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[1/7] Healthcare workers strike in front of Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, as more than 75,000 Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers go on strike from October 4 to 7 across the United States, in Los Angeles, California, U.S. October 4, 2023. Kaiser said its hospitals and emergency departments remained open, staffed by doctors, managers and "contingency workers." They are represented by the SEIU United Healthcare Workers West. The Kaiser labor coalition, made up of eight unions representing medical professionals and support staff, insists the company needs to hire 10,000 new healthcare workers to fill current vacancies. Kaiser nationwide employs 68,000 nurses and 213,000 technicians, clerical workers, and administrative staff, alongside its 24,000 doctors.

Persons: Kaiser, Christina Andersen, Michael LeRoy, Ahmed Aboulenein, Bhanvi Satija, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, Permanente, REUTERS, Rights, Kaiser Permanente, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, District Columbia, Kaiser, Labor, Tenet Healthcare, SEIU United Healthcare Workers, SEIU, University of Illinois, D.C, Thomson Locations: United States, Los Angeles , California, U.S, Kaiser, California , Oregon, Washington , Colorado, Virginia, Claremont , California, California, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, University of Illinois Urbana, Champaign, Washington, California , Colorado , Oregon

[1/7] Healthcare workers strike in front of Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, as more than 75,000 Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers go on strike from October 4 to 7 across the United States, in Los Angeles, California, U.S. October 4, 2023. "After six months of bargaining with the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, including a marathon effort that went through last night and into today, our bargaining sessions unfortunately ended without a settlement," Kaiser said. They are represented by the SEIU United Healthcare Workers West. The Kaiser labor coalition, made up of eight unions representing medical professionals and support staff, insists the company needs to hire 10,000 new healthcare workers to fill current vacancies. Kaiser nationwide employs 68,000 nurses and 213,000 technicians, clerical workers, and administrative staff, alongside its 24,000 doctors.

Persons: Kaiser, Christina Andersen, Michael LeRoy, Ahmed Aboulenein, Bhanvi Satija, Bill Berkrot, Navaratnam 私 Organizations: Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, Permanente, REUTERS, Rights, Kaiser Permanente, Reuters, Coalition, Kaiser Permanente Unions, U.S . Bureau of Labor Statistics, District Columbia, Kaiser, Labor, Tenet Healthcare, SEIU United Healthcare Workers, SEIU, University of Illinois, D.C Locations: United States, Los Angeles , California, U.S, California , Oregon, Washington , Colorado, Virginia, Claremont , California, California, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, University of Illinois Urbana, Champaign, Washington, California , Colorado , Oregon

☆ Developing countries facing a debt crunch
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

EGYPTNorth Africa's largest economy needs to repay some $100 billion of hard-currency debt over the next five years. Egypt has a $3 billion IMF programme and has devalued the pound by roughly 50% since February 2022. Its progress in restructuring both domestic debt and $30 billion in external debt has been fairly swift and it secured a $3 billion IMF bailout in May. The next tranche of a $2.9 billion IMF bailout package could be delayed over a potential government revenue shortfall. A repair plan finally appeared imminent after Zambia clinched a $6.3 billion debt rework deal with the Paris Club creditor nations and China, its other big bilateral lender, in June.

Persons: Moody's, William Ruto's, Kais Saied, Libby George, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: World Bank, African Development Bank, IMF, UAE, SRI, SRI LANKA Sri, European Union, Zambia, Paris Club, Sri, Thomson Locations: Marrakech, EGYPT, Cairo, Egypt, ETHIOPIA, Ethiopia, China, GHANA Ghana, Accra, KENYA, Kenya, LEBANON Lebanon, PAKISTAN Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, SRI LANKA, SRI LANKA Sri Lanka, TUNISIA, Tunisia, UKRAINE Ukraine, Ukraine, United States, ZAMBIA, Zambia

☆ Australia central bank holds rates at 4.1% for fourth month
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SYDNEY, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Australia's central bank held interest rates steady on Tuesday for a fourth month, but again warned that further tightening might be needed to bring inflation to heel in a reasonable timeframe. Wrapping up its October policy meeting, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) held rates at 4.10% and said recent data were consistent with inflation returning to its 2–3 percent target over time with output and employment still growing. Markets had wagered heavily on a steady outcome this month, though there is still some chance of a hike in November depending on how inflation progresses over the third quarter. Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Wayne Cole, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: SYDNEY, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson

☆ Dollar hits new high on upbeat data, yen teeters near intervention line
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Brigid Riley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The euro also traded near a one-year low against the greenback, dropping below January's 1.0482 nadir, as manufacturing surveys released in both Europe and the U.S. on Monday highlighted the divergence between the two economies. The dollar index rose around 0.5% to 107.06, at one point hitting as high as 107.12, its highest since November 2022. Japan's key economic ministers warned again on Monday that authorities were watching with a "strong sense of urgency" as the yen slid. The yen was last at 149.80 against the dollar, just off the overnight low of 149.88. (This story has been corrected to fix euro milestone to near one-year low, not over one-year low, in paragraph 2)Reporting by Brigid Riley Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Carol Kong, Kong, Sterling, Brigid Riley, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, PMI, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: Europe

A view shows oil pump jacks outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 3 (Reuters) - Oil prices slipped 1% in early Asian trade on Tuesday, after falling to a three-week low in the previous session, on a stronger U.S. dollar, rising U.S. bond yields and mixed supply signals. "(Brent) crude oil prices slid to (around) $90 a barrel as rising US yields and a stronger US dollar dominated market sentiment," ANZ analysts said in a client note. Higher interest rates along with a stronger dollar also makes oil more expensive for holders of other currencies, which could dent oil demand. BMI Research analysts said "given that the global economy is slowing, the group will likely want to maintain their current cuts, while signposting the scope for further reductions, if market conditions demand it."

Persons: Alexander Manzyuk, Brent, Laura Sanicola, Trixie Yap, Shri Navaratnam, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, . West Texas, ANZ, U.S ., U.S, Reserve, BMI Research, Organization of, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, Iraq, OPEC

Japanese yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen with a currency exchange rate graph in this illustration picture taken June 16, 2022. The yen eased to 149.83 per dollar, its weakest in more than 11 months, moving ever closer to the 150 mark that some traders believe could prompt intervention by Tokyo to support the currency. "If the yen breaks 150 per dollar, which I think is likely, and verbal intervention is not followed by action then we could see dollar-yen at 155." In the broader currency market, sterling was last 0.4% lower at $1.2158, having slid nearly 4% against the dollar in the third quarter. Elsewhere, the Australian dollar slid 0.6% to $0.6395, while the New Zealand dollar edged 0.4% lower to $0.5972, as traders looked ahead to rate decisions from their respective central banks this week.

Persons: Florence Lo, Dane Cekov, Shunichi Suzuki, Jarrod Kerr, Nordea's Cekov, bitcoin, Samuel Indyk, Rae Wee, Shri Navaratnam, Simon Cameron, Moore, Emelia, Alex Richardson Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Bank of Japan, Bank of Japan's, Finance, Congress, Democratic, Australian, New Zealand, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Britain, U.S

Oil rigs are seen at Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas drilling, in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, Argentina January 21, 2019. Brent December crude futures rose 49 cents, or 0.5%, to $92.69 a barrel by 0645 GMT after falling 90 cents on Friday. Brent November futures settled down 7 cents at $95.31 a barrel at the contract's expiry on Friday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained 55 cents, or 0.6%, to $91.34 a barrel, after losing 92 cents on Friday. However, a private-sector survey on Sunday was less encouraging, showing the country's factory activity expanded at a slower pace in September.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, Baker Hughes, recouping, Brent, Hiroyuki Kikukawa, Kevin McCarthy, Yuka Obayashi, Emily Chow, Jamie Freed, Shri Navaratnam, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, . West Texas, of, Petroleum, NS, Nissan Securities, ING, PMI, Republican, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Vaca, Patagonian, Neuquen, Argentina, TOKYO, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Russia, OPEC, Tokyo

HONG KONG/BEIJING, Sept 28 (Reuters) - China Evergrande Group's (3333.HK) founder is being investigated over suspected "illegal crimes", the embattled developer said on Thursday, as creditors become increasingly concerned about the group's prospects amid an uncertain debt revamp plan and liquidation risk. Evergrande has been working to get creditors' approval for restructuring its offshore debt. The offshore debt restructuring plan now looks set to falter and the risks of the company being liquidated are rising, some analysts said. An Evergrande sign is seen near residential buildings at an Evergrande residential complex in Beijing, China September 27, 2023. "We believe that Evergrande's debt turmoil has had a great turmoil and negative impact on the global economy, and the things behind it are not simple."

