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☆ US imposes visa restrictions over actions 'undermining democracy' in Guatemala
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Nov 16 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday imposed visa restrictions on eleven people for "undermining democracy and the rule of law" in Guatemala as it condemned attempts to undermine the transfer of power, the State Department said. "We join the Organization of American States in calling for a transfer of power that respects popular will, is consistent with the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and adheres to the rule of law in Guatemala," spokesperson Matthew Miller said. Reporting by Costas Pitas; Editing by Scott MaloneOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Matthew Miller, Costas Pitas, Scott Malone Organizations: State Department, Organization of American, Inter, American Democratic Charter, Thomson Locations: United States, Guatemala

☆ Trump's Georgia election trial might not conclude until 2025, says prosecutor
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally at Ted Hendricks Stadium in Hialeah, Florida, U.S. November 8, 2023. REUTERS/Octavio Jones Acquire Licensing RightsNov 14 (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Donald Trump's election interference case in Georgia may not conclude until the winter of 2024 or early 2025 after a trial that will last many months, the prosecutor, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, said on Tuesday. That timeline would mean the trial may be ongoing as voters cast their ballots in the 2024 presidential election. Trump is the Republican frontrunner to face Democratic President Joe Biden in the election. Willis dismissed concerns about the campaign, saying she does not "consider an election cycle or an election season" when bringing criminal cases.

Persons: Donald Trump, Ted Hendricks, Octavio Jones, Donald Trump's, Fani Willis, Trump, Joe Biden, Willis, Costas Pitas, Andrew Goudsward, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Republican, REUTERS, Former U.S, Washington Post, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Hialeah , Florida, U.S, Former, Georgia, Fulton County, Los Angeles, Washington

☆ Blinken, new UK foreign minister discuss Israel, Ukraine and China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken looks on, as he begins to board his plane to travel home to Washington from Palam Air Base in New Delhi, India, November 10, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/Pool/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 13 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and newly appointed British foreign minister David Cameron discussed the Israel-Hamas conflict, relations with China and help for Ukraine during a telephone call on Monday, the State Department said. "Secretary Blinken and Lord Cameron underscored continuity in the U.S.-UK special relationship and its importance to regional and global security," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a readout of the conversation. Reporting by Jasper Ward; writing by Costas Pitas; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Jonathan Ernst, David Cameron, Blinken, Lord Cameron, Matthew Miller, Jasper Ward, Costas Pitas, Leslie Adler Organizations: Palam Air Base, REUTERS, Ukraine, State Department, U.S ., Department, Thomson Locations: Washington, New Delhi, India, Israel, China, U.S

☆ Abortion rights advocates, Democrats score wins in US elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Joseph Ax | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Nov 7 (Reuters) - Democrats and abortion rights advocates notched a string of electoral victories on Tuesday, including in conservative Ohio and Kentucky, an early signal that reproductive rights remain a potent issue for Democrats ahead of the 2024 presidential race. In Ohio, a state that voted for Republican Donald Trump by 8 percentage points in the 2020 presidential election, voters approved a constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion rights, Edison Research projected. He also ran on protecting abortion rights, though he is powerless to overturn the state's near-total ban. Last year, abortion rights advocacy groups scored a series of victories by placing abortion-related referendums on the ballot, including in conservative states. Anti-abortion forces campaigned against the Ohio amendment as too extreme, while abortion rights groups warned that rejecting it would pave the way for a stringent ban to take effect.

Persons: Republican Donald Trump, Roe, Wade, Glenn Youngkin's, Andy Beshear, Edison, Joe Biden's, Biden, Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Megan Jelinger, Youngkin, Trump, Tate Reeves, Brandon Presley, Elvis Presley, Presley, Reeves, Cameron, Joseph Ax, Jason Lange, Eric Beech, Nandita Bose, Costas Pitas, Gabriella Borter, Colleen Jenkins, Aurora Ellis, Deepa Babington, Lincoln Organizations: Republican, Edison Research, Democratic Legislative, Democratic, Trump, Democrats, Kentucky, REUTERS, Ohio, Senate, Republican Mississippi, Biden, Edison, Thomson Locations: Ohio, Kentucky, U.S ., Virginia, Columbus , Ohio, U.S, Arizona, Florida

☆ US presidential race: What are the key dates?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

