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STOCKHOLM/AMSTERDAM, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Airlines wrestled with the safety risk of evacuation operations in Israel on Thursday, with carriers including Dutch KLM cancelling flights while sister airline Air France mounted a special relief flight chartered by the French foreign ministry. Israel's parliamentary finance committee meanwhile approved a plan to provide a state guarantee of $6 billion to cover insurance against war risks to Israeli airlines. The framework will grant Israeli airlines cover against war risks, thereby ensuring the continuity of air operations. Foreign airlines have struggled to find a common approach and the head of European budget giant Ryanair (RYA.I) said it was up to governments to plot the way forward. PATCHY RESPONSEGermany's Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) said it was sticking to its plans for evacuation flights on Thursday and Friday, while continuing to ground commercial flights to Israel.

Persons: Ben Gurion, Ben Smith, Ed Bastian, Sasha Gainullin, Rafael Schvartzman, Obama, Anna Ringstrom, Bart H, Meijer, Tim Hepher, Joanna Plucinska, Julia Payne, Carolyn Cohn, Steven Scheer, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Doyinsola, Terje Solsvik, Deborah Kyvrikosaios, Diane Craft Organizations: Airlines, Dutch KLM, Air France, Palestinian, Israel's, Norwegian Air, Insurance, Reuters, Foreign, Ryanair, KLM, Boeing, Lufthansa, Dubai's Emirates, Delta Air Lines, International Air Transport Association, Regulators, U.S . Federal Aviation Administration, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, AMSTERDAM, Israel, Palestinian, Tel Aviv's, Ben, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Eilat, Emirates, United States, Europe, U.S, Ben Gurion

☆ What is Israel's Iron Dome? Here’s what you need to know about the missile defense system
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel October 9, 2023. What is Israel's Iron Dome? The Iron Dome, or "Kippat Barzel" in Hebrew, is widely regarded as one of the most important tools in Israel's arsenal. An Iron Dome launcher fires an interceptor missile as rockets are fired from Gaza, in Ashkelon, Israel May 10, 2023. The Center for Strategic International Studies, a U.S. think tank, has previously estimated that a complete Iron Dome battery costs roughly $100 million to produce.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Israel, Rafael, —, Tamir Organizations: Reuters, Palestinian Ministry of Health, Israel's Defense Ministry, Iron Dome, European Union, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Reuters Israel's Defense Forces, Dome, Congressional Research Service, Strategic International Studies Locations: Gaza, Ashkelon, Israel, Reuters Israel, Jihad, U.S, Washington

☆ Ecuador Banana Heir Daniel Noboa Hopes to Fulfill Father's Presidential Dreams
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Gonzalez won an August first round with 34%, while Noboa came a surprising second with 23%. Noboa has also promised job creation, particularly for young people, and spent significant time campaigning at universities. He would boost employment through investment in strategic sectors and vocational training for job hunters, Noboa has pledged. Noboa resigned from a management position at his family's corporation to enter politics, winning a legislature seat in 2021. Noboa, a married father of two, frequently appears in videos on social media dancing and singing or DJ-ing music at his political rallies.

Persons: Alexandra Valencia, Daniel Noboa, Alvaro Noboa's, Luisa Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Gonzalez, Noboa, Fernando Villavicencio, Guillermo Lasso, Janeth Tayo, Oliver Griffin, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Alexandra Valencia QUITO Locations: Ecuador, Guayaquil, Sangolqui, Quito

Cocaine is also increasingly found in shipments of tuna, as well as hidden in hollowed-out pineapples and stashed amid sugar, police say. The security situation in Ecuador has sharply deteriorated in recent years, one factor in South America's migrant exodus. Police have seized some 50 tonnes of drugs so far this year at the country's two principal ports. The percentage of searched banana shipments which contained cocaine has fallen this year, but it is still very high - at 57% in 2023, from 70% in 2022, according to police figures. There is evidence some drugs may be being displaced elsewhere, with the amount of searched tuna shipments containing drugs rising to 9% from 3%.

