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The Occidental Petroleum Corp headquarters is pictured in Los Angeles, California September 16, 2013. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comHOUSTON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Occidental Petroleum Corp (OXY.N) on Tuesday capped a turnaround with a second-quarter profit that topped Wall Street estimates while slashing debt and launching a share buyback program on the back of strong oil and gas prices.Occidental has shed much of the debt it took on in 2019 to buy rival Anadarko Petroleum before the COVID-19 pandemic cratered oil demand. In the second quarter it paid down $4.8 billion in debt and launched a $3 billion share repurchase program.The Houston-based energy company posted an adjusted profit of $3.2 billion, or $3.16 per share, topping the $3.07 per share estimated by analysts tracked by Refinitiv IBES.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe company said it spent $1.1 billion to buy back shares through Aug. 1.Occidental's strategy of pumping oil while it develops technology to reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuels gained a vote of confidence after Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N)began snapping up Occidental shares in recent months.Berkshire now has a 19.5% stake in Occidental, just below the threshold at which it could choose to book some of the oil company's earnings as its own. read more Occidental's share price has more than doubled this year, hitting $65.06 on Tuesday, as the company benefits from rising oil and gas prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.Oil prices were up 17% from the first quarter, boosting Occidental's upstream earnings more than five times over the year ago, to nearly $4.1 billion.Occidental's chemicals business posted an $800 million operating profit. Its pipeline and marketing unit posted a $264 million profit, compared with a $30 million loss a year ago."The company has shifted from debt reduction to shareholder returns," said Peter McNally, an analyst at research firm Third Bridge.One of the top producers in the prolific Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico, Occidental produced 1.14 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) in the second quarter, within its guidance, but 32,000 boed less than the prior quarter. The company has been facing higher costs in the Permian, the main U.S. unconventional basin.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Sabrina Valle in Houston and Ruhi Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel, Marguerita Choy and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Occidental tops 2nd-qtr estimates, launches share buybacks.

Aug 2 (Reuters) - Polls closed on Tuesday evening in Michigan, Kansas and Missouri, as Donald Trump's effort to play Republican kingmaker faced fresh tests in high-profile races for U.S. Congress, governor and other offices across five states ahead of November's midterm elections.In Arizona and Michigan, candidates who embraced the former president's false claims of voter fraud could win the Republican nominations for governor, even as some in their party worry they could be too extreme to defeat Democrats on Nov. 8. read more Kansas voters were deciding whether to amend the state constitution to allow the Republican-controlled legislature to ban or limit abortion, the first such ballot initiative since the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated the nationwide right to abortion in June.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comTwo Republican U.S. representatives who voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol by the then-president's supporters, Peter Meijer of Michigan and Jamie Herrera Beutler of Washington, also faced Trump-endorsed primary challengers.With an economy teetering on the brink of recession and inflation surging, just 38% of Americans approve of President Joe Biden's job performance, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Tuesday - still near Biden's record low of 36%, hit in May. One in three voters said the biggest problem facing the United States today is the economy.Biden's unpopularity is weighing on Democrats heading into the November general election, when Republicans are favored to win control of the House of Representatives and perhaps the Senate.Control of either chamber would give Republicans the power to stymie Biden's legislative agenda while launching politically damaging hearings.Polls in Arizona close at 7 p.m. local time (10 p.m. ET, 0200 GMT) and polls in Washington state, where almost all voting is done by mail, close at 8 p.m. local time (11 p.m. ET, 0300 GMT).TRUMP ENDORSEMENTSAs he flirts publicly with the possibility of running for president again in 2024, Trump has endorsed more than 100 candidates. Most are safe bets - incumbent Republicans in conservative districts - but even in competitive races he has had a winning record.Trump-backed nominees have won Republican primaries for U.S. Senate in Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania, though his picks lost nominating contests for Georgia governor and for the U.S. House in South Carolina."Trump remains really popular with Republican primary voters. I don't think you can underestimate how he has remade the party in his image," said Alex Conant, a Republican strategist. "Republicans who run against Trump tend to get trampled."On Tuesday, Arizona voters were picking between Trump-backed gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and Karrin Taylor Robson, who has the backing of Trump's former vice president, Mike Pence.Lake, a former news anchor, echoes Trump's false claims that his 2020 election defeat was the result of fraud and has said she would not have certified Biden's statewide victory in 2020. At a recent campaign stop, Lake claimed without evidence that fraud has already occurred during early voting, suggesting she may not accept a defeat on Tuesday.The race for secretary of state - the state's top election official - also includes a Trump-endorsed candidate, state Representative Mark Finchem, who was present at Trump's Jan. 6, 2021, speech in Washington that preceded the U.S. Capitol attack. He wrote on Twitter on Thursday, "Trump won," prompting a Democratic candidate, Adrian Fontes, to call him a "traitor."Arizona Republicans were picking a challenger to take on Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, seen as one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents.Blake Masters, a former tech executive who has backed Trump's false fraud claims, has Trump's endorsement and the backing of tech billionaire Peter Thiel. He is leading in polls against Jim Lamon, a former power company executive, and Attorney General Mark Brnovich, whom Trump blames for not reversing Biden's 2020 statewide victory.In Missouri, former Governor Eric Greitens, who resigned in the midst of sexual assault and campaign finance fraud scandals, is seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate despite calls from many within his party to withdraw out of concern that he might cost Republicans a safe seat in November.A day before Tuesday's election, Trump recommended voters choose either Greitens or one of his rivals, state Attorney General Eric Schmitt, with a statement that simply endorsed "Eric." read more In Michigan, a chaotic Republican campaign for governor was drawing to a close, with several candidates vying for the right to take on Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who became a frequent target for conservatives after her aggressive approach to shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic.Trump last week endorsed former Republican commentator Tudor Dixon in the race. But at a rally this weekend in Troy, some Trump-supporting backers of one of Dixon's rivals, businessman Kevin Rinke, said they would not be swayed.One attendee, Steve Moshelli, 57, said he voted for Trump twice but was sticking with Rinke."Honestly, I think his star is kind of fading," Moshelli, a businessman from Royal Oak, Michigan, said of Trump, adding that he thought the hearings by the House of Representatives committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot had chipped away at Trump's power. "It's his credibility. It's starting to fade.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Joseph Ax in Princeton, New Jersey, additional reporting by Moira Warburton in Washington and Nathan Layne in Troy, Michigan; Editing by Scott Malone and Alistair BellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Voters in key U.S. states decide whether to pick Trump-backed candidates.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice in Washington, U.S., February 22, 2018. REUTERS/Sait Serkan GurbuzRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAug 2 (Reuters) - Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, won the Republican nomination for governor on Tuesday, Edison Research projected, and will challenge Democratic Governor Laura Kelly in a closely watched race in November's general election.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Joseph Ax, editing by Ross Colvin and Alistair BellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Trump-backed Kansas Attorney General Schmidt wins Republican nomination for governor.

A woman walks by an OCBC signage in Singapore March 31, 2022. REUTERS/Caroline ChiaRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSINGAPORE, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Singapore's second-largest lender Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp Ltd (OCBC) (OCBC.SI) reported a stronger-than-expected 28% jump in quarterly profit and gave a robust outlook as rising interest rates pushed up its net interest margins.With Singapore relaxing most of its COVID-19 local and travel restrictions since early April this year, banks are benefiting from the rebound in economic recovery of the Asian financial hub."Overall economic growth in our key markets is expected to remain positive this year but at a slower pace due to the heightened headwinds in the operating environment," OCBC's Group Chief Executive Helen Wong, who took charge last year, said in the results statement on Wednesday.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comShe said growth in net interest income from rising interest rates is expected to make up for near-term pressure on non-interest income. She said credit costs are expected to be at the low end of its guidance.OCBC's net profit rose to S$1.48 billion ($1.1 billion) in April-June from S$1.16 billion a year earlier and versus the S$1.22 billion average of five analysts' estimates compiled by Refinitiv.Singapore banks are expected to report 10 basis points net interest margin expansion in April-June on a quarter-to-quarter basis, the highest over the last eight quarters, outperforming Asian peers, JPMorgan analysts said last month.OCBC's net interest margin, a key gauge of banks' profitability, increased 13 basis points to 1.71%, the highest level in two years, according to Refinitiv data.The bank said higher trading income and profit from its life insurance business boosted non-interest income in the quarter but net fee income fell 15%, mainly due to lower wealth management, brokerage and investment banking fees.Last week, smaller local lender, United Overseas Bank Ltd (UOBH.SI) posted an 11% rise in quarterly profit, supported by a strong improvement in net interest income. read more ($1 = 1.3829 Singapore dollars)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Anshuman Daga; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Singapore bank OCBC's Q2 profit jumps 28%, upbeat on outlook.

get the free app Updated on: August 2, 2022 / 9:03 PM / CBS News CBS News Live CBS News Live Live Voters in five states are going to the polls on Tuesday in some of the states that were battlegrounds in 2020 — and will be again in 2024. And abortion faces its first test at the ballot box since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, as Kansas voters decide whether abortion should be constitutionally protected.ArizonaIn Arizona, former President Donald Trump has rallied for his allies in the Senate, governor and secretary of state races. Arizona was one of the key battleground states that went for President Joe Biden in 2020. After the election, some Republicans in the state tried to overturn the results, with a plan to send a slate of phony alternate electors who supported Trump to Congress for the Electoral College certification, rather than the electors won by President Biden. In the Republican primary to take on Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly in November, Trump has backed Blake Masters, who has a comfortable lead according to two polls ahead of the primary. For governor, former TV news anchor Kari Lake and lawyer Karrin Taylor Robson are in a tight contest for the GOP nomination that repeats a dynamic between Trump and former Vice President MIke Pence. Trump has backed Lake, while Pence, along with term-limited sitting Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, have backed Taylor Robson. Last month, Trump and Pence held dueling rallies for Lake and Robson on the same day.  A where to vote sign points voters in the direction of the polling station as the sun beats down as Arizona voters go the polls to cast their ballots, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, in Phoenix. Ross D. Franklin / AP Trump has also backed a challenger to state House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who testified in June at a House Jan. 6 committee public hearing. Bowers is term-limited out of that position but is running for state Senate. Days before the primary, the Arizona GOP voted to formally censure him for his testimony, a culmination of the frustrations many far-right members have with Bowers' past refusal to support Trump-backed attempts to overturn the 2020 election. This year, Bowers helped block a bill, introduced by Secretary of State candidate and current state Rep. Shawnna Bolick, to empower the legislature to choose its own electors, regardless of how the people voted. For his actions, the former president lashed out against him, calling the Speaker a "RINO coward," and endorsed his opponent, former state Sen. David Farnsworth.MissouriTrump issued a last-minute semi-endorsement in the Republican primary for the open Senate seat in Missouri. On Monday night, he threw his support behind "ERIC." There are two leading candidates in the race named Eric, Eric Schmitt and Eric Greitens. Both claimed they have Trump's endorsement. In Missouri's 1st Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Cori Bush, who unseated a longtime incumbent in 2020, is facing several challengers. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch endorsed both Bush and opponent Steve Roberts, writing that "too many deeply personal issues are likely to dominate voters' decisions in ways that wouldn't necessarily be swayed by an editorial endorsement."Meanwhile, three of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump are facing Trump-backed primary challengers. Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social to urge Republican voters to "knock out impeachment slime." MichiganIn Michigan, Rep. Peter Meijer, a freshman Republican in a swing district centered around Grand Rapids, Mich., is in a tough race against John Gibbs, a former Trump-era Housing and Urban Development official.WashingtonAnd in Washington, the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler in the 3rd District and Dan Newhouse in the 4th District both face the risk of being shut out because of Trump-backed challengers. KansasFor the first time since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, a state will vote whether abortion can be constitutionally protected. In 2019, the state Supreme Court ruled personal autonomy is protected in the state constitution's bill of rights and applied strict scrutiny to regulating abortion. An amendment would need to be passed to remove that constitutional right.Kansas voters are deciding whether to pass that amendment, which will remove that constitutional right, or against it, which would keep it in place.    6:54 PM / August 2, 2022 How to watch CBS News' election special What: CBS News' election special Date: Tuesday, August 2Time: 9 p.m. ETOnline stream: Live on CBS News in the player above and on your mobile or streaming device.   6:15 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Arizona Republican primary Justin Olson, Mick McGuire, Mark Brnovich, Jim Lamon and Blake Masters are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona governor Republican primary Matt Salmon, Scott Neeley, Paola Tulliani-Zen, Karrin Taylor Robson and Kari Lake are on the ballot.    6:24 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona state Senate Republican primary Rusty Bowers and David Farnsworth are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Republican primary Shawnna Bollock, Michelle Ugenti-Rita, Beau Lane and Mark Finchem are on the ballot.   6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Democratic primary Adrian Fontes and Reginald Bolding are on the ballot.    6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona 2nd Congressional District Republican primary Ron Watkins, Steven Krystofiak, Andy Yates, John Moore, Mark DeLuzio, Eli Crane and Walt Blackman are on the ballot.    6:11 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Missouri Republican primary Dave Sims, Kevin Schepers, Deshon Porter, Robert Olson, Eric McElroy, Darrett McClanahan, Patrick Lewis, Rickey Joiner, Dennis Lee Chilton, Russel Breyfogle, Robert Allen, C.W. Gardner, Mark McCloskey, Dave Schatz, Billy Long, Vicky Hatzler, Eric Greitens and Eric Schmitt are on the ballot.    6:11 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Missouri Democratic primary Dave Sims, Kevin Schepers, Deshon Porter, Robert Olson, Eric McElroy, Darrett McClanahan, Patrick Lewis, Rickey Joiner, Dennis Lee Chilton, Russel Breyfogle, Robert Allen, C.W. Gardner, Mark McCloskey, Dave Schatz, Billy Long, Vicky Hatzler, Eric Greitens and Eric Schmitt are on the ballot.    6:09 PM / August 2, 2022 Missouri 1st Congressional District Democratic primary Cori Bush, Michael Daniels, Earl Childress, Ron Harshaw and Steve Roberts on the ballot.   6:08 PM / August 2, 2022 Kansas constitutional amendment Yes/No   Updated 1m ago Kansas Republican governor: CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win the Republican nomination for Kansas governor.    6:07 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan Republican governor primary Ralph Rebandt, Ryan Kelley, Garrett Soldano, Kevin Rinke and Tudor Dixon are on the ballot.    6:06 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan 3rd Congressional District Republican primary Peter Meijer and John Gibbs are on the ballot.    6:06 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan 11th Congressional District Democratic primary Andy Levin and Haley Stevens are on the ballot.    6:04 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 3rd Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Jaime Herrera Beutler, Davy Ray, Leslie French, Vicki Kraft, Heidi St. John, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Joe Kent, Chris Byrd, Oliver Black are on the ballot.    6:03 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 4th Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Dan Newhouse, Jacek Kobiesa, Benancio Garcia, Corey Gibson, Jerrold Sessler, Brad Klippert, Doug White and Loren Culp are on the ballot.

Watch Live: 2022 midterm primary results in Arizona, Missouri, Kansas, Michigan and Washington.

get the free app Updated on: August 2, 2022 / 9:03 PM / CBS News CBS News Live CBS News Live Live Voters in five states are going to the polls on Tuesday in some of the states that were battlegrounds in 2020 — and will be again in 2024. And abortion faces its first test at the ballot box since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, as Kansas voters decide whether abortion should be constitutionally protected.ArizonaIn Arizona, former President Donald Trump has rallied for his allies in the Senate, governor and secretary of state races. Arizona was one of the key battleground states that went for President Joe Biden in 2020. After the election, some Republicans in the state tried to overturn the results, with a plan to send a slate of phony alternate electors who supported Trump to Congress for the Electoral College certification, rather than the electors won by President Biden. In the Republican primary to take on Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly in November, Trump has backed Blake Masters, who has a comfortable lead according to two polls ahead of the primary. For governor, former TV news anchor Kari Lake and lawyer Karrin Taylor Robson are in a tight contest for the GOP nomination that repeats a dynamic between Trump and former Vice President MIke Pence. Trump has backed Lake, while Pence, along with term-limited sitting Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, have backed Taylor Robson. Last month, Trump and Pence held dueling rallies for Lake and Robson on the same day.  A where to vote sign points voters in the direction of the polling station as the sun beats down as Arizona voters go the polls to cast their ballots, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, in Phoenix. Ross D. Franklin / AP Trump has also backed a challenger to state House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who testified in June at a House Jan. 6 committee public hearing. Bowers is term-limited out of that position but is running for state Senate. Days before the primary, the Arizona GOP voted to formally censure him for his testimony, a culmination of the frustrations many far-right members have with Bowers' past refusal to support Trump-backed attempts to overturn the 2020 election. This year, Bowers helped block a bill, introduced by Secretary of State candidate and current state Rep. Shawnna Bolick, to empower the legislature to choose its own electors, regardless of how the people voted. For his actions, the former president lashed out against him, calling the Speaker a "RINO coward," and endorsed his opponent, former state Sen. David Farnsworth.MissouriTrump issued a last-minute semi-endorsement in the Republican primary for the open Senate seat in Missouri. On Monday night, he threw his support behind "ERIC." There are two leading candidates in the race named Eric, Eric Schmitt and Eric Greitens. Both claimed they have Trump's endorsement. In Missouri's 1st Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Cori Bush, who unseated a longtime incumbent in 2020, is facing several challengers. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch endorsed both Bush and opponent Steve Roberts, writing that "too many deeply personal issues are likely to dominate voters' decisions in ways that wouldn't necessarily be swayed by an editorial endorsement."Meanwhile, three of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump are facing Trump-backed primary challengers. Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social to urge Republican voters to "knock out impeachment slime." MichiganIn Michigan, Rep. Peter Meijer, a freshman Republican in a swing district centered around Grand Rapids, Mich., is in a tough race against John Gibbs, a former Trump-era Housing and Urban Development official.WashingtonAnd in Washington, the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler in the 3rd District and Dan Newhouse in the 4th District both face the risk of being shut out because of Trump-backed challengers. KansasFor the first time since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, a state will vote whether abortion can be constitutionally protected. In 2019, the state Supreme Court ruled personal autonomy is protected in the state constitution's bill of rights and applied strict scrutiny to regulating abortion. An amendment would need to be passed to remove that constitutional right.Kansas voters are deciding whether to pass that amendment, which will remove that constitutional right, or against it, which would keep it in place.    6:54 PM / August 2, 2022 How to watch CBS News' election special What: CBS News' election special Date: Tuesday, August 2Time: 9 p.m. ETOnline stream: Live on CBS News in the player above and on your mobile or streaming device.   6:15 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Arizona Republican primary Justin Olson, Mick McGuire, Mark Brnovich, Jim Lamon and Blake Masters are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona governor Republican primary Matt Salmon, Scott Neeley, Paola Tulliani-Zen, Karrin Taylor Robson and Kari Lake are on the ballot.    6:24 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona state Senate Republican primary Rusty Bowers and David Farnsworth are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Republican primary Shawnna Bollock, Michelle Ugenti-Rita, Beau Lane and Mark Finchem are on the ballot.   6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Democratic primary Adrian Fontes and Reginald Bolding are on the ballot.    6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona 2nd Congressional District Republican primary Ron Watkins, Steven Krystofiak, Andy Yates, John Moore, Mark DeLuzio, Eli Crane and Walt Blackman are on the ballot.    6:11 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Missouri Republican primary Dave Sims, Kevin Schepers, Deshon Porter, Robert Olson, Eric McElroy, Darrett McClanahan, Patrick Lewis, Rickey Joiner, Dennis Lee Chilton, Russel Breyfogle, Robert Allen, C.W. Gardner, Mark McCloskey, Dave Schatz, Billy Long, Vicky Hatzler, Eric Greitens and Eric Schmitt are on the ballot.    6:11 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Missouri Democratic primary Dave Sims, Kevin Schepers, Deshon Porter, Robert Olson, Eric McElroy, Darrett McClanahan, Patrick Lewis, Rickey Joiner, Dennis Lee Chilton, Russel Breyfogle, Robert Allen, C.W. Gardner, Mark McCloskey, Dave Schatz, Billy Long, Vicky Hatzler, Eric Greitens and Eric Schmitt are on the ballot.    6:09 PM / August 2, 2022 Missouri 1st Congressional District Democratic primary Cori Bush, Michael Daniels, Earl Childress, Ron Harshaw and Steve Roberts on the ballot.   6:08 PM / August 2, 2022 Kansas constitutional amendment Yes/No   Updated 1m ago Kansas Republican governor: CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win the Republican nomination for Kansas governor.    6:07 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan Republican governor primary Ralph Rebandt, Ryan Kelley, Garrett Soldano, Kevin Rinke and Tudor Dixon are on the ballot.    6:06 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan 3rd Congressional District Republican primary Peter Meijer and John Gibbs are on the ballot.    6:06 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan 11th Congressional District Democratic primary Andy Levin and Haley Stevens are on the ballot.    6:04 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 3rd Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Jaime Herrera Beutler, Davy Ray, Leslie French, Vicki Kraft, Heidi St. John, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Joe Kent, Chris Byrd, Oliver Black are on the ballot.    6:03 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 4th Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Dan Newhouse, Jacek Kobiesa, Benancio Garcia, Corey Gibson, Jerrold Sessler, Brad Klippert, Doug White and Loren Culp are on the ballot.

Watch Live: 2022 midterm primary results in Arizona, Missouri, Kansas, Michigan and Washington.

get the free app Updated on: August 2, 2022 / 9:03 PM / CBS News CBS News Live CBS News Live Live Voters in five states are going to the polls on Tuesday in some of the states that were battlegrounds in 2020 — and will be again in 2024. And abortion faces its first test at the ballot box since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, as Kansas voters decide whether abortion should be constitutionally protected.ArizonaIn Arizona, former President Donald Trump has rallied for his allies in the Senate, governor and secretary of state races. Arizona was one of the key battleground states that went for President Joe Biden in 2020. After the election, some Republicans in the state tried to overturn the results, with a plan to send a slate of phony alternate electors who supported Trump to Congress for the Electoral College certification, rather than the electors won by President Biden. In the Republican primary to take on Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly in November, Trump has backed Blake Masters, who has a comfortable lead according to two polls ahead of the primary. For governor, former TV news anchor Kari Lake and lawyer Karrin Taylor Robson are in a tight contest for the GOP nomination that repeats a dynamic between Trump and former Vice President MIke Pence. Trump has backed Lake, while Pence, along with term-limited sitting Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, have backed Taylor Robson. Last month, Trump and Pence held dueling rallies for Lake and Robson on the same day.  A where to vote sign points voters in the direction of the polling station as the sun beats down as Arizona voters go the polls to cast their ballots, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, in Phoenix. Ross D. Franklin / AP Trump has also backed a challenger to state House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who testified in June at a House Jan. 6 committee public hearing. Bowers is term-limited out of that position but is running for state Senate. Days before the primary, the Arizona GOP voted to formally censure him for his testimony, a culmination of the frustrations many far-right members have with Bowers' past refusal to support Trump-backed attempts to overturn the 2020 election. This year, Bowers helped block a bill, introduced by Secretary of State candidate and current state Rep. Shawnna Bolick, to empower the legislature to choose its own electors, regardless of how the people voted. For his actions, the former president lashed out against him, calling the Speaker a "RINO coward," and endorsed his opponent, former state Sen. David Farnsworth.MissouriTrump issued a last-minute semi-endorsement in the Republican primary for the open Senate seat in Missouri. On Monday night, he threw his support behind "ERIC." There are two leading candidates in the race named Eric, Eric Schmitt and Eric Greitens. Both claimed they have Trump's endorsement. In Missouri's 1st Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Cori Bush, who unseated a longtime incumbent in 2020, is facing several challengers. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch endorsed both Bush and opponent Steve Roberts, writing that "too many deeply personal issues are likely to dominate voters' decisions in ways that wouldn't necessarily be swayed by an editorial endorsement."Meanwhile, three of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump are facing Trump-backed primary challengers. Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social to urge Republican voters to "knock out impeachment slime." MichiganIn Michigan, Rep. Peter Meijer, a freshman Republican in a swing district centered around Grand Rapids, Mich., is in a tough race against John Gibbs, a former Trump-era Housing and Urban Development official.WashingtonAnd in Washington, the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler in the 3rd District and Dan Newhouse in the 4th District both face the risk of being shut out because of Trump-backed challengers. KansasFor the first time since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, a state will vote whether abortion can be constitutionally protected. In 2019, the state Supreme Court ruled personal autonomy is protected in the state constitution's bill of rights and applied strict scrutiny to regulating abortion. An amendment would need to be passed to remove that constitutional right.Kansas voters are deciding whether to pass that amendment, which will remove that constitutional right, or against it, which would keep it in place.    6:54 PM / August 2, 2022 How to watch CBS News' election special What: CBS News' election special Date: Tuesday, August 2Time: 9 p.m. ETOnline stream: Live on CBS News in the player above and on your mobile or streaming device.   6:15 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Arizona Republican primary Justin Olson, Mick McGuire, Mark Brnovich, Jim Lamon and Blake Masters are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona governor Republican primary Matt Salmon, Scott Neeley, Paola Tulliani-Zen, Karrin Taylor Robson and Kari Lake are on the ballot.    6:24 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona state Senate Republican primary Rusty Bowers and David Farnsworth are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Republican primary Shawnna Bollock, Michelle Ugenti-Rita, Beau Lane and Mark Finchem are on the ballot.   6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Democratic primary Adrian Fontes and Reginald Bolding are on the ballot.    6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona 2nd Congressional District Republican primary Ron Watkins, Steven Krystofiak, Andy Yates, John Moore, Mark DeLuzio, Eli Crane and Walt Blackman are on the ballot.    6:11 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Missouri Republican primary Dave Sims, Kevin Schepers, Deshon Porter, Robert Olson, Eric McElroy, Darrett McClanahan, Patrick Lewis, Rickey Joiner, Dennis Lee Chilton, Russel Breyfogle, Robert Allen, C.W. Gardner, Mark McCloskey, Dave Schatz, Billy Long, Vicky Hatzler, Eric Greitens and Eric Schmitt are on the ballot.    6:11 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Missouri Democratic primary Dave Sims, Kevin Schepers, Deshon Porter, Robert Olson, Eric McElroy, Darrett McClanahan, Patrick Lewis, Rickey Joiner, Dennis Lee Chilton, Russel Breyfogle, Robert Allen, C.W. Gardner, Mark McCloskey, Dave Schatz, Billy Long, Vicky Hatzler, Eric Greitens and Eric Schmitt are on the ballot.    6:09 PM / August 2, 2022 Missouri 1st Congressional District Democratic primary Cori Bush, Michael Daniels, Earl Childress, Ron Harshaw and Steve Roberts on the ballot.   6:08 PM / August 2, 2022 Kansas constitutional amendment Yes/No   Updated 2m ago Kansas Republican governor: CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win the Republican nomination for Kansas governor.    6:07 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan Republican governor primary Ralph Rebandt, Ryan Kelley, Garrett Soldano, Kevin Rinke and Tudor Dixon are on the ballot.    6:06 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan 3rd Congressional District Republican primary Peter Meijer and John Gibbs are on the ballot.    6:06 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan 11th Congressional District Democratic primary Andy Levin and Haley Stevens are on the ballot.    6:04 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 3rd Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Jaime Herrera Beutler, Davy Ray, Leslie French, Vicki Kraft, Heidi St. John, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Joe Kent, Chris Byrd, Oliver Black are on the ballot.    6:03 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 4th Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Dan Newhouse, Jacek Kobiesa, Benancio Garcia, Corey Gibson, Jerrold Sessler, Brad Klippert, Doug White and Loren Culp are on the ballot.

Watch Live: 2022 midterm primary results in Arizona, Missouri, Kansas, Michigan and Washington.

A view of the flags of Finland, NATO and Sweden during a ceremony to mark Sweden's and Finland's application for membership in Brussels, Belgium, May 18, 2022. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/PoolRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comWASHINGTON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate will hold votes on Wednesday on approving Finland's and Sweden's accession into NATO, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Tuesday.The debate, Schumer said, will begin at 1:30 p.m. EDT (1730 GMT).Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

U.S. Senate to vote Wednesday on Finland, Sweden NATO accession.

get the free app Updated on: August 2, 2022 / 9:03 PM / CBS News CBS News Live CBS News Live Live Voters in five states are going to the polls on Tuesday in some of the states that were battlegrounds in 2020 — and will be again in 2024. And abortion faces its first test at the ballot box since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, as Kansas voters decide whether abortion should be constitutionally protected.ArizonaIn Arizona, former President Donald Trump has rallied for his allies in the Senate, governor and secretary of state races. Arizona was one of the key battleground states that went for President Joe Biden in 2020. After the election, some Republicans in the state tried to overturn the results, with a plan to send a slate of phony alternate electors who supported Trump to Congress for the Electoral College certification, rather than the electors won by President Biden. In the Republican primary to take on Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly in November, Trump has backed Blake Masters, who has a comfortable lead according to two polls ahead of the primary. For governor, former TV news anchor Kari Lake and lawyer Karrin Taylor Robson are in a tight contest for the GOP nomination that repeats a dynamic between Trump and former Vice President MIke Pence. Trump has backed Lake, while Pence, along with term-limited sitting Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, have backed Taylor Robson. Last month, Trump and Pence held dueling rallies for Lake and Robson on the same day.  A where to vote sign points voters in the direction of the polling station as the sun beats down as Arizona voters go the polls to cast their ballots, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, in Phoenix. Ross D. Franklin / AP Trump has also backed a challenger to state House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who testified in June at a House Jan. 6 committee public hearing. Bowers is term-limited out of that position but is running for state Senate. Days before the primary, the Arizona GOP voted to formally censure him for his testimony, a culmination of the frustrations many far-right members have with Bowers' past refusal to support Trump-backed attempts to overturn the 2020 election. This year, Bowers helped block a bill, introduced by Secretary of State candidate and current state Rep. Shawnna Bolick, to empower the legislature to choose its own electors, regardless of how the people voted. For his actions, the former president lashed out against him, calling the Speaker a "RINO coward," and endorsed his opponent, former state Sen. David Farnsworth.MissouriTrump issued a last-minute semi-endorsement in the Republican primary for the open Senate seat in Missouri. On Monday night, he threw his support behind "ERIC." There are two leading candidates in the race named Eric, Eric Schmitt and Eric Greitens. Both claimed they have Trump's endorsement. In Missouri's 1st Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Cori Bush, who unseated a longtime incumbent in 2020, is facing several challengers. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch endorsed both Bush and opponent Steve Roberts, writing that "too many deeply personal issues are likely to dominate voters' decisions in ways that wouldn't necessarily be swayed by an editorial endorsement."Meanwhile, three of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump are facing Trump-backed primary challengers. Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social to urge Republican voters to "knock out impeachment slime." MichiganIn Michigan, Rep. Peter Meijer, a freshman Republican in a swing district centered around Grand Rapids, Mich., is in a tough race against John Gibbs, a former Trump-era Housing and Urban Development official.WashingtonAnd in Washington, the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler in the 3rd District and Dan Newhouse in the 4th District both face the risk of being shut out because of Trump-backed challengers. KansasFor the first time since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, a state will vote whether abortion can be constitutionally protected. In 2019, the state Supreme Court ruled personal autonomy is protected in the state constitution's bill of rights and applied strict scrutiny to regulating abortion. An amendment would need to be passed to remove that constitutional right.Kansas voters are deciding whether to pass that amendment, which will remove that constitutional right, or against it, which would keep it in place.    6:15 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Arizona Republican primary Justin Olson, Mick McGuire, Mark Brnovich, Jim Lamon and Blake Masters are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona governor Republican primary Matt Salmon, Scott Neeley, Paola Tulliani-Zen, Karrin Taylor Robson and Kari Lake are on the ballot.    6:24 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona state Senate Republican primary Rusty Bowers and David Farnsworth are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Republican primary Shawnna Bollock, Michelle Ugenti-Rita, Beau Lane and Mark Finchem are on the ballot.   6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Democratic primary Adrian Fontes and Reginald Bolding are on the ballot.    6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona 2nd Congressional District Republican primary Ron Watkins, Steven Krystofiak, Andy Yates, John Moore, Mark DeLuzio, Eli Crane and Walt Blackman are on the ballot.    6:11 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Missouri Republican primary Dave Sims, Kevin Schepers, Deshon Porter, Robert Olson, Eric McElroy, Darrett McClanahan, Patrick Lewis, Rickey Joiner, Dennis Lee Chilton, Russel Breyfogle, Robert Allen, C.W. Gardner, Mark McCloskey, Dave Schatz, Billy Long, Vicky Hatzler, Eric Greitens and Eric Schmitt are on the ballot.    6:11 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Missouri Democratic primary Dave Sims, Kevin Schepers, Deshon Porter, Robert Olson, Eric McElroy, Darrett McClanahan, Patrick Lewis, Rickey Joiner, Dennis Lee Chilton, Russel Breyfogle, Robert Allen, C.W. Gardner, Mark McCloskey, Dave Schatz, Billy Long, Vicky Hatzler, Eric Greitens and Eric Schmitt are on the ballot.    6:09 PM / August 2, 2022 Missouri 1st Congressional District Democratic primary Cori Bush, Michael Daniels, Earl Childress, Ron Harshaw and Steve Roberts on the ballot.   6:08 PM / August 2, 2022 Kansas constitutional amendment Yes/No   Updated 6m ago Kansas Republican governor: CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win the Republican nomination for Kansas governor.    6:07 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan Republican governor primary Ralph Rebandt, Ryan Kelley, Garrett Soldano, Kevin Rinke and Tudor Dixon are on the ballot.    6:06 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan 3rd Congressional District Republican primary Peter Meijer and John Gibbs are on the ballot.    6:06 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan 11th Congressional District Democratic primary Andy Levin and Haley Stevens are on the ballot.    6:04 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 3rd Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Jaime Herrera Beutler, Davy Ray, Leslie French, Vicki Kraft, Heidi St. John, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Joe Kent, Chris Byrd, Oliver Black are on the ballot.    6:03 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 4th Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Dan Newhouse, Jacek Kobiesa, Benancio Garcia, Corey Gibson, Jerrold Sessler, Brad Klippert, Doug White and Loren Culp are on the ballot.

Watch Live: 2022 midterm primary results in Arizona, Missouri, Kansas, Michigan and Washington.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Aug 2 (Reuters) - America's largest warehouse market is full as major U.S. retailers warn of slowing sales of the clothing, electronics, furniture and other goods that have packed the distribution centers east of Los Angeles.The merchandise keeps flooding in from across the Pacific, and for one of the busiest U.S. warehouse complexes, things are about to get worse.Experts have warned the U.S. supply chain would get hit by the "bullwhip effect" if companies panic-ordered goods to keep shelves full and got caught out by a downturn in demand while shipments were still arriving from Asia.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comIn the largest U.S. warehouse and distribution market - stretching east from Los Angeles to the area known as the "Inland Empire" – that moment appears to have arrived."We're feeling the sting of the bullwhip," said Alan Amling, a supply-chain professor at the University of Tennessee.The sprawl of Inland Empire warehouses centered in Riverside and San Bernardino counties grew quickly in recent years to handle surging demand and goods imported from Asia.That booming area, visible from space, anchors an industrial corridor encompassing 1.6 billion square feet of storage space that extends from the busiest U.S. seaport in Los Angeles to near the Arizona and Nevada borders. That much storage space is nearly 44 times larger than New York City's Central Park and 160 times bigger than Tesla Inc's (TSLA.O) new Gigafactory in Texas.But a consumer spending pullback now threatens to swamp warehouses here and around the country with more goods than they can handle - worsening supply-chain snarls that have stoked inflation. Retailers left holding unwanted goods are faced with the choice of paying more money to store them or denting profits by selling them at discount.Inland Empire warehouse vacancies are among the lowest in the nation, running at a record 0.6% versus the national average of 3.1%, according to real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield. The market is poised to get even tighter as shoppers at Walmart (WMT.N), Best Buy (BBY.N) and other retailers retreat from early COVID-era spending binges.BINGE TO BACKLOGWhile U.S. consumer spending remains above pre-pandemic levels, retailers and suppliers are raising alarms about backlogs in categories that have fallen out of fashion as consumers catch up on travel and struggle with the highest inflation in 40 years.Last week, Walmart said surging food and fuel prices left its lower-income customers with less cash to spend on goods, and Best Buy said shoppers were curbing spending on discretionary products like computers and televisions. read more Those cautionary signals followed Target Corp's (TGT.N) alert that it was saddled with too many TVs, kitchen appliances, furniture and clothes. read more Suppliers - ranging from barbecue grill maker Weber Inc (WEBR.N) to Helen of Troy Ltd (HELE.O), a consumer brands conglomerate that includes OXO kitchen tools - also have warned of slowing demand and an urgent need to clear inventories.Containers stored on a lot are seen among warehouses in Fontana, California, U.S., July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Lisa BaertleinWhile the U.S. economy was downshifting, goods kept pouring in at near-record levels.Imports to U.S. container ports that process retail goods from China and other countries jumped more than 26% in the first half of 2022 from pre-pandemic levels, according to Descartes Datamyne. Christmas shipments and the reopening of major Chinese factory hubs could goose volumes further.Meanwhile, cargo keeps flooding in to the busiest U.S. seaport complex at Los Angeles/Long Beach. During the first half of this year, dockworkers there handled about 550,000 more 40-foot containers than before the pandemic started, according to port data.Christmas toys and winter holiday decor landed on those docks in July, along with some patio furniture for Walmart and stretch pants, jeans and shoes for Target, said Steve Ferreira, CEO of Ocean Audit, which scrutinizes marine shipping invoices.Retailers ordered most of those goods months ago and many are destined for the Inland Empire's already jam-packed warehouses."It's a domino effect. Now the inventory is going to really build up," said Scott Weiss, a vice president at Performance Team, a Maersk (MAERSKb.CO) company with 22 warehouses in greater Los Angeles.Demand for space in the Inland Empire is so intense that when 100,000 to 200,000 square feet of space frees up, it "gets gobbled up in a second," said Weiss.SEARS AND PARKING LOTSInvestors have almost 40 million square feet under construction in the Inland Empire - including Amazon.com Inc's (AMZN.O) biggest-ever warehouse - and at least 38% is spoken for, said Dain Fedora, vice president of research for Southern California at Newmark, a commercial real estate advisory firm.While Amazon's 4.1 million square-foot facility rises on former dairy land in the city of Ontario, the online retailer has been shelving construction plans in other parts of the country.Amazon is the biggest warehouse tenant in the Inland Empire and the nation. Its decision to scale back on building, coupled with rising interest rates and the slowing economy, is sidelining other would-be Inland Empire warehouse builders, area real estate brokers and economists told Reuters.Meanwhile, the scramble for space continues.Trucking company yards and spare lots around the region have already been converted to makeshift container storage, so entrepreneurs are marketing vacant stores as last-resort warehouses in waiting.Brad Wright is CEO of Chunker, which bills itself as an AirBNB for warehouses, and works with everyone from state officials to the owners of vacated big-box stores to find new places to stash goods.During a recent tour at the former Sears anchor store in San Bernardino's Inland Center mall, Wright and a potential tenant strolled past collapsed ceiling tiles, sagging wall panels and idled escalators while working out how forklifts would navigate the abandoned space. Wright sees the empty stores as one answer to easing the log jams."There's a lot of them sitting around, and they're in good locations," he said.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles Additional reporting by Siddharth Cavale in New York Editing by Kevin Krolicki, Ben Klayman and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

America's biggest warehouse is running out of room. It's about to get worse.

