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☆ Yemen's Houthis Hold Funeral for 17 Militants Killed in US-UK Air Strikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO (Reuters) - Yemen's Houthi militia held a funeral on Saturday for at least 17 militants killed during joint U.S.-British airstrikes targeting the Iran-backed militants, the Houthi-run Saba news agency said. The Houthis have launched waves of exploding drones and missiles at commercial ships since Nov. 19 in what they say is a response to Israel's military operations in Gaza, prompting Britain and the United States to start retaliatory strikes last month. "These crimes will not discourage the Yemeni people from continuing their support and backing of their brothers in the Gaza Strip," Saba said in its coverage of the funerals. The Houthi campaign has disrupted international shipping, causing some companies to suspend transits through the Red Sea and instead take the much longer, costlier journey around Africa. Photos You Should See View All 21 Images(Reporting by Ahmed Tolba; Writing by Adam Makary; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Helen Popper)

Persons: Saba, Ahmed Tolba, Adam Makary, Mark Heinrich, Helen Popper Locations: CAIRO, Iran, Saba, Gaza, Britain, United States, Israel, Yemen, U.S, Africa

☆ Russia Says It Foiled Ukrainian Drone Attack on Civilian Cargo Ships in Black Sea
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Saturday it had repelled an attempted Ukrainian drone attack on Russian "civilian transport ships" on Friday evening in the southwestern part of the Black Sea, a key artery for grain and oil exports from both countries. It said Russian patrol boats and warplanes had averted the attack, destroying one Ukrainian naval drone by artillery fire and disabling the rest by electronic warfare. A day later, Ukraine said it would adopt the same stance on ships bound for Russian and Russian-controlled Ukrainian ports. The southwestern part of the Black Sea adjoins Turkey's Bosphorus Strait through which cargoes leaving the sea travel. Ukraine has in recent months mounted a series of drone and missile attacks on Russian military targets in the Black Sea, sinking at least one naval vessel and damaging others.

Persons: ReutersWriting, Felix LightEditing, Helen PopperEditing, Mark Heinrich, Giles Elgood, Helen Popper Organizations: Civilian, Russia's Defence Ministry Locations: MOSCOW, Russia, Ukrainian, Russian, Moscow, Ukraine, Turkish

☆ Russia's Military Drone Production Ramping Up, Says Defence Minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said in footage published by his ministry on Saturday that the country's production of military drones had ramped up in the past year, though certain technical issues still needed tackling. Russia has made extensive use of drones in the course of the almost two year-long military campaign in Ukraine, but has often had to rely on cheap Iranian-made Shahed drones. "The production capacities that have been created allow us to complete most of the tasks that we are faced with today," Shoigu said during a tour of drone production facilities in the Volga river region of Udmurtia. He was shown telling a meeting of officials that issues related to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in drones and electronic warfare still needed to be resolved. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 ImagesMoscow has in recent months been signalling that its military industrial complex has stepped up production, as Russia seeks to break months of military deadlock in Ukraine.

Persons: Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Felix Light, Helen Popper Organizations: Russian Defence, Reuters Locations: MOSCOW, Russia, Ukraine, Udmurtia, Moscow

☆ Israeli-managed vessel hit by suspected Iranian drone, US official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Aziz El Yaakoubi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

RIYADH, Nov 25 (Reuters) - A container ship managed by an Israeli-controlled company was hit by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean, causing minor damage to the vessel but no injuries, a U.S. defence official said on Saturday. The Malta-flagged CMA CGM SYMI, recently renamed Mayet, was struck on Friday by an unmanned aerial vehicle, which appeared to be an Iranian Shahed-136 drone, in the northeast portion of the Indian Ocean, the official said, asking not to be named. Israel called the vessel's seizure an "Iranian act of terrorism". Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS), which had rented Mayet, said it was aware a container ship was targeted in a possible security incident on Friday. The United States has blamed Iran for unclaimed attacks on several vessels in the region in the past few years.

