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WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House said Monday that the U.S. may establish a naval task force to escort commercial ships in the Red Sea, a day after three vessels were struck by missiles fired by Iranian-back Houthis in Yemen. On Sunday, ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck three commercial ships, while a U.S. warship shot down three drones in self-defense during an hourslong assault, the U.S. military said. He noted similar task forces are used to protect commercial shipping elsewhere, including off the coast of Somalia. The Houthi attacks imperil traffic on one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes and with it global trade overall. Political Cartoons View All 1277 ImagesThe Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab are also part of a vital route for commercial shipping overall, carrying millions of tons of agricultural products and other goods to markets yearly.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Yemen’s Houthi, ” Sullivan, Sullivan, Jon Gambrell, Ellen Knickmeyer Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, U.S . Energy, Administration, ” Locations: U.S, Red, Iranian, Yemen, Israel, United States, Somalia, Gulf, Europe, China, Bab, Iran

☆ Mergers Like JetBlue’s Proposed Acquisition of Spirit Usually Turn Out to Be Bad - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Tim Wu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Most of the time, however, mergers that seem bad really are bad. It is in neither the investors’ nor JetBlue’s management’s interests to pick a fight with the big guys. There was a time, back at the turn of the century, when JetBlue was a genuinely innovative airline. In 2014, Wall Street analysts turned on JetBlue and its chief executive at the time, Mr. Barger, accusing the company of being too consumer-focused. Unfortunately for customers, Wall Street won, Mr. Barger was thrown out and JetBlue started charging fees for all sorts of things.

Persons: David Neeleman, David Barger, Barger Organizations: Ticketmaster, Sprint, Mobile, Instagram, Facebook, JetBlue, United, Wall Street, Investors Locations: United States, Delta, United

☆ Jack Ma, the poster boy of China's tech scene, is moving into the food business
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Alibaba cofounder Jack Ma just set up a new company called "Hangzhou Ma's Kitchen Food," per media reports. AdvertisementFor years, Alibaba cofounder Jack Ma has been the poster boy for China's tech industry — but it looks like he's moving on to the food business. On Wednesday, Ma incorporated a company called "Hangzhou Ma's Kitchen Food" in the city where Alibaba is based, according to media reports. Hangzhou Ma's Kitchen Food is wholly owned by Ma's investment vehicle, Hangzhou Dajingtou. His foundation, the Jack Ma Foundation, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: Jack Ma, It's, Ma, —, He's, Supakit Chearavanont Organizations: Alibaba, Service, China Morning Post, National Enterprise, and Culture, Tokyo College, Charoen, Business Locations: Hangzhou, Alibaba, Hangzhou Dajingtou, Beijing, Spain, Netherlands, Japan, Thailand

☆ Jack Ma: Alibaba founder’s ‘Ma’s Kitchen’ is betting on the food business in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Michelle Toh | Eric Cheung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“Ma’s Kitchen” has registered capital of 10 million yuan ($1.4 million), the system showed. 22 Arts and Culture, of which Jack Ma has 99.9% ownership, according to Qichacha, a corporate data provider in China. The new firm has not publicly provided details on its business model, or what kind of food it will sell. The Jack Ma Foundation did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. Jack Ma seen in Shanghai in 2018.

Persons: Taipei CNN —, Jack Ma, ”, Ma’s, Ma, —, Ben Cavender, Aly Song, Cavender Organizations: Taipei CNN, National Enterprise, and Culture, Euromonitor International, China Market Research, CNN, “ Locations: Hong Kong, Taipei, Hangzhou, China, Shanghai

