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☆ Israel strikes Syria after drone hits southern Eilat city - Israeli military
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

JERUSALEM, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Israel's military said an organisation in Syria launched a drone that hit a school in the southern Israeli city of Eilat on Thursday and that it struck the group in response. The military did not say what organisation in Syria had launched the drone toward Eilat, on the Red Sea approximately 400 kms (250 miles) from the nearest point in Syrian territory. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement has launched repeated missile and drone attacks on Israel since Oct. 7, all of which were either shot down or fell short. Israel has boosted its naval presence in the Red Sea to better protect its southern shores, while the United States also has a significant amount of naval power in the region. Eilat is the Israel's main commercial gateway through the Red Sea.

Persons: Daniel Mueller, Mueller, Emily Rose, Jonathan Saul, Maytaal Angel, Rami Ayyub, Crispian Balmer, Alex Richardson, Daniel Wallis, Michael Perry Organizations: Patriot, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Syria, Eilat, Yemen's Iran, Israel, Yemen, Negev, United States, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ambrey, Ashdod

☆ Qatar wealth fund eyeing investment opportunities in China's retail, tech sectors
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Qatar's sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority is examining opportunities to invest in China's retail, healthcare, tech and logistics sectors, said Abdulla Al-Kuwari, head of the fund's unit Qatar Investment Authority Advisory (Asia Pacific). Those opportunities could involve public and private companies, Al-Kuwari said on Thursday during the Caixin Summit in Beijing. Chinese funds are also seeking new capital sources in the Middle East, as headwinds including diplomatic tensions drive many U.S. investors out of the country. Several China equity funds, including hedge funds and mutual funds, have told Reuters they visited the Middle East this year to raise money. Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Kane Wu; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Abdulla Al, Kuwari, LSEG, Roxanne Liu, Kane Wu, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Michael Perry Organizations: Qatar Investment Authority, Qatar Investment Authority Advisory, Asia, Al, Buyers, Reuters, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Qatar, Beijing . Middle East, China, Saudi Arabia

☆ Sino-US relations still face challenges - China's ambassador to US
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Xie Feng, China's new ambassador to the U.S., addresses the media as he arrives at JFK airport in New York City, U.S., May 23, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Nov 10 (Reuters) - China's ambassador to the United States said Sino-US relations have shown positive signs of stopping a decline and stabilising but still faced challenges, as the leaders of both countries prepare for an expected highly-anticipated meeting this month. Xie said under the leadership of China's President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden, and with the joint efforts of both sides, relations have recently shown positive signs. "Sino-U.S. relations are still facing severe challenges, and there is still a long way to go to stabilise and improve relations," Xie said. Reporting by Bernard Orr; Editing by Chris Reese and Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Xie Feng, Brendan McDermid, Xie, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xi, Biden, Bernard Orr, Chris Reese, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, China Relations, Economic Cooperation, Thomson Locations: U.S, New York City, Rights BEIJING, United States, China, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Asia, Taiwan, Bali

☆ Zac Efron says it would be ‘extraordinary’ to play Matthew Perry in biopic as the ‘Friends’ star wanted
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Amarachi Orie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Zac Efron has shared his response to finding out that Matthew Perry wanted the “High School Musical” actor to play him in a biopic. “I was hugely honored,” Efron told Extra TV during the premiere for his upcoming movie “The Iron Claw” in Dallas on Wednesday. Zac Efron played the younger version of Matthew Perry's character in the 2009 comedy film "17 Again." Perry revealed last year that Efron had, however, once turned down an opportunity to play a younger version of him. He added that the dream younger version of himself “was Zac Efron, but he said no.

Persons: CNN — Zac Efron, Matthew Perry, “, ” Efron, I’m, ”, Zac Efron, Matthew Perry's, Athenna Crosby, Perry, Efron “, ” Crosby, Efron, Perry costarred, Mike O’Donnell, Jessica Shaw, ” Perry, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Bel, Entertainment Locations: Dallas

[1/5] An Israeli soldier operates amid the ongoing ground invasion against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip, November 8, 2023. Hamas' armed wing on Wednesday released a video that appeared to show intense street battles alongside bombed out buildings in Gaza City. Israeli tanks have met heavy resistance from Hamas fighters using underground tunnels to stage ambushes, according to sources with Iran-backed Hamas and the separate Islamic Jihad militant group. ISRAEL BOMBS TUNNELSChief Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Wednesday that "Hamas has lost control in the north" of Gaza. The Israeli military has repeatedly told residents to evacuate the north or risk being trapped in the violence.

