Merkel again backs U.S.-European Union trade deal
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she’s open to restarting talks with the United States on a trade deal with the European Union.
The dpa news agency reported Tuesday that Merkel told a business audience in Bavaria that President Donald Trump’s administration had signaled it is ready to negotiate and that “for me a Trans-Atlantic agreement remains on the daily agenda.”
On a trip to Berlin last month, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the U.S. and EU should have a free trade agreement. Negotiations for the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership deal, known as TTIP, started under the Obama administration but have been stalled since last year.
Merkel says protectionist policies can be self-defeating.
She says “it’s been repeatedly shown that open markets have economic advantages for all parties involved.”
Courtyard renamed, earns travel awards
A Marriott hotel along Interstate 75 near Chattanooga’s biggest mall has taken on a new moniker.
The former Courtyard Chattanooga I-75 has been renamed The Courtyard Chattanooga at Hamilton Place after earning two prestigious honors from national travel websites.
“Our new name better reflects the community we reside in, bringing plenty of pride and joy to our team and as well as to the neighborhood,” said Rick Cadena, general manager of the 105-room hotel.
TripAdvisor recently gave the hotel its 2017 Certificate of Excellence award for a rating of four out of five. Earlier this year, Booking.com presented Courtyard Chattanooga at Hamilton Place with its 2016 Guest Review Award for guest ratings.
The hotel includes four suites, a meeting room, a bistro, fitness center and seasonal outdoor pool.
Perry warns of cyber threat to nuke plants
Energy Secretary Rick Perry said Tuesday that “state-sponsored” or criminal hackers are targeting U.S. nuclear power plants and other energy providers, but said the government has resources to safeguard the nation’s electric grid.
Perry told Fox Business Network that the threat of cyberattacks on the electric grid “is real, it’s ongoing and we shouldn’t be surprised when you think of the world we live in today.”
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security told energy providers last week that hackers may be trying to breach their computer systems. Hackers appear to have tried to breach the business and administrative networks of unidentified facilities, DHS said.
There was no threat to public safety, the agency said. DHS and the FBI routinely advise the private sector of possible cyber threats to help officials protect potentially vulnerable networks.
PepsiCo earnings ahead of forecasts
PepsiCo Inc. on Tuesday reported second-quarter earnings of $2.11 billion, or $1.46 per share.
The Purchase, New York-based company said earnings, adjusted for restructuring costs and non-recurring costs, were $1.50 per share.
The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of eight analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.39 per share.
The food and beverage company posted revenue of $15.71 billion in the period, which also beat Street forecasts. PepsiCo expects full-year earnings to be $5.13 per share.
Takata recall adds new type of inflator
Takata is adding a new type of air bag inflator to the nation’s largest automotive recall.
The company filed documents with the U.S. government adding 2.7 million vehicles to the recall from Ford, Nissan and Mazda, all with a type of inflator that previously was thought to be safe.