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☆ South Korea evacuates thousands of scouts ahead of typhoon
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Hyunsu Yim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Participants gather under the shade as they prepare to leave the camping site of the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Buan, South Korea, August 8, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-JiBUAN, South Korea, Aug 8 (Reuters) - South Korea on Tuesday started evacuating thousands of teenage participants at the World Scout Jamboree from a campsite in the southwest of the country to safer areas mainly around the capital Seoul ahead of an approaching typhoon. Typhoon Khanun, which has already wreaked havoc in southern Japan, is expected to hit southern areas of South Korea on Thursday before tracking up the peninsula, bringing strong winds and rain, according to weather forecasters. Seoul and its surrounding province of Gyeonggi would host more than 16,000 scouts, with others fanning out to six other areas of South Korea, he said. Poland is due to host the next World Scout Jamboree in 2027, but President Andrzej Duda cancelled plans to visit the event in South Korea this week due to the typhoon, an official at the Polish Embassy in Seoul said.

Persons: Kim Hong, Ji BUAN, Khanun, Lee Sang, Ahmad Alhendawi, Yoon Suk, Andrzej Duda, Hyunsu Yim, Hyun Young Yi, Ed Davies, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Tuesday, UK Scouts, Reuters, World Organization of, Scout Movement, Polish Embassy, Games, Japan, South Korean, Thomson Locations: Buan, South Korea, Seoul, Japan, Gyeonggi, Poland, Polish, Busan

☆ How Cooking Videos Took Over the World
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Priya Krishna | Umi Syam | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Cooking videos have never been more persuasive, more inescapable, more addictive, more entertaining. How Cooking Videos Took Over The WorldVideos on TikTok with the #foodtok hashtag have been viewed more than 64 billion times. But cooking videos are not only an unavoidable part of being online — they’ve also infiltrated physical spaces. That is what makes these videos so engaging.”Today, there isn’t just one way to make a successful cooking video. But the evolution of cooking videos represents a broader shift: Algorithms and artificial intelligence increasingly drive everyday behaviors and can stifle creativity.

Persons: they’ve, Julia Child, Joyce Chen, ”, Ashley Rose Young, —, John Gara, … TikTok, Covid, Sunny Xun Liu, “, Bennett, Hetal Vasavada, soothingly, Althea Brown, Frankenfood, Gara, Bacon, Ahmad Alzahabi, Liu, Vasavada, that’s, they’re Organizations: Department of Motor Vehicles, Smithsonian Institution, Food Network, “ East, YouTube, Facebook, Stanford Social Media, “ Locations: New York City, United States, TikTok, Denver

☆ Sweden and Denmark consider ban on Quran-burning protests as security fears rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —A spate of Quran-burning protests in Sweden and Denmark has caused angry demonstrations in Muslim-majority countries, heightened security fears at home and left both Scandinavian nations questioning whether they need to review their liberal laws on freedom of speech. But both countries signaled Sunday that they are exploring legal ways to prevent such protests, amid security and geopolitical concerns. While freedom of speech has long been a constitutional right in Sweden and Denmark, the scrapping of blasphemy laws was a more recent development. But neither country tightened their free speech laws in response to these attacks. “Sweden is right now the target of influence campaigns, supported by states and state-like actors, whose purpose is to harm Sweden and Swedish interests,” said Bohlin.

Persons: “, Ulf Kristersson, Denmark “, Salwan Momika, Momika, Ahmad Al, ” Marten Schutlz, ” Sofie Blomback, ”, Bruno Jerup, Chris McGrath, Blomback, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Sweden’s Kristersson, Posten, Prophet Mohammed, Lars Vilks, Mohammed, ” Kristersson, Carl, Oskar Bohlin, ” Bohlin, ” Schulz Organizations: CNN, NATO, of Islamic Cooperation, ”, Danish, Protesters, Getty, Stockholm University, Sweden’s, Appeal, Mid Sweden University, Sweden’s Civil Defense Locations: Sweden, Denmark, Stockholm, Turkey, Danish, Copenhagen, ” Sweden, Iraqi, Sweden's, Baghdad, Iraq, AFP, Swedish, United States, Istanbul, Ukraine, Vilnius, Turkish, Russia