Persons: Ronen, Israel, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Khalil al, Saleh al, Daniel Hagari, Colonel Ido, Hagari, U.N, Nidal al, Angel, Emily Rose, Maayan, Rami Amichay, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Cynthia Osterman, Michael Perry Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, REUTERS, West Bank, Jihad, Palestinian Authority, Israel's, ABC News, New York Times, Israel, Reuters, Wednesday, Journalists, 401st Brigade, Thomson Locations: Israeli, Gaza, Gaza City, West, Gaza WASHINGTON, GAZA, JERUSALEM, United States, Hamas, Iran, Israel, Washington, Tokyo, Palestinian, Aqsa, ISRAEL, Gaza's, Qatar, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv

☆ To Matthew Perry, God Was a Bunch of Drunks in a Room - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Hank Azaria | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

In fact, Step 5 in the program is you admit to God — there’s that word again — and to yourself and another human being the exact nature of your wrongs. Tragically, I think he had a lot more compassion for me and for everybody else than he did for himself. Because I think it’s really valuable for people to hear that folks like Matthew can struggle and that they can find help. And there’s no shame in getting help for feeling that bad. I was unfortunate to have needed his help — or fortunate, depending on how you want to look at it.

Persons: Matthew, you’re, ”

☆ Australia records driest October since 2002 due to El Nino
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

In its regular drought report, the Bureau of Meteorology said last month was Australia's driest October since 2002, with rainfall 65% below the 1961–1990 average. It said every part of Australia except the state of Victoria had below-average rainfall and Western Australia state -- by far the biggest grain-exporting region -- saw its driest October on record. After three years of plentiful rain, the El Nino weather phenomenon has brought hot and dry weather to Australia, with September the driest since records began in 1900. "Areas of (rainfall) deficiency have generally expanded and become more severe in south-west Western Australia, south-eastern Queensland, and parts of the Top End in the Northern Territory and far north Queensland. Its long range forecast predicts below-median rainfall through to at least January in northern, western and southern Australia.

Persons: Jill Gralow, Peter Hobson, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Meteorology, El, Thomson Locations: Moree, Australia, El Nino, Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory, Tasmania

Gaza City, Hamas' main stronghold in the territory, is encircled. Israel says its troops have advanced to the heart of the densely-populated city while Hamas says its fighters have inflicted heavy losses on the invading forces. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel had "one target - Hamas terrorists in Gaza, their infrastructure, their commanders, bunkers, communications rooms". Gallant, the Israeli defence minister, said that after the war was finished, neither Israel nor Hamas would rule Gaza. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said a humanitarian convoy came under fire in Gaza City on Tuesday.

Persons: Yoav Gallant, Israel, Daniel Hagari, ISRAEL, Ghazi Hamad, Al, " Hamad, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Ammar Awad, Gallant, Ebrahim Raisi, Khalid Al, Valeria Nesterov, Al Shifa, Haitham, Cross, Nidal al, Angel, Emily Rose, Maayan, Rami Amichay, Rami Ayyub, Michael Perry, Cynthia Osterman, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Hamas, Jihad, REUTERS, of Islamic, Bloomberg, Economy, Gaza, International Committee, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Riyadh, China, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Gaza, Israel, Gaza City, Al Jazeera, Gaza . Washington, SAUDI, Saudi Arabia, of Islamic Cooperation, Iranian, Tehran, Singapore, Hamas, Tel Aviv, Al, Jerusalem

Another off-year election, another good night for Democrats – a rejoinder to a spate of recent polls showing alarming 2024 prospects for President Joe Biden. In Election Day’s marquee contests – the Kentucky gubernatorial race, Virginia’s legislative elections and a pro-abortion-rights ballot measure in Ohio – Democrats notched victories. Beyond that, “the real test was Trump’s ability to move voters in a state race,” Cross says. Tate Reeves won a second term – though the race was relatively close for a deep red state. In the secretary of state race, incumbent Michael Watson, a Republican, outran Reeves by more than 8 points in defeating Democrat Ty Pinkins.

