oann--2020-09-02--Japan’s Suga says to run for ruling party leadership race, wants to avoid vacuum

TOKYO ( Reuters ) – Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Wednesday said he would run for leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party ( LDP ) , formally entering a race he is already heavily favored to win to become the next prime minister .
A longtime aide to outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe , Suga said he decided to stand for party leader to avoid a political vacuum during the coronavirus pandemic .
Abe announced his decision to resign last week , citing poor health .
The LDP ’ s majority in the lower house of parliament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will succeed him as prime minister .
Although he had remained silent about his plans up until Wednesday ’ s announcement , Suga appeared to have clinched the race earlier this week .
when media reported that some of party ’ s most powerful factions would back him , and after the LDP opted to have a slimmed-down leadership race .
By choosing not to poll all of its members for the race , the LDP has concentrated the vote in the hands of party heavyweights , who favor Suga over rival Shigeru @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular with the public and grassroots party members .
“ In this time of national crisis , we can not permit a political vacuum , ” Suga told a briefing .
“ I decided to run after giving very deep thought to what I can do , as a politician and as a member of Abe ’ s administration , to bring back as soon as possible the day when people can live without fear.
” He said that as leader he would continue Abe ’ s aggressive fiscal and monetary stimulus policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Suga ’ s rise from a city councilor in Yokohama is notable in a country where top political office is often the preserve of powerful families .
Abe , for instance , is the grandson of a premier and the son of a foreign minister .
In his briefing , where he appeared tense and read from prepared remarks , Suga highlighted his humble beginnings on a farm in the snowy northwestern prefecture of Akita , and said he understood both urban and rural voters .
His main competitors in the Sept. 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense minister , and ex-foreign minister Fumio Kishida .
The slimmed-down election will include members of parliament and three votes from each of the 47 prefectures – an advantage for Suga that excludes the rank-and-file .
Many party chapters will poll rank-and-file members to decide how to allocate their three votes , but experts say this is unlikely to dent Suga ’ s momentum .
Financial markets also favor Suga , assuming he will continue with the reflationary “ Abenomics ” strategy aimed at reviving the economy .
He has repeatedly talked about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help revitalize regional economies , sending a clear message that re-opening the economy would trump a return to a stricter pandemic response .
Nevertheless , Ishiba remains more popular with voters .
“ During Abenomics , stocks rose , the yen was weak and brought unprecedented profits for companies – that ’ s something to be grateful for , ” Ishiba said on Fuji TV on Wednesday when asked how he would improve the lives of low-income workers and the unemployed .
“ But what do we do with the dark side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most important question in the post-Abe era , ” he said .
Apart from inheriting an economy in the throes of its worst downturn since World War Two , Abe ’ s successor will have to try to ensure that next year ’ s Olympics – already delayed for a year by the pandemic – go ahead as planned .
In recent months , Abe had seen his support fall to one of the lowest levels since taking power in December 2012 because of growing discontent among voters over his handling of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Suga ’ s other rival , Kishida , told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday that Japan would need to keep taking bold fiscal steps for the next few years to combat the pandemic-related economic damage , but that it must not fall behind when other countries start to normalize monetary and fiscal policies .


oann--2020-09-04--More than 40 crew missing after cattle ship capsizes in storm off Japan

TOKYO/WELLINGTON ( Reuters ) – More than 40 crew members were missing after a ship carrying cattle from New Zealand to China capsized in stormy weather in the East China Sea , the Japanese coastguard said on Thursday .
A lone crew member from the Gulf Livestock 1 had been rescued so far .
Three vessels , four airplanes and two divers were taking part in the search , the coastguard said .
The ship , with a cargo of nearly 6,000 cattle , sent a distress call from the west of Amami Oshima island in southwestern Japan on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong winds and heavy seas .
Sareno Edvarodo , a 45-year-old chief officer from the Philippines , was rescued on Wednesday night , Japan ’ s coastguard said .
By Thursday evening , he was still the only person rescued so far , a coastguard official said , adding the bodies of some cattle had been recovered .
The crew of 43 was made up of 39 people from the Philippines , two from New Zealand , and two from Australia , the coastguard said .
According to Edvarodo , the ship lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a wave and capsized , a coastguard spokeswoman said .
When the ship capsized , crew were instructed to put on lifejackets .
Edvarodo told the coastguard he jumped into the water and did not see any other crew members before he was rescued .
Pictures provided by the coastguard showed a person in a lifejacket being hauled from choppy seas in darkness .
The Philippines government said it was coordinating with the Japanese coastguard in the search .
Typhoon Maysak made landfall in South Korea on Thursday , bringing lashing winds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the southern city of Busan .
Another storm , Typhoon Haishen , was brewing south of Japan and is expected to hit the Korean coast on Sunday or Monday .
The Gulf Livestock 1 departed Napier in New Zealand on Aug. 14 with a cargo of 5,867 cattle bound for the Port of Jingtang in Tangshan , China .
The journey was expected to take about 17 days , New Zealand foreign ministry officials told Reuters .
The 139-metre ( 450-foot ) , Panamanian-flagged vessel was built in 2002 .
UAE-based Gulf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 was their vessel .
“ Our hearts go out to those onboard and their families at this time , ” a Gulf Navigation spokesman said .
“ We also express deep regret for the sad loss of the livestock on board .
We are monitoring the situation closely and working closely with those involved in rescue efforts .
We pray that there are other survivors.
” The young cows were exported by Australia-headquartered Australasian Global Exports , which specialises in live animal exports and owns quarantine facilities in China .
The cows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said a manager at AGE ’ s subsidiary Beijing Muhuayuan International Trade Co Ltd. New Zealand animal rights organisation SAFE said the disaster showed the risks of the live animal export trade .
“ These cows should never have been at sea , ” said campaigns manager Marianne Macdonald .
“ This is a real crisis , and our thoughts are with the families of the 43 crew who are missing with the ship .
But questions remain , including why this trade is allowed to continue.
” China has imported more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so far this year , according to data from China ’ s customs , mostly to stock the country ’ s expanding dairy farms .
Last year , New Zealand launched a review of its live export trade , worth around NZ $ 54 million ( $ 37 million ) in 2019 , after thousands of animals being exported from New Zealand and Australia died in transit .
New Zealand ’ s Ministry for Primary Industries ( MPI ) said it had temporarily suspended live cattle export applications after the Gulf Livestock 1 @ @ @

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oann--2020-09-04--Asian stocks set to fall as Wall Street’s tech rally stumbles

SINGAPORE/NEW YORK ( Reuters ) – Asia ’ s stock markets slipped on Friday , following the steepest Wall Street selloff since June , while safer bonds and the dollar found support as investors sought shelter .
MSCI ’ s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.6 % .
Japan ’ s Nikkei dropped 1.3 % while markets in Sydney and Seoul fell 2 % .
The moves are more muted than the 5 % plunge on the tech-heavy Nasdaq overnight , or the S & P 500 ’ s 3.5 % drop , which traders said was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investors are worried the fall might turn into a deeper rout , with a crucial U.S. payrolls report due later on Friday seen as possible selling trigger if it disappoints .
After-hours trade in U.S. tech companies pointed to further pressure and futures dropped , with S & P 500 futures down 0.4 % early in Asia and Nasdaq 100 futures down 1.2 % .
“ No single factor sparked the sell-off , rather it seemed to be an accumulation of worries about the rally in the tech sector , overcrowding and rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Global Market Strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management .
“ However , his is unlikely to be a repeat of the tech wreck of the late 1990s , given how much the market and sector have changed , ” he added .
The tumble was the biggest one-day percentage drop on the tech-focused Nasdaq 100 since March , while the broader Nasdaq , S & P 500 and Dow Jones indexes fell by their most since June and the darling stocks of recent months were hit hardest .
[ .N ] Still , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s level back as far as where it sat last Tuesday .
It is still up 28 % for the year so far and 73 % higher than its March trough .
“ Now the question is whether the correction has legs or whether investors are tempted back in , ” said Rodrigo Catril of National Australia Bank in Sydney .
More muted selling in Asia also focused on tech names with the sector leading losers on the Nikkei and chip makers falling in Korea .
SK Hynix dropped 2 % and Samsung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modest moves in the currency market , with the dollar extending its recent bounce a little to put it on track for its best week since June .
[ FRX/ ] The risk-sensitive Australian dollar fell 0.1 % to a one-week low of $ 0.7251 , while the New Zealand dollar also slipped and the safe-haven yen steadied .
The yen last stood at 106.21 per dollar .
The euro has steadied after several days of selling and held at $ 1.1850 .
Bonds held gains with the yield on benchmark 10-year U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 2-1/2 month peak of 0.7890 % touched in late August .
[ US/ ] Oil was under pressure and tracked back toward overnight lows amid worries about U.S. demand .
Brent crude futures dipped 0.5 % to $ 43.83 a barrel while U.S. crude futures fell 0.7 % to $ 41.09 a barrel .


oann--2020-09-04--Explainer: Proposed changes to Indonesia central bank law spark fears independence at risk