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping, fresh off his meeting with President Joe Biden, courted Indo-Pacific leaders in a flurry of meetings Thursday at a time of intensifying competition with the United States. Xi held individual talks with the leaders of Mexico, Peru, Fiji, Japan and Brunei, all on the sidelines of a summit of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economies. In a meeting with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, Xi said the two countries should strengthen economic and trade cooperation and pledged China’s support for Peru as host of next year’s summit of APEC leaders. Earlier, Xi held talks with Andrés Manuel López Obrador, praising the Mexican president for his leadership and reform efforts and pledging to bring the China-Mexico relationship to a new level. Xi called Hassanal Bolkiah, Brunei’s sultan, an “old friend” and said China would work with Brunei to bring benefits to both people.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xi, Dina Boluarte, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, López Obrador, —, Hurricane Otis, “, ” Xi, Sitiveni Rabuka, ”, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Biden Organizations: FRANCISCO, Economic Cooperation, APEC, U.S, Fiji's, Japanese Locations: United States, Mexico, Peru, Fiji, Japan, Brunei, Asia, China, American, Latin America, Beijing, Brunei’s

☆ U.S.-China relations are now more about crisis prevention
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

It will be a rare summit before the U.S. presidential election cycle kicks off in earnest. "The immediate aftermath of the [Biden-Xi] meeting is likely to mark a cyclical high point for bilateral relations," he said. Taiwan is set to hold its presidential election in January, and a more pro-independence winner could stir more of Beijing's ire. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory, with no right to independently conduct diplomatic relations. The U.S. recognizes Beijing as the sole government of China but maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan, a democratically self-governed island.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Biden, Michael Hirson, Trump, Xi, Gabriel Wildau, Antony Blinken, Chuck Schumer, Shen Yamei, Shen, Gina Raimondo, Lifeng, Janet Yellen, Teneo, Nancy Pelosi, Teneo's Wildau Organizations: Reuters, U.S, China Research, Research, D.C, Strategic, International, Biden, Republican, Democratic, American Studies, China Institute of International Studies, CNBC, U.S . Commerce, Treasury, U.S . House, Representatives, Economic Cooperation, China's Ministry of Commerce Locations: Bali , Indonesia, Reuters BEIJING, U.S, China, Taiwan, South China, Washington, Beijing, San Francisco, Gaza, Ukraine, Asia

WASHINGTON, Nov 14 (Reuters) - The United States has issued a new 120-day waiver allowing Iraq to pay Iran for electricity, U.S. officials said on Tuesday, stressing Tehran could only use the funds for humanitarian trade and seeking to blunt criticism of giving Iran the money. The move may also be controversial because Washington has asked Baghdad to curtail attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq by Iranian-allied militias, with mixed results. One U.S. official described the U.S. requests to Iraq as "a work in progress." U.S. and coalition troops have been attacked at least 55 times in Iraq and Syria since Oct. 17, injuring 59 personnel, though all have returned to duty. Reporting By Simon Lewis, Humeyra Pamuk in Washington; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Grant McCool and Lincoln Feast.

Persons: parry, it's, Richard Goldberg, Trump, Simon Lewis, Humeyra Pamuk, Arshad Mohammed, Grant McCool, Lincoln Organizations: United, Republicans, Congress, U.S . U.S, U.S, Washington, Pentagon, Foundation for Defense, Democracies, Thomson Locations: United States, Iraq, Iran, Tehran, U.S, Baghdad, Iranian, Israel, Gaza, Syria, Washington

☆ APEC's growth to slow as persistent inflation, US-China tensions weigh-report
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The APEC GDP growth rate will average 2.9% in 2025 and 2026, below the global average of 3.2% and 3.5-3.6% in the rest of the world. Taming inflation could require more monetary policy tightening, slowing growth further. Trade volume growth for goods is set to rebound next year among APEC countries after a largely flat 2023 due to China's sluggish growth, rising to 4.3% for goods exports and 3.5% for goods imports. The data shows "how important it is to re-engage, de-risk and avoid decoupling" of the U.S. and Chinese economies. "I think a stable relationship within U.S. and China is a win-win situation for everyone," Kuriyama said.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Mark Schiefelbein, Carlos Kuriyama, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Kuriyama, David Lawder, Stephen Coates Organizations: Treasury, Lifeng, FRANCISCO, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC, Unit, U.S, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Asia, San Francisco, U.S

