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GENEVA, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The largest internally flawless fancy vivid blue diamond ever put up for auction could sell for up to $50 million at a Christie's sale of rare jewels in Geneva on Nov. 7, the auctioneer said on Thursday. Known as "Bleu Royal," this vivid blue diamond - which is set in a ring - is among the rarest ever to be unearthed. "What makes Bleu Royal so rare and special is its size. In 2016, Christie's sold a rare, 14.6-carat blue diamond known as the "Oppenheimer Blue" for more than $57 million. Two years ago the watch, now valued at between 1 million and 2 million Swiss francs, sold at auction for $2 million Swiss francs ($2.2 million).

Persons: Rahul Kadakia, Christie's, Oppenheimer, Kadakia, we've, Carola Chiadini, Denis Balibouse, Audrey Hepburn, Marlon Brando, Remi Guillemin, Guillemin, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Cécile, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: GENEVA, Geneva, Asia, Europe, Switzerland, Christie's

He said the UAW's new contracts were so good they had even led to nonunion auto workers getting raises. Honda (7267.T) told Reuters it was evaluating the recent UAW deals with the Detroit Three automakers and would remain competitive. "If (Toyota workers) come calling, which they have, we're going to educate them and be there for them," Smith told Reuters. Toyota's move earlier this week to raise wages is in line with the strategy the Japanese automaker and other nonunion automakers have used to keep UAW organizers at bay. Nonunion automakers have kept hourly wages close to the UAW rates at the Detroit Three.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Fain, It'll, Tim Smith, Smith, Elon Musk, Toyota's, Joseph White, David Shepardson, Lisa Baertlein, Ben Klayman, Matthew Lewis, Jamie Freed Organizations: DETROIT, United Auto Workers, Detroit, Toyota, UAW, nonunion, Honda, Reuters, Detroit Three, General Motors, Ford, Louisville Assembly, GM, National Labor Relations Board, NLRB, Tesla, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, U.S, United States, Georgetown , Kentucky, Louisville, Tesla's Fremont , California, Fremont, Detroit, Washington, Los Angeles

Apple shares, which have risen 37% so far this year, dropped 3.4% after-hours, following the forecast. Maestri said Apple expects to have higher iPhone sales for the fiscal first quarter, even though this year's holiday quarter has one fewer week of sales than the year-ago. Cook said the company's new high-end handset models - the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max devices - are facing supply constraints. Apple's sales in China fell to $15.08 billion from $15.47 billion in the fourth quarter a year ago. Cook said that after accounting for foreign-exchange rates, Apple's business in China grew year-over-year, driven by iPhone sales and services revenue.

Persons: Tim Cook, Apple, Cook, Luca Maestri, Bob O'Donnell, Davidson, Tom Forte, Aly, Max, Nabila Popal, Lionel Messi, Stephen Nellis, Yuvraj Malik, Sayantani Ghosh, Peter Henderson, Matthew Lewis, Leslie Adler Organizations: Huawei, Apple, TECHnalysis Research, Mac, REUTERS, Huawei Technologies, U.S, Reuters, Pro, Apple Watch, Thomson Locations: China, Cupertino , California, Shanghai, San Francisco, Bengaluru

☆ California healthcare provider's move shows pitfalls of Medicare Advantage
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Mark Miller | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

But Part D prescription drug or Medicare Advantage coverage should be reviewed. Medicare Advantage enrollment has grown quickly over the past decade, partly due to its all-in-one features and lower upfront costs. Medicare Advantage plans can drop healthcare providers from their networks - and that happens when providers and insurers cannot agree on contract terms. The Scripps decision marks a new twist: healthcare systems deciding to drop out of Medicare Advantage. During the annual enrollment period, it is possible to drop Medicare Advantage in favor of traditional, fee-for-service Medicare.

