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SEOUL, South Korea — As morning arrived in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood, quiet prevailed at the scene of the tragedy where at least 153 people died on what should have been a night of Halloween revelry. What we know about the deadly incident in Seoul At least 153 people were killed and 103 injured, officials said. While Halloween is not a traditional holiday in South Korea, Itaewon is known for its costume parties at bars and clubs, which have soared in popularity in recent years. The last major tragedy in South Korea also hit young people. Stella Kim and Thomas Maresca reported from South Korea.

☆ International leaders offer condolences over deadly South Korea Halloween crush
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, Oct 30 (Reuters) - International leaders expressed condolences after at least 22 foreign nationals from 13 countries were among those killed in a deadly crowd surge in Seoul's Itaewon district, a popular nightlife spot for South Koreans and expatriates alike. South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a period of national mourning on Sunday after a Halloween crush killed some 153 people in the packed nightlife area. At least four Chinese nationals were among those killed, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Chinese embassy in Seoul. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: "All our thoughts are with those currently responding and all South Koreans at this very distressing time." "I am devastated by news of the terrible incident in connection with Halloween celebrations in Seoul," Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said in a statement.

☆ Russia's partial mobilization of troops for Ukraine is complete, defense minister says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Friday said that the “partial mobilization” of 300,000 reservists to fight in Ukraine that Russia announced in September was complete. Speaking at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin broadcast on state television, Shoigu told Putin: “The task set by you of (mobilizing) 300,000 people has been completed. He said that in future, recruitment for the Ukraine campaign would be based on volunteers and professional soldiers, rather than mobilising more of Russia’s several million reservists. Putin declared a “partial mobilization” of 300,000 reservists on Sept. 21, after a series of military defeats saw Russian forces routed from east Ukraine’s Kharkiv region and under increasing pressure in the southern Kherson region. Responding to Shoigu, Putin acknowledged problems with mobilisation, saying that they were “inevitable”, and said that it was necessary to make “corrections” to the development of Russia’s armed forces.

☆ Chevron's TCO expects full production to flow through CPC in November
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Companies Chevron Corp FollowOct 28 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan's Chevron-led Tengizchevroil (TCO) expects full production to flow through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) in November, the oil major's finance chief said on Friday. CPC, which takes oil from Kazakhstan to the Black Sea via one of the world's largest pipelines, suspended oil loadings from two of three single mooring points at the Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka terminal in August due to storm damage. The repairs are underway and CPC will conclude repairs in weeks or less, Chevron Corp (CVX.N) CFO Pierre Breber told Reuters. Chevron is evaluating options with the Kazakhstan government, but most alternatives, whether rail or pipeline, still go through Russia, according to Breber. Reporting by Sabrina Valle in Houston and Arunima Kumar in BengaluruOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Commodity stocks, Natwest drag FTSE 100 lower
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Johann M Cherian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies FTSE 100 down 0.7%, FTSE 250 off 1.2%Natwest falls to bottom of FTSE 100Glencore cuts core earnings guidanceOct 28 (Reuters) - UK's FTSE 100 fell on Friday, as commodity-linked stocks dropped on worries about widening COVID-19 curbs in China, while Natwest slumped after reporting a flat third-quarter profit. The exporter-heavy FTSE 100 (.FTSE) fell 0.7%, with mining (.FTNMX551020) and energy (.FTNMX601010) stocks shedding 2.8% and 0.7%, respectively, as oil and metal prices slid after top consumer China expanded COVID-19 restrictions. "I'm not surprised because the government here is desperate to find sources of revenue," said Stuart Cole, head macro economist at Equiti Capital. "Investors are now concerned about the government taxing the significant sources of revenue that banks and energy companies have been earning." Shares of NatWest (NWG.L) dropped 7.8% to the bottom of FTSE 100 after the company reported a flat quarterly profit, blaming bad loan charges from a worsening economic outlook and the cost of exiting its Irish business.

☆ Russia's partial mobilisation is complete, Shoigu says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu attends a meeting with President Vladimir Putin at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, Russia, October 28, 2022. In future, Shoigu said, recruitment for the Ukraine campaign would be based on volunteers and professional soldiers, rather than mobilising more of Russia's several million reservists. Responding to Shoigu, Putin acknowledged problems with mobilisation, saying that they were "inevitable", and said that the Ukrainian campaign had shown the need for "corrections" to Russia's armed forces. Russia's armed forces have struggled in the eight months since Putin ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine, in what Moscow calls the "special military operation". Russian armed forces abandoned an attempt to seize Kyiv and other northern Ukrainian cities in April, before losing ground in the south and east to Ukrainian counter-attacks since August.

