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☆ US judge to weigh JPMorgan's $290 million settlement with Epstein accusers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The settlement covered more than 100 women, led by a former ballet dancer known as Jane Doe 1, who said Epstein abused them. It followed embarrassing disclosures that JPMorgan ignored internal warnings and overlooked red flags about Epstein because he had been a valuable client. JPMorgan in September agreed to pay $75 million to settle related claims by the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Epstein owned two islands. Rakoff on Oct. 20 gave final approval to a similar $75 million settlement between Epstein's accusers and Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE), where Epstein banked after JPMorgan fired him. Epstein died in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 at age 66 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Persons: Morgan, Stephanie Keith, JPMorgan Chase's, Jeffrey Epstein, Jed Rakoff, Epstein, Rakoff, Jane Doe, Sarah Ransome, Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's, Luc Cohen, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, JPMorgan, Washington D.C, U.S ., Deutsche Bank, US, Islands, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Manhattan, Washington, U.S . Virgin Islands, Rakoff, New York

☆ US carries out new strikes against facility used by Iran in Syria
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Idrees Ali | Thomson Reuters | National Security Correspondent Focusing On The Pentagon In Washington D.C. Reports On U.S. Military Activity | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - The United States, for the second time in recent weeks, carried out strikes on Wednesday against a weapon storage facility in eastern Syria that the Pentagon said was used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups. As tensions soar over the Israel-Hamas conflict, U.S. and coalition troops have been attacked at least 40 times in Iraq and Syria by Iran-backed forces since the start of October. The United States has occasionally carried out retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed forces in the region after they attack American forces. On Oct. 26, U.S. forces attacked two facilities used by the IRGC and groups its backs. The United States has sent warships and fighter aircraft to the region since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted on Oct. 7, including two aircraft carriers, to try to deter Iran and Iran-backed groups.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Ints, Austin, Idrees Ali, Chris Reese, Lisa Shumaker, Sandra Maler Organizations: Defense, REUTERS, Rights, Pentagon, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, . Defense, U.S, United, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Riga, Latvia, United States, Syria, Israel, U.S, Iraq, Iran, State, East, Yemen

[1/2] FILE PHOTO: People hold a rally to protest against Israel's attack on Gaza near the Israeli embassy in Tokyo, Japan October 16, 2023. From the beginning of the conflict, Japan has sought a "balanced" response, in part due to its diverse diplomatic interests in the region and its dependency on the Middle East for oil. A spokesperson for Japan's foreign ministry said it was expected that countries have different positions, but denied that G7 members were struggling to find common ground. A statement issued by G7 trade ministers from a meeting in Osaka late last month did not mention the war. Other group members have issued joint statements.

Persons: Issei Kato, Thomas Gomart, Koichiro Tanaka, Hideaki Shinoda, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, It's, Kunihiko Miyake, Tim Kelly, Yoshifumi, John Irish, Andrew Gray, Andreas Rinke, David Brunstromm, Steve Scherer, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Japan, European Union, French Institute of International Relations, Israel, Health, Hamas, Tokyo's Keio University, United Nations, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Canon Institute for Global Studies, Washington D.C, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Tokyo, Japan, TOKYO, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, United, Israel, United States, Osaka, Russia, Ukraine, China, Iran, Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Washington, Ottawa

The case targeting Google's Play Store is being brought by Epic Games, the maker of the popular Fortnite video game, which lost in a similar 2021 trial focused on many of the same issues in Apple's iPhone app store. Match is receiving $40 million and adopting Google's “user choice billing" system in its settlement. The terms of the resolution with the state attorneys general is expected to be revealed during Google's trial with Epic. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney skewered the “user choice billing” option as a sham in a social media post vowing to fight Google in court. Wilson White, Google's vice president of government affairs and public policy, accused Epic of trying to get “something for nothing” in a blog post.

