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"Much of the (Midwest) region did not see appreciable rainfall. As of June 20, 58% of the Midwest was in moderate drought or worse, the broadest area since 2012, the Drought Monitor data showed. 2 soybean producer in moderate drought or worse. In Illinois, the largest soy grower and second-largest corn producer, moderate drought or worse spanned 82% of the state. Conditions worsened across the eastern half of the High Plains, with 34% of the region in moderate drought or worse.

Persons: climatologists, Karl Plume, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S . Drought, Drought, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Chicago, of Trade, USDA, Weather, Thomson Locations: North Dakota, Kansas, U.S, Midwest, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Southern Plains, Chicago

☆ A blind man is suing 3 rail companies after he fell onto the tracks just before a train arrived
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A blind man is suing three rail companies after he fell onto the tracks at a station in England. A blind man is suing a railway company and two train operators after falling onto railway tracks in England. He said the lack of tactile paving at the train station meant he wasn't alerted to the platform edge. Charity the Royal National Institute of Blind People said last year that 40% of major rail stations in the UK lacked tactile paving. A jury found that the lack of tactile paving "more than minimally" contributed to his death, Metro reported.

Persons: Abdul Eneser, He's, Eneser, it's, Cleveland Gervais Organizations: Morning, Manchester Piccadilly, Network Rail, Northern Rail, Guardian, Royal National Institute of Blind People, Metro Locations: England, Avanti West Coast, Eden, London

☆ Generali to buy Liberty Mutual's Spanish Unit in $2.5 billion all-cash deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ROME, June 15 (Reuters) - Generali (GASI.MI) will buy out the Spanish unit of U.S. insurer Liberty Mutual for 2.3 billion euros ($2.51 billion), in a move aimed at strengthening its property and casualty segment, Italy's top insurer said on Thursday. "Generali is acquiring a profitable insurance business in three growing European markets with very attractive characteristics, that will create significant long-term value for all stakeholders," Chief Executive Philippe Donnet said in a statement. Generali said it expects the acquisition to bring a reduction of 9.7 percentage points on the group's regulatory solvency ratio. The all-cash deal would allow the Italian group to become one of the main players in the Spanish insurance market, as well as enter Ireland and Northern Ireland, Generali said. ($1 = 0.9179 euro)Reporting by Federica Urso in Rome and Shivani Tanna in Bengaluru; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Philippe Donnet, Generali, Federica Urso, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Liberty Mutual, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Thomson Locations: Spanish, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Rome, Bengaluru

Fires are burning across the breadth of Canada, blanketing parts of the eastern United States with choking, orange-gray smoke. So much wildfire smoke pushed through the border that in Buffalo, schools canceled outdoor activities. The average global temperatures today are more than 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than in the preindustrial era. The trees and grasses of eastern Canada turned to tinder. “We should expect a stunning year of global extremes,” he wrote.

Persons: It’s, El Niño, Justin Trudeau, ”, Alexandra Paige Fischer, Park Williams, Wiliams, Brendan Rogers, haven’t, La, Jeff Berardelli, El, Ada Monzón Organizations: Northern, University of Michigan, Stanford, University of California, Climate Research, El, Twitter Locations: Canada, United States, Puerto Rico, North America, El, Buffalo, Detroit, Los Angeles, Alberta, Vietnam, China, Siberia, WFLA, Tampa Bay, Fla, WAPA

[1/6] Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., June 8, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn HocksteinWASHINGTON, June 8 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday agreed to deepen close economic ties between their countries, pledging to accelerate the clean energy transition and strengthen critical mineral supply chains. Biden and the British prime minister released the "Atlantic Declaration," which Sunak described as a first-of-its-kind economic partnership on issues like artificial intelligence, climate change and protecting technologies that would help shape the future. Biden and Sunak both underscored continued support for Ukraine to ensure its long-term security and deter aggression after the war ends. Biden and Sunak last met in Hiroshima, Japan, at the Group of Seven summit last month.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Joe Biden, Evelyn Hockstein WASHINGTON, Biden, ” Sunak, We're, Sunak, Ukraine's, Vladimir Putin, Ben Wallace's, Trevor Hunnicutt, Andrea Shalal, Rami Ayyub, Kate Holton, Lincoln, Heather Timmons, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Britain's, U.S, White, REUTERS, British, Sunak, EU, NATO, Office, Northern, Kyiv, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Ukraine, Northern Ireland, Asia, Russia, Nova, Russian, Hiroshima, Japan, Belfast, San Diego, United States, Australia, Britain, Washington, London

