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☆ China to be centre of Mercedes-Benz 2025 EV sales drive, Automobilwoche says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FRANKFURT, July 23 (Reuters) - Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE) is making China, the world's top auto market, central to its next electric vehicle (EV) campaign starting in 2025, its CEO told German magazine Automobilwoche. From 2025, all of Mercedes-Benz's new vehicle platforms will only make EVs under a strategy the German luxury automaker outlined in 2021. A senior executive told Automobilwoche the models the company plans to launch in China based on the upcoming MB.EA platform were being reviewed to ensure they better meet the needs of local customers, singling out space and digital content. China remains the most relevant market for Germany's automakers, but local brands are in control with an 81% share of the Chinese EV market in 2022, Counterpoint Research found. China also has a significant stake in Mercedes-Benz, whose top two shareholders are Beijing Automotive Group Co Ltd (1958.HK) and Geely (GEELY.UL) Chairman Li Shufu.

Persons: Ola Kaellenius, Automobilwoche, Li Shufu, Christoph Steitz, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Benz, Mercedes, EV, Research, Beijing Automotive Group Co, HK, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, China, Berlin, Ukraine

☆ Thai protesters show support for Pita after PM bid blocked
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BANGKOK, July 23 (Reuters) - Hundreds of pro-deomcracy protesters in Thailand gathered on Sunday in a show of support for Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward party, after conservative opponents thwarted his latest attempt to become prime minister. Parliament has twice blocked the Harvard-educated Pita, 42, from becoming prime minister - once last Wednesday and previously the week before - which his supporters say was due to unfair rules. Move Forward's policies put it on collision course with Thailand's nexus of royalist military, old money elites and conservative forces. Move Forward's eight-party coalition includes the populist Pheu Thai party and controls a majority in the 500-member lower house. Another vote on the premiership is scheduled for Thursday when Move Forward coalition ally Pheu Thai will propose a candidate who is largely expected to be political newcomer real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Pheu, Srettha Thavisin, Chayut, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Harvard, Thomson Locations: BANGKOK, Thailand, Bangkok, Thai

☆ California has enough power during heat wave after Thursday emergency
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 21 (Reuters) - California's power grid operator said it does not plan to ask consumers to conserve power on Friday after declaring an energy emergency late Thursday as homes and businesses cranked up their air conditioners to escape a lingering heat wave. The California Independent System Operator (ISO), which operates the grid serving more than 32 million consumers representing about 80% of the state's power load, has said it has enough resources available to meet demand. California residents have worried about the effect of extreme weather on the power grid since a brutal heat wave in August 2020 forced the ISO to impose a couple of days of rotating blackouts on around 800,000 homes and businesses. The ISO forecast demand would rise from 42,266 megawatts (MW) on Thursday to 43,512 MW on Friday. Gas is important in California since much of the power generated in the state comes from gas-fired plants.

Persons: Scott DiSavino, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Soaring, Columbia, Thomson Locations: California, Los Angeles, U.S, Pacific Northwest

Companies BTA 2012 Private Placement Program FollowBAMBOLIM, India, July 21 (Reuters) - Major fossil fuel producers, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, on Friday opposed a proposal to triple G20 countries' renewable energy capacity by 2030, three sources said. India, as current holder of the G20 presidency, took a neutral stand on the issue, said the sources - two of whom attended the G20 meeting. One of those sources said Russia and Saudi Arabia declined to accept targets on increasing non-fossil capacity or deadlines to add renewable energy on the grounds natural gas is a critical part of their energy mix. Some members sought for the phrase "low-carbon hydrogen" to be adopted, rather than "green hydrogen," the sources said. While green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy, "low-carbon hydrogen" could include hydrogen produced using gas, which is less carbon intensive than coal.

Persons: Sarita Chaganti Singh, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Reuters, International Energy Agency, Energy, European Union, West, Thomson Locations: India, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, South Africa, Indonesia, Goa, New Delhi, Ukraine, Germany, United States, Bambolim

☆ Extreme heatwaves to continue through August, WMO adviser says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Remo Casilli/file photoGENEVA, July 21 (Reuters) - Heatwaves are expected to persist in a large part of the world throughout August, an adviser on extreme heat said on Friday, following on from record temperatures in recent weeks. "We should expect or at least plan for these extreme heatwaves to continue through August," Senior Extreme Heat Advisor for the WMO John Nairn told Reuters. Extreme weather has also disrupted the lives of millions of Americans, with dangerous heat stretching from Southern California to the Deep South. Nairn said climate change meant heatwaves would become more frequent and be spread across the seasons. "We're on trend in seeing a rise in global temperatures that will contribute to heatwaves increasing in intensity and frequency," Nairn said.

Persons: Trevi, Remo Casilli, WMO John Nairn, Nairn, We've, Cécile Mantovani, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, World Meteorological Organization, WMO, Reuters, European, Thomson Locations: Italy, Rome, GENEVA, North America, Asia, North Africa, Southern Europe, Southern California, East, Nairn

☆ Wildfires in Greece burn for fifth day as another heatwave hits
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Fedja Grulovic | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] A person walks at the yard of a burnt house following a wildfire in Mandra, Greece, July 21. REUTERS/Louiza VradiATHENS, July 21 (Reuters) - Greece struggled to contain a wildfire west of Athens that burnt forestland for a fifth day on Friday as another heatwave hit the country. Two other blazes in forests on the island of Rhodes and in the Lakonia district in southern Greece were tamed on Friday. The risk of wildfires in the coming days will remain high and further heat is forecast following on from a previous heatwave. Reporting by Lefteris Papadimas and Fedja Grulovic; Editing by Angeliki Koutantou and Barbara LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Vassilis Kikilias, Lefteris Papadimas, Angeliki Koutantou, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Firefighters, Reuters, Culture Ministry, Thomson Locations: Mandra, Greece, Louiza, ATHENS, Athens, Cyprus, France, Israel, Italy, Rhodes, Lakonia

☆ US banks' second quarter earnings: the results in charts
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Manya Saini | Thomson Reuters | Manya Saini Reports On Prominent Publicly Listed U.S. Financial Firms Including Wall Street S Biggest Banks | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The results follow a tumultuous first quarter in which Silicon Valley Bank and two other lenders failed. Signs of a revival in the investment banking sector, as higher rates and economic uncertainty have hampered deals and trading, also drove share gains. The upbeat results sparked a rally in bank stocks with the S&P 500 Banks Index (.SPXBK) gaining 9.3% and the KBW Regional Banking Index (.KRX) rising 13.7% month-to-date. Here are three charts on mid-sized banks' second-quarter results:DEPOSIT LEVELSReuters GraphicsWhile regional bank earnings in recent days have reassured investors that the crisis has subsided, regional banks are being squeezed as they pay customers more to retain their deposits. The KBW Regional Banking Index (.KRX) has rallied 13.7% month-to-date but remains down 13.6% so far this year.

Persons: Banks, Manya Saini, Michelle Price, Barbara Lewis, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Bank, Banks, Federal, Reuters Graphics, Bank of America, Graphics, Graphics Bank, Thomson Locations: Silicon, KBW, Bengaluru

☆ Exclusive: Romanian port can ship more Ukraine grain after collapse of Black Sea deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Luiza Ilie | Thomson Reuters | Bucharest-Based General News Reporter Covering A Wide Range Of Romanian Topics Elections | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

By comparison, Romanian port operators handled 8.6 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain in the whole of 2022. At its peak so far, Constanta handled 25 million tonnes of grain per year, which Panait said will be exceeded in 2023. "There is an accelerated course and everyone on it, the state, the port authority, port operators aim to boost operating and transit speeds, and the grain quantities," he said. Freight logistics group TTS (TTS.BX), which handles agricultural products, minerals and chemicals on the Danube river, completed the takeover of Constanta port solid bulk cargo operator Decirom S.A. earlier this month. It is one of five eastern EU countries that experienced an influx of Ukrainian grain as a result of Russia's invasion, leading the EU to approve temporary restrictions that meant grain could only transit through the countries.

