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☆ Aid Reaches Northern Gaza as Israel and Hamas Consider Truce Talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( March | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Nidal al-MughrabiCAIRO (Reuters) - Trucks of flour have reached northern Gaza for distribution to areas that have had no aid in four months, Palestinian media reported on Sunday, with famine looming in the enclave and truce talks between Israel and Hamas due to resume in Qatar. A Hamas source said the route was secured by Hamas security personnel. War in Israel and Gaza View All 222 ImagesAid agencies have warned that pockets of Gaza already face famine, with hospitals in the north reporting children dying of malnutrition and dehydration. Hamas killed around 1,200 people in its attack and seized 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has now killed more than 31,500 Palestinians according to health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza.

Persons: Nidal, Beit Hanoun, Israel's, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Olaf Scholz, King Abdullah, Netanyahu, Nidal al, Angus McDowall, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Hamas, Reuters, Qatari, Sunday, Palestinian Locations: CAIRO, Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Gaza City, Beit Lahiya, Israeli, Deir al, Rafah, Egypt, Jordan, QATAR, Doha

☆ Three Dead in Senegal Protests Over Delayed Presidential Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Diadie Ba and Ngouda DioneDAKAR (Reuters) - The death toll amid protests in Senegal over the postponement of the presidential election until December has climbed to three, as concerns grow that one of the remaining democracies in coup-hit West Africa is under threat. The ministry has so far confirmed only one death, a student in the northern city of Saint-Louis on Friday. Reuters has not been able to independently confirm a reported second death: a 23-year-old merchant on the outskirts of Dakar, according to CFS. "We urge all parties to act in a peaceful and measured manner, and we continue to call on President Sall to restore the electoral calendar, restore confidence, and bring calm to the situation," it said. The postponement bill backed by parliament included the extension of his tenure until his successor is installed after the election now reset for Dec. 15.

Persons: Ba, Dione DAKAR, Macky Sall, Sall, Ndiame Diop, Louis, Guy Marius Sagna, Alessandra Prentice, Hugh Lawson Organizations: West African, ECOWAS, Cartogra Free, Reuters, Friday, U.S . Bureau, African Affairs Locations: Senegal, Africa, Dakar, Zinguinchor, Cartogra Free Senegal, Saint

☆ Philippines' Marcos Says Secessionist Threats 'Doomed to Fail'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Thursday that calls for independence for the country's southern island of Mindanao were a "constitutional travesty" and "doomed to fail." "The new call for a separate Mindanao is doomed to fail, for it is anchored on a false premise, not to mention a sheer constitutional travesty," Marcos said in a speech on Constitution Day without naming his outspoken predecessor. "I strongly appeal to all concerned to stop this call for a separate Mindanao. "This is not the new Philippines that we are trying to mold. That was followed by Marcos' defence chief on Monday vowing to strictly enforce the country's sovereignty after Duterte's secessionist threats.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos, Duterte, Karen Lema, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Sunday Locations: MANILA, Philippine, Mindanao, Philippines, Republic

☆ Yemen's Houthis Vow Response After US, British Strikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

The group's military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the U.S. strikes "will not pass without a response and consequences." HOUTHIS SAY WON'T BE DETERREDThe Houthis, who control swathes of Yemen, say their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel strikes Gaza. The strategy blends limited military strikes and sanctions, and appears aimed at punishing the Houthis while attempting to limit the risk of a broad Middle East conflict. "We have already successfully targeted launchers and storage sites involved in Houthi attacks, and I am confident that our latest strikes have further degraded the Houthis’ capabilities." The United States said Sunday's strikes had support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

Persons: Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Mohammed Ghobari WASHINGTON, Yahya Sarea, Mahjoob Zweiri, Joe Biden, Sarea, Grant Shapps, Sunday's, Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud, Busaidi, Andrew Mills, Tom Perry, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Reuters, Britain, Pentagon, Hamas, Residents, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Gulf Studies, Qatar University, U.S, Republicans, Democrat, U.S . military's Central Command, British Defence, U.S . Central Command, Oman Foreign, Tala Locations: ADEN, United States, Yemen, Iran, Palestinian, Israel, Gaza, Tehran, Houthi, U.S, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Britain, Africa, Egypt, Suez, Red, States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sanaa Governorate, Taiz Governorate, Hodeidah Governorate, Oman, Doha, Dubai

