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☆ Belgium toasts its beer riches with new visitor centre
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] An inside view of the Belgian Beer World, the world's largest interactive experience center about beer, that opened in the renovated stock exchange building "La Bourse/De Beurs", in Brussels, Belgium September 7, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Belgium is promoting its centuries of beer-making and 430 breweries with a new visitor centre in Brussels that recounts the history of Belgian production and aims to show what is unique about the country's beer and beer culture. Belgian Beer World will open on Saturday in the neoclassical former Brussels Stock Exchange, renovated at a cost of 90 million euros ($96.25 million). Visitors will learn about "Belgitude" - Belgian identity - and what distinguishes Belgian beer from others - such as the four different fermentation methods and the culture of each beer having its own branded glass. Belgium produces some 1,600 beers and its beer culture secured a place on the UNESCO global list of traditions worthy of preservation in 2016.

Persons: Yves Herman Acquire, Krishan Maudgal, Mayor Philippe Close, Philip Blenkinsop, Frances Kerry Organizations: Belgian Beer, REUTERS, Rights, Brussels Stock Exchange, Belgian Brewers, UNESCO, Mayor, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Rights BRUSSELS, Belgian, Dublin, Amsterdam

☆ Walmart changes starting pay structure for entry-level store workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Walmart Inc FollowSept 7 (Reuters) - Walmart (WMT.N) is changing the hourly starting wage structure for entry-level store workers, as companies seek to reduce costs in a slowing job market. Deli, auto center and bakery workers will continue to receive higher starting wages as they are higher-skilled roles, she added. The Wall Street Journal, which was the first to report the wage structure changes that went into effect in mid-July, said the changes mean paying some new store workers less than it would have three months ago, citing documents seen by the Journal and store workers. Walmart pays its employees different starting wages based on where the store is based. The new wage structure will not change Walmart's minimum hourly wage of $14 or result in any pay cuts for existing employees, the spokesperson said.

Persons: Kamil Krzaczynski, Anne Hatfield, Hatfield, Walmart's, Ananya Mariam Rajesh, Siddharth Cavale, Maju Samuel, Frances Kerry Organizations: REUTERS, Walmart, Street, Journal, Midwest, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, United States, Bengaluru, New York

☆ Finland's Ex-PM Marin to Join Blair Think Tank, Leave Parliament
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland's former Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who narrowly lost an election in April and stepped down from the leadership of her party last week, plans to leave parliament and join the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, she said on Thursday. Based on her new position, Marin is formally asking permission to resign from parliament, her centre-left Social Democrats party said. The London-based policy think tank is led by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. "I feel that this assignment is such that it will benefit the whole of Finland as well," Marin told reporters. Marin was the world's youngest prime minister when she took office in 2019 aged 34, attracting attention around the globe and helping lift Finland's profile at a turbulent time.

Persons: Sanna Marin, Tony Blair, Marin, Anne Kauranen, Terje Solsvik, Frances Kerry Organizations: Tony, Tony Blair Institute for Global, Social, British, NATO Locations: HELSINKI, London, Finland, COVID, Ukraine

☆ UK employers curb hiring at fastest rate in over 3 years: REC
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( David Milliken | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Workers walk through the Canary Wharf financial district, ahead of a Bank of England decision on interest rate changes, in London, Britain, August 3, 2023. REC also reported that starting salaries rose at the joint-slowest pace since March 2021, although this was still a large increase by historic standards. A BoE survey on Thursday showed employers expect to raise wages by 5% over the coming year, above the 3-4% rate typical before the pandemic, when inflation stayed close to target. REC said there were "widespread reports" from its members that the pool of jobseekers had been swollen by increased redundancies. The REC surveyed around 400 recruitment agencies between Aug. 10 and Aug. 24.

Persons: Toby Melville, Neil Carberry, BoE, BoE Governor Andrew Bailey, jobseekers, David Milliken, Frances Kerry Organizations: Bank of, REUTERS, Confederation, REC, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: Bank of England, London, Britain

NEW YORK (AP) — Pets provide joy and companionship, but costs can add up quickly, especially if you're a first-time owner and don't know what to expect. Once you get them home, pets need a bed, food, leashes and harnesses and grooming supplies, among other things. Gelber ended up paying a small fraction of those amounts because she had pet insurance, which she got knowing that French bulldogs are prone to getting sick. But Simon, who has had dogs for 25 years, has never gotten pet insurance and has not needed it during that time. Regardless of how much they have spent on their dogs, Chavez, Gelbert and Simon agree they don't regret having them in their lives.

