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☆ 'Half the village is gone': Ukraine hamlet reels after missile strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Valeriy Kozyr, 61, cries as he sits next to graves after losing his daughter and other relatives in a Russian military strike, at a cemetery outside the village of Hroza, Kharkiv region, Ukraine. Moscow denies targeting civilians in its full-scale invasion, a position it repeated on Friday in response to the Hroza strike. "On one side, the neighbours are gone, and on the other side a woman is gone." 'HALF THE VILLAGE GONE'As darkness fell on Thursday, dazed emergency crews carried bodies placed in white bags on to the back of a pickup truck. "Half the village is gone, families are gone," said Kozyr, standing beside his wife as she wept.

Persons: Valeriy Kozyr, Thomas Peter Acquire, Kozyr, Olya, Volodymr Zelenskiy, Serhiy Bolvinov, Valentyna Kozienko, Oleksandr Mukhovatyi, Andriy Kozyr, Valeriy, Andriy, Mike Collett, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Regional, Local, Thomson Locations: Russian, Hroza, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Kharkiv, Ukrainian

☆ Sweden announces more military aid to Ukraine but no fighter jets for the moment
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

STOCKHOLM, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Sweden will send Ukraine a new military support package, worth 2.2 billion crowns ($199 million) and consisting mainly of artillery ammunition, Defence Minister Pal Jonson said on Friday. Jonson told a news conference the government had also formally tasked the armed forces with looking into whether Sweden would be able to send Jas Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine. He however also reiterated that Sweden would for domestic security reasons need to become member of NATO before it would be able to potentially spare any fighter jets. Sweden hopes to join the NATO defence alliance during the fall after its accession has been held up by member states Turkey and Hungary. The new military aid package will be Sweden's 14th to Ukraine since Russia's invasion, taking the total value of the Nordic country's such aid to just over 22 billion crowns.

Persons: Pal Jonson, Jonson, Jas, Palson, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Rishi Sunak, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Anna Ringstrom, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Essi Lehto, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Jas Gripen, NATO, British, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Ukraine, Turkey, Hungary, Granada, Europe, United States, Russia, U.S, Copenhagen

☆ Sweden pledges more military aid to Ukraine, considers fighter jets
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson walks to pose for a family photo with other attendees during the informal EU ministerial meeting on defence in Toledo, Spain August 30, 2023. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsSTOCKHOLM, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Sweden will send Ukraine a new military support package worth 2.2 billion crowns ($199 million) - consisting mainly of artillery ammunition - and is looking into sending fighter jets, Defence Minister Pal Jonson said. But he reiterated that Sweden would for domestic security reasons need to become member of NATO before it would be able to potentially spare any fighter jets. The new military aid package will be Sweden's 14th to Ukraine since Russia's invasion, taking the total value of the Nordic country's such aid to just over 22 billion crowns. "It is now important that more countries step up to support Ukraine."

Persons: Pal Jonson, Isabel Infantes, Jonson, Jas, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Anna Ringstrom, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Essi Lehto, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Swedish, REUTERS, Rights, NATO, Thomson Locations: Toledo, Spain, Rights STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Ukraine, Turkey, Hungary, Granada, Russia, Europe, U.S, Copenhagen

And if you do, you should stand with me," Sunak said, referring to what he described as 30 years of political short-termism. "It may be helpful, but it won't be sufficient" to help them win the next election. Chris Hopkins, political research director at the polling firm Savanta, said he could not see how Sunak could win. Cabinet ministers have given speeches to sparsely populated rooms and some party members have openly talked what they may do in opposition. Writing by Elizabeth Piper; editing by Kate Holton and Philippa FletcherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Goldman Sachs, Andy Street, Suella Braverman, pollsters, John Curtice, Chris Hopkins, Savanta, Liz Truss, Nigel Farage, Steve Tuckwell, Elizabeth Piper, Kate Holton, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Conservative, Conservatives, Labour, University of Strathclyde, European Union, Republican Party, London's Labour, Thomson Locations: MANCHESTER, England, Manchester, British, Birmingham, West Midlands, United States

