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☆ Xpeng suspends supply chain boss for corruption probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Xpeng G9 SUV is on display during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, April 18, 2023. Chinese automaker Xpeng on Tuesday said it suspended Li Feng, its vice president in charge of supply chains, for a corruption probe. "Xpeng has a strict stance against corrupt activities. We remain vigilant in identifying and rectifying any instances of corruption promptly," a spokesperson for the company told CNBC. Xpeng shares were up around 2% in pre-market trade on Wednesday.

Persons: Xpeng, Li Feng, Feng Organizations: Shanghai International Automobile Industry, National Exhibition, Center, CNBC Locations: Shanghai

☆ Hispanic inclusion in corporate America lagged in 2022, new survey finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Brandon Gomez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Hispanic inclusion in corporate America lagged last year, particularly in three key areas — C-suite representation, talent development and supplier procurement — according to the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility's 2023 Corporate Inclusion Index. The corporate advocacy group's annual report, which measures Hispanic inclusion in employment, procurement, governance and philanthropy, was provided exclusively to CNBC ahead of its wider release. While all companies that participated in the survey reported offering internship programs, only 13% of interns in 2022 identified as Hispanic. "One way of combatting issues related to Hispanic inclusion in corporate America is investments in internship programs as a way of attracting new employees," HACR noted in its report. While Hispanic inclusion lagged, HACR noted survey participation was up 12%, offering hope for future improvement.

Persons: Lisette Garcia, Garcia, isn't, HACR Organizations: America, Hispanic Association, Corporate, Bureau of Labor Statistics, CNBC, Fortune, Latinas, Companies, Comcast Locations: America, United States

☆ Russia is using bags of cash and diamonds to avoid sanctions and fund its weapons program, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia is using illicit cash channels to fund covert activities, analysts say. Kremlin is exploiting gaps in sanctions laws, but also using older methods like cash and diamonds. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia is using covert financial networks to fund its purchases of banned weapons technology, getting round Western sanctions in the process, analysts told Insider. That money, he said, is then placed in accounts in countries such as Turkey and the UAE, where western sanctions are not closely enforced. Under Western sanctions, banks must investigate suspicious transactions to make sure they're not being used to circumvent sanctions.

Persons: —, Pavlo Verkhniatskyi, Verkhniatskyi, Banks, David Lewis, Russia Verkhniatskyi, FATF Organizations: Service, International, University of Exeter, Force Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Turkey, UAE, Kazakhstan, Armenia, North Korea, Iran, Myanmar

☆ Amazon launches first test satellites for Kuiper internet network
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Joey Roulette | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket emblazoned with the Amazon logo lifted off from Cape Canaveral shortly after 2 p.m. Eastern time (1800 GMT), carrying the two Kuiper test satellites, a long-awaited mission Amazon initially had intended to launch using different rockets. In the days leading up to the launch, Amazon divulged few specifics about the two satellites, which were built at its satellite plant in Redmond, Washington. Amazon has vowed to invest $10 billion into its Kuiper project, which was announced in 2019, the year SpaceX began deploying its first operational Starlink spacecraft. The market for broadband internet service from low-Earth orbiting satellites is viewed as being worth up to tens of billions of dollars in the next decade. Like SpaceX, Amazon aims to target individual consumers and enterprise customers with Kuiper, pulling from its devices playbook to build consumer terminals at a company cost of $400 each - though it has not yet announced prices.

Persons: SpaceX's Starlink, Elon, Canada's, Jeff Bezos, Joey Roulette, Chris Reese, Will Dunham 私たち Organizations: United, Alliance, Cape Canaveral Space Force, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, Boeing, Lockheed, Amazon Locations: Cape Canaveral , Florida, U.S, 読む WASHINGTON, Florida, Cape Canaveral, Redmond , Washington

☆ UAE's ADNOC awards $17 bln of contracts for gas project
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Logos of ADNOC are seen at Gastech, the world's biggest expo for the gas industry, in Chiba, Japan, April 4, 2017. Italian engineering group MAIRE (MTCM.MI) and energy services group Saipem (SPMI.MI) said in separate statements they had been awarded $8.7 billion and $4.1 billion contracts by ADNOC respectively for the project. MAIRE's onshore EPC contract is worth about $8.74 billion and includes CO2 and sulphur recovery and handling, ADNOC said. The Hail and Ghasha project will capture 1.5 million tonnes per year (mtpa) of CO2, which would raise ADNOC's committed investments for carbon capture capacity to almost 4 mtpa, the statement said. ADNOC - which in July brought forward its net zero carbon emissions target to 2045 - last week said it aimed to increase its carbon capture capacity to 10 mtpa by 2030.