☆ South Korea inflation likely to ease in November, finance minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, Nov 12 (Reuters) - South Korean inflation is likely to ease in November to about 3.6% as prices of agricultural products have started to fall, the finance minister said on Sunday. South Korea's consumer price index stood 3.8% higher in October from a year ago, the fastest inflation rate since March 2023 and above the 3.6% forecast by a Reuters poll. If this is the trend, the inflation rate will be around 3.5% to 3.6%, and this kind of price stabilisation will happen gradually, albeit slowly," Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho told public broadcaster KBS TV. Consumer inflation accelerated for a third month in October amid higher food costs, keeping policymakers on edge as they are monitoring whether current interest rates are tight enough to bring inflation to heel. Reporting by Ju-min Park and Jihoon Lee; Editing by Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Choo Kyung, Jihoon Lee, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: KBS TV, Thomson Locations: SEOUL

☆ Warren Buffett's company is so massive it's like a mini US economy - and its latest earnings may stoke recession fears
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The famed investor's company reported lower revenues and profits in several divisions last quarter. Here's a roundup of Berkshire's weak spots last quarter:BNSF Railway - operating revenues fell by 12% and earnings by 15%. Manufacturing: consumer products - revenues fell by 2% in the third quarter and 13% in the nine months to September. AdvertisementAdvertisementBuffett foreshadowed the challenges, warning in May that most of Berkshire's businesses would report profit declines this year. While the US has escaped recession so far, Berkshire's earnings suggest there are some cracks in the economy.

Persons: Warren, Berkshire Hathaway, Here's, —, Clayton, Buffett Organizations: Service, BNSF Railway, Manufacturing, Clayton Homes, Federal Reserve Locations: Berkshire, Forest

☆ Panama Canal drought hits new crisis level with nearly half of vessel traffic targeted for cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

PANAMA CITY, PANAMA - SEPTEMBER 22: The container ship Maersk Bogor is guided by a tugboat as it prepares to enter the Miraflores locks while transiting the Panama Canal on September 22, 2023 in Panama City, Panama. The Panama Canal Authority is continuing to restrict the number of vessels that pass through the Panama Canal locks as drought has caused water levels at Gatun Lake to drop. Over one hundred ships are waiting to transit the canal and the backup could delay goods heading to the United States for the holiday season. The Panama Canal is popular for East Coast trade because it is faster than other options. Traveling through the Panama Canal takes only 35 days.

Persons: Justin Sullivan, Adil Ashiq, Alan Baer, Baer, Jon Davis, Davis, Ashiq, Paul Brashier Organizations: PANAMA CITY, The Panama Canal, Port, CNBC Supply Chain, Panama Canal Authority, East, Panama Canal, MarineTraffic, USA, CNBC, U.S, ITS Logistics Locations: PANAMA, Bogor, Miraflores, Panama, Panama City, The Panama, Colon, Caribbean, United States, Cape Horn, South America, East, Charleston, El Nino, East Coast, Shenzhen, China, Miami , Florida, Suez, North America, U.S, West Coast, Asia, Gulf

☆ Israel, It’s Time to Consider a Cease-fire - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Thomas L. Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +12 min

I am watching the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza today and thinking about one of the world leaders I’ve most admired: Manmohan Singh. The cost of occupying Gaza could overstretch the Israeli military and economy for years to come. Israel should keep the door open for a humanitarian cease-fire and prisoner exchange that will also allow Israel to pause and reflect on exactly where it is going with its rushed Gaza military operation — and the price it could pay over the long haul. Israel built an impressive society and economy, even if flawed, and Hamas took nearly all of its resources and built attack tunnels. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.

