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On Oct. 7, Hamas gunmen stormed into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing at least 1,400 people. In response, Israel has retaliated with air strikes, putting the Gaza Strip's 2.3 million people under siege. President Joe Biden said he would seek extra funding, estimated to be in the billions, to help Israel fight Hamas. QATARIn Qatar, Zhai said China was ready to maintain communication and coordination with Russia in an effort to calm the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Reporting by Liz Lee and Ryan Woo; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Stephen Coates and Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Khan Younis, Mohammed Salem, Zhai Jun, Mikhail Bogdanov, Zhai, Bogdanov, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Wang Yi, Joe Biden, Israel, U.N, Antony Blinken, Washington, Blinken, Liz Lee, Ryan Woo, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Mideast, Moscow, Gaza, Security, United, Global Times, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Rights BEIJING, Israel, Qatar, Middle, Moscow, China, Russia, Doha, Beijing, Palestinian, United States, Iran, Brazil, Washington, Russian, U.S, QATAR, Lincoln

☆ Rolling Stones kick off album launch in New York with guest Lady Gaga
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( David Gaffen | Thomson Reuters | David Gaffen Has Been With Reuters Since As Of He Serves As The Breaking News Editor For Companies News | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] The members of the Rolling Stones Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood perform during a private record release party of their new album "Hackney Diamonds" in New York City, U.S., October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Oct 20 (Reuters) - It was a gas, gas, gas in a club on Manhattan's West Side late on Thursday, where the Rolling Stones held a private launch party for their first new album in 18 years. The Stones closed with an appearance by Lady Gaga for "Sweet Sounds of Heaven," a slow, blues-infused number off the new album that recalls the band's 70s classic "Moonlight Mile." Gaga and Jagger mimicked each other's dance movies as they alternated vocals, Gaga in a shimmering red-and-black one-sleeved jumpsuit, Jagger wearing a customarily tight black shirt. The album closes with the song "Rolling Stone Blues," a Muddy Waters song that was the origin of the band's name.

Persons: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Shannon Stapleton, Jumpin, Jack Flash, Lady Gaga, Gaga, Jagger, Charlie Watts, Ron Wood, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Bill Wyman, Watts, David Gaffen, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Racket, Stone, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, York, New York

☆ Hamas attack aimed to disrupt Saudi-Israel normalization -Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/Pool/... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreWASHINGTON, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed about 1,400 people aimed to disrupt a potential normalization of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia sought by Riyadh, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday. Biden suggested Saudi wanted to recognize Israel in the comments he made at a campaign fundraiser. "One of the reasons Hamas moved on Israel ... they knew that I was about to sit down with the Saudis," Biden said. Blinken told CNN on Oct. 8 that "it wouldn’t be a surprise that part of the motivation (for the attack) may have been to disrupt efforts to bring Saudi Arabia and Israel together." Biden told CBS' 60 Minutes in an interview that aired last Sunday that the prospect of normalization was "still alive, it's going to take time."

Persons: Joe Biden, Jonathan Ernst, Biden, Saudi, Donald Trump, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Israel, Nandita Bose, Kanishka Singh, Costas Pitas, Grant McCool, Lincoln Organizations: Ukraine, Oval, White, REUTERS, Hamas, United, Israel, CNN, CBS, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Russia, Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, U.S, East, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain

San Francisco Police vehicle is parked on the street near the visa office of the Chinese consulate, where local media has reported a vehicle may have crashed into the building, in San Francisco, California, U.S. on October 9, 2023. San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said the deceased suspect, Zhanyuan Yang, 31, was a Chinese national. According to police, Yang plowed his Honda sedan into the lobby of the consulate visa office around 3 p.m. The only weapons recovered from the scene, police said, were the knife and crossbow, which somewhat resembled a rifle. Police said two security guards inside the consulate initially restrained Yang until police arrived minutes later.

Persons: Nathan Frandino, William Scott, Zhanyuan Yang, Scott, Yang, Steve Gorman, Lincoln Organizations: San Francisco Police, REUTERS, Rights, Honda, Police, Thomson Locations: San Francisco , California, U.S, Calif, San Francisco, Chinese, Oakland , California, Los Angeles

☆ Rolling Stones Kick off Album Launch in New York With Guest Lady Gaga
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By David GaffenNEW YORK (Reuters) - It was a gas, gas, gas in a club on Manhattan's West Side late on Thursday, where the Rolling Stones held a private launch party for their first new album in 18 years. The Stones closed with an appearance by Lady Gaga for "Sweet Sounds of Heaven," a slow, blues-infused number off the new album that recalls the band's 70s classic "Moonlight Mile." Gaga and Jagger mimicked each other's dance movies as they alternated vocals, Gaga in a shimmering red-and-black one-sleeved jumpsuit, Jagger wearing a customarily tight black shirt. The latter has been a member of the band for nearly 50 years despite joining in 1975, 13 years after the Stones were formed. The album closes with the song "Rolling Stone Blues," a Muddy Waters song that was the origin of the band's name.