Persons: Yemen's Houthis, Idan Ofer, Mayet, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Sybille de La, Maayan, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Eastern Pacific Shipping, Reuters, Dubai's, United, Britain's Maritime Trade Operations, Dubai Newsroom, Thomson Locations: RIYADH, Israeli, U.S, Malta, Iranian, Iran, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Singapore, Dubai's Jebel Ali, Oman's, United States, Tehran, Red, Paris, Jerusalem

☆ Tens of thousands join pro-Palestinian march in central London
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] Demonstrators gather in Park Lane to protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, during a temporary truce between Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and Israel, in London, Britain, November 25, 2023. REUTERS/Hollie Adams Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched through central London on Saturday to call for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the latest in a series of similar weekend demonstrations in the capital since the seven-week war began. "We need full support for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza," protester Kate Hudson, 64, told Reuters at the rally as demonstrators carrying signs such as "Ceasefire Now!" and "Stop the War on Gaza" walked peacefully along the march route towards the Houses of Parliament. Reporting by Muvija M and Natalie Thomas Editing by Helen PopperOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Hollie Adams, Saturday's, Kate Hudson, Hudson, Suella Braverman, Rishi Sunak, Muvija M, Natalie Thomas, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Reuters, Police, London's Metropolitan Police, Israel, Thomson Locations: Park Lane, Gaza, Israel, London, Britain, Palestinian

☆ Thousands expected to take part in pro-Palestinian rally in London
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People protest on Vauxhall Bridge during a march in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in London, Britain, November 11, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Thousands of protesters were expected to join a pro-Palestinian march in London on Saturday, with city police warning demonstrators that anyone deemed to be racist would be arrested at the rally. Hamas was expected to release 14 more hostages on Saturday, Egyptian security sources said, and Israel prepared to free 42 Palestinian prisoners on the second day of the truce. Police said on Friday more than 1,500 officers would be on duty this weekend to handle the protest. "This sets out that anyone who is racist or incites hatred against any group should expect to be arrested.

Persons: Kevin Coombs, Israel, Lindsey German, Ade Adelekan, Muvija, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Vauxhall, Hamas, REUTERS, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, PSC, Sky News . Police, Metropolitan, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, London, Britain, Palestine

☆ More than 20,000 people join pro-Palestinian rally in Brussels
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] People take part in a protest in support of Palestinians in Gaza, as the conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas continues, in Brussels, Belgium, November 11, 2023. "What is happening right now in Gaza is beyond devastating," one demonstrator said, carrying a poster that read "Ceasefire now!" But the Israeli military response has also prompted anger, with protests in cities around the world demanding a ceasefire. In London, more than 100,000 pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets on Saturday. In Paris, several thousand demonstrators, including some left-wing lawmakers, marched with Palestinian flags and banners to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Persons: Yves Herman Acquire, Benjamin Netanyahu, Bart Biesemans, Lucien Libert, Claudia Greco, Sabine Siebold, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, Saturday, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Brussels, Belgium, Rights BRUSSELS, Western, London, Paris

About a mile away from the start of the march, about 1,000 people lined the streets to watch the remembrance events at the Cenotaph war memorial. Among the crowd, some right-wing counter-protesters opposed to the pro-Palestinian march chanted messages including "We want out country back". DISRESPECTFULSunak has criticised the pro-Palestinian rally as disrespectful amid concerns it could spark violence. There has been strong support and sympathy for Israel from Western governments, including Britain's, and many citizens over the Hamas attacks. But the Israeli response has also prompted anger, with weekly protests in London demanding a ceasefire.

Persons: Hollie Adams, Laurence Taylor, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Suella Braverman, Taylor, I've, Michael Holden, Hannah McKay, Sarah Young, Ed Osmond, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Government, Cenotaph . Police, Charing, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, PSC, U.S, Embassy, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, London, Britain, Palestine, Waterloo, Victoria, Downing, Western

☆ Philippines to continue South China Sea supply missions despite Chinese boats
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Philippine supply boat sails near a Chinese Coast Guard ship during a resupply mission for Filipino troops stationed at a grounded warship in the South China Sea, October 4, 2023. REUTERS/Adrian Portugal/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Nov 11 (Reuters) - The Philippines' coast guard said on Saturday it would maintain its regular supply missions to troops stationed on a disputed atoll in the South China Sea even though it expects more Chinese vessels to be sent to the area. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including the Second Thomas Shoal, and has deployed hundreds of vessels to patrol there. "We are still going to carry out these dangerous missions despite our limited number of vessels and despite the increasing number of Chinese vessels they are going to deploy," Philippine coast guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela told a press conference. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos has pursued warmer ties with Washington, reversing the pro-China stance of his predecessor and leading to a rise in tension in the South China Sea.

