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☆ Yemen's Houthis launch a new batch of drones against Israel -statement
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

CAIRO, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Yemen's Houthis launched a new batch of drones against sensitive targets inside Israel on Monday, according to a statement from their armed forces broadcast by TV channel Al Masirah. The statement said the targets of the drones were "varied and sensitive" and led to halting the movement in the targeted bases and airports for hours. Reporting by Omar Abdel-Razek Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yemen's Houthis, Omar Abdel, Chris Reese Organizations: Thomson Locations: CAIRO, Israel

"We all understand that now, in wartime, when there are many challenges, it is utterly irresponsible to engage in topics related to an election in such a frivolous manner," he said. In peacetime, Ukraine would had held parliamentary elections in October and the first round of presidential vote in early spring 2024. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said at the weekend the president was weighing the pros and cons of a wartime poll. Zelenskiy himself had previously said he would be prepared to hold the vote if Ukraine secured the assistance it needed - and if election were deemed necessary. Zelenskiy had earlier said the attack in southern Zaporizhzhia region was "a tragedy that could have been avoided".

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Lindsey Graham, Dmytro Kuleba, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Chris Reese, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Republican, Ukrainian, Thomson Locations: KYIV, Kyiv, Ukraine, Russian, Ukrainian, Zaporizhzhia, Lincoln

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Defending national champion and No. 1 LSU lost to No. 20 Colorado 92-78 on Monday night in the Hall of Fame Series. Mikaylah Williams led LSU with 17 points, Angel Reese had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Sa'Myah Smith scored 16 points and noted Louisville transfer Hailey Van Lith and had 14 points. Also in attendance was Hall-of-Famer Grant Hill, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams, former major-league veteran Dexter Fowler and members of the two-time WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces.

Persons: Frida Formann, Aaronette Vonleh, Jaylyn Sherrod, Mikaylah Williams, Angel Reese, Sa'Myah Smith, Hailey Van Lith, Famer Shaquille O'Neal, Famer Grant Hill, Davante Adams, Dexter Fowler, Kim Mulkey, Reese, Moyne Organizations: LAS VEGAS, —, LSU, of Fame, UConn, Louisiana Tech, ESPN, Huskies, NCAA, Buffaloes, The Buffaloes, Famer, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Aces, Tigers, Wednesday, AP, womens Locations: Colorado, Louisiana, Louisville, Las, Vegas

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy: Irresponsible to Talk of Holding Elections in Wartime
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday it was irresponsible to engage in talk of holding an election in Ukraine in wartime and called for unity to avoid pointless political discussions. "We all understand that now, in wartime, when there are many challenges, it is utterly irresponsible to engage in topics related to an election in such a frivolous manner," he said in his nightly video address. He has said he would like to run for a second term if a vote took place. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said at the weekend that the president was weighing the pros and cons of a wartime poll. Senator Lindsey Graham, for an election to proceed as evidence of the good state of Ukraine's democratic institutions.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Dmytro Kuleba, Lindsey Graham, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Chris Reese, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Reuters, Foreign, Republican U.S Locations: Ukraine

☆ Italy judge seizes 780 mln euros from Airbnb in tax probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A woman talks on the phone at the Airbnb office headquarters in the SOMA district of San Francisco, California, U.S., August 2, 2016. REUTERS/Gabrielle Lurie/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsROME, Nov 6 (Reuters) - An Italian judge has ordered the seizure of 779.5 million euros ($836.40 million) from short-term rentals platform Airbnb's Ireland unit for alleged tax evasion, Milan prosecutors' office said on Monday. The probe concerns Airbnb's (ABNB.O) alleged failure to withold 21% of landlords' rental income and pay it to Italian tax authorities, as required by a 2017 law, prosecutors in the northern Italian city said in a statement. Airbnb's Italian press office did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's administration is meanwhile planning a crackdown on tax cheating on short-term rentals, and wants to raise taxes from 21% to 26% for owners of multiple short-term rental properties.

