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Speaking at an online briefing ahead of next week's U.S.-Japan Energy Security Dialogue, Pyatt also said the United States and its partners in the Group of 7 were committed to denying Russia any energy revenues. "It's very clear to me that Russia is never again going to be viewed as a reliable energy supplier," Pyatt told reporters. "In the case of our G7 partners in particular, we are also committed to work jointly to deny Russia future energy revenues, and target in particular investments and projects growing Russia's future energy revenue," he added. Russia has played down the impact of Western sanctions, saying they are used by the United States to eliminate Moscow as a competitor in global energy supplies. In September, the United States issued fresh sanctions related to Russia's Novatek-led (NVTK.MM) Arctic LNG 2 project in which two Japanese energy firms - Mitsui (8031.T) and JOGMEC - are shareholders.

Persons: Alexey Malgavko, Energy Resources Geoffrey Pyatt, Pyatt, Yuka Obayashi, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Energy Resources, Russia, Japan Energy Security, United, Mitsui, JOGMEC, Thomson Locations: Siberian, Omsk, Russia, Washington, Moscow, Ukraine, U.S, United States, Japan

A cartoon soldier is depicted on part of a warning sign on barbed wire on the Chinese side of the border between Russia, China and North Korea near the town of Hunchun, China, November 24, 2017. Any forced repatriation of North Koreans goes against international norms and South Korea viewed it as regrettable, Koo Byoung-sam, a spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry, told a media briefing. "It appears to be true that a large number of North Koreans in China's three northeast provinces have been repatriated to the North," Koo said. South Korea had been unable to determine the number of people involved and whether there were defectors among them. China has never recognised fleeing North Koreans as defectors and instead calls them "economic migrants".

Persons: Damir Sagolj, Koo Byoung, Koo, Tae Yong, Kim Hyuk, Kim Cheol, Jack Kim, Hyonhee Shin, Eduardo Baptista, Ed Davies, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Koreans, South Korea's Unification Ministry, Former North, Korean, Rights Watch, The North, Thomson Locations: Russia, China, North Korea, Hunchun, Rights SEOUL, South Korea, North, Korea, China's, Former North Korean, Korea's, Beijing, North Koreans, Koreans, The, The North Koreans, Korean, Jilin province

☆ JD.com shares hit record low, banks cut Q3 growth target on retail slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The logo of JD.com is seen at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China September 1, 2022. The brokerages and banks including Citi, Daiwa and Jefferies, which issued notes to clients on Thursday and Friday with the revised estimates. Shares in JD.com, which is also China's largest home appliance retailer, closed at their lowest level since their June 2020 debut. Citi Research lowered its revenue assumption for JD.com by 3.4% and 4.3% for the third and fourth quarter, saying that it now estimates 0.8% and 1.3% growth respectively. JD.com is China's leading online platform for sales of digital and electronics products, such as mobile phones and domestic electrical appliances.

Persons: Florence, JD.com, Nomura, Sophie Yu, Donny Kwok, Brenda Goh Organizations: Fair for Trade, Services, REUTERS, Rights, Citi, Daiwa, Jefferies, Citi Research, Alibaba, HK, PDD, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, HK, Hong Kong, United States, JD.com, BEIJING, HONG KONG

A general view of Chevron's Wheatstone LNG facility in Pilbara coast, Western Australia, as seen in this undated handout image obtained by Reuters on September 8, 2023. Chevron/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Negotiations over a stalled pay and conditions deal between Chevron and unions at its liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Australia made progress on Friday, but fell short of sealing an agreement to end months of labour disputes at the major export sites. Friday's talks are the second round being mediated by the FWC within the past month. The unions halted weeks of strikes in late September at the facilities that supply around 6% of the world's LNG after an earlier round of talks produced a deal. Weeks later, however, the unions accused Chevron of reneging on certain commitments and said they would resume strikes on Oct. 19.

