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☆ 'Get on board': UK PM Sunak appeals to Lords to deliver his Rwanda asylum law
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 18: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a press conference in Downing Street on January 18, 2024 in London, England. He spoke after seeing the Safety of Rwanda Bill pass its third reading in the House of Commons by a majority of 44 last night. Weakened by the failed rebellion that simply underlined the deep divisions in his party, Sunak repeated his mantra that it was time to "stick with the plan", that his "plan was working" and that the opposition Labour Party had "no plan". "The House of Lords must pass this bill. An opinion poll underlined his party's flagging fortunes, putting support for the Conservatives at the lowest level since former Prime Minister Liz Truss was forced from office.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Rwanda Bill, Stefan Rousseau, Sunak, Liz Truss Organizations: British, Conservatives, Labour Party, Labour Locations: ENGLAND, Downing Street, London, England, Rwanda

☆ Ukraine Says It Downed Russian Surveillance Plane
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Ian Lovett | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Russia uses its surveillance planes to identify targets and threats over a wide area. Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko/Associated PressKYIV, Ukraine—Ukrainian forces are struggling to hold back Russian troops on the ground, but they are proving adept at hitting high-value Russian targets, with the downing of a surveillance plane adding to string of recent blows to Moscow’s air force. Valeriy Zaluzhniy, the commander of the Ukrainian armed forces, said Monday on Telegram that Ukraine’s air force shot down an A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft, as well as a IL-22 bomber jet, over the Sea of Azov. He offered no details about how the planes had been brought down.

Persons: Alexander Zemlianichenko, Valeriy Zaluzhniy Organizations: Associated Press Locations: Russia, Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Azov

CNN —Ukraine claimed it destroyed a Russian spy plane over the Sea of Azov on Monday, in what would be a significant strike against Moscow’s aerial capabilities. In a statement, the Ukrainian Air Forces called the special operation in the Azov Sea region “successful.”Information about the downing of two Russian military aircraft by Ukrainian forces over the Sea of Azov appeared in social media late on Sunday. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov did not comment on the reports on Monday and referred journalists to the Russian Ministry of Defense. “The long-range radar detection aircraft A-50 was and is a priority target for us,” he added. An ambulance and fire fighters are urgently needed,” the nearby Russian jet allegedly radioed down to ground control.

Persons: Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Dmitry Peskov, Yuriy Ihnat, ”, “ Organizations: CNN, Ukraine’s, “ Warriors, Air Force of, Armed Forces, Air Force, Ukrainian Air Forces, Ukrainian, Russian Ministry of Defense, Ukrainian Air Force, Facebook Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Azov, Moscow, Soviet, Anapa

☆ UK inches closer to technical recession as growth is revised down
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-22 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Data due out in February will show whether the U.K. has entered a technical recession — defined as when the economy shrinks for two consecutive quarters. There was also zero growth in the prior three months, the new figures showed, down from the 0.2% growth previously calculated. LONDON — The U.K. is edging closer to recession after revised figures showed the economy shrank in the previous quarter. Certainly, Rishi Sunak's pledge to grow the economy is now severely in doubt," he said. A near-term drop in interest rates would be a win for Sunak's government, as the U.K. enters an election year.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Richard Carter, Cheviot, Rishi Sunak's, Rishi Sunak, Downing, Andrew Bailey Organizations: Office, National Statistics, LONDON, Bank of England

☆ Former PM Boris Johnson to Defend Record and Conduct at UK COVID Inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Andrew MacAskillLONDON (Reuters) - Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will make a much-anticipated appearance before an inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday with his personal reputation and that of the Conservative government at stake. He was said to have asked at one point if blowing a hair-dryer up his nose could kill the virus. The inquiry is assessing decision-making through written and oral evidence from former and current ministers and officials. It has also been given access to private messages they exchanged in the run-up to, and at the height of, the crisis. In private messages seen by the inquiry, Simon Case, Britain's most senior civil servant, claimed in private messages that his boss changed "strategic direction every day" and he was unable to lead.

