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☆ US decision to send long-range missiles to Kyiv a grave mistake - Russia's envoy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Armoured vehicles move during "Noble Blueprint 2023" military exercise at Novo Selo military grounds, Bulgaria, September 26, 2023. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also confirmed his forces used the ATACMS after his military reported on Tuesday striking two air bases in Ukrainian territory now controlled by Russia. Ukraine had repeatedly asked the U.S. administration for the ATACMS and pledged not to use inside Russia's territory. The Kremlin has said U.S. supplies of ATACMS missiles and Abrams tanks to Ukraine would not change the situation on the battlefield. Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Anatoly Antonov, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Antonov, Lidia Kelly, Christopher Cushing Organizations: NATO, Army Tactical Missile Systems, White House, Ukrainian Special Forces, Thomson Locations: Novo Selo, Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Turkey, Albania, U.S, Ukraine, ATACMS, Russia, Luhansk, Ukraine's, Berdiansk, Azov, Washington, United States, Melbourne, Lincoln

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks as he visits Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 18, 2023. Multiple sources familiar with the request told Reuters on Tuesday that Biden was considering a supplemental request of about $100 billion that would include defense aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, as well as funding for efforts to beef up security on the U.S. border with Mexico. He told a news conference he had heard that the administration was considering $10 billion for Israel. Several sources said on Wednesday that Biden has not settled on a final figure, and the breakdown has not been communicated to Congress. Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Additional reporting by Nandita Bose; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, Joe Biden's, Biden, Jim Risch, Patricia Zengerle, Nandita Bose, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, Israel, Reuters, Wednesday, Republican, Senate Foreign Relations, Administration, U.S, Thomson Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Ukraine, Washington, Taiwan, U.S, Mexico

The logo of Baidu's AI chatbot Ernie Bot is displayed near a screen showing the Baidu logo, in this illustration picture taken June 28, 2023. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Chinese technology giant Baidu (9888.HK) on Tuesday unveiled the newest version of its generative artificial intelligence (AI) model, Ernie 4.0, saying its capabilities were on par with those of ChatGPT maker OpenAI's pioneering GPT-4 model. He also showed Ernie 4.0 creating advertising posters and videos. Baidu, owner of China's largest internet search engine, is at the forefront of AI models in China amid a global craze over the technology sparked by the introduction of ChatGPT last year. In August, Baidu was among a number of firms to receive government approval to release AI products to the public.

Persons: Ernie Bot, Florence Lo, Ernie, Robin Li, ChatGPT, Baidu, Yelin Mo, Eduardo Baptista, Brenda Goh, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Baidu, REUTERS, Rights, HK, Thomson Locations: Rights BEIJING, Beijing, China, United States

☆ Toyota halts some production at two Japan plants after supplier accident
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor (7203.T), Japan's biggest automaker, has suspended operations at three lines in two domestic assembly plants due to an accident at a supplier's facility, a company spokesperson said. The incident at supplier Chuo Spring (5992.T), which makes engine and valve springs used in vehicles, also halted some production at group companies Toyota Auto Body and Toyota Industries (6201.T), the spokesperson said. Production in five lines at three Toyota Auto Body plants - all of the unit's lines - was stopped due to the accident, affecting production of minivans such as the Alphard as well as some Land Cruiser models, including for overseas markets. Toyota will decide later on Tuesday whether production at its affected plants would be resumed on Wednesday, its spokesperson said. Operations at all 14 of the automaker's domestic assembly plants ground to a halt in August due to a system malfunction.

Persons: Daniel Leussink, Rocky Swift, Christopher Cushing, Muralikumar Organizations: Toyota, Japan's, Chuo, Toyota Auto Body, Toyota Industries, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Tokyo