Persons: Gabrielle Lurie, Milan, Giorgia, Emilio Parodi, Alvise, Chris Reese, Franklin Paul, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, EU, Justice, Thomson Locations: SOMA, San Francisco , California, U.S, Italian

☆ Bank of Canada voices concerns about variable rate mortgage products -Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Senior Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada Carolyn Rogers takes part in a press conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada October 25, 2023. REUTERS/Patrick Doyle/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 3 (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada has urged banks to reconsider offering variable rate mortgages with fixed payments, concerned about the number of borrowers faced with negative amortization of their loans. “I think you’ll see the industry reflect on how much they want to offer that product,” she addedMany variable rate mortgages in Canada require borrowers to make regular payments in fixed amounts. You don’t want a big portfolio of negative amortizing mortgages," Rogers said. Money markets see little chance of further tightening by the BoC and have moved to price in a rate cut by June.

Persons: Bank of Canada Carolyn Rogers, Patrick Doyle, ”, Carolyn Rogers, “, Rogers, Fergal Smith, Gursimran Kaur, Chris Reese, Leslie Adler Organizations: Bank of Canada, REUTERS, Bloomberg News, BoC, Thomson Locations: Ottawa , Ontario, Canada, Toronto, Bengaluru

Both changes to the process for designating a non-bank as a "systemically important financial institution," or SIFI, were proposed in April. Friday's vote reversed a Trump administration policy that regulators should police risky activities rather than single out individual firms. Under the revamped process, FSOC will identify potential SIFIs based on existing information and give the company a chance to respond. Similarly, the Managed Funds Association, which represents hedge funds, said non-banks do not pose the same risks as banks. "The guidance imposes a black box designation process that introduces uncertainty for market participants," said MFA President and CEO Bryan Corbett.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Donald Trump, FSOC, Trump, Janet Yellen, Eric Pan, Bryan Corbett, Barack Obama, Ian Katz, Pete Schroeder, Chris Reese, Michelle Price, Richard Chang Organizations: Wall, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Treasury Department, U.S . Federal, BlackRock, Bridgewater, Investment Company Institute, Association, MetLife, Inc, General Electric Capital Corporation, American International Group, Prudential Financial, Capital Alpha Partners, Carolina, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, BlackRock, Bridgewater

[1/2] The logo for Goldman Sachs is seen on the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, New York, U.S., November 17, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs (GS.N) will promote 608 executives to managing directors next year, fewer than the 643 senior bankers it elevated two years ago, according to a company memo. But progress on racial representation slowed, as Black employees accounted for only 2% of managing directors, down from 5% in 2021. About 3% of the managing directors were from the LGBT+ community, unchanged from 2021. On the deals front, Goldman Sachs was among the advisors to Pioneer Natural Resources, which agreed to sell itself to ExxonMobil in a $60 billion deal.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Andrew Kelly, Goldman, Julian Salisbury, we've, David Solomon, John Waldron, Saeed Azhar, Lananh Nguyen, Chris Reese, David Evans Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Sixth, Arm Holdings, Natural Resources, ExxonMobil, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, United States, Ukraine

☆ Nepal earthquake kills at least 69
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Gopal Sharma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Light illuminates a street between the cluster of residential buildings in Kathmandu, Nepal November 8, 2022. "Rescue and search teams have to clear roads blocked by dry landslides due to the earthquake to reach the affected areas," Bhattarai said. At least 20 people were rushed to hospital with injuries, Jajarkot district official Suresh Sunar told Reuters by phone. Nepal's National Seismological Centre said the quake occurred at 11:47 p.m. (1802 GMT) in Jajarkot district of Karnali province. The earthquake shook buildings as far as New Delhi, about 600 km (375 miles) away, according to Reuters witnesses.