Persons: David Gaffen, Mick Jagger, Jumpin, Jack Flash, Lady Gaga, Gaga, Jagger, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Bill Wyman, Watts, Lincoln Organizations: Racket, Stone Locations: York, New York

They were the first hostages confirmed by both sides in the conflict to be freed since Hamas gunmen burst into Israel and killed 1,400 people, mainly civilians, and abducted around 200 others. Abu Ubaida, a spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing, said the hostages were released in part "for humanitarian reasons" in response to Qatari mediation efforts. HEAVY BOMBARDMENTPalestinian media reported heavy Israeli bombardment in Gaza overnight, including a strike on a house in Jabalia in northern Gaza that killed at least 19 people. [1/8]Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan, U.S. citizens who were taken as hostages by Palestinian Hamas militants, walk while holding hands with Brig.-Gen. Israel has already told all civilians to evacuate the northern half of the Gaza Strip, which includes Gaza City.

Persons: Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Judith Tai Raanan, Natalie, Gal Hirsch, Uri Raanan, we'll, Abu Ubaida, Israel, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, it's, Natalie Shoshana Raanan, Antony Blinken, Biden, Antonio Guterres, Nandita Bose, Nidal, Idrees Ali, Stephen Coates, Diane Craft Organizations: Gaza Hamas, Friday, Reuters, Israeli, Brig, Palestinian, of Saint, United, Israel, Hamas, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Gaza, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Israel, Bannockburn , Illinois, Chicago, Jabalia, U.S, Jerusalem, of Saint Porphyrius, Gaza City, Iran, United States, United Nations, Rafah, Egypt, Palestinian, Jericho, Washington

Former architect and tour guide Peter Sekules poses for a photo at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia September 29, 2023. REUTERS/Alasdair Pal/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Sydney Opera House celebrated its 50th birthday on Friday, with a laser show planned to illuminate the iconic building. Officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973, the Opera House is widely regarded as one of the greatest architectural designs of the 20th century, with 10.9 million people visiting every year. As part of the 1956 Opera House international design competition, 233 designs were submitted by architects from around the world with Jorn Utzon from Denmark chosen as the winner. The Sydney Opera House was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2007.

Persons: Peter Sekules, Alasdair Pal, Queen Elizabeth II, Robin Fox, Anthony Albanese, Jorn Utzon, Construction, Utzon, Lincoln Organizations: Sydney Opera House, REUTERS, Rights, Opera, Sydney Opera, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Australian, Denmark

[1/5] A view of the residential apartments in Country Garden's Forest City development in Johor Bahru, Malaysia August 16, 2023. The group hired PJT Partners (PJT.N) as financial adviser to lead discussions with Country Garden, two people with knowledge of the matter said. Ratings agency Moody's said on Thursday it could downgrade Country Garden's (2007.HK) 'corporate family rating' if the recovery prospects for its creditors weaken further. Moody's said Country Garden's senior unsecured rating of C was already at the lowest of its rating scale. Country Garden and Frasers did not immediately respond for a request for comment on that sale.

Persons: Edgar Su, PJT, Moody's, Frasers, Houlihan Lokey, Sidley Austin, Yeung Kwok Keung, Yang Huiyan, Yeung, Yang, Cao Jianglin, Garden's, China Evergrande, Scott Murdoch, Xie Yu, Clare Jim, Anousha Sakoui, Liz Lee, Lewis Jackson, Kim Coghill, Christopher Cushing, Jamie Freed, Lincoln, Miral Fahmy, Jane Merriman Organizations: REUTERS, HK, PJT Partners, Garden's, Australian Financial, Reuters, China International Capital Corporation, Finance, HSBC, China National Agricultural Development, SOE, Thomson Locations: Garden's, City, Johor Bahru, Malaysia, China HONG KONG, Garden's Australian, Melbourne, China, Shunde, Guangdong province, Sydney, Hong Kong, London, Beijing, Sydndey

