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☆ Opinion | The Underappreciated Genius of ‘Planet of the Apes’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Jamelle Bouie | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

There is no franchise in Hollywood filmmaking that is as consistently good, and as consistently interesting, as “Planet of the Apes.”I feel very strongly about this, and not because I am an admitted enthusiast of genre filmmaking. Like any long-running series, “Planet of the Apes” — which spans 10 films and more than 50 years — has its lows. If you somehow are not familiar with the premise of “Planet of the Apes,” it is surprisingly straightforward. The first five films, beginning with 1968’s “Planet of the Apes” and concluding with 1973’s “Battle for the Planet of the Apes,” tell the story of the fall and rise (and fall again, perhaps) of ape society. When the apes finally arrive — as predators hunting a roving band of humans — it is in a kinetic sequence of genuine intensity.

Persons: —, Charlton Heston, Franklin J . Schaffner, “ Patton, Leon Shamroy, Cleopatra ”, Taylor Organizations: Hollywood, of

☆ Yemen's Houthi rebels are menacing ships on the high seas
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewHouthi militants showed in late April that they can expand their war on international shipping far beyond the Red Sea. AdvertisementHe noted that the Shehab's reported range of 990 miles puts it "well within range" of international shipping. The British-registered cargo ship 'Rubymar' sank in March after it was targeted by Yemen's Houthi forces in the Red Sea. "Once they enter the Red Sea, though, ships can be tracked by spotters ashore or on boats or using mobile Houthi radars ashore. "Nevertheless, with the rate of Houthi advances, and increases in speed, control, and maneuverability in-transit, international shipping could soon prove vulnerable."

Persons: —, Good Hope, Bryan Clark, James Patton Rogers, Rogers, Samad, Yemen's, Mohammed Hamoud, Clark Organizations: Service, MSC Orion, Business, Hudson Institute, Cornell Tech Policy Institute, US, EU, AIS, Orion, Ships Locations: of Africa, Africa's, Good, Red, Ukraine, Israel

☆ Ukraine is defying the US over strikes on Russian oil refineries. Experts say it's a necessary risk.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

While the US dithered over aid, Ukraine had a robust argument for prosecuting the war pretty much as it pleased. "Taking out a particular refinery is not going to immediately undermine Russia's war effort," said Dailey, the RAND strategist. "But consistently putting pressure on Russia's oil sector would have a significant impact on Russia's ability to fight this war." AdvertisementVakulenko, in his article, also noted that that strikes on Russian oil refineries have "little impact on Russian export earnings." Later, Ukraine said that its attacks had reduced Russian oil production and processing by 12%.

Persons: —, Ann Marie Dailey, Rafael Loss, Joe Biden's, Marina Miron, Dailey, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Olga Tokariuk, Tokariuk, Donald Trump, Miron, Whittling, Celeste Wallander, Lloyd Austin, Sergey Vakulenko, There's, Sir Tony Radakin, Biden, James Patton Rogers, Patton Rogers Organizations: Service, White, Telegraph, Business, RAND Corporation, European Council, Foreign Relations, Washington Post, Department of, King's College, London's, House, Carnegie, RAND, Financial, Cornell Brooks Tech Policy Institute, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Krasnodar, King's College London, Russia

☆ China picks its lowest-scoring officers to command nuclear submarines
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The job of commanding a nuclear submarine should go to smart and well-qualified officers. Chinese submarine officers — except for engineers — tend to come from candidates with the lowest college entrance test scores, according to a US analyst. "Life in the PLAN submarine service is difficult," Christopher Sharman, director of the China Maritime Studies Institute, told Business Insider. By stressing Chinese submarine commanders, such as confronting them with multiple or unexpected challenges, they could be goaded into making a mistake. On the other hand, a Chinese submarine captain will have had years of experience and additional training before assuming command.