Persons: Hui Ka Yan, Evergrande, Hui, Gary Ng, Ng, Florence Lo, They've, Christopher Beddor, Yan Yuejin, Saxo, Redmond Wong, Upasana Singh, Donny Kwok, Scott Murdoch, Ziyi Tang, Anne Marie Roantree, Sumeet Chatterjee, Kim Coghill, Shri Navaratnam, Lincoln, Miral Fahmy, Susan Fenton Organizations: HK, Trading, Asia Pacific, Reuters, REUTERS, Evergrande, China Research, Development Institution, Buyers, China Market, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, BEIJING, China, Asia, Beijing, Evergrande, Shanghai, Bengaluru, Hong Kong, Sydney

☆ Evergrande shares halted as concerns mount about developer's prospect
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

An Evergrande sign is seen near residential buildings at an Evergrande residential complex in Beijing, China September 27, 2023. Evergrande has been working to get creditors' approval for restructuring its offshore debt. The offshore debt restructuring plan now looks set to falter and the risks of the company being liquidated are rising, some analysts said. The company shares ended down 19% on Wednesday in the Hong Kong market, taking their losses to 81% since the resumption of trading in late August after a 17-month suspension. The recent regulatory easing may stabilize the housing market in the world's second-largest economy to some extent, Saxo Greater China Market Strategist Redmond Wong wrote in a research note.

Persons: Florence Lo, Hui Ka Yan, Hui, Evergrande, Gary Ng, Ng, Redmond Wong, Donny Kwok, Scott Murdoch, Ziyi Tang, Anne Marie Roantree, Sumeet Chatterjee, Kim Coghill, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, China Evergrande, HK, Bloomberg, Reuters, Asia Pacific, China Market, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, HONG KONG, China's, Evergrande, Asia, Hong Kong, Saxo, Sydney, Lincoln

☆ Dollar sticks near 10-month high, keeping heat on yen
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Brigid Riley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration taken March 10, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Sept 28 (Reuters) - The dollar clung near a 10-month high against a basket of its peers on Thursday, keeping the yen under pressure near a key intervention zone as investors size up upbeat U.S. economic data and fresh comments from Federal Reserve officials. Fed Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to speak later on Thursday, giving markets further clues into the future path of U.S. monetary policy. The U.S. dollar index , which measures the greenback against a basket of other major currencies, hovered around 106.58, after hitting 106.84 overnight, the highest level since Nov. 30. The dollar/yen pair tends to be extremely sensitive to changes in long-term U.S. Treasury yields, particularly at the 10-year maturity.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Neel Kashkari, Jerome Powell, Kyle Rodda, Tony Sycamore, Brigid Riley, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Federal Reserve, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Fed, U.S, Treasury, IG, Thomson Locations: U.S

☆ BOJ's July debate highlights rift in view on rate hike timing
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Japanese national flag is hoisted atop the headquarters of Bank of Japan in Tokyo, Japan September 20, 2023. One member said there was "still a significantly long way to go" before the BOJ can revise its negative interest rate policy, the minutes showed. One member said inflation could overshoot expectations as a tight job market prod firms to hike pay. But the BOJ has maintained its dovish guidance on the view a premature exit from ultra-loose policy could hurt a fragile recovery, and push Japan back into economic stagnation. Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Issei Kato, Kazuo Ueda, Ueda, Leika Kihara, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Bank of Japan, REUTERS, Companies, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Europe, TOKYO, United States

☆ China's industrial profits extend slump for Jan-Aug, but pace of downturn eases
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NBS statistician Yu Weining said in an accompanying statement that "a series of policies to promote macroeconomic recovery" last month's underpinned earnings. The breakdown in NBS data indicated that there was still some way to go for a robust recovery in overall earnings growth. Profits at state-owned firms slid 3.8% in first eight months, and fell 1.3% for foreign firms while private-sector companies saw earnings shrink 6.1%, the data showed. Industrial profit numbers cover firms with annual revenues of at least 20 million yuan ($2.75 million) from their main operations. Reporting by Qiaoyi Li and Ryan Woo and Beijing newsroom Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bruce Pang, Jones Lang Lasalle, Yu Weining, Qiaoyi Li, Ryan Woo, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, National Bureau of Statistics, Jones, NBS, Thomson Locations: Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China, Rights BEIJING, Beijing

