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☆ Landslide in China's Sichuan province kills 14, leaves 5 missing
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Andrew Hayley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING, June 4 (Reuters) - A landslide in China's southwestern Sichuan province has killed 14 people and left five missing, Chinese state media outlet CCTV reported on Sunday. The landslide occurred at around 6 a.m. (2200 GMT) on Sunday morning in a mountainous area near Leshan city in the south of the province. More than 180 rescue workers have been dispatched to the site, with search and rescue operations still ongoing, CCTV said. Leshan city was hit by heavy rain over the two days before the incident, weather tracking data indicated. Reporting by Andrew Hayley; Editing by Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andrew Hayley, Sonali Paul Organizations: Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China's, Sichuan, Leshan

[1/2] A tug boat pushes an oil barge through New York Harbor past the Statue of Liberty in New York City, U.S., May 24, 2022. WTI was headed for its highest close since May 26 and Brent on track for its highest close since May 29. Open interest in futures contracts rose on Thursday to the highest since July 2021 for Brent and March 2022 for WTI. Oil traders have turned their attention to the June 4 meeting of OPEC+, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia. On the demand side, manufacturing data out of China, the world's second biggest oil consumer, painted a mixed picture.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Brent, WTI, Baker Hughes, Craig Erlam, Erlam, Shadia Nasralla, Andrew Hayley, Susan Fenton, Kirsten Donovan, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Congress, YORK, U.S, . West Texas, WTI, Senate, U.S . Federal Reserve, Organization of, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: New York Harbor, of, New York City, U.S, Russia, OPEC, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, China, Shanghai, Shenzhen, London, Beijing

[1/2] A tug boat pushes an oil barge through New York Harbor past the Statue of Liberty in New York City, U.S., May 24, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidLONDON, June 2 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Friday after a U.S. debt ceiling deal averted a default in the world's biggest oil consumer and jobs data indicated a possible rate hike pause, while attention turned to a meeting of OPEC ministers and their allies at the weekend. Earlier signals of a potential pause in rate hikes by the Federal Reserve also provided support to oil prices, not least by weighing on the U.S. dollar , making oil cheaper for holders of other currencies. Meanwhile, manufacturing data out of China, the world's second biggest oil consumer, painted a mixed picture. Reporting by Shadia Nasralla; additional reporting by Andrew Hayley; editing by Susan Fenton and Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid LONDON, Shadia Nasralla, Andrew Hayley, Susan Fenton, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, U.S, West Texas, Federal Reserve, U.S ., Organization of, Petroleum, U.S . Institute for Supply Management, Thomson Locations: New York Harbor, of, New York City, U.S, Russia, China

☆ Oil prices rise as Congress approves US debt ceiling bill
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Andrew Hayley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermidBEIJING, June 2 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Friday amid bullish sentiment following the passage of a U.S. debt ceiling bill in Washington, while markets weighed the likelihood of price-supportive OPEC+ production cuts over the weekend. Further reductions in OPEC+ output following their surprise cut of 1.16 million barrels per day in April would be bullish for crude prices. Other market observers have pointed to weak manufacturing data out of China and the U.S. as making OPEC+ cuts more likely. "Oil prices are stabilizing after a round of disappointing global manufacturing data supported the case for OPEC+ to deliver another production cut," said Edward Moya, a senior market analyst at OANDA. However, traders are "thinking that Russia might not necessarily stick to a hard stance on output cuts, especially since they are struggling to commit to their quotes," Moya added.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Goldman Sachs, Edward Moya, Thursday's, Moya, Andrew Hayley, Jamie Freed, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, U.S, West Texas, Federal Reserve, Thursday's, Energy Information Administration, Organization of, Petroleum, Reuters, HSBC, OANDA, U.S ., Institute for Supply Management, PMI, P Global, Thomson Locations: New York Harbor, of, New York City, U.S, Brendan McDermid BEIJING, Washington, Russia, China, P Global China

[1/2] A tug boat pushes an oil barge through New York Harbor past the Statue of Liberty in New York City, U.S., May 24, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidLONDON, June 2 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Friday after a U.S. debt ceiling deal averted a default in the world's biggest oil consumer, while attention turned to a meeting of OPEC ministers and their allies at the weekend. Earlier signals of a potential pause in rate hikes by the Federal Reserve also provided support to oil prices, not least by weighing on the U.S. dollar , making oil cheaper for holders of other currencies. Investor attention is also fixed on the June 4 meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, collectively called OPEC+. Meanwhile, manufacturing data out of China, the world's second biggest oil consumer, painted a mixed picture.

