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☆ Hiroshima G7 marks costs of war and welcomes Ukraine's Zelenskiy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and French President Emmanuel Macron shake hands during the G7 leaders' summit in Hiroshima, Japan May 20, 2023. Zelenskiy will receive a hero's welcome during the closing day of the G7 summit hosted in Hiroshima, Japan, where leaders debated how to respond to a conflict that many expect only to escalate after nearly 15 months of fighting. On Sunday, Japan and South Korea, two of China's wealthiest neighbours, will highlight their improved ties with a joint meeting. But Zelenskiy has pushed the countries to go further on both economic and military measures. "Important meetings with partners and friends of Ukraine," Zelenskiy said on Twitter as he arrived in Hiroshima.

☆ Fact Check-New Canadian passport design represents seasons, not Pride flag
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

(Editor’s note: This article contains profanity)The new Canadian passport design does not include a rainbow Pride flag. On May 10, Canada unveiled its new passport design with upgraded security features, according to Reuters reporting (here). A tweet said: “These new Canadian Passports are an absolute DISGRACE They removed Terry Fox and Vimy Ridge for a f*cking PRIDE FLAG?? Most pride flags show six or more colors, as seen in Reuters pictures (here), (here), (here), not four like the new Canadian passport design. The new Canadian passport design does not feature a Pride flag, and the colors on the inside cover represent the four seasons.

NEW YORK, April 26 (Reuters) - Fast Retailing's (9983.T) Uniqlo plans to expand its existing stores in North America by 10%, according to one of its executives. Fast Retailing reported a 16.4% rise to 220 billion yen ($1.65 billion) in first-half operating profit earlier this month. The company also raised its full-year profit forecast to 360 billion yen ($2.7 billion) from 350 billion yen ($2.63 billion). Daisuke Tsukagoshi, Uniqlo North America chief executive, said in an email to Reuters that the chain chose to launch the Ottawa and Calgary stores after seeing a "strong online presence" there. Sweden's fast fashion giant H&M has more than 738 stores in North and South America as of February 2023, according to the retailer's website.

☆ Canadian dealmakers expect low-carbon shift will drive mining M&A
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Maiya Keidan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TORONTO, April 20 (Reuters) - Canadian advisors to mergers and acquisitions (M&A) expect a shift toward low-carbon technologies and government subsidies for them will spur dealmaking in mining for years to come and some are already gearing up for it. Clients are hiring mining people within dealmaking teams, and boutique M&A advisory firms are adding talent, mostly in mining, he said. Canada this year expanded an investment tax credit to equipment needed by mining companies - and any other companies in the EV supply chain - to extract or process critical minerals. For copper and nickel deals, it was the best quarter on record since at least 1990, the data showed. "Mining is one of those sectors where you really want to be prepared for the inevitable market pickup."

April 19 (Reuters) - Netflix Inc's (NFLX.O) shares fell nearly 3% on Wednesday after the streaming pioneer forecast current-quarter revenue and profit below Wall Street estimates, hit by a delay in the wider roll-out of its solution to password sharing. The company will now launch paid sharing widely, including in the U.S., between April and June. It reported a rise in subscriber growth in the first quarter in Canada - one of the markets where it has cracked down on password sharing. The move is expected to result in some knee-jerk churn and near-term earnings risks but should ultimately pay off, analysts said. "The next few months will likely be noisy as paid sharing headline risk grows louder, but we'd be buyers of related pullbacks," J.P.Morgan analyst Doug Anmuth said.

April 13 (Reuters) - The banking stress in the United States and Europe has had a limited impact on Canada's financial system so far, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said on Thursday, adding though that there was a need to actively monitor risks to the system. "You're seeing a little bit of spillover to Canada, but honestly, it's really been quite muted," Macklem said when asked about how the country's financial system had been affected. Macklem spoke at the International Monetary Fund in Washington where he is attending an annual meeting. The failures of U.S. lenders Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, followed by Credit Suisse's rescue, are prompting central bankers to closely monitor the potential for banking stress to trigger a credit crunch. On Wednesday the Bank of Canada (BoC) held its key overnight rate steady at 4.50%.

Police recovered six bodies on Thursday and believe the tragedy may have occurred on Wednesday night. The Akwesasne reserve straddles both sides of the St. Lawrence River, with land in Ontario and Quebec on the Canadian side, and New York. To fight smuggling of people and goods, local police monitor the river full-time with funds from Quebec. On Wednesday night, when the families likely sought to cross the river, the weather was poor. Reporting by Christinne Muschi in Akwesasne and Steve Scherer in Ottawa; Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Brazil to resume visa requirements for US, Japan, Australia, Canada -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Lisandra Paraguassu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A man walks in front the Itamaraty Palace, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in downtown Brasilia, Brazil, March 20, 2020. REUTERS/Adriano MachadoBRASILIA, March 8 (Reuters) - Brazil has decided to resume entry visa requirements for citizens of the U.S., Japan, Australia and Canada, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday. A diplomatic source said the 2019 decision to lift visa requirements had weakened Brazil's ability to negotiate with those countries. The number of tourist arrivals from the U.S. - who represent a small fraction of tourists in Brazil - in 2022 was still below 2018 figures. Meanwhile, the number of Japanese tourists fell in 2019 by 4.5% and only 17,000 visited Brazil in 2022.

