Jan 5 (Reuters) – Dell Technologies Inc (DELL.N) plans to stop using China-made chips by 2024 and has told suppliers to reduce the amount of other made-in-China components in its products amid concerns over U.S.-Beijing tensions, the Nikkei reported on Thursday.
The news comes after the United States added Chinese memory chipmaker YMTC and 21 “major” companies in the country’s artificial intelligence chip sector to a trade blacklist in December.
PC maker HP Inc (HPQ.N), one of Dell’s rivals, has also started surveying its suppliers to gauge the feasibility of moving production and assembly away from China, the report said, citing sources with knowledge of the matter.
Dell has also asked product assemblers and suppliers of other components such as electronic modules and print circuit boards to help prepare capacity in countries beyond China, such as Vietnam, the report said.
“We continuously explore supply-chain diversification across the globe that makes sense for our customers and our business,” Dell said in a statement.
HP did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
In October last year, the Biden administration published a set of export controls that included a measure to cut China off from certain semiconductor chips made anywhere in the world with U.S. tools.
Reporting by Kanjyik Ghosh in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Tiyashi Datta; Editing by Janane Venkatraman and Devika Syamnath
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BERLIN/PARIS, Nov 18 (Reuters) – France, Germany and Spain have reached agreement on starting the next phase of development of a new fighter jet dubbed FCAS, Europe’s largest defence project at an estimated cost of more than 100 billion euros($103.4 billion), the German government said on Friday.
The Defence Ministry said in a statement that an industrial agreement was achieved after intense negotiations, confirming an earlier Reuters story saying the three countries and their respective industries had struck a deal.
The ministry said it was agreed at the highest government level that a cooperative approach on an equal footing would be pursued in the project, which is under overall French responsibility.
The Spanish Defence Ministry said Madrid would spend 2.5 billion euros ($2.58 billion) on the project, of which 525 million euros ($542 million) would be paid in 2023. The ministry said that the cabinet agreed to this expenditure but did not give other details.
“The political agreement on FCAS is a great step and – especially in these times – an important sign of the excellent Franco-German-Spanish cooperation,” German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said.
“It strengthens Europe’s military capabilities and secures important know-how not only for our, but also for the European industry.”
Previously, sources had said that the next development phase for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) was expected to cost about 3.5 billion euros, to be shared equally by the three countries.
France’s Dassault (AM.PA), Airbus (AIR.PA) and Indra (IDR.MC) – the latter two representing Germany and Spain, respectively – are involved in the scheme to start replacing French Rafale and German and Spanish Eurofighters from 2040.
“Now, a number of formal steps in the respective countries have to be taken in order to allow a speedy contract signature which we will have to adhere to,” Airbus said in e-mailed comments.
French President Emmanuel Macron and then German Chancellor Angela Merkel first announced plans in July 2017 for FCAS, which will include a fighter jet and a range of associated weapons, including drones.
Lately, the project – originally meant to unify Europeans after the migration crisis and Britain’s decision to leave the European Union – has been a source of tension between the two countries.
Last month, Macron cancelled a joint Franco-German ministerial meeting over disagreements with Berlin on a wide range of issues including defence and energy projects.
Both sides had been struggling for more than a year to agree the next stage of FCAS’s development, although the French and German government broadly agreed on the project.
Some sources saw the blame lying with Dassault, as the company had refused to budge in a long-running row over intellectual property rights.
Other sources blamed Airbus for pushing for a bigger workshare of the Dassault-led project, insisting it should be given “equal footing” with the French company.
($1 = 0.9675 euros)
Writing by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Kirsti Knolle, Christoph Steitz, Louise Heavens and Emelia Sithole-Matarise
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PARIS, April 16 (Reuters) – Thousands of anti-far right protesters marched across France on Saturday as opponents of presidential candidate Marine Le Pen seek to form a united front to prevent her from winning an election runoff against incumbent Emmanuel Macron on April 24.
Police have warned of possible incidents as demonstrators convene in some 30 cities.
Macron, a pro-European Union centrist, won the presidency in 2017 after easily beating Le Pen when voters rallied behind him in the runoff to keep her far-right party out of power.
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This year, the first round of voting last Sunday set up the same battle, but Macron is facing a much tougher challenge.
In central Paris, thousands of people gathered chanting anti-far right slogans and warning of democratic upheaval if Le Pen were to win. One banner read: “Against the far-right. For justice and equality, not Le Pen at the Elysee,” referring to the French president’s official residence.
“If the far-right is in power we will see a major collapse of the democratic, anti-racism and progressive camps,” Dominique Sopo, president of SOS Racism, which along with dozens of rights groups, unions and associations called for the protests, told Reuters.