☆ Ukrainian troops face new Russian assault on eastern town of Avdiivka
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Russian forces subjected Avdiivka to fierce attacks last week, but the shelling had tapered off in the last few days. Kupiansk was recaptured by Ukrainian troops late last year in a lighting advance through the country's northeast, but Russian forces have stepped up attacks in a bid to retake it. Zaluzhniy said Ukrainian forces around Kupiansk were "maintaining their defence in the most difficult of conditions". Russia's accounts of the fighting said its forces had destroyed a command point near Avdiivka and repelled 11 Ukrainian attacks near Kupiansk. When Ukrainian troops retook parts of Kherson region last year, Russian forces abandoned its biggest city, also called Kherson.

Persons: Yevhen, General Valery Zaluzhnyi, Zaluzhniy, Oleksandr Shtupun, Avdiivka, Kupiansk, Shtupun, Olena Harmash, Ronald Popeski, Timothy Heritage Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Russian, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Kupiansk, Russian, Donetsk, Azov, Verbove, Zaporizhzhia, Robotyne, U.S, Ukrainian, Dnipro, Kherson, Kyiv

Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's (RFE/RL) Tatar-Bashkir Service, poses in this undated handout photo. Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Tatar-Bashkir Service who holds both U.S. and Russian passports, travelled to Russia on May 20 for a family emergency. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which has headquarters in Prague and Washington, says its mission is to "promote democratic values by providing accurate, uncensored news and open debate in countries where a free press is threatened and disinformation is pervasive". During the Cold War, RFE/RL transmitted news to audiences behind the Iron Curtain. "Journalism is not a crime and Kurmasheva’s detention is yet more proof that Russia is determined to stifle independent reporting."

Persons: Alsu Kurmasheva, Russia detains, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu, Kurmasheva, Jeffrey Gedmin, Gulnoza Said, Guy Faulconbridge, Lincoln, Gareth Jones Organizations: Radio Free, Liberty's, RFE, Graphics, REUTERS Acquire, Russia, Russia detains RFE, Free, Radio Liberty, Wall Street, The State Department, Bashkir Service, Soviet Union, West . Radio Free, U.S, Congress, U.S . Agency for Global Media, U.S . Central Intelligence Agency, Protect Journalists, Central Asia, Thomson Locations: Radio Free Europe, Bashkir, Russian, MOSCOW, Russia, Free Europe, Ukraine, U.S, Prague, RUSSIA, Soviet, West . Radio Free Europe, Washington, Europe, Central

☆ Oil spikes as Middle East strife heightens supply concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Natalie Grover | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Crude oil storage tanks are seen from above at the Cushing oil hub, appearing to run out of space to contain a historic supply glut that has hammered prices, in Cushing, Oklahoma, March 24, 2016. Brent crude futures were up $1.33, or about 1.5%, to $91.23 a barrel at 1231 GMT. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) futures were up $1.28, or roughly 1.5%, at $87.94 a barrel. "This turn of diplomatic fortunes again garners fear of conflict spread and therefore the leap in oil," said John Evans of oil broker PVM. Elsewhere in the Saudi city of Jeddah, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian urged members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to impose an oil embargo on Israel.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Brent, Jordan, Biden, Joe Biden, John Evans, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Vivek Dhar, Harry Murphy Cruise, Natalie Grover, Arathy, Muyu Xu, Lincoln, Jason Neely, Elaine Hardcastle, Louise Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, West Texas, U.S, Hamas, Iranian, of Islamic Cooperation, Reuters, Israel Hamas, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, American Petroleum Institute, Golden, Thomson Locations: Cushing , Oklahoma, Iran, Israel, OPEC, U.S, Gaza, Gaza City, Saudi, Jeddah

Crude oil storage tanks are seen from above at the Cushing oil hub, appearing to run out of space to contain a historic supply glut that has hammered prices, in Cushing, Oklahoma, March 24, 2016. In earlier trade, both benchmarks gained more than $2 to touch their highest levels in two weeks. Jordan then cancelled a summit it was to host with U.S. President Joe Biden and Egyptian and Palestinian leaders. "A long occupation looms as the scenario that pushes Brent oil futures above $US100/bbl because it raises the risk that the Israel Hamas conflict expands and potentially draws in Iran directly," Dhar said. Also supporting oil prices, U.S. crude stocks fell by about 4.4 million barrels in the week ended Oct. 13, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Jordan, Joe Biden, Biden, Vivek Dhar, Dhar, Harry Murphy Cruise, Arathy Somesekhar, Muyu Xu, Sonali Paul, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, West Texas, U.S, Israel Hamas, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Israel, Hamas, American Petroleum Institute, Golden, Federal Reserve, Thomson Locations: Cushing , Oklahoma, Gaza, Gaza City, Israel, Iran, China

