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☆ China's Didi Global app disruption due to software failure, not cyberattack
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A driver of Chinese ride-hailing service Didi drives with a phone showing a navigation map on Didi's app, in Beijing, China July 5, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Nov 29 (Reuters) - China's Didi Global (92Sy.MU) ride-hailing app was disrupted earlier this week by an underlying system software failure and not a cyberattack, the company said in a statement on its social media account on Wednesday. The country's largest ride-hailing company faced widespread criticism this week after users in several cities were unable to book rides on Monday evening and complained about encountering glitches while using the app in the following days. Didi's China service recorded average daily transactions of 31.3 million in the third quarter, according to its latest results. Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Tom Hogue and Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Didi, Tingshu Wang, Tom Hogue, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING

☆ Australian sheep, cattle prices slump as El Nino scorches pastures
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Peter Hobson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

After three years of plentiful rain and rising livestock numbers, dry weather has withered pastures across Australia. The extreme change in conditions has helped trigger the fastest plunge in cattle and sheep prices in decades, threatening livelihoods in Australia's A$75 billion ($50 billion) red meat and livestock industry. While farmers suffer, falling livestock prices have brought some relief to Australian households hurting from high inflation. Falling U.S. beef production means demand for Australian beef should rise, helping support livestock prices, said Angus Gidley-Baird, an analyst at Rabobank in Sydney. Agricultural consultants Episode 3 estimate that Australian beef processors are reaping their best profits in at least two decades thanks to low local cattle prices and high sale prices in export markets.

Persons: Angus Hobson, Peter Hobson, Angus, Hobson, Stuart Austin, Wilmot, Angus Gidley, Baird, Teys, Mat Larkings, gaunt, haven't, they'll, Sonali Paul Organizations: Livestock, New, REUTERS, Beef, Livestock Australia, Woolworths, Data Monitor, Rabobank, Meat packers, Teys Australia, Farmers, Thomson Locations: Delegate, New South Wales, Australia, Angus Hobson's, Australia's, United States, El Nino, Japan, China, Sydney, Walcha

☆ US asks Israel to narrow zone of combat in any southern Gaza attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Palestinians cook among the houses destroyed in Israeli strikes during the conflict, amid the temporary truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at Khan Younis refugee camp, in the southern Gaza Strip, November 29, 2023. U.S. officials from President Joe Biden on down, including in the State Department and Pentagon, are pleading with Israel to take a more cautious approach if and when the Israeli military extends its offensive to southern Gaza. Two-thirds of the enclave's population of 2.3 million have fled south to avoid the war zone in the north. Israel's operation in the north drew strong international criticism and Biden has taken fire at home for his sweeping support for Israel. Many of the lead architects of the Hamas attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, in which 1,200 people were killed, are in the south, one official noted.

Persons: Mohammed Salem, Joe Biden, Israel, Biden, Washington, Steve Holland, Heather Timmons, Sonali Paul Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, State Department, Pentagon, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Khan, Gaza, United States, U.S

A woman picks a gold earring at a jewellery shop in the old quarters of Delhi, India, May 24, 2023. While India's gold demand has been solid so far in 2023, matching strength in the domestic economy, it appears that some momentum may be coming out of the market. The high price of gold for consumers in China may further crimp demand in the fourth quarter, after the World Gold Council reported a decline in third. The recent price rally is likely to trim demand growth in India in the current quarter. But countering the positive drivers are signs that high prices are undermining demand growth in the key markets of China and India.

Persons: Anushree, they're, Hong Kong, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Federal Reserve, Hong, Hong Kong Census, Statistics Department, Gold, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Delhi, India, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Hong, Central

☆ DP World says hackers stole Australian ports employee data
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Nov 28 (Reuters) - DP World Australia, one of the country's largest ports operators, said on Tuesday hackers had accessed files containing personal details of employees after a cyber incident early this month forced it to suspend operations for three days. "While the investigation has shown that customer data was not affected, some of the impacted data includes the personal information of current and previous employees," the company, part of Dubai's state-owned DP World, said in a statement. DP World did not provide any details about the perpetrators but said its investigation confirmed the incident was confined to its Australian operations and did not impact any other markets where the company operates. No ransomware was found or deployed within the DP World Australia network, the company said. After spotting the breach, DP World, one of a handful of stevedore industry players in Australia, disconnected from the internet, significantly impacting freight movements.