Persons: Friday's, Weeks, Lewis Jackson, Susanna R, Alasdair Pal, Miral Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Wheatstone, Western Australia, Australia, Chevron, reneging, Europe, London

☆ China says sends fighter jets to warn US Navy plane in Taiwan Strait
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 12 (Reuters) - China said on Thursday it had sent fighter jets to monitor and warn a U.S. Navy patrol aircraft that flew through the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan and the United States dispute that, saying the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway. China's military described the flight as "public hype", adding it had sent fighters to monitor and warn the U.S. plane. China stages almost daily military activities of its own in the Taiwan Strait and seas and skies around Taiwan. The United States last announced a Poseidon mission through the strait in July.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Ben Blanchard, Kim Coghill, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Navy, Navy, Troops, Eastern Theatre Command, People's Liberation Army, U.S, United States, Beijing, Thomson Locations: China's, Taiwan, Fujian province, China, Rights BEIJING, Taiwan Strait, United States, U.S, Navy's, Taipei

Official data showed economic output expanded by 0.2% in August from July, matching the median forecast in a Reuters poll of economists. "The UK economy is holding up but remains in a precarious state," said David Bharier, head of research at the British Chambers of Commerce. The data showed Britain's huge services sector grew by a slightly stronger than expected 0.4% in August from July while manufacturing and construction shrank by 0.8% and 0.5%. Investors are putting a chance of less than one in four on the BoE resuming its rate hikes after its next scheduled meeting in November. Britain's economy stood 2.1% bigger than in February 2020, just before the coronavirus pandemic hit, the ONS said.

Persons: Matthew Childs, Sterling, Elizabeth's, BoE, David Bharier, William Schomberg, Andy Bruce, Kate Holton Organizations: REUTERS, Bank of England, Monetary Fund, Chambers of Commerce, European Union, ONS, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Miral

☆ 'Look what you made me do': Taylor Swift attends film premiere, moves up release
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" was set to open in theaters worldwide on Friday, but high interest prompted Swift to add earlier screenings in some markets. "Look what you genuinely made me do: Due to unprecedented demand we're opening up early access showings of The Eras Tour Concert Film on THURSDAY in America and Canada!!" [1/5]Taylor Swift attends a premiere for Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour in Los Angeles, California, U.S., October 11, 2023. Inside the theater, Swift thanked fans for supporting the Eras Tour, which has sold out stadiums around the world. "I've never had this much fun in my life as I had at the Eras Tour," she said.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Swift, showtimes, Mario Anzuoni, Adam Sandler, Mariska Hargitay, Barbie, Simu Liu, Beyonce, I've, Lisa Richwine, Miral Organizations: AMC Theatre, REUTERS, AMC Theatres, Thomson Locations: America, Canada, Los Angeles, Los Angeles , California, U.S, United States

☆ Apollo to take Wagamama owner Restaurant Group private for $623 mln
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Eva Mathews | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A sign of Wagamama restaurant is seen in London, Britain, October 5, 2020. Under the terms of the deal announced on Thursday, The Restaurant Group's (TRG) shareholders will get 65 pence in cash for each share held, a premium of about 34% to the stock's last closing price. Shares in the small cap constituent (.FTSC) jumped 37.1% to 66.5 pence, its highest percentage gain since April 2020. There has also been pressure from shareholders and activist investors Irenic Capital and Oasis Management in recent months to change management and improve profitability. Another analyst at Shore Capital said the offer price was "too low" given the company's efforts to improve margins and reduce leverage.

Persons: Hannah McKay, Ken Hanna, Benny's, Eva Mathews, Subhranshu Sahu, Elaine Hardcastle, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Apollo, Irenic Capital, Oasis Management, Cafe, Shore Capital, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, TRG, Cafe Rouge, Bengaluru

☆ Malaysia says TikTok fails to fully comply with local laws
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Printed TikTok logos are seen in this illustration taken February 15, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 (Reuters) - TikTok has not done enough to curb defamatory or misleading content in Malaysia, the communications minister said on Thursday, adding that the short video application had also failed to comply with several, unspecified local laws. In a social media message posted after meeting TikTok representatives, Minister Fahmi Fadzil said TikTok also had to address issues related to content distribution and advertising purchases following complaints. He said TikTok had assured him it would cooperate with the government and that its shortcomings were due to not having a representative in Malaysia at present. A spokesperson for TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the meeting or the minister's remarks.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Fahmi Fadzil, TikTok, Fahmi, Anwar Ibrahim's, Danial Azhar, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Malaysian, Facebook, Meta, Communications, Multimedia, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Vietnam

