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☆ Armenian protesters demand Pashinyan ouster after Karabakh surrender
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Felix Light | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The protesters gathered on Republic Square in the heart of Yerevan. Many demanded the resignation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who presided over defeat to Azerbaijan in a 2020 war, and now the final collapse of Karabakh's Armenian authorities. Some of those in Republic Square yelled "Artsakh! Others threw bottles and stones at the prime minister's office on Republic Square. Azerbaijan said that it wanted a "smooth reintegration process" for Karabakh's Armenians, and rejected Armenian accusations that it wanted to "ethnically cleanse" the region.

Persons: Nikol Pashinyan, we've, Pashinyan, Irakli, Reuters Graphics Samvel Sargsyan, Sargsyan, Khachatur Kobelyan, Guy Faulconbridge, Kevin Liffey, Alex Richardson Organizations: Karabakh, . Riot, Protesters, REUTERS, Reuters Graphics Samvel, Theatre, Cinema University, Thomson Locations: YEREVAN, Karabkh, Azerbaijan, Yerevan, Karabakh, Nagorno, Armenia, Artsakh, Karabakh's, USA, Russia, Ottoman

☆ Britain set to roll back climate pledges, enraging campaigners and auto groups
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks to the media during his visit to Shell St Fergus Gas Plant in Peterhead on July 31, 2023 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. LONDON — U.K.-based industry bodies and automakers on Wednesday criticized British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, amid reports that he is preparing to dilute several key net-zero climate pledges. A press representative for the prime minister's office declined to comment on the BBC report. However, interior minister Suella Braverman on Wednesday insisted in broadcast comments that the prime minister's approach to green policies was "pragmatic." On the long term, weakening the UK climate policies "could hurt economic growth by undermining domestic and overseas investment in a range of sectors that are developing and deploying clean technologies, such as heat pumps and electric vehicles.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Lisa Brankin, Brankin, Mike Hawes, Chris Skidmore, Suella Braverman, Bob Ward, Chris Hewett Organizations: Shell St Fergus Gas Plant, LONDON, British, BBC, Ford, Society of Motor Manufacturers, Traders, Ministers, Conservative Party, Labour, Grantham Research, Solar Energy Locations: Shell, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Britain, Grantham, U.S, China, EU, India

☆ Biden, Netanyahu to discuss Saudi normalization, Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden sits with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) before a dinner at the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem March 9, 2010. Netanyahu did not get a meeting in the early months of the Biden White House in 2021 and was then ousted from power. "The Saudi deal's enormous potential has left Biden & Netanyahu little choice but to meet despite differences," he said. There is still work to do," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Sept. 7. U.S. officials have not ruled out an eventual White House meeting between Biden and Netanyahu.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Baz Ratner, Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu's, Isaac Herzog, David Makovsky, Jake Sullivan, eventual White, Steve Holland, Leslie Adler Organizations: Israel's, REUTERS, Rights, Israeli, West Bank, White, General Assembly, New York ., Biden White House, Washington Institute for Near East, Biden, House, eventual, Thomson Locations: Jerusalem, Israel, Saudi, Iran, New York, New York . U.S, U.S, United States, Saudi Arabia, Washington, Riyadh

☆ Portugal's telecom watchdog working with operators to bar Huawei
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Sergio Goncalves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLISBON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Portugal's telecom watchdog said on Monday it is working with operators to implement a high-level resolution which effectively bars Huawei's equipment from the country's 5G mobile networks, despite legal objections from the Chinese company. Huawei filed a lawsuit with a Lisbon court against the resolution at the end of August, seeking "protection of its legitimate interests and legal rights under the law". Portugal's main operators, Altice, NOS (NOS.LS) and Vodafone (VOD.L) have already said they will not use Huawei equipment in 5G core networks, amid European and U.S. concerns that Chinese involvement in critical infrastructure could compromise security. "It is work that is ongoing and we hope that it will be carried out successfully. We can assure the Portuguese that we are also working together with the operators", he added.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, Joao Cadete de Matos, Matos, Mario Campolargo, Sergio Goncalves, Alexander Smith Organizations: Huawei Technologies, Viva Technology, Porte de, REUTERS, Rights, Portugal's, Huawei, Vodafone, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Porte, Paris, France, Rights LISBON, Portuguese, Lisbon, Beijing