☆ Sudanese warring factions to resume indirect talks as clashes intensify
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Saudi-owned Al Arabiya said the two sides had agreed to indirect talks without providing details. RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo said on Sunday he had spoken with Farhan and expressed his support for the Jeddah platform. Artillery and air strikes continued overnight, with residents in southern and eastern Khartoum and northern Bahri reporting sounds of artillery and gun clashes on Tuesday morning. Looters, some of whom Khartoum residents and neighbourhood committees said belong to the RSF, have pillaged neighbourhoods, stealing cars, breaking open safes, and occupying homes. Aid groups have struggled to provide extensive assistance to Khartoum residents, who face electricity and water shortages as well as dwindling supplies in shops and pharmacies.

Persons: Al Arabiya, RSF, General Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, Faisal bin Farhan, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Farhan, Jawahir Mohamed, El Obeid, Dafallah al, Haj, Khalid Abdelaziz, Nafisa Eltahir, Adam Makary, Christina Fincher, Grant McCool Organizations: Rapid Support Forces, Sovereign, Artillery, army's Engineers Corps, Engineers ' Corps, Emergency Lawyers, Nafisa, Thomson Locations: KHARTOUM, United States, Saudi Arabia, Al Arabiya, Khartoum, Saudi, Jeddah, Bahri, OMDURMAN, Omdurman, Darfur, Egypt, Sudan, Dubai, Cairo

☆ Explosion-Like Noise Heard Across D.C. Area Was a Sonic Boom, Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Amanda Holpuch | Livia Albeck-Ripka | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A loud noise that was heard across much of the Washington, D.C., area on Sunday afternoon, including in the suburbs of Virginia and Maryland, was caused by a sonic boom from an authorized Defense Department flight, the Annapolis Office of Emergency Management said. It was not immediately clear where the flight originated, what its purpose was or which branch of the military was operating it. A little after 3 p.m. on Sunday, people said on social media that they had heard a loud boom in Washington, D.C., and in Maryland and Northern Virginia. Many said the noise sounded like an explosion, and some said the boom was so strong that it shook their homes. There was another incident involving an aircraft in the vicinity of the Washington metropolitan area on Sunday, though it was not immediately clear that the two events were related.

Organizations: D.C, Department, Annapolis Office, Emergency Management, Twitter, Washington , D.C, Pentagon Locations: Washington, Virginia, Maryland, Annapolis, Washington ,, Northern Virginia

☆ Sudan fighters take over Khartoum museum, director says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

KHARTOUM, June 3 (Reuters) - Sudanese paramilitary fighters have taken over the national museum in Khartoum, its deputy director said on Saturday, urging them to protect precious artefacts from the nation's heritage that include ancient mummies. Members of the Rapid Support Forces group that has been fighting the army since mid-April for control of Sudan entered the museum on Friday, said deputy director Ikhlas Abdellatif. Museum staff do not know the situation inside the museum because they halted work there after the conflict suddenly erupted on April 15, forcing police guarding the facility to quit, Abdellatif said. The RSF released a video filmed inside the museum grounds showing a soldier denying that they had done any harm to the museum or would do so, and inviting any individuals or organisations to visit the museum to check. The video also showed RSF fighters covering up exposed mummies with sheets and closing the plain white boxes in which they were contained.