☆ UK transport group Mobico's shares hit record low on profit warning
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummaryCompanies Cuts annual profit forecastSuspends dividendsShares fall to record lowOct 12 (Reuters) - Mobico's (MCG.L) shares fell by a third to a record low on Thursday after the British transport company cut its annual profit forecast and suspended dividends, as high costs hit the group's efforts to improve profitability. The company, which changed its name from National Express to Mobico earlier this year, said it was planning to sell its North America school bus business in early 2024 to cut debt. The company was hit hard during the pandemic as lockdowns restricted travel and governments had to support transport operators. Mobico's school bus business in North America has faced high costs and labour shortages. "The profit warning just goes to show it takes more than a name change to prompt a recovery in a company's fortunes," Mould added.

Persons: Russ Mould, AJ Bell, Mobico, Mould, Radhika Anilkumar, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Miral Fahmy, Sharon Singleton, Jane Merriman Organizations: National Express, North America, U.S, Stagecoach, Thomson Locations: British, North America, Britain, Europe, North Africa, Bengaluru

Governor of New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks at a Democratic Party of New Mexico campaign rally featuring U.S. President Joe Biden at the Gallegos Community Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S., November 3, 2022. Amid fury from gun advocates and a ruling from Judge Urias, her original order was frozen, and a new, tailored-down version was made to restrict guns at just public parks and playgrounds in the area. Gun rights groups and some gunowners still filed lawsuits seeking to overturn that scaled-back version which they said would deprive Albuquerque-area residents of 2nd Amendment rights to carry guns in public. Last month, Albuquerque's mayor Tim Keller urged Lujan Grisham to call a special session of the state legislature on gun violence. But Lujan Grisham said she had no plan to call a special session as she believed her public health order, which includes measures on drugs and juvenile offenders, would at this time achieve more than new legislation.

Persons: New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham, Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Michelle Lujan Grisham, David Herrera Urias, Lujan Grisham, Judge Urias, Tim Keller, Rich McKay, Miral Organizations: Democratic Party of New, U.S, Gallegos Community Center, REUTERS, Companies United, Democratic, Thomson Locations: New Mexico, Democratic Party of New Mexico, Albuquerque , New Mexico, U.S, Companies United States, America, Albuquerque, Bernalillo, Atlanta

☆ Union at Kia Corp suspends strike action to resume talks with company
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Heekyong Yang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The union and Kia's management had been holding talks for three months over wage increases and an extension of the retirement age. Earlier, the union said it would limit working hours for six working days from Oct. 12 after negotiations stalled, in what would have been the first industrial action at Kia in three years. Kia declined to comment on the industrial action. Last month, the union at South Korea's second largest automaker with more than 26,600 members said 92.3% of its members had approved strike action unless the management accepts their demands. Because the deals with Hyundai Motor and affiliate Hyundai Mobis (012330.KS) were concluded without any industrial action, Kia's unions are likely to avoid any major industrial action, analysts said.

Persons: Kim Hong, Kia Corp's, Lee Jae, Heekyong Yang, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Kia Corp, REUTERS, Rights, Kia, Reuters, South, Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Mobis, Eugene Investment, Securities, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, KS, South Korea's

☆ Kia Corp's unionised workers to go on partial strike over wages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Heekyong Yang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Kia Corp is seen on its electric vehicle EV6 during a photo opportunity in Seoul, South Korea, June 1, 2021. Last month, the union at South Korea's No.2 automaker with more than 26,600 members said 92.3% of its members had approved strike action unless the management accept the demands. The union said it would work regular hours on days when they are holding talks with the management. Kia declined to comment on the strike. Shares in Kia Corp were trading up 0.7%, versus the benchmark KOSPI's (.KS11) 2.1% rise as of 0217 GMT.