JAKARTA ( Reuters ) – Indonesia ’ s parliament will consider recommendations to overhaul how the central bank operates , raising market fears that Bank Indonesia ( BI ) will lose independence and its policymaking could be at risk from political interference .
WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED ?
A panel of internal experts issued recommendations this week to revise the 1999 central bank act to parliament ’ s legislation committee , known as Baleg .
Recommendations include expanding Bank Indonesia ’ s ( BI ) mandate to cover economic growth and employment , on top of managing the value of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommended that cabinet ministers be given voting rights at monthly monetary policy reviews .
It also suggested the formation of a Monetary Council to supervise BI .
The finance minister and a minister in the economics sector would have seats on the supervisory council .
A similar arrangement was in place before the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s .
BI could also be permitted to purchase government bonds in the primary market and zero-interest bonds under certain conditions or provide temporary financing for the government .
The central bank has only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in response to the pandemic .
Currently , BI has a six-member board of governors , who are recommended by the president and elected by parliament .
They can come from any background , but five existing members are career central bankers and one has a long career as an economist .
WHY ARE LAWMAKERS CONSIDERING CHANGES ?
Talks about revising the 1999 law have gained traction amid tough negotiations between the government and BI on a $ 40 billion financing deal for a COVID-19 package .
Achmad Baidowi , deputy chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and parliament members decided in July to make revising the law a priority for this year .
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT ?
Baleg will now form a bill to go before parliament that should be completed in the current sitting period that ends Oct. 9 and , if approved , will be proposed to the government , Baidowi said .
The final bill may not include all of the panel ’ s recommendations , he said .
Jakarta-based lawyer Arisakti Prihatwono said the government could decide to reject the bill , but otherwise it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on legislation , though priority bills can be accelerated .
HOW HAS THE GOVERNMENT RESPONDED ?
Meanwhile , Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said on Friday the government has not yet discussed the bill but reiterated Widodo ’ s pledge to ensure a “ credible , effective and independent ” monetary policy .
“ The financial system has to have good governance , clear task and responsibility separation , and an adequate check-and-balance mechanism , ” she said in an online press conference .
However , senior government and central bank sources told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s role to support economic growth .
WHAT DO FOREIGN INVESTORS THINK ?
Analysts are worried in case BI ’ s independence is threatened or it has too much room to print money .
“ The inclusion of additional and more varied panelists ( on the monetary policy committee ) is not unusual and could lend itself to rigorous and consensus-based policy decisions and add a layer of oversight , ” said Moody ’ s Investors Service Senior Analyst Anushka Shah .
Shah , however , warned that if the government ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dominant it would put BI at risk of political interference or delay an exit from pandemic-led debt monetisation .
But some economists also perceive BI has had a too limited role in supporting the economy during the pandemic .


oann--2020-09-04--U.N. experts decry Hong Kong security law in open letter to China

GENEVA ( Reuters ) – U.N. human rights experts have told China a new security law for Hong Kong “ infringes on certain fundamental rights ” and voiced concerns that it could be used to prosecute political activists in the former British colony .
In a rare joint letter made public on Friday , 48 hours after it was sent to the Chinese government , they also said provisions of the new law appear to undermine the independence of Hong Kong ’ s judges and lawyers , and the right to freedom of expression .
“ This is the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Fionnuala Ni Aolain , U.N. special rapporteur on protecting human rights while countering terrorism , told Reuters .
“ It ’ s the first assessment and legal analysis of whether or not China is in compliance with international human rights obligations .
And it ’ s not , in ( our ) view , ” she said .
Chinese authorities have acknowledged receipt of the letter , she added .
The “ open letter ” examined the national security law imposed in Hong Kong on June 30 , which had already drawn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law allows for anything China views as subversive or secessionist or as terrorism or collusion with foreign forces to be punished with up to life in prison .
Authorities in Beijing and the financial centre have said the law is necessary to ensure Hong Kong ’ s stability and prosperity .
Critics say the legislation further erodes the wide-ranging freedoms promised to Hong Kong on its return to Chinese rule in 1997 under a “ one country , two systems ” agreement .
At that time , China agreed to uphold the International @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hong Kong – a landmark treaty that it has signed but has not ratified for the mainland .
“ There is an explicit set of higher obligations incumbent on China in Hong Kong in relation to rights like expression , assembly , fair trials that it doesn ’ t have for obvious reasons in mainland China , but it does for Hong Kong , ” Ni Aolain said .
“ It ’ s no longer theoretical , ” she said .
The 14-page letter , signed by seven U.N. experts , did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made under the new law .
The seven instead voiced concern that the legislation “ lacks precision in key respects , ( and ) infringes on certain fundamental rights ” .
The law “ should not be used to restrict or limit protected fundamental freedoms , including the rights to opinion , expression , and of peaceful assembly , ” they said .
The group also expressed concern that “ many legitimate activities ” of human rights defenders in Hong Kong would be redefined as illegal under the broad definitions .
“ A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they take would put them into the category of being subversive , ” Ni Aolain said .


oann--2020-09-05--‘No signs of life’ in Beirut rubble after three-day search for blast survivors

BEIRUT ( Reuters ) – Rescue workers digging through the rubble of a Beirut building for the third day on Saturday said there was no longer hope of finding someone alive more than a month after a massive port explosion shattered Lebanon ’ s capital .
About 50 rescue workers and volunteers , including a specialist team from Chile , had worked for three days to locate anyone after sensors on Thursday detected signs of breathing and heat .
“ Technically speaking , there are no signs of life , ” Francisco Lermanda , the head of volunteer rescue group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference on Saturday evening , adding that rescuers had combed 95 % of the building .
The signs of life detected in the past two days , Lermanda said , were breaths of fellow rescuers already inside the building picked up by their sensitive equipment .
He said efforts would now focus on clearing the rubble and finding remains .
“ We never stop with even one percent of hope , ” Lermanda said , of finding a body .
“ We never stop until the job is done.
” The Aug. 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6,000 more , and devastated whole neighborhoods .
The authorities held ceremonies on Friday to mark a month since the explosion tore into a city already reeling from a crippling economic crisis .
Rescue efforts dominated local and social media , as the Lebanese were transfixed , desperate for a miracle .
None came .
The ruined building where the search was continuing lies between the residential districts of Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael , among the hardest hit areas by the blast and home to many old buildings that crumbled as the shockwave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rescue workers said earlier in the day , as the badly damaged building was at risk of complete collapse .
“ The building is really crumbling , it ’ s scary and there ’ s a lot of danger to the team , ” said George Abou Moussa , head of Lebanon ’ s civil defense .
Workers used shovels and their hands to dig , while mechanical diggers and a crane lifted heavy debris .
Scanning equipment was also used to create 3D images of the wrecked building .


oann--2020-09-06--Australia’s COVID-19 epicenter extends hard lockdown till late September

MELBOURNE ( Reuters ) – Australia ’ s coronavirus hot spot state of Victoria on Sunday extended a hard lockdown in its capital Melbourne until Sept. 28 , as the infection rate has declined more slowly than hoped .
“ We can not open up at this time .
If we were to we would lose control very quickly , ” State Premier Daniel Andrews told a televised media conference on Sunday .
The hard lockdown was ordered on Aug. 2 in response to a second wave of infections , that erupted in Melbourne .
Australia ’ s second most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a second wave of the novel coronavirus , now accounting for about 75 % of the country ’ s 26,282 cases and 90 % of its 753 deaths .
Victoria on Sunday reported 63 new COVID-19 infections and five deaths , down from a peak of 725 new cases on Aug. 5 .
By contrast , Australia ’ s most populous state , New South Wales , has had no more than 13 cases a day since early August .
Melbourne ’ s stage 4 restrictions , which had been due to end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy , limited people ’ s movements to a tight zone around their homes for one hour a day and imposed a night time curfew .
From Sept. 14 , the rules won ’ t be quite as tough , as the curfew will begin an hour later at 9 p.m , and people can go outdoors for two hours instead of one , while those living alone will be allowed to have a visitor .
If the infection rate subsides as hoped by the end of September , Andrews said restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two months , though some businesses would have to remain shut through late November .
Andrews said modelling showed cases would continue to average around 60 a day by next weekend , and if the state opened up too quickly it would be on track for a third wave by mid-November .
“ You ’ ve got to defeat the second wave and do it properly .
Otherwise you just begin a third wave .
A third wave will mean we can ’ t do the economic repair that people desperately want us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The federal government has blamed the lockdown in Victoria for dragging Australia deeper into its first recession in nearly 30 years , while other states have largely reopened their economies .
“ Today ’ s announcement from the Victorian government to extend lockdown arrangements will be hard and crushing news for the people of Victoria and a further reminder of the impact and costs that result from not being able to contain outbreaks of COVID-19 , ” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a statement .
The pandemic has resulted in the loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including 250,000 under the stage 4 restrictions .
Business groups were disappointed with the slow reopening outlined by Andrews .
“ We can ’ t continue to let business and jobs be decimated on the way to controlling the spread of the virus , ” Victoria Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Paul Guerra told reporters .
After Sept. 28 , if daily infection rates have dropped to between 30 and 50 for 14 days , child care , construction sites , manufacturing plants , and warehouses , will go back to normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their jobs .
Schools will also partially reopen and outdoor gatherings of up to five people would be allowed .
After Oct. 26 , if daily cases have dropped below five , cafes and restaurants could reopen , mostly for outdoor service , and shops and hairdressers would reopen .
At the same time , the curfew would be lifted , with no limits on leaving home , outdoor gatherings could increase to 10 and homes would be able to have five visitors .
After Nov. 23 , cafes , bars and restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could reopen more fully , museums and other entertainment venues could reopen , and larger gatherings would be allowed .
Restrictions in regional Victoria will ease from Sept. 14 .


oann--2020-09-09--Stocks end lower as tech swoon persists, Tesla in historic drop

