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☆ The World Is Becoming More African
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Declan Walsh | Hannah Reyes Morales | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +37 min

Old World Young Africa As the world grays, Africa blooms with youth. The World Is Becoming More African Part one of a series on how the youth boom is changing the continent, and beyond. But while a handful of African countries are poised to ride the demographic wave, others risk being swamped by it. In the West, racists and right-wing nationalists stoke fears of African population growth to justify hatred, or even violence. The age gap between geriatric leaders and restless youth is “a major source of tension” in many African countries, said Simon Mulongo, a former African Union diplomat from Uganda.

Persons: Lauren Leatherby, ”, Jean, Patrick Niambé, Hilton, Edward Paice, “, Keziah Keya, Keya, Paul R, Ehrlich, stoke, Lauren Leatherby “, Carlos Lopes, Burna, Weeks, “ It’s, Laolu Senbanjo, Tems, Toulaye Sy, Pritzker, Abdulrazak Gurnah, “ Africa’s, ” Long, exotica, Mulendema, Hannah O’Leary, “ We’re, Sipho Dlamini, Dlamini, Moawad, Optimists, Mo Ibrahim, Aubrey Hruby, birthrates, India’s, China’s, Akinwumi Adesina, States —, William Ruto, Paul Biya of, Biya, Wole Soyinka, Paul Kagame of, Nourdine, Nigeriens, Awade, Ali Bongo Ondimba, Simon Mulongo, Nuha Abdelgadir, Abdelgadir, gesturing, “ We’ve, ” Weeks, Abdelgadir’s, Modu Ali, Young, Saidu, Habiba Mohammed, Ms, Ha, Joon Chang, Nobody, Chang, Ibrahim, Touré Organizations: Young, United Nations, Southern, Northern, Western Asia Northern, United, Ivory Coast, African Union, Group, European Union ., Suisse, Africa Research Institute, Nigeria Mozambique Kenya “, Russia Canada Germany United, Russia Canada Germany United States Japan China Iran Egypt India Mexico Nigeria Ethiopia Ethiopia Dem, Russia Germany, China Egypt India Nigeria D.R.C, Russia Canada Germany United States Japan China Iran Egypt India Mexico Nigeria Ethiopia Dem, Bank, Nations, International, Bryn Mawr College, Angola, Angola Ivory Coast, Angola Ivory Coast Cameroon Dem, Africa Middle Africa Southern, Economic Commission, New, Citi, Spotify, Cannes Film, Burkina Faso, UNESCO, Disney, Amazon Prime, Netflix, “, Apple, Cape Town, Microsoft, Google, Infrastructure, McKinsey & Company, Pew Research Center, African Development Bank, Greek Coast Guard, Saudi, Africa Climate, Young Voters, Freedom House, University of Denver, United Arab, Japan Cuba Vatican City, Netherlands South Korea Belgium U.A.E, Islamic, Global, Center for Girls Education, School of Oriental, Studies Locations: grays, Africa, India, China, United States, Southern Asia, Asia, America, Caribbean, Northern America, Western Asia, Western Asia Northern America, Europe, London, New York, West Africa, Ivory, Abidjan, Russia, Turkey, Gulf, Nairobi, Nigeria Mozambique Kenya, Italy, Japan, Russia Canada Germany United States Japan China Iran Egypt India Mexico Nigeria Ethiopia Ethiopia, Congo Indonesia Brazil Australia South Africa Argentina, Russia Germany U.S, China Egypt India Nigeria, Brazil South Africa Australia, Russia Canada Germany United States Japan China Iran Egypt India Mexico Nigeria, Nigeria, Africa’s, Young, South Africa, Somalia, Mozambique, Mali, Gabon, Niger, Mozambique Nigeria Kenya, Kenya, Pennsylvania, Angola Ivory, Angola Ivory Coast Cameroon, Congo Algeria Egypt, Ghana Kenya Madagascar Mozambique Niger Nigeria, Tanzania Uganda South Africa, Northern Africa Eastern Africa, Africa Middle Africa, Africa Middle Africa Southern Africa, Guinea, Bissau, African, Qatar, Nigerian, Brooklyn, Target, French, Senegalese, Paris, Milan, Venice, Burkina, Tanzania, Saharan Africa, Nigeria Kenya Senegal In Lagos, Dakar, Zambia, South Korea, Sotheby’s, Lagos, Zimbabwe, Watford, Cape, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Cairo, Morocco, East Africa, Nigeria Mozambique Morocco, Sudanese, North Africa, East Asia, Thailand, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, States, Namibia, Kenyan, Paul Biya of Cameroon, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, United Arab Emirates, United States France Turkey, Germany, Russia India, Brazil, Japan Cuba, Japan Cuba Vatican City Spain Italy Saudi Arabia Qatar, Netherlands South Korea Belgium, Iran Canada, Niger’s, Niamey, Senegal Kenya Kenya, X’s, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Senegal, Uganda, Khartoum, Sudan, Ethiopia, Al Qaeda, Islamic State, Chad, Burkina Faso, Nigeria Nigeria Morocco, hijabs, Zaria, American, Korea, South, England

