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☆ Argentina Photo of Half Naked, Bowed Prisoners Shows Tough-On-Crime Shift
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The governor of Santa Fe province, Maximiliano Pullaro, shared details on Tuesday of a recent police search operation in the Pinero prison complex, where several high-profile drug traffickers are housed. She has previously applauded Bukele's approach to drug-related crime and said she was "interested in adapting the Bukele model" to Argentina. "They are going to have it worse and worse," Pullaro wrote on his Instagram social media account, alongside a picture of the prisoners with naked torsos and their heads bowed surrounded by guards in military gear. "Orders come out from the prisons that make life impossible for the people of Santa Fe," the governor added. Santa Fe is home to the strategic grains port city of Rosario, which last year recorded one of the highest homicide rates in Argentina as criminal gangs fight over drug territory.

Persons: Lucinda Elliott, El, Nayib, Maximiliano Pullaro, Pinero, Patricia Bullrich, Bukele's, Pullaro, torsos, El Salvador's Bukele, Bukele, Javier Milei's, Alistair Bell Organizations: Reuters, El Salvador, Argentina's, Legal, Social Studies, Conservative Political, Conference Locations: Argentina, Santa Fe, Maximiliano, Rosario, Buenos Aires, Washington

☆ Ukrainian Foreign Minister Discusses Peace Prospects With Chinese Counterpart
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Saturday he had discussed the prospects for peace in Kyiv's nearly two-year-old war against Russia with his Chinese counterpart, part of a long-running bid to bolster relations with Beijing. "I met with my Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss bilateral relations, trade, and the need to restore a just and lasting peace in Ukraine," Kuleba wrote on X, formerly Twitter, of their talks at the Munich Security Conference. Kuleba said he had discussed Ukraine's plans to hold a global peace summit which Switzerland has agreed to help stage. The two men, he said, "agreed on the need to maintain Ukraine-China contacts at all levels and continue our dialogue". China has attended at least one of the preparatory meetings that have taken place in anticipation of such a summit.

Persons: Dmytro Kuleba, Wang Yi, Kuleba, Ron Popeski, Alistair Bell Organizations: Reuters, Ukrainian, Twitter, Munich Security, China, Russia Locations: Kyiv's, Russia, Beijing, Ukraine, Switzerland, China, Moscow, Africa, Soviet

☆ United Nations Seeks $2.7 Billion for Aid to Yemen in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations appealed for $2.7 billion on Thursday to pay for humanitarian aid operations this year in war-torn Yemen, where most of the 18 million people in need live in the north of the country ruled by the Iran-aligned Houthi group. Peter Hawkins, the acting U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, described the amount of money the U.N. was seeking as more realistic than the $4.3 billion it asked for last year. He stressed that Yemen should not be forgotten as the world deals with multiple humanitarian crises. Hawkins also said he was hoping a U.S. decision in January to return the Houthis to a list of terrorist groups would not affect aid operations in Yemen. Yemen has been mired in conflict since Houthis ousted the government from the capital Sanaa in late 2014.

Persons: Peter Hawkins, Hawkins, stoked, Washington, Houthis, Michelle Nichols, Alistair Bell Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, Reuters, United Nations, The U.S Locations: Yemen, Iran, Israel, Gaza, The, Saudi Arabia

☆ Rampant Extortion Reveals 'Corrosive' Hole in Mexico Security Strategy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

"Burgeoning extortion has not grabbed the headlines, but it's been the all-the-more corrosive fallout of a security strategy that never merited the label," said Falko Ernst, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group. Lopez Obrador denies his strategy has fed impunity, but said after the villagers' bloody takedown of extortionists in Texcapilla, some 75 miles (120 km) southwest of Mexico City, that Mexico must fight the problem. Security frequently tops polls of voters' chief concerns ahead of the June 2 presidential election to succeed Lopez Obrador, who under Mexican law cannot run again. Sheinbaum has defended the administration, while also pledging "zero impunity" and highlighting her own record on security in Mexico City, where murders fell far more sharply. A recent study by a Mexican Senate think tank said Mexico suffers some 13,000 acts of extortion daily.