Persons: Navesh, Harish Chandra Sharma, Namaraj Bhattarai, Bhattarai, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Jajarkot, Suresh Sunar, Santosh Rokka, Aditya Kalra, Gopal Sharma, Shivam Patel, Gnaneshwar Rajan, Jahnavi, Chris Reese, Jonathan Oatis, Cynthia Osterman, David Gregorio, Sandra Maler Organizations: REUTERS, Seismological Centre, German Research Centre, Geosciences, U.S . Geological Survey, Twitter, Reuters, Nepal's, Thomson Locations: Kathmandu, Nepal, Jajarkot, New Delhi, India, Rukum West, Jajarkot district, Karnali province

☆ White House says US sending smaller military packages to Ukraine due to Congress inaction
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. President Joe Biden shake hands during the G7 leaders' summit in Hiroshima, Japan May 21, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The United States has begun sending smaller military aid packages to Ukraine in order to stretch out support given a stalemate in Congress over providing funding for Ukraine, the White House said on Friday. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters the U.S. intention is to extend the ability to support Ukraine for as long as possible while Congress debates new aid. Reporting by Nandita Bose and Steve Holland Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Joe Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, Nandita Bose, Steve Holland, Chris Reese Organizations: Presidential Press Service, REUTERS, AIR FORCE, United, White, Thomson Locations: Hiroshima, Japan, United States, Ukraine

Bond yields fell, and traders of contracts tied to the Fed's policy rate now see only a 12% chance of a rate hike by January, down from 30% before the release of the employment report. Rate futures pricing now reflects a better-than-even chance of a Fed rate cut by May of 2024, with several more cuts expected later next year. U.S. central bankers themselves are not even thinking about rate cuts, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said this week after the Fed kept its benchmark overnight interest rate steady in the 5.25%-5.50% range. "Continued upward momentum would be troubling, and hopefully this recent rise levels off as the labor market recovery continues," said Indeed.com's Nick Bunker. Still for now, most of the worries about the labor market appear to be focused on what might, or might not, happen next rather than on the evidence so far.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Kevin Lamarque, nonfarm, Bond, Powell, Thomas Barkin, Barkin, Michael Feroli, Nick Bunker, Sharif, Julie Su, Ann Saphir, Shristi Achar, Tomasz Janowski, Christina Fincher, Paul Simao, Chris Reese Organizations: Federal, Committee, Federal Reserve, REUTERS, Labor Department, U.S, Fed, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Richmond Fed, CNBC, JPMorgan, Reuters Graphics, Labor, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S

Twelve Democrats voted with 214 Republicans for the bill, and two Republicans joined 194 Democrats in objecting. Republicans have a 221-212 majority in the House, but Biden's fellow Democrats control the Senate 51-49. To become law, the bill would have to pass both the House and Senate and be signed by Biden. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office on Wednesday said the IRS cuts and Israel aid in the House bill would add nearly $30 billion to the U.S. budget deficit, currently estimated at $1.7 trillion. After the vote, Johnson urged the Senate and White House to quickly approve the bill.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Biden, Schumer, Kay Granger, Nathan Howard, Rosa DeLauro, Johnson, Patricia Zengerle, Makini Brice, Scott Malone, Mark Porter, Alistair Bell, Chris Reese Organizations: U.S . House, Republican, Internal Revenue, Republicans, Israel, Internal Revenue Service, Democratic, Senate, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, White, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Israel, Iran, Ukraine, Taiwan, Washington , U.S, Gaza City, Kyiv, U.S, Mexico

☆ Stellantis to give big raises, invest billions in UAW deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Stellantis declined to comment, saying it would wait for workers to vote first before discussing the deal. Stellantis will also offer $50,000 buyouts in 2024 and 2026 to UAW production workers, allowing it to cut costs by hiring fresh workers who start at lower wages. The UAW said the Stellantis investment commitments total about $19 billion, but that includes some previously announced plans. Stellantis has slightly longer than rival Ford to convert current temporary workers to permanent employees. That is on top of the $5,000 bonus hourly workers will get on ratification along with an 11% immediate pay hike.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Joe Biden, Stellantis, Ford, David Shepardson, Paul Lienert, Chris Reese, Diane Craft, Jamie Freed Organizations: United Auto Workers, UAW, Chrysler, U.S, Ford, Toledo Jeep, EV, Dodge, Jeep, General Motors, Thomson Locations: Belleville, Wayne County , Michigan, U.S, Illinois, Belvidere , Illinois, Belvidere, Toledo, Michigan, Detroit, Dodge Durango, North America, Washington