- Nov. 30: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, and California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is seen as a future presidential candidate, will debate each other on Fox News. - Jan. 23: Tentative date of the first Republican presidential primary election, to be held in New Hampshire. - Feb. 3: First Democratic presidential primary, to be held in South Carolina. Democrats in Utah will also vote in their primary while Republicans hold their caucuses in the state. - June 4: The final states to hold their presidential primaries are scheduled to do so on this date.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Gavin Newsom, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Biden's, whittle, Costas Pitas, Jonathan Oatis, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: REUTERS, Republican, Democratic Party, NBC News, Democrat, Fox News, Democratic, Democratic National Committee, , New, , New Hampshire Democrats, Republicans, South Carolina Republican, Republican National Convention, Democratic National Convention, Thomson Locations: Brooklyn , New York, U.S, Miami, Florida, California, Alabama, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada, ,, , New Hampshire, Michigan, Alabama , Arkansas , California , Colorado , Maine , Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina , Oklahoma , Tennessee , Texas , Vermont, Virginia, Utah, Alaska, Georgia , Mississippi, Washington, Hawaii, Arizona , Florida , Illinois , Kansas, Ohio, Milwaukee, Chicago

☆ Who qualified for the third 2024 Republican presidential debate?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Nov 6 (Reuters) - Five Republican candidates will take part in the third 2024 Republican presidential debate on Wednesday in Florida. Here are the candidates who are due to be on stage for the debate, which begins at 8 p.m. Haley has gained a reputation in the Republican Party as a solid conservative who has the ability to address issues of gender and race in a more credible fashion than many of her peers. Scott, 58, attracted 2% support among Republicans, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling conducted from Sept. 8 through Sept. 14. Christie has received about 2% support among Republicans in a Reuters/Ipsos conducted from Sept. 8 through Sept. 14.

Persons: Donald Trump, Adrienne Arsht, RON DESANTIS, DeSantis, VIVEK RAMASWAMY, Ramaswamy, Trump, NIKKI HALEY, Haley, TIM SCOTT, Scott's, Scott, CHRIS CHRISTIE Christie, Trump's, Christie, Ipsos, Costas Pitas, Jamie Freed Organizations: Republican, Adrienne, Adrienne Arsht Center, Performing Arts of Miami, NBC News, Twitter, Trump, White, United Nations, Biden, Republican Party, TIM, Black Republican U.S, Reuters, New, Republicans, Thomson Locations: Florida, Dade County, Iowa, South Carolina, New Jersey

☆ FACTBOX Who qualified for the third 2024 Republican presidential debate?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Nov 6 (Reuters) - At least five Republican candidates will take part in the third 2024 Republican presidential debate on Wednesday in Florida. Here are the candidates expected to be on stage for the debate, which begins at 8 p.m. Haley has gained a reputation in the Republican Party as a solid conservative who has the ability to address issues of gender and race in a more credible fashion than many of her peers. Scott, 58, attracted 2% support among Republicans, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling conducted from Sept. 8 through Sept. 14. Christie has received about 2% support among Republicans in a Reuters/Ipsos conducted from Sept. 8 through Sept. 14.

Persons: Donald Trump, Adrienne Arsht, RON DESANTIS, DeSantis, VIVEK RAMASWAMY, Ramaswamy, Trump, NIKKI HALEY, Haley, TIM SCOTT, Scott's, Scott, CHRIS CHRISTIE Christie, Trump's, Christie, Ipsos, Chris Christie's, Costas Pitas, Jamie Freed Organizations: Republican, Adrienne, Adrienne Arsht Center, Performing Arts of Miami, NBC News, Twitter, Trump, White, United Nations, Biden, Republican Party, TIM, Black Republican U.S, Reuters, New, Republicans, Thomson Locations: Florida, Dade County, Iowa, South Carolina, New Jersey