Persons: Roderick Lee, Lee, they've, George McClellan, —, George Patton, Christopher Sharman, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Liberation Army Navy, PLAN, Business, Gaokao, PLA, People's, Army, PLAN Engineering University, China Maritime Studies, US Naval War, Submarine Academy, China Daily, Reuters, China's, Military Medical University, China Sea, China Maritime Studies Institute, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Japan, Taiwan, West, China, Russia, South China, Chinese, Forbes

☆ 'Drone hunting drones' are already impacting Middle East conflicts
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Iran's 538 loitering missile is designed to intercept low-flying drones. The 358 missiles confiscated by the US Navy were powered by small gas turbine engines made by a Dutch company. "As air defense systems increase in power and effectiveness, it will mark a new challenge to drone systems that have long had command of the air," Rogers said. A US Central Command handout shows one of the Iranian-made 538 loitering missile seized by the USS Forrest Sherman in November 2019. CENTCOM'Drone hunting drones'A report in March speculates that Turkey's arch-foe, the Kurdistan Workers' Party or PKK group, may have acquired Iranian Meraj loitering missiles.

Persons: —, James Patton Rogers, Rogers, Ryan Bohl, RANE, Bohl, USS Forrest Sherman Organizations: Service, US Navy, Cornell Brooks Tech, Institute, Cornell University, American Warfare, Saudi, US, Pentagon, East, Command, USS, Kurdistan Workers ' Party, Turkish Locations: Iran, Yemen, Lebanon, Iran's, Dutch, Turkey, North Africa, Kurdistan, Iraq, Tehran

Editor’s Note: In this appeal to Congress, more than 35 artists, activists, scholars and others call for funding for Ukraine. On territory that Russia occupies, it tortures Ukrainian citizens, kidnaps Ukrainian children and murders Ukrainian leaders. By fighting Russia alone, they protect Europe. By fighting a conventional war against a nuclear power, they are making nuclear proliferation and nuclear war less likely. Together we call upon Congress to do the right thing – right now.

Persons: Read, Stringer, Abrams, José Andrés, Gabrielle Carteris, Mona Charen, Misha Collins, Rosario Dawson, Felicia Day, Doug Fears, Jonathan Safran Foer, Francis Fukuyama, Mark Hamill, Gale Anne Hurd, Dara Khosrowshahi, William Kristol, Eric Edelman, Scott Kelly, Daniel Lubetzky, Michael McFaul, Kate McKinnon, Alyssa Milano, Viggo Mortensen, Patton Oswalt, Phillips O’Brien, Brad Paisley, Sean Penn, Serhii Plokhii, Ivanna Sakhno, Eric Schmidt, Liev Schreiber, Timothy Snyder, Terrell Jermaine Starr, Barbra Streisand, Hilary Swank, Peter Wehner, Katheryn Winnick Organizations: Ukraine, CNN, Getty Locations: Russia, Russian, Crimean Tatars, Ukrainian, Kharkiv, Mariupol, Aleppo, Grozny, Europe, Donetsk, Ukraine, AFP, China, Beijing, Asia, East, Africa, United States

☆ Drones have turned the tables in recent African wars
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Drones recently supplied to Sudan by Iran are already making an impact in that country's brutal civil war. Similar types of drones played decisive roles in turning the tables in two previous African civil wars in recent years and could do so again. "It should come as no surprise that these drones are being used in wars around the world," Rogers told BI. In this context, drones are useful to achieve specific objectives, but they will not win the war alone," Rogers said. RANE's Dodd also credited Ethiopia's drone procurements for decisively "turning the tide" of the Tigray War.

Persons: —, Remi Dodd, RANE, it's, Dodd, James Patton Rogers, Rogers, Turkey's TB2, Loong, Debretsion Gebremichael, RANE's Dodd Organizations: Service, Business, Sudanese Armed Forces, Rapid Support Forces, United, Ethiopian, Tigray, Libyan National Army, Cornell Brooks Tech, Institute, Cornell University, American Warfare, Anadolu, Getty, Democratic Locations: Sudan, Iran, Iranian, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Libya, Tripoli, Omdurman, Tehran, Red, Yemen, Ukraine, Tigray War, Tigray, Addis Ababa, Ukrainian, New York, Donetsk, Nigeria, DRC, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso

☆ Why Australia keeps an arm’s length from South China Sea tensions, even as it draws closer with the Philippines
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —When Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. addressed the Australian Parliament last week there was no mistaking the fighting talk. The Philippines accused China's coast guard of setting up the barrier at the mouth of the disputed fishing ground. That meeting will also be attended by several other nations with territorial disagreements with China – including Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia. Collin Koh, research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said Australia was unlikely to back any tough language at the summit pertaining to the South China Sea or any other hot-button issue. As Bisley put it, “We don’t like what China does, but we’re not going to put ourselves in harm’s way.”