[1/2] People buy food at stalls promoting China's digital yuan, or e-CNY, during the 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China September 1, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu WangHONG KONG/SHANGHAI, Oct 27 (Reuters) - China's digital yuan took the centre stage in the world's largest cross-border central bank digital currency (CBDC) trial to date, a report showed, pointing to how Beijing is speeding up yuan globalization efforts amid rising geopolitical tensions. China's digital currency, or e-CNY, was the most issued, and actively transacted token in the $22 million pilot that used CBDCs to settle cross-border trades, a Bank of International Settlement (BIS) report showed. The PBOC's participation in m-Bridge represents its ambition to eventually promote global, wholesale use of the e-CNY. But China's yuan internationalisation, digital or not, faces challenges amid a slowing economy ravaged by COVID flare-ups, and a property debt crisis.

☆ India's Russian oil binge sends Middle East imports to 19-mth low -trade
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Nidhi Verma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

India's imports from the Middle East fell to about 2.2 million bpd, down 16.2% from August, the data showed, while imports from Russia increased 4.6% to about 896,000 bpd after dipping in the previous two months. Russia's share of India's oil imports surged to an all-time high of 23% from 19% the previous month while that of the Middle East declined to 56.4% from 59%, the data showed. India's oil imports from various regionsIndia has emerged as Russia's second biggest oil buyer after China, taking advantage of discounted prices as some Western entities shun purchases over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. However, supply from the Middle East rose from a low base last year when the second wave of the coronavirus cut fuel demand. India's oil imports from various regionsIndia's oil importsReporting by Nidhi Verma; editing by Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. developing domestic uranium strategy -energy secretary
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Timothy Gardner | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The United States relies on Russia and its allies Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for roughly half of the uranium powering its nuclear power plants. "The United States wants to be able to source its own fuel from ourselves and that's why we are developing a uranium strategy," Granholm told reporters at an International Atomic Energy Agency conference in Washington. In September, the White House asked Congress for another $1.5 billion in a temporary government funding bill to boost domestic supply of low enriched uranium and HALEU. The Department of Energy has supplies of heavily enriched uranium, from which it can downblend fuel for reactors. Some nuclear power proponents also want to boost U.S. mining and processing of uranium, practices many environmentalists want to limit.

☆ Putin accuses Ukraine of 'dirty bomb' plans, says risks of world conflict high
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a news conference following the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) leaders' summit in Astana, Kazakhstan October 14, 2022. Sputnik/Ramil Sitdikov/Pool via REUTERSMOSCOW, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia was aware of Ukrainian plans to use a "dirty bomb", echoing an unsubstantiated allegation repeatedly made by Moscow in recent days. Speaking at a meeting with the intelligence chiefs of several former Soviet countries, Putin said that the risk of conflict in the world and region was high, and that security should be heightened around key infrastructure sites. Reporting by ReutersOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ ATP roundup: Carlos Alcaraz survives in Switzerland
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

1 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain survived an early scare to defeat Jack Draper of Great Britain 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the first round of the Swiss Indoors Basel on Monday in Switzerland. Draper fired nine aces to Alcaraz's one, but Alcaraz saved four of seven break points and converted four of nine break-point chances in order to advance. Fourth seed Marin Cilic of Croatia was less fortunate, losing to French qualifier Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5). He won 57 of his 70 first-service points (81 percent), saved four of five break points and rallied from behind 5-4 in the second-set tiebreaker. Rublev had seven aces, saved all three break points he faced and broke Schwartzman's serve four times.

☆ 2 intensifying border wars show Putin is losing sway in his neighborhood while Russia struggles in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In recent weeks, border disputes in the Caucasus and Central Asia have escalated into clashes. And the Russian troops that once kept the peace between those feuding neighbors? Kremlin Press Office/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesRussia's complicated history with Central Asia goes back centuries. Russian leaders, including Vladimir Putin, inherited this colonialist mindset, seeing Central Asia (and Ukraine) as part of the Russia sphere. KAREN MINASYAN/AFP via Getty ImagesTo some extent, the deployment of Russian troops, or threat to do so, has tamped down conflicts.