NEW YORK ( Reuters ) – U.S. stocks closed lower for a third straight session on Tuesday as heavyweight technology names extended their sell-off to send the Nasdaq into correction territory , while Tesla suffered its biggest daily percentage drop after the stock was passed over for inclusion in the S & P 500 .
Each of the 11 major S & P sectors were lower , led by declines in technology and energy .
Reports on Friday that SoftBank made significant option purchases during the run-up in U.S. stocks added to investor nervousness .
Technology once again dragged indexes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the third straight decline and worst three-day performance for the sector since mid-March .
Even with the recent drop , the sector remains the best performer on the year .
“ Things got expensive , they ran up , they got very concentrated and people got really giddy , ” said Willie Delwiche , investment strategist at Baird in Milwaukee .
“ Everyone is all loaded up on one side , it doesn ’ t take much of a ripple to knock some apples off the cart.
” The Dow Jones Industrial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % , to 27,500.89 , the S & P 500 lost 95.12 points , or 2.78 % , to 3,331.84 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 465.44 points , or 4.11 % , to 10,847.69 .
Media reports of SoftBank ’ s option purchases also reminded investors that market makers might have billions of dollars ’ worth of long positions as hedges against options trades .
Wall Street ’ s rally , which has been fueled in large part by massive amounts of monetary and fiscal stimulus , screeched to a halt last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9.9 % from its intraday record as investors booked profits after a run that lifted the index about 70 % from its pandemic lows .
Tuesday ’ s losses put the index down 10 % from its closing record , confirming a correction began on Sept. 2 .
At session lows on Tuesday , Facebook , Amazon.com , Apple , Tesla , Microsoft , Alphabet and Netflix had collectively lost more than $ 1 trillion in market capitalization since Sept. 2 .
Tesla plunged 21.06 % to suffer its biggest daily percentage drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a group of companies being added to the S & P 500 .
Investors had widely expected its inclusion after a blockbuster quarterly earnings report in July .
Up to Friday ’ s close , the stock had surged about 400 % this year .
JPMorgan Chase & Co fell 3.48 % , after a report it was probing employees who were allegedly involved in the misuse of funds intended for COVID-19 relief .
The wider banks index lost 3.44 % , also tracking Treasury yields .
A gauge of value stocks fell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market and a 3.38 % , decline in the growth index .
Wall Street ’ s fear gauge climbed for the third time in four sessions .
Concerns over potential U.S. sanctions against China ’ s biggest chipmaker , SMIC , hit domestic suppliers , with the PHLX semiconductor index down 3.43 % .
General Motors Co jumped 7.93 % after it acquired an 11 % stake worth $ 2 billion in U.S. electric-truck maker Nikola Corp .
The truck maker ’ s shares surged 40.79 % .
Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; on Nasdaq , a 2.22-to-1 ratio favored decliners .
The S & P 500 posted no new 52-week highs and 2 new lows ; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 31 new highs and 49 new lows .
Volume on U.S. exchanges was 10.48 billion shares , compared with the 9.32 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days .


oann--2020-09-12--Oil producers evacuate U.S. Gulf of Mexico platforms as storm brews

HOUSTON ( Reuters ) – U.S. Gulf of Mexico oil producers on Saturday evacuated offshore facilities as a tropical storm brewing off the Florida coast was forecast to strengthen into a hurricane and threaten the prime oil region .
Chevron Corp and Murphy Oil Corp on Saturday started removing workers from offshore oil and gas platforms .
Royal Dutch Shell , BHP , BP and Hess Corp said they were monitoring the storm and prepared to take action if needed .
Tropical storm Sally crossed the tip of Florida overnight and moved into the eastern Gulf of Mexico .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls for its maximum sustained winds to reach 80 miles per hour ( 129 kph ) ahead of landfall next week .
https : //www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT4+shtml/121459.shtml Chevron has begun evacuating all staff from its Blind Faith and Petronius platforms and initiated shut-in procedures , a spokeswoman said , while production at its other offshore platforms was unaffected .
Murphy Oil was preparing to evacuate non-essential personnel from its most easterly facilities and monitoring the storm for potential impact on other properties , a spokeswoman said .
U.S. Gulf of Mexico offshore oil production accounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil production and 5 % of total U.S. natural gas production .
As much as 1.5 million barrels per day of oil output was shut last month as Hurricane Laura tore through the Gulf of Mexico .
Sally was forecast to strengthen in the next several days and head for an area between southeastern Louisiana and Alabama .
If Sally becomes a hurricane , it would be the second to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast in less than a month .
Hurricane Laura struck Louisiana with devastating , 150 mph winds , leveling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of commission for weeks .


oann--2020-09-15--Oil rises but bleaker demand outlook weighs

LONDON ( Reuters ) – Oil prices rose on Tuesday , but forecasts of a slower than expected recovery in global fuel demand due to the coronavirus pandemic weighed .
Brent crude < LCOc1 > was up 44 cents , or 1.1 % , at $ 40.05 a barrel by 1209 GMT , while U.S. West Texas Intermediate ( WTI ) crude futures < CLc1 > were up 52 cents , or 1.4 % , at $ 37.78 a barrel .
Both contracts fell on Monday .
The International Energy Agency ( IEA ) on Tuesday trimmed its 2020 outlook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) to 91.7 million bpd , citing caution about the pace of economic recovery .
“ We expect the recovery in oil demand to decelerate markedly in the second half of 2020 , with most of the easy gains already achieved , ” the IEA said in its monthly report .
The agency said commercial oil stocks in the developed world hit an all-time high of 3.225 billion barrels in July , and cut its forecast for implied stock draws for the second half of the year .
The IEA ’ s demand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry producers and traders , with OPEC downgrading its oil demand forecast and BP < BP.L > saying demand might have peaked in 2019 .
World oil demand will tumble by 9.46 million bpd this year , the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said in a monthly report on Monday , more than the 9.06 million bpd decline OPEC expected a month ago .
Still , a meeting of the OPEC+ joint ministerial committee on Thursday is not expected to make recommendations for deeper output cuts , but rather focus on compliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sources told Reuters .
Concerns over supply disruptions in the United States from Hurricane Sally provided some price support .
Energy companies , ports and refiners raced on Monday to shut down as Hurricane Sally grew stronger on its approach to the central U.S. Gulf Coast , the second significant hurricane to shutter oil and gas activity in the past month .
Meanwhile , China ’ s crude oil throughput in August rose from a year ago , reaching its second-highest level on record , as refineries worked to digest record imports @ @ @ @


oann--2020-09-17--‘Boiling again’: Lebanon’s old Christian rivalries rear up amid crisis

BEIRUT ( Reuters ) – An old rivalry between Christian factions who fought each other in Lebanon ’ s 1975-1990 civil war has flared again on the street and in political debate , renewing fears of fresh unrest as the nation grapples with its worst crisis since the conflict .
Never far from the surface in the past three decades , the feud between supporters of Michel Aoun , now Lebanon ’ s president , and Samir Geagea ’ s Lebanese Forces ( LF ) led to a tense standoff this week near Beirut .
Gunshots rang out , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rival accounts about who fired in the air .
But those on both sides , some born after the war , said Monday ’ s events were a reminder of a long-running enmity , one of many in Lebanon ’ s fractious sectarian system now facing new strains amid an economic meltdown .
The rivalry today is about more than Christian politics : Aoun is allied with Hezbollah , the heavily armed , Iran-backed Shi ’ ite party .
Geagea spearheads opposition to Hezbollah , saying it should surrender its weapons .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Elias al-Zoghby , a member of Aoun ’ s Free Patriotic Movement ( FPM ) , saying an LF convoy of supporters waving flags had acted provocatively by driving towards his party ’ s headquarters .
“ We hope they ’ ll remember the past and that nobody can win the game of the street , ” LF activist Toni Bader said , denying the FPM ’ s account .
The standoff was the latest in a country that has seen sporadic violence intensify as an economic crisis that erupted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compounded by a huge blast that ripped through Beirut on Aug. 4 .
The government has resigned and efforts to form a new one under French pressure are floundering .
“ The security situation is reaching a breaking point , ” said Mohanad Hage Ali of the Carnegie Middle East Center .
Troops deployed to defuse Monday ’ s face-off , which spiralled when Geagea supporters in cars and on motorcycles , waving LF flags and chanting partisan songs , drove near the FPM offices .
Geagea loyalists were marking the anniversary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who founded what began as the LF militia .
LF officials say their supporters were unarmed and only passing near the FPM offices when the other side fired .
FPM officials say the supporters of the LF , which disarmed at the end of the war , were threatening to attack .
They said the guns were fired by security forces .
The army said shots were fired in the air without saying by whom .
It said LF supporters had thrown stones at the FPM office .
One video showed men firing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another , men in masks cursed as they burned an LF flag .
“ It became clear the street is really boiling again between them , ” said prominent journalist Nabil Boumonsef .
Both sides have called for restraint , while accusing each other of acting like a militia .
Geagea , who led the LF militia forces , and Aoun , who commanded the army at the end of the civil war , have not themselves commented .
After the war , both leaders were forced out of political life as next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imprisoned and Aoun went into exile in France .
Both returned to the scene in 2005 once Syrian troops withdrew from Lebanon .
Geagea has become more critical of FPM ’ s record in government since last month ’ s port blast .
Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai , leader of the Maronite church , who has influence as leader of Lebanon ’ s biggest Christian community , has weighed in and called for change in the way Lebanon is governed .
Aoun and Geagea are both Maronites .
Monday ’ s incident was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tension .
LF scouts , usually young party supporters , have staged prominent parades at party events .
A group of about 20 LF loyalists , dressed in black uniforms , goose-stepped in formation through a Christian district of Beirut this week .
FPM members say these are provocative shows of strength .
The LF says such parades are routine and the FPM ’ s criticism is an attempt to hide its political failure .