“People need to realise that despite their anger towards Emmanuel Macron and his policies, there is no equivalence between a liberal, conservative candidate and a far-right candidate.”
Macron, who will hold a rally in Marseille later in the day as he tries to convince left-wing voters to pick him on April 24, is slightly ahead in opinion polls.
But prior to the first round on April 10 Le Pen successfully tapped into anger over the cost of living and a perception that Macron is disconnected from everyday hardships. That saw her finish with 23.1% of votes compared to 27.85% for Macron.
However, she has appeared more rattled this week as the focus has turned to her manifesto and opinion polls have shown Macron extend his lead. An IPSOS-Sopra-Steria poll on Friday showed the president winning the runoff with 56% of votes.
He has won backing from former presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande. Hundreds of celebrities and sporting figures have also endorsed him to block Le Pen coming to power.
DEEPLY UNDEMOCRATIC PROTESTS
Le Pen, whose stance is anti-immigration and eurosceptic, has sought in recent years to soften her image and that of her National Rally party. Opponents, including Macron, have said her programme is full of lies and false promises – an accusation Le Pen has rejected.
Speaking to reporters on a campaign stop in southern France, Le Pen dismissed the planned protests as undemocratic.
“The establishment is worried,” she said. “That people are protesting against election results is deeply undemocratic. I say to all these people just go and vote. It’s as simple as that.”
With the electorate fragmented and undecided, the election will likely be won by the candidate who can reach beyond his or her camp to convince voters that the other option would be far worse.
For decades, a “republican front” of voters of all stripes rallying behind a mainstream candidate has helped to keep the far right out of power.
But Macron, whose sometimes abrasive style and policies that veered to the right have upset many voters, can no longer automatically count on that backing.
Highlighting how, for some voters, picking Macron is no easy decision, one banner read in Paris: “Neither Le Pen, neither Macron.”
Climate change activists from Extinction Rebellion had earlier forced the closure of a main square and avenue in the capital, protesting the environmental programmes of both candidates.
“This election leaves us no choice between a far-right candidate with repugnant ideas … and a candidate who during five years cast the ecology issue aside and lied,” Lou, 26, a history teacher, who joined the Extinction Rebellion movement two years ago, told Reuters.
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Additional reporting by Marco Trujillo
Editing by Frances Kerry, Ros Russell and Clelia Oziel
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French President Emmanuel Macron, wearing a protective face mask, waits for a guest at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, December 1, 2021. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
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DUBAI, Dec 3 (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates ordered 80 Rafale fighter jets on Friday, the largest order ever for the warplane, a multi-billion dollar arms contract that deepens economic and political ties with France.
French President Emmanuel Macron began a two-day trip to the Gulf on Friday, and will also visit Qatar and Saudi Arabia. His visit comes at a time when Gulf Arab states have voiced uncertainty about the United States’ focus on the region even as they seek more weapons from their key security ally.
The French leader has forged a good relationship with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (MBZ) with investments flowing between both countries. Paris has a permanent military base in the Emirati capital.
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“In addition to the presence of three French military bases on UAE territory, this mutual trust translates into the acquisition of 80 Rafale planes, 12 Caracal helicopters, and associated elements,” the French presidency said in a statement after a signing ceremony between MBZ and Macron on the sidelines of the Dubai Expo 2020.
Dassault shares rose 6% on the announcement.
The deal, which could be worth at least $15 billion, is the biggest bulk purchase of the Dassault-made Rafale, other than by the French army, and comes after deals in Greece, Egypt and Croatia this year.
The on-off negotiations for the Rafale fighter jets have been going on for more than a decade with Abu Dhabi publicly rebuffing France’s offer to supply 60 Rafale jets in 2011 as “uncompetitive and unworkable.” Abu Dhabi already has Mirage warplanes.
Defence sources said the Rafale would replace the Mirage 2000 fleet and is unlikely to displace the American F-35 as the UAE continues to hedge its security with two major suppliers, France and the United States.
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Additional reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Tim Hepher, Karishma Singh and David Evans
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Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., October 20, 2021. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
IBM tumbles after missing quarterly revenue estimates
AT&T rises as it adds more wireless subscribers
Futures off: Dow 0.17%, S&P 0.17%, Nasdaq 0.20%
Oct 21 (Reuters) – U.S. stock indexes were set to open lower on Thursday as IBM and Tesla fell after their quarterly results, with investors awaiting more reports to see the impact of supply chain disruption and labor shortages on companies.
