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☆ Stocks to watch as Idalia makes landfall in Florida
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Florida is bracing for Tropical Storm Idalia as it intensifies into a major hurricane on Monday before making landfall on the state's Gulf Coast by Wednesday morning. Idalia is predicted to transform into a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale when it makes landfall in northern Florida's Big Bend area, where the panhandle transitions into the peninsula, the National Hurricane Center said. About 20 million Floridians are under hurricane and tropical storm watches, and authorities have begun issuing evacuation orders. Shares of NextEra Energy Inc (NEE.N), which owns the Florida Power & Light Company, the state's largest utility, was little changed at $68.06, up 0.154%. Duke Energy Corp (DUK.N) said on Monday it is mobilizing approximately 4,500 people - power line technicians, vegetation workers, damage assessors and support personnel – to respond to power outages as Idalia reaches Florida.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Idalia, Here's, Ron DeSantis, –, Owens Corning, Chibuike Oguh, Lance Tupper, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, Simpson, National Hurricane Center, POWER Florida, NextEra Energy Inc, Florida Power & Light Company, Duke Energy Corp, Generac Holdings, Universal Insurance Holdings, Allstate Corporation, American International, Home, Lowe's, Thomson Locations: Florida, Coast, Big, New York

☆ California is considering offering unemployment to workers on strike as the Hollywood writers walkout approaches its 4th month
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

California is considering a bill that would give striking workers access to unemployment benefits. AdvertisementAdvertisementLegislators are now considering a bill that would make any striking workers in the state eligible for unemployment benefits if their action lasts more than two weeks. AdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to the bill, striking workers would be eligible for payments of up to $450 per week. New York now offers striking workers up to $504 a week, while New Jersey offers up to $830 a week. New Jersey expanded its law in April, decreasing the waiting period for striking workers before benefits kick in from 30 to 14 days.

Persons: Steven Greenhouse, Kate Bronfenbrenner, —, Bronfenbrenner, Robert Moutrie, Moutrie Organizations: Labor, SAG, Service, Guild of America, Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations Labor, New York Times, Century Foundation, New, Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, California Chamber of Commerce Locations: California, Wall, Silicon, New York, New Jersey, , Connecticut, Massachusetts, COVID

☆ Reactions as India's Chandrayaan-3 makes historic moon landing
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Arun Haryani, an enthusiast with his body painted in tri-colours, holds up a model of LVM3 M4, which was used in launching the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, in Ahmedabad on the eve of the moon landing, August 22. Following are some reactions:S. SOMANATH, INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION (ISRO)CHAIRMAN"India is on the moon." NARENDRA MODI, PRIME MINISTER, INDIA"This moment is unforgettable. BILL NELSON, ADMINISTRATOR, NASA"Congratulations ISRO on your successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar South Pole landing! Congratulations to ISRO, Chandrayaan-3, and to all the people of India!!

Persons: Arun Haryani, Amit Dave, NARENDRA MODI, RAHUL GANDHI, SHAH RUKH KHAN, CHANDRACHUD, KHARGE, BILL NELSON, JOSEF ASCHBACHER, CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, PUSHPA KAMAL DAHAL, Narendra Modi, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Andrew Heavens, Toby Chopra Organizations: REUTERS, DELHI, Wednesday, Indian Space Research, SPACE, ISRO, OF, NASA, GENERAL, EUROPEAN SPACE, Chandrayaan, SOUTH, MINISTER, Thomson Locations: Ahmedabad, India, EUROPEAN, SOUTH AFRICA, NEPAL

☆ US airline pilots fight their unions to increase retirement age
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Rajesh Kumar Singh | Allison Lampert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Increasing the age limit by two years would also align pilot retirement with the minimum federal retirement age, allowing them to receive full social security benefits. But the specific question of increasing the retirement age to 67 was never brought to the floor for a vote. “This is a coup by junior pilots against senior pilots,” said Allen Baker, who retired as a United Airlines pilot in June. Dennis Tajer, a spokesman for American Airlines pilots union, said pilots seeking higher retirement age want to keep earning longer. But United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has said lifting the retirement age would not solve the pilot shortage.

