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☆ Oil prices aren't the Fed's biggest problem right now — American demand is, says an economist
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Israel's strike on Iran caused oil prices to spike, sparking fears of rising inflation. But US inflation is more impacted by strong domestic demand than by oil prices, an economist told Bloomberg TV. Oil prices gained as much as 4% following reports of the attack before later subsiding. Services is demand, and that demand needs to come from somewhere — and that's a robust economy," Chaar told Bloomberg. "I would say the biggest challenge here for the Fed is to manage the demand of the US economy," Chaar said.

Persons: —, Samy Chaar, Lombard Odier, Jerome Powell, Chaar Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, Fed, Bloomberg TV, Federal, Services, Institute for Supply Management Locations: Iran, Israel, —, Swiss, America

☆ Paris waiters compete in race to get a coffee and croissant across the capital
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Xiaofei Xu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“I tried holding the tray, it’s pretty heavy!” Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo told journalists shortly before the race started. Waiters start the Course des Cafes race on March 24, 2024. The “Course des Garçons de Café” (cafe waiters race) was first launched in 1914 to highlight the cafés and restaurants of the French capital, according to French historian Laurent Bihl. Throughout the years, it found popularity not only in Paris but across France in cities such as Nice, Belfort and Calais. Back on the streets of Paris, the quickest entrants completed Sunday’s Course des Cafés race – the name of the revived version has been shortened, dropping the ‘garçons’ – in less than 14 minutes.

Persons: Paris, “, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Dimitar Dilkoff, ’ It’s, ”, Ariel Weil, Pierre Rabadan, Nicolas Bonnet Oulaldj, Café, Laurent Bihl, Pauline Van Wymeersch, Samy Lamrous Organizations: Paris CNN, Paris Mayor, France, Getty, Paralympic Games, Petit Pont, La Contrescarpe Locations: Paris, AFP, France, Nice, Belfort, Calais, Hong Kong, Yokohama, La

BEIRUT (AP) — A drone attack on a base housing U.S. troops in eastern Syria killed six allied Kurdish fighters late Sunday, in the first significant attack in Syria or Iraq since the U.S. launched retaliatory strikes over the weekend against Iran-backed militias that have been targeting its forces in the region. The U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said Monday the attack hit a training ground at al-Omar base in Syria’s eastern province of Deir el-Zour and accused “Syrian regime-backed mercenaries” of carrying out the attack. In late January, a drone attack by the same group killed three U.S. troops and wounded dozens more at a desert base in Jordan. The U.S. military launched dozens of retaliatory strikes targeting Iran-backed militant groups in western Iraq and eastern Syria and also struck the Houthis in Yemen. The attack late Sunday came two days after the U.S. military carried out strikes against militant targets linked to Iran in Syria and Iraq.

Persons: Omar, “, Sunday’s, Samy Magdy Organizations: Syrian Democratic Forces, Human Rights, SDF, Sunday, U.S, U.S . Central Command, U.S . Navy, Britain, Associated Press Locations: BEIRUT, Syria, Kurdish, Iraq, U.S, Iran, The U.S, al, Deir el, Jordan, Yemen, Israel, Britain, Red, Cairo

A senior Hamas official said Friday the group will respond “very soon” to a proposal that includes extended pauses in Gaza fighting and phased exchanges of Hamas-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. Over 27,000 people have been killed and 66,000 wounded by Israel's offensive against Hamas in Gaza, the territory's Health Ministry said Thursday. — Half of U.S. adults say Israel has gone too far in its war in Gaza, AP-NORC poll shows. Here's the latest:HAMAS EXPECTED TO RESPOND SOON TO PROPOSAL THAT INCLUDES RELEASE OF HOSTAGES AND CEASE-FIRESBEIRUT — A senior Hamas official says the group will respond “very soon” to a proposal that includes extended pauses in Gaza fighting and phased exchanges of Hamas-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. Israel has said it would not agree to end the war as a condition for hostage releases.