☆ Former Thai PM Thaksin eligible for parole in February - official
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Panarat Thepgumpanat | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is expected to be arrested upon his return as he ends almost two decades of self-imposed exile, waves at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Thailand August 22, 2023. While abroad, Thaksin was found guilty in absentia in three cases involving abuse of power, conflict of interest and malfeasance. There was speculation that Thaksin reached some deal with his old foes, after the pro-military parties gave the Pheu Thai candidate Srettha their backing to form a new government. On his first night in Thailand, Thaksin was transferred to a police hospital with chest pains and high blood pressure where is currently being treated. "After serving six months of his sentence, Thaksin will be eligible for parole for prisoners older than 70 or those who are ill," Corrections Department Deputy Director General Sitthi Sutivong, told Reuters.

Persons: Thaksin Shinawatra, Athit, Thaksin, Thailand's, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Sitthi Sutivong, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Chayut Setboonsarng, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Thai, REUTERS, Rights, Corrections, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Don Mueang, Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Thai

☆ Ukraine removes deputy defence ministers after new minister's appointment
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Newly appointed Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umerov addresses commanders of the Armed Forces during a meeting, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine September 7, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The Ukrainian government dismissed six deputy defence ministers on Monday following the appointment of a new defence minister earlier this month. The government gave no reason for the dismissals, but such moves are common after a new minister's appointment. Rustem Umerov became defence minister less than two weeks ago, replacing Oleksii Reznikov. Maliar, a war crimes lawyer, had served as a deputy defence minister since 2021 and her latest update on the war in Ukraine appeared on Monday morning.

Persons: Rustem Umerov, Hanna Maliar, Oleksii Reznikov, Reznikov, Umerov, Anna Pruchnicka, Timothy Organizations: Ukraine's, Armed Forces, Presidential Press Service, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Ukrainian, Pravda, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday he had invited the heads of Canada's five largest grocery chains, including Sobeys (EMPa.TO), Metro (MRU.TO) and Loblaw (L.TO), to Ottawa next week to discuss how they planned to control sky-rocketing food prices. Trudeau's move comes when governments across the globe, especially in Europe, have expressed concern over soaring food prices as they seek to address a cost-of-living crisis that has intensified after the pandemic subsided and since the Russia-Ukraine war began. However, after a similar move from the French government in June, analysts were skeptical about Trudeau's warning. They argued it was a "political" tactic and might be ineffective in lowering lingering food inflation. "Both PM Justin Trudeau and François-Philippe Champagne (Canada's industry minister) spoke tough about this topic and it is difficult to envision what teeth they have to hold grocers accountable," said Ben Jang, portfolio manager at Nikola Wealth.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, Trudeau's, François, Philippe Champagne, Ben Jang, Michael Ashley Schulman, Allan Small, Granth Vanaik, Pooja Desai Organizations: Metro, Loblaw, Nikola Wealth, Running, Capital Advisors, iA, Wealth, Carrefour, Lipton, Nestle, PepsiCo, Unilever, Thomson Locations: Ottawa, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Bengaluru

☆ Canada plans to amend competition laws to control rising food prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Sept 15 (Reuters) - Canada plans to amend its competition laws to enable the regulator to act against anti-competitive mergers in the grocery sector, as the government steps up efforts to battle rising food prices. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday said he had summoned the heads of Canada's top grocers to Ottawa next week to discuss their plans to control food prices. The government could impose new taxes on the grocery chains if they do not provide a convincing plan to limit the rise of food prices, Trudeau said. The amendments will also provide the Competition Bureau with powers to compel the production of information to conduct effective market studies, a release, dated Sept. 14, from the Prime Minister's Office said. Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj KalluvilaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, Trudeau, Deborah Sophia, Sriraj Organizations: Canadian, Minister's, Thomson Locations: Canada, Ottawa, Bengaluru

☆ Australia toughens ban on training 'certain foreign militaries' after pilot case
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

FILE PHOTO: Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles speaks to the media at the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore June 12, 2022. A series of cases where former military pilots living in Australia had worked for a South African flight school training Chinese pilots, which the United States alleges are Chinese military pilots, has prompted the crackdown. Penalties of up to 20 years prison will apply for providing military training or tactics to a foreign military or government body, including hybrid civilian and military organisations, or state-owned companies, without authorisation from the defence minister. The Test Flying Academy of South Africa was placed on a U.S. trade blacklist on national security grounds in June for "providing training to Chinese military pilots using Western and NATO sources". A court was told Hartley, a former British military pilot, was suspected of organising the training of Chinese military pilots delivered by the flight school.