“The biggest thing there is Reggae music and classic country music,” Brooks said. “I never would have thought that I would be performing at a country festival as an artist in Miami, being from Miami. “We believe that this could become a destination festival, where people come for Miami and country music,” Albareda said. "We have a long-term commitment to Country Bay as a festival, and we have a long-term commitment to Miami," Albareda said. Besides hosting one of the largest country events in Miami's music history, the Country Bay Music Festival will include a country-themed bar, games, food, line dancing, a mechanical bull and a giant Ferris wheel.

Persons: Leo Brooks, Brooks, ” Brooks, George Jones, Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, ”, Thomas Rhett, Sam Hunt, Chris Young, Lee Brice, Lainey Wilson, Randy Houser, Chris Lane, Elle King, Blanco Brown, Josh Ross, Hailey Whitters, David J, Kat, Alex, “, Lauryn Hill's, Pitbull, Tim McGraw, Andrew Millsaps, Nelson Albareda, Albareda, ” Albareda Organizations: MIAMI, —, Union, Bay Music, Miami Marine, Neon Union, ”, Bay, Ultra, Miami Marine Stadium Locations: Miami, Nashville, Roatán, Honduras, downtown, Virginia, Biscayne Bay, LOCASH, North Carolina, South Florida, U.S, Biscayne, Miami's, Bayfront

☆ Hurricane Otis’ Acapulco destruction shown in before-and-after images
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Eric Zerkel | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —New satellite images capture the scale of destruction Category 5 Hurricane Otis wrought in Acapulco and southern Mexico. Satellite image ©️2023 Maxar Technologies The Acapulco shoreline on October 26, 2023. Satellite image ©️2023 Maxar Technologies Storm surge cut gashes into the beach Satellite image ©️2023 Maxar TechnologiesHotels along the beach in Acapulco, Mexico, on October 4, 2023. Satellite image ©️2023 Maxar Technologies Boats are tossed ashore and buildings torn apart in Acapulco Bay Satellite image ©️2023 Maxar TechnologiesAnd it caught many off guard in Acapulco, some of whom are still missing. Satellite image ©️2023 Maxar Technologies Walmart and Sam's Club after the storm in Acapulco, Mexico, on October 26, 2023.

Persons: Hurricane Otis, Otis –, Otis, Jorge Laurel, ” Laurel, Melitón López, Fátima, “, ‘ I’m, ” López, Laurel, ” CNN’s Gustavo Valdés, ”, Claudia Rebaza, Gustavo Valdés, David von Blohn, Abel Alvarado, David Shortell Organizations: CNN, Hurricane, Otis, Technologies, Acapulco Association of Hotels, Tourist Enterprises, Walmart, Sam's Locations: Acapulco, Mexico, Otis – Acapulco, Acapulco’s, Acapulco Bay, Mexico City

It was increasingly difficult to reach people in the Gaza Strip or know what was happening in the enclave late Friday, as Israel said it was stepping up its bombardment and staging another incursion. On Friday evening, two major Palestinian mobile networks, Jawwal and Paltel, said that their phone and internet services were down. Some Palestinians who have managed to communicate with the outside world said that fear and panic were spreading. They don’t know what’s happening around them.”Visuals from inside Gaza on social media channels monitored by The New York Times and some wire services were extremely limited on Friday afternoon. Reuters maintained a live camera directed from the Israeli side of the border toward the Gaza skyline that showed darkness with an occasional burst of light.

