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Jesus Campos said he worked at Brawner Builders alongside the men missing after a bridge collapse in Baltimore. “We’re low-income families,” said Jesus Campos, who has worked at the construction company, Brawner Builders, for about eight months. The executive, Jeffrey Pritzker, and the Coast Guard said that all of the missing workers were presumed dead, given how long it had been since the collapse. Embassies for the other two countries mentioned by Mr. Campos did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Officials said that in addition to the six missing workers, two people had been rescued from the water.

Persons: Jesus Campos, “, ”, Jeffrey Pritzker, Mr, Pritzker, “ It’s, Campos, Francis Scott Key, Miguel Luna, Luna, Gustavo Torres, Jacey Fortin, Miriam Jordan, Patricia Mazzei, Emiliano Rodríguez Mega, Kirsten Noyes Organizations: Brawner Builders, Brawner, Coast Guard, Baltimore Banner Locations: Baltimore, Baltimore County, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Maryland, Petén, Mexican, Washington, Brawner

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico wants an urgent investigation into how U.S. military-grade weapons are increasingly being found in the hands of Mexican drug cartels, Mexico's top diplomat said Monday. Mexico’s army is finding belt-fed machine guns, rocket launchers and grenades that are not sold for civilian use in the United States. “The (Mexican) Defense Department has warned the United States about weapons entering Mexico that are for the exclusive use of the U.S. army,” Foreign Relations Secretary Alicia Bárcena said. While the Mexican army and marines still have superior firepower, the drug cartels' weaponry often now outclasses other branches of Mexican law enforcement. Mexico argued the companies knew weapons were being sold to traffickers who smuggled them into Mexico and decided to cash in on that market.

Persons: Alicia Bárcena, Luis Cresencio Sandoval, Sandoval, Ken Salazar, ” Salazar, Mexico’s, Bárcena, ” Bárcena, “ Organizations: MEXICO CITY, ) Defense Department, U.S ., Foreign, National Guard, Jalisco New, Mexico's Defense Department, U.S, Arms, Appeals, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Central America, South American, Central, Department, CBP Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, United States, Jalisco, Sinaloa, U.S, States, Central America, Boston , Massachusetts, South

☆ Israel-Hamas War Fighting Eases in Northern Gaza, Giving Residents Some Relief
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Adam Rasgon | Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

The Pakistani Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the country’s forces had conducted “precision military strikes” against what it called terrorist hide-outs in southeastern Iran. Iranian officials said that nine people had been killed, including four children, and Pakistani officials said the death toll of the Iranian strikes included at least two children. The official said that air force fighter jets and drones had been used in the Pakistani retaliatory strikes. In a statement, the Pakistani military called the two neighbors “brotherly countries” and said that “dialogue and cooperation is deemed prudent in resolving bilateral issues” between them. Pakistani military analysts were hopeful that this could pave the way for diplomatic dialogue between the two nations.

Persons: Islamic Republic “, ”, Ahmad Vahidi, Sohail Shahzad, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Syed Muhammad Ali, Waqar Hasan, Arash Khamooshi, Baluch, al, Vivian Nereim Organizations: Pakistani Foreign Affairs Ministry, Iran Exchange, Foreign Ministry, Islamic, Islamabad ”, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iranian, Credit, Pakistan, The New York Times Pakistan, Guards Locations: Pakistan, Iran, Baluch, Iraq, Islamic Republic, Saravan, Tehran, Islamabad, Rask, Israel, Gaza, Balochistan Province, Yemen, Suez, United States, Pakistani, “ Pakistan, Baluchistan Province, Sistan, Persian, Oman, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

☆ China hates the new president of Taiwan — but its 'real nightmare scenario' is a Trump-Taiwan combo: analyst
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewFormer President Donald Trump winning the White House in 2024 would create a "nightmare" for China, especially with president-elect William Lai Ching-te at Taiwan's helm, an analyst on China said. Advertisement"Beijing's real nightmare scenario is not necessarily watching Lai Ching-te winning the presidency of Taiwan, but it's the combination of Lai Ching-te and perhaps Donald Trump coming back into the White House," Daniels said. "He was a transactional president," Rosen said. Trump followed up by suggesting that the US may one day abandon its agreement to the "one China policy," Beijing's red-line stance that Taiwan is part of China. Cross-strait tensions soared, but just two months later, Trump called Xi and agreed that the US would uphold the "one China policy."

