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☆ Palestinian telcom: Communications, internet services completely cut off in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Nov 1 (Reuters) - Palestine Telecommunication Company, or Paltel, said on Wednesday in a post on messaging platform X that communications and internet services have been completely cut off in the Gaza Strip due to international access being disconnected again. Paltel is Gaza's largest telecommunications provider. Reporting by Rami Ayyub and Ahmed Tolba; Writing by Enas Alashray; Editing by Tom HogueOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Paltel, Rami Ayyub, Ahmed Tolba, Enas Alashray, Tom Hogue Organizations: Palestine Telecommunication Company, Thomson Locations: Gaza

☆ California wildfire, fueled by desert winds, forces evacuations
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Omar Younis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] A firefighter works to extinguish the Highland Fire, a wind driven wildfire near Aguanga, California, U.S., October 31, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake Acquire Licensing RightsTEMECULA, California, Oct 31 (Reuters) - A Southern California wildfire fueled by desert winds burned 2,487 acres (1,010 hectares) and prompted evacuation orders for more than 4,000 people in Riverside County, officials said on Tuesday. The seasonal phenomenon occurs when dry desert air blows toward the ocean, creating a fire hazard in Southern California. Some 1,220 homes and 4,270 residents were under mandatory evacuation orders, with another 1,136 homes and 3,976 residents under evacuation warnings, Cal Fire spokesperson Thomas Shoots said. Southern California has had a mild fire year in 2023, after unusually heavy rainfall that included the first tropical storm to reach heavily populated areas in the state in 84 years.

Persons: Mike Blake, Thomas Shoots, Barb Bommarito, Robert Duke, Duke, Omar Younis, Daniel Trotta, Mary Milliken, Jonathan Oatis, Tom Hogue Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Highland Fire, California Department of Forestry, Fire Protection, Fire, Cal Fire, Thomson Locations: Aguanga , California, U.S, Rights TEMECULA , California, Southern California, Riverside County, Santa, Temecula, Aguanga, Carlsbad , California

In one of the first major policy actions under new House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Republicans unveiled a standalone supplemental spending bill only for Israel, despite Democratic President Joe Biden's request for a $106 billion package that would include aid for Israel, Ukraine and border security. Johnson, who voted against aid for Ukraine before he was elected House speaker last week, had said he wanted aid to Israel and Ukraine to be handled separately. Democrats accused Republicans of stalling Congress' ability to help Israel by introducing a partisan bill. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre issued a statement accusing Republicans of "politicizing national security" and calling their bill a non-starter. The House Rules Committee is expected to consider the Republican Israel bill on Wednesday.

Persons: Kevin Wurm, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden's, Johnson, Karine Jean, Pierre, Biden, Rosa DeLauro, Patricia Zengerle, Tom Hogue Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, . House, Monday, Internal Revenue Service, House Republicans, Democratic, Ukraine, Fox News, Israel, Senate, Republicans, Republican Israel, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Israel, Ukraine

☆ Australia Sept retail sales climb at fastest pace in 8 months
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Australian retail sales rose at the fastest pace in eight months in September, suggesting some resilience in consumer spending which would add to the case for an interest rate hike as soon as next week. The Australian dollar rose 0.4% to $0.6360, while three-year government bond yield hit a fresh 12-year high of 4.388%. "Downside risks to household consumption have been a key focus of the RBA, but those do not look to have been realised so far." The broad softening in consumer spending has been one major reason that the RBA has left interest rates unchanged for four straight months now. However, a sustained rebound in housing prices could lend some support to household consumption.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Ben Dorber, Taylor Nugent, Downside, Stella Qiu, Tom Hogue, Edwina Gibbs, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reserve Bank of, Australian Bureau of Statistics, National Australia Bank, Thomson Locations: Sydney's, Australia, Reserve Bank of Australia, Queensland

☆ China and Russia take aim at US at Chinese military forum
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Yew Lun Tian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BEIJING, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Chinese and Russian military chiefs targeted the United States for criticism at a security forum in Beijing on Monday, even as China's second-most-senior military commander vowed to boost defence ties with Washington. Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu warned the West that its involvement in the Ukraine war created grave danger. China's defence minister delivered the keynote speech in previous years. China and the U.S. have had no high-level military-to-military communications since the Washington-sanctioned former Chinese defence minister, Li Shangfu, was appointed in March. It is not yet known whether the U.S. team will meet separately with Chinese military officials.

