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☆ Global stock index dips while bond yields, dollar climb
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Sinéad Carew | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., September 28, 2023. While U.S. indexes were a mixed bag in morning trading, in Europe stocks lost earlier gains after September PMI data, a key indicator of economic health, showed manufacturing activity remains in a broad-based downturn. The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) lost 1.21% and MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe (.MIWD00000PUS) shed 0.56%. In currencies, the dollar index rose 0.565%, with the euro down 0.69% to $1.0497. Spot gold dropped 1.1% to $1,828.70 an ounce, while U.S. gold futures fell 0.65% to $1,836.00 an ounce.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Michael Lorizio, Shunichi Suzuki, Brent, Karen Brettell, Marc Jones, Kevin Buckland, Nick Macfie, Mark Potter, Jan Harvey Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Nasdaq, U.S, Treasury, PMI, Manulife Investment Management, Dow Jones, Finance, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Europe, Boston, New York, London, Tokyo

Funds continued to purchase NYMEX and ICE WTI (+16 million barrels), reflecting the intensifying squeeze on crude inventories around the delivery point at Cushing in Oklahoma. WTI purchases have totalled 152 million barrels over the five most recent weeks and taken the net position to 286 million barrels (60th percentile for all weeks since 2013). But funds were net sellers of Brent in the most recent week (-22 million barrels) after buying in the three previous weeks (+63 million). Chartbook: Oil and gas positionsOn the product side, fund managers were significant sellers of U.S. gasoline (-13 million barrels) and European gas oil (-7 million), which was only partially offset by some small buying of U.S. diesel (+2 million). U.S. NATURAL GASInvestors became increasingly bearish on the outlook for U.S. gas prices despite progressive elimination of the large inventory surplus inherited from 2022.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Brent, Cushing, John Kemp, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, ICE Futures, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Funds, ICE, U.S ., U.S, Investors, Henry Hub, Climate, Nino, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Cushing , Oklahoma, Cushing, Oklahoma, Brent, Louisiana, U.S, Pacific, Saudi

Dianne Feinstein once stood at the center of a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history. Decades later, in death, she's being lauded by LGBTQ+ leaders as a longtime ally who, if she didn't always initially do the right thing, was able to learn and evolve. The suspect is Supervisor Dan White.”George Moscone was the liberal mayor of San Francisco; Milk was California’s first openly gay elected official. The Human Rights Campaign, a large LGBTQ+ advocacy group, cited Feinstein’s “sterling record of support for the LGBTQ+ community." And it was one of the hardest moments, if not the hardest moment, of my life,” Feinstein told the San Francisco Chronicle in 2008.

Persons: Dianne Feinstein, she's, didn't, Feinstein, Moscone, Harvey Milk, Dan White, ” George Moscone, Milk, California’s, White, Stuart Milk, supervisor's, “, ” Milk, Feinstein’s, ” Feinstein, “ don’t, ”, Joe Biden, Gavin Newsom, George W, Bush, Matthew S, Kierra Johnson, Randy Shilts, “ Milk, Sean Penn Organizations: of Supervisors, grimly, “, AIDS, Navy, Rights, San Francisco, Republican, Los Angeles Times, National, Task Force, San Francisco Chronicle Locations: San Francisco County, San Francisco, California, Los Angeles, Francisco

☆ Fresenius to assess whether state aid impacts bonus, dividend payouts
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Fresenius SE & Co KGaA FollowFRANKFURT, Sept 30 (Reuters) - German healthcare group Fresenius (FREG.DE) said it was examining whether the state aid it received to help offset high energy costs at its hospitals business would bar it from making management bonus and dividend payments. When asked whether the company would legally challenge any ban on payouts, he said that would have to be analysed. The company paid an unchanged annual dividend of 0.92 euros a share this year, or 518 million euros in total. The spokesperson said the assessment would inform a decision on whether state aid will be accepted during the second half. The Helios unit posted earnings before interest and tax of 622 million euros in the first half against 609 million a year earlier.