☆ 'I Went to the Wall', Hungary's Orban Says After Agreeing to EU Deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary's Viktor Orban said on Friday that he "went to the wall" for his country before agreeing to an EU deal on Thursday to extend new aid to Ukraine and that he averted the risk of losing EU funds earmarked for Budapest from the bloc's joint coffers. In a regular interview on state radio on Friday, where he addresses his domestic audience, Orban said the agreement reached on Thursday was a good one. "I went to the wall," Orban said. "We are not sending weapons (to Ukraine), we get our money from Brussels, and we will contribute to the civil financing of Ukraine." Orban reiterated that peace talks should start between Ukraine and Russia as two years have now passed since the start of the war, and "time was on the Russians' side."

Persons: Hungary's Viktor Orban, Orban, Krisztina, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Union, European Commission Locations: BUDAPEST, Ukraine, Budapest, United States, Hungary, Brussels, Russia

☆ Ireland Seeking Review of EU-Israel Agreement Over Rights Concerns
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Ireland is in talks with other EU members who want a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement on the basis that Israel may be breaching the agreement's human rights clause, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told reporters in Brussels on Thursday. A number of EU states are also talking about a possible joint recognition of a Palestinian state after the current conflict, he said. "EU-Israeli relations are founded on an agreement which has a human rights clause, and a lot of us believe that Israel may be in breach of it," Varadkar told reporters following an EU summit. Ireland has long been a champion of Palestinian rights, and ministers have repeatedly said the government is considering recognising a Palestinian state. Speaking at the end of the EU summit, Varadkar said there were a lot of "very like-minded countries" around the EU table.

Persons: Leo Varadkar, Varadkar, Conor Humphries, Padraic Halpin, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Reuters, EU, Israel Locations: Ireland, Israel, Brussels, Palestinian, Gaza, Palestine, Dublin

☆ Foreign-Born Residents File Suit in Japan Over Alleged Racial Profiling
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Chris GallagherTOKYO - Three foreign-born residents of Japan filed a lawsuit on Monday against the national and local governments over alleged illegal questioning by police based on racial profiling. It also comes amid a renewed debate over what it means to be and look Japanese, after a Ukrainian-born, naturalised Japanese citizen was crowned Miss Japan last week. The plaintiffs say they have suffered distress from repeated police questioning based on their appearance and ethnicity, which they say is a violation of the constitution. They and their legal team arrived at Tokyo District Court around midday and spoke to media outside before heading in to file their case. "I never knew what social withdrawal was until recently," he said, declining to provide his surname for fear of harassment.

Persons: Chris Gallagher TOKYO, Matthew, Syed Zain, Maurice, Chris Gallagher, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Miss Japan, Court, Tokyo Metropolitan, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Aichi, Aichi Prefectural Government, National Police Agency, Ministry, Justice Locations: Japan, Ukrainian, Tokyo, Aichi, Aichi Prefectural, Pakistan, American

☆ Police Arrest Man With Knife Near St. Peter's Square in Vatican
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

ROME (Reuters) - A man carrying a knife was arrested on Sunday during routine checks of people heading towards St. Peter's Square, a police spokesperson said, on the day the pope gives his weekly address to the crowds. The spokesperson said the man was a 51-year-old Italian who underwent checks in the morning in Via della Conciliazione, a road leading up to the St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. In a confrontation to disarm the man, one officer reported being lightly injury, police said. The spokesperson added that there was no evidence suggesting the man was carrying the knife for terrorism-related purposes and he was arrested on charges of injuring and resisting an officer. Ansa news agency reported that the arrested man suffered from a mental disorder.

Persons: Angelo Amante, Hugh Lawson Locations: ROME, St, della, Peter's

☆ Catalan Leader Denies Spy Agency Claim He Led Separatist Protest Group
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Joan FausBARCELONA (Reuters) - Catalonia's regional leader on Friday denied allegations by Spain's spy agency CNI that he had secretly led a radical separatist protest group, which he said CNI had used as a pretext to snoop on him. Pere Aragones told reporters he had received on Thursday some heavily redacted declassified CNI documents related to the alleged espionage he had been subject to, and he called for those responsible to be held accountable. Asked about the documents, Spain's Justice Minister Felix Bolanos reiterated that the government did not know about nor authorise the alleged spying. "(The documents) make this affirmation that is obviously out of touch with any minimum sense of reality," Aragones told reporters, adding that the documents provided no explanation for such suspicions. Aragones said the documents were full of falsehoods and their aim was to destroy the legitimate political project of Catalan independence from Spain.