Persons: Vicente Gaibor del Pino, Pablo Ramirez, Daniel Noboa, Luisa Gonzalez, Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Noboa, Alvaro Noboa, Guillermo Lasso, Lasso, Jose Hidalgo, Ramirez, hadn't, " Ramirez, Alexandra Valencia, Yury Garcia, Julia Symmes Cobb, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Police, Reuters, U.S . Coast Guard, Ecuador's, Thomson Locations: Guayaquil, Ecuador, Rights GUAYAQUIL, QUITO, South, Europe, Quito, United States, Sierra Leone, Hong Kong

☆ Why Israel's Iron Dome couldn't stop every rocket strike from Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The Iron Dome has been a crucial part of Israel's first line of defense for the past decade. The cost of the Iron Dome is under scrutinyAn ongoing controversy about the Iron Dome is its cost — some of which has come out of US pockets. If the Iron Dome were shown to be less effective under heavy fire, that cost-to-benefit ratio might shift. Per reports, the Iron Dome has continued to intercept short-range fire coming from Gaza over the past few days. One of the unique things about Iron Dome to date has been its ability to learn as it goes on and become more effective.

Persons: —, Israel, Tamir, Israel Ilia Yefimovich, John Erath, Erath, MAHMUD HAMS, that's, It's, Joe Biden Organizations: Service, Iron Dome, Raytheon Technologies, Rafael Advance, Center for Arms Control, Israel Defense Forces, CNN, ABC, US Locations: Israel's, Israel, Ashdod, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ashkelon, North, Gaza, Al Jazeera, Israeli, Netivot, States, Germany, Ukraine

☆ This woman held off Hamas with a vacuum cleaner and a rolling pin
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Tara Subramaniam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —An Israeli woman and her daughter survived Hamas’ 12-hour siege of their kibbutz by barricading themselves into a safe room using a vacuum cleaner and a rolling pin. But then I remembered I had a rolling stick and I took that and then I took my Dyson vacuum,” Lahav said. And I was just tying these things to the door,” Lahav said. We thought we were just going to die and they kept banging the door trying to open. “It was so scary,” Lahav told CNN.

Persons: barricading, Irit, Nir, CNN’s Erin Burnett, we’re, Lahav feverishly, ” Lahav, ”, Lahav, “, Irit Lahav, ‘, Nir Oz, CNN ‘, revelers, Rafael Zimerman, Zimerman, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Ben Natan, Natan, ” Natan Organizations: CNN, Jewish Agency for Israel, Nova Locations: Israeli, Gaza, Israel

☆ Shad Tuten: Penalized for failing to properly replace his ball, golfer agonizingly loses chance of first ever PGA Tour card
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The American golfer had finished his closing round at the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship in Newburgh, Indiana looking set to secure his first ever PGA Tour card. Tuten was penalized for failing to properly replace his ball en route to a birdie at the par-five 15th hole. Former PGA Tour player James Nitties described the incident as “heartbreaking.”“It makes me sick as a past player,” Nitties said on the Golf Channel broadcast. The Georgia-born golfer has played 132 tournaments on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Latinoamérica since turning professional in 2015, winning once, and ends the season as world No. Eighteen of the graduates are PGA Tour rookies, including brothers Parker and Pierceson Coody, who became only the second twins in history to attain simultaneous PGA Tour membership status after Allan and Curtis Strange in 1981.

Persons: Shad Tuten’s, Tuten, Mike Mulholland, Korn, Jim Duncan, ”, James Nitties, ” Nitties, France’s Paul Barjon, Puerto, Rafael Campos leapfrogging Tuten, Parker, Pierceson Coody, Allan, Curtis Strange Organizations: CNN, PGA Tour, Victoria, Korn Ferry, NBC Sports, ” CNN, PGA, Golf Channel Locations: Newburgh , Indiana, Georgia

☆ Klarna takes aim at Google and Amazon with AI image recognition tool for shopping
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

It's similar to how Google Lens directs users to suggestions based on items captured by their camera. The tool is trained on data from PriceRunner, a price comparison service Klarna acquired for close to $1 billion. PriceRunner competes with the likes of Amazon , Google's shopping comparison service Google Shopping, and French-founded firm Kelkoo. Klarna users will be able to point their phone at an item of clothing or gadget and find recommendations on similar products directly within the Klarna app. Still, regulators, not least the European Union, have become wary about the rapid advancement of generative AI technology, which generates new material in response to human inputs.