Persons: Richard Marles, Caroline Chia, authorises, recenty, Daniel Duggan, Keith Hartley, Hartley, Kirsty Needham, Lincoln, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Australian Defence, REUTERS, Rights, United Nations, Defence, U.S . Marines Corp, Flying Academy of South, TFASA, Australian Federal Police, Thomson Locations: Singapore, Australia, African, United States, Britain, New Zealand, Canada, China, Australian, Flying Academy of South Africa, U.S, AVIC, British

☆ U.S. Treasury official says Iraq must act to avoid further action on banks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Timour Azhari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Employees walk at the headquarters of the Central Bank of Iraq in Baghdad, Iraq August 15, 2023. Despite the crackdown, the senior U.S. Treasury official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there were still other Iraqi banks operating with risks "that must be remediated". Iraq's central bank governor has said Iraq is committed to implementing tighter financial regulations and combating the smuggling of dollars. The central bank did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday. However, there were still "vested interests comfortable with the status quo that can create friction to driving change," the Treasury official said, without identifying who these were.

Persons: Ahmed Saad, Farhad Alaadin, Alaadin, Saddam Hussein, Mohammed Shia Al, Timour Azhari, Alexander Smith Organizations: Central Bank of, REUTERS, Treasury, U.S, Reuters, Iraqi, U.S . Federal, Iraq, U.S . Treasury, Thomson Locations: Central Bank of Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq, Iran, BAGHDAD, U.S, United States, Iraqi, Iranian, Tehran, Iraq's

☆ Factbox-New Zealand Voters' Top Issues in October General Election
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

Chris Hipkins, who took the prime minister's post in January after Jacinda Ardern stepped down, has nudged his Labour Party towards the centre, focusing on what he terms "bread and butter issues". The opposition National Party has blamed Labour for rising costs and is promising, if elected, to cut taxes and bring inflation under control. Given New Zealand's ever-increasing building costs, poor housing stock and overcrowding, however, supply continues to fall short of demand. The National Party has proposed unlocking more land for housing, providing incentives for councils to build more houses and creating new infrastructure financing tools. The National Party says it will encourage trade and investment, increase the skilled labour force and cut red tape.

Persons: Chris Hipkins, Jacinda Ardern, Hipkins, Lucy Craymer, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Reuters, New Zealanders, Labour, National, Labour Party, National Party, Zealand's Labour Locations: New, New Zealand, China, Pacific, Solomon, South Pacific, Britain

JERUSALEM (AP) — Thousands of Israeli academics and artists have urged U.S. President Joe Biden and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to shun Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to the United States next week, underlining the divide between Israel's far-right government and segments of the country's population. Netanyahu’s public itinerary so far does not feature an appointment with Biden at the White House. Proponents of the plan say the country’s unelected judiciary, led by the Supreme Court, wields too much power. Biden expressed concerns when Israel's parliament slammed through the first piece of legislation in July, calling the outcome “unfortunate.” On Tuesday, Israel's Supreme Court opened the first case to look at the legality of Netanyahu’s deeply contentious plans. The country’s academics, artists, business leaders and even military reservists have come out against the overhaul.