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, ”, Marcos, Rodrigo Duterte, –, Thomas Shoal, David, China’s, Marcos ’, China –, Scott Morrison, Collin Koh, Penny Wong annouced, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Lukas Coch, Susannah Patton, it’s, ” Patton, China’s aggressions, Wang Wenbin, Nick Bisley, Bisley, we’re Organizations: CNN, Maxar, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, China, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, Australia, Australian, Partners, Reuters, South China, Southeast Asia, Lowy Institute, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, La Trobe University Locations: Philippines, China, South China, Manila, China’s, Philippine, Scarborough, Scarborough Shoal, Hague, United States, Canberra, Australia, Melbourne, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Beijing, Singapore, South, Penny Wong annouced Canberra, Southeast Asia, Japan, India

☆ John C. Bahnsen Jr., 89, Dies; Fierce Commander During the Vietnam War
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Michael S. Rosenwald | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

John C. Bahnsen Jr., a retired Army brigadier general who was awarded 19 decorations for valor during the Vietnam War, mostly for his swashbuckling, hands-on command of an air cavalry troop that saw heavy combat, died on Feb. 21 at his home in Rochelle, Ga. His wife, Peggy Bahnsen, a retired lieutenant colonel, confirmed the death. She said he had congestive heart failure. General Bahnsen was among the most decorated combat veterans in U.S. history. He earned most of those awards during the second of two Vietnam tours, when he led a troop in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment that was commanded by Maj. Gen. George S. Patton, the son of Gen. George S. Patton Jr. of World War II fame.

Persons: John C, Bahnsen Jr, Peggy Bahnsen, Bahnsen, George S, Patton, Patton Jr Organizations: Army, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment Locations: Vietnam, Rochelle , Ga

☆ Employees at a Kentucky Dairy Queen say they were forced to eat ice cream contaminated with cleaning solution
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Dairy Queen workers claim a manager forced them to eat ice cream contaminated by cleaning products. The mother of a teen involved in the incident told local news many targeted workers were minors. Police are investigating after employees at a Dairy Queen in Kentucky say they were forced to eat ice cream contaminated with cleaning solution, local outlet WKYT reported. Several of them, she said, experienced burning sensations while eating the ice cream and sought medical treatment, though Business Insider could not verify her claims. However, he said Wolfe County officials are in contact with the county attorney to determine the next steps.

Persons: Angela Patton, Patton, WKYT, Elijah Banks, Wolfe, Ariana Grande Organizations: Police, Dairy, Office, Business Insider Locations: Kentucky, Campton , KY, Wolfe, New York, Japan

☆ Usher Gets Married After the Super Bowl
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Sadiba Hasan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

After delivering a dynamic halftime performance at the Super Bowl, the R&B star married his partner, Jennifer Jean Goicoechea, in Las Vegas on Sunday. “We can confirm that Usher and Jennifer Goicoechea took the next step in their relationship and did get married on Sunday night in Las Vegas surrounded by close friends and family,” said Lydia Kanuga, a representative for Usher. “They both look forward to continuing to raise their children together surrounded by love and thank everyone for the well wishes.”According to a court document, Ms. Goicoechea and Usher Raymond IV married at Vegas Weddings, a chapel in downtown Las Vegas. “We were beyond thrilled to host in this epic day for Usher and his new wife,” Melody Willis-Williams, president of Vegas Weddings, said in a statement. The couple obtained their marriage license from the Clark County Marriage License Bureau on Thursday.