Persons: —, — Biden, ___, Samy Magdy, SANA, Bashar Assad’s Organizations: Hamas, territory's Health, Health Ministry, West Bank, —, Associated Press, Human Rights Locations: Israel, Gaza, —, U.S, Turkey, West, israel, BEIRUT, United States, Qatar, Egypt, Cairo, Mroue, Beirut, DAMASCUS, BEIRUT —, Damascus, Iran, State, Golan, Britain, Syria

But Greta Gerwig not being among the five best director nominees for this year’s Oscars is one of the biggest shocks in recent memory. Here are some other major “snubs” and “surprises” from Oscar nomination morning. Gerwig was previously nominated for best director for “Lady Bird,” and missing out for “Little Woman” was even a snub. “The Super Mario Bros.” movie, the second highest grossing film of the year was completely shut out from nominations including animation. ‘SALTBURN’ GOES DOWN THE DRAINListen, we didn’t really think that Emerald Fennell’s “Saltburn” would make a big splash nominations morning, but it had been trending that way based on its popularity on Prime Video over the holidays.

Persons: Barbie, Greta Gerwig, ”, Oscar, GRETA GERWIG, Gerwig, “ Barbie, Lady Bird, Justine Triet, James Cameron, Joseph Kosinski, Ava DuVernay, Aunjanue Ellis, Isabel Wilkerson, It’s, —, Gina Prince, Bythewood’s, DuVernay’s, Selma ”, Halle Berry, Barrino, CHARLES MELTON, Charles Melton’s, Sterling K, Brown, ” “, Samy Burch, MARGOT ROBBIE OUT, Margot Robbie, America Ferrera, Robbie, DIANE WARREN, BARBIE, Diane Warren, Warren, Barbie ”, “, Ken ”, ” Oscar, Aki Kaurismäki’s, ’, Celine, Greta Lee's, Mario, Princess Peach, Anderson, Pedro Almodóvar, Pedro Pascal, Ethan Hawke, Wes Anderson, Roald Dahl, Henry Sugar, ‘, Sophie Ellis Organizations: “, ACADEMY, Sterling, AMERICA, MARIO Locations: LIPA, France, Cannes, U.S

JERUSALEM (AP) — Houthi rebels fired a missile, striking a U.S.-owned ship Monday just off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden, less than a day after they launched an anti-ship cruise missile toward an American destroyer in the Red Sea. The attack on the Gibraltar Eagle, later claimed by the Houthis, further escalates tensions gripping the Red Sea after American-led strikes on the rebels. Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas. “The most dangerous thing is what the Americans did in the Red Sea, (it) will harm the security of all maritime navigation,” Nasrallah said. However, U.S. sailors have received combat ribbons for their actions in the Red Sea — something handed out only to those who face active hostilities with an enemy force.

Persons: — Houthi, Yahya Saree, “, ”, Aden “, Arleigh Burke, Joe Biden, Hassan Nasrallah, ” Nasrallah, Biden, It's, Samy Magdy, Lolita C, Bassem, Danica Kirka Organizations: JERUSALEM, Eagle, Hamas, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, Dryad Global, Associated Press, military's Central Command, Command, Eagle Bulk Shipping, New York Stock Exchange, AP, Eagle Bulk, Central Command, U.S . Maritime Administration, Transportation Department Locations: U.S, Yemen, Gulf, Aden, American, Red, Gaza, Suez, Europe, Eagle Gibraltar, Marshall, Stamford , Connecticut, “, America, Sea, Hodeida, Iranian, Israel, East, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Saudi, Cairo, Washington, Bassem Mroue, Beirut, London

Song’s quietly romantic film, starring Greta Lee and Teo Yoo as childhood friends who reconnect later in life, earned nominations for her direction, script and for both actors. “May December,” about an actress preparing to play a Mary Kay Letourneau-like role got nods for Natalie Portman, Charles Melton and screenwriter Samy Burch. MGM’s “American Fiction,” featuring Jeffrey Wright as a frustrated novelist, got recognition for Wright, Erika Alexander and Sterling K. Brown. Josh Welsh, the president of Film Independent, said the spirit awards look for films and shows that, “demonstrate the uniqueness of vision, original, provocative subject matter, economy of means and diversity, both on screen and off.”The Spirit Awards also recognize television series. Billie Eilish was also nominated for “Swarm.”Saturday Night Live’s Aidy Bryant is hosting the show, which will take place on Feb. 25 in Santa Monica, California.