Persons: it's, ”, Wendy Hauser, Melissa Chavez, Milo, “ I’ve, ” Chavez, Kerry O'Hara, Lauren Gelber, Gelber, Sharon Simon, Simon, Hauser, “, Maine coons, " Hauser, Chavez, I’m, “ Don’t, Gelbert, Charles Schwab Organizations: American Pet Products Association, American Society for, French bulldogs, bulldogs, Facebook, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP Locations: APPA, Marin , California, Europe, Salinas , California, Maine

☆ Finland's ex-PM Marin to join Blair think tank, leave parliament
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO-Finland's Social Democrats Party Chair, former Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin waves from the stage before her resignation speech at the Party Congress of the Socialdemocrats of Finland in Jyvaskyla, Finland, September 1, 2023. Based on her new position, Marin is formally asking permission to resign from parliament, her centre-left Social Democrats party said. The London-based policy think tank is led by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. "I feel that this assignment is such that it will benefit the whole of Finland as well," Marin told reporters. Marin was the world's youngest prime minister when she took office in 2019 aged 34, attracting attention around the globe and helping lift Finland's profile at a turbulent time.

Persons: Marin, Ulander, Sanna Marin, Tony Blair, Anne Kauranen, Terje Solsvik, Frances Kerry Organizations: Finland's Social, Chair, Party Congress, REUTERS, Rights, Tony, Tony Blair Institute for Global, Social, British, NATO, Thomson Locations: Finland, Jyvaskyla, London, COVID, Ukraine

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A two-day summit in Romania began on Wednesday that brings together 12 European Union member states situated between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas, as the grouping of mostly formerly communist countries aim to boost ties and connectivity amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Three Seas Initiative, which is being held in the capital, Bucharest, brings together high-ranking officials from EU countries as well as representatives from partner countries and aims to improve interconnectivity in the transportation, energy, and the digital fields. Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu tweeted Wednesday that she had “excellent discussions” with the U.S. assistant secretary of state for energy resources, Geoffrey Pyatt, about joint projects that aim to bolster regional energy security. On the sidelines of the event, Moldovan President Maia Sandu met Wednesday with Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. ___Stephen McGrath reported from Sighisoara, Romania.

Persons: Klaus Iohannis, isn’t, Luminita Odobescu, Geoffrey Pyatt, Odobescu, Iohannis, Maia Sandu, Marcel Ciolacu, Sandu, “, John Kerry, ___ Stephen McGrath Organizations: Union, Seas Initiative, U.S, EU, Romanian Locations: BUCHAREST, Romania, Black, Adriatic, Ukraine, Bucharest, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria, Estonia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Romanian, Moldova, Greece, Moldovan, Sighisoara

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Climate change is “relentlessly eating away” at Africa’s economic progress and it’s time to have a global conversation about a carbon tax on polluters, Kenya’s president declared Tuesday as the first Africa Climate Summit got underway. He and other leaders urged reforms to the global financial structures that have left African nations paying about five times more to borrow money than others, worsening the debt crisis for many. Africa has more than 30 of the world’s most indebted countries, Kenya’s Cabinet secretary for the environment, Soipan Tuya, said. Africa’s GDP should be revalued for its assets, which include the world's second-largest rainforest and biodiversity, African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina said. “It is an African story, and I daresay it’s a global story, too.”___Follow AP’s coverage of the climate at https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment and of Africa at https://apnews.com/hub/africa

Persons: William Ruto, Tuya, John Kerry, Kerry, Joe Biden, ” Ruto, ”, Ruto, “ It’s, Sahle, Zewde, Akinwumi Adesina, Adesina, Martha Lusweti, Antonio Guterres, Ursula Von der Leyen, lullabies, Sierra, Julius Maada Organizations: Africa Climate Summit, European Union, Kenyan, United, United Arab Emirates, Development Bank, ”, International Monetary Fund Locations: NAIROBI, Kenya, Africa, China, United States, U.S, United Arab, United Nations, Europe, U.N, Africa's, Nigeria's Niger Delta, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Congo, africa

☆ Mercedes boss: EV costs will remain higher for foreseeable future
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ola Kaellenius's comments come as Mercedes-Benz disclosed more details about its newest electric vehicle architecture, the CLA compact electric sedan, which will launch next year and target 30% to 35% more driving range. "The variable costs for an electric car are higher. It will remain that way for the foreseeable future," Kaellenius told journalists at the IAA car show in Munich, adding higher costs could not be passed on to customers on a like for like basis. Variable costs weighing on the price tag of EV production include raw materials for batteries, software development, and electricity prices. Batteries for the CLA will be produced by key supplier CATL (300750.SZ) and ACC, in which Mercedes owns a third.

