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☆ Defending champions Fritz, Swiatek headline Indian Wells main draw
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Facing a depleted men's field, Fritz could run into Denmark's Holger Rune in the quarter-final. Seventh-seed Rune also won his first masters title last year when he outlasted 22-times major winner Novak Djokovic in Paris. On the women's side, Swiatek looks as though she could have little trouble collecting a second straight title in the southern California desert after cruising to victory a year ago amid a blockbuster unbeaten streak. She has the chance to exact a little bit of revenge against potential fourth-round foe Barbora Krejcikova, after the 2021 French Open winner ended her 13-match winning streak in Dubai last month. Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - JetBlue Airways Corp (JBLU.O) said on Monday it believes there is a "high likelihood" the U.S. Justice Department will file an antitrust lawsuit this week to block its $3.8 billion takeover of low-cost rival Spirit Airlines Inc (SAVE.N). JetBlue said in a statement that it accounted for the possibility of a lawsuit when it provided a timeline to close the deal in the first half of 2024. JetBlue prevailed in a months-long bidding war for Spirit Airlines after the ultra-low-cost carrier accepted its offer in late July. JetBlue Chief Executive Robin Hayes said on Monday he expected a government lawsuit to stop the deal and that the company would fight it, the Wall Street Journal reported. JetBlue is also awaiting the outcome of a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Justice Department which asks the court to force JetBlue and American to scrap its Northeast Alliance.

REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File PhotoMarch 6 (Reuters) - American carmakers will lean on technology to keep the horsepower wars going among their electric muscle cars, a tectonic shift from the big, rumbling motors of the past. GM and Dodge have both issued timelines to stop selling gas-powered muscle cars and replace them with electric variants that will wear the same badges. Dodge's Charger and Challenger muscle cars will not be made next year, while Chevrolet has laid out plans for an electric Corvette. Brands such as Polestar and Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE) have announced optional power upgrades to their sedans that improve acceleration and total horsepower via paid OTA (over-the-air) software updates. Dodge has said it will transition its muscle cars to an electric platform, and is working to differentiate those models.

WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - JetBlue Airways (JBLU.O) said Monday it believes the U.S. Justice Department has a "high likelihood" of filing an antitrust lawsuit this week to block its $3.8 billion takeover of low-cost rival Spirit Airlines Inc (SAVE.N). "We have always accounted for that in our timeline to close the transaction in the first half of 2024," JetBlue said in a statement to Reuters. The Transportation Department, which is also reviewing the deal, is expected to take parallel action to stop the planned transaction, Bloomberg News reported said. JetBlue prevailed in a months-long bidding war for Spirit Airlines after the ultra-low-cost carrier accepted its offer in late July. JetBlue Chief Executive Robin Hayes said on Monday he expected a government lawsuit to stop the deal and that the company would fight it, the Wall Street Journal reported.

☆ US soldiers receive Muay Thai lessons from Thai champion
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Thailand's champion Sombat Banchamek, or Buakaw, gives Muay Thai lessons to U.S. Marines as part of the "Cobra Gold 2023" (CG23) joint military exercise at the Lopburi Province, Thailand, March 5, 2023. REUTERS/Napat WesshasartaTHAILAND, Lopburi March 5 (Reuters) - American soldiers received Muay Thai lessons from a champion fighter in Thailand during the annual multilateral "Cobra Gold" military drills hosted by the Asian nation. Soldiers took instruction and punched and kicked alongside Thai champion Sombat Banchamek, or Buakaw (White Lotus) as he is widely known in the country. "For every U.S. soldier who came to train in Cobra Gold, they also want to exchange and study our culture regarding Muay Thai, which is our national art,” Buakaw said. The 42nd annual Cobra Gold exercises, a war games event, was attended by 7,394 personnel from 30 countries this year.

☆ American Airlines, flight attendants union seek mediation in contract negotiations
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CHICAGO, March 3 (Reuters) - American Airlines (AAL.O) and its flight attendants union on Friday jointly applied for federal mediation in contract negotiations. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), which represents over 23,000 American flight attendants, said the decision to seek mediation is intended to move contract negotiations forward. The current round of negotiations started in January 2020 but was paused at the height of the pandemic. American Airlines said it welcomed the assistance from the National Mediation Board (NMB) to "maintain the positive momentum" in the negotiations. It is expected to assign a mediator who will set the timing and location of the negotiations.

☆ Flawless Kang seizes lead at World Championship
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 3 (Reuters) - American Danielle Kang fired a flawless nine-under-par 63 to grab a one-shot halfway lead at Sentosa after a weather-delayed second round of the HSBC Women's World Championship in Singapore on Friday. World number 18 Kang, who finished in a share of 29th after the first round, surged to the top of the leaderboard after draining nine birdies, including three in a row from the 12th. Surprise overnight leader Elizabeth Szokol was tied for second place, alongside Allisen Corpuz and Kim Hyo-joo, after the world number 153 had an inconsistent round and nearly cancelled out her five birdies with four bogeys. American world number two Nelly Korda was in a three-way share for fifth after carding 68. Reporting by Hritika Sharma in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Aadi Nair Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Wayne Shorter, master composer of jazz, dies aged 89
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] U.S. Jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter performs onstage during a 'tribute to Miles Davis evening' at the 45th Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux July 13, 2011. REUTERS/Valentin FlauraudMarch 2 (Reuters) - American saxophonist Wayne Shorter, who wrote some of jazz's most acclaimed compositions and whose often plaintive playing changed the sound of jazz in the 1960s before he explored rock-fusion, died on Thursday aged 89. "The master writer to me, in that group, was Wayne Shorter," the keyboardist said. "Wayne was one of the few people who brought music to Miles that didn't get changed." Other hit records included "Native Dancer" featuring Brazilian singer Milton Nascimento which mixed jazz, rock and funk with Brazilian rhythms.

☆ American Eagle tops quarterly estimates on steady apparel demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Granth Vanaik | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 1 (Reuters) - American Eagle Outfitters (AEO.N) on Wednesday beat fourth-quarter market estimates, as consumers heading back to work and social events snapped up apparel and accessories despite persistently high inflation. Shares of American Eagle jumped about 7% in extended trading as the company also reinstated a $0.10 per share quarterly cash dividend after pausing it in September. Even as the United States faces once-in-a-generation levels of inflation, demand for sportswear, dresses and cargo pants have remained steady, benefiting apparel makers like American Eagle that have offered higher discounts to shoppers in order to get rid of excess stock. In January, the American Eagle said that its fourth-quarter sales and profit margins were tracking at high end of its forecasts, benefiting from its decision to right-size inventories and a better-than-expected performance at its American Eagle label. Excluding items, American Eagle earned 37 cents per share, above estimates of 30 cents.

☆ What Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and 12 other business leaders think about AI tools like ChatGPT
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Bill Gates - American business magnate and cofounder of MicrosoftBill Gates thinks AI has the power to change the world. Taylor Hill/Getty ImagesBill Gates thinks AI has the power to change the world. Gates said that AI is "every bit as important as the PC, as the internet," Forbes reported. Still, Gates said ChatGPT is "truly imperfect" and has seen it answer math questions "completely wrong." In terms of jobs, Gates said AI can "change our world" by making work more efficient, he told German newspaper Handelsblatt.

☆ U.S. billionaire financier Thomas Lee dies at 78, family says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 23 (Reuters) - American billionaire financier and investor Thomas Lee has died at the age of 78, his family said in a statement on Thursday, without detailing the cause of his death. According to a New York Post report, the billionaire was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his Manhattan office on Thursday morning. "The family is extremely saddened by Tom's death," Lee's family said in a statement "Our hearts are broken. Lee was the founder and chairman of Lee Equity and had served as chairman and CEO of Thomas H. Lee Partners, according to the Lee Equity website. Reporting by Akriti Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ World Bank pick Ajay Banga comes with green finance cred
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday nominated Ajay Banga to be the World Bank’s next president, replacing David Malpass, who announced last week he would step down a year ahead of schedule. It’s a strong signal that the United States wants to help developing countries switch to greener forms of energy. Both Banga and Malpass spent time at big banks, but that’s where the similarities end. As the World Bank’s biggest donor, the United States has traditionally installed government careerists who used the post to promote Cold War-era priorities. By choosing a banker who cares about the planet, Washington is signalling that green finance is a political priority.