☆ Putin visits 'dear friend' Xi in show of no-limits partnership
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Ryan Woo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] Russia's President Vladimir Putin arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport to attend the Third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 17, 2023. Xi last saw his "dear friend" in Moscow just days after the warrant was issued. At the time, Xi invited Putin to attend the third Belt and Road forum in Beijing, an international cooperation forum championed by the Chinese leader. As the forum's chief guest, Putin will speak after Xi on Wednesday and will meet with the Chinese president for bilateral talks later that day. It would be Putin's third attendance of the Belt and Road Forum, which runs through Wednesday.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Parker, Xi Jinping, Putin, Wang Wentao, Xi, Ryan Woo, Lidia Kelly, Christopher Cushing, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Beijing Capital International Airport, Forum, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Court, ICC, Reuters, Chinese Commerce, Kremlin, Beijing, Olympics, Rosneft, Gazprom, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Ukraine, Hague, Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan, Soviet, Moscow, Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, Laos, Russia, Asia, Africa, Europe, Putin's, Melbourne

☆ Toyota Motor suspends some production after fire at supplier - Jiji
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A man walks past a Toyota logo at the Tokyo Motor Show, in Tokyo, Japan October 24, 2019. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor (7203.T) suspended some production in at least five factories in Aichi and Mie prefectures from Monday after a fire at a supplier's facility, Jiji news service reported on Tuesday. The fire occurred at a Chuo Spring (5992.T) plant, Jiji said. Reporting by Rocky Swift; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Edgar Su, Jiji, Rocky Swift, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Toyota, Tokyo, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Aichi, Mie

"I believe stepping down is best for those Senator Menendez has spent his life serving," Booker said in a statement. I urge Senator Menendez to resign," said Senator Gary Peters, the head of Senate Democrats' campaign arm, in a statement. Many Democratic elected officials in Menendez's state of New Jersey, including Governor Phil Murphy, have also called for Menendez to resign. Menendez's Senate seat will be among those decided in next year's election. The probe marks the third time Menendez has been under investigation by federal prosecutors.

Persons: Robert Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Mike Segar, Cory Booker, Bob Menendez, Booker, Menendez, Chuck Schumer, Gary Peters, Phil Murphy, Andy Kim, Murphy, Wael Hana, Makini Brice, Jeff Mason, Eric Beech, Luc Cohen, Josie Kao, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Democratic, Senate, Republicans, U.S . Senate, Democrats, Democratic U.S, Republican, Senate Foreign Relations, New, Thomson Locations: Jersey, Union City , New Jersey, U.S, Northeastern, New Jersey, Menendez's, Egypt, Manhattan, New York

☆ ASM International raises 2025 revenue guidance
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 26 (Reuters) - Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASM International (ASMI.AS) raised its revenue target for 2025 on Tuesday, saying its innovation strategy and transition to new technologies would reap results. The Amsterdam-listed company now expects revenue to reach 3 billion euros to 3.6 billion euros ($3.81 billion) in two years time, up from a previous estimate of 2.8 billion to 3.4 billion euros. ASM International also reiterated its gross margin target at 46-50% and its operating margin target at 26-31% for 2023-2025. ALD, a technique in semi-conductor manufacturing using ultra-thin layers of material, accounted for more than half of the company's revenue from equipment sales in 2022. The group also confirmed its overall sales target for the upcoming quarter at between 580 million and 620 million euros.

Persons: Benjamin Loh, Victor Goury, Pierre John Felcenloben, Christopher Cushing, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: ASM, ASM International, Thomson Locations: Amsterdam

☆ Small Fire at Baghdad's Al-Rasheed Hotel Extinguished; Occupants Have Returned to Rooms -Official
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A small fire that led to guests and diplomatic personnel being evacuated from Baghdad's Al-Rasheed hotel has been brought under control, an official at the hotel told Reuters via phone early on Wednesday. The hotel houses several envoys from Gulf states. The small fire occurred in kitchen, and an official described the evacuation as a routine precautionary measure, saying guests had safely returned to their rooms. The hotel is in Iraq's highly fortified Green Zone which hosts parliament, many government buildings and foreign embassies. (Reporting by Timour Azhari and Muhammad Al Gebaly; Writing by Enas Alashray; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Gerry Doyle)

Persons: Baghdad's Al, Rasheed, Timour Azhari, Muhammad Al Gebaly, Enas Alashray, Christopher Cushing, Gerry Doyle Locations: BAGHDAD, Baghdad's, Gulf

☆ China says willing to play 'constructive' role in APEC's success
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Sept 26 (Reuters) - China is willing to play a "constructive" role in the success of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, its top diplomat said on Tuesday, after President Xi Jinping's absence at the annual Group of 20 summit in India. "As the world's largest developing country and an important member of APEC, China is willing to comply with the expectations of the international community and play a constructive role in the success of APEC this year," said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Xi, with no official explanation, did not go to the G20 summit in New Delhi this month, with the Chinese premier, Li Qiang, attending in his place. That prompted the United States to say China was "giving up" on the G20 and was building an alternative world order. Dialogue between China and the United States has been gradually resuming despite tensions between the two superpowers, especially over Taiwan.