☆ Some veterans say Ukraine needs to face up to prospect of long war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Dan Peleschuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Guys, sooner or later it will catch up with you," said Yabchanka, who was back home in western Ukraine waiting for his wounded leg to heal before returning to his unit. Ukrainians still often dismiss Russian troops as incompetent after battlefield failures in 2022 and the recruitment of thousands of convicts to fill their ranks. No change to overall mobilisation plans has been announced and analysts say the government has to consider the broader economy and social stability. Yabchanka, who sports a Cossack-style moustache and hairstyle, said those who are close to someone fighting tend to be more realistic. "This is someone's husband, someone's son, someone's father," he said.

Persons: Oleksandr Yabchanka, Yabchanka, Vinci, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Adriana Romanko, Dad, Bohdan Krotevych, someone's, he's, Dan Peleschuk, Michael Collett, White, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Vinci Wolves, Battalion, Fighters, Armed Forces of, Democratic Initiatives Foundation, Azov Brigade, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Lviv, Russian, Armed Forces of Ukraine

In 2021, the year before Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, defence spending totalled 3.57 trillion roubles, 14.4% of total spending. In 2022, the share of defence spending rose to 17.7%, data on Russia's electronic budget page showed earlier this year. That may mean that defence spending will also be significantly higher than first envisaged. Moscow doubled its target for defence spending in 2023 to 9.7 trillion roubles, Reuters reported exclusively in August, citing a government document. EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE FREEZEAs defence spending in 2024 triples from pre-invasion levels, the share of spending on "national security", which covers funding for law enforcement agencies, is also rising, set to reach 9.2% in 2024, the documents showed.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Metzel, Anton Siluanov, Siluanov, Donets, Dmitry Peskov, Darya, Alexander Marrow, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Sputnik, REUTERS, Defence, Reuters, CIS, Renaissance, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Kremlin, Ukraine, Russian

☆ Kyiv brushes off US, Slovakia wobbles as EU ministers come to town
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Olena Harmash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell shake hands before EU-Ukraine foreign ministers meeting, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 2, 2023. Monday's meeting in Kyiv was touted by Borrell as an historic first, and provided striking photo opportunities for a succession of ministers in front of EU flags in the war-time capital. Several high profile right-wing Trump supporters in Congress have called for a halt to Ukraine aid. President Joe Biden's administration says it expects the House to pass a measure to keep aid to Ukraine flowing. In Europe, pro-Russian former prime minister Fico won the most votes in an election in Slovakia on Sunday and will get a first chance to form a government.

Persons: Dmytro Kuleba, Josep Borrell, Robert Fico, Kuleba, Annalena Baerbock, Dmitry Peskov, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden's, Biden, Fico, Russia's Peskov, Peter Graff, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Ukrainian Foreign, Union Foreign, EU, Press, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of, REUTERS Acquire, Russian, U.S . Congress, U.S, Congressional, Borrell, Kyiv, German, Republican, Trump, Congress, Republicans, Democrats, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Handout, Germany, Russia, KYIV, Slovakia, United States, Russian Slovakian, Moscow, Washington, America, Europe, Russian, NATO

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California won't be giving unemployment checks to workers on strike, with Democratic Gov. But he said he vetoed this bill because the fund the state uses to pay unemployment benefits will be nearly $20 billion in debt by the end of the year. The fund the state uses to pay unemployment benefits is already more than $18 billion in debt. Meanwhile, unemployment benefits have increased. Lawmakers could attempt to pass the law anyway, but it’s been decades since a governor’s veto was overruled in California.

