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Hours later, federal and state authorities said investigators had found no evidence of an act of terrorism, though circumstances surrounding the crash on the Rainbow Bridge remained murky, leaving it to be determined whether it was accidental or intentional. [1/15]A vehicle burns at the Rainbow Bridge U.S. border crossing with Canada, in Niagara Falls, New York, U.S. November 22, 2023 in a still image from video. The Rainbow Bridge and all three other border crossings along the Niagara River between western New York and the Canadian province of Ontario - the Peace Bridge, the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge and the Whirlpool Bridge - were shut for several hours as a precaution. The three bridges that were not involved were reopened early Wednesday evening, but the Rainbow crossing remained closed during the investigation and as officials assessed the crossing's safety. He said the vehicle, which he described as a luxury sedan, was "fish-tailing" out of control before it crashed.

Persons: Kathy Hochul, Paul Stanley, Hochul, Mike Guenther, Guenther, ”, Ted Hesson, Jonathan Landay, Ismail Shakil, Katharine Jackson, Daphne Psaledakis, Susan Heavey, Daniel Trotta, Andrew Hay, Ward Jasper, Makini Brice, Gabriella Borter, Joseph Ax, Richard Cowan, Daniel Whitcomb, Steve Gorman, David Gregorio, Leslie Adler Organizations: FBI, Twitter, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, Authorities, CNN, Bentley, Wednesday, U.S . Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Buffalo Niagara International, Rainbow Bridge, REUTERS, Whirlpool, Niagara - Frontier Transit Authority, Buffalo, Thomson Locations: New York, Ontario, Niagara Falls, U.S, Toronto, Canada, Niagara Falls , New York, Niagara, Canadian, Lewiston, Queenston, New York City, Kitchener , Ontario, Washington

On Tuesday, 2.6 million passengers were screened at airport security checkpoints, the highest ever for a Tuesday before Thanksgiving, according to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. [1/10]People go to their flight gates ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. November 22, 2023. The two major airports in Houston, Texas were expecting to shatter their record of air travelers from Nov. 16-28. Some 2.4 million people were expected to fly through Houston, up 11% from that period in 2022, the airports' management said. Out West, a snowstorm in the northern and central Rocky Mountains and adjacent High Plans will likely affect Thanksgiving travel from Wednesday night through Friday, the weather service said.

Persons: Mike Arnot, Vincent Alban Acquire, COVID, Hopper, Daniel Trotta, Allison Lampert, Joseph Ax, Gabriella Borter, Miral Fahmy, Jonathan Oatis, David Gregorio Our Organizations: National Weather Service, Airlines for America, U.S . Transportation Security Administration, Ontario . Buffalo Niagara International, O’Hare, REUTERS, American Automobile Association, AAA, Thomson Locations: U.S, United States, Canada, Niagara Falls, New York, Ontario, Chicago , Illinois, Houston , Texas, Houston, New England, New Hampshire, Rocky

☆ Australia goes on cyber offensive with sweeping resilience plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Broken Ethernet cable is seen in front of binary code and words "cyber security" in this illustration taken March 8, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Australia will give cyber health checks for small businesses, increase cyber law enforcement funding and introduce mandatory reporting of ransomware attacks under a security overhaul announced on Wednesday after a spate of attacks. "We cannot continue as we have," Cyber Security and Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil told reporters in Sydney. Unveiling the seven-year strategy, O'Neil said that while large businesses received some of the biggest cyber attacks, they typically recovered, but attacks on small and medium-size businesses could be terminal. "Minister O'Neil's Strategy establishes cyber security as a unifying nationwide endeavour," he added.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Clare O'Neil, O'Neil, Aidan Tudehope, O'Neil's, telco, Byron Kaye, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Labor, Security, Home Affairs, Australian Cyber Security, U.S, Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Macquarie Technology, telco Optus, Singapore Telecommunications, Medibank, Thomson Locations: Australia, Sydney, Britain