Persons: Xi, Wang Yi, Li Qiang, Wang, Biden, Washington's, Albee Zhang, Liz Lee, Christopher Cushing, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Economic Cooperation, APEC, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Asia, San Francisco, India, New Delhi, United States, Taiwan, Beijing, Pacific, Philippines

☆ Sliding yen raises intervention threat, dollar reigns
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Japanese yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen with a currency exchange rate graph in this illustration picture taken June 16, 2022. "I don't think the level matters that much and will be the trigger (for intervention). Yellen said last week whether Washington would show understanding over another yen-buying intervention by Japan "depends on the details" of the situation. Elsewhere, the euro gained 0.05% to $1.0649, after having fallen to a six-month low of $1.0615 on Friday against a stronger dollar. The dollar index , which on Friday touched an over six-month high, firmed at 105.58.

Persons: Florence Lo, Kazuo Ueda, Governor Ueda, Carol Kong, Janet, Yellen, Sterling, Thierry Wizman, Rae Wee, Christopher Cushing Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Japan, Reserve, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Treasury, Bank, Fed, New Zealand, Thomson Locations: Rights SINGAPORE, Washington, Japan, U.S

Strike signs await striking SAG-AFTRA actors and Writers Guild of America (WGA) outside Disney Studios in Burbank, California, U.S., July 25, 2023. The WGA, which represents 11,500 film and television writers, described the deal as "exceptional" with "meaningful gains and protections for writers." While writing may resume, the SAG-AFTRA actors' union remains on strike. Efforts to restart daytime talk shows without writers, such as "The Drew Barrymore Show," collapsed this month, in the face of criticism from striking writers and actors. Even as studio executives celebrated the end of the longest-running writers' strike since 1988, it is only half the labor battle.

Persons: Mike Blake, Caroline Renard, Hollywood's, Drew Barrymore, Bob Iger, Iger, It's, Brandon K, Hines, Kevin Klowden, David Zaslav, Ted Sarandos, Donna Langley, AFTRA, Dawn Chmielewski, Lisa Richwine, Danielle Broadway, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Disney Studios, REUTERS, WGA, Hollywood, SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Walt Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros Discovery, Disney, Milken Institute, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Burbank , California, U.S, California, New Mexico, Georgia, New York, Los Angeles

☆ China Says Willing to Play 'Constructive' Role in APEC's Success
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - China is willing to play a "constructive" role in the success of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, its top diplomat said on Tuesday, after President Xi Jinping's absence at the annual Group of 20 summit in India. "As the world's largest developing country and an important member of APEC, China is willing to comply with the expectations of the international community and play a constructive role in the success of APEC this year," said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Xi, with no official explanation, did not go to the G20 summit in New Delhi this month, with the Chinese premier, Li Qiang, attending in his place. That prompted the United States to say China was "giving up" on the G20 and was building an alternative world order. Dialogue between China and the United States has been gradually resuming despite tensions between the two superpowers, especially over Taiwan.

Persons: Xi, Wang Yi, Li Qiang, Wang, Biden, Washington's, Albee Zhang, Liz Lee, Christopher Cushing, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Economic Cooperation, APEC Locations: BEIJING, China, Asia, San Francisco, India, New Delhi, United States, Taiwan, Beijing, Pacific, Philippines

☆ Capcom shares lunge 6% on 'Monster Hunter' mobile launch
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sam Nussey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Japanese video game company Capcom (9697.T) enjoyed a 6% jump in its stock price on Monday as gamers flocked to the mobile instalment of its long-running "Monster Hunter" franchise, developed with "Pokemon Go" maker Niantic. "Monster Hunter Now", which combines monster fighting action with the location-based gameplay of "Pokemon Go", has been downloaded 5 million times since its Sept. 14 launch, Niantic said last week. The strong start is a boost for Capcom, whose shares have gained a third this year supported by the strength of franchises such as "Resident Evil". In Japan, where the "Monster Hunter" franchise has a loyal following, the new game is the top grossing app on Apple's iOS, showed data from Sensor Tower, ahead of local favourites such as horse racing idol game "Uma Musume Pretty Darby" and manga app Piccoma. "Monster Hunter Now" has received praise for translating the storied series for a mobile audience.