Persons: I’ve, Manmohan Singh, Singh, Shivshankar Menon, “, ” Menon, ”, Menon, Israel’s, It’s, Israel —, —, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu, ’ ’, Gaza —, Shin Bet, excusing, don’t Organizations: Pakistan Army, Abraham Accords, Economist, Hamas, United, West Bank, Shin Bet, European Union, Democratic Party, U.S . House, Bank, Gaza, New York, Facebook, Twitter Locations: Israel, Gaza, Pakistani, India, Mumbai, Pakistan, Abraham, United States, Mexico, European, U.S, Washington

That fell to 21-22 million tonnes by 2021, and after Russia invaded last year, output hit 6.3 million in 2022. But even with consumption nearly doubling to 2.6 million tonnes between January and September, that is not enough to sustain a sector that used to export four fifths of its output. Zaporizhstal expects to export two thirds of its 2.4-2.5 million tonnes of iron ore and rolled steel production in 2023. Before the invasion, output was 4.2 million tonnes a year. "We can say that blackouts last winter (reduced) steel production by two to three times," Zinchenko said, citing production data for the months when blackouts were most regular.

Persons: Oleksandr Ratushniak, ZAPORIZHZHIA, Roman Slobodianiuk, Ukraine's, Oleksandr Kalenkov, Slobodianiuk, Stanislav Zinchenko, Medkov, Oleksandr Yasunas, Zinchenko, Mike Collett, White, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Steel, REUTERS, Staff, Reuters, GMK, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, Russia, Soviet, Ukrainian, Mariupol, Europe, Odesa, Kyiv, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Russian

☆ Farm groups call on Australia to not sign 'dud' trade deal with EU
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CANBERRA, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Australian farm industry groups on Monday called on the government to not sign a trade deal with the European Union unless it offered much greater market access for Australian agricultural products. Australia, one of the world's biggest exporters of farm goods from wheat and beef to wool and wine, has been negotiating a trade deal with the EU since 2018. "The message from Australian farmers is clear and united: if it's a dud deal, keep the signing pen in your pocket." Farrell said in a statement that he had made it clear that Australia wants a trade agreement with the EU, but not at any cost. While Australia wants access to EU markets for its farm output, much of which is now subject to tariffs and quotas, the EU is likely to gain simplified investment access to Australia's critical minerals industry.

Persons: Don Farrell, Farrell, Fiona Simson, Peter Hobson, Jamie Freed Organizations: CANBERRA, European Union, Trade, EU, National Farmers ' Federation, Livestock Australia, Australia, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Australia, Canberra, Osaka

The benchmark S&P 500 index (.SPX) bounced above 4200, a key technical level, after falling almost a percent during the open. Microsoft (MSFT.O), Alphabet (GOOGL.O), Amazon.com (AMZN.O) and Meta Platforms (META.O), which have helped power the S&P 500 (.SPX) higher in 2023 while the other indexes lagged, report later this week. Chipmaker Intel (INTC.O), oil major Exxon Mobil (XOM.N), General Motors (GM.N) are among other major companies set to report results this week. Overall, earnings are expected to grow at 1.2% in the third quarter for S&P 500 companies, as per LSEG data. Seven of the 11 major S&P 500 sub sectors were in the green, with industrials (.SPLRCI) and communication services (.SPLRCL) leading gains.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Hess, Bill Ackman's, David Bahnsen, Piper Sandler, Morgan, advancers, Shubham Batra, Shashwat Chauhan, Sriraj Kalluvila, Maju Samuel Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Chevron, Walgreens, Dow, Nasdaq, Capital Management, Microsoft, Intel, Exxon Mobil, General Motors, Dow Jones, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Hess Corp, FMC, NYSE, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, East, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Bengaluru

BANGKOK (AP) — Foxconn, a Fortune 500 company known globally for making Apple iPhones, was recently subjected to searches by Chinese tax authorities, state media reported Sunday. Foxconn, a Taiwanese -headquartered company officially registered as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd, had its offices in Guangdong and Jiangsu provinces searched by tax officials, according to a report in the Chinese state-run Global Times newspaper. The Ministry of Natural Resources also inspected Foxconn offices in Henan and Hubei provinces, where the company has major factories. The report did not provide more details about the searches, including when they occurred or what was found. In recent years, China has banned pineapples, grouper fish and other agricultural products from Taiwan for import.