GAZA, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Having rebuffed calls for a ceasefire, Israel was set to come under sustained pressure on Monday to avoid civilian casualties during its assault on Gaza, while a U.S. diplomatic blitz in the region sought to reduce risks of the conflict escalating. But after Blinken repeated U.S. concerns that a ceasefire could aid Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruled that out unless hostages held by Hamas were released. "We demand that you stop them from committing these crimes immediately," Abbas told Blinken, urging an "immediate ceasefire" from Israel. "Stop in the name of God," he said, calling for humanitarian aid and help for the injured to ease the "very grave" situation in Gaza. Instead, the U.S. wants localized pauses in fighting to allow in humanitarian aid and for people to leave Gaza.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Mahmoud Abbas, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, WAFA, we're, Jonathan Conricus, Conricus, William Burns, Burns, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Austin, Kamala Harris, King Abdullah, Mohammed Shia, Al Sudani, Jonathan Ernst, Saeed al, Abbas, Israel, Mohammed al, Pope Francis, Nidal al, Ali Sawafta, Simon Lewis, Dan Williams, Costas Pitas, David Lawder, Lincoln, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Sunday, West Bank, Palestinian, Israeli, Hamas, Paltel, CNN, U.S, CIA, Israel, New York Times, Times, Reuters, . Defense, Pentagon, U.S . Central Command, Baghdad International, REUTERS, Israel Defense Forces, United Arab Emirates, Thomson Locations: GAZA, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Ankara, Turkey, Gaza City, Palestinian, Jordanian, Ohio, Iran, Baghdad, Iraq, LEBANON, Lebanon, Kiryat Shmona, Qatar, Saudi, Egypt, Jordan, Amman, Ramallah, Jerusalem, Los Angeles, Washington

☆ Maersk to Cut 10,000 Jobs as Cargo Boom Ends
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Dominic Chopping | Costas Paris | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Maersk enjoyed record profits over the past two years as the pandemic drove a surge in demand for goods. Photo: JACOB GRONHOLT-PEDERSEN/REUTERSShipping and logistics giant A.P. Moller-Maersk said it would cut more than 10,000 jobs, as a pandemic-fueled cargo boom has ended, leaving the industry with a surplus of ships and sharply lower freight rates. Maersk, a bellwether for global trade, saw its third-quarter profit plummet to $521 million from $8.88 billion last year. Its main Ocean division posted a quarterly loss for the first time in many years.

Persons: JACOB GRONHOLT, PEDERSEN, Moller, Maersk Organizations: Maersk, REUTERS Shipping

As token prices plummeted last year, the sector saw other stunning meltdowns that put several industry moguls into authorities' crosshairs. Changpeng "CZ" ZhaoThe U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued Binance and its CEO Zhao in June for allegedly operating "a web of deception." Kwon faces multiple charges of fraud in the U.S. and was arrested in Montenegro earlier this year for allegedly forging documents, authorities said. He has pleaded not guilty to U.S. fraud charges that he misled customers and artificially inflated the value of his company's proprietary crypto token. Barry SilbertSilbert is the boss of crypto group Digital Currency Group whose subsidiary Genesis Global Capital filed for bankruptcy in January.

Persons: Zhao Changpeng, Binance, Costas Baltas, Sam Bankman, Fried, he's, Zhao, Kwon, Luna, Terraform, Alex Mashinsky, Mashinsky, Barry Silbert Silbert, Letitia James, Silbert, Stephen Ehrlich Stephen Ehrlich's, Ehrlich, Justin Sun, Sun, Niket Nishant, Hannah Lang, Michelle Price, Anil D'Silva Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Zhao, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Korean, Terraform Labs, Montenegrin, Mashinsky, CFTC, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Digital Currency Group, Genesis Global Capital, New York, FTC, Tron Foundation, Thomson Locations: Athens, Greece, China, Canada, U.S, Montenegro, New York

In the first major legislative action under new Speaker Mike Johnson, House of Representatives Republicans unveiled a standalone supplemental spending bill only for Israel on Monday. Republicans have a 221-212 majority in the House, but Biden's fellow Democrats control the Senate 51-49. To become law, the bill would have to pass both the House and Senate and be signed by Biden. The top Senate Democrat said the Republican bill would be dead on arrival in the upper chamber, even if it passed the House. "We need to treat all four of these areas, all four of them, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the border," McConnell told reporters.

Persons: Anas, Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden's, Biden, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Antony Blinken, Johnson, Defense Lloyd Austin, Blinken, Matthew Miller, Patricia Zengerle, Costas Pitas, Jonathan Oatis, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Republicans, Revenue Service, Democratic, Israel, Senate, Democrat, Republican, Leader, Management, Budget, Defense, Department, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, China, U.S, Mexico, East, Taiwan

☆ Blinken Says US, Others Exploring Options for Future of Gaza After Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Blinken told a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing the status quo of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas being in charge of the densely populated enclave could not continue, but Israel did not want to run Gaza either. Between those two positions were "a variety of possible permutations that we're looking at very closely now, as are other countries," Blinken said. It may involve international agencies that would help provide for both security and governance," Blinken said. U.N. and other aid officials said civilians in the besieged Palestinian enclave were engulfed by a public health catastrophe, with hospitals struggling to treat casualties as electricity supplies petered out. "We have had very preliminary talks about what the future of Gaza might look like," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a briefing.