Bullrich, a conservative former lawmaker and security minister, is running against center-left candidate Sergio Massa and Javier Milei, a radical libertarian. The advisor claimed that IMF officials would likely support Bullrich's approach. They told us, 'If you win and put this program on the table and it begins to advance, we will be giving it the necessary support,'" said Martinez Maino. Former President Mauricio Macri, a member of Bullrich's party, renegotiated a previous IMF loan deal for $44 billion in 2018. Bullrich aims to grow foreign investment, said Martinez Maino, adding that he and the candidate's would-be pick for economy minister, Carlos Melconian, will travel this week to New York to meet with banks and investors.

Persons: Patricia Bullrich, Facundo Martinez Maino, Sergio Massa, Javier Milei, Milei, Martinez Maino, Mauricio Macri, Bullrich, Carlos Melconian, Lucila Sigal, David Alire Garcia Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, August's, South, New York

☆ US yields revisit highs, Asia stocks sag on hawkish Fed angst
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Kevin Buckland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Asia-Pacific stock benchmarks sagged along with gold, while crude oil continued to drift back from 10-month highs. Westpac strategists see risks skewed toward even higher yields in the near term, pulling up the dollar as well. "We expect 10yr yields to establish a new, higher, yield range in coming weeks," with a possible peak around 4.75%, they said. The European Central Bank and Bank of England have also touted higher rates for longer in policy meetings since the middle of the month. Crude oil remained weak amid concerns that fuel demand will be crimped by major central banks holding interest rates higher for longer, even with supply expected to be tight.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Hong, HSI, Austan Goolsbee, Sterling, Gold, Kevin Buckland, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Rights, Treasury, Federal Reserve, U.S, Tokyo's Nikkei, Traders, Westpac, Chicago Fed, Fed, European Central Bank and Bank of England, Brent, U.S . West Texas, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Britain

☆ China's new trading rules target more oversight, not killing 'flash boys', says lobby group
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE, Sept 26 (Reuters) - China's securities regulators have told market participants that tighter rules for programme trading were not designed to kill the business, but were a response to calls for more oversight, according Asia's largest financial lobby group ASIFMA. "There's no intent to be prejudiced against high frequency trading firms," said Lyndon Chao, ASIFMA managing director and head of equities and post trade. Quant funds in China include global players such as Winton, Two Sigma and D.E.Shaw though these three aren't members of ASIFMA. The rules "came out all of a sudden because the regulators might be facing pressure from investors suffering from recent poor stock market performance," he said. There are a lot of quant funds out there that do a great job of injecting liquidity when needed.

Persons: Lyndon Chao, They're, ASIFMA, Chao, Ren Zeping, Liu Yuhui, ASIFMA's Chao, Samuel Shen, Jason Xue, Tom Westbrook, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Sigma, Reuters, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, China, Winton, Shanghai, Shenzhen

☆ BOJ may hold off on ending negative rates until April - ex-board member
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

With inflation exceeding 2% for more than a year, markets are rife with speculation the BOJ will raise short-term interest rates from the current -0.1% as early as the end of this year. Ending negative interest rates likely won't hurt the economy much as inflation-adjusted real borrowing costs will remain low, said Sakurai, a former BOJ board member who retains close ties with incumbent policymakers. "Ending negative rates will be largely a symbolic move, but the BOJ probably wants to time it very carefully," Sakurai said. Even if the central bank were to end negative rates, it will likely describe the move as a modest adjustment to the degree of monetary stimulus, he said. In July, it raised a hard cap for the 10-year yield to 1.0% from 0.5% to allow long-term interest rates to rise more freely reflecting higher inflation.