☆ U.S. World Bank pick comes with green finance cred
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

☆ Brittney Griner signs deal to return to Phoenix Mercury
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 21 (Reuters) - American Brittney Griner, who was released from a Russian penal colony last December as part of a prisoner swap, has signed a one-year contract to play for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, the team said on Tuesday. Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and eight-time Women's National Basketball Association All-Star, was arrested in February 2022 at an airport outside Moscow for carrying vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. She was subsequently convicted of drug smuggling and later transferred to one of Russia's most notorious penal colonies, where former inmates have described torture, harsh beatings and slave labor conditions. Griner was released last December in a prisoner swap with Russia in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout, a deal that was arranged after months of talks during a time of high tension between the two countries after Russia's February invasion of Ukraine. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Brittney Griner signs deal to return to Phoenix Mercury, media reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 18 (Reuters) - American Brittney Griner, who was released from a Russian penal colony last December as part of a prisoner swap, has signed a one-year contract to play for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, ESPN reported on Saturday. The Mercury, who open their 2023 WNBA season on May 19 at the Los Angeles Sparks, did not immediately respond when asked by Reuters to confirm the ESPN report. In her first public statement since her release, Griner said last December that she would advocate for Americans detained abroad and that she planned to return to her WNBA team. Griner last played for the Mercury in the 2021 WNBA season when she had one of the best years of her career and averaged 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists over 30 games. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Shiffrin wins first giant slalom gold at world championships
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] Alpine Skiing - FIS Alpine Ski World Cup - Women's Giant Slalom - Meribel, France - February 16, 2023 Mikaela Shiffrin of the U.S. poses with the United States flag after winning the Women's Giant Slalom REUTERS/Leonhard FoegerFeb 16 (Reuters) - American favourite Mikaela Shiffrin claimed victory in the giant slalom in Meribel, France on Thursday to take her career world championships gold medal haul to seven. The 27-year-old Alpine skier bagged her first giant slalom gold at the world championships. She had previously won four slalom world titles, one in super-G and one in combined. Shiffrin has now struck gold at each of the last six world championships, with an overall tally of 13 medals at the event. Shiffrin could increase her tally on Saturday when she competes in the slalom.

The withdrawal is the first by a foreign asset manager that has submitted an application for a China mutual fund license, as rising Sino-U.S. tensions cloud the prospects for foreign businesses in the world's second-biggest economy. China in 2020 removed foreign ownership caps in its mutual fund industry, allowing global asset managers such as BlackRock and Fidelity to set up fully owned retail fund units. It’s not publicly known how much the firm had planned to invest in the China business. Richard Tang, who was hired to lead Van Eck's China mutual fund unit, is on leave but has not officially terminate his role within the company, according to two sources. China only saw 1.8% growth in the size of its mutual fund market last year, ending a years-long streak of double-digit annual expansion.

☆ AmEx forecasts upbeat full-year profit on buoyant spending trends
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Manya Saini | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Even as decades-high inflation pressures household budgets, American Express has remained so far insulated from feeling a dent as the company's affluent customer base refused to dial down on their spending. Shares of American Express were up more than 5% in premarket trading. Even so, American Express Chief Financial Officer Jeff Campbell told Reuters that the company continues to remain optimistic about travel recovery going forward. "We had a very strong quarter with travel across borders and national travel and feel really good about the trends there." Provisions for credit losses were $1.03 billion in the reported quarter, compared with $53 million a year ago.