☆ Mali signs agreement with Russia to build gold refinery
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Tiemoko Diallo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BAMAKO, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Mali's military government said it has signed an agreement with Russia to build a gold refinery in the capital Bamako, one of a slew of deals between the two countries as Russia seeks to extend its regional influence. The deal is the latest sign of Russia's deepening interests in Mali, one of Africa's largest gold producers, just as Western influence there wanes. Russia's state nuclear energy company Rosatom signed an deal with Mali in October to explore for minerals and produce nuclear energy. Sanou said he had also signed a deal with a Russian firm to build a 200- to 300-megawatt solar power plant by mid-2025. Industrial gold production in Mali totalled 66.2 tonnes last year, mostly from mines owned by Barrick Gold (ABX.TO), B2Gold (BTO.TO), Resolute Mining (RSG.AX), Allied Gold (AAUC.TO) and Endeavour Mining .

Persons: Alousséni Sanou, Sanou, Rosatom, Wagner, Tiemoko Diallo, Hereward Holland, Edward McAllister, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Wagner Group, Islamic, Barrick Gold, Resolute Mining, Allied, Endeavour Mining, Thomson Locations: BAMAKO, Russia, Bamako, Mali, Russian, France, Africa, al Qaeda, Islamic State

The A$300 billion ($195.24 billion) pension fund was against the original offer, which it also said substantially undervalued the company's ability to profit from Australia's shift to renewable energy. 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. 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

[1/5] Passengers make their way through the terminal as they travel ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday at Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, U.S., November 22, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Acquire Licensing RightsNov 22 (Reuters) - Millions of Americans headed to the homes of friends and family on Wednesday, the day before the Thanksgiving holiday, on the busiest travel day since the pandemic, undeterred by a sprawling East Coast storm system that disrupted some flights and slowed traffic. Industry group Airlines for America forecast U.S. airlines would carry some 29.9 million passengers between Nov. 17 and Nov. 27. That figure would be an all-time high, 9% higher than last year and up 1.7 million passengers from the levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic. Out West, a snowstorm in the northern and central Rocky Mountains and adjacent High Plans will likely affect Thanksgiving travel from Wednesday night through Friday, the weather service said.

Persons: Kevin Lamarque, Hopper, Abraham Lincoln, Daniel Trotta, Joseph Ax, Miral Fahmy, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Washington Dulles International, REUTERS, Industry, Airlines, America, U.S . Transportation Security Administration, American Automobile Association, AAA, National Weather Service, Thomson Locations: Dulles , Virginia, U.S, East, COVID, Carolinas, Atlantic, New England, New Hampshire, Rocky

☆ Fortescue shareholders vote against remuneration report
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The logo of Fortescue Metals Group adorns their headquarters in Perth, Australia, November 11, 2015. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMELBOURNE, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Australia's Fortescue (FMG.AX) said shareholders did not approve its annual remuneration report at a vote at its annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday. "Based on the votes received to date on this resolution, Fortescue will receive a first strike for the FY 23 remuneration report," said Penny Bingham-Hall who is chair of the company's remuneration committee. "We acknowledge this feedback, particularly in relation to the special one off payments made in the last financial year." Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David Gray, Australia's Fortescue, FMG.AX, Fortescue, Penny Bingham, Melanie Burton, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Fortescue Metals, REUTERS, Rights MELBOURNE, Hall, Thomson Locations: Perth, Australia

☆ Bain Capital raises $7.1 bln in largest pan-Asia PE fund this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Kane Wu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The logo of Bain Capital is displayed on the screen during a news conference in Tokyo, Japan October 5, 2017. Bain Capital said the firm itself committed $750 million to Bain Capital Asia Fund V, alongside existing and new investors. At $7.1 billion, the fund is Bain Capital's biggest to date for Asia and also the region's largest private equity fund raised this year, according to Preqin data. Bain Capital, which started fundraising in the second half of 2022, had an initial target of $5 billion. Bain Capital invests across multiple asset classes, including credit, public equity, venture capital and real estate, managing approximately $180 billion in total assets globally.