Persons: Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis WASHINGTON, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Joe Biden's, Matthew Miller, Simon Lewis, Steve Holland, Costas Pitas, Stephen Coates, Chris Reese Organizations: Palestinian, United Nations, Bloomberg, U.S, Department Locations: United States, Gaza, Israel, U.N, Washington

☆ Blinken to visit Israel on Friday, make other stops in region
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks in Tel Aviv, Tuesday Oct. 17, 2023, after an overnight meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 31 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel on Friday for meetings with members of the government there and then make other stops in the region, the State Department said on Tuesday amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. "Secretary Blinken will travel to Israel on Friday for meetings with members of the Israeli government, and then will make other stops in the region," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. Earlier this month, Blinken visited Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. (This story has been refiled to fix a typo in the headline)Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Simon Lewis; Writing by Costas Pitas; Editing by Dan Whitcomb and Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jacquelyn Martin, Blinken, Matthew Miller, Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis, Costas Pitas, Dan Whitcomb, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Israeli, Israel, State Department, Department, United Arab, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks in Tel Aviv, Tuesday Oct. 17, 2023, after an overnight meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Blinken told a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing the status quo of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas being in charge of the densely populated enclave could not continue, but Israel did not want to run Gaza either. Between those two positions were "a variety of possible permutations that we're looking at very closely now, as are other countries," Blinken said. It may involve international agencies that would help provide for both security and governance," Blinken said. "We have had very preliminary talks about what the future of Gaza might look like," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a briefing.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jacquelyn Martin, Blinken, Joe Biden's, Matthew Miller, Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis, Steve Holland, Costas Pitas, Stephen Coates, Chris Reese Organizations: Israeli, Rights, Palestinian, United Nations, Bloomberg, U.S, Department, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, United States, Gaza, Israel, U.N, Washington

☆ Egypt’s pyramids host breathtaking new art exhibit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Francesca Perry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

In one project, a new pyramid structure emerges in wicker; in another, glass sculptures appear to make the ancient pyramids float on water. Organized by Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, the founder and curator of Cairo-based arts firm Art D’Égypte, the event aims to celebrate ancient Egyptian culture through contemporary creativity. “I’ve always been fascinated by the Pyramids of Giza and the entire ancient Egyptian culture — the mysticism around it, the enigmas,” Zeta said. Courtesy CulturVator - Art D'E“Translucent Pyramid” by Saudi artist Rashed Al-Shashai, adds a new, 6m-tall pyramid to the plateau. Conceived as seemingly archaeological fragments of a labyrinth, each one is decorated with perforated motifs taken from historic diagrams of the ancient Egyptian labyrinth.

Persons: Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, D’Égypte, Artur Lescher, ”, Pilar Zeta, I’ve, ” Zeta, Carole A, Sabine Marcelis, ” Marcelis, Stephan Breuer French, Glass, Costas Varotsos, Rashed Al, Sam Shendi, Azza Al Qubaisi, D'E Rashid Al Khalifa, JR, – Organizations: CNN, UNESCO, Bahraini, JR Locations: Giza, Egypt, Cairo, Brazil, Mexico, Argentinian, French, Saudi

☆ US has 'high confidence' Palestinian rocket caused Gaza hospital blast- official
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreWASHINGTON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - U.S. intelligence officials have "high confidence" that an explosion at a Gaza hospital last week was caused by a Palestinian rocket that broke up mid-flight, and not by Israel, a U.S. official said on Tuesday. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said 471 people were killed in the blast at Al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital on Oct. 17. Israel said the blast was caused by a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian militant Islamic Jihad group, which has denied responsibility. The New York Times, NBC News and other U.S. media reported the U.S. intelligence assessment earlier on Tuesday, citing a briefing with reporters. The officials said there was little damage to the hospital and the structure did not collapse, it reported.