Persons: Ikhlas Abdellatif, Abdellatif, Hatim Alnour, Roxanne Trioux, Omar al, Bashir, Abdel, Fattah, Burhan, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Hemedti, Sami, Khalid Abdelaziz, Adam Makary, Angus McDowall, Giles Elgood, Frances Kerry Organizations: Sudanese, Rapid Support Forces, Museum, . Security, Thomson Locations: KHARTOUM, Khartoum, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, United States, Omdurman, Bahri, Washington, Riyadh, U.S, Dubai, Cairo

☆ El Nino may hammer Asian farms with dry weather, but shower American growers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Naveen Thukral | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

El Nino, a warming of water surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean, is expected to develop in the coming months, according to meteorologists. The onset of monsoon rains across South Asia is likely to be slightly delayed this year and El Nino could hit rice and oilseeds production. "El Nino could develop during July ... it might have an impact in the second half of the season," said O.P. "In general, a big part of the Pampean region and Northern Argentina have above-normal rains with the El Nino phenomenon." In Europe, where El Nino is not typically linked to pronounced weather patterns, major crops are in good shape after abundant spring rain, with the exception of drought-hit Spain.

Persons: El Nino, Chris Hyde, El, Phin Ziebell, Sreejith, Germán Heinzenknecht, David Tolleris, Rains, Naveen Thukral, Maximilian Heath, Mark Weinraub, Rajendra Jadhav, Gus Trompiz, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Nino, El, National Australia Bank, India Meteorological Department, El Nino, HIT, Thomson Locations: Australia, India, Southeast Asia, Asia U.S, South America, SINGAPORE, Asia, U.S, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Pakistan, El Nino, Americas, Russia, Ukraine, New South Wales, Queensland, South Asia, ARGENTINA, United States, Argentina, Northern Argentina, China, Europe, Spain, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Paris

☆ Sudanese army suspends ceasefire talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The RSF said in a statement late on Tuesday it was committed to the ceasefire "despite repeated violations" by the army. CHALLENGING NEGOTIATIONSCommenting on the Sudanese army's withdrawal from the Jeddah talks, Mohamed El Hacen Lebatt, African Union spokesperson on the crisis in Sudan, said: "It is not surprising. We hope the mediator will succeed to bring both parties for working on an expected ceasefire." Before the ceasefire deal was renewed, an army source said the army had demanded the RSF withdraw from civilian homes and hospitals as a condition for an extension. After the five-day extension was agreed, talks continued on the truce terms.

Persons: Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah, Hemedti's, Dagalo, Mohamed El Hacen, Hemedti, Omar al, Bashir, Khalid Abdelaziz, Nafisa Eltahir, Dawit, Michael Georgy, Edmund Blair, Mark Heinrich, Grant McCool Organizations: Rapid Support Forces, Nations, REUTERS, Union, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Khartoum, KHARTOUM, Saudi, Jeddah, Khartoum's Mogran, Omdurman, Bahri, Sudan, au, Saudi Arabia, United States, Darfur, Sudan's, Port Sudan, Dubai, Nafisa, Cairo, Addis Ababa

☆ Amazon workers plan to walk out over 'lack of trust' in leadership
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Amazon employees plan to walk off the job Wednesday in protest of the company's recent return-to-office mandate, layoffs and its environmental record. ET, with about 900 of those workers gathering outside the Spheres, the massive glass domes that anchor Amazon's Seattle headquarters, according to employee groups behind the effort. The walkout is being organized in part by Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, an influential worker organization that has repeatedly pressed the e-retailer on its climate stance. The group said employees are walking out to highlight a "lack of trust in company leadership's decision making." Amazon employees are walking off the job at a precarious time inside the company.

Persons: Andy Jassy, Brad Glasser, we've, Glasser, Amazon Organizations: Seattle, Amazon Employees, Climate Justice, Employees, Amazon, CNBC, Puget, The Center, Investigative, Greenhouse, Accounting Locations: Seattle , Washington, Seattle, Seattle , New York, Northern California

☆ Air strikes hit Khartoum's outskirts as Sudan's war enters sixth week
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Smoke rises above buildings after an aerial bombardment, during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum North, Sudan, May 1, 2023. Air strikes were reported by eyewitnesses in southern Omdurman and northern Bahri, the two cities that lie across the Nile from Khartoum, forming Sudan's "triple capital." Some of the strikes took place near the state broadcaster in Omdurman, the eyewitnesses said. The RSF is embedded in residential districts, drawing almost continual air strikes by the regular armed forces. In recent days ground fighting has flared once again in the Darfur region, in the cities of Nyala and Zalenjei.

