DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

REUTERS/Siddharth Cavale/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 1 (Reuters) - Walmart (WMT.N) said on Friday it is not advertising on social media platform X, one of the latest brands to say it has dropped the Elon Musk-owned site. "We aren't advertising on X as we've found other platforms to better reach our customers," a Walmart spokesperson said. X, formerly known as Twitter, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier this month, Musk agreed with an X user who falsely claimed members of the Jewish community were stoking hatred against white people, saying the user was speaking "the actual truth." Reporting by Siddharth Cavale in New York and Sheila Dang in Dallas; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Siddharth Cavale, Musk, Walt Disney, Sheila Dang, Chizu Nomiyama, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Walmart, Elon Musk, Twitter, New York Times, Apple, Warner Bros Discovery, Media, Thomson Locations: Teterboro , New Jersey, U.S, New York, Dallas

☆ Five senators ask Biden to impose China travel ban after respiratory illness cases
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Five Republican senators led by Marco Rubio on Friday asked President Joe Biden's administration to ban travel between the United States and China after a spike in Chinese respiratory illness cases. In recent months, the United States and China have been steadily increasing flights between the countries, that are still far below 2019 levels. The United States lifted the unprecedented travel restrictions for fully vaccinated international visitors starting in November 2021, including from China. The United States rescinded a separate requirement air travelers test negative before arriving in June 2022. The United States in January started requiring air passengers to get negative COVID tests after Beijing's decision to lift its stringent zero-COVID policies and lifted the requirements in March.

Persons: Joe Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, Marco Rubio, Joe Biden's, Rubio, Maria Van Kerkhove, Donald Trump, David Shepardson, Chizu Organizations: CS, REUTERS, Rights, Republican, Friday, Senate Intelligence, World Health Organization, China, Program, Embassy, Thomson Locations: Pueblo , Colorado, U.S, United States, China, Washington, States

The Justice Department, during the Trump administration, closed an investigation into the realtors organization. The Biden administration re-opened it in 2021 so it could probe how broadly housing listings are available and what fees home sellers pay to the brokers who represent buyers. The government's concern focused on private listings of homes, which NAR banned but left some exceptions, and a rule that requires sellers to pay the buyer's broker. Because of concern about "pocket listings," or private listings not available to the public, the NAR adopted a "Clear Cooperation Policy" in 2019 that was supposed to ban pocket listings but has been criticized for allowing exceptions. The NAR's Participation Rule had required brokers who listed a house to offer compensation to the buyer's broker.

Persons: Sarah Silbiger, Trump, Biden, Judge Florence Pan, Frederick Liu, Chris Michel, Diane Bartz, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Justice Department and National Association of Realtors, The Justice Department, realtors, U.S ., Appeals, Circuit, NAR, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ US manufacturing stays depressed in November-ISM
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Dec 1(Reuters) - U.S. manufacturing remained subdued in November, according to a survey on Friday that also showed factory employment declining. The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said that its manufacturing PMI was unchanged at 46.7 last month. According to the ISM, a PMI reading below 48.7 over a period of time generally indicates a contraction of the overall economy. This measure has not been a reliable predictor of manufacturing payrolls in the government's closely watched employment report. Manufacturing payrolls are expected to have rebounded in November as about 33,000 striking United Auto Workers union members returned to work.

Persons: Kamil Krzaczynski, payrolls, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Institute for Supply Management, PMI, Reuters, United Auto Workers, Thomson Locations: Normal , Illinois, U.S

REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Friday issued-long awaited guidance that will limit Chinese content in batteries eligible for electric vehicle tax credits starting next year. The FEOC rules come into effect in 2024 for completed batteries and 2025 for critical minerals used to produce them. Treasury said the few materials being exempted each account for less than 2% of the value of battery critical minerals. The rules are expected to further reduce the number of electric vehicles eligible for EV tax credits. Earlier this year, new battery and mineral sourcing requirements took effect with price and buyer income eligibility caps from Jan. 1.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, Biden, Joe Manchin, Manchin, David Shepardson, David Lawder, Chizu Organizations: Motors, Bolt, Orion Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Treasury, Alliance, Automotive Innovation, Ford Motor, The Energy Department, Companies, Energy, Thomson Locations: Lake Orion , Michigan, U.S, China, Michigan, North Korea, Russia, Iran, North America, Washington