Persons: Joe Biden, António Guterres, Benjamin Netanyahu, David Grossman, Tamar Getter, Guterres, Netanyahu, General Assembly’s, “ Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu “, Netanyahu's ultranationalist, —, Netanyahu’s Organizations: JERUSALEM, U.S, United Nations, Biden, White, General, West Bank, Supreme, Israel's Locations: United States, Israel's, California, New York, Israel, Washington, U.S

☆ Britain may designate genomics sector as critical infrastructure
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Alistair Smout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden speaks during the Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons in London, Britain, July 12, 2023. UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Britain is exploring designating its genomics sector as critical national infrastructure, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said on Monday, amid pressure from lawmakers concerned at China's activity in the field. Asked by one of those lawmakers if Britain would designate the genomics sector as critical national infrastructure, Dowden said it was a legitimate point which he was considering. "It's not currently designated as such, but in my role in the cabinet office, I keep the register of critical national infrastructure under review, and it's something which I am exploring," he told lawmakers. Critical national infrastructure (CNI) is infrastructure that, if compromised, could have a major detrimental impact on essential services or a significant impact on national security.

Persons: Oliver Dowden, Jessica Taylor, Handout, Dowden, It's, Alistair Smout, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Reuters, National Security and Investment, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ Aircraft glitch delays Canada PM Trudeau's departure from India
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at the ASEAN-Indo Pacific Forum (AIPF) during the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia on September 6, 2023. ADEK BERRY/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTORONTO, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's departure from India was delayed after the aircraft he and the rest of the Canadian delegation were using experienced "technical issues," his office said on Sunday. Trudeau, who attended the G20 Summit in New Delhi, had been due to depart India on Sunday evening local time. "These issues are not fixable overnight, our delegation will be staying in India until alternate arrangements are made." Earlier on Sunday, Trudeau met with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, ADEK BERRY, Justin Trudeau's, Trudeau, CFC001, Narendra Modi, Fergal Smith, Will Dunham Organizations: Canada's, ASEAN, Pacific, ASEAN Summit, Rights, Canadian, Canadian Armed Forces, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, India, New Delhi, Canada

☆ Modi uses 'Bharat' for G20 nameplate, not India, amid name-change row
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Tanvi Mehta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A giant screen displays India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the International Media Centre, as he sits behind the country tag that reads "Bharat", while delivering the opening speech during the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, September 9, 2023. India is also called Bharat, Bharata, Hindustan - its pre-colonial names - in Indian languages and these are used interchangeably by the public and officially. As Modi declared the summit in New Delhi open on Saturday, he sat behind a table nameplate that read "Bharat", while the G20 logo had both names - "Bharat" written in Hindi and "India" in English. Speaking in Hindi, the language spoken by a majority of the population, Modi said "Bharat welcomes the delegates as the President of the G20". While some supporters of the name Bharat say "India" was given by British colonisers, historians say the name predates colonial rule by centuries.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Anushree, Narendra Modi's, Bharat, Droupadi Murmu, Modi, Tanvi Mehta, YP Rajesh, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: International Media Centre, REUTERS, South, Bharat, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Bhartiya Janata Party, BJP, Developmental Inclusive Alliance, YP, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Bharata, Hindustan, British, INDIA

☆ Modi Uses 'Bharat' for G20 Nameplate, Not India, Amid Name-Change Row
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

India is also called Bharat, Bharata, Hindustan - its pre-colonial names - in Indian languages and these are used interchangeably by the public and officially. As Modi declared the summit in New Delhi open on Saturday, he sat behind a table nameplate that read "Bharat", while the G20 logo had both names - "Bharat" written in Hindi and "India" in English. Such placards have used "India" in the past. Speaking in Hindi, the language spoken by a majority of the population, Modi said "Bharat welcomes the delegates as the President of the G20". While some supporters of the name Bharat say "India" was given by British colonisers, historians say the name predates colonial rule by centuries.

Persons: Tanvi Mehta, Narendra Modi's, Bharat, Droupadi Murmu, Modi, YP Rajesh, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: South, Bharat, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Bhartiya Janata Party, BJP, Developmental Inclusive Alliance, YP Locations: DELHI, India, Bharata, Hindustan, New Delhi, British, INDIA

☆ Britain’s Rishi Sunak has a month to shake his party from its slumber. If he fails, the next election could already be over
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

