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☆ Israel offers help with air-attack alerts, but Ukraine wants interceptors
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Emily Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine's ambassador, however, asked for systems that would shoot down the drones instead, while Defence Minister Benny Gantz said Israel was firm on not supplying Kyiv with weapons. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterOn Tuesday, Ukraine stepped up appeals for Israeli help after reporting multiple Russian strikes using Iranian Shahed-136 'kamikaze' drones. Israel has asked Ukraine "to share information about their needs for air defence alerts," Gantz told EU ambassadors, according to a statement by his office. Similar early warning technologies could be on offer to Ukraine, a spokesperson for Israel's Defence Ministry said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Emily Rose; editing by John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Belarus says it will host just under 9,000 Russian troops
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Summary This content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in UkraineMOSCOW, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The defence ministry in Minsk on Sunday said just under 9,000 Russian troops would be stationed in Belarus as part of a "regional grouping" of forces to protect its borders. "The first troop trains with Russian servicemen who are part of the (regional grouping) began to arrive in Belarus," Valeriy Revenko, head of the defence ministry's international military cooperation department, wrote on Twitter. "The total number will be a little less than 9,000 people." Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said last week that his troops would deploy with Russian forces near the Ukrainian border, citing what he said were threats from Ukraine and the West. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Reuters; editing by John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Saudi defence minister: OPEC+ decision taken unanimously for economic reasons
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Oct 16 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's defence minister said the decision by OPEC+ to cut oil output was taken unanimously and for purely economic reasons. Prince Khalid bin Salman also said he was "astonished" by accusations that the Kingdom was "standing with Russia in its war with Ukraine." "It is telling that these false accusations did not come from the Ukrainian government," the king's younger son wrote on Twitter. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Nayera Abdallah and Ahmed Tolba; editing by John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Raisi blames Biden for inciting "chaos and terror" in Iran
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

DUBAI, Oct 16 (Reuters) - President Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday blamed his U.S. counterpart for inciting "chaos, terror, and destruction" in Iran, the official IRNA news agency reported, amid protests that have rocked the country for the past four weeks. "The American president, who allows himself through his comments to incite chaos, terror and destruction in another country, should be reminded of the eternal words of the founder of the Islamic Republic, who called America the great satan," Raisi said. "Iran has to end the violence against its own citizens simply exercising their fundamental rights," U.S. President Joe Biden said on Saturday. read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Dubai Newsroom; editing by John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Suspected gas blast at Spanish restaurant injures seven
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

MADRID, Oct 16 (Reuters) - A suspected gas explosion wounded at least seven people at a Japanese restaurant in the northeastern Spanish city of Tarragona on Sunday, officials said. The blast happened at around 4 p.m. local time when the restaurant was closed, Pau Ricoma, mayor of Tarragona, told reporters. "Two people who were passing by were hurt," he told local media. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterIn all, seven people were injured, two seriously. "It is not clear what caused the explosion but it is almost certainly gas," Ricoma said.

☆ French government likely to use special powers to pass 2023 budget bill, prime minister says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PARIS, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The French government is set to pass the 2023 budget bill using special constitutional powers that would allow it to bypass a vote in parliament, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said on Sunday. The government will likely use the procedure, under article 49.3 of the constitution, Borne said in an interview on French TV channel TF1, without specifying a date but ruling out its use on Monday. "We will probably have to use the 49.3, but... it won't be tomorrow." Opposition parties would be likely respond with a motion of no confidence, which would likely fail but would nonetheless be damaging as the government seeks to build bridges for a planned pension reform. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Mathieu Rosemain; editing by John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ A Kharkiv bomb shelter: the only home baby Zhenia has known
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Vitalii Hnidiy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

KHARKIV, Ukraine, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Wide-eyed and gripping a stuffed blue rabbit, six-month-old Zhenia settles into his pram before being walked along a Kharkiv factory forecourt - a treat to be savoured for someone who has lived in a bomb shelter since he was born. Pushing the buggy is his mother, 39-year-old Olha Shevchenko. 1/4 Olha Shevchenko, 39, and her husband Evgen look for their things in their house, damaged by the Russian military strike, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues in Kharkiv October 12, 2022. REUTERS/Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy Read More"I knew this bomb shelter because when I was a little girl I saw it with my grandpa. With renewed shelling of Kharkiv making it increasingly dangerous for them to be outside, the family have worked hard to make the shelter as liveable as possible.