Persons: Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Zhang Youxia, Xi Jinping, Zhang, Li Shangfu, Li, Cynthia Xanthi, Joe Biden, Wang Yi, Biden, Yew Lun Tian, Lidia Kelly, Laurie Chen, Greg Torode, Gerry Doyle, Tom Hogue Organizations: Washington, Beijing Xiangshan, Russia's, TASS, China's, Military Commission, Communist, U.S, Reuters, Defense, U.S ., Thomson Locations: BEIJING, United States, Beijing, Ukraine, Russia, China, Taiwan, South China, Washington, U.S, Cynthia Xanthi Carras, Singapore, Laos, Mongolia, Belarus, East Timor, Myanmar, Sydney

☆ Russia's Shoigu Warns West of 'Direct Military Clash Between Nuclear Powers'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu warned the West that the escalation of conflict with Russia in the Ukraine war threatens a "direct military clash between nuclear powers" at a defence forum in Beijing on Monday. "The Western line of steady escalation of the conflict with Russia carries the threat of a direct military clash between nuclear powers, which is fraught with catastrophic consequences," Russia's TASS state news agency cited Shoigu as saying. Shoigu also claimed the West intends to inflict "strategic defeat" on Russia in a "hybrid war", and praised the model of Russia-China relations as "exemplary", Russian state media reported. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Sydney; Writing by Liz Lee and Laurie Chen in Beijing; Editing by Tom Hogue)

Persons: Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Lidia Kelly, Liz Lee, Laurie Chen, Tom Hogue Organizations: Russia's, TASS Locations: BEIJING, Russia, Ukraine, Beijing, China, Sydney

☆ Mack Trucks says UAW demands unrealistic, no new talks set
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The logo of Mack Trucks is seen on a truck in a yard in Mejicanos, El Salvador, August 16, 2018. REUTERS/Jose Cabezas/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 26 (Reuters) - Volvo Group-owned (VOLVb.ST) Mack Trucks said Thursday the United Auto Workers' contract demands are unrealistic and that no new talks are scheduled after workers went on strike on Oct. 9, following their rejection of a proposed five-year contract. About 73% of the unit's 4,000 workers in Pennsylvania, Florida and Maryland voted against a tentative agreement that included a 19% pay raise that had been endorsed by UAW leaders. Mack Trucks said the UAW leadership's economic demands "continue to be unrealistic." Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Tom HogueOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mack Trucks, Jose Cabezas, David Shepardson, Tom Hogue Organizations: REUTERS, Volvo Group, United Auto Workers, UAW, Thomson Locations: Mejicanos, El Salvador, Pennsylvania, Florida, Maryland

☆ Man Utd's Onana supports Garnacho over gorilla emoji post
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 27 (Reuters) - Manchester United's goalkeeper, Andre Onana, said teammate Alejandro Garnacho should not face any repercussions for his use of gorilla emojis in a recent social media post. Garnacho later deleted the post, but English media reported that the Football Association (FA) had been made aware of the post and contacted the Argentinian. This matter should go no further," Onana wrote on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. loadingGarnacho has made no comment about his deleted post or about being contacted by the FA. However, Man U could have dropped two points if Onana hadn't saved Jordan Larsson's penalty several minutes into stoppage time.

Persons: Andre Onana, Alejandro Garnacho, Garnacho, Onana, Harry Maguire, Onana hadn't, Jordan Larsson's, Tommy Lund, Tom Hogue Organizations: Manchester United's, FC Copenhagen, Football Association, FA, United, Champions League, Thomson Locations: Gdansk

☆ China's youngest-ever crew of astronauts heads to space station
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Ryan Woo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

China... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreBEIJING, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The youngest-ever crew of Chinese astronauts departed for China's space station on Thursday, paving the way for a new generation of "taikonauts" to advance the country's space ambitions in the future. Leading the six-month mission was former air force pilot Tang Hongbo, 48, who was on the first crewed mission to the space station in 2021. By contrast, his fellow Shenzhou-17 crew members Tang Shengjie, 33, and Jiang Xinlin, 35, both travelling to space for the first time, joined China's third batch of astronauts in September 2020. The Shenzhou-17 astronauts will replace the Shenzhou-16 crew, who arrived at Tiangong at the end of May. Shenzhou-17 marks China's 12th crewed mission since Yang Liwei's solo spaceflight in October 2003, the first Chinese national in space.