London CNN —Rishi Sunak has just under a month to answer the most critical question he faces as British Prime Minister: why does his Conservative Party deserve another five years in power at the next election? They trail the opposition Labour Party in the polls and there is a distinct stench of a party nearing the end of its time in office lingering in the air. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gives an update on the progress made since he introduced the Illegal Migration Bill, under his plans to "stop the boats," on June 5, 2023 in Dover, England. Unfortunately for the prime minister, his own MPs are divided on even that question. As the UK’s finance minister, Sunak won praise for the financial support he offered people who could not work during lockdowns.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Yui Mok, Ben Stansall, ”, Labour Party’s Keir Starmer, Starmer, “, Chris J Ratcliffe, Covid, Rob Ford, ” Ford Organizations: London CNN, Conservative Party, Conservative, Labour Party, Police, Bibby, Getty, Labour, Commons, Conservatives, CNN, That’s, University of Manchester Locations: Manchester, England, United Kingdom, Dover , England, Britain’s, Birmingham, Bibby Stockholm, AFP, London

☆ Biden, Modi discuss rail deal, democracy as U.S. press sidelined
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Nandita Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Biden and Modi last met in person in June when the Indian leader was the guest of a White House state visit. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen joined Friday's meeting, as did White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, the White House said in a statement. Biden spoke to Modi about the importance of a healthy democracy, Campbell told reporters. Modi, of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, has faced criticism about shrinking press freedom in India since he took office. His allies attacked the reporter afterward, in a targeted online harassment campaign that the White House later called "unacceptable" and "antithetical to the very principles of democracy."

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Biden, We're, we've, Kurt Campbell, Campbell, Eileen Laubacher, Modi, amiably, Janet Yellen, Jake Sullivan, Subrahmanyam, Ajit Doval, Amit Dave, Nandita Bose, Steve Holland, Heather Timmons, Grant McCool Organizations: Indian, U.S, U.S . National Security Council, South, U.S ., General Electric, Treasury, Friday's, White, REUTERS, World Bank, Biden, Bharatiya Janata Party, White House, Thomson Locations: DELHI, New Delhi, India, East, Europe, U.S, South Asia, Washington, Delhi, China, Africa, Latin America, Asia, Vietnam, United States, American

☆ Russia protests to Armenia as tensions rise over disputed Caucasus region
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Within hours, Armenia's foreign ministry issued a statement expressing willingness to resolve disputes with Azerbaijan over the territory, focal point of two wars in the past 30 years. Azerbaijan's foreign ministry, in a series of statements, said it was Armenia which was posing a threat to regional stability by abetting separatism in Nagorno-Karabakh. "Armenia pursues one goal: to sustain separatism in the territory of Azerbaijan through all possible ideological, political, military, financial and other means," the Azeri Foreign Ministry said. Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other on Thursday of moving troops close to their joint border. Armenia hosts a Russian military base and relies almost entirely on Russia for defence supplies.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Nikol Pashinyan, Ilham Aliyev, Kevin Liffey, William Maclean, Mark Heinrich, Ron Popeski, Richard Chang Organizations: Azeri Foreign Ministry, International Criminal Court, Collective Security, Organization, Reuters, Red, Thomson Locations: Russia, South Caucasus, Nagorno, Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Armenia, United States, Ukraine, Russian, Moscow, Soviet Union, Soviet, Caucasus

☆ Russia Issues 'Harsh' Protest to Armenia Over Range of 'Unfriendly' Actions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Russia on Friday summoned the Armenian ambassador for a "harsh" protest about a list of what it termed "unfriendly steps", the latest sign of strain between Moscow and the small ex-Soviet republic in a region Russia considers its back yard. He said Moscow, distracted by its war with Ukraine, had been unable to deliver and was winding down its role in the South Caucasus. Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other on Thursday of moving troops close to their joint border as tensions over the future of the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave rose. The ICC issued an arrest warrant in March for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of war crimes in Ukraine. The Kremlin has dismissed the idea that Russia's actions in Ukraine could be war crimes and noted that Russia does not recognise the court.