Persons: Brendan McDermid LONDON, Shadia Nasralla, Andrew Hayley, Susan Fenton, Jason Neely Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, U.S, West Texas, Federal Reserve, U.S ., Organization of, Petroleum, U.S . Institute for Supply Management, PMI, Thomson Locations: New York Harbor, of, New York City, U.S, Russia, China

Brent crude futures rose $2.25, or 3.1%, to $74.85 a barrel by 11:50 a.m. EDT (1550 GMT) . U.S. Federal Reserve officials on Wednesday suggested interest rates could be steady this month and the House passed a bill suspending the government's debt ceiling, improving chances of averting a disastrous default. "The successful debt ceiling negotiations clears that minefield, but the overall demand outlook is still murky - the trucking space is doing poorly, for example," CFRA Research analyst Stewart Glickman said. The oil market is focusing on the June 4 meeting of OPEC+, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, which will discuss whether to cut oil production further. U.S. crude oil stockpiles rose unexpectedly last week, as imports jumped and strategic reserves dropped to their lowest since Sept. 1983, according to data from the Energy Information Administration.

Persons: Stewart Glickman, Peter McNally, Robert Yawger, Alex Lawler, Rowena Edwards, Arathy Somasekhar, Andrew Hayley, David Goodman, Kirsten Donovan, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, U.S . Federal, Organization of, Petroleum, Reuters, Energy Information Administration, Thomson Locations: China, BENGALURU, Russia, Reuters OPEC, U.S, OPEC, London, Houston, Beijing

U.S. Federal Reserve officials on Wednesday suggested interest rates could be kept on hold this month and the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill suspending the government's debt ceiling, improving the chance of averting a disastrous default. "Oil markets may have been oversold in the last two trading days," said CMC Markets analyst Tina Teng. "Sentiment rebounded amid the debt bill's passage in the House and (the) Fed's rate hike pause signal." Mixed demand indications from China, the world's biggest oil importer, have nonetheless weighed on the market, as has industry data showing a rise in U.S. crude inventories. Market sources citing American Petroleum Institute (API) figures on Wednesday said that U.S. crude inventories rose by about 5.2 million barrels last week.

Persons: Tina Teng, Tamas Varga, Alex Lawler, Rowena Edwards, Arathy Somasekhar, Andrew Hayley, David Goodman Organizations: Representatives U.S, U.S . Federal, U.S . House, Brent, West Texas, American Petroleum Institute, of, Petroleum, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, OPEC, Russia, London, Houston, Beijing

BEIJING, June 1 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Thursday, reversing earlier losses, as a potential pause in U.S. interest rate hikes and the debt ceiling bill passing a crucial vote renewed optimism about further fuel demand growth in the world's biggest oil consumer. U.S. Federal Reserve officials on Wednesday pointed towards a potential rate hike "skip" in June that reversed market expectations of an imminent hike that could slow economic growth and weaken oil demand. "Oil markets may have been oversold in the last two trading days due to the sluggish Chinese data and debt ceiling concerns. Sentiment rebounded amid the debt bill’s passage in the House, and (the) Fed’s rate hike pause signal also offered a rebounding opportunity," said Tina Teng, a markets analyst at CMC Markets in Auckland. U.S. crude oil inventories rose by about 5.2 million barrels last week, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute (API) figures on Wednesday.