Persons: Belal Khaled, Khan Younis Organizations: WhatsApp, Nasser Hospital, The New York Times, Reuters Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Khan

☆ South Korea stocks slide, economy grows faster than expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

(Photo by Ed JONES / AFP) (Photo by ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images)Gross domestic product grew 0.6% in the July-September quarter from the prior quarter, according to data released by the Bank of Korea. The South Korean central bank will hold its next policy meeting in late November. South Korea stocks led declines among Asia-Pacific markets on Thursday, as investors parsed data that showed the economy grew at a slightly higher-than-expected pace in the third quarter. The S&P 500 closed below a key level on Wednesday after disappointing quarterly results from Google-parent Alphabet and a rebound in interest rates. The benchmark index fell 1.43% to close at 4,186.77, ending the day below the 4,200 level that was being widely watched by chart analysts.

Persons: Ed JONES, ED JONES, — CNBC's Brian Evans, Hakyung Kim Organizations: Getty, Bank of Korea, Google, Dow Jones, Nasdaq Locations: Seoul, AFP, Korean, South Korea, Asia, Pacific

☆ When the Skyscraper You Hate Blocks the Skyscraper You Love
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Michael Kimmelman | More About Michael Kimmelman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When I reached the plaza I turned to admire the Flatiron, as usual. But the view north had changed. The Empire State Building is gone, or almost. From much of the plaza, yet another anorexic supertall for squillionaires, rising at 29th Street, now blots it out. Ever since Henry Hudson sailed through the Narrows, change has been New York’s mantra and bugaboo.

Persons: Henry Hudson Organizations: downer, State, Empire State Locations: Madison, York

The cost to Israel's economy of its war with Hamas militants will be unlike anything it has experienced in decades. "This is not a hit for contractors or industrialists alone," said Raul Sarugo, president of the Israel Builders' Association. Israel was blindsided on Oct. 7 by Hamas gunmen from Gaza who rampaged through border towns in the deadliest attack on civilians in its history. The conflict has also halted the movement of thousands of Palestinian labourers from Gaza to Israel and curtailed the flow from the occupied West Bank. The Economy Ministry created a war room and put out a call for help.

Persons: Raul Sarugo, Israel, Netanel Shraga, Barak Klein, ThetaRay, Erel Margalit, Dror Bin, We've, Bin, Leo Leiderman, Amir Yaron, Yaron, Steven Scheer, Ari Rabinovich, Toby Chopra Organizations: Hamas, Israel Builders ' Association, West Bank, Columbia, HIGH, TECH, Factories, Israel Innovation Authority, Ministry, Bank Hapoalim, Israeli Finance Ministry, Reuters, of Israel, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Israel's, Iran, Lebanese

☆ Detroit police say no reason to believe antisemitism behind synagogue leader's killing
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Gabriella Borter | Thomson Reuters | Gabriella Borter Is A Reporter On The U.S. National Affairs Team | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The skyline of Detroit is seen looking south from the midtown area in Detroit, Michigan October 23, 2013. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 23 (Reuters) - Officials investigating the killing of a synagogue leader in Detroit over the weekend said on Monday that the crime does not appear to have been motivated by antisemitism, although the investigation is still ongoing. "We believe that there are no other groups or anyone else at risk in regards to this particular incident. We believe that this incident was not motivated by antisemitism," White said, adding that the investigation was still young. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel remembered Woll in a post on X as being driven by "her sincere love of her community, state and country."

