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☆ Australia Authorities Say More Sydney Sites Tainted With Asbestos
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian authorities on Saturday said asbestos had been discovered in more places in Sydney including housing estates as the New South Wales government continues a weeks-long scramble to remove the toxic material from mulch used in public spaces. Since then, in what is the biggest investigation by the state's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in decades, 32 city sites have returned positive results for bonded asbestos, the agency said in a statement on Saturday. The EPA said new sites where asbestos had been detected were a public school and park in the city's north, and two residential estates under construction in Sydney's south-west. The University of Sydney had also been identified as potentially tainted and would be tested this weekend, it said. The rate of positive results is around 10 percent," the EPA said.

Persons: Sam McKeith, Matthew Lewis Organizations: SYDNEY, New South, Environmental Protection Authority, EPA, University of Sydney, Authorities, Sydney Gay, Mardi Locations: Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney's

☆ US Senate Nears Release of Bipartisan Border Deal Trump Rejects
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

But the legislation already faces substantial opposition from Republicans in the Senate and the House of Representatives who are aligned with Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination. "We cannot simply shirk from our responsibilities just because the task is difficult," Schumer said on the Senate floor. "These challenges at the border and Ukraine and the Middle East are just too great." The U.S. Border Patrol arrested about 2 million migrants at the border in fiscal-year 2023, similar to record-breaking totals during Biden's first two years in office. "From what we've heard, this so-called deal does not include transformational policy changes that are needed to actually stop the border catastrophe," Johnson said.

Persons: David Morgan, Makini Brice WASHINGTON, Donald Trump, Kyrsten Sinema, Trump, Chuck Schumer, shirk, Schumer, Joe Biden, Biden, Biden's, Mike Johnson, we've, Johnson, Dan Crenshaw, that's, Crenshaw, Makini Brice, Katharine Jackson, Scott Malone, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Senate, Republicans, Republican, White House, Hamas, Democrat, U.S . Border Patrol, Immigration, Reuters Locations: U.S, Mexico, Ukraine, Israel, Arizona, Gaza, United, Texas, WashingtonEditing

☆ Canada's Foreign Affairs Department Hit by Data Breach
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian government said on Tuesday that its global affairs department suffered a data breach and that there was unauthorized access to personal information of users including employees. Global Affairs Canada (GAC), in a statement, said it activated an unplanned IT outage on Jan. 24 to "address the discovery of malicious cyber activity." The department, which includes the Canadian trade and foreign ministries, did not say when the data breach occurred. Canadian media, citing unnamed sources, reported earlier that internal systems were vulnerable between Dec. 20 and Jan. 24. The department said it was contacting those affected by the breach with mitigation measures and that employees working remotely in Canada had been provided with workarounds to continue their duties.

Persons: workarounds, Ismail Shakil, Matthew Lewis Organizations: OTTAWA, Canadian, Global Affairs Canada, GAC Locations: Canada, Ottawa

☆ Anti-Muslim Incidents Jump in US Amid Israel-Gaza War
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Rights advocates have noted a rise in Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian bias in the U.S. and elsewhere since the eruption of war in the Middle East. BY THE NUMBERSThe Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said on Monday it has received 3,578 complaints during the last three months of 2023, amid what it called "an ongoing wave of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate." Complaints of employment discrimination led the list with 662 instances; hate crimes and hate incidents were reported 472 times; and education discrimination 448 times, the organization said. Earlier this month, the Anti-Defamation League said that in the three months after Oct. 7, U.S. antisemitic incidents rose by 360% compared to the prior year. The U.S. Justice Department is monitoring rising threats against Jews and Muslims amid the conflict.