Politics August 2, 2022 / 7:00 PM / CBS News The latest CBS News Battleground Tracker takes a look at what — and who — would motivate voters to back a candidate. For Republican voters, Trump-endorsed candidate — one who makes liberals angry — more likely to earn their vote Trump endorsement viewed as asset among base, particularly frequent primary voters For most Republicans, an endorsement by the former president is a plus for that candidate, and even more so among Republicans who say they "always" vote in Republican primaries, most of whom identify as MAGA Republicans.  A Trump endorsement doesn't have as much sway among Republicans who are less frequent primary voters, but on balance, an endorsement by the former president is a net positive for this group of Republicans, too.  2020 election still a factor for many Republicans Beyond Trump himself, there is also a desire among many Republicans for a candidate who says President Joe Biden did not legitimately win the 2020 election, perhaps not surprisingly, as two-thirds of Republicans continue to say Biden did not legitimately win.  By almost four to one, Republicans would be more likely — rather than less likely — to back a candidate who says Mr. Biden did not legitimately win in 2020. A mere 8% of Republicans would be more likely to back a candidate who says Mr. Biden legitimately won.  A candidate taking a public stance that Joe Biden legitimately won doesn't garner much support even among Republicans who think this is true — most say doing so will make no difference to them. It's the Republicans who do not believe Mr. Biden legitimately won (two-thirds of whom call themselves "MAGA" Republicans) who likely make up a larger share of the GOP primary electorate. By double-digits, more say they always vote in GOP primaries compared to Republicans who believe Biden really did win in 2020.  Making liberals angry: A motivator for GOP, particularly MAGA Republicans For Republican voters, a candidate who makes liberals angry appears to be just as much of a reason to back that candidate as an endorsement from Donald Trump. Fifty-three percent of Republicans say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate to make liberals angry, a figure that rises to 69% among MAGA Republicans.  We tested a range of potential candidate descriptors, including some that have been used by congressional candidates this year. For Republicans, a "MAGA Republican" would potentially be the most popular, with most saying they would back a candidate who described themselves that way. A "capitalist" would also be net positive. Calling oneself a Christian nationalist garners a very small net positive among Republicans overall, but encourages the strong support of the very conservative and self-described "MAGA Republicans.  What about Jan. 6? Our polling has shown that while most Republicans disapprove of the actions of those who forced their way into the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, they do differ from the voters overall in their descriptions of what took place that day. More Republicans view it as patriotism, rather than an insurrection.  And by two one, Republicans tell us they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who criticized the events of that day.  For Democratic voters, most want a supporter of Biden's policies,  more of a factor than someone who makes conservatives angryDemocrats more likely to back progressive, Black Lives Matter supporter Most Democratic voters would be more likely to vote for a candidate who described themselves as a "Black Lives Matter supporter, a "social justice" Democrat or as a progressive, and this is even more true of those who always vote in primaries. Most also want a candidate who generally supports President Biden's policies, which is far more important to them than a candidate who makes conservative angry, though the latter does appeal more to self-described progressives in the party.  This CBS News/YouGov Battleground Tracker survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 1,743 registered voters interviewed between July 27-29, 2022. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, and education based on the U.S. Census American Community Survey and Current Population Survey, as well as to 2020 presidential vote. The margin of error is ± 3.0 points. The House seats estimates are based on a multilevel regression and post-stratification model incorporating voter responses to this survey. Each party's seat estimate has a margin of error of ±12 seats.Toplines Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue

CBS News Battleground Tracker: What do voters in each party want in a candidate?.

An Uber office is shown in Redondo Beach, California, U.S., March 16, 2022. REUTERS/Mike BlakeRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAug 2 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Tuesday granted a request by prosecutors to dismiss fraud counts against a former Uber Technologies Inc (UBER.N) security chief also charged with covering up a 2016 data hack affecting 57 million passengers and drivers.U.S. District Judge James Donato in San Francisco dismissed the three wire fraud charges against Joseph Sullivan.Prosecutors had requested the dismissal in a court filing last Wednesday, without explaining why, after a different judge ruled on June 28 they could pursue the charges.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSullivan still faces two charges: obstructing a U.S. Federal Trade Commission proceeding, and failing to report a felony.The office of U.S. Attorney Stephanie Hinds in San Francisco declined to comment. Lawyers for Sullivan did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Sullivan is believed to be the first corporate information security officer criminally charged with concealing a hacking.Prosecutors said he tried to conceal the hacking from passengers, drivers and the FTC by arranging to pay the hackers $100,000 in bitcoin, and having them sign nondisclosure agreements that falsely stated they had not stolen data.Sullivan was also accused of withholding information from Uber officials who could have disclosed the breach to the FTC, which had been evaluating the San Francisco-based company's data security following a 2014 breach.While letting the fraud charges proceed, U.S. District Judge William Orrick nevertheless said prosecutors could not contend that Sullivan owed a duty to Uber drivers to reveal the hacking.Orrick still oversees the case. Donato was the judge on duty to handle the dismissal request.Uber fired Sullivan after learning the extent of the breach. In September 2018, the company paid $148 million to settle claims by the 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. that it was too slow to reveal the hacking.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Fraud charges in hacking case against Uber ex-security chief are dismissed.

Alibaba has faced growth challenges amid regulatory tightening on China's domestic technology sector and a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy. But analysts think the e-commerce giant's growth could pick up through the rest of 2022.Kuang Da | Jiemian News | VCG | Getty ImagesAlibaba's revenue could decline for the first time on record when it reports June quarter earnings on Thursday, analysts forecast, though it could signal the bottom for sales.The Chinese e-commerce giant is expected to report fiscal first-quarter revenue totaling 203.23 billion yuan ($30.05 billion), down 1.2% from a year ago, according to consensus forecasts from Refinitiv.Alibaba's revenue has slowed sharply over the last year amid a slowdown in the Chinese economy, a resurgence of Covid and subsequent lockdowns as well as the regulatory tightening on the domestic tech sector.But the June quarter could mark a bottom for Alibaba's results as revenue is expected to improve in the coming quarters."In aggregate, we believe the soft June quarter results are largely expected by investors and the current focus for the stock is the recovery trend in the 2H, on which we remain positive as the government continues to step up economic stimulus to achieve its GDP growth target," U.S. Tiger Securities said in a note last month.September quarter revenue is expected to grow 7% while the December quarter could see near 10% growth, according to Refinitiv estimates.Softness in this week's report will mainly come from weakness in the company's China commerce revenue, China Merchants Securities said in a note published last month. Weak consumption will weigh on customer purchases while customer management revenue or CMR, will also decline due to tighter vendor ad budgets on Alibaba's platforms, China Merchants Securities said.CMR is revenue Alibaba gets from services such as marketing that the company offers to merchants on its Taobao and Tmall e-commerce platforms. Vendors cutting back on ad spend hits Alibaba's CMR.However, China Merchants Securities said it sees the China commerce business having a "gradual recovery ... with improving profitability thanks to discipline cost control."Alibaba could get some tailwinds in the coming quarters to help its recovery. There are signs that China's regulatory crackdown — during which Alibaba was fined 18.23 billion yuan — is beginning to ease.Meanwhile, the Chinese government in May announced a range of economic stimulus designed to help an economy battered by a resurgence of Covid and lockdowns in major cities, including financial metropolis Shanghai.However, not all analysts expect to see a return to explosive growth for Alibaba."When I visualize my 'cone of all plausible outcomes,' the plurality of scenarios lead to a modest reacceleration of growth back to the mid-teens, but I also see a whole category of scenarios where things get much worse on the fundamentals," John Freeman, vice president at CFRA Research, told CNBC via email."The cone is very wide right now."Cloud computing in focusBesides Alibaba's core commerce business, investors are also focused on cloud computing revenue even though it still accounts for under 10% of total sales. That's because investors see Alibaba's cloud efforts as key to the company's future growth prospects and profitability."Cloud growth reacceleration is key for me to turn positive again on the fundamentals because cloud generates much more operating leverage than e-commerce fulfillment and is intrinsically a much more profitable business," CFRA's Freeman said."Cloud is the reason for most of Amazon's appreciation in value over the last decade and that could be true for Alibaba eventually."Forecasts for the cloud business are mixed. U.S. Tiger Securities expects cloud revenue to grow 8% year-on-year in the June quarter, which would be the slowest growth rate on record. China Merchants Securities meanwhile forecasts 13% year-on-year growth, which would be a slight acceleration from the March quarter.

Alibaba could see first revenue decline on record but analysts expect sales recovery later this year.

Enrique Pena Nieto delivers his sixth and last State of the Union address at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico September 3, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos JassoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comMEXICO CITY, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Mexico's attorney general's office is investigating former President Enrique Pena Nieto for alleged money laundering, illicit enrichment, and illegal international transfers, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.The sources said Pena Nieto, who was president from 2012 to 2016, is the person identified as "Enrique P" in a statement from the attorney general's office (FGR) on Tuesday.Reuters was not able to immediately contact Pena Nieto for comment. He previously denied any wrongdoing when reports of an investigation by Mexico's anti-money laundering unit emerged last month.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comPena Nieto has not been charged with a crime.The Tuesday statement said the FGR was "developing investigation procedures" into various federal crimes. In the statement, the FGR said it was investigating crimes related to Spanish construction company OHL (OHLA.MC).OHL did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside business hours.In 2016, the Mexican unit of OHL was fined over inadequacies in its financial reporting. The company said then that there was no evidence of fraud.At the time, OHL Mexico had been hit by corruption allegations over leaked recordings in which its executives appeared to be discussing overcharging the government for a highway concession.The FGR said the investigations into money laundering and illegal international transfers stemmed from complaints by tax authorities.In July, Mexico's anti-money laundering unit asked the FGR to investigate millions of dollars' worth of money transfers abroad addressed to Pena Nieto. read more Pena Nieto addressed the accusations in a series of tweets at the time, saying, "I am certain that before the competent authorities I will be allowed to clarify any question about my assets and demonstrate their legality."Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Lizbeth Diaz; Writing by Valentine Hilaire and Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Stephen Eisenhammer, Lincoln Feast and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Mexico probes former president Pena Nieto for money laundering, sources say.

A store owner prepares fruits for sale at a clothing store following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Yichang, Hubei province, China April 23, 2020. China Daily via REUTERS Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comBEIJING, Aug 3 (Reuters) - China is suspending imports of citrus fruits, chilled white striped hairtail and frozen horse mackerel from Taiwan starting Aug. 3, China's customs said on Wednesday.Earlier in the day, China's commerce ministry said China will suspend export of natural sand to Taiwan from Aug. 3.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

China customs suspends imports of citrus fruits, some fish products from Taiwan.

The biggest shopping mall owners in the United States say retailers are still forging ahead with plans to open new stores in spite of growing recession fears and decades-high inflation that's squeezing shoppers' budgets.Simon Property Group, the country's largest mall owner, said the pipeline of businesses slated to open up at its properties remains strong. The company reported an occupancy rate at its U.S. malls and outlet centers of 93.9% as of June 30, up from 91.8% a year earlier."Even with with what's going on in the world, we really haven't seen anyone back out of deals," Simon Property Chief Executive Officer David Simon said on an earnings conference call Monday."We're seeing a big rebound in Vegas, Florida is on fire ... California is finding its legs," he added.Fueling the openings are a mix of factors, including retailers pushing to snap up limited space and popular online brands looking to expand by opening up brick-and-mortar locations. Some retailers are eyeing real estate in markets outside of major cities as they follow people who uprooted to find bigger spaces during the Covid pandemic. And companies including Macy's that shuttered stores in recent years are now testing different formats, often with smaller footprints.So far this year, retailers in the U.S. have announced 4,432 store openings, compared with 1,954 closings, according to data from Coresight Research, resulting in a net of 2,478 openings.Before the pandemic, the industry was seeing net closures of thousands of stores every year as consumers increasingly moved their spending online. In 2019, Coresight tracked 9,832 closures, compared with 4,689 openings. Last year, the retail industry eked out a net addition of 68 stores."Retailers are not going to pull back on store growth," said Naveen Jaggi, president of the retail advisory team at JLL, a commercial real estate services firm. "They're going to continue to grow because that's one of the ways that they can send a message to the market that, 'We're healthy and safe.'"The optimism from retail real estate owners comes amid warning signs from across the industry. In recent weeks, retailers including Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Gap and Adidas slashed their sales or profit outlooks as consumers squeezed by higher gas and grocery bills rein in spending on other items. At the same time, though, luxury retailers including Birkin bag maker Hermes and Louis Vuitton parent LVMH say profits are strong and sales are growing as higher-income consumers continue to splurge on pricey fashion and accessories.At its malls, Simon Property also said it's noticing a split in behavior. Consumers who shop at value-oriented retailers are more likely to be pulling back, Simon said, as are younger shoppers who don't earn as much money. Among those seeing softening sales are the company's teen and fast-fashion retailers Aeropostale and Forever 21, as well as its J.C. Penney department store chain, he said.But he said businesses like men's suit retailer Brooks Brothers, which Simon Property also owns, continues to ring up sales."The higher-income consumer is still spending money," Simon said.Macerich, which operates malls including Tysons Corner Center in Virginia and Scottsdale Fashion Square in Arizona, noted that distress in the retail industry has slowed dramatically after a pandemic-spurred wave of closures in 2020."Clearly, there are economic uncertainties due to inflation, rising interest rates and the war in Ukraine," Macerich CEO Thomas O'Hern said on a conference call last Thursday. "However, we continue to expect gains in occupancy, net operating income and cash flow from operations through the remainder of this year and into next year."Macerich said its leasing activity in the second quarter reflected retailer demand at levels not seen since 2015. The company also said it recently polled around 30 of its biggest national tenants and found that roughly 90% have not changed their plans to open new locations this year and next.Also fueling store openings are retailers that started online and are now looking to expand with physical locations, said Douglas Healey, senior executive vice president of leasing at Macerich. Those include athletic apparel brands Fabletics, Alo Yoga and Vuori, shoe maker Allbirds and furniture chain Interior Define, he said.Macerich said it signed 274 leases in the quarter ended in June, up 27% from a year earlier and up 42% from pre-Covid 2019 levels.Conor Flynn, CEO of shopping center owner Kimco, said he has "cautious optimism" about the state of business, given the pressures on consumers. Some retailers are taking advantage of tough times to snag vacant storefronts they will want in years to come, he said on a conference call last Thursday.Construction of new retail space has also hit the brakes for the most part during the pandemic, according to David Jamieson, Kimco's chief operating officer. He said that has put more pressure on businesses to compete for the best available spaces.The availability of retail space at all types of properties including malls in the U.S. hit a 10-year low in the second quarter, according to CBRE, a real estate services and investment firm.The plans for new openings come even as visits to malls and shopping centers appear to be slowing this summer amid inflationary pressures, though analysts and executives say those who do visit are more likely to buy something.Simon said it reported record sales of $746 per square foot at its malls and outlets combined, in the second quarter. Visits to indoor U.S. malls in June rose 1.5% compared with the prior year, marking the smallest gain so far this year, according to Placer.ai, a retail analytics firm. Visits to outlet centers dropped 6.7%. The distance that it takes many consumers to drive to outlet centers has resulted in a falloff in visits as gas prices remain inflated, Placer.ai said.

Mall owners say retailers are still opening stores in spite of recession fears.

A deer is seen dead by the side of a road after the McKinney Fire affected an area near Yreka, California, U.S., August 1, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos Barria TPX IMAGES OF THE DAYRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comYREKA, Calif., Aug 2 (Reuters) - Search teams have located two more bodies in an area scorched by a forest fire raging for a fifth day in northern California near the Oregon border, bringing to four the number of lives lost in the state's biggest blaze this year, officials said on Tuesday.The latest two victims were found on Monday at separate homes along a highway that runs through the fire zone in the Klamath National Forest about 300 miles (483 km) north of San Francisco, according to a statement issued by the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office.The remains of two other people, who were apparently trying to escape the fire at the last minute, were discovered on Sunday inside a burned-out car that ran off the driveway of another home along the same highway, sheriff's officials said on Monday. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAuthorities said no further information would be released on any of the deaths until positive identification is made and the next of kin have been notified.Since erupting on Friday, the so-called McKinney fire has charred more than 56,000 acres (22,662 hectares) of drought-parched timber, tall grass and brush, fire officials said on Tuesday.Roughly 4,500 people were under evacuation orders as of Tuesday, sheriff's spokesperson Courtney Kreider said, adding that an estimated 100 structures, from sheds to houses, have gone up in flames.The unincorporated riverfront enclave of Klamath River, with a population of fewer than 200 residents, was especially hard hit, losing numerous homes and its community center to the fire, Kreider said.Nearly 5,000 dwellings countywide were listed as threatened by flames.The doubling of the death toll came after a night of relatively mild fire growth compared with previous nights. High humidity levels helped tamp down the flames while crews made progress carving buffer lines to protect communities on the edge of the fire zone, Dennis Burns, a fire behavior analyst for the incident management team, told a morning briefing.Much of the effort was focused on the outskirts of Yreka, the Siskiyou County seat and former Gold Rush town now home to 7,800 residents.Burns said thunderstorms in the forecast may bring welcome rainfall to the area, or erratic winds that could fan the flames anew, as well as possible lightning strikes that might ignite further fires.The cause of the McKinney blaze was under investigation.The fire erupted amid record-breaking heat in a region where drought-desiccated trees and undergrowth had already created a highly combustible fuel bed, in keeping with extreme conditions scientists ascribe to human-induced climate change.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Carlos Barria in Yreka, Calif.; Writing and Additional Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Death toll climbs to 4 in California's largest wildfire this season.

get the free app Updated on: August 2, 2022 / 9:49 PM / CBS News CBS News Live CBS News Live Live Voters in five states are going to the polls on Tuesday in some of the states that were battlegrounds in 2020 — and will be again in 2024. And abortion faces its first test at the ballot box since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, as Kansas voters decide whether abortion should be constitutionally protected.With former President Donald Trump's influence looming large in some of Tuesday's primaries, a CBS News poll released Tuesday showed that for Republicans, a Trump endorsement is a plus for that candidate, and even more so among Republicans who say they "always" vote in Republican primaries, most of whom identify as MAGA Republicans. ArizonaIn Arizona, former President Donald Trump has rallied for his allies in the Senate, governor and secretary of state races. Arizona was one of the key battleground states that went for President Joe Biden in 2020. After the election, some Republicans in the state tried to overturn the results, with a plan to send a slate of phony alternate electors who supported Trump to Congress for the Electoral College certification, rather than the electors won by President Biden. In the Republican primary to take on Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly in November, Trump has backed Blake Masters, who has a comfortable lead according to two polls ahead of the primary. For governor, former TV news anchor Kari Lake and lawyer Karrin Taylor Robson are in a tight contest for the GOP nomination that repeats a dynamic between Trump and former Vice President MIke Pence. Trump has backed Lake, while Pence, along with term-limited sitting Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, have backed Taylor Robson. Last month, Trump and Pence held dueling rallies for Lake and Robson on the same day.  A where to vote sign points voters in the direction of the polling station as the sun beats down as Arizona voters go the polls to cast their ballots, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, in Phoenix. Ross D. Franklin / AP Trump has also backed a challenger to state House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who testified in June at a House Jan. 6 committee public hearing. Bowers is term-limited out of that position but is running for state Senate. Days before the primary, the Arizona GOP voted to formally censure him for his testimony, a culmination of the frustrations many far-right members have with Bowers' past refusal to support Trump-backed attempts to overturn the 2020 election. This year, Bowers helped block a bill, introduced by Secretary of State candidate and current state Rep. Shawnna Bolick, to empower the legislature to choose its own electors, regardless of how the people voted. For his actions, the former president lashed out against him, calling the Speaker a "RINO coward," and endorsed his opponent, former state Sen. David Farnsworth.MissouriTrump issued a last-minute semi-endorsement in the Republican primary for the open Senate seat in Missouri. On Monday night, he threw his support behind "ERIC." There are two leading candidates in the race named Eric, Eric Schmitt and Eric Greitens. Both claimed they have Trump's endorsement. In Missouri's 1st Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Cori Bush, who unseated a longtime incumbent in 2020, is facing several challengers. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch endorsed both Bush and opponent Steve Roberts, writing that "too many deeply personal issues are likely to dominate voters' decisions in ways that wouldn't necessarily be swayed by an editorial endorsement."Meanwhile, three of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump are facing Trump-backed primary challengers. Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social to urge Republican voters to "knock out impeachment slime." MichiganIn Michigan, Rep. Peter Meijer, a freshman Republican in a swing district centered around Grand Rapids, Mich., is in a tough race against John Gibbs, a former Trump-era Housing and Urban Development official.WashingtonAnd in Washington, the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler in the 3rd District and Dan Newhouse in the 4th District both face the risk of being shut out because of Trump-backed challengers. KansasFor the first time since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, a state is voting on whether the right to an abortion may be constitutionally protected. In 2019, Kansas' state Supreme Court ruled that abortion is protected in the state constitution's bill of rights. Voters are deciding whether to allow the constitution to be amended in order to ban abortion rights.In other words, a "yes" vote for the amendment would enable an abortion ban to be passed.A "no" vote on the amendment means abortion rights would be preserved.     6:15 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Arizona Republican primary Justin Olson, Mick McGuire, Mark Brnovich, Jim Lamon and Blake Masters are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona governor Republican primary Matt Salmon, Scott Neeley, Paola Tulliani-Zen, Karrin Taylor Robson and Kari Lake are on the ballot.    6:24 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona state Senate Republican primary Rusty Bowers and David Farnsworth are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Republican primary Shawnna Bollock, Michelle Ugenti-Rita, Beau Lane and Mark Finchem are on the ballot.   6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Democratic primary Adrian Fontes and Reginald Bolding are on the ballot.    6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona 2nd Congressional District Republican primary Ron Watkins, Steven Krystofiak, Andy Yates, John Moore, Mark DeLuzio, Eli Crane and Walt Blackman are on the ballot.    6:11 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Missouri Republican primary Dave Sims, Kevin Schepers, Deshon Porter, Robert Olson, Eric McElroy, Darrett McClanahan, Patrick Lewis, Rickey Joiner, Dennis Lee Chilton, Russel Breyfogle, Robert Allen, C.W. Gardner, Mark McCloskey, Dave Schatz, Billy Long, Vicky Hatzler, Eric Greitens and Eric Schmitt are on the ballot.    6:11 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Missouri Democratic primary Dave Sims, Kevin Schepers, Deshon Porter, Robert Olson, Eric McElroy, Darrett McClanahan, Patrick Lewis, Rickey Joiner, Dennis Lee Chilton, Russel Breyfogle, Robert Allen, C.W. Gardner, Mark McCloskey, Dave Schatz, Billy Long, Vicky Hatzler, Eric Greitens and Eric Schmitt are on the ballot.    6:09 PM / August 2, 2022 Missouri 1st Congressional District Democratic primary Cori Bush, Michael Daniels, Earl Childress, Ron Harshaw and Steve Roberts on the ballot.   6:08 PM / August 2, 2022 Kansas constitutional amendment on abortion Yes: An amendment will be added to the state's constitution that will allow abortion to be restricted or banned. No: The state constitution will remain as is, reaffirming the right to an abortion.   Updated 46m ago Kansas Republican governor: CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win the Republican nomination for Kansas governor.    Updated 1m ago Michigan Republican governor primary: CBS News projects Tudor Dixon will win CBS News projects Tudor Dixon will win the Michigan Republican primary for governor   6:06 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan 3rd Congressional District Republican primary Peter Meijer and John Gibbs are on the ballot.    6:06 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan 11th Congressional District Democratic primary Andy Levin and Haley Stevens are on the ballot.    6:04 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 3rd Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Jaime Herrera Beutler, Davy Ray, Leslie French, Vicki Kraft, Heidi St. John, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Joe Kent, Chris Byrd, Oliver Black are on the ballot.    6:03 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 4th Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Dan Newhouse, Jacek Kobiesa, Benancio Garcia, Corey Gibson, Jerrold Sessler, Brad Klippert, Doug White and Loren Culp are on the ballot.

Watch Live: 2022 midterm primary results in Arizona, Missouri, Kansas, Michigan and Washington.

A general view of the historical Al-Ashrafia Mosque in Taiz, Yemen May 24, 2022. REUTERS/Anees Mahyoub/FilesRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comBEIRUT, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Yemen's warring parties have agreed to extend a U.N.-brokered truce for another two months in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people and spawned a major humanitarian crisis.How did the Yemen war begin, why does the truce matter and can it be turned into a broader peace process?HOW DID THE WAR BEGIN?Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe war began in late 2014 when the capital Sanaa was seized by the Houthis, an Iran-aligned movement belonging to the Zaydi sect of Shi'ite Islam with a power base in the north.Worried by the growing influence of Shi'ite Iran along its border, Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia intervened at the head of a Western-backed coalition in March 2015 in support of the Saudi-backed government.The Houthis established control over much of the north and other big population centres, while the internationally recognised government headquartered itself in Aden.HOW DID THE TRUCE COME ABOUT?The parties agreed to a two-month truce in April sponsored by the United Nations after intensified international efforts following an escalation of military operations in Yemen and Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.Yemen became a point of tension between Saudi Arabia and the United States under the administration of Joe Biden, who had halted U.S. support for offensive coalition operations.Riyadh was already seeking to exit a war that had been in military stalemate for years before the Houthis advanced in energy-rich Marib and in Shabwa, where they were repelled by UAE-backed Yemeni forces.The conflict is also seen as a bargaining chip for Iran, with which Saudi Arabia launched direct talks last year.The terms of the truce deal, rolled over in June, allowed some fuel shipments into Hodeidah port to ease severe shortages in Houthi-held areas and select commercial flights from Sanaa.Parallel talks were launched to reopen main roads in Taiz, which remains effectively under Houthi siege, but stalled.WHY A RENEWAL MATTERSThe U.N. special envoy has credited the truce with bringing the longest period of relative calm in over seven years and a significant decrease in civilian casualties.Humanitarian groups say the Sanaa flights have allowed over 8,000 Yemenis to access medical care and pursue education and business opportunities. Greater access to fuel has helped maintain public services and access to them.The truce has also increased humanitarian access in a country where more than 17 million people require food aid.The U.N. is seeking an extended and expanded truce to provide a platform for further trust-building, discussions on economic priorities such as revenues and salaries and on establishing a permanent ceasefire.The ultimate aim is to move toward a political settlement that comprehensively ends the conflict.WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS OF POLITICAL PROGRESS?Turning the truce into a political agreement is seen as a tall order due to deep mistrust and competing agendas among Yemen's myriad factions. Even within the anti-Houthi coalition there are several groups vying for power, including UAE-backed southern separatists who want to split from the north."Given that the parties to the conflict have sharply different ideas about what a peace process might look like, it will be very difficult to transition from truce to talks," said Peter Salisbury of Crisis Group.To build confidence, the United Nations would need to make progress on reopening roads in and around Taiz city and negotiating nationwide salary payments, he said.HOW BIG IS THE RISK OF MORE FIGHTING?Both sides have reported alleged truce violations and reinforcements to main front lines, the U.N. says.Amr al-Bidh of the separatist Southern Transitional Council, part of the anti-Houthi alliance, has said sides are warily preparing for fresh hostilities even with a truce extension. read more Yemen needs a political process that creates space for long-term multiparty dialogue, Salisbury said."But the more likely outcome is a big international push for a peace deal that addresses the Houthis’ and the Saudis’ needs, but leaves most other Yemeni groups marginalised and livid — a breeding ground for renewed conflict."Riyadh wants to focus on economic ambitions and improve ties with Washington. Sources have said the Biden administration is discussing possibly resuming U.S. sales of offensive weapons to Riyadh, but any final decision would hinge on securing a permanent ceasefire. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comWriting by Tom Perry; Editing by Ghaida Ghantous and Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Explainer: With Yemen truce renewed, what are the prospects of peace?.

Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens greets supporters as he head into his polling place to vote in Missouri's primary election Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, in Innsbrook, MO.Jeff Roberson | APEric Greitens, the scandal-tarred former Missouri governor who launched a comeback bid against the wishes of many Republicans, will lose the state's GOP Senate primary, NBC News projects.Eric Schmitt, currently the state's attorney general, is projected to proceed to the general election, where he will compete with a Democratic nominee for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Roy Blunt.The primary results mark a thudding defeat for Greitens, who fully embraced former President Donald Trump and fought against recent allegations of domestic abuse as he looked to claw his way back to the political fore.Greitens had announced his Senate bid nearly three years after resigning from the governor's office amid accusations that he blackmailed a hairdresser with whom he was having an affair. Greitens admitted to the tryst, but denied he had threatened to release nude photographs he took of her if she revealed the affair.He was charged with felony invasion of privacy related to the alleged blackmailing. Greitens was also charged with illegally using a charity donor list to help fund his 2016 gubernatorial campaign. Both charges were dropped around the time Greitens resigned in June 2018.Those and other scandals led mainstream Republicans to worry about a Greitens candidacy jeopardizing the party's hold on a Senate seat in a state that otherwise reliably votes Republicans into high office. Democrats are desperate to keep their razor-thin majority in the Senate, but their control of the chamber is threatened by a challenging political environment, exacerbated by President Joe Biden's unpopularity and recent economic turmoil.Greitens had aligned himself completely with Trump during his Senate campaign, including echoing Trump's false claims about widespread fraud tainting the 2020 presidential election. Kimberly Guilfoyle, the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr., joined Greitens' campaign as national co-chair.But the former president ultimately did not give Greitens a full-throated endorsement. Rather, he bizarrely endorsed "Eric" in the Missouri GOP Senate primary, where two of the top candidates are named Eric."I trust the Great People of Missouri, on this one, to make up their own minds," Trump said in a social media post on the eve of the primary.Both Greitens and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt touted Trump's announcement as though it were a personal endorsement.Polling averages from RealClearPolitics showed Greitens had a smaller lead over a top Democratic primary candidate than either of his two biggest competitors in the Republican primary.After Sheena Greitens filed court documents in March alleging Eric Greitens abused her and their young son while they were married, numerous top Republicans called on Greitens to drop out."If you hit a woman or a child, you belong in handcuffs, not the United States Senate," said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who had investigated Greitens when he was Missouri's attorney general.Blunt himself said that Greitens "should not be a candidate for the Senate" if Sheena Greitens' allegations are true.

Eric Schmitt beats former Gov. Eric Greitens in Missouri GOP Senate primary, NBC projects.

When Kaivalya Vohra wanted to drop out of Stanford University to run his startup, it took "a couple of long conversations" to convince his parents.But bringing them on board wasn't too difficult, he said."They saw how this business was growing in front of them, they saw how quickly we achieved what we achieved." It took just nine months for Vohra and his co-founder, Aadit Palicha, to bring Zepto — an app from India that promises to deliver groceries in less than 10 minutes — to a valuation of $900 million. Going in with the mindset that you're wrong and learning where to get right … that journey has been humbling.Aadit PalichaCo-founder and CEO, ZeptoHow did two teenagers build one of India's fastest-growing quick commerce apps? CNBC Make It finds out. 1. Talk to customers Finding a good product-market fit is important, said Vohra. His advice on how to do that?"Speak to customers. Just use that as a holy grail [to] ensure you're on the right track to finding product market fit.""One of the hardest things is actually getting to that point where you have a product that people love … It is much easier and much faster if you're constantly speaking to customers, getting feedback from them and learning from them," he added.In the early days of Zepto, the 19-year-olds handled customer support themselves and delivered groceries to consumers just so that they could have a quick chat with them. Zepto isn't the only quick commerce startup in India, and competition is heating up both domestically and globally. The country's online grocery market is set to be worth around $24 billion dollars by 2025, according to Redseer.Zepto"We still do it till this day … We've got millions of customers, with hundreds of thousands of orders every day. [We still] spend a significant amount of time just speaking to customers, learning from them," said Palicha. "Going in with the mindset that you're wrong and learning where to get right … that journey has been humbling." 2. Fall in love with your product Palicha and Vohra weren't always taken seriously — not just because of their age, but also because of the "craziness" of an under-10 minutes delivery idea."When we started this 12 months ago, every conversation we had was, 'You're totally out of your mind, this is never going to work,'" said Palicha. But their conviction in their product kept them going. "Kaivalya and I fell in love with the product so much that we just saw ourselves as custodians of what would probably end up being a large phenomenon in consumer internet in India," said Palicha. "If we don't build it, somebody else will. When you operate with that mentality, everything becomes less intimidating."Falling in love with the product and building that conviction really just pushes you to … see that product through.Aadit PalichaCo-founder and CEO, ZeptoThat's why the duo could take on "challenging conversations" with investors, senior executives, and even a government official, Palicha added. Despite being just one of many businesses to join the instant commerce wave, it has caught the attention of investors. Its latest cash injection of $200 million in May brought Zepto one step closer to unicorn status. "Falling in love with the product and building that conviction really just pushes you to … see that product through," said Palicha.3. Be accountable Palicha and Vohra have been friends since they were seven-year-olds — a major advantage as they turned from childhood pals to business partners. "Kaivalya and I really complement each other's skill set. He has always been more technically sound than I am, so he's made a great chief technology officer," said Palicha. "12 months ago, when we were building the first iteration of the product, I don't think we'd been able to get it off the ground [without him]." Kaivalya Vohra (left) and Aadit Palicha are the teenagers behind Zepto, a startup from India that promises to deliver groceries in less than 10 minutes.Zepto

How two teens built an app worth $900 million — Zepto’s founders share three tips.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt speaks during a news conference after the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in President Joe Biden's bid to rescind a Trump-era immigration policy that forced migrants to stay in Mexico to await U.S. hearings on their asylum claims, in Washington, U.S., April 26, 2022. REUTERS/Elizabeth FrantzRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAug 2 (Reuters) - State Attorney General Eric Schmitt has won the Republican nomination for Missouri's U.S. Senate race, Edison Research projected on Tuesday.He beat out Eric Greitens, a former governor who resigned in disgrace in 2018, and Representative Vicky Hartzler, who was endorsed by U.S. Senator Josh Hawley. He will face a Democratic candidate in the Nov. 8 midterm election.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Moira Warburton in Washington Editing by Alistair BellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

State AG Schmitt wins Republican nomination for Missouri's U.S. Senate seat.