Persons: Kim Kyung, you've, David Gross, Gross, Toshiba Corp's, Bain, Kane Wu, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Bain Capital, REUTERS, Bain Capital Asia Fund V, Bain Capital's, Bain, ., Toshiba, Chindata, Estia, Intelligence, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, HONG KONG, Asia, U.S, Bain Capital's Asia, . Asia, China, India

SYDNEY, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Australasian pharmaceutical distributor EBOS Group (EBO.NZ) has shelved a A$3.75 billion ($2.4 billion) deal to buy Australian vet chain Greencross, sending its shares down 7% during early trade on Wednesday. EBOS was due to pay A$3.75 billion to acquire Greencross, and was set to raise about A$2 billion as early as Wednesday, said one of the sources who could not be named discussing confidential information. The capital raising and associated buyout was put on hold because of weaker than expected demand from EBOS investors, the second source said. TPG and Greencross did not immediately respond to a request for comment. U.S. private equity TPG bought Greencross in 2019 and delisted it from the ASX in a deal worth A$669 million.

Persons: EBOS, Greencross, Scott Murdoch, Marguerita Choy, Stephen Coates Organizations: SYDNEY, EBOS, TPG Capital, TPG, Greencross, City Farmers, Liontown Resources, Thomson Locations: Australia, New Zealand, Albemarle, Sydney, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's AI firm Appen mulls selling part or whole of business
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 21 (Reuters) - Australia's AI firm Appen (APX.AX) said Tuesday it is mulling the sale of a part or whole of its business. Appen, which was one of the world's largest AI training providers, has implemented a raft of cost-saving initiatives and has seen its executive team being entirely replaced over the last two years. The company on Tuesday announced an equity raise of A$30-million ($19.52 million), aimed at boosting its working capital. It also announced an additional $14 million of cost reduction, boosting its cost-saving initiatives this year to $60 million. ($1 = 1.5366 Australian dollars)Reporting by Nausheen Thusoo in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank DhaniwalaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Nausheen, Mrigank Organizations: Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

Fortescue approved investments in the U.S. hydrogen hub in Phoenix, Arizona; the Gladstone 50 megawatt green hydrogen project in Queensland, Australia; and the Christmas Creek green iron trial commercial plant in Western Australia. About $550 million will be used for developing an electrolyser and liquefaction facility in Phoenix, where first production of liquid green hydrogen is targeted for 2026. I think some of the market's concerns will be allayed because the capital investment required is pretty minimal in the scheme of things." Under a plan to ramp up its green energy business, Fortescue said in August it would stop allocating 10% of its net profit to that unit. Fortescue shares were up 1% on Tuesday in a strong market for iron ore miners, with peers BHP (BHP.AX) and Rio Tinto (RIO.AX) up 1.5% and 2% respectively.

Persons: Melanie Burton, Australia's Fortescue, Fortescue, David Coates, BHP, Himanshi, Richard Chang, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Fortescue Metals Group, REUTERS, Arizona, MELBOURNE, Gladstone, Fortescue Energy, Fortescue, Rio Tinto, Thomson Locations: Pilbara, Port Hedland, Western Australia, U.S, Phoenix , Arizona, Queensland, Australia, Phoenix, Brazil, Kenya, Norway, BellPotter, Sydney, Michigan, New York, Rio, Bengaluru

