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Persons: —, you've, It's, Couples, YNAB, Zeta, you'll Organizations: Intuit, Mint, Karma, Service, Apple, Google, PocketGuard, Quicken Start, Quicken, Zeta Locations: Zeta

☆ Qatar hostage mediators press Hamas on civilian releases -diplomats, sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Andrew Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Hamas on Monday freed two Israeli civilian women captives from the besieged enclave following the release of two hostages with dual U.S.-Israeli nationality on Friday. Qatar is now discussing a larger release of civilians with Hamas and Israel, a fifth source told Reuters on Tuesday after being briefed on the negotiations. The talks are not about any of the Israeli soldiers held by Hamas, the diplomats and regional source familiar with the talks said. When its fighters stormed into Israel on Oct 7, "Hamas did not expect the operation would be as catastrophically successful as it was. Qatar, which has ambitious foreign policy goals, has a direct line of communication with Hamas and Israel.

Persons: Ammar Awad, Matthew Miller, Washington, Osama Hamdan, Israel, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Nidal, James Mackenzie, Edmund Blair, William Maclean, Nick Macfie Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, quicken, U.S, Reuters, Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, . State Department, Qatar apprised, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Gaza, Israel, DOHA, Gulf, Palestinian, Qatar, In Washington, U.S, Jerusalem, Washington, Beirut

☆ Qatar Hostage Mediators Press Hamas on Civilian Releases -Diplomats, Sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

Hamas on Monday freed two Israeli civilian women captives from the besieged enclave following the release of two hostages with dual U.S.-Israeli nationality on Friday. Qatar is now discussing a larger release of civilians with Hamas and Israel, a fifth source told Reuters on Tuesday after being briefed on the negotiations. The talks are not about any of the Israeli soldiers held by Hamas, the diplomats and regional source familiar with the talks said. Hamas says such captive soldiers are strategic assets the group can eventually exchange for major concessions from Israel. Qatar, which has ambitious foreign policy goals, has a direct line of communication with Hamas and Israel.

Persons: Andrew Mills, Matthew Miller, Washington, Osama Hamdan, Israel, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Nidal, James Mackenzie, Edmund Blair, William Maclean, Nick Macfie Organizations: Andrew Mills DOHA, Reuters, quicken, U.S, Hamas, Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, . State Department, Qatar apprised Locations: Gaza, Israel, Gulf, Palestinian, Qatar, In Washington, U.S, Jerusalem, Washington, Beirut

[1/5] Smoke is rising after an Israeli strike on Gaza seen from a viewpoint in Southern Israel October 24, 2023. US, RUSSIA OFFER RIVAL PROPOSALSAt the United Nations, the United States and Russia put forward rival plans on humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians. Washington has called for pauses and Russia wants a humanitarian ceasefire. Arab states firmly back a call for a humanitarian ceasefire amid widespread destruction of Gaza's buildings in Israel's aerial bombardment. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last week called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, Joe Biden, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Israel, Iran's U.N, Amir Saeid Iravani, Antony Blinken, Vassily Nebenzia, Sameh Shoukry, Antonio Guterres, Justin Trudeau, Nidal al, Emily Rose, Andrew Mills, Michelle Nichols, Humeyra Pamuk, Grant McCool, Howard Goller, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, UN, Tuesday, Saudi Arabian Crown, White, West Bank, Washington, Security, United Nations, Palestinian, UNRWA, quicken, U.S, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Southern Israel, Iran, Israel, Russia, Saudi, GAZA, JERUSALEM, United States, Canada, Palestinian, Egypt, U.S, Lebanon's Iran, Lebanon, Iran's, RUSSIA, Washington, Ottawa, Gulf

☆ China's car sales quicken in Sept; exports rise 50%
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Passenger vehicle sales totalled 2.04 million units in Sept, the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) said on Wednesday. Reuters GraphicsNew energy vehicle (NEV) sales were up 22.1% in September from a year earlier, making up 36.6% of total car sales, and helping several local brands set record high sales. Reuters GraphicsSeptember is traditionally a bumper month for car sales in China, partly because many people go on a shopping spree ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays. CPCA Secretary General Cui Dongshu said the downturn in the property market bode well for car sales, as many people were now choosing to buy cars instead of investing in housing. For the first nine months, sales in the world's largest car market rose 2.1% to 15.41 million units.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, General Cui Dongshu, bode, Tesla, Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Miral Organizations: Business, REUTERS, Rights, China Passenger Car Association, Reuters Graphics, Reuters, CPCA, Overseas, EU, Exports, EV, Li, HK, Thomson Locations: China, Rights BEIJING, U.S

☆ Ukraine says its war-torn economy is beginning to recover
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine’s gross domestic product grew by 2.2% year-on-year in the first seven months of 2023, the economy ministry said on Wednesday. The ministry said in a statement the economy had started to recover after an extremely difficult 2022, when Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Nadiia Bigun, deputy economy minister, said the number of Ukrainian entrepreneurs had surpassed the levels before the war. The central bank has increased its forecast for GDP growth to 2.9% in 2023 from an earlier target of 2%, and expects economic growth to quicken to 3.5% next year. The World Bank expects GDP growth of 0.5% in 2023.