Persons: Brent, Tina Teng, Goldman Sachs, Arathy Somasekhar, Andrew Hayley, Sonali Paul, Christian Organizations: Brent, U.S, West Texas, . Federal, U.S . House, CMC Markets, P Global, American Petroleum Institute, Organization of, Petroleum, HSBC, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Auckland, China, P Global China, U.S, Russia, Houston, Beijing

☆ Man charged with murder after 3 dead in New Mexico biker shootout
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Andrew Hay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Reto Mesmer/Handout via REUTERSTAOS, New Mexico, May 28 (Reuters) - A biker was charged with murder after a shootout between rival motorbike gangs at a motorcycle rally in Red River, northern New Mexico, on Saturday in which three gang members were killed and five wounded, police said. "It was just gangbanger on gangbanger," Johnson told a press conference in Red River, adding that no bystanders were injured. The confrontation began in Albuquerque, New Mexico's largest city, over a photo involving another gang, then spilled over to Red River's annual Memorial Day motorcycle rally, Johnson said. Red River Mayor Linda Calhoun advised local businesses to close. Reporting by Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; Editing by Andrea RicciOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Two killed in shootout between bikers in New Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Andrew Hay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TAOS, N.M., May 27 (Reuters) - Two people were killed and six wounded in a shootout during a motorcycle rally in Red River, northern New Mexico, on Saturday, state police said. Some of the wounded were transported to hospital in Taos, New Mexico, around 25 miles to the southwest, state police said on Twitter. Taos town banned alcohol sales after the shooting and called a curfew. The incident comes eight years after nine bikers were killed and 18 wounded in a shootout in Waco, Texas involving members of motorcycle groups such as the Bandidos and Cossacks. Reporting By Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; Editing by Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The comments came a month after prosecutors dropped a criminal charge against Baldwin over Hutchins' death in 2021, citing new evidence. Prosecutors said additional testing was required to see if the hammer was modified, the source of the modification and what impact it might have on the firearm's performance. Ammunition found on the set was requested for testing for manner of assembly and origin of manufacture, prosecutors said. Prosecutors have yet to reveal how live rounds got onto the set of the low-budget movie production. "Rust" weapons handler Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is the only person still facing charges over Hutchins' death.

☆ In New Mexico, an unlikely wildfire thinning alliance
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Andrew Hay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Near Taos in northern New Mexico, Vicente Fernandez, a mayordomo, or forest caretaker, cut saplings and seedlings crowding a mature fir tree. In an about-face, the Forest Service is now paying local woodcutters or leñeros $300 an acre to cut these trees for personal use or sale. Some environmentalists oppose Taos County's so called Mayordomo Program, and other thinning, saying it is a waste of time, harms forests and is often a guise for logging. "The Forest Service believes in helping communities to wisely use the forests," the agency said in a statement. "We cannot fireproof forests, we can fireproof communities," said Horning, who has lived in northern New Mexico for 30 years.

☆ Central Asia leaders converge in China as Xi touts 'enduring' friendship
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Andrew Hayley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The first to land was President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan - China's largest trading partner in Central Asia - with his face-to-face meeting with Xi on Wednesday ending with a deal to build "enduring friendship" and share "weal and woe". Tokayev's deal with Xi will set the tone for the other bilateral meetings, where China will seek deeper cooperation with other Central Asia states in its quest to achieve greater food, energy and national security. Two-way trade between China and Central Asia hit a record $70 billion last year, with Kazakhstan leading with $31 billion. Kyrgyzstan followed with $15.5 billion, Turkmenistan with $11.2 billion, Uzbekistan with $9.8 billion and Tajikistan with $2 billion. Reporting by Andrew Hayley; writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

XIAN, China, May 17 - China will for the first time host an in-person summit of central Asian leaders this week, seeking to cement ties in a region seen as Russia's backyard as its relations with the West sour. "Beijing wants to promote a new alternative to the global order, and try to persuade the Central Asian region that this new global order is better for them too," said Adina Masalbekova, a research fellow at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek. For the first in-person summit, Xian is a symbolic nod to the importance of economic ties as the city was pivotal in the ancient Silk Road trade route that spans Central Asia. "One of the biggest trump cards that we expect to see at this summit is a serious opening for Central Asian products to enter the Chinese market. But with the region's main backer Russia caught up in a grinding war with Ukraine and subject to international sanctions, analysts say the Central Asian states will welcome Beijing's overtures.