Persons: Andrew MacAskill, Boris Johnson, Johnson, Rishi Sunak, Patrick Vallance, –, Dominic Cummings, Eddie Lister, Lee Cain, Simon Case, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Andrew MacAskill LONDON, British, Conservative, Britain, Conservatives, Labour Party Locations: COVID, Britain, Downing

☆ Russia is ramping up its use of long-range glide bombs because Ukraine keeps shooting down its helicopters, war analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia has been ramping up its use of powerful glide bombs, according to war analysts. Ukraine's tough air defense "is reportedly incentivizing" Russia to rely on the weapons, ISW said. Ukraine's military has previously sounded the alarm over Russia's use of glide bombs. AdvertisementRussia has been beefing up its use of long-range glide bombs because of Ukraine's tough air defenses along the front lines of Moscow's grinding war with Kyiv, according to war analysts. Ukraine's military has sounded the alarm over Russia's use of glide bombs — bombs modified with glide kits that allow for launches from greater distances, reducing the launching aircraft's exposure to enemy air defenses.

Persons: ISW, —, Oleksandr Shtupun, Shtupun, Hans Petter Midttun, Oleksiy Organizations: Service, The, Centre of Defence, Razumkov Center Locations: Russia, Kyiv, Washington, DC, Russian, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Ukrainian

☆ Britain's Sunak tries to reclaim climate narrative with $2 bln pledge
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delivers a speech during a press conference on the net zero target, at the Downing Street Briefing Room, in central London, on September 20, 2023. Running way behind the opposition Labour Party in the polls before a national election expected next year, Sunak's team believes voters will only support measures to tackle climate change when, or if, they are affordable. But the time for pledges is now over – this is the era for action," Sunak said in a statement. "The transition to net zero should make us all safer and better off. ($1 = 0.7911 pounds)For daily comprehensive coverage on COP28 in your inbox, sign up for the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter here.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak's, Sunak, King Charles, Elizabeth Piper, Miral Organizations: Britain's, Downing, Labour Party, Reuters, Thomson Locations: London, DUBAI, Dubai, Africa, Asia

CNN —King Charles has worn a tie emblazoned with the Greek flag, just days after the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceled a meeting with his Greek counterpart in a diplomatic dispute over the Parthenon Sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles. The King wore the tie while meeting world leaders – including Sunak – at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai on Friday. A Buckingham Palace source told CNN the tie was simply one from the King’s current collection and has made other recent appearances. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was due to meet Sunak in London on Tuesday. However the meeting was abruptly canceled by Downing Street after Mitsotakis made comments during a television interview about the status of the Parthenon Sculptures, which are currently housed in the British Museum in London.

Persons: King Charles, Rishi Sunak, Sunak –, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Mitsotakis, Lord Elgin, ”, Charles ’, Prince Philip of Greece, Queen Elizabeth II, Duke, Edinburgh Organizations: CNN, British, Elgin Marbles, Sunak, Downing, British Museum, BBC, CNN’s Royal, British Prime Locations: Dubai, Buckingham, London, Greece, British, Athens, Ottoman Empire, Corfu, Denmark

☆ ‘Eileen’ Review: Sudden Fire, Sudden Danger
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Alissa Wilkinson | More About Alissa Wilkinson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

McKenzie’s accent is a bit wobblier than Hathaway’s, but once you’re over that hump, the pair are thrilling together. McKenzie plays Eileen as a wide-eyed girl in arrested development who might have been an ingénue if she’d ever had a moment to sparkle. That’s you, Eileen. Oldroyd’s cold but keen eye for women pushed to the edge of a nervous breakdown by boorish, violent men meets rich ground here. Not just Eileen, but Rebecca and several other female characters are not good or angelic women, and yet they’ve clearly bent themselves to fit molds made by men.

Persons: McKenzie, Eileen, she’d, You’re, Rebecca, Radcliffe, She’s, —, she’s, William Oldroyd, Macbeth, ”, Florence Pugh Organizations: Harvard Locations: England, Moshfegh

☆ Ukraine makes new push to defeat Russia’s electronic warfare
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Clare Sebastian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Ukraine is already racing to catch up with Russia when it comes to electronic warfare. Electronic warfare, or EW, involves weapons or tactics using the electromagnetic spectrum. Pavlo Petrychenko, drone commander with Ukraine’s 59th Motorized Brigade, says destroying Russia's electronic warfare systems is crucial to Ukraine's war effort. Otherwise, there’s a real risk that electronic warfare systems can work against you, downing your own drones, Fedorov added. It’s a future where “electronic warfare capabilities, tactics are integrated into conventional force operations,” she added.