Persons: Bo Ellis, F, Andrew Kelly ALPA, Ellis, ALPA, ”, “, ” ALPA, Rick Redfern, Savanthi Syth, Raymond James ., Dan Carr, Carr, Allen Baker, Baker, Dennis Tajer, Jason Ambrosi, Barry Biffle, Scott Kirby, Jonathan Ornstein Organizations: Reuters, Air Line Pilots Association, Kennedy International Airport, REUTERS, U.S . Congress, Regional Airline Association, Southwest Airlines, Air, Mesa, MESA, United Airlines, United, U.S . Senate, Raymond James . JUNIOR, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, International Air Transport Association Locations: Queens , New York City, U.S, Delta, United, Redfern, Canada, Japan, Australia, Mesa

The U.S. Supreme Court building is seen prior to the start of the court's 2022-2023 term in Washington, U.S. September 30, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 21 (Reuters) - A parents group backed by a conservative legal organization asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to consider whether an admissions policy aimed at diversifying an elite Virginia high school is racially discriminatory. But unlike the higher education cases, the admissions policy adopted in 2020 by Virginia's Fairfax County School Board for the state-chartered magnet high school was on its face race neutral. In February 2022, U.S. District Judge Claude Hilton sided with the parents' group lawyers at the libertarian Pacific Legal Foundation. Last year the Supreme Court declined an emergency request to block its policy, though three conservative justices dissented.

Persons: Kevin Lamarque, Thomas, Claude Hilton, Appeals, Nate Raymond, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, Fairfax, Fairfax County School Board, TJ, Coalition, District, Pacific Legal Foundation, Circuit, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Virginia, Fairfax County, Alexandria, Constitution's, U.S, Richmond, Boston

Increasing the age limit by two years would also align pilot retirement with the minimum federal retirement age, allowing them to receive full social security benefits. But the specific question of increasing the retirement age to 67 was never brought to the floor for a vote. "This is a coup by junior pilots against senior pilots," said Allen Baker, who retired as a United Airlines pilot in June. Dennis Tajer, a spokesman for American Airlines pilots union, said pilots seeking higher retirement age want to keep earning longer. But United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has said lifting the retirement age would not solve the pilot shortage.

Persons: F, Andrew Kelly, Bo Ellis, ALPA, Ellis, Rick Redfern, Savanthi Syth, Raymond James ., Dan Carr, Carr, Allen Baker, Baker, Dennis Tajer, Jason Ambrosi, Barry Biffle, Scott Kirby, Jonathan Ornstein, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Allison Lampert, Ben Klayman, Grant McCool Organizations: Pilots, Kennedy International Airport, REUTERS, Air Line Pilots Association, U.S . Congress, Regional Airline Association, Southwest Airlines, Reuters, Mesa, MESA, United Airlines, United, U.S . Senate, Raymond James . JUNIOR, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, International Air Transport Association, Thomson Locations: Queens , New York City, U.S, Redfern, Canada, Japan, Australia, Chicago, Montreal

☆ American Airlines pilots approve new contract that boosts compensation by more than 46%
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Allied Pilots Association (APA), which represents 15,000 pilots at the Texas-based carrier, said on Monday that 72.7% of the pilots voted for the deal which will result in an immediate pay raise of more than 21%. Overall, compensation for pilots at the airline will rise by more than 46% during the contract's duration. With no letup in travel demand, airlines are in a rush to staff up, bolstering the bargaining power of pilots. Rival United Airlines (UAL.O) last month announced a preliminary deal for a new four-year contract that would give its pilots a cumulative increase of 34.5%-40.2% in pay. American's contract includes about $1.1 billion in immediate, one-time payments and ratification bonuses.

