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☆ Fact Check-Online claims about nutritional table lack context
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Food Compass has not been endorsed or promoted by the NHLBI or the government departments responsible for developing nutrition guidelines. TUFTS’ FOOD COMPASSThe Food Compass was developed by researchers at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University (bit.ly/3ZSHEUC). The Tufts team addressed claims about the graphic shared online in the Frequently Asked Questions section of its Food Compass website (here). “These graphs were created by others to show these exceptions, rather than to show the overall performance of Food Compass and the many other foods for which Food Compass works well. But, as objective scientists, we accept constructive criticism and are using this to further improve Food Compass,” the statement added.

☆ JPMorgan's Kolanovic gets even more underweight stocks as overtightening risk rises
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( John Melloy | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

JPMorgan's top market strategist Marko Kolanovic trimmed his allocation to equities further on concern the stock market is getting too optimistic about a economic soft landing by the Federal Reserve. Kolanovic, who gained a following for calling the stock market rebound during the pandemic in 2020, remains bullish on commodities. Within global equities, he is overweight China/emerging markets stocks on the reduction of Covid restrictions. Here's the asset allocation model from the bank now: Equities: Underweight by 3% (from 2% underweight) Govt. Despite being too optimistic during most of last year, the strategist said this asset allocation model still beat its benchmark.

☆ India considers banning news identified as 'fake' by govt on social media
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW DELHI, Jan 18 (Reuters) - India's government will not permit social media platforms to host any information that it identifies as false, according to a draft proposal of the country's IT rules released this week. Any information identified as "fake or false" by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), or by any other agency authorised for fact-checking by the government or "by its department in which such business is transacted", would be prohibited under the draft. Once information was identified as such, social media platforms or other "online intermediaries" would have to "make reasonable efforts" to ensure users do not "host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, store, update or share" such information, it added. In October, the government announced a panel would be set up to hear complaints from users regarding content moderation decisions of social media firms, which are already required to appoint in-house grievance redressal officers and executives to co-ordinate with law enforcement officials. Reporting by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[1/3] The sun sets on the U.S. Supreme Court building after a stormy day in Washington, U.S., November 11, 2022. Solicitor General's input on a lower court decision that prevented Apple and Broadcom from arguing the patents were invalid at trial. Apple and Broadcom also told the Federal Circuit that they should have been allowed to challenge the patents' validity at trial. The companies appealed that decision to the Supreme Court last September. The case is Apple Inc v. California Institute of Technology, U.S. Supreme Court, No.

☆ Brazil's govt formalizes Prates nomination as Petrobras CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Companies Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras FollowSAO PAULO, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras (PETR4.SA) said on Friday the government has officially nominated Jean Paul Prates to serve as its chief executive officer and board member. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had already announced he would appoint Prates for the top job. Reuters reported earlier on Friday, citing sources, that the nomination had been formalized. Reporting by Marta Nogueira and Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Steven GrattanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ German defence minister Lambrecht to step down -govt source
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Germany's defence minister Christine Lambrecht plans to resign, a government source said on Friday, potentially adding to chancellor Olaf Scholz's problems as he cautiously seeks to step up military support for Ukraine. The paper listed the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, Eva Hoegl, and junior defence minister Siemtje Moeller as potential successors. Spiegel magazine added SPD party head Lars Klingbeil and Labour Minister Hubertus Heil to the list of candidates. The news comes as Scholz is under pressure to approve an increase in international military support for Kyiv to help it repel Russian forces from Ukraine. Associated with this were for me many special impressions, many encounters with interesting, great people," Lambrecht said in the video.

☆ China condemns Kabul attack, hopes Afghan govt can protect citizens of all countries
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING, Jan 12 (Reuters) - China strongly condemns the Kabul attack and hopes the Afghan government can protect citizens from all countries, including Chinese nationals, the Chinese foreign ministry said at a regular daily briefing on Thursday. According to Reuters, a suicide bomber killed at least five people outside the Afghan foreign ministry on Wednesday, police said, and a nearby hospital said over 40 people were wounded. "As far as we know there are not many killed or injured in this terrorist attack," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin when asked a question about the blast that reportedly was targeting a Chinese delegation. Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Writing by Bernard Orr; Editing by Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The French will have to work two years longer to age 64 before retiring, if the reform, announced on Tuesday, is adopted by parliament. They will also need to work longer to get a full pension. "I don't understand the principle of making people work longer when there are lots of young people looking for work." Unions will in any case get the support of the left-wing Nupes coalition in parliament, which urged workers to protest on Jan. 19. Under its plan, the retirement age will be raised by three months per year from September, reaching the target age of 64 in 2030.

The proposed new legislation, which still needs to be passed by parliament, would allow new reactors to be constructed at additional locations across Sweden and was seen being in place in March next year. "We have an obvious need for more electricity production in Sweden," Kristersson told a news conference. "What we are doing today is changing legislation to allow for the construction of more nuclear reactors at more places." Any expansion of nuclear power in Sweden could take many years given the complexity of such projects while energy demand is expected to rise sharply in coming years. Sweden currently has six operational reactors, half of what it once had, and temporary closures for maintenance of some of them have contributed to push up electricity prices in the Nordic country in recent months.

☆ Biden's mishandling of classified records isn't as legally perilous as Trump's, but may pose serious national security risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Trump's former White House lawyer told Insider that AG Garland should appoint a special counsel to investigate Biden. A source familiar with the matter told CNN that Lausch has finished the initial part of his investigation and presented his preliminary findings to Garland. Still, he criticized the White House for waiting more than two months to disclose the existence of the inquiry. "It appears that at least two of the aggravating factors, obstruction and willfulness, are present in the Trump case, but absent in the Biden case." Cobb, Trump's former White House counsel, went further, saying that drawing a distinction between the two cases is akin to "putting lipstick on a pig."

☆ Peru mourns growing protester death toll, as govt seeks confidence vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hours later, Jorge Angulo, head of the operational command of the national police, confirmed the death of one policeman who was in the vehicle. Castillo is serving 18 months of pre-trial detention while being investigated for "rebellion" after trying to close Congress, a charge he denies. Images from local media showed looting of businesses in Puno on Monday night and the region's Juliaca airport remained closed on Tuesday. Likewise, airport operations in the Andean region of Ayacucho remained suspended as a security measure. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has announced it will visit Peru this week from Wednesday to Friday to assess the situation.

☆ Brazil's govt: rioters 'will not succeed' in destroying democracy'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The protesters swarmed into Congress, the Supreme Court and presidential palace on Sunday. Lula and the heads of the Supreme Court, Senate and Lower House also signed a letter Monday denouncing acts of terrorism and vandalism and saying they were taking legal measures. “They will not succeed in destroying Brazilian democracy. They overturned the U-shaped table at which Supreme Court justices convene, ripped a door off one justice’s office and vandalized an iconic statue outside the court. A supreme court justice temporarily suspended the regional governor.

☆ UK strikes to continue after govt's talks with unions fail
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Kylie Maclellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Teaching unions, who will announce the result of their strike ballots later this week, met with the education minister, while the health minister also spoke to unions representing nurses. The RCN, representing nurses, called the meeting with Barclay "bitterly disappointing". It said there was a long way to go if ministers want to avert nurses strikes scheduled for Jan. 18 and 19. Unions Unite and Unison, both representing health workers, also condemned the government's approach. The government has argued that inflation-matching pay rises will only fuel further price increases and cause interest rates and mortgage payments to go up further.

☆ Biden condemns 'assault on democracy' in Brazil
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday condemned "the assault on democracy" in Brazil after supporters of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro invaded the country's Congress, presidential palace and Supreme Court. "I condemn the assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil. Brazil’s democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined," Biden said on Twitter. Earlier on Sunday, Biden said the situation in Brazil was "outrageous." "I condemn this outrageous assault on #Brazil’s govt buildings incited by demagogue Bolsonaro’s reckless disregard for democratic principles," U.S.

☆ Japan Kishida vows to debate govt, BOJ roles with new central bank head
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The remark heightens the chance the government may revise its a decade-long blueprint with the central bank that focuses on beating deflation, a move that would lay the groundwork for an exit from the BOJ's ultra-loose monetary policy. "Under the new BOJ governor, we must discuss the relationship between the government and the BOJ," said Kishida, who has authority to choose the central bank head. Markets are rife with speculation the BOJ could move further to phase out Kuroda's massive stimulus by tweaking its yield control policy under a new central bank governor. "In guiding monetary policy, policymakers must have a view on the outlook for the economy. There needs to be careful communication and dialogue with markets," Kishida said, when asked whether the BOJ needs to tweak it ultra-loose policy.

The government uses the estimates as a basis for its growth and fiscal projections for the next budget due on Feb. 1. Since September, economists have been cutting their 2022/23 growth projections to around 7% due to slowing exports and risks of high inflation crimping purchasing power. India's nominal growth, which includes inflation, is projected to be at 15.4% for 2022/23, up from an earlier 11.1% estimate. "The nominal GDP growth is higher, implying that the government's fiscal deficit target will be achieved," said Sabnavis. "Buoyant albeit mixed domestic consumption should help to stave off some of the pain arising from weak exports during this period," Aditi Nayar, economist at ICRA.

☆ Mexican govt inks deal to buy Mexicana airline brand for $42 mln, union says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Kylie Madry | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said the government intends to use Mexicana to launch a military-run commercial airline. In December, Lopez Obrador said the airline was set to launch operations in 2023. The payment will be divided between pilots' union ASPA, flight attendants' union ASSA, ex-aviation workers' union AJTEAM and transportation workers' union SNTTTASS proportionally by a percentage of what was owed when Mexicana shuttered, Alonso said. The deal was reached Friday between Mexico's transportation ministry and the unions with supervision from the labor ministry, Alonso added. The push to operate the military carrier comes as Lopez Obrador has expressed his discontent with the country's airlines.