Persons: District Judge James Donato, Sundar Pichai, Pichai, Google’s, U.S . Justice Department’s, Donato, Google's, Tim Sweeney skewered, Sweeney, Wilson White, White, ” Organizations: FRANCISCO, Google, Epic Games, Apple, U.S, Supreme, Android, District, Inc, Washington D.C, U.S ., Match Group Locations: San Francisco federal, U.S, Washington

☆ 'Fortnite' maker Epic Games is battling Google in court over app-store fees 2 years after largely losing a similar case against Apple
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A jury will decide if Google Play has been illegally driving up prices for consumers and developers. Epic Games, the maker of the popular "Fortnite" video game, brought the case against Google. Google recently resolved a case being pursued by the owner of Tinder and other online dating services. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe case targeting Google's Play Store is being brought by Epic Games, the maker of the popular "Fortnite" video game, which largely lost in a similar 2021 trial focused on many of the same issues in Apple's iPhone app store. The terms of the resolution with the state attorneys general is expected to be revealed during Google's trial with Epic.

Persons: —, District Judge James Donato, Sundar Pichai, Pichai, Google's, U.S . Justice Department's, Donato, Tim Sweeney skewered, Sweeney, Wilson White, White Organizations: Epic, Google, Service, U.S, District, Inc, Washington D.C, U.S ., Epic Games, Apple, Supreme, Android, Match Group Locations: San Francisco federal, Washington, U.S

Known for donning a bow tie and bicycle pin, Blumenauer, 75, has served roughly five decades in public office at the local, state and federal level. “I spent a career working to make Portland the most livable city in the country. He would go on to serve as a commissioner in Multnomah County, home to Portland, and on the Portland City Council before being elected to the U.S. House in 1996. His legacy remains visible today — a bike and pedestrian bridge that opened in the city last year bears his name. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Persons: Earl Blumenauer, We’ve, “, ” Blumenauer, Kevin McCarthy, that's, ”, Jonathan Maus, Blumenauer, Hakeem Jeffries, “ Earl, ” ___ Claire Rush Organizations: — U.S . Rep, Associated Press, Oregon House, Portland City Council, U.S . House, Congressional, Caucus, Rep, Washington D.C, Congress, quicken, Congressional Cannabis Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: PORTLAND, Oregon, Portland, City Hall, Multnomah County, Mount Hood, Columbia, America, ”, Washington

☆ Pro-Palestine protests in DC and across the US call for a ceasefire
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Zoe Sottile | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —As Israel continues its fourth week of intense bombardment of the besieged Gaza strip, huge crowds of protesters have gathered to call for a ceasefire in Washington, D.C. as well as in other capital cities around the globe. In addition to an “immediate ceasefire,” the protesters are also calling for an end to US military aid to Israel and an end to the blockade on Gaza. Israeli authorities have rebuffed calls for a ceasefire, saying no ceasefire would be possible until all hostages are freed. Olivier Douliery/AFP/Getty ImagesDemonstrators take to the streets across the worldIn addition to Washington, D.C., pro-Palestinian protesters are also marching in other major cities across the world Saturday to demand a ceasefire. In New York last week, hundreds of protesters from a Jewish organization calling for a ceasefire were arrested at Grand Central Station.

Persons: Israel, ”, Iman Abid, Thompson, Joe Biden, “ Biden, Biden, Celal, Mohamed el Kurd, ’, Macklemore, “, “ I’m, I’m, Yara Shoufani, ” Shoufani, Abid, Olivier Douliery, George Floyd, don’t Organizations: CNN, Organizers, US, Palestinian, Washington D.C, International People’s Assembly, Anadolu Agency, People’s, Palestinian Youth Movement, “, Israel, Congress, Getty, Washington , D.C, Met Police, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, London’s Metropolitan Police, IDF, Grand Central, Port, KABC Locations: Gaza, Washington ,, White, Palestine, Israel, Palestinian, U.S, AFP, Manchester, Oxford, Newcastle, Liverpool, Europe, Latin America, Paris, France, Berlin, Germany, Santiago, Chile, Caracas, Venezuela, Philadelphia, New York, Oakland

☆ Fact Check: Clip of protesters entering Washington DC house dates to June 2020
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A June 2020 video showing protesters entering a house in Washington D.C. is being falsely shared as footage from October 2023 amid demonstrations in the U.S. capital in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. “AND THE PURGE BEGINS -2 hours ago: — Protests in Washington DC are hitting next level as rioters rush people's houses ...is National Guard needed? The protesters left the residence when the curfew was lifted the following morning, NBC4 Washington reported. Google Street View images show the house is locatedon Swann Street in Washington D.C. A video of protesters entering a house in Washington D.C. is not from October 2023.