Persons: Renju Jose, Sonali Paul Organizations: SYDNEY, Fremantle, DP, Australia, Thomson Locations: Australia, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Western, Dubai's

☆ Fintech Clara launches payment account in Brazil eyeing $1 bln in transactions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAO PAULO, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Latin American fintech Clara has launched a payment account in Brazil that it expects will help it reach 6 billion reais ($1.23 billion) in transactions in 2024, the firm said on Tuesday, as it eyes growth in the region's largest economy. Clara, which also provides corporate cards and expense management solutions, said the new product would allow clients in Brazil to expand their payment methods, adding bank slips and express wire transfers (TEDs) to its traditional credit card. Clara announced in August it was moving its headquarters from Mexico to Brazil after obtaining a central bank license to operate as a payment institution there, allowing it to launch the so-called 'Clara Conta'. Clara's credit card already accounts for annual transactions of over a 1 billion reais in Brazil alone, and the company says operations have been doubling in size every six months. ($1 = 4.8964 reais)Reporting by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Clara, Clara Conta, Gabriel Araujo, Sonali Paul Organizations: SAO PAULO, Banco, Thomson Locations: Brazil, Mexico, Colombia

☆ South Carolina lawyer convicted of murder gets 27 years for financial crimes
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Alex Richard Murdaugh is seen in this police mugshot photo in Orlando, Florida, U.S., October 14, 2021. Murdaugh has appealed his murder convictions and maintains he is innocent of the killings. At his murder trial, prosecutors said Murdaugh killed his wife and son to distract from his financial crimes, through which he stole millions of dollars used to support a years-long opioids addiction and lavish lifestyle. He pleaded guilty to bank fraud and other financial felonies in a separate federal case in September. Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Alex Richard Murdaugh, Richard, Alex, Murdaugh, gunning, Maggie, Paul, Steve Gorman, Sonali Paul Organizations: ORANGE COUNTY, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Orlando , Florida, U.S, South Carolina, Charleston, Los Angeles

NXTP/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsMEXICO CITY, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Latin American venture capital firm NXTP has raised $98 million for a fund targeting technology startups largely in Brazil and Mexico, it said on Tuesday. Despite current macroeconomic headwinds, there is an "enormous" opportunity to invest in Latin American startups, said NXTP managing partner Darly Bendo. "We're seeing really low software penetration in Latin America" ranging from small-and-medium-size businesses to large corporations, he said. NXTP is now eyeing opportunities to invest the funds in startups primarily in Brazil, followed by Mexico. "It's an interesting moment to be investing in Latin America," said Busse, who pointed to buy-in from international and institutional investors in the latest fund as proof of increased demand.

Persons: NXTP, Darly Bendo, Alexander Busse, Bendo, Busse, Kylie Madry, Sonali Paul Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS Acquire, MEXICO CITY, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, Handout, MEXICO, Brazil, Mexico, America

☆ Brent slips toward $80/bbl ahead of OPEC+ meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Florence Tan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, U.S., November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Angus Mordant/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Oil prices slipped on Monday, with Brent falling toward $80 a barrel, as investors awaited the OPEC+ meeting later this week for an agreement to curb supplies into 2024. Since then, the group has moved closer to a compromise, four OPEC+ sources told Reuters on Friday. Ahead of the OPEC+ meeting, estimated exports by OPEC countries have declined to 1.3 million barrels per day below levels in April, Goldman Sachs analysts said in a note, in line with the group's supply targets. The International Energy Agency said it expects a slight surplus in global oil markets in 2024 even if the OPEC+ nations extend their cuts into next year.