☆ Exclusive: Activist investor Blackwells plans Wendy's board challenge -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Blackwells, run by Jason Aintabi, plans to nominate several directors to Wendy's 12-member board, said the sources, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential deliberations. It made no mention of any plans to challenge the Wendy's board. Wendy's reported adjusted third-quarter earnings per share of 27 cents last month, beating analysts' average estimate of 25 cents. Yet it posted same-restaurant sales growth of 2.8% globally and 2.2% for the United States that were lower than a year ago. In third quarter of 2022, Wendy's had reported global same-restaurant sales growth of 6.9% and U.S. same-restaurant sales growth of 6.4%.

Persons: Burger, Mario Anzuoni, Wendy's, Jason Aintabi, Nelson Peltz, Peter May, Matthew Peltz, Blackwells, Trian, Bob Iger, Peltz, Matthew H, McDonald's, Aintabi, John Foley, Foley, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Chizu Nomiyama, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Trian Fund Management, Walt Disney Co, Disney, Restaurant, International Inc, Burger, Interactive, Svea, Thomson Locations: Monrovia , California, North America, Wendy's, Dublin , Ohio, New York, United States, Rhode Island

Fresh data shows price pressures are easing and the labor market is gradually cooling, evidence that the slowdown the Fed has tried to engineer with its rate hikes to date is underway. Still, the unemployment rate at last read was 3.9%, only a few tenths of a percentage point above where it was when the Fed first began raising rates in March 2022. UNCERTAIN PATHTraders have been betting heavily that the Fed will keep its overnight benchmark interest rate steady in the 5.25%-5.50% range for the next several months. "I'm not losing too much sleep" over the market's view "because there's a lot of uncertainty about the future path of policy," Williams said. "I'm not thinking about rate cuts at all right now," Daly said.

Persons: John Williams, Williams, Janet Yellen, I'm, Mary Daly, Daly, Jerome Powell, Christopher Waller, Oscar Munoz, Dan Burns, Michael S, Howard Schneider, David Lawder, Chizu Nomiyama, Paul Simao, Andrea Ricci, Will Dunham Organizations: Federal Reserve, New York Fed Bank, Fed, U.S, Treasury, PATH Traders, San Francisco Fed, Spelman College, Derby, Thomson Locations: U.S, New, Atlanta

☆ Ukraine's new long-range rocket delivery from US pushed to next year
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

It was reported by Politico in February that delivery wouldn't take place until later in 2023. Ukraine needs GLSDB to augment the limited number of 100-mile range ATACMS rockets the U.S. has sent. Because the contract to begin production of GLSDB was signed in March, according to a Pentagon statement to Reuters, delivery was forced towards year-end. The decision to send the long-range rocket, something the U.S. government hasn't purchased for itself, followed a proposal last summer from Boeing Co (BA.N) to U.S. commanders in Europe managing weapons for Ukraine. GLSDB is made jointly by Sweden's SAAB AB (SAABb.ST) and Boeing Co (BA.N).

Persons: GLSDB, hasn't, Mike Stone, Chizu Organizations: Pentagon, Boeing, Reuters, Politico, Mobility Artillery, Boeing Co, U.S, Sweden's SAAB, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, U.S, Russia, Europe, Washington

☆ Appetite for stocks drives VIX options as investors guard portfolios
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Laura Matthews | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

VIX options contracts averaged nearly 760,000 daily, surpassing the record set in 2017, according to Cboe Global Markets (CBOE.Z), data as of Nov. 27. Such investors are "looking at trading VIX options as a way to potentially monetize their thinking", he said. Reuters GraphicsThe rise in VIX options trading is a change from 2022 when investors were reducing equities exposure and hoarding cash, according to CBOE data. With the VIX averaging 17 this year, VIX options' trading volume as a share of overall options volume is at 1.76%, the highest since 2020 - a much more volatile year when the VIX averaged 29, according to a Reuters analysis based on Trade Alert data. Timing profit-taking on VIX options in an environment where jumps in the volatility index are fleeting can be difficult, said Roni Israelov, chief investment officer at NDVR.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, Mandy Xu, That's, Joe Ferrara, JJ Kinahan, Seth Hickle, Roni Israelov, Laura Matthews, Saqib Iqbal Ahmed, Megan Davies, Chizu Organizations: New York Stock, REUTERS, . Federal, Cboe Global, Gateway Investment Advisers, Reuters, Trade, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Indiana, New York

☆ US consumer spending slows; labor market steadily easing
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Those hopes were reinforced by other data on Thursday showing the labor market gradually easing. Though wages remain elevated, the pace of increase has slowed from earlier in the year as the labor market eases. Personal consumptionINFLATION COOLINGInflation as measured by the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index was unchanged in October after rising 0.4% in September. Stripping out housing, the core PCE price index edged up 0.1% after gaining 0.3% in September. Still, the labor market is cooling in tandem with overall demand in the economy.

Persons: Sarah Silbiger, Jerome, Powell, Conrad DeQuadros, Nancy Vanden Houten, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Nomiyama, Andrea Ricci Organizations: El Progreso Market, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Brean, Commerce Department's, United Auto Workers, Treasury, Fed, Labor Department, Oxford Economics, Thomson Locations: Mount Pleasant, Washington ,, New York, outlays, U.S

Yellen will tour a Livent Corp (LTHM.N) facility in Bessemer City, North Carolina, that processes lithium hydroxide, a key ingredient in electric vehicle batteries. The plant near Charlotte is doubling its capacity due to increased demand for electric vehicles spurred by consumer tax credits of up $7,500 approved in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. These include $142 billion in EVs and batteries and $71 billion in clean energy manufacturing, and she attributed much of the investment to tax credits in the inflation reduction act. The Biden administration in coming days is expected to release new guidance on the levels of Chinese content that EV batteries can have and still qualify for IRA tax credits. It will take time for this to fade and for people to feel the benefits of higher wages, he added.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Joe Biden, Yellen, Biden, Donald Trump, Larry Sabato, we're, Sabato, David Lawder, Howard Schneider, Chizu Organizations: . Treasury, U.S, Livent Corp, Midwest, EV, University of Virginia's Center, Politics, Thomson Locations: North Carolina, Bessemer City , North Carolina, Charlotte, EVs, Argentina, Canada, U.S

☆ US refiner Phillips 66 retains big-name advisers for Elliott duel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. oil company Phillips 66 headquarters in Houston, Texas, U.S., September 27, 2020. REUTERS/Gary McWilliams/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 30 (Reuters) - U.S. oil refiner Phillips 66 (PSX.N) has retained two top financial and legal advisers for its duel with activist investor Elliott Investment Management, according to a person familiar with the matter. Elliott wants two board seats to be filled by executives with refining experience and faster action on restructuring the fourth-largest U.S. oil refiner to improve its lagging financial performance, the New York activist said on Wednesday. Phillips 66 is relying on financial and legal advice from Goldman Sachs (GS.N) and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, the person familiar with the matter said. A Phillips 66 spokesman declined to comment on the advisers or whether it has new meetings scheduled with the activist.