Persons: Rahul Dubey, George Floyd, NBC4, locatedon, Read Organizations: Washington DC, National Guard, Reuters, Twitter, Google, Washington D.C, Local, Washinton, Thomson Locations: Washington, U.S, Israel, Minneapolis, NBC4 Washington

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal agents on Thursday raided the home of a top fundraiser and longtime confidante to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who abruptly ditched a planned White House meeting and flew home from Washington. The official declined to say whether Suggs was the target of an investigation. Vito Pitta, an attorney for the Adams campaign, said the mayor was not contacted as part of the inquiry. A spokesperson for City Hall declined to comment on the cancellations, deferring comment on the raid to the Adams campaign. In July, six people were charged in a straw donor conspiracy scheme to divert tens of thousands of dollars to Adams’ campaign.

Persons: Eric Adams, Brianna Suggs, Suggs, Vito Pitta, Adams, ” Suggs, Christopher Burwell, FBI windbreakers, Nicholas Biase, –, Eric Ulrich, Ulrich, ___ Balsamo Organizations: —, New York City, Agents, Associated Press, Washington D.C, White House, City Hall, Brooklyn Borough, FBI Locations: New York, Washington, Brooklyn, New York City, Denver, Chicago, Chinatown, Sugg’s, Manhattan

☆ The most—and least—expensive large U.S. cities based on the cost of monthly expenses like rent, utilities, and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

1 most expensive large U.S. city based on monthly costs: San JoseSan Jose, California is the most expensive large city in the U.S. The average San Jose home value is $1,316,415, down 0.7% over the past year, according to Zillow. 10 most expensive large U.S. cities based on monthly costsSan Jose, Calif. Boston, Mass. The second least expensive large U.S. city based on the average cost of monthly household expenses is Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland is just one of two cities in Ohio to make doxo's list of the least expensive large U.S. cities based on household bills.

Persons: doxo, Hanwen Chen, Mike Kline, Zillow, Tenn . Saint Louis, Ken Redding Organizations: CNBC, Utilities, Auto insurance Cable, Mobile, U.S . Residents, San, eBay, PayPal, Washington D.C, Getty Images Boston, Harvard, MIT, Detroit, U.S, General Motors, Ford, N.M . Oklahoma City, N.Y, Bank, Getty Locations: United States, Jose San Jose , California, California, Jose, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Jose, Silicon Valley, Calif, Boston, Mass . New York, N.Y, Washington, Seattle, Wash . Los Angeles, Miami, Fla . Portland, Ore, Boston , Massachusetts, U.S, Cavan, Detroit Detroit , Michigan, Detroit, Michigan, Mich, Cleveland , Ohio Dayton , Ohio Albuquerque, N.M . Oklahoma, Okla Rochester, N.Y Tucson, Ariz . El Paso , Texas Memphis, Tenn . Saint, Mo, Cleveland , Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio, Dayton

U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks to the media during a NATO Defence Ministers' meeting at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday that Russia would be successful in Ukraine unless the United States kept up its support for Kyiv. "I can guarantee that without our support (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will be successful," Austin said during the hearing. Congress has already approved $113 billion for Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022. Democrats solidly back Biden's strategy of combining Ukraine aid with support for Israel, as do many Republicans in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Johanna Geron, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden's, Vladimir, Putin, Austin, Biden, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Chizu Nomiyama, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Defence, NATO Defence Ministers, REUTERS, Rights, . Defense, Kyiv, Israel, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Austin, Israel, U.S, Bakhmut

(AP) — As the United States injects hundreds of billions of dollars into clean energy through its signature climate law, known as the Inflation Reduction Act, criticism is growing louder about where, how and whether new development should be allowed. MIT is offering a first-of-its-kind course that trains students to be mediators in conflicts over clean energy projects. Students get academic credit and hands-on experience addressing real-world dilemmas, while the community and developer get free help resolving conflict. In one recent Friday afternoon class, students debated everything from environmental justice concerns to misinformation to oil companies. He hopes to create a similar national consortium of universities serving communities and projects in their respective regions regarding clean energy.