Persons: —, Terry Gou, Gou Organizations: Fortune, Apple, Hai Precision Industry Co, Global Times, Natural Resources, Chinese Communist Party Locations: BANGKOK, Taiwanese, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Henan, Hubei, Foxconn, China, Taiwan

The funds were moved to Qatari accounts as part of a broad deal to secure the release of five Americans whom the US deemed had been wrongfully detained in Iran. There were bipartisan calls to freeze the funds in the wake of the deadly Hamas attacks in Israel this weekend. Still, the “quiet understanding” not to move the money right now appears to be largely symbolic, given the strict restrictions that were already tied to the funds. Blinken did not confirm that “a quiet understanding” had been reached but made clear the US is able to freeze the funds. The process for Iran to be able to spend the funds was expected to take months, if not years.

Persons: Wally Adeyemo, Adeyemo, Antony Blinken, Blinken, ”, ” Blinken, John Kirby, “ It’s, “, we’ve, Saturday’s, CNN’s Jim Sciutto, Max Organizations: CNN, Saturday, Democrats, Administration, National Security Council, White, State Department Locations: United States, Qatar, Iran, Israel, Tehran, Tel Aviv, Qatari

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference, in Tel Aviv, Israel October 12, 2023. The question of Iranian access to the funds has been in the spotlight since Iran-backed Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel on Saturday, killing more than 1,300 people and taking scores of hostages back to the Palestinian Gaza Strip. "Iran will not be able to access the funds for the foreseeable future," a senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters. Several U.S. media outlets reported on Thursday that the United States and Qatar had agreed to stop Iran from accessing the money. It did not respond to a request for comment on whether Iran had yet tried to access the funds.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Jacquelyn Martin, Blinken, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's U.N, Donald Trump, John Kirby, Kirby, Parisa Hafezi, Andrew Mills, Michelle Nichols, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, TEL, United, Washington, Reuters, U.S, U.S . Treasury, U.S ., Government, United Nations, Qatar's, Media, White House, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, TEL AVIV, WASHINGTON, United States, Iran, Qatar, Palestinian, U.S, Tehran, South Korea, Seoul after Washington, Islamic Republic of Iran, New York, Qatari

☆ Elite investor Jim Rogers rings the alarm on US debt and dollar dominance - and warns of bubbles in stocks and real estate
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

George Soros' former business partner said stocks, bonds, and real estate are widely overvalued. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementAmerica's debts have ballooned to dangerous highs, the US dollar's dominance won't last, and there are bubbles in stocks, bonds, and real estate across many countries, Jim Rogers has warned. Rogers is best known as George Soros' former business partner, and the cofounder of Quantum Fund and Soros Fund Management. In May, he predicted the worst bear market of his life with "trouble" across stocks, bonds, real estate, and currencies.

Persons: Jim Rogers, George Soros, Rogers, —, dollarization Organizations: Service, YouTube, Quantum Fund, Soros Fund Management Locations: United States, China, Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa

☆ These defensive stocks could help investors fortify their portfolio in this risky market
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

They must offer income — that is, a dividend yield in excess of 2%. Take a look at the stocks that can help bolster investors' portfolios: Beverage giant Molson Coors made the list of stocks ideal during unstable times. TAP YTD line Molson Coors year-to-date performance Networking and cloud solutions giant Cisco Systems also made the list. In September, Bunge also came up in a CNBC Pro screen for defensive stocks to help investors ride out a market sell-off. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Molson Coors year-to-date performanceNetworking and cloud solutions giant Cisco Systems also made the list.

Persons: Molson Coors, Roth, Bill Kirk, Molson, Kirk, Goldman Sachs, Bunge, FactSet, —, Darla Mercado, Michael Bloom, Tiffany Hagler Organizations: CNBC, Beverage, Molson, Molson Coors, TAP, Cisco Systems, Cisco, Packaging Corporation of America, CME Group, Geard, Bloomberg, Getty, Equity, AFL Aflac, Bunge, Corp, America, Molson Coors Beverage Co, FactSet Beverage, Cisco Systems Inc Locations: Israel