Persons: —, Donald Trump, William Lai Ching, Lai, it's Trump, Rorry Daniels, Lai Ching, Daniels, Trump, Mike Pompeo, Pompeo, Xi Jinping's, Stanley Rosen, It's, Rosen, Tsai Ing, Wen, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley Organizations: Service, White House, Business, Democratic Progressive Party, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Lai's, Asia Society, Center for, Nikkei, Taiwan, University of Southern, China Institute, Xi, GOP, Iowa Republican Locations: China, Taiwan's, Beijing, Taiwan, Center for China, Nikkei Asia, University of Southern California's US, Hong Kong, Taipei, Iowa

☆ Pakistan Retaliates With Strikes Inside Iran as Tensions Spill Over
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Salman Masood | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

In an expansion of hostilities rippling out from the Israel-Hamas war, Pakistan said on Thursday that it had carried out strikes inside Iran. The military action came a day after Iranian forces attacked what they said were militant camps in Pakistan. The Pakistani Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the country’s forces had conducted “precision military strikes” against what it called terrorist hide-outs in southeastern Iran. A senior Pakistani security official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Pakistan had struck at least seven camps used by Baluch separatists about 30 miles inside the border. The official said that air force fighter jets and drones were used in the Pakistani retaliatory strikes.

Organizations: Pakistani Foreign Affairs Ministry, Baluch Locations: Israel, Pakistan, Iran

☆ How an Indian startup hacked the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +41 min

The Indian company hacked on an industrial scale, stealing data from political leaders, international executives, prominent attorneys and more. Run by a pair of brothers, Rajat and Anuj Khare, the company began as a small Indian educational startup. The Indian company hacked on an industrial scale, stealing data from political leaders, international executives, sports figures and more. Back in 2012, Kristi Rogers was an executive at Aegis, a London-based security company. Canadian security company GardaWorld, which acquired Aegis in 2015, said it had no information on the incident.

Persons: Chuck Randall, Randall, “, ” Randall, ”, Randall’s inbox, Appin, Rajat, Anuj Khare, Rajat Khare’s, Clare Locke, Khare “, Khare, ” Clare Locke, Ted Kaczynski, Anuj, who’ve, SentinelOne, Tom Hegel, Appin “, Hegel, Mandiant, ” Hegel, Shane Huntley, ” Huntley, Google’s Huntley, ‘, Jochi Gómez, Gómez, Halevi, Tamir Mor, Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky, Mohamed Azmin Ali, ” Mor, Berezovsky, Azmin, Mor, Roman Abramovich, Mark Hastings, Hastings, didn’t, Jim H, ” Jim H, Jim H’s, Kristi Rogers, Mike Rogers, he’s, Global’s, sully, Rogers, Damian Perl, – “, Steven Santarpia, ” Santarpia, Santarpia, Leonel Fernández, ” Fernández, Rajat Khare, “ Let’s, Ministry of Home Affairs didn’t, Peter Hargitay, Stevie, Billing, ” Stevie, ’, ” Peter Hargitay, Mookhey, Norman Shark, Jonathan Camp, Shark, Camp, Norman, Dominican Republic –, Dan Brady, Sandra Schweingruber, ” Schweingruber, Schweingruber, Brady, ” Gómez, –, ” –, Anna Carter, Mark Califano, ” Rajat Khare’s, India’s, Educomp, Karen Hunter, Hunter, Bryan, Rajat’s, Vijay Kumar, Deepak Kumar, Kumar, ACSG, Jay Solomon, Solomon, ” Rebsec’s, Vishavdeep Singh, Rebsec, CyberRoot, Sumit Gupta, Gupta, Raphael Satter, Zeba Siddiqui, Christopher Bing, Ryan McNeill, Corinne Perkins, John Emerson, Marla Dickerson Organizations: Reuters, Google, Harvard University, U.S, Symantec, Appin, Caribbean, El, Israeli Defense Forces, Commando, Quillon Law, U.S . House Intelligence, The Michigan Republican, U.S . Senate, Aegis, Global Security, Security, Rogers, Army Corps of Engineers, Rotary, Aegis ’, Global, ” Reuters, Britain’s, Appin Software Security, Ltd, Appin Security, –, Research, Analysis, Intelligence Bureau, Indian, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, India’s Ministry of Defense, of Home Affairs, Central Bureau of Investigation, CBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ministry of Home Affairs, Telenor, Broadcom, FBI, Dominican, Criminal Investigation Service, Appin Security Group, CERT, country’s, Bureau of Investigation, Educomp, State Bank of India, State Bank, The National Security Agency, NSA, U.S ., Swiss, Appin Technology, India’s Ministry, Corporate Affairs, Control Security Global, Technology, Kumar, Facebook, Meta, BellTroX, Services, Street, New, Rebsec, BellTroX’s, Hire Locations: Long, New Delhi, India, Yorker, Paris, Swiss, cybersecurity, Appin, Dominican, California, “, Dominican Republic, El Siglo, United States, Britain, Switzerland, New York, French, New Jersey, Israel, Russian, Malaysian, London, Rwandan, Virginia, Canadian, Chuck@shinnecock.org, Texas, Indian, India’s Punjab, Pakistan, Zurich, Australia, Norway, Oslo, Brady, Former, ”, U.S, Islip, Shinnecock, Washington, cyberespionage