Persons: Gary McWilliams, refiner Phillips, Elliott, Phillips, Goldman Sachs, Lipton, Katz, Tudor Pickering Holt, Matthew Blair, Blair, David French, Chizu Organizations: Phillips, REUTERS, Elliott Investment Management, New, Wachtell, Rosen, Tudor Pickering Holt & Co, Chevron, Thomson Locations: Houston , Texas, U.S, New York, Houston, CPChem

☆ India Needs to Take Canada's Allegations Seriously, Trudeau Says After US Case
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

OTTAWA (Reuters) - U.S. allegations that an Indian government official directed an unsuccessful plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist on U.S. soil underscores the need for India to take similar allegations by Canada seriously, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday. "The news coming out of the United States further underscores what we've been talking about from the very beginning, which is that India needs to take this seriously," Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa. The U.S. charges come about two months after Canada said there were "credible" allegations linking Indian agents to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in a Vancouver suburb, in June. India has rejected that allegation. (Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Steve Scherer in Ottawa; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

Persons: Justin Trudeau, Trudeau, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, Chizu Nomiyama Organizations: OTTAWA, Indian, Canadian, U.S . Justice, New York City Locations: U.S, India, Canada, New York, United States, Ottawa, The U.S, Vancouver

☆ Indian gov't official directed Sikh separatist's assassination plot in US, DOJ says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, Nov 29 (Reuters) - An Indian government official directed an unsuccessful plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist on U.S. soil, the U.S. Justice Department said on Wednesday, in announcing charges against a man accused of orchestrating the attempted murder. Prosecutors did not name the Indian official or the target. According to prosecutors, the official recruited Gupta in May 2023 to orchestrate the assassination. The Indian government has complained about the presence of Sikh separatist groups outside India, including in Canada and the United States. The groups have kept alive the movement for Khalistan, or the demand for an independent Sikh state to be carved out of India.

Persons: Nikhil Gupta, Gupta, Damian Williams, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Nijjar, Luc Cohen, Doina Chiacu, Susan Heavey, Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Porter, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Indian, U.S . Justice, New York City, Prosecutors, Biden, Administration, Air, Air India Boeing, Thomson Locations: U.S, Manhattan, New York, India, Czech, New York City, Washington, United States, New Delhi, Canada, India's Punjab, Vancouver, Air India

☆ US sanctions cryptocurrency mixer Sinbad over alleged North Korea ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on a virtual currency mixer the Treasury Department said has processed millions of dollars worth of cryptocurrency from major heists carried out by North Korea-linked hackers. Lazarus, which has been sanctioned by the U.S., has been accused of carrying out some of the largest virtual currency heists to date. In March 2022, for example, it allegedly stole about $620 million in virtual currency from a blockchain project linked to the online game Axie Infinity. A virtual currency mixer is a software tool that pools and scrambles cryptocurrencies from thousands of addresses. Those that engage in certain transactions with the mixer also risk being hit with sanctions.

Persons: Lazarus, Wally Adeyemo, Sinbad, Daphne Psaledakis, Kanishka Singh, Paul Grant, Chizu Nomiyama, Paul Simao Organizations: Treasury Department, North, Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, United Nations, Blender, Treasury, Thomson Locations: United States, North Korea, heists, U.S, Finland, Netherlands

The U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation reported bank profits at $68.4 billion in the most recent quarter, down 3.4% from the prior quarter. Year over year, bank profits were down 4.6%, due in large part to banks setting aside more funds in provision expenses for potential loan losses, which were up 33.2% in the last four quarters. Noninterest income was down $4.1 billion, or 5.2%, in the third quarter, while realized losses climbed $3 billion, the FDIC said. "The banking industry continued to show resilience in the third quarter," said FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg in a prepared statement. Gruenberg, who typically holds a press conference following the release of the quarterly report on bank profits, was not made available to reporters Wednesday.

Persons: Sheila Bair, Jason Reed, Martin Gruenberg, Gruenberg, Sen, Joni Ernst, Pete Schroeder, Chizu Organizations: Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, FDIC, Republicans, Republican, Thomson Locations: Washington, Iowa

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. The comments are the first by the company on the future of the Cobre Panama mine's ownership since Tuesday's court ruling. Panama has seen unprecedented public protests after the government signed a new contract with First Quantum for its Cobre Panama mine. MacWilliam told the conference that given the events in Panama, it remains unclear when Cobre Panama will be able to resume operations. The mine closure also has consequences for the Central American nation, as Cobre Panama contributes about 5% to Panama's economy.