Persons: Dave Graham MEXICO, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Lopez, it's, Falko Ernst, Lopez Obrador, abrazos, Lopez Obrador's, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, Sheinbaum, Ernst, Mexico's, extortioners, Carlos Heredia, Dave Graham, Lizbeth Diaz, Alistair Bell Organizations: Dave Graham MEXICO CITY, Crisis, Mexico City Mayor, Army Locations: Texcapilla, Mexico City, Mexico, Mexican

☆ US Says It Is Looking Forward to Turkey Finalizing Sweden's NATO Process
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Humeyra PamukWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday welcomed the Turkish parliament's ratification of Sweden's NATO membership bid this week and urged Ankara to formally finalize the process. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told a briefing that Washington was looking forward to Hungary, which has yet to approve Sweden's NATO bid, moving along in the process. Turkey's ratification of Sweden's NATO bid and the U.S. sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey have become linked over the past years. The Biden administration has said it supports the sale but kept urging Ankara to approve Sweden's NATO bid saying Congress might be connecting the two issues. When asked on Wednesday if the State Department would send the formal notification for the jets once Sweden's NATO process is fully formalized, Patel did not commit to a timeline.

Persons: Humeyra Pamuk, Vedant Patel, Washington, Tayyip, Erdogan, Patel, Biden, Blinken, I'm, Jasper Ward, Simon Lewis, Daphne Psaledakis, Alistair Bell Organizations: Wednesday, NATO, State Department, Finland's Locations: Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON, United States, Ankara, Hungary, Washington, Sweden, Finland, Turkey, U.S, NATO, Turkey's, Jasper

☆ US Personnel Suffer Minor Injuries in Iraq Base Attack: U.S. Official
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON/BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. personnel suffered minor injuries and a member of Iraq's security forces was seriously wounded in an attack on Iraq's Ain al-Asad air base on Saturday, a U.S. official said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said initial reports indicated that the base was hit by ballistic missiles but he left open the possibility it was struck by rockets. Two security sources in Iraq and one government source said the base was hit by multiple rockets fired from inside Iraq. A second U.S. official said the attack was carried out by militants from inside Iraq. Iraq is deeply concerned about becoming a battleground between the United States, Israel and Iran.

Persons: Asad, Mohammed Shia, Phil Stewart, Timour, Alistair Bell Organizations: U.S, Hamas, U.S ., Iraq's, Pentagon, Monday Locations: WASHINGTON, BAGHDAD, Ain, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Iran, United States, U.S, State, Baghdad, Erbil, Iraq's, Kurdistan, Iraqi, Washington

☆ Eleven Prison Guards Held Hostage by Inmates in Ecuador Freed
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Alexandra ValenciaQUITO (Reuters) -Eleven prison staff members who had been held by inmates at the Esmeraldas prison in Ecuador were freed on Saturday, police said. They were among 158 guards and 20 administrative staffers taken hostage since Monday in at least seven prisons amid a sharp increase in violence in the South American country. Eight other prison staff had been freed before Saturday, officials said. Ecuador is grappling with a security crisis that worsened this week with the on-air storming of a TV station, the hostage-taking of dozens of prison staff by inmates and the kidnapping of police officers. (Reporting by Alexandra Valencia, writing by Cassandra Garrison;Editing by Alistair Bell and Will Dunham)

Persons: Alexandra Valencia, Daniel Noboa's, Cassandra Garrison, Alistair Bell, Will Dunham Organizations: Alexandra Valencia QUITO Locations: Ecuador

[1/8] U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris disembarks an aircraft as she arrives to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 2, 2023. The White House said Harris will carry a message about post-conflict Gaza as the region grapples with the fallout from a war that has upended the Middle East. Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007 from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' mainstream Fatah party and has ruled the enclave ever since. How post-conflict Gaza should realistically be managed is an issue that has confounded regional leaders and Middle East experts. "In her meetings, the vice president will outline our principles for post-conflict Gaza, lay out specific proposals that put Palestinian voices at the center, and build regional support for our efforts," the White House official said.