Persons: Brian Snyder, Ed Sicher, Sicher, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Allison Lampert, Matthew Lewis Organizations: American Airlines, Airport, REUTERS, Rights, Allied Pilots Association, Allied Pilots, Reuters, Jefferies, U.S, Rival United Airlines, Thomson Locations: Boston , Massachusetts, U.S, Texas, Chicago, Montreal

☆ NFL roundup: Colts use big 4th quarter to storm past Bears
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

[1/5] Aug 19, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Sam Ehlinger (4) after the game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium. Beathard completed 12 of 20 passes for 138 yards with one touchdown and one interception for the Jaguars (2-0). Nate Sudfeld completed 9 of 18 passes for 80 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Lions (1-1). Teammate John Wolford was 4-for-4 for 57 yards before leaving the game with a neck injury in the third quarter. With Aaron Rodgers sitting out the game, Jets backup quarterback Zach Wilson completed 9 of 13 passes for 70 yards.

Persons: Sam Ehlinger, Trevor Ruszkowski, Ehlinger, Jake Funk's, Matt Gay, Daurice Fountain, Nathan Peterman, Justin Fields, Isaiah Bolden, Bolden, Calvin Munson, Malik Heath, Bailey Zappe, Jordan Love, D'Ernest Johnson, Tank Bigsby, Beathard, Trevor Lawrence, Parker Washington, Teddy Bridgewater, Nate Sudfeld, Skylar Thompson, Tua Tagovailoa, Thompson, Salvon Ahmed, C.J, Stroud, Ka'imi Fairbairn, Kenny Pickett, Matt Barkley, Jaylen Warren, Pat Freiermuth, Josh Allen, Barkley, Joey Porter Jr, Chandon Sullivan, Elijay Riley, Kyle Allen, Justin Shorter, Trey Palmer, Kyle Trask, Trask, John Wolford, Wolford, Greg Zuerlein, Aaron Rodgers, Zach Wilson, Patrick Mahomes, Blaine Gabbert, Shane Buechele, Buechele, Chris Oladokun, Matt Prater's, Clayton Tune, Malik Willis, Julius Chestnut, Willis, Nick Mullens, Jake Moody's, Trey Lance, Cameron Latu, Francisco, Lance, Jarrett Stidham, Ben DiNucci, Jaleel McLaughlin, Brian Hoyer, Aidan O'Connell, Isaiah Pola, Daniel Carlson's, Stetson Bennett, SaRodorick Thompson Jr, Drew Lock, Dak Prescott, Cooper Rush, Will Grier, Rush, Rico Dowdle Organizations: Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, Lucas Oil, NFL, Colts, Indianapolis, Bears, Patriots, Packers, Pats, Jaguars, Lions, Detroit, Jacksonville, Dolphins, Texans, Miami, Houston, Steelers, Bills, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Buccaneers, Jets, Tampa Bay, Chiefs, Cardinals, Kansas City, Vikings, Tennessee, Minnesota, Titans, 49ers, Broncos, Denver, The 49ers, Raiders, Rams, Las Vegas, The Raiders, Seahawks, Cowboys, Dallas, Seattle, Thomson Locations: Indianapolis , Indiana, USA, New England, Green, England, Jacksonville, Pickett, Tampa, New York, East Rutherford, N.J, Arizona, Glendale, Ariz, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Santa Clara, Calif, Los Angeles, Inglewood , Calif, Vegas, Seattle

☆ A fashion designer who retired at 36 after investing in stocks shares the 3 funds she holds and the 4th she's now aggressively buying that's up by over 580% since inception.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Rachel Covert aggressively invested for seven years to build a retirement portfolio. Her large salary and aggressive budgeting allowed her to build an almost half-a-million-dollar retirement portfolio, according to financial statements viewed by Insider. For this reason, the majority of her retirement portfolio sits in the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX). This was the best choice for an aggressive growth fund. Her goal was to increase her exposure to more volatile technology growth stocks.