Persons: ”, Larry Susskind, Susskind, stokes, ” Susskind, ” Leyla Uysal, “ It’s, “ We’re, ” It’s, Abraham Silverman, he’s “, Silverman, Larry, Patrick Field, ” Chaudhuri, Sarah Mills Organizations: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, Cipher News, Associated Press, Washington D.C, Cell, MIT Renewable Energy Clinic, Harvard University, Power, Google, Columbia University, New, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Consensus, “, ”, University of Michigan, AP Locations: CAMBRIDGE, United States, Washington, New York, California, Chicago, Michigan, New Jersey, Cambridge, loggerheads

☆ 49-year-old was an award-winning bartender, now he practices 'mindful drinking'—here's how it changed his life
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Renée Onque | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

So, I think my life was uniquely shaped by alcohol," Brown says. After a moment of clarity where Brown realized "I wasn't my best self," he gravitated towards mindful drinking. What is mindful drinking? Mindful drinking isn't one-size-fits-all, he adds. In his own life, mindful drinking for Brown means not drinking for the most part.

Persons: Derek Brown, Brown, Alcohol's, Brown hasn't Organizations: CNBC, Inc Locations: Washington, Columbia

Frank Howard, a four-time All-Star who slugged 382 home runs during a lengthy major league career that included a World Series title with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1963, has died. A spokesperson for the Washington Nationals said the team was informed of Howard's death by his family Monday. “Growing up a baseball fan in Washington D.C., Frank Howard was my hero,” Nationals owner Mark Lerner said in a statement. “We didn’t score a whole lot of runs, and it was on his back a lot of times to score a few runs,” Bosman said. “I don’t think I saw him angry more than two or three times,” Bosman said.

Persons: Frank Howard, ” Dick Bosman, ” Howard, Mark Lerner, I’ll, Lerner, Frank’s, Howard, ”, “ Hondo, Bosman, ” Bosman, “, “ Frank, Mike Rizzo, that’s Organizations: Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Nationals, Howard, Associated Press, Washington Senators, NL, Dodgers, Senators, Rangers, Detroit Tigers, “, Washington D.C, ” Nationals, RFK, Arlington, The Rangers, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, American League, Nationals Locations: Washington and Texas, Texas, Washington

Google contends that it dominates the market because its search engine is better than the competition's. The Justice Department sought to show that Google feared Apple might establish its own search engine and worried about losing talent to Apple. In a 2019 email shown in court, Pichai asked to be informed directly whenever a member of Google’s search engine team defected to Apple. The Mountain View, California-based company could be stopped from paying Apple and other companies to make Google the default search engine. “You get up in the morning, you brush your teeth and you search on Google,” Nadella said.

Persons: —, Sundar Pichai, Pichai, “ That’s, Trump, Judge Amit Mehta, Satya Nadella, ” Nadella, Michael Liedke Organizations: WASHINGTON, Apple, Department, Justice, Google, McKinsey & Co, Justice Department, Microsoft, Washington D.C, U.S, Associated Press Technology Locations: India, U.S, Washington, View , California

☆ Google's CEO defends paying Apple, others billions of dollars to make Google their default search engine on devices
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

CEO Sundar Pichai defended Google's spending billions to be the default search engine on devices. Court documents show Google paid more than $26 billion to Apple and other tech companies in 2021. AdvertisementAdvertisementGoogle CEO Sundar Pichai on Monday defended his company's practice of paying Apple and other tech companies to make Google the default search engine on their devices. Google counters that it dominates the market because its search engine is better than the competition. The Mountain View, California-based company could be stopped from paying Apple and other companies to make Google the default search engine.

Persons: Sundar Pichai, Pichai, —, Trump, Judge Amit Mehta Organizations: Apple, Service, The Department, Justice, Google, Justice Department, Microsoft, Washington D.C, U.S Locations: U.S, Washington, View , California

As tensions soar over the Israel-Hamas conflict, U.S. and coalition troops have been attacked at least 19 times in Iraq and in Syria by Iran-backed forces in the past week. The targets were weapons and munitions storage facilities, the official added, speaking late on Thursday to reporters in Washington. The United States has occasionally carried out retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed forces in the region after they attack American forces. In March, the U.S. military carried out multiple air strikes in Syria against Iran-aligned groups that it blamed for a drone attack that killed an American contractor. There is growing concern that the Israel-Hamas conflict could spread through the Middle East and turn U.S. troops at isolated bases into targets.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin III, Olivier Matthys, Lloyd Austin, Joe Biden, Austin, Abu Kamal, Biden, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Asad, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Jamie Freed, Michael Perry Organizations: Defense, Ukraine Defense Contact, NATO Defense, Rights, U.S, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Pentagon, . Defense, United, Iranian, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Brussels, Belgium, Syria, Iraq, Israel, U.S, Iran, Iranian, Syrian, Washington, United States, Tehran, State, East, Yemen