Persons: Rebecca Cook, James White, Samantha Woll, Isaac, White, Woll, Dana Nessel, Gabriella Borter, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Detroit Police, . Police, Police, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Detroit, Detroit , Michigan, U.S, Israel, Detroit's Lafayette Park, Michigan

☆ Funeral of Detroit synagogue leader set for Sunday; police seek motive
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The skyline of Detroit is seen looking south from the midtown area in Detroit, Michigan October 23, 2013. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 22 (Reuters) - A funeral will be held on Sunday for the president of a Detroit synagogue who was killed over the weekend, according to the funeral home's website, as police searched for a motive. "We are shocked and saddened to learn of the unexpected death of Samantha Woll, our Board President," the synagogue said in a Facebook post. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel remembered Woll as being driven by "her sincere love of her community, state and country." The funeral services will be held on Sunday afternoon in suburban Detroit.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, Samantha Woll, Isaac, James E, White, Dana Nessel, Woll, Sam, Nessel, Elissa Slotkin, Maria Caspani, Sharon Bernstein, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Democratic, Detroit Police Department, Police, Detroit Police, Reuters, Michigan, U.S . House, Thomson Locations: Detroit, Detroit , Michigan, Lafayette Park, Joliet Place

☆ Detroit synagogue president murdered, police seek motive
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Sharon Bernstein | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A general view of the Detroit skyline, dominated by General Motors headquarters (R), is seen from Windsor, Onatario, Canada January 14, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst Acquire Licensing RightsOct 21 (Reuters) - The president of a Detroit synagogue was found stabbed to death on Saturday outside her home in the Lafayette Park neighborhood, authorities and local media said. The death of Samantha Woll, 40, an adviser to Democratic politicians and president of Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, was confirmed by the synagogue on Facebook. "We are shocked and saddened to learn of the unexpected death of Samantha Woll, our Board President," the synagogue said. Police did not confirm that the woman was Woll, but media outlets including the Detroit Free Press and Detroit area politicians said that she was the victim.

Persons: Jonathan Ernst, Samantha Woll, Isaac, Sam, Dana Nessel, Elissa Slotkin, Woll, Sharon Bernstein, Alistair Bell Organizations: General Motors, REUTERS, Democratic, Facebook, Detroit Police Department, Joliet Place, Police, Detroit Free Press, U.S . House, Thomson Locations: Detroit, Windsor, Onatario, Canada, Lafayette Park, Joliet, Michigan

☆ Moody's lifts UK's outlook to 'stable' on restoration of policy predictability
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 20 (Reuters) - Ratings agency Moody's revised Britain's outlook to "stable" from "negative" on Friday, saying policy predictability has been restored after heightened volatility last year around the so-called "mini-budget" under then-Prime Minister Liz Truss. Moody's last changed its outlook on Britain one year ago, when Truss had spooked markets with unfunded tax pledges, culminating in her resignation. "Policy predictability has been restored after heightened volatility last year around the mini-budget," the ratings agency said, affirming the country's rating at "Aa3". The government borrowed 81.7 billion pounds ($99.35 billion) in the first half of the 2023/24 financial year, 15.3 billion pounds more than between April and September 2022, but about 20 billion pounds less than the government forecast in March. On Friday S&P affirmed its AA rating and stable outlook for Britain.

Persons: Hollie Adams, Moody's, Liz Truss, Truss, Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt, Hunt, Poor's, Aatrayee Chatterjee, David Milliken, Alistair Smout, Shailesh Kuber, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, Monetary Fund, Britain's, Conservative Party, Britain, Thomson Locations: City, London, Britain, Bengaluru

☆ Brazil Must Do More to Stop Foreign Bribery, OECD Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Mengqi Sun | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A São Paulo skyline. Among other things, the OECD working group highlighted shortcomings in Brazil’s statute of limitations system, which has allowed some defendants to go free. Photo: nelson almeida/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesBrazil has made progress in combating foreign bribery schemes over the last nine years, but still has a way to go in successfully charging individuals, an international antibribery watchdog said. In a report published Thursday, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions commended the Brazilian government for progress implementing new legislation against corporate bribery and taking enforcement actions against large-scale foreign bribery schemes since its last evaluation in 2014.