Persons: Rafael Henrique, David Sandstrom, Klarna Sandstrom, Klarna, Sandstrom Organizations: Getty, Google, CNBC, Microsoft, European Union Locations: Swedish, PriceRunner, French, Stockholm, Europe, China, Silicon Valley

☆ Humana just tapped an Envision exec to be its next CEO as the insurance giant pushes deeper into clinics and home care
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Humana CEO Bruce Broussard will step down next year after more than a decade leading the health-insurance giant. Humana has tapped Jim Rechtin, head of Envision Healthcare, to be its next CEO. Weaving together insurance benefits with care delivery is meant to make healthcare easier for people to navigate and improve patients' health, Broussard said. One example is Humana's recent push into behavioral healthcare, Broussard said. That startup will eventually become part of Humana, Broussard said.

Persons: Bruce Broussard, Jim Rechtin, Broussard, —, Rechtin, " Broussard, Rafael Henrique, Humana Organizations: Healthcare, Humana, Indiana's DePauw University, Harvard, Getty, Aetna, Oak Street Health, Iora, One, General Atlantic Locations: The Louisville , Kentucky, DaVita, Group's California, Kentucky, UnitedHealth

☆ Nadal to play at Australian Open, says tournament director Tiley
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 18, 2023 Spain's Rafael Nadal in action during his second round match against Mackenzie Mcdonald of the U.S. REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 11 (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal will play at the Australian Open in January, tournament director Craig Tiley said on Wednesday, as the 37-year-old former world number one returns to the sport after undergoing hip surgery earlier this year. The Spaniard, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles, has been out of action since January after hurting his hip flexor in a second-round defeat at the Australian Open. He underwent surgery on a hip muscle in June and was expected to be sidelined for about five months. Tiley also said Australian Nick Kyrgios could return at the Melbourne Park Grand Slam after he underwent knee surgery in January and suffered wrist and foot issues in an injury-plagued 2023. Nadal has won the Australian Open twice, with his last victory coming in 2022 when he beat Russia's Daniil Medvedev and became the first man in the Open era to come back from two sets down in the final to win.

Persons: Spain's Rafael Nadal, Mackenzie Mcdonald, Loren Elliott, Rafa Nadal, Craig Tiley, Rafa, Tiley, He's, Nick Kyrgios, Nick's, Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Russia's Daniil Medvedev, Rohith Nair, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Melbourne, U.S, REUTERS, The, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, Australia, Bengaluru

For nearly three decades – from fiscal years 1974 to 2002 – Israel was the top recipient of U.S. aid, the longest-standing duration for a top aid recipient dating back to 1946, according to figures from ForeignAssistance.gov. While 2003 to 2020 saw the most aid going to either Iraq or Afghanistan, Israel nevertheless remained a top three aid recipient throughout that time. In 2021, U.S. obligations to Israel amounted to $3.31 billion, a figure that saw Israel returning to the top spot among aid recipients that year. Almost all U.S. aid to Israel recently has been military aid rather than economic aid, in the form of Foreign Military Financing grants – U.S. grants and loans to Israel for acquiring U.S. military equipment and services. Israel saw that rate peak at 30.5% in 1975, but it has slowly been descending since.