Persons: Ola Kaellenius's, Kaellenius, Markus Schaefer, Mercedes, Schaefer, Christina Amann, Christoph Steitz, Frances Kerry Organizations: Benz, Mercedes, IAA, ACC, Victoria, Thomson Locations: Woodstock , Alabama, MUNICH, Munich

☆ U.S. Commerce Secretary says she 'didn't pull any punches' during recent visit to China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo arrives for a meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao, at the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing, Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo met with Chinese officials in a high-stakes visit to Beijing and Shanghai this week, and she said Sunday that the trip helped establish open lines of communication between the two nations. Raimondo is the fourth high-level U.S. official to visit China this summer, but she is the first U.S. Commerce secretary to travel to the country in five years — a period where the bilateral relationship has grown increasingly tense. The Commerce secretary's trip to China followed recent visits from U.S. special envoy for climate John Kerry, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Raimondo said Sunday that the export controls are about national security, not about gaining an economic advantage.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, Wang Wentao, Raimondo, NBC's, John Kerry, Janet Yellen, Antony Blinken Organizations: Commerce, Ministry of Commerce, . Commerce, U.S . Commerce, China, Press, U.S, Treasury, U.S . Department of Commerce's, of Industry, Security, Sunday Locations: Beijing, Shanghai, China, U.S

☆ In overture to China, pope sends greetings to a 'noble' people
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins Acquire Licensing RightsULAANBAATAR, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Pope Francis sent greetings to China on Sunday, calling its citizens a "noble" people and asking Catholics in China to be "good Christians and good citizens," in his latest overture to the communist country to ease restrictions on religion. Francis made the unscripted comments at the end of a Mass in Mongolia's capital, calling up the former and current archbishops of Hong Kong, Cardinal John Tong Hon and Archbishop Stephen Chow, to flank him as he spoke. "These two brother bishops - the emeritus of Hong Kong and the current bishop of Hong Kong. I would like to take advantage of their presence to send a warm greeting to the noble Chinese people," he said in Italian. And to Chinese Catholics I ask to be good Christians and good citizens," he said.

Persons: Pope Francis, Cardinal John Tong, Hong Kong's, Stephen Chow, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Francis, Chow, Hong, Philip Pullella, William Mallard, David Evans, Frances Kerry Organizations: REUTERS, Hong, Catholic, Communist Party, Reuters, Catholic Church, Thomson Locations: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, ULAANBAATAR, China, Mongolia's, Hong Kong, Beijing, Vatican, Vietnam, Hanoi, British, Asia

☆ Ukraine expects boom in drone production, defence minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Ukraine intends to increase drone production as early as this autumn, the Ukrainian defence minister was quoted as saying on Sunday, as the country conducts more frequent drone attacks on Russian territory. Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory have picked up in recent weeks, with dozens of drones striking Russia at once on some days, reaching as far as the western city of Pskov, 400 miles (600 km) from Ukraine. Kyiv has used both aerial drones to attack airfields and aquatic drones to attack ships and the bridge to Crimea. "I think this autumn there will be a boom in the production of various Ukrainian drones: flying, floating, crawling, etc., and this will continue to grow in volume," Oleksii Reznikov told the state-run Ukrinform news agency. Especially for drone manufacturers who started production from garages," he said.

Persons: Oleksii Reznikov, Pavel Polityuk, Frances Kerry Organizations: Kyiv, Russia's Defence, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russia, Pskov, Kyiv, Crimea, Moscow

☆ Bank of Israel to stay on hold as inflation eases but hike cycle may not be done: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Steven Scheer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

FILE PHOTO-The Bank of Israel building is seen in Jerusalem June 16, 2020. Israel's annual inflation rate dropped to 3.3% in July from 4.2% in June, its lowest rate since March 2022 but above a government target range of 1-3%. "The central bank will leave the door open for further rate hikes and maintain its relatively hawkish stance, given that the shekel remains weak and exposed to domestic political developments," said Goldman Sachs economist Tadas Gedminas. The Bank of Israel left its key rate unchanged in July after an aggressive rate hike cycle that took the rate from 0.1%. Minutes of the meeting showed policymakers were concerned the shekel could keep inflation from moving back to its target and that further rate increases were possible.