☆ Jordan to Tell Blinken Israel Must Immediately Stop War on Gaza -Official Statement
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

AMMAN (Reuters) - Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi will tell U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Amman on Saturday that Israel must end its war on Gaza where he said it was committing war crimes by bombing civilians and imposing a siege. In a foreign ministry statement, Safadi warned that Israel's unreadiness to end the war was pushing the region rapidly towards a regional war that threatened world peace. "Safadi will stress (to Blinken) the need to move immediately to stop the Israeli war on Gaza ... and that Israel abide by international law and stop its breaches," Safadi said. Jordan, which shares a border with the West Bank, absorbed the bulk of Palestinians who fled or were driven out of their homes when Israel was created in 1948. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Chris Reese and Sandra Maler)

Persons: Ayman Safadi, Antony Blinken, Safadi, Israel, Blinken, King Abdullah, Israel's, Suleiman Al, Khalidi, Chris Reese, Sandra Maler Organizations: Jordanian, U.S, West Bank, Jordan Locations: AMMAN, Amman, Israel, Gaza, Jordan

☆ Albemarle cuts annual forecast on slumping lithium prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A lithium evaporation pond is seen at Albemarle Lithium production facility in Silver Peak, Nevada, U.S. October 6, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 1 (Reuters) - Albemarle (ALB.N), the world's largest producer of lithium for electric vehicle batteries, trimmed its annual forecast on Wednesday and reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit amid slumping prices for the ultralight metal. That is reflected in lithium prices, which have tumbled more than 60% this year. Albemarle reported third-quarter net income of $302.5 million, or $2.57 per share, compared to $897.2 million, or $7.61 per share, in the year-ago period. For the year, the company trimmed its net sales forecast to a range of $9.5 billion to $9.8 billion.

Persons: Carlos Barria, Albemarle, Hancock, Gina Rinehart, Ernest Scheyder, Chris Reese, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Liontown Resources, Thomson Locations: Albemarle, Silver, , Nevada, U.S, Charlotte, North Carolina, Argentina

☆ Ukraine war moving to attritional phase, army needs new capabilities -army chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Servicemen of the 15th Separate Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine prepare a Shark drone for launching, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, October 30, 2023. In an article for The Economist, General Valery Zaluzhnyi said his army needed key new military capabilities and technology, most importantly air power, to break out of the new phase of the war, now in its 21st month. But Ukraine's armed forces need key military capabilities and technologies to break out of this kind of war. The most important one is air power," he wrote. He singled out Russia's air power advantage as a factor that had made advancing harder and called for Kyiv to conduct massive drone strikes to overload Russia's air defences.

Persons: Alina Smutko, General Valery Zaluzhnyi, Tom Balmforth, Chris Reese, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade, Armed Forces, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kharkiv region, Russia, Moscow, Ukrainian, Kyiv

A Boeing logo is seen at the 54th International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, June 18, 2023. The Lockbit threat was no longer on the gang's website as of Wednesday, and it didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Boeing declined to comment on whether Lockbit was behind the cyber incident it disclosed. It's unclear what data Lockbit may have stolen from the company. "Paying the ransom would simply elicit a pinky promise from LockBit that they will destroy whatever data they obtained," Callow said.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, didn't, Lockbit, Brett Callow, Emsisoft, Callow, Valerie Insinna, Chris Reese, Lisa Shumaker, Jamie Freed Organizations: Boeing, Paris, REUTERS, Rights, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Security Agency, Global Services, Services, Thomson Locations: Le Bourget, Paris, France