Persons: Biden, Gerald R, Ford, Israel, – Israel, Christine Wormuth, Kevin McCarthy’s, Israel’s Rafael, – Organizations: United, Foreign Military Financing, U.S, Congressional Research Service, CRS, Israel Defense Forces, Defense Systems, Raytheon, Raytheon Rafael, Protection Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, Boeing, Israel, World Bank, Russia, USAID . Missile Locations: Israel, U.S, United States, Egypt, ForeignAssistance.gov, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, – Israel

☆ Six suspects in assassination of Ecuador candidate murdered in prison
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The killings took place in a penitentiary in Guayaquil, the South American country's largest city, the attorney general's office announced earlier on Friday. A seventh suspect, also Colombian, was shot and killed by police, while other suspects were later arrested. The second round run-off vote is scheduled for Oct. 15, the culmination of an election cycle marred by numerous incidents of violence. She has said that surging crime is unprecedented and that voters should not allow "terror" to stop them from voting for change. Reporting by Julia Symms Cobb; Editing by David Alire Garcia and Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Fernando Villavicencio, Ecuador's, Guillermo Lasso, Daniel Noboa, Luisa Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Julia Symms Cobb, David Alire Garcia, Robert Birsel Organizations: American, Police, Thomson Locations: Guayaquil, Quito, Colombian

☆ Milan go top with late Pulisic strike at Genoa as Giroud ends match in goal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GENOA, Italy, Oct 7 (Reuters) - A late strike by Christian Pulisic earned AC Milan a 1-0 win at promoted Genoa that put them top of Serie A on Saturday but the game ended in chaos as both keepers were sent off and striker Olivier Giroud went in goal for the visitors. U.S. international Pulisic netted in the 87th minute with a half-volley from near the penalty spot after he was brilliantly set up by Yunus Musah to give Milan the lead. But the three points were hanging by a thread as the game took a chaotic turn when Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan saw red for a foul on Caleb Ekuban late in stoppage time and Giroud took his spot in goal. "I like to think that what Giroud did is part of our mentality," coach Stefano Pioli told DAZN. "Pulisic wanted to go in goal and perhaps he had already done it, but I told him that he was too short.

Persons: Christian Pulisic, Olivier Giroud, Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Mike Maignan, Caleb Ekuban, Giroud, Frenchman, Genoa's Albert Gudmundsson, George Puscas, Stefano Pioli, DAZN, Milan, Pioli, Ruben Loftus, Cheek, Rade Krunic, Ismael Bennacer, Rafael Leao, Josep Martinez, Martinez, Theo Hernandez, Anita Kobylinska, Toby Davis Organizations: Milan, Serie, U.S, Inter Milan, Lazio, AS Roma, Napoli, Genoa, Juventus, Thomson Locations: GENOA, Italy, Genoa, Milan, Bologna, Gdansk

☆ Why superyacht builders are investing in solar
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Sydney Boyo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Early tech adopters are investing in a new toy: solar-powered electric yachts. "I believe electric yachts and electric motors will be the main propulsion of pleasure yachts and even cargo vessels in the near future." The company says it has an order book of 160 million euros ($168 million), with prices ranging from 3.2 million euros for its 60-foot yacht to 30 million euros for the fully equipped version of its 120-foot vessel. "The smallest boat is around 1.5 million euros and on the upper range there really is no limit. "We think there is a sweet spot for solar electric boats between 50 and 120 feet," said Kress.

Persons: Mike Horn, Michael Köhler, it's, Heiki, Stephan Kress, Sunreef, Rafael Nadal, Fernando Alonso, Nicola Lapp, Kress Organizations: SuperYacht Times, of Yachting, ForSea Ferries, Allied Market Research, Silent Yachts, Yachts, Formula Locations: SuperYacht Times ', North America, Sweden, Austria, Italy, Turkey, Gdansk, Poland, Emirate, Ras Al Khaimah, Sunreef

☆ Bangladesh gets first uranium shipment from Russia for nuclear power plant
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Ruma Paul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The south Asian country is building the first of two nuclear power plants in collaboration with Russian state-owned atomic company Rosatom. Ninety percent of the project is financed through a Russian loan repayable within 28 years with a 10-year grace period. "Today is a day of pride and joy for the people of Bangladesh," Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said during a video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the Russian Embassy in Bangladesh called a "nuclear fuel delivery ceremony" in a Facebook post. Due to U.S. sanctions on Moscow, Bangladesh in December denied entry to a Russian ship carrying equipment for the plant. Reporting by Ruma Paul; Editing by Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Sheikh Hasina, Rafael Grossi, Sergei Lavrov, Ruma Paul, Richard Chang Organizations: Bangladeshi, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Russian Embassy, Thomson Locations: DHAKA, Bangladesh, Russian, U.S, Washington, Moscow, Ukraine