☆ The Scenes of Genocide I Saw in Israeli Morgues
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Qanta A. Ahmed | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Review and Outlook: The Secretary-General abandons Israel, a state the U.N. helped to create. Images: Zuma Press/AP/Getty Images Composite: Mark KellyA fetal heartbeat flutters and then stills, a bullet lodged in the embryonic heart. A body that has been decomposing for almost three weeks lies on the autopsy table, riddled with knife and bullet wounds. As an observant Muslim, I felt a duty to come and bear witness. What I saw will remain with me forever.

Persons: Israel, Mark Kelly, Kobi Valer Organizations: Zuma Press, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Israel

☆ Saudi Arabia says will host Arab and Islamic summits to discuss Gaza conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Investment Khalid Al Falih gestures during the opening session of the Future Investment Initiative Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 26, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will host summits of Arab and Islamic nations in coming days to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Saudi Arabia's investment minister said on Wednesday. "We will see, this week, in the next few days Saudi Arabia convening an emergency Arab summit in Riyadh," said Saudi investment minister Khalid Al-Falih, at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore. "In a few days you will see Saudi Arabia convening an Islamic summit," he said. Falih also said Saudi Arabia would convene a summit with African nations, without specifying a date.

Persons: Investment Khalid Al Falih, Ahmed Yosri, Khalid Al, Ebrahim Raisi, Falih, Tom Westbrook, Maha El, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Saudi, Investment, Future Investment Initiative, REUTERS, Rights, Bloomberg, Economy, of Islamic, Thomson Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Rights SINGAPORE, Saudi, Singapore, of Islamic Cooperation, Iranian, Tehran, China, Maha El Dahan, Dubai

☆ UAE, after Israel-Gaza conflict, says it does not mix trade with politics
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Rachna Uppal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, Oct 10 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates does not mix trade with politics, the country's trade minister said on Tuesday when asked whether the conflict between Israel and Hamas would impact economic agreements. "We don't mix the economy and trade with politics," Thani al Zeyoudi told reporters in Dubai. In March, a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries came into effect, Israel’s first free trade agreement with an Arab state. The UAE was the first Gulf country to normalise relations with Israel in 2020, breaking with decades of Arab policy toward the Palestinian cause. The UAE has described the attacks carried out by the Palestinian Islamist faction Hamas against Israel as a "serious and grave escalation".