☆ The love affair of a retired Australian architect with the Opera House
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Stefica Nicol Bikes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Immediately recognisable by its sails glistening over the waters of Sydney Harbour, the UNESCO-listed Sydney Opera House is one of the world’s most photographed buildings. [1/4]Former architect and tour guide Peter Sekules poses for a photo at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia September 29, 2023. Sekules says he tried to instil that philosophy when he decided to start his architectural career working alongside Australian architect Peter Hall, who took over the Opera House project after Utzon resigned. According to the Sydney Opera House, more than 10.9 million people visit the building every year. The Sydney Opera House was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2007.

Persons: Peter Sekules, Sekules, Jorn Utzon, Alasdair Pal, Utzon, Peter Hall, Queen Elizabeth II Organizations: SYDNEY, UNESCO, Sydney Opera, Sydney Opera House, Reuters, Sydney Opera House Concert, REUTERS, Opera House, Opera, Stefica Bikes, Thomson Locations: Sydney Harbour, Denmark, Sydney, Australia

☆ Fiji and Australia boost cyber security cooperation
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Prime Minister of Fiji Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka addresses the 78th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., September 22, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Fiji and Australia will cooperate on cyber security, with Australia also boosting aid to its Pacific Islands neighbour under an enhanced partnership, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said after meeting his Fijian counterpart on Wednesday. Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, on his first three-day official visit to Australia since becoming leader in December, said the relationship with Australia was warm. Under Rabuka's government, Fiji has put a decade-old policing agreement with China on hold, and sought to increase defence ties with Australia. Albanese said Australia had agreed to provide more budget support to Fiji "to help economic recovery and to boost growth", and would sell it 14 Bushmaster protected vehicles to support the Fiji military's peacekeeping operations around the world.

Persons: Mike Segar, Anthony Albanese, Sitiveni Rabuka, Rabuka, Albanese, Kirsty Needham, Lincoln Organizations: United Nations General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, Australian, Fijian, Fiji, Australia, Lowy Institute, Pacific, Fiji military's, Thomson Locations: Fiji, U.N, New York City , New York, U.S, Australia, China, Canberra, United States

☆ QatarEnergy, Shell agree 27-year LNG supply
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Two LNG sale and purchase agreements were signed between affiliates of QatarEnergy and Shell (SHEL.L), QatarEnergy said on Wednesday, in a deal that mirrors one reached with TotalEnergies last week. Qatari LNG from the massive North Field LNG production expansion project will be delivered to Gate LNG terminal at the Port of Rotterdam beginning in 2026. Shell holds a 6.25% stake in the North Field East project and a 9.375% share in the North Field South project. The deal follows an identical one between QatarEnergy and TotalEnergies last week, until then Qatar's biggest and longest gas supply deal with Europe. QatarEnergy has signed deals to supply LNG from the expansion to Asian buyers over the past year in China and elsewhere.

Persons: Chris Helgren, QatarEnergy, Shell, TotalEnergies, China's Sinopec, Saad al, Kaabi, Yousef Saba, Lincoln Organizations: Shell, REUTERS, Rights, TotalEnergies, LNG, Field, Port, China National Petroleum Corporation, Thomson Locations: Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, Rights DUBAI, Qatar, Europe, Netherlands, Rotterdam, QatarEnergy, Asia, China, Ukraine

☆ US decision to send long-range missiles to Kyiv a grave mistake - Russia's envoy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Armoured vehicles move during "Noble Blueprint 2023" military exercise at Novo Selo military grounds, Bulgaria, September 26, 2023. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also confirmed his forces used the ATACMS after his military reported on Tuesday striking two air bases in Ukrainian territory now controlled by Russia. Ukraine had repeatedly asked the U.S. administration for the ATACMS and pledged not to use inside Russia's territory. The Kremlin has said U.S. supplies of ATACMS missiles and Abrams tanks to Ukraine would not change the situation on the battlefield. Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Anatoly Antonov, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Antonov, Lidia Kelly, Christopher Cushing Organizations: NATO, Army Tactical Missile Systems, White House, Ukrainian Special Forces, Thomson Locations: Novo Selo, Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Turkey, Albania, U.S, Ukraine, ATACMS, Russia, Luhansk, Ukraine's, Berdiansk, Azov, Washington, United States, Melbourne, Lincoln