Persons: Vagharshak Harutyunyan, Alen Simonyan, Maria Zakharova, Nikol Pashinyan, Ilham Aliyev, Vladimir Putin, Kevin Liffey, William Maclean, Mark Heinrich Organizations: Reuters, Russian Foreign Ministry, International Criminal, Armenian National Assembly, Collective Security, Organization, Red, ICC Locations: Russia, Moscow, Soviet, United States, Ukraine, Armenia, Russian, Nagorno, Karabakh, Azerbaijan, South Caucasus, Caucasus, Georgia

☆ Canada finance minister defends central bank independence after rate comment
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsSept 6 (Reuters) - Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland defended the central bank's independence on Wednesday after her comments welcoming the Bank of Canada's decision not to increase its key interest rate raised concerns to the contrary. In a widely expected decision, the Bank of Canada held interest rates steady at a 22-year high of 5%. It is rare for Canadian government ministers to publicly back or criticize central bank policies. Like many developed economies, the Bank of Canada makes its monetary policy decisions independent of the federal government. In June, when the central bank raised rates for the first time after a four-month pause, Freeland stressed that she respected the independence of the central bank, a sentiment she repeated in a press conference later in the day.

Persons: Thomas White, Chrystia Freeland, Freeland, Derek Holt, Pierre Poilievre, Justin Trudeau's, Steve Scherer, David Ljunggren, Denny Thomas, Leslie Adler Organizations: Canadian Finance, Bank of, Bank of Canada, Conservative, Liberal, Ontario, Thomson Locations: Canada, Bank of Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Ottawa

☆ 'Pipigate' peeing scandal puts Belgian minister in hot water
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Geert De Clercq | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Vincent Van Quickenborne talks to the media as he arrives at a budgetary control meeting in Brussels October 17, 2012. At a parliament hearing, Van Quickenborne apologised and said he had not been aware of the incident the night it happened. Van Quickenborne has round-the-clock protection following a failed attempt to kidnap him last year. Van Quickenborne said he had no access to police video, but in parliament he played footage of cameras at his house. Opposition politicians blasted Van Quickenborne.

Persons: Vincent Van Quickenborne, Francois Lenoir, Vincent Van Quickenborne's, Van Quickenborne, Geert De Clercq, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Rights BRUSSELS, Belgium, Belgian

☆ Belgian Justice Minister in Hot Water Over 'Pipigate'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

At a parliament hearing, Van Quickenborne apologised and said he had not been aware of the incident the night it happened. Van Quickenborne has round-the-clock protection following a failed attempt to kidnap him last year. Van Quickenborne said he had no access to police video, but in parliament he played footage of cameras at his house. Opposition politicians blasted Van Quickenborne. "You have given a whole new dimension to the concept of the Belgian joke," said opposition party N-VA's Yngvild Ingels.

Persons: Geert De Clercq, Vincent Van Quickenborne's, Van Quickenborne, Josie Kao Locations: Geert De Clercq BRUSSELS, Belgium, Belgian

☆ Unreasonable? Israel's Judicial Overhaul Dismays Environmentalists
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

Under the changes passed so far, the government and ministers are now exempt from judicial oversight based on the so-called "reasonableness clause". The prime minister's office and ministries involved in the inquiry said they were not responsible. The 15-judge Supreme Court will hear an appeal on Sept. 12 against this amendment. It was launched before the judicial overhaul and sought a ruling based on the application of the reasonableness clause. The prime minister's office and environmental protection minister's office declined to comment for this article.

Persons: Ari Rabinovitch JERUSALEM, Amit Bracha, Adam Teva V'Din, Benjamin Netanyahu, Barry Levenfeld, Arnon Tadmor Levy, ATD, Netanyahu, Aryeh Deri, Silman, Netanyahu's, Lahav, Ari Rabinovitch, Edmund Blair Organizations: Tel, Israel Union, Environmental Defense, Supreme, Likud Locations: Tel Aviv, Herzliya

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lankan lawmakers began a debate on the fate of country's health minister on Wednesday, seeking to remove him over his alleged failure to secure enough essential drugs and laboratory equipment that some say resulted in preventable deaths in hospitals. Their relatives, trade unions, activists and opposition lawmakers alleged that low-quality drugs had led to poor patient care. Sri Lanka’s total debt has exceeded $83 billion, of which $41.5 billion is foreign. Sri Lanka has secured a $3 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund and is taking steps to restructure its domestic and foreign debts. Amid the crisis, thousands of Sri Lanka are leaving the country for better paying jobs abroad.

Persons: Keheliya Rambukwella, ” Rambukwella, Gotabaya Rajapaksa Organizations: Health, Health Ministry, Sri, International Monetary Fund Locations: COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan

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