Persons: Toru Hanai, MAIRE, MTCM.MI, ADNOC, Saipem, Saipem's, Al Kindy, Sultan al, Jaber, Yousef Saba, Clauda, Alberto Chiumento, Jan Harvey, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, ADNOC, National Petroleum Construction Company, Fertiglobe, United Arab Emirates, United, Thomson Locations: Gastech, Chiba, Japan, Rights DUBAI, Abu Dhabi, Saipem, UAE, United Nations, Dubai, Gdansk

☆ As China churns out warships, the US Navy is looking for drones and AI to help it pick up the pace at its struggling shipyards
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Meanwhile, China's navy is growing thanks to shipyards that churn out naval and commercial ships. The US Navy is now looking for new tools to improve maintenance and reduce delays at its shipyards. AdvertisementAdvertisementWith maintenance backlogs hampering fleet readiness, the US Navy is hoping that autonomous systems and artificial intelligence can fix its overburdened shipyards. The solicitation cited penetrant testing, ultrasonic testing, and magnetic testing as possible solutions. AdvertisementAdvertisementAt the same time, "the Federal Government sees the development of these capabilities as benefiting industrial maintenance activities in partnership with the Navy at commercial shipyards.

Persons: —, PO1 Emmitt, MCS3 Brandon Roberson, Michael Peck Organizations: US Navy, Service, Technologies, DON, Department of, Navy, sustainment, Corpus Christi, Navy Shipyards, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, PO1 Emmitt Hawks, Federal Government, Labor, Office, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Corpus, Pearl, Norfolk, Boise, China, Forbes

☆ Startups are hitting a road block when selling their AI to big companies. Investors and founders explain how to get around it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Meghan Morris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The procurement team, responsible for sourcing and pricing the services the company buys, can introduce significant barriers to enterprise startups. Sellers must navigate a thicket of data concerns and increasing price sensitivities, among other issues, with procurement teams that may have little familiarity with AI. Enterprise software deals are taking longer to close compared with last year, per a September survey from New York-based SAAS financing startup Capchase. "That's leading procurement teams to ask sellers 'what works here, tell me where I could have unanticipated outcomes?'" Nemeth said procurement teams want to be educated and help see deals through.

Persons: Samir Kumar, Kumar, Barack Obama, Obama, Reuters Kumar, Obama's, Miguel Fernandez Larrea, Fernandez Larrea, Tola, Sheila Gulati, Charles Cotugno Gulati, Rachael Nemeth, Nemeth Organizations: Microsoft, Qualcomm, Touring Capital, Companies, White House, Reuters, Enterprise, Vanderbilt University Locations: United States, New York

Rob Bauer of the Netherlands, the chair of the NATO Military Committee and NATO’s most senior military official, said of the West’s ammunition stockpile Tuesday during a discussion at the Warsaw Security Forum. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko/Reuters“We give away weapons systems to Ukraine, which is great, and ammunition, but not from full warehouses. “We have to keep Ukraine in the fight tonight and tomorrow and the day after and the day after,” Heappey said. That means, “continuing to give, day in day out, and rebuilding our own stockpiles,” he added. US military aid to Ukraine has amounted to a staggering $46.6 billion from the war’s start through July 31, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Adm, Rob Bauer, Serhii Nuzhnenko, Bauer, James Heappey, ” Heappey, “, Thomas Warrick, Oleksandr Ratushniak, Warrick, ”, Michael McCord, ” McCord, Lloyd Austin Organizations: CNN, NATO, NATO Military Committee, Warsaw Security, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, Reuters, Europe ”, Atlantic, nonresident, Foreign Relations, Pentagon, ” Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Netherlands, Ukrainian, Donetsk, Radio Free Europe, Europe, United Kingdom, United States, Washington

But officials have made clear recently that other forms of US aid are potentially in jeopardy if Ukraine does not do more to address corruption. The US has provided Ukraine with over $23 billion in direct budget support since the war began, according to the Congressional Research Service. In a statement to CNN, the Ukrainian embassy in Washington said that Ukraine has moved “ambitiously” to pass reforms, including on its IMF program. That money is also the “most closely scrutinized” form of aid to Ukraine, a senior Democratic Senate aide told CNN. The US intends to provide up to $3.3 billion in direct economic aid to Ukraine if Congress authorizes its $24 billion supplemental request for Ukraine.

