DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Altria seeks US import ban on Juul e-vapor products
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The move escalates a dispute between the two e-cigarette makers after Juul filed a similar patent infringement case against NJOY at the ITC in June. NJOY said in its filings that Juul products infringe two of its patents, and that it intends to obtain a ban on products including its currently marketed Juul device and Juul pods. NJOY also sued Juul in Delaware on Tuesday for infringing the same patents, seeking an unspecified amount of damages. Juul filed its own patent lawsuits against NJOY and Altria at the ITC and in Arizona federal court in June, seeking money damages and a ban on imports of NJOY's Ace vapor device. Altria won more than $95 million from cigarette rival R.J. Reynolds in North Carolina federal court last year after a jury found RJR infringed other Altria e-cigarette patents.

Persons: Elijah Nouvelage, NJOY, Juul, Altria, Reynolds, RJR, Philip Morris International's, Granth, Chris Kirkham, Blake Brittain, Krishna Chandra Eluri, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Altria, Juul Labs, U.S . International Trade Commission, ITC, NJOY Holdings, NJOY, RJR, Thomson Locations: Atlanta , Georgia, U.S, Marlboro, Juul, Delaware, Arizona, North Carolina, Bengaluru, Los Angeles, Washington

The Liberian MSC UNITED VIII container ship transits in the expanded canal through Cocoli Locks at the Panama Canal, on the outskirts of Panama City, Panama March 10, 2023. The Panama Canal Authority last week opened two additional slots per day for vessels without booking to transit to help clear bottlenecks on both sides of the interoceanic corridor. As of Tuesday, 125 booked and non-booked vessels were waiting to pass, down from more than 160 ships two weeks ago, according to official numbers. However, the average wait time for vessels to pass has risen to between 10 and 11 days this month, from 6-7 days last month. The waiting surpasses 17 days for cargo vessels and liquefied petroleum gas carriers, and is almost 13 days for tankers.

Persons: Aris Martinez, Gustavo Petro, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Abe Eshkenazi, Elida Moreno, Marianna Parraga, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Liberian MSC UNITED, REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, Panama Canal Authority, Reuters, Tuesday, Panama, U.S, U.S ., Association for Supply Chain Management, Thomson Locations: Cocoli, Panama, Panama City, PANAMA, Asia, South America, Europe, China, U.S . West Coast, Chicago, Houston

Alberta, the country's main oil and gas producing province, paused approvals on Aug. 3 of new renewable electricity generation projects over one megawatt until Feb. 29, chilling investment in the fast-growing industry. The pause is necessary to address concerns about renewables' reliability and land use, said a spokesperson for Alberta's utilities minister. A second company has paused design work on its first Alberta project, Dye added. Along with domestic firms, foreign companies like Berkshire Hathaway's (BRKa.N) BHE Canada, EDF Renewables and Enel Green Power generate renewable power in Alberta. The pause directly affects 15 projects in the approvals queue, the government spokesperson said.

Persons: Todd Korol, Danielle Smith, Smith, Justin Trudeau's, Jorden Dye, Dye, Pembina, Grant Arnold, Arnold, BluEarth, Dan Balaban, Rod Nickel, Steve Scherer, Denny Thomas, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Justin Trudeau's Liberal, Business Renewables, THE, THE ALBERTA WAY, EDF Renewables, Companies, Pembina Institute, Renewables, U.S . Alberta Utilities Commission, Greengate, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Thomson Locations: Rocky, Pincher Creek, Alberta, Rights WINNIPEG , Manitoba, Canadian, U.S, Calgary, THE ALBERTA, THE ALBERTA WAY Alberta, Berkshire, Canada, Winnipeg , Manitoba, Ottawa

The Moline, Illinois-based company posted a 60% rise in quarterly profit, yet investors were seemingly unimpressed as shares slumped for the world's largest farm equipment maker. While it easily beat profit expectations, Deere's stock slump is consistent with other cyclical companies that have outperformed estimates. Deere expects 2023 net income between $9.75 billion and $10.00 billion, up from its previous outlook of $9.25 billion to $9.50 billion. Construction and forestry equipment sales increased 14% on solid demand backdrop fueled by U.S. President Joe Biden administration's $1 trillion infrastructure deal. Sales from equipment operations rose about to $14.28 billion compared to $13 billion a year ago.