☆ Cezanne, Seurat works headline $1 bln sale from late Microsoft co-founder's estate
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Described as "the sale of this century" by auction house Christie's, the collection of more than 150 pieces spans 500 years of art history from Sandro Botticelli to David Hockney. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterChristie's Global President Jussi Pylkkanen said he expected overall proceeds "well in excess of $1 billion." Allen, who together with school friend Bill Gates started Microsoft in 1975 before leaving the software company several years later, died in 2018, aged 65. Hockney's "Queen Anne's Lace Near Kilham" has a price estimate of $8 million-$12 million and Alberto Giacometti's sculpture "Femme de Venise III" $15 million-$20 million. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; editing by John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ E-bus deal puts Oslo on track for zero-emissions public transport goal
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Victoria Klesty | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The transport push entails replacing its diesel-fuelled buses with 450 electric ones, under a 500 million crown ($47 million) programme that Sirin Stav, Vice-Mayor responsible for environment and transport, said will save the city money over the long term. "The maintenance is cheaper, it's also cheaper for the operators of the electric buses," she said. Ingvild Roerholt, an adviser on transport questions at ZERO, a Norwegian environmental group, said the bus rollout marked an important step forward for the city. "However, it is important that Oslo going forward makes sure there is transparency in how much emissions are associated with the production of these ferries and vehicles," she added. ($1 = 10.7344 Norwegian crowns)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Victoria Klesty, editing by Gwladys Fouche and John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Can Liz Truss outlast a lettuce, UK tabloid asks in Twitter post
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - A British newspaper on Friday pitted Liz Truss in a race against a lettuce, asking readers if they thought the under-fire prime minister would lose her job before the vegetable decayed. loadingThe tabloid Daily Star set up a live feed of an unrefrigerated iceberg next to a photo of Truss. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe stunt echoed a comment at the other end of Britain's journalistic spectrum. Truss's political role model, 1980s prime minister Margaret Thatcher, was widely known as the Iron Lady. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by John Stonestreet; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

From a year earlier prices rose 8.2%, far above the Fed's 2% target. That is still the dominant view, though futures prices now also reflect about a one-in-10 chance of a full percentage-point rate hike next month. Fed policymakers have raised interest rates sharply this year, from near-zero just seven months ago. Most global central banks are also raising rates fast, and stock prices around the world have fallen as investors expect growth to slow in response. Traders are pricing a smaller 30 basis point rate cut toward the end of 2023, rate-futures contracts traded at CME Group show.

☆ U.S. FCC set to ban approvals of new Huawei, ZTE equipment- document
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is set to ban approvals of new telecommunications equipment from China's Huawei Technologies and ZTE (000063.SZ) in the United States on national security grounds, according to a document posted by the agency. The companies would not be able to sell new equipment in the United States without equipment authorizations. In June 2021, the FCC voted to advance the plan to ban approvals for equipment in U.S. telecommunications networks from Chinese companies deemed national security threats, including Huawei and ZTE. ... We have left open opportunities for (Huawei and other Chinese equipment) use in the United States through our equipment authorization process. The FCC action would prohibit all future authorizations for communications equipment deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to national security.