Workers construct the Mountain Valley Pipeline near Elliston, Virginia, U.S. September 30, 2019. Picture taken September 30, 2019. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAug 2 (Reuters) - A deal among U.S. Senate Democrats that would provide faster approvals for fossil fuel projects in exchange for party-line support for a spending bill focused on tackling climate change drew harsh criticism from environmental groups on Tuesday.U.S President Joe Biden and Senate Democratic leaders have agreed to measures speeding fossil fuel permitting, including for the controversial Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline in Appalachia, to secure West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin's backing for a $430 billion spending bill, according to Manchin's office and a summary of the agreement seen by Reuters.The bill would increase corporate taxes and be the biggest ever U.S. government investment in combating global warming.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comFollowing the news, which was first reported late on Monday, energy company Equitrans Midstream Corp said it would complete the natural gas pipeline from West Virginia to Virginia in the second half of 2023. read more The side deal would also deliver a range of permitting reforms for large infrastructure projects, according to the one-page summary. Those reforms include limiting the length of environmental reviews, centralizing the power to approve projects to just one government agency, identifying priority energy projects to be fast-tracked, and reining in the length of court challenges.The White House did not respond to requests for comment."The price to be paid for Manchin's vote looks more and more like an oil and gas wish list," Jean Su, energy justice program director for the Center for Biological Diversity, said in an emailed statement. "This backroom deal threatens communities and the environment, while shunting aside state and tribal input."Senate Republicans expressed skepticism about the agreement, demanding to see more details."With no legislative text, Dems can walk away from the table once they get their partisan bill passed," Senator Shelley Moore Capito said in a tweet.An oil and gas industry source, who did not want to comment publicly without seeing formal legislative language, said the sector applauded efforts to streamline permitting."It's very important that Senator Manchin, as part of the agreement, introduce the legislation and urge Congress to take it up," the source said. "Congress needs to act on it."Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Nichola Groom Editing by Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Fossil fuel side deal for U.S. climate bill slammed by green groups.

get the free app Updated on: August 2, 2022 / 9:49 PM / CBS News CBS News Live CBS News Live Live Voters in five states are going to the polls on Tuesday in some of the states that were battlegrounds in 2020 — and will be again in 2024. And abortion faces its first test at the ballot box since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, as Kansas voters decide whether abortion should be constitutionally protected.With former President Donald Trump's influence looming large in some of Tuesday's primaries, a CBS News poll released Tuesday showed that for Republicans, a Trump endorsement is a plus for that candidate, and even more so among Republicans who say they "always" vote in Republican primaries, most of whom identify as MAGA Republicans. ArizonaIn Arizona, former President Donald Trump has rallied for his allies in the Senate, governor and secretary of state races. Arizona was one of the key battleground states that went for President Joe Biden in 2020. After the election, some Republicans in the state tried to overturn the results, with a plan to send a slate of phony alternate electors who supported Trump to Congress for the Electoral College certification, rather than the electors won by President Biden. In the Republican primary to take on Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly in November, Trump has backed Blake Masters, who has a comfortable lead according to two polls ahead of the primary. For governor, former TV news anchor Kari Lake and lawyer Karrin Taylor Robson are in a tight contest for the GOP nomination that repeats a dynamic between Trump and former Vice President MIke Pence. Trump has backed Lake, while Pence, along with term-limited sitting Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, have backed Taylor Robson. Last month, Trump and Pence held dueling rallies for Lake and Robson on the same day.  A where to vote sign points voters in the direction of the polling station as the sun beats down as Arizona voters go the polls to cast their ballots, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, in Phoenix. Ross D. Franklin / AP Trump has also backed a challenger to state House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who testified in June at a House Jan. 6 committee public hearing. Bowers is term-limited out of that position but is running for state Senate. Days before the primary, the Arizona GOP voted to formally censure him for his testimony, a culmination of the frustrations many far-right members have with Bowers' past refusal to support Trump-backed attempts to overturn the 2020 election. This year, Bowers helped block a bill, introduced by Secretary of State candidate and current state Rep. Shawnna Bolick, to empower the legislature to choose its own electors, regardless of how the people voted. For his actions, the former president lashed out against him, calling the Speaker a "RINO coward," and endorsed his opponent, former state Sen. David Farnsworth.MissouriTrump issued a last-minute semi-endorsement in the Republican primary for the open Senate seat in Missouri. On Monday night, he threw his support behind "ERIC." There are two leading candidates in the race named Eric, Eric Schmitt and Eric Greitens. Both claimed they have Trump's endorsement. In Missouri's 1st Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Cori Bush, who unseated a longtime incumbent in 2020, is facing several challengers. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch endorsed both Bush and opponent Steve Roberts, writing that "too many deeply personal issues are likely to dominate voters' decisions in ways that wouldn't necessarily be swayed by an editorial endorsement."Meanwhile, three of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump are facing Trump-backed primary challengers. Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social to urge Republican voters to "knock out impeachment slime." MichiganIn Michigan, Rep. Peter Meijer, a freshman Republican in a swing district centered around Grand Rapids, Mich., is in a tough race against John Gibbs, a former Trump-era Housing and Urban Development official.WashingtonAnd in Washington, the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler in the 3rd District and Dan Newhouse in the 4th District both face the risk of being shut out because of Trump-backed challengers. KansasFor the first time since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, a state is voting on whether the right to an abortion may be constitutionally protected. In 2019, Kansas' state Supreme Court ruled that abortion is protected in the state constitution's bill of rights. Voters are deciding whether to allow the constitution to be amended in order to ban abortion rights.In other words, a "yes" vote for the amendment would enable an abortion ban to be passed.A "no" vote on the amendment means abortion rights would be preserved.     6:15 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Arizona Republican primary Justin Olson, Mick McGuire, Mark Brnovich, Jim Lamon and Blake Masters are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona governor Republican primary Matt Salmon, Scott Neeley, Paola Tulliani-Zen, Karrin Taylor Robson and Kari Lake are on the ballot.    6:24 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona state Senate Republican primary Rusty Bowers and David Farnsworth are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Republican primary Shawnna Bollock, Michelle Ugenti-Rita, Beau Lane and Mark Finchem are on the ballot.   6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Democratic primary Adrian Fontes and Reginald Bolding are on the ballot.    6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona 2nd Congressional District Republican primary Ron Watkins, Steven Krystofiak, Andy Yates, John Moore, Mark DeLuzio, Eli Crane and Walt Blackman are on the ballot.    6:11 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Missouri Republican primary Dave Sims, Kevin Schepers, Deshon Porter, Robert Olson, Eric McElroy, Darrett McClanahan, Patrick Lewis, Rickey Joiner, Dennis Lee Chilton, Russel Breyfogle, Robert Allen, C.W. Gardner, Mark McCloskey, Dave Schatz, Billy Long, Vicky Hatzler, Eric Greitens and Eric Schmitt are on the ballot.    6:11 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Missouri Democratic primary Dave Sims, Kevin Schepers, Deshon Porter, Robert Olson, Eric McElroy, Darrett McClanahan, Patrick Lewis, Rickey Joiner, Dennis Lee Chilton, Russel Breyfogle, Robert Allen, C.W. Gardner, Mark McCloskey, Dave Schatz, Billy Long, Vicky Hatzler, Eric Greitens and Eric Schmitt are on the ballot.    6:09 PM / August 2, 2022 Missouri 1st Congressional District Democratic primary Cori Bush, Michael Daniels, Earl Childress, Ron Harshaw and Steve Roberts on the ballot.   6:08 PM / August 2, 2022 Kansas constitutional amendment on abortion Yes: An amendment will be added to the state's constitution that will allow abortion to be restricted or banned. No: The state constitution will remain as is, reaffirming the right to an abortion.   Updated 9:03 PM Kansas Republican governor: CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win the Republican nomination for Kansas governor.    Updated 19m ago Michigan Republican governor primary: CBS News projects Tudor Dixon will win CBS News projects Tudor Dixon will win the Michigan Republican primary for governor   6:06 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan 3rd Congressional District Republican primary Peter Meijer and John Gibbs are on the ballot.    6:06 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan 11th Congressional District Democratic primary Andy Levin and Haley Stevens are on the ballot.    6:04 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 3rd Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Jaime Herrera Beutler, Davy Ray, Leslie French, Vicki Kraft, Heidi St. John, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Joe Kent, Chris Byrd, Oliver Black are on the ballot.    6:03 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 4th Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Dan Newhouse, Jacek Kobiesa, Benancio Garcia, Corey Gibson, Jerrold Sessler, Brad Klippert, Doug White and Loren Culp are on the ballot.

Watch Live: 2022 midterm primary results in Arizona, Missouri, Kansas, Michigan and Washington.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits the parliament in Taipei, Taiwan August 3, 2022. REUTERS/Ann WangRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comTAIPEI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi told the Taiwanese parliament on Wednesday the U.S. chip bill would offer a good opportunity for U.S.-Taiwan cooperation in the chip industry.Pelosi also said she wants to increase parliamentary exchanges with Taiwan.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Yi-Mou Lee; Writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by Tom HogueOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Pelosi says U.S. chip bill offers opportunity for U.S.-Taiwan cooperation.

get the free app Updated on: August 2, 2022 / 10:14 PM / CBS News Primaries test Trump's hold on Republican Party Primaries test Trump's hold on Republican Party 02:15 Voters in five states are going to the polls on Tuesday in some of the states that were battlegrounds in 2020 — and will be again in 2024. And abortion faces its first test at the ballot box since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, as Kansas voters decide whether abortion should be constitutionally protected.With former President Donald Trump's influence looming large in some of Tuesday's primaries, a CBS News poll released Tuesday showed that for Republicans, a Trump endorsement is a plus for that candidate, and even more so among Republicans who say they "always" vote in Republican primaries, most of whom identify as MAGA Republicans. ArizonaIn Arizona, former President Donald Trump has rallied for his allies in the Senate, governor and secretary of state races. Arizona was one of the key battleground states that went for President Joe Biden in 2020. After the election, some Republicans in the state tried to overturn the results, with a plan to send a slate of phony alternate electors who supported Trump to Congress for the Electoral College certification, rather than the electors won by President Biden. In the Republican primary to take on Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly in November, Trump has backed Blake Masters, who has a comfortable lead according to two polls ahead of the primary. For governor, former TV news anchor Kari Lake and lawyer Karrin Taylor Robson are in a tight contest for the GOP nomination that repeats a dynamic between Trump and former Vice President MIke Pence. Trump has backed Lake, while Pence, along with term-limited sitting Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, have backed Taylor Robson. Last month, Trump and Pence held dueling rallies for Lake and Robson on the same day.  A where to vote sign points voters in the direction of the polling station as the sun beats down as Arizona voters go the polls to cast their ballots, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, in Phoenix. Ross D. Franklin / AP Trump has also backed a challenger to state House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who testified in June at a House Jan. 6 committee public hearing. Bowers is term-limited out of that position but is running for state Senate. Days before the primary, the Arizona GOP voted to formally censure him for his testimony, a culmination of the frustrations many far-right members have with Bowers' past refusal to support Trump-backed attempts to overturn the 2020 election. This year, Bowers helped block a bill, introduced by Secretary of State candidate and current state Rep. Shawnna Bolick, to empower the legislature to choose its own electors, regardless of how the people voted. For his actions, the former president lashed out against him, calling the Speaker a "RINO coward," and endorsed his opponent, former state Sen. David Farnsworth.MissouriTrump issued a last-minute semi-endorsement in the Republican primary for the open Senate seat in Missouri. On Monday night, he threw his support behind "ERIC." There are two leading candidates in the race named Eric, Eric Schmitt and Eric Greitens. Both claimed they have Trump's endorsement. In Missouri's 1st Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Cori Bush, who unseated a longtime incumbent in 2020, is facing several challengers. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch endorsed both Bush and opponent Steve Roberts, writing that "too many deeply personal issues are likely to dominate voters' decisions in ways that wouldn't necessarily be swayed by an editorial endorsement."Meanwhile, three of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump are facing Trump-backed primary challengers. Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social to urge Republican voters to "knock out impeachment slime." MichiganIn Michigan, Rep. Peter Meijer, a freshman Republican in a swing district centered around Grand Rapids, Mich., is in a tough race against John Gibbs, a former Trump-era Housing and Urban Development official.In the race to take on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, CBS News projects Tudor Dixon will win the Republican nomination. Dixon, backed by Trump, had been seen by Republican strategists as the strongest candidate to take on Whitmer. Among the Republicans Dixon defeated was Ryan Kelley, who was arrested in June related to his participation in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. WashingtonAnd in Washington, the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler in the 3rd District and Dan Newhouse in the 4th District both face the risk of being shut out because of Trump-backed challengers. KansasFor the first time since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, a state is voting on whether the right to an abortion may be constitutionally protected. In 2019, Kansas' state Supreme Court ruled that abortion is protected in the state constitution's bill of rights. Voters are deciding whether to allow the constitution to be amended in order to ban abortion rights.In other words, a "yes" vote for the amendment would enable an abortion ban to be passed.A "no" vote on the amendment means abortion rights would be preserved.     6:15 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Arizona Republican primary Justin Olson, Mick McGuire, Mark Brnovich, Jim Lamon and Blake Masters are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona governor Republican primary Matt Salmon, Scott Neeley, Paola Tulliani-Zen, Karrin Taylor Robson and Kari Lake are on the ballot.    6:24 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona state Senate Republican primary Rusty Bowers and David Farnsworth are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Republican primary Shawnna Bollock, Michelle Ugenti-Rita, Beau Lane and Mark Finchem are on the ballot.   6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Democratic primary Adrian Fontes and Reginald Bolding are on the ballot.    6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona 2nd Congressional District Republican primary Ron Watkins, Steven Krystofiak, Andy Yates, John Moore, Mark DeLuzio, Eli Crane and Walt Blackman are on the ballot.    Updated 8m ago U.S. Senate Missouri Republican primary: CBS News projects Eric Schmitt wins CBS News projects Eric Schmitt will win the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Missouri.   6:11 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Missouri Democratic primary Dave Sims, Kevin Schepers, Deshon Porter, Robert Olson, Eric McElroy, Darrett McClanahan, Patrick Lewis, Rickey Joiner, Dennis Lee Chilton, Russel Breyfogle, Robert Allen, C.W. Gardner, Mark McCloskey, Dave Schatz, Billy Long, Vicky Hatzler, Eric Greitens and Eric Schmitt are on the ballot.    6:09 PM / August 2, 2022 Missouri 1st Congressional District Democratic primary Cori Bush, Michael Daniels, Earl Childress, Ron Harshaw and Steve Roberts on the ballot.   6:08 PM / August 2, 2022 Kansas constitutional amendment on abortion Yes: An amendment will be added to the state's constitution that will allow abortion to be restricted or banned. No: The state constitution will remain as is, reaffirming the right to an abortion.   Updated 9:03 PM Kansas Republican governor: CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win the Republican nomination for Kansas governor.    Updated 27m ago Michigan Republican governor primary: CBS News projects Tudor Dixon will win CBS News projects Tudor Dixon will win the Michigan Republican primary for governor   6:06 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan 3rd Congressional District Republican primary Peter Meijer and John Gibbs are on the ballot.    6:06 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan 11th Congressional District Democratic primary Andy Levin and Haley Stevens are on the ballot.    6:04 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 3rd Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Jaime Herrera Beutler, Davy Ray, Leslie French, Vicki Kraft, Heidi St. John, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Joe Kent, Chris Byrd, Oliver Black are on the ballot.    6:03 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 4th Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Dan Newhouse, Jacek Kobiesa, Benancio Garcia, Corey Gibson, Jerrold Sessler, Brad Klippert, Doug White and Loren Culp are on the ballot.

Live Updates: 2022 midterm primary results in Arizona, Missouri, Kansas, Michigan and Washington.

Politics August 2, 2022 / 9:17 PM / CBS News GOP's chances of gaining House control CBS News Battleground Tracker: GOP poised to take control of House in November 06:03 New York Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney said Tuesday that she doesn't "believe" that President Joe Biden is going to run for re-election in 2024. "I don't believe he's running for re-election," she said when asked if Mr. Biden should run again in 2024.She made the comments during a congressional primary debate in New York's 12th District. One of her opponents and a longtime colleague, Rep. Jerry Nadler, said it was "too early to say" if Mr. Biden should run again. Suraj Patel, who is challenging Maloney for the third time in a row, said he does believe Mr. Biden should run again.  Maloney's answer comes at a time where multiple congressional Democrats are being more open with their doubts about whether the 79-year-old president should run for reelection in 2024.  Rep. Carolyn Maloney speaks during New York's 12th Congressional District Democratic primary debate hosted by Spectrum News NY1 and WNYC at the CUNY Graduate Center, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, in New York. Mary Altaffer / AP The president and his aides consistently say he intends to run in 2024. On Tuesday, when asked if she'd support Mr. Biden if he runs in 2024, Democratic Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota's 2nd District told the MinnPost, "I would say we need new leaders in Washington up and down the ballot in the Democratic Party."She lined up with Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota's 3rd District, who said last Thursday during a radio interview that he doesn't think Mr. Biden should run. "I think the country would be well-served by a new generation of compelling, well-prepared, dynamic Democrats who step up," Phillips said on WCCO-AM. "I think it's time for a generational change… and I think most of my colleagues agree with that.""I think Dean Phillips and I are in lockstep and alignment with that and I'm going to do everything in my power as a member of Congress to make sure that we have a new generation of leadership," Craig told the MinnPost.  A CBS News poll released July 31 had Biden at a 58% disapproval level. Multiple polls released in July show that at this moment, a majority of Democrats don't want him to run again. The New York Times' survey from July 11 showed 64% of Democratic voters want someone else to run for the nomination. In a CNN poll from July 27, 75% said they want another candidate besides Mr. Biden to run.  Aaron Navarro Aaron Navarro is an associate producer for the political unit at CBS News, focusing on House and gubernatorial campaigns as well as the census and redistricting. Twitter Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue

Maloney said she doesn't "believe" Biden is going to run for reelection.

U.S. Dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comTOKYO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar remained elevated on Wednesday following its biggest surge in three weeks against major peers overnight, with Federal Reserve officials talking up the potential for further, aggressive interest rate hikes.The greenback continued its rise versus the safe-haven yen, extending its best gain for six weeks, as U.S. Treasury yields also rebounded after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's arrival in Taiwan was met with a strong, but not off-the-scale response by China.New Zealand's dollar dropped following a surprise rise in the unemployment rate. Australia's currency also tumbled.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe U.S. dollar index , which gauges the currency against six major peers including the yen, was 0.05% higher at 106.50, after rebounding 1% overnight following its slide to a nearly one-month low at 105.03.The dollar rose 0.51% to 133.84 yen , after jumping 1.2% on Tuesday. Earlier in the day it had sunk to a nearly two-month low of 130.40.Benchmark long-term Treasury yields , which the dollar-yen pair tends to track closely, were around 2.75% in Tokyo, holding close to overnight highs following a 14 basis point surge.On Tuesday, San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly and Chicago Fed President Charles Evans signalled that they and their colleagues remain resolute and "completely united" over getting rates up to a level that will more significantly curb economic activity. read more The comments by "the normally very dovish Daly" and "the equally very dovish Evans" helped yields and the dollar higher, and the dollar index could top 108 "in the next few weeks," according to Kristina Clifton, a strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, writing in a note to clients.Traders now see a chance of about 44% that the Fed will hike by another 75 basis points at its next meeting in September.Pelosi's safe arrival in Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province, prompted anger in Beijing, with warplanes buzzing the Taiwan Strait and the announcement of live-fire military drills. read more "In the lead up to the event there was some geopolitical risk premium being priced," Tapas Strickland, an analyst at National Australia Bank, wrote in a note. But ultimately "with China making a strong, but importantly not an 'unhinged' response," that risk premium was removed, lifting yields and the dollar-yen pair, Strickland wrote.The euro slipped 0.1% to $1.01555, while sterling lost 0.12% to $1.2144.The Australian dollar sank 0.44% to $0.689, extending a 1.52% slide from Tuesday, when the nation's Reserve Bank hiked the key rate by another half point, as expected, but opened the door to slowing the pace of tightening. read more New Zealand's dollar dropped 0.58% to $0.62185 after a surprise rise in the unemployment rate to 3.3% in the second quarter, when economists had predicted it would ease to 3.1%. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Kevin Buckland; Editing by Kenneth MaxwellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Dollar climbs with U.S. yields after Fed doves say expect more rate hikes.

U.S. Updated on: August 2, 2022 / 7:23 PM / CBS/AP Fighting back tears and finally given the chance to confront conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, the parents of a 6-year-old killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting described being put through a "living hell" of death threats, harassment and ongoing trauma over the last decade caused by Jones using his media platforms to push claims that it was all a hoax.The parents led a day of charged testimony that included the judge scolding the bombastic Jones for not being truthful with some of what he said under oath.Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, whose son Jesse was killed at Sandy Hook, took the witness stand Tuesday on the final day of testimony in the two-week defamation damages trial against Jones and his media company Free Speech Systems. They are seeking at least $150 million in damages. In a gripping exchange, Lewis spoke directly to Jones, who was sitting about 10 feet away. Earlier that day, Jones was on his broadcast program telling his audience that Heslin is "slow" and being manipulated by bad people."I am a mother first and foremost and I know you are a father. My son existed," Lewis said to Jones. "I am not deep state... I know you know that... And yet you're going to leave this courthouse and say it again on your show." Alex Jones walks into the courtroom in front of Scarlett Lewis and Neil Heslin, the parents of 6-year-old Sand Hook shooting victim Jesse Lewis, at the Travis County Courthouse in Austin, Texas, July 28, 2022.  BRIANA SANCHEZ/POOL At one point, Lewis asked Jones: "Do you think I'm an actor?" "No, I don't think you're an actor," Jones responded before the judge admonished him to be quiet until called to testify.Lewis continued trying to impress on Jones that the Sandy Hook shooting and trauma inflicted in the decade since then was real."It seems so incredible to me that we have to do this — that we have to implore you, to punish you — to get you to stop lying," Lewis said. "I am so glad this day is here. I'm actually relieved. And grateful... that I got to say all this to you."Jones visibly shook his head several times while Scarlett Lewis was addressing him. Heslin and Lewis are among several Sandy Hook families who have filed several lawsuits alleging that Sandy Hook hoax claims pushed by Jones have led to years of abuse by Jones and his followers.Heslin and Lewis both said they fear for their lives and have been confronted by strangers at home and on the street. Heslin said his home and car have been shot at. The jury heard a death threat sent via telephone message to another Sandy Hook family."I can't even describe the last nine and a half years, the living hell that I and others have had to endure because of the recklessness and negligence of Alex Jones," Heslin said.Scarlett Lewis also described threatening emails that seemed to have uncovered deep details of her personal life."It's fear for your life," Scarlett Lewis said. "You don't know what they were going to do."Heslin said he didn't know if the Sandy Hook hoax conspiracy theory originated with Jones, but it was Jones who "lit the match and started the fire" with an online platform and broadcast that reached millions worldwide."What was said about me and Sandy Hook itself resonates around the world," Heslin said. "As time went on, I truly realized how dangerous it was." Jones skipped Heslin's morning testimony while he was on his show — a move Heslin dismissed as "cowardly" — but arrived in the courtroom for part of Scarlett Lewis' testimony. He was accompanied by several private security guards."Today is very important to me and it's been a long time coming... to face Alex Jones for what he said and did to me. To restore the honor and legacy of my son," Heslin said when Jones wasn't there.Heslin told the jury about holding his son with a bullet hole through his head, even describing the extent of the damage to his son's body. A key segment of the case is a 2017 Infowars broadcast that said Heslin didn't hold his son.The jury was shown a school picture of a smiling Jesse taken two weeks before he was killed. The parents didn't receive the photo until after the shooting. They described how Jesse was known for telling classmates to "run!" which likely saved lives.An apology from Jones wouldn't be good enough, the parents said."Alex started this fight," Heslin said, "and I'll finish this fight."In 2017, Heslin went on television, he told CBS News, to directly address the Sandy Hook deniers. "I lost my son. I buried my son. I held my son with a bullet hole through his head," he said. After which, the harassment only got worse, Heslin said."I've had many death threats," Heslin told CBS News in 2018. "People say, 'You should be the ones with a bullet hole in your head.'"Jones later took the stand himself, initially being combative with the judge who had asked him to answer his own attorney's question. Jones testified he had long wanted to apologize to the plaintiffs. "I never intentionally tried to hurt you. I never said your name until this came to court," Jones said. "The internet had questions, I had questions." Later, the judge sent the jury out of the room and strongly scolded Jones for telling the jury he complied with pretrial evidence gathering even though he didn't, and that he is bankrupt, which has not been determined. Plaintiff's attorneys were furious about Jones mentioning he is bankrupt, which they worry will taint a jury decision about damages. "This is not your show," Judge Maya Guerra Gamble told Jones. "Your beliefs do not make something true. You are under oath." Last September, Guerra admonished Jones in her default judgement over his failure to turn over documents requested by the Sandy Hook families. A court in Connecticut issued a similar default judgement against Jones for the same reasons in a separate lawsuit brought by other Sandy Hook parents. Heslin and Lewis suffer from a form of post-traumatic stress disorder that comes from constant trauma, similar to that endured by soldiers in war zones or child abuse victims, a forensic psychologist who studied their cases and met with them testified Monday.Jones has portrayed the lawsuit against him as an attack on his First Amendment rights.At stake in the trial is how much Jones will pay. The parents have asked the jury to award $150 million in compensation for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The jury will then consider whether Jones and his company will pay punitive damages.The trial is just one of several Jones faces.Courts in Texas and Connecticut have already found Jones liable for defamation for his portrayal of the Sandy Hook massacre as a hoax involving actors aimed at increasing gun control. In both states, judges issued default judgements against Jones without trials because he failed to respond to court orders and turn over documents.Jones has already tried to protect Free Speech Systems financially. The company filed for federal bankruptcy protection last week. Sandy Hook families have separately sued Jones over his financial claims, arguing that the company is trying to protect millions owned by Jones and his family through shell entities. A look back: Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting 62 photos In: alex jones Sandy Hook

Father of 6-year-old killed in Sandy Hook shooting testifies Alex Jones made his life a "living hell".

Sticker reads crude oil on the side of a storage tank in the Permian Basin in Mentone, Loving County, Texas, U.S. November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Angus MordantRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comMELBOURNE, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell about 1% in early trade on Wednesday, reversing gains from the previous session ahead of a meeting OPEC+ producers on fears of a slowdown in global growth hitting fuel demand and a firmer dollar.Brent crude futures fell 94 cents, or 0.9%, to $99.60 a barrel at 0020 GMT, wiping out the previous session's gain.West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 68 cents, or 0.7%, at $93.74 a barrel, after climbing 53 cents on Tuesday.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, together known as OPEC+, meet on Wednesday. OPEC+ sources told Reuters last week that the group will likely keep output unchanged in September, or raise it slightly.Analysts are expecting no change due to a weak outlook for demand as recession fears grow, and said top producer Saudi Arabia may be reluctant to beef up output at the expense of OPEC+ partner Russia, hit by sanctions due to the Ukraine conflict.Ahead of the meeting, OPEC+ trimmed its forecast for an oil market surplus this year by 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 800,000 bpd, three delegates told Reuters. read more "The likelihood they announce an increase in output remains low amid the uncertain economic backdrop and signs of weakness in demand," ANZ Research analysts said in a note.Several factors are weighing on the demand outlook, including rising fears of an economic slump in the United States and Europe, debt distress in emerging market economies, and China's COVID-zero policy curbing activity in the world's top oil importer, Commonwealth Bank analyst Vivek Dhar said."We see growing downside risks to our oil price forecast of $US100/bbl in Q4 2022 as global demand concerns continue to grow," Dhar said in a note.A stronger dollar, bolstered by comments from U.S. Federal Reserve officials hinting at more interest rate hikes to cool inflation, also weighed on oil prices as a firmer greenback makes oil more expensive for holders of other currencies.Adding to the bearish view on demand, data from the American Petroleum Institute, an industry group, showed U.S. crude stocks rose by about 2.2 million barrels for the week ended July 29, against analysts' expectations for a decline of around 600,000 barrels.Gasoline inventories fell by 200,000 barrels, which was a smaller drawdown than analysts had expected, however distillate stocks fell by about 350,000 barrels against analysts' forecasts for a build.The market will be looking to see if official data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) at 1430 GMT confirms the inventory view.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Sonali Paul in Melbourne; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Oil falls on demand worries, stronger U.S. dollar.

Commonwealth Games - Athletics - Men's 10,000m - Final - Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, Britain - August 2, 2022 Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo celebrates as he crosses the line to win gold REUTERS/Phil NobleRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comBIRMINGHAM, England, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Jacob Kiplimo used a devastating late kick to win the Commonwealth Games men's 10,000 metres gold on Tuesday, stepping up in the absence of world champion Joshua Cheptegei to maintain Uganda's domination of the event.Opening night at Alexander Stadium was meant to be highlighted by Cheptegei defending his Commonwealth crown but the Ugandan world record holder opted out to better prepare for the remaining Diamond League races.That left Kiplimo, the Olympic and world bronze medallist, alone to face the three man Kenyan threat of Kibiwott Kandie, Daniel Ebenyo and Edward Zakayo Pingua.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe Kenyans controlled the pace through much of the race until Kiplimo and Ebenyo broke free of the pack to reduce the battle for gold to a two-man fight with two laps to run.Shoulder-to-shoulder entering the final bend, Kiplimo found another gear rocketing away down the last 100 metres, hands raised with enough energy to dance in delight as he crossed the line in a Games record time of 27 minutes, 9.19 seconds."I think for me winning this Commonwealth Games title was everything, the most important thing for me this season," said Kiplimo. "But I still have a lot of things to do in the future at the Olympics and world championships."Kenyans occupied the other two spots on the podium with Ebenyo securing silver and Kandie bronze.With Kiplimo's superb victory Uganda have now won the men's 10,000m at every Commonwealth Games since 2006.It was also a big night for Nigeria, with gold and bronze in the women's discus.Chioma Onyekwere took the top step on the podium with a throw of 61.70m ahead of England's Jade Lally and team mate Obiageri Amaechi.After taking world championship pole vault bronze in Eugene, Australia's Nina Kennedy upgraded to gold in Birmingham with a winning height of 4.60m."I was mentally quite flat after the world championships. I am so proud of myself because it was so hard to come here," said Kennedy.Molly Caudery grabbed silver for England and New Zealand's Imogen Ayris took the bronze.England's hopes for a podium in the pole vault appeared to dim just prior to the start of the competition when Holly Bradshaw, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist, withdrew saying she had not recovered from a hamstring tear that kept her out of the world championships.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Steve Keating in Birmingham. Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Kiplimo kick extends Uganda domination of Commonwealth Games 10,000m.

The logo of Brazil's state-run Petrobras oil company is seen on a tank in at Petrobras Paulinia refinery in Paulinia, Brazil July 1, 2017. REUTERS/Paulo WhitakerRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAug 2 (Reuters) - Brazil's state-controlled oil company Petrobras (PETR4.SA) will distribute at least twice as much as the biggest international oil producers in second quarter dividends, boosting the government's coffers amid a tense presidential campaign.The five biggest Western oil producers - Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N), Chevron Corp. (CVX.N), Shell PLC (SHEL.L), TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA) and BP (BP.L) - posted record cash distributions to shareholders in recent days of between $4 billion and $7.6 billion. But none came close to Petrobras's $17 billion payout.Brazil's government, which controls the producer with a majority of its voting shares, last month asked Petrobras and other state-controlled companies to increase dividends to finance extra federal spending.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe cry for help came as the government of President Jair Bolsonaro, which later this year faces a tough reelection battle, last month bypassed a constitutional spending cap to finance a massive cash transfer program popular among low-income voters. read more Petrobras will distribute about 60% more to shareholders than its $10.5 billion (54.33 billion reais) profit. Critics said the huge payout will lead to underinvestment in the business. read more Petrobras' dividends were less than at Saudi Arabia's state-controlled Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil company, which produces 13 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed), almost five times more than Petrobras.Aramco has been distributing $18.76 billion to shareholders per quarter. Its next dividend will be disclosed on Aug. 14.U.S. producer Exxon, which posted the highest quarterly profit of the five majors, spent $7.6 billion on shareholder distributions. read more Bolsonaro is trying to boost his re-election chances by ramming through short-term spending measures, critics say. Polls show he is lagging leftist former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. read more Dividend payments will be made by Petrobras before the first round of voting, scheduled for Oct. 2. read more Petrobras said higher oil prices and assets sales allowed for the extra payment, and did not compromise planned investments. The company is in a comfortable cash situation and is able to retain between $8-10 billion in cash this year, it said. Petrobras reaffirmed its commitment to distribute at least 60% of its free cash flow to investors."The extraordinary dividend payment proved to be the best allocation of the company's cash," Petrobras said in a statement.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Sabrina Valle Editing by Nick Zieminski and Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Brazil's Petrobras leapfrogs oil majors in dividend payouts.

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAug 2 (Reuters) - Kansas voters on Tuesday rejected a state constitutional amendment that would have declared there is no right to abortion, Edison Research projected, delivering a win to abortion rights advocates in a deeply conservative state.The vote was the first statewide referendum on abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision in June. The ballot question drew national attention as an early indicator of whether abortion rights will motivate voters in November's midterm elections.The amendment's failure will prevent Kansas' Republican-led legislature from passing severe abortion restrictions without violating the state constitution.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comYard signs in urge residents to vote on an amendment to Kansas' constitution that would assert there is no right to abortion, in Wichita, Kansas, U.S., July 10, 2022. REUTERS/Gabriella Borter/File PhotoIt will also preserve a key abortion access point in America's heartland. Patients travel to Kansas for abortions from Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and other states that have banned the procedure almost entirely since the Supreme Court overturned Roe, the 1973 case that legalized abortion nationwide.Kansas' Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that the state constitution protected abortion rights. As a result, Kansas has maintained more lenient policies than other conservative neighbors.The state allows abortion up to 22 weeks of pregnancy with several additional restrictions including a mandatory 24-hour waiting period and mandatory parental consent for minors.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Gabriella Borter in Washington; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Lisa Shumaker and Cynthia OstermanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Kansas votes to preserve abortion rights in first post-Roe election test.

Ukrainian servicemen fire with a BM21 Grad multiple launch rocket system in a frontline in Kharkiv region, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, Ukraine August 2, 2022. REUTERS/Sofiia GatilovaRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSummaryUkraine consults U.S. ahead of strikes, Skibitsky tells paperComment prompts Kremlin to accuse U.S. of direct involvementFirst wartime Ukraine grain ship reaches Bosphorus StraitISTANBUL/LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Russia has accused the United States of direct involvement in the Ukraine war, while the first ship carrying Ukrainian grain to world markets since Moscow's invasion is due to be inspected in Turkey on Wednesday.Russia's defence ministry, headed by an ally of President Vladimir Putin, said comments made by Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraine's deputy head of military intelligence, to Britain's Telegraph newspaper showed that Washington was entangled in the conflict despite assertions it was limiting its role to arms supplies.Skibitsky told the paper there was consultation between U.S. and Ukrainian intelligence officials before strikes and Washington had an effective veto on intended targets, but that U.S. officials were not providing direct targeting information.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com"All this undeniably proves that Washington, contrary to White House and Pentagon claims, is directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. read more "It is the Biden administration that is directly responsible for all Kyiv-approved rocket attacks on residential areas and civilian infrastructure in populated areas of Donbas and other regions, which have resulted in mass deaths of civilians."There was no immediate reaction from the White House or Pentagon to the ministry's assertions.The Pentagon did deny, however, Moscow's claims that Russia had destroyed six U.S.-made HIMARS missile systems since the start of the Ukraine war. Russia regularly claims it has hit HIMARS but has yet to show proof. read more Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of carrying out devastating missile attacks on civilian targets on an almost daily basis. Both sides deny deliberately targeting civilians.DONBAS: 'JUST HELL'Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday said that despite arms supplies from the West, his country's forces could not yet overcome Russian advantages in heavy guns and manpower."This is very much felt in combat, especially in the Donbas. ... It is just hell there. Words cannot describe it."Donbas, Ukraine's traditional industrial heartland in Ukraine's east, has seen some of the war's heaviest fighting.Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it calls a "special military operation". Kyiv and the West have condemned it as an unprovoked war of aggression.At a U.N. conference on Tuesday, Igor Vishnevetsky, deputy director of the department for non-proliferation and arms control of the Russian foreign ministry, refuted all allegations of "unprovoked aggression". He also added that Moscow was convinced a nuclear war "must never be fought".Russian diplomat Alexander Trofimov told the United Nations that Moscow would only use nuclear weapons in response to weapons of mass destruction or a conventional weapons attack that threatened the existence of the Russian state. read more "None of these two hypothetical scenarios is relevant to the situation in Ukraine," said Trofimov, a senior diplomat in the non-proliferation and arms control department of Russia's foreign ministry.SAFE PASSAGEMeanwhile, a July 22 U.N.-brokered deal to unblock Ukrainian grain exports had an initial success as the first loaded ship since Russia's invasion safely anchored off the Turkish coast.The vessel, the Sierra Leone-flagged Razoni was at the entrance of the Bosphorus Strait, which connects the Black Sea to world markets, around 1800 GMT on Tuesday, some 36 hours after leaving the Ukrainian port of Odesa. read more A delegation from the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul, where Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish and U.N. personnel work, is expected to inspect the ship at 0700 GMT on Wednesday, Turkey's Defence Ministry said.It was loaded with 26,527 tonnes of corn.U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York there were about 27 ships in the three Ukrainian ports covered by the export deal that were ready to go.The exports from one of the world's top grain producers are intended to help ease a global food crisis.Known as Europe's breadbasket, Ukraine hopes to export 20 million tonnes of grain held in silos and 40 million tonnes from the harvest now under way, initially from Odesa and nearby Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk.Russia has called the Razoni's departure "very positive" news. It has denied responsibility for the food crisis, saying Western sanctions have slowed its exports.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Michael Perry; Editing by Himani SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Russia accuses U.S. of direct Ukraine war role in missile attacks.

