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The model, codenamed as “Olympus”, has 2 trillion parameters, the people said, which could make it one of the largest models being trained. OpenAI's GPT-4 model, one of the best models available, is reported to have one trillion parameters. As head scientist of artificial general intelligence (AGI) at Amazon, Prasad brought in researchers who had been working on Alexa AI and the Amazon science team to work on training models, uniting AI efforts across the company with dedicated resources. It has also partnered with AI model startups such as Anthropic and AI21 Labs, offering them to Amazon Web Services (AWS) users. Training bigger AI models is more expensive given the amount of computing power required.

Persons: OpenAI's, Rohit Prasad, Andy Jassy, Prasad, Krystal Hu, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Reuters, Alexa, AI21 Labs, Amazon Web Services, Amazon, Thomson Locations: San Francisco

☆ Renault cuts Nissan stake to 15% after transferring shares to trust
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO-The logos of car manufacturers Renault and Nissan are seen in front of dealerships of the companies in Le Coteau, France, July 13, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 8 (Reuters) - France's Renault (RENA.PA) has cut its stake in Nissan (7201.T) to 15% from about 43% by placing 28.4% of the Japanese automaker in a French trust, the companies said in an alliance statement, putting them on equal footing. The new agreement for the restructured alliance between Renault, Nissan and their junior partner Mitsubishi Motors (7211.T) came into effect on Wednesday, the car makers said in the statement. The companies had already said in January that Renault would put roughly 28% of Nissan in a French trust to make them more equal partners. ($1 = 0.9359 euros)Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, France's, Ampere, Daniel Leussink, Christian Schmollinger, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Renault, Nissan, REUTERS, Rights, France's Renault, Mitsubishi Motors, Mitsubishi, Thomson Locations: Le Coteau, France, London

☆ China warns against maritime 'camp' confrontations but stops short of naming US
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Ryan Woo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during the opening ceremony of the diplomatic symposium at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on October 24, 2023 in Beijing, China. The Philippines, Japan and the United States have complained about what they say is growing Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. Last month, China and the Philippines traded barbs over a collision in the South China Sea as Chinese vessels blocked the passage of Philippine ships. Beijing has been especially critical of the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, which identifies China as an aggressor in the region, including the South China Sea, undermining international maritime law including freedom of navigation. China will continue to fulfil its obligations under international maritime laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Wang said, again without referring to Washington.

Persons: Wang Yi, Ken Ishii, Wang, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Ryan Woo, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Rights, Economic Cooperation, United Nations Convention, UNCLOS, Thomson Locations: Diaoyutai, Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, United States, Philippines, Japan, South China, Philippine, Manila, Hainan, U.S, Asia, Washington

The statement gave no details of options being discussed if the Hamas militant group is ousted from Gaza as the result of an ongoing Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian enclave. Israel has so far been vague about its long-term plans for Gaza. Diplomats in Washington, the United Nations, the Middle East and beyond have also started weighing the options. The statement will present the G7's "united stance" on the Middle East situation, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Wednesday. The G7 group of wealthy, industrialised nations is made up of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, with the European Union also participating in the talks.

Persons: Josep Borrell, James, Annalena Baerbock, Antony Blinken, Yoko Kamikawa, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Eli Cohen, Hirokazu Matsuno, Netanyahu, John Geddie, Sakura Murakami, Satoshi Sugiyama, Lincoln, Gerry Doyle Organizations: European Union for Foreign Affairs, German, Foreign, Group, Wall Street Journal, Union, Gaza, Diplomats, United Nations, Reuters, European Union, Thomson Locations: British, U.S, TOKYO, Gaza, Tokyo, Japan, Israel, Ukraine, China, Washington, Palestinian, United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy

Last year, Taiwan's chip industry generated T$4.837 trillion ($150.27 billion) in revenue, nearly half of which came from TSMC, compared with Taiwan's GDP of T$22.667 trillion ($704.21 billion). "Taiwan's limited land and limited energy have always created a lot of pressure," GlobalWafers (6488.TWO) CEO Doris Hsu told reporters. 'FIVE SHORTAGES'The chip industry has long complained about Taiwan's "five shortages": land, water, energy, labour, and talent. Taiwan's government - determined to keep its crown jewel's most advanced technology at home - has said it will provide alternative options. The Longtan expansion had proposed acquiring 159 more hectares in the north, where TSMC and many chip companies are based.