☆ IOC asks Singh to continue as acting head of Olympic Council of Asia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Amlan Chakraborty | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW DELHI, July 30 (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee has asked India's Randhir Singh to continue as acting head of the Olympic Council of Asia, according to a letter seen by Reuters, after the IOC refused to recognise the Asian governing body's elections. Sheikh Ahmad has denied any wrongdoing. Sheikh Talal was appointed OCA president by a margin of 24 votes to 20 over his fellow Kuwaiti, Husain Al-Musallam. The trial considered whether Sheikh Ahmad had used a bogus Kuwaiti coup plot to gain advantage over political rivals. Sheikh Ahmad denied all the charges in the case and appealed the conviction.

Persons: India's Randhir Singh, Kuwait's Sheikh Ahmad Al, Fahad, Sheikh Talal Fahad Al, Ahmad Al, Sheikh Ahmad, Sheikh Talal, Husain Al, Singh, Sheikh Talal Al, Sheikh Ahmad's, Amlan Chakraborty, Tommy Lund, Ken Ferris Organizations: Olympic, Olympic Council of Asia, Reuters, IOC, OCA, Asian Games, Thomson Locations: DELHI, Fahad Al, Sabah, Bangkok, Singh, Swiss, OPEC, Geneva, Switzerland, Hangzhou, China, New Delhi

☆ Kuwait forms cabinet with new oil minister, finance minister re-appointed
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, June 18 (Reuters) - Kuwait formed a new government on Sunday naming Saad Al Barrak as oil minister to replace Bader Al-Mulla and reappointing Finance Minister Manaf Abdulaziz Al Hajri. Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who was re-appointed as prime minister last week, formed the new cabinet announced in a decree carried by the state news agency KUNA. The Gulf Arab state also named a new defence minister, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah. The outgoing government had resigned following parliamentary elections held earlier this month in the Gulf OPEC oil producer. Reporting By Andrew Mills and Ahmed Tolba; Writing by Andrew Mills; Editing by Andrew Heavens and David EvansOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Saad Al Barrak, Bader Al, Mulla, Manaf Abdulaziz Al Hajri, Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al, Ahmad Al, Sheikh Ahmad Al, Fahad Al, Ahmed Al, Andrew Mills, Ahmed Tolba, Andrew Heavens, David Evans Organizations: reappointing Finance, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Kuwait, Sabah, Gulf OPEC

☆ Kuwait sets June 6 date for legislative elections, state news agency reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KUWAIT, May 3 (Reuters) - Kuwait on Wednesday set June 6 as the date for its legislative elections, state news agency Kuna reported, two days after the Gulf state's parliament was dissolved by royal decree. The parliament was only reinstated in March based on a Constitutional Court ruling following a previous dissolution. The OPEC member has seen prolonged bickering between the government and the elected parliament that has hampered fiscal reforms. The June 6 date was agreed by the council of ministers on Wednesday and referred to Kuwait's Crown Prince, Kuna reported. Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah had said last month the legislature would be dissolved and new parliamentary elections would be held in the coming months.

☆ Kuwait again dissolves reinstated parliament by decree
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBAI, May 1 (Reuters) - Kuwait's parliament was dissolved by royal decree on Monday, state news agency KUNA said, having only been reinstated in March based on a Constitutional Court ruling after a previous dissolution. The Gulf Arab state, an OPEC member, has seen prolonged bickering between the government and the elected parliament that has hampered fiscal reforms. Sheikh Meshal, who signed Monday's Emiri decree, was handed most of the duties of the ruling emir, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah, in late 2021. The cabinet had submitted the decree to Sheikh Meshal earlier in the day, according to a previous statement by KUNA. Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf al-Sabah, the emir's son, had in January submitted his government's resignation due to friction with the parliament elected in 2020.