Persons: Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie, Jiang Xinlin, Tang, Tiangong, Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu, Gui Haichao, Zhu, Gui, Yang Liwei's, Ryan Woo, Tom Hogue, Gerry Doyle Organizations: taikonauts, People's Liberation Army, NASA, Space, U.S, Thomson Locations: Jiuquan, Gansu province, China, BEIJING, Hong Kong, Macau, Tiangong

Euro zone business activity data took a surprise downturn this month, suggesting the bloc may slip into recession, creating a drag on the outlook for oil demand. Overall, the region's oil refineries have been consuming less crude than a year ago amid lacklustre economic growth, Euroilstock data has shown. Falling crude oil stockpiles in the U.S., the world's biggest oil consumer also supported prices. That went against eight analysts polled by Reuters who had estimated on average that crude inventories were up by about 200,000 barrels for the week. Gasoline inventories dropped by 4.2 million barrels, while distillate inventories fell by about 2.3 million barrels, the API data showed.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Israel, Vishnu Varathan, durably, Varathan, Stephanie Kelly, Muyu Xu, Tom Hogue Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, West Texas, Iran, Mizuho Bank, American Petroleum Institute, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Cushing , Oklahoma, Gaza, East, Israel, Palestinian, Saudi Arabia, China, U.S

☆ Silver Lake working to take entertainment giant Endeavor private
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Trading information and logo for Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., May 10, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 25 (Reuters) - Private equity firm Silver Lake said on Wednesday it was working on a proposal to take talent and media company Endeavor Group Holdings (EDR.N) private, after Endeavor announced it had begun a review to explore alternatives that better value the company. "Silver Lake is currently working toward making a proposal to take Endeavor private," it said. Endeavor Group, which has diversified holdings in talent-management, live sports and festivals, is valued at around $8.4 billion. The private equity firm acquired a minority stake in the William Morris Endeavor talent agency in 2012, and Silver Lake Co-CEO Egon Durban and managing partner Stephen Evans serve on Endeavor's board of directors.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Silver Lake, Francois, Henri Pinault, Ari Emanuel, Emanuel, William Morris, Egon Durban, Stephen Evans, Jaspreet Singh, Dawn Chmielewski, Devika Syamnath, Shailesh Kuber, Rod Nickel, Tom Hogue, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Silver, Endeavor, Creative Artists Agency, Endeavor Group, Boston Red Sox, Fenway Sports Group, PGA, Reuters, William, William Morris Endeavor, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Bengaluru, Dawn, Los Angeles

☆ Russia disregards losses, presses on in Ukraine's Avdiivka
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A police officer stands in front of a damaged building, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the town of Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine October 17, 2023. REUTERS/Yevhen Titov/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 25 (Reuters) - Russian forces are disregarding heavy losses and pressing on with a drive to capture the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, Ukrainian officials said on Wednesday. Over the past two weeks, Russia has concentrated on Avdiivka in Donetsk, a town known in peacetime for its big coking plant and now seen as a bulwark of Ukrainian resistance. He also dismissed reports that Russian troops had secured control of one of the large slag heaps dominating the town's industrial landscape. Russian accounts of the latest fighting made no mention of Avdiivka, but said Russian troops had repelled 15 Ukrainian attacks near Kupiansk, farther north.

