serve the Milwaukee market. We are excited to add another great team with many years of experience and success to the CSG family,\" said Mitch Williams, CEO of Construction Supply Group. In late 2016, Sterling acquired Brock White Company, LLC, Border Construction Specialties, LLC and Stetson Building Products to form Construction Supply Group. The company later executed a carve-out of five Gerdau distribution branches and the acquisition of Carter Waters, extending its footprint throughout the Midwest. Construction Supply Group will continue to seek further additions to its family of construction distribution businesses. About The Sterling Group Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity investment firm that targets controlling interests in basic manufacturing, distribution and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies range from $100 million to $750 million. Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 51 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $10.0 billion. Currently, Sterling has over $2.2 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit www.sterling-group.com . View original content: SOURCE The Sterling Group" + }, + { + "text": "GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman, Jan. 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- O2Micro® International Limited, (NASDAQ:OIIM), a global leader in the design, development and marketing of high-performance integrated circuits and solutions, will announce its financial results for the fourth quarter ending December 31st, 2017, on Wednesday, January 31 st , 2018. The press release will be followed by a conference call at 6:00 a.m. (Pacific), 9:00 a.m. (Eastern). You may participate using the following dial-in information. Conference ID: 3027751 Participants, Int'l Toll: 719-325-2370 Participants, US/CAN: 800-967-7134 The Call-in Audio Replay will be available from January 31st, 2018 12:00 Eastern Time (US & Canada) through February 7th th , 2018 12:00 Eastern Time (US & Canada) A live webcast will also be available on the Company's website at , and an online replay will be available on the website for one week. About O2Micro Founded in April 1995, O2Micro develops and markets innovative power management components for the Computer, Consumer, Industrial, Automotive and Communications markets. Products include Backlighting, Battery Management, Power Management and LED General Lighting. The company maintains offices worldwide. Additional company and product information can be found on the company website at www.o2Micro.com . O2Micro, the O2Micro logo, and combinations thereof are registered trademarks of O2Micro. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Contact Information: Investor Relations, O2Micro Phone: 408.987.5920, x8888 Email: [REDACTED] Source:O2Micro, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 14, 2018 / 10:43 PM / Updated 9 minutes ago Peru ex-President Fujimori hospitalised with heart problems - media Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LIMA (Reuters) - Alberto Fujimori, Peru’s former authoritarian president who was freed from a 25-year prison sentence with a humanitarian pardon last Christmas Eve, was hospitalized with heart problems on Sunday, his doctor told local newspaper El Comercio. Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori accompanied by his son Kenji Fujimori (R) leaves the Centenario hospital in Lima, Peru, January 4, 2018. Eddy Ramos/Agencia Andina Handout via REUTERS Images broadcast by television station Canal N showed Fujimori, 79, waving his hand from the inside of a truck upon arriving at the Centenario clinic in Lima together with his son Kenji. Fujimori had previously been hospitalized from late December through Jan. 5 for heart problems, including high blood pressure and arrhythmia. “He is going to have some checks done because although he has progressed favourably these seven days, he is not totally stable. He has short periods of arrhythmia,” his lead doctor, Alejandro Aguinaga, told El Comercio. President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski cited Fujimori’s health in pardoning him for convictions on human rights violations and graft charges less than halfway through a 25-year prison sentence. Kuczynski’s decision, which was widely seen as a political manoeuvre to avoid being ousted by Congress, triggered cabinet resignations and large protests. Reporting by Marco Aquino; Editing by Nick Zieminski; Writing by Luc Cohen" + }, + { + "text": "David Liam Kyle | NBAE | Getty Images LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers Public transportation, while not the most glamorous form of travel, is cheap and often efficient. That's why so many Americans rely on a bus, train or subway to commute to and from work. But public transportation isn't just for regular joes. Anyone can use it, including the rich and famous. And sometimes they do. Here are a handful of pro athletes who make millions but who you could still maybe find on the subway platform waiting for the train. Marshawn Lynch rode the BART after a Chiefs-Raiders game After being ejected from a division rivalry game against the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this year, Marshawn Lynch of the Oakland Raiders didn't go into hiding: The running back, who earns an average salary of $4.5 million , did what thousands of Oakland natives do and took the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) home . His good friend Marcus Peters, cornerback for Chiefs, joined him: tweet 2 LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavs took a $2.75 NYC subway ride When the Cleveland Cavaliers were in New York City for a game against the Knicks, they traveled like true New Yorkers: on the subway . A video posted to Twitter by the NBA showed the team, including four-time MVP LeBron James, waiting for a train at Penn Station after practice. \"It's my first time getting on [the subway] in New York,\" says James, who earned a $31 million salary in 2016-17 . Here's a second video, filmed by James and posted by Uninterrupted, James's media platform: tweet 4 The U.S. men's basketball team used public transport in London Last year may have been the first time James took the New York subway, but he's not new to public transportation. He, Kobe Bryant and the rest of the U.S. Olympic basketball team opted to get around via the Tube, buses and trains while in London for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. If you were wondering, they took home the gold medal that year. A post shared by James Harden (@jharden13) on Aug 6, 2012 at 5:22pm PDT" + }, + { + "text": "January 14, 2018 / 12:21 AM / Updated 16 hours ago Tears and panic as false missile alert unnerves Hawaii Jolyn Rosa 3 Min Read HONOLULU (Reuters) - Panic and confusion swept Hawaii on Saturday as a mistaken alert about a ballistic missile attack spread across the Pacific U.S. state, sending residents and tourists scrambling for shelter and questioning why an all-clear was not issued faster. Rhonda Ramirez and Michael Sterling, both 56 and from Los Angeles, were staying at a hotel in the Waikiki tourist district when the state emergency agency issued the bogus alert at 8:07 a.m. HAST (1807 GMT). Ramirez, a mortgage broker, “immediately started crying. I was thinking, ‘What could we do? There is nothing we can do with a missile,'” said Sterling, a law firm employee. The hotel told guests to stay indoors and about 30 minutes later announced the all-clear. “That seems too late,” Sterling said as he and Ramirez prepared to have breakfast at a restaurant. Ikaika Hussey, 39, publisher of Summit Magazine and candidate for Honolulu City Council, was home with his children when he got the alert. They grabbed food and headed for a room with a rock wall, he said. He blamed Hawaii’s status as a potential target on its being home to the U.S. Pacific Command and the Navy’s Pacific Fleet. “Militarism is reducing, not enhancing, our security,” Hussey said by phone. The false alert came amid high international tensions over North Korea’s development of ballistic nuclear weapons. The alert was not corrected for 38 minutes. Many in Hawaii learned it was false because of a tweet sent in the interim by U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard. State Representative Matt LoPresti told CNN he and his family sought safety in a bathtub but wondered why nuclear alert sirens had not sounded. “That was my first clue that maybe something was wrong, whether a hack or an error. But we took it as seriously as a heart attack,” he said. Governor David Ige apologized for the mistake, saying it occurred when the system was being tested during a shift change at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Since the sirens did not ring out, work continued as normal at a post office in Honolulu’s Manoa district, said part-time postal worker Adam Goss, 32. Puzzled friends contacted by Goss told him that they were hearing nothing more about any imminent attack. “I think they should have put out another message right away, rather than for us to have to check Twitter for Tulsi Gabbard’s message it was a false alarm,” Goss said. Additional reporting and writing by Ian Simpson; Editing by David Gregorio" + }, + { + "text": "PEORIA, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- RLI Corp. (NYSE: RLI) – RLI Corp. announced today that it will release its fourth quarter 2017 earnings after market close on Wednesday, January 24, 2018. The company will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss fourth quarter results on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at 11 a.m. Eastern Time. This call is being webcast by NASDAQ OMX and can be accessed at . ABOUT RLI RLI Corp. (NYSE: RLI) is a specialty insurer serving diverse, niche property, casualty and surety markets. The company provides deep underwriting expertise and superior service to commercial and personal lines customers nationwide. RLI’s products are offered through its insurance subsidiaries RLI Insurance Company, Mt. Hawley Insurance Company and Contractors Bonding and Insurance Company. All of RLI’s subsidiaries are rated A+ “Superior” by A.M. Best Company. RLI has paid and increased regular dividends for 42 consecutive years and delivered underwriting profits for 21 consecutive years. To learn more about RLI, visit www.rlicorp.com . View source version on businesswire.com : RLI Corp. Aaron Jacoby Vice President, Corporate Development 309-693-5880 [REDACTED] Source: RLI Corp." + }, + { + "text": "MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Unbxd Inc. ( unbxd.com ), a leading cloud-based product discovery solution for eCommerce, today welcomed Jayanth Vijayaraghavan as Senior Vice President of Engineering and Ravi Maira as Senior Vice President of Product. Jayanth comes to Unbxd from Instart Logic. As Senior Director of Engineering at Instart Logic, Jayanth built technology to deliver superior customer experiences through machine learning for leading eCommerce and Media businesses. Prior to Instart Logic, Jayanth was a Senior Director of Engineering at Yahoo, working on Cloud Services. Ravi was previously a Vice President at Akamai Technologies, where he headed product management for a half billion-dollar business unit. In his almost 17-year-long career with Akamai, Ravi's focus was on building and marketing enterprise products for eCommerce, media, and other demanding industries. Ravi led product and marketing teams that helped scale Akamai's revenue from a few million dollars (pre-IPO) to billions of dollars. \"We are excited to have Ravi and Jayanth on board. They bring invaluable experience in building large-scale, sophisticated and high-performance technology for enterprises,\" says Pavan Sondur, CEO and Co-founder of Unbxd. \"The Unbxd solution has a proven product-market fit. Strengthening our team sets the stage for us to scale as we cater to the modern, demanding consumer.\" Unbxd also recently brought on board Sanjay Singh , former SVP at Akamai Technologies, as its Chief Operating Officer to lead GTM strategy. About Unbxd Unbxd is the smartest Product Discovery Platform that understands shoppers' intent and connects them to products they are most likely to buy — across site search, navigation and recommendation purchase journeys. The platform combines AI-based automation, powerful merchandising controls and extensive user experience capabilities, to enhance on-site shopper experience and increase revenue for online retailers. Unbxd enables 36 billion annual interactions and $4.5 billion in online GMV, for leading retailers like Express, HSN, and Rue21, across the globe. View original content: SOURCE Unbxd Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 7:29 AM / in 6 hours Djokovic survives Melbourne furnace to beat Monfils Martyn Herman 4 Min Read MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Six-times champion Novak Djokovic emerged from the Rod Laver Arena furnace and into the third round of the Australian Open after putting suffering Gael Monfils out of his misery with a scrappy victory on Thursday. Both men struggled physically as air temperatures peaked at 39.9 degrees Celsius with reports of 69 degrees being measured down on the court surface. But 12-times grand slam champion Djokovic, playing his first tournament for six months because of an elbow problem, was the more durable as he recovered from a woeful start to claim a 4-6 6-3 6-1 6-3 win and take his record over Monfils to 15-0. The 14th seeded Serb will play Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the third round. “It was brutal,” Djokovic who wore a compression sleeve and employed a truncated service action, said. ”I thought, it is going to be a big challenge for both of us. Gael is one of the best athletes in our sport. “It was about just hanging in there.” Monfils looked in danger of keeling over from the middle of the second set and throughout the third -- pleading with the match umpire to give them more than 25 seconds between points. “I was dying on the court for 40 minutes,” the 31-year-old told reporters later after having revived in a cold tub. ”It was really warm. It was tough to breathe. I think it was the hardest (conditions) I have played in. “I tried to cool down. But even with the ice towel, the water, I think my body was super warm.” Tennis - Australian Open - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 18, 2018. Novak Djokovic of Serbia embraces Gael Monfils of France after Djokovic won their match. REUTERS/Thomas Peter Djokovic was rumored to have requested to play his match in the middle of the afternoon, despite the predicted heatwave. But if it was supposed to earn him an advantage that plan quickly unraveled as he opened the match with two double faults and lost his first two service games. He then broke back twice to level the set. Slideshow (8 Images) “They should put this in the washing machine and start again,” Channel Seven commentator Jim Courier, twice an Australian Open champion, said on air about the scrappy nature of the opening exchanges. It did improve but Djokovic, with coach Andre Agassi watching on, dropped serve again 3-3. The former world number one wasted two chances to break back as Monfils served at 5-4 and was powerless to stop the elastic-limbed Frenchman taking the opening set with a volley after running Djokovic ragged. Monfils hung in for the first seven games of the second set but was clearly in distress -- seeking out the shade behind the baselines to catch his breath between points. Related Coverage" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - Carolina Financial Corp: * ORATION REPORTS RESULTS FOR FOURTH QUARTER OF 2017 * Q4 EARNINGS PER SHARE $0.33 * Q4 EARNINGS PER SHARE VIEW $0.49 -- THOMSON REUTERS I/B/E/S * Q4 OPERATING EARNINGS PER SHARE $0.57 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: ( [REDACTED] )" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 4:59 PM / Updated 25 minutes ago Milosevic the musical - play set to divide Balkans anew Ivana Sekularac 3 Min Read BELGRADE (Reuters) - During his lifetime Slobodan Milosevic divided the peoples of the Balkans. Now, 12 years after he died during his trial for war crimes, the onetime Serbian strongman is set to divide them again - this time as a character in a play. Milosevic rode a wave of populist nationalism to power in Belgrade in 1989 as communism was collapsing across eastern Europe, then led Serbia through a decade of wars in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo. Hailed by Serbian nationalists as their defender against Catholic Croats and Bosnian and Kosovar Albanian Muslims, Milosevic was reviled as a brutal dictator by the West and eventually, after a NATO bombing campaign in 1999, lost power and ended up on trial for war crimes in The Hague. A Belgrade-based writer, Jelena Bogavac, has now written a play to be performed by Kosovo Serbs in the Kosovo town of Gracanica that attempts to portray the full complexity of a man still blamed by many across the Balkans for the deaths and suffering of tens of thousands of people. “Initially we wanted to do a play telling personal stories of Kosovo Serbs in the 1990s, but as we conducted interviews we realized it all came down to one common denominator - Milosevic,” Jelena Bogavac, who wrote the play, told Reuters. “In the play we are presenting the chronology of events which ends in the Hague,” said Bogavac during rehearsals of her play in Belgrade. FAMILY MAN Actors read scripts during a text rehearsal of \"The Slobodan Show\" play in Belgrade, Serbia, January 20, 2018. Picture taken January 20, 2018. REUTERS/Djordje Kojadinovic Entitled “The Lift - The Slobodan Show”, the play is a musical which focuses more on his personal relationship with his powerful wife Mirjana, his daughter Marija and his son Marko than on politics, according to an unfinished script seen by Reuters. In one scene he comforts his daughter over the poor financial state of her radio station, and in another he tells Marko not to overheat the water in the family swimming pool. Slideshow (4 Images) The final part of the play - his trial in the Hague, where he died of a heart attack in 2006 - is yet to be completed. The play is unlikely to please the ethnic Albanians who form the majority in Kosovo, which declared independence from Belgrade in 2008 in a move still not recognized by Serbia or by the 40,000 ethnic Serbs still living in Kosovo. An estimated 800,000 ethnic Albanians were displaced and about 10,000 killed by Milosevic’s forces in the late 1990s. “No one will change history with a play,” Naser Shatrolli, a Kosovo Albanian director and playwright, told Reuters. “It doesn’t matter what the play says. Milosevic is a criminal, a tyrant, who destroyed the whole Balkans region, not only Albanians, and he will stay like this and no one will change that.” Additional reporting by Fatos Bytyci in Pristina; Editing by Gareth Jones" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s foreign exchange reserves rose to their highest in more than a year in December, blowing past economists’ estimates, as tight regulations and a strong yuan continued to discourage capital outflows, central bank data showed on Sunday. Notching up their 11th straight month of gains, reserves rose $20.2 billion in December to $3.14 trillion, the highest since September 2016 and the biggest monthly increase since July. That compares with an increase of $10 billion in November. Economists polled by Reuters had expected reserves to rise by $6 billion to $3.125 trillion. Capital flight had been seen as a major risk for China at the start of 2017, but a combination of tighter capital controls and a faltering dollar helped the yuan stage a strong turnaround, bolstering confidence in the economy. The yuan rose around 6.8 percent against the greenback in 2017, recovering from a 6.5 percent loss in 2016 and reversing three straight years of depreciation. For the full year, China’s FX reserves rose $129.5 billion from $3.011 trillion at the end of 2016. That’s the first annual rise since 2014. China’s foreign exchange regulator said in a statement on its website that it would keep the nation’s forex reserves and international balance of payments “balanced and stable” in 2018. The country’s reserves dropped by nearly $1 trillion from a peak of $3.99 trillion in June 2014 to $2.998 trillion in January 2017 as it sought to shore up the yuan and reduce potentially destabilizing capital outflows. But reserves have since climbed by $142 billion. Despite the improved capital flow picture, China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange has continued a clampdown on the movements of funds abroad. The regulator announced last month it would cap overseas withdrawals by people using domestic Chinese bank cards starting this year. Some major global acquisitions by Chinese firms have also been put on ice by regulators, who fear they are really intended to disguise movements of capital offshore, though Beijing has maintained genuine investments will still be approved. China’s central bank reported net foreign exchange buying for the third consecutive month in November, marking a policy victory for the authorities after a long battle to stabilize the yuan, although analysts say capital flows are likely to remain volatile as the economy slows. Economists polled by Reuters expect the yuan to depreciate slightly this year if the dollar firms. The value of gold reserves rose to $76.47 billion at the end of December, from $75.833 billion at the end of November, data on the People’s Bank of China’s website showed. Reporting by Josephine Mason, Meng Meng and Cheng Fang; Editing by Himani Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds context on refinery status, processing) MEXICO CITY, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Mexico’s state-run oil company Pemex expects to increase crude processing at its refineries to some 900,000 barrels per day (bpd) by the second quarter, from a current volume of slightly above 500,000 bpd, its CEO Carlos Trevino said on Tuesday. The company had promised to increase its oil processing to about 800,000 bpd by the end of 2017 but was unable to do so due to refinery woes, which have increased the need for gasoline and diesel imports, mostly from the United States. Pemex’s refineries last year produced 915,100 bpd of fuels from a 1.6-million-bpd capacity, according to official figures. Fuel production in 2016 was 1.119 million bpd The firm also expects to finish the start-up of its smallest refinery, Ciudad Madero in northeastern Tamaulipas state, by the end of March, Trevino added on the sidelines of an energy conference. Madero was expected to resume normal operations in December after a major maintenance that started in August. Mexico’s largest refinery, the 330,000-bpd Salina Cruz, started resuming operational units in November after being halted for about two months due to damage caused by a quake. (Reporting by Ana Isabel Martinez; Writing by Marianna Parraga; Editing by Sandra Maler and James Dalgleish)" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 9:28 AM / Updated 3 hours ago M&S to close 14 more UK stores as it speeds up change Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - British retailer Marks & Spencer said it plans to close a further 14 stores in its home market, speeding up a programme to re-shape its store estate as more sales move online. M&S said in 2016 it would reposition about 25 percent of its clothing and home space through a combination of closures, downsizes, relocations and conversions to food-only stores. In November last year, three months after retail veteran Archie Norman joined as chairman, it said it was accelerating this programme, saying it had seen better than expected levels of sales transfer from initial store closures. It said on Wednesday six UK stores would close by the end of April, while a further eight had been identified for closure. M&S said all staff from the six stores closing in April will move to nearby stores. It said 468 employees would be affected at the eight stores proposed for closure and will now enter a period of consultation. FILE PHOTO: A sign is displayed at a Marks and Spencer store in central London, Britain May 20, 2015. REUTERS/Neil Hall/File Photo M&S, which earlier this month disappointed investors with its Christmas trading update, has also reassessed and reduced the opening programme for its “Simply Food” stores, and now only plans to open a total of 36 owned or franchised stores over the next six months. It said these stores would create 1,200 jobs. Guidance in November was for about 80 Simply Food store openings in 2017-18, around 10 fewer than previously planned. “We believe these changes are vital for the future of M&S and we will continue to accelerate the programme,” said director of retail Sacha Berendji. Shares in M&S, down 10 percent over the last year, were down 1.1 percent at 1024 GMT. M&S currently has 1,025 stores in the UK -- 302 clothing, home and food, 684 food-only and 39 outlets. Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Paul Sandle and Adrian Croft" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - Teamax Smart City Technology Corp Ltd : * SAYS IT EXPECTS 2017 NET PROFIT TO RISE 60.74-91.65 PERCENT Y/Y VERSUS 323.5 MILLION YUAN ($51.12 million) YEAR AGO Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2Gx3wfJ Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3280 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 8 (Reuters) - AT&T Inc, the No. 2 U.S. wireless carrier, has backed off from a deal to sell smartphones made by Chinese Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. Huawei, the world's No. 3 smartphone maker by shipments last year, was expected to announce that it had struck an agreement with AT&T at a Las Vegas trade show on Tuesday, the report said.( on.wsj.com/2CSgV32 ) Both AT&T and Huawei could not be immediately reached for comment. (Reporting by Sonam Rai in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)" + }, + { + "text": "Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni told CNBC on Wednesday that he respected U.S. President Donald Trump, but didn't agree with his ideas on migration and climate change nor his protectionist stance on trade. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Gentiloni discussed Trump's much-criticized \"America First\" rhetoric. \"I totally respect the fact that he was elected with the idea of putting America first, and he is trying to deliver in this direction,\" Gentiloni said. \"But, we the Europeans, we the Italians, have to stress the fact that respecting and protecting the interest of the U.S. citizens, which is correct, cannot mean that we discuss the framework of the international trade relations, for example, that have been demonstrated to be so useful for growth.\" Gentiloni's comments come after it was announced Monday that Trump approved tariffs on imported solar cells and certain washing machines, to the consternation of China and other global leaders such as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi , who warned the U.S. of its increasingly isolationist and protectionist stance over trade. show chapters Italian Prime Minister Gentiloni: 2018 could be the year of the EU's relaunch 11 Hours Ago | 04:04 Gentiloni said Italy was ready and willing to cooperate with Trump, but to weaken trade relations would be a mistake. \"We have to mix free trade and fair trade, as the definition goes, and we have to discuss of dumping policies from this country, or another country,\" he said. \"This is all an open discussion. But the framework of this discussion should remain the support for openness, for free trade, for agreements, and not protectionism.\" Gentiloni said that although Italy had long cooperated with the U.S., he didn't share Trump's controversial views on migration and climate change , and Europe had to focus on its own region. \"We always have to remember that we, the Italians, have always cooperated with the U.S., and with Reagan and Carter and Nixon and Clinton, Bush and Obama. And Trump, Trump is the American-elected president. So, cooperation is there,\" he said. Sean Gallup/Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni chat during the group photo for the G7 Outreach Program \"(But) we need multilateral and transatlantic cooperation, because it worked, and to weaken this cooperation would be a mistake.\" Europe focuses too much on what the U.S. administration \"believes or thinks\" and acts like an \"economic giant and a political dwarf\" rather than concentrating on its own affairs, Gentiloni said. The continent should use 2018 \"to relaunch our role\" in the world, he added." + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 5:22 PM / Updated 29 minutes ago Pentagon warns U.S. forces after fitness trackers reveal locations Reuters Staff 2 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon said on Monday it was reviewing whether it needed to bolster its security protocols after fitness tracking devices broadcast patterns of movement of U.S. personnel at American military facilities around the world, including in war zones. Nathan Russer, a student at the Australian National University in Canberra, drew attention to data when he wrote on Twitter about the images after stumbling upon GPS tracking company Strava's Global Heatmap. It can be viewed at bit.ly/2DLOHZ5 “Once you look at Syria you can see a bunch of bright spots,” Russer said. His discovery prompted others to scour the heat map, turning up other possible locations of U.S. personnel, including in elsewhere in the Middle East and in Africa. The Department of Defense, which has disclosed the presence of U.S. forces in Syria, said it encourages all defence personnel, wherever they are, to limit their public presence on the internet. That guidance is even more strict when troops operate in sensitive locations. “DOD takes matters like these very seriously and is reviewing the situation to determine if any additional training or guidance is required,” the Pentagon said in a statement, without directly confirming that U.S. troops had used the fitness trackers. The Pentagon also said it was considering whether additional steps needed to be taken on the matter “to ensure the continued safety of DOD personnel at home and abroad.” (This story corrects typo in word Heatmap in paragraph 2.) Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Will Dunham and Frances Kerry" + }, + { + "text": "Macron, Merkel lay out anti-Trump strategy in Davos 7:10am EST - 01:45 French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel used separate speeches at the World Economic Forum in Davos to highlight Europe's plans to offset President Donald Trump's 'America First' rhetoric. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel used separate speeches at the World Economic Forum in Davos to highlight Europe's plans to offset President Donald Trump's 'America First' rhetoric. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 3:06 PM / Updated an hour ago TREASURIES-U.S. yields climb amid robust inflation, rate hike expectations Reuters Staff 5 Min Read * Inflation data highest in 11 months * Two-year yields hit highest since 2008 * U.S. retail sales rise; core sales revised higher By Kate Duguid NEW YORK, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Treasury yields climbed on Friday as underlying U.S. consumer prices posted their biggest gain in 11 months in December, bolstering expectations about a pickup in domestic inflation and about Federal Reserve interest rate hikes this year. The two-year yield, which is sensitive to traders' views on interest rates, jumped over 2 percent to its highest since September 2008. \"One of the things that’s been driving the market is an expectation that inflation may start to pick up or at least normalize this year and encourage the Fed to continue along its (monetary policy) tightening path, and today’s data surprised to the upside,\" said Michael Pond, head of global inflation-linked research at Barclays in New York. The Labor Department said its Consumer Price Index, excluding the volatile food and energy components, rose 0.3 percent last month, amid strong gains in the cost of rental accommodation and healthcare. The suggestion that inflation may be rising also kicked up the 10-year yield, an indication of the market's long-term confidence in the economic health of the United States. In the past year, inflation has remained stubbornly lower than the Fed's target rate of 2 percent, even amid strong gross domestic product growth and employment data. The yield curve briefly steepened on the data, with the gap between yields on two-year notes and 10-year notes rising to 57 basis points, before falling back to 55 basis points, little changed on the day. In a separate report on Friday, the U.S. Commerce Department said retail sales rose in December as households bought a range of goods, and figures for the prior month were revised higher, suggesting the economy exited 2017 with strong momentum. The retail data bolsters economists' expectations of an acceleration in consumer spending in the fourth quarter. Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, increased at a 2.2 percent annualized rate in the third quarter. At 9:36 a.m. (1336 GMT), the yield on 10-year government notes was 2.570 percent, up from 2.531 percent at Thursday's close. The yield on two-year government bills hit a high 2.026 percent, before falling slightly to 2.013 percent at 9:37 a.m.(1437 GMT). January 12 Friday 9:45AM New York / 1445 GMT Price US T BONDS MAR8 150 -0-14/32 10YR TNotes MAR8 122-212/256 -0-76/25 6 Price Current Net Yield % Change (bps) Three-month bills 1.4225 1.4472 0.010 Six-month bills 1.5775 1.6119 0.023 Two-year note 99-190/256 2.0099 0.037 Three-year note 99-164/256 2.1244 0.038 Five-year note 98-234/256 2.3584 0.044 Seven-year note 98-116/256 2.4935 0.039 10-year note 97-64/256 2.5682 0.037 30-year bond 97-104/256 2.8801 0.017 DOLLAR SWAP SPREADS Last (bps) Net Change (bps) U.S. 2-year dollar swap 19.00 0.50 spread U.S. 3-year dollar swap 17.75 0.75 spread U.S. 5-year dollar swap 4.25 0.00 spread U.S. 10-year dollar swap -1.00 0.25 spread U.S. 30-year dollar swap -20.00 1.00 spread (Editing by Bernadette Baum)" + }, + { + "text": "(In first paragraph corrects day of week to Wednesday, not Tuesday) SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc on Wednesday unveiled Chronicle, a cyber security business founded in its X incubation unit in early 2016 that is focusing focus on developing digital “immune systems” for customers. “The reality for most companies today when it comes to cyber security is reactive: find and clean up the damage,” Astro Teller, head of Alphabet’s X, also called “captain of moonshots,” said in a blog post. “The real moonshot, which is still several years away, is predicting and deflecting cyber attacks before they infiltrate an organization’s network.” (Reporting by Paresh Dave; Editing by David Gregorio)" + }, + { + "text": "SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile’s conservative President-elect Sebastian Pinera on Tuesday named a former finance minister in the top copper exporter, Felipe Larrain, to fill the same spot again in his new cabinet. Pinera, a billionaire businessman who won the presidency last month, governed the country from 2010 to 2014, at a time when high copper prices helped underpin a fast-growing economy. Larrain was finance minister throughout Pinera’s administration. The Harvard-trained economist will likely be seen by the market as a safe pair of hands, but this time around will inherit an economy that has slowed to an annual average of 1.8 percent growth, although rising copper prices have increased optimism. Pinera, who is due to take over from outgoing President Michelle Bachelet on March 11, unveiled his full cabinet on Tuesday. He repeated campaign promises to jumpstart Chile’s sluggish economy and “correct” the progressive labour, tax and education reforms carried out by Bachelet’s centre-left administration. “We are going to have to make an enormous effort to perfect our democracy, to modernize our state and institutions so that they ... serve all Chileans,” he said at a press conference in the former Congress building in Santiago. The new Minister of Finance, Felipe Larrain is seen after being appointed by Chilean President-elect Sebastian Pinera for his term 2018-2022, in Santiago, Chile, January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Pablo Sanhueza He named senator and long-time politician Baldo Prokurica as incoming mining minister. Prokurica hails from the small city of Vallenar, in northern Chile, a region known for its vast copper and lithium deposits. A lawyer and legislator of nearly 30 years, he previously served as president of the legislature’s Commission on Mining and Energy. Chilean President-elect Sebastian Pinera, shakes hands with his new mining minister, Baldo Prokurica, during the presentation of his presidential cabinet for his term 2018-2022 in Santiago, Chile January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Pablo Sanhueza Chile’s mining industry remains robust, accounting for as much as 15 percent of gross domestic product, depending on the copper price. But Prokurica will face many challenges, including declining ore grades, a relative lack of new investment and complex labour relations. Well-known local writer Roberto Ampuero, who served as culture minister during Pinera’s first term, will be foreign minister. Ampuero’s first task will likely be overseeing Chile’s defence against Bolivia at the United Nations’ International Court of Justice in The Hague. Bolivia, Chile’s landlocked neighbour to the northeast, has demanded Chile grant it sovereign access to the sea. Reporting by Fabian Cambero, Writing by Dave Sherwood; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Rosalba O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Monday. - - - - - EVENTS: * Kenya Central Bank to hold its next rate-setting meeting. GLOBAL MARKETS Oil prices climbed on Monday, pushed higher by comments from Saudi Arabia that cooperation between oil producers who are currently withholding supplies would continue beyond 2018. WORLD OIL PRICES Oil prices climbed on Monday, pushed higher by comments from Saudi Arabia that cooperation between oil producers who are currently withholding supplies would continue beyond 2018. EMERGING MARKETS For the top emerging markets news, double click on AFRICA STOCKS For the latest news on African stocks, click on SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS South Africa's rand retreated from a two-and-a-half year high on Friday as a rally driven by a weaker dollar and optimism about the prospects for change under the new leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) ran out of steam. NIGERIA BONDS Nigeria plans to raise 315 billion to 385 billion naira ($1 billion to $1.26 billion) in the first quarter of the year through sales of naira-denominated bonds, the Debt Management Office said on Friday. KENYA MARKETS The Kenyan shilling was stable against the dollar on Friday, with market participants eyeing central bank's rate-setting meeting on Monday, traders said. CONGO SECURITY Congolese security forces shot dead at least six people and wounded dozens more as they fired tear gas to disperse a protest against President Joseph Kabila organised by the Catholic Church on Sunday, a U.N. peacekeeping mission in the country said. LIBYA OIL Libya's National Oil Corporation, NOC, announced on Sunday the reopening of the eastern As-Sarah oil fields, where more than 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) in a Wintershall [RIC:RIC:WINT.UL] concession had been shut in by a blockade since November. NIGERIA SECURITY Two Americans and two Canadians have been freed after being kidnapped in the nothern Nigerian state of Kaduna, a police spokesman said on Saturday. For the latest precious metals report click on For the latest base metals report click on For the latest crude oil report click on" + }, + { + "text": "'Our hearts' are with Kentucky community: McConnell 8:42pm EST - 00:48 Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in the Senate on Tuesday that he was sending ''prayers of comfort and healing'' to Marshall County, Kentucky, after a high school shooting that left one person dead and several wounded. Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in the Senate on Tuesday that he was sending \"prayers of comfort and healing\" to Marshall County, Kentucky, after a high school shooting that left one person dead and several wounded. //reut.rs/2n67UcE" + }, + { + "text": "HAMPTON, N.H., Jan. 30, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unitil Corporation (NYSE:UTL) ( www.unitil.com ) today announced that its Board of Directors raised the quarterly dividend on the Company’s common stock to $0.365 per share, increasing the effective annual dividend rate by $0.02 to $1.46 per share. The Board declared the first quarter common stock dividend of $0.365 per share, payable February 28, 2018, to shareholders of record on February 14, 2018. “We understand the importance of the dividend to our shareholders. Today we are pleased to report that once again we’ve increased our quarterly dividend rate. This reflects the continued confidence we have in our growth plan,” said Robert G. Schoenberger, Unitil’s chairman, president, and chief executive officer. Unitil has an unbroken record of continuously paying quarterly cash dividends and has never decreased the dividend on its common stock. About Unitil Corporation Unitil Corporation provides energy for life by safely and reliably delivering natural gas and electricity in New England. We are committed to the communities we serve and to developing people, business practices, and technologies that lead to the delivery of dependable, more efficient energy. Unitil Corporation is a public utility holding company with operations in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Together, Unitil’s operating utilities serve approximately 105,000 electric customers and 81,300 natural gas customers. Other subsidiaries include Usource, Unitil’s non-regulated business segment. For more information about our people, technologies, and community involvement please visit www.unitil.com . For more information please contact: David Chong – Investor Relations Phone: 603-773-6499 Email: [REDACTED] Alec O’Meara – Media Relations Phone: 603-773-6404 Email: [REDACTED] Source:UNITIL Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "IRVINE, Calif., HCP (NYSE: HCP) is scheduled to report its fourth quarter and year-end 2017 financial results on Tuesday, February 13, 2018, before the open of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. HCP will also host a conference call and webcast at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time (12:00 p.m. Eastern Time) that same day in order to review its financial performance and operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017. The dial-in number for the conference call is (888) 317-6003 (U.S.) or (412) 317-6061 (International). The conference ID number is 1361246. You may also access the conference call via webcast at www.hcpi.com under Investor Relations. Through February 28, 2018, an archive of the webcast will be available on HCP's website and a telephonic replay can be accessed by calling (877) 344-7529 (U.S.) or (412) 317-0088 (International) and entering conference ID number 10116085. About HCP HCP, Inc. is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests primarily in real estate serving the healthcare industry in the United States. HCP owns a large-scale portfolio diversified across multiple sectors, led by senior housing, life science and medical office. Recognized as a global leader in sustainability, HCP has been a publicly-traded company since 1985 and was the first healthcare REIT selected to the S&P 500 index. For more information regarding HCP, visit www.hcpi.com . Contact Andrew Johns Vice President – Finance and Investor Relations (949) 407-0400 with multimedia: releases/hcp-to-report-fourth-quarter-and-year-end-2017-financial-results-and-host-conference-callwebcast-300583286.html SOURCE HCP" + }, + { + "text": "VERBATIM: Peltz on 2016 election: 'stop crying in your beer' 12:43am GMT - 01:45 CEO of Trian Fund Management, Nelson Peltz, defends President Trump and what he has accomplished so far as president of the United States. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript CEO of Trian Fund Management, Nelson Peltz, defends President Trump and what he has accomplished so far as president of the United States. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Blood analysis app could help snakebite victims 57 A fast, portable method to identify the species of snake responsible for human envenoming is being developed at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). Jim Drury reports. A fast, portable method to identify the species of snake responsible for human envenoming is being developed at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). Jim Drury reports. //reut.rs/2n5w72P" + }, + { + "text": "WARSAW, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Poland’s state-run utility Enea has extended planned outages at its two 560 megawatt (MW) coal-fuelled units at the Kozienice power plant, it said on Thursday. Enea extended the outage at unit B9, which started on Jan. 1, to Dec. 23. It was previously due to finish on Sept. 22. The B10 unit, which closed in July 2017, will be switched off for one day more than planned, restarting on April 5. In December, Enea started a new 1,075 MW coal-fuelled unit, increasing the Kozienice plant’s capacity by a third to around 4 gigawatts. The unit will be closed on April 16 for two weeks of maintenance too. (Reporting by Anna Koper; Writing by Agnieszka Barteczko; Editing by Mark Potter) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Futures Now, January 25, 2016 13 Hours Ago Q4 earnings will keep the stock market rally alive, says JPMorgan's Stephen Parker. And 'amazing week' of events could change the direction of yields, according to Wells Fargo's Michael Schumacher. And why one trader sees a big drop ahead for bitcoin. With CNBC's Jackie DeAngelis and the Futures Now Traders." + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT, Jan 17 (Reuters) - European wholesale spot power prices for day-ahead delivery rose on Wednesday as demand held up firmly while next week’s positions posted losses on forecasts for higher temperatures. * “There’d been overly bullish expectations for the weather next week which exaggerated prices,” one trader said. * Germany’s baseload for Thursday delivery was at 30.65 euros ($37.52) per megawatt-hour (MWh), up 5.7 percent and the corresponding French power contract gained nearly 21 percent, or 6.75 euros, to 39 euros/MWh. * Germany’s baseload for the week ahead was 6.8 percent off at 36.35 euros and French power for next week was down 6.5 percent at 39.5 euros. * Thomson Reuters forecasts for daily average demand next week, at 69.6 gigawatts and 65.8 GW for Germany and France respectively, are 0.5 GW and 4.6 GW above projections for next week on Tuesday, while average temperature levels are now anticipated two degrees Celsius higher than in Tuesday forecasts. * On the supply side, there are strong wind speeds to drive turbine output in main producer country Germany and conventional capacity availability is also quite high. * Available French nuclear capacity is steady at 91.6 percent of the available total. * Along the forward curve, Germany’s Cal ‘19 baseload contract was down 20 cents at 34.9 euros/MWh. * The position, the European benchmark, has lost 5.7 percent since the beginning of the new year amid losses in related coal and carbon prices. * Signs that coalition government talks in Germany will leave ample coal generation capacity relatively unscathed for now are also bearish. * The French equivalent contract for Cal ‘2019 lost 25 cents to 40.2 euros. * Related December 2018 expiry Eurpoean carbon emissions permits were a touch higher at 8.06 euros a tonne. * Cif Europe coal for 2019 traded 1.6 percent down to $84.5 a tonne. * In eastern Europe, the Czech baseload contract for day-ahead delivery did not trade after a close at 31.75 euros in the previous session. Czech year-ahead power lost 40 cents to 35.85 euros. ($1 = 0.8169 euros) (Reporting by Vera Eckert; Editing by Keith Weir)" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 6:16 AM / Updated 6 minutes ago PRESS DIGEST-New York Times business news - Jan 23 Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Jan 23 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. - U.S. President Donald Trump slapped steep tariffs on imports of washing machines and solar energy cells and panels on Monday, the first major step by the administration to erect the kind of trade barriers Trump has frequently said are necessary to protect manufacturers in the United States. nyti.ms/2BjN6nn - Five former employees of KPMG and a former government accountant have been charged by federal prosecutors in New York with taking part in a plot to help the big accounting firm get a leg up in a regulatory review of its auditing work. nyti.ms/2G671cR - Ando, David Chang's \"restaurant without walls,\" a meal-delivery enterprise that started two years ago, has closed and is being absorbed by Uber Eats, the restaurant delivery app operated by Uber Technologies Inc. nyti.ms/2n21tIs - French drug maker Sanofi SA said it had agreed to acquire Bioverativ Inc, a biopharmaceutical company focused on treatments for hemophilia and other rare blood disorders, for $11.6 billion in cash. nyti.ms/2DDbUf0 (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regis Corporation (NYSE:RGS), a leader in the haircare industry, whose primary business is owning, operating and franchising hair salons, will issue financial results for the second fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2017 before the market opens on Thursday, February 1, 2018. Following the release, the Company will host a presentation via webcast for investors beginning at 9:00 a.m. Central time to discuss corporate developments and financial results. To participate in the live webcast, interested parties can log in to www.regiscorp.com , or participate via telephone by dialing (800) 239-9838 and entering access code 6862837. A replay of the presentation will be available later that day. The replay of the webcast will be available at www.regiscorp.com , or listen to the audio replay by dialing (888) 203-1112 and entering access code 6862837. About Regis Corporation Regis Corporation (NYSE:RGS) is a leader in beauty salons and cosmetology education. As of September 30, 2017, the Company owned, franchised or held ownership interests in 8,944 worldwide locations. Regis’ corporate and franchised locations operate under concepts such as Supercuts ® , SmartStyle ® , MasterCuts ® , Regis Salons ® , Sassoon ® , Cost Cutters ® , Roosters ® and First Choice Haircutters ® . Regis maintains an ownership interest in Empire Education Group in the U.S. For additional information about the Company, including a reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial information and certain supplemental financial information, please visit the Investor Information section of the corporate website at www.regiscorp.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Regis Corporation: Paul Dunn, 952-947-7915 VP, Finance and Investor Relations Source: Regis Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 9:43 PM / in 12 minutes UPDATE 1-Businesses warn of risks of tighter rules on U.S. foreign investment Reuters Staff (Adds CFIUS focus on high-tech deals and mergers involving data on Americans) By Diane Bartz WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Proposals before the U.S. Senate and House to tighten rules on foreign investment into critical technologies could cause companies to take their research and development overseas to avoid scrutiny, critics said on Thursday. Businesses that see risks from the bills testified at a hearing by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. The bills before the House of Representatives and the Senate would allow the inter-agency Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, known as CFIUS, to review minority investments and some intellectual property arrangements. International Business Machines Corp is worried that it would be forced to ask permission to sell computers or license software overseas, company Vice President Christopher Padilla said. “This bill would impose a very onerous - and entirely unilateral - set of restrictions on outbound transactions of U.S. companies,” Padilla said in written testimony. Scott Kupor, chair of the National Venture Capital Association, said Chinese investments in U.S. funds could make those funds vulnerable to CFIUS reviews if they tried to invest in high-tech companies, even though those investors were given no sensitive information beyond valuation and accounting data. Republican Senator John Cornyn, the driving force behind the bill, told the committee that he was an ardent supporter of foreign investment but that investment from China needed new, tougher scrutiny because of the threat it poses. “China uses both legal and illegal means to turn our own technology and know-how against us and erase our national security advantage. One of these tools is investment,” Cornyn told the committee. Former Democratic President Barack Obama had increased scrutiny of Chinese investment, but Republican President Donald Trump’s administration has taken a harder line on issues ranging from Beijing’s role in restraining North Korea to Chinese efforts to acquire U.S. strategic industries. The hearing came a day after CFIUS approved a $15 million deal for Beijing-based Naura Microelectronics Equipment Co Ltd to buy Akrion System LLC, a U.S. semiconductor manufacturing equipment company. The approval is one of only a handful granted to Chinese transactions by CFIUS under the Trump administration. The agency has killed a series of high-profile deals since Trump took office. CFIUS has been particularly tough on deals that involve high tech, such as the top end chip business, or deals that involve sensitive information about Americans. CFIUS recently scuttled Chinese takeovers of the money transfer company MoneyGram and Lattice Semiconductor Corp. The Senate version of the CFIUS bill has 10 co-sponsors. The House version, which recently picked up Representatives Pete Sessions as a co-sponsor, has 23, according to a congressional aide who spoke privately. (Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Leslie Adler and Susan Thomas)" + }, + { + "text": "Davos - World Economic Forum US aggressively defends 'America First' agenda ahead of Trump's visit to Davos Senior U.S. officials hit back against suggestions that President Donald Trump's \"America First\" agenda was hurting globalization and trade. The administration set an aggressive tone ahead of the U.S. president's visit to Davos. World leaders raised concerns this week at Davos about growing protectionism. Published 3 Hours Ago SHARES Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images A poster of U.S. President Donald Trump's fiscal 2018 budget request, America First: A Budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again, stands on display at the Government Printing Office (GPO) library in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, March 16, 2017. Senior U.S. officials hit back on Wednesday against suggestions that President Donald Trump's \"America First\" agenda was hurting globalization and trade, setting an aggressive tone ahead of the U.S. president's visit to the World Economic Forum. World leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Canadas Justin Trudeau , and Brazilian President Michel Temer, raised concerns this week at the gathering in the Swiss ski resort of Davos about growing protectionism, in remarks that delegates said seemed aimed at Trumps policies. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron are also expected to speak later on Wednesday. Under his America First agenda, Trump has threatened to withdraw from the North American free-trade agreement (NAFTA), disavowed the global climate change accord and criticized global institutions including the United Nations and NATO. Trump is expected to arrive by Thursday and deliver a keynote address to the forum on Friday, mingling with the same elite \"globalists\" that he bashed during his 2016 presidential run. In a press briefing in Davos ahead of his visit, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross defended aggressive trade actions taken by the United States and said more were to come. \"This is about an America First agenda. But America First does mean working with the rest of the world,\" Mnuchin said. \"It just means that President Trump is looking out for American workers and American interests no different than he expects other leaders would look out for their own.\" show chapters" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s biggest carmaker Jaguar Land Rover will have to decide in the next 12 months whether to build electric cars in its home market, its director of sales Andy Goss said on Monday. The electric Jaguar I-PACE concept SUV is unveiled before the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California, U.S. November 14, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo Its first electric model, the I-PACE, will be built in Austria. Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Kate Holton" + }, + { + "text": "Amazon's 'Go' checkout-free grocery opens to public 9:17 AM ET Mon, 22 Jan 2018 The \"Squawk on the Street\" crew chat about Amazon's new grocery store which relies on cameras and sensors to track what shoppers remove from the shelves and then bill them after leaving the store using credit cards on file." + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 2:50 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago CANADA STOCKS-TSX edges up as resource shares gain, pot stocks weigh Reuters Staff 1 Min Read TORONTO, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Canada’s main stock index edged higher in early trade on Thursday, with gains for energy and mining companies offsetting losses for marijuana producers and a dip in Shaw Communications Inc after it reported disappointing quarterly earnings. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index was up 24.53 points, or 0.15 percent, at 16,272.48 shortly after the open. (Reporting by Alastair Sharp Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 5:08 PM / Updated 23 minutes ago Spanish real estate firm Metrovacesa announces intention to float Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MADRID, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Spanish real estate company Metrovacesa on Monday announced its intention to float in a move it said was aimed at widening its shareholder base, making it easier to access capital markets to get financing for projects. The residential developer will look to sell existing shares owned by Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA in the offering, it said in a statement. The company has a net asset value of 2.7 billion euros ($3.2 billion), it said. ($1 = 0.8353 euros) (Reporting By Sonya Dowsett; Editing by Angus Berwick)" + }, + { + "text": "Times Square cleanup begins after bitterly cold celebration 1:30am EST - 00:49 After revelers braved the cold weather to ring in the New Year, nearly 300 sanitation workers was at Times Square to clean up the mess. Rough Cut After revelers braved the cold weather to ring in the New Year, nearly 300 sanitation workers was at Times Square to clean up the mess. Rough Cut //reut.rs/2A3H09K" + }, + { + "text": "Bannon refuses to comply with House subpoena 10:14am GMT - 01:13 President Donald Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon declines to comply with a subpoena ordering him to answer questions from a House intelligence panel about his time at the White House as part of its investigation into allegations of Russian interference in the U.S. election. President Donald Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon declines to comply with a subpoena ordering him to answer questions from a House intelligence panel about his time at the White House as part of its investigation into allegations of Russian interference in the U.S. election. //reut.rs/2DhtmGw" + }, + { + "text": "Devon Hall scored a career-high 25 points as No. 3 Virginia remained unbeaten in the ACC with a 68-51 win over North Carolina State Sunday night at John Paul Jones Arena. Virginia (16-1, 5-0) extended its winning streak to eight games and knocked off the Wolfpack for the 11th straight time in the regular season. North Carolina State (12-6, 2-3) entered the game averaging 83 points per game but ran into the stingiest defense in the country as the Cavaliers continued their defensive excellence. Virginia shot 56 percent on the night and connected on eight of their 14 three-point attempts, four of which were knocked down by Hall. Sophomore Kyle Guy added 17 points while Isaiah Wilkins scored 10 points and pulled down six rebounds. North Carolina State was held to 41 percent shooting and had made just one of their 15 three-point attempts before a last-second deep ball went in to push the Wolfpack over the 50-point plateau. Torin Dorn led North Carolina State with 16 points while Lavar Batts added 12. The Wolfpack turned the ball over 15 times which led to 22 Virginia points. The Cavaliers turned it over 15 times -- a season-high. Virginia led by as many as 16 in the first half but allowed North Carolina State to get back into the game late in the half. The Wolfpack shot just 33 percent over the first 20 minutes but pulled down eight offensive rebounds that led to 10 second-chance points. Virginia led 30-20 at halftime after shooting 53 percent for the half. The Cavaliers turned the ball over eight times while shooting 7-7 from the free throw line. Hall led Virginia with 10 first-half points while sophomore guard Ty Jerome added eight. Freeman led North Carolina State with six points. Virginia will travel to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech on Thursday. North Carolina State will host Wake Forest, also on Thursday. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "Check out the companies making headlines after the bell Thursday : Advanced Micro Devices shares fell more than 2 percent in the extended session. Just over a week after claiming its chips were at \" near zero\" risk for a security flaws impacting Intel chips , the semiconductor company has changed its tune. A Thursday announcement revealed two of the three exploits are applicable to AMD processors. Intel shares edged up slightly after the bell. Exact Sciences stock plunged about 5.6 percent in extended trading. The molecular diagnostics company announced it would offer $500 million in convertible senior notes. Bank of America Merrill Lynch will act as the sole bookrunner. Exact Sciences intends to use net proceeds for general purposes, including funding commercialization of colorectal cancer diagnostic test Cologuard, Thomson Reuters reported. Exact Sciences also released fourth quarter financial guidance. Finisar stock climbed more than 2 percent after the bell. The communications equipment producer announced the retirement of co-founder and EO Jerry Rawls. Former Broadcom executive Michael Hurlston will replace Rawls as CEO. Broadcom shares dipped slightly. Shares of IBM dipped slightly in extended trading, before recovering. The multinational technology company announced Senior Vice President and CFO Martin Schroeter will step down as Chief Financial Officer and into a role as Senior Vice President of Global Markets. He will be replaced by Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations James Kavanaugh." + }, + { + "text": "DETROIT—A top Ford Motor Co. executive said the company will now spend $11 billion on electrified vehicles through 2022, increasing its previous estimates as it races to catch up on battery-powered cars. The Dearborn, Mich., auto maker previously committed $4.5 billion in spending on electrified products by 2020 and said in October it would divert an additional $500 million from conventional products—including gasoline-powered products—over a five-year span. The $11 billion commitment comes at a time when gasoline or diesel... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating whether chipmaker Broadcom Ltd engaged in anticompetitive tactics in negotiations with customers, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The company was recently issued subpoenas that seek an extensive amount of information, according to the people. ( on.wsj.com/2mQvifb ) FTC declined to comment, while Broadcom was not immediately available for a comment. (Reporting by Sonam Rai in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)" + }, + { + "text": "KUALA LUMPUR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Hunting wild animals for food and recreational sports like hiking and mountain biking pose the two biggest threats to the world’s protected areas, a new study shows. Ten researchers studied data collected over the last decade by managers at about 2,000 protected areas, including untouched forests and national parks or reserves. They found that hunting posed the biggest threat in developing countries, while recreational activities were most damaging to protected areas in more affluent nations. The hunting of “wild meat”, such as birds, insects, monkeys and snakes occurred in 61 percent of all areas, the new study showed. The animals are often sold to meet demands for food or medicine in urban areas. “Recently, the amount of wild animals that are being hunted has increased,” said Lauren Coad, a co-author of the paper and a research associate at the Indonesia-based Centre for International Forestry Research. “It’s partly because of an increase in urban demand - big cities and towns are growing and the demand for wildlife to eat is growing,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Another factor is that road networks are expanding into forest areas, making them more accessible, she added. The findings of the two-year study will be made available to managers at protected areas so they can develop better ways to protect and maintain them. Covering about 52 million hectares, 27 percent of the protected areas studied were in Europe, 26 percent in Africa, 25 percent in the Americas and 15 percent in Asia. The threat from over-hunting and commercial hunting was most prevalent in developing countries, where communities in or around protected areas still depend on the forest for their livelihoods, the study showed. Potential solutions include regulating hunting and working with local communities to manage and protect their resources from outsiders. Promoting sustainable sources of food, such as poultry, could also reducing demand for wild meat. Largely in developed countries, threats from recreational activities occurred in 55 percent of the protected areas, the report also showed. They included quad biking, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, hiking and even dog-walking. “These reserves are often victims of their own success - those reserves are so popular that it becomes a problem for the reasons that they were established,” said Neil Burgess, a co-author. Solutions include better management of the numbers of people visiting protected areas and their activities, said Burgess, who is chief scientist of the U.N. Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Reporting by Michael Taylor, Editing by Jared Ferrie; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit news.trust.org" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 31 (Reuters) - Ennoconn Corp : * Says its unit Ennoconn Investment Holdings Co Ltd plans to acquire 1.2 million shares in S&T AG for 13.7 million euros, cumulatively owning 15.4 million shares (24.29 percent stake) in total Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/ZpVr8m Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican authorities said there were no immediate reports of damage and ruled out a tsunami risk from an earthquake that struck in the Gulf of California on Friday. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake measured at 6.3 magnitude, after initially reporting it at 6.6. The epicenter was 77 kilometers (48 miles) north-north east of the town of Loreto in the state of Baja California Sur, the USGS said. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said on Twitter there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. Reporting by Mexico City Newsroom; Editing by Dave Graham" + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL (Reuters) - A South Korean consumer group has filed a criminal complaint against Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook over slower iPhone devices, after probes in Europe into allegations the firm had deliberately shortened the life of its handsets. Apple is already facing lawsuits in the United States and elsewhere over accusations of having defrauded iPhone users by slowing down devices without warning to compensate for poor battery performance and to push clients into buying new phones. The South Korean advocacy group, Citizens United for Consumer Sovereignty, in its complaint submitted on Thursday accused Apple of destruction of property and fraud. “For the sake of its loyal fans, Apple has to take responsibility over the slowing iPhones,” Park Soon-jang, an official at the advocacy group told Reuters by phone on Friday. The group also represents about 120 plaintiffs in a civil damage suit against Apple filed earlier this month. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office declined to comment when asked if it would launch an investigation into Apple following the complaint from the consumer group. Apple Korea, the U.S. tech firm’s South Korean subsidiary, was not immediately available for comment. The California-based company acknowledged in December that iPhone software can slow down some phones with battery problems and apologised for the issue. However, it said it would never do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product. Apple will release a software update that will allow users to turn off a feature that slows down iPhones when batteries are low on charge, CEO Cook told ABC News on Wednesday. Italy’s antitrust body said on Thursday it had opened a probe into allegations that Apple and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd used software updates to slow their mobile phones and push clients into buying new handsets. A French prosecutor has also launched a preliminary investigation into Apple’s alleged deception and planned obsolescence of its products. Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Himani Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "0 COMMENTS Rising wages have been one important missing element of the economic expansion. Now there is evidence worker pay will start to pick up. December was another solid month for employment, with the Labor Department reporting on Friday that the economy added 148,000 jobs , but it is also clear that hiring is slowing. The slower pace may be more a reflection of supply than demand: With the unemployment rate at a low 4.1% in December versus 4.7% a year earlier, it is harder for companies to find qualified workers. The good news in the numbers was wages. Average hourly earnings were up 2.5% in December versus a year earlier, hewing to a trend that has been in place for over two years. But December 2016 was a strong month, meaning last month needed to be strong to match that pace. On a monthly basis, hourly earnings gained 0.3% in December from a month earlier, on the high end of recent monthly gains. Wages increased just 0.1% in November. There is good evidence that January will be relatively strong too. The corporate tax cut is giving businesses more wherewithal to compete with each other for workers: In a recent report, Strategas Research listed 79 U.S. companies that publicly announced they were giving out bonuses, increasing wages or taking other employee-friendly steps since the tax cut passed into law . And minimum-wage levels were just boosted in several big states, including California and New York. If the start of the year is strong, wage gains could soon approach 3% compared to a year earlier. Higher wages would start to solve one of the riddles about the economy since unemployment reached low levels. More cash for workers could boost consumer spending and make a slight dent in income inequality. Stronger wage growth is exactly what Federal Reserve policy makers want. If it comes they will be emboldened to keep raising rates this year, perhaps by more than the three increases they have penciled in. For companies, it would be more of a mixed bag: On the one hand, they would need to pay workers more; on the other, they are getting a windfall from tax cuts and workers with more cash may mean better sales. For investors, a combination of higher rates and rising labor costs could be challenging, but it would probably be better than the alternatives. Write to Justin Lahart at [REDACTED]" + }, + { + "text": "In Michael Wolff's new book, trash talk went both ways. Steve Bannon said Donald Trump \"lost his stuff\"; the president observed of his disheveled ex-strategist: \"Guy looks homeless.\" And now, politically speaking, he is. Breitbart News, the outrage-stoking far-right website that Bannon made his personal power base, cut ties with him today . Bannon's savage portrayal of the White House made the outcome inevitable. In this civil war, Breitbart and its financiers had no choice but to side with the president of the United States. That represents welcome news for Republican Congressional leaders who never shared Bannon's initial enthusiasm for Trump. After being deposed as chief White House strategist a few months ago, Bannon returned to Breitbart and vowed to lead a 2018 insurrection against \"establishment\" Republicans he described as thwarting the president's nationalist \"Make America Great Again\" agenda. Bannon's insurrection suffered one painful defeat when his candidate for U.S. Senate in Alabama, accused child molester Roy Moore, lost a race Republicans thought they couldn't lose. Now Bannon has lost the backing of the Mercer family's billions that he had counted on for weaponry. That hardly solves the political problems Republicans face this year as they try to hold their House and Senate majorities. Early polling shows Democrats with powerful momentum, despite a strong economy, booming financial markets, and the freshly-enacted tax-cut law. That's partly due to political tides that nearly always recede for the party that holds the White House. And it's partly due to Trump's extraordinary unpopularity, which has repelled key blocs of the electorate including young people, women and college-educated whites. A growing number of Republican lawmakers are choosing to retire rather than trying to ride out the 2018 storms. For those vulnerable Republicans intent on staying, strategies for mitigating the damage are limited. One option is distancing themselves from the president, as some embattled members did when Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama faced midterm political troubles. But doing so risks splintering their base with primary challenges from the Trump loyalists on the right, even with Bannon marginalized. Wolff's book \"Fire and Fury,\" depicting Trump as uninformed, unstable and childlike, has amplified public discussion of the president's fitness for office. \"Never Trump\" conservative intellectuals sought to drive home that message throughout the 2016 campaign, as retiring Republican Sens. Bob Corker and Jeff Flake have in recent months. But so far, neither GOP Congressional leaders nor rank-and-file party loyalists have picked up the theme. Barring devastating developments soon from special counsel Robert Mueller 's Russia investigation, Trump isn't going anywhere. And that makes the GOP's choice on standing by Trump much like Breitbart's between Bannon and the president: not much of a choice at all." + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Britain has provided additional security help to France, Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman said on Monday when asked about the possibility of having to pay more for border security around the northern French port of Calais. “This is an agreement (Le Touquet) which has served both sides well since its inception. I would point out the fact that we have provided help already such as through the provision of extra security fencing,” he said, adding he would not speculate on what the two leaders would discuss at a meeting later this week. Reporting by Elizabeth Piper, writing by William James, editing by Estelle Shirbon" + }, + { + "text": "Breakingviews TV: Chip M&A 6:09pm GMT - 03:13 Qualcomm is facing a deal dilemma, explain Antony Currie and Robert Cyran: increase its $38 bln offer for NXP by at least 20 pct to keep activist Elliott happy – and risk overpaying. Or ditch the acquisition and buy back stock to try to fend off a bid from Broadcom. Qualcomm is facing a deal dilemma, explain Antony Currie and Robert Cyran: increase its $38 bln offer for NXP by at least 20 pct to keep activist Elliott happy – and risk overpaying. Or ditch the acquisition and buy back stock to try to fend off a bid from Broadcom. //reut.rs/2ntjwXo" + }, + { + "text": "[ The stream is slated to start at 10:30 p.m., ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time. ] Representatives from Google, Facebook and Twitter testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation about what they are doing to keep extremist content off their platforms. The companies told Congress that they've gone beyond screening and removing extremist content from their services and are creating more anti-terror propaganda to try and pre-empt violent messages at the source." + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 9:34 AM / Updated 6 hours ago Former England striker Regis dies aged 59 Reuters Staff 3 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - English soccer mourned former West Bromwich Albion, Coventry City and England striker Cyrille Regis on Monday as a role model and pioneer for the country’s black footballers after his death at 59. FILE PHOTO: Football - Leyton Orient v Milton Keynes Dons - Sky Bet Football League One - The Matchroom Stadium, Brisbane Road - 12/10/13 Ex player Cyrille Regis at a tribute to former Orient player and team mate Laurie Cunningham Action Images via Reuters/Steven Paston/File Photo Local media said he died of a heart attack on Sunday. Born in French Guiana but moving to London as a boy, Regis joined West Brom in 1977 and scored 112 goals in 297 appearances for the club before going to Coventry in 1984, where he won the FA Cup three years later. He went on to play for Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wycombe Wanderers and Chester City before hanging up his boots in 1996. Apart from being a powerful and talented striker, Regis inspired a generation of black players at a time when they were a rarity in the top echelons of English soccer and were regularly subjected to racial abuse from crowds. “Devastated this morning my hero my pioneer the man behind the reason I wanted to play football has passed away,” former England striker Andy Cole said on Twitter. Together with Brendon Batson and the late Laurie Cunningham, Regis formed part of a West Brom trio nicknamed “The Three Degrees” by manager Ron Atkinson after the American female singers visited The Hawthorns. “He got five international caps but today he would get 60 or 70 at least,” Atkinson told BBC West Midlands radio. Fans leave tributes to Cyrille Regis at the Jeff Castle gates of West Bromwich Albion football club's The Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich, Britain January 15, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Staples “I think he was the best centre forward I’ve ever had and I’ve had some top players. But I also think he was a better bloke than a player. He was an unbelievable guy.” Regis quickly became a fan favourite and scourge of rival defences as an explosive striker with a powerful physical presence. Slideshow (5 Images) His spectacular strike against Norwich City in the FA Cup won Match of the Day’s Goal of the Season award for 1981-82. “What a man. What a centre forward! One of my earliest football memories was walking into WBA for a trial as a 13-year-old kid, seeing Cyrille Regis and being in awe of him. RIP big man,” former England striker Alan Shearer said on Twitter. Known to the fans as “Smokin’ Joe” and “The Big C”, Regis encountered more racism as he moved into international contention. On one occasion he received a bullet in the mail along with a threat that he would get one in the knee if he played for England at Wembley. “The racism was quite abhorrent but I turned a negative into a positive,” he recalled. “I chased harder and played harder, I wanted to score goals and win points.” Regis returned to West Brom as a coach before becoming a football agent. Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London/Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru,; Editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "The U.S. Treasury Department will auction $148 billion in securities next week, comprising $55 billion in new debt and $93 billion in previously sold debt. Details (all with minimum denominations of $100): Tuesday: $45 billion in four-week bills, a reopening of an issue first sold on Aug. 17, 2017, maturing Feb. 15, 2018. Cusip number: 912796NS4. Also,... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Mnuchin, Lagarde and Fink discuss global finance at Davos 5 Hours Ago Breaking News If you are experiencing issues watching this video, tap here to view it in your browser. SHARES [The stream is slated to start at 10 a.m. GMT. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] Given the sharp ascent of cryptocurrency trading and the U.S. dollar's risk of being ousted from its position as the world's reserve currency, the global financial system is entering into completely new territory. The world's top economic decision-makers speak to CNBC about what the future holds. Steven Mnuchin , U.S. treasury secretary; Christine Lagarde , managing director of the International Monetary Fund; Laurence Fink , chairman and CEO of BlackRock; Philip Hammond, U.K. finance minister; Paul Achleitner, chairman of the supervisory board at Deutsche Bank; and Jin Keyu, professor of economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science speak to CNBC's Geoff Cutmore for \"The Remaking of Global Finance.\" CNBC NEWSLETTERS Get the best of CNBC in your inbox Please choose a subscription A daily email for dreamers, seekers and game changers. Breaking News" + }, + { + "text": "GREENWICH, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Eagle Point Credit Company Inc. (the “Company”) (NYSE:ECC, NYSE:ECCA, NYSE:ECCB, NYSE:ECCZ, NYSE:ECCY) today announced that it has priced an underwritten public offering of 1,950,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $18.25 per share, which will result in net proceeds to the Company of approximately $33.7 million after payment of underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. In addition, the Company has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 292,500 shares of common stock to cover overallotments, if any. The Company plans to use the net proceeds from the offering of its common stock to acquire investments in accordance with its investment objectives and strategies, to make distributions to the Company’s stockholders and for general working capital purposes. The offering is expected to close on January 22, 2018, subject to customary closing conditions. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company and UBS Investment Bank are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. B. Riley FBR, Inc., Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., a subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN:LTS), National Securities Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:NHLD), and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. are acting as lead managers for the offering. MUFG Securities Americas Inc. is acting as co-manager for the offering. Investors should consider the Company’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The preliminary prospectus supplement dated January 17, 2018 and the accompanying prospectus dated June 14, 2017, which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), contain this and other information about the Company and should be read carefully before investing. The information in the preliminary prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and this press release is not complete and may be changed. The preliminary prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and this press release are not offers to sell these securities and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where such offer or sale is not permitted. A shelf registration statement relating to these securities is on file with and has been declared effective by the SEC. The offering may be made only by means of a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement, copies of which may be obtained by writing Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. at Attn: Equity Capital Markets, 787 Seventh Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10019, by calling toll-free 1-800-966-1559 or by sending an e-mail to: [REDACTED] , or by writing UBS Securities LLC at Attn: Prospectus Department, 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019 or by calling toll-free 1-888-827-7275; copies may also be obtained by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at . ABOUT EAGLE POINT CREDIT COMPANY The Company is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Company’s investment objectives are to generate high current income and capital appreciation primarily through investment in equity and junior debt tranches of collateralized loan obligations. The Company is externally managed and advised by Eagle Point Credit Management LLC. The principals of Eagle Point Credit Management LLC are Thomas P. Majewski, Daniel W. Ko and Daniel M. Spinner. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described in the prospectus and the Company’s other filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement made herein. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE View source version on businesswire.com : Investor Relations: ICR 203-340-8510 [REDACTED] Source: Eagle Point Credit Company Inc." + }, + { + "text": "EVERETT, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fortive Corporation (“Fortive”) (NYSE: FTV) announced today that it will webcast its earnings conference call for the fourth quarter 2017 on Thursday, February 8, 2018 beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET and lasting approximately 1 hour. The call and an accompanying slide presentation will be webcast on the \"Investors\" section of Fortive’s website, www.fortive.com , under \"Events & Presentations.\" A replay of the webcast will be available at the same location shortly after the conclusion of the presentation and will remain available until the next quarterly earnings call. You can access the conference call by dialing 844-443-2871 within the U.S. or 213-660-0916 outside the U.S. a few minutes before 5:30 p.m. ET and notifying the operator that you are dialing in for Fortive’s earnings conference call (access code 4581609). A replay of the conference call will be available two hours after the conclusion of the call until Friday, February 23, 2018. You can access the conference call replay under the Investors / Events and Presentations section of www.fortive.com or by dialing 800-585-8367 within the U.S. or 404-537-3406 outside the U.S. (access code 4581609). Fortive’s earnings press release, the webcast slides and other related presentation materials will be posted to the \"Investors\" section of Fortive’s website under \"Quarterly Results”. Fortive is currently in its “quiet period\" during which time Fortive will not be interacting with the investment community. This quiet period will be in place until fiscal fourth quarter and full-year 2017 earnings are released on February 8, 2018. ABOUT FORTIVE Fortive is a diversified industrial growth company comprised of Professional Instrumentation and Industrial Technologies businesses that are recognized leaders in attractive markets. With 2016 revenues of $6.2 billion, Fortive's well-known brands hold leading positions in field instrumentation, transportation, sensing, product realization, automation and specialty, and franchise distribution. Fortive is headquartered in Everett, Washington and employs a team of more than 24,000 research and development, manufacturing, sales, distribution, service and administrative employees in more than 40 countries around the world. With a culture rooted in continuous improvement, the core of our company's operating model is the Fortive Business System. For more information please visit: www.fortive.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Fortive Corporation Lisa Curran, 425-446-5000 Vice President, Investor Relations 6920 Seaway Boulevard Everett, WA 98203 Source: Fortive Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "Tech lifts indexes to record highs Saturday, January 06, 2018 - 01:11 Investors shrugged off a weaker-than-expected December jobs report and drove stocks higher. As Fred Katayama reports, the Nasdaq gained more than 3 percent this week. Investors shrugged off a weaker-than-expected December jobs report and drove stocks higher. As Fred Katayama reports, the Nasdaq gained more than 3 percent this week. //reut.rs/2CKclo8" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30(Reuters) - Cloud Live Technology Group Co Ltd : * Says net loss for FY 2017 to be 17.5 million yuan to 21.5 million yuan * Says in the previous outlook, the company expected the net loss for FY 2017 to be 14.5 million yuan to 17.5 million yuan * Says the net loss of FY 2016 was 54.1 million yuan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/jcvMHW Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Research shows how alcohol increases cancer risk 2:07am EST - 01:29 A study on mice shows how alcohol can permanently damage DNA and increase the risk of seven types of cancer. A study on mice shows how alcohol can permanently damage DNA and increase the risk of seven types of cancer. //reut.rs/2CCHbip" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 6:32 AM / Updated 10 minutes ago Arsenal to sign Greek defender Mavropanos, says Wenger Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed they will sign Greek defender Konstantinos Mavropanos from PAS Giannina in the current transfer window. According to British media reports, Mavropanos will complete a move to the Emirates Stadium this week in a deal worth around 2 million pounds. When asked about the deal after Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Wednesday, Wenger said: “Yes but he’s not ready to play for us, we’ll give him out on loan.” Mavropanos, 20, has impressed at both ends in his first full season in Greece’s Super League for PAS Giannina, scoring three goals in 14 appearances. Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 6:20 AM / Updated 15 minutes ago Cricket-Lynn ruled out of one-day series with another injury Reuters Staff 3 Min Read SYDNEY, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Aggressive batsman Chris Lynn’s terrible run of luck with injury struck again on Monday with the 27-year-old ruled out of Australia’s squad for their one-day series against England. Lynn, who was brought back into the team after shoulder surgery ruled him out of the squad a year ago, suffered a calf injury in a domestic Twenty20 match last week. “Chris initially left the field ... complaining of tightness in his calf,” said Cricket Australia’s Sports Science and Sports Medicine Manager Alex Kountouris. ”He reported increasing discomfort over the 24 hours that followed and ... medical staff made the decision to send him for a scan. “That scan confirmed the injury, which is expected to prevent him from playing for three to four weeks.” Lynn returned to cricket only last month and while he is batting well he has been hidden in the field by his Brisbane Heat captain Brendon McCullum due to concerns over whether he can dive safely or throw the ball with any velocity. McCullum said he felt the triangular Twenty20 series in February with New Zealand and England would have been better timed for Lynn’s return to the international arena. Kountouris, however, hinted that could be the case anyway. “When Chris recovers, the expectation is that he will need to prove his fitness in match action before being considered again for international selection,” Kountouris said. Lynn’s absence has possibly opened the door for dumped all-rounder Glenn Maxwell to return to the team, with the selectors still mulling their options. Maxwell, who has played 80 ODIs for his country and can be one of the most destructive and entertaining batsmen in world cricket on his day, was surprisingly left out of the squad when it was named last week. Captain Steve Smith and chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said at the time he needed to show he could be more consistent at the international level to get back into the team. The opening match of the five-game series takes place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. (Reporting by Greg Stutchbury in Wellington; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)" + }, + { + "text": "MONTREAL, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Planemaker Bombardier Inc is expected to lose a hotly contested U.S. trade dispute this week, a Canadian government source told Reuters on Thursday, likely inflaming tensions between the two countries as they try to bridge differences in talks to modernize NAFTA. Trade lawyers and industry experts largely expect the International Trade Commission (ITC) to back the U.S. Commerce Department’s recommendation to slap Bombardier’s CSeries with a near 300-percent duty on sales to American carriers in its decision scheduled for Friday. This is the first time a Canadian official has acknowledged that is the most likely outcome. Boeing Co, the world’s largest maker of jetliners, accuses the Canadian firm of dumping planes on the U.S. market. An ITC spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment. The source declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. (Reporting by David Ljunggren and Allison Lampert; Editing by Denny Thomas and Bill Rigby)" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—The Trump administration said Monday it was ending protections that have allowed more than 260,000 Salvadoran immigrants to live and work in the U.S. since 2001. The protections won’t end until Sept. 9, 2019 “to allow for an orderly transition,” according to a statement released by the Department of Homeland Security. The original... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian Su-27 fighter jet intercepted a U.S. surveillance plane over the Black Sea on Monday, RIA news agency Quote: d the defence ministry as saying. The U.S. Navy aircraft, a ЕР-3E Aries II plane, did not violate Russian air space, it said. “After the surveillance plane of the U.S. Navy had changed its course to move away from the border, the Su-27 returned to its base,” the ministry was Quote: d as saying. Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Richard Balmforth" + }, + { + "text": "As the U.S. moves beyond full employment, wages could be set to finally increase in 2018, according to Goldman Sachs. Speaking to CNBC at Goldman Sachs' European headquarters in London, Goldman's Chief Economist Jan Hatzius outlined an average hourly earnings growth forecast of 3 percent for 2018, compared to 2.5 percent over 2017. \"3 percent (growth) I think is a reasonable expectation over the next 18 months, 3.5 (percent) is probably at the top end of what I think is plausible,\" he said. On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its nonfarm payroll numbers, a monthly measure of job and wage growth in the U.S. The figures were generally received as disappointing, with a mere nine cent increase in average hourly earnings to $26.63 in December. The year's increase in average hourly earnings was 65 cents, a relatively low figure considering the strong performance of the country's economy. \"We expect the unemployment rate to fall to 3.5 percent by the end of 2018,\" Goldman Sachs said in a research note late last month. \"If so, both wage growth and price inflation are likely to move higher.\" The investment bank said that wage growth disappointed somewhat in the last year, but predicted that 2018 will see a \"renewed acceleration.\" Full employment, in economic terms, means that unemployment has reached the lowest possible level that won't trigger inflation — for the U.S., that's around 5 percent. show chapters Goldman Sachs: Four Fed rate hikes likely this year 9 Hours Ago | 04:10 While the U.S. economy is doing well — financial markets are hitting record highs and unemployment is at a 17-year low of 4.1 percent — wage growth has been slow for American workers. This is due to a number of different factors including technological changes like automation, lagging productivity, and retiring baby boomers. Crucial to wage growth is productivity growth, Hatzius stressed. \"One of the reasons why wage growth has been clearly weaker post-crisis is that productivity growth is a lot weaker. Then companies can't pay as much, can't raise their pay as quickly.\" Labor productivity is measured by the output of goods and services relative to the hours spent producing that output. \"In the pre-crisis period, there were times when we were above 4 percent, and for that we really would need to see stronger productivity growth on a sustained basis,\" he continued. \"But 3 percent I think is a reasonable expectation.\" Goldman Sachs also predicts four interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve in 2018, once per quarter, as spare capacity diminishes in the economy and inflation looks to rise. \"If the economy continues to grow above trend, the unemployment rate continues to fall — we think it comes down to the mid-threes by the end of 2018 — and inflation is maybe a little higher, then yes, I do think they can go once a quarter,\" he said. Still, Hatzius predicts a relatively low-inflation environment for the near future. The bank has also been bullish on global growth overall, predicting a lofty 4.1 percent gross domestic product growth for 2018 as the product of a broadly synchronized global upswing." + }, + { + "text": "‘Babylon Berlin’: Germany’s $40 Million TV Show Comes to Netflix 1/30/2018 10:09AM “Babylon Berlin” is a detective thriller set in Weimar-era Berlin that depicts the political conditions that led to the rise of the Nazis. But why set a thriller in the Weimar-era and is it a realistic depiction? Mark Kelly reports. Image: Netflix" + }, + { + "text": "MONTREAL (Reuters) - Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said on Monday that negotiators from the United States, Canada and Mexico have made enough progress in the talks to revamp NAFTA to be able to conclude the negotiations soon. “For the next round, we will still have substantial challenges to overcome. Yet the progress made so far puts us on the right track to create landing zones to conclude the negotiation soon,” said Guajardo. Reporting by Lesley WroughtonEditing by Chizu Nomiyama" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Unilever ( ULVR.L )( UNc.AS ) plans to close its Colman’s mustard factory in the English city of Norwich next year, after more than 160 years, affecting 113 jobs. Production of the condiment will likely start to be transferred this year to other British sites including Burton upon Trent, where Marmite and Bovril are made, with some packing moving to Germany, the company said on Thursday. The decision follows a review launched in October when UK soft drink maker Britvic ( BVIC.L ) announced the closure of its Norwich factory, on a site co-owned with Unilever. Britvic’s decision had “serious implications” for Unilever, a company spokeswoman said in a statement. About 40 of the jobs will transfer to Burton, while 25 will be created in Norwich by a new facility for production and packing of Colman’s mustard powder, mustard milling and mint processing, Unilever said. The company will also continue to source its mint and mustard locally, it said. The move comes as British businesses prepare for the country’s exit from the European Union, and as Unilever also reviews its dual-headed Anglo-Dutch structure. “The government is disappointed Unilever has decided to close its Norwich plant, though we welcome Unilever’s commitment to mustard milling and mint production in Norwich,” a spokesman for the British government said, adding that it will work closely with the company, local government officials and unions throughout the consultation period. Jeremiah Colman began selling mustard near Norwich in 1814. His great-nephew Jeremiah James Colman established the factory there in 1858. Unilever acquired the business in 1995 from what is now Reckitt Benckiser ( RB.L ). Reporting by Martinne Geller, editing by David Evans and Adrian Croft" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - NAVIGATOR EQUITY SOLUTIONS SE: * ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY IN DUBLIN IN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES DIVISION * TRANSACTION VOLUME IS AROUND EUR 2.9 MILLION * HAS COMMITTED APPROXIMATELY EUR 1.2 MILLION OF EQUITY CAPITAL AS PART OF THE INVESTMENT Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "E-Trade Financial has opened trading in CME bitcoin futures for customers beginning at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, according to its website. It is the latest online brokerage to expand trading in the relatively new products. Futures exchanges Cboe and CME began offering bitcoin futures in mid-December after a wild run-up in the price of the underlying bitcoin cryptocurrency last year. Interactive Brokers also rolled out trading in the products last month, and TD Ameritrade and E-Trade began offering customers access to Cboe futures as well. Cboe Global Markets was the first to offer a bitcoin future followed a week later by CME. WATCH: Bitcoin futures launch on CME show chapters Bitcoin futures launches on the CME 3:07 PM ET Mon, 18 Dec 2017 | 01:09" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 3:00 PM / Updated 34 minutes ago Argentina pushes back labor reform debate as opposition grows Reuters Staff 3 Min Read BUENOS AIRES, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Argentina will not call extraordinary congressional sessions in February, Cabinet Chief Marcos Pena said in a press conference on Tuesday, effectively postponing the debate over a planned labor reform until at least March. The reform, which aims to lower costs for employers and formalize the situation of unregistered workers, was sent to Congress last year after market-friendly President Mauricio Macri’s “Let’s Change” coalition swept legislative elections. Pena said on Tuesday it had been drafted in consultation with the country’s main umbrella labor union, the CGT. But in radio interviews in recent days, a CGT leader expressed opposition to the reform, and Miguel Pichetto, the leader of the opposition Peronist bloc in the Senate, said he saw “no urgency” to debate the bill. “We have listened to the various parliamentary blocs, who think they can discuss this in ordinary sessions in a more extensive manner, to build greater consensus. We have no problem with that,” Pena told reporters. Pena had said last month that Congress would take up the reform in February. The delay comes after the government’s successful passage of a pension reform bill last month triggered violent protests and a decline in Macri’s approval rate. Out of a list of 16 policy areas, respondents to a January Ipsos poll said they were least satisfied with the government’s policy toward retirees. Just 44 percent of respondents in the poll said they approved of Macri’s administration, while 45 percent said they disapproved. That approval rating was down from 54 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017 and marked the lowest of his term, which began in December 2015. The proposed labor reform includes an amnesty for companies employing workers off-the-books to regularize their situation, aims to curb litigation by workers and puts a lighter social security burden on employers. The private sector has long argued for more flexibility in labor regulations in Latin America’s No. 3 economy, where unions hold substantial political power. Pena said the government would also push a “political reform” that would reduce the number of political appointees employed by the government by 20 percent. (Reporting by Luc Cohen and Eliana Raszewski; Editing by David Gregorio)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 23 (Reuters) - Vodafone said on Tuesday it had agreed to buy Athens-based CYTA Telecommunications Hellas S.A. for 118 million euros ($145 million) to expand its fixed line network in Greece. The purchase will add around 40,000 mobile customers and about 300,000 fixed broadband customers, or roughly 8 percent market share, to Vodafone-Panafon Hellenic Telecommunications Co’s network, the British telecoms group said in a statement. CYTA Hellas is the Greek unit of Cyprus Telecommunications Authority. ($1 = 0.8135 euros) (Reporting by Hanna Paul in Bengaluru; editing by Alexander Smith)" + }, + { + "text": "BERLIN (Reuters) - Police raided sites in seven German states and detained two people in Berlin on Wednesday on suspicion of links to a gang smuggling Syrians through Poland to Germany, a federal police spokesman said. The suspects are accused of fraudulently obtaining Polish tourist visas for Syrians so they could fly to Poland from the Gulf and then cross into Germany to apply for asylum, said spokesman Markus Pfau. A third suspect could be detained later on Wednesday, he said. Immigration remains a politically charged issue in Germany after Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to open the doors to more than one million migrants and refugees in 2015 and 2016. Merkel has vowed to prevent a repeat of the unprecedented flows that overwhelmed Europe’s border controls at that time and numbers have fallen sharply, but Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on Tuesday they were still too high. [nL1N1PB0K6] Wednesday’s raids targeted 15 sites in Berlin and six other states as part of a joint German-Polish investigation launched in spring 2017. The investigation, aided by Polish border authorities, found the gang was charging 8,000 euros ($9,778.40) per person to obtain a visa, and had earned a total of more than 300,000 euros ($366,690.00). Germany’s de Maiziere said the successful raids showed the importance of border controls, adding that Poland had also taken additional measures. He did not elaborate. About 48,000 asylum seekers from Syria arrived in Germany in 2017, according to data published on Tuesday, adding to almost half a million Syrian refugees who arrived in the previous two years. The total number of asylum seekers registered in Germany in 2017 stood at 186,000, down 33 percent from 2016. Reporting By Riham Alkousaa; Editing by Andrea Shalal and Gareth Jones" + }, + { + "text": "MILAN (Reuters) - An Italian appeals court on Monday acquitted two former Leonardo executives in a bribery case related to a large 2010 helicopter contract with the Indian government. Giuseppe Orsi, former chief executive of the state-controlled defence group formerly known as Finmeccanica, poses in a helicopter during the opening ceremony of the new Terminal of Vertiporto dell'Urbe in Rome January 19, 2009. REUTERS/Remo Casilli/File Photo Giuseppe Orsi, former chief executive of the Italian state-controlled defence group previously known as Finmeccanica, and Bruno Spagnolini, former head of its helicopter unit AgustaWestland, were both cleared of corruption charges, with the court citing a lack of sufficient proof. In December 2016 Italy’s highest court had ordered a retrial of the case after the former executives of the Rome-based group had been found guilty on corruption charges related to a 560 million euro ($672 million) contract to supply a dozen helicopters to New Delhi. After Monday’s acquittal Orsi’s lawyer, Ennio Amodio, said the decision closed a case “which should have been clear to investigators (from the start)”, adding that the judge found no evidence of corruption, of the passage of money or that Indian officials interfered with the tender. Orsi had received a four-and-a-half-year jail sentence after the previous trial had overturned the verdict of a lower court, with Spagnolini sentenced to a four-year jail term. “With all the damage that was caused to the company, the damage caused to me is minor,” Spagnolini told reporters after Monday’s decision. The case was a big political issue in Italy and India when it opened in 2012 and severely tarnished the company’s reputation at a time when India had established itself as one the world’s biggest arms buyers. The Italian group has always said the case was against the individuals rather than the company and the case against Leonardo was dropped by prosecutors in July 2014. AgustaWestland, which was treated separately, agreed on a 7.5 million euro settlement with the court a month later. Mauro Moretti, Leonardo’s CEO from March 2014 to May last year, worked to improve the company’s reputation during his time at the helm and streamlined the organisation to increase transparency. A separate investigation into suspected corruption and money laundering is still open in India and involves individuals alleged to have worked as intermediaries in the deal. India cancelled the helicopter contract in 2013 after Orsi was arrested, but AgustaWestland opposed India’s decision and the contract remains suspended and the subject of international arbitration in Paris. Shares in Leonardo were up 2.7 percent at 1351 GMT. ($1 = 0.8340 euros) Reporting by Emilio Parodi; Writing by Giulia Segreti; Editing by David Goodman Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 26 (Reuters) - * S&P MAINTAINS AZERBAIJAN’S SOVEREIGN CREDIT RATING AT BB+; RAISES OUTLOOK TO STABLE FROM NEGATIVE * S&P SAYS OUTLOOK ON AZERBAIJAN REVISED TO STABLE FROM NEGATIVE; ‘BB+/B’ RATINGS AFFIRMED * S&P SAYS AZERBAIJAN‘S FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES ARE INCREASING AS BALANCE OF PAYMENTS PRESSURES ABATE * S&P SAYS FORECAST THAT THE AZERBAIJAN GOVERNMENT‘S BUDGETARY POSITION WILL RETURN TO SURPLUS THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2014 * S&P SAYS REVISING OUTLOOK ON AZERBAIJAN‘S LONG-TERM RATINGS TO STABLE FROM NEGATIVE AND AFFIRMING THE ‘BB+/B’ FOREIGN AND LOCAL CURRENCY RATINGS * S&P SAYS OUTLOOK REVISION ON AZERBAIJAN PRIMARILY REFLECTS VIEW THAT ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS SHOULD GRADUALLY STRENGTHEN OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS * S&P SAYS AZERBAIJAN‘S ECONOMIC GROWTH IS PROJECTED TO RECOVER MODERATELY BUT WILL REMAIN DEPENDENT ON OIL INDUSTRY TRENDS AND PUBLIC INVESTMENT * S&P SAYS AZERBAIJAN‘S RATINGS CONSTRAINED BY WEAK INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, NARROW & CONCENTRATED ECONOMIC BASE, LIMITED MONETARY POLICY FLEXIBILITY * S&P SAYS AZERBAIJAN‘S DISPUTE WITH ARMENIA OVER NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONTINUES TO POSE DOWNSIDE RISKS, DO NOT EXPECT CONFLICT TO ESCALATE IN MEDIUM TERM * S&P SAYS PROSPECTS OF RESOLUTION OF AZERBAIJAN'S DISPUTE WITH ARMENIA OVER NAGORNO-KARABAKH, HOWEVER, SO FAR \"SEEM LIMITED\" Source text - bit.ly/2BxlRWg" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 12:16 PM / Updated 6 hours ago Wary Federer through to semis after Hawkeye hiccup Martyn Herman 4 Min Read MELBOURNE (Reuters) - A momentary loss of Roger Federer’s trademark cool enlivened an otherwise routine victory by the defending champion over Tomas Berdych as the Swiss player moved into the semi-finals of the Australian Open on Wednesday. Federer’s ninth successive defeat of the burly Czech, this time 7-6(1) 6-3 6-4, was not all smooth sailing for the 36-year-old who snapped at umpire Fergus Murphy in the first set. His mini-rant about malfunctioning Hawkeye technology when Berdych served for the opening set said much about the struggle Federer was having to contain the 19th seeded powerhouse. But in the end all was well for Federer, who reached his record-extending 43rd grand slam semi-final where he will face 21-year-old South Korean sensation Chung Hyeon. It is the 11th time Federer has reached the final four of a slam without dropping a set and, with Rafa Nadal out of action, he is clear favourite to win a 20th grand slam title and sixth Australian Open. Federer had dropped only two sets in his previous eight matches against Berdych but came desperately close to losing the opener on Rod Laver Arena when the 32-year-old served at 5-3, having secured an early break. Berdych had one set point but Federer blazed a backhand past him to snuff out the danger, before breaking with an equally sublime swish of his matt black racket to break. The main talking point of the match had arrived a few points earlier though with Berdych 15-40 down. Federer thought a serve was out despite no call and immediately challenged. Unfortunately, however, the usual video playback failed and Federer was told by Murphy that the serve was in. When announcing that Federer had lost his challenge, the Swiss saw red and marched to the chair. Tennis - Australian Open - Quarterfinals - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 24, 2018. Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts during his match against Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic. REUTERS/Toru Hanai “Are you comfortable with this?” he said, as the crowd booed. “You can’t steal my challenge. You’re okay with this?” Federer then dumped a forehand in the net before re-focussing and taking the set into a tiebreak in which he allowed Berdych one point -- taking the set with an impudent drop shot. Later, with his 92nd Australian Open victory in the bag, Federer played down the incident. “I hung around, got a bit lucky, a bit angry, a bit frustrated at the umpire,” Federer said in the now obligatory comedy duo on-court interview with Jim Courier. Tennis - Australian Open - Quarterfinals - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 24, 2018. Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates winning his match against Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych. REUTERS/Edgar Su After the first-set dramas it was routine with Federer breaking decisively for 5-3 with an easy backhand winner after Berdych’s half volley sat up begging. Berdych could have thrown in the towel when he fell behind in the third set, but kept Federer on his toes by breaking back. It only delayed the inevitable, though, as Federer broke again and completed the job with a love service game. Related Coverage Bogeyman Chung set to give rivals nightmares - coach “Coming back from 5-2 in the first set, it was clearly big tonight,” Federer, the oldest man to reach the semis here since Ken Rosewall in 1977, told reporters. Federer’s said Nadal’s retirement in the fifth set against Marin Cilic the previous evening, scuppering a repeat of last year’s epic final, had played on his mind. “I feel that’s exactly the moment when you stumble. That’s why I think I was actually very nervous going into this match tonight, and that’s why I struggled early on,” he said. “I knew the danger of Berdych. Seeing what happened to so many other top seeds here in the draw, I was a bit wary.” Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Christian Radnedge and Alexander Smith" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Profits earned by China’s industrial companies rose 10.8 percent y/y to 824.16 billion yuan in December, the statistics bureau said on Friday. Industrial profits increased 21.0 percent year-on-year in 2017 to 7.519 trillion yuan, versus the 21.9 percent gain in January-November period, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on its website. Chinese industrial firms’ liabilities increased 5.7 percent from a year earlier at the end of 2017, compared with a 6.3 percent rise as of end-November. The data covers large companies with annual revenue of more than 20 million yuan from their main operations. (Reporting by Zhang Min and Beijing Monitoring Desk; Editing by Sam Holmes)" + }, + { + "text": "The Department of Justice is reportedly continuing its long-running probe of the nonprofit Clinton Foundation, and whether any donors to the foundation created by former President Bill Clinton received favorable treatment during Hillary Clinton 's tenure as secretary of State. On Friday, The Hill newspaper reported that FBI officials conducted at least one interview in the past month with a potential witness. The officials were from Little Rock, Arkansas, where the foundation was founded. The interview appears to be the latest step in an inquiry that the Department of Justice began in 2015 and temporarily suspended the following year, during Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. The Washington Post reported that the investigation was put on hold in 2016 so as not to give the appearance that the DOJ was attempting to influence the outcome of the election. In a statement to CNBC, Clinton Foundation spokesman Craig Minassian said: \"Time after time, the Clinton Foundation has been subjected to politically motivated allegations, and time after time these allegations have been proven false. None of this has made us waver in our mission to help people. The Clinton Foundation has demonstrably improved the lives of millions of people across America and around the world while earning top ratings from charity watchdog groups in the process. There are real issues in our society needing attention that the Clinton Foundation works hard to solve every day. So we're going to stay focused on what really matters.\" The newly reported interview came after months of pressure on the Justice Department and on Attorney General Jeff Sessions from Republicans in Congress, who have demanded that the department appoint a special counsel to investigate what they say are questionable actions by the Clintons on a wide range of issues. The DOJ responded to the lawmakers' calls with a letter in November, saying it would review whether \"any matters currently under investigation require further resources.\" By that time, the Post reported Friday, the Clinton Foundation inquiry had already been revived." + }, + { + "text": "MUTARE, Zimbabwe (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - After years in which the disease presented only a limited threat, this city in eastern Zimbabwe is seeing a hike in malaria deaths, with more than 30 recorded in 2017, city officials say. They, and residents, blame the resurgence in part on unusually wet weather, following years of drought in much of the country, and on warming conditions linked to climate change. Jeremiah Mutindori, a trader in the city’s Hobhouse area - one of those badly affected by mosquitoes - said he was convinced changing weather conditions were to blame. “I think it’s because we now have abundant stagnant waters everywhere as a result of the heavy rains received last year. Our winter seasons seem to be shorter and warmer than before,” said Mutindori, a father of three. He said he was particularly worried his 5-month-old daughter might contract malaria. In 2016, Mutare – Zimbabwe’s fourth-largest city, on the country’s eastern border with Mozambique - recorded only one malaria death. But in 2017 the death toll rose to 31, said Spren Mutiwi, the Mutare city spokesman. The city was declared a malaria zone in February 2017, city officials said. Mutiwi said the city had stepped up an indoor insecticide spraying effort alongside the Ministry of Health and Child Care, focused on particularly affected parts of the city. “Deaths (from malaria) are disturbing,” he said, and “frantic efforts are being carried out by the city to eradicate malaria once and for all and revert to non-malaria status”. MORE RAIN, MORE MOSQUITOES But Washington Zhakata, director of the Climate Change Management Department in the Ministry of Water Resources, Development and Climate in Zimbabwe, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that climate change was playing a role in the resurgence of the disease. As temperatures gradually rise, more areas of the country are becoming good breeding grounds for malarial mosquitoes, he said. Also, “malaria has a strong relationship with rainfall”, he said. “Flash flooding that is now very common in some places, together with the generally high temperatures being observed, create conducive environments for breeding of malaria mosquitoes.” A report by the U.S. Agency for International Development said malaria was a major health problem in Zimbabwe with almost half of the population at risk. “Its epidemiology varies greatly in the different regions of the country, ranging from year-round transmission in the lowland areas to endemic-prone areas in the highlands,” the report said. Each year thousands of people in Zimbabwe contract the disease, which is caused by a parasite transmitted by the bite of females of a certain species of Anopheles mosquitoes. The country’s Health Minister, David Parirenyatwa, said eliminating the disease in Zimbabwe would require collaboration with neighboring malarial countries, including Mozambique and Zambia, according to a statement from the ministry. A MOVING THREAT Joe Brew who has done extensive research on the economics of malaria in southern Africa as part of the Trans Global Health program, which focuses on health threat to the world’s vulnerable, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that when climate conditions change, mosquito habitats and behaviors also change, making keeping up with the threat difficult. “Malaria and other mosquito-borne illnesses will stop being a problem in some areas, but it also means that the disease may emerge or re-emerge in places which are not familiar with them, whose surveillance systems are not equipped for handling them,” Brew said. Mutiwi said the peak period for malaria cases in Mutare was between February and March, although sporadic cases start as early as November. Despite expected heavy rains this summer, Mutiwi said he was however optimistic the city’s program to spray pesticides indoors in most residential areas would reduce the spread of malaria this year. Though there is year-round transmission of malaria in some parts of the country, Mutiwi said the disease was still only a major problem in Mutare during the rainy season. “But we believe that the effects of climate change cannot be ignored (and) have some contributions” to the spread of malaria, he said. Reporting by Andrew Mambondiyani; editing by Laurie Goering :; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, climate change, resilience, women's rights, trafficking and property rights. Visit news.trust.org/climate" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 10:15 AM / in 8 minutes UAE military ordered not to escalate Qatar crisis: official Reuters Staff 1 Min Read ABU DHABI (Reuters) - A military official in the United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday its forces had instructions not to escalate an ongoing diplomatic crisis with Qatar. UAE military aircraft would also fly alternative routes over Saudi Arabia to avoid the possibility of interception by Qatari warplanes, air force brigadier general Helal Saeed al-Qubaisi told reporters at a news conference in the capital Abu Dhabi. Reporting By Alexander Cornwell; Writing by Noah Browning; editing by John Stonestreet" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - The president of Michigan State University said on Wednesday she is tendering her resignation after facing a barrage of criticism for not doing enough to halt the abuse by a doctor who worked at the school and was convicted of molesting U.S. gymnasts. “As tragedies are politicized, blame is inevitable. As president, it is only natural that I am the focus of this anger,” Lou Anna Simon said in a resignation letter. (Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Sandra Maler)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16 (Reuters) - JD Sports Fashion Plc, Britain’s largest sportswear retailer by market value, said on Tuesday it expects annual pretax profit ahead of market expectations on strong trading in the second half of the year, including the key Christmas period. JD Sports, which also runs fashion and outdoor retail outlets such as Scotts and Blacks, said it was confident that group profit before tax for the year ending Feb. 3 would reach 300 million pounds ($413.7 million), ahead of a range of 270 million pounds to 295 million pounds expected by the market. The company, whose biggest rival is Mike Ashley-owned Sports Direct in Britain, said strong trading continued in the second half of the year and group comparable sales growth remained at about 3 percent. ($1 = 0.7251 pounds) (Reporting by Rahul B in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr)" + }, + { + "text": "January 27, 2018 / 4:35 AM / Updated 8 hours ago President Moon backs Chung to bring more joy to South Koreans Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - South Korean president Moon Jae-in has backed Chung Hyeon to bring more joy to his country after the youngster’s inspired charge at the Australian Open came to a heart-breaking end in the semi-finals on Friday. The bespectacled 21-year-old, conqueror of six-times Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic, suffered from blisters on his foot before retiring from the match while trailing 6-1 5-2 against 19-times grand slam champion Roger Federer. “Chung Hyeon wrote a new chapter in South Korean sports history and brought pride and happiness to all South Koreans. We are so proud of him,” Moon said in a statement on Saturday. Slideshow (2 Images) “It is such a pity that he got injured but I believe Chung will go on to become an even better player and achieve excellent results,” Moon added. With his defeat, Chung fell short of becoming the first man to reach his first Tour level final at a grand slam since Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Australian Open 10 years ago. Despite winning the ATP’s NextGen Finals last year, the world number 58 was virtually unknown in South Korea before gaining superstar status with a run in Melbourne that saw him also oust the Zverev brothers. His success has raised the profile of the game in South Korea, with the country’s leading online auction and shopping mall website Gmarket witnessing a boom in tennis products including shoes, bags and rackets. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; editing by Amlan Chakraborty" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 11:09 AM / Updated an hour ago U.S. health insurer Anthem's quarterly profit soars Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 31 (Reuters) - Anthem Inc on Wednesday said quarterly profit more than tripled as the health insurer recorded a one-time benefit of $1.1 billion due to the new U.S. tax law. Anthem said net income rose to $1.23 billion, or $4.67 per share, in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, from $368.4 million, or $1.37 per share, a year earlier. Total operating revenue rose 4.5 percent to $22.45 billion. (Reporting by Ankur Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Martina D‘Couto)" + }, + { + "text": "FORT COLLINS, Colo., Jan. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ:WWD) announced today that it expects to report its fiscal 2018 first quarter financial results at approximately 4:00 p.m. EST on Monday, January 22, 2018. A news release will be issued at that time and a conference call will be held at 4:30 p.m. EST. During the conference call, the company will provide an overview of its business highlights and financial performance. You are invited to listen to the call live via the company’s website, www.woodward.com , on January 22, 2018. The call and presentation will be available on the website by selecting “Investors/Calendar of Events” from the menu, and will remain accessible on the company’s website for 14 days. You may also listen to the call by dialing 1-877-231-2582 (domestic) or 1-478-219-0714 (international). Participants should call prior to the start time to allow for registration; the Conference ID is 84309908. An audio replay will be available by telephone from 7:30 p.m. EST on January 22 until 11:59 p.m. EST on February 5, 2018. The telephone number to access the replay is 1-855-859-2056 (domestic) or 1-404-537-3406 (international); reference Conference ID 84309908. About Woodward, Inc. Woodward is an independent designer, manufacturer, and service provider of control system solutions and components for the aerospace and industrial markets. The company's innovative fluid, combustion, electrical, and motion control systems help customers offer cleaner, more reliable, and more efficient equipment. Our customers include leading original equipment manufacturers and end users of their products. Woodward is a global company headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. Visit our website at www.woodward.com , and connect with us at www.facebook.com/woodwardinc . This release contains statements that reflect current expectations and are forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ from these forward-looking statements and we have no obligation to update our forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements are described in Woodward's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2017 and any subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. CONTACT: Don Guzzardo Corporate Director, Investor Relations, Treasury, Risk Management 970-498-3580 [REDACTED] Source:Woodward, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Japanese government bond prices were steady to slightly firmer on Tuesday, after an auction of 2.2 trillion yen ($19.8 billion) five-year government bonds attracted strong demand. The auction drew bids 5.24 times the offer, the highest bid-to-cover ratio in 4-1/2-years, with the lowest price coming in higher than expected. Following the tender, the five-year yield dipped 1.0 basis point to minus 0.090 percent, edging further away from its three-month high of minus 0.075 percent touched last week. The 10-year JGB futures price also ticked up 0.04 point to 150.51 while the yield on the cash 10-year JGB was flat at 0.070 percent. The market had no reaction to data showing Japan’s wholesale prices in December rose 3.1 percent from a year earlier, slightly less than expectations of 3.2 percent. The data came a day after Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda made an upbeat assessment on the Japanese economy. $1 = 110.93 yen Reporting by Tokyo Markets Team; Editing by Jacqueline Wong" + }, + { + "text": "RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - A Brazilian court on Monday ordered the world’s largest iron ore miner Vale SA to repair environmental damages its operations caused in land belonging to a community of descendants of escaped slaves in northern Brazil. Federal prosecutors announced the ruling in a statement that said the electricity transmission lines and a bauxite pipeline damaged soil and silted up rivers in the Moju “quilombola” territory in the northeast of Pará state. The court also ordered Vale to set up a project to generate income for the 788 families affected by the company’s operations and compensate them with cash until it was implemented. No value was given for the cost of the reparations Vale must pay. The Rio de Janeiro-based company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a separate case, federal prosecutors recommended the suspension of Vale’s dredging operations in the Sepetiba Bay in Rio de Janeiro state after a virus killed 200 gray porpoises. Vale said it had not been officially informed about the recommendation. It said in a statement that all its operations in the bay where it has a terminal are duly licensed and monitored by the authorities. Reporting by Luciano Costa, writing by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Lisa Shumaker" + }, + { + "text": "SHARES With Valentines' Day quickly approaching, engagement season is in full swing. For all of the lovebirds swooning over the idea of proposing to their significant other — and planning to shell out big bucks to do it — Kevin O'Leary has a dose of reality for you. \"From the day you're born, there is a whole industry of people trying to figure out how to extract money from you,\" O'Leary tells CNBC Make It. \"One of the best at doing it are the guys that make wedding rings.\" Indeed, conventional wisdom holds that you should spend one to three months ' salary on an engagement ring — but that idea actually began as part of a campaign by a diamond retailer in the 1930s. So ditch that rule, says O'Leary. \"[Ring retailers] tell you ... you should go into debt, you should put it on your credit card,\" he says. \"How about this idea? Don't buy one!\" Courtesy of Kevin O'Leary Kevin O'Leary and his wife, Linda, on their wedding day more than 25 years ago. \"Diamond rings are really expensive, and they don't produce any dividends or any interest,\" he explains. According to a 2017 report from WeddingWire.com, survey respondents spent $5,000 on an engagement ring on average. And 36 percent of people said they spent two months salary. O'Leary proposed to his wife Linda with a tiny diamond — no setting — which he got from a wholesaler. It saved him 70 percent of what a regular ring would have cost. They later had it mounted on a band. And for his 25-year wedding anniversary, he bought his wife a much bigger 5.5 carat rock. Why? \"Frankly, there are better places to put your money until you have the luxury of being able to splurge on one, so don't buy one for your wedding,\" O'Leary says. \"I know its controversial, but you know what? You'll feel much better about it when it's making 6 percent [in returns] in the market every year,\" referring to an average rate of return in the stock market. Investing the money instead will help ensure you don't start your marriage further in the hole. \"When ... you're starting out, the worst thing you can do is put yourself in debt for your wedding,\" O'Leary says. \"I know it sounds romantic to spend a lot of money — it's crazy to do that. \"Tell your girlfriend/fiance/soon-to-be-wife when you have the money to invest in a ring, you'll do that,\" he says. \"The whole idea is to remember you're building for your future. Don't get into debt, save, save save and invest,\" he suggests. \"It's a fantastic way to protect yourself down the road.\"" + }, + { + "text": "WARSAW, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Polish financial market regulator KNF said on Tuesday it will not approve Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International’s plan to start a new bank in Poland, which the lender hoped would help it successfully list the existing Polish unit. KNF has for years insisted that large banks in Poland list their shares to assure transparency and safety of the sector. The regulator has extended the deadline for Raiffeisen Bank Polska IPO-RBP.WA initial public offering earlier this year. Last year the IPO plan was shelved as investors offered a much lower price for the Polish bank’s shares than Raiffeisen was willing to accept because of its Swiss franc-denominated loan portfolio, which is seen by investors as a long-term risk. In November RBI said it planned to carve out the FX mortgages portfolio and eventually take it over. Two sources familiar with the situation said on Tuesday that RBI had planned to start a new bank in Poland which would take over the FX portfolio from Raiffeisen Bank Polska and then conduct the new bank’s cross-border merger with RBI, hoping that would help make IPO of Raiffeisen Bank Polska successful. But the regulator said refused to endorse the plan. “The commission has unanimously refused to issue an approval to launch by Raiffeisen Bank International a bank in a form of a joint-stock company,” the regulator said in a statement. KNF has justified its decision by pointing to RBI’s failure to meet requirements to list Raiffeisen Bank Polska on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. RBI said its the plan “is a measure to facilitate the IPO of RBPL or a potential sale of a majority stake. We continue to work with the KNF to find an acceptable structure.” In November, sources said that BNP Paribas has approached RBI to express interest in buying the Austrian bank’s Polish division. (Reporting by Agnieszka Barteczko and Pawel Sobczak, additional reporting by Alexandra Schwarz-Goerlich in Vienna, editing by Louise Heavens)" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Lyft is investigating allegations that its employees misused customer information, the U.S. ride-hailing firm said on Thursday. A current or former Lyft employee alleged in an anonymous online post that Lyft employees had tracked rides taken by their romantic partners and pulled information about celebrities such as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, according to tech news site The Information. ( bit.ly/2EaIcvJ ) “The specific allegations in this post would be a violation of Lyft’s policies and a cause for termination,” the company said in an emailed statement to Reuters. Customer data could be accessed only by teams that require it to do their jobs, Lyft added. Reporting by Aishwarya Venugopal in Bengaluru; editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Oil rally pushes to 3-year high 6:28pm GMT - 00:54 Crude oil prices pushed further higher in a New Year's rally, with U.S. oil rising to a December 2014 peak as a drain in global supplies extends into 2018. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Crude oil prices pushed further higher in a New Year's rally, with U.S. oil rising to a December 2014 peak as a drain in global supplies extends into 2018. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "SOFIA (Reuters) - Conservation group WWF stepped up pressure on Bulgaria on Monday to withdraw a decision to allow more construction of ski runs and lifts in a mountainous area home to bears and wolves, saying the UNESCO World Heritage Site should be preserved. Thousands of environmentalists have staged repeated protests in Sofia and other cities against a government decision to allow further construction in the 400 sq km Pirin National Park in the southwest. Protesters say the cabinet’s decision to expand Pirin’s ski area breaches a number of nature protection laws and would lead to the destruction of centuries-old pine trees endangering wildlife at the park - one of Europe’s best preserved homes for large mammals such as brown bears and wolves. “Bulgaria’s government cannot simply press on with plans to allow the ski area to increase 12-fold,” said WWF Bulgaria Manager Veselina Kavrakova, after presenting a report by WWF and U.S.-based consultancy Dalberg Global Development Advisors on the sustainable development of the region. “It must instead listen to its citizens who are calling for Pirin to be protected. Ski development in pursuit of short-term gains has already taken a shocking toll on Pirin,” she said. Bulgaria’s environment ministry argues that the changes will allow construction in only two percent of the territory of the park, with the aim of boosting winter tourism. The government says it has also allowed the building of facilities to collect drinking water in 48 percent of the park’s territory. Opponents say this could be used as a loophole to allow bigger construction projects. WWF has urged members of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to include Pirin on UNESCO’s world natural heritage in danger list if the current management plan is approved. The conservation group called on the International Ski Federation (FIS) to exclude the resort of Bansko from its calendar if the construction of ski infrastructure continues. “We’re not opposing development, we’re opposing badly planned development,” Katerina Rakovska, a WWF expert said. “We want to keep the balance between the conservation of nature and tourism development.” Reporting by Angel Krasimirov, Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "Zoo's new arrival named after Prince Harry's fiance Meghan Markle 9:46am EST - 01:31 London Zoo has named a new-born Okapi after Meghan Markle, the American actress who is engaged to Britain's Prince Harry. Rough cut (no reporter narration). London Zoo has named a new-born Okapi after Meghan Markle, the American actress who is engaged to Britain's Prince Harry. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2B7VIgN" + }, + { + "text": "A daily morning look at the financial stories you need to know to start the day. STOCKS/ECONOMY -Stock futures are down after Friday's record closing highs. We get consumer credit data this afternoon. -President Trump will focus on the economy as he speaks to the American Farm Bureau convention in Nashville today. TRUMP TRADE -President Trump is reportedly about to announce new tariffs against China." + }, + { + "text": "HONG KONG (Reuters) - Shares of Wanda Hotel Development Co Ltd are set to open up 48 percent on Tuesday, a day after the Hong Kong-listed unit of Dalian Wanda Group announced sales of two Australian projects for a total of about $913 million. The stocks are set to open at HK$2, the highest open since Aug. 17. That compared with a 0.7 percent fall in the benchmark Hang Seng index. Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group has agreed to sell its two Australian projects to a China-backed developer for a total of A$1.13 billion in equity and assumed debt. Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Himani Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 7:29 AM / Updated 32 minutes ago Audi, BMW workers stage strikes amid talks over wages, hours Reuters Staff 2 Min Read FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Workers at German companies including premium carmakers Audi ( NSUG.DE ) and BMW ( BMWG.DE ) are staging further walkouts on Friday amid labour talks seeking higher pay and shorter working hours which are set to continue next week. Audi cars are parked in front of the company's headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany, March 15, 2017. REUTERS/Lukas Barth Powerful labour union IG Metall said workers at Audi’s main plant in Ingolstadt in Bavaria downed tools during the night shift and BMW staff at three factories in Dingolfing, Landshut and Regensburg were to follow suit on Friday. Spurred on by the fastest economic growth in six years and record low joblessness, the union is demanding 6 percent more pay for 3.9 million metals and engineering workers. It has also embarked on its first major campaign for shorter working hours in more than three decades, demanding that workers gain the right to reduce their weekly hours to 28 from 35 to care for children or elderly or sick relatives and then return to full-time employment after two years. Employers have offered 2 percent plus a one-off 200-euro (176.40 pounds) payment in the first quarter. They have rejected demands for a shorter working week unless hours could be increased temporarily as well so as not to put output at risk. Labour bosses and industrial employers took a small step toward a deal in regional talks in southwestern Baden-Wuerttemberg on Thursday, agreeing to appoint experts to look into the issue of working hours. Some 160,000 workers have already taken part in industrial action this week to support IG Metall’s wage claims and the union has threatened to call for 24-hour walkouts if talks fail to make progress. Labour talks for workers in Baden-Wuerttemberg will resume on Jan. 24. Talks in Bavaria continue on Monday and in North Rhine-Westphalia resume on Thursday. Reporting by Maria Sheahan; editing by Jason Neely" + }, + { + "text": "When President Obama was elected, Donald Trump was the catalyst behind the birther movement, a group of people that were convinced that Obama wasn't born in the United States. The group offered rewards for any evidence that supported their claim, although none ever came. President Trump's physical results, released this week seem to have spawned a similar movement (although not one that would get him removed from office) by people jokingly being referred to as \"girthers\" because they don't believe the weight represented in the report is accurate and want Trump to get on a scale to prove it. The White House physician, Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, said Trump is 6 feet 3 inches and weighs 239 pounds, one pound shy of being categorized as obese. Twitter quickly pointed out that Trump seems shorter than six three when he has been photographed next to other people who claim to be the same height. He also appears in photos to be much heavier than 239lbs, when you look at him in photos beside other people around the same weight. Trump 6'3\" Obama 6'1\" #Girther #AlternativeFacts pic.twitter.com/5HhdMFE5k0 — Bill Jack (@ceomuscle) January 17, 2018 Jay Cutler is 6'3\" and 233. Donald Trump is 6'3\" and 239. What a difference six pounds makes! pic.twitter.com/ECiWtPVtwn — Ronald Reagan's Spinning Corpse (@SpinningRonnie) January 16, 2018 L: Vikings running back Latavius Murray. R: Donald Trump. Both listed officially at 6'3\"/235 lbs. #Girther pic.twitter.com/nGEB0VdK33 — Dennis Perkins (@DennisPerkins5) January 16, 2018 Most of the comparisons being made are professional athletes, so it stands to reason that Trump could in fact weight 239 pounds but be made up of considerably more fat than those he’s being placed next to, who are made up of more muscle (which is denser than fat). To pour some cold water on the conspiracy theories: Rear Admiral Jackson is a highly decorated Navy physician who was appointed to the White House during President George W. Bush’s second term and was kept on by both the Obama and Trump administrations. And several members of the Obama White House spoke to Jackson’s integrity: Dr. Jackson is a phenomenal doctor and a really great guy. He and his team took great care of all of us for many years — Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) January 16, 2018 there is no one better than ronny. no one. he is a saint and patriot. — alyssa mastromonaco (@AlyssaMastro44) January 16, 2018" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 25 (Reuters) - British restaurant chain Prezzo is in talks with its lenders after the price of its leveraged loans dropped in Europe’s secondary loan market, as the UK casual dining sector comes under pressure. Private equity firm TPG acquired Prezzo in 2014, backed with a £155m leveraged loan financing, comprising a £130m term loan and a £25m pound revolving credit facility led by Barclays and Jefferies. Prezzo’s term loan was Quote: d at around 80% of face value on January 25, according to Thomson Reuters LPC data. The loans have been in gradual decline since last year, closing the first quarter of 2017 at 98.4% of face value, before dropping to 88 at the end of the second quarter and 86 at the end of the third quarter, TRLPC data shows. Given its performance, some banks have moved Prezzo’s loan from the front office to the work out groups, the sources said. Talks took place with lenders this week to discuss some of the issues, the sources said. Some lenders speculated the company would be seeking a waiver on its financial covenants, the sources added. TPG declined to comment. GRIND TO A HALT The loans attracted the attention of hedge funds last year which began to buy into the stressed credit but trading came to a near halt this week, traders said, until there is more clarity on the outcome of the talks. “Hedge funds buying into Prezzo last year are now waiting for the price to drop lower. A majority of hedge funds think it has more room to go on the downside,” a trader said. While one or two lenders sold out of their positions at the end of last year, a number of original lenders are holding onto the paper, hoping the situation will improve, the sources said. “Since the call with lenders there has been no bid. People want clarity on what the sponsor and company will do to turn things around. At the moment it is all looking pretty desperate,” a second trader said. Consumer spending has come under pressure as people cut back on discretionary spending amid wider macroeconomic volatility. The restaurant sector has also faced increasing pressure on rising food costs after the UK voted to leave the European Union, the sources said. (Editing by Christopher Mangham)" + }, + { + "text": "51 AM / a few seconds ago Southwest Airlines profit more than triples on $1.4 billion tax benefit Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines Co ( LUV.N ) on Thursday reported a quarterly profit that more than tripled, helped by a $1.4 billion benefit due to tax reform legislation in the quarter. The fourth-largest U.S. airline by passenger traffic said net income rose to $1.89 billion , or $3.18 per share, in the quarter ended Dec. 31, from $522 million, or $0.84 per share, a year earlier. [nPn9MH4dwa] Operating revenue rose 3.9 percent to $5.27 billion. Reporting by Sanjana Shivdas in Bengaluru; Editing by Supriya Kurane" + }, + { + "text": "Las Vegas, NV , Jan. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CLS Holdings USA, Inc. (OTCQB: CLSH) “CLS,” a development stage diversified cannabis company operating as Cannabis Life Science, today announced comments from Oasis Cannabis on Nevada’s continuation of delivery services of marijuana to local residents. Oasis Cannabis has been successfully operating a delivery service to medical patients since opening in 2015, and adult-use marijuana to residents since last August. The State of Nevada has approved new rules for the local cannabis industry, which include allowing delivery services to continue operating. The Nevada state legislative committee is expected to formally adopt the regulations into law in the next several weeks. Interviewed on local news, Ben Sillitoe, CEO and Co-Founder of Oasis Cannabis, commented, \"Delivery service has been a part of our business model since inception and is really about convenience for the consumer. Our internal process and systems have been designed for safe and convenient same day delivery service.” Oasis Cannabis is a fully integrated cannabis operation in Nevada. Las Vegas-based Oasis Cannabis’ ( ) operations include a grow, extraction, conversion and processing facility, and a retail dispensary. CLS has now executed a definitive agreement to acquire the Oasis Cannabis companies. A non-refundable cash deposit has been paid by CLS. The closing of the transaction, which is subject to the satisfaction of conditions, is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2018. About Oasis Cannabis ( ) Oasis Cannabis has operated a cannabis dispensary in the Las Vegas market since dispensaries first opened in Nevada in 2015 and has been recognized as one of the top marijuana retailers in the state. Its location within walking distance to the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Las Vegas in combination with its delivery service to residents allows it to efficiently serve both locals and tourists in the Las Vegas area. The company recently commenced wholesale offerings of cannabis in Nevada with the launch of its City Trees brand of cannabis concentrates and cannabis-infused products in August 2017. An expansion of its cultivation and production facility is currently underway and is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2018. Disclaimer CLS Holdings USA has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Oasis Cannabis, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2018. See CLS Holdings USA’s filings with the SEC for additional details. About CLS Holdings USA CLS Holdings USA, Inc. (OTCQB: CLSH) plans to become a diversified cannabis company and is shifting its corporate strategy to becoming a fully licensed integrated cannabis producer and retailer in Nevada and other western states. Its strategy and business model will be similar to Canopy Growth (WEED.TO), Aurora Cannabis (ACB.TO) and GB Sciences (GBLX). CLS stands for \"Cannabis Life Sciences,\" in recognition of the Company's patent pending proprietary method of extracting various cannabinoids from the marijuana plant and converting them into products with a higher level of quality and consistency. The Company's business model includes licensing operations, processing operations, processing facilities, sale of products, brand creation and consulting services. Twitter: @CLSHusa Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to anticipated future events, future results of operations or future financial performance. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to whether certain transactions will be completed, the terms of such transactions, the descriptions of the companies and the business that any potential target companies could bring to CLS Holdings. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as \"may,\" \"might,\" \"will,\" \"should,\" \"intends,\" \"expects,\" \"plans,\" \"goals,\" \"projects,\" \"anticipates,\" \"believes,\" \"estimates,\" \"predicts,\" \"potential,\" or \"continue\" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are only predictions, are uncertain and involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, levels of activity or performance to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity or performance and we cannot guaranty that the proposed transactions described in this press release will occur. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date that they were made. These cautionary statements should be considered together with any written or oral forward-looking statements that we may issue in the future. Except as required by applicable law, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to reflect actual results, later events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events." + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 4:27 PM / Updated 25 minutes ago UPDATE 1-Ivory Coast awards Tullow two new oil and gas blocks Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Adds detail) ABIDJAN, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast awarded Tullow Oil two new oil and gas blocks on Wednesday, including one along the maritime boundary with Ghana, government spokesman Bruno Kone said. Africa-focused Tullow now holds stakes in nine Ivorian blocks, eight of which it has picked up since an international tribunal in September ruled in favour of Ghana in a dispute over the countries’ sea border. It also has a 21.33 percent position in Ivory Coast’s Espoir field, which is operated by Canada’s CNR. Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Kone said the government had awarded Tullow blocks CI-520, an onshore block near the commercial capital Abidjan, and CI-524, which is adjacent to its acreage in Ghana. Tullow operates the Jubilee oil and gas field in Ghanaian waters and is developing the TEN fields. Having emerged from one of the longest downturns in the sector’s history, Tullow is now cautiously reviving its search for new oil and gas resources in Africa and Latin America. Reporting by Loucoumane Coulibaly; Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Mark Potter and David Goodman" + }, + { + "text": "VIENNA (Reuters) - The German administrator for Austrian airline Niki has not yet decided whether he will withdraw an appeal against a German court ruling that moved Niki’s insolvency proceedings to Austria, his spokesman said in emailed statement to Reuters. Lucas Floether is hoping to salvage a deal he brokered to sell Niki to British Airways owner IAG ( ICAG.L ). That deal was called into question by the German court ruling and a subsequent similar one in Austria handing the main proceedings to an Austrian administrator. Floether said earlier on Tuesday that he would work closely with his Austrian counterpart. Reporting by Shadia Nasralla and Kirsti Knolle; editing by Jason Neely" + }, + { + "text": "OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will visit three major U.S. cities next month to bolster support for NAFTA as negotiators revising the trade pact tackle major differences, officials said on Friday. The timing of Trudeau’s Feb. 7-10 trip is significant, since it comes after a sixth and penultimate round of talks in Montreal from Jan. 23-29 that Canadian insiders are billing as critical. Canadian sources last week said they were increasingly convinced that President Donald Trump would fulfill a long-standing threat to pull out of NAFTA, which he blames for job losses and a big trade deficit with Mexico. Trudeau’s office said the prime minister would visit Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles “to further strengthen the deep bonds” between the two nations. One Canadian source familiar with the planned trip said it had been in the works for many months and described it as a continuation of Canada’s outreach campaign in the United States to sell the merits of free trade. The source said one goal of the trip was to build up support for NAFTA, saying Ottawa was pleased that more and more Americans were speaking up in favor of free trade. U.S. industry groups have become increasingly vocal in recent weeks, pressuring the administration to keep NAFTA intact on the grounds that announcing a withdrawal would cause chaos. Trump told Reuters on Wednesday that terminating the pact would result in the “best deal.” Tellingly, Trudeau will give a speech at the foundation established in honor of former Republican President Ronald Reagan, a proponent of free trade, “to underscore the interconnectedness of the Canada-U.S. economies.” Trump, who also ran as a Republican, has a much more isolationist approach. Trudeau, who has consistently tried to attract high-tech investment to Canada, will spend time with entrepreneurs in San Francisco. Last year Canada tapped Google parent Alphabet Inc to help plan a mixed-use development in Toronto using advanced digital technologies and urban design. Trudeau’s office did not respond to requests for comment. Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Phil Berlowitz" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 4:49 PM / Updated 3 minutes ago CANADA STOCKS-TSX dips, reverses early gains to head for 3d day of losses Nichola Saminather 1 Min Read TORONTO, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Canada’s main stock index fell on Wednesday, surrendering earlier gains, with energy companies among the biggest decliners. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index was down 37.36 points, or 0.2 percent, at 15,918.15 at 1142 EST (1642 GMT). It earlier rose as much as 0.15 percent. (Reporting By Nichola Saminather; Editing by David Gregorio)" + }, + { + "text": "LISBON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo and the country’s top hotel chain, Pestana, will open a new hotel under the Pestana CR7 venture in Marrakesh next year and hope to double the brand in three to five years. Ronaldo is following other sports stars who have invested in hotels, including tennis player Andy Murray and soccer’s Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs -- but Ronaldo’s venture has global ambitions. The new project, the fifth hotel under the Pestana CR7 brand - a trademark combination of Ronaldo’s initials and jersey number -- will rent the 160-room hotel for 20 years and manage it, said Pestana Hotel Group Chief Development Officer Jose Roquette. Moroccan investor M Avenue will finance and own it. “It is a brand that will grow ... In the next three to five years we will quickly double the number of the hotels,” Roquette told reporters, mentioning Ibiza and Milan among possible locations. Pestana, which has a hotel in Casablanca, is also opening a separate 4-star hotel in Marrakesh and hopes to expand further in the north African country. Pestana CEO told Reuters in December the joint venture should help open new markets in Asia and the Middle East, where Ronaldo is extremely popular, as well as reinforce its expansion into Spain and the United States. Ronaldo and Pestana will open two hotels this year in Madrid and New York, having already tested the market at home in Portugal, which is enjoying a tourism boom, with an initial two hotels - in Madeira and Lisbon. Pestana is a family-owned chain of more than 90 upmarket hotels. It aims to open 20 more, including under the CR7 brand, on an investment of 200 million euros by the end of the decade, mostly in Portugal, Roquette said. (Reporting by Sergio Goncalves, writing by Andrei Khalip, editing by Louise Heavens)" + }, + { + "text": "DENVER, Jan. 22, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- QEP Resources, Inc. (NYSE:QEP) today announced that it will host a teleconference and webcast to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2017 results beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. MT) on Thursday, February 22, 2018. QEP will issue a combined fourth quarter and full year 2017 financial and operational results news release Wednesday, February 21, 2018, after market close. The conference call can be heard live through a link on the QEP website, www.qepres.com . In addition, you may participate in the conference call by dialing (877) 869-3847 domestically or (201) 689-8261 internationally. Attendees should log in to the webcast or dial in approximately 15 minutes prior to the call’s start time. A replay of the conference call will be available on the QEP website and a telephone audio replay will be available from February 22, 2018 to March 22, 2018, by calling (877) 660-6853 domestically or (201) 612-7415 internationally and then entering conference ID # 13675566. About QEP Resources QEP Resources, Inc. (QEP) is an independent natural gas and crude oil exploration and production company focused in two geographic regions: the Northern Region (primarily North Dakota and Utah) and the Southern Region (primarily Texas and Louisiana) of the United States. For more information, visit QEP’s website at: www.qepres.com . Contact QEP Resources, Inc. William I. Kent, IRC Director, Investor Relations (303) 405-6665 Source:QEP Resources, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "STOCKHOLM, Jan.19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Husqvarna Group's Year-End Report for 2017 will be published around 08:00 CET on February 2. The report and conference call slides will be available at www.husqvarnagroup.com/ir . Results presentation, conference call and audio cast at 10:00 CET Financial analysts and media are invited to a presentation of the results at 10:00 CET the same day, hosted by Kai Wärn, President and CEO and Jan Ytterberg, CFO. The presentation will be held at Husqvarna Group's office at Regeringsgatan 28 in Stockholm. Dial in details and audio web cast To participate by phone, dial +46 (0) 8-503-364-34 (Sweden) or +44 (0) 8-444-933-800 (UK). Please dial in 10 minutes before the start of the call. Conference ID: Husqvarna or 3486277. A link to the live audio web cast will be available at www.husqvarnagroup.com/ir where a recording of the conference call also will be posted. If you plan to attend the presentation at Regeringsgatan 28, please e-mail [REDACTED] , no later than January 31. For additional information, please contact Tobias Norrby Investor Relations Manager at +46-8-738-93-35 This information was brought to you by Cision The following files are available for download: Invitation Q4 2017 results presentation View original content: SOURCE Husqvarna AB" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 12:58 PM / Updated 6 hours ago Possible joint Koreas parade at Pyeongchang under discussion - source Karolos Grohmann 3 Min Read (Reuters) - North and South Korean athletes could parade together at the opening ceremony of next month’s Pyeongchang Winter Games, under a proposal the International Olympic Committee will consider next week, a source said. The PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games logo is seen at the the Alpensia Ski Jumping Centre in Pyeongchang, South Korea, September 27, 2017. REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski That option, as well as a combined Korean women’s ice hockey team, are among several proposals the IOC will discuss, the source within the Olympic movement told Reuters on Thursday. The two countries, technically still at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended with a truce, agreed on Tuesday that North Korea would send a large delegation across the border to next month’s Games. That deal was struck during their first official talks in more than two years amid high tensions over the North’s weapons programme. The IOC will host talks in Switzerland on Jan. 20 to discuss details about North Korea’s participation at the Games. “These two things are being talked about,” the source said when asked about a possible joint parade and ice hockey team. The source could not say how likely they were to happen. “All details will be discussed next week.” Seoul previously proposed that the two countries’ athletes march together at the opening ceremony, and said Pyongyang had responded positively. South and North Korea paraded together at an international sporting event for the first time at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, but have not done so since the 2007 Asian Winter Games in China. The two Koreas have competed as a single nation in table tennis and soccer but have never at a multi-sports event. “This is a very positive start to the New Year for the global Olympic movement and for long-term peace on the Korean peninsula,” said the President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah of this week’s talks. “The OCA ...looks forward to seeing the flags of two of our member National Olympic Committees flying high together at Pyeongchang 2018.” North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump have waged a war of words in the past year, with the U.S. President warning he would have no choice but to “totally destroy” North Korea if America was forced to defend itself or its allies. Trump said on Saturday he would be willing to speak to Kim, though not without pre-conditions. On Monday, the IOC extended the deadline for North Korean athletes to register for the Games. So far only a figure skating pair has secured a spot, though several other athletes could qualify through special places offered by the Olympic body. Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; editing by John Stonestreet" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - Sirtex Medical Ltd said on Tuesday it has struck a deal with Varian Medical Systems under which Varian agreed to buy the Australian medical device company in a deal that valued it at about A$1.6 billion ($1.29 billion). Sirtex added in a statement its board unanimously recommends that its shareholders vote in favour of the offer. The consideration of A$28 per share represents a 49 percent premium to the Sirtex closing price of A$18.83 per share on Monday. ($1 = 1.2396 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Chris Thomas in Bengaluru; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16(Reuters) - Sichuan Chuanhuan Technology Co Ltd * Sees FY 2017 net profit to increase by 18.58 percent to 36.37 percent, or to be about 100 million yuan to 115 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 84.3 million yuan * Says increased sales and costs control are the main reasons for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/eAWwu4 Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 7:05 PM / Updated 10 hours ago North returns to club in bid to prove fitness for Wales Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Wales winger George North will be released back to his English Premiership club Northampton to play this weekend in a bid to prove his fitness before next month’s Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham, coach Warren Gatland said on Tuesday. North was supposed to undergo a fitness assessment on Monday, before Wales announced their team to play Scotland in their Six Nations opener on Saturday. Yet he did not train because he was recovering from a tight hamstring that forced him to pull out of Northampton’s win at Sale Sharks last weekend. He was subsequently left out of the Welsh team for Saturday’s encounter in Cardiff. “He hasn’t had a lot of rugby, he definitely needs some rugby, so it was a little bit disappointing that he didn’t get some time on the field. But his hamstrings were a little bit tight after a quality week of training,” Gatland told a news conference. North has made just two replacement appearances since October because of a knee injury. “He didn’t train with us on Monday because he was still recovering. He’s going to be released back to Northampton to get a game this weekend to hopefully put him in contention for a place against England,” added Gatland. Northampton play Harlequins on Friday in the Anglo-Welsh Cup. Wales play England in their second Six Nations match on Feb. 10. Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Toby Davis" + }, + { + "text": "DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Baxter International (NYSE: BAX), will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter 2017 financial results on Thursday, February 1, 2018, at 7:30 a.m. Central Standard Time. To access the call, dial 844-886-1929 (domestic) or 225-239-4663 (international). Please dial into the call at least 10 minutes prior to the start for the operator to connect you. The Conference ID is 4488715. This call is also being webcast by Nasdaq OMX and can be accessed at Baxter’s website at www.baxter.com . The conference call will be recorded by Baxter and is copyrighted material. It cannot be recorded or rebroadcast without Baxter’s permission. Baxter provides a broad portfolio of essential renal and hospital products, including home, acute and in-center dialysis; sterile IV solutions; infusion systems and devices; parenteral nutrition; surgery products and anesthetics; and pharmacy automation, software and services. The company’s global footprint and the critical nature of its products and services play a key role in expanding access to healthcare in emerging and developed countries. Baxter’s employees worldwide are building upon the company’s rich heritage of medical breakthroughs to advance the next generation of healthcare innovations that enable patient care. //www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180109006686/en/ Baxter International Media Contact Bill Rader, 224-948-3931 or Investor Contact Clare Trachtman, 224-948-3085 Source: Baxter International" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 9:08 AM / Updated 19 minutes ago European powers urge Trump to preserve Iran nuclear deal Robin Emmott 5 Min Read BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Britain, France and Germany called on Donald Trump on Thursday to uphold a pact curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions on the eve of a sanctions ruling by the U.S. president they fear could torpedo an accord he has relentlessly criticised. Hailed by its admirers as key to stopping Iran from building a nuclear bomb, the deal lifted economic sanctions in exchange for Tehran limiting its nuclear programme. It was also signed by China, France, Russia, Britain, Germany and the European Union. The U.S. Congress requires the president to periodically certify Iran’s compliance and issue a waiver to allow U.S sanctions to remain suspended. The next deadline is on Friday. In sharp contrast to Trump’s view that the 2015 pact was “the worst deal ever negotiated”, the foreign ministers of the three countries and the EU’s top diplomat said there was no alternative to it and that sanctions should remain lifted. “We agree on this approach, we want to protect (the deal) against every possible decision that might undermine it,” Germany’s Sigmar Gabriel said alongside his French and British counterparts and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini after meeting Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. “It is absolutely necessary to have this to prevent the development of nuclear weapons at a time when other parts of the world are discussing how to get them,” Gabriel said, later specifically mentioning North Korea in his remarks. Trump’s choice comes at a delicate time for Iran’s government, which faced protests over economic hardships and corruption that are linked to frustration among younger Iranians who hoped to see more benefits from the lifting of sanctions. The meeting in Brussels was choreographed to send a message to Washington before Trump is due to decide whether to re-impose oil sanctions lifted under the deal. If that happens, Iran has said it would no longer be bound by the pact and could return to producing enriched uranium. Zarif tweeted that the Brussels meeting had shown a “strong consensus” that Iran was complying with the pact, had the right to enjoy its economic benefits and “any move that undermines (it) is unacceptable”. “E3 (Germany, France and Britain) and EU fully aware that Iran’s continued compliance (is) conditioned on full compliance by the US,” Zarif added. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attends a meeting with European Union's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Germany's Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Brussels, Belgium January 11, 2018. REUTERS/John Thys/Pool European countries have benefited from renewed trade with Iran as sanctions have been lifted, while U.S. companies are still largely barred from doing business with the Islamic Republic due to other sanctions unrelated to the nuclear issue.. “GOOD NEIGHBOUR” “The deal is working. It is delivering on its main goal which means keeping the Iranian nuclear programme in check and under close surveillance,” Mogherini said, adding that the International Atomic Energy Agency had shown in nine reports that Iran is meeting its commitments. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the pact was also a way for Iran to show it was “a good neighbour” in the region by complying. Slideshow (3 Images) Trump formally rejected the deal in October, although the United States has not yet pulled out. That major shift in U.S. policy put the United States at odds with its European allies, as well as Russia and China that are also signatories to the nuclear accord, in the most visible transatlantic split on foreign policy since the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. European governments are troubled by Trump’s “America first” rhetoric and inconsistent statements on NATO and the European Union, while they consider the Iran nuclear deal one of West’s the biggest diplomatic achievements in decades. In a gesture to Trump, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Paris shared Washington’s concerns about Iran’s ballistic missile programme and involvement in wars in Yemen and Syria, but stressed the nuclear deal should still stand. “We do not hide other disagreements, which exist ... both in the ballistic field and over Iran’s actions in the whole region,” Le Drian said. Tehran has repeatedly vowed to continue building up its ballistic missile arsenal, one of the biggest in the Middle East, saying it is for defence purposes only. The West sees it as a threat and has installed a U.S.-built missile shield in southeastern Europe, under NATO command. Gabriel said Zarif agreed at the Brussels meeting to discuss the issues in a more regular and structured way, but diplomats said there was no immediate timetable for talks. Additional reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek and Peter Maushagen; Editing by Robin Pomeroy, William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - U.S. Bancorp reported a 16 percent increase in quarterly profit on Wednesday as it booked a $910-million tax benefit due to new U.S. tax laws. The biggest U.S. regional bank by assets said net income attributable to common shareholders rose to $1.61 billion or 97 cents per share in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, from $1.39 billion or 82 cents per share, a year earlier. Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp’s net interest income rose 6.4 percent to $3.14 billion, benefiting partly from higher interest rates. (Reporting by Nikhil Subba in Bengaluru; editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar)" + }, + { + "text": "Market Insider Fed Chair Janet Yellen's final meeting may bring out the hawk in her Fed Chair Janet Yellen presides over her last meeting Tuesday and Wednesday. She could end the meeting with a more hawkish-sounding statement to reflect an improved economy and rising inflation expectations. Yellen, known as a dove during her tenure, started the Fed back on a rate-hiking path in 2015 after her predecessor took interest rates to zero during the financial crisis in 2008. She also began the process of reducing the Fed's $4 trillion balance sheet. The Fed is expected to continue on the same path Yellen set once Jerome Powell takes over. CNBC.com Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images Federal Reserve Board Chairwoman Janet Yellen testifies before the House Financial Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on July 12, 2017. The Federal Reserve may sound a bit more hawkish as Fed Chair Janet Yellen's tenure comes to an end. Yellen's final meeting as chair of the Federal Open Market Committee begins Tuesday and ends with its statement Wednesday at 2 p.m. Yellen's final day at the Fed is Friday. \"They're not going to raise rates this time around. They do want to at least confirm the market's expectations for a March rate hike,\" said Tom Simons, chief money market economist at Jefferies. Yellen leaves the Federal Reserve after four years as chair, and in that time she began the slow process toward normalizing interest rates and shrinking the Fed's balance sheet. Viewed through most of her tenure as a dove, Yellen began the process of reversing extreme crisis-level policy. She had previously served as vice chair to her predecessor, Ben Bernanke, and was president of the San Francisco Fed prior to that. The Fed is not expected to take any rate action this week, and the market has been primed for a March hike, as well as two others later in the year. That fits with the Fed's forecast for three interest rate increases this year. But that could change under the incoming chair, Jerome Powell, when forecasts and projections are released after the March meeting. Powell has been a Federal Reserve governor. Economists expect few changes in the FOMC statement Wednesday, but the changes Fed officials could make might be significant for market expectations. \"I think if they were to put anything that was perceived as dovish into the statement they would be reducing that [March rate hike] probability. It's going to be a more bullish commentary about the economy and maybe include something on rising inflation expectations,\" said Simons. To really sound hawkish, the Fed may need more proof. show chapters 4:37 PM ET Wed, 13 Dec 2017 | 04:40 \"I think they have to acknowledge strength of economy which has risks of more inflation than expected. They need more data to be explicitly hawkish,\" according to Diane Swonk, chief economist at Grant Thornton. Swonk, in an email, said the Fed should increasingly sound hawkish at upcoming meetings. J.P. Morgan economists expect the Fed to describe the economy in an upbeat way and remove language from the statement that talked about post-hurricane disruptions. There is a risk that the Fed could add a hawkish addition to the statement by adding that \"easy financial conditions\" are supporting the growth picture. However, on inflation, they think it's less likely the Fed will make a change. \"The safe course would be to repeat the last statement that headline and core inflation on a 12-month basis declined earlier this year and remain below 2 percent. A less likely hawkish risk scenario is to note that inflation has picked up some in recent months, but continues to run below 2 percent,\" wrote J.P. Morgan chief U.S. economist Michael Feroli. The bond market has already been signaling i t expects the Fed to sound more hawkish, and it is also reacting to the potential for other central banks to get more aggressive. Simons said the signs of inflation are building even though the Fed's preferred inflation measure, the PCE deflator, shows just a 1.5 percent annual rate. \"Commodities prices are rising,\" said Simons. He said Treasury Inflation Protection Securities also show inflation expectations at a four-year high. The prices in manufacturing and services sector data are high. \"I think there are signs of inflation rising.\" Treasurys sold off Monday, in part because Dutch central bank president Klaas Knot said the European Central Bank should end its asset-buying program, which it just recently cut in half. U.S. yields jumped with German bunds, and the 10-year Treasury yield temporarily reached a four-year high of 2.72 percent. There was also market chatter that the Fed could move more quickly than expected, based on potential inflation." + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Miner Anglo American on Thursday reported a 5 percent increase in 2017 output citing improved productivity and the removal of less profitable ounces. Its De Beers diamond unit increased production 22 percent while copper and coking coal were broadly flat. Kumba Iron Ore in South Africa increased output by 8 percent. “The 5 percent increase for the full year reflects our ongoing focus on productivity and was achieved despite the removal of unprofitable and higher cost platinum and metallurgical coal,” CEO Mark Cutifani said in a statement. Reporting by Barbara Lewis; editing by Jason Neely" + }, + { + "text": "LEAWOOD, Kan., Jan. 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Euronet Worldwide, Inc. (\"Euronet\" or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:EEFT) announced today it will release fourth quarter and full year 2017 earnings results prior to the market opening on Wednesday, February 7, 2018. Euronet will hold a conference call the same day at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results. The conference call will be accessible via webcast by following the link posted on . Participants should go to the website at least five minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the event to register. A slideshow will be included in the webcast. The conference call will also be available by telephone by dialing 877-303-6313 (USA) or [REDACTED] (non-USA). A webcast replay will be available beginning approximately one hour after the event at and will remain available for one year. About Euronet Worldwide, Inc. Euronet Worldwide is an industry leader in processing secure electronic financial transactions. The Company offers payment and transaction processing solutions to financial institutions, retailers, service providers and individual consumers. These services include comprehensive ATM, POS and card outsourcing services, card issuing and merchant acquiring services, software solutions, cash-based and online-initiated consumer-to-consumer and business-to-business money transfer services, and electronic distribution of prepaid mobile phone time and other prepaid products. Euronet's global payment network is extensive - including 38,105 ATMs, approximately 227,000 EFT POS terminals and a growing portfolio of outsourced debit and credit card services which are under management in 53 countries; card software solutions; a prepaid processing network of approximately 673,000 POS terminals at approximately 306,000 retailer locations in 39 countries; and a global money transfer network of approximately 332,000 locations serving 146 countries. With corporate headquarters in Leawood, Kansas, USA, and 61 worldwide offices, Euronet serves clients in approximately 160 countries. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.euronetworldwide.com . Contact: Euronet Worldwide, Inc. Stephanie Taylor T: 913-327-4200 E: [REDACTED] Source:Euronet Worldwide, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 10:30 AM / Updated 14 minutes ago Emirates places provisional order for 20 Airbus A380s Reuters Staff 1 Min Read DUBAI, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Dubai-based airline Emirates has made a provisional order for 20 Airbus A380s, it said on Thursday. The deal includes 20 firm orders for the aircraft and options for a further 16, it said in the statement, adding the total value for the deal was $16 billion. (Reporting By Tom Arnold)" + }, + { + "text": "SAN JOSE, Costa Rica—Costa Rican investigators said Monday that strong winds or mechanical problems most likely caused a charter aircraft to crash in woods, killing two crew members and 10 U.S. citizens, including families from New York and Florida. The families from the New York City suburb of Scarsdale and from Belleair, Fla., accounted for nine of the dead and were part of a tour organized by Berkeley, Calif.-based Backroads. Their American guide was the 10th U.S. victim. ... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian (NYSE: VAR) today announced its Halcyon TM system has received Taiwan FDA approval, which allows the company to market this new cancer treatment system in Taiwan. This approval further expands the global availability of Halcyon and high-quality, cost-effective cancer treatments. As an advanced cancer treatment system with a human-centered and user-friendly design, Halcyon is engineered to revolutionize clinical workflow, accelerate installation timeframes, expedite commissioning, simplify training, and automate treatment. It simplifies and enhances virtually every aspect of image-guided volumetric intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). It is well suited to handle the majority of cancer patients, offering advanced treatments for lung, esophagus, brain, head & neck, and many other forms of cancer. \"We are very proud to further expand Halcyon's global availability, and with Taiwan FDA approval, clinicians in Taiwan now can take advantage of the unique capabilities of this system,\" said Kevin O'Reilly, president of Asia Pacific for Varian. \"We look forward to further growing Halcyon's availability as we partner with our customers in the fight against cancer.\" Halcyon has already received FDA 510(k) clearance in the US, CE mark in Europe, Shonin approval in Japan and ANVISA registration in Brazil since its launch in May 2017. First treatments have shown Halcyon's human-centered and user-friendly design can enhance patient comfort and increase the treatment efficiency. With the streamlined workflow, Halcyon only requires nine steps from the start to the end of treatment compared to up to more than 30 steps with older technologies. For more information on Halcyon visit www.varian.com/halcyon . About Varian Varian focuses energy on saving lives and is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating and managing cancer. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Varian employs approximately 6,500 people around the world. For more information, visit and follow @VarianMedSys on Twitter. Press Contact Mark Plungy Director, Public Relations [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Investor Relations Contact J. Michael Bruff Vice President, Investor Relations [REDACTED] [REDACTED] View original content: SOURCE Varian" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 6:09 AM / Updated 12 minutes ago Russian bank CEOs, metals magnates and gas chief named on U.S. 'oligarchs' list' Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MOSCOW (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday named major Russian businessmen including the heads of the two biggest banks, metals magnates and the boss of the state gas monopoly on a list of oligarchs close to the Kremlin. The list, drawn up as part of a sanctions package signed into law in August last year, does not mean those included will be subject to sanctions, but it casts a shadow of sanctions risk over a wide circle of wealthy Russians, including many outside President Vladimir Putin’s immediate circle. Reporting by Polina Devitt; Writing by Christian Lowe; editing by Polina Devitt" + }, + { + "text": "Samsung's fourth quarter earnings guidance underwhelms in turnaround year Tuesday, January 09, 2018 - 01:11 Samsung's set to report record fourth quarter results for 2017 later this month, but its profit guidance fell short of the street's estimates in a turnaround year for the Korean chip giant. Sareena Dayaram reports. Samsung's set to report record fourth quarter results for 2017 later this month, but its profit guidance fell short of the street's estimates in a turnaround year for the Korean chip giant. Sareena Dayaram reports. //reut.rs/2AKRifC" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29(Reuters) - Shandong Astro-century Education&Technology Co Ltd * Sees 2017 net profit to decrease by 3.5 percent to increase by 12.7 percent, or to be 30.2 million yuan to 35.3 million yuan * Says 2016 net profit was 31.3 million yuan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/Znofgo Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government shutdown, which was in its third day, would be a “relatively small” drag on the U.S. economic expansion in the first quarter, but the effects depend on how long it lasts, Morgan Stanley’s analysts said on Monday. Each week of the shutdown would subtract up to 0.2 percentage point from the annualized quarterly growth rate of the gross domestic product, Morgan Stanley economist Ellen Zentner and strategist Michael Zezas wrote in a research note. Reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp Ltd : * SAYS IT EXPECTS 2017 NET PROFIT TO FALL 58 PERCENT Y/Y FROM 1.2 BILLION YUAN ($190.01 million) YEAR AGO Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2DM800p Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3156 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "CNBC's John Harwood recently sat down with conservative pundit Bill Kristol to discuss a wide range of topics, including the proper role of government , the state of conservative media, how businesses \"sucking up\" to President Donald Trump are creeping him out, and, here, the rise and fall of one-time vice president candidate Sarah Palin . What follows is an edited excerpt of their conversation: RJ Sangosti | The Denver Post | Getty Images Sarah Palin Harwood: There are people who trace a direct line from Sarah Palin to Donald Trump . It is characterized as \"the dumbing down of Republican politics,\" an anti-intellectual movement, which is odd from you because you are an intellectual. Kristol: Yeah, she turned out to be a disappointment. I mean, when she was picked, she was a popular governor of Alaska who had taken on the oil companies and so forth. I thought Palin as [John] McCain's VP would be a way to almost channel a certain kind of populism into what I would say is a healthy conservatism. Harwood: You discovered her on a Weekly Standard cruise, right? Kristol: She invited Fred Barnes and me and our families over to lunch at the governor's residence there. And we were impressed by her. And she was charming. And she was different — 42-year-old governor of Alaska, kind of an exotic state. I had been originally for John McCain picking Joe Lieberman — a centrist play against Barack Obama. And they chose not to go that way. And then I thought, 'OK, well, why not take the gamble with Palin?' But I will say this. For all the alleged dumbing down, the people who ran and won in 2010 and 2012 were pretty impressive, a lot of them. The Republican ticket in 2012 was Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. Whatever again you think of them, that's not a dumbed-down ticket. So I thought, 'OK, Palin, they didn't win.' And I thought, 'OK, she chose to be a celebrity rather than a politician.' I didn't realize that we were going into a celebrity culture — such a celebrity culture that Trump would actually as a celebrity run and win in 2016. I don't think Palin really led to Trump. Was this somehow a bit of a precursor or something? I'm willing to say, 'Maybe so.' Read more Kristol on the state of the Republican Party Kristol on businesses kissing up to Trump Kristol on Fox News and Tucker Carlson" + }, + { + "text": "Russians plunge in to icy water to mark Orthodox Epiphany Friday, January 19, 2018 - 01:30 Russians in the cities of Irkutsk and Moscow braved chilly weather and plunged themselves into icy water to celebrate the Orthodox Epiphany. (Rough cut. No reporter narration) Russians in the cities of Irkutsk and Moscow braved chilly weather and plunged themselves into icy water to celebrate the Orthodox Epiphany. (Rough cut. No reporter narration) //reut.rs/2mYeLFb" + }, + { + "text": "With this strategic investment in digital services, BSH is on track to become an integrated hardware, software and service provider. BSH Hausgeräte GmbH has acquired approximately 65 percent of the global food platform Kitchen Stories Gradual integration of the food platform into the digital Home Connect ecosystem will bring new added value for Home Connect consumers and Kitchen Stories users in 150 countries, including the United States The two companies will develop their digital offerings related to recipes and cooking IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of its heightened focus on becoming the leading provider of connected hardware and digital services in the home appliance industry, BSH Hausgeräte GmbH has acquired approximately 65 percent of the global food platform Kitchen Stories . Kitchen Stories offers high-quality videos and photo guides that provide step-by-step help with recipes for spare-time cooks and ambitious amateur chefs, and the app has been downloaded some 15 million times worldwide. The BSH acquisition of a majority stake in Kitchen Stories will expand the company’s worldwide products and services related to recipes and smart cooking, especially within the Home Connect digital ecosystem. The investment highlights BSH’s ambition to become the leading provider of connected hardware and digital services in the home appliance industry. Digitalization and connectivity are blurring the lines more and more between hardware, software and digital services for consumers. “We’re seeing a big change in the home appliance industry. Our consumers want integrated, connected, fun-to-use solutions that make their everyday routine easier and more rewarding,” said Karsten Ottenberg, Chairman of the BSH Management Board. “As a global leader in the home appliance industry, we are increasingly advancing innovations ourselves, as well as looking for fresh ideas from outside to enhance our offerings. To this end, we are seeking out suitable partners and business models to offer consumers and users new experiences that live up to the quality promise of our successful brands also in the connected kitchen.” Berlin startup Kitchen Stories was founded in 2013 by Mengting Gao and Verena Hubertz. Their vision was to apply innovative technologies and high-quality video content to enable any user of Kitchen Stories to follow recipes and prepare meals at home. Kitchen Stories deliberately takes a global approach, so that the platform can combine a diversity of international cuisines with an ongoing dialogue on the subject of cooking. With this acquisition, Kitchen Stories will operate as an independent brand within the BSH Group. Investments will go primarily to further technical development of the platform. “We have a clear goal in mind – to make Kitchen Stories the world’s leading platform in digital cooking experiences. BSH is just the right partner for that,” Gao explains. Hubertz adds: “With its intelligent Home Connect platform, BSH is the leading home appliance manufacturer in the connected kitchen segment. It’s great that Kitchen Stories is becoming a part of this ecosystem. And besides that, the investments will enable us to tap the connected kitchen market, and to help continue designing the cooking of the future.” Kitchen Stories will soon integrate into the growing Home Connect ecosystem and will gradually expand with new applications. Home Connect, a subsidiary of BSH Hausgeräte GmbH, is a dynamic, open-platform ecosystem that was created to connect home appliances to the Internet of Things. At the launch of the cooperative arrangement, Kitchen Stories recipes will be available on the Home Connect app. Consumers will also be able to use the Kitchen Stories app for tasks like sending the temperature setting from a recipe directly to their connected oven. Kitchen Stories will gradually expand with new applications, such as intuitive guidance while the user is cooking, a smart recipe search, as well as suggestions and variations for recipes. About BSH Hausgeräte GmbH With annual sales of around €13.1 billion in 2016 and more than 58,000 employees, BSH Hausgeräte GmbH is one of the global leaders in the home appliance sector. BSH manufactures at around 40 factories, operates over 80 companies and has a presence in around 50 countries. BSH is a company of the Bosch Group. For more information, visit www.bsh-group.com . About Kitchen Stories Kitchen Stories was founded in 2013 by Mengting Gao and Verena Hubertz in Berlin. The startup is active in more than 150 countries. Its core markets are China, Germany and the US. The app has generated more than 15 million downloads and was awarded by Apple and Google numerous times (most recently with the Apple Design Award in 2017). Kitchen Stories employs a team of 30 in Berlin. Contact: Debbie Ehrman Finn Partners 310-882-4016 [REDACTED] Source: BSH Home Appliances" + }, + { + "text": "NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: HCA) today announced that its board of directors has appointed Michael W. Michelson as an independent director, effective immediately. With his addition, HCA’s board of directors increased from 11 to 12 members. Mr. Michelson will also serve as a member of the Company’s Audit and Compliance Committee and Finance and Investments Committee. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: HCA Healthcare Board Member Michael Michelson (Photo: Business Wire) Mr. Michelson joined KKR in 1981 and has played a significant role investing in and developing the firm’s portfolio companies. He began his professional career with the law firm of Latham & Watkins in Los Angeles, where he was involved in a broad corporate practice. He earned an A.B. from Harvard College and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Mr. Michelson also previously served as a director of HCA from 2006 to 2016. R. Milton Johnson, chairman and chief executive officer of HCA, commented, “We are very excited to have Mike rejoin our board of directors. I am confident that his extensive business experience and financial expertise, including his knowledge of HCA and the healthcare industry, will be a valuable resource to the Company going forward.” All references to “Company” and “HCA” as used throughout this document refer to HCA Healthcare, Inc. and its affiliates. View source version on businesswire.com : HCA Healthcare, Inc. Investor Contact: Mark Kimbrough, 615-344-2688 or Media Contact: Ed Fishbough, 615-344-2810 Source: HCA Healthcare, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 7:29 PM / Updated 38 minutes ago Chile's 'antipoet' Nicanor Parra dies at age 103 Reuters Staff 3 Min Read SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Nicanor Parra, the Chilean artist and writer who described himself as an “antipoet,” died on Tuesday at the age of 103, the country’s president said. Regarded as one of the most important Latin American poets of the 20th century, Parra remained active, eloquent and provocative throughout his long life. “Chile lost one of the greatest authors in the history of our literature and a singular voice in Western culture,” President Michelle Bachelet wrote on social media. Noted for his black humour, his sense of irony and his refusal to take poetry too seriously, his most influential work is probably the 1954 collection “Poems and Antipoems.” He was a friend of U.S. poet Allen Ginsberg and has often been cited as an influence on the Beat movement, as well as Chilean writers like Roberto Bolano. In 2011 he won the Cervantes Prize, the highest literary honour in the Spanish-speaking world. Born in the small town of San Fabian in southern Chile on Sept. 5, 1914, Parra hailed from Chile’s most famous and prolific family of artists and musicians. His sister Violeta Parra was a well-known folk singer, as is her son, Angel. His daughter Colombina and grandson, also called Angel, both had some success with rock bands in Latin America in the 1990s. Nicanor Parra’s first published book of poems was “Cancionero Sin Nombre” (Songbook Without a Name), released in 1937 while he was a student in the capital Santiago. In it, Parra broke with the florid style prevalent in Latin American literature at the time, and adopted a more direct, colloquial style. Police stand guard at the house of Chilean poet Nicanor Parra, a mathematician and physicist, awarded with the Spanish Ministry of Culture's Cervantes Prize, the most important prize of Spanish literature, after he died at the age of 103, in Santiago, Chile, January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado After graduating in physics, he taught in Chilean schools before moving to the United States where he studied at Brown University in Rhode Island. He returned to Chile in 1946 and divided much of the rest of his life between teaching theoretical physics and writing and reading his poetry. His many published works include “Thick Works” (1969), “Artifacts” (1972), “Leaves of Parra” (1985), “After-Dinner Declarations” (2006) and a translation of Shakespeare’s “King Lear” (2004). In 1999 he wrote the following message to young poets: ”Write as you will, In whatever style you like, Too much blood has run under the bridge, To go on believing, That only one road is right. ”In poetry everything is permitted. “With only this condition of course, You have to improve the blank page.” He lived the last years of his life in a coastal town southwest of Santiago. Writing by Rosalba O'Brien and Dave Sherwood; Editing by Lisa Shumaker" + }, + { + "text": "Hong Kong's homeless population surges amid soaring costs Friday, January 26, 2018 - 00:58 As living costs soar in Hong Kong, the city's homeless population is growing at an alarming rate amid a widening wealth gap. Sareena Dayaram reports. As living costs soar in Hong Kong, the city's homeless population is growing at an alarming rate amid a widening wealth gap. Sareena Dayaram reports. //reut.rs/2neVTSk" + }, + { + "text": "DENVER, Jan. 05, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. (NASDAQ:XOG) will host a conference call on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at 8:00 AM MST (10:00 AM EST) to discuss fourth-quarter 2017 financial and operating results. Earnings will be released after close of market on Tuesday, February 27, 2018. The full text of the release will be available on the company’s website at www.extractionog.com . Those who would like to participate can dial into the number listed below approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled conference call time, and enter confirmation number 4288643 when prompted. Fourth-Quarter 2017 Earnings Conference Call Information Date: Wednesday, February 28, 2018 Time: 8:00 AM MST / 10:00 AM EST Dial - In Numbers: 1-844-229-9561 (Domestic toll-free) Conference ID: 4288643 To access the audio webcast and related presentation materials, please visit the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.extractionog.com . A replay of the conference call will be available on the website for approximately 30 days following the call. About Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. Denver-based Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. is an independent energy exploration and development company focused on exploring, developing and producing crude oil, natural gas and NGLs primarily in the Wattenberg Field in the Denver-Julesburg Basin of Colorado. For further information, please visit www.extractionog.com . The Company's common shares are listed for trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol: “XOG.” Investor Contact: Louis Baltimore, [REDACTED] , 720-974-7773 Media Contact: Brian Cain, [REDACTED] , 720-974-7782 Source:Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron called on Tuesday for a more coordinated European approach to trade with China during an official visit to Beijing. Macron said that too often in the past, European countries had come to China with widely varying agendas with some seeking more openness and others wary of more granting more access to their markets. “We need a coordinated European approach ... that gives China more visibility about our agenda,” Macron said after a commercial contract signing ceremony. “That’s why France is in favor of defining strategic sectors where we want to protect investments... It’s a question of sovereignty as you yourselves have understood very well,” Macron added, seated next to his Chinese counterpart. Reporting by Michel Rose; Writing by Leigh Thomas; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta" + }, + { + "text": "The Wall Street Journal “It’s all a question of what will get people to sign a lease,” says Caitlin Sugrue Walter, senior director of research at the NMHC. “If 82% say they need a fitness center, then most places will have a fitness center.” Gyms have become a standard amenity for rental developments, with 91% of respondents living in a community with an on-site fitness center. The findings are no surprise to University of California, Berkeley economics professor Ulrike Malmendier. In 2006, she and her Berkeley colleague, Stefano DellaVigna, published “Paying Not to Go to the Gym,” a study that found people dramatically overestimate their future gym attendance. “I think the phenomenon we documented is very robust and very pervasive,” Prof. Malmendier says, noting that even though people are fairly self-aware about their lack of gym commitment, “they are often still too optimistic about how much use they will make of [fitness centers].” The paper, published in the American Economic Review, looked at gyms unconnected to residential developments, but Prof. Malmendier says the NMHC survey provides an interesting example of the phenomenon that study observed. “On the one hand, an on-site location is a really good idea in that we know that the slightest hurdle that makes it harder to go to the gym can have a huge effect,” she says. “Having it in the building is a good thing in that you want to minimize the friction.” “On the other hand,” Prof. Malmendier adds, “there is still some friction. You still have to go down and find the gym.” Popular Homes Based on your last search Editors' Picks" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 3:06 PM / Updated 6 hours ago Apple's U.S. tax payment does not change EU's Irish tax ruling Julia Fioretti 3 Min Read BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Apple’s ( AAPL.O ) announcement that it will pay $38 billion (27.39 billion pounds) in U.S. tax on its overseas cash will not reduce the $16 billion tax bill the company owes Ireland following a European Union ruling, the EU’s executive said on Thursday. “Nothing has changed,” a spokesman for the European Commission said, with regards to its 2016 ruling that Apple received illegal state aid in Ireland through sweetheart tax deals with the government. At the time of the ruling, the Commission said the amount Apple would have to pay to Ireland could be reduced if other countries found the company should have recorded its sales there instead of Ireland, or if its European subsidiaries were to pay more tax to the U.S. parent company. However, Apple’s announcement on Wednesday that it would pay about $38 billion in one-time U.S. tax payments on its overseas cash do not fit either of these criteria. “The Commission’s 2016 state aid decision found that, over many years, tax rulings issued by Ireland had allowed Apple to pay less tax on profits recorded in Ireland than other companies subject to (the) same national taxation laws. This gave Apple an illegal advantage in breach of EU state aid rules, which must now be recovered by Ireland - nothing has changed in that regard,” said the Commission spokesman. The Commission ordered Apple to pay Ireland up to 13 billion euros ($16 billion) in August 2016 and has since taken Dublin to court over its delays in recovering the money. A spokesman for the Irish finance ministry also said it had no indication the U.S. tax payment would affect its recovery of the money. “Ireland has an obligation to recover (money) that is binding under EU law. Changes to U.S. legislation do not alter such an obligation,” the spokesman said. Apple on Wednesday unveiled a $30 billion U.S. investment plan and said it would pay about $38 billion in foreign cash taxes. It is unclear whether Apple will be able to offset the Irish tax bill against the 15.5 percent U.S. tax on offshore tax piles. ($1 = 0.8177 euros)" + }, + { + "text": "DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co( F.N ) plans this spring to offer a diesel engine version of its best-selling F-150 pickup truck, looking to gain a marketing edge as its main rivals ramp up more efficient pickups of their own. Ford executives said they expect the F-150 diesel model with a 10-speed transmission to achieve 30 miles per gallon highway fuel efficiency, a level comparable to some midsize cars. “We’re confident we’ll get there,” David Filipe, Ford vice president of powertrain engineering, said at a briefing for media ahead of the official launch announcement. The diesel F-150 will cost between $2,400 and $4,000 more than a comparable gasoline truck, depending on the specific model, Ford executives said. The diesel engine will be manufactured at a Ford plant in Britain. Ford executives said they expect that once production ramps up about 5 percent of F-150 models will be ordered with the diesel engine. The model will be aimed at people who tow large recreational or work trailers. Sales of big pickup trucks in the United States have surged in recent years as gasoline prices have stabilized at less than $3 a gallon in most states. Ford in 2017 sold 896,764 F-series trucks, more than in any year since 2005. Still, Ford, General Motors Co ( GM.N ) and the Ram brand of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV ( FCAU.N ) ( FCHA.MI ) fight for the right to claim that their brands offer the most fuel-efficient large pickup - even when those high-mileage models have limited availability or cost more than conventional gasoline-fueled trucks. Fiat Chrysler jarred its rivals in 2013 by offering a diesel engine in its light duty Ram pickup models and claiming best-in-class fuel economy. But last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Justice Department charged that Fiat Chrysler improperly used software to cheat government emissions tests covering 104,000 Ram 2014-2016 models. The automaker is negotiating to settle the complaints and received government clearance to offer a 3.0 liter diesel in its 2017 and 2018 Ram trucks. That model is rated at 27 miles per gallon in highway driving. Ford executives said they are confident their diesel will comply with U.S. emissions rules. Owners will need to refill a 5.4 gallon tank of fluid for the exhaust treatment system roughly every 10,000 miles, Filipe said. Reporting By Joseph White; Editing by Bill Trott" + }, + { + "text": "CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt has hanged four men convicted by a military court of killing three military students in a bombing in 2014, security sources said on Tuesday. It was the second reported multiple execution of convicted Islamist militants in a week. A week ago Egypt hanged 15 men accused of deadly attacks in the Sinai peninsula, believed to be the largest number of people executed in a single day since President Abdel Fateh al-Sisi took power. The latest executions were carried out in the Borg al-Arab prison, west of the coastal city of Alexandria, after the military appeals court rejected appeals by the defendants, the sources said. The four were hanged for their role in a bombing in the Nile Delta town of Kafr al-Sheikh that took place during violence that followed the ouster of President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood. Sisi, then the military chief, removed Mursi in mid-2013 after mass protests against Mursi’s rule. The court also sentenced three others in absentia to death, and jailed eight others, including Salah al-Feki, head of the Muslim Brotherhood’s administrative office in Kafr al-Sheikh. Authorities banned the Brotherhood and declared it a terrorist organization after Mursi was deposed, arresting thousands of its members and supporters. Since then, Egypt has faced a growing insurgency from Islamic State fighters in the Sinai Peninsula. Reporting by Haitham Ahmed and Mohamed Abdellah; Writing by Nadine Awadalla; Editing by Peter Graff" + }, + { + "text": "JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African President Jacob Zuma’s removal as head of state is not on the agenda of a meeting of top officials from the ruling African National Congress (ANC), the party’s Secretary-General Ace Magashule said on Thursday in televised remarks. There is widespread speculation that Zuma’s opponents in the ANC’s newly elected 80-member national executive committee will make a fresh push during four days of meetings which begin on Thursday to replace him with new party leader Cyril Ramaphosa. Reporting by Ed Stoddard; Editing by Toby Chopra" + }, + { + "text": "Lockheed Martin reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter revenue on Monday, helped by higher sales from the F-35 fighter jet program, while also forecasting a rise in earnings in 2018. The U.S. defense contractor took a $1.9 billion charge in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, mainly due to the change in U.S. tax law. On an adjusted basis, however, Lockheed earned $4.30 per share in the quarter. Net sales rose to $15.14 billion from $13.75 billion a year earlier compared with $14.72 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Adjusted for new accounting standards from Jan. 1, Lockheed said it expects 2018 net sales in the range of $50.00 billion-$51.50 billion and earnings per share of $15.20-$15.50. Lockheed, like its peers in the United States , is expected to gain from an increase in defense spending under President Donald Trump 's administration. The U.S. Defense Department expects to spend some $391 billion over 15 years to develop and buy 2,456 of the supersonic warplanes. Lockheed said sales in its aeronautics business, its biggest, grew 11.8 percent to $6.05 billion." + }, + { + "text": "At least three dead after train derails near Milan Thursday, January 25, 2018 - 00:38 A fire brigade official says a train derailment near Italy’s financial capital Milan has left at least three people dead and 13 others seriously injured. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript A fire brigade official says a train derailment near Italy’s financial capital Milan has left at least three people dead and 13 others seriously injured. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Leader of Britain's UKIP splits with girlfriend after 'appalling' Markle comments 10:47am IST - 01:01 The leader of Britain's anti-European Union UKIP Party said he had split with his new girlfriend after a newspaper published derogatory comments she made about Prince Harry's fiancee Meghan Markle and black people. Nathan Frandino reports. The leader of Britain's anti-European Union UKIP Party said he had split with his new girlfriend after a newspaper published derogatory comments she made about Prince Harry's fiancee Meghan Markle and black people. Nathan Frandino reports. //reut.rs/2De6o3k" + }, + { + "text": "SHANGHAI, Jan 15 (Reuters) - China’s central bank lent 398 billion yuan ($61.76 billion) to financial institutions on Monday via its 1-year medium-term lending facility (MLF), it said in a statement. The new MLF loans inject a net 108.5 billion yuan after effectively rolling over 182.5 billion yuan worth of 1-year MLFs maturing on Monday and another 107 billion of the same tenor due to mature on Jan. 24. On Dec. 14, the People’s Bank of China raised interest rates on liquidity tools, including the one-year MLF to 3.25 percent. ($1 = 6.4445 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Winni Zhou, Samuel Shen and John Ruwitch; Editing by Richard Borsuk)" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 3:38 AM / Updated 39 minutes ago Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi launch $1 bln venture capital fund Reuters Staff 2 Min Read TOKYO, Jan 10 (Reuters) - The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance said it is setting up a venture capital fund that plans to invest as much as $1 billion over five years, the latest move by major carmakers as they seek to adapt to rapid industry change by investing in startups. It is set to be largest corporate venture capital fund in the auto industry over the period until 2022, the companies said in a statement. The traditional auto industry model based on individual ownership is threatened by pay-per-use services such as Uber, as well as ride- and car-sharing platforms, a challenge heightened by shifts towards electric and self-driving cars. The fund expects to invest up to $200 million in its first year and key potential areas of investment include vehicle electrification, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence, the statement said. It will be 40 percent financed by Renault SA, 40 percent by Nissan Motor Co Ltd and 20 percent by Mitsubishi Motors Corp. The plan, reported by Reuters last week, calls for the firms to establish the fund as a Dutch-registered joint venture headed by Francois Dossa, a former banker who led Brazil operations for Societe Generale and then for Nissan, sources familiar with the matter said. The first deal by the fund, called Alliance Ventures, will be a strategic investment in Ionic Materials, a U.S.-based firm that is developing solid-state cobalt-free battery materials. The $200 million initial venture capital investment comes in addition to more than 8.5 billion euros ($10.2 billion) in combined annual research and development investments by the three automakers. $1 = 0.8370 euros Reporting by Minami Funakoshi; Editing by Edwina Gibbs" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Friday it isn’t clear whether Congress will need to take up a bill to make technical corrections to the sweeping new tax law that took effect this month. It is possible some corrections may be necessary and officials have discussed it, but said no major problems have been identified yet, Mr. Mnuchin told an audience at a Washington Economic Club breakfast. “There’s... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "SHARES Susan Farley | AFP | Getty Images A file photo of President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary's home in Chappaqua, New York. A fire that broke out at former president and first lady Bill and Hillary Clinton's home has been extinguished, WNBC reported Wednesday. Firefighters arrived on the scene of the Clintons' longtime home in Chappaqua, New York to fight a fire that has since been put out, the Chappaqua Fire Department told WNBC. The Town of New Castle Police Department said no injuries were sustained by the fire. An ambulance on the scene left without transport. This is breaking news. Please check back for updates." + }, + { + "text": "January 13, 2018 / 1:21 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Tri-Series in UAE 2018 Scoreboard Reuters Staff 3 Min Read Jan 13 (OPTA) - Scoreboard at close of play on the first day of match 2 between United Arab Emirates and Ireland on Saturday at Dubai, United Arab Emirates Ireland win by 67 runs Ireland 1st innings William Porterfield c Rohan Mustafa b Mohammad Naveed 139 Paul Stirling c&b Zahoor Khan 20 Andrew Balbirnie c Rohan Mustafa b Qadeer Ahmed 102 Kevin O'Brien c Rameez Shahzad b Rohan Mustafa 24 Niall O'Brien b Rohan Mustafa 4 Stuart Poynter Not Out 0 Extras 0b 4lb 4nb 0pen 4w 12 Total (50.0 overs) 301-5 Fall of Wickets : 1-44 Stirling, 2-245 McBrine, 3-289 Porterfield, 4-299 O'Brien, 5-301 O'Brien Did Not Bat : Wilson, McBrine, Dockrell, McCarthy, Chase Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Mohammad Naveed 8 0 51 1 6.38 Qadeer Ahmed 10 0 75 1 7.50 1w 4nb Zahoor Khan 10 1 51 1 5.10 1w Ahmed Raza 10 0 44 0 4.40 1w Rohan Mustafa 10 0 65 2 6.50 1w Ashfaq Ahmed 2 0 11 0 5.50 United Arab Emirates 1st innings Ashfaq Ahmed c Niall O'Brien b Barry McCarthy 25 Rohan Mustafa c Niall O'Brien b Peter Chase 12 Ghulam Shabeer b Andy McBrine 18 Rameez Shahzad c Niall O'Brien b Andy McBrine 50 Mohammad Usman c William Porterfield b Kevin O'Brien 44 Mohammad Boota c&b Kevin O'Brien 20 Adnan Mufti c Niall O'Brien b Kevin O'Brien 17 Mohammad Naveed c Andy McBrine b Barry McCarthy 25 Ahmed Raza b George Dockrell 0 Zahoor Khan c Barry McCarthy b Kevin O'Brien 8 Qadeer Ahmed Not Out 0 Extras 0b 1lb 0nb 0pen 14w 15 Total (48.4 overs) 234 all out Fall of Wickets : 1-36 Ahmed, 2-40 Mustafa, 3-75 Shabeer, 4-143 Shahzad, 5-165 Usman, 6-199 Boota, 7-199 Mufti, 8-200 Raza, 9-211 Khan, 10-234 Naveed Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Kevin O'Brien 10 0 41 4 4.10 4w Barry McCarthy 9.4 0 49 2 5.07 1w Peter Chase 8 0 33 1 4.12 3w Andy McBrine 10 0 40 2 4.00 1w George Dockrell 9 0 52 1 5.78 4w Paul Stirling 2 0 18 0 9.00 Umpire Roland Black Umpire Nitin Menon Match Referee Manu Nayyar" + }, + { + "text": "Chinese search engine Baidu is seeking new investors for its wholly-owned finance unit, in a deal that could fetch up to $2 billion and deepen its push into financial services, people with knowledge of the matter said. The investors will either buy some of Baidu's shares in Baidu Financial Services Group (Baidu FSG) or buy new stakes in the unit, which is valued at around 18 billion yuan ($2.8 billion) before the new funding round, the people told Reuters. Baidu is currently talking to prospective investors with the aim of attracting between $1.5 billion and $2 billion, they said. About half of the proceeds will be raised by Baidu through selling down its holdings in the unit, they said. The fundraising is expected to close by April, one person said. Baidu FSG runs payment system Baidu Wallet, an online credit service and an online wealth management platform. By beefing it up, Baidu is attempting to narrow the lead that its Chinese rivals Alibaba and Tencent have forged in financial services. The fundraising also comes amid a wider reshuffle of Baidu's corporate strategy as it looks for new revenue streams outside its core search business. Baidu declined to comment on the fundraising. All the people declined to be named as the fundraising plans were confidential. Currently, Baidu FSG mainly offers online financial services and products in China and owns several small financial licenses such as a third-party payment license and a fund sales license. Alibaba affiliate Ant Financial, which was valued at over $60 billion in its latest funding round in 2016, runs China's top online payment platform Alipay and offers services including online payment, wealth management products and insurance. Its main rival Tencent operates WeChat Pay, a payment feature which is attached to its popular messaging and social networking application WeChat and has several hundred million users. Baidu Wallet, which also attracts users for other financial services such as online credit, had 100 million activated accounts as at the end of 2016. It is currently far behind its rivals Ant Financial and WeChat Pay in mobile payments in China. Baidu FSG plans to use part of the proceeds to be raised to invest in several domestic financial institutions, such as trust firms. It is expected to record 3 billion yuan to 4 billion in net revenue and turn a slight profit this year, one of the people said." + }, + { + "text": "Reuters TV United States January 11, 2018 / 6:09 PM / Updated 6 minutes ago Ford urges 2,900 pickup owners to stop driving after new Takata death Reuters Staff 1 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co ( F.N ) said Thursday it had confirmed a second death in a older pickup truck caused by a defective Takata airbag inflator and urged 2,900 owners in North America to stop driving immediately until they can get replacement parts. FILE PHOTO: A recalled Takata airbag inflator is shown in Miami, Florida in this June 25, 2015 file photo. REUTERS/Joe Skipper/File Photo The second largest U.S. automaker said it was able to confirm in late December that a July 2017 crash death in West Virginia in a 2006 Ford Ranger was caused by a defective Takata inflator. It previously reported a similar death in January 2016. Ford said both Takata deaths occurred with inflators built on the same day. At least 21 deaths worldwide are believed linked to the Takata ( TKTDQ.PK ) inflators that can rupture and send deadly metal fragments that has led to the largest automotive recall in history. All of the other deaths have occurred in Honda Motor Co ( 7267.T ) vehicles. Reporting by David Shepardson Editing by Chizu Nomiyama" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he expects a medical examination he is to undergo on Friday will go well and that he would be surprised if it did not. Answering questions from reporters after an event on prison reform at the White House, Trump said with a smile, “It better go well, otherwise the stock market will not be happy.” “I think it’s going to go very well. I’ll be very surprised if it doesn‘t,” he said. The medical checkup at Walter Reed Medical Center in nearby Bethesda, Maryland, will be the first for Trump since he took office nearly a year ago. U.S. President Donald Trump answers a question during a joint news conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 10, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Barria Trump’s medical exam was announced early last month after he slurred part of a speech in which he declared the United States recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Michael Wolff, author of “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,” has charged in promoting the book that Trump lacked the mental fitness to serve as president, drawing fire from Trump, his aides and supporters. Trump’s physical exam is not expected to include a mental acuity test. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters the exam will be conducted by presidential physician Ronnie Jackson. A statement about the results will be released on Friday. At the White House on Tuesday, Jackson will give details on Trump’s health and take questions. Reporting by Steve Holland and Roberta Rampton; Editing by Jonathan Oatis" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Unilever ( ULVR.L )( UNc.AS ) has agreed to buy Betty Ice, the largest ice cream brand in Romania, as the consumer goods giant bulks up what is already the world’s largest ice cream business. This is the latest in a string of ice cream deals, which includes Talenti Gelato in 2014 and Grom in 2015. Unilever, maker of Wall’s and Ben Jerry’s ice cream, saw its ice cream business in the United States suffer in 2017 from start-up Halo Top, which took market share with its low-calorie offering. It did not disclose terms of the deal. Reporting by Martinne Geller; editing by Jason Neely" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - The top two civilian officials of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency have resigned in a personnel shakeup stemming from the false ballistic missile alert last month that stirred mass hysteria across the state, the agency’s military director said on Tuesday. The resignations of agency Administrator Vern Miyagi and his No. 2, executive officer Toby Clairmont, were accompanied by the firing of the warning-system officer who admitted to mistakenly issuing the alert and suspension procedures against a mid-level manager at the agency. (Reporting y Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Sandra Maler)" + }, + { + "text": "Cold snap freezes Florida wildlife 1:43am GMT - 01:34 Fish are dying in Florida, frozen iguanas are falling from trees, manatees are seeking out warmer water and sea turtles are being rescued from frigid water during this January cold snap. Fish are dying in Florida, frozen iguanas are falling from trees, manatees are seeking out warmer water and sea turtles are being rescued from frigid water during this January cold snap. //reut.rs/2CRJYoh" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 9:45 PM / Updated 36 minutes ago Pope lands in Peru as president seeks help in political crisis Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LIMA (Reuters) - Pope Francis arrived in Peru on Thursday, as the Andean nation’s president appealed to him to help put the country back on track after a political crisis nearly ousted him from office a month ago. The Argentine pontiff landed in the Peruvian capital Lima from neighbouring Chile on Thursday afternoon, the second part of his visit to the two largely Roman Catholic South American nations, where he has sought to restore the Church’s credibility after sex abuse allegations. Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has called for Francis to bring the country together following an outcry over his pardon of former autocrat Alberto Fujimori, whom he freed from prison on Christmas Eve after narrowly surviving an impeachment bid over a graft scandal. “I hope the visit by Pope Francis puts us once more on the path to peace and dialogue,” Kuczynski said on Twitter before the pope’s arrival. Reporting By Mitra Taj and Marco Aquino, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17(Reuters) - GHT Co Ltd * Sees FY 2017 net profit to increase by 0.57 percent to 5 percent, or to be 54 million yuan to 56.4 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 53.7 million yuan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/UfLaLF Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan 24 (Reuters) - More executives have departed BlueMountain Capital Management as the hedge fund posted disappointing results last year, two people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The latest to leave the $22 billion firm were Derek Smith, a partner and senior investment adviser who has been with BlueMountain since 2008, and Dave Gibbs, a senior credit trader at the firm since October 2004. Both left in December. “Like any company, BlueMountain undergoes changes in the make-up of its team that reflect the needs of investors and market dynamics,” a spokesman said in an emailed statement on Wednesday. “The result is that the firm remains nimble, responsive and well-positioned to continue to thrive,” he added. Performance at the firm was lackluster in 2017. BlueMountain’s Credit Alternatives Fund gained 1 percent and its Global Volatility Fund gained 0.05 percent for the year, according to a report from HSBC’s Alternative Investment Group seen by Reuters. The hedge fund benchmark HFRI Asset Weighted Composite Index gained 6.5 percent for the year. The spokesman, Tom Vogel, declined to comment on the firm’s returns. Others to leave last year were credit portfolio manager Marina Lutova, who also left December to join Citadel LLC, and Peter Greatrex, a managing partner and head of private investments, who left in February. The firm said in a regulatory filing in March 2017 that it employed roughly 238 people in New York and London. BlueMountain said it hired 50 people in 2017, including Michael Mauboussin as director of research in May and Lance Rosen as head of equities in June. In July, the firm named Lee Kempler as chief operating officer for investments, a newly created role, and hired Claudio Macchetto, who had been with hedge fund Paulson & Co, as head of platform distribution. This month, Guillaume Cendrier joined as portfolio manager for Relative Value Credit. BlueMountain, co-founded by Andrew Feldstein who is currently its chief investment officer, gained some fame for being one of the hedge funds on the other side of JP Morgan’s bet on credit derivatives known as the “London Whale.” For a time the hedge fund employed Jes Staley, who had headed JP Morgan’s investment bank and is now chief executive officer of Barclays. (Additional reporting by Lawrence Delevingne; Editing by Tom Brown)" + }, + { + "text": "Moscow gallery provides glimpse into life in North Korea 7:04pm GMT - 01:23 Gallery in Moscow provides glimpse into life and propaganda in North Korea. Rough Cut (No reporter narration) ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Gallery in Moscow provides glimpse into life and propaganda in North Korea. Rough Cut (No reporter narration) Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "By Alana Abramson 8:43 AM EST A bitcoin conference has stopped accepting the cryptocurrency because of “network congestion and manual processing”—that is, because taking bitcoin payments was too slow and labor-intensive. “We have, and always will, accept cryptocurrencies for our conferences, up to fourteen days before the event. However, due to the manual inputting of data in our ticketing platforms when paid in cryptocurrencies, we decided to shut down bitcoin payments for last minute sales due to print deadlines,” the North American Bitcoin Conference said in a statement on its website. “Hopefully, next year there will be more unity in the community about scaling and global adoption becomes reality.” The conference will be held in Miami from January 18 to 19, and is slated to draw over 3000 attendees, according to its website. Last minute tickets are selling for $1,000. The announcement comes shortly after Microsoft prohibited customers from using Bitcoin to pay for online games and apps, although the company has now allowed it to be used in Windows and Xbox stores. South Korea has also announced a proposal to ban cryptocurrency trading. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 18 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. - Apple Inc unveiled plans on Wednesday that would bring back the vast majority of the $252 billion in cash that it held abroad and said it would make a sizable investment in the United States. nyti.ms/2mRGLet - Bonnier Corporation, the publisher of magazines including Field & Stream and Popular Science, laid off 70 staff members on Wednesday at offices in Irvine, Calif.; Winter Park, Fla.; and New York City. nyti.ms/2mQ7lEL - Endeavor Content has acquired the rights to Michael Wolff's No. 1 best-selling book, \"Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House\", and plans to develop it into a TV show or a feature film. nyti.ms/2mQEHn0 (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - Humanwell Healthcare Group Co Ltd * Says it issued 2018 first tranche short-term financing notes worth 1 billion yuan with a term of 365 days and coupon rate of 5.49 percent * Bank of China Limited served as the main underwriter Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/A3nSr5 Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 6:46 AM / Updated 19 minutes ago Tennis-Halep survives date with Destanee to reach second round Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MELBOURNE, Jan 16 (Reuters) - World number one Simona Halep flirted with another early exit from the Australian Open before rallying to reach the second round with a 7-6(5) 6-1 victory over local teenager Destanee Aiava on Tuesday. The Romanian was taken to the edge by the powerful 17-year-old Melburnian in a 73-minute first set and turned her ankle at the start of the second, but returned with the joint strapped up to claim what was ultimately a comfortable victory. Scuttling around the Rod Laver Arena court and keeping Aiava moving as much as possible with her accurate shots, top seed Halep grew more assured as her opponent grew more flustered and secured the win when her opponent sent a forehand wide. Halep, who has been knocked out in the first round in four of her last six visits to Melbourne Park but reached the quarter-finals in the other two, will next meet former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, editing by ....)" + }, + { + "text": "BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq agreed a deal with U.S. energy company Orion on Monday to process natural gas extracted at its giant Nahr Bin Omar oilfield. The memorandum of understanding, signed in Baghdad by representatives of the oil ministry and the U.S. company, will allow Orion Gas Processors to build facilities to capture the gas from the field located in southern Iraq and to transform it into usable fuels. Nahr Bin Omar, operated by state-run Basra Oil Co., is producing more than 40,000 barrels per day of oil (bpd) and 25 million cubic feet a day of natural gas. Iraq continues to flare some of the gas extracted alongside crude oil at its fields because it lacks the facilities to process it into fuel for local consumption or exports. Orion will capture and process 100 million to 150 million cubic feet/day (mcf) of gas, Oil Minister Jabar al-Luaibi said at the ceremony. The gas captured will be used to feed power stations and to produce up to 10 million liters of gasoline, equivalent to 32 percent of Iraq’s total imports of the fuel, he said. Gas flaring across Iraq should end by 2021, he added. The minister said he plans to visit Kuwait in February to finalize a deal on exporting Iraqi gas, adding that the selling price of the fuel is yet to be agreed by the two countries. The two countries are discussing a pipeline project to bring 50 mcf of Iraqi gas per day to Kuwait for ten years, increasing to 200 mcf per day over the period. The exports, to come from the Rumaila field, would be used as feedstock for a petrochemical plant and pay off Baghdad’s final $4.6 billion in war reparations owed for its 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Iraq hired Japan’s Toyo Engineering [6330.T] to help build the project. Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed and writing by Maher Chmaytelli; editing by Louise Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "Santa Barbara County authorities said Thursday afternoon up to 43 people are missing as a result of the mudslides this week in the Montecito area. As of that time, the confirmed death toll from the Southern California disaster stood at 17 people . Crews continued to search for victims on Thursday afternoon and the effort was expected to continue through the night. Devastating floods and mud flows were triggered Tuesday after heavy rain fell on areas recently burned in the massive Thomas fire, the largest wildfire in California history. The wildfire left charred hillsides without vegetation cover to hold the heavy rainfall. The water and powerful debris flows destroyed about 100 homes and damaged 300 others in the Montecito community, known for its multimillion-dollar properties. Mudflows traveled through neighborhoods near where Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres have homes. \"There are 43 people now who may be considered as missing,\" Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown told reporters at a Thursday afternoon press conference. \"This remains a very active search and rescue mission.\" In updating the missing figure, Brown said that the precise number could fluctuate significantly. The number provided by county officials earlier in the day was eight missing. \"This is a constantly changing list,\" he said. The sheriff told reporters all of the victims were from Montecito. He said those who perished range in age from three to 89 years old. \"There are four juveniles on the list,\" he said. \"There are mothers, fathers, grandfathers, siblings and the list goes on and on.\" The devastation affected an area estimated at 30 square miles, according to Cal Fire." + }, + { + "text": "Trump 'not a racist' and 'ready' for DACA deal 6:58am EST - 01:07 President Trump said on Sunday that he is 'not a racist' despite reports of his derogatory comments about immigrants from Haiti and Africa, adding that he was 'ready, willing and able' to reach a deal to protect immigrants brought to the United States as children. President Trump said on Sunday that he is 'not a racist' despite reports of his derogatory comments about immigrants from Haiti and Africa, adding that he was 'ready, willing and able' to reach a deal to protect immigrants brought to the United States as children. //reut.rs/2D9ZP1s" + }, + { + "text": "ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish warplanes hit 45 targets in northern Syria’s Afrin region on Sunday, the military said, as ground forces pushed into the area in an operation targeting a U.S.-backed Kurdish militia. In a statement, Turkey’s armed forces said 32 warplanes had carried out the air strikes aimed at shelters, hideouts, and ammunition and weapons depots belonging to the Kurdish YPG militia. Reporting by Ece Toksabay and Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Daren Butler" + }, + { + "text": "MILAN (Reuters) - Drilling in the Black Sea in a Rosneft-led offshore project continues as planned, the chairwoman of Italian oil and gas group Eni said on Wednesday in a clarification to earlier remarks. “I would like to clarify that the exploration well in the black sea is being drilled as planned,” Eni’s chairwoman Emma Marcegaglia said through a spokesman. Marcegaglia earlier said at the World Economic Forum in Davos that the group has suspended drilling because of U.S. sanctions. “What I was saying is that we are continuously monitoring (in order for) our activities (to be) compliant with existing sanctions,” she added. Reporting by Paola Arosio, writing by Giulia Segreti, editing by David Evans" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 11:37 PM / Updated 15 minutes ago Former Fiat Chrysler VP pleads guilty in U.S. union corruption probe David Shepardson 3 Min Read (Reuters) - Former Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV ( FCHA.MI ) vice president Alphons Iacobelli pleaded guilty on Monday in connection with a U.S. investigation into allegations he made at least $1.5 million in improper payments to senior union officials, the U.S. attorney’s office in Detroit said. Iacobelli, 58, a former Fiat Chrysler vice president of employee relations, was charged in July in U.S. District Court in Detroit with taking part in a conspiracy to pay prohibited money and gifts to United Auto Workers union officials. Sentencing was set for May 29. Iacobelli faces a statutory maximum of eight years in prison, and prosecutors said he will be required to repay $835,000. A lawyer for Iacobelli did not immediately comment on Monday. Iacobelli plead guilty to conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act and to subscribing a false tax return based on his failure to report hundreds of thousands of dollars in income that he illegally diverted, the government said. The government said Iacobelli conspired to make illegal payments in an effort to obtain concessions and advantages for Fiat Chrysler “in the negotiation, implementation and administration of the collective bargaining agreements between FCA and the UAW.” Monica Morgan, the wife of former UAW Vice President General Holiefield, who died in March 2015, is also expected to plead guilty, Reuters reported last week, citing a person briefed on the matter. She faces a plea hearing on Feb. 6. Morgan was charged with conspiring with Iacobelli to violate federal labour law. Morgan’s lawyer, Steve Fishman, declined comment. The Justice Department has a wide-ranging investigation under way. In November, General Motors Co ( GM.N ) and Ford Motor Co ( F.N ) confirmed they were cooperating with the investigation into alleged misspending at UAW union training centres funded by U.S. automakers. It was not clear if Iacobelli is cooperating in the ongoing investigation. General Motors is conducting an internal investigation into the matter. Jerome Durden, a former Fiat Chrysler official whom the government charged with conspiring to divert over $4.5 million in UAW training centre funds, pleaded guilty in August. The UAW said in a statement Monday that it is “appalled at these charges. We have worked with the (national training centre) and Fiat Chrysler to implement a range of measures aimed at enhancing transparency and internal controls at the NTC to reduce the risk of any future recurrence of these activities.” Fiat Chrysler Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne has said the “deplorable” conduct “had nothing whatsoever to do with the collective bargaining process” and the “egregious acts were neither known to nor sanctioned by (Fiat Chrysler).” The company had no further comment Monday. Reporting by David Shepardson" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29 (Reuters) - Soda maker Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc and K-cup maker Keurig Green Mountain Inc have agreed to merge, creating a company with $11 billion in annual revenue, the companies said on Monday. Dr Pepper Snapple shareholders will be paid a special cash dividend of $103.75 per share in and will retain 13 percent of the combined company, which will be called Keurig Dr Pepper. (Reporting by Sangameswaran S in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D‘Souza)" + }, + { + "text": "Coincides with its 25 th Anniversary, 24 Years’ Consecutive Growth ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV) today celebrates one year since ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange to mark becoming an independent, public company on Jan. 4, 2017, following a spin-off from Hilton (NYSE:HLT). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: One year ago, executives and guests of Hilton Grand Vacations (NYSE:HGV) visited the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to celebrate HGV's spin-off from Hilton (NYSE:HLT). To mark the occasion, Mark Wang, president and CEO of Hilton Grand Vacations, rang the opening bell. (Photo Credit: NYSE) “2017 was a milestone year for HGV,” says Mark Wang, president and CEO of Hilton Grand Vacations. “We continue to focus on fully activating our business around each of our strategic priorities, especially growing sales and our member base through Net Owner Growth and expanding our footprint and partnerships through opportunistic business ventures.” In 2017, HGV accomplished the following: The Hilton Grand Vacations Club on Sesokojima Island is HGV’s first announced timeshare resort in Asia, through a partnership with Hilton and Mori Trust. Grand openings of The District by Hilton Club in Washington, D.C., and The Grand Islander by Hilton Grand Vacations Club in Oahu, Hawaii. Acquired a 25 percent interest in LV Tower 52, LLC the developer and seller of Elara, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club, in Las Vegas through a joint venture with Blackstone Real Estate Partners VIII L.P. Purchased remaining inventory at Sunrise Lodge, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club, in Park City, Utah, from Sunrise Park City, LLC. About Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV) is recognized as a leading global timeshare company. With headquarters in Orlando, Fla., Hilton Grand Vacations develops, markets and operates a system of brand-name, high-quality vacation ownership resorts in select vacation destinations. The Company also manages and operates two innovative club membership programs: Hilton Grand Vacations Club ® and The Hilton Club ® , providing exclusive exchange, leisure travel and reservation services for more than 280,000 Club Members. For more information, visit www.hgv.com and www.hiltongrandvacations.com . //www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180110006301/en/ Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. MEDIA CONTACT: Lauren George 407-613-8431 [REDACTED] Source: Hilton Grand Vacations Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - MHP: * SAYS POULTRY PRODUCTION VOLUMES IN Q4 2017 DECREASED BY 1% AND CONSTITUTED 141,544 TONNES (Q4 2016: 148,245 TONNES) * SAYS IN Q4 2017 POULTRY SALES VOLUMES DECREASED BY 13% TO 113,746 TONNES * SAYS IN Q4 2017 VOLUME OF CHICKEN MEAT EXPORTS TOTALED 45,042 TONNES AND RELATIVELY STABLE YEAR-ON-YEAR * SAYS IN Q4 2017, MHP‘S SALES OF SUNFLOWER OIL DECREASED BY 23% TO 67,569 TONNES COMPARED TO 88,201 TONNES IN Q4 2016 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "By Susie Gharib 3:00 PM EST Hikmet Ersek knows how to tell a good story. And as CEO of Western Union, storytelling is how he explains to employees the company’s mission and business strategies. Ersek says he has shared his own personal story “hundreds of times” about how he relied on Western Union to send money to his father in Turkey so he could buy blood pressure medicine. “It was not easy to send money from Europe to Turkey. And I said, if I have that issue, then millions of customers must have the same issue,” he explains. “I tell this story in my management meetings. I told this story maybe one hundred times.” Ersek’s personal experience is why he joined Western Union in 1999. Eleven years later he would become CEO and his key message and mission since then has been “moving money for the better.” Western Union, which was founded in 1851 and famous for its giant telegraph system, is now the largest money transfer company in the world. It conducts cross-border money transfers in 200 countries and does transactions in more than 130 currencies. The legendary company has built much of its business on helping immigrants and refugees send and receive money to and from their families for nominal fees. Serving those customers takes people who believe wholeheartedly in Western Union’s mission, says Ersek, and so he looks to hire special kinds of leaders. “They should have a big heart. Our customers are special. Our customers sometimes take miles, days, to come to a country. They work hard and we should understand that,” says Ersek. “I am looking for people who really understand that hardship journey and have a big heart for that.” Watch the video above for more of our conversation with Ersek. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- New Context , a systems integrator that automates the orchestration, governance, and protection of critical infrastructure, today announced it has named former Chef Software executive, Dustin Payne, as Vice President of Sales. In his new role, Payne will focus on expanding New Context’s expertise in delivering mass scale automation and security to critical infrastructure customers across North America. “Dustin’s extensive network and business development expertise will be instrumental as New Context continues to forge partnerships to develop new cybersecurity technologies and tools to protect critical infrastructure from cyber attacks,” said Daniel Riedel, CEO, New Context. “His hands-on approach will drive adoption of our professional DevSecOps consulting services, enterprise cybersecurity systems integration and data governance solutions, furthering our vision to make the connected world safe. We look forward to Dustin’s contributions at New Context.” Prior to joining New Context, Payne held several roles at Chef Software that were critical to the company’s internal sales process and revenue growth. Dustin most recently served as a regional sales director, responsible for the top accounts in the Pacific Northwest, Desert Mountain and Western Canada territories. He is also an active member of a private technology board that advises best practices for configuration management and version control software. “New Context’s recent announcement of their ongoing collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and Idaho National Laboratory is proof that the they are working at the forefront of critical energy network protection,” said Payne. “I came to New Context to disrupt traditional enterprise’s perspective on achieving reliability and resilience in critical infrastructure and am excited to join the company at such an opportune time.” About New Context: New Context is a Lean Security company that automates the orchestration, governance, and protection of the industrial Internet. We are a team of experts with extensive backgrounds in information security and scalable, secure application development. Our tools and processes streamline development frameworks to ensure transparent and secure IT software development within DevOps processes. New Context is Headquartered in San Francisco. View source version on businesswire.com : New Context Emily Marquart, 888-773-8360 Marketing Manager [REDACTED] Source: New Context" + }, + { + "text": "RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 22, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Brink’s Company (NYSE:BCO), the global leader in cash management, secure logistics and security solutions, will host a conference call on Wednesday, February 7, at 8:30 a.m. (ET) to review fourth-quarter financial results, which will be released earlier that day. The conference call can be accessed by calling 888-349-0094 (in the U.S.) or 412-902-0124 (international). Participants should call in at least five minutes prior to the start of the call. Participants can pre-register at to receive a direct dial-in number for the call. The call also will be accessible via live webcast at www.Brinks.com . A replay of the call will be available through March 7, 2018, at (877) 344-7529 (in the U.S.) or (412) 317-0088 (international). The conference number is 10116205. A webcast replay will also be available at www.Brinks.com . About The Brink’s Company The Brink’s Company (NYSE:BCO) is the global leader in cash management, secure logistics and security solutions including cash-in-transit, ATM services, cash management services (including vault outsourcing, money processing and intelligent safe services), international transportation of valuables, and payment services. Our customers include financial institutions, retailers, government agencies, mints, jewelers and other commercial operations. Our global network of operations in 41 countries serves customers in more than 100 countries. For more information, please visit our website at www.Brinks.com or call 804-289-9709. Contact: Investor Relations 804.289.9709 Source: The Brink’s Company" + }, + { + "text": "Stock markets might be continuing their run higher this year but Nobel Prize-winning economist Robert Shiller told CNBC Tuesday that a market correction could come at any time and without warning. \"People ask 'well what will trigger it (a market correction)?' But it doesn't need a trigger, it's the dynamics of bubbles inherently makes them come to an end eventually,\" he said. On Monday, t he Dow , S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite rose to all-time highs after m embers of the U.S. Senate reached a short-term compromise on the budget to keep the government open through to February 8. The new all-time highs come after a robust year for U.S. equities in Donald Trump's first year as president. Perhaps the largest boost for equities during his tenure so far was the overhaul of the U.S. tax system that saw corporation tax slashed from 35 percent to 21 percent. Shiller, who won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2013 for his work on asset prices and inefficient markets, said that markets could \"absolutely suddenly turn\" and that he believed the bull market was hard to attribute totally to the U.S. political scene. \"The strong bull market in the U.S. is often attributed to the situation in the U.S. but it's not unique to the U.S. anyway, so it's hard to know what the world story is that's driving markets up at this time, I think it's more subtle than we recognize,\" he said. Speaking to CNBC on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, the Yale University professor said it was hard to define scientifically what could trigger markets to correct. \"Something will be invented to explain it once it happens. If you go back to the most famous correction in 1929 there was no (one event) people look back and try to find something but it sounds contrived,\" he said This year's WEF is exploring the theme \"Creating a shared future in a fractured world\" and organizers hope that its 3,000 or so participants will discuss the world's most pressing problems and arrive at more collaborative solutions. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook ." + }, + { + "text": "Prudential : \"It hit its high today and Metlife had some bad news after. PRU is not like Metlife , but the whole group trades down.\" Extreme Networks : \"I'm not really a fan of Extreme Networks and that's because I've got so many others in that area that I'd rather buy. Why do I have to go down that food chain? So I'm not going to.\" AeroVironment : \"We had [CEO Wahid Nawabi] on and you know what? I've got to tell you I like that story. They have a rival in North Carolina. It's very, very interesting because they do a lot of [agriculture]. These guys do ag, they do military. I think it's a win.\" American Movil : \"No, I'm going to take a pass. It's up too much.\" Verizon Communications : \"I like Verizon, particularly if it gets down to the $52 level.\" Watch the full lightning round here: show chapters Cramer's lightning round: Prudential's not Metlife, but watch out for pin action 21 Hours Ago | 02:49" + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 2:06 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago Howe wants Bournemouth to draw inspiration from Arsenal win Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Bournemouth must take inspiration from last weekend’s battling Premier League victory over Arsenal when they travel to West Ham United on Saturday, manager Eddie Howe said. Second-half goals from forward Callum Wilson and midfielder Jordon Ibe cancelled out Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin’s opener as Bournemouth held on for a 2-1 victory last Sunday. Bournemouth’s joy was short-lived though, as they were dumped out of the FA Cup in the third round on Wednesday after a 3-0 replay defeat at third tier Wigan Athletic and Howe stressed the need to put the loss behind them quickly. “The Arsenal performance has to be in the forefront of our mind,” Howe told reporters on Friday. “From our perspective, last weekend it was a great performance off the ball so we can take that into this week.” Against Wigan, Bournemouth made eight changes to the side that beat Arsenal, signalling where the FA Cup lies in their priorities as they battle to steer clear of the Premier League relegation zone and Howe is likely to ring the changes again. “I don’t doubt the quality of players that played on Wednesday,” he added. “But it wasn’t a great performance... The majority of the game we were on top, but there’s always things to learn from.” Saturday’s game will mark Howe’s 100th league game in charge, making him the third youngest English manager to achieve this feat, at the age of 40 years and 52 days. “To have our 100th Premier League game is a great achievement, but the most important thing will be winning the game... It’s going to be a tough game, but it’ll be huge to get back-to-back wins in the league. It can elevate you.” Bournemouth are 13th in the league with 24 points and unbeaten in their last four games, while West Ham are 11th with 25 points. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis" + }, + { + "text": "TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Bank Leumi ( LUMI.TA ) has agreed to sell a 15 percent stake in its subsidiary Bank Leumi USA for $141 million to two strategic investors, who will bring the bank expertise in U.S. financial services, Israel’s second-largest lender said on Monday. The investors are Endicott Capital Management, a U.S. investment firm co-founded by Wayne Goldstein in 1996 to invest in financial institutions, and MSD Capital LP, the private investment arm of Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell. Leumi said the deal reflects a value of nearly $1 billion for Bank Leumi USA (BLUSA). “After examining several options, we decided to partner with Endicott and MSD Capital, which can bring significant advantages to BLUSA, including expansion of its customer base, greater access to the U.S. capital markets, and the ability to leverage Endicott’s significant experience in the U.S. financial markets,” Leumi CEO Rakefet Russak-Aminoach said. If the shares are not listed 4-5 years after completion of the deal, the partners will have an option to sell the shares back to Leumi. The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, will not have a material effect on Leumi’s financial results. Reporting by Tova Cohen; Editing by Steven Scheer" + }, + { + "text": "Iran holds pro-government rallies after six days of protests 12:21pm GMT - 01:26 Pro-government rallies in several Iranian cities drew thousands of marchers on Wednesday, following six days of rare unrest that took the country's leaders off guard. Emily Wither reports. Pro-government rallies in several Iranian cities drew thousands of marchers on Wednesday, following six days of rare unrest that took the country's leaders off guard. Emily Wither reports. //reut.rs/2AgpyyV" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 4:16 AM / Updated 10 hours ago World's biggest flooded cave found in Mexico, explorers say Reuters Staff 2 Min Read MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A group of divers has connected two underwater caverns in eastern Mexico to reveal what is believed to be the biggest flooded cave on the planet, a discovery that could help shed new light on the ancient Maya civilization. The Gran Acuifero Maya (GAM), a project dedicated to the study and preservation of the subterranean waters of the Yucatan peninsula, said the 347-km (216-mile) cave was identified after months of exploring a maze of underwater channels. Near the beach resort of Tulum, the group found that the cave system known as Sac Actun, once measured at 263 km, communicated with the 83-km Dos Ojos system, the GAM said in a statement. For that reason, Sac Actun now absorbs Dos Ojos. Slideshow (6 Images) GAM director and underwater archaeologist Guillermo de Anda said the “amazing” find would help to understand the development of the rich culture of the region, which was dominated by the Maya civilization before the Spanish conquest. “It allows us to appreciate much more clearly how the rituals, the pilgrimage sites and ultimately the great pre-Hispanic settlements that we know emerged,” he told Reuters. The Yucatan peninsula is studded with monumental relics of the Maya people, whose cities drew upon an extensive network of sinkholes linked to subterranean waters known as cenotes. Some cenotes acquired particular religious significance to the Maya, whose descendents continue to inhabit the region. Reporting by Rodolfo Penaroja; Editing by Paul Tait" + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Daniel Gruss didn’t sleep much the night he hacked his own computer and exposed a flaw in most of the chips made in the past two decades by hardware giant Intel Corp. FILE PHOTO - Intel processors are displayed at a store in Seoul June 21, 2012. REUTERS/Choi Dae-woong/File Photo The 31-year-old information security researcher and post-doctoral fellow at Austria’s Graz Technical University had just breached the inner sanctum of his computer’s central processing unit (CPU) and stolen secrets from it. Until that moment, Gruss and colleagues Moritz Lipp and Michael Schwarz had thought such an attack on the processor’s ‘kernel’ memory, which is meant to be inaccessible to users, was only theoretically possible. “When I saw my private website addresses from Firefox being dumped by the tool I wrote, I was really shocked,” Gruss told Reuters in an email interview, describing how he had unlocked personal data that should be secured. Gruss, Lipp and Schwarz, working from their homes on a weekend in early December, messaged each other furiously to verify the result. “We sat for hours in disbelief until we eliminated any possibility that this result was wrong,” said Gruss, whose mind kept racing even after powering down his computer, so he barely caught a wink of sleep. Gruss and his colleagues had just confirmed the existence of what he regards as “one of the worst CPU bugs ever found”. The flaw, now named Meltdown, was revealed on Wednesday and affects most processors manufactured by Intel since 1995. Separately, a second defect called Spectre has been found that also exposes core memory in most computers and mobile devices running on chips made by Intel, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and ARM Holdings, a unit of Japan’s Softbank. Both would enable a hacker to access secret passwords or photos from desktops, laptops, cloud servers or smartphones. It’s not known whether criminals have been able to carry out such attacks as neither Meltdown nor Spectre leave any traces in log files. Intel says it has started providing software and firmware updates to mitigate the security issues. ARM has also said it was working with AMD and Intel on security fixes. FINDING A FIX The discovery was originally reported by online tech journal The Register. As a result of that report, research on the defect was published a week earlier than the manufacturers had planned, before some had time to work out a complete fix. The Graz team had already been working on a tool to defend against attempts to steal secrets from kernel memory. In a paper presented last June they called it KAISER, or Kernel Address Isolation to have Side-channels Effectively Removed. The Intel logo is displayed on computer screens at SIGGRAPH 2017 in Los Angeles, California, U.S. July 31, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake As the name suggests, KAISER seeks to defend the kernel memory from a so-called side-channel attack that exploits a design feature of modern processors that increases their speed. This involves processors executing tasks “out-of-order”, and not in the sequence received. If the CPU makes the right speculative call, time is saved. Get it wrong and the out-of-order task is cancelled and no time is lost. Researcher Anders Fogh wrote in a subsequent blog that it might be possible to abuse so-called speculative execution in order to read kernel memory. He was not able to do so in practice, however. ( bit.ly/2vpkut0 ) RESPONSIBLE DISCLOSURE Only after the December self-hacking episode did the significance of Graz team’s earlier work become clear. It turned out that the KAISER tool presented an effective defence against Meltdown. The team quickly got in touch with Intel and learned that other researchers - inspired in part by Fogh’s blog - had made similar discoveries. They were working under so-called responsible disclosure, where researchers inform affected companies of their findings to give them time to prepare ‘patches’ to repair flaws they have exposed. The key players were independent researcher Paul Kocher and the team at a company called Cyberus Technology, said Gruss, while Jann Horn at Google Project Zero came to similar conclusions independently. \"We merged our efforts in mid-December with the team around Paul Kocher and the people from Cyberus Technology to work on two solid publications on Meltdown and Spectre,\" said Gruss. ( www.meltdownattack.com ) Gruss had not even been aware of the work Horn was doing. ( here ) “Jann Horn developed all of this independently - that’s incredibly impressive,” he said. “We developed very similar attacks, but we were a team of 10 researchers.” The wider team said patches for Meltdown, based on KAISER, had been readied for Microsoft Corp and Apple Inc operating systems, as well as for the Linux open-source system." + }, + { + "text": "DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Prime Minister Narendra Modi mounted a defense of globalization at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday, urging joint action on climate change and economic cooperation, in a speech some delegates took as a swipe at U.S. President Donald Trump’s America First agenda. Modi, making the forum’s first speech by an Indian head of state in more than two decades, did not mention Trump by name but he criticised the rise of protectionism in remarks delivered three days before the U.S. President will address the summit. “Instead of globalization, the power of protectionism is putting its head up,” Modi said, speaking in Hindi and causing an initial flurry in the audience of business and political leaders as people reached for their translation headsets. “Their wish is not only to save themselves from globalization, but to change the natural flow of globalization.” Modi is leading a big government and business delegation to the summit in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, aiming to showcase India as a fast-growing economic power and a potential driver of global growth. His opening address was a moment of personal triumph for the nationalist leader once shunned by the West for failing to prevent communal rioting in his home state. The occasion also recognized India’s growth as an economic and geopolitical power. Anindya Bakrie, chief executive of media company PT Bakrie Global Ventura, part of Indonesia’s Bakrie conglomerate, said Modi’s remarks were a welcome contrast to U.S. isolationism. “For developing countries, when we hear the U.S. talking about isolationism it’s a bit concerning. So to have more and more leaders talk about the benefits of globalization is really good,” Bakrie said. Arun Kumar, chairman and CEO of accounting firm KPMG in India, said: “He laid out where India stands in terms of his preference for a multi-polar and multicultural world.” Under his America First agenda, Trump has threatened to withdraw from the North American free-trade agreement, disavowed the global climate change accord and criticised global institutions including the United Nations and NATO. Modi’s speech echoed some of the points made by Chinese President Xi Jinping at last year’s Davos summit, but he failed to generate the same enthusiasm. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures at the Opening Plenary during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse A year ago, Xi, speaking days before Trump was inaugurated, staked out China’s position as the world’s economic powerhouse, promising a greater openness to globalization. However, Xi, who is not attending this year, is not seen to have delivered on the broad promises made at Davos over the past year, but his speech was seen as a key moment in China’s attempt to fill a void created by a more inward-looking United States. Modi arrived in Davos on Monday for a one-day trip. His visit was marred by travel delays, as heavy snow in the ski resort town made it impossible for Modi to take a helicopter to Davos from Zurich and the roads were clogged with traffic. In his speech, Modi laid out three big challenges facing the world: climate change, terrorism and growing protectionism. Slideshow (6 Images) “The result of this is that we are seeing new types of tariff and non-tariff-based barriers being imposed. Bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations appear to have come to a halt,” he said. He said the world must come together to solve these issues and India could show it the way, referring frequently to ancient Indian thought and scriptures that call for harmony between humans and nature and refer to the world as family. Modi said climate change was a major threat to the world, yet the world had failed to come together to tackle it. He said everyone wanted carbon emissions to be cut, but the rich world was not ready to help developing economies with new technology. India, one of the world’s fastest growing major economies and a growing contributor to pollution, has said it is keen to honour its commitment to clean up the environment despite Trump pulling out of the Paris accord on cutting carbon emissions. Modi also highlighted reforms and policies his administration had undertaken to make India more open. He said his government had abolished some 1,400 archaic laws. “We are removing red tape and laying the red carpet,” Modi said. Some business leaders said India still had a lot of work to do to attract more investment, including taming bureaucracy, tackling corruption and cleaning up pollution. “He’s saying this is a different party in power and it’s trying different things. The question is will the country give him enough time to really change things,” said Vim Maru, group retail director at UK-based Lloyds Bank. Additional reporting by Simon Robinson, Delhi bureau; Editing by Mark Potter and Mark Bendeich" + }, + { + "text": "JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel’s culture minister breathed a sigh of relief on Tuesday that her country’s contender had failed to land an Oscar nomination for best foreign language film - despite not having watched the movie. “Foxtrot” tells the fictional story of an army checkpoint where bored Israeli troops shoot Arab passers-by after mistaking a soda can for a weapon, and then cover up the incident. It became Israel’s Oscar submission after sweeping its national cinema awards, but the right-wing minister, Miri Regev, had called it anti-Israel. Director Samuel Maoz poses with actors Lior Ashkenazi and Sara Adler during a photocall for the movie \"Foxtrot\" at the 74th Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy September 2, 2017. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi On Tuesday, after the nominations were announced, she told Army Radio that they had “saved us from bitter disappointment and a false presentation of the Israel Defense Forces internationally”, while adding that she had not seen the movie. Her previous criticism had prompted Israel’s Film and Television Academy to disinvite her from its annual prize ceremony in September, to which she responded with a threat to cut the academy’s government funding. “Foxtrot” also won the Silver Lion grand jury prize at the Venice Film Festival in September. After accepting the award, writer-director Samuel Maoz said: “If I criticise the place I live, I do it because I worry. I do it because I want to protect it. I do it from love.” Writing by Jeffrey Heller; Additional reporting by Dan Williams; Editing by Kevin Liffey" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK Canadian officials are eager to keep alive the North American Free Trade Agreement. And if they fail, there’s an insurance policy. Even though a U.S. pullout would affect Canadian exports amounting to nearly 20 percent of the country’s GDP, Ottawa has other trade pacts in the works, and a flexible currency would help cushion any blow. As negotiators from Canada, Mexico and the United States opened a crucial round of talks in Montreal on Tuesday, Finance Minister Bill Morneau told CNBC that Ottawa’s team would bring “constructive ideas.” Canadian and Mexican officials are prepared to respond flexibly to Washington’s demand for greater U.S. content in North American-made automobiles, Reuters reported. The U.S. side also wants to junk the pact’s dispute-settlement mechanism, which enables Canada and Mexico to challenge American anti-dumping duties, and insert a sunset clause forcing the pact to expire after five years unless all parties agree to renew it. Canada has ample reason to bend. It exported $284 billion worth of goods to its two NAFTA partners in 2016, or 18 percent of its economic output. Comparable U.S. exports amount to just 3 percent of its GDP, which helps explain why President Donald Trump has taken such a hard line. If the pact collapses and the countries revert to the default rules and tariffs overseen by the World Trade Organization, Canada’s growth rate would suffer a 0.7 percentage-point hit in the first year, economists at Toronto-Dominion Bank estimate. That may overstate Canada’s vulnerability, though. The economy is in good shape and stands to get a positive spillover from U.S. tax cuts, the International Monetary Fund said this week in raising its forecast for Canadian growth this year by 0.2 point, to 2.3 percent. Any trade hit would likely prompt a response from the Bank of Canada and the foreign-exchange market. TD Bank says the central bank would reduce rates by as much as three-quarters of a point and the loonie, as the Canadian dollar is known, would fall as much as 5 percent against its U.S. counterpart. That would more than offset the WTO’s 2.1 percent trade-weighted tariffs. Canada also has alternatives. Japan announced Tuesday that a group of Asia-Pacific nations had agreed on a trade pact to replace the Trans-Pacific Partnership from which Trump withdrew the United States last year. Canada will sign the deal, a government source told Reuters. Indeed, 77 percent of respondents polled by Breakingviews in Toronto earlier this month said the impact of a NAFTA breakup would be only “minor pain.” It may not be Ottawa’s first choice, but there is life after NAFTA. (This item has been updated to add the results of a Breakingviews poll in the fifth paragraph.)" + }, + { + "text": "SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunverge Energy announced today tech industry veteran Jon Bode has joined the company as Chief Financial Officer. Bode, who has spent more than 25 years in senior finance roles with tech startups, brings valuable SaaS experience to Sunverge as the company expands its software platform. He was most recently CFO of Nexant, a leading provider of grid management software to the utility industry. Sunverge also announced its designation, for the third year in a row, as a Global Cleantech 100 \"Ones to Watch\" company. Selected out of 12,300 nominees from 61 countries, Sunverge's presence on Cleantech Group 's list, which recognizes the top private companies in clean technology, identifies it as one of the companies \"best positioned to solve tomorrow's clean technology challenge.\" \"The Cleantech 100 award validates our position as a leader in the rapidly growing distributed energy resource management market,\" said Sunverge CEO Martin Milani. \"By adding Jon to our management team, we gain the experience of someone who has successfully scaled organizations to $100 million run rates and his experience will be invaluable as we continue to advance and monetize the integration of distributed energy resources and smart devices into power grids globally.\" \"I'm excited to join Sunverge at such an important time in the company's evolution,\" said Bode. \"With global distributed energy resource capacity expected to reach more than 500 GW by 2026, the Sunverge platform is going to play an increasingly important role in helping utilities and energy service providers manage these disruptive technologies.\" The Global Cleantech 100 List The Global Cleantech 100 is a comprehensive list of private companies with the highest potential to make significant market impact within a 5- to 10-year timeframe. The complete list of 100 companies, representing the most innovative and promising ideas impacting the future of a wide range of industries, was revealed on January 22rd at the 16 th annual Cleantech Forum San Francisco: . The list is accompanied by a full report with commentary and insight on the 2018 Global Cleantech 100—authored by CTG, powered by data from i3, and sponsored by Chubb . For complete information on Sunverge's leadership within the cleantech space, access i3 by visiting i3connect.com (CTG's leading market intelligence platform) and search for Sunverge. The complete list of Global Cleantech 100 Expert Panel members is available at . Download the report at: . About Sunverge Energy San Francisco–based Sunverge Energy enables homeowners to efficiently manage their own renewable energy generation and helps utilities, retailers and solar power providers aggregate those renewable power sources into virtual power plants across neighborhoods, communities and entire service areas — reliably, effectively and intelligently. Founded in 2009, the company makes the Sunverge One, a fully integrated energy storage system, and the Sunverge Infinity, an energy management platform for managing third-party distributed energy resources. The Sunverge One and Sunverge Infinity increase energy reliability, strengthen the grid, and accelerate the adoption and integration of distributed renewable energy. Investors include AGL, the Southern Cross Renewable Energy Fund backed by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and SB China Venture Capital (SBCVC), MITSUI & Co., Siemens Venture Capital, Total Energy Ventures International and VisIR. For more information, please visit www.sunverge.com or follow @Sunverge on Twitter. View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Sunverge Energy" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 6:07 PM / in an hour Argentina to allow short-selling in capital markets Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BUENOS AIRES, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Argentina will allow short-selling in its capital markets, according to a resolution published by the securities regulator in the country’s official gazette on Monday, part of President Mauricio Macri’s efforts to open the country to investment. “Short-selling, in normal market conditions, plays an important role in ensuring financial markets function correctly, especially with regards to market liquidity and efficient price formation,” the National Securities Commission (CNV) wrote in the resolution. Short-selling refers to borrowing securities in order to sell them in a bet their value will decline. Since taking office in December 2015, Macri has enacted a number of reforms aimed at bolstering the country’s capital markets, which are small compared with regional peers. Last year, the government ended a required holding period for foreign capital, and the CNV approved a rule to allow advisers to invest citizens funds’ abroad. Argentines declared more than $100 billion in previously hidden wealth in a tax amnesty program last year, broadening the pool of assets that can be invested. Still, a sweeping capital markets reform bill that would undo some of former populist President Cristina Fernandez’s interventionist policies has stalled in the opposition-controlled congress. Index provider MSCI surprised investors by not upgrading Argentina to its emerging markets index last year, a move that likely would have spurred investment inflows. (Reporting by Luc Cohen; Editing by Matthew Lewis)" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - A federal judge refused to grant preliminary approval for Uber Technologies Inc’s [UBER.UL] proposed $3 million class-action settlement with 2,421 New York drivers who accused the ride-sharing company of retaining excessive fees from their fares. In a decision on Friday, U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis in Brooklyn objected to a provision allowing the revival of breach of contract claims he had dismissed, so long as the settlement won final approval. Garaufis said such a “conditional stipulation” appeared to leave “in limbo” whether the settling drivers’ claims had enough in common for him to approve the proposed settlement. The judge also objected to a $2,500 payment to a driver whose claims had been deemed subject to arbitration. Garaufis said the drivers could submit a revised settlement for approval. “We anticipate refiling our motion early this week,” Jonathan Greenbaum, a lawyer for the drivers, said on Monday. Uber did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Drivers had accused Uber of accounting improperly for sales taxes and a “Black Car Fund” fee, which relates to workers’ compensation, in fares when calculating service fees, thereby increasing the amounts owed. They also accused the San Francisco-based company Uber of falsely advertising guaranteed compensation for drivers without disclosing the conditions. Uber has denied all allegations. The settlement covered drivers who used the Uber app to arrange rides in New York since Dec. 29, 2009, and whose claims were not subject to arbitration. It was reached after Uber paid more than $80 million to roughly 96,000 drivers in New York, following its admission that it had inadvertently underpaid drivers for two-and-a-half years, court papers show. The case is Ortega et al v Uber Technologies Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 15-07387. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Andrew Hay" + }, + { + "text": "DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran on Sunday called for a quick end to a Turkish incursion into northern Syria’s Afrin province, saying it may help “terrorist” groups, state news agency IRNA reported. “Iran hopes that this operation will be ended immediately to prevent a deepening of the crisis in the border regions of Turkey and Syria,” it Quote: d Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi as saying. “A continued crisis in Afrin may boost ...terrorist groups in northern Syria.” Reporting by Dubai newsroom; editing by John Stonestreet" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - Si-Tech Information Technology Co Ltd : * SAYS IT IS STILL STUDYING THE POTENTIAL AND FUTURE MARKET APPLICATIONS OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY, RESPONDING TO INVESTORS’ QUERIES * SAYS IT IS STILL UNCERTAIN OVER THE IMPACT OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY ON THE COMPANY Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2ELdZ5F Further company coverage: (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 22(Reuters) - Shenzhen Neptunus Bioengineering Co Ltd : * Says its wholly owned pharma tech unit received FDA approval for anti-tumor new drug clinical trail from U.S Food and Drug Administration * The unit will be able to conduct clinical trial of anti-tumor new drug in the United States after receiving the FDA approval Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/Ucdtfz Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29 (Reuters) - Paragon AG: * DGAP-NEWS: PARAGON AG EXPECTING A MORE THAN 40 PERCENT INCREASE IN REVENUE TO AROUND EUR 175 MILLION FOR 2018 * GROUP SALES INCREASE BY AROUND 20 PERCENT TO APPROXIMATELY EUR 124 MILLION IN 2017 (PRIOR YEAR: EUR 102.8 MILLION) * ADJUSTED EBIT MARGIN FOR 2017 EXPECTED WITHIN TARGET RANGE OF 9.0 TO 9.5 PERCENT * EBIT MARGIN EXPECTED TO BE AROUND 9 PERCENT IN 2018 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 17 (Reuters) - Skanska AB CEO Anders Danielsson and CFO Peter Wallin in a conference call with analysts and media: * MAJOR PART OF THE 1 BILLION SEK RESTRUCTURING ANNOUNCED ON WEDNESDAY WILL BE IN EUROPE * U.S. TAX REFORM HAS NO IMPLICATIONS FOR SKANSKA IN TERMS OF ONE-OFFS, GOING FORWARD IT WILL BE BENEFICIARY FOR SKANSKA * THE ANNOUNCED 400 MILLION SEK PROJECT WRITEDOWNS IN POLAND RELATE PREDOMIANTLY TO PROJECTS BEING CLOSED DURING Q4 AND RELATE TO COST ESCALATIONS IN A VERY HOT MARKET Further company coverage: (Reporting By Anna Ringstrom)" + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL, Jan 24 (Reuters) - South Korean steelmaker POSCO expects sales to rise in 2018 as Chinese steel prices should remain strong early this year thanks to Beijing’s efforts to cut production, the company said during the release of its fourth quarter results. POSCO said on Wednesday its consolidated operating profit for the October to December quarter climbed to 1.15 trillion won ($1.08 billion), including affiliates’ earnings, up 144 percent from 472 billion won in the same period a year earlier. Profits rose because of higher steel prices but fell short of market estimates. The consensus operating profit estimate for the period compiled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S was for 1.25 trillion won. POSCO said it expects 2018 revenue will rise to 61.9 trillion won from 60.7 trillion won in 2017. It will also boost its capital expenditures and other investments by 62 percent to 4.2 trillion won this year. Steel futures in China, the world’s biggest steel consumer, surged 47 percent in 2017, the second year in a row of annual gains, on rising demand for materials and tightening supplies as Beijing pushed to cut overcapacity and pollution. China’s economy grew faster than expected in the fourth quarter of 2017, as an export recovery helped the country post its first annual acceleration in growth in seven years. POSCO’s share price has risen 16 percent so far this year, outpacing the wider market’s 2.9 percent gain. (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)" + }, + { + "text": "January 13, 2018 / 3:21 PM / Updated 17 minutes ago India in South Africa 2018 Scoreboard Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Jan 13 (OPTA) - Scoreboard at stumps on the first day of 2nd test between South Africa and India on Saturday at Centurion, South Africa South Africa are 269 for 6 South Africa 1st innings Dean Elgar c Murali Vijay b Ravichandran Ashwin 31 Aiden Markram c Parthiv Patel b Ravichandran Ashwin 94 Hashim Amla Run Out Hardik Pandya 82 AB de Villiers b Ishant Sharma 20 Faf du Plessis Not Out 24 Quinton de Kock c Virat Kohli b Ravichandran Ashwin 0 Vernon Philander Run Out Parthiv Patel 0 Keshav Maharaj Not Out 10 Extras 0b 7lb 1nb 0pen 0w 8 Total (90.0 overs) 269-6 Fall of Wickets : 1-85 Elgar, 2-148 Markram, 3-199 de Villiers, 4-246 Amla, 5-250 de Kock, 6-251 Philander To Bat : Ngidi, Rabada, Morkel Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Jasprit Bumrah 18 4 57 0 3.17 1nb Mohammed Shami 11 2 46 0 4.18 Ishant Sharma 16 3 32 1 2.00 Hardik Pandya 14 4 37 0 2.64 Ravichandran Ashwin 31 8 90 3 2.90 Umpire Michael Gough Umpire Paul Reiffel Video Richard Kettleborough Match Referee Brian Broad" + }, + { + "text": "JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel supports a cut in U.S. funding for a U.N. agency that provides aid to Palestinian refugees - a possibility raised by President Donald Trump - but prefers it be carried out gradually, a senior Israeli official said on Saturday. A Palestinian man stands next to a cart carrying a flour sack distributed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Khan Younis refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip January 3, 2018. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa Trump threatened earlier this week to withhold future aid payments to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) over what he called the Palestinians’ unwillingness to talk peace with Israel. The idea, condemned as blackmail by Palestinians, was initially met with mixed reactions in Israel, with some officials warning of the dangers in cutting off financial assistance to the Palestinians. “Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) supports a gradual cut to UNRWA,” said the senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity. The Axios news website reported on Friday that the United States had frozen $125 million in funding for UNRWA, but a State Department official said no decision had been made. Netanyahu’s office said in a brief statement that the premier “supports President Trump’s critical approach and believes that practical steps should be taken to change the situation in which UNRWA is perpetuating the Palestinian refugee problem rather than resolving it.” UNRWA supports much of the population in the Gaza Strip and a cut to its budget could ramp up tensions with Israel, a main conduit for aid into the territory. The United States is the largest donor to the agency, with a pledge of nearly $370 million as of 2016, according to UNRWA’s website. Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Ros Russell" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15 (Reuters) - KH Vatec Co Ltd : * Says it plans to invest 10.65 billion won to set up a wholly owned precision manufacturing subsidiary in Vietnam * The unit will be engaged in mobilephone and automobile parts related manufacturing business Source text in Korean: goo.gl/HNtp5z Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 28, 2018 / 8:46 AM / Updated an hour ago Finns, worried by Russia, hand president huge election win Jussi Rosendahl , Tuomas Forsell 3 Min Read HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto cruised to a rare first round election win on Sunday after a campaign in which his delicate balancing of ties with neighbour Russia and the U.S.-led NATO military alliance resonated with voters. With all votes counted, Niinisto won 62.7 percent of the vote, the election commission said, his closest rival Pekka Haavisto of the Greens of Finland securing just 12.4 percent. “I am very surprised at this kind of support. I must think hard how to be worthy of it,” Niinisto, 69, told reporters. “I have no intention of making changes just for the sake of making changes. Surely we will follow very closely what is happening outside of Finland, globally, and if needed, then we will surely react.” Pro-EU Niinisto became the first candidate to win a first round victory since the electoral system was changed to a direct popular vote in 1994. Eurosceptic politicians, Laura Huhtasaari from the nationalist Finns Party and independent Paavo Vayrynen, won 6.9 percent and 6.2 percent of votes, respectively. Turnout was 69.9 percent. During his first six-year term, Niinisto was instrumental in maintaining relations with Moscow, despite Finland backing western economic sanctions against Russia over its 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. The independent presidential candidate Sauli Niinisto speaks during his election reception in Helsinki, Finland, January 28, 2018. LEHTIKUVA/Jussi Nukari via REUTERS Finland, which shares an 833-mile (1,340 km) border and a difficult history with Russia, has also developed closer ties with NATO but stopped short of full membership in line with a tradition of avoiding confrontation with Russia. The president is in charge of foreign and defence policy together with the government, but otherwise the post has become largely ceremonial in the past few decades. Slideshow (4 Images) Despite Finland’s stance on sanctions against Russia, Niinisto has appeared as a low-profile middle-man between East and West and maintained regular contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I think there is no reason to seek a (NATO) membership as long as circumstances are as they are now,” Niinisto said on Sunday. “But if there are crucial changes in the environment, then we might be in a different situation.” Public backing for joining NATO has lingered around 20 percent for years, although it briefly edged up in 2014 after Russia’s action in Crimea. Niinisto originally belonged to centre-right National Coalition Party (NCP) but campaigned this time around as an independent. A lawyer by training, he was finance minister in the 1990s, becoming known for his government’s austerity measures following Finland’s recession, as well as the decision to join the euro area. Reporting by Jussi Rosendahl and Tuomas Forsell; Editing by Keith Weir and Jon Boyle" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 9:24 AM / Updated 10 hours ago Duterte tells Suu Kyi rights activists are 'just a noisy bunch' Reuters Staff 2 Min Read NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, heavily criticised abroad for failing to stand up for largely stateless Rohingya Muslims, that she shouldn’t bother about rights activists as they are “just a noisy bunch”. Duterte said he made the remarks in a speech at the Philippines-India Business Forum in New Delhi where Duterte and Suu Kyi are attending a summit of Southeast Asian countries. “We were talking about our country, the interest of our country ... and I said ‘do not mind the human rights’ (activists), they are just a noisy bunch actually,” Duterte said. Suu Kyi is facing international criticism for failing to address the plight of the Rohingya, more than 655,500 of whom have fled to Bangladesh to escape a crackdown by the Myanmar military. Slideshow (2 Images) Many people in Buddhist-majority Myanmar regard the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The United Nations described Myanmar’s crackdown as ethnic cleansing, which Myanmar denies. “I pity her because she seems to be caught in the middle of being a Nobel Prize winner for peace and this is now the ruckus, she is heavily criticised,” Duterte said in his speech. Human rights groups have also strongly criticised Duterte’s anti-narcotics campaign during which more than 3,900 suspected drug users and peddlers have been killed in what the police called self-defence after armed suspects resisted arrest. Critics dispute that and say executions are taking place with zero accountability, allegations the police reject. Reporting by Aditya Kalra and Karen Lema; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani and Nick Macfie" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - Interbulls Co Ltd : * Says 500 million won worth of its 3rd series convertible bonds have been converted into 94,607 shares of the co, at 5,285 won/share * Says listing date of new shares is Feb. 5 Source text in Korean: goo.gl/WmZd71 Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNI) will report its full year and fourth quarter 2017 operating results after the market closes on Monday, February 26. The press release will be available on the company’s website. Due to the pending merger with Discovery Communications, Scripps Networks Interactive will not hold a conference call for investors in connection with the issuance of the earnings release. About Scripps Networks Interactive Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNI) is one of the leading developers of engaging lifestyle content in the home, food and travel categories for television, the Internet and emerging platforms. The company's lifestyle media portfolio includes leading TV and entertainment brands HGTV, Food Network, Travel Channel, DIY Network, Cooking Channel and Great American Country. Its digital division, Scripps Lifestyle Studios, creates compelling content for online, social and mobile platforms. International operations include TVN , Poland’s premier multi-platform media company; UKTV , an independent commercial joint venture with BBC Worldwide; Asian Food Channel , the first pan-regional TV food network in Asia; and lifestyle channel Fine Living Network . The company’s global networks and websites reach millions of consumers across North and South America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Scripps Networks Interactive is headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn. For more information, please visit . Contact: Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. Investors: Mike Gallentine, 865-560-4473, [REDACTED] ; Media: Dylan Jones, 865-560-5068, [REDACTED] ; or Kristin Alm, 865-560-4316, [REDACTED] Source:Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 9:14 AM / Updated 9 hours ago Singapore seeking to extradite Canadian suspect detained in Britain Reuters Staff 2 Min Read SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore said on Monday it was seeking to extradite a Canadian man suspected of a rare bank robbery in the city-state, after he was detained by authorities in Britain last week. The suspect, David James Roach, allegedly stole SS$30,000 ($22,691) from a Standard Chartered bank branch in July 2016, before fleeing to Thailand where he was arrested. After serving a prison sentence for criminal offences in Thailand, Roach was deported and arrived in London on Jan. 11, where he was detained by British authorities, Singapore’s Attorney General’s Chambers and the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement. “We sought the assistance of the UK authorities to arrest Roach, with a view to his eventual extradition to Singapore,” they said. “We are working with the UK authorities to commence the extradition proceedings.” The rare bank robbery in Singapore sparked a flurry of debate about whether the country has grown too complacent about security. Singapore has very low levels of crime, thanks in part to decades of strict policing and tough punishments, ranging from death for drug trafficking and murder to prison and caning for lesser crimes. A senior official in Thailand’s Immigration Bureau, Major General Choochat Thareechat, said Roach had been deported last week, but to Canada, not to Britain. He declined to comment when asked about Roach’s travel arrangements after leaving Thailand. Reporting by Aradhana Aravindan; Additional reporting by Amy Lefevre in BANGKOK; Editing by Robert Birsel" + }, + { + "text": "Czech president faces stiff challenge in run-off 12:43pm EST - 01:06 Czech President Milos Zeman held on to his job in an election this weekend, but it was close enough to prompt a run-off. In the second round, he faces a stiff challenge. Czech President Milos Zeman held on to his job in an election this weekend, but it was close enough to prompt a run-off. In the second round, he faces a stiff challenge. //reut.rs/2DbkiDb" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - Zhejiang Wolwo Bio-Pharmaceutical Co Ltd * Says it sees net profit for FY 2017 to increase by 40 percent to 50 percent, or to be 180.9 million yuan to 193.8 million yuan * Says the net profit of FY 2016 was 129.2 million yuan * Comments that increased business income and decreased costs as main reasons for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/VZ3bvz Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. - U.S. President Donald Trump joined two Republican senators in disputing that he made a derogatory comment during a meeting on immigration last week. nyti.ms/2EJ1g3w - The U.S. government complied with a judge's order to resume accepting renewal requests from immigrants who were brought illegally to the country as children. nyti.ms/2DwAdZH - Congressional Republicans will be attempting to undo a requirement in the Affordable Care Act for employers to offer coverage to their employees. nyti.ms/2mwx1oF - African-American churchgoers interviewed on the day before Martin Luther King's birthday, reflected on the state of race in the U.S. and said they were struggling to comprehend what was happening in a country that so recently had an African-American president. nyti.ms/2FCM60R Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom" + }, + { + "text": "23 Hours Ago | 01:15 The bitcoin boom may be far from over. Bespoke Investment Group's Dan Ciotoli believes the cryptocurrency's price could nearly triple by the end of the year — declaring that the January crash is likely behind it. \"There was a big run-up in December, and then we kind of saw these get-rich-quick-investors exiting the space. Everyone rushed in at once. So, the inevitable crash happened,\" he said Tuesday on CNBC's \" Futures Now .