Reuters Daily Briefing : By Linda Noakes, October 6, 2923 - Jailed rights campaigner Narges Mohammadi (Irtanian woman) wins the Nobel Peace Prize, Europe battles to avoid a new migration crisis, and why dengue fever could become a major threat.

 

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Daily Briefing

Jailed rights campaigner Narges Mohammadi wins the Nobel Peace Prize, Europe battles to avoid a new migration crisis, and why dengue fever could become a major threat. Plus, ChatGPT's owner is exploring making its own AI chips.   By Linda Noakes

Today's Top News

Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi

Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian women's rights advocate serving 12 years in jail, has won the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize in a decision likely to anger Tehran. The award-making committee urged Iran to release Mohammadi. Syria held funerals for scores of people killed in a drone attack on a graduation ceremony at a military academy in the Homs region, one of the bloodiest strikes against the military in more than 12 years of civil war. Russia unleashed new air strikes on Ukraine, killing a 10-year-old boy and his grandmother in the city of Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials said. The U.N.'s High Commissioner for Human Rights deployed a field team to investigate yesterday's air strike on the village of Hroza that left at least 52 people dead. An anonymous bomb threat that prompted the Philippines to put all its commercial airports on heightened security alert is "most likely a hoax", the aviation police chief said. Dengue fever will become a major threat in the southern United States, southern Europe and new parts of Africa this decade, the WHO's chief scientist said. MIGRATION IN FOCUS President Joe Biden's administration said it will add sections to a border wall to stave off record migrant crossings from Mexico, carrying forward a signature policy of former President Donald Trump. Spanish coast guards rescued 262 migrants in three boats trying to reach the Canary Islands amid a surge in crossings, just as European leaders were meeting in Spain to look for ways to avoid a new migration crisis.  We discuss migration on today's Reuters World News podcast - listen to a tale of two borders. More on this topic:  -- Once welcoming Germany talks tougher on asylum ahead of elections -- Egypt's cratering economy drives many to risky migrant route -- Pakistani minister defends decision to expel Afghans

Business & Markets

Debt-laden companies across Europe, the Middle East and Africa face a $500 billion refinancing scramble in the first half of 2024, a challenge that could kill off many 'zombie' businesses. Russia's government said it had lifted a ban on pipeline diesel exports via ports, removing the bulk of restrictions installed on September 21. The restrictions for gasoline exports are still in place. Exxon Mobil is in advanced talks to acquire Pioneer Natural Resources in a deal that could value the Permian shale basin producer at about $60 billion, people familiar with the matter said. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is exploring making its own artificial intelligence chips and has gone as far as evaluating a potential acquisition target, according to people familiar with the company’s plans. Tesla cut prices of its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in the US by about 2.7% to 4.2%, about a month after it slashed prices for its premium Model S and Model X cars.

The Week Ahead

Financial markets are bracing for US inflation numbers and the start of earnings season. JPMorgan, Citigroup and Wells Fargo will post results and give a first readout on the fallout from higher rates on issues from loan demand to consumer behavior. Other companies set to report include snacks and beverages giant PepsiCo, Delta Air Lines and insurer UnitedHealth Group. There's plenty to chew over for policy makers meeting at the World Bank/International Monetary Fund annual meeting, while Britain's opposition Labour party - vying for government - will set out its stall ahead of next year's election. Here's a look at the week ahead from our markets team.

Photos Of The Week

Take a look at some of the best images captured by Reuters photographers around the world this week, in this slideshow.

And Finally...

Ancient human footprints at White Sands National Park in New Mexico

Humans trod the landscape of North America thousands of years earlier than previously thought, according to new research that confirms the antiquity of fossilized footprints at White Sands National Park in New Mexico using two further dating approaches. Read more here: New tests confirm antiquity of ancient human footprints

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