Persons: Kamala Harris disembarks, Amr Alfiky, Kamala Harris, Harris, Joe Biden, Mahmoud Abbas, Biden, Critics, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we’ve, John Kirby, Nandita Bose, Steve Holland, Matt Spetalnick, Heather Timmons, Alistair Bell Organizations: U.S, United Nations, Change, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Rights, West Bank, White, Palestinian, Fatah, Middle, Authority, United, White House, House, Munich, Conference, Thomson Locations: Dubai, United Arab, Israel, Gaza, United Arab Emirates, Washington, Russia, Ukraine

☆ US appeals court says Trump must face lawsuits over US Capitol attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Andrew Goudsward | Companies Need To Integrate Climate Reporting Across Functions To Comply With California S New Law | Henry Engler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends a 2024 presidential election campaign event in Summerville, South Carolina, U.S. September 25, 2023. REUTERS/Sam Wolfe/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Friday ruled that Donald Trump must face civil lawsuits over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol by his supporters, rejecting the former president's claim that he is immune. A panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found that Trump was acting "in his personal capacity as a presidential candidate" when he urged his supporters to march to the Capitol. U.S. presidents are immune from civil lawsuits only for official actions. The unanimous decision focused only on whether Trump could be sued, and said nothing about the merits of the cases themselves.

Persons: Donald Trump, Sam Wolfe, Trump, Joe Biden, Andrew Goudsward, Scott Malone, Alistair Bell Organizations: U.S, Republican, REUTERS, Rights, Capitol, U.S ., Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, Capitol ., Trump, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Summerville , South Carolina, U.S

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy calls for fortifications in key frontline areas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Zelenskiy issued his appeal after touring Ukrainian positions in the northeast, one of several areas where Russian forces have been trying to make recent headway - and recapture areas taken back by Ukrainian troops a year ago. Russian occupying forces have built solid fortifications and minefields of their own in areas they have held since pouring over the border in February 2022. Military spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun said Ukrainian forces had rebuffed Russian attacks on the coking plant. RUSSIAN DRIVE AROUND BAKHMUTRussian forces have also been pressing near contested villages surrounding the equally shattered town of Bakhmut, captured by Russian forces in May after months of fighting. Initial investigation showed Russian forces had dropped two bombs, in the second assault on the town throughout the day.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Rustem Umerov, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Zelenskiy, Lyman, Oleksandr Shtupun, Shtupun, Espreso, Avdiivka, Serhiy Hrabskyi, Hrabskyi, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Alistair Bell, Stephen Coates Organizations: Defence, Ground Forces, Presidential Press, Military, Reuters, Russian, Russia's Defence Ministry, Wednesday, Radio, Thomson Locations: Kupiansk, Ukraine, Kharkiv region, Ukrainian, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Russia, Luhansk, Avdiivka, Russian, RUSSIAN, Bakhmut, Toretsk, Kostyantynivka

☆ Biden backers rev up write-in campaign in New Hampshire to avoid loss
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Jarrett Renshaw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

For an incumbent president, primary races -- the state-by-state competitions that nominate a political party's official presidential candidate -- are normally a perfunctory affair. Pro-Biden Democrats' volunteer-focused effort, with just a $100,000 budget, will encourage primary voters to put Biden's name on the New Hampshire ballot. Lyndon B. Johnson, then the Democratic incumbent, shunned the New Hampshire primary in 1968 due to over-confidence, only to see an insurgent campaign from Minnesota, U.S. Biden write-in organizers have largely settled on asking voters to write in "Joe Biden," but believe that other names like "President Biden" and "President Biden and Vice President Harris" satisfy a state law that says to count the vote if the reasonable intent of the voter is clear. "They're gonna use this as a way to say, look, we are good Democrats and organized this to protect President Biden," Smith said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jonathan Ernst, Joe Biden's, Ro Khanna, Dean Phillips, Phillips, Khanna, it's, Biden, Andrew Smith, Lyndon B, Johnson, Eugene McCarthy, PHILLIPS, Marianne Williamson, Jeff Weaver, Bernie Sanders, Mickey Mouse, Harris, Dave Watters, Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Barack Obama, Smith, Jarrett Renshaw, Heather Timmons, Alistair Bell Organizations: Portsmouth Port Authority, REUTERS, Biden Democrats, New, Democratic Party, Biden doesn't, The University of New, Democratic, U.S, Thomson Locations: Portsmouth, Portsmouth , New Hampshire, U.S, California, Minnesota, New Hampshire, The University of New Hampshire, Vietnam, South Carolina, United States