Persons: Nadiia Bigun, ” Organizations: quicken, Bank Locations: Russia, Ukraine

☆ Lending startup Captain raised $107 million in the boom times. Now it's up for sale amid layoffs and a capital drought.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Melia Russell | Rob Price | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Captain, a startup that aimed to quicken home repairs after natural disasters, is winding down. The Louisville-based company had previously raised $107 million across venture and debt equity. CartaMany early-stage startups such as Captain, which had raised $107 million across equity and debt capital, have struggled to raise new funding as a drought in venture capital spreads through Silicon Valley. Liabilities pile upThe company relies on debt financing to pay contractors upfront for materials, supplies, and labor costs. In his email, Gray said prospective buyers were aware of the outstanding liabilities and the sale price would be used to satisfy those liabilities, "with wages being the most paramount," he said.

Persons: Demetrius Gray, Gray, Captain, Red Swan, Pete Flint, Flint, PATRICK T, FALLON, Talent, Melia Russell, Rob Price Organizations: quicken, Carta, TechCrunch, GGV, fintech, Munich Re, San Francisco Superior Court Locations: The Louisville, Silicon Valley, Carta, Louisville , Kentucky, NFX, CoVenture, Munich, Maui

I made a lot of mistakes with money in my 20s. When life got busy, I turned a blind eye to my money situation — until my credit card bill was sent to me. AdvertisementAnother big-ticket item on my credit card bill was rideshare costs, which could have been avoided in most cases. Before I knew it, I had a lot of open credit cards — and a desire to close them all. I knew that opening credit cards could help my credit score, but only if I used them and paid them off immediately.

Persons: —, Salary.com, Investopedia, I've Organizations: Service, Quicken, Karma Locations: New York City

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy says sought Western weapons to start counteroffensive sooner
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I wanted our counteroffensive to happen much earlier, because everyone understood that if the counteroffensive unfolds later, then a bigger part of our territory will be mined," Zelenskiy said. The Ukrainian leader has consistently pushed the United States and other Western allies to supply his armed forces with more sophisticated weaponry, such as U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets and longer range missiles. He did so again in the CNN interview while also thanking Washington and the European allies for their support. "It's not even about the Ukrainian advantage in the sky over the Russians," Zelenskiy said. Last week, Zelenskiy said the counteroffensive was "slower than desired", without getting too specific but he said advances had been made "in all directions".

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, It's, Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Putin, Costas Pitas, Grant McCool, Sandra Maler, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: CNN, quicken, Washington, Reuters, Ukrainian, Wagner Group, Thomson Locations: Russian, Western, Ukraine, Russia, United States, Belarus, Moscow

☆ Abortion is ancient history and that matters today
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

This long view of abortion matters, according to Mary Fissell, a professor of the history of medicine at Johns Hopkins University. That’s because assumptions about how abortion was viewed in the past color present-day arguments about abortion rights. Abortion opponents portray the rights granted by Roe v. Wade and legal access to abortion as an historical aberration, according to Fissell, which is not accurate, historians say. Earliest references to abortionThe first written references to abortion are contained in an ancient Egyptian papyrus written about 3,500 years ago. For most of history, abortion has not been an issue about the fetus, like it is today, but rather about women’s behavior.

Persons: Mary Fissell, Roe, Wade, ”, Fissell, “, Dobbs, it’s, Lysistrata, Aristophanes, —, Lisa Briggs, Briggs, Pliny the Elder, ” Briggs, It’s, Maeve Callan, Callan, ’, Saint Brigid, Patrick, Brigid, Peter Morrison, God, ” Callan, “ quickening, Pope Sixtus V, Pope Gregory XIV Organizations: CNN, Johns Hopkins University, US, Jackson, Health Organization, Cranfield University, British Museum, “, Simpson College, AP, quicken Locations: United States, Dobbs v, Rome, Cyrene, Libya, Iowa, Medieval Ireland, Ireland, Leixlip, Kildare

☆ How to prequalify for a personal loan
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Jamie Johnson | Richard Richtmyer | Jamie Johnson Is A Kansas City-Based Personal Finance Writer Whose Work Has Been Featured On Several Of The Top Finance | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Our experts answer readers' personal loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess personal loans). What does it mean to prequalify for a personal loan? 4 steps to prequalify for a personal loanHere are the steps you'll take to get prequalified for a personal loan. See Insider's picks for the best personal loans for bad credit >>Prequalifying for a personal loan FAQSWhat is the difference between prequalification and preapproval for a personal loan? How long does it take to prequalify for a personal loan?