Persons: Scripps, Chris Van Gorder, ”, “, Sophie Exdell, Medigap, Exdell, Mark Miller, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Scripps Health, Diego, Medicare, Scripps, Health Insurance, Program, Reuters, Thomson Locations: San Diego , California, Southern California, San Diego, Connecticut, Maine , Massachusetts, New York, In California

☆ Explainer: What is APEC? Asia-Pacific leaders head to San Francisco
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( David Brunnstrom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/Pool/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Leaders from the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum will meet in San Francisco this month for the 30th APEC summit, the first hosted by the United States since 2011. APEC leaders are due to gather between Nov. 15-17. From Nov. 11 senior APEC finance officials and ministers will meet ahead of the summit, while the annual APEC CEO summit will run from Nov. 14-16. As of 2021, APEC members made up seven of the United States' top 10 overall trading partners. FASHION SHOWTraditionally APEC leaders wear local costume for a final-day group photo.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Peng Liyuan, Prayuth Chan, ocha, Naraporn Chao, Athit, Joe Biden, Xi, Biden, Morris Chang, John Lee, Lee, Paul Chan, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Matt Goodman, BUZZWORDS, Goodman, Washington, Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, David Brunnstrom, Michael Martina, Michelle Nichols, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Thai, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, APEC, U.S, Reuters Hong, Hong, Financial, The State Department, White, Economic, Thomson Locations: Asia, Bangkok, Thailand, San Francisco, United States, China, Bali, Canberra, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, India, Washington, U.S, Ukraine, APEC, Seattle, Francisco

☆ What is APEC? Asia-Pacific leaders head to San Francisco
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( David Brunnstrom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

LONDON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - The UK government has scrapped guarantees on nearly 1 billion pounds ($1.2 billion) of bank loans handed out to ailing businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving lenders on the hook for some of the borrowings that will not be repaid. The figures could rise further - latest figures show just 17 billion pounds have been fully repaid by borrowers as of June 30. The largest and most controversial, the "Bounce Back Loan" (BBL) scheme, delivered 47 billion pounds and was specially designed to help Britain's smallest firms stay afloat. Following the removal, any financial loss is borne in full by the lender, BBB said. The figures also showed the government had paid out 7.4 billion pounds to lenders under the state guarantees.

Persons: Theodore Agnew, Sinead Cruise, Iain Withers, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Reuters, British Business Bank, Barclays, NatWest, Lloyds, HSBC, Bank, Finance, BBL, BBB, Thomson Locations: London

☆ Explainer-What Is APEC? Asia-Pacific Leaders Head to San Francisco
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

By David BrunnstromWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Leaders from the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum will meet in San Francisco this month for the 30th APEC summit, the first hosted by the United States since 2011. APEC leaders are due to gather between Nov. 15-17. From Nov. 11 senior APEC finance officials and ministers will meet ahead of the summit, while the annual APEC CEO summit will run from Nov. 14-16. As of 2021, APEC members made up seven of the United States' top 10 overall trading partners. FASHION SHOWTraditionally APEC leaders wear local costume for a final-day group photo.

Persons: David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Xi, Biden, Morris Chang, John Lee, Lee, Paul Chan, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Matt Goodman, BUZZWORDS, Goodman, Washington, Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, David Brunnstrom, Michael Martina, Michelle Nichols, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Economic Cooperation, APEC, U.S, TSMC, Reuters Hong, Hong, Financial, The State Department, White, Economic Locations: Asia, San Francisco, United States, China, Bali, Canberra, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Bangkok, Washington, U.S, Ukraine, APEC, Seattle, Francisco

☆ Biden and first lady to visit Maine on Friday to mourn shooting victims
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A view shows the pictures of the victims of the deadly mass shooting on the altar as mourners take part in a vigil, in Lewiston, Maine, U.S., October 29, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will travel on Friday to Lewiston, Maine, where 18 people were shot and killed at a bar and bowling alley last week, the White House said on Wednesday. Robert R. Card, 40, a U.S. Army reservist, sprayed the bowling alley and bar with gunfire in the rural Maine town. He took his own life inside a cargo trailer parked on the lot of a recycling plant where he once worked. Reporting by Jasper Ward in Washington and Jarrett Renshaw in Philadelphia Editing by Dan Whitcomb and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kevin Lamarque, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Robert R, Jasper Ward, Jarrett Renshaw, Dan Whitcomb, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Army, White, Thomson Locations: Lewiston , Maine, U.S, Maine, Washington, Philadelphia