☆ Democrats have no Biden backup plan for 2024, despite age concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Jeff Mason | Thomson Reuters | Jeff Mason Is A White House Correspondent For Reuters. He Has Covered The Presidencies Of Barack Obama | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Despite weak poll numbers and questions, including from some Democrats, about his age, Biden has stuck to his plan to seek a second term after clearing the field of serious Democratic primary challengers when he announced in April that he was running again. Biden loyalists, citing his record in office, argue that the party does not need a backup plan to defeat probable Republican nominee Donald Trump, who Biden beat in the 2020 election. To the chagrin of the White House, Biden's age has become a defining part of the 2024 campaign. "If he continues to run, he will be the nominee of the Democratic Party. In 1972, then Senator George Eagleton withdrew as Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern's vice presidential running mate after revelations of his treatment for depression forced him out of the race.

Persons: Joe Biden, Eisenhower, Evelyn Hockstein, Biden, Donald Trump, Biden's, Kamala Harris, ” Biden, Daniel Wessel, Trump's, Trump, David Axelrod, Barack Obama's, Axelrod, Marianne Williamson, Dean Phillips, Harris, Gavin Newsom, Elaine Kamarck, George Eagleton, George McGovern's, Sargent Shriver, McGovern, Newsom, Ron DeSantis, Jeff Mason, Heather Timmons, Alistair Bell Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Democratic Party, Democratic, Biden, Republican, Democrat, Reuters, MAGA, Republicans, Trump, White, Twitter, U.S, Brookings Institution, Democratic National Committee, DNC, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Nevada, South Carolina, Georgia, California , Illinois, Michigan, Chicago, California, Washington, Florida

☆ Powerful Koch group endorses Haley's 2024 Republican presidential bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Doina Chiacu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley listens as she is introduced during a campaign stop in Hooksett, New Hampshire, U.S., November 20, 2023. And last night, we concluded that analysis," the Koch group, Americans for Prosperity Action, said in a statement. "That candidate is Nikki Haley." The group promised Haley "the full weight and scope of AFP Action’s unmatched grassroots army and resources" in her bid to become the next U.S. president.

Persons: Nikki Haley, Brian Snyder, Charles Koch, Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Doina Chiacu, Alistair Bell Organizations: U.S, United, REUTERS, Rights, South, Trump, White, Prosperity, Republican, Florida Governor, Thomson Locations: Hooksett , New Hampshire, U.S, South Carolina, United Nations

☆ Hamas senior official invites Elon Musk to visit Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Tesla, X (formerly known as Twitter) and SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk speaks with members of the media during the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park in Bletchley, Britain on November 1, 2023. Leon Neal/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 28 (Reuters) - A Hamas senior official invited U.S. billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday to visit the Palestinian Gaza strip to see the extent of destruction caused by the Israeli bombardment. "We invite him to visit Gaza to see the extent of the massacres and destruction committed against the people of Gaza, in compliance with the standards of objectivity and credibility," Hamas' senior official Osama Hamdan said in a press conference in Beirut. Musk owns the X social media platform. Hamdan's comments comes one day after a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas was extended for an additional 48 hours.