Persons: Michael Sen, Sen, Helios, Ludwig Burger, Jan Harvey Organizations: Frankfurter Allgemeine, Reuters, Helios, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT

☆ Russia picked the Black Sea naval fight it's now losing to Ukraine, which doesn't even have a fleet of its own
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Kyiv's forces have used these weapons to increase attacks on high-profile Black Sea Fleet targets. Russia's Black Sea Fleet warships take part in the Navy Day celebrations in the port city of Novorossiysk on July 30, 2023. A little over a week after the shipyard attack, Ukraine bombarded the nearby headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet during a meeting of Russia's naval leadership. Russia has also seemingly demonstrated poor judgment in assessing Ukraine's capacity to actually carry out such impactful strikes on Black Sea Fleet targets, Harvey said. "The Ukrainians are learning to adapt to a maritime theater and having a significant impact on the Black Sea Fleet without having a fleet," he said.

Persons: —, Adm, Tony Radakin, Vladimir Putin, STRINGER, it's, Sig, Russia, John Harvey Jr, Biden, Harvey Organizations: Service, Black, United Nations, White, Getty, Moscow, Black Sea Fleet, Liberian, Fleet, Leadership, Russia, Security Service, Ukraine, Special Operations Forces, US, US Fleet Forces Command, Emergency, Artillery, MGM, Tactical Missile Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Novorossiysk, Palau, Russian, Ukrainian, Odesa, Kyiv, Kerch, Sevastopol, Crimean, Emergency Sevastopol, Crimea

☆ Long-serving US Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein dead at 90
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Feinstein was a Washington trailblazer who, among other accomplishments, became the first woman to head the influential Senate Intelligence Committee. Feinstein joined the Senate in 1992 after winning a special election and was reelected five times, including in 2018, along the way becoming the longest-serving woman senator ever. Health issues slowed Feinstein late in her career, when she was the oldest senator at the time. She ran for governor in 1990, winning the Democratic primary but losing to Republican Pete Wilson in the general election. Feinstein then ran in 1992 for the Senate seat that Wilson had previously held, easily defeating the Republican appointed to the seat.

Persons: Sen, Dianne Feinstein, William Barr, Department's, Feinstein, Dianne, Francisco’s, Nancy Pelosi, Pelosi, George Moscone, Harvey Milk, Milk, Dan White, Ramsay Hunt, al, Osama Bin Laden, John McCain of, Edward Snowden, Republican George W, Bush's, Lindsey Graham, Donald Trump's, Amy Coney Barrett, Trump, Joe Biden's, She, Francisco's, Republican Pete Wilson, Wilson, Feinstein's, Bertram Feinstein, Richard Blum, Will Dunham, Susan Heavey, Scott Malone, Diane Craft, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Committee, Democratic U.S, Washington trailblazer, Intelligence, Senate, U.S, Francisco's, of Supervisors, Moscone, Republicans, Health, Republican, CIA, AMERICA, National Security Agency, NSA, Capitol, Stanford University, San, Supervisors, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, California, Washington, San Francisco County, Connecticut, United States, al Qaeda, Pakistan, John McCain of Arizona, Vietnam, America, Iraq, San Francisco

☆ Oil up $1 on tight U.S. supply, China demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Robert Harvey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An Aramco employee walks near an oil tank at Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia May 21, 2018. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Saudi Arabian Oil Co FollowLONDON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Friday and were headed for a gain of about 3% for the week, driven by tight U.S. supply and expectations of strong fuel demand in China during the Golden Week holiday. China's fuel demand was set to firm as the week-long Golden Week holiday began on Friday. "(An) increase in international travel during the Golden Week holiday is boosting Chinese oil demand," ANZ analysts said in a client note. Saudi Arabia and Russia's supply cuts will dominate oil prices for the remainder of this year, but a run towards $100 per barrel could be capped by macroeconomic headwinds, analysts said.

Persons: Ahmed Jadallah, Brent, Carsten Fritsch, Robert Harvey, Katya Golubkova, Sonali Paul, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Rights Companies Saudi Arabian Oil, . West Texas, ANZ, Golden, St . Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Aramco, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, China, U.S, Cushing , Oklahoma, Russia, St

☆ Dianne Feinstein survived several assassination attempts by terrorists, including a failed flower-pot bomb attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Dianne Feinstein survived multiple assassination attempts in the 1970s. In one incident, a terrorist group planted a bomb in a flower box outside her daughter's window. AdvertisementAdvertisementCalifornia Senator Dianne Feinstein survived multiple assassination attempts during her long career in politics. The left-wing, anti-capitalist terrorist group carried out a series of bombings throughout the state over the decade in the 1970s. In a 2008 interview with SFGATE, Feinstein said that the assassination attempts "helped form who I am and what I believe."