Persons: Laurentino Cortizo, Ryan MacWilliam, MacWilliam, Divya Rajagopal, Elida Moreno, Denny Thomas, Chizu Nomiyama, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Rights TORONTO, Quantum, Scotiabank, Reuters, Jiangxi Copper Co, Central, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Canadian, Jiangxi, Central American, Lincoln

☆ China's Xi visits financial hub Shanghai
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the Leaders Retreat at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, California, U.S., November 17, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Nov 29 (Reuters) - China President Xi Jinping visited Shanghai, where he went to several venues and learned about the city's efforts to strengthen its competitiveness as an international financial centre, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday. Xi made the trip on Tuesday and Wednesday and he inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations and a government-subsidized rental housing community, the report said. Vice Premier He Lifeng, Shanghai's Communist party secretary Chen Jining and Mayor Gong Zheng also accompanied his visit. It was his first visit to the city since November 2020 and comes a year after historic street protests against China's zero-COVID policy broke out in Shanghai.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Xi, Cai Qi, Chen Jining, Gong Zheng, Xi's, Premier Li Qiang, Brenda Goh, Bernard Orr, Ella Cao, Ethan Wang, Mark Potter, Louise Heavens, Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Porter Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, Shanghai Futures Exchange, Communist Party of China Central Committee, CPC, Communist, Shanghai Free, Trade, Disney, L'Oreal, Premier, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, China, Shanghai, Xinhua, Minhang

☆ Canada is seeking more cooperation from India in light of US allegations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. charges come about two months after Canada said there were "credible" allegations linking Indian agents to the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a Vancouver suburb, in June. "The news coming out of the United States further underscores what we've been talking about from the very beginning, which is that India needs to take this seriously," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa. Earlier on Wednesday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly urged India to be more forthcoming in the ongoing murder investigation. Both the United States and Canada are looking to build better ties with India to counter Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region, and the allegations undermine that effort. Neither New Delhi nor Ottawa looks likely to take dramatic steps to reconcile soon as Canada's murder investigation proceeds and Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares for Indian national elections by May.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, Hardeep Singh, Melanie Joly, Nijjar, Joly, Narendra Modi, Ismail Shakil, Steve Scherer, Chizu Nomiyama, Sandra Maler Organizations: Canadian, U.S . Justice, New York City, Indian, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, OTTAWA, Canada, India, British Columbia, The U.S, Vancouver, United States, Ottawa, Delhi

☆ US economy grows 5.2% in third quarter; higher interest rates eroding momentum
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The growth pace, which was the quickest in nearly two years, however, likely exaggerated the health of the economy last quarter. Economists polled by Reuters had expected GDP growth would be revised up to a 5.0% rate. Inventory investment added 1.40 percentage points to GDP growth, instead of the 1.32 percentage points estimated last month. Higher wages contributed to the economy growing at a 1.5% rate last quarter, the fastest in a year, when measured from the income side. That suggested trade could be a drag on GDP growth this quarter after being a neutral factor in the April-June period.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Christopher Rupkey, There's, Conrad DeQuadros, Jeffrey Roach, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Nomiyama, Paul Simao, Andrea Ricci Organizations: REUTERS, Commerce Department, Gross, Commerce Department's, Analysis, Reuters, Federal, United Auto Workers, Treasury, Brean, BEA, Fed, LPL Financial, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, WASHINGTON, New York, Charlotte , North Carolina

