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The increased output could also cool prices for other oil products, especially for gasoline, and dampen overall refining margins. Half of the increase, though, will still come from Asia's biggest refiner Sinopec (600028.SS), one of them said, as it raises output to produce more diesel and raise fuel exports. So the mandate from the headquarters is to boost diesel production to supply the domestic market and also to raise exports," one of the Sinopec sources said. Further boosting supply, China's largest private refiner Zhejiang Petroleum and Chemical Co (ZPC) is raising diesel output by cutting petrochemical production. Lockdowns have become more frequent and China's borders remain mostly shut, hurting domestic gasoline and aviation fuel sales.

☆ U.S. citizen killed in central Baghdad -police sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BAGHDAD, Nov 7 (Reuters) - A U.S. citizen was killed on Monday in central Baghdad after a failed attempt to kidnap him, Iraqi police sources said. Another police source said armed men in a vehicle opened fire at an SUV carrying the victim and shot him dead. "Our initial investigation and eyewitnesses showed that armed men were trying to kidnap the American citizen," an Iraqi police major said. The U.S. State Department was aware of reports of an American killed in Iraq and was looking into them, department spokesperson Ned Price said. Reporting by Baghdad newsroom; additional reporting by Daphne Psaledakis in Washington Editing by Andrew Heavens and Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

If approved, its gas could restart an idled liquefaction train with a 500 million cubic feet per day (cf/d) capacity at Trinidad's flagship Atlantic LNG project. The facility is a venture mainly including Shell (SHEL.L), BP and state-owned National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC). YEARS OF WORK AHEADTrinidad is Latin America's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter, with installed capacity to process 4.2 billion cf/d into LNG, petrochemicals and power. Even if Washington granted Trinidad's request, it could take years of investment and development to bring Venezuelan gas to Trinidad and boost LNG to Europe. That project follows an amended production sharing contract for the Manatee gas field in Trinidad, which extends to Venezuela's Loran field.

REUTERS/Ralph Tedy Erol/File PhotoNov 4 (Reuters) - The United States and Canada on Friday imposed sanctions on two Haitian politicians, including the president of the country's Senate, as Washington accused them of abusing their positions to traffic drugs and collaborate with gang networks in the country. The sanctions target Haitian Senate President Joseph Lambert and Youri Latortue, who served as president of the chamber from 2017-2018, the U.S. Treasury Department and Canada's foreign ministry said in separate statements. The sanctions essentially freeze any assets Lambert and Latortue may hold in the United States or Canada and generally bar Americans from dealing with them. Lambert, Latortue and Prime Minister Ariel Henry's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Canada and the United States did not identify which Haitian gangs it believed were tied to the officials.

☆ U.S. imposes sanctions on oil smuggling network backing Iran's Quds Force, Hezbollah
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Daphne Psaledakis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday issued sanctions against an international oil smuggling network it said supports Hezbollah and Iran's Quds Force, targeting dozens of people, companies and tankers as Washington sought to mount pressure on Tehran. The latest U.S. move against Iranian oil smuggling comes as efforts to revive Iran's 2015 nuclear deal have stalled and ties between the Islamic Republic and the West are increasingly strained as Iranians keep up anti-government protests. Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The move targeted a Gulf-based network that the Treasury said as of mid-2022 were blending and exporting Iranian oil. The 2015 agreement limited Iran's uranium enrichment activity to make it harder for Tehran to develop nuclear arms in return for lifting international sanctions.

