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☆ Defense giant BAE Systems linked to arms deals in countries accused of human rights abuses, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON — BAE Systems , the U.K.'s largest defense contractor, has established trading relationships with countries accused of human rights abuses, according to a new report that reveals the extensive reach of its lucrative arms business. Included in those are 13 countries on the U.K.'s human rights abuse watchlist, as well as 29 countries whose military actions have injured or killed civilians. It comes as BAE Systems sales have surged, hitting £194 billion ($242 billion) in the 10 years to 2022, with cumulative operating profits totalling £17 billion over the period, according to the report. The report said the booming trade highlighted how some defense companies were profiting from the lucrative arms trade amid rising global instability. "We know it's a bonanza right now for military sales," Overton said Tuesday, during a press briefing for the report's release.

Persons: Joseph Rowntree, Iain Overton, Overton Organizations: BAE Systems, Joseph, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, BAE, CNBC

[1/4] A wheel loader operator fills a truck with ore at the MP Materials rare earth mine in Mountain Pass, California, U.S. January 30, 2020. Market leader Tesla (TSLA.O) garnered headlines earlier this year saying it would cut rare earths from its next-generation EVs. China dominates the mining and processing of a group of 17 metals known as rare earths, though companies elsewhere are trying to loosen China's grip. 'WAITING IN THE WINGS'The average EV permanent magnet motor uses around 600 grams (1.32 lb) of heavy rare earth neodymium. Tesla's announcement on dropping rare earths "opened up buyers' eyes to the fact that you don't really need rare earths to make EV magnets," Niron CEO Jonathan Rowntree said.

Persons: Steve Marcus, Tesla, Otmar Scharrer, Scharrer, you've, Ben Chiswick, Uwe Deuke, Gerd Roesel, Jonathan Rowntree, Oki, James Edmondson, Edmondson, Mike Grant, Nick Carey, Christina Amann, Paul Lienert, Ernest Scheyder, Gilles Guillaume, Giulio Piovaccari, Ben Klayman, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Auto, LONDON, General Motors, Rover, Nissan, ZF, U.S, BMW, Renault, GM, EV, Warwick Acoustics, Thomson Locations: Pass , California, U.S, China, BERLIN, German, Detroit, Europe, London, Berlin, Houston, Paris, Milan

☆ Analysis: The US presidential election is next year. Here’s what that could mean for stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —The US presidential election is less than a year away. Wall Street has a laundry list of uncertainties that it worries could threaten the current stock rally, including the upcoming presidential election. But history shows that stocks typically gain during the fourth year of presidential terms. The S&P 500 has gained 6.2% on average during the fourth year of presidential terms since 1932, according to Yardeni Research. That’s below the 13.5% gain the index has averaged during the third year of presidential terms since 1931.

Persons: ’, There’s, Darrell Crate, ”, Goldman Sachs, Joe Abbott, Abbott, Loretta Mester, Bryan Mena, Elisabeth Buchwald, Hawkish, Mester, Heidi Gartland, “, ” Gartland, Read, Niron, Peter Valdes, Niron Magnetics, Jonathan Rowntree Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, The New York Fed, Management, Investors, Research, Yardeni Research, “, CNN, Cleveland Fed, Reserve Bank, Cleveland, Regional, Bank, General Motors, China General Motors Locations: New York, East, Russia, Ukraine, Wisconsin, China, Minnesota

☆ With big new EV motor investment, GM aims to cut reliance on China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

In electric vehicle motors, rapidly shifting magnetic fields spin a rotor made with magnets that contain “rare Earth minerals” such as terbium and dysprosium. China accounts for a large percentage of the world’s rare Earth minerals supply, according to the United States Geological Survey. And among those minerals used for EV motor magnets, China is responsible for about 90%, according to Niron. The technology could also make EV motors less expensive, he said, but declined to say by what percentage. Daniels would not say when GM expects to begin manufacturing EV motors using the new magnet technology.

