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☆ Analysis: While AI takes the spotlight, infrastructure stocks shine
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Chuck Mikolajczak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., July 26, 2023. Nvidia (NVDA.O) shares have surged almost 205% year to date, while Meta Platforms (META.O) has surged about 160% as investors anticipate the potential AI may unlock. That spending has led investors to search for stocks that will reap the benefits of the boost in spending in construction and engineering. "You have to look harder at these companies about what their end market really is, even though they're in a sector." Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; additional reporting by Lance Tupper, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Kim Forrest, Morgan Stanley, hasn’t, Bryant VanCronkhite, VanCronkhite, Owens Corning, Forrest, Chuck Mikolajczak, Lance Tupper, Louise Heavens Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Nvidia, Meta, Bokeh Capital Partners, Infrastructure Investment, Jobs, Allspring Global Investments, Reuters, Vulcan, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Pittsburgh, Menomonee Falls , Wisconsin

Spain's Socialist leader and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, salutes his supporters during the general election, in Madrid, Spain, July 23, 2023. Spain has a sticky diplomatic relationship with Morocco over issues including migration, airspace, territorial waters, customs and land borders. Madrid said it regarded Rabat's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara as "serious, credible and realistic". Moroccan media first reported - and welcomed - Sanchez's choice of holiday destination. The site praised Sanchez's closeness to Morocco "although many Spanish politicians reproach him for it", contrasting his stance to that of his political rivals in Madrid.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Nacho, Spain's, Sanchez, Podemos, Idoia Villanueva, Villanueva, Miguel Tellado, Vox, David Latona, Angus McDowall, Aislinn Laing, Nick Macfie Organizations: Socialist, REUTERS, Sanchez's Socialists, Polisario, Twitter, People's Party, Onda, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Morocco, Western Sahara, Spanish, Algeria, Polisario, Moroccan, London

☆ Why some salads may be unsafe
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Kirsi Goldynia | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

Even harder to contend with is the fact that the food products most susceptible to contamination are often those we eat for their health benefits – produce items. “Produce led the list; about 46% of the foodborne illness that we saw in the US could be attributable to produce. But you bring up a really great point that the processing of packaged meats may actually protect the products from pathogens. I think water is going to emerge as a huge issue. I think we’ve got systems in place that do a good job of making sure that consumers are getting good products.

Persons: Dr, Catherine Donnelly, Listeria, ”, Donnelly, “ Produce, ” That’s, –, ” Donnelly, I’m, we’ve, Edwin Remsberg, they’re, there’s, Barack Obama’s, Bridget Bennett, Vibrio, Facebook There’s Organizations: CNN, Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences, University of Vermont, US Centers for Disease Control, CDC, “, Food and Drug Administration, FDA, US Department of Agriculture, Getty, Bloomberg, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Western Washington, Cronobacter, Michigan, KFF, Vermont, hydroponics

☆ Eyeing China in the Pacific, US studies explosives to make missiles fly further
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

China views the U.S. in the Pacific as a threat, ramping up its own military presence in response. "Unfortunately, the Pentagon has grown complacent using 1940s-era energetics and neglected advanced energetics like CL-20 that are necessary to increasing the range and lethality of our force. In the last decade, when explosive weapons were used in populated areas, 90% of those reported killed or injured globally were civilians." The House version does not name any weapons, but Bob Kavetsky with the Energetics Technology Center said candidates for the new chemicals include the Lockheed Martin-made (LMT.N) long range anti-ship missiles and extended range air-to-surface missiles. Other candidates include Harpoon anti-ship missile made by Boeing (BA.N) and Javelin anti-tank weapons made by Lockheed and RTX (RTX.N).

Persons: U.S . Navy Arleigh, Burke, Curtis Wilbur, Read, Mike Gallagher, Kathleen Hicks, Tom Karako, Karako, Iain Overton, Bob Kavetsky, Lockheed Martin, Mike Stone, Chris Sanders Organizations: U.S . Navy, Pacific Vanguard, U.S . Naval, Pentagon, Reuters, Democrat, Republican, Navy, Energetics Technology Center, Northrop Grumman Corp, CL, L3Harris Technologies, Department of Defense, Army, Air Force, energetics, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Lockheed, Boeing, Thomson Locations: Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea, U.S, Philippine, WASHINGTON, Pacific, China, California, United States, Washington

☆ Epic OneWater Brew: The beer made from recycled shower water
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

More states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico and Washington, are in the process of updating their water reuse regulations. In 2017, two California-based brewers produced limited-edition beers made from recycled water, to serve at local events. “When I got into the water industry, there was a lot of often-repeated tropes that the general public was just not ready for recycled water,” he says. There’s a mental perception that recycled water is not as clean as other sources of water. “You’re going to start hearing a lot more about a lot of different industries using recycled water for their products.