Persons: London CNN —, Pavlo Petrychenko, Pavlo Petrychenko “, ” Petrychenko, Russian jammers, Mikhail Mishustin, Valery Zaluzhny, ” Zaluzhny, Zaluzhny, Charlie Dietz, ” Dietz, Mykhailo Fedorov, ” Fedorov, Fedorov, “ oversaturating, –, Petrychenko, “, ”, Kari Bingen, Dietz Organizations: London CNN, Kyiv, Ukraine’s 59th Motorized Brigade, “, CNN, High Mobility Artillery, Ukraine’s NATO, GPS, Russian Defense Ministry, TASS, Russian, Pentagon, HIMARS, Royal United Services Institute, Aerospace Security, Strategic, International Studies Locations: Ukrainian, Donetsk, Ukraine, Russia, Avdiivka, Ukraine’s, Russian, Moscow, United States, Kyiv, British

☆ ‘The Crown’: See Prince William’s romance with Kate Middleton unfold in first-look photos
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Netflix’s “The Crown” returns in December with the remaining episodes of Season 6, and royal couple Kate Middleton and Prince William’s romance looks like it will be on full display. A grown-up Prince Harry, played by newcomer Luther Ford, is also seen in the new photos, sitting next to Prince William on a couch. (From left) Luther Ford as Prince Harry and Ed McVey as Prince William in 'The Crown.' Netflix previously teased the royal wedding of then-Prince Charles and Camilla would be featured in the sixth and final season of the series. The last six episodes of “The Crown” will be available to stream on Netflix on December 14.

Persons: ”, Kate Middleton, Prince William’s, Ed McVey, Meg Bellamy, Bellamy, Justin Downing, Prince William, Prince, Princess of Wales, McVey, Rufus Kampa, Princess Diana, paramour Dodi Fayed, Prince Harry, Luther Ford, Queen Elizabeth II’s, Imelda Staunton, Charles, Dominic West, Camilla, Olivia Williams, Prince Charles Organizations: CNN, Netflix, Eton Locations: The

☆ UK's Sunak snubs Greek PM at last minute amid ancient sculpture dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 23: Visitors to the British Museum walk around a selection of items from the collection of ancient Greek sculptures known as The Elgin Marbles on August 23, 2023 in London, England. LONDON — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceled a scheduled meeting with Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday amid a diplomatic dispute about the Parthenon Sculptures. Greece has long maintained that the 2,500-year-old sculptures, removed by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th century and currently held in the British Museum, should be returned. The statues, also known as the Elgin Marbles, have been a source of disagreement between the two nations for centuries. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden was available to meet Mitsotakis in Sunak's place.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Lord Elgin, Mitsotakis, Mona Lisa, Sunak, Oliver Dowden Organizations: British, Elgin Marbles, LONDON, British Museum, BBC, NATO, Downing Locations: ENGLAND, London, England, Greece, British, Athens, Ukraine, Sunak's

☆ Amid the gloom here and abroad, the U.S. stock market is holding up just fine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Bob Pisani | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

I dislike getting involved in debates on the stock market when I am enjoying an old-fashion rum punch at a beach bar in the Caribbean, but I couldn't resist interjecting. "We'll see how the coming slowdown plays out," he said, and turned back to his discussion. The coming slowdown? More may be coming: the last week of November tends to be the strongest week of the month, Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Group, has noted. As for earnings, which are the lifeblood for the stock market, forward earnings estimates for the next 12 months stand at record highs.

Persons: I's, Ryan Detrick, Detrick, Fundstrat's Thomas Lee, Oppenheimer's Ari Wald, Webush's Dan Ives, BMO's Brian Belski, Bespoke's Paul Hickey Organizations: EU, Hamas, Forbes, Bloomberg, Carson Group, LSE Locations: Caribbean, Antigua, British Commonwealth, London, England, American, China, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, U.S

☆ UK's Sunak hails $37 billion investments before FDI summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Alistair Smout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Australian funds IFM Investors and Aware Super will pump 10 billion pounds and 5 billion pounds, respectively, into projects ranging from infrastructure and energy transition to affordable housing, Sunak's Downing Street office said in a statement. Spanish power giant Iberdrola (IBE.MC) will add 7 billion pounds to its investment plans in Britain, which include transmission and distribution electricity networks, it said. France last year overtook Britain as the European country with the highest number of new FDI projects. French President Emmanuel Macron announced 13 billion euros ($14.18 billion)of investment commitments in his country at a similar FDI gathering in May. It wants to deal with one person," investment minister Dominic Johnson told Reuters ahead of Monday's event at Hampton Court.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Ian Forsyth, Sunak's, Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, Stephen Schwarzman, David Solomon, Goldman Sachs, Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase, Dominic Johnson, Jeremy Hunt, IFM, William Schomberg, Alistair Smout, Louise Heavens Organizations: Britain's, Nissan, IFM, Microsoft, Britain, Blackstone, Hampton Court, Thomson Locations: Sunderland, Britain, Spanish, Hampton, London, France, Germany, England, British

