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Republican Senator Ernst does not yet back Trump Pentagon pick Hegseth

By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republican U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, a combat veteran and sexual assault survivor, said on Thursday she is not yet ready to back Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense, dimming the confirmation hopes of President-elect Donald Trump’s embattled nominee. Ernst, a senior Armed Services Committee member, said she had …

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France’s Suez Group to help manage Thames Water as part of Covalis bid, FT reports

(Reuters) -France’s Suez Group would help manage struggling British utilities firm Thames Water’s operations as part of a 5 billion pound ($6.37 billion) bid tendered by investor Covalis Capital for full ownership, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. Thames Water had asked potential investors to put forward indicative bids by the end of Thursday as …

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Oil falls as investors weigh ample 2025 supply outlook, delayed OPEC+ output hike

By Georgina McCartney HOUSTON (Reuters) -Oil prices fell on Thursday as investors weighed an ample supply outlook for next year against OPEC+ delaying its planned output increase by three months to April 2025. Brent crude settled down 22 cents, or 0.3%, at $72.09 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) settled down 24 cents, …

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UN aviation agency at 80 challenged by climate change, rising traffic

By David Shepardson and Allison Lampert CHICAGO/MONTREAL (Reuters) -A global blueprint for modern air travel struck 80 years ago this week faces fresh tests managing change and rising air traffic in the developing world, a senior official at the UN’s aviation agency told Reuters. On Thursday, the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is bringing …

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Trafigura director quizzed on ‘Mr. Non-Compliant’ in Swiss corruption case

By Emma Farge BELLINZONA, Switzerland (Reuters) -A Swiss judge questioned a Trafigura board member on Thursday over the trading firm’s dealings with a consultant referred to in the firm’s corruption indictment as “Mr. Non-Compliant” who was allegedly part of a chain of intermediaries used to bribe an Angolan official. Swiss prosecutors say that Trafigura and …

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Temu, Shein suspend Vietnam operations amid crackdown on e-commerce platforms

By Phuong Nguyen and Khanh Vu HANOI (Reuters) -Chinese online retailers Temu and Shein have suspended their operations in Vietnam as the companies work to register their e-commerce services with the Southeast Asian nation’s authorities, the two companies said on Thursday. The Vietnamese government and domestic businesses have voiced concern about the impact of deep …

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Oilfield service consolidation to increase under Trump, report says

By Georgina McCartney HOUSTON (Reuters) – The oilfield service sector is poised for more consolidation in 2025, according to Deloitte’s 2025 Oil and Gas Industry Outlook, with President-elect Donald Trump expected loosen regulations on the U.S. oil and gas industry. The uptick in deals in the services sector would follow a wave of mega-mergers among …

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Spain’s CNMV will wait for antitrust review to decide on BBVA-Sabadell deal

MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s stock market supervisor CNMV will wait for the outcome of the competition watchdog’s review of BBVA’s hostile bid for Sabadell before deciding on the potential authorisation of the takeover prospectus, CNMV chief Rodrigo Buenaventura told reporters on Thursday. In November, the antitrust watchdog said that BBVA’s all-share offer for Sabadell, valued …

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Analysis-Vodafone-Three merger approval marks UK antitrust shift

By Paul Sandle LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s decision to allow two of its four mobile networks to merge is the first big sign that regulators have taken on board the government’s wish for them to prioritise economic growth and infrastructure investment over lower consumer prices. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) antitrust regulator cleared the …

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