Fertilizer company OCI bets big on climate-friendly ammonia

By Rod Nickel and Victoria Klesty (Reuters) – Without a single sales contract in hand, Dutch fertilizer company OCI is building a $1 billion plant in Texas to produce ammonia with low greenhouse gas emissions, a gamble requiring heavy government subsidies, new markets and a contingency plan. OCI’s plant would be the world’s first new…

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Canada extends consultation period for RBC’s $13.5 billion bid for HSBC unit

TORONTO (Reuters) – Canada’s finance ministry has extended the consultation period for Royal Bank of Canada’s $13.5 billion proposed acquisition of HSBC’s Canadian unit by 15 days due to a technical error that prevented the department from receiving some submissions by email. The Finance Department said the technical issue has now been resolved and stakeholders…

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Next wave of North American LNG export projects to face labor challenges

By Curtis Williams and Nia Williams HOUSTON (Reuters) – A coming wave of North American liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects faces staffing challenges that are prompting some of the biggest developers to expand training and coordinate projects to keep construction workers. There are eight export projects now under way that when completed would add…

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Bank of Canada seen hiking rates quarter point to tame stubborn inflation

By Steve Scherer OTTAWA (Reuters) – The Bank of Canada (BoC) is heading toward a second consecutive quarter-point interest rate hike on Wednesday after a month of economic data revealed resilient growth, a stubbornly tight labor market and sticky underlying inflation, analysts said. In June, the central bank raised its overnight rate to a 22-year…

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Canadian port strike talks resume, supported by federal mediators

TORONTO (Reuters) – Talks in Pacific Canada between striking dock workers and their employers have resumed after four days away from the negotiation table, a statement on Saturday by the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) showed. The BCMEA and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU Canada) met on Saturday, supported by federal…

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NATO allies agree to spend ‘at least 2%’ of their GDP on defence -diplomats

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO allies have reached agreement to raise the alliance’s target for military spending to at least 2% of national GDP, two diplomats told Reuters late on Friday. The 31 allies agreed on “an enduring commitment to invest at least 2%” of their GDP into their militaries in the future, two diplomats said,…

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AIIB says review finds Chinese Communist control charge unfounded

By Joe Cash BEIJING (Reuters) -Allegations that the Chinese Communist Party has undue influence within the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank “are without any foundation whatsoever,” Danny Alexander, a vice president, said on Friday, following the fiery resignation of a senior employee. Bob Pickard, the AIIB’s former chief of communications said in June that he had…

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