Persons: It’s, Usher, Jennifer Jean Goicoechea, “, Jennifer Goicoechea, ”, Lydia Kanuga, Goicoechea, Usher Raymond IV, Ronald Joseph Pokrywka, who’s, Ron DeCar, Elvis, DeCar, Jonnetta Patton, Usher’s, Melody Willis, Williams Organizations: Super, Vegas Locations: Las Vegas, Clark

☆ Ukraine is setting up a separate branch of its military focused purely on drone warfare
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine is creating a new military branch for drone warfare, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. A military expert said it's likely the first time a country has set up a separate drone branch. AdvertisementUkraine is creating a new branch of its military dedicated to drone warfare. Ukraine has regularly used drones to take out Russian tanks, bomb trenches, hit equipment stores, and target soldiers. But drone warfare in Ukraine is not one-sided.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, it's, —, he'd, Zelenskyy, Bruce Riedel, Mykhailo Fedorov, Sergei Shoigu, James Patton Rogers Organizations: Service, Defense Forces —, Unmanned Systems Forces, Ukraine's National Security and Defense, Brookings Institution, NBC, Digital Transformation, Russia's, Cornell Brooks Tech Policy Institute Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russia

☆ A Rivian R1T blew through steel guardrails, reflecting safety experts' warnings about heavy vehicles and even heavier EVs
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The crash test highlights safety experts' concerns about faster and heavier EVs. AdvertisementA new video of a Rivian truck bursting through steel guardrails during a crash test highlights some of the safety concerns experts have raised about heavy electric vehicles. Bigger the car, deadlier the crashSafety experts have previously raised concerns about the risks heavy vehicles and heavier EVs could bring to the roads. In the UK, safety experts say the heavier weight could cause older parking garages across the country to collapse. "There is some urgency to address this issue," Cody Stolle, Midwest Roadside Safety Facility's assistant director, told the publication.

Persons: —, Rivian, Ann Carlson, Charles Krupa, Kevin Heaslip, Politifact, Steve Patton, Alexa St, John, Zhe Ji, Myles Russell, they're, Cody Stolle, Ford Organizations: Service, University of Nebraska, Safety Facility, Nebraska Today, Midwest, Safety, National, Traffic Safety Administration, Reuters, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Center for Transportation Research, University of Tennessee, P Global Mobility, EV, Alexa, Ferrari, GMC, Ford, Madison Hall, McLaren, Anadolu, Getty, Research, Tesla Locations: Manchester , New Hampshire, Canadian, North America

☆ Russian soldiers are most vulnerable when moving about during the long winter nights, but Ukraine's drone pilots often don't have the gear to hit them
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A challenge for Ukraine is that drone pilots often don't have the right gear to hit them though, a Ukrainian drone operator and a drone expert told Business Insider. But because operating drones in the dark requires more expensive equipment, Ukraine's options for striking during that time are limited. Drone pilots aren't equipped to hit themThere are a number of ways to hit the enemy at night, but cheap drones often aren't among the best options. Seeing at night requires Ukraine to use more expensive drone types or to put expensive upgrades on the cheaper, civilian drone types that many of its soldiers rely on. A Ukrainian drone operator recently told The Guardian there are so many drones over parts of Ukraine right now that soldiers on both sides don't know how to move forward.

Persons: —, Vitaliy, They're, Vlada, Kryukov, James Patton Rogers, Samuel Bendett, Ozge Elif, Rogers Organizations: Service, Business, Adam Tactical, Ukrainian, Cornell Brooks Tech Policy Institute, Center for Naval, Getty, Guardian Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Russia, Kupiansk, Kharkiv, Anadolu

“Porcelain War,” which follows last year’s “20 Days in Mariupol” as a Sundance documentary prize-winner that captures the war in Ukraine, was made by Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev. “A New Kind of Wilderness,” about a Norwegian family living off the grid, won the jury award for world documentary. Sean Wang's “Dìdi,” a coming-of-age film about a 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy, took the audience award for U.S. dramatic film. The NEXT audience award winner was the Irish drama “Kneecap,” about a Belfast rap trio, co-starring Michael Fassbender. ___For more coverage of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, visit https://apnews.com/hub/sundance-film-festival