Persons: Gavin Newsom vetoing, Newsom, ” Newsom, Sen, Anthony Portantino, ”, Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, it’s Organizations: Democratic Gov, Labor, Democratic, California Labor Federation, Hollywood, Office Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, Hollywood, Southern California

☆ Mexican auto lobby urges authorities to fix border 'crisis' as trade hit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Mexico's main auto industry association on Friday urged Mexican authorities to step up efforts to work with the United States to deal with a "migration crisis" on the countries' shared border because of problems it is causing for trade. Added security checks by Texan authorities in response to a recent surge in border crossings have led to delays in goods transport in recent weeks, fueling concern inside the Mexican car industry, which is heavily integrated with the U.S. Describing the matter as a "migration and commercial crisis", AMIA said the border impasses had caused considerable hold-ups and business losses, and were adversely affecting the economy of both Mexico and the United States. AMIA urged Mexican and U.S. authorities to take humanitarian steps to fix the problem and guarantee the free flow of trade. Reporting by Dave Graham; Writing by Natalia Siniawski; editing by Philippa FletcherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: AMIA, Dave Graham, Natalia Siniawski, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: MEXICO CITY, U.S, Mexican Automotive Industry Association, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, United States, Mexico, Darien, Central America, Mexican, U.S

☆ Romania bolsters defences to stop Ukraine war crossing NATO threshold
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Luiza Ilie | Thomson Reuters | Bucharest-Based General News Reporter Covering A Wide Range Of Romanian Topics Elections | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] A view shows a building of Ukraine's Black Sea Danube shipping company destroyed during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Izmail, Odesa region, Ukraine August 2, 2023. In November last year, a missile hit southern Poland killing two people and prompting a brief security scare, although it was later determined that Ukrainian air defences were to blame. Among the targets were the Ukrainian ports of Izmail and Reni, both of which lie across the Danube from Romanian soil. "They (Russian drones) fly at very low altitudes, sometimes less than 200 metres (above ground) ... they are built in such a way that least reflects radar waves," he said. In July, when the Danube bombing campaign began in earnest, Russians had more targeted success because Ukraine had not set up extensive air defence systems in the area.

Persons: Nina Liashenko, Reni, Tudor Cernega, Jens Stoltenberg, Constantin Spinu, Cernega, Andrew Gray, Mike Collett, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: REUTERS, NATO, Local, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Izmail, Odesa, Romania, Moscow, BUCHAREST, Poland, Ukrainian, Russia, Romanian, Plauru, Ceatalchioi, U.S, ROMANIA, Kyiv, Brussels

No group has claimed responsibility for the blasts, one of which trapped dozens of people under rubble, media said. [1/4]People gather outside the Mastung hospital, following a deadly suicide attack on a religious gathering in Balochistan province, Pakistan, September 29, 2023 in this handout image. The TTP, responsible for some of the bloodiest attacks in Pakistan since its formation in 2007, denied responsibility for Friday's blasts. In July, more than 40 people were killed in a suicide bombing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at a religious political party's gathering. The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for that attack.

Persons: Prophet Mohammed, Abdul Rasheed, Munir Ahmed, Shaheed Nawab Ghous Bakhsh, Fazal Akbar, Pakistan's, Saleem Ahmed, Mushtaq Ali, Shivam Patel, Gibran Peshimam, Miral Fahmy, Clarence Fernandez, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Reuters, Geo News, REUTERS Acquire, Militant, Islamic State, Thomson Locations: Afghan, QUETTA, PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Balochistan, Madina Mosque, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan province, Handout, Hangu, Afghanistan, Taliban Pakistan, Peshawar, Quetta, Shahid, Karachi

☆ Ukraine marks 82nd anniversary of Babyn Yar killings by Nazi forces
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy takes part in a commemoration ceremony for the victims of Babyn Yar (Babiy Yar), one of the biggest single massacres of Jews during the Nazi Holocaust, in Kyiv Ukraine September 29, 2023. Over the next two years, many more people were killed at Babyn Yar. The Ukrainian foreign ministry urged the world to prevent such killings happening again and drew attention to Russia's invasion of Ukraine 19 months ago. "The memory of Babyn Yar and the slogan 'Never again' are the moral basis of humanism and opposition to any forms of aggressive-chauvinistic ideologies, in particular, Russian aggression against Ukraine," it said in a statement. Zelenskiy is Ukraine's first ethnically Jewish president, although he is not publicly religious.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Babyn Yar, Babiy Yar, Roma, Anna Pruchnicka, Timothy Heritage, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Nazi, Thomson Locations: Nazi, Kyiv Ukraine, KYIV, Ukraine, Kyiv, Babyn, Soviet Union, Ukrainians, Ukrainian, Russia