☆ Jury awards $7.1 million to a burn victim who alleged that a can of cooking spray 'exploded into a fireball'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Tammy Reese was badly burned when a can of commercial-brand cooking spray ignited, a lawsuit alleged. A jury has ordered Conagra Brands to pay $7.1 million in compensatory and punitive damages. "We continue to stand by our cooking spray products, which are safe and effective when used correctly, as instructed. Consumers can check if their cooking spray cans are vented by looking at whether the bottom of the can has four small U-shaped slits, Smith said. "In a commercial kitchen, that's a sort of normal place where people leave their cooking spray cans when they're actually using them.

Persons: Tammy Reese, Conagra, —, Pam, Reese, Craig Smith, Marie Callender's, Chef Boyardee, Slim Jim, Smith, Peter Flowers Organizations: Brands, Service, Conagra, Swiss Miss Locations: Illinois, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Shippensburg , Pennsylvania, Cook, Swiss

Chicago-based Conagra Brands must pay out $3.1 million in compensatory damages and $4 million in punitive damages to Reese, according to the Cook County Circuit Court verdict. Consumers can check if their cooking spray cans are vented by looking at whether the bottom of the can has four small U-shaped slits, Smith said. The cooking spray that exploded near Reese had been stored on a shelf about 18 inches (46 centimeters) above the stove, according to Flowers. “In a commercial kitchen, that’s a sort of normal place where people leave their cooking spray cans when they’re actually using them. The redesign was not related to the lawsuits and was part of an effort to standardize the company’s cans, Conagra said.

Persons: —, Tammy Reese, Pam, Reese, “, Craig Smith, Marie Callender’s, Chef Boyardee, Slim Jim, Smith, ” Peter Flowers, Conagra, ___ Savage Organizations: CHICAGO, Brands, Conagra, Swiss Miss, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Illinois, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Shippensburg , Pennsylvania, Cook, Swiss

☆ Pennsylvania Woman Is Awarded $7.1 Million in Damages From Conagra
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Rebecca Carballo | More About Rebecca Carballo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

A jury in Illinois ordered Chicago-based Conagra Brands to pay $7.1 million to a Pennsylvania woman who was badly burned when a can of cooking spray caught fire at her workplace kitchen. The woman, Tammy Reese, was working in a kitchen at Hub City Club in Shippensburg, Penn., in May 2017 and using Pam cooking spray when it suddenly “exploded into a fireball, causing burns,” according to the complaint filed in 2019. Ms. Reese suffered second-degree burns on her head, face, hands and arms and spent weeks getting burn care, Ms. Reese’s lawyer, J. Craig Smith, said. The jury ruled in favor of Ms. Reese on counts that included liability, design defect, failure to warn, and negligence and willful and wanton conduct, according to documents filed in Cook County Circuit Court on Monday.

Persons: Tammy Reese, Pam, Ms, Reese, J, Craig Smith Organizations: Brands, City Club Locations: Illinois, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Shippensburg, Penn, Cook County

CHICAGO (AP) — As the first blast of wintry weather hit Chicago, dozens of migrant families without a place to live were moved off snowy city streets and into the basement of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in a nearby suburb. The last-minute, temporary solution around 1 a.m. Wednesday, coordinated by volunteers and suburban Oak Park officials, came as Chicago has struggled to house the growing population of asylum-seekers ahead of the deep winter months. City officials have been scouting locations for winterized tents, but City Council members have criticized Johnson's administration for a lack of details. This week, the city publicized its winter efforts, including providing 16 “warming buses” at police stations during overnight hours, and winter coats for new arrivals. Last month, the city touted its partnerships with several outside organizations to provide food, clothing and hygiene items.