oann--2020-09-20--Biggest Thai protest in years cheers calls to reform monarchy

BANGKOK ( Reuters ) – Tens of thousands of people joined Thailand ’ s biggest protest in years on Saturday , cheering calls to curb the powers of King Maha Vajiralongkorn ’ s monarchy and for the removal of former coup leader Prayuth Chan-ocha as prime minister .
“ Unless the monarchy is under the constitution , we will never achieve true democracy , ” protest leader and human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa told the crowd gathered within sight of the Grand Palace in central Bangkok .
“ More , more , ” the crowd chanted after Arnon called for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the constitution to bring the king clearly under its control .
The Royal Palace was not available for comment on the protest and the demands for reform .
“ People can protest but they should do that peacefully and within the law , ” said government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri when asked to comment .
Arnon said protesters would on Sunday declare “ the country belongs to the people , not the monarchy ” and place a commemorative brass plaque , echoing the words of the leaders of the 1932 upheaval that ended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building in the southeast Asian country of 70 million since mid-July have broken a long-standing taboo by criticising the monarchy as well as seeking a new constitution and elections .
Thai authorities have said criticising the monarchy is unacceptable in a country where the king is constitutionally “ enthroned in a position of revered worship ” .
Lese majeste laws mean those insulting the monarchy can be jailed .
Conservatives are horrified by attacks on the monarchy .
“ You can drive out the prime minister , but don ’ t talk about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ user as speeches were broadcast live from the protest .
Reuters reporters estimated there were at least 30,000 people in the demonstration .
Organisers said there were more than 50,000 , while police said there were 18,000 , still enough to make it the biggest since Prayuth took power in a 2014 coup .
Protesters have said they plan to march to Government House on Sunday morning .
The king was not in Thailand and has spent much of his time in Europe since taking the throne from his late father in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ king for his absence and for his personal behaviour , comments that until recently would not have been made in public .
“ The people are humans , not dust under your royal feet , ” student leader Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul told the protest early on Sunday .
“ The people want a king who protects democracy , not one who betrays the people ’ s democracy.
” The military , which proclaims itself the defender of the monarchy and national stability , has carried out several bloody crackdowns on protesters since the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as 13 successful coups .
Sept. 19 is the anniversary of the coup against the populist then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006 .
Among the protesters were many of his red shirt followers , veterans of clashes a decade ago with pro-establishment yellow shirts .
“ I ’ m here to fight for the future of my children and grandchildren .
I hope that by the time I die , they will become free , ” said 68-year-old Tasawan Suebthai , a redshirt with amulets round her neck which she hoped would ward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been peaceful so far , but more than a dozen protest leaders have been arrested and released on bail .
None has been charged under the lese majeste laws which protesters want scrapped .
They also seek to reduce the king ’ s constitutional powers and his control over the palace fortune and units of the army .


oann--2020-09-20--Police clash with protesters at anti-lockdown demonstration in London

LONDON ( Reuters ) – More than a thousand people gathered in central London on Saturday to protest against lockdown measures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus , before the event was broken up by police .
The protest , which led to 32 arrests , came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is considering whether to reimpose some lockdown restrictions across England .
Demonstrators carried banners saying “ Covid is a hoax ” and “ My body , my choice : No to mandatory masks ” , as well as chanting at police : “ Choose your side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to leave Trafalgar Square on the grounds that the demonstration was putting those taking part and other members of the public at risk .
“ This , coupled with pockets of hostility and outbreaks of violence towards officers , means we will now be taking enforcement action to disperse those who remain in the area , ” London ’ s Metropolitan Police said in a statement .
Under laws introduced to slow the spread of infection , people in England are not allowed to gather in groups of more than six .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only if organisers follow guidelines to reduce the risk of the disease spreading .
Organisers of previous anti-lockdown protests have been fined up to 10,000 pounds ( $ 12,914 ) .
Some of the protesters at Saturday ’ s event voiced opposition to compulsory vaccines , as well as more general mistrust of the government , the media and the World Health Organization .
Britain has suffered Europe ’ s highest death toll from coronavirus , with more than 41,000 deaths on the government ’ s preferred measure .
National testing for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since schools reopened this month .
Rising case numbers in parts of Scotland , Wales and northern England have already led to local restrictions on people inviting friends to their homes , and reduced pub and restaurant opening hours .


oann--2020-09-20--About 9,000 migrants on Greece’s Lesbos move into tent camp after fire

LESBOS , Greece ( Reuters ) – Thousands of asylum-seekers have moved into a new temporary facility on the Greek island of Lesbos , government officials said on Saturday , 10 days after a fire destroyed the Moria camp .
The fire that broke out in Moria on Sept. 9 left over 12,000 people , most of them refugees from Afghanistan , Syria and various African countries , without shelter , proper sanitation or access to food and water .
No one was hurt in the blaze .
About 9,000 people had been resettled in the new tent camp , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near the port of Mytilene , by Saturday morning .
A few hundred had also moved into a community centre managed by a non-governmental organisation .
Those entering the camp were being registered and tested for COVID-19 .
At least 214 were placed in quarantine after positive tests .
Traffic was returning to normal on the roads , where thousands of migrants had camped for days after the fire , and stores in the area started reopening .
Greek police launched an operation on Thursday to speed up the resettlement of migrants .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporary camp as they had hoped to leave Lesbos after the fire and reach other European countries .
Authorities believe the fire that gutted the notorious for its living conditions Moria camp was started by migrants following a dispute over COVID-19 quarantine measures at the facility after dozens of asylum-seekers tested positive .
Six people have been arrested and charged with arson .


oann--2020-09-24--Paul Selva, once one of Trump’s top generals, endorses Biden

( Reuters ) – Retired General Paul Selva , once one of President Donald Trump ’ s most senior military advisers , is joining a large group of former Pentagon leaders to publicly endorse Democratic candidate Joe Biden for the Nov. 3 presidential election , according to a letter seen by Reuters .
Selva , who served as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff until July 2019 , appears on a list of 489 national security experts – including former military leaders , ambassadors and White House officials – who signed a letter being released on Thursday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enormous responsibilities of his office.
” “ Thanks to his disdainful attitude and his failures , our allies no longer trust or respect us , and our enemies no longer fear us , ” reads the letter by the group , called National Security Leaders For Biden .
Selva could not be reached for comment .
Other groups of former national security leaders have endorsed Biden and criticized Trump , but it is remarkable that a recently retired four-star general like Selva – who was the Pentagon ’ s No .
2 military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sign onto a letter condemning a president he served .
Beyond Selva , retired Admiral Paul Zukunft , who served as commandant of the Coast Guard from 2014 until 2018 , also appears on the long list of signatories .
“ I ’ m not a Republican and I ’ m not a Democrat , ” Zukunft told Reuters in explaining his decision .
“ It really comes down to the fundamental values of our nation and our concern that those values are being compromised.
” Like Zukunft , Selva was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who inherited military leaders picked by his Democratic predecessor , Barack Obama .
Trump renewed Selva for a second , two-year term in 2017 .
Other prominent retired military officers endorsing Biden in the letter include : Samuel Locklear , a retired Navy admiral who led the U.S. Pacific Command until 2015 , and Peter Chiarelli , who retired in 2012 after serving as the Army ’ s vice chief of staff .
Although Trump describes himself as a champion of the U.S. military and boasts of hefty military spending , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He has ridiculed top generals , ignored their advice on some key issues , and questioned their commitment to their soldiers .
Earlier this month , Trump sought to underscore his support among rank-and-file soldiers .
“ I ’ m not saying the military ’ s in love with me .
The soldiers are , ” Trump told reporters .
“ The top people in the Pentagon probably aren ’ t because they want to do nothing but fight wars so all of those wonderful companies that make the bombs and make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy.
” Asked about Selva ’ s endorsement of Biden , White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said she could not speak to one individual and defended Trump ’ s support for U.S. troops .
“ The rank and file of this military love this president , ” she told reporters at the White House .
Biden ’ s campaign has been trying to build a broad coalition of liberals , moderate Republicans and independents .
When he accepted the Democratic nomination at his party ’ s convention in August , Biden said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a president for all Americans , not just for the Democratic base .
Susan Rice , former U.S. national security adviser under the Obama administration , told Reuters many more prominent former officials wanted to join the list but missed a deadline ahead of the letter ’ s public release .
She attributed the strong turnout to deep concerns among former U.S. military , diplomatic , and intelligence officials .
“ On the military side , there were many who felt strongly that this was a moment in our history when our democracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Rice , co-chair of National Security Leaders for Biden .


oann--2020-09-26--China says WHO gave blessing for coronavirus vaccine emergency use programme

BEIJING ( Reuters ) – The World Health Organization supported China ’ s campaign to vaccinate certain people against coronavirus in July while clinical trials were still under way , a Chinese health official said on Friday , although some experts have expressed concern about the move .
China launched its emergency programme in July , having communicated with the WHO in late June , according to Zheng Zhongwei , a National Health Commission official .
Hundreds of thousands essential workers and other limited groups of people considered at high risk of infection have been given the vaccine , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been fully established as Phase 3 clinical trials were incomplete , raising concerns among experts .
“ After the approval , on June 29 , we made a communication with the relevant representatives of the WHO Office in China , and obtained support and understanding from WHO , ” Zheng said .
Countries have autonomy to issue emergency use authorization for any health product according to the national regulations and legislations , Dr. Mariangela Simão , assistant director-general at the WHO , said on Friday at a news conference in Geneva .
WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month that emergency use authorization for coronavirus vaccine is a “ temporary solution , ” and that the long-term solution lay in completion of Phase 3 trials .
Beijing has not publicly released full details of its emergency use programme .
At least three vaccine candidates , including two developed by state-backed China National Biotec Group ( CNBG ) and one from Sinovac Biotech , all in Phase 3 trials overseas , are included in the emergency use programme .
A fourth experimental vaccine developed by CanSino Biologics were approved to be used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China ’ s annual production capacity of COVID-19 vaccines is expected to reach 610 million doses by end-2020 and 1 billion doses by 2021 , Zheng said .
In China , the vaccine price will be affordable for the general public , Zheng added .


oann--2020-09-26--Take Five: Bring on Q4!

Take Five: Bring on Q4!