☆ New Mexico teen bought AR-style rifle legally before shooting spree, police say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Andrew Hay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TAOS, NEW MEXICO, May 16 (Reuters) - An 18-year-old gunman who randomly killed three people as he roamed through a New Mexico neighborhood this week legally bought the assault-style rifle he used in the shooting spree, authorities said on Tuesday. Wilson obtained the AR-style rifle legally a month after he turned 18 in October 2022. He is believed to have obtained two other firearms used in the shooting from family members, police said. The shooting spree ended when the gunman was fatally shot outside a church, according to police. Reporting By Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ At least four killed, including suspect, in New Mexico shooting
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Andrew Hay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 15 (Reuters) - At least four people, including a suspect, were killed in a shooting on Monday, police said, in a New Mexico town that has experienced at least two other high-profile incidents of deadly gun violence in recent years. Law enforcement closed off seven blocks around the shooting scene, an area that encompasses the grounds of two churches, police said. The gun violence also prompted security lockdowns at several public schools in Farmington, a city of about 46,000 residents. Police said after the suspect was killed that there was no longer a threat to the public, and the lockdowns were lifted. Farmington also was the scene of a deadly high school shooting in December 2017 in which a gunman killed two students before taking his own life.

☆ New Mexico rivers rage, fields dry after slow federal fire aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Andrew Hay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Andrew HayACEQUIA DE LA SIERRA, New Mexico, May 2 (Reuters) - Rivers are roaring in northern New Mexico after a big snowpack. The problem is blocking water flowing from a 12,000-foot (3,660-meter) Sangre de Cristo mountain peak into the Mora Valley through earthen channels known as acequias. Sanchez, a mayordomo or water caretaker, had hoped to have Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to clear the ditches after the agency was given $3.95 billion to compensate communities for the 40-mile-long blaze. FEMA and other federal support has reached only a handful of the dozens of acequias that requested aid in November, said local irrigation leader Paula Garcia. "I don't think they're up to the job," said Roybal-Mack, a Mora Valley native.

☆ China automating mines to improve safety as coal output grows
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Andrew Hayley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Tingshu WangYULIN, China, April 28 (Reuters) - China is pushing automated technology to improve the safety and efficiency of its coal mining industry, the world's largest, which has long been plagued by safety lapses. The nearby Xiaobaodang mine, also owned by Shaanxi Coal, has cut its underground staff by 42%. Coal mines in China, which produced more than half the world's coal last year, are among the deadliest, with accidents causing almost 250 deaths in 2022, a six-year high. China's National Energy Administration is urging miners to accelerate their adoption of "smart mining" technology in a bid to improve safety and efficiency as coal output grows with Beijing's efforts to bolster energy security even as it expands its use of renewable sources. Huawei says the Hongliulin mine spent about 200 million yuan on installing intelligent mining.

[1/2] Alec Baldwin attends the 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award Gala in New York City, U.S., December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew KellyTAOS, New Mexico, April 21 (Reuters) - New Mexico special prosecutors dropped charges against actor Alec Baldwin in the shooting death of "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Friday, marking what legal experts said was a logical conclusion to a flawed prosecution. The move followed new evidence about the gun Baldwin was holding when it fired the bullet that killed Hutchins during the movie's filming, a person close to state prosecutors said. "The case is dismissed without prejudice and the investigation is active and ongoing," prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis said in a filing. Special prosecutors said on Thursday they might refile charges against Baldwin once new evidence was examined.

April 20 (Reuters) - New Mexico prosecutors have decided to drop criminal charges against actor Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western movie "Rust" in 2021, Baldwin's lawyers said on Thursday. Baldwin, 65, was charged in January with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Hutchins' death and the injury of "Rust" director Joel Souza, who was also shot. He pleaded not guilty in February after prosecutors downgraded the seriousness of the charges, reducing the potential prison time. Baldwin settled a lawsuit in October with the cinematographer's husband, Matt Hutchins, in a deal that made Hutchins an executive producer on the movie. Gutierrez-Reed has blamed the shooting on other factors including possible sabotage, Baldwin's lack of training and a failure by Halls and Baldwin to ask her for extra checks.