Persons: ”, “, Alessandra Lacorazza, Lacorazza, Brendan Bellomo, Slava Leontyev, ” Natalie Rae, Angela Patton’s, Sean Wang's “, Dìdi ”, “ Ibelin, Benjamin Ree's, Mats Steen, Steen, Darren Aronofsky, David Schwimmer, Michael Fassbender, Jesse Eisenberg's, Kieran Culkin, Will Ferrell, Harper, Christopher Reeve, Eisenberg, Steven Soderbergh's Organizations: Sundance Film, Sundance, U.S, Netflix, NEXT, Searchlight Pictures, sundance Locations: Park City , Utah, Colombian American, Las Cruces , New Mexico, Mariupol, Ukraine, ”, Norwegian, Belfast, Harper Steele

☆ Video shows a Russian soldier diving out of the way of a drone, which then explodes just behind him
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewFootage appears to show a Russian soldier dodging a Ukrainian drone that's targeting him, before it hits the ground nearby and explodes. It said the soldier lured the drone toward him, and then dodged out of its way. A drone then enters the frame, and the soldier tries to run from it. pic.twitter.com/imTWG8FdVm — Arthur Morgan (@ArthurM40330824) January 14, 2024It's not clear how the soldier allegedly lured the drone, or why. Footage captured during the fighting has shown Ukrainian drones blowing up a Russian hideout, chasing Russian soldiers, and dropping grenades on tanks.

Persons: —, sid Organizations: Service, Business, 105th Infantry Regiment, Donetsk People's, Donetsk People's Republic 1st Army Corps, Donetsk, kr Locations: Russian, Donetsk, Donetsk People's Republic

☆ Drones in Ukraine have the same problem cell phones do in cold winter weather, giving pilots less time to hunt
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Vitaliy Kryukov, a loitering-munition commander for Ukraine's elite Adam Tactical Group, told Business Insider that fighting with drones in the winter comes with far more limitations. He compared it to what happens to cell phones in winter: "In the winter, you take your smartphone outside, and you'll notice that soon enough the battery will deplete much, much quicker." Upgrading drones to make them able to see at night, or simply using better-equipped drones, can be much more expensive. These drones are not the type that slam into targets and explode on impact, and there are fewer of them. AdvertisementHe said neither Russia or Ukraine is stopping their fight despite the conditions: "For sure Ukraine won't stop for the winter."

Persons: —, Ignacio Marin, Vitaliy, Kryukov, James Patton Rogers, Rogers, Kostya Organizations: Service, Business, Anadolu, Getty, Adam Tactical, Cornell Brooks Tech Policy Institute Locations: Ukraine, Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast, Russia, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Avdiivka

☆ Israel's war with Hamas shows why even 50 years of upgrades can't make tanks invulnerable
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Those losses have come despite the sophistication of Israeli tanks and Israel's experience using them. AdvertisementThe recent images of an advanced Israeli Merkava tank blazing on the Gaza border evokes memories of another October war 50 years ago. Nonetheless, about 20 Israeli tanks have been knocked out over the past two months by Hamas, an irregular force that lacks advanced weaponry. Tanks of 1973An Israeli tank in the Golan Heights during the Yom Kippur War in October 1973. Hamas drones dive-bombing Israeli tanks is probably more of a rare occurrence than a decisive tactic — though the IDF has mounted steel cages on its tanks for protection.

Persons: Israel, —, Oleg Granovsky, Henri, Patton, GABRIEL DUVAL, Benami NEUMANN, Israel Tal, Tal, Samuel Katz, Hani Alshaer, Sagger, Abu Mustafa, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Hamas, Hamas Press, Getty, Business, IDF, Sherman, NATO, Rommel's, Israeli Armored Corps, Getty Images Israel, West Bank, Britain, Anadolu Agency, REUTERS, Centurions, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Israeli, Gaza, Kippur, Ukraine, Anadolu, Golan, Israel, British, Soviet, Damascus, AFP, Britain, France, West, Jenin, Lebanon, Russian, Gaza City, Urban, Hamas, Sinai, aren't, Forbes