An extraordinary year is shuffling into its final stretch and it ’ s packed with blockbuster events — the race for a coronavirus cure or vaccine , a seismic U.S. presidential election and a possible no-deal Brexit that would end a 3-1/2 year long UK-Brussels standoff with a bang .
Squaring the books after Q3 will be interesting too .
Markets have lost altitude lately but top tech stocks , while some 20 % off peaks , are still up 65 % year-to-date .
Chinese shares have leapt 13 % , while a dollar that spent recent months slumbering could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since 2016 .
By now we were meant to have resumed shopping , dining , travelling and commuting .
Instead , regional lockdowns are returning , the global COVID-19 deathcount is marching toward a million and stocks are swooning .
All that has trained market focus on stimulus and vaccines .
Governments from Canada and Britain to Thailand are stepping up on the former .
The U.S. Congress is dithering over further relief but the possibility of mass evictions and defaults in an election year may persuade lawmakers to break the deadlock .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducting final-stage clinical trials ; any signs of their efficacy would likely boost sentiment .
The COVID resurgence has ended talk of V- or U-shaped bouncebacks .
Without more stimulus or vaccines , the trajectory could end up looking like a W or even an L. September U.S. jobs data , out on Friday , will be watched even more closely than usual over growing concern on lawmakers ’ failure to agree on fresh fiscal stimulus to protect the economy .
This will also be the final monthly gauge of the U.S. jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Analysts polled by Reuters expect payrolls rose 875,000 , after growing by 1.371 million in August .
Recent data , including weekly jobless claims , suggest a nascent economic recovery may be fading as the effects of the last fiscal stimulus wane .
Fed chief Chair Jerome Powell on Thursday told lawmakers that fresh fiscal stimulus could make the difference between a continued recovery and a much slower economic slog .
But a new deal before the presidential election looks unlikely , dimming the prospects for stock markets already hurt by election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A weak payrolls number could add to the angst .
Preliminary September euro zone inflation data is out Wednesday and , rest assured , the ECB will be watching closely .
August inflation turned negative for the first time since May 2016 .
With the economy showing signs of weakening amid the coronavirus resurgence , concern is growing .
ECB board member Fabio Panetta warned that inflation remains “ uncomfortably ” below its near-2 % target .
Market-based inflation expectations , closely tracked by rate-setters , are also flashing warnings , having fallen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speculation about another round of ECB stimulus before year-end is building , as are expectations for a rate cut in 2021 .
European policymakers have stopped worrying that the region ’ s banks are too big to fail and instead fret they are too small to survive .
Average return on equity – a measure of profitability – at European banks is around 7 % , half that of their American peers .
The STOXX Europe 600 bank index < .SX7P > has fallen back below levels hit during the 2008 crisis and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , deals may be the only way out of the malaise .
They are trying to make tie-ups easier — helping drive mergers of domestic retail lenders in Italy and Spain this year .
Now focus is on banking giants , with sources saying UBS examined a tie-up with Credit Suisse earlier this year .
Deutsche Bank hinted this week it could join the fray once it finishes its latest overhaul .
Muted share price reaction suggest investors have limited confidence mega deals can be pulled off just yet .
But with losses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coming months , some may soon have no other option .


oann--2020-09-27--Trump picks Barrett as he moves to tilt U.S. Supreme Court rightward

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – President Donald Trump on Saturday nominated Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court , and she pledged to become a justice in the mold of the late staunch conservative Antonin Scalia – another milestone in Trump ’ s rightward shift of the top U.S. judicial body .
Trump ’ s announcement during a flag-festooned White House Rose Garden ceremony – with Barrett , 48 , by his side and her seven children on hand – sets off a scramble by Senate Republicans to confirm her as the president has requested before Election Day in 5-1/2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in office .
If confirmed by the Senate to replace liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg , who died at age 87 on Sept. 18 , Barrett would become the fifth woman ever to serve on the court and would push its conservative majority to a commanding 6-3 .
Like Trump ’ s two other appointees , Neil Gorsuch in 2017 and Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 , Barrett is young enough that she could serve for decades in the lifetime job , leaving a lasting conservative imprint .
Barrett is the youngest Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1991 .
Scalia , who died in 2016 , was one of the most influential conservative justices in recent history .
Barrett previously served as a clerk for Scalia on the high court and described him as her mentor , citing his “ incalculable influence ” on her life .
“ His judicial philosophy is mine too : a judge must apply the law as written .
Judges are not policymakers , ” Barrett said .
On the court , Scalia voted to curb abortion rights , dissented when the court legalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ judicial putsch ” – and backed broad gun rights , among other positions .
With Trump ’ s fellow Republicans holding a 53-47 Senate majority , confirmation appears certain , though Democrats may try to make it as difficult as possible .
An emboldened Supreme Court conservative majority could shift the United States to the right on hot-button issues by , among other things , curbing abortion rights , expanding religious rights , striking down gun control laws , halting the expansion of LGBT rights , and endorsing new restrictions on voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholic who earned her law degree and taught at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana , was appointed by Trump to the Chicago-based 7th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017 and is a favorite of religious conservatives , a key Trump voter bloc .
“ Today it is my honor to nominate one of our nation ’ s most brilliant and gifted legal minds to the Supreme Court , ” Trump said .
Trump noted that she would be the first mother of school-age children ever on the court .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ children , two of whom were adopted from Haiti , were in the audience .
Barrett also praised Ginsburg , saying the late justice was “ a woman of enormous talent and consequence ” and mentioned Ginsburg ’ s long friendship with Scalia .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement praising Barrett and pledging to move forward quickly with the confirmation process .
But Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden repeated his call for the appointment to be made by the winner of the Nov. 3 election .
“ The Senate should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American people select their next president and the next Congress , ” Biden said .
Democrats are still furious over McConnell ’ s 2016 refusal to consider President Barack Obama ’ s Supreme Court nomination of Merrick Garland because it came during an election year .
This marks the first time since 1956 that a U.S. president has moved to fill a Supreme Court vacancy so close to an election .
“ The stakes for our country are incredibly high , rulings that the Supreme Court will issue in the coming years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amendment ( which guarantees the right to bear arms ) , our religious liberty , our public safety and so much more , ” Trump said .
“ I urge lawmakers and members of the media to refrain from personal or partisan attacks ” on Barrett , Trump added .
Abortion rights advocates have voiced concern that Barrett could cast a vote for overturning the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion nationwide .
On the 7th Circuit , she has voted in favor of one of Trump ’ s hardline immigration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ruling making it easier for college students accused of campus sexual assaults to sue their institutions .
“ Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell have made it clear they will pull out all the stops to jam through another right-wing Supreme Court nominee – even if that means breaking their own rule pertaining to election-year appointments , ” Democratic Senator Ron Wyden said .
The White House ceremony was decorated with American flags arranged in a way similar to the day when President Bill Clinton nominated Ginsburg in 1993 .
There was tightly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not wearing masks despite the coronavirus pandemic .
Barrett is expected to begin the traditional courtesy calls on individual senators on Tuesday .
Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings will begin Oct. 12 , Trump said .
Democrats are set to make the fate of the Obamacare healthcare law a key part of the confirmation fight .
Barrett could be on the bench for the court ’ s Nov. 10 oral arguments in a case in which Trump and fellow Republicans are seeking to invalidate the 2010 law , formally called the Affordable Care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turning over in her grave up in heaven , ” top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said , “ to see that the person they chose seems to be intent on undoing all the things that Ginsburg did .
”


oann--2020-09-28--Dollar hovers near two-month high amid economic, political risks

LONDON ( Reuters ) – The dollar hovered near a two-month peak against a basket of currencies on Monday as doubts about economic recovery persisted before a barrage of economic data and political developments in the United States .
A rebound in U.S. stocks on Friday has helped curb the ascent of the dollar , considered a safe haven , but signs of slowdown in the nascent recovery from the pandemic and political uncertainties have kept investors on guard .
The dollar index slipped to 94.21 < =USD > .
It reached a two-month high of 94.745 last week and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April .
Against the yen , the dollar was more subdued at 105.36 yen < JPY= > .
The pound jumped to $ 1.2896 < GBP=D3 > on hopes Britain could secure a Brexit trade deal with the EU .
The euro rose 0.3 % to $ 1.1661 < EUR= > after dropping to $ 1.16125 on Friday , its lowest in two months .
“ Rising global and notably European risk aversion continue to be clearly U.S. dollar positive , and notably investors entered this period of questioning the risk/reflation/recovery theme stretched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuxen , head of research at Danske Bank .
Friday ’ s data on U.S. currency futures positions also suggested the dollar had room to rise further , with speculators holding a big net short position in the currency which they could move to cover if the dollar moves higher .
U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission ’ s broad measure of dollar positioning showed speculators ’ net short position rose to $ 33.989 billion last week < NETUSDALL= > , up from $ 31.524 billion the week before and near its highest in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that was a large net long position in the euro , which inched up last week to $ 27.922 billion < EURNETUSD= > .
“ We think euro/dollar should find good long-term demand below the 1.1600 area , but really require some better news on the global recovery – effective lockdowns , vaccines , new stimulus – before the euro/dollar rally fully resumes , ” ING said in a note to clients .
Investor attention may now turn to the first U.S. presidential debate on Tuesday .
“ Few people will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At least they will wait until tomorrow ’ s TV debate , ” said Kyosuke Suzuki , director of forex at Societe Generale .
Meanwhile , worries are growing that the economic recovery is slowing as many stimulus programmes have expired , curbing consumer spending .
This week will bring more data on the health of the world ’ s biggest economy , including consumer confidence on Tuesday , a manufacturing survey and consumer data on Thursday , and jobs data on Friday .
Elsewhere , the Turkish lira briefly dropped 1.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per dollar < TRYTOM=D3 > .
The lira had enjoyed a rare bounce after an interest rate increase late last week , but the gains faded amid scepticism about how it would filter through into market rates .