Persons: Dianne Feinstein, Feinstein, —, Dan White, Harvey Milk, Mother Jones, Bert Feinstein, SFGATE Organizations: New, Service, San Francisco, of Supervisors Locations: California, Monterey

An Aramco employee walks near an oil tank at Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia May 21, 2018. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 29 (Reuters) - Oil prices settled 1% lower on Friday due to macroeconomic concerns and profit taking, but rose about 30% in the quarter as OPEC+ production cuts squeezed global crude supply. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) settled down 92 cents to $90.97, up 1% in the week and 29% in the quarter. While the total rig count fell by 51 in the third quarter, the cuts have slowed compared with a reduction of 81 in the second quarter as oil prices have rebounded due to tightening supplies. The supply cuts announced by Saudi Arabia and Russia are expected to dominate oil prices for the remainder of this year.

Persons: Ahmed Jadallah, Brent, WTI, John Kilduff, Lael Brainard, Baker Hughes, Suvro Sarkar, Robert Harvey, Katya Golubkova, Sonali Paul, Mark Potter, Paul Simao, Jan Harvey, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, . West Texas, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Energy Information Administration, Investors, White, Evergrande, HK, Reuters, Aramco, National Australia Bank, DBS Bank, Thomson Locations: Aramco, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, New York, U.S, Brent, OPEC, Russia

☆ Dianne Feinstein once said that one of the 'hardest moments' of her life was finding Harvey Milk shot dead by her colleague
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Senator Dianne Feinstein found Harvey Milk dead in 1978. She once said the killings of Milk and George Moscone was one of the hardest days in her life. "I heard the doors slam, I heard the shots, I smelled the cordite," Feinstein told CNN. "I found Harvey on his stomach," she told SFGATE. "I think in my face you saw the pain of the day 30 years ago," she told SFGATE in 2008.

Persons: Dianne Feinstein, Harvey Milk, Milk, George Moscone, Feinstein, —, SFGATE, Dan White, White, Moscone, Dan, Harvey, White's, I'm, I've Organizations: San Francisco's, Service, San, Supervisors, City, City Hall, CNN Locations: San Francisco's, City, California

☆ Reaction to Democratic U.S. Senator Feinstein's death
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) (C) talks to reporters as she walks to the Senate floor on Capitol Hill, in Washington December 9, 2014. Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, has died at 90, a source familiar with the news said on Friday, although Feinstein's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JUDY CHU, a California Democrat, on X:"Senator Feinstein was a trailblazer, a proud Californian, and a legislative titan. HILLARY CLINTON, former U.S. senator, secretary of state and Democratic presidential nominee, on X:"I'm deeply saddened by the passing of Dianne Feinstein. SENATOR TIM SCOTT, a South Carolina Republican and 2020 presidential candidate, on X:"Saddened to learn of Senator Feinstein’s passing.

Persons: Dianne Feinstein, KATIE PORTER, Feinstein, JUDY CHU, HILLARY CLINTON, CHRIS MURPHY, Dianne, CHUCK GRASSLEY, Sen Feinstein, I’ll, TIM, Feinstein’s, MARCO RUBIO, MARK WARNER, Sen, KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND, CLAIRE MCCASKELL, Makini Brice, David Morgan, Jasper Ward, Susan Heavey, Jan Harvey 私 Organizations: CIA, California Democrat, trailblazer, Democratic, U.S, Connecticut Democrat, Iowa Republican, ppl, TIM SCOTT, South Carolina Republican, Florida Republican, Virginia Democrat, New, New York Democrat, Senate, Democratic U.S, MSNBC Locations: Washington, 読む WASHINGTON, California, U.S, Connecticut, Newtown, Iowa, Florida, Virginia, New York, Missouri

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, whose trailblazing career embodied the rise of women in politics, the movement for gun safety and, finally, a determination to keep serving her California constituents despite illness and advancing age, has died. In the past two years, it was apparent Feinstein was having memory issues, and sometimes appeared befuddled on Capitol Hill. Tributes from lawmakers in both parties flowed Friday morning, as somber Senate lawmakers mourned the loss of their colleague. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat and House speaker emeritus, sat in the Senate gallery, listening to the tearful tributes with Feinstein's daughter, Katherine. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Republican, lauded "the beauty of Dianne Feinstein" and chastised those who pressured Feinstein to step down, not appreciating the sacrifices the ailing California lawmaker made to serve her state.