☆ Americans can sponsor refugees directly under program launching this week
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Ted Hesson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Groups of Americans will be able to directly sponsor refugees for resettlement in the United States under a new program launching on Thursday, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, a step that could bolster admissions and reduce government costs. The sponsor groups will also be required to pass background checks and create a support plan. The program will aim to find U.S. sponsors for 5,000 refugees in fiscal year 2023, which ends on Sept. 30, another of the sources said. The administration also used parole to admit Afghans and Ukrainians and piloted sponsor programs to support them in the United States. Refugee Resettlement Program, which takes referrals from the United Nations and U.S. embassies.

☆ Americans can sponsor refugees directly under program launching this week -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Ted Hesson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

☆ The best ways to book domestic flights using Amex Membership Rewards points
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Jason Stauffer | Benji Stawski | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +18 min

Below, CNBC Select details the best ways to redeem Amex points to fly for free (or nearly free) across the U.S. Best Amex cards for earning Membership Rewards pointsAmerican Express has a strong lineup of both personal and business cards that earn transferrable Membership Rewards points. How to use Amex points for domestic flightsYou can only transfer Amex points to two U.S.-based airline programs: Delta SkyMiles and JetBlue TrueBlue. Booking United flights with Amex points Amex Membership Rewards points don't transfer to United MileagePlus, but you can book United award flights through United's Star Alliance partners, such as Avianca LifeMiles and Air Canada Aeroplan. By strategically transferring Amex points to partner airlines, you can use Amex points to book flights with United Airlines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and others.

☆ Mortgage shocks and a China-led inflation spike are among the top 5 global risks of 2023, according to Charles Schwab
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Carla Mozée | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Mortgage shocks and re-acceleration of inflation are among the top global risks for markets in 2023. In no particular order, here are Schwab's top five global risks in 2023:1. Central banks overtightenThe Fed, the ECB and the Bank of England last week downsized their latest rate increases to 50 basis points each. "However, major central banks are making it clear they aren't finished, despite stepping down the aggressive pace of rate hikes," said Kleintop. Ukraine war broadensKleintop said investors appear to be pricing expectations of the intensity of the Ukraine war subsiding and perhaps moving towards a negotiated resolution.

☆ France favourites but Morocco eye another knockout punch
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The match against former colonial power France will take on an added edge. Morocco's exploits in Qatar have provided an outlet for marginalised migrant communities in France, who have been out on the streets celebrating their wins. After finishing top of a group that also included Croatia, Belgium and Canada, Morocco then knocked off the fancied Spaniards and Portuguese to reach the semis. France are expected to attack, Morocco resist. When you watch Rocky, you want to support Rocky Balboa and I think we are the Rocky of this World Cup.

☆ Quebec ends mandatory oath to King Charles for elected officials
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MONTREAL, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Quebec on Friday passed a law ending a requirement for elected officials to take an oath to Britain's King Charles, agreeing to make such a show of fealty optional. Charles, 73, became king of the United Kingdom and the head of state of 14 other nations, including Canada, when his mother, Queen Elizabeth, died in September. "It's a beautiful moment for Quebec democracy," said PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon on Twitter. The PQ's three elected lawmakers tried unsuccessfully last week to enter the legislature after declining to take the oath. Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal; editing by John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Factbox: Western governments struggle to agree on Russian oil price cap
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Nov 29 (Reuters) - Western governments want to set a maximum purchase price for Russian oil on the world market to limit Moscow’s ability to raise money for its war on Ukraine. Here is what you need to know:WHO'S IN THE PRICE CAP COALITION? The EU had earlier agreed to impose an outright ban on Russian oil imports starting Dec. 5. The U.S. guidance further sketched out which types of companies would be obligated to participate in the cap plan. But traders point to parallel fleets that can handle Russian oil using Russian and other non-Western insurance.

The Bank of Canada raised rates by 50 basis points last month to fight high inflation, lifting the policy rate to 3.75%, the highest since the 4% level seen in January 2008. Rogers said the bank was monitoring how a combination of high home prices and high household debt - both longstanding economic vulnerabilities in Canada - could affect the stability of the financial system. After a blowout job gain report for October, Canada's annual inflation rate held steady that same month at 6.9%, matching analyst forecasts, while core inflation measures were mixed, data showed last week. Once fixed-rate mortgages hit the trigger point, lenders can ask them to pay more. Some 50% of those who have variable-rate mortgages, or about 13% of all Canadian mortgages, have already seen their payments reach the trigger point, the paper said.

☆ REUTERS EVENTS-Stellantis eyeing two more N. American battery plants by 2030
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DETROIT, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Stellantis (STLA.MI) will need four electric-vehicle battery plants in North America by 2030, the company's North American chief operating officer said on Tuesday. The automaker has already announced two joint-venture battery plants - one in Indiana and the other in Canada - and will need two more plants in the United States, Canada or Mexico, Mark Stewart said at a Reuters Events auto conference in Detroit. We will need four plants by 2030." Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe Indiana plant is a joint venture with South Korea's Samsung SDI (006400.KS), while the Canada plant will be built with South Korea's LG Energy Solution (373220.KS). Asked whether Stellantis was open to the workers at the joint-venture battery plants being represented by the United Auto workers union, Stewart said it was up to the workers but the company was open to the idea.

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