☆ The US and its allies are stuck in a violent cycle with Iran-backed militias who want blood but don't want to 'poke the bear'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

But even still, miscalculation is possible, and these deadly exchanges nearly sent the US and Iran to war just a few years ago. In response, two US Air Force F-15E fighter jets carried out airstrikes later that evening against IRGC Quds Force facilities in Syria, killing eight Iran-backed militants. Angel Ruszkiewicz"We do not seek conflict with Iran, we don't seek escalation with Iran," Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. "As soon as the Iranian special forces and their proxies showed up in Syria, the Israelis started hitting them. The next day, Iran-backed militias attacked US forces near Hasakah, killing the American contractor.

☆ U.S. says its forces killed Islamic State leader in Syria
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

April 4 (Reuters) - The United States carried out a military operation that killed a senior Islamic State leader in Syria on Monday, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement early on Tuesday. Khalid 'Aydd Ahmad al-jabouri was responsible for planning ISIS attacks into Europe and developed the leadership structure for ISIS, the statement said. Last week, the Tass news agency said Russia had protested to the American-led coalition against the Islamic State militant group about "provocative actions" by U.S. armed forces in Syria. No civilians were killed or injured in this strike, CENTCOM said, and added that the group "continues to represent a threat to the region and beyond". Reporting by Akriti Sharma and Bharat Govind Gautam in Bengaluru; Editing by Jacqueline WongOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

JANDARIS, Syria, March 22 (Reuters) - Hussein Mankawi has little hope he will ever rebuild his home and food distribution businesses in the north-west Syrian city of Jandaris after they were reduced to rubble by last month's deadly earthquake, wiping out his life's work. There is nothing but tents," he said, standing by the mangled ruins of his home in the rebel-held region. The Feb. 6 earthquakes were the worst modern-day natural disasters to strike Syria and Turkey, killing more than 56,000 people across the two countries. The U.N. says more than 100,000 people have been displaced in the region since the first quake struck on Feb. 6. "We were looking for a better life," he said as he waited to be let through the border with his family.

☆ Kuwait re-appoints Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf al-Sabah as PM - state news agency
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KUWAIT, March 5 (Reuters) - Kuwait's crown prince re-appointed Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf al-Sabah as prime minister and asked him to nominate a cabinet, state news agency KUNA reported on Sunday, more than a month after the government resigned due to renewed friction with parliament. Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who has taken over most of the ruling emir's duties, moved last year to end feuding by naming Sheikh Ahmad as premier, dissolving parliament and calling early polls, in which opposition members made gains. Kuwait bans political parties but has given its legislature more influence than similar bodies in other Gulf monarchies. While Kuwait has strong fiscal and external balance sheets, frequent political bickering and institutional gridlock have hampered investment and reforms aimed at reducing its heavy reliance on oil revenues. Reporting by Mahmoud Mourad; Writing by Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Earthquake piles misery on war-ravaged Syrians in wintry north
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] People gather as rescuers search for survivors under the rubble, following an earthquake, in rebel-held town of Jandaris, Syria February 6, 2023. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake sent people rushing into the streets in the country's north, where air strikes and shelling have already traumatised the population and weakened the foundations of many buildings. In the rebel-held town of Jandaris in Aleppo province, a mound of concrete, steel rods and bundles of clothes lay where a multi-storey building once stood. "We were pulling people out ourselves at three in the morning," he said, his breath visible in the cold winter air as he spoke. Further west, the main hospital in the rebel-held town of Afrin was teeming with wounded residents writhing on the ground and women struggling to reach loved ones by phone as the lines were down.

☆ Saudi Aramco backs Brooklyn-based startup turning ammonia into fuel
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

New technology and new companies are working on turning ammonia into hydrogen to power tractors, trucks and even ships. The technology enables the on-board "cracking" (or decomposition) of ammonia into hydrogen, which is then sent into a fuel cell to power a vehicle. "We are partnering a lot with industry stakeholders in shipping and heavy manufacturing in heavy industries. One of Amogy's investors, Saudi Aramco, is the largest petroleum producer in the world, but sees ammonia as part of its future. In addition to Saudi Aramco, Amogy is backed by Amazon 's Climate Pledge Fund, AP Ventures, SK Innovation and DCVC.