Persons: Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, Israel's, Joe Biden, Kanishka Singh, Heather Timmons, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Hamas, Islamic Relations, Defamation League, U.S, U.S . Justice Department Locations: U.S, Israel, Gaza, Vermont, Illinois, Palestinian, Washington

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy Publishes Income as Part of Transparency Drive
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made public his income over a two-year period on Sunday as part of a drive to promote transparency and root out endemic corruption. In a post on the presidential website, Zelenskiy noted that his income had declined in 2021 and further in 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February. In 2021, the year before the invasion, Zelenskiy and his family reported income of 10.8 million hryvnias ($286,168), down 12 million hryvnias from the previous year. In 2022, the Zelenskiy family’s income fell further to 3.7 million hryvnias as he earned less rental income from real estate he owned because of the outbreak of the war. Ukraine's National Agency on Corruption Prevention, one of several bodies devoted to exposing and eliminating graft, last month reopened to public scrutiny a register on declared income.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Reuters, European Union, International Monetary Fund, National Agency on Corruption Locations: Russia, Ukraine

☆ Three US Service Members Killed, 34 Wounded in Jordan Drone Attack Linked to Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Kanishka Singh and Phil StewartWASHINGTON (Reuters) -Three U.S. service members were killed and dozens wounded during an unmanned aerial drone attack on U.S. forces stationed in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border, President Joe Biden and U.S. officials said on Sunday. Biden blamed Iran-backed groups for the attack. The deaths marked the first fatalities of U.S. troops in the region since war began in Gaza. Israel's subsequent assault on Gaza has killed over 26,000 Palestinians, according to the local health ministry. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Phil Stewart in WashingtonEditing by Heather Timmons and Matthew Lewis)

Persons: Kanishka Singh, Phil Stewart WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Biden, Phil Stewart, Heather Timmons, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S, Sunday, Reuters, Hamas, White Locations: U.S, Jordan, Syrian, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Iranian, Gaza, Israel, United States, Washington, Red, WashingtonEditing

☆ Reaction to Drone Strike on US Troops in Jordan
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three U.S. service members were killed and as many as 34 wounded, United States officials said on Sunday, after a drone attack in Jordan that they linked to Iranian-backed militants. REPUBLICAN FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP"The drone attack on a U.S. Military Installation in Jordan, killing 3 American service members, and wounding many more, marks a horrible day for America ... This brazen attack on the United States is yet another horrific and tragic consequence of Joe Biden's weakness and surrender." MITCH MCCONNELL, US SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER"Last night, the cost of failure to deter America's adversaries was again measured in American lives. CHUCK SCHUMER, US SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER"We mourn the deaths of the three service members killed by a drone attack in Jordan from an Iran-backed militant group.

Persons: JOE BIDEN, DONALD TRUMP, Joe Biden's, LLOYD AUSTIN, MICHAEL MCCAUL, MITCH MCCONNELL, CHUCK SCHUMER, HAKEEM JEFFRIES, Jordan, ISRAEL KATZ, ROGER WICKER, Biden, JACKY ROSEN, Susan Heavey, Kanishka Singh, Emily Rose, Hatem Maher, Heather Timmons, Matthew Lewis, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: WASHINGTON, United, DEMOCRATIC, REPUBLICAN, U.S, America, HOUSE, DEMOCRAT ON Locations: United States, Jordan, Iranian, Israel, Gaza, Iran, U.S, REPUBLICAN, Egypt, Hashemite Kingdom

☆ US Says Its Israel Policy Unchanged After Report on Leveraging Weapon Sales
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Kanishka Singh and Steve HollandWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Sunday there was no change in its Israel policy after NBC News reported the United States was discussing using weapon sales to Israel as leverage to convince the Israeli government to scale back its military assault in Gaza. "Israel has a right and obligation to defend themselves against the threat of Hamas, while abiding by international humanitarian law and protecting civilian lives, and we remain committed to support Israel in its fight against Hamas. There has not been a change in our policy," a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said. NBC News reported earlier on Sunday that at the direction of the White House, the Pentagon has been reviewing what weaponry Israel has requested that could be used as leverage. Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.