☆ Toyota hikes wage of US factory workers after UAW labor deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Other nonunion logistics and service parts employees are getting wage hikes. The media and organizing project Labor Notes earlier reported the wage hikes and other details, citing a company document. The pay of production Toyota workers in Kentucky at top scale will rise by $2.94 to $34.80 an hour. Under the new tentative agreements with General Motors (GM.N), Ford Motor (F.N) and Stellantis (STLAM.MI), UAW workers will receive a wage hike of 11% upon ratification and 25% in wage hikes through April 2028. The UAW declined to comment on the Toyota wage hikes.

Persons: Johanna Geron, ” Chris Reynolds, Shawn Fain, Fain, David Shepardson, Chizu Nomiyama, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Toyota, REUTERS, United Auto Workers, Detroit Three, Labor, North, General Motors, Ford Motor, UAW, Ford, Volkswagen, Nissan, Detroit, Thomson Locations: Zaventem, Belgium, U.S, Kentucky, Washington

[1/3] The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) logo is seen at the FDIC headquarters in Washington, February 23, 2011. FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg said in March the agency was also probing possible misconduct related to the collapses of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank (SBNY.PK) New York. As with SVB and Signature Bank, the FDIC is probing whether First Republic executives and board members broke rules that require them to act in the bank's best interests. NO ACTIONThe March implosions of SVB and Signature Bank sparked a deposit run at First Republic. FDIC bank failure probes can take years.

Persons: Jason Reed, Martin Gruenberg, SVB, Michael Roffler, James Herbert, Roffler, Michael Krimminger, IndyMac, Michael Perry, Douglas Gillison, Christine Prentice, Michelle Price, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, REUTERS, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, First Republic Bank, Reuters, FDIC, Valley Bank, Signature Bank, Regulators, First Republic, U.S . Justice Department, Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, First, Bloomberg, Federal, JPMorgan Chase &, JPMorgan, Reserve, New, Thomson Locations: Washington, Republic, New York, First Republic, Massachusetts, SVB

The verdict could upend decades-old practices that have allowed real estate agents to boost commissions by forcing sellers to pay commissions to buyers' real estate brokers. Representatives of Compass and Douglas Elliman declined to comment. BTIG analyst Soham Bhonsle in an investor note said the fact that Douglas Elliman, Redfin, Compass and eXp were being sued by the same lawyers was a negative for their stocks. Zillow (ZG.O) shares initially fell 0.33% after brokerage Jefferies cut its price target, citing the impact of Tuesday's verdict. While Zillow is not a defendant in either lawsuit, Jefferies said Tuesday's verdict "increases the chances of a ban on commission sharing and Zillow having to pivot the business model."

Persons: Douglas, Mike Segar, Douglas Elliman, Berkshire Hathaway's, eXp, Glenn Kelman, Soham Bhonsle, Jefferies, Zillow, HomeServices, Chibuike Oguh, Jonathan Stempel, Michelle Price, Bill Berkrot, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, World Holdings, National Association of Realtors, Compass, NAR, Thomson Locations: Manhattan's, New York City , New York, U.S, Kansas City , Missouri, Berkshire, America, Western Missouri, Missouri , Kansas, Illinois, New York