Persons: Wei Hsin, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Taiwan's, Wang Mei, TSMC, Doris Hsu, Hsu Shih, Rich, Chen Ting, Chen, Liao Chen, Cliff Hou, Isaiah, Lucy Chen, Chen Chi, Sarah Wu, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, Taiwan's, National Chengchi University, Hsinchu Science Park, Reuters, Residents, TMSC's, Thomson Locations: Longtan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Rights HSINCHU, LONGTAN, Hsinchu, United States, Japan, Germany, TSMC, Belgium, Arizona, Kaohsiung

☆ Exclusive: Baidu placed AI chip order from Huawei in shift away from Nvidia -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Baidu ordered 1,600 of Huawei Technologies' 910B Ascend AI chips - which the Chinese firm developed as an alternative to Nvidia's A100 chip - for 200 servers, the source said, adding that by October, Huawei had delivered more 60% of the order, or about 1,000 chips, to Baidu. Baidu, alongside Chinese peers such as Tencent (0700.HK) and Alibaba (9988.HK), is known to be a long-time client of Nvidia. Baidu was not previously known to be a AI chip customer of Huawei. Huawei's website says it has since 2020 collaborated with Baidu to make its AI platform compatible with Huawei hardware. Baidu has developed its own line of Kunlun AI chips, which the company says supports large-scale AI computing, but the company has mainly relied on Nvidia's A100 chip to train its LLM.

Persons: Aly, Baidu, Ernie, Yelin Mo, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Josh Ye, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Baidu, Artificial Intelligence, REUTERS, Rights, HK, Huawei, U.S ., Nvidia, Huawei Technologies, U.S, HUAWEI, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights BEIJING, SHANGHAI, U.S, Beijing, Hong Kong

☆ Fitness gym collapse kills 3 in China's Heilongjiang province
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Bernard Orr | Thomson Reuters | Bernard Orr Is A Veteran Journalist With Over Years Of Experience. He Reports On Breaking News Mainland China | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Three people were killed and one injured after a structural collapse at a fitness club in northeast China's Heilongjiang province, local officials said on Tuesday. According to a local resident, the collapsed gymnasium is a basketball arena where youth basketball training is held, Global Times reported late Monday. The venue where the accident occurred belongs to the New Sunshine Fitness Club in Huanan County, according to the county government. 34 Middle School gymnasium collapsed in July," said a netizen on China's Weibo social media platform. Another gymnasium collapse occurred in three months."

Persons: Bernard Orr, Ella Cao, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Government, Global Times, Sunshine Fitness, New Sunshine, Authorities, Weibo, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China's Heilongjiang, Jiamusi city, Huanan County, Shanghai, New, Heilongjiang, China's Qiqihar

☆ Russia formally withdraws from key post-Cold War European armed forces treaty
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Deputy head of Russia's Security Council and chairman of the United Russia party Dmitry Medvedev visits the Raduga State Machine Building Construction Bureau named after A. Bereznyak in Dubna, Moscow region, Russia February 2, 2023. Sputnik/Yekaterina Shtukina/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 7 (Reuters) - Russia formally withdrew on Tuesday from a key post-Cold War security treaty designed to de-escalate potential East-West conflicts, in a latest sign of rising tensions between Russia and NATO. "At 00:00 on November 7, 2023, the procedure of Russia's withdrawal from the CFE (Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe), was completed," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement on its website. Russia suspended its participation in the treaty in 2007 and halted active participation in 2015. "Thus, the CFE Treaty in its original form lost touch with reality."