☆ Bank of England says stress test shows UK counterparties 'resilient'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The Bank of England said on Thursday that the central counterparties (CCPs) in Britain's financial system were "resilient" after publishing the conclusions of its first public stress test for ICE Clear Europe, LCH and LME Clear. "While the stress test was exploratory, with no pass-fail assessments, the results are evidence of the overall resilience of the UK CCPs," BoE Deputy Governor Jon Cunliffe said in a statement. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe BoE said it checked whether the CCPs were resilient to a market stress scenario and to the simultaneous default of the two largest clearing member groups. The exercise started in October 2021 and was designed to be as severe as the worst historical market stress scenario experienced by each CCP up to that point. "We will engage these CCPs on our findings, which will help the Bank target its supervision and inform CCPs' approach to risk management," Cunliffe said.

☆ U.S. FCC set to ban all U.S. sales of Huawei, ZTE equipment- Axios
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Oct 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission plans to ban all sales of Huawei and ZTE (000063.SZ) telecommunications equipment in the United States on national security grounds, news website Axios reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter. Last year, U.S. President Joe Biden signed legislation to prevent companies that are deemed security threats from receiving new equipment licenses from U.S. regulators. read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Jyoti Narayan in Bengaluru; editing by John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

BRUSSELS, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The United States reaffirmed its commitment to defend "every inch" of NATO territory ahead of talks among defense ministers from the alliance on Thursday that will include closed-door discussions by its nuclear planning group. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterAustin spoke shortly before attending a meeting by NATO's Nuclear Planning Group, which is NATO's senior body on nuclear matters and handles policy issues associated with its nuclear forces. NATO's website says its nuclear policy is under "constant review, and is modified and adapted in light of new developments." "We're going to stay with our efforts to support Ukraine for as long as it takes," Austin said alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. NATO told Moscow on Tuesday it would meet attacks on allies' critical infrastructure with a "united and determined response."

☆ India tells Gambia it is probing childrens' deaths linked to India-made drugs
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Logo of the Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd. company is seen on a board outside their office in New Delhi, India, October 6, 2022. The matter "is being seriously investigated by appropriate authorities," India's foreign minister S Jaishankar said in a tweet. Known as a "pharmacy of the world", India supplies 45% of all generic medicines to Africa. The WHO issued a medical product alert last week asking regulators to remove Maiden goods from the market. The U.N. health agency said that laboratory analysis of four Maiden products - Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup - had "unacceptable" amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which can be toxic and cause acute kidney injury.

"The ongoing squeeze on household finances continues to weigh on growth, and likely to have caused the UK economy to enter a technical recession from the third quarter of this year," Yael Selfin, chief economist at KPMG UK, said. Manufacturing fell by 1.6% from July and more maintenance than unusual in the North Sea hit the mining and quarrying sector which includes oil and gas. "Many other consumer-facing services struggled, with retail, hairdressers and hotels all faring relatively poorly," ONS Chief Economist Grant Fitzner said. GDP in September is likely to be weakened by a one-off public holiday to mark the funeral of Queen Elizabeth. The International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday it expected British GDP to grow in 2023 but only by 0.3%.

☆ Germany, Netherlands propose EU-wide plan to curb gas prices
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Germany and the Netherlands have proposed a package of 10 measures that the European Union could use to curb gas prices and avoid fuel rationing, including looking into setting a new benchmark price for liquefied natural gas. The plan, seen by Reuters and shared with other EU countries before the bloc's energy ministers meet on Wednesday, calls for the EU to kickstart joint gas buying, to avoid one country outbidding another and driving prices higher. They said a broad gas price cap on imports was a less preferable option. A price cap on Russian gas could also be considered, but only if workable for the countries it would affect most, the document said. Brussels proposed a Russian gas price cap last month, but shelved the idea after resistance from central and eastern countries that feared Moscow would retaliate by cutting off the limited supplies it still sends to Europe.