Persons: Song’s, Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, “, Mary Kay Letourneau, Natalie Portman, Charles Melton, Samy Burch, MGM’s, Jeffrey Wright, Wright, Erika Alexander, Sterling K, Brown . Jefferson, ”, ” Kelly Reichardt’s, Robert Altman, Michelle Williams, André Benjamin, Hong Chau, Judd Hirsch, Amanda Plummer, Alexander Payne's “, Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa, Payne, Giamatti, Andrew Haigh, Ira Sachs, William Oldroyd, Eileen, Haynes, Song, “ Oppenheimer, Maestro ”, Lee, Yoo, Portman, Jessica Chastain, Monica, Judy Reyes, Andrew Scott, Franz Rogowski, Teyana Taylor, Noah Galvin, Anne Hathaway, Glenn Howerton, Marin Ireland, Catalina Saavedra, Ben Whishaw, Brown, Alexander, Marshawn Lynch, Sandra Hüller, Justine Triet’s “, Jonathan Glazer’s, Iceland’s, Wata, Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Josh Welsh, Steven Yeun, Ali Wong, Bella Ramsey, Murray Bartlett, Nick Offerman, Billie Eilish, Live’s Aidy Bryant Organizations: NFL, ”, Film, “, YouTube Locations: Hong, Melton, Randolph, Poland, Denmark, Santa Monica , California

☆ What to know about the controversial real-life relationship between Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau that loosely inspired 'May December'
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Olivia Singh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Aspects of the story are similar to the real-life scandal involving Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau. AdvertisementTodd Haynes' latest film "May December" is now streaming on Netflix, and its similarities to the real-life sexual abuse scandal between Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau are evident. AdvertisementIn the years since the scandal, Letourneau had insisted that she was unaware that her and Fualaau's relationship was illegal. In a TV special that aired on A&E in 2018 titled "Mary Kay Letourneau: Autobiography," she said that there was "nothing going on at all when he was a student of mine." Mary Kay Letourneau in February 1998.

Persons: Mary Kay Letourneau, Letourneau, —, Todd Haynes, Elizabeth Berry, Natalie Portman, Gracie Atherton, Yoo, Julianne Moore, Joe Atherton, Charles Melton, Gracie, Elizabeth pries, Fualaau, Joe Yoo, Joe, Mary, Charlie, It's, Ron Wurzer, Steve Letourneau, Audrey, Alan Berner, Vili Fualaau, Haynes, Samy Burch's, Burch Organizations: Service, Netflix, Fualaau, Columbia, Daily, New York Film, Business Locations: Savannah , Georgia, Letourneau, Georgia, Washington, Ocotber, Woodinville , Washington

Israeli troops on Wednesday entered Gaza's largest hospital, searching for traces of Hamas inside and beneath the facility. Officials from Israel and Gaza presented different accounts of what was happening at Al Shifa Hospital. Hamas and Gaza health officials deny militants operate in Al Shifa — a hospital that employs some 1,500 people and has more than 500 beds, according to the Palestinian news agency. Throughout days of fighting in the surrounding streets, there has been no report of militants firing from inside Al Shifa. The AP could not independently verify the Israeli claims that the weapons were found inside the hospital.

Persons: Joe Biden, —, KHAN YOUNIS, Al Shifa —, Israel tightens, Munir al, Boursh, Al Shifa, Jonathan Conricus, Jordan, Biden, Xi Jinping Organizations: Wednesday, Al Shifa Hospital, Service, Al Shifa, Hamas, Palestinian Health Ministry, Gaza's Health Ministry, Associated Press, Troops, UN, West, West Bank's Palestinian Authority, UN Security, Pacific Economic Cooperative, Health Ministry Locations: Gaza's, Israel, Gaza, Gaza City, Al Shifa, Hamas, Al, Ramallah, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, West Bank's, Asia, California, United States

JERUSALEM (AP) — Gaza’s Shifa Hospital has become the focus of a dayslong stalemate in Israel’s war against the Hamas militant group. But Israel claims the facility also is used by Hamas for military purposes. Throughout the war, Israel has released photos and video footage showing what it says are weapons and other military installations inside or next to mosques, schools and hospitals. The hospital ran out of fuel last week, and Israel had ordered people to leave as it conducts its ground offensive. Israel released a video of what it said was a captured militant answering questions during an interrogation.