Persons: Prequalification, —, Andrew Latham, you'll, Latham, It's, They'll, Fiona, you've, You'll, Nathan Hoskin, it'll, it's Organizations: Service, Hoskin, Chevron

☆ China eyes support for consumer, private sectors as growth falters
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Kevin Yao | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

China's cabinet is soliciting proposals from economists and advisers, policy insiders told Reuters, with big changes needing approval from top party leaders, and investors now looking to an expected Politburo meeting in July for clues on policy direction. However, the modest borrowing cost cuts - limited by concerns over banks' profitability and currency stability - will not be enough to boost economic activity, policy insiders said. Authorities are also considering support for the ailing property sector after earlier measures failed to gain traction, including easing credit conditions and home buying curbs in some areas, policy insiders. Economists blame the fading recovery on the "scarring effects" caused by COVID and regulatory curbs on property and tech sectors, which have hit household and private sector spending. Supporting depressed private-sector firms, which account for 60% of economic output and 80% of urban employment, will be essential to lift incomes, jobs and consumption, policy insiders and analysts said.

Persons: Rory Green, Jia Kang, Kevin Yao, Sam Holmes Organizations: quicken, Reuters, People's Bank of China's, TS Lombard, China Academy of New, Economics, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Beijing

HONG KONG, May 31 (Reuters) - An absence of women among China's top leadership is concerning, the United Nations said in a report, as it recommended China adopt statutory quotas and a gender parity system to quicken equal representation of women in government. The committee said that while China's representation of women in political and public life has increased, it was concerned that women only represent 26.54% of deputies to the 14th National People's Congress. It urged China to increase the number of women in all government bureaus including the judiciary and foreign service, particularly at decision making levels. The committee said it was concerned about the excessive restrictions on the registration of non-governmental organisations as well as reports of intimidation and harassment against women human rights defenders. Feminist voices have also been muzzled and in recent years, the government has increasingly emphasized the value of traditional roles for women as mothers and carers.

Persons: Xi, Martin Pollard, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: United Nations, quicken, UN, Leste, National People's, Communist, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, Germany, Iceland, Sao Tome, Principe, Slovakia, Spain, Timor, Venezuela, Beijing

☆ Debt limit bill would speed completion of controversial West Virginia gas pipeline
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Emma Newburger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Lengths of pipe wait to be laid in the ground along the under-construction Mountain Valley Pipeline near Elliston, Virginia, September 29, 2019. A bipartisan debt limit bill struck by President Joe Biden and House Republicans over the weekend would expedite approval of all permits for a West Virginia natural gas pipeline and curtail environmental reviews under one of the country's landmark environmental laws. The Mountain Valley Pipeline, which has been promoted by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., would transport natural gas 303 miles from West Virginia to the Southeast, and part of it would cross through the Jefferson National Forest. The construction of the $6.6 billion pipeline is nearly done, though plans have been delayed for several years amid legal setbacks. Proponents say the pipeline is vital to bolstering U.S. domestic energy security, and that the plan was already near completion and set to move forward.

☆ Russia is seeking allies to shift trade away from the greenback and quicken the pace of de-dollarization, deputy prime minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia is seeking partners to quicken the pace of de-dollarization, Russia's deputy prime minister Alexey Overchuk said. The nation could create an independent financial system with Islamic countries. We are talking about processes of de-dollarization and the creation of an independent financial system," Overchuk said at an economic forum on Friday, per a report from Russian news agency Tass. Ties between Russia and Islamic countries also have a "positive future," Overchuk said, given Russia's alignment on issues like energy, food, and de-globalization. The shift away from the US dollar is already beginning to take place, Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said, though experts have argued de-dollarization fears are largely overblown.

Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business RewardsWhat is the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business welcome bonus? How to earn rewards from Capital One Spark Miles SelectThe Spark Miles Select Business Card has a very straightforward earning structure. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightCapital One Spark Miles Select for Business Annual Fee and Other CostsThe Spark Miles Select Business Card doesn't charge an annual fee, so it's free to keep and use year after year. What's the difference between the Capital One Spark Miles and Spark Miles Select? Methodology: How we reviewed the Capital One Spark Miles Select for BusinessWe evaluated the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business in relation to Capital One's other small-business cards, as well as competing no-annual-fee business cards from other banks.

☆ China's first-quarter GDP growth seen rebounding to 4.0%, 2023 rate seen at 5.4% - Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Kevin Yao | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

That would be the fastest growth since the first quarter of last year. The government has set a modest target for economic growth of around 5% for this year, after badly missing the 2022 goal. The government is due to release first quarter GDP data, along with March activity data, at 0200 GMT on April 18. On a quarterly basis, the economy is forecast to grow 2.2% in January-March, compared with no change in October-December, the poll showed. “We need to maintain the stability and continuity of macro policies to consolidate the economic recovery,” said Wen Bin, chief economist at China Minsheng Bank.