Persons: Angus Mordant, Brent, Goldman Sachs, Vivek Dhar, Florence Tan, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Brent, U.S, West Texas, Organization of, Petroleum, Reuters, Friday, ING, OPEC, United, International Energy Agency, Commonwealth Bank, IEA, Thomson Locations: Loving County , Texas, U.S, Rights SINGAPORE, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Saudi, United Arab Emirates, Gaza

Firms like PetroChina (601857.SS) and CNOOC Gas and Power have signed long-term contracts with Shell (SHEL.L) to buy "carbon neutral" liquefied natural gas (LNG), which uses "forest offsets" to balance out carbon emissions. Greenpeace, which has long opposed fossil fuel producers counting carbon offsets toward their emissions reduction goals, said the "carbon neutral" branding was misleading the public. "For oil and gas companies in particular, carbon offsets are a smokescreen to obscure their continued, redoubled carbon emissions," said Li Jiatong, project leader with Greenpeace in Beijing. Rising sales of "carbon neutral" LNG are being driven by a surge in gas demand, particularly in Asia. While it is still a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, gas is cleaner than coal and has been described as a "bridge fuel" in the global energy transition, but anti-fossil fuel groups oppose any new gas projects.

Persons: Stringer, Li Jiatong, PetroChina, COP28, Polly Hemming, Hemming, David Stanway, Andrew Hayley, Emily Chow, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Greenpeace, CNOOC, Power, Shell, International Energy Agency, Energy, Australia Institute, Thomson Locations: Nantong, Jiangsu province, China, Rights SINGAPORE, Beijing, Asia

Eventually, China wants the schemes to be integrated into national emissions trading and generate credits that can offset emissions by industrial polluters, government plans show. PERSONAL CARBON TRADINGChina's carbon inclusion ambitions have been in gestation since 2015, when the southeastern province of Guangdong published rules on how to convert low-carbon activity into credits. Guangdong also allows enterprises to meet 10% of carbon reduction obligations through carbon inclusion credits. And there are worries the carbon inclusion schemes could let industrial polluters off the hook by shifting the burden of emission cuts to households. China climate official Su Wei told local media the green transformation of China would "inevitably involve profound changes in people's daily habits and consumption patterns", but he said carbon inclusion schemes would remain voluntary.

Persons: David Kirton, China's, Xie Zhenhua, Banks, Benjamin Sovacool, Li, Zhang Xin, people's, Yaqiu Wang, Su Wei, David Stanway, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, China, Communist, China Academy of Sciences, People's Bank of, Boston University, Environmental Studies, New, Thomson Locations: Pingshan district, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, SHENZHEN, Dubai, Guangdong, People's Bank of China, Quzhou, Finland, British, Singapore, New York, Shanghai, Beijing

☆ Biden to invoke Cold War-era law to boost medical supplies
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at a dinner hosted by the Human Rights Campaign at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, U.S., October 14, 2023. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 27 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden will invoke a Cold War-era measure to boost investment in U.S. manufacturing of medicines and medical supplies that he has deemed important for national defense, the White House said. Biden will authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to use powers under the Cold War-era Defense Production Act to enable investments in "essential medicines," the White House said in a statement. The areas of investment also include "medical countermeasures," which include supplies that diagnose, prevent, or treat diseases related to chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attacks. He is holding his first meeting of a new White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience on Monday.

Persons: Joe Biden, Ken Cedeno, Biden, Lael Brainard, Jason Lange, Jeff Mason, Sonali Paul Organizations: Human, Washington Convention Center, REUTERS, Rights, of Health, Human Services, White, Democrat, White House Council, Economic Council, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S

☆ Analysis-China Turns to Households in Fight to Slash Carbon Emissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

Eventually, China wants the schemes to be integrated into national emissions trading and generate credits that can offset emissions by industrial polluters, government plans show. PERSONAL CARBON TRADINGChina's carbon inclusion ambitions have been in gestation since 2015, when the southeastern province of Guangdong published rules on how to convert low-carbon activity into credits. Other countries have toyed with the idea of personal carbon trading, with pilot schemes set up in Finland and Australia's Norfolk Island. Guangdong also allows enterprises to meet 10% of carbon reduction obligations through carbon inclusion credits. And there are worries the carbon inclusion schemes could let industrial polluters off the hook by shifting the burden of emission cuts to households.