Persons: Biden, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Volodymyr Zelensky, Matthew Miller, Miller, ”, Denys Shmyhal, Blinken, “, It’s, Megan Reed, Sen, Lindsey Graham, Zelensky Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, The State Department, Congressional Research Service, United States Agency for International Development, USAID, World Bank, Ukrainian Ministry of Finance, International Monetary Fund, IMF, National Bank of, General Prosecutors, National Security, Ukrainian, White, Ukrainska Pravda, Government of, EU, State Department, NATO, Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Democratic, Republicans, Pentagon, The Defense, Ukrainian MoD Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Washington, National Bank of Ukraine, USA, Russia, Kyiv, Europe, Government of Ukraine, United States, EU

☆ Indonesia launches China-backed 'Whoosh' high-speed railway
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo speaks about the planned new capital Nusantara, at Ecosperity Week in Singapore June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday inaugurated a $7.3 billion high-speed railway connecting the country's capital with the city of Bandung, a China-backed project that has been marred with problems. Monday's launch for the bullet train named "Whoosh" is far behind an original target of operations in 2019. "The name is inspired by the sound of a rushing high speed train," Jokowi, as the president is popularly called, said during the launch. Reporting by Yuddy Cahya Budiman; Writing by Ananda Teresia; Editing by Gayatri Suroyo and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Edgar Su, Jokowi, Luhut, Yuddy Cahya, Ananda Teresia, Gayatri Suroyo, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Nusantara, REUTERS, Rights, Initiative, Thomson Locations: Singapore, Rights JAKARTA, Bandung, China, Indonesian

☆ Indonesia launches first bullet train, WHOOSH, funded by China's Belt and Road infrastructure initiative
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Part of China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative and largely funded by Chinese state-owned firms, the $7.3 billion project opened to the public on Sunday. The train will travel between the capital Jakarta and Bandung in West Java, Indonesia’s second-largest city and a major arts and culture hub. Indonesia's outgoing President Joko Widodo rides the high-speed railway during a test ride in Jakarta. Akbar Nugroho Gumay/APWidodo and Chinese Premier Li Qiang were photographed taking test rides on the new high-speed railway throughout September. The train deal was first signed in 2015 as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and construction began later that year.

Persons: Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi, Dwiyana, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Joko Widodo, Xi Jinping, Akbar Nugroho Gumay, Li Qiang, ” Organizations: CNN —, Kereta, Surabaya –, PT, PT KCIC, Initiative Locations: CNN — Indonesia, Jakarta, Bandung, West Java, Indonesian, Indonesia China, Halim, East Jakarta, Padalarang, West Bandung, Surabaya, East Java Province, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Borobudur, AFP, Indonesia, Southeast, China, Rempang, Indonesia’s Riau

☆ EU's Borrell, in Kyiv, Says Bloc Is Preparing Long-Term Security Pledges
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) -European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said during a visit to Kyiv on Sunday that Ukraine needed more military aid and he promised ongoing EU support. "Ukraine needs more capabilities & needs them faster," he said in a statement posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. He said he had discussed "continuous EU military assistance" during his first in-person meeting with Defence Minister Rustem Umerov. "We are preparing long-term security commitments for Ukraine," Borrell added. He said their discussions of EU military aid to Ukraine covered "artillery & ammunition, air defense, EW & long-term assistance programs, trainings, and defence industry localization" in Ukraine.

Persons: Josep Borrell, Rustem Umerov, Borrell, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Elaine Monaghan, Hugh Lawson, William Maclean Organizations: Reuters, Union, Twitter, Defence, Ukraine, European Defence Agency Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Washington

☆ Activist Politan Capital engages with Azenta. Here’s how the firm may boost shareholder value
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Kenneth Squire | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Then, there is the life sciences services segment, which provides comprehensive sample management programs, integrated cold chain solutions, informatics and sample-based laboratory services to advance scientific research and support drug development. Activist Commentary: Politan Capital Management was founded by Quentin Koffey. This is Politan's second 13D filing and third activist campaign, all of which have been in the health-care sector. One-third of the company is cash, and investors want to know how it plans to deploy that capital. Ken Squire is the founder and president of 13D Monitor, an institutional research service on shareholder activism, and the founder and portfolio manager of the 13D Activist Fund, a mutual fund that invests in a portfolio of activist 13D investments.

