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☆ UK has not backed down in tech encryption row, minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Britain's Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Michelle Donelan walks on Downing Street in London, Britain March 15, 2023. Junior minister Stephen Parkinson appeared to concede ground to the tech companies' arguments on Wednesday, saying in parliament's upper chamber that the Ofcom communications regulator would only require them to scan content where "technically feasible". Tech companies have said scanning messages and end-to-end encryption are fundamentally incompatible. Donelan, however, denied on Thursday that the bill had been watered down in the final stages before it becomes law. She said further work to develop the technology was needed, but added that government-funded research had shown it was possible.

Persons: Technology Michelle Donelan, Peter Nicholls, Michelle Donelan, Stephen Parkinson, Paul Sandle, Helen Popper Our Organizations: State for Science, Innovation, Technology, REUTERS, Junior, Ofcom, Tech, Times Radio, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

A view of the United Nations Climate Change Conference flags at the venue, in Bonn, Germany, June 6, 2023. "What we want to see, all of us, is a real sense of urgency about reducing CO2 emissions," Roche Vice-Chair Andre Hoffmann said. We need to show action, and I'm not sure that what I've read so far of the COP28 will be strong enough for that." Despite rapidly falling prices for renewable energy, Roche's (ROG.S) Hoffmann said much faster action was needed. "If the change is going to be that big then financial institutions, business people will reshape and they'll say my goodness there's going to be new technological institutions, there's going to be new factories, there's going to be a new economy.

Persons: Jana Rodenbusch, Hoffmann, November's, Roche, Andre Hoffmann, I'm, Eelco van der Enden, Elvis Presley, it's, Celine Herweijer, we've, Herweijer, It's, Andrew Steer, Steer, Richa Naidu, Gloria Dickie, Clara Denina, Iain Withers, Helen Reid, Alexander Smith Organizations: United Nations, REUTERS, Reuters IMPACT, Global, HSBC, Reuters, Fund, Thomson Locations: Bonn, Germany, Asia, Dubai, American, Paris

A shopper looks at displayed food at a supermarket ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. November 22, 2022. "It feels like our consumers are asking for sustainability but they are not looking to compromise on price or quality." Scope 1 refers to a company's direct emissions, Scope 2 to indirect emissions from purchased energy while Scope 3 refers to all other indirect emissions, for example from a company's third-party suppliers. A joint study by consultant McKinsey and data firm NielsenIQ earlier this year found that 78% of U.S. consumers say a sustainable lifestyle is important to them. "We will go our own course as a company, but we have to communicate (with shoppers)."

Persons: Jim Vondruska, Clark, Oriol Margo, Kimberly, Frans Muller, Ahold, Albert Heijn, Richa Naidu, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: REUTERS, Consumer, Shareholders, Nestle, Walmart, Reuters IMPACT, McKinsey, Thomson Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, Kimberly, London, Netherlands, United States

☆ Rescuers race to save ill US cave explorer trapped 3,000 feet underground
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Mark Dickey, the U.S. caver who is currently trapped near Morca, poses in Mentone, Alabama, U.S., May 12, 2023. National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC)/Handout via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsMERSIN, Turkey, Sept 7 (Reuters) - More than 150 rescuers raced on Thursday to reach an American man who fell ill and became trapped some 1,000 metres (3,280 ft) underground in a cave he was exploring in southern Turkey. Mark Dickey, 40, was on an international exploration mission in the Morca cave in the Taurus mountains when he began suffering gastrointestinal bleeding, Turkey's TUMAF caving federation said in a statement. "Several international teams, including Croats and Italians, are aiding in the operations. Footage from the rescue operation showed Turkish and international teams setting up tents and cables outside the sinkhole, Turkey's third-largest, which is at an altitude of 2,140 metres (7,020 ft).

Persons: Mark Dickey, Bulent Genc, Genc, TUMAF, Dickey, Ali Kucukgocmen, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Rescue, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Turkish, Thomson Locations: U.S, Mentone , Alabama, Rights MERSIN, Turkey, American

☆ Bangladesh’s worst ever dengue outbreak a ‘canary in the coal mine’ for climate crisis, WHO expert warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Dengue-infected people are treated at the Mugda Medical College and Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on August 7. The global number of dengue cases has already increased eight-fold in the past two decades, according to WHO. As the climate crisis worsens, mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever will likely continue to spread and have an ever greater impact on human health. Mahamud said the climate crisis and this year’s El Nino weather pattern – which brings warmer, wetter weather to parts of the world – are worsening the problem. Calling these outbreaks a “canary in the coalmine of the climate crisis,” Mahamud said “global solidarity” and support is needed to deal with the worsening epidemic.

Persons: Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Tedros, “, ”, Mohammad Ponir Hossain, ” Tedros, ” Kabirul Bashar, Raman Velayudhan, Abdi Mahamud, Mahamud, ” Mahamud Organizations: CNN, World Health Organization, WHO, Mugda Medical College, Hospital, Reuters, Dhaka –, ” WHO, “, South America Locations: Bangladesh, El Nino, Dhaka, Nino, Peru, Florida, Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Africa, Chad

☆ UN chief spotlights worsening rights in Myanmar as journalist jailed for 20 years for cyclone coverage
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Sai Zaw Thaike was in western Rakhine state to report on the aftermath of the devastating Cyclone Mocha, which killed over 140 people and caused widespread destruction. He was arrested by junta soldiers in the state capital Sittwe on May 23, Myanmar Now reported. Sai Zaw Thaike, a photojournalist for the independent news website Myanmar Now, works at his desk in Yangon, Myanmar in August 2020. “Myanmar authorities’ grotesque 20-year sentencing of Myanmar Now journalist Sai Zaw Thaike on blatantly bogus charges is an outrage and should be immediately reversed,” Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative said in a statement. “Myanmar’s junta must stop imprisoning members of the press for merely doing their jobs as reporters.”CNN has not been able to immediately reach the Myanmar junta.

Persons: CNN — Myanmar’s, General António Guterres, “, Guterres, Sai Zaw Thaike, Sai Zaw, Swe Win, ”, Cyclone, ” Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s, Suu Kyi, Farhan Haq, Suu, Min Aung, Kamala Harris Organizations: CNN, United Nations ’, UN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, People’s Defense Forces, AP, Protect Journalists, Southeast, ” CNN, Myanmar, Reuters Locations: Myanmar, Rakhine, Indonesia’s, Jakarta, Sittwe, Sai, Yangon, AP Myanmar, Southeast Asia, ”, Philippines, United States

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

REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 6 (Reuters) - Comcast (CMCSA.O) has moved up the date for the sale or purchase of its remaining stake in Hulu to Disney (DIS.N) to Sept. 30 this year, CEO Brian Roberts said on Wednesday. Disney owns two-thirds of Hulu, while Comcast owns the rest. Under a 2019 agreement, either company can trigger a sale or purchase of Comcast's 33% stake to Disney as early as January 2024. 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+. (This story has been corrected to say that Comcast has pulled forward the date, not extended, in the headline.

Persons: Mike Blake, Brian Roberts, ” Roberts, Roberts, Goldman Sachs, ”, Samrhitha, Helen Coster, Arun Koyyur, Anil D'Silva, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Comcast NBC, REUTERS, Comcast, Disney, “, Technology, Hulu, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Hulu, Bengaluru, New York

REUTERS/John Muchucha Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Fossil fuel subsidies hampering green energy rolloutMore clarity needed on rules for carbon marketsCalls echo Africa Climate Summit on faster actionLONDON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Ditch fossil fuel subsidies, agree the rules for carbon markets and provide more finance to emerging markets. That was the clear message from business leaders at the Reuters IMPACT conference in London on Wednesday about what they say needs to happen at the forthcoming COP28 climate summit. The meeting of world leaders in Dubai beginning late November is seen as a crucial test of countries' willingness to accelerate action to limit global warming, with efforts so far doing little to stem global carbon emissions. Despite this, failure to remove fossil fuel subsidies would make it harder to expand renewable energy in some countries, Ingka's van der Poel said. "My concern is that we have very little hopes for that ambition to be raised during COP28," she said.

Persons: John Muchucha, Peter Van der Poel, Anél Bosman, Ingka's van der Poel, Helena Viñes, Preeti Srivastav, Andy Griffiths, Richa Naidu, William James, Helen Reid, Simon Jessop, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters IMPACT, Ingka Investments, Africa Climate Summit, Nedbank Corporate, Investment Banking, Sustainable Finance, Asahi Europe, Diageo, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, London, Dubai, Africa

☆ The generative AI boom should have been Appen's time to shine. Here's what went wrong
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Hayden Field | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

For Appen, that would mean finding specialists in particular types of information that can bolster generative AI systems. Even before the generative AI transition, wages for Appen's data labelers were a sticking point. Kim Stagg, Appen's vice president of product, said the work required for generative AI services was different than what the company has needed in the past. "With generative AI, we see a different demand." The company's plunging stock price suggests that investors don't see the company's business offerings transferring to the generative AI space.

Persons: Jonathan Raa, Mike Monegan, he'd, Appen, it's, Armughan Ahmad, Mark Brayan, Ahmad, Monegan, he's, Appen's, Helen Johnson, Fab Dolan, Sujatha Sagiraju, Elena Sagunova, Jen Cole, Jukka Korpi, Still, OpenAI's, Google's Bard, didn't, Bard chatbot, Ed Stackhouse, raters, Erik Vogt, Vogt, hadn't, Kim Stagg, we've, Stagg, Lisa Braden, Harder, Canaccord Organizations: Nurphoto, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon, Nvidia, Revenue, CNBC, Australian Securities Exchange, Adobe, U.S . National Labor Relations Board Locations: Seattle, Europe, Middle East, Africa

LONDON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - As they endeavour to meet lofty sustainability goals, companies from Japan's Asahi (3333.T) to retailer John Lewis face challenges like confusion among suppliers, tough legislation, and friction with top management over costs, executives said. But the upfront cost of investments needed to curb emissions can cause friction within companies. WORKING TOGETHERWhile regulation plays a role in helping companies meet their goals, some feel it also acts as a constraint. Managing suppliers plays a major role in companies meeting sustainability goals but doing so can prove difficult. Some companies are going so far as to work with rivals to exchange best practices on issues such as decarbonising their value chains.

Persons: John Lewis, Preeti Srivastav, Mark Chadwick, Marija Rompani, Asahi's Srivastav, they're, Andy Griffiths, we're, Jay Doyle, Richa Naidu, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Asahi, Asahi Europe, International, Reuters IMPACT, Diageo, ITV's, Thomson Locations: London, British

☆ Dollar rises to six-month high after US data; weak yen prompts warning
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The greenback recovered against most currencies after the data, with the euro and sterling hitting three-month lows and the yen touching session troughs. The euro and sterling fell to three-month lows after the data and were last flat at $1.0726 and down 0.5% at $1.2505 , respectively. Data showed the Institute for Supply Management (ISM)'s non-manufacturing PMI rose to 54.5 last month, the highest since February and up from 52.7 in July. Against the yen, the dollar trimmed losses, last down little changed at 147.69 yen. The dollar showed little reaction to the report.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Helen, Susan Collins, Christopher Waller, Waller, Masato Kanda, Gertrude Chavez, Dreyfuss, Samuel Indyk, Ankur Banerjee, Savio D'Souza, Alexandra Hudson, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Institute for Supply Management, Reuters, Monex USA, Federal, Fed, Boston, CNBC, Ministry of Finance, Thomson Locations: Washington, U.S, Kanda, London, Singapore

Both India and Bharat are used officially in the nation of 1.4 billion people, which has more than 20 official languages. “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States,” the country’s constitution states. Bharat is also the Hindi word for India and is used interchangeably – both feature on Indian passports for example. “The word ‘India’ is an abuse given to us by the British, whereas the word ‘Bharat’ is a symbol of our culture,” Harnath Singh Yadav, a BJP politician, told Indian broadcaster ANI. Some opposition politicians said the government’s use of Bharat was a response to the formation of the INDIA alliance.

Persons: Bharat, ”, Droupadi Murmu, Narendra Modi, Modi, –, ’, ” Harnath Singh Yadav, Virender Sehwag, Bharat ’, Bharat ”, ” Shashi Tharoor, “, it’s, Raghav Chadha, Jaishankar Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, Indian, of States, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Cricket, Developmental, INDIA, Aam Aadmi Locations: New Delhi, India, Delhi, Britain, British, Kingsway, Nicobar, INDIA

☆ New EU sustainability reporting rules are a challenge, says Puma
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] The logo of German sports goods firm Puma is seen at the entrance of one of its stores in Vienna, Austria, March 18, 2016. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Puma SE FollowLONDON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Meeting new European Union requirements for corporate reporting on sustainability is a challenge, sportswear brand Puma's (PUMG.DE) head of sustainability said on Wednesday, ahead of what he called an "avalanche" of regulation in the bloc. "We are nowhere near being able to fulfil the requirements of CSRD," Stefan Seidel said on a panel at the Reuters IMPACT conference in London, referring to the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. Seidel said this was despite Puma reporting on sustainability for 20 years. Companies will have to comply with the directive - which requires them to analyse environmental risks, set targets, and get sustainability reports externally audited - in the 2024 financial year for reports published in 2025.

Persons: Leonhard Foeger, Stefan Seidel, Seidel, Puma, Helen Reid, Louise Heavens, Jan Harvey Organizations: Puma, REUTERS, Union, Reuters IMPACT, Companies, Thomson Locations: Vienna, Austria, London

Digital World needed to get 65% of its roughly 400,000 shareholders to vote to approve the extension. Shares of Digital World were trading at $16.80 on Tuesday, up 1.8% on the day but down from a peak of around $97 a share in March, 2022. Digital World has faced a series of challenges since the October 2021 announcement that it was planning to acquire TMTG. If DWAC's deal with TMTG closes, Trump Media would gain access to more than $1 billion in cash from DWAC's institutional investors, such as hedge funds. According to a Feb. 2, 2021 services agreement, Trump controls 90% of Trump Media.

Persons: Donald Trump, Evelyn Hockstein, Donald Trump's, TMTG, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Emelia Sithole, Paul Simao Organizations: Fair, REUTERS, U.S, Trump Media & Technology, U.S . Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Trump Media, Trump, Reuters, Svea, Thomson Locations: Iowa, Des Moines , Iowa, U.S

☆ Invasive species cost the world $423 billion every year and are causing environmental chaos, UN report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Scroll through the gallery to see more of the planet's most problematic invasive species. Sarefo / Wikimedia Commons In pictures: Invasive species around the world Prev Next‘Prevention, prevention, prevention’Along with invasive species, other key drivers of biodiversity loss include destruction of land and sea habitats, exploitation of organisms, climate change and pollution. As well as flammable invasive plants sparking and spreading wildfires, climate change is enabling invasive species to move north – even to remote areas such as high mountains, deserts and frozen tundra. Preventing the arrival of new species into new regions is the best way to manage threats from invasive species, according to the report. For invasive species that have already taken hold, eradication has been a useful tool, especially on islands, according to the report.

Persons: ”, Helen Roy, ” Roy, David Gray, Peter Stoett, Anibal Pauchard, Ian Hitchcock, Starling, MENAHEM KAHANA, Phil Mislinski, Jeff J Mitchell, SANJAY KANOJIA, MUNIR UZ ZAMAN, ” Stoett, Stoett, –, ” Pauchard Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UN, Services, billabong, Nile Virus, Ontario Tech University, Chile’s Institute of Ecology, Pacific, World Wildlife Fund, US Department of Agriculture, USA, Studies, New Zealand Government, European, Starlings, AFP, Getty, North, Wikimedia Locations: Darwin, Australia, Africa, Caribbean, Guam, North America, Hawaii, Maui, Antarctica, Pacific, North, South America, Azov, China, Japan, Europe, Bermuda, New Zealand, New York, USA, Australasia, South Africa, United States, AFP, East Africa, Western Asia, Americas, Kenya, India, Puerto Rico, Kunming, Montreal

Warmer temperatures under climate change are expected to further drive the expansion of invasive species. Invasive species are plants or animals, often moved around by human activity, that take hold in an environment with deleterious effects. ERADICATING INVADERSAbout three-quarters of the negative impacts from invasive species occur on land, especially in forests, woodlands, and farmed areas. Getting rid of invasive species once they are established, however, is difficult. Last December, the world's governments committed in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to reducing the introduction and establishment of priority invasive species by at least 50 percent by 2030.

Persons: Graeme Sawyer, David Gray, Helen Roy, Anibal Pauchard, Roy, Gloria Dickie, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Northern Territory, billabong, REUTERS, United Nations Intergovernmental, Services, Chile's Institute of Ecology, Thomson Locations: Darwin, Hawaii, Africa, West Nile, New Zealand, Kunming, Montreal, London

☆ Australia rescues sick expedition member from remote Antarctic outpost
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A sick expedition member has been evacuated from a remote Antarctic outpost in the depths of winter following a rescue operation spanning thousands of kilometers, Australian authorities said Monday. Perched on the edge of the Antarctic ice cap, the Casey research station is located on the northern part of Bailey Peninsula on the Budd Coast, 3,880 kilometers (2,410 miles) south of Perth, Western Australia. Australian Antarctic DivisionIt’s one of three permanent stations on the Antarctic coast run by Australia and is staffed year-round with about 150 expeditioners visiting Casey during the summer. An image of the Casey Research Station in the east Antarctic. Australian Antarctic DivisionDescribed by the AAP as “the main lifeline to Australia’s Antarctic and sub-Antarctic research stations,” the icebreaker Nuyina will make a roughly 7,000 kilometer-round journey to complete the evacuation.

Persons: AAD, ” Robb Clifton, AAD’s, Casey, ” Clifton, Wilkins Organizations: CNN, Australian Antarctic Division, Casey Research Station, Casey Sunday, Royal Hobart Hospital, Australian Antarctic Program, . Australian Antarctic, AAP Locations: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, Bailey, Budd Coast, Perth, Western Australia, Antarctica, Casey

☆ BMW's 'Neue Klasse' at least as profitable as current EVs - CEO Zipse
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Christina Amann | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG Oliver Zipse attends an event at the Auto Shanghai show, in Shanghai, China April 18, 2023. The Neue Klasse, to be launched in 2025, is at the heart of the carmaker's efforts to replicate past successes and catch up with EV pioneer Tesla (TSLA.O), which is also staging a return to the IAA this year. "We are very profitable with electric cars ... already today," Zipse told reporters, adding that the Neue Klasse - or New Class - would be "very profitable. Production of the new platform will start at the group's factory in Debrecen, Hungary, where BMW is investing 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) in new battery-making and assembly operations for the Neue Klasse. Development of the Neue Klasse is targeting to reduce battery pack costs by half and achieve 25% more range per kilowatt-hour, a key measure of efficiency, executives have said.

Persons: BMW AG Oliver Zipse, Aly, Oliver Zipse, Zipse, Christina Amann, Christoph Steitz, Helen Popper, David Holmes Organizations: Management, BMW AG, Auto, REUTERS, BMW, IAA, Neue, Tesla, Thomson Locations: Auto Shanghai, Shanghai, China, MUNICH, Munich, Debrecen, Hungary, Mexico

☆ EU's Gentiloni confident over budget rule deal by year-end deadline
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

EU Economic Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni holds a news conference on the European Commission's economic forecasts for the EU for 2023 and 2024 on GDP and inflation, in Brussels, Belgium February 13, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCERNOBBIO, Italy, Sept 2 (Reuters) - European Union Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni said on Saturday he was confident an agreement over re-implementing EU budget rules would be reached by year-end, ruling out an extension of their suspension into 2024. "I'm confident, I'd say I have to be confident, that a deal (over the new budget rules) can be reached by year-end," Gentiloni told reporters on the sidelines of the European House Ambrosetti economic forum in Cernobbio. Italy is preparing a difficult 2024 budget in which it will seek to meet Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's tax-cutting promises while at the same time reducing the deficit while faced with an economic slowdown. Gentiloni said failing to reach a deal on reviving the rules would mean a return to previous budget rules that did not help promote economic growth and cut sovereign debt in the bloc.

Persons: Paolo Gentiloni, Johanna Geron, Gentiloni, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Giorgia, Christine Lagarde, Elvira Pollina, Giselda, Tomasz Janowski, Helen Popper Our Organizations: EU, REUTERS, Union, House, Italian Economy, European Commission, European Central Bank, ECB, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Italy, Ukraine

☆ UK finance minister Hunt says inflation is on track to come down
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - British finance minister Jeremy Hunt said on Saturday inflation was on track to halve by the end of 2023, vowing to focus on the goal as he laid out his priorities ahead of the reopening of parliament after the summer break. Britain's inflation rate is forecast to fall to about 5% by the end of the year - half January's level - and meeting the target would mean one of the five key pledges Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made to voters for 2023 would be met. Hunt said in a statement issued on Saturday that pressure on household budgets would start to ease as inflation cools. "We are on track to halve inflation this year and by sticking to our plan we will ease the pressure on families and businesses alike," Hunt said, ahead of lawmakers returning to parliament on Monday. For July, Britain's annual consumer price inflation rate cooled to 6.8% - still the highest rate among the Group of Seven economies.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Mairead McGuinness, Yves Herman, Rishi Sunak, Hunt, Sunak, Sarah Young, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Financial Stability, Financial Services, Capital Markets, REUTERS, Labour Party, Conservative Party, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, British

[1/4] View of partial traffic with the Karachi Port Trust building, in the background, during a shutter down and wheel-jam strike called by the traders and the religious and political party Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), against the hikes in power billings, during a protest in Karachi, Pakistan September 2, 2023. Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreLAHORE, Pakistan, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Public markets across Pakistan stayed closed on Saturday due to a strike by retail associations over rising electricity prices and brisk inflation, as the country embarks on a tricky path to economic recovery. "Today, traders are observing a shutter down strike across Pakistan against the over charging electricity tariff and unjustified taxes," Ashraf Bhatti, president of the All Pakistan Traders Association, told Reuters. Major markets in Lahore and Karachi, Pakistan's two largest cities, remained shut on Saturday though grocery shops in populated neighbourhoods and medical stores stayed open. "It is the matter of the entire country as the common man is being badly affected," said Abdul Rehim Kakar, leader of a traders' association of Balochistan.

Persons: Ashraf Bhatti, Abdul Rehim Kakar, Mubasher Bukhari, Saleem Ahmed, Mushtaq Ali, Akhtar Soomro, Gibran Peshimam, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Trust, Islami, International Monetary Fund, All Pakistan Traders Association, Reuters, Jamaat, Thomson Locations: Karachi, billings, Pakistan, LAHORE, Lahore, Pakistan's, Quetta, Balochistan province, Balochistan, Peshawar

☆ UK's Labour Party has 14-point lead over Conservatives, Opinium poll shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during the Prime Minister's Statements on the Nato Summit at the House of Commons in London, Britain, July 13, 2023. UK Parliament/Andy Bailey/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour Party has a 14-point lead over Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's ruling Conservatives, an opinion poll by market research company Opinium showed on Saturday as lawmakers prepare to return to parliament after the summer break. The Opinium poll, based on a survey of 2,055 British adults carried out between Aug. 30 and Sept. 1, showed support for Labour had risen to 42%, up 1 percentage point since the last poll in July, while support for the Conservative Party rose by 2 points to 28%. Lawmakers return to parliament on Monday, with a general election expected to be held next year. Reporting by Sarah Young Editing by Helen PopperOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Andy Bailey, Handout, Rishi Sunak's, Sarah Young, Helen Popper Our Organizations: British, Nato, REUTERS, Labour Party, Labour, Conservative Party, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ Coleman roars to Xiamen 100m title as Diamond League returns to China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Athletics - Diamond League - Xiamen Diamond League - Egret Stadium, Xiamen, China - September 2, 2023 Christian Coleman of the U.S. celebrates after winning the men's 100m final REUTERS/Aly Song Acquire Licensing RightsXIAMEN, China, Sept 2 (Reuters) - American Christian Coleman powered to victory in the men's 100 metres race at the Xiamen Diamond League as the premier one-day series returned to China for the first time in four years on Saturday after COVID disruptions. Coleman crossed the line in a joint world leading time of 9.83 seconds to draw huge roars at the Egret Stadium in Xiamen, which replaced Shenzhen and will continue to host one of two Diamond League meetings in the Asian nation until 2032. American 2022 world champion Fred Kerley, who failed to qualify for the final at the Budapest world championships last month, took bronze in 9.96 seconds. Italian Lamont Marcell Jacobs has barely raced since his Tokyo Olympics victory and finished a disappointing seventh. The Diamond League heads to Brussels on Sept. 8 before the season concludes in Eugene on Sept. 16-17.

Persons: Christian Coleman, Aly, Coleman, Kishane Thompson, Fred Kerley, Lamont Marcell Jacobs, Kirani James, James, Jamaica's Rusheen McDonald, Beatrice Chebet, Mexico's Laura Galvan, Kenyan Margaret Akidor, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Diamond League, Xiamen Diamond League, Rights, Tokyo Olympics, Quincy Hall, Kenyan, Thomson Locations: Xiamen, China, Rights XIAMEN, Shenzhen, Budapest, Tokyo, Brussels, Eugene, Bengaluru

"Increasingly we are going to turn used clothes into raw material from Europe for fashion companies." Also in Spain, rivals including H&M, Mango and Inditex have created a non-profit association to manage clothing waste, responding to an EU law requiring member states to separate textiles from other waste from January 2025. OBSTACLESThe obstacles to significantly reducing clothing waste are formidable, despite the EU crackdown, industry sustainability commitments and initiatives like the Moda Re expansion. Adidas (ADSGn.DE), Bestseller, and H&M (HMb.ST) have invested in Finnish start-up Infinited Fiber Company, which manufactures fibre out of textile waste, cardboard and paper. As in Spain, textile waste associations would be set up in each country.

Persons: Albert Alberich, Inditex, Dijana Lind, Hugo Boss, Lind, Moda, Aissatou Boukoum, Mauro Scalia, Corina Pons, Helen Reid, Horaci Garcia, Nacho, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: BARCELONA, Moda, Caritas, Union, European Commission, Union Investment, Adidas, McKinsey, Reuters, EU, ReHubs, Moda Re, United Nations, Inditex, Puma, Infinited Fiber Company, Thomson Locations: Spain, Barcelona, Spanish, Europe, Zara, Bilbao, Valencia, EU, Frankfurt, ReHubs Europe, Mali, Sant, AFRICA, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Africa, Senegalese, Germany, Texaid, Switzerland, Vestisolidale, Italy, France, EURATEX, Madrid, London, Nacho Doce

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