Persons: Democrats –, Joe Biden, Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Kentucky’s, Beshear, Biden, Cameron, Glenn Youngkin, ”, Roe, Wade, Beshear’s, Al Cross, Cross, “ I’m, Rich Meagher, Youngkin, “, Paul Beck, Daniel McCaffery, Carolyn Carluccio, Larry Ceisler, Micah Rasmussen, Rider, –, Tate Reeves, Democrat Brandon Presley, Elvis Presley, Reeves, Democrat hasn’t, Presley, Jim Hood, “ Reeves, Steve Rozman, Donald Trump’s, Reeves “, ” Rozman, Republican Russell Coleman, Pamela Stevenson, Michael Adams –, Buddy Wheatley, Lynn Fitch, Democrat Greta Kemp Martin, Michael Watson, outran Reeves, Ty Pinkins, Mark Brewer Organizations: Democrats, Kentucky gubernatorial, Democratic, Republican, GOP, University of Kentucky’s Institute for Rural Journalism, Macon College, Senate, Republicans, Ohio State University, Rebovich Institute for New, Democrat, Public Service Commission, Mississippi, College, University of Maine Locations: Ohio, Kentucky, In Virginia, Letcher, Perry County, Hazard, Breathitt County, Jackson, Virginia, Randolph, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ”, New Jersey, Jersey, Rebovich Institute for New Jersey, Mississippi, Maine

☆ Pollution Forces City-Wide Closures of Businesses, Schools in Eastern Pakistan
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Mubasher BukhariLAHORE (Reuters) - Heavy pollution-fuelled smog forced authorities to close schools and markets this week in Pakistan's most populous province, including the eastern city of Lahore which has risen to one of the world's worst cities for hazardous air quality. Schools, offices, restaurants and businesses, aside from priority services like pharmacies, hospitals and courts, would all close to limit residents' movement outside, according to a directive from the provincial government. Heavy smog blanketed Lahore this week, reducing visibility and leading residents to complain of a threat to their health. In neighbouring India, authorities in Delhi have announced they would restrict use of vehicles next week to curb rising pollution as air quality in the capital remained dangerously unsafe despite mitigation efforts. (Reporting by Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore; Writing by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Michael Perry)

Persons: Mubasher Bukhari, Amir Mir, Mohammad Salahuddin, Charlotte Greenfield, Michael Perry Organizations: Schools Locations: Mubasher, Mubasher Bukhari LAHORE, Pakistan's, Lahore, Punjab, Swiss, Delhi, Karachi, South Asia, India

☆ Blinken to visit South Korea as North Korea, Russia deepen ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Seoul visit comes as the United States and South Korea, along with Japan, have condemned what they say is the supply of arms and military equipment by North Korea to Russia. North Korea is preparing to launch a spy satellite after having failed twice this year to put one in orbit. South Korea's spy agency said last week North Korea was in the final stages of preparations for the launch after apparently receiving technical assistance from Russia. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is also due to visit South Korea this week on a trip that will include Indonesia and India. In Washington, U.S. and South Korean officials held talks on North Korea's illicit cyber activities that they say fund its unlawful weapons programs, South Korea's foreign ministry said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Yoko Kamikawa, Toshifumi, military's Vandenberg, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, Soo, Choi, Ed Davies, Michael Perry Organizations: Japanese, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, South Korean, SpaceX, U.S, Defense, Blinken, United, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Rights SEOUL, Seoul, Russia, Blinken's, Asia, India, Israel, United States, South Korea, North Korea, Washington, North, Ukraine, Pyongyang, Korea, Moscow, Russia's, South, Indonesia, North Korean, Pacific, Washington , U.S, United Nations

Two sources in Lebanon familiar with the Iran-backed group's arsenal say he was referring to Hezbollah's greatly enhanced anti-ship missile capabilities, including the Russian-made Yakhont missile with a range of 300 km (186 miles). Hezbollah perceives the U.S. warships as a direct threat because of their ability to hit the group and its allies. PAYING ATTENTIONThree current and one former U.S. official said Hezbollah has built an impressive array of weapons, including anti-ship missiles. Asked about the sources' accounts of Hezbollah having acquired Yakhont missiles, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "First of all, this is news without any confirmation at all. Moscow said in 2010 it had signed a deal to send anti-ship cruise missiles including a version of the Yakhont to Damascus.