☆ BHP train drivers to start 'restrained' industrial action on Friday
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BHP's iron ore operations include four processing hubs and five mines that are linked by more than 1,000 km (621 miles) of rail and port facilities. BHP said that the proposed action would present logistical challenges but that it had put in place arrangements to mitigate the impact. Worries about a strike had lent support to iron ore prices, which are trading at the highest levels since February. "Concerns over disruptions on the supply side due to the looming strike at BHP in Australia contributed to higher iron ore prices today," said Pei Hao, a Shanghai-based analyst at international brokerage FIS. Drivers received an offer from BHP last Wednesday that did not meet their expectations around rostering, arbitration and camp standards, Busson added.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Greg Busson, Busson, Pei Hao, BHP, Melanie Burton, Amy Lv, Gerry Doyle Organizations: BHP, REUTERS, Rights MELBOURNE, Reuters, Monday, Mining, Energy Union WA, Drivers, Thomson Locations: WA, Australia, Shanghai, rostering, Rio Tinto's, Beijing

☆ US appeals court ruling strikes at core of landmark voting rights law
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Joseph Ax | Companies Need To Integrate Climate Reporting Across Functions To Comply With California S New Law | Henry Engler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The ruling, which will likely be appealed, could set up the next voting rights battle at the U.S. Supreme Court. The vast majority of Voting Rights Act cases are filed by private parties. For instance, the case that prompted the Supreme Court earlier this year to strike down Alabama's congressional map was originally filed by a coalition of civil rights groups. In a dissent, Chief Judge Lavenski Smith, also a Bush appointee, said he would have followed existing precedent unless Congress or the Supreme Court said otherwise. Sophia Lin Lakin, the director of the American Civil Liberties Union's voting rights project and a lawyer for the plaintiffs, in a statement called the ruling a "travesty for democracy."

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, District Judge Lee Rudofsky, Donald Trump, David Stras, Raymond Gruender, George W, Bush, Judge Lavenski Smith, Sophia Lin Lakin, Joseph Ax, David Gregorio, Mark Porter Organizations: REUTERS, Firms American Civil Liberties, ., U.S, Supreme, District, Appeals, Trump, Circuit, Republican, American Civil Liberties, Thomson Locations: Queens, New York City, U.S, Arkansas

A pedestrian looks at his phone as he walks past a logo for Australia's Westpac Banking Corp located outside a branch in central Sydney, Australia, November 5, 2018. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Westpac Banking Corp (WBC.AX), Australia's third largest bank by market capitalisation, said on Monday it would raise A$750 million ($488.1 million) in an Additional Tier 1 (AT1) capital transaction. The AT1 bonds are used by banks to stabilise cashflow in periods of stress, according to APRA. Under that deal, holders of Credit Suisse AT1 bonds received nothing, while shareholders, who usually rank below bondholders in terms of who gets paid when a bank or company collapses, received $3.23 billion. ($1 = 1.5366 Australian dollars)Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David Gray, Stephen Jones, Scott Murdoch, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Stephen Coates Organizations: Australia's Westpac Banking Corp, REUTERS, Rights, Westpac Banking Corp, Westpac, prudential, Credit Suisse, APRA, Credit Suisse AT1s, Commonwealth Bank, Credit, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia

☆ Indian shares set for muted opening; TCS, Cipla in focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Sethuraman N R | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The new logo of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) building is seen in Mumbai, India, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGALORE, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Indian shares are set to open on a slightly muted note on Monday, with a focus on the global interest rate outlook after a more than 3% rally so far this month. The NSE Nifty 50 index (.NSEI) gained 1.58% last week, its best in two months, while the Sensex rose 1.37%. "Market is expected to continue its upward movement driven, by robust macro data and diminishing global concerns," SMC Global Securities said in a note. In global markets, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) edged up 0.3%, with investors awaiting minutes of the Fed's last meeting.