☆ Factbox-Iran Prisoner Swap for $6 Billion in Spotlight After Hamas Attacks Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that Iran has not yet been able to spend a single dollar of the $6 billion in funds that were unfrozen in a U.S.-Iran prisoner swap in September. WHAT WAS THE IRAN PRISONER SWAP DEAL? Five U.S. citizens detained by Tehran were allowed to leave the country in exchange for the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds that had been frozen in South Korea. The $6 billion was Iranian money that had been frozen in South Korean banks. Under the terms of the Iran prisoner deal, the money can only be used for humanitarian-related purposes, including purchasing food or other goods outside Iran for import, U.S. officials said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, there’s, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, CNN's, Brian Nelson, we've, Nikki Haley, Heather Timmons, Idrees Ali, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: WASHINGTON, Israel, After Washington, State Department, South, Republican, Reuters Locations: Iran, U.S, IRAN, Tehran, South Korea, United States, After, Seoul, Doha, Israel, South Carolina

☆ Iran prisoner swap for $6 billion in spotlight after Hamas attacks Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Persons: Amir Cohen, Antony Blinken, Blinken, there’s, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, CNN's, Brian Nelson, we've, Nikki Haley, Heather Timmons, Idrees Ali, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Israel, After Washington, State Department, South, Republican, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Ashkelon, Israel, Iran, U.S, IRAN, Tehran, South Korea, United States, After, Seoul, Doha, South Carolina

The Hamas attack left at least 250 dead and 1,500 wounded in Israel. The attack only adds new complications as the Biden administration and Iran are locked in disputes over Tehran’s nuclear program. Biden administration officials have also been working on brokering a normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the most powerful and wealthy Arab state. Biden administration officials pushed back against the argument. Administration officials roundly rejected this, saying their efforts to help Palestinian civilians in Gaza and elsewhere do not involve money that Hamas can use or divert.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ unconscionable ”, ”, ” Biden, Obama, —, won’t, ” Netanyahu, Israel, Jonathan Schanzer, “, Netanyahu, Schanzer, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Matthew Miller, State Victoria Nuland, Barbara Leaf, Seung Min Kim, Jill Colvin, Thomas Beaumont Organizations: WASHINGTON, GOP, Hamas, Hezbollah, Biden, European, Middle East, White, Trump White, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Republican, Israel ., Israel . Florida Gov, Department, Foreign Relations, Islamic, State Victoria, Republicans, Administration, Associated Press Locations: Israel, Jerusalem, Gaza, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Egypt, Syria, Washington, Israel . Florida, Carolina, U.S, Islamic Republic, Lebanon, New York, Waterloo , Iowa

☆ Organic? Free range? What do food labels actually mean?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —Navigating the grocery aisle is overwhelming, especially when trying to make sense of food labels. Shoppers who want to know where their food comes from, or how long it will last, have to work even harder. Government agencies have strict guidelines for food safety and nutrition labels on packaged foods. But other information like sell-by dates or animal welfare labels are less regulated — and some are effectively meaningless. Here’s how to know what you’re looking at when you’re reading food labels.

Persons: Scott Olson, “, ”, “ FSIS, Dena Jones, Jones Organizations: New, New York CNN, Nutrition, Shoppers, Government, USDA, ” Companies, Safety, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, Animal Welfare Institute, Global Animal Partnership Locations: New York, Chicago

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russia could use sea mines to target civilian ships in the Black Sea, declassified intelligence warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Servicemen aboard the Romanian Navy King Ferdinand frigate observe smoke from a ship in a training drill in the Black Sea, near Constanta, Romania. Russia could use sea mines to target civilian ships in the Black Sea, the U.K. warned late Wednesday. The U.K. said newly declassified intelligence shows Russia may continue to target civilian shipping in the Black Sea, including by laying sea mines in the approach to Ukrainian ports. The U.K. previously warned that the Russian military had attempted a missile strike against a cargo ship in the Black Sea. "The U.K. assesses that Russia would lay blame on Ukraine for any attacks," the FCDO said in a press statement.

Persons: Romanian Navy King Ferdinand Organizations: Romanian Navy, Initiative Locations: Constanta, Romania, Russia, Ukrainian, Ukraine

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