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☆ Meet the mystery species that buried their dead long before humans
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

And Homo naledi was added to the family tree in 2013 after cave explorers tipped off researchers that there might be something promising within the dangerous depths of the Rising Star cave system. Mark Thiessen/National GeographicA team of explorers has uncovered evidence that Homo naledi buried their dead and carved symbols on cave walls at least 100,000 years before modern humans. Across the universeAstronomers using the Webb telescope discovered complex organic molecules in a galaxy located over 12 billion light-years away. Doyle/NASA/ESA/CSAThe James Webb Space Telescope peered into a galaxy located more than 12 billion light-years away and spied the most distant organic molecules ever detected. — A bright new supernova appeared in the Pinwheel Galaxy, and a telescope in Hawaii captured a dazzling image of the stellar explosion.

Persons: Matthew Berger, —, Homo, paleoartist John Gurche, Mark Thiessen, naledi, Webb, Doyle, James Webb, Einstein, Dino, dino, Iani smithi, Janus, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, UNESCO, Geographic, Cincinnati Zoo, Botanical, NASA, ESA, Parker, Probe, Drassm, Tunisia’s Skerki Bank, Sonar, CNN Space, Science Locations: South Africa, Johannesburg, Spain, Utah, North America, Tunisia, Italy’s, Tunisia’s, Costa Rican, Great Britain, Hawaii

☆ Brookfield buys payments firm Network International for $2.76 bln
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 9 (Reuters) - Canada's Brookfield Asset Management (BAM.TO) said on Friday it would buy payments provider Network International (NETW.L) for 2.2 billion pounds ($2.76 billion) in cash, as it expands its payments business in the Middle East and Africa. The Canadian firm said Network directors intended to unanimously recommend that shareholders vote in favour of the deal. Brookfield, which has over $5 billion in assets under management in the Middle East, last year bought a 60% stake in Magnati, the payments business of First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB.AD). The investment firm said the deal would be financed by a combination of equity investment, as part of which Brookfield Business Partners expects to invest up to about $150 million. Network International, whose top investors include Capital Research and Mastercard UK, listed in London in April 2019 at an initial public offering price of 435 pence a share.

Persons: Brookfield, Aby Jose Koilparambil, Eva Mathews, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Jason Neely Organizations: Brookfield Asset Management, Network, United, Capital, Francisco Partners, Brookfield, Abu Dhabi Bank, Brookfield Business Partners, Network International, Capital Research, Mastercard, Thomson Locations: Brookfield, East, Africa, United Arab Emirates, Magnati, London, Bengaluru

☆ Brookfield gets some M&A help from Gulf friends
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 9 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Brookfield Asset Management (BAM.TO) has won its payments race. The Canadian investment group’s 2.2 billion pound bid for London-listed payments provider Network International (NETW.L) was enough to see off a rival pitch from CVC and Francisco Partners. They’ve also endorsed a plan to merge Dubai-based Network International with domestic peer Magnati, a former unit of FAB. If Network International alone can grow revenues at a 15% annual clip and reach a margin of 44% from the current 41%, EBITDA could hit $388 million by 2028. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Brookfield, They’ve, EBITDA, Pamela Barbaglia, Xavier Niel, George Hay, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, Brookfield Asset Management, London, Network, Francisco Partners, Abu Dhabi Bank, Abu, Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company, FAB, ACI, Brookfield, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Abu Dhabi, Saudi, Dubai

☆ Three historical shipwrecks uncovered in the Mediterranean
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —An international team of scientists discovered three historical shipwrecks during an underwater archaeological expedition last year in the Mediterranean Sea. Scientists conducted their expedition in the Mediterranean last year aboard the Alfred Merlin research vessel. The team used the research vessel’s underwater mapping and imaging equipment to catalog shipwrecks, dating from ancient times to the 20th century, with sonar. Located along a heavily traveled route in the Mediterranean, the Skerki Bank in the Strait of Sicily is one of the most treacherous maritime areas. As you know, the Mediterranean with its very rich history, and its countless shipwrecks and archaeological sites offer a unique and fascinating stage for such expeditions.