☆ US to sign strategic pacts with two Pacific states, hopes for third in weeks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( David Brunnstrom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - The United States will sign new strategic pacts with the Pacific island states of Palau and Micronesia early next week and hopes to do so with the Marshall islands in coming weeks, the U.S. presidential envoy negotiating the deals said. As anticipated, he was unable to conclude the deal with the Marshall Islands. "We have made progress over my three-day visit to Marshall Islands and we hope to sign an agreement with the Marshall Islands in the coming weeks," he said. Chinese diplomats have been courting the region and China's construction and mining companies have expanded their business in many Pacific island nations. Yun said last month "topline" agreements would provide the three COFA states with a total of about $6.5 billion over 20 years.

☆ What does India's BJP losing Karnataka elections mean for Modi?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lost its only stronghold in the country’s south after voters in Karnataka state rejected the Hindu-nationalist policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party in crucial local elections last week. The opposition Congress party won 135 seats in the state’s legislative assembly, versus 66 for the BJP, giving Modi’s opponents a boost as they prepare to challenge India’s populist leader in next year’s general election. “Were they to lose some or all of the remaining state elections this year, including three big states in the (central and northern) Hindi belt, that may be further indication of waning support,” he said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the crowd during campaigning for state elections in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on May 7. “A lot would depend on how Congress Party does in upcoming state assembly elections,” Verma said.

☆ Watch CNBC's full interview with Northern Gritstone's Jim O'Neill on China's post-Covid rebound
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch CNBC's full interview with Northern Gritstone's Jim O'Neill on China's post-Covid reboundJim O’Neill, former Goldman Sachs Asset Management chairman and chief economist and Northern Gritstone chairman, joins 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss the loss of momentum in China, if China's still long-term investible and more.

☆ US-China tensions remain 'major issue' for world markets, says Jim O'Neill
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailUS-China tensions remain 'major issue' for world markets, says Jim O'NeillJim O’Neill, former Goldman Sachs Asset Management chairman and chief economist and Northern Gritstone chairman, joins 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss the loss of momentum in China, if China's still long-term investible and more.

The suspects on Wednesday were traveling to a rocket launch site in the city of Khan Younis, the IDF said. A CNN producer in Gaza reported explosions in Khan Younis, Rafah and northern Gaza. Shortly after, he saw at least six rockets fired from Gaza towards Israel. Smoke billows following renewed Israeli military strikes launched into Gaza on May 10, 2023. Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty ImagesMedics transport a victim to Shifa Hospital following the deadly Israeli airstrikes launched into Gaza on Tuesday.

☆ Opinion | The First Scandal King Charles Could Face Is a Gift From Boris Johnson
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Christopher Caldwell | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

At his coronation in London on Saturday, King Charles III will assume the ancient responsibilities of the British monarchy. But the list that the prime minister Boris Johnson compiled as he was being chased from office last summer threatens to become an inconvenience for King Charles — perhaps even a scandal. On his way out the door, Mr. Johnson reportedly assembled a list of lords- and ladies-to-be that stretched to almost 100 names — a historically large number. The list reportedly included three politicians who had shown unusual loyalty to Mr. Johnson. It has real political power, if not as much as the House of Commons.

☆ King Charles III Coronation: Church of England changes wording of public declaration, following backlash
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Florence Davey-Attlee Max Foster Richard Quest | Florence Davey-Attlee | Max Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Church of England has changed the wording of its invitation to the public to pledge allegiance to King Charles during his coronation, following a public backlash. The Archbishop of Canterbury will now give people the option of saying just “God save King Charles” rather than making the full pledge of allegiance. The move follows widespread criticism of the proposed pledge. So help me God.”In a previous version of the text, published in April, the archbishop was to “call upon all persons of goodwill in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of the other realms and the territories to make their homage, in heart and voice, to their undoubted king, defender of all.”The earlier version had been described as “ill-advised” by a prominent friend of the King. Sign up for CNN’s Royal News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on the royal family, what they are up to in public and what’s happening behind palace walls.