☆ Ecuador polls predict close race for presidency
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Noboa, 35, would win 41.5% of total votes, including blank and void ballots, while Gonzalez, who led the first round of voting, would garner 36.4%, according to polling firm Comunicaliza. The survey, conducted this week, included 5,265 people and had a margin of error of 1.35%. Some 17% of the 3,000 people polled are still undecided, while 5.3% would hand in protest ballots, Negocios & Estrategias said. This contest was called by current President Guillermo Lasso after he dissolved the legislature to avoid impeachment. Reporting by Alexandra Valencia Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb Editing by Chris Reese and David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Daniel Noboa, Luisa Gonzalez, Noboa, Alvaro Noboa, Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Alvaro Marchante, Estrategias, Maluk Resarch, Guillermo Lasso, Alexandra Valencia, Julia Symmes Cobb, Chris Reese, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Negocios, Noboa, Thomson Locations: QUITO

☆ In the country of ‘machismo,’ a woman will be the next president
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Rafael Romo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Sheinbaum, a 61-year-old former Mexico City mayor and longtime political ally of Lopez Obrador, hit all the right notes in thanking him. Lopez Obrador promises to ‘retire completely’Schettino believes the immensely popularly Lopez Obrador views Sheinbaum as his extension in power. In 2012, Lopez Obrador created Morena as a political party. “President López Obrador, a dinosaur who not only is a dinosaur, but also has the vocation of a tyrant. Earlier this year, Lopez Obrador denied he had any favorites among his party’s hopefuls or that he was pushing for one candidate or another behind the scenes.

Persons: Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Claudia Sheinbaum, Lopez Obrador, Morena, Sheinbaum, ”, –, Xochitl Gálvez, It’s, Lopez, Xochitl Galvez, wasn’t, Gálvez, López Obrador, Vicente Fox, Gálvez unapologetically, Macario, she’s, don’t, ” Schettino, “, let’s, it’s, ” Sheinbaum, ‘, Schettino, hew Organizations: CNN, Mexico City, Broad Front, PAN, PRI, PRD, Front, Mexican Congress, Social, Institutional Revolutionary Party, Party of Democratic Locations: Mexico City, Mexico, Monterrey, Mexican, Mexico’s

☆ Ecuador presidential rivals agree tough stance on crime, differ on economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Leftist Luisa Gonzalez, a lawyer and protege of former president Rafael Correa and young businessman Daniel Noboa will compete in a run-off vote on Oct. 15. Gonzalez won the first round with almost 34% of the votes while Noboa took a surprise second place. Both candidates promised in Sunday's debate to get tough on organized crime gangs, to strengthen the security forces and to seek international help to tackle spiraling insecurity. Gonzalez pledged to boost oil production and reiterated plans to inject $2.5 billion of international reserves into the economy. However, he also clarified that a previous proposal to use $1.5 billion of international reserves was for worst-case scenarios only.

Persons: Luisa Gonzalez, Daniel Noboa, Karen Toro, Rafael Correa, Gonzalez, Noboa, Guillermo Lasso, Alexandra Valencia, Oliver Griffin Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, El, Thomson Locations: Quito, Ecuador, Rights QUITO

☆ Ecuador Presidential Rivals Agree Tough Stance on Crime, Differ on Economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Gonzalez won the first round with almost 34% of the votes while Noboa took a surprise second place. Outgoing President Guillermo Lasso called early elections in May when he dissolved the legislature to avoid an impeachment process. Both candidates promised in Sunday's debate to get tough on organized crime gangs, to strengthen the security forces and to seek international help to tackle spiraling insecurity. Gonzalez pledged to boost oil production and reiterated plans to inject $2.5 billion of international reserves into the economy. However, he also clarified that a previous proposal to use $1.5 billion of international reserves was for worst-case scenarios only.