Persons: Robert Ballard, Anna Marguerite McCann, Alfred Merlin, Arthur, Keith Reef, Angel Fitor, DRASSM, ”, Barbara Davidde, Lazare Eloundou Assomo Organizations: CNN, UNESCO, Skerki Bank of, Skerki Bank, DRASSM UNESCO, Drassm, UNESCO World Heritage, “ UNESCO Locations: Paris, Algeria, Croatia, Egypt, France, Italy, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, Skerki Bank of Tunisia, Strait, Sicily, Tunisian

☆ China's biggest state banks cut deposit rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, June 8 (Reuters) - China's biggest banks on Thursday said they have lowered interest rates on yuan deposits, in actions that could ease pressure on profit margins and reduce lending costs, providing some relief for the financial sector and wider economy. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd (601398.SS), Agricultural Bank of China Ltd (601288.SS), Bank of China Ltd (601988.SS) and China Construction Bank Corp (601939.SS) all cut their rates from Thursday, websites from each bank showed. The state-backed banks cut rates on demand deposits by 5 basis points and three-year and five-year time deposits by 15 basis points. China cut the RRR in March but has kept its benchmark lending rate unchanged this year, as widening yield differentials with the United States limited the scope for substantial monetary easing. Major state banks' net interest margins have shrunk following pressure to lower borrowing cost for individuals and businesses to stimulate the economy, and as credit demand remains subdued.

Persons: Gary Ng, Ng, Christopher Cushing, Sam Holmes Organizations: Industrial, Commercial Bank of China Ltd, Agricultural Bank of China Ltd, Bank of China Ltd, China Construction Bank Corp, Asia Pacific, United, People's Bank of China, CSI Banks, Beijing, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Asia, United States

☆ Most Gulf markets gain after US debt deal, job data
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Ateeq Shariff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 4 (Reuters) - Most stock markets in the Gulf ended higher on Sunday after the U.S. Congress passed a debt ceiling deal that averted a government default in the world's biggest economy, while jobs data fuelled hopes for a possible pause in Fed rate hikes. Oil prices - a key catalyst for the Gulf's financial markets - rose more than 2% on Friday after the U.S. debt deal and jobs data. In Qatar, the index (.QSI) finished 1.8% higher, with almost all the stocks closing in positive territory including Qatar Islamic Bank (QISB.QA), which gained 2.1%. Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) eased 0.4%, hit by a 0.7% fall in top lender Commercial International Bank (COMI.CA). Reporting by Ateeq Shariff in Bengaluru; Editing by David HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Ateeq, David Holmes Organizations: U.S, Congress, Saturday, Al Rajhi Bank, Riyad Bank, Gulf Cooperation, Saudi, Qatar Islamic Bank, Commercial International Bank, Saudi Arabia's Milling, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Al Rajhi, Gulf, Qatar, Ateeq Shariff, Bengaluru

☆ Sri Lanka to remain on policy loosening course, next rate cut likely in August -analysts
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Uditha Jayasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Sri Lanka plunged into crisis last year as its foreign exchange reserves ran out, food and energy prices spiralled and protesting mobs forced the ouster of the country's then president. "With no inflation risk the central bank will cut rates aggresssively to push demand and target growth." The CBSL expects Sri Lanka's GDP to contract by 2% in 2023, slightly better than the 3% contraction predicted by the IMF. Five analysts backed CBSL and IMF estimates, two said Sri Lanka would perform better and one projected a steeper contraction of 4.8%. []Sri Lanka will begin rolling back import restrictions on 300-400 items from next week, as per a statement from the finance ministry which gave no further details.