Persons: David Stanway, David Kirton, China's, Xie Zhenhua, Banks, Benjamin Sovacool, Li, Zhang Xin, people's, Yaqiu Wang, Su Wei, Sonali Paul Organizations: Communist, China Academy of Sciences, People's Bank of, Boston University, Environmental Studies, New Locations: China, Shenzhen, Dubai, Guangdong, People's Bank of China, Quzhou, Finland, British, Singapore, New York, Shanghai, Beijing

☆ Nissan invests $1.4 bln to build two new EV models in Britain
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Nissan has made its electric Leaf model in Sunderland for years and will continue to do so, with batteries supplied by a small plant at the site. It announced a $1.4 billion investment in 2021 to build a second, 9 gigawatt-hour (GWh) battery plant in Sunderland with Chinese partner Envision AESC. Nissan did not comment on the value of any subsidies or guarantees being provided by Britain. [1/4]Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt attach a Nissan badge to a car as they visit the car manufacturer, Nissan, in Sunderland, Britain, November 24, 2023. But Sunak, who became prime minister a year ago, is having some success turning that around.

Persons: Rishi, Sunak, Nissan's, Alan Johnson, Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor, Makoto Uchida, Brexit, Nick Carey, Sarah Young, Paul Sandle, Sonali Paul, Mark Potter Organizations: Nissan, Investment Summit, Britain, BBC, Britain's, India's Tata Motors, Rover, Thomson Locations: Sunderland, England, Britain, Europe, EVs

☆ Brent climbs ahead of OPEC+ oil production decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Colleen Howe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China January 4, 2023. Brent crude futures gained 29 cents, or 0.4%, to $81.71 at 0213 GMT, after settling down 0.7% in the previous session. Trading remained subdued because of the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S.On the demand side, poor refining margins have led to weaker crude demand from refineries in the U.S., analysts said. "Fundamentals developments have been bearish with rising U.S. oil inventories," ANZ analysts said in a note. In China, analysts say oil demand growth could weaken to around 4% in the first half of 2024 from strong post-COVID growth levels in 2023, as the country's property sector crunch weighs on diesel use.

Persons: Tony Sycamore, Brent, Colleen Howe, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Brent, . West Texas, of Petroleum, IG, ANZ, Petrobras, Thomson Locations: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, Rights BEIJING, WTI, U.S, Saudi Arabia, OPEC, Sydney

REUTERS/David Gray Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The long-term value of hotly contested $10.6 billion takeover target Origin Energy (ORG.AX) has been muddied by a government plan to accelerate the rollout of renewable energy, announced just hours before a key shareholder vote. However, the potential for new investment via the government's scheme undercuts Brookfield's argument that Origin and Australia needed its deep pockets to decarbonise quickly, Vickerson said. Pension giant AustralianSuper has argued Origin's stake in fast-growing British renewable energy company Octopus Energy, gas assets and millions of customers position the company well for the energy transition. The government's new scheme only strengthens the fund's conviction about Origin, according to a person familiar with AustralianSuper's thinking. However, Simon Mawhinney, chief investment officer at fund manager Allan Gray, which owns a roughly 3% stake in Origin, said the government's plan appears likely to push down returns.

Persons: David Gray, AustralianSuper, Max Vickerson, Vickerson, Brookfield, Tom Leske, Simon Mawhinney, Allan Gray, Lewis Jackson, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Energy, Morgans, Origin, AGL Energy, Churchill Capital, Octopus Energy, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Chatswood, Australia, Brookfield

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canada's First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Aris Martínez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 24 (Reuters) - Panama's top court started deliberations on Friday to rule on several constitutional challenges to First Quantum Minerals' (FM.TO) contract for the Cobre Panama mine, an outcome keenly watched by the global copper market and investors. Cobre Panama is one of the world's biggest and newest copper mines, producing about 1% of global copper supply. "Over the long-term we've invested more than $10 billion in turning the Cobre Panama into a world-class asset," Pascall was quoted as saying. However, Panama's top court in 2017 deemed unconstitutional the law under which First Quantum was operating the mine.