☆ The Coronation of King Charles: Order of Service
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +46 min

The Archbishop saysI here present unto you King Charles, your undoubted King: Wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same? Christopher Finney GC saysI here present unto you King Charles, your undoubted King: Wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same? We praise thee, we bless thee,we worship thee, we glorify thee,we give thanks to thee for thy great glory,O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O clap your hands together, all ye people;O sing unto God with the voice of melody. The King touches the Ring and the Archbishop saysReceive this Ring, symbol of kingly dignity and a sign of the covenant sworn this day, between God and King, King and people.

Prince Albert of Monaco said in an interview with People magazine that he and his wife, Charlene, would be attending. King Felipe VI of Spain, who ascended to the throne in 2014 after his father’s abdication, will attend, according to the Spanish news media. Crown Prince Fumihito of Japan and Crown Princess Kiko, on behalf of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, will attend, according to the Japanese news media. Credit... Clodagh Kilcoyne/ReutersSeveral members of Britain’s government will attend, as will about 100 heads of state from around the world, according to Buckingham Palace. British RoyalsImage Prince Harry, center, will be present at the coronation, though his wife, Meghan, and their children, will remain in California.

☆ Berkshire posts $35.5 billion profit, sells over $13 billion in stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Berkshire also sped up repurchases of its own stock, buying back $4.4 billion, while paring its investments in other stocks such as Chevron Corp CVX.N, which is still a major holding. MORE CASHNet income equaled $24,377 per Class A share and rose from $5.58 billion, or $3,784 per share, a year earlier. That in part reflected a 27% jump in Apple's AAPL.O stock price, leaving Berkshire with a $151 billion stake in the iPhone maker. Quarterly operating profit increased 13% to $8.07 billion, or about $5,561 per Class A share, from $7.16 billion. Berkshire's cash hoard grew $2 billion in the quarter to $130.6 billion, as the company sold $13.3 billion of stocks and bought just $2.9 billion.

CNN —Heavy rain caused flooding and landslides on Tuesday in western Rwanda killing at least 109 people in the Western and Northern Provinces, according to state media Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA.) The Rwanda National Police warned that due to heavy rains, the roads Mukamira-Ngororero and Rubavu-Rutsiro are temporarily unavailable. Police officers are available to direct traffic,” the Rwanda National Police said in their twitter account. The Rwanda Meteorology Agency had warned in its forecast for May that many parts of the country will receive more rainfall than average this month. Last year, 205 people died from disasters across Rwanda, MINEMA said in its Disaster Effects Situation Report.

☆ Illinois dust storm causes car crashes, at least 6 fatalities along I-55 in Montgomery, Sangamon counties
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Joe Sutton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —At least six people were killed after a dust storm caused dozens of vehicles to crash along a major highway in Central Illinois on Monday, officials said. The crashes along I-55 led to the interstate closing in Sangamon and Montgomery counties after police say dust from newly plowed fields took over the highway. Illinois State Police Maj. Ryan Starrick said there were at least six dead and more than 30 people were hospitalized with injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening. He said the interstate in southern Sangamon and northern Montgomery counties would remain closed as officials investigate and clear vehicles. The National Weather Service in Lincoln, Illinois, issued a “blowing dust warning” at 1:25 p.m. CT.“Severely limited visibilities are expected.

☆ Sudanese fleeing north face arduous crossing into Egypt
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Maggie Michael | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] A satellite view shows buses as they wait at the Argeen border between Egypt and Sudan, April 28, 2023. Her plight reflects that of thousands of others who have paid high prices to journey north to Egypt on buses and trucks, only to get stuck at crossings for days. He raced to Khartoum to pick up his mother, wife and four children and bring them to the border. 'MERCHANTS OF WAR'As numbers surged and fuel became scarce, prices of buses to Egypt rose to about $500 per person. An Egyptian border guard said staff were working around the clock to deal with the influx.

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