BlackRock mulls selling stake in Saudi Aramco gas pipelines, Bloomberg News reports
The stake, which BlackRock acquired in 2021, is likely to be worth billions of dollars, according to the report.
Reuters could not immediately confirm the report.
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Reuters
30 minutes ago
- Reuters
Explainer: Why are farm goods holding up the India-U.S. trade deal?
MUMBAI, July 3 (Reuters) - U.S. and India trade negotiators were pushing on Wednesday to finalise a tariff-reducing deal ahead of President Donald Trump's July 9 negotiating deadline, but disagreements over U.S. dairy and agriculture remained unresolved. Agriculture and its allied areas contribute just 16% to India's $3.9 trillion economy, but sustain nearly half of the country's 1.4 billion population. As farmers remain the most powerful voting bloc, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government was forced into a rare retreat four years ago when it tried to push through controversial farm laws. The prospect of cheaper imports from the United States threatens to drive down local prices, handing the opposition a fresh opportunity to attack the government. New Delhi has traditionally kept agriculture out of Free Trade Agreements with other nations. Granting market access to the U.S. could force India to extend similar concessions to other trading partners. The average Indian farm comprises just 1.08 hectares, compared to 187 hectares in the United States. In dairy, the average herd size in India is two to three animals per farmer, compared to hundreds in the United States. This difference makes it difficult for small Indian farmers to compete with their U.S. counterparts. Farming in India remains largely unmechanized because small, fragmented land holdings leave little room for large machinery. In many regions, farmers rely on techniques passed down through generations, a sharp contrast to U.S. farms, where cutting-edge equipment and AI-driven technologies have raised productivity. The United States is pressing India to open its markets to a wide range of American products, including dairy, poultry, corn, soybeans, rice, wheat, ethanol, citrus fruits, almonds, pecans, apples, grapes, canned peaches, chocolates, cookies, and frozen French fries. While India is willing to grant greater access to U.S. dry fruits and apples, it is holding back on allowing imports of corn, soybeans, wheat, and dairy products. India does not allow genetically modified (GM) food crops, while most U.S. corn and soybean production is GM-based. Dairy remains a sensitive issue in India, where cultural and dietary preferences strongly influence food choices. Indian consumers are particularly concerned that cattle in the U.S. are often fed with animal by-products, a practice that conflicts with Indian food habits. A key aim of India's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) program is to cut dependence on energy imports by blending domestically-produced ethanol with gasoline. Significant investments by domestic companies mean that India is now close to achieving its ambitious target of blending 20% ethanol. Importing ethanol would undermine those companies. The EBP also helps manage surpluses of rice, sugarcane, and corn by diverting them to ethanol production. Allowing imports of U.S. ethanol would be a serious setback for India's emerging distillery sector.
Auto Blog
an hour ago
- Auto Blog
6 Reasons Why Mazda Won't Like Nissan's New Electric Sedan in China
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Nissan has an emerging hit on its hands Nissan launched its $17,000 N7 electric sedan in China on April 28, and the model has already received over 20,000 orders. In May, Nissan delivered 3,034 N7s in China, while the Mazda EZ-6, a competing electric sedan starting at $19,600, sold 1,821 units. Nissan confirmed that the N7 will expand to global markets, but hasn't yet specified which countries. While the N7 and the EZ-6 didn't sell as many units in May as models like Toyota's new bZ3X electric SUV, the two vehicles are helping deliver the value that Chinese consumers are looking for in an electric sedan, and Nissan has Mazda beat beyond price. Both models are comparable in size, with the N7 measuring 194 inches in length and 74.6 inches in width, and the EZ-6 measuring 193.7 inches in length and 74.6 inches in width. The N7 offers two motor options with 215 and 268 horsepower, respectively, while the EZ-6's electric powertrain delivers 258 horsepower. An EZ-6 gets you from 0-62 MPH in 6.2 seconds, and the 268-horsepower N7 isn't far behind at 6.9 seconds. While Mazda offers an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) EZ-6 that's fundamentally an electric car, this version also features a 1.5-liter gas engine used as a battery recharging generator, so we'll focus on the EV version. The N7 rounds out its value with solid range, tech, and trunk space Regarding range, the N7's two lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery options—58 kWh and 73 kWh—yield 335 miles and 388 miles of range, respectively. Mazda's fully electric EZ-6 offers a 373-mile range. You'll pay $19,200 to $20,800 for a 73 kWh N7 in China, placing it neck and neck with the EZ-6 in terms of pricing. Those prioritizing charging speed will favor the N7, which charges from 10% to 80% in 19 minutes, three minutes faster than the EZ-6. Inside, Nissan's N7 contains a 15.6-inch center console display, while the EX-6 features a 14.6-inch infotainment screen. You'll also get more trunk space within an N7 at 17.8 cu ft compared to this Mazda's 12.3 cu ft. The EX-6 offers a bit more curb appeal than the N7 with a sportier look, but the N7's exterior seems to mirror the modern, minimalist EV design sentiment that consumers are after from brands like Tesla. While Nissan hasn't yet confirmed which markets the N7 will first expand to, Japan and Australia are rumored to be frontrunners, according to Carscoops. Other possibilities include Malaysia and limited European markets. In 45 days, Nissan has moved 10,000 N7 units, indicating promising growth from May's 3,034 deliveries. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Final thoughts Nissan has historically experienced struggles in the Chinese and American EV markets, so the N7's early momentum is a bigger win for the automaker than it may seem. Drivers in the U.S. can also look forward to Nissan's redesigned Leaf SUV that's debuting in the fall. The 2026 Leaf is expected to cost more than the N7, with an unconfirmed starting price in the mid-$30,000s, but it remains more accessible than many electric SUVs in its class. About the Author Cody Carlson View Profile