Persons: nelson almeida Organizations: OECD, Agence France, Getty, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Bribery, Business Locations: Paulo, Brazil

☆ US airline investors worry the travel boom may be coming in for a landing
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Rajesh Kumar Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Those concerns are battering airline stocks even as earnings reports point to a continuing consumer appetite for travel. While both United and Delta said travel demand is holding up, double-digit declines in airfares year-over-year suggest airline pricing power has peaked. United, which has not forecast profit for 2024, on Tuesday similarly said travel demand remains "strong and steady." New labor contracts as well as the higher fuel prices mean cost pressures aren't going away. American Airlines (AAL.O) and Alaska Air (ALK.N), who will report earnings Thursday, have cut their third-quarter profit estimates due to higher fuel costs.

Persons: Eduardo Munoz, Brian Mulberry, Delta, Ed Bastian, Mulberry, United, Michael Leskinen, Conor Cunningham, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Ben Klayman, Rod Nickel Organizations: United Airlines, Newark Liberty International Airport, REUTERS, Rights, NYSE, Zacks Investment Management, Delta Air Lines, United, Delta, New, American Airlines, Alaska Air, Melius, Thomson Locations: York, Newark , New Jersey, U.S, Chicago, United, Israel, Tel Aviv

☆ United Airlines forecasts weaker Q4 profit on higher costs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Rajesh Kumar Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The One World trace Center and the New York skyline are seen while United Airlines planes use the tarmac at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, U.S., May 12, 2023. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCHICAGO, Oct 17 (Reuters) - United Airlines Holdings (UAL.O) on Tuesday reported stronger-than-expected third-quarter earnings, but forecast weaker profit in the current quarter due to higher costs. For the third quarter, it reported an adjusted profit of $3.65 per share, compared with the $3.35 estimated by Wall Street analysts. United has said its fuel costs have climbed over 20% since mid-July. United will discuss the results on a call with analysts and investors on Wednesday morning.

Persons: Eduardo Munoz, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Richard Chang Organizations: United Airlines, Newark Liberty International Airport, REUTERS, Rights, United Airlines Holdings, Wall Street, Delta Air Lines, Thomson Locations: York, Newark , New Jersey, U.S, Chicago, Israel

☆ United Airlines forecasts weaker quarterly profit on higher costs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Rajesh Kumar Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCHICAGO, Oct 17 (Reuters) - United Airlines Holdings (UAL.O) on Tuesday forecast weaker fourth-quarter earnings due to higher costs, sending its shares down more than 4%. United has said its fuel costs have climbed over 20% since mid-July. The company's average fuel bill is projected to increase by 11% in the quarter through December from the last quarter. In the December quarter, Israel accounted for 1.9% of its planned global capacity, a Reuters analysis of Cirium data showed. Adjusted profit for the third quarter came in at $3.65 per share, higher than the $3.35 estimated by Wall Street analysts.

Persons: Eduardo Munoz, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Richard Chang Organizations: United Airlines, Newark Liberty International Airport, REUTERS, Rights, United Airlines Holdings, U.S, Delta Air Lines, Wall Street, Thomson Locations: York, Newark , New Jersey, U.S, Chicago, Israel, Tel Aviv

☆ Mozambique seeks $3 billion from Privinvest in 'tuna bonds' scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Sam Tobin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Traditional fishing boats sail as Mozambique's tuna fleet sits in dock beneath Maputo's skyline, in this picture taken August 15, 2015. REUTERS/Grant Lee Neuenburg/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Mozambique is seeking more than $3 billion in damages from Emirati-Lebanese shipbuilder Privinvest over the decade-old "tuna bond" scandal, London's High Court heard on Tuesday. The case centres on deals struck by state-owned companies with Privinvest for loans and bonds from banks including Credit Suisse in 2013 and 2014 for fishing boats and maritime security. Mozambique alleged Privinvest paid bribes on an "industrial scale", involving the "grand corruption" of officials including Mozambique's former Finance Minister Manuel Chang, court filings showed. Chang was extradited to the U.S., where in July he pleaded not guilty to fraud and money laundering charges related to the tuna bonds scandal.