\" \"N ow it's starting to recover. We saw a bottom around $9,000.\" Ciotoli, a blockchain analyst and software engineer, is out with a year-end forecast placing bitcoin prices in the $20,000 to $30,000 range. \"The driver I think is going to bring bitcoin up in 2018 is bitcoin denominated commerce,\" he added — noting that converting it into dollars right now is too pricey. For his bullish forecast to stick, Ciotoli says it depends on the success of the Lightning Network, a technological endeavor that's expected to roll out this year. The network's goal is to bring in a new wave of buyers by making bitcoin transactions faster and cheaper. If the network fails, Ciotoli says, his year-end bitcoin target could drop as low as $5,000. \"If I don't see people actually able to use bitcoin to say 'buy Starbucks' or something. I'd be worried that people would slowly lose interest, the price kind of levels off or even goes down,\" he said. It would be an unwelcome scenario, but even that wouldn't spell the end of bitcoin, according to Ciotoli. \"The technology is here to stay, and I think it'll be interesting to see how things play out over the next year,\" Ciotoli said." + }, + { + "text": "ISELIN, N.J., Jan. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Pure Grown Diamonds, the pioneers in the above earth diamond industry and the largest selling grown diamond brand in the United States, announces Joseph Green as Senior VP of Independent Sales, effective immediately. Mr. Green brings to Pure Grown Diamonds his 20+ years of experience as a dedicated and influential leader to his key areas of oversight including: sales management, distribution networks, branding, and strategic planning. Most recently, he was responsible for directing the independent channel activities, go-to-market planning and strategic development as the Executive Vice President of Sales for Leo Schachter Diamond Company. Previously, Mr. Green served as Senior Vice President of Frederick Goldman Inc. developing strategic plans for the division and its brands: Goldman, ArtCarved Bridal, Triton and Diana as well as managing sales for Scott Kay. In addition, Mr. Green previously served as Vice President of Sales with Ritani LLC and was responsible for leading Ritani LLC's national sales force, growing national independent sales and developing the Ritani brand. \"The independent jeweler is the backbone of the American jewelry retail industry and bringing Joseph on board shows our continued commitment to them and the recognition that partnering with them in the right way is important to us,\" says Suraj Mehta, Director of Pure Grown Diamonds. \"Joseph will lead the team that services the independents at Pure Grown Diamonds and will focus on developing overall sales strategy to maximize business development with our customers.\" In his new position, Mr. Green will lead the independent sales for Pure Grown Diamonds. He will focus on developing overall sales strategy, driving profitability as well as working to maximize business development opportunities. For more information or additional press inquiries, please contact Kaitlin Derkach, at [REDACTED] , (212) 217-9065. ABOUT PURE GROWN DIAMONDS Conceived in 2013, Pure Grown Diamonds (PGD) has been growing steadily in USA's multi-brand jewelry retail stores. It distinguishes itself sharply in the very source of its diamonds – they are grown above the earth using cutting edge technology in an environment that mimics nature below the earth. PGD's diamonds bring to every consumer the opportunity to possess their dream diamond, only bigger and brighter than ever before. Pure Grown Diamonds are very high-quality Type IIa diamond that can go up to 5 carat stone in cut and polished form. Since these diamonds are sustainably grown above earth with fair production practices, they are ethical in the truest sense and leave a significantly smaller carbon footprint when compared to mined diamonds. To discover more about the brand please visit, . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Pure Grown Diamonds Inc." + }, + { + "text": "ADEN (Reuters) - The Yemeni prime minister on Sunday appealed to Arab countries to save President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s interim capital Aden from falling to southern separatists who have seized large parts of the city in heavy clashes against government forces. “They are moving militarily, setting up new military checkpoints and attacking camps of the legitimacy (government) ....,” Ahmed bin Dahr wrote in a message on his Facebook page, referring to southern fighters under the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC). “This is a serious matter and the coalition and Arabs as a whole must move to save the situation. The matter is in their hands and the hope, as we see it in the government, is on the (United Arab) Emirates,” he said. Reporting by Mohammed Mukhashaf, writing by Sami Aboudi. Editing by Jane Merriman" + }, + { + "text": "JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel’s Finance Ministry said on Thursday it plans to spend 1.15 billion shekels ($333 million) in the coming years to increase the competitiveness of the country’s industrial sector. The proposal will be submitted to the cabinet for approval in the coming days to be part of the 2019 state budget framework. Israel’s manufacturing industry accounts for 10 percent of the country’s jobs and half its exports. Industrial output has averaged 1.7 percent growth the past three years, lagging overall economic growth of 3.2 percent on average. A public committee headed by the ministry’s director general, Shai Babad, recommended allocating 675 million shekels towards research and development and technological innovation, 365 million shekels to increasing skilled manpower and 110 million shekels to removing regulatory barriers. “The plan ... will help provide the tools for traditional industry to improve human capital and productivity while adopting new technologies,” Babad said. Israel is ranked 53rd out of 189 countries in the ease of doing business, down from 27 in 2007. Reporting by Steven Scheer" + }, + { + "text": "As Saudi Arabia and Iran spar for influence across the Middle East, Israel is using the Arabic language to seek common ground with Tehran’s enemies and sway its sympathizers. The efforts have been met at times with hostility and ridicule—in part because Maj. Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army spokesman leading the outreach, doesn’t shy away from provocation. Maj.... RELATED VIDEO Saudi Arabia and Iran Square Off Over the Middle East The new Saudi Arabian leadership’s aggressive approach to Iran is shifting the balance of power across the Middle East and is having huge repercussions for the region. Iran, in response, has warned Saudi Arabia against its hawkishness. WSJ’s Niki Blasina explains the four main proxy conflicts between the two nations." + }, + { + "text": "Team Scallywag lead charge to Hong Kong Thursday, January 18, 2018 - 01:23 Gruelling fourth leg of Volvo Ocean Race edges to a close with Team Scallywag ahead of chasing pack. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Gruelling fourth leg of Volvo Ocean Race edges to a close with Team Scallywag ahead of chasing pack. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "BUDAPEST, Jan 24 (Reuters) - The National Bank of Hungary (NBH) plans to make its new interest rate swap (IRS) facility for commercial banks fixed- rate instead of variable-rate, three banking sources told Reuters on Wednesday. Access to the IRS will be proportional to the size of the assets of bidders according to a new rule, two of the sources said. The NBH informed commercial banks about the changes at a meeting earlier on Wednesday, the sources said. The first of the NBH’s bi-weekly 5-year and 10-year IRS auctions, held last Thursday, led to a sharp rebound in IRS and government bond yields in the market because the offered amounts and yield spreads disappointed some investors. The central bank was not immediately reachable for comment. (Reporting by Krisztina Than and Sandor Peto; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)" + }, + { + "text": "Dow tops 25,000 Thursday, January 04, 2018 - 01:12 Strong economic data extended the new year's equities rally Thursday, vaulting the Dow above the 25,000 milestone. Fred Katayama reports. Strong economic data extended the new year's equities rally Thursday, vaulting the Dow above the 25,000 milestone. Fred Katayama reports. //reut.rs/2CIF90A" + }, + { + "text": "1:06 PM ET Mon, 8 Jan 2018 | 04:35 Celgene acquired a developer of cancer drugs, Impact Biomedicines, in a deal valued at up to $7 billion the companies announced on Sunday . The deal entails a $1.1 billion initial payment to the start-up, and more in phases if Impact's clinical trials bear out and the company attains regulatory approvals to move forward with treatments for a blood cancer called myelofibrosis. The deal represents a blockbuster of an exit for Impact's earlier investors. The company had raised $112 million, including $22 million in venture funding from Medicxi Ventures in London, and $90 million in debt financing from Oberland Capital. Google has acquired a U.K.-based company called Redux Laboratories, which had 178 granted patents and 50 pending, as well as venture funding from Prosper Capital. Redux's flagship technology turns the surface of devices, including smartphones, into speakers. A regulatory filing from December 2017 showed that Google's Ireland subsidiary bought all the shares of NVF Tech, the parent company of Redux. The deal was completed around September last year, and terms weren't disclosed. After 12 years and $157 million in venture funding, Practice Fusion was acquired by Allscripts, for $100 million. Practice Fusion created a free online platform that doctors could use to issue prescriptions, communicate with other healthcare providers, order labs and keep records of their patients' visits. The deal was a disappointing end for Practice Fusion's backers, who had at one time given the company a $1.5 billion valuation. Practice Fusion was backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield& Byers, Morgenthaler Ventures, Felicis Ventures, an investment arm of OrbiMed and othaers. Start-ups Sydney-based Canva raised $40 million in new venture funding and scored a post-money valuation of $1 billion, CEO and co-founder Melanie Perkins told CNBC. The deal makes Canva one of the few \"unicorns\" to hail from Australia, and one of the few led by a woman. Canva makes Web-based software that helps non-experts make pretty presentations, graphics or even light animations. Canva wants to topple PowerPoint. But the start-up also faces competition from Apple Keynote, Adobe Connect, and Prezi, another venture-funded company. Sequoia China was part of the new funding round. Perkins told CNBC that people have created billboards, invitations, missing person posters and more with Canva, in addition to school reports, pitch decks and infographics. The new funding will help Canva expand to international audiences and develop new features and functionality. \"Our mission has been the same for years -- to empower everyone to design anything and publish anywhere,\" she said. \"We're getting closer to that goal, but haven't even done 1 percent of what's possible.\" Ore Huiying | Bloomberg | Getty Images Tan Hooi Ling, co-founder of Grab. Hyundai invested in Grab , the Singapore-based ride-hailing company whose app is widely used to hail taxis or private vehicles, throughout Southeast Asia. The companies did not say how much Hyundai has invested. The deal marks Hyundai's first jump into a ride-hailing platform. Zhang Peng | LightRocket | Getty Images Jaguar's venture arm, InMotion Ventures, and Khosla Ventures invested in a $15 million round of funding for Voyage, as The Information first reported. The start-up has developed \"robo-taxis,\" a fleet of driverless cars that can be booked for a ride through an app. Voyage is testing out its autonomous transportation in San Jose, California, and will soon expand it to retirement communities in Florida. The company spun out of Udacity , an online school created by driverless car pioneer Sebastian Thrun. InMotion Ventures also invested $1 million in a Boston-based start-up called Sheprd the companies announced on Wednesday. Sheprd bills itself as an \"on-demand school bus.\" Its drivers use Jaguar Land Rover SUVs to pick up groups of students and drop them off at school, soccer practice or other related activities. Parents pre-schedule the rides on an Uber-like app. Kids get picked up and dropped off directly at home or where they're expected and don't need to wait at public bus stops. Funds and Firms Renault Nissan and Mitsubishi announced plans to invest $1 billion over 5 years in driverless car and related autonomous and transportation technologies as Alliance Ventures. According to a press statement from the alliance, \"The first deal will be a strategic investment in Ionic Materials , a US-based company developing solid-state cobalt-free battery materials.\"" + }, + { + "text": "Wall Street soars to new highs 9:53pm GMT - 01:15 Stocks extended their rally on Wall Street as earnings season kicked off with solid results from banks. Fred Katayama reports. Stocks extended their rally on Wall Street as earnings season kicked off with solid results from banks. Fred Katayama reports. //reut.rs/2AVm6Ko" + }, + { + "text": "Australian actress Margot Robbie 'overwhelmed' by first Oscar nomination 6:29am EST - 01:04 Australian movie star Margot Robbie first heard of her Best Actress nomination for 'I Tonya' while surrounded by family and friends. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Australian movie star Margot Robbie first heard of her Best Actress nomination for 'I Tonya' while surrounded by family and friends. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2nds1FM" + }, + { + "text": "23 AM / in 16 minutes Steinhoff Austrian unit Kika/Leiner secures money for up to 24 months Reuters Staff 1 Min Read VIENNA, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Steinhoff’s Austrian unit Kika/Leiner has secured enough money to keep going for up to 24 months and plans to invest in its logistics and online presence to ensure growth, its managing director said. Steinhoff, which owns more than 40 brands including Poundland in Britain, admitted accounting irregularities last month, sparking an 85 percent share price slide that wiped more than $10 billion off its market capitalisation. “We intensively negotiated with our parent company in South Africa in the past weeks,” Gunnar George said at a news conference in Vienna. “We found a solution that secures us liquidity for the next 12 to 24 months.” George said expanding its online presence, improving its logistics and making sure every single branch worked efficiently were the top priorities in the coming months. (Reporting by Kirsti Knolle; editing by Jason Neely)" + }, + { + "text": "PARIS—When French billionaire Patrick Drahi spoke in 2016 to top managers at Cablevision—the New York-area firm he had just bought for $10 billion—he told them the key to his success was making decisions fast. He also said if necessary he could reverse course just as quickly. In recent months, the founder of telecommunications giant Altice NV has been making a lot of those U-turns. Mr.... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 12 (Reuters) - Indian shares edged higher on Friday to a record close, boosted by surging financial and energy stocks, while investors awaited monthly inflation data for clues on the central bank’s monetary policy. The broader NSE index closed 0.28 percent higher at 10,681.25, while the benchmark BSE index ended up 0.26 percent at 34,592.39. The indexes hit record closing levels four times this week. For the week, the NSE index added 1.2 percent, while the BSE index advanced 1.3 percent. Both indexes posted their sixth consecutive weekly gain. ICICI Bank Ltd rose 2.7 percent, while Reliance Industries Ltd closed 1.2 percent higher. For the mid-day report, click (Reporting by Krishna V Kurup in Bengaluru; Editing by Sunil Nair)" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 6:34 PM / Updated 26 minutes ago The Eagles settle lawsuit against Hotel California 3 Min Read (Reuters) - There can evidently be only one Hotel California. The Eagles have settled a lawsuit to stop a Mexico hotel from using the name “Hotel California,” arguably the country-rock band’s most famous song, after the hotel’s owners withdrew their application to trademark the name in the United States. A joint dismissal of the band’s lawsuit against Hotel California Baja LLC, which runs the Todos Santos hotel in Baja California Sur, was filed on Wednesday with the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. “This case has been settled by mutual agreement of the parties,” Thomas Jirgal, a lawyer for the Eagles, said in an interview on Thursday. The dismissal came on the same day the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office accepted Hotel California Baja’s request to permanently abandon its trademark application. Neither the hotel nor its lawyer immediately responded to requests for comment. “Hotel California” is the title track from the 1976 Eagles album of the same name, and won the 1977 Grammy award for record of the year. It is known for a long guitar outro by Don Felder and Joe Walsh, and abstract lyrics that lead singer Don Henley told CBS News in 2016 depict “the dark underbelly of the American dream.” Hotel California Baja was accused of wrongly encouraging guests to believe the Eagles authorized using the song’s name, such as by playing the band’s songs throughout its property. The Eagles said this was done in part to spur sales of T-shirts, posters, refrigerator magnets and other merchandise for guests to take home after they check out and leave. In court papers, Hotel California Baja denied it was trying to mislead guests, and said they were unlikely to be confused. Located about 1,000 miles (1,609 km) south of San Diego and 48 miles (77 km) north of Cabo San Lucas, the hotel had been called Hotel California when it opened in 1950. It underwent some name changes, but the original name was revived after John and Debbie Stewart, a Canadian couple, bought the property in 2001. The case is Eagles Ltd v Hotel California Baja LLC et al, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No. 17-03276. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - HCA Healthcare Inc ( HCA.N ), the largest U.S. for-profit hospital operator, said its quarterly revenue rose 8.7 percent as more patients were admitted to its hospitals. Hospital operators have been plagued by low patient admissions in the past few quarters, but HCA has been buying hospitals from rivals in the face of the decline in volumes. The company’s shares, which were down in premarket trading before the results, reversed course to trade up 7 percent. HCA’s same-facility equivalent admissions, which include patients who stay in the hospital overnight and those who are treated on an outpatient basis, rose 2.3 percent in the fourth quarter. Net income attributable to HCA plunged 48.5 percent to $474 million, or $1.30 per share, as it booked a $301 million charge related to the recently passed U.S. tax reform. The company, which operates 179 hospitals and 120 freestanding surgery centers, said its revenue rose to $11.56 billion from $10.64 billion. The company also said it was initiating a quarterly dividend of 35 cents per share. Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 7:39 AM / Updated 18 minutes ago Zambian army enters slum after riots over cholera controls- state radio Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambian troops entered a slum in Lusaka on Friday to restore order after residents rioted over a curfew and ban on street vending imposed to control a cholera outbreak, state radio said. The riots in the densely populated Kanyama township were sparked after police sealed off a market where trading had been banned on Sunday, when the curfew was declared. Cholera has killed more than 60 people in the Zambian capital since it broke out there in October. Street vending and public gatherings were banned across Lusaka to prevent the spread of the disease, but residents of Kanyama, where around 370,000 people live, have been defying the order at night. The army was deployed after locals destroyed property and looted shops, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation said. Reuters could not immediately confirm that troops had entered Kanyama, but Local Government and Housing Minister Vincent Mwale said police had been sent there to stop rioting. Peter Zulu, a local resident, said rioters had blocked Los Angeles Road, a major thoroughfare, and that police had fired teargas to try to disperse them. Main opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema called for calm in Kanyama, a stronghold of his United Party for National Development. Reporting by Chris Mfula; editing by John Stonestreet" + }, + { + "text": "(Corrects typo in headline) Jan 30 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened lower for a second straight day on Tuesday, with the Dow down about 250 points, weighed down by a rise in bond yields and a drop in shares of healthcare companies. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 249.83 points, or 0.94 percent, to 26,189.65. The S&P 500 lost 24.32 points, or 0.85 percent, to 2,829.21. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 78.76 points, or 1.05 percent, to 7,387.75. (Reporting by Tanya Agrawal; Editing by Savio D‘Souza)" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 2:55 PM / in 38 minutes Swiss retail in recovery mode as franc loses shine John Revill 3 Min Read ZURICH, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Switzerland’s retail sector is expected to partially recover in 2018 due to a buoyant Swiss economy, which has largely overcome problems triggered by a strong franc following the scrapping in 2015 of a central bank cap against the euro. Swiss shoppers who flocked to neighbouring Germany, France and Italy to pick up bargains are expected to spend more money at home and sales by the country’s retailers are forecast to rise by 0.3 percent this year, Credit Suisse said on Tuesday. The improvement would follow a 0.1 percent increase in 2017, the first rise in three years, the bank said. Although Switzerland’s retail market is relatively small at around 90 billion Swiss francs ($92 billion) per year, it is an important market for luxury brands in particular. The outlook comes as official data on Tuesday showed retail sales rose by 0.2 percent in November compared with a year earlier, although when inflation was taken into account there was a 0.2 percent decline. “There is a recovery for the retail sector as a whole, although it is lagging the entire Swiss economy,” said Sascha Jucker, a Credit Suisse economist. “Overall you can talk about a stabilisation, the start of a recovery, although not every retailer will agree with you. There are still some problematic areas like clothing and personal care which are not benefiting to the same extent as food retailers.” Shop managers interviewed by consultancy Fuhrer & Holz are also slightly more optimistic, with 60 percent expecting rising sales in 2018. Swiss supermarket Coop - one of the two chains which dominate the country - last week reported net sales of 17.4 billion francs for 2017 in its retail business, up from 17.2 billion francs a year earlier. When the Swiss National Bank scrapped the long-standing cap it sent the franc rocketing and left Swiss shops saddled with products costing 50 percent more than just across the border. But last year’s near 9 percent depreciation of the franc versus the euro, coupled with higher inflation outside Switzerland, has led to a comparative price reduction. Shopping tourism from Switzerland was estimated to have levelled out or even slightly declined in 2017, from 11 billion francs in 2016, Credit Suisse said. But retail growth still lags the overall Swiss economy, which Credit Suisse expects to grow by 1.7 percent this year, largely because of ecommerce, with more Swiss shoppers using services like Zalando and Amazon Online retailers have around 7 percent of the Swiss market, a figure Credit Suisse expects to rise to 11 percent by 2022. “The biggest challenge will come from online retailers as they expand their offering in Switzerland,” Jucker said. ($1 = 0.9821 Swiss francs) (Reporting by John Revill; editing by Alexander Smith)" + }, + { + "text": "LOS ANGELES, Jan. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Broadvoice®, an award-winning provider of hosted voice, unified communications (UC) and SIP Trunking services for businesses, has tapped Vincent Mussumeci as senior channel manager. Mussumeci's appointment follows the recent additions of Alan Kaplan and Randy Greene as channel managers to further support Broadvoice's expanding channel program and double-digit sales growth with its suite of cloud communications services. Mussumeci has worked in the telecom industry for 20 years as a unified communications as a service (UCaaS) reseller, account executive and channel manager. Prior to joining Broadvoice, he spent several years with 8x8, earning recognition as a Top 15 Channel Manager . \"We are excited about Vincent joining our team,\" said Tessley Smith, vice president of channel for Broadvoice. \"He has a stellar reputation in the channel community and a proven track record of supporting and empowering partners as their clients increasingly migrate to cloud-based solutions. He also adds a wealth of knowledge and experience to a veteran team that will continue to drive phenomenal growth.\" As senior channel manager, Mussumeci will leverage his existing partner relationships and develop new ones to further grow Broadvoice's presence in Northern California and the Northwest. \"Broadvoice is channel friendly and makes it easy for customers to do business with them,\" said Mussumeci. \"They care about each other and want to do what is right for their partners and customers. And, the tech is strong -- the software is slick and has the potential to take over the market. It's exciting to join the Broadvoice team at such a pivotal time.\" Broadvoice offers a flexible, smart portfolio of IP-based voice and data offerings, backed by its enterprise-class, geo-redundant IP telephony platform. This includes its flagship cloud UC and PBX services, which features unlimited voice calling plans throughout the continental United States and Canada. For more information on the Broadvoice Partner Program, please call 866.634.1394, or visit www.broadvoice.com/partners . About Broadvoice Headquartered in Los Angeles, Broadvoice is a premier provider of cloud phone service, contact center solutions, collaboration and conferencing. Utilizing the latest cloud communications technology, Broadvoice helps businesses achieve higher call quality and faster Internet speeds while reducing overall costs and improving efficiency. The company continuously delivers a full suite of secure, reliable, real-time communication solutions that help businesses connect with customers anywhere, anytime and with any device. Broadvoice is ranked in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 and Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. Visit Broadvoice.com to learn more. Media Contact: Rebecca Rosen Vice President of Marketing Broadvoice 818.671.2953 [REDACTED] View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Broadvoice" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—A lawyer for President Donald Trump on Thursday demanded the author and publisher of a new book featuring scathing criticism of the White House halt its publication and apologize to the president. In a letter to author Michael Wolff and publisher Henry Holt and Co., Charles Harder said the book contained “numerous false and/or baseless statements,” though it didn’t specify any. He threatened legal action for defamation, invasion of privacy, and other claims. ... RELATED VIDEO The Trump-Bannon Rift: What Are the Implications? President Trump and his onetime chief strategist Steve Bannon are feuding over revelations from a new book in which Mr. Bannon is quoted as saying that a 2016 meeting in Trump Tower between Donald Trump Jr. and some Russian representatives was \"treasonous.\" WSJ's Gerald F. Seib explains the implications of the rift. Photo: Getty" + }, + { + "text": "DUBLIN, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Ireland will hold two bond auctions during the first quarter, on Feb. 8 and March 8, after kicking off its funding drive for the year with the sale of 4 billion euros of 10-year debt last week, the debt agency said on Monday. The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) plans to issue between 14 billion and 18 billion euros of long-term debt in 2018 and covered around a quarter of that with last week’s sale via a syndication of banks. Ireland will also hold a treasury bill auction on March 15, the NTMA said in a statement. (Reporting by Conor Humphries; Editing by Peter Graff)" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - U.S. financial technology firm Blackhawk Network Holdings Inc ( HAWK.O ) said on Tuesday it would be acquired by private equity firm Silver Lake and New York-based hedge fund P2 Capital Partners in an all-cash deal worth about $3.5 billion including debt. The offer of $45.25 per Blackhawk share represents a 24 percent premium to the stock’s Friday closing price. Shares of Blackhawk rose 23 percent to $44.90 in premarket trading. Pleasanton, California-based Blackhawk offers a range of services including gift cards and prepaid debit cards by partnering with companies such as PayPal ( PYPL.O ), American Express ( AXP.N ) and Western Union ( WU.N ). The deal includes a $1.7-billion equity commitment from Silver Lake. Sandler O‘Neill & Partners was Blackhawk’s financial adviser. Barclays, BofA Merrill Lynch and affiliates of Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan advised Silver Lake. Reporting By Aparajita Saxena in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Sai Sachin Ravikumar" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 7:35 AM / Updated 5 hours ago UK Brexit minister to set out transition aims on Friday - BBC political editor Reuters Staff 1 Brexit minister David Davis will set out Britain’s approach to a post-EU membership transition period, the BBC’s political editor said on Thursday. Davis will say that Britain wants to remain in deals such as the EU’s free trade deal with Canada after Brexit, Laura Kuenssberg said on Twitter. “Hear Davis will say govt wants to stay in deals like CETA after Brexit,” Kuenssberg wrote. “UK intent on doing trade deals during transition, to sign on dotted line the moment its over, and to say need some kind of process so UK has voice at the table during that time.” Related Coverage" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING, Jan 4 (Reuters) - * Chinese offshore oil producer CNOOC has resumed production at its Lufeng South China Sea oilfield, an official from the company’s investors relations department said on Thursday * The Lufeng Oilfield was shut on July 22 due to leaking at a floating oil storage vessel attached to the field * Production at Lufeng will gradually climb back to 2,4000 barrels per day, the official said * Four oil fields - Buzzard, Scott, Telford and Rochelle - over the North Sea in UK where CNOOC’s subsidiary Nexen owns interests also resumed production after a key pipeline reopened after repair, CNOOC official said (Reporting by Meng Meng and Josephine Mason; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "January 7, 2018 / 10:53 PM / Updated 5 hours ago Cricket-England captain Root in hospital with dehydration Reuters Staff 1 Min Read SYDNEY, Jan 8 (Reuters) - England captain Joe Root was taken to hospital with severe dehydration on Monday and may not resume his innings on the final day of the fifth Ashes test. An England spokesman confirmed that the 27-year-old, who was 42 not out at the end of day four as the tourists battled to avoid an innings defeat, had suffered from diarrhoea and vomiting overnight. Temperatures at the Sydney Cricket Ground exceeded 40 degrees Celsius on Sunday. England finished the day on 93 for four and need another 210 to make Australia bat again. Australia have won the Ashes after winning the first three tests. (Editing by Clare Fallon)" + }, + { + "text": "Arab legislators protest Pence speech in Israel 01:01 A handful of Israeli Arab lawmakers are removed from Israel's parliament for protesting as U.S. Vice President Mike Pence made an address. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). A handful of Israeli Arab lawmakers are removed from Israel's parliament for protesting as U.S. Vice President Mike Pence made an address. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). //in.reuters.com/video/2018/01/22/arab-legislators-protest-pence-speech-in?videoId=387963389&videoChannel=13423" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29 (Reuters) - AXWAY SOFTWARE SA: * ANNOUNCES ESTIMATE OF 2017 ANNUAL RESULTS * PROFIT (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS SHOULD SLIGHTLY EXCEED 13%, AS ANNOUNCED * GROWTH IN CLOUD ACTIVITY IS ESTIMATED AT MORE THAN 14% FOR FY 2017 * GLOBAL REVENUE FOR FY 2017 EXPECTED TO FALL 3.8% IN ORGANIC TERMS COMPARED WITH 2016 * FY 2017 NET INCOME IS EXPECTED TO SUFFER A STRONG ADVERSE AFFECT FROM NEW LAW ON TAXATION OF COMPANIES IN USA * GLOBAL REVENUE FOR FY 2017 EXPECTED TO FALL 3.8% IN ORGANIC TERMS COMPARED WITH 2016 * FY STRONG ADVERSE AFFECT ON NET INCOME ESTIMATED BETWEEN EUR 10 MLN AND EUR 13 MLN * AXWAY HAS HAD TO ADJUST DEFERRED TAX ITEM FOR NEW TAXATION RATES (ACCOUNTING IMPACT, NON-CASH) Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "12 AM / in 10 minutes BRIEF-TSMC Orders Equipment Worth T$2.7 Bln From Tokyo Electron, Applied Materials South East Asia Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 24 (Reuters) - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd : * SAYS ORDERS MACHINERY EQUIPMENT WORTH T$2.7 BILLION ($92.34 million) Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: ($1 = 29.2410 Taiwan dollars) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "DUBAI (Reuters) - Two people were killed in Iran’s protests in a southwestern town, ILNA news agency on Monday Quote: d a local parliament member as saying. That brought to at least four the number of fatalities in the most serious unrest in the country since 2009. Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Writing by Michael Georgy" + }, + { + "text": "41 Mins Ago | 02:18 President Donald Trump is in \"excellent health,\" and has no cognitive problems, but should lose some weight through a regimen that includes improving his diet and getting more exercise, the White House physician said Tuesday. \"Absolutely, he's fit for duty, I think he will remain fit for duty for the remainder of his term,\" said Dr. Ronny Jackson, who oversaw Trump's first annual physical exam as president last Friday. \"The president's overall health is excellent.\" \"There's no indication whatsoever that he has any cognitive issues,\" Jackson told reporters at a White House press briefing. \"I find no reason whatsoever to think that the president has any issues whatever with his thought process.\" Trump himself asked for an evaluation of his cognitive state, after questions were recently raised about it by a new book, \"Fire and Fury,\" about the president, said Jackson, who is a rear admiral in the U.S. Navy. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images President Donald Trump shakes hands with White House Physician Rear Admiral Dr. Ronny Jackson, following his annual physical at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, January 12, 2018. \"He asked me to do it,\" Jackson said at Trump, 71, who last year became the oldest person ever to become president. \"As far as I know this is the first time this has happened,\" Jackson said, referring to a cognitive assessment being done on a president who is in office. The doctor said that in his daily interactions with Trump \"he's very sharp and he's very articulate when he speaks to me.\" The doctor also said Trump showed \"excellent cardiac results ... from a stress test\" performed on the president last week. The president's blood pressure was 122/75. Jackson said that Trump, who weighs 239 pounds and stands six-feet-three-inches tall, \"would like to lose ... 10 to 15 pounds.\" At his weight and height, the president is borderline obese. \"The president has acknowledged he'd be healthier if he lost a few pounds,\" Jackson said. To do that, the doctor said, he was looking to have the president reduce his intake of fats and carbohydrates in his diet, and increase his physical exercise. \"He's more enthusiastic about the diet part than the exercise part,\" Jackson said. Trump has a well-known penchant for fast food, including meals featuring McDonald's Big Macs and Filet-o-Fish sandwiches, and an aversion to exercise other than playing golf while using a cart to get around the links. Asked how Trump managed to be in such good health with that lifestyle, Jackson said, \"He has incredibly good genes.\" Trump also has benefited from abstaining from both tobacco and alcohol throughout his life, according to the doctor. Jackson said that while Trump \"doesn't have a daily exercise regiment,\" Trump \"has a lot of energy, a lot of stamina.\" The doctor also mentioned that in addition to taking Advil and Crestor, a drug used to control cholesterol levels, Trump also takes Propecia, a drug used to stem hair loss. \"The president does take Ambien [a sleep aid] ... on overseas travel,\" Jackson said. Jackson said a recent incident in which Trump slurred some words while making public remarks may have been the result of Sudafed that the doctor gave the president the previous day. The briefing on Trump's physical by Jackson lasted almost an hour. Jackson told reporters that Trump personally asked that he answer every question put to him by reporters, and that press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was told by the president not to interrupt the doctor during the briefing." + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 6:44 AM / in an hour India's top court rejects bid to reinstate ban on film as Hindu groups protest Suchitra Mohanty , Shilpa Jamkhandikar 4 Min Read NEW DELHI/MUMBAI (Reuters) - India’s Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected bids by two states to reinstate a ban on the disputed Bollywood film “Padmaavat”, saying it stood by its previous ruling clearing the way for the movie to be shown in theaters. Street protests against the film turned increasingly violent late on Tuesday with reports of vandalism around a number of multiplexes in the western state of Gujarat. Groups critical of the project have accused its director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, of distorting history by portraying a Muslim ruler as the “lover” of Queen Padmavati of the Hindu Rajput warrior clan. The filmmakers deny the accusation. A fire department official said protesters had burnt dozens of two-wheelers and smashed a number of car and shop windows in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on Tuesday night. Ahmedabad Police Commissioner A.K.Singh said the violence occurred around four shopping malls that house multiplexes. He said hundreds of youth were involved. “We had to open fire to stop the mob from smashing vehicles,” Singh told Reuters, adding no one was injured in the shooting. “We are upgrading security near these malls.” The government of the northwestern state of Rajasthan had argued it wanted to avoid public unrest by banning the film. On Monday Rajasthan and the central state of Madhya Pradesh, both run by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), asked the court to reconsider its earlier ruling. “We are not going to modify our earlier order,” the three-judge bench of the Apex Court, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said on Tuesday. “States must ensure that law and order must prevail.” Police stand guard outside a multiplex during a protest against the release of the upcoming Bollywood movie \"Padmaavat\" in Ahmedabad, India, January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Amit Dave The film, due for release on Thursday ahead of the long Republic Day weekend, has opened for advance bookings elsewhere in India, but theaters in the two states have yet to list it. The court issued its initial ruling last week at the behest of the film’s producers after four states, including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, sought to prohibit the film, despite clearance by a film certification panel. Slideshow (2 Images) Despite the court ruling, theater owners in the two states, which are among India’s biggest film markets, said they were wary of releasing the film without more explicit support from their state governments. “We want to release the film, but have no support from the government. When we approached the local police, we were told that we should show the film at our own risk,” Sandeep Jain, who owns seven theaters in Madhya Pradesh, told Reuters. The top administrative officer in the district of Gurgaon, 30 km (19 miles) from capital New Delhi, imposed a ban on carrying firearms or other articles capable of causing injury, raising slogans and exhibiting placards within 200 meters of cinema halls and multiplexes from Jan. 23-28. Conservative Hindu groups, such as the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, held protests this week against the film’s release, including blocking traffic in parts of the country. A Rajput community group, Sarwa Kshatriya Mahasabha, in the central state of Chhattisgarh said they would continue their protests despite the court’s order. “We have already warned the cinema hall owners and they have given in writing that they will not screen the film. In case they do, we will not be responsible for any consequences,” Rakesh Singh Bais told Reuters. Reporting by Suchitra Mohanty, Shilpa Jamkhandikar, Sudarshan Varadhan and Jatindra Dash; Writing by Swati Bhat and Euan Rocha; Editing by Rafael Nam and Mark Heinrich" + }, + { + "text": "SAN FRANCISCO, Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB) will release financial results for the first quarter (Q1) of fiscal 2018 after the close of regular trading on Wednesday, January 24, 2018. Members of Dolby management will lead a conference call open to all interested parties to discuss Q1 fiscal 2018 financial results for Dolby Laboratories at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET) on Wednesday, January 24, 2018. Access to the teleconference will be available over the Internet from or by dialing 1-800-239-9838. International callers can access the conference call at 1-323-794-2551. A replay of the call will be available from 5:00 p.m. PT on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, until 9:00 p.m. PT on Wednesday, January 31, 2018, by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (international callers can access the replay by dialing 1-412-317-6671) and entering the confirmation code 4931000. An archived version of the teleconference will also be available on the Dolby Laboratories website, www.dolby.com . About Dolby Laboratories Dolby Laboratories (NYSE:DLB) is based in San Francisco with offices in over 20 countries around the globe. Dolby transforms the science of sight and sound into spectacular experiences. Through innovative research and engineering, we create breakthrough experiences for billions of people worldwide through a collaborative ecosystem spanning artists, businesses, and consumers. The experiences people have – in Dolby Vision , Dolby Atmos , Dolby Cinema , Dolby Voice , and Dolby Audio – revolutionize entertainment and communications at the cinema, on the go, in the home, and at work. Dolby and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. Investor Contact: Dolby Laboratories Elena Carr, [REDACTED] [REDACTED] or Media Contact: Dolby Laboratories Tony Carter, [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Source:Dolby Laboratories" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 11:15 AM / Updated 17 minutes ago Puig appointed Repsol Honda team boss Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Former racer Alberto Puig has been appointed manager of MotoGP champions Repsol Honda following the departure of Livio Suppo last year. The 50-year-old Spaniard was a race winner in 500cc, the category that became MotoGP, with Honda in 1995 at his home grand prix. Italian Suppo announced his departure in November, a day after Repsol Honda’s Spaniard Marc Marquez secured his fourth top-flight world championship in five years. Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Toby Davis" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 11:56 AM / Updated 8 hours ago Poland's Kubica to be Williams F1 reserve driver Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Poland’s former grand prix winner Robert Kubica will be the reserve and development driver for Williams this season, the Formula One team said on Tuesday. FILE PHOTO: Renault Formula One driver Robert Kubica of Poland arrives in his box during the second practice session for the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit near Budapest July 30, 2010. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo Russian Sergey Sirotkin was earlier announced as a race driver for the former champions, partnering Canadian Lance Stroll. Kubica, 33, had been hoping to get the race seat and return to the starting grid for the first time since a 2011 rally accident partially severed his right arm. Reporting Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "PARIS (Reuters) - Drivers caught swapping texts or chatting on their phones at the wheel risk having their licences suspended under new road safety rules in France, where the government is under pressure to halt a rise in road deaths. Vehicles drive along the A62 motorway in Toulouse December 31, 2014. REUTERS/ Regis Duvignau The crackdown, defended on the grounds that drivers are four times more likely to crash if toying with hand-held devices, was one of several measures announced by the government on Tuesday, along with a lowering of speed limits. The rise in smartphone use is fuelling concern that digital dabbling will become as deadly as drunk-driving, especially if the punished only by fines. President Emmanuel Macron’s government is under pressure to combat resurgent road accident numbers. The number of road accident deaths has been on the rise since 2014, with most accidents still attributed to excess speed, use of alcohol and drug-consumption. In Europe, bans on hand-held device usage are widespread but offences are generally limited to fines that vary from less than 50 euros in Ireland to several hundred in the Netherlands. Reporting by Brian Love; Editing by Angus MacSwan" + }, + { + "text": "By Reuters January 12, 2018 Four U.S. House Republicans, including the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, on Friday wrote Apple chief executive Tim Cook asking him to answer questions about its disclosure that it slowed older iPhones with flagging batteries . The California-based company apologized over the issue on Dec. 28, cut battery replacement costs and said it will change its software to show users whether their phone battery is good. The letter also said they were concerned about reports that an iPhone battery overheated and began to emit smoke in Switzerland. U.S. Senator John Thune, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, sent a similar letter to Apple on Tuesday. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "ANKARA/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Turkey urged the United States on Thursday to halt its support for Kurdish YPG fighters or risk confronting Turkish forces on the ground in Syria, some of Ankara’s strongest comments yet about a potential clash with its NATO ally. The remarks, from the spokesman for President Tayyip Erdogan’s government, underscored the growing bilateral tensions, six days after Turkey launched its air and ground operation, “Olive Branch”, in Syria’s northwestern Afrin region. In Washington, the Pentagon said that it carefully tracked weapons provided to the YPG and would continue discussions with Turkey. “We carefully track those weapons that are provided to them, we ensure that they, to the maximum extent possible, don’t fall into the wrong hands and we’re continuing discussions with the Turks on this issue,” Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie, joint staff director, told reporters. McKenzie said Turkey’s operation into Afrin was not helpful and was taking focus away from fighting Islamic State. Turkey’s targeting of the YPG, which it views as a security threat, has opened a new front in Syria’s multi-sided civil war. The Syrian Kurdish group is a main part of a U.S.-backed rebel alliance that has inflicted recent defeats on Islamic State militants. Any push by Turkish forces towards Manbij, part of a Kurdish-held territory some 100 km (60 miles) east of Afrin, could threaten U.S. efforts in northeast Syria and bring them into direct confrontation with U.S. troops deployed there. “Those who support the terrorist organisation will become a target in this battle,” Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said. “The United States needs to review its solders and elements giving support to terrorists on the ground in such a way as to avoid a confrontation with Turkey,” Bozdag, who also acts as the government’s spokesman, told broadcaster A Haber. The United States has around 2,000 troops in Syria, officially as part of an international, U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State. Washington has angered Ankara by providing arms, training and air support to Syrian Kurdish forces that Turkey views as terrorists. The Kurdish-led autonomous administration that runs Afrin on Thursday called on the Syrian government to defend its border with Turkey in Afrin despite Damascus’ stance against Kurdish autonomy. “We call on the Syrian state to carry out its sovereign obligations towards Afrin and protect its borders with Turkey from attacks of the Turkish occupier,” it said in a statement on its website. The Syrian government has said it is ready to target Turkish jets in its airspace, but has not intervened so far. It suspects the Kurds of wanting independence in the long-run and does not recognise the autonomous cantons they have set up in northern Syria. U.S. forces were deployed in and around Manbij to deter Turkish and U.S.-backed rebels from attacking each other and have also carried out training missions in the area. U.S. President Donald Trump urged Erdogan on Wednesday to curtail the military operation in Syria, the White House said. However Turkey has disputed that characterisation of the conversation. Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army fighters are pictured at a check point in Azaz, Syria January 24, 2018. REUTERS/Osman Orsal Turkey’s foreign minister said Erdogan told Trump that U.S. troops should withdraw from Manbij. Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said she had seen media reports about the comments, but was not aware of any change in U.S. posture. McKenzie added the United States and Turkey closely coordinated in the region but the United States would also ensure the safety of its troops. LIMITED GAINS Six days into the campaign, Turkish soldiers and their Free Syrian Army rebel fighter allies have been battling to gain footholds on the western, northern and eastern flanks of Afrin. They appear to have made only limited gains, hampered by rain and clouds, which have limited the air support. Slideshow (2 Images) Turkish warplanes struck the northern borders of Afrin, in tandem with heavy artillery shelling, and one civilian was killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group. Dozens of combatants and more than two dozen civilians have been killed so far in the offensive, the Observatory has said. The Turkish military said in a statement it had killed 303 militants in northern Syria since the operation started. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a YPG-dominated umbrella group backed by the United States in the fight against Islamic State, has previously said that Turkey was exaggerating the number of the dead. Relations between Ankara and Washington have neared breaking point recently over U.S. support for the YPG and other issues. Related Coverage Explainer: Turkey's military operation against Kurdish YPG in Afrin U.S." + }, + { + "text": "in talks with Turkey about creating security zone in Syria - Pentagon Ankara considers the YPG to be an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a three-decade-long insurgency in Turkey’s largely Kurdish southeast. Washington sees the YPG as an effective partner in the fight against Islamic State in Syria. Turkey said the United States had proposed a 30 km (19 mile) “safe zone” along the border. “(But) in order for us to discuss the security zone or any other issue with the U.S., we have to reestablish trust,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters. In Washington, McKenzie said the U.S. and Turkey were continuing talks about a “secure zone” but there had been no final decision. McKenzie said that he had not yet seen a movement of SDF fighters moving from the Euphrates River Valley to reinforce Afrin or Manbij, but was watching closely. The Afrin operation has also triggered concern in Germany, another NATO ally, where the caretaker government said it would put on hold any decision on upgrading Turkey’s German-made tanks. Additional reporting by Ece Toksabay in Ankara; Ezgi Erkoyun in Istanbul; Tom Perry in Beirut; Michael Nienaber Andreas Rinke in Berlin and Idrees Ali in Washington; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Richard Balmforth and Alistair Bell" + }, + { + "text": "Times Square cleanup begins after bitterly cold celebration 6:30am GMT - 00:49 After revelers braved the cold weather to ring in the New Year, nearly 300 sanitation workers was at Times Square to clean up the mess. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript After revelers braved the cold weather to ring in the New Year, nearly 300 sanitation workers was at Times Square to clean up the mess. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "BUDAPEST, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Hungary’s central bank has offered a total of 50 billion forints ($198.31 million) worth of new unconditional 5-year and 10-year interest rate swaps at its first tender of the new facility on Thursday, the bank said on its Reuters page. Central Europe’s most dovish central bank offered 35 billion forints of 5-year IRS and 15 billion forints worth of 10-year IRS. The bank has said it would offer up to 300 billion forints worth of these new swaps to banks in the first quarter. The new IRS are part of the bank’s monetary policy tools announced in November, which also includes buying of mortgage bonds in order to push yields lower on longer-dated government bonds. ($1 = 252.13 forints) (Reporting by Krisztina Than and Gergely Szakacs)" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 2:57 PM / Updated 29 minutes ago 2017 second-costliest year on record for natural-disaster insured losses: Aon Reuters Staff 3 Min Read (Reuters) - Insured losses in the private sector and government-sponsored programmes from natural disasters came to $134 billion in 2017, making it the second-costliest year on record, broker Aon Benfield said on Wednesday. Three major hurricanes in the United States and Caribbean alone led to losses of $100 billion in 2017, according to risk modelling agencies and reinsurers. That compares with losses of about $74 billion caused by Hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans in 2005. There were 330 natural catastrophes last year, leading to overall economic losses of $353 billion, of which an “unprecedented” 97 percent were caused by weather-related events, according to Aon’s catastrophe report, making 2017 the costliest year on record for weather disasters. At $132 billion, 2017 was also the costliest year for insurers for weather disasters, with 60 percent of global insurance payouts in the year caused by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Weather losses exclude losses from other natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. An aerial photo shows damage caused by Hurricane Harvey in Rockport, Texas, U.S., August 31, 2017. REUTERS/DroneBase/Files Wildfires caused $14 billion of insurance losses in 2017 – the highest on record for the peril, Aon said. California faced wildfires in the northern part of the state that resulted in losses to those insured of more than $9 billion in October. Later in December, a sprawling Southern California wildfire become the largest on record in the state. Slideshow (2 Images) Other notable weather events in the year included earthquakes in Mexico, floods and Typhoon Hato in China and drought in Southern Europe. “The insurance industry was well-positioned to handle the cost of the 2017 disasters. Global reinsurer capital was a record $600 billion at the end of third quarter 2017,” Aon said. As a result, some reinsurers had been expecting double-digit price rises across the board when the Jan. 1 renewals came around after all of last year’s losses. In the end, however, global property reinsurance prices rose less than expected, with strong competition limiting increases to single-digit percentages. German reinsurer Munich Re, said this month that insurers will have to pay claims of around $135 billion for 2017, the most ever, following the spate of hurricanes, earthquakes and fires in North America. Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Carolyn Cohn in London; Editing by Hugh Lawson" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 3:28 PM / Updated 26 minutes ago Cricket - Rabada set to wait for opening chance despite rapid rise Nick Said 3 Min Read CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - The world’s top test bowler Kagiso Rabada says it is his ambition to open the bowling for South Africa, but he will likely have to wait for his chance ahead of the second test against India starting in Pretoria on Saturday. Cricket - England vs South Africa - Fourth Test - August 6, 2017 South Africa's Kagiso Rabada takes a catch to dismiss England's Jonny Bairstow Rabada’s thrilling display of fast bowling helped South Africa to a 72-run victory in the first test at Newlands, and catapulted the young firebrand to the summit of the International Cricket Council’s test rankings. He dislodged England’s Jimmy Anderson, a man 13 years his senior, with match figures of 5-75 that only tell half the story of a display brimming with pace, aggression and control. “Our bowling attack is very skilled, as we have seen in the past and in the last game. It feels great to be playing alongside these veterans,” Rabada told reporters on Wednesday. ”I just bowl wherever the team wants me to bowl, but obviously I would like to open. “It is very tough at the moment, though, because there are two very good bowlers doing that. I just like to do whatever the team requires me to do and set my own aspirations aside.” Since the start of 2016 he has taken 108 test wickets at an average of 21.34 and has a career strike-rate of 39.2 that is better than veterans Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel. Despite his form, Rabada was the fourth bowler used by South African captain Faf du Plessis in the first innings against India, a bow to his team mates’ seniority. The 22-year-old has long been thought of as a special talent, particularly in his homeland where the desire for role-models for young black cricketers burns strong. But few thought he would deliver so much, so soon. There are many who believe he can still get quicker, adding further to his considerable weaponry. “I don’t know how fast I can get. Sometimes I don’t think the speed gun is telling the truth to be honest. I can feel when I‘m bowling quick and when I‘m not,” he added. The loss of Steyn to another injury setback means the burden will be greater on Rabada this season, with two more home tests to come against India and then four tests against the visiting Australians. “I need to do more, I am always striving for perfection, even though you will never reach it,” he said. “There is always something else you can work on and that is what I have done in my career so far. There is always a problem!” Reporting By Nick Said; Editing by Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "Davos Man - Macron the poster boy for Europe? 4:32pm GMT - 01:56 French President Emmanuel Macron has told the World Economic Forum that France was back. As Kate King reports, he's calling for a 10-year strategy to reform Europe on the basis that what's good for Europe is good for France. French President Emmanuel Macron has told the World Economic Forum that France was back. As Kate King reports, he's calling for a 10-year strategy to reform Europe on the basis that what's good for Europe is good for France. //reut.rs/2DH1bkI" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator Patrick Leahy, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, said on Thursday he would not support a fourth short-term stopgap measure this fiscal year to fund the U.S. government and avert a shutdown. “Republican leadership – led by President Trump – has brought us to the brink of a government shutdown. The House bill does not have my support. It leaves too much undone, and it is woefully inadequate,” he said in a statement. “If the majority now wants bipartisan support, they should work with Democrats, instead of appealing for our support only after they’ve written a mishmash bill crafted behind closed doors.” Reporting by Richard Cowan and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Susan Thomas" + }, + { + "text": "U.S. East Coast hunkers down for 'bomb cyclone' 9:09am EST - 00:31 Heavy snow and high winds pound Atlantic City amid the U.S. East Coast in a weather pattern caused by a rapid and rare sharp drop in barometric pressure known as a 'bomb cyclone.' Rough Cut (no reporter narration). Heavy snow and high winds pound Atlantic City amid the U.S. East Coast in a weather pattern caused by a rapid and rare sharp drop in barometric pressure known as a 'bomb cyclone.' Rough Cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2AprghE" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 8:58 AM / Updated 11 hours ago Roche chairman sees opportunities for drugmakers under Trump Reuters Staff 2 Min Read ZURICH (Reuters) - Fears U.S. President Donald Trump could damage the drugs industry have not been realized and the administration’s efforts to accelerate new medicine approvals will bolster the sector, the chairman of Swiss drugmaker Roche said. “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants to trim the time it takes for drugs to be approved,” Christoph Franz told Swiss newspaper Blick in an interview published on Friday. “European regulators, when it comes to approving new medicines, are lagging the Americans by around six to 12 months. Europe has some catching up to do.” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, whom Trump brought in, aims to approve drugs based on very early data if they show a possible survival benefit, among other measures to get medicines on the market faster. After he was elected, Trump blasted drug companies, saying they had been “getting away with murder��� with high prices. While the Trump administration has since sought to change how hospitals are reimbursed for some drugs, his selection of Gottlieb, with deep ties to the drug industry, eased worries that he would seek a confrontation. “Fears that Trump would damage the pharmaceuticals branch have not been realized,” Franz, who was in Davos for the World Economic Forum meeting, told Blick in the interview. “It’s quite the opposite. We see new opportunities.” Reporting by John Miller; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "NEW HAVEN, Conn., Jan. 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Woodbridge International, a leading middle-market global mergers and acquisition firm, is pleased to welcome Elliad Dagan as Business Development Executive. Elliad will be responsible for developing new business opportunities domestically and internationally, as well as executing marketing strategies that drive growth. “We’re happy to have Elliad on board,” said Robert M. Koenig, president of Woodbridge International. “His background is perfectly matched to our strategic imperative to align the Woodbridge brand with innovation and growth.” Prior to joining Woodbridge in his current role, Elliad had spent a year at the firm working in all aspects of lead generation. During this time, he attended industry networking events and built relationships within the investment banking community, as well as with other professionals in related industries. Elliad is a recent graduate of Tufts University, with a BA in Economics. He recently returned from Chile, where he studied at La Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso. Woodbridge International’s ground-breaking approach to marketing a company globally has transformed the way the sell-side M&A industry does business. For more information, please contact us at [REDACTED] or visit our website at www.woodbridgegrp.com Contact: Robert Koenig, President Phone: (203) 389-8400 Ext. 202 Source:Woodbridge International" + }, + { + "text": "ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish Deputy Prime Minister said on Monday that Turkey’s operation in northwest Syria’s Afrin region is continuing successfully as planned and called for international support for the military campaign. Turkey launched a military operation on Saturday with rebel allies against a U.S.-backed Kurdish militia in Syria’s Afrin region. Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay; Writing by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Dominic Evans" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - As U.S. government funding ran out at midnight, the White House issued a statement blaming Senate Democrats for blocking a bill to avert a shutdown and said it would not negotiate on immigration, a key demand of Democrats. “We will not negotiate the status of unlawful immigrants while Democrats hold our lawful citizens hostage over their reckless demands,” the statement said after the funding legislation failed to get the 60 votes needed to overcome a procedural hurdle. (Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Leslie Adler)" + }, + { + "text": "ELYRIA, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Invacare Corporation (NYSE: IVC) (“Invacare” or the “company”) announces that it will release its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, after the market closes on Wednesday, February 7, 2018. The company will provide a live conference call and webcast to discuss these financial results on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 8:30 AM ET. Investors and other interested parties may access the conference call and webcast in the following ways: Those wishing to participate in the live call should dial 888-490-2771, or for international callers 719-325-2359, and enter Conference ID 4425438. A simultaneous webcast of the call will be accessible at A copy of the webcast slide deck will be posted to www.invacare.com/investorrelations prior to the webcast. A recording of the conference call can be accessed by dialing 888-203-1112 (U.S. and Canada) or 719-457-0820 (international callers) and entering the Conference ID Code 4425438 through February 15, 2018. An archive of the webcast presentation will be posted at www.invacare.com/investorrelations 24 hours after the call. About Invacare Corporation Invacare Corporation (NYSE: IVC) is a leading manufacturer and distributor in its markets for medical equipment used in non-acute care settings. At its core, the company designs, manufactures and distributes medical devices that help people to move, breathe, rest and perform essential hygiene. The company provides clinically complex medical device solutions for congenital (e.g., cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida), acquired (e.g., stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, post-acute recovery, pressure ulcers) and degenerative (e.g., ALS, multiple sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), elderly, bariatric) ailments. The company's products are important parts of care for people with a wide range of challenges, from those who are active and involved in work or school each day and may need additional mobility or respiratory support, to those who are cared for in residential care settings, at home and in rehabilitation centers. The company sells its products principally to home medical equipment providers with retail and e-commerce channels, residential care operators, distributors and government health services in North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. For more information about the company and its products, visit Invacare's website at www.invacare.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Investor Inquiries: Invacare Corporation Lara Mahoney, 440-329-6393 Source: Invacare Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "Samsung's fourth quarter earnings guidance underwhelms in turnaround year 12:54pm GMT - 01:11 Samsung's set to report record fourth quarter results for 2017 later this month, but its profit guidance fell short of the street's estimates in a turnaround year for the Korean chip giant. Sareena Dayaram reports. Samsung's set to report record fourth quarter results for 2017 later this month, but its profit guidance fell short of the street's estimates in a turnaround year for the Korean chip giant. Sareena Dayaram reports. //reut.rs/2CUNuxX" + }, + { + "text": "FAIRFAX, Va., Jan. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Dennis \"Denny\" Groh has been appointed as Executive Director of Corporate Relations at Accelera Solutions, Inc. a full service cloud engineering and solution's company. Mr. Groh has more than 35 years of experience in managing acquisition and information resources in the public and private sectors. At Accelera, his duties will include facilitation of business development initiatives and opportunities to lead Accelera toward new business growth goals and objectives. This includes establishing new business alliances, cultivating strategies for establishing partnerships and leading new business expansion projects. Prior to joining Accelera Solutions, Mr. Groh was Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Engineering Services Network in Woodbridge, Virginia. Through his guidance he led ESN's growth from $17.5 M to $52M in targeted accounts in the VA, USAF, and the U.S. Army. His extensive background includes senior-level management posts as Vice President of the Corporate Development and Vice President of the Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts programs at STG, as well as senior management roles at Siemens and Computer Sciences Corporation. Mr. Groh was also Vice President of Business Development at Boeing Information Services where he lead the win for the single award billion dollar DISN Integration Contract. Mr. Groh retired from Federal Government Services in 2003, as the Assistant Commissioner at GSA, where he was responsible for managing the Federal Government's $1 Billion per year FTS2000 and FTS 2001 long distance telecommunications programs supporting more than 150 government agencies around the world. Additionally his prior senior executive service (SES) government experience included his position as Director of DITCO and Director of the Acquisition Management Office at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) supporting 65 Departments/Agencies, around the world. Accelera President and COO Mr. Steve Weiss, said, \"We are extremely pleased to have someone with Denny's caliber and experience to be part of our senior management and leadership team. His experience and relationships speak for themselves.\" Mr. Groh received his BA from McKendree University and his Master's in human relations and procurement management from Webster University. About Accelera Solutions, Inc. Accelera Solutions serves as the IT industry's experts in secure cloud, mobility and virtualization. Incorporate in 2002, we have served more than 2,700 clients in government and commercial sectors with designing, implementing and managing secure IT solutions with a niche focus on public, private and hybrid cloud. Whether it's migrating applications to the cloud or implementing remote application solutions to support a global workforce, we leverage proven methodologies to ensure our client's mandates, policies, and compliance challenges are met. By bringing together our years of experience with proven solutions that ensure IT runs efficiently, affordably, and more reliable, the Accelera Advantage is apparent in everything we do. Accelera Solutions Public Relations/Media Contact : Andrew Schreiner Principal Marketing Manager 12150 Monument Drive Suite 800 Fairfax, Virginia 22033 Direct: 703-622-4213 [REDACTED] View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Accelera Solutions, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK (Reuters) - A stronger U.S. economy fueled by President Donald Trump’s tax cuts bodes well for the office market in Manhattan in the near term as it provides a modest boost to employment, wages and business investment, brokerage CBRE said on Monday. Office-using jobs growth in New York has been robust and is the single most important statistic for real estate, said Spencer Levy, head of research for the Americas at CBRE. “The U.S. economy is in a surprisingly good place where we sit in the cycle,” Levy told reporters. “The good news extends here to New York City as well.” The International Monetary Fund on Monday lifted its world economic growth forecast in 2018 and 2019 due to the tax cuts and said the U.S. economy is now likely to expand by 2.7 percent this year and slow to 2.5 percent next year. Office employment rose to a record 1.66 million people last year and helped contribute to the best year of leasing activity in Manhattan since 2014, CBRE said. While a tight labor market will provide a headwind for the economy, further jobs growth and strong leasing activity are expected for New York this year, the brokerage said. New York City’s economy grew at an annual 3.6 percent in the third quarter of last year, or triple the same period’s pace in 2016, CBRE said, citing the New York comptroller’s office. Average hourly earnings for private employees in the city increased 3.7 percent in the fourth quarter, the largest gain for that quarter since 2008, according to New York state data. The growth and hourly earnings data are higher than the U.S. average. “The biggest risk factor out there is a black swan event or a stock market correction,” Levy said, adding he did not believe the Federal Reserve will mistakenly raise interest rates too quickly. Reporting by Herbert Lash; Editing by Leslie Adler" + }, + { + "text": "January 27, 2018 / 12:11 PM / in 8 hours Philippines warns of volcanic mudflows from heavy rains Ronn Bautista 3 Min Read LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines (Reuters) - Residents around an erupting volcano in central Philippines have should prepare to flee to safer areas because of risks from huge debris that could be swept from slopes by heavy rains, state volcanologists said on Saturday. The most active volcano in the poor Southeast Asian country has been spewing lava and ash for the last two weeks and may have a major eruption within days, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said. The provincial government has expanded its danger zone to a 9 km (5.6 miles) radius of Mount Mayon in Albay province from the 8 km radius set by volcanologists. More than 75,000 people had been moved out from the danger zone to sheltered areas but many farmers and quarry workers were defying evacuation orders to work in stone quarries, on farms, and to tend livestock. “It’s a real threat so we are urging everyone to prepare and evacuate when told by authorities,” said Mariton Bornas, head of the volcanology agency’s monitoring and eruption prediction, adding there are fresh lahar (mudflow) deposits in the 2,462 meter (8,977 feet) Mayon’s slopes. “It’s really a dangerous combination for the communities. Lahar from Mayon can carry huge boulder and it can bury communities, wash away people and everything in its path, but also because of impact.” Residents wade thorugh a river with lahar flow from Mount Mayon volcano in Daraga, Albay province, south of Manila, Philippines January 27, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco She said boulders as huge as cars and houses could roll down Mayon’s slopes swiftly in minutes. Heavy rains poured in central Philippines, flooding shelter areas and raising risks of lahar flows. Slideshow (8 Images) In Salvacion village, many farmers were sneaking inside the danger zone to plant and look after farm animals saying they need to earn a living. “I don’t think the volcano will erupt,” Istong Jayvee told Reuters. “It already let out fire. It will quiet down soon.” Farm worker Edna Medina said they are ready anytime to flee when the volcano erupts. ”When the volcano does erupt, we’ll get out of here using our motorcycle then head straight for the main road out,” she added. Volcanologists have raised Mayon’s alert to level 4, one notch below the highest level. Reporting by Ronn Bautista Writing by Manuel Mogato Editing by Jeremy Gaunt." + }, + { + "text": "PARIS (Reuters) - One man died on a ski slope and at least 26 were injured across France on Wednesday in a storm that cut power to tens of thousands of homes, local authorities said. People standing on the Pointe de la Torch peninsula watch waves breaking on the Brittany coast after Storm Eleanor hit Saint-Guenole in western France. REUTERS/Mal Langsdon Emergency services said the skier was killed when a tree fell on him. Storm Eleanor, with winds of more than 140 kph, also fanned least three forest fires in Corsica and forced officials to suspend ferry lines between the island and mainland France. One of the fires surrounded a village of about 60 houses, emergency services said. Households in the eastern regions of Alsace, Franche-Comte and Lorraine were among the worst hit by the power cuts, Enedis, a unit of state-controlled EDF, said. The area around Paris, northeastern Picardie and Champagne-Ardenne were also affected. The storm initially cut power to 225,000 households. Many had their electricity restored during the day but around 35,000 were still waiting in the evening, Enedis said. Winter storm Carmen battered western France on Jan. 1, with some 40,000 households in the Brittany region temporarily losing power on Monday. Reporting by Sarah White, Simon Carraud, Ingrid Melander; Editing by Alison Williams" + }, + { + "text": "RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian planemaker Embraer said on Friday that the U.S. Department of Commerce has shown that the Canadian government “heavily and illegally subsidized” Bombardier and its C Series aircraft, allowing the company to survive and distorting the aviation industry. The statement came just after Bombardier won an unexpected trade victory against U.S. planemaker Boeing Co when a U.S. agency rejected imposing hefty duties on sales of Bombardier’s new CSeries jet to American carriers. (This version of the story was officially corrected to remove Embraer support of Brazil’s request for WTO action after statement by Embraer) Reporting by Alexandra Alper; Editing by Leslie Adler" + }, + { + "text": "By Andrew Nusca January 3, 2018 This article first appeared in Data Sheet, Fortune’s daily newsletter on the top tech news. Sign up here . Good morning from Fortune’s Los Angeles bureau. Andrew Nusca here, in for Adam. Have you seen Black Mirror ? I am utterly captivated by season four of the dystopian Netflix (nflx) series, which for the unfamiliar is a high-tech spin on The Twilight Zone . I’m still making my way through the binge, but one unsettling episode directed by Jodie Foster, “Arkangel,” stuck with me. In it, a mother nearly loses her young daughter after she wanders off at the park. Terrified of a repeat incident, she signs up for Arkangel, a new service that, through use of an implant, allows the parent to use a mobile device to track the child’s location, monitor her vitals, and even see what the child is seeing. A parental mode pixelates in real time any visual that elevates stress. It’s heady stuff. You can quickly see where this goes wrong. Even in our earliest years, negative experiences help us learn how to live in the world. (That pan burned my hand; I should be wary of touching things on the stove.) And what seems like an honest tool for parenting in a child’s earliest years quickly becomes highly invasive when that child grows into a teenager. (Real time visuals? No thanks.) If you saw last year’s film The Circle , based on the Dave Eggers novel , you’ll know this dichotomy well. Or the film Ex Machina two years before it. Or the documentary you’re living every day you scroll through Facebook (fb) , sync your Fitbit, or ask Alexa a question. Why the spate of paranoid techno-thrillers? Because we’re still grappling with the implications of capabilities we’ve never had before. We know that fully autonomous vehicles can solve a lot of society’s problems, but we don’t know where they can fail us in other ways besides the obvious. We know that personalized medicine is the way forward, but we haven’t yet seen what happens when that power is abused. And so forth. Techno-optimism will be on fantastic display next week at CES, the annual consumer electronics show in Las Vegas. After six (mostly) terrifying episodes of Black Mirror , it might be just what the robo-doctor ordered. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "Google has made an investment in Indonesian ride-hailing start-up Go-Jek. The move is part of Google's ambition to grow Indonesia's digital economy and start-up scene, the tech giant said in a statement Monday. \"Go-Jek is led by a strong Indonesian management team and has a proven track record of using technology to make life more convenient for Indonesians across the country,\" said Caesar Sengupta, vice-president of at Google's next billion users initiative, which is the company's plan to target its \"next billion\" users around the world. \"This investment lets us partner with a great local champion in Indonesia's flourishing startup ecosystem, while also deepening our commitment to Indonesia's internet economy.\" Google did not disclose the amount invested in Go-Jek. Reports of the internet titan pouring cash into the firm first surfaced earlier this month . Reuters and TechCrunch reported that the investment was part of a $1.2 billion fundraising for the company, with participation from Singapore's sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings and Chinese internet firm Meituan-Dianping. Last month, Go-Jek acquired three financial technology (fintech) start-ups for undisclosed amounts in a bid to dominate Indonesia's digital payments industry. A spokesperson for Go-Jek was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC." + }, + { + "text": "MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The leader of one of Mexico’s top business lobbies said on Thursday the private sector was open to discussing rules of origin for autos produced in North America, a major sticking point in talks to renegotiate the NAFTA trade pact. A U.S. proposal put forward in October to increase the minimum regional content for autos, and mandate that half of all auto content come from the United States, met with stiff resistance from the car industry, Mexico and Canada. Mexico has said it would put forward a counterproposal on autos, though the industry has maintained a tough stance against the plan of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration in the run-up to the next round of talks in Montreal toward the end of January. Speaking in Mexico City, Juan Pablo Castanon, president of the Consejo Coordinador Empresarial, the umbrella group representing Mexican private sector interests at the NAFTA talks, hinted that the lobby’s stance may be softening. “It is important to take a look at the rules of origin and ... there must be a period of adaptation” in the event of changes, he told reporters. “It’s still a conversation we are having with the industry. We are advancing in that sense.” Nevertheless, the auto sector still opposes any change on rules of origin, Castanon noted. Trump has threatened to pull out of NAFTA if it cannot be reworked in favor of U.S. interests. Castanon expressed optimism about the upcoming round of negotiations, saying chapters such as telecommunications, financial services and e-commerce were near resolution. “Practically half of the chapters could be closed if political will exists,” he said. The Montreal talks are due to take place from Jan. 23 to 28, though Castanon said some discussions would start from Jan. 21. Reporting by Anthony Esposito; Editing by David Gregorio Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "William McDonough, who led the Federal Reserve Bank of New York through the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and their aftermath, died Tuesday. Mr. McDonough, 83 years old, died at his home in Waccabuc, N.Y., the New York Fed said Thursday. The bank didn’t give a cause of death. Mr. McDonough led the bank, which serves as the U.S. central" + }, + { + "text": "Airbus has admitted that unless it can find more buyers for its A380 superjumbo, the program may have to end. The European planemaker has said it will build 12 A380s in 2018 and a further eight in 2019. Airbus said the minimum annual number it is prepared to build each year is six. The main customer for the world's largest commercial jet is the Middle Eastern carrier Emirates, who took delivery of their 100 th A380 during 2017. Speaking via webcast Monday, Airbus sales chief John Leahy said negotiations for Emirates to buy more of the superjumbo were ongoing. \"We are still talking to Emirates and quite honestly they are probably the only one in the marketplace who can take a minimum of six A380s a year for a period of eight to 10 years,\" he said. \"If we can't work out a deal with Emirates I think there is no choice but to shut down the program,\" Leahy added. Leahy said he believed the A380 would come back into fashion as air traffic was doubling every 15 years and bigger planes would be needed to satisfy demand. Airbus has increased the average list prices of its aircraft by two percent across the product line, effective from January 1st 2018. The new average list price for an A380 is $445.6 million. Also on Monday, the European planemaker said that a spree of selling in the final weeks of 2017 had helped it surge past Boeing to win the annual commercial jet orders race ." + }, + { + "text": "33 PM / Updated 21 minutes ago Axovant to scrap intepirdine program after dementia trial fails Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Axovant Sciences Ltd said on Monday it would discontinue its intepirdine program after the experimental treatment failed in a mid-stage study on patients suffering from a type of dementia. Neither of the two doses of intepirdine given to patients with dementia with Lewy bodies resulted in improving their motor function, compared with patients given a placebo, Axovant said. In September, Axovant stopped testing the drug on patients suffering from Alzheimer’s after a late-stage trial failure. Reporting by Tamara Mathias in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza" + }, + { + "text": "Europe, Iran plead for U.S. to keep nuclear deal 9:38am EST - 01:23 European powers have made a joint call alongside Tehran for the U.S. to protect the Iran nuclear deal. Since taking office U.S. President Donald Trump has been vocal in his opposition to the accord and could shortly reimpose oil sanctions. European powers have made a joint call alongside Tehran for the U.S. to protect the Iran nuclear deal. Since taking office U.S. President Donald Trump has been vocal in his opposition to the accord and could shortly reimpose oil sanctions. //www.reuters.com/video/2018/01/11/europe-iran-plead-for-us-to-keep-nuclear?videoId=381834806&videoChannel=13421" + }, + { + "text": "AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Tuesday called on Britain to clarify its future relationship with key trading partners after it leaves the European Union. Tweeting after a meeting with EU negotiator Michel Barnier, Rutte said: “It is essential that UK clarifies its position on our future relationship. Transition period important to minimize impact on citizens and businesses.” The Netherlands is one of the top EU trading partners with Britain and a disorderly departure from the trading bloc in March 2019, without a replacement trade deal, is expected to trim several percentage points off Dutch GDP. Rutte also repeated the backing of the Netherlands of Barnier as “sole EU-negotiator”. Dutch economic forecaster CPB has projected a hit to the $770 billion economy of the Netherlands of up to 2 percentage points by 2030. Analysts at the Rabobank have forecast a loss of as much as 4.25 percentage points. In a worst-case scenario, Rabobank estimated the loss for the Netherlands would be 4,000 euros (3,525 pounds) per worker by 2030, and 13,500 euros per British worker. Reporting by Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Alison Williams" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Britain’s financial watchdog has fined former Royal Bank of Scotland interest rate derivatives trader Neil Danziger 250,000 pounds ($338,200.00) and banned him from working in any regulated financial activity, it said on Monday. The Financial Conduct Authority said Danziger, who worked at RBS trading products referenced to Japanese Yen LIBOR (London interbank offered rate), was knowingly involved in RBS’s failure to observe proper standards of market conduct. (Reporting by Emma Rumney)" + }, + { + "text": "COLUMBUS, OHIO, Jan. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HighCom Global Security, Inc. (OTC: HCGS), announced today that Craig Campbell, an executive officer and director of the Company, submitted his resignation to the board effective Tuesday, January 16, 2018. Francis Michaud, who is presently serving as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, was elected to the board of directors to fill the vacancy left by Mr. Campbell and was also appointed to serve as Chief Executive Officer. “Mr. Campbell has accomplished a great deal for our company in his short tenure with us,” says Paul Sparkes, chair of HCGS’s Board of Directors. “We thank him for his commitment, service and leadership.” Mr. Sparkes added, “I’m proud of the progress HCGS has made in the last 7 years to transform our business. We are at a point in the lifecycle of the company to take our business to the next level and deliver on our strategic initiatives. Moving forward, HighCom Global’s goal is to build a diversified physical security platform through multiple acquisitions and organic growth. I am confident in the strong roadmap that has been set forth.” About HighCom Global Security, Inc. HighCom Global is a leading provider of equipment and services for the security and defense industries. We acquire, manage and build industry leading businesses which provide specialized, mission-critical solutions that address the needs of our customers. Our business continuously develops innovative solutions that enable our customers to achieve their objectives. With an experienced team and a proven track record of solid growth, we’re establishing a broad portfolio of security businesses to provide our customers and shareholders with exceptional returns. The HighCom Armor division provides high performance and affordable body armor, personal protective equipment, and armor systems and related accessories, while the BlastGard division has patented BlastWrap® technology that acts as a “virtual tent” to effectively mitigate blast effects and suppress post-blast fires. For more information, visit www.HighComGlobal.com Company Contact: Francis Michaud, CEO/CFO 2901 East 4th Ave., Unit J, Columbus, OH 43219 www.HighComGlobal.com 614-500-3065 [REDACTED] Source: HighCom Global Security, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 31 (Reuters) - Si Chuan Jinyu Automobile City Group Co Ltd : * Sees to swing to net profit at 22 million yuan to 32 million yuan in FY 2017 versus net loss at 61.6 million yuan in FY 2016 Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/ZUZTxs Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "21 PM / in 7 minutes BRIEF-Napec Reaffirms Unanimous Recommendation To Vote In Favor Of Arrangement With An Affiliate Of Oaktree Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 29 (Reuters) - Napec Inc: * NAPEC INC REAFFIRMS UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE ARRANGEMENT WITH AN AFFILIATE OF OAKTREE * NAPEC INC - FONDS DE SOLIDARITÉ FTQ REAFFIRMS ITS INTENTION TO VOTE ALL OF ITS SHARES AND WARRANTS IN FAVOR OF ARRANGEMENT" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - China will look into reports of irregularities in regional economic data, and will deal with any impropriety according to the law, the head of the statistics bureau said on Thursday. China’s statistics will not be affected by problems in regional data, Ning Jizhe, head of the National Bureau of Statistics, told reporters in Beijing, the capital. Chinese provinces and cities have long been suspected of cooking up numbers, with the focus on local government officials, whose performances are often assessed on how well their respective economies have performed. Reporting by Kevin Yao; Writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by Clarence Fernandez" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK (Reuters) - The dollar held its modest losses against a basket of currencies on Wednesday even as the Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book showed U.S. business activity was expanding with inflation growing at a modest to moderate pace in late 2017. At 2:08 pm (1908 GMT), the index that tracks the greenback versus the euro, yen, sterling and three other currencies was last down 0.10 percent at 90.307. Reporting by Richard Leong" + }, + { + "text": "“Time to get a Chromebook.” That’s what my wife told me a few weeks ago, after our 9-year-old daughter embarked on a journaling bender, putting page after page of thoughts and stories in Google Docs. Until now, our children had used our MacBooks when the need arose—but it seldom did. Now, the girl was reaching for a laptop every chance she got. I... RELATED VIDEO The Best Chromebook You Can Buy Samsung's Chromebook Pro goes up against the iPad Pro and Microsoft Surface Pro. WSJ's Joanna Stern weighs the pros... and cons. Photo/video: Drew Evans/The Wall Street Journal. (Originally Published February 14, 2017)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 10 (Reuters) - Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans on Wednesday said that in late 2017 when the rest of his Fed colleagues decided to raise interest rates for a third time, he wanted to wait until mid-2018 for another rate hike. “I’d feel a lot more confident if I saw those transitory reductions in the inflation rate go away,” he said, explaining his dissent in his first public remarks of 2018. He added that he expects the U.S. economy to grow a touch faster than 2.5 percent this year, helped by recent tax cuts, and a touch slower than 2.5 percent next year, and for the labor market to continue to strengthen. (Reporting by Ann Saphir;Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "(Adds comment from credit union) By Andrea Hopkins and Allison Lampert OTTAWA/MONTREAL, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Credit unions in Quebec could soon face the same stiffer mortgage rules as Canada’s big banks, its securities watchdog said, but the country’s other provinces with frothy property markets are split on whether to require tougher stress tests for borrowers who look to smaller lenders to buy a house. The schism opens the door for credit unions to take a bigger share of the country’s mortgage market, particularly in the hottest housing markets, Toronto and Vancouver, where homebuyers often no longer qualify for loans from the big banks. Tougher new rules on mortgage lending were imposed on federally regulated lenders on Jan. 1 to safeguard lenders and borrowers from risky loans amid fears of a housing bubble. But the so called B-20 stress tests are not, so far, required at the nation’s provincially regulated credit unions, which have become the go-to source for some brokers. About 17 percent of outstanding uninsured mortgages in Canada is held by credit unions. Sylvain Theberge, a spokesman for Quebec’s securities watchdog, the Autorite des marches financiers, said it has held consultations to harmonize guidelines for mortgage lending by Quebec credit unions with OSFI’s B20 by March. A final decision has not yet been taken by the province. “The government will be ready for the deadline of March 2018,” said Audrey Cloutier, a spokeswoman for Finance Minister Carlos Leitao. Montreal-based Mouvement Desjardins, the largest cooperative financial group in Canada, has already been applying OSFI’s new mortgage rules “because we believe it is an effective way to protect consumers against interest rates variations,” company spokeswoman Valerie Lamarre said by email. “It is still too early to tell if it will have any impact on our mortgage business.” By contrast, the regulator in British Columbia said in an email the province is not considering changes to its underwriting guidelines, and Ontario is in a wait-and-see mode, giving credit unions there more room to maneuver with its borrowing terms. Paul Taylor, president of Mortgage Professionals Canada, said he expects Quebec to regulate in line with federal guidelines to demonstrate its influential credit unions are as prudent as the big banks, while B.C. will balk at the new rules and the other provinces will wait and see. The B-20 rules imposed by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions require lenders “stress test” borrowers applying for uninsured mortgages to ensure they can withstand higher interest rates, even though they have a downpayment of at least 20 percent. Up to 10 percent such buyers could be disqualified by the new rules, the Bank of Canada estimated in November, pushing C$15 billion in mortgage demand to less regulated lenders. “Credit unions are now my first line of attack,” said Daniel Johanis, a Toronto mortgage broker, estimating that more than 50 percent of his business is now going to credit unions, compared to “the odd deal” previously. Credit unions are already raising their rates amid the increased demand, boosting profit and reducing risk. “The next month to three months is quite a good opportunity to for credit unions to pick up a bit of market share,” said Taylor. Still, capacity at the credit unions and financial cooperatives is limited, he said, with the biggest players - such as Meridian in Ontario and Vancity in British Columbia - at an advantage because they have more deposits to help finance mortgage lending. (Editing by Bernadette Baum and Cynthia Osterman)" + }, + { + "text": "January 14, 2018 / 12:13 AM / Updated 8 hours ago Sturgeon sees 'golden' chance to argue for UK to remain in single market Reuters Staff 3 Min Read EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon said on Sunday there was a “golden opportunity” to argue for Britain to remain in the European single market after Brexit, as no-one had yet demonstrated the benefit of loosening trade ties with the EU. FILE PHOTO: Party leader Nicola Sturgeon speaks at the Scottish National Party's conference in Aberdeen, Scotland, Britain March 18, 2017. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne/File Photo Sturgeon, whose nationalist SNP runs the devolved Scottish government, said there was no alternative to EU membership that could deliver the same economic benefits. She said Prime Minister Theresa May must defend whatever trade option the UK government chose to pursue with hard evidence, damaging the economy as little as possible. “There is zero credible evidence to suggest leaving the Single Market will bring any benefit to our economy. Indeed, as our analysis will show – the harder the Brexit, the worse will be the outcome,” Sturgeon said ahead of the publication of a study of the economic impact of Brexit on Scotland, commissioned by her government. May is preparing for the start of talks about Britain’s trade relationship with the EU once it is no longer a member. Agreeing a united stance has been made harder by infighting in May’s cabinet and Conservative Party over their vision for the new relationship with the EU, while the biggest opposition party, Labour, is also split on the best way forward. “It will be a fundamental dereliction of duty as prime minister if Theresa May continues to pursue her ‘red lines’ without providing information on their impact, and publicly discussing the options available,” Sturgeon said. Sturgeon’s party says continued single market membership would be the option that best reflects the fact that a majority of Scots vote in the 2016 referendum to stay in the EU. That result put Scotland, together with Northern Ireland, at odds with Wales and England, which voted to leave, and the relationship between Britain’s four nations has been under increased strain since. May has indicated that ending freedom of movement of workers between Britain and the EU is a priority when Britain leaves. Scotland, however, has argued for continued freedom of movement to boost its aging population and support its food and drink industry and rural life. “(Those defending Brexit) have completely failed to explain how their approach could even remotely come close to replacing the enormous lost trade and investment,” Sturgeon said. “That means there is now a golden opportunity for those moderate voices who are making the case for Scotland and the UK to remain in the single market.” The British government said it was still seeking a one-size-fits-all Brexit that would suit all parts of the UK. “Rather than trying to undermine the result of a democratic referendum, we urge the Scottish government to work with us to ensure, as we leave the EU, we protect the UK’s vital internal market,” a government spokesperson said in an emailed statement. Reporting by Elisabeth O'Leary; Editing by Kevin Liffey" + }, + { + "text": "09 PM / Updated 19 minutes ago Laporte pays buy-out clause ahead of record Manchester City move Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BARCELONA (Reuters) - Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte has paid his release fee clause ahead of a move to Manchester City, the Spanish club said on Monday. Laporte, 23, had a 65 million-euro (57 million pounds) clause in his contract with the Basque side, which he activated ahead of joining Pep Guardiola’s City for whom he will become a club record signing. Spanish and British media reported that Laporte will be presented as a City player on Tuesday as the Premier League leaders bolster their back line by recruiting the France Under-21 player. “Athletic thanks the player for what he gave during the time he was at our club,” Bilbao said in a statement. At 57 million pounds, Laporte will overtake Kevin De Bruyne (55 million pounds) as the club’s most expensive signing. Frequent injuries to Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany and Guardiola’s lack of faith in Eliaquim Mangala meant the Catalan coach wanted to add another central defender to challenge Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones. Laporte has been a regular in the Athletic side since breaking through in the 2012-13 season, winning the 2015 Spanish Super Cup. “I want to thank you for everything you have given me,” said Laporte in a message attached to Athletic’s statement. “I arrived as a teenager and here I have grown into a person and a football player. I don’t want my departure, ahead of a new challenge in my professional career, to be a goodbye but a see you soon. Here I leave a unique, different club, and one I will never forget.” Reporting by Rik Sharma, editing by Ed Osmond and Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "H&M to open fewer stores in 2018 as online shift hurts 3:34pm GMT - 01:08 Fashion retailer H&M said on Wednesday it would open far fewer stores in 2018 as it responds to the shift to shopping online and announced plans to launch a new outlet to sell external brands alongside its own ranges. Scarlett Cvitanovich reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Fashion retailer H&M said on Wednesday it would open far fewer stores in 2018 as it responds to the shift to shopping online and announced plans to launch a new outlet to sell external brands alongside its own ranges. Scarlett Cvitanovich reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "U.S. warns Pyongyang on military option 5:14am EST - 01:24 Twenty nations agree to consider tougher sanctions to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons as U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warns Pyongyang it could trigger a military response if it does not choose negotiations. Twenty nations agree to consider tougher sanctions to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons as U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warns Pyongyang it could trigger a military response if it does not choose negotiations. //reut.rs/2B8PKMB" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds reaction, detail) LONDON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Britain’s tourism boom since Brexit vote faded in the three months to September as growth in the number of visitors slid to a one-year low, official data showed on Thursday. Tourism has been a winner from the 2016 Brexit vote which pushed down the value of the pound, making Britain a more attractive holiday destination for foreign tourists and encouraging British holidaymakers to stay at home. The number of overseas visitors to Britain rose by 2.7 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2017, the weakest increase in a year and following an 8.9 percent rise in the second quarter, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. Nonetheless, the continued growth in tourism was a factor behind Britain’s faster economic growth in the third quarter, said economist Howard Archer from EY ITEM Club consultancy. Thursday’s figures also showed the number of Britons travelling abroad fell by 0.4 percent year-on-year during the third quarter, the first drop since early 2013. The world’s sixth-biggest economy largely withstood the immediate shock of the referendum decision in 2016 to leave the EU. It felt more of an impact in 2017 due to higher inflation - caused by a fall in the value of the pound - and uncertainty among businesses about what Brexit means for them. Tourism, however, has been a bright spot. Thursday’s data suggested currency moves were a big factor behind trips to Britain. The number of visitors from North America fell 5.4 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, weighed by the U.S. dollar weakening almost 8 percent against the British pound during the first nine months of 2017, after sterling’s slump in 2016. By contrast, visits from the European Union were up 3.5 percent, likely boosted by the euro strengthening by almost 4 percent against the pound between January and September 2017. Spending by foreign visitors in Britain rose by 7.7 percent in the third quarter, the smallest annual increase since the end of 2016. Spending from North American and European visitors decreased. But travellers from the Middle East, China, Israel and South Africa ramped up their purchases. The ONS said there was high spending recorded by visitors from Saudi Arabia in particular, although it cautioned that sample sizes for this were relatively small. (Reporting by Andy Bruce; Editing by William Schomberg and Alison Williams)" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 5:39 PM / Updated 2 hours ago How to train for Man City? Cardiff go chasing shadows Reuters Staff 3 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock, one of the great managerial characters of British soccer, wonders if he has found the ideal way of preparing to cause an FA Cup sensation against Manchester City -- forget the ball in training and just chase shadows. Warnock, the colourful 69-year-old who has had 15 separate spells managing league clubs over three decades, offered a typically nice line in black humour on Friday as he relayed how his Championship side had plotted to beat “Europe’s best team.” The Cardiff boss reckoned his side, currently third as they push for promotion to the Premier League, saw this fourth round tie on Sunday as their “Cup final” in front of a 33,000 sell-out crowd in the Welsh capital. Yet he could not resist chuckling to reporters: ”We’ll have a go but it’s been the easiest week of training. We haven’t had a ball out at all. It’s been great. We’ve just been chasing shadows to get used to it. “We’ve been throwing up a few pieces of paper in the wind for the players to chase.” Pep Guardiola, who is overseeing a scintillating campaign at City who lead the Premier League by 12 points, will not be fooled, having heard plenty about how Warnock, who can be as combustible as he is comical, might galvanise his team. Indeed, the Spaniard could see for himself when, failing to watch incognito from the stands beneath a striking flat cap, he saw Cardiff dispatch Mansfield Town in a replay in the previous round. Soccer Football - Championship - Sheffield Wednesday vs Cardiff City - Hillsborough, Sheffield, Britain - January 20, 2018 Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock applauds after the game Action Images/Ed Sykes It proved to Warnock that Europe’s most lauded manager was taking his side seriously. “That is a bit of class, that,” said Warnock. “He’s got hundreds of staff and yet he came to watch. I thought, well done to him. It means he cares; you’ve got to take your hat off to that.” Nothing, it seems, can rouse Warnock like the chance to pit himself at this stage of his career against a manager who has fashioned a side that has been beaten just once all season in domestic fare. The Yorkshireman was happy to recall how it was in the FA Cup 27 years ago, in the fifth round, that he engineered a major shock against a top-flight Manchester City side when he was in charge of another second-tier team, Notts County. “The snow was six foot high at the time and the fans were clearing it off our pitch,” he said, explaining how Man City had wanted to have the game called off because of the conditions. Having persuaded the match officials the game should go ahead, Warnock’s men went on to record a 1-0 win. And how had Warnock’s side prepared for that match? “We didn’t go training in the week,” he said. “We went sledging in the park.” Perhaps there’s method in Warnock’s shadow-chasing after all... Reporting by Ian Chadband; Editing by Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "LG Electronics told retailers Wednesday to expect price hikes on its washing machines thanks to President Donald Trump's decision to implement steep taxes the South Korean company's appliances. \"As a result of the trade situation, we will be initiating pricing actions, which will be sent under separate cover shortly,\" Thomas Yoon, executive vice president at LG, told retail partners in a memo. \"We have developed supply-chain plans to help assure a continuous supply of the best quality, most reliable laundry products on the market for your customers.\" The Trump administration announced Monday it will impose a 20 percent tariff on the first 1.2 million imported large residential washing machines in the first year and a 50 percent tariff on machines above that number. The protective taxes will dissipate over three years. The president also introduced tariffs on imported solar panels. The impending price increases were largely expected across Wall Street, with Goldman Sachs predicting that the protectionist policy could send the cost of a new washing machine 8 percent to 20 percent higher. The tariff also includes a tax on machine parts, which could drive some costs higher for domestic manufacturers as well. The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the memo, said that industry experts predict that LG will raise retail prices on some of its models by roughly $50. \"We are very disappointed in this misguided decision, which far exceeds what the expert agency recommended,\" said LG on Tuesday. \"This is a textbook case about how certain companies can game the process to use trade laws to try to accomplish what they can't accomplish in the marketplace.\" The move is being praised by U.S.-based appliance manufacturer Whirlpool , which has long lobbied for more protective measures against its Asian rivals. \"This is a victory for American workers and consumers alike,\" Whirlpool Chairman Jeff Fettig said in a press release Monday. \"This announcement caps nearly a decade of litigation and will result in new manufacturing jobs.\" Shares of Whirlpool were up 3.6 percent Wednesday, adding to a week-to-date gain of more than 6 percent." + }, + { + "text": "Trump says North and South Korea talks are result of his 'tough stance' 2:34am IST - 01:24 During a news conference at Camp David, President Donald Trump said he was told that North Korea's willingness to hold official talks with South Korea next week was a result of his 'tough stance'. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). During a news conference at Camp David, President Donald Trump said he was told that North Korea's willingness to hold official talks with South Korea next week was a result of his 'tough stance'. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). //in.reuters.com/video/2018/01/06/trump-says-north-and-south-korea-talks-a?videoId=379564532&videoChannel=13423" + }, + { + "text": "TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) today announced that it will release its financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2017 on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at approximately 6:00 a.m. EST. The company will also host a conference call at 9:30 a.m. EST that morning to discuss its financial results. The conference call will be webcast live from the company's website and will be available at the following link: . The webcast should be accessed 10 minutes prior to the conference call start time. A replay of the webcast will be available for one year following the conclusion of the live broadcast and will be accessible on the company's website at . The conference call can also be accessed by pre-registering using the following link: . Callers who pre-register will be given dial-in instructions and a unique PIN to gain immediate access to the call. Participants may pre-register now, or at any time prior to the call, and will receive simple instructions via email. For those parties who do not have internet access or are unable to pre-register, the conference call may be accessed by calling: Domestic participant dial-in number (toll-free): 1-844-492-3724 International participant dial-in number: 1-412-542-4185 A telephonic replay will be available until midnight EST on Tuesday, February 13, 2018. This replay may be accessed by dialing either of the numbers below and entering the replay access code 10115466: Domestic replay (toll-free) number: 1-877-344-7529 International replay number: 1-412-317-0088 About WellCare Health Plans, Inc. Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) focuses exclusively on providing government-sponsored managed care services, primarily through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex medical needs. The company served approximately 4.3 million members nationwide as of September 30, 2017. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at www.wellcare.com . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said on Sunday that Senate leaders were discussing a “path” to a vote to provide legal protection for so-called Dreamers, young people who illegally immigrated to the United States as children. “There’s a conversation obviously still going on about whether there’s a path to getting a vote on the DACA-Dreamer issue,” the No. 2 Senate Democrat told Reuters, adding that he did not know how far negotiations between Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer had advanced. (Reporting by Susan Cornwell; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Paul Simao)" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 11:21 AM / Updated an hour ago Big Bash League Standings Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 18 (OPTA) - Standings of the Big Bash League on Thursday P W L T Ded RR PTS Adelaide Strikers 8 6 2 0 0 .886 12 Perth Scorchers 8 6 2 0 0 .103 12 Hobart Hurricanes 8 5 3 0 0 -.269 10 Melbourne Renegades 7 4 3 0 0 .345 8 Brisbane Heat 9 4 5 0 0 -.331 8 Sydney Sixers 9 3 6 0 0 .236 6 Sydney Thunder 8 3 5 0 0 -.200 6 Melbourne Stars 7 1 6 0 0 -.917 2 Note: Ded-Deductions; RR-Net Run Rate" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Centre Lane Partners, LLC (“Centre Lane”) has completed the acquisition of Infobase Holdings, Inc. (“Infobase”), a cloud-based provider of digital educational content solutions to colleges & universities, K-12 schools, public libraries and enterprises from VSS, a private investment firm focused on the information, tech-enabled business services, healthcare services, and education industries. Founded in 1940 and acquired by VSS in 2005, Infobase provides one-stop solutions for customers through its robust product portfolio of streaming video platforms, databases, eLearning modules, eBook collections, and other products. Key brands include: Facts on File, Films on Demand, Blooms, The World Almanac, Learn360, Chelsea House, Ferguson’s, and Vault.com . “I am excited to partner with Centre Lane as we continue to develop and grow the Infobase business,” said Mark D. McDonnell, CEO of Infobase. “Our team has worked incredibly hard to get the company to this important point and we will work collectively with Centre Lane to develop and implement a strategic plan that will build upon our current successes and further accelerate growth.” “Mark McDonnell and his team built a strong platform and a leading solution in the digital educational content space and we are highly optimistic about the company’s growth prospects,” said Kenneth Lau, Managing Director of Centre Lane. “We are thrilled to add the Infobase business to the Centre Lane portfolio and we very much look forward to working with the Infobase team to execute on our strategic initiatives.” “We are proud of the progress Infobase has made transitioning the business from a transactional print publisher to a digital subscription business and believe Centre Lane is the perfect partner for the next phase of its growth,” added David Bainbridge, Managing Director of VSS. Signal Hill, a Daiwa Securities Group Inc. company, acted as Infobase’s exclusive financial advisor. About Centre Lane Partners Centre Lane Partners ( www.centrelanepartners.com ) is a private investment firm focused on making equity and debt, control and non-control, investments in North American middle market companies. Centre Lane Partners targets companies with revenues between $20 and $500 million that have leading market positions and sustainable competitive advantages in their respective niches. Industries targeted for investment are broad and diverse with no industry excluded from our consideration. About VSS VSS ( www.vss.com ) is a private investment firm that invests in the information, tech-enabled business services, healthcare services, and education industries. VSS provides capital for growth financings, recapitalizations, strategic acquisitions and buyouts to lower middle market companies and management teams with the goal of building companies organically as well as through a focused add-on acquisition program. VSS makes privately-negotiated investments across the capital structure and has the ability to invest in situations requiring control or non-control equity, mezzanine securities and structured equity securities. Centre Lane Partners Contact: Pierre Champion Vice President of Business Development [REDACTED] (646) 843-0717 VSS Contact: Tanya Dessereau Manager of Marketing and New Business Development [REDACTED] (212) 381-8556 Source:Centre Lane Partners, LLC" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May discussed finalising the details of a visit by the U.S. president to Britain later this year after a meeting in Davos on Thursday. “The PM and president concluded by asking officials to work together on finalising the details of a visit by the President to the UK later this year,” according to statement from May’s office. Trump’s cancellation of his trip to Britain last month had raised questions in Britain over the relationship between Washington and its traditionally closest ally in Europe. (Reporting By Andrew MacAskill; editing by Michael Holden) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE:PEB) (the “Company”) today announced that it will report its financial and operating results for the quarter ending December 31, 2017 and its 2018 outlook on Thursday, February 22, 2018, after the market closes. The Company will conduct its quarterly conference call on Friday, February 23, 2018, at 10:00 AM ET. To participate in the conference call, please follow the steps listed below: On Friday, February 23, 2018, dial (877) 705-6003 approximately ten minutes before the call begins (9:50 AM ET); Tell the operator that you are calling for Pebblebrook Hotel Trust’s Fourth Quarter 2017 Earnings Conference Call; State your full name and company affiliation and you will be connected to the call. A live webcast of the Earnings Call will also be available through the Company's website. To access, log on to ten minutes prior to the call. A replay of the conference call webcast will be archived and available online through the Investor Relations section of . About Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Pebblebrook Hotel Trust is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (“REIT”) organized to opportunistically acquire and invest primarily in upper upscale, full-service hotels located in urban markets in major gateway cities. The Company owns 28 hotels, with a total of 6,972 guest rooms. The Company owns hotels located in 9 states and the District of Columbia, including: Los Angeles, California (Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and West Hollywood); San Diego, California; San Francisco, California; Washington, DC; Coral Gables, Florida; Naples, Florida; Buckhead, Georgia; Boston, Massachusetts; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Portland, Oregon; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Nashville, Tennessee; Columbia River Gorge, Washington; and Seattle, Washington. For more information, please visit us at www.pebblebrookhotels.com and follow us on Twitter at @PebblebrookPEB. For additional information or to receive press releases via email, please visit our website at www.pebblebrookhotels.com View source version on businesswire.com : Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Raymond D. Martz, 240-507-1330 Chief Financial Officer Source: Pebblebrook Hotel Trust" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 11:15 AM / Updated 29 minutes ago FACTBOX-Tennis-Roger Federer v Tomas Berdych - match stats Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 24 (Reuters) - Key statistics from Swiss Roger Federer's 7-6(1) 6-3 6-4 win over the Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Wednesday (prefix denotes seeding): 2-Federer 19-Berdych Aces 15 4 Double faults 5 1 Break points won 4/8 2/5 Net points won 23/31 11/24 Winners 61 22 Unforced errors 30 19 Total points won 105 85 Match duration: 2 hours, 14 minutes (Compiled by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by David Goodman)" + }, + { + "text": "Hyundai Motor Co said on Thursday it had invested in Singapore-based ride-hailing firm Grab, in the South Korean automaker's first foray into the rapidly growing sector as it tries to diversify following a sales slump in China. Grab has expanded to eight Southeast Asian countries and has said it is the biggest operator in the region's third-party taxi hailing and private-vehicle hailing sector. The companies will jointly develop services in Southeast Asia, including one utilizing Hyundai's eco-friendly models such as the IONIQ Electric, the two firms said in a statement. They did not disclose the value of Hyundai's investment and a spokeswoman for the automaker declined to comment further. Grab's latest fundraising round, which Hyundai has joined, already includes investors such as China's Didi Chuxing, Japan's SoftBank and Toyota Tsusho, the firms added. Hyundai said on Wednesday it is considering building a car plant in Southeast Asia, possibly in Indonesia or Vietnam. The company's interest in the region has grown since a diplomatic row between Beijing and Seoul last year hurt South Korean firms that are highly reliant on the Chinese market. The automaker also announced for the first time a self-driving technology partnership with Silicon Valley start-up Aurora earlier this month, a shift from its usual preference for developing technology itself." + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 11:57 AM / in 5 minutes Thai court jails six for setting fire to kings' portraits Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai court on Wednesday sentenced six people to jail for setting fire to portraits of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his father, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in several spots around the northeastern province of Khon Kaen last year. Thailand’s lese-majeste law is the world’s toughest, and those judged guilty of breaking it face up to 15 years in jail for each count of offending the king, queen, heir or regent. The six, aged between 18 and 20, were also found guilty of arson that damaged public property, as well as of organized crime, their lawyer, Pattana Saiyai, said. “All of them confessed that they had no ill-intention, but were hired to go set fire to the royal portraits,” Pattana told Reuters, adding that the court took into account the lack of intent in reducing their jail terms. One of the six was jailed for 11-1/2 years, while three got terms of seven years and eight months each. Two 18-year-olds who set fire to only one portrait were jailed for three years and four months each. The lawyer said police arrested two men in December over allegations that they paid his clients to set fire to the portraits, but the two have not yet been prosecuted. Thailand’s military, which took control of the government in a May 2014 coup, has said it needs to crack down on critics of the monarchy for the sake of national security. Since the coup, at least 94 people have been prosecuted for lese majeste. As many as 43 people have been sentenced, says the iLaw group that monitors royal insult case, with 92 percent pleading guilty in hopes of shorter jail terms. The laws protecting members of the royal family from insult limit what all news organizations, including Reuters, can report from Thailand. The United Nations has expressed concern over what it calls a deteriorating rights situation in Thailand, including harsh sentences for those convicted of violating the lese-majeste law, known as Article 112. Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Clarence Fernandez" + }, + { + "text": "'Game of Thrones' last season set for 2019 1:05am EST - 00:45 Hit television show 'Game of Thrones' will bow out in 2019 after 8 seasons with a six-episode final season, HBO has announced. Rollo Ross Hit television show 'Game of Thrones' will bow out in 2019 after 8 seasons with a six-episode final season, HBO has announced. Rollo Ross //reut.rs/2CDXGLc" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 10:53 AM / Updated 2 hours ago South Korea to unveil decision over 'comfort women' deal with Japan Reuters Staff 1 Min Read SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea said it will announce on Tuesday whether it will respect an agreement between the country’s previous government and Japan that was aimed at resolving a feud over “comfort women” forced to work in Japan’s wartime brothels. FILE PHOTO - South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-Wha speaks before a briefing of a special task force for investigating the 2015 South Korea-Japan agreement over South Korea's \"comfort women\" issue at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, South Korea December 27, 2017. REUTERS/Jung Yeon-Je/Pool Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will hold a news conference to say what measures the government intends taking to follow up on a public-private panel that concluded last week that the accord had failed to meet the women’s needs, a foreign ministry official told Reuters on Monday. South Korean President Moon Jae-in has said the deal, under which Japan apologised to victims and provided 1 billion yen (£6.45 million) to a fund to help them, was seriously flawed. Japan said any attempt to revise it could damage relations. Reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Joyce Lee; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore" + }, + { + "text": "Tony Carr hit a go-ahead jumper with 2.7 seconds left in overtime, helping Penn State hold off Nebraska 76-74 Friday in Big Ten play in University Park, Pa. Carr, who struggled shooting for much of the game, got hot in overtime, scoring nine of his 17 points in the extra session. Lamar Stevens had 26 points, and Mike Watkins had 20 points and 15 rebounds for the Nittany Lions (13-6, 3-3 Big Ten). Nebraska’s Glynn Watson Jr. scored 21 points, including a step-back, mid-range jumper that tied the score 65-65 with just over a minute to play in regulation. The Cornhuskers forced a shot-clock violation and a turnover on Penn State’s next two possessions, but couldn’t take advantage. Watson missed a 3-pointer on the Huskers’ final possession, and the game went to overtime tied 65-65. Penn State led 33-24 at halftime and quickly pushed the lead to double-digits in the second half. Shep Garner knocked down an 3-pointer from the corner off of a behind-the-back pass from Carr to give the Nittany Lions a 42-26 lead two minutes into the second half. Nebraska chipped away at the lead. Isaac Copeland and Watson hit 3-pointers during a 13-2 run that cut the Penn State lead to 61-59 with 3:28 left. Copeland had 21 points and eight rebounds for the Huskers (12-7, 3-3 Big Ten). Anton Gill knocked down a 3-pointer from the right wing with 14 seconds left in overtime to tie the score. But Carr dribbled to the left elbow, before pulling up and hitting the winning jumper for the Nittany Lions. Isaiah Roby added to 12 points off the bench for Nebraska, and Gill finished with 10 points. The Cornhuskers’ reserves outscored Penn State’s bench 27-7, but couldn’t keep up with the Nittany Lions on the backboards and were outrebounded 48-36. The Cornhuskers return home to host Illinois on Monday and Michigan on Thursday. Penn State hosts Minnesota on Monday. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 9:20 PM / 2 days ago Race car driver Tucker gets more than 16 years for lending scheme Brendan Pierson 3 Min Read NEW YORK, Jan 5 (Reuters) - A Kansas businessman and race car driver was sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison on Friday for crimes related to his online payday lending business, which prosecutors said made more $3.5 billion as it exploited millions of cash-strapped consumers. Scott Tucker, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel in Manhattan. He was found guilty by a jury in October of violating federal truth in lending and racketeering laws. Tucker did not make a statement at his sentencing, referring instead to a letter he submitted to the court in December. In that letter, Tucker said he was “remorseful” for “the misperception that I do not recognize my responsibility to live as a good and fair business man, employer, and American citizen.” Castel said the letter showed Tucker had not accepted that his conduct was criminal. “The notion that Mr. Tucker is just an honest businessman doesn’t fly with me,” he said. Tucker’s lawyer, Lee Ginsburg, said he would appeal. Castel also sentenced Timothy Muir, 46, a lawyer who worked with Tucker and was convicted of the same charges in October, to seven years in prison. Muir’s lawyer, Thomas Bath, could not immediately be reached for comment. Tucker and Muir were indicted in February 2016 amid efforts by the federal government to crack down on abuses by payday lending companies. Such companies say they help consumers by offering small loans that are to be repaid in a short time, often from the person’s next paycheck, but critics say they exploit borrowers through high interest rates and fees. Prosecutors said Tucker’s Kansas-based business, which operated under names including Ameriloan and OneClickCash, routinely charged interest rates as high as 700 percent, exploiting more than 4 million people from 1997 to 2013. After several states brought lawsuits over the lending, prosecutors said, Tucker entered into sham relationships with Native American tribes. By claiming his companies were owned by tribes, prosecutors said, Tucker was able to shield the companies from lawsuits using tribal sovereign immunity. Tucker, who has competed on U.S. and European racing circuits, was previously convicted of making a false statement to obtain a bank loan and of running a fraudulent financial services business. He was sentenced in 1991 to a year in a federal prison for the latter crime. Tucker was also charged in Kansas last month with filing a false tax return. That case remains pending. (Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler)" + }, + { + "text": "Russia and Saudi Arabia will look to bolster bilateral ties beyond 2018, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told CNBC on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih told CNBC that cooperation between OPEC and non-OPEC producers should continue — in some form or another — past the end of the calendar year. He added that Riyadh's bilateral relationship with Moscow would be a \"key ingredient\" for that to happen. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Novak said he \"fully agreed\" with his Saudi counterpart. And when asked whether something longer-term was happening regarding the relationship between the world's two largest oil producers, Novak replied: \"I have the same feelings and they are based on the fact that firstly we have fairly frequent and positive contact at the highest level.\" Akos Stiller | Bloomberg | Getty Images Khalid Bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, Saudi Arabia's energy minister and president of OPEC, speaks as Alexander Novak, Russia's energy minister, left, listens during a news conference following the 172nd Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting in Vienna, Austria, on Thursday, May 25, 2017. 'Development of political relations' Russia and Saudi Arabia are leading a joint OPEC and non-OPEC effort to try and reduce a global supply overhang and prop up prices. Brent crude oil futures have soared 50 percent since mid-2017, reaching $70 a barrel for the first time in over three years earlier this month. The main price driver has been a supply cut from OPEC and its allied producers, who started to withhold output in January 2017. The production cuts are scheduled to last throughout 2018. Omar Marques | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Russia Energy Minister Alexander Novak pictured at a joint press conference during the 173rd Ordinary Meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna, Austria on November 30, 2017. Nonetheless, while the two countries appear poised to work together to support the energy market next year, Novak also said cooperation would likely transcend into other areas too. \"Of course, we are concentrating on the development of economic and trading collaboration and the development of our political relations as well,\" he said, according to a translation. In October, Russia rolled out the red carpet for Saudi Arabia's King Salman as the monarch led a high-profile and highly significant delegation to Moscow. It was the first ever state visit to Russia by a reigning Saudi monarch. The visit was seen as a sign of increasingly cordial relations and closer economic and political ties between the two oil giants. However, not all observers are convinced of Russia and Saudi Arabia's newfound collaboration and harmony. Russia and Saudi were at odds during most of the Cold War and Riyadh has been hampered by Moscow's decision to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at a time when Saudi Arabia was supporting the Syrian opposition." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 3 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. Headlines * Ryanair seeks UK operating permit in Brexit move on.ft.com/2CsQhyh * May insists on students being included in migration statistics on.ft.com/2CuI3py * Steinhoff warns it will have to restate 2015 accounts on.ft.com/2CviWmk * Moneygram, Ant abandon deal after hitting regulatory roadblock on.ft.com/2CuISOS Overview - Ryanair Holdings Plc applied for a British air operating certificate to ensure that it will continue flying in UK post-brexit. - UK Prime Minster Theresa May is insisting on students being counted in migration figures, even though there are fears that the government will be defeated on the issue in the House of Commons. - South African retailer Steinhoff International Holdings Ltd said it may be forced to restate its results for years before 2015. - MoneyGram International Inc and Ant Financial abandoned their $1.2 billion proposed deal after failing to win approval from CFIUS. (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom; Editing by Sandra Maler)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - Ohio environmental regulators again asked federal energy regulators to order Energy Transfer Partners to cease drilling operations on the Rover natural gas pipeline project under the Tuscarawas River over concern about the potential for a spill. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency urged the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in a filing made available on Wednesday that “Rover has reported lost approximately 200,000 gallons of drilling fluids to the environment” from the hole ETP is drilling under the Tuscarawas River in Stark County, Ohio. That is the same site as a spill last April of 2 million gallons of mostly clay and water used to lubricate drilling blades, which led FERC to temporarily ban ETP from new horizontal drilling in May. Pipeline companies use horizontal drilling to cross under large obstacles like highways and rivers. The Ohio EPA said Rover has ceased operations at the site and is seeking approval from FERC on a plan submitted on Jan. 22 to continue horizontal drilling. “This plan only provides temporary solutions and only suggests ways Rover may minimize expected losses if allowed to proceed,” the Ohio EPA said, noting “Ohio cannot support the plan” and wants FERC to require ETP to cease drilling operations and abandon the drill. Officials at ETP were not immediately available for comment. Last week, the company said it was in compliance with the FERC-approved horizontal drilling plan. FERC in December allowed ETP to complete all horizontal drills on the Rover project, including those in Ohio. Since asking FERC to ban ETP from all horizontal drilling in Ohio in November, the state EPA has already asked FERC a few times in January to stop the company from drilling under the Tuscarawas River. Once finished, the $4.2 billion Rover pipeline will carry up to 3.25 billion cubic feet of gas per day of gas from the Marcellus and Utica shale fields in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia to the U.S. Midwest and Ontario in Canada. One bcfd can supply about 5 million U.S. homes. The company has said it expects to finish Rover by the end of the first quarter. About 1.0 bcfd of gas was already flowing on completed portions of the pipeline, according to Reuters data. Major gas producers signed up to use Rover include units of privately held Ascent Resources LLC, Antero Resources Corp , Range Resources Corp, Southwestern Energy Co , Eclipse Resources Corp and EQT Corp. Reporting by Scott DiSavino; Editing by Marguerita Choy" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 4:44 PM / Updated 4 hours ago Leader of German Social Democrats' youth wing could be Merkel's nemesis Madeline Chambers 4 Min Read BERLIN (Reuters) - On the face of it, a fresh-faced, hoodie-wearing 28-year-old is an unlikely threat to the leader of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD), let alone to conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel. Yet before an SPD vote on Sunday on whether to enter formal talks with Merkel, the leader of the party’s Jusos youth wing has struck a chord with members with his campaign against a re-run of the “grand coalition” that has ruled Germany since 2013. “The chancellor is hanging on a Jusos drip,” wrote the daily Die Welt this week, reflecting a flurry of headlines about Kevin Kuehnert, Jusos leader since November, as a potential nemesis for the upper middle-aged leaders of Germany’s two main parties. Three days before SPD delegates decide whether to enter formal coalition negotiations with Merkel’s conservatives, Kuehnert, a Berliner, looked serious but relaxed. “To keep returning to a grand coalition out of fear that everything else is even worse really diminishes the SPD in the long run,” Kuehnert told reporters. His style brings a breath of fresh air to the somewhat staid world of German politics. In an open-necked black shirt, jeans and trainers, Kuehnert stood in front of a microphone and spoke articulately without notes. Despite the age difference, some German media have called him Germany’s Jeremy Corbyn, the 68-year-old leftist leader of Britain’s Labour party leader who has galvanised young supporters. “OPTIMISTIC” Kuehnert’s clear message and congenial manner have resonated. SPD rank and file are split over the policy blueprint deal that would be the basis for talks with the conservatives. Social Democratic Party (SPD) leader Martin Schulz and Kevin Kuehnert, the head of SPD's youth wing, during an SPD party convention in Berlin, Germany, December 7, 2017. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch “I am very optimistic that on Sunday, we have a real chance of winning the vote,” Kuehnert told reporters at SPD headquarters, a venue he said he chose to emphasise solidarity with the party. The stakes could barely be higher. If delegates vote against the blueprint agreed with Merkel, SPD chairman Martin Schulz is widely expected to quit. Moreover, Merkel would have failed twice at forming a coalition after a previous attempt with other parties collapsed in November, putting a big question mark over her own future. The result could be a minority government or new elections. However, Kuehnert is at pains not to attack Schulz. “After Sunday, I won’t be calling for anyone to resign,” he said. A soccer fan whose mother works in a jobs centre, Kuehnert sought to demolish the argument made by some in the SPD that it must avoid a new election due to its dismal ratings, by saying an election is not inevitable if there is no grand coalition. In the September election, the SPD saw its support slump to 20.5 percent, its lowest since 1933 and underlining its loss of identity and profile in a coalition that was dominated by Merkel. Now opinion polls put it on at 18 percent. Kuehnert is adamant that the SPD needs to go into opposition to reinvent itself. “We are looking for a path that will lead the SPD back to being the big left party again,” he said. Former Jusos leaders include ex-chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, whom Merkel defeated to start her first term in office back in 2005, and Andrea Nahles, who is tipped as a possible successor to Schulz. Reporting by Madeline Chambers; editing by Mark Heinrich" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15(Reuters) - Toshiba Corp * Says it will sell 13.8 million shares (about 26.5 percent stake) in Shibaura Mechatronics Corp, at the price of 425.89 yen per share * Says previous plan was announced on Dec. 4, 2017 Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/1LUk8Y Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Bumper global services kick start 2018 8:17am EST - 01:48 The euro zone economy closed out the year with the strongest growth in nearly seven years, driven by accelerating services and manufacturing activity across all major economies, a survey showed on Thursday. As Ciara Lee reports, China's services sector activity also expanded, putting in its best pick-up in performance in over three years in December on solid growth in new business. The euro zone economy closed out the year with the strongest growth in nearly seven years, driven by accelerating services and manufacturing activity across all major economies, a survey showed on Thursday. As Ciara Lee reports, China's services sector activity also expanded, putting in its best pick-up in performance in over three years in December on solid growth in new business. //reut.rs/2ApJcc5" + }, + { + "text": "SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Vandals damaged Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc charter buses carrying employees to and from work in California's Silicon Valley in recent days, police said on Thursday. The cracked windows did not injure anyone but Apple shifted shuttles to a longer route as a precaution. The large coach buses are a common sight on San Francisco Bay Area freeways but have also become a symbol of the tech industry's role in soaring housing costs and traffic congestion. An Apple bus was hit by an unknown object last Friday, and four more of the companies' shuttles and a shuttle for Google parent company Alphabet were hit Tuesday, according to California Highway Patrol. Police do not know what caused the damage but have ruled out road debris such as rocks, agency spokesman Art Montiel said. The union representing shuttle drivers who drove two of the Apple buses struck Tuesday, Teamsters Local 853, described the incidents as a \"pellet gun attack\" in a statement. Doug Bloch, a representative for the Teamsters unit, said that only the outer layer of the buses' double-paned windows cracked, suggesting that the projectiles lacked the force of bullets. \"It's hard to know how to defend against this,\" Bloch said. \"It's scary.\" Police have increased monitoring near the town of Woodside on Interstate 280, a major artery for traveling between San Francisco, where many tech industry workers live, and the corporate campuses of Silicon Valley. Apple told employees in an email Tuesday night seen by Reuters that buses would take a new route that would add as much as 30 minutes to 45 minutes to the commute in each direction. The one-way trip is normally about an hour. It is unclear whether the rerouting remained in effect Thursday. Alphabet did not respond to a request for comment. Facebook Inc said on Thursday that its shuttles had not been attacked and were running with no changes in service. Demonstrators in 2013 and 2014 blocked and damaged buses to protest the booming tech industry's impact on affordable housing and the gentrification of San Francisco. The buses typically do not bear names of companies, but acronyms for destinations that appear on the vehicle's digital banners can indicate to which tech campus they travel. (Reporting by Paresh Dave; Additional reporting by David Ingram and Stephen Nellis; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)" + }, + { + "text": "HONG KONG (Reuters) - HNA Group’s commodity trading and logistics unit, which last month bought a big stake in Glencore’s ( GLEN.L ) oil storage business, will not chase U.S. deals in 2018 partly due to Washington’s increased scrutiny of Chinese investments, a senior executive of the unit said. Ding Lei, chief innovation officer of Hong Kong-based HNA Innovation Finance, HNA Group’s subsidiary specializing in commodities, logistics and investment services, told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday that the unit would instead focus on deals that fit with China’s strategic Belt and Road initiative. “(CFIUS) was part of the reason (why we are not looking at U.S. deals),” Ding said. “Secondly, the Chinese market and the Belt and Road markets are huge. We will perform pretty well if we can do business in those markets.” The multi-agency Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which scrutinizes deals for potential national security threats, has toughened its stance on the sale of U.S. companies to Chinese buyers, blocking deals in sensitive industries and putting others through a prolonged review. “Our unit was established less than a year ago. Why would we want to crack such a tough nut now?,” he said, referring to the U.S. market with its tougher dealmaking environment. HNA Innovation Finance, whose portfolio firms include Singaporean logistics provider CWT Ltd, would focus on deals in countries in Southeast Asia, Africa as well as Central and Eastern Europe, in line with China’s Belt and Road policies, Ding said. Adam Tan, CEO of the Chinese airlines-to-property conglomerate, had said in September HNA Group would keep investing in the United States, one of its key overseas markets. Since then, more Chinese deals have been struck down by the United States, while the fate of HNA Group’s purchase of hedge fund investment firm SkyBridge Capital in a consortium, announced in January last year, remains unclear as it has not received U.S. regulatory approval. Ding, however, said HNA Innovation Finance is not ruling out going for U.S. opportunities in the future. It is currently seeking CFIUS approval for three assets located in America, as part of its $775 million purchase of a 51 percent stake in Glencore’s oil storage and logistics businesses. Indebted HNA Group, which has announced over $50 billion in overseas deals since 2015, is also facing mounting pressure on its finances after Beijing told major Chinese banks last June to review their credit exposure to HNA and a handful of other non-state companies. Against a backdrop of concerns about the group’s rising financing costs, the innovation finance unit, which has secured private-funds licenses in mainland China and Hong Kong, plans to set up several investment funds domestically and overseas to diversify from banking loans and help ease liquidity pressure. “HNA could smoothly get refinancing from banks in the past. But last year, we did have to go through more procedures,” Ding said, adding the proposed funds would be used to help finance the unit’s future deals. He declined to elaborate further about the funding plans. Reporting by Julie Zhu and Kane Wu; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s biggest carmaker Jaguar Land Rover will have to decide in the next 12 months whether to build electric cars in its home market, its director of sales Andy Goss said on Monday. Its first electric model, the I-PACE, will be built in Austria. Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Kate Holton" + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 8:12 AM / Updated 16 hours ago Ireland May 2028 IPTs at MS+5 area 1 Min Read LONDON, Jan 3 (IFR) - * IPTs MS+5 area, benchmark size, pricing today. Due 15 May 2028, pay 10 Jan, Irish law, Dublin listing, 0.01 denoms, Reg S registered. Short first coupon to 15 May 2018. (8:10am) IRELAND, rated Moody’s A2 (Stable), Standard & Poor’s A+ (Stable), Fitch Ratings A+ (Stable), has mandated CITI, DANSKE BANK, DAVY, J.P. MORGAN, MORGAN STANLEY and NOMURA as joint lead managers for a forthcoming long 10-year Euro RegS benchmark transaction, maturing 15 May 2028. The syndicated transaction is expected to be launched and priced in the near future subject to market conditions. FCA/ICMA stabilisation. The target market for the Bonds is eligible counterparties, professional clients and retail clients (all channels for distribution), each as defined in MiFID II. (Jan 2)" + }, + { + "text": "2017 marked a turning point for capital flows, China currency regulator says Chinese cross-border capital flows were virtually balanced in 2017, according to new data released Thursday The country's foreign exchange regulator said the data marks a turning point The trend is expected to continue into 2018 as the Federal Reserve's impact on China's capital flows wains Published 10 Hours Ago SHARES Lucas Schifres | Getty Images China's cross-border capital flows reached a turning point last year as they became basically balanced compared to previous net outflows, the foreign exchange regulator said on Thursday. Cross-border capital flows will remain largely steady in 2018 as the impact from the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy normalization on capital flows in China is weakening, Wang Chunying, spokeswomen for the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, told reporters." + }, + { + "text": "Ferrari plans an electric supercar that would compete with Tesla Ferrari plans to make an electric supercar, said CEO Sergio Marchionne. The Italian carmaker has been skeptical of all-electric supercars, but does sell cars with hybrid engines. SHARES Getty Images Sergio Marchionne, Chief Executive Officer, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is viewed next to a Ferrari after ringing the Closing Bell on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on October 13, 2014 in New York City. Ferrari plans to make a high-end electric car, said CEO Sergio Marchionne on Tuesday. The auto executive, who also heads Fiat-Chrysler , told reporters at the North American International Auto Show that whatever Tesla has done with high-end electrics can be done by others in the industry. The plan would be a significant change of direction for Marchionne and Ferrari. While the Italian carmaker equips some cars with hybrid technology, Marchionne once called the idea of a completely electric Ferrari \" almost an obscene concept .\" Some Ferrari fans would agree. An all-electric Ferrari, without a brash-sounding internal combustion engine the cars are known for, would be about as appealing as a \"3-D printed soy donut,\" said one owner . That means to some purists, such a car might look like a Ferrari, but would not really be one. But Tesla's high-performance P100D versions of is Model S and Model X cars deliver eye-popping performance and generate buzz among customers. Furthermore, in November, Tesla unveiled a second-generation Roadster the company said will go zero to 60 miles per hour in a record 1.9 seconds. —CNBC's Silvia Berzoni contributed to this story ." + }, + { + "text": "New York artist paints to understand nuclear weapons 2:25pm EST - 01:16 New York artist Eric LoPresti paints nuclear weapons to understand their impact on people and environment. Aleksandra Michalska reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript New York artist Eric LoPresti paints nuclear weapons to understand their impact on people and environment. Aleksandra Michalska reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "No cash, no problem. At least at one Starbucks location in Seattle. The coffee giant is testing a cashless store \"just to see\" how digital and credit card payments affect customer behavior and experience at the restaurant. \"Thirty percent of our payments in the United States [are] done with a mobile phone,\" CEO Kevin Johnson said on CNBC's \"Squawk on the Street\" Friday. \"Over 40 percent is done with phones and Star Value cards with rewards. In China, over 60 percent of our tenders come from mobile payments.\" As more and more Starbucks customers pay for their coffees with their phones, the company must work to accommodate this behavior and leverage mobile ordering and digital marketing to increase the number of times consumers visit the coffee shop. Starbucks said it added 1.4 million Starbucks Rewards members in the U.S. in the last quarter, raising its total number of members to 14.2 million. Starbucks isn't the only company to be testing out cashless locations. In October, Shake Shack announced that it was building a cashless, kiosk-only location in New York City to test out a variety of digital innovations and ways of connecting with its consumers. The cashless location is just one piece of Starbucks' digital innovation this year. Johnson said during an earnings call Thursday that the company is working on a way to reach non-Rewards members in the digital arena, including making mobile order and pay available to all customers in March. \"Virtually all of our comp came from our digital customers,\" Matt Ryan, global chief strategy officer for Starbucks, said on the call. \"We are going to be targeting not just the Starbucks reward customers, but all customers with ways for them to sign up and engage with us directly. That will create a new pool of customers that we can use our marketing capabilities to reach and talk to and build business from.\" show chapters Starbucks CEO: China is the long-term growth opportunity for us 4 Hours Ago | 03:58" + }, + { + "text": "A bus carrying children to school in southern Germany hit multiple cars and then slammed into the side of a building without braking, injuring 48 people early Tuesday, including 10 seriously, police said. PRIEBE/AFP | DPA | Getty Images Police and firefighters secure the area around a schoolbus that crashed into a shop on early January 16, 2018 in the southern German town of Eberbach, near Heideleberg The injured were 43 children and the bus driver, as well as other adults who were aboard the bus, said Mannheim police spokesman Christoph Kunkel. Three helicopters and 10 ambulances rushed to the scene in the town of Eberbach, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Mannheim, to bring the injured to area hospitals for treatment. The bus crashed just after 7 a.m. as it was driving around a left-hand bend in the road in Eberbach. It wasn't immediately clear what caused the accident, but Kunkel said the driver had been able to talk with police following the crash. A wide area around the accident scene was shut down to traffic as the incident is investigated." + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 9:21 PM / in 5 minutes Facebook buys Boston software company that authenticates IDs: source Reuters Staff 1 Min Read NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook Inc ( FB.O ) is buying Boston-based software company Confirm Inc, which specializes in authenticating government-issued identification cards, a person familiar with the acquisition said on Tuesday. Confirm, which says on its website that it has more than 750 clients, will wind down its operations and its employees will join Facebook in Boston, the source said. Terms of the deal and how Facebook would apply Confirm’s software were not immediately known. Facebook has previously said it would step up plans to verify the identities of people who purchase election-related ads on its social network. Reporting by Liana B. Baker in New York and David Ingram in San Francisco; Editing by James Dalgleish" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 5:00 PM / Updated 15 minutes ago BRIEF-Amgen Expects To Launch Migraine Drug This Year Reuters Staff Jan 9 (Reuters) - Amgen Inc: * AMGEN CEO SAYS EXPECTS TO BE ABLE TO LAUNCH AIMOVIG FOR MIGRAINE THIS YEAR * AMGEN SAYS EXPECTS TO LAUNCH HUMIRA BIOSIMILAR OUTSIDE U.S. THIS YEAR * AMGEN CEO SAYS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DEALS TO REMAIN PRIORITY IN 2018 * AMGEN CEO SAYS COMPANY IN STRONGER STRATEGIC POSITION AFTER TAX REFORM Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Reporting By Bill Berkrot)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 14 (Reuters) - Tahoe Group Co Ltd: * SAYS IT SEES 2017 NET PROFIT UP 20.07-39.40 PERCENT Y/Y VERSUS 1.7 BILLION YUAN ($263.13 million) A YEAR AGO * SAYS ITS SHARES TO RESUME TRADE ON JAN 15 Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2D9fC0K ; bit.ly/2FB6mji Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.4607 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "SAN DIEGO (AP) _ WD-40 Co. (WDFC) on Tuesday reported fiscal first-quarter net income of $12.6 million. On a per-share basis, the San Diego-based company said it had profit of 90 cents. The maintenance and cleaning product company posted revenue of $97.6 million in the period. WD-40 expects full-year earnings to be $3.91 to $3.98 per share, with revenue in the range of $396 million to $403 million. WD-40 shares have dropped slightly since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Tuesday, shares hit $117.90, a rise of 0.5 percent in the last 12 months. This story was generated by Automated Insights ( ) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on WDFC at" + }, + { + "text": "Trump says he'd apologize for sharing British far right videos, did not mean to offend 4:58am EST - 01:02 U.S. President Donald Trump says he didn't intend to offend anyone with his retweets of anti-Islam videos from a UK far right group, Britain First, but didn't know anything about the group and stopped short of apologizing. Rough cut (no reporter narration) U.S. President Donald Trump says he didn't intend to offend anyone with his retweets of anti-Islam videos from a UK far right group, Britain First, but didn't know anything about the group and stopped short of apologizing. Rough cut (no reporter narration) //reut.rs/2nej8Mg" + }, + { + "text": "Razzie 'worst film' nods is an Oscar-studded affair 11:09am EST - 01:50 ''Transformers: The Last Knight tops nominations for the Razzie Awards with nods also for Jennifer Lawrence, Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp. Rough cut (No reporter narration). \"Transformers: The Last Knight tops nominations for the Razzie Awards with nods also for Jennifer Lawrence, Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp. Rough cut (No reporter narration). //reut.rs/2DvdosK" + }, + { + "text": "By Emma Hinchliffe January 4, 2018 President Donald Trump’s tweets have everyone worried about a missile from North Korea reaching the United States. But a North Korea failed missile test that crashed in Tokchon, a North Korean city, reveals the roadblocks the country faces as it tries to develop a serious weapons program. North Korea launched a Hwasong-12/KN17 intermediate-range ballistic missile on April 28 last year from Pukchang Airfield in South Pyongan Province, The Diplomat reported Wednesday . The missile crashed soon after launch because of engine failure and landed in a complex of either industrial or agricultural buildings in Tokchon, about 40 miles away. The missile only flew for one minute, never higher than about 43 miles. This was North Korea’s third test of the Hwasong-12, before ultimately completing a successful test of the missile on May 14. The Diplomat report cited a U.S. government source with knowledge of North Korea’s weapons program. This particular missile test had already been reported on, but not the fact that it crashed in a small populated North Korean city. And this missile is one Kim Jong-un has bragged about — remember the military parade with missiles ushered down the streets of Pyongyang in April? Korean People's Army (KPA) tanks are displayed on Kim Il-Sung square during a military parade marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on April 15 saluted as ranks of goose-stepping soldiers followed by tanks and other military hardware paraded in Pyongyang for a show of strength with tensions mounting over his nuclear ambitions. Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images The Hwasong-12 is a liquid fuel missile that uses a combination of hypergolic propellant and oxidizer. The mixture is volatile and can produce giant explosions upon failure. The missile didn’t explode in the air, so the explosion probably happened on the ground in Tokchon. The intermediate-range ballistic missile, or IRBM, is capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam. The missile could have been intended to reach the Sea of Japan near the Russian coast during its test, The Diplomat speculated. North Korea used technology from the Hwasong-12 to develop the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 and the Hwasong-15 later in the year. That weapon, North Korea claims, is capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Developing that weapons technology comes with serious risks — including the risk of a missile exploding in a city of your own people. Although the crash location showed a complex of industrial buildings that likely didn’t have people inside, the complex was within city limits with civilians nearby. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 6:05 PM / Updated 44 minutes ago Fiery Kerber helps Germany set up Hopman Cup final against Switzerland Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Angelique Kerber cruised past Daria Gavrilova before teaming up with Alexander Zverev to help Germany overcome Australia on Friday and set up an enticing Hopman Cup final against Switzerland. Tennis - Wimbledon - London, Britain - July 10, 2017 Germany’s Angelique Kerber in action during her fourth round match against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge Former world number one Kerber made short work of Gavrilova, beating the Australian 6-1 6-2 to give Germany the upper hand. Australia levelled the tie after Thanasi Kokkinakis upset world number four Zverev 5-7 7-6(4) 6-4, leaving Germany facing a must-win mixed doubles match to progress to the final. Kokkinakis helped Australia to win the first set of the doubles but Kerber maintained her fiery dominance to steer Germany to a 1-4 4-1 4-3(3) victory. “Angie played unbelievable in both of her matches — she’s the reason we’re in the final,” Zverev said. “I‘m going to give all the credit to her. I didn’t play my best today — luckily I have an unbelievable partner.” Earlier, Belgium whitewashed Canada 3-0 and were on course to reach the final as group winners before Germany’s victory led them to the top. Elise Mertens beat Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard 6-4 6-4 to hand Belgium the advantage and David Goffin sealed the tie for the European side with a 6-2 6-4 win over Vasek Pospisil. Germany last won the Hopman Cup in 1995 and in Saturday’s final they will face an all-conquering Swiss team with Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic yet to lose a match in the tournament. Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s Defence Ministry said on Thursday that China has again been invited to attend a major U.S.-hosted naval drill this year, even as tensions simmer between the two countries over the disputed South China Sea. Ministry spokesman Wu Qian told a monthly news briefing that it had received an invite to the exercise and had sent a team to discuss initial arrangements with the United States. He did not elaborate. The Rim of the Pacific exercise, known as RIMPAC, is billed as the world’s largest international maritime exercise, held every two years in Hawaii in June and July, and China has attended previously. Pentagon officials have long complained that China has not been candid enough about its rapid military build-up, whereas Chinese officials have accused Washington of viewing their country in suspicious, “Cold War” terms. China decried last week’s freedom of navigation operation by a U.S. warship in the South China Sea as an infringement of its sovereignty. But the two countries also share a common interest in maintaining regional stability, and both have in recent years made efforts to counter mistrust, including holding humanitarian relief drills and setting up a military hotline to reduce the risk of miscalculations. Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Nick Macfie" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - U.S. industrial production increased more than expected in December as unseasonably cold weather toward the end of the month boosted demand for heating, but manufacturing output slowed further. The Federal Reserve said on Wednesday industrial output surged 0.9 percent last month also buoyed by robust gains in mining production after a downwardly revised 0.1 percent decline in November. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast industrial production advancing 0.4 percent last month after a previously reported 0.2 percent increase in November. Industrial production rose at an annual rate of 8.2 percent in the fourth quarter, the biggest gain since the second quarter of 2010. For all of 2017, industrial output rose 1.8 percent, the first and largest increase since 2014. The industrial sector is being supported by a strengthening global economy and a weakening dollar, which is helping to make U.S. exports more competitive relative to those of the nation’s main trading partners. A survey early this month showed an acceleration in factory activity in December, with a measure of new orders recording its best reading since January 2004. Mining production increased 1.6 percent amid a rebound in oil and gas well drilling. Utilities production accelerated 5.6 percent last month after declining 3.1 percent in November. Bitter cold gripped a large part of the country at the end of December. The surge in utilities demand bodes well for consumer spending in the fourth quarter. But manufacturing output gained only 0.1 percent in December, putting a wrinkle on the report, after rising 0.3 percent in the prior month. Manufacturing production jumped 1.5 percent in October. Manufacturing output was last month held back by a 1.5 percent drop in the production of primary metals. Motor vehicle and parts production increased 2.0 percent. Manufacturing production rose at a 7.0 percent rate in the fourth quarter. With output accelerating last month, capacity utilization a measure of how fully industries are deploying their resources increased to 77.9 percent from 77.2 percent in November. Officials at the Fed tend to look at capacity use as a signal of how much “slack” remains in the economy and how much room there is for growth to accelerate before it becomes inflationary. (Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci)" + }, + { + "text": "U.S. government debt yields ticked upward Monday, as investors turned their attention to the U.S. central bank space, where three officials are set to speak. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose to around 2.48 percent at 2:57 p.m. ET, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was down at 2.812 percent. Bond yields move inversely to prices. Symbol Yield Change %Change US 3-MO --- US 1-YR --- US 2-YR --- US 5-YR --- US 10-YR --- US 30-YR --- The state of the U.S. economy will be front and center Monday as leading members of the Federal Reserve speak at separate events. In Georgia, Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic said that the central bank may only need to raise rates twice in 2018 without significant pressure on prices. Both San Francisco Fed President John Williams and Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren will be delivering separate remarks at Brookings Institution in Washington. Bostic and Williams are both 2018 voting members of the Federal Open Market Committee, whereas Rosengren is not. As markets kick off the second trading week of 2018, investors will likely be mulling over the latest figures from the Labor Department. On Friday, markets rose sharply despite nonfarm payroll data coming in below market expectations. In December, the U.S. economy added 148,000 jobs , compared to market estimates of 190,000, according to a Reuters poll." + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia welcomes the agreements reached in talks between North Korea and South Korea, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. “We hope that their implementation will serve to de-escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula and foster stability in this region,” the ministry said. The talks were held on Tuesday on the South Korean side of the demilitarized zone, after a prolonged period of tension on the Korean peninsula over the North’s missile and nuclear programs. Writing by Polina Ivanova; Editing by Christian Lowe" + }, + { + "text": "Quarterly Revenue Record of $238 Million, Up 5 Percent Sequentially and 7 Percent Year Over Year 2017 Ethernet Revenues Up 26 Percent and 25/50/100 Gigabit Revenues Up 156 Percent Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth and Cost Rationalization Builds Foundation for Expanding Operating Leverage SUNNYVALE, Calif. & YOKNEAM, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mellanox ® Technologies, Ltd. (NASDAQ: MLNX) today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and full year 2017 ended December 31, 2017. “We are pleased to achieve record quarterly and full year revenues,” said Eyal Waldman, President and CEO of Mellanox Technologies. “2017 represented a year of investment and product transitions for Mellanox. Fourth quarter Ethernet revenues increased 11 percent sequentially, due to expanding customer adoption of our 25 gigabit per second and above Ethernet products across all geographies. We are encouraged by the acceleration of our 25 gigabit per second and above Ethernet switch business, which grew 41 percent sequentially, with broad based growth across OEM, hyperscale, tier-2, cloud, financial services and channel customers. During the fourth quarter, InfiniBand revenues grew 2 percent sequentially, driven by growth from our high-performance computing and artificial intelligence customers. For the full fiscal 2017, our revenues from the high performance computing market grew 13 percent year over year. Our 2017 results demonstrate the successful execution of our multi-year revenue diversification strategy, and our leadership position in 25 gigabit per second and above Ethernet adapters.” Fourth Quarter 2017 - Highlights Revenues were $237.6 million in the fourth quarter, and $863.9 million in fiscal year 2017. GAAP gross margins were 64.1 percent in the fourth quarter, and 65.2 percent in fiscal year 2017. Non-GAAP gross margins were 68.8 percent in the fourth quarter, and 70.4 percent in fiscal year 2017. GAAP operating loss was $(6.7) million, or (2.8) percent of revenue, in the fourth quarter, and was $(17.1) million, or (2.0) percent of revenue, in fiscal year 2017. Non-GAAP operating income was $38.0 million, or 16.0 percent of revenue, in the fourth quarter, and $118.7 million, or 13.7 percent of revenue, in fiscal year 2017. GAAP net loss was $(2.6) million in the fourth quarter, and was $(19.4) million in fiscal year 2017. Non-GAAP net income was $42.9 million in the fourth quarter, and $116.6 million in fiscal year 2017. GAAP net loss per diluted share was $(0.05) in the fourth quarter, and $(0.39) in fiscal year 2017. Non-GAAP net income per diluted share was $0.82 in the fourth quarter, and $2.28 in fiscal year 2017. $66.9 million in cash was provided by operating activities during the fourth quarter. $161.3 million in cash was provided by operating activities during fiscal year 2017. Cash and investments totaled $273.8 million at December 31, 2017. Mr. Waldman continued, “As we enter 2018, we expect to build on our momentum in Ethernet and InfiniBand. With the recent release of our BlueField system-on-chip, and the future introduction of our 200 gigabit per second InfiniBand and Ethernet products, Mellanox is well positioned to begin reaping the benefits from prior investments. Looking ahead, we anticipate seeing acceleration of revenue growth, while delivering on our commitment to more efficiently manage costs and achieve fiscal 2018 non-GAAP operating margins of 18 to 19 percent. We continue to drive improvements in profitability and identify further efficiencies that can be realized as our prior investments begin to yield positive results and we transition towards new product introductions in 2018 and beyond.” First Quarter 2018 Outlook We currently project: Quarterly revenues of $222 million to $232 million Non-GAAP gross margins of 68.5 percent to 69.5 percent Non-GAAP operating expenses of $120 million to $122 million Share-based compensation expense of $16." + }, + { + "text": "3 million to $16.8 million Non-GAAP diluted share count of 52.4 million to 52.9 million Full Year 2018 Outlook We currently project: Revenues of $970 million to $990 million Non-GAAP gross margins of 68.0 percent to 69.0 percent Non-GAAP operating margin of 18.0 percent to 19.0 percent Non-GAAP operating margin of more than 20.0 percent exiting 2018 Recent Mellanox Press Release Highlights • January 16, 2018 Mellanox ConnectX®-5 Ethernet Adapter Wins Linley Group Analyst Choice Award for Best Networking Chip • January 9, 2018 Mellanox Discontinuing 1550nm Silicon Photonics Development Activities • January 4, 2018 Mellanox Ships BlueFieldTM System-on-Chip Platforms and SmartNIC Adapters to Leading OEMs and Hyperscale Customers • December 18, 2017 Meituan.com Selects Mellanox Interconnect Solutions to Accelerate its Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Cloud Data Centers • December 12, 2017 Mellanox Interconnect Solutions Accelerate Tencent Cloud High-Performance Computing and Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure • December 4, 2017 Mellanox and NEC Partner to Deliver Innovative High-Performance and Artificial Intelligence Platforms • November 14, 2017 Mellanox Propels NetApp to New Heights with 100Gb/s InfiniBand Connectivity • November 13, 2017 Deployment Collaboration with Lenovo will Power Canada’s Largest Supercomputer Centre with Leading Performance, Scalability for High Performance Computing Applications • November 13, 2017 Mellanox InfiniBand Solutions to Accelerate the World’s Next Fastest Supercomputers • November 13, 2017 Mellanox InfiniBand to Accelerate Japan's Fastest Supercomputer for Artificial Intelligence Applications • November 13, 2017 InfiniBand Accelerates 77 Percent of New High-Performance Computing Systems on TOP500 Supercomputer List Conference Call Mellanox will hold its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2017 financial results conference call today, at 2 p.m. Pacific Time, to discuss the company’s financial results. To listen to the call, dial 1-800-459-5343, or for investors outside the U.S., [REDACTED], approximately 10 minutes prior to the start time. The Mellanox financial results conference call will be available via live webcast on the investor relations section of the Mellanox website at: . Access the webcast 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the webcast will also be available on the Mellanox website. About Mellanox Mellanox Technologies is a leading supplier of end-to-end InfiniBand and Ethernet interconnect solutions and services for servers and storage. Mellanox interconnect solutions increase data center efficiency by providing the highest throughput and lowest latency, delivering data faster to applications and unlocking system performance capability. Mellanox offers a choice of fast interconnect products: adapters, switches, software, cables and silicon that accelerate application runtime and maximize business results for a wide range of markets including high-performance computing, enterprise data centers, Web 2.0, cloud, storage and financial services. More information is available at: www.mellanox.com . GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation To supplement our consolidated financial statements presented in accord" + }, + { + "text": "Dominion Energy CEO Tom Farrell told CNBC on Thursday that Dominion's acquisition of South Carolinian utility Scana would set his company up for significant long-term gains. \"We're investing for the long-term in South Carolina,\" Farrell told \"Mad Money\" host Jim Cramer. \" Scana's a very good company. It's got very good growth in its electric and gas utilities. South Carolina's a wonderful state to do business in. We're already there with a pipeline business and some solar farms. Great prospects ahead.\" On Wednesday, Dominion announced it would buy Scana in an all-stock deal worth nearly $15 billion. Shares of Scana popped on the announcement while Dominion's stock slid. The merger will help Scana stem customer and shareholder outrage after a $9 billion nuclear project gone wrong, which resulted in Scana's former CEO stepping down . Farrell said that Dominion would absorb nearly $1.7 billion in costs from the uncompleted plant that were not yet reflected in customers' utility rates. The deal also includes a unique provision loosely tied to Congress' newly enacted tax code : all residential customers of Scana's South Carolina Electric & Gas utility will receive an average payment of $1,000 within 90 days of the deal closing. Farrell said that customers would also receive a 5 percent rate reduction as consolation for the failed nuclear project, a nearly $600 million subsidy provided by Dominion. \"[It's a] very, very unusual thing to give a company's customers value in a transaction. I've never heard of it before,\" Farrell said. \"All in all, there's a tremendous amount of value going to the customers of Scana.\" Yet even with all of Dominion's payouts, the deal will still be \"immediately accretive\" once it closes, the CEO said. \"It's been too long a period in South Carolina that they've been going through this uncertainty, uncertainty for Scana, its employees, its retirees, its shareholders, uncertainty for the citizens of South Carolina and their customers,\" Farrell told Cramer. \"It's really good for the people who have been paying the bills.\" In an emailed response to CNBC's request for comment, Scana's new CEO Jimmy Quote: : \"Dominion Energy is a strong, well-regarded company in the utility industry and its commitment to customers and communities aligns well with our values,\" Addison said. \"Joining with Dominion Energy strengthens our company and provides resources that will enable us to once again focus on our core operations and best serve our customers.\" In a later email, Addison added: \"The acquisition of SCANA by Dominion Energy will stabilize a situation for all involved that was destabilized by the bankruptcy filing of Westinghouse .\" Watch Tom Farrell's full interview here: show chapters Dominion CEO bullish on latest deal despite slumping stock: 'We're investing for the long term in South Carolina' 18 Hours Ago | 07:26 Questions for Cramer? Call Cramer: 1-800-743-CNBC Want to take a deep dive into Cramer's world? Hit him up! Mad Money Twitter - Jim Cramer Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - Vine Questions, comments, suggestions for the \"Mad Money\" website? [REDACTED]" + }, + { + "text": "Seagate shares rallied Monday after a report speculated on the size of its early investments in cryptocurrency company Ripple. Seagate is an investor in Ripple, but the size of that investment could not be verified by CNBC. Seagate and Ripple did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The data storage company's stock rose as much as 16 percent shortly after the market open before paring its gains to 6.5 percent. The market cap of the ripple cryptocurrency is more than $80 billion even after a drop on Monday, according CoinMarketCap. It is the third-largest digital currency in the world. The start-up owns 61 percent of the 100 billion XRP coins in existence, which are also referred to as ripple. Seagate's investment in Ripple has been widely covered in previous years. It is listed as one of Ripple's investors on the company's website . The data storage company invested in Ripple's Series A financing round in May 2015. It also participated in a Series B investment in September 2016. There were no details given on the size of Seagate's investments in Ripple's press release. Disclaimer" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 10:44 AM / Updated 5 minutes ago U.N. mediator says 'positive momentum' in Macedonia name row Reuters Staff 3 Min Read ATHENS (Reuters) - A United Nations mediator said on Monday there was “positive momentum” toward settling a 27-year dispute between Athens and Skopje the ex-Yugoslav republic’s name. The row over the name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), as it is formally known, has held up its prospects of joining both the European Union and NATO. Macedonia took that name when it became independent in 1991 following the break-up of Yugoslavia. Greece has challenged it since, saying it implies territorial claims to the Greek region of the same name and of the ancient Greek kingdom ruled by Alexander the Great. In an interview with Greek state television ahead of talks in New York on Wednesday with diplomats from both countries, U.N. mediator Matthew Nimetz said: “In both countries there is a positive momentum” “I think the people in both countries are maybe ready to hear some solutions that are consistent with national interests but also have some element of compromise that would resolve the problem.” Nimetz said the new government in Skopje was “very interested” in resolving the issue. Athens has only agreed that the country be referred to internationally as “FYROM” until the row is resolved. That is the name under which it was admitted to the U.N in 1993 and the name which the EU and other bodies use for it. Greek government officials have suggested that Athens would try to focus on brokering an agreement that calls for a compound name with a geographical qualifier. Suggestions floated have included upper or northern. Asked if he would present a new name in the latest round of talks, Nimetz said “there’s always a new way of looking at things ... of course there’s nothing totally new, there’s no new magic, we know what the problems are.” Greeks are highly sensitive about the name issue. Nearly 70 percent said they did not want the term “Macedonia” used in any solution, a poll showed on Sunday, and rallies have been planned in Athens and in northern Greece in the coming weeks. Reporting by Karolina Tagaris Editing by Jeremy Gaunt" + }, + { + "text": "January 27, 2018 / 3:09 AM / Updated an hour ago South Korea's Moon visits hospital fire scene, agonises over series of disasters Cynthia Kim , Yuna Park 4 Min Read SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean officials rushed to identify 37 victims of a hospital blaze and pinpoint the cause on Saturday as President Moon Jae-in visited the burnt-out building and decried “one tragedy after another” to strike the country. Flames and toxic smoke swept through the Sejong Hospital in the southern city of Miryang on Friday, injuring more than 150 people, just weeks after a fire killed 29 people at a fitness centre. All the hospital victims died from smoke inhalation. Moon visited the fire scene where he spoke to grieving family members and firefighters. “Its tragic, and it hurts me to see this kind of one tragedy after another, even as the government has vowed to make this country safe,” Moon said. He ordered a full inquiry and said “utmost government efforts” were needed to support the injured and families of the victims. The government of Asia’s fourth-largest economy, with one of the world’s fastest ageing populations, has faced criticism in recent years over poor safety standards, including the Sewol ferry disaster of 2014 in which more than 300 people, mostly schoolchildren, drowned. Hospital director Song Byeong-cheol said the six-storey hospital did not have a sprinkler system and was not large enough to require one under the law. The opposition Liberal Party was quick to condemn Moon for the disaster. “The Moon administration should have at least kept South Koreans safe, to justify the launch of this government,” the party said in a statement, demanding a “master plan” to protect citizens. Moon’s ruling Democratic Party said it would “embark on parliamentary discussions to legally support and protect citizens lives and safety”, a spokesman said. Ham Eun-gu, a professor at Open Cyber University of Korea, said safety checks at many private hospitals, including Sejong Hospital, were often carried out as a formality and not strictly enforced. Firefighters rescue a patient from a hospital in Miryang, South Korea. Flames and toxic smoke swept through the hospital on Friday, killing at least 37 people and injuring more than 140. Kim Gu-Yeon/Gyeongn Domin Ilbo/via REUTERS “Given that there has been a string of big fire accidents, the Moon administration won’t be able to just overlook this and let it go. (The government) will need to toughen fire safety regulations,” Ham said. Last month, 29 people were killed in a blaze at an eight-storey fitness centre in Jecheon City, most of them women trapped in a sauna. That disaster fuelled anger over reports of shoddy construction, among other shortcomings. In 2014, a fire at a rural hospital killed 21 people, while a 2008 warehouse fire outside Seoul killed 40. Slideshow (4 Images) Many survivors of Friday’s blaze “walked though fire and smoke” to escape, a city official told Reuters on Friday. Those on upper floors used fire engine ladders and plastic escape slides, while firefighters carried some who could not walk. “I saw elderly patients scrambling out through the windows and had to help,” said Woo Young-min, 25, as he stood in his pyjamas outside the hospital. The fire broke out at the rear of the emergency room on the hospital’s first floor, fire official Choi Man-woo told reporters. Television broadcast images of black smoke billowing from the windows and entrance. At least 177 patients, most of them elderly, were in the hospital and a nursing home next door when the fire broke out, hospital director Song told reporters. Song said three of the nine hospital staff on duty at the time died - at least one doctor, a nurse and a nurse’s aide. Most of those who died were on the first and second floors, said Choi. Reporting by Cynthia Kim and Yuna Park; Additional reporting by Christine Kim; Editing by Nick Macfie; Editing by Nick Macfie" + }, + { + "text": "26 PM / in 8 minutes CANADA STOCKS-TSX futures lifted by higher oil prices Reuters Staff 3 Min Read Jan 26 (Reuters) - Canada’s main stock index futures rose on Friday, with a weaker U.S. dollar supporting a rise in crude prices. March futures on the S&P TSX index were up 0.18 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET. CPI inflation data for December is due at 8:30 a.m. ET Canada’s main stock index suffered its biggest drop since mid-December on Thursday as pipeline operators led declines for energy companies, while gold miners were pressured by a pullback in the price of the precious metal. Dow Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures were up 0.22 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures were up 0.31 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures were up 0.42 percent. (Morning News Call newsletter here ; The Day Ahead newsletter here ) ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS First Majestic Silver: National Bank of Canada cuts rating to sector perform from outperform Rogers Communications: National Bank of Canada cuts to sector perform rating from outperform TSO3 Inc: RBC cuts rating to sector perform from outperform COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET Gold futures: $1351.6; -0.79 pct U.S. crude: $65.57; +0.09 pct Brent crude: $70.36; -0.09 pct LME 3-month copper: $7120; -0.25 pct U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON FRIDAY 0830 Durable goods for Dec: Expected 0.8 pct; Prior 1.3 pct 0830 Durables ex-transport for Dec: Expected 0.5 pct; Prior -0.1 pct 0830 Durables ex-defense mm for Dec: Expected 0.3 pct; Prior 1.0 pct 0830 Nondefense cap ex-air for Dec: Expected 0.5 pct; Prior -0.2 pct 0830 GDP advance for Q4: Expected 3.0 pct; Prior 3.2 pct 0830 GDP sales advance for Q4: Expected 3.2 pct; Prior 2.4 pct 0830 GDP cons spending advance for Q4: Prior 2.4 pct 0830 GDP deflator advance for Q4: Expected 2.3 pct; Prior 2.1 pct 0830 Core PCE prices advance for Q4: Expected 1.6 pct; Prior 1.3 pct 0830 PCE prices advance for Q4: Expected 1.8 pct; Prior 1.5 pct 0830 Advance goods trade balance for Dec: Prior -70.00 bln 0830 Wholesale inventories advance for Dec: Prior 0.8 pct 0830 US retail inventories advance: Prior 0.2 pct 1030 ECRI Weekly Index: Prior 150.3 1030 ECRI weekly annualized: Prior 4.5 pct FOR CANADIAN MARKETS NEWS, CLICK ON CODES: TSX market report Canadian dollar and bonds report Reuters global stocks poll for Canada Canadian markets directory ($1= C$1.23) (Reporting by Nandi Kaul in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D‘Silva)" + }, + { + "text": "GE posts $10 billion loss 11:09am EST - 01:02 The deterioration of its power business contributed to General Electric's $10 billion loss in the latest quarter. Fred Katayama reports. The deterioration of its power business contributed to General Electric's $10 billion loss in the latest quarter. Fred Katayama reports. //reut.rs/2nbyXUf" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 5:24 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Red-dragon flags greet Prince Harry and fiancée Meghan Markle in Wales Reuters Staff 2 Min Read CARDIFF (Reuters) - Britain’s Prince Harry and his American fiancée Meghan Markle visited Wales on Thursday on their third official joint appearance since announcing their engagement last November. The couple have attracted huge attention since announcing they were getting married, and as with their previous appearances, hundreds of people greeted them in Cardiff, waving Welsh flags emblazoned with red dragons. “Amazing, it was a dream of mine come true,” said Carol Powell, 39. Harry, 33, and Markle 36 heard performances from musicians and poets at Cardiff Castle before making their way to a community center to see how sport is helping engage disadvantaged young people and promote their social development. Slideshow (26 Images) Harry, fifth-in-line to the throne, and actress Markle, best known for the TV legal drama “Suits”, are due to marry in May at Queen Elizabeth’s Windsor Castle home to the west of London. “They were lovely and they were shaking hands with everyone and Harry was just having a chat with everyone so it was really nice,” Angharad Akideinde, 18, told Reuters. “Because they are the younger generation they are more modern. It’s like the way they communicate with us as well. It is different to how the older ones would because they are more traditional I guess.” Markle, who intends to become a British citizen, said after their engagement was announced that she was looking forward to getting to know her future homeland. Reporting by Alex Fraser; editing by Michael Holden" + }, + { + "text": "Puerto Rico's governor calls Trump's comment \"S-H-I-T-T-Y\" 7:34pm GMT - 01:25 Puerto Rico's Governor Ricardo Rossello says Trump's comments about Haitian and African immigrants are ''S-H-I-T-T-Y.'' Rough Cut (no reporter narration). ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Puerto Rico's Governor Ricardo Rossello says Trump's comments about Haitian and African immigrants are \"S-H-I-T-T-Y.\" Rough Cut (no reporter narration). Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "BUFFALO, N.Y., Jan. 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Athenex (Nasdaq:ATNX), a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer and related conditions, today announced the pricing of a public offering of 4,300,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $15.25 per share, before underwriting discounts and commissions. In addition, Athenex has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 645,000 shares of common stock at the same price. The company's common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol \"ATNX.\" The offering is expected to close on January 29, 2018, subject to customary closing conditions. Deutsche Bank Securities and RBC Capital Markets are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. Needham & Company, Ladenburg Thalmann and Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. are acting as co-managers for the offering. A registration statement relating to the securities being sold in this offering was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 24, 2018. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus, when available, may be obtained for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov . Alternatively, when available, copies of the prospectus may also be obtained from: Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Attention: Prospectus Group, 60 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005, or by telephone at (800) 503-4611 or email to [REDACTED] , and RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10281, or by telephone at (877) 822-4089 or email to [REDACTED] . About Athenex, Inc. Founded in 2003, Athenex, Inc. is a global clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to becoming a leader in the discovery and development of next generation drugs for the treatment of cancer. Athenex is organized around three platforms, including an Oncology Innovation Platform, a Commercial Platform and a Global Supply Chain Platform. Athenex’s Oncology Innovation Platform generates clinical candidates through an extensive understanding of kinases, including novel binding sites and human absorption biology, as well as through the application of Athenex’s proprietary research and selection processes in the lab. The Company’s current clinical pipeline is derived from two different platform technologies Athenex calls Orascovery and Src Kinase Inhibition. The Orascovery platform is based on the novel oral P-glycoprotein pump inhibitor molecule HM30181A, through which Athenex is able to facilitate oral absorption of traditional cytotoxics, which Athenex believes may offer improved patient tolerability and efficacy as compared to IV administration of the same cytotoxics. The Orascovery platform was developed by Hanmi Pharmaceuticals and licensed exclusively to Athenex for all major worldwide territories except Korea, which is retained by Hanmi. The Src Kinase Inhibition platform refers to novel small molecule compounds that have multiple mechanisms of action, including the inhibition of the activity of Src Kinase and the inhibition of tubulin polymerization during cell division. Athenex believes the combination of these mechanisms of action provides a broader range of anti-cancer activity as compared to either mechanism of action alone. Athenex’s employees worldwide are dedicated to improving the lives of cancer patients by creating more active and tolerable treatments. Athenex has offices in Buffalo and Clarence, New York; Cranford, New Jersey; Houston, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Hong Kong; Taipei, Taiwan and multiple locations in Chongqing, China. CONTACT: Jim Polson Tel: [REDACTED] Athenex, Inc. Source:Athenex, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "The Federal Trade Commission is investigating whether semiconductor company Broadcom Ltd. engaged in anticompetitive tactics in negotiations with customers, people familiar with the matter said. The probe, which has been going on for several months, gathered steam lately with subpoenas that seek an extensive amount of information, the people said. Broadcom has changed some of its contracts so that they now call for customers to buy a percentage of its output of a certain item rather than an absolute number, some of the people... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "FORT MYERS, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- LTC Global, Inc. today announced that Gene Arsenault has taken the role of Senior Vice President – Business Development and Carrier Partnerships. Mr. Arsenault joined LTC Global last January after serving as National Director of Long Term Care Insurance Sales for John Hancock for 12 years. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Gene Arsenault (Photo: Business Wire) LTC Global also announced that Joel Allen has been promoted to Vice President – Business Development and Carrier Partnerships. Mr. Allen joined LTC Global in 2007 and has worked in several marketing and business development roles. “LTC Global has significantly expanded the services it offers both to larger agencies and to insurance carriers,” said Daniel G. Schmedlen, Jr., chief executive officer of LTC Global. “Gene and Joel will work to expand our current relationships and forge new ones,” Schmedlen said. About LTC Global LTC Global is the leading provider of capital to insurance agents and agencies through commission advance programs and renewal commission purchases. LTC Global is also a national distributor of life and health insurance products through its licensed agency subsidiaries. For more information about LTC Global, visit www.ltcglobal.com . View source version on businesswire.com : LTC Global, Inc. Daniel G. Schmedlen, Jr., 541-646-2323 Source: LTC Global, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Allergan will cut more than 1,000 jobs as part of its cost-reduction efforts, the company said in a filing Wednesday. The cuts will affect employees in commercial and other functions, Allergan said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition to chopping existing jobs, the company will also eliminate 400 open positions. Ireland-based Allergan, maker of Botox, expects the move to save it $300 million to $400 million this year. It anticipates the changes will cost $125 million, mainly due to severance expenses, the bulk of which is expected to be recorded in the fourth quarter. The company said in November that it would undertake a cost-cutting and restructuring program, with CEO Brent Saunders telling analysts on an earnings call that Allergan was still in the planning phases but it saw \"potential opportunities to become even more efficient.\" Shares of Allergan have fallen more than 20 percent in the last 12 months. They were up 1.1 percent midday Wednesday." + }, + { + "text": "Gillian Anderson gets Walk of Fame star Monday, January 08, 2018 - 01:01 Actress Gillian Anderson receives the 2,625th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Rough cut (no reporter narration). ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Actress Gillian Anderson receives the 2,625th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "By Kirsten Korosec January 16, 2018 Ferrari will make a battery-electric supercar to snatch some market share and attention away from Tesla, the dominant player in the luxury electric vehicle industry, CEO Sergio Marchionne told reporters at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Italian race car brand’s move towards electrification signals a shift not just for the company, but for Marchionne, who also heads Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). Marchionne also confirmed plans to bring a Ferrari SUV to market by late 2019 or 2020, Bloomberg reported . Reports of a Ferrari SUV first arose in August. There are scant details on this impending electric Ferrari. The company will presumably want to produce an electric supercar before Tesla brings its new and improved Roadster to market in 2020 . More information on this electric Ferrari will likely come out when Marchionne unveils the company’s five-year plan, his last as CEO. Marchionne, one of the auto industry’s longest-serving CEOs, is set to retire in 2021. He’s held the top role since 2004. The five-year plan is expected to set a higher annual deliveries target for Ferrari than its current self-imposed limit of 10,000 cars. Ferrari’s future will include hybrid cars, Marchionne told Bloomberg, “so going from there to an electric is easy.” Marchionne’s comments—particularly those in an in-depth interview with Bloomberg ahead of the Detroit Auto Show—are in contrast with how FCA has operated in the past. The company has lagged behind other automakers scrambling to introduce electric vehicles and deploy commercial fleets of autonomous vehicles. FCA has focused more on its existing brands and partnerships, like its one with self-driving vehicle startup Waymo. But Marchionne now believes that automakers have about 10 years to reinvent themselves to meet the changing consumer mindsets on how vehicles are purchased, driven, and powered. His impending five-year plan should address how FCA hopes to meet these new demands. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "January 13, 2018 / 5:16 AM / Updated 10 hours ago Golf - Improved Harman surges three shots clear in Hawaii Reuters Staff 3 Min Read (Reuters) - Left-hander Brian Harman took another small step towards a spot on the United States Ryder Cup team when he eagled his final hole to take a three-shot halfway lead at the Sony Open in Hawaii on Friday. Jan 12, 2018; Honolulu, HI, USA; PGA golfer Brian Harman tees off on the 6th hole during the second round of the Sony Open golf tournament at Waialae Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports On a day when a struggling Jordan Spieth slipped 10 shots off the pace, Harman sank a 15-foot putt on the last to cap off a seven-under-par 63 after opening with a 64 at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. Harman ended the second round with a 13-under 127 total to head a group of five players, including twice major champion Zach Johnson, at 10-under. Defending champion Justin Thomas posted a second straight 67 to trail by seven. Harman, a two-time PGA Tour winner, says his game has reached a new level since he switched to a new ball in May. ”It’s made a huge difference,“ he told reporters. ”I wasn’t a very good wind player. When I switched I was 90th in the world. “I won the first week I put (the new ball) in. I‘m able to flight the ball so much better than I used to. I feel like I was a better ball striker when I was a kid than a pro. I‘m starting to get those feelings back.” Harman, now ranked 23rd in the world, is sixth in the American Ryder Cup standings, well in contention for one of 12 spots on the visiting team for the October competition against Europe outside Paris. Spieth, a certainty for that team, endured a frustrating day on the greens on Friday, with the exception of the fifth hole. After leaving his approach shot a little more than 90 feet away, Spieth struck his birdie putt more in hope than expectation, but misjudged the pace. His ball seemed destined to scuttle well beyond the hole, which fortunately got in the way and acted as a backboard, the ball disappearing for an unlikely birdie with the PGA Tour confirming it was his longest successful putt on the circuit. Spieth, however, was not happy with his overall display. “I‘m trying to get real comfortable on the greens, and that’s a concern,” he said after signing for a 68. “I had to play a little conservative towards the end of the round today to make sure we’re getting to the weekend.” The cut survived, Spieth plans to attack, with a 72-hole total of 16-under in mind. “Now we can fire away,” he said. Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia’s finance ministry plans to borrow less this year than in 2017 due to a smaller budget deficit and higher oil revenues, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told RBC TV in an interview on Wednesday. “The deficit is shrinking this year and total borrowing volumes will be less than in 2017,” he said. “The total amount of revenues... including from oil... will be enough to cover borrowing needs if we decide not to tap the market.” Reporting by Katya Golubkova; Editing by Jack Stubbs" + }, + { + "text": "SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The Chinese currency, the yuan, was firmer against the U.S. dollar on Friday, capping its fourth consecutive week of gains, aided by China’s solid economic data and tighter liquidity as well as expectations of more foreign capital inflows. In the spot market CNY=CFXS , the yuan opened at 6.4810 per dollar and was at 6.4851 by the 0830 GMT domestic close, scoring a four-week winning streak against the greenback. The offshore yuan was trading 0.10 percent away from the onshore spot at 6.4806 per dollar. Confidence in the yuan has been building up on signs of resilience in China’s economy. A blizzard of data in coming weeks is expected to show China’s economy ended a strong 2017 on a slightly softer note, but activity has likely remained more resilient than expected. Sources told Reuters China will keep its target for economic growth at “around 6.5 percent” in 2018, unchanged from last year. Analysts also attributed the yuan’s strength to tighter liquidity conditions in China’s financial system, which has kept interest rates elevated. China’s benchmark 10-year government bond yield CNY10YT=RR hovered near 4 percent, the highest in three years, compared with 2.45 percent for 10-year U.S. Treasuries US10YT=TWEB, as Beijing’s deleveraging campaign helped widen the spread. The yuan’s recent performance is “perhaps reflective of the tight liquidity conditions onshore as well as optimism offshore about portfolio inflows,” National Australia Bank wrote in a note. “Barring a strong recovery in the USD in pace and extent in coming weeks, capital flows may still be constructive for CNY and CNH and may push USD/CNY towards 6.45 immediate key support.” Meanwhile, the U.S. currency’s lack of traction was highlighted overnight as the dollar failed to draw support from the stronger-than-expected jobs report. Reporting by Samuel Shen and John Ruwitch; Editing by Jacqueline Wong" + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 3:27 AM / Updated 10 minutes ago Saudi Arabia changes Aramco status to joint-stock company - official bulletin Reuters Staff 1 Min Read DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has changed the status of national oil firm Aramco to a joint-stock company as of Jan. 1, the kingdom’s official bulletin said on Friday, in a major step ahead of a planned initial public offering. Logo of Saudi Aramco is seen at the 20th Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference (MOES 2017) in Manama, Bahrain, March 7, 2017. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo Aramco has a fully paid capital of 60 billion riyals (11.80 billion pounds) divided into 200 billion ordinary shares, the bulletin said. The firm’s board will have 11 members and the power to list the company in domestic and international markets, it said. The government will retain the ultimate decision on national production levels, it said. Reporting By Aziz El Yaakoubi" + }, + { + "text": "LAKE FOREST, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tenneco Inc. (NYSE: TEN) plans to issue its fourth quarter and full year 2017 earnings release before the market opens on Friday, February 9, 2018 and hold a conference call the same day at 9:00 a.m. ET. The purpose of the call is to discuss the company’s results of operations for the last fiscal quarter and year ending 2017, as well as provide updated information regarding matters impacting the company’s outlook. News Release: Before the market opens on Friday, February 9, 2018. The news release will be issued by Business Wire and will be emailed to the Tenneco investor distribution list. The news will be available on the Tenneco website. Conference Call: Friday, February 9, 2018. The conference call will be hosted by Brian Kesseler, chief executive officer, and Ken Trammell, chief financial officer. Time: 9:00 a.m. Eastern time 8:00 a.m. Central time Phone Numbers: 1-866-807-9684 (domestic) 1-412-317-5415 (international) Pass Code: Tenneco Inc. Call Conference Leader: Linae Golla Call Playback: Available one hour following completion of the call on Friday, February 9, 2018, through February 16, 2018. Replay Phone Numbers: 1-877-344-7529 (domestic) 1-412-317-0088 (international) 1-855-669-9658 (Canada) Replay Access Code: 10115986 Website Broadcast: For a “listen only” broadcast, go to the company’s website at www.investors.tenneco.com . Please go to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register and download and install any necessary audio software. Accompanying slides will be available in the investor section of our website. A replay of this webcast will be available on the Tenneco website through March 9, 2018. Tenneco is an $8.6 billion global manufacturing company with headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois and approximately 31,000 employees worldwide. Tenneco is one of the world’s largest designers, manufacturers and marketers of ride performance and clean air products and systems for automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment markets and the aftermarket. Tenneco’s principal brand names are Monroe®, Walker®, XNOx® and Clevite®Elastomers. View source version on businesswire.com : Tenneco Linae Golla Investor Inquiries 847 482-5162 [REDACTED] or Bill Dawson Media Inquiries 847 482-5807 [REDACTED] Source: Tenneco Inc." + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has “ample authorities” to hold accountable those who commit violence against, censor or steal from Iranian protesters, the State Department said on Thursday. In a statement, the department said it condemns deaths and arrests related to the Iranian protests in the “strongest possible terms.” “To the regime’s victims, we say: You will not be forgotten,” it added. Reporting by Blake Brittain; Editing by Tim Ahmann" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 6:49 PM / Updated an hour ago Italy's Berlusconi skips TV election show, raising health concerns Reuters Staff 2 Min Read ROME (Reuters) - Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi called off an appearance on a top television chat show on Wednesday, his second such cancellation this week, raising concerns about his health ahead of national elections. Berlusconi, 81, heads an alliance of center-right and far-right parties which is leading in the polls in the run up to the March 4 parliamentary vote. He has appeared on numerous television and radio shows since last December to campaign for his Forza Italia party (Go Italy!) but he pulled out of an interview with state television RAI on Sunday and scrapped another scheduled show on Wednesday. La Repubblica newspaper said he was tired and suffering from high blood pressure attacks. Berlusconi sought to minimize the no-show, calling Italy’s national news agency ANSA to tell them that he was “very well”. A senior Forza Italia politician, Renato Brunetta, told Reuters that he had spoken to Berlusconi during the day and that the billionaire media mogul was fine. Berlusconi had open heart surgery in 2016 and he has had regular hospital check-ups and lengthy stays in health spas over the past 18 months. His last public appearance was on Jan. 22, when he went to meet EU officials in Brussels, while his last television interview was on Jan. 16. Opinion polls suggest the center-right bloc, which includes Forza Italia and the far-right Northern League and Brothers of Italy party, will win the March 4 vote, but will fall short of an absolute majority. Berlusconi cannot run for public office due to a 2013 tax fraud conviction, but he has presented himself as a moderating force who will keep his allies in check should they win power at the forthcoming election. Writing by Crispian Balmer; Additional reporting by Gavin Jones, Editing by William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany’s elite special police unit is hiring more staff and will open a new center in Berlin because the threat of militant attacks in the capital is higher than in the west of the country where it is currently based, its chief said on Monday. German security officials have been on high alert since a failed asylum seeker killed 12 people by plowing a truck in Christmas market in Berlin in December 2016. The GSG-9, as the unit is known, was founded some 45 years ago after German police lacking special forces that include snipers and negotiators bungled an operation to save Israeli athletes kidnapped by Palestinian militants at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Eleven Israelis, a German policeman as well as five of the Palestinian gunmen, died after a stand-off at the poorly secured athletes village and then a nearby airfield. The attack in Berlin by rejected Tunisian asylum seeker Anis Amri exposed flaws in how Germany’s surveillance agencies work and heightened fears that Islamist militants entered Germany after it opened its borders in 2015 to more than a million people seeking asylum. FILE PHOTO: German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere speaks with members of the GSG 9 unit of Bundespolizei, Germany's federal police, during the opening of a new headquarters for special forces and anti-terror units in Berlin, Germany August 8, 2017. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/File Photo “If one looks at similar terrorist situations throughout Europe, the capitals were often affected,” GSG-9 commander Jerome Fuchs told Berlin public radio, adding that the goal of moving to Berlin was to have fast responsiveness in the capital. Dozens of people have been killed in militant attacks in major European cities like Paris, Barcelona, Nice, Brussels and London over the past three years, making security a top priority for many European Union countries. Germany’s GSG-9 unit is currently based in Sankt Augustin, a town near the city of Bonn. GSG-9 commando grabbed international attention in 1977 when it succeeded in freeing a Lufthansa plane that was hijacked by a Palestinian militia and flown to Mogadishu, Somalia. (This story corrects name of broadcaster in paragraph 6) Reporting by Riham Alkousaa; editing by Ralph Boulton" + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 6:01 PM / Updated 12 hours ago Age may be a factor in facial skin cancer treatment Shereen Lehman 4 Min Read (Reuters Health) – - In very elderly patients, less aggressive skin cancers on the face might not always need to be treated, a new study suggests. Age of the patient and relative lifespan could be taken into consideration when discussing treatment for slow-growing facial nonmelanoma skin cancer, say the authors. “There are multiple ways to treat, all cancers aren’t the same, and skin cancer more often . . . is not lethal,” coauthor Dr. Sunil Tholpady of the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis told Reuters Health. Non-melanoma skin cancer refers to squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma, Tholpady explained. “The decision to cut them out or treat them in some fashion should take into account the patient’s lifestyle, their needs, and their wishes as long as they understand what the course of the cancer usually is,” he said. Tholpady and his colleagues studied 440 adults over age 40 with 569 non-melanoma skin cancers on the face. About 55 percent were basal cell carcinomas and 30 percent were squamous cell carcinomas, they reported in JAMA Surgery. Overall, in about a third of the cases, there was no cancer left in the skin after the lesion was removed for the biopy. This was true for roughly half of patients over age 90. During the next several years, 50 patients died. Not surprisingly, the largest percentage of deaths was among patients in their 90s. No one died of the skin cancers, however. In more than one in three patients above age 80, and in more than half of those above 90, simply removing the lesion for biopsy left the patients cancer-free. In other words, the researchers say, “a large minority of patients” would not have needed more extensive treatments. Treatments for non-melanoma skin cancers range from immunomodulatory creams, to destructive therapies such as freezing, burning, shaving and lasers, to surgery, said Tholpady. Further, his team points out, more than half of the patients who were in their 90s died within a year. ”These small (cancers) would never have caused a problem,” the authors write. Given that half of these oldest patients were free of cancer after their biopsies, “a strong argument can be made for a watchful-waiting approach for the amenable nonagenarian,” they add. Dr. Brian Gastman, director of melanoma surgery at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, said a lot of money is spent every year on non-melanoma skin cancer, much of it in the elderly. “Particularly in the oldest-old, life expectancy “in theory would be much less than any non-melanoma skin cancer would take to actually cause death, and many are not generally life-threatening,” Gastman told Reuters Health by an email. The idea that some non-melanoma skin cancers in elderly patients can be monitored without formal treatment is “intriguing,” said Gastman, but the new data are not definitive enough to change the standard of care. The authors agree. “Future studies are needed to investigate if a watchful-waiting approach is cost-effective and has higher patient satisfaction than surgical excision in this elderly population,” they conclude. SOURCE: bit.ly/2Cmo5db JAMA Surgery, online December 20, 2017." + }, + { + "text": "(Corrects pricing range in headline) LONDON, Jan 11 (IFR) - The Republic of Macedonia has revised pricing for a €500m seven-year bond to 3.125% area (+/-12.5bp), according to a lead. The notes were initially marketed at 3.375% area. The order books are over €2.4bn. Timing is for today’s business via Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and Erste Group. The sovereign is rated BB- (stable) by S&P and BB (negative) by Fitch. (Reporting by Robert Hogg; editing by Sudip Roy) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "32 AM / Updated 8 minutes ago European shares weighed down by Suez warning, tumbling tech Reuters Staff 2 Min Read MILAN (Reuters) - A decline in utility stocks following a profit warning at France’s Suez ( SEVI.PA ) and tumbling tech stocks on fresh Apple worries weighed on European shares on Wednesday although a strong update from Novartis ( NOVN.S ) provided support. The pan-European STOXX 600 index was down 0.1 percent by 0824 GMT, while Germany's DAX .GDAXI index was flat and UK's FTSE .FTSE dipped 0.3 percent. Suez slumped 15 percent after the waste and water group revised down its 2017 earnings target due to additional costs in Spain and decisions to close two services contracts in Morocco and India. Its fall dragged peer Veolia ( VIE.PA ) down 2.4 percent and sent the utilities index .SX6P down 0.7 percent. Tech stocks .SX8P fell 0.8 percent, leading sectoral fallers in Europe, after JP Morgan cut its rating for Apple ( AAPL.O ) supplier AMS ( AMS.S ) to neutral, pointing to iPhone X order weakness. AMS slumped 7 percent, while Dialog ( DLGS.DE ) and STMicro ( STM.PA ) both fell around 3 percent. Healthcare stocks .SXDP edged up, boosted by a 2 percent gain in heavyweight drugmaker Novartis ( NOVN.S ). The Swiss-based group forecast 2018 operating profit would grow faster than sales as revenue from drugs accelerates and the company exits a period when patent losses dented results. Reporting by Danilo Masoni; Editing by Catherine Evans" + }, + { + "text": "LITTLETON, Colo., Jan. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ur-Energy Inc. (NYSE American:URG, TSX:URE) (the \"Company\" or \"Ur-Energy\") will host a webcast and teleconference tomorrow, Friday, January 19, 2018 to discuss the Company's 2017 Operational Results and current events in the uranium industry. The webcast and teleconference will be held Friday, January 19, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. MT / 11:00 a.m. ET to provide an operational update. A Q&A session will follow the presentation. Those wishing to participate by phone can do so by calling: US Toll-free Number 1-877-226-2859 Canada Toll-free Number 1-855-669-9657 International Number 1-412-542-4134 Ask to be joined into the Ur-Energy call. The call is being webcast by PR Newswire. The webcast can be accessed 10 minutes prior to the call. Pre-registration and participation access is available by clicking here or by copying the following URL into your web browser: . If you are unable to join the call, a link will be available following the webcast on the Company's website www.ur-energy.com . About Ur-Energy Ur-Energy is a uranium mining company operating the Lost Creek in-situ recovery uranium facility in south-central Wyoming. We have produced, packaged and shipped more than two million pounds from Lost Creek since the commencement of operations. Applications are under review by various agencies to incorporate our LC East project area into the Lost Creek permits, and we have begun to submit applications for permits and licenses to operate at our Shirley Basin Project. Ur-Energy is engaged in uranium mining, recovery and processing activities, including the acquisition, exploration, development and operation of uranium mineral properties in the United States. Shares of Ur‐Energy trade on the NYSE American under the symbol \"URG\" and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol \"URE.\" Ur-Energy's corporate office is in Littleton, Colorado; its registered office is in Ottawa, Ontario. Ur-Energy's website is www.ur-energy.com. View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Ur-Energy Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - The following financial services industry appointments were announced on Thursday. To inform us of other job changes, email [REDACTED]. EFG INTERNATIONAL AG The Swiss private banking group appointed Christian Flemming as its new chief operating officer. CNA HARDY The commercial insurer within the Lloyd’s markets named Stuart Middleton as chief executive of its subsidiary in Luxembourg. BNP PARIBAS The French banking group named Yannick Jung as head of global banking for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, based in Paris. (Compiled by Ahmed Farhatha in Bengaluru) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) appointed Bill Phelps as vice president, External Communications, and Adam Sohn as vice president, Lockheed Martin Space Communications. Both report to Jennifer Whitlow, senior vice president, Lockheed Martin Communications. Phelps succeeds Nettie Johnson who will retire from Lockheed Martin January 31, and Sohn succeeds Andrea Greenan, who was recently named vice president, Internal Communications. Phelps has more than 20 years of experience in corporate communications, public relations and journalism. In his new role, he will lead the corporation's media relations, marketing communications, social media and visual communications functions. He joined Lockheed Martin in 2016 as director, Worldwide Media Relations, serving as the primary spokesperson for the corporation and leading the team responsible for external media engagements. Prior to Lockheed Martin, he was director of Corporate Communications for Altria, which owns some of the nation's largest tobacco companies, including Philip Morris USA. There, he led the media relations, online, internal communications and corporate marketing teams, supporting issues related to the company and its products, including Marlboro. He was also an account supervisor at Siddall, an advertising and public relations firm, and served several years as a television news producer at the NBC affiliate in Richmond, Virginia. Phelps holds a bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of Richmond and a master's degree in Business Administration from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. Sohn brings more than 20 years of demonstrated success as a communications leader in technology and politics to his new role. As vice president, Space Communications, he is responsible for integrated communications in support of the Lockheed Martin Space business, including employee engagement, community relations, marketing, social media and media relations. Previously, he was director of Strategic Communications at Amazon's devices and services business, where he led a team responsible for global communications strategy, thought leadership and issues management for products including Echo and Alexa, Fire TV, Fire Tablets and Kindle. Prior to joining Amazon, Sohn held a number of communications leadership roles at Microsoft where he was responsible for corporate brand reputation management, as well as, the launch and sustainment of key products such as the Bing search service and Windows. Early in his career he worked in policy, communications and technology for President Clinton's campaigns, the 1996 Presidential Inaugural Committee, and the Democratic National Committee. Sohn holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Swarthmore College. For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com . About Lockheed Martin Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Lockheed Martin" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 3:52 AM / Updated 2 hours ago Golf: Spain's Rahm wins CareerBuilder after playoff Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Spain’s Jon Rahm survived four playoff holes to capture the CareerBuilder Challenge in southern California on Sunday. Rahm shot a five-under-par 67 to post a combined 22-under and force extra holes with American Andrew Landry, who fired a final round 68. Rahm birdied the par-4 18th hole, the fourth of the playoff, to seal the win. The 23-year-old won the DP World Tour Championship in November and Sunday’s victory was his second on the PGA Tour. The world number three started the final day two behind 54-hole leader Austin Cook and Landry was one behind. Cook’s chances faded when he went three over after six holes. Martin Piller, John Huh and Adam Hadwin each finished at 20-under. Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford" + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 12:32 PM / in 2 hours UPDATE 1-Italy's Creval expects to launch new share issue on Feb. 19 - sources Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Adds details) MILAN, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Credito Valtellinese (Creval) expects to launch its planned 700 million euro ($859 million) share sale on Feb. 19, two sources familiar with the matter said, testing investor demand for Italian banks ahead of a general election. Italians head to the polls to pick a new government on March 4 and Creval had hoped to wrap up its stock issue before then, seeking the money to clean up its balance sheet and prepare for a possible merger down the road. Based on opinion polls, a centre-right alliance looks set to win the most seats but no outright majority, making it hard to predict what sort of coalition government might finally emerge. If the stock sale were launched on Feb. 19 - which the two sources said was now the “most likely date” - shareholders in the bank would have until Feb. 2 to exercise their right to buy in, daily Il Messaggero reported on Friday. Unexercised subscription rights would be offered on the market in the week following the election. Creval declined to comment. Rooted in the wealthy Lombardy region, the mid-sized lender is seeking to raise almost six times its market capitalisation to fund a restructuring plan aimed at cutting its soured loan burden below 10 percent of total loans in 2020. Bad debts that grew during a deep recession are the focus of investors’ and regulators’ concerns over Italian banks. Mediobanca and Citi have made a pre-commitment to underwrite Creval’s cash call, but more banks are expected to join them, the sources said. Credit Suisse, which together with Deutsche Bank in December helped Carige pull off a 544 million euro capital increase, is seen as the next most likely candidate to join in. $1 = 0.8149 euros Reporting by Gianluca Semeraro, Andrea Mandala and Valentina Za; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15 (Reuters) - Telenor Asa: * NORWAY TELECOMS REGULATOR: PLANS NEW REGULATION OF BROADBAND MARKETS * NORWAY TELECOMS REGULATOR: NEW REGULATION TO PREPARE GROUND FOR UPGRADE OF TELENOR‘S COPPER NETWORK; ALLOW MORE FIRMS TO OFFER SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER BROADBAND SPEED * NORWAY TELECOMS REGULATOR: TELENOR MUST STILL PROVIDE ACCESS TO ITS COPPER AND FIBER ACCESS NETWORKS ON NON-DISCRIMINATORY TERMS Source text (in Norwegian): here %C3%A5ndsmarkedene Further company coverage: (Reporting By Ole Petter Skonnord)" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 9:17 AM / Updated 9 hours ago McDonald's sets recycling goals for packaging, restaurants Lisa Baertlein 3 Min Read (Reuters) - McDonald’s Corp said on Tuesday it is responding to customers’ No. 1 request by setting goals for switching to environmentally friendly packaging materials and offering recycling in all of its restaurants. “We have a responsibility to use our scale for good to make changes that will have a meaningful impact across the globe,” said Francesca DeBiase, McDonald’s chief supply chain and sustainability officer. The world’s biggest restaurant chain will aim to get 100 percent of its packaging from renewable, recycled or certified sources by 2025, with a preference for Forest Stewardship Council certification, which ensures that products come from responsibly managed forests. Currently, half of McDonald’s customer packaging comes from renewable, recycled or certified sources, and 64 percent of fiber-based packaging comes from certified or recycled sources. The company will also make recycling available in all of its restaurants by 2025, up from around 10 percent today. Last week, McDonald’s said it would eliminate foam packaging from its global supply chain by the end of this year. Recycling infrastructure, regulations and consumer behaviors vary city to city and country to country around the world, said DeBiase. She said that McDonald’s will work with industry experts, local governments and environmental groups to improve packaging designs, create new recycling programs, set progress benchmarks and educate its employees and customers. “These goals have the potential to be transformational because no other restaurant has the scope and global supply chain of McDonald‘s,” said Tom Murray, vice president of corporate partnerships at the Environmental Defense Fund, which is one of McDonald’s partners on the waste reduction and recycling initiative. Such efforts are good for the environment and for the bottom line, said Murray. “When McDonald’s began their waste reduction efforts nearly 30 years ago, the business and environmental benefits were immediate: the company saved an estimated $6 million a year.” McDonald’s also has used its large size and global reach to fight the rise of dangerous, antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as “superbugs”. Scientists and public health experts warn that using medically important antibiotics to prevent disease and speed up growth in healthy animals fuels the development of those potentially deadly bacteria. In 2015, McDonald’s was the first global fast-food chain to commit to eliminating the use of those drugs from its U.S. chicken supply chain, a move that prompted most of its rivals and most major chicken suppliers to follow suit. Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Malcolm Foster" + }, + { + "text": "Wall Street rally rolls on Tuesday, January 09, 2018 - 01:05 Financial and healthcare stocks lifted the markets, helping extend the winning streaks of the Nasdaq and S&P 500 in the new year. Fred Katayama reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Financial and healthcare stocks lifted the markets, helping extend the winning streaks of the Nasdaq and S&P 500 in the new year. Fred Katayama reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. judge in San Francisco temporarily barred President Donald Trump’s administration on Tuesday from ending a program shielding young people brought to the United States illegally by their parents from deportation. FILE PHOTO: Students gather in support of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) at the University of California Irvine Student Center in Irvine, California, U.S., October 11, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo The Trump administration announced in September it would rescind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, a decision that was challenged in multiple federal courts by a variety of Democratic state attorneys general, organizations and individuals. U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled in San Francisco on Tuesday the program must remain in place while the litigation is resolved. The ruling could complicate negotiations between Trump and congressional leaders over immigration reform. “Today’s order doesn’t change the Department of Justice’s position on the facts,” said the department’s spokesman Devin M. O’Malley. The department “will continue to vigorously defend this position,” he said. Alsup’s decision follows a number of rulings by other U.S. judges seeking to rein in Trump’s immigration policies, including decisions that limited administration moves against sanctuary cities and narrowed the scope of a ban against travel from some Muslim-majority counties. Nearly 700,000 young people, known as Dreamers, were protected from deportation and allowed to work legally under the DACA program as of September 2017, Alsup’s ruling said. Alsup ruled that the federal government did not have to process new applications from people who had never before received protection under the program. However, he ordered the government to continue processing renewal applications from people who had previously been covered. “DACA gave them a more tolerable set of choices, including joining the mainstream workforce,” Alsup wrote. “Now, absent an injunction, they will slide back to the pre-DACA era and associated hardship.” The plaintiffs were likely to succeed in arguing that the government’s decision to end DACA was arbitrary, Alsup ruled. POSSIBLE LEGISLATION Mark Rosenbaum, an attorney for Public Counsel, which represents six DACA recipients in the case, applauded the ruling. “These young people played by all the rules. They demonstrated they are no threat,” he said. “They are in the military; they are studying in school; they are creating jobs. Now the courts have told the government they have to play by the rules,” Rosenbaum said. Roy Beck, president of Numbers USA, which backs stricter immigration laws, dismissed the significance of the court’s action, calling it “an aberration that surely will not be allowed to stand as it is appealed.” The ruling comes as Trump and U.S. congressional leaders are trying to hammer out immigration reforms, including whether and how to extend protections to young people who were covered by DACA. Trump met lawmakers on Tuesday and said he would back a two-phased approach to overhauling U.S. immigration laws. The first step would focus on protecting Dreamers from deportation, along with funding for a wall and other restrictions that Democrats have opposed. Trump said he then favors moving quickly to address even more contentious issues, including a possible pathway to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants that is opposed by many Republicans and many of his supporters. A representative for the White House could not be reached immediately after the ruling. Trump ran on a hardline immigration platform during the 2016 presidential election, promising to end DACA and strengthen border protections to increase jobs for U.S. workers. Todd Schulte, president of FWD.us, which advocates for protections for Dreamers, lamented on Twitter the continuing uncertainty for DACA recipients if Alsup’s ruling is appealed. “This makes it MORE urgent for Congress to act and end this chaos,” he wrote. Reporting by Dan Levine; Additional reporting by Mica Rosenberg and Richard Cowan; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Sue Horton and Paul Tait" + }, + { + "text": "This small business owner recalls the frightening night of Hurricane Harvey 2 Hours Ago When Tilman Fertitta visits Youval Meicler and Rachael Gordon from Texas Mattress Makers, he learns how Hurricane Harvey had an impact not just on their business, but also their home. Gordon explains how the water level took over her home in the short span of 15 minutes. All New Billion Dollar Buyer Wednesdays 10P ET/PT SHARES" + }, + { + "text": "54 AM / Updated 7 minutes ago Whitbread appoints ex-ITV CEO Crozier as chairman (Reuters) - Britain’s Whitbread, owner of Costa Coffee and Premier Inn, on Thursday appointed as chairman Adam Crozier, a former chief executive of broadcaster ITV Plc ( ITV.L ) and Royal Mail Plc ( RMG.L ). He will replace Richard Baker, who will retire at the end of February. Crozier joined Whitbread’s board last April and became senior independent director in September. He was credited with restoring ITV’s fortunes by reducing its reliance on advertising and expanding its production business. He also spent seven years at Royal Mail where he set about restructuring the postal business in the face of opposition from unions. Prior to that he led the English Football Association (FA). Whitbread, which has been the subject of break-up speculation in the past, warned in April of a tougher consumer environment, as rising inflation and muted wage growth weighed on consumer spending. Last month, U.S.-based hedge fund Sachem Head Capital Management declared a 3.4 percent stake in the British hotel and coffee chain operator. Sachem Head has previously taken activist positions at companies, though it is unclear whether it will push for changes at FTSE 100 .FTSE listed Whitbread. Reporting by Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Jason Neely" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - Pro Kapital Grupp As: * START OF CONSTRUCTION WORKS OF THE SEVENTH BUILDING OF KRISTINA HOUSES * SAYS OÜ MARSI ELU AND NORDECON AS CONCLUDED CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF 4 RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS * SAYS PLANNED COMPLETION OF WORKS IS APRIL 2019 AND PRICE OF CONSTRUCTION IS CA 2,8 MILLION EUR WITH VAT * SAYS PLANNED REVENUE FROM 7TH BUILDING IS CA 5,1 MILLION EUROS WITH VAT. Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "HOUSTON, Jan. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Bristow Group Inc. (NYSE: BRS), the leading provider of global industrial aviation services, announced today it will release financial results for its fiscal 2018 third quarter ended December 31, 2017, after the market closes on Thursday, February 8, 2018. In conjunction with the release, Bristow has scheduled a conference call, which will be broadcast live over the internet on Friday, February 9, 2018, starting at 10:00 a.m. ET (9:00 a.m. CT). Investors may participate in the call either by phone or audio webcast. By Phone : Dial 1-877-404-9648 for domestic callers or 412-902-0030 for international callers at least 10 minutes before the call. A telephone replay will be available through February 23, 2018 by dialing 1-877-660-6853 for domestic callers or 201-612-7415 for international callers, using passcode 13674996#. By Webcast : Visit the Investor Relations page of Bristow's website at www.bristowgroup.com . Please log on at least 10 minutes in advance to register and download any necessary software. A replay will be available shortly after the call and will be accessible for approximately 90 days. ABOUT BRISTOW GROUP INC. Bristow Group Inc. is the leading global industrial aviation services provider offering helicopter transportation, search and rescue (SAR) and aircraft support services to government and civil organizations worldwide. Bristow has major operations in the North Sea, Nigeria and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, and in most of the other major offshore oil and gas producing regions of the world, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Russia and Trinidad. Bristow provides SAR services to the private sector worldwide and to the public sector for all of the U.K. on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. For more information, visit bristowgroup.com . Contact: Linda McNeill Investor Relations (713) 267-7622 View original content: SOURCE Bristow Group Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 7:58 AM / Updated 23 minutes ago Iraq, BP sign agreement to boost oil production from northern Kirkuk field - Iraqi official Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BAGHDAD, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Iraq signed a memorandum of understanding with BP on Thursday to boost production capacity from the northern Kirkuk oilfields, which were taken back in October by Iraqi government forces, an Iraqi oil official said. Oil Minister Jabar al-Luaibi and BP’s president for the Middle East region, Michael Townshend, attended the signing ceremony at the offices of the Iraqi state-run North Oil Company which operates the fields, in Kirkuk, the official told Reuters. (Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli)" + }, + { + "text": "U.K. rings in New Year with fireworks 12:44am EST - 00:53 Fireworks in London, Edinburgh and other cities across the United Kingdom delighted crowds gathered to ring in 2018. Diane Hodges reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Fireworks in London, Edinburgh and other cities across the United Kingdom delighted crowds gathered to ring in 2018. Diane Hodges reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE: BWA) announces the following Webcast: What: BorgWarner 2017 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results Conference Call When: February 8 @ 9:30am Eastern Time Where: How: Live over the Internet -- Simply log on to the web at the address above. If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the call will be archived at ( ) BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE: BWA) is a global product leader in clean and efficient technology solutions for combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles. With manufacturing and technical facilities in 64 locations in 17 countries, the company employs approximately 27,000 worldwide. For more information, please visit borgwarner.com View original content: SOURCE BorgWarner" + }, + { + "text": "NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: WTS), will hold a live webcast of its conference call to discuss fourth quarter results for 2017 on Tuesday, February 13, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Watts Water Technologies will announce its financial results for this period in a press release to be issued after market close on Monday, February 12, 2018. This call can be accessed by visiting the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.wattswater.com . Following the webcast, an archived version of the call will be available at the same address until February 12, 2019. Watts Water Technologies, Inc., through its family of companies, is a global manufacturer headquartered in the USA that provides one of the broadest plumbing, heating, and water quality product lines in the world. Watts Water companies and brands offer innovative plumbing, heating, and water quality solutions for commercial, residential, and industrial applications. For more information, visit www.wattswater.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Watts Water Technologies, Inc. Timothy MacPhee Treasurer & Vice President Investor Relations Phone: 978-689-6201 Fax: 978-794-0353 Source: Watts Water Technologies, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel’s central bank said on Monday it would not recognise virtual currencies such as bitcoin as actual currency and that it was difficult to devise regulations to monitor the risks of such activity to the country’s banks and their clients. Deputy Governor Nadine Baudot-Trajtenberg said there had been public complaints Israeli banks were making it difficult for some customers to transfer money from their accounts to buy bitcoin. But this was something the central bank would not be able to address. Other central banks faced the same problem. “The Bank of Israel’s position is that they should be viewed as a financial asset,” Baudot-Trajtenberg told a meeting of Israel’s parliamentary finance committee, noting that there was no government responsibility for investors in bitcoin. The central bank, Baudot-Trajtenberg said, was studying the issue of virtual currency but not much could be learned from what exists globally since no regulator anywhere in the world had issued guidelines to the banking system on how to act in relation to customers’ activity in virtual currencies. “There is a real difficulty in issuing sweeping guidelines to the system regarding the proper way to estimate, manage, and monitor the risks inherent in such activity,” she said. “Beyond the risks to the customer there are also compliance risks to the bank.” The value of a bitcoin, the biggest and best-known cryptocurrency, surged in mid-December to nearly $20,000, then dropped to less than $12,000 at the end of the month. It was trading on Monday around $15,370. ANONYMOUS NATURE Bitcoin is a publicly available ledger of a finite number of digital “coins”, which backers say can be used as a currency without the support of any country’s central bank. It is “mined” by computers, which are awarded new coins for working out complex mathematical formulas. Several other cryptocurrencies have been launched that work on similar principles. Committee members during the meeting on bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies urged Israel’s regulators to quickly come up with regulations. “There seems to be a greater possibility that they will become central to our financial lives,” said Moshe Gafni, the chairman of the panel. He called on regulators to submit to the committee within a month how they tend to deal with bitcoin and the like. Still, Israel’s regulators are generally opposed to giving credence to virtual currencies since they are based on private initiatives and they do not have the same level of investor confidence as regular currencies. “The anonymous nature of virtual currencies leads to the possibility that they may be used to launder money, finance crime, and so forth,” Baudot-Trajenberg said. Shlomit Wagman, head of Israel’s anti-money-laundering authority said a thorough investigation was needed since terrorist organisations use virtual currency platforms. Last week, Israel’s markets regulator proposed regulations that would ban from trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange companies whose main business revolves around bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Reporting by Steven Scheer; editing by Ralph Boulton" + }, + { + "text": "SHARES Jeffrey Asher | Getty Images Businessman Donald Trump and Oprah Winfrey at Tyson vs Holmes Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey January 22 1988. Media icon Oprah Winfrey would soundly defeat President Donald Trump if the 2020 presidential election were held today, according to a new survey released Wednesday from Rasmussen Reports. Forty-eight percent of likely U.S. voters said they would vote for Winfrey in a contest between the two candidates. Trump would earn just 38 percent of the vote. A relatively significant 14 percent of the respondents were undecided, however. Winfrey enjoys more support among Democrats than Trump does from Republicans: 76 percent of Democrats said they support Winfrey, compared with 66 percent of Republicans who support Trump. The national political conversation turned to Winfrey after she gave a rousing and decidedly political speech at the 75th annual Golden Globe awards on Sunday night. Shortly after, reports surfaced that Winfrey was \"actively thinking\" about running for president in 2020. She has repeatedly knocked down suggestions that she might run. Her close friend, \"CBS This Morning\" host Gayle King, said Tuesday that Winfrey was \"intrigued\" by the idea of running, but likely hadn't changed her mind. Stelter tweet Twelve percent of voters from both major parties were undecided about which candidate they would vote for, and 19 percent of independents said the same. Rasmussen Reports, which is widely seen as having a polling model more favorable to conservatives, surveyed 1,000 likely U.S. voters from Jan. 8 to 9. The study had a 3 percent margin of error." + }, + { + "text": "REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Jan. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Agiloft, Inc. , a trusted provider of agile business process software, today announced a landmark year of business growth, achieving 45 percent year-over-year revenue growth and a 200-percent increase in channel sales in 2017. The company also grew its headcount by 30 percent during the year. Agiloft expects to continue its strong growth trajectory in 2018; Agiloft doubled in size in 2015 and 2016 and grew by more than 40 percent in 2014. Contract Management Customer Wins in Non-Profit and Life Sciences Sectors Agiloft saw a major uptick in demand for its contract management software in 2017, with the life sciences and non-profit sectors leading the way. \"With a myriad of suppliers and customers and an exacting regulatory environment, contract management in life sciences tends to be a highly complex and specific undertaking, which makes it ideal for Agiloft's deeply configurable software,\" said Colin Earl, CEO of Agiloft. \"We owe a large part of our growth in this and the non-profit market to old-fashioned word of mouth.\" Examples of wins in life sciences include : American Chemistry Council , Atreca , Acucela, Inc. , Illumina , Codexis , Sutro as well as additional orders from established clients like Roche and Genentech. Recent non-profit wins include Boys Town , Hope Community Resources and Safe Horizon . Platinum-level Channel Sales Partners Agiloft's impressive channel sales growth in 2017 was driven by new Platinum-level partners: Collins Technology Consulting , Saasam , and Spectrum Mobility . Each company achieved the highest level of partnership with Agiloft through successful sales and implementation projects. All have been certified to implement Agiloft independently, increasing Agiloft's footprint in the UK, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and North America. New Tiered Pricing Model Agiloft expanded its pricing model in 2017, offering more flexible and transparent options for organizations and budgets of all sizes. In addition to Hosted Service, Agiloft now offers On-Premise Subscription Service. The company also expanded its levels of service to include Professional and Professional Unlimited tiers giving customers much more freedom to use Agiloft. \"The value of Agiloft's applications is that they can be configured to the specific needs of clients quickly, efficiently and without having to write a line of code,\" noted Earl. \"Flexible and easy-to-understand pricing matches the product and makes it that much easier to select Agiloft.\" Industry Awards and Recognition Agiloft's strong year was validated by a slew of industry awards and recognition. In 2017, PC Mag named Agiloft Editors' Choice for Contract Management Software for the third year in a row ; Spend Matters listed it as one of its 50 Providers to Watch for in Procurement Software ; Capterra recognized it as Top Three for Contract Management Software and the American Business Awards awarded it a Gold Stevie for Product or Service of the Year - Platform as a Service . Growing Team In 2017, Agiloft increased its headcount in all functional areas including development, sales, services, operations, and marketing. Key executive hires were Richard Morgan, a luminary in the AI space, who was appointed VP of engineering and market-building veteran Hiro Notaney, who joined as VP of marketing. The company continues to actively recruit for additional talent. To learn more about open positions at Agiloft, visit: About Agiloft Over three million users at organizations ranging from small enterprises to U.S. Government agencies and Fortune 100 companies depend on Agiloft's top rated product suites for Contract Management Software , Service Desk, Custom Workflow, and more. Agiloft specializes in automating processes that are too complex for competing vendors. Our best practice templates and agile technology ensure rapid deployment and a fully extensible system. For more information, visit . Media Contact: Alastar Kerpel [REDACTED] 650-587-8615 ext. 741 View original content: SOURCE Agiloft" + }, + { + "text": "LAS VEGAS, Jan. 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As mentioned in December 26, 2017 8-K, Interlink Plus, Inc. (OTC:ITRK) has named Daniel Gallardo Wagner as its CEO and Officer and a Director. Mr. Duan Fu, remains as a Director of the Company. The company also announced that it is considering a restructuring of the corporation, with details to follow soon. Mr. Wagner was involved in the hospitality business for 17 years beginning in San Diego, California 1994, and later in several resort and restaurant projects in Mexico. Since 2001 Mr. Wagner has been affiliated with a part-worn tire supplier in Germany and in 2015 he secured exclusive rights to distribute Froz’n alcoholic beverages throughout Spain, Portugal, South America and the United States. The Company believes that Mr. Wagner’s educational background and business and operational experience gives him the qualifications and skills to serve in his director and respective officer positions. For more information visit . (Major revisions to this website will be forthcoming.) Safe Harbor Statement: This release contains forward-looking statements with respect to the results of operations and business of Interlink Plus, Inc., which involves risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual future results could materially differ from those discussed. The Company intends that such statements about the Company's future expectations, including future revenues and earnings, and all other forward looking statements be subject to the \"Safe Harbors\" provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Contact: Daniel Gallardo Wagner Email: [REDACTED] Source:Interlink Plus, Inc" + }, + { + "text": "Retire in paradise: 5 countries where you can live the dream Getty Images Darla Mercado | @darla_mercado 1 Hour Ago If you'd like to stretch your retirement dollars and live on the beach, pack up and head to Costa Rica. That's according to International Living's Annual Global Retirement Index , a ranking of top locales for retirees who'd prefer to spend their golden years abroad. Nine million U.S. citizens live overseas, according to the State Department . The magazine ranked 24 retirement destinations around the world on a dozen criteria, including cost of living, climate, health care and entertainment. Here are the top five contenders in reverse order: Malaysia Retired couples can live comfortably in Kuala Lumpur on $1,500 a month, according to International Living. This Southeast Asian country scored top marks in the entertainment, health care and healthy lifestyle categories. Rustam Azmi | Getty Images Ecuador This South American nation offers shoreline and mountain vistas – and it received top grades in the benefits and discounts category, as well as climate. John Elk III | Getty Images Panama Panama received the highest ratings for \"benefits and discounts\" and \"visas and residence.\" Outside of Panama City, expatriates can live on $1,500 a month or less, saving money on utilities due to the mild climate. LisaStrachan | Getty Images Mexico Mexico received a 90 out of 100 in the health-care category. The average doctor visit can run about $30 to $43, while a trip to the dentist costs about $28, according to International Living . CampPhoto | Getty Images Costa Rica Taking first place as the ideal locale for retirees, Costa Rica scored top marks in health care and healthy lifestyle. You can also live well on the cheap: $500 a month will get you a furnished two-bedroom home, International Living found. Jeff Diener | Getty Images" + }, + { + "text": "Czech election: the frail, anti-immigrant President 12:31pm EST - 01:42 A outspoken, eurosceptic and strongly anti-immigrant President - he's divided the czech Republic, but as the country heads to vote on Friday he's expected to be chosen again. A outspoken, eurosceptic and strongly anti-immigrant President - he's divided the czech Republic, but as the country heads to vote on Friday he's expected to be chosen again. //reut.rs/2AQonGY" + }, + { + "text": "BEIRUT (Reuters) - Nine Syrian civilians were killed on Monday by insurgent shelling of the old quarter of Damascus, Syrian state television said, citing a source from the capital’s police. Another 21 were injured in the shelling of the Bab Touma and al-Shaghour districts of the old city, the source said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 11 were injured in Bab Touma and seven elsewhere in the Old City. Some are in critical condition. Rebel factions in the besieged enclave of Eastern Ghouta have escalated their shelling of government-controlled areas in and around Damascus since November, the Britain-based war monitor said. Eastern Ghouta is the last major rebel-held pocket near the capital. Reporting by Dahlia Nehmem, editing by Larry King" + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT, Jan 24 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank will finalise a long-delayed rule on non-performing loans in the first quarter but may delay its application, bank supervisor Daniele Nouy said on Wednesday. “The addendum will be finalised in the first quarter of this year,” Nouy said in Frankfurt. “We have reviewed all the comments and legal opinions we received, and we will amend the addendum accordingly,” she added. “Among other things, we may shift the date of application, and we will clarify the Pillar 2 context.” Reporting by Balazs Koranyi; Editing by Francesco Canepa" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29(Reuters) - Shenzhen Liande Automatic Equipment Co Ltd * Sees FY 2017 net profit to increase by 45.7 percent to 58.7 percent, or to be 56 million yuan to 61 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 38.4 million yuan * Says increased sales revenue is the main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/MHJYf8 Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "By Bloomberg 11:50 PM EST President Donald Trump announced the recipients of his so-called Fake News Awards, on Wednesday, his latest attack on the press that has drawn objections from within his own party. In a tweet, announcing “And the FAKE NEWS winners are . . . ” Trump directed readers to the GOP.com website, which is run by the Republican National Committee. The New York Times (nyt) , the Washington Post , ABC News and CNN (cnn) were among the “winners” cited by Trump. Trump, who has singled out individual reporters by name calling for them to be fired over minor mistakes, also posted a tweet saying that he respected some reporters. “Despite some very corrupt and dishonest media coverage, there are many great reporters I respect and lots of GOOD NEWS for the American people to be proud of!,” Trump wrote a few minutes after posting the initial tweet about the awards. Trump’s announcement came as two senators from his own party excoriated him for his incessant attacks on the free press. Trump is emboldening authoritarian leaders around the world by dismissing media coverage of his administration as “fake news,” Arizona Republican Jeff Flake said in a Senate floor speech on Wednesday. “It is past time to stop excusing or ignoring or worse, endorsing these attacks on the truth,” Flake said. The president’s tweet in February 2017 that news outlets are “the enemy of the American people” uses words “infamously spoken by Joseph Stalin to describe his enemies,” said the senator, who has been a vocal critic of the president in recent months. Trump said in a Jan. 7 Twitter message he planned to give out awards Wednesday to media outlets he claims are “the most corrupt & biased.” SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "DUBAI, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Qatar Airways said on Wednesday it is in talks with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to comply with their request for their cargo to undergo enhanced screening. The TSA announced on Monday it would require six Middle East airlines, including Qatar Airways, to toughen cargo security at their hub airports in the region. “Qatar Airways is aware of the new Air Cargo Advance Screening requirements and is liaising with TSA and ... regulators to ensure regulatory compliance,” an airline spokeswoman said in an email. The carriers and airports are Qatar Airways operating out of Doha’s Hamad International Airport, Emirates operating out of Dubai International Airport, Etihad Airways out of Abu Dhabi International Airport, Saudia operating out of Jeddah’s King Abdul-Aziz International Airport and Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, EgyptAir operating out of Cairo International Airport, and Royal Jordanian operating out of Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport. All cargo originating from those airports will have to be screened and secured under Air Cargo Advance Screening protocols. The TSA said most of the requirements were already being voluntarily applied by airlines around the world. (Reporting by Alexander Cornwell, editing by Louise Heavens)" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 3:24 AM / in 2 hours Israel's Netanyahu pushes for India free trade deal during rare visit Sanjeev Miglani 3 Min Read NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India and Israel will begin work on a free trade pact that Israel has been pushing for, officials said on Monday, as Benjamin Netanyahu began a first visit by an Israeli prime minister in 15 years. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks as his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi looks on during a signing of agreements ceremony at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India January 15, 2018. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi India and Israel have built close ties over the years, largely centered on arms purchases, away from the public eye. But under Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose nationalist party has long admired Israel for its tough approach to terrorism, ties have flowered across the economy. “We have had diplomatic relations for 25 years, but something different is happening now,” Netanyahu said soon after the two sides signed nine agreements covering cooperation in cyber security, space and oil and gas exploration. Israel has given initial approval for Indian energy companies to explore oil and gas in the eastern Mediterranean, in the first such move by Indian firms in that region. Netanyahu, who said he saw a “kindred spirit” in Modi in terms of getting things done, pushed for a free trade pact with Asia’s third largest economy during the talks on Monday. Modi agreed to open trade discussions, Indian foreign ministry secretary in charge of economic relations Vijay Gokhale told reporters. “A delegation from the commerce ministry will actually go next month for discussions on trade,” he said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu adjusts his headphones as he and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi (not pictured) attend a signing of agreements ceremony at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India January 15, 2018. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi Bilateral trade has jumped from $200 million in 1992, when the two countries opened diplomatic relations, to $4.16 billion in 2016, largely in favour of Israel. Netanyahu, accompanied by a 130-member delegation, wants to increase exports to India by 25 percent over the three years. Slideshow (8 Images) Israel has emerged as one of India’s biggest suppliers of weapons alongside the United States and long-term partner Russia. But the two sides were tightlipped over the fate of a $500 million deal to buy anti-tank missiles from Israel’s state-owned defence contractor Rafael that India called off just weeks before Netanyahu’s first. The Indian government wanted to support a local programme to build the missile but Israel has since pushed hard to revive the order. It has offered to transfer technology and eventually build the missile with a local partner in a boost for Modi’s signature Make-in-India drive for a domestic defence base. Without referring to the anti-tank missile deal, Modi said he had invited Israeli companies to take advantage of India’s liberalised rules in the defence sector to “make more in India with our companies.” Last year, Modi made a first trip to Israel by an Indian prime minister ever. Additional reporting by Nidhi Verma; editing by Mark Heinrich, William Maclean" + }, + { + "text": "REUTERS - Indian shares ended at record closing highs for a second straight session on Monday as investors remained optimistic over corporate results, with sentiment also boosted by broader world markets hovering near all-time highs. A broker monitors share prices while trading at a brokerage firm in Mumbai August 22, 2013. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/Files The broader NSE Nifty closed 0.61 percent higher at 10,623.60, while the benchmark BSE Sensex finished 0.58 percent up at 34,352.79. IT stocks led the gains with Infosys Ltd ( INFY.NS ), which is due to report December-quarter results on Friday, rising 2.4 percent. Reporting by Krishna V Kurup in Bengaluru; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier" + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 6:39 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Greece orders Macedonian wiretap suspects' extradition Reuters Staff 1 Min Read ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece ordered the extradition on Friday of two Macedonian nationals wanted by Interpol over their alleged involvement in a wiretap scandal that brought down Macedonia’s government in 2015, according to court officials. Political turmoil was triggered in 2015 when opposition parties accused then prime minister Nikola Gruevski and his counter-intelligence chief of orchestrating the wiretapping of more than 20,000 people. The EU, which Macedonia aspires to join, brokered an agreement in which parties agreed to hold early elections and establish the office of a special prosecutor to investigate the content of the wiretaps. The two Macedonians, aged 51 and 35, were accused by Macedonian authorities of destroying machines used in wiretapping. They were arrested in October at an airport in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki carrying fake Bulgarian passports. Writing By Michele Kambas; editing by Ralph Boulton" + }, + { + "text": "Boston snow kitesurfer catches some air 9:48am EST - 00:47 A Boston-area man appeared to be having the time of his life Friday, taking advantage of the recent snowfall by kitesurfing in the frigid winds. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript A Boston-area man appeared to be having the time of his life Friday, taking advantage of the recent snowfall by kitesurfing in the frigid winds. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it would raise starting pay to $11 per hour for all its U.S. employees and hand out one-time bonuses as competition for low-wage workers intensifies and new tax legislation will add billions to the retailer’s profits. The giant retailer is the largest private employer in the world with 2.3 million employees, including around 1.5 million in the U.S. Its current starting salary in the U.S. is $10 an hour after workers take a training course. The new wage increase will take effect in February. ... RELATED VIDEO Winners and Losers of the GOP Tax Bill Christmas may be over but WSJ’s Richard Rubin keeps the holiday spirit alive by explaining who’s getting presents and who’s getting coal with the GOP tax bill." + }, + { + "text": "January 3, 2018 / 6:09 AM / Updated 29 minutes ago Australia shares end higher; NZ starts 2018 on strong note Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Updates to close) Jan 3 (Reuters) - Australian shares closed higher on Wednesday, supported by gains in material stocks on the back of a rally in metal prices. Investor sentiment was also boosted by broader Asian markets which hit a 10-year high as a feast of upbeat manufacturing surveys confirmed a synchronised upturn in the world economy was well under way. The S&P/ASX 200 index climbed 0.2 percent, or 9.1 points, to 6,070.4. It had closed slightly lower in the previous session. The metals and mining index rose 1.7 percent to its highest close since February 2013, after zinc scaled a 10-year peak on Tuesday as the market focused on looming deficits due to declining supplies. BHP Billiton advanced 1.7 percent to its highest close in 32 months, while fellow mining heavyweight Rio Tinto Ltd extended gains into an eleventh session to close at its highest since August 2011. Oil prices hovered around their mid-2015 highs touched in the previous session, providing a boost to energy stocks. Woodside Petroleum added a little over 1 percent and closed at a seven-month high, making it the top gainer on the energy index. Sandfire Resources NL was the top gainer on the main stock index with a jump of 3.7 percent to a near five-year closing high. New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.32 percent, or 26.83 points, to a record close of 8,424.91 on its first day of trade in 2018. Materials, industrials and consumer staples led the gains. Fletcher Building Ltd gained nearly 2 percent, while Auckland International Airport rose 1.5 percent to its highest close in two weeks. (Reporting by Christina Martin in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)" + }, + { + "text": "Why Turkey is fighting Kurds in Syria 11:48am EST - 01:54 Turkey's operation in Syria to clear a Kurdish enclave risks wider confrontation with the U.S., Russia and the Syrian regime and adds another bloody layer in Syria's seven-year conflict. Emily Wither explains. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Turkey's operation in Syria to clear a Kurdish enclave risks wider confrontation with the U.S., Russia and the Syrian regime and adds another bloody layer in Syria's seven-year conflict. Emily Wither explains. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 11:58 AM / Updated 20 minutes ago UPDATE 1-Hong Kong student protest leader Joshua Wong released on bail Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (adds quote from Joshua Wong) HONG KONG, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Hong Kong student protest leader Joshua Wong was released on bail on Tuesday, less than a week after he was jailed for a second time for the 2014 pro-democracy protests that blocked the Chinese-ruled city’s major roads for months. The 21-year-old activist, who has become the face of Hong Kong’s movement to push for full democracy and defend its autonomy, is appealing against a three-month jail sentence for disobeying a court order and not leaving a protest zone. High Court Chief Judge Andrew Cheung said it was arguable whether the previous judge had given sufficient consideration to the then 18-year-old Wong’s age. Another young activist leader, Raphael Wong, 29, appealed against his conviction and his sentence of four and a half months, but his application was rejected. “I want genuine universal suffrage,” he shouted as he was led out of the courtroom, while Joshua Wong appeared calm. Wong, who was released on bail of HK$10,000 ($1,280) in the evening, said he was lucky to get bail but he was not happy. “I am not in a good mood at all because today I arrived (here) with Raphael but I‘m the only one going out,” Wong said. “Perhaps I will go back to prison again to serve the prison sentence. But it will not erode our determination, courage in the future. (We will) continue to fight for democracy.” The 2014 protests marked the semi-autonomous city’s largest show of defiance against Beijing’s rule since Britain handed its colony back to China in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” arrangement. Joshua Wong was jailed for the first time last year when the Court of Appeal gave him six months for unlawful assembly, but he was later released on bail pending appeal at the city’s highest court. ($1 = HK$7.8) (Reporting by Carmel Yang; Writing by Venus Wu; Editing by Nick Macfie)" + }, + { + "text": "KITZBUEHEL, AUSTRIA (Reuters) - Aksel Lund Svindal produced a majestic run on a shortened course to win a World Cup Super G race ahead of fellow Norwegian Kjetil Jansrud on Friday and boost his confidence ahead of the Feb 9-25 winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. It was Svindal’s third win of the season after a pair of downhill victories last month, after he beat the tour’s Super G leader Jansrud by half a second with the finish line moved uphill to preserve the course for Saturday’s downhill. Austria’s Matthias Mayer finished third just 0.01 of a second ahead of fourth-placed compatriot Hannes Reichelt, who fell further behind Jansrud in the overall Super G standings as did Austrian Vincent Kriechmayr after finishing 10th. The race was delayed by 90 minutes due to heavy snowfall and Jansrud must have thought he clinched it after grabbing pole position and seeing Svindal trail in the upper half of the steep and narrow course. But the 35-year old former Olympic champion, who won three medals including the Super G gold at the 2010 games in Vancouver but failed to finish on the podium in any event four years ago in Sochi, steamrolled through the lower section. Svindal will have a shot at completing the double on Saturday as he tops the downhill standings and will start as the favorite to win at the famous Hahnenkamm course. Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic in Belgrade; Editing by Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "BEIRUT (Reuters) - Oil production from the West Karoun oilfields in southwest Iran nearly doubled in the past year, oil minister Bijan Zanganeh said in an interview broadcast live on state TV Saturday. Oil production for the West Karoun oilfields for the Iranian month of Dey, which runs from late December until late January, was 161,000 bpd last year. The West Karoun oilfields produced 305,000 bpd for the same time period this year, Zanganeh said. Also, OPEC members are likely to stick to production limits through the end of 2018, Zanganeh said. OPEC and non-OPEC producers led by Russia agreed last November to extend oil output cuts until the end of 2018. Separately, Zanganeh said in the state TV interview that Iran’s daily gas production at South Pars, the world’s largest gas field, has increased by 83 million cubic meters in the past year. The daily gas production for the Iranian month of Dey was approximately 470 million cubic meters at South Pars last year. The daily gas production for the same time period this year was 553 million cubic meters, Zanganeh said in the interview. France’s Total signed a deal with Tehran last July to develop phase 11 of South Pars marking the first major Western energy investment in the Islamic Republic since the lifting of sanctions against it. Total will be the operator with a 50.1 percent stake, alongside Chinese state-owned oil and gas company CNPC with 30 percent, and National Iranian Oil Co subsidiary Petropars with 19.9 percent. Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh, editingby Louise Heavens" + }, + { + "text": "Taxes White House denies Donald Trump Jr. committed treason The White House on Wednesday pushed back against the claim by Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist, that Donald Trump Jr.'s 2016 meeting with Russians was \"treasonous.\" Bannon made the claim in an explosive new book by Michael Wolff, \"Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.\" President Donald Trump responded to the book by saying that Bannon had \"lost his mind.\" 37 Mins Ago | 01:42 White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday called former White House strategist Steve Bannon's claim that Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting with Russians in June 2016 was \"treasonous\" a \"ridiculous assertion.\" Bannon made the claim in an explosive new book by Michael Wolff, \"Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,\" due out January 9. \"Even if you thought that this [meeting] was not treasonous, or unpatriotic, or bad s---, and I happen to think it's all of that, you should have called the FBI immediately,\" Bannon told Wolff. Bannon also said that there was \"zero\" chance that Donald Trump Jr. did not bring the Russians — whom Trump Jr. initially believed might have damaging information on Democrat Hillary Clinton — up to his father's office to say hello after their meeting on June 9, 2016. Sanders on Wednesday denied that President Donald Trump knew anything about the meeting at the time it happened. \"As the president has stated many times, no, he wasn't part of that [meeting] or aware of it,\" she said. The book's revelations have driven a vicious wedge between the president and Bannon, his onetime closest adviser. \"Going after the president's son in an absolutely outrageous and unprecedented way is probably not the best way to curry favor with anybody,\" Sanders said of Bannon's comments about Donald Trump Jr. Earlier in the day, the president issued a statement saying that when Bannon was fired from the White House last summer, \"he not only lost his job, he lost his mind.\" Speaking to reporters, Sanders said the president was both \"furious\" and \"disgusted\" by the outrageous claims Wolff reported in the book , copies of which were acquired by news organizations on Wednesday. Yet Sanders also acknowledged that Trump has kept in touch with Bannon by phone since the former chief strategist left the White House in the summer of 2017. Their most recent conversation, Sanders said, was in early December. Christina Wilkie Political Reporter for CNBC.com Playing" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 9:10 AM / in 21 minutes China c.bank neutralises midpoint X factor - sources Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BEIJING/SHANGHAI, Jan 9 (Reuters) - China’s central bank has effectively neutralised the so-called “counter-cyclical factor” it introduced last year to help manage the yuan’s daily reference rate, sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) made the announcement in a notice sent to a select number of banks that submit mid-point estimates each trading day which are factored into the central bank’s calculus for setting the official rate, the sources said. In response to a request for information about the matter, the PBOC said it was up to the contributing banks to determine the counter-cyclical factor coefficient independently. When it introduced the counter-cyclical factor, the PBOC said that it was to better reflect supply and demand, lessen possible “herd effects” in the market and help guide the market to focus more on macroeconomic fundamentals. Traders said the mechanism helped to reduce price swings. (Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Writing by John Ruwitch and Winni Zhou in Shanghai; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)" + }, + { + "text": "Fred VanVleet led seven players in double figures with a career-best 25 points Sunday night as the Toronto Raptors built an early lead and never looked back in a 123-111 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Toronto. The win allowed the Raptors (33-15) to clinch no worse than the second-best record in the Eastern Conference in the first half of the NBA season, meaning Dwane Casey will coach Team LeBron in the All-Star Game. Boston (35-15) has a better record than Toronto, but the Celtics’ Brad Stevens is ineligible to coach at the All-Star Game because he earned the honor last season. VanVleet hit nine of his 13 shots, including three of his four 3-point attempts, to surpass his previous career-best of 22 points set earlier this month against Cleveland. DeMar DeRozan scored 19 points, while Kyle Lowry (14 points, 11 rebounds) and Jonas Valanciunas (13 points, 10 rebounds) recorded double-doubles, powering the Raptors to their seventh consecutive victory over the Lakers. C.J. Miles (13 points), Serge Ibaka (11) and Delon Wright (10) also scored in double figures for Toronto, which had lost three of its previous six home games. The Raptors, who led by as many as 10 points in the first quarter and 15 in the second, outshot the Lakers 50.0 percent to 43.5, and outscored them 36-24 on 3-pointers. The Lakers, who had won four in a row, were once again without rookie star Lonzo Ball, out with a sprained MCL in his left knee. Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle scored 17 points apiece for the Lakers, who drew within five on two occasions early in the third quarter but never got closer. Randle completed a double-double with a team-high 10 rebounds. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 16 points, Larry Nance Jr. 15, Brandon Ingram 14 and Alex Caruso 11 for the Lakers, who already had clinched a winning January (8-6), their first winning month since November of 2016. The first half featured an incident between Valanciunas and Randle, which began when the Lakers forward accidentally smacked the Raptors big man in the face, causing a bloody nose. Valanciunas retaliated shortly thereafter with a hard forearm to Randle’s back, prompting teammates to step in and separate the two. Each received a technical foul. -- Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 12:30 AM / Updated 2 hours ago Cricket-Stokes included in England T20 squad for tri-series Reuters Staff 2 Min Read SYDNEY, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Ben Stokes was named in England’s Twenty20 squad for a tri-series against Australia and New Zealand on Monday, his participation dependent on whether he is charged for his involvement in an altercation outside a nightclub in September. All-rounder Mooen Ali, who has been short of form on the Ashes tour, and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow have been rested for the tournament, which starts in Sydney on Feb. 3 and concludes with the final in Auckland on Feb. 21. Test skipper Joe Root and Dawid Malan were also included with seamer Mark Wood and batsmen James Vince and Sam Billings brought back into the squad after missing England’s last Twenty20 against West Indies in September. All-rounder Stokes was also named in the England squad for the Ashes and the one-day series against Australia that follows but withdrawn in the absence of a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). “Should the ECB Board receive formal confirmation that Stokes has either been charged or that he will face no charges, they would convene within 48 hours to make a decision on his availability for the team at that stage,” said an ECB statement. England begin the tri-series against Australia in Hobart on Feb. 7. Squad: Eoin Morgan (captain), Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, David Willey, Mark Wood. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Greg Stutchbury)" + }, + { + "text": "January 20, 2018 / 8:18 AM / Updated 7 hours ago Zverev collapses to defeat by relentless Chung Martyn Herman 4 Min Read MELBOURNE (Reuters) - South Korean Hyeon Chung does not appear especially intimidating with his Zen-like demeanour and white-framed spectacles but as German wunderkind Alex Zverev will testify, the 21-year-old should come with a health warning. Fourth seed Zverev went into their Australian Open third-round clash of rising stars as favourite and with many tipping him as a potential winner of the tournament. Despite winning the first and third sets with some stunning tennis, however, the 20-year-old could not shake off the relentless Chung and ended up caving in 5-7 7-6(3) 2-6 6-3 6-0. Zverev was a broken man by the time the deciding set began and Chung needed just 23 minutes to put him out of his misery and become just the third South Korean to progress to the fourth round of a grand slam. A match that had begun with Zverev playing exemplary tennis ended with him complaining about the light and smashing rackets. It was hard to blame him though as playing 58th-ranked Chung must have felt like slamming your head into a brick wall -- such is his court coverage and ability to soak up punishment. Zverev, for all the hype and victories over Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in Masters Series finals last year, has still not gone beyond the fourth round of a grand slam. “I have some figuring out to do, what happens to me in deciding moments in grand slams,” he told reporters. “It happened at Wimbledon, it happened in New York. It happened here. But I‘m still young, so I’ve got time.” The level of tennis produced in the first three sets was so high it looked like a future grand slam final. LIGHTS OUT Tennis - Australian Open - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 20, 2018. Chung Hyeon of South Korea reacts after winning against Alexander Zverev of Germany. REUTERS/Thomas Peter “He’s 50-whatever in the world. But this was a top-10 level match from the start till the end of the fourth set, and for him until the end,” Zverev said. “When he plays like that, there are very, very few people who will beat him.” There was nothing between the players in the first set until Zverev piled on the pressure in the 12th game with a couple of rasping baseline winners before prevailing in a 26-stroke rally that ended with a Chung error. Slideshow (6 Images) No quarter was give in the second set but Chung, who beat Zverev’s brother Mischa in the first round after he retired ill, levelled with five successive winning points in the tiebreak. Zverev found another gear to break twice in the third but the unflappable Chung was far from finished, and broke early in the third set, before consolidated it to lead 3-0. The first sign that Zverev was beginning to unravel came when he berated the umpire for the fact that the lights were not switched on, despite it being only around 6 p.m. -- at least two hours before dusk in Melbourne. “I can’t see anything,” Zverev barked. “All you have to do is flick the switch.” The lights did eventually come on but they were soon turned off for Zverev as he double-faulted to gift Chung a break in the first game of the deciding set. When Zverev looped a forehand into the net two games later to concede a second break, his racket paid the price, ending up in a crumpled heap next to his chair. Chung barely changed his expression, quickly sealing his first victory over a top-five opponent to move ominously through to the last 16, where he will play six-times champion Novak Djokovic or Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "Sophomore guard Malik Newman made two free throws with 15.2 seconds remaining Saturday and senior guard Devonte’ Graham netted a game-high 23 points as No. 12 Kansas nipped Kansas State 73-72 at Lawrence, Kan. Newman was fouled on a drive to the hoop and converted both free throws, which were separated by a Kansas State timeout. The Wildcats did not get off a good shot as junior guard Barry Brown dribbled out front and was then forced to fire a contested 3-pointer that bounded off at the buzzer. The victory enabled Kansas (14-3, 4-1 Big 12) to keep pace in the conference standings, while beating Kansas State (12-5, 2-3) for the sixth straight time in the series and the 12th straight time in Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks used an 11-0 run early in the second half to go up 49-38, but freshman guard Cartier Diarra responded with 11 straight points on his own for the Wildcats. Diarra, who scored all but two of his 18 points in the second half, made his second straight start as a replacement for junior Kamau Stokes, who is out indefinitely with a foot injury. Junior forward Dean Wade led Kansas State with 22 points. Sophomore forward Xavier Sneed had 14 points and seven rebounds. Brown, coming off a career-best 38-point performance in a win over Oklahoma State, dished six assists and scored 12 points, but was just 5-for-14. Kansas often fed Udoka Azubuike inside in the second half and the sophomore center responded with 18 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Mykhailiuk hit two 3-pointers inside the final 40 seconds, including one at the buzzer, to help Kansas forge a 34-34 halftime tie. Kansas State did not lead until the 4:11 mark of the first half on a bucket by Wade, but then grabbed a six-point edge off a steal and fast-break layup from Cartier Diarra. Wade provided 11 points and five rebounds in the first half and Sneed chipped in 10. The Jayhawks led by as many as eight, surging to a 17-9 lead. Graham, who was averaging 39 minutes per game in Big 12 play, went to the bench with his second foul at the 12:32 mark, but re-entered seven minutes later. Freshman forward Silvio De Sousa was cleared to play Saturday prior to tipoff. A five-star prospect who enrolled at the semester break, De Sousa entered with 9:42 left in the first half but quickly committed a turnover. The 6-foot-9 native of Angola played just four minutes. Kansas continues to wait on a ruling from the NCAA on the eligibility of freshman forward Billy Preston, whose status has been uncertain since the beginning of the season after the school’s compliance office began looking into the financing of a vehicle he was driving. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "CHONGQING, China, Jan. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE: DQ) (\"Daqo New Energy\", the \"Company\" or \"we\"), a leading manufacturer of high-purity polysilicon for the global solar PV industry, today announced the appointment of Mr. Longgen Zhang as the chief executive officer and executive board member with immediate effect. Concurrently, Mr. Guangfu Xu, the Company's Chairman and founder, has stepped down from his position as the acting chief executive officer. Mr. Longgen Zhang has strong expertise across the global solar industry and financial markets. From 2008 to 2014, Mr. Zhang served as the chief financial officer of Jinko Solar (NYSE: JKS), a global leader in the solar industry that distributes solar products and sells solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial, and residential customers. Prior to that, Mr. Zhang served as a director and the chief financial officer of Xinyuan Real Estate (NYSE: XIN), from 2006 to 2008. Mr. Zhang served as the chief financial officer at Crystal Window and Door Systems, Ltd. in New York from 2002 to 2006. Currently, Mr. Zhang serves as a director of Jinko Solar and ZZ Capital International Limited (HKSE: 08295). Mr. Zhang received master's degrees in professional accounting and in business administration from West Texas A&M University and a bachelor's degree in economic management from Nanjing University in China. Mr. Zhang is a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. \"We are very excited to welcome Longgen on board as our chief executive officer,\" commented Mr. Guangfu Xu, Chairman and founder of Daqo New Energy. \"Mr. Zhang's extraordinary experience and deep knowledge of the global solar industry and financial markets will greatly benefit Daqo as we continue to focus on lowering costs and improving the quality of our polysilicon. I look forward to working closely with Longgen to strengthen and expand our position as the supplier of choice for high quality polysilicon.\" About Daqo New Energy Corp. Founded in 2008, Daqo New Energy Corp. (NYSE: DQ) is a leading manufacturer of high-purity polysilicon for the global solar PV industry. As one of the world's lowest cost producers of high-purity polysilicon and solar wafers, the Company primarily sells its products to solar cell and solar module manufacturers. The Company has built a manufacturing facility that is technically advanced and highly efficient with a nameplate capacity of 18,000 metric tons in Xinjiang, China. The Company also operates a solar wafer manufacturing facility in Chongqing, China. For further information, please contact: Daqo New Energy Corp. Investor Relations Phone: [REDACTED] Email: [REDACTED] View original content: SOURCE Daqo New Energy Corp." + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 8:36 AM / Updated 8 hours ago Snus tobacco on the rise as Norway smoking halved in a decade Reuters Staff 1 Min Read OSLO (Reuters) - The share of Norwegians who smoke on a daily basis has halved in the last decade and was last year exceeded for the first time by the use of snus, a wet snuff tobacco product, Statistics Norway said on Thursday. Among the adult population, 11 percent were daily smokers in 2017, a fall of one percentage point from the previous year and down from 22 percent in 2007 as authorities continue to campaign against the use of tobacco. The use of snus rose to 12 percent in 2017 from 10 percent in 2016. Data was not available for 2007. Late last year, snus maker Swedish Match lost a court case it had filed against Norway’s government over new restrictions on product packaging. Reporting by Terje Solsvik; editing by Niklas Pollard" + }, + { + "text": "January 20, 2018 / 4:33 AM / Updated 7 hours ago Pliskova serves her way past Safarova into round four Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Sixth seed Karolina Pliskova beat fellow Czech Fed Cup team mate Lucie Safarova 7-6(6) 7-5 to move into the fourth round of the Australian Open on Saturday. In a match dominated by serve the 25-year-old fired down 11 aces and offered up only one break point opportunity as she reached the last 16 for the second successive year. Safarova was equally efficient on her own delivery but finally cracked in the 11th game of the second set to leave her opponent with the opportunity to serve for the match. Slideshow (7 Images) She needed no second invitation, crunching three aces including one on match point. “It’s tough to play another Czech player especially as we are Fed Cup team mates,” Pliskova said on Margaret Court Arena. “It’s always close but I served well and that’s the key for me.” Another Czech could be waiting in the fourth round if Barbora Strycova gets the better of lucky loser Bernarda Pera later on Saturday. Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Greg Stutchbury" + }, + { + "text": "Cyclone Ava kills 29 in Madagascar Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - 00:57 A Tropical Cyclone has left at least 29 people dead and many thousands displaced in Madagascar. David Doyle reports. A Tropical Cyclone has left at least 29 people dead and many thousands displaced in Madagascar. David Doyle reports. //reut.rs/2CXKocx" + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 8:52 AM / Updated an hour ago Indonesian accused in Kim Jong Nam killing was hired for prank show, lawyer says Reuters Staff 3 Min Read KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A woman accused of killing the North Korean leader’s estranged half-brother was hired for a prank television show by a suspect wanted by the Malaysian police just over a month earlier, her lawyer told a court on Tuesday. Indonesian Siti Aisyah is accused with another woman, Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam, of killing Kim Jong Nam by smearing his face with VX, a banned chemical poison at Kuala Lumpur airport on Feb. 13 last year. Defence lawyers say the women thought they were playing pranks for a reality show and did not know they were poisoning Kim. They face the death penalty if convicted. On Jan. 5 last year, Siti Aisyah was approached at a nightclub by a Malaysian taxi driver, who asked her if she would participate in a Japanese video prank show, her lawyer, Gooi Soon Seng, told the court during his questioning of the lead police investigator in the case, Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz. The following morning the taxi driver, Kamaruddin Masiod, also known as John, introduced Siti Aisyah to Ri Ji U, a North Korean posing as a Japanese man named James, at a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur’s city centre, Gooi added. After Siti Aisyah agreed to the offer, she watched pranks being played by an unidentified woman, before joining in. She played pranks on three people near a fountain outside the mall entrance and was paid 400 ringgit ($102.70) by Ri at the end of the day, Gooi said. Wan Azirul, the police witness, was unable to confirm the pranks took place. “I agree that Kamaruddin was the person who introduced the first accused (Siti Aisyah) to James, but the date and place, I‘m not sure,” Wan Azirul said. The meeting of Siti Aisyah, Ri and Kamaruddin was captured in a photograph taken at the shopping mall, Gooi said. The photo was released to reporters after Tuesday’s hearing. Ri was named by Malaysian police as a suspect shortly after Kim Jong Nam’s killing and his photo was released to the media. Defence lawyers have argued the killing was politically motivated, with many key suspects linked to the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, suggesting the two women were merely unwitting pawns in the attack. Pyongyang has denied accusations by South Korean and U.S. officials that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s regime was behind the killing. The trial resumes on Feb. 8. ($1=3.8950 ringgit)" + }, + { + "text": "After years of surging U.S. drug prices, the two largest drugstore companies said some pricey prescription medicines are becoming more affordable. CVS Health Corp. and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. said Thursday that their pharmacy revenues are taking a hit from an increase in generic alternatives, particularly for some expensive specialty drugs, along with slowing price inflation for name-brand medications. “You’re... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "HONG KONG, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Shares of Chinese sportswear retailer Pou Sheng International (Holdings) Ltd set to open 27.3 percent higher on plans by its Taiwanese parent to take it private. The stock is set to open at HK$1.96 per share, the highest open since March 22. Taiwan parent company Pou Chen Corp has offered a price of HK$2.03 per share, or a 31.82 percent premium over their previous close. Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Malcolm Foster" + }, + { + "text": "Jeff John Roberts, FORTUNE Sunday, January 21, 2018 Credit: Photograph by Adam Berry—Getty Images A protester holds a German translation of George Orwell's book '1984' as he demonstrates for journalists' rights on August 1, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. After two German journalists, Andre Meister and Markus Beckedahl, reported that the German government planned to increase online surveillance, an investigation for treason, the first such case in the country against journalists in over 50 years, was brought against them and has since been suspended by the country's prosecutor-general after negative reactions from other journalists and politicians due to the implications of stifling the freedom of the press." + }, + { + "text": "COSTA MESA, Calif., Jan. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (“El Pollo Loco” and the “Company”) (Nasdaq:LOCO) Douglas “Doug” Babb has been appointed as an independent member of its Board of Directors, effective January 3, 2018. Michael Maselli, Chairman of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Doug Babb to our Board of Directors. His extensive and varied management experience will be instrumental as we continue to grow the El Pollo Loco brand, and we are confident that his many talents will benefit our Board, our Company and our shareholders.” Mr. Babb is an experienced executive with extensive management and legal experience. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Cooper Clinic, P.A., one of the largest physician-owned medical groups in Arkansas. Previously, he was Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Legal Officer of what was then Beverly Enterprises, a leading provider of eldercare services in the U.S. Prior to Beverly, Mr. Babb was a senior vice president at Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. Mr. Babb currently is the Managing Director of Babb Strategic Services, LLP. About El Pollo Loco El Pollo Loco (Nasdaq:LOCO) is the nation's leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain renowned for its masterfully citrus-marinated, fire-grilled chicken and handcrafted entrees using fresh ingredients inspired by Mexican recipes. With more than 470 company-owned and franchised restaurants in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas and Utah, El Pollo Loco is expanding its presence in key markets through a combination of company and existing and new franchisee development. Visit us on our website at www.elpolloloco.com . Investor Contact: Fitzhugh Taylor, ICR (714) 599-5200 [REDACTED] Media Contact: Alecia Pulman, ICR 203-682-8200 [REDACTED] Source:El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Verizon Communications Inc reported an increase in quarterly profit, helped by tax reform and phone subscriber additions. Net income attributable to Verizon was $18.7 billion, or $4.56 per share, in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, up from $4.5 billion, or $1.10 a share, in the year earlier period. Verizon said it added 431,000 phone subscribers who pay a monthly bill on a net basis. (Reporting by Anjali Athavaley; Editing by Bernadette Baum)" + }, + { + "text": "SPARTANBURG, S.C., Jan. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Denny’s Corporation (NASDAQ:DENN), franchisor and operator of one of America's largest franchised full-service restaurant chains, will announce financial and operating results for its fourth quarter and full year ended December 27, 2017 on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 after the markets close. Senior management will hold a conference call on the same day at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss these results and answer questions. Interested parties are invited to listen to a live broadcast of the conference call accessible through the Investor Relations section of the Denny’s website at investor.dennys.com . A replay of the call may be accessed at the same location later in the day and will remain available for 30 days. For any questions, please contact Denny’s Investor Relations Department at 877-784-7167. About Denny’s Denny's Corporation is the franchisor and operator of one of America's largest franchised full-service restaurant chains, based on the number of restaurants. As of December 27, 2017, Denny’s had 1,735 franchised, licensed, and company restaurants around the world including 128 restaurants in Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, New Zealand, Honduras, the Philippines, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Guam, Curaçao, El Salvador, Guatemala, and the United Kingdom. For further information on Denny's, including news releases, links to SEC filings, and other financial information, please visit the Denny's investor relations website at investor.dennys.com . Investor Contact: Curt Nichols 877-784-7167 Media Contact: Jessica Liddell, ICR 203-682-8208 Source:Denny's Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "39 PM / Updated 25 minutes ago Leeds unite to fund five-year-old fan's cancer treatment Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Leeds United’s players and fans have come together to raise funds for the cancer treatment of a young supporter, the club announced on Thursday. Five-year-old Toby Nye, who is battling neuroblastoma, will begin treatment next week after donations from Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani, the players, staff and supporters raised around 175,000 pounds. The final 25,000 pounds required for the treatment was donated by the Championship side’s (second tier) Spanish midfielder Samuel Saiz this week. “We talk about family and togetherness a lot at our club, it’s a culture we have been determined to reinstate across everyone involved with Leeds and raising this money has truly been a team effort,” Leeds managing director Angus Kinnear said. “Staff, players, corporate partners and our supporters have united together to give Toby the best opportunity with further treatment and I am incredibly proud of everyone concerned.” The club have invited Toby to attend Saturday’s game with Millwall at Elland Road. Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery, who died aged six last July, also suffered from the rare form of cancer which spreads rapidly across the body. He became known nationally as he accompanied the team in taking to the pitch before matches. He was often in the arms of England international striker Jermain Defoe, who described the child as his best friend. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "NAIROBI, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Kenya opposition leader Raila Odinga took a symbolic presidential oath of office on the Bible in front of thousands of ecstatic supporters on Tuesday in a direct challenge to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s rule. “I, Raila Omolo Odinga, do swear that I will protect the nation as people’s president, so help me God,” he said as the crowd cheered. (reporting by Maggie Fick; writing by Katharine Houreld)" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 6:51 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Google says 'no changes' to mapping platform in China after report Reuters Staff 3 Min Read BEIJING (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc’s ( GOOGL.O ) Google said on Tuesday it has made “no changes” to its mapping platform in China, denying an earlier media report that claimed it was re-launching the function in China, where many of its services are blocked. Illustration photo of a Google Maps screen January 16, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration Japan's Nikkei reported earlier that Google had set up a China-specific version of the Google Maps website for the first time in eight years and introduced a map application for Chinese iPhones for the first time. ( s.nikkei.com/2DcmYjU ) Google, however, stated that the Google Maps browser has been available in China for many years while there is no Maps application offered in the country. “There have been no changes to Google Maps in China. Maps has been accessible on desktop for years, but does not have an official presence in Android or iOS app stores in China,” Google Spokesman Taj Meadows said in comments sent to Reuters. A Chinese version of Google Maps was accessible on Tuesday on mobile and desktop browsers with certain functions available, but Reuters was unable to find a Google Maps app available in Chinese app stores. Nikkei reported users could find an app, but if they tried to use features like navigation they were automatically transferred to an app from AutoNavi, a mapping company owned by China’s Alibaba Group Holding ( BABA.N ). AutoNavi did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for a comment. Google has tried to re-enter the China market, where its main search platform is blocked along with its popular video platform YouTube, limiting its access to China’s internet users. Google joined an investment in Chinese live-stream mobile game platform Chushou earlier this month after ramping up an artificial intelligence (AI) push last year, including launching an AI lab in December and hosting a match of the board game Go between its AI project Alpha Go and Chinese Go champion Ke Jie. Last month, Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai spoke at a high-profile tech event in China organized by the Cyberspace Administration of China, which oversees internet censorship. A full Google Maps app has not been available in China since the company pulled many of its services in 2010 after refusing to self-censor its search results. Since then, it has maintained a limited presence in the world’s top smartphone market. Reporting by Cate Cadell in BEIJING and John Benny in BENGALURU; Writing by Adam Jourdan; Editing by Bill Trott and Christian Schmollinger" + }, + { + "text": "PURCHASE, N.Y., Jan. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atlas Air, Inc. has appointed Richard Broekman as Senior Vice President Global Sales and Commercial Development. In his new role, Richard will lead the global sales activities for our ACMI and CMI business and continue to report to Michael Steen, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. “We have expanded our global footprint and grown significantly in our ACMI and CMI segments over several years, and by promoting Richard to this newly created function, we will be well positioned to continue growing our business,” said Bill Flynn, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Air Worldwide. About Atlas Air Worldwide: Atlas Air Worldwide (Nasdaq:AAWW) is a leading global provider of outsourced aircraft and aviation operating services. It is the parent company of Atlas Air, Inc., Southern Air Holdings, Inc., and Titan Aviation Holdings, Inc., and is the majority shareholder of Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. Our companies operate the world’s largest fleet of 747 freighter aircraft and provide customers a broad array of Boeing 747, 777, 767, 757 and 737 aircraft for domestic, regional and international applications. Atlas Air Worldwide’s press releases, SEC filings, and other information may be accessed through the company’s homepage, www.atlasair.com . Contacts: Elizabeth Roach (Media) – (914) 701-6576 Dan Loh (Investors) – (914) 701-8200 Source:Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - Procter & Gamble Co said on Thursday it was not stopping sales of Tide Pods, after rumors circulated on social media that the company was pulling the detergent from shelves beginning February. A tweet, marked with Tide branding and circulated as a screenshot on social media platforms on Thursday, was a hoax, representatives of the world’s biggest consumer goods company said. The tweet read: ”We regret to inform you, we will be removing Tide Pods from shelves starting February 1. It’s been a good run, but we can’t risk lives over having clean clothes. It followed the circulation of a series of videos of teenagers consuming the brightly colored detergent sachets and then daring others to do the same “Tide Pod challenge”. “We are not discontinuing Tide Pods,” the company said in an emailed statement. “They are used safely by millions of people around the world and we will continue to offer them, in addition to other detergent forms from Tide.” On Tuesday, the company had said it was doing all it could to stop the challenge. (Reporting by Sangameswaran S and Siddharth Cavale in Bengaluru; editing by Patrick Graham)" + }, + { + "text": "President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States was considering a big \"fine\" as part of a probe into China's alleged theft of intellectual property, the clearest indication yet that his administration will take retaliatory trade action against China. In an interview with Reuters, Trump and his economic adviser Gary Cohn said China had forced U.S. companies to transfer their intellectual property to China as a cost of doing business there. The United States has started a trade investigation into the issue, and Cohn said the United States Trade Representative would be making recommendations about it soon. \"We have a very big intellectual property potential fine going, which is going to come out soon,\" Trump said in the interview. While Trump did not specify what he meant by a \"fine\" against China, the 1974 trade law that authorized an investigation into China's alleged theft of U.S. intellectual property allows him to impose retaliatory tariffs on Chinese goods or other trade sanctions until China changes its policies. Trump said the damages could be high, without elaborating on how the numbers were reached or how the costs would be imposed. \"We're talking about big damages. We're talking about numbers that you haven't even thought about,\" Trump said. U.S. businesses say they lose hundreds of billions of dollars in technology and millions of jobs to Chinese firms which have stolen ideas and software or forced them to turn over intellectual property as part of the price of doing business in China. The president said he wanted the United States to have a good relationship with China, but Beijing needed to treat the United States fairly. Trump said he would be announcing some kind of action against China over trade and said he would discuss the issue during his State of the Union address on Jan. 30. Asked about the potential for a trade war depending on potential U.S. action over steel, aluminum and solar panels, Trump said he hoped a trade war would not ensue. \"I don't think so, I hope not. But if there is, there is,\" he said. The president also said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had not discussed China's plans with regard to purchases of U.S. Treasury bonds. Bloomberg reported earlier this month that Chinese officials reviewing the country's foreign exchange holdings had recommended slowing or halting purchases of U.S. Treasury bonds. Trump said he was not concerned such a move would hurt the U.S. economy. \"We never talked about it. They have to do what they do,\" he said. This story is developing. Please check back for updates." + }, + { + "text": "MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico is expected to hold its first shale oil and gas auction by the end of 2018, the head of the country’s oil regulator told Reuters on Wednesday, potentially opening up one of the world’s top reserves of unconventional energy. Juan Carlos Zepeda said the Mexico National Hydrocarbons Commission he heads was waiting for authorization from the energy ministry to hold the auctions. “We are waiting for the ministry of energy to establish the specific schedule, he said. (The tentative schedule) would be to award the blocks before the end of this year.” One of the auctions would be in the Burgos basin, which is part of a geological formation that includes the giant U.S. Eagle Ford shale region where U.S. firms are currently pumping oil and gas. The other area up for grabs in the Tampico-Misantla basin in the Gulf Coast states of Veracruz and Tamaulipas. Reporting by Marianna Parraga and David Alire Garcia; Writing by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Simon Webb" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 5:48 AM / in an hour Australia shares extend losses hurt by materials, NZ up Reuters Staff * Australia shares hit more than four-week low * BHP sees worst day in nearly seven months * Consumer staples buoy New Zealand shares (Updates to close) Jan 17 (Reuters) - Australian shares slipped to a more than four-week low on Wednesday, extending its second straight session of losses as material stocks slumped on weak base metal prices. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.5 percent, or 32.8 points, to 6,015.8 at the close of trade. Australia’s metals and mining index slid as much as 2.4 percent, posting its biggest fall in over four months. Mining giant BHP Billiton Ltd fell 2.9 percent, posting its worst day in nearly seven months, while Rio Tinto slipped 3.5 percent. Chinese iron ore future fell for a fifth day running on Wednesday, while Shanghai aluminium prices extended declines into a second day. The country’s financial sector, which constitutes about 40 percent of the Aussie index, was down 0.3 percent, with the ‘Big Four’ banks slipping in the range of 0.3 percent to 0.6 percent. Meanwhile, Sirtex Medical Ltd was the top gainer on the benchmark, jumping 13.9 percent to hit a more than nine-month high after forecasting strong half yearly results. Software developer Wisetech Global Ltd rose 3.6 percent to a one-week high, while real estate stock Shopping Centres Australasia Property Group RE Ltd gained 1.4 percent. New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index extended gains in its second straight session, rising 0.6 percent, or 47.13 points, to close at 8,297.67. Consumer staples were the biggest gainers on the index with Synlait Milk adding 3.7 percent and a2 Milk Company jumping over 3 percent. Global dairy prices climbed 4.9 percent in the second auction of the year as buyers anticipate supply issues because of unusually dry weather in New Zealand, the world’s largest milk exporter. (Reporting by Sumeet Gaikwad in Bengaluru; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - India’s UltraTech Cement Ltd, part of the Aditya Birla Group, on Thursday posted a 23 percent drop in third-quarter profit, hurt by rising pet coke and coal prices. Profit fell to 4.56 billion rupees ($71.4 million) for the quarter ended Dec 31, from 5.95 billion rupees a year ago, the company said. bit.ly/2rhS3xf Quarterly performance was also hurt by the ban of pet coke usage in some states, the company added. However, net sales rose to 78.97 billion rupees from 59.27 billion rupees. Analysts on average had expected a consolidated net profit of 4.49 billion rupees, according to Thomson Reuters data. ($1 = 63.8300 Indian rupees) Reporting by Vishal Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15 (Reuters) - GETIN NOBLE BANK SA: * SAID ON FRIDAY THAT IT RESOLVED TO RESIGN FROM ANY BOND ISSUE UNDER ITS SUBORDINATED DEBT PROGRAM WHICH ONLY GOT APPROVED BY POLAND‘S FINANCIAL SUPERVISION AUTHORITY (KNF) ON JAN. 10 * KNF APPROVED THE COMPANY‘S PROSPECTUS FOR UP TO 750 MILLION ZLOTY SUBORDINATED BOND PROGRAM FROM JULY 2017 ON JAN. 10, KNF SAID IN A STATEMENT ON WEDNESDAY Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "BRUSSELS, Jan 31 (Reuters) - The European Union's statistics office Eurostat released the following data on Wednesday on unemployment in the 19 countries sharing the euro and the 28 members of the European Union. The December rate of 8.7 percent for the euro zone was the same as the nine-year low in November, although the number of people unemployed fell by 134,000. Unemployed as percentage of labour force (seasonally adjusted): Seasonally adjusted unemployment, totals Rates (%) Number of persons (in thousands) Dec 16 Sep 17 Oct 17 Nov 17 Dec 17 Dec 16 Sep 17 Oct 17 Nov 17 Dec 17 EA19 9.7 8.9 8.8 8.7 8.7 15 673 14 516 14 404 14 271 14 137 EU28 8.2 7.5 7.4 7.3 7.3 20 027 18 441 18 318 18 126 17 961 Belgium : 7.0 6.8 6.6 6.3 : 348 341 333 313 Bulgaria 6.7 6.2 6.2 6.2 6.1 217 208 209 210 209 Czech 3.5 2.7 2.6 2.4 2.3 191 147 142 129 125 Republic Denmark 6.1 5.7 5.6 5.5 5.6 185 170 168 164 166 Germany 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.6 1 677 1 611 1 603 1 594 1 581 Estonia 6.7** 5.8 5.2 5.4 : 46** 40 36 38 : Ireland 7.5 6.7 6.5 6.4 6.2 174 156 154 150 147 Greece 23.3* 20.8 20.7 : : 1 113* 995 990 : : Spain 18.5 16.7 16.7 16.6 16.4 4 202 3 802 3 792 3 773 3 745 France 9.9 9.5 9.4 9.3 9.2 2 929 2 816 2 779 2 738 2 733 Croatia 12.5 10.7 10.5 10.3 10.0 226 192 189 185 179 Italy 11.8 11.1 11.0 10.9 10.8 3 064 2 876 2 863 2 838 2 791 Cyprus 12.8 10.4 10.5 11.1 11.3 54 44 45 48 49 Latvia 9.4 8.4 8.2 8.1 8.1 92 82 80 79 79 Lithuani 7.6 7.0 7.1 7.0 7.1 113 101 103 100 102 a Luxembou 6.2 5.7 5.6 5.5 5.6 18 16 16 16 16 rg Hungary 4.6** 4.1 4.0 3.9 : 210** 188 183 179 : Malta 4.2 3.9 3.6 3.6 3." + }, + { + "text": "6 9 8 8 7 8 Netherla 5.4 4.7 4.5 4.4 4.4 482 422 404 397 395 nds Austria 5.7 5.4 5.4 5.4 5.3 256 242 243 243 241 Poland 5.5 4.7 4.6 4.5 4.4 941 808 794 779 763 Portugal 10.2 8.5 8.4 8.1 7.8 521 439 434 417 401 Romania 5.5 4.9 4.9 4.7 4.6 493 442 451 443 435 Slovenia 7.9 6.7 6.5 6.4 6.2 80 69 68 67 65 Slovakia 8.9 7.8 7.7 7.5 7.4 245 216 211 207 205 Finland 8.7 8.6 8.6 8.7 8.7 235 233 234 235 237 Sweden 6.8 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.5 362 358 357 355 353 United 4.7* 4.2 4.3 : : 1 568* 1 405 1 419 : : Kingdom Iceland 2.9 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.9 6 6 6 6 6 Norway 4.7** 4.0 4.0 4.1 : 131** 111 111 115 : United 4.7 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.1 7 520 6 814 6 509 6 645 6 577 States The source datasets are available here (rates) and here (in 1000 persons). : Data not available * October 2016 ** November 2016 NOTE - Reuters poll consensus was for a euro zone unemployment rate of 8.7 percent in December. For Eurostat release, click on: here (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop) nB5N1JD02L" + }, + { + "text": "AMSTERDAM, Jan 18 (Reuters) - All flights at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport were cancelled on Thursday due to a severe storm, it said in a statement. The airport scrapped 260 flights as wind gusts picked up to 140 kph (nearly 90 mph). “Due to severe weather conditions: all air traffic has been suspended until further notice,” it tweeted. (Reporting by Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Kevin Liffey)" + }, + { + "text": "DALLAS, Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc. (NYSE: AHP) (\"Ashford Prime\" or the \"Company\") today announced details for the release of its results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017. Ashford Prime plans to issue its earnings release for the fourth quarter after the market closes on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, and will host a conference call on Thursday, March 1, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. ET. The number to call for this interactive teleconference is (719) 325-4821. A replay of the conference call will be available through Thursday, March 8, 2018, by dialing (719) 457-0820 and entering the confirmation number, 5950335. The live broadcast of Ashford Prime's quarterly conference call will be available online at the Company's web site, www.ahpreit.com on Thursday, March 1, 2018, beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. The online replay will follow shortly after the call and continue for approximately one year. Ashford Hospitality Prime is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing in luxury hotels and resorts. Ashford has created an Ashford App for the hospitality REIT investor community. The Ashford App is available for free download at Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store by searching \"Ashford.\" releases/ashford-prime-sets-fourth-quarter-earnings-release-and-conference-call-dates-300576758.html SOURCE Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Tourist boat explodes in southern Thailand 4:32am IST - 00:33 A speedboat carrying tourists exploded off of Thailand's Phi Phi Le Island, injuring 16 people. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript A speedboat carrying tourists exploded off of Thailand's Phi Phi Le Island, injuring 16 people. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "PITTSBURGH, Jan. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Baker International , a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, today announced that two members of the firm's Board of Directors, General (Ret.) Anthony C. Zinni and Admiral (Ret.) James G. Stavridis, were honored for their commitment to driving an integrated approach to foreign policy by the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) at the 2017 Tribute Dinner. Gen. Zinni, U.S. Marine Corps, and Adm. Stavridis, U.S. Navy, serve as the co-chairs of the USGLC National Security Advisory Council (NSAC). The NSAC includes more than 180 retired three- and four-star generals and admirals, and supports advancing America's national security by strengthening all the tools of national security—development and diplomacy—along with strong defense. General Zinni and Admiral Stavridis lead the NSAC membership of active and trusted voices who engage with Congress, the media, and state and community leaders on the need for a \"smart power\" approach to combat today's global threats with adequate resources for the International Affairs Budget. The USGLC works in Washington, D.C. and across the country to strengthen America's civilian-led tools and defense. As part of the coalition, the USGLC brings together more than 500 businesses and non-profits from across the country to collaborate on a unified message that investment in America's tools of development and diplomacy is the smart thing to do. Gen. Zinni and Adm. Stavridis provide strategic leadership and guidance as directors at Michael Baker International. With more than 70 years of combined service, they offer invaluable insight to help drive the direction of Michael Baker's efforts in support of the U.S. Government. For more than 70 years, Michael Baker has proudly provided world-class engineering solutions to help meet the complex challenges of the U.S. Government and Armed Forces both domestically and abroad. About Michael Baker International Michael Baker International is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions to support U.S. federal, state and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker is committed to delivering a standard of excellence that fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement to help solve challenges for clients and the company's more than 3,000 employees in nearly 100 locations across the United States. To learn more, visit www.mbakerintl.com . Contact: Justin Falce [REDACTED] (866) 293-4609 View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Michael Baker International" + }, + { + "text": "Kenya police fire teargas to disperse opposition supporters 10:08am EST - 00:50 Kenyan police fire teargas at supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga as they gather for his 'swearing-in' ceremony outside a Nairobi park. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Kenyan police fire teargas at supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga as they gather for his 'swearing-in' ceremony outside a Nairobi park. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2DOeorZ" + }, + { + "text": "January 13, 2018 / 10:41 AM / Updated 14 minutes ago India ruin South Africa's progress with run outs as Amla falls Reuters Staff 3 Min Read PRETORIA (Reuters) - India surged back into contention against South Africa after two run outs late on Saturday, including the key wicket of Hashim Amla, saw the hosts slip to 269 for six at the close on the opening day of the second test. Cricket - India v South Africa - Second Test match - Centurion Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa - January 13, 2018. South Africa's Aiden Markram is caught behind by India’s Parthiv Patel for 94. REUTERS/James Oatway South Africa had seemed set for a big first innings total when they reached 246 for three but some brilliant fielding and poor decision making combined to rattle their middle order and leave the honours even after the first day. Home captain Faf du Plessis is not out on 24 and will resume his innings on Sunday with Keshav Maharaj (10) on a slow wicket that is expected to quicken over the next few days. Amla looked in total control of his innings and struck 14 fours in his 82 before being called through for a risky single by Du Plessis. The bowler, Hardik Pandya, reacted quickly though and his speed to the ball, swivel and quick release to the bowlers’ end found Amla two feet short. Quinton de Kock was then out for a first ball duck, caught at slip by India captain Virat Kohli off the bowling of hard-working spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (3-90), who sent down an impressive 31 overs on the opening day. Cricket - India v South Africa - Second Test match - Centurion Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa - January 13, 2018. India players celebrate as South Africa's Aiden Markram leaves the pitch after being caught behind by India’s Parthiv Patel for 94. REUTERS/James Oatway The hosts’ misery was compounded when Vernon Philander was also out without scoring, charging down the wicket for a run as Du Plessis screamed at him from the non-striker’s end to stop. Both players ended up on the same side of the wicket. The poor half-hour undid the excellent work of opener Aiden Markram earlier as he compiled an eye-catching 94 before being caught by wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel off Ashwin, denied a third test century in seven innings. Slideshow (3 Images) Dean Elgar (31) was Ashwin’s other victim, while impressive seamer Ishant Sharma (1-32) induced an edge from the dangerous AB de Villiers (20) onto his own wicket. The wicket has also shown some variable bounce already and is expected to break up on days four and five. South Africa have selected uncapped seamer Lungi Ngidi as a replacement for the injured Dale Steyn, the only change to their side from the 72-run first test victory in Cape Town. India made three changes as opener Lokesh Rahul, Patel and Sharma replaced Shikhar Dhawan, Wriddhiman Saha and Bhuvneshwar Kumar respectively. Reporting By Nick Said; Editing by John O'Brien and Ken Ferris" + }, + { + "text": "We await the court’s ruling on bail. Time is of the essence and we continue to call for Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo’s prompt release. They are innocent of any wrongdoing and should be allowed to return to their jobs reporting on events in Myanmar. Media contact tumshie dot smillie at thomsonreuters dot com [Reuters PR Blog Post]" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 11:48 AM / Updated 35 minutes ago Aden gripped by fresh fighting as Yemen rivals battle for control Mohammed Mukhashaf 3 Min Read ADEN (Reuters) - Fresh fighting erupted around Yemeni government facilities in Aden on Monday, witnesses said, as rival factions battled for a second day for control of the southern port city where the internationally-recognised administration is based. Clashes between southern separatists allied to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and forces loyal to Saudi-based President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi risk crippling their once united campaign against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen’s north. Witnesses reported fighting outside Yemeni government camps in northern Aden’s Khor Maksar and Dar Saad districts, adding that at least one tank had fired shells in Khor Maksar. They said forces loyal to the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which was formed last year to push for the revival of the former independent state of South Yemen, were apparently trying to wrest control of the two bases from Prime Minister Ahmed bin Daghr’s government. In downtown Aden, most people stayed off the streets as government forces guarded the main road to al-Maasheeq palace where the government is based. A government source said that if the Saudi-led coalition did not restrain the separatists, soldiers would leave anti-Houthi battlefronts elsewhere in the country to converge on Aden. “The military commanders leading the battle in the western part of Yemen have given short notice to Saudi and UAE to intervene to end the fighting in Aden. Otherwise they will leave the battlefront and move back to Aden to assist President Hadi and the government,” the source said. The two sides have traded accusations over who started the clashes on Sunday. Sunday’s fighting broke out after the expiry of a deadline set last week by separatists from the STC for Hadi to dismiss the bin Daghr government, accusing it of corruption and mismanagement. The government denies this. Bin Daghr has described the ultimatum as a coup against the internationally-recognised government, which the STC has accused of attacking civilians who had converged on the city’s Parades Square from across southern Yemen for a rally. No details were given of casualties sustained on Monday but the Yemeni Health Ministry said 12 people had been killed in Sunday’s clashes and 132 wounded. Fighting had subsided on Sunday evening after bin Daghr called for a truce and ordered government forces back to barracks, but the clashes have effectively divided the city into two zones controlled by the separatists and the government. Although Hadi remains in exile in Saudi Arabia, his administration and local allies nominally control about four-fifths of Yemen’s territory. The factional fighting in the south compounds the misery of Yemenis whose country has been torn apart by three years of conflict between Hadi’s forces and the Houthis. Writing by Sami Aboudi; Editing by Catherine Evans" + }, + { + "text": "MADISON, Wis., Jan. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE: LNT) Board of Directors today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.335 per share payable on February 15, 2018, to shareowners of record as of the close of business on January 31, 2018. The board also authorized the redemption of all outstanding common stock purchase rights issued pursuant to the shareholder rights plan (commonly known as a \"poison pill\"), adopted in January 1999 and subsequently amended in December 2008, effective as of the close of business on January 31, 2018. Under the rights plan, one right is attached to each outstanding share of common stock. The rights will be redeemed at a price of $0.0005 per right, payable in cash. The redemption payment will be payable on February 15, 2018 to shareowners as of the close of business on January 31, 2018. Shareowners do not have to take any action to receive the redemption payment and do not have to exchange stock certificates. \"The board's vote to redeem the rights plan is further evidence of Alliant Energy's commitment to strong and responsive corporate governance,\" said Patricia Kampling, Alliant Energy chairman and CEO. Dividends on common stock have been paid for 289 consecutive quarters since 1946. Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE: LNT), headquartered in Madison, Wis., provides regulated electric and natural gas service to 960,000 electric and 410,000 natural gas customers across Iowa and Wisconsin. Alliant Energy's mission is to deliver the energy solutions and exceptional service customers and communities count on – safely, efficiently and responsibly. Interstate Power and Light Company and Wisconsin Power and Light Company are Alliant Energy's two public utility subsidiaries. Alliant Energy Corporation is a component of the S&P 500. For more information, visit alliantenergy.com . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Alliant Energy Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Dave DeWalt, the former CEO of FireEye Inc, is joining the relaunched cyber security M&A advisory firm Momentum Cyber as chairman, the company said on Wednesday. The San Francisco-based firm was founded by two longtime technology bankers, Michael Tedesco and Eric McAlpine, as Momentum Partners in 2015. It will change its name and now focus exclusively on cyber security M&A, an area it sees underserved by large investment banks. Tedesco worked at Citigroup and Jefferies while McAlpine worked at Blackstone Advisory earlier in their careers. “We’ve seen $20 billion of venture capital go into the space over the past few years and there are 3,000 vendors. Many are going to merge, or get some investment or recapitalizations. This means the M&A will happen,” DeWalt said in an interview. DeWalt sits on the board of ForeScout Technologies and Delta Airlines Inc. McAlpine said DeWalt’s connections in Washington and with cyber security companies hatched in Israel will be key to helping the firm succeed. While Momentum said it is an M&A broker as defined by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, its co-founder McAlpine said it is purposely shying away from the “investment bank” moniker because it provides full advisory services from a company’s founding to its exit. Last year, Momentum advised on M&A transactions such as ADT’s acquisition of Datashield, Weblife on its sale to Proofpoint Inc, and Cyphort on its sale to Juniper Networks Inc. The firm estimates there were about 166 global cyber security deals last year where private companies were acquired, totalling $7.8 billion. Investors are not seeing multibillion-dollar windfalls, however. The median for deal sizes in cyber security was only $68 million last year, up from $42 million in 2016, Momentum said. Hundreds of security startups have sprouted in recent years, promising “next-generation” technologies to fight cyber criminals, government spies and hacker activists, who have plagued some of the world’s biggest corporations. Many of the younger companies have struggled to stand out from the crowd and increase revenue on a sustainable basis since sophisticated cyber attacks can make software obsolete very quickly. This makes the market ripe for consolidation, according to DeWalt. Reporting by Liana B. Baker in San Francisco; Editing by Matthew Lewis" + }, + { + "text": "TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- King Engineering has acquired Criser Troutman Tanner Consulting Engineers (CTT), a North Carolina based full-service engineering firm. CTT specializes in civil and structural engineering for private and public-sector clients. With the addition of CTT, King Engineering, which recently merged with Ardurra Group, the company has ~300 professionals throughout 15 offices serving the Gulf Coast, the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. CTT will continue to operate as CTT in the North Carolina market from offices in Wilmington, Raleigh and Charlotte. King Engineering’s Managing Partner, Rick Cloutier, explained, “Serving our clients remains at the forefront. CTT’s specialized engineers complement our existing staff and will help to improve delivery for our clients. CTT further provides a broad geographic footprint and deepens our structural and civil engineering capabilities.” David Criser, CTT’s President adds, “Joining the King Engineering team enables us to provide additional opportunities to our staff by expanding our geographic and client base.” Straddling, Yocca, Carlson and Rauth, P.C. acted as legal counsel and BDO USA, LLP acted as financial and tax advisor on behalf of RTC partners and its affiliates. King Engineering and the Ardurra Group operate as a portfolio company of ETC Partners, LLC. ETC Partners, LLC is a New York based private equity firm that partners with managers of middle market companies to unlock growth opportunities. Further information is available at www.rtcpartners.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Ardurra-King Cinnamon Wagener, 346-666-5192 [REDACTED] Source: King Engineering" + }, + { + "text": "January 31, 2018 / 11:46 AM / Updated 24 minutes ago Melania factor helps to boost Slovenian tourism Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LJUBLJANA (Reuters) - The number of foreign tourists visiting Slovenia jumped almost 17 percent last year to 3.4 million, the statistics office said on Wednesday, the figure boosted by the fact that U.S. First Lady Melania Trump was born in the country Slovenia has also been successfully promoting itself as a safe and green destination at the heart of Europe -- offering access to the Adriatic and mountain locations. The country had its fourth successive year of record tourism numbers in 2017. Melania Trump was born in the town of Sevnica in southeastern Slovenia before becoming a fashion model and moving to the United States. Most foreign tourists came from Italy, Germany and Austria with the number of German tourists up by 26 percent year-on-year. The number of tourists from the United States jumped by 24 percent in November, the latest data available. Reporting By Marja Novak; Editing by Keith Weir" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed preparations for a Syria peace congress in the Russian city of Sochi on Jan. 29-30 with Turkey’s foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in a phone call on Saturday, the Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday. Reporting by Katya Golubkova. Editing by Jane Merriman" + }, + { + "text": "GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., Jan. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- National Bank Holdings Corporation (NYSE: NBHC) expects to report its fourth quarter financial results after the markets close on Thursday, January 25, 2018. Management will host a conference call to review the results at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, January 26, 2018. Interested parties may listen to this call by dialing (877) 272-6762 / (615) 800-6832 (International) using the Conference ID of 92242832 and asking for the NBHC Fourth Quarter Earnings conference call. A telephonic replay of the call will be available beginning approximately two hours after the call's completion through February 9, 2018, by dialing (855) 859-2056 (United States) / (404) 537-3406 (International) using the Conference ID of 92242832. The earnings release and an on-line replay of the call will also be available on the Company's website at www.nationalbankholdings.com by visiting the investor relations area. About National Bank Holdings Corporation National Bank Holdings Corporation is a bank holding company created to build a leading community bank franchise delivering high quality client service and committed to shareholder results. National Bank Holdings Corporation operates a network of 105 banking centers located in Colorado, the greater Kansas City region, Texas and New Mexico. Through the Company's subsidiary, NBH Bank, it operates under the following brand names: Bank Midwest in Kansas and Missouri, Community Banks of Colorado in Colorado, and Hillcrest Bank in Texas and New Mexico. Additional information about National Bank Holdings Corporation can be found at www.nationalbankholdings.com . For more information visit: bankmw.com , cobnks.com , hillcrestbank.com or nbhbank.com . Or, follow us on any of our social media sites: Bank Midwest: facebook.com/bankmw , twitter.com/bank_mw , instagram.com/bankmw ; Community Banks of Colorado: facebook.com/cobnks , twitter.com/cobnks , instagram.com/cobnks ; Hillcrest Bank: facebook.com/hillcrestbank , twitter.com/hillcrest_bank ; NBH Bank: twitter.com/nbhbank ; or connect with any of our brands on LinkedIn. View original content with multimedia: SOURCE National Bank Holdings Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 7:12 AM / Updated 23 minutes ago Bayer raises more than expected in Covestro placement Reuters Staff 1 Min Read FRANKFURT, Jan 11 (Reuters) - German drugs and pesticides group Bayer sold 21 million shares in chemicals group Covestro for 86.25 euros per share, raising 1.8 billion euros ($2.15 billion), more than it had expected. Bayer said on Thursday the placement reduced its direct interest in Covestro to 14.2 percent from 24.6 percent. The Bayer Pension Trust holds a further 8.9 percent stake, which was unchanged. One of the banks involved in the placement had said on Wednesday that Bayer would sell about 18 million shares in Covestro at 86.25 to 88.46 euros apiece for proceeds of 1.55 to 1.59 billion euros. $1 = 0.8373 euros Reporting by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Madeline Chambers" + }, + { + "text": "January 9, 2018 / 6:26 PM / Updated 14 minutes ago Egypt's President Sisi wins huge parliamentary support for a second term Reuters Staff 3 Min Read CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has won the backing of over three-quarters of parliamentarians for a second term as president, lawmakers said on Tuesday, a day after a timeline for the election was announced. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) greets faithful at the new Coptic Cathedral \"The Nativity of Christ\" in the new administrative capital, 45km east of Cairo, Egypt, January 6, 2018 in this handout picture courtesy of the Egyptian Presidency. The Egyptian Presidency/Handout via REUTERS Sisi has yet to announce his candidacy for the ballot, scheduled for March 26-28. But he is widely expected to run and win the election. The former general won a landslide victory in an election in 2014, one year after - as a military commander - he led the overthrow of elected president Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood. The election will be Egypt’s third since the 2011 uprising that ended strongman Hosni Mubarak’s long rule. Election regulations stipulate that would-be candidates must obtain the backing of at least 20 members of parliament for their candidacy or must be supported by at least 25,000 eligible voters in at least 15 governorates. So far, 464 of the 596 members of parliament have come forward to support Sisi, deputy secretary general of parliament Mohamed Nosair said. Lawmakers are not permitted to support more than one candidate. The national election commission has said that candidates must register from Jan. 20 to 29 and that a final list of candidates will be announced on Feb. 20.] Sisi’s critics say his popularity has been dimmed by austerity reforms, security problems and a crackdown on dissidents. But few contenders have come forward in a contest that most observers expect Sisi to win easily. Former prime minister Ahmed Shafik, who was seen as the most serious potential challenger to Sisi’s rule, said on Sunday he was no longer considering running. Another presidential hopeful, rights lawyer Khaled Ali, faces a potential three-month prison sentence for public indecency over an alleged rude hand gesture he made outside a courthouse last year. He may be disqualified from standing if he loses his appeal on March 7. Haitham al-Hariri, leader of a leftist bloc in parliament, told Reuters that his 16-member group of lawmakers has not signed on to Sisi’s nomination and remains open to backing other candidates. “The bloc has disagreements with policies but not with people... with the current policies being followed whether economic, social or security-related policies,” said Hariri. “The bloc doesn’t believe that the continuation of these policies is best for Egypt,” he said. Reporting by Nashaat Hamdy and Mahmoud Mourad; Writing by Eric Knecht; Editing by Hugh Lawson" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 7:37 AM / Updated 13 minutes ago Online fashion firm Boohoo.com raises annual sales forecast again Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - British online fashion retailer Boohoo.com Plc on Thursday raised its full-year sales forecast after doubling its revenue for the four months ended December. The company, which sells clothing, shoes and accessories online to a core market of 16- to 24-year-olds, said group revenue was expected to grow 90 percent for the year to February 2018, ahead of its previous forecast of 80 percent, revised in September. Group revenue doubled to 228.2 million pounds for the four months to Dec. 31 on stellar sales during Black Friday. Reporting by Rahul B in Bengaluru; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 10:28 AM / Updated 7 hours ago M&S poaches Dixons Carphone's Singer to be finance chief Reuters Staff 3 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Marks & Spencer ( MKS.L ) has recruited Dixons Carphone ( DC.L ) finance chief Humphrey Singer to replace chief finance officer Helen Weir, who is leaving the British retailer on March 31 after three years in the role. The logo of Marks & Spencer is seen in front of the store on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris, France, November 8, 2016. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer/File Photo Singer - who has been group finance director of Dixons Carphone since the company was created through the merger of Dixons Retail and Carphone Warehouse in 2014 and did the same role at Dixons Retail before that - said M&S was changing under the leadership of chief executive Steve Rowe. “There’s no better time to be joining the team that is transforming the business,” Singer said on Wednesday. Rowe is attempting to revitalise the clothing, homeware and food retailer by improving ranges, reducing the floorspace devoted to clothes and cutting its cost base. Weir announced in November that she would leave M&S to pursue a “more diverse portfolio” of jobs. She will continue to be paid her salary and pension until Nov. 8 in line with her contract, M&S said, and will be eligible for a bonus for the 2017/18 financial year. Weir was paid 757,000 pounds ($1 million) in salary and received a 496,000 pounds bonus in the last financial year, according to M&S’s annual report. Singer will receive a salary of 600,000 pounds, M&S said. Dixons Carphone, which sells electricals and mobile phones, said Singer was expected to remain at the business until July 2018. It has started a search for a replacement, it said. Seb James, chief executive of Dixons Carphone, said Singer had played a vital role in the transformation of the company, and would leave the business in a healthy financial position. Singer’s strong track record, however, was slightly tarnished when the company warned on profit in August, sending its shares down by as much as 30 percent. Separately, Dixons Carphone was fined 400,000 pounds on Wednesday after the personal data of more than 3 million of its customers was exposed in a cyber attack in 2015. Its shares were flat at 203 pence at 1045 GMT, while M&S’s were up 1.8 percent at 324 pence. M&S will update on Christmas trading on Thursday. Dixons Carphone is set to release a trading statement on Jan. 23. ($1 = 0.7383 pounds)" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea missed a string of chances to draw 0-0 at home with Arsenal in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final on Wednesday as the video assistant referee (VAR) stoked the tension with two important interventions. The hosts struggled to break down Arsene Wenger’s side despite enjoying the majority of possession and will feel hard done by after crafting the best of the game’s few openings in a lively game at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen wasted the best of the hosts’ opportunities, failing to find the target with two headers in the second half after Cesc Fabregas had also spurned a headed chance before the break. Yet with limited goalmouth action, what little drama there was seemed to stem from referee Martin Atkinson referring a handful of decisions to the VAR. The VAR system was being given its second outing in English soccer and was called into action in the first half to confirm Atkinson’s decision to wave away a penalty appeal after Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi went down following a challenge from Victor Moses. It was called on again with two minutes remaining and once more confirmed the referee’s decision not to award a penalty, this time after Danny Welbeck got a faint touch on the ball when bringing down Fabregas. Soccer Football - Carabao Cup Semi Final First Leg - Chelsea vs Arsenal - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - January 10, 2018 Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi, Arsenal's Rob Holding, David Ospina, Shkodran Mustafi and Granit Xhaka look on as the ball hits the goal post REUTERS/David Klein With the system still in the test phase all eyes were focused on how it would work, with Wenger voicing concerns in the aftermath about the length of time it took to confirm the referee’s decision not to award a penalty against Welbeck. He was, however, delighted with how his side defended to leave the tie in the balance ahead of the second leg in two weeks time. Slideshow (2 Images) “I felt there was great togetherness, we didn’t give many chances away. I am pleased with the spirit and determination,” Wenger told sky Sports. Arsenal came into the game without a win in their last three matches and nursing the wounds of a bruising third round FA Cup defeat to second tier Nottingham Forest, but they were resolute from the beginning in what was a relatively cagey affair. Headed chances went begging for the hosts either side of halftime as Fabregas could only steer Cesar Azpilicueta’s diagonal ball straight at David Ospina while Christensen twice failed to find the net from close range after the break. “We tried with all our strength to win the game,” Chelsea boss Antonio Conte said. “We created chances to score but a few times we were not so clinical.” The winners will face either Manchester City or second tier Bristol City in the final, with the Premier League leaders taking a 2-1 lead into the second leg. Reporting by Toby Davis, editing by Ed Osmond Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "15-year-old girl wounded in Texas high school shooting 00:45 A 16-year-old suspected gunman is in custody after he allegedly shot a teenage girl in the cafeteria at Italy High School in Texas Monday morning. Colette Luke has more. A 16-year-old suspected gunman is in custody after he allegedly shot a teenage girl in the cafeteria at Italy High School in Texas Monday morning. Colette Luke has more. //reut.rs/2DwVO7x" + }, + { + "text": "In a season with big game after big game, Oklahoma freshman point guard Trae Young had his best Saturday. Young scored 43 points -- hitting 10 3-pointers -- to help the No. 9 Sooners knock off No. 16 TCU 102-97 in overtime at Lloyd Noble Center. Young added 11 rebounds and seven assists, shooting 15 of 27 from the field and 10 of 18 from behind the 3-point line. Brady Manek added 22 points for the Sooners (14-2, 4-1 Big 12) as the Sooners set a school record for 3-pointers in a game with 19. They needed every one of them. Jaylen Fisher had a career-high 22 point to lead the Horned Frogs. Vladimir Brodziansky added 21 points before fouling out early in overtime for TCU (13-4, 1-4). Oklahoma’s defense, which had struggled throughout much of the game, gave the Sooners a chance in the final seconds when Jamuni McNeace blocked Alex Robinson’s shot. McNeace’s rebound gave the Sooners the ball with 15.9 seconds left coming out of a timeout and TCU clinging to a one-point lead. Young looked to drive toward the basket before flinging the ball to James for the corner 3-pointer. But TCU forced overtime as Fisher, who missed a potential game-winning layup at Texas on Wednesday, this time drove to the basket and finished to send the game to overtime. With 12:49 remaining, Young picked up his third foul -- a charge -- and headed to the bench with the Sooners up four, 63-59. TCU didn’t take much advantage with Young off the floor for about four minutes, cutting the Sooners’ lead by one one. But when Young and Brady Manek checked back into the game, the Horned Frogs started to make a push. TCU scored 16 points in seven possessions to go ahead by six, its largest lead of the game, with less than five minutes remaining. Then Young heated up once again, driving to the baseline and hitting an acrobatic reverse layup as he was fouled. On Oklahoma’s next possession, he drained a step-back 3-pointer -- his eighth of the game -- to cut the Horned Frogs’ lead to one. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "Hong Kong eyes blockbuster IPOs in 2018 1:02pm GMT - 01:55 Hong Kong bankers are eyeing a slew of blockbuster IPOs from Chinese technology firms with a total market capitalisation of some $500 billion over the next two years, in a sharp contrast to 2017 - the city's worst year for raising equity in a decade. Ryan Brooks reports Hong Kong bankers are eyeing a slew of blockbuster IPOs from Chinese technology firms with a total market capitalisation of some $500 billion over the next two years, in a sharp contrast to 2017 - the city's worst year for raising equity in a decade. Ryan Brooks reports //reut.rs/2A6JXqd" + }, + { + "text": "JOHANNESBURG, Jan 23 (Reuters) - The acting head of group capital at South Africa’s Eskom has resigned, the state-owned power utility said on Tuesday, adding to a growing list of executives leaving the company. Spokesman Khulu Phasiwe said Prish Govender did not give a reason for his resignation, which is with immediate effect. Govender’s departure comes a day after suspended Chief Financial Officer Anoj Singh tendered his resignation with immediate effect on Monday, amid an investigation into allegations he granted preferential treatment to firms supplying coal to Eskom. Singh has denied wrongdoing. South Africa’s parliament is investigating Eskom over allegations executives were involved in unduly awarding contracts to friends of President Jacob Zuma. The utility’s chairman, Zethembe Khoza, also quit on Saturday, hours before the government named a new Eskom board, ending a power vacuum that dates back to mid-2017 when then chairman Ben Ngubane resigned and the government reversed Eskom’s decision to reinstate Brian Molefe as chief executive. $1 = 12.0748 rand Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 10 (IFR) - Israel has launched a US$2bn bond offering, according to a lead. The sovereign has set final terms on US$1bn due January 2028s at 75bp over Treasuries, and US$1bn due January 2048s at Treasuries plus 125bp. The 10-year bond was initially marketed at plus 90bp area, and guidance was set at plus 80bp area (+/-5bp). The 30-year tranche was originally offered at 145bp area over, before pricing was revised to plus 130bp area (+/-5bp). The bookrunners are Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs. Israel is rated A1/A+/A+. (Reporting by Robert Hogg; editing by Sudip Roy) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Phil Wahba, FORTUNE Photograph by Bloomberg Bloomberg via Getty Images The bookstore has struggled of late as it's faced off against Amazon. comments Book buyers continued to defect from Barnes & Noble bks during the crucial holiday season, dealing the chain a big new blow to its financial results. Barnes & Noble shares fell 15% on Friday in the wake of the bookseller’s report that comparable sales fell 6.4% in November and December, the busiest time of year for the retailer, as shopper visits continued to decline. What’s more, half of the deterioration in sales was attributable to drops in music and DVDs, two categories that have been in a long decline across the industry but remained fixtures at Barnes & Noble. And in yet more evidence of how much difficult Barnes & Noble is having carving out a niche for itself in the current environment, its online sales fell 4.5%, making it a rare retailer to see its e-commerce business contract. All this comes at a time arch-rival Amazon.com amzn has been opening more bookstores. The company said in November it would exit some gift and toy products , gradually shrink its store size and focus more on books. But even there, Barnes & Noble, the top U.S. bookstore chain with 632 stores, is struggling: its book sales fell 4.5%, underperforming the overall book market. Barnes & Noble said in a press release it “remains focused on executing its strategic turnaround plan,” which includes cost cuts. That plan includes some test stores with cafes and that sell alcohol that are showing promising results but that frankly are too few in number to move the needle anytime soon. Chief Executive Demos Parneros, who took the reins last year after multiple changes in the corner office in recent years, has been making small modest moves so far. They include things like giving customers who bought a book a coupon to get a discount on a coffee at its café. Another is to encourage its booksellers to engage with customers, something that should go without saying for a bookstore if it wants to give customers a reason to go to its stores. But none of this is so far adding up to a cohesive strategy to pull Barnes & Noble out of its long downward spiral, now up to seven quarters of comparable sales declines, at a time shoppers are increasingly learning to look elsewhere for their book buying needs. Related Articles" + }, + { + "text": "U.K. oil major BP has said it wants to double its North Sea production by 2020 after it announced two new oil and gas discoveries. The finds were made in summer 2017 in wells drilled near the Shetland Islands and in the central North Sea. One is fully owned by BP while the other is a joint venture with Chevron and Shell. BP North Sea Regional President Mark Thomas said Wednesday that the data of both new wells is under evaluation and at least one of the two could potentially be tied into existing infrastructure. He added that that the wider area off the Scottish coast now looked \"refreshed and revitalized\" for energy extraction. \"We expect to double production to 200,000 barrels a day by 2020 and keep producing beyond 2050,\" he added. After a two-year downturn in the oil market, North Sea operations are showing signs of resurgence after the price of crude recently pushed back above $70 a barrel. In January, Shell announced it was to build its first new North Sea installation in three decades and a number of private equity firms have taken over production fields vacated by oil majors. According to Oil and Gas UK, total production has risen year-on-year since 2013, while costs per barrel have been slashed as firms look for efficiencies. In its December 2017 report, the industry group added that up to $5.5 billion worth of new capital projects could be approved in 2018, the highest level in five years. Following BP's announcement, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Scotland said it was \"perverse\" to double production of North Sea energy in the face of climate change. The organization added that skills in the region should be transferred toward supporting cleaner forms of energy production." + }, + { + "text": "New technology will make jobs obsolete but will also create a lot of opportunities, the CEO of Schneider Electric said Tuesday. Speaking to CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jean-Pascal Tricoire said that a few trends were accelerating. One was the \"absolute digitization of every facility,\" while the other was \"Industry 4.0.\" Tricoire said the latter related to the \"convergence of IT technologies with operational technology\" as well as the \"massive injection of artificial intelligence.\" Boosting the efficiency of buildings was just one example of where human hands would still be required, he said. \"If you want to go back to those buildings with digital technology to make them far more efficient... (you will need) plenty of service, tech jobs on the ground to deploy those technologies. And that's new jobs,\" Tricoire said. \"And actually, when we put figures behind that we see a sector which is going to grow by 10 percent, at least, in Europe, for instance,\" he added." + }, + { + "text": "January 30, 2018 / 6:18 AM / in an hour LIVE MARKETS-Morning call: Taking cue from Wall St and Asia, European stocks to falter Reuters Staff 2 Min Read * European stocks to rise * Asian trading was strong, dollar inched higher * Heavy earnings week begins Jan 30 (Reuters) - Welcome to the home for real time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Helen Reid. Reach her on Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves: [REDACTED] MORNING CALL: TAKING CUE FROM WALL ST AND ASIA, EUROPEAN STOCKS TO FALTER (0618 GMT) Good morning and welcome to Live Markets. Spreadbetters are calling European stocks markedly lower after a weaker U.S. session spread a somewhat more bearish mood to Asian trading as well. A slide in Apple shares was the catalyst for a broad-based pull-back on Wall Street. The tech stock fell 1.6 percent on a Nikkei report Apple will halve its iPhone X production target, causing the Dow and the S&P 500 to suffer their biggest one-day declines in around 5 months. Asian stocks then retreated from their record highs, while the dollar found some support as U.S. bond yields rose. Spreadbetters call the FTSE down 30 points at 7,641.1 points, the DAX 51 points lower at 13,273.2 points and the CAC 40 down 16 points at 5,505.4. (Helen Reid)" + }, + { + "text": "48 PM / in 36 minutes Polish power grid operator to work with Israeli utility on cyber-security WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish power grid operator PSE said on Tuesday it will cooperate with Israel Electric Corporation Limited to fight potential cyber threats in the energy sector. PSE said the Israeli utility was a leader in its region in the cybersecurity field. PSE started a computer emergency response team (CERT) at the end of 2016 to help maintain cybersecurity. The special unit has already started cooperation with its counterparts in the United States and Norway. “We gain an experienced partner, effective in fighting cybercrime. This is extremely important at a time when cybercriminals and cyber-terrorists develop cooperation among themselves and create more and more advanced tools of attacks,” PSE Chief Executive Eryk Klossowski was quoted as saying in a statement. PSE had said in the past that its IT systems are being regularly targeted by cybercriminals, but the attempts are successfully repelled. Reporting by Agnieszka Barteczko; Editing by Lidia Kelly and Adrian Croft" + }, + { + "text": "6 days ago | 2,305 shares About Russian Insight aggregates the latest stories, tweets and videos about Russia from around the world. Updated every minute, this website is an English-language primer on all things Russia. Learn more Content Our automated aggregation service scans both Russian and Western media sources, as well as blogs and social networks, to deliver objective news coverage without editorial control. Newsletter Subscribe to our daily email updates: Email Address" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Wall Street pulled back from record highs on Monday with the S&P 500 marking its biggest one-day percentage decline in about five months, weighed down by a slide in Apple shares. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 177.23 points, or 0.67 percent, to 26,439.48, the S&P 500 lost 19.34 points, or 0.67 percent, to 2,853.53 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 39.27 points, or 0.52 percent, to 7,466.51. (Reporting by Stephen Culp; Editing by Nick Zieminski)" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 1:32 PM / Updated 13 minutes ago Tri-Series in UAE 2018 Scoreboard Reuters Staff 3 Min Read Jan 18 (OPTA) - Scoreboard at close of play of match 4 between Ireland and Scotland on Thursday at Dubai, United Arab Emirates Ireland win by 24 runs Ireland 1st innings William Porterfield c Scott Cameron b Stu Whittingham 6 Paul Stirling c Matthew Cross b Alasdair Evans 74 Andrew Balbirnie c Mark Watt b Stu Whittingham 47 Niall O'Brien c Craig Wallace b Scott Cameron 51 Simi Singh c&b Stu Whittingham 45 Kevin O'Brien c Michael Jones b Scott Cameron 46 Gary Wilson Not Out 40 George Dockrell Not Out 2 Extras 4b 4lb 2nb 0pen 10w 20 Total (50.0 overs) 331-6 Fall of Wickets : 1-15 Porterfield, 2-132 Balbirnie, 3-138 Stirling, 4-235 O'Brien, 5-240 Singh, 6-325 O'Brien Did Not Bat : McCarthy, Rankin, Chase Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Stu Whittingham 10 0 58 3 5.80 5w 1nb Alasdair Evans 10 0 65 1 6.50 Mark Watt 10 0 50 0 5.00 1w Scott Cameron 10 0 64 2 6.40 4w 1nb Michael Leask 5 0 49 0 9.80 Calum MacLeod 5 0 37 0 7.40 Scotland 1st innings George Munsey c Boyd Rankin b Peter Chase 30 Michael Jones c (Sub) b Barry McCarthy 74 Matthew Cross c&b George Dockrell 33 Richard Berrington b Kevin O'Brien 10 Calum MacLeod c William Porterfield b Barry McCarthy 58 Craig Wallace c&b Boyd Rankin 4 Michael Leask b George Dockrell 59 Mark Watt Run Out Kevin O'Brien 4 Scott Cameron b Peter Chase 1 Alasdair Evans Not Out 13 Stu Whittingham Not Out 3 Extras 0b 9lb 2nb 0pen 7w 18 Total (50.0 overs) 307-9 Fall of Wickets : 1-67 Munsey, 2-127 Cross, 3-155 Berrington, 4-163 Jones, 5-169 Wallace, 6-264 Leask, 7-268 Watt, 8-269 Cameron, 9-298 MacLeod Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Barry McCarthy 10 1 67 2 6.70 Boyd Rankin 10 1 39 1 3.90 1w Peter Chase 9 0 78 2 8.67 2w 2nb Kevin O'Brien 10 0 55 1 5.50 George Dockrell 8 0 43 2 5.38 4w Simi Singh 3 0 16 0 5.33 Umpire Alex Dowdalls Umpire Nitin Menon Match Referee Manu Nayyar" + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL—South Korea’s leader acknowledged policy differences with his U.S. ally in their approach to North Korea, but credited President Donald Trump for helping bring Pyongyang back to the negotiating table. A day after senior officials from the two Koreas met, President Moon Jae-in expressed “guarded optimism,” and called for further inter-Korean dialogue during next month’s Winter Olympics in South Korea. Admitting... RELATED VIDEO North and South Korea Hold Rare Formal Talks Senior officials from South and North Korea held their first formal face-to-face talks in two years on Tuesday, discussing Pyongyang's possible participation in the Winter Olympics and other issues in hopes of cooling tensions. Photo: AFP" + }, + { + "text": "Wallaby leads police chase over Sydney Harbour Bridge 10:46am IST - 01:08 A wallaby hopping across the Sydney Harbour Bridge holds up early-morning traffic before being caught downtown by police officers. No reporter narration. A wallaby hopping across the Sydney Harbour Bridge holds up early-morning traffic before being caught downtown by police officers. No reporter narration. //reut.rs/2Dijf4s" + }, + { + "text": "LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - North Korea’s representative on the International Olympic Committee arrived at IOC headquarters on Wednesday, a day after Pyongyang said it would send a large delegation to next month’s Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea. North Korean IOC member Chang Ung arrived alone carrying a folder of papers and entered the IOC building in Lausanne without speaking to journalists, a Reuters witness said. An IOC spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment. Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; writing by Tom Miles; editing by Mark Heinrich" + }, + { + "text": "PARIS (Reuters) - Worshippers will witness the transformation of an ancient ritual in Paris next Sunday, when a Catholic church rolls out wireless technology to allow devotees to donate money with a flash of their bank cards. The Catholic authorities says the conversion to contactless card payment technology will begin at one church in the west of Paris, with a rapid rollout thereafter to others in the region. For centuries, donations have been solicited by circulating a basket or plate at regular gatherings of worshippers, chiefly on Sundays. “The outlook is clear: banknotes and coins are used less and less by the new generation,” the governing body of the Catholic faith in Paris said in a statement. People accustomed to payment via card or mobile phone often ended up fumbling in empty pockets when the collection bowl comes their way, it said, adding that average donations of 98 euros a year per worshipper were at stake. “Faced with this development, the Church has chosen to adapt to the new technologies and creative innovations,” it said. The French experiment follows announcements last year that the Church of England would be pursuing a similar course of action among its followers. Reporting By Brian Love; Editing by Hugh Lawson" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 3:07 AM / Updated an hour ago Strong quake in Caribbean Sea shakes Honduras, Mexico and Belize, no tsunami Gustavo Palencia 3 Min Read TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 7.6 that struck near remote islands belonging to Honduras on Tuesday was felt across northern Central America but there were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage. The quake rattled windows in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa roughly 323 miles (519 km) to the east and was felt at least as far north as the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, but no damage was immediately reported. Rodrigo Anaya Rodriguez was in a hammock inside his house near the popular tourist site of Bacalar Lake near Mexico’s Caribbean coast when he felt three tremors. “It felt like a bulldozer was driving past,” he said. “It didn’t last long but was very violent.” He ran to his balcony and saw electricity posts and cables swaying. In Honduras, firefighters said some residents in southern neighbourhoods fled their homes after feeling the shaking. The country operates a small naval base on Great Swan Island, about 27 miles (44 km) west of the quake’s epicentre, but it was not immediately clear how the tremors affected the station. “We have reports that it was felt in the majority of the country, but we don’t have reports of damage,” said Lizandro Rosales, director of Honduras’ contingencies commission. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake, initially reported as a magnitude 7.8, was centred 125 miles (202 km)northeast of Barra Patuca in Honduras and 191 miles (307 km)southwest of George Town in the Cayman Islands. The quake was very shallow, at only 6.2 miles (10 km), which would have amplified its effect. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially warned that tsunami waves up to 1 metre (3 feet) above tide level could hit parts of Honduras, Belize and Puerto Rico along with the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. About two hours after the quake, the centre said the threat had passed, withdrawing all tsunami advisories connected with the quake. The tremors were felt in Belize’s capital, Belize City, but there were no immediate reports of damage. Belize’s minister in charge of emergency management, Edmond Castro, spoke on local radio to urge people living in low lying coastal areas and islands to stay alert for potentially dangerous waves. Additional reporting by Sandra Maler in Washington; Daina Beth Solomon, Adriana Barrera and Frank Jack Daniel in Mexico City; Jose Sanchez in Belize City; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Simon Cameron-Moore" + }, + { + "text": "FORT MILL, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Domtar Corporation (NYSE: UFS) (TSX: UFS) will release its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2017 financial results before markets open on Thursday, February 8, 2018. A conference call will be held to discuss the results at 10:00 a.m. (ET). Financial analysts are invited to participate in the call by dialing 1-800-499-4035 (North America) or 1-416-204-9269 (International). Media and other interested individuals are invited to listen to the live webcast at www.domtar.com . About Domtar Domtar is a leading provider of a wide variety of fiber-based products including communication, specialty and packaging papers, market pulp and absorbent hygiene products. With approximately 10,000 employees serving more than 50 countries around the world, Domtar is driven by a commitment to turn sustainable wood fiber into useful products that people rely on every day. Domtar’s annual sales are approximately $5.1 billion and its common stock is traded on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges. Domtar’s principal executive office is in Fort Mill, South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.domtar.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Domtar Corporation INVESTOR RELATIONS Nicholas Estrela, 514-848-5049 Director Investor Relations Source: Domtar Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - Beijing WKW Automotive Parts Co Ltd : * SAYS IT EXPECTS 2017 NET PROFIT TO FALL 30-45 PERCENT Y/Y FROM 635.5 MILLION YUAN ($100.33 million) YEAR AGO Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2DVBWul Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3339 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29 (Reuters) - Insurer MetLife Inc named executive vice president James Reid head of its global employee benefits business. Reid, who has over 25 years of experience, will work with MetLife’s regional offices, financial institutions and global employee benefit brokers and consultants, the company said. (Reporting by Tamara Mathias)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 15 (Reuters) - Tatwah Smartech Co Ltd : * Says its Hong Kong-based unit plans to acquire 49 percent stake in a satellite firm SUPREMESAT (PRIVATE) LIMITED * Transaction amount is $31.3 million in total, composed of $26 million worth of satellite orbit use right and cash Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/vnZJsc Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Court orders Pennsylvania redraw Congressional maps Monday, January 22, 2018 - 02:16 Pennsylvania’s top court on Monday threw out the state’s congressional map, ruling that Republican legislators unlawfully sought partisan advantage, and gave them three weeks to rework it in a decision that could boost Democratic chances of retaking the U.S. House of Representatives. Pennsylvania’s top court on Monday threw out the state’s congressional map, ruling that Republican legislators unlawfully sought partisan advantage, and gave them three weeks to rework it in a decision that could boost Democratic chances of retaking the U.S. House of Representatives. //reut.rs/2DyAr5V" + }, + { + "text": "When I speak with young people beginning their careers I often tell them that in spite of the apparent formidableness of the adults around them—their mastery of office systems, their professional accomplishments, their sheer ability to last—almost everyone begins every day just trying to keep up their morale. Everyone’s trying to be hopeful about themselves and the world. People are more confused, even defeated by life, than they let on; many people—most—have times when they feel they’ve lost the plot, the thread. So go forward with appropriate compassion. This" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 7:30 AM / Updated an hour ago Britain's Carillion collapses after banks pull the plug Kate Holton 5 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Carillion collapsed on Monday when its banks pulled the plug, triggering Britain’s biggest corporate failure in a decade and forcing the government to step in to guarantee public services from school meals to road works. Workers stand outside Carillion's Midland Metropolitan Hospital construction site after the company went into liquidation, in Smethwick, Britain January 15, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Staples The 200-year-old business went into compulsory liquidation at 0600 GMT after costly contract delays and a slump in new business left it swamped by debt and pensions liabilities of at least 2.2 billion pounds ($3 billion). Its demise threatens to hurt smaller suppliers, merchants, rivals and Britain’s biggest banks. The British government was left to ensure there was no disruption to public services. The collapse poses a headache for Theresa May’s government which had employed Carillion to work on 450 projects including the building and maintenance of hospitals, schools, defense sites and a high-speed rail line. May’s government also faced questions from the opposition Labour Party about why it awarded the company 1.3 billion pounds of state contracts after Carillion fell into financial difficulty in July last year. “In recent days we have been unable to secure the funding to support our business plan and it is therefore with the deepest regret that we have arrived at this decision,” Chairman Philip Green said. KEEP ON WORKING The government’s priority is to ensure that public services are not disrupted, said David Lidington, the minister in charge of the Cabinet Office which oversees the running of government. He urged Carillion staff to continue to work and said the government would pay their salaries. Some contracts handled by Carillion would in time go to alternative providers, he added. But despite the short-term support, the government stopped short of bailing out the company as it did with major banks during the financial crisis in 2007-09. Employing 43,000 people around the world, including 20,000 in Britain, Carillion has been fighting for survival since July when it revealed it was losing cash on projects and had written down the value of its contract book by 845 million pounds. With banks refusing in recent days to accept the latest restructuring plan, May’s senior ministers met around the clock, under pressure from the Labour Party and unions not to use taxpayer money to prop up the failing company. Ministers, top bankers and company bosses scrambled to find a way to save the company in last ditch talks over the weekend. A worker walks outside Carillion's Midland Metropolitan Hospital construction site after the company went into liquidation, in Smethwick, Britain January 15, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Staples Carillion has committed debt facilities of around 1.6 billion pounds to banks which include the country’s five biggest -- RBS, Santander UK, Lloyds, HSBC and Barclays -- and others. It has a pension deficit of 580 million pounds. GOVERNMENT UNDER PRESSURE Spun out of Tarmac nearly 20 years ago and including such construction names as Wimpey and Alfred McAlpine, Carillion operates in Britain, Ireland, Canada, the Middle East and North Africa. Its projects include London’s Royal Opera House, the Suez Canal road tunnel and Toronto’s Union Station. In July last year, a week after its initial profit warning, it was named as one of the contractors on Britain’s new High Speed 2 rail line, a flagship project that will better connect London with the north of England. Richard Howson quit as chief executive at the time of the profit warning after five years in the role. Its shares have lost more than 90 percent of their value over the past six months. Slideshow (4 Images) At its headquarters in Wolverhampton, central England, a handful of workers could be seen holding meetings. Shares in rival businesses such as G4S, Interserve, Balfour Beatty and Kier Group advanced on hopes they would pick up some additional work. However, Balfour, which worked with Carillion on three British road projects, said the collapse would probably cost it between 35 and 45 million pounds. Many of Britain’s service providers have been hit in recent years after they took on work during the financial crisis at low prices for long-running, fixed-price contracts. The contracts left little room for delay or failure and have led to problems for groups including Capita, Mitie and Interserve. The company’s demise comes at a difficult time for May who is trying to negotiate Britain’s exit from the European Union. The Labour Party questioned why Britain had handed over so much of its public service work to private companies." + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 8:35 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago Seven killed in bar shooting in drug-producing Colombian province Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BOGOTA (Reuters) - Gunmen killed seven people on Sunday in a bar in Colombia’s Antioquia province, where the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group and the Gulf Clan drug gang are locked in a dispute over territory, police said. The ELN and the Gulf Clan, founded by former right-wing paramilitaries, are fighting over drug production previously controlled by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels, who demobilized last year after a peace deal. “Five armed subjects entered and shot patrons and caused the death of seven people,” Carlos Mauricio Sierra, police commander for the province, told reporters on Monday. The incident took place in the mountainous Yarumal municipality. In the nearby municipality of Caceres, hundreds of people were displaced from their homes over the weekend by fighting between illegal armed groups, Antioquia’s provincial government said on its website. The ELN, FARC dissidents who refused to demobilize and crime gangs are also involved in illegal mining of gold, extortion and other crimes. The government has sent thousands of additional soldiers to troubled areas in a bid to improve security. The ELN is holding peace talks with the Colombian government in Quito, but the talks were recently interrupted when the group stepped up its attacks after the end of a ceasefire. The Gulf Clan has repeatedly expressed a desire to come to a surrender agreement with Colombia’s government, which has said it will not negotiate with criminal groups. Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Paul Simao" + }, + { + "text": "DAVOS (Reuters) - Societe Generale chief executive Frederic Oudea is “very positive” about the French bank’s set-up in capital markets and expects to see better market conditions in 2018 and beyond, he told Reuters on Tuesday. Low volatility in 2017 impacted investment bank results, but Oudea said in a TV interview that volatility could gain momentum as central banks start to exit accommodative monetary policies. “I am very positive on our business model, I am very positive on the set up we have,” said Oudea, speaking on the sidelines of the Davos business summit, when asked if trends for fixed income and equities trading could change this year. Oudea said the bank had two main priorities in capital markets trading: developing more structured products and enhancing its European fixed income and equities franchises. “I think that in 2018 and beyond we will see better market conditions overall and (I am) pretty positive with the outlook of the economy and markets, I am starting the year with optimism,” said Oudea. SocGen’s fixed income trading revenue fell 27.8 percent in the third quarter, while equities trading was down 19.3 percent. The bank is due to report fourth quarter results on Feb. 8. Reporting by Silvia Aloisi in Davos; Writing by Maya Nikolaeva; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 12:40 PM / Updated 5 hours ago Hindustan Unilever Q3 profit surges 28 percent Reuters Staff 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Hindustan Unilever Ltd posted a 28 percent rise in its third-quarter profit on Wednesday, underpinned by higher sales from its personal care business. Profit came in at 13.26 billion rupees ($207.64 million) in the quarter ended Dec. 31, from 10.38 billion rupees a year ago, the diversified consumer goods maker said. bit.ly/2rl6Bw7 Analysts on average had expected a profit of 11.58 billion rupees, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon data. Revenue from the company’s personal care segment, which houses brands such as Vaseline and Dove, rose 2.8 percent to 4.09 billion rupees. ($1 = 63.8600 Indian rupees)" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 1:28 PM / Updated 41 minutes ago Mexican presidential poll shows leftist in the lead Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Leftist contender Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is leading the race to win Mexico’s July presidential election with the support of 32 percent of the voters, a survey by polling firm Buendia & Laredo showed on Monday. In second place, with 26 percent support, is Ricardo Anaya, the former head of the conservative National Action Party (PAN), who is leading a right-left coalition into the race, according to the poll published in newspaper El Universal. Back in third, with 16 percent backing, is Jose Antonio Meade, the former finance minister aiming to secure the nomination of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI. Writing by Dave Graham" + }, + { + "text": "LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The board of directors of KB Home (NYSE: KBH) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $.025 per share on the Company's common stock, payable on February 22, 2018 to stockholders of record on February 8, 2018. About KB Home KB Home (NYSE: KBH) is one of the largest homebuilders in the United States, with more than 600,000 homes delivered since our founding in 1957. We operate in 35 markets in 7 states, primarily serving first-time and first move-up homebuyers, as well as active adults. We are differentiated in offering customers the ability to personalize what they value most in their home, from choosing their lot, floor plan, and exterior, to selecting design and décor choices in our KB Home Studios. In addition, we are an industry leader in sustainability, building innovative and highly energy- and water-efficient homes. We invite you to learn more about KB Home by visiting www.kbhome.com , calling 888-KB-HOMES, or connecting with us on Facebook.com/KBHome or Twitter.com/KBHome . View source version on businesswire.com : KB Home Investor Relations: Jill Peters (310) 893-7456 [REDACTED] Source: KB Home" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan protested to China on Friday after a foreign submarine in waters near disputed islands in the East China Sea was confirmed to be Chinese, calling it a unilateral action and a “serious escalation” that raised bilateral tensions. The submarine was first detected on Thursday in waters contiguous to Japan’s territory around the islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, but was finally identified on Friday, the Defence Ministry said, a day after Japan lodged a protest with China over the presence of a frigate in the same area. Neither entered what Japan considers its territorial waters. Japan and China have long been at loggerheads over the tiny, uninhabited islands. They are controlled by Japan but claimed also by China. “The presence of the submarine in Japan’s contiguous waters, along with that of the frigate, has unilaterally raised tensions. We are deeply concerned,” Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera told reporters. Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Shinzuke Sugiyama telephoned China’s ambassador to Japan, Cheng Yonghua, to lodge a strong protest and demand measures be taken to prevent a repeat, the ministry said in a statement. China routinely rejects Japanese criticism of such patrols, saying its ships have every right to operate in what China calls its territorial waters. Reporting by Elaine Lies; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 5:16 PM / in 4 hours Golf-Grace soars to joint top of SA Open leaderboard with eagle rush Reuters Staff 2 Min Read JOHANNESBURG, Jan 11 (Reuters) - South African Branden Grace carded three eagles on his way to a seven-under-par 65 for a share of the lead with American Chase Koepka after the first round of the European Tour’s South African Open on Thursday. Grace, the highest ranked player in the field at number 30 in the world, also recorded three birdies and two bogeys as he attacked the pins, particularly on the front nine. All his eagles came on par-five holes, the second, eighth and 15th, the last following an excellent 20-foot putt. Koepka, the younger brother of 2017 U.S. Open champion Brooks, carded an eagle and seven birdies to go with two bogeys. The pair were one shot ahead of England’s Chris Paisley, who had seven birdies and a bogey in his round of 66. South African major winners Ernie Els (71), Retief Goosen (69) and Charl Schwartzel (69) all had solid opening rounds, but Trevor Immelman (79) carded five bogeys and a double-bogey on a day to forget for the 2008 U.S. Masters champion. Defending champion Graeme Storm from England struggled to an opening 75. The tournament is the second oldest Open championship in the world having first been formally played in 1903. (Reporting by Nick Said, editing by Ed Osmond)" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Encrypted messaging app Signal said it had partnered with Microsoft Corp to encrypt messages on the technology giant’s online communications service, Skype. Microsoft is the latest to join a growing list of companies including Alphabet Inc's Google and Facebook Inc to encrypt their messaging platforms. ( bit.ly/2AQdF35 ) Reporting by Muvija M in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel" + }, + { + "text": "BERLINO, 31 gennaio (Reuters) - German Finance Agency, the federal government's debt management office, sold 3.204 billion euros of its new 0.00 percent, 5-year Bobl notes at the lowest price of 99.6, the Bundesbank said on Wednesday. The notes (ISIN:DE[REDACTED]) are due to mature on April 14, 2023. The settlement date is Feb 02. Results of Nov 08 sale included for reference: AUCTION DATE 31/01/18 08/11/17 AVG. YIELD 0.08 pct -0.39 pct AVG. ACCEPTED PRICE 99.6 101.92 LOWEST ACCEPTED PRICE 99.6 101.92 TAIL 0 0 TOTAL BIDS 4.246 bln euros 3.517 bln euros ALLOTTED 3.204 bln euros 2.467 bln euros RETAINED 0.796 bln euros 0.533 bln euros BID COVER RATIO 1.3 1.4 TOTAL VOLUME 4.0 bln euros 17.0 bln euros Auction details in German can be found at . ((Berlin newsroom; Tel: [REDACTED]; Email: [REDACTED]) Keywords: GERMANY BOBL/" + }, + { + "text": "The bond market's entering a whole new cycle that would mark the end its decadeslong bull market. That's according to veteran technician Louise Yamada, whose chart work suggests that a bond breakdown could be in the near future. First, Yamada, managing director of Louise Yamada Technical Research Advisors, pointed to a more-than-200-year chart of U.S. interest rates to explain the longer-term trend for interest rates. \"The last rising rates cycle was from 1946 to 1981, and from 1981 forward to today, we've been in a falling rate cycle,\" she said Tuesday on CNBC's \"Futures Now,\" making the point that the typical 37-year cycle was over and rates were now beginning to enter a rising rate cycle. This is most obvious with the U.S. two-year Treasury yield, said Yamada. \"When [the two-year note] went through 1.5 percent, it broke out of a nine-year base,\" she explained. \"And we've been suggesting that breakout is indicative of a reversal from a falling rate cycle into a rising rate cycle, which could last one or two decades.\" In other words, history and current technicals indicate to Yamada that rates will just keep rising, meaning that bond prices themselves could start to fall. But the end result could be positive for the market. \"If we see tax reform doing better for a lot of companies, I think that you could continue to see a corresponding rise in yields along with an economic improvement,\" she said. \"That's not to say there wouldn't be pullbacks because there will be, we haven't seen one in a long time, but I think that you could see rates go easily through 3 percent.\" And that 3 percent mark, according to Yamada, would be the definitive level indicating that bonds are in a rising rate cycle. On Wednesday, the 10-year Treasury yield hovered at around 2.44 percent. show chapters 200 years of US interest rates in one chart 2:04 PM ET Tue, 2 Jan 2018 | 06:13 Disclaimer" + }, + { + "text": "Yemeni gov't holed up as separatists seize Aden 10:58am GMT - 01:09 Southern Yemeni separatists have seized control of the port city of Aden and blockaded the internationally recognized government in the presidential palace. The new frontline opens a potential rift in the Saudi-led coalition waging a military campaign in Yemen. Southern Yemeni separatists have seized control of the port city of Aden and blockaded the internationally recognized government in the presidential palace. The new frontline opens a potential rift in the Saudi-led coalition waging a military campaign in Yemen. //uk.reuters.com/video/2018/01/31/yemeni-govt-holed-up-as-separatists-seiz?videoId=389928210&videoChannel=13422" + }, + { + "text": "The dollar fell on Tuesday, reversing its gains from the day before, as traders awaited a Federal Reserve meeting announcement on Wednesday, while major currencies such as the euro and the Japanese yen strengthened against the greenback. After six straight weekly declines, the dollar index was on track to fall about 3.4 percent for the month, which would be its biggest monthly fall since March 2016. Traders are cautious ahead of a slate of events this week, including a U.S. Federal Reserve meeting announcement on Wednesday and a U.S. jobs report on Friday that will include data on nonfarm payrolls and average hourly earnings. The Fed began its meeting on Tuesday. \"We're just kind of jobbing around in wait of the Fed tomorrow,\" said Greg Anderson, a global head of FX strategy at BMO Capital Markets in New York. A spike in global bond yields, with 10-year U.S. bond yields pushing well above 2.70 percent, their highest since April 2014, prompted some investors to cut some short positions and pushed the dollar higher on Monday. However, the dollar was last down 0.07 percent against a basket of six major currencies at 89.25, having pulled up from a low of around 88.43 set last week, its weakest level since December 2014. \"When you have pullbacks and the dollar strengthens a little bit, people just wait until the pullback is over and then they add to their dollar shorts,\" BMO's Anderson said. \"I would not say there's any fundamental driver that's changed over the last 24 hours.\" show chapters Looking back on the dollar’s wild moves 7:31 AM ET Mon, 29 Jan 2018 | 01:27 The euro gained 0.06 percent to $1.2389, still a way from a three-year high of $1.2536 touched last week. Sterling , a currency highly correlated to risk-on sentiment, briefly fell below the $1.40 line for the first time in a week before climbing back above the level and last trading at $1.4139. The Japanese yen strengthened 0.11 percent versus the greenback at 108.83 per dollar. On Tuesday night, U.S. President Donald Trump will hold a State of the Union address. Trump said on Monday he will address his proposed immigration overhaul in his speech as well as his efforts to lower trade barriers around the world for American exports. BMO's Anderson said he did not expect the speech to be market moving. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin gave U.S. currency bears a major boost last week with a tacit endorsement of a weak dollar. Trump later tried to row back from those comments, saying he ultimately wants the dollar to be strong." + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 2:34 AM / Updated 17 hours ago China's Hebei pledges to cut pollution by 14 percent by 2020 Reuters Staff 2 Min Read SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China’s heavily polluted industrial province of Hebei has pledged to cut concentrations of hazardous smog particles by 14 percent by 2020, part of China’s ongoing efforts to improve air quality in the region. Following a meeting this week, the provincial government promised to cut small, airborne particles known as PM2.5 to an average of 57 micrograms per cubic metre by 2020, down from 65 micrograms in 2017, according to a notice issued by the local environmental bureau on Thursday. Smog-prone Hebei, which surrounds the capital Beijing, is a major front in China’s ongoing “war on pollution”, and it is desperate to promote cleaner forms of growth and cut fossil fuel use, especially coal. The province has been under heavy pressure to bring smog under control this winter, shutting factories, curbing traffic and converting coal-fired heating boilers as part of a state anti-pollution drive that committed 28 northern Chinese cities to reduce PM2.5 concentrations by at least 15 percent from October 2017 to March 2018. Hebei - China’s biggest steel-producing region - also said this week that it would accelerate efforts to restructure its heavy industrial economy, promote innovation, expand tourism and service sectors and increase forestation in the next three years. The province aims to raise the share of non-fossil fuels in its total primary energy mix to 10 percent by 2020, up from 5 percent in 2015 - still falling short of the national target of 15 percent for the period. Reporting by David Stanway; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell" + }, + { + "text": "AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- INTERXION HOLDING NV (NYSE: INXN), a leading European provider of carrier and cloud-neutral colocation data centre services, today announced that Richard Rowson has been named Interim Chief Financial Officer effective 1 February 2018 in conjunction with the departure of Josh Joshi, whose resignation for personal reasons was announced on 3 October 2017. As Interim Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Rowson will report directly to Interxion Chief Executive Officer David Ruberg until a permanent replacement is named. Mr. Rowson joined Interxion as Vice President of Finance in May 2017 after having served as CFO of data centre providers Global Switch and IX Europe, as well as for other technology companies. About Interxion Interxion (NYSE: INXN) is a leading provider of carrier and cloud-neutral colocation data centre services in Europe, serving a wide range of customers through 48 data centres in 11 European countries. Interxion’s uniformly designed, energy efficient data centres offer customers extensive security and uptime for their mission-critical applications. With over 600 connectivity providers, 21 European Internet exchanges, and most leading cloud and digital media platforms across its footprint, Interxion has created connectivity, cloud, content and finance hubs that foster growing customer communities of interest. For more information, please visit www.interxion.com . This announcement contains inside information under Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (16 April 2014). View source version on businesswire.com : Interxion Jim Huseby, Tel: [REDACTED] Investor Relations [REDACTED] Source: INTERXION HOLDING NV" + }, + { + "text": "1 Hour Ago | 00:45 SHARES Self-made millionaire and co-founder of AE Wealth Management David Bach started investing early: He bought his first stock at age seven. It's all thanks to his grandmother, Bach tells CNBC Make It : \"The best advice I ever got about money came from my Grandma Rose Bach. She helped me buy my first stock at age seven in McDonald's, and she basically taught me a lesson that changed my life.\" She told him, \"There are three types of people in the world: Those who come to McDonald's and eat here, like you are now, and spend money; those who work here for minimum wage; and those who invest in the company. Investors get rich.\" Courtesy of David Bach Self-made millionaire and bestselling author David Bach Bach's grandmother proceeded to help him buy his first stock and \"that experience of thinking like an investor starting at the age of seven changed my whole life,\" he says. After all, as the self-made millionaire came to learn, consistently investing a portion of your paycheck — a strategy known as paying yourself first — is the key to getting building wealth. \"Becoming rich requires nothing more than committing and sticking to a systematic savings and investment plan,\" Bach writes in his New York Times bestseller \" The Automatic Millionaire .\" And, because of compound interest , the sooner you put your money to work, the better. To be clear, your investment plan shouldn't involve you trying to pick stocks individually. Bach and other experts tend to agree that you should start by investing your money in a tax-advantaged retirement account , such as a 401(k) , IRA or Roth IRA . Then, look into index funds , which offer diversity at a low cost and generally deliver good long-term returns, or robo-advisors . But if you're trying to get your kid hooked on investing, help them get involved at a young age, like Bach's grandmother did. \"If you can do anything with your kids, help them buy one share of stock — a company that they use and love — and teach them how to be an investor,\" Bach tells CNBC Make It. \"It will change their outlook on everything.\"" + }, + { + "text": "OTTAWA—Canadian and Mexican trade officials in Montreal on Sunday began laying out proposals aimed at convincing their U.S. counterparts not to put an end to the North American Free Trade Agreement. Delegations from Canada and Mexico will present an array of responses to some of the Trump administration’s most hard-line demands for changing the trade pact, in what many observers believe could be a make-or-break round of talks. Negotiators’ initial focus will be on Washington’s demands for increased U.S.-made content for cars... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Musk to get no salary unless Tesla hits milestones Tuesday, January 23, 2018 - 01:16 Silicon Valley billionaire Elon Musk will get no salary or cash bonuses from Tesla and all his compensation will be tied to stock and operational milestones. Aleksandra Michalska reports. Silicon Valley billionaire Elon Musk will get no salary or cash bonuses from Tesla and all his compensation will be tied to stock and operational milestones. Aleksandra Michalska reports. //reut.rs/2n69c7B" + }, + { + "text": "HOD HASHARON, Israel, January 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Allot Communications Ltd. (NASDAQ: ALLT, TASE: ALLT), a provider of leading innovative network intelligence and security solutions for service providers worldwide, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Netonomy Ltd. , a developer of software-based cyber security for the connected home, with closing anticipated to occur in a very short period. The acquisition is in line with Allot's strategy of providing Communications Service Providers (CSPs) with comprehensive security solutions for their customers. As the adoption of IoT and connected devices at home continues to grow rapidly, it is becoming increasingly difficult to manage and prevent security breaches on these devices. Netonomy's technology integrates a unique software component onto existing routers, enabling device management as well as a variety of protective security functionality on those devices. Allot's leading mobile protection solutions are already deployed widely by CSPs to protect their mobile customers. Leveraging Netonomy's technology in concert with Allot's solutions will provide CSPs the ability to offer comprehensive and seamless security to the consumer anywhere, anytime. \"Allot continues to invest in leading network-based security capabilities to empower CSPs to offer value added security services to consumers and businesses,\" said Erez Antebi, President and CEO at Allot. \"This acquisition complements our developments in Security by adding advanced home router protection capabilities, which are critical in the IoT Security value chain.\" The consideration to be paid will not have a material impact on Allot's financial situation. About Allot Communications Allot Communications Ltd. (NASDAQ: ALLT, TASE: ALLT), is a provider of leading innovative network intelligence and security solutions for service providers worldwide, enhancing value to their customers. Our solutions are deployed globally for network and application analytics, traffic control and shaping, network-based security services, and more. Allot's multi-service platforms are deployed by over 500 mobile, fixed and cloud service providers and over 1000 enterprises. Our industry leading network-based security as a service solution has achieved over 50% penetration with some service providers and is already used by over 18 million subscribers in Europe. Allot. See. Control. Secure. For more information, visit . Public Relations Contact: Sigalit Orr Director Corporate Communications International dialing [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Investor Relations Contact: GK Investor Relations Ehud Helft/Gavriel Frohwein [REDACTED] [REDACTED] SOURCE Allot Communications Ltd." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16 (Reuters) - Cofco Meat Holdings Ltd: * WUHAN COFCO MEAT & COFCO MEAT (JIANGSU) RESPECTIVELY ENTER DEALS WITH CHINA MERCHANDISE RESERVE & CHINA FOODSTUFFS * CHINA FOODSTUFFS HAS AGREED TO SELL 298.8 TONS OF FROZEN LEAN PORK CUTS TO WUHAN COFCO MEAT AND COFCO MEAT (JIANGSU), RESPECTIVELY * CHINA FOODSTUFFS TO BE PAID RMB11.4 MILLION FOR SUPPLY OF MEAT Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: ([REDACTED])" + }, + { + "text": "NINGBO—Second-hand car sales are surging in China, putting pressure on auto makers after a year of sputtering growth in the new-vehicle market. New passenger-car sales rose just 1.9% in the first 11 months of 2017, down sharply from 2016 and below the projected 2.7% growth globally. Some auto makers in China went into reverse: Ford Motor Co., for example, saw its China sales fall 6% in 2017. Some... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Friday he will run for a second term in office in an election in March, which the former military commander is widely expected to win. Sisi’s rule has brought some stability to the country, but critics say his popularity has been eroded by tough economic reforms that have hit people’s livelihood’s hard and by a crackdown on dissidents. His supporters on the other hand say measures are needed to keep the country stable as it faces security challenges including attacks by Islamic State militants in the North Sinai region. “Today ... I tell you frankly and transparently that I hope you would allow and accept my candidacy for the president’s post,” Sisi told a cheering crowd. The vote will be held on March 26-28, with a run-off vote on April 24-26 if no candidate wins more than 50 percent in the first round. Candidates will register from Jan. 20 to 29. In the televised announcement, Sisi listed Egypt’s achievements during his first term, including a nascent financial recovery after years of political turmoil and economic instability. “I pledge that the upcoming presidential election will be free and transparent .. and be characterized by equal opportunities between candidates,” Sisi said. Sisi came to prominence when he led the army’s ouster of President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 - the country’s first freely elected leader - two years after the downfall of longtime ruler President Hosni Mubarak in the “Arab Spring” uprisings that swept the Middle East. The former general became president himself in 2014, winning 96.91 percent of the vote, although turnout was only about 47 percent of the country’s 54 million voters. Rights groups say he has led an unprecedented crackdown on political opponents, activists and critical media. Those challenging Sisi describe a sweeping effort to kill off their campaigns before they have begun, with media attacks on candidates, intimidation of supporters, and a nomination process stacked in favour of the former general. His most high-profile challengers are former army chief of staff Sami Anan and human rights lawyer Khaled Ali, but neither is expected to garner enough votes to oust him. Reporting by Omar Fahmy and Amina Ismail; Writing by John Davison; Editing by Ralph Boulton and Hugh Lawson" + }, + { + "text": "OAKDALE, Calif. (AP) _ Oak Valley Bancorp (OVLY) on Thursday reported fourth-quarter earnings of $1.6 million. The Oakdale, California-based bank said it had earnings of 20 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for pretax expenses, were 32 cents per share. For the year, the company reported profit of $9.1 million, or $1.13 per share. Revenue was reported as $40.2 million. Oak Valley Bancorp shares have increased 14 percent since the beginning of the year. The stock has increased 65 percent in the last 12 months. This story was generated by Automated Insights ( ) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on OVLY at" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 12:43 PM / Updated 6 hours ago EU lawmakers back more ambitious renewables, energy saving goals Reuters Staff 4 Min Read STRASBOURG, France (Reuters) - European lawmakers approved draft measures on Wednesday to reform the power market and reduce energy consumption that envisage more ambitious climate goals, setting the stage for tough talks with reluctant EU member states. Under the plan backed by the European Parliament, renewable energy would account for at least 35 percent of the EU’s overall energy use by 2030. Last month EU national governments agreed a target of 27 percent, disappointing environmental campaigners who see it as too little to combat climate change. The industry lobby WindEurope welcomed Wednesday’s vote, saying the difference between 27 and 35 percent could mean 92 billion euros less in future investments for the sector. The draft rules also envisage banning the use of palm oil, a major import from southeast Asia, in motor fuels from 2021, drawing an angry response from the Malaysian government. The EP, the executive European Commission and EU national governments must now negotiate together on the final legislation. The draft measures are aimed at helping the European Union meet its overall goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, following the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to no more than 2 degrees. Since U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to exit the Paris climate accord last year, the EU has sought to stay the course. But it faces challenges in implementing its climate goals while reconciling economic disparities between western and eastern Europe, where much industry is still reliant on coal. ENERGY EFFICIENCY The EU lawmakers also agreed on Wednesday a binding overall energy efficiency target of 35 percent after 2021, compared to a 30 percent non-binding target proposed by member states last year. The target requires the promotion of better insulation and energy use in buildings, more efficient consumer goods and smart appliances in homes. Apart from any environmental benefits, the Commission says a 30 percent target would create 400,000 jobs, increase EU economic output by 70 billion euros ($78.30 billion) and reduce the continent’s reliance on gas imports by 12 percent. The draft measures contain provisions for renewable transport fuels, seeking to promote research in advanced technologies and to limit fuels made from food and feed crops, which are blamed for deforestation and higher food prices. The proposed palm oil ban angered Malaysia. “The vote by the EU Parliament to exclude palm oil biofuels from the EU’s renewable energy future is a wholly unjustified blockade against Malaysian farmers, families and communities,” the government said in a statement. Under the draft measures, biofuels made from other food and feed crops cannot exceed 7 percent of all transport fuel. “Today’s parliament vote sends a clear message to the biofuels industry that growth can only come from sustainable advanced fuels such as waste-based biofuels, not from food crops,” said Laura Buffet of campaign group Transport and Environment. Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek; Editing by Alissa de Carbonnel and Gareth Jones" + }, + { + "text": "SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SVB Financial Group (NASDAQ: SIVB) has released its financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. Please visit SVB's Investor Relations website at SVB.com to view the earnings release. Conference call: The Company will host a conference call at 3:00 p.m. PDT today to discuss the results. Dial-in information: (888) 771-4371 or (847) 585-4405; Confirmation: 46274763 Audio webcast: A live webcast of the audio portion of the call can be accessed on SVB's investor relations website at www.svb.com . Replay: A replay of the conference call will be available beginning at approximately 5:30 p.m. (Pacific Time) on January 25, 2018, through 9:59 pm (Pacific Time) on Saturday, February 24, 2018, and may be accessed by dialing (888) 843-7419 or (630) 652-3042 and entering confirmation 46274763#. A replay of the audio webcast will also be available on www.svb.com for 12 months beginning January 25, 2018. About SVB Financial Group For 35 years, SVB Financial Group (NASDAQ: SIVB) and its subsidiaries have helped innovative companies and their investors move bold ideas forward, fast. SVB Financial Group's businesses, including Silicon Valley Bank, offer commercial and private banking, asset management, private wealth management, brokerage and investment services and funds management services to companies in the technology, life science and healthcare, private equity and venture capital, and premium wine industries. Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., SVB Financial Group operates in centers of innovation around the world. Learn more at svb.com . [SIVB-F] SVB Financial Group is the holding company for all business units and groups ©2017 SVB Financial Group. All rights reserved. Silicon Valley Bank is the California bank subsidiary of SVB Financial Group. Silicon Valley Bank is a member of FDIC and Federal Reserve System. SVB>, SVB Financial Group, and Silicon Valley Bank, are trademarks of SVB Financial Group, used under license. View original content: SOURCE SVB Financial Group" + }, + { + "text": "MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Sixth seed Karolina Pliskova beat fellow Czech Fed Cup team mate Lucie Safarova 7-6(6) 7-5 to move into the fourth round of the Australian Open on Saturday. In a match dominated by serve the 25-year-old fired down 11 aces and offered up only one break point opportunity as she reached the last 16 for the second successive year. Safarova was equally efficient on her own delivery but finally cracked in the 11th game of the second set to leave her opponent with the opportunity to serve for the match. Tennis - Australian Open - Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, Australia, January 20, 2018. Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic signs autographs after winning against Lucie Safarova of Czech Republic. REUTERS/Issei Kato She needed no second invitation, crunching three aces including one on match point. “It’s tough to play another Czech player especially as we are Fed Cup team mates,” Pliskova said on Margaret Court Arena. “It’s always close but I served well and that’s the key for me.” Another Czech could be waiting in the fourth round if Barbora Strycova gets the better of lucky loser Bernarda Pera later on Saturday. Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Greg Stutchbury" + }, + { + "text": "HAMBURG (Reuters) - Greater attention should be given worldwide to the welfare of farm animals and to reducing the use of growth-enhancing medications, agriculture ministers from about 70 countries meeting in Berlin said on Saturday. There is a global need to improve animal health and animal welfare by promoting good animal husbandry management practices, biosecurity and biosafety and knowledge exchange, said a communique after the 10th Berlin Agriculture Ministersꞌ Conference. The ministers said more international cooperation is necessary “in order to make livestock production and animal husbandry more sustainable, responsible and efficient”. There is also a requirement to bring livestock breeding and husbandry further into line with consumers’ expectations of humane care of farm animals. “We note that the demand for food of animal origin, in particular food derived from meat, milk and eggs, is projected to rise significantly in many regions of the world due to the growing population, increasing purchasing power and changes in consumer behaviour,” the communique said. “At the same time, consumers are increasingly calling for livestock production to be made more sustainable and more respectful of animal welfare.” Ministers undertook to give greater consideration to animal health and animal welfare in training programs. A balanced consumption of meat is needed for a healthy diet, health protection and the efficient use of resources, they said. Animal health and the connection with human health is another key issue, said German Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt after the meeting. “This is especially clear with (animal diseases which can be transmitted to humans) and the problem of resistance to antibiotics,” Schmidt said. “So in our final communique we have resolved to strengthen worldwide efforts against the unnecessary use of antibiotics in animal farming.” Reporting by Michael Hogan; Editing by Andrew Bolton" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 5:12 AM / Updated 35 minutes ago Toys 'R' Us says to shut a fifth of its U.S. stores Ismail Shakil 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Toys “R” Us Inc said on Tuesday it will shut about one-fifth of its stores in the United States in the coming months, as the toy store chain tries to emerge from one of the largest ever bankruptcies by a specialty retailer. The closure of about 180 U.S. stores will begin in early February and continue until mid-April, Chief Executive David Brandon said in a letter on its website. bit.ly/2n5O1mR Brandon, who joined as CEO in 2015 after spearheading a turnaround at Domino’s Pizza Inc, acknowledged gaps in customer experience during the vital holiday season but pledged to focus on improving shopping experience, both at its stores and online. The Wayne, New Jersey-based company, contesting growing competition from regional independent toy retailers and online giant Amazon.com, will also roll out deep discounts and revamp its loyalty program to lure more shoppers. The company filed for bankruptcy protection just ahead of the 2017 holiday season in the United States and Canada to restructure $5 billion (£3.5 billion) of long-term debt, casting doubts over the future of its 64,000 employees and nearly 1,600 stores. Toys “R” Us, which also operates the infant- and toddler-focused Babies “R” Us chain, has set aside more than $400 million out of its $3.1 billion in bankruptcy loans for sprucing up stores over the next three years with more experiences and better-paid staff. The company said it plans to remodel a number of locations by converting them into co-branded Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores, while also investing in websites. All 83 Toys \"R\" Us stores in Canada will remain open, said president of the Canadian unit, Melanie Teed-Murch, in a letter to customers. bit.ly/2n7ztCp As Toys “R” Us aims to exit bankruptcy in 2018, its efforts to reinvent its stores will shape how other retailers look to experiential shopping to tackle e-commerce. Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed hope during a phone call on Monday that the resumption of dialogue between North Korea and South Korea might prompt change in Pyongyang’s “destructive behavior,” the White House said on Tuesday. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks upon arrival for dinner at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., January 14, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Trump also “committed to sustain the United States-led global campaign of maximum pressure to compel North Korea to commit to denuclearization,” the White House said in a statement. Reporting by Susan Heavey; Writing by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by David Alexander" + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 3:05 PM / Updated an hour ago Author of Trump book contradicts president, says aides see him as a 'child' Makini Brice 5 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The author of a deeply critical book about Donald Trump’s first year in office said on Friday he had spoken with the president while working on it, contradicting Trump’s assertion that he had never talked to the writer for the book and had not authorized any access to the White House. Michael Wolff’s book “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House” was an instant bestseller on Friday, its release pulled forward after published excerpts this week set off a political firestorm, threats by Trump lawyers of legal action and an effort to halt publication. The book, dismissed by Trump as full of lies, depicts a chaotic White House, a president who was ill-prepared to win the office in 2016, and Trump aides who scorned his abilities. Standing by his reporting, Wolff told NBC on Friday that Trump aides had all told him they viewed him as child-like. “I absolutely spoke to the president. Whether he realized it was an interview or not, I don’t know, but it was certainly not off the record,” he said on NBC’s “Today” program. Wolff added that he had spoken to people who spoke to Trump on a daily, “sometimes minute by minute” basis. Asked to clarify what he meant when he wrote that Trump’s entire circle questioned his fitness for office, Wolff said, “100 percent of the people around him ... They all say he is like a child.” On Thursday evening, Trump tweeted, “I authorized Zero access to White House (actually turned him down many times) for author of phony book! I never spoke to him for book.” “Full of lies, misrepresentations and sources that don’t exist,” Trump added. The early excerpts have also caused a public rift between the president and his former chief strategist and top campaign aide, Steve Bannon, over Bannon’s comments in the book about Trump and his family. BEST-SELLER ON DAY ONE Lawyers for Trump had called on the book’s publisher, Henry Holt & Co, to halt the book’s release, originally scheduled for Tuesday. Instead, it began sales early and on Friday, its first day in stores, “Fire and Fury” was the top-selling book on Amazon.com. ( AMZN.O ) In Washington, customers lined up in bitterly cold weather to purchase a copy at KramerBooks, which began selling copies at midnight. Many Washington-area bookstores, including KramerBooks, reported selling out of copies as of Friday morning at 10 a.m. ET (1500 GMT). Slideshow (4 Images) Justin Bethel, manager of the Politics and Prose bookstore, said its 30 copies sold out quickly. “It got so we couldn’t answer the phone, it was ringing so much,” he said. Politics and Prose customer Daniel Zhang, 22, said he and his housemate read a chapter online on Thursday night and he planned to read the book later on Friday. “I’m going to finish work, and then I’m not going out tonight; I’m just going to go back and read this book,” said Zhang. The reaction was less frenetic in New York, Trump’s old home base. Book Culture, an independent book seller in the Upper West Side neighbourhood, said on Friday morning four people had bought the book and it had about 160 copies available, with 150 copies available in its other store. The White House has said the book is riddled with errors, and campaign and administration officials have disputed events depicted in the book. Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders, who has called the book trash, said again on Friday that Wolff had talked only briefly to the president and did not have wide access. “This is a guy who made up a lot of stories to try to sell books,” Sanders said in an interview on Fox News Channel. In a tweet on Friday, Trump called the book another attempt to smear him since any collusion between his election campaign and Russia “is proving to be a total hoax.” Special counsel Robert Mueller is investigating possible collusion as part of a broader probe into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election. He has not announced any conclusions. “The Fake News Media (Mainstream) and this phoney new book are hitting out at every new front imaginable,” Trump wrote. Charles Harder, Trump’s personal lawyer, in a legal notice provided to Reuters, warned on Thursday of possible claims including libel against Wolff and Henry Holt & Co and threatened to try to block publication of the book. Harder also told Reuters that “legal action is imminent” against Bannon. Bannon’s reaction to the controversy has been muted." + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government shutdown that began on Saturday is disruptive to the economy, but poses no immediate threat to its top notch Aaa rating as long as it makes its debt payments on time, Moody’s Investors Service said on Monday. The federal shutdown, the first since 2013, would make it likely that the issue of raising the statutory borrowing limit will become part of the next round of budget negotiations in Washington, the rating agency said in a research note. “Although the shutdown will be credit negative for the sovereign to the extent that it disrupts the U.S. economy, it will not have any immediate implications for the U.S. government’s credit rating,” Moody’s said. On Friday, Fitch Ratings said a shutdown would not affect its AAA-rating on the United States. Financial markets have brushed off the shutdown. Still, the shutdown stopped federal discretionary spending that represents about 38 percent of non-debt related outlays and includes most day-to-day government operations, according to Moody‘s. It is unclear when the shutdown will end as Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been unable to reach a funding agreement, even a temporary one. Even with the current impasse on government funding, Moody’s expected Congress will raise the debt ceiling before the government is expected to run out of cash in late February or early March after extraordinary measures by the Treasury Department are exhausted. Reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Nick Zieminski" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 11:06 AM / Updated an hour ago Brazil's GPA says sales rose 8.2 percent last year Reuters Staff 1 Min Read SAO PAULO, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Brazilian retailer GPA SA said its total sales rose 8.2 percent last year, to 44.6 billion reais ($13.9 billion). In the fourth quarter, GPA, owned by French retailer Casino Guichard Perrachon SA, had net sales of 12.5 billion reais, 6.8 percent above the same period a year earlier. $1 = 3.2063 reais Reporting by Tatiana Bautzer; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "British trade minister Liam Fox said on Wednesday that London would continue to welcome foreign investment, after a U.S. panel rejected a Chinese acquisition of a U.S. money transfer company on national security concerns. Fox was on a visit to China , the latest installment in long-running economic talks between China and Britain , which has taken on new importance for Britain as it looks to re-invent itself as a global trading nation after leaving the European Union in 2019. The U.S. rejection of China's Ant Financial's acquisition of MoneyGram International Inc is the most high-profile Chinese deal to be torpedoed under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump . Asked whether Britain would serve as an alternative destination for such Chinese investment, Fox told Reuters in an interview that he hoped the investment relationship would \"work in two directions\", but that Britain would remain open. \"Of course, we would look, as other countries would do, at our security issues in terms of investment. But the UK has traditionally been an open country, welcoming of foreign direct investment. And we'll continue to do that,\" Fox said. He did not comment specifically on the U.S. panel decision. China is one of the countries with which Britain hopes to sign a free trade pact once it leaves the EU, and London and Beijing have been keen to show that Britain's withdrawal from the bloc will not affect ties. Fox said that the issue of China's service sector openness was a \"big issue\" for Britain, but that there were more options than a post-Brexit free trade agreement (FTA) to get Beijing to open, including specific service sector agreements and mutual recognition deals. \"There are a whole range of tools in the box. And people tend to talk as though an FTA is the only tool we have available in terms of trade liberalization. It's not,\" he said. The focus on a \"Golden Era\" of relations, trumpeted by China and Britain in 2015 when then-prime minister David Cameron hosted a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, has cooled under Cameron's successor, Theresa May. In 2016, May caused a diplomatic spat by unexpectedly deciding to delay approval of a partly-Chinese funded nuclear power project. She later granted it, but not before drawing criticism from Beijing. May is expected to visit China later this month accompanied by a business delegation, diplomatic and business sources have told Reuters, though the trip has not been formally confirmed." + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May would visit China from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2. Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying confirmed the visit during a regular news briefing in Beijing. China is one of the countries with which Britain hopes to sign a free trade pact once it leaves the European Union, and London and Beijing have been keen to show that Britain’s withdrawal from the bloc will not affect ties. Reporting by Christian Shepherd; Writing by Michael Martina; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore" + }, + { + "text": "PARIS, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Engie’s Chief Executive Isabelle Kocher said on Sunday she would welcome a new chairman of the board if the right person could be found after Gerard Mestrallet retires in May. Kocher, who was appointed CEO in May 2016 after CEO and chairman of the board Mestrallet gave up the CEO role, has never said whether she wants to combine the two functions as Mestrallet did. Last month, French daily Les Echos reported that the French government had decided to keep the chairman and CEO roles at the utility separate and find a successor to Mestrallet. “If a new chair were to join us and he is compatible, believes in our strategy and help us to accelerate it, I would be delighted,” Kocher said on CNEWS television. (Reporting by Geert De Clercq; Editing by Susan Fenton)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - Invalda Invl Ab: * TRADING IN THE SHARES OF INVL BALTIC REAL ESTATE RENEWED * INCREASE OF NOMINAL VALUE OF INVL BALTIC REAL ESTATE‘S SHARES - FROM EUR 0.29 TO EUR 1.45 * DID NOT CHANGE TOTAL VALUE OF INVESTORS’ SHARES * NUMBER OF SHARES HELD BY AN INVESTOR WHO PREVIOUSLY HAD 10 000 DECREASED TO 2 000 * THEIR VALUE ON EXCHANGE SHOULD CORRESPONDINGLY INCREASE FIVE TIMES * IS BEING RENEWED AS OF 25 JANUARY Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 6:28 PM / Updated an hour ago Judge ends case over standoff in Nevada land dispute John L. Smith 3 Min Read LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - A federal judge on Monday threw out a criminal case against a Nevada rancher and three other men over a 2014 militia standoff with federal agents, saying prosecutors had repeatedly withheld evidence from the defense. U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro dismissed the case “with prejudice,” meaning that rancher Cliven Bundy, two of his sons and a militia member will not face another trial. Navarro had declared a mistrial last month. Navarro’s decision was a rebuke to prosecutors in the politically charged case, which arose from Bundy’s grazing of cattle on federal land without paying fees for two decades. His defiance galvanized right-wing militia groups challenging U.S. government authority over vast tracts of public land. Bundy emerged from the courthouse to cheers from about 100 supporters and said he still did not recognize federal authority over the land where he grazed his herds. “They stuck the guns down our throats and that’s definitely not what our Founding Fathers meant to happen in America,” the 71-year-old rancher said, his wife, Carol, at his side. Navarro told a packed Las Vegas courtroom that prosecutors made “several misrepresentations to the defense and to the court” that amounted to misconduct and prevented a fair trial for Bundy, his sons Ammon and Ryan and militia member Ryan Payne. FILE PHOTO: Rancher Cliven Bundy stands near a cattle gate on his 160 acre ranch in Bunkerville, Nevada, U.S., May 3, 2014. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo She said more than 1,000 pages of Federal Bureau of Investigation memos were kept from the defense until well past an October deadline. The agency failed in its duty despite years of investigations and two years of trial preparation, she said. Prosecutors appeared stunned after the judge’s decision, and Bundy family members wept in the spectators’ section. The 2014 revolt at the heart of the trial was sparked by a court-ordered roundup of Bundy’s cattle by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, after the rancher had refused to pay federal grazing fees. Hundreds of supporters, many of them armed, rallied at his ranch in a show of force to demand the return of his impounded livestock. Police and federal agents retreated rather than risk bloodshed and no shots were fired. Kieran Suckling, executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity, said prosecutors had bungled the case and let the Bundys succeed in breaking the law. ”The failure of this case will only embolden this violent and racist anti-government movement that wants to take over our public lands,” he said. Reporting by John Smith, Writing by Ian Simpson, Editing by Frank McGurty and Steve Orlofsky" + }, + { + "text": "Irfan Khan | Los Angeles Times | Getty Image A shopper in an Albertsons in Fullerton, California. Albertsons is looking to partner with consumer brands with a new service aimed at improving their digital advertising. The owner of Safeway and Shaw's is launching a new initiative with Quotient Technology to provide feedback on the impact of brands' digital ads on sales in Albertsons stores. The platform, Albertsons Performance Media , will use shopping data to help brands better target their ads. Those promotions will be placed across all sites and apps where digital ads are served and will not be restricted to pages relating to Albertsons. The move comes as consumer companies and retailers alike are seeking ways to reach shoppers outside store walls. Meantime, Amazon's acquisition of Whole Foods has created the potential to combine data and grocery shopping in a way the industry has not yet seen. Still, with change comes uncertainty, and it is not always clear which digital advertisements are effective. Procter & Gamble famously cut $140 million in digital advertising with little material impact on sales. Still, Narayan Iyengar, senior vice president of digital and e-commerce at Albertsons, said the company's new offering stands apart by its ability to get direct feedback on whether digital ads are working. \"Time spent on screen is not going away, ... and it stands to reason you want to reach your customer where they are,\" Iyengar said. \"The biggest problem has always been how do you measure and how do you attribute sales to additional ads. With this data measurement, you can be way more effective with your digital spend.\" Albertsons, which has been piloting the efforts with major brands, says return on the investment so far has proven three times the average of similar efforts. It has signed up more than 60 consumer companies for the program. More broadly, the program comes as Albertsons pushes further into digital and e-commerce. Last summer, it acquired meal kit company Plated, which it has been introducing to Albertsons stores. It has also been expanding its partnership with delivery service Instacart, with plans to roll out the service to 1,800 stores across the country by mid-March. The backdrop of those efforts, of course, come as Amazon pushes further into grocery, propelled by its acquisition of Whole Foods. The online retail giant launched its automated grocery store earlier this month. Albertsons was formed by private equity firm Cerberus and a consortium of investors in 2006. It merged with the grocer Safeway in 2015. Lauren Hirsch Retail Reporter for CNBC.com Related Securities" + }, + { + "text": "The Mayo brothers’ greatest innovation was the group practice of medicine. Dr. Will and Dr. Charlie developed an entirely new approach to medical practice based upon a deeply held belief: The combined wisdom of peers is greater than that of any individual. They called it a “union of forces,” and this modus operandi dictates that multiple medical experts work collaboratively to find solutions for patients with serious, complex illnesses. More than a century later, this philosophy—that teamwork creates the best solutions—remains... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 2:17 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago Nestle investor Third Point urges company to speed up disposals Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. activist investor Third Point called on the board of Swiss company Nestle ( NESN.S ) to clarify its corporate strategy and speed up the disposal of “ill-fitting businesses”, in a letter to investors seen by Reuters. Third Point, founded by investor Dan Loeb, also said Nestle could accelerate and even expand its share buyback programme, the letter showed. Reporting by Simon Jessop; editing by Carolyn Cohn" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING, Jan. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- NetEase, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES) today announced that it will report financial results for the fourth quarter and 2017 fiscal year on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, after the close of the U.S. markets. The earnings teleconference call with simultaneous webcast will take place at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 (Beijing/Hong Kong Time: 9:00 a.m., Thursday, February 8, 2018). NetEase's management will be on the call to discuss the quarterly results and answer questions. Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing 1-800-281-7973 (international: 1-323-794-2093), 10-15 minutes prior to the initiation of the call. A replay of the call will be available by dialing 1-888-203-1112 (international: 1-719-457-0820), and entering passcode 3213566#. The replay will be available through February 21, 2018. This call will be webcast live and the replay will be available for 12 months. Both will be available on NetEase's Investor Relations website at . About NetEase, Inc. NetEase, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES) is a leading internet technology company in China. Dedicated to providing online services centered around content, community, communication and commerce, NetEase develops and operates some of China's most popular PC-client and mobile games, advertising services, e-mail services and e-commerce platforms. In partnership with Blizzard Entertainment, Mojang AB (a Microsoft subsidiary) and other global game developers, NetEase also operates some of the most popular international online games in China. For more information, please visit: . Contact for Media and Investors: NetEase, Inc. [REDACTED] Tel: ([REDACTED]-3378 Brandi Piacente Investor Relations [REDACTED] Tel: (+1) 212-481-2050 View original content: SOURCE NetEase, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "'Our hearts' are with Kentucky community: McConnell 1:42am GMT - 00:48 Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in the Senate on Tuesday that he was sending ''prayers of comfort and healing'' to Marshall County, Kentucky, after a high school shooting that left one person dead and several wounded. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in the Senate on Tuesday that he was sending \"prayers of comfort and healing\" to Marshall County, Kentucky, after a high school shooting that left one person dead and several wounded. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2n67UcE" + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 1:06 PM / Updated an hour ago Ostapenko sunk by Kontaveit in Baltic battle Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MELBOURNE (Reuters) - French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko’s Australian Open hopes ended on Friday as the seventh seed was beaten 6-3 1-6 6-3 by Anett Kontaveit in a battle of the Baltic. Latvian Ostapenko produced her usual brand of gung-ho tennis but Estonian Kontaveit weathered the storm to take her place in the fourth round in Melbourne for the first time. Ostapenko, playing with a heavily bandaged thigh, dominated the second set but was unable to sustain her level. Slideshow (9 Images) The players traded breaks early in the deciding set but the 22-year-old Kontaveit outlasted her opponent in marathon seventh game, thumping a weak second serve for a backhand winner on her fifth break point to seize the advantage again. After holding serve, 32nd seed Kontaveit sealed victory when an Ostapenko forehand thumped into the net. Her reward is a fourth round tie against unseeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro who got the better of Kaia Kanepi in three sets. Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Davis" + }, + { + "text": "17 PM / Updated 20 minutes ago Nestle frontrunner for Merck KGaA's consumer health business - Bloomberg ZURICH (Reuters) - Nestle ( NESN.S ) is the frontrunner to buy Merck KGaA’s ( MRCG.DE ) consumer health unit that could fetch as much as $5 billion, financial news service Bloomberg said on Wednesday, quoting unidentified sources familiar with the matter. Bloomberg said Nestle had submitted the highest offer and Merck was likely to select a winner during the first quarter, but might also choose not to sell the assets after all. It quoted sources saying that generic drugmaker Perrigo ( PRGO.N ) and the private equity owners of German drug firm Stada ( STAGn.DE ) had dropped out of the process, while Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc ( RB.L ) and Mylan NV ( MYL.O ) were still suitors for the business. A spokeswoman for Nestle said the company was not commenting on rumours. Reporting by Silke Koltrowitz; Editing by Mark Potter" + }, + { + "text": "DETROIT, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co on Wednesday reported a quarterly net profit, versus a loss in the same period in 2016 caused by pension liabilities, but said its pre-tax profit was hit by commodity costs and unfavorable currency exchange rates. The No. 2 U.S. automaker reported quarterly net income of $2.41 billion or 60 cents per share, versus a loss of $781 million or 20 cents per share a year earlier. Adjusted for one-time items, Ford reported earnings per share of 39 cents. On that basis, analysts had on average expected earnings per share of 42 cents. (Reporting By Nick Carey, additional reporting by Paul Lienert; Editing by Tom Brown)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30(Reuters) - Hunan Sundy Science and Technology Co Ltd * Sees FY 2017 net profit to decrease by 20 percent to 40 percent, or to be 20.9 million yuan to 27.8 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 34.8 million yuan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/1Yms8T Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "CNBC.com Jim McIsaac | Getty Images The White House again promoted the unemployment rate for black Americans on Monday, a day after President Donald Trump used the statistic to respond to criticism from music icon Jay-Z . This month, the president has repeatedly touted a record low unemployment rate for black Americans — 6.8 percent as of December. He has cited the figure in an apparent effort to show that his economic agenda is working for black Americans, from whom he has struggled to win support. Trump can hardly take all the credit for the drop in the unemployment rate for black Americans. The decline is part of a gradual trend that has occurred since 2011, when the job market suffered in the wake of the Great Recession. The job market continues to be tougher for black Americans than other groups. In December, the unemployment rates for Hispanic, white and Asian-Americans were 4.9 percent, 3.7 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively. Asked Monday whether the Trump administration has done anything to address black unemployment specifically, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders argued that Trump's pushes to overhaul the tax system and cut regulations on businesses helped all Americans. \"Look, I think you can see from the steps that we've already taken that we're trying to fix unemployment for all Americans,\" she said. \"That's the point that the president has made time and time again, is that he wants it to be better for everybody.\" Asked why Trump took issue with Jay-Z after the rapper criticized the president's racially charged remarks, Sanders expressed the same sentiment. \"Because [the unemployment numbers are] better than they have been. And we're certainly making progress and we want to continue to do that,\" she said. On Saturday, Jay-Z criticized Trump's reported comments questioning whether the U.S. needed immigrants from \"s---hole\" African countries. In an interview with CNN, he called Trump's remarks \"hurtful\" and said he appeared to be \"looking down on a whole population of people.\" Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, added that Trump's comments about the labor market \"are missing the whole point.\" \"Because it's not about money at the end of the day. Money doesn't equate to happiness. It doesn't,\" he said. \"You treat people like human beings. That's the main point.\" On Sunday morning, Trump tweeted: \"Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies, Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED!\" Trump tweet Trump's tweet came ahead of his first State of the Union address on Tuesday night, when he is expected to take a more conciliatory tone about priorities he shares with Democrats and political rivals. The president's first year was marked by public jabs at celebrities, top U.S. law enforcement officials and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Sanders suggested Trump could again mention the unemployment rate for black Americans on Tuesday night." + }, + { + "text": "TRIPOLI (Reuters) - The only functioning airport in Libya’s capital Tripoli remained shut for a third day on Wednesday after fierce clashes between armed groups damaged planes belonging to all four of the airlines that operate there. The fighting erupted on Monday after one of the city’s many armed groups launched an attack at Mitiga Airport in an apparent effort to secure the release of prisoners held in an adjacent prison. At least 20 people were killed and 60 wounded. “Mitiga’s air space remains closed and it is up to the authorities to decide when it will be reopened,” the airport administration said in a short statement on Wednesday. Petro Air, which operates flights to Libyan oil fields, also said all its flights at Mitiga were still suspended. A number of planes parked there were damaged during the clashes, including an A319 Airbus belonging to Afriqiyah Airlines, an Airbus A330 operated by Libyan Airlines, two Boeings operated to Buraq Air, and two jets operated by Libya Wings. Some aircraft were moved for safety reasons across the capital to Tripoli’s international airport, which has been closed since 2014 due to damage from earlier fighting. Reporting by Ahmed Elumami; Editing by Aidan Lewis and John Stonestreet" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Wells Fargo & Co on Tuesday appointed Sarah Dahlgren as its head of regulatory relations, effective March 12. Dahlgren joins from McKinsey and will report to Wells Fargo's chief risk officer, Mike Loughlin, until his successor is named. Loughlin had announced his retirement on Jan. 17. ( reut.rs/2DOBJd2 ) Reporting By Aparajita Saxena in Bengaluru" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s commerce ministry said on Thursday co-operation is the only “correct direction” for the China-U.S. trade relationship, amid growing trade frictions between the world’s two biggest economies. Commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng made the comments during a regular weekly briefing in Beijing. U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Wednesday the United States is not starting a trade war but trying to level the playing field of global commerce and fend off Chinese protectionism, including a “direct threat” in high-tech goods. Reporting by Elias Glenn; Editing by Sam Holmes" + }, + { + "text": "JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday he would set up a judicial inquiry into allegations of influence-peddling in the government and state institutions. FILE PHOTO: President of South Africa Jacob Zuma gestures during the 54th National Conference of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa December 16, 2017. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo The president’s move follows a court ruling on Dec. 13 that required a commission to be set up within 30 days to carry out such an inquiry. That order upheld a recommendation in a 2016 report by the then Public Protector, whose role is to protect standards in public life. Reporting by Tanisha Heiberg; Editing by Gareth Jones" + }, + { + "text": "PARIS (Reuters) - Some French families are planning to take legal action against supermarket chains after potentially tainted products found their way onto shop shelves despite a recall, the spokesman of a victims’ group said on Monday. Quentin Guillemain also reiterated that hundreds of families were suing French dairy giant Lactalis over the scandal, which threatens to damage the reputation of France’s strategic agri-business industry in overseas markets. Reacting to an offer by Lactalis of financial compensation to affected families, Guillemain said that they wanted above all to find out the truth, adding that the company would not be able to “buy our silence”. Three dozen infants in France and two others overseas have fallen ill since the discovery of salmonella bacteria in some baby milk at a factory in northwestern France in early December that prompted the botched recall. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening. “It’s been confirmed to me that a certain number of families will file complaints in the coming days against the major supermarket chains,” Guillemain told reporters after meeting Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and Health Minister Agnes Buzyn. Guillemain did not say how many families would sue the retailers. Last week the French government laid the blame for the widening crisis over salmonella contamination squarely on both Lactalis, one of the world’s largest dairy groups, and on retailers. [nL8N1P61VD] Carrefour, Leclerc, Auchan and Systeme U had said some baby milk recalled by Lactalis had still made it onto shop shelves. French prosecutors have launched a judicial investigation into the contamination. PAYING DAMAGES Lactalis has been accused of reacting too slowly to the scandal. It is now recalling some 12 million tins of baby milk, both in France and in foreign countries as far as China. Lactalis Chief Executive Emmanuel Besnier gave a rare interview at the weekend, offering to pay damages to families affected by the contamination scare. [nL8N1P90EN] Guillemain said the families would pursue their legal complaints regardless of any compensation offered by Lactalis. “What families are expecting today is not a private deal to drop their claims but to have the truth on what happened, from the beginning till the end. So the question of compensation is not today’s question,” Guillemain said. “They will not buy our silence,” he added. Families of victims in foreign countries could also file complaints in France, he said. One baby in Spain and one in Greece are suspected of having been contaminated by baby milk produced by Lactalis. “Since the infraction occurred on French territory and the suspect - the Lactalis group - has its headquarters in France, the victims, whether they be Spanish, Greek or Chinese, will be able to file a complaint in France,” the group’s lawyer Jade Dousselin said. Lactalis said it had recalled products from 83 countries. Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide, Gus Trompiz and Noemie Olive; Editing by Gareth Jones" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 11:21 AM / Updated 25 minutes ago Ex-Trump chief strategist Bannon to meet with House panel on Russia Sarah N. Lynch 3 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon will meet behind closed doors on Tuesday with a U.S. House of Representatives committee that is probing whether Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election. FILE PHOTO: Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon speaks during a campaign event for Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Judge Roy Moore in Fairhope, Alabama, U.S., December 5, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman/File Photo The interview with the House Intelligence Committee comes after Bannon’s public falling out with the president over comments Bannon made to author Michael Wolff for his new book “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.” In the book, Bannon is quoted as describing a June 2016 meeting between Trump associates, including the president’s son Donald Trump Jr., his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and a Russian lawyer, as “treasonous” and “unpatriotic.” The meeting came after Donald Trump Jr. was told in an email that the Russian government had dirt on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, to which he replied: “I love it.” Bannon, a champion of Trump’s “America First” agenda, was fired by the White House in August and returned to the right-wing news website Breitbart News. He continued to speak with Trump and tried to promote the president’s agenda. But Trump accused Bannon of having “lost his mind” when news of his comments to Wolff surfaced earlier this month. Six days later, Bannon stepped down from his post as executive chairman at Breitbart News. Bannon is the latest high-profile figure to testify before the House committee as part of its ongoing investigation into allegations that Russia interfered in the U.S. election. Russia has denied meddling in the election and Trump has denied there was any collusion between his campaign and Moscow. Later in the week, the panel will hear from former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski. In an interview with WABC-AM radio broadcast on Sunday, Lewandowski said he expects the closed-door meeting to take place either Wednesday or Thursday. “I would be happy to come in and sit down. I have nothing to hide,” he told the radio station. “I didn’t collude or cooperate or coordinate with any Russian, Russian agency, Russian government or anybody else to try and impact this election.” White House Communications Director Hope Hicks, who served as Trump’s spokeswoman during his presidential campaign after a tenure with his Trump Organization real estate business, is also expected to be questioned by the committee this week, according to a congressional source. Democrats on the committee have accused Republicans of rushing to wrap up the probe to help give the president political cover, despite their requests to interview more witness. Republicans have denied the charge. Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Additional reporting by Mark Hosenball; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Leslie Adler" + }, + { + "text": "04 PM / in an hour Fox Sports to air next five seasons of Thursday Night Football Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - FOX Sports has reached an agreement with the National Football League to broadcast the next five seasons of “Thursday Night Football” starting with the 2018 season, the two companies said on Wednesday. Fox is taking over the rights for Thursday Night Football, which for the last two years were shared by CBS Corp and Comcast Corp owned NBC. The agreement, which marks the fifth media rights deal between FOX Sports and the NFL, comes as a win for Twenty-First Century Fox Inc that is focussing on TV news and sport after the $52.4 billion Walt Disney Co deal. The five-year deal allows FOX Sports to broadcast 11 games between weeks 4 and 15 (excluding Thanksgiving night). It will be simultaneously broadcast via NFL Network and will be distributed in Spanish on FOX Deportes. The NFL with Fox will decide on a partner to take on the digital rights to live-stream the games, Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner said on a media call Wednesday morning. In addition, NFL Network will exclusively broadcast seven games next season, with FOX producing the full slate of 18 games. Both the NFL and Fox declined to comment on the financial terms of the deal. Reporting by Sonam Rai in Bengaluru and Jessica Toonkel in New York; Editing by Arun Koyyur" + }, + { + "text": "It is wider than the most famous Manhattan boulevards like Fifth Avenue or Central Park West. But the location, next to 10 lanes of ramps leading to the Lincoln Tunnel, is somewhat less glamorous. Yet a developer believes that with some good soundproofing he can bring luxury living to one of the bleakest stretches of New York real estate. ... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 2:24 PM / in 40 minutes Air strikes kill at least 13 in east Syrian Islamic State territory: reports Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BEIRUT (Reuters) - Air strikes on a village held by Islamic State in the eastern part of Syria’s Deir al-Zor province killed at least 13 people including seven women on Tuesday, Syrian state media and a war monitoring group reported on Thursday. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State had carried out the air strikes. Rival military campaigns by the Syrian army with its allies, and by militias backed by a U.S.-led international coalition, last year seized most of Islamic State’s territory in central and eastern Syria. The jihadist militant group still holds patches of desert on either side of the Euphrates River in Deir al-Zor province, as well as isolated pockets of ground elsewhere in Syria. The attack targeted Shafah, a village east of the Euphrates, and at least seven women were among 13 dead, the Observatory said. Syrian state media citing local sources as saying coalition air strikes had killed 15 civilians in the village, including seven women. Asked to comment, the coalition did not specifically say whether it had carried out the strike or not. It referred in an email to an earlier statement saying that coalition strikes had killed an estimated 145-150 Islamic State fighters in a command center near Shafah last Saturday. Reporting by Dahlia Nehme; Editing by Kevin Liffey" + }, + { + "text": "HOUSTON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - A dock expansion at the Port of Corpus Christi, Texas, that will allow added U.S. crude export capability is expected to be completed in 2020, a Magellan Midstream Partners executive said on Thursday at an energy industry event. * Additional docks and an increase in ship draft from 47 feet to 54 feet will permit load rates in excess of 30,000 barrels per hour, said Robert Barnes, senior vice president of commerical crude oil operations for the company at the Argus Americas Crude Summit * The plans include the Harbor Bridge replacement project that will increase the air draft to 205 feet from 138 feet to accommodate loading of VLCC, Suezmax and Aframax ships * The proposed expansion would provide available space to build four private ship docks and add more than 10 million barrels of additional storage Reporting by Bryan Sims Editing by Chizu Nomiyama" + }, + { + "text": "WARSAW, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Bank Pekao SA, Poland’s second largest lender, expects its net profit to rise by at least 10 percent in 2018, the Rzeczpospolita daily reports, quoting Chief Executive Officer Michal Krupinski. “I hope for a double-digit dynamics in terms of our revenues and net profit this year,” Krupinski told Rzeczpospolita daily. Pekao will release its 2017 net profit on Feb. 27. The Czech Republic is the country where the bank could find interesting takeover targets at the moment, Krupinski added. (Reporting by Marcin Goclowski; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 10:48 AM / Updated 2 hours ago Rescuers resume search for survivors from blazing Iran oil tanker Reuters Staff 2 Min Read BEIJING (Reuters) - Rescue boats resumed their search in choppy waters of the East China Sea on Thursday for any survivors from the stricken Iranian oil tanker that collided with a freight ship and burst into flames at the weekend, the Chinese government said. Smoke is seen from the Panama-registered Sanchi tanker carrying Iranian oil, which went ablaze after a collision with a Chinese freight ship in the East China Sea, in this January 9, 2018 handout picture released by China's Ministry of Transport January 10, 2018. China's Ministry of Transport/Handout via REUTERS The ship remains at risk of exploding and sinking due to spilled oil as the fire raged for a fifth day, the Ministry of Transportation said in a statement on Thursday. Rescue crews were forced to retreat on Wednesday after a blast on the tanker. “Spilled oil covering the ship body and its surrounding water is still burning, which leaves Sanchi at risk of exploding and sinking,” said the MOT in the statement. The ministry has sent 12 rescue ships to search for the 31 remaining tanker crew members and to extinguish the fire. One body suspected to be from the tanker crew was retrieved from the water this week. “Contaminated air from fire and bad weather have increased difficulties of rescue work,” the ministry said. By 5 p.m. (0900 GMT) on Thursday, tanker was still on fire and search area had expanded to more than 1,000 square miles. The tanker, run by Iran’s top oil shipping operator National Iranian Tanker Co, hit the CF Crystal vessel that was carrying U.S. grain on Saturday. The cause of the collision and damage to the tanker were not clear. CF Crystal is under investigation after arriving at Zhoushan port on Wednesday. Sailors from CF Crystal were rescued by a passing Chinese fishing boat on the night of the incident. Reporting by Muyu Xu and Tom Daly; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Edmund Blair" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 6:26 PM / Updated 22 minutes ago Golf: Outlier Woods can win again, says Donald Andrew Both 3 Min Read LA JOLLA, California (Reuters) - Winning again on the PGA Tour is well within the grasp of a healthy Tiger Woods, two of his peers agreed while warning that expectations should be kept in check. Former world number one Luke Donald and twice Australian Open winner Aaron Baddeley are both bullish about Woods as the 14-times major champion prepares to play his first official tournament since a spinal fusion last April. All eyes are on Woods at the Farmers Insurance Open starting at Torrey Pines on Thursday, and even his fellow professionals are curious to see how he performs after so long out of the competitive arena. “There are always outliers in everything in sport, and Tiger’s certainly one of those in our sport,” Donald told Reuters on Tuesday. “If he gets back in the winner’s circle after what he’s been through the last few years that would be a really good achievement ... It’s certainly a possibility but he has to stay away from injuries.” Donald, 40, is only two years Woods’ junior, and understands the limitations of the body as one moves towards middle age. “You wake up and you’ve got to warm up a little bit more, stretch a little bit more, because your body doesn’t move quite as well,” said the Englishman, who unlike Woods has not had to deal with a serious back injury and multiple surgeries. “He has some past injuries he probably has to be careful with. Other than that, the older you get your nerves probably aren’t quite as good as they were, but when you have so much to fall back on, so many memories as Tiger has, good memories, I think that helps physically and mentally.” MORE UPBEAT Baddeley, meanwhile, is even more upbeat about Woods’s prospects. “If his body stays healthy I think he’ll win again for sure,” Baddeley said after a long session on the practice green. “You can’t be that good of a golfer, and just lose it. “It’s hard to expect him to be at the level he was at winning eight, nine times a year but I definitely think he’ll win again. There’s no reason he can’t win once a year. He doesn’t need to be that player (he was in his prime) to win once. “Making Tour Championship (the top 30 players who qualify for the season-ending event) would be a pretty good goal, not having played a whole lot the past couple of years. I would call that a successful year.” Baddeley observed, almost with a sense of awe, that what for most top players is a career-defining season was just par for the course for Woods, who 10 times was voted by his peers as PGA Tour Player of the Year. “His record is ridiculous,” Baddeley said of Woods, whose record of 79 PGA Tour victories is second only to Sam Snead’s 82. “Justin Thomas last year was impressive (winning five times) but Tiger had a Justin Thomas-like year every year. “He had a career year and backed it up next year, and had another career year and backed it up, and had the same year again and did that for 10 years.” Editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "By Kristen Bellstrom January 4, 2018 There are plenty of juicy details in Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, the new book by Michael Wolff, but for Ivanka Trump watchers, perhaps the biggest reveal is that the First Daughter hopes to eventually add another big first to her resume: President of the United States. An excerpt from the book, published Wednesday in New York Magazine , describes Trump and her husband Jared Kushner (who, according to Wolff, former White House strategist Steve Bannon refers to as “Jarvanka”) settling into their new White House roles—and looking ahead: Between themselves, the two had made an earnest deal: If sometime in the future the opportunity arose, she’d be the one to run for president. The first woman president, Ivanka entertained, would not be Hillary Clinton; it would be Ivanka Trump. So, would she actually run? Trump’s been asked before—and her responses have been mixed. Back in early 2016, Town & Country asked Trump, then still EVP of development and acquisitions at the Trump Organization and head of the Ivanka Trump brand, if she’d consider getting into politics herself. “It’s not something I’ve ever been inclined to do, but I’m 34, so who knows?” she said. “At this point I would never even contemplate it, but that doesn’t mean that when I’m 50 I won’t have a change of heart.” Subscribe to The Broadsheet , Fortune’s daily newsletter on the world’s most powerful women. In the wake of her father’s election, the question has become more pointed. In April, CBS’s Gayle King asked, “Should voters get their Ivanka 2024 campaign signs out?”“No,” said Trump, noting that, “Politics is a tough business.” Wolff also characterizes Trump’s relationship with her father as “transactional.” According to the excerpt, “For Ivanka, it was all business—building the Trump brand, the presidential campaign, and now the White House. She treated her father with a degree of detachment, even irony, going so far as to make fun of his comb-over to others.” President Trump’s attorney, Charles Harder, is demanding that Wolff and his publisher immediately “cease and desist from any further publication, release or dissemination” of the book, saying that the firm is investigating possible defamation of the Trumps, as well as invasion of privacy. Harder has also demanded that Bannon stop making allegedly false statements against the president and his family." + }, + { + "text": "SEOUL (Reuters) - POSCO ( 005490.KS ), South Korea’s top steelmaker, said on Wednesday it will set up two joint ventures to produce lithium-ion battery materials with China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt ( 603799.SS ), one of China’s top cobalt producers. The China-based joint ventures will start production of precursors and cathodes from 2020, the steelmaker said. These ventures will help POSCO secure stable supplies of cobalt and other ingredients for lithium-ion battery materials, POSCO added. Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips" + }, + { + "text": "SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines apologized on Friday and said it recognized the seriousness of the issue after it was criticized by the Chinese aviation regulator for listing Taiwan and Tibet as countries on its website. The Civil Aviation Administration of China earlier in the day posted a statement on its website demanding the U.S. carrier to issue an “immediate and public” apology and to investigate how the issue occurred. “Delta recognizes the seriousness of this issue and we took immediate steps to resolve it,” the company said in an emailed statement to Reuters. “It was an inadvertent error with no business or political intention, and we apologize deeply for the mistake. As one of our most important markets, we are fully committed to China and to our Chinese customers.” Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Christian Schmollinger" + }, + { + "text": "KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- WHAT: The Tennessee Valley Authority will host a conference call for the financial community and news media to discuss results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2018. WHO: President and CEO Bill Johnson Chief Financial Officer John Thomas WHEN: 9:30 a.m. EST, Friday, Feb. 2, 2018 WHERE: The event will be conducted as a webcast accessible via TVA's site at: www.tva.com/investors under the \"upcoming events\" tab and as a dial-in teleconference. Participants will be able to hear the discussion and see slides via the webcast, but will need telephone access to ask questions. Pre-registration through the website is encouraged. Please use the link above to pre-register. Participants will be emailed a dial-in number for the call and a link for the webcast once registered. Those unable to pre-register may access the call toll free at 844-308-6432 in the United States, or 412-717-9611 outside the United States. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A replay of the conference call will be available one hour after the call ends. Call toll free 877-344-7529 in the United States or 412-317-0088 outside the United States to access the replay. The replay access code is 10115229. The webcast replay and transcript will be available for one year on TVA's investor relations website at www.tva.com/investors . Investor Relations: Tammy Wilson, Knoxville, 865-632-3366 or 888-882-4975 Josh Carlon, Knoxville, 865-632-4133 or 888-882-4975 Media Contact: Gail Rymer, Knoxville, 865-632-2911 TVA Media Relations, Knoxville, 865-632-6000 View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Tennessee Valley Authority" + }, + { + "text": "Tim Hardaway, Jr. scored 31 points and went 6-of-7 from 3-point range to lead the New York Knicks to a 117-115 win over the Utah Jazz on Friday night. Courtney Lee and Kristaps Porzingis each chipped in 18 points for the Knicks. New York won for just the third time in 10 games in January. Rudy Gobert tallied a season-high 23 points and 14 rebounds in his first game back from a knee injury that sidelined him for 15 games. Rodney Hood scored 18 points while Ricky Rubio and Donovan Mitchell added 17 points apiece for the Jazz. Utah rallied from a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit and tied it up at 91-all on a basket from Mitchell. The Knicks countered with back-to-back baskets from Enes Kanter and Trey Burke to make it 98-93 moments later. Then Hardaway, Jr. converted a four-point play and drove for a dunk to put New York up 109-100 with 3:21 remaining. The Jazz mounted one final rally and cut it to 115-112 on a 3-point play from Gobert. Hardaway, Jr. missed a pair of free throws to open the door for a tying basket. Utah had three different cracks at a tying 3-pointer, but missed each one. New York opened up a 16-9 first quarter lead behind hot shooting from Hardaway, Jr. and Porzingis. The duo combined for five of New York’s first seven baskets. Utah rallied toward the end of the quarter and took a 25-22 lead into the second quarter behind a 10-0 run. Raul Neto fueled the spurt with back-to-back layups and Hood provided the go-ahead basket by draining his first 3-pointer of the game. The Knicks tied it up three times in the second quarter, the final time on a Porzingis dunk. The Jazz created some separation again behind back-to-back layups from Gobert and then carved out their first double-digit lead at 48-38 on a dunk from Derrick Favors. New York came out of the gate strong in the third quarter. The Knicks hit 8 of 10 shots to open the half and took a 71-66 lead midway through the quarter. Lee did much of the damage to get New York going, scoring back-to-back baskets less than two minutes into the half to give the Knicks their first lead since the first quarter. Hardway, Jr. hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the final minute of the third quarter to ignite an 8-0 run that extended New York’s lead to 87-78 early in the fourth quarter. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 6:35 AM / Updated 35 minutes ago South Africa's Ramaphosa talks tough on state graft, talks up economy Reuters Staff 1 Min Read JOHANNESBURG, Jan 18 (Reuters) - South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday welcomed moves by prosecutors against companies accused of corruption and talked up the economy during televised remarks at a business breakfast. Ramaphosa, who was elected president of the ruling African National Congress last month (ANC), has been signalling a departure in style and governance from the scandal-plagued administration of President Jacob Zuma, who remains head of state but faces a push from within the party to step down. (Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana; Writing by Ed Stoddard; Editing by Nick Macfie)" + }, + { + "text": "LOS GATOS, Calif., Jan. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atomera Incorporated (NASDAQ: ATOM ), a semiconductor materials and intellectual property licensing company focused on deploying its proprietary technology into the semiconductor industry, today announced today that will host a conference call and webcast to present its fourth quarter 2017 business update and financial results on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018 at 2:00 pm pacific time. The call can be accessed in the following ways: (844) 263-8318 from within the United States [REDACTED] internationally via webcast from the company’s web site at www.atomera.com in the investor relations section replay available for 7 days (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 passcode 7378905 About Atomera Atomera Incorporated has developed Mears Silicon TechnologyTM (MST®), which increases performance and power efficiency in semiconductor transistors. MST® can be implemented using equipment already deployed in semiconductor manufacturing facilities and is complementary to other nano-scaling technologies already in the semiconductor industry roadmap. More information can be found at www.atomera.com Investor Contact: Bishop IR Mike Bishop (415) 894-9633 [REDACTED] Source:Atomera Incorporated" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Top seed Dominic Thiem and Russian Andrey Rublev progressed to the Qatar Open semi-finals in Doha after grinding out victories over Stefanos Tsitsipas and Borna Coric on Thursday. Greece’s Tsitsipas, who ousted French fifth seed Richard Gasquet on Wednesday, took the early lead in the first set but Thiem, the only seeded player still in contention for the season-opening title, fought back to win 7-5 6-4. “I was serving well again today and returning well. That’s what I was working on in the off-season so it already pays off now,” Thiem said. Croatian Coric was expected to overcome Rublev after beating Pablo Carreno Busta in the opening round but the 20-year-old Russian won 6-3 7-5 to set up a semi-final against Guido Pella. Both Pella and his quarter-final opponent Mirza Basic were surprise contenders in the last eight after knocking out top seeded players and the Argentine world number 64 cruised to a 6-2 6-3 victory over the Bosnian. World number five Thiem will face the winner of the match between France’s Gael Monfils and German Peter Gojowczyk in the last four. Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "HAMILTON, Bermuda, Jan. 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teekay GP LLC, the general partner of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. ( Teekay LNG or the Partnership ) (NYSE:TGP), has declared a cash distribution of $0.14 per unit for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. The cash distribution is payable on February 9, 2018 to all unitholders of record on February 2, 2018. About Teekay LNG Teekay LNG Partners is one of the world's largest independent owners and operators of LNG carriers, providing LNG, LPG and crude oil marine transportation services primarily under long-term, fixed-rate charter contracts through its interests in 50 LNG carriers (including 15 newbuildings), 30 LPG/Multigas carriers (including three newbuildings) and five conventional tankers. The Partnership's interests in these vessels range from 20 to 100 percent. Teekay LNG Partners L.P. is a publicly-traded master limited partnership ( MLP ) formed by Teekay Corporation (NYSE:TK) as part of its strategy to expand its operations in the LNG and LPG shipping sectors. Teekay LNG Partners’ common units and preferred units trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TGP”, “TGP PR A” and “TGP PR B”, respectively. For Investor Relations enquiries contact: Ryan Hamilton Tel: [REDACTED] Website: www.teekay.com Source:Teekay LNG Partners L.P." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - Changshu Automotive Trim Co Ltd : * SAYS IT AND CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER PLAN TO BUY 20 PERCENT STAKE IN CHANGCHUN FAWSN GROUP CO FOR 550 MILLION YUAN ($86.17 million) Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2n7QJHP Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3825 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "CLEVELAND, Jan. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CBIZ, Inc. (NYSE: CBZ) will announce its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017, before the market opens on Thursday, February 15, 2018. A conference call to discuss the Company's financial results will be hosted by CBIZ President and CEO Jerry Grisko and CFO Ware Grove at 11:00 a.m. (ET) on Thursday, February 15, 2018. The call will be webcast live on the investor relations page of the CBIZ website at www.cbiz.com and will be available for replay following the call. Investors who would like to participate in the call can pre-register at to receive the dial-in number and a unique personal identification number. Participants may register at any time, including up to and after the call start time. About CBIZ CBIZ, Inc. provides professional business services that help clients better manage their finances, employees and insurance needs. CBIZ provides its clients with financial services including accounting, tax, financial advisory, government healthcare consulting, risk advisory, and valuation services. Benefits and insurance services include group health benefits consulting, property and casualty insurance, retirement plan consulting, payroll, and HR consulting. As a leading provider of accounting, insurance and other professional consulting services to businesses throughout the United States, the Company's services are provided through more than 100 Company offices in 33 states. For more information, please visit www.cbiz.com . View original content: SOURCE CBIZ, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "German workers widen strikes in wage disputes 10:45pm IST - 01:46 Powerful German union IG Metall has vowed to step up industrial action ahead of a round of negotiations with employers as it pushes for higher wages and the right to shorter hours for 3.9 million German workers. David Pollard reports. Powerful German union IG Metall has vowed to step up industrial action ahead of a round of negotiations with employers as it pushes for higher wages and the right to shorter hours for 3.9 million German workers. David Pollard reports. //reut.rs/2AMZD20" + }, + { + "text": "ATLANTA, Jan. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mueller Water Products, Inc . (NYSE:MWA) plans to release financial results for its first quarter ended December 31, 2017 on Thursday, February 1, 2018 after the market closes. Scott Hall, president and chief executive officer of Mueller Water Products, and other members of the Company's leadership team will discuss the financial results during a conference call on Friday, February 2, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. ET. The conference call will be webcast live on Mueller Water Products’ website, www.muellerwaterproducts.com , and will be archived for approximately 90 days. About Mueller Water Products, Inc. Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE:MWA) is a leading manufacturer and marketer of products and services used in the transmission, distribution and measurement of water in North America. Our broad product and service portfolio includes engineered valves, fire hydrants, metering products and systems, leak detection and pipe condition assessment. We help municipalities increase operational efficiencies, improve customer service and prioritize capital spending, demonstrating why Mueller Water Products is Where Intelligence Meets Infrastructure®. Visit us at www.muellerwaterproducts.com . Media Contact: Yolanda Kokayi Director of Communications 770-206-4131 [REDACTED] Source:MUELLER WATER PRODUCTS" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - Heritage Commerce Corp: * HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP AND UNITED AMERICAN BANK AGREE TO MERGE * HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP - DEAL FOR APPROXIMATELY $44.2 MILLION * HERITAGE COMMERCE - HERITAGE WILL ISSUE ABOUT 2.8 MILLION OF ITS SHARES OF COMMON STOCK TO UNITED AMERICAN COMMON AND PREFERRED SHAREHOLDERS IN MERGER * HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP - OUTSTANDING SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK AND SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK WILL BE EXCHANGED FOR $9.1 MILLION IN CASH AT DEAL CLOSING * HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP - BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF HERITAGE AND UNITED AMERICAN HAVE APPROVED TRANSACTION * HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP - ONCE TRANSACTION COSTS HAVE BEEN ASSIMILATED IN FIRST HALF OF 2018, EXPECT MERGER TO BE ACCRETIVE TO EARNINGS Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 19 (Reuters) - British Land Company Plc said on Friday it appointed Simon Carter as chief financial officer. Carter succeeds Lucinda Bell, who said in October she would step down from the board and leave the company. The company, which owns the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield, said Bell will step down with immediate effect. Bell, who was appointed CFO in May 2011, was expected to leave on April 4. The company said Carter’s start date would be announced in due course. Carter is currently the CFO at warehouse firm Logicor and prior to that he was finance director at Quintain Estates & Development Plc. British Land and Land Securities, both large holders of London office property, have seen the value of their assets falling since the country’s vote to leave the European Union last year. (Reporting by Radhika Rukmangadhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)" + }, + { + "text": "Lady Gaga, Pink, hit the Grammy red carpet Monday, January 29, 2018 - 01:44 On Grammys red carpet, white roses are the motif, women's equality the message. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript On Grammys red carpet, white roses are the motif, women's equality the message. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "CHICAGO, Jan. 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LKQ Corporation (Nasdaq:LKQ) will release fourth quarter and full year 2017 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, February 22, 2018. Conference Call Details LKQ will host a conference call and webcast on February 22, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. Central Time) with members of senior management to discuss the Company's results. To access the investor conference call, please dial (844) 579-6824. International access to the call may be obtained by dialing (763) 488-9145. The investor conference call will require you to enter conference ID: 6848459#. Webcast and Presentation Details The audio webcast and accompanying slide presentation can be accessed at www.lkqcorp.com in the Investor Relations section. A replay of the conference call will be available by telephone at (800) 585-8367 or (416) 621-4642 for international calls. The telephone replay will require you to enter conference ID: 6848459#. An online replay of the audio webcast will be available on the Company's website. Both formats of replay will be available through March 9, 2018. Please allow approximately two hours after the live presentation before attempting to access the replay. About LKQ Corporation LKQ Corporation ( www.lkqcorp.com ) is a leading provider of alternative and specialty parts to repair and accessorize automobiles and other vehicles. LKQ has operations in North America, Europe and Taiwan. LKQ offers its customers a broad range of replacement systems, components, equipment and parts to repair and accessorize automobiles, trucks, and recreational and performance vehicles. Joseph P. Boutross LKQ Corporation Director, Investor Relations (312) 621-2793 [REDACTED] Source:LKQ Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "U.S. Senate Democrats said on Tuesday they had the backing of 50 members of the 100-person chamber to overturn the U.S. Federal Communications Commissions reversal of landmark Obama administration net neutrality rules, but still faced an uphill battle. Senator Ed Markey said in a statement all 49 Democrats backed the repeal. Earlier this month, Republican Senator Susan Collins said she would back the effort to overturn the FCCs recent move. The FCC voted in December along party lines to reverse rules introduced in 2015 that barred internet service providers from blocking or throttling traffic, or offering paid fast lanes, also known as paid prioritization. A group of state attorneys general immediately vowed to sue. The new rules will not take affect for several months, the FCC has said. A reversal of the FCC vote would need the approval of the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House and President Donald Trump. Trump backed the FCC action, the White House said last month. A trade group representing major tech companies including Facebook , Alphabet and Amazon.com said it would support legal challenges to the reversal. The vote in December marked a victory for AT&T , Comcast and Verizon Communications and handed them power over what content consumers can access over the internet. It was the biggest win for FCC Chairman Ajit Pai in his sweeping effort to undo many telecommunications regulations. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the issue would be a major motivating factor for young voters the party is courting. \"Were going to let everyone know where we stand and they stand, Schumer said this month. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, backs the FCC repeal. The FCC order grants internet providers sweeping new powers to block, throttle or discriminate among internet content, but requires public disclosure of those practices. Internet providers have vowed not to change how consumers obtain online content. House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Greg Walden, a Republican, said in an interview Tuesday he planned to hold a hearing on paid prioritization. He has urged Democrats to work constructively on a legislative solution to net neutrality \"to bring certainty and clarity going forward and ban behaviors like blocking and throttling.\" He said it was unlikely a vote to overturn the FCC decision would get a majority in the U.S. House. Paid prioritization is part of American life, Walden said. \"Where do you want to sit on the airplane? Where do you want to sit on Amtrak?\" Walden said. Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal and CNBC." + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 10 (Reuters) - A federal judge’s ruling late on Tuesday that barred President Donald Trump from ending a program shielding young people brought to the United States illegally from deportation was “outrageous,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Wednesday. “An issue of this magnitude must go through the normal legislative process,” Sanders said. “President Trump is committed to the rule of law, and will work with members of both parties to reach a permanent solution that corrects the unconstitutional actions taken by the last administration.” (Reporting by Blake Brittain; Editing by Mohammad Zargham) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "French dairy firm under fire over Salmonella outbreak 5:18pm GMT - 01:23 One of the world's biggest dairies has come under fire for its slow response to a Salmonella outbreak. French company Lactalis has promised to compensate victims of a Salmonella contamination in its baby milk. Anna Bevan reports. One of the world's biggest dairies has come under fire for its slow response to a Salmonella outbreak. French company Lactalis has promised to compensate victims of a Salmonella contamination in its baby milk. Anna Bevan reports. //reut.rs/2B2g62z" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29 (Reuters) - Lawton Development Co Ltd : * Sees FY 2017 net loss to be about 44.1 million yuan * The reason for the forecast is doldrums of building decoration industry and declined performance of unit hotels Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/cFuzoj Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Sales of new U.S. single-family homes fell more than expected in December, recording their biggest drop in nearly 1-1/2 years, likely as the boost from the replacement of flood-damaged houses in parts of the South affected by hurricanes faded. The Commerce Department said on Thursday new home sales declined 9.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 625,000 units last month. The percentage decrease was the largest since August 2016. November's sales pace was revised down to 689,000 units, still the strongest performance since July 2007, from the previously reported 733,000 units. Unseasonably cold temperatures at the end of December probably also hurt sales. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast new home sales, which account for 10.1 percent of the housing market, tumbling 7.9 percent to a pace of 679,000 units last month. New home sales, which are drawn from permits, are volatile on a month-to-month basis. Sales plunged 9.8 percent in the South last month after jumping 6.6 percent in November amid reconstruction efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Sales fell 10 percent in the Midwest last month. New home sales surged 14.1 percent from a year ago. They increased 8.3 percent in 2017 to 608,000 units. A strong labor market, which is near full employment, has unleashed demand for housing that has not been matched with an increase in supply. As a result, house price inflation has outpaced wage growth, pricing some first-time home buyers out of the market. A report on Wednesday showed sales of previously owned homes declined 3.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.57 million units last month as inventory of houses dropped to a record low. In December, there were 295,000 new homes on the market, an increase of 3.9 percent and the highest level since April 2009. The stock of new home sales still remains well below its peak during the housing market bubble. At December's sales pace it would take 5.7 months to clear the supply of houses on the market, up from 4.9 months in November. A six-month supply is viewed as a healthy balance between supply and demand." + }, + { + "text": "Spotify Inside Spotify's Plan to Lure Listeners Away From Apple In this photo illustration, the logo of the Swedish music streaming service Spotify is displayed on the screen of an iPhone on January 06, 2017 in Paris, France. Chesnot Getty Images By Bloomberg January 18, 2018 Spotify, the world’s largest paid music service, will begin offering news and political coverage to lure listeners away from radio and podcasts from rival Apple Inc. Eight companies, including BuzzFeed and Refinery29, have agreed to produce programming for the new initiative, called Spotlight. One of the first shows will be a four- to seven-minute daily newscast featuring reporting from BuzzFeed journalists across the globe. Spotlight will only be available to customers in the U.S. at first. News programming can help Spotify capture some of the $18 billion spent on radio advertising each year and boost profitability as it prepares to trade on the New York Stock Exchange. While the company almost singlehandedly reversed the record industry’s long decline, it has been unable to turn a profit due to the high cost of music rights. Segments on news, pop culture, sports and politics add a new dimension to Spotify, which was already diversifying beyond music with videos and podcasts for its more than 70 million users. Such programming can be more profitable, but it also puts Spotify more in competition with YouTube and Apple, two powerful rivals. “I know people are coming to Spotify to listen first, but we’re starting to build something new,’’ Courtney Holt, the company’s head of studios and video, said in an interview. “I want to create content that can be seen and listened to.’’ Some of the programs will be versions of podcasts already available on the service, like Crooked Media’s “Pod Save America,” and will initially contain the same ads, read by the hosts. Other programs won’t have ads during the initial testing phase. The way podcasts are presented will be enhanced to let listeners more easily skip between different stories and topics, Holt said. They’ll also include visuals. Holt joined Spotify last year after stints in music and digital media to figure out what the company should be doing beyond music. He scrapped several original video series, which were tough for users to locate on the service and struggled to gain an audience. In their place, he conceived Spotlight, which mimics the the most successful videos on Spotify to date — music videos and behind-the-scenes footage presented within playlists RapCaviar and Viva Latino. Users can listen to those videos without watching, or watch for additional information. BuzzFeed’s show will be audio-first, but include infographics and other visual elements, according to Ben Smith, editor-in-chief. “Spotify has this real opportunity to compete with terrestrial radio,’’ Smith said. “These are news updates for people of the generation we serve, 18- to 35-year-olds.’’ SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "(Corrects typo in headline) Jan 17 (Reuters) - Newstrike Resources Ltd’s shareholders approved the sale of the Canadian cannabis producer to CanniMed Therapeutics Inc, which is fighting off a hostile takeover bid from fellow medical marijuana company Aurora Cannabis Inc. CanniMed has a shareholder meeting on Jan. 23 to vote on the Newstrike acquisition, which Aurora has called a “terrible deal”. Earlier this month, CanniMed signed a deal with Up Cannabis, which is owned by Newstrike, for the supply of raw materials in the face of rising demand as Canada prepares to legalize recreational pot. CanniMed has filed a $725 million lawsuit as it tries to fend off Aurora’s hostile takeover. (Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D‘Souza)" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage will meet the European Union’s chief negotiator on Monday in what he said was an attempt to convey the views of 17.4 million Britons who voted to leave the bloc. FILE PHOTO: EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier (R) talks with Nigel Farage, United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) member and MEP, as they arrive to take part in a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcomming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, April 5, 2017. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler/File Photo Farage, who as UKIP leader convinced Prime Minister Theresa May’s predecessor, David Cameron, to call the Brexit referendum and then helped lead the campaign for Brexit, has repeatedly scolded May for being too weak in the EU divorce talks. He said in a video clip posted on Twitter that he would meet the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Monday and appealed for people to send him their questions to put to Barnier. “I thought who is in there representing the views of the 17.4 million people? Nobody,” Farage said. “Well I’ve finally got my meeting with Mr Barnier. Its going to happen.” FILE PHOTO: Nigel Farage, ex-leader of Britain's anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP), speaks at a press conference of the Germany's far-right Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) party in Berlin, Germany, September 8, 2017. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/File Photo In the United Kingdom’s 2016 referendum, 51.9 percent, or 17.4 million people, voted to leave the EU while 48.1 percent, or 16.1 million people, voted to stay. May has said Britain will leave the EU on March 29 at 2300GMT. The EU and Britain are discussing the terms of the divorce. Farage, 53, casts the EU as a doomed experiment in German-dominated unity and excessive debt-funded welfare spending. He has dismissed speculation from opponents of Brexit such as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair that voters might change their mind about leaving the EU. “The revolution of 2016 is still rolling,” he told Reuters in November. “The European Union project is in deep trouble and it’s only a matter of time until it ends.” Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Costas Pitas" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - Sam’s Club, a unit of Wal-Mart Stores Inc , closed a series of stores following a review, the membership-only store chain said in a tweet on Thursday. The tweet came after a series of reports from local news outlets said some Sam's Club stores were closed abruptly on Thursday, with employees learning of the move as they arrived for work. ( bit.ly/2DjkkWv ) Earlier in the day Wal-Mart said it would raise entry-level wages for U.S. hourly employees to $11 an hour in February as it benefits from last month’s major overhaul of the U.S. tax code. (Reporting by Siddharth Cavale in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D‘Souza) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "HOUSTON, Jan. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: GPI), (\"Group 1\" or the \"Company\"), an international, Fortune 500 automotive retailer, today announced the expansion of its business presence in the El Paso, Texas market with the acquisition of two new dealerships. The dealerships are Audi El Paso and Subaru El Paso, and are expected to generate approximately $65 million in annualized revenues. \"We are pleased to expand our dealership footprint in the fast-growing El Paso market and increase our existing partnership with Audi and Subaru,\" said Earl J. Hesterberg, Group 1's president and chief executive officer. The acquisition expands Group 1's total representation in El Paso to seven automotive franchises (Audi, BMW, Buick, Ford, GMC, MINI, and Subaru) and one collision center. ABOUT GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. Group 1 owns and operates 175 automotive dealerships , 230 franchises, and 48 collision centers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Brazil that offer 32 brands of automobiles. Through its dealerships, the Company sells new and used cars and light trucks; arranges related vehicle financing; sells service contracts; provides automotive maintenance and repair services; and sells vehicle parts. Investors please visit www.group1corp.com , www.group1auto.com , www.group1collision.com , www.facebook.com/group1auto , and www.twitter.com/group1auto , where Group 1 discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations. Investor contacts: Sheila Roth Manager, Investor Relations Group 1 Automotive, Inc. 713-647-5741 | [REDACTED] Media contacts: Pete DeLongchamps Senior V.P. Manufacturer Relations, Financial Services and Public Affairs Group 1 Automotive, Inc. 713-647-5770 | [REDACTED] or Clint Woods Pierpont Communications, Inc. 713-627-2223 | [REDACTED] View original content: SOURCE Group 1 Automotive, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "JPMorgan, Wells Fargo beat Wall Street 9:27pm GMT - 01:49 JPMorgan Chase topped Wall Street's fourth-quarter earnings expectations after charges related to new tax code, while Wells Fargo also beat, but fell short on revenue. Aleksandra Michalska reports. JPMorgan Chase topped Wall Street's fourth-quarter earnings expectations after charges related to new tax code, while Wells Fargo also beat, but fell short on revenue. Aleksandra Michalska reports. //reut.rs/2AVjRqC" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - NanoenTek Inc : * Says 2.1 billion won worth of its 3rd series convertible bonds have been converted into 448,140 shares of the co, at 4,686 won/share * Says listing date of new shares is Feb. 21 Source text in Korean: goo.gl/1Q6hYp Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the development of a modern economy with a push to expand the real economy, the official Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday. It Quote: d Xi as telling a politburo meeting that China will deepen its supply-side structural reforms, quicken its pace in developing advanced manufacturing industry and push for integrated development of internet, big data and artificial intelligence with the real economy. Resource allocations will be concentrated around the real economy, while government policies will be tilted in favour of boosting the real economy, Xi added at the politburo meeting. Beijing is in its second year of a deleveraging campaign to reduce financial risks rooted in rapid build-up in debt and riskier types of financing. Growth in China’s economy picked up to 6.9 percent last year, the first annual acceleration since 2010 and easily beating the government’s 2017 target of around 6.5 percent. (This version of the story corrects paragraph 1 to show Xinhua report was on Wednesday, not Xi comment) Reporting by Stella Qiu and Ryan Woo; Editing by Richard Borsuk" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 2:59 PM / Updated an hour ago Mercedes 'can't guarantee' meeting EU carbon goals: CEO Reuters Staff 1 Min Read DETROIT (Reuters) - Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz faces a tough challenge to meet the next round of European CO2 goals and may fall short, Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche said on Monday. Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche holds a news conference to unveil new Mercedes G-Class models at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, U.S. January 14, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst The German luxury carmaker still aims to hit its target of 100 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, Zetsche told reporters at the Detroit auto show. “I can’t guarantee we will be compliant,” he said. “Our objective is to be compliant ... but not every parameter is under our control.” Asked whether Mercedes would slash electrified vehicle prices to meet CO2 targets, Zetsche said protecting the brand would also weigh in the balance when comparing compliance costs with fines. “It’s not a pure economic question,” he said. “There might be some reputational aspect in there as well.” Reporting by Laurence FrostEditing by Chizu Nomiyama" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 7:53 PM / Updated 2 hours ago U.S. Supreme Court to hear Schlumberger fight over patent damages Andrew Chung 1 Min Read Jan 12 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to review a bid by Schlumberger NV, the world’s largest oilfield services provider, to allow companies to recoup profits lost due to patent infringement when patented technology is used overseas. The case involves a fight over how much rival ION Geophysical Corp must pay for infringing Schlumberger technology that helps search for oil and gas beneath the ocean floor. The justices will hear Schlumberger’s appeal of a lower court ruling that barred it from recovering more than $93 million stemming from foreign contracts the company said it lost as a result of the infringement. Reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham" + }, + { + "text": "January 4, 2018 / 12:27 PM / Updated 15 minutes ago Investment banking fees at record high in 2017 - Thomson Reuters data Dasha Afanasieva 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Buoyed by a recovery in equity issuance, global investment banking fees rose 16 percent to an estimated $104 billion in 2017, Thomson Reuters data shows, the highest level since its records began in 2000. The rebound in fees to above pre-crisis highs will be welcome news for global advisors who complain they are being squeezed by regulatory requirements amid competition from boutique players. Following a downbeat 2016, investment banking fees for equity products rose 41.5 percent to $22 billion (£16.23 billion) on an issuance recovery. Fees for bonds beat mergers and acquisitions as the number one product, rising almost 15 percent to $31 billion. Japan Post Holdings Co Ltd ( 6178.T ), the biggest follow-on offering of the year, and Japanese SoftBank Group Corp ( 9984.T ), which agreed to buy a large number of shares of Uber Technologies Inc in late December, were the biggest corporate clients of 2017 - paying out $382 and $378 million respectively. Japan saw a 50 percent rise in total fees to $5.5 billion. Blackstone Group ( BX.N ) was the biggest financial sponsor fee payer, shelling out $679 million, an increase of 87 percent on the previous year. JP Morgan ( JPM.N ) was the biggest global investment banking earner of the year once again, racking up an estimated $6.7 billion in fees, or 6 percent of the total. Reporting by Dasha Afanasieva; Editing by Adrian Croft" + }, + { + "text": "Sprint on Thursday named seasoned turnaround strategist Michel Combes as president and chief financial officer in a move to return the company to profitability. Combes will start Saturday, and current CFO Tarek Robbiati will remain on through January, the company said in a statement . CEO Marcelo Claure said Combes is capable of accelerating the company's turnaround. \"He is a visionary executive with a proven track record of successfully transforming leading telecom and media companies and will help us to execute our strategic plan and strengthen our team,\" Claure said. Combes has come to be recognized as a turnaround strategist during his 30 years in the telecom industry. He joined Alcatel-Lucen t when it was near bankruptcy and oversaw its sale to Nokia, and he joined France Telecom when it was buried in debt and orchestrated its rebranding to Orange. Combes most recently served as CEO of Altice NV. He will be appointed to Sprint's board of directors at a later date. Shares of Sprint were halted ahead of the news and fell more than 5 percent after trading resumed. Correction: An earlier version misstated the status of merger talks between Sprint and T-Mobile. They ended in November." + }, + { + "text": "Ant-MoneyGram deal's rejection by U.S. another indication of fading goodwill - China's Xinhua BEIJING, Jan 3 (Reuters) - A U.S. government panel’s decision to block Ant Financial’s $1.2 billion acquisition of MoneyGram International Inc. is another indication that goodwill built during President Donald Trump’s November Beijing trip is fading, according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency. The U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States rejected the deal on national security concerns, the most high-profile Chinese acquisition blocked under the Trump administration. The U.S. government has also been pressing China on multiple fronts including fairer bilateral trade and greater market access for U.S. companies. “In the last 30 days of 2017, the U.S. government launched a Section 301 investigation into Chinese intellectual property and technology transfer, self-initiated probes into Chinese-made aluminum products, and rejected China’s market economy status at the World Trade Organization,” Xinhua said in a commentary on Wednesday. “The bonhomie that grew between China and the United States in Beijing in November, when the two signed hundreds of billions of dollars of deals, seems to be fading away as the U.S. side is stuck in a zero-sum mentality,” it said. It added that retaliatory measures from China “could be on the table” should the United States continue on its current course. Ant Financial is controlled by Jack Ma, executive chairman of Chinese internet conglomerate Alibaba Group Holding Ltd , and other Alibaba executives. The firm sought to buy money transfer firm MoneyGram to boost its global footprint amid fierce competition from rival Tencent Holdings Ltd’s WeChat payment platform. Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters the U.S. panel blocked the deal on concerns about the safety of the data that can be used to identify U.S. citizens, rejecting proposals from Ant Financial and MoneyGram that sought to mitigate such risks. “With deep-rooted strategic mistrust toward China, U.S. politicians have failed to catch up with China’s understanding of cooperation and adopted an increasingly protective and isolationist approach,” the Xinhua commentary said. China’s foreign ministry said separately on Wednesday that it hopes the U.S. can create a level playing field and a predictable environment for Chinese firms. (Reporting by Se Young Lee; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)" + }, + { + "text": "MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) today announced that it will report 2017 fourth quarter financial results before the market opens on Tuesday, February 20, 2018. Robert Dickey, Chief Executive Officer, and Alison Engel, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the company’s financial results at 10:00 a.m. ET. What: Gannett 2017 Fourth Quarter Financial Results Conference Call When: Tuesday, February 20, 2018 Time: 10:00 a.m. ET Live Call: US/Canada Toll-Free: (855) 462-1958 International: (503) 343-6635 Conference Code: 1798915 Replay: US/Canada Toll-Free: (855) 859-2056 International: (404) 537-3406 Conference ID: 1798915 (Available approximately two hours after the completion of the live call until 12:00 p.m. ET on March 31, 2018) Webcast: About Gannett Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is an innovative, digitally focused media and marketing solutions company committed to strengthening communities across our network. With an unmatched local-to-national reach, Gannett touches the lives of more than 110 million people monthly with our Pulitzer-Prize winning content, consumer experiences and benefits, and advertiser products and services. Gannett brands include USA TODAY NETWORK with the iconic USA TODAY and more than 100 local media brands, digital marketing services companies ReachLocal and SweetIQ, and U.K. media company Newsquest. To connect with us, visit www.gannett.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Gannett Co., Inc. For investor inquiries, contact: Stacy Cunningham Vice President, Financial Planning & Investor Relations 703-854-3168 [REDACTED] or The Blueshirt Group Brinlea Johnson [REDACTED] or For media inquiries, contact: Amber Allman Vice President, Corporate Events & Communications 703-854-5358 [REDACTED] Source: Gannett Co., Inc." + }, + { + "text": "January 20, 2018 / 11:27 AM / Updated 34 minutes ago McDonald to succeed Adams as Sinn Fein leader in striking shift Amanda Ferguson 3 Min Read BELFAST (Reuters) - Mary Lou McDonald will succeed Gerry Adams as Sinn Fein leader, the party said on Saturday, completing a generational shift for the Irish nationalist party as it bids to enter government on both sides of the Irish border. Adams, a pivotal figure in the political life of Ireland for almost 50 years, announced he would step down as leader of the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) last November after more than three decades in charge. McDonald, an English literature graduate from Trinity College Dublin who has been at the forefront of a new breed of Sinn Fein politicians softening the party’s image, was the only Sinn Fein lawmaker to put her name forward for the leadership ahead of a special convention on Feb. 10. “For us in Sinn Fein in the time ahead, we have to grow our party, not just our mandate but also our capacities. We have to modernise, we have to be fit for purpose, fit for our task,” McDonald said in a speech to party members in Belfast. “As we enter a new era, we look ahead with confidence as a party that is about being in government here in the north, in government in the south also, working forward all the time for the realisation of our ultimate goal of Irish unity.” Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams delivers a speech at his party's annual conference in Dublin, Ireland November 18, 2017. Picture taken November 18, 2017. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne Adams, still reviled by some sceptical voters as the face of the IRA during its campaign against British rule in Northern Ireland, hands over to a successor with no direct involvement in the three decades of conflict that came to an end in 1998. It also means the left-wing party will be led on both sides of the border by women in their 40s after Michelle O‘Neill succeeded Martin McGuinness as leader in Northern Ireland shortly before the former IRA commander’s death in March. Slideshow (2 Images) Sinn Fein has shared power in Northern Ireland since 2007 and is in negotiations to try to restore the devolved executive there but it has never governed in the south where it has grown to establish itself as the third largest party. While it trails the centre-right Fine Gael and Fianna Fail parties by some distance in opinion polls, recent surveys suggest some voters would be more willing to vote for a party led by McDonald than Adams. With the big two parties likely to be able to form another minority government at best at elections that could come as soon as this year, McDonald’s leadership could also make Sinn Fein a more palatable coalition partner. Reporting by Amanda Ferguson, writing by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Janet Lawrence" + }, + { + "text": "Restaurant industry veteran takes the helm of Portland’s iconic doughnut shop PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Voodoo Doughnut today announced the appointment of Chris Schultz as the company’s CEO. Schultz has over 30 years of restaurant industry experience, most recently with MOD Pizza serving as the company’s Senior Vice President of Operations. During his tenure, he helped steward the company from one to over 300 locations worldwide. Prior to MOD, Schultz spent 13 years at Starbucks Coffee Company as an operational advisor to the senior executive team as the company expanded domestically and internationally. At Voodoo, Schultz will call upon his experience to focus on growth of the brand, strengthening the culture, entering new markets and staying connected to the communities that we operate in. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Voodoo Doughnut CEO, Chris Schultz (Photo: Business Wire) “Voodoo has all the magic needed to create something really big and Chris has the experience we need as we realize our dream of a culture-driven business,” said Kenneth “Cat Daddy” Pogson, co-founder of Voodoo Doughnut. “His commitment to the customer and dedication to building a strong culture will pave the way as we try and put more Magic in the Hole.” Voodoo Doughnut currently has six locations in four states, most recently opening on the City Walk Universal Studios Hollywood. Creators of the Bacon Maple Bar, Portland Cream and Memphis Mafia doughnuts, Voodoo has earned a cult following worldwide for its unique take on the classic doughnut shop. Founders Kenneth “Cat Daddy” Pogson and Tres Shannon built their “little doughnut shop that could” into a dynamic fun zone in front of and behind the counter. Said Schultz, “Voodoo has all the ingredients to go from ‘the little company that could’ to the next big thing. We will be retaining all that’s wonderful to make sure the Voodoo that’s done so well isn’t lost as we introduce ourselves to new customers, communities and employees.” Schultz succeeds Robin “Lobster” Ludwig in the role of CEO. Ludwig tragically lost his battle with brain cancer in 2015. View source version on businesswire.com : Voodoo Doughnut Sara Heise, 503-546-9666 [REDACTED] @VoodooDoughnut Source: Voodoo Doughnut" + }, + { + "text": "How Genetically Modified Cows Could Help Us Beat One of the World's Deadliest Viruses Behold your medical savior. By Sy Mukherjee 3:31 PM EST Animals are critical to scientific discovery. They serve as the (somewhat literal) guinea pigs for human drug development and product testing. And U.S. scientists are now saying that yet another major medical breakthrough may be facilitated by our fauna fellows—specifically, antibodies grown in genetically modified cows that protect against the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, aka MERS virus . MERS is a condition that mainly afflicts people in Saudi Arabia and causes severe respiratory illness. That includes (often fatal) fever, cough, and shortness of breath , according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The first major outbreak was reported just six years ago, so there have basically been no treatments developed for it yet. With a relatively small and isolated patient population, MERS has a staggering 35% fatality rate. But one avenue that may hold promise for fighting the virus may lay in... Cows. In a new paper published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases , researchers say that cows with certain strands of human DNA spliced into their genome were able to generate antibodies, called SAB-301, that could help protect against MERS and safe for humans. “This is the first study to show the safety and immune effects of a potential treatment for MERS,” said the study’s co-lead, John Beigel, according to Reuters . “The data from our study suggest that SAB-301 is safe, and further research into the treatment is warranted.” Cows are far from our only mammalian relatives that serve a critical medical research need. There’s plenty of credit to go around for mice , rats, and of course , pigs, too. This essay appears in today’s edition of the Fortune Brainstorm Health Daily. Get it delivered straight to your inbox. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 10:40 AM / Updated 3 hours ago After 950 years, France to lend Bayeux Tapestry to Britain Michel Rose , Estelle Shirbon 4 Min Read PARIS/LONDON (Reuters) - France will lend Britain the Bayeux Tapestry, an 11th century treasure that tells the tale of how William the Conqueror came to invade England in 1066, an official at the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris said on Wednesday. The announcement, a day before French President Emmanuel Macron is due to visit Britain for talks with Prime Minister Theresa May, was greeted with enthusiasm in Britain where the tapestry has powerful historical resonance. “This is huge. This is an extraordinary diplomatic outreach by the president of France and a fantastic gesture of goodwill from one of our nearest and closest allies,” said lawmaker Tom Tugendhat, chair of parliament’s foreign affairs committee. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for the British people to see one of the seminal works in our national history,” he said during an interview on BBC radio. The 70-metre long tapestry, whose precise origins are obscure and which has not left France in its nearly 950-year known history, is currently on display in the town of Bayeux, in the northwestern French region of Normandy. The Elysee official said the loan was agreed in principle but would not take place for several years because work needed to be done on the tapestry to ensure it was safe to move it. “It’s very symbolic for France and maybe even more for the UK,” he said. The invasion of England by Duke William of Normandy, better known as William the Conqueror, and his victory over the Anglo-Saxon King Harold at the Battle of Hastings, changed the course of English history. The Norman conquest transformed England’s language, laws, customs and architecture, and Queen Elizabeth is the 40th monarch in a royal line that traces its origin back to William the Conqueror. “EMMANUEL THE CONQUEROR” There is no consensus on where the tapestry was made. Some researchers believe it was made in Kent, southern England, but many others have pointed to locations in France. May is likely to hail the loan as a sign of the strong friendship between Paris and London, which like Britain’s relations with other European nations is under strain because of the United Kingdom’s looming exit from the European Union. The Elysee official said the loan fitted into Macron’s strategy for the revival of European sovereignty and democracy, detailed in a speech in Athens in September last year during which he spoke about the importance of cultural and historic ties between European nations. “The president had insisted during his speech in Athens on a Europe of culture and the arts, and it’s important to put this in practice with our British neighbours to symbolise the strength of our historical relationship,” said the official. The Times newspaper’s cartoonist Peter Brookes linked Bayeux and Brexit in his offering in Wednesday’s edition, which was drawn in the style of the tapestry. It depicted Macron as “Emmanuel the Conqueror” riding forth with a confident smile as May, brandishing a Brexit banner, received an arrow in the eye -- the fate that befell King Harold according to the tapestry. Britain’s foreign minister Boris Johnson was depicted slumped forward on a horse with two arrows in his bottom. Additional reporting by Jean-Baptiste Vey in Paris, writing by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Guy Faulconbridge" + }, + { + "text": "ACCRA (Reuters) - Ghana’s economy is rebounding and the major commodity exporter is poised to wean itself off bailouts through sustained fiscal discipline and a battle against corruption, President Nana Akufo-Addo said on Wednesday. The former opposition leader, sworn into office a year ago, said his government spent the past year stabilizing the economy, including clearing huge debts while rolling out infrastructure such as schools and roads. Ghana, which exports cocoa, gold and oil, is in the last year of a $918 million credit deal signed in 2015 with the International Monetary Fund to reduce the deficit, public debt and inflation and lift growth. “I am glad to report that the hard work is yielding positive results - the macroeconomic fundamentals have seen improvements through improved fiscal and monetary discipline,” Akufo-Addo told reporters in Accra. “The important aspect and the cornerstone of our government going forward is to remain committed to fiscal discipline so that never again will we go back to the IMF or any bailout of the sort.” GDP growth in the West African state rebounded to 9.3 percent in Q3 2017 from 3.5 percent in the same period of 2016. Akufo-Addo said the government saved about $7 billion after reviewing power sector deals signed by his predecessor covering a 13-year contract. Eleven of the contracts had been terminated. It also saved at least $200 million through value-for-money procurement reviews, he said, without giving details. Akufo-Addo, who last week named a special prosecutor to investigate graft, warned that his appointees would not be spared if found culpable of corruption. He also said his government had yet to decide whether to extend the stay of two ex-Guantanamo Bay detainees transferred to Ghana under a special arrangement with the United States. The two Yemeni nationals were sent to Ghana in January 2016 for an initial two-year period after being held for more than a decade at Guantanamo for suspected terrorism. Reporting by Kwasi Kpodo; editing by Mark Heinrich" + }, + { + "text": "BERLIN (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel expressed concern on Monday about the death of protesters in Iran and appealed to the Iranian government to respect people’s rights. The protests by tens of thousands of people are the biggest in Iran since unrest in 2009 that followed the disputed re-election of then-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. “We appeal to the Iranian government to respect the rights of the demonstrators to assemble and to peacefully raise their voices,” Gabriel said. “After the confrontations of recent days, it is all the more important that all sides refrain from violent actions.” Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Robin Pomeroy" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds details on indicator, rates) SANTIAGO, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Chile's inflation for the full year of 2017 was 2.3 percent, within the central bank's target range of 2 percent to 4 percent and the lowest in five years, the government said on Monday. The consumer price index rose 0.1 percent in December, below market expectations of 0.18 percent. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, was also 0.1 percent in December. Traders polled in late December said they expected the central bank to hold its benchmark interest rate at 2.50 percent over the next six months. A poll of analysts in mid December, however, said the bank would likely raise the rate to 2.75 percent in 2018. Consultancy Capital Economics said in a report on Monday that \"inflation bottomed out in September at 1.5 percent ... and is now on the rise.\" However, it said there is still a \"reasonable chance\" of further monetary easing in the next three to six months. December Reuters November December 12 months 2017 Poll 2017 2016 through December CPI +0.1 +0.18 +0.1 -0.2 +2.3 (pct) (Reporting by Antonio de la Jara; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)" + }, + { + "text": "41 PM / Updated 6 minutes ago Blast injures several in Belgium, terrorism ruled out: police Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BRUSSELS (Reuters) - An explosion injured several people and brought down a residential building in the Belgian city of Antwerp on Monday evening, police said, stressing the incident was not related to terrorism. Belgian news agency Belga reported five people had been injured. Antwerp police said two adjacent buildings might have also been damaged in what state broadcaster RTBF said was a gas explosion. Belgium has been on high alert since deadly suicide bombings in 2016 and a wave of Islamist attacks across Europe. Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; editing by Andrew Roche" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 4:42 PM / Updated 7 minutes ago Russia says North Korea summit undermines U.N., aggravates situation Reuters Staff 3 Min Read MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia hit out on Wednesday at a U.S.-led effort to increase international pressure on North Korea, saying it was making the situation worse and undermining the United Nations. Twenty nations hosted by the United States and Canada in Vancouver agreed on Tuesday to consider tougher sanctions to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has refused to give up development of nuclear missiles capable of hitting the United States in spite of increasingly severe U.N. sanctions, raising fears of a new war on the Korean peninsula. The Russian Foreign Ministry said top diplomats from Moscow and Beijing had not been invited to the meeting, which was made up of countries that backed South Korea during the 1950-53 Korea War, and that the events were damaging the authority of the United Nations. “It is an absolutely unacceptable situation, when 17 countries take upon themselves the role of ‘helper’ to the UN Security Council and interpreter of its resolutions, thereby actually putting its authority into doubt,” the ministry said in a statement. “Such events, conducted hastily and to the detriment of functioning multilateral formats, are not contributing to the normalisation of the situation around the Korean peninsula, but on the contrary, aggravating it.” In Washington, a senior U.S. official said that the meeting had been planned for months and sought to push back against the idea that it would aggravate tensions on the peninsula. “It is not factually accurate to say that the event was conducted hastily. This has been many months in the planning,” said Under Secretary of State Steve Goldstein, responding to the Russian foreign ministry’s statement. “We believe that this is another step forward in ensuring that the sanctions hold tight,” he added, saying Washington would brief Beijing and Moscow. “We all share the same view that it is time for North Korea to come to the table and let’s negotiate a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” North and South Korea began talks last week for the first time in more than two years and agreed on Wednesday to field a combined women’s ice hockey team and march together under one flag at next month’s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Reporting by Jack Stubbs; Additional reporting by Arshad Mohammed in Washington; Editing by Catherine Evans and James Dalgleish" + }, + { + "text": "Cape Town is running out of water 2:53pm IST - 01:26 Cape Town's authorities are scrambling to avert a water crisis as Day Zero - when the city runs out of water - approaches. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Cape Town's authorities are scrambling to avert a water crisis as Day Zero - when the city runs out of water - approaches. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 17, 2018 / 1:32 AM / Updated 20 minutes ago Indonesian president to reshuffle cabinet - presidential palace Reuters Staff 1 Min Read JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo will swear in new members of cabinet on Wednesday, the presidential palace said, in what will be the third reshuffle of his five-year term. Indonesian President Joko Widodo waves to the student performers (not pictured) upon his arrival to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related meetings in Clark, Pampanga, northern Philippines November 12, 2017. REUTERS/Erik De Castro The reshuffle was widely expected as some of Widodo’s ministers have requested leave of absence to stand in regional elections later this year. The palace did not confirm which cabinet members would be replaced and by whom, but the social affairs minister is standing for election in East Java province and the industry minister was recently appointed head of the second-largest party Golkar. Both are expected to be replaced. Legislative and presidential elections will be held in 2019. Reporting by Beawiharta; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Michael Perry" + }, + { + "text": "Eric Haula and Jonathan Marchessault stunned the Flames with goals 10 seconds apart late in the third period, and the visiting Vegas Golden Knights scored three times during a 53-second span to beat Calgary 4-2 Tuesday night. The Flames held a 2-1 lead with less than two minutes remaining in regulation time and looked poised to snap a slide of four straight losses in extra time. However, the Golden Knights pulled off a magic trick any Vegas entertainer would envy. Moments after Haula evened the count with 1:45 remaining, Marchessault potted the winner that shocked everybody in the Scotiabank Saddledome. David Perron added an empty-netter with 53 seconds left to round out the scoring. The Golden Knights, who sit atop the Pacific Division and Western Conference, won for the 33rd time this season, which ties them with both the 1993-94 Florida Panthers and 1993-94 Anaheim Mighty Ducks for the most wins by a first-year expansion team. Reilly Smith opened the scoring for the Golden Knights, who received a 31-save performance from goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Smith, Marchessault and William Karlsson all had two-point games in the victory, while Haula and Perron both extended their point streaks to six games, during which they have netted eight points apiece. Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk scored second-period goals for Calgary, which erased a 1-0 deficit only to see a victory seemingly disappear in the blink of an eye and tumbled outside of a playoff position. Tkachuk has scored seven goals in eight games. Mike Smith stopped 31 shots for the Flames, who said goodbye to sure-fire Hall of Fame winger Jaromir Jagr after he cleared waivers. Jagr is now heading home to play in the Czech Republic. Calgary, However, welcome back Jagr’s countryman, Michael Frolik, who missed a dozen games due to a broken jaw. Frolik assisted on Tkachuk’s goal. --Field Level Media" + }, + { + "text": "SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jan. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Rigel Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: RIGL) today announced that on December 23, 2017 and January 2, 2018 the Compensation Committee of Rigel's Board of Directors approved the grants of inducement stock options to purchase an aggregate of 200,000 shares of common stock to twelve new employees. These awards were granted pursuant to the Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Inducement Plan, as amended, as an inducement material to the new employees entering into employment with Rigel, in accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). Rigel granted stock options to purchase shares of Rigel's common stock to (i) nine of the employees with an exercise price of $3.49 per share, the closing price of Rigel's common stock on December 22, 2017, the first trading date prior to December 23, 2017, the effective date of such grants and (ii) three of the employees with an exercise price of $3.88 per share, the closing price of Rigel's common stock on December 29, 2017, the first trading date prior to January 2, 2018, the effective date of such grants. The stock options vest as follows: certain of the shares of common stock subject to the awards vest over a four year period, with one-fourth of the shares subject to such awards vesting on the first anniversary of the award's vesting commencement date, and the remaining shares vesting in equal monthly installments thereafter, and certain of the shares of common stock subject to the award vest immediately upon achievement of one or more performance conditions. Rigel is providing this information in accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). About Rigel ( www.rigel.com ) Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biotechnology company dedicated to discovering, developing and providing novel small molecule drugs that significantly improve the lives of patients with immune and hematological disorders, cancer and rare diseases. Rigel's pioneering research focuses on signaling pathways that are critical to disease mechanisms. The company's current clinical programs include clinical trials of fostamatinib, an oral spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitor, in a number of indications. Rigel has submitted, and the FDA has accepted for review, an NDA for fostamatinib in patients with chronic or persistent immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). In addition, Rigel has product candidates in development with partners BerGenBio AS, Daiichi Sankyo and Aclaris Therapeutics. Contact: Raul Rodriguez Phone: 650.624.1302 Email: [REDACTED] View original content: SOURCE Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "ATHENS, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Greece's annual EU-harmonised inflation rate slowed marginally in December, statistics service ELSTAT data showed on Friday. The reading in December was 1.0 percent from 1.1 percent in November. The data also showed the headline consumer price index was 0.7 percent year-on-year from 1.1 percent in the previous month. Greece had been in a protracted deflation mode since March 2013 based on its headline index, as wage and pension cuts and a multi-year recession took a heavy toll on Greek household incomes. Deflation in the country hit its highest level in Nov. 2013 when consumer prices registered a 2.9 percent year on year decline. The economy emerged from deflation in June 2016. KEY FIGURES DEC NOV OCT SEPT AUG JULY JUNE EU-harmonised 1.0 1.1 0.5 1.0 0.6 0.9 0.9 CPI y/y 0.7 1.1 0.7 1.0 0.9 1.0 1.0" + }, + { + "text": "ATLANTA, Jan. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Marine Products Corporation (NYSE: MPX) announced today that it will release its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017 on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 before the market opens. In conjunction with its earnings release, the Company will host a conference call to review the Company's financial and operating results on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Individuals wishing to participate in the conference call should dial (800) 289-0438 or (323) 994-2083 for international callers, and use conference ID number 6463754. For interested individuals unable to join via telephone, the call also will be broadcast and archived for 90 days on the Company's investor website at www.marineproductscorp.com . Interested parties are encouraged to click on the webcast link 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the conference call. Marine Products Corporation (NYSE: MPX) designs, manufactures and distributes premium-branded Chaparral sterndrive, jet drive and outboard pleasure boats, and Robalo offshore sport fishing boats. The Company continues to diversify its product lines through product innovation. With premium brands, a solid capital structure, and a strong independent dealer network, Marine Products Corporation is prepared to capitalize on opportunities to increase its market share and to generate superior financial performance to build long-term shareholder value. For more information on Marine Products Corporation visit our website at www.marineproductscorp.com . For information about Marine Products Corporation or this event, please contact: Ben Palmer Chief Financial Officer (404) 321-7910 [REDACTED] Jim Landers Vice President, Corporate Finance (404) 321-2162 [REDACTED] View original content: SOURCE Marine Products Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - HNA Investment Group Co Ltd * HNA INVESTMENT GROUP SAYS IT WILL SUSPEND TRADING OF ITS STOCK FROM JAN 24 * HNA INVESTMENT GROUP DOES NOT STATE REASON FOR ITS STOCK TRADING HALT IN FILING TO SHENZHEN STOCK EXCHANGE Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2rwdFWL Further company coverage: (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - The Ras Lanuf Oil and Gas Processing Company (RASCO) welcomed on Sunday rulings in favor of the Libyan National Oil Corp (NOC) in international arbitration cases over the 200,000 bpd Ras Lanuf refinery, and said it hoped to restart work in the second half of this year. The rulings “coincide with preparations by the Ras Lanuf company to resume operations in the second half of 2018”, a statement posted on a Facebook page used by the company said. The NOC earlier said it had won two rulings over the refinery and called for a restart as soon as possible. Reporting by Omar Fahmy and Ayman al-Warfalli; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Alison Williams" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Purcell Julie & Lefkowitz LLP, a class action law firm dedicated to representing shareholders nationwide, is investigating a potential breach of fiduciary duty claim involving the board of directors of Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL). If you are a shareholder of Hormel Foods and are interested in obtaining additional information regarding this investigation, free of charge, please visit us at: You may also contact Robert H. Lefkowitz, Esq. either via email at [REDACTED] or by telephone at 212-725-1000. One of our attorneys will personally speak with you about the case at no cost or obligation. Purcell Julie & Lefkowitz LLP is a law firm exclusively committed to representing shareholders nationwide who are victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty and other types of corporate misconduct. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View original content: SOURCE Purcell Julie & Lefkowitz LLP" + }, + { + "text": "Oprah awards speech sparks talk of White House run Tuesday, January 09, 2018 - 01:24 Actress and media mogul Oprah Winfrey has ignited buzz about a possible presidential run in 2020 with a stirring speech at the Golden Globes, followed by speculation from friends that she was considering a run. Ashraf Fahim reports. Actress and media mogul Oprah Winfrey has ignited buzz about a possible presidential run in 2020 with a stirring speech at the Golden Globes, followed by speculation from friends that she was considering a run. Ashraf Fahim reports. //reut.rs/2CWUlqG" + }, + { + "text": "SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Future announces the appointment of Luke Edson as the U.S. Chief Revenue Officer effective immediately. Luke joins Future at an extremely exciting time, amidst a period of new business development and growth for the company. 2017 was a year for exceptional growth, with the U.S. revenue up 41 percent plus an increase in online growth and market share. With Future's digital advertising now representing 90 percent of advertising revenues in the U.S., it's a crucial time for us to exploit these opportunities. As part of Future's intention to scope and deliver new operating methods within the ever-changing landscape of media sales, Luke will play a crucial role in shaping the company's U.S. strategy and new business development including the company's top brands TechRadar and PC Gamer. Luke's responsibilities will see him leading the growth in the U.S. market. He will oversee the commercial operations, revenue strategy and sales activity. Luke brings a wealth of market-relevant experience and will be joining Future from Yellow Pages, where he worked as the Senior Vice President of National Markets. Prior to this, Luke worked at Cox Digital Solutions, AOL and Internet Broadcasting. Luke Edson, U.S. CRO, Future says, \"Future is a flourishing company with a strong portfolio of market-leading brands and audiences, I am looking forward to building on the current momentum and to bringing to the U.S. market, innovative solutions that integrate print and digital media, creative, live experiences and eCommerce.\" Zillah Byng-Thorne, CEO of Future says, \"I'm really excited to welcome Luke on board. His proficiency in commercial operations will help shape our strategy and business development in the U.S. There's a wealth of opportunity for us in the U.S. and I have every faith Luke will be able to capitalize on that.\" This announcement follows last week's appointments of Will Hattam as Chief Marketing Officer and Stacy Gaines as Vice President, U.S. Marketing & Strategic Partnerships. About Future plc Future plc is an international media group and leading digital publisher, listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol: FUTR). The Group operates two separately managed brand-led divisions: Media and Magazine. The Group has a reach of 100m+ globally, including 62m online users and 63m social media reach. The Magazine division is brand-led. It has over 100 market-leading publications, with 10 key titles. The Media division focuses on being at the forefront of digital innovation, in particular, the high growth technology and games markets, with three complementary revenue streams: eCommerce, events and digital advertising. It has a number of leading brands including TechRadar, PC Gamer, GamesRadar+, The Photography Show, Generate, The Homebuilding and Renovating Show and Golden Joysticks Awards. View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Future plc" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 4:50 PM / Updated 5 minutes ago French police stop drunk driver, 73, after 17 spins round roundabout Reuters Staff 1 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - A Frenchman who drank excessive amounts of alcohol and then drove 17 times round a roundabout said he had not heard the sirens when police finally brought him to a halt. The dizzying drive was not the 73-year-old’s first offence of its kind, Ouest France newspaper, which reported the tale, said of the incident in Brittany, western France. The driver’s license was confiscated, it said. Reporting by Brian Love; editing by Mark Heinrich" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON—The latest caper in the fast-moving world of initial coin offerings comes from a company that aimed to raise $1 billion and claimed to raise $600 million. In reality, it may not have raised much more than $1 million. Federal regulators moved to halt the coin offering of Dallas-based AriseBank, in one of the biggest U.S. interventions... RELATED VIDEO Bitcoin 101: What It Is, How to Invest The virtual currency bitcoin continues surging to new highs as a frenzy of investors get in on the action. WSJ's Paul Vigna explains what you need to know, and how to invest should you want to join the mania. Photo: Alexander Hotz/The Wall Street Journal. To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "ABUJA, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Annual inflation in Nigeria stood at 15.37 percent in December, compared with 15.90 percent in November, the head of the National Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday. A separate food price index showed inflation at 19.42 percent in December, compared with 20.30 percent in November, said Yemi Kale, the statistics office’s chief, said on his personal Twitter account. (Reporting by Paul Carsten, editing by Larry King)" + }, + { + "text": "January 2, 2018 / 5:05 AM / Updated 6 hours ago Muguruza injury jinx continues with Brisbane retirement Reuters Staff 2 World number two Garbine Muguruza’s wretched run of injury retirements at the Brisbane International extended to a fourth consecutive year on Tuesday when the Spaniard succumbed to leg cramps in the third set of her opening match. The top seed started well in her second round encounter against unseeded Serbian Aleksandra Krunic, converting her seventh set point in a marathon 12th game to claim the opener before roaring to a 5-2 lead in the second. The reigning Wimbledon champion was coasting but the 53rd-ranked Krunic mounted a stirring fight back and reeled off four of the next five games to force a tiebreak, which she claimed by a 7-3 margin to send the contest into a deciding set. However, Mugurza broke the Serb in the first game of the third and was serving at 2-1 up before she collapsed on the baseline and retired immediately when she was helped off the court to receive treatment for cramping in both legs. The early exit cost Muguruza a chance to replace Romania’s Simona Halep at the top of the world rankings ahead of the Australian Open later this month but the Spaniard’s immediate concern will be to get fit for the first grand slam of the year. Muguruza’s run of injury woes in the tournament dates back to 2015 when she withdrew on the eve of the event with an ankle problem, before a left foot injury ended her 2016 campaign and a right thigh problem led to her semi-final retirement last year. “I‘m not happy with what happened today and I want to wish Garbine a fast recovery. I hope she gets better for the slam,” Krunic, who advanced to the quarter-finals, said in a courtside interview. Writing by John O'Brien in Singapore; Editing by Greg Stutchbury" + }, + { + "text": "A spree of selling in the final weeks of 2017 has helped Airbus surge past Boeing to win the annual commercial jet orders race. The European planemaker said after cancellations were taken into account, 1,109 aircraft were placed. Boeing meanwhile booked 912 net orders across the year. Speaking via webcast Monday, outgoing Airbus sales chief John Leahy said in both narrowbody and widebody aircraft, Airbus had won the sales race in seven out of the last 10 years. \"We are well positioned in widebody and we are stunningly positioned in the single-aisle markets,\" he said. show chapters Boeing is 'head and shoulders' above Airbus in generating cash 14 Hours Ago | 03:39 Airbus overhauled Boeing In December when it confirmed a mammoth $49.5 billion order to supply 430 aircraft to U.S. private equity fund Indigo Partners. 718 Airbus aircraft were physically delivered to customers in 2017, the 15th year in a row that delivery numbers have increased. Boeing remained the world's largest jet maker after it delivered a record 763 airplanes. During the presentation, Airbus also admitted that unless it can find more buyers for its A380 superjumbo, the program may have to end." + }, + { + "text": "Turkish airstrike hits YPG targets in Syria's Afrin 3:24pm IST - 00:32 Video shot by Haberturk showed an explosion in the area followed by plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Video shot by Haberturk showed an explosion in the area followed by plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2DzcpaO" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 12 (Reuters) - The recent drop in U.S. unemployment poses a bigger risk to the sustainability of the economic recovery than lower-than-expected inflation, Boston Fed president Eric Rosengren said Friday. Inflation has run stubbornly below the Fed’s 2-percent goal even as unemployment has fallen to 4.1 percent and looks set to decline further. Some Fed policymakers have urged waiting on rate hikes until inflation shows signs of swinging upward. To Rosengren, however, the unexpectedly rapid decline in the jobless rate is “the bigger risk for short-run policy” and the sustainability of the recovery. His comments, prepared for delivery to the Global Interdependence Center in San Diego, suggest he will support further gradual interest-rate hikes this year, though he gave no specifics. Rosengren devoted the bulk of his speech to make a case for changing Fed policy to make it more effective in a world where many policymakers expect slow growth and low interest rates to be more or less permanent conditions. A number of Fed policymakers have recently joined the call for such a change, arguing the Fed’s 2-percent inflation target, adopted six years ago, is not suited to the post-crisis economy and could make future recessions harder to combat. Rosengren’s solution, proposed publicly for the first time in detail in his Friday speech, is to adopt a target range for inflation of 1.5 percent to 3 percent, and then each year setting a goal for inflation within that range, depending on current conditions. “Using an inflation range would trade off the costs of more effective policy responses to recessions (and the potential financial stability risk that may attend prolonged low interest rate periods), with the costs of having somewhat less certainty about what the inflation rate would be in the long run,” Rosengren said. If the Fed were using such a framework in the current economic environment, Rosengren said, it could aim for inflation on the high end of the range, and raise rates more gradually. If the labor force or productivity were to grow faster, the Fed would aim to reduce inflation within the range, he said. Other Fed officials have promoted different approaches to policy to give the central bank better leverage against future recessions. It is not clear which policy, if any, will take the place of the current approach. (Reporting by Ann Saphir)" + }, + { + "text": "RIGA (Reuters) - The Danish government expects to win backing for a substantial increase in defense spending next month, to counter Russia’s intensified military activity in eastern and northern Europe, the NATO-member’s prime minister said Monday. Denmark last week deployed 200 troops to a UK-led NATO mission in Estonia aimed at deterring Russia from attacking the Baltic NATO members. Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula in 2014 and backs separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine in a war that has killed more than 10,000 people. “Russia’s behavior has created an unpredictable and unstable security environment in the Baltic Sea region,” Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said at a joint news conference with Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis on Monday in Riga. “When I received (Vladimir) Putin in Copenhagen during my first term as prime minister back in 2010, everybody thought that it would be the beginning of a new and much better and much more friendly cooperation between Europe and Russia. And that we could decrease our military spending,” he said. “But given the Russian aggression and what happened in Crimea, I think we simply have to be realistic about things and invest more in our security.” In 2016, Russia moved nuclear-capable Iskander-M missiles to its enclave of Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea and deployed its S-400 air missile defense system there. In April last year, Denmark said Russia had hacked its defense computer network and gained access to employees’ emails in 2015 and 2016. Russia has accused the West of “whipping up hysteria” over its recent military exercises. Denmark’s center-right minority government needs to persuade parliament to back a proposed 20-percent hike of the defense budget over a five-year period. Rasmussen said he expected a “very big majority” to do so. “We want to look at ourselves as a core NATO member. And in order to behave like such a member, we need to increase our expenditures,” he said, adding that the Danish military needed a “substantial increase”. “Five years ago we thought that the defense line, so to speak, would not be in Europe, but would be international operations. Now we realize that we need to have the capability to do both,” he said. Reporting by Gederts Gelzis; writing by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; editing by Andrew Roche" + }, + { + "text": "strong@ * U.S. production to hit 10 million bpd soon * Canadian output is also rising * But overall oil markets remain well supported by OPEC-led cuts * Weakening dollar has also supported crude futures (Recasts with lower Brent prices; adds Canadian production detail) SINGAPORE, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Oil prices dipped on Monday as soaring North American production was seen undermining efforts led by OPEC and Russia to tighten supplies. Despite this, traders said overall market conditions remained strong due to the production cuts and healthy demand-growth. Brent crude futures held above $70 per barrel, but were down by 19 cents from their last close at $70.34 a barrel at 0749 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $66.19 a barrel, up 5 cents. Despite generally bullish sentiment, analysts said the market was coming under pressure from rising output in North America. U.S. crude production has grown by over 17 percent since mid-2016 to 9.88 million barrels per day (bpd) in mid-January. Output is expected to break through 10 million bpd soon. U.S. energy companies added 12 oil rigs drilling for new production last week, taking the total to 759, General Electric Baker Hughes energy services firm said on Friday. U.S. production is already on par with top exporter and OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia. Only Russia produces more, averaging 10.98 million bpd in 2017. There are also signs that Canadian oil production, already at 335,000 bpd, could start to rise as investment in its shale sector picks up. Canada's overall crude production currently stands at 4.2 million bpd. Oil major Total said on Monday that production at its Fort Hill oil sands project has started and that output would reach 180,000 bpd over the next few months. JP Morgan said it expected prices to fall towards the end of the year as markets become \"flush with oil from shale and other unconventional oils\". STRONG OVERALL MARKET Growing North American output has been one of few factors holding back oil markets. Crude has been propped up by supply restraint led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia. These have coincided with strong demand on the back of healthy economic growth. As a result, oil prices have risen by 60 percent since mid-2017 as investors pour cash into crude futures in expectation of higher prices. Oil has also been supported by a weakening dollar. \"Loose fiscal policy in the U.S., a recovery in growth in Europe and an acceleration in EM (emerging market) growth have all combined to push the dollar lower and oil prices higher,\" Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a note. U.S. bank JP Morgan said it had increased its 2018 average price forecast by $10 per barrel to $70 per barrel for Brent and by $10.70 per barrel for WTI to $65.63. \"We expect Brent to touch close to $78 per barrel towards end of Q1 2018 or early Q2 2018,\" it added. (Reporting by Henning Gloystein; Editing by Richard Pullin and Joseph Radford)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16(Reuters) - Gansu Huangtai Wine-Marketing Industry Co Ltd * Says co received judgment regarding a contract disputes lawsuit filed by a Sichuan-based firm (plaintiff) against the co * Says co was ordered to pay totaling 10.3 million yuan to plaintiff and to bear lawsuit related costs of 83,831 yuan Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/nFXBVw Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "January 13, 2018 / 4:51 AM / Updated 11 hours ago Golf-McIlroy downplays heart scare, says 'nothing to worry about' Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Jan 13 (Reuters) - Four times major champion Rory McIlroy has taken to social media to downplay a report that he suffered a “heart scare” in 2016. In an interview with British newspaper The Telegraph on Friday, the 28-year-old McIlroy revealed he had contracted a virus in China that, according to tests, has affected his heart. “I have this thickening of my left ventricle and there’s a bit of scar tissue. For now, I just need to stay on top of it and have to stay fit,” the Northern Irishman told the newspaper. The response to the story prompted McIlroy to use his Instagram account to clarify that he was not unduly concerned. “It’s really not that big a deal and nothing to worry about, apart from getting an annual check up, like you should do anyway,” he wrote. “I feel there’s been a big reaction to it in the media which there really shouldn’t be. I‘m fit and healthy and can’t wait to get my 2018 season started in Abu Dhabi next week.” He was referring to the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi Championship, where he will begin a busy schedule in the build up to April’s U.S. Masters, the only major he needs to win to complete the career grand slam. (Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by John O‘Brien)" + }, + { + "text": "January 28, 2018 / 10:29 AM / Updated 9 hours ago 'Door is open' if Britain wants to change mind on Brexit, says EU's Moscovici Reuters Staff 1 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - The “door is open” should Britain want to reverse its 2016 vote to leave the European Union, Pierre Moscovici, the European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Union, told French media in an interview on Sunday. Some British politicians have said another referendum should be held on whether to leave the EU once the terms of departure and likely future relationship between Britain and the economic bloc are known. Asked about that in the joint interview with French TV station C News, Europe 1 radio and newspaper Les Echos, former French finance minister Moscovici said: “The door is open.” “If the British want to change their mind, that would be very welcome,” he added. Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Catherine Evans" + }, + { + "text": "Hedge Funds Och-Ziff names new CEO to replace founder Daniel Och There has been an internal battle over the future of the largest publicly traded hedge fund in the US By Gregory Zuckerman January 30, 2018 3:30 p.m. GMT Hedge fund Och-Ziff Capital Management has named a Wall Street veteran to replace Daniel Och as chief executive officer amid a continuing battle for the firm’s future that pitted Och against his one-time chosen successor. Och-Ziff, the largest US publicly traded hedge fund, said Robert Shafir would become CEO effective February 5. Och will... To Read the Full Story, Start Your Free Trial or Sign In Filter by Topic" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Japan’s Nikkei share average inched lower on Monday, with resource-related sectors including trading houses, steelmakers and shippers leading the losses as the U.S. government shutdown hurt risk appetite globally. The U.S. Senate set a vote for 12 p.m. (1700 GMT) on Monday for advancing a measure that would provide temporary government funding through Feb. 8 and allow thousands of federal employees to return to work. The Nikkei index fell 0.15 percent to 23,772.02. There were 98 advancers and 117 decliners. Shippers were the worst performers, falling 1.3 percent, followed by a 1.2 percent drop in oil and coal companies and steelmakers. But defensive shares rose, with food companies and pharmaceuticals gaining 0.5 percent. Reporting by Hideyuki Sano; Editing by Eric Meijer" + }, + { + "text": "Trump dissolves voter fraud panel Wednesday, January 03, 2018 - 01:10 President Donald Trump on Wednesday shut down a presidential commission charged with looking into allegations of electoral fraud during the 2016 election, after many states refused to provide it with data, the White House said. President Donald Trump on Wednesday shut down a presidential commission charged with looking into allegations of electoral fraud during the 2016 election, after many states refused to provide it with data, the White House said. //reut.rs/2CCprDQ" + }, + { + "text": "WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Insignia Capital Group today announced it has appointed Doug Gillespie as CEO-in-Residence. In his new position, Gillespie will work with Insignia to pursue new platform investments in the baby food and products sector. Gillespie has 25+ years of successful leadership experiences in Fortune 500, founder-owned and PE-backed consumer companies and more specifically, 13 years of executive experience in the juvenile products category. Most recently, he was President & CEO of Harvest Hill Beverage Company (Juicy Juice and Little HUG brands). Prior to Harvest Hill, Gillespie served as President of Jarden Corporation's North American baby products business (NUK and Gerber brands). In addition, Gillespie spent six years at Munchkin, Inc. as Senior Vice President of Marketing. \"Insignia is committed to finding and partnering with the best CEOs and executives in our focus sectors. Doug is a proven executive with deep consumer experience with products targeted at parents and children,\" said Tiffany Obenchain, Managing Director at Insignia. \"We are thrilled to partner with him to pursue an investment in the baby food and products sector, which is large, growing and undergoing significant change.\" \"Insignia has an outstanding consumer investment track record,\" said Gillespie. \"I am excited to partner with them on this proactive investment initiative. It is an opportune time to invest in baby food and products as consumers move away from big brands, seek healthier products and increasingly buy online. These changes create opportunities for emerging brands and private label manufacturers.\" Insignia's baby food and products initiative is targeting companies in all baby segments including accessories, food/formula, personal care, safety durables and toys. About Insignia Capital Group Insignia Capital Group is a San Francisco Bay Area private equity firm focused on lower middle-market companies. Insignia partners with company founders and management teams to help drive growth and achieve true business potential. The firm's principals have significant experience building businesses across a range of industries including consumer, business services and healthcare. For more information, please visit www.insigniacap.com . About Doug Gillespie Doug Gillespie began his career working for large multinational companies – GE Capital, Frito-Lay and Brown-Forman – and subsequently moved to middle market companies in progressively more senior roles. Gillespie was Senior Vice President of Marketing for Munchkin, Inc. (2005-2011) during a period of extraordinary growth. He was then President of Jarden Corporation's North American baby products business (2011-2016) and President of Jarden's Quickie Manufacturing Corporation (2014-2016), turning around two struggling businesses. Most recently, Gillespie was President & CEO of Harvest Hill Beverage Company (2016-2017). Gillespie received a B.A. in History (with a minor in Economics) from Vanderbilt University and an M.B.A. from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. Gillespie can be contacted at [REDACTED] . releases/insignia-capital-group-appoints-doug-gillespie-as-ceo-in-residence-and-launches-a-baby-food--products-investment-initiative-300586149.html SOURCE Insignia Capital Group" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 1:49 AM / Updated 12 hours ago YouTube pares back Logan Paul partnership after suicide video post Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - YouTube said Wednesday it is removing popular American vlogger Logan Paul from its Google Preferred platform and putting future projects with him on hold, after Paul posted a video on the platform of a suicide victim in Japan. “In light of recent events, we have decided to remove Logan Paul’s channels from Google Preferred. Additionally, we will not feature Logan in season 4 of ‘Foursome’ and his new Originals are on hold,” Alphabet Inc’s YouTube, said in a statement. Google Preferred features YouTube’s most popular content in packages for sale to advertisers. Paul, 22, is one of YouTube’s top content creators, regularly drawing millions of views from his mainly youth-orientated audience. Paul also had projects in the works with YouTube’s premium subscription service, YouTube Red, and appeared on the platform’s web series “Foursome.” Representatives for Paul did not immediately return requests from Reuters for comment. Paul apologized in a YouTube video titled “So Sorry” last week for posting the video that showed him and his friends laughing about the body they filmed hanging on a tree in Japan’s “suicide forest.” Paul said he had made a “huge mistake” and was ashamed of himself, and he deleted the video after it caused a social media backlash. YouTube in an open letter on Tuesday said it was “upset by the video that was shared last week,” saying that “suicide is not a joke, nor should it ever be a driving force for views.” The company said Paul’s video violated its guidelines and it was “looking at further consequences.” Paul has not posted any videos in the past week, saying he was “taking time to reflect.” Paul’s channel, Logan Paul Vlogs, which has more than 15 million subscribers, is still active on YouTube and advertisers can still choose to advertise on his videos, or they can opt out. Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Leslie Adler" + }, + { + "text": "WASHINGTON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday advanced a bill to renew the National Security Agency’s warrantless internet surveillance program, as a final push by privacy advocates to derail the measure came up short. The legislation narrowly cleared the procedural 60-vote threshold required to end debate in the Senate. It was expected to earn the simple majority required to officially pass through the chamber later this week. (Reporting by Dustin Volz; Editing by Sandra Maler)" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 3:50 AM / Updated 22 minutes ago Japan investigates how to evacuate citizens from South Korea in crisis: report Reuters Staff 2 Min Read TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is examining how to evacuate its roughly 60,000 citizens from South Korea in the event of a crisis that closes airports, with military ships being used as shuttles, a Japanese newspaper reported on Tuesday. North Korea’s pursuit of its military and nuclear programmes in defiance of U.N. Security Council and other sanctions escalated tensions on the Korean peninsula in 2017, which have only eased in recent weeks. Working on the scenario of a crisis that shuts South Korean airports, the Japanese government has begun to look into plans for evacuations through the southern port city of Busan, the Yomiuri daily said, quoting multiple government sources. Japanese and U.S. military vessels would take Japanese and U.S. citizens from Busan to Japan’s Tsushima island, roughly 50 km (30 miles) from Busan, before ferrying them to the southernmost main island of Kyushu a day or so later. Government officials have already visited Tsushima to inspect hotels and other potential lodging facilities, as well as planning for stocks of food and water, the paper added. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference on Tuesday that the government is always considering various scenarios and making plans for its citizens’ safety, but declined to give details, citing security concerns. “It’s a totally natural duty as a nation to use every means at our disposal for the protection and evacuation of our citizens if they should face danger abroad,” he added. Reporting by Kaori Kaneko, writing by Elaine Lies; Editing by Michael Perry" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 3:34 PM / in 16 minutes South Korea seeks trade sanctions on U.S. as disputes pile up Tom Miles 3 Min Read GENEVA (Reuters) - South Korea has asked the World Trade Organization for authorization to impose annual trade sanctions worth at least $711 million on the United States, a filing published by the World Trade Organization showed on Friday. As well as those sanctions, arising from a dispute over trade in washing machines, Seoul also asked for permission to impose an open-ended amount of trade sanctions if Washington broke the same rules again with regard to other products. The demand adds to a growing list of reproaches of U.S. trade policy, especially the punitive duties with which it often targets allegedly unfair trade. In the past week alone, the WTO has published a broad Canadian complaint about the U.S. trade rulebook and a WTO filing on Friday showed Vietnam has complained about U.S. tariffs on fish. India has also re-opened a U.S. dispute, alleging Washington has failed to comply with a ruling on solar power. I.P. Park, president and chief technology officer for LG Electronics, speaks during an LG news conference at the 2018 CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. January 8, 2018. REUTERS/Steve Marcus Trade tension is rising because of U.S. demands to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement and virtual paralysis in the WTO dispute system, caused by a U.S. veto on new judges at what is effectively the world trade supreme court. South Korea said it was demanding compensation because the United States had failed to meet a Dec. 26 deadline to comply with a ruling against duties of up to 82 percent it had imposed on appliances made by Samsung Electronics Co ( 005930.KS ), LG Electronics Inc ( 066570.KS ) and Daewoo Electronics Co. Earlier on Friday, the United States and South Korea formally accepted a WTO ruling in a separate dispute over U.S. duties on South Korean steel pipe used in oil drilling, according to transcripts of statements at the WTO’s dispute settlement meeting. South Korea’s representative expressed disappointment that the ruling had not recognized “the magnitude of U.S. political pressure” - including letters from over 50 senators and 150 members of the House of Representatives - that prompted the U.S. Department of Commerce to drastically beef up its claim against South Korea. South Korea’s Trade Ministry is also considering filing a WTO complaint over U.S. restrictions on solar panel imports, it said in November. Reporting by Tom Miles; Editing by Larry King" + }, + { + "text": "59 PM / Updated 18 minutes ago Hungary's Richter expects Esmya drug ruling in first half: CEO Gergely Szakacs 3 Min Read BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungarian drugmaker Richter expects European health inspectors to deliver a ruling on its Esmya medicine in the first half of 2018, its chief executive told Reuters, adding that uncertainty about the drug could delay earnings guidance. Hungarian drugmaker Richter Chief Executive Gabor Orban speaks during an interview in Budapest, Hungary January 5, 2018. REUTERS/Gergely Szakacs In December the European Medicines Agency (EMA) opened a review into Esmya, used to treat non-cancerous tumors in the womb, after four reports of serious liver damage in patients treated with the drug, three of whom ended up needing liver transplants. Richter has said its clinical data indicated no demonstrable link between liver damage and Esmya, one of its flagship products, which accounted for about 6 percent of revenues in the first nine months of 2017. “We maintain the view that this is an effective and safe method of treatment for a wide population of patients,” Chief Executive Gabor Orban said in an interview on Friday. Asked whether the uncertainty, which sparked a sell-off in Richter’s shares early last month, spilled over into sales of the medicine, Orban said it was too early to assess any fallout. “Sales in the first eleven months (of 2017) were on track” for the drug to reach its full-year revenue target of 85 million euros ($102 million), Orban said. Orban said December sales data was generally “difficult to interpret,” while he had seen no data for January yet. Richter shares closed 1 percent higher at 6,735 forints ($26) on the Budapest Stock Exchange on Friday, having underperformed the blue-chip index over the past three months. Orban said if current levels of uncertainty around Esmya persist, Richter, which makes gynecological, cardiovascular and central nervous system drugs, may not issue earnings guidance next month, as it usually does. The last time that happened was in 2009, during the global financial crisis, when the company said the market environment was too unpredictable to give reliable forecasts. “We will see what happens with the turnover of Esmya and the level of uncertainty in a month,” Orban said. The EMA has said it would next discuss the issue in February. Richter, which has a market capitalization of $4.8 billion and earns most of its revenue from exports, will publish fourth-quarter earnings on February 8. Orban said there were no further cases of liver damage since the inquiry was launched. Asked about a worst-case scenario, Orban said as with any medicine, that would be health regulators withdrawing the registration of Esmya, adding that he saw “zero sign” of that happening. “This is entirely unrealistic,” he said. Orban added that Richter, whose biggest markets are Russia and the European Union, had nearly 100 billion forints ($390 million) of cash to spend on acquisitions and while there were several possible targets, no deal was imminent. The CEO also said the outcome of the Esmya probe would have no impact on dividend policy. Reporting by Gergely Szakacs; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle" + }, + { + "text": "SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lumileds announced the appointment of Jeff Henderson as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development, effective January 8. Henderson has over 25 years of experience in numerous executive roles, most recently at Keysight Technologies. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Jeff Henderson joins Lumileds as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development (Photo: Business Wire) “As our business continues to scale, Jeff will be critical to our long-term development as he will be responsible for facilitating the process of defining, supporting and executing upon our corporate growth strategy,” said Mark Adams, CEO of Lumileds. Prior to joining Lumileds, Henderson was at Keysight Technologies, where he was responsible for leading Corporate Development for the $4B electronic equipment, software and services business, which spun out of Agilent Technologies in 2014. Henderson has a BSEE from Auburn University, an MBA from Santa Clara University and an Executive MBA from Boston University, specializing in strategic leadership change. “My passion is helping businesses grow and maintain relationships that are vital to our company’s success. I look forward to working with the Lumileds team to generate ideas and opportunities to help accelerate growth,” added Henderson. About Lumileds For automotive, mobile, IoT and illumination companies who require innovative lighting solutions, Lumileds is a global leader employing more than 9,000 team members operating in over 30 countries. Lumileds partners with its customers to push the boundaries of light. To learn more about our portfolio of lighting solutions, visit lumileds.com . //www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180109005268/en/ Lumileds Kevin Lucido, [REDACTED] Senior Director, Global Marketing Communications [REDACTED] Source: Lumileds" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - The euro traded close to its highest level in three years against a broadly weaker dollar on Tuesday, the first trading day of 2018, on optimism over a brightening economic picture in the euro zone. It finished 2017 with its best year against the dollar since 2003 as European economies strengthened and expectations the European Central Bank will wind down its monetary stimulus grew, boosting demand for the single currency. The euro started the year by adding to those gains, and climbing as much as 0.6 percent to a four-month high of $1.2081, within sights of the $1.2092 it hit in September, the highest since early 2015. The single currency was also higher against the Japanese yen at 135.64 EURJPY=, reaching levels not seen since late 2015. Euro zone manufacturers ended 2017 by ramping up activity at the fastest pace in more than two decades, a survey showed on Tuesday, and rising demand suggests they will start the new year on a high. “It’s a combination of dollar weakness and euro strength. The euro strength is underpinned by some hawkish comments from the ECB’s Coeure,” said Commerzbank currency strategist Thu Lan Nguyen in Frankfurt, referring to comments made by the European Central Bank’s Benoit Coeure Coeure said on the weekend he saw a “reasonable chance” the bank’s bond purchases would not be extended beyond September. U.S. Dollar and China Yuan notes are seen in this picture illustration June 2, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration Nguyen said the euro was approaching levels where the ECB might start to signal some discomfort with its rise. The euro gained as the dollar was broadly weak. The dollar’s index against a basket of six major currencies .DXY slipped to 91.75, its weakest level since September. For the whole of 2017, the dollar index slid more than 9.8 percent, the greenback’s worst annual performance since 2003. A U.S. Dollar note is seen in this June 22, 2017 illustration photo. REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration Alvin Tan, an FX strategist at Societe Generale in London, said the end of a dollar funding squeeze typical of December and a rally in commodity prices, had reduced demand for dollars since the holiday season, but that the euro was also gaining because of the better economic performance of its member states. “Fundamentally, what is helping the euro is the brightening economic outlook in the euro area. The momentum should continue,” he said. Tan said Societe Generale forecasts the euro will strengthen to $1.25 by the middle of the year. Some foreign exchange strategists said traders were wary of taking on big positions ahead of the introduction on Wednesday of the wide-ranging EU financial markets directive known as MiFID II, which is aimed at making European markets more transparent and providing better value for investors. For Reuters Live Markets blog on European and UK stock markets see reuters://realtime/verb=Open/url= Additional reporting by Jemima Kelly; Editing by Catherine Evans" + }, + { + "text": "People-carrying robot to the rescue 12:39pm EST - 01:04 Researchers in South Korea show off their people-carrying robot designed for rescue missions or helping people with disabilities. Stuart McDill reports. Researchers in South Korea show off their people-carrying robot designed for rescue missions or helping people with disabilities. Stuart McDill reports. //reut.rs/2DPaAXw" + }, + { + "text": "RESTON, Va., Jan. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Technology Solutions Provider, Inc. (TSPi) announced the hiring of Brad Wintermute into a Vice President role at the company. Mr. Wintermute was previously the Deputy CIO at the US Food and Drug Administration. At FDA he led the delivery of Information Technology which enabled the 22,000 staff members to meet the mission of the FDA, to protect and promote the public health for the United States. Prior to FDA, he served in several impactful roles at the Mitre Corporation and Electronic Data Systems (EDS). In his new role at TSPi he will provide executive leadership and direction for the company's public sector, financial, and healthcare business. Vishal Suri, CEO said, \"Brad's leadership and experience in both federal and commercial technology markets make him a key addition to the TSPi family.\" About TSPi TSPi is a leading systems integrator and value-added reseller of IT solutions for government and commercial clients. Founded in 2001, TSPi's core strength lies in designing and implementing secure, enterprise-wide systems through all aspects of technology design, acquisition, integration, and final deployment. Their agile software development methodology and implementation approach allows for rapid and efficient delivery of IT systems with high customer satisfaction. TSPi holds GSA IT Schedule 70, 8(a) STARS II, Alliant 2 SB (Pre-award), NASA SEWP V, and several other agency-specific contracts. Contact To learn more about TSPi, please contact Greg Lyttle, Media Relations 11490 Commerce Park Drive Suite 200 Reston, VA 20191 Office: 703 298 7001 [REDACTED] www.tspi.net View original content: SOURCE TSPi" + }, + { + "text": "INSIGHT: Migrants risk dangerous journey across the Alps 10:42am EST - 01:06 Migrants trying to reach France from Italy face a dangerous crossing through the Alps as heavy snowfall covers the region. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Migrants trying to reach France from Italy face a dangerous crossing through the Alps as heavy snowfall covers the region. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "The bond market has gone wild. Treasury yields are on the rise, as the 10-year note yield on Thursday jumped to its highest level since March and the 2- and 5-year Treasury yields hit their highest levels since 2008 and 2011, respectively. This action has sparked talk of the multidecade bull run in bonds coming to an end, with what could be a negative impact on equities. After all, U.S. stocks closed modestly lower on Thursday as yields climbed. But equity strategist Matt Maley believes the best way to think about the Treasury market is not the degree to which rising rates will impact the stock market, but rather how rising interest rates will affect the amount of leverage — or debt to finance purchases — in the marketplace now. The Miller Tabak straegist explains why. • Everybody seems to be asking the question of whether higher interest rates will mean higher competition for stocks, but this is missing the point. The real issue is what impact higher rates have on leverage, as there's more leverage in the financial system than ever before as measured by total worldwide debt. • Furthermore, corporate firms' margin debt in the U.S. sits near all-time highs. As rates move higher, the cost of that leverage goes up, and eventually leverage will have to be unwound. • The kind of unwinding won't appear as it did during the financial crisis, but a meaningful move about 2.6 percent on the U.S. 10-year yield will likely cause a headwind for the stock market. Should this occur, investors ought to raise cash allocations in their portfolios. Vote Vote to see results Total Votes: Not a Scientific Survey. Results may not total 100% due to rounding. Disclaimer" + }, + { + "text": "The New England Patriots know they have to be ready for it. At this point, it’s not a surprise. They even have a name for it: “Cuatro Situation.” It’s when “third down is not really third down,” New England safety Devin McCourty said. They know the opposing team will likely go for it on fourth down. “We’ve got to be prepared for a play that might gain a couple of yards, but not maybe a first down, but get them close enough to the stick,” McCourty added. ... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Phoenix, Jan. 30, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (Nasdaq :LOPE ) announced today that it will report its 2017 fourth quarter results after market close on Wednesday, February 21, 2018. The University will host a conference call to discuss the results in more detail at 2:30 P.M. (4:30 P.M. ET) the same day. Dial-In Numbers: 877 577 - 1769 (Domestic) 706 679 - 7806 (International) Conference ID: 1769938 Please dial in at least five minutes prior to the start of the call. Journalists are invited to listen only. Webcast and Replay: Investors, journalists and the general public may access a live webcast of this event at: Q4 2017 Grand Canyon Education Inc. Earnings Conference Call . A webcast replay will be available approximately two hours following the conclusion of the call at the same link. Telephone Replay: A telephone replay will be available approximately two hours following the conclusion of the call by dialing: 855 859-2056 (Domestic) 404 537-3406 (International) Conference ID: 1769938 About Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. is a comprehensive regionally accredited university that offers over 225 graduate and undergraduate degree programs, emphases and certificates across nine colleges both online and on ground at our over 275 acre campus in Phoenix, Arizona, at leased facilities and at facilities owned by third party employers of our students. Our undergraduate programs are designed to be innovative and meet the future needs of employers while providing students with the needed critical thinking and effective communication skills developed through a Christian, liberal arts foundation. We offer master and doctoral degrees in contemporary fields that are designed to provide students with the capacity for transformational leadership in their chosen industry, emphasizing the immediate relevance of theory, application, and evaluation to promote personal and organizational change. For more information about Grand Canyon Education, Inc. visit the Company's website at www.gcu.edu . Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Investor Relations: Dan Bachus, (602) 639-6648 [REDACTED] Media Relations: Bob Romantic, (602) 639-7611 [REDACTED] Source:Grand Canyon Education, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "SINGAPORE, Jan 29 (Reuters) - ESR-REIT and rival Viva Industrial Trust are in exclusive talks for a merger, which if completed, would mark the first consolidation among Singapore’s crowded mid-cap industrial trusts. ESR-REIT, which is backed by Asian logistics developer e-Shang Redwood (ESR) - a venture of private equity firm Warburg Pincus and large global funds, said on Monday that its manager had submitted a proposal to merge the real estate investment trust (REIT) with Viva. “The objective is to create a sizeable and liquid industrial REIT with an Asian footprint well supported by a developer sponsor financially and across the real estate value chain,” ESR-REIT said in a statement. In a separate statement, Viva said it had received the merger proposal. ESR-REIT is currently valued at S$747 million ($572 million)and Viva has a market value of S$907 million ($694 million). Trading in units of both companies was halted on Friday ahead of an announcement. Both companies cautioned that there was no certainty of a deal. ($1 = 1.3070 Singapore dollars) (Reporting by Anshuman Daga; Editing by Sunil Nair)" + }, + { + "text": "Breakingviews TV: Prime health Tuesday, January 30, 2018 - 04:15 Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan are setting out to shake up the U.S. healthcare market. Robert Cyran and Richard Beales explore why, and ask whether the three big employers can succeed where others haven’t. Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan are setting out to shake up the U.S. healthcare market. Robert Cyran and Richard Beales explore why, and ask whether the three big employers can succeed where others haven’t. //reut.rs/2DRNFdS" + }, + { + "text": "Woods gives health thumbs-up on eve of return to PGA Tour 12:55am GMT - 01:17 Tigers Woods gives his health a thumbs-up as he readies himself for a return to the PGA tour ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Tigers Woods gives his health a thumbs-up as he readies himself for a return to the PGA tour Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Britain’s Informa ( INF.L ) is in talks about a deal to buy events organizer UBM ( UBM.L ) for more than 3 billion pounds ($4.14 billion), rekindling plans from almost a decade ago to create a major business media and conventions group. The two companies said in a joint statement on Tuesday that they were in discussions about a share-and-cash offer, while they could announce a possible price as soon as Wednesday, two people close to the situation said. A takeover would value UBM at more than its current market capitalization of 3.1 billion pounds, the sources told Reuters. The two companies explored the possibility of an all-share merger in 2008, but it did not go ahead. The most recent talks started last year after Informa, which has a valuation of 6.1 billion pounds, approached its smaller rival UBM about a possible deal, one of the sources added. The companies were forced to put out a statement disclosing their talks on Tuesday following movements in UBM’s share price. UBM’s shares closed up more than 5 percent, while Informa’s stock remained largely unchanged. “There can be no certainty that any firm offer will be made or as to the terms on which any offer might be made,” the companies said in a statement. Neither company responded immediately to requests for comment. Under Takeover Panel rules, Informa has until 1700 GMT on Feb. 13 to make an offer or walk away for at least six months. Credit Suisse and JPMorgan Cazenove are advising UBM, while Centerview Partners, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Barclays are working with Informa. Reporting by Justin George Varghese in Bengaluru and Ben Martin in London; editing by Jane Merriman and Alexander Smith" + }, + { + "text": "Iran protests grow, death toll mounts 01:43 Demonstrations continued for a fifth day, after 13 people were reported to have been killed in the worst wave of unrest since 2009. Demonstrations continued for a fifth day, after 13 people were reported to have been killed in the worst wave of unrest since 2009. //reut.rs/2CpOx91" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 12:04 PM / Updated 7 hours ago Ferry service helps Alcatraz escape from government shutdown Koh Gui Qing 4 Min Read NEW YORK (Reuters) - The lights are on at Alacatraz Island, the famous federal prison turned tourist destination in San Francisco Bay, even though the U.S. government has shut down. Private business is stepping up. Tour boat operator Hornblower Cruises & Events is subsidizing Golden Gate National Recreational Area, a park to which the Alcatraz Island belongs, to the tune of $48,000 for security personnel and utilities at Alcatraz over the next few days. It is one example of the risks some businesses that rely on the federal government must take to keep operations going. “We are essentially funding the park,” Terry MacRae, chairman and chief executive officer of Hornblower Inc, said in a phone interview on Sunday. The park service did not respond immediately to a request for comment. An acrimonious split over the issue of immigration between Democrats and U.S. President Donald Trump led the Democrats to refuse to support another short-term government funding extension last week. Funding for federal agencies ran out at midnight on Friday and the shutdown will enter a third day on Monday after Senate negotiators failed to make a deal late on Sunday. Although economists and investors alike are confident the shut down will barely dent the U.S. economy, business owners such as MacRae say the impact is all too real - and painful. Hornblower, which also runs a ferry service to and from New York’s Statue of Liberty, another famous tourist destination that is a symbol of the American democracy, employs between 400 and 450 workers for its Alcatraz Cruises and Statue Cruises, MacRae said. “It’s a struggle for us to maintain those jobs if we don’t have the park open,” he said. The Statue of Liberty was closed at the weekend but will reopen on Monday, funded by the New York state government, although MacRae said some damage had already been done. “Even when you throw the switch and tell people you are back up operating, they’ve already changed their plans. So the visitation will be reduced. And people have asked for refunds,” he said. Opening hours at Alcatraz will be reduced and MacRae predicted that daily traffic would fall to between 5,000 and 5,500, from the usual 6,000 to 7,000. In 2013, when the U.S. government was last shut down due to another stalemate, California-based Hornblower incurred losses of between $500,000 and $1 million and put between 30 and 50 of its employees on furlough, MacRae said. This time, thanks to better cooperation between the company and National Park Service, the government body that oversees the park, losses should be capped at $500,000, assuming the San Francisco park resumes full operations in the next few days. The ferry service will have to furlough workers if the shutdown continues for a week or more. It has insurance for such events but it doesn’t kick in unless a shutdown lasts 30 days. “It’s silly that grown adults that we send to Washington to represent us can’t figure out how to get together and avoid this,” MacRae said. “If this isn’t resolved within a few days, this would escalate dramatically.” Reporting by Koh Gui Qing; Editing by Peter Henderson and Paul Tait" + }, + { + "text": "Economy: China GDP beats the forecasters 3:09pm GMT - 01:49 China's economy grew faster than expected in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, helped by a rebound in the industrial sector, a resilient property market and strong export growth. David Pollard reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript China's economy grew faster than expected in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, helped by a rebound in the industrial sector, a resilient property market and strong export growth. David Pollard reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 10:54 AM / Updated a day ago Cricket-Inspired India rip through South Africa to set up victory chance Nick Said 3 Min Read CAPE TOWN, Jan 8 (Reuters) – India’s seamers exploited the lively Newlands wicket to tear through South Africa’s brittle batting line-up and leave themselves with a victory target of 208 at lunch on day four of the first test on Monday. India bowled South Africa out for 130 in their second innings as they took eight wickets for 65 to swing the test in their favour, though they must still bat last on a wicket offering pace, bounce and lateral movement. After the third day was a complete washout, South Africa resumed on 65 for two, but apart from a fighting 35 from AB de Villiers, they had no answer to the venom and accuracy of the Indian attack. The home side’s chances of victory are also hampered by the loss of seamer Dale Steyn to a heel injury, and the fact that India will have five sessions and a good weather forecast to secure a win in the opening match of the three-game series. South Africa’s problems started early as they lost Hashim Amla (four) having added just one run to their overnight total when he was caught by Rohit Sharma at third slip off Mohammed Shami. Amla stood his ground believing the ball to have bounced and with television replays inconclusive, the soft signal of out from umpire Michael Gough stood. From then it was something of a procession as nightwatchman Kagiso Rabada (five) became Shami’s second victim, before debutant seamer Jasprit Bumrah (3-39) picked up the key wickets of Faf du Plessis (zero) and Quinton de Kock (eight), both caught by wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha. Shami had Vernon Philander (nought) trapped lbw, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar accounted for Keshav Maharaj (15) and Morne Morkel (two) as Saha collected two more catches. Steyn limped to the wicket to try to hold up an end for an attacking De Villiers, but the latter was caught on the boundary by Kumar off Bumrah to end the innings. India were bowled out for 209 in their first innings and will need one less for victory this time round, though on the evidence of the morning session the wicket has become even more difficult to bat on. (Reporting by Nick Said, editing by Ed Osmond)" + }, + { + "text": "Neiman Marcus to replace Karen Katz with new CEO: Report Luxury retailer Neiman Marcus is preparing to appoint a new a chief executive. Karen Katz, who has served as chief executive since 2010, will be replaced by an outsider, but she will retain her board seat, Wall Street Journal reported. Published 5 Hours Ago SHARES Getty Images Luxury retailer Neiman Marcus is preparing to appoint a new a chief executive, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the situation. Karen Katz, who has served as chief executive since 2010, is stepping aside and will be replaced by an outsider, but she will retain her board seat, the people told the financial newspaper. The company has been hunting for a new leader for some time, some of the people told the Wall Street Journal. Several current CEOs spurned Neiman Marcus' approaches about taking its top spot, the paper reported. Neiman Marcus was not immediately available for comment. The up-market chain has been struggling with a nearly $5 billion debt load mainly due to its leveraged buyout in 2013, when Ares and Canadian public pension fund CPPIB acquired it from other private equity firms. Seeking ways to cut debt, the retailer in March last year had explored options to change its capital structure or sell itself, but three months later abandoned that plan as its debt pile made any acquisition hard to structure. At the time, the company had been in talks with Canadian retailer Hudson Bay Company for a full or partial sale, but those talks subsequently fell apart due to Neiman Marcus' high debt load. Related Securities" + }, + { + "text": "Taxes Trump on potential Mueller interview: 'We'll see what happens' President Donald Trump on Wednesday refused to say whether or not he would be willing to be interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller. \"We'll see what happens,\" the president said, adding than an interview might even be \"unlikely\" given what he considers his innocence. The comments represent a striking departure from June of last year, when Trump said he'd \"100 percent\" testify under oath. 1 Min Ago | 04:59 President Donald Trump on Wednesday did not dismiss the prospect of sitting down for an interview with special counsel Robert Mueller , saying, \"we'll see what happens.\" \"There has been no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russians, or Trump and Russians,\" the president said at a press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg. Trump then changed the subject to Hillary Clinton , his Democratic opponent in the 2016 presidential race. Pressed again as to whether he would meet with Mueller's team, Trump again said, \"We'll see what happens,\" before suggesting that he might not need to be interviewed at all. \"When they have no collusion, and nobody has found any collusion at any level, it seems unlikely that you would even have an interview,\" he said. Trump's equivocating answer was a stark departure from the hard-charging optimism he expressed in June of last year, when he said he would be \"100 percent\" willing to testify under oath as part of the investigation. In the months since then, Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, has pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators, as has another of Trump's former campaign aides. His former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and Manafort's longtime associate, Rick Gates, have both been indicted on multiple counts related to money laundering. Christina Wilkie Political Reporter for CNBC.com Playing" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 11:42 AM / Updated 3 hours ago Merkel's bloc rules out immigration concessions on eve of talks with SPD Michelle Martin 4 Min Read BERLIN (Reuters) - Senior members of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative bloc said on Thursday they would not give ground to the Social Democrats (SPD) on immigration as the two parties prepare to launch make-or-break negotiations on forming a government. The SPD voted by a whisker on Sunday to start coalition talks with the conservatives, but many members are sceptical about a re-run of the “grand coalition” that has ruled Germany since 2013. The SPD got its worst election result in the post-war era in September and many members fear a further fall in votes. Immigration will be one of the most controversial issues in the talks, with the conservatives keen to take a tough line to prevent further losses to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) while the SPD takes a more migrant-friendly approach. Merkel, SPD leader Martin Schulz and Horst Seehofer, leader of the CSU Bavarian conservatives, are due to meet at 0800 GMT on Friday morning to kick off coalition talks after four months of political deadlock since a Sept. 24 election. Julia Kloeckner, deputy of Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU), said the benchmark of 180,000 to 220,000 refugees per year laid out in a coalition blueprint agreed between the parties after exploratory talks earlier this month was crucial. “We don’t want more immigration and certainly not uncontrolled immigration - the Jusos must accept that,” Kloeckner told Focus magazine, responding to the SPD’s youth wing, which dismisses the benchmark as being equivalent to a migrant cap and opposes a repeat of the grand coalition. Dorothee Baer, deputy chair of Merkel’s Bavarian CSU allies, said her party could not give the SPD any concessions on family reunification for refugees, with all possible wiggle room for this exploited during exploratory talks. FILE PHOTO: Manuela Schwesig speaks during the SPD's one-day party congress in Bonn, Germany, January 21, 2018. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay She told broadcaster ARD the parties had already negotiated that issue, adding: “We won’t reopen issues that have already been negotiated.” The coalition blueprint said the parties would cap at 1,000 a month the number of people allowed to join their family now living as refugees in Germany. But the SPD wants to add a “hardship provision” to that. The SPD was meeting on Thursday to prepare for the coalition negotiations that are expected to last for around two weeks. FILE PHOTO: Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) youth wing leader Kevin Kuehnert speaks during the SPD's one-day party congress in Bonn, Germany, January 21, 2018. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen On her way into that meeting, senior SPD member Manuela Schwesig said: “We want to have good, detailed negotiations now. They need to be swift but we also need to take the time we need so something good comes out of it.” The aim is to strike a deal before the carnival season gets underway in earnest on Feb. 8 and some regions take public holidays. A new government is expected to be place by Easter but that is dependent on the SPD getting backing from its 443,000 members who will vote on a final deal. Related Coverage German coalition negotiations to begin Friday - party sources The SPD is facing strong internal opposition and new members are flocking to the party in the hope they can reject a renewed coalition in that vote. Kevin Kuehnert, head of the Jusos who is spearheading attempts to prevent a grand coalition, told broadcaster n-tv: “We’ve had some extremely bad experiences working with the conservatives.” He added that some of the projects laid out in the coalition blueprint had already been agreed on by the parties in 2013 but not carried out during the last legislative period. Additional reporting by Reuters Television, Holger Hansen, Thorsten Severin and Andreas Rinke; Writing by Michelle Martin; Editing by Alison Williams" + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Euro zone inflation could be faster in the coming years while long-term projections remain steady, the European Central Bank’s Survey of Professional Forecasters showed on Friday, underpinning the bank’s cautions optimism. Headline inflation could be 1.5 percent this year and 1.7 percent next year, both 0.1 percentage point above projections in October, according to the survey of 56 forecasters, an important input in the ECB’s policy deliberations. The ECB decided on Thursday to keep policy on hold as inflation pressure remains muted but argued that its confidence has strengthened that inflation would rise back to its target of just below 2 percent. The firming euro could be the biggest obstacle in reaching the objective and ECB President Mario Draghi warned on Thursday that the bank could be forced to rethink its policy strategy if there was unwarranted firming in the exchange rate. The survey also confirmed Draghi’s confidence in growth as the GDP projection for this year was raised to 2.3 percent from 1.9 percent three months ago. The 2019 growth outlook was lifted to 1.9 percent from 1.7 percent. For more on the ECB’s survey, click on: here Reporting by Balazs Koranyi; editing by Ralph Boulton" + }, + { + "text": "FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Former motor racing champion Niki Lauda’s winning bid for insolvent Austrian airline Niki beat that of British Airways owner IAG ( ICAG.L ) by 4 million euros ($5 million), a German newspaper reported on Sunday. Lauda offered 30.3 million euros for the carrier, plus a 16.5 million euros liquidity injection, German weekly Bild am Sonntag said, citing sources close to the negotiations. The sale to Lauda, announced on Monday, undid an agreed deal with IAG after two courts ruled that the insolvency proceedings had to move to Austria from Germany. Lauda has not said so far how much he is paying for Niki. [nL8N1PI0KW] Bild am Sonntag said he had already transferred around 12 million of the purchase price. A spokeswoman for Lauda declined to comment. The paper also said that around half of what Lauda is paying will go toward paying back a government loan that Niki parent Air Berlin ( AB1.DE ) received when it collapsed in August. Germany’s Economy Ministry declined to comment on the report. ($1 = 0.8052 euros) Reporting by Maria Sheahan. Additional reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi in Zurich and Thomas Escritt in Berlin. Editing by Jane Merriman" + }, + { + "text": "Gwyneth Paltrow to give marriage a second shot 1:59am GMT - 00:54 Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow has announced via her lifestyle magazine Goop that she's engaged to marry writer-producer Brad Falchuk. Rollo Ross reports. Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow has announced via her lifestyle magazine Goop that she's engaged to marry writer-producer Brad Falchuk. Rollo Ross reports. //reut.rs/2AHXp43" + }, + { + "text": "LAKE FOREST, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- IDEX CORPORATION (NYSE:IEX) announced today the appointment of Mark A. Beck to the company’s Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2018. “We are thrilled to welcome Mark to our Board of Directors,” said IDEX Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Silvernail. “His experience as a chief executive officer of a public company with significant international operations and his track record of innovation and successfully integrating acquired businesses will be a tremendous asset to IDEX. Mark is a values-based, results-oriented leader, making him a great fit with our Board and management.” Beck has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of JELD-WEN Holding, Inc. (“JELD-WEN”), one of the world’s largest door and window manufacturers, since November 2015, and was appointed as a Director of JELD-WEN in May 2016. He joined JELD-WEN from Danaher Corporation, where he served as Executive Vice President, leading Danaher’s Water Quality and Dental platforms, beginning in April 2014. Previously, he spent 18 years with Corning Incorporated in a series of management positions with increasing responsibility, culminating in his appointment as Executive Vice President overseeing Corning’s Environmental Technologies and Life Science units in July 2012. He also served on the board of directors of Dow-Corning Corporation from 2010 to 2014. Beck holds a B.A. in Business Management from Pacific University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. About IDEX: IDEX is a global fluidics leader serving high growth specialized markets. We are best known for our expertise in highly engineered fluidics systems and components, as well for our expertise in fire and safety products including the Jaws of Life® family of rescue and recovery tools. Our products touch lives every day. Whether it’s a life-saving rescue operation, dispensing fresh juice to a first grader or fueling aircraft, IDEX is a leader in creating enabling technology used in many of the most common everyday activities. For more information, please visit www.idexcorp.com . IDEX shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “IEX”. View source version on businesswire.com : IDEX Corporation William K. Grogan, 847-498-7070 Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Source: IDEX Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 10:24 AM / Updated an hour ago Cricket: Dangerous pitch halts India's victory charge against South Africa Reuters Staff 3 Min Read JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - A dangerous pitch brought play to a close 20 minutes early on the third day between South Africa and India with the home side chasing an unlikely target of 241 in the third and final test on Friday. The future of the match appeared to be uncertain when umpires Ian Gould and Aleem Dar ordered the players off the field after several batsmen suffered blows to their bodies because of an uneven bounce. However, officials announced that the test would resume as scheduled on day four following a meeting between the umpires, match commissioner Andy Pycroft and team representatives. “Play on Friday was suspended shortly before scheduled close because the on-field umpires wanted to consult the match referee regarding the condition of the pitch,” the International Cricket Council said in a statement. “The on-field umpires will continue to monitor the pitch, and consult the match referee should the pitch deteriorate further. The welfare of the players is paramount.” With balls lifting sharply off a good length all day, the umpires discussed player safety on at least four occasions before finally halting proceedings when South Africa opener Dean Elgar was struck on the helmet by a short ball from seamer Jasprit Bumrah. The home side were 17 for one at the close, with Elgar 11 not out and Hashim Amla at the other end on two, still needing 224 for victory in their second innings. India might feel aggrieved to have lost 20 minutes at the end of day after their own batsmen took body blows all through their second innings. Cricket - India v South Africa - Third Test match - The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa - January 26, 2018. India's Ajinkya Rahane plays a shot. REUTERS/James Oatway The tourists had earlier showed admirable bravery in posting 247 in their second innings. Ajinkya Rahane (48), not picked for the first two tests of the series, played some sublime shots and said the game should continue. Slideshow (3 Images) “Our approach is that we want to play and we want to win this test match,” Rahane told reporters. ”That ball (to Elgar) was back of length, a hard length. It kicked off with slightly more bounce than usual. “The bounce on this wicket is completely natural. Not dangerous, it is completely similar for both teams.” South Africa coach Ottis Gibson says his team also wants to complete the test. “We are here to play cricket. We still want to play cricket,” Gibson said. “Throughout the whole game on both sides, you saw batsmen wearing a few. India didn’t complain and we didn’t either.” South Africa have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, but are seeking a first ever clean-sweep over India. Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Toby Davis, Keith Weir and Christian Radnedge and Pritha Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "(Fixing typographical error in headline) TOKYO, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The price of bitcoin extended its sharp tumble of the past 24 hours, dropping more than seven percent on the Bitstamp exchange on Wednesday, spooked by worries regulators may try to clamp down on the highly-volatile trading in the digital currency. Bitcoin fell to as low as $10,567, not far from its six-week nadir of $10,162 touched the previous day. Reporting by Hideyuki Sano; Editing by Shri Navaratnam" + }, + { + "text": "SAN JOSE, Calif., (NASDAQ: VIAV) Viavi Solutions Inc. (\"Viavi\") will announce its fiscal second quarter 2018 financial results for the period ended December 30, 2017, on Thursday, February 1, 2018, after the close of market. The Company will host an earnings call at 1:30pm PT/4:30pm ET. A live webcast of the call and the replay will be available on the Viavi website at . The quarterly earnings press release, supplementary slides and historical financial tables will be posted at www.viavisolutions.com/investors under the \"Quarterly Results\" section. To participate via telephone: Toll-Free: 833-245-9658 International: 647-689-4230 Conference ID: 8051819 Replay of the call: Dial-In: 416-621-4642 Toll-Free: 800-585-8367 Conference ID: 8051819 Start date: February 1, 2018 4:30pm PT End date: February 8, 2018 8:59pm PT About Viavi Solutions Viavi (NASDAQ: VIAV) is a global provider of network test, monitoring and assurance solutions to communications service providers, enterprises and their ecosystems, supported by a worldwide channel community including Viavi Velocity Solution Partners. We deliver end-to-end visibility across physical, virtual and hybrid networks, enabling customers to optimize connectivity, quality of experience and profitability. Viavi is also a leader in high performance thin film optical coatings, providing light management solutions to anti-counterfeiting, consumer electronics, automotive, defense and instrumentation markets. Learn more about Viavi at www.viavisolutions.com . Follow us on Viavi Perspectives , LinkedIn , Twitter , YouTube and Facebook . Investors Contact: Bill Ong, 408-404-4512; [REDACTED] Press Contact: Amit Malhotra, 202-341-8624; [REDACTED] releases/viavi-announces-date-for-fiscal-second-quarter-2018-financial-results-300581566.html SOURCE Viavi Financials" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 1:55 PM / Updated 23 minutes ago U.S. core consumer prices post biggest gain in 11 months Reuters Staff 3 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Underlying U.S. consumer prices recorded their largest increase in 11 months in December amid strong gains in the cost of rental accommodation and healthcare, bolstering expectations that inflation will gain momentum this year. The Labor Department said its Consumer Price Index excluding the volatile food and energy components rose 0.3 percent last month also as prices for new motor vehicles, used cars and trucks and motor vehicle insurance increased. That was the biggest advance in the so-called core CPI since January and followed a 0.1 percent gain in November. Core CPI increased 1.8 percent in the 12 months through December, picking up from 1.7 percent in November. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast core CPI rising 0.2 percent month-on-month and holding steady at 1.7 percent on an annual basis. Weak import and producer price reports this week had raised concerns about the inflation outlook, although the two reports do not have a strong correlation with the CPI data. Economists are hoping that a tightening labor market, rising commodity prices and a weak dollar will lift inflation toward the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent target this year. The U.S. central bank’s preferred inflation measure, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index excluding food and energy, has undershot its target since May 2012. The U.S. central bank is forecasting three rate hikes this year. It increased borrowing costs three times in 2017. Supporting the rise in underlying inflation pressures last month, rents increased 0.4 percent. Owners’ equivalent rent of primary residence climbed 0.3 percent after gaining 0.2 percent in November. The cost of medical care increased 0.3 percent, with prices for prescription medication surging 1.0 percent after rising 0.6 percent in November. The cost of both hospital and doctor visits increased 0.3 percent. Households also paid more for new motor vehicles, which rose 0.6 percent in price last month, the biggest gain since January. The cost of motor vehicle insurance increased 0.6 percent. Apparel prices, however, fell 0.5 percent. Cheaper gasoline prices limited the increase in the overall CPI to 0.1 percent in December after climbing 0.4 percent in November. That lowered the year-on-year increase in the CPI to 2.1 percent from 2.2 percent in November. Last month, gasoline prices fell 2.7 percent after rebounding 7.3 percent in November. Food prices rose 0.2 percent after being unchanged for two straight months. Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci [REDACTED]; 1 202 898 8315; Reuters Messaging: [REDACTED]" + }, + { + "text": "OAKDALE, Calif., Jan. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oak Valley Community Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oak Valley Bancorp (NASDAQ:OVLY), announced the promotion of Laura Weaver to Vice President, Area Manager. Weaver joined Oak Valley in 2005 and has over 17 years of total banking experience. During her time with the bank, she has held several key branch management roles including Assistant Customer Service Manager (Modesto), Customer Service Manager (Oakdale), and most recently Branch Manager (Escalon). As Area Manager, she will continue to manage the Escalon Branch, as well as provide support to the business development and growth initiatives of the Manteca and Ripon Branches. “Laura’s experience and management skills have enabled her to successfully develop and maintain many strong business relationships. As Area Manager, she will have the opportunity to support Branch Managers in the surrounding San Joaquin County communities and focus our collaborative efforts on the ongoing growth of the bank,” stated Julie DeHart, Senior Vice President, Retail Banking Group. Oak Valley Bancorp operates Oak Valley Community Bank & Eastern Sierra Community Bank, through which it offers a variety of loan and deposit products to individuals and small businesses. They currently operate through 16 conveniently located branches: Oakdale, Turlock, Stockton, Patterson, Ripon, Escalon, Manteca, Tracy, two branches in Sonora, three branches in Modesto, a loan production office in Downtown Sacramento, and three branches in their Eastern Sierra Division, including Bridgeport, Mammoth Lakes and Bishop. For more information, call 1-866-844-7500 or visit www.ovcb.com . Contact: Chris Courtney/Rick McCarty Phone: (209) 848-2265 www.ovcb.com Source:Oak Valley Community Bank" + }, + { + "text": "Demonstrators target Trump in Davos protest 1:13pm EST - 01:06 Hundreds of protesters take to the streets of Bern to march against U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to attend Davos this month, some repeatedly chanting ''Kill Trump.'' Rough cut (no reporter narration). ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Hundreds of protesters take to the streets of Bern to march against U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to attend Davos this month, some repeatedly chanting \"Kill Trump.\" Rough cut (no reporter narration). Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Shake Shack Inc. (“Shake Shack” or the “Company”) (NYSE:SHAK), today announced that it will report its fourth quarter 2017 financial results after the close of the financial markets on Thursday, February 15, 2018. The announcement will be followed by a conference call at 5:00 p.m. EST. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (800) 289-0517 or for international callers by dialing (323) 994-2083. A replay will be available after the call and can be accessed by dialing (844) 512-2921 or for international callers by dialing (412) 317-6671; the passcode is 6373366. The replay will be available until February 22, 2018. The conference call will also be webcast live from the Company's Investor Relations website at . An archive of the webcast will be available at the same location on the website shortly after the call has concluded. ABOUT SHAKE SHACK: Shake Shack is a modern day “roadside” burger stand known for its 100% all-natural Angus beef burgers and flat-top beef dogs (no added hormones and no antibiotics ever), 100% all-natural cage-free chicken (no antibiotics ever), spun-fresh frozen custard, crinkle cut fries, craft beer and wine (available at select locations) and more. With its fresh, simple, high-quality food at a great value, Shake Shack is a fun and lively community gathering place with widespread appeal. From its premium ingredients and caring hiring practices to its inspiring designs and deep community investment, Shake Shack’s mission is to Stand For Something Good®. Since the original Shack opened in 2004 in NYC’s Madison Square Park, the company has opened multiple locations in 20 states and the District of Columbia, as well as international locations including London, Istanbul, Dubai, Tokyo, Moscow, Seoul and more. View source version on businesswire.com : Investors: ICR Melissa Calandruccio Michelle Michalski (844) SHACK04 (844-742-2504) [REDACTED] or Media: Shake Shack Edwin Bragg, 646-747-6654 [REDACTED] Source: Shake Shack Inc." + }, + { + "text": "CIUDAD BOLÍVAR, Venezuela—A former Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins pitcher died in his native Venezuela of pneumonia that baseball colleagues say was made worse by medicine shortages in the crisis-wracked nation. Marcos Carvajal was rushed to the hospital Monday suffering from a relapse and died a day later, said Alejandro Castillejo, president of the baseball association for Bolívar state. Mr. Carvajal was 34 years old. He... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "CHICAGO, Jan. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oil-Dri Corporation of America (NYSE:ODC) is deeply saddened to announce that Mr. Richard M. Jaffee, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, passed away on January 27, 2018 at the age of 82. Mr. Jaffee joined the Company in 1958 and served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company from 1962 until 1997. Mr. Jaffee’s profound impact on the Company and the sorbent mineral industry will forever be remembered. His enduring legacy will be honored as Oil-Dri builds upon Mr. Jaffee’s vision and continues to grow under the leadership of his son, Daniel S. Jaffee, who became President and Chief Executive Officer in 1997. Additional information to follow as it becomes available. While Oil-Dri’s founding product was granular clay floor absorbents, it has since greatly diversified its portfolio. The Company’s mission to “Create Value from Sorbent Minerals” is supported by its wide array of consumer and business to business product offerings. In 2016, Oil-Dri celebrated its seventy-fifth year of business and looks forward to the next milestone. Reagan B. Culbertson Investor Relations Manager [REDACTED] (312) 706 3256 Source:Oil-Dri Corporation Of America" + }, + { + "text": "53 PM / Updated 22 minutes ago Tennis-Pliskova battles back to reach quarter-finals Ian Ransom 1 Sixth seed Karolina Pliskova reached her second Australian Open quarter-final by outlasting Barbora Strycova 6-7(5) 6-3 6-2 in an all-Czech battle that stretched into the early hours of Tuesday. Taking to the court just before 11 p.m. local time, the pair slugged it out for two hours and 41 minutes in the late match at Rod Laver Arena before former U.S. Open finalist Pliskova finally put down her compatriot. Strycova saved one match point with an audacious serve-volley and a second with an overhead smash before the 20th seed surrendered by clubbing a backhand over the baseline. Pliskova will meet top seed Simona Halep for a place in the semi-finals. “I think the first set was very close but I needed to step up and be more aggressive,” the tall 25-year-old said in the on-court interview. “I was playing fine the other two sets. On this surface I have a chance (against Halep).”" + }, + { + "text": "NAIROBI (Reuters) - A Kenyan online sports betting firm has canceled 600 million shillings ($5.80 million) in direct annual sponsorship for the country’s main football league and other sports, after the government hiked taxes for such firms by more than four times. The government increased the tax rate on gross profits for sports betting firms, lotteries and casinos to 35 percent last year, from 7.5 percent, to create a fund for sports, culture and the arts. It says the rapid growth of betting in a loosely regulated environment has hurt the young and vulnerable. Ronald Karauri, the chief executive of Sportpesa, one of the biggest firms, said they were left with no choice but to cut costs in order to survive. “All we will have to do is manage our expenditure in terms of our marketing expenses,” he told Reuters on Wednesday. “We had really committed ourselves to sports in the country so it is a very huge burden for us as a cost.” Sportpesa has been sponsoring the Kenyan football federation, the country’s premier league, various clubs including last year’s league champions Gor Mahia, the national rugby union and boxing. Ambrose Rachier, the chairman of Gor Mahia, said the club might be forced to pull out of this year’s Confederation Champions League Cup, a regional competition, due to lack of funds. The team was getting 60 million shillings a year from Sportpesa. A view shows the replica of a soccer pitch at the Sportpesa, online sports betting firm, company headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, January 3, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya “It is devastating ... We are in mourning,” Rachier said. The situation was the same at the Kenya Rugby Union, which is losing 120 million shillings a year, used to prepare squads for the international rugby sevens series. It was also using the cash to pay training and match allowances to its 15-a-side teams, said Richard Omwela, the chairman of the rugby union. “It is a total shutdown,” he said. “Unless the government steps in and says we will underwrite that, what we possibly will do is tell our suppliers and partners that we can’t meet our obligations.” Kenyan sports teams have long been beset by poor management and corruption, which have hindered their performance abroad and discouraged fans at home. In 2016, sports officials were investigated after the team to that year’s Olympic games in Brazil complained of mismanagement of flight and hotel bookings, theft of kits and even the mishandling of the list of accredited participants. Despite problems in the build up to Rio, the East African nation enjoyed its most successful Olympics, winning six gold medals, six silvers and one bronze, all in track and field. ($1 = 103.4000 Kenyan shillings) Reporting by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Catherine Evans" + }, + { + "text": "U.S. apologises to Japan over U.S. military aircraft incidents 6:01am GMT - 00:46 The United States apologizes to Japan over consecutive U.S. military aircraft incidents, a day after a U.S. helicopter made an emergency landing on the grounds of a hotel in Okinawa. No reporter narration. The United States apologizes to Japan over consecutive U.S. military aircraft incidents, a day after a U.S. helicopter made an emergency landing on the grounds of a hotel in Okinawa. No reporter narration. //reut.rs/2AJMTct" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 22 (Reuters) - Urovo Technology Co Ltd: * SAYS IT IS STILL STUDYING THE POTENTIAL AND FUTURE MARKET APPLICATIONS OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY, CLARIFYING MEDIA REPORTS * SAYS ITS INVESTMENT IN BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY IS STILL IN INITIAL STAGES AND WILL NOT HAVE HUGE IMPACT ON ITS BOTTOMLINE, CLARIFYING RECENT MEDIA REPORTS Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2Dv98cr Further company coverage: (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 9:47 PM / Updated 6 minutes ago Trump says 'probably' has a good relationship with North Korea's Kim: WSJ Reuters Staff 1 said on Thursday he “probably” has a very good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. “I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un,” Trump said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. “I have relationships with people. I think you people are surprised.” Asked whether he has spoken with the North Korean leader, Trump told the newspaper: ”I don’t want to comment on it. I’m not saying I have or haven’t. I just don’t want to comment.” Reporting by Makini Brice; Writing by Katanga Johnson; Editing by Tim Ahmann" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. federal board managing Puerto Rico’s finances will consider fast-tracking four energy projects that would invest a combined $1.47 billion in the island’s decimated power grid. In a statement on Monday, the board said it was opening a 30-day public comment period on the four proposals, which include a controversial waste-to-energy incinerator plan by New York-based Energy Answers International Inc. “In total, the four projects represent close to $1.5 billion in investment - almost all of which will be private capital - and have the potential to generate more than 8,200 direct, indirect and induced jobs,” the board said in statement, adding that final decisions would come by early April. Hurricane Maria, which struck Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, left the local energy grid in shambles, and much of the island remains without power three-and-a-half months later. The island’s power utility, known as PREPA, was already bankrupt when the storm hit, laden with some $9 billion in debt and outdated infrastructure. Puerto Rico’s central government is also bankrupt, seeking a way to cut $120 billion in combined bond and pension debt. U.S. lawmakers in 2016 placed the island’s finances under the control of a federal board, whose authority includes expediting approval and permitting for infrastructure projects deemed critical, after fielding public comment. Energy Answers’ proposed $860 million incinerator venture in rural Arecibo, which would produce energy from solid waste, has been opposed by environmentalists who claim it would emit pollutants such as lead. Government sources say that the oversight board is influenced by former Governor Luis Fortuno, whose Washington, D.C.-based law firm, Steptoe & Johnson, counts Energy Answers as a client. Fortuno advocated for the project in October, calling it “listo para arrancar” - loosely translated as “shovel-ready” - in an email to Puerto Rico government officials, obtained by Reuters. Fortuno on Monday said he has had no contact with the oversight board on Energy Answers’ behalf. “Steptoe has not been involved or been retained by Energy Answers in its dealings with the oversight board,” Fortuno said in an email to Reuters. A call to Energy Answers was not returned on Monday. The oversight board had no immediate comment on Energy Answers or its relationship with Fortuno. The other projects under consideration for expedited approval are: - Parque Eolico del Norte, a $47.5 million, six-turbine wind energy project proposed by New Era Eolic LLC; - A $538 million project to add 540 megawatts of dual fuel energy capability at seven PREPA locations, proposed by a group that includes a subsidiary of Mitsubishi; and - A $25 million proposal to reduce energy and water consumption at certain Department of Corrections buildings, proposed by NORESCO Noel Zamot, the board’s revitalization coordinator, said Hurricane Maria “demonstrated beyond any doubt Puerto Rico’s dire need to revamp” its grid. Reporting by Nick Brown; Editing by Daniel Bases and Susan Thomas" + }, + { + "text": "LISLE, Ill., Jan. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the SunCoke Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: SXCP) Board of Directors declared a fourth quarter 2017 cash distribution of $0.5940 per limited partnership unit, or $2.38 annualized. The fourth quarter 2017 distribution will be payable on March 1, 2018, to unitholders of record on February 15, 2018. UPCOMING EVENTS SXCP will host its fourth quarter 2017 earnings call at 10:00 am ET on January 31, 2018. The conference call will be webcast live and archived for replay in the Investors section of www.suncoke.com . Investors may participate in this call by dialing 1-833-236-5757 in the U.S. or 1-647-689-4185 if outside the U.S., confirmation code 1083698. ABOUT SUNCOKE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. SunCoke Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: SXCP) is a publicly traded master limited partnership that manufactures high-quality coke used in the blast furnace production of steel and provides export and domestic material handling services to coke, coal, steel, power and other bulk and liquids customers. In our cokemaking business, we utilize an innovative heat-recovery technology that captures excess heat for steam or electrical power generation and have long-term, take-or-pay coke contracts that pass through commodity and certain operating costs. Our logistics terminals have the collective capacity to mix and transload more than 40 million tons of material each year and are strategically located to reach Gulf Coast, East Coast, Great Lakes and international ports. SXCP's General Partner is a wholly owned subsidiary of SunCoke Energy, Inc. (NYSE: SXC), which has more than 50 years of cokemaking experience serving the integrated steel industry. To learn more about SunCoke Energy Partners, L.P., visit our website at www.suncoke.com . View original content with multimedia: SOURCE SunCoke Energy Partners, L.P." + }, + { + "text": "DALLAS, Jan. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Match Group (NASDAQ: MTCH) announced today that Ariel Charytan has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of OkCupid, effective immediately. Charytan succeeds Elie Seidman who was recently named Chief Executive Officer of Tinder. A respected leader and entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience developing and innovating consumer brands, Charytan most recently served as Senior Vice President at Audible, an Amazon company. Prior to Amazon, he was a co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Oyster.com , which was acquired by TripAdvisor in 2013. \"It is an incredibly exciting time for us to welcome Ariel to OkCupid, a hallmark brand making great strides both from a product and brand perspective,\" says Amarnath Thombre, CEO of Match Group Americas. \"Ariel is one of those rare individuals who has a rich entrepreneurial track record as well as a disciplined approach to execution and management, making him a perfect fit for OkCupid.\" \"OkCupid provides a truly unique user experience based on helping people connect on what really matters,\" says Charytan. \"These principles resonate now more than ever, so it's an incredibly exciting time to be joining the team.\" About Ariel: Ariel Charytan joins OkCupid from Audible, an Amazon company where he served as SVP. A veteran company founder, Mr. Charytan has spent his career building and fostering media, CRM, online travel and telecom businesses. Previously he was the co-founder and CPO of Oyster.com , an online hotel review and price comparison site. Oyster was financed by Bain Capital Ventures and Scripps, and acquired by TripAdvisor (TRIP). He was the co-founder of and COO of Epana, a telecom and money remittance business he grew from its founding to more than $200M a year in revenue. About OkCupid OkCupid knows that you deserve what dating does: better. That's why OkCupid shows who you are beyond just a photo, allowing you to share your stories and find people as individual as you are. One of the most recognized dating websites and apps in the world, OkCupid uses a high-tech algorithm to connect people based on the deeper things, like beliefs and interests. Over 57,000,000 daters have used OkCupid since it was founded by in 2004. Acquired by Match Group (MTCH, NASDAQ) in 2011, the company is headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit www.okcupid.com or follow @okcupid on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . About Match Group Match group (NASDAQ: MTCH) is the world's leading provider of dating products. We operate a portfolio of brands, including, Tinder, Match, PlentyOfFish, OkCupid, OurTime, Meetic, and Pairs each designed to increase our users' likelihood of finding a romantic connection. Through our portfolio of trusted brands, we provide tailored products to meet the varying preferences of our users. We currently offer our dating products in 42 languages across more than 190 countries. View original content: SOURCE Match Group" + }, + { + "text": "11:21 AM EST Forget dollar menus and all-day breakfast, now Micky D’s is going green. McDonald’s , in a bid to polish its reputation, has announced plans to recycle customer trash at all of its 37,000 restaurants by 2025. In addition, the company says it will make the packaging for its products more environmentally friendly as well. “Customers have told us that packaging waste is the top environmental issue we should address,” Francesca DeBiase, the company’s chief supply chain and sustainability officer, told Bloomberg . At present, just 10% of the company’s stores have recycling programs in place. McDonald’s has been making a series of recent changes to its stores to lure back customers who have drifted to fast food competitors, including using fresh beef , moving away from antibiotics in its chicken , and offering a menu option for vegans . The moves have boosted sales and helped the company soundly beat Wall Street projections. Shares in the company are up 41% in the past year. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 5:18 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Colombia suspends peace talks with ELN rebels after bomb attacks Julia Symmes Cobb , Helen Murphy 4 Min Read BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos on Monday suspended peace talks with Marxist ELN rebels after a series of bombings over the weekend killed seven police officers and injured dozens. The government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) have been in talks since February 2017 to end a five decade war, but Santos said he will not accept the group’s continued violence after it launched attacks on three police stations nationwide on Saturday and Sunday. “My patience and the patience of the Colombian people has its limits, so I have taken the decision to suspend the start of the fifth cycle of negotiations, which was scheduled for the coming days, until we see coherence between the ELN’s words and its actions,” Santos said at an event close to Bogota. Five police officers were killed and more than 40 wounded on Saturday morning when the ELN detonated a bomb in the northern port city of Barranquilla as they lined up to receive orders. Two more died and one was wounded just before midnight on Saturday in rural Bolivar province, and the third attack took place about four hours later in the city of Soledad, close to Barranquilla, injuring five police and one civilian. “The authorship of these terrible actions is on the head of the National Liberation Army,” Defense Minister Luis Carlos Villegas said earlier on Monday, adding that the violence raised the question of whether the group wants peace. FORMAL TALKS The 2,000-strong ELN and the government have been in formal peace talks for nearly a year, and the two sides agreed to their first-ever ceasefire in October. But the rebels launched a new offensive when the ceasefire expired earlier this month, killing security force members, bombing major oil pipelines and kidnapping an oil contractor. A larger rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), demobilized under a 2016 peace deal with the government. It is now a political party known as the Revolutionary Alternative Common Force. In a statement on Monday, the ELN said it would support a new ceasefire but that attacks would continue in the absence of one. Santos, who won a Nobel Peace prize in 2016 for clinching peace with the FARC, had already recalled his negotiator from Quito talks after the ELN rebels launched this month’s offensive. “I will continue to work for peace, to build peace, until the final day of my government and until the final day of my life, because nothing is more important,” Santos said. Santos leaves office in August after two four-year terms. The ELN, founded by radical Roman Catholic priests in 1964, has sought peace with the government before but made little progress. It is considered a terrorist group by the United States and European Union. The ELN are considered more radical than the FARC and are less centralized. ELN spokespeople in Quito could not confirm on Sunday whether a statement from the group’s urban unit claiming responsibility for the Barranquilla attack was genuine. The group opposes the presence of foreign companies in Colombia and regularly bombs pipelines and other oil infrastructure, which the state oil company Ecopetrol says has caused significant environmental damage. A man arrested after the first bombing in Barranquilla had been detained in 2015 in connection with an ELN cell, Villegas said. Reporting by Helen Murphy; Editing by Alistair Bell" + }, + { + "text": "UPDATE 1-Vale is negotiating BHP exit from Samarco venture -sourceGÇìGÇï Published 20 Hours Ago SHARES (Adds details on possible deal, context) SAO PAULO, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Vale SA is in talks with BHP Billiton Ltd over the future of their joint venture, Samarco Mineração SA, and one alternative is for the Brazilian miner to buy out its partner, a source with knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday. A price has not yet been established for any buyout and it would depend on BHP's willingness to exit the venture, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the negotiations are private. Contacted by Reuters, Vale and BHP declined to comment. Samarco has not operated since November 2015 after flood waters inundated a dam designed to hold back mine waste, causing it to burst and flood nearby towns. Nineteen people were killed in what was Brazil's worst environmental disaster. Vale thinks that Samarco can return to operating sooner speed up remediation works if it had a sole owner, the source said. Last month, Samarco won preliminary permits, but is not yet allowed to restart. The deal depends on BHP's willingness to exit, the source added. Samarco is the only iron-ore operation owned by BHP outside Australia. (Reporting by Tatiana Bautzer in Sao Paulo, Marta Nogueira and Alexandra Alper in Rio de Janeiro and Tom Westbrook in Sydney; Editing by Leslie Adler and Grant McCool)" + }, + { + "text": "42 AM / Updated 21 minutes ago Iranian planes warned off two \"coalition vessels\" during military drill - Tasnim news Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Iranian warplanes warned off two “coalition vessels” during military drill in waters off the country’s southeast, an Iranian general was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency on Monday. “This morning and in the early hours of the military drill, two coalition vessels approached the area to monitor Iranian naval forces. Iranian drones identified the vessels, then Iranian planes flew over them and gave them a warning. The vessels left the area,” said Rear Admiral Mahmoud Mousavi, the spokesperson for the drills. Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; Editing by Toby Chopra" + }, + { + "text": "The relationship between Estonia and the President Donald Trump administration is solid, Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas told CNBC at the World Economic Forum on Friday, countering doubts over the current U.S. government's commitment to its NATO ally. Asked if Trump has been a dedicated friend so far, the prime minister replied, \"We have a very strong relationship between the U.S. and the president of the U.S. For example last year the speaker (of the House of Representative) of the U.S. visited Estonia, the vice president visited Estonia. I think this is a really concrete and strong sign for the rest of the world.\" Trump has regularly chided fellow NATO members, questioning the nearly 70-year-old alliance's relevance and demanding that member countries increase their military spending as part of the pact. The value of NATO military partnerships is increasingly in focus as Russia, Estonia's neighbor to the east, ups its military exercises and engages in expansionary activity — military and politically — in border countries like Ukraine and Georgia. Putin's government has been accused of carrying out hybrid warfare in the Baltic states to turn political opinion against the EU and toward the Russian Federation. Ratas denied there was any concern about NATO's ability to defend the small Baltic country. \"Our bilateral relations between the U.S. and Estonia are very strong. Especially in security and defense, because today under NATO we have the Enhanced Forward Presence, (which) means we have troops in Estonia from the U.K. France, and Denmark.\" \"It is important to have a very strong cornerstone between the EU and U.S. and NATO, and I think this is the most important thing today,\" he stressed. Dmitri Beliakov | Washington Post | Getty Images Estonian Special Forces soldiers seen reading a map after raiding the woods during a NATO troop exercise in Estonia. The current NATO mission in Estonia numbers more than 1,000 troops, 300 of whom are American and the majority from the U.K. The U.S. has also provided Estonia with 12 F16 jets, four M1A2 Abrams battle tanks and 15 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, according to the Estonian government. 2017 saw a significant boost in troops and military hardware from U.S. and European allies to the country and its Baltic neighbors, with more than 4,000 NATO troops deployed in total. Dozens of U.S. special operations forces are also posted near the Russian border in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Last year was the first in which U.S. tanks rolled down the streets of Estonian capital Tallinn. During House Speaker Paul Ryan's visit in April of 2017, Ryan gave a speech during which he emphasized the American commitment to NATO was \"resolute.\" Vice President Mike Pence, during his June visit last year, pledged the Trump administration's support for NATO's Article 5 principle of mutual defense." + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 2:11 PM / Updated 25 minutes ago Sterling soars to highest level since Brexit vote Tommy Wilkes , Jemima Kelly 4 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Sterling on Friday rocketed to its highest level against the dollar since the vote to leave the European Union, after a report that the Netherlands and Spain were open to a deal for Britain to remain as close as possible to the trading bloc. UK pound coin drops into yellow watercolour in this illustration picture, October 26, 2017. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration The pound traded up more than one percent on the day, pushing to as high as $1.37 GBP=D3 and in the process hitting its highest level since June 24, 2016, when the pound plunged after Britain voted to quit the EU. The gains came after Bloomberg reported that the Spanish and Dutch finance ministers had agreed to work together for a Brexit agreement that maintains close ties between the EU and Britain, in what would be a clear divergence in views among the 27 EU member states about how to treat Britain after it leaves. Officials from the Spanish and Dutch finance ministries denied the report and said there was no new agreement between the countries on how Britain should leave the EU. Sterling was already gaining on Friday before the report, helped by demand for euros and the continued weakness for the dollar, before spiking higher. The pound held on to most of those gains. “I would suggest this [sterling’s jump] is purely because of news that the Dutch and Spanish are open to a softer Brexit,” Neil Jones, Mizuho’s head of hedge fund currency sales in London. “It’s not so significant as the rally would suggest. Just because two of the 27 members say this, it doesn’t mean a softer Brexit will happen. I doubt it’s as straightforward as that,” he said. After slumping in 2016, the pound last year had its best performance in a decade as Britain made some progress on negotiating its exit from the European Union and economic data came in better than expected. Some traders expect Britain to secure a transition deal to leave the bloc soon, which could help lift sterling higher. Others said the pound would struggle to maintain Friday’s gains without more positive news. Against the euro, which has rallied since minutes from the European Central Bank on Thursday pointed to tighter monetary policy in the euro zone, sterling was up 0.3 percent at 88.64 pence per euro EURGBP=D3. The FTSE 100 .FTSE briefly fell into negative territory and touched its session low before rebounding and closing higher. Two-year gilt yields GB2YT=RR rose more than 5 basis points on the day to peak at 0.615 percent, their highest level since Jan. 4, 2016. Five-year gilt yields GB5YT=RR rose more than 6 basis points on the day to 0.885 percent, matching the post-Brexit vote high of 0.885 percent set on Oct. 25. Nomura currency strategist Jordan Rochester said the move higher for sterling was driven by a “big algo move”, referring to an algorithmic trade, while he also played down attaching too much importance to the Bloomberg report. “I‘m sceptical this (report) is necessarily a game-changer at this stage as there will also be member states pushing the other way,” he said. Reporting by Jemima Kelly and Tommy Wilkes, additional reporting by Julien Ponthus and David Milliken, editing by Larry King" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 7:27 PM / Updated 13 minutes ago Surgery patients can help prevent opioid abuse Mary Gillis 5 Min Read (Reuters Health) - Simple brochures given to patients having surgery might ultimately help control the opioid epidemic, a study suggests. The brochures explain the importance of proper disposal of unused pain pills. One reason for the opioid abuse epidemic, researchers write in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, is that addictive pain-relieving opioid medications are often over-prescribed, with extra pills left sitting in people’s medicine cabinets. For example, a primary care physician may prescribe opioids – such as Percocet, OxyContin or Vicodin - to curb chronic pain. A surgeon might then write an additional prescription to help manage pain after an operation for the same condition – and the patient may end up with more of the painkillers than what’s actually needed. But the real problem, researchers say, lies in patients’ hesitancy to dispose of leftover pills and to do so in the correct manner - that is, return them to a pharmacy, take them to a police station, or mix them with an unpalatable substance (such as laundry detergent) and then discard in household trash. Dr. Susan Mackinnon at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and colleagues tested a new brochure designed to educate patients about four things: (1) the opioid epidemic, (2) the high likelihood of receiving an over-prescription, (3) inadequate disposal methods and (4) instructions for proper disposal of unused medication. As reported in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, all 334 participants in the study were having surgery for painful conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, severed nerves and various compression injuries. Half of the patients were randomly selected to receive the educational brochure at the time of surgery scheduling in the outpatient clinic and then again after the surgery, before they went home. The rest of the patients did not receive the brochure. Both groups answered questions before and after the surgery about their prior opioid usage, post-surgical opioid use, whether they kept or discarded excess pills, and what was done with the medication if they hadn’t kept it. Overall, only 29% of patients used all the opioids their doctors prescribed. Of those who had pain medicine left over, 49% kept the unused opioids and 16% disposed of them – with only 9% disposing of the drugs in manner recommended by the brochure. Those who received the brochure were twice as likely (22%) to dispose of their excess opioids than those who did not receive the brochure (11%), the study showed. There was no difference, however, in the proportion of patients from each group who followed the disposal instructions recommended by the brochure. “We know prescription opioid medications are circulating and being used for unintended purposes by unintended parties,” said study co-author Jessica Hasak, also at Washington University, in email to Reuters Health. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2014, an estimated 9.5 million adults in the U.S. misused prescription opioids, resulting in drastic spikes in morbidity and mortality. “Rather than from a dealer, the most common source is from a friend or relative, followed by over personal-prescription by physicians,” MacKinnon said in a phone interview. “It’s not unusual to keep unused drugs. People hoard them,” MacKinnon said. “But this is different. We need to get these substances out of our medicine cabinets so some young teenager doesn’t get a hold of them and experiment. What’s more, we need to get rid of them in the proper manner. Everyone has laundry detergent and a plastic bag. There are absolutely no barriers to using this approach. With increased patient education, we can strive for a 100% disposal rate of excess opioids.” In the U.S., locations of medication disposal sites are available at disposemymeds.org . SOURCE: bit.ly/2Dvv2IR Journal of the American College of Surgeons, online January 10, 2018." + }, + { + "text": "ATHENS, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Total credit in Greece's banking system contracted 1.6 percent year-on-year in November after a 1.5 percent decline in the previous month, Bank of Greece data showed on Friday. Credit extended to the government fell 5.1 percent after decreasing by 4.9 percent in October, the central bank said. Lending to businesses and households declined 0.9 percent after a 0.9 percent drop in the previous month. KEY FIGURES Nov. Oct. Sept. Aug. July June May April (in pct y/y) Total credit -1.6 -1.5 -1.5 -1.5 -1.8 -1.8 -1.6 -1.6 Credit to -5.1 -4.9 -5.2 -5.0 -5.2 -4.6 -5.0 -5.4 public sector Credit to -0.9 -0.9 -0.8 -0.9 -1.2 -1.3 -1.0 -0.9 business, hholds source: Bank of Greece (Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou)" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 9:01 AM / Updated 21 minutes ago China gas output at four-year high in push to plug winter supply gap Chen Aizhu 3 Min Read BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s natural gas output rose in December to the highest monthly rate since at least 2014 as state energy firms rushed to fill a supply gap sparked by surging winter demand from a drive to switch millions of households to gas from coal for heating. Companies produced 13.6 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas in December, up from 12.6 bcm in November, pushing up output for the whole of 2017 by 8.5 percent to 147.4 bcm, data from the National Statistics Bureau (NSB) showed on Thursday. Beijing last year ordered millions of households and industrial plants in 28 northern Chinese cities to change to gas heating from coal as part of its war against pollution. But the jump in demand and inadequate storage and pipeline networks led to a severe supply crunch. State energy majors maximized December production at key gas fields such as Changqing in the country’s west and Fuling in southwestern Sichuan, while scaling back internal gas use and curbing fuel supply to industrial users. Sinopec said this month its 2017 gas output had risen 19 percent over 2016, and that it had recently started up 13 new gas wells. Domestic wholesale prices for liquefied natural gas (LNG), which are not regulated by the government, hit an all-time high in December near 10,000 yuan ($1,554) a tonne in northern China. Prices have since dropped more than 40 percent thanks to stronger domestic production, as well as record imports of both pipeline gas and LNG. “With supplies catching up and industries set to slow down activities as the Lunar New Year break nears, the market shall be more balanced,” said a senior official with PetroChina. CRUDE RUNS INCREASE BIGGEST IN 4 YEARS The NSB also said China’s oil refinery throughput rose 3.3 percent in December from a year earlier to 49.11 million tonnes, or 11.56 million bpd, off a record of 12.03 million bpd in November. Refinery output for the full year gained 5 percent to 567.77 million tonnes, or 11.36 million bpd. That would mean an average increases in runs this year of around 540,000 bpd, according to Reuters calculations based on the data. Harry Liu, an analyst with consultancy IHS Markit said the annual growth figure marked the biggest gain in four years, and pointed to an acceleration in throughput in the last four months of the year. “Runs expanded much faster since September compared to earlier in the year to an extent that could barely be supported by market fundamentals,” said Liu. NSB said crude oil output fell 4.4 percent in December to 15.98 million tonnes, or 3.76 million bpd, and output for the full year was down 4 percent at 191.51 million tonnes, or 3.83 million bpd. State energy group CNPC on Tuesday forecast China’s crude oil output would rise 0.2 percent in 2018, on the prospect of higher global oil prices, which have clawed their way back to near $70 a barrel. (tonne=7.3 barrels for crude oil) ($1 = 6.4355 Chinese yuan)" + }, + { + "text": "January 16, 2018 / 11:28 AM / Updated 20 minutes ago Permira partner takes charge of Germany's TeamViewer after execs quit Eric Auchard 2 Min Read FRANKFURT, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Private equity firm Permira has installed one of its partners as the new chief executive of German portfolio company TeamViewer, which it acquired in 2014, after the company failed to find a buyer and its senior executives left last year. Several buyout funds had weighed rival bids for a potential $2 billion deal after Permira initiated a sales process last year, sources close to the matter said at the time. But the process was postponed after the parties failed to agree on price. TeamViewer said Oliver Steil, 46, a Permira partner and a long-serving operating executive for technology companies owned by the private equity firm, will join the software firm as its new chief executive this month, replacing Andreas Koenig as CEO. “We will now rigorously implement the successful existing strategy and write the next chapter of the company’s success story in 2018,” Steil said in a statement issued by TeamViewer. Koenig resigned in December for personal reasons, TeamViewer said in a statement. He was not immediately available to comment. Thomas Novak, left TeamViewer in November after 14 months as the company’s chief financial officer, according to his LinkedIn profile. TeamViewer are the makers of a remote administration software tool widely used by corporate network administrators. Steil, a member of TeamViewer’s advisory board, is chairman of Permira’s portfolio review committee and is responsible for working with deal teams on wringing value out of its investments. He joined Permira as a partner in 2015. Previously, he was chief executive of German mobile service provider Debitel before it was sold by Permira to Freenet in 2009. In 2010, Steil was named chief executive of Sunrise Communications AG, a Permira investment holding, and left ahead of the company’s stock market flotation in 2015. (Reporting by Eric Auchard; Editing by Gareth Jones)" + }, + { + "text": "Dr. Pepper Snapple CEO: Keurig deal 'fabulous' for shareholders and consumers 5 Hours Ago This was the perfect avenue to take us into cold and hot beverages, says Larry Young, Dr. Pepper Snapple CEO, talking about what prompted the merger between the two companies. I don't think there's anything quite like it, adds Bob Gamgort, Keurig Green Mountain CEO, offering insight to the benefits of the deal as well." + }, + { + "text": "JUNO BEACH, Fla., NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP) today announced that it plans to report fourth-quarter and full-year 2017 financial results before the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in a news release to be posted on its website at www.NextEraEnergyPartners.com/Earnings . An advisory news release will be issued over PR Newswire the morning of Jan. 26, with a link to the financial results news release on NextEra Energy Partners' website. As previously announced, NextEra Energy Partners will make available its financial results only on its website. Jim Robo, chairman and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy Partners, John Ketchum, chief financial officer of NextEra Energy Partners, and other members of the senior management team will discuss the fourth-quarter and full-year 2017 financial results during an investor presentation to be webcast live, beginning at 9 a.m. ET on Jan. 26. Results for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) also will be discussed during the same investor presentation. The listen-only webcast will be available on NextEra Energy Partners' website by accessing the following link: www.NextEraEnergyPartners.com/Earnings . The financial results news release and the slides accompanying the presentation may be downloaded at www.NextEraEnergyPartners.com/Earnings , beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET on the day of the webcast. A replay will be available for 90 days by accessing the same link as listed above. NextEra Energy Partners, LP NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP) is a growth-oriented limited partnership formed by NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) to acquire, manage and own contracted clean energy projects with stable, long-term cash flows. Headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida, NextEra Energy Partners owns interests in wind and solar projects in North America, as well as natural gas infrastructure assets in Texas. The renewable energy projects are fully contracted, use industry-leading technology and are located in regions that are favorable for generating energy from the wind and sun. The seven natural gas pipelines in the portfolio are all strategically located, serving power producers and municipalities in South Texas, processing plants and producers in the Eagle Ford Shale, and commercial and industrial customers in the Houston area. The NET Mexico Pipeline, the largest pipeline in the portfolio, provides a critical source of natural gas transportation for low-cost, U.S.-sourced shale gas to Mexico. For more information about NextEra Energy Partners, please visit: www.NextEraEnergyPartners.com . releases/nextera-energy-partners-lp-announces-date-for-release-of-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2017-financial-results-300581924.html SOURCE NextEra Energy Partners, LP" + }, + { + "text": "January 29, 2018 / 9:08 PM / Updated 16 minutes ago Facebook to promote local news in latest update Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said on Monday the social media website would focus on promoting local news in its latest update. “Starting today, we’re going to show more stories from news sources in your local town or city,” Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post. “If you follow a local publisher or if someone shares a local story, it may show up higher in News Feed.” The update will be first rolled out in the United States and expanded to more countries later this year, Zuckerberg said. The company has been making a series of changes to its website, following criticism that its algorithms may have prioritized misleading news and misinformation in people’s feeds, influencing the 2016 American presidential election as well as political discourse in other countries. The company recently adjusted its centerpiece News Feed to prioritize what friends and family share, while reducing the amount of non-advertising content from publishers and brands. The move had worried investors, who feared that the changes would lead people to spend less time on Facebook. Reporting by Arjun Panchadar in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 3:28 PM / Updated an hour ago Scotland prepares contingency Brexit laws in stand-off with London government Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - The Scottish government said on Wednesday it was preparing legislation that would ensure legal continuity in Scotland after Brexit as a fallback option in case it fails to reach agreement with Prime Minister Theresa May on her exit plan. FILE PHOTO - Michael Russell (MSP) Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe talks during an interview in the Scottish Parliament Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain October 3 2017. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne Scottish ministers are unhappy with several elements of May’s approach to legally enacting Britain’s exit from the European Union, including the way that powers reclaimed from Brussels will be distributed back to Scotland. May’s government says she expects to have to seek permission from Scotland’s devolved parliament to enact her exit plan via legislation known as the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, which is going through the British parliament.. The Scottish government has said it is not willing to give its consent until concerns about devolution are addressed. With that in mind, Scotland’s ministers said they wanted to start contingency planning by preparing the Scottish parliament for the introduction of its own bill designed to ensure legal continuity after leaving the EU. “As things stand, we need to prepare responsibly for the possibility of consent being withheld. To that end, our officials are developing a Continuity Bill for Scotland,” said a letter signed by Scotland’s Brexit negotiator Michael Russell and parliamentary business minister Joe Fitzpatrick. The letter to Scotland’s parliament said their first preference was to negotiate assurances and safeguards from the British government over May’s plan. But, if those talks failed to produce a compromise, they would probably seek to start legislating on their own plan in February. “The purpose of introducing the bill is to ensure that Scotland’s laws can be prepared for the effects of EU withdrawal even if it does not prove possible to rely on the UK Bill,” the letter said. Reporting by William James; editing by Stephen Addison" + }, + { + "text": "January 8, 2018 / 6:19 AM / Updated an hour ago Perrigo hires Gerresheimer ex-boss Rohrhoff as new CEO Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 8 (Reuters) - Generic drugmaker Perrigo Company Plc appointed former Gerresheimer AG Chief Executive Uwe Rohrhoff as its new president and CEO, the company said on Monday. Rohrhoff succeeds John Hendrickson, who will resign as CEO and board member on Jan. 15, Perrigo said in a statement. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday rejected South Korea’s call for more steps to help “comfort women”, a euphemism for women forced to work in Japan’s wartime military brothels, and urged Seoul to honor a 2015 pact on the divisive topic. Japan and South Korea share a bitter history that includes Japan’s 1910-45 colonization of the peninsula and the “comfort women” issue is especially touchy. The U.S. allies are key to efforts to rein in North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. South Korea said this week that the 2015 agreement, struck by President Moon Jae-in’s conservative predecessor, had failed to meet the victims’ needs and resolve the feud. The 2015 agreement was “a promise between the two nations. Keeping this promise is an international and universal principle. We cannot accept South Korea’s unilateral demands for additional measures,” Abe told reporters. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Imperial Household Agency in Tokyo, Japan December 1, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai “We have been sincere in executing every promise we made. We want to continue to strongly ask South Korea to do the same.” Seoul is not seeking to renegotiate the agreement, which the two sides had said would “finally and irreversibly” end the feud if both sides stuck to it. Under the deal, Japan apologized again and promised 1 billion yen ($8.99 million) for a fund to help the women. But South Korea has urged Tokyo to take added steps, including a fresh apology. Japanese media reports have said Abe may not attend the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea next month because of the feud, although the government’s top spokesman said on Thursday that it had not been decided. ($1 = 111.2100 yen) Reporting by Linda Sieg; Editing by Michael Perry" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING (Reuters) - Heavy snow continued to affect parts of China on Saturday, closing highways, causing train and flight cancellations, and even interrupting a soccer match between Vietnam and Uzbekistan in a southern Chinese province. In central Hubei province, sections of more than 30 highways were closed due to icy conditions, the official Xinhua news agency reported. The three railway stations in Wuhan, Hubei’s provincial capital, canceled more than a hundred train journeys. By about noon (0400 GMT), 95 flights had been canceled at the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, stranding some 1,200 passengers. The airport at Nanning, capital of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, also canceled many flights. In Changzhou city in southern Jiangsu province, the second half of the Under-23 Asian Cup final was interrupted for an hour on Saturday afternoon as snow covered the pitch. Vietnam, long seen as an underdog, had defeated Australia, Iraq and Qatar to face Uzbekistan in the final, cheered on by Vietnamese at home and at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Centre. The National Meteorological Centre renewed an orange alert on Saturday for snowstorms in central and eastern China. The orange alert is the second-highest in a four-tier weather warning system. Heavy snow or sleet was expected in parts of Henan, Hubei, Guizhou and Hunan provinces and regions along the Yangtze River and Huaihe River. Blizzards will strike parts of Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hubei and Hunan provinces. On Friday, a unit of China’s State Oceanic Administration issued a blue alert for sea ice in a key port area in the north of the country, potentially disrupting commodities shipments. Reporting by Ryan Woo; Additional reporting by Li Pei; Editing by Tom Hogeu and Andrew Bolton" + }, + { + "text": "GENEVA (Reuters) - The United States asked Russia to explain how laws prioritizing the purchase of domestically produced goods can comply with World Trade Organization rules, according to a filing published on Wednesday. WTO rules generally ban policies that discriminate against importers, and since the global financial crisis a series of disputes have arisen over governments telling manufacturers to source a certain proportion of their inputs from national firms. The U.S. statement on “made in Russia” listed 10 measures it said Moscow had taken since 2015 to prioritize Russian goods and services, and posed four questions about how the system worked. “The United States has already asked Russia for information on a number of these measures, but has not yet received any answers,” it said. The United States, traditionally quick to challenge any apparent breach of the rules, has under President Donald Trump focused particularly on perceptions of unfair trading in state-dominated economies, with China and Vietnam already singled out. It has also imposed high tariffs on a range of imported goods, this week adding solar panels and washing machines to the list, as part of a protectionist agenda billed by Trump as a way of safeguarding American jobs. Russia’s economy took a hit in 2014 after the United States and the European Union imposed sanctions over Moscow’s annexation of Crimea, and ramped them up as pro-Russian separatist unrest spread to eastern Ukraine. Russia retaliated by limiting food imports from a range of Western countries. Until 2015 state-backed firms were required to prioritize Russian-made goods, but under law enacted that July other firms - including those with big projects and minority state funding - were also expected to do so. In 2014, Russia had also made it a priority for state-owned firms to source industrial products locally and gave the government a role in setting the terms of purchasing contracts, it said. “Taken together, these laws grant the Government of Russia the authority to restrict the purchasing decisions of a large part of the Russian economy, separate and distinct from government procurement,” the U.S. statement said. The trade ministry in Moscow did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment. At the end of 2017, President Vladimir Putin signed a law authorizing “made in Russia” requirements for aircraft and ships when purchased by one of the defined entities, it said. Reporting by Tom Miles; editing by John Stonestreet" + }, + { + "text": "Tilman Fertitta is good at a lot of things, but not at this 1 Hour Ago The Billion Dollar Buyer tries his hand at making cards at former cast members of The Bachelor, Catherine and Sean Lowe, stationery company. He soon realizes he should keep his day job. All New Billion Dollar Buyer Wednesdays 10P ET/PT SHARES" + }, + { + "text": "MCKINNEY, Texas, Jan. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Torchmark Corporation (NYSE: TMK) will release Fourth Quarter 2017 earnings after the market closes on Wednesday, February 7, 2018. At that time a copy of the Company's Q4-2017 earnings press release and any other financial and statistical information about the quarter will be available on the Company's website at www.torchmarkcorp.com on the Investors page. In conjunction with Torchmark's Fourth Quarter 2017 Earnings Release, you are invited to listen to a conference call that will be broadcast live over the Internet on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 12:00 pm Eastern (11:00 am Central). Fourth Quarter Conference Call Thursday, February 8, 2018 12:00 p.m. (Eastern) Listen live and as a replay at www.torchmarkcorp.com on the Investors /Calls and Meetings page under \"Conference Calls on the Web\" and as a replay under \"Conference Call Replays and Transcripts\" or Call-In Number: 323-794-2149 (Pass Code: Torchmark) Torchmark Corporation is a holding company specializing in life and supplemental health insurance for \"middle income\" Americans marketed through multiple distribution channels including direct response, and exclusive and independent agencies. Torchmark has several nationally recognized insurance subsidiaries. Globe Life And Accident is a direct-response provider of life insurance known for its administrative efficiencies. American Income Life provides individual life insurance to working families. Liberty National Life is one of the oldest traditional life insurers in the Southeast. United American is a consumer-oriented provider of supplemental life and health insurance. Family Heritage Life provides individual supplemental health insurance. View original content: SOURCE Torchmark Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "BEIJING, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Growth in new home prices in China rose to a five-month high in December after stabilising for two consecutive months, despite a range of government moves to rein in an overheated property market. Average new home prices in China’s 70 major cities rose 0.4 percent in December from the previous month, compared with an increase of 0.3 percent in November, Reuters calculated from National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data out on Thursday. New home prices rose 5.3 percent in December versus a year earlier, picking up from an 5.1 percent increase in November. China’s housing market has been on a more than two-year tear, giving a major boost to the economy but stirring fears of a property bubble even as authorities work to contain risks from a rapid build-up in debt. Home prices have slowly levelled out in the biggest cities in recent months under the weight of increasingly tough cooling measures, though some smaller cities are still seeing appreciable rises. (Reporting by Yawen Chen and Beijing Monitoring Desk; Editing by Eric Meijer)" + }, + { + "text": "LA JOLLA, California (Reuters) - Tiger Woods was in danger of missing the cut in his PGA Tour comeback as he stood two over par halfway through the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open on Friday. With the cut for the top 70 players projected to fall at one-under, Woods headed to his back nine on the Torrey Pines North course needing to pick up at least three strokes to qualifying for the weekend. After a respectable even-par 72 on the South course on Thursday, Woods suffered second-day blues on another magnificent winter’s morning next to the Pacific Ocean. A double-bogey at the par-four 13th, where he hooked his drive into a hazard and had to take a penalty stroke, blemished his round. His driving was all over the place. He missed five of seven fairways, many times by wide margins, though he hit some good recovery shots and demonstrated a fairly sharp short game. Jan 26, 2018; San Diego, CA, USA; Tiger Woods plays his shot from the 15th tee during the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports The event is the 42-year-old Woods’ first official tournament appearance since undergoing a fusion of his lower spine last April. Torrey Pines has been a happy hunting ground. He has won here eight times, seven times at the PGA Tour event and most notably at the 2008 U.S. Open, where he annexed his 14th major championship, a total he has not added to in the past decade. Woods began his round at the 10th tee and the media came to his rescue on his first hole when he pulled his tee shot at the par-five hole so far left that it ended up behind the media center adjacent to the fairway. Woods was granted a very advantageous free drop from the “temporary immovable obstruction” and was able to gouge his second shot to near the green and, ultimately, made an easy par. A large gallery followed his every shot, most in hope of seeing the Tiger of old emerge, but they were still waiting to see his first birdie after nine holes. Atop the leaderboard, American Ryan Palmer led at nine-under after 11 holes, one stroke ahead of Spanish defending champion Jon Rahm (10 holes) and American Tony Finau (nine holes). Editing by Gene Cherry" + }, + { + "text": "NEW DELHI, Jan 19 (Reuters) - The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Friday recommended that internet services like wi-fi and mobile connectivity should be permitted on domestic and international flights in India. India is one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets and also the world’s fastest growing internet services market, and such a step is likely to boost revenue for service providers as well as airlines. The recommendations, which include providing a mechanism for the lawful interception and monitoring of wi-fi in aircraft cabins to ensure safety, were provided to the Department of Telecommunications which will draft the final policy. Once finalised it will, for the first time, allow flyers in India to surf the internet on a plane, a service common in many foreign countries. India’s concerns over a cyber attack have delayed the policy which has been in the making for several months, local media have reported. (Reporting by Aditi Shah; editing by Jason Neely)" + }, + { + "text": "WILLEMSTAD, Curacao, Jan. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Retail Holdings N.V. (Symbol: RHDGF) -- Retail Holdings N.V. (\"ReHo\") issued today this further explanation regarding the payment date of the previously announced $9.00 per Share distribution. The payment date for the distribution is January 10, 2018. The $9.00 per Share distribution represents approximately 42% of ReHo's closing stock price on January 3, 2018. Pursuant to NASDAQ rules, when a distribution is declared in a per share amount that exceeds 25% of a company's stock price, the date on which that company's shares will begin to trade without the distribution, or ex-distribution, is the first business day following the payment date. Because the distribution is expected to exceed 25% of ReHo's Share price, NASDAQ will apply this rule, and ReHo expects, in accordance with this rule, that the ex-dividend date as set by NASDAQ, will be January 11, 2018, the first business day following the payment date for the distribution. Shareholders of record on the record date, January 4, 2018, who sell their Shares prior to the ex‐distribution date, January 11, 2018, will not receive the $9.00 cash distribution. Shareholders who have additional questions or who require further clarification, are advised to contact their broker. About Retail Holdings Retail Holdings N.V. is a holding company with one principal asset, a 54.1% equity interest in Sewko Holdings Limited (\"Sewko\"), the parent company of Singer Asia Limited, a distributor of consumer durable products through public subsidiaries in Bangladesh and India, with a residual equity interest in a similar business in Sri Lanka. Retail Holdings N.V. has no other operating activities other than those carried out through Sewko/Singer Asia. Additional financial and other information about Retail Holdings N.V. may be found at the Corporate/Investor section of the Company's website: www.retailholdings.com . Price quotations for the Company's shares are available on the \"Pink Sheets\" quotation services under the symbol \"RHDGF\". INFORMATION CONTACT Amy Pappas (914) 241-3404 View original content: SOURCE Retail Holdings N.V." + }, + { + "text": "As the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield rose to its highest level in more than three years on Friday, most people were focused on the 2.6 percent level, or its highs during both 2016 and 2017. On a technical basis, a move above that level would give it a key \"higher high.\" However, investors should consider that this level carries importance on a much longer-term basis. A move above 2.6 percent would also take the 10-year Treasury yield above its trend-line going all the way back to the mid-1980s. Therefore, since there is no real significant resistance above 2.6 percent until you get to 3 percent, any breakout in rates could lead to a quick spike higher. Such a move would have implications for the broader marketplace. Impact on corporations One question swirling is whether rising interest rates would create a headwind for equities. However, we also have to worry about what higher rates will signify for corporations. A lot of corporate debt will be maturing over the next two years, and the federal government will have to issue more debt to pay for the new tax package. If this all occurs while rates are rising, which of course means bond prices are moving in the opposite direction, we could surely see a very sloppy bond market over the next year or two. This, in turn, could create problems for corporations' long-term planning, as well as their profit margins. Positioning for higher rates Essentially, we've spent 35 years watching yields decline, so investing in long-term bonds has proved quite profitable. However, if rates are about to head higher for an extended period of time, investors may want to consider shortening up the maturities in their bond portfolios. If they have shorter maturities, investors will be able to reinvest their money at higher rates over time and not get locked into today's particularly low rates for long-dated Treasury notes. Vote Vote to see results Total Votes: Not a Scientific Survey. Results may not total 100% due to rounding." + }, + { + "text": "Nvidia Bars Use of its Consumer Video Cards in Data Centers – Except for Blockchain Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang By David Z. Morris 3:40 PM EST The chipmaker Nvidia has altered the terms of service for its GeForce and Titan graphics cards to prohibit their use in data centers, or large-scale commercial or research settings. An exception is included for using the cards for blockchain applications, primarily mining cryptocurrency such as Ethereum. The update, first noted by UK tech site The Register , means organizations running large-scale, intensive applications like artificial intelligence, big data or image recognition will have to invest in the much more expensive cards aimed at data centers. While a high-end GeForce graphics card can cost upwards of $700, enterprise processors like Nvidia’s Tesla V100 run to nearly $10,000. Nvidia’s change, according to the Register, could present problems for projects that don’t necessarily need the very most powerful processors. The impact on academic research facilities could be particularly acute, but a Nvidia spokesperson told the Register that most academic projects aren’t large enough to fall under their definition of a data center. Further, the spokesperson said Nvidia was willing to “work with” users making off-license use of the cards. Get Data Sheet , Fortune’s technology newsletter. The alteration reflects at least a minor tension at the heart of Nvidia’s remarkable corporate evolution. Still best known for high-end graphics cards aimed at PC gamers, Nvidia has been on a sustained diversification push in recent years, with a growing footprint in artificial intelligence , self-driving cars, and, yes, cryptocurrency. But that diversification is rooted in Nvidia’s graphics cards, which have long been powerful enough to be repurposed for other applications. Perhaps most notoriously, graphics cards like the GeForce line have been used in recent years to perform the power-hungry mathematics that secure cryptocurrencies like Ether, leading to surging demand for the cards. In that light, Nvidia’s carving out of an exception for use of their consumer GPUs in cryptocurrency data centers is intriguing. One possible explanation is that, because the cryptocurrency market is widely seen as in the midst of a bubble, Nvidia has not aggressively courted the market and is happy to take short-term card sales. The company has more long-term motivation to push adoption of high-end chipsets for AI and other applications — though the company stated that the motivation for the license change was simply that consumer-grade cards aren’t designed to operate under the hot and demanding conditions of a data center. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 3:21 PM / Updated 16 minutes ago Motorcycling - Vinales extends Yamaha contract to end of 2020 Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish MotoGP rider Maverick Vinales has extended his contract with Yamaha for two more seasons until the end of 2020, the Japanese manufacturer said on Wednesday. The announcement was made during the team’s 2018 presentation in Madrid. Vinales, 23, finished third overall last season -- his first with Yamaha after switching from Suzuki -- with three wins and seven podium placings. Italian team mate Valentino Rossi, whose contract runs out at the end of 2018, was fifth. “I‘m really happy that Yamaha and I have extended our contract by two more years. It’s great for me and the team that we were able to make this announcement this early on, because it gives us a sense of calm,” Vinales said in a statement. “We know that I will continue riding my M1 for the coming three seasons, so now we can just focus on the actual racing.” The MotoGP season starts in Qatar on March 18. Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Ken Ferris" + }, + { + "text": "ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Jan. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG) announced that its Board of Directors declared a forty-one cents ($0.41) per share quarterly cash dividend on the company's common stock, a $0.02 increase over the prior quarter's dividend. The dividend will be payable on March 16, 2018 to stockholders of record as of March 2, 2018. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., an international insurance brokerage and risk management services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, has operations in 33 countries and offers client-service capabilities in over 150 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants. Contact: Ray Iardella VP – Investor Relations 630-285-3661/ [REDACTED] View original content: SOURCE Arthur J. Gallagher & Co." + }, + { + "text": "January 19, 2018 / 4:11 PM / Updated 18 minutes ago Russia's junior handball team stripped of Euro medal for doping Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber 2 Min Read MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian Under-19 women’s handball team has been stripped of the silver medal they won at last year’s European championship after three of their players failed doping tests, the European Handball Federation (EHF) said on Friday. The Russian handball federation told Reuters they were preparing an appeal against the decision. The EHF said the three players had tested positive for Meldonium, the substance which led to Russia’s multiple grand slam tennis champion Maria Sharapova being banned for 15 months after she failed a drugs test at the 2016 Australian Open. “All results obtained by the players, including the silver medal at the 2017 EHF Women’s EURO 19, are disqualified, the medal from this championship is thus forfeited,” the EHF said in a statement on its website (www.eurohandball.com). “Legal proceedings have also been initiated against the Handball Federation of Russia with a decision expected in the next few months.” The EHF named the players who had failed tests as Antonina Skorobogatchenko, Maria Duvakina and Mariia Dudina. The statement added that they had been provisionally suspended as of September 2017. Lev Voronin, the director general of the Russian handball federation, told Reuters: “We think the three athletes’ punishment is too harsh. Our legal services are now preparing all necessary documents to appeal. Regarding the decision on the federation, we just have to wait.” The Russian Under-19 team’s punishment was announced during the ongoing men’s senior European championship in Croatia, for which Russia failed to qualify. Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic in Belgrade; Editng by Toby Davis" + }, + { + "text": "January 5, 2018 / 1:54 PM / in 2 hours Traders keep bets on two Fed rate hikes after jobs report Ann Saphir 1 Min Read (Reuters) - Traders of U.S. short-term interest-rate futures continued to bet the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates just two times this year after a U.S. government report showed employers added fewer jobs than expected in December, even as wages picked up. The “soggy” data will do little to convince the Fed it needs to do much more to tighten policy, according to Mark McCormick, North American head of Fx strategy at TD Securities in Toronto. “We think this could reduce the chances of a March hike,” McCormick said. Fed policymakers last month saw three rate hikes this year as likely appropriate. Still, rate-futures traders continued to heavily price in a March rate hike even after the report, giving it about a 78 percent chance based on a Reuters analysis of fed funds futures contracts traded at CME Group Inc. They were also pricing in a second rate hike, as early as June but more likely later in the year. Reporting by Ann Saphir in San Francisco with reporting by Gertrude Chavez in New York.; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Andrew Hay" + }, + { + "text": "January 11, 2018 / 8:04 PM / Updated 13 minutes ago White House says immigration deal has not been reached The White House an immigration deal to protect young immigrants from deportation had not been reached, contradicting the office of Republican Senator Jeff Flake, who said earlier on Thursday that an agreement had been secured. “There has not been a deal reached yet. However, we still think we can get there and we’re very focused on trying to make sure that happens,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters. Reporting Makini Brice; Editing by Leslie Adler" + }, + { + "text": "Trump warns on unfair trade, but US 'open for business' 12:32pm EST - 01:53 U.S. President Donald Trump took his ''America First'' message to the world's elite on Friday, telling a summit of business and political leaders that the United States would ''no longer turn a blind eye'' to what he described as unfair trade practices. David Pollard reports. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript U.S. President Donald Trump took his \"America First\" message to the world's elite on Friday, telling a summit of business and political leaders that the United States would \"no longer turn a blind eye\" to what he described as unfair trade practices. David Pollard reports. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Morgan Stanley is expected to report its fourth-quarter results before the market opens on Thursday, the last of the six biggest U.S. banks to do so. Here is what you need to know. 1. Lower Revenue and Profits Analysts are projecting profit of $1.45 billion, or 77 cents a share, on revenue of $9.20 billion. Both would represent a decline from last year’s fourth quarter, which was a strong one across Wall Street. 2. Tax Hit Morgan... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Washington’s main concern about the rise of crypto currencies is to make sure that they are not used for illicit activity, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Thursday. “My number-one focus on crypto currency is that we want to make sure it’s not used for illicit activity,” he told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Larry Fink, chief executive of BlackRock Inc, the world’s biggest asset manager, told the forum that crypto currencies posed a systemic threat that needed to be dealt with globally. He said they might be something he considered investing in but the crypto currency industry was “more an index of money laundering”. (Reporting by Simon Robinson and Soyoung Kim in DAVOS; Exditing by Mark Bendeich)" + }, + { + "text": "TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said that she does not exclude the possibility of China attacking the self-ruled island, amid heightened tensions between the two sides including an increasing number of Chinese military drills near Taiwan. Beijing has taken an increasingly hostile stance toward Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway province, since the election two years ago of Tsai of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party. China suspects Tsai wants to push for formal independence, a red line for Communist Party leaders in Beijing, though she has said she wants to maintain the status quo and is committed to ensuring peace. In recent months, China has stepped up military drills around Taiwan, alarming Taipei. China says the exercises are routine, but that it will not tolerate any attempt by the island to declare independence. “No one can exclude this possibility. We will need to see whether their policymakers are reasonable policymakers or not,” Tsai said in an interview on Taiwan television broadcast late on Monday, when asked whether China could attack Taiwan. “When you consider it (Taiwan-China relationship) from a regional perspective, any reasonable policymaker will have to very carefully deliberate as to whether launching war is an option,” Tsai said. “When our government faces resistance and pressure from China, we will find our method to resist this. This is very important,” she added. “In terms of China circulating around Taiwan or carrying out other military activities, our military is carefully following every action and movement in the scope of its monitoring,” Tsai said. “Our military is very confident to face these situations.” China considers proudly democratic Taiwan to be its sacred territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under Chinese control. Taiwan and China have also traded accusations this month about China’s opening of new civilian aviation routes close to Taiwan-controlled islands in the Taiwan Strait. Although China has cut off a formal dialogue mechanism with Taiwan, Tsai acknowledged that both sides currently have a method for communications to avoid misunderstanding. Taiwan has been pressing for the United States, its main source of arms, to provide more advanced equipment, but has also been trying to bolster its own weapons programs, to avoid what Tsai termed “certain political difficulties” that come with buying weapons overseas in the teeth of Chinese opposition. Tsai said she believed one day Taiwan would be able to produce its own submarines, an item Taipei has long pressed for to face China’s navy. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tsai’s remarks. Reporting by Jess Macy Yu; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; Editing by Nick Macfie" + }, + { + "text": "January 14, 2018 / 8:37 AM / Updated an hour ago Exiled Cambodian opposition members set up new movement Prak Chan Thul 3 Min Read PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Foreign-based members of Cambodia’s dissolved opposition party have launched a movement to demand the release of its detained leader and to call for free and fair elections and possibly protests. Buddhist monks walk past a banner of opposition leader and President of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) Kem Sokha at the party's headquarters in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, November 17, 2017. REUTERS/Samrang Pring The Supreme Court dissolved the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) in November at the request of the government of long serving Prime Minister Hun Sen. Party leader Kem Sokha was arrested in September and is accused of trying to overthrow the government with American help and of espionage — charges he denies and says are politically motivated ahead of a general election in July. Former CNRP leader Sam Rainsy said in a tweet on Sunday that the Cambodia National Rescue Movement (CNRM), launched on Saturday, would provide a new structure that nobody can harm or dissolve. “The CNRM can launch appeals to the people to organise peaceful protests, to workers to go on strike and to the armed forces to side with the people,” Sam Rainsy tweeted, along with a statement. Sam Rainsy, a former CNRP leader who lives in exile in France, did not say it was calling for any protests at this point. It was not immediately clear how widespread the backing for the new movement was among CNRP members. According to the statement, the CNRM’s members include Sam Rainsy, his wife Saumura Tioulong and deputy presidents of the now dissolved CNRP, Eng Chhai Eang and Mu Sochua. “We invite our compatriots from all walks of life, regardless of their political affiliation, to join the CNRM in order to protect the will of the Cambodian people through free, fair and inclusive elections,” the statement said. They said in the statement that they also demand the release of Kem Sokha and other politician prisoners of conscience. Huy Vannak, undersecretary of state at the Interior Ministry, called the movement “desperate” and that Sam Rainsy is “a serial loser.” “I advise the people on this list about the spirit of the Cambodian Supreme Court’s decision on the prohibition of political rights and to avoid taking illegal or guerrilla acts leading to the harm of innocents and the destruction of Cambodians,” he said. The Supreme Court’s decision also banned more than 118 CNRP members from politics ahead of the general election on July 29. Rights groups have decried an ongoing crackdown against the political opposition and independent media. One group called the CNRP’s dissolution the death of democracy in the country. Reporting by Prak Chan Thul; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore" + }, + { + "text": "Missile alert mistakenly sent out in Hawaii Saturday, January 13, 2018 - 01:13 An emergency message alerting Hawaiians of an incoming ballistic missile was sent out in error. Conway G. Gittens reports. An emergency message alerting Hawaiians of an incoming ballistic missile was sent out in error. Conway G. Gittens reports. //reut.rs/2AXznSP" + }, + { + "text": "U.S. stock index futures gave back some of their gains on Friday after the release of key inflation data. Dow Jones industrial average futures traded 72 points higher; they had risen more than 100 points earlier in the session. S&P 500 futurews were down half a point and Nasdaq 100 futures fell 21 points. The Labor Department said its Consumer Price Index excluding the volatile food and energy components rose 0.3 percent last month. That was the biggest advance in the so-called core CPI since January. Equity futures had risen after Wells Fargo and J.P. Morgan Chase reported better-than-expected quarterly results. BlackRock also posted results that beat expectations. On Thursday, the Dow hit an all-time high, with the index rising more than 200 points by the close . The state of the U.S. economy and tax reform is set to be of key importance on Friday as major U.S. banks are set to report. Markets have been on the rise as of late, after President Donald Trump signed a bill in December to slash the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. Meantime, investors will keep a close eye on bond markets, after investors fretted over the risk of China halting its Treasury bond purchases. Vote Vote to see results Total Votes: Not a Scientific Survey. Results may not total 100% due to rounding. On Wednesday, Bloomberg News reported , citing people familiar with the matter, that officials in Beijing had recommended that China's government lowers — or even potentially ceases — its buying of U.S. sovereign debt. However, China's currency regulator has since refuted the report. On the U.S. central bank front, Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren is expected to be in California, where he's set to give a keynote address at the Money, Models, and Digital Innovation conference in San Diego. Meantime, Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker is expected to be present at the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce Economic Luncheon in Pennsylvania. Overseas, coalition party leaders in Germany have reached a breakthrough in talks to form a new government. German Chancellor Angela Merkel had entered into talks with a rival party in a last-ditch effort to form a coalition government. This comes after months of political uncertainty. —Reuters contributed to this report." + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 11:52 AM / Updated 7 hours ago Pope warns world is one step away from nuclear war Philip Pullella 2 Min Read ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (Reuters) - Pope Francis said on Monday he was really afraid about the danger of nuclear war and that the world now stood at “the very limit”. Pope Francis holds a picture depicting a victim of the 1945 atomic bombing in Nagasaki as he speaks to reporters onboard the plane for his trip to Chile and Peru January 15, 2018. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi His comment, made as he flew off for a visit to Chile and Peru, came after Hawaii issued a false missile alert that provoked panic in the U.S. state and highlighted the risk of possible unintended nuclear war with North Korea. Asked if he was worried about the possibility of nuclear war, Pope Francis said: “I think we are at the very limit. I am really afraid of this. One accident is enough to precipitate things.” He did not mention Hawaii or North Korea. Pope Francis has often flagged the danger of nuclear warfare and in November he appeared to harden the Catholic Church’s teaching against nuclear weapons, saying countries should not stockpile them even for the purpose of deterrence. As reporters boarded his plane bound for Chile, Vatican officials handed out a photograph taken in 1945 that shows a young Japanese boy carrying his dead brother on his shoulders following the U.S. nuclear attack on Nagasaki. “I was moved when I saw this. The only thing I could think of adding were the words ‘the fruit of war’,” Francis said, referring to a caption put on the back of the image. “I wanted to have it reprinted and distributed because an image like this can be more moving than a thousand words. That is why I wanted to share it with you,” he said. Writing by Crispian Balmer; editing by Ralph Boulton" + }, + { + "text": "Getty Images Solar panel installation on the roof of a home in Gainesville, Florida. South Korea said on Tuesday the government will complain to the World Trade Organization (WTO) about a U.S. decision to slap tariffs on imported washing machines and solar panels, saying the decision is \"excessive\" and \"regrettable\". \"It is clear that the latest safeguard measures would violate the WTO rules,\" South Korea's trade minister Kim Hyun-chong said in a meeting with industry officials. \"We will actively respond to protectionist measures.\" President Donald Trump slapped steep tariffs on imported washing machines and solar panels on Monday, marking his first moves to erect trade restrictions under seldom-used trade laws that allow unilateral actions." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 18 (Reuters) - Australian shares are set to rise on Thursday, taking their cue from Wall Street which climbed on higher earnings expectations. Investors' expectations for higher earnings lifted U.S. stocks across sectors on Wednesday, with the main Wall Street indexes all rising about one percent. Australian share price index futures rose 0.2 percent, or 9 points to 5,969, a 46.8-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close. The benchmark fell 0.5 percent on Wednesday. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.2 percent in early trade. (Reporting by Nikhil Kurian Nainan in Bengaluru; Editing by Catherine Evans)" + }, + { + "text": "01 AM / Updated 25 minutes ago EU court upholds order for EDF to repay French state aid Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BRUSSELS (Reuters) - An EU court ruled on Tuesday that the European Commission had been right to order France to recover 1.37 billion euros (1.22 billion pounds) in state aid from utility group EDF ( EDF.PA ). The Commission took the decision in 2015 after the court had annulled an earlier repayment order. The court said that EDF had repaid the amount in October 2015, although it then had brought a challenge to the General Court of the European Union, the EU’s second-highest court. Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; editing by Robert-Jan Bartunek" + }, + { + "text": "FBI Director Christopher Wray, who took over the job just under six months ago , threatened to resign if deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe – a frequent target of President Donald Trump 's – were forced out, Axios reported late Monday, citing sources . The outlet said that Attorney General Jeff Sessions had been pressuring Wray to fire McCabe. The attorney general then told White House counsel Don McGahn that Wray was upset over the pressure to fire McCabe, and, in turn, McGahn told Sessions that it wasn't worth risking Wray's resignation over the issue, Axios reported, citing a source. White House spokesman Raj Shah issued a statement late Monday: As we've said, the president has enormous respect for the thousands of rank and file FBI agents who make up the world's most professional and talented law enforcement agency. He believes politically-motivated senior leaders including former Director Comey and others he empowered have tainted the agency's reputation for unbiased pursuit of justice. The president appointed Chris Wray because he is a man of true character and integrity and the right choice to clean up the misconduct at the highest levels of the FBI and give the rank and file confidence in their leadership. Axios' latest story comes on the heels of its Sunday report saying that Sessions had \"adamantly\" urged Wray to start anew with senior FBI leadership , including the removal of McCabe. McCabe served as the bureau's acting director before Wray took the reins in August. Trump appointed Wray to the role after he fired James Comey from the position in May. Trump has repeatedly targeted McCabe on Twitter , suggesting partisan bias in favor of his Democratic rival in the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton. In July, Trump took to Twitter to question why Sessions hadn't replaced McCabe. Trump tweet McCabe is reportedly expected to retire from the FBI early this year. Wray, during his Senate confirmation proceedings, vowed that the FBI would strive for independence under his watch. \"If I am given the honor of leading this agency, I will never allow the FBI's work to be driven by anything other than the facts, the law and the impartial pursuit of justice. Period. Full stop,\" Wray said in July. After Trump fired him, Comey told lawmakers that he felt pressure from the president to drop his investigation of former national security advisor Michael Flynn . Trump's firing of Comey is widely considered to be one of the focal points of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election meddling, potential Trump ties to the Kremlin, and possible obstruction of justice. Flynn eventually pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and agreed to cooperate with Mueller's investigation. A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment to CNBC, and an FBI representative wasn't immediately reachable. Read the full Axios report here." + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 9:02 AM / Updated 18 minutes ago Big Bash League Scoreboard Reuters Staff 3 Min Read Jan 24 (OPTA) - Scoreboard at close of play of match 37 between Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades on Wednesday at Canberra, Australia Melbourne Renegades win by 9 runs Melbourne Renegades 1st innings Marcus Harris b Chris Green 64 Matt Short st Jay Lenton b Fawad Ahmed 28 Tom Cooper Run Out Ben Rohrer 11 Dwayne Bravo c&b Mitchell McClenaghan 16 Kieron Pollard c Chris Green b Gurinder Sandhu 23 Jack Wildermuth c Aiden Blizzard b Gurinder Sandhu 14 Tim Ludeman Not Out 5 Beau Webster Not Out 18 Extras 0b 4lb 1nb 0pen 5w 10 Total (20.0 overs) 189-6 Fall of Wickets : 1-77 Short, 2-100 Cooper, 3-112 Harris, 4-134 Bravo, 5-164 Pollard, 6-164 Wildermuth Did Not Bat : Richardson, Tremain, Holland Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Gurinder Sandhu 4 0 37 2 9.25 Mitchell McClenaghan 4 0 48 1 12.00 3w 1nb Chris Green 4 0 36 1 9.00 Shane Watson 4 0 37 0 9.25 1w Fawad Ahmed 4 0 27 1 6.75 1w Sydney Thunder 1st innings James Vince c Jon Holland b Chris Tremain 1 Kurtis Patterson c Beau Webster b Chris Tremain 3 Shane Watson c Kieron Pollard b Jack Wildermuth 22 Jay Lenton c Beau Webster b Jon Holland 23 Arjun Nair c Kieron Pollard b Kane Richardson 45 Ben Rohrer c Jack Wildermuth b Kane Richardson 48 Chris Green c Jack Wildermuth b Kieron Pollard 22 Aiden Blizzard c Matt Short b Kane Richardson 2 Gurinder Sandhu c Beau Webster b Kane Richardson 0 Mitchell McClenaghan lbw Kieron Pollard 9 Fawad Ahmed Not Out 1 Extras 0b 3lb 1nb 0pen 0w 4 Total (20.0 overs) 180 all out Fall of Wickets : 1-1 Vince, 2-13 Patterson, 3-46 Watson, 4-51 Lenton, 5-135 Nair, 6-143 Rohrer, 7-148 Blizzard, 8-149 Sandhu, 9-176 Green, 10-180 McClenaghan Bowling Ov Md Rn Wk Econ Ex Tom Cooper 1 0 1 0 1.00 Chris Tremain 4 0 33 2 8.25 Kane Richardson 4 0 22 4 5.50 Dwayne Bravo 4 0 43 0 10.75 Jack Wildermuth 3 0 43 1 14.33 Jon Holland 2 0 16 1 8.00 Kieron Pollard 2 0 19 2 9.50 1nb Umpire Shawn Craig Umpire John Ward Video Donovan Koch Match Referee Robert Stratford" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 12:48 PM / Updated an hour ago May says government will cut stakes on betting terminals Reuters Staff 1 British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday her government will cut the stakes on fixed odds betting terminals but had to wait for the conclusion of a consultation. She told parliament a decision on the stakes would be made “in due course” after the consultation ended earlier this week. Reporting by William James, writing by Elizabeth Piper. Editing by Andrew MacAskill" + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 9:49 AM / Updated 7 minutes ago South Sudanese rebels demand compensation to release Kenyan pilots Reuters Staff 2 Min Read JUBA (Reuters) - South Sudanese rebels are holding two Kenyan pilots and will not release them until compensation is paid to the family of a civilian killed when their plane crashed, a rebel spokesman told Reuters on Tuesday. The plane crashed in Akobo, in the Greater Upper Nile region, two weeks ago, Lam Paul Gabriel, the rebels’ deputy spokesman, said. “When the plane crashed, it took a life. There was a lady that was killed and also there were some animals killed. The relatives of the lady and the owners of the cows are complaining they want compensation,” he said. “They (Kenyan leaders) have to write an official letter to Dr. Riek Machar and it will come to us to inform of an order, then we will release him.” Machar, the country’s former vice president, is the head of the largest rebel faction but has been held under house arrest in South Africa since 2016. South Sudan’s military spokesman confirmed the two pilots were being held. “The plane had a technical problem. It crash-landed and killed a person on the ground,” said Brigadier General Lul Ruai Koang. “The (rebel) SPLA-IO-appointed governor of the area has demanded the ransom of $200,000 which is beyond normal compensation for any person killed,” he added. The Kenyan foreign ministry said it was unable to comment. Oil-rich South Sudan has been riven by civil war since 2013. The conflict has displaced a third of the population, shut down most of the oil production and wrecked the economy. reporting by Denis Dumo; additional reporting by John Ndiso; editing by Katharine Houreld and Robin Pomeroy" + }, + { + "text": "WESTON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ultimate Software (Nasdaq: ULTI), a leading provider of human capital management (HCM) solutions in the cloud, will be hosting a conference call on Tuesday, February 6, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss our financial results for the fourth quarter and year-end of 2017. Forward-looking information about future company performance may be discussed during the teleconference call. This call is open to the public and will be hosted by Scott Scherr, CEO, president, and founder, and Mitchell Dauerman, CFO, executive vice president, and treasurer. The call will be audiocast live at www.investorcalendar.com/event/20305 . Participants should access this site 10 minutes before the start of the call. Windows Media Player software is required to listen and can be downloaded from the site. The call will be available for replay at the same Web address at 9:00 p.m. Eastern time on the day of the call. Ultimate’s press release for our 2017 fourth-quarter and year-end financial results will be available after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on February 6, on our website at www.ultimatesoftware.com/PR/Financial-Releases . About Ultimate Software Ultimate is a leading provider of cloud-based human capital management (HCM) solutions, with more than 35 million people records in the cloud. Ultimate’s award-winning UltiPro delivers HR, payroll, talent, and time and labor management solutions that connect people with the information they need to work more effectively. Founded in 1990, Ultimate is headquartered in Weston, Florida, and employs more than 4,000 professionals. In 2017, Fortune ranked Ultimate #7 on its prestigious 100 Best Companies to Work For list; #1 on its 10 Best Large Workplaces in Technology; and #2 on its 100 Best Workplaces for Women. Also in 2017, Ultimate ranked #7 on Forbes’ 100 Most Innovative Growth Companies and #2 on People’s 50 Companies That Care; the National Customer Service Association named Ultimate the top Service Organization of the Year in the Large-Business category; Gartner positioned Ultimate a “Leader” in its Magic Quadrant for Cloud HCM Suites for Midmarket and Large Enterprises; and Nucleus Research named Ultimate a “Leader” in its HCM Technology Value Matrix. Ultimate has more than 4,000 customers with employees in 160 countries, including Bloomin’ Brands, Culligan International, Feeding America, Major League Baseball, Red Roof Inn, SUBWAY, Texas Roadhouse, and Yamaha Corporation of America. More information on Ultimate’s products and services for people management can be found at www.ultimatesoftware.com . UltiPro is a registered trademark of The Ultimate Software Group, Inc. All other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com : Ultimate Software Mitchell K. Dauerman, 954-331-7369 Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations [REDACTED] Source: Ultimate Software" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. The Times - British financial firms will be allowed privileged access to European Union markets in return for payments to Brussels under plans being considered by countries including Germany. bit.ly/2qUklgK - The Welsh government has offered to make a \"substantial\" equity or loan investment in the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon if it secures approval from Whitehall. The 1.3 billion pounds ($1.76 billion) project has been on hold after efforts to convince the British government to support its construction failed. bit.ly/2qSeIji The Guardian - The UK government has made contingency plans for the collapse of Carillion Plc, the country's second largest construction company and a key provider of public services. bit.ly/2qQQrKr - The former BHS owner Dominic Chappell has told a court that workers were seen shredding bin bags of documents prior to his purchase of Sir Philip Green's doomed high street chain in 2015. bit.ly/2qVlh4S The Telegraph - The City watchdog Financial Conduct Authority has warned UK spreadbetting firms that they are putting amateur investors \"at serious risk of harm\" after finding examples of flouting rules, poor due diligence and conflicts of interest. bit.ly/2qUhyEo - Moss Bros Group Plc has issued a profit warning over the festive period following disappointing sales. The company reported a 1.1 percent rise in total sales for the 23 weeks to Jan. 6 with retail sales, which now account for 90 percent of the business, growing by 1.6 percent over the period. bit.ly/2qQSDSb Sky News - British Prime Minister Theresa May has summoned a group of City chiefs for talks about the prospects for a post-Brexit trade deal that would safeguard the interests of Britain's financial services industry. bit.ly/2qQznnM - Apple Inc has handed over an extra 137 million pounds ($185.09 million) to UK's HM Revenue & Customs following a probe into its tax payments going back years. bit.ly/2qOeEkB The Independent - Richard Branson's Virgin Care saw a 50 percent rise in revenues to 200 million pounds ($270.20 million) in its latest financial year, helped by a series of new NHS outsourcing contracts. ind.pn/2qRgtNJ ($1 = 0.7402 pounds) (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "British soccer star David Beckham said his new Major League Soccer team couldn't have been anywhere else but Miami . \"We've got a hotbed of young talent in this city, and that's what we want,\" Beckham told CNBC's \" Power Lunch \" on Monday, after MLS formally announced the award of an expansion franchise to Beckham's ownership group. Co-owner Jorge Mas, a well-known Miami businessman, was on \"Power Lunch\" with Beckham and agreed the team is great for the city. \"We deserve a soccer franchise,\" Mas said. \"The cultural mosaic that is Miami, with the Latin community and the makeup of it — soccer runs in their blood.\" A 25,000-seat, $225 million stadium will be built under Beckham's ownership group in Overtown, a neighborhood of Miami. Details such as the team's name, colors, logo and start date have not yet been revealed. The owners said they envision the team competing globally, but first need to let the league grow locally. \"The viewers, the fans, they love this game, and they'll come,\" Beckham said. \"[But] these things take time,\" Beckham said. \"We need to let the [MLS] grow in a very organic way. At the end of the day it's a very young league.\" This will be South Florida's first MLS team since Fort Lauderdale's Miami Fusion, which flopped in 2001 after only a few short years. Getty Images David Beckham addresses the crowd during the press conference announcing an MLS franchise in Miami at the Knight Concert Hall on January 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. \"That was back in the day, when the league wasn't so stable,\" Beckham said. He credits his co-owners — including Mas and Mas' brother Jose, who \"live and breathe this city\" — as a major force that will ensure the team's success. The location of the team, along with Beckham's prestige in the industry, will also help the team thrive, Mas said. \"I think we can do great things in Miami that we can't do in any other city,\" he said. Beckham, who retired from the sport in 2013 following a 20-year career, announced he would form his own team that same year. He is the first former MLS player to own a team in the league. However, the road to a new team wasn't easy. Residents in South Florida rejected multiple proposals for the location of the stadium. Beckham and his investors finally secured a site in December 2015 after three failed attempts." + }, + { + "text": "52 PM / in 27 minutes UPDATE 2-Steinhoff creditors join forces ahead of meeting-sources Reuters Staff * Some holders of European unit’s bond hire advisers * Steinhoff to update creditors at meeting on Friday * Retailer raises $584 mln from sale of stake in PSG Group * Revelation of ‘accounting irregularites’ wipe 85 pct off shares (Adds background, details) By Arno Schuetze and Alexander Hübner FRANKFURT, Jan 23 (Reuters) - More creditor groups of Steinhoff are joining forces to position themselves for a potential debt restructuring at the furniture retailer, people close to the matter said before the company meets creditors on Friday. Steinhoff, owner of more than 40 retail brands including Poundland in Britain, admitted “accounting irregularities” last month, triggering an 85 percent share slide. Some holders of an 800 million euro ($983 million) bond of a European Steinhoff unit have mandated restructuring adviser PJT as well as law firm Latham & Watkins to represent them in any debt restructuring talks, the sources said. Earlier, convertible bond holders had hired Houlihan Lokey and law firm Kirkland & Ellis to help them deal with the matter, while senior debt holders mandated FTI and Allen & Overy. Roughly 2 billion euros of Steinhoff’s 10.7 billion euros in debts mature this year. The company has called a meeting with some of its European-based creditors in London on Friday. As part of efforts to stabilise the company, Steinhoff on Monday sold a stake in investment firm PSG Group for 7.1 billion rand ($584 million). Last week it secured 60 million euros from South African lenders. It remained unclear whether Steinhoff will use the money from the PSG sale to plug funding needs at the European operating level, especially at Austria’s Kika-Leiner. Steinhoff’s management is currently in talks with European subsidiaries about funding needs, one source said. It also remained unclear if the group is still in talks on raising 140 million euros from South African banks following the PSG sale. Steinhoff viewed terms offered by international lenders as unattractive, another person said. While the creditors hope for an update at Friday’s meeting on how Steinhoff hopes to resolve its debt situation, any negotiations about a credit valuation adjustment can only begin once Steinhoff has restated its figures and it becomes clear what future earnings the group will have. “We expect that to be the case in April,” one of the sources said. Steinhoff has rushed to fill a liquidity gap to avoid a small unit like Austria’s Kika-Leiner - which needs about 80 million euros of fresh money - from pulling down the entire group. While the PSG stake sale helped to avoid the collapse of the Steinhoff group, it also lowers available collateral securities that could help repay other creditors. PJT and Latham declined to comment, while Steinhoff was not immediately available for comment. ($1 = 12.1461 rand) ($1 = 0.8139 euros) (Additional reporting by Sandrine Bradley and Tiisetso Motsoeneng; Editing by Douglas Busvine and Adrian Croft)" + }, + { + "text": "PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon is suing the agrochemical giant Monsanto over PCB pollution the state says has contaminated its waterways and wildlife. The lawsuit filed Thursday by Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum seeks $100 million to mitigate pollution that state officials say has accumulated over decades. Monsanto said in an emailed statement... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "BOGOTA (Reuters) - The United Nations is willing to send more resources to Colombia to help the Andean country care for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans fleeing food shortages and economic devastation in their homeland, Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Saturday. Guterres is on a two-day visit to Colombia to discuss the progress of its peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels and ongoing peace talks with smaller guerrilla group the National Liberation Army (ELN), which recently re-started attacks after a months-long ceasefire. Venezuelans fleeing acute food shortages, high crime and political unrest have flooded across the border to Colombia in recent years. Some visit just to buy groceries, while others begin lives from scratch, often working informally and without visas. Last year Colombia extended permits for Venezuelans in a humanitarian measure - the government estimates there are some 470,000 Venezuelans in the country. “I want to manifest all the support of the United Nations to the government and people of Colombia in this humanitarian effort, the reception of all these people, and say that we are even willing to mobilize other international help as is possible,” Guterres said after meeting with President Juan Manuel Santos, ministers and security officials. There has long been diplomatic tension between the neighboring governments. Santos has accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of destroying democracy in Venezuela, while Maduro has said Colombia is part of an international conspiracy seeking to overthrow his government. Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by David Gregorio" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 16 (Reuters) - BANK OCHRONY SRODOWISKA SA: * SHAREHOLDERS TO VOTE ON FEB. 13 ON CO‘S SHARE CAPITAL INCREASE VIA SHARES ISSUE * PLANS TO INCREASE SHARE CAPITAL BY NOT MORE THAN 400 MILLION ZLOTYS * PLANS TO RAISE SHARE CAPITAL BY ISSUANCE OF UP TO 40 MILLION SERIES V SHARES * SERIES V SHARES TO BE OFFERED IN PRIVATE SUBSCRIPTION WITHOUT PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHTS Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "NORTH READING, Mass., Jan. 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teradyne, Inc. (NYSE:TER) will release financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2017 on Wednesday, January 24 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) or later. A conference call to discuss the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2017 results, along with management's business outlook, will follow at 10:00 a.m. ET, Thursday, January 25. Interested investors should access the webcast at www.teradyne.com and click on \"Investors\" at least five minutes before the call begins. Presentation materials will be available starting at 10:00 a.m. ET. A replay will be available on the Teradyne website at www.teradyne.com/investors . About Teradyne Teradyne (NYSE:TER) is a leading supplier of automation equipment for test and industrial applications. Teradyne Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) is used to test semiconductors, wireless products, data storage and complex electronic systems, which serve consumer, communications, industrial and government customers. Our Industrial Automation products include collaborative robots used by global manufacturing and light industrial customers to improve quality and increase manufacturing efficiency. In 2016, Teradyne had revenue of $1.75 billion and currently employs approximately 4,500 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.teradyne.com . Teradyne (R) is a registered trademark of Teradyne, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. For more information, contact: Andrew Blanchard Investor Relations Tel 978.370.2425 [REDACTED] Source:Teradyne, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Iran blames protests on 'foreign enemies' plot 3:24pm EST - 00:56 Iran's supreme leader has claimed Tehran foiled a plot by foreign powers to use recent protests to overthrow the current leadership. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Iran's supreme leader has claimed Tehran foiled a plot by foreign powers to use recent protests to overthrow the current leadership. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "Japan's Fujifilm snaps up Xerox in $6.1 bln deal 01:20 Japan's Fujifilm Holdings is set to take over Xerox Corp, and combine the U.S. company into their joint venture Fuji Xerox in an effort to cut costs. As Silvia Antonioli reports, Fujifilm will own 50.1 percent of Xerox shares. Japan's Fujifilm Holdings is set to take over Xerox Corp, and combine the U.S. company into their joint venture Fuji Xerox in an effort to cut costs. As Silvia Antonioli reports, Fujifilm will own 50.1 percent of Xerox shares. //reut.rs/2DPJG1M" + }, + { + "text": "23 AM / Updated 12 minutes ago BRIEF-Global Catastrophe Insured Losses Reached $134 Bln In 2017- Aon Reuters Staff Jan 24 (Reuters) - Aon Benfield * AON- 330 NATURAL CATASTROPHE EVENTS IN 2017 GENERATED ECONOMIC LOSSES OF $353 BILLION * AON- INSURED LOSSES TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED PROGRAMS WERE AMONG THE COSTLIEST EVER INCURRED - $134 BILLION IN 2017 * AON- 36 PERCENT (USD80 BILLION) OF ECONOMIC DAMAGE FROM HURRICANES HARVEY, IRMA AND MARIA WAS INSURED * AON- WILDFIRES CAUSED $14 BILLION OF INSURANCE LOSSES IN 2017 – THE HIGHEST ON RECORD FOR THE PERIL" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - Shanghai Kinetic Medical Co Ltd : * Sees FY 2017 net profit to increase by 10 percent to 30 percent, or to be 174.7 million yuan to 206.5 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 158.8 million yuan * Says consolidated statements includes newly acquired firm as main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/D1NUsn Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "RIEHEN, Switzerland (Reuters) - Georg Baselitz, a provocative German artist who inspired a generation with challenging depictions of the Nazi era and the post-war division of Germany, is being honored by a retrospective to mark his 80th birthday. Born Hans-Georg Kern in the German town of Deutschbaselitz in 1938, Baselitz gained worldwide fame in the 1970s with his portraits - often bizarrely showing his subjects upside down - which he painted in a neo-expressionist style. “Seeing 60 years of one own’s pictures is a difficult undertaking,” Baselitz said at a news conference marking the opening of the exhibition at the Swiss Fondation Beyeler in Riehen, near Basel. “But I don’t recognize it (the art) any more’. And it’s almost as if I were to re-encounter myself now as a baby, I would not recognize myself.” Slideshow (9 Images) In a manifesto in 1961 when he was 23, he said he was “swollen and bloated” with memories of the Nazi era - his father had been a party member - and the aftermath of a divided Germany and the socialist East, which he fled in 1957. His early paintings in the 1960s, he said, were “aggressive, wholly malicious”, referring to works which at the time German prosecutors seized as lewd. In later years the uneasy portraits of the 1960s and 1970s evolved into sprawling works in dark and pastel tones, and he became famous for his ‘upside down’ paintings - a quirk of presentation he has pursued to the present day. Bringing together some 90 paintings and 12 sculptures spanning from 1959 through the present day, the exhibit is open to the public from Jan. 21 through April 29. Editing by Richard Balmforth" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO, Jan 26 (Reuters) - A Japanese government spokesman said on Friday that foreign exchange stability is important, when asked about U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s comments in favour of a weak dollar. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters that Group of 20 countries have agreed that disorderly moves in currencies are undesirable. Nishimura also said he wanted to monitor market moves. (Reporting by Stanley White; Editing by Sam Holmes)" + }, + { + "text": "DUBAI, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Emirates NBD Bank, Dubai’s largest lender, has mandated banks to arrange a series of fixed income investor meetings in Singapore ahead of a potential bond issue denominated in Singapore dollars, a document by one of the banks leading the deal showed on Tuesday. DBS Bank, Emirates NBD Capital, HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank have been hired as joint lead managers and bookrunners for the potential deal. The meetings will take place on February 1 and a Regulation S offering of fixed rate notes with short to intermediate maturity will follow, subject to market conditions. Reporting by Davide Barbuscia; editing by Jason Neely" + }, + { + "text": "Ursula K. Le Guin, the renowned author of the \"Earthsea\" series, has died at the age of 88. Her more than 20 novels and more than 100 works of short fiction, which won numerous Locus, Hugo, and Nebula awards, expanded the way many people thought about the science fiction and fantasy genres; authors who cite her as an influence range from Margaret Atwood and Neil Gaiman to Salman Rushdie and George R. R. Martin. Her work often explored sociology and politics, from the anti-colonial and environmentalist themes of \"The World for World is Forest\" to the otherworldly anarchist imaginings of \"The Dispossessed.\" It also pushed boundaries around gender, particularly the award-winning 1969 novel \"The Left Hand of Darkness,\" which imagined a world where people could change between male and female. Not content to limit her incisive examinations of society to fiction and allegory, Le Guin spoke and wrote frequently about contemporary politics. She often described fantasy and fiction as a tool for social change, a way of imagining the world not as it is but as it might be. Her criticisms, in both fiction and beyond it, often focused on social inequality, the unsustainability of capitalism and its deleterious effects on the environment. \"We live in capitalism, its power seems inescapable – but then, so did the divine right of kings,\" she said during a speech at the 2014 National Book Awards. \"Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art. Very often in our art, the art of words.\" In 2010, at the age of 81, Le Guin arrived in the digital age and started a blog , whose essays were later published in a book titled \"No Time to Spare.\" It included everything from moving reflections on her cat to wry observations about coming to terms with her advancing age: \"If I'm ninety and believe I'm forty-five, I'm headed for a very bad time trying to get out of the bathtub.\" Her insight, wit and presence in this world will be deeply missed. Read more from The Verge: Patients turned away, SpaceX delays: here's how the government shutdown hits science Tesla Model S plows into a fire truck while using Autopilot Here are some obvious questions about the HomePod" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW, Jan 16 (Reuters) - The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is considering a secondary share offering in Detsky Mir retailer, RDIF’s president, Kirill Dmitriev, said on Tuesday. The Sistema conglomerate has put up two of its assets, toy retailer Detsky Mir and the Bashkirian Power Grid Company, as collateral against a RDIF loan. Dmitriev said there has been no talks about taking Detsky Mir under its control, as various sources said last week. (Reporting by Katya Golubkova, editing by Louise Heavens; writing by Vladimir Soldatkin; editing by Louise Heavens)" + }, + { + "text": "Morgan Freeman hopes SAG life achievement award doesn't mean \"get off the stage, you're done\" 7:15am EST - 01:56 Morgan Freeman reacts to his SAG life achievement award, while Kidman and other SAG winners say ''Time's Up''. Rough cut (no reporter narration). ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript Morgan Freeman reacts to his SAG life achievement award, while Kidman and other SAG winners say \"Time's Up\". Rough cut (no reporter narration). Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Argentine Juan Martin del Potro made a confident start to his preparations for the Australian Open with a 6-2 6-4 win over Denis Shapovalov at the Auckland Classic on Wednesday. Former U.S. Open champion Del Potro hit eight aces to breeze past the 18-year-old Canadian, who hit 20 winners but committed 40 unforced errors. The 29-year-old second seed, who won the tournament in 2009 in his last appearance, will now be the favorite after top-seeded American Jack Sock was bundled out by unheralded German Peter Gojowczyk. Del Potro will next face Russian Karen Khachanov, who beat sixth-seeded Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas 6-2 7-6(4), in the last eight. ”I was surprised by the match today,“ said Del Potro, who had lost to Shapovalov in Montreal last August. ”I didn’t expect to play at this level in the first match of the year. ”But I’ve been working hard to play this tennis and hopefully I can still improve in the next matches. “If he has a good day, he is very dangerous as a lefty, he serves well and volleys. Denis played better than me in the Montreal match, but today I broke him three times to love and that was the key.” Defending champion Sock lost 6-3 6-3 in only 61 minutes to his German opponent, who is ranked 65th in the world. The Australian Open, the first grand slam of the year, runs from Jan. 15-28. Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; editing by Peter Rutherford" + }, + { + "text": "Davos readies for the final event: Donald Trump 01:38 It's been the subject of a lot of the chatter this week at the World Economic Forum, a Friday address from U.S. President Donald Trump. The time has finally arrived. It's been the subject of a lot of the chatter this week at the World Economic Forum, a Friday address from U.S. President Donald Trump. The time has finally arrived. //reut.rs/2nerzHx" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 6:56 AM / Updated an hour ago Indonesia stock exchange reopens after floor collapse Reuters Staff 1 Min Read JAKARTA, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Indonesia’s Stock Exchange reopened for the afternoon session on Monday after about a dozen people were injured in a floor collapse. All staff were safe, it said. “A hundred percent of bourse members are connected and safe. Bourse system is not affected,” exchange chief Tito Sulistio told reporters outside the building in central Jakarta. (Reporting by Cindy Silviana and Wilda Asmarini; Writing by Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Nick Macfie)" + }, + { + "text": "IKEA's Swedish founder dies aged 91 08 Billionaire IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad has died at the age of 91, the Swedish company said on Sunday (January 28). He founded IKEA in 1943 when he was just 17, but the company didn't hit gold until 1956, when it pioneered flat-pack furniture. It's now heading towards annual revenues of 50 billion euros ($62 billion). Billionaire IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad has died at the age of 91, the Swedish company said on Sunday (January 28). He founded IKEA in 1943 when he was just 17, but the company didn't hit gold until 1956, when it pioneered flat-pack furniture. It's now heading towards annual revenues of 50 billion euros ($62 billion). //reut.rs/2njpLNr" + }, + { + "text": "WARSAW, Jan 27 (Reuters) - The United States opposes the planned Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline that would connect Russia and Germany, believing it would undermine Europe’s energy security, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Saturday. “Like Poland, the United States opposes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. We see it as undermining Europe’s overall energy security and stability,” he said at a press conference in Warsaw. (Reporting by Marcin Goettig and Lidia Kelly; Editing by Mark Potter)" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 2:12 PM / in 18 minutes Amazon shortlists 20 metro areas for second headquarters Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 18 (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc said it has short-listed 20 metropolitan areas, including one in Canada, to build its second headquarters after reviewing 238 proposals. The largest e-commerce company said it would work with each of the candidate locations to get more information and evaluate the feasibility of a future partnership. Amazon said in September it would build a $5 billion second headquarters in North America, kicking off a competition between cities and states to offer tax cuts and incentives that could bring 50,000 new jobs. (Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr)" + }, + { + "text": "January 21, 2018 / 12:35 AM / Updated 6 hours ago Migrants stuck in Serbia want to move on Reuters Staff 4 Min Read BELGRADE (Reuters) - After traversing several countries en route to the rich West, Najibullah, a former policeman from the Afghan town of Kholm, his pregnant wife and four children, got stuck in Serbia. Now they spend days of relative normalcy in a drab refugee camp in Krnjaca, an industrial area on the outskirts of the Serbian capital Belgrade, hoping they will ultimately move to Germany where 30-year-old Najibullah has relatives. If they get their wish, they would join more than a million other migrants who have arrived in Germany since 2015, when Chancellor Angela Merkel offered sanctuary to those fleeing war and poverty. Although lauded in some quarters, Merkel’s actions meant she paid a political price in German elections in 2017, where the far right surged on anti-migrant sentiment. In that light, the challenges of migration remains high on the agenda of western states, not least those gathering at Davos this month, under the banner of “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World”. The path many took to Germany, the so-called ‘Balkan route’, was shut in 2016 when Turkey agreed to stem the flow of people in return for EU aid and a promise of visa-free travel for its own citizens. But migrants from the Middle East, Africa and Asia continued to arrive in Serbia, mainly from Turkey, via neighboring Bulgaria, attempting to enter the EU through bloc members Hungary and Croatia. According to officials there are as many as 4,500 migrants in government-operated camps in Serbia. Rights activists say that hundreds of others are scattered in the capital Belgrade and towns along Croatian and Hungarian borders. In Krnjaca, Najibullah’s eight-year-old daughter Sonya, started attending school and soon excelled in Serbian, enough to serve as an interpreter with her father in an interview on Tuesday. Sonya, 8, daughter of Afghan refugee Najibullah, and her sister, have lunch at the camp for refugees and migrants in the Belgrade suburb of Krnjaca, Serbia, January 16, 2018. Picture taken January 16, 2018 REUTERS/Djordje Kojadinovic “It is not bad here, I am going to school, I have good friends there, they invite me to parties ... my father wants to go to Germany, he has friends, sister there,” Sonya said pointing to Najibullah. Sonya is one of 95 children in the Krnjaca camp that are currently attending 11 elementary schools in Belgrade. Their numbers vary as while some families leave camps to enter Hungary and proceed further to Europe, others arrive. Of the migrants that arrived in Germany, Europe’s largest economy, since mid-2015, many have struggled to find their feet in the labor market due to a language barrier or vocational skills. Germany needs skilled labor, given its aging population. Slideshow (12 Images) Last October, Merkel agreed to cap the number of refugees the country accepts at 200,000 annually and Najibullah said he was hoping his family will be accepted. “I hope I will find a job in Germany,” Najibullah said according to Sonya’s translation. In another prefabricated hut, built by the communist Yugoslavia for single factory workers, Marwan Ahman, an ethnic Kurd from Iraqi city of Kirkuk complained about the bland, canned food served to his family of four in camp’s kitchen. Marwan, a civil engineer by education and a shopkeeper by trade also said he had no plans to stay in Serbia where living standards and wages lag far behind EU which it wants to join. “I want to go to Germany to make good future to my children and my family,” he said in Kurdish through an interpreter. “Look at this room, it has bunk beds and nothing else, this is not good place for a family,” he said. Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Toby Chopra" + }, + { + "text": "PRAGUE, Jan 16 (Reuters) - The Czech minority government led by Prime Minister Andrej Babis lost a parliamentary vote of confidence on Tuesday, as expected, opening a period of possibly lengthy talks to form a new cabinet. Babis’s anti-establishment ANO party won by far the most votes in an election last October but fell short of a parliamentary majority. Other parties then refused to back its proposed cabinet, mainly because Babis is facing an investigation into alleged subsidies fraud. He denies any wrongdoing. The government must now resign but it will remain in office -- possibly for weeks or even months -- while Babis seeks an agreement with other parties that could back a new ANO administration, with or without Babis at the helm. (Reporting by Robert Muller and Jan Lopatka; Editing by Catherine Evans)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 30 (Reuters) - Butone Information Corporation XiAn * Says it sees net profit for FY 2017 to be 3.5 million yuan to 5 million yuan * Says the net loss of FY 2016 was 10 million yuan * Comments that increased subsidy as main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/stoZ6W Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 18 (Reuters) - UniCredit CEO Jean Pierre Mustier tells Reuters Breakingviews event: * Benefits of consolidation and bigger scale in a merger need to outweigh the fact that integration delays the transformation of banks * When you merge, you spend more time integrating rather than transforming, risk going back versus your competitors * Reiterates Unicredit’s business plan based on organic growth Further company coverage: (Reporting by Milan Newsroom; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)" + }, + { + "text": "MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- FireEye, Inc. (NASDAQ: FEYE), the intelligence-led security company, today announced it will release financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2017 on Thursday, February 8, 2018 after the close of the U.S. markets. FireEye will host a conference call the same day at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT) to discuss the results. Interested parties may access the conference call by dialing 877-312-5521 (domestic) or 678-894-3048 (international). A live audio webcast of the call may be accessed from the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at . Shortly after the conclusion of the call, an archived version of the webcast will be available at the same website. About FireEye, Inc. FireEye is the intelligence-led security company. Working as a seamless, scalable extension of customer security operations, FireEye offers a single platform that blends innovative security technologies, nation-state grade threat intelligence, and world-renowned Mandiant® consulting. With this approach, FireEye eliminates the complexity and burden of cyber security for organizations struggling to prepare for, prevent, and respond to cyber attacks. FireEye has over 6,300 customers across 67 countries, including more than 40 percent of the Forbes Global 2000. © 2018 FireEye, Inc. All rights reserved. FireEye and Mandiant are registered trademarks or trademarks of FireEye, Inc. in the United States and other countries. View source version on businesswire.com : FireEye, Inc. Media contact: Dan Wire, 415-895-2101 [REDACTED] or Investor contact: Kate Patterson, 408-321-4957 [REDACTED] Source: FireEye, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 25 (Reuters) - DADA SPA: * REPORTED ON WEDNESDAY THE PROVISIONAL RESULTS OF THE TAKEOVER BID ON DADA SHARES LAUNCHED BY DALI ITALY BIDCO * REPORTS 5.2 MILLION SHARES TENDERED, CORRESPONDING TO 28.6 PCT OF DADA‘S SHARE CAPITAL * TOTAL VALUE OF THE SHARES TENDERED IS EUR 20.9 MLN * DALI ITALY BIDCO TO OWN 92.1 PCT OF DADA * DALI ITALY BIDCO WILL NOT RESTORE THE FREE FLOAT AND WILL PROCEED WITH OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE THE REMAINING SHARES Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Gdynia Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "End of chip boom? Price drop spooks investors 4:37pm GMT - 01:36 Electronics firm Samsung spook investors with profit outlook while concerns linger that the memory chip boom could grind to a halt. Francis Maguire reports. Electronics firm Samsung spook investors with profit outlook while concerns linger that the memory chip boom could grind to a halt. Francis Maguire reports. //reut.rs/2Dchohm" + }, + { + "text": "GREENSBORO, N.C., Jan. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE: SKT) announced today that its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017 will be released Tuesday evening, February 13, 2018 after the market close. The Company will host its conference call for analysts, investors and other interested parties on Wednesday, February 14, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the conference call on Wednesday, February 14, 2018, listeners should dial 1-877-277-5113, conference ID # 4185345. Alternatively, a live audio webcast of this call will be available to the public on Tanger's Investor Relations website investors.tangeroutlets.com , hosted by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Market Intelligence subscribers may also access the webcast via the database at . A telephone replay of the call will be available from February 14, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time through 11:59 p.m on February 23, 2018 by dialing 1-855-859-2056, conference ID # 4185345. An online archive of the webcast will also be available through February 23, 2018. About Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE:SKT), is a publicly-traded REIT headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina that presently operates and owns, or has an ownership interest in, a portfolio of 44 upscale outlet shopping centers. Tanger's operating properties are located in 22 states coast to coast and in Canada, totaling approximately 15.3 million square feet, leased to over 3,200 stores which are operated by more than 530 different brand name companies. The Company has more than 37 years of experience in the outlet industry. Tanger Outlet Centers continue to attract more than 188 million shoppers annually. For more information on Tanger Outlet Centers, call 1-800-4TANGER or visit the Company's website at www.tangeroutlets.com . Contact: Jim Williams SVP and CFO (336) 834-6800 [REDACTED] Cyndi Holt Vice President of Investor Relations (336) 834-6892 [REDACTED] View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Jan 29 (Reuters) - Wanda Group * SAYS IT SIGNS STRATEGIC AGREEMENT WORTH ABOUT 34 BILLION YUAN ($5.37 billion) WITH TENCENT, SUNING, JD.COM AND SUNAC * SAYS THE INVESTMENT AMOUNT IS FOR ACQUIRING 14 PERCENT STAKE IN WANDA COMMERCIAL BUYOUT FUND Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2nnPFjb Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.3270 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "January 22, 2018 / 2:37 PM / Updated 13 minutes ago BRIEF-Halliburton \"encouraged by international markets for the first time in three years\" : conf call Reuters Staff 1 Min Read Jan 22 (Reuters) - Halliburton Co: * HALLIBURTON SAYS INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STARTED TO SHOW SIGNS OF RECOVERY IN THE LATTER HALF OF THE YEAR- CONF CALL * HALLIBURTON SAYS SAW COST INFLATION IN SAND AND TRUCKING IN Q4 - CONF CALL * HALLIBURTON SAYS WELL ON PATH TO 20 PERCENT MARGINS IN 2018- CONF CALL * HALLIBURTON CEO SAYS “ENCOURAGED BY INTERNATIONAL MARKETS FOR FIRST TIME IN THREE YEARS” - CONF CALL * HALLIBURTON SAYS CAN CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE DELAYS IN COLLECTING PAYMENTS ON RECEIVABLES FROM PRIMARY CUSTOMER IN VENEZUELA - CONF CALL Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Reporting by Nivedita Bhattacharjee)" + }, + { + "text": "January 12, 2018 / 2:19 PM / Updated an hour ago After rejecting Uber, London renews Addison Lee's licence Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - London has renewed premium car service Addison Lee’s licence to operate in the capital for the next five years, less than four months after Uber was stripped of its licence. An Addison Lee minicab drives through central London, Britain September 22, 2017. REUTERS/Toby Melville In September, regulator Transport for London (TfL) refused Uber’s application, citing problems with the company’s approach to reporting serious criminal offences and background checks - a decision the Silicon Valley firm is appealing. Addison Lee, the second-biggest private hire operator in London, was granted a five-year licence in 2012, which was extended in 2017 for six months until the end of February this year. Last year, TfL had been considering a new operator fees system which will now see firms with between 1,001 and 10,000 drivers such as Addison Lee pay 700,000 pounds compared to the 2,414 pounds charged in 2012 for its original licence. Addison Lee’s licence now expires on Feb. 28 2023, according to the TfL website. “Our licence has been routinely renewed by Transport for London,” said a company spokesman. “Addison Lee looks forward to continuing to offer Londoners a high quality, reliable service in getting around town. We are fully supportive of TfL’s efforts to enhance the standard of regulation in the private hire industry.” Both TfL and Uber declined to comment. Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Stephen Addison" + }, + { + "text": "FBI investigating new person of interest in Las Vegas massacre: sheriff 9:23am EST - 00:37 The girlfriend of Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock, who fatally shot 58 people in October, is unlikely to face charges but the FBI was investigating another person in the case, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said on Friday. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). The girlfriend of Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock, who fatally shot 58 people in October, is unlikely to face charges but the FBI was investigating another person in the case, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said on Friday. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2DsUouK" + }, + { + "text": "President Donald Trump told CNBC that if Hillary Clinton had won the 2016 presidential election, the stock market would have been cut in half. Trump said Thursday in the exclusive interview from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland: \"Had the Democrat won — the stock market is up almost 50 percent since my election — had the Democrat won, I believe you would have been down 50. That's the direction we were headed. And you know, a lot of that, regulation. It was staggering. You could not do anything.\" The stock market has had a historic run since Trump's election in November 2016. The Dow Jones industrial average has climbed 44 percent since then, notching scores of all-time highs along the way. The index recently crossed 26,000 for the first time, posting its best performance in the first year of a president's tenure since Franklin Roosevelt. To be sure, some investors say the bull market would have continued under Clinton anyway because of the strong economic growth taking place around the world. Many say the U.S. stock market likely wouldn't have posted such gains as under Trump. When asked about whether the economy could continue to grow faster than 3 percent, Trump said, \"I think it'll be much higher than that.\" \"I think that the tax plan has been even better than we thought,\" the president added. — CNBC's Joe Kernen contributed to this report. WATCH: CNBC's full interview with President Trump from Davos show chapters Watch CNBC's full interview with President Trump from Davos 9 Hours Ago | 21:00" + }, + { + "text": "ANKARA (Reuters) - A Turkish soldier was killed in clashes in Turkey’s border province of Kilis, near Syria’s Afrin region, the Turkish Armed Forces said in a statement on Monday. Turkey launched a military operation on Saturday with rebel allies against a U.S.-backed Kurdish militia in Syria’s Afrin region. Reporting by Orhan Coskun; Writing by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Janet Lawrence" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 1:39 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago Russian police search St Petersburg headquarters of opposition leader Navalny Reuters Staff 1 Min Read MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian police searched the campaign headquarters of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in St Petersburg on Thursday ahead of a presidential election on March 18, a video feed streamed live to the Internet by Navalny’s supporters showed. The feed showed police checking campaigners’ passports. Russia’s central election commission declined to register Navalny as a candidate in the election, citing what Navalny said was a trumped up criminal conviction. Thursday’s police search took place on the same day as President Vladimir Putin, who polls show is on track to be comfortably re-elected, was visiting St Petersburg. Reporting by Christian Lowe; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Christian Lowe" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds timing details and Quote: s from experts) By Stephen Nellis Jan 4 (Reuters) - Apple Inc will release a patch for the Safari web browser on its iPhones, iPads and Macs within days, it said on Thursday, after major chipmakers disclosed flaws that leave nearly every modern computing device vulnerable to hackers. On Wednesday, Alphabet Inc’s Google and other security researchers disclosed two major chip flaws, one called Meltdown affecting only Intel Corp chips and one called Spectre affecting nearly all computer chips made in the last decade. The news sparked a sell-off in Intel’s stock as investors tried to gauge the costs to the chipmaker. In a statement on its website, Apple said all Mac and iOS devices are affected by both Meltdown and Spectre. But the most recent operating system updates for Mac computers, Apple TVs, iPhones and iPads protect users against the Meltdown attack and do not slow down the devices, it added, and Meltdown does not affect the Apple Watch. Macs and iOS devices are vulnerable to Spectre attacks through code that can run in web browsers. Apple said it would issue a patch to its Safari web browser for those devices “in the coming days.” Shortly after the researchers disclosed the chip flaws Wednesday, Google and Microsoft Corp released statements telling users which of their products were affected. Google said its users of Android phones - more than 80 percent of the global market - were protected if they had the latest security updates. Apple remained silent for more than a day about the fate of the hundreds of millions of users of its iPhones and iPads. Ben Johnson, co-founder and chief strategist for cyber security firm Carbon Black, said the delay in updating customers about whether Apple’s devices are at risk could affect Apple’s drive to get more business customers to adopt its hardware. “Something this severe gets the attention of all the employees and executives at a company, and when they go asking the IT and security people about it and security doesn’t have an answer for iPhones and iPads, it just doesn’t give a whole lot of confidence,” Johnson said. (Reporting by Stephen Nellis; Editing by Richard Chang and Cynthia Osterman)" + }, + { + "text": "January 20, 2018 / 1:33 PM / Updated an hour ago German SPD leaders upbeat as biggest branch backs coalition talks Michael Nienaber 4 Min Read BERLIN (Reuters) - Senior members of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) said on Saturday they were confident the party would approve the start of formal coalition talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives at a special congress this weekend. The upbeat comments came after the SPD’s biggest regional branch in North Rhine-Westphalia recommended its members to vote in favour of entering negotiations, on condition that party leader Martin Schulz pushes for more concessions on labour, health and migration policies. Around 600 SPD delegates vote on Sunday on whether their leaders should press ahead with talks on renewing an alliance with the conservatives that has governed Germany since 2013. The two groups struck a preliminary deal last week but Schulz is facing a strong backlash from the SPD’s left and youth wings, which argue that the blueprint does not bear enough of the party’s hallmarks. They say the SPD would be better off in opposition after last year scoring its worst election result since Germany became a federal republic in 1949. Schulz defended the preliminary deal. “Toll-free day care facilities for children, a strong Europe and decent care of the elderly - that will only happen when we join the government,” Schulz said in a tweet. “To seize the opportunity to considerably help many people is a duty for me,” Schulz added. SPD parliamentary leader Andrea Nahles said she still expected formal talks to happen. “I expect a majority to back coalition negotiations,” Nahles told Welt am Sonntag newspaper. “Nevertheless, I ask everyone in my party to take responsibility: Please consider the consequences if this government option fails.” Speaking to reporters in Bulgaria, Merkel said she hoped the SPD would approve the start of formal coalition talks. FILE PHOTO: Kevin Kuehnert, the head of the SPD’s youth wing, speaks during an SPD party convention in Berlin, Germany, December 7, 2017. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo “We will wait for the SPD party congress and then hopefully start coalition talks,” Merkel said. ROOM FOR MANOEUVRE? A negative vote by the SPD on Sunday would prolong political deadlock in Europe’s largest economy, which has been without a government since the Sept. 24 election that weakened both blocs. Possible scenarios then would include new elections or a minority government for what would be the first time in Germany’s post-war era. SPD General Secretary Lars Klingbeil told regional newspaper Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung he expected the delegates to approve the start of coalition talks. “The SPD knows very well what it wants, what it does not want and what is good for the people in the country,” he said. Michael Groschek, leader of the SPD’s biggest regional branch in NRW, said he also expected a positive outcome, though the final coalition deal would “for certain” have to look different from the blueprint. Related Coverage Germany's Merkel hopes SPD will approve talks with her CDU party The SPD branch in that region wants a final coalition agreement to include a call to abolish Germany’s dual public-private health insurance system in favour of a single citizen’s insurance, to scale back temporary employment contracts and to allow family reunions for asylum seekers suffering unusual hardship. Merkel’s conservatives and leading business associations have urged the SPD delegates to back coalition talks, saying a rejection could plunge the country into a severe political crisis. But Thomas Strobl, party deputy of Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU), rejected the SPD’s latest demands for more policy changes to be included in the final coalition deal. “We’ll still be talking about details - but basic things that are not already in the blueprint won’t be added during coalition negotiations,” Strobl told Funke media group. Reporting by Michael Nienaber; Editing by Andrew Bolton" + }, + { + "text": "January 10, 2018 / 1:21 AM / Updated 16 minutes ago Iranian oil tanker in East China Sea could burn for a month - South Korean official Reuters Staff 2 Min Read SEOUL (Reuters) - The stricken Iranian oil tanker in the East China Sea could burn for as long as one month, South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries told Reuters on Wednesday, as the blaze raged for a fourth day following a collision with a freight ship. Smoke is seen from Panama-registered Sanchi tanker carrying Iranian oil that caught ablaze after it collided with a Chinese freight ship in the East China Sea, in this January 9, 2018 handout picture released by China's Ministry of Transport. China's Ministry of Transport/Handout via REUTERS Dozens of rescue boats battled strong winds, high waves and poisonous fumes to locate 31 missing sailors and tame the ship fire, amid growing concerns the ship may explode or sink, said a ministry official. “We believe flames would last for two weeks or a month considering previous cases of oil tank accidents,” said official Park Sung-Dong. The tanker Sanchi (IMO:9356608), run by Iran’s top oil shipping operator, National Iranian Tanker Co, collided on Saturday with the CF Crystal (IMO:9497050), carrying grain from the United States, about 160 nautical miles (300 km) off China’s coast near Shanghai. It was carrying 136,000 tonnes of condensate, an ultra light crude that is highly flammable and to South Korea, equivalent to about 1 million barrels and worth about $60 million. Reporting by Yuna Park in SEOUL; writing by Josephine Mason in BEIJING; Editing by Michael Perry" + }, + { + "text": "By Tom Huddleston Jr. 6:12 PM EST Netflix’s market value topped $100 billion for the first time ever on Monday after the streaming giant’s fourth-quarter subscriber growth blew away Wall Street’s forecasts. Shares of Netflix soared in after-hours trading following the company’s latest quarterly earnings report, rising nearly 10% to pull Netflix’s market capitalization north of $100 billion. Netflix had already finished trading on Monday at an all-time record close of $227.58, before approaching the $250-point mark in after-hours trading. The stock jump came as investors celebrated Netflix’s report that the company added a total of 8.3 million new streaming subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2017, which easily outpaced the forecast of 6.3 million new streamers from Wall Street and Netflix itself. History has shown that investors typically judge Netflix’s earnings results based on how many new subscribers are added, with the company’s shares usually jumping when subscriber growth exceeds expectations and dipping when Netflix comes up short. There had been some concern that Netflix’s recent price hike , which began to roll out during the most recent quarter, may turn off some customers and drag down the number of net subscriber additions. But that clearly was not the case, as Netflix’s letter to shareholders touted the company’s “stronger than expected acquisition fueled by our original content slate and the ongoing global adoption of internet entertainment.” Get Data Sheet , Fortune’s technology newsletter. Netflix benefitted from very strong growth overseas, with almost 6.4 million of its new streaming users added in international markets in the most recent quarter. The fourth quarter included the premieres of new seasons for two breakout hit Netflix original shows, the sci-fi series Stranger Things and historical drama The Crown , as well as the release of the movie Bright , a fantasy thriller that cost Netflix a whopping $90 million. Netflix continues to spend more and more on its original programming—more than $8 billion this year—in an effort to keep its impressive subscriber growth humming along and, in turn, spur higher revenues. On Monday, Netflix also reported fourth-quarter revenue of $3.29 billion, up almost 33% from the same period a year earlier, which was in line with Wall Street’s expectations. One area of concern for Netflix could be the company’s ever-growing negative cash flow, with a free cash flow of negative $524 million in the fourth quarter. Netflix is now forecasting a free cash flow between negative $3 billion and negative $4 billion in 2018, after ending last year at negative $2 billion. That’s a result of Netflix’s spending spree on streaming programming, which is fueling subscriber growth but could present a problem for Netflix is the streaming giant ever hits a rough patch where it struggles to churn out hit TV shows and films. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - The United States will send the largest team ever to attend a Winter Olympics, 242 athletes, to next month’s Pyeongchang Games, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced on Friday. Alpine skier Lindsey Vonn, figure skating favorite Nathan Chen and speedskater Shani Davis, the winner of four Olympic medals, headline the team of 107 women and 135 men who will be seeking to earn the United States their 100th Olympic gold and 300th medal. The Americans won 28 medals, including nine golds, at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and with 103 Olympians returning, they are looking for an equally strong showing. “It’s been pretty brutal to wait for another Olympics,” said Vonn, who will be making her fourth appearance at a Games having missed out on a trip to Sochi in 2014 with a knee injury. “I am so excited, it is probably my last Olympics,” added the 2010 Vancouver downhill gold medalist who recently claimed a record 79th World Cup race. For Chen, a prediction he made as a 10-year-old that he would become an Olympian is about to become a reality. Jan 6, 2018; San Jose, CA, USA; Nathan Chen performs in the mens free skate during the 2018 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports “It is crazy,” said the figure skater, “to think that eight years later here I am, I made that dream happen.” Ten Olympic champions are on the team, including five looking to defend their titles from the 2014 Sochi Games – Jamie Anderson (snowboarding slopestyle), Maddie Bowman (freestyle skiing halfpipe), Ted Ligety (Alpine skiing giant slalom), Mikaela Shiffrin (Alpine skiing slalom) and David Wise (freestyle skiing halfpipe). Slideshow (5 Images) “My confidence is through the roof right now,” said Wise. With 10 African-Americans, 11 Asian-Americans and the first two openly gay male athletes, the 2018 team is the most diverse U.S. team ever. The squad also will feature the first African-American women to represent the United States in speedskating (Maame Biney and Erin Jackson) and the first African-American on the U.S. hockey team (Jordan Greenway). Kelly Clark (snowboarding) and Kikkan Randall (cross-country skiing) will become the first female five-time U.S. Olympians at the Winter Games, while Davis becomes the first U.S. speedskater to compete in five Olympics. Davis also is the most decorated team member with two golds and two silver medals. Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina, editing by Pritha Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Idera, Inc. , (“Idera”) parent company of global B2B software productivity brands, today announced the promotion of Heidi Farris to vice president and general manager of the company’s Database Tools business. The company also announced the promotion of Neil Garrett, who will replace Farris as chief marketing officer. “Heidi and Neil’s leadership over the past few years drove Idera’s success and I expect even more impact as they transition into new executive roles,” said Randy Jacops, CEO of Idera, Inc. “As we continue to invest in and grow our database and related business units, having trusted leaders in these key positions will be critical to capturing the opportunity in the core markets we serve.” Over the past two years, Idera successfully merged multiple acquired companies into its database, development and test management software product portfolio, recently achieving a $1.125 billion valuation by private equity firm HGGC, which purchased a majority stake in the company. Farris will be responsible for prioritizing and driving initiatives to improve Idera’s database business, which includes the IDERA and AquaFold brands. Recently named a Bronze Stevie® Award winner in the \"Woman of the Year – Technology\" category, she has been integral to Idera’s expanded software portfolio, solidifying its position as a leading provider of database, development and test management software solutions. Garrett spent the last two years as vice president of marketing for IDERA, leading eCommerce, web development, digital strategy, product marketing, social, events, corporate communications and community initiatives for the database tools business. In his new role, Garrett will lead the same activities across the company, working closely with product and sales leadership to deliver on Idera’s customer success and growth goals. About Idera, Inc. Idera, Inc. delivers B2B software productivity tools that enable technical users to do more with less, faster. Idera, Inc. brands span three divisions – Database Tools, Developer Tools, and Testing Tools – with products evangelized by millions of community members and more than 50,000 customers worldwide, including some of the world's largest healthcare, financial services, retail, and technology companies. To learn more, visit: ideracorp.com . View source version on businesswire.com : for Idera, Inc. David Gibbs, 512-826-0754 [REDACTED] Source: Idera, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "52 PM / Updated 11 minutes ago France abandons plan for new airport in western France - PM Reuters Staff 1 Min Read PARIS, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The French government on Wednesday abandoned a decades-old plan to build a 580 million euro ($708.53 million) airport in western France, saying it did not have broad popular support. “The Notre-Dame-Des-Landes project will be dropped,” Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said in a televised statement. President Emmanuel Macron, who took office in May, promised a quick decision after years of indecision and political squabbles over the development. The issue has poisoned French politics for decades and spawned a hardcore eco-protest movement that threatened widespread disruption over the issue. French construction giant Vinci had won the contract to build the new airport, near the city of Nantes. It also operates the existing airport in the city, which Philippe said will be modernised. ($1 = 0.8186 euros) (Reporting by Paris bureau; Writing by Brian Love; Editing by Richard Lough)" + }, + { + "text": "Apple to issue fix against chip flaw risk 4:41pm IST - 01:53 Apple is to issue a fix for its products impacted by the ‘Spectre’ chip flaw, after major chipmakers disclosed flaws that leave nearly every modern computing device vulnerable to hackers. Ciara Lee reports. Apple is to issue a fix for its products impacted by the ‘Spectre’ chip flaw, after major chipmakers disclosed flaws that leave nearly every modern computing device vulnerable to hackers. Ciara Lee reports. //reut.rs/2CJfMM5" + }, + { + "text": "BEIRUT (Reuters) - Thousands of people are fleeing fighting and Turkish shelling and bombardment of the Kurdish Afrin region in northwestern Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Tuesday. The Britain-based war monitor, citing unidentified sources, said Syrian government forces were preventing people fleeing Afrin from crossing government-held checkpoints into Kurdish-held districts of Aleppo city. Syrian government officials could not immediately be reached for comment. The city of Afrin, located in a Kurdish-controlled area of northwestern Syria, is around 50 km (30 miles) from Aleppo city, a mostly government-held city where Kurdish militia control the Sheikh Maqsoud district. Writing by Tom Perry; editing by John Stonestreet" + }, + { + "text": "Sergii Kharchenko | NurPhoto | Getty Images Official iPhone X release in Kyiv, Ukraine on December 12, 2017. Apple shareholders Jana Partners and the California State Teachers' Retirement System are urging the smartphone maker to take steps to address what they say is a growing problem of young people getting addicted to Apple's iPhones, Jana partner Charles Penner said. Jana, a leading activist shareholder, and CalSTRS, one of the nation's largest public pension plans, delivered a letter to Apple on Saturday asking the company to consider developing software that would allow parents to limit children's phone use, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Sunday. Jana and CalSTRS also asked Apple to study the impact of excessive phone use on mental health, according to the publication. CalSTRS and Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Jana and CalSTRS together control about $2 billion worth of Apple shares, the Journal reports. The social rights issue is a new turn for Jana, which is known for pushing companies it invests in to make financial changes. However, the issue of phone addiction among young people has become a growing concern in the United States as parents report their children cannot give up their phones. CalSTRS and Jana worry that Apple's reputation and stock could be hurt if it does not address those concerns, according to the Journal. Half of teenagers in the United States feel like they are addicted to their mobile phones and report feeling pressure to immediately respond to phone messages, according to a 2016 survey of children and their parents by Common Sense Media. The phone addiction issue got a high-profile boost from the former Disney child star Selena Gomez, 24, who said she canceled a 2016 world tour to go to therapy for depression and low self-esteem, feelings she linked to her addiction to social media and the mobile photo-sharing app Instagram. Related Securities" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - Shandong Jintai Group Co Ltd * Says it expected FY 2017 net loss to be 6.1 million yuan versus net profit of 2.3 million yuan year ago * Comments that decreased Jewelry trades as main reason for the forecast Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/RAeYUJ Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "MEXICO CITY, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Mexico is in talks with the United States on whether to allow U.S. federal air marshals to travel with Taser stun guns on cross-border flights with U.S. airlines, National Security Commissioner Renato Sales said in a TV interview on Tuesday. Sales’ comments come the day after Reuters exclusively revealed that Mexico and the United States were looking into an agreement that could allow armed U.S. federal air marshals to be deployed on commercial cross-border flights. Mexico has been trying to prove itself a good ally to the United States in hopes this will help its efforts to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in terms that are as favorable as possible. In his interview with broadcaster Televisa, Sales said no memorandum of understanding had been signed with the United States, adding that talks to allow U.S. federal marshals in Mexico stretch back years. “They would only be on commercial (U.S.) flights, on (U.S.) airlines, not on Mexican airlines,” he said. “But it’s still not finalized ... we’re still in talks.” Reuters reported on Monday that the hardest part of the negotiations would center on allowing U.S. officials to carry arms, given that the use of weapons by foreigners in Mexico is sensitive and tightly regulated. Sales said he understood that the U.S. federal air marshals would carry stun guns, not lethal weapons, and said they would be undercover, but did not give any further details. It was still not clear if the air marshals would fly on just U.S.-bound flights, Mexico-bound flights, or both. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) places sharp-shooters on certain domestic and international commercial flights to and from the United States to prevent militant attacks. In a statement on Monday, Mexico’s foreign ministry confirmed that the government was evaluating the plan’s potential operational and security benefits but added that no agreement has yet been reached. The foreign ministry has pushed hard to defend NAFTA ahead of a July 2018 election in which the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) is currently polling third. Mexico, Canada and the United States are currently engaged in fraught negotiations to reshape NAFTA, a lynchpin of the Mexican economy that Trump has threatened to abandon. (Reporting by Gabriel Stargardter; Editing by David Gregorio)" + }, + { + "text": "00 AM / Updated 13 minutes ago TABLE-Bradesco BBI, Itaú BBA top Brazil's M&A rankings Reuters Staff 4 Min Read SAO PAULO, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Brazilian conglomerates under pressure from corruption probes and excessive debt were forced to sell major assets last year, lifting the value of mergers and acquisitions in the country 33 percent from the year before to $61.77 billion. Bigger transactions drove the increase, as the number of deals fell to 544 in 2017 from 615 a year before. The following tables show the ranking of the top 10 M&A advisers in Brazil last year, by the value and number of deals. For more on dealmaking trends in 2018: RANK 2017 RANK 2016 FINANCIAL VALUE OF DEALS ADVISORY FIRM (Jan.1-Dec.31) 1 2 Banco Bradesco $24.449 bln BBI SA 2 n.a. Morgan Stanley $23.158 bln & Co 3 3 Banco Itaú BBA $10.801 bln SA 4 6 Banco BTG $8.549 bln Pactual SA 5 n.a Industrial & $4.778 bln Comm Bank China 6 1 Banco Santander $4.538 bln Brasil SA 7 4 JPMorgan Chase $3.667 bln & Co 8 11 Credit Suisse $2.9 bln Group AG 9 12 Deutsche Bank $2 bln 10 9 Bank of America $1.993 bln Merrill Lynch SUBTOTAL $54.339 bln WITH FINANCIAL ADVISER INDUSTRY $61.775 bln TOTAL NUMBER OF DEALS: RANK 2017 RANK 2016 FINANCIAL NUMBER OF ADVISOR DEALS (Jan.1-Dec 31 2017) 1 1 Itaú BBA SA 47 2 3 Banco BTG 30 Pactual SA 3 2 Banco Bradesco 21 BBI SA 4 5 Banco Santander 13 Brasil SA 5 4 BR Partners 9 Banco de Investimento 6 6 Bank of America 8 Merrill Lynch 7 n.a. Arab Banking 7 Corporation 8 7 Morgan Stanley 6 & Co 8 11 Rothschild & Co 6 10 12 Credit Suisse 5 Group AG SUBTOTAL 175 WITH FINANCIAL ADVISER INDUSTRY 544 TOTAL ($1 = 3.24 reais) (Reporting by Tatiana Bautzer; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli)" + }, + { + "text": "January 15, 2018 / 11:42 AM / Updated 7 hours ago Britain scrambles two Typhoon jets to intercept Russian planes Reuters Staff 1 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Britain scrambled two Royal Air Force Typhoon jets on Monday from Scotland to intercept Russian planes near the United Kingdom’s airspace, a defence ministry spokesman said. The Typhoons were scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. “This is a live operation and therefore we will not be providing any additional information until the mission is complete,” the spokesman said. Reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by Guy Faulconbridge" + }, + { + "text": "Pence critical of politicians for causing shutdown Saturday, January 20, 2018 - 01:21 U.S. Vice President Mike Pence criticised Senators who caused the shutdown of government by blocking an important bill. Rough cut (no reporter narration) U.S. Vice President Mike Pence criticised Senators who caused the shutdown of government by blocking an important bill. Rough cut (no reporter narration) //reut.rs/2DuWQRv" + }, + { + "text": "SAN DIEGO, Jan. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of Southern California (OTC Pink: BCAL), announced that Steve Pollett has joined the company as SVP, SBA and Commercial Real Estate Lending Group Manager. With more than 30 years' experience in SBA and Commercial Real Estate lending, Pollett will be responsible for leading a team to provide financing to small and medium-sized businesses throughout the Southern California region. Prior to joining Bank of Southern California, Pollett was Senior Vice President and Group Manager of Commercial Lending with Plaza Bank. Mr. Pollett brings with him a team of six SBA and Commercial Real Estate lending professionals. Additionally, the bank also increased its underwriting and credit processing staff to support the new team and increased loan production. \"Steve and his team have a proven track record of providing creative and customized financing programs that reflect the individual needs of each business, with a concentrated focus on SBA programs,\" commented Tony DiVita, EVP and Chief Banking Officer. \"The formation of this new Group allows the bank to continue expanding its reach in Southern California, illustrating the Banks commitment to assisting small and medium-sized businesses that are typically underserved by larger regional and national banks,\" concluded DiVita. The Bank's new SBA and Commercial Lending Group will specialize in providing qualifying businesses with as much as 90% financing for the acquisition or refinancing of owner–occupied commercial real estate for up to 30 years. Additionally, they can offer longer and more flexible terms for business acquisition and multi–purpose (non–real estate) loans that can be used for the purchase of equipment, inventory, debt refinancing, and working capital. Bank of Southern California is ranked as a top small business lender and top originator of SBA loans. The Bank also maintains a Preferred Lender Status granted by the Small Business Loan Administration, which allows the bank to make credit decisions on behalf of the SBA, resulting in quicker processing and funding of SBA guaranteed loans. About Bank of Southern California: A growing community bank, established in 2001, Bank of Southern California, N.A., with headquarters in San Diego, CA, is locally owned and managed, and offers a range of financial products to individuals, professionals, and small-to-medium sized businesses. The Bank's solution-driven, relationship-based approach to banking provides accessibility to decision makers and enhances value through strong partnerships with its clients. The Bank currently operates seven branches in San Diego and the Coachella Valley in Riverside County, and a production office in Orange County. For more information, please visit or call (858) 847-4780. *PHOTO for Media: Send2Press.com/300dpi/18-0124s2p-sbalending-300dpi.jpg *Photo Caption: New SBA and Commercial Real Estate Lending Group Led by Steve Pollett. View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Bank of Southern California, N.A." + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Republicans took narrow control of the Virginia House of Delegates on Wednesday after a Democrat conceded in a race decided by a tie-breaker and a federal appeals court refused to keep the winner of another disputed contest from being seated. The concession by Shelly Simonds, who lost in a lottery-style drawing that drew national attention last week, and the judges’ ruling cemented Republicans’ 51-49 advantage hours before House lawmakers were sworn in and elected Republican Kirk Cox as speaker. Simonds said she would not seek a second recount in her race with Republican incumbent David Yancey but would run again in 2019. Yancey won the tied Newport News-area race when election officials drew his name from a bowl. “We’ve had an amazing civics lesson in the power of every vote, and I hope the legacy of this campaign will be record high turnout in Newport News forever more,” she said in a statement. Simonds said the race underscored the need for election reforms in Virginia. She urged making it easier to cast an absentee ballot and ending gerrymandering, in which a party in power redraws legislative districts to ensure its candidates a better chance of winning. The tie-breaking drawing was Virginia’s first since 1971 but unprecedented in the state because of its impact on the House, election officials said. In another disputed Virginia House race, a 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel on Wednesday rejected a bid by voters to keep Republican Robert Thomas from being seated because some ballots were cast in the wrong Fredericksburg-area district. Calling the election “irreparably tainted,” Virginia Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Baker said in a statement that the party would weigh its legal options. A federal judge last week rejected voters’ call for a new election, leading to the appeal. Democrats picked up 15 House seats in November, part of the party’s first big wave of political victories since Republican President Donald Trump won the White House in 2016. Democrat Ralph Northam is to be sworn in as governor on Saturday. Republicans also still control the state Senate. Reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington; editing by Colleen Jenkins and Jonathan Oatis" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 6:40 AM / Updated 7 minutes ago Tennis - Nishikori beaten in low-key return from injury Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Kei Nishikori feels he needs more time to reach full fitness after going down 6-3 3-6 6-4 to American Dennis Novikov in the opening round of a Newport Beach ATP Challenger Tour event in his first match since undergoing right wrist injury in August. The former U.S. Open finalist, who last year reached the fourth round of the Australian Open in Melbourne, was forced to withdraw from the year’s first grand slam and chose the second-tier event in California to launch his comeback. “I had expected it to be tough and it was,” Nishikori said. “I‘m not confident yet so I can’t hit aggressive shots. It’s going to take some time. I made mistakes where I shouldn’t have, and there are a lot of gaps I need to fill. There were both good and bad.” Nishikori was ninth in the world rankings before suffering the injury ahead of the Cincinnati Masters last August. He had been hoping to make his return at the season-opening Brisbane International, where he was runner-up in 2017, but withdrew from that event to continue his recovery. The 28-year-old became the first Japanese man to reach a grand slam final at the 2014 U.S. Open but did not compete at Flushing Meadows last year because of his injury. Counting the positives, Nishikori said he did not feel any pain during his one hour, 47-minute match. “Just because I didn’t play well today, I‘m not going to get negative. I’ll keep working hard,” he said. Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by John O'Brien" + }, + { + "text": "KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia’s exports in November are expected to grow at a slower annual pace than the previous month, a Reuters poll showed, although growth likely remained robust due to strong global demand. The median forecast from 10 economists surveyed was for exports in November to expand 13.9 percent from a year ago, down from the 18.9 percent growth in October. Individual estimates ranged between 9.2 percent and 17.2 percent. Malaysia has enjoyed double-digit growth in exports over the past 11 months, peaking at 32.5 percent in May 2017. Imports were also seen growing 13.9 percent annually in November, down sharply from 20.9 percent the previous month. Malaysia reports trade data in ringgit MYR= . The trade surplus in November is expected to widen slightly to 10.9 billion ringgit ($2.71 billion), from 10.6 billion ringgit in October. Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Biju Dwarakanath" + }, + { + "text": "DALLAS, Jan. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:TCBI), the parent company of Texas Capital Bank, and their board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40625 per share of the non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock, Series A, which is traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol “TCBIP”. The Series A Preferred Stock dividend is payable on March 15, 2018, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 1, 2018. ABOUT TEXAS CAPITAL BANCSHARES, INC. Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:TCBI), a member of the Russell 2000® Index and the S&P MidCap 400®, is the parent company of Texas Capital Bank, a commercial bank that delivers highly personalized financial services to businesses and entrepreneurs. Headquartered in Dallas, the bank has full-service locations in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. INVESTOR CONTACT Heather Worley, 214.932.6646 [REDACTED] Source:Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Davos: Europe readies riposte to Trump's \"America First\" 2:54pm GMT - 01:46 European leaders will be out in force at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week to defend multilateralism before U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to deliver his ''America First'' message. As Sonia Legg reports, politicians, business chiefs, bankers and celebrities will meet in the Swiss Alps under the banner ''Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World'' for the four-day gathering against an unsettling global backdrop. European leaders will be out in force at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week to defend multilateralism before U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to deliver his \"America First\" message. As Sonia Legg reports, politicians, business chiefs, bankers and celebrities will meet in the Swiss Alps under the banner \"Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World\" for the four-day gathering against an unsettling global backdrop. //reut.rs/2n1mNwR" + }, + { + "text": "KHARTOUM, Jan 15 (Reuters) - The Sudanese pound weakened on the black market on Monday amid a foreign currency shortage that has crippled the economy as Khartoum pursues reforms aimed at boosting growth. The pound traded at 34 to the U.S. dollar on Monday, down from about 30 last week, traders said. Sudan devalued its currency to 18 pounds per U.S. dollar from 6.7 previously earlier this month, hoping to attract investment and crush a ballooning black market. Hard currency remains scarce in the formal banking system, however, forcing importers to resort to an increasingly expensive black market. “There is a huge shortage in the market and not enough dollars,” one trader told Reuters. Sudan’s economy has been struggling since the south seceded in 2011, taking with it three-quarters of its oil output, but the United States lifted 20-year-old sanctions on it in October, pushing it to embark on sweeping reforms. Street protests have broken out last week after bread prices doubled, following a government decision to eliminate subsidies in its 2018 budget as part of austerity measures. (Reporting by KhalId Abdelaziz; writing by Arwa Gaballa; editing by Mark Heinrich)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24 (Reuters) - Russian food retailer X5 Retail Group NV says: * X5 is considering the acquisition of 100 Ufa Grocery Stores located in various cities across the Russian region of Bashkortostan, including 38 stores in Ufa. * All the stores would be integrated into the Pyaterochka chain. * X5 has submitted a request to the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) of the Russian Federation to provide its position on the potential transaction. * The company’s further actions will depend on the position of the FAS. Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: (Reporting by Moscow Newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "Keurig grabs Dr Pepper Monday, January 29, 2018 - 01:10 K-Cup owner Keurig Green Mountain will buy soda maker Dr Pepper Snapple Group in a deal worth more than $21 billion. Aleksandra Michalska reports. K-Cup owner Keurig Green Mountain will buy soda maker Dr Pepper Snapple Group in a deal worth more than $21 billion. Aleksandra Michalska reports. //reut.rs/2DNKrs7" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 11 (Reuters) - * TANDEM BANK COMPLETES PURCHASE OF HARRODS BANK, TAKING ON OVER 400 MILLION STG IN CUSTOMER DEPOSITS * DEAL ALSO BRINGS TANDEM A BANKING LICENCE, 80 MILLION POUNDS IN CAPITAL AND A 375 MILLION POUND MORTGAGE BOOK Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: [ ] (Reporting by Emma Rumney) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "2017 Fourth Quarter Earnings Conference Call Wednesday, February 7, 2018, 5:00 p.m. ET BETHLEHEM, Pa., Jan. 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSUR) has scheduled its regular earnings conference call covering 2017 fourth quarter financial results, 2018 first quarter financial guidance and certain business developments for 5:00 pm ET (2:00 pm PT) on Wednesday, February 7, 2018. February 7, 2018 Schedule 4:00 p.m. ET 2017 fourth quarter financial results press release will be distributed. 4:50 p.m. ET To participate in the conference call, dial 844-831-3030 (Domestic) or 315-625-6887 (International) and reference Conference ID #5872026. 5:00 p.m. ET Conference call and simultaneous Webcast begins. The conference call will also be webcast live and may be accessed on the Investor Relations page of OraSure’s website, www.orasure.com . Please click on the webcast link and follow the prompts for registration and access 10 minutes prior to the call. If you are unable to participate, a replay of the call will be archived on OraSure’s website shortly after the call has ended and will be available for seven days. A replay of the call can also be accessed until midnight, February 14, 2018 by dialing 855-859-2056 (Domestic) or 404-537-3406 (International) and entering the Conference ID #5872026. COMPANY CONTACT: Joni Messenlehner, OraSure Technologies, Inc. 610-882-1820, or [REDACTED] . Source:OraSure Technologies, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Women stage nationwide protests, again 2:20am GMT - 01:42 The second Women's March, a nationwide series of protests against U.S. President Donald Trump and his policies, saw tens of thousands of people taking on issues like women's rights and equality. Jillian Kitchener reports. The second Women's March, a nationwide series of protests against U.S. President Donald Trump and his policies, saw tens of thousands of people taking on issues like women's rights and equality. Jillian Kitchener reports. //reut.rs/2mVTKeb" + }, + { + "text": "LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is interested in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade bloc after it leaves the European Union, the Financial Times newspaper said. The FT said that Britain had started informal talks about joining the bloc in a bid to boost post-Brexit exports. Although the United States pulled out of the talks to form the bloc nearly a year ago, other TPP countries have pledged to move forward with plans for a trade group. The TPP has so far involved only countries around the Pacific Rim such as Japan, Canada and Mexico. However, junior trade minister Greg Hands said there was no geographical restriction that would prevent Britain’s participation. “Nothing is excluded in all of this,” he told the Financial Times. “With these kind of plurilateral relationships, there doesn’t have to be any geographical restriction.” EU rules state that Britain cannot agree new trade deals before it leaves the bloc in March 2019. The newspaper Quote: d an official from a TPP country as saying it was “way too soon” to discuss UK accession before a Brexit deal. Reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by Guy Faulconbridge" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - American world 100m silver medalist Christian Coleman broke the 60 meters indoor world record on Friday, clocking 6.37 seconds at a meeting in Clemson, South Carolina. Coleman’s mark eclipsed the previous record of 6.39 seconds set twice by fellow American Maurice Greene, the first time in 1998. The performance is subject to ratification by athletics’ world governing body the IAAF. The 21-year-old Coleman, running at Clemson University in his first meeting of the season, had earlier clocked 6.47 seconds in the preliminaries an hour and 40 minutes before the final. His previous best was 6.45 seconds, which he recorded when he won the U.S. indoor championship last year. He then ran 9.82 seconds, the fastest 100 meters of 2017, at the U.S. outdoor collegiate title meeting. Expected to be America’s next great sprinter, he finished behind Justin Gatlin and ahead of world record holder Usain Bolt in the 100 meters at last year’s world championships in London. Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Greg Stutchbury" + }, + { + "text": "The white wolves of Ellesmere Island, at the northernmost extreme of North America, live in temperatures that can run to 40 below zero Fahrenheit. It’s a world in which food is scarce and threatening rivals—competing wolf packs, that is—are plentiful. This filmed chronicle of their lives (narrated by Campbell Scott and part of the “Nature” series), a daily battle to find sustenance and protect their newborn from marauding rival packs, is a world of endless hardship whose cruelties the filmmakers gamely try to explain as... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan laid to rest 10:47pm IST - 00:48 Cranberries lead singer Dolores O'Riordan was laid to rest at a private funeral in her home town on Tuesday. Edward Baran reports. Cranberries lead singer Dolores O'Riordan was laid to rest at a private funeral in her home town on Tuesday. Edward Baran reports. //reut.rs/2DA6G4w" + }, + { + "text": "KIEV, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Ukraine’s central bank is ready to sell up to $100 million on Tuesday to support the hryvnia currency, it said in a statement said. Deputy Central Bank Governor Oleh Churiy said on Monday he did not expect major currency volatility, though the central bank had sold around $160 million since the start of 2018 to support the hryvnia. He also said he expected offers of dollars to increase in coming weeks. (Reporting by Natalia Zinets; writing by Matthias Williams; editing by John Stonestreet)" + }, + { + "text": "45 PM / Updated 9 minutes ago UPDATE 1-Post Holdings to explore options for private brands business Reuters Staff 2 Min Read (Adds background on company) Jan 11 (Reuters) - Post Holdings Inc said on Thursday it would explore options, including a sale, for its private brands business, which makes nut butter, dried fruits, pasta and granola products for retailers and distributors. The company said the options also include an initial public offering, a private equity placement and a strategic combination. Post’s shares were up 2.5 percent at $81 in light premarket trading on Thursday. The company operates its business under five units: Post Consumer Brands, Michael Foods Group, Active Nutrition, Private Brands and Weetabix. Post said it would now create two more units - refrigerated retail and food service - after it closes the acquisition of frozen foods maker Bob Evans Farms by January 12. In its most recent quarter, sales at the private brands business rose 7 percent to $114 million, or about 8 percent of total sales. The unit counts grocers Whole Foods Market and Aldi as its top customers. Jim Dwyer, current chief executive of the Michael Foods Group unit, will lead the private brands business. (Reporting by Vibhuti Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr and Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)" + }, + { + "text": "MOSCOW, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Moody’s said on Friday it had raised Russia’s sovereign outlook to positive from stable, expecting 2018 growth to largely overcome the adverse base effect caused by the industrial output-led slowdown in the last quarter of the past year. The reasons behind the decision are growing evidence of institutional strength and increased evidence of economic and fiscal resilience that has reduced Russia’s vulnerability to further external shocks arising from geopolitical tensions or from renewed declines in oil prices, the rating agency said. It currently rates Russia Ba1. Moody’s also said it expected the changes would lessen, but not eliminate, the economic volatility seen in the recent years. “More importantly from a credit perspective, Moody’s expects the recent macro gains to be sustained over the longer term,” it said. Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said in a statement on Friday he hoped that “the macro stability which has formed in the Russian economy... would allow for rating agencies to raise the ratings themselves, not outlooks only”. The Russian economy, hurt by weak energy prices and Western sanctions in past years, returned to moderate growth late in 2017. In the last year as a whole, the economy has grown by 1.4-1.8 percent, according to preliminary estimates. (Repotring by Denis Pinchuk and Darya Korsunskaya, Editing by Katya Golubkova)" + }, + { + "text": "MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Materion Corporation (NYSE:MTRN) has announced the appointment of Marc Rands as Vice President, Global Operations, a new position reporting to the CEO. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Marc Rands, Vice President, Global Operations (Photo: Business Wire) Mr. Rands joins Materion from Honeywell International Inc., where he served as Vice President, Integrated Supply Chain for Honeywell UOP, a $2.7 billion Performance Materials and Technology business. Mr. Rands had full responsibility for 14 plants in the U.S., Europe, China and Malaysia, and also supported two joint ventures in Japan along with several tolling operations in the U.S. and China. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of Marc to fill this key new position. Marc brings a track record of results in manufacturing, logistics, quality, health and safety, and continuous improvement. In this new role, he will be responsible for developing a One Materion Operations function. Marc will work across the organization to drive peak operating efficiencies, leveraging synergies and best practices among all our facilities worldwide. He will build on and strengthen supply chain, logistics, quality and EH&S capabilities,” said Jugal Vijayvargiya, Materion President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Rands is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. He is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt. Materion Corporation is headquartered in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, supplies highly engineered advanced enabling materials to global markets. Products include precious and non-precious specialty metals, inorganic chemicals and powders, specialty coatings, specialty engineered beryllium alloys, beryllium and beryllium composites, and engineered clad and plated metal systems. View source version on businesswire.com : Materion Corporation Investor Contact: Stephen F. Shamrock, 216-383-4010 [REDACTED] or Media Contact: Patrick S. Carpenter, 216-383-6835 [REDACTED] or Mayfield Hts-g Source: Materion Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "January 24, 2018 / 1:21 PM / Updated an hour ago French jail strike hardens as wardens decry 'slit-throat bonus' offer Brian Love 3 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - French riot police broke up a jailhouse picket on Wednesday that threatened to disrupt the trial of a man who is suspected of housing the head of a militant Islamist hit-squad that killed 130 people in attacks in Paris in 2015. The picket was one of dozens nationwide by wardens striking over pay and inmate violence in France’s overcrowded prisons, a protest that has snowballed into a full-blown showdown with the government of President Emmanuel Macron. With the prison guards digging in, the stand-off is turning into a survival test for Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet, a high-flying law lecturer appointed by Macron last June following his election victory. Union representatives stormed out of talks with Belloubet on Tuesday, describing her offer of 30 million euros in financial incentives as “bonuses for slit throats”. Wednesday’s police operation at the Fresnes prison near Paris was ordered after threats by prison wardens to disrupt the transfer of Jawad Bendaoud to court, where he faces trial in connection with the deadly militant attacks of 2015. Bendaoud is accused of providing the flat where Abdelhamid Abbaoud hid after he and a group of other gunmen and suicide bombers killed 130 people on November 2015. Bendaoud’s arrest was broadcast live and he pleaded innocent to the cameras before being carted off by police. He faces six years in jail if convicted of taking money for supplying the hideout. Prison wardens block the Maubeuge jail during a nationwide protest, France, January 24, 2018. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol DEMANDS Two-thirds of France’s 188 prisons were being disrupted by work stoppages and pickets on Wednesday morning, according to an official count. Slideshow (2 Images) Among the demands of the striking prison guards is that militant Islamist convicts -- those convicted of terrorism-related offences - be isolated from other prisoners, saying that some inmates are becoming radicalised through contact with them. The wardens also want more money for a job they say is becoming increasingly dangerous and equipment such as taser guns to help ensure order. The protests began on Jan. 12 after an al Qaeda convict jailed over killings in Tunisia stabbed and injured two wardens with a pair of scissors in northern France. In some cases over the past 12 days, police have been sent into prisons to do the job of the striking wardens, and prisoners have been forced to spend more time in their cells. Some jail cells house as many as three or four inmates in a space of 10 square metres (yards). Additional reporting by Emmanuel Jarry; editing by Richard Lough and Gareth Jones" + }, + { + "text": "UK trade minister - Too soon to seek Trans-Pacific trade deal 10:23am EST - 01:08 British trade minister Liam Fox says it is too soon to seek membership of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact. Rough cut (no reporter narration) British trade minister Liam Fox says it is too soon to seek membership of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact. Rough cut (no reporter narration) //reut.rs/2AicE3q" + }, + { + "text": "JOHANNESBURG, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Shares in Capitec Holdings fell more than 10 percent in mid-morning trade after a U.S. firm, Viceroy Research, said the South African lender overstates its financial assets and income. By 1021 GMT, Capitec stock had dropped 10.04 percent to 836.08. Reporting by Tiisetso Motsoeneng; Editing by James Macharia" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Electric utility FirstEnergy Corp ( FE.N ) said on Monday it received a $2.5 billion equity investment from a group of fund managers including Elliott Management Corp. FirstEnergy’s shares were up 15.30 percent at $33.32 in morning trading after the company also said it would form a group to determine whether its unit, FirstEnergy Solutions, should file for bankruptcy protection. The investment includes $1.62 billion in mandatory convertible preferred equity and $850 million of common equity, FirstEnergy Corp said. Other investors include investment firm Bluescape, Singapore sovereign fund GIC [GIC.UL] and Zimmer Partners. Akron, Ohio-based FirstEnergy said it would use the proceeds to reduce debt by $1.45 billion and contribute $750 million to its pension fund. FirstEnergy Corp had $21.1 billion in debt as of Sept. 30. Power prices have slumped in recent years in the face of cheap natural gas-powered electricity and growing demand for renewable sources of energy, forcing many companies to rethink their diversification strategies. Moelis & Co LLC was FirstEnergy’s financial adviser and Jones Day its legal adviser, while Ropes & Gray served as Elliott’s legal adviser. Reporting by Ahmed Farhatha in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel" + }, + { + "text": "Turkish shelling 'marks start of Syria operation' 11:03am EST - 01:05 Turkish artillery fired into Syria's Afrin region on Friday in what Ankara said was the start of a military campaign against the Kurdish-controlled area. Emily Wither reports. Turkish artillery fired into Syria's Afrin region on Friday in what Ankara said was the start of a military campaign against the Kurdish-controlled area. Emily Wither reports. //reut.rs/2mPQdxU" + }, + { + "text": "January 25, 2018 / 7:56 AM / in 2 hours Anglo American's 2017 output rises, but copper flat Reuters Staff 2 Min Read LONDON (Reuters) - Anglo American’s 2017 output rose by 5 percent due to improved productivity and the ramp-up of a new diamond mine in Canada, it said on Thursday, but its copper output was flat. Many miners have been struggling to maintain output as ore bodies have aged and exploration budgets collapsed as a result of the commodity markets downturn of 2015-16. Copper is particularly in demand because of its usefulness for both old and new technology, such as electric vehicles. Anglo’s Platinum and palladium, iron ore and coking coal output fell between 4 and 8 percent in the fourth quarter and were flat or higher for the full year. But the ramp-up of its Gahcho Kue mine in Canada increased Anglo’s diamond production by 22 percent. Anglo Chief Executive Mark Cutifani said in a statement that the rise in overall output “was achieved despite the removal of unprofitable and higher cost platinum and metallurgical coal”. Copper prices have rallied by more than 50 percent since the lows of late 2015/early 2016. Also on Thursday, copper-focused Kaz Minerals announced an 80 percent increase in output as it ramped up production in Kazakstan. Reporting by Barbara Lewis and Peter Hobson; editing by Jason Neely and Alexander Smith" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 8(Reuters) - Shanghai DZH Ltd * Says co received judgment regarding a lawsuit filed by 13 individuals against the co and a lawsuit filed by 19 individuals against the co and an accounting firm (BDO) * Says co was ordered to pay 10.4 million yuan and related interest to 31 individuals Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/3PdSPj Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "The dollar rose Monday, as investors locked in profits on bets against the U.S. currency ahead of a Federal Reserve meeting later this week. The Wall Street Journal Dollar Index, which measures the U.S. currency against a basket of 16 others, was recently up 0.4% to 83.38. Investors are looking ahead to the Federal Reserve’s latest two-day... To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Top seed Dominic Thiem’s Australian Open preparations suffered a setback after he withdrew from his Qatar Open semi-final against Gael Monfils due to illness, with the Frenchman now set to take on Russian Andrey Rublev in the final on Saturday. World number five Thiem was the only remaining seeded player still in contention for the Doha title but his withdrawal dealt yet another blow to tennis just 10 days before the season’s opening grand slam kicks off in Melbourne. “I am in bed with fever and there is almost no chance of a recovery until tonight... Of course I am disappointed, but nevertheless I had a solid start into the new season,” the Austrian wrote on his official Facebook account. The Australian Open men’s field has already been hit by the withdrawals of five-times runner-up Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori. The participation of former champions Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka remains in doubt with the trio battling to overcome injury problems. However, 24-year-old Thiem is confident he will swinging his racket come Jan. 15. “Now I am focusing on Melbourne and being fit and prepared for the first grand slam of the year.” Rublev, who beat Fernando Verdasco and Borna Coric in the previous rounds, came back from the brink of defeat to earn a 6-2 4-6 7-6(2) win over Argentine Guido Pella. Monfils will be attempting to win the Doha event for the first time after finishing runner-up on three previous occasions. Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru; Editing by David Goodman and Pritha Sarkar" + }, + { + "text": "TOKYO, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Japan’s Nikkei share average edged lower on Thursday morning, hit by declines in automakers and electronic component makers as the strong yen soured investor appetite. The Nikkei shed 0.4 percent to 23,705.47 in midmorning trade, after hitting as low as 23,601.84. Toyota Motor Corp dropped 1.4 percent, Honda Motor Co tumbled 2.0 percent and Mazda Motor shed 0.6 percent. The yen has risen this week after the Bank of Japan on Tuesday trimmed its buying of long-dated Japanese government bonds in market operations. Early in the day, the dollar suffered its biggest one-day drop in nearly eight months against the yen following a report that China was ready to slow or halt its purchases of U.S. Treasuries, before regaining some ground later. Kyocera Corp fell 1.4 percent, Alps Electric declined 1.7 percent and Taiyo Yuden stumbled 2.3 percent. Banks continued to advance, however, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group rising 0.4 percent and Mizuho Financial Group gaining 0.7 percent. The broader Topix dropped 0.4 percent to 1,883.96. Editing by Sam Holmes Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - British baker Greggs said on Tuesday it would meet its expectations for profit in 2017 as it reported a solid rise in sales over the Christmas quarter. Greggs, which has transformed itself from a traditional bakery business into a food-on-the-go retailer, said company-managed shop like-for-like sales rose 3 percent in its fourth quarter to Dec. 30. They had increased 5 percent in the third quarter but comparative numbers were tougher in the fourth. The firm said its classic favourites, such as sausage rolls, remained popular, while there was also strong demand for seasonal products such as festive bakes and mince pies. Greggs said it expected industry-wide cost pressures to continue in 2018, albeit at a lower level than that experienced in 2017. (Reporting by James Davey; editing by Kate Holton)" + }, + { + "text": "Stanford stayed hot in Pac-12 play on Thursday night while earning its first road victory of the season. Senior Dorian Pickens scored 28 points as the Cardinal downed Washington State 79-70 at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman, Wash. It was the third consecutive conference victory for Stanford, which moved into a three-way tie for first place with Arizona and UCLA. The Cardinal, who hadn’t played a true road game since Dec. 3 at Long Beach State, won for only the fourth time on the road in Pac-12 play in the past two-plus seasons. Freshmen Kezie Okpala and Daejon Davis keyed a second-half rally for Stanford (9-8, 3-1), which trailed by seven at the break despite a 22-point first-half performance by Pickens. Davis had 10 points and Okpala added eight as part of a key 23-10 run early in the second half. A 3-pointer by Davis with 13:15 to go in the game gave Stanford a 61-57 lead. Davis scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half. Okpala finished with 21 points off the bench for the Cardinal, who had lost all five of previous their contests away from home this season, including four on neutral courts. However, even a six-point effort from leading scorer Reid Travis, who averages 21.3 points per game, couldn’t slow down Stanford, which swept the Los Angeles schools last week. Malachi Flynn hit all three of his 3-point tries in the game’s first 3 1/2 minutes to help Washington State (8-8, 0-4) take an early 12-4 lead. Flynn also sparked a 9-0 run in the final three minutes of the half for the Cougars with three more 3-pointers. Flynn finished with 24 points for Washington State, which only shot 43 percent overall after making 57 percent of its first-half shots. The Cougars, who are fourth in the nation with an average of 11.8 3-pointers per game, missed 11 of 14 attempts from behind the arc in the second half. Washington State was 10 of 29 from 3-point range overall. The Cougars, who started the season 6-0, took their fifth loss in six games. Milan Acquaah scored 10 points for Washington State, and Drick Bernstine wound up with eight points and 12 rebounds. --Field Level Media Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "LONDON, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said on Tuesday that the central bank was refocusing on bringing down inflation as Britain’s economy recovered from the damage inflicted by the 2007-09 financial crisis. “The important thing with policy now ... is that as ... slack in the economy has been taken out, we move into a more conventional area for monetary policy, where the focus is increasingly on returning inflation sustainably to target over an appropriate horizon,” Carney told members of the upper house of parliament. The BoE raised interest rates for the first time since 2007 in November and said it was likely to raise them again over the next three years as it sought to bring inflation down towards its 2 percent target. Inflation in November hit a nearly six-year high of 3.1 percent, pushed up by the hit to the value of sterling caused by the 2016 Brexit vote. It fell back to 3.0 percent in December. Data published last week showed Britain’s economy performed better than the BoE expected at the end of last year although it still lagged behind stronger growth in many other rich countries due in large part to the impact of the 2016 Brexit vote. Economists mostly expect the next BoE rate hike in the second half of 2018 but some think it could move as soon as May. The BoE is due to make its latest assessment of Britain’s economy on Feb. 8. In Tuesday’s question-and-answer session in the House of Lords, Carney defended the forecasts made by the BoE before the Brexit referendum about what was likely to happen to the economy in the event of a vote to leave. “We got the broad economic channels right,” Carney said Some Brexit supporters have criticised Carney for the BoE’s prediction that a vote to leave the EU could cause a “material slowing” in Britain’s economy. Carney said at the time that it might even cause a short recession. (Reporting by David Milliken and Alistair Smout; Writing by William Schomberg)" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - The Buffalo Bills could be without their best offensive weapon when they play their first playoff game in 18 years on Sunday as injured running back LeSean McCoy sat out practice on Wednesday. The centerpiece of the Bills’ offense injured his ankle in Sunday’s regular season finale and his status ahead of the wild-card clash against the Jacksonville Jaguars was listed as “day-to-day” by Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott. “He’s a fierce competitor,” McDermott told reporters. “He’s hard at work; maximizing the treatment opportunities to get himself to where he can play.” McCoy was hurt during the third quarter of Sunday’s game. After being tackled, McCoy pounded the turf in frustration while being attended to by trainers. He was carted off the field and was in a walking boot and tears after the game. The Bills, who on Sunday will be appearing in their first playoff game since January 2000, could be forced to rely heavily on Marcus Murphy and Mike Tolbert, who shared carries after McCoy went down. ”Next man up. That’s what we’ve done all year,“ said McDermott. ”You never replace a player like LeSean. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in Mike Tolbert and Murph and whoever else we put in the backfield. They did a nice job this past weekend and I expect them to do the same moving forward.” Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Ed Osmond" + }, + { + "text": "Health workers shielded under “religious freedom” protection Thursday, January 18, 2018 - 01:37 The U.S. government is seeking to protect the “conscience and religious freedom” of health workers whose beliefs prevent them from carrying out abortions and other procedures. ▲ Hide Transcript ▶ View Transcript The U.S. government is seeking to protect the “conscience and religious freedom” of health workers whose beliefs prevent them from carrying out abortions and other procedures. Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code" + }, + { + "text": "New documentary looks at life and career of musician Eric Clapton Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - 01:14 Eric Clapton attends the UK premiere of ''Life in 12 Bars'', directed by Lili Fini Zanuck. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Eric Clapton attends the UK premiere of \"Life in 12 Bars\", directed by Lili Fini Zanuck. Rough cut (no reporter narration). //reut.rs/2CZogyt" + }, + { + "text": "Google just announced that it has sold \"tens of millions\" of its home devices over the last year, including its smart speakers and Chromecast TV streaming devices — and more than one Home speaker every second since the Home Mini started shipping in October. Some quick math: That means that Google has sold at least 6.7 million devices since October 19. That's a refreshingly concrete number, if not uniquely huge. Amazon said that it sold \"tens of millions\" of Alexa-enabled devices and that its Echo Dot sold \"millions\" of units over the holidays. Amazon's Echo products are widely seen as dominating the smart speaker market: CIRP estimated last fall that Amazon's Echo products had a 76% market share in the US compared to 24% for Google's Home devices. Both companies offered steep discounts on their products over the holidays, likely losing money on every sale. Google also said that Assistant, the artificial intelligence that users can engage with via voice or text, is now available on more than 400 million devices, including phones, headphones, TVs, and watches. It can also control over 1,500 smart homes devices like smart lightbulbs or plugs. Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the Google product that sold in the \"tens of millions\" last year." + }, + { + "text": "January 23, 2018 / 10:51 AM / in 8 minutes Russian lawmaker Kerimov back in France to face tax investigation: prosecutor Reuters Staff 1 Min Read NICE, France (Reuters) - Russian businessman and lawmaker Suleiman Kerimov, under investigation for tax fraud in France, returned to the Riviera city of Nice after making a short trip to Russia that was allowed by the French authorities, the Nice prosecutor said on Tuesday. Kerimov was meeting with Valentina Matvienko, the speaker of the upper house of the Russian parliament, during his three-day visit to Russia. “He came back on Monday,” prosecutor Jean-Michel Prêtre, told Reuters. Kerimov is ranked by Forbes magazine as Russia’s 21st wealthiest businessman, with a net worth of $6.3 billion. His family controls Russia’s largest gold producer Polyus PLZL.MM>. He was arrested by police at Nice airport in November in connection with a tax evasion case. Reporting by Matthias Galante in Nice; Writing by Richard Lough; editing by Sudip-Kar-Gupta" + }, + { + "text": "January 18, 2018 / 1:18 PM / Updated 37 minutes ago India's top court clears release of controversial film; protests feared Reuters Staff 3 Min Read MUMBAI (Reuters) - India’s Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for the release of a controversial Bollywood movie based on an epic poem about a 14th-century queen, a day after its producers went to court to fight bans by several states. The film “Padmaavat” ran into trouble after groups critical of the project accused its director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, of distorting history by portraying a Muslim ruler as the “lover” of Queen Padmavati of the Hindu Rajput warrior clan. “We direct that there shall be a stay of operation on the notification and orders issued,” the judges said in their interim order, which barred similar measures by other states. Indian films that touch upon the historical relationships of Hindus, India’s majority religion, and Muslim leaders are often controversial. At least four Indian states, among them central Madhya Pradesh, had banned the film, citing security threats, despite its clearance by a censor panel, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). A school in Madhya Pradesh was vandalized this week by protesters after students danced to a song from the film, which is set to open in theaters on Jan 25. Despite the scrapping of the ban, fears of protests, particularly by right-wing groups, such as the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, still overshadow screenings. The group’s leader, Sukhdev Singh, told reporters it would not allow the film to be released, while other groups have threatened to burn down theaters that show the film. “The movie should not run,” domestic media quoted Singh as saying. “The public should enforce a curfew at cinema halls.” Members of hardline Hindu fringe groups, as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, have criticized the film. The censor panel cleared the film late last year, suggesting modifications such as changing the name to “Padmaavat” from “Padmavati” to reflect that the source material was a poem, rather than actual historical events. Based on a poem by Malik Muhammad Jayasi, the film tells the story of Padmavati and the Mughal conqueror Alaudin Khilji. Reporting by Swati Bhat and Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by Clarence Fernandez" + }, + { + "text": "January 7, 2018 / 3:58 PM / Updated 38 minutes ago China's FAW Car buys 10 percent stake in Mobike's new car-sharing unit Reuters Staff 1 Min Read BEIJING (Reuters) - FAW Car Co Ltd 000800.SZ said on Sunday it was taking a 10 percent stake in Chinese bicycle-sharing startup Mobike’s new car-sharing unit Mobike Chuxing Technology Co. The logo of Faw is seen on the car maker's booth at the 2016 Moscow International Auto Salon in Moscow, Russia, August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov Mobike Chuxing was set up in December with registered capital of 20 million yuan (2.21 million pounds). With the strategic investment, FAW will provide electric cars for the project. FAW, in a statement, said it had signed a deal to buy the stake but did not disclose financial details. The investment will not have a significant impact on FAW’s earnings. Mobike, whose backers include Tencent ( 0700.HK ) and Sequoia, has 100 million users and supports roughly 25 million rides a day. Its top competitor, ofo, raised $450 million in May last year from a range of investors, including Chinese ride-sharing service Didi Chuxing. Reporting by Josephine Mason and Meng Meng; Editing by Susan Fenton" + }, + { + "text": "CHICAGO, Jan. 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MB Financial, Inc., (Nasdaq:MBFI) today announced it will release its fourth quarter 2017 earnings at approximately 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, January 25, 2018 and host a conference call later that morning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The Company will notify the public that the results have been issued through a press release and will post the results to the Company’s Investor Relations website, . The earnings release will also be available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website, , as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K that will be furnished by the Company to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Individuals interested in listening to the conference call should call 1.888.317.6003 (toll free) or 1.412.317.6061 and enter the code 7873834. Participants are encouraged to dial into the call approximately 10 minutes prior to the start time. Alternatively, this call is being webcast and can be accessed via the Company’s Investor Relations web site. Following the call, an archived replay will be available on the Company’s website beginning approximately two hours after the call ends. The replay will remain available through February 1, 2018. MBFI is the Chicago-based holding company for MB Financial Bank, N.A. which has approximately $20 billion in assets and a more than one hundred year history of building deep and lasting relationships with middle-market companies and individuals. MB offers a full range of powerful financial solutions and the expertise and experience of bankers who are focused on their clients’ success. Safe Harbor Statement: Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are \"forward-looking statements\" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. By their nature, such statements are subject to numerous factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the statements, as discussed in MB Financial’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For Information at MB Financial, Inc. contact: Berry Allen – Investor Relations E-Mail: [REDACTED] Source:MB Financial Inc." + }, + { + "text": "Trump calls for bipartisan immigration reform 02:10 In his first State of the Union address, U.S. President Donald Trump called on Republicans and Democrats to support his immigration reform proposal, which he called a “fair compromise.'' (no reporter narration) In his first State of the Union address, U.S. President Donald Trump called on Republicans and Democrats to support his immigration reform proposal, which he called a “fair compromise.\" (no reporter narration) //reut.rs/2DOmlgJ" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds strategist Quote: and details throughout; updates prices) * Canadian dollar at C$1.2574, or 79.53 U.S. cents * Loonie touches its weakest since Dec. 29 at C$1.2583 * Bond prices rise across the yield curve * Canada-U.S. 2-year spread widens by 6.7 basis points By Fergal Smith TORONTO, Jan 10 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar weakened to its lowest this year against the greenback on Wednesday as worries about the outlook for NAFTA tempered bets that the Bank of Canada will raise interest rates next week. Canada is increasingly convinced that U.S. President Donald Trump will soon announce that the United States intends to pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement, two government sources said. Canada sends about 75 percent of its exports to the United States. Developments on NAFTA could throw a \"monkey wrench\" into prospects of a rate hike next week, said Mark McCormick, North American Head of FX Strategy at TD Securities. Chances of the Bank of Canada raising rates next week slipped to 64 percent, the overnight index swaps market indicated. They had climbed to nearly 90 percent after much stronger-than-expected domestic jobs data on Friday and a business survey on Monday that showed optimism. At 2:59 p.m. EST (1959 GMT), the Canadian dollar was trading at C$1.2574 to the greenback, or 79.53 U.S. cents, down 0.9 percent. The currency touched its weakest since Dec. 29 at C$1.2583, extending its retreat from a three-month high on Friday at C$1.2355. The price of oil, one of Canada's major exports, was buoyed by a fall in U.S. crude inventories. U.S. crude oil futures settled nearly 1 percent higher at $63.57 a barrel. The U.S. dollar fell against a basket of major currencies after a report that China may slow or halt its purchases of U.S. Treasury bonds, with the greenback on track to post its biggest single-day drop against the Japanese yen in seven weeks. The value of Canadian building permits fell by 7.7 percent in November from October, Statistics Canada said. Analysts surveyed by Reuters had expected a decrease of 0.3 percent. Canadian government bond prices rose across the yield curve. The 10-year climbed 40 Canadian cents to yield 2.155 percent, after having touched its highest intraday since September 2014 at 2.231 percent. The gap between Canada's two-year yield and its U.S. counterpart widened by 6.7 basis points to a spread of -23.7 basis points. (Reporting by Fergal Smith; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli and Tom Brown) Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." + }, + { + "text": "SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Little Gym International , a children's enrichment and development franchise with over 300 locations around the globe, announces that Alex Bingham will be named President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2018. He will succeed current President and CEO, Ruk Adams. In his new role, Bingham will continue to grow The Little Gym 's legacy as the world's premiere gym for movement-based learning and imaginative play that helps build the confidence and skills needed at each stage of childhood. He plans to enhance company operations and further deliver on the brand promise of providing the Springboard to Life's Adventures for the families it serves, franchisees and employees. Since joining The Little Gym in 2001, Bingham has held several roles within the company, most recently serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Some of his former responsibilities and positions include running a corporate location as a Gym Director, working with franchise owners in both their pre-opening and ongoing operations as a Business Consultant, and managing franchisee support as a VP of Franchise Services. Before joining the corporate team, Bingham was an instructor at The Little Gym of Scottsdale during his college breaks in 1996-1997, and was previously a student at The Little Gym 's original location from age two to five. \"I have been incredibly fortunate to have shared in The Little Gym 's growth, evolution and opportunities over the years. The experience has been nothing short of amazing, from playing an integral role of rebuilding the company in its early years, to seeing us grow into a worldwide brand that impacts the lives of families across the globe,\" said Ruk Adams, exiting President and CEO of The Little Gym International . \"I have complete confidence that my successor, Alex Bingham, will continue to lead The Little Gym to great success in his new role as President and CEO.\" \" The Little Gym has been a part of my life since the age of two when I was a student, continuing into my young adulthood when I worked as a part-time instructor during college and, finally, turning into a fulfilling career that allows me to make a difference in children's lives at each of our locations,\" said Alex Bingham, President and CEO of The Little Gym International. \"It's a privilege to have my life come full circle as I assume my new role as CEO, and build upon The Little Gym 's reputation in the early childhood development space that Ruk helped to diligently establish.\" Ruk Adams retires having served as The Little Gym President and CEO since 2013. For more than 23 years, Adams has held a variety leadership positions, having first joined the corporate team in 1994 as Executive Vice President of Franchise Development, a position he held through 1997. After leaving the company to head sales for Citadel Broadcasting in Salt Lake City from 1997 to 2002, Adams rejoined The Little Gym in a role as Senior Vice Present of Development and Franchise Services. Prior to working at the corporate headquarters, Adams and his wife, Ann, owned and ran one of the original locations of The Little Gym from 1993 to 1995 in Salt Lake City. For more information on The Little Gym , please visit www.thelittlegym.com . About The Little Gym The Little Gym is the premier developer of physical skills in children worldwide. The very first location was established in 1976 by Robin Wes, an innovative educator with a genuine love for children. The Little Gym International, Inc., headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., was formed in 1992 to Franchise The Little Gym concept. Today, The Little Gym International has more than 350 locations in 32 countries. For more information, visit The Little Gym at www.TheLittleGym.com . View original content: SOURCE The Little Gym International" + }, + { + "text": "(Reuters) - Twitter Inc, which is reviewing Russian interference during the 2016 U.S. elections, said on Friday it would notify some of its users whether they were exposed to content generated by a suspected Russian propaganda service. The company said it would email 677,775 people in the United States who followed, retweeted or liked content from accounts associated with the Internet Research Agency (IRA) during the election. The IRA is a Russian organization that according to lawmakers and researchers, employs hundreds of people to push pro-Kremlin content under phony social media accounts. Twitter added that because it has already suspended these accounts, the relevant content is no longer publicly available on its platform. Twitter executives on Wednesday told U.S. lawmakers that it may notify the users about the Russian propaganda. The company in September said it had suspended about 200 Russian-linked accounts, and followed it by suspending adverts from media outlets Russia Today and Sputnik in October. The top Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives intelligence committee on Friday praised Twitter’s move and urged technology companies to keep looking into abuse of their platforms by Russia during the 2016 elections. “The Committee’s open hearing last November with Twitter, Facebook and Google revealed the extent to which the Russians exploited vulnerabilities inherent in the openness of our society and social media platforms, and it is vital these companies are transparent with users who were likely exposed to Kremlin propaganda and disinformation,” Representative Adam Schiff said in a statement. Senator Mark Warner, the ranking Democrat on the Senate intelligence panel, echoed this view, tweeting: “I’ve been tough with Twitter on this, but I‘m encouraged to see the company beginning to take responsibility and notify its users of Russia’s influence on its platform.” Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru and Eric Walsh in Washington; Editing by Maju Samuel and Lisa Shumaker" + }, + { + "text": "January 13, 2018 / 6:17 PM / Updated 13 minutes ago Pardew bags first league win as Albion manager Reuters Staff 2 Min Read Jan 13 (Reuters) - Alan Pardew recorded his first Premier League win as West Bromwich Albion manager at the ninth attempt after the Baggies led from the fourth minute to beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 at the Hawthorns. Soccer Football - Premier League - West Bromwich Albion vs Brighton & Hove Albion - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain - January 13, 2018 West Bromwich Albion manager Alan Pardew and Brighton manager Chris Hughton REUTERS/Darren Staples Brighton, who made eight changes from the side who beat Crystal Palace in the FA Cup, fell behind to a well-worked goal when Jonny Evans rose superbly at the back post to head home after Chris Brunt’s corner was nudged on by Jay Rodriguez. Chris Hughton’s side have only scored in three away games this season and were largely restricted to shots from distance. At the other end, Albion’s Matty Phillips thought he had won a penalty when his shot hit Glenn Murray’s arm but referee Martin Atkinson waved away the appeal, much to Pardew’s fury. That disappointment was soon forgotten after the interval when Craig Dawson headed Albion’s second, from another outstanding Brunt corner, as West Brom secured their first win in 21 Premier League games to move within two points of safety. Evans, who has been linked with a move away from the club in the transfer window, said the team were delighted to have got Pardew his first win. ”It’s been a difficult period for the manager,“ he said. ”He is a positive guy and we all thought the win would come sooner. You could see we are pleased for him and the club as a whole. ”It was a great feeling and there was a bit of pressure at the end of the game since it has been so long since we won. “Set-pieces are a strength of ours and we have spent time on them. It’s good that it is paying off. Sometimes they are overlooked in football but it’s paid off.” Reporting by Neil Robinson; Editing by Christian Radnedge" + }, + { + "text": "PASADENA, Calif., General Finance Corporation (NASDAQ:GFN), a leading specialty rental services company offering portable storage, modular space and liquid containment solutions (the “Company”), will announce its financial results for the second quarter ended December 31, 2017 of fiscal year 2018 before the U.S. market opens on Tuesday, February 6, 2018. Management will host a conference call the same day at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time (11:30 a.m. Eastern Time) to discuss the Company's operating results. The conference call number for U.S. participants is (866) 901-5096 and the conference call number for participants outside the U.S. is (706) 643-3717. The conference ID number for both conference call numbers is 7297433. Additionally, interested parties can listen to a live webcast of the call in the \"Investor Relations\" section of the Company's website at . A replay of the conference call may be accessed through February 20, 2018 by dialing (800) 585-8367 (U.S.) or (404) 537-3406 (international), using conference ID number 7297433. After the replay has expired, interested parties can listen to the conference call via webcast in the \"Investor Relations\" section of the Company's website at . About General Finance Corporation Headquartered in Pasadena, California, General Finance Corporation (NASDAQ:GFN) ( www.generalfinance.com ) is a leading specialty rental services company offering portable storage, modular space and liquid containment solutions. Management’s expertise in these sectors drives disciplined growth strategies, operational guidance, effective capital allocation and capital markets support for the Company’s subsidiaries. The Company’s Asia-Pacific leasing operations in Australia and New Zealand consist of wholly-owned subsidiary Royal Wolf Holdings Limited ( www.royalwolf.com.au ), the leading provider of portable storage solutions in those regions. The Company’s North America leasing operations consist of wholly-owned subsidiaries Pac-Van, Inc. ( www.pacvan.com ) and Lone Star Tank Rental Inc. ( www.lonestartank.com ), providers of portable storage, office and liquid storage tank containers, mobile offices and modular buildings. The Company also owns Southern Frac, LLC ( www.southernfrac.com ), a manufacturer of portable liquid storage tank containers and other steel related products in North America. Investor/Media Contact Larry Clark Financial Profiles, Inc. 310-622-8223 Source:General Finance Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "NEW YORK, Jan 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. government shutdown that began on Saturday is disruptive to the economy, but poses no immediate threat to its top notch Aaa-rating as long as it makes its debt payments on time, Moody’s Investors Service said on Monday. The federal shutdown, the first since 2013, would make it likely the issue of raising the statutory borrowing limit would become part of the next round of budget negotiations in Washington, the rating agency said in a research note. (Reporting by Richard Leong Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 8 (Reuters) - Future Land Holdings Co Ltd: * SAYS DEC CONTRACT SALES TOTALLED ABOUT 21.2 BILLION YUAN ($3.26 billion) * SAYS JAN-DEC CONTRACT SALES TOTALLED ABOUT 126.5 BILLION YUAN, UP 94.4 PERCENT Y/Y Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2CReLAE Further company coverage: ($1 = 6.4965 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)" + }, + { + "text": "South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Monday a thaw in relations between the two Koreas ahead of next month's Winter Olympics presented a \"precious chance\" for the United States and North Korea to discuss the North's weapons programmes. North Korea is developing missile and nuclear technology amid regular threats to destroy the United States and Japan and in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions, prompting a war of words between the North and the United States. Getty Images The Olympic rings is seen in Hoenggye town, near the venue for the Opening and Closing ceremony ahead of PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. But after a year of mounting tension, diplomacy focused on sport enabled the International Olympic Committee to announce on Saturday that reclusive North Korea will send 22 athletes to the Feb. 9-25 Games. The Olympics provided a \"precious chance to open the door\" for talks to resolve the nuclear issue and establish peace on the peninsula, Moon said at the presidential Blue House. \"But no one can be optimistic about how long the current mood for dialogue will last. We need wisdom and efforts to sustain the dialogue opportunities ... beyond the Olympics so that the inter-Korean talks will lead to talks between the United States and North Korea and other forms of dialogue\". While a recent opinion poll showed most South Koreans welcomed the North's participation in the Games, conservative opponents staged a small but noisy rally as a North Korean delegation inspected venues in Seoul for cultural events to be held on the sidelines of the Olympics. South Korean police intervened when one group of protesters burned a picture of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on the steps of Seoul's central train station where a delegation from the North had arrived. Holding a sign saying \"We're opposed to Kim Jong Un's Pyongyang Olympics!\", the protesters chanted that the North had \"snatched\" attention for the showpiece event from South Korea. The North Korean delegation was led by Hyon Song-wol, a popular female singer, who smiled and waved to a crowd at the train station before the protest began. \"Seeing the citizens here welcoming us, I feel we will be able to successfully complete the concert\", Hyon was Quote: d as saying by a Seoul official, according to South Korean media. Some specific Olympic plans, including marching under a united flag and forming a joint women's ice hockey team, have proven controversial, with conservatives and younger South Koreans upset that an unchastened North Korea is stealing the spotlight. One year in office: How Donald Trump has shaped US foreign policy Jabin Botsford | The Washington Post | Getty Images Moon's administration was also under pressure over the plan to send athletes to a North Korean ski resort for joint training, which experts say risks giving Kim's regime legitimacy and some much needed cash. Moon's approval rating has fallen to a four-month low at 66 percent, a poll showed on Monday, after a public backlash over the decision on a combined ice hockey team. North Korea's state media on Monday criticised South Korea for having joined last week's meeting of 20 nations in Vancouver which called for additional sanctions and pressure on the North to ensure it gives up its nuclear ambitions. \"This is an unpardonable provocation going against the aspiration and desire of all Koreans for the country's peace and reunification and aggravating the regional situation\", the North's official KCNA said in a commentary." + }, + { + "text": "FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Jan. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust (NYSE:RPT) (the “Company”) announced today that 2017 distributions on the Company’s common shares of beneficial interest represent 95.2223% total ordinary dividends and 4.7777% capital gain dividends. The distributions on the common shares for 2017 were based upon a quarterly rate of $0.2200 per share, resulting in an annual distribution of $0.8800 per share. The fourth quarter distribution for 2016 which was paid on January 3, 2017 was treated as paid in two tax years for income tax purposes, $0.159818 was treated as paid on and reported to shareholders on December 31, 2016 and $0.060182 was treated as paid on and reported to shareholders on January 3, 2017. The fourth quarter distribution for 2017, which was paid on January 2, 2018 has been treated as paid on January 2, 2018 for income tax purposes. Ramco-Gershenson also announced that 2017 distributions on the Company’s 7.25% Series D convertible perpetual preferred shares of beneficial interest (NYSE:RPT.PD) represent 95.2223% total ordinary dividends and 4.7777% capital gain dividends. The distributions on the Series D preferred shares for 2017 were based upon quarterly distributions of $0.90625 per share, resulting in an annual distribution of $3.625 per share. The fourth quarter distribution for 2016, which was paid on January 3, 2017 was treated as paid on December 31, 2016 for income tax purposes. The fourth quarter distribution for 2017, which was paid on January 2, 2018 has been treated as paid in two tax years for income tax purposes, $0.14333 has been treated as paid on December 31, 2017 and $0.76292 has been treated as paid on January 2, 2018. REPORTING INFORMATION (FORM 1099) – DISTRIBUTIONS The income tax treatment for 2017 distributions for Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust common shares of beneficial interest, CUSIP No. 751452202 *, traded on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol RPT, is as follows (as reported on Form 1099-DIV): *Also applies to CUSIP #751452103 Declaration Date Record Date Payable Date Gross Distribution per Share Total Ordinary Dividend - Box 1a Qualified Dividends - Box 1b (Included in Total Ordinary Dividend) Total Capital Gain Distribution - Box 2a Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain - Box 2b (Included in Total Capital Gain Distribution) Non- dividend Distributions - Box 3 12/05/2016 3/07/2017 12/20/2016 3/20/2017 1/3/2017 4/3/2017 $0.060182 $0.220000 $0.057307 $0.209489 $0. $0. $0.002875 $0.010511 $0.002875 $0.010511 $0. $0. 5/17/2017 6/20/2017 7/3/2017 $0.220000 $0.209489 $0. $0.010511 $0.010511 $0. 8/29/2017 9/20/2017 10/2/2017 $0.220000 $0.209489 $0. $0.010511 $0.010511 $0. $0. Total $0.720182 $0.685774 $0. $0.034408 $0." + }, + { + "text": "034408 $0. The income tax treatment for 2017 distributions for Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust 7.25% Series D preferred shares of beneficial interest, CUSIP No. 751452608, traded on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol RPT.PD, is as follows (as reported on Form 1099-DIV): Declaration Date Record Date Payable Date Gross Distribution per Share Total Ordinary Dividend - Box 1a Qualified Dividends - Box 1b (Included in Total Ordinary Dividend) Total Capital Gain Distribution - Box 2a Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain - Box2b (Included in Total Capital Gain Distribution) Non-dividend Distributions - Box 3 3/07/2017 3/20/2017 4/03/2017 $0.906250 $0.862952 $0. $0.043298 $0.043298 $0. 5/17/2017 6/20/2017 7/03/2017 $0.906250 $0.862952 $0. $0.043298 $0.043298 $0. 8/29/2017 9/20/2017 10/02/2017 $0.906250 $0.862952 $0. $0.043298 $0.043298 $0. 11/29/2017 12/20/2017 1/02/2018 $0.143333 $0.136485 $0. $0.006848 $0.006848 $0. Total $2.862083 $2.725341 $0. $0.136742 $0.136742 $0. THIS INFORMATION REPRESENTS FINAL INCOME ALLOCATIONS. About Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust (NYSE:RPT) is a premier, national publicly-traded shopping center real estate investment trust (REIT) based in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The Company’s primary business is the ownership and management of dynamic town centers and urban-infill environments in key growth markets in the 40 largest metropolitan markets in the United States. At September 30, 2017, the Company owned interests in and managed a portfolio of 60 shopping centers and two joint venture properties. At September 30, 2017, the Company’s consolidated portfolio was 93.0% leased. Ramco-Gershenson is a fully-integrated qualified REIT that is self-administered and self-managed. For additional information about the Company please visit www.rgpt.com or follow Ramco-Gershenson on Twitter @RamcoGershenson and facebook.com/ramcogershenson/ . This press release may contain forward-looking statements that represent the Company’s expectations and projections for the future. Management of Ramco-Gershenson believes the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on reasonable assumptions. Certain factors could occur that might cause actual results to vary, including deterioration in national economic conditions, weakening of real estate markets, decreases in the availability of credit, increases in interest rates, adverse changes in the retail industry, our continuing ability to qualify as a REIT and other factors discussed in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Company Contact: Dawn L. Hendershot, Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Public Affairs 31500 Northwestern Highway, Suite 300 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 [REDACTED] (248) 592-6202 Source:Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust" + }, + { + "text": "NORFOLK, Va., Jan. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Jennifer F. Scanlon has been elected a director of Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) effective Jan. 22, Chairman, President and CEO James A. Squires announced today. Scanlon, 51, is president and chief executive officer of USG Corporation, an industry leading manufacturer of building products and innovative solutions. She has been appointed to the Compensation Committee and Finance and Risk Management Committee of the Norfolk Southern Board and will serve as an independent director. Prior to being named CEO in 2016, Scanlon was president of the company's international business; president of its L&W Supply Corporation, and chief information officer and chairman of the board for USG Boral Building Products. She led the company through some of its most significant strategic moves in recent history, including establishing the USG Boral Building Products joint venture and the divestiture of L&W Supply Corporation. \"Jenny brings extensive experience in manufacturing and distribution operations, technology, business development, and strategic planning. We are delighted and honored to welcome her to the Norfolk Southern Board,\" Squires said. Scanlon joined USG in 2003 as director of supply chain management and customer relationship management strategy and implementation. She holds a bachelor's degree in government and computer applications from the University of Notre Dame and a master's degree in finance and marketing from the University of Chicago. Scanlon serves on the boards of the Chicago Council of Global Affairs and of SHORE Community Services, Inc. She is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, The Chicago Network, and the Executives' Club of Chicago. About Norfolk Southern Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway Company subsidiary operates approximately 19,500 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal, automotive, and industrial products. View original content with multimedia: SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 5:09 AM / Updated 13 minutes ago Consumers, businesses seen buoying U.S. economic growth in fourth-quarter Lucia Mutikani 5 Min Read WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy likely maintained a brisk pace of growth in the fourth quarter, driven by an acceleration in consumer and business spending, which could set it on course to attain the Trump administration’s 3 percent annual growth target this year. Gross domestic product probably increased at a 3.0 percent annual rate also boosted by a rebound in homebuilding investment and a pickup in government outlays, according to a Reuters poll of economists. The strong growth pace would come despite anticipated drags from trade and inventory investment. It would follow a 3.2 percent pace of expansion in the third quarter and mark the first time since 2004 that the economy enjoyed growth of 3 percent or more for three straight quarters. The Commerce Department will publish its advance fourth-quarter GDP estimate on Friday at 08:30 am (1330 GMT). The economy’s growth spurt is part of a synchronized global rebound that includes the euro zone and Asia. It has also benefited from President Donald Trump’s promise of hefty tax cuts, which was fulfilled in December when the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress approved the largest overhaul of the tax code in 30 years. Despite the economy’ strong performance in the last three quarters of 2017, overall growth for the year is expected to come in at around 2.3 percent, because of a weak first quarter. That would still be an acceleration from the 1.5 percent logged in 2016. Economists expect annual GDP growth will hit the government’s 3 percent target this year, spurred in part by a weak dollar, rising oil prices and strengthening global economy. While the corporate income tax rate has been slashed to 21 percent from 35 percent and taxes for households have also been lowered, economists see only a modest boost to GDP growth as the fiscal stimulus is coming at a time when the economy is almost at full employment. “We are encouraged by the current breadth of economic strength and ... we expect the pace of U.S. real GDP to accelerate from the expansion average - increasing 3.0 percent in 2018,” said Sam Bullard, a senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, North Carolina. AMMUNITION FOR FED HAWKS Robust economic growth has been accompanied by record gains on the stock market and a strong labour market, with the unemployment rate falling seven-tenths of percentage point last year to a 17-year low of 4.1 percent. Economists said this could put the Federal Reserve on a more aggressive path of interest rate increases than is currently being anticipated. “I think that gives the hawks at the Fed more ammunition to say we should contemplate a more aggressive path on rates going forward,” said Scott Anderson, chief economist at Bank of the West Economics in San Francisco. The U.S. central bank has forecast three rate hikes this year, the same number as in 2017. Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, is expected to have increased by as much as a 3.9 percent rate in the fourth quarter. That would be the quickest pace in three years and would follow a 2.2 percent rate of growth in the July-September quarter. Consumer spending is likely to remain supported by rising household wealth, thanks to the stock market rally and higher house prices, tax cuts and firming wage growth as companies compete for workers and some states raise the minimum wage. “Since the election the consumer has been exuding confidence, which is the willingness to spend money, and we see he has got even the ability to spend money too because personal income is creeping up,” said Dan North, chief economist at Euler Hermes North America in Baltimore. “So, you have the willingness and ability to spend. We think consumption is going to pick up and drive the economy.” Business investment in equipment is expected to have picked up from the third-quarter’s 10.8 percent growth pace. Spending on equipment is likely to be underpinned this year by the corporate income tax cuts and recent increase in crude oil prices. Investment in homebuilding is expected to have rebounded after contracting for two straight quarters. An acceleration is expected in government spending from the July-September period’s pedestrian 0.7 percent growth pace. But trade was likely a drag on GDP growth as the burst in consumer spending was probably satiated with imports, offsetting a rise in exports, which is being driven by dollar weakness. Economists at JPMorgan estimate that trade cut one percentage point from fourth-quarter GDP growth after adding 0.36 percentage point in the third quarter." + }, + { + "text": "GOLETA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Inogen, Inc . (Nasdaq: INGN ), a medical technology company offering innovative respiratory products for use in the homecare setting, announced that it will release fourth quarter and full year 2017 financial results after market close on Tuesday, February 27, 2018. The Company will host a corresponding conference call beginning at 1:30 p.m. PT/4:30 p.m. ET. Individuals interested in listening to the conference call may do so by dialing (855) 238-8123 for domestic callers or (412) 317-5217 for international callers. Please reference Inogen (INGN) to join the call. To listen to a live webcast, please visit the Investor Relations section of Inogen's website at: . A replay of the call will be available beginning, February 27, 2018 at 3:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. ET through 3:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. ET on March 6, 2018. To access the replay, dial (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088 and reference Access Code: 10116324. The webcast will also be available on Inogen's website for one year following the completion of the call. Inogen has used, and intends to continue to use, its Investor Relations website, , as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. For more information, visit . About Inogen Inogen is innovation in oxygen therapy. We are a medical technology company that develops, manufactures and markets innovative oxygen concentrators used to deliver supplemental long-term oxygen therapy to patients suffering from chronic respiratory conditions. For more information, please visit www.inogen.com . View source version on businesswire.com : Inogen, Inc. Investor Relations Contact: Matt Bacso, CFA 805-879-8205 or Media Contact: Byron Myers 805-562-0503 Source: Inogen, Inc." + }, + { + "text": "One of the world’s biggest ad agencies, Publicis Groupe SA, fully felt the disruptive power of advertising’s digital revolution when McDonald’s Corp., a huge client, put its account into play. The fast-food chain wanted a marketing plan covering everything from social-network posts to food-tray liners, according to people involved with the account. McDonald’s thought Publicis’s Leo Burnett unit, its main advertising agency at the time, wasn’t adept enough at using data to quickly produce online ads and target minute slices... RELATED VIDEO 'Truck People' An advertisement for Firestone Tires produced by advertising agency Leo Burnett that markets Firestone's maintenance services to truck owners. To Read the Full Story Subscribe Sign In" + }, + { + "text": "(Adds details of lawsuit, background, byline) By Jan Wolfe Jan 25 (Reuters) - Gene testing company Illumina on Thursday won a $26.7 million jury verdict in a U.S. lawsuit accusing rival Ariosa Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Roche Holdings AG, of using patented prenatal testing technology without authorization. A federal jury in San Francisco said Ariosa’s Harmony non-invasive prenatal test kits infringed on two Illumina patents. Illumina and Ariosa compete in the growing market for non-invasive prenatal tests, which screen for chromosomal conditions like Down syndrome. San Diego, California-based Illumina had sought more than $100 million in damages. The jury rejected a counterclaim by Ariosa that Illumina had breached a contract between the companies by bringing the lawsuit. Ariosa had sought $88 million in damages from Illumina on that counterclaim. Illumina and Ariosa did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Roche acquired San Jose, California-based Ariosa for $625 million in January 2015. Reporting by Jan Wolfe; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Richard Chang" + }, + { + "text": "January 6, 2018 / 11:26 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Cornered Merkel launches talks with SPD in bid to secure fourth term Michelle Martin 4 Min Read BERLIN (Reuters) - More than three months after a German election, Chancellor Angela Merkel is still scrambling to form a new government and will on Sunday launch a five-day attempt to persuade the Social Democrats (SPD) to join a coalition with her conservatives. German acting Chancellor Angela Merkel poses for photographs after the television recording of her annual New Year's speech at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, December 30, 2017. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke The SPD reluctantly agreed to exploratory talks and is playing hard-to-get. Enticing them to team up with her is Merkel’s best bet of forming a stable government and extending her 12-year tenure after her efforts to form an alliance with two smaller parties failed last year. The SPD, which has governed in a ‘grand coalition’ with Merkel’s conservatives for the last four years, vowed to go into opposition after its worst election showing since 1933 but reconsidered when the president intervened. Opposition to such a tie-up is strong in the SPD - a group called “NoGroKo”, meaning “no grand coalition”, has formed within its ranks to campaign against working with Merkel again, saying that would cost the SPD votes and make the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) opposition leader. “We shouldn’t make things sound better than they are - the SPD is very sceptical about a re-run of the grand coalition,” senior SPD member Manuela Schwesig said in an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio. Norbert Roemer, SPD head in the regional assembly of North Rhine-Westphalia, told the RND newspaper group no MPs in his state caucus favoured a grand coalition - unlike four years ago - with past experience meaning they no longer trusted Merkel. The grand coalition idea - usually a last resort as it leaves the opposition small - is unpopular, with a poll for broadcaster ARD showing more than half of Germans (52 percent) are sceptical while 45 percent are in favour. The parties will likely clash on immigration, tax, healthcare and Europe. Volker Bouffier, a senior member of Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU), told Rheinische Post newspaper his party intended to form a grand coalition. But he added: “Whether that will succeed is yet to be seen. It can’t happen at any price.” SPD parliamentary leader Andrea Nahles sounded a conciliatory note, saying she would not draw any red lines ahead of the talks, telling Bild am Sonntag newspaper: “Negotiations mean you don’t get 100 percent of your own demands fulfilled.” If the talks prove successful, a new government will likely be in place by Easter, she said. Horst Seehofer, leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU) - Bavarian sister party to Merkel’s CDU - said he was optimistic the parties would agree to govern together, saying: “I think we’ll manage it.” The potential partners have agreed on a news blackout during exploratory talks, which are due to finish on Thursday. If they find enough common ground and the SPD gets backing from its members in a vote, the parties will proceed to full-blown coalition talks. But if the discussions fail, Europe’s largest economy could either face fresh elections or, for the first time in the postwar era, a minority government under Merkel. Last year’s failed coalition talks involved Merkel’s conservative bloc, the pro-business Free Democrats and the Greens. Reporting by Michelle Martin; Editing by Stephen Powell" + }, + { + "text": "January 26, 2018 / 12:33 PM / Updated 9 minutes ago French jails at 'brink of explosion', strike must end - ombudsman Brian Love 3 Min Read PARIS (Reuters) - France’s overcrowded prison system is on the brink of mutiny after two weeks of unrest, the jails ombudsman said on Friday, with hardline labour unions vowing no surrender in a showdown with President Emmanuel Macron’s government. The warning from the independent ombudsman follows a second fruitless attempt by Macron’s justice minister to buy peace with the wardens, whose work stoppages are slowly paralysing prisons and pushing tensions with prisoners to boiling point. “If this crisis is not brought to an immediate end, there’s no telling what will happen,” said Adeline Hazan, who oversees conditions in France’s 188 jails, which house some 70,000 convicts, one of the largest prison populations in Europe. “The situation is extremely tense ... we’re on the brink of a blowout.” Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet, accused of reacting too slowly to frustration among wardens after a spate of attacks by inmates, defended what she called a “significant” offer of bonuses and improved safety measures. The proposal, which also includes plans to isolate many Islamist militants and other religiously radicalised inmates from the rest of the prison population, was rejected by two of three labour unions on Thursday. While Macron himself made a public declaration of confidence in Belloubet, the minister looked to be in difficulty after her proposal, the second in a week, was given short shrift. Prison wardens face off with French gendarmes as they block the Maubeuge jail during a nationwide protest, France, January 24, 2018. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol The leader of the Force Ouvriere union, which has taken the hardest line, said there would be no let-up in the protests even if wardens were punished and their pay was docked for flouting a ban on strikes in the prison service. Wardens want a change in their public service grade that would give them higher starting salaries, a demand that would cost around 80 million euros (£70 million) a year, FO’s Emmanuel Baudin said. “That’s nothing,” he said in an interview on CNews TV. It compares to a government offer worth 30 million euros from Belloubet, whose hands look tied by Macron’s promise to keep a lid on public expenditure. She told Europe 1 radio that union divisions were making matters more difficult. While the FO and CGT unions both rejected her latest offer, she had not yet had word from UFAP-Unsa, the largest wardens’ union. The threat of an extended disruption is weighing on the government, which is broadly seen as having delivered on its promises under Prime Minister Edouard Philippe. Hazan, the ombudsman, warned that paralysis could lead to mutiny in jails, where three and sometimes four inmates share a cell of less than 10 sq metres (yards). She said that police, who have been sent in to replace off-work wardens in some locations, were there to maintain security, not tend to prisoners’ everyday needs. “You can’t leave inmates without the means to keep clean, take showers, eat and see their families,” she said, adding that many prisoners were simply confined to their cells and unable to get out for a prison-yard walk. Additional reporting by Emmanuel Jarry and Simon Carraud; Editing by Luke Baker and Richard Balmforth" + }, + { + "text": "President Donald Trump touted the strong performance of 401(k) accounts during his first State of the Union address. The reality is that most Americans do not have one. \"The great news for Americans — 401(k) retirement pension and college savings accounts have gone through the roof,\" Trump said, veering slightly from his prepared speech, in his 80-minute address Tuesday night. Only about one-third of workers participate in a 401(k) plan, according to 2017 research from the U.S. Census Bureau. In fact, just 14 percent of all employers give a 401(k) or other defined contribution plan to their workers. Even at companies where they are offered, only 41 percent of employees contribute. How many employers offer defined contribution plans # of employers Percent that offer a plan 1 3.4% 2 to 9 7.3% 10 to 24 20.2% 25 to 49 32.6% 50 to 99 46.5% 100 to 499 68.5% 500 to 1,000 83.5% 1,000 to 10,000 88.4 10,000 or more 92.9% Source: U.S. Census Bureau Among employees who do sock away pretax dollars in 401(k) accounts, the average balance was $96,495 in 2016, according to Vanguard research. The median balance — half are above, half fall below — was $24,713. The S&P 500 stock index surged more than 19 percent in 2017 and is up more than 5 percent this year. show chapters President Trump's 1st State of the Union 16 Hours Ago | 20:34 More from Personal Finance: Amid market volatility, make sure your portfolio is ready for a wild ride The rule that protects your retirement savings may be on the ropes Millennials, this retirement hack is for you" + }, + { + "text": "ZURICH (Reuters) - Asylum requests in Switzerland fell to their lowest level in eight years in 2017, down by a third from the previous year, as arrivals from Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq tapered off, state migration authorities said on Monday. In total, 18,088 asylum requests were registered last year, down 9,119 from 2016 and less than half the 39,523 requests of 2015, Switzerland said. Not since 2010, when 15,567 applied for asylum in Switzerland, have numbers been below 20,000. Neighboring Germany, where more than a million migrants arrived since 2015, also saw a slowdown in 2017 of about a third to 186,000, though some government officials contend the figure remains too high. In addition to a slowdown of asylum bids from the conflict-torn Middle East, Swiss officials said the flow of applications from Africans seeking to win refugee status in Europe also lost momentum. “On the one hand, migration of persons from Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq that characterized asylum applications in 2016 was a phenomenon that largely disappeared in 2017,” the State Secretariat for Migration said in a statement. “Secondly, the decline in migration across the central Mediterranean Sea from mid-July 2017 has led to a sharp decline in asylum applications from sub-Saharan African countries,” it added. People from Eritrea topped the Swiss list of asylum seekers, making up nearly a fifth of requests, followed by Syrians, Afghans and people from Turkey who sought asylum amid a widening crackdown following that country’s failed 2016 coup. Even as the flow of Middle Eastern and African asylum seekers slips, some European countries have seen a rise. In France, for instance, official requests rose 17 percent to exceed 100,000, the highest “in at least four decades”, as an influx of Albanians seeking economic opportunity outside of their home country helped drive the rise, even though they had little chance of successfully winning asylum. Reporting by John Miller; Editing by Richard Balmforth" + }, + { + "text": "Exponentially growing Calldorado makes first major brand acquisition in second year of operation COPENHAGEN, Denmark--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Danish-based ad tech firm Calldorado has expanded its reach in the app economy by acquiring the Austrian app publisher CIAmedia for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition comes after a successful period of cooperation between the two companies and is a natural next step on Calldorado’s path of accelerated growth. “By acquiring CIAmedia and its portfolio of high quality apps, we are extending the Calldorado value chain. Calldorado and CIAmedia have been in cooperation before, and CIAmedia’s focus on Android apps within the Communication and Tools categories is a perfect fit with our mobile advertising technology,” says Claudia Dreier-Poepperl, CEO and Founder of Calldorado. “Calldorado’s vision is to be the world’s number one provider of call-based advertising technology, and by owning and operating a portfolio of relevant apps we are better positioned to realize this vision.” CIAmedia was established 2013 in Vienna, Austria. CIAmedia owns and operates the highly successful app acquisition brand Appsbuyout.vc and has built up a strong portfolio of 80 high quality apps with high user engagement and very good LTV (life time value). Appsbuyout has a proven track record of efficient app M&A, and app portfolio management. Calldorado’s acquisition of CIAmedia, and subsequently Appsbuyout.vc, has a deeper strategic significance than simply acquiring a formidable app portfolio. Calldorado now covers the full app value chain, from conception and development, through monetization and growth, to trading. Calldorado’s business model has been so successful that it was in a position to acquire CIAmedia within its second year of operation despite being a self-funded company with no backing from Venture Capital. About Calldorado Calldorado is the global leader in call-based advertising technology. The company offers its mobile advertising SDK to app owners free of charge. With their patented technology, Calldorado enables publishers to put their app features into the spotlight with every phone call a user makes or receives as well as to generate substantial revenue. Calldorado was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. ### View source version on businesswire.com : Calldorado ApS Christopher Humphrey, VP of Marketing +45 31 15 98 88 [REDACTED] Source: Calldorado ApS" + }, + { + "text": "Jan 24(Reuters) - Dirui Industrial Co Ltd : * Sees FY 2017 net profit to increase by 25 percent to 50 percent, or to be 156.4 million yuan to 187.7 million yuan * Says FY 2016 net profit was 125.1 million yuan * The reasons for the forecast are enhanced product promotion and optimized sales structure as well as increased main business income Source text in Chinese: goo.gl/iiwcCz Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News)" + }, + { + "text": "ALL TIMES IN EST/GMT 0830/1330: The Labor Dept. issues weekly Jobless Claims; issues Producer Price Index for December. 0830/1330: The USDA releases weekly Export Sales. 1000/1500: Freddie Mac issues weekly U.S. mortgage rates. 1030/1530: EIA issues weekly U.S. underground natural gas stocks. 1100/1600: The Treasury Dept. makes weekly announcements of 4-week, 3- and 6-month bill sale offerings; announces sales of 10-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities. 1300/1800: The Treasury Dept. sells 30-year bonds. 1400/1900: The Treasury Dept. issues Monthly Budget for December. 1600/2100: The USDA issues weekly world cotton price. After 1600/2100: The Investment Company Institute issues weekly money market mutual fund data. 1630/2130: The Federal Reserve issues its weekly balance sheet." + } +] \ No newline at end of file