Persons: Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Feinstein, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Feinstein's, Katherine, Republican Sen, Susan Collins of, Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Murkowski, Patty Murray, Murray, Joe Biden, Dianne, –, Biden, Jill, ”, George Moscone, Harvey Milk, Dan White, Anita Hill, Clarence Thomas, Thomas, Barbara Boxer, GOP Sen, Pete Wilson, Feinstein –, Ted Cruz, I've, Sandy Hook, John McCain, Barack Obama, Gavin Newsom Organizations: Capitol, demurred, New, New York Democrat, California Democrat, Republican, Alaska Republican, Washington Democrat, San Francisco City Hall, San Francisco, California, GOP, Democratic, CIA, Gov, Democrat, California Democrats, Democrats Locations: California, New York, Susan Collins of Maine, Alaska, Washington, San Francisco, San, Delaware, Ted Cruz of Texas, –, Connecticut, Iraq

☆ US equity funds see biggest weekly outflow in three months
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

According to LSEG data, U.S. equity funds suffered outflows of a net $11.69 billion, the biggest of any week since June 21. Equity value funds observed $4.37 billion worth of outflows, the most since December 2022. Meanwhile, growth funds witnessed about $1.95 billion worth of net outgo. U.S taxable bond funds witnessed $2.27 billion worth of net selling, while net withdrawal from municipal bond funds stood at $1.42 billion. Investors offloaded high-yield bond funds of a net $2.6 billion in their biggest weekly net disposal since Feb. 22.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Gaurav Dogra, Patturaja, Jan Harvey 私 Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Investors Locations: New York City, U.S, Bengaluru

Underwood Archives/Getty Images Feinstein gets her makeup touched up for a photo shoot in San Francisco in 1955. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Feinstein attends a campaign event for her mayoral run in San Francisco in 1971. Clem Albers/San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images Feinstein attends a memorial service for assassinated Supervisor Harvey Milk in San Francisco in 1978. Roger Ressmeyer/CORBIS/VCG/Getty Images Feinstein speaks at the signing of an anti-gun bill at San Francisco City Hall in 1982. Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images Feinstein greets first lady Hillary Clinton at the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles.

Persons: Washington CNN — Dianne Feinstein, Feinstein, Gavin Newsom, Newsom, NBC’s “, ”, Feinstein’s, Ramsay Hunt, I’m, “, ” Feinstein, Lindsey Graham, Amy Coney Barrett, Leah Millis, Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Sen, Dick Durbin, Kevin McCarthy, Chuck Schumer, “ Dianne Feinstein, ” Schumer, Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Joe Biden, Celeste Sloman, Dianne Emiel Goldman, George Moscone, Harvey Milk, Duke Downey, Clem Albers, Janet Fries, Quentin Kopp, Sal Veder, Richard Blum, Walter Mondale, Georges, Roger Ressmeyer, Steve Ringman, Tony Bennett, Jeff Reinking, Neal Ulevich, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Eric Risberg, Willie Brown, Cecil Williams, Dr, Martin Luther King Jr, Paul Sakuma, Kim Komenich, Mark Reinstein, Barbara Boxer, Alan Greth, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Carol Moseley, Braun, Doug Mills, Charles Tasnadi, Kathleen Brown, Bill Clinton, Dirck Halstead, Lisa Leslie, Gigi Goshko, Douglas Graham, Hillary Clinton, Clinton, Paul J, Richards, Orrin Hatch, Patrick J, Leahy, William H, Pryor Jr, Scott J, Ferrell, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Schwarzenegger, Tim Sloan, Rick Friedman, Condoleezza Rice, George W, Bush, Colin Powell, Chuck Kennedy, John Roberts, Mark Wilson, Eileen Mariano, Mariano, interning, Tom Williams, Carson, Jay L, Barack Obama, Ralf, Finn Hestoft, Hina Rabbani Khar, Brendan Smialowski, Jacquelyn Martin, AP Sen, Chuck Grassley, Christine Blasey Ford, Brett M, Kavanaugh, Ford, Donald Trump, Chip Somodevilla, Barrett, Bonnie Cash, Graham, Samuel Corum, Jonathan Ernst, Simone Biles, Larry Nassar, Aly Raisman, Maggie Nichols, McKayla Maroney, Bob Dole, Oliver Contreras, Kent Nishimura, Kevin Dietsch, Dianne Feinstein's, Moscone, Milk, CNN’s Dana Bash, Dan White, ‘ Dan, ’, Harvey, California’s, Bash, Richard Blumenthal, Bill Clark, Annette Bening, Donald Trump’s, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham’s Organizations: Washington CNN, Senate, California Democratic, Democratic, Press, Democrats, Democratic Party, Capitol, Senate Intelligence, California Democrat, Capitol Hill, CNN, Golden State ”, Illinois, Republican, New York Times, Underwood Archives, Getty, San Francisco City Hall, San Francisco, of Supervisors, Bettmann, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Ice Company, White, Steiner, Forbidden, Democratic National Convention, United States Senate, United, United States women's, team, Convention, Washington Post, Circuit, Images California, McClatchy, Tribune, Service, Supreme, California, Rancho, Pakistan's, AP, Committee, White House, Los Angeles Times, Stanford University, San, Supervisors, Administration Committee, federal, Inc, South Carolina Republican, Judiciary, Intelligence, Appropriations Locations: Washington, California, San Francisco, America, ” San Francisco, Washington , DC, DC, Forbidden City, Beijing, China, Feinstein , California, Los Angeles, United States, New York, AFP, Boston, Rancho Bernardo, San Diego, San Francisco , California, Maryland, San Francisco County, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut

☆ Dianne Feinstein, California’s longest-serving senator, dies at 90
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

watch nowU.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California has died at age 90, her office confirmed Friday. Senator Feinstein was a force of nature who made an incredible impact on our country and her home state," her chief of staff James Sauls said in a statement. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., in the Senate subway on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., May 11, 2022. "There is simply nobody who possessed the poise, gravitas, and fierceness of Dianne Feinstein." American politician Dianne Feinstein, her arms outstretched in celebration, in her office after she was elected mayor of San Francisco, at San Francisco City Hall in San Francisco, California, circa 1978.

Persons: Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Feinstein, James Sauls, Gavin Newsom, Barbara Lee, Katie Porter, Adam Schiff, Kent Nishimura, Newsom, Jennifer, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Pelosi, Joe Biden, Dianne, Jill, Biden, George Moscone, Harvey Milk, Dan White, Francisco's, John O'Hara, Weeks, Barbara Boxer, Bill Clinton, George W, Bush, Nick Allen Organizations: California, Democrat, Senate, Gov, Washington , D.C, Los Angeles Times, Getty, San, Supervisors, CNN, San Francisco Chronicle, U.S . Senate, Democratic, San Francisco City Hall Locations: California, Washington ,, San Francisco, San Francisco's, American, San Francisco , California

☆ Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California dies at age 90
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

California Senator Dianne Feinstein died Thursday night. She was the first woman mayor of San Francisco and the first woman to represent California in the US Senate. "Senator Feinstein never backed away from a fight for what was just and right," the statement said. Senator Feinstein was a force of nature who made an incredible impact on our country and her home state," it continued. Feinstein became the first woman mayor of San Francisco in 1978, after former city supervisor Dan White assassinated then Mayor George Moscone.

Persons: Dianne Feinstein, Feinstein, —, Nancy Pelosi, Dan White, George Moscone, White, Harvey Milk, Gavin Newsom, CALmatters, " Feinstein, Sen, Rashida Tlaib Organizations: Service, Senate, California Gov, Intelligence, intel, Democrats, Republicans Locations: California, San Francisco, Washington ,, San

☆ European countries who put curbs on Huawei 5G equipment
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The European Union's industry chief Thierry Breton in June urged more EU countries to join the efforts to curb or block Huawei and ZTE equipment from the bloc's 5G telecoms networks. FRANCEFrench authorities in 2020 told telecoms operators planning to buy Huawei 5G equipment that they would not be able to renew licences for the gear once they expire, effectively phasing Huawei out of mobile networks. ITALYWhile Italy has not outright banned Huawei equipment, it prevented telecoms group Fastweb in 2020 from signing a deal for Huawei to supply equipment for its 5G network. LATVIALatvia and the U.S. signed an agreement in 2020 on 5G security aimed at limiting the operations of Chinese companies. SWEDENSweden in 2020 banned telecoms equipment from Huawei and ZTE in its 5G network.

