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☆ Saudi bourse tracks oil prices lower, Egypt extends losses
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Ateeq Shariff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A Saudi trader observes the stock market on monitors at Falcom stock exchange agency in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia February 7, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 1 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's stock market ended lower on Sunday in response to Friday's fall in oil prices, while the Egyptian index extended loses on profit-taking. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) fell 0.1%, extending losses from the previous session, weighed down by a 0.9% fall in oil giant Saudi Aramco (2222.SE). Oil prices - a key catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets - settled 1% lower on Friday due to macroeconomic concerns and profit-taking. Saudi Arabia is expected to tap the international debt markets to finance a projected budget deficit in 2023-2024, the finance ministry said, against a backdrop of lower oil prices and the country's extended oil production cuts.

Persons: Faisal Al Nasser, Ateeq, David Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Saudi, Saudi Aramco, Qatar National Bank, Qatar bourse, Banking, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Ateeq Shariff, Bengaluru

☆ Balenciaga designer puts friends and family on Paris runway
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Mimosa Spencer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Balenciaga designer Demna Gvasalia took a personal turn for the luxury label's runway show in Paris on Sunday, sending out a lineup of reconstructed trench coats, oversize bomber jackets and floor-sweeping floral gowns on an eclectic cast of models plucked from his entourage. His mother opened the show, marching down a long runway set like a stage and lined with draped red velvet curtains, wearing pointy heels and a long, roomy trench coat, navy blue on one side, black on the other, tightly cinched at the waist with a cloth belt. Closing the show was the designer's husband, Loik Gomez, a music artist known as BFRND, in a wedding dress. Worn with a long, white lace veil over his head, the dress was made from seven dresses, “cut, tiered and piled together anew,” according to the show notes. Reporting by Mimosa Spencer; Editing by David HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Demna Gvasalia, Isabelle Huppert, Demna, Cathy Horyn, Loik Gomez, Mimosa Spencer, David Holmes Organizations: Thomson Locations: Paris

☆ UBS says 'not aware' of DOJ probe into sanctions-related compliance failures
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsZURICH, Sept 30 (Reuters) - UBS (UBSG.S) on Saturday said it is "not aware" of a probe by the U.S. Department of Justice into alleged sanctions-related compliance failures, following a media report earlier this week. "We're not aware of such a probe," UBS said in a statement. On Wednesday Bloomberg reported that a full-scale investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice was underway into alleged compliance failures that helped Russian clients evade sanctions. Citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported that the DOJ had spoken to U.S.-based lawyers for UBS about Credit Suisse's alleged exposure to sanctions violations since UBS acquired its smaller rival in June. The DOJ is also looking into possible compliance failures at UBS, one of the people cited by Bloomberg said.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, We're, Noele Illien, David Holmes Organizations: Swiss, UBS, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Department of Justice, CS, Wednesday Bloomberg, Justice, Reuters, Trading, Bloomberg, DOJ, Credit, Thomson Locations: Zurich, Switzerland, Russia

☆ Opposition candidate Muizzu projected to win Maldives presidency, local media report
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Mohamed Junayd | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mohamed Muizzu, Maldives presidential candidate of the opposition party, People's National Congress gestures after casting his vote at a polling station during the Maldives presidential election day in Male, Maldives September 9, 2023. REUTERS/Dhahau Naseem/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMALE, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Opposition candidate Mohamed Muizzu is projected to win the Maldives presidential run-off vote on Saturday, beating incumbent Ibrahim Solih, local media said, in a result that could see the Indian Ocean archipelago shift closer to China. Muizzu was leading the count with 54% of the vote against 46% won by Solih, local media reported. Thousands turned out early at 586 polling stations across the 187 islands known for their sun-kissed beaches and resorts. Maldivians also voted at polling stations in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Britain and Abu Dhabi.

Persons: Mohamed Muizzu, Dhahau Naseem, Ibrahim Solih, Muizzu, Maldivians, Abdulla Yameen, Muizzu's, Yameen, Mohamed Junayd, Gursimran Kaur, Andrew Cawthorne, David Holmes Organizations: People's, REUTERS, Maldives presidential, Solih, China, Progressive Party of Maldives, Thomson Locations: Maldives, Male, China, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Britain, Abu Dhabi, Solih

But Portugal's housing crisis curbed her dreams and forced her to live in a tent. Sale prices have skyrocketed 137% in that period, according to housing data specialists Confidencial Imobiliario. Brazilians, who make up 40% of Portugal's migrant community, on average earn around 20% less than Portuguese, according to the Migration Observatory. At Saturday's rallies in Lisbon, Porto and other cities, protesters carried banners reading "Housing is a right!" The 2021 census showed that nearly 38% of Portugal's foreign population lived in overcrowded households, and various rights groups have said migrants often face discrimination in access to housing.