Persons: Hunter, Niantic, Darby, Serkan Toto, Sam Nussey, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Capcom, Kantan Games, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan

Banknotes of Japanese yen and U.S. dollar are seen in this illustration picture taken September 23, 2022. The BOJ held interest rates at -0.1% on Friday and reiterated its pledge to keep supporting the economy until it's confident inflation will stay at the 2% target. "We have yet to foresee inflation stably and sustainably achieve our price target," BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said in a press conference. The yen dropped as low as 148.42 to the dollar, nearing the 150-mark at which analysts have said government intervention to prop up the currency is likely. It was on track to eke out a weekly increase of around 0.2%, its 10th rise in as many weeks.

Persons: Florence Lo, Kazuo Ueda, we've, Alvin Tan, Shunichi Suzuki, RBC's Tan, Treasuries, Ray Sharma, Ong, Sterling, BoE, Harry Robertson, Rae Wee, Christopher Cushing, Sonali Paul, Christina Fincher Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Bank of Japan, Federal Reserve, Asia FX, RBC Capital Markets, Japan's Finance, Ministry, Finance, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, France, Asia, Tokyo, London, Singapore

[1/5] People stand outside an Apple Store as Apple's new iPhone 15 officially goes on sale across China, in Shanghai, China September 22, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI/BEIJING, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Over a hundred customers queued inside Apple's (AAPL.O) flagship store in the Chinese financial hub of Shanghai on Friday, waiting to pick up their iPhone 15 orders on the first day of in-store availability. But the strength of pre-orders in the world's second-largest economy, which began last Friday, has eased worries, with delivery times pushed into November and the premium iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max selling out in just one minute on Alibaba's (9988.HK) Tmall e-commerce site. Among those at the store was social media influencer Zhang Ming, 25, who said she wanted to try out the iPhone 15 after being unsuccessful in pre-ordering online. The iPhone 15 includes a new titanium shell, a faster chip and improved videogame-playing abilities.

Persons: Aly, Pro Max, Zhang Ming, Apple, Wang Puyu, Nicoco Chan, Brenda Goh, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Apple, REUTERS, Rights, Huawei, Pro, HK, Tmall, Shanghai, Thomson Locations: China, Shanghai, Rights SHANGHAI, BEIJING, Nanjing, Mo, Beijing

☆ Yen falls after BOJ stands pat on easy policy; dollar elevated
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Banknotes of Japanese yen and U.S. dollar are seen in this illustration picture taken September 23, 2022. The yen last bought 148.09 per U.S. dollar. Sterling similarly eked out a 0.3% gain against the Japanese currency to trade at 181.80 yen. "I guess people were expecting the BOJ to leave policy unchanged but perhaps tweak the wording a bit to remove the accommodative stance." The New Zealand dollar edged 0.08% higher to $0.5936 and was eyeing a weekly gain of more than 0.5%.

Persons: Florence Lo, Kazuo Ueda, Sterling, Siong Sim, Shunichi Suzuki, Ray Sharma, Ong, BoE, Daniela Hathorn, Rae Wee, Christopher Cushing Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Japan, Bank of Singapore, Treasury, Federal Reserve, Japan's Finance, New Zealand, Fed, Bank of England, Capital.com, Thomson Locations: Rights SINGAPORE

☆ South Korea asks US to resolve chip trade issues
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Sept 22 (Reuters) - South Korea on Friday said it has asked the United States to resolve uncertainties regarding U.S. export controls in the chip sector and subsidies for chip investment. The waiver allowed the South Korean pair to supply equipment for their chip production facilities in China without additional licensing requirements. Bang has sought "active cooperation" from the U.S. Department of Commerce to resolve issues relating to export controls, South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said in a statement without elaborating. Samsung Electronics has NAND flash memory production in Xian, China whereas SK Hynix has DRAM chip production in Wuxi and NAND Flash production in Dalian. The companies together control nearly 70% of global DRAM and 50% of NAND flash markets as at June-end, showed data from TrendForce.