Persons: Joan Faus BARCELONA, Spain's, CNI, snoop, Pere Aragones, Felix Bolanos, Aragones, Paz Esteban, Esteban, Joan Faus, Andrei Khalip, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Citizen, Pegasus, Spain's Locations: Canada, Spain, Barcelona

☆ Cameroon Launches Malaria Vaccination Programme in Global Milestone
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - The global fight against malaria took a stride forward on Monday as Cameroon launched the world's first routine vaccine programme against the mosquito-borne disease that is projected to save tens of thousands of children's lives per year across Africa. After successful trials, including in Ghana and Kenya, Cameroon is the first country to administer doses through a routine immunisation programme that 19 other countries aim to roll out this year, according to global vaccine alliance Gavi. Around 6.6 million children in these countries are targeted for malaria vaccination through 2024-25. Rolling out the second vaccine "is expected to result in sufficient vaccine supply to meet the high demand and reach millions more children," the WHO's director of immunization, Kate O'Brien, said at the briefing. This R21 vaccine, developed by University of Oxford, could be launched in May or June, said Gavi's Chief Programme Officer Aurelia Nguyen.

Persons: Mohammed Abdulaziz of, Kate O'Brien, Aurelia Nguyen, Alessandra Prentice, Jennifer Rigby, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Reuters, World Health Organization, WHO, British, GSK, for Disease Control, Prevention, University of Oxford Locations: Cameroon, Africa, Ghana, Kenya

☆ Local Taliban Officials Say Two Dead, Four Survivors in Afghanistan Plane Crash
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

KABUL (Reuters) - Two Taliban officials in the northern Afghan province of Badakhshan said on Sunday that two passengers were killed in a plane crash involving a charter aircraft in the province but they said four others had survived. Khan Mohammad, head of the provincial governor's office, said the four surviving passengers were now with Taliban administration representatives. Earlier, Afghan officials had said they were sending a team to the remote, mountainous area where police had received reports of a crash. Russian aviation authorities said on Sunday a Russian-registered plane with six people thought to be on board had disappeared from radar screens over Afghanistan the previous night. (Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar; Writing by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

Persons: Khan Mohammad, Zabihullah Amiri, Mohammad Yunus Yawar, Charlotte Greenfield, Hugh Lawson Locations: KABUL, Afghan, Badakhshan, Badakhshan's, Russian, Afghanistan

☆ Slovak Parliament Chief Confirms Presidential Bid, Facing Ex-Foreign Minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Jason Hovet(Reuters) - Slovak parliament chief Peter Pellegrini, leader of the second-biggest party in the government coalition, confirmed on Friday that he would run in a March presidential election. Pellegrini, a prime minister in 2018-2020 and former member of Fico's SMER party, has seen a shrinking poll lead against his closest contender - Ivan Korcok, who was foreign minister in a previous government led by opposition forces. A second round in the likely case that no candidate wins an outright majority is on April 6. Pellegrini leads Korcok 40.6% to 37.7% in an AKO agency poll released on Thursday. Pellegrini led the government until anti-corruption parties won a 2020 election.

Persons: Jason Hovet, Peter Pellegrini, Robert Fico, Pellegrini, Fico's, Ivan Korcok, Zuzana Caputova, Korcok, Fico, Hugh Lawson Organizations: European Union Locations: Korcok, AKO, Prague

☆ Four Migrants Die Trying to Cross the Channel
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

PARIS (Reuters) - Four migrants trying to cross the Channel to Britain died in French waters in the early hours of Sunday, a spokesperson for the local prefecture told Reuters. The small boat overturned as it attempted to launch from a beach, the official said, adding that one person in critical condition had been taken to hospital in Boulogne, northern France. Local newspaper La Voix du Nord said about 70 people were trying to get into a small boat and dozens were pulled from the cold water during overnight rescue efforts in Wimereux, south of Calais. Those dead are believed to be Iraqi and Syrian, La Voix du Nord said. (Reporting by Gilles Guillaume and Michel Rose; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