☆ 'Vote of confidence': UK hails $37 billion of foreign investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Alistair Smout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Australian funds IFM Investors and Aware Super will pump 10 billion pounds and 5 billion pounds, respectively, into projects ranging from infrastructure and energy transition to affordable housing, Sunak's Downing Street office said in a statement. It added that Spanish power giant Iberdrola (IBE.MC) would add 7 billion pounds to its investment plans in Britain, which include transmission and distribution electricity networks. France has overtaken Britain as the European country with the highest number of new FDI projects. President Emmanuel Macron announced 13 billion euros ($14 billion) of investment commitments in France at a similar FDI gathering in May. "It wants to deal with one person," investment minister Dominic Johnson told Reuters, adding ministers could then have "very strong, frank discussions with the international investment community about how we can make the environment more investable".

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Kemi Badenoch, Sunak's, Iberdrola, Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, Stephen Schwarzman, David Solomon, Goldman Sachs, Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase, Amanda Blanc, Dominic Johnson, IFM, King Charles, William Schomberg, Alistair Smout, Louise Heavens, Mark Potter Organizations: British, Global Investment, Business, IFM, Microsoft, Blackstone, LBC, Nissan, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Hampton, East Molesey, Surrey, Britain, France, Germany, England, Buckingham

LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced heavy pressure from his own Conservatives to take swift action to bring down migration, as new data published Thursday showed net migration numbers were higher than previously thought. The Office for National Statistics revised its estimates for net migration to the U.K. — meaning the number of people arriving minus those leaving — in the year to December 2022 to 745,000. The more hard-line wing of the Tories called for Sunak to “act now” as a general election looms next year. The latest figures do show that net migration in the 12 months up to June 2023 was 672,000. Sunak's office at Downing Street said that net migration remained “far too high” and indicated that further measures could be introduced to bring down the figures.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, ”, “, Jay Lindop, we’re Organizations: National Statistics, Tories, New Conservatives, European Union, Britain, Channel, Downing, Authorities Locations: Britain, Ukraine, Hong Kong

☆ Britain's Hunt broadens push to unlock pension pots for growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

By 2030, the majority of workplace DC savers will have their pension pots managed in schemes of over 30 billion pounds, and by 2040, all local government pension funds will be invested in pools of 200 billion pounds or more," Hunt told parliament. Hunt said such changes could help unlock an extra 75 billion pounds ($93.46 billion) of financing for high growth companies by 2030, and improve returns for pensioners. The British Business Bank will set up a new growth fund for schemes to invest in growth companies, and there will be a consultation on giving the Pension Protection Fund a new role to help consolidate direct benefit schemes, he said. The government also wants to allow certain portions of shares - fractional shares - within ISAs. ($1 = 0.8025 pounds)Reporting by Huw Jones Editing by Frances Kerry and Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Hannah McKay, Hunt, PIMFA, William Wright, Huw Jones, Frances Kerry, Bernadette Baum Organizations: REUTERS, British, London Stock Exchange's, Aquis Exchange, DC, British Business Bank, Local, ISA, Labour Party, Labour, New, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, New York, ISAs

☆ South Korean President to Meet UK PM Sunak for State Visit Talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will meet British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for talks on Wednesday and sign an agreement stepping up cooperation in defence, security and technology. Yoon, on a state visit to London, and Sunak will sign a Downing Street Accord which will also involve them working together on enforcing U.N. sanctions on reclusive North Korea. A conservative, Yoon has cited a "polycrisis" of global challenges as a reason for seeking closer ties with like-minded partners. South Korea on Wednesday suspended part of a 2018 military agreement with North Korea after it defied warnings from the United States and launched a spy satellite. The suspension of a clause in the agreement will see South Korea step up military surveillance along the heavily fortified border with the North.