Persons: Viorel Panait, Panait, TTS, Izmail, Luiza Ilie, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Monday, Constanta Port Authority, Reuters, Constanta Port Business Association, Freight, Decirom S.A, EU, Thomson Locations: BUCHAREST, Romania's Constanta, Russia, Constanta, Hungary, Serbia, Romanian, Romania, Ukraine, Reni, Ukrainian, Vadul Siret

☆ OpenAI's head of trust and safety steps down
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

STOCKHOLM, July 21 (Reuters) - OpenAI's head of trust and safety Dave Willner is leaving the company, he said in a LinkedIn post on Friday, citing the pressures of the job on his family life and saying he would be available for advisory work. Willner took over his role at OpenAI in February last year, after working at Airbnb and Facebook. He attributed his decision to quit to growing demands from his job affecting his family life. Microsoft-backed OpenAI, whose AI chatbot ChatGPT, has stormed the world, has said it depends on its trust and safety team to build "the processes and capabilities to prevent misuse and abuse of AI technologies". Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm and Fanny Potkin in Singapore; editing by Barbara LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dave Willner, OpenAI, Willner, I've, Supantha Mukherjee, Fanny Potkin, Barbara Lewis Organizations: OpenAI, Facebook, Microsoft, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Stockholm, Singapore

☆ Ericsson investigates reports of Iraq revoking work permits
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

STOCKHOLM, July 21 (Reuters) - Ericsson (ERICb.ST) is investigating reports Baghdad has suspended employees' work permits in Iraq and the potential implications for customers and staff in the country, the Swedish telecom gear company said on Friday. On Thursday, Iraq expelled the Swedish ambassador in protest at a planned burning of the Koran in Stockholm that prompted protesters to storm the Swedish embassy in Baghdad. Two protesters in Stockholm on Thursday kicked and partly destroyed a book they said was the Koran but did not set it alight. Ericsson, which has around 30 full-time employees in Iraq, said the safety of its staff, partners, and customers was its top priority. Iraq is a relatively small market by sales for Ericsson.

Persons: Supantha Mukherjee, Anna Ringstrom, Jason Neely, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Ericsson, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Baghdad, Iraq, Swedish, Stockholm, Sweden

Russia's gas, in contrast to its oil, is not subject to Western sanctions, although Brussels is considering extending its embargo on Russian fuel. Gazprom's gas exports, mainly to Europe, almost halved last year because of the political crisis over Ukraine and after undersea Nord Stream pipelines were damaged by unexplained blasts last September. Timchenko had long challenged Gazprom's monopoly on Russian gas exports, saying in 2012 that Europeans wanted to have an alternative to Gazprom. "I believe that Gazprom Export's marketing campaign led to its European share decrease ... Liquefied natural gas has already come to the market. In essence, a new, cheaper gas market is emerging; one has to see such things," Timchenko told the Forbes magazine in 2012.

Persons: Maxim Shemetov, Russia's, Ronald Smith of, Novatek, Vladimir Putin, Alexei Miller, Putin, Miller, Gennady Timchenko, Timchenko, Oksana Kobzeva, Vladimir Soldatkin, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Gazprom, REUTERS, Stream, EU, Kremlin, European Union, Novatek, BCS, Forbes, Thomson Locations: Russia, Europe, MOSCOW, Ukraine, Brussels, Siberia, LNG, Ronald Smith of Moscow, Germany, Italy, Soviet, St Petersburg, Moscow, Russian

☆ London festival explores the power of ecopoetry to deliver hope
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Sarah Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Poet Nina Mingya Powles performs for Reuters on stage at the National Poetry Library, ahead of 'Poetry International' in London, Britain, July 19, 2023. Its organisers said ecopoetry was an obvious focus given rising concern about climate change as record-breaking heatwaves have swept parts of the globe. Also taking part is 30-year-old New Zealand born poet Nina Mingya Powles who is concerned about water quality. "If someone feels in (a) poem, the boundaries collapse between ... what we think of as the human and the non-human ... that for me is hope," she said. Reporting by Sarah Mills; Editing by Barbara Lewis and Alison WilliamsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Nina Mingya Powles, Sarah Mills, Ted Hughes, ecopoetry, CAConrad, Barbara Lewis, Alison Williams Organizations: Reuters, Poetry, REUTERS, Southbank, British, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, New Zealand, Wellington Harbour

☆ Global power demand growth to rebound in 2024 after slowdown, IEA says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Forrest Crellin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

PARIS, July 19 (Reuters) - An ongoing energy crisis and an economic downturn is expected to slow global power demand growth in 2023, but a probable rebound in 2024 means more renewable capacity needs to be developed, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Wednesday. For 2024, the rate is expected to rise to 3.3%, as the economic outlook improves, the IEA data showed. The Paris-based agency predicted renewable energy would cover the expected growth this year and next and power from renewable sources would exceed one third of the total global power supply for the first time next year. In the first half this year, the EU recorded a 6% decline in power demand as energy-intensive industries, including aluminum, steel, paper, and chemical industries, cut their use in response to high prices. Increased use of cooling to cope with summer heatwaves is expected to drive the demand growth there this year.