Persons: Quentin Koffey, Koffey, Shaw, Brooks, Azenta, Thomas H, –, Politan, Ken Squire Organizations: Politan Capital Management, Investment Group, Elliott Associates, Lee Partners, B, Companies, 13D Locations: D.E

☆ Sikh group protests outside Golden Temple over killing in Canada
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Manoj Kumar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] A sign outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple is seen after the killing on its grounds in June 2023 of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada September 18, 2023. REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Sikh activists on Friday staged a demonstration outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar, in the northern Indian state of Punjab, demanding punishment for the killers of a Sikh separatist in Canada. Earlier this month, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told parliament that there may be a link between New Delhi and the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June in British Columbia. Holding posters of Nijjar, the protesters outside the holiest of Sikh shrines shouted slogans asking New Delhi to stop extrajudicial operations against separatists seeking Punjab as an independent state. Nijjar, who worked as a plumber, left the north Indian state of Punjab a quarter-century ago and became a Canadian citizen.

Persons: Nanak, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Chris Helgren, Justin Trudeau, Paramjit Singh Mand, Dal, Kanwar Pal, Sunil Kataria, Mayank Bhardwaj, Alison Williams Organizations: REUTERS, Canadian, Dal Khalsa, Thomson Locations: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, DELHI, Golden, Amritsar, Punjab, New Delhi, India, Canadian, Sikh

BRUSSELS, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Seven EU countries have ordered ammunition under a landmark European Union procurement scheme to get urgently needed artillery shells to Ukraine and replenish depleted Western stocks, according to the EU agency in charge. The scheme was set up as part of a plan worth at least 2 billion euros, launched in March with the aim of getting a million shells and missiles to Ukraine within a year. "Seven Member States have already placed orders for 155mm ammunition through the EDA’s fast-track procedure," the agency said in response to questions from Reuters. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in Kyiv on Thursday that the alliance now had overarching framework contracts for 2.4 billion euros' ($2.5 billion) worth of key ammunition, including 1 billion euros of firm orders. The EDA said the EU deals were for both complete shells and for components such as fuses, projectiles, charges and primers.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, France’s CAESAR, Poland’s, Germany’s, Andrew Gray Organizations: EU, European Union, European Defence Agency, States, Reuters, NATO, Peace, Andrew Gray Our, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, EU, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Kyiv, Europe, Ukrainian

☆ Japan's lunar startup ispace delays NASA-sponsored mission to 2026
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | Thomson Reuters | Kantaro Writes About Everything Japan'S Economic Indicators To North Korea'S Missiles To Global Regulation On Ai Companies. His Previous Stories Have Been Published In The Associated Press | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Japan's lunar transport startup ispace inc (9348.T) said on Thursday it would postpone a future moon landing mission by a year to 2026 to better prepare for a commission by U.S. agency NASA, as well as deal with component supply delays. Tokyo-based ispace attempted its first lunar landing with the Hakuto-R Mission 1 spacecraft in April, which failed due to an altitude miscalculation. The U.S. unit of ispace, which has partnered with spacecraft software developer Draper to build lunar landers, has also encountered procurement delays for some parts, Hakamada said. Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group, a MS&AD (8725.T) unit, paid 3.7 billion yen last month to ispace for Hakuto-R Mission 1's failure. The unsuccessful landing resulted in a steep sell-off, but the shares have since recovered, closing on Thursday at 1,401 yen.

Persons: ispace, Takeshi Hakamada, Draper, Hakamada, Kantaro Komiya, Himani Sarkar, Miral Organizations: U.S, NASA, Financial Times, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Tokyo, U.S

Li’s disappearance follows a series of unexplained personnel shakeups that have roiled the upper ranks of China’s ruling Communist Party this summer, including the ousting in July of former Foreign Minister Qin Gang. The Financial Times reported that the US government believes the defense minister has been placed under investigation, citing American officials. Li, who was sanctioned by the US in 2018 over China’s purchase of Russian weapons, is still listed as China’s defense minister, one of its five state councilors, and a member of the party’s powerful Central Military Commission (CMC). Beijing has never issued an explanation for Qin’s removal nor said that the former minister was under investigation. China’s State Council Information Office has not replied to queries from CNN on the matter.