Persons: Bianca Flowers, Deere, Kristen Owen, Owen, Jerry Revich, Goldman Sachs, Joshua Jepsen, Joe Biden administration's, Vinay Dwivedi, Elaine Hardcastle, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Deere, Co, REUTERS, Oppenheimer, Co Inc, Goldman, Deere's, U.S, Thomson Locations: Bondurant , Iowa, U.S, Moline , Illinois, Chicago, Bengaluru

☆ Tennessee natgas pipeline declares force majeure due to fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The headquarters of U.S. energy exporter and pipeline operator Kinder Morgan Inc. is seen in Houston, Texas, U.S. September 27, 2020. REUTERS/Gary McWilliams Acquire Licensing RightsAug 18 (Reuters) - Kinder Morgan (KMI.N) unit Tennessee Gas Pipeline on Friday declared force majeure due to an explosion and fire caused by equipment failure at a compressor station near Centerville in Hickman County. The fire was extinguished, and there were no injuries and all personnel had been evacuated, the company told Reuters in an email, adding that Highway 48 has been isolated and closed as a precaution. Tennessee Pipeline is an interstate natural gas pipeline system that gathers gas from basins between Texas and Alabama and delivers it to the Northeast, Midwest and Southeast. Reporting by Seher Dareen and Rahul Paswan in Bengaluru Editing by Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Gary McWilliams, Kinder Morgan, Seher Dareen, Rahul Paswan, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Kinder Morgan Inc, REUTERS, Tennessee Gas Pipeline, Reuters, Tennessee Pipeline, Thomson Locations: Houston , Texas, U.S, Centerville, Hickman County, Texas, Alabama, Midwest, Bengaluru

☆ Brazil govt pushes Congress to approve 'green' bills before COP28
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Leticia Fucuchima | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A view of a wind farm is seen in the city of Osorio, in southern Brazil, November 30, 2007. Rollemberg said the government-sponsored bills would be focused on four main topics: establishing a new carbon market, regulating offshore wind power, launching the "Fuel of the Future" project and regulating green hydrogen. That bill might be submitted to Congress as early as next week, the secretary said. It's more than enough time for Congress to pass all the bills," Rollemberg said. The South American nation is set to host the U.N. climate talks in 2025 in the Amazonian town of Belem.

Persons: Jamil Bittar, Rodrigo Rollemberg, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Jair Bolsonaro, Lula, Rollemberg, Leticia Fucuchima, Gabriel Araujo, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Boeing, SAO PAULO, Reuters, United Nations, SAF, Thomson Locations: Osorio, Brazil, BRAZIL, Dubai, Belem

☆ US FTC approves deal for natgas producer EQT to buy THQ Appalachia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Signage is seen at the Federal Trade Commission headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 29, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 16 (Reuters) - EQT Corp (EQT.N), the biggest U.S. natural gas producer, said on Wednesday that it had won antitrust approval to close a deal to buy Quantum Energy-backed THQ Appalachia I LLC and associated infrastructure. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Wednesday it had moved to resolve antitrust concerns over the transaction by hammering out a consent order that "prevents entanglements" between Quantum Energy Partners and EQT Corp. The agreement would bar Quantum from having a seat on EQT's board, requires Quantum to divest EQT shares and puts other restrictions on the deal to ensure competition in the energy market. Reporting by Diane Bartz, Rami Ayyub and Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Eric Beech and Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Diane Bartz, Rami Ayyub, Dan Whitcomb, Eric Beech, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, EQT, Quantum Energy, THQ, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Quantum Energy Partners, EQT Corp, Thomson Locations: Washington ,

☆ Exclusive: H&M probes Myanmar factory abuses as pressure intensifies
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Helen Reid | Thomson Reuters | London-Based Reporter Covering The European Retail Sector Through A Global Lens. Focusing On Companies Including Adidas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The BHRRC has been tracking allegations of workers' rights abuses in garment factories since the military junta took power in Myanmar, plunging it into political and humanitarian crisis. There have been 21 cases of alleged abuses linked to Inditex suppliers over the two-year period, and 20 linked to H&M suppliers, according to the report. The Myanmar Garment Manufacturing Association did not reply to a request for comment. It expects its final orders from Myanmar suppliers to ship before the end of this year, but has also increased its presence on the ground. H&M and Bestseller are among 18 brands that are part of the European Union-funded MADE project aimed at improving labour conditions in Myanmar's garment factories.

