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☆ France's Macron Says Proposed EU-Mercosur Agreement Is 'Very Bad Deal'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

"As it is negotiated today, it is a very bad deal, for you and for us," Macron told businessmen in Sao Paulo while on a three-day trip to Latin America's largest economy, amid troubled talks over a free trade deal between the two economic blocs. "There is nothing that takes into consideration the subject of biodiversity and climate; nothing," Macron said. "Let's forge a new deal in light of our goals and reality, a trade deal that is responsible on development, climate and biodiversity." "It's true we lost an opportunity at the end of last year, but we should not give up on this deal." At upcoming G20 and COP summits in Brazil, Macron said he planned to push for more international standards to financially incentivize banks, firms and investors to decarbonize industrial processes and better preserve the environment.

Persons: Sarah Morland, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Fernando Haddad, Haddad, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Lula, Jair Bolsonaro, Eduardo Simoes, Jonathan Oatis, Kylie Madry, Kim Coghill Organizations: Reuters, European Union, South American Mercosur, Brazilian Finance Locations: Brazil, Sao Paulo, France, Africa, Mexico City

☆ Factbox-Fewer Submarines, More Police Detectives: Highlights of Biden's Budget
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Here are highlights of the proposal:IMMIGRATIONThe proposal includes an increase in funding for immigration-related spending as polling shows voters concerned about U.S.-Mexico border crossings by undocumented migrants. DEFENSEBiden's $895 billion national security budget calls for fewer stealthy F-35 fighter jets and Virginia-class submarines, first reported by Reuters, after a meager 1% increase allowed under caps agreed with Republicans last year left fewer than expected funds. Biden also renewed his demand for funding on border security, Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan and other national security issues that has been stalled by Republican congressional leadership for months. CRIMEThe budget allocates $1.2 billion over five years in a new violent crime reduction and prevention fund to support law enforcement agencies, helping them hire new detectives to solve homicides, expand fentanyl seizures and hire prosecutors and forensic specialists. The forecasts were set in November, and officials said the figures would be more optimistic if they were fixed today.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Trevor Hunnicutt, Ahmed Aboulenein, Ted Hesson, Leah Douglas, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: WASHINGTON, Border Patrol, Reuters, Republican, Department of Health, Human Services, Department, Agriculture, Women, Federal Reserve Locations: Mexico, Virginia, Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, U.S

☆ Cillian Murphy Wins Best Actor Oscar for 'Oppenheimer'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

LOS ANGELES, March 10 (Reuters) - Cillian Murphy earned his first Academy Award for his portrayal in “Oppenheimer” of the physicist who led the United States’ development of the atomic bomb during World War Two. The win caps a successful awards season for the 47-year-old Irish actor, who also picked up a Golden Globe, a BAFTA and a Screen Actors Guild award for his performance. Murphy, who lives in Ireland and keeps a low profile in Hollywood, had his biggest role to date playing a tortured, morally ambiguous Oppenheimer. The movie – which, alongside Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” birthed the summer cinema phenomenon dubbed “Barbenheimer” – helped prop up a 2023 box office where well-established franchises fell flat. (Writing by Ben Kellerman; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)Photos You Should See View All 60 Images((benjamin.kellerman@thomsonreuters.com))Keywords: AWARDS OSCARS/ACTOR

Persons: Cillian Murphy, “ Oppenheimer, Murphy, Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan, Knight, ”, Oscar, Greta Gerwig’s “ Barbie, –, Ben Kellerman, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Globe, BAFTA, Golden Globes Locations: ANGELES, United States, Ireland, Hollywood

☆ Universal Pictures Dominates the Academy Awards With 'Oppenheimer'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Dawn ChmielewskiComcast Corp's Universal Pictures dominated Sunday's Academy Awards, propelled by the historical drama "Oppenheimer," which won seven Oscars, including best picture. Four of them went to "Poor Things," the reimagining of the Frankenstein story, which earned a best actress honor for Emma Stone. Searchlight also received an Oscar for documentary short film, "The Last Repair Shop." Netflix received a single award, for director Wes Anderson's 39-minute live action short, "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar." It released best picture nominee "Killers of the Flower Moon," which depicts the murders of members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma in the 1920s.

Persons: Dawn Chmielewski, Oppenheimer, Oscar, Christopher Nolan, Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Emma Stone, Searchlight, Wes Anderson's, Henry Sugar, Dawn Chimielewsk, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Dawn Chmielewski Comcast Corp's Universal Pictures, Sunday's, Christmas, Searchlight, Netflix, Apple, Osage Locations: New England, Osage Nation, Oklahoma

☆ Eyeing China, Senior US Lawmaker Vows to Back Funding for Pacific Islands
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

The Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Palau agreed to new 20-year funding programs with the United States last year under which Washington provides economic assistance, while gaining exclusive military access to strategic swaths of the Pacific that China covets. McCaul said he has advocated for a $900 million package for COFA, but was open to other numbers. The U.S. Senate this week passed a $95 billion foreign aid supplemental spending bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan that did not include the COFA funding. McCaul said he would work to ensure the money was included in whatever is voted on in the House, likely in mid-March. We're not just going to rubber-stamp the Senate supplemental," he said.

