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REUTERS/Yara Nardi/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMILAN, Sept 20 (Reuters) - U.S. fund KKR and Italy's Treasury are set to ask Telecom Italia (TIM) for more time to arrange a joint bid for its landline grid, three sources close to the matter said. KKR (KKR.N) last month won the backing of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, which authorised the Treasury to join its bid for an asset deemed of strategic national interest. The U.S. fund's preliminary bid valued the business -- dubbed NetCo -- at around 23 billion euros ($25 billion) including debt and taking into account a number of variables. The French group, which owns 24% of TIM, has so far shown little appetite for a deal under KKR's terms. The Treasury is evaluating the request, one of these people said, without adding further details.

Persons: Yara, Giorgia, Arnaud de Puyfontaine, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Elvira Pollina, Giuseppe Fonte, Alvise Armellini, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, KKR, Italy's Treasury, Telecom Italia, Treasury, TIM, NetCo, Reuters, Vivendi, Thomson Locations: Rome, Italy, U.S

☆ Thai lawmakers plan fresh push to tighten use of cannabis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Cannabis buds are seen inside an indoor farm at the Amber Farm, in Bangkok, Thailand, January 30, 2023. "Cannabis will be - double underline - for medical purposes and research," said Saritpong Kiewkong of the Bhumjaithai party, which spearheaded the decriminalisation and is now the second largest component of Thailand's 11-party coalition government. "There is no policy for recreational use," the lawmaker told reporters in parliament, adding that such measures were not yet being considered. It covers permits for growing plants, sales and distribution, and tighter measures against sales in temples, schools and amusement parks. Last week, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said he supported only medical, and not recreational, use of cannabis.

Persons: Athit, Srettha Thavisin, Chayut Setboonsarng, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Southeast Asia, Phuket, misbehaviour

☆ Tata Motors tests export markets for EVs, to roll out EV-only dealerships in India
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Aditi Shah | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] Tata Motors' Nexon and Nexon.ev cars are seen parked for display outside a hotel ahead of its launch in New Delhi, India, September 14, 2023. Chandra said it was too early to discuss details of the export markets and there would be more clarity next year. Sales of EVs globally have been growing as tighter emission regulations push carmakers to increase the share of electric cars in their portfolio. Growing sales and the new Nexon EV have become the catalyst for its plan to launch EV-only dealerships, Chandra said. Tata has a country-wide dealership network for its gasoline and diesel cars through which it currently also sells its EVs.

Persons: Anushree, Shailesh Chandra, Chandra, Tata, Tesla, Aditi Shah, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Tata Motors, REUTERS, India EV, Reuters, Tata, China's, Mahindra, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, BYD, Mumbai

☆ England's Willey ready to do 'donkey' work to avoid more World Cup heartbreak
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 13 (Reuters) - England bowling all-rounder David Willey said he is ready to do the "donkey" work if it will help him secure a place in the squad for the upcoming Cricket World Cup after missing out on the last edition. Willey had been in the running for England's 2019 World Cup squad but was ditched to make way for Barbados-born fast bowler Jofra Archer. I'd have given my left arm to be a part of the last World Cup. Willey has managed to stay injury-free for much of his career and said his robustness could be crucial for England over the six-week tournament. "Call me a donkey if you want, but to take a donkey out to what could be a tough trip, you just might need a donkey," he said.

Persons: David Willey, Willey, Jofra Archer, I'd, Pearl Josephine Nazare, Peter Rutherford Organizations: New Zealand, Thomson Locations: England, India, Barbados, Bengaluru

☆ Ethiopia says it has completed filling of disputed dam project's reservoir
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Dawit Endeshaw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ADDIS ABABA, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Ethiopia said on Sunday it had completed the fourth and final phase of filling a reservoir for its planned massive hydroelectric power plant on the Blue Nile, a project that Egypt and Sudan have long opposed. Construction of the $4 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) began in 2011 and Ethiopia sees the project as crucial to powering its economic development. "Congratulations to all on the fourth filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. With a projected capacity of more than 6,000 megawatts, Ethiopia sees GERD as the centrepiece of its bid to become Africa's biggest power exporter. Reporting by Dawit Endeshaw; Writing by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: GERD, Abiy Ahmed's, Abdel Fattah al, Abiy, Dawit Endeshaw, Elias Biryabarema, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Thomson Locations: ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Egypt, Sudan

A general view of Chevron's Wheatstone LNG facility in Pilbara coast, Western Australia, as seen in this undated handout image obtained by Reuters on September 8, 2023. If there is still no deal by then, the unions will completely stop work for two weeks. Australia was the world's largest LNG exporter last year, shipping out 80.9 million metric tons of the fuel in 2022 versus 79 million tons in 2021, according to the International Gas Union. A prolonged strike could disrupt exports and raise prices of LNG, which is used for electricity generation. The same union alliance also secured agreements last year with Shell (SHEL.L) and Inpex (1605.T) at their LNG facilities in Western Australia.

Persons: Chevron, Wheatstone, Baden Moore, NAB's Moore, Emily Chow, Lewis Jackson, Florence Tan, Tony Munroe, Miral Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, NEXT, Unions, International Gas Union, National Australia Bank, NAB, Woodside Energy Group, WHAT'S, Woodside, North West Shelf, Shell, Thomson Locations: Wheatstone, Western Australia, Rights SINGAPORE, SYDNEY, Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Asia, Europe, Ukraine, Inpex, Woodside

☆ UK home sales set to hit their lowest since 2012 as mortgage sales plummet
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Hannah Ward-Glenton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

That's the equivalent of each household moving once every 23 years, an increase of six years from 2021, the monthly report found. Demand for homes in the last four weeks is down 34% compared to the average of the last five years, as higher mortgage rates and cost-of-living pressures weigh on the market, Zoopla said. While house prices have seen a small uptick, sales numbers have been hit hardest by higher borrowing costs, Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla said in a press release. "Cash buyers are more immune and on track to account for more than one in three sales in 2023," Donnell said. Mortgage rates have started to come down but remain high, with the average rate for a 2-year fixed mortgage for a 95% loan at 6.7% for the week of Aug. 21, online real estate company Rightmove said last week.

Persons: Zoopla, Richard Donnell, Donnell, Rightmove Organizations: Office, National Statistics, Bank of England

"It's pleasing that Woodside has made our members a strong offer without industrial action being taken," Gandy added in a statement. The project in Western Australia, along with the Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG facilities of Chevron Corp (CVX.N), account for about one-tenth of global supplies. Workers at Chevron's facilities are also considering industrial action, and the combined threats had supported LNG prices over the past few weeks. The Woodside workers unions had threatened to strike as early as Sept. 2 unless their demands for better pay and conditions were met. Asia spot LNG prices remained supported at above $14 per million British thermal units at Wednesday's close, with traders still cautious about LNG supplies from Australia.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Brad Gandy, Woodside, Gandy, Warren Patterson, Saul Kavonic, Renju Jose, Florence Tan, Sonali Paul, Stephen Coates, Miral Organizations: Woodside Energy, REUTERS, Rights, Woodside, North West Shelf, Workers, Chevron Corp, Chevron, North West, Australia . Energy, Thomson Locations: Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, Rights SYDNEY, SINGAPORE, Western Australia, Woodside, Asia, Wednesday's, Australia, Sydney, Singapore

It's likely that workers at the Chevron (CVX.N) plants will join their Woodside colleagues in authorising industrial action, which could then be launched with a seven-day notice period. The worst-case scenario is that industrial action is prolonged and forces a total shutdown of the three plants. The most likely outcome for the time being remains limited industrial action, ongoing negotiations and an eventual settlement that sees the unions get some of what they want, most likely in exchange for some longer-term guarantees. LNG imports by Asia, Europe vs spot Asia priceASIA IMPORTS RISINGAsia's imports for August are expected to lift to 22.86 million metric tons, according to data compiled by commodity analysts Kpler. This would be up from 21.61 million metric tons in July and would be the strongest month since January's 23.37 million.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, It's, Europe's, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Woodside Energy, West, Offshore Alliance, Chevron, Woodside, Kpler, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, Woodside, Western Australia, Asia, Europe, North Asia, ASIA, Japan, South Korea, South, Russia, Ukraine

☆ West African militaries meet to finalise possible Niger intervention
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Military personnel gesture as the ECOWAS anthem is played during a meeting of the Committee of Chiefs of Defense staff on the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force in the Republic of Niger, in Accra, Ghana. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko Acquire Licensing RightsACCRA/NIAMEY, Aug 18 (Reuters) - West African army chiefs were due to hold a second and final day of talks on Friday in Ghana's capital Accra, where they have been hashing out the details of a possible military intervention in Niger if diplomacy fails to reverse a military coup. Military officers deposed Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 and have defied calls from the United Nations, the West African bloc ECOWAS and others to reinstate him, prompting regional powers to order a standby force to be assembled. He said most of the bloc's 15 member states were prepared to participate in the standby force excepting those also under military rule - Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea - and tiny Cape Verde. Any escalation would further destabilise West Africa's impoverished Sahel region, which is already battling a decade-old Islamist insurgency.

Persons: Francis Kokoroko, Mohamed Bazoum, Security Abdel, Fatau Musah, Alessandra Prentice, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: ECOWAS, Chiefs, Defense, REUTERS, Rights, United Nations, West African, Political Affairs, Peace, Security, Islamic, Thomson Locations: Republic of Niger, Accra, Ghana, Rights ACCRA, NIAMEY, Ghana's, Niger, West Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Cape Verde, Sahel, al Qaeda

☆ Vietnam’s Tesla charges itself up for a big fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

VinFast (VFS.O) shares leapt 270% on Tuesday following the group’s $27 billion merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). It catapults the enterprise’s value to $90 billion, a grand outcome only possible because Vuong and related entities still own 99% of the Tesla (TSLA.O) wannabe. The pop values the unprofitable Vietnamese company at 142 times its sales in 2022, some 16 times Tesla’s multiple. VinFast has pushed back plans to operate its $4 billion plant in North Carolina by a year to 2025. Ultimately, VinFast is heavily reliant on Vuong who is betting big on electric vehicles.

Persons: Mike Blake, Pham Nhat Vuong, Rivian, VinFast, topline, David Mansfield, Reuters Breakingviews, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Los Angeles Auto, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Tesla, Elon Musk’s, P Global Mobility, Nasdaq, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, North Carolina, Vingroup

☆ U.S.-led naval group warns ships to avoid Iranian waters to avoid seizure
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Attendees hold flags from Iran and the United States as Iranian Americans from across California converge in Los Angeles, California, U.S., January 11, 2020. REUTERS/ Patrick T. Fallon/ File PhotoDUBAI, Aug 13 (Reuters) - A U.S.-led naval coalition in the Gulf has warned ships in the region to stay away from Iranian waters to avoid possible seizure, the U.S. Navy said. "The International Maritime Security Construct is notifying regional mariners of appropriate precautions to minimise the risk of seizure based on current regional tensions, which we seek to de-escalate," Commander Timothy Hawkins, spokesman for the Bahrain-based U.S. Fifth Fleet, said late on Saturday. "Vessels are being advised to transit as far away from Iranian territorial waters as possible." The United States would release some Iranians from U.S. prisons as part of the deal, Iran's mission to the United Nations has said.

Persons: Patrick T, Timothy Hawkins, Yousef Saba, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Navy, Fifth Fleet, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Iran, United States, California, Los Angeles , California, U.S, DUBAI, Hormuz, Washington, Tehran, South Korea, Bahrain, Oman, United

Logo of Bain Capital is screened at a news conference in Tokyo, Japan September 28, 2017. Shares of Estia Health were up 9.9% at A$3.12 as of 0045 GMT, their highest since Sept 2018. Bain Capital did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. In June, the company updated the market on its intentions to back Bain Capital's increased offer of $A3 per share to A$3.20. "If they acquire Estia Health they may be stuck with it in the days ahead."

Persons: Kim Kyung, Estia, Bain Capital's, Gary Weiss, Estia's, Brad Smoling, Smoling, Rishav Chatterjee, Scott Murdoch, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Stephen Coates Organizations: Bain Capital, REUTERS, Global, Estia, Bain, Virgin Australia, Australia, Health, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Sydney, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Morning Bid: Triple-A headache
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Four thousand U.S. dollars are counted out by a banker counting currency at a bank in Westminster, Colorado November 3, 2009. On Tuesday, Fitch became the second major agency, after Standard & Poor's in 2011, to strip the United States of its prized triple-A credit rating. Jefferies notes that, with two of the three major agencies listing U.S. debt at AA, U.S. bonds no longer count as AAA in some key indices. However, according to Jefferies, most investors have moved away from some of the stricter criteria around holding triple-A rated debt, given Germany is the only large issuer left with that rating. Chart shows that the U.S.'s long-term foreign currency rating was downgraded by Fitch to AA+ in 2023, following a similar move from S&P in 2011.

Persons: Rick Wilking, Amanda Cooper, Fitch, Jefferies, it's, Dupont Nemours, Kraft, Phillips, Ingersoll Rand, John Stonestreet Organizations: REUTERS, Standard, Capitol, Investors, Treasury, Moody's, Moody's Investors Service, U.S ., U.S, AA, AAA, CVS Health, Entergy, Kraft Heinz, Garmin, Brands, Bunge Ltd, Lincoln National, Occidental Petroleum, ETSY, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Atmos Energy, Equinix, Qualcomm, MGM Resorts, MetLife, Fitch, Reuters Graphics U.S, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Westminster , Colorado, U.S, United States, Aaa, Germany, Exelon, Albemarle, Occidental, Clorox

SINGAPORE, July 27 (Reuters) - Canada will likely publish the final regulations of a plan to cap and cut greenhouse gases from the oil and gas sector by mid-2024, its environment minister told Reuters on Thursday. Canada, the world's fourth-largest oil producer, lags many global peers in tackling emissions. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government sees the cap as a key element to enforce a sharp reduction in pollution from the oil and gas sector, responsible for 27% of the country's emissions. The cap, which envisions limits on emissions or potentially raising the carbon price to incentivise driving down emissions, was first promised in Trudeau's 2021 election campaign. So some CCS probably in the electricity sector," Guilbeault, a former Greenpeace activist, said.

Persons: Steven Guilbeault, Justin Trudeau's, Guilbeault, it's, Sudarshan Varadhan, Susan Fenton, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Reuters, Glasgow Climate, CCS, Greenpeace, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Canada, Trudeau's, Glasgow

☆ India tax council to meet on Aug 2 to finalise online gaming tax - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW DELHI, July 26 (Reuters) - India's Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council will meet on Aug. 2 to decide on a 28% tax on funds that online gaming companies and casinos collect from customers, and finalise other rules, a government official said on Wednesday. The official asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media. The Finance Ministry and GST Council Secretariat did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Since the government first announced its plan for the tax on July 11, the gaming industry and its investors have asked it to review the decision, which will increase the tax burden on both companies and consumers. This would be taken into account when a final decision is taken by the GST Council, Malhotra told NDTV.

Persons: Nirmala Sitharaman, Narendra Modi, Sanjay Malhotra, Malhotra, Nikunj Ohri, Savio D'Souza Organizations: Goods, Services Tax, India's, Finance Ministry, Tiger, Steadview, NDTV, Thomson Locations: DELHI

☆ Nissan CEO says alliance with Renault will help face intensifying EV competition
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNissan CEO says alliance with Renault will help face intensifying EV competitionNissan CEO Makoto Uchida says the company's partnership with Renault will create synergies of scale as the two carmakers finalise details of their partnership.

Persons: Makoto Uchida Organizations: Nissan, Renault

☆ Indonesia plans incentives for EV makers, sets up meeting with BYD, Tesla
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, has been trying to attract EV makers to invest in the country, enticing them with its rich nickel reserves - the world's biggest - which can be processed into EV batteries. However, some automakers like China's BYD have instead chosen to invest in Thailand, the region's automotive hub. "Tomorrow we are going to finalise incentives that we are going to give to any EV investment in Indonesia," Luhut said, adding they were awaiting President Joko Widodo's approval. Indonesia has been wooing Tesla for years, hoping to host an Asian production hub for the American EV maker. Tesla has been in talks with Indian officials for an investment in an EV factory there.

Persons: Pandjaitan, Luhut, Joko Widodo's, Elon Musk, Tesla, Ananda Teresia, Gayatri Suroyo, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: CNBC Indonesia, Maritime Affairs, Natural, EV, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Southeast Asia, China's, Chengdu, California, United States, American

☆ Nigeria to distribute grains, fertiliser to soften impact of rising fuel prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Felix Onuah | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The grain and fertiliser distribution will be through the central bank, the vice president's office said in a statement, adding that state governors have backed the plan. Last week, the Senate approved a request by President Bola Tinubu to borrow $800 million from the World Bank to help address rising fuel prices after stopping a popular but costly petrol subsidy in May. Nigerian petrol prices reached 617 naira ($0.78) per litre on Tuesday, the highest ever. Labour unions have criticised government's ending of the fuel subsidy without measures to mitigate rising prices. Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, imports almost all its refined fuel due to inadequate refining capacity and neglect of existing refineries.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Felix Onuah, Chijioke Ohuocha, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: World Bank, Thomson Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Africa's

☆ Convicted Nigerian politician Ibori faces huge UK confiscation order
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Estelle Shirbon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 20 (Reuters) - A London court should order the confiscation of more than 100 million pounds ($129 million) from Nigerian politician James Ibori, a convicted fraudster who spent years in prison in Britain, a state prosecutor told the court on Thursday. A former governor of oil-producing Delta State in southern Nigeria, Ibori was extradited in 2011 from Dubai to London, where he was charged with laundering a corruptly acquired fortune. He told Reuters by text message he planned to appeal against the confiscation order. In 2021, it returned 4.2 million pounds that had been confiscated from Ibori's ex-wife and his sister, who also served jail time for helping him launder money. ($1 = 0.7745 pounds)(This story has been corrected to say the judge made 'factual findings' not a 'confiscation order' after clarification from judge, in paragraph 6)Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: James Ibori, fraudster, Ibori, David Tomlinson, Jonathan Kinnear, Bola Tinubu, Estelle Shirbon, Alex Richardson Organizations: Delta, Southwark Crown, Thomson Locations: Nigerian, Britain, Delta State, Nigeria, Dubai, London, Southwark, Ibori, Ibori's

Nissan has been working to define a lower threshold for its pledged, strategic investment in Renault's electric vehicle unit, Ampere, below the 15% maximum target it announced in February, two of the people said. The automakers announced a framework agreement in February and had aimed to finalise the deal as early as March. Under the framework, the Japanese automaker would take the as much as 15% of Ampere and Renault would reduce its 43% stake in Nissan. "Nissan and Renault are engaged in constructive and ongoing negotiations. The board has not heard the final report on the surveillance claim, according to the three people.

Persons: Ampere, Makoto Uchida, Ashwani Gupta, Gupta, Nissan's, Maki Shiraki, Daniel Leussink, Kevin Krolicki, David Dolan Organizations: Nissan, Renault, Reuters, Thomson Locations: TOKYO

Under the framework, the Japanese automaker would take as much as 15% of Renault's new electric vehicle unit, Ampere, while Renault would reduce its 43% stake in Nissan. The delay shows how the latest tension at the top of the Japanese automaker has complicated a drive to bring the decades-long relationship with Renault to a more equal footing. After the automaker was pitched into turmoil by the ouster of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn, Nissan executives sought to rebalance the alliance he built. We will make a statement in due course when the agreements are concluded," the Japanese automaker said in a statement. Nissan and Renault's junior partner, Mitsubishi Motors, has also indicated it may invest in the company.

Persons: Ampere, Carlos Ghosn, Makoto Uchida, Ashwani Gupta, Gupta, Maki Shiraki, Daniel Leussink, Kevin Krolicki, David Dolan Organizations: Nissan, Renault, Reuters, Mitsubishi Motors, Qualcomm, Mitsubishi, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, U.S

Under the framework, the Japanese automaker would take as much as 15% of Renault's new electric vehicle unit, Ampere, while Renault would reduce its 43% stake in Nissan. That timeline was extended when senior Nissan executives and some directors challenged detailed provisions of deal, citing the need to better protect Nissan's intellectual property, Reuters has reported. Nissan executives sought to rebalance the alliance built by former Chairman Carlos Ghosn after his ouster sent the automaker into turmoil. While the size of the investment ultimately hinges on the value of Ampere, Nissan is likely to take less than 10%, one of them said. By closing out the restructured Renault deal, Nissan executives have the opportunity to pivot to other challenges, including a medium-term strategy update and a change in approach to China, where Nissan's sales, and those of other global automakers, are in decline.

Persons: Ampere, Carlos Ghosn, Makoto Uchida, Ashwani Gupta, Gupta, Maki Shiraki, Daniel Leussink, Kevin Krolicki, David Dolan, Christian Schmollinger, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Renault, Nissan finalise, Nissan, TOKYO, Reuters, Mitsubishi Motors, Qualcomm, Mitsubishi, Thomson Locations: U.S, China

☆ Divisive China, Taiwan bids to join Pacific trade pact in focus at meet
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Britain will become the 12th member to join the pact that cuts trade barriers, as it looks to deepen ties in the Pacific. In support of its application, Britain has said that CPTPP countries will have a combined GDP of 11 trillion pounds ($13.6 trillion) once Britain joins, or 15% of global GDP. "There’s a large gap between the high standards and binding commitments that are demanded of CPTPP members, and where China is currently at," he added. The other countries' applications also provide opportunities. "After modernising the Canada-Ukraine FTA this year, Canada knows that Ukraine is capable of meeting the high standards of the CPTPP," she said.

Persons: Charles Finny, CPTPP, Chris Hipkins, Shu Jueting, Penny Wong, Aidan Arasasingham, Joanne Ou, Roy Lee, Mary Ng, Lucy Craymer, Ben Blanchard, Joe Cash, Praveen Menon, Muralikumar Organizations: WELLINGTON, Trans, Pacific, New Zealand, Reuters, Centre, Strategic, International Studies, Washington DC, Thomson Locations: Pacific, Auckland, China, Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, Britain, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Ecuador, Ukraine, New, Beijing, Zealand, Jakarta, Taipei, CPTPP, Wellington

China's central bank said that financial regulators would fine Ant and its subsidiaries a total of 7.12 billion yuan, require it to stop operations of its crowdfunded medical aid service Xianghubao and compensate users. Reuters reported earlier, citing sources, that Chinese authorities intended to unveil its fine on Ant as early as Friday. The sources had earlier said that the fine on Ant had been revised to at least 8 billion yuan. Reuters reported in April that Chinese regulators were considering fining Ant about 5 billion yuan, a lower sum than what they initially had in mind. Alibaba was fined a record 18 billion yuan in 2021 for antitrust violations.

Persons: China c.bank, Ant, Ping, Rukim Kuang, Jack Ma, Jeffrey Towson, Pan Gongsheng, Pan, Didi Global, Alibaba, Julie Zhu, Jane Xu, Jason Xue, Kevin Huang, Meg Shen, Twinnie Sui, Josh Ye, Ethan Wang, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Brenda Goh, David Holmes, Susan Fenton Organizations: Ant, Singapore FinTech Festival, REUTERS, Ant Group, People's Bank of China, Reuters, Ping An Bank, PICC, HK, Postal Savings Bank, Tencent Holdings, Alibaba, Hong Kong, Financial Regulatory Administration, State Council, Lens Consulting, Thomson Locations: Singapore, China, HONG KONG, Ant's, Hong, Beijing, CHINA

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