Persons: Rachel Covert, Roth, Covert, I'm, Investopedia Organizations: Vanguard, Market Locations: New York, Portugal, QQQ

☆ As gas prices hit 10-month highs, Citi warns major hurricanes could ‘massively’ disrupt supplies
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Oil prices could still fallFor consumers, the good news is that, outside of the risk of a bad hurricane season, Citi is bearish on oil prices. The Wall Street bank’s baseline forecast is that oil prices will drop in the coming months, a scenario that would cool gas prices. “It’s something we certainly keep a close eye on,” a White House official told CNN earlier this week. As recently as Memorial Day and July 4th, consumers were saving big on gas prices when measured against the same point last year. “Energy markets are volatile and gas prices can fluctuate,” the White House official told CNN.

Persons: Hilary, Joe Biden’s, “, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Janet Yellen, heatwaves Organizations: CNN, AAA, That’s, Citigroup, National Hurricane Center, Coast, Citi, White, “ Energy, White House Locations: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, California, Washington, Colorado , Arizona, Illinois, AAA . Indiana , Pennsylvania, New York

☆ Travis King: who is the US soldier who crossed into North Korea?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Sarah Leslie/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Aug 16 (Reuters) - North Korea confirmed for the first time on Wednesday that it is holding American soldier Travis King, saying he crossed the border last month to escape racism and mistreatment in the U.S. military and society. WHY DID HE CROSS TO NORTH KOREA AND WHERE IS HE NOW? KCNA said he was held by the North Korean army after he crossed, but did not elaborate. Roughly 24 hours after leaving the airport, he sprinted into North Korea while touring the Joint Security Area, which sits astride the border. King spent time in a South Korean prison, however, in lieu of paying the fine.

Persons: Travis T, Sarah Leslie, Handout, Travis King, King, KCNA, King's, Myron Gates, Carl Gates, Josh Smith, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Security Area, REUTERS, Rights, U.S ., WHO, U.S . Army, Korean, Force, U.S . 1st Armored Division, 4th Infantry Division, National Defense Service, Korean Defense, Overseas Service, North Korean, Pentagon, ABC News, Daily, Airport, American Airlines staff, Reuters, Security, Court, Thomson Locations: Panmunjom, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, North Korea, U.S, Racine , Wisconsin, Korean, New Zealand, Seoul

☆ The $362 million warship the US Navy just decommissioned wasn't even in service 5 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The US Navy officially decommissioned USS Sioux City this week. The $362 million Littoral Combat Ship has been in service roughly four years and nine months. USS Sioux City, a Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship, was commissioned into service with the Navy on November 17, 2018. In September last year, the Navy decommissioned the Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship USS Coronado after just eight years of service. USS Sioux City conducts a passing exercise with an Egyptian Navy frigate in the Red Sea in July 2022.

Persons: Brandon J, Vinson, Capt, Daniel Reiher, Nicholas S, Tenorio, Nicholas A, Bob Scott, Scott, Seaman Juel Foster, James Stavridis, Stavridis Organizations: US Navy, Navy, Service, USS, Naval, Brandon, Sioux, Coast Guard, Mayport, Littoral Combat Ship Training, Combat, Combat Ships, USS Sioux City, Egyptian Navy, Russell, Russell Sioux City, Iowa Public, Littoral Combat, USS Navy, Communication, Ships Locations: Sioux City, Wall, Silicon, USS Sioux City, Florida, Iowa, Coronado, Littoral, Souda Bay, Greece, USS Sioux, Egyptian, Red, Russell Sioux, China

☆ Francesco Molinari named fifth vice captain for Europe's Ryder Cup team
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Molinari, who made his debut in the 2010 edition when Europe regained the trophy in Wales, joins brother Edoardo Molinari, Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal, Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn as vice captains. "I started the year hoping to be there as a player, but it is still a great honour to be there as a vice captain," Molinari, who won the 2018 British Open, said. The United States won the last Ryder Cup in Wisconsin last year. Europe have not lost a Ryder Cup on home soil since a 15-13 defeat at The Belfry in England in 1993. The Ryder Cup will be held from Sep. 26–Oct.