Persons: ”, Aaron Tartakovsky, Germany —, it’s, ” Tartakovsky, “, Cleantec, Tartakovsky, David Sedlak, Sedlak, Daniel McCurry, McCurry, “ You’re Organizations: CNN, Berkeley Water Center, University of California, Civil, Environmental Engineering, University of Southern Locations: San Francisco, Germany, California, Texas, Arizona , Colorado , Florida, New Mexico, Washington, Southern California, Singapore, Australia, Berkeley, University of Southern California, San Diego

☆ Exxon looks to EV boom as oil giant is in talks to supply lithium to Tesla and other automakers, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Exxon Mobil is in talks with car manufacturers to become a lithium supplier, sources told Bloomberg. That includes Tesla, Volkswagen, and Ford. The oil giant is putting effort into joining the EV race, already drilling for lithium in Arkansas. Lithium is a key component in EV batteries, and Albemarle is among the lithium producers that Exxon is also talking to, the report added. The chemical company told Bloomberg in a statement that, "given Albemarle's leadership role in the market, people routinely want to speak with us — especially when looking at potential resources."

Organizations: Exxon Mobil, Bloomberg, Tesla, Volkswagen, Ford, Battery, Samsung, EV, Service, Privacy, Exxon, SK, International Energy Agency, Tetra Technologies Locations: Arkansas, Wall, Silicon, Albemarle

☆ Dock workers at key Canadian ports reject labor deal, creating further trade uncertainty
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesOverseas trade entering North America through key ports on Canada's West Coast faces more uncertainty after dock workers rejected a tentative labor deal late Friday. Canadian Minister of Labor Seamus O'Reagan, in a Twitter post Saturday, said ports in British Columbia need stability after the 14 days of strikes. "The vessel was delayed by several weeks and now the rail-bound containers sit at the Ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert." For the third week in a row, rail traffic from Canada into the U.S. is down following the on-again, off-again western Canadian ports strike. The first two weeks of the labor strike prevented over 80% of rail trade from entering the United States.

Persons: Rob Ashton, BCMEA, ILWU, Labor Seamus O'Reagan, O'Reagan, Paul Brashier, Vancouver and Prince Rupert, Steve Lamar, AAFA Organizations: Global, Bloomberg, Getty Images Overseas, Warehouse Union of Canada, British Columbia Maritime Employers Association, Labor, . Trade, U.S ., ITS Logistics, American Apparel and Footwear Association Locations: Vancouver Harbour, Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, North America, Coast, British, ILWU Canada, British Columbia, U.S . West Coast, Vancouver, U.S, United States

☆ Rail freight from Canada to U.S. continues to drop after ports strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Last week, total rail volume from Canada to the U.S. was down 12%, according to The Association of American Railroad's latest rail traffic report for the week ending July 22. This was an improvement given the first full week of the strike saw a 46% decrease in rail trade from Canada, and the second week suffered a 36% decrease. Rail traffic from Canada into the U.S. had a third-straight weekly drop as a result of the on-again, off-again strike at the West Coast Canadian ports. When the first strike ended on its thirteenth day, delays for rail containers were estimated at 39 to 66 days. Adding another day with the on-again, off-again strike last week, brings the congestion removal tally up to 42-70 days.

Persons: Port of Prince Rupert, Doug Macdonald, Rupert, Blaine Davidson, Terri Shimensky, Shimensky, Eric Byer, Byer, NACD Organizations: The Association of American, West Coast, Railway Association of Canada, CNBC, The Railway Association of Canada, Port, National Association of Chemical Distributors, CN, U.S ., Railroads, Canada, Association of American Railroads Locations: Canada, Port of Vancouver, Port of, Vancouver, Ohio, of Long, U.S . West Coast, U.S, Chicago, West

☆ A Looming Retraction Casts a Shadow Over a Field of Physics
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Kenneth Chang | More About Kenneth Chang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A major physics journal is retracting a two-year-old scientific paper that described the transformations of a chemical compound as it was squeezed between two pieces of diamond. Such an esoteric finding — and retraction — would not typically garner much attention. But one of the leaders of this research is Ranga P. Dias, a professor in the physics and mechanical engineering departments at the University of Rochester in New York who made a much bigger scientific splash earlier this year, touting the discovery of a room-temperature superconductor. At the same time, accusations of research misconduct have swirled around Dr. Dias, and his superconductor findings remain largely unconfirmed. The retracted paper does not involve superconductivity but rather describes how a relatively mundane material, manganese sulfide, shifts its behavior from an insulator to a metal and then back to an insulator under increasing pressure.