Persons: Ronen, Zalina Alborova, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Goldman Sachs, Tadas Gedminas, Morgan Stanley's Georgi Deyanov, Bhumika Gupta, Steven Scheer, Frances Kerry Organizations: Bank of, REUTERS, Reuters, Bank of Israel, Barclays, Citi, The Bank of Israel, Thomson Locations: Bank of Israel, Jerusalem, Israel

[1/3] Ukrainian business tycoon and one of Ukraine's most prominent billionaires Ihor Kolomoisky speaks with Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Prosecutor General's Office officers at an unknown location, in this picture released on September 2, 2023. Security Service of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Ukraine's main security agency accused tycoon Ihor Kolomoisky of fraud and money laundering on Saturday, naming one of the country's most prominent businessmen a suspect in a criminal investigation. "It was established that during 2013-2020, Ihor Kolomoisky legalized more than half a billion hryvnias ($14 million) by withdrawing them abroad and using the infrastructure of banks under (his) control," the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said in a statement. CRACKDOWN ON CORRUPTIONDuring the war, Zelenskiy has been keen to stress Ukraine's crackdown on corruption as Kyiv has applied to join the European Union. U.S. authorities have also alleged Kolomoisky and a business partner laundered stolen funds through the United States.

Persons: Ihor Kolomoisky, Ihor, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Kolomoisky, Zelenskiy, Yaroslav Zheleznyak, Iryna Gerashchenko, laundered, Olena, Tomasz Janowski, Frances Kerry Organizations: Service of Ukraine, General's, Security Service, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Kolomoisky, Security Service of Ukraine, European Union, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Handout, Kyiv, Soviet Union, United States

☆ Nobel Foundation cancels Russia, Belarus, Iran invites to annual prize awards
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

STOCKHOLM, Sept 2 (Reuters) - The Nobel Foundation said on Saturday it would not after all invite the ambassadors of Russia, Belarus and Iran to attend the Nobel Prize awards ceremony in Stockholm this year, reversing an earlier decision after widespread criticism. Last year, the foundation left out the ambassadors of Russia and its ally Belarus because of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The foundation said on Thursday it would invite them, and Iran's ambassador, to this year's prize award ceremonies in December, commenting that it sought to include even those who did not share the values of the Nobel Prize. "We, therefore, choose to repeat last year's exception to regular practice – that is, to not invite the ambassadors of Russia, Belarus and Iran to the Nobel Prize award ceremony in Stockholm." The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo where separate festivities are held.

Persons: Simon Johnson, Frances Kerry Organizations: Nobel, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Russia, Belarus, Iran, Stockholm, Ukraine, Sweden, Oslo

☆ Russian defence ministry says it downed three drones near border as Ukrainian shelling kills 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 2 (Reuters) - The Russian Defence Ministry said on Saturday that it had brought down three Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod region, while the regional governor said that one man had been killed in a Ukrainian rocket strike on a village close to the border. Separately, the governors of the nearby frontier regions of Bryansk and Kursk said a string of border villages had come under fire from Ukraine, and a woman had been wounded in Kursk region. Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory have picked up in recent weeks, with dozens of drones striking Russia at once on some days, reaching as far as the western city of Pskov, 400 miles (600 km) from Ukraine. Russian-installed authorities in the Moscow-controlled part of Ukraine's Kherson region also said on Saturday that Kyiv struck the village of Maslivka in a drone strike, wounding a civilian. Reporting by Felix Light Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Felix Light, Tomasz Janowski, Frances Kerry Organizations: Russian Defence Ministry, Kyiv, Thomson Locations: Belgorod, Ukrainian, Bryansk, Kursk, Ukraine, Kursk region, Russia, Pskov, Russian, Moscow, Ukraine's Kherson, Maslivka

☆ Jimmy Buffett, American singer-songwriter, dies at 76
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 2 (Reuters) - American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, best known for his "Margaritaville" escapist tribute to the tropical life, has died at the age of 76, according to his website on Saturday. "Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs. Buffett made 27 studio albums - with four platinum and eight gold albums - in a career that spanned over five decades and included writing and running a business empire. He is survived by his wife Jane Slagsvol, their two daughters, Sarah and Savannah, and son, Cameron. Reporting by Baranjot Kaur in Bengaluru Editing by John Stonestreet and Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jimmy Buffett, Jimmy, Margaritaville, Buffett, Jane Slagsvol, Cameron, Baranjot Kaur, John Stonestreet, Frances Kerry Organizations: Thomson Locations: Savannah, Bengaluru