Security cameras point towards pedestrians outside the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, Canada March 16, 2017. RBC, Canada's top lender, said in September that it had infused fresh capital into City National, without elaborating, as it struggled amid the U.S. regional banking crisis. Rizvanovic estimates roughly $7 billion of low-yielding debt securities were transferred from City National to RBC, and he said the return on invested capital should "improve meaningfully" following the move. Since RBC acquired it for $5.4 billion in cash and stock, City National has most recently received amounts between $450 million, $700 million and $600 million annually. The bank has previously said realized losses at City National will be eliminated at the RBC consolidated level.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Mike Rizvanovic, Kelly Coffey, Dave McKay, Nivedita Balu, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Royal Bank of Canada, REUTERS, Rights, National Bank, Los, City National, RBC, Reuters, Valley Bank, City, Thomson Locations: Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Los Angeles, United States, U.S, Santa Clara , California, Toronto

But national winter wheat yield ended up only about 2% below the long-term trend in 2023. Winter wheat there is only 32% GE, down from the week’s five-year average of 43% but above the year-ago 24%. Winter wheat is 42% and 41% GE, respectively, equal to the Oklahoma average and 13 points above the Texas one. Winter wheat at 47% GE is among the lower ratings for the date historically, but it is not necessarily in poor company. U.S. winter wheat conditions, fall versus springKaren Braun is a market analyst for Reuters.

Persons: Amira Karaoud, Karen Braun, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Department of Agriculture, GE, Nino, El Nino, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Shelbyville , Kentucky, U.S, Rights NAPERVILLE , Illinois, United States, Kansas, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri , Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas, Southern

☆ Exclusive: Trucking firm prepares long-shot bid for Yellow, seeks US Treasury support
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Jarrett Renshaw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Jack Cooper officials, including Executive Chair Sarah Amico, have been talking with Biden administration officials in recent months to get support for extending the terms of the loan. The White House said it was referring all Jack Cooper stakeholder inquiries to the Treasury Department. Jack Cooper and the Teamsters union declined to comment. Yellow owns approximately 12,000 trucks and 35,000 trailers, along with hundreds of terminals, according to its bankruptcy court filing. Trucking firm Estes Express submitted a revised bid worth $1.525 billion in cash for Yellow Corp's shipment centers, topping a $1.5 billion bid from Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL.O).

Persons: Mike Blake, Biden, Jack Cooper, Sherrod Brown, Republican Roger Marshall, Bernie Sanders, Trump, Jack Cooper's, Sarah Amico, Amico, Lael Brainard, Brendan Danaher, Bob Casey, Tammy Baldwin, Jarrett Renshaw, Dietrich Knauth, Heather Timmons, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S, Yellow, Jack Cooper Transport, Ford, Brotherhood of Teamsters, Senators, Republican, Treasury Department, Reuters, Yellow Corp, Treasury, Biden, Democratic, U.S . Senate, Teamsters, White, National Economic Council, Democratic U.S, Citadel, MFN Partners, Walmart, Trucking, Express, Old Dominion Freight, Thomson Locations: Mexico, San Diego , California, U.S, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nashville , Tennessee, Philadelphia, New York

☆ US to Evict Gabon, Niger, Uganda and Central African Republic From Trade Program
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday that he intends to end the participation of Gabon, Niger, Uganda and the Central African Republic in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade program. Biden said he was taking the step because of "gross violations" of internationally recognized human rights by the Central African Republic and Uganda. He also cited Niger and Gabon's failure to establish or make continual progress toward the protection of political pluralism and the rule of law. "Despite intensive engagement between the United States and the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda, these countries have failed to address United States concerns about their non-compliance with the AGOA eligibility criteria," Biden said in a letter to the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Biden said he intends to terminate the designation of these countries as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries under the AGOA, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Jasper Ward, Matthew Lewis Organizations: WASHINGTON, Central African, U.S . House, Representatives Locations: Gabon, Niger, Uganda, Central African Republic, United States, U.S, Washington