☆ U.S. cautioned Germany against a Chinese controlling stake in Hamburg port
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Cargo ship 'Cosco Shipping Gemini' of Chinese shipping company 'Cosco' is loaded at the container terminal 'Tollerort' in the port in Hamburg, Germany, October 25, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian BimmerMUNSTER, Germany, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The United States cautioned Germany against allowing China to obtain a controlling stake in a Hamburg port terminal, a senior U.S. State Department official said on Wednesday, in a deal that has been seen as a gauge of how far Germany is willing to toughen its stance on its top trading partner. By pushing the stake under 25%, the deal no longer officially requires Cabinet approval, which would have been hard to muster from the Greens and liberal-run ministries. The document points to "considerable risks that arise when elements of the European transport infrastructure are influenced and controlled by China - while China itself does not allow Germany to participate in Chinese ports." Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Munster, Germany; writing by Daphne Psaledakis in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. 'strongly suggested' there be no controlling interest by China in Hamburg port terminal
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Cargo ship 'Cosco Shipping Gemini' of Chinese shipping company 'Cosco' is loaded at the container terminal 'Tollerort' in the port in Hamburg, Germany, October 25, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian BimmerMUNSTER, Germany, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The United States “strongly suggested” that there be no controlling interest by China in a Hamburg port terminal, a senior U.S. State Department official said, adding that the final deal was adjusted in the end with a smaller share for Beijing. “The embassy was very clear that we strongly suggested that there’d be no controlling interest by China, and as you see when they adjusted the deal, there isn’t," a second senior State Department official said. The document points to "considerable risks that arise when elements of the European transport infrastructure are influenced and controlled by China - while China itself does not allow Germany to participate in Chinese ports." Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Munster, Germany Writing by Daphne Psaledakis in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. says many ransomware attacks in late 2021 were connected to Russian actors
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Russia-related ransomware variants accounted for 75% of ransomware-related incidents reported to the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in the second half of 2021, the Treasury Department said in an analysis on Wednesday. FinCEN said it had received 1,489 ransomware-related filings worth nearly $1.2 billion in 2021, a 188% jump from the year before. The analysis was issued in response to the increase in number and severity of ransomware attacks against U.S. critical infrastructure since late 2020. Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Andrea Shalal, Editing by Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. imposes sanctions on Iran-based foundation over Salman Rushdie bounty
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Daphne Psaledakis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 28 (Reuters) - The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on an Iranian foundation it accused of issuing a multi-million dollar bounty for the killing of novelist Salman Rushdie, who was attacked at an event in August. Rushdie, 75, lost sight in one eye and the use of one hand following an attack on stage at a literary event in western New York in August, his agent said. Friday's action freezes any U.S. assets belonging to the foundation and generally bars Americans from dealing with it. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, then Iran's supreme leader, 33 years ago issued a fatwa, or religious edict, calling on Muslims to assassinate Rushdie a few months after his novel "The Satanic Verses" was published. Rushdie, who was born in India to a Kashmiri Muslim family, has lived with a bounty on his head, and spent nine years in hiding under British police protection.

"The White Lotus" season two premieres October 30 on HBO and HBO Max. From creator Mike White, "The White Lotus" is an anthology show that focuses on guests at various White Lotus resort locations. "The White Lotus" season two will have a total of seven episodes, which is one more than the first season. "The White Lotus" season two was renewed a few days before the season one finale in August 2021. "The White Lotus" season two's enthusiastic critical response suggests it could follow in season one's acclaimed footsteps.

☆ U.S. slaps sanctions on Iranian officials over protest crackdown
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERSWASHINGTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday imposed new sanctions on Iran, targeting Iranian officials and entities over internet censorship and a crackdown on protesters following the death of a young woman in the custody of the morality police. The U.S. Treasury Department in a statement said it imposed sanctions on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials, provincial and Iranian prison officials, as well as two entities accused of "efforts to disrupt digital freedom" in Iran. Seyyed Heshmatollah Hayat Al-Ghaib, the director-general of Tehran Province Prisons - which the Treasury said gave him oversight of Evin - was also named. The commander of the IRGC intelligence organization, Mohammad Kazemi, and Abbas Nilforushan, the deputy commander for IRGC operations, as well as other officials were also named. Those that engage in certain transactions with them also risk being hit with sanctions.