Persons: Li Shangfu’s, Wu Qian, “, China’s, Qin, Li, Wu, Xi Jinping, they’ve, Li Shangfu, Antony Blinken Organizations: Beijing CNN, Defense Ministry, Communist Party, Foreign, Qin Gang, People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, CNN, Reuters, Communist, Street Journal, The Financial Times, Central Military Commission, Development Department, State, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times Locations: China, Beijing, Washington, United States

☆ JPMorgan upgrades this military shipbuilder, says recent decline offers a buying opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

It's time to buy U.S. military shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries , JPMorgan said. The bank upgraded the military shipbuilding company to overweight from neutral in a Thursday note, although lowered its price target to $247 from $250. Huntington Ingalls shares have struggled this quarter, losing 10.7% in that time. However, analyst Seth Seifman sees this as a buying opportunity for investors. Analysts are split on the stock, with just five rating it a buy or a strong buy, Refinitiv data shows.

Persons: Huntington, Huntington Ingalls, Seth Seifman, Seifman, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Huntington Ingalls Industries, JPMorgan, Defense, Navy, Navy Procurement

☆ 'Narwhal' ship: Taiwan unveils first domestically built submarine as China threat grows
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Eric Cheung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“It is also important equipment for our naval forces in developing asymmetric warfare strategies.”“In the past, many people thought building an indigenous submarine would be an impossible task. Taiwan's president gives a speech at the launch ceremony of Taiwan's first domestically built submarine, in Kaohsiung on September 28. Tsai said the indigenous submarine project was “a top priority” of her administration. Video Ad Feedback Taiwan's military is preparing in case China attacks. But Taiwan’s indigenous military procurement program remains a lynchpin of its defense strategy, particularly when it comes to systems like anti-ship missiles that could defend against a potential invasion.

Persons: Tsai Ing, Kun, ” Tsai, “, Tsai, Taiwan's, Eric Cheung, Sandra Oudkirk, Washington’s, Admiral Huang Shu, kuang, Huang, ” Huang, Collin Koh, ”, Admiral Huang, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Nancy Pelosi, Lee Teng Organizations: Taiwan CNN, Taiwan, CNN, National Security Council, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, PLA Navy, Party, US Pacific Fleet Locations: Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Taipei, Beijing, China, ”, Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Philippine, United States, Taiwan Strait, South Korea, India

Tipton, an appointee of Republican former President Donald Trump, blocked the Biden administration from enforcing the $15 minimum wage in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, states that last year filed a lawsuit challenging the executive order. The minimum wage under federal law is $7.25 an hour, though many states set higher minimums. Four states and several cities have a minimum wage of at least $15. Only Congress can set minimum wages and adopt other employment policies unless it specifically grants those powers to federal agencies, Tipton wrote. In January, a federal judge in Arizona dismissed a similar challenge to Biden's executive order by five other Republican-led states.

Persons: Joe Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, Drew Tipton, Donald Trump, Biden, Tipton, Lynn Fitch, Daniel Wiessner, Will Dunham, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: Moffett Federal, REUTERS, District, Democratic, Republican, U.S, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Mountain View , California, U.S, Texas, Victoria, Tipton, Texas , Louisiana, Mississippi, Arizona, Albany , New York

☆ Food-truck owners from marginalized communities are cooking up success with cloud-based POS systems and analytics software
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Christine Macintyre | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Today, these dynamic food trucks serve up gourmet delights and cater events, fueled by convenience and social media-driven connection. While the most apparent technology food-truck owners use is front-end POS systems, back-end technology is also essential. Food-truck owners face the challenge of frequent menu updates, often requiring them to recreate signage or hire someone for the task. This helps food-truck owners make informed decisions related to parking and operating hours, which significantly influences their sales performance. In fact, a 2022 study published by Elsevier found that location was a key challenge for food-truck owners, as it affected customer targeting, exposure, and financial sustainability.

Persons: —, IBISWorld, Let's Chow, Olivia, Luis Surla, Joselle's, Jordan Foley, Let's Chow Jordan Foley, Foley, Olivia Surla's, Sofiat, Abdulrazaaq, Lemaire Stewart, Kyle Miller, Goodfynd Organizations: Service, Food, Technology, Entrepreneurs, Joselle's, Pacific Islander, Goodfynd, Elsevier Locations: American, Annapolis , Maryland, San Diego, Pacific, Nigerian, Caribbean, Maryland

☆ Britain signs state-level trade accord with Washington
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Britain had hoped for a sweeping bilateral trade deal with the United States after splitting from the European Union, but with President Joe Biden putting all talks on free trade agreements on hold, the British government has pursued state-level agreements instead. The British trade ministry said aerospace would be a priority sector under the Washington MoU, with Boeing (BA.N) being based in the state. The MoU with Washington is the sixth such agreement with a U.S. state. Washington state is also the home of Amazon (AMZN.O), Starbucks (SBUX.O) and Microsoft (MSFT.O), and is the state with the 11th highest gross domestic product (GDP). The six U.S. states covered by MoUs with Britain have a combined GDP of over 2 trillion pounds ($2.4 trillion), Britain said.