Persons: CBSL, Dimantha Mathew, Kenji Okamura, Uditha Jayasinghe, Devayani, Swati Bhat, Toby Chopra Organizations: Sri, Citi Bank economists, International Monetary Fund, First, IMF, Thomson Locations: COLOMBO, Lanka's, Sri Lanka's, Sri Lanka, Colombo

There's a burgeoning bull case for Saudi Arabia stocks. The iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (KSA) is up more than 8% year to date and almost 20% over a three-year period. The MSCI Saudi Arabia Index is composed of almost 45% in financials, followed by 22.1% in materials, mostly consisting of petrochemicals groups. More foreign investment The kingdom's Vision 2030 economic blueprint aims to raise foreign direct investment contributions to 5.7% by 2030 from 0.7% currently . Another fund that does this is the Franklin FTSE Saudi Arabia ETF (FLSA) .

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Carlos Asilis, Ramzi Sidani, — it's, they've, It's, Andrew Miller, Miller, Glovista's, HSBC's Sidani, Mondrian, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Glovista Investments, JPMorgan —, HSBC's Global Research, Saudi, HSBC's Frontier Equity, United Arab Emirates, Mondrian Investment Partners, Franklin FTSE, Franklin FTSE Saudi Arabia, Aramco, Al, Al Rajhi Bank Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Russia, Ukraine, East, Korea, Australia, Chile, Poland, financials, Qatar, Franklin FTSE Saudi, Al Rajhi

☆ Most Gulf markets end lower, Egypt ekes out gains
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Most Gulf Cooperation Council countries, including Saudi, have their currencies pegged to the dollar and generally follow the Fed's policy moves, exposing the region relatively directly to any monetary tightening there. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index (.TASI) lost 0.4%, with Al Rajhi Bank (1120.SE) declining 1% and Dr Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Services (4013.SE) finishing 1.4% lower. Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index (.EGX30) gained 0.5%, led by an 11.3% jump in Edita Food Industries (EFID.CA). On the other hand, Egypt has deferred payments for its large wheat purchases, in some cases by months, according to a government official and traders, as the country grapples with a shortage of hard currency. Egypt is one of the world's biggest wheat importers and uses the purchases to make heavily subsidised bread available to tens of millions of people.

☆ Iraq says Iran blames reduced gas exports on 'technical' matter
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An Iraqi delegation led by the electricity minister will travel to Iran next week to discuss the issue, Iraqi state media reported on Tuesday, noting gas imports had decreased by 20 million cubic meters at the time. Iraq usually imports between 50 million to 70 million cubic meters of gas, according to Iraq's electricity ministry spokesperson Ahmed Moussa. Iraq imports electricity and gas from Iran that in total makes up between a third and 40% of its power supply, especially crucial in the sweltering summer months when temperatures can top 50 degrees Celsius (122°F) and power consumption peaks. During Friday's phone call, Amirabdollahian thanked Iraq for trying to resolve the issue of financial transfers with Washington, the statement said. Iraq spends roughly $4 billion per year on imports of Iranian gas and power while at the same time burning massive quantities of natural gas as a byproduct of its hydrocarbons sector.

☆ Brazil's Americanas to seek bidders for fruit and vegetable unit
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAO PAULO, May 18 (Reuters) - Brazil retailer Americanas SA (AMER3.SA) said on Thursday it will next week start to seek potential bidders for the acquisition of its Hortifruti Natural da Terra (HNT) business unit. In a securities filing, Americanas said it has hired Citigroup Global Markets Brazil as the financial adviser for conducting the process to sell the unit, which markets fruits and vegetables. Americanas noted, however, it has started "evaluating strategic alternatives for the business, which may involve preliminary contacts with potential interested parties." Co and HNT," Americanas said in the filing. Reporting by Carolina Pulice and Peter Frontini; Editing by David Alire GarciaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Climate change drove heat in the city to a record-breaking 48C (118F) in 2016. While traditional insurance can take months to pay, with so-called "parametric" insurance there is no need to prove losses. At annual climate talks in Egypt last year, nonprofits urged richer nations to help finance parametric insurance as a way of compensating victims of worsening weather extremes. At the moment, insurance schemes in the developing world are largely subsidized by nonprofit groups, national governments, or wealthy countries. Insurance payouts allow them to buy things like gloves to protect their hands from scorching hot metal tools, or fans to stay cool and avoid heat exhaustion.