The PayPal app logo seen on a mobile phone in this illustration photo October 16, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas White/IllustrationRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAug 2 (Reuters) - PayPal Holdings (PYPL.O) on Tuesday said activist investor Elliott Management has an over $2 billion stake in the fintech company and the firm raised its annual profit guidance.PayPal shares shot up nearly 12% after it also announced a slew of moves including appointing Blake Jorgensen as new chief financial officer and a $15 billion repurchase program.The fintech company has "an unmatched and industry-leading footprint across its payments businesses," said Jesse Cohn, a managing partner at Elliott, a day after the investment firm disclosed a similar stake in Pinterest Inc (PINS.N). read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comPayPal, which was among companies that won big during the pandemic, saw shares wipe out over 70% of their market value in a year as e-commerce growth retreated from pandemic-era records."Considering the stock's meaningful underperformance over the last nine months, this may be enough to satisfy investors, who have lost some measure of faith in management credibility after so many downward revisions," said Jason Benowitz, senior portfolio manager at Roosevelt Investments.PayPal also expects to reduce headcount to cut back costs and said it estimates annual revenue to grow at 11% on an FXN-basis, its lower end of previous guidance of ~11% and 13%."PayPal let an activist investor inside the tent with an information sharing agreement. We expect the company to materially refresh its top management layer and make tough choices to improve profit margins," said Benowitz.The company also announced a slew of moves including appointing Blake Jorgensen as Paypal's new chief financial officer and a new $15 billion repurchase program. Blake, who takes over the role on Wednesday, joins PayPal from Electronic Arts (EA.O).The company reported a lower adjusted profit of 93 cents per share for the three months ended June 30, that comfortably beat estimates of 86 cents a share.It raised its adjusted profit expectations to between $3.87 and $3.97 per share for the year, up from its previous forecast of $3.81 and $3.93.(The story corrects spelling of Elliott in headline and paragraph 3. Also corrects investment firm's name to Roosevelt from Roose in paragraph 5)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Mehnaz Yasmin in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra EluriOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

PayPal shares jump on Elliott's $2 bln stake, annual profit guidance raise.

get the free app Updated on: August 2, 2022 / 10:57 PM / CBS News Primaries test Trump's hold on Republican Party Primaries test Trump's hold on Republican Party 02:15 Voters in five states are going to the polls on Tuesday in some of the states that were battlegrounds in 2020 — and will be again in 2024. And abortion faces its first test at the ballot box since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, as Kansas voters decide whether abortion should be constitutionally protected.With former President Donald Trump's influence looming large in some of Tuesday's primaries, a CBS News poll released Tuesday showed that for Republicans, a Trump endorsement is a plus for that candidate, and even more so among Republicans who say they "always" vote in Republican primaries, most of whom identify as MAGA Republicans. ArizonaIn Arizona, former President Donald Trump has rallied for his allies in the Senate, governor and secretary of state races. Arizona was one of the key battleground states that went for President Joe Biden in 2020. After the election, some Republicans in the state tried to overturn the results, with a plan to send a slate of phony alternate electors who supported Trump to Congress for the Electoral College certification, rather than the electors won by President Biden. In the Republican primary to take on Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly in November, Trump has backed Blake Masters, who has a comfortable lead according to two polls ahead of the primary. For governor, former TV news anchor Kari Lake and lawyer Karrin Taylor Robson are in a tight contest for the GOP nomination that repeats a dynamic between Trump and former Vice President MIke Pence. Trump has backed Lake, while Pence, along with term-limited sitting Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, have backed Taylor Robson. Last month, Trump and Pence held dueling rallies for Lake and Robson on the same day.  A where to vote sign points voters in the direction of the polling station as the sun beats down as Arizona voters go the polls to cast their ballots, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, in Phoenix. Ross D. Franklin / AP Trump has also backed a challenger to state House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who testified in June at a House Jan. 6 committee public hearing. Bowers is term-limited out of that position but is running for state Senate. Days before the primary, the Arizona GOP voted to formally censure him for his testimony, a culmination of the frustrations many far-right members have with Bowers' past refusal to support Trump-backed attempts to overturn the 2020 election. This year, Bowers helped block a bill, introduced by Secretary of State candidate and current state Rep. Shawnna Bolick, to empower the legislature to choose its own electors, regardless of how the people voted. For his actions, the former president lashed out against him, calling the Speaker a "RINO coward," and endorsed his opponent, former state Sen. David Farnsworth.MissouriCBS News projects that Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who has been leading the crowded field, wins the Republican nomination for the open Senate seat in Missouri. Eric Greitens, the former governor who resigned in 2018 and has faced allegations of domestic abuse, led early in the race, but an $11 million ad blitz by two anti-Greitens groups chipped it away.On the eve of the primary, Trump issued a kind of split endorsement in the race, throwing his support behind "ERIC." Both Eric Schmitt and Eric Greitens quickly claimed they'd won his backing.In Missouri's 1st Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Cori Bush, who unseated a longtime incumbent in 2020, is facing several challengers. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch endorsed both Bush and opponent Steve Roberts, writing that "too many deeply personal issues are likely to dominate voters' decisions in ways that wouldn't necessarily be swayed by an editorial endorsement."Meanwhile, three of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump are facing Trump-backed primary challengers. Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social to urge Republican voters to "knock out impeachment slime." MichiganIn Michigan, Rep. Peter Meijer, a freshman Republican in a swing district centered around Grand Rapids, Mich., is in a tough race against John Gibbs, a former Trump-era Housing and Urban Development official.In the race to take on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, CBS News projects Tudor Dixon will win the Republican nomination. Dixon, backed by Trump, had been seen by Republican strategists as the strongest candidate to take on Whitmer. Among the Republicans Dixon defeated was Ryan Kelley, who was arrested in June related to his participation in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. "Now we have the opportunity to truly hold Gretchen Whitmer accountable for the pain she has inflicted on every one of us in the past three years," Dixon said at her election night watch party in Grand Rapids, Mich., referring to the lockdowns of schools imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.WashingtonAnd in Washington, the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler in the 3rd District and Dan Newhouse in the 4th District both face the risk of being shut out because of Trump-backed challengers. KansasKansas voted to preserve abortion access, voting "no" on the ability to amend the state constitution, marking the first time a state has voted on abortion, since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.Kansas Democratic Party Chairwoman Vicki Hiatt celebrated the win for abortion access, saying in a statement, "This outcome affirms what we know is true: Kansans want common sense leadership that will protect their right to keep politicians out of their health care decisions."In 2019, Kansas' state Supreme Court ruled that the right to an abortion is protected in the state constitution's bill of rights. Voters were deciding whether to allow the constitution to be amended in order to ban abortion rights.    6:15 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Arizona Republican primary Justin Olson, Mick McGuire, Mark Brnovich, Jim Lamon and Blake Masters are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona governor Republican primary Matt Salmon, Scott Neeley, Paola Tulliani-Zen, Karrin Taylor Robson and Kari Lake are on the ballot.    6:24 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona state Senate Republican primary Rusty Bowers and David Farnsworth are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Republican primary Shawnna Bollock, Michelle Ugenti-Rita, Beau Lane and Mark Finchem are on the ballot.   6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Democratic primary Adrian Fontes and Reginald Bolding are on the ballot.    6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona 2nd Congressional District Republican primary Ron Watkins, Steven Krystofiak, Andy Yates, John Moore, Mark DeLuzio, Eli Crane and Walt Blackman are on the ballot.    Updated 10:07 PM U.S. Senate Missouri Republican primary: CBS News projects Eric Schmitt wins CBS News projects Eric Schmitt will win the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Missouri.   6:11 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Missouri Democratic primary Dave Sims, Kevin Schepers, Deshon Porter, Robert Olson, Eric McElroy, Darrett McClanahan, Patrick Lewis, Rickey Joiner, Dennis Lee Chilton, Russel Breyfogle, Robert Allen, C.W. Gardner, Mark McCloskey, Dave Schatz, Billy Long, Vicky Hatzler, Eric Greitens and Eric Schmitt are on the ballot.    Updated 12m ago Missouri 1st Congressional District Democratic primary: CBS News projects Cori Bush wins CBS News projects Cori Bush wins the Democratic primary in Missouri's 1st Congressional District.    Updated 26m ago CBS News projects Kansas voters reject amending constitution on abortion CBS News projects "No" wins, meaning the state constitution will remain as is, reaffirming the right to an abortion.   Updated 9:03 PM Kansas Republican governor: CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win the Republican nomination for Kansas governor.    Updated 9:48 PM Michigan Republican governor primary: CBS News projects Tudor Dixon will win CBS News projects Tudor Dixon will win the Michigan Republican primary for governor   6:06 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan 3rd Congressional District Republican primary Peter Meijer and John Gibbs are on the ballot.    Updated 12m ago Michigan 11th Congressional District Democratic primary: CBS News projects Haley Stevens wins CBS News projects Haley Stevens wins the Democratic nomination Michigan's 11th Congressional District.    6:04 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 3rd Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Jaime Herrera Beutler, Davy Ray, Leslie French, Vicki Kraft, Heidi St. John, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Joe Kent, Chris Byrd, Oliver Black are on the ballot.    6:03 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 4th Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Dan Newhouse, Jacek Kobiesa, Benancio Garcia, Corey Gibson, Jerrold Sessler, Brad Klippert, Doug White and Loren Culp are on the ballot.

Live Updates: 2022 midterm primary results in Arizona, Missouri, Kansas, Michigan and Washington.

Customers dine at a restaurant in a shopping area in Beijing, China July 25, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comBEIJING, Aug 3 (Reuters) - China's services activity grew at the fastest rate in 15 months in July as easing COVID curbs boosted consumer confidence, but foreign demand fell and companies cut staff for the seventh month in a row, a private-sector survey showed on Wednesday.The Caixin services purchasing managers' index (PM) rose to 55.5 in July, the fastest growth since April 2021, rising further from the robust reading of 54.5 in June.The 50-point mark separates growth from contraction on a monthly basis.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe reading contrasted somewhat with China's official services PMI on Sunday which showed growth moderated, but both gauges still pointed to solid expansion in the hard-hit sector while the country's manufacturers struggled. read more A sub-index for new business soared to nine-month high, thanks to improved domestic demand, but new export business contracted for the seventh successive month, the Caixin survey showed.Meanwhile, the rate of cost inflation in the services sector picked up for the first time since March as prices for food, fuel, raw materials and staff remained high.But some market watchers are not sure how long the COVID reopening boost will last.Fresh virus flareups have led to tightening curbs on activity in some cities in recent weeks, while the property market is in a deepening slump and global demand is faltering. Many businesses have put big spending plans on hold and are trying to cut costs. read more "Beware the July rebound narrative. Markets are convinced that easing lockdowns mean the worst is over, but July data show that firms are still largely refusing to invest, borrow and especially now, hire," said Leland Miller, chief executive at data firm China Beige Book."This is likely because companies simply do not believe that their COVID Zero nightmare is over."Caixin's July composite PMI, which includes both manufacturing and services activity, fell to 54.0 from 55.3 the month prior. The Caixin PMI is compiled by S&P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to purchasing managers in China.The country's top leaders last week signalled their preparedness to miss the government growth target of around 5.5% for 2022. Analysts polled by Reuters have forecast growth to slow to 4.0% this year. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Ellen Zhang and Ryan Woo; Editing by Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

China July services activity expands at quickest pace in 15 months - Caixin PMI.

A model of the Chinese Fighter aircraft is seen in front of Chinese and Taiwanese flags in this illustration taken, April 28, 2022. Picture taken April 28, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comTOKYO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Japan called China's military exercises in response to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan 'concerning' on Wednesday, but refrained from commenting on Pelosi's visit to Asia.Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a news conference that the government has conveyed concerns over the military operations to China, and reiterated that Japan hopes issues over the Taiwan Strait will be resolved through dialogue.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Sakura Murakami; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

China military operations 'concerning' says Japan gov't spokesperson.

Billboard ad of fantasy game "Genshin Impact" from Shanghai-based developer Mihoyo is pictured in Hong Kong, China October 20, 2020. REUTERS/Pei LiRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comHONG KONG, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Unity Software Inc (U.N), the U.S. developer best known for software used to design video games, is in talks to spin off its China unit to help it expand in the world's biggest games market, four people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.San Francisco-based Unity has sought strategic investors to join it in a business valued at over $1 billion during talks, said two of the people, declining to be identified as they were not authorised to speak publicly on the matter.Unity declined to comment. Its share price closed up over 5% on the news on Tuesday.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe talks come as strained Sino-U.S. relations exacerbate sensitivities over technology transfer and data handling across borders, prompting tech firms to reappraise their operations in China. At the same time, there is growing interest in expanding game-making software to new technologies such as the so-called metaverse, an immersive three-dimensional internet.Unity entered China in 2012 and its eponymous software, known as a game engine, powers many of the country's most popular games such as "Honor of Kings" from gaming leader Tencent Holdings Ltd (0700.HK) and miHoYo's "Genshin Impact".Rivals include Tencent-backed Epic Games, the U.S. developer of the increasingly popular Unreal Engine 5.Unity's spin-off plan is being driven by a desire to see its software used more extensively in China in areas as varied as smart city modelling to industrial design, as well as in the metaverse, two of the people said. Potential investors Unity has been speaking to have made big bets on the metaverse, they said.With China tightening data handling regulation, Unity believes a spin-off would aid this expansion as it would give the unit more local ownership and autonomy over how it operates in the country, which could also increase its attraction to local government and state-owned partners, the people said.The spin-off would be one of China's bigger technology deals this year as investment activity has slowed due to weak economic growth, COVID-19 outbreaks and regulatory tightening.Unity China Chief Executive Zhang Junbo has been working on the plan for at least a year, two of the people said. Progress has been further slowed by Unity's share price sinking 80% since its November 2021 high amid weakness in U.S. tech stocks, and by a product missing performance expectations, they said.Zhang disclosed Unity's China expansion ambition last month to local tech media outlet 36Kr without mentioning a spin-off, saying Unity was exploring ways to make its technology "safe and controllable" within China - a reference to the government's mandate for important technology to be controlled domestically.He also said Unity would likely hire over a thousand engineers in coming years while expanding offices in Beijing and Guangzhou in addition to its main office in Shanghai.Two of the people said Unity's Shanghai-based employees have been asked to sign contracts with the new entity, and that talks about an operating budget separate to its parent's are ongoing.A local joint venture (JV) could help Unity "gain a footing with sensitive industries such as governments and manufacturing that are seeking to modernise their operations with digital twins and real-time 3D enabled technologies," said Matthew Kanterman, director of research at Ball Metaverse Research Partners.While forming a China JV carries risk - a notable example being a dispute between British chipmaker Arm and its Chinese unit - Kanterman said such JVs have worked well for many Western tech firms, such as HP Inc (HPQ.N) and Nokia Oyj (NOKIA.HE)."Having the right local partners can help Unity succeed where others struggle," Kanterman said.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Josh Ye, Julie Zhu and Kane Wu in Hong Kong; Additional reporting by Josh Horwitz in Shanghai; Editing by Brenda Goh and Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

EXCLUSIVE U.S. game software developer Unity in talks to spin off China unit -sources.

Passersby wearing protective face masks walk in front of an electronic board showing Japan's Nikkei share average, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Tokyo, Japan July 14, 2022. REUTERS/Issei KatoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comTOKYO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Asia-Pacific bond yields followed U.S. Treasury yields higher on Wednesday and the dollar continued its climb after Federal Reserve officials signalled they are nowhere near done raising interest rates.Yields were also helped as demand for the safest assets retreated following U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's safe arrival in Taiwan, despite threats of action from China, which views the island as a breakaway province. The safe-haven yen continued its slide.That lifted stocks in Asia, despite the slide on Wall Street overnight.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comJapan's Nikkei (.N225) gained 0.5%, rebounding from Tuesday's two-week closing low, while Chinese blue chips (.CSI300) jumped 0.86% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng (.HSI) gained 0.76%."Hong Kong and Chinese shares have recovered around a third of yesterday's losses because of relief that there was no major confrontation overnight," Steven Leung, executive director for institutional sales at UOB Kay Hian in Hong Kong."However investors are going to remain nervous due to the military exercises planned for after Pelosi's departure."A trio of Fed policymakers signalled on Tuesday that there would be no let up in the tightening campaign aimed at taming the highest inflation since the 1980s, even though it will take rates to a level that will more significantly curb economic activity. read more Two of them, San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly and Chicago Fed President Charles Evans, are widely regarded as doves.Traders now see a chance of about 44% that the Fed will hike by another 75 basis points at its next meeting in September.Benchmark long-term Treasury yields were around 2.71% in Tokyo, not far from the overnight high of 2.774% following a 14 basis point surge.The dollar-yen rate , which tends to closely track U.S. yields, jumped 0.3% to 133.57, extending Tuesday's 1.2% surge.The U.S. dollar index , which gauges the currency against the yen and five other major peers, was 0.04% higher at 106.41, after rebounding 1% overnight following its slide to a nearly one-month low at 105.03.Bonds and the yen, traditional safe havens, lost some sheen after Pelosi's visit to Taiwan was so far only met by strong words and the announcement of live-far military drills by Beijing, allaying fears of more extreme measures.Gold edged 0.13% higher to $1,762.09 per ounce, but following a 0.68% retreat the previous session.Meanwhile, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares (.MIAP00000PUS) edged 0.11% higher, helped by the rally in Japan as bargain hunters came in following Tuesday's decline to a two-week closing low.China's CSI 300 was also rebounding from a steep slide that took it to a nearly two-month intraday trough in the previous session. Gains for Hong Kong's Hang Seng were led by a surge in tech stocks, with an index of the shares (.HSTECH) jumping 1.8%.Taiwan's stock benchmark (.TWII), though, was about flat, while Australian equities declined 0.52%, on course to snap a six-day winning streak.U.S. stock futures edged 0.07% higher, following the S&P 500's 0.67% drop overnight.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comEditing by Lincoln Feast.Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Yields up with dollar as Fed officials signal more hikes; Asian stocks firm.

A man walks past TSMC's logo at the company's headquarters in Hsinchu, Taiwan.Sam Yeh | AFP | Getty ImagesIf China were to invade Taiwan, the most-advanced chip factory in the world would be rendered "not operable," TSMC Chair Mark Liu said in an English-language interview with CNN this week.In the undated interview, Liu said that if Taiwan were invaded by China, the chipmaker's plant would not be able to operate because it relies on global supply chains."Nobody can control TSMC by force. If you take a military force or invasion, you will render TSMC factory not operable," Liu said. "Because this is such a sophisticated manufacturing facility, it depends on real-time connection with the outside world, with Europe, with Japan, with U.S., from materials to chemicals to spare parts to engineering software and diagnosis."TSMC, the world's most advanced chip manufacturer, makes processors for American companies including Apple and Qualcomm. It manufactures Apple's A-series and M-series chips and has over 50% of the world's semiconductor foundry market.The remarks were aired as tensions between China and Taiwan have escalated in recent days as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits the island."The war brings no winners, everybody's losers," Liu said.Last week, the House of Representatives passed the Chips and Science Act, which sets aside billions of dollars in incentives to build chip factories on U.S. soil. President Biden is expected to sign the bill on Tuesday.Backers of the legislation say it is critical for national security to secure the supply of efficient and modern chips for U.S. usage if China were to invade or otherwise make it more difficult to manufacture chips in Taiwan.While much of the bill's incentives will go to American companies like Intel, TSMC is building a $12 billion chip factory in Arizona that could benefit from the subsidies.Ukraine comparisonLiu compared a potential conflict in Taiwan to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, saying that while the two conflicts are very different, the economic impact to other countries would be similar. He encouraged political leaders to try to avoid war."Ukraine war is not good for any of the sides, it's lose-lose-lose scenarios," Liu said.Liu said an invasion of the territory would cause economic turmoil for China, Taiwan and Western countries. He said that TSMC sells chips to consumer-facing Chinese companies that need the company's services and the supply of advanced computer chips."How can we avoid war? How can we ensure that the engine of the world economy continues humming, and let's have a fair competition," Liu said.

Apple chipmaker TSMC warns Taiwan-China war would make everybody losers.

Inflation in Singapore hit a 13-year high of 4.4% in June, a 0.8% increase from the previous month.Ore Huiying | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesLow-income earners in Singapore will face the lowest growth in wages and the biggest jump in household expenses as inflation rises, new research by the country's largest lender has shown.Wages for those earning less than 2,500 Singapore dollars ($1,815) a month rose by only 2.5% between May last year and this year, the study showed.That's lower than the country's average consumer price index inflation of 5.2% in the first half of 2022.In contrast, customers earning S$5,000 to S$7,499 had wage increases of 11.1%, and those paid S$10,000 and above received a 13.6% raise in the same period, the report stated."Customers earning below S$2,500 are usually elderly residents who have a lower earning capability or workers who are in lower skilled professions," said Irvin Seah, senior economist at DBS Group Research.The survey of 1.2 million DBS retail customers showed that despite improvements in salary and employment benefits, the income of nearly half of the respondents fell behind inflation.However, Seah said low wage earners receive government financial support, which creates more disposable income for this group of workers.If the bank included customers upward income mobility, which refers to a person's income progressively increasing over the course of their life, "then overall income growth for the lower income group would be more encouraging at 19.2% year on year," Seah told CNBC in an email.Growing expensesOn top of slower wage growth, those in the lower-income group face increasing expenses, which have risen by a bigger factor than those with higher salaries.Expenses for Singaporeans earning less than S$2,500 grew 13.8% between May 2021 and May this year —5.6 times more than their income growth of 2.5%, the study showed.For Singaporeans earning S$5,000 to S$7,499, expenses grew 2.2 times faster than their income growth of 11.1%. Those earning S$10,000 and above saw their expenses increase 1.8 times faster than their income growth of 13.6%, the bank said."Expenses for the higher income is rising at twice the speed of their income growth [versus 5.6 times] for the lower income. Such [a] trend for the lower income is obviously not sustainable unless there is significant improvement in income growth or upward income mobility," Seah said.Spending habitsRising inflation and the economic reopening from the pandemic have led to an increase in household expenses.DBS said its customers are now spending 64% of their income, up from 59% a year ago.Expenses for millennials (those between 26 and 41 years old), who have been spending more as the economy reopened after Covid restrictions were eased, rose by almost 30% over the past year.The growth in expenses for baby boomers (58 to 76 years old) was smaller.A majority of baby boomers are retirees and "hence, on an aggregate basis, the income growth would be naturally lower," Seah said.There was double-digit growth across all spending categories. The biggest growth in expenses was observed in transportation, shopping, entertainment and food.Inflation outlook Inflation in Singapore hit a 13-year high of 4.4% in June, a 0.8% increase from the previous month.Seah said inflation could peak in the third quarter of the year and ease in November.High prices will stick around the next two to three years but the inflation rate will slow, he adds.

Singaporeans with low incomes continue to face the lowest wage growth, DBS says.

Arizona Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Kari Lake speaks during former U.S. President Donald Trump's rally ahead of Arizona primary elections, in Prescott Valley, Arizona, U.S., July 22, 2022. REUTERS/Rebecca Noble/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAug 2 (Reuters) - Voters in Arizona, Michigan, Kansas, Missouri and Washington were choosing candidates for U.S. Congress, governor and other offices as former President Donald Trump's effort to maintain dominance over the Republican Party was tested anew.Here are the key primary races to watch:KANSAS ABORTION VOTEVoters in Kansas went on record supporting the state constitution's protection of abortion rights, according to projections by Edison Research.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe defeat of a proposed constitutional amendment declaring that there is no such right marked the first statewide electoral test of abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.Had anti-abortion forces prevailed, the ballot question would have reversed a 2019 state Supreme Court ruling that established the right to abortion in Kansas.MISSOURI U.S. SENATERepublican Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt won the state party's nomination to run for U.S. Senate, defeating Eric Greitens, the former governor who resigned in disgrace after sexual assault and campaign finance fraud scandals.Schmitt's victory was a relief to many establishment Republicans who feared they might lose the seat if Greitens were nominated to replace retiring Republican Senator Roy Blunt.U.S. Representative Vicky Hartzler also had been vying for her party's nomination.One day before the vote, Trump said in a statement that he supported "Eric," refusing to say whether he was endorsing Greitens or Schmitt.MICHIGAN GOVERNORTudor Dixon, a former steel industry businesswoman and conservative commentator who was endorsed by Trump and has echoed the ex-president's false election fraud allegations, prevailed over a field of Republican primary candidates for governor in Michigan, Edison Research projected.Dixon will now take on Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, whose aggressive approach to closing down businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic has made her a top target for conservatives.The chaotic Republican primary saw several candidates disqualified after a scandal involving falsified signatures on petitions to get on the ballot. In June, the FBI arrested candidate Ryan Kelley, a real estate broker, on misdemeanor charges stemming from the U.S. Capitol attack, though he continued to campaign.KANSAS GOVERNORKansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who had Trump's endorsement, defeated an under-funded opponent in the Republican contest. He will challenge incumbent Democratic Governor Laura Kelly, who is among the most vulnerable Democratic governors, in November.ARIZONA GOVERNORThe Republican contenders include former news anchor Kari Lake, who is endorsed by Trump and has echoed his false claims that the 2020 election was fraudulent. Her main rival is developer Karrin Taylor Robson, who is backed by several establishment Republicans including Trump's former vice president, Mike Pence, and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey.On the Democratic side, the leading candidate is Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs who has built a national profile by vociferously denying Trump's allegations. She is facing Marco Lopez, a former Obama administration official and former mayor of Nogales, a border city.ARIZONA U.S. SENATEA bitter fight to decide who will challenge incumbent Democratic Senator Mark Kelly in November has come down to three Republican candidates. Blake Masters, chief operating officer of Thiel Capital and president of the Thiel Foundation, has the financial backing of tech billionaire Peter Thiel and Trump's endorsement. Recent polling shows him leading state attorney general Mark Brnovich and Jim Lamon, a former power company executive.ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATEOn the Republican side, the front-runner is Trump-endorsed state Representative Mark Finchem, who was present at the Jan. 6, 2021, rally that preceded the attack on the U.S. Capitol and has embraced Trump's stolen election claims. He faces several opponents. The Democratic contest pits former Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes against state House of Representatives Minority Leader Reginald Bolding.MICHIGAN'S 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTIncumbent Representative Peter Meijer, one of the 10 Republicans to vote for Trump's second impeachment, is facing a primary challenge from John Gibbs, a former Trump administration official who has the former president's endorsement. Meijer is a moderate Republican in a district that Democrats see as a potential pickup. The campaign arm for House Democrats angered some supporters by running ads to promote Gibbs, who is seen as an easier target in November.WASHINGTON STATE'S 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTRepresentative Jaime Herrera Beutler, one of 10 Republicans to vote for Trump's impeachment in 2021, is facing a primary challenge from Joe Kent, a former Green Beret officer who has been endorsed by Trump. Herrera Beutler has held the seat since 2010.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Joseph Ax, Moira Warburton, Gabriella Borter and Richard Cowan, Editing by Ross Colvin, Alistair Bell and Cynthia OstermanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Factbox: Key races in Arizona, Michigan, Kansas, Missouri and Washington primary elections.

Military police officers get into position for a drill on how to guide citizens to safety in the event of an attack, in Taipei, Taiwan July 22, 2022. REUTERS/Ann WangRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comTAIPEI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Taiwan's cabinet on Wednesday said the military has increased its alertness level and authorities will make plans to ensure safety and stability around the island, after China announced a series of military exercises in response to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's arrival in Taipei.Taiwan's cabinet also said its citizens should feel reassured and that a national stabilisation fund for the stock market will closely watch the situation and react in a timely manner.(This story corrects the description of Taiwan in the first paragraph to "island")Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Yimou Lee, Writing by Martin Quin Pollard; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Taiwan says its military has increased alertness level, citizens should feel reassured.

A voter marks a ballot during the primary election and abortion referendum at a Wyandotte County polling station in Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. August 2, 2022. REUTERS/Eric CoxRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comWASHINGTON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - The fight over abortion rights and former President Donald Trump's influence loomed large as voters in several states went to the polls on Tuesday. Here are some takeaways from the latest 2022 midterm election primaries:ABORTION BATTLE LINES DRAWN IN MICHIGANIn the Michigan governor's race, there will be no middle ground when it comes to abortion rights.Tudor Dixon, a relative political unknown who received a last-minute endorsement from former President Donald Trump, emerged from the Republican pack on Tuesday to take on Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer in November’s general election.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comWhitmer has made the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of constitutional protection for abortion a centerpiece in her re-election campaign. Dixon supports a near-total ban on abortion, including for child victims of rape and incest, with the only exception for cases when the life of the mother is at risk.A legal battle is being waged in the state over enforcement of a 1931 abortion ban. At the same time, supporters of abortion rights are seeking to place a measure on the November ballot that would legalize abortion in the state.With just three months until the election, longtime Republican pollster Steve Mitchell said Dixon has enough time to mount a competitive challenge to Whitmer and should see a strong flow of campaign funds from outside the state.Dixon is a former businesswoman in the steel industry who has billed herself as a “conservative mom” of four who opposed COVID-19 lockdowns at schools. Mitchell said she could appeal to like-minded parents and make a strong foil to Whitmer, who often talks about her own role as a mother of daughters and also faced criticism for her coronavirus lockdown orders.“It’s going to be a fascinating race,” Mitchell said. “In my opinion, none of the men (in the Republican field) could have beaten Whitmer.”KANSAS SENDS SIGNALWith preserving abortion rights a rallying cry for Democratic candidates across the country, Republicans may have gotten a jarring wake-up call in Kansas about the issue’s potency.Voters soundly defeated a proposed state constitutional amendment that would have declared that there is no right to abortion. While the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year overturned the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide, the Kansas Supreme Court had found the state constitution independently protected abortion rights.While Kansas is conservative-leaning state that consistently votes Republican in presidential elections, it does have a Democratic governor, Laura Kelly, and a large suburban voting population in the Kansas City area.Since Roe was overturned, Democrats have hoped that the issue would galvanize voters nationwide, particularly in states such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin where the legislatures are controlled by anti-abortion Republicans. Polls have consistently shown that a substantial majority of Americans support the right to abortion – at least during the first trimester of pregnancy.Republican pollster Sarah Longwell, who regularly conducts focus groups on the issue, said on Twitter that the Kansas results should worry Republican candidates who support abortion bans without exception.“This has gotta send a chill up the spine of the many GOP candidates running campaigns saying there should be no exceptions for rape, incest, or life of the mother,” Longwell posted.ERIC VS. ERICOne Eric won the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Missouri and another Eric lost. As far as national Republicans are concerned, the right Eric prevailed.Eric Schmitt, the state attorney general, defeated former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens, whose campaign was marred by allegations of abuse by his ex-wife.Polls ahead of the primary showed that if Greitens were to win the nomination, he could struggle in a November matchup against the Democratic candidate and perhaps jeopardize a Senate seat that Republicans cannot afford to lose if they want to seize control of the chamber. A Republican-affiliated group launched a TV campaign to derail Greitens’ chances.None of that dissuaded Trump from taking the unusual tack on Monday of endorsing “ERIC” without specifying which one, leading both candidates to claim Trump’s support and giving Greitens a lifeline. read more Schmitt is now expected to win the seat handily this fall, sparing the party from having to divert resources to Missouri that it had earmarked for other Senate races.Republicans need a net gain of one seat to take control of the chamber.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by James Oliphant; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Cynthia OstermanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Midterms: Takeaways from Tuesday's U.S. primary elections.

An American flag waves outside the U.S. Department of Justice Building in Washington, U.S., December 2, 2020. REUTERS/Tom BrennerRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comBUENOS AIRES, Aug 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday asked for permission to confiscate an Iranian plane sold to Venezuelan owners and impounded in Argentina on suspicions it was linked to international terrorist groups, the agency said in a statement.The unannounced arrival of the plane in Argentina on June 8 sparked weeks of intrigue as well as concern within the Argentine government over its ties to Iran and Venezuela and companies sanctioned by the U.S. The plane was grounded by local authorities on landing. read more The confiscation request followed the unsealing of a July 19 warrant for the plane's seizure in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, which alleged that the aircraft could be confiscated because it violated export control laws, the DOJ said.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe DOJ said the U.S.-origin Boeing 747-300 aircraft is subject to sanctions as its sale from Iran's Mahan Air to Emtrasur last year, part of the Venezuelan Consortium of Aeronautical Industries and Air Services (Conviasa), violates U.S. export laws. Both companies are sanctioned by the United States for alleged collaboration with terrorist organizations."The Department of Justice will not tolerate transactions that violate our sanctions and export laws," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen of the DOJ's National Security Division in the statement.Mahan Air is sanctioned for ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. The U.S. sanctioned Conviasa in 2019 for its ties to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government."The seizure of this aircraft demonstrates our determination to hold accountable those who seek to violate U.S. sanctions and export control laws," said U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves.Fourteen Venezuelans and five Iranians were traveling on the plane when it arrived in Buenos Aires. Seven of them are still detained in Argentina.Argentina's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Daniela Desantis and Walter Bianchi; Writing by Carolina Pulice; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle and Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

U.S. asks Argentina to seize Venezuelan plane linked to Iran.

A worker adjusts an ASEAN flag at a meeting hall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 28, 2021. REUTERS/Lim Huey TengRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comPHNOM PENH, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will be forced to reconsider a peace plan agreed with Myanmar if the country's military rulers conduct more executions of prisoners, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Wednesday.The 10-nation bloc had been pushing for Myanmar to adhere to a five-point peace "consensus" it agreed to last year and has condemned the recent execution of four democracy activists by the junta."If more prisoners are executed, we will be forced to rethink...our role vis a vis ASEAN's five-point consensus," said Hun Sen, who is the current chair of ASEAN and was speaking at the start of a meeting of the group's foreign ministers.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comHun Sen said that ASEAN's unity had been challenged by the political and security implications of the crisis in Myanmar, which has spiralled into an economic and humanitarian crisis.The prime minister said that while the five-point consensus had "not advanced to everyone's wishes" there had been some progress including in providing humanitarian aid.But he went on to say the current situation had "changed dramatically" and could be seen as even worse than before the peace agreement because of the junta's execution of the activists.Cambodia along with other ASEAN member states "are deeply disappointed and disturbed by the execution of those opposition activists, despite the appeals from me and others for the death sentences to be reconsidered," said Hun Sen.Myanmar's military last week defended the execution of the activists as "justice for the people", brushing off a deluge of international condemnation including by its closest neighbours.The military said it had executed the activists for aiding "terror acts" by a civilian resistance movement, Myanmar's first executions in decades. read more Myanmar will not be represented at this week's meeting, a spokesperson for the ASEAN chair said on Monday, after its military rulers declined a proposal to send a non-junta representative instead.ASEAN has since late last year barred the Myanmar junta from joining its meetings due to its lack of progress in implementing the peace plan.Some other members of ASEAN, which has a tradition of non-interference in each other's internal affairs, have been increasingly strident in their criticism of the generals.Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah has described the executions as a crime against humanity and appearing to make "a mockery" of the ASEAN peace plan. read more The head of Myanmar's junta Min Aung Hlaing on Monday blamed instability related to the pandemic and internal violence for stalling efforts to implement the peace plan.The junta also extended a state of emergency put in place after seizing power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February last year.Myanmar has been in chaos since then, with conflict spreading after the army crushed mostly peaceful protests in towns and cities. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Narin Sun in Phnom Penh; Writing by Ed Davies; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

ASEAN to rethink peace plan if Myanmar executes more prisoners - chair.

get the free app Updated on: August 3, 2022 / 12:17 AM / CBS News Primaries test Trump's hold on Republican Party Primaries test Trump's hold on Republican Party 02:15 Voters were cast Tuesday in five states in some of the states that were battlegrounds in 2020 — and will be again in 2024. Kansas voters voted to preserve abortion access to for women Tuesday night, as abortion faced its first test at the ballot box since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. With former President Donald Trump's influence looming large in some of Tuesday's primaries, a CBS News poll released Tuesday showed that for Republicans, a Trump endorsement is a plus for that candidate, and even more so among Republicans who say they "always" vote in Republican primaries, most of whom identify as MAGA Republicans. ArizonaIn Arizona, former President Donald Trump has rallied for his allies in the Senate, governor and secretary of state races. Arizona was one of the key battleground states that went for President Joe Biden in 2020. After the election, some Republicans in the state tried to overturn the results, with a plan to send a slate of phony alternate electors who supported Trump to Congress for the Electoral College certification, rather than the electors won by President Biden. In the Republican primary to take on Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly in November, Trump has backed Blake Masters, who has a comfortable lead according to two polls ahead of the primary. For governor, former TV news anchor Kari Lake and lawyer Karrin Taylor Robson are in a tight contest for the GOP nomination that repeats a dynamic between Trump and former Vice President MIke Pence. Trump has backed Lake, while Pence, along with term-limited sitting Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, have backed Taylor Robson. Last month, Trump and Pence held dueling rallies for Lake and Robson on the same day.  A where to vote sign points voters in the direction of the polling station as the sun beats down as Arizona voters go the polls to cast their ballots, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, in Phoenix. Ross D. Franklin / AP Trump has also backed a challenger to state House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who testified in June at a House Jan. 6 committee public hearing. Bowers is term-limited out of that position but is running for state Senate. Days before the primary, the Arizona GOP voted to formally censure him for his testimony, a culmination of the frustrations many far-right members have with Bowers' past refusal to support Trump-backed attempts to overturn the 2020 election. This year, Bowers helped block a bill, introduced by Secretary of State candidate and current state Rep. Shawnna Bolick, to empower the legislature to choose its own electors, regardless of how the people voted. For his actions, the former president lashed out against him, calling the Speaker a "RINO coward," and endorsed his opponent, former state Sen. David Farnsworth.MissouriCBS News projects that Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who has been leading the crowded field, wins the Republican nomination for the open Senate seat in Missouri. Eric Greitens, the former governor who resigned in 2018 and has faced allegations of domestic abuse, led early in the race, but an $11 million ad blitz by two anti-Greitens groups chipped it away.On the eve of the primary, Trump issued a kind of split endorsement in the race, throwing his support behind "ERIC." Both Eric Schmitt and Eric Greitens quickly claimed they'd won his backing.In Missouri's 1st Congressional District, CBS News projects incumbent Rep. Cori Bush,  who unseated a longtime incumbent in 2020, will win her primary. Meanwhile, three of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump are facing Trump-backed primary challengers. Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social to urge Republican voters to "knock out impeachment slime." MichiganIn Michigan, Rep. Peter Meijer, a freshman Republican in a swing district centered around Grand Rapids, Mich., is in a tough race against John Gibbs, a former Trump-era Housing and Urban Development official.In the race to take on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, CBS News projects Tudor Dixon will win the Republican nomination. Dixon, backed by Trump, had been seen by Republican strategists as the strongest candidate to take on Whitmer. Among the Republicans Dixon defeated was Ryan Kelley, who was arrested in June related to his participation in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. "Now we have the opportunity to truly hold Gretchen Whitmer accountable for the pain she has inflicted on every one of us in the past three years," Dixon said at her election night watch party in Grand Rapids, Mich., referring to the lockdowns of schools imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.WashingtonAnd in Washington, the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler in the 3rd District and Dan Newhouse in the 4th District both face the risk of being shut out because of Trump-backed challengers. KansasKansas voted to preserve abortion access, voting "no" on the ability to amend the state constitution, marking the first time a state has voted on abortion, since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.Kansas Democratic Party Chairwoman Vicki Hiatt celebrated the win for abortion access, saying in a statement, "This outcome affirms what we know is true: Kansans want common sense leadership that will protect their right to keep politicians out of their health care decisions."In 2019, Kansas' state Supreme Court ruled that the right to an abortion is protected in the state constitution's bill of rights. Voters were deciding whether to allow the constitution to be amended in order to ban abortion rights.    6:15 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Arizona Republican primary Justin Olson, Mick McGuire, Mark Brnovich, Jim Lamon and Blake Masters are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona governor Republican primary Matt Salmon, Scott Neeley, Paola Tulliani-Zen, Karrin Taylor Robson and Kari Lake are on the ballot.    6:24 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona state Senate Republican primary Rusty Bowers and David Farnsworth are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Republican primary Shawnna Bollock, Michelle Ugenti-Rita, Beau Lane and Mark Finchem are on the ballot.   6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Democratic primary Adrian Fontes and Reginald Bolding are on the ballot.    6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona 2nd Congressional District Republican primary Ron Watkins, Steven Krystofiak, Andy Yates, John Moore, Mark DeLuzio, Eli Crane and Walt Blackman are on the ballot.    Updated 10:07 PM U.S. Senate Missouri Republican primary: CBS News projects Eric Schmitt wins CBS News projects Eric Schmitt will win the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Missouri.   Updated 9m ago U.S. Senate Missouri Democratic primary: CBS News projects Trudy Busch Valentine wins CBS News projects Trudy Busch Valentine wins the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Missouri.    Updated 10:56 PM Missouri 1st Congressional District Democratic primary: CBS News projects Cori Bush wins CBS News projects Cori Bush wins the Democratic primary in Missouri's 1st Congressional District.    Updated 10:42 PM CBS News projects Kansas voters reject amending constitution on abortion CBS News projects "No" wins, meaning the state constitution will remain as is, reaffirming the right to an abortion.   Updated 9:03 PM Kansas Republican governor: CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win the Republican nomination for Kansas governor.    Updated 9:48 PM Michigan Republican governor primary: CBS News projects Tudor Dixon will win CBS News projects Tudor Dixon will win the Michigan Republican primary for governor   6:06 PM / August 2, 2022 Michigan 3rd Congressional District Republican primary Peter Meijer and John Gibbs are on the ballot.    Updated 10:56 PM Michigan 11th Congressional District Democratic primary: CBS News projects Haley Stevens wins CBS News projects Haley Stevens wins the Democratic nomination Michigan's 11th Congressional District.    6:04 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 3rd Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Jaime Herrera Beutler, Davy Ray, Leslie French, Vicki Kraft, Heidi St. John, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Joe Kent, Chris Byrd, Oliver Black are on the ballot.    6:03 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 4th Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Dan Newhouse, Jacek Kobiesa, Benancio Garcia, Corey Gibson, Jerrold Sessler, Brad Klippert, Doug White and Loren Culp are on the ballot.