☆ China's big pig breeders dig in as losses and debts mount
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Dominique Patton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

BEIJING, Dec 4 (Reuters) - The biggest pig breeders in China, consumer of fully half the world's pork, seem to have bitten off more than they can chew. More huge losses are expected next year, putting China's pig enterprises under pressure to slim down their breeding herds and sell off farms, many of which are sitting empty. But now, especially given the companies' high debt levels, the analyst said: "It's hard for them to borrow any money from the banks." That follows a 17% surge in the first nine months of this year at China's 15 big market-listed breeders even as they reported 200 billion yuan in combined net losses. China's agriculture ministry has warned of heavier losses for the sector in early 2024 than a year ago and urged pig producers to cut output.

Persons: Lyle Jones, Hope Liuhe, they're, Flora Zhu, Dominique Patton, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Inc, Dalian Commodity Exchange, Tech - Bank, Jiangxi Zhengbang Technology, Analysts, Muyuan Foods, Foodstuff, WH, HK, Smithfield Foods, Hua'an Securities, China Corporate Research, Fitch, Beijing, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Fujian Aonong, Jiangxi, Beijing

☆ The US just sanctioned the Russian manufacturer of Lancet, a $35,000 tank-smashing 'suicide' drone that has been impeding Ukraine's counteroffensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US imposed sanctions against Russian manufacturer Zala Aero, which produces the Lancet drones. The Lancet drone is a loitering munition that stays near its target before crashing into it. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe US imposed sanctions on Thursday against a Russian manufacturer of lightweight drones that has been impeding the progress of Ukraine's counteroffensive. Lancet drones are small and lightweight, with its latest iteration, the Lancet-3M, weighing about 26.5 pounds — including the payload —and measuring less than 6 feet long, The Wall Street Journal reported. AdvertisementAdvertisementOne video circulating online appeared to show a Lancet drone dropping explosives on a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet that was sitting on the tarmac of an air base.

Persons: —, It's, Igor Zimenkov, Samuel Bendett, James Patton Rogers, Patton Rogers, Oleksandr Afanasyev Organizations: Zala Aero, Service, Ukraine, Department of State, US, SWIFT, State Department, Department, Foreign, Control, Street Journal, Center, New, New American Security, Reuters, Russia, IRIS, Cornell Tech Policy Institute, University of Southern, Aero Locations: Zala, Russian, Russia, New American, Germany, University of Southern Denmark, Ukrainian, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine

☆ Sinopec says signs new 27-year LNG supply deal with QatarEnergy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, or Sinopec, is displayed during the LNG 2023 energy trade show in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, July 12, 2023. Under the agreement, the two firms will cooperate on the second phase of the North Field gas project, which will supply 3 million metric tons of LNG per year to Sinopec. The deal, signed at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, is the third long-term supply deal between Sinopec and Qatar Energy, the world's top LNG supplier. The two parties signed a 10-year LNG purchase and sales agreement in 2021, followed by a 27-year deal last year. The North Field is part of the world's largest gas field which Qatar shares with Iran, which calls its share South Pars.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Jason Xue, Dominique Patton, Jason Neely Organizations: China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, REUTERS, Rights, China Petroleum & Chemical Corp, BEIJING, Qatar Energy, China, Qatar, Pars, Thomson Locations: Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, Shanghai, Sinopec, Iran

Overall, China's 2023 imports are likely to reach around 12 million tons, two Singapore-based traders said, topping 2022's record 9.96 million tons, and the avid buying is expected to continue into 2024. read moreBeijing has not provided a crop quality assessment. MORE TO COMEChina's January-September wheat imports jumped 53.6% to 10.17 million metric tons, customs data showed, including 6.4 million tons from Australia and 1.8 million tons from Canada. Chinese wheat purchases have stabilised global wheat prices, one of the Singapore traders said. Given lower output in Australia, traders and analysts said China is likely to import significantly higher volumes of French wheat in the coming months.