☆ US to evict Gabon, Niger, Uganda and Central African Republic from trade program
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ken Cedeno Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 30 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday that he intends to end the participation of Gabon, Niger, Uganda and the Central African Republic in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade program. Biden said he was taking the step because of "gross violations" of internationally recognized human rights by the Central African Republic and Uganda. He also cited Niger and Gabon's failure to establish or make continual progress toward the protection of political pluralism and the rule of law. "Despite intensive engagement between the United States and the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda, these countries have failed to address United States concerns about their non-compliance with the AGOA eligibility criteria," Biden said in a letter to the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Biden said he intends to terminate the designation of these countries as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries under the AGOA, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, Walter E, Ken Cedeno, Biden, Jasper Ward, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Africa, Food Security, Food Systems, Washington Convention Center, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Rights, Central African, U.S . House, Representatives, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, Gabon, Niger, Uganda, Central African Republic, United States, U.S, Washington

REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 27 (Reuters) - Chrysler parent Stellantis (STLAM.MI) and the United Auto Workers were nearing a deal that could be finalized as soon a Saturday to end a six-week-old strike, sources told Reuters. The deal will likely set a pattern for new UAW contracts with GM and Stellantis. Talks between Stellantis and the UAW were set to reconvene at 10 a.m. Detroit after lengthy talks on Friday. Talks between the UAW and General Motors were continuing past 9 p.m. Friday. The deal amounts to total pay hikes of more than 33% when compounding and cost-of-living mechanisms are factored in, the UAW said.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, Stellantis, Ford, John Lawler, David Shepardson, Joseph White, Chizu Nomiyama, Peter Henderson, Matthew Lewis, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: General Motors, REUTERS, Chrysler, United Auto Workers, Reuters, Ford Motor, Detroit, GM, Stellantis, UAW, Bloomberg, Ford, Thomson Locations: Detroit , Michigan, U.S, Stellantis, Detroit, New York, Washington

☆ US probes GM's Cruise robocars over pedestrian close calls
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Greg Bensinger | Thomson Reuters | Greg Bensinger Joined Reuters As A Technology Correspondent In Focusing On The World'S Largest Technology Companies. He Was Previously A Member Of The New York Times Editorial Board | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NHTSA previously made public another Oct. 20 letter in which it raised concerns over several hard-braking incidents by Cruise vehicles that resulted in collisions. Safety officials cited two videos where Cruise vehicles came close to pedestrians in crosswalks and appeared to nearly strike them. Cruise had been operating an Uber-like service with unmanned vehicles, primarily in San Francisco, but the company halted that service this week. As of Friday, Waymo vehicles continued driverless passenger operations in San Francisco, its main hub. Reporting by Greg Bensinger in San Francisco Additional reporting by David Shepardson in Washington Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Heather Somerville, Cruise, Greg Bensinger, David Shepardson, Matthew Lewis Organizations: General Motors Corp, REUTERS, FRANCISCO, General Motors, National, Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, Cruise, California Department of Motor Vehicles, Teamsters, Thomson Locations: San Francisco, California, U.S, crosswalks, Arizona, Texas, Washington

To this aim UniCredit wants to get to around 20 billion euros of in-house funds, Orcel said. UniCredit and Amundi are tied by a 10-year distribution agreement they signed in 2017, when UniCredit sold its internal asset manager Pioneer to Amundi. Orcel, who has been working to increase the bank's fee income since arriving in 2021, said on Tuesday UniCredit had been "rebalancing" its relationship with Amundi. By replacing the Amundi funds with its own products or those of partners who pay the bank more to sell their funds, UniCredit increases the portion of distribution fees in asset management it pockets. "In terms of value, I think in-house, strictly speaking, we're looking at about 20 billion euros," he said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Andrea Orcel, UniCredit, Orcel, Valérie Baudson, Amundi, Mathieu Rosemain, Valentina Za, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Paris