The central bank as expected lifted its key rate to a 14-year high of 3.75% from 3.25%. "We won't hesitate to raise rates further," Yaron said, adding he expects inflation to start easing in the second quarter. "We are determined to reduce the inflation rate and to return it to within the target range," Yaron said. "It is important to remember that the Israeli economy cannot take for granted the high regard from the rating entities and international financial institutions." Israel's economy grew an annualised 1.9% in the third quarter from the second quarter, slower than a 7.4% pace the prior three months.

☆ Japan to make raising wages a top priority, says senior govt official
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"The biggest challenge for Japan's economy is a lack of wage growth. Unless wages rise, consumption won't pick up and companies won't increase investment," Kihara said, speaking during a television programme. While companies are responsible for deciding how much they hike pay, the government can help achieve higher wages through tax incentives, Kihara said. "The government will increase its focus on achieving wage growth. Japan's consumer inflation hit a four-decade high of 3.7% in November, well above the BOJ's target, hitting households who have yet to see wages rise enough to make up for the spike in prices of consumers goods.

☆ Japan govt asks insurers to retain marine war insurance for LNG shippers in Russian waters
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - The Japanese government has requested insures to take on additional risks to continue providing marine war insurance for liquefied natural gas (LNG) shippers in Russian waters, a senior official at the industry ministry said. The Financial Services Agency and Agency for Natural Resources and Energy made the request in a letter to the country's general insurance association. Tokyo wants to ensure Japan will continue to import LNG from the Sakhalin-2 project in Russia, the official told Reuters. Three Japanese insurance companies that are set to halt marine coverage of risks related to the war in Ukraine starting next month are in talks with reinsurers to resume those operations, they said on Monday. read moreReporting by Yuka Obayashi Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Nepal's new govt seeks to balance its ties with India, China in growth pursuit
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( Gopal Sharma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

UML's leader and Nepal's former prime minister, Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, is believed to be pro-China. Nepal is one of several South Asian countries where India and China seek influence. India has long considered Hindu-majority Nepal, a Himalayan country of 30 million, as a natural ally based on their close historical ties and long open border. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, which is Nepal’s biggest trade and economic partner, was one of the first foreign leaders to wish Prachanda, who has been prime minister twice before. "The unique relationship between India & Nepal is based on deep cultural connect & warm people-to-people ties," Modi said on Twitter.

☆ Japan govt revises up fiscal 2023 growth forecast on higher capex, wages
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Private sector demands will drive growth in fiscal 2023," the government said in a statement, although warning of downside risks from an overseas economic slowdown, inflation, supply bottlenecks and market fluctuations. The official forecast was much higher than economists' median estimate of a 1.1% expansion in a recent Reuters poll. The government and the BOJ have repeatedly called for higher pay hikes as a key to Japan's post-pandemic economic growth with sustainable price inflation. Meanwhile, it raised its consumer inflation forecast to a 3.0% increase from 2.6% seen in July. Higher wage growth and a sustained solid economic recovery are crucial to how quickly the BOJ can unwind its massive monetary stimulus.

Lufthansa declined to comment on Rome's decision to offer an initial minority stake. Some of Italy's politicians consider ITA as the heir to cultural icon Alitalia, which they want to preserve. Some also say that ITA does not have to worry so much about losing its national identity should Lufthansa take over. The Certares-led alliance was willing to pay 350 million euros for a 50% stake plus one share of the state-controlled airline, sources had said. ($1 = 0.9412 euros)Reporting by Angelo Amante in Rome and Joanna Plucinska in London; additional reporting by Giuseppe Fonte in Rome.

☆ Analysis: Kuroda's abrupt policy tweak opens door for bigger shift next year
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Waiting until next year would have forced the BOJ to combat intensifying market speculation of a near-term policy shift, or act when a deep U.S. recession could hit Japan's economy, they say. "When uncertainty is so high over the outlook for U.S. monetary policy, it probably wants to have a free hand on when next to act." POLITICS KEY TRIGGERThe abrupt timing of Tuesday's move also reflects growing political pressure for the BOJ to shift away from a policy narrowly focused on its 2% inflation target, the sources say. Hours before he met Kishida, Kuroda explained in parliament a framework on how the BOJ could exit ultra-easy policy in the future. Another dovish board member, Asahi Noguchi, also said earlier this month it "won't be surprising" for the BOJ to shift monetary policy.

☆ BOJ Governor Kuroda's comments at news conference
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

FILE PHOTO: Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda attends a news conference in Tokyo, Japan, January 21, 2020. Following are excerpts from BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda’s comments at his post-meeting news conference, which was conducted in Japanese, as translated by Reuters:REASON BEHIND THE BOJ’S DECISION“Overseas market volatility has heightened from around spring ... While we have kept the 10-year bond yield from exceeding the 0.25% cap, this has caused some distortions in the shape of the yield curve. It’s premature to debate specifics on changing the monetary policy framework or an exit from easy policy. “This change will enhance the sustainability of our monetary policy framework.

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