Live Updates: 2022 midterm primary results in Arizona, Missouri, Kansas, Michigan and Washington.

A view of the press room of the Presidential building as a screen shows Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Sandra Oudkirk, during a meeting at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan August 3, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comTAIPEI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Taiwan president's Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday thanked visiting U.S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi for her concrete actions to support Taiwan at this critical moment and said the island will not back down in the face of heightened military threats.The pair met in Taipei on Wednesday as part of Pelosi's visit to the island which has drawn fierce criticism from China, and has prompted Beijing to announce a raft of military exercises and summon the U.S. ambassador.Tsai also told Pelosi on Wednesday that she is one of Taiwan's most devoted friends and thanked her for her unwavering support on the international stage.Tsai added that Taiwan is a reliable partner of the United States and will continue to work with the U.S. to strengthen collaboration in security, economic development and supply chains.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Yimou Lee, Writing by Martin Quin Pollard Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Taiwan's Tsai thanks Pelosi for support, says island will not back down.

SummaryCompaniesTelangana to add 2 million acres under oil palm in 4-yearsTelangana could become world's 5th biggest oil palm growerSubsidies, higher returns lure farmers towards oil palmLimited seedling supply restricts oil palm expansionSATHUPALLY, India, August 3 (Reuters) - Pullarao Daravathu and thousands of fellow farmers from Telangana in India's south are busy planting oil palms as their home state aims to add more area under the controversial crop within four years than the entire country has in decades.Telangana is targeting 2 million additional acres under oil palm cultivation in the next four years, and is going to great lengths to achieve this goal - from building large dams and irrigation canals to importing millions of germinated sprouts.Generous government subsidies and bumper profit potential compared to other crops are also encouraging farmers like Daravathu to shift to oil palms.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com"Oil palm is giving more than 200,000 Indian rupees ($2,536) per acre return to farmers who planted the crop some years back. In rice, I am struggling to earn 40,000 rupees even after putting in lots of effort," said Daravathu, who was planting oil palm on his 5-acre farm at Sathupally, nearly 300 km (186 miles) east of Hyderabad, the state capital.The recent rally in palm oil prices has more than doubled prices of fresh fruit bunches, which farmers sell to oil mills.For years, price volatility, water scarcity and a gestation period of nearly four years limited oil palm plantation in India to less than 1 million acres, mostly in coastal Andhra Pradesh, the state that Telangana was carved out of in 2014.But Telangana, which occupies an inland region on the Deccan Plateau, is now keen to emerge as India's main palm oil hub, with an area target that would place the state as the fifth largest oil palm grower globally – from a negligible base currently.The drive could reduce India's mammoth vegetable oil imports, which cost the country a record $18.9 billion a year ago and widened the national trade deficit.India fulfils two-thirds of its vegetable oil demand through imports of around 14 million tonnes annually, including around 8.5 million tonnes of palm oil.The federal government is keen to increase palm oil output to slash those expensive imports, which lifted inflation this year to multi-year highs after top supplier Indonesia abruptly halted exports."In the next four years, most of the palm planting would be done, and after 7-8 years Telangana could be producing 4 million tonnes of palm oil," L Venkatram Reddy, director of Horticulture at the state government told Reuters.India currently produces less than 300,000 tonnes of palm oil and relies on imports from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand to fulfil its requirements.Even if Telangana manages to grow oil palm on only 1 million acres and produces 2 million tonnes of palm oil, it would be a huge achievement, said Chava Venkateswara Rao of Godrej Agrovet Ltd (GODE.NS), the country's biggest palm oil producer.Until last year, the country was adding around 35,000 acres under oil palm every year.WATER FIRSTSome areas in Telangana have sufficient water for thirsty oil palms thanks to the rivers such as the Godavari, Krishna and Bhima. But many pockets lacked sufficient water to cater to the oil palm's need of up to 265 litres per tree per day.To overcome that, the state has built massive lift irrigation projects and a canal network that is now allowing farmers to plant oil palms across most of the state."We used to face water scarcity in summer season. Now, with the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project, we have ample water for oil palm," said farmer Bollampalli Venkateshwar Rao, who planted oil palms on 12 acres.The Kaleshwaram irrigation project, which is nearly complete, cost the state 1.15 trillion rupees ($14.44 billion).Authorities are giving permission to cultivate oil palms only after farmers install water-conserving micro irrigation systems, said Reddy, adding "The central and state government's subsidies are covering almost the entire cost of drip irrigation system."The shift towards oil palm from paddy rice and other crops could help the state to bring down annual paddy procurement by around 2.5 million tonnes, and trim the electricity bill for lift irrigation projects by 15 billion rupees as drip-fed oil palms need less water than paddy, Reddy said.Ravi Mathur, who heads the Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (IIOPR), a government-backed body spearheading the oil palm push, said the lift irrigation project has made oil palm planting feasible in areas previously unsuitable for the crop because of water scarcity.PLANTING MATERIAL SCARCITYWhile thousands of farmers are keen to shift to oil palm, the availability of seedlings is limited, and preparing them is a lengthy process which takes almost a year.Companies operating in Telangana imported 12.5 million sprouts last year and made seedlings for around 200,000 acres this year, said an official with the state-run TS Oilfed, the country's biggest importer of germinated sproutsThe state is aiming to import 15 million sprouts this year - mainly sourced from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Costa Rica - and 50 million next year to achieve the target, he said.But only handful of companies are supplying germinated sprouts."There is sudden surge in demand following a rally in palm oil prices. Companies are not able to supply as much we need this year," said Sougata Niyogi, a top official at Godrej Agrovet. "The supply situation would become more comfortable next year."($1 = 78.8710 Indian rupees)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Rajendra Jadhav; editing by Gavin Maguire and Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Indian state bets big on oil palm to cut $19 billion vegoil imports.

U.S. Updated on: August 2, 2022 / 11:18 AM / CBS News Health officials around the world are racing to curb an outbreak of monkeypox cases that has swelled into the thousands, deploying both vaccines and treatments for a disease that can lead to weeks of painful rashes and lesions for those infected.Some cities facing outbreaks have now declared emergencies to battle the virus, as well as the states of New York, Illinois and California. The White House announced on Aug. 2 that it would tap officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate the "whole-of-government response" to the outbreak. While monkeypox infections have been seen before in the U.S. — in two travelers from Nigeria last year and in 47 cases that were linked to imported animals back in 2003 — the current outbreak is by far the largest recorded in American history and is expected to continue to grow.Here's what's known about the monkeypox outbreak and response: How many cases have there been this year in the U.S.?At least 5,811 cases were tallied by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention across all but two states — Montana and Wyoming — as of Aug. 1.New York is the state with the largest total number of reported cases, making up close to a quarter of the nation's overall tally.How does it spread?Officials say the "vast majority" of cases in the current outbreak have spread among men who have sex with men so far, generally through skin-to-skin intimate contact or by sharing contaminated towels and bedding. A handful of cases have also been reported in young children and pregnant women, who are believed to be at higher risk of severe outcomes from the disease.  However, the CDC says it has demographic data only a fraction of reported cases. Unlike its counterparts abroad in places like the United Kingdom and Europe, the agency must rely on details collected and reported "voluntarily" to the agency by local health departments.How severe is a monkeypox infection?As of Aug. 1, no deaths have been reported in the outbreak so far in the U.S. among the thousands who have been infected by monkeypox. A handful of deaths have been reported abroad, including in Africa, South America, and Europe.Compared to its more lethal cousin smallpox, officials have said that cases often resolve after a few weeks without additional treatment. The variant linked to the current outbreak has been spreading in Nigeria since 2017, where around 3% of the people who contracted monkeypox died.  After an incubation period, which the CDC estimates is a little longer than a week on average, between exposure to an infected person and the first noticeable signs of the infection, patients generally must endure painful lesions as well as other symptoms — like fever and swollen lymph nodes — until their rashes scab over and heal. Like other poxviruses, monkeypox can leave scars.However, authorities have been careful not to downplay the danger monkeypox's complications might pose beyond its physical pain.For example, in the United Kingdom, authorities reported that some hospitalized patients faced "severe swelling" that might strangle circulation to the penis. In Spain, some patients were hospitalized due to bacterial infections of their sores. The CDC says that the patients who are at "especially increased risk" for severe monkeypox disease include: Young children under 8 years oldPeople who are pregnant or have a compromised immune systemPeople who have a history of eczema or atopic dermatitisThe agency also says that people living with HIV who have caught monkeypox during the current outbreak are not getting a more severe disease, as long as they are on treatment that is suppressing HIV.  What tests are available for monkeypox cases? Monkeypox cases to date in the U.S. have been diagnosed using CDC's lab test, which can tell whether someone is infected by an orthopoxvirus – the family of bugs that includes both monkeypox and others like smallpox. Those tests rely on doctors "vigorously" swabbing suspected lesions for samples that can be sent off to their state's public health labs that have launched the agency's test, as well as a growing number of commercial laboratories.Some labs have also raced to develop their own tests for suspected monkeypox cases, including via saliva or blood samples, though the Food and Drug Administration currently warns these methods "may lead to false test results.""We are actively doing studies to evaluate what other kinds of tests could be available, whether they are saliva tests, throat swabs, blood tests, but right now, we don't have the data to recommend using tests of those kinds," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told reporters on July 15.What vaccines are available for monkeypox cases?The Biden administration has deployed two vaccines, originally stockpiled by the country to prepare for a potential smallpox emergency, known as Jynneos and ACAM2000. Both rely on versions of less-deadly relatives of smallpox to immunize their recipients. But unlike ACAM2000, Bavarian Nordic's Jynneos vaccine – which was approved by the FDA in 2019 to specifically combat monkeypox as well – carries far fewer risks because it relies on a version of the virus modified to prevent it from replicating and reduce its severity.Before the current outbreak, the U.S. had contracted Bavarian Nordic to manufacture "bulk vaccine" worth some 13 million doses of the company's Jynneos shots. The administration has now ordered some 7 million doses of that vaccine to be filled into vials and shipped to them from Bavarian Nordic through mid-2023. For now, federal officials have acknowledged that demand for the Jynneos far outstrips supply for the shots. Doses are being rationed for vaccinated either known close contacts of cases or others "presumed" to be at risk of having come into contact with a case, like having multiple recent sexual partners in a jurisdiction facing an outbreak.Some jurisdictions have announced plans to try and stretch their supply relying on only offering one dose for now of the two-shot vaccine, despite the FDA discouraging the move. More than 736,000 additional doses were made available for states on July 29, after an FDA inspection cleared use of a tranche of vaccine that had already been filled into vials from Bavarian Nordic. Further waves of vaccinations will need to wait for doses the Biden administration ordered filled into vials back in June, which the company says it expects will be delivered by the end of the year. The company also says it has supplied "nearly 30 million doses" of vaccine in the past, which have now expired. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services said on August 2 in a statement that it was working with Bavarian Nordic to test those doses to see if they can be salvaged, but acknowledged it was "highly unlikely that these doses remain viable."Can children be vaccinated for monkeypox?Children are not currently FDA approved to be vaccinated with Jynneos, although CDC officials disclosed earlier this year to a panel of its outside vaccine advisers that at least one pediatric patient had been offered a shot. Agency officials and local health systems have since confirmed other children who were close contacts of monkeypox cases have also been offered shots.Spokespeople for the FDA and CDC have declined to confirm how many requests have been granted for the use of the vaccine in children.  A spokesperson for Bavarian Nordic declined to offer details about whether it planned to trial the vaccine in children, but did say it planned to collect data on CDC's use of the shots. Monkeypox cases expected to climb across the nation as long lines form for vaccines 02:52 Are people who are vaccinated for smallpox protected against monkeypox?While people in the current outbreak are now being vaccinated with vaccines initially designed to combat smallpox, like ACAM200 or Jynneos, officials have cautioned that Americans who were vaccinated for smallpox decades ago are unlikely to be protected from a monkeypox infection.Though the U.S. stopped routine mass vaccination against smallpox in 1972, the CDC still recommends that scientists who are at risk of exposure because they work with orthopoxviruses — including monkeypox — in the lab get revaccinated every three years.In the current outbreak, the CDC says some cases had been vaccinated against smallpox "decades prior." And in the 2003 outbreak, CDC researchers did not find evidence that previous smallpox vaccination — among those infected — reduced the odds of patients facing severe disease or being hospitalized."We do expect that people who have received the vaccine, even as children, will have some remaining immunity. But that is something that we're very interested in looking at, closely monitoring during this outbreak, to really define exactly how long that protection lasts and how much benefit people who have received vaccination many decades prior may still receive," said the CDC's Brett Petersen said on June 30, in a webinar with clinicians.How are monkeypox cases treated? While many monkeypox cases eventually resolve without medications, aside from pain relievers, the Biden administration has allowed doctors to request stockpiled courses of several treatments that have been developed in the past for smallpox.The most commonly requested of those drugs is the antiviral tecovirimat or TPOXX, which was developed out of federal research launched in 2002 to head off a potential bioterrorism attack. The FDA approved tecovirimat in 2018 to treat smallpox cases. However, that approval was in large part actually based on studies in animals infected with monkeypox and rabbitpox, with the regulator deeming it "not feasible or ethical to conduct efficacy trials in humans" for smallpox. Doctors looking to get courses of tecovirimat for their monkeypox patients must request them from the CDC under an "expanded access" protocol, which it recently worked with the FDA to streamline.The agency says that use of the drug is being considered for people with severe disease, or who have an additional risk factor such as a compromised immune system or lesions in a part of the body that "might constitute a special hazard" like on the genitals.Can it be contained?While health officials expect the number of monkeypox cases to continue to climb through at least August, authorities say they still hope to control the current outbreak."There is community spread occurring. And while public health officials are working around the clock to contain the outbreak, it's important to say that I think we expect that these numbers will continue to increase," the CDC's Jennifer McQuiston told a webinar hosted by the American Medical Association on July 14.However, with more than 13,000 cases in the outbreak around the world as of July 18, some experts are skeptical public health authorities will be able to stem the spread of the virus. "I think at this point, we've failed to contain this. We're now at the cusp of this becoming an endemic virus, where this now becomes something that's persistent that we need to continue to deal with," former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb told "Face the Nation" on July 17."This has spread more broadly in the community. I wouldn't be surprised if there's thousands of cases right now," Gottlieb added later. Alexander Tin CBS News reporter covering public health and the pandemic.

Monkeypox: What we know about the outbreak, vaccinations and treatments.

James Bullard, president of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Boston, Massachusetts on August 2, 2013. REUTERS/Brian SnyderRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAug 2 (Reuters) - If inflation does not respond to the Federal Reserve's interest rate increases by easing as expected, then rates will have to remain "higher for longer," St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard said on Tuesday.Bullard, in response to questions at an event in New York, also said he expects growth in the second half of this year to pick up from the first half, which featured contractions in overall output in both the first and second quarters.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Dan Burns; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Fed's Bullard: Rates will need to be 'higher for longer' if inflation does not recede.

Women shop for clothes on a store in a shopping mall in Sydney's central business district (CBD) Australia, February 5, 2018. Picture taken February 5, 2018. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSYDNEY, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Australian retail sales posted a solid rise in real terms last quarter even as swelling prices ate up more of the consumer dollar, though there are signs that higher borrowing costs are finally turning the tide on spending.Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday showed inflation-adjusted retail sales had risen 1.4% in the June quarter to A$94.3 billion ($65.1 billion). That topped market forecasts of a 1.2% increase and will make a valuable contribution to economic growth.Spending was strongest in eating out, continuing a recovery since the easing of coronavirus restrictions, while sales of household goods and food fell back.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe upbeat result will offer some comfort to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) that consumers can withstand its aggressive tightening of monetary policy, though more timely data suggests some people are cutting back on non-essentials.The central bank lifted interest rates by another 50 basis points to 1.85% on Tuesday and flagged more to come, but also acknowledged that risks to economic growth were mounting. read more Markets responded by lengthening the odds on a further half-point hike in September, slightly favouring a move to 2.10%, though they still see a peak around 3.30% to 3.40% in March or April.Wednesday's retail data underlined the challenge the RBA faces on inflation: prices jumped 1.7%, on top of a 1.8% rise in the first quarter.The RBA has already saddled borrowers with 175 basis points of interest rate increases since May, easily the most aggressive tightening in three decades and a burden for Australians holding a record A$2 trillion in mortgage debt.The hikes delivered so far will add around A$560 a month in repayments to the average A$620,000 mortgage, and that is on top of surging bills for energy and food.House prices have also jolted into reverse, with values in Sydney falling at the fastest pace in 40 years. read more Harry Ottley, an economist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), noted internal data on the bank's cards showed spending on recreation, general retail, household goods and eating and drinking out had all eased over July."It is likely the increased cost to mortgage holders will put more downward pressure on household consumption," he said. "We are now seeing a moderation alongside other forward looking data like home prices, home lending and building approvals."This is a major reason why CBA expects interest rates to peak around 2.60%, well short of market pricing.($1 = 1.4486 Australian dollars)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Tom Hogue and Bradley PerrettOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Australians kept shopping in Q2, but wallets may now be closing.

Aug 2 (Reuters) - Candidates backed by Donald Trump prevailed in multiple Republican primaries on Tuesday, while a statewide ballot initiative in Kansas that would have allowed new restrictions on abortion was soundly rejected.The results showed that the former president, and his false claims that the 2020 election was tainted by fraud, still hold sway over Republican voters, while also suggesting that anger over the Supreme Court's June decision to end the nationwide constitutional right to abortion could fire up Democrats ahead of the November midterm elections.In Michigan, Tudor Dixon, a conservative commentator who has echoed Trump's election claims, won the Republican nomination for governor and will face Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer in one of the fall's most high-profile races that will also revolve around abortion rights in the state.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comKansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, another Trump-backed candidate, secured the Republican nomination for governor. He will face Democratic Governor Laura Kelly in November in what is expected to be a highly competitive race.With 85% of the estimated vote counted, 61.1% of Kansas voters had cast ballots in support of the state constitution's abortion protections, with 38.9% voting to remove them, a resounding victory for abortion rights advocates in a strongly conservative state. read more Unlike the Republican gubernatorial primaries, Kansas' abortion initiative reflected the choices of voters of both major political parties, as well as independents.In Missouri, Attorney General Eric Schmitt won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, boosting his party's chances of holding the seat after scandal-hit former Governor Eric Greitens finished well behind.TEST OF TRUMP INFLUENCETuesday's elections, including key contests in Arizona and Washington state, represent the latest test of Trump's sway over the Republican electorate. Several Trump-backed candidates have embraced the former president's falsehoods about voter fraud, raising concerns among some Republicans that they could be too extreme to defeat Democrats on Nov. 8. read more Two Republican U.S. representatives who voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol by his supporters, Peter Meijer of Michigan and Jamie Herrera Beutler of Washington, also faced Trump-endorsed primary challengers.With an economy teetering on the brink of recession and inflation surging, just 38% of Americans approve of President Joe Biden's job performance, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Tuesday - still near Biden's record low of 36%, hit in May. One in three voters said the biggest problem facing the United States today is the economy.Biden's unpopularity is weighing on Democrats heading into the November general election, when Republicans are favored to win control of the House of Representatives and perhaps the Senate.Control of either chamber would give Republicans the power to stymie Biden's legislative agenda while launching politically damaging hearings.As he flirts publicly with the possibility of running for president again in 2024, Trump has endorsed more than 200 candidates. Most are safe bets - incumbent Republicans in conservative districts - but even in competitive races he has had a winning record.Trump-backed nominees have won Republican primaries for U.S. Senate in Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania, though his picks lost nominating contests for Georgia governor and for the U.S. House in South Carolina."Trump remains really popular with Republican primary voters. I don't think you can underestimate how he has remade the party in his image," said Alex Conant, a Republican strategist. "Republicans who run against Trump tend to get trampled."On Tuesday, Arizona voters were picking between Trump-backed gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and Karrin Taylor Robson, who has the backing of Trump's former vice president, Mike Pence.Lake, a former news anchor, echoes Trump's false claims that his 2020 election defeat was the result of fraud and has said she would not have certified Biden's statewide victory in 2020. At a recent campaign stop, Lake claimed without evidence that fraud has already occurred during early voting, suggesting she may not accept a defeat on Tuesday.Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, who built a national profile by vociferously denying Trump's allegations, easily won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, Edison Research projected.The race to replace her as the state's top election official also includes a Trump-endorsed candidate, state Representative Mark Finchem, who was present at Trump's Jan. 6, 2021, speech in Washington that preceded the U.S. Capitol attack. He wrote on Twitter on Thursday, "Trump won," prompting a Democratic candidate, Adrian Fontes, to call him a "traitor."Arizona Republicans were also picking a challenger to take on Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, seen as one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents.Blake Masters, a former tech executive who has backed Trump's false fraud claims, has Trump's endorsement and the backing of tech billionaire Peter Thiel. He is leading in polls against Jim Lamon, a former power company executive, and Attorney General Mark Brnovich, whom Trump blames for not reversing Biden's 2020 statewide victory.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Joseph Ax in Princeton, New Jersey, additional reporting by Richard Cowan and Moira Warburton in Washington and Nathan Layne in Troy, Michigan; Editing by Scott Malone and Alistair BellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Trump-backed candidates prevail, while Kansas votes to preserve abortion rights.

Whether you're on the hunt for a vacation property as travel reopens, or you want a store for your cash as stocks somersault, Europe can offer a host of compelling second-home destinations.From access to fine food and rich culture to stunning scenery, the continent has something for everyone — and property purchasers are buying in.In the past year, Europe's prime real estate market has grown 5.6% amid continued demand, according to new research from international real estate agency Knight Frank. Meanwhile, rental returns in the region's most in-demand vacation destinations continue to rise."For second homeowners, Europe's cities offer culture, connectivity and a good quality of life, whilst for investors they offer strong tenant occupancy and relatively low purchase costs," Kate Everett-Allen, head of international residential research at Knight Frank, told CNBC.The growth comes as investors search for safe-haven assets and income-generating investments as inflation soars — with interest extending across the Atlantic.Yet, as with any investment, purchasing a property is a big financial commitment, and knowing where to start can be tricky. Using data from Knight Frank, here's CNBC's rundown of the best places to start looking for a second property in Europe.Top cities for property price growthIf you're in the market for capital growth, consider casting your eye to the ever-alluring cities of Western Europe.Price growth in Europe's prime real estate markets — categorized as the top 5% of the market in value terms — has been among the highest in the world in the past year, according to Knight Frank.Berlin, Germany has seen the strongest price growth in the year to June 2022, with high-end properties appreciating 12.6% on average.Berlin property prices have appreciated at the fastest click across Europe's prime real estate market, according to Knight Frank.Nikada | Istock | Getty ImagesThe annual uptick puts the German capital's growth rate well ahead that of other global cities like New York (7.3%), Hong Kong (3.1%) and London (2.5%).Elsewhere, property price appreciation has been strong this year across the high-end real estate markets of Edinburgh (11.2%), Dublin (10.2%), Zurich (10.2%) and Paris (8.9%).The slowdown will be felt most in lower price brackets and domestic-driven markets.The continued rise of the region's top cities comes as growth rates slow across the global property market amid rising interest rates and a darkening economic outlook. However, Knight Frank said the slowdown has not yet translated to property prices — with the luxury sector proving particularly resilient."Rising mortgage rates and a weakening global economic outlook are cooling some of the ebullience of the last two years, but the slowdown will be felt most in lower price brackets and domestic-driven markets," the report noted.Making an overseas property purchase is not without its challenges, however. Before embarking on an overseas purchase, prospective buyers should consider foreign exchange rates, local mortgages and taxes, ownership and sales costs, as well as any restrictions on foreign owners.Best locations for rental returnsIf you're looking for a buy-to-let property, Europe's prime vacation destinations may just fit the bill, with the Mediterranean coast an eternal favorite for holidaymakers.On top of the above considerations, there are a few other factors to consider when purchasing a rental holiday home. Those include location — both in terms of proximity to local amenities and accessibility to international airports — year-round demand to minimize void periods, and market liquidity.Italy's Tuscany and Liguria regions, France's south coast and French Alps, and Spain's Barcelona, Marbella and Balearic Islands are among some of the top locations in Europe to invest in a buy-to-let property based on those criteria, according to Knight Frank.Tuscany, Italy, home to rolling hills, glorious food and one of the world's greatest collections of Rennaissance art, is a perennial favorite for overseas property buyers.Slawomir Olzacki | Eyeem | Getty ImagesTuscany alone recorded a 30% year-on-year increase in enquiries in 2021, with the region accounting for two-thirds of all property searches within Italy.The Tuscan city of Lucca on the Serchio River is a particularly popular choice, representing a quarter of buyer requests in 2021 alongside Pisa and Bolgheri, and recording annual price growth of 6%, according to Knight Frank.The average property price sought by Knight Frank buyers in Lucca and Pisa now stands at around 1.7 million euros ($1.8 million) — well below the Tuscany region's 3.7 million euro average. Meantime, average daily rental rates stand at 471 euros. Buyer competition heats upA strengthening dollar and weaker euro is heating up Europe's property market, with the continent becoming an increasingly appealing destination not only for U.S. holidaymakers but also American real estate investors.The euro is currently trading at close to parity with the dollar, meaning U.S. buyers are enjoying a 15-20% discount on property prices in any of the 19 euro zone member countries compared to July 2021.And it shows. In the first five months of 2022, Knight Frank recorded a 37% increase in searches by U.S.-based buyers for French properties. Now, their search pool is expanding across the continent.We're now seeing U.S. buyers target traditional sunbelt areas, which is a departure from the norm.Mark Harveyhead of international, Knight Frank"In the past, U.S. interest has been focused on cities offering culture and connectivity from Rome to Paris and from Barcelona to Florence," Mark Harvey, Knight Frank's head of international, said."But we're now seeing U.S. buyers target traditional sunbelt areas, which is a departure from the norm," he continued, citing growing interest in destinations such as Mallorca, Sardinia and the South of France.With the U.S. Federal Reserve tightening monetary policy at a faster clip than the European Central Bank, that dollar rally could be set to continue, making Europe a competitive investment destination for some time to come."Further rate hikes by the Federal Reserve will see the dollar strengthen further against the euro leading to potentially greater discounts for U.S. buyers," Everett-Allen added.

From luxury city escapes to vacation rentals: These are Europe's best destinations to buy a second home.

People photographed in Lower Saxony, Germany, on July 19, 2022. A number of European countries were affected by a heatwave last month.Julian Stratenschulte | Picture Alliance | Getty ImagesIt's been called a "global emergency that goes beyond national borders" and described as "the biggest threat to security that modern humans have ever faced."Whatever one's views on the matter, discussions about climate change and its effects on the world we live in are here to stay, with academic studies, global summits and extreme weather generating headlines on an almost daily basis.In a recent interview with CNBC's "Sustainable Future," the founder of the CDP — a not for profit charity formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project — reflected on the sometimes fraught nature of the debate surrounding our planet and its future.   Speaking to CNBC's Tania Bryer, Paul Dickinson referenced what he called "a sort of anti-climate change movement that is predicated simply on people believing it's a sort of left-wing plot.""The truth is we're now realizing that this is about everybody," he said. "This is not a party political issue."Dickinson's argument will chime with those who see climate change as something that needs to be taken seriously, a viewpoint that, it would appear, is shared by many.According to the U.K.'s Office for National Statistics, for example, in Oct. 2021 three quarters of adults in Britain described themselves as being "either very or somewhat worried about the impact of climate change." By contrast, 19% "were neither worried nor unworried."In the United States, a 2020 report from the Pew Research Center found that "broad majorities of the public — including more than half of Republicans and overwhelming shares of Democrats — say they would favor a range of initiatives to reduce the impacts of climate change."While the Pew study pointed to shared concerns, it also provided a snapshot of how differences can sometimes be seen along party lines."Much larger shares of Democrats and those who lean toward the Democratic Party than Republicans and Republican leaners say human activity is contributing a great deal to climate change (72% vs. 22%)," it noted.Making moneyThe CDP was established in 2000. It says it provides businesses, regions, cities and states with a platform to "report information on their climate, deforestation and water security impacts."During his interview with CNBC, the CDP's Dickinson also spoke about the role big business could play in tackling climate change and responding to other pressing issues such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine."We need to recognize that global corporations have reached such a size and such an importance that … with their leadership on climate change and in their response to Ukraine, they can provide global norms of behavior that will protect public populations," he said.On how he would advise firms looking to reduce their emissions, Dickinson said they should "do more, do it now, and try and own this.""Climate change is like the internet," he continued. "It gets bigger every year, it never goes away, and you have to learn to make money from it."Read more about energy from CNBC ProWith many companies — not to mention households — beginning to feel the pinch of rising energy bills, Dickinson went on to sketch out a scenario in which a firm's approach to energy use would be crucial."Energy is expensive — it's actually getting more expensive," he said. "And as governments respond, there will be increasing taxation and regulation of energy.""A bit like the cost of cigarettes, let's just imagine that energy is going to get more and more expensive … until it's renewable," he said."In that journey, there is only upside for any company that looks at increasing its energy efficiency, reducing the energy in its products and services."The gains for a business could be "absolutely enormous" he went on to state."In every single sector and category, companies, I believe, can win market share and increase margin by focusing on energy efficiency."

Climate change isn't party political and people are realizing it's not a 'left-wing plot,' charity founder says.

LONDON, February 03: Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey leaves after a press conference at Bank of England on February 3, 2022 in London, England. The Bank is expected to hike interest rates for a fourth consecutive meeting on Thursday, but faces a touch balancing act between supporting growth and curbing inflation.Dan Kitwood | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesLONDON — The Bank of England on Thursday is broadly expected to hike interest rates by 50 basis points, its largest single increase since 1995.Such a move would take borrowing costs to 1.75% as the central bank battles soaring inflation and would be the first half-point hike since it was made independent from the British government in 1997.U.K. inflation hit a new 40-year high of 9.4% in June as food and energy prices continued to surge, deepening the country's historic cost-of-living crisis.Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey suggested in a hawkish speech on July 19 that the Monetary Policy Committee could consider a 50 basis point hike, vowing that there would be "no ifs or buts" in the Bank's commitment to returning inflation to its 2% target.A Reuters poll taken over the past week indicated that over 70% of market participants now anticipate a half-point rise.James Smith, developed markets economist at ING, said that although the economic data since June's 25 basis point hike had not moved the needle significantly, the MPC's prior commitment to act "forcefully" to bring inflation down, and the market more-or-less pricing in 50 basis points at this stage, means policymakers are likely to err on the aggressive side."Even so, the window for further rate hikes feels like it's closing. Markets have already pared back expectations for 'peak' Bank Rate from 3.5% to 2.9%, though that still implies two further 50bp rate hikes by December, plus a little more thereafter," Smith said."That still feels like a stretch. We've been penciling in a peak for Bank Rate at 2% (1.25% currently), which would mean just one more 25bp rate hike in September before policymakers stop tightening."He acknowledged that, in practice, this might be an underestimate, and depending on the signal the Bank sends on Thursday, ING wouldn't rule out an additional 25bps or at most 50ps worth of hikes beyond that.Smith said the key points to watch out for in Thursday's report would be whether the Bank continues to use the word "forcefully," and its forecasts, which plug market expectations into the Bank's models and expected policy trajectory.Should the forecasts indicate, as in previous iterations, an acceleration of unemployment and inflation well below target in two to three years' time, markets could deduce a more dovish message."Everybody takes that as a sign of them saying 'okay, well if we were to follow through with what markets are expecting, then inflation is going to be below target,' which is their very indirect way of saying 'we don't need to hike as aggressively as markets expect,'" Smith told CNBC on Tuesday."I think that will be repeated, I would expect, and that should be taken as a bit of a sign maybe that we're nearing the end of the tightening cycle."Growth worriesA more aggressive approach at Thursday's meeting would bring the Bank's monetary tightening trajectory closer to the trend set by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, which implemented 75 and 50 basis point hikes last month, respectively.But while it may fortify the Bank's inflation-fighting credibility, the faster pace of tightening will exacerbate downside risks to the already-slowing economy.Berenberg Senior Economist Kallum Pickering said in a note Monday that Governor Bailey will likely carry a majority of the nine-member MPC if he backs a 50 basis point hike on Thursday, and projected that with inflation likely still rising¸ the Bank will hike by another 50bp in September."Thereafter, the outlook is uncertain. Inflation will likely peak in October when the household energy price cap increases again. Amid growing evidence that tighter monetary conditions are weighing on demand and underlying inflation, we expect the BoE to hike by a further 25bp in November but pause in December," Pickering said.Berenberg expects the bank rate to reach 2.5% in November, up from 1.25% at present, though Pickering said the risks to this call are tilted to the upside. He suggested the BOE should be able to reverse some of the tightening during 2023 as inflation begins to roll over, and will likely cut the bank rate by 50 basis points next year with a further 50bp reduction in 2024.Energy price cap riseBritain's energy regulator Ofgem increased the energy price cap by 54% from April to accommodate soaring global costs, but is expected to rise by a greater degree in October, with annual household energy bills predicted to surpass £3,600 ($4,396).Barclays has historically been cautious on bank rates, placing a lot of faith in the MPC's "early and gradual" strategy. However, Chief U.K. Economist Fabrice Montagne told CNBC in an email last week that there is now a case for policymakers to act "forcefully" as energy prices continue to spiral."In particular, surging energy prices are feeding into our forecast of the Ofgem price cap and will force the BoE to revise up its inflation forecast yet again. Higher inflation for even longer is the kind of scenario that spooks central banks because of higher risks of persistence and spillovers," he said.The British banking giant now expects a 50 basis point hike on Tuesday followed by 25 basis points in September and then "status quo" at 2%.