The young Russians who fled their country for neighboring Kazakhstan to avoid being conscripted to fight in Ukraine all want to go home one day. “I feel very sad, because, actually, I love Russia,” a 25-year-old Muscovite told NBC News in the biggest city in Kazakhstan, Almaty, a prime destination for Russians avoiding conscription. The young man, who was a juggler and a street performer before he left three weeks ago, said he already feels homesick for Mother Russia. Asked what drove him into exile, the Muscovite said: “Well, firstly, because of this conscription stuff happening now in Russia. Some of those who have left, he said, intend to stay in Kazakhstan, while others see the country as a “trampoline” to somewhere else in Europe.

☆ Vatican confirms renewal of contested accord with China on bishops' appointments
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

VATICAN CITY, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The Vatican on Saturday said that it and China had renewed a secret and contested agreement on the appointment of Roman Catholic bishops in the communist country. The deal was a bid to ease a longstanding divide across mainland China between an underground flock loyal to the pope and a state-backed official church. The Vatican-China deal centres on cooperation over the appointment of bishops, giving the pope the final and decisive say. They also point to increasing restrictions on religious freedoms in China for Christians and other minorities. Last month, the Vatican tried to arrange a meeting between Xi, 69, and the pope, 85, while both leaders were in Kazakhstan, but China declined.

☆ Turkey's Erdogan to meet Swedish PM Kristersson to discuss extraditions, NATO bid
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sputnik/Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool via REUTERSISTANBUL, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said he will meet Sweden's new prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, to discuss Stockholm's bid to join NATO as well as the extradition of people Ankara considers terrorists. Sweden and fellow Nordic country Finland launched their bids to join NATO in May in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but they ran into objections from Turkey. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterErdogan said Kristersson, who took office on Monday, sided with the fight againt terrorism, Turkish broadcaster NTV reported. Erdogan has said Turkey's parliament would not approve the Nordic countries' NATO bids if they do not extradite the people Ankara has requested. Sweden has taken "concrete action" to address Turkey's concerns over its NATO membership bid, Stockholm told Ankara in a letter dated Oct. 6 and seen by Reuters.

☆ Russia's Sistema buys $256 mln stake in Melon Fashion Group after scrapped IPO
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies This content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine. MOSCOW, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Russian telecoms-to-healthcare conglomerate Sistema (AFKS.MM) agreed a $256-million deal for a stake in Melon Fashion Group on Wednesday, months after the retail outlet scrapped plans for an initial public offering (IPO) due to the conflict in Ukraine. It will secure around 193 million euros ($189 million) for its 36% stake, Eastnine said in a statement. Sistema President Tagir Sitdekov said Melon Fashion Group "is growing fast and demonstrating operational excellence", and said Sistema had the right experience to continue developing the company. The deal is expected to complete by the end of 2022, Sistema and Eastnine said in separate statements.

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"For the moment, Putin is hanging in there," said Anthony Brenton, a former British ambassador to Russia. In power since 1999, Putin has weathered numerous domestic crises and wars, and more than once faced down large street protests before effectively outlawing any real opposition. The Kremlin says Putin is backed by an overwhelming majority of Russians and won a landslide re-election victory in 2018. said Weiss, who has had various policy roles on the U.S. National Security Council and has written a book about Putin. A senior European official said Putin would have to demonstratively lose the war to be unseated.

☆ 'We want respect': Putin's authority tested in Central Asia
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Olzhas Auyezov | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"We want respect. Respect," said Emomali Rakhmon, Tajikistan's president since 1994, complaining that Moscow's attitude had not improved since the Soviet era. The conflict prompted Japarov to skip an informal meeting of ex-Soviet leaders in Moscow on Putin's birthday, Oct. 7. Kazakh state television showed a selection of street interviews in which respondents said the war in Ukraine cast doubt on whether any post-Soviet unity still existed. Its report also highlighted what it called provocative behaviour by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, widely regarded as Putin's proxy, who interrupted one of Tokayev's speeches.