Persons: Adrian Portugal, Thomas Shoal, Jay Tarriela, Tarriela, Ferdinand Marcos, Neil Jerome Morales, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Coast Guard, REUTERS, Rights, South China, Philippine, China's, U.S . State Department, People's, Thomson Locations: Philippine, South China, Rights MANILA, Philippines, South, China, Manila, People's Republic of China, Washington

☆ More Than 20,000 People Join Pro-Palestinian Rally in Brussels
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - About 21,000 people took part in a pro-Palestinian rally in Brussels on Saturday, police said, many chanting slogans such as "Free Palestine" and demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as they marched peacefully through the city. "What is happening right now in Gaza is beyond devastating," one demonstrator said, carrying a poster that read "Ceasefire now!" But the Israeli military response has also prompted anger, with protests in cities around the world demanding a ceasefire. In London, more than 100,000 pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets on Saturday. In Paris, several thousand demonstrators, including some left-wing lawmakers, marched with Palestinian flags and banners to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Bart Biesemans, Lucien Libert, Claudia Greco, Sabine Siebold, Helen Popper Organizations: Saturday Locations: BRUSSELS, Brussels, Gaza, Israel, Western, London, Paris

Telefonica and Liberty Global have been working with advisers on the sale of up to half of their combined 50% stake in Cornerstone. Vodafone (VOD.L) owns the rest of the business through its Frankfurt-based subsidiary Vantage Towers (VTWRn.H). Spokespeople for Telefonica, Liberty Global, Virgin Media O2 and GLIL declined to comment. Cornerstone, established in 2012, is Britain's largest tower company, managing more than 20,000 sites, according to the company's website. In recent years infrastructure and private equity investors have competed for slices in some of the largest tower deals, including Deutsche Telekom's sale of a majority stake in GD Towers, because of their stable cash yield and long-term contracts.

Persons: Phil Noble, Amy, Jo Crowley, Andres Gonzalez, Paul Sandle, Helen Popper Our Organizations: REUTERS, Virgin Media O2, Liberty Global, Telefonica, Cornerstone, Vodafone, Deutsche, GD, Thomson Locations: Blackpool, Britain, Frankfurt

☆ Egypt says 'Israeli obstacles' impeding aid delivery to Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Palestinians, who fled their houses amid Israeli strikes, take shelter at a tent camp at a United Nations-run centre, after Israel's call for more than 1 million civilians in northern Gaza to move south, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 26, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 28 (Reuters) - Egypt's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday "Israeli obstacles" including truck inspection procedures were impeding the prompt delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Palestinian enclave. The Rafah crossing, which is controlled by Egypt and does not border Israel, has become the main point of aid delivery since Israel imposed a siege on Gaza in retaliation for an attack by Hamas militants from the coastal strip on Oct. 7. Israel has vowed to wipe out the Hamas group that rules Gaza, which it says killed 1,400 people and took hundreds hostage in an Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel. Reuters GraphicsReporting by Enas Alashray and Hatem Maher; Editing by David Evans and Helen PopperOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Antonio Guterres, Israel, Gaza's, Enas Alashray, Hatem Maher, David Evans, Helen Popper Our Organizations: United Nations, REUTERS, U.N, Hamas, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Egypt, Rafah, Israel

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of parliament from his ruling AK Party (AKP) during a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara, Turkey, October 25, 2023. Political analysts said his planned address in Istanbul aimed to reinforce his growing criticism of Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip and to overshadow Sunday's celebrations marking Turkey's secular roots. Turkey has condemned Israeli civilian deaths caused by Hamas's Oct. 7 rampage through southern Israel, but Erdogan this week called the militant group Palestinian "freedom fighters". ATATURK LEGACYThis week, Erdogan invited all Turks to attend the rally where he said "only our flag and the Palestine flag will wave". Erdogan, Turkey's longest-serving leader, and his Islamist-rooted AK Party have eroded support for the Western-facing ideals of Ataturk, who is revered by most Turks.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, Murat Cetinmuhurdar, Erdogan, Israel, Sinan Ulgen, Ulgen, ATATURK, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Turkey's, Ataturk, Asli Aydintasbas, Gumrukcu, Jonathan Spicer, Helen Popper Our Organizations: AK Party, Turkish, REUTERS, Hamas, Gaza, Hamas's, Jerusalem, NATO, European Union, Centre for Economic, Foreign Policy Studies, Brookings, Thomson Locations: Ankara, Turkey, Handout, Israel Turkey, ISTANBUL, Israel, Istanbul, Italy, Turkish, Palestine, Washington