Persons: Forrest Crellin, Barbara Lewis Organizations: International Energy Agency, European Union, EU, Thomson Locations: Paris, Spain, China, India, Ukraine, Europe, United States, Japan, Korea

The country recorded massive increases in generation from hydro (+64 billion kWh), solar (+13 billion kWh) and wind farms (+9 billion kWh). As a result, there was a sharp decline in thermal generation (-66 billion kWh) including gas (-45 billion kWh), oil (-10 billion kWh), coal (-8 billion kWh) and biomass (-3 million kWh). Hydro power was +43 billion kWh (+11%) above the prior ten-year average in 2022 and the highest for any year since 2011. In consequence, gas-fired generation was -24 billion kWh (-37%) below the prior ten-year average and the lowest since 2011. LNG IMPORTS DOWNBrazil relies on imports to cover more than a quarter of its gas consumption – rising to almost half in years when gas generation is high.

Persons: John Kemp, Barbara Lewis Organizations: U.K . Energy Institute, Hydro, HYDRO, National Electric, ., Ministry of Mines and Energy, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Brazil, Europe, Chartbook, Bolivia, United States, Qatar, Trinidad and Tobago, Asia, Midwest

☆ US stocks rise on earnings outlook, global shares dip on China data
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Herbert Lash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., July 12, 2023. The tech-heavy Nasdaq led U.S. stocks higher, supported by megacap growth stocks including Apple, Nvidia and Tesla, ahead of quarterly results from industry heavyweights later this week. Second-quarter earnings are expected to decline 8.1%, according to Refinitiv data, down further than the 5.7% decline expected at the start of the month. Data on U.S. retail sales are expected to show a rise of 0.3% ex-autos, continuing the slower trend but solid enough to fit into the market's soft-landing theme. Futures are pricing in an additional 32 basis points of tightening this year, with the benchmark rate expected to peak at 5.40% in November.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Morgan Stanley, Goldman, it's, Anthony Saglimbene, James Ragan, Brent, Herbert Lash, Karen Brettell, Amanda Cooper, Wayne Cole, Lincoln, Christina Fincher, Barbara Lewis, Deepa Babington Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Wall, Nasdaq, Apple, Nvidia, Tesla, Tesla Inc, Bank of America Corp, Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Netflix Inc, Dow Jones, Fed, Treasury, Reuters Graphics Oil, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, China, Troy , Michigan, Davidson, Seattle, Europe, New York, London, Sydney

☆ Global shares dip after China data; US stocks gain
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Herbert Lash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., July 12, 2023. The tech-heavy Nasdaq led U.S. stocks higher, supported by megacap growth stocks including Apple and Tesla, ahead of quarterly results from industry heavyweights later this week. Stocks in Europe closed lower, with the pan-regional STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) down 0.63% while MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe (.MIWD00000PUS), which is heavily weighted to U.S. megacap stocks, edged higher by 0.14%. Futures are pricing in an additional 32 basis points of tightening this year, with the benchmark rate expected to peak at 5.40% in November. U.S. crude fell $1.27 to settle at $74.15 per barrel and Brent settled down $1.37 at $78.50.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Morgan Stanley, Goldman, it's, Anthony Saglimbene, James Ragan, Brent, Herbert Lash, Karen Brettell, Amanda Cooper, Wayne Cole, Lincoln, Christina Fincher, Barbara Lewis Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, YORK, Nasdaq, Apple, Tesla, Tesla Inc, Bank of America Corp, Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Netflix Inc, Dow Jones, Fed, Treasury, Reuters Graphics Sterling, Bank of England, CBA, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, China, Troy , Michigan, Davidson, Seattle, Europe, New York, London, Sydney

☆ Oil dips more than 1% as Chinese GDP dents demand hopes
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Arathy Somasekhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

China's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 6.3% year-on-year in the second quarter, compared with analyst forecasts of 7.3%, as its post-pandemic recovery lost momentum. "The GDP came in below expectations, so will do little to ease concerns over the Chinese economy," said Warren Patterson, ING's head of commodities research. Oil briefly rose after a Reuters news alert on Saudi Arabia extending a voluntary output cut. Oil also came under pressure on Monday from the resumption of output at two of three Libyan fields shut last week. Output had been halted by a protest against the abduction of a former finance minister.