Persons: Kanishka Singh, Steve Holland WASHINGTON, Israel, Joe Biden, Israel's, Steve Holland, Lisa Shumaker, Matthew Lewis Organizations: NBC News, White House National Security Council, White, Pentagon, NBC, Hamas Locations: Israel, United States, Gaza, Washington, Hamas

Bitcoin coins are seen at a stand during the Bitcoin Conference 2023, in Miami Beach, Florida, U.S., May 19, 2023. Crypto companies spent $18.96 million in the first three quarters of 2023 on lobbying, compared with $16.1 million during the same period in 2022. That was despite last year's spectacular meltdown of crypto exchange FTX, which had been a top-ten spender. Coinbase (COIN.O), the largest U.S. crypto exchange, led the pack again, spending $2.16 million, followed by Foris DAX, which operates Crypto.com, the Blockchain Association and Binance Holdings. Although those bills have yet to advance further, crypto lobbyists are not letting up.

Persons: Marco Bello, spender, FTX, Foris DAX, Kristin Smith, Sam Bankman, Fried, Coinbase, Binance, Crypto.com, Hannah Lang, Michelle Price, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Blockchain Association, Binance Holdings, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Thomson Locations: Miami Beach , Florida, U.S, Washington, Manhattan, Binance

French Junior Minister for Digital Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot leaves following the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, November 22, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Dec 5 (Reuters) - EU countries and lawmakers may have to meet for yet another round of talks to hammer out crucial details of rules for artificial intelligence even if they clinch a deal on Wednesday, French Digital Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday. There is still a gap between both sides, Barrot said. Barrot cited biometric surveillance and general-purpose AI where the two sides have to work further on the finer details. Further discussions, however, could delay the rollout of landmark rules in Europe that could set the benchmark for other countries.

Persons: Digital Affairs Jean, Noel Barrot, Sarah Meyssonnier, Jean, Europe's, Barrot, Foo Yun Chee, Matthew Lewis Organizations: French Junior, Digital Affairs, REUTERS, Rights, French Digital, European Commission, Microsoft, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Europe, Brussels

☆ 'Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce' tops box office
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 4 (Reuters) - "Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce" premiered at the top of the U.S. box office, raking in $21.8 million during the typically anemic first weekend of December, according to research firm Comscore. Beyonce Knowles' concert film marked the first time a movie crossed the $20 million mark on this weekend since the 2003 movie "The Last Samurai" starring Tom Cruise, Comscore said. Live Nation reported that the superstar’s 56-stop Renaissance World Tour earned more than $579 million worldwide - a hot ticket that economists say may have fanned inflation in Europe. In addition to the concert scenes, the film gave a rare glimpse at how Beyonce grapples with stardom and motherhood. Although "Renaissance's" box office fell short of Swift's $96 million opening weekend, Comscore's Dergarabedian said the result will likely be the same.

Persons: Beyonce, Mario Anzuoni, Beyonce Knowles, Tom Cruise, Comscore, Paul Dergarabedian, Taylor, Comscore's Dergarabedian, Dawn Chmielewski, Kat Stafford, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Labor, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, New York

☆ Yellen Heads to Mexico to Boost Cooperation on Fentanyl, Supply Chains
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will travel to Mexico City this week to promote cooperation with Mexican counterparts on combating illicit finance and the trafficking of fentanyl, along with strengthening Mexico's role in U.S. supply chains, Treasury officials said on Monday. Yellen's Dec. 5-7 trip will include meetings with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and the country's central bank governor and finance minister, among others, Treasury said in a statement. The trip follows Treasury's announcement on Monday of a counter-fentanyl "strike force" that will bring together the department's resources, including the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence and the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation unit, to disrupt illicit drug trafficking. U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping last month agreed to deepen cooperation to stem the flow of fentanyl precursor chemicals, which are often mixed by Mexican drug gangs before distribution in the U.S.(Reporting by David Lawder in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

Persons: Janet Yellen, Yellen's, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, David Lawder, Matthew Lewis Organizations: WASHINGTON, . Treasury, Mexican, Terrorism, Financial Intelligence Locations: Mexico City, U.S, Washington

The AT&T logo is seen on a store in Golden, Colorado United States July 25, 2017. REUTERS/Rick Wilking/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSTOCKHOLM, Dec 4 (Reuters) - AT&T (T.N) said on Monday it plans to use so-called ORAN technology for 70% of its wireless network traffic in the United States by late 2026 and will move from two telecom vendors to one. While the technology has been tested by several telecom providers, it has not been widely adopted. AT&T's push for the technology will likely be a major boost for Open RAN. The U.S. telecom company's spending could approach roughly $14 billion over the five-year term of the contract with that one vendor, the company said.