[1/3] People walk through a CCTV (closed-circuit television system) monitored alley in Itaewon, where the Halloween crowd crush occurred last year, in Seoul, South Korea, October 23, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Soo-hyeon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Oct 28 (Reuters) - A year after 159 Halloween revellers were killed in a crowd crush in South Korea, the capital's night-life district of Itaewon was quiet on Saturday, the area's usual festivities replaced by mourning for those died. Lee Sung-min, who has lived and worked in the Seoul district for years, said he did not even realise it was the Halloween weekend until early Saturday. Many people were still looking for other places to join Halloween festivities, such as Hongdae, another popular spot among the young. "I thought Hongdae would be better than Itaewon to celebrate Halloween with my boyfriend," said Cheon Ye-ji, a 19-year-old student.

Persons: Kim Soo, Lee Sung, Lee, I've, Lee Jung, Cheon, Daewoung Kim, Jimin Jung, Soo, Choi, Helen Popper Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Itaewon, Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL

☆ Hundreds of thousands rally in global cities to support Palestinians
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Yann Tessier | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/6] Demonstrators protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in London, Britain, October 28, 2023. This is why we're here: we're calling for a ceasefire, calling for Palestinian rights, the right to exist, to live, human rights, all our rights," said protester Camille Revuelta. Addressing hundreds of thousands of supporters at a huge rally in Istanbul, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Israel was an occupier, and repeated his stance about Hamas not being a terrorist organisation. Some cities in France have banned rallies since the war began, fearing they could fuel social tensions, but despite a ban in Paris, a small rally took place on Saturday. In New Zealand's capital, Wellington, thousands of people holding Palestinian flags and placards reading "Free Palestine" marched to Parliament House.

Persons: Susannah Ireland, Rishi Sunak, Camille Revuelta, Israel, Tayyip Erdogan, Erdogan, Yann Tessier, Ben Makori, Will Russell, William James, Helen Popper, Alison Williams Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, U.S, West Bank, Embassy, Police, Ece Toksabay, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, London, Britain, Europe, East, Asia, Western, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul, Baghdad, Hebron, Palestine, Copenhagen, Rome, Stockholm, France, Paris, Marseille, New Zealand's, Wellington

Ellie Amador picks up a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farmers to Families food box as food is distributed at the nonprofit New Life Centers' food pantry in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. March 16, 2021. The USDA report, which did not provide an explanation for the rise, found that 12.8% of households - equivalent to 17 million households - struggled to get enough food in 2022, up from 10.2%, or 13.5 million households, in 2021. Nearly 7 million households faced very low food security, meaning members' normal eating patterns were disrupted or food intake dropped because of limited resources, USDA said. More than 13 million children, or 18.5% of the country's child population, lived in food insecure households in 2022. More than 27.6 million Americans reported experiencing food scarcity in the most recent survey, conducted between Sept. 20 and Oct. 2, up 9.5% from the start of the year.

Persons: Ellie Amador, Daniel Acker, Tom Vilsack, Lisa Davis, Nell Menefee, Leah Douglas, Jonathan Oatis, Helen Popper Our Organizations: United States Department of Agriculture, Farmers, Centers, REUTERS, U.S . Department of Agriculture, . Census, USDA, Census, Children, WIC, National WIC Association, Thomson Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, United States

The company's third-quarter sales volumes were also up against a tough comparative period from last year, when the recall of a rival U.S.-based company's infant formula boosted sales of Reckitt's Enfamil products there. Reckitt said quarterly like-for-like net sales rose 3.4%, behind the 3.7% growth analysts had expected in a company-supplied poll. Rival consumer products makers who have raised prices over the past two years have said in recent weeks that sales volumes could soon see improvements. The price/mix for Reckitt's products, which include Nurofen tablets and Durex condoms, rose 7.5%. Volumes declined 4.1% compared with last year.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Reckitt, Kris Licht, Bernstein, Bruno Monteyne, Richa Naidu, Jason Neely, David Evans, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Benckiser, REUTERS, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S