Jacquelyn... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreWASHINGTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - About 900 more U.S. troops have arrived in the Middle East or are heading there to bolster air defenses for U.S. personnel amid a surge in attacks by Iran-affiliated groups, the Pentagon said on Thursday. A total of 21 U.S. forces have suffered minor injuries, the vast majority of them traumatic brain injuries. The measures include increasing U.S. military patrols, restricting access to base facilities and boosting intelligence collection, including through drone and other surveillance operations, officials say. During a false alarm at Al-Asad air base in Iraq on Thursday, a civilian contractor died from cardiac arrest. Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; Editing by Chris Reese and Howard GollerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Patrick Ryder, Ryder, I'm, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Asad, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Chris Reese, Howard Goller Organizations: Ben Gurion, Hamas, Pentagon, United, U.S, Reuters, Area Defense, Patriot, Iranian, United Nations, Palestinian, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, WASHINGTON, Iran, Iraq, Syria, U.S, United States, Gaza, Yemen, Iranian

☆ Listen now: Israel's ground incursion into Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Listen on the Reuters app. Israel’s ground forces make a big incursion into Gaza – and then withdraw. In southern Lebanon, residents live in fear of a larger war, while in Washington D.C. the conflict will be a priority in high-level, US-China talks. Plus, the risks for FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried as he prepares to testify in his own defense. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Putin, Biden, Wang Yi Organizations: Apple, Google, Reuters, Washington D.C, Thomson, Reading Locations: Gaza, Lebanon, Washington, China, Reading Israel

☆ Danaher Beats Profit Estimates on Respiratory Testing Demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Danaher on Tuesday beat Wall Street estimates for third-quarter profit as strong demand for its diagnostic tests for respiratory diseases helped soften the blow from weaker sales at the healthcare conglomerate's life-sciences unit. "Revenue in the third quarter came in ahead of our expectations, with Biotechnology performing as anticipated, and higher respiratory testing revenue more than offsetting slightly softer-than-anticipated demand in Life Sciences," Danaher CEO Rainer Blair said in a statement. Rising interest rates squeezed funding needed for drug development programs, weighing on demand for contract research services offered by Danaher and rival Thermo Fisher. On an adjusted basis, Danaher reported a profit per share of $2.02, beating analysts' expectations of $1.87. Third-quarter sales of $6.87 billion also topped estimates of $6.63 billion.

Persons: Rainer Blair, Danaher, Christy Santhosh, Krishna Chandra Eluri Organizations: Reuters, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Washington D.C, Danaher, Fisher, Applied Solutions

Its motive is profit, and in seeking to maximize its financial gains, Meta has repeatedly misled the public about the substantial dangers of its social media platforms,” the complaint says. Almost all teens ages 13 to 17 in the U.S. report using a social media platform, with about a third saying they use social media “almost constantly,” according to the Pew Research Center. Other measures social platforms have taken to address concerns about children’s mental health are also easily circumvented. TikTok, Snapchat and other social platforms that have also been blamed for contributing to the youth mental health crisis are not part of Tuesday’s lawsuit. “They’re the worst of the worst when it comes to using technology to addict teenagers to social media, all in the furtherance of putting profits over people.”In May, U.S.