Persons: Tesla, Elon Musk, Leon Neal, Osama Hamdan, Musk, Israel, Biden, Hamdan, Moaz Abd, Alaziz, Adam Makary, Christina Fincher, Alistair Bell Organizations: SpaceX's, Bletchley, U.S, US, Thomson Locations: Bletchley, Britain, Palestinian Gaza, Gaza, Beirut, Israel, Cairo

That law, supported by Biden and congressional Democrats, created tax credits to boost domestic EV manufacturing. "The point is that they're manufacturing jobs, whether they be baskets or batteries." A Trump spokesperson pointed Reuters to a recent policy announcement in which the former president said EV manufacturing would harm workers. Biden's campaign pointed Reuters to a statement from Kevin Munoz, a campaign spokesman, who said Trump's plan would mean more Chinese EV manufacturing jobs and fewer American jobs. Still, Ciscomani, who did not respond to comment requests, has generally welcomed individual EV projects, and toured a local EV plant in August.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Joe Biden, Biden, Trump, Mike Morey, SKDK, Andrew Reagan, Kirsten Engel, EVs, Jesse Williams, Joe, Anna Kelly, DeSantis, Kevin Munoz, Munoz, Brian Kemp, Wendy Davis, Engel, Juan Ciscomani, Ciscomani, Gram Slattery, Nichola Groom, Jarrett Renshaw, Alistair Bell Organizations: General Motors, Bolt, Orion Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, Florida, Democratic, Republican, EV, Power, Reuters, Democrats, Energy, America, Environmental Defense Fund, Biden, RMI, Republican Party, Trump, United Auto Workers, UAW, Republican National Committee, United States, Climate Power, League of Conservation Voters, Thomson Locations: Lake Orion , Michigan, U.S, Georgia , Arizona , Nevada, Michigan, Wisconsin , Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan , Georgia, Arizona, America, North America, Decatur County , Georgia, China, South, United, Georgia, Rome , Georgia, Washington, Los Angeles

[1/2] Former governor of Argentina's central bank, Luis Caputo, speaks during a news conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina May 4, 2018. In the meeting, however, Caputo declined to confirm that he would be the new economy minister, two of the sources said. The roadmap is orthodox and without crazy things," Caputo told the assembled bank representatives, according to a senior banking source who attended the meeting. Earlier on Friday, though, he said shutting the central bank was "non-negotiable". The second bank source said Caputo had discussed the need to fully attack inflation and lower the Leliq pile, though did not have details on how this would be done.

Persons: Luis Caputo, Marcos Brindicci, Javier Milei, Caputo, Milei, Mauricio Macri's, Javier Bolzico, ADEBA, Milei's, " Caputo, Jorgelina, Jorge Otaola, Adam Jourdan, Alistair Bell Organizations: REUTERS, La, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Argentina's, Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Argentine, Rosario

☆ Mexico Authorities Search for Journalists Taken in Tourist Town
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Authorities on Friday intensified the search for three journalists believed kidnapped by armed men in the south of Mexico, which press freedom groups consider among the world's most dangerous countries for reporters. The attorney general's office in the state of Guerrero on Thursday said it was investigating the disappearance of five people in the tourist town of Taxco, among them journalists Marco Toledo, Silvia Arce and Alberto Sanchez. Carlos Monge, communications chief for the attorney general's office, said searches would be reinforced with participation from the state prosecutors' office, the state search commission, state police, National Guard and the Army. Fifteen vans with personnel from various law enforcement agencies were deployed from the state capital to Taxco, Monge said. Mexico is among the world's deadliest countries for journalists, with five journalists killed so far this year, according to Article 19.

Persons: Marco Toledo, Silvia Arce, Alberto Sanchez, Carlos Monge, Monge, Toledo, Arce, Sanchez, Arce's, Raul Cortes Fernandez, Alistair Bell Organizations: MEXICO CITY, National Guard, Army, El Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, Guerrero, Taxco, Toledo

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo arrives to depart in his helicopter after announcing his resignation in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., August 10, 2021. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 24 (Reuters) - A woman who in 2021 accused former New York governor Andrew Cuomo of groping her when she was working for him has filed a civil lawsuit against her one-time boss. It was the only criminal charge brought over the allegations against Cuomo. Another former aide, Charlotte Bennett, sued Cuomo for sexual harassment in September 2022. Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi Editing by Alistair BellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andrew Cuomo, Caitlin Ochs, Brittany Commisso, Cuomo, Letitia James, Commisso, Charlotte Bennett, Brendan Pierson, Alexia Garamfalvi, Alistair Bell Organizations: New, REUTERS, Democrat, New York, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, New York, Albany , New York, Albany's