☆ US third-quarter growth revised higher; corporate profits rise strongly
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The quickest growth pace in nearly two years reported by the Commerce Department on Wednesday, however, likely exaggerated the health of the economy last quarter. Economists polled by Reuters had expected GDP growth would be revised up to a 5.0% rate. The upward revision to growth last quarter reflected upgrades to business investment on structures, mostly warehouses and healthcare facilities. Inventory investment added 1.40 percentage points to GDP growth. Profits rose at a 0.8% rate in the second quarter.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Christopher Rupkey, There's, Gregory Daco, Jeffrey Roach, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Nomiyama, Andrea Ricci Organizations: REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Commerce Department, Gross, Commerce Department's, Reuters, Federal, United Auto Workers, Treasury, Federal Reserve, Fed, LPL Financial, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, New York, EY, Charlotte , North Carolina

"We have decided to unanimously declare unconstitutional the entire law 406 of October 20, 2023," Supreme Court President Maria Eugenia Lopez said. First Quantum acknowledged the ruling and affirmed its "unwavering commitment to regulatory compliance in all aspects of our operations within the country." Panama President Laurentino Cortizo said the country will abide by the court ruling. For First Quantum, the Panama ruling would be a repeat of its decade-old experience in the Democratic Republic Of Congo. The company exited DRC in 2012 after it filed an arbitration procedure against the African country for cancelling its mining contract.

Persons: Aris Martinez, Maria Eugenia Lopez, Quantum, Laurentino Cortizo, Morgan, Ricardo Martinelli, Leonardo Di Caprio, Elida Moreno, Valentine Hilaire, Natalia Siniawski, Denny Thomas, Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Porter Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, Reuters, Panama, London Metal Exchange, Central, RBC, Democratic, Natural Resources Corporation PLC, Cobre, Thomson Locations: Panama's, Panama, Panama City, PANAMA, Central American, Democratic Republic Of Congo, Hollywood, Cobre Panama

☆ US consumer confidence rises in November
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A woman carries shopping bags during the holiday season in New York City, U.S., December 21, 2022. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 28 (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence rose in November after three straight monthly declines, though households continued to anticipate a recession over the next year, a survey showed on Tuesday. The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index increased to 102.0 this month from a downwardly revised 99.1 in October. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the index dipping to 101.0 from the previously reported 102.6. Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Eduardo Munoz, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Board, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S

☆ Putin won't make peace in Ukraine before 2024 US election -US official
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Residents watch tank cars set ablaze following recent shelling at a railway junction in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, October 31, 2023. Trump, who is seeking reelection in 2024 and is the leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, has been sharply critical of U.S. support for Kyiv. A senior official briefing reporters after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels said the alliance reiterated its support for Ukraine knowing that a peace agreement in the next year is unlikely. "My expectation is that Putin won't make a peace or a meaningful peace before he sees the result of our election," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the outcomes of the meeting. "That was the context in which the allies all expressed strong support for Ukraine" in the NATO meeting on Tuesday, the official added, without mentioning Trump by name or explicitly saying how the election result would affect support for Ukraine.

Persons: Stringer, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Trump, Putin, Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . State Department, Kyiv, Republican, ., NATO, Trump, Democrat, Representatives, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Donetsk, Russian, Rights BRUSSELS, U.S, Brussels, Kyiv

☆ Israeli, U.S. spy chiefs meet Qatari PM to discuss 'building on' Gaza truce - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The outcome of the talks, which were also attended by Egyptian officials, was unclear, the source added. Health authorities in Gaza say Israel's bombardment of the tiny, densely populated territory has so far killed more than 15,000 people, around 40% of them children. During the first four days of the truce, Hamas fighters released 50 Israeli women and children who had been taken hostage. As part of the two-day truce extension Hamas has agreed to release an additional 10 Israeli women and children each day. So far, there is no indication that Hamas is willing to release any Israeli men or military personnel among those taken captive.

Persons: William Burns, Burns, David Barnea, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman, Thani, Barnea, Sheikh Mohammed, Andrew Mills, Doina Chiacu, Nadine Awadalla, Alison Williams, Gareth Jones Organizations: U.S . Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, Palestinian, Hamas, Reuters, Egyptian, U.S, Qatari, Qatar, Israel, Health, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Doha, Israel, Gaza, Qatar, Washington

Search resuls for: "Chizu Nomiyama"

25 mentions found