Persons: Francis Mascarenhas, Nifty, Sohini Goswami Organizations: Bombay Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Rights, NSE, U.S . Federal, SMC Global Securities, India's Tata Consultancy Services, United, United States Food, Drug Administration, CFM Mozambique, General Tax Authority, Sethuraman NR, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India, Rights BANGALORE, Asia, Pacific, Japan, United States, Qatar, Bengaluru

A board displaying stock prices is adorned with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) logo in central Sydney, Australia, February 13, 2018. That will, however, take time, with the overhaul now expected to finish in 2029, some 13 years after it began. It also prompted the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) to open an investigation into the exchange's disclosures about the project. ASX said it expected the first stage of the new project, clearing software, to cost between A$105 million and A$125 million with delivery around 2026. The cost and timing of the settlement and other software will be decided in 2024.

Persons: David Gray, Tim Whiteley, Joe Longo, Longo, Byron Kaye, Himanshi, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Australian Securities Exchange, REUTERS, Tata Consultancy Services, New, Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, India, Finland, Canada, New York, Bengaluru

☆ Australian bourse operator partners with TCS for long due trading software overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Himanshi Akhand | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A board displaying stock prices is adorned with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) logo in central Sydney, Australia, February 13, 2018. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 20 (Reuters) - Australian bourse operator ASX Ltd (ASX.AX) said on Monday it entered a deal with TATA Consultancy Services (TCS) <TCS.NS> to design and replace its trading, clearing and settlement system, after months of backlash since pulling a blockchain-based overhaul of the system last year. The estimated cost for the first release of the Clearing House Electronic Subregister System (CHESS) project is between A$105 million ($68.33 million) and A$125 million, to be incurred over multiple years, ASX said. ASX's initial attempt to overhaul CHESS earned rebuke from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and Reserve Bank of Australia, with the regulators demanding more thorough reporting on plans to update the 30-year-old software. ($1 = 1.5366 Australian dollars)Reporting by Himanshi Akhand in Bengaluru Editing by Chris Reese and Diane CraftOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David Gray, Joe Longo, Helen Lofthouse, Himanshi, Chris Reese, Diane Craft Organizations: Australian Securities Exchange, REUTERS, TATA Consultancy Services, Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Reserve Bank of Australia, Accenture, TCS, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Australian, Bengaluru

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko gives an update on the death and investigation of Pro-Israeli supporter Paul Kessler who died at a rally on November 5, 2023, Thousand Oaks, California, U.S, November 17, 2023. REUTERS/Jorge Garcia Acquire Licensing RightsTHOUSAND OAKS, California, Nov 17 (Reuters) - A California man pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and battery charges on Friday in the death of a Jewish man who fell to the ground and hit his head during an altercation between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators this month. Alnaji pleaded not guilty to the charges and remained jailed on a $50,000 bond, the prosecutor's office said. Neither murder nor voluntary manslaughter charges were filed because prosecutors found no evidence of malice aforethought or intent to kill, the DA said. Reporting by Jorge Garcia in Thousand Oaks, California; Additional reporting by Joseph Ax in New York and Brad Brooks in Longmont, Colorado; Writing and additional reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Kim Coghill and William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Erik Nasarenko, Paul Kessler, Jorge Garcia, Loay Alnaji, Alnaji, Kessler, Nasarenko, Jim Fryhoff, Witnesses, Imam Abdul, Latif Sackor, Sackor, Joseph Ax, Brad Brooks, Steve Gorman, Kim Coghill, William Mallard Organizations: Pro, REUTERS, Israel, Court, Palestinian, Hamas, . Police, Penn, Times, Police, Amtrak, Thomson Locations: Ventura County, Oaks , California, U.S, California, Moorpark , California, Los Angeles, Rhode Island, New York City, Manhattan, Oaks, Israel, Gaza, Rhode, Providence, Thousand Oaks , California, New York, Longmont , Colorado