Persons: Kim Hong, Kia Corp's, Kia, Lee Jae, Heekyong Yang, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Kia Corp, REUTERS, Rights, Kia, South, Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Mobis, Eugene Investment, Securities, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, KS

☆ Another quake strikes western Afghanistan; official says more homes destroyed
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Mohammad Yunus Yawar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] A general view of the quake-hit area in the district of Zinda Jan, in Herat, Afghanistan October 10, 2023. There were no details on casualties so far, disaster management spokesman Janan Sayeeq told Reuters, but provincial officials said hundreds of homes had been destroyed. Hemmed in by mountains, Afghanistan has a history of strong earthquakes, many in the rugged Hindu Kush region bordering Pakistan. Herat province borders Iran, which said it would send humanitarian aid. The United Nation's humanitarian office has also announced $5 million worth of assistance.

Persons: Zinda Jan, Ali Khara, Janan Sayeeq, Noor Ahmad Shahab, Shahab, Mohammad Yunus Yawar, Mrinmay Dey, Gibran Peshimam, Jacqueline Wong, Simon Cameron, Moore, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Mobile, World Health Organisation, German Research Center, Geosciences, United, Thomson Locations: Zinda, Herat, Afghanistan, Rights KABUL, Pakistan, Iran, Rubat, Turkey, China, Kabul, Bengaluru

☆ China to host Belt and Road forum in Beijing Oct 17-18
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A woman walks in front of a sign at the "Belt and Road" summit in Hong Kong, China September 14, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBeijing, Oct 11 (Reuters) - China will host its third Belt and Road Forum next week, its foreign ministry said on Wednesday, a President Xi Jinping signature event that President Vladimir Putin is due to attend on a rare trip abroad. The conference in Beijing on Oct. 17-18 marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) championed by Xi, with representatives from many developing countries, notably from Latin America and Africa, expected to attend. But critics see the plan - billed as recreating the ancient Silk Road to boost global trade - as a tool for China to spread its geopolitical and economic influence. China had signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with more than 150 countries and more than 30 international organizations, the foreign ministry said.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Xi, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Liz Lee, Bernard Orr, Ethan Wang, Lidia Kelly, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Initiative, Kremlin, Court, ICC, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, Rights Beijing, Beijing, America, Africa, Hague, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Asia, Europe, Russian, Italy, Melbourne

☆ China's car sales quicken in Sept; exports rise 50%
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Passenger vehicle sales totalled 2.04 million units in Sept, the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) said on Wednesday. Reuters GraphicsNew energy vehicle (NEV) sales were up 22.1% in September from a year earlier, making up 36.6% of total car sales, and helping several local brands set record high sales. Reuters GraphicsSeptember is traditionally a bumper month for car sales in China, partly because many people go on a shopping spree ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays. CPCA Secretary General Cui Dongshu said the downturn in the property market bode well for car sales, as many people were now choosing to buy cars instead of investing in housing. For the first nine months, sales in the world's largest car market rose 2.1% to 15.41 million units.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, General Cui Dongshu, bode, Tesla, Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Miral Organizations: Business, REUTERS, Rights, China Passenger Car Association, Reuters Graphics, Reuters, CPCA, Overseas, EU, Exports, EV, Li, HK, Thomson Locations: China, Rights BEIJING, U.S

[1/3] Noopar Pansa-ard, 63, prays for her son, Somkuan Pansa-ard, 39, a Thai labour who was killed in Israel in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at a temple in Kalasin province, Thailand, October 11, 2023. "I told him - don't talk like that ... My heart will shatter if you don't return," Noopar said. A day later, her son Somkuan Pansa-ard, 39, was killed during an attack by Hamas militants on Israel, where he had gone to work in a fruit plantation to send money back to help his family repay a loan. It was not clear where in Israel Somkuan had been killed. So far, 20 Thai nationals have been killed and 14 taken hostage in the conflict, the Thai foreign ministry says.