Persons: Ranga P, Dias Organizations: University of Rochester Locations: New York

At the end of the day, unquestionably, you undermined the integrity of horse racing.”Mr. Servis, who was also ordered to pay $163,932 in restitution and a $30,000 fine, is to report to prison on Nov. 1. He addressed the court briefly during the hearing, which lasted more than two hours. He was sentenced to three years in prison for the felony charge and one year for the misdemeanor, to be served consecutively. Four years was the maximum sentence that Judge Vyskocil could have levied against Mr. Servis, 66, for the guilty pleas on the two counts. Before entering into the plea agreement, Mr. Servis could have faced up to 25 years in prison had he been convicted on charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

Persons: Mr, Servis, Rita Glavin, I’ve, ”, Glavin, ” Mr, Vyskocil Organizations: Mr

☆ ADNOC has upper hand in $30 bln plastics M&A
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Karen Kwok | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The complex ownership structure and the involvement of two governments make it intriguing to see who holds the whip hand. ADNOC owns 54% of Abu Dhabi-listed Borouge, while 36% of the same company is held by Borealis, with other investors accounting for the other 10%. Meanwhile ADNOC owns 25% of Borealis, while OMV holds the other 75%. Strip out Borouge's dividend, and Borealis would be worth $10 billion, Deutsche Bank reckons. ADNOC’s 63% Borouge stake and 25% Borealis stake are thus worth $14 billion and $2.5 billion respectively; OMV’s 27% Borouge stake and 75% Borealis holding are worth $6 billion and $7.5 billion.

Persons: ADNOC, OMV, Goldman Sachs, China's Sinopec, Saudi Arabia's SABIC, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi’s, George Hay, Pranav Kiran Organizations: Reuters, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Borealis, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Deutsche Bank, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co, OMV, ADNOC, Thomson Locations: Abu Dhabi, Austrian, Borealis, Borouge, Saudi, India, Abu, Europe, Vienna, ADNOC

☆ The world's top alien hunters explain why a Harvard physicist's discovery of 'alien' tech is likely a false alarm
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Adam Barnes | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Harvard physicist Avi Loeb announced the discovery of tiny "spherules" at the bottom of the Pacific. But three of the world's top experts on the search for aliens are skeptical the tech is from aliens. The fragments "could be a spacecraft from another civilization, or some technological gadget," Loeb told CBS News. This will constitute independent evidence for the interstellar origin of IM1 in addition to its measured speed," Loeb wrote. Loeb told Insider that, when ready, the team will publish their findings in a scientific paper that will be "shared openly and submitted for a peer-reviewed journal."

Persons: Avi Loeb, Loeb, Dan Werthimer, IM1, aren't, Douglas Vakoch, Vakoch, Monica Grady, Werthimier Organizations: Service, CBS, SETI Research, University of California, Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence, SETI, Center, Object, Sun, Space Command, NASA, DOD, The Open University, HMS Locations: Wall, Silicon, Berkeley, Papua New Guinea

☆ Canadian West Coast ports strike to be decided in all-union vote on Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The fate of operations at West Coast ports in Canada will be decided on Tuesday, July 25, when rank-and-file members of the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union Canada will vote on a tentative deal with port ownership. The plan to send the deal to a full union vote comes after a week of confusion and turmoil at the ports. For the vote, work will stop from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday across all ports. Weekly rail trade data aggregated by the American Association of Railroads reveals a total decrease of 82.4% in rail trade over the course of the 13-day strike. When the first strike ended on its thirteenth day, delays for rail containers were estimated at 39 to 66 days.

