Country Financial News

Blinken on Friday began a tour of Arab capitals as he seeks to build pressure on Hamas while Israel readies a likely massive offensive on the Gaza Strip following the militants' attacks. The top US diplomat will meet Jordan's King Abdullah II, a longtime US partner, and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in Amman and will then visit Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Blinken spent Thursday in Tel Aviv where he promised unwavering solidarity to US ally Israel after the surprise October 7 offensive by Hamas, who killed over 1,200 people and took about 150 more hostage. The United States has publicly blessed reprisals by Israel, which on Friday called for the immediate relocation of 1.1 million people in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, which is already under an Israeli blockade. Israel has killed more than 1,400 people in strikes in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas attack and has cut off food, water and electricity. Qatar, where Blinken will head immediately after Jordan, has longstanding ties with Hamas and has been seen as an intermediary in freeing the hostages. «We'll continue pressing countries to help prevent the conflict from spreading, and to use their leverage with Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release the hostages,» Blinken said late Thursday in Tel Aviv. «We'll also discuss how we can continue to make real our affirmative vision for a region that's more peaceful, more prosperous, more secure, more integrated. »In fact, that is the choice, and the choice in some ways has been made even more stark by the actions of Hamas." Saudi Arabia in the weeks before the attacks had spoken of progress in US-led diplomacy to normalise relations with Israel — a landmark step for the

WARNING: This article includes descriptions of graphic and disturbing subject matter. The in-text link in the third line goes to a social media post by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that shows the images described in this article. Reader discretion is advised.

BEIJING — China reported a smaller-than-expected decline in exports in September from a year ago, while imports missed, according to customs data released Friday.

By Katya Golubkova and Andrew Hayley

(Reuters) — China is considering creating a state-backed stabilization fund to shore up confidence in its equity markets, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.

TDP leader Nara Lokesh with union home minister Amit Shah has once again raised the speculation that both parties are looking at a possibility of alliance. The meeting became important in two contexts. First it was a meeting called by union home minister Amit Shah.

monetisation opportunities for operators such as Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio as they complete one year of service launch this month, said Qualcomm India president Savi Soin. He told ET that the first year of 5G has been a great success, with prices of smartphones coming down and operators rolling out networks at a fast pace. “It’s a great success. The original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and operators are bringing new use cases.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war has brought to light the harrowing realities faced by civilians in the region, as well as the security concerns that continue to escalate. «I've seen a baby, an infant riddled with bullets.

Oil prices rose on Friday after the U.S. tightened its sanctions programme against Russian crude exports, raising supply concerns in an already tight market, and global inventories are forecast to decline through the fourth quarter. Brent futures rose 36 cents, or 0.4%, to $86.36 per barrel and U.S.

By Xinghui Kok

Billy Ray Cyrus has set aside his Achy Breaky Heart to marry the Australian musician Firerose.Cyrus, 62, and Firerose, 34, shared the news on Instagram on Wednesday, a day after they tied the knot on Oct. 10.Cyrus said the ceremony “will always be the beautiful, joyous day that our two souls united as one in holy matrimony.”“It was the most perfect, ethereal celebration of love we could have ever imagined,” he wrote.

India and Pakistan — and elsewhere in the world — as the two South Asian arch-rivals play each other at the men’s Cricket World Cup on Saturday. The two teams will meet in front of a crowd of 130,000 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the world’s largest cricket ground. The one-day international match could last as long as nine hours and is taking on extra significance as it will be the first time in seven years that Pakistan has played in India following years of deteriorating relations between the two cricket-mad countries.

Israel left Thursday evening from the Ben Gurion airport carrying 211 adults and an infant living in the war-battered region. The passengers were chosen on a «first come first serve» basis after a drive launched by the Indian embassy for all Indians to register at the mission's database. The government is bearing the cost of their return.

MUMBAI: India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and Small Industries Development Bank (Sidbi) have tied up to accelerate formal financial services in rural India and among smaller companies. The agreement is to leverage India Post’s deep connect with rural India and Sidbi’s lending and credit risk assessment models that could help millions get formal credit.

A call for demonstrations across the Muslim world Friday in support of Palestinians is causing security worries among Jewish organizations in Canada.

The prospect that high interest rates will keep constricting the global economy is worrying World Bank officials as they look to the impact on nations nursing large debts.

Whether it’s money for something fun — like buying an RV to travel the country to see their children — or something painful — like replacing their roof — individuals often require emergency savings, but they tend not to think about it until they need it.

Portugal will take on Slovakia in Euro 2024 Qualifiers on Friday. While Ronaldo has set his eyes in the FIFA World Cup 2026, Euro 2024 will tell whether the former Manchester United and Real Madrid legend will add to more glory to his illustrious footballing career. Portugal will play Slovakia on Friday, October 13. The kick off is scheduled at 2.45 pm (ET). Portugal vs Slovakia Euro 2024 Qualifier will be live streamed on fuboTV for soccer fans in the US. A win against Slovakia on Friday will guarantee qualification and, if Ronaldo is selected, the chance for him to repeat his 2016 triumph with Portugal at the tournament. It wasn't clear what the future held for the five-time Champions League winner when he walked away from Manchester United last November and was then dropped by his country as it made an early exit from the World Cup in Qatar last year. His move to Saudi Arabia wasn't exactly a guarantee of success, but Ronaldo has proven he is far from done. On Friday, Portugal can secure its place at next year's European Championship in Germany. It will be a personal triumph for Ronaldo, who insisted his career wasn't over after leaving European club soccer behind to join Al-Nassr last December. Not only has he been the catalyst for a slew of soccer's biggest names, such as Neymar and Karim Benzema, following him to the Saudi league, but he has helped Portugal to its best-ever performance in a European qualifying campaign with six wins from six matches in Group J.

London | The debate on nuclear power is a “distraction” from solar, which is about to tip into exponential growth that will sweep aside all other energy sources, say Australia’s much-garlanded pair of leading solar inventors.

(Correct to reflect Israel Bonds had nearly reached its annual target in paragraph 8)

(Reuters) — New Zealand's Auckland International Airport said on Friday Chief Financial Officer Phil Neutze had resigned, after over a decade-long stint with the country's biggest airport operator.