Bank of England tipped for biggest interest rate hike in 27 years as inflation soars.

A woman wearing protective a face mask is seen at an open-air restaurant as the government declared the second state of emergency for the capital and some prefectures, amid coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan January 9, 2021. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comTOKYO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Japan's services sector activity almost completely stagnated in July as rising inflation and growing economic uncertainty weighed on sentiment, while firms also said a boost from the lifting of COVID-19 pandemic curbs had faded.The marked slowdown in activity in the sector offered an early warning sign that Japan's economy may struggle to stage a convincing recovery, a worrying trend for a country greatly exposed to fluctuations in global growth.The final au Jibun Bank Japan Services purchasing managers' index (PMI) slumped to a seasonally adjusted 50.3, marking the lowest reading since March.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe figure showed activity came in slightly above the 50-mark that separates contraction from expansion.It was below June's final of 54.0, which was a more than eight-year high, and a 51.2 flash reading."The Japanese services economy signalled that demand conditions had broadly stagnated at the start of the second half of the year as the boost from the wider reopening of the economy waned," said Usamah Bhatti, economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, which compiles the survey."Panel members commented that weaker economic conditions, partly due to inflation and uncertainty, had weighed on the sector."Average cost burdens faced by services firms remained elevated, coming in at the second-highest rate in the survey's history after June's record.The composite PMI, which is estimated by using both manufacturing and services, slipped to a five-month low of 50.2 from June's 53.0 final."Overall, private sector activity broadly stagnated in July following June's solid rise," added Bhatti."A renewed fall in manufacturing output and stalling aggregate new orders contributed to the weaker reading."Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Daniel Leussink; Editing by Sam HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Japan's services sector nearly stagnates in July - PMI.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi attends a meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan August 3, 2022. Taiwan Presidential Office/Handout via REUTERS Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comTAIPEI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The United States wants Taiwan to always have freedom with security and will not back away from that, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday, during a visit to Taipei fiercely criticised by China.While respecting the "One China" policy, our solidarity with Taiwan is more important than ever, Pelosi said, during a joint news conference with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. The U.S. supports the status quo and does not want anything to happen to Taiwan by force, Pelosi added.Asked about the economic consequences Taiwan has to face as a result of her visit, Pelosi said the U.S.' chips act opens the door for better economic exchanges between the United States and Taiwan.Taiwan is committed to maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan strait, Tsai said, adding that China's military exercises, launched in response to Pelosi's visit are an unnecessary reaction.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Sarah Wu, Writing by Martin Quin Pollard; Editing by Jacqueline WongOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

U.S. wants Taiwan to have freedom with security - Pelosi.

French bank Societe Generale's headquarters in Paris.Chesnot | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesSociete Generale on Wednesday reported better-than-expected earnings despite taking a 3.3 billion euro ($3.36 billion) hit from exiting its Russian operations.The French lender saw every unit grow in the second quarter, which helped offset the impact of its departure from Russia in the wake of Moscow's Ukraine invasion.Analysts estimated a net loss of 2.85 billion euros for the quarter, according to Refinitiv, however, the bank posted a net loss of 1.48 billion euros."We combined, in the first half of 2022, strong growth in revenues and underlying profitability above 10% (ROTE) and we were able to manage our exit from the Russian activities without significant capital impact and without handicapping the Group's strategic developments," Fréderic Oudéa, the group's chief executive officer, said in a statement.Other highlights for the quarter:Revenues were 7 billion euros for the quarter.Operating expenses reached 4.5 billion euros.CET 1 ratio, a measure of bank solvency, stood at 12.9% at the end of June.The French retail bank posted a net profit 18.7% higher from the previous quarter. International retail banking also rose 33% from the previous three-month period. The Global Banking unit also posted a jump of almost 50% in net income from the previous quarter.Going forward, the French bank said it aims to achieve a return on tangible equity, a measure of profitability, of 10% and a CET 1 ratio of 12% in 2025. It also wants an average annual revenue growth above or equal to 3% until then.The stock is 28% lower year-to-date.

SocGen posts second-quarter loss after taking 3.3 billion euro hit on Russia exit.

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comTAIPEI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry said on Wednesday that Chinese military drills have violated United Nations rules, invaded Taiwan's territorial space and amount to a blockade of its air and sea, amid high tensions as U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits the island.Taiwan's defence ministry said the island will firmly defend its security, counter any move that violates territorial sovereignty and enhance its alertness level with the principle of not asking for war.The defence ministry added during a news conference on Wednesday that China continues to launch psychological warfare on Taiwan, and that citizens should not believe in rumours and report any fake news to the government.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Yimou Lee; Writing by Martin Quin Pollard; Editing by Tom HogueOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Taiwan defence ministry says Chinese drills seriously violated island's sovereignty.

Toyota Motor Corporation cars are seen at a briefing on the company's strategies on battery EVs in Tokyo, Japan December 14, 2021. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comTOKYO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) is expected to report a double-digit drop in first-quarter profit this week, as a chip shortage and supply-chain woes forced the world's top automaker by sales to repeatedly slash production targets.The Japanese car maker cut its monthly production targets three times during the April-June first quarter, falling 10% behind its initial goals, due to shortages of semiconductors and the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns in China.Like other manufacturers, Toyota is grappling with higher costs and fears that global inflation could put the brakes on consumer demand. Its production woes are notable because they mark a departure from its initial success in navigating supply problems at the start of the pandemic.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comLast year first-quarter profit surged as Japan's biggest automaker left the worst of the pandemic's woes behind, but this year, the only positive in the first quarter is likely to be the weaker yen, said Koji Endo, an analyst at SBI Securities."Last year's first quarter was a period of thorough cost cutting," Endo said. "Compared to that, profits are likely to have fallen sharply this time around."Toyota is expected to report on Thursday a 15% decrease in operating profit to 845.8 billion yen ($6.47 billion) for the April-June quarter, according to the average estimate in a poll of 10 analysts by Refinitiv. The profit drop, nevertheless, is the smallest for the automaker in three quarters.Toyota, Nissan, Honda shares in 2022The yen weakened some 10% during the April-June quarter, almost touching 137 to the dollar at one point, compared to Toyota's forecast for the year of 115 yen.A weak yen is typically a boon for companies that export, as it boosts revenue when overseas earnings are brought home. However, some of the benefit has been offset in recent years as Japanese companies manufacture more abroad, meaning that their overseas costs also go up as the yen weakens. read more CHALLENGESToyota and its major Japanese rivals, Nissan Motor (7201.T) and Honda Motor (7267.T), are also grappling with longer term challenges including electrification and automation of vehicles.And consumer trust issues rear their head frequently in Japan, with major Toyota affiliate Hino Motors (7205.T) admitting on Tuesday it falsified emissions data for longer than previously disclosed. read more A key near-term question for analysts and investors is whether Toyota can maintain the 9.7 million global vehicle production target for the current financial year ending in March.Meeting that would likely depend on the outlook for the chips shortage and supply chains - as well as the economic outlook, said Endo of SBI Securities.But even if the economy slows down, Toyota has an enormous backlog of orders, and a decrease in demand for consumer electronics could divert chips to automobile production, he said.If Toyota does not change the full-year production target in the second quarter, that means it is very confident about production in the second half of the year to hit the goal, he said.($1 = 130.6300 yen)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Satoshi Sugiyama; Editing by David Dolan and Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Toyota likely to post lower Q1 profit as production woes cast shadow.

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comTAIPEI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - China furiously condemned the highest-level U.S. visit to Taiwan in 25 years as House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi hailed the self-ruled island as "one of the freest societies in the world" in a speech to the parliament in Taipei on Wednesday.Beijing demonstrated its anger with Pelosi's presence on an island that it says is part of China with a burst of military activity in the surrounding waters, and by summoning the U.S. ambassador in Beijing, and announcing the suspension of several agricultural imports from Taiwan.Pelosi arrived in Taipei late on Tuesday on an unannounced but closely watched trip, saying that it shows unwavering U.S. commitment to Taiwan's democracy.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAddressing parliament on Wednesday, Pelosi praised President Tsai Ing-wen, who Beijing suspects of pushing for formal independence - a red line for China."We thank you for your leadership. We want the world to recognize that," Pelosi said, while also calling for increased inter-parliamentary cooperation.Pelosi went on to say that new U.S. legislation aimed at strengthening the American chip industry to compete with China "offers greater opportunity for US-Taiwan economic cooperation."Now more than ever, America's solidarity with Taiwan is crucial, Pelosi told Tsai, adding that America's determination to preserve democracy in Taiwan and the rest of the world remains iron-clad. read more She was also set to meet with human rights activists later in the day.The last House Speaker to go to Taiwan was Newt Gingrich visited in 1997. But Pelosi's visit comes amid sharply deteriorating Sino-U.S. relations, and China has emerged as a far more powerful economic, military and geopolitical force during the past quarter century.China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has never renounced using force to bring it under its control. The United States warned China against using the visit as a pretext for military action against Taiwan.Early on Wednesday, China's customs department announced a suspension of imports of citrus fruits, chilled white striped hairtail and frozen horse mackerel from Taiwan, while its commerce ministry suspended export of natural sand to Taiwan.A long-time China critic, especially on human rights, Pelosi was set to meet later on Wednesday with a former Tiananman activist, a Hong Kong bookseller who had been detained by China and a Taiwanese activist recently released by China, people familiar with the matter said.U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi attends a meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan August 3, 2022. Taiwan Presidential Office/Handout via REUTERS MILITARY DRILLSShortly after Pelosi's arrival, China's military announced joint air and sea drills near Taiwan and test launches of conventional missiles in the sea east of Taiwan, with Chinese state news agency Xinhua describing live-fire drills and other exercises around Taiwan from Thursday to Sunday.China's foreign ministry said Pelosi's visit seriously damages peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, "has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."Before Pelosi's arrival on Tuesday, Chinese warplanes buzzed the line dividing the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese military said it was on high alert and will launch "targeted military operations" in response to Pelosi's visit.White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday after Pelosi's arrival that the United States "is not going to be intimidated" by China's threats or bellicose rhetoric and that there is no reason her visit should precipitate a crisis or conflict."We will continue to support Taiwan, defend a free and open Indo-Pacific and seek to maintain communication with Beijing," Kirby told a later White House briefing, adding that the United States "will not engage in sabre-rattling."Kirby said China might engage in "economic coercion" toward Taiwan, adding that the impact on American-Chinese relations will depend on Beijing's actions in the coming days and weeks.The United States has no official diplomatic relations with Taiwan but is bound by American law to provide it with the means to defend itself. China views visits by U.S. officials to Taiwan as sending an encouraging signal to the pro-independence camp on the island. Taiwan rejects China's sovereignty claims, saying only the Taiwanese people can decide the island's future.Taiwan's cabinet on Wednesday said the military has increased its alertness level. The island's defence ministry said 21 Chinese aircraft entered its air defence identification zone on Tuesday, and that China was attempting to threaten key ports and cities with drills in the surrounding waters."The so-called drill areas are falling within the busiest international channels in the Indo-Pacific region," a senior Taiwan official familiar with its security planning told Reuters on Wednesday."We can see China's ambition: to make the Taiwan Strait non-international waters, as well as making the entire area west of the first island chain in the western pacific its sphere of influence," the person said.Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a news conference that the government has conveyed concerns over the military operations to China, and reiterated that Japan hopes issues over the Taiwan Strait will be resolved through dialogue.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Yimou Lee and Sarah Wu Writing by Tony Munroe; Editing by Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Pelosi hails Taiwan's free society as China holds military drills, vents anger.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi attends a meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan August 3, 2022. Taiwan Presidential Office/Handout via REUTERSRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comBEIJING, Aug 3 (Reuters) - China on Wednesday suspended exports of natural sand to Taiwan and halted imports of fruit and fish products from the self-governed island as U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in a trip condemned by Beijing. read more In a warning salvo ahead of Pelosi's visit, Chinese customs had suspended imports from 35 Taiwanese exporters of biscuits and pastries since Monday. read more In January-June, China's imports from Taiwan reached $122.5 billion, up 7.3% from a year earlier, Chinese customs data showed. Top imported goods included integrated circuits and electronic components.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comNATURAL SANDChina's commerce ministry said exports of natural sand - widely used for construction and in concrete - to Taiwan were suspended from Wednesday.Such a move was based on laws and regulations, the ministry said, without elaborating.In March 2007, China halted exports of natural sand to Taiwan due to environmental concerns. The ban lasted for a year. According to Chinese official data, more than 90% of Taiwan's natural sand imports came from China in 2007.FRUIT AND FISHChina also halted imports of citrus fruit, chilled white striped hairtail and frozen horse mackerel from Taiwan from Wednesday, a suspension which it said was due to pesticide residue found on citrus fruit, while traces of the novel coronavirus were detected on the packaging of some frozen fish products in June.China's top food and agricultural imports from Taiwan include seafood, coffee, dairy products, beverages and vinegar.In January-June, China's biggest agricultural and food import items from Taiwan were fish and other aquatic invertebrates, reaching 399 million yuan ($59 million).Earlier this year, China suspended imports of grouper fish from Taiwan, saying it had detected banned chemicals.Last year, Beijing also suspended pineapple, sugar apple and wax apple imports from the island, citing pest concerns. read more TWO FOUNDATIONSChina also vowed to take "disciplinary actions" against two Taiwan foundations which it claimed had aggressively engaged in pro-independence separatist activities.The two foundations - Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and Taiwan Foreign Ministry's International Cooperation and Development Fund - will be banned from cooperating with any organisations, companies and individuals in the mainland, China's state news agency Xinhua on Wednesday cited Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, as saying.China will punish any mainland organisations, companies and individuals that provide financial support to or serve the two foundations, Xinhua reported, adding other measures will be adopted if necessary.In addition, any deal or cooperation between four specific Taiwanese firms and mainland companies are not allowed due to their donations to the two foundations.Executives at the four Taiwanese companies - solar producer Speedtech Energy Co., Hyweb Technology Co., medical equipment producer Skyla, and cold chain vehicle fleet management company SkyEyes - will be prohibited from entering mainland China.($1 = 6.7506 Chinese yuan renminbi)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Beijing Newsroom, Ryan Woo and Emily Chow; Editing by Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Factbox: Economic sanctions China has imposed on Taiwan over Pelosi visit.

The sun is reflected in FIFA's logo in front of FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland November 19, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comBUENOS AIRES, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay submitted a joint bid on Tuesday to host the 2030 World Cup, an effort that if successful would bring the global tournament back to Uruguay a century after it hosted the first World Cup in 1930."This is the dream of a continent," said Alejandro Dominguez, president of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL)."There will be more World Cups, but the Cup only turns 100 one time, and it needs to come home," Dominguez said in an event at Montevideo's Centenario Stadium, where Uruguay defeated Argentina to win the first ever World Cup.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comArgentina and Chile have since also hosted the games, in 1978 and 1962, respectively."It's just for the World Cup to be hosted where it all began 100 years later," Ignacio Alonso, president of the Uruguayan Football Association, told reporters.Dominguez said there are "more than sufficient" reasons for FIFA to accept the four countries' single candidacy. The 2030 World Cup will follow the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.For now, the South American countries' top competition appears to come from Spain and Portugal, which last month submitted a joint bid to host the tournament.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Ramiro Scandolo; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

'The dream of a continent': Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay submit joint World Cup 2030 bid.

get the free app Updated on: August 3, 2022 / 2:16 AM / CBS News Primaries test Trump's hold on Republican Party Primaries test Trump's hold on Republican Party 02:15 Voters were cast Tuesday in five states in some of the states that were battlegrounds in 2020 — and will be again in 2024. Kansas voters voted to preserve abortion access to for women Tuesday night, as abortion faced its first test at the ballot box since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. With former President Donald Trump's influence looming large in some of Tuesday's primaries, a CBS News poll released Tuesday showed that for Republicans, a Trump endorsement is a plus for that candidate, and even more so among Republicans who say they "always" vote in Republican primaries, most of whom identify as MAGA Republicans. ArizonaIn Arizona, former President Donald Trump has rallied for his allies in the Senate, governor and secretary of state races. Arizona was one of the key battleground states that went for President Joe Biden in 2020. After the election, some Republicans in the state tried to overturn the results, with a plan to send a slate of phony alternate electors who supported Trump to Congress for the Electoral College certification, rather than the electors won by President Biden. In the Republican primary to take on Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly in November, Trump has backed Blake Masters, who has a comfortable lead according to two polls ahead of the primary. For governor, former TV news anchor Kari Lake and lawyer Karrin Taylor Robson are in a tight contest for the GOP nomination that repeats a dynamic between Trump and former Vice President MIke Pence. Trump has backed Lake, while Pence, along with term-limited sitting Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, have backed Taylor Robson. Last month, Trump and Pence held dueling rallies for Lake and Robson on the same day.  A where to vote sign points voters in the direction of the polling station as the sun beats down as Arizona voters go the polls to cast their ballots, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, in Phoenix. Ross D. Franklin / AP Trump has also backed a challenger to state House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who testified in June at a House Jan. 6 committee public hearing. Bowers is term-limited out of that position but is running for state Senate. Days before the primary, the Arizona GOP voted to formally censure him for his testimony, a culmination of the frustrations many far-right members have with Bowers' past refusal to support Trump-backed attempts to overturn the 2020 election. This year, Bowers helped block a bill, introduced by Secretary of State candidate and current state Rep. Shawnna Bolick, to empower the legislature to choose its own electors, regardless of how the people voted. For his actions, the former president lashed out against him, calling the Speaker a "RINO coward," and endorsed his opponent, former state Sen. David Farnsworth.MissouriCBS News projects that Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who has been leading the crowded field, wins the Republican nomination for the open Senate seat in Missouri. Eric Greitens, the former governor who resigned in 2018 and has faced allegations of domestic abuse, led early in the race, but an $11 million ad blitz by two anti-Greitens groups chipped it away.On the eve of the primary, Trump issued a kind of split endorsement in the race, throwing his support behind "ERIC." Both Eric Schmitt and Eric Greitens quickly claimed they'd won his backing.In Missouri's 1st Congressional District, CBS News projects incumbent Rep. Cori Bush,  who unseated a longtime incumbent in 2020, will win her primary. Meanwhile, three of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump are facing Trump-backed primary challengers. Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social to urge Republican voters to "knock out impeachment slime." MichiganIn Michigan, CBS News projects John Gibbs defeats incumbent Rep. Peter Meijer, one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump. Trump had backed Gibbs in the primary, and Gibbs will now face Democratic nominee Hillary Scholten in the general election. In a statement early Wednesday, Meijer said he is "proud to have remained true to my principles, even when doing so came at a significant political cost." In the race to take on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, CBS News projects Tudor Dixon will win the Republican nomination. Dixon, backed by Trump, had been seen by Republican strategists as the strongest candidate to take on Whitmer. Among the Republicans Dixon defeated was Ryan Kelley, who was arrested in June related to his participation in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. "Now we have the opportunity to truly hold Gretchen Whitmer accountable for the pain she has inflicted on every one of us in the past three years," Dixon said at her election night watch party in Grand Rapids, Mich., referring to the lockdowns of schools imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.WashingtonAnd in Washington, the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler in the 3rd District and Dan Newhouse in the 4th District both face the risk of being shut out because of Trump-backed challengers. KansasKansas voted to preserve abortion access, voting "no" on the ability to amend the state constitution, marking the first time a state has voted on abortion, since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.Kansas Democratic Party Chairwoman Vicki Hiatt celebrated the win for abortion access, saying in a statement, "This outcome affirms what we know is true: Kansans want common sense leadership that will protect their right to keep politicians out of their health care decisions."In 2019, Kansas' state Supreme Court ruled that the right to an abortion is protected in the state constitution's bill of rights. Voters were deciding whether to allow the constitution to be amended in order to ban abortion rights.    6:15 PM / August 2, 2022 U.S. Senate Arizona Republican primary Justin Olson, Mick McGuire, Mark Brnovich, Jim Lamon and Blake Masters are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona governor Republican primary Matt Salmon, Scott Neeley, Paola Tulliani-Zen, Karrin Taylor Robson and Kari Lake are on the ballot.    6:24 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona state Senate Republican primary Rusty Bowers and David Farnsworth are on the ballot.   6:13 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Republican primary Shawnna Bollock, Michelle Ugenti-Rita, Beau Lane and Mark Finchem are on the ballot.   6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona Secretary of State Democratic primary Adrian Fontes and Reginald Bolding are on the ballot.    6:12 PM / August 2, 2022 Arizona 2nd Congressional District Republican primary Ron Watkins, Steven Krystofiak, Andy Yates, John Moore, Mark DeLuzio, Eli Crane and Walt Blackman are on the ballot.    Updated 10:07 PM U.S. Senate Missouri Republican primary: CBS News projects Eric Schmitt wins CBS News projects Eric Schmitt will win the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Missouri.   Updated 12:17 AM U.S. Senate Missouri Democratic primary: CBS News projects Trudy Busch Valentine wins CBS News projects Trudy Busch Valentine wins the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Missouri.    Updated 10:56 PM Missouri 1st Congressional District Democratic primary: CBS News projects Cori Bush wins CBS News projects Cori Bush wins the Democratic primary in Missouri's 1st Congressional District.    Updated 10:42 PM CBS News projects Kansas voters reject amending constitution on abortion CBS News projects "No" wins, meaning the state constitution will remain as is, reaffirming the right to an abortion.   Updated 9:03 PM Kansas Republican governor: CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win CBS News projects Derek Schmidt will win the Republican nomination for Kansas governor.    Updated 9:48 PM Michigan Republican governor primary: CBS News projects Tudor Dixon will win CBS News projects Tudor Dixon will win the Michigan Republican primary for governor   Updated 8m ago Michigan 3rd Congressional District Republican primary: CBS News projects John Gibbs wins CBS News projects John Gibbs wins the Republican primary in Michigan's 3rd Congressional District.    Updated 10:56 PM Michigan 11th Congressional District Democratic primary: CBS News projects Haley Stevens wins CBS News projects Haley Stevens wins the Democratic nomination Michigan's 11th Congressional District.    6:04 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 3rd Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Jaime Herrera Beutler, Davy Ray, Leslie French, Vicki Kraft, Heidi St. John, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Joe Kent, Chris Byrd, Oliver Black are on the ballot.    6:03 PM / August 2, 2022 Washington 4th Congressional District (top 2 vote-getters) Dan Newhouse, Jacek Kobiesa, Benancio Garcia, Corey Gibson, Jerrold Sessler, Brad Klippert, Doug White and Loren Culp are on the ballot.

Live Updates: 2022 midterm primary results in Arizona, Missouri, Kansas, Michigan and Washington.

People walk on the Long Walk near Windsor Castle, in Windsor, Britain, January 13, 2022. REUTERS/Peter NichollsRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comLONDON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - A man arrested with a crossbow at Queen Elizabeth's Windsor Castle home on Christmas Day last year has been charged with having a weapon with intent to "alarm her Majesty" under Britain's Treason Act, police and prosecutors said on Tuesday.Jaswant Singh Chail, 20, from Southampton in southern England, had been arrested on Dec. 25 while carrying a crossbow in the grounds of the castle to the west of London where the 96-year-old monarch mostly resides, prosecutors said.Following an investigation by counter-terrorism police, he was charged with making threats to kill, possession of an offensive weapon and an offence under section 2 of the Treason Act 1842.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThis section details punishment for "discharging or aiming fire-arms, or throwing or using any offensive matter or weapon, with intent to injure or alarm her Majesty".Chail will appear at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Aug. 17."The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Chail are active and that he has the right to a fair trial," Nick Price, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said.The queen was at the castle at the time of the incident along with her son and heir Prince Charles, his wife Camilla and other close family.Police said Chail had not broken into any buildings.Security breaches at royal residences are rare. The most serious one in the queen's reign happened in 1982, when an intruder climbed a wall to enter Buckingham Palace, her London home, and made his way to her bedroom.In 2003, Aaron Barschak, who called himself "the comedy terrorist", evaded security at Windsor wearing a pink dress and an Osama bin Laden-styled beard to gatecrash the 21st birthday party of Charles's elder son Prince William, the second-in-line for the throne.The last person to be convicted under the more serious medieval 1351 Treason Act was William Joyce, a propagandist for Nazi Germany nicknamed Lord Haw Haw who broadcast to Britain during World War Two and was hanged in 1946.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Michael Holden; editing by David Milliken and Tomasz JanowskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Man charged under Britain's Treason Act over Christmas Day incident at queen's home.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described the situation in the Donbas in eastern Ukraine as hellish, adding that Russia still has the upperhand in the region. Kyiv ordered the mandatory evacuation of the Donetsk, a part of the Donbas, last weekend amid severe fighting there.The first shipment of grain exports from Ukraine in months safely reached Istanbul, Turkey last night. The shipment will be inspected there Wednesday before carrying on its journey to Tripoli in Lebanon. The Sierra-Leone flagged Razoni departed Odesa on Monday, with Zelenskyy calling the shipment a "positive signal."The United States slapped more sanctions on Russian oligarchs on Tuesday, as the U.S. Senate moved closer to a vote to admit Sweden and Finland into the NATO military alliance.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke of fears over a nuclear accident in Ukraine. He told reporters late Monday that there are "credible reports" that Russia "is using this plant as the equivalent of a human shield, but a nuclear shield in the sense that it's firing on Ukrainians from around the plant."First grain shipment out of Ukraine in months reaches Turkey safelyThe first grain ship to leave Ukraine in months has arrived safely in Turkish waters, where it will be inspected before it continues its journey to Lebanon.The shipment comes after a deal was brokered between Russia and Ukraine by Turkey and the United Nations to allow vital exports to resume from the country after a blockade that contributed to global shortages of wheat and cooking oil, of which Ukraine is a major producer and exporter.The ship was carrying more than 26,000 tonnes of corn and is due to undergo an inspection in Istanbul before continuing to Tripoli.An aerial view of Sierra Leone-flagged dry cargo ship Razoni which departed from the port of Odesa Monday, arriving at the Black Sea entrance of the Bosporus Strait, in Istanbul, Turkey, on August 3, 2022.Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty ImagesThe U.N.-led Joint Coordination Centre requested that all parties inform their militaries of the ship's movements in order to ensure its safe passage from Ukraine through the Black Sea, where much of the coast has been mined by both Russia and Ukraine amid the invasion, to Turkish waters in the Bosporus.The agreement, which was reached after much negotiation between the warring countries, has been hailed as a rare success for international diplomacy, with some officials hoping it could be built upon to potentially reach a cease-fire.U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday after the merchant vessel, the Razoni, left the port of Odesa that it "was loaded with two commodities in short supply: corn and hope.""Hope for millions of people around the world who depend on the smooth running of Ukraine's ports to feed their families. The ship's departure is the first concrete result of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. It has been a long journey since I presented the proposal to the leaders of the Russian Federation and Ukraine at the end of April," he said. The Razoni's departure was, he added, an "enormous collective achievement."— Holly Ellyatt'It's just hell': President Zelenskyy describes the situation in the DonbasUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the situation in the Donbas in eastern Ukraine, the epicenter of the war in Ukraine, is "just hell."Describing Russia's "fire superiority" in his nightly video message, Zelenskyy said Ukraine's forces "still cannot completely break the advantage of the Russian army in artillery and in manpower, and this is very felt in the battles, especially in Donbas - Pisky, Avdiyivka, other directions." "It's just hell. It can't even be described in words," he added.Firefighters try to put out a fire after the Russian shelling of a house in Bakhmut in Donetsk, Ukraine, on July 27, 2022.Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty ImagesWith intense fighting in the Donbas, Ukraine has ordered residents in one of its constituent regions, Donetsk, to evacuate while Kyiv discusses the need for more weapons with its international allies. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg spoke with President Zelenskyy about more military aid for Ukraine, tweeting Wednesday that "it's vital that NATO and allies provide even more assistance to Ukraine even faster."People board the evacuation train from the Donbas region to the west of Ukraine, at the train station in Pokrovsk, on August 2, 2022.Bulent Kilic | Afp | Getty ImagesHe said that the two also discussed the first shipment of grain since Russia's late February invasion and subsequent naval blockade of Ukrainian ports.Zelenskyy also commented on the initial success of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal between Russia and Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations, to enable the resumption of exports of vital produce from Ukraine by sea."Our goal now is to have regularity: so that when one ship leaves the port, there should be other ships as well - both those loading and those on the approach to the port. Continuity and regularity is the necessary principle. All consumers of our agricultural products need it," he said.— Holly EllyattRead CNBC's previous blog here:Two Republican senators propose amendments ahead of the vote to add Finland and Sweden to NATONATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (C), Finland Ministers for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto (L) and Sweden Foreign minister Ann Linde (R) give a press conference after their meeting at the Nato headquarters in Brussels on January 24, 2022.John Thys | AFP | Getty ImagesTwo Republican senators have proposed amendments on the vote to add Sweden and Finland to NATO.Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, both are seeking changes to the treaty vote as Congress prepares to head into recess.Paul told NBC News that his amendment states that "nothing in the Article Five portion of the NATO Treaty supersedes the congressional directive that we have to declare war." The NATO provision holds than an attack on one member of the alliance is an attack on all members. Sullivan told NBC News that his amendment states that every member of NATO, to now include Sweden and Finland, should commit to the 2% of GDP spending on defense goal established at the 2014 NATO Wales Summit.The vote to include Sweden and Finland in NATO is expected to overwhelmingly pass.— Amanda MaciasU.S. slaps more sanctions on Russian officials and oligarchsRed Square, MoscowMike Hewitt | Getty ImagesSecretary of State Antony Blinken announced new sanctions on Russian oligarchs and state-owned entities.Below is the State Department's fact sheet of imposed penalties on the following Russian oligarchs:Alexander Ponomarenko "for operating or having operated in the aerospace sector of the Russian economy. He is an oligarch with close ties to other oligarchs and the construction of Vladimir Putin's seaside palace." He has been sanctioned by the U.K., European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.Dmitry Pumpyanskiy "for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy." The U.K., European Union and New Zealand have also designated him. Pumpyanskiy has ties to the yacht "Axioma," which is now being identified as blocked property.Andrey Melnichenko "for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy." Like Pumpyanskiy, he has also been designated by the U.K., European Union, and New Zealand."We are also imposing additional costs on Russia's war machine by designating 24 Russian defense and technology-related entities," Blinken wrote in a statement. "Russia has systematically focused on exploiting high-technology research and innovations to advance Moscow's war-fighting capabilities – the same defense capabilities that Russia's military is using in its vicious attacks hitting Ukraine's population centers and resulting in the deaths of civilians, including children," he added.— Amanda MaciasMarch was the deadliest month of Russia's war in Ukraine, UN saysThe United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner said that March was so far the deadliest month in Russia's war in Ukraine.There were more than 3,100 civilian casualties and 2,400 injuries due to the conflict in March, according to data compiled by the UN. Total civilian casualties from 24 February to 31 July 2022 as compiled by the United Nations.U.N. Human Rights Office of the High CommissionerThe United Nations has confirmed 5,327 civilian deaths and 7,257 injuries in Ukraine since Russia invaded on Feb. 24."Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects, including shelling from heavy artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, missiles and air strikes," the UN office wrote in a report.The human rights office added that the majority of casualties and injuries were reported in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.— Amanda Macias

'It's just hell': Ukraine says Russia has the advantage in battle for the Donbas; grain ship safely arrives in Turkey.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi attends a meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan August 3, 2022. Taiwan Presidential Office/Handout via REUTERS Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comHONG KONG, Aug 3 (Reuters) - As China embarks on an unprecedented six days of military drills surrounding Taiwan, security analysts are warning of mounting risks of escalation even if Beijing seeks to avoid its protests over Nancy Pelosi's visit from sparking full blown conflict.China announced drills in six locations surrounding Taiwan soon after House Speaker Pelosi - a veteran China critic and the third most senior U.S. politician - landed in Taipei on Tuesday night. read more Taiwan officials said the live fire drills violate United Nations rules, invade Taiwan's territorial space and are a direct challenge to free air and sea navigation. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comChina's Eastern Theatre Command said a multi-force exercise involving the Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, Strategic Support Force and Joint Logistics Support Force, took place in the air and sea to the north, southwest and southeast of Taiwan on Wednesday.Chinese military practiced operations including seal and control, assault at sea and strike on land.Analysts spoken to by Reuters say it remains unclear if China will fire cruise or ballistic missiles directly over the island, or attempt a blockade for the first time.Song Zhongping, a Hong Kong-based military commentator, said it appeared the People's Liberation Army wanted to practise blockading the island if it had to in a later war."The goal of these exercises, to put it bluntly, is to prepare for the military fight with Taiwan."Unusually, the drills were announced with a locator map circulated by the official Xinhua news agency - a factor that for some analysts and scholars shows the need to play to both domestic and foreign audiences."We can see China's ambition: to make the Taiwan Strait non-international waters, as well as making the entire area west of the first island chain in the western pacific its sphere of influence," said a senior Taiwanese official familiar with its security planning.If China got what it wanted, the official said, the impact would "be fatal for the safety and stability of regional countries, as well as for the regional economy."Singapore-based security scholar Collin Koh said the Pelosi visit had trapped China between having to show a resolute and sweeping response while avoiding a full-blown conflict."Even if they want to avoid that outcome, there are still significant possibilities for an accidental escalation," said Koh, of the of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.Maps of the drills produced by China show they go far beyond the missile firings in the straits in 1996 when Beijing protested the island's first direct presidential election in what became known as the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis. read more Significantly, in the north, east and south, the proposed exercise areas bisect Taiwan's claimed 12 nautical miles of territorial waters - something Taiwanese officials say challenges the international order and amount to a blockade of its sea and air space.In 1996, the United States navy dispatched two aircraft carriers close to the straits to effectively end the crisis - a move many analysts consider more challenging now given China's military growth, including a vastly more capable missile inventory.A U.S. Navy official confirmed to Reuters on Tuesday that the 7th Fleet had deployed the USS Ronald Reagan carrier and four other warships, including a guided missile cruiser, in the Philippine Sea east of Taiwan as part of a "routine deployment".The Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii did not immediately respond to Reuters' questions on the Chinese drills on Wednesday.Koh said advanced U.S. and Taiwanese reconnaissance aircraft would see the drills as an opportunity to probe Chinese military systems and communications, potentially adding to risks if Chinese planes responded.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting By Greg Torode and Yew Lun Tian; additional reporting by Yimou Lee in Taipei; Editing by Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Risks mount from China drills near Taiwan during Pelosi visit - analysts.

Voter mark their ballots during the primary election and abortion referendum at a Wyandotte County polling station in Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. August 2, 2022. REUTERS/Eric CoxRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAug 3 (Reuters) - Voters in Arizona, Michigan, Kansas, Missouri and Washington were choosing candidates for U.S. Congress, governor and other offices as former President Donald Trump's effort to maintain dominance over the Republican Party was tested anew.Here are the key primary races to watch:MICHIGAN'S 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTFormer Trump administration official John Gibbs defeated incumbent U.S. Representative Peter Meijer for the Republican nomination. Meijer was one of 10 House of Representative Republicans to vote for Trump's second impeachment.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comGibbs won with Trump's backing and will face Democrat Hillary Scholten in the November general election.Meijer, a moderate, was seeking a second term in a district that Democrats see as a potential pickup. The campaign arm for House Democrats angered some supporters by running ads to promote Gibbs, who is seen as an easier target in November.ARIZONA GOVERNORArizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, who built a national profile by vociferously denying Trump's voter fraud allegations, easily defeated Marco Lopez, a former Obama administration official and former mayor of Nogales, in the Democratic primary race for governor.On the Republican side, contenders include former news anchor Kari Lake, who is endorsed by Trump and has echoed his false claims that the 2020 election was fraudulent. Her main rival is developer Karrin Taylor Robson, who is backed by several establishment Republicans including Trump's former vice president, Mike Pence, and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey.KANSAS ABORTION VOTEVoters in Kansas went on record overwhelmingly supporting the state constitution's protection of abortion rights, according to projections by Edison Research.The defeat of a proposed constitutional amendment declaring that there is no such right marked the first statewide electoral test of abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.Had anti-abortion forces prevailed, the ballot question would have reversed a 2019 state Supreme Court ruling that established the right to abortion in Kansas.MISSOURI U.S. SENATERepublican Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt won the state party's nomination to run for U.S. Senate, defeating Eric Greitens, the former governor who resigned in disgrace after sexual assault and campaign finance fraud scandals.Schmitt's victory was a relief to many establishment Republicans who feared they might lose the seat if Greitens were nominated to replace retiring Republican Senator Roy Blunt.U.S. Representative Vicky Hartzler also had been vying for her party's nomination.One day before the vote, Trump said in a statement that he supported "Eric," refusing to say whether he was endorsing Greitens or Schmitt.MICHIGAN GOVERNORTudor Dixon, a former steel industry businesswoman and conservative commentator who was endorsed by Trump and has echoed the ex-president's false election fraud allegations, prevailed over a field of Republican primary candidates for governor in Michigan, Edison Research projected.Dixon will now take on Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, whose aggressive approach to closing down businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic has made her a top target for conservatives.The chaotic Republican primary saw several candidates disqualified after a scandal involving falsified signatures on petitions to get on the ballot. In June, the FBI arrested candidate Ryan Kelley, a real estate broker, on misdemeanor charges stemming from the U.S. Capitol attack, though he continued to campaign.KANSAS GOVERNORKansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who had Trump's endorsement, defeated an under-funded opponent in the Republican contest. He will challenge incumbent Democratic Governor Laura Kelly, who is among the most vulnerable Democratic governors, in November.ARIZONA U.S. SENATEA bitter fight to decide who will challenge incumbent Democratic Senator Mark Kelly in November has come down to three Republican candidates. Blake Masters, chief operating officer of Thiel Capital and president of the Thiel Foundation, has the financial backing of tech billionaire Peter Thiel and Trump's endorsement. Recent polling shows him leading state attorney general Mark Brnovich and Jim Lamon, a former power company executive.ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATEOn the Republican side, the front-runner is Trump-endorsed state Representative Mark Finchem, who was present at the Jan. 6, 2021, rally that preceded the attack on the U.S. Capitol and has embraced Trump's stolen election claims. He faces several opponents. The Democratic contest pits former Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes against state House of Representatives Minority Leader Reginald Bolding.WASHINGTON STATE'S 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTRepresentative Jaime Herrera Beutler, one of 10 Republicans to vote for Trump's impeachment in 2021, is facing a primary challenge from Joe Kent, a former Green Beret officer who has been endorsed by Trump. Herrera Beutler has held the seat since 2010.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Joseph Ax, Moira Warburton, Gabriella Borter and Richard Cowan, Editing by Ross Colvin, Alistair Bell and Cynthia OstermanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Factbox: Key races in Arizona, Michigan, Kansas, Missouri and Washington midterm primary elections.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks next to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, Vice President William Lai and American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Sandra Oudkirk during a meeting at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan August 3, 2022. Taiwan Presidential Office/Handout via REUTERS Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAug 3 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said on Wednesday that a visit to Taiwan by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi was a deliberate attempt by Washington to irritate China."I see no other reason to create such an annoyance almost out of the blue, knowing very well what it means for the People's Republic of China," Lavrov said on a visit to Myanmar.Pelosi's arrival on Tuesday in Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province, prompted a furious response from Beijing at a time when international tensions are already elevated by the conflict in Ukraine.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Russia's Lavrov: Pelosi visit to Taiwan creates 'annoyance'.