Persons: China's, Muyuan, Stefan Meyer, Ma Wenfeng, Price, Rosa Wang, Jeffrey McPike, Naveen Thukral, Dominique Patton, Peter Hobson, Gus Trompiz, Julie Ingwersen, Tony Munroe, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Traders, Russia, Reuters, El, Beijing Orient, Shanghai JC Intelligence Co, U.S, WASDEA Commodities, Thomson Locations: China, SINGAPORE, BEIJING, Chicago, Singapore, Australia, Beijing, Sydney, StoneX, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, North America, U.S, Canberra, Paris

☆ Global EV battery supply chain puzzles over China graphite curbs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Graphite powder, used for battery paste, is pictured in a Volkswagen pilot line for battery cell production in Salzgitter, Germany, May 18, 2022. China dominates the global EV battery supply chain including production of graphite - the single largest component. Graphite companies in the country process both the natural material mined domestically and overseas, as well as synthetic forms. Under the new rules, China will require export permits starting Dec. 1 for high-end synthetic graphite, as well as key forms of natural graphite. NATURAL GRAPHITE HITGlobal companies using natural graphite include Hitachi Chemical, part of Japan's Resonac Holdings Corp (4004.T), South Korea's POSCO Future M (003670.KS) and Japan's Mitsubishi Chemical, which produces natural graphite at two plants in China, according to research firm CRU Group.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Sunit Kapur, Zhang Yan, Siyi Liu, Brenda Goh, Satoshi Sugiyama, Heekyong Yang, Seoul ， Paul Lienert, Jing Xu, Dominique Patton, Tony Munroe, David Evans Organizations: Volkswagen, REUTERS, Rights, EV, Qingdao, Reuters, China's Ministry of Commerce, Gotion High Tech, BTR, Material Technology, Hitachi Chemical, Japan's Resonac Holdings Corp, Mitsubishi Chemical, CRU Group, Mitsubishi, Resources, Materials, Thomson Locations: Salzgitter, Germany, Beijing, China, Japan, South Korea, United States, U.S, Shanghai, Ningbo Shanshan, Indonesia, Finland, Japan's, Australia, Mozambique, U.S ., Louisiana, North Carolina, Toyko, Seoul ，, Detroit

☆ China export curbs choke off shipments of gallium, germanium for second month
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

China's exports of wrought germanium products stood at 1 kilogram, versus zero in August after a flurry of buying prior to the restrictions saw shipments of wrought products surge to 8.63 metric tons in July. China exported no wrought gallium products in August and September. Exporters of germanium and gallium products now need to obtain an export licence for dual-use items and technologies, meaning those with potential military and civilian applications. Some Chinese companies have obtained export licences for gallium and germanium products, the Ministry of Commerce said in September. China's exports of wrought germanium totaled 36.49 tons in the first nine months of 2023, up 47.4% on the year, while shipments of wrought gallium fell 61.9% on the year to 22.72 tons over the same period.

Persons: Amy Lv, Dominique Patton Organizations: cnsphoto, REUTERS, Rights, Ministry of Commerce, Shanghai Metals, Thomson Locations: Ningbo Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, Rights BEIJING, Beijing, Washington

☆ Chinese gallium prices hit 7-month high as demand improves, shipments resume
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Chinese prices of chip-making metal gallium hit their highest since February this week on stronger domestic demand and growing hopes of recovering exports, analysts and suppliers said. The spot price of gallium metal reached 1,975 yuan ($269.95) per kg on Oct. 18, up 18% since the start of July and up 8% since Aug. 1, data from consultancy Shanghai Metals Market showed. The Ministry of Commerce said last month that some Chinese companies have obtained export licences for gallium and germanium products. European prices of gallium metal surged by 68% from early July to $475 per kg on Oct. 18 and was up 23% from August, data from information provider Fastmarkets showed. ($1 = 7.3162 Chinese yuan)Reporting by Amy Lv and Dominique Patton in Beijing; Editing by Shounak DasguptaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Florence Lo, Li Yilan, Antaike, Amy Lv, Dominique Patton, Shounak Dasgupta Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, . Geological Survey, Shanghai Metals, Beijing, Commerce, Fastmarkets, Thomson Locations: China, Rights BEIJING, Beijing

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