☆ U.S. confident of U.N. resolution, multinational task force on Haiti in early November
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Washington is confident of securing a U.N. Security Council resolution and finding nations to lead a task force in early November to address the humanitarian crisis in Haiti, Assistant Secretary of State Brian Nichols said on Wednesday. Briefing reporters on a visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Canada beginning on Thursday, Nichols, the top State Department official for Western Hemisphere affairs, told reporters the composition of a multinational task force proposed by Haiti would be discussed during the visit. "I strongly disagree with the idea that a resolution authorizing a multinational force is in peril," Nichols said, adding that he expected the leadership of the force to become clear as talks move forward in the coming days. "I'm confident that we will have something early in November, both a resolution and leadership for the force. Reporting by Simon Lewis and Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Chris Reese and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. confident of U.N. resolution, multinational task force on Haiti in early November -official
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Russia has notified the United States about its plans to carry out annual exercises of its nuclear forces, the U.S. government said on Tuesday, a move that Washington said lowers the risk of miscalculation at a time of "reckless" Russian nuclear rhetoric. The United States has said it expects Russia to carry out test launches of missiles during its annual "Grom" exercises of its strategic nuclear forces, noting in the past it has fired inter-continental ballistic missiles. Under the New START Treaty, Russia is obliged to provide advance notification of such missile launches, U.S. officials say. The drills present a potential challenge to the United States and its allies, as Russian President Vladimir Putin has muddied the waters about his intentions after openly threatening to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia in its unraveling invasion of Ukraine. "While Russia engages in unprovoked aggression and reckless nuclear rhetoric, these notification measures do ensure we're not taken by surprise and reduce the risks of misperception," Price said.

Migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border are prompting U.S. President Joe Biden's administration to call for unfreezing Venezuelan funds held in foreign banks that would provide needed food and medicine, the sources told Reuters. It also has some in Venezuela's opposition parties worried about the political impact of releasing funds that Maduro could claim credit for ahead of a potential 2024 presidential election. The United Nations drafted a first proposal to oversee the fund in mid-October, the sources told Reuters. Opposition envoys discussed the aid package with U.S. officials during their meetings last week in Washington, four of the sources said. For the United Nations, it could become one of the largest funds ever handled, even though the total amount that could be legally released is not clear.

☆ LoveShackFancy built a pretty, skinny, rich-girl dreamworld. The fantasy was impossible to live up to.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Anna Silman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +34 min

Suddenly, in the midst of discussing what Cohen should wear to the next LoveShackFancy store opening, there was the sound of glass clanging. (Another person confirmed hearing this exchange, though the person close to the company said multiple Zoom attendees did not recall it.) The person close to the company said, "It is not uncommon for trips to have dual purposes — they always generate content." Another time, during a visit to the Palm Beach store, Cohen freaked out after seeing staffers in sweatshirts and sneakers. "As with most contemporary fashion brands, we currently do not operate in the plus-size business," the person close to LoveShackFancy said.

☆ U.S. CDC director tests positive for COVID-19, experiencing mild symptoms
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rochelle Walensky, tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday night and is experiencing mild symptoms, the CDC said in a statement on Saturday. The CDC added that the director is up to date on vaccines and is isolating at home, where she will participate in planned meetings virtually. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by David Shepardson and Daphne Psaledakis Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Some of the electronics obtained through the scheme have been found in Russian weapons platforms seized in Ukraine, prosecutors said. They used a German company to ship the military technologies, as well as Venezuelan oil, to Russian purchasers, prosecutors said. The U.S.-origin technologies can be used in fighter aircraft, ballistic and hypersonic missile systems, smart munitions, and other military applications, Treasury said. After the initial round of U.S. sanctions on PDVSA, Russia's Rosneft emerged as a key intermediary for Venezuelan crude. After Washington sanctioned Rosneft subsidiaries over their dealings with PDVSA, dozens of firms with no track record of oil trading have been intermediating in sales of Venezuelan oil to Chinese buyers.

☆ U.S. seeking to make it harder for Iran to sell drones to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Iranian Army/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERSUkraine has accused Russia of using Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones in attacks in recent weeks. Reuters reported on Tuesday that Iran has promised Russia it would supply them with surface to surface missiles, in addition to more drones. read moreThe U.S. State Department assessed that Iranian drones were used on Monday in a morning rush hour attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, a U.S. official said. White House spokesperson Karinne Jean-Pierre also accused Tehran of lying when it said Iranian drones were not being used by Russia in Ukraine. The United States in September imposed sanctions on an Iranian company it accused of coordinating military flights to transport Iranian drones to Russia and three other companies it said were involved in the production of Iranian drones.

☆ U.S. says it raised concerns with Riyadh over jailed U.S. citizen as recently as Monday
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The United States has raised with Saudi authorities the case of a Saudi-U.S. citizen detained in Saudi Arabia as recently as Monday, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Tuesday. Speaking at a daily press briefing, Patel said the Saudi government offered no information in advance of the sentencing hearing of Saad Ibrahim Almadi, who the Washington Post said was handed a 16-year jail sentence over his tweets critical of Riyadh. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Humeyra Pamuk Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. consular official spoke with detained Americans Griner and Whelan -State Dept
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - A U.S. consular official spoke on Tuesday with Britney Griner and Paul Whelan, Americans detained in Russia, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said. "There was a substantial proposal on the table earlier this summer to facilitate their release. Our governments have communicated repeatedly and directly on that proposal, and the Russians should take that deal," he said at a news briefing. A consular officer spoke briefly on the phone with both detainees on Tuesday, he said without elaborating. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. to take "practical, aggressive" steps to make sale of Iranian drones harder
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The United States will continue to take "practical, aggressive" steps to make it harder for Iran to sell drones and missiles to Russia, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Tuesday, adding that Washington had a number of tools to hold both Moscow and Tehran accountable. Speaking at a daily press briefing, Patel did not provide further details on the steps but pointed out that Washington has already used sanctions and export controls as a response. He also added that a deepening alliance between Russia and Iran is a phenomenon that the world should view as a "profound threat." Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Humeyra Pamuk and Doina ChiacuOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Malta demonstrators mark five years since Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

People take part in a protest march on the fifth anniversary of the assassination of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, in Valletta, Malta October 16, 2022. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit LupiVALLETTA, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Demonstrators in Malta marked five years since the car bomb murder of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia on Sunday, two days after two brothers admitted to her killing and were each sentenced to 40 years in prison. Many of those present carried pictures of Caruana Galizia and Maltese flags. She said Caruana Galizia was: "A Woman of Steel, because she was a woman of principle, a woman who could tell right from wrong". No government representatives were present at the demonstration but Prime Minister Robert Abela said earlier that Caruana Galizia's death was a dark episode "that we must learn from".

WASHINGTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - The United States on Friday warned it can impose sanctions on people, countries and companies that provide ammunition to Russia or support its military-industrial complex, as Washington seeks to increase pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine. Muir was also set to warn that Russian intelligence services are tasked with illicitly acquiring Western technology and parts barred from being exported to Russia under U.S. measures. The Commerce Department has previously warned that semiconductors produced by Western companies have turned up in Russian military drones and other uses. Asked how much more Western allies could do to increase pressure on Russia, one European finance official said, "We can extend the list of people who are under sanctions. "But I think clearly the sanctions will show their impact in terms of industrial value chains in Russia," the European official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

☆ U.S. may block Russian aluminum imports -source
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - The Biden administration is weighing restricting imports of Russian aluminum as it charts possible responses to Moscow's military escalation in Ukraine, a person briefed on the conversations told Reuters. Rusal (RUAL.MM), the world's largest aluminum producer outside China, did not immediately reply to a Reuters' request for comment. Russian attacks using more than 100 missiles have killed at least 26 people across Ukraine since Monday, when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered what he called retaliatory strikes against Ukraine for an explosion on a bridge. Shares of U.S.-based aluminum producer Alcoa Corp (AA.N) were last trading up 5.1% in New York, following the report. Shares of Rio Tinto Plc (RIO.L), which produces aluminum as well as iron ore, copper and other metals, fell about 1% on Wednesday in London.

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