☆ Russian retail chain Williams et Oliver considers IPO within five years
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Russian homeware goods retailer Williams et Oliver is considering an initial public offering in the next five years, the financial director of parent company Patriot Group said on Monday. "There are plans," Marina Shevlyakova, financial director of Patriot Group, told an online conference marking Patriot's debut placement of three-year bonds worth 200 million roubles ($3.23 million). We have plans to take a leading position (in the sector), and the only path for a market leader is an IPO," she said. Williams et Oliver aims to increase annual revenue to 2.3 billion roubles by 2025, from 861 million roubles in 2021, and boost net profit to 134 million roubles, from 61 million roubles. Patriot Group head Dmitry Shirokov said Williams et Oliver plans to expand in Russia and enter Kazakhstan.

I no longer miss the “old” Kanye West, now known as Ye. I’m tired of hearing about the new Ye, and I wish we could stop talking about him altogether. Days before that, he appeared with far-right pundit Candace Owens flaunting “White Lives Matter” T-shirts during Paris Fashion Week. This includes to stopping asking for the “old Kanye” back. Chop up the soul Kanye, set on his goals Kanye.” At first, I sang the lyrics with hope that the “old Kanye” who once had such a hopeful swagger would return, that he would get past his ego and be born again as the creative powerhouse whose every move we followed with anticipation instead of dread.

☆ Russians flee to South Korea to avoid being drafted to fight in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( Stella Kim | Stella Kim Is An Nbc News Freelance Producer Based In Seoul. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

SEOUL — Groups of Russians have sailed to South Korea in an attempt to avoid being conscripted for the war in Ukraine — only for most of them to be refused entry at the border. Alexandr Kryazhev / Sputnik via APBut he said 21 were denied approval on the basis of “insufficient documentation and unclear objective" for entering South Korea. The two successful applicants had documents showing records of having previously been in South Korea. A 6-ton yacht also arrived in South Korea on Oct. 1, according to the Coast Guard. All four individuals aboard were denied entry.

☆ 2 Russian soldiers turned their guns on fellow recruits, killing 11 and injuring 15 at a training base, say reports
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russian authorities said that 11 people were killed and 15 injured in a shooting at a military training site. The incident took place during a firearms training class for volunteer soldiers. News reports state that 11 people were killed and 15 injured during a firearms training class involving volunteer soldiers. Governor of Belgorod region Vyacheslav Gladkov said, "A terrible event happened on our territory, on the territory of one of the military units. The training camp incident came as the Russian president indicated the mobilization of 300,000 soldiers was a success on Friday.

☆ U.S. to provide Ukraine with more weapons as Putin signals end to unpopular mobilization drive
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( Hyder Abbasi | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Missiles, rockets and anti-tank weapons will form part of a new security assistance package for Ukraine, the Defense Department said Friday, hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled an end to his unpopular mobilization drive. “The United States has delivered unprecedented security assistance to Ukraine and will continue to work with allies and partners to ensure Ukraine has the support it needs,” the statement said. The U.S. has contributed approximately $17.6 billion in security assistance “since the beginning of Russia’s unprovoked and brutal invasion on February 24,” it added. The Pentagon's announcement came after Putin indicated that his controversial military mobilization drive was coming to an end. His said the strikes came after four Russian drones destroyed buildings and caused fires to break out in the region late Friday.

☆ A female doctor fled Russia to avoid being drafted amid fears the 'partial mobilization' will include women medics
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A female doctor told Insider she fled Russia because she feared being called up to serve in Ukraine. Another Russian woman, who trained as a nurse, told Insider that she'd rather go to prison than serve. "I'd been planning to immigrate to Germany for a while for work," she told Insider. The majority of doctors in Russia are womenVarvara had been planning to move to Germany with her husband in November. Sonia Subbotina, the girlfriend of jailed anti-war artist Alexandra Skochilenko, told Insider that she intends to remain indefinitely in St. Petersburg to care for Skochilenko.

ASTANA, Kazakhstan — Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has a warning for the West: Do not push Russian President Vladimir Putin into a corner. Russia has nuclear weapons for a reason and crossing Putin’s “red lines” in Ukraine would be a mistake, the strongman and close Kremlin ally said in an exclusive interview Friday. And you don’t need nuclear weapons. Russia will cope without them.”The Kremlin has stoked growing nuclear fears as its military retreats on the battlefield and disquiet grows at home. “If nuclear weapons are used even by one country, it will cause a chain reaction.

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