☆ Colorado supermarket shooting suspect remains unfit for trial, judge says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

BOULDER, Colo. — A man charged with killing 10 people at a Colorado supermarket nearly two years ago remains mentally incompetent to stand trial, a judge said Friday. Bakke said the latest report from the hospital finding Alissa incompetent also said he has a “reasonable likelihood” of reaching competency, an outlook also expressed in previous reports. Concerns about Alissa’s mental health were raised by his defense immediately after the March 2021 shooting. Competency is a different legal issue than a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, which involves whether someone’s mental health prevented them from understanding right from wrong when a crime was committed. They said Alissa passed a background check to legally buy a Ruger AR-556 pistol six days before the shooting.

"He is not above God," Oweidat told Reuters, referring to Bitar. Several members of parliament had earlier met with the justice minister and the head of the supreme judicial council. 'JUDICIAL SCANDAL'Families of those killed in the blast, members of parliament and other Lebanese flocked to Lebanon's justice palace on Thursday to demand Bitar be allowed to carry on. This week's developments have set up a tug-of-war in Lebanon's judiciary, where politicians have influence over many appointments. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Wednesday that splits in the judiciary could have "dangerous consequences" if left unresolved.

☆ Kuwait aims to build political cohesion with new amnesty for jailed critics
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Ahmed Hagagy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

KUWAIT, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Kuwait's emir has pardoned dozens of jailed critics under a new amnesty as the Gulf state builds on efforts to end domestic political feuding that has hampered fiscal reforms and as tensions surface between the new government and parliament. The amnesty decreed by Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah, published in the Official Bulletin on Wednesday pardoned 34 Kuwaitis, most of them convicted for voicing public criticism. Kuwait bans political parties but has given its legislature more influence than similar bodies in other Gulf monarchies, and political stability in the U.S.-allied country has traditionally hinged on cooperation between the government and parliament. Opposition MP Mubarak Al-Hajraf, who has submitted a request to question the finance minister, in a Twitter post thanked the emir and the crown prince for the "generous amnesty". Reporting by Ahmed Hagagy Writing by Ghaida Ghantous Editing by Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Leg-lengthening surgery still has risks, despite recent advances, and should be a last resort, surgeons say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Patients are increasingly asking surgeons for leg-lengthening surgery for non-medical reasons. Surgery is safer now, but it still carries risks and should be avoided if possible, said surgeons. Two surgeons told Insider the procedure should be avoided if possible. However, one surgeon who had refused to do the surgery for cosmetic reasons said he had recently changed his mind. How leg-lengthening worksDuring a leg-lengthening procedure, the bone is purposefully broken.

But the boat taking them across the Mediterranean Sea from Libya sank soon after leaving. According to the World Bank, unemployment in Gaza runs at about 50% and more than half its population lives in poverty. But among the thousands attending the migrants' funerals, there was added outrage and despair at the October shipwreck. He said the total number of Palestinian migrants was unknown. The young men who were buried on Sunday crossed Egypt before flying to Libya where they waited months to set sail.

One month since Arshad Sharif was killed, Kenyan and Pakistani authorities have not concluded their reports nor have there been any arrests in the case. “I have no faith in the Pakistani government,” his mother, Riffat Ara Alvi told CNN in a video interview. But I request all the international journalistic organizations and United Nations to investigate this killing,” his widow, Javeria Siddique told CNN. Arshad Sharif Sharif was a critic of the Pakistani military and an ally of former prime minister Imran Khan. Sharif and Khurram Ahmed left Ammodump around 8:30 p.m. local time, a detective involved in the case told CNN.

☆ 5 men and 2 women were put to death in a rare mass execution in Kuwait
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Kuwait government hanged seven prisoners in the first mass execution in five years. Those killed included three Kuwaiti men, a Kuwaiti woman, a Syrian man, a Pakistani man, and an Ethiopian woman. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyThe Kuwait government put to death seven prisoners in the first mass execution in five years. The state-run news agency KUNA news has said that those killed include three Kuwaiti men, a Kuwaiti woman, a Syrian man, a Pakistani man, and an Ethiopian woman. The last mass execution happened in 2017 when seven prisoners — including a member of the Kuwaiti royal family — were hanged in the oil-rich state, AP reported at the time.