Persons: Aziz Taher, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Washington, Bashar al, Assad, Nasrallah, We're, Dmitry Peskov, Nasser Qandil, Qandil, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, John Davison, Maya Gebeily, Guy Faulconbridge, Tom Perry, Claudia Parsons Organizations: REUTERS, Group, U.S, Yakhont, Hamas, Hezbollah, Pentagon, Friday, Washington -, Strategic, International Studies, CSIS, Reuters, Marines, Thomson Locations: Aaramta, Lebanon, Russian, Syria, States, U.S, BEIRUT, Israel, Iran, Washington, Jihad, United States, Gaza, Lebanese, Iraq, Beirut, Russia, Hezbollah, Moscow, Damascus

Gaza City, the Hamas militant group's main bastion in the territory, is now surrounded by Israeli forces. The military said troops have advanced to the heart of the city, while Hamas says its fighters have inflicted heavy losses. Air strikes had also killed a Hamas weapons maker, Mahsein Abu Zina, and several fighters, the Israeli military said. The Israeli military had told them they should move south of the Wadi Gaza wetlands along the main Salah al-Din Road. Hamas's armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, said its fighters had destroyed an Israeli tank in Gaza City.

Persons: General Guterres, Khan Younis, Mohammed Abu Daqa, Daniel Hagari, Mahsein Abu Zina, U.N, General Antonio Guterres, Christian Lindmeier, Mohammed Al, Masri, Rights Israel, Salah, Al Shifa, Israel's, Yahya Sinwar, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Nidal al, Angel, Emily Rose, Maayan, Rami Amichay, Matt Spetalnick, Michael Perry, Angus MacSwan, Mark Heinrich, Simon Cameron, Moore, Peter Graff, Alex Richardson Organizations: Jihad, Reuters NEXT, REUTERS, Rights, Hamas, Reuters, ABC, U.S, Thomson Locations: Israel, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Gaza, Palestinian, Iran, Geneva, Beach, Gaza City, Wadi Gaza, al, Washington, Israeli, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv

☆ Myanmar President: Country at Risk of Breaking Apart Due to Border Violence
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - The president of military-ruled Myanmar has said the country is at risk of breaking apart due to ineffective management of recent violence in its border regions with China. "If the government does not effectively manage the incidents happening in the border region, the country will be split into various parts," Myint Swe, president of the State Administration Council (SAC), told a national defence and security council meeting. As now is an important time for the State, the entire people need to support Tatmadaw (the military)." In the northeast, the junta has lost control of some border trade towns with China. The Chinese government also confirmed this week that there had been Chinese casualties due to military ordinance going over the border.

Persons: Kanupriya Kapoor, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Michael Perry Organizations: Reuters, Administration Council, SAC, State Locations: Myanmar, China

New York CNN —Hollywood actors have reached a tentative agreement with the major film and television studios to end their historic strike, the actors union announced Wednesday. While the writers’ strike was resolved in September, production has remained shuttered as the actors continued to strike and negotiate their contract. But the actors’ contract negotiations didn’t last long, breaking down on Oct. 11 before returning later in the month. By the end of October, it appeared the actors’ strike was approaching its final scene. But Hollywood actors have not appeared on their shows to promote their movies during the actors strike.

Persons: Fran Drescher, “, ” Drescher, ’, ”, we’ve, AMPTP, Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, ” Bass, George Clooney, Tyler Perry, AFTRA, “ We’re, WGA’s, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Seth Meyers – Organizations: New, New York CNN, Hollywood, Alliance, Television Producers, SAG, Writers Guild of America, didn’t, CNN, Angeles Mayor, Writers Guild, WGA Locations: New York, Los Angeles, ”

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The race to add two-way baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani in a blockbuster free agency deal is off to a clandestine start. “Special player, that’s all I’ll say,” said Chris Young, general manager of the World Series champion Texas Rangers. “We may ask some questions, but I can’t tell you we’re diving all in,” Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown said. Privately, they're surely discussing the developing Ohtani sweepstakes, which could cost the winning team upward of $500 million. “You have to have Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, Plan D, so on and so forth.

Persons: Shohei Ohtani, ”, Chris Young, “ We’re, Brian Cashman, “, Dana Brown, they're, “ There's, Perry Minasian, We've, Tommy John, Nathan Eovaldi, Jameson Taillon, Daniel Hudson, Jason Isringhausen, Walker Buehler —, TJ, —, Ohtani, He’s, There’s, he’s, Brown, ” Ohtani, Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Tim Anderson, Aaron Nola, Sonny Gray, Jordan Montgomery, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Mike Trout, ” Minasian, We're, Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto, ” Dipoto Organizations: Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, ” Houston Astros, Major League Baseball, Privately, Los Angeles Angels, ” Angels, He’s, MLB, Current Dodgers, Astros GM, Cubs, Former Angels, Seattle Mariners, Seattle GM, Mariners Locations: SCOTTSDALE, Ariz, Scottsdale, ”, Arizona

☆ How Democrats can win big in red states
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | Walt Hickey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Democrats are finding ways to advance their candidates and causes in traditionally red states. Tuesday's elections show that while the party may never reach its former heights in increasing red states, it can still notch victories that continue to claw back power. Some states have long elected Democrats at the local level while rejecting Republicans at the national level and vice-versa. AdvertisementAdvertisementHere are some of the ways Democrats are still winning:Keep it local. Issue 1's proponents, like other previous red state movements, couched some of their appeals in broader language that would welcome Republicans.