Persons: Yevhen, Oleksandr Shtupun, Shtupun, Vitaliy Barabash, Barabash, Valeriy, Espreso, Avdiivka, Prozapas, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Tom Hogue Organizations: REUTERS, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Ukrainian, Russia, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kupiansk, Kharkiv

☆ Walmex Q3 net profit jumps more than 12%, pushed by higher sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Walmart is pictured outside a store in Mexico City, Mexico July 27, 2023. Walmart de Mexico, or Walmex, the biggest retailer in Mexico, posted net profit of 13.63 billion pesos ($782 million). Quarterly revenue at the chain rose 7.7% from the year-earlier period to reach 213.07 billion pesos, missing slightly the LSEG estimate of 213.34 billion pesos. Sales increased 9.5% in Mexico and 9% in Central America, with the retailer adding 24 new stores in Mexico and three in Central America, which contributed 1.6% to total revenues. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the quarter rose 8.5% to 23 billion pesos.

Persons: Henry Romero, Walmex, Guilherme Loureiro, Loureiro, Cofece, Valentine Hilaire, Aida Pelaez Fernandez, Brendan O'Boyle, Tom Hogue, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Walmart, REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Central America, Thomson Locations: Mexico City, Mexico, MEXICO, Mexican, Central America

☆ Russia Disregards Losses, Presses on in Ukraine's Avdiivka
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

(Reuters) - Russian forces are disregarding heavy losses and pressing on with a drive to capture the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, Ukrainian officials said on Wednesday. Over the past two weeks, Russia has concentrated on Avdiivka in Donetsk, a town known in peacetime for its big coking plant and now seen as a bulwark of Ukrainian resistance. Heavy fighting is continuing, though activity has subsided somewhat. He also dismissed reports that Russian troops had secured control of one of the large slag heaps dominating the town's industrial landscape. Russian accounts of the latest fighting made no mention of Avdiivka, but said Russian troops had repelled 15 Ukrainian attacks near Kupiansk, farther north.

Persons: Oleksandr Shtupun, Shtupun, Vitaliy Barabash, Barabash, Valeriy, Espreso, Avdiivka, Prozapas, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Tom Hogue Organizations: Reuters, Authorities Locations: Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Russia, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kupiansk, Ukraine, Kharkiv

WASHINGTON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday the Israel-Gaza crisis should have "a path to peace" including independent states for the Israelis and Palestinians and integrating Israel among its Arab neighbors. "Israelis and Palestinians equally deserve to live side by side in safety, dignity and in peace," said Biden. Biden said he believed one reason Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,400 people on Oct. 7, was to prevent normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Biden said he had "no notion" that the Palestinians were telling the truth about how many had been killed. Biden, a self-described "Zionist", has strongly supported Israel following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack while cautioning the country to abide by democratic principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Anthony Albanese, They're, Albanese, Leah Millis, Jeff Mason, Trevor Hunnicutt, Steve Holland, Susan Heavey, Tom Hogue, Heather Timmons, Josie Kao Organizations: Australian, Reuters, West Bank, AUSTRALIA, Albanese, White, REUTERS, U.S, Russia's, Pacific, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Washington , U.S, Sydney, Washington, PHILIPPINES, China, Philippines, United States, U.S, Beijing, American, Taiwan, South China, Canberra, Japan

☆ China's Youngest-Ever Crew of Astronauts Heads to Space Station
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Ryan WooBEIJING (Reuters) -The youngest-ever crew of Chinese astronauts departed for China's space station on Thursday, paving the way for a new generation of "taikonauts" to advance the country's space ambitions in the future. Leading the six-month mission was former air force pilot Tang Hongbo, 48, who was on the first crewed mission to the space station in 2021. Tang, from China's second batch of astronauts in 2010, had to wait more than a decade before he was picked for his inaugural spaceflight in 2021. By contrast, his fellow Shenzhou-17 crew members Tang Shengjie, 33, and Jiang Xinlin, 35, both travelling to space for the first time, joined China's third batch of astronauts in September 2020. China has already kickstarted the selection process for the fourth batch of astronauts, seeking candidates with doctoral degrees in disciplines from biology, physics and chemistry to biomedical engineering and astronomy.