Persons: Zeyoudi, Israel’s, Rachna Uppal, Maha El, Alison Williams, Christina Fincher Organizations: United, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Thani, Dubai, UAE, Georgia, Palestinian

☆ Venezuela Readying Return to Mexico-Based Talks With Opposition -Sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The talks between President Nicolas Maduro's government and the opposition are meant to find solutions to Venezuela's long-running political and economic crisis. The opposition will repeat its long-standing petition for release of political prisoners and guarantees for an election slated for 2024, two sources close to preparations for the talks said. Envoys from Caracas and Washington have met several times in Doha since last year in separate conversations, according to other sources with knowledge of those talks, but Venezuela's opposition did not directly participate. One source said the Venezuelan government had broadly discussed electoral issues at the Qatar talks, but had not entered into detail about guarantees. The United States announced on Thursday it will restart deportations of Venezuelans who cross the U.S.-Mexico border unlawfully, an agreement two of the sources said was achieved during the Doha talks.

Persons: Marianna Parraga, Diego Oré, Mayela Armas, Nicolas Maduro's, Delcy Rodriguez, Henrique Capriles, Vivian Sequera, Matt Spetalnick, Andrew Mills, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: MEXICO CITY, U.S . State Department, Venezuela's Foreign Affairs, Reuters, White, United States, Doha Locations: Mayela Armas HOUSTON, MEXICO, CARACAS, Mexico, U.S, Caracas, Washington, Doha, Qatar, United States, Venezuela, Venezuelan, Houston, Diego Ore, Mexico City, Washinghton

Work is under way on a joint statement that would be issued during the visit, four people informed about the negotiations told Reuters. China's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Reuters GraphicsSTATE VISIT PREPARATIONSOne of the sources said China had sent a team to Hanoi to organise accommodations for Xi's delegation. China's foreign minister Wang Yi was expected to visit Hanoi in mid-October to help finalise the joint statement, the source added, if sufficient progress on the text has been made. As China's president, Xi travelled to Vietnam twice, with his latest visit in 2017, when he attended an Asia-Pacific summit with Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and other leaders.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Wang Yi, Florence, Joe Biden's, Xi, Pham Thu, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Khanh Vu, Francesco Guarascio, Martin Pollard, Yew, Tian, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Graphics STATE, Vietnam, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Vietnam, HANOI, BEIJING, Hanoi, Washington, Vietnam's, United States, Europe, Asia, U.S, Singapore, South

☆ A Russian missile strike blew apart a grocery store and cafe, Ukraine says, and the attack looks to be one of the deadliest this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A Russian missile hit a small village in northeast Ukraine on Thursday, killing at least 51 people. The strike appears to mark one of the deadliest Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians this year. AdvertisementAdvertisementDozens of people are dead after a Russian missile struck a grocery store and cafe in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, officials said on Thursday. Rescues work at a site of a Russian military strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the village of Hroza, in Kharkiv region, Ukraine October 5, 2023. AdvertisementAdvertisementRescues work at a site of a Russian military strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the village of Hroza, in Kharkiv region, Ukraine October 5, 2023.

Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Rustem, Kharkiv Regional Military Administration Oleg Syniehubov, REUTERS Mykhailo Podolyak, Vladimir Putin, Andriy, Moscow's Organizations: Service, Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, REUTERS, REUTERS Hroza, United, UN, Human Rights Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Kharkiv, Hroza, Kharkiv region, Ukrainian, Russia, Kupiansk, Dnipro, United Nations

☆ Kenya President Reshuffles Cabinet, Swaps Foreign Affairs Minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya's President William Ruto on Wednesday reshuffled eight members of his cabinet, and folded the foreign affairs ministry into the office of the chief minister. The changes were necessary, Ruto said, to "optimise performance and enhance delivery as set out in the administration's manifesto". Ruto has faced a series of nationwide protests over the high cost of living and tax hikes since he took power in August 2022. Foreign minister Alfred Mutua was transferred to the ministry of tourism and wildlife, while trade minister Moses Kiarie Kuria was moved to the ministry of public service. The foreign ministry was brought under the portfolio of the prime cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

Persons: William Ruto, Ruto, Alfred Mutua, Moses Kiarie Kuria, Musalia Mudavadi, Mutua, Hereward Holland Organizations: United Nations Locations: NAIROBI, Haiti, Caribbean