☆ Britain's bond market turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The country's financial markets have been in turmoil since finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng last month unveiled tax cuts with no details of how they would be paid for. * The Bank of England has been forced into emergency bond-buying to stem a sharp sell-off in Britain's 2.1 trillion pound ($2.3 trillion) government bond market that threatens to wreak havoc in the pension industry and increase recession risks. * The BoE interventions have highlighted a growing segment of Britain's pensions sector - liability-driven investment. MAJOR PLAYERS* BoE governor Bailey said on Tuesday on the sidelines of an IMF meeting in Washington that BoE support for the pension funds would end as planned on Friday. MARKET REACTION* The 20- and 30-year UK government bond yields both hit their highest since 2002 at 5.195% and 5.1% respectively, passing above 5% for the first time since the BoE began buying bonds on Sept. 28 to calm the turmoil.

That was when the BoE moved to quell bond market turmoil triggered by the plans of the new government of Prime Minister Liz Truss for big, unfunded tax cuts. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"We have announced that we will be out by the end of this week. "My message to the funds involved and all the firms involved managing those funds: You've got three days left now. Investors are nervous that Friday's deadline for the end of the BoE's bond-buying might come too soon for some funds. The BoE press office said it had no further comment to make beyond those of Bailey on Tuesday in Washington.

read moreIt will take effect once Lebanon and Israel send letters to Washington, which will issue a notice announcing the deal is in place. Parties to the deal would seek to resolve any further maritime differences through the United States, securing an ongoing guarantor role for Washington. A centrist, Lapid's caretaker government wants the deal done soon but has denied that the country's election is the deadline. TotalEnergies is set to begin exploration at the Qana prospect immediately after the deal takes effect, though Lebanon's energy minister said preparations would take a number of months. Seeking to play down future Lebanese profits, Israeli Energy Minister Karine Elharrar told Tel Aviv's 103 FM radio initial estimates put that prospect's total value at some $3 billion.

☆ Morning Bid: Confusion reigns
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Then BoE chief Andrew Bailey said late Tuesday: "You've got three days left now. You've got to get this done" - even as the Financial Times reported the central bank might extend the support. The tension built with Britain's economy looking set to go into recession as data showed it unexpectedly shrank in August. "The worst is yet to come, and for many people, 2023 will feel like a recession," said IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas. * G20 finance ministers and central bankers meet at annual IMF/World Bank meeting in Washington* Bank of England Financial Policy Committee publishes summary of latest meeting.

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"We have announced that we will be out by the end of this week. "My message to the funds involved and all the firms involved managing those funds: You've got three days left now. Investors are nervous that Friday's halt to the BoE's bond-buying might come too soon for some pension funds. But a BoE spokesperson said it had been made "absolutely clear in contact with the banks at senior levels" that the Friday deadline would hold. On Wednesday, it said it was "closely monitoring" liability-driven investment (LDI) funds, which are key to pension funds, ahead of Friday's deadline.

While estimates of how much pension funds need to sell vary they are in the hundreds of billions of pounds, and it is not known how much funds have already raised in cash. Tuesday's BoE intervention was targeted at buying index-linked bonds, a far smaller market than gilts, dominated by pension funds and which suffered another significant selloff this week. He estimates pension funds could sell assets totalling around 300 billion pounds as they adjust hedging positions, although it is not clear how much they may have sold already. He estimated 100 billion pounds could come from gilts and the rest from assets such as global credit, global equities and asset-backed securities. "The bottom line is a lot of schemes need to rebalance their portfolios," he said.

☆ China drops some COVID reporting rules for cross-border travellers at customs
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Chinese customs said on Thursday it no longer required cross-border travellers to report certain COVID-related information, such as tests and previous infections, when clearing customs. Mainland China, which still has some of the world's most stringent COVID policies for international travellers, has taken steps to make cross-border travel less onerous, such as shortening the quarantine period and removing some testing and self-isolation requirements for inbound travellers. Those intending to enter China from many countries still have to report tests and other COVID-related information to Chinese embassies before boarding flights, according to embassy websites. Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; editing by John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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