Persons: Seamus O'Regan, Vancouver and Prince Rupert, Eric Byer, Byer, Destine Ozuygur Organizations: Warehouse Union Canada, Canadian, British Columbia Maritime Employers Association, Canada's Labor, Logistics, CNBC, American Association of Railroads, Railway Association of Canada, Port, U.S . Trade, U.S, The National Association of Chemical Distributors, Canadian National Railroad, Government, Trade Locations: West Coast, Canada, British, Vancouver, U.S, Port of Vancouver, West, United States, eeSea

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida set a target in June for women to hold at least 30% of executive positions at leading companies by 2030. The latest initiative to raise female management participation was announced to boost female roles from 2.2% as of July 2022. The results reflect the lack of momentum in Japan towards enhancing the role of women in the workforce to improve diversity and boost economic growth. Respondents to a Reuters survey two years ago were also pessimistic of expanding their female executive ranks. More than half of companies polled said they have hired or plan to hire female managers externally, with 45% of companies introducing or planning to introduce measures to help juggle work and home life.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Sam Nussey, Anton, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Japan, Nikkei, Reuters, Nikkei Research, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Japan's

☆ UBS names its 'best single stock ideas' in the U.S. right now
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Lucy Handley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Swiss bank UBS has revealed a list of "key investment ideas," selecting stocks based on factors such as market conditions, economic trends and government policy. "We focus on the equity asset class and highlight our best single stock ideas in the US tied to select messages," the bank's Chief Investment Office stated in a July 17 research note, adding that its ideas are updated monthly. It also chose wind energy company Xcel Energy , which it said is "well positioned to outperform the S & P Utilities index over the next 12 months." Green investment, infrastructure ideas "Green investment, decarbonization commitments, consumer sentiment, and regulation will continue to drive the case for investing sustainably," UBS said in the note, picking several stocks under the "go sustainable" theme. "The stock ideas listed under key investment ideas reflect current views as of publication," the bank stated.

Persons: Burger King, Carey, telco, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: UBS, Investment, Brands, Xcel Energy, TJX Companies, Air Products, NextEra Energy, Constellation Energy, U.S Locations: North America, China

☆ Canadian port workers back on strike after voting down government-brokered deal, returning supply chain to 'turmoil'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Photographer: Ben Nelms/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesThe supply chain is in turmoil again with International Longshore & Warehouse Union West Coast Canada members walking off the job after a key union caucus voted down a tentative deal that had temporarily ended the West Coast ports strike last week. Rob Ashton, president of the ILWU Canada, said in a statement that it did not believe the recommendations had the ability to protect union jobs. His group estimated that the first strike would cause an average 6-8 weeks of supply chain disruption before conditions would return to normal. The National Association of Chemical Distributors told CNBC some chemical companies are expected supply chain congestion until October as a result of the strike. Critical chemicals that go into food, cleaning, water purification, and personal care, among many others, flow through the West Coast ports of Canada and down to the United States.

Persons: Prince Rupert, of Prince Rupert in Prince, Trudeau, He's, Kinder Morgan, Ben Nelms, Rob Ashton, Seamus O'Reagan, " O'Regan, Steve Lamar, Lamar, Vancouver and Prince Rupert, Destine Ozuygur, Ozuygur, Eric Byer, Byer, HLS, Captain Adil Ashiq, Ashiq, Paul Brashier, BCMEA Organizations: Prince Rupert Grain Ltd, Canadian, Enbridge Inc, Kinder, Kinder Morgan Inc, Bloomberg, Getty, Warehouse Union, Coast Canada, British Columbia Maritime Employee Association, Canada's Labor, Canada's Transport, Canada Industrial Relations Board, Logistics, CNBC, American Apparel and Footwear Association, Railway Association of Canada, U.S, Port, HLS Shipping, Association of American Railroads, National Association of Chemical Distributors, Canadian National Railroad, Government, ., U.S ., ITS Logistics Locations: of, of Prince Rupert in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada, Petroliam Nasional, West, British, Vancouver, U.S, Port of Vancouver, eeSea, United States, . West Coast, East Coast, China, U.S . West Coast, U.S . East Coast, North America, East, Asia

☆ Fact Check-Online conspiracies link Pixar’s use of the number A113 with adrenochrome
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Yet, some online link Pixar to the QAnon conspiracy theory by saying the number represents the chemical adrenochrome. A tweet that has garnered at least 980 retweets reads: “Has anyone heard of this A-113 equals Adrenochrome? A113 AT PIXARInsider reported in February that references to the number A113 are in at least 23 Pixar movies, including its first studio film Toy Story (here). GOOGLEThe link between adrenochrome and A113 may stem from screenshots accompanying these claims on social media that show that searching the terms “a113 chemical” or “A-113 chemical” on Google brings up the Wikipedia page for adrenochrome. There is no chemical link between “A113” and the substance adrenochrome.