Persons: Rick Wilking, Supantha Mukherjee, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Golden , Colorado United, REUTERS, Rights, Open RAN, Ericsson, Nokia, Thomson Locations: Golden ,, Golden , Colorado United States, ORAN, United States, U.S, Stockholm

☆ Escaped kangaroo captured after punching Canadian officer
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The female kangaroo hopped over her handlers late on Thursday during a rest stop at the Oshawa Zoo and Fun Farm in Ontario, the park's supervisor and head keeper, Cameron Preyde, told CBC. Officers on patrol spotted the kangaroo at around 3 a.m. on Monday on a rural property in northern Oshawa, Staff Sergeant Chris Boileau told CBC Toronto. The kangaroo punched one of the officers in the face during the capture, Boileau said. "It's something that he and his platoon mates will be remembering for the rest of their careers," he told CBC Toronto. The kangaroo, which was en route to a zoo in Quebec, received medical treatment and will stay at the Oshawa Zoo for a few days of rest, Preyde said.

Persons: Cameron Preyde, Chris Boileau, Boileau, Preyde, Doina Chiacu, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Oshawa Zoo, CBC, CBC Toronto, Thomson Locations: Toronto, Ontario, Oshawa, Lake Ontario, Quebec, Washington

New networks by Dish (DISH.O) and Japan's Rakuten (4755.T) use Open RAN. "All of the new equipment that we are going to be putting out will be Open RAN capable," Chris Sambar, president of AT&T Network, told Reuters. Winning the Open RAN deal will make Ericsson the largest supplier to AT&T as it slowly takes over Nokia's share, the company said. AT&T will still have contracts which other Open RAN vendors outside this deal. AT&T expects fully integrated Open RAN sites operating in coordination with Ericsson and Fujitsu (6702.T), starting in 2024.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Japan's Rakuten, Chris Sambar, Sambar, You've, Supantha Mukherjee, Matthew Lewis Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Rights, Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei, Telefonica, Vodafone, RAN, AT, T Network, Reuters, Samsung, Verizon, U.S ., Fujitsu, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, ORAN, United States, Stockholm

☆ Trump calls on supporters to 'guard the vote' in Democratic-run US cities
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Speaking at a campaign event in Iowa, Trump said it was important to scrutinize the vote in the battleground states likely to determine the general election. "So the most important part of what's coming up is to guard the vote. Trump did not specify who he was asking to "go into" the battleground-state cities. In a second Iowa event on Saturday in Cedar Rapids, Trump reiterated plans to reform the Affordable Care Act, known informally as Obamacare, calling the healthcare insurance program "a disaster." Reporting by Nathan Layne in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Gram Slattery in Washington Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Donald Trump, Carlos Barria, Trump, Joe Biden, Timothy Naftali, Naftali, Biden, Nathan Layne, Gram Slattery, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S, Republican, REUTERS, Democratic, Trump, Republican National Committee, Republicans, Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, Capitol, Affordable, Thomson Locations: Ankeny , Iowa, U.S, RAPIDS , Iowa, Philadelphia, Iowa, Michigan , Pennsylvania, Georgia, what's, Detroit, Atlanta, Ankeny, Des Moines, Nazi Germany, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids , Iowa, Washington

☆ Lula Says Brazil's Participation in OPEC+ Is to Stop Oil Producers Using Fossil Fuels
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Saturday that Brazil's participation in the OPEC+ group of oil-producing countries is to convince nations to transition away from the use of fossil fuels. Brazil indicated on Thursday that it was on the brink of joining OPEC+, a group of 23 oil-producing countries. "We will lead oil-producing countries to accelerate the energy transition. Under the leadership of President Lula we want to use oil revenues to finance clean and renewable energy," he said. But Brazil is not expected to cap oil output as part of OPEC+, three sources told Reuters in a report published on Thursday.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Lula, Alexandre Silveira, Silveira, Ricardo Brito, Steven Grattan, Matthew Lewis Organizations: SAO PAULO, Reuters, OPEC, Petrobras Locations: OPEC, Brazil, Dubai, Africa, Latin America, South America, Sao Paulo