oann--2020-09-28--Oil falls as surging virus cases cloud demand outlook

LONDON ( Reuters ) – Oil prices were steady on Monday but on track for their first monthly fall since April as rising coronavirus cases continued to spur concerns about demand .
Brent crude < LCOc1 > rose 12 cents , or 0.3 % , to $ 42.04 a barrel by 1151 GMT .
U.S. West Texas Intermediate < CLc1 > was at $ 40.36 a barrel , up 11 cents or 0.3 % .
“ Dollar strength and macroeconomic uncertainty are likely to keep dominating oil ’ s agenda this week , ” said BNP Paribas analyst Harry Tchilinguirian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mitigate recent losses .
“ The rise in daily infections has accelerated and the total number is now very close to 33 million .
The most impacted countries are the populous ones , ” PVM analyst Tamas Varga said .
“ The speed with which the virus is spreading is the main concern for both health officials and financial investors.
” Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Monday that the global oil market has been stable for the past few months and the demand-supply balance restored , but warned of the risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Despite efforts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies to limit output , more crude is being exported from OPEC producers Iran and Libya .
OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo said on Sunday that commercial oil inventories in OECD countries are expected to stand only slightly above the five-year average in the first quarter of 2021 , before falling below that level for the rest of the year .
A factor that may offer some support to the market is the prospect of industrial action in Norway , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take place on Sept. 30 is threatening to cut its production by 900,000 barrels per day , the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association ( NOG ) said on Friday .


oann--2020-09-28--U.S. Supreme Court nominee Barrett would have final say on recusal calls

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – Democrats are urging U.S. Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett to recuse herself from any election-related cases because of President Donald Trump ’ s comments that he expects the justices to potentially decide the outcome , but there is no way to force her to do so .
Although U.S. law requires justices to step aside when there is a conflict of interest or genuine question of bias , it leaves the individual justice to decide whether such a conflict exists .
Aside from direct financial and personal conflicts , they rarely do so .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ vacancy created by the death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Sept. 18 .
If confirmed by the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate , Barrett would give the court a 6-3 conservative majority .
On Wednesday Trump said he wanted the full complement of nine justices on the court as soon as possible in part because he believes the court will determine the outcome of the Nov. 3 presidential election .
“ I think this will end up in the Supreme Court , and I think it ’ s very important that we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a White House event .
The Supreme Court has determined the outcome of a U.S. presidential election only once , in 2000 , leading President George W. Bush to the White House .
Trump indicated that the Supreme Court would rule in his favor with nine justices on board .
He alleged they would respond to an unspecified “ scam that the Democrats are pulling ” in relation to increased use of mail-in ballots as a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
Trump has repeatedly and without evidence attacked mail-in balloting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Democrats say they will probe Barrett on the subject during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the hope she will pledge to step aside in election-related cases .
Democratic Senator Cory Booker , who serves on the committee , said on Sunday he would ask Barrett about recusal when he meets her .
“ If she does not recuse herself , I fear that the court will be further de-legitimized , ” he said on NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press.
” There are no indications Republican senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Lee , speaking on ABC ’ s “ This Week , ” saying that recusal decisions would be up to Barrett .
During previous Senate hearings , Supreme Court nominees have routinely declined to commit on how they would approach cases that could come before them .
Federal law requires a justice to step aside from cases “ in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.
” In a 2011 report , conservative Chief Justice John Roberts said he had “ complete confidence in the capability of my colleagues to determine when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reuters that under the way the law has been interpreted up until now , the new justice need not recuse herself from any election issue .
But New York University School of Law legal ethics expert Stephen Gillers noted that should a decisive election issue come before the justice , Democratic candidate Joe Biden could be justified in filing a motion asking her to recuse .
“ I believe that would be a persuasive argument in this unique circumstance , ” he said .
He noted that in 2000 , when the Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Bush , none of the justices were appointed by either candidate , although Democratic candidate Al Gore was vice president to President Bill Clinton , who appointed both Ginsburg and Justice Stephen Breyer .
This time , there would be three justices on the bench appointed by Trump himself .
Both liberal and conservative justices have been pressed by critics in the past to recuse themselves in cases with perceived conflicts .
Litigants can file motions seeking recusal but rarely do .
In 2004 , the Sierra Club environmental group asked conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a case concerning then-Vice President Dick Cheney , a friend of the justice .
Scalia refused , saying his impartiality could not reasonably be questioned .
During the 2016 presidential race , liberal Ginsburg criticized then-candidate Trump as a “ faker , ” prompting cries by conservative critics of bias .
Ginsburg later expressed regret for her remarks but did not step aside from any case involving Trump .
Despite calls from some conservatives for her to recuse herself , liberal Justice Elena Kagan participated in a 2012 ruling upholding President Barack Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthcare law dubbed Obamacare .
Kagan had served as Obama ’ s top Supreme Court advocate when the law was enacted in 2010 but said she played no role in its conception .
Kagan , appointed to the court by Obama in 2010 , recused herself from other cases on which she had worked in Obama ’ s administration .
Justices routinely step aside when they have financial conflicts , such as owning stock in companies with cases before the court .


oann--2020-09-30--Oil extends losses as rising virus cases spur demand worries

TOKYO/LONDON ( Reuters ) – Oil prices fell for a second day on Wednesday as rising coronavirus cases prompted concerns about further restrictions on global economic activity that could curb fuel demand .
Brent crude < LCOc1 > for November delivery dropped 57 cents , or 1.4 % , to $ 40.46 per barrel by 1005 GMT .
West Texas Intermediate < CLc1 > fell 14 cents , or 0.4 % , to $ 39.15 .
The November Brent contract expires today , to be replaced by the December contract , which was down around 0.5 % at $ 41.36 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % on Tuesday as global COVID-19 cases passed 1 million , having doubled in three months.. A Reuters monthly oil poll showed prices would have little upside this year [ O/POLL ] .
“ The increasing number of COVID-19 cases continues to raise alarm bells on energy demand , ” said Avtar Sandu , senior commodities manager at Phillip Futures .
“ Concerns about stagnating demand and the return of Libyan exports continue to put pressure on oil prices , ” said Norbert Rucker from Julius Baer .
ING Economics also pointed out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an issue for the market , the supply side of the equation is not helping either.
” Libya ’ s Sarir oilfield , which was producing more than 300,000 barrels per day ( bpd ) last year , restarted output after an eight-month blockade .
CEOs of the world ’ s biggest trading companies are forecasting a weak recovery for oil demand and little movement in prices in the coming months and potentially years .
Marathon Petroleum Corp < MPC.N > , the largest oil refiner in the United States , started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to people familiar with the matter .
Royal Dutch Shell < RDSa.L > also said it would cut up to 9,000 jobs .
To counter the fall in demand , the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is unlikely to increase oil production as planned from January next year , top oil traders said on Tuesday .
The market looked past data from the American Petroleum Institute on Tuesday showing U.S. crude oil stocks fell against expectations , focussing instead on the rise in gasoline inventories .
[ API/S ]


oann--2020-09-30--Insults and interruptions mar first Trump-Biden debate

CLEVELAND ( Reuters ) – President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden battled fiercely over Trump ’ s record on the coronavirus pandemic , healthcare and the economy in a chaotic and bad-tempered first debate marked by personal insults and Trump ’ s repeated interruptions .
Trump bulldozed his way through the 90-minute debate , trying to goad Biden nearly every time he spoke , claiming that Democrats were trying to steal the November presidential election with mail-in ballots and declining to condemn white supremacist groups when asked to do so .
Moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump repeatedly ignoring his calls to let Biden speak .
The two White House contenders talked over each other and lobbed insults in a breathtaking political brawl that made it hard for either to make a point .
At one point , an exasperated Biden said after Trump ’ s repeated interruptions : “ Will you shut up , man ?
This is so unpresidential.
” Wallace tried in vain to reel in Trump , who ignored his time limits and talked over Biden .
“ I think that the country would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to speak with fewer interruptions .
I ’ m appealing to you , sir , to do that , ” Wallace said .
As of Tuesday evening , more than 1.3 million Americans already had cast early ballots .
With time running out to change minds or influence the small sliver of undecided voters , the stakes were enormous as the two candidates took the stage five weeks before the Nov. 3 Election Day .
For Trump , 74 , Tuesday ’ s debate represented one of the few remaining chances to change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinion polls show him losing , as the majority of Americans disapprove of his handling of both the pandemic and protests over racial injustice .
Biden , 77 , has held a consistent lead over Trump in national opinion polls , although surveys in the battleground states that will decide the election show a much closer contest .
It was hard to determine whether the debate would move the needle .
Trump repeatedly and unsuccessfully tried to fluster Biden and force him into a gaffe , but largely neglected to make any affirmative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best suited to tackle fundamental election issues .
The hyper-aggressive performance would almost certainly draw raves from his core supporters , but was unlikely to win back critical swing voters , especially suburban women who have turned away from the president over his divisive and combative rhetoric , political strategists say .
Trump has more debates with Biden scheduled for October , while Vice President Mike Pence and Biden ’ s vice presidential running mate , Kamala Harris , have a debate next week .
Tuesday ’ s debate followed months of racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans , which were mostly peaceful but sometimes led to violent clashes between liberal and right-wing protesters .
Trump , who has seized on the unrest to push a “ law-and-order ” message , was asked if he was willing to also condemn white supremacists and tell them to stand down .
He initially said he would be willing to do anything for peace but then said most of the violence was from the left wing .
“ This is not a right-wing problem .
This is left wing , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that mail-in ballots would lead to widespread election fraud and declined to commit to accepting the results of the election or commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election .
“ If I see tens of thousands of ballots being manipulated , I can ’ t go along with that , ” he said .
“ This is going to be a fraud like you ’ ve never seen.
” Biden urged Americans to make a plan to vote and assured voters that Trump would be gone if Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declare victory until the outcome was validated .
“ If we get the votes , it ’ s going to be all over .
He ’ s going to go , ” he said .
Biden was sharply critical of Trump ’ s record on the coronavirus pandemic which has killed more than 200,000 Americans , accusing him of failing to protect Americans because he was more concerned about the economy .
“ He panicked or he looked at the stock market , ” Biden said of Trump , who has pushed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the threat of the pandemic .
“ You should get out of your bunker and get out of the sand trap and … the golf course and go in the Oval Office and ( put ) together Democrats and Republicans , and fund what needs to be done now to save lives , ” Biden said .
Trump touted his decision to restrict travel from China , where the virus was believed to have originated , early this year and defended his approach on the pandemic .
“ We have done a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Biden released his 2019 tax returns and his campaign called on Trump , who has come under fire for not releasing his returns , to do the same .
Biden took the step two days after the New York Times reported Trump paid just $ 750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017 – and none in 10 of the previous 15 years – following years of reporting steep losses from business enterprises .
Trump had long sought to keep his personal financial records secret .
In the debate , Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax code so that “ he pays less tax than a schoolteacher makes.
” Trump insisted he has paid millions of dollars in taxes but said he could not prove it by releasing his returns until an audit was finished .
He said as a businessman he had taken advantage of tax laws to pay less .
“ Like every other private person , unless they ’ re stupid , they go through the laws and that ’ s what it is , ” he said .
The two also sparred over Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Supreme Court seat after the death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg this month.Defending his nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the seat , which would cement a 6-3 conservative majority on the nation ’ s highest court , Trump said “ elections have consequences ” and he had the right despite Democratic objections .
“ I will tell you very simply we won the election .
We have the Senate and we have the White House and we have a phenomenal nominee respected by all , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be filled after the election , when it was clear who the president would be .
He said a more conservative Supreme Court would endanger the Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare .
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments shortly after the election on a Trump administration challenge seeking to strike down the Affordable Care Act , including its popular insurance protections for patients with pre-existing conditions .
Democrats have argued Republicans are being hypocritical for moving quickly to fill the seat given they had blocked then-President Barack Obama ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , arguing it should wait until after that November election .