Persons: Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Lidia Kelly, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Russia's Security, United, Sputnik, NATO, CFE, Conventional Armed Forces, Thomson Locations: United Russia, Dubna, Moscow region, Russia, Europe, Warsaw, Ukraine, United States, CFE, Melbourne

Nov 6 (Reuters) - A Jewish man who fell to the ground in an altercation amid pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian street protests in California died on Monday, and his death was determined to be a homicide, law enforcement and a Jewish organization said. The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles identified the victim as a Jewish man and labeled the incident as the fourth act of antisemitic violence in the Los Angeles area this year and the second since Oct. 7. Kessler was involved in a physical altercation between counter-protesters, the sheriff's office said, citing witness accounts. "During the altercation, Kessler fell backwards and struck his head on the ground. The sheriff's office said it would hold a news conference on Tuesday about the incident.

Persons: Paul Kessler, Kessler, Noah Farkas, " Farkas, Farkas, Daniel Trotta, Rami Ayyub, Robert Birsel, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Israel, Ventura County Sheriff's, Palestinian, Hamas, U.S, Jewish Federation of, Los, Islamic, Thomson Locations: California, Ventura County, United States, Israel, Arab, Illinois, Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Thousand

ODESA, Ukraine, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Five people were injured in Odesa and one of the city's principal art galleries was damaged in Russian strikes late on Sunday, Ukrainian officials in the Black Sea port said. "On November 6, the Odesa National Art Museum turns 124 years old," Oleh Kiper, governor the of the Odesa region, of which the Odesa city is the administrative centre, said on the Telegram messaging app. The Odesa city council published a video showing blown out windows and debris inside what it said was the Odesa National Art Museum, where paintings hang on walls. Kiper said that all five of the injured, from throughout the city, were hospitalised. Reporting by Iryna Nazarchuk in Odesa and Oleskandr Kozhukhar in Kyiv; Writing by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne.

Persons: Kiper, Henadii Trukhanov, Iryna Nazarchuk, Lidia Kelly, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Art Museum, Thomson Locations: ODESA, Ukraine, Odesa, Black, Kyiv, Melbourne

☆ Fitness Club Collapse Kills 3 in China's Heilongjiang Province
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - Three people were killed and one injured after a structural collapse at a fitness club in northeast China's Heilongjiang province, county government officials said on Tuesday. Officials said seven people were in the Yuecheng fitness gymnasium in Huanan county, in the eastern part of the province, when it collapsed on Monday. Initial reports said children were at the venue when it collapsed, and rescue operations have ended. State media said the collapse in Jiamusi city occurred at 7:20 p.m. (1120 GMT). Initial reports said three people were trapped inside.

Persons: Bernard Orr, Gerry Doyle Organizations: New Sunshine Fitness Locations: BEIJING, China's Heilongjiang, Huanan county, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang, Shanghai

[1/5] G-dragon of K-pop group BIGBANG arrives at a police station to appear for questioning regarding his alleged illegal drug use in Incheon, South Korea, November 6, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji Acquire Licensing RightsINCHEON, South Korea, Nov 6 (Reuters) - The former frontman for the K-pop band BIGBANG, known as G-Dragon, appeared for police questioning on Monday over allegations of illegal drug use, the latest in a string of South Korean artists embroiled in high-profile narcotics cases. Kwon, 35, stood briefly for the media before entering a police station in Incheon where the star of the Oscar-winning film "Parasite", Lee Sun-kyun, was also questioned over the weekend on a separate allegation of illegal drug use. South Korea has tough drug laws, and crimes are typically punishable by at least six months in prison or up to 14 years for repeat offenders and dealers. Social media and foreign travel have made illegal drugs much more accessible, drug rehab advocates say.

Persons: BIGBANG, Kim Hong, Kwon Ji, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kwon, Oscar, Lee Sun, Lee, Choi Seung, Lee Seung, Dogyun Kim, Jimin Jung, Jack Kim, Ed Davies, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, YG Entertainment, Social, Thomson Locations: Incheon, South Korea, Rights INCHEON, Korean, Korea, T.O.P

☆ Russia Formally Withdraws From Key Post-Cold War European Armed Forces Treaty
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Russia formally withdrew on Tuesday from a key post-Cold War security treaty designed to de-escalate potential East-West conflicts, in a latest sign of rising tensions between Russia and NATO. "At 00:00 on November 7, 2023, the procedure of Russia's withdrawal from the CFE (Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe), was completed," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement on its website. Russia suspended its participation in the treaty in 2007 and halted active participation in 2015. "The CFE Treaty was concluded at the end of the Cold War, when the formation of a new architecture of global and European security based on cooperation seemed possible, and appropriate attempts were made," the Russian foreign ministry said. "Thus, the CFE Treaty in its original form lost touch with reality."