☆ British navy chief says AUKUS submarine project needs 'rat-catchers' not regulators
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( David Brunnstrom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak deliver remarks on the Australia - United Kingdom - U.S. (AUKUS) partnership, after a trilateral meeting, at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, California U.S. March 13, 2023. REUTERS/Leah... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreWASHINGTON, Oct 17 (Reuters) - The head of Britain's Royal Navy joined Australia on Tuesday in questioning U.S. bureaucratic hurdles facing the three-country AUKUS project to supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. "If your rules environment is to prevent your adversaries from getting it and seeing what it is, that's probably realistic," Key said. "If your rules environment is to allow you a competitive edge in a different way, then I would question whether that's really enabling what matters to us all, which is to try and ensure a security framework." Rudd spoke ahead of a visit to Washington next week by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at which AUKUS will be high on the agenda.

Persons: Joe Biden, Anthony Albanese, Rishi Sunak, Leah, Sir Ben Key, we'd, Key, we've, Biden, Kevin Rudd, Rudd, David Brunnstrom, Lincoln Organizations: Australian, British, U.S, Naval Base Point, San Diego , California U.S, REUTERS, Britain's Royal Navy, Australia, Washington's Center, Strategic, International Studies, Britain, State Department, Thomson Locations: Australia, United Kingdom, Naval Base Point Loma, San Diego , California, WASHINGTON, U.S, Trafalgar, Jutland, Washington, Britain

☆ Explainer: New Zealand voted for change, what happens now?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Christopher Luxon, Leader of the National Party arrives at his election party after winning the general election to become New Zealand’s next prime minister in Auckland, New Zealand, October 14, 2023. National won 50 seats and the right-wing, free-market ACT Party won 11, securing a majority of just one seat in the 121-seat parliament, according to provisional results from the Electoral Commission. If they do, National may need the support of populist New Zealand First and its leader Winston Peters to form a government. National's leader Christopher Luxon said he would wait for the final count to come in but was talking with both ACT and New Zealand First. Parliament has to meet with six weeks of the official election result but there is no date for when a government must be formed.

Persons: Christopher Luxon, David Rowland, Winston Peters, Luxon, Nicola Willis, Zealand First's Peters, Brooke van Velden, Lucy Craymer, Lincoln Organizations: National Party, New, REUTERS, Rights, Party, National, ACT Party, Electoral, ACT, New Zealand, WHO, Labour Party, APEC, BE, Zealand, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, Zealand, Wellington

☆ Nervous markets eye Gaza as oil hovers above $90
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Kevin Buckland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Netanyahu agreed to lift a blockade of water supplies to parts of southern Gaza after speaking with U.S. President Joe Biden. Brent crude futures reached a new recent high of $91.20 on Monday before easing back slightly to $90.84, following Friday's 5.7% surge. Japan's Nikkei share average (.N225) fell more than 1%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index (.AXJO) lost 0.15% in early trading. On Friday, the pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) lost 0.98 and New York's S&P 500 (.SPX) declined 0.50%, although U.S. stock futures pointed 0.18% higher on Monday. Currencies overall retraced some of their moves from the end of the week, with the U.S. dollar index easing slightly to 106.55 from as high as 106.79 on Friday.

Persons: Androniki, Israel's shekel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Australia's, Chris Weston, Kevin Buckland, Lincoln Organizations: Nikkei, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Brent, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Gaza, Israel

The exception among major commodities was copper, where imports of the unwrought metal were up in September from August, but down from the year earlier month. Copper imports were 480,426 metric tons in September, up from August's 473,330, but down 5.8% from 509,954 in September last year. For the first nine months of 2023, unwrought copper imports were down 9.5% to 3.99 million metric tons. Crude oil imports were 11.13 million barrels per day (bpd) in September, down from August's 12.4 million bpd, although it's worth noting that August was third strongest month on record. IRON ORE, COALIron ore imports dropped to 101.18 million metric tons in October, down 4.9% from August's 106.42 million, but it's worth noting that August was the strongest month since October 2020.

Persons: Aly, China's, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Port, Shanghai, China, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, August's

Hamas fighters burst across the Gaza barrier fence into Israel in a stunning assault on Oct. 7, killing 1,300 and abducting dozens more, including Americans. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted during the 2014 conflict, 22% of respondents said the U.S. should support Israel's position, and 2% wanted support for Palestinian's position. Support for Israel's position in the new poll was strongest among Republicans, with 54% of the party backing Israel's position compared to 37% of Democrats. Some 69% of poll respondents said they were following news about the fighting "very closely" or "somewhat closely." The Reuters poll showed Americans have little faith in the ability of either Biden or Trump to solve the crisis.