Persons: Gilles Guillaume, Michel Rose, Hugh Lawson Organizations: PARIS, Reuters, Local, du Locations: Britain, Boulogne, France, Wimereux, Calais

☆ Egypt, China Stress Priority of Safety, Security of Navigation in Red Sea in Joint Statement
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

DUBAI (Reuters) - Egypt and China are closely following developments in the Red Sea, focusing on the priority of ensuring the safety and security of navigation, they said in a joint statement on Sunday. The two countries expressed concern over the expansion of the conflict in the region, emphasizing the importance of uniting efforts to stop attacks on Gaza, the statement added. (Reporting by Jana Choukeir and Ahmed Elimam; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

Persons: Jana Choukeir, Ahmed Elimam, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Reuters Locations: DUBAI, Egypt, China, Red, Gaza

☆ Cross-country skier's private parts freeze in sub-zero Finland event
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 26 (Reuters) - The sub-zero temperatures in Ruka in northern Finland took their toll on Swedish cross-country skier Calle Halfvarsson during a 20 km mass start event on Sunday as he lost all feeling in his private parts. The 34-year-old eventually crossed the line in 18th place before rushing to the tents where the athletes were warming themselves back up. "I had frozen my penis for real - I had to lie in there for 10 minutes to warm it up," Halfvarsson told Swedish newspaper Expressen. The temperatures in Ruka have proven hazardous for male athletes before, with their thin suits and under-layers providing minimal protection against the cold. Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Halfvarsson, Tommy Lund, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Calle, Swedish, Thomson Locations: Ruka, Finland, Gdansk

☆ Shiffrin wins slalom for 90th World Cup victory
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Nov 26, 2023; Killington, Vermont, USA; Mikaela Shiffrin of the USA leads after the first slalom run of the Stifel Killington Cup FIS World Cup slalom at Killington Resort. Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports Acquire Licensing RightsNov 26 (Reuters) - American Mikaela Shiffrin secured a record-extending 90th World Cup win on Sunday with victory in the women's slalom at Killington in Vermont. Swiss Wendy Holdener finished third, 1.37 seconds behind home favourite Shiffrin, who has now won six of the seven World Cup slalom events held at Killington. "It's a pretty incredible hill and especially in slalom I feel like I have a good mentality," Shiffrin said after her 55th World Cup slalom victory. The win for Shiffrin, who finished third in Saturday's giant slalom, also gave the American her 141st World Cup podium, which trails only the 155 earned by Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark during the 1970s and 80s.

Persons: Mikaela, Erich Schlegel, Shiffrin, Petra Vlhova, Swiss Wendy Holdener, I've, Levi, Germany's Lena Duerr, Vlhova, Frank Pingue, Hugh Lawson Organizations: USA, Olympic, Shiffrin, American, 141st, Thomson Locations: Killington , Vermont, USA, Killington, Vermont, Slovakia, Swiss, Germany's, Toronto

☆ Ukraine needs more air defences to protect grain exports, Zelenskiy says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"There is a deficit of air defence - that is no secret," Zelenskiy told the Grain from Ukraine summit, which was attended by senior officials from European countries, including Swiss President Alain Berset and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte. Zelenskiy was speaking after Russia attacked Ukraine with 75 drones overnight, the biggest drone assault of the war. Zelenskiy said Ukraine would be supplied by its foreign partners with vessels to accompany convoys of cargo ships from Ukraine's ports to guarantee their security. Ukraine, a major exporter of grain, has been exporting grain via unilateral corridors through the Black sea, after Russia withdrew in July from a UN-brokered deal to allow grain ships through its blockade. "There are certain air defence systems... we are asking for them," Zelenskiy said.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Alain Berset, Edgars Rinkevics, Ingrida Simonyte, Zelenskiy, Ursula von der Leyen, We've, Max Hunder, Elaine Monaghan, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Lithuanian, Russia, UN, Thomson Locations: Swiss, Latvian, Ukraine, Kyiv, KYIV, Russia, Odesa, Ukraine's, Washington

☆ Palestinian militants in West Bank say two 'collaborators' executed
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A statement from the Tulkarm Brigades, a group based in the West Bank city of Tulkarm that is associated with the Fatah faction, said there was "no immunity for any informant or traitor". Footage shared on the Tulkarm Brigades Telegram channel showed a man apparently confessing to working with Israeli security services and providing details of his activities. The Tulkarm Brigades statement said anyone who had been working with Israeli security services had until Dec. 5 to come forward and repent. The Independent Commission for Human Rights, a Palestinian rights group, issued a statement criticising extrajudicial killings but said Israeli authorities were responsible for recruiting Palestinian agents. There was no comment from the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited governance in the West Bank, and no immediate comment from the Israeli security services.

Persons: Fatah, Ali Sawafta, James Mackenzie, Hugh Lawson Organizations: West Bank, Tulkarm Brigades, Reuters, Independent Commission, Human Rights, Palestinian Authority, Thomson Locations: RAMALLAH, Gaza, Tulkarm, Israel

☆ Ukraine unveils monument to soldier shot dead on video
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Vladyslav Smilianets | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Workers prepare to lift the statue of Ukrainian serviceman Oleksandr Matsievskyi, who was executed by Russian troops in 2022, at his memorial site, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Nizhyn, Ukraine, November 24, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter Acquire Licensing RightsNIZHYN, Ukraine, Nov 25 (Reuters) - A Ukrainian soldier who was posthumously awarded a medal after a widely shared video showed him declaring "Glory to Ukraine" before apparently being shot dead, was commemorated with a statue in his northern hometown on Saturday. Kyiv blamed "brutal and brazen" Russians for his death, as did his mother Paraska Demchuk, 68. "He would say to me, 'Mum, I will never let them capture me'," she said through tears. Additional reporting by Max Hunder and Nick Starkov; writing by Elaine Monaghan; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Oleksandr Matsievskyi, Thomas Peter Acquire, Oleksandr Matsievskiy, Slava Ukraini, Paraska Demchuk, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Matsievskiy, Slava, Max Hunder, Nick Starkov, Elaine Monaghan, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Workers, REUTERS, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Nizhyn, Ukrainian, Chernihiv

☆ Israeli forces kill seven Palestinians in West Bank, Palestinian officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/7] A Palestinian checks the damage in a street in the aftermath of an Israeli raid in Jenin, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, November 26, 2023. REUTERS/Raneen Sawafta Acquire Licensing RightsJENIN, West Bank, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Israeli forces killed seven Palestinians, including two minors and at least one gunman, in the occupied West Bank late on Saturday and early Sunday, medics and local sources said. A sixth Palestinian fatality was in Yatma, a village near Nablus city, and another was near a Jewish settlement outside the West Bank town of El Bireh, Palestinian officials said. The Israeli military said one of its aircraft had attacked a group of gunmen, wounding several of them. Four Israelis have been killed by Palestinians in the West Bank in the same period, the figures show.

Persons: Raneen, Ali Sawafta, Moaz Abd, Adam Makary, Hugh Lawson, Edmund Klamann, David Goodman Organizations: West Bank, REUTERS, The West Bank, Bank, Red Crescent Society, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Jenin, JENIN, West, Israel, Gaza, Yatma, Nablus, El Bireh

☆ Hamas delays second hostage release until Israel lets aid into northern Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A convoy of ambulances heads towards north Gaza during a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas, near Gaza City November 24, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 25 (Reuters) - The armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Hamas said on Saturday that it had decided to delay the second round of hostage releases until Israel is committed to letting aid trucks enter northern Gaza. Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades added that the hostage releases would be delayed if Israel did not adhere to the agreed terms for the release of Palestinian prisoners. In response, an Israeli military spokesperson told French television channel BFM that Israel fully respected the truce. There was no immediate comment from the ICRC on whether the release of hostages and detainees had been delayed.

Persons: Abu Mustafa, Osama Hamdan, Hamdan, Ahmed Tolba, Emma Farge, Sybille de la, Adam Makary, Hugh Lawson Organizations: REUTERS, Brigades, ICRC, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Hamas, French, Lebanon

☆ HSBC apologises as thousands of UK customers locked out of digital banking
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Lawrence White | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A man speaks on a mobile phone in front of the head office of HSBC bank in Mumbai November 20, 2008. REUTERS/Arko Datta/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Thousands of HSBC (HSBA.L) customers in Britain on Friday reported they were unable to access some mobile and online banking services, the latest in a long-running series of such problems for British banks. "We’re working hard to restore HSBC UK’s Mobile and Online Banking service, including the authorising of online card purchases via the app," a spokesperson for the bank said. "We understand this is really frustrating for some of our customers, and we are really sorry for the inconvenience." "This HSBC outage will cause a real headache for a lot of its customers.

Persons: Arko Datta, Sam Richardson, Lawrence White, Hugh Lawson, Louise Heavens Organizations: HSBC, REUTERS, HSBC UK’s Mobile, Banking, Consumer, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, Britain

☆ Britain's Lloyds shake-up puts around 2,500 jobs at risk - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Lloyds Bank logo and rising stock graph are seen in this illustration taken March 12, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Britain's biggest high street bank Lloyds (LLOY.L) is putting around 2,500 jobs at risk as part of a shake-up, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, amid a renewed push by lenders to slash costs. Staff are expected to be informed of the process as early as next week, the source said, adding it would also involve the creation of 120 roles. The news comes after Reuters reported on Thursday that Lloyds' rival Barclays (BARC.L) is working on plans to save up to 1 billion pounds ($1.25 billion), which could involve cutting as many as 2,000 jobs. But investor concerns about tougher competition for savers' cash and potential loan defaults amid a cost-of-living crisis are weighing on the sector.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Iain Withers, Lawrence White, Gursimran Kaur, Devika Syamnath, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Lloyds Bank, REUTERS, Lloyds, Staff, Guardian, Reuters, Barclays, savers, Thomson Locations: London, Bengaluru

☆ Rubik's Cube-loving 9-year-old among hostages freed from Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Rami Amichay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The 13 Israeli hostages released by Hamas fighters included sisters aged 2 and 4 and their mother, a 5-year-old girl and her mother, as well as elderly women. As well as the Israeli hostages, 10 Thais and one Filipino, who were taken captive at the same time, were also freed under a separate agreement, Qatari mediators said. The rest of a group of at least 50 Israeli hostages due to be exchanged under a Qatari-brokered agreement are expected to be freed in the coming days and more hostages could be added if the truce deal is extended. MIXED EMOTIONSFor the families of the hostages, there was happiness mingled with concern for those who remained in Gaza. That's a human thing," said Yoni Katz Asher, whose wife Doron and children Raz and Aviv were freed on Friday.

Persons: Munder, Gilat Livni, Livni, Roni Haviv, Keren, Ruth, Avraham Munder, Yosef Mendelovich, Benjamin Netanyahu, it's, Yoni Katz Asher, Doron, Raz, Shelly Shem Tov, Omer Shem Tov, Omer, Maayan Lubell, Ari Rabinovitch, Henriette Chacar, Eli Berlzon, James Mackenzie, Alexandra Hudson, Hugh Lawson, Daniel Wallis, Mark Potter Organizations: Schneider Children's Medical, Pediatrics, Hamas, Red Cross, Qatari, Israel's, Thomson Locations: PETAH TIKVA, Gaza, Israel, Petah Tikva, Aviv

☆ Mixed emotions as first group of Israeli hostages return from Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Ari Rabinovitch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"But I stress to you, the families, and to you, citizens of Israel: We are committed to bringing back all our hostages." As well as the Israeli hostages, 10 Thais and one Filipino, who were taken captive at the same time, were also freed under a separate agreement, Qatari mediators said. The military said the released hostages had undergone initial medical checks inside Israel and would be taken to hospitals where they would be reunited with their families. The rest of a group of at least 50 Israeli hostages due to be exchanged under a Qatari-brokered agreement are expected to be freed in the coming days and more hostages could be added if the truce deal is extended. The military campaign has killed around 14,000 Palestinians, according to medical authorities in Hamas-ruled Gaza and reduced much of Gaza to rubble.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Corinne Moshe, Adina Moshe, Al Qahera, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Israel's Kan, Erez, Shelly Shem Tov, Omer Shem Tov, Omer, Ari Rabinovitch, Henriette Chacar, Andrew Heavens, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Qatari, Reuters, Israel's, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Egypt

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