Persons: Tristan Pascall, Pascall, Greta Thunberg, Leonardo Di Caprio, Quantum, Valentine Hilaire, Divya Rajagopal, Denny Thomas, Sonali Paul Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Reuters, First, Central, LatAm, Co, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Central American, Jiangxi

☆ Nissan to invest $1.4 bln to build two new EV models in Britain
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A staff cleans charging ports of Nissan's Leaf battery electric vehicle during the Japan Mobility Show 2023 at Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo, Japan, November 1, 2023. Japan's third-biggest automaker said it would announce the names of the new EV models and timings for production launches at a later date. Earlier this year, Nissan raised its targets for EV models as it plays catch up in a segment dominated by newcomers like Tesla (TSLA.O) - saying it would launch 19 new EV models by 2030. The Nissan EV production announcement comes just months after India's Tata Motors (TAMO.NS) said it would invest 4 billion pounds in a UK EV battery plant to supply its Jaguar Land Rover factories. Industry experts had described the Tata battery plant as good progress, but argue Britain needs much more EV battery production capacity to maintain a viable, growing auto industry.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Makoto Uchida, Rishi Sunak, Nick Carey, Sonali Paul Organizations: Japan, REUTERS, Nissan, British, Nissan EV, India's Tata Motors, EV, Rover, Industry, Tata, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Sunderland, Europe, Britain

Under the new terms offered by Brookfield, the A$9.43 per share bid remains but some investors can stay invested in the energy markets business that would be owned by Brookfield. Brookfield's consortium partner EIG Partners would take on Origin's integrated gas business which includes the 27.5% stake in Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG). If that bid fails to achieve 75% shareholder support, an alternative proposal has been lodged that would see Origin sell the energy markets business to Brookfield for A$12.3 billion. When asked during a press conference if he had reservations about the revised deal, Chairman Scott Perkins said: "absolutely". DONE TALKINGFollowing the announcement of the revised offer, EIG CEO Blair Thomas told Reuters that he was done talking to AustralianSuper.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Australia's, EIG, Scott Perkins, Blair Thomas, Allan Gray, Simon Mawhinney, Mawhinney, Chris Bowen, Scott Murdoch, Lewis Jackson, Praveen Menon, Lincoln, Sonali Paul, Jamie Freed Organizations: Brookfield, REUTERS, SYDNEY, Brookfield ., EIG Partners, Australia Pacific LNG, Reuters, Brookfield consortium's, Energy, Thomson Locations: Brookfield, Sydney, Australia

☆ Oil down more than 1% as uncertainty swirls over delayed OPEC+ meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, U.S., November 22, 2019. In a surprise move, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia delayed to Nov. 30 a ministerial meeting where they were expected to discuss oil output cuts. Producers were struggling to agree on output levels and hence possible reductions ahead of the meeting originally set for Nov. 26, OPEC+ sources said. Analysts said that Angola, Congo and Nigeria were seeking to raise their 2024 supply quotas above the provisional levels agreed at the OPEC+ June meeting. U.S. oil rigs remained unchanged at 500 in the week to Nov. 22, energy services firm Baker Hughes (BKR.O) said in its closely followed report on Wednesday.

Persons: Angus Mordant, Baker Hughes, Brent, Helima Croft, RBC's Croft, Arathy Somasekhar, Andrew Hayley, Sonali Paul, Muralikumar Organizations: REUTERS, OPEC, . U.S . West Texas, Trade, Organization of, Petroleum, Producers, RBC Capital Markets, ING Bank, U.S . Coast Guard, Thomson Locations: Loving County , Texas, U.S, ., United States, Russia, OPEC, Angola, Congo, Nigeria, Niger, Saudi Arabia, Gulf of Mexico, Houston, Beijing

Origin said based on the early votes received the original offer would not have won support. Under the new terms, the A$9.43 per share bid remains but some investors can stay invested in the energy markets business that would be owned by Brookfield. If that bid fails to achieve 75% shareholder support, an alternative proposal has been lodged that would see Origin sell the energy markets business to Brookfield for A$12.3 billion ($8 billion). Origin shareholders would receive a total of A$9.08 per share, with an additional A$0.22 if EIG got up to 90.1% control of Origin. Institutional investors who have already voted on the A$9.43 offer can choose to change or keep their vote, or opt to invest in the energy markets business.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, EIG, Chris Bowen, Scott Murdoch, Lewis Jackson, Miral Fahmy, Lincoln, Sonali Paul Organizations: Brookfield, REUTERS, Companies Brookfield, Origin Energy, Brookfield ., EIG Partners, Australia Pacific LNG, Brookfield consortium's, Energy, Thomson Locations: SYDNEY, Brookfield, Sydney, Australian, Australia