☆ Kenya President reshuffles cabinet, swaps foreign affairs minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Kenya's President William Ruto attends the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit at United Nations headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., September 18, 2023. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNAIROBI, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Kenya's President William Ruto on Wednesday reshuffled eight members of his cabinet, and folded the foreign affairs ministry into the office of the chief minister. The changes were necessary, Ruto said, to "optimise performance and enhance delivery as set out in the administration's manifesto". Foreign minister Alfred Mutua was transferred to the ministry of tourism and wildlife, while trade minister Moses Kiarie Kuria was moved to the ministry of public service. The foreign ministry was brought under the portfolio of the prime cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

Persons: William Ruto, Caitlin Ochs, Ruto, Alfred Mutua, Moses Kiarie Kuria, Musalia Mudavadi, Mutua, Hereward Organizations: Sustainable, United Nations, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, Rights NAIROBI, Haiti, Caribbean

☆ Russia's EU neighbors are banning Russian vehicles from entering their countries as the bloc toughens sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

EU countries bordering Russia have started banning Russian vehicles from entering their territories. The European Commission recently said that vehicles registered in Russia are not allowed into the 27-member bloc. AdvertisementAdvertisementEuropean Union countries are stepping up their enforcement of sanctions against Russia as the Ukraine war stretches into its 19th month. Earlier this month, the European Commission stated in an updated sanctions FAQ that vehicles registered in Russia are not allowed into the 27-member bloc. In the last two weeks, the EU countries that border Russia — Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland — have implemented entry bans on Russian-registered vehicles.

Persons: — Organizations: European Commission, Service, Union, Russia, EU, NRK, Reuters Locations: Russia, Latvia, Ukraine, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Norway

Jerusalem CNN —The United Nations World Heritage Committee voted Sunday to list the Tell es-Sultan archaeological site in Jericho as a “World Heritage Site in Palestine.”The decision was made at a conference held in Riyadh, UNESCO said on its official X account, formerly known as Twitter. The Palestinian Authority welcomed the decision, while Israel expressed ire. The newly designated site, located in Jericho in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, contains ruins dating back to the ninth millennium BCE. “The outstanding universal value of the site qualifies it to be one of the World Heritage sites,” Ma’ayah said. In 2010, Jericho celebrated being the oldest walled city in the world, dating back to the modern Stone Age.

Persons: Antiquities Rula Ma’ayah, “, ” Ma’ayah, Jericho Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, United Nations World Heritage, UNESCO, Twitter, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Palestinian Authority Foreign Affairs Ministry, ., Tourism, Antiquities, CNN, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ” Locations: Jerusalem, Jericho, Palestine, Riyadh, Israel, Jordan

☆ Elon Musk says Joe Biden and the US government are the ones to blame for the Crimea Starlink debacle, not him
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukrainian officials have slammed Elon Musk for not allowing Ukraine to access Starlink satellites. Musk said the US government did not give him the OK to turn on Starlink access in Crimea. Musk said he would have given Ukraine access to the satellites if Biden gave the green light. Access to Starlink in the territory near Crimea was "turned off" because the US has sanctions against Russia, Musk said. AdvertisementAdvertisementMusk did not specify who turned Starlink access off, or when exactly it was turned off.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, Biden, Starlink, Walter Isaacson, Elon, it's Organizations: Service, Crimea —, Russia, SpaceX, Elon, The State Department, White Locations: Ukraine, Crimea, Wall, Silicon, Starlink, Russia, Ukrainian, Russian, Harbor, Japan

☆ China, Airbus among potential losers from boosted US-Vietnam ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

U.S. President Joe Biden attends a meeting with Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, at the Communist Party of Vietnam Headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, September 10, 2023. But Washington's elevation to the same tier as Beijing in Vietnam's ranking will inevitably have an impact on China. The White House had no new arms deals to announce, but the new ties may facilitate future supplies from the U.S. or its partners. That would inevitably reduce Vietnam's reliance on Russian gear, although Hanoi is currently negotiating a new possible arms deal with Moscow. "We do not have any comment on a decision that does not involve Airbus," an Airbus spokesperson said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Nguyen Phu Trong, Evelyn Hockstein, Mao Ning, Joe Biden's, Biden, Carolyn Nash, Fluence, Germany's, Francesco Guarascio, Tim Hepher, Jamie Freed Organizations: Vietnam's Communist Party General, Communist Party of, REUTERS, Washington, White, AIRBUS, U.S, planemaker Boeing, Vietnam Airlines, Airbus, Boeing, Amnesty International, Vietnam, Communist Party, Human Rights Watch, INDIA Washington, Nvidia, Microsoft, AES, SIEMENS, AMI, Honeywell, Nasdaq, Germany's Siemens, Siemens, Thomson Locations: Communist Party of Vietnam, Hanoi, Vietnam, United States, Washington, CHINA Vietnam, Beijing, China, Vietnam's, RUSSIA Vietnam, Russia, U.S, Moscow, Hanoi , U.S, Asia, MALAYSIA, INDIA, Malaysia, India, Paris

☆ Lithuania summons Pope's diplomat over remarks on Russian empire heritage
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer from his window at the Vatican, August 27, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsVILNIUS, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Majority-Catholic EU member Lithuania has summoned the Vatican's top diplomat in the country after Pope Francis told Russian youths to remember they are the heirs of "the great Russian empire". The Vatican said on Tuesday Pope Francis did not intend to glorify Russian imperialism in the speech, in which he also extolled Russian emperors Peter the Great and Catherine II who expanded the Russian empire. The territories of Lithuania and Poland were annexed into the Russian empire in the 18th century by Catherine II. Francis' intent was "to preserve and promote all that is positive in the great Russian cultural and spiritual heritage", said Vatican.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Peter the Great, Catherine II, Russia, Andrius Sytas, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS, Rights, Catholic EU, Lithuanian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Russian, European Union, NATO, Catholic, Communist, Thomson Locations: Rights VILNIUS, Lithuania, St . Petersburg, Russian, Poland, Vatican, Ukraine, Soviet, Vilnius

☆ Taliban stopped 100 women flying to Dubai for university scholarships, UAE billionaire says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Charlotte Greenfield | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Afghan women shout slogans during a rally to protest against what the protesters say is Taliban restrictions on women, in Kabul, Afghanistan, December 28, 2021. REUTERS/Ali Khara/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 23 (Reuters) - The head of a Dubai-based conglomerate on Wednesday said Afghanistan's Taliban authorities had stopped around 100 women from travelling to the United Arab Emirates where he was to sponsor their university education. Spokespeople for the Taliban administration and Afghan foreign affairs ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. They allow Afghans to leave the country but usually require Afghan women travelling long distances and abroad to be accompanied by a male chaperone, such as their husband, father or brother. Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield and Maha El Dahan Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ali Khara, Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Al Habtoor, Charlotte Greenfield, Maha El, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, United, United Arab Emirates, Al, UAE, Thomson Locations: Kabul, Afghanistan, Dubai, United Arab, Maha

☆ UN says Taliban carried out hundreds of extrajudicial killings after seizing power
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Taliban fighters have committed hundreds of extrajudicial killings since taking power in Afghanistan in 2021, despite a “general amnesty” meant to protect the previous government, according to the United Nations. International rights groups and bodies like the UN have accused the Taliban of unwinding progress in protecting human rights since seizing power. In interviews conducted with UN officials, individuals recounted beatings with pipes, cables, verbal threats and abuse at the hands of Taliban security force members. “Former government and security officials are entitled to the same human rights protections as all Afghans.”Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called on the Taliban to punish offenders. “Afghans were able to regain their country, freedom, government and will,” Taliban deputy spokesperson Bilal Karimi previously told CNN.

Persons: “, ”, Volker Turk, Abdul Khaliq, ’, Alia Azizi, hasn’t, UNAMA, ” Turk, Amir al, Hibatullah Akhundzada, Bilal Karimi, Roza Otunbayeva, ” Otunbayeva Organizations: CNN, Taliban, United Nations, United Nations Assistance, Afghan National Army, police, National Directorate of Security, UN, Human Rights, NATO, Taliban’s Locations: Afghanistan, Kabul, Herat, Emirate

☆ UN says over 200 former Afghan military, officials killed since Taliban takeover
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Ali Khara/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 22 (Reuters) - More than 200 members of Afghanistan's former military, law enforcement and government have been killed since the Taliban took over, the U.N. mission in Afghanistan said on Tuesday, despite a "general amnesty" for old enemies. The mission said in a report it had recorded at least 218 extrajudicial killings with links to the Taliban from their takeover of Afghanistan in mid-2021 up to June. "In most instances, individuals were detained by de facto security forces, often briefly, before being killed," the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said. Senior Taliban leaders have said there is an amnesty for former government officials and members of the military by order of their supreme leader. In total, UNAMA had recorded 800 incidents of human rights violations connected with the Taliban against former government employees and military including arbitrary arrests, disappearance and torture.