Persons: Somkuan, Thomas Suen, Noopar Pansa, Noopar, Somkuan Pansa, Israel Somkuan, Khraboan Pansa, Khraboan, Chayut Setboonsarng, Miral Organizations: ard, Hamas, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Thai, Israel, Palestinian, Kalasin province, Thailand, Somkuan's

☆ Australian journalist Cheng Lei back home after China release
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/6] Australian journalist Cheng Lei poses for a selfie at an unknown location in this undated picture obtained by Reuters on August 11, 2023. Nicholas Coyle/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who had been detained in China on national security charges for more than three years, returned home on Wednesday after being released, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. Cheng, who was tried in secret in March 2022, arrived in Melbourne and has been reunited with her two children and family, Albanese told a press conference. Albanese said he expected to visit China this year and told reporters dialogue with China was "a good thing". Albanese said Australia "continued to advocate" for another detained Australian journalist, Yang Hengjun, who has been held since January 2019.

Persons: Cheng Lei, Nicholas Coyle, Handout, Anthony Albanese, Cheng, Albanese, Penny Wong, I've, Xi Jinping, Ryan Neelam, " Albanese, Yang Hengjun, Yang, Adam Ni, Kirsty Needham, Laurie Chen, Alasdair Pal, Clarence Fernandez, Miral Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, Australia's, Lowy Institute, Independent, Thomson Locations: Australian, China, Melbourne, Australia, Beijing, Independent China, Canberra, Sydney

☆ California regulator proposes $45 mln penalty for PG&E over 2021 Dixie fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A firefighter continues to hold the line of the Dixie Fire near Taylorsville, California, U.S., August 10, 2021. REUTERS/David Swanson/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 10 (Reuters) - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on Monday proposed a $45 million shareholder-funded penalty against Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for its connections to the destructive 2021 Dixie wildfire. The proposed penalty, pending CPUC Commissioner's approval, consists of a $2.5 million fine to the California General Fund, $2.5 million payment to tribes impacted by the fire for remediation, and $40 million for capital expenditures to transition records to electronic format. CPUC enforcement staff is recommending this penalty under an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) and Agreement, as per a release on the state regulator's website. Reporting by Anjana Anil and Swati Verma in Bengaluru; editing by Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David Swanson, Anjana Anil, Swati Verma, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, California Public Utilities Commission, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, California General Fund, Thomson Locations: Taylorsville , California, U.S, California, Bengaluru

☆ Japan to chair G7 finance ministers meeting at IMF conference on Oct 12
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Tetsushi Kajimoto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki speaks during the presidency press conference at the G7 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors, at Toki Messe in Niigata, Japan, Saturday, May 13, 2023. Shuji Kajiyama/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Japan will chair a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Seven (G7) advanced nations on Oct. 12 to discuss the war in Ukraine and the world economy, Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said on Tuesday. The G7 meeting will be part of a broader Group of 20 gathering, Suzuki told reporters that will be held on the sidelines of the annual International Monetary Fund conference in the Moroccan city of Marrakech. The G7 meeting will also include roundtable talks with African nations to facilitate flows of private-sector funds to the continent, Suzuki said. Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Shunichi Suzuki, Shuji, Suzuki, Kazuo Ueda, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Toki, Rights, Finance, International Monetary Fund, Marrakech . Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: Niigata, Japan, Ukraine, Moroccan, Marrakech

"The operation is almost done," spokesman for the Disaster Management Ministry Janan Sayeeq told Reuters, adding that rescue efforts were still going on in some villages. Hemmed in by mountains, Afghanistan has a history of strong earthquakes, many in the rugged Hindu Kush region bordering Pakistan. [1/2]People search for survivors amid the debris of a house that was destroyed by an earthquake in the district of Zinda Jan, in Herat, Afghanistan October 9, 2023. In the village, funeral prayers were held for the dead before they were buried, wrapped in blankets, in freshly dug graves. In addition to medical and food aid, survivors are in dire need of shelter as temperatures drop, the head of the World Health Organization's emergency response said.