☆ US government shutdown would 'undermine' US economic progress, Yellen says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Janet Yellen, United States Secretary of Treasury, participates in global infrastructure and investment forum in New York, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. Seth Wenig/Pool via REUTERS/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - A government shutdown that could start this weekend would "undermine" U.S. economic progress by idling key programs for small businesses and children, and could delay major infrastructure improvements, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Friday. A shutdown of broad parts of the government would start on Sunday as the new fiscal year starts without new spending legislation from Congress. Chances of a shutdown increased on Thursday as the House pursued partisan spending cuts and the Senate advanced separate legislation to temporarily extend spending. "The failure of House Republicans to act responsibly would hurt American families and cause economic headwinds that could undermine the progress we’re making," Yellen said.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Seth Wenig, Yellen, Lael Brainard, Brainard, " Brainard, We've, David Lawder, Ann Saphir, Philippa Fletcher, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Treasury, Rights, Port, Republicans, Senate, CNBC, . Commerce, Thomson Locations: United States, New York, U.S, Savannah, Georgia

☆ Suspect in Rotterdam shootings had troubled past, targeted victims
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Bart Biesemans | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] FILE PHOTO-A general view shows the house of a victim of a shooting in Rotterdam, Netherlands, September 28, 2023. Law enforcement sources confirmed the 32-year-old suspect's name as Fouad L., with his surname not publishable under Dutch privacy laws. The prosecutor's spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of a letter from prosecutors to the EMC circulating on Dutch media. It described the suspect having "psychotic behaviour" and alcohol troubles as well as complaints from neighbours over his treatment of animals. Rotterdam's chief prosecutor Hugo Hillenaar said on Thursday the suspect had a history of police run-ins.

Persons: de, Prosecutors, Stefan Sleijfer, Fouad L, Roos Bonnier, Hugo Hillenaar, Toby Sterling, Anthony Deutsch, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Erasmus University Medical Centre, EMC, Reuters, Erasmus Medical Center, Thomson Locations: Rotterdam, Netherlands, Rights ROTTERDAM

☆ Azerbaijan arrests former top Karabakh minister as exodus tops 50,000
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Felix Light | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Karabakh is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but populated mostly by ethnic Armenians who broke away in the 1990s in the first of two wars there since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Karabakh authorities said more than 50,000 had left so far, out of an estimated ethnic Armenian population of 120,000. Azerbaijan rejects Armenian accusations of ethnic cleansing, but images of tens of thousands of desperate people on the move have provoked widespread international alarm. Germany added its voice to U.S. calls for Azerbaijan to allow international observers into Karabakh. Karabakh authorities said they lost at least 200 people in Azerbaijan's offensive last week.

Persons: Ruben Vardanyan, Veronika Zonabend, Morris Tidball, Binz, Annalena Baerbock, Matthew Miller, Washington, Irakli, Ilham Aliyev, Zonabend, Miller, Vera Petrosyan, Daphne Psaledakis, Mark Trevelyan, Gareth Jones, Philippa Fletcher, Alison Williams Organizations: Twitter, U.S . State Department, REUTERS, Reuters, Local, Russian, Russia, State, Washington, Thomson Locations: Azerbaijan Karabakh, Germany, GORIS, Armenia, Nagorno, Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Baku, Soviet Union, Kornidzor, Russia, Ukraine, Caucasus, Turkey, Iran, United States, Washington

WASHINGTON/SEOUL, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Private Travis King, the U.S. soldier who ran into North Korea in July, is in U.S. custody and heading home after being expelled by North Korea into China, the United States said on Wednesday. For its part, North Korea appears to have treated his case as one of illegal immigration. North Korea's KCNA state news agency said King told Pyongyang he entered North Korea illegally because he was disillusioned about unequal U.S. Last month, it said that he wanted refuge in North Korea or elsewhere because of maltreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. army. KING IN 'GOOD HEALTH'The Swedish government, which represents U.S. interests in North Korea because Washington has no diplomatic presence in the country, retrieved King in North Korea and brought him to China.