REUTERS/David Swanson/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 24 (Reuters) - Canceled offshore wind projects, imperiled solar factories, fading demand for electric vehicles. A year after passage of the largest climate change legislation in U.S. history, meant to touch off a boom in American clean energy development, economic realities are fraying President Joe Biden’s agenda. Clean energy experts interviewed by Reuters say the mounting setbacks will make the United States' ambitious targets to decarbonize by mid-century even harder to reach. Solar energy facilities account for two thirds of those delays due in part to U.S. import restrictions. "These are the normal ups and downs of clean energy development and deployment," Reicher said.

Persons: David Swanson, Joe Biden’s, Biden, John Hensley, Wood Mackenzie, “, Ali Zaidi, Prakash Sharma, that's, Vic Abate, it's, Robert Walther, Walther, Dan Reicher, Reicher, Nichola Groom, Richard Valdmanis, Alistair Bell Organizations: REUTERS, Soaring, Ford, Reuters, American Clean Power Association, United Nations, White, Dominion Energy Inc, TEN, GE, Biden, Treasury Department, Trump, Stanford University, Thomson Locations: Palm Springs , California, U.S, Washington, Nations, Egypt, Dubai, United States, Paris, Virginia, Gulf of Mexico

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON/NEW DELHI, Nov 22 (Reuters) - The United States is treating a reported plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil with utmost seriousness and has raised the issue with the Indian government "at the senior-most levels," the White House said on Wednesday. The Financial Times reported, citing unnamed sources, that U.S. authorities thwarted a plot to kill a Sikh separatist in the United States and issued a warning to India over concerns the government in New Delhi was involved. It stated he threatened in video messages to not let Air India operate anywhere in the world. The case comes against the historical backdrop of a bombing in 1985 of an Air India aircraft flying from Canada to India that killed 329, and for which Sikh militants were blamed. Pannun told Reuters on Tuesday that his message was to "boycott Air India not bomb."

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Evelyn Hockstein, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Pannun, Adrienne Watson, Biden, Arindam Bagchi, Bagchi, Hardeep Singh, Shivam Patel, Krishn Kaushik, Jeff Mason, David Brunnstrom, Andrew Goudsward, Andrew Heavens, Alex Richardson, Alistair Bell Organizations: India's, White, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Financial Times, Air India, Indian, Washington, FBI, U.S . Justice, India's National Investigation Agency, Sikh, Reuters, Air, Justice, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, DELHI, United States, India, New Delhi, Canada, Vancouver, U.S, New York, Air India

☆ Britain to Launch South Korea Trade Talks During Yoon Visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain and South Korea will launch negotiations on a new free trade agreement (FTA) and sign a new diplomatic accord during a state visit by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol this week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's office said on Monday. The Downing Street accord will see the countries agree to work closely on areas such as semiconductors - which South Korea is a major producer of - and artificial intelligence. Speaking to members of the South Korean community, Yoon said South Korea and Britain are partners that share universal values of freedom, human rights and rule of law, and form an economic community through trade, Yonhap news reported. The talks on a new trade deal will aim to replace the carry-over trade deal from when Britain left the European Union, which was based on replicating a deal with the EU from 2011 and reduced tariffs in a range of areas. Britain said it hoped a new trade deal would pave the way for increased digital trade and streamline currently complex procedures, and have a new rules of origin chapter.

Persons: Yoon Suk, Rishi Sunak's, Yoon's, King Charles, Charles, Yoon, Sunak, Alistair Smout, Josh Smith, Alistair Bell, Stephen Coates Organizations: South, Britain, Accord, European Union, Trans, Pacific Partnership Locations: Britain, South Korea, Downing, Korea, London, cybersecurity, United States, China, Japan, Seoul

☆ Britain to launch South Korea trade talks as president visits
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Alistair Smout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

King Charles greeted President Yoon Suk Yeol with a royal guard of honour following his arrival in London, and then rode with him by carriage to Buckingham Palace. He will hold talks with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday, and sign an accord on closer diplomatic ties. Under the accord, the countries will agree to work closely on areas such as semiconductors - of which South Korea is an important producer - and artificial intelligence. [1/4]Members of the Royal Air Force (RAF) welcome South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee, as they arrive at Stansted Airport, near London, Britain, November 20, 2023. "REFRESHED, MODERNISED DEAL"Under Yoon, South Korea has focused on strengthening economic, political, and military ties with the U.S. while seeking to maintain trade with China and working to overcome historical disputes with Japan.