☆ Spanish government urges soccer boss suspension after mild court ruling
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Rubiales caused a storm when he kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain's victory in the women's World Cup in Sydney. He also grabbed his crotch while standing feet away from Spain's Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter. World soccer governing body FIFA has already suspended Rubiales from all football-related activities for three months while it investigates, but the CSD said it would move ahead with its own case regardless. Hermoso has said she did not consent to the kiss and felt "vulnerable and the victim of an aggression". Spain's Olympic chief said on Friday Rubiales' actions were "inappropriate, unacceptable" and did not represent Spanish sport as a whole.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales, Juan, TAD, Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Letizia, Miquel Iceta, Hermoso, Luis de la Fuente, Jessica Jones, Fernado Kallas, Emma Pinedo, David Latona, Andrei Khalip, Frances Kerry, Peter Graff Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, Spain's, Moncloa, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Sports Council, Administrative, El Mundo, Prosecutors, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Madrid, Spain, MADRID, Sydney

☆ Finland's Marin, once the world's youngest premier, steps down as party leader
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Essi Lehto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Finland's Social Democrats Party Chair, former Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin waves from the stage before her resignation speech at the Party Congress of the Socialdemocrats of Finland in Jyvaskyla, Finland, September 1, 2023. Marin, who had announced her intention to quit soon after the election loss, was the world's youngest prime minister when she took the post in 2019 aged 34, attracting attention around the globe and helping lift Finland's profile. After her election loss, Marin said she looked forward to a quieter life and later also announced a divorce from her husband. Entering the stage on Friday to the beat of Aretha Franklin's "Respect", Marin thanked her party for its support. She was due to formally hand over the reins later on Friday after the Social Democrats elect a new leader.

Persons: Marin, Ulander, Sanna Marin, succesfully, Aretha Franklin's, Essi, Terje Solsvik, Frances Kerry Organizations: Finland's Social, Chair, Party Congress, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Social Democrats, NATO, Vogue, Time, National Coalition, Finns, Thomson Locations: Finland, Jyvaskyla, COVID, Ukraine, Russia, U.S

☆ Gabon coup leader will not rush to elections despite mounting pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Trucks carrying industrial equipments wait because of the closure of the border after the coup in Gabon, in the border town of Kye-Ossi, Cameroon August 31, 2023. The officers placed Bongo under house arrest and installed Nguema as head of state, ending the Bongo family's 56-year hold on power. "Going as quickly as possible does not mean organising ad hoc elections, where we will end up with the same errors," he said. Gabon's election commission said after the election that Bongo had been re-elected with 64% of the vote, while Ondo Ossa secured almost 31%. It said it will impose sanctions on the coup leaders if they do not restore constitutional order.

Persons: Danga, Nguema, Gabon's, Ali Bongo, General Brice Oligui Nguema, Bongo, Alexandra Pangha, Albert Ondo Ossa, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, Ian Ghislain Ngoulou, Bongo Valentin, Bongo's, Mohamed Bazoum, Ondo Ossa, Pangha, Wilfried Obangome, Sonia Rolley, Libby George, Juliette Jabkhiro, Edward McAllister, Anait Miridzhanian, Sofia Christensen, Frances Kerry, Peter Graff, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Monday, Military, Central Africa's, Central African, ECCAS, United Nations, African Union, BBC, Nguema, Gabon, Timothe, Ondo, Security, Thomson Locations: Gabon, Kye, Ossi, Cameroon, Monday LIBREVILLE, Libreville, Republic, France, United States, State, Guinea, Chad, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ondo

☆ Canadian dollar posts biggest loss in 1 month as economy shrinks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Fergal Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A Canadian dollar coin, commonly known as the "Loonie", is pictured in this illustration picture taken in Toronto January 23, 2015. The loonie was trading 0.6% lower at 1.3595 to the U.S. dollar, or 73.56 U.S. cents, its biggest decline since Aug. 1. "The Bank of Canada's job is done," said Adam Button, chief currency analyst at ForexLive. "The Canadian dollar is selling off because the debate will quickly shift to when rate cuts are coming. Separate data showed that the contraction in Canada's manufacturing sector gathered pace in August.