Persons: Marcia Leandro, Andreia Costa, Confidencial, Leandro, Dinis Lourenco, Lourenco, Costa, Miguel Pereira, Catarina Demony, Andrei Khalip, David Holmes Organizations: Confidencial Imobiliario, Migration, Socialist, Thomson Locations: LISBON, Portugal, Brazil, Lisbon, Western, Porto

Japanese yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen with a currency exchange rate graph in this illustration picture taken June 16, 2022. Meanwhile, a partial government shutdown is looming, which could affect the release of economic data and potentially dent economic growth. The greenback is up 3.54% against the yen this quarter, following an 8.66% gain last quarter. Core inflation in Japan's capital slowed in September for the third straight month mainly on falling fuel costs, data showed on Friday. The British currency is on track for a quarterly loss of 3.85% against the U.S. dollar, the worst performance in a year.

Persons: Florence Lo, ”, Peter Cardillo, Brown Brothers Harriman, “ We’re, Janet Yellen, Sterling, Karen Brettell, Amanda Cooper, Stephen Culp, David Holmes, Nick Zieminski Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Spartan Capital Securities, Federal Reserve, Brown Brothers, Republicans, U.S . House, Treasury, U.S ., Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, London

"We're definitely seeing a bit of a soft open in the IPO market", said Lizzie Reed, global head of the ECM syndicate desk at Goldman Sachs. Arm and Instacart shares briefly fell below their issue price, suggesting there is still some way before the IPO market fully recovers. Medical glass producer Schott Pharma (1SXP.F) debuted on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on Thursday, with shares closing 16% above the IPO price. Klaviyo's shares are now trading at a 21% premium to their IPO price. "For the IPO market to open more broadly in the first quarter in 2024 ... we need the 2023 IPO cohort to continue to perform well," said Josh Weismer, head of U.S. ECM, Mizuho Americas.

Persons: Lizzie Reed, Goldman Sachs, IPOs, Robert Stowe ,, Suneel Hargunani, Schott, ThyssenKrupp, Hidrolectrica, Ross Devor, ”, Samir A, Gandhi, Stephane Gruffat, SoftBank, Josh Weismer, Echo Wang, Pablo Mayo, Anousha Sakoui, David Holmes Organizations: Bankers, ECM, Arm Holdings, Barclays, Citigroup, Schott Pharma, Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Thoma Bravo, Deutsche Bank, Nvidia, Apple, Qatar Investment Authority, U.S, Mizuho, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Thomson Locations: United States, Europe, British, New York, U.S, IPOs, East, Africa, Romanian, Qatar, Mizuho Americas, London

☆ Hedge fund Eisler Capital uses basis trades to add to positive year
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Nell Mackenzie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Hedge fund Eisler Capital posted a 4.17% positive performance for the year to end-August, it said in a letter to investors, benefiting from a basis-trade strategy that has regulators worried about financial stability risks. According to the letter seen by Reuters, basis trades have been a part of the most profitable trading strategy for the $3.7 billion London-based hedge fund this year. While the fund uses basis trades in U.S. Treasuries, it also employs them with the euro, Swiss franc and Swedish government bonds, the letter showed. A Fed paper on Aug. 30 said that if these positions represent the so-called basis trades, "sustained large exposures by hedge funds present a financial stability vulnerability" warranting "diligent monitoring." The Eisler investor letter also showed the hedge fund uses swap derivatives to mitigate the riskiness of its positions.

Persons: Eisler, Kevin Lenaghan, Nell Mackenzie, David Holmes Organizations: Eisler, Reuters, Swiss, Bank for International, Ivy Academy, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles, U.S, Europe

☆ 'Fast and Furious': Paris collector offers drives in famous movie cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Noemie Olive | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A French car collector offers just that in a new car museum south of Paris. The Chevelle is not for hire, but Galiegue's Movie Cars Central operation offers paying visitors the chance to take a spin in more than 10 mostly U.S.-made vintage car models that have featured in movies. One of those cars for hire is a DeLorean, transformed to resemble the time-travel machine from the 1985 film "Back to the Future". He owns 12 cars from the Fast and Furious series, eight of which are originals. The museum will soon have three new cars including one from the 1987 RoboCop movie.