☆ 'Rust' filming to restart 18 months after Alec Baldwin shooting
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 19 (Reuters) - Production of the Western "Rust" will restart on Thursday in Montana, 18 months after actor Alec Baldwin fired a live round that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during filming in New Mexico. Filming will resume at Montana's Yellowstone Film Ranch set, according to Melina Spadone, a lawyer for Rust Movie Productions. Baldwin in October settled a lawsuit with the cinematographer's husband, Matt Hutchins, under which filming would restart with the same principal actors and the same director, Joel Souza, who was wounded in the 2021 shooting. Under the deal, Hutchins became an executive producer on the movie. Reporting By Andrew Hay; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ White Kansas City man, 84, charged for shooting Black teen who went to wrong house
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Jasper Ward | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 17 (Reuters) - Prosecutors charged an 84-year-old white Kansas City man with two felonies on Monday in the shooting of a Black teenager who was wounded after walking up to the wrong house when going to pick up his younger twin brothers. "I can tell you there was a racial component to the case," Clay County prosecutor Zachary Thompson told a news conference, without providing further details. But Yarl told police in an interview at the hospital where he was treated that the man told him, "Don't come around here," local media reported, citing court documents. "No child should ever live in fear of being shot for ringing the wrong doorbell," Vice President Kamala Harris tweeted in response to the shooting. Reporting By Brendan O'Brien and Andrew Hay; Editing by Donna Bryson and Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Missouri teen shot by homeowner after going to wrong house
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 17 (Reuters) - A Missouri teenager was shot and wounded by a homeowner after the boy mistakenly went to the wrong house to pick up his siblings, police said. Ralph Yarl, a Black 16-year-old, was recovering in hospital on Monday with gunshot wounds to the head and arm after he knocked on the door of the wrong house just before 10 pm on Thursday, according to his family's lawyers and police. Hundreds of protesters on Sunday marched to the house where Yarl was shot chanting "Black Lives Matter" in the state where a "stand-your-ground law" allows homeowners to use physical force to defend themselves against suspected intruders. Missouri's stand-your-ground law says a person cannot use deadly force unless they reasonably believe that deadly force is necessary to protect themselves or another person against death or serious physical injury or a forcible felony. Reporting By Brendan O'Brien and Andrew Hay; Editing by Donna Bryson and Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Summary IEA warns supply cuts could stunt economic recoveryGlobal oil supply to fall by 400,000 bpd by year end -IEAWorld demand to climb by 2 mln bpd in 2023, IEA saysBEIJING, April 14 (Reuters) - Oil prices edged lower on Friday after the West's energy watchdog warned that output cuts announced by OPEC+ producers could exacerbate an oil supply deficit and hurt consumers. OPEC on Thursday flagged downside risks to summer oil demand as part of the backdrop for the 1.16 million barrels per day (bpd) cut. In its benchmark monthly report on Friday, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said the OPEC+ decision could hurt consumers and global economic recovery. "Consumers confronted by inflated prices for basic necessities will now have to spread their budgets even more thinly," the IEA said in its monthly oil report. At the same time, world oil demand is set to grow by 2 million bpd in 2023 to a record 101.9 million bpd, driven in most part by stronger Chinese consumption, it said.

☆ Oil inches up on tightening supply, IEA demand outlook to come
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Andrew Hayley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, April 14 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose in early Asian trade on Friday, after falling 1% in the previous session, as the market weighed supportive supply conditions ahead of the International Energy Agency's monthly demand outlook. A tighter supply outlook due to lower expected production in Russia supported prices. On the demand side, investor attention is focused on the IEA's monthly oil market report to be released later in the day, with the possibility the agency might downgrade the global demand outlook over faltering macroeconomic growth. The weakening greenback makes dollar-denominated oil cheaper for investors holding other currencies, boosting demand. "It looks like the rally in crude prices has finally hit a wall," OANDA analyst Edward Moya said in a note.

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