Persons: Issei Kato, BOJ Sakurai, Sakurai, Sakurai TOKYO, Makoto Sakurai, Leika, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Bank of Japan, REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan

☆ California Escapes Fire Season Mostly Unharmed, but Danger Could Lie Ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

After disastrous years in 2020 and 2021, wildfire damage this season has been largely limited to the sparsely populated northwest corner of the state. Cal Fire has reported 5,474 wildfires burning 257,407 acres (104,169 hectares) in 2023, similar to the same period of 2022. The five-year average over the same interval is 6,142 fires and 1.2 million acres burned. "We're really only a prolonged heatwave followed by a windstorm away from having major fires," Chavez said. UCLA meteorologist Daniel Swain said climate change is going to result in more extreme dry years periodically interspersed with more extreme wet years.

Persons: Daniel Trotta, California's, Tim Chavez, Nick Schuler, Michele Steinberg, Chavez, Daniel Swain, we'll, Swain, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: of Water Resources, Labor, California Department of Forestry, Fire Protection, Cal Fire, National Fire Prevention, UCLA, YouTube Locations: California, Western Canada, United States, Hawaii, Lahaina, Southern California

Riverside Animal Control looks for stray dogs as as the Fairview Fire smoulders near Hemet, California, U.S., September 9, 2022. After disastrous years in 2020 and 2021, wildfire damage this season has been largely limited to the sparsely populated northwest corner of the state. The five-year average over the same interval is 6,142 fires and 1.2 million acres burned. "We're really only a prolonged heatwave followed by a windstorm away from having major fires," Chavez said. UCLA meteorologist Daniel Swain said climate change is going to result in more extreme dry years periodically interspersed with more extreme wet years.

Persons: David Swanson, California's, Tim Chavez, Nick Schuler, Michele Steinberg, Chavez, Daniel Swain, we'll, Swain, Daniel Trotta, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Riverside, REUTERS, of Water Resources, Labor, California Department of Forestry, Fire Protection, Cal Fire, National Fire Prevention, UCLA, YouTube, Thomson Locations: Fairview, Hemet , California, U.S, California, Western Canada, United States, Hawaii, Lahaina, Southern California

☆ LG Chem partners with Huayou Group to build joint LFP cathode plant in Morocco
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Heekyong Yang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The logo of LG Chem is seen at its office building in Seoul, South Korea, October 16, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies LG Chem to build joint LFP cathode plant in Morocco with China's YoushanCompany to enter LFP cathode business for the first timeCompany partners with Huayou Group to build 4 facilities in Morocco and IndonesiaSEOUL, Sept 24 (Reuters) - South Korea's LG Chem Ltd (051910.KS) said on Sunday it has entered into partnership with China's Huayou Group's subsidiary Youshan to build a joint electric vehicle (EV) battery material plant in Morocco in an effort to diversify its portfolio. LG Chem said LFP cathodes produced at the Morocco plant will be supplied to the North American market and receive subsidies from the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) as Morocco is a free-trade partner with the United States. LG Chem and Youshan would need to adjust their respective equity share in compliance with the U.S. Treasury Department's guideline of a "foreign entity of concern," a provision aimed at China, LG Chem said in the statement. The size of LG Chem's investments for its four facilities with Huayou Group has not been finalised yet.

Persons: Kim Hong, China's, LG Chem, LFP cathodes, Heekyong Yang, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: LG Chem, REUTERS, China's Youshan Company, Huayou Group, LG Chem Ltd, LG, North, U.S, U.S . Treasury, U.S . Treasury Department, Huayou, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Morocco, Indonesia SEOUL, KS, United States, Korea, China, U.S, Indonesia

Sept 23 (Reuters) - U.S. auto workers expanded their strike on Friday with a clear target for distress: dealers who sell and service GM and Stellantis vehicles. The strategy of choking parts delivery increases problems for some dealers who say it already had been difficult to source some components. The broader strike, which targets 38 parts distribution centers owned by GM and Stellantis, "is going to have these shops telling their customers 'We don't know when we can fix your vehicle. "It's definitely going to impact customers," said Thomas Morris, 60, who went on strike on Friday at a General Motors parts distribution center in the suburbs of Philadelphia. The center serves GM dealerships from Pennsylvania to Maine, moving some 30,000 parts for auto repairs each day, workers said.