Persons: Inditex, Spencer, Primark, we've, Karina Ufert, Vicky Bowman, Bowman, Helen Reid, Vanessa O'Connell, Marguerita Choy, Emelia Organizations: Reuters, Zara, Human Rights Resource, Myanmar Labour News, Myanmar Garment Manufacturing Association, Ethical Trade, European Union, European Chamber of Commerce, Myanmar Centre, Responsible Business, Thomson Locations: Myanmar, British, MYANMAR Spanish, Danish

☆ US investor group clinches tax credit deal for $1.5 bln renewable power acquisition
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Isla Binnie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Power-generating Siemens 2.37 megawatt (MW) wind turbines are seen at the Ocotillo Wind Energy Facility California, U.S., May 29, 2020. Invenergy said in a statement it agreed to sell tax credits worth $580 million to Bank of America, and put those funds towards buying 14 projects from American Electric Power (AEP.O). It "creates a financeable transferability product that will be used to scale the growth of renewable energy," Fang said. Analysts at investment bank Credit Suisse have estimated the IRA could lead to the generation of tax credits worth $576 billion by 2031. Private equity firm Blackstone has invested around $4 billion in Invenergy.

Persons: Bing Guan, Joe Biden's, Invenergy, Karen Fang, Fang, Blackstone, Isla Binnie, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Energy Facility, REUTERS, Invenergy, Blackstone, Bank of America, American Electric Power, Bank of, International Energy Agency, Credit Suisse, Treasury Department, Internal Revenue, Canada's, Thomson Locations: Energy Facility California, U.S, Invenergy, Canada's Caisse, Quebec

[1/4] Klar CEO Stefan Moller poses for a photograph in Mexico City, Mexico, July, 2022, in this handout photo made available to Reuters on August 14, 2023. The executive explained that Klar currently offers credit lines ranging from 1,000 pesos ($58.67) to 30,000 pesos ($1,760.24), but is looking to "experiment" with loans up to 40,000 pesos. "Every three months we re-evaluate the size of the (credit) line," Moller said. "We're still in a market where credit penetration and consumer credit penetration is much lower than it should be compared to economic development indicators." ($1 = 17.0431 Mexican pesos)Reporting by Kylie Madry Editing by Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Stefan Moller, Moller, Klar, We're, Kylie Madry, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Reuters, Victory, Capital, Thomson Locations: Mexico City, Mexico, Handout, Mexican

☆ First Solar audit reveals forced labor at Malaysia factory
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Miniatures of solar panel and electric pole are seen in front of First Solar logo in this illustration taken January 17, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies First Solar Inc FollowAug 15 (Reuters) - Top U.S. solar panel maker First Solar (FSLR.O) on Tuesday said an audit of its manufacturing operations had uncovered unethical labor practices at its Malaysia factory, sending the company's shares down about 5%. The revelation is the latest to tie the fast-growing solar energy industry to concerns about forced labor. First Solar said it had taken steps to return passports, wages and recruitment fees to the affected workers. First Solar also produces panels in the U.S. and Vietnam, and is planning to open a factory in India.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Nichola Groom, Jonathan Oatis, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Thomson Locations: Malaysia, Xinjiang, Tempe , Arizona, U.S, Vietnam, India

☆ Rights groups appeal for justice over 2013 Egypt sit-in killings
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A general view of Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque, the site of a sit-in ending in clashes in 2013, in Cairo August 10, 2014. The clearing of the Rabaa al-Adawiya sit-in in Cairo on Aug. 14, 2013 marked the escalation of a crackdown against supporters of overthrown Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Mursi. Rights groups say more than 800 people were killed as security forces stormed Rabaa al-Adawiya, one of two squares in the capital where protesters had been camped out for weeks. Amnesty International said: "States with influence on Egypt must echo the demands of survivors, victims' families and human rights defenders for truth, justice and reparation." Supporters of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who led Mursi's ouster as army chief and became president in 2014, say security measures taken at the time were needed to stabilise Egypt.

Persons: Rabaa, Mohamed Abd El Ghany, Mohamed Mursi, Abdel Fattah al, Mursi's, EIPR, Hossam Bahgat, Aidan Lewis, Sharon Singleton, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Muslim, Rights Watch, Amnesty, Egyptian, Personal Rights, Thomson Locations: Cairo, CAIRO, Egypt

REUTERS/Aly Song/File PhotoAug 15 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. As waves of volatility crashed over emerging markets on Monday, most notably in Argentina and Russia, the focus on Tuesday once again returns to the root of much of the deeper anxiety and uncertainty around EM: China. Reuters polls of economists suggest annual growth in investment and industrial output will remain steady from June's levels, while retail sales growth will rise to 4.5% from 3.1%. Tuesday's data dump comes a day before the central bank delivers its latest monthly monetary policy decision. With the U.S. dollar and U.S. Treasury yields marching higher, global financial conditions are tightening and there doesn't appear to be any respite for emerging markets on the immediate horizon.