Persons: Roe, Wade, —, Andy Beshear, Laura Kelly, Raphael Warnock, Tip, Daniel Cameron, Katie Hobbs, Donald Trump's, Hobbs, Sen, Mark Kelly, John Bel Edwards, Kelly, Gabby Giffords, Gretchen Whitmer's, Beshear, it's, Steve Beshear, juiced, Nan Whaley, Sabato Crystal Ball, Perry Bacon Jr, Cameron, Reagan, Glenn Youngkin, Floridians Organizations: Service, GOP, Trump, Democratic Gov, Democratic, Gov, Democrats, Republicans, Louisiana Democrats, Michigan Gov, Ohio, Force, Midwesterners Locations: Ohio , Kentucky, Kansas, New York, Kentucky, In Kansas, Arizona, Louisiana, In Arizona, America, Ohio, Cleveland, Virginia

☆ Prefabricated home shipments on the rise in a pricey property market
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Amina Niasse | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

That appears to be boosting demand in the prefabricated housing market, a sector that has lost market share in the past decade. "There's going to be continued interest in prefabricated homes because it's a window to building." As of May, the most recent month for which data is available, the average price of a prefabricated home was $129,900, according to Census data. Most modular construction factories are concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, where modular market share outpaces the national average of 2%, said Devin Perry, executive director of business improvement programs at the NAHB. "This is providing opportunities for modular to grab more market share."

Persons: Brian Abramson, Abramson, Danushka Nanayakkara, Devin Perry, Perry, Amina Niasse, Dan Burns, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Census, Reuters, Homes, Mortgage, Association, National Association of Homebuilders, Thomson

☆ Matthew Perry: ‘Friends’ guest star says he stopped Chandler cheating storyline
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Lisa France | Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Plenty of memories are being shared in the wake of the death of Matthew Perry. Lisa Cash was an actor who appeared on “Friends” during its fifth season in 1999. During an interview with TMZ she shared that while her role was as a flight attendant, that wasn’t what it was originally. “The scene was Chandler and Monica were arguing in Vegas about Monica having lunch with Richard. Initially in our script, Chandler goes up to the hotel room, orders room service and I bring it up (to him) as a hotel worker,” Cash said.

Persons: Matthew Perry, Lisa Cash, Cash, Chandler, Monica, Courteney Cox, Richard, Tom Selleck, ” Cash, Perry, ” Organizations: CNN, TMZ, ” CNN, Warner Bros . Television, Warner Bros . Locations: Los Angeles, Vegas

☆ Matthew Perry Learned Something That We All Need to Discover - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Heather Havrilesky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

In fact, the one person Mr. Perry can’t seem to forgive, at least for a majority of his book, is himself. There is no positive byproduct of shame.” If you carry shame with you to heaven, heaven itself will feel like hell. Very few of us can understand the particular strain of shame that comes with the celebrity Mr. Perry attained. We continue to have our own versions of the conversation Mr. Perry had with his mother, looking for love and forgiveness from figures in our lives instead of locating these things within ourselves. We shouldn’t paint a life like Mr. Perry’s as fatally flawed or doomed from the start.

Persons: Perry can’t, “, ”, Ben Affleck, Perry, Perry’s Organizations: Fair

☆ A meteoric rise in worker health costs has slowed — but they’re already 'egregious,' advisor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Employer-sponsored health plans have many moving parts that can affect workers' wallets. Workers pay $1,401 in total premiums in 2023, up 18% from 2018, according to KFF, a nonprofit health-care data provider. (This cost is for employer-sponsored health plans and assumes consumers receive in-network care.) That has led employers to make their health plans more competitive to attract and retain staff. One in four employers report being highly concerned about the affordability of cost-sharing within their health plans, according to KFF.