oann--2020-10-04--Trump says next days of COVID-19 treatment will be ‘real test’

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – President Donald Trump said from his hospital room on Saturday that he felt “ much better ” but the next few days will be “ the real test ” of his treatment for COVID-19 , capping a day of contradictory messages from the White House about his condition .
In a four-minute video posted on Twitter , Trump , looking tired and wearing a jacket and open-necked shirt , said he “ wasn ’ t feeling so well ” when he first arrived at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday .
“ Over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I guess that ’ s the real test , so we ’ ll be seeing what happens over those next couple of days , ” Trump said , seated at a round table in front of an American flag .
The remarks came hours after differing assessments of his health from administration officials left it unclear how ill the president had become since he tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday night , a matter of enormous public concern .
A White House team of doctors said on Saturday morning that Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was already talking about returning to the White House .
One doctor said Trump told them “ ‘ I feel like I could walk out of here today . '
” Within minutes , White House chief of staff Mark Meadows gave reporters a less rosy assessment , telling them , “ The president ’ s vitals over the last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care .
We ’ re still not on a clear path to a full recovery.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on condition that he not be identified , altered his tone hours later , telling Reuters that Trump was doing “ very well ” and that “ doctors are very pleased with his vital signs.
” Meadows did not clarify the discrepancy in his comments .
A Trump adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity said the president was not happy to learn of Meadows ’ initial remarks .
Trump was flown from the White House to Walter Reed , near Washington , about 17 hours after he announced his illness .
Administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precautionary , said he would stay at the hospital for several days .
Another source who was briefed on Trump ’ s condition said the president was given supplemental oxygen before he went to the hospital .
The decision to hospitalize Trump came after he had experienced difficulty breathing and his oxygen level dropped , according to a source familiar with the situation .
White House doctor Sean P. Conley told reporters outside the hospital on Saturday that Trump had not had trouble breathing , and was not given oxygen at Walter Reed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremely happy with the progress the president has made , ” Conley said .
He declined to give a timetable for Trump ’ s possible release from the hospital , and later had to issue a statement saying he misspoke after appearing to suggest Trump had been diagnosed as early as Wednesday .
“ Today ’ s spectacle – doctors saying one thing , White House sources saying another thing , and both later amending their statements – only reinforces the credibility problems of this administration , ” said Kyle Kondik , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Center for Politics .
The diagnosis was the latest setback for the Republican president , who is trailing Democratic rival Joe Biden in opinion polls ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential election .
With Trump in the hospital , his campaign announced “ Operation MAGA , ” based on his slogan “ Make America Great Again , ” which will see high-profile allies including Vice President Mike Pence and Trump ’ s elder sons , Donald Jr. and Eric , take over in-person campaigning starting next week .
Pence , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to debate Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris on Wednesday before embarking on a swing through battleground states , the campaign said .
Biden , who largely avoided direct criticism of Trump during a campaign trip to Michigan on Friday , took a more aggressive tone on Saturday while speaking to a transit workers ’ union on Saturday , even as he wished the president well .
“ I ’ m in a little bit of a spot here , because I don ’ t want to be attacking the president and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding he hoped the Trumps make a full recovery .
But he quickly pivoted to Trump ’ s response to the pandemic , calling it “ unconscionable ” and blasting Trump ’ s comment in an interview this summer that “ it is what it is ” when asked about the death toll .
“ I find this one of the most despicable things that I ’ ve encountered in my whole career , ” Biden said .
Biden , who tested negative on Friday , told reporters he would next be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin releasing the results of each test , a spokesman said .
The Democratic candidate has eschewed big events in favor of low-key appearances with few or no attendees , while Trump has held large rallies with little social distancing .
Biden has used Trump ’ s diagnosis to bolster his calls for people to wear masks , a practice that Trump has questioned .
Trump has repeatedly downplayed the threat of the coronavirus pandemic this year , even as it has killed more than 200,000 Americans and hammered the U.S. economy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dose of a five-day course of Remdesivir , an intravenous antiviral drug sold by Gilead Sciences Inc that has been shown to shorten hospital stays .
He is also taking an experimental treatment , Regeneron ’ s REGN-COV2 , one of several experimental COVID-19 drugs known as monoclonal antibodies , as well as zinc , Vitamin D , famotidine , melatonin and aspirin , Conley has said .
The president is at high risk because of his age and weight .
He has remained in apparent good health during his time in office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or to follow a healthy diet .
A number of other prominent Republicans have also said they tested positive for COVID-19 since Trump ’ s announcement , including Republican Senators Mike Lee , Thom Tillis and Ron Johnson , former White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway , and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie .
Christie said he checked himself in to a hospital on Saturday as a precaution due to his asthma , though he said he had only mild symptoms .


oann--2020-10-04--Qualifier Trevisan stuns Bertens to reach last eight in Paris

PARIS ( Reuters ) – Italian Martina Trevisan became the first qualifier in eight years to reach the quarter-finals at the French Open by beating Dutch fifth seed Kiki Bertens 6-4 6-4 on Sunday .
The world number 159 played aggressively throughout to set up a meeting with Polish teenager Iga Swiatek , who knocked out top seed Simona Halep .
“ I came here two weeks ago to play the qualifiers and today I ’ m here in the quarter finals .
I can ’ t believe it , ” said Trevisan , who will break into the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I ’ m really honoured to play on this court with Bertens ; she ’ s an incredible player.
” After 16 consecutive defeats to top 100 players across all levels from 2017 to 2020 , Trevisan has now posted four consecutive wins over such opponents in one week .
She is the first qualifier to reach the last eight at Roland Garros since Yaroslava Shvedova in 2012 , and the 10th overall in the women ’ s draw since tennis turned professional in 1968 .
Only Belgian Filip Dewulf , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managed to go one step further , in 1997 .
Trevisan raced into a 5-1 lead in the opening set — winning 10 points in a row at one point — on the back of some patient play and excellent court coverage before Bertens eventually found her feet .
The 26-year-old Italian converted three break points to take the opening set , with her points at the net and ability to change the pace of rallies leaving a bewildered Bertens searching unsuccessfully for answers .
Trevisan opened a 3-0 lead in the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break back and threaten a comeback .
Trevisan , however , held her nerve and wrapped up victory with an exquisite lob on her third match point on Bertens ’ s serve .


oann--2020-10-05--Infected Trump greets supporters in motorcade outside hospital; his health unclear