Persons: Disaster Management Ministry Janan Sayeeq, Sayeeq, Zinda Jan, Ali Khara, Siah, , Taj Mohammad, Abdul Sattar, Mohammad Yunus Yawar, Syed Hassib, Gibran Peshimam, Miral Organizations: World Health Organisation, Disaster Management Ministry, Reuters, REUTERS, Siah Aab, Health, Thomson Locations: HERAT, Afghanistan, Afghanistan's, Herat, Pakistan, Turkey, Syria, Zinda, , Siah

☆ Oil prices jump as Middle East turmoil roils markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Natalie Grover | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Oil rigs are seen at Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas drilling, in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, Argentina January 21, 2019. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Oil prices surged more than 3% on Monday as military clashes between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas ignited fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East. While the underlying supply-demand balance is unaffected, said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM, "any rise in tension in the Middle East usually leads to an increase in oil prices and it is no different this time around". "If the conflict envelopes Iran... up to 3% of global oil supply is at risk. And if a wider conflict eventuates that ends up impacting transit through the Strait of Hormuz, around 20% of global oil supply could be held hostage," energy analyst Saul Kavonic told Reuters.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, Brent, WTI, Tamas Varga, Saul Kavonic, Natalie Grover, Andrew Hayley, Emily Chow, Miral Fahmy, Jason Neely Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, West Texas, Saturday, Israel, White, Citi, Reuters, International Energy Agency, Thomson Locations: Vaca, Patagonian, Neuquen, Argentina, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Saudi Arabia, Washington, Riyadh, Saudi, Moscow, Iran, Hormuz, London, Beijing, Singapore

☆ Citigroup to sell China consumer wealth business to HSBC
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 9 (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc (C.N) said on Monday it had agreed to sell its China consumer wealth portfolio, including clients, assets under management (AUM) and deposits, to Asia-focused HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA.L). Citi first announced its plan to exit China consumer banking in April 2021 as part of a global strategy revamp. The consumer banking business mainly served rich clients with deposit, fund and structured product offerings. Reuters first reported late last month that HSBC was set to acquire Citi's China consumer wealth business, in a major boost to the London-based bank's business in the world's second-largest economy. Apart from the China consumer banking deal, Citi plans to complete the sale of its Indonesia consumer business later this year, the bank statement said.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Aishwarya Nair, Xie Yu, Sumeet Chatterjee, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, Jamie Freed, Miral Organizations: Citibank, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Citigroup Inc, HSBC Holdings Plc, Citi, Reuters, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, China, Asia, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Europe, East, Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Russia, Bengaluru

☆ Huawei-backed Aito says gets 50,000 orders for M7 car since relaunch
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SHENZHEN, China, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Huawei-backed electric vehicle (EV) brand Aito has received more than 50,000 orders for its revamped M7 model within the first 25 days since it went on sale, the company said. The orders, which required a non-refundable deposit, would put Aito among China's five top-selling new energy vehicle manufacturers, based on sales data for August. The Aito brand, which Huawei makes in partnership with Seres Group (601127.SS), launched the M7 in July last year. As of June, Aito had shipped just 27,405 of the original M7, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Huawei's intelligent automotive solution business brought in one billion yuan revenue in the first half of this year, a tiny fraction of the 310.9 billion yuan ($42.63 billion) its total business earned over that period, the company said in August.

Persons: Richard Yu, Huawei's, Aito, Yu, David Kirton, Brenda Goh, Zoey Zhang, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Huawei, Huawei's Smart, Weibo, Seres, China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Chery, Thomson Locations: SHENZHEN, China, Shenzhen, Shanghai

HERAT, Afghanistan, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Rescue workers on Monday scrambled to pull out survivors, and the dead, from beneath the rubble two days after the northwestern city of Herat and its surroundings were struck by the deadliest earthquakes to rattle Afghanistan in years. Neighbours Pakistan and Iran have offered to send rescue workers and humanitarian aid, while China's Red Cross Society offered cash relief aid. Hemmed in by mountains, Afghanistan has a history of strong earthquakes, many in the rugged Hindu Kush region bordering Pakistan. Pakistan said its disaster management authority had put a search and rescue team on standby to assist in the disaster hit area. Iran, whose border is less than 90 kilometres (56 miles) from the site of the worst hit area, also pledged humanitarian aid, the Taliban administration said.

Persons: Nissar Ahmad Elyias, Mir Ahmed, Mohammad Yunus Yawar, Syed Hassib, Emma Farge, Gibran Peshimam, Miral Organizations: Neighbours, Cross Society, Reuters, Diplomats, Thomson Locations: HERAT, Afghanistan, Herat, Turkey, Syria, Neighbours Pakistan, Iran, Pakistan, Zindajan, Kabul, Geneva

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