☆ Rio Tinto to pay $28 million fine to settle US SEC fraud case
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Rio Tinto logo is displayed above the global mining group's booth at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) annual conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada March 7, 2023. Former chief executive Tom Albanese agreed to pay a $50,000 civil fine to settle related SEC claims. Neither he nor Rio Tinto admitted wrongdoing. Rio Tinto confirmed the settlement but declined additional comment. The case is SEC v Rio Tinto Plc et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Analisa Torres, Rio, Tom Albanese, Rio Tinto, James Loonam, Guy Elliott, Torres, Riversdale, Albanese, Theodore Wells, Wells, Jonathan Stempel, Bill Berkrot, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Rio Tinto, Developers Association of Canada, REUTERS, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, U.S, District, SEC, Rio Tinto Coal, Tinto, Court, Southern District of, Thomson Locations: Rio, Toronto , Ontario, Canada, U.S, Mozambique, Manhattan, Rio Tinto, Rio Tinto Coal Mozambique, Southern District, Southern District of New York, New York

☆ Blackstone, Macquarie deny ASPI sale report, pledge commitment
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Signage is seen outside the Blackstone Group headquarters in New York City, U.S., January 18, 2023. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMILAN, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Blackstone and Macquarie on Friday dismissed as "completely false" an Italian newspaper report about possible ownership changes at Autostrade per l'Italia (ASPI), pledging their commitment as investors in the motorway operator. Following the 2022 deal, ASPI is controlled by state-lender CDP with funds Blackstone (BX.N) and Australia's Macquarie (MQG.AX). Under JPMorgan's plan ASTM would transfer its assets to ASPI whose shareholders would be CDP, Gavio group and Blackstone. In denying the report, Macquarie said it was committed to the "ongoing delivery of ASPI's multi-billion euro investment programme".

Persons: JP Morgan, Italy's, ASPI, Australia's Macquarie, Macquarie, Blackstone, Matteo Salvini, Elisa Anzolin, Giuseppe Fonte, Valentina Za Organizations: Blackstone Group, REUTERS, Blackstone, La Stampa, ASTM, Benetton, Shareholders, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Macquarie, Ardian, Milan, Rome

☆ Western lithium, graphite miners boost prices for ESG-friendly supply
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Ernest Scheyder | Thomson Reuters | Ernest Scheyder Is An Award-Winning Senior Correspondent Covering The Green Energy Transition | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLOS ANGELES, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Western lithium and graphite miners have started charging the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain higher prices for their material, meeting demand for environmentally-friendly and consistent supply that is not linked to China. Lithium, the lightest metal, is used to make a battery's positively charged cathode and prized for its ability to store energy. Miners say the surcharges make investors more comfortable financing new projects, especially as Chinese rivals have been known to sell metals below prevailing market rates. Brazil's Sigma Lithium (SGML.V) has already begun selling its production at prices it says reflects its sustainability. The surcharge talk comes despite recent plunges in a range of lithium prices.

Persons: Ivan Alvarado, Patrice Boulanger, Shaun Verner, Amanda Hall, surcharges, Hugues Jacquemin, Ernest Scheyder, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Washington, China, EV, Panasonic Energy, Miners, Syrah Resources, Department of Energy, Tesla, ESG, Summit, Thomson Locations: Antofagasta region, Chile, China, Los Angeles, Brussels, Beijing, North America, United States, Louisiana, North, South America, Quebec

The logo of Sumitomo Metal Mining Co is pictured at the company's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, September 13, 2018. REUTERS/Ritsuko Shimizu/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Japan's Sumitomo Metal Mining (5713.T) is considering producing cathode battery materials in the United States among other options as it looks to expand output to meet demand from electric vehicles, an executive said on Thursday. Sumitomo Metal plans to bolster its annual output capacity to 120,000 tons by March 2028 and 180,000 tons by March 2031. The consortium consists of Sumitomo Metal, Mitsubishi (8058.T) and Mitsui (8031.T). Sumitomo Metal is targeting to boost annual nickel output capacity to 150,000 tons in a long-term from 82,000 tons now.