☆ Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket passes launch rehearsal -ESA
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Europe's Ariane 6 launcher has passed a key rehearsal in preparation for its first flight, the European Space Agency (ESA) said on Thursday - part of efforts to bring the delayed rocket to the launchpad in 2024. Ariane 6 is being developed by ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus (AIR.PA) and Safran (SAF.PA), in order to better compete with U.S. private launch provider SpaceX. Russia blocked European use of its Soyuz rockets last year in response to Western sanctions over Ukraine. "We are back on track towards re-securing Europe's autonomous access to space," ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher said in a statement late on Thursday. Reporting By Tim Hepher in Paris; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Safran, Vega, Josef Aschbacher, Aschbacher, Tim Hepher, Jonathan Oatis, Sonali Paul Organizations: European Space Agency, ESA, ArianeGroup, Airbus, U.S, SpaceX, Soyuz, Thomson Locations: Guiana, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Paris

☆ Evergrande chairman's two luxury mansions seized by creditor - local media
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] The company logo is seen on the headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China September 26, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHONG KONG, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Two luxury homes in Hong Kong owned by the chairman of embattled property developer China Evergrande Group (3333.HK), Hui Ka Yan, have been seized by a creditor, local media outlet HK01 reported on Wednesday. Hui owns the two luxury homes in The Peak, which were pledged to Orix Asia Capital Ltd in November 2021 for undisclosed amounts, according to the Land Registry. Another of Hui's homes next to the two mansions was seized by China Construction Bank (Asia) in November last year. ($1 = 7.7949 Hong Kong dollars)Reporting by Xie Yu; Editing by Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aly, Hui Ka Yan, Hui, Evergrande, Xie Yu, Sonali Paul Organizations: China Evergrande Group, REUTERS, China Evergrande, HK, Orix Asia Capital Ltd, Reuters, China Construction Bank, Thomson Locations: China, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Asia

BRASILIA, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Brazil's Senate took the lead on Wednesday to curb what lawmakers see as judicial overreach by the country's Supreme Court and passed a constitutional amendment that limits the ability of justices to rule on issues individually. The bill passed by a wide margin of 52-18 votes in two rounds of voting required for constitutional amendments. Lawmakers have accused the Supreme Court of usurping the legislative function of Congress with rulings on social issues such as the court's decision to facilitate gay marriage. Proposals in Congress include limiting the years justices can sit on the Supreme Court and an amendment that would allow lawmakers to undo court decisions they view as unconstitutional. "Attacking the Supreme Court, changing the way ministers are appointed, shortening their tenure in office, interfering with their internal functioning are political options that are not good for democracy," he told local media.

Persons: Jair Bolsonaro, Oriovisto Guimaraes, Roberto Barroso, Anthony Boadle, Sonali Paul Organizations: Brazil's Senate, Supreme, Thomson Locations: BRASILIA

☆ North Korea scraps military deal with South, vows to deploy new weapons at border
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Soo-Hyang Choi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A North Korean flag flutters at the propaganda village of Gijungdong in North Korea, in this picture taken near the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, South Korea, February 7, 2023. Russia and North Korea have denied arms deals but have promised deeper cooperation, including on satellites. South Korea resumed the use of crewed and uncrewed reconnaissance aircraft in the border area on Wednesday, Yonhap news agency reported. Critics have said that the pact weakened Seoul's ability to monitor North Korea, and that Pyongyang had violated the agreement. South Korea has said the North Korean satellite was believed to have entered orbit, but it would take time to assess whether it was operating normally.

Persons: Kim Hong, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Moon Jae, Moon Chung, Moon, Kim, Critics, Bruce Klingner, Klingner, Soo, hyang Choi, Josh Smith, David Brunnstrom, Sonali Paul, Ed Davies, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, North, ., U.S . Department of State, CMA, ROK, South Korean, Yonsei University, CIA, U.S, Heritage Foundation, North Korean, Thomson Locations: Gijungdong, North Korea, Panmunjom, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, Seoul, Russia, Pyongyang, . North Korea, Korea, Washington

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