A BMW iX Flow with color-shifting material is displayed during CES 2022 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. January 6, 2022. REUTERS/Steve MarcusRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comBERLIN, Aug 3 (Reuters) - BMW (BMWG.DE) warned on Wednesday of a highly volatile second half as challenges from inflation and gas shortage fears to ongoing supply chain bottlenecks weighed on demand, with higher pricing only partially offsetting lower output.The premium carmaker stuck to its outlook of 7-9% for the automotive margin and expects a solid sales increase in the second half but said total deliveries will not reach last year's record highs of 2.52 million across the group.Tightening sanctions on Russia, interruption of gas supply or the possibility of the war in Ukraine spreading were not factored into its forecast, it added.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com"BMW is the first manufacturer to signal caution on the demand front," analyst Daniel Roeska of Bernstein Research said in a note on Wednesday. "A warning for year-end 2022 likely implies that BMW is already seeing weakening consumer demand today."A survey by Germany's Ifo institute on Wednesday showed German carmakers' business situation beginning to deteriorate in July, with order backlogs shrinking and price expectations plummeting.The Munich-based carmaker struck a more negative tone in its outlook than competitor Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE), which last week raised its earnings outlook for the year as profits and revenues grew in the second quarter despite falling unit sales. read more BMW's earnings were down 31% in the second quarter to 3.4 billion euros ($3.46 billion) despite growing revenues, still beating a 3.13 billion euro forecast in a Refinitiv poll of eight analysts.The consolidation of its China joint venture BMW Brilliance Automotive pushed up revenues in the first half but dampened second quarter earnings, BMW said, reporting an automotive margin of 8.2%, down from last year's 15.8%.Overall, the reevaluation of the Chinese joint venture shares boosted earnings before tax by 7.7 billion euros in the first half.BMW increased its stake in its joint venture with Brilliance Auto Group to 75% from 50% in February after securing the necessary license from Beijing to take majority control.It said at the time the deal would have a positive effect of 7-8 billion euros on the financial results of the automotive business. read more ($1 = 0.9825 euros)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Victoria Waldersee Editing by Tomasz JanowskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

BMW sees full-year drop in output amid volatile second half.

Tod's Chairman Diego Della Valle poses at the end of an interview a day before the presentation of the Colosseum dungeons which have been restored in a multi-million euro project sponsored by the fashion group in Rome, Italy, June 24 2021. Picture taken June 24 2021. REUTERS/Remo CasilliRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comMILAN, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The founding family and largest shareholder inItalian luxury shoe maker Tod's (TOD.MI) is set to launch a takeover offer to delist the company from the Milan stock exchange, the holding company of the Della Valle brothers said on Wednesday.Diego Della Valle, who also acts as chief executive and chairman at the company, and his brother, Andrea Della Valle, are set to launch a takeover bid at 40 euros per share. The stock closed at 33.42 euros on Tuesday.Tod's, famous for its Gommino loafers, launched a strategy in late 2017 to revamp its brands and lure younger consumers, but the coronavirus pandemic hampered its efforts.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comGroup sales bounced back by almost 40% last year, increasing after five years of consecutive declines."The objective is to enhance the value of the group's individual brands, giving them strong individual visibility and operational autonomy," they said in the statement."Through this strategy, we intend to strengthen the positioning of the brands at the top of the quality and luxury market, with a high level of desirability."The Della Valle brothers, who directly and indirectly hold a 64.45% stake in Tod's, will launch the bid on 25.55% of the company's shares through their joint holding company DeVa Finance S.r.l.The remaining 10% is held by Delphine SAS, part of the LVMH Group (LVMH.PA).Delphine has struck an accord with the brothers, under which it will not tender its stake in the offer and will remain a shareholder in the delisted group with the same holding.BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole Corporate Investment Bank and Deutsche are acting as financial advisers and BonelliErede as legal consultant.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Agnieszka Flak; editing by Cristina Carlevaro and Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Tod's founding family to launch bid to delist shoe maker.

Workers package tiffin carriers inside a factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 2, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir HossainRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAug 3 (Reuters) - Bangladesh is seeking $2 billion from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) amid efforts to bolster its foreign exchange reserves, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday.Bangladesh's $416 billion economy has been one of the fastest-growing in the world for years, but rising energy and food prices because of the Russia-Ukraine war have inflated its import bill and the current account deficit.The government wrote letters to the two lenders seeking $1 billion each, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. (https://bloom.bg/3oQEyPO)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThis comes days after Bangladesh's Daily Star newspaper reported that the country wanted $4.5 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), including for budgetary and balance-of-payment support. read more Last week, IMF said it would discuss with Bangladesh its loan request. read more The country's finance ministry, World Bank and ADB did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.Bangladesh's July to May current account deficit was $17.2 billion, compared with a deficit of $2.78 billion in the year-earlier period, according to central bank data, as its trade deficit widened and remittances fell.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Gokul Pisharody in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Bangladesh seeking $2 Billion from World Bank, ADB - Bloomberg News.

Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe arrives to inaugurate a new session of parliament and deliver his first policy statement, amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka August 3, 2022. REUTERS/ Dinuka LiyanawatteRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comCOLOMBO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka will restart bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in August, its new president said on Wednesday, while calling on lawmakers to form an all-party government to resolve a crippling economic crisis.In a speech in parliament, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that constitutional amendments were required to curtail presidential powers - indicating he would meet a key demand of protesters who forced out his predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa."The president of a country does not have to be a king or a god who is exalted above the people. He or she is one of the citizens," Wickremesinghe said.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe island nation of 22 million people is facing its worst financial crisis since independence from Britain in 1948 with its foreign exchange reserves at record lows, and the economy battered by the COVID-19 pandemic and a steep fall in government revenue.Angered by persistent shortages of essentials, including fuel and medicines, and sky-rocketing inflation of over 60 percent year-on-year, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in early July, forcing Rajapaksa to first flee the country and then quit office.Wickremesinghe, who was then prime minister, took over as acting president and was later confirmed in the job by parliament.Discussions with the IMF for a four-year programme that could provide up to $3 billion would resume in August, Wickremesinghe told lawmakers in his first major address to parliament since taking over.The government is working with its financial and legal advisers Lazard and Clifford Chance to finalise a plan to restructure overseas debt, including about $12 billion owed to bondholders."We would submit this plan to the International Monetary Fund in the near future, and negotiate with the countries who provided loan assistance," Wickremesinghe said."Subsequently negotiations with private creditors would also begin to arrive at a consensus."A veteran lawmaker whose party only held one seat in parliament, Wickremesinghe won a leadership vote in the 225-member house last month with the support of the country's ruling party that is dominated by the Rajapaksa family. read more But the new president reiterated his call for a unity government, adding that he had already initiated discussions with some groups."I respectfully extend the hand of friendship to all of you. I confidently invite you to put aside the past and come together for the sake of the country," Wickremesinghe said.Opposition lawmaker Harsha de Silva backed the president's proposal."We must come together; specifically an all or multi party government for a limited period of time to work towards creating this new #SriLanka on a common minimum program," he said in a tweet.With an interim budget likely to be presented within weeks, Wickremesinghe said his government was working on a long-term economic plan. This would include bringing down public debt from its current level of 140 percent of Sri Lanka's GDP to less than 100% within 10 years and creating a budget surplus by 2025.He did not give any details.Wickremesinghe, who has been accused by activists and rights groups of cracking down on anti-government protesters, said peaceful struggle was a fundamental right but he would not tolerate violence."I will not allow anyone to act outside the law," he said.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Uditha Jayasinge; Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Sri Lanka to restart IMF bailout talks, president calls for unity government.

Aug 2 (Reuters) - Candidates backed by Donald Trump prevailed in multiple Republican primaries on Tuesday, while a statewide ballot initiative in Kansas that would have allowed new restrictions on abortion was soundly rejected.The results showed that the former president, and his false claims that the 2020 election was tainted by fraud, still hold sway over Republican voters. They alsosuggested that anger over the Supreme Court's June decision to end the nationwide constitutional right to abortion could fire up Democrats ahead of the November midterm elections.In Michigan, Tudor Dixon, a conservative commentator who has echoed Trump's election claims, won the Republican nomination for governor and will face Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer in one of the most high-profile races this November, which will also revolve around abortion rights.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comKansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, endorsed by Trump, secured the Republican nomination for governor. He will face Democratic Governor Laura Kelly in November in what is expected to be a highly competitive race.With 95% of the estimated vote counted, just under 60% of Kansas voters had cast ballots in support of the state constitution's abortion protections, a resounding victory for abortion rights advocates in a strongly conservative state. read more Unlike the Republican gubernatorial primaries, Kansas' abortion initiative reflected the choices of voters of both major political parties, as well as independents.TEST OF TRUMP INFLUENCETuesday's elections, including key contests in Arizona and Washington state, represent the latest test of Trump's sway over the Republican electorate. Several Trump-backed candidates have embraced the former president's falsehoods about voter fraud, raising concerns among some Republicans that they could be too extreme to defeat Democrats on Nov. 8. read more In Michigan, U.S. Representative Peter Meijer, one of only 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack by Trump supporters, lost to far-right challenger John Gibbs.Gibbs, backed by Trump, was the beneficiary of Democratic advertising during the Republican primary, part of a risky strategy of trying to elevate more vulnerable Republican candidates in swing districts even as party leaders warn they pose a danger to democracy. read more Another Republican who voted to impeach Trump, Jamie Herrera Beutler of Washington, also faced a Trump-endorsed primary challenger on Tuesday night.With an economy teetering on the brink of recession and inflation surging, just 38% of Americans approve of President Joe Biden's job performance, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Tuesday - still near Biden's record low of 36%, hit in May. One in three voters said the biggest problem facing the United States today is the economy.Biden's unpopularity is weighing on Democrats heading into November general election, when Republicans are favored to win control of the House of Representatives and perhaps the Senate.Control of either chamber would give Republicans the power to stymie Biden's legislative agenda while launching politically damaging hearings.As he flirts publicly with the possibility of running for president again in 2024, Trump has endorsed more than 200 candidates. Most are safe bets - incumbent Republicans in conservative districts - but even in competitive races most of his candidates have prevailed."Trump remains really popular with Republican primary voters. I don't think you can underestimate how he has remade the party in his image," said Alex Conant, a Republican strategist. "Republicans who run against Trump tend to get trampled."On Tuesday, Arizona voters were picking between Trump-backed gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and Karrin Taylor Robson, who has the backing of Trump's former vice president, Mike Pence.Lake, a former news anchor, echoes Trump's false claims that his 2020 election defeat was the result of fraud and has said she would not have certified Biden's statewide victory in 2020. At a recent campaign stop, Lake claimed without evidence that fraud has already occurred during early voting, suggesting she may not accept a defeat on Tuesday.Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, who built a national profile by vociferously denying Trump's allegations, easily won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, Edison Research projected.The race to replace her as the state's top election official also includes a Trump-endorsed candidate, state Representative Mark Finchem, who was present at Trump's Jan. 6, 2021, speech in Washington that preceded the U.S. Capitol attack. He wrote on Twitter on Thursday, "Trump won," prompting a Democratic candidate, Adrian Fontes, to call him a "traitor."Arizona Republicans were also picking a challenger to take on Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, seen as one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents.Blake Masters, a former tech executive who has backed Trump's false fraud claims, has Trump's endorsement and the backing of tech billionaire Peter Thiel. He is leading in polls against Jim Lamon, a former power company executive, and Attorney General Mark Brnovich, whom Trump blames for not reversing Biden's 2020 statewide victory.In Missouri, Attorney General Eric Schmitt won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, boosting his party's chances of holding the seat after scandal-hit former Governor Eric Greitens finished well behind.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Joseph Ax in Princeton, New Jersey, additional reporting by Richard Cowan and Moira Warburton in Washington and Nathan Layne in Troy, Michigan; Editing by Scott Malone, Alistair Bell, Ross Colvin and Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Trump-backed candidates prevail, while Kansas votes to preserve abortion rights.

A company logo is pictured at the headquarters of Germany's Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt, Germany, February 13, 2020. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSummaryCompaniesConfirms 2022 profit targetBank going through major restructuringShares down in early tradeFRANKFURT, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Germany's Commerzbank (CBKG.DE) swung on Wednesday to a bigger-than-expected second-quarter net profit, helped by higher interest rates and commission income, and confirmed it was on track to meet its profit target despite "clouds" on the horizon.The return to profit at Germany's No. 2 bank is a victory for CEO Manfred Knof, who joined the company at the start of 2021 to carry out a 2 billion euro restructuring programme involving hundreds of branch closures and 10,000 job cuts to get back on a sustainable path.Net profit of 470 million euros ($478.60 million) for the three months through end-June compares with a loss of 527 million euros a year earlier. Analysts had on average expected a profit of 370 million euros, according to a consensus forecast published by Commerzbank.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comInvestors have been watching earnings reports of major lenders in Europe for signs that a weaker economy, higher interest rates and the war in Ukraine are weighing on their operations and outlooks.Some of them, including rival Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE), have reported surprisingly strong quarterly reports but voiced concerns about the economic outlook. read more Germany's banks are at the centre of a geopolitical storm because the country is particularly dependent on Russian energy and its economy will be hit hard by any supply shortages.CEO Knof spoke of "bright spots and clouds" in a call with analysts."The most difficult and pressing question is about natural gas supply and GDP development," he said, referring to gross domestic product.The shares nevertheless fell 3.5% in early trade.The bank said that it took charges of 228 million euros in the quarter related to the war in Ukraine, and that it had on hand 564 million euros for any further war-related effects or impact from energy supply disruptions.Commerzbank reiterated that it would maintain its profit target of more than 1 billion euros for the full year, though it slightly raised its cost target to 6.4 billion euros from 6.3 billion euros.During the same period last year, the German lender generated a loss due to its restructuring and after a write-off to end an outsourcing project. read more Niklas Kammer, an analyst with Morningstar, said ahead of the earnings that profitability "remains challenging" for Commerzbank."The competitive German banking market leaves little opportunity for Commerzbank to significantly out-earn its cost of equity," he said.Analysts at Deutsche Bank said the earnings were good overall but noted the macroeconomic environment "still matters a lot".($1 = 0.9820 euros)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Tom Sims and Marta Orosz; editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.Tom SimsThomson ReutersCovers German finance with a focus on big banks, insurance companies, regulation and financial crime, previous experience at the Wall Street Journal and New York Times in Europe and Asia.

Commerzbank sees energy and growth 'clouds' after Q2 profit beat.

The logo of Indian food delivery company Zomato is seen on its app on a mobile phone displayed in front of its company website in this illustration picture taken July 14, 2021. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comHONG KONG/NEW DELHI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Uber Technologies (UBER.N) on Wednesday sold its 7.8% stake in Indian food delivery firm Zomato Ltd (ZOMT.NS) for $392 million via a block trade on local exchanges, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.The deal was executed at 50.44 rupees per share, they said. Zomato and Uber did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Shares of Zomato Ltd fell as much as 9.6% to 50.25 rupees on India's Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The stock cut some losses later and was trading down 5.7% by 0634 GMT. On Tuesday, Zomato's stock had closed at 55.6 rupees on BSE.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReuters reported on Tuesday the offer size of the block deal was set to be 612 million shares, according to its term sheet, which did not disclose the seller. read more As per Reuters calculations, the stake sale by Uber was worth 30.87 billion rupees ($392 million).Uber on Tuesday reported a net loss of $2.6 billion for second quarter of 2022, of which $1.7 billion was related to its equity investments, including its Zomato stake. read more Its stake sale comes at a time when Indian startups are struggling to raise fresh capital amid a global market slump and criticism of sky-high valuations, after a blockbuster $35 billion in total fundraisings in 2021. read more NEW BUYERSBofA Securities was the sole bookrunner for the transaction.One of the sources said the stake was bought by around 20 global and Indian funds, including Fidelity, Franklin Templeton and India's ICICI Prudential.Fidelity could not immediately be reached for comment, while Franklin and ICICI declined to comment.Zomato said on Monday it had recorded more orders and narrowed its loss for the June quarter to 1.86 billion rupees from 3.56 billion a year earlier. read more The Indian food delivery company is also considering reorganising its management so its individual businesses would each have a CEO, while the parent company would be renamed "Eternal". read more Backed by China's Ant Group, the company made a stellar debut on July 23, 2021 on the Mumbai stock market, but its shares have lost more than 50% of their value since then on concerns about valuations and growth amid turmoil among global growth stocks.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Scott Murdoch in Hong Kong and Aditya Kalra in New Delhi Additional reporting by Chris Thomas in Bengaluru Editing by Stephen Coates and Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.Scott MurdochThomson ReutersScott Murdoch has been a journalist for more than two decades working for Thomson Reuters and News Corp in Australia. He has specialised in financial journalism for most of his career and covers equity and debt capital markets across Asia based in Hong Kong.

Uber sells 7.8% stake in India's Zomato for $392 million -sources.

3D printed models of people working on computers and padlock are seen in front of a displayed Avast logo in this picture illustration taken, February 1, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAug 3 (Reuters) - Britain's competition regulator said on Wednesday it has provisionally cleared NortonLifeLock's (NLOK.O) $8.6 billion purchase of rival Avast Plc (AVST.L), the final hurdle to the two firms creating a consumer security software giant.Shares in Avast soared 42% on the news, after the firms were forced to delay the deal's closing date while awaiting regulatory approvals.Shares in U.S-listed NortonLifeLock are down about 4.6% this year having closed slightly up on Tuesday.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comEarlier this year, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a deeper investigation into the deal, noting it could harm competition and lead to British customers getting a worse deal when looking for security software. read more The deal, which would combine NortonLifeLock's strength in identity theft protection and Avast's privacy, has already received the green light in the United States, Spain and Germany.NortonLifeLock said on Wednesday it expects to close the deal by next month.Following a more detailed Phase 2 investigation, the CMA said it had concluded that the deal does not raise competition concerns in the UK.It noted that the merged company will face significant competition from McAfee and other smaller players while software titan Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) would be strengthened as a competitor.Founded in Prague, Czech Republic, Avast is a pioneer of "freemium" software, whereby basic applications are free and subscribers pay for premium features.NortonLifeLock, previously known as Symantec, was renamed after it sold its enterprise business to Broadcom in 2019.It has a larger premium business selling products to consumers to combat viruses, spyware and malware.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Eva Mathews in Bengaluru; editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

NortonLifeLock-Avast $8.6 bln deal wins provisional UK approval.

A view shows bottles and cans of soft drinks at a plant of the Chernogolovka company in the town of Chernogolovka in the Moscow region, Russia July 28, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander ReshetnikovRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSummaryCompaniesThis content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in UkraineMOSCOW, Aug 3 (Reuters) - As the world's biggest soft drinks makers cut their Russian ties, local producer Chernogolovka is aiming for a 50% share of the country's near $9 billion market, its boss told Reuters.A mass exodus of Western firms due to sanctions and restrictions over Russia's actions in Ukraine has created an unexpected opportunity for Russian businesses and entrepreneurs.Chernogolovka, named after the town outside Moscow where it was founded in 1998, makes snacks, bottled water, herby lemonades, energy drinks and, since May, Cola Chernogolovka.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe privately-owned company is more than doubling its business this year, its CEO Natalia Sakhnina said in an interview, and expects to reach a 30% market share within two years, up from around 8.5% at the end of 2021."We were, are and will be the main Russian producer of drinks," Sakhnina said. "We hope and are working on gaining absolute leadership in the Russian market."Revenue in Russia's non-alcoholic drinks market totals $8.8 billion, according to data provider Statista.Although fizzy drinks made by Coca-Cola (KO.N) and PepsiCo are still available in Russia, they are set to disappear over time as existing stocks are run down, leaving local manufacturers to step in.PepsiCo suspended soda production and sales in Russia in March, one of many Western consumer brands to curtail operations after Russia sent troops into Ukraine. read more Coca-Cola also suspended operations in March. In June, it said bottler Coca-Cola HBC AG (CCH.L) and its existing customers in Russia were depleting stock. read more Chernogolovka has almost doubled volume in the southern city of Krasnodar and increased capacity by 50% in Siberia's Novosibirsk so far in 2022 when compared to 2021, Sakhnina said.COLA PUSHNewly launched cola brands, including Chernogolovka's and competitor Ochakovo's CoolCola, jumped to a 5% share of sales in the category in the first half of 2022, NielsenIQ Russia said."Our company was not present in the cola segment," Sakhnina said of an area that accounts for around 50% of the market."This year we entered this segment and this coincided with international players in this flavour leaving. So if we evaluate our prospects and ambitions, they are almost limitless."To meet the anticipated ramp up in demand, Chernogolovka is building a 40,000 square metre production plant in the town. The facility will cost over 3 billion roubles ($50 million) and its first stage is slated for completion in March 2023.Some additional demand has come from fast food outlets.Chernogolovka started supplying soft drinks to the Russian outlets of Burger King and KFC in April. It is in talks to do the same for Vkusno & tochka, the renamed chain of McDonald's restaurants that opened after the world's largest fast-food chain sold to a local licensee, Sakhnina said.Vkusno & tochka is looking for a new drinks provider, as Coca-Cola is depleting its Russia stock, Chief Executive Oleg Paroev told Reuters in June. read more "We are currently considering options, choosing a supplier that according to taste will suit our guests the most," a Vkusno & tochka spokesperson said on Wednesday, when asked about any talks with Chernogolovka.Like all Russian companies, Chernogolovka faced supply headaches after Western governments and companies targeted Russia with sanctions and restrictions, Sakhnina said, adding that aluminium lids and adhesive labels were a particular issue.However, the Moscow region's government pushed for Chernogolovka's inclusion in a list of firms producing crucial goods, allowing it to tap preferential lending in April and May.Interest rates leapt to 20% in late February, and although they have since steadily decreased to 8%, Chernogolovka said it was at one point able to borrow money now being used to fund expansion at a discount of 10 percentage points.While Sakhnina did not rule out the possibility of a stock market listing, she said growth was the priority. And while acquisitions are possible, including from departing Western firms, there have been no talks to date, she said."This is just the beginning," Sakhnina said. "This market, if the competitive situation remains the same, will look completely different in a year, unrecognisable."($1 = 60.1000 roubles)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Reuters; Editing by Matt Scuffham and Alexander SmithOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

EXCLUSIVE Russian soft drinks maker targets 50% of market to fill gap left by Coke, Pepsi.

People visit the new restaurant "Vkusno & tochka", which opens following McDonald's Corp company's exit from the Russian market, in Moscow, Russia June 12, 2022. REUTERS/Evgenia NovozheninaRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSummaryThis content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in UkraineMOSCOW, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Russia's services sector expanded in July at its fastest pace in more than a year, a business survey showed on Wednesday, as strong domestic demand outweighed slumping export orders for Russia's increasingly isolated firms.The S&P Global Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 54.7 in July, its highest since June 2021 and up from 51.7 in June this year, pulling further clear of the 50 mark that denotes expansion."The rate of output growth was the fastest for just over a year, with activity supported by a sharper upturn in new business," S&P Global said in a statement.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com"Stronger customer demand was confined to the domestic market as new export orders fell substantially in July. The ongoing impact of sanctions reportedly dampened foreign client demand."Russia's economy has been buffeted by Western sanctions against Moscow over its actions in Ukraine, with international business drying up as foreign clients turn away.Service providers passed higher costs on to clients and average cost burdens rose further in July.Business confidence improved, with many citing hopes of improvements in the health of the wider economy and greater client demand, and although firms stepped up their hiring activity in July, backlogs of work rose sharply."The rate of growth in incomplete business was the sharpest since November 2003, as firms cited greater new business, challenges finalising contracts and input shortages as driving factors behind the increase," S&P Global said.A sister survey this week showed Russia's manufacturing sector held steady in July as the sector continues to struggle with diving exports and logistical problems in the face of Western sanctions.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Reuters; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Russian services sector records fastest output growth in over a year -PMI.

U.S. government debt prices traded lower on Wednesday morning but investors are still monitoring geopolitical tensions between the United States and China.At around 3:40 am ET, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note moved higher to 2.7574% and the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond also rose to 3.0138%. Yields move inversely to prices.The search for safe assets eased slightly overnight, but investors are still following developments in U.S.-China relations after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. Her trip to Taiwan has drawn much attention, given the vocal opposition from China.On the data front, there will be Services PMIs at 9:45 a.m. ET and factory orders are due at 10 a.m. ET. Both data points will be important for investors as they track the slowdown of the U.S. economy.In terms of key speeches, Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker is addressing an audience at 10 a.m. ET and Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin as well at 11:45 a.m. ET.

U.S. Treasury yields move higher ahead of new economic data.

China and U.S. flags are seen printed on paper in this illustration taken January 27, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSummaryCompaniesAny US export block may affect global chip supply -analystsMove would hinder Samsung, SK Hynix upgrading China plantsSamsung, SK Hynix together supply over 50% of global NAND chipsCurbs could change where future chip plants are built -analystSEOUL, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Export restrictions being considered by Washington to halt China's advances in semiconductor manufacturing could come at a substantial cost, experts say, potentially disrupting fragile global chip supply chains - and hurting U.S. businesses.Reuters reported on Monday that the United States is considering limiting shipments of American chipmaking equipment to memory chip producers in China that make advanced semiconductors used in everything from smartphones to data centres. read more The curbs would stop chipmakers like South Korean giants Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and SK Hynix (000660.KS) from shipping new technology tools to factories they operate in China, preventing them from upgrading plants that serve customers around the world.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSamsung and SK Hynix, which control more than half of the global NAND flash memory chip market, have invested heavily in China in recent decades to produce chips that are vital to customers including tech giants Apple (AAPL.O), Amazon (AMZN.O), Facebook owner Meta (META.O) and Google (GOOGL.O). As well as computers and phones, the chips are used in products like electric vehicles that require digital data storage."Samsung's China production alone accounts for more than 15% of global NAND flash production ... If there's any production disruption, it will make chip prices surge," said Lee Min-hee, analyst at BNK Securities.The potential for fresh turmoil - the curbs have yet to be approved - comes just as a global chip supply shortage that has disrupted businesses from autos to consumer devices for more than a year is finally showing signs of easing. Supply chain adjustments and weakening consumer demand amid the slowing global economy have combined to repair damage. read more But the shortage has yet to be fully resolved. Any signs of fresh disruption could rekindle supply uncertainty, triggering a price surge - as seen earlier this year when China imposed COVID-19 restrictions in Xian where Samsung manufactures chips. read more Chipmaking equipment has to be installed and fully tested months before production is due to start. Any delay in shipping the gear to China would pose a real challenge to chipmakers as they seek to manufacture more advanced chips in China facilities."Many U.S. companies, like Apple, use Samsung and SK Hynix memory chips. No matter what strategy (the South Korean firms) end up choosing, it will have global implications," said BNK Securities analyst Lee.Samsung and SK Hynix declined to comment. Apple, Amazon, Meta and Google didn't respond to emails seeking comment outside regular U.S. business hours.AMBITIONS, COMPLICATIONSIn Samsung's memory chip operation in Xian, central China, one of the largest foreign chip projects in the country, the company has invested a total of about $26 billion since it broke ground on the site in 2012, including chip production as well as testing and packaging.The tech giant makes 128-layer NAND flash products in Xian, analysts said, chips that store data in devices such as smartphones and personal computers, as well as in data centres.The facility accounts for 43% of Samsung's global NAND flash memory production capacity and 15% of the overall global output capacity, according to TrendForce late last year. read more The U.S. crackdown, if approved, could also complicate SK Hynix's ambition to expand its presence in the NAND market where it is ranked third as of first quarter behind Samsung and Japan's Kioxia Holdings, which was spun out of Toshiba Corp (6502.T).SK Hynix completed late last year the first phase of its $9 billion purchase of Intel's (INTC.O) NAND business, including its Dalian, China NAND manufacturing facility. read more CHINA STRATEGIESThe move being considered by the United States is one of several recent signs of deepening tensions between Beijing and Washington over the tech sector.Congress last week approved legislation to subsidise semiconductor production in the United States. It bars any company that receives federal subsidies from investing in certain chip technology in China during the subsidy period. read more The deepening tensions could leave Samsung and SK Hynix having to review strategies on China investments, analysts and industry sources said."Until now, companies tended to invest in countries like China, where costs were cheap," said Kim Yang-jae, analyst at Daol Investment & Securities."That's no longer going to be the only consideration. The biggest change these potential limits will bring will be where the next chip factories are built."They could also face potentially diminishing returns from their multi-billion dollar China plants, which could be stuck making older-technology, less lucrative chips.SK Hynix has not been able to upgrade its DRAM memory chip production facilities in Wuxi, China with the latest extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) chipmaking machines made by Dutch firm ASML (ASML.AS) as U.S. officials do not want advanced equipment used in the process to enter the country. read more The EUV machines are used to make more advanced and smaller chips that are used in high-end devices such as smartphones.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Kenneth MaxwellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

As US eyes new China chip curbs, turmoil looms for global market.

Conservative leadership candidate Rishi Sunak speaks during a hustings event, part of the Conservative party leadership campaign, in Exeter, Britain, August 1, 2022. REUTERS/Peter NichollsRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comLONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Former British finance minister Rishi Sunak said it was still "early days" in the leadership contest to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a day after an opinion poll showed him trailing rival Liz Truss by 34 points.The ruling Conservative Party is choosing a new leader after Johnson was forced to announce his resignation when ministers resigned en masse from his government citing a series of scandals and missteps over the last 12 months.Sunak, whose resignation helped trigger Johnson's downfall, and Foreign Secretary Truss are the two remaining candidates in the contest. The party's members will vote by postal ballot over the next few weeks with a winner announced on Sept. 5.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com"It's still early days and I'm looking forward to meeting many more of you in the coming weeks," Sunak said in a tweet ahead of campaigning among members of the ruling Conservative Party later on Wednesday.The winner of the party leadership contest will inherit a parliamentary majority and therefore become prime minister.On Tuesday an opinion poll showed Foreign Secretary Truss held a 34 point lead over Sunak among Conservative Party members, with 86% telling pollster YouGov they had decided how they would vote.Truss suffered the first major misstep of her campaign on Tuesday when she was forced to backtrack on one of her most striking pledges a day after announcing it following a backlash from fellow Conservatives and opposition parties. read more Truss had set out plans to save billions of pounds a year in government spending in a pledge opponents said would require cutting the pay of public sector workers, including nurses and teachers, outside of the wealthy southeast of England.Sunak has struggled in the race, partly due to his role in Johnson's resignation and over his record in government.As finance minister, Sunak implemented tax increases to pay for government support offered during the COVID-19 pandemic and to help Britons subsidise soaring energy bills. That has drawn criticism from many activists in the historically low-tax party.Sunak has pledged to cut taxes over time to avoid stoking inflation, but Truss has said she would act immediately to lower the tax burden.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by William James; Editing by Kate HoltonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

"It's still early days" says underdog UK leadership candidate Sunak.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi walks as she leaves the parliament in Taipei, Taiwan August 3, 2022. REUTERS/Ann WangRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comBEIJING, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The sight of the U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi arriving in Taiwan late on Tuesday was too much to bear for many mainland China internet users, who wanted a more muscular response from their government."Going to bed yesterday night, I was so angry I could not sleep," blogger Xiaoyuantoutiao wrote on Wednesday."But what angers me is not the online clamours for 'starting a fight', 'spare the island but not its people'...(but that) this old she-devil, she actually dares to come!"Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comChina considers Taiwan part of its territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. But Taiwan rejects China's sovereignty claims and says only its people can decide the island's future.Hashtags related to Pelosi's visit, such as "the resolve to realise national reunification is rock solid", went viral on China's Weibo microblogging platform. By Wednesday, about a dozen of these patriotic hashtags had racked up several billion views.Some bloggers even regarded Pelosi's temerity as justification for an immediate invasion of Taiwan, with many users posting the term "there is only one China".Others said China's military should have done more to stop her plane from landing, and thousands of users mocked a viral Weibo post published by an official People's Liberation Army account last week that had simply read "prepare for war!"."In the future if you are not preparing to strike, don't make these statements to deceive the common people," said one user.The highest level U.S. visit to Taiwan in 25 years has been furiously condemned by China, which has demonstrated its anger with a burst of military activity in the surrounding waters, and by summoning the U.S. ambassador in Beijing, and announcing the suspension of several agricultural imports from Taiwan. read more Countering U.S. support for Taiwan is one of Beijing's most important foreign policy issues, and state-controlled Chinese media has helped ensure public opinion firmly backs Beijing's stance.A livestream tracking the journey of Pelosi's plane to Taipei by Chinese state media on China's dominant chat app WeChat was watched by 22 million users on Tuesday.But Weibo crashed before her plane landed, leaving users in the dark for about 30 minutes to an hour before and after Pelosi stepped onto the airport tarmac.Without mentioning events in Taiwan, Weibo said on Wednesday the platform crashed because its broadband capacity was overstretched.But the level of outrage on Weibo still hit fever pitch, with irate netizens calling for stronger military and economic countermeasures against Taiwan and the United States far outnumbering voices of moderation.Still, there were people urging long-term patience in the face of mounting domestic challenges and unfavourable global sentiment towards China, as well as some for peace."If there really is a war, China will endure the suffering, currently the world powers have not really chosen team China, we would not get any help. Just like Russia, it would be a bit of a lonely war," wrote one user.Weibo, which censored calls for peace and criticism of Russia following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, did not promote hashtags that criticised the outburst of nationalist fervour in response to Pelosi's visit.Qin Quanyao, a Beijing-based blogger, wrote an essay on Tuesday on WeChat in which he noted the current online jingoism harked back to the time of late Chairman Mao Zedong, when primary school children sang songs about the "liberation" of Taiwan."From Weibo, WeChat to various online platforms, the atmosphere suddenly became tense, seemingly returning to the era of 'we must liberate Taiwan' when we were children," he wrote.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Eduardo Baptista, Editing by Brenda Goh & Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Patriotic fervour erupts on Chinese social media over Pelosi's Taiwan visit.