Persons: Aly, Jamie McGeever, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Investment, Reserve Bank of, Authorities, Reuters, U.S ., U.S, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Argentina, Russia, Reserve Bank of Australia's, Japan, Beijing, U.S, Asia

☆ Warren Buffett's company invests in three homebuilders even as rates rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Berkshire Hathaway logo is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., May 10, 2023. Berkshire said that as of June 30, it owned about 5.97 million DR Horton shares worth $726.4 million, about 153,000 Lennar shares worth $17.2 million, and 11,112 NVR shares worth $70.6 million. Larger investments are usually Buffett's, and investors often try to piggyback on Berkshire's moves, reflecting Buffett's reputation as an investor. The selling included 45% of Berkshire's stake in General Motors (GM.N), whose shares fell 1% after hours. Its largest stock holding by far remained its $177.6 billion stake in Apple (AAPL.O).

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett, Benjamin Moore, Berkshire, Todd Combs, Ted Weschler, Jonathan Stempel, Lewis Krauskopf, Marguerita Choy, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Berkshire Hathaway, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Berkshire, Clayton Homes, DR Horton, DR, BNSF, General Motors, Apple, Capital, Globe, Marsh & McLennan, Vitesse Energy, Thomson Locations: Berkshire, New York City, U.S, Manville, Marsh, New York

☆ Intel adds Synopsys IP to advanced contract manufacturing
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Max A. Cherney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File PhotoAug 14 (Reuters) - Chip design tools maker Synopsys (SNPS.O) has signed a deal to bring its technical building blocks to the advanced contract manufacturing Intel (INTC.O) offers, the companies said on Monday. The two companies said Synopsys would offer a portfolio of designs that will work with Intel's advanced manufacturing capabilities Intel 3, and Intel 18A. Intel and Synopsys said that there was a framework in place for making the intellectual property available on future manufacturing processes. The partnership between Intel and Synopsys important step for Intel Foundry Services (IFS), its contract manufacturing business, to become a viable alternative to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (2330.TW) or Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS). Intel launched IFS in 2021, and it reported revenue of $232 million in the second quarter of this year.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Synopsys, Steve Leibson, Max A, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Intel, Intel Foundry Services, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, Samsung Electronics Co, Tirias Research, Thomson Locations: San Francisco

Two long-time industry executives told Reuters that Yellow's rates were roughly 10% to 20% below those of rivals. Loads in the so-called LTL market do not trade on the spot market and they vary based on the type and size of shipments, they said. "Yellow was way below" market rates, said Ken Adamo, chief of analytics at DAT Freight and Analytics, which operates one of North America's largest truck freight marketplaces. Unlike the highly fragmented trucking market, LTL is dominated by about a dozen players. Some providers are already raising rates, which could send LTL rates up 10% to 15% from current levels, Pickett said.

Persons: Mike Blake, Ken Adamo, Chris Pickett, Pickett, Adamo, Thomas Schmitt, Schmitt, Lisa Baertlein, Marguerita Choy Organizations: U.S, Rivals, Reuters, Analytics, Flock, Walmart, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Forward, Forward Air, Thomson Locations: Mexico, San Diego , California, U.S, North, Los Angeles

Brent crude futures rose 41 cents, or 0.5%, to settle $86.81 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained 37 cents, or 0.5%, to settle at $83.19. The IEA estimated that global oil demand hit a record 103 million barrels per day in June and could scale another peak this month. Meanwhile, output cuts from Saudi Arabia and Russia set the stage for a sharp decline in inventories over the rest of 2023, which IEA said could drive oil prices even higher. On Thursday, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said it expects global oil demand to rise by 2.44 million bpd this year, unchanged from its previous forecast. The steady oil rig count indicates U.S. producers are maintaining discipline about drilling and exploration, said Eric Freedman, Chief Investment Officer at U.S. Bank Asset Management.