Persons: Florence Lo, Commerce Don Graves, Bang, Joyce Lee, Heekyong Yang, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Industry, U.S, Commerce, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, U.S . Department of Commerce, Korea's Ministry of Trade, Energy, TrendForce, Samsung, Thomson Locations: Rights SEOUL, South Korea, United States, Seoul, China, U.S, Korea's, Xian , China, Wuxi, Dalian, Texas

☆ Toshiba says $14 bln takeover bid by JIP has succeeded
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Makiko Yamazaki | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Toshiba Corporation is displayed at the company's building in Kawasaki, Japan, April 5, 2023. The deal puts the electronics-to-power stations maker in domestic hands after years of battles with overseas activist shareholders. Toshiba in March accepted the buyout offer valuing the industrial conglomerate at 2 trillion yen ($13.5 billion). Although some shareholders were unhappy with the price offered, Toshiba argued that there was no prospect of a higher offer or competing bid. Although not well known overseas, JIP has been involved in corporate carve outs and spin offs from Japanese conglomerates, including Olympus' (7733.T) camera business and Sony Group's (6758.T) laptop computer business.

Persons: Androniki, Taro Shimada, JIP, Sony Group's, Shimada, chipmaker Rohm, Makiko Yamazaki, Christopher Cushing, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Toshiba Corporation, REUTERS, Rights, Toshiba, Japan Industrial Partners, Olympus, Sony, Chubu Electric Power, Thomson Locations: Kawasaki, Japan

☆ Condom-shy India arouses interest of global contraceptive makers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Kashish Tandon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Such is the trend that the market is set to more than double to $1.7 billion by 2030, showed data from GrandView Research. By contrast, 19% of U.S. men use condoms every time they have sex, showed data from the National Center for Health Statistics. World Bank data showed that, in 2021, per capita gross domestic product crossed $2,000 - a threshold at which, in China in 2006, consumption jumped. Britain's Reckitt Benckiser Group (RKT.L) has launched new products under its Durex brand and expanded its "Birds and the Bees" rural marketing campaign. SOCIAL MEDIAIndia's market leader is domestic manufacturer Mankind Pharma (MNKI.NS) with a 33% share, ahead of Reckitt Benckiser at 14%, TechSci data showed.

Persons: Kazuhiro Kamio, Okamoto, Arvind Singhal, Miah Kiat Goh, Dwight, Mankind, Ashita Aggarwal, Kashish Tandon, Sumit Khanna, Rocky Swift, Dhanya Skariachan, Christopher Cushing Organizations: GrandView Research, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Okamoto Industries, National Center for Health Statistics, Technopak Advisors, Reuters, United Nations, Benckiser, ., Mankind Pharma, Social, Jain Institute of Management & Research, HDFC Securities Institutional, View Research, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, India, Europe, Japan, China, U.S, S.P, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Rocky, Tokyo

☆ Philippines Weighs Legal Options Against China Over Coral Reef 'Destruction'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Neil Jerome MoralesMANILA (Reuters) -The Philippines is exploring legal options against China accusing it of destruction of coral reefs within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, an allegation rejected by Beijing as an attempt to "create political drama". The Philippines is studying the possibility of filing a second legal case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague, Guevarra said on Friday. Manila refers to the part of the South China Sea that it claims as the West Philippine Sea. China, which has refused to recognise the 2016 ruling and has chafed at repeated mention of the case by Western powers, denied the latest claims of destruction of coral reefs. Coral in the South China Sea has been used for limestone and construction materials, traditional medicines and even souvenirs and jewellery.