Persons: Ryan Woo BEIJING, Tang Hongbo, Tang, Tang Shengjie, Jiang Xinlin, Ryan Woo, Tom Hogue, Gerry Doyle Organizations: taikonauts, People's Liberation Army Locations: China, Hong Kong, Macau

☆ South Korea's Hyundai, Saudi Aramco clinch $2.4 bln gas plant deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] General view of the summit between President of South Korea, Yoon Suk-Yeol and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman in al Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 22, 2023. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Oct 24 (Reuters) - South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction (000720.KS) and Hyundai Engineering have signed a $2.4 billion contract with oil giant Saudi Aramco (2222.SE) to build a gas processing plant, Seoul's presidential office said on Tuesday. Jafurah is Saudi's largest unconventional non-oil associated gas field, with reserves estimated at 200 trillion cubic feet (5.7 trillion cubic metres) of raw gas. State-run Korea National Oil Corp also clinched a storage deal with Aramco during Yoon's visit that allows the Saudi company to store 5.3 million barrels of oil in South Korea's reserve facilities in the port of Ulsan for five years. After a four-day stay in Riyadh, Yoon left for Doha on Monday where he will attend an international horticultural expo before holding a summit on Tuesday with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, his office said.

Persons: Yoon Suk, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Hyonhee Shin, Tom Hogue Organizations: Saudi Arabia's Crown, Saudi Press Agency, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Hyundai Engineering, Construction, Saudi Aramco, South Korean, Hyundai Motor Group, Hyundai, Aramco, Saudi Crown, Saudi, Hamas, Korea National Oil Corp, Doha, Thomson Locations: South Korea, al Yamamah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Rights SEOUL, Saudi, Israel, South Korea's, Ulsan, Thani

☆ Russian forces apply pressure on Ukraine's Avdiivka, Kupiansk
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A view shows a heavily damaged residential building, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the town of Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine October 17, 2023. The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces said its troops had repelled about 10 Russian attacks on Avdiivka. It was briefly captured in 2014 by Russian-backed separatists who overran large stretches of territory in the east, and Ukrainian forces have erected solid fortifications in the intervening nine years. Local officials also said Russian forces had again shelled areas in the southern Kherson region that are under Kyiv's control. It said Russian forces had repelled three attacks outside Kupiansk and a further 10 near Bakhmut.

Persons: Yevhen, Vitaly Barabash, Barabash, Avdiivka, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Bakhmut, Syrskyi, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Tom Hogue Organizations: REUTERS, General, U.S, Radio Liberty, Local, Russian, Monday, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Kupiansk, Avdiivka's, Russian, Ukrainian, Russia, Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kyiv, Moscow, Bakhmut

Refiners also called on stockpiles in July, though, when refinery processing exceeded the total volume of available crude by 510,000 bpd. The inventory draws in September and July came as China's refiners boosted throughput to meet rising domestic demand and higher fuel exports. As well, a strong rally in global oil prices has lowered the incentive to keep crude imports at elevated levels. China total available crude vs refinery throughputIMPORTS DROPPING? China's crude imports were 11.13 million bpd in September, down 10.5% from August's 12.4 million bpd, according to customs data.

Persons: Refiners, China's, China doesn't, It's, LSEG, Tom Hogue Organizations: National Bureau of Statistics, Benchmark Brent, United, United Arab Emirates, Diesel, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, It's, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, Asia

Machado, 56, had led her rivals by some 40 points in polls. Though five people were released, the Maduro government said last week that those with disqualifications cannot run in the 2024 contest. The opposition, which says the disqualifications are unlawful, has been reticent about what it would do if Machado wins the primary but is unable to compete in 2024. Machado has said she could pressure the electoral authorities to let her register, while others have argued a substitute will be necessary. Reporting by Vivian Sequera and Mayela Armas; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Tom HogueOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Maria Corina Machado, Nicolas Maduro, Machado, Carlos Prosperi, Maduro, Vivian Sequera, Mayela Armas, Julia Symmes Cobb, Tom Hogue Organizations: Venezuelan, Thomson Locations: Caracas, CARACAS, United States, Machado's