Persons: Khan Younis, Mohammed Salem, shouldn't, Antony Blinken, Israel, Joe Biden, Biden, Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump, Jason Lange, Matt Spetalnick, Scott Malone, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Hamas, Israel, Reuters, ISRAEL, Republican, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, U.S, Washington's, East, Washington, Rafah, Egypt, Gaza City

☆ Buttler demands England show character after huge Afghanistan setback
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Buttler said the Afghanistan result was a "big setback". "We’ve got to show a lot of character, a lot of resilience within the team and most of all a lot of belief. Buttler conceded the England brain trust had misread the pitch and the conditions, retaining an extra seamer after seeing India beat Afghanistan at the same Arun Jaitley Stadium last week with a similar attack. "The conditions didn’t play quite as we thought they would ... The wicket didn’t play exactly how we thought it would play and the dew didn’t come in as much as we thought as well."

Persons: Arun Jaitley, Jos Buttler, Afghanistan's Naveen, Ul, Haq, Andrew Boyers, Buttler, We’ve, haven’t, Chris Woakes's, Woakes, Ian Ransom, Lincoln Organizations: Cricket, ICC Cricket, Haq REUTERS, New Zealand, England, South, Thomson Locations: England, Afghanistan, New Delhi, India, DELHI, Australia, South Africa, Melbourne

☆ French retailer Casino agrees initial deal to sell stake in Exito Group
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A logo of French retailerÊCasinoÊis pictured outside aÊCasinoÊsupermarket in Nantes, France, July 27, 2023. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Indebted French supermarket chain Casino (CASP.PA) said on Monday it had agreed an initial deal to sell its stake in Latin American retailer Almacenes Exito (IMI.CN) to Grupo Calleja. Casino's board on Friday approved a pre-agreement to sell its entire stake in Almacenes Exito to Grupo Calleja, a leading grocery retailer in El Salvador, it said. Casino is in the midst of a restructuring after years of debt-fuelled acquisitions had brought it to the verge of default. The price per share may be reduced by extraordinary dividend distributions, asset transfers or similar transactions made by Exito, Casino added in a statement.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, Almacenes, Exito, Sudip Kar, Olivier Sorgho, Jacqueline Wong, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Grupo Calleja, Casino, Thomson Locations: aÊCasinoÊsupermarket, Nantes, France, El Salvador, Almacenes

☆ Australia cancels repatriation flights from Israel due to 'highly challenging' situation
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Palestinians search for casualties under the rubble in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 14, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Australia has cancelled two planned flights to repatriate citizens from Israel and the Palestinian territories due to the "highly challenging" situation, the foreign affairs department said on Saturday. Repatriation flights scheduled for Saturday and Sunday will not depart as planned amid a "highly challenging and rapidly changing" situation, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said in a statement on social media. Australia continues to work with citizens in the area to help them return home and will communicate about future flights, DFAT added. The first in the planned series of repatriation flights left on Friday local time, with over 200 Australians and their families arriving safely in London, according to SBS News.

Persons: Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, DFAT, Lewis Jackson, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, SBS News, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Australia, Israel, London

☆ Mexico Energy Secretary Steps Down, to Seek Veracruz Governorship
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexico Energy Secretary Rocio Nahle has presented her resignation and will step down immediately, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday, as she prepares to enter the race for governor of Veracruz state. The refinery aims to help Mexico become energy self-sufficient but has not yet begun to market its products. The list also includes Eric Cisneros and Zenyazen Escobar, who resigned from their posts as Veracruz government secretary and education secretary, respectively. The current state governor is MORENA's Cuitlahuac Garcia. Nahle sent a message on social messaging platform X thanking Lopez Obrador.

Persons: Rocio Nahle, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Lopez Obrador, Nahle, Miguel Angel Yunes, MORENA, Sergio Gutierrez Luna, Claudia Tello, Manuel Huerta, Eric Cisneros, Zenyazen Escobar, MORENA's Cuitlahuac Garcia, Diego Ore, Aida Pelaez, Fernandez, Sarah Morland, Lincoln Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Mexico Energy, Dos Bocas, PAN Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, Mexican, Veracruz, of Mexico, Dos, Tabasco

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