Persons: Grant Lee Neuenburg, Privinvest, Jonathan Adkin, Iskandar Safa, Safa, Manuel Chang, Chang, Adkin, Sam Tobin, Kirstin Ridley, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, Privinvest, UBS, Credit Suisse, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Maputo's, Mozambique, Safa, U.S, London's

☆ More Chinese companies vow share buybacks as market sags further
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People cross a street during morning rush hour in front of the skyline of the central business district (CBD) in Beijing, China December 15, 2020. This follows more than a hundred Chinese companies committing to buybacks or withdrawing share sales in August after China imposed new rules as part of measures to shore up a sinking stock market as the country's post-COVID-19 recovery lost momentum. Its blue-chip stock index <.CSI300>, however, is near one-year lows as investor sentiment remained weak in recent months despite stimulus policies to shore up confidence. Meanwhile, more than 70 other companies in filings vowed that their major shareholders would not sell shares in the coming months, or withdrew plans to offload shares. Reporting by Jason Xue in Shanghai and Tom Westbrook in Singapore Editing by Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Jason Xue, Tom Westbrook, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, China Petroleum & Chemical Corp, China Railway Construction Corp, China Mobile, Wanma Technology, GoodWe Technologies, Central Huijin Investment, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Shanghai, Singapore

☆ India's state-run banks to lower bond purchases as liquidity tightens - treasurers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Dharamraj Dhutia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India’s state-owned banks will slow government bond purchases in the weeks ahead as banking system liquidity tightens, treasury officials from nine state lenders said. REUTERS/Hemanshi KamaniBond yields have spiked since Oct. 6, when the central bank said it will keep monetary policy restrictive and sell bonds to manage banking system liquidity. These lenders have bought 253 billion rupees ($3 billion) of government debt since Sept. 22, including 100 billion rupees on Oct. 6. Banking system liquidity - the quantum of funds in the interbank market - has largely been in deficit from the middle of September. Bond traders expect the banking system’s cash position to stay in deficit because of tax payments and likely bond sales by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Persons: “, ” Vijay Sharma, PNB Gilts, Bond Organizations: REUTERS, Banking, Reserve Bank of India, “ Locations: MUMBAI, ”, India

☆ Asia-Pacific stocks tumble ahead of China inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

August was marked by extremely hot temperatures in parts of China, prompting temporary power rationing in some regions. Asia-Pacific markets fell ahead of China's inflation and trade data for September. China is slated to release inflation numbers early Friday. Analysts polled by Reuters expect the country's consumer price index to climb 0.2% year-on-year, compared to 0.1% in the previous reading. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index looks set to drop, with futures at 17,911 compared to the HSI's close of 18,238.21.

Organizations: heatwave, Reuters, Nikkei Locations: China, Chongqing's, Asia, Pacific, Japan

"Public media are paid for with our taxes in order to give citizens access to fair information. And that's particularly important at... election time," said Joanna Krawczyk from the German Marshall Fund, a think-tank. PiS says private media outlets such as Warner Bros' (WBD.O) TVN often distort public debate by representing foreign interests. This perceived bias in public broadcasting has exacerbated political divisions in Polish society. "When she watches TVP, he goes to the kitchen."

Persons: Kacper, TVP, Szalai, RSF, Joanna Krawczyk, KRRiT, PiS, Grzegorz Lewandowski, Donald Tusk, Alan Charlish, Gareth Jones Organizations: Telewizja Polska SA, REUTERS, Sunday Government, WARSAW, Law and Justice, Media, German Marshall Fund, European Union, Civic Coalition, Reuters, Warner Bros, TVN, European Centre for Press, Media Freedom, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland, TVP, Sochaczew, Hungary, Turkey, Russia

☆ Japan firms to issue digital currency for clear energy transaction
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Edgar Su/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 12 (Reuters) - A group of Japanese firms will issue a digital currency by July 2024 for the transaction and settlement of clean energy certificates, cryptocurrency exchange DeCurret said on Thursday. GMO Aozora Net Bank will issue the yen-based digital currency, called "DCJPY", which will then be used by telecommunication firm Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ) for settlement of clean energy certificates, DeCurret said. Transaction of DCJPY will be made using a network launched by DeCurret which, unlike stablecoin, is backed by bank deposits through block-chain technology, DeCurret added. DeCurret has been spearheading the launch of a digital currency by anchoring discussions at a consortium of Japanese firms keen to tap the technology. The consortium, which includes megabanks Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (8306.T), Mizuho Financial Group Inc (8411.T) and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc (8316.T), has been meeting regularly to study ways to build a common settlement infrastructure for digital payments.