Investors stand in front of a screen showing the logo of Nomura Holdings in Tokyo, Japan, December 1, 2015. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Japanese investment bank Nomura Holdings (8604.T) has laid off about 10 of its Hong Kong-based investment bankers, including some who were focused on China-related deals, said two sources with direct knowledge of the matter. The Japanese investment bank has seen its China-linked fortunes slipping lately. Its fortunes in regional equity capital markets were boosted by its leading advisory role in March on the $9.24-billion stake sale by Japan Post Holdings (6178.T) in Japan Post Bank Co(7182.T). Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Selena Li in Hong Kong Editing by Helen PopperOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Nomura, LSEG, Goldman Sachs, Scott Murdoch, Selena Li, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Nomura Holdings, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Japan Post Holdings, Japan Post Bank Co, Bank of America, Citigroup, UBS, Hong, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Asia, Sydney

The opposition and the primary's winner Maria Corina Machado have insisted repeatedly it was transparent and fair. The U.S. State Department is aware of the accusations and called for an investigation, a spokesperson said, adding the primary was "an important milestone" for Venezuela. The investigation, requested by lawmaker Jose Brito, will center on accusations of electoral violations, financial crimes and conspiracy, Saab said during a press conference. The electoral violations stem from the primary being organized without the National Electoral Council, Saab said. Voter rolls for the primary included 2 million people who neither registered nor participated, Saab said, and financing for the primary has not been made public.

Persons: Tarek Saab, Maria Corina Machado, Machado, Nicolas Maduro's, Nicolas Maduro, Jose Brito, Saab, Jesus Maria Casal, Mildred Camero, Roberto Abdul, Hadi, Vivian Sequera, Mayela Armas, Julia Symmes Cobb, Natalia Siniawski, Oliver Griffin, Helen Popper, Marguerita Choy, Rod Nickel Organizations: Venezuela's, Washington, U.S . State Department, Electoral Council, Saab, Voters, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, Washington, Maduro, Barbados, U.S, Venezuela, Sumate

☆ Ukraine plans to ramp up monthly drone output by year-end - minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An FPV (first person view) drone and additional equipment are seen at a training facility for military FPV drone pilots amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at an undisclosed location in Zhytomyr region, Ukraine September 14, 2023. Kyiv has focused on increasing its output, but has relied heavily on foreign-made drone engines. Speaking at a NATO Industry Forum in Stockholm, Oleksandr Kamyshin, the minister who oversees Ukraine's defence industry, did not disclose detailed current drone production figures, but put the number in the thousands per month. Ukrainian officials hope cooperation with Western arms producers can also help revive the domestic arms industry and create an additional boost for the economy. Kamyshin said he had recently seen a "new wave of interest" in his country from Western defense industry companies.

Persons: Max Hunder, Oleksandr Kamyshin, Kamyshin, Yuliia, Tom Balmforth, Helen Popper Our Organizations: REUTERS, NATO Industry Forum, Western, Tuesday, Rheinmetall, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Zhytomyr region, Russia, Kyiv, Stockholm

☆ Polish police cordon off Warsaw square amid reports of bomb threat
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WARSAW, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Police cordoned off Warsaw's Pilsudski Square and the surrounding area of the Polish capital on Saturday, with local media reporting that a man had climbed onto a monument in the square and threatened to blow himself up. Private broadcaster Polsat News reported that at around 1130 GMT the man surrendered to police. Its footage showed him climbing down from the monument, taking off his jacket and walking away with his hands in the air. PAP said several hundred officers were involved in an operation around the square. A guest at the Sofitel hotel, which faces the square, said they had been told to only leave the building by the back exit.