Persons: Warren Patterson, ING's, Brent, Dennis Kissler, Arathy Somasekhar, Alex Lawler, Florence Tan, Mohi Narayan, David Goodman, Mike Harrison, Barbara Lewis Organizations: . West Texas, BOK Financial, Oil, Thomson Locations: HOUSTON, China, Saudi Arabia, Moscow, Houston

According to the main Spanish pollsters, which are barred from publishing surveys from Tuesday, PP would garner 131-151 seats in the 350-member lower house, falling short of an outright majority of 176. Vox is almost neck and neck with Sumar, a new alliance of far-left groups that includes Podemos, the junior ruling coalition partner. Sumar would fetch 25-39 seats, polls show. Sumar and PSOE have said they intend to recreate the ruling coalition. Reporting by Inti Landauro; Editing by Andrei Khalip, Mike Harrison and Barbara LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Vox, pollsters GAD3, Pedro Sanchez's, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, Francisco Franco's, Sumar, Sanchez, Feijoo, Inti Landauro, Andrei Khalip, Mike Harrison, Barbara Lewis Organizations: People's Party, Sigma, Vox, Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics, Pedro Sanchez's Spanish Socialist Workers ' Party, PSOE, Reuters Graphics Reuters, PP, coy, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Spanish, Pedro Sanchez's Spanish, Brussels, Huesca, Sumar

☆ EU seeks to revive Latin America, Caribbean ties as it turns away from China, Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Regardless of the outcome, officials said the meeting itself marked a step towards stronger ties. "The most important issue of the meeting is the meeting itself," Argentine Undersecretary for Latin American and Caribbean affairs Gustavo Martinez Pandiani told a small group of reporters in Brussels. The EU has said it wants a joint declaration condemning Russia, but knows this will be difficult to achieve. The EU and Argentina will sign a memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation before the summit starts. The EU may also offer details on plans to invest 10 billion euros ($11.2 billion) in CELAC infrastructure projects, part of its Global Gateway initiative.

Persons: Gustavo Martinez Pandiani, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Philip Blenkinsop, Barbara Lewis Organizations: European Union, UN, European, EU, Mercosur, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, America, Caribbean, EU, Ukraine, China, Caribbean States, Brussels, Argentine, Russia, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Cuba, El Salvador, Beijing, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay

☆ Thousands evacuated as Spanish island wildfire out of control
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 16 (Reuters) - At least 4,000 people have been evacuated as a forest fire burned out of control on the Spanish island of La Palma, authorities said on Sunday, as Europe struggled to cope with a heatwave. The fire in La Palma started in the early hours of Saturday in El Pinar de Puntagorda, a wooded area in the north of the island in the Canaries. Ten aerial units and 300 firefighters on the ground sought to bring the wildfire under control on the island, which forms part of a Spanish archipelago off the coast of western Africa. "There has been some resistance by local people to leaving their homes, but I appeal to people to be responsible," Clavijo told reporters in La Palma. King Felipe VI of Spain telephoned Clavijo on Saturday to express his support with the people of La Palma, the Spanish royal household said.

Persons: Fernando Clavijo, Clavijo, King Felipe VI of Spain, Graham Keeley, Barbara Lewis Organizations: La Palma, Canaries, La, Thomson Locations: La Palma, Europe, La, El Pinar de Puntagorda, Puntagorda, Tijarafe, Spanish, Africa, Canary, Tenerife

☆ Thousands evacuated as firefighters battle La Palma wildfire
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Borja Suarez | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/9] General view of the Tijarafe fire on the Canary Island of La Palma, Spain July 16, 2023 REUTERS/Borja SuarezJuly 16 (Reuters) - Firefighters were trying to contain a wildfire which burned out of control and forced the evacuation of at least 4,000 people on the Spanish island of La Palma, authorities said on Sunday. Firefighters were burning an area to ensure the blaze stopped at a road and did not spread further. “That is what we are going to do to secure all this area and try to save a house. "There has been some resistance by local people to leaving their homes, but I appeal to people to be responsible," Clavijo told reporters in La Palma. King Felipe VI of Spain telephoned Clavijo on Saturday to express his support with the people of La Palma, the Spanish royal household said.