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – Doctors treating President Donald Trump for COVID-19 sent conflicting signals about the severity of his condition on Sunday , hours before the president surprised supporters gathered outside the hospital with an impromptu motorcade .
Trump , 74 , wore a mask as he waved from the back seat of a black SUV that crawled in a caravan of vehicles in front of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington , while supporters waving Trump 2020 flags chanted : “ USA !
USA !
” Trump , who said on Friday morning he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for risking the health of support staff .
It was Trump ’ s first appearance in public since he was evacuated to the hospital on Friday .
“ It ’ s a very interesting journey .
I learned a lot about COVID , ” he said in a video posted on Twitter shortly beforehand .
Democratic presidential challenger Joe Biden tested negative again for the disease that has killed more than 200,000 Americans , his campaign said on Sunday .
[ W1N2BK009 ] The former vice president , who shared a debate stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative in two tests on Friday , the day Trump disclosed his coronavirus infection .
Doctors said the president was improving , although they were monitoring the condition of his lungs after he received supplemental oxygen .
They said he could be sent back to the White House as soon as Monday .
But Dr. Sean P. Conley said the president ’ s condition had been worse than he previously admitted .
Conley said Trump ’ s blood oxygen levels had dropped in prior days and that he had run a high fever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had revealed about the condition of Trump ’ s lungs , Conley replied : “ There ’ s some expected findings , but nothing of any major clinical concern.
” Conley ’ s response suggested the X-rays revealed some signs of pneumonia , said Dr. Amesh Adalja , an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University .
“ The expected finding is that he has evidence of pneumonia in the X-ray .
If it was normal they would just say it is normal , ” Adalja said .
Other doctors not involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence his case was severe .
Trump is being given dexmethasone , a steroid used in severe COVID cases , as well as the intravenous antiviral drug Remdesivir and an experimental antibody treatment from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals .
“ It would be very unlikely for him to be out and about , and on the campaign trail in less than 14 days , ” said Dr. David Battinelli , chief medical officer at New York ’ s Northwell Health .
Administration officials have given contradictory assessments of Trump ’ s health .
Conley and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday , which was promptly undercut by Chief of Staff Mark Meadows .
“ I was trying to reflect an upbeat attitude of the team and the president about the course his illness has had , ” Conley told reporters on Sunday .
“ I didn ’ t want to give any information that might steer the course of illness in another direction.
” Trump spent much of the year downplaying the risks of the COVID-19 pandemic , which has infected 7.4 million Americans , killed more than 209,000 , and caused an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of work .
He said he had been meeting soldiers and first responders at the hospital , raising new questions about whether he was now directly exposing others to the disease .
Critics said personnel who traveled in Trump ’ s armored SUV during the afternoon motorcade would now have to self-quarantine for 14 days .
“ The irresponsibility is astounding , ” Dr. James Phillips , an attending physician at the hospital , said on Twitter .
The White House Correspondents Association objected that reporters had not been told about Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House spokesman Judd Deere said the trip had been approved by medical staff and that appropriate precautions had been taken .
Health officials in New Jersey said they were trying to track down more than 200 people who attended a Trump fundraising event at his golf course there on Thursday .
Trump traveled to the event after close adviser Hope Hicks had contracted the virus , and just hours before he announced that he had tested positive .
White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said on Fox News that Trump tested positive after that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s illness has upended his re-election campaign as it seeks to fend off Biden in the final month of the race .
Several members of his inner circle have also tested positive for the disease , as well as three Republican members of the U.S. Senate .
Two members of the White House residence staff tested positive for COVID-19 a few weeks ago , and Trump ’ s “ body man ” aide , Nicholas Luna , has also tested positive , according to a source familiar with the situation .
Biden in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery , while also criticizing his response to the pandemic .
A Reuters/Ipsos poll published on Sunday found Biden had opened a 10-point lead over Trump nationally , slightly wider than it has been for the past two months .
Some 65 % of Americans said Trump likely would not have been infected had he taken the virus more seriously – a view that half of registered Republicans polled supported .
Some 55 % said they did not believe Trump had been telling the truth about the virus .
Trump ’ s campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who would assume the presidency if Trump were unable to carry out his duties , would have an “ aggressive ” campaign schedule this week , as would Trump ’ s three oldest children .
“ We can ’ t stay in our basement or shut down the economy indefinitely .
We have to take it head-on , ” Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller said on ABC ’ s “ This Week ” on Sunday .
Pence , who tested negative on Friday , is scheduled to debate Democratic vice presidential nominee @ @ @ @ @


oann--2020-10-07--Oil falls on U.S. stimulus impasse and U.S. stockpiles

LONDON ( Reuters ) – Oil prices fell on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump dashed hopes for a fourth stimulus package to boost the coronavirus-hit economy , with prices also pressured by a larger than expected rise in U.S. crude inventories .
Brent crude < LCOc1 > futures were down $ 1 , or 2.3 % , to $ 41.65 a barrel by 1145 GMT and U.S. West Texas Intermediate ( WTI ) crude < CLc1 > declined by $ 1.14 , or 2.8 % , to $ 39.53 .
“ Trump pulling out of relief negotiations generates a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we also didn ’ t get a constructive set of data in terms of oil consumption , ” said Harry Tchilinguirian , head of commodities research at BNP Paribas .
President Trump , still being treated for COVID-19 , ended talks on Tuesday with Democrats on an economic aid package for the United States , the world ’ s biggest oil consumer , only weeks away from the U.S. presidential election .
Crude prices were also hit by American Petroleum Institute data showing U.S. oil stockpiles rose by 951,000 barrels last week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) not exactly what the recovery doctor ordered as the oil market was already tanking from a two-week high after President Trump quashed hope for a pre-election stimulus deal , ” said Stephen Innes , chief market strategist , at online brokerage AxiCorp .
Losses were capped by restrictions on the supply side .
Energy companies secured offshore platforms and evacuated workers on Tuesday , some for the sixth time this year , as Hurricane Delta threatened U.S. oil output in the Gulf of Mexico The storm has shut 29.2 % of offshore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accounts for 17 % of total U.S. crude output .
In Norway , the Lederne labour union said on Tuesday that it will expand oil strike from Oct. 10 unless a wage deal can be reached .
Six offshore oil and gas fields shut down on Monday because of the strike , cutting Norway ’ s output capacity by 8 % .


oann--2020-10-07--Dollar holds ground as U.S. stimulus delay weighs on sentiment

LONDON ( Reuters ) – The dollar steadied on Wednesday , ticking down against most currencies after an initial jump triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump cancelling stimulus talks with Democrat lawmakers , a move which increased demand for safe-haven assets .
Trump ’ s surprise decision to call off stimulus talks until after the Nov. 3 presidential election initiated a selling spree on Wall Street with investors bracing for fresh downside risks for an already shaky U.S. economy .
The initial shock from the announcement eased when the U.S. President later asked Congress to extend $ 25 billion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sentiment improved overnight in Asia where markets hit a two-week high and U.S. stock futures made their way back to positive territory .
All in all , analysts said the renewed uncertainty over stimulus would encourage investors to trade riskier currencies cautiously .
“ This is set to reinstate caution in markets about the prospects of near-term economic recovery , helping the safe haven dollar and keeping cyclical FX soft ” , ING strategists wrote in a morning note .
In early trading in Europe , the dollar was last quoted at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , down 0.18 % after a 0.4 % gain against the common currency during the previous session .
The British pound < GBP=D3 > was quoted at $ 1.2915 , up 0.36 % after losing 0.86 % on Tuesday .
The Australian dollar < AUD=D3 > edged up 0.57 % to $ 0.7142 after tumbling by more than 1.1 % on Tuesday .
Traders say the Aussie faces more downside risks due to expectations that the Reserve Bank of Australia ’ s next move is to cut rates and buy more government debt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , did not move the dollar much against the yen , which was last quoted at 105.75 < JPY=D3 > , because both currencies tend to be bought during times of uncertainty , analysts say .
Highlighting the potential danger of no additional stimulus funds to prop up the economy , Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Tuesday warned that the U.S. economy could slip into a downward spiral if the coronavirus is not effectively controlled and called for more economic assistance .
Traders will look to minutes from the Fed ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fed speakers later Wednesday for further signs of how central bankers view the outlook .


oann--2020-10-10--Azeri leader rules out concessions before Nagorno-Karabakh talks

BAKU/YEREVAN ( Reuters ) – Azerbaijan ’ s president ruled out making any concessions to Armenia on Friday ahead of talks aimed at halting the deadliest fighting in the South Caucasus region for more than 25 years .
President Ilham Aliyev ’ s uncompromising position in a televised speech appeared to leave little room for de-escalation as the Azeri and Armenian foreign ministers arrived in Moscow .
The talks were expected to be the first diplomatic contact between the enemies since fighting over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave erupted on Sept. 27 , killing hundreds of people .
The mountain enclave belongs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away in a war as the Soviet Union collapsed and is populated and governed by ethnic Armenians .
“ Let those holding talks in Moscow know that it ’ s our territory and we won ’ t be making any concessions , ” Aliyev said after Azeri Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov flew to Moscow .
He said he had proved there was a military solution to the dispute : “ We are winning and will get our territory back and ensure our territorial integrity , ” Aliyev said .
“ Let them abandon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Moscow , attended by Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan , follow the launch of a peace drive by France , Russia and the United States at a meeting in Geneva on Thursday , details of which have not been made public .
The renewed fighting in the decades-old conflict has raised fears of a wider war drawing in Turkey , a close ally of Azerbaijan , and Russia , which has a defence pact with Armenia .
The clashes have also increased concern about the security of pipelines that carry Azeri oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government said Friday ’ s talks would focus on a cessation of hostilities and exchanges of bodies and prisoners .
“ We are moving towards a truce soon even if the situation is still fragile , ” French President Emmanuel Macron ’ s office said .
But Turkey said diplomacy would succeed only if it ensured a withdrawal of Armenian forces from Nagorno-Karabakh , which Armenians regard as part of their historic homeland .
“ It is almost certain to fail if it doesn ’ t also involve a detailed plan to end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ibrahim Kalin told Al Jazeera .
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Friday Nagorno-Karabakh was on the verge of a “ humanitarian disaster ” .
Azerbaijan ’ s defence ministry said there had been fierce clashes on Friday with ethnic Armenian forces along the line of contact that divides the two sides , and that several areas deep in Azerbaijan had come under fire .
Shells fell on Stepanakert , the city ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh consider the capital of an independent state , the enclave ’ s defence ministry said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deeper in Azerbaijan on Friday .
Washington , Paris and Moscow have led mediation over Nagorno-Karabakh for almost three decades as co-chairs of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe ’ s Minsk Group .
The fighting is the worst since a 1991-94 war that killed about 30,000 people and ended with a ceasefire that has been violated repeatedly .
Azerbaijan said on Thursday that 31 Azeri civilians had been killed and 168 wounded since Sept. 27 .
It has not disclosed information about military casualties .
Nagorno-Karabakh said on Friday 376 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been killed since Sept. 27 .