Persons: Mark Blinch, Adam Button, It's, Fergal Smith, Frances Kerry, Alison Williams Organizations: REUTERS, greenback, Canadian, U.S, of Canada, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Toronto, TORONTO, Canada

President Biden had bet that high-level dialogue could help manage an escalating rivalry over trade, technology and the status of Taiwan. After logging all those miles, the question now is whether China will reciprocate by sending senior Chinese ministers to Washington. The United States has publicly invited China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, but he has yet to accept. The last senior Chinese official to travel to Washington was China’s commerce minister, Wang Wentao, who visited in late May. China has much to gain from dispatching officials to the United States.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, Biden, Antony J, Blinken, Janet L, John Kerry, Wang Yi, Wang Wentao, China’s, Xi Jinping Organizations: Taiwan, United Locations: China, Beijing, Washington, United States, San Francisco

☆ Spain's sport court opens case against soccer boss in World Cup scandal - El Pais
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Rubiales sparked a storm when he kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain's win in Sydney. He also grabbed his crotch while standing feet away from Spain's Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter. World soccer governing body FIFA has already suspended Rubiales from all football-related activities for three months while it investigates, but the CSD said it would move ahead with its own case regardless. Hermoso has said she did not consent to the kiss and felt "vulnerable and the victim of an aggression". Reporting by Jessica Jones, Jesús Aguado and David Latona, Editing by Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales, Juan Medina, TAD, Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Letizia, Hermoso, Jessica Jones, Jesús Aguado, David Latona, Frances Kerry Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, Spain's, Moncloa, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales REUTERS, Rights, National Sports Council, Sydney, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Madrid, Spain, Rights MADRID, El Pais

☆ 13 brands, from Coca-Cola to REI, that are pouring money into movies and TV to reach consumers with Hollywood-style storytelling
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Mattel's Barbie is just one of many big brands getting serious about making Hollywood-style entertainment. "Barbie" may be the movie of the summer, but lots of other big brands are getting serious about making Hollywood-style entertainment. Brands are also getting more systematic about tracking the projects' outcome so they can justify the cost. Neutrogena: Neutrogena Studios launched in 2021 and is J&J Consumer's first brand-funded content studio to make feature documentaries and scripted shorts. Showtime/PepsiPepsiCo: PepsiCo's Content Studio is led by veteran PepsiCo marketer Lou Arbetter.

Persons: Barbie, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer's, Oscar, Michael Sugar, Brian Newman, REI, Michael Sugar's, Jae Goodman, Lauren Denowitz, Coke, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard's, Selman Careaga, John Deere, Mara Downing, Al Roker, Jill Wilfert, Robbie Brenner, J.J, Abrams, Lena Dunham, Barney, Daniel Kaluuya, J, Sebastian Garcia, Laurie Hernandez, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck's, Entertainment —, Justin Biskin —, Howard, Lou Arbetter, Max, Robert Rodriguez, Nadia Hallgre, Stanley Nelson, Arbetter, It's, Procter, Kimberly Doebereiner, Paolo Mottola, Kyra Sedgwick, Watiti, Saint Laurent, Anthony Vaccarello, Saint, Pedro Almodóvar, Ethan Hawke, Pedro Pascal, it's, Paolo Sorrentino, David Cronenberg, Kelly Mullen, Bryce Dallas Howard, Lena Waithe, WePresent, Holly Fraser, Moses Sumney, Solange Knowles, Riz Ahmed, Aneil, Fraser Organizations: Hollywood, Procter, Gamble, Brands, Unilever, InBev, Waffle Iron Entertainment, draftLine Entertainment, Netflix, Coca Cola, Entertainment, Global, Deere, Warner Bros, Warner Brothers, Universal Studios, Mattel, Neutrogena Studios, Studio, Kerry, Seattle Film, Ghetto Film, HBO Nike, Nike, Waffle, Apple, HBO, Showtime, Pepsi PepsiCo, PepsiCo, Pepsi Super, Pepsi, G Studios, Imagine, Amazon's, Hulu, Paramount, Blue Fox Entertainment, Saint Laurent Productions, Unilever Entertainment, Imagine Entertainment, Monotype Locations: Hollywood, Kerry Washington, American, Cannes, Britain

☆ China's Premier Li Qiang will attend ASEAN summit - foreign ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends a meeting with U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry (not pictured) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China July 18, 2023. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Pool/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 1 (Reuters) - China's Premier Li Qiang will attend a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) being held Sept. 5-8, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Friday. While at the summit, Li will attend several meetings, including the East Asia Summit and a key meeting that includes Japan and South Korea. Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Li Qiang, John Kerry, Florence Lo, Li, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: U.S, of, People, REUTERS, Rights, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, East Asia Summit, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Japan, South Korea

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