Persons: Nusrat Ghani, Kirsty Wigglesworth, Britain, Joe Biden, Ghani, Alistair Smout, William James Our Organizations: Britain's, State Department for Business, Conference, U.S, European Union, Boeing, Starbucks, Microsoft, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, London, Britain, U.S ., Washington, Florida , Texas, California, United States, British, U.S

She cited unpublished information from Vietnam's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, which did not respond to requests for comment. In recent years, Japanese investors Toyota Tsusho and Sojitz abandoned projects at Dong Pao after China ramped up supply, pummelling prices. Reuters GraphicsStill, rare earths at Dong Pao are relatively easy to access and are mostly concentrated in bastnaesite ores, according to the Hanoi University of Mining and Geology. The plant has capacity to process 5,000 tons of REO a year but the company plans to treble that to accommodate input from Dong Pao, Tuan said. The metallization process is controlled by China, which produces 90% of rare-earth metals, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Persons: Dong Pao, Blackstone, VTRE, Tessa Kutscher, Anh Tuan, Joe Biden, Kutscher, Sojitz, Dylan Kelly, Vingroup, Rivian, Dong, Tuan, David Merriman, John Rockhold, Dudley Kingsnorth, Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio, Khanh, Melanie Burton, Trevor Hunnicutt, Mai Nguyen, Phuong, David Crawshaw Organizations: REUTERS, Australia's Blackstone Minerals Ltd, Vietnam's Ministry of Natural Resources, Earth JSC, U.S, . Geological Survey, Reuters, Toyota, Terra Capital, Blackstone, Hanoi University of Mining, REO, White House, Department of Commerce, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, Strategic, ASM, Reuters Graphics Reuters, U.S . Department of Energy, Western Australian School of Mines, Curtin University, Thomson Locations: Nam, Lai Chau, Vietnam, Pao, HANOI, Dong, Beijing, China, Hanoi, U.S, Dong Pao, VTRE, South, Khanh Vu, Melbourne, Seoul, Washington, Phuong Nguyen

☆ EU trade chief promises more 'assertive' approach to China as deficit soars
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

And we will be more assertive in tackling unfairness.”The trade chief’s visit comes as tensions flare between the bloc and China over trade imbalances and geopolitical issues. The bloc’s trade deficit with China hit 396 billion euros ($421 billion) last year, which was “the highest in the history of mankind,” Jorge Toledo, the EU ambassador to China, was quoted by Reuters as saying. Dombrovskis said China’s new foreign relations law and its newly broadened counter-espionage law, in particular, were of “great concern” to European business. Two months later, it unveiled a sweeping foreign relations law enshrining its right to impose “countermeasures” against actions that it deems a threat. Russia has become increasingly dependent on China since the Kremlin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Valdis Dombrovskis, “, ” Dombrovskis, ” Jorge Toledo, Dombrovskis, ”, enshrining, Vladimir Putin, — Lucas Liliholm, Manveena Suri Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Union, Tsinghua University, EU, China, Reuters, European Union, West, EU Chamber of Commerce, Kremlin Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Europe, EU, United States, Ukraine, Russia

“The strongest, yet not the only, headwind is Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and how China positions itself on this issue,” he said. Dombrovskis spoke before high-level economic and trade talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. EU leaders have expressed concern about the bloc's growing trade deficit with China, which reached 396 billion euros last year. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that China provides a market-oriented, law-based business environment for foreign companies. “So it’s very difficult for us to understand China’s stance on Russia’s war against Ukraine, as it breaches China’s own fundamental principles.”

Persons: Valdis Dombrovskis, ”, Dombrovskis, Ursula von der Leyen, Wang Wenbin, “ Organizations: BEIJING, Tsinghua University, EU, Ukraine, Lifeng, Tsinghua, Foreign Ministry, United Locations: China, Ukraine, Europe, EU, United States, Russian, Latvian

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