Persons: Niron, Niron Magnetics, Jonathan Rowntree, GM EVs, ”, Kai Daniels, Stellantis, Rowntree, Daniels Organizations: New, New York CNN —, Motors, United States Geological Survey, GM, GM Ventures, Stellantis Ventures, Volvo Car Tech Fund, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Sioux Community, University of Minnesota Locations: New York, Wisconsin, China, dysprosium, Minnesota, Sioux

☆ GM, Stellantis invest in EV magnet startup in move to reduce China reliance
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] The GM logo is seen on the facade of the General Motors headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., March 16, 2021. Today, roughly 90% of the rare-earth magnet supply is dependent upon China." "There's a lot of manufacturing steps and a lack of price transparency in this industry with rare earths, given the concentration of supplies in China," Niron Senior Director Tom Grainger said. The deal comes despite GM's 2021 agreement to buy rare-earth magnets from MP Materials (MP.N). MP has struggled to refine its own rare earths in California, but has been building a magnet facility in Texas.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, Jonathan Rowntree, Anirvan Coomer, Adam Bazih, Niron, Tom Grainger, Nathan Gomes, Ernest Scheyder, Ben Klayman, Matthew Lewis Organizations: General Motors, REUTERS, GM, Stellantis Ventures, Materials, Thomson Locations: Detroit , Michigan, U.S, China, Minneapolis, California, Texas, Bengaluru, New York

☆ Why are all the cool Kit Kats only available internationally?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

They create buzz and urgency, which help decades-old brands like Kit Kat stay relevant. A few years later, Rowntree’s renamed the product Kit Kat Chocolate Crisp. Nigel Roddis/ReutersAfter manufacturing and distributing Kit Kat for decades, the British company entered into a deal with Hershey, giving it control over US Kit Kat distribution in 1970. Nostalgic candies, like traditional Kit Kat bars, exert a powerful hold over those who loved them in their childhood, she noted. When people reach for a Kit Kat, they’re reaching for a reliable jolt of sweetness and good feelings, she said.

Persons: Kit, Kit Kat, Kat, Kats, Behrouz Mehri, Nestlé, Lynn Dornblaser, Dornblaser, “, Kit Kat wasn’t, Chocolate Crisp, Rowntree’s, Kat Chocolate Crisp, Rowntree's Kit Kat, Nigel Roddis, Hershey, Kit Kats, Rowntree Mackintosh, Milo Kit Kat, Chris O’Donnell, ”, O’Donnell, it’s, Milo, Kit Kat Japan, Kat Churro, Justin Kukura, Marcia Mogelonsky, they’re Organizations: New, New York CNN, Target, Walmart, Hershey, Getty, Mintel Consulting, Reuters, Nestlé, Lotus, Hershey Company Locations: New York, United States, Japan, AFP, British, Hershey , Pennsylvania, ., Australia, Hershey

☆ Blur Wembley: Britpop veterans raise their game as they emerge as a true stadium band
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Peter Wilkinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Blur quite simply knock it out of Wembley’s capacious park, playing a superbly varied setlist of both hits from their mid-1990s heyday, and more reflective album tracks. Singer Damon Albarn was at times emotional -- a measure of how much the achievement of playing Wembley means to him and the band. The 10 p.m. curfew means a wistful “The Universal” echoes in people’s heads as they make their way home. Blur limit their outings such that fans appreciate them all the more when they do tour. A full Wembley crowd of all ages shows that they’re likely to retain their place in a new generation of hearts – just as Springsteen, McCartney and Elton have done – for years to come.

Persons: Europe’s, Damon Albarn, ” Albarn, Alex James, Graham Coxon, Singer Damon Albarn, Ian West, Albarn, Coxon, James, Dave Rowntree, –, Springsteen, McCartney, Elton Organizations: London CNN, Wembley, “, Blur, Gospel Choir, Gorillaz Locations: Europe

☆ Blur's Alex James on making new album: 'It's exciting and emotional'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Marie-Louise Gumuchian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Members of the British band Blur Alex James, Graham Coxon, Damon Albarn and Dave Rowntree, sit in a recording studio in this undated handout photo. Reuben Bastienne-Lewi/Parlophone... Read moreLONDON, May 19 (Reuters) - Recording Blur's first new album in eight years has been "exciting and emotional", bassist Alex James says, as the band prepares for a series of gigs this summer where fans will get to hear their new tunes. Blur, who exploded onto the British music scene in the early 1990s with hits like "Girls & Boys" and "Parklife", surprised fans on Thursday by announcing their ninth studio album, "The Ballad of Darren", would be released on July 21. "What's incredible about this record is it just does feel like we've just sort of picked up where we left off. We started making the record in the depths of winter, and now... we're into summer and we're ready to rock."

in order to cast their ballot when polling stations open in local elections next week, sparking concern that some parts of the electorate will in effect be disenfranchised by the change. Large parts of England vote in local council elections on May 4, and a national election is expected next year. In Northern Ireland and many countries in Europe, the need to produce photo ID is established and not unusual. But rapid adoption of this new system in England leaves campaigners fearing that voters will be caught out by the change. "There's a lot of risk in doing what is essentially the biggest change to our elections for a generation," she said.