Persons: Brad Bird, Andrew Stanton, Pete Doctor, John Lasseter, Lasseter, Pete Docter, adrenochrome, ”, Kabrena Rodda, Read Organizations: Pixar, California Institute of the Arts, PIXAR, CalArts, Reuters, Wired, McGill University’s Office, Science and Society, American Chemical Society International, Committee, Google Locations: mater, adrenochrome

☆ China executes kindergarten teacher for poisoning preschoolers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, July 14 (Reuters) - A former kindergarten teacher was executed in central China this week after killing one child and injuring 24 others by poisoning their porridge with sodium nitrite four years ago, state media reported on Friday. In March 2019, Wang purchased some sodium nitrite after being involved in a dispute with a fellow teacher. The next morning at the kindergarten she added some of the chemical compound into the children's "eight treasures porridge", the court ruled, according to state media. "Eight treasures porridge" is a sweet-flavoured rice-based porridge which is very popular in China. China executes thousands of people each year, by far and away more than any other country, according to estimates by human rights NGO Amnesty International.

Persons: Wang Yun, Wang, Martin Quin Pollard, Lincoln Organizations: Amnesty International, Beijing, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Henan province, China's Guangdong

☆ Secret Services ends White House cocaine investigation with no leads
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Kelly O'Donnell | Rebecca Shabad | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The Secret Service investigation has concluded with no usable forensic or video evidence to identify the individual responsible, three Secret Service officials familiar with the investigation tell NBC News. The Secret Service received results Wednesday from tests conducted by the FBI, "which did not develop latent fingerprints and insufficient DNA was present for investigative comparisons," according to an official statement from the Secret Service released Thursday. "The presence of illegal drugs in the White House is unacceptable and a shameful moment in the White House's history." White House officials noted the Biden family was not at the White House when the cocaine was discovered; the president and his family had left for Camp David for the holiday weekend Friday and did not return to the White House until Tuesday, July 4th, after the cocaine had been discovered. The individuals were notified they could not bring the marijuana to the White House campus, the officials said.

Persons: Biden, Jake Sullivan, Karine Jean, Pierre, Jean, James Comer, Kimberly Cheatle, Comer, Camp David, Pierre said, it's Organizations: Service Police, Lafayette, Service, NBC, White, FBI, NBC News, Homeland, Capitol, West, Wing, West Wing, District of Columbia Fire Department, Department of Homeland, Camp, Secret Services, Washington , D.C, White House Locations: Washington ,, Ky, Fort Detrick , Maryland

[1/34] Bulls from the Fuente Ymbro ranch run along Estafeta street during the fourth running of the bulls during Sanfermines in Pamplona, Spain, July 10, 2023. The famed bull-running festival engulfs downtown Pamplona every July when revellers from around the globe descend upon the northern Spanish city... Read moreSummary Picture essayPAMPLONA, Spain, July 12 (Reuters) - The bell tolls - eight chimes. Some are drawn to the Sanfermines - as the festival is popularly known - by the timeless prose of one of the grandees of 20th-century American literature. For the past 24 years, she has rented the same apartment in Pamplona for the festival with her family. WHAT HAS CHANGED AND WHAT HASN'TThere's a recurring debate among Pamplona's residents: Is the city's overcrowding during Sanfermines Hemingway's fault?

Persons: Fuente, St Fermin, savoured, Ernest Hemingway, Hemingway, Bill Hillmann, Hillmann's, He's, wilder, Hemingway's, John, Michael ., gored, hasn't, I've, Hillmann, Cheryl Mountcastle, Mary Welsh, Arrieta, Sanfermines, William Kappal, Kappal, it's, Susana Vera, David Latona, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Bulls, American, New, YouTube, Thomson Locations: Pamplona, Spain, Spanish, PAMPLONA, British, Paris, Chicago, New Orleans, Sanfermines, Miguel, France, Izu

☆ BASF cuts 2023 earnings guidance on weak industrial demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FRANKFURT, July 12 (Reuters) - German chemicals giant BASF (BASFn.DE) on Wednesday cut its full-year earnings guidance, the latest in a string of chemical companies caught out by weak demand from industrial clients and higher interest rates. In an unscheduled statement, BASF said earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) and adjusted for special items would be 4.0 billion euros to 4.4 billion euros ($4.90 billion) in 2023It had previously projected adjusted EBIT of 4.8 billion euros to 5.4 billion euros for the year, down from 6.9 billion in 2022. "Global chemical production declined perceptibly in the first half of 2023," BASF said in a statement, putting this down to slowing growth in industrial output. Chemical industry peers such as Croda (CRDA.L), Lanxess (LXSG.DE) , Victrex (VCTX.L) , Clariant (CLN.S) and Evonik (EVKn.DE) have recently cut their guidance, prompting several analysts to predict that BASF would be next. Second-quarter adjusted EBIT dropped 57% to 1.01 billion euros, down from 2.34 billion a year ago.