☆ Ford withdraws 2023 forecast, warns on EV results
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Ford logo is pictured at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany September 10, 2019. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 26 (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co (F.N) on Thursday withdrew its full-year results forecast due to the pending ratification of its deal with the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, sending shares of the company down 7% in after-hours trade. Ford's Detroit rival General Motors (GM.N) on Tuesday withdrew its 2023 profit outlook due to the strike. Ford said third-quarter revenue rose 11% to $44 billion, with profit of $1.2 billion compared with a year-earlier loss of $827 million. The automaker warned it may experience a higher-than-expected loss in its Ford Model e electric-vehicle business due to ongoing price wars.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Ford, Nathan Gomes, Paul Lienert, Devika Syamnath, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Ford Motor, Thursday, United Auto Workers, UAW, Ford, Wednesday, Detroit Three, Anderson Economic Group, General Motors, Tuesday, Ford Model, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Detroit, Texas, Bengaluru

☆ New Beatles song 'Now and Then' gets a little help from AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Sachin Ravikumar | Thomson Reuters | Sachin Ravikumar Is A Correspondent For Reuters In London Covering General News Across The Uk. Over Nine Years At Reuters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Fans of the Beatles might just twist and shout in joy. A new Beatles song will be released next week, featuring the voice of late member John Lennon and developed using artificial intelligence, record company Universal Music Group (UMG.AS) said on Thursday. Called "Now and Then," the song - billed as the last Beatles song - also features parts recorded by surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr as well as the late George Harrison. The idea to revive the tune followed Peter Jackson's 2021 documentary series "The Beatles: Get Back," which had managed to isolate instruments and vocals using AI. The same technology was applied to "Now and Then," which was then completed by McCartney and Starr, Universal said.

Persons: Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Ed Sullivan, Mario Anzuoni, John Lennon, George Harrison, McCartney, Lennon, Harrison, Lennon's, Yoko Ono, Peter Jackson's, Starr, Universal, John, Sachin Ravikumar, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Beatles, Universal Music, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles, New York City, London

The potential timing of those sales is uncertain, as similar agreements in the past have sometimes led to immediate announcements of large U.S. export sales while other times they have not. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) on Tuesday were also unusually thin as neither volumes nor commodities were specified as normal. Therefore, large daily sales announcements from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are not guaranteed to follow. Some of the other biggest daily soybean sales also immediately followed signings. U.S. soybean export sales to China, October 12Karen Braun is a market analyst for Reuters.

Persons: Stringer, Karen Braun, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, China, Export, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Brazil, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Wuhan, Hubei, Rights NAPERVILLE , Illinois, Iowa, U.S, Beijing, China, China’s U.S

☆ Facebook-parent Meta beats revenue estimates, forecasts additional spending
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Meta Platforms' business group is seen in Brussels, Belgium December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 25 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms (META.O) beat expectations for third-quarter revenue on Wednesday, while warning of additional spending and regulatory pressures ahead for 2024. Shares of Meta rose 4% in extended trading. Revenue rose 23% to $34.15 billion for the quarter ended September. Facebook's daily active users grew 5%, while ad impressions across Meta's apps grew 31%.

Persons: Yves Herman, Meta, Yuvraj Malik, Katie Paul, Anil D'Silva, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Meta, Revenue, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Bengaluru, New York

The company's revenue rose 13% to $56.5 billion in the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with analysts' consensus estimate of $54.52 billion, according to LSEG data. Revenue from Microsoft's Intelligent Cloud unit, which houses the Azure cloud-computing platform, grew to $24.3 billion, compared with analysts' estimate of $23.49 billion, LSEG data showed. Microsoft said on Tuesday that its fiscal first-quarter profit was $2.99 per share, above analyst estimates of $2.65 per share, according to LSEG data. Sales of its Windows operating system and other products in the segment grew to $13.7 billion, compared with analysts' consensus estimate of $12.82 billion, according to data from LSEG. The segment containing the LinkedIn social network and its office productivity software grew to $18.6 billion, compared with analysts' consensus estimate of $18.20 billion, according to LSEG data.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Jesse Cohen, Jeremy Goldman, Anna Tong, Stephen Nellis, Yuvraj Malik, Devika Syamnath, Peter Henderson, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Microsoft, REUTERS, Investing.com, Alpha, Intelligence, Thomson Locations: Investing.com ., Redmond, Washington, San Francisco, Bengaluru

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