Persons: Biden, Steve Holland, Costas Pitas, Rami Ayyub, Miral Organizations: U.S, Hamas, Islamic, Tel, New York Times, NBC, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Al, Ahli, Israel, Gaza City, WASHINGTON, Gaza, Palestinian, Arabi, Israeli, Tel Aviv

☆ US 'frankly raised' disagreements with China at first financial working group meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 25 (Reuters) - U.S. officials "frankly raised areas of disagreement" with China at the first meeting of a new financial working group, where financial stability, supervision and regulation were discussed, the U.S. Treasury said on Wednesday. Attendees included senior officials from China's central bank and the U.S. Treasury Department, according to a Treasury statement. "The two-hour virtual meeting included a substantive and wide-ranging discussion on domestic and global financial stability, financial supervision and regulation, sustainable finance, and anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism," the Treasury said. The financial working group and a parallel economic working group were launched last month after U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's visit to Beijing in July aimed at fostering regular communications between the world's two largest economies. The economic working group, led by senior officials from the Treasury and China's Finance Ministry held its first meeting on Monday.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Janet Yellen's, Yellen, Pan Gongsheng, Ismail Shakil, Costas Pitas, David Lawder, Paul Grant, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Treasury, U.S . Treasury Department, Treasury, U.S, China's Finance Ministry, People's Bank of China, International Monetary Fund, Bank, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, China's, Beijing, Marrakech, Morocco, U.S

☆ BlackRock to pay $2.5 mln fine to settle SEC disclosure charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Companies Need To Integrate Climate Reporting Across Functions To Comply With California S New Law | Henry Engler | October | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A trader works as a screen displays the trading information for BlackRock on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., October 14, 2022. From 2015 to 2019, one of BlackRock's trusts made investments in Aviron Group LLC, a firm that developed advertising plans for films, the SEC said. BlackRock inaccurately described the firm to investors, regulators said. In 2019, the asset manager identified the inaccuracies and accurately described the investments from them, the SEC said. Representatives for BlackRock, which consented to the SEC's findings, did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, BlackRock, Katharine Jackson, Costas Pitas, Chris Prentice, Jasper Ward, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: BlackRock, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, U.S . Securities, Exchanges, Aviron, SEC, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Washington

☆ Republican US Rep. Emmer drops out of race for House speaker -media
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) departs from a House Republican meeting to discuss possible new candidates to lead them as speaker at the Longworth House Office Building in Washington, U.S., October 23, 2023. REUTERS/Nathan Howard Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - U.S. Representative Tom Emmer, the No. 3 Republican in the House, has dropped out of the race to become speaker, hours after being nominated for the position, according to media reports on Tuesday. Reporting by Costas Pitas and Katharine Jackson; editing by Dan WhitcombOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tom Emmer, Nathan Howard, Costas Pitas, Katharine Jackson, Dan Whitcomb Organizations: Republican, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Longworth, Washington , U.S

☆ Freed Israeli grandmother is a peace activist who helped sick Gazans, grandson says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Daniel Lifshitz archive/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsOct 23 (Reuters) - Yocheved Lifshitz, an Israeli grandmother released by Hamas militants on Monday, is a peace activist who together with her husband helped sick Palestinians in Gaza get to hospital for years, her grandson told Reuters. Lifshitz and her 83-year old husband, Oded, were kidnapped from their home at the Nir Oz kibbutz, close to the border with Gaza in southern Israel, the Israeli prime minister's office said late on Monday. "They are human rights activists, peace activists for all their life," grandson Daniel Lifshitz told Reuters in Tel Aviv before the release was confirmed. Before entering the van, she reaches her hand out to the man and tells him "salam," Arabic for peace. At least 5,087 Palestinians have been killed in two weeks of Israeli strikes, including 2,055 children, the Hamas-run health ministry said.

Persons: Lifshitz, Oded, Daniel Lifshitz, Nurit Cooper, Nir, Cross, salam, Lifshitz's, Sharon, Janis Laizans, Jonathan Shenfield, Costas Pitas, Rami Ayyub, Howard Goller Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS Acquire, Hamas, Palestinian, West Bank, International Committee, ICRC, Thomson Locations: Israeli, Gaza, Israel, Tel Aviv, London, American

☆ Hamas Attack Aimed to Disrupt Saudi-Israel Normalization -Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed about 1,400 people aimed to disrupt a potential normalization of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday. "One of the reasons Hamas moved on Israel ... they knew that I was about to sit down with the Saudis," Biden said at a campaign fundraiser. The potential normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states was a top priority for Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his June trip to Riyadh, although he acknowledged no progress should be expected imminently. Blinken told CNN on Oct. 8 that "it wouldn’t be a surprise that part of the motivation (for the attack) may have been to disrupt efforts to bring Saudi Arabia and Israel together." Biden told CBS' 60 Minutes in an interview that aired last Sunday that the prospect of normalization was "still alive, it's going to take time."