Persons: Neil Jerome Morales MANILA, General Menardo Guevarra, Guevarra, China's, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Mao Ning, Neil Jerome Morales, Martin Petty, Christopher Cushing Organizations: China, Reuters, South China, West, Department of Foreign Affairs, Reed Bank Locations: Philippines, South China, Beijing, Spratly, Hague, West Philippine, Manila, South, China, Vietnam, Malaysia

At Kokusai's indicative price of 1,890 yen per share, the company will offer 111.2 billion yen ($749.88 million) worth of shares and have a market value of 435.5 billion yen. A successful listing would follow the blockbuster New York IPO of SoftBank-owned chip designer Arm , which investors hoped would lead to a wave of stock market launches. IPO activity has remained strong in Japan, where the stock market is at 33-year highs and interest rates ultra low. Kokusai reported operating profit fell by a fifth to 56 billion yen in the year ended March compared to the same period a year earlier. Sales were roughly flat at 245.7 billion yen.

Persons: Miho Uranaka, Kokusai, chipmaker TSMC, TW, Sam Nussey, Makiko Yamazaki, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, KKR, Materials, Kokusai, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Industry, Reuters, Marelli Holdings, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, TOKYO, China, York

☆ GCC countries, US call for completion of demarcation of Kuwaiti-Iraqi maritime borders
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken listens to Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi as they attend a breakfast with the Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council Nations, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, in New York, U.S. Craig Ruttle/Pool via REUTERS/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsCAIRO, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the U.S., in a joint statement on Wednesday, called for the completion of demarcation of Kuwaiti-Iraqi maritime borders "beyond boundary point 162". The statement comes after a meeting of GCC Arab foreign ministers, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and GCC Secretary-General Jasem al-Budaiwi in New York. They also called on the Iraqi government to "expeditiously resolve the domestic legal status of the 2012 Kuwait-Iraq Agreement to regulate maritime navigation in Khor Abdullah and ensure that the agreement remains in force." The joint statement also "called on Iraq and the UN to exert maximum efforts to reach a resolution of all the issues involved." Reporting by Enas ALashray, Muhammad Al Gebaly; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Jacqueline WongOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Antony Blinken, General Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, Craig Ruttle, Jasem, Khor Abdullah, Enas ALashray, Muhammad Al Gebaly, Christopher Cushing, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Cooperation, Foreign Ministers, Gulf Cooperation Council Nations, Rights, Gulf Cooperation Council, GCC, UN, United Nations, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Rights CAIRO, Kuwaiti, Iraqi, Kuwait, Iraq, Khor

The Senate backed President Joe Biden's nomination of Brown to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by 83 to 11. He will be only the second Black officer to chair the Joint Chiefs after Colin Powell two decades ago. Brown and other military officials had said Tuberville's blockade of hundreds of military promotions could have a far-reaching impact across the armed forces, affecting troops and their families and harming national security. Schumer's procedural motion did not address hundreds of other military promotions still being delayed by Tuberville's action. The Senate's approval of military promotions is usually smooth.

Persons: Joe Biden, Charles Brown Jr, Brown, Evelyn Hockstein, Charles Q, Joe Biden's, Colin Powell, Chuck Schumer, Tommy Tuberville, Tuberville, Lloyd Austin, Schumer, Austin, Randy George, Eric Smith, Patricia Zengerle, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Chris Reese, Christopher Cushing Organizations: U.S, Air Force, U.S . Joint Chiefs of Staff, White, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Senate, U.S . Air Force, Republican, Senate, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Chiefs, Pentagon, Defense Department, Defense, Black U.S, Army, Marine Corps, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Pacific, China

☆ Toshiba wins shareholder support for JIP's $14 bln takeover offer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Makiko Yamazaki | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Toshiba Corporation is displayed at the company's building in Kawasaki, Japan, April 5, 2023. REUTERS/Androniki Christodoulou/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Sept 21 (Reuters) - A consortium led by private equity firm Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) gained 78.65% of Toshiba (6502.T) through a tender offer, Toshiba said, coming a step closer to completing a $14 billion deal to take the company private. Toshiba is now set to be delisted as early as December, ending its 74-year history as a listed firm. Toshiba "will now take a major step toward a new future with a new shareholder". Since 2015, Toshiba has been battered by accounting scandals, suffered heavy loss and came close to being delisted.

Persons: Androniki, JIP, chipmaker Rohm, Taro Shimada, Makiko Yamazaki, Kim Coghill, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Toshiba Corporation, REUTERS, Rights, Japan Industrial Partners, Toshiba, Thomson Locations: Kawasaki, Japan

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