Persons: Travis King, King, KCNA, Matthew Miller, Nicholas Burns, Miller, Kim Hong, Jonathan Franks, Claudine Gates, Gates, Myron Gates, Fort Sam Houston, Brittney Griner, Hyonhee Shin, hyang Choi, Phil Stewart, Susan Heavey, Trevor Hunnicutt, Doina, Idrees Ali, Daphne Psaledakis Michael Martina, Humeyra Pamuk, David Brunnstrom, Brendan O'Brien, Johan Ahlander, Philippa Fletcher, Sharon Singleton, Bill Berkrot, Don Durfee, Daniel Wallis, William Maclean, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: North, The State Department, ., China . State Department, U.S, Osan Air Force Base, King, REUTERS, United States Army, ABC News, South Korean, Brooke Army Medical Center, Base San, Fort, Russia, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, SEOUL, U.S, North Korea, China, United States, Washington, Pyongyang, Swedish, Beijing, Dandong, Shenyang, South Korea, Sweden, Gijungdong, Panmunjom, Texas, Base San Antonio, Seoul, Chicago, Stockholm

But in an about turn, Macron announced on Sunday that the ambassador would return to Paris and French troops would leave. Two security sources in Niger said Itte had flown out of the country. Demonstrators hold placards and Niger's flags as they gather outside Niger's embassy in support of the President of Niger Mohamed Bazoum in Paris, France, August 5, 2023. Crowds of junta supporters have spent days camping outside a French military base to demand the troops' departure. Some analysts have expressed concern that the withdrawal of French troops from Niger could further hamper Western efforts to stem the violence, which has risen since the coups, and bolster Russian influence in the region.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Sylvain Itte, Mohamed Bazoum, Macron, Itte, Catherine Colonna, Yucouba Abdou, Abdou, Niger Mohamed Bazoum, Stephanie Lecocq, Paris, Abdel, Kader Mazou, Moussa Aksar, Michel Rose, John Irish, Sofia Christensen, Anait, Toby Chopra, Estelle Shirbon, Philippa Fletcher, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Niger, Quai, French, Nigerien, Reuters, REUTERS, France, Thomson Locations: Niger French, NIAMEY, Niger, Paris, France, Niamey, French, N'Djamena, Niger's, West Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Sahel

☆ Swiss to Sell Back Leopard II Tanks to Help Restock After Ukraine Donations
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

ZURICH (Reuters) - Germany has welcomed a decision by neutral Switzerland to open the way to sell back some of its German-made Leopard II tanks to help rebuild stocks depleted by aid to Ukraine. Germany had asked Switzerland in February to sell back some of the 96 Leopard II tanks it has in storage to manufacturer Rheinmetall AG. "We are very happy and grateful for this decision," Michel Fluegger, Germany's ambassador to Switzerland told Swiss TV. He was speaking after the Swiss parliament on Tuesday approved the decommissioning of 25 Leopard II tanks, paving the way for them to be resold to Germany. Buying Swiss weapons could become difficult unless Bern adjusts its law on war materials, German ambassador Fluegger said.

Persons: Michel Fluegger, Fluegger, Viola Amherd, John Revill, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Leopard, Rheinmetall AG, NATO, Swiss, Leopard IIs, SRF Locations: ZURICH, Germany, Switzerland, Ukraine, Berlin, Bern, Kyiv, Swiss, Denmark, Spain, Europe

☆ Russia ramps up China yuan payments for imports amid sanctions -EBRD
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Jorgelina Do Rosario | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the imposition of economic sanctions by the EU, US and a number of other advanced economies, Russian imports became increasingly invoiced in yuan," according to the paper led by economists Maxim Chupilkin and Beata Javorcik. The use of the Chinese yuan for trade with Russia has also increased for third countries that did not impose economic sanctions but hold a currency swap line with the People's Bank of China (PBOC), such as Mongolia and Tajikistan. Overall, economic sanctions could herald a gradual shift away from the U.S. dollar, the study said. "The dominance of the U.S. dollar makes international sanctions more effective, as firms engaged in international trade overwhelmingly require payments to be cleared through the U.S. banking system," the authors found. "At the same time, the use of economic sanctions may over time reduce attractiveness of the U.S. dollar as a vehicle currency and hence its dominance."