Persons: Olive, Herbie, Franck Galiegue, Ryan Gosling, Galiegue, Tim Burton, Hutch, Magnum's, Noemie Olive, David Holmes Organizations: DeLorean DMC, Pop Central, REUTERS, Rights, Volkswagen, Chevrolet, DeLorean, Ford Gran Torino, Magnum's Ferrari, GV De, Thomson Locations: Etrechy, Paris, France, Los Angeles

REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - China's appetite for base metal imports appears to be growing. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVEChina's imports of primary aluminium surged to a near two-year high of 153,000 metric tons in August, bringing the year-to-date count to 755,000 metric tons. SLOW COPPER BOAT TO SHANGHAIRefined copper imports were 340,000 metric tons in August, the highest monthly tally this year. The country's refined zinc trade has reverted to net imports this year but volumes remain modest by historical standards. SHIFTING THE NICKEL MIXThere has been no pick-up in China's imports of refined nickel.

Persons: Florence Lo, they've, They've, China's, David Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Shanghai Futures Exchange, London Metal Exchange, LOVE, Malaysian, New, Democratic, China's CMOC, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, contango, Shanghai, RUSSIA, U.S, New Zealand, SHANGHAI, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Indonesia

☆ As shutdown looms, companies should go public 'before Friday'-US SEC chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The headquarters of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seen in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 12, 2021. Gensler said the agency would lose more than 90% of its workforce to unpaid furloughs, leaving a "skeletal" staff to perform essential functions. "If a company were deciding to go public or raise offerings, they'd want to go effective before Friday if they're ready to," Gensler said. Gensler also acknowledged that should a major disruption occur on Wall Street, "senior leadership would be there but again we'd be down to a skeletal staff." Major Wall Street indices were down markedly shortly toward 1700 GMT, adding to recent days' losses driven by investor concerns about the path of interest rates, with a possible shutdown also weighing on trading.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Gary Gensler, Gensler, we'd, Joe Biden, Douglas Gillison, Lance Tupper, Lewis Krauskopf, Paul Simao, David Holmes, Alistair Bell Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Birkenstock, Wednesday, Washington, Democratic, SEC, Republican, Clarios, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, Washington, New York

☆ Swedish furniture maker IKEA to open first Colombia store
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The IKEA logo is seen outside an IKEA furniture store in Brussels, Belgium June 13, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBOGOTA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Swedish furniture maker IKEA will this week open its biggest South American store in Colombia, as part of an international expansion plan which includes growth in Peru and Chile with an investment worth $600 million, an executive said on Wednesday. The Colombia store, to be opened on Thursday in the capital Bogota, will be the first in the country and will span three floors with 40 exhibition rooms. "The opening of our first store in Colombia is part of the brand's plan to establish nine stores in Chile, Colombia and Peru over the next 10 years," Hasbleidy Castaneda, IKEA's manager in Colombia, said in an interview. The investment plan includes opening two more stores in Colombia next year, to be located in Medellin and Cali, the country's second and third-largest cities respectively.

Persons: Yves Herman, Hasbleidy Castaneda, Luis Jaime Acosta, Oliver Griffin, David Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, IKEA, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Rights BOGOTA, Swedish, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Mexico, Dominican Republic

☆ Volkswagen hit by IT outage, brand vehicle production in Germany halted
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A technician works on a model of Volkswagen ID.4, at the production line for electric car models of the Volkswagen Group in Zwickau, Germany, April 26, 2022. REUTERS/Matthias Rietsche/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsFRANKFURT, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) was hit by a major IT outage on Wednesday, Europe's top carmaker said, adding that production at the carmaker's namesake brand in Germany had come to a halt as a result. Volkswagen said that the whole group, which includes the Porsche AG (P911_p.DE) and Audi brands, was affected. A spokesperson for Audi confirmed that production at the division had been impacted, too, adding it was currently being analysed to what extent. Volkswagen said there had been an unspecified "IT malfunction of network components" at the carmaker's site in Wolfsburg, its global headquarters.