Persons: Dado, Brent, Baker Hughes, Craig Erlam, WTI, Eric Freedman, Shariq Khan, Ahmad Ghaddar, Andrew Hayley, Elaine Hardcastle, Marguerita Choy, Cynthia Osterman, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, International Energy Agency, Brent, U.S, West Texas, IEA, Organization of, Petroleum, Federal Reserve, Bank Asset Management, Thomson Locations: Baker Hughes BENGALURU, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Ukraine, U.S, China, June's

REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File PhotoCompanies Starbucks Corp FollowAug 11 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Friday dismissed a conservative activist investor's lawsuit against Starbucks' (SBUX.O) board, opposing the company's diversity, equity and inclusion policies and calling it frivolous. The nonprofit, which holds around $6,000 in Starbucks stock, said those policies require the company to make race-baced decisions that violate federal and state civil rights laws. The lawsuit is similar to those recently by conservative activist groups opposing corporate diversity and inclusion efforts in the wake of a June Supreme Court ruling. The ruling declared unlawful the race-conscious student admissions policies used by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. On Friday, Daniel Morenoff of The American Civil Rights Project argued that Starbucks policies seeking to increase racial diversity among its suppliers, vendors, and employees were discriminatory and that NCPPR's cause was in the corporate interest.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, District Judge Stanley Bastian, Daniel Morenoff, Bastian, Craig, Jody Godoy, Tom Hals, Chris Reese, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Empire, REUTERS, Companies Starbucks, Starbucks, National Center for Public Policy Research, Blacks, Chief U.S, District, Harvard University, University of North, American Civil Rights, Target Corp, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York, U.S, Spokane , Washington, America, University of North Carolina, Florida, Wilmington , Delaware

☆ US, China agree to double weekly flights between countries
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Sources said U.S. airlines are not expected to immediately take advantage of all 18 weekly flights. China Eastern (600115.SS), Xiamen Airlines and China Southern (600029.SS) also fly scheduled service to the U.S., while United Airlines , American Airlines (AAL.O) and Delta Airlines (DAL.N) currently operate passenger flights to China. The 24 weekly flights are still a fraction of the more than 150 round-trip flights allowed by each side before restrictions were imposed in early 2020 due to the COVID-pandemic. Previously, only eight weekly flights by Chinese carriers were allowed. Reuters reported in June Chinese airlines were avoiding flying over Russian airspace in newly approved flights to and from the U.S. but still using Russian airspace for other flights.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Biden, USDOT, Antony Blinken's, United, Today’s, David Shepardson, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Transportation Department, Reuters, Embassy, State Department, . Air China, Xiamen Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Airlines for America, Thomson Locations: U.S, China, Beijing, Washington, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Los Angeles . China, Xiamen, Shanghai

☆ US mortgage delinquency rates fall to all-time low
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Safiyah Riddle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File PhotoAug 10 (Reuters) - U.S. mortgage delinquency rates fell to a record low in the second quarter due to a strong job market and low interest rates prevailing on most home loans despite the big jump in mortgage rates over the last two years, a report on Thursday said. Delinquency rates fell to 3.37% at the end of the second quarter, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s National Delinquency Survey, their lowest since the MBA began collecting data in 1979 and down from 3.64% year-on-year. Economists are watching mortgage delinquency rates closely for signs of weakness amidst the Federal Reserve's aggressive 525 basis point interest rate increase since March 2022, which increased the cost of borrowing across the board. Despite the historically low delinquency rate, the MBA said not every borrower has been able to withstand the recent stress of hiked interest rates. “Home sales were down due to higher mortgage rates and limited inventory,” said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun.

Persons: Lucas Jackson, ”, Lawrence Yun, Safiyah Riddle, Dan Burns, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Mortgage, National Delinquency Survey, Federal Housing Administration, National Association of Realtors, “, Thomson Locations: York County , South Carolina, U.S

Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER bulk carrier transits the expanded canal through Cocoli Locks at the Panama Canal, on the outskirts of Panama City, Panama April 19, 2023. REUTERS/Aris Martinez/File PhotoPANAMA CITY, Aug 10 (Reuters) - The drought-hit Panama Canal has temporarily limited the number of new reserved passage slots to help ease a bottleneck of ships that are waiting to transit without reservations, the waterway's authority said on Thursday. The canal, however, in June postponed further restrictions that would have required ships to lighten their loads to more easily pass. The bottleneck of vessels waiting to pass, however, has grown, prompting logistics and supply chain experts to predict more disruptions. Still, the bottleneck will not fall as hard on shippers as pandemic-era mishaps, including the Suez Canal blockage in 2021, according to shipping firms and customers.