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Lidia Kelly, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Reuters, NATO, CFE, Conventional Armed Forces Locations: Russia, Europe, Warsaw, Ukraine, United States, CFE, Melbourne

☆ US, South Korea, Japan to launch consultative group on North's cyber threats
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Miniatures of people with computers are seen in front of North Korea flag in this illustration taken July 19, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Nov 6 (Reuters) - The United States, South Korea and Japan have agreed to launch a high-level consultative group on countering North Korean cyber activities that they say finance its unlawful weapons programs, South Korea's presidential office said on Monday. Anne Neuberger, U.S. deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, held talks with her South Korean and Japanese counterparts in Washington last week. They agreed to hold quarterly meetings under the new framework, the presidential office said. North Korea has denied allegations of hacking or other cyberattacks.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Anne Neuberger, Camp David, Soo, hyang Choi, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, South, Camp, United, Thomson Locations: North Korea, Rights SEOUL, United States, South Korea, Japan, Korean, Washington, United Nations, Korea

☆ US, South Korea, Japan to Launch Consultative Group on North's Cyber Threats
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL (Reuters) - The United States, South Korea and Japan have agreed to launch a high-level consultative group on countering North Korean cyber activities that they say finance its unlawful weapons programs, South Korea's presidential office said on Monday. Anne Neuberger, U.S. deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, held talks with her South Korean and Japanese counterparts in Washington last week. They agreed to hold quarterly meetings under the new framework, the presidential office said. The announcement comes after the leaders of the three countries agreed at a summit in August at Camp David that they would establish a new trilateral working group for the North's cyber threats. North Korea has denied allegations of hacking or other cyberattacks.

Persons: Anne Neuberger, Camp David, Soo, hyang Choi, Gerry Doyle Organizations: South, Camp, United Locations: SEOUL, United States, South Korea, Japan, Korean, Washington, North Korea, United Nations, Korea

[1/2] Dollar, Euro and Pound banknotes are seen in this picture illustration taken April 28, 2017. The euro was last up 0.27% at $1.06515, and thanks to gains earlier in the week was heading for a weekly gain of 0.8%, which would be its most since July. Sterling likewise was up 0.2% on the day at $1.2228, and set for a 0.86% weekly gain, also its most since July. Both the Aussie and the New Zealand dollars are up 1.7% for the week, their best weekly performance since again mid-July. The dollar is heading for a weekly gain of 0.25% on the franc and was last at 0.9041 francs.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Sterling, Jerome Powell, We've, BOE, Yusuke Miyairi, Detroit's, Kazuo Ueda, Ankur Banerjee, Rae Wee, Gerry Doyle, Kim Coghill, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Treasury Department, Federal, Fed, Treasury, Nomura, Analysts, United Auto Workers, UAW, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, Reuters, New, Swiss, Thomson Locations: Rights SINGAPORE, LONDON, U.S, New Zealand, Singapore

☆ Israel-Hamas war: What are the US MQ-9 Reaper drones that have been flying over Gaza?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone sits in a hanger at Amari Air Base, Estonia, July 1, 2020. Below is a description of the MQ-9 drone based on information from the Air Force and its maker, General Atomics. The Reaper, which entered service with the U.S. Air Force 16 years ago, can be equipped with weapons such as air-to-ground missiles. MQ-9s have also been bought by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, NASA, the UK Royal Air Force, the Italian Air Force, the French Air Force and the Spanish Air Force. According the U.S. Air Force, four MQ-9 aircraft with sensors, a ground control station and a satellite link cost about $56.5 million.