Persons: Yoon Suk, Rishi Sunak, Yoon, King Charles, Buckingham, Charles, BLACKPINK, Alistair Smout, Joyce Lee, Nick Macfie Organizations: British, Downing, Accord, Ministers, Corio Generation, BP, Guard Locations: London, North Korea, South Korea, Buckingham, Korea, United States, Seoul

[1/5] Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt leaves 11 Downing Street for the House of Commons to deliver his autumn statement, in London, Britain, November 22, 2023. "After a global pandemic and energy crisis, we have taken difficult decisions to put our economy back on track," Hunt told parliament on Wednesday in his Autumn Statement fiscal update. Hunt pointed to OBR forecasts showing the government would meet its targets for the public finances, leaving open the possibility of further pre-election giveaways to voters in his full budget statement expected in early 2024. Sunak this week promised "responsible" tax cuts, mindful of last year's "mini-budget" turmoil in financial markets triggered by his predecessor Liz Truss's plans for much bigger tax cuts. This time last year, the newly installed Sunak and Hunt raised taxes sharply to quell the bond market mayhem.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Stefan Rousseau, Hunt, Rishi Sunak's, Paul Johnson, we've, giveaways, Johnson, BoE, Philip Shaw, Liz Truss's, Muvija M, Paul Sandle, Sarah Young, William James, Elizabeth Piper, Alistair Smout, Andrew MacAskill, James Davey, Suban Abdulla, Farouq Suleiman, Kate Holton, Sumanta Sen, William Schomberg, Catherine Evans Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Labour, Labour Party, Institute for Fiscal Studies, Gross, Reuters Graphics, Bank of England, Graphics, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, British

☆ Britain to Launch South Korea Trade Talks During Yoon Visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain and South Korea will launch negotiations on a new free trade agreement (FTA) and sign a new diplomatic accord during a state visit by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol this week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's office said on Monday. The Downing Street accord will see the countries agree to work closely on areas such as semiconductors - which South Korea is a major producer of - and artificial intelligence. Speaking to members of the South Korean community, Yoon said South Korea and Britain are partners that share universal values of freedom, human rights and rule of law, and form an economic community through trade, Yonhap news reported. The talks on a new trade deal will aim to replace the carry-over trade deal from when Britain left the European Union, which was based on replicating a deal with the EU from 2011 and reduced tariffs in a range of areas. Britain said it hoped a new trade deal would pave the way for increased digital trade and streamline currently complex procedures, and have a new rules of origin chapter.

Persons: Yoon Suk, Rishi Sunak's, Yoon's, King Charles, Charles, Yoon, Sunak, Alistair Smout, Josh Smith, Alistair Bell, Stephen Coates Organizations: South, Britain, Accord, European Union, Trans, Pacific Partnership Locations: Britain, South Korea, Downing, Korea, London, cybersecurity, United States, China, Japan, Seoul

LONDON (AP) — Boris Johnson, the former British prime minister, struggled to come to grips with much of the science during the coronavirus pandemic, his chief scientific advisor said Monday. In keenly awaited testimony to the country’s public inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic, Patrick Vallance said he and others faced repeated problems getting Johnson to understand the science. “I think I’m right in saying that the prime minister gave up science at 15," he said. During the pandemic, Vallance was a highly visible presence in the U.K. The inquiry is set to hear from current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who was Johnson's Treasury chief at the time.

Persons: — Boris Johnson, Patrick Vallance, Johnson, “, Vallance, Chris Whitty, Johnson's, –, ”, Heather Hallett, Rishi Sunak, Sunak Organizations: British, Downing, Treasury Locations: British, Europe

☆ Britain to launch South Korea trade talks as president visits
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Alistair Smout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

King Charles greeted President Yoon Suk Yeol with a royal guard of honour following his arrival in London, and then rode with him by carriage to Buckingham Palace. He will hold talks with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday, and sign an accord on closer diplomatic ties. Under the accord, the countries will agree to work closely on areas such as semiconductors - of which South Korea is an important producer - and artificial intelligence. [1/4]Members of the Royal Air Force (RAF) welcome South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee, as they arrive at Stansted Airport, near London, Britain, November 20, 2023. "REFRESHED, MODERNISED DEAL"Under Yoon, South Korea has focused on strengthening economic, political, and military ties with the U.S. while seeking to maintain trade with China and working to overcome historical disputes with Japan.