☆ AmEx misses profit estimate as loan-loss provisions weigh
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 27 (Reuters) - American Express Co (AXP.N) missed market estimates for fourth-quarter profit on Friday as the credit card giant stockpiled more rainy-day funds to prepare for a worsening economy, wrapping up a turbulent quarter for major U.S. card companies. Provisions for credit losses were $1.03 billion in the reported quarter, compared with $53 million a year ago. Net income fell 9% to $1.57 billion, or $2.07 per share, in the three-month period ended Dec. 31, from $1.72 billion, or $2.18 apiece, in the year-ago period. The New York-based company's total revenue excluding interest expense increased 17% to $14.18 billion in the quarter. Reporting by Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ AmEx shrugs off slowdown worries after forecasting upbeat full-year profit
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Manya Saini | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AmEx forecast 2023 net revenue growth between 15% and 17% and earnings per share of $11 to $11.40. Jefferies analysts said although the forecast might "appear aggressive" in light of sentiment around a potential macroeconomic slowdown, it reflected momentum. "We had a very strong quarter with travel across borders and national travel and feel really good about the trends there," Campbell added. A typically strong holiday quarter saw AmEx's customers splurge on gifts, travel, and entertainment, driving a 12% increase in total network volumes. AmEx reported a profit of $2.07 per share for three months ended Dec. 31, missing analysts' estimates of $2.22 per share.

☆ American Airlines forecasts higher profit on buoyant travel demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 26 (Reuters) - American Airlines (AAL.O) on Thursday forecast sharply higher profit for the full year and beat estimates for quarterly earnings on buoyant demand for air travel. The carrier expects an adjusted profit of $2.50 and $3.50 per share for 2023, up from 50 cents per share a year earlier. Industry executives have said that they don't see any signs of slowing demand in the face of a potential slowdown. The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier reported an adjusted profit of $827 million, or $1.17 per share, for the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with a loss of $921 million, or $1.42 per share, a year earlier. Analysts on average had expected the airline to post a profit of $1.14 per share, according to Refinitiv IBES data.

☆ Australian minister says Kanye West could be denied entry
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Jan 24 (Reuters) - American rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, may not be suitable for an Australian visa because of his history of anti-Semitic remarks, a government minister said on Wednesday, as pressure mounted to deny the award-winning rapper entry. Minister for Education Jason Clare condemned Ye's "awful" anti-Semitic comments involving Hitler and the Holocaust, saying others who had made similar statements had been denied visas. Ye has been dropped by major corporate partners, including Adidas (ADSGn.DE) and banned from Twitter because of anti-Semitic remarks and outbursts on social media against other celebrities. "He's not a person of good character and the minister has the ability to stop somebody coming into our country of bad character." Peter Wertheim, co-chief executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, met officials on Tuesday to argue for an entry ban.

☆ Korda hands early birthday present to dad Petr with 4th-round win
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, Jan 22 (Reuters) - American Sebastian Korda said Sunday's fourth-round Australian Open win over Hubert Hurkacz was an early birthday present for his father Petr, who won his only Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park in 1998. After the win, Korda said he spoke to his family back home in the United States. They're going to try to go to bed. I think that really helped me, especially in the last match with Medvedev, closing out that tiebreaker. "I think all those little moments that I've gone through, kind of learning from them, staying patient, staying positive, going through the process I think have really helped me going forward.

☆ American lawmakers urge U.S. to ship Abrams tanks to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Raphael Satter | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 22 (Reuters) - American lawmakers on Sunday pushed the U.S. government to export M1 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine, saying that even sending a symbolic number to Kyiv would be enough to push European allies to do the same. "Even saying that we're going to put Abrams tanks in would be enough," he said. Britain recently announced it was supplying 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, but the real prize are Germany's Leopard 2 heavy tanks, which Ukraine's allies are in a position to supply. But Germany appears to have tied any such contribution to a U.S. move to send its own Abrams tanks, something American officials have said they are reluctant to do because the vehicles are complicated to maintain. "If it requires our sending some Abrams tanks to unlock getting the Leopard tanks from Germany, from Poland, from other allies I would support that," he said.

☆ Lucky towel helps Korda reach first Grand Slam quarter-final
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hurkacz, seeded 10th, grabbed the fourth set and earned two break points at 5-5 in the fifth but Korda kept his calm to escape the trouble before they headed into a tie-breaker. Korda raced to a 7-3 lead in the tie-breaker after winning six consecutive points but Hurkacz came fighting back to level it at 7-7. Korda did not panic and closed out the victory with a backhand winner after nearly three and a half hours on court. "Every time I went to the towel I won the point, so I just kept going to it - my new friend." Korda is just the third American to reach the quarter-finals at the Australian Open since Andy Roddick last accomplished the feat in 2010.

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