☆ China's Q1 GDP growth seen rebounding to 4.0%, 2023 rate seen at 5.4%: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Kevin Yao | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

That would be the fastest growth since the first quarter of last year. For 2023, growth was expected to pick up to 5.4%, the poll showed, from 3.0% last year - one of its worst performances in nearly half a century due to strict COVID-19 curbs. The government has set a modest target for economic growth of around 5% for this year, after badly missing the 2022 goal. The government is due to release first quarter GDP data, along with March activity data, at 0200 GMT on April 18. Consumer inflation will likely quicken to 2.3% in 2023 from 2.0% in 2022, before steadying in 2024, the poll showed.

ABLE accounts provide those with disabilities an opportunity save enough to purchase a house without putting their benefits at risk. Can ABLE account funds be used for a down payment on a house? Tim Elliot, another ABLE account owner and ABLE NRC ambassador, found out about these accounts through an internet search. Home-related expenses an ABLE account can coverOne of the more popular uses of an ABLE account for hopeful homeowners is saving for a down payment. How to open an ABLE account and start saving to buy a homeTo open an ABLE account, you'll need to choose a state program to participate in.

☆ Play ball - more quickly! New rules aim to speed MLB games
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The new rule gives the pitcher 15 seconds in between pitches with the bases empty and 20 seconds with runners on base. Another major change - outlawing the shift - will allow for more hits, making games more exciting for fans. In 2003, the average time of a nine-inning game was two hours and 46 minutes, according to Elias Sports Bureau. An MLB memo obtained by Reuters last week showed the pitch clock was already having its intended effect. The average number of violations per game also dropped from 2.03 in the first week to 1.03 by mid-March.

Capital One Spark Cash Select Review: Is the Capital One Spark Cash Select the Best Credit Card for You? For nearly every purchase you make on the Spark 1.5% Cash Select for Excellent Credit, you'll earn 1.5% cash back. Capital One Spark Cash Select RewardsSpark Cash Select welcome bonusThe card currently offers a $500 cash bonus after spending $4,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. What's the difference between Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit and Spark Cash Select for Good Credit? Methodology: How we reviewed the Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent CreditInsider's credit card team compared the Spark 1.5% Cash Select for Excellent Credit to other small business cards issued by Capital One and other banks.

See Insider's picks for the best mortgage lenders »Insider's Featured Mortgage Lenders Rocket Mortgage by Quicken LoansAmeriSave Mortgage Corporation MortgagesNew American Funding Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Only a handful of US states require financial education in high schools, and those requirements are thin. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has free, easy-to-navigate content about tons of financial products, including mortgages. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has free, easy-to-navigate content about tons of financial products, including mortgages. There's a dearth of consumer education built into our financial systems (likely by design).

☆ The dollar is spiking against rival currencies as Fed boss Powell delivers tough talk on rate hikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Carla Mozée | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Investors are preparing for the Fed to ramp up the pace of interest rate hikes. The dollar has inflicted "technical damage" to some of its rivals, says one strategist. The US Dollar Index rose to 105.88, the highest level since early December. The Fed "would be prepared to increase the pace of rate hikes," if the totality of the incoming economic data were to warrant such moves, he said. The Dollar Index has gained more than 2% this year after hitting a two-decade high in 2022.

☆ Russian factory activity expands at quickest rate in six years in Feb -PMI
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The S&P Global Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose in February to 53.6 from 52.6 in January, moving further above the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction. Manufacturing firms surveyed highlighted that February's solid rise in production was linked to import substitution and a further expansion in new orders, S&P Global said in a statement. Input costs increased further, the survey showed, with the rate of inflation accelerating. "The pace of increase in input prices was sharp and the fastest since May 2022," S&P Global said. "Concurrently, the rate of job creation eased further," S&P Global said.

☆ Renewed U.S. junk bond rally ignites hope for more stuck buyout debt
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Matt Tracy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

This exercise now has more impetus on expectations that junk bond prices will continue to rally in the wake of Powell's comments, which raised hopes of slowing rate hikes and a so-called economic soft landing. Junk bond spreads on average tightened 37 basis points on Wednesday, the day of Powell's remarks, from a day earlier, according to ICE BAML data. This is around the level in September when banks sold only about half of the total $15 billion of debt through a U.S. dollar bond, leveraged loan and a Euro-denominated loan. Reuters could not confirm the exact amount sold in these sales and balance of LBO debt still left with banks. Banks could consider selling larger parcels of LBO debt in the primary bond markets where there has been a surge in new issue supply, said the sources.

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