Persons: Matthias Rietsche, carmaker, Volkswagen, Christoph Steitz, Ralf Banser, Maria Martinez, David Holmes, Grant McCool, William Maclean Organizations: Volkswagen, REUTERS, Rights, Porsche AG, Audi, Thomson Locations: Zwickau, Germany, Wolfsburg

☆ USAID Chief to Raise Karabakh Humanitarian Situation in Azerbaijan Visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Daphne PsaledakisWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senior Biden administration officials arrived in Azerbaijan on Wednesday amid a humanitarian crisis and an exodus of tens of thousands of people after Azerbaijan took back control of Nagorno-Karabakh in a lightning offensive last week. U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) chief Samantha Power, joined by U.S. State Department Acting Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasian Affairs Yuri Kim, will raise the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the importance of Azerbaijan following through with its commitments in a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev. Power "will also address the prospects for a durable and dignified peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, based on mutual respect for each others’ territorial integrity and sovereignty," USAID said in a statement. The Armenians are not accepting Azerbaijan's promise to guarantee their rights as the region is integrated. The Nagorno-Karabakh leadership told Reuters the region's 120,000 Armenians did not want to live as part of Azerbaijan for fear of persecution and ethnic cleansing.

Persons: Daphne Psaledakis WASHINGTON, Samantha Power, Yuri Kim, Ilham Aliyev, Aliyev, Daphne Psaledakis, David Holmes Organizations: Biden, U.S . Agency for International Development, USAID, U.S . State, Power, Karabakh, Reuters Locations: Azerbaijan, Nagorno, Karabakh, Europe, Armenia, Washington, Soviet Union

Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard logo in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. The case is set to be heard 20 days after an appeals court rules on whether the deal may go forward. The FTC had fought the deal in district court but lost and appealed. "We have full confidence in our case and the deal's benefits to gamers and competition," a Microsoft spokesperson said by email. The FTC said in a statement it continued to believe that the deal was "a threat to competition" and so was putting the matter on its calendar.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Victoria Graham, Diane Bartz, David Holmes, Richard Chang Organizations: Microsoft, Activision, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Markets Authority, Ubisoft Entertainment, Thomson Locations: U.S, London

☆ Ireland in Record $166 Million Cocaine Seizure After Naval Operation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Irish rangers made the country's biggest ever drugs seizure after a naval operation involving warning shots being fired at a Panamanian cargo vessel which had refused to follow instructions, authorities said on Wednesday. The seizure of 2,253 kg (4,967 pounds) of cocaine worth an estimated 157 million euros ($166 million) came after members of the army ranger wing boarded the vessel off the country's southeast coast using ropes dropped from a helicopter in high winds. "I cannot overemphasise the significance of this operation and the disruption that this is going to cause the organised criminal group behind the shipment," he told a press conference. Kelly said the cocaine was partly destined for the Irish market and that the organised crime group comprised a number of different elements across Europe. The operation was conducted in collaboration with a group comprising five other EU member states and Britain.

Persons: Justin Kelly, Kelly, Padraic Halpin, David Holmes Organizations: DUBLIN, Reuters Locations: Panamanian, Panama, South America, Europe, Britain, Spain, Netherlands, Poland

☆ Fleeing bombs and death, Armenians recount fear and hunger
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Felix Light | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Petya Grigoryan is one of the first ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to make it to Armenia after a lightning 24-hour Azerbaijani military operation defeated the Karabakh Armenian forces. The ethnic Armenians of Karabakh, internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, say they will not live as part of Azerbaijan and that almost all of the 120,000 Armenians there will leave for Armenia. Grigoryan, a 69-year-old driver, said his Kochoghot village in what the Armenians know as the Martakert district of Karabakh was pummelled by Azerbaijan armed forces. Grigoryan and thousands of other Armenians made their way to the airport near the Karabakh capital, known as Stepanakert by Armenians and Khankendi by Azerbaijan, where some Russian peacekeepers are based. Then the Azerbaijan military shelled the Shosh village where he was staying.