☆ Fact Check-No evidence of family link between Messi and Nazi Bohne
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

No evidence supports a rumor that Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi is related to Gerhard Bohne, a Nazi who was extradited from Argentina in the 1960s. There is no evidence of close or distant family links to Bohne. Journalists Guillem Balagué (here) and Luca Caioli (lucacaioli.com/libros/messi/), who have both written biographies of Messi, told Reuters the rumor about Bohne is unfounded. Caioli said the Messi family is from the Italian region of Marche and that claims regarding a purported link to Bohne “do not add up.”Messi’s representative declined to provide a comment on the claim. There is no evidence of a family connection between Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Nazi Gerhard Bohne.

☆ Rishi Sunak is worth almost $850 million, making him Britain's richest prime minister. Here's why that could be a big problem.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Ryan Hogg | Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is worth about $850 million according to the Sunday Times Rich List. With wealth that rivals King Charles III, the former finance minister is the richest UK leader ever. The 42-year-old former chancellor (finance minister) has a net worth of £730 million ($847 million) according to the Sunday Times Rich List, and was ranked 222nd in May. Queen Elizabeth II was estimated to be worth about $440 million before her death, according to the Sunday Times. The ex-finance minister has a 19th century, Grade II-listed mansion in Yorkshire as well as a London home worth millions.

LONDON — If anyone thought Britain was due a period of calm after Boris Johnson’s tumultuous premiership, no one told his successor. But the proposed solution by new Prime Minister Liz Truss has quickly sent the economy spiraling into chaos, threatening consequences both immediate and long-lasting for many Britons. Prime Minister Liz Truss's government unveiled a financial plan last week that sparked market concern and public criticism. The nose-diving pound will also make everyday products in Britain more expensive as importers face spiraling costs. It wants to supercharge Britain’s sluggish economy by any means necessary — even if that means short-term shocks.

☆ O ciocolată oferită cadou de Regina Victoria, în urmă cu 121 de ani, a fost descoperită intactă
▼ + stars: | 2021-03-31 | by ( Publika.Md - Aici Sunt Știrile | ) www.publika.md time to read: +1 min

Ciocolata aparținea aristocratului englez Sir Henry Edward Paston-Bedingfield care a luptat în al doilea război al burilor ce s-a încheiat cu victoria regatului britanic. Pe capacul cutiei fiind scris și un mesaj din partea reginei: "Vă urez un An Nou Fericit”, însoțit de inscripția ”Africa de Sud 1900” și de un portret al suveranei.Cascheta militarului în care se afla cutia cu ciocolată a fost găsită după ce fiica aristocratului, Frances Greathead, a murit anul trecut, la vârsta de 100 de ani.Cel de-al doilea război al burilor a avut loc în perioada 1899-1902, conflictul încheindu-se la un an după moartea Reginei Victoria, trupele birtanice reușind să învingă forțele a două state sud-africane independente conduse de buri, coloniști afrikaneri. Teritoriile din Africa de Sud au fost astfel incorporate în Imperiul britanic.Regina Victoria (1819-1901) comandase ciocolata pentru a ridica moralul trupelor.Principalii trei producători de ciocolată din regat, Cadbury, Fry și Rowntree, făceau parte din mișcarea quakers (o mișcare religioasă cu rădăcini în biserica creștină, ce a luat naștere în Anglia la 1650) și erau împotriva războiului.Din acest motiv, ei au refuzat să primească bani pentru comanda reginei, iar produsele au fost livrate în cutii fără eticheta fabricantului.

Persons: englez Sir Henry Edward Paston, Bedingfield, Frances Greathead, Reginei Victoria, Victoria, Fry Locations: englez, britanic, Africa de Sud, Imperiul, Cadbury, Anglia

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