Persons: Janis Laizans, Atomics, Amelia Smith, Chris Sanders, Mike Stone, Gerry Doyle, Nick Macfie Organizations: U.S . Air Force, Base, U.S, REUTERS, Reuters, Air Force, WHO, Honeywell, U.S . Department of Homeland Security, NASA, Royal Air Force, Italian Air Force, French Air Force, Spanish Air Force, New York Times, Thomson Locations: Estonia, Baltics, Gaza, United States, GAZA, U.S

Two officials from a Korean defence company confirmed the syndicated loan plan. Two officials at South Korean banks said there would be loans, but did not specify the type. That deal was worth $13.7 billion, South Korea's largest to date. The South Korean government didn't immediately provide a comment when asked for one. The South Korean government official did not elaborate on the size of the potential syndicated loan.

Persons: Kacper, didn't, 1,320.4500, Cynthia Kim, Seunggyu Lim, Jihoon Lee, Josh Smith, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, South Korean, South, Korea's, Hyundai Rotem Co, Hanwha Aerospace, Hyundai Rotem, U.S, Thomson Locations: South Korea, Wierzbiny, Orzysz, Poland, Rights SEOUL, South Korean, South, Seoul, Ukraine, Russia, Europe

A woman looks at a new iPhone 15 Pro and a Huawei Mate 60 Pro as Apple's new iPhone 15 officially goes on sale across China, at an Apple store in Shanghai, China September 22, 2023. Research firm Canalys estimated that overall smartphone sales in China fell 3% in July-September from a year earlier as consumers bought fewer smartphones as an economic recovery was choppy. On the other hand, analysts estimate that Huawei's China smartphone sales grew strongly in the quarter. Apple said on Thursday that its overall sales in China dipped 2.5% but it blamed tough Mac computer and iPad sales for that. Aggressive discounting on the iPhone 15 series in the run up to the annual Singles Day shopping festival by major Chinese online retailers is also encouraging demand.

Persons: Aly, Tim Cook, Apple, Cook, Canalys, Apple's, Huawei's, Yuvraj Malik, Bengaluru ， Stephen Nellis, Yelin, Arsheeya Bajwa, Harshita Varghese, Sayantani Ghosh, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Huawei, Apple, REUTERS, Huawei Technologies, Reuters, Research, HK, Taobao, Pro Max, Qualcomm, Thomson Locations: China, Shanghai, Bengaluru ，, San Francisco, Yelin Mo, Beijing, Bengaluru

☆ Advil maker Haleon misses revenue estimates as North America demand drags
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Haleon Plc FollowGSK plc FollowNov 2 (Reuters) - Haleon (HLN.L) missed market estimates for third-quarter revenue on Thursday, as the world's largest consumer healthcare firm grappled with weak demand for its painkillers, digestive health and vitamin supplements in North America. For the three months ended Sept. 30, Haleon reported a 5% organic increase in revenue to 2.79 billion pounds ($3.40 billion), but it came slightly below analysts' expectations of 2.83 billion pounds, according to a company-compiled consensus. The company said overall volumes for the quarter declined by 1.6%, while North America revenues fell 7.5% on a reported basis. Haleon, which was carved out of British drugmaker GSK (GSK.L) last year, has been raising prices to offset high costs. ($1 = 0.8215 pounds)Reporting by Eva Mathews in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Haleon, Eva Mathews, Rashmi Aich, Gerry Doyle Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, GSK, Consumer, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, North America, British, Bengaluru

☆ Actors, Hollywood studios still at odds on AI and other issues, union says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAG-AFTRA members walk the picket line on the 100th day of their ongoing strike outside Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, California, U.S., October 20, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLOS ANGELES, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Negotiators for Hollywood actors and major studios have not resolved concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) and other issues in talks aimed at ending an 111-day strike, the SAG-AFTRA union said late Wednesday. The union has been seeking limits on how studios can use generative AI technology when making movies and TV shows. Actors fear they may be replaced by digital performers or that their likenesses may be used without their permission. "We continue to await the AMPTP's response to our comprehensive counter proposal package which we gave them on Saturday, addressing outstanding issues," SAG-AFTRA said.