☆ Pope ends Bahrain trip with visit to Gulf's oldest church
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Yara NardiMANAMA, Bahrain, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Pope Francis departed from Bahrain on Sunday after a four-day trip that culminated with a visit to the Gulf's oldest Catholic church, where he told bishops, priests and nuns to remain united as they ministered to the faithful in the majority Muslim area. Many Catholics also visit from neighbouring Saudi Arabia, which bars public worship by non-Muslims. At the end of the church service, Pope Francis thanked King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for Bahrain's "exquisite hospitality". Pope Francis' visit, where he closed an East-West dialogue hosted by Bahrain, continues his policy of improving ties with the Islamic world following a historic visit to the United Arab Emirates in 2019. Thousands of Catholics in Bahrain and from around the Gulf poured into a stadium to hear the Pope say Mass on Saturday.

☆ Pope, in Bahrain, condemns rearmament pushing world to 'the brink'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

AWALI, Bahrain, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Friday appealed to religious leaders to help bring the world back from "the brink of a delicate precipice" and oppose a new race to rearm that he said was redesigning Cold War-era spheres of influence. The visit continues the pope's policy of improving ties with the Islamic world following a historic visit to Abu Dhabi in 2019, the first by any pope to the Arabian peninsula. Apparently referring to Ukraine, Francis condemned a situation where "a few potentates are caught up in a resolute struggle for partisan interests, reviving obsolete rhetoric, redesigning spheres of influence and opposing blocs". The cathedral was built on land donated by the king and one of the monarch's sons welcomed him to the church. On Saturday, the pope was due to say Mass for an estimated 30,000 people at Bahrain's National Stadium.

☆ Ex-Philadelphia deputy accused of selling illegal guns, including 2 used in 'ambush' shooting at high school scrimmage
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Minyvonne Burke | Minyvonne Burke Is A Senior Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

A former Philadelphia sheriff's deputy is accused of illegally selling firearms, including two which had been used in a deadly "ambush" after a high school football scrimmage, court documents state. The former deputy, Samir Ahmad, 29, faces charges of firearms trafficking and selling firearms to a person unlawfully in the U.S. Law enforcement gave the informant an audio recording device and instructed him to buy the gun from Ahmad. Three people — two teenagers and a 21-year-old man — were arrested in connection to the shooting, NBC Philadelphia reported. It's not clear if Ahmad knew the weapons had been used in the shooting prior to his obtaining them.

☆ Kuwait crown prince says 'petty' political squabbling must end
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Ahmed Hagagy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

There has been enough waste of painstaking efforts, precious time and squandered money," Sheikh Meshal said in the address, visibly crying at the end. Kuwait, an OPEC oil producer, bans political parties but has given its legislature more influence than similar bodies in other Gulf monarchies. Opposition figures made big gains in legislative polls in September after Sheikh Meshal dissolved parliament in a bid to end the stalemate. Before that he appointed Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf al-Sabah as prime minister at a time opposition lawmakers stepped up pressure for a new premier and parliament speaker. Sheikh Meshal pledged on Tuesday that the government would not interfere in the selection of the parliament speaker or parliamentary committees.

☆ Factbox: World leaders to attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Canadian Prime minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau attend the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey. Jack Hill/Pool via REUTERSRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterLONDON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Queen Elizabeth's state funeral will take place in London on Monday and a host of world leaders, royalty and other dignitaries will attend. Countries that have not been invited include Syria and Venezuela because London does not have normal diplomatic relations with those states. Britain has also not invited representatives from Russia, Belarus or Myanmar after it imposed economic sanctions on those countries. Related ContentFactbox: Plans for Queen Elizabeth's state funeral on MondayFactbox: Comments from crowds in London on Queen ElizabethFactbox: World leaders to attend Queen Elizabeth's funeralFactbox: Order of service for Queen Elizabeth's state funeralWindsor Castle, Queen Elizabeth's home and now final resting placeWestminster Abbey - traditional church for royals in life and death(This story was refiled to correct spelling of first name of Belize governor general)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterCompiled by Farouq Suleiman and Kate Holton Editing by Deepa Babington and Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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