Persons: Lech Kaczynski, Maria, Thomas Holdstock, Kuba Stezycki, Alan Charlish, Sharon Singleton, Helen Popper, Mark Potter Organizations: Police, Polsat, Twitter, Reuters, Thomson Locations: WARSAW, Poland, Smolensk

☆ Man surrenders to Polish police after incident that closed Warsaw square
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WARSAW, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Polish police negotiators persuaded a man to come down from a monument in a central Warsaw square, a spokesperson said, putting an end to an incident that had seen part of the capital cordoned off amid reports of a bomb threat. Private broadcaster Polsat News reported that at around 1130 GMT the man surrendered to police. Police spokesperson Sylwester Marczak told reporters officers had seen the man climbing onto the Smolensk monument at around 0800 GMT. quoted by the state-run PAP news agency, did not confirm the reports that the man was threatening to blow himself up. A guest at the Sofitel hotel, which faces the square, said they had been told to only leave the building by the back exit.

Persons: Sylwester Marczak, Lech Kaczynski, Maria, Thomas Holdstock, Kuba Stezycki, Alan Charlish, Sharon Singleton, Helen Popper, Mark Potter Organizations: Polish, Polsat, Police, Twitter, Reuters, Thomson Locations: WARSAW, Warsaw, Smolensk, Poland

☆ Top Ukraine general says fighting in northeast has 'significantly worsened'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Commander of the Ground Forces colonel general Oleksandr Syrskyi reports to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at a position near the front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine June 26, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Fighting along the northern portion of Ukraine's eastern front has "significantly worsened" in recent days, the commander of Kyiv's ground forces said on Saturday. Oleksandr Syrskyi, who was visiting Ukrainian troops in the area, said Russian forces had regrouped after suffering losses and were attacking around the village of Makiivka and towards the city of Kupiansk. Syrskyi added that Russian forces were carrying out "dozens" of assaults each day, but that Ukrainian troops had been ready and were holding their ground. Reporting by Dan Peleschuk Editing by Helen PopperOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Dan Peleschuk, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Ground Forces, Presidential Press Service, REUTERS, Rights, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Donetsk region, Ukrainian, Makiivka, Kupiansk, Avdiivka, Bakhmut

REUTERS/Susana Vera Acquire Licensing RightsMARRAKECH, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Ukraine is finding it harder to secure financial support as the attention of officials in key donor countries shifts to upcoming elections and geopolitical tensions heighten, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko told Reuters on Saturday. As the war with Russia rages on, Ukraine needs to secure Western financial support to cover a $43 billion budget gap in 2024. Marchenko said "a geopolitical shift and internal political context in different countries" was dampening governments' appetite to support Ukraine, mentioning elections scheduled in the U.S. and the European Union next year. Marchenko said Ukraine is seeking 18 billion euros of that in 2024, matching the package received for this year. Ukraine's economy is set to grow 5% in 2024, Marchenko told the meetings earlier this week, and sufficient gas storage for the winter should buttress the economy from a potential rise in prices, he told Reuters.

Persons: Finance Serhiy Marchenko, Susana Vera, Serhiy Marchenko, Marchenko, Jorgelina, Rosario, Elisa Martinuzzi, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Finance, Reuters, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, REUTERS, Rights, Bank, European Union, IMF, EU, Thomson Locations: Marrakech, Morocco, Rights MARRAKECH, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, U.S, Japan, United Kingdom, United States

☆ Jordan says Palestinian displacement pushes region to 'abyss' of wider conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Suleiman Al-Khalidi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Ahmed Zakot Acquire Licensing RightsAMMAN, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Jordan said on Saturday any move by Israel to impose a new displacement of Palestinians would push the region to the "abyss" of a wider regional conflict. Israel's push to move the entire population to leave their homes was a "red line" that Arabs would confront, Safadi said. "This will bring the region into the hell of war ... we have to end this madness," he added. The war's continuation also threatened to lead to its spread on other fronts, Safadi said, adding that "violence would breed more violence and destruction". Safadi said the king had also emphasised Jordan's refusal to accept the displacement of Palestinians from their land.

Persons: Khan Younis, Ahmed Zakot, Jordan, Ayman Safadi, Israel, Safadi, King Abdullah, Antony Blinken, Suleiman Al, Khalidi, Muath Freij, Emelia Sithole, Sharon Singleton, Helen Popper Our Organizations: United Nations, REUTERS, Rights, Hamas, Canadian, U.S, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Jordan, Europe, Amman, East Jerusalem

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