Persons: Yoon, King Charles Yoon, King Charles, Yoon Suk, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, Toby Melville, David Beckham, Son Heung Min, Kemi Badenoch, Alistair Smout, Kylie MacLellan, Sarah Young, Josh Smith, Alistair Bell, Stephen Coates, Timothy Heritage, David Gregorio Our Organizations: LONDON, British, Accord, Trade, Downing, North, Royal Air Force, South, Stansted Airport, REUTERS, Trans, Pacific Partnership, European Union, Thomson Locations: Britain, Korea, London, Buckingham, United Kingdom, Downing, South Korea, North Korea, U.S, China, Japan, Seoul

WASHINGTON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - A group of U.S. President Joe Biden's fellow Democrats urged him on Monday to encourage Israel to take immediate steps - including reopening a major border crossing - to help provide humanitarian aid for innocent civilians in Gaza. "Eliminating the threat posed by Hamas and protecting civilians are not mutually exclusive aims. Indeed, International Humanitarian Law requires that civilians be protected during armed conflict," a group of Democratic senators wrote in a letter to Biden. The letter was led by Senators Tammy Baldwin, Tim Kaine and Chris Van Hollen, and signed by at least eight other Senate Democrats. U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths last week implored Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Biden, Tammy Baldwin, Tim Kaine, Chris Van Hollen, Martin Griffiths, Patricia Zengerle, Alistair Bell Organizations: Democratic, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza

☆ Repairs to arson-damaged Los Angeles freeway expected to take at least 3 weeks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Steve Gorman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Crew members work in the area, where a fire erupted over the weekend, shutting down a heavily trafficked corridor in Los Angeles, California, U.S., November 13, 2023. REUTERS/Jorge Garcia Acquire Licensing RightsLOS ANGELES, Nov 14 (Reuters) - A Los Angeles freeway section heavily damaged by a weekend fire can be salvaged and reopened after extensive repairs rather than having to be demolished and rebuilt, a project that nevertheless will likely take three to five weeks, officials said on Tuesday. The project was expected to commence immediately and continue around the clock until completed, California Governor Gavin Newsom said. Meanwhile, arson investigators were continuing their work seeking to identify the person or persons responsible for setting the fire, Newsom said. Newsom said the state had leased the site to Apex Development Inc, a company based in Calabasas, north of Los Angeles.

Persons: Jorge Garcia, Gavin Newsom, Karen Bass, Newsom, Daniel Berlant, Steve Gorman, Alistair Bell Organizations: REUTERS, Santa, Fire, Apex Development Inc, Apex, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, California, California's, Calabasas

☆ Airlines predict record Thanksgiving US holiday travel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Major U.S. airlines and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said Monday they expect record air travel over the Thanksgiving holiday air travel period. Airlines for America says Nov. 26 will be a record-setting air travel day with 3.2 million passengers. The record travel comes despite airline flight cuts to New York airports because of air traffic controller staffing. A government watchdog said in June critical ATC facilities face significant staffing challenges, posing risks to air traffic operations. In the summer of 2022, there were 41,498 flights from New York airports in which ATC staffing was a contributing factor in delays.

Persons: Elijah Nouvelage, David Shepardson, Alistair Bell Organizations: Hartsfield, Jackson Atlanta International Airport, REUTERS, Rights, Major U.S, Transportation Security Administration, Airlines for America, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, TSA, Federal Aviation Administration, JetBlue Airways, JFK, New York, Thomson Locations: Atlanta , Georgia, U.S, Major, New York, New York City, Burlington , Vermont, New

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