Persons: Ritsuko Shimizu, Katsuya Tanaka, ARL.AX, Masaru Takebayashi, Yuka Obayashi, David Evans Organizations: Sumitomo Metal Mining, REUTERS, Rights, Sumitomo Metal, Panasonic, U.S, Kalgoorlie Nickel, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, United States, Niihama, Pomalaa, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia

☆ Global dividends slide in Q3 as miners drag
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MILAN, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Global dividends fell 0.9% to $421.9 billion in the third quarter due to lower special dividends and a small number of corporations making large cuts to investor remuneration, a report showed on Wednesday. Janus said total dividends were slightly better than expected in the quarter despite lower one-off special payouts and exchange rate effects. "Special dividends have decreased, reflecting less M&A activity and the disappearance of windfall profits in sectors like mining," he added. The largest cuts to payouts were made by Brazilian oil group Petrobras (PETR4.SA) and Australian miner BHP (BHP.AX). More than half of mining companies reduced their payouts while 89% of companies overall raised their dividends or held them during the period, the report said.

Persons: Janus Henderson, Janus, Ben Lofthouse, Banks, Danilo Masoni, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: MILAN, Petrobras, PETR4, BHP, Chemicals, China Construction Bank Corp, China Mobile, HK, Thomson Locations: Brazil, Taiwan, Czech, Asia, PetroChina, Europe

☆ As Aussie magnates gatecrash lithium deals, bankers get creative
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Melanie Burton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

In taking the stakes, Hancock has underscored its expertise in building mining projects, while Mineral Resources has said it wants to be part of projects that will sustain its growth for decades. Hancock and Mineral Resources declined to make additional comments. As well as Liontown, Core Lithium (CXO.AX), Leo Lithium (LLL.AX) Latin Resources (LRS.AX) Patriot Metals , Chalice (CHN.AX), Centaurus (CTM.AX) and Rex Minerals (RXM.AX) have all been cited by brokers as buyout prospects. TWO-PRONGED SOLUTIONTheir deep pockets, risk appetite and Australia's competition laws means mining magnates have a home advantage against listed companies, industry sources say. One example that bankers offered in the case of SQM's bid for Azure was a two-pronged solution to erode any interloper advantage.

Persons: Gina Rinehart, Roy Hill's, Hancock, Chris Ellison, Rinehart's Hancock, Marc Upcroft, you've, Leo Lithium, Richard Lustig, Baker McKenzie, Melanie Burton, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: REUTERS, MELBOURNE, Mineral Resources, Australia's, PwC, Rex Minerals, Thomson Locations: Port Hedland, Australia, Australia's Liontown, Albemarle, Hancock, Melbourne

☆ US House: Court fights could tip control in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Joseph Ax | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

The state's highest court, the Court of Appeals, will hear arguments this week over whether to order a new map for 2024, as Democrats have asked, or to maintain the current map, as Republicans have argued. The new map was made possible by the state Supreme Court, after two conservative judges won election in 2022. The court's previous Democratic majority had thrown out a Republican map as an illegal gerrymander. UTAH: DEMOCRATS COULD GAIN ONE SEATThe state Supreme Court is weighing whether a Republican-drawn map that divided Democratic-leaning Salt Lake County into four districts violated the state constitution. The Republican state party has appealed.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Ron DeSantis, Al Lawson, Steve Jones, Brian Kemp, Jim Cooper, Joseph Ax, Jason Lange, Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . House, Representatives, Census, Democrats, Democratic, House, SEAT, Republican, Black Democrat, District, Black, U.S, Supreme, NORTH CAROLINA, REPUBLICANS, SOUTH CAROLINA, South, voters, NEW, SEAT Republicans, SEAT Civil, U.S . Department of Justice, Thomson Locations: Queens, New York City, U.S, Alabama, New York, FLORIDA, Florida, Black, GEORGIA, LOUISIANA, ALABAMA, UTAH, Salt Lake County, NEW MEXICO, TENNESSEE, Nashville's, TEXAS

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