Swedish police investigating 'suspicious object' at Iraqi embassy

STOCKHOLM (REUTERS) – Swedish police said on Monday (Oct 7) it was investigating a “suspicious object” outside Iraq’s embassy in central Stockholm and had taken one person into custody.

The police said the arrested individual is being taken to a local police station near the embassy in central Stockholm.

The police said they are continuing to investigate the”suspicious object” at the cordoned-off site outside the embassy.

House Democrats subpoena Pentagon, OMB as part of Trump impeachment inquiry

The chairmen of three House committees on Monday subpoenaed the Pentagon and Office of Management and Budget for documents as Democrats’ impeachment inquiry intensified. The heads of the intelligence, foreign affairs and oversight panels asked the agencies for Ukraine-related documents by Oct. 15. The inquiry was prompted by President Donald Trump asking the Ukrainian president to "look into" former Vice President Joe Biden and his son. Trump denies wrongdoing in the matter.

Fitch downgrades Aramco after attacks on oil facilities

Oct 7 (Reuters) – Rating agency Fitch downgraded Saudi Aramco’s credit rating by one notch to “A”, days after it cut its sovereign rating on the country.

Fitch kept its outlook at stable.

The rating cut follows attacks last month on two production facilities of the state-owned oil giant. (Reporting by Shanti S Nair and Davide Barbuscia; Editing by Anil D’Silva)

Iowa teacher placed on leave after apparent threatening social-media post on Greta Thunberg

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa high-school science teacher has been placed on administrative leave after he made what appeared to be a threatening social-media comment about 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg.

The Waterloo Community School District said Friday in an emailed statement that the teacher, Matt Baish, has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

Baish’s removal followed a FacebookFB, -0.09%comment he purportedly posted about Thunberg’s planned appearance Friday in Iowa City for a student-led climate strike demonstration, asking “Who’s all going?” In response, a user named Matt Baish wrote, “Dont have my sniper rifle.”

West High School’s website lists Baish as a science teacher at the school.

There was no answer Friday at a phone listing for Baish.

Bahrain GDP grows 0.8% in Q2 y/y -statement

DUBAI, Oct 7 (Reuters) – Bahrain’s real gross domestic product grew 0.8% in Q2 year-on-year, according to preliminary data, the ministry of finance said in a statement on Monday.

The growth was driven by the non-oil sector which was up 1.2% from the previous year, the ministry said.

Bahrain’s total GDP in Q2 stood at 3.2 billion dinar ($8.49 billion) according to the preliminary data.

Gold Settles Lower As Dollar Rises Ahead Of Trade Talks, Fed Minutes

Gold prices drifted lower on Monday, as the dollar firmed up and traders looked to pick up equities ahead of resumption of trade talks between the U.S. and Chinese officials.

Traders were also looking ahead to the minutes of the Federal Reserve’s recent policy meeting to know the central bank’s outlook about future interest rate cuts.

The dollar recovered after recent losses. The dollar index rose to 99.01, and was last seen hovering around 98.95, up 0.15% from previous close.

Gold futures for December ended down $8.50, or about 0.6%, at $1,504.40 an ounce.

On Friday, gold futures for December ended down $0.90, or nearly 0.1%, at $1,512.90 an ounce, after having moved up 0.4% a session earlier.

Silver futures for December ended down $0.085, at $17.540 an ounce, while Copper futures for December settled at $2.5770 per pound, gaining $0.0145.

On the trade front, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday his administration had a “very good chance” of agreeing a trade deal.

Meanwhile, a report in Bloomberg, citing some people familiar with the discussions, said Chinese officials are reluctant to agree to a broad trade deal pursued by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Specifically, Premier Liu He is said to be ruling out commitments to reform Chinese government subsidies or industrial reform.

GM-UAW strike means layoffs for more workers

GM talks at an impasse

FOX Business’ Grady Trimble on the current status of the GM UAW strike now entering week four.

General Motors laid off 415 more workers in Mexico after a nationwide strike by U.S. workers passed the three-week mark, a GM spokesperson told FOX Business on Monday.

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Some workers are taking vacation time during the furlough, while others who have don’t have any remaining time off will receive only a portion of their pay, FOX Business has learned.

GM has partially stopped production at its Ramos Arizpe propulsion plan, Reuters reported. GM had already laid off roughly 6,000 workers in Mexico at another facility in Silao, Mexico.

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The strike has also affected workers in Canada.

FOX Business' Grady Trimble contributed to this report.

UAE to lift Lebanon travel ban from Tuesday: WAM

DUBAI (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates will lift a ban on its citizens traveling to Lebanon from Tuesday, UAE state news agency WAM said on Monday, as a Lebanese delegation visits Abu Dhabi seeking support for its ailing economy.

The UAE’s close Gulf ally Saudi Arabia said in February it was lifting its own advice to citizens not to travel to Lebanon, where Gulf tourism was once a mainstay of the economy.