Persons: Richard Fasulo, Howard Drake, Mike Stanton, It's, Thomas Morris, Stellantis, Arthur Wheaton, Brad Sowers, Jim Butler, he'll, Abhirup Roy, Doyinsola, Jarrett Renshaw, Peter Henderson Organizations: Cadillac, GM, National Association of Auto Dealers, UAW, Motors, Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Jim Butler Auto Group, Chevrolet, Thomson Locations: Wappinger , New York, California, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Maine, St.Louis , Missouri, San Francisco, New York, Pennyslvania

Dombrovskis, who is also the bloc's trade commissioner, is on a four-day visit to China seeking more balanced economic ties with the EU. Citing the bloc's trade deficit as an example, he added "the EU also needs to protect itself in situations when its openness is abused." LITMUS TESTThe EU blames its 400 billion euro trade deficit partly on Chinese restrictions on European companies. A "thousand" barriers to market access have propelled the trade deficit to its "highest in the history of mankind", EU Ambassador to China Jorge Toledo lamented at a forum in Beijing on Thursday. One with whom the EU wishes to work towards a more balanced trade and investment relationship."

Persons: Valdis Dombrovskis, Jason Xue, Dombrovskis, China Jorge Toledo, Lifeng, Moscow, Brenda Goh, Albee Zhang, Shri Navaratnam, William Mallard Organizations: European Commission, Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, Bund Summit, EU, Global Times, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Moscow, Russian, Ukraine, Beijing, Dombrovskis

☆ Taiwan raises concerns about situation 'getting out of hand' with China drills
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has in recent years carried out many such drills around the island, seeking to assert its sovereignty claims and pressure Taipei. Warships from China's southern and eastern theatre commands have been operating together off Taiwan's east coast, he added. China has not commented about the drills around Taiwan, and its defence ministry has not responded to requests for comment. Ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang added that China's Eastern Theatre Command forces were the "attacking force", simulating a battle scenario. China normally performs large-scale exercises from July to September, Taiwan's defence ministry has said.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Chiu Kuo, cheng, Chiu, Sun Li, Ben Blanchard, Roger Tung, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Air Force, Eastern Theatre Command, Liberation Army, PLA, REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan Defence, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Beijing, China, Rights TAIPEI, Shandong, Taipei

☆ Costa Rica's homicide rate rises in deadliest year ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People cross the street, one day after Costa Ricans elected Carlos Alvarado Quesada, as the new president, in San Jose, Costa Rica April 2, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSAN JOSE, Sept 22 (Reuters) - More than 656 people have been killed so far in Costa Rica's deadliest year on record, official homicide data showed on Friday, though the government expects this figure to soar past 900 by the end of this year. Costa Rica's homicides hit a record 654 last year according to the historically peaceful Central American country's Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ). The national rate for violent deaths is set to rise to 16 per 100,000 people this year, from 12.6 in 2022. Costa Rica's security minister Mario Zamora told Reuters in a statement that there are no "magic" and short-term responses to tackle crime in the country, and that it would need a series of security and prevention initiative.

Persons: Carlos Alvarado Quesada, Juan Carlos Ulate, Costa, Randall Zuniga, Mario Zamora, Zamora, Laura Chinchilla's, Rodrigo Chaves, Chaves, Alvaro Murillo, Carolina Pulice, Sarah Morland Organizations: Costa Ricans, REUTERS, JOSE, Judicial Investigation Agency, Central, Authorities, Reuters, Central American, Thomson Locations: San Jose, Costa Rica, Costa Rica's, Jose, Caribbean, Limon, Colombia, United States, Europe

SAG-AFTRA actors and Writers Guild of America (WGA) writers walk the picket line outside Disney Studios in Burbank, California, U.S., July 25, 2023. While workers across the entertainment industry waited for word of the outcome, no agreement had been announced as of late Friday, the 144th day of the strike. Representatives for the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the studios, had no comment. Producer and WGA member Al Septien, also picketing outside Netflix on Friday, said he wanted to get back to work, but only under the right terms. We don't want to fold for a less-than-fair and good contract for the writers,” he said.

Persons: Mike Blake, Walt Disney, Bob Iger, Ted Sarandos, David Zaslav, Donna Langley, Matthew Weiner, Weiner, Al Septien, We've, ”, Lisa Richwine, Dawn Chemielewski, Sandra Stojanovic, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Disney Studios, REUTERS, Netflix, Warner Bros Discovery, Comcast's, WGA, Alliance, Television Producers, SAG, Thomson Locations: Burbank , California, U.S, Angeles

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