Persons: Meta, ”, Letitia James, “ Meta, ” “ We’re, Instagram, Frances Haugen, Rob Bonta, TikTok, Brian Schwalb, they’re, “, Vivek Murthy, Press Writers Michael Casey, Michael Goldberg, Susan Haigh, Maysoon Khan, Ashraf Khalil Organizations: Meta Platforms Inc, Facebook, Meta, D.C, “, New, The Wall Street, Associated Press, Pew Research Center, Washington D.C, U.S, Press Writers Locations: California, New York, Washington, California , Florida , Kentucky , Massachusetts , Nebraska , New Jersey , Tennessee, Vermont, British, U.S

REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. will send a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and additional Patriot air defense missile system battalions to the Middle East, the Pentagon said on Saturday, in response to recent attacks on U.S. troops in the region. The United States has sent a significant amount of naval power to the Middle East in recent weeks, including two aircraft carriers, their support ships and about 2,000 Marines. "Following detailed discussions with President (Joe) Biden on recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces across the Middle East Region, today I directed a series of additional steps to further strengthen the Department of Defense posture in the region," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. The deployments come two years after Biden's administration withdrew air defense systems from the Middle East, citing a reduction in tensions with Iran. The Patriot, considered one of the most advanced U.S. air defense systems, is usually in short supply, with allies around the world vying for it.

Persons: Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Joe, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Israel, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Area Defense, Pentagon, United, Defense, U.S, Gaza's Health, Thomson Locations: Gaza, U.S, United States, Washington, Iran, Israel, East, South Korea, China, Iraq, Syria, Iranian, Yemen

Oct 19 (Reuters) - A U.S. Navy warship on Thursday intercepted three cruise missiles and several drones launched by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement from Yemen potentially toward Israel, the Pentagon said. The Pentagon said the destroyer USS Carney was operating in the northern Red Sea on Thursday when it brought down the projectiles and there were no injuries. "We cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting, but they were launched from Yemen heading north along the Red Sea, potentially towards targets in Israel," Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder told reporters. A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said it did not appear that the warship was the target. Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Doina Chiacu, Cynthia Osterman and Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Carney, Patrick Ryder, Idrees Ali, Doina Chiacu, Cynthia Osterman, Daniel Wallis Organizations: U.S . Navy, Pentagon, U.S, Thomson Locations: Iran, Yemen, Israel, Washington, U.S

☆ US troops attacked in Iraq, Syria and on alert for more strikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Idrees Ali | Thomson Reuters | National Security Correspondent Focusing On The Pentagon In Washington D.C. Reports On U.S. Military Activity | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

On Wednesday, a drone hit U.S. forces in Syria resulting in minor injuries, while another one was brought down. Earlier this week, U.S. forces thwarted multiple drones targeting troops in Iraq. At least 3,785 Palestinians have been killed and 12,493 wounded in Israeli strikes on Gaza, the health ministry in Gaza said. In past years, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq regularly targeted U.S. forces in Iraq and the U.S. embassy in Baghdad with rockets. Such attacks had abated under a truce in place since last year, and Iraq has had a period of relative calm.

Persons: Alaa, Joe Biden, Al, Asad, I'm, Patrick Ryder, Ryder, Ali al, Israel, Idrees Ali, Grant McCool Organizations: U.S, Islamic, REUTERS, Rights, Pentagon, U.S . Navy, Thursday, ISRAEL, Gaza, United, Hezbollah, Thomson Locations: Makhmour, Mosul, Iraq, Syria, Washington, Iran, Israel, U.S, Al Asad, Yemen, Gaza, United States, State, Baghdad

☆ WhatsApp clampdown highlights video call compliance threat for finance firms
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Sinead Cruise | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Video calls are broadly considered proxies for face-to-face meetings and therefore are currently subject to little or no formal record-keeping obligations. At least two major global banks are now recording Zoom calls, said sources with knowledge of the matter, who declined to be named because the information is not public. One bank is recording Zoom calls undertaken by certain staff, including traders, while the other is recording all Zoom calls so content can be reviewed later if needed. FINRA declined to comment on how many firms were subject to the rule or whether the rule also extended to video calls. Video calls pose "unique risks" and technology needed to efficiently screen video calls is not widely used, said Matt Smith, CEO of communications surveillance firm SteelEye.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Brad Levy, Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Matthew Nunan, Gibson, Dunn, Morgan Stanley, Sarah Pritchard, Claire Garrett, Michael Watling, Seward, FINRA, Matt Smith, Ryan, Yonk, Symphony's Levy, Chris Prentice, Michelle Price, Huw Jones, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Finance, Reuters, U.S, EMEA, Microsoft, Britain's, Authority, HSBC, Bloomberg, U.S . Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Employees, American Institute for Economic Research, Washington D.C, Thomson Locations: Marsh, U.S, New York, Washington, London

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