☆ A conservative group just asked a federal court to end the student-loan payment pause immediately — partly because 'some junior associates at major law firms saw their six-figure salaries increase' du
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Conservative nonprofit Mackinac Center asked a federal court to immediately end the student-loan payment pause on Thursday. The ongoing payment pause is currently set to end this summer. In April, the group filed its initial lawsuit against the Education Department to end the pause and prevent a further extension. Additionally, in Thursday's complaint, the group claimed that not every student-loan borrower required the relief the payment pause brought. Nationwide debt relief that fails to distinguish between the two groups provides an unlawful windfall to the latter.

In granting bankruptcy protection, the National Company Law Tribunal in New Delhi ordered a moratorium on Go First's assets and leases. But bankruptcy protection supersede lessors' repossession requests. Go First's lessors also include SMBC Aviation Capital and CDB Aviation's GY Aviation Leasing. Its voluntary seeking of bankruptcy protection to renegotiate contracts and debt marks a first for an Indian airline, and Chief Executive Officer Kaushik Khona, who was present as the order was read, hailed the tribunal's decision as "historic". The Indian tribunal said the new resolution professional will take "all necessary steps including the execution of the arbitral award".

☆ UAE's ADNOC to offer 15% stake in logistics unit IPO
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, May 10 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi oil giant ADNOC intends to offer 15% of its shares in unit ADNOC Logistics & Services (ADNOC L&S) through an initial public offering (IPO) on the Abu Dhabi stock exchange, the company said on Wednesday. ADNOC will offer about 1.1 million shares in its maritime logistics services unit, which is expected to list on June 1, subject to market conditions, the statement said. Reuters had reported in March that ADNOC was gearing up to list ADNOC L&S in June. This will be the Abu Dhabi oil giant's second IPO this year after it raised $2.5 billion from its gas business in March. It was created in 2016 following a merger between Abu Dhabi National Tanker Co, Petroleum Services Co and Abu Dhabi Petroleum Ports Operating Co.

☆ Standard Chartered CEO says big U.S. recession unlikely
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Yousef Saba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] The Standard Chartered bank logo is seen at their headquarters in London, Britain, July 26, 2022. REUTERS/Peter NichollsDUBAI, May 8 (Reuters) - Standard Chartered (STAN.L) Chief Executive Bill Winters said on Monday he sees a big recession in the United States as unlikely, although a period of negative growth was possible. "I think it's less the question of a massive decline in the U.S. - I think that's very, very unlikely," Winters said at conference in Dubai, adding the economy was "extremely strong". I think unlikely. First Abu Dhabi Bank, the UAE's biggest lender, earlier this year had considered a bid to take over Standard Chartered, but later said it was no longer doing so.

The cash-strapped airline wants the tribunal to accept its plea and is seeking an interim moratorium to save its assets, a move the lessors oppose. Go First did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lessors' bid to deregister the planes. Engine failures have cost the airline 108 billion rupees ($1.3 billion) in lost revenue and expenses, it said. Amid the dispute between the lessors and the troubled airline, banks with exposure to it are awaiting the tribunal's decision to decide their next course of action, two people involved in the talks told Reuters. The company owes financial creditors 65.21 billion rupees ($798 million), its bankruptcy filing showed, and had not defaulted on any of those dues by the end of April.

☆ Go First bankruptcy isn’t the end of the Indian airline, says owner
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

His comments came a day after the cash-strapped Indian airline filed for bankruptcy, blaming “faulty” Pratt & Whitney (P&W) engines for the grounding of about half its fleet. The airline owed financial creditors 65.21 billion Indian rupees ($797 million), its bankruptcy filing showed. Boon for rivalsGo First’s bankruptcy may boost airfares in India and give other domestic airlines a chance to grab a larger chunk of the market share, analysts said. Share prices of India’s largest airline, IndiGo, were up 5.1% on Wednesday, after rising as much as 8.2% earlier. Lenders to Go First, including Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, IDBI Bank and Axis Bank, fell on Wednesday.