Persons: Israel, Shifa, ”, Medhat Abbas, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, ” Hagari, “, Ghazi Hamad, ” Hamad, Goudhat Samy al, Joe Biden, Monday, ” Biden, Richard Hecht, “ We’ll Organizations: JERUSALEM, Shifa, Hamas, Health Ministry, Health, International Committee, Hospital for Children, Palestinian, Crescent Locations: Israel, Shifa, Gaza, —, ”, we’ll, israel

Hopes for lower borrowing costs overnight helped shares in Asia, which missed out on Friday's rally that was inspired by the U.S. jobs data. DOLLAR DROPSTwo-year Treasury yields , which reflect interest rate expectations, rose 5.9 bps to 4.891% after falling 18 bps last week. The recent retreat in Treasury yields pulled the rug out from under the dollar last week. The dollar index, a measure of the U.S. currency against six others, was steady at 105.07 after sliding 1.4% last week. U.S. crude rose 1.73% to $81.90 per barrel and Brent was at $86.07, up 1.39% on the day.

Persons: Issei Kato, Gennadiy Goldberg, Goldberg, BoE, Samy Chaar, Jerome Powell, Brent, Herbert Lash, Wayne Cole, Alun John, Nick Macfie, Will Dunham, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Wall, Federal Reserve, TD Securities, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, European Central Bank, Bank of England, Lombard, ECB, The Bank of Japan, ., Palestinian, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Europe, New York, U.S, Asia, Pacific, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Russia, East, Israel, Gaza

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Thirty-four journalists have been killed in the war between Israel and Hamas, an international media freedom group said Wednesday, accusing both sides of committing possible war crimes. It’s the third such complaint to be filed by the group since 2018 alleging war crimes against Palestinian journalists in Gaza. Israel says it makes every effort to avoid killing civilians and accuses Hamas of putting them at risk by operating in residential areas. Political Cartoons View All 1227 ImagesAnother media freedom organization, the Committee to Protect Journalists, said Wednesday that it was investigating reports of journalists “killed, injured, detained or missing” in the war, including in Lebanon. It said its preliminary death toll was at least 31 journalists and media workers.

Persons: ” Christophe Deloire, “, “ CPJ, ”, Sherif Mansour, Karim Khan, Israel, Israel isn’t, Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah, Al Jazeera, Samy Magdy Organizations: Hamas, Criminal, ICC, Protect Journalists, Reuters, AFP, Associated Press Locations: HAGUE, Netherlands, Israel, Gaza, Israeli, France, Gaza ”, Lebanon, New York, East, North Africa, Rafah, Palestine, Al, Lebanese, Cairo, israel

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — A flurry of Israeli airstrikes Tuesday on a refugee camp near Gaza City leveled apartment buildings, leaving craters where they once stood, as ground troops battled Hamas militants across northern Gaza and attacked underground compounds. Larger ground operations have been launched north and east of Gaza City. Jonathan Conricus, an Israeli military spokesman, called Gaza City the “center of gravity of Hamas" but said strikes continue in other parts of the territory. Hamas released its own video showing what it said was a battle in northern Gaza on Sunday. Zaki Abdel-Hay, a Palestinian living a few minutes' walk from the road south of Gaza City, said people are afraid to use it.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, Benjamin Netanyahu, Juliette Touma, ”, Saleh al, Ali Kaseeb, Jonathan Conricus, Conricus, Zaki Abdel, Hay, Dawood Shehab, Netanyahu, “, Megidish, ___ Jeffrey, Keath, Wafaa Shurafa, Samy Magdy, Kareem Chehayeb Organizations: Hamas, Jazeera, Associated Press, UNRWA, U.S, U.S . Navy, Red Sea, West Bank, Gaza Health Ministry, Gaza's Health Ministry, Islamic, Al, Palestinian, World Health Organization Locations: Gaza, Gaza City, Israel, Gaza City's, Al, Syria, Iran, Eilat, Yemen, U.S, Egypt, Aroura, Northern Gaza, Gaza's, Palestinian, Al Jazeera, Cairo, Deir al, Beirut, israel