Persons: Irakli, Grigoryan, Ilham Aliyev, Guy Faulconbridge, David Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Karabakh, Russian, Thomson Locations: Nagorno, Karabakh, Goris, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Grigoryan, Martakert, pummelled, Khankendi, Leninakan

☆ Iran's Raisi Says Israeli 'Normalization' Deals Will Fail
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi said in a U.S. television interview on Sunday that U.S.-sponsored efforts to normalize Israeli relations with Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, "will see no success". In an interview with CNN, Raisi also said Iran had not said it does not want nuclear inspectors from the United Nations' nuclear watchdog in the country. Raisi has said Iran has no issue with the U.N. nuclear watchdog's inspection of its nuclear sites, days after Tehran barred multiple inspectors assigned to the country. Israel has moved closer to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco following a U.S.-driven diplomatic initiative in 2020 which pushed for normalization of relations. Commenting on Iran's nuclear programme, Raisi said:"We have announced time and time again that the use of nuclear weapons, the use of weapons of mass destruction in general, do not have a place.

Persons: Ebrahim Raisi, Raisi, Islamic Republic of Iran hasn't, Rami Ayyub, Peter Graff, David Holmes Organizations: WASHINGTON, CNN, United Nations, United Arab, Israel, Islamic Locations: U.S, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Tehran, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco, Islamic Republic of Iran

☆ Iran's Raisi says Israeli 'normalization' deals will fail
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks during a press conference concluding his appearance at the United Nations General Assembly, in New York City, U.S., September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi said in a U.S. television interview on Sunday that U.S.-sponsored efforts to normalize Israeli relations with Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, "will see no success". In an interview with CNN, Raisi also said Iran had not said it does not want nuclear inspectors from the United Nations' nuclear watchdog in the country. Raisi has said Iran has no issue with the U.N. nuclear watchdog's inspection of its nuclear sites, days after Tehran barred multiple inspectors assigned to the country. Commenting on Iran's nuclear programme, Raisi said:"We have announced time and time again that the use of nuclear weapons, the use of weapons of mass destruction in general, do not have a place.

Persons: Ebrahim Raisi, Shannon Stapleton, Raisi, Islamic Republic of Iran hasn't, Rami Ayyub, Peter Graff, David Holmes Organizations: United Nations General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, CNN, United Nations, United Arab, Israel, Islamic, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Tehran, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco, Islamic Republic of Iran

☆ Giorgio Armani offers soft, fluid looks at Milan Fashion Week
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Italian designer Giorgio Armani appears at the end of Giorgio Armani Spring/Summer 2024 collection show, during Milan Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, September 24, 2023. REUTERS/Claudia Greco Acquire Licensing RightsMILAN, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Italian designer Giorgio Armani presented soft, fluid looks at Milan Fashion Week on Sunday, offering plenty of lightness and shimmer for women's wardrobes next summer. The 89-year-old fashion veteran opened the show, called "Vibes", with a champagne satin jacket and satin grey trousers. Satin trousers featured heavily in the Spring/Summer 2024 line, often paired with sheer blouses, light jackets and sparkling tops. For the evening, there were plenty of shimmering looks - sparkling tops, skirts and trousers, the last of which were white.

Persons: Giorgio Armani, Claudia Greco, women's wardrobes, ″ Armani, Armani, Emporio Armani, Elisa Anzolin, Marie, Louise Gumuchian, David Holmes Organizations: Milan, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Italian, Milan, Italy

☆ Gunmen Kill 14, Kidnap 60 in Attacks in Northern Nigeria
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Ahmed KingimiMAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) -Gunmen in Nigeria killed eight people on Sunday and abducted at least 60 others in two communities of northwest Zamfara state, residents and a local traditional leader said, two days after armed men kidnapped dozens from a university in the state. The attackers set fire to five vehicles and drove off with one truck, the witness said. Residents said gunmen early on Sunday tried to attack a forward army base in a rural Magami community of Zamfara, but were repelled. Zamfara is one of the states worst affected by kidnappings for ransom by armed gangs known locally as bandits. Attacks in the northwest are part of widespread insecurity in Nigeria.