Persons: Italy's Francesco Molinari, Lorraine Osullivan, Luke Donald, month's Ryder, Rome's Marco Simone Golf, . Molinari, Edoardo Molinari, Jose Maria Olazabal, Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, " Molinari, Luke, It's, Aadi Nair, Nick Macfie Organizations: 151st, Royal, REUTERS, Team Europe, Country Club, Ryder, United States, Thomson Locations: Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, Britain, Europe, Wales, Belgian, Rome, Wisconsin, England, Bengaluru

☆ Trump was indicted in Georgia over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Here's what the 13 counts in his 4th criminal case mean.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Sonam Sheth | Rebecca Cohen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Trump was indicted in Georgia over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state. Making false statements and writingsGeorgia law says that it's illegal for an individual to knowingly and willfully make a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation to officials. ConspiracyTrump was charged with conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree, conspiracy to commit false statements and writings, and conspiracy to commit filing false documents. Asking Raffensperger, to "find" thousands of votes in order to nullify Biden's 2020 election victory. Asking Raffensperger in September 2021 to decertify the 2020 election, "or whatever the correct legal remedy is, and announce the true winner."

Persons: Trump, Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Jeffrey Clark, Sidney Powell, John Eastman, Fani Willis, Joe Biden, Willis, it's, Rahmani, Brad Raffensperger, Georgia's, Brian Kemp, David Ralston, Raffensperger, Injunctive Organizations: Service, New York, White House, Trump —, Federal, Organization, Prosecutors, Trump, United States Senate, State, United States, Court, Northern, Northern District of, Electoral, Georgia Gov, Georgia's, Representatives, GOP, Farm Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Wall, Silicon, State of Georgia, United States, Northern District, Northern District of Georgia, Fulton County , Georgia

☆ Asia suffers China blues; dollar hits 2023 top on yen
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) eased another 1.1%, after shedding 2% last week. Japan's Nikkei (.N225) was off 0.5%, even as exporters drew support from the weak yen. The sour mood saw S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures shed early gains to each ease 0.1%. That rise juiced the dollar against the low-yielding yen, lifting it as far as 145.22 and a peak not seen since November last year. The rise in the dollar and yields was weighing on gold at $1,911 an ounce , having fallen for three weeks in a row.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Brent, Wayne Cole, Shri Navaratnam, Sam Holmes Organizations: Nikkei, SYDNEY, Japan's Nikkei, Zhongrong International Trust Co, HK, Nasdaq, Amazon's, Federal, Goldman, Thomson Locations: China, Beijing, Russian, Black, Asia, Pacific, Japan

☆ European markets open lower after a downbeat week
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Hannah Ward-Glenton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

September West Texas Intermediate crude oil contracts this week rallied for a 7th consecutive week for the first time since June 2022, while October Brent — the international benchmark — also rose for a 7th straight week. September natural gas contracts climbed 7.5% this week — the biggest weekly increase since mid-June. September gasoline added 6.5% this week, the most in a week since early March, and rising for a 4th week in five. The S&P 500 Energy Index turned in the best performance of the 11 main sectors in the S&P 500, rising 3.5% this week versus the S&P 500 Health-Care Index's 2.5% gain and the S&P 500's 0.3% loss.

Persons: Brent — Organizations: West Texas, Energy

☆ Dubai's DEWA selects Abu Dhabi's Masdar to construct solar park
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Saeed Al Tayer, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony of the 4th phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, south of Dubai, United Arab Emirates March 19, 2018. Picture taken March 19, 2018. REUTERS/Satish Kumar/ File PhotoCompanies Dubai Electricity and Water Authority PJSC FollowDUBAI, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Dubai Electricity And Water Authority (DEWA) selected state-owned renewable energy firm Masdar to construct and manage the 1,800 MW sixth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park with an estimated cost of up to 5.51 billion Emirati Dirhams, the Dubai media office said on Sunday. Reporting by Ahmed Elimam; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Saeed Al Tayer, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Satish Kumar, Ahmed Elimam, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Dubai Electricity, Water Authority, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Companies Dubai Electricity, Water, Thomson Locations: DEWA, Dubai, United Arab, DUBAI