Persons: Borja Suarez, ” Jose Fernandez, ” Manuel, Fernando Clavijo, Clavijo, King Felipe VI of Spain, Borja Suarea, Silvio Castellanos, Graham Keeley, Barbara Lewis, David Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Firefighters, La Palma, Reuters, ”, La, Thomson Locations: La Palma, Spain, El Pinar de Puntagorda, Puntagorda, Tijarafe, Africa, Europe, Canary, Tenerife

☆ Last ship leaves Ukraine port ahead of Black Sea grain-deal deadline
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV, July 16 (Reuters) - The last ship to travel under a U.N.-brokered deal that allows the safe Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain left the port of Odesa early on Sunday ahead of a deadline to extend the agreement, according to a Reuters witness and MarineTraffic.com. A United Nations spokesman said on Friday that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was waiting for a response from Russian President Vladimir Putin on a proposal to extend the deal. Russia has repeatedly threatened to quit the deal, brokered by the U.N. and Turkey in July 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian officials did not immediately comment on whether the ship, the Turkish-flagged TQ Samsun, had left Odesa. Ukraine and Russia are among the world's top grain exporters.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Cyril Ramaphosa, Iryna Nazarchuk, Dan Peleschuk, Barbara Lewis Organizations: United Nations, South, Thomson Locations: Russia, Moscow, Turkey, Ukraine, Turkish, Samsun, Odesa

☆ Mazda says needs China strategy overhaul to catch up with market
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, July 14 (Reuters) - Japan's Mazda Motor (7261.T) needs to overhaul its strategy in China, the world's biggest auto market, where it faces increasingly tough competition from domestic players, the automaker's chief executive said on Friday. CEO Masahiro Moro said business conditions for Mazda in China, where it has a joint venture with Chongqing Changan Automobile (000625.SZ) and China FAW, would become increasingly tough over the coming year to 18 months. Its sales in China peaked in 2016 at just over 316,000 vehicles, separate industry data showed. Mazda is not alone in finding the Chinese market increasingly tough. Looking beyond China, Moro said if Mazda were to begin EV production in North America, it would happen after 2027, which marks the end of the middle phase of its business plan for this decade.

Persons: Masahiro Moro, Moro, Daniel Leussink, Jason Neely, Kim Coghill, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Mazda, Chongqing Changan Automobile, China FAW, Mitsubishi Motors, Guangzhou Automobile Group, Toyota Motor, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, China, Chongqing, North America, Huntsville , Alabama

The actors' union said on Thursday its board had unanimously agreed to a strike after failing to reach a deal with studios, including Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) and Netflix Inc (NFLX.O). Officials said actors would join picket lines in New York and Los Angeles starting on Friday. The economic damage is expected to spread after actors join the picket lines. The actors' walkout will shut down the studios' remaining U.S.-based productions of film and scripted television and hamper many overseas shoots. Britain's main entertainment industry union Equity said it backed its U.S. counterpart and would be bringing up many of the same issues in its own contract negotiations over the next 12 months.

Persons: Fran Drescher, Duncan Crabtree, Drescher, Rather, AFTRA, Paul Fleming, Lisa Richwine, Marie, Louise Gumuchian, Diane Craft, Andrew Heavens, Barbara Lewis Organizations: SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Studios, Britain's Equity, Hollywood, Writers Guild of America, Walt Disney Co, Netflix Inc, Los Angeles, Equity, U.S ., Reuters, Thomson Locations: Hollywood's, New York, Los, California, Britain, London

☆ Climate of change brings a new generation of British wine
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Natalie Thomas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] A bottle of cuvee produced by Aston Kirby, 20-year-old winemaker, is seen in Sussex, Britain, July 13,2023. Twenty-year-old Ashton Kirby began working in the Bewl Water Vineyard in rolling countryside in East Sussex, southeast England, when his parents bought it in a neglected state three years ago. He said that warmer British weather as a result of climate change meant the grape variety now produced "fantastic wine", which he described as an English Sauvignon Blanc. Last year, research from the University of Reading highlighted the impact of climate change on Britain's viticulture regions by 2050. WineGB said the British wine industry was expanding at a phenomenal rate, with the area under plantation expected to double by 2032.

Persons: Aston Kirby, Natalie Thomas COUSLEY, British viticulteur, Ashton Kirby, Kirby, Blanc, WineGB, Ned Awty, Natalie Thomas, Farouq Suleiman, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, University of Reading, Thomson Locations: Sussex, Britain, England, British, East Sussex

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