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes pounded locations across the Gaza Strip early Thursday, including parts of the south that Israel had declared safe zones, heightening fears among more than 2 million Palestinians trapped in the territory that nowhere was safe. Hamas officials in Gaza blamed an Israeli airstrike, saying hundreds were killed. Airstrikes also hit three residential towers in al-Zahra, within the area that was told to evacuate, the Interior Ministry in Gaza said. Egypt must still repair the road across the border, which was cratered by Israeli airstrikes. He also announced $100 million in humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, Israel, Joe Biden, Khan Younis, Musa, Hiam Musa, Adel Hana, ” Hana, “, Biden, ”, Khalid Zayed, Sameh Shoukry, Al, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Israel “, ___ Nessman, Amy Teibel, Isabel Debre, Samy Magdy, Jack Jeffrey, Ashraf Sweilam Organizations: Israel, Islamic, Associated Press, Interior Ministry, Medical, Nasser Hospital, Homes, Gaza Health Ministry, West Bank, Palestinian Health Ministry, White, Crescent, Supplies, Biden, Gaza Locations: Gaza, Israel, Egypt, al, Ahli, Gaza City, U.N, Rafah, Egypt’s, Zahra, Deir, Lebanon, North Sinai, Jerusalem, Kullab, Baghdad, Cairo, el, Arish

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — A massive blast rocked a Gaza City hospital packed with wounded and other Palestinians seeking shelter Tuesday, killing hundreds of people, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said. Hamas blamed an Israeli airstrike, while the Israeli military said the hospital was hit by a rocket misfired by Palestinian militants. Hamas' Oct. 7, attack in southern Israel killed more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and took some 200 captive into Gaza. In Gaza City, Israeli airstrikes also hit the house of Hamas’ top political official, Ismail Haniyeh, killing at least 14 people. Haniyeh is based in Doha, Qatar, but his family lives in Gaza City.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, Joe Biden, Mohammed Abu Selmia, ” Abu Selmia, “, Mahmoud Abbas, Biden, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Abbas, Richard Hecht, haven’t, Khan Younis, Deir al Balah, Witnesses, Ayman Nofal, Netanyahu, ”, Ismail Haniyeh, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Tzahi Hanegbi, —, Israel's Karam, Israel, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Israel's, ” Khamenei, ___ Kullab, Nessman, Lee, Amy Teibel, Abby Sewell, Samy Magdy, Jack Jeffrey, Ashraf Sweilam Organizations: Ministry, Palestinian, Associated Press, Israel, “ Intelligence, Alhi, Gaza, Gaza Health Ministry, Abbas ’ Palestinian, West, Bank, Palestinian Authority, Embassy, Nasser Hospital, United Nations Palestinian, Israeli, Israel’s National Security Council, Food Program, Hamas, Iran’s, Amman . Associated Press Locations: Gaza, U.S, Israel, al, Ahli, Gaza City, Hamas, Amman, Jordan, Abbas ’, West Bank, Ramallah, Beirut, Khan, Deir al, Doha, Qatar, Rafah, Egypt, Lebanon, Iranian, Baghdad, Jerusalem, Amman ., Cairo, el, Arish