Persons: Aris Martinez, Ricaurte Vasquez, Anatol Feygin, Rolf Habben Jansen, Lloyd, Elida Moreno, Marianna Parraga, Lisa Baertlein, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER, REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, Reuters, El, El Nino, Walmart, Cheniere Energy, Thomson Locations: Cocoli, Panama, Panama City, China, El, Suez

Cuban tanker Petion is seen at a shipyard in Veracruz, Mexico April 9, 2021. Mexico has emerged as a top provider, sending oil on a vessel owned by state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) and ships managed by Cuba. The ship previously ferried Venezuelan crude and fuel oil to Cuba, according to Refinitiv Eikon data. Cuba-flagged tanker Delsa also delivered Mexican crude from Pajaritos to Cienfuegos in June, and then sailed to Venezuela, where it loaded oil, the data showed. HELP NEEDEDRussia supplied Cuba with some 12,000 bpd of oil, mostly crude, between February and July, according to the Eikon data.

Persons: Yahir, Vilma, Pemex, Delsa, Esperanza, Washington, Marianna Parraga, David Sherwood, Adriana Barrera, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, HOUSTON, Cuban, U.S . Treasury Department's, Foreign Assets Control, U.S . State Department, Reuters, San, Thomson Locations: Veracruz, Mexico, Venezuela, Mexico Mexican, Cuba, Russia, Washington, Mexico's, Cienfuegos, Havana, U.S, San Jose

☆ US FAA extends cuts to airlines' minimum flight requirements at NY airports
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Aug 9 (Reuters) - U.S. regulators said on Wednesday they will extend temporary cuts to minimum flight requirements at congested New York City-area airports and Washington National Airport through Oct. 28, citing air traffic controller staffing issues. Major airlines on Monday sought an extension of the waiver, saying air traffic staffing levels in a key New York air traffic sector have not "meaningfully improved." A government audit in June said the FAA faces critical air traffic staffing and disclosed New York TRACON staffing was at 54% compared with optimal levels. Airlines for America, an industry trade group said air traffic control staffing and extreme weather "are unique circumstances beyond our control." Last summer, there were 41,498 flights from New York airports where FAA air traffic control staffing was a contributing factor in delays.

Persons: Eduardo Munoz, David Shepardson, Marguerita Choy Organizations: United Airlines, Newark Liberty International Airport, REUTERS, Washington National Airport, Federal Aviation Administration, Delta Air Lines, FAA, New York, Airlines for America, Philadelphia, Thomson Locations: York, Newark , New Jersey, U.S, New York City, New York, NYC, Chicago, Newark

☆ UAW calls Stellantis contract offer 'trash'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The logo of Stellantis is seen on a company's building in Velizy-Villacoublay near Paris, France, Feb. 23, 2022. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File PhotoAug 8 (Reuters) - United Auto Workers (UAW) union President Shawn Fain angrily tossed contract proposals from Stellantis (STLAM.MI) in a trash can on Tuesday, citing numerous concessions that the Chrysler parent is seeking in labor talks. Stellantis said the cumulative increase in employee health-care costs over the next four years is expected to be $613 million. Fain cited an Aug. 1 statement Stellantis made to Reuters that the automaker is "not seeking a concessionary agreement." The union also wants new limits on temporary workers.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, Shawn Fain, Fain, Stellantis, David Shepardson, Bernadette Baum, Marguerita Choy, Leslie Adler Organizations: REUTERS, United Auto Workers, UAW, Chrysler, Reuters, Stellantis, General Motors, Ford, U.S, Thomson Locations: Velizy, Villacoublay, Paris, France

☆ Nvidia launches new AI chip configuration
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Max A. Cherney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Robert Galbraith/File PhotoAug 8 (Reuters) - Nvidia (NVDA.O) announced a new configuration on Tuesday for its advanced artificial intelligence chips that is designed to speed generative AI applications. The configuration is optimized to perform AI inference functions that effectively power generative AI applications such as ChatGPT. Nvidia's Grace Hopper Superchip design stitches together one of the company's H100 graphics processing units (GPU) with an Nvidia-designed central processor. The underlying AI models that power the generative AI apps that are capable of producing human-like text and images continue to grow in size. Nvidia plans to sell two flavors: a version that includes two chips that customers can integrate into systems, and a complete server system that combines two Grace Hopper designs.

Persons: Robert Galbraith, Grace Hopper Superchip, Ian Buck, Nvidia's Grace Hopper, Buck, Grace Hopper, Max A, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Nvidia, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Santa Clara , California, San Francisco

Search resuls for: "Marguerita Choy"

25 mentions found