Persons: it's, Carolyn McClanahan, Matthew Perry's, Matthew Rae, Rae, KFF, That's, It's, that's, McClanahan, doesn't Organizations: Planning Partners, Finance, Security, Workers, Digitalvision Locations: Jacksonville , Florida

☆ Lebanon Must Be Kept Out of Hamas-Israel War, Patriarch Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's top Christian cleric urged state officials on Monday to shield Lebanon from the war between Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and Israel, as the Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah clashes with Israeli forces at the border. The Iran-backed Hezbollah has been exchanging fire with Israeli forces across the Lebanese-Israeli frontier since the Hamas-Israel war began on Oct. 7, in the worst fighting there since Hezbollah and Israel fought a war in 2006. He called on Lebanese state officials to work to keep Lebanon away "from the scourge of this war ... and to carry out its political and diplomatic role in support of the Palestinian cause. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in his first speech since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, said on Friday escalation on the Lebanon front would hinge on events in Gaza and Israeli actions towards Lebanon. Hezbollah's supporters say its arsenal has defended Lebanon from Israel.

Persons: Israel, Long, Bechara Boutros Al, Rai, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's, Tom Perry, Mark Heinrich Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Maronite, Security Locations: BEIRUT, Lebanon, Israel, Lebanese, Iran, Gaza

☆ South Korea to re-impose stock short-selling ban through June to 'level playing field'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Jack Kim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A journalist walks past an electronic board of the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) at the Korea Exchange (KRX) in Seoul, South Korea, January 20, 2016 REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Nov 5 (Reuters) - South Korea from Monday will re-impose a ban on short-selling shares at least until June to promote a "level playing field" for retail and institutional investors, financial authorities said on Sunday. The regulator last week said it would establish a team of investigators to probe short-selling by foreign investment banks for illegal activity including so-called naked short-selling. Naked short-selling - in which an investor short-sells shares without first borrowing them or determining they can be borrowed - is banned in South Korea. Earlier in the year, the regulator fined five foreign firms including Credit Suisse for naked short-selling. Officials and market watchers alike have cited uncertainty around short-selling regulation as among factors needing to be resolved for influential index provider MSCI to upgrade South Korea to developed-market status.

Persons: Kim Hong, Kim Joo, Kim, Jack Kim, Michael Perry, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Korea, Korea Exchange, REUTERS, Rights, Monday, Financial Services Commission, Financial Supervisory Service, Credit Suisse, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, Hong Kong

The newspaper's banner logo is seen during the grand opening of the Washington Post newsroom in Washington January 28, 2016. REUTERS/Gary Cameron/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Amazon.com Inc FollowNov 4 (Reuters) - William Lewis, the former Dow Jones chief executive and publisher of The Wall Street Journal has been named chief executive and publisher of The Washington Post, the Post said on Saturday. The Washington Post said that it is projected to end the year taking a $100 million loss. Lewis is set to take on his duties from Jan. 2, 2024, replacing Patty Stonesifer, who became interim chief executive in June. Stonesifer had replaced Fred Ryan, who stepped down in August after a nine-year stint as publisher and CEO.

Persons: Gary Cameron, William Lewis, Dow Jones, Lewis, Jan, Patty Stonesifer, Jeff Bezos, Stonesifer, Fred Ryan, Ryan, Gursimran Kaur, Helen Coster, Daniel Wallis, Michael Perry Organizations: Washington Post, REUTERS, Dow, The Washington Post, Reuters, Post, Thomson Locations: Washington, Bengaluru, New York

☆ Philippines' Marcos condemns killing of journalist, orders investigation
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks during a joint press statement with Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Malacanang Presidential Palace in Manila, Philippines, September 8, 2023. Earvin Perias/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Sunday strongly condemned the killing of a Filipino journalist and ordered the police to conduct an investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice. Media watchdog NUJP also condemned the "brazen killing" which it said was caught on a livestream of Jumalon's show. Jumalon's killing brings to four the number of journalists killed since Marcos took office in June 2022, and to 199 since democracy was restored in the Philippines in 1986. It ranked as the eighth worst country when it comes to prosecuting killers of journalists, according to 2023 Global Impunity Index released by the Committee to Protect Journalists released this week.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Anthony Albanese, Earvin, Juan Jumalon, Johnny Walker, Marcos, NUJP, Karen Lema, Michael Perry Organizations: Australia's, Rights, National Union of Journalists of, . Media, Committee, Protect Journalists, Thomson Locations: Manila, Philippines, Rights MANILA, Philippine, Calamba, Misamis Occidental

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