"Given the transition in Argentina, we are handing the subject to the new government, which has indicated they want a deal," the Brazilian foreign ministry spokesman said. A European official with knowledge of the talks said Argentina was no longer open to finalizing the deal on Mercosur. Argentine negotiators who were due to travel to Brasilia for final push to close the deal canceled their trip, a Brazilian government trade official told Reuters. Officials wanted to wrap up agreements before Argentina's Milei takes office on Dec. 10, as he has criticized the trade deal that took two decades to negotiate. Argentina's incoming foreign minister, Diana Mondino, said it was important to sign the EU-Mercosur accord after she visited Brasilia last Sunday to meet Brazil's foreign minister.

Persons: Javier Milei, Milei, Diana Mondino, Anthony Boadle, Marcela Ayres, Lisandra, Matthew Lewis Organizations: European Union, Mercosur, Argentine, Reuters, EU, Milei, Diplomats, Thomson Locations: BRASILIA, Argentina, Mercosur, Brasilia, American, Brazil, Argentine, Belen, Madrid, Jorgelina, Rosario, Buenos Aires

☆ EU-Mercosur Deal's Future up to New Argentina Government -Sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Persons: Anthony Boadle BRASILIA, Javier Milei, Milei, Diana Mondino, Anthony Boadle, Marcela Ayres, Lisandra, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Reuters, European Union, Mercosur, Argentine, EU, Milei, Diplomats Locations: Argentina, Mercosur, Brasilia, American, Brazil, Argentine, Belen, Madrid, Jorgelina, Rosario, Buenos Aires

☆ Russians Ease Attacks in Eastern Ukraine, Shattered Town May Still Be Held by Kyiv
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

(Reuters) - Russian forces eased attacks on the beleaguered eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka on Saturday and unofficial reports from the region suggested they had failed to capture the devastated town of Maryinka to the southwest. Russia's military has focused on eastern Ukraine since abandoning an advance on Kyiv in the first days after the February 2022 invasion. "We acknowledge that there was an advance there of the Russian military," Zhdanov said in an online presentation. "But the southwestern and northwestern parts of the town are under the control of Ukrainian forces." The town, also shattered by months of fighting, was captured by Russian forces in May, but Ukrainian troops have since taken back nearby villages.

Persons: Moscow's, Oleksandr Shtupun, Avdiivka, Shtupun, Rybar, Vitaliy Barabash, Oleh Zhdanov, Zhdanov, Volodymyr Fitio, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ron Popeski, Maria Starkova, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Reuters, Channel, Russia's Defence Ministry, Ukrainian, Russian, Kyiv Locations: Avdiivka, Maryinka, Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Winnipeg, Canada

☆ Russians ease attacks in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv still may hold Maryinka
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's military has focused on eastern Ukraine since abandoning an advance on Kyiv in the first days after the February 2022 invasion. But unofficial Ukrainian reports on Saturday said its forces were holding some districts. There were no official Ukrainian reports on Maryinka, but military analyst Oleh Zhdanov said reports of its capture by Russian troops were untrue. "We acknowledge that there was an advance there of the Russian military," Zhdanov said in an online presentation. Ukrainian forces have focused on recapturing occupied villages in the east and south in a counteroffensive launched in June, though President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has acknowledged that advances have been slower than Kyiv wanted.