Persons: Brandon Johnson, ”, Annie Gomberg, Greg Abbott, They’re, tarps, Gleicy Martinez, ” Martinez, Johnson, Joe Biden, Ronnie Reese, Kathy Nolte, Good Shephard, “, Melissa Perez Winder Organizations: CHICAGO, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Republican Texas Gov, Volunteer, Wednesday, Chicago, City, Associated Press Locations: Chicago, Good, Oak, Venezuela, United States, ”, Oak Park

☆ Blinken Says US, Others Exploring Options for Future of Gaza After Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Blinken told a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing the status quo of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas being in charge of the densely populated enclave could not continue, but Israel did not want to run Gaza either. Between those two positions were "a variety of possible permutations that we're looking at very closely now, as are other countries," Blinken said. It may involve international agencies that would help provide for both security and governance," Blinken said. U.N. and other aid officials said civilians in the besieged Palestinian enclave were engulfed by a public health catastrophe, with hospitals struggling to treat casualties as electricity supplies petered out. "We have had very preliminary talks about what the future of Gaza might look like," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a briefing.

Persons: Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis WASHINGTON, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Joe Biden's, Matthew Miller, Simon Lewis, Steve Holland, Costas Pitas, Stephen Coates, Chris Reese Organizations: Palestinian, United Nations, Bloomberg, U.S, Department Locations: United States, Gaza, Israel, U.N, Washington

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks in Tel Aviv, Tuesday Oct. 17, 2023, after an overnight meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Blinken told a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing the status quo of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas being in charge of the densely populated enclave could not continue, but Israel did not want to run Gaza either. Between those two positions were "a variety of possible permutations that we're looking at very closely now, as are other countries," Blinken said. It may involve international agencies that would help provide for both security and governance," Blinken said. "We have had very preliminary talks about what the future of Gaza might look like," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a briefing.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jacquelyn Martin, Blinken, Joe Biden's, Matthew Miller, Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis, Steve Holland, Costas Pitas, Stephen Coates, Chris Reese Organizations: Israeli, Rights, Palestinian, United Nations, Bloomberg, U.S, Department, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, United States, Gaza, Israel, U.N, Washington

☆ Canada optimistic about digital services tax agreement with US
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Canada's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland speaks to journalists on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada September 19, 2023. REUTERS/Blair Gable Acquire Licensing RightsOTTAWA, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Tuesday she was cautiously optimistic about settling a dispute with the United States about Ottawa's planned digital services tax (DST) on large technology companies. The digital services plan aims to address the challenge of taxing digital giants like Alphabet (GOOGL.O) and Amazon.com (AMZN.O) that can book their profits in low-tax countries. The process of negotiating a global tax deal has dragged on, and it was pushed back further in July to allow for more negotiations. Ottawa says not implementing its DST for another year would put Canada at a disadvantage relative to countries that have been collecting revenue under their pre-existing digital services taxes.

Persons: Finance Chrystia Freeland, Blair Gable, Chrystia Freeland, Freeland, Ismail Shakil, Chris Reese, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Finance, REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Canadian Finance, DST, Thomson Locations: Ottawa , Ontario, Canada, United States, U.S, Washington, Ottawa

Palestinians conduct search and rescue operations at the site of Israeli strikes on a residential building, in the central Gaza Strip October 31, 2023. REUTERS/Ahmed Zakot Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The United States has made "real progress" in the last few hours in negotiations to secure a safe passage for Americans and other foreigners who wish to depart the Gaza Strip, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Tuesday. So far, traffic at Rafah has reopened one way allowing aid trucks to go slowly into Gaza. "We would hope that any agreement to get any individuals out would also unlock the possibility of American citizens or their families and other foreign nationals coming out," Miller said. "We're working with various parties to try to facilitate their departure from Gaza.

Persons: Ahmed Zakot, Matthew Miller, Miller, Qataris, Israel, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Simon Lewis, Humeyra Pamuk, Daphne Psaledakis, Jasper Ward, Chris Reese, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, United, U.S . State Department, Thomson Locations: Gaza, United States, U.S, Rafah, Egypt, Jasper

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