Persons: Alexandra Valencia, Luisa Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Daniel Noboa, Gonzalez, Noboa, Guillermo Lasso, Oliver Griffin Organizations: Alexandra Valencia QUITO, El

☆ North Korea Slams UN Nuclear Agency as US Mouthpiece
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Hyonhee ShinSEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea on Monday denounced the U.N. atomic watchdog for joining a U.S.-led pressure campaign and "cooking up" a resolution over its nuclear programmes, calling the agency a "paid trumpeter" for Washington. An unnamed spokesman of Pyongyang's Ministry of Nuclear Power Industry released a statement criticising a resolution adopted on Friday at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) general conference that calls for the North to curb its nuclear programmes. The spokesman described the resolution as a "result of conspiracy" by the United States and its allies, saying North Korea's status as a nuclear weapons state has already become "irreversible." Grossi warned last year that the reclusive country could resume nuclear testing for the first time since 2017. The IAEA has had no access to North Korea since Pyongyang expelled its inspectors in 2009 and then restarted nuclear testing.

Persons: Shin, Rafael Grossi, Grossi, Hyonhee Shin, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Monday, Pyongyang's Ministry of Nuclear Power Industry, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, DPRK, Democratic People's Locations: Shin SEOUL, North Korea, U.S, Washington, United States, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK, Pyongyang

☆ North Korea slams UN nuclear agency as US mouthpiece
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreSEOUL, Oct 2 (Reuters) - North Korea on Monday denounced the U.N. atomic watchdog for joining a U.S.-led pressure campaign and "cooking up" a resolution over its nuclear programmes, calling the agency a "paid trumpeter" for Washington. An unnamed spokesman of Pyongyang's Ministry of Nuclear Power Industry released a statement criticising a resolution adopted on Friday at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) general conference that calls for the North to curb its nuclear programmes. The spokesman described the resolution as a "result of conspiracy" by the United States and its allies, saying North Korea's status as a nuclear weapons state has already become "irreversible." Grossi warned last year that the reclusive country could resume nuclear testing for the first time since 2017. The IAEA has had no access to North Korea since Pyongyang expelled its inspectors in 2009 and then restarted nuclear testing.

Persons: Tae Sung, Kim Hong, Rafael Grossi, Grossi, Hyonhee Shin, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, Monday, Pyongyang's Ministry of Nuclear Power Industry, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, DPRK, Democratic People's, Thomson Locations: Gijungdong, Paju, South Korea, SEOUL, North Korea, U.S, Washington, United States, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK, Pyongyang

☆ The next United Nations Secretary General? This Caribbean climate leader makes diplomats 'jump' with excitement
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Stephanie Fillion | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

United Nations CNN —Asked last week if she will run to become the United Nations’ next Secretary General, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados gave a thumbs up, smiled, and walked away. Fighting for a woman at the helmThe UN’s next Secretary General would take office in January 2027. “There’s always lots of men that want to run,” said Ben Donaldson, head of campaigns at the United Nations Association of the United Kingdom. “It’s not so much about talking about a Julie or Anne, or Mary, it is more about talking about a Madame Secretary General as a general proposition, and then making sure that we pave the way to get there,” she said. “I believe that men should run next time around as I believe women should run in their numbers,” he said.

Persons: United Nations CNN —, Mia Mottley, Mottley, Juan Manuel Santos –, –, Santos, Rafael Grossi, António Guterres, Alicia Bárcena, Rebeca, Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, “, Ralph Gonsalves, Saint Vincent, ”, Guterres, Obama, Richard Gowan, ” Elina Valtonen, ” Valtonen, it’s, Ben Donaldson, “ I’m, Susana Malcorra, It’s, Julie, Anne, Mary, Dennis Francis, doesn’t, ” Julia Maciel Organizations: United Nations CNN, United Nations ’, UN, United Nations, International Atomic Energy Agency, Assembly, CNN, International Monetary Fund, General, Chevron, European Union, Bridgetown Initiative, IMF, World Bank, Crisis, UN Security Council, Security Council, Security, United Nations Association of, Global, Madame Locations: Barbados, America, Caribbean, New York, Colombian, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Grenadines, Venezuela, Bridgetown, COP28, New York City, UN, Portuguese, United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Paraguay