Persons: Ali Khara, UNAMA, Charlotte Greenfield, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Senior, Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, Thomson Locations: Emirate, Afghanistan, Kabul, Islamic Emirate

☆ Reaction to killing of Ecuador presidential candidate Villavicencio
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

QUITO, Aug 9 (Reuters) - The following are reactions to the assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio on Wednesday. Ecuadorean presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio speaks during a campaign rally in Quito, Ecuador August 9, 2023. AMBASSADOR TO ECUADOR MIKE FITZPATRICK"I am deeply dismayed to learn of the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio, presidential candidate and fighter against the corruption and narco-criminals who have done so much damage to Ecuador." PARAGUAY'S PRESIDENT-ELECT SANTIAGO PENA"We repudiate and condemn the assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. HONDURAN PRESIDENT XIOMARA CASTRO"We strongly condemn the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.

Persons: Fernando Villavicencio, GUILLERMO LASSO, Mayor Intriago, Fernando, RAFAEL CORREA, LUISA GONZALEZ, DANIEL NOBOA AZIN, XAVIER HERVAS, Karen Toro, MIKE FITZPATRICK, SANTIAGO PENA, XIOMARA CASTRO, Alexandra Valencia, Isabel Woodford, Valentine Hilaire, Caroline Pulice, Lincoln Organizations: OF, AMERICAN STATES, REUTERS, U.S, AFFAIRS MINISTRY, Ecuadorian, MINISTRY OF, Thomson Locations: QUITO, OF ECUADOR, Ecuador, Quito, Government, Chile, Ecuadorian Government, Mexico City

☆ France condemns anti-French unrest in Niger following coup
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, July 30 (Reuters) - France condemned violence against its diplomatic mission in Niger and pledged to react strongly to any attack on its nationals or interests, as anti-French protests took place outside the French Embassy in Niamey on Sunday following last week's military coup. In a separate statement, the Foreign Affairs ministry condemned all violence against diplomatic missions and called on Niger authorities to protect the French mission as required under international law. France, the former colonial power in Niger, announced on Saturday it was cutting all development aid to the country and called for Bazoum to be returned to office following his ouster late on Wednesday. Niger has been a security partner of France, and the United States, which have used it as a base to fight an Islamist insurgency in West and Central Africa's wider Sahel region. Reporting by Elizabeth Pineau and Layli Foroudi Editing by Bernadette Baum and Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron's, Macron, Mohamed Bazoum, Elizabeth Pineau, Bernadette Baum, Frances Kerry Organizations: Foreign Affairs, Thomson Locations: France, Niger, Niamey, Niger Mahamadou, . Niger, United States, West, Central

☆ Russia had a super-advanced air defense system within 300 meters of a drone attack in Moscow, but failed to shoot it down
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A drone attack close to Russia's Defence Ministry on Monday left two buildings damaged. But less than 300 meters away from the attack, Russia has an air defense system, Radio Liberty reported. The defense system was not activated on the morning of the attack, eyewitnesses told Radio Liberty. "As for the development of the defense system, ensuring its more intensive work, this is a question for the Ministry of Defense." Ukraine has not formally accepted responsibility for the attack, though one unnamed intelligence official told CNN that Kyiv was behind it.

Persons: Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Mykhailo Fedorov Organizations: Russia's Defence, Radio Liberty, Service, Russia, Drones, Russia's Ministry of Defence, Pravda, Ministry of Defense, Russia's Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ukraine, Ukrainian Pravda, CNN, Kyiv Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Moscow —, Russian, Ukrainian, Ukraine

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