Israel said it has already struck dozens of military targets, including command centers and rocket launchers, and also killed Hamas commanders. The Israeli military also reported shooting at one of its border posts. Gaza was already in a humanitarian crisis due to a growing shortage of water and medical supplies caused by the Israeli siege. Israel’s minister of energy and water, Israel Katz, said in a statement that water had been restored at one “specific point” in Gaza. Hamas urged people to stay in their homes, and the Israeli military released photos it said showed a Hamas roadblock preventing traffic from moving south.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, Israel, It's, Juliette Touma, ’, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Biden, Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah, David Satterfield, Jake Sullivan, Khan Younis, Mohammed Qandeel, ”, Hussam Abu Safiya, Kamal Adwan, ” Ahmed Al, Philippe Lazzarini, Sullivan, Israel Katz, Daniel Hagari, ___ Kullab, Nessman, Julia Frankel, Amy Teibel, Abby Sewell, Samy Magdy Organizations: Gaza Health Ministry, United Nations, U.S . State Department, Israel, Gaza, National News Agency, Reuters, Nasser Hospital, Kamal, World Health Organization, CNN, Hamas, Associated Press Locations: Gaza, Israel, U.S, Egypt, Syria, United, Lebanon, Israeli, Kfar Kila, Lebanese, Shtula, Turkey, Middle East, Hospitals, Khan, “, Gaza City, Rafah, Baghdad, Jerusalem, Beirut, Cairo

The mass evacuation order applies to all of Gaza City, home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. “We will destroy Hamas,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Friday night. In the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported 16 Palestinians were killed Friday, bringing the total of Palestinians killed there to 51. ISRAEL URGES MASS EVACUATION OF GAZA CIVILIANSThe U.N. said the Israeli military's call for civilians to move south affects 1.1 million people. An Israeli military spokesperson, Jonathan Conricus, said the evacuation was aimed at keeping civilians safe and preventing Hamas from using them as human shields.

Persons: Israel, Howeida, Beit Hanoun, “, —, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Jonathan Conricus, ” Conricus, Josep Borrell, Fayza Hamoudi, Hamoudi, Tarek Mraish, Ashraf al, Qidra, Al Awda, Juliette Touma, Philippe Lazzarini, ___ Krauss, Isabel DeBre, Samya, Samy Magdy, Kareem Chehayeb Organizations: Gaza Health Ministry, West Bank, Palestinian Health Ministry, Hamas, Health Ministry, Al, Associated Press Locations: DEIR, Gaza, Israel, Gaza City, Deir al, Beit, Egypt, ISRAEL, Israeli, U.S, China, GAZA, Deir el, Jerusalem, Samya Kullab, Baghdad, Cairo, Beirut

Benchmark 10-year yields reached 4.312%, testing October's 4.338%, a break past which would be its highest since 2007. "What's interesting is usually when you have volatility around rates that's the market trying to price in a higher fed funds rate. "The impact of higher yields is standard: a dollar that is well supported and equities under pressure," he added. MSCI's world index (.MIWD00000PUS) was down 0.1% on Thursday, having dropped to its lowest level since July 6 early in the session. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) slid to its lowest since late November in early trading Thursday.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Samy Chaar, der Linde, Van der Linde, Shunichi Suzuki, Brent, Ankur Banerjee, Alun John, Anisha, Sonali Paul, Angus MacSwan Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Lombard, Atlanta Federal, Nasdaq, Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, HSBC, Reuters Global Markets, Finance, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, SINGAPORE, CHINA, China's, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, London, Bengaluru

REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/Illustration/File PhotoNEW YORK, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Investors in Argentina's financial markets, where bonds and the peso slid on Monday after central bank moves following a surprise primary election result, said the vote had a silver lining: it would likely hasten long-called-for economic reforms. The result initially introduced uncertainty into asset pricing, with traders selling stocks and dollar bonds - but prices later stabilized and the local stock market closed over 3% higher. Investors said this would outweigh any worries about Milei, despite some of his heterodox pledges, including to axe the central bank and dollarize the economy. Milei faces a significant challenge still to turn the primary election win into a successful run to the presidency. The central bank also increased the benchmark interest rate to 118% from 97%.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, Javier Milei, Patricia Bullrich, Milei, Kimberley Sperrfechter, Sergio Massa, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Milei's, Walter Stoeppelwerth, Shamaila Khan, Rowe Price, Samy Muaddi, Rodrigo Campos, Adam Jourdan, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Argentine, REUTERS, Economics, Kimberley, Peronist, Investors, Gletir SA, Emerging Markets, Asia Pacific, UBS Asset Management, Jorgelina, Thomson Locations: Argentina, Argentine, MERV, Rosario