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, Walt Disney, AFTRA, Lisa Richwine, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Paramount Studios, REUTERS, Hollywood, SAG, Alliance, Television Producers, Netflix, Wednesday, Milken Institute, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, New York, Los Angeles, United States, California

☆ Air pollution sparks alarm, dims World Cup cheer in India
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Blassy Boben | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An aerial view shows residential buildings and a stadium shrouded in smog in New Delhi, India, October 27, 2023. Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 415 on a scale of 500 in the capital's Anand Vihar area on Thursday, indicating "severe" levels of pollution that can affect healthy people and those with existing ailments. The dip in air quality in the region during the winter months is often accompanied by a spike in respiratory illnesses, spurring school and factory closings. The worsening air quality has cast a shadow over the cricket World Cup as fans flock to stadiums across Indian cities. Players have expressed concern about the toxic air, with England's Joe Root complaining of breathing difficulties during a game and India's Rohit Sharma urging change for "future generations".

Persons: Altaf Hussain, Anand, Joe Root, India's Rohit Sharma, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, BCCI, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Delhi, Anand Vihar, Pakistan's Lahore, Swiss, India's Mumbai, AQI, Mumbai, Sri Lanka

☆ Australia police arrest woman over mushroom lunch that killed three
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

"Today's arrest is just the next step in what has been a complex and thorough investigation by homicide squad detectives and one that is not yet over," Dean Thomas, the detective in charge of the investigation, told a news conference on Thursday. Police will interview the woman, who has not been charged and whom they did not name, once the search is complete, he added. State broadcaster ABC reported the woman had told police she did not intend to poison her guests and had herself been hospitalised after the lunch. Deaths from consuming mushrooms are relatively rare in the country, which has several species, including the "death cap" mushroom, that are dangerous enough kill a human. Reporting by Renju Jose and Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dean Thomas, Don Patterson, Gail, Heather Wilkinson, Ian, Renju Jose, Alasdair Pal, Lincoln, Gerry Doyle Organizations: SYDNEY, Police, ABC, Thomson Locations: Victoria, Leongatha, Melbourne, Australia, Sydney

SYDNEY, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Residents in three areas in Australia's northern Queensland state were ordered to evacuate their homes on Wednesday, as bushfires burned out of control. People in two adjacent areas, near the town of Dalveen, were on Wednesday ordered to evacuate immediately. AAP Image/Darren England via REUTERS Acquire Licensing Rights"Every Australian's heart goes out to the people... who are being impacted once again by these bushfires," Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers, whose electorate is in the state, told a news conference on Wednesday. "It was a pretty horrifying experience," NSW resident Michelle Balint told state broadcaster ABC on Wednesday, recounting a wall of flames racing across the family's land. Authorities on Wednesday imposed a third evacuation warning in the far north of the state, near Watsonville.

Persons: Darren England, Jim Chalmers, Michelle Balint, Alasdair Pal, Gerry Doyle Organizations: SYDNEY, Firefighters, REUTERS Acquire, NSW, ABC, Authorities, Stefica Bikes, Thomson Locations: Australia's, Queensland, Australia, New Zealand, Dalveen, Wallangarra, New South Wales, NSW, Watsonville, Sydney

☆ RA chairman says no shortage of replacements for ex-Wallabies coach Jones
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO:New Australia rugby union coach Eddie Jones poses with Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan and CEO Andy Marinos after his first news conference since his reappointment, which was held at Matraville Sports High School, in Sydney, Australia January 31, 2023. McLennan said an Australian coach's knowledge of grass-roots rugby in the country would be of value but added that Rugby Australia (RA) wanted the best person for the job. I can tell you, there’s no shortage of high-quality coaches that want to come and coach the Wallabies." Former ACT Brumbies coach Dan McKellar, now coaching in England, is seen as among the strongest candidates to replace Jones, along with current Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham. McLennan was instrumental in appointing Jones, who replaced Dave Rennie after the New Zealander was sacked as Wallabies coach in January.

Persons: Eddie Jones, Hamish McLennan, Andy Marinos, Nick Mulvenney, McLennan, Zealander Robbie Deans, Dan McKellar, Jones, Stephen Larkham, Dave Rennie, we’ve, Ian Ransom, Gerry Doyle Organizations: New Australia rugby, Rugby Australia, Matraville Sports High School, REUTERS, Rights MELBOURNE, Wallabies, Sydney Morning Herald, Zealander, Australia, Panasonic Wild Knights, Former ACT Brumbies, Brumbies, New Zealander, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Australian, Brisbane, England, Melbourne

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