They said that the state law, signed by Republican Governor Brad Little in March, illegally discriminates on the basis of gender identity and violates students' right to privacy. Idaho's bathroom bill allows students to sue schools for $5,000 if they encounter a transgender student in a bathroom the law forbids. That effectively puts a "bounty" on transgender students and encourages others to search them out, the lawsuit said. The new law says schools must provide a "reasonable accommodation" for transgender students unwilling or unable to use their assigned bathroom. Federal courts have been divided on school policies requiring transgender students to use the restroom corresponding to their birth sex, with the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th U.S.

Persons: Queen Mary, Stephane Mahe, David Nye, Peter Renn of, Raul Labrador, Rebecca Roe, Brad Little, Brendan Pierson, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Justice, REUTERS, U.S, District, Peter Renn of Lambda, Republican, Circuit, Appeals, Thomson Locations: Brittany's, Rennes, France, Idaho, Richmond , Virginia, Virginia, Atlanta, Florida, New York

☆ UN security staff released in Yemen after 18 months in captivity
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] United Nations security staff (1st-3rd L) and (8th L), who have been released from the hands of Al Qaeda militants, stand with David Gressly, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, (4th L), and head of the Southern Transitional Council, Aidarous al-Zabidi (5th L), in... Read moreUNITED NATIONS, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Five United Nations security staff who were kidnapped in Yemen by al Qaeda militants 18 months ago have been released, the United Nations said on Friday. The staff - four from Yemen and one from Bangladesh - were in "very good health and good spirits, despite everything that they went through," the top U.N. official in Yemen, David Gressly, told reporters. "But they went through a very difficult period of 18 months of isolation," he added. Yemen-based Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has used a conflict between a Saudi-led coalition and the Iran-aligned Houthis to enhance its influence. Yemen has been mired in conflict since the Houthi group ousted the government from the capital Sanaa in late 2014.

Persons: David Gressly, Aidarous, U.N, Antonio Guterres, Al, Gressly, AQAP, Michelle Nichols, Rami Ayyub, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: United Nations, Southern Transitional Council, UNITED NATIONS, Five United Nations, Thomson Locations: Al Qaeda, Yemen, al, Bangladesh, Yemen's, Abyan, Saudi, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Tehran

☆ U.S. forecasters raise 2023 hurricane forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Erwin Seba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Marco Bello/File PhotoHOUSTON, Aug 10 (Reuters) - U.S. government forecasters on Thursday said they expect a more dangerous Atlantic storm season than previously projected, raising their Atlantic hurricane outlook due to high sea surface temperatures. In May, NOAA had predicted 12-17 named storms, 5-8 hurricanes and one to four major hurricanes. An average Atlantic season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. NOAA's forecast was raised "to account for record warm sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic," said meteorologist Matthew Rosencrans with the agency’s Climate Prediction Center. "We normally have our 4th named storm on August 14th and first hurricane on August 11th, and we are at 4 named storms and one hurricane."

Persons: Hurricane Ida, Marco Bello, Matthew Rosencrans, El, El Nino, Jim Foerster, Chris Hewitt, Erwin Seba, Gloria Dickie, John Stonestreet Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Colorado State University, El Nino, El, World Meteorological Organization, Thomson Locations: Louisiana, Montegut , Louisiana, U.S, Pacific, United States, Hawaii, El Nino, Gulf, Mexico, Coast, Texas , Louisiana, Mississippi, London

☆ I'm a 25-year-old with 2 master's degrees and $131,000 in student debt. I just left Paris and am getting ready to travel to Asia.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Alexandra York | Josée Rose | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Hayley is an American who spent two years living in Paris and going to school. She recently left Paris and is getting ready to travel to India and beyond. Once a week, I'd pick her up from school and we'd spend about two hours together. I'm going to do a week in India, then I'm going to do a few days in Singapore, then a week and a half in Australia with friends. I'm part of a Facebook group called Host a Sister so I'm staying with women in India who also love to travel solo and then with friends in all the other countries I'm going.