☆ Botswana reassessing HB Antwerp deal after Lucara Diamond cuts ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Brian Benza | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An over 1,000-carat uncut stone by Lucara Diamond is pictured during a press availability in New York City, New York, U.S., September 20, 2021. Lucara Diamond said on Thursday it had ended its agreement with HB Trading BV, a unit of HB Antwerp, following what it called "a material breach of financial commitments by HB". Diamond processor and trader HB Antwerp earlier this month removed one of its three co-founders, Oded Mansori, from management following differences over strategy. Mansori, who co-founded HB Antwerp in 2020 with partners Shai de Toledo and Rafael Papismedov, said he was taking them to court over his removal. HB and Lucara first entered into a diamond sales agreement in 2020, which was extended for 10 years in 2022.

Persons: Lucara Diamond, David, Dee, Delgado, Mokgweetsi Masisi, Masisi, Oded, Shai de Toledo, Rafael Papismedov, Lucara, Brian Benza, Nelson Banya, Mark Potter, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, HB Antwerp, HB Trading, HB, Okavango Diamond Company, Lucara, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, Rights GABORONE, Belgian, Botswana

☆ Mariners stay in race with win over Astros
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Field Level Media | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/54] Sep 26, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (44) steps into the dugout prior to the game against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports Acquire Licensing RightsSeptember 27 - George Kirby pitched six scoreless innings as the Seattle Mariners bolstered their flagging playoff hopes with a 6-2 victory against the visiting Houston Astros on Tuesday night. The Mariners scored twice in the third and added three runs in the fifth, both times helped by Houston errors. After a walk to J.P. Crawford, Julio Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to left to make it 2-0. France hit a solo shot to left-center with two outs in the eighth off Ryne Stanek.

Persons: Julio Rodriguez, Steven Bisig, George Kirby, Ty France, Justin Topa, Kirby, Yainer Diaz, Chas McCormick, Jeremy Pena, Matt Brash, Jon Singleton, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Andres Munoz, Altuve, McCormick, Pena, Houston's Cristian Javier, Mike Ford, Josh Rojas, Crawford, Rojas, Rodriguez, Rafael Montero, Cal Raleigh, Kyle Tucker's, Teoscar Hernandez, Ryne Organizations: Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Mobile, Mariners, Houston, Astros, Texas Rangers, AL West, Kirby, nab Ford, Ford, Cal, Raleigh, Thomson Locations: Seattle , Washington, USA, Houston, France

☆ Saudi Arabia announces crucial step forward in its nascent nuclear power plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The announcement put the spotlight on the kingdom's nascent nuclear energy efforts — Saudi Arabia has a small nuclear reactor, a research unit set up with the help of Argentina, that it has not yet put into operation. The Saudi energy minister did not comment on whether his country would also join the IAEA's Additional Protocol, which requires more thorough oversight including snap inspections. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in a recent wide-ranging interview with Fox News that if Iran developed nuclear weapons, Saudi Arabia would too. U.S. assistance with a nuclear energy program is one of Saudi Arabia's key demands — but not everyone is happy about that. The multilateral Obama-era deal had allowed the lifting of economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs to its nuclear program.

Persons: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Al, Mandel Ngan, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Rafael Grossi, Thomas Kronsteiner, Grossi, Saud, Prince Abdulaziz's, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Mohammed bin Salman's, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Evelyn Hockstein, Yair Lapid, Donald Trump, ATTA KENARE Organizations: Saudi, Crown, AFP, Getty Images, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Saudi Energy, Governors, CSA, United, Fox News, CBS, West, Saudi Arabian Crown, Indian, Biden, Obama, Iranian, Getty Locations: Royal, Saudi, Jeddah, Getty Images Saudi Arabia, Vienna, Austria, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Russia, Ukraine, China, New Delhi, India, Riyadh, Washington, Israel, Tehran, Bushehr

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