Persons: China's, Thierry Breton, Tristan Veyet, Antonis Pothitos, Laura Lenkiewicz, Milla Nissi, Jan Harvey Organizations: China's Huawei, Huawei, DENMARK Danish, FRANCE French, ZTE, U.S, LITHUANIA Lithuania's, Thomson Locations: Germany, European, BRITAIN Britain, ESTONIA, DENMARK, FRANCE, GERMANY, ITALY, Italy, LATVIA Latvia, LITHUANIA, PORTUGAL, ROMANIA, U.S, China, SWEDEN Sweden

☆ South Africa's MTN fintech arm pushes into remittances, business payments
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An MTN logo is seen outside the company's headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, March 13, 2023. With about 9 million registered mobile money subscribers in South Africa, MTN South Africa's Chief Financial Services Officer Bradwin Roper told reporters on Thursday the group is largely focusing on the roughly 15% of South Africans that are still unbanked. South Africa-based mobile money users will now be able to send money to recipients across over 10 African countries in real time if they are also registered users of the MTN service, Roper said. To make payments easier for such business owners, MTN also launched what it says are cheaper-to-rent point-of-sale devices that merge payments and other added services like airtime purchases into one device. MTN relaunched its South African mobile money business early in 2020, more than three years after closing it.

Persons: Siphiwe, Bradwin Roper, Roper, Nqobile Dludla, Jan Harvey Organizations: MTN, REUTERS, Rights, MTN South Africa's, Financial, Thomson Locations: Johannesburg, South Africa, Rights JOHANNESBURG, Africa, South

☆ Botswana reassessing HB Antwerp deal after Lucara Diamond cuts ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Brian Benza | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An over 1,000-carat uncut stone by Lucara Diamond is pictured during a press availability in New York City, New York, U.S., September 20, 2021. Lucara Diamond said on Thursday it had ended its agreement with HB Trading BV, a unit of HB Antwerp, following what it called "a material breach of financial commitments by HB". Diamond processor and trader HB Antwerp earlier this month removed one of its three co-founders, Oded Mansori, from management following differences over strategy. Mansori, who co-founded HB Antwerp in 2020 with partners Shai de Toledo and Rafael Papismedov, said he was taking them to court over his removal. HB and Lucara first entered into a diamond sales agreement in 2020, which was extended for 10 years in 2022.

Persons: Lucara Diamond, David, Dee, Delgado, Mokgweetsi Masisi, Masisi, Oded, Shai de Toledo, Rafael Papismedov, Lucara, Brian Benza, Nelson Banya, Mark Potter, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, HB Antwerp, HB Trading, HB, Okavango Diamond Company, Lucara, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, Rights GABORONE, Belgian, Botswana

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Quincy Jones, who once embarked on an international diplomatic tour with jazz great Dizzy Gillespie, will receive the U.S. Department of State's inaugural Peace Through Music Award. A ceremony honoring the 28-time Grammy winning producer, musician and arranger will be held Wednesday night and as part of the launch of the State Department's new Global Music Diplomacy Initiative. The tour was part of a Cold War program to spotlight American music and culture and counteract similar efforts by the Soviet Union. “You’re going to see a long-standing partnership between the Academy and the State Department,” Mason said in an interview. We have no more powerful tools in our diplomatic toolkit, and I look forward to seeing – and listening to – the results of this initiative.”The Global Music Diplomacy Initiative was developed following the 2022 Promoting Peace, Education, and Cultural Exchange (PEACE) through Music Diplomacy Act.

Persons: — Quincy Jones, Dizzy Gillespie, Jones, Antony Blinken, Harvey Mason, Dave Grohl, Mickey Guyton, Herbie Hancock, Jamie Barton, GAYLE, Christopher Jackson, LADAMA, Aimee Mann, Rakim, Armani White, Gillespie, Michael Jackson’s, Oscar, “ You’re, ” Mason, “, ”, Roosevelt, Bruce Springsteen, “ I’ve, ” Blinken Organizations: ANGELES, U.S . Department, State's, State, Music Diplomacy Initiative, Recording Academy, American, U.S . State Department, State Department, Fulbright, Arts and Science, Academy, Inter, American Affairs, AP, Education, Cultural Exchange, Diplomacy Locations: Southern Europe, South Asia, Soviet Union, East Berlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a government meeting via a video link at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, September 27, 2023. The impact on refined product supplies bolstered global oil prices , which rose to their highest since last November. Russian domestic fuel prices initially eased on the local commodity exchange, but began to creep up again after an easing of the restrictions was announced over the weekend. The government is also reconsidering a cut to damper payments, or subsidies to oil refineries, which began this month, he said. Wholesale fuel prices spiked, although retail prices are capped to try and keep them in line with the official rate of inflation.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Metzel, Novak, Putin, Alexander Novak, Vladimir Soldatkin, Jan Harvey, Kirsten Donovan, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Kremlin, Sputnik, REUTERS Acquire, Putin, Wednesday, Traders, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, MOSCOW