☆ IndiGo shares surge after smaller rival Go First files for bankruptcy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, May 3 (Reuters) - Shares of India's largest airline IndiGo (INGL.NS) surged over 8% on Wednesday as smaller rival Go First's bankruptcy filing raised hopes of market share gains and improved yields. Cash-strapped airline Go First filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday, blaming "faulty" Pratt & Whitney engines for the grounding of about half its fleet and taking lenders by surprise. Lenders to Go First, including Central Bank of India (CBI.NS), Bank of Baroda (BOB.NS), IDBI Bank (IDBI.NS) and Axis Bank (AXBK.NS) dropped 1.1% to 6.8% on Wednesday. Go First owes financial creditors 65.21 billion rupees ($798 million), its bankruptcy filing showed. Bombay Burmah Trading (BBRM.NS), which is also owned by Wadia and has given loans to Go First in the form of inter-corporate deposits, slid 10%.

☆ Dollar in defensive mood after jobs data; Fed in focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. dollar banknotes are seen in Chicago on October 18, 2022. The dollar index, which measures the U.S. currency against six rivals, eased 0.029% to 101.820 after sliding 0.245% on Tuesday. "If the difference in rates between the two regions become clearer, DXY (dollar index) may fall below the 100 mark." The kiwi rose 0.35% versus the greenback to $0.623, while sterling was last trading at $1.2479, up 0.12% on the day. The Japanese yen strengthened 0.11% to 136.40 per dollar, clawing back some of its losses from last week when the Bank of Japan stuck to its ultra-loose monetary policy.

☆ That simple 'hi' text from a stranger could be the start of a scam that ends up costing you millions
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

The scammer networks operate fake trading platforms that look "exactly the way they should look," Friedman told CNBC. "When I was looking at who had messaged, I was like, 'I don't know if this person is real,'" Kaimi told CNBC. When pressed, Kaimi told Mike about his financial difficulties, stemming from past credit-card debt. "I thought I was someone who knew when they were being scammed, was able to discern things," Kaimi told CNBC. But when Kaimi told Mike he was planning to withdraw his funds, the penny dropped.

☆ India's Go First Airways owes financial creditors $798 million - filing
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Arpan Chaturvedi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, May 2 (Reuters) - Indian airline Go First, which filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday, owes financial creditors 65.21 billion Indian rupees ($798 million), its bankruptcy filing showed. "However, considering the present financial situation of the corporate applicant, defaults to financial creditors would be imminent," the filing said. The filing lists Central Bank of India (CBI.NS), Bank of Baroda (BOB.NS), IDBI Bank (IDBI.NS), Axis Bank (AXBK.NS) and Deutsche Bank among Go First's financial creditors. The airline's total liabilities to all creditors stand at 114.63 billion rupees, the filing shows. The company has defaulted on payments to operational creditors, including 12.02 billion rupees to vendors and 26.60 billion rupees to aircraft lessors.

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☆ Millions of student-loan borrowers could find out in the next 2 months if they will get Biden's debt relief. Here's what's at stake — beyond a reduction to balances.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision on Biden's student-debt relief by the end of June. They could have debt relief right now if it weren't for these lawsuits." And it looks like the Education Department is planning for those payments to resume with or without relief. The implementation of targeted debt relief reformsThe Education Department has some other things in the works, aside from broad student-debt relief. Share your student debt story with this reporter at asheffey@insider.com.

☆ Most Gulf markets fall as Fed seen hiking rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 1 (Reuters) - Most major stock markets in the Gulf fell in early trade on Monday, dragged lower by expectations the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates, although the Qatari index bucked the trend. The Fed is predicted to raise rates by another 25 basis points this week. The U.S. central bank has raised its policy rate by 475 basis points since March last year from the near-zero level to the current 4.75%-5.00% range. Dubai's main share index (.DFMGI) fell 0.1%, hit by a 1.1% fall in Emirates NBD Bank (ENBD.DU) and a 0.8% decrease in utility firm Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWAA.DU). In Qatar, the index (.QSI) bucked the trend to trade 0.5% higher, with telecoms firm Ooredoo (ORDS.QA) up more than 5%.

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