Persons: Yoon, King Charles Yoon, King Charles, Yoon Suk, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, Toby Melville, David Beckham, Son Heung Min, Kemi Badenoch, Alistair Smout, Kylie MacLellan, Sarah Young, Josh Smith, Alistair Bell, Stephen Coates, Timothy Heritage, David Gregorio Our Organizations: LONDON, British, Accord, Trade, Downing, North, Royal Air Force, South, Stansted Airport, REUTERS, Trans, Pacific Partnership, European Union, Thomson Locations: Britain, Korea, London, Buckingham, United Kingdom, Downing, South Korea, North Korea, U.S, China, Japan, Seoul

☆ Australian leader Albanese accuses Chinese navy of ‘dangerous’ conduct
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Nectar Gan | Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accused the Chinese navy of “dangerous, unsafe and unprofessional” conduct after an incident in international waters near Japan, marking a potential friction point with Beijing weeks after he visited the Chinese capital to stabilize relations. Australian divers aboard the long-range frigate HMAS Toowoomba were trying to clear fishing nets from its propellers on November 14 when a Chinese destroyer approached, Defense Minister Richard Marles said in a statement Saturday. Despite being warned that a diving operation was underway, the Chinese destroyer operated its sonar in a manner that “posed a risk to the safety of the Australian divers,” the statement said. In the Sky News interview, Albanese sidestepped a question on whether the incident will make bilateral relations “look shaky” now. And this is one of those times where we disagree with the action of China,” Albanese said.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Richard Marles, Albanese, ” Albanese, Xi Jinping, “, ”, “ We’ve, Marles, Ray Powell, SeaLight, Powell, ” Powell Organizations: CNN, Australian, Defense, Sky News, APEC, China’s Defense Ministry, Liberation Army Navy, PLA Navy, Military, United, “ Defense, National Security, Stanford University, US Air Force Locations: Japan, Beijing, Toowoomba, Chinese, China, San Fransisco, London, United Nations, Australia, East, South China, South, Canada, Australian

☆ Chilling video shows Iran-backed rebel commandos hijack a cargo ship during a helicopter raid
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Iran-backed Houthi rebels hijacked an internationally flagged cargo ship in the Red Sea on Sunday. AdvertisementA new video shared by the Houthi rebel group captures the Iran-backed militants conducting a dramatic helicopter raid of an internationally flagged cargo ship in the Red Sea and hijacking the vessel, taking its entire crew hostage. The spokesperson suggested to countries with citizens working in the Red Sea that they should avoid association with Israel-affiliated ships. Publicly available shipping data from as recent as Saturday shows the vessel was halfway through its south-bound transit of the Red Sea. Adding to their list of provocations, Houthi militants in early November even shot down a US military MQ-9 Reaper drone off the coast of Yemen.

Persons: —, Benjamin Netanyahu's, hijackings, Israel — Organizations: Service, Galaxy Leader, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Galaxy, US Navy Locations: Iran, Yemen, Bahamas, Israel, Israeli, Turkey, India, British, Ukrainian, Tehran, Hodeida, Yemen's, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria

☆ Take Five: Black Friday is (almost) here
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 17 (Reuters) - U.S. retailers are gearing up for Black Friday, marking the start of the shopping season that follows the Thanksgiving holiday, while business activity data should gauge the temperature elsewhere. 1/ BARGAIN HUNTINGThe crucial holiday shopping season kicks off with Black Friday on Nov. 24 at a time when investors are questioning whether the consumer-driven U.S. economy can remain resilient. This year's Black Friday comes as Americans grapple with soaring interest rates and inflation that, while easing, remains above the Federal Reserve's 2% target. Already, data for October showed U.S. retail sales fell, pointing to slowing demand, although the decline was less than expected. As long as that's not the case, pressure is on the Kishida cabinet since a weak yen is unpopular politically.

Persons: Kamil Krzaczynski, Lewis Krauskopf, Kevin Buckland, Naomi Rovnick, Dhara Ranasinghe, Karin Strohecker, There's, PIMCO, Rishi Sunak, David Cameron, Jeremy Hunt, Hunt, bode, Sergio Massa, Javier Milei, Pragmatist Massa, Prinz Magtulis, Sumanta Sen, Kripa Jayaram, Pasit, Mark Potter Organizations: Walmart, REUTERS, Black, Nvidia, Insider Intelligence, European Commission, PMI, Fed, European Central Bank, Reuters Graphics Reuters, DOWNING STREET, Labour, gilts, Natwest, Reuters, Bank of Japan, Peronist, Thomson Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, Argentina, Lewis, New York, Tokyo, London, Britain, Japan, Egypt, Taiwan, South Africa, India

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