Persons: Edgar Su, DeCurret, Leika Kihara, Krishna Chandra Organizations: REUTERS, Aozora, Internet Initiative Japan, Japan, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Inc, Mizuho Financial Group Inc, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan

A view of the skyline in the aftermath of Israeli military strikes on Islamic Jihad targets, in Gaza, May 9, 2023. Carboni said in a later interview that its stocks of aid and medicine within Gaza are stranded for want of safe passage. "With the supplies we have inside Gaza, we will not be able to support the civilian population for very long. Most of Gaza's population has no power and water as Israeli strikes continue and they fear a possible ground invasion. ICRC teams are pre-positioning staff and stocks in strategic hubs close to Gaza as part of its preparations, he added.

Persons: Mohammed Salem, Fabrizio Carboni, Carboni, Kan, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Emma Farge, Gebeily, Alex Richardson, Nick Macfie, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: REUTERS, Red Cross, International Committee, ICRC, Hamas, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Egypt, GENEVA, Israel, Rafah

☆ Germany is not the 'sick man of Europe' – but this year isn’t looking good, central bank president says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Hannah Ward-Glenton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

(Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP) (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images) Kirill Kudryavtsev | Afp | Getty ImagesGermany is not the sick man of Europe, Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel told CNBC on Wednesday, while acknowledging that growth is "not good for this year." Speaking from the IMF World Bank annual meeting in Marrakech, Nagel said we shouldn't compare Germany's current economic situation with the period when it was last described as "the sick man." "It's a completely different, different situation," Nagel said. "I believe there is that understanding that we need to do something, but we are not the sick man of Europe," he added. Debate has sparked over whether Germany should once more be described as the "sick man," after Europe's largest economy was predicted to be the only major European economy to contract in 2023.

Persons: Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV, KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Joachim Nagel, Nagel, " Nagel Organizations: Getty, Afp, CNBC, IMF, Bank, Analysts, Monetary Fund Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, AFP, Europe, Marrakech

Women dress in graduation gowns at the West Kowloon Cultural District in front of the Hong Kong Skyline in Hong Kong (Photo by Vernon Yuen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Asia-Pacific markets rose as investors looked ahead to key U.S. consumer inflation data, which will inform the Federal Reserve's rate decision in its policy meeting beginning Oct. 31. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 added 0.31%. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened 1% higher, with shares of Uniqlo-owner Fast Retailing up nearly 1% ahead of its full-year earnings report due later in the day. South Korea's Kospi rose 0.75% at the opening bell, holding near two-week highs.

Persons: Vernon Yuen Organizations: Kowloon Cultural, Hong Kong Skyline, Getty Images, Nikkei, Retailing Locations: Kowloon, Hong Kong, Asia, Pacific, Australia, Japan

☆ UK housing market challenging but rate pause offers hope -RICS
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) house price balance, which measures the difference between the percentage of surveyors seeing rises and falls in house prices, edged down to -69 after August's sharp drop to -68. Echoing other gauges of British house prices, RICS' latest figure was the weakest since February 2009 and was below the median forecast of -63 in a Reuters poll of economists. Britain's housing market boomed during the coronavirus pandemic as demand for homes with more space surged, but it has been a victim of the BoE's run of 14 interest rate hikes, which began in December 2021. "Although the decision to pause monetary policy tightening a few weeks ago provided a glimmer of relief for the market, interest rates are likely now set to remain on hold for a prolonged period," Parsons said. The weak state of the housing market has hurt companies such as building materials supplier Travis Perkins (TPK.L), which on Wednesday downgraded its annual profit forecast by as much as 27%.

Persons: Henry Nicholls, RICS, Tarrant Parsons, Parsons, Travis Perkins, William Schomberg, Kylie MacLellan Organizations: REUTERS, Bank, Royal Institution, Chartered Surveyors, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

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