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Israel, Nandita Bose, Kanishka Singh, Costas Pitas, Grant McCool Organizations: WASHINGTON, Hamas, United, CNN, CBS Locations: Israel, Saudi Arabia, U.S, East, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Riyadh, Gaza

REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department on Friday urged India not to insist on Canada reducing its diplomatic presence in the country after Ottawa pulled out 41 diplomats this week amid a dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader. "We are concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, in response to the Indian government's demand of Canada to significantly reduce its diplomatic presence in India," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. Canada has alleged Indian involvement in the June murder of Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whom India called a "terrorist." But Friday's statement from the U.S. State Department has been the most direct criticism by Washington of New Delhi thus far in this case. Canada withdrew 41 diplomats from India after New Delhi last month asked Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence following Canada's allegations over Nijjar's killing.

Persons: Nanak, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Chris Helgren, Matthew Miller, Washington, Kanishka Singh, Costas Pitas, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . State Department, Ottawa, Department, Analysts, Diplomatic Relations, State Department, Thomson Locations: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, India, U.S, China, Washington of New Delhi, Vienna, New Delhi, Ottawa

Former U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks after exiting the courtroom as he attends his Manhattan courthouse trial in a civil fraud case in New York, U.S., October 18, 2023. Future violations by Trump could be punished by steeper fines and possible imprisonment, Justice Arthur Engoron said in an order. Engoron said in the order that a social media post by Trump attacking the judge's clerk - which was deleted from the former president's Truth Social platform - had remained visible on his campaign website two weeks after he had ordered it taken down. Trump at times has appeared in person at the ongoing trial, attacking James and Engoron in inflammatory remarks to reporters outside of the courtroom. Trump, who has sought to portray the case as intended to hurt him politically, has denied wrongdoing and defended his asset valuations.

Persons: Donald Trump, Brendan McDermid, Arthur Engoron, Engoron, Trump, Joe Biden, Letitia James, Chuck Schumer, James, James accused Trump, Jasper Ward, Jack Queen, Costas Pitas, Will Dunham, Noeleen Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Trump, Republican, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York, U.S, Washington

☆ Hamas attack aimed to disrupt Saudi-Israel normalization -Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/Pool/... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreWASHINGTON, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed about 1,400 people aimed to disrupt a potential normalization of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia sought by Riyadh, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday. Biden suggested Saudi wanted to recognize Israel in the comments he made at a campaign fundraiser. "One of the reasons Hamas moved on Israel ... they knew that I was about to sit down with the Saudis," Biden said. Blinken told CNN on Oct. 8 that "it wouldn’t be a surprise that part of the motivation (for the attack) may have been to disrupt efforts to bring Saudi Arabia and Israel together." Biden told CBS' 60 Minutes in an interview that aired last Sunday that the prospect of normalization was "still alive, it's going to take time."

Persons: Joe Biden, Jonathan Ernst, Biden, Saudi, Donald Trump, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Israel, Nandita Bose, Kanishka Singh, Costas Pitas, Grant McCool, Lincoln Organizations: Ukraine, Oval, White, REUTERS, Hamas, United, Israel, CNN, CBS, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Russia, Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, U.S, East, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain

Oct 19 (Reuters) - A U.S. Navy warship on Thursday intercepted three cruise missiles and several drones launched by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement from Yemen potentially toward Israel, the Pentagon said. The Pentagon said the destroyer USS Carney was operating in the northern Red Sea on Thursday when it brought down the projectiles and there were no injuries. "We cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting, but they were launched from Yemen heading north along the Red Sea, potentially towards targets in Israel," Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder told reporters. A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said it did not appear that the warship was the target. Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Doina Chiacu, Cynthia Osterman and Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Carney, Patrick Ryder, Idrees Ali, Doina Chiacu, Cynthia Osterman, Daniel Wallis Organizations: U.S . Navy, Pentagon, U.S, Thomson Locations: Iran, Yemen, Israel, Washington, U.S

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