Bunge Ltd logo is seen displayed in this illustration taken, April 10, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 5 (Reuters) - Shareholders of global grains merchant and oilseeds processor Bunge (BG.N) approved the company's acquisition of Glencore-backed (GLEN.L) Viterra during a shareholder meeting on Thursday, Bunge said in a statement. The merger, which will create a company worth $34 billion including debt, is expected to be finalized in mid-2024 after closing conditions are met and regulators have signed off on the deal, Bunge said. Bunge shareholders on Thursday also approved the issuance of 65,611,831 common shares and a move of Bunge's incorporation to Switzerland from Bermuda. Bunge's Viterra acquisition would make the world's largest oilseed processor more dominant as it aims to capitalize on soaring demand for vegetable oils to produce biofuels.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Bunge, Archer, Greg Heckman, Karl Plume, Tom Hogue Organizations: Bunge, REUTERS, Daniels, Midland, Cargill, Thomson Locations: Switzerland, Bermuda, Chicago

☆ S.Korea's accelerating inflation set to keep policy restrictive for longer
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Jihoon Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Office workers pick up lunch boxes at a convenience store in Seoul, South Korea, June 24, 2022. REUTERS/ Heo Ran/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Oct 5 (Reuters) - South Korea's consumer inflation accelerated for a second month in September, above market expectations, official data showed on Thursday, supporting prospects of the central bank maintaining its restrictive policy for some time. Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho said after the data release that inflation would likely stabilise again from October with seasonal factors easing. The central bank also said inflation, which was slightly higher in September than its projection, would still ease to around 3% by the end of the year. Broken down by sector, prices of petroleum products jumped 4.0% over the month, agricultural prices climbed 4.1%, while public utility prices added 5.3%.

Persons: Heo, Choo Kyung, Ahn Jae, Jihoon Lee, Ed Davies, Tom Hogue Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Shinhan Securities, of Korea, Statistics, CPI, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, Statistics Korea

☆ South Korea's Doosan Robotics shares jump in trading debut
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SEOUL, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Shares in South Korea's Doosan Robotics (454910.KS) soared above their initial public offering (IPO) price in the company's market debut on Thursday based on investors' bullish outlook for the collaborative robot maker. The company raised 421.2 billion won ($317 million) in South Korea's IPO this year, having priced the shares at 26,000 won each, the top of the price range flagged to investors. Doosan Robotics shares opened at 59,100 won each and rose to as much as 67,600 won in early trade, more than twice the IPO price. The company is a leading maker of so-called collaborative robots that work side-by-side with humans such as robot arms that can perform assembling, loading and welding tasks. Reporting by Joyce Lee; Additional reporting by Scott Murdoch; Editing by Tom Hogue and Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joyce Lee, Scott Murdoch, Tom Hogue, Jamie Freed Organizations: South Korea's Doosan Robotics, Doosan Robotics, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South, KS

Oct 4 (Reuters) - Headway, a healthcare tech startup that connects patients and in-network therapists, has raised $125 million in Series C funding, the company told Reuters. Insurance company Health Care Service Corporation also joined the round. Based in New York, Headway's platform connects patients with therapists and psychiatrists who can provide care covered by insurance. The company makes money by taking a cut of the payments that therapists on its platform receive from insurance companies. The pandemic prompted more people to turn to mental health services to deal with stress and burnout.

Persons: Andreessen Horowitz, Andrew Adams, We've, Adams, Will Reed, Krystal Hu, Tom Hogue Organizations: Reuters, Spark Capital, Accel, Andreessen Horowitz . Insurance, Health Care Service Corporation, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, San Francisco

☆ New Zealand PM returns to campaign trail after recovering from COVID
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Prime Minister and Labour Party Leader Chris Hipkins speaks at the New Zealand Labour Party's election campaign launch event in Auckland, New Zealand, September 2, 2023. REUTERS/David Rowland/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins on Friday said he was back on the election campaign trail, after he tested negative for COVID-19 earlier in the day. New Zealand is just a week out from the Oct. 14 general election, which the ruling Labour party is unlikely to win. Labour faced a new challenge on Sunday when Hipkins tested positive for COVID and had to work remotely while isolating. "But I'm very much looking forward to getting back on the campaign trail."

Persons: Chris Hipkins, David Rowland, Hipkins, TVNZ's 1News, I'm, Lucy Craymer, Tom Hogue Organizations: Labour Party, New Zealand Labour, REUTERS, Rights, Zealand, Labour, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, New Zealand

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