Persons: Maxim Chupilkin, Beata Javorcik, SWIFT, Jorgelina, Karin Strohecker, Philippa Fletcher 私 Organizations: European Bank for Reconstruction, EU, U.S, People's Bank of China, U.S . Locations: Ukraine, China, Russia, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Russian, Rosario

☆ North Korea to expel U.S. soldier Travis King over illegal border crossing
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Sarah Leslie/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Sept 27 (Reuters) - North Korea has decided to expel American soldier Travis King who it said has admitted to illegal intrusion into the country and was "disillusioned about unequal U.S. society," state media KCNA said on Wednesday. The decision was contained in the final results of an investigation into King's July border crossing published by KCNA. Last month it reported interim findings that he wanted refuge in North Korea or elsewhere because of maltreatment and racial discrimination within the army. There have been several attempts by U.S. soldiers stationed in South Korea to desert or defect to North Korea, but King's expulsion came relatively quickly compared to others who have spent years before being released from the reclusive country. King, who joined the U.S. army in January 2021, faced two allegations of assault in South Korea.

Persons: Travis T, Sarah Leslie, Handout, Travis King, KCNA, King, Jonathan Franks, King's, Myron Gates, Hyonhee Shin, Susan Heavey, Brendan O'Brien, Toby Chopra, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Security Area, REUTERS, Rights, ., Democratic People's, Authorities, U.S . State Department, U.S . Forces, United Nations Command, Joint Security Area, ABC News, U.S, South Korean, Thomson Locations: Panmunjom, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, North Korea, DPRK, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, U.S . Forces Korea, United States, U.S

☆ Swiss to sell back Leopard II tanks to help restock after Ukraine donations
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Recruits of the Swiss army Tank School 21 perform an attack exercise with the Leopard 2 tank in Bure, Switzerland May 5, 2023. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Acquire Licensing RightsZURICH, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Germany has welcomed a decision by neutral Switzerland to open the way to sell back some of its German-made Leopard II tanks to help rebuild stocks depleted by aid to Ukraine. Germany had asked Switzerland in February to sell back some of the 96 Leopard II tanks it has in storage to manufacturer Rheinmetall AG (RHMG.DE). He was speaking after the Swiss parliament on Tuesday approved the decommissioning of 25 Leopard II tanks, paving the way for them to be resold to Germany. Buying Swiss weapons could become difficult unless Bern adjusts its law on war materials, German ambassador Fluegger said.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Michel Fluegger, Fluegger, Viola Amherd, John Revill, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Swiss army Tank, REUTERS, Rights, Leopard, Rheinmetall AG, NATO, Swiss, Leopard IIs, SRF, Thomson Locations: Bure, Switzerland, Germany, Ukraine, Berlin, Bern, Kyiv, Swiss, Denmark, Spain, Europe

☆ Tens of thousands of ethnic Armenians rush to flee Nagorno-Karabakh
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Felix Light | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh region ride in the back of a truck as they arrive in the border village of Kornidzor, Armenia, September 26, 2023. The hairpin mountain road snaking out of Karabakh towards Armenia was choked with people. There were conflicting details about the toll of the blast but the ethnic Armenian authorities said at least 68 had been killed, 105 were missing and nearly 300 were injured. "The Secretary urged President Aliyev to commit to broad amnesty and allow an international observer mission into Nagorno-Karabakh," Miller said. "President Ilham Aliyev underlined that respective activities are underway to ensure the rights of Armenian residents living in the Karabakh region," it said.