☆ White House launches AI-based contest to secure government systems from hacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Zeba Siddiqui | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Cybersecurity is a race between offense and defense," said Anne Neuberger, the U.S. government's deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology. "We know malicious actors are already using AI to accelerate identifying vulnerabilities or build malicious software," she added in a statement to Reuters. He said his agency had seen AI being used for everything from creating phishing emails and writing malicious computer code to spreading disinformation. The contest signals official attempts to tackle an emerging threat that experts are still trying to fully grasp. The Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF), a U.S. group of experts trying to improve open source software security, will be in charge of ensuring the "winning software code is put to use right away," the U.S. government said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Anne Neuberger, cybersecurity, Samy Khoury, Neuberger, Zeba Siddiqui, Raphael Satter, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Defense, Research Projects Agency, DARPA, White, Google, Microsoft, Security, Thomson Locations: U.S, San Francisco, Washington

☆ A High-Water Year for River Rafting
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Heather Hansman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Midmorning on the Dolores River, you could feel how recently the water had been snow. The white water was splashy and rolling without being scary, but it picked up speed as we headed downstream. We were in Colorado’s Ponderosa Gorge, along the line where the Rockies slip into the red edge of the desert. Sky-scraping pines sent off a dusty cinnamon smell, and there was a shock of new green growth on the red-rock cliffs. We were on a single-day trip with Mild2Wild Rafting, based in Durango, Colo., but from the launch where we pushed our rafts into the river, you can float for 173 miles, and 10-ish days, uninterrupted, until the Dolores, named the River of Sorrows by the Spanish explorers who came across it in 1776, runs into the Colorado River, right over the Utah state line.

Persons: It’s, Samy, Dolores Locations: Dolores, Ponderosa, Durango, Colo, Colorado, Utah

☆ Stock Market Today: Dow Futures Fall; Meta Stock Rises Premarket
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Government-bond yields rose in the U.S. and Europe, reflecting recent statements by major central banks that they will keep raising interest rates to curtail inflation. Weakening activity in the services sector is a big reason for the pressure on global markets today, said Samy Chaar, chief economist at Lombard Odier. U.S. stock futures fell. Government-bond yields rose. Yields rose in Germany, the U.K. and France, too.

Persons: Samy Chaar, ”, Dow, Hang Seng Organizations: Services, Lombard, Nasdaq, Overseas, Nikkei Locations: Government, U.S, Europe, Shanghai, Germany, France, Brent, Iran

[1/2] The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, June 9, 2023. Wall Street futures were up, pointing to another session of gains after the S&P 500 rose for the fourth week in a row last week. "Obviously if we have a big negative surprise on inflation and inflation comes in much hotter than expected, that is going to challenge central banks and the Fed in its 'pause' strategy," he said. Money markets are pricing in around a 75% chance of the Fed keeping rates steady, and a 25% chance of a 25 basis points rate hike, according to the CME FedWatch tool. The European Central Bank is expected to raise rates by 25 basis points on Thursday.

Persons: Europe's, Samy Chaar, Lombard, Elizabeth Howcroft, Sharon Singleton, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, CPI, Fed, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Wall, Nasdaq, Investors, Reserve Bank of Australia, Bank of Canada, Bank of Japan, People's Bank of China, Brent, . West Texas, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, China, U.S, Europe, Hong Kong

[1/2] The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, May 26, 2023. U.S. President Joe Biden and top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy reached a tentative deal on Saturday to raise the federal government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, aiming to stop the U.S. from defaulting on its debt. The deal is expected to provide only short-term relief for markets, as worries linger about inflation and further rate increases. European stock indexes initially opened higher, then faltered, with Europe's STOXX 600 down 0.1% on the day (.STOXX). If the debt ceiling deal passes through Congress, then market attention will return to the U.S. Federal Reserve's plans for rates, according to Samy Chaar, chief economist at Lombard Odier.

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