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comTAIPEI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - China furiously condemned the highest-level U.S. visit to Taiwan in 25 years as House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi hailed the self-ruled island as "one of the freest societies in the world" and pledged American solidarity.Beijing demonstrated its anger with Pelosi's presence on an island that it says is part of China with a burst of military activity in surrounding waters, summoning the U.S. ambassador in Beijing and halting several agricultural imports from Taiwan.Some of China's planned military exercises will take place within Taiwan's 12 nautical mile sea and air territory, according to Taiwan's defence ministry, an unprecedented move a senior defence official described to reporters as "amounting to a sea and air blockade of Taiwan".Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comPelosi arrived with a congressional delegation on an unannounced visit late on Tuesday, defying China's repeated warnings, in what she said shows unwavering U.S. commitment to Taiwan's democracy."Our delegation came to Taiwan to make unequivocally clear that we will not abandon Taiwan,” Pelosi told Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. read more “Now, more than ever, America’s solidarity with Taiwan is crucial, and that’s the message we are bringing here, today.”Addressing parliament, Pelosi said new U.S. legislation aimed at strengthening the American chip industry to compete with China "offers greater opportunity for U.S.-Taiwan economic cooperation.""We thank you for your leadership. We want the world to recognise that," Pelosi told Tsai, who Beijing suspects of pushing for formal independence - a red line for China.A long-time China critic, especially on human rights, Pelosi was set to meet later on Wednesday with a former Tiananmen activist, a Hong Kong bookseller who had been detained by China and a Taiwanese activist recently released by China, people familiar with the matter said.The last U.S. house speaker to go to Taiwan was Newt Gingrich, in 1997. But Pelosi's visit comes amid sharply deteriorating Sino-U.S. relations, and China has emerged as a far more powerful economic, military and geopolitical force during the past quarter century.China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has never renounced using force to bring it under its control. The United States warned China against using the visit as a pretext for military action against Taiwan.In retaliation, China's customs department announced a suspension of imports of citrus fruits, chilled white striped hairtail and frozen horse mackerel from Taiwan, while its commerce ministry banned export of natural sand to Taiwan.MILITARY DRILLSU.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi attends a meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan August 3, 2022. Taiwan Presidential Office/Handout via REUTERS Pelosi's visit, which has been blasted in official Chinese news outlets, was the dominant topic on China's heavily censored social media, with many users urging Beijing to invade the island in retaliation and expressing dismay that military action had not been taken to block her arrival. A live-tracker of her plane on China's WeChat was watched by 22 million.China's Twitter-like Weibo platform crashed just before Pelosi's landing, which Weibo blamed on overstretched broadband capacity, without mentioning Taiwan.Shortly after Pelosi's arrival, China's military announced joint air and sea drills near Taiwan and test launches of conventional missiles in the sea east of the island, with Chinese state news agency Xinhua describing live-fire drills and other exercises around Taiwan from Thursday to Sunday.China's foreign ministry said Pelosi's visit seriously damages peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, "has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."Before Pelosi's arrival, Chinese warplanes buzzed the line dividing the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese military said it was on high alert and will launch "targeted military operations" in response to Pelosi's visit.White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday after Pelosi's arrival that the United States "is not going to be intimidated" by China's threats or bellicose rhetoric and that there is no reason her visit should precipitate a crisis or conflict.Kirby said China might engage in "economic coercion" toward Taiwan, adding that the impact on U.S.-China relations will depend on Beijing's actions in coming days and weeks.'CHINA'S AMBITION'The United States has no official diplomatic relations with Taiwan but is bound by American law to provide it with the means to defend itself. China views visits by U.S. officials to Taiwan as sending an encouraging signal to the pro-independence camp on the island. Taiwan rejects China's sovereignty claims, saying only the Taiwanese people can decide the island's future.Taiwan's cabinet on Wednesday said the military has increased its alertness level. The island's defence ministry said 21 Chinese aircraft entered its air defence identification zone on Tuesday, and that China was attempting to threaten key ports and cities with drills in the surrounding waters."The so-called drill areas are falling within the busiest international channels in the Indo-Pacific region," a senior Taiwan official familiar with its security planning told Reuters on Wednesday."We can see China's ambition: to make the Taiwan Strait non-international waters, as well as making the entire area west of the first island chain in the western pacific its sphere of influence," the person said.(This story corrects spelling of Tiananmen in 12th paragraph; this error also occurred earlier in the series)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Yimou Lee and Sarah Wu; Writing by Tony Munroe; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Pelosi pledges solidarity with Taiwan as China holds military drills, vents anger.

A 3D-printed oil pump jack is seen in front of the OPEC logo in this illustration picture, April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSummaryKazakhstan says preferred oil price is $60-$80/barrelOPEC faces output problems to meet existing targetsU.S. seeking higher OPEC production to counter RussiaLONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - OPEC+ might have to raise oil production to avoid market overheating, OPEC+ member Kazakhstan said on Wednesday, as the group of oil producers meets amid U.S. pressure to add barrels to the market while most members have already exhausted their output potential."We have always said that the preferred price corridor is $60-80 per barrel. Today the price is $100. So we might have to raise output to avoid overheating," Kazakh energy minister Bolat Akchulakov told reporters.The market has been largely expecting OPEC+ to keep output steady or opt for a slight increase.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe United States has put OPEC leaders Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates under pressure to pump more oil to help rein in prices boosted by rebounding demand and Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.U.S. and Western sanctions on Russia have caused prices of all types of energy to soar, resulting in inflation at multi-decade highs and central bank interest rate hikes.OPEC has been increasing output in line with its targets by about 430,000-650,000 barrels per day a month in recent months and has refused to switch to bigger output increases.Group sources have cited a lack of spare capacity among members to add more barrels as well as the need for further cooperation with Russia as part of the wider OPEC+ group."It seems unlikely OPEC+ will do anything when it meets later today," said Callum Macpherson from Investec, citing rising concerns about a slowing global economy and a lack of spare capacity."OPEC+ is struggling to meet the levels its production limits have now been raised to," he said, adding that a surprise decision to raise production would put oil under further pressure to fall below $100 per barrel.The meeting on Wednesday will discuss production policies from September and possibly onwards.By September, OPEC+ was meant to have wound down all of the record production cuts it implemented in 2020 after the pandemic slashed demand.By June, however, OPEC+ was almost 3 million barrels per day below its quotas as sanctions on some members and low investment by others crippled its ability to boost output. read more Only Saudi Arabia and the UAE are believed to have some spare capacity left to increase production.French President Emmanuel Macron has said he had been told that Saudi Arabia and the UAE had very limited ability to increase oil production. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by OPEC Newsroom; editing by Robert Birsel and Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

OPEC+ might have to raise oil output so market doesn't overheat, Kazakhstan says.

A 3D-printed oil pump jack is seen in front of the OPEC logo in this illustration picture, April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSummaryKazakhstan says preferred oil price is $60-$80/barrelOPEC faces output problems to meet existing targetsU.S. seeking higher OPEC production to counter RussiaLONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - OPEC+ might have to raise oil production to avoid market overheating, OPEC+ member Kazakhstan said on Wednesday, as the group of oil producers meets amid U.S. pressure to add barrels to the market while most members have already exhausted their output potential."We have always said that the preferred price corridor is $60-80 per barrel. Today the price is $100. So we might have to raise output to avoid overheating," Kazakh energy minister Bolat Akchulakov told reporters.The market has been largely expecting OPEC+ to keep output steady or opt for a slight increase.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe United States has put OPEC leaders Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates under pressure to pump more oil to help rein in prices boosted by rebounding demand and Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.U.S. and Western sanctions on Russia have caused prices of all types of energy to soar, resulting in inflation at multi-decade highs and central bank interest rate hikes.OPEC has been increasing output in line with its targets by about 430,000-650,000 barrels per day a month in recent months and has refused to switch to bigger output increases.Group sources have cited a lack of spare capacity among members to add more barrels as well as the need for further cooperation with Russia as part of the wider OPEC+ group."It seems unlikely OPEC+ will do anything when it meets later today," said Callum Macpherson from Investec, citing rising concerns about a slowing global economy and a lack of spare capacity."OPEC+ is struggling to meet the levels its production limits have now been raised to," he said, adding that a surprise decision to raise production would put oil under further pressure to fall below $100 per barrel.The meeting on Wednesday will discuss production policies from September and possibly onwards.By September, OPEC+ was meant to have wound down all of the record production cuts it implemented in 2020 after the pandemic slashed demand.By June, however, OPEC+ was almost 3 million barrels per day below its quotas as sanctions on some members and low investment by others crippled its ability to boost output. read more Only Saudi Arabia and the UAE are believed to have some spare capacity left to increase production.French President Emmanuel Macron has said he had been told that Saudi Arabia and the UAE had very limited ability to increase oil production. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by OPEC Newsroom; editing by Robert Birsel and Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

OPEC+ might have to raise oil output so market doesn't overheat, Kazakhstan says.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks next to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Sandra Oudkirk during a meeting at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan August 3, 2022. Taiwan Presidential Office/Handout via REUTERS Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comTAIPEI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - A staunch defender of human rights and long-time China critic, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi is set to meet rights activists in Taiwan on Wednesday, a move certain to ramp up already fraught tensions between Beijing and Washington.Among those she will meet are a Hong Kong bookseller who fled to the self-ruled island in 2019, a former Tiananmen demonstrator and a Taiwanese activist recently released by China, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.China has condemned Pelosi's visit to the democratic island that Beijing claims as its own, responding with increased military activity in surrounding waters and by summoning the U.S. ambassador in Beijing. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comBookstore owner Lam Wing-kee hopes Pelosi can help Hong Kongers who are afraid to return to their city amid fears they will be persecuted under a sweeping national security law."I want to discuss with her whether there is a possibility for the U.S. government to help those who cannot return to Hong Kong and who may not be able to obtain identity cards in Taiwan, to help them to go to the United States," Lam told Reuters.Lam was detained in China for eight months in 2015 over books critical of China's leaders and their private lives.An invitation Lam said he received from the American Institute in Taiwan, the United States de facto embassy, lists the National Human Rights Museum in Xindian, New Taipei City, as the location for a meeting. Pelosi is not specifically mentioned in the invitation.AIT said it expected to invite seven guests to the meeting and requested that each prepare three-minute opening remarks, according to the invitation, which was reviewed by Reuters.AIT declined to comment on the meeting.Less than two hours by flight from Hong Kong, Taiwan is a popular destination for scores of democracy activists from the former British colony who took part in anti-government demonstrations in 2019 and later fled Beijing's tightening grip over the city.The flow of Hong Kong people to Taiwan increased significantly amid fears they could be arrested under the national security law Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in 2020 after the sometimes violent protests.Pelosi, 82, has drawn Beijing's ire over her criticism of the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square and authorities' treatment of China's Uyghur Muslim ethic group.Just two years after Chinese troops opened fire on Tiananmen demonstrators, Pelosi visited the square and unfurled a banner commemorating those who died. Uniformed police pursued Pelosi and her team as they left the square.Beijing sees official visits by senior foreign officials to the self-governing island as a sign of tacit support for the island's pro-independence camp.Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen rejects Chinese sovereignty claims and says Taiwan is already an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Sarah Wu in Taipei; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree and Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Bookstore owner to ask Pelosi to help Hong Kongers at Taipei meeting.

Athletics - 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships - Botswana's Letsile Tebogo celebrates after winning gold at the Men's 100 meters final - Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya - August 19, 2021.REUTERS/Baz RatnerRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAug 3 (Reuters) - Teenager Letsile Tebogo has attracted comparisons to Usain Bolt after showboating his way to the under-20 100 metres world title in a record time with a scorching run in Colombia on Tuesday.The 19-year-old Botswanan clocked 9.91 seconds to improve the junior world record of 9.94 he set in the heats of the senior world championships last month, but clearly could have gone even faster.Tebogo made a blistering start at Cali's Pascual Guerrero Stadium and coasted through the final 20 metres, turning to gesticulate at silver medallist Bouwahjgie Nkrumie with a huge smile on his face as he cruised to the line.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe early celebrations were a deliberate echo of Bolt's when the Jamaican great won the first of his eight Olympic sprint gold medals in a world record time of 9.69 at the 2008 Beijing Games."If somebody took it as disrespect, I'm really sorry," Tebogo told the website of World Athletics."(It was so) everybody watching at home can enjoy the race – to remind them a little bit about what Usain Bolt did back in the day. He's my idol - the person I look up to."Comparisons with Bolt immediately flooded onto social media and the run attracted the attention of the man himself, who retweeted the result.Tebogo said he thought could have run as fast as 9.80 had he not coasted through the end of the race."We have more races to come, we didn't want to go that far," Tebogo said."But this is my year as a junior, we have to leave (the record) here for the next generation to come and break it."Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Tebogo draws Bolt comparisons after showboating to junior record.

U.S. August 2, 2022 / 1:21 PM / CBS/AP George Washington's final years George Washington's final years 07:07 Researchers believe they have uncovered in a mass grave in New Jersey the remains of as many as 12 Hessian soldiers who fought during the Revolutionary War, officials announced Tuesday.The remains, found at the site of Fort Mercer and the 1777 Battle of Red Bank, rested for 245 years until a human femur was found in June during an archaeological dig of a trench system that surrounded the fort, scientists said. Additional excavation yielded more skeletal remains and items including pewter and brass buttons and a King George III gold guinea, which would have been a soldier's pay for a month.A team of scientists from Rowan University and officials from Gloucester County presented their preliminary findings during a news conference at Red Bank Battlefield Park, just south of Philadelphia.Rowan Research: Rewriting Revolutionary War historyUnexpected victory in 1777, unexpected discovery in 2022: Some 245 years after they were buried in a mass grave, the human remains found at Red Bank Battlefield change what historians understood of battle’s aftermath October 1777 fight between American and Hessian forces. Rowan University history professor Jennifer Janofsky tells about the research, along with principal archaeologist Wade Catts. Learn more at go.rowan.edu/redbankbattlefield. #RowanResearchPosted by Rowan University on Tuesday, August 2, 2022 Officials believe the remains are part of a mass grave of Hessian soldiers - German troops hired by the British - who were part of about 377 troops killed by Colonial forces during the Battle of Red Bank. Americans lost 14, historians said. The victory allowed Americans at the fort to delay the British from moving supplies up the Delaware River."Based on everything we've found and the context of what we've found, these appear to be Hessians," Wade Catts, principal archaeologist for South River Heritage Consulting of Delaware, said in a statement. The remains have been turned over to forensic anthropologists at the New Jersey State Police forensic unit to extract DNA from the bones and teeth to identify their origin. Additional studies are being conducted to examine life history, health and disease.The scientists hope they can identify the remains and find their descendants."We're hoping that eventually, perhaps, we can find some of these individuals," Rowan University public historian Jennifer Janofsky said in a statement. "If we can extract their stories, and if we can tell their stories, it lets us put a name to a face. And that, to me, is a very powerful moment in public history."Officials said the remains were excavated with "extraordinary attention" to preserving the dignity of war dead. When the study is complete, they will be interred at another site, and the trench will be refilled. The land will be incorporated into the park on a bluff overlooking the river."Archaeology is helping us better understand what happened on the battlefield," Janofsky said. Flags indicate the location of human remains discovered at the Red Bank Battlefield Park in National Park, N.J., Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. Researchers believe they have uncovered in a mass grave in New Jersey the remains of as many as 12 Hessian soldiers who fought during the Revolutionary War, officials announced Tuesday. Matt Rourke / AP Over a decade ago, archaeologists uncovered other artifacts — some from the 1770s and others dating back to 500 BC — in front of a museum at Red Bank Battlefield Park, CBS Philadelphia reported.Some of the items included chips of stone that were knocked off when Native Americans were making arrowheads and spear points, as well as pottery.  They also uncovered bits of plates, bottles, glass, clay smoking pipes, buttons, French-made gun flints from the 1770s and an Andrew Jackson victory button dating from 1828. In: Revolutionary War New Jersey Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue

Remains of soldiers unearthed at Revolutionary War battle site in New Jersey: "A very powerful moment in public history".

A person holds an umbrella as the logo of French Bank Societe Generale is seen outside a bank building in Saint-Sebastien-sur-Loire near Nantes, France, May 4, 2021. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSummaryCompanies3.3 bln euro hit from Russian unit saleQ2 loss at 1.5 bln vs expectations of over 2 blnRevenues came in higher than expectedPARIS, Aug 3 (Reuters) - A buoyant second quarter and new three-year targets helped to boost Societe Generale's (SOGN.PA) shares on Wednesday, as the French bank weathered a 3.3-billion-euro ($3.4 billion) hit from the sale of its Russia business.France's third-biggest listed bank, which is seeking a new chief executive, reported a 1.48-billion-euro loss, while analysts on average had expected a loss of more than 2 billion.The better-than-expected result, helped by robust retail and investment banking activity, lifted SocGen's shares 4.2% in early trading, the strongest performance in the pan-European banking index (.SX7E).Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comNet banking income rose just over 7 billion euros, about 600 million euros higher than expected, while operating expenses came in lower at 4.46 billion euros, the bank said, as it confirmed the launch of a 915 million euros share buyback plan."These are excellent results, with the good news of the share buyback and ambitious but achievable goals," said Jerome Legras, head of research at Axiom Alternative Investments.The group's ROTE (Return On Tangible Equity) profitability ratio stood at 10.5% on an underlying basis. It said it was aiming for ROTE of 10% and a CET 1 capital ratio of 12% in 2025.Among other goals set for the next three years, the bank seeks to deliver a cost-to-income ratio of 62 or below and maintain a pay-out ratio of 50% of its profits. It is aiming for average annual revenue growth of at least 3% for 2021-2025.LOOKING FOR A NEW CEOQuarterly revenue rose 23.3% to 1.5 billion euros in the global markets business, where equity trading activity increased by 7.5% to 833 million euros, while fixed income and currency activities increased 50% to 683 million euros.French and international retail reported a rise in net banking income of 8.5% to 2.26 billion euros and 12.7% to 1.27 billion respectively.In May, SocGen closed the sale of its Russian business Rosbank (ROSB.MM) to the Interros group. read more The same month, CEO Frederic Oudea took investors by surprise by saying he would step down next year after running the lender for 15 years."There is nothing new on that front," Oudea told journalists on a conference call, saying the decision on a new CEO was still expected for the autumn.Speculation has so far centred around Sebastien Proto, currently merging SocGen's retail networks in France, as well as Slawomir Krupa, head of global banking and investor solutions activities.Jacques Ripoll, who just left Credit Agricole SA (CAGR.PA), Philippe Heim, the head of France's postal bank, and Jean Pierre Mustier, former CEO of Italy's UniCredit (CRDI.MI), are among former SocGen executives mentioned as potential options.Rival BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA) reported better-than-expected profits on Friday. read more ($1 = 0.9819 euros)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Julien Ponthus, Matthieu Protard, Ingrid Melander Editing by Stephen Coates, Jane Merriman and Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Buoyant Q2 and new targets help SocGen weather Russia blow.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi attends a meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan August 3, 2022. Taiwan Presidential Office/Handout via REUTERS Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comBEIJING, Aug 3 (Reuters) - China on Wednesday suspended exports of natural sand to Taiwan and halted imports of fruit and fish products from the self-governed island as U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in a trip condemned by Beijing. read more In a warning salvo ahead of Pelosi's visit, Chinese customs had suspended imports from 35 Taiwanese exporters of biscuits and pastries since Monday. read more In January-June, China's imports from Taiwan reached $122.5 billion, up 7.3% from a year earlier, Chinese customs data showed. Top imported goods included integrated circuits and electronic components.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comNATURAL SANDChina's commerce ministry said exports of natural sand - widely used for construction and in concrete - to Taiwan were suspended from Wednesday.Such a move was based on laws and regulations, the ministry said, without elaborating.In March 2007, China halted exports of natural sand to Taiwan due to environmental concerns. The ban lasted for a year. According to Chinese official data, more than 90% of Taiwan's natural sand imports came from China in 2007.FRUIT AND FISHChina also halted imports of citrus fruit, chilled white striped hairtail and frozen horse mackerel from Taiwan from Wednesday, a suspension which it said was due to pesticide residue found on citrus fruit, while traces of the novel coronavirus were detected on the packaging of some frozen fish products in June.China's top food and agricultural imports from Taiwan include seafood, coffee, dairy products, beverages and vinegar.In January-June, China's biggest agricultural and food import items from Taiwan were fish and other aquatic invertebrates, reaching 399 million yuan ($59 million).Earlier this year, China suspended imports of grouper fish from Taiwan, saying it had detected banned chemicals.Last year, Beijing also suspended pineapple, sugar apple and wax apple imports from the island, citing pest concerns. read more TWO FOUNDATIONSChina also vowed to take "disciplinary actions" against two Taiwan foundations which it claimed had aggressively engaged in pro-independence separatist activities.The two foundations - Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and Taiwan Foreign Ministry's International Cooperation and Development Fund - will be banned from cooperating with any organisations, companies and individuals in the mainland, China's state news agency Xinhua on Wednesday cited Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, as saying.China will punish any mainland organisations, companies and individuals that provide financial support to or serve the two foundations, Xinhua reported, adding other measures will be adopted if necessary.In addition, any deal or cooperation between four specific Taiwanese firms and mainland companies are not allowed due to their donations to the two foundations.Executives at the four Taiwanese companies - solar producer Speedtech Energy Co., Hyweb Technology Co., medical equipment producer Skyla, and cold chain vehicle fleet management company SkyEyes - will be prohibited from entering mainland China.($1 = 6.7506 Chinese yuan renminbi)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Beijing Newsroom, Ryan Woo and Emily Chow; Editing by Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Factbox: Economic sanctions China has imposed on Taiwan over Pelosi visit.

Attia Salama, a former neighbour of Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, talks with Reuters TV at the upscale Cairo suburb of Maadi, in which Ayman al-Zawahiri used to live, Egypt, August 2, 2022. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comCAIRO, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, who was killed by a U.S. drone strike in Kabul, seemed harmless to neighbours when he was a young man growing up in a leafy Cairo suburb."Years went by, and then all of a sudden we heard about Ayman al-Zawahiri doing all these things, he became something we would have never imagined," said Attia Salama, his former neighbour in the upscale Cairo suburb of Maadi."He used to be quiet, no one used to pay attention to him at all. Our experience with him and his family was totally normal, we had no idea he was with that movement."Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comZawahiri, an Egyptian surgeon, went on to become the leader of one of the country's most feared militant groups, Islamic Jihad, convincing disillusioned young men to turn against the U.S.-backed state.A lawyer for the Zawahiri family could not immediately be reached for comment on Tuesday.Zawahiri orchestrated a campaign in the mid 1990s to overthrow the government and set up a purist Islamic State. More than 1,200 Egyptians were killed.Egyptian authorities mounted a crackdown on Islamic Jihad after an assassination attempt on President Hosni Mubarak in June of 1995 in Addis Ababa.The greying, white-turbaned Zawahiri responded by ordering a 1995 attack on the Egyptian embassy in Islamabad. Two cars filled with explosives rammed through the compound’s gates, killing 16 people.Zawahiri did not emerge from Cairo's slums, like others drawn to militant groups who promised a noble cause. Born in 1951 to a prominent Cairo family, Zawahiri was a grandson of the grand imam of Al Azhar, one of Islam's most important mosques.Zawahiri was raised in Maadi suburb, a place favoured by expatriates from the Western nations he railed against. The son of a pharmacology professor, Zawahiri first embraced Islamic fundamentalism at the age of 15.Zawahiri was killed on Sunday in Kabul, Afghanistan, by a U.S. drone missile, officials in Washington said. read more CLIMBS AL QAEDA RANKSHis former neighbour Salama stood on a typical Egyptian street filled with vegetable vendors, cafes, mechanics and buses as he reflected on Zawahiri's life before he climbed the ranks of Al Qaeda determined to terrorise the United States and other Western countries.Zawahiri's friends used to come by and then they would all go and pray, Salama said."We were surprised to see the state security coming in two cars and taking him and his brother Hussein and detaining them," said Salama, referring to state security agents working for Mubarak."He used to go around and pray and go to his clinic. And then all of sudden it changed, and security came and got him."Zawahiri disappeared after he was released from prison and eventually headed to Afghanistan to fight Soviet occupation troops. Determined to keep tabs on Zawahiri, security forces would pass by Maadi and question his father and mother about his whereabouts.He would go on to become the mastermind of some of Al Qaeda's most spectacular attacks. He had a $25 million bounty on his head and helped to coordinate the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States that killed nearly 3,000 people.Another acquaintance from the neighbourhood, Hassan Izzeldin, said his family were well-known, decent people."He chose this path for himself, and he is the one to blame for his end," he said.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Nafisa Eltahir, Amr Abdalla and Sayed Sheasha; Writing by Michael Georgy; editing by Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Zawahiri's militant path surprised neighbours in Cairo suburb.

German Chancellor OIaf Scholz stands next to a gas turbine meant to be transported to the compressor station of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline in Russia during his visit to Siemens Energy's site in Muelheim an der Ruhr, Germany, August 3, 2022. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comMUELHEIM AN DER RUHR, Germany, Aug 3 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday blamed Moscow for delays in the return of gas turbine for the Nord Stream 1 pipeline that had been serviced in Canada but has since been stranded in Germany in an escalating energy standoff."The turbine works," Scholz said during a factory visit to Siemens Energy (ENR1n.DE) in Muelheim an der Ruhr."It (the turbine) can be transported and used at any time," he said. "The non-fulfilment of the gas supply contracts has no technical reasons whatsoever," the chancellor added.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comEuropean governments have accused Russia of throttling gas supplies on spurious pretexts in revenge for Western sanctions after the invasion of Ukraine.Moscow denies doing so and cited issues with the turbine as the reason for lower gas flows through Nord Stream 1.A senior manager at Russian gas giant Gazprom (GAZP.MM) said that delivery of the turbine to Germany from Canada after the maintenance work had been completed was not in line with the contract.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Christoph Steitz, writing by Kirsti Knolle and Matthias Williams Editing by Madeline ChambersOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

'The turbine works': Germany's Scholz points finger at Russia in energy row.

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comWASHINGTON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - A bill expanding healthcare coverage for veterans sickened by gases from military toxic burn pits passed the U.S. Senate on Tuesday night after unexpectedly getting held up by opposition from Republicans last week.The U.S. military used burn pits to dispose of waste on foreign bases until the mid-2010s. Fumes from burning everything from rubber, chemical waste, ammunitions and human feces have caused rare cancers and respiratory illnesses in veterans. read more The bill initially passed the 100-member Senate with the support of 34 Republicans and all 50 Democrats, but got held up by a technical error the House swiftly corrected.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe Senate's final approval last week was expected to be a routine vote, but after Democrats announced a deal within their caucus on an unrelated climate and tax bill that would not require bipartisan support, a group of Republican senators abruptly changed their positions and voted against the corrected bill.Many saw the Republican senators' move, which took place just hours after the Democrats' announcement, as retribution for continuing negotiations on the climate and tax bill that most in Congress thought were dead.On Tuesday, Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer said he had reached a deal with Republican Senator Pat Toomey to hold a vote on an amendment that would change how money was allocated within the burn pits bill, clearing the way for a final vote on passage on Tuesday evening.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) embraces a veteran during a news confrence, following the completion of a vote on the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., August 2, 2022. REUTERS/Tom BrennerToomey's amendment was defeated before the Senate approved the legislation by a vote of 86-11.Veterans who have pushed for the bill have camped on the Capitol steps since Thursday evening when the bill last came to the floor. U.S. President Joe Biden called the veterans on Saturday and said he stood in solidarity with them, according to Rosie Torres, a veterans' advocate.Torres believes the Republican senators who changed their vote treated veterans like "political pawns.""It shouldn't be about politics," Torres said. "People are dying."Veterans and their advocates - including comedian Jon Stewart, an outspoken supporter of the bill - packed the galleries of the Senate chamber to watch the final vote on Tuesday night.Biden said in a statement he looks forward to signing the bill into law "so that veterans and their families and caregivers impacted by toxic exposures finally get the benefits and comprehensive health care they earned and deserve."Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Moira Warburton, Rose Horowitch and Katharine Jackson; Editing by Chris Reese and Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

After unexpected hurdles, military toxic burn pits bill passes U.S. Senate.

An energy identification card is seen on the day of German Chancellor OIaf Scholz's visit to Siemens Energy's site, where he saw a gas turbine meant to be transported to the compressor station of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline in Russia, in Muelheim an der Ruhr, Germany, August 3, 2022. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSummaryCompaniesThis content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in UkraineMOSCOW, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Tension over giant turbines that Moscow blames for the reduction of flows via the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline has put the focus on the equipment it needs to operate.The crucial part is SGT-A65, a Siemens Energy (ENR1n.DE) turbine that is 12 metres long, weighs 20 tonnes, and needs to be transported back to Gazprom's Nord Stream Portovaya compressor station following maintenance.It is stuck in transit in Germany, with Russia pointing to outstanding issues around its transport and Western sanctions, while Germany blames Moscow for deliberately holding up the process.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comOn Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had said there was little Russia could do to help with urgent repairs required to malfunctioning Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline equipment.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit the turbine on Wednesday, Siemens Energy said late on Tuesday.WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?President Vladimir Putin says the West has unleashed an economic war aimed at destroying Russia and its economy, and has promised to sell Russia's vast energy resources to countries in Asia such as China if European customers do not want to buy them.Kremlin-controlled Gazprom has reduced flows through Nord Stream 1, the single biggest pipeline carrying Russian gas to Germany, to 20% of capacity because of what it describes as faulty equipment, notably the SGT-A65 turbine whose return has been delayed.Germany has said that the turbines are a pretext, and that Moscow is using gas as a political weapon. "They don't even have the guts to say 'we are in an economic war with you'," German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said last month.Gazprom has also halted another Siemens Energy gas turbine at the station, citing routine maintenance and the "technical condition" of the engine.TURBINES AND COMPRESSORSEight industrial aeroderivative gas turbines were originally manufactured by Rolls-Royce for the Portovaya station. Rolls-Royce's gas turbine-making operations were bought by Siemens Energy in 2014.These turbines are needed to power driving centrifugal compressors, which raise pressure by condensing gas volumes to ensure smooth transport of the fuel.According to Gazprom, six of the gas pumping units at Portovaya have a capacity of 52 megawatts (MW) each, while two units have a capacity of 27 MW each.In addition, there are four spare turbines on site to ensure the station keeps pumping if some equipment has to leave the site for maintenance, which usually happens every two-to-three years, a person familiar with the matter said.Two of the six large units may stay idle without reducing the station's capacity, a source familiar with how the station operates said.Gazprom did not reply to questions about Nord Stream 1 operations."Understandably a lot of people are saying 'this is just the Russians making excuses while they put pressure on the European energy market'," Jonathan Stern, Distinguished Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, said."That is entirely possible because we just don't know enough from either Siemens or Gazprom about the maintenance schedule. The problem is that neither side is giving us the information we need."WHAT'S PORTOVAYA?The Portovaya compressor station is located near the Russian city of Vybord on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, where the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline enters the Baltic Sea.The station pumps natural gas across the Baltic Sea via Nord Stream 1's 1,224 km (760 mile) undersea route to where it makes landfall in Germany's Greifswald. Gazprom calls Portovaya the world's largest compressor station.Nord Stream 1 has a nameplate capacity of 55 billion cubic metres (bcm) per year. However, the pipeline pumped more than 59 bcm in 2020 and 2021 after measures were taken to raise capacity, representing more than a third of Russia's total gas supply to the European Union.Portovaya reached a daily record of almost 177 million cubic metres per day in 2020.RUSSIAN TURBINESRussia produces turbines with a maximum capacity of 25 megawatts.Engineering company Power Machines is developing two types of turbine with capacities of 65 MW and 170 MW each, it said.The 65 MW turbine is expected to start working in testing mode only in 2024, and the other later in 2022 or in 2023.Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said in a speech last month in parliament that Russia is speeding up trials of the large turbines "in the interests of the Russian power sector".Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Reuters; Editing by Jan Harvey and Barbara LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Explainer: Nord Stream turbine tension puts focus on gas pipeline parts.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan ramps up U.S.-China tensions and risks pushing the countries further apart, according to one economist.On Wednesday, the top U.S. lawmaker met Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in a highly controversial visit that has angered Beijing."We're on a trajectory of escalating conflict and this will certainly make matters worse. It plays well to local politics in the United States and in Taiwan, but it does not play well to geostrategic forces that are pushing these two nations apart," Stephen Roach, a Yale University senior fellow and former Federal Reserve economist, told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia" on Wednesday."The leadership in both the U.S. and China to address this conflict is compromised by this basically pouring salt in an open wound for China," added Roach, who was also previously chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia.Roach said, however, that does not mean China should be "let off the hook" for some of the concerns that Pelosi has raised."But to raise them in the context of a deteriorating relationship is asking for more serious repercussions in a much more difficult and intractable path to resolution. And we are not on a path to resolution. This visit if anything, it pushes that point of coming back together apart rather than bringing it closer together."Read more about China from CNBC ProPelosi is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Taiwan in 25 years, drawing the ire of China which called the move a breach of the "one China" policy. Under that framework, the U.S. recognizes Beijing as the sole legal government of China, though Washington also maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan.China on 'defensive'China had warned it would respond if Pelosi visited Taiwan, a self-ruled island that Beijing considers a runaway province.At a Wednesday press conference after meeting Tsai, Pelosi said Taiwan was a symbol for democracy and was a contrast to the political system on mainland China and Hong Kong where the "one country two systems" promise "didn't happen."Pelosi got "a lot of bipartisan praise" when details of her trip became public, Doug Heye, a former communications director at the Republican National Committee, told CNBC's "Capital Connection" on Wednesday."I actually am incredibly proud of what Nancy Pelosi did on this trip. The easy thing to do would've been to fold and she sure didn't do it," he said, adding the House speaker is "consistent with being who she really is."Still, Pelosi's trip creates a new headache for the Biden administration, which has tried to convince Beijing the visit says nothing about U.S. policy toward China or Taiwan.Roach said the trip puts China on the defensive, pushing Beijing to demonstrate its resolve to pursue eventual reunification of Taiwan with the mainland."This is a setback to that objective in China," he added." I think China will make some compensating adjustment to offset the setback. I don't think China will do anything rash. I don't look for a overt military action, although ... there is a considerable exercise or power going on in the Taiwan Strait."Ahead of Pelosi's arrival in Taiwan, the Chinese military held live-fire exercises, deployed fighter jets to the Taiwan Strait and announced more military drills. Roach said while these maneuvers may not precipitate anything more immediate or serious, the risk of accidents shouldn't be taken lightly.China won't be 'reckless'Despite China's saber rattling, Beijing won't do anything "reckless," said Ja Ian Chong, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore."I don't think that Beijing wants a crisis to spiral out of control as well … They want to send a strong message, but I don't think they will want to do anything that's particularly reckless," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" on Wednesday."I think it's important to keep that in mind. A lot of this messaging intends to create alarm, intends to create fear and to suggest that any effort to do what China does not like with Taiwan brings substantial costs and substantial risks," he added.He underlined "coercion itself" comes with enormous costs and risks to Beijing, adding it's critical to  balance that kind of "threatening behavior with a consideration of what Beijing actually wants and what Beijing's able to carry off."

Pelosi's trip to Taiwan is like 'pouring salt in an open wound for China', Stephen Roach says.

3D printed Natural Gas Pipes are placed on displayed German and Russian flags in this illustration taken, January 31, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comBERLIN, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The German government will have to amend its energy security law again in September as its gas levy cannot yet be imposed on all consumers, including those with fixed prices contracts, government and parliamentary sources told Reuters on Wednesday.A gas levy, which had been set to come into force from October, was envisaged as a tool to collect funds from all gas consumers to support ailing gas importers that are struggling with soaring prices due to falling Russian gas export flows. read more Industry sources told Reuters that around one quarter of gas consumer contracts have clauses that would guarantee fixed prices, which would make adding on a levy difficult.The economy ministry declined to comment.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Markus Wacket Writing by Riham Alkousaa and Vera EckertOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

EXCLUSIVE Germany's gas levy cannot be implemented as planned, say sources.

Plastic letters arranged to read "Inflation" are placed on Chinese Yuan banknote in this illustration taken, June 12, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comLONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Major developed and emerging market central banks around the globe delivered nearly 1,200 basis points in interest rate hikes in July alone, ramping up their fight against multi-decade high inflation with Canada surprising markets with an outsized move.Central banks overseeing five of the 10 most heavily traded currencies delivered 325 basis points of rate hikes between them last month. This brings the total volume of rate hikes since the start of the year across G10 central banks to 1,100 basis points.However, July's tally was less than the 350 basis points seven central banks delivered in June.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com"We've reached peak hawkishness of the central banks," Christian Kopf, head of fixed income portfolio management at Union Investment, told Reuters.Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics"Central banks have made it clear that they will not overdo it with the rate hikes," Kopf said, adding that was also the message conveyed by U.S. Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell.July was dotted with some eye catching moves. Canada emerged as the chief hawk, stunning markets by delivering the first 100-basis-point rate increase among the world's advanced economies in the current cycle, lifting its key policy rate to 1.5%.New Zealand delivered its sixth straight interest rate rise and signalled it remained comfortable with its planned aggressive tightening path to restrain runaway inflation. read more And then of course the big one: The Fed delivered its second straight 75-basis-point rate hike, reinforcing its commitment to contain red-hot inflation running at 40-year highs. read more There was no let up for policymakers in emerging markets, where inflation had been on a tear for much longer than in developed economies.Nine out of 18 central banks delivered 850 bps of rate hikes in July. In total, emerging market central banks have raised interest rates by 5,265 bps year-to-date - nearly double the 2,745 bps for the whole of 2021, calculations show."Emerging market central banks remain more worried about inflation than growth," BofA's David Hauner said in a recent note to clients.Reuters GraphicsHungary moved twice in July, jacking up its base rate by 300 basis points to 10.75% with borrowing costs into double-digit territory for the first time since late 2008 - and flagging more hikes ahead. read more Colombia and Chile piled in with a 150 bps and 75 bps hike respectively, though emerging market uber-hawk Brazil, which has lifted rates to 13.25 bps already in June, took a breather.However, emerging markets have also seen cuts with Russia reducing interest rates ratcheted up to 20% in the wake of its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, which sparked sweeping sanctions. read more Inflation pressures would remain a headache for policy makers, said Tobias Adrian, director at the Monetary and Capital Markets Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF)."The magnitude of the inflation surge has been a surprise to central banks and markets, and there remains substantial uncertainty about the outlook for inflation," Adrian wrote in a blog on Monday."Inflation risks appear strongly tilted to the upside," Adrian said, adding there was a substantial risk that price pressures were becoming entrenched and expectations unanchored.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Karin Strohecker and Vincent Flasseur in London, Additional reporting by Dhara Ranasinghe; Editing by Jacqueline WongOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Global cenbanks lift rates by nearly 1,200 bps in July.