Persons: Hayley, Paris Hayley, I'd, —, I'm, it's, there's, UNESCO's MGIEP, I've Organizations: Service, Anderson College, Arcadia University, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace, Sustainable Development Locations: American, Paris, India, Asia, Wall, Silicon, Kalamazoo , Michigan, South Carolina, Uganda, Marais, Kalamazoo Shore, Jordan, Europe, Midwest, North America, New Zealand, Italy, undergrad, Spain, Michigan, Southeast Asia, Singapore, Australia, Vietnam, Thailand, Kalamazoo

☆ 'High School Musical' series reveals fate of Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens' characters
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Marianne Garvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” will reveal the fates of the original film franchise’s many characters, including Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens’ Troy and Gabriella. In a scene in the first episode, Chad gives an update on everyone, revealing, “It is our 15-year high school reunion. “After four years at East High, it’s time to graduate. In the new season, the kids play extras as the real cast of “High School Musical” return to East High and film yet another “High School Musical” film. The final season of “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” is streaming on Disney+.

Persons: CNN —, Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens ’ Troy, Gabriella, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Taylor, Lucas Grabeel, Ryan, Kaycee Stroh, Martha, Chad, Troy, Tim Federle, ”, — Organizations: CNN, CNN — “, Disney, East, High, “ Locations: Chad

☆ The freight recession is getting worse as the economy detoxes from the pandemic trucking boom
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Unemployment for truck drivers could move higher as larger carriers, like Yellow, feel more pain. The freight recession may also signal a "detox" from the artificial demand spikes and gross margins seen in the pandemic. Retail demand for trucking, too, trended downward in July after a brief uptick early in the month. "This further supports the idea that the freight recession will remain through the rest of 2023." To be sure, much of the freight recession may actually point to a reversion to pre-pandemic trends after years of elevated demand for e-commerce.

Organizations: Motive, Service, Louis Locations: Wall, Silicon, COVID

☆ Michael Luttig: 'There is no Republican Party'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Shawna Mizelle | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —J. Michael Luttig, a conservative retired federal judge and key adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence, declared on Wednesday that “there is no Republican Party” and said former President Donald Trump is even more dangerous than he was in the aftermath of the 2020 election. Today, there is no such shared set of beliefs and values and principles or even policy views as within the Republican Party for America,” he said on Wednesday. Luttig also sought to shoot down possible legal defenses that Trump could mount to address the federal charges to which he has pleaded not guilty. Trump ally and attorney John Eastman, who drafted the point-by-point memo claiming Pence could stop the certification on January 6, was also a clerk for Luttig. Pence relied on Luttig’s guidance when he decided to defy Trump and certify the results of the election on January 6.

Persons: Washington CNN — J, Michael Luttig, Mike Pence, Republican Party ”, Donald Trump, ” Luttig, Pence, CNN’s Poppy Harlow, ”, Luttig, Trump, Jack Smith, Harlow, he’d, John Eastman Organizations: Washington CNN, Republican Party, Democratic Party, CNN, GOP, Trump, Republican Party for America Locations: United States of America

☆ UK house prices fall for 4th month but market shows resilience - Halifax
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But the decline in house prices has so far been small compared with the surge in valuations during the COVID pandemic. Kim Kinnaird, director of Halifax Mortgages, said house prices were likely to continue falling into next year, echoing previous comments by the lender. A Reuters poll of analysts published in early June pointed to a 3% fall in house prices in 2023 before flat-lining in 2024. This should leave house prices 10.5% below their peak on the Nationwide measure." Nationwide, another mortgage lender, said last week its index of house prices fell by the most since 2009 in the 12 months to July.

Persons: Susannah Ireland, Kim Kinnaird, Kinnaird, Imogen Pattison, William Schomberg, Kate Holton, Bernadette Baum Organizations: City of, REUTERS, Halifax, Bank of England, Capital Economics, Nationwide, Thomson Locations: City, City of London, South London, Britain, Halifax

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