Persons: EBIT, VCI, Ludwig Burger, Sarah Marsh, Jane Merriman, Sharon Singleton Organizations: BASF, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Europe, China

☆ Factbox: China's major germanium and gallium producers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

China produces around 60% of the world's germanium, or 180 metric tons in 2022, and over 90% of the world's gallium, about 606 tons last year, according to research firm Antaike. YUNNAN GERMANIUM, AN ESTABLISHED PRODUCERHeadquartered in southwest China's Yunnan province, Yunnan Lincang Xinyuan Germanium Industry Co. Ltd. (002428.SZ) extracts germanium from its own germanium mines and germanium-containing lignite coal mines. It has an annual capacity of 47.6 metric tons of germanium ingot, 60 tons of germanium tetrahydride - used to build 5G infrastructure - and 300,000 germanium wafers for solar cells. CHINALCO, A MAJOR GALLIUM PRODUCERState aluminium giant Chinalco has three gallium production plants, one each in central China's Henan and southwestern Guangxi and Guizhou provinces. It has annual production capacity of 200 metric tons of gallium metal and produced 146 metric tons in 2022.

Persons: Duan Xiangdong, Hope, Zhuzhou, Dominique Patton, David Evans Organizations: . Ltd, Aluminum Corporation of China, Zhuhai Fangyuan, Xing'an, Gallium, AXT Inc, Beijing, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, YUNNAN, China's Yunnan, Yunnan, China's Henan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Shanghai, Zhuzhou, China's Hunan, Zhuhai, Guangdong, Shanxi, Nanjing, U.S, Beijing

☆ Nearly half of US drinking water may contain toxic 'forever chemicals'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Rachel Nostrant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 6 (Reuters) - Nearly half of U.S. tap water samples contain toxic "forever chemicals," substances used in hundreds of household items from cleaning supplies to pizza boxes to which broad exposure can carry serious health risks, according to a new study. But analyzing tap water allows for a more accurate assessment of what people are drinking, said Kelly Smalling, a USGS hydrologist who led the research. The study samples, which came from public supplies and private wells between 2016 and 2021, were tested for 32 types. Public water supplies are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency while private wells are not. It would require monitoring of public water systems and disclosure when PFAS levels exceed limits.

Persons: Kelly Smalling, ” Smalling, Rachel Nostrant, Nancy Lapid, Howard Goller Organizations: Geological Survey, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Environmental Protection Agency, Biden administration’s, Infrastructure Law, Thomson Locations: U.S

☆ What are Gallium and Germanium? China curbs exports of metals critical to chips and other tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Germanium and gallium are the two metals in the spotlight. China's commerce ministry on Monday said that new regulations will require exporters of gallium and germanium to get a license to ship the metals. What are germanium and gallium used for? Gallium is used for manufacturing the gallium arsenide chemical compound, which can make radio frequency chips for mobile phones and satellite communication, for example. China produces 60% of the world's germanium and 80% of gallium, according to the Critical Raw Materials Alliance, an industry body.

Organizations: U.S, Micron, Alliance, CRM Alliance Locations: China, Europe, U.S, Beijing, Japan

Reverse discrimination lawsuits are common, but there is little court precedent on the legality of whole diversity programs. The Supreme Court in a 1979 ruling upheld a chemical company's policy that at least half of its trainees for skilled craft positions be Black. By calling out specific admissions policies, such as giving "pluses" to minority students, the court's decision is likely to embolden critics who claim workforce diversity programs similarly give unfair advantages to certain groups. The Pfizer case was brought by Do No Harm, a conservative activist group that has challenged several diversity programs in healthcare. Those broad policies are likely insulated from legal challenges, according to Doug Brayley, a Boston-based partner at law firm Ropes & Gray.

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, Gray, Thursday’s, John Roberts, Neil Gorsuch, “, ”, Dan Morenoff, George Floyd, Andrea Lucas, Lucas, Donald Trump, Roberts, Edward Blum, Blum, Doug Brayley, ” Brayley, Daniel Wiessner, Alexia Garamfalvi, Alistair Bell Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Harvard University, University of North, REUTERS, American Civil Rights, Opportunity Commission, Republican, Democratic, Pfizer Inc, Pfizer, Conservative, Gray, Thomson Locations: University of North Carolina, Washington , U.S, Boston, Albany , New York

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