Some market players pointed to fading enthusiasm after the Dow Jones Industrials Average (.DJI) hit an intraday record high in the previous session and the benchmark index (.SPX) came close to its early September record.
“Stocks are climbing to new highs and anytime the market is trading at or near its all-time high, it is not unusual to see a little bit of more intraday volatility…and it should not concern investors,” said Tom Mantione, managing director, UBS Private Wealth Management in Stamford, Connecticut.
Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) fell 1.4% in premarket trading as it said on Wednesday its upcoming factories and supply-chain hurdles would put pressure on its margins after it beat Wall Street expectations for third-quarter revenue. read more
Other mega-cap stocks including Facebook Inc (FB.O), Apple Inc (AAPL.O) and Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) fell between 0.2% and 0.3% on Thursday.
IBM (IBM.N) tumbled 5.1% after it missed market estimates for quarterly revenue as its managed infrastructure business suffered from a decline in orders. read more
Investors are keeping a close eye on growth outlook from companies facing rising costs, labor shortages and supply chain disruptions, with analysts expecting profit of S&P 500 companies to rise 33% from a year earlier, according to Refinitiv data.
“Large parts of the S&P are not going to be impacted – software, healthcare, real estate, utilities, energy, materials, financials would not see any of that as an issue,” Mantione said.
Data showed the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits dropped to a 19-month low last week, pointing to a tightening labor market, though a shortage of workers could keep the pace of hiring moderate in October. read more
At 8:42 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis were down 59 points, or 0.17%, S&P 500 e-minis were down 7.75 points, or 0.17%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 30.75 points, or 0.2%.
AT&T Inc (T.N) rose 1.2% after the telecom operator’s quarterly revenue and monthly phone bill paying subscriber additions beat market expectations. read more
American Airlines (AAL.O) rose 0.8% after posting a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss, while Southwest Airlines Co (LUV.N) edged 0.3% lower even as it posted a smaller third-quarter loss.
HP Inc (HPQ.N) gained 4.4% as brokerages raised their price targets on the stock after the PC and printer maker forecast upbeat fiscal 2022 adjusted profit and raised its annual dividend.
Reporting by Shreyashi Sanyal and Devik Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur
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PARIS, July 17 (Reuters) – More than a hundred thousand people marched across France on Saturday to protest against President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to force vaccination of health workers and require a COVID-19 free certificate to enter places such as restaurants and cinemas.
Macron this week announced sweeping measures to fight a rapid surge in coronavirus infections, which protesters say infringe the freedom of choice of those who do not want the vaccination.
The interior ministry said 137 marches took place across the country, gathering nearly 114,000 people, of which 18,000 were in Paris.
The measures had already prompted smaller demonstrations earlier this week, forcing police to use tear gas to disperse protesters.
“Everyone is sovereign in his own body. In no way does a president of the Republic have the right to decide on my individual health,” said one protester in Paris who identified herself as Chrystelle.
Marches also included “yellow vest” protesters seeking to revive the anti-government movement curbed by coronavirus lockdowns.
Visiting a centre in Anglet in southwestern France, Prime Minister Jean Castex said vaccination, which is not mandatory for the general public for now, is the only way to fight the virus.
Florian Philippot, President of French political party Les Patriotes, and Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, head of French political party Debout La France (DLF) attend a protest against the new measures announced by French President Emmanuel Macron to fight the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Paris, France, July 17, 2021. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol
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“I hear the reluctance that arises but I think that we must at all costs convince all our fellow citizens to be vaccinated, it is the best way to cope to this health crisis,” Castex said.
Despite the strength of the protests, an Ipsos-Sopra Steria poll released on Friday found more than 60% of French people agree with mandatory vaccination for health workers, as well as a requirement for a health pass in some public places.
Fast-spreading variants of the virus risk undermining economic recovery if allowed to spiral out of control, forcing some governments to rethink their COVID-19 strategies just as citizens start their summer holidays.
Earlier on Saturday Castex’s office said France would reinforce restrictions on unvaccinated travellers from a series of countries to counter a rebound in COVID-19 infections, while opening its doors to those who have received all their shots.
“The Delta variant is here, we must not hide the truth, it is more contagious than the previous ones. We must adapt and face it”, Castex told reporters in southwestern France, referring to the variant first identified in India.
After falling from more than 42,000 per day in mid-April to less than 2,000 per day in late June, the average number of new infections in France has rebounded to reach nearly 11,000 per day.
Some 55.5% of the French had had a single dose of a vaccine as of Saturday and 44.8% were fully inoculated.
Reporting by Antone Paone, Sybille de La Hamaide and Gwenaelle Barzic, Editing by David Holmes and Louise Heavens
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