Persons: Irakli, GORIS, Vera Petrosyan, Ilham Aliyev, Nikol Pashinyan, Antony Blinken, Azerbaijan's Aliyev, Matthew Miller, Aliyev, Miller, Blinken, Guy Faulconbridge, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: REUTERS, Soviet Union, Reuters, Armenian, West, Thomson Locations: Nagorno, Karabakh, Kornidzor, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Soviet South Caucasus, South Caucasus, Soviet, Askeran, Russia, United States, Turkey, Iran, Moscow

☆ As Russia's war in Ukraine drags on, Kyiv's neighbors are loading up on new high-tech military gear
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia's invasion of Ukraine has upended European security, driving countries there to plan once again for the possibility of a major land war. Those European countries have transferred billions of dollars' worth of military hardware to Ukraine, and now they are seeking to rebuild their own stocks. Poland and Romania both border Ukraine and have been affected by the war. US Army/Markus RauchenbergerBased on disclosed weapon transfers, Poland is Europe's second biggest contributor of military aid to Ukraine, sending Kyiv large quantities of Soviet-era arms. AdvertisementAdvertisementPoland also announced in September a $2 billion purchase of several hundred Naval Strike Missiles from Norway.

Persons: —, Markus Rauchenberger, HIMARS, Mariusz Blaszczak, Attila Husejnow, Abrams, DANIEL MIHAILESCU, spender, Constantine Atlamazoglou Organizations: Service, US Army, Baltic Fleet, Polish, Getty, Patriot, Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensors, US, US State Department, Apaches, NATO, Polish Air Force, Washington, Getty Images, Naval, Missiles, Reuters, Fletcher School of Law, LinkedIn, Twitter Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Eastern Europe, Poland, Romania, Warsaw, Bucharest, Norway, NSMs, Kaliningrad, Poland's, Belarus, South Korea, Seoul, Romanian, AFP, Getty Images Romania, Eastern, Slovakia, Czech Republic

☆ Exclusive-U.S. Exploring Potential Space Force Hotline With China, U.S. Commander Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Sakura Murakami and Nobuhiro KuboTOKYO (Reuters) - The United States Space Force has had internal discussions about setting up a hotline with China to prevent crises in space, U.S. commander General Chance Saltzman told Reuters on Monday. The chief of space operations said a direct line of communication between the Space Force and its Chinese counterpart would be valuable in de-escalating tensions but that the U.S. had not yet engaged with China to establish one. The comments come as the U.S. Space Force looks into establishing a branch in Japan, as China's military ambitions in the Indo-Pacific unnverve its neighbours and the war in Ukraine spotlights the importance of space capabilities in warfare. Saltzman, who held talks with top Japanese defence officials in Tokyo on Monday, confirmed that the space force was exploring the potential establishment of a local headquarters in Japan. The U.S. Space Force, founded in 2019, also does not have a direct line of communication with its Russian counterpart.

Persons: Sakura Murakami, Nobuhiro Kubo TOKYO, Chance Saltzman, Saltzman, Joe Biden, Nobuhiro Kubo, Philippa Fletcher, Toby Chopra Organizations: United States Space Force, Space Force, State Department, U.S . Space Force Locations: China, U.S, Japan, Ukraine, Taiwan, Tokyo, South Korea

U.S. Chief of Space Operations Chance Saltzman speaks during an interview with Reuters in Tokyo, Japan September 25, 2023. REUTERS/Nobuhiro Kubo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Sept 25 (Reuters) - The United States Space Force has had internal discussions about setting up a hotline with China to prevent crises in space, U.S. commander General Chance Saltzman told Reuters on Monday. The chief of space operations said a direct line of communication between the Space Force and its Chinese counterpart would be valuable in de-escalating tensions but that the U.S. had not yet engaged with China to establish one. Saltzman, who held talks with top Japanese defence officials in Tokyo on Monday, confirmed that the space force was exploring the potential establishment of a local headquarters in Japan. The U.S. Space Force, founded in 2019, also does not have a direct line of communication with its Russian counterpart.

Persons: Chance Saltzman, Nobuhiro Kubo, Saltzman, Joe Biden, Sakura Murakami, Philippa Fletcher, Toby Chopra Organizations: Chief, Space, Reuters, REUTERS, Nobuhiro, Rights, United States Space Force, Space Force, State Department, U.S . Space Force, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, China, U.S, Ukraine, Taiwan, South Korea

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