Persons: Ahmed Kingimi MAIDUGURI, Bola Tinubu, Shuaibu Haruna, Haruna, Isa Mohd, Ahmed Kingimi, MacDonald Dzirutwe, David Holmes Organizations: Reuters, Gunmen, Residents, Sunday, Police Locations: Nigeria, Zamfara, Magami, Kabasa, Maiduguri

☆ China's Xi seriously considering South Korea visit, Yonhap reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING/SEOUL, Sept 23 (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping on Saturday said he will seriously consider visiting South Korea, Yonhap news agency reported, as part of efforts to support peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. Xi, who has not visited South Korea since 2014, held talks with Han in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou before the opening ceremony of the Asian Games on Saturday. Xi told Han he would welcome such a summit at an opportune time and would seriously consider visiting South Korea, Yonhap reported. China attaches great importance to the positive willingness of South Korea to commit to cooperation, Xi said, according to CCTV, and asked South Korea to meet it half way to maintain the direction of friendly cooperation. Tensions between the two countries rose after North Korea's Kim Jong Un made a week-long visit to Russia earlier this month, which angered the United States, Japan and South Korea.

Persons: Xi Jinping, GIANLUIGI, Xi, Han Duck, Han, Yonhap, Korea's Kim Jong Un, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo, Joyce Lee, Mike Harrison, David Holmes Organizations: Rights, China Central Television, South Korean, Asian Games, South, Thomson Locations: Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, Rights BEIJING, SEOUL, South Korea, China, Hangzhou, Seoul, Japan, North Korea, Russia, United States, Beijing

☆ Pope Francis moved as Reuters photographer shows him child migrant picture
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nardi, who was travelling with the Pope, showed the large-sized picture to Francis as he was greeting media correspondents during the flight from Rome on Friday. "He was immediately moved, as soon as I took it out of the envelope," Nardi said, adding silence fell among the aircraft's passengers and Francis had commented: "They keep them in Libyan detention camps, then they throw them to sea". On Saturday in Marseilles Pope Francis condemned "belligerent nationalisms" and called for a pan-European response to migration to stop the Mediterranean, where thousands have drowned, from becoming "the graveyard of dignity". Nardi said that the day before travelling with Francis she was putting in order her photo archive, as she normally does before her assignments. "I saw that picture I had taken in Lampedusa and suddenly felt I had to show it to the Pope," she said.

Persons: Yara Nardi, Pope Francis the, Pope Francis, Nardi, Pope, Francis, Claudine Nsoe, Marseilles Pope Francis, Giulio Piovaccari, David Holmes Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: Cameroon, Lampedusa, France, ROME, Marseilles, Rome, North Africa

☆ Egypt says IMF agrees to merge first two reviews of reform program
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Egypt said it had agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to merge the fund's first and second reviews of its economic reform programme, after the first review was repeatedly delayed amid questions over Egypt's progress in meeting the IMF's terms. The IMF in December approved a $3 billion Extended Fund Facility loan for Egypt, which has been under acute financial pressure since long-standing problems were exposed by economic fallout from the war in Ukraine. Disbursements under the 46-month program are subject to eight reviews, the first of which, originally scheduled to take place in March, has yet to happen amid reports the IMF was unhappy with Egypt's progress in fulfilling the terms of the agreement. It added that negotiations with the IMF were proceeding "fruitfully and positively" in accordance with the terms of the program concluded with the Fund. In June, Egypt President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi appeared to rule out a further devaluation anytime soon, saying such a move could harm national security and hurt Egyptian citizens.

Persons: Abdel Fattah al, Sisi, Hatem Maher, David Holmes Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF, Egypt, Fund, Thomson Locations: CAIRO, Egypt, Ukraine, Disbursements

☆ Pope Francis Moved as Reuters Photographer Shows Him Child Migrant Picture
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis was moved as he was shown a picture of a migrant child by Reuters photographer Yara Nardi during his flight to a Church conference on Mediterranean issues in Marseilles, France. Nardi, who was travelling with the Pope, showed the large-sized picture to Francis as he was greeting media correspondents during the flight from Rome on Friday. On Saturday in Marseilles Pope Francis condemned "belligerent nationalisms" and called for a pan-European response to migration to stop the Mediterranean, where thousands have drowned, from becoming "the graveyard of dignity". Nardi said that the day before travelling with Francis she was putting in order her photo archive, as she normally does before her assignments. "I saw that picture I had taken in Lampedusa and suddenly felt I had to show it to the Pope," she said.

Persons: Pope Francis, Yara Nardi, Nardi, Pope, Francis, Claudine Nsoe, Marseilles Pope Francis, Giulio Piovaccari, David Holmes Locations: ROME, Marseilles, France, Rome, Lampedusa, Cameroon, North Africa

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