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
UN expert calls for companies to stop doing business with Israel
A United Nations expert has called on dozens of multinational companies to stop doing business with Israel, warning them they risk being complicit in war crimes in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Francesca Albanese, presenting her report to the UN human rights council, described what she called "an economy of genocide" in which the conflict with Hamas provided a testing ground - with no accountability or oversight - for new weapons and has rejected her report as "groundless", saying it would "join the dustbin of history".UN experts, or special rapporteurs, are independent of the UN, but appointed by it to advise on human rights matters. Ms Albanese is an international lawyer from Italy, and she is known for her bluntness; in previous reports she has suggested that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. On Thursday she repeated that, accusing Israel of "committing one of the cruellest genocides in modern history".In this report she names companies she says are profiting from, and therefore complicit in, war crimes in Gaza. Her list includes arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin for selling weapons, and tech firms Alphabet, IBM, Microsoft and Amazon, for providing technology which allows Israel to track and target Palestinians. She also lists Caterpillar, Hyundai, and Volvo, which her report claims have supplied vehicles used for demolishing homes and flattening bombed institutions are included too: banks BNP Paribas and Barclays, claims Ms Albanese, have been underwriting Israeli treasury bonds throughout the BBC has approached the companies named above for comment. Lockheed Martin said foreign military sales were government-to-government transactions, and discussions were best addressed by the US government. Volvo said it did not share Ms Albanese's criticism which it believes was based on "insufficient and partly incorrect information". It added it is committed to respecting human rights and constantly works to strengthen its due diligence. But it said since its products have a long life and change hands often "there is unfortunately a limit to how much control or influence we can have on how and where our products are used during their lifetime". For the companies named the business is lucrative, the report says, and helps Israel to continue the war. Ms Albanese says all the companies should stop dealing with Israel immediately. But how likely is that? UN reports like this one have no legal power, but they do attract attention. Ms Albanese is, in targeting economic ties, trying to remind multinationals, and governments, of what happened with apartheid South Africa. For a while many businesses made good money trading with South Africa, but the injustice of apartheid attracted global condemnation and UN sanctions which forced disinvestment and, eventually, helped to end the apartheid listing companies which are household names, Ms Albanese is probably also hoping to provide millions of consumers worldwide with information they can use when choosing whether or not to buy something, as they did with South the suggestion they are complicit in possible genocide is the one the multinationals themselves may take most seriously. The law on genocide is strict, it needs to be determined by a court of law, and in fact the International Court of Justice is currently considering a case against Israel on this very question, brought by South is defined as a person or entity having engaged in actions whose foreseeable results may have contributed to genocide, but without having personally intended to commit genocide. This is an accusation that Ms Albanese suggests could be levelled against businesses selling anything that might contribute to Israel's war effort. It is known that international lawyers have privately advised European governments that continued arms sales to Israel may lead to charges of which has long accused Ms Albanese of being extremely hostile to it, and even antisemitic, has rejected her latest report as "groundless, defamatory and a flagrant abuse of office". It also denies genocide, claiming the right of self-defence against when Ms Albanese presented her report to UN member states, she received primarily praise and support. African, Asian, and Arab states backed her call for disinvestment, many agreed that genocide was taking place, and some also warned Israel against vilifying international lawyers like Ms Albanese for doing their states, traditionally more supportive of Israel, also condemned the denial of aid to Gaza, and said Israel had a legal responsibility, as the occupying power, to ensure Palestinians had the means to Israel's biggest ally, the United States, left the UN Human Rights Council when President Donald Trump took office in January. Washington's response to the report has simply accused Ms Albanese, whose team contacted US companies for information about their dealings with Israel, of an "unacceptable campaign of political and economic warfare against the American and worldwide economy".It's unlikely the US administration will pay much more attention to the words of one international lawyer. But the big US companies named in her report, listening to the condemnation from so many countries where they have financial interests, may start to question their ties with Israel.