Persons: Andriy Yermak, Moscow's, Oleksandr Shtupun, Avdiivka, Shtupun, Rybar, Vitaliy Barabash, Oleh Zhdanov, Zhdanov, Volodymyr Fitio, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ron Popeski, Maria Starkova, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Acquire, Reuters, Channel, Russia's Defence Ministry, Ukrainian, Russian, Kyiv, Thomson Locations: Maryinka, Ukraine, Donetsk Region, Avdiivka, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Winnipeg, Canada

☆ Lula says Brazil's participation in OPEC+ is to stop oil producers using fossil fuels
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Thaier Al Sudani/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSAO PAULO, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Saturday that Brazil's participation in the OPEC+ group of oil-producing countries is to convince nations to transition away from the use of fossil fuels. Brazil indicated on Thursday that it was on the brink of joining OPEC+, a group of 23 oil-producing countries. "We will lead oil-producing countries to accelerate the energy transition. Under the leadership of President Lula we want to use oil revenues to finance clean and renewable energy," he said. But Brazil is not expected to cap oil output as part of OPEC+, three sources told Reuters in a report published on Thursday.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Al Sudani, Lula, Alexandre Silveira, Silveira, Ricardo Brito, Steven Grattan, Matthew Lewis Organizations: United Nations, Change, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, SAO PAULO, OPEC, Petrobras, PETR4, Reuters, Paulo, Thomson Locations: Dubai, United Arab, OPEC, Brazil, Africa, Latin America, South America

[1/4] French police secures the access to the Bir-Hakeim bridge after a security incident in Paris, France December 2, 2023. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Dec 2 (Reuters) - One person died and two others were injured after a man attacked tourists in central Paris near the Eiffel Tower, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Saturday. Police quickly arrested the 26-year-old man, a French national, using a Taser stun gun, Darmanin told reporters. The suspect was on the French security services watch list and was also known for having psychiatric disorders, the interior minister added. The attack took place around 1900 GMT when the man attacked a tourist couple with a knife on the Quai de Grenelle, a few feet away from the Eiffel Tower, mortally wounding a German national.

Persons: Stephanie Lecocq, Gerald Darmanin, Darmanin, Akbar, Dominique Vidalon, Gilles Guillaume, Nick Zieminski, Matthew Lewis, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Saturday . Police, Eiffel, Agence France Presse, Olympic Games, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Grenelle, Afghanistan, Palestine, Gaza

☆ Tech companies to sign agreement with UK government to tackle online fraud
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Eleven of the world's biggest tech companies, including Amazon.com (AMZN.O), Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) Google and Microsoft (MSFT.O), will sign an agreement with the British government on Thursday to step up their efforts to tackle online fraud, the interior ministry said. Under the "Online Fraud Charter," due to be signed at a meeting chaired by Interior Minister James Cleverly in London, the companies pledge to take further action to block and remove fraudulent content from their sites, the government said. "Fraud is now the most common crime in the UK, with online scammers targeting the most vulnerable in society," British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement. "By joining forces with these tech giants we will continue to crack down on fraudsters, making sure they have nowhere to hide online." The British government says fraud accounts for around 40% of all crime in England and Wales, with data from industry body UK Finance showing almost 80% of all authorised push payment fraud originates online.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, James, ByteDance's, Rishi Sunak, Kylie MacLellan, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Google, Microsoft, Interior, eBay, Facebook, YouTube, Finance, Thomson Locations: London, England, Wales

BRUSSELS/DUBAI, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Countries at the U.N.'s COP28 climate summit opening on Thursday hope to clinch an early deal on a new fund to pay for climate-caused damage, aiming to muster some political goodwill before talks turn to divisive topics including the future of fossil fuels. With finance also high on the meeting agenda, the United Arab Emirates' COP28 presidency published a proposal on the eve of the summit, for countries to adopt a new U.N. climate damage fund - raising hopes among some delegates that this could be among the first deals struck in Dubai. "Opening these negotiations is like opening Pandora's box. Adnan Amin, CEO of the COP28 summit, told Reuters this month the aim was to secure several hundred million U.S. dollars for the climate damage fund during the event. A breakthrough on the climate damage fund - which poorer nations have demanded for years - could help grease the wheels for other compromises.

Persons: Wopke Hoekstra, Adnan Amin, Kate Abnett, Valerie Volcovici, Katy Daigle, Matthew Lewis Organizations: United Arab, Reuters, The European Union, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, DUBAI, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, China, UAE, Brussels, Washington

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