☆ Flutter eyes Balkan expansion with acquisition of Serbia's MaxBet
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Flutter, the world's largest online betting company, said the 700 million euro Serbian betting market is attractive due to its relatively low online penetration of around 35% and expected online compound annual growth to 2025 of approximately 15%. MaxBet, which generated pro forma fully regulated revenue of 145 million euros in the year to June, 44% of it online, also has a smaller presence in Bosnia, Montenegro and North Macedonia. "We believe MaxBet is an excellent opportunity to replicate the success we have achieved in markets like Georgia, India and Italy," Flutter CEO Peter Jackson said in a statement, referring to similar acquisitions in those markets. Flutter, which makes 78% of its revenue in its main divisions of the U.S., Australia and the United Kingdom and Ireland, operates in more than 100 countries around the world. ($1 = 0.9466 euros)Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Jan HarveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Paddy Power, Peter Jackson, Padraic Halpin, Jan Harvey Organizations: DUBLIN, Thomson Locations: Balkans, Bosnia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Georgia, India, Italy, U.S, Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland

☆ H&M blames warm weather for September sales slide
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Helen Reid | トムソンロイター | London-Based Reporter Covering The European Retail Sector Through A Global Lens. Focusing On Companies Including Adidas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

H&M, whose biggest rival is Zara owner Inditex (ITX.MC), said September sales would be down 10% year-on-year measured in local currencies. That compares with Inditex reporting sales between Aug. 1 and Sept. 11 that were up 14%. Operating profit in the Swedish group's third quarter jumped to 4.74 billion crowns ($431 million) from a year-earlier 902 million. The year-ago figure included a one-off cost of 2.1 billion crowns for the group's exit from Russia, which also accounted for four percentage points of the 10% September sales decline. H&M announced a share buyback programme starting on Wednesday, planning to buy back up to 3 billion crowns of stock by March 31 next year.

Persons: サマリー, Inditex, Vera Diehl, Nicolas Champ, LSEG, Richard Chamberlain, Anna Ringstrom, Helen Reid, Jan Harvey, Mark Potter Organizations: Union Investment, Barclays, RBC, HK, Tmall Locations: STOCKHOLM, Zara, Swedish, Russia, JD.com, China's Xinjiang, Alibaba's

☆ Kia, Hyundai recall 3.37 million US vehicles over fire risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] The Kia EV9 is displayed at the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 5, 2023. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Hyundai (005380.KS) and Kia (000270.KS) are recalling a combined 3.37 million vehicles in the United States due to the risk of engine fires, telling owners to park outside and away from structures until repairs are complete. The automakers say brake fluid leaks can cause a short that could lead to a fire. Hyundai said it has reports of 21 fires and 21 other thermal incidents since 2017 related to the recall, while Kia has reports of at least 10 confirmed fires and melting incidents. Kia America's recall covers 1.73 million Borrego, Cadenza, Forte, Sportage, K900, Optima, Soul Rio, Sorento, and Rondo vehicles.

Persons: Kia EV9, David, Dee, Delgado, Kia, Kia America's, Forte, Sportage, Jyoti Narayan, Kanjyik Ghosh, Jan Harvey, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: New York, REUTERS, Rights, Hyundai, Kia, National, Traffic Safety Administration, Control, Tucson Fuel Cell, Santa Fe Sport, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, KS, United States, Santa Fe, Veracruz, Tucson, Santa, Bengaluru

☆ Grammy's CEO: 'We're not going to award AI creativity' unless it falls under these two categories
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Ashton Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"No, we're not going to award AI creativity," Mason said last week at the Fast Company Innovation Festival 2023. The Recording Academy recently published new eligibility requirements for the 66th annual Grammy Awards, which will take place in February 2024. If AI wrote the song but a human singer ... is singing the song, then it's going to be eligible for a performance category," Mason explained. The artists said they use AI for assistance in areas like songwriting, music production, mastering music and even music artwork. "The Academy is here to support and advocate and protect and represent human artists and human creators.

Persons: Harvey Mason Jr, we're, Mason, —, Drake, Ditto Organizations: Recording Academy, Fast, New York Times, Fast Company, CNBC Locations: Wharton

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