Persons: Michael McCaul, McCaul, Patricia Zengerle, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, U.S . House, Representatives Foreign, U.S, Christian Science Monitor, Federated, United, Washington, Free Association, Senate Locations: Pacific, China, Federated States, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

☆ Egypt Denies Allegations of Participating in Any Process Involving Displacement of Gazans Into Sinai
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

CAIRO (Reuters) -Egypt categorically denied allegations of participating in any process involving the displacement of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip into the Sinai Peninsula, the country's State Information Service (SIS) said on Friday. He said such scenario would entail "a definite liquidation of the Palestinian cause and a direct threat to Egyptian sovereignty and national security." Describing any sort of displacement as a "crime advocated by some Israeli parties", Rashwan said Egypt will take all necessary measures to stop it. Earlier this week, Egypt hosted talks involving the U.S., Israel and Qatar on a possible Gaza truce. An Egyptian source said the country was optimistic that talks to clinch a ceasefire can avoid the prospect of displacement.

Persons: Rahswan, Rashwan, Ahmed Tolba, Adam Makary, Hatem Maher, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Information Service, Reuters, Wall Street, SIS, Sinai Foundation, Human Rights, U.S Locations: CAIRO, Egypt, Gaza, country's, Rafah, Israel, Qatar

☆ Biden Says 'Putin and His Thugs' Caused Navalny's Death
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Steve HollandWASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for Alexei Navalny's death, saying he was "not surprised" but "outraged" by the opposition leader's passing. Make no mistake, Putin is responsible for Navalny's death." He also said he was "contemplating" additional steps to punish Russia in the aftermath of Navalny's death, paying tribute to the opposition leader for "bravely" standing up to Putin's government's "corruption" and "violence." The 47-year-old Navalny had been a leading critic of Putin, and Biden had said after meeting Putin in Geneva in June 2021 that Nalvany's death would risk devastating consequences for Putin. She also met with Alexei Navalny's wife Yulia on the margins of the conference and "expressed her sorrow and outrage" over reports of her husband's death, a White House official said.

Persons: Steve Holland WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, Alexei Navalny's, Nalvany, Putin, Biden, Navalny, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Kamala Harris, Yulia, Trump, Steve Holland, Ismail Shakil, Gabriel Araujo, Doina, Trevor Hunnicutt, Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: White, Republican, U.S, Congress, NATO, House, Representatives Locations: Russia, Russian, Geneva, Ukraine, U.S, Baltic, Munich, Michigan , Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, NATO

☆ Ukraine Needs $486 Billion to Recover, Rebuild After Nearly Two Years of War - World Bank
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

That 10-year cost estimate is up from $411 billion last March, with housing needs topping the list at $80 billion or 17%, followed by transport needs of $74 billion or 15%, and commerce and industry at $67.5 billion, or 14%. The new estimate excludes reconstruction needs already met through the Ukraine state budget or through partners and international support. He said the Ukrainian economy had proven remarkably resilient in the face of the war. Four of five firms continued to operate in Ukraine, despite the war, with many relying on digital operations or moving sites to stay in business, he added. The number of internally displaced persons had also gone down to around 3.7 million, compared with 5.4 million in spring 2023.

Persons: Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON, Arup Banerji, Banerji, Andrea Shalal, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: World Bank, United, European Commission Locations: United Nations, Eastern Europe, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kyiv, Ukraine, Ukrainian

☆ Analysis-Russia Seen as Highly Unlikely to Put a Nuclear Warhead in Space
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 ImagesAnalysts tracking Russia's space programs say the space threat is probably not a nuclear warhead but rather a high-powered device requiring nuclear energy to carry out an array of attacks against satellites. The Kremlin on Thursday dismissed a warning by the United States about Moscow's new nuclear capabilities in space, calling it a "malicious fabrication". Exploding a nuclear weapon in space would be another matter entirely. "If they do (detonate a nuclear device in space), they’d lose everything. James Acton, a nuclear expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank, said for Russia to put a nuclear weapon in orbit would be a "blatant violation of the Outer Space Treaty."

Persons: Joey Roulette, Arshad Mohammed WASHINGTON, Mike Turner, Antony Blinken, Daryl Kimball, Brian Weeden, Weeden, James Acton, Acton, Arshad Mohammed, Don Durfee, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S . House, Reuters, Washington, U.S, Arms Control Association, U.S . Defense Intelligence Agency, Secure, Foundation, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace Locations: Russia, Russian, United States, U.S, China, India, Ukraine, Washington, Saint Paul , Minnesota

☆ Israeli Embassy Protests After Vatican Denounces Gaza 'Carnage'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Israel protested with the Vatican on Wednesday after Pope Francis' deputy defined what is happening in Gaza as "carnage" resulting from a disproportionate Israeli military response to Hamas. A day earlier, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin reiterated the "request that Israel's right to defence, which has been invoked to justify this operation, be proportional, and certainly with 30,000 deaths, it is not." Photos You Should See View All 22 Images"No one can define what is happening in the (Gaza) Strip as 'collateral damage' in the fight against terrorism. The right to defence, Israel's right to bring the perpetrators of the October massacre to justice, cannot justify this carnage," it said. At least 28,576 Palestinians have since been killed in Israeli strikes, the health ministry in Gaza said on Wednesday.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pietro Parolin, Parolin, L'Osservatore Romano, Francis, Alvise, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: VATICAN CITY Locations: Israel, Gaza, Palestine

☆ North Korea's Kim Jong Un Oversees Test of Surface-To-Sea Missile -KCNA
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the inspection test of a new surface-to-sea missile on Wednesday, KCNA said on Thursday. North Korea had fired multiple cruise missiles off its east coast on Wednesday, South Korea's military said, the latest of multiple missile tests in recent weeks before an April general election in South Korea. Kim said South Korea is violating the North's sovereignty by insisting on a "Northern Limit Line" (NLL), the maritime demarcation line between the two Koreas, state media KCNA said. Kim gave orders to strengthen military readiness in the waters north of Yeonpyeong Island to the west of the Korean peninsula, in the region of the NLL, KCNA said. The new missile, called Badasuri-6 or "sea eagle-6" in Korean, flew over the sea and hit the intended target, KCNA added.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, KCNA, Kim, Joyce Lee, Jonathan OatisEditing, Chris Reese Organizations: NLL Locations: SEOUL, Korea, South Korea, Yeonpyeong

☆ Hezbollah Chief Says Shelling on Israel Will Stop Only When 'Aggression' on Gaza Ends
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The head of Lebanon's Hezbollah said on Tuesday that his armed group's cross-border shelling into Israel would only end when Israel's "aggression" on the Gaza Strip stops, saying diplomatic efforts so far to bring a halt to hostilities along Lebanon's border seemed to only benefit Israel. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said his group would only stop its exchanges of fire if a full ceasefire was reached for Gaza. War in Israel and Gaza View All 206 Images"On that day, when the shooting stops in Gaza, we will stop the shooting in the south," he said in a televised address. The cross-border shelling has already killed around 200 people in Lebanon, including more than 170 Hezbollah fighters, as well as 10 Israeli troops and five Israeli civilians. Nasrallah said residents of northern Israel "will not return" to their homes, and threatened that even more would be displaced.

Persons: Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Nasrallah, Laila Bassam, Gebeily, Alex Richardson, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Gaza, Hamas, Reuters Locations: BEIRUT, Israel, Iran, Gaza, Beirut, Lebanon, France, Britain

☆ King Charles Gives Thanks for Support After Cancer Diagnosis
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's King Charles on Saturday expressed gratitude to well-wishers following his cancer diagnosis, his first public comment since Buckingham Palace announced he would postpone some engagements to undergo treatment. The palace announced on Monday that Charles, 75, had been diagnosed with a form of cancer, less than 18 months into his reign. "As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement," Charles said. The king said it was heartening to hear how his diagnosis had helped to shine a light on the organisations that support cancer patients in Britain and elsewhere. Charles' wife, Queen Camilla, said on Thursday that Charles was doing "extremely well".

Persons: Britain's King Charles, Buckingham, Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William's, Kate, William, Camilla, Andy Bruce, Jonathan Oatis Locations: Britain, Buckingham

☆ Spanish Police Scuffle With Farmers, Truck Drivers on Fifth Day of Protests
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

A group representing drivers, Plataforma Nacional, and a newly created farmers' group, Plataforma 6-F, on Saturday came together to jointly demand action from Spanish and European leaders. Members of both groups, waving Spanish flags, wearing yellow vests and shouting 'Viva Espana', gathered in a car park near the Atletico de Madrid stadium and voted in favour of joining forces. That is why we are calling on politicians to take responsibility and do something," said Manuel Hernandez, head of the Plataforma Nacional, representing truck drivers. Since Tuesday, Spanish farmers have joined their counterparts from Germany, France, Italy, Portugal and Belgium in daily protests that include blocking several highways and ports. Both groups vowed to keep protesting, in Madrid and across the country, until their demands were met.

Persons: Manuel Hernandez, Catarina Demony, Guillermo Martinez, Jessica Jones, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Spanish, European Union, Plataforma Nacional, Saturday, Espana, Atletico de Madrid, Nacional, Socialist Locations: MADRID, Madrid, Spanish, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, Belgium

☆ Russia Closes Presidential Race Candidate Registration With Putin, 3 Others -TASS
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Russia's registration of candidates for the March presidential election has closