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A man holds a laptop computer as cyber code is projected on him in this illustration picture taken on May 13, 2017. "North Korean threat actors may be capitalizing on the opportunity to conduct intelligence collection on Russian entities due to the country's focus on its war in Ukraine," the report said. North Korea's mission to the United Nations did not immediately reply to a message seeking comment. North Korea has repeatedly been accused of deploying hackers against defense and diplomacy-related targets in South Korea, the United States and elsewhere. But allegations that Pyongyang is spying on its Russian allies are potentially more awkward as the countries draw closer amid the war in Ukraine.

Persons: Raphael Satter, Stephen Coates Organizations: U.S . National Security Agency, Microsoft Corp, Microsoft, United Nations, Reuters, SentinelOne Inc, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, Ukraine, Russian, Washington, North Korea, South Korea, United States, Pyongyang, East Asia, Beijing

Disney owns two-thirds of Hulu, while Comcast owns the rest. "Hulu has far greater value than when they struck the $27 billion agreement with Disney ... Comcast wants to get maximum value out of this." Hulu had 48.3 million subscribers at the end of the most recent quarter, compared with 24 million paid subscribers for Comcast's Peacock streaming service and 105.7 million global subscribers for Disney+. Greenfield applauded Disney CEO Bob Iger for agreeing to accelerate the Hulu purchase, saying that waiting until next year is hampering Disney's strategic flexibility. "Whatever Disney chooses to do, having partial ownership of Hulu with Comcast makes anything else they want to do more challenging," Greenfield said.

Persons: Mike Blake, Brian Roberts, ” Roberts, Roberts, Goldman Sachs, ”, Rich Greenfield, Greenfield, Bob Iger, Disney, Iger, Samrhitha, Helen Coster, Dawn Chmielewski, Nick Zieminski, Stephen Coates Organizations: Comcast NBC, REUTERS, Comcast, Disney, “, Technology, Hulu, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Hulu, Bengaluru, New York, Los Angeles

☆ Oil edges lower as markets shrug off supply jitters
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Mohi Narayan | Thomson Reuters | Reports On Everything How Asia S Fuel Use Recovers The Fallout Of To Tracking How The Global Energy Transition Impacts Refinery Expansion Plans | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW DELHI, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Oil prices reversed course on Wednesday after rising over 1% in the previous session, as investors shrugged off jitters arising from supply cuts from Saudi Arabia and Russia and a firm dollar capped the upside. A stronger dollar can weigh on oil demand by making the fuel more expensive for holders of other currencies. "Iran is producing close to 3.1 million barrels per day (bpd) and plans to pump around 3.4 million bpd. Reflecting supply concerns in the near term, the front-month Brent futures traded near 9-month highs at $4.13 a barrel above prices in six months. Sachdeva, however, added that the annual refinery maintenance period in the U.S. from September to October could limit demand for crude and potentially act as a restraining factor on rising oil prices.

Persons: Alexander Novak, Novak, Sachdeva, Mohi Narayan, Arathy Somasekhar, Christopher Cushing, Stephen Coates, John Stonestreet Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, Rystad Energy, ING Economics, ING, REUTERS, U.S, Saudi, Acme Investment Advisors, Thomson Locations: DELHI, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, Volgograd, U.S, New Delhi, Houston

☆ TSMC to decide this week whether to invest in Arm IPO
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Ben Blanchard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A smartphone with a displayed TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken March 6, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Sept 6 (Reuters) - TSMC (2330.TW), the world's largest contract chipmaker, will decide this week whether to invest in chip designer Arm Holdings' blockbuster initial public offering (IPO), Chairman Mark Liu said on Wednesday. Speaking on the sidelines of the SEMICON Taiwan summit, Liu said his company was still evaluating the matter and, when pressed on when a decision may come, he added "this week". "Arm is an important element of our ecosystem, our technology and our customers' ecosystem. I’m sure it will be a very successful project," he said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Mark Liu, Liu, SoftBank Group's, TSMC, Ben Blanchard, Anne Marie Roantree, Stephen Coates Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, REUTERS, Rights, Arm Holdings, Apple, Nvidia, Devices, Intel, Samsung Electronics, Thomson Locations: Rights TAIPEI, Taiwan, U.S ., Arizona

☆ Oil gains on supply woes after OPEC+ output cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Mohi Narayan | Thomson Reuters | Reports On Everything How Asia S Fuel Use Recovers The Fallout Of To Tracking How The Global Energy Transition Impacts Refinery Expansion Plans | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Investors had expected Saudi Arabia and Russia to extend voluntary cuts into October, but the three-month extension was unexpected. "These bullish moves significantly tighten the global oil market and can only result in one thing: higher oil prices worldwide," Jorge Leon, senior vice president at consultancy Rystad Energy, said in a note. The Saudi and Russian voluntary cuts are on top of the April cut agreed by several OPEC+ producers, which extends to the end of 2024. "The decision to prolong output cuts underscores their dedication to price stability in a challenging market environment," Sugandha Sachdeva, executive director and chief strategist at Acme Investment Advisors, said. Sachdeva, however, added that the annual refinery maintenance period in the U.S. from September to October could limit demand for crude and potentially act as a restraining factor on rising oil prices.

Persons: Jorge Leon, Leon, Alexander Novak, Novak, Sachdeva, Mohi Narayan, Arathy Somasekhar, Christopher Cushing, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, . West Texas, Rystad Energy, Saudi, Acme Investment Advisors, Thomson Locations: Volgograd, Russia, DELHI, Saudi Arabia, West, U.S, New Delhi, Houston

☆ Exclusive: AI chip startup d-Matrix raises $110 mln with backing from Microsoft
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Max A. Cherney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nvidia's (NVDA.O) dominant position in the AI chip market due to a powerful combination of hardware and software has scared off potential investors in some startups, according to sources Reuters interviewed. "This is capital that understands what it takes to build a semiconductor business," CEO Sid Sheth told Reuters. The company designs the chips with digital "in-memory compute" that enables AI computer code to run more efficiently. The company's chip technology uses less energy to crunch data required to spit out generative AI responses, and is optimized for such tasks. Microsoft has committed to evaluating the chip for its own use when it launches next year, Sheth told Reuters.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Sid Sheth, Santa Clara, Sheth, Sasha Ostojic, Max A, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Microsoft Corp, Reuters, Nvidia, Temasek, Palo, Playground Global, Microsoft, Thomson Locations: Singapore, Palo Alto , California, Santa, San Francisco

☆ Chinese delegation led by vice premier to visit North Korea, state media says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Hyunsu Yim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KCNA via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Sept 7 (Reuters) - A Chinese Communist Party and government delegation headed by Vice Premier Liu Guozhong will visit North Korea to take part in the celebration of the country's founding day later this week, state media KCNA reported on Thursday. North Korea celebrates its founding day on Sept. 9, known as the Day of the Foundation of the Republic, and this year will mark the 75th anniversary since the peninsula was freed from Japanese occupation. Russia has said it has nothing to say on the report, and North Korean state media have not mentioned any visit to Russia. In July, a Chinese delegation led by Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhong visited Pyongyang and attended a military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War - the first visit by a Chinese delegation since the pandemic. Last month North Korea began allowing its citizens back into the country for the first time since 2020, when it closed its borders during the pandemic.

Persons: Kim Jong, Liu Guozhong, Kim Jong Un, Kim, Vladimir Putin, Li Hongzhong, Li, Sergei Shoigu, Hyunsu Yim, Josh Smith, Sandra Maler, Stephen Coates Organizations: Naval Command, Korean People's Army, Navy, North, Korean Central News Agency, Reuters, KCNA, REUTERS, Rights, Communist Party, Central Committee, Workers ' Party of Korea, Democratic People's, Foundation of, The New York Times, Chinese Communist Party, Russian Defence, United Nations Security Council, Thomson Locations: North Korea, Rights SEOUL, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK, Korea, Republic, Russia, Korean, Pyongyang, North Korean

In a complaint filed in Manhattan bankruptcy court, Genesis is seeking to recoup $500 million that DCG borrowed under four loans. In a statement on Wednesday, DCG said it expects to file a settlement with the bankruptcy court soon. Genesis filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in January, two months after halting withdrawals. The cases are Genesis Global Capital LLC v. Digital Currency Group Inc, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York, No. 23-ap-01168; and Genesis Global Capital LLC v. DCG International Investments Ltd in the same court, No.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Genesis, DCG, Barry Silbert, Jonathan Stempel, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Group, Genesis Global Capital, Digital Currency Group International, Arrows Capital, Alameda Research, Genesis Global, LLC, Digital Currency Group Inc, Bankruptcy, Southern District of, DCG, Investments Ltd, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, Southern District, Southern District of New York, New York

Workers install connected buoys, a measure by Texas authorities in an attempt to deter migrants from crossing the border, in the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. July 24, 2023. The Biden administration argued in a legal challenge that the 1,000-foot (305-meter) barrier illegally disrupts navigation and was installed without permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The floating barrier is one of multiple strategies Abbott has launched to deter migrants, including coils of razor wire placed along the riverbank. "Unfortunately for Texas, permission is exactly what federal law requires before installing obstructions in the nation's navigable waters." The Texas Department of Public Safety said the victim appeared to have drifted into the barrier after drowning.

Persons: Go Nakamura, Joe Biden, David Ezra, Biden, Greg Abbott, Abbott, Governor Abbott, Ezra, Biden's, Ezra's, Vanita Gupta, Weeks, Ronald Reagan, Ted Hesson, Aida Pelaez, Fernandez, Bill Berkrot, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Go, Rights, U.S . Army Corps of Engineers, Texas, Republican, Democrat, Operation Lone Star, Circuit, Appeals, U.S . Justice, Texas Department of Public Safety, Thomson Locations: Texas, Rio, Eagle Pass , Texas, U.S, Mexico, Austin, Eagle, Washington

☆ Remnants of Typhoon Haikui cause floods in southeastern China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Liz Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] An aerial view shows flooded streets on the outskirts of Fuzhou, after heavy rains brought by typhoon Haikui in Fujian province, China September 5, 2023. cnsphoto via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Intense rain from the remnants of Typhoon Haikui lashed southeastern China early on Wednesday, causing flooding and forcing cities in Fujian province to halt subways, shut schools and evacuate residents. The precipitation was heavier than the impact of Typhoon Doksuri, which ripped through Fujian in late July causing floods and $2 billion in direct economic losses, state media reported. Fuzhou closed subway lines and suspended trains while schools were shut for a second day. Elsewhere in Fujian, six other cities including Putian and Quanzhou were flagged at risk of flash floods and landslides. Typhoon Haikui lost strength after making landfall in Fujian early on Tuesday and was downgraded to a tropical storm.

Persons: Haikui, Doksuri, Typhoon Haikui, Liz Lee, Stephen Coates Organizations: cnsphoto, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Thomson Locations: Fuzhou, Fujian province, China, Rights BEIJING, Fujian, Putian, Quanzhou, Shanghai

Its shares had lost almost half their value in the last 12 months prior to news of its exploring a sale. The Irvine, California-based company is being advised by investment bank Qatalyst Partners on its discussions with potential acquirers, which include private equity firms, the sources said. Alteryx shares ended trading on Wednesday up 14% on the news at $34.58. In recent years, Alteryx has transitioned to a subscription-focused business model as part of a strategy to tap into growing demand for data analytics services. In its most recent quarter, Alteryx posted a net loss of $120 million due to higher sales and marketing expenses.

Persons: Alteryx, Dean Stoecker, Qatalyst, Milana Vinn, Nick Zieminski, Stephen Coates Organizations: Alteryx, Microsoft Corp, Oracle Corp, Qatalyst Partners, Insight Partners, Cola, Vodafone Plc, Walmart Inc, Ford Motor Company, North America, Thomson Locations: Irvine , California, Alteryx, New York

☆ Peru president reshuffles cabinet for second time in six months
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Marco Aquino | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LIMA, Sept 6 (Reuters) - President Dina Boluarte of Peru reshuffled six posts in her cabinet on Wednesday, the second partial reshuffle in her eight-month-old administration, though she retained ministers overseeing the key economy and energy and mining portfolios. The ouster was followed by months of protests demanding early elections and Boluarte's resignation, leaving dozens dead. Cabinet changes are frequent in the world's second-largest copper producing nation, which has seen six presidents in just five years. Peru's ministers of education, justice, transport, labor, production and agrarian development were dismissed. The last major reshuffle took place in April, when four of Peru's 19-minister cabinet were removed from their posts.

Persons: Dina Boluarte, Boluarte, Pedro Castillo, Magnet Marquez, Marco Aquino, Mark Heinrich, Stephen Coates Organizations: Thomson Locations: LIMA, Peru, Lima

☆ Brazil's Lula announces cabinet reshuffle
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attends a ceremony at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil August 30, 2023. REUTERS/Adriano Machado Acquire Licensing RightsBRASILIA, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced a ministry cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday as he seeks to shore up support for his political agenda from a powerful bloc of lawmakers. Lula named federal lawmaker Andre Fufuca as the sports minister, while lawmaker Silvio Costa Filho will be the ports and airports minister, the government said in a statement. In July, Lula replaced his tourism minister Daniela Carneiro with Celso Sabino. The announcement also seals the entry of the party of lower house speaker Arthur Lira, who was a supporter of former President Jair Bolsonaro, into Lula's cabinet.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Adriano Machado, Lula, Andre Fufuca, Silvio Costa Filho, Marcio Franca, Daniela Carneiro, Celso Sabino, Arthur Lira, Jair Bolsonaro, Ricardo Brito, Carolina Pulice, Andrea Ricci, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Brasilia, Brazil, Rights BRASILIA

☆ Stocks decline as yields, dollar rise amid global demand worries
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Caroline Valetkevitch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] The London Stock Exchange Group offices are seen in the City of London, Britain, December 29, 2017. Also, U.S. benchmark Treasury yields jumped, while the Aussia dollar fell after the Reserve Bank of Australia kept rates steady. "Worries are on the rise about a China and Europe-led slowdown in global growth. The U.S. dollar index was up 0.5% at 104.69. Wall Street stocks dipped with growth stocks as Treasury yields rose.

Persons: Toby Melville, Joe Manimbo, Christopher Waller, Brent, Caroline Valetkevitch, Saqib Iqbal Ahmed, Samuel Indyk, Ankur Banerjee, Stephen Coates, Kim Coghill, Christina Fincher, Shounak Dasgupta, Mike Harrison Organizations: London Stock Exchange Group, City of, REUTERS, U.S, Treasury, Reserve Bank of, The U.S, Wall, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Fed, Labor, Thomson Locations: City, City of London, Britain, China, Europe, U.S, Reserve Bank of Australia, Washington, The, New York, London

☆ Disney urges Spectrum users to switch to Hulu live plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 4 (Reuters) - Walt Disney (DIS.N) urged customers of Charter Communications' Spectrum cable service to consider switching to a live television option from Hulu as the media companies remain at odds over a new distribution deal. With no deal in place, Disney suggested that Spectrum customers sign up for Hulu + Live TV, a streaming service that offers ESPN, ABC, Disney+ and dozens of other cable channels. "Despite the ongoing dispute, consumers have many other choices—such as Hulu + Live TV—that allow them to enjoy the great programming for which Disney Entertainment is known," the company said in a statement. Disney pulled its channels off Charter's Spectrum cable service last week in the middle of U.S. Open tennis coverage and other live sporting events including college football. Charter has about 14.7 million subscribers to its Spectrum TV service in markets including New York and Los Angeles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Walt Disney, Disney, “, ” Disney, Christopher Winfrey, Winfrey, Granth Vanaik, Lisa Richwine, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, Stephen Coates Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Charter Communications, Hulu, ABC, ESPN, Disney, Disney Entertainment, U.S, Spectrum TV, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Hulu, Los Angeles, Bengaluru

That has led to a rare situation in Canada where banks are seeing mortgage amortizations getting extended beyond 30 years, sparking calls from regulators to take immediate action to mitigate risks. For the other four banks, mortgages amortizing under 25 years account for a half to nearly three quarters. Scotiabank's Canada head Dan Rees said the bank was now being more "disciplined with regards to customer selection" for new mortgages. Still, the risks remain elevated as consumers are struggling to make monthly payments due to the rising cost of living. TD Bank's Canada personal banking head Michael Rhodes told analysts this week that "a meaningful number of customers" are making the changes.

Persons: Mark Blinch, Hratch Panossian, Dan Rees, Brian Madden, Michael Rhodes, Dave McKay, Nivedita Balu, Denny Thomas, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Canada's, Reuters, CIBC, Bank of Nova, Investment, Thomson Locations: Toronto, Milton , Ontario, Canada, Bank of Nova Scotia

☆ Exclusive: Line Man Wongnai targets listing as early as 2025 -exec
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Sam Nussey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Thailand Stock exchange is pictured at an exhibition hall in Bangkok, Thailand, May 12, 2016. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Thai food delivery startup Line Man Wongnai has begun appointing advisors to prepare for an initial public offering and is targeting a listing as soon as 2025, according to a senior executive at the Southeast Asian unicorn. Line Man Wongnai competes with Singapore-based Grab (GRAB.O), Foodpanda, and the food delivery business of Siam Commercial Bank. It was formed in 2020 from a merger of Line Man, the Thai food delivery business of Line, and restaurant aggregator Wongnai. "We are in a position to really help digitalise Thailand," said Chung, a former Goldman Sachs banker from South Korea who previously worked for Line, adding that the food delivery business is gaining market share.

Persons: Athit, Wongnai, Young Chung, Chung, Goldman Sachs, Sam Nussey, Yantoultra Ngui, Stephen Coates Organizations: Thailand Stock, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Siam Commercial Bank, Siam Cement, FoodStory, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, United States, Asia, Singapore, Siam, South Korea

☆ US to continue deporting Haitians as it evacuates its citizens
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ralph Tedy Erol Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON/PORT-AU-PRINCE, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The United States will continue deporting Haitian migrants back to their country, a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday, amid worsening gang warfare that prompted it a day earlier to urge its own citizens to evacuate. "Removals of Haitian nationals encountered at our southern border and repatriation of Haitian nationals encountered at sea continue," the spokesperson said, noting the Biden administration had expanded parole processes for Haitian migrants. "Those interdicted at sea are subject to immediate repatriation, and those encountered in the United States without a legal basis to remain are subject to removal," they said. The United Nations and human rights group have called on the United States and other countries to stop this practice. U.S. border authorities encountered more than 125,000 Haitians between last October and July, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Persons: Ralph Tedy Erol, Biden, Toussaint, Ted Hesson, Sarah Morland, Stephen Coates Organizations: Boeing, Omni Air International, REUTERS, PORT, Department of Homeland Security, United Nations, U.S . Customs, Protection, Homeland Security, Reuters, Omni Air, Integrated, Thomson Locations: U.S, Port, Prince, Haiti, WASHINGTON, United States, Washington, Mexico City

Reuters first reported the planned cuts on Wednesday, citing an internal government document. Airport authorities met with airline representatives later on Thursday, but did not say how the flight reductions will be distributed among carriers, according to a source with knowledge of the meeting. Instead, airport officials would present the methodology for distributing the cuts in a future meeting, the source added. A representative for the airport confirmed the meeting occurred, but did not explain how it planned to divvy up the cuts. Mexico's top three carriers, Aeromexico, Volaris and Viva Aerobus, all also criticized the cuts in separate statements.

Persons: Luis Cortes, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Lopez Obrador, Peter Cerda, Aerobus, Aeromexico, Volaris, Felipe, Kylie Madry, Cassandra Garrison, Raul Cortes, Bill Berkrot, Stephen Coates Organizations: Benito Juarez International, REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Mexico City International, International Air Transport Association, Reuters, Aerobus, Felipe Angeles International Airport, Thomson Locations: Mexico City, Mexico, MEXICO, Latin America

[1/2] Union workers of Sogo & Seibu hold banners which read 'on strike' in front of the company's flagship Seibu Ikebukuro store in Tokyo, Japan August 31, 2023. In a statement, Fortress said it would work with Seven & i to support Sogo & Seibu's management to maintain its workforce "to the extent possible." It plans to invest more than 20 billion yen with partner Yodobashi to renovate Sogo & Seibu's stores, it said. Sogo & Seibu's workers had the support of labour groups from rival department stores including Takashimaya and Isetan Mitsukoshi (3099.T). The Seibu Ikebukuro store is Japan's third-largest department store by sales, according to media reports, but its owner Sogo & Seibu has been in the red for the last four years.

Persons: Irene Wang, Fortress, Yodobashi, it's, Yasuhiro Teraoka, Isetan Mitsukoshi, Wakana Shuto, Stephen Givens, Ritsuko Shimizu, Mariko Katsumura, Kaori Kaneko, Rocky Swift, Chang, Ran Kim, Edwina Gibbs, Stephen Coates, Miral Organizations: Union, Sogo, Seibu, company's, REUTERS, Workers, Fortress Investment Group, Yodobashi Holdings, Rikkyo, Japan Inc, Thomson, & & ' Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, TOKYO, Ikebukuro, Sogo, Seibu Ikebukuro

[1/2] Union workers of Sogo & Seibu hold banners which read 'on strike' in front of the company's flagship Seibu Ikebukuro store in Tokyo, Japan August 31, 2023. Some 900 workers at the flagship Seibu store in the bustling district of Ikebukuro are protesting the sale of Sogo & Seibu, a unit of retail giant Seven & i (3382.T), to U.S. fund Fortress Investment Group. This one-day strike - the first at a major Japanese department store in 61 years - followed months of negotiations between Sogo & Seibu management and the workers' union, and comes amid a labour shortage in Japan. Other Seibu and Sogo department stores were open for business as usual. The Seibu Ikebukuro store is Japan's third-largest department store by sales, according to media reports, but its owner Sogo & Seibu has been in the red for the last four years.

Persons: Irene Wang, Isetan Mitsukoshi, Wakana Shuto, Stephen Givens, it's, Ritsuko Shimizu, Mariko Katsumura, Kaori Kaneko, Rocky Swift, Chang, Ran Kim, Edwina Gibbs, Stephen Coates, Miral Organizations: Union, Sogo, Seibu, company's, REUTERS, Workers, Fortress Investment Group, Yodobashi Holdings, Rikkyo, Japan Inc, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, TOKYO, Ikebukuro, Sogo, Seibu Ikebukuro

☆ Australia Q2 business investment hits highest in 7-1/2 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The central business district (CBD) of Melbourne can be seen from the area located along the Yarra River called Southbank located in Melbourne, Australia, July 27, 2016. Spending of A$37.58 billion ($24.43 billion) was the highest since late 2015, while investment in equipment reached a record peak of A$17.53 billion. Firms also lifted spending plans for the fiscal year to June 2024 to A$157.8 billion, up 14.5% on the previous quarter. Figures for gross domestic product (GDP) for the June quarter are due next week and analysts are tipping growth of only around 0.3%. ($1 = 1.5370 Australian dollars)Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David Gray, Nomura, Andrew Ticehurst, Wayne Cole, Christopher Cushing, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Australian Bureau, Statistics, Reserve Bank of Australia, Investors, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, Southbank, Australia

☆ Fukushima: Japan PM pledges to help fishing industry after China seafood ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Fish and shrimp are seen at a seafood market in Shanghai, China August 25, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Thursday he would compile measures to help the fishing industry hit by China's ban on Japanese seafood, after visiting Tokyo's biggest fish market. "I will put together measures given the variety of opinions I heard from the fishing industry today," Kishida said to reporters following a visit to Toyosu fish market on Thursday, adding that requests included support to help fishing companies develop new sales avenues and holding discussions with China. Japan started releasing treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean last Thursday, prompting China, Japan's biggest trade partner, to impose a blanket ban on Japanese aquatic products. Fisheries Minister Tetsuro Nomura said last Friday the government would take steps to diversify Japan's fish exports for China-dependent products such as scallops.

Persons: Aly, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Tetsuro Nomura, Sakura Murakami, Kantaro, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Japan's, Nikkei, Fisheries, Trade Organization, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Lincoln

☆ Oil prices up on tighter supply, China PMI in focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Katya Golubkova | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Global oil prices were up in early trade on Thursday backed by tighter U.S. supply, with a focus on China factory activity due later in the day amid recent weak economic expansion data in the world's second-biggest economy. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained 10 cents, or 0.13%, to $81.74. Prices are on the rise this week, with U.S. government data showing tighter-than-expected crude supplies and a military coup in Gabon, an OPEC member, raising fears of crude oil supply disruptions providing additional support on Wednesday. "Bad news was good, as weaker U.S. economic data lowered expectations of another rate hike," ANZ Research said in a note. Higher interest rate reduce demand and pressure oil prices down.

Persons: Lucy Nicholson, Katya Golubkova, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Brent, . West Texas, U.S, Analysts, OPEC, Organization of, Petroleum, Federal, Boston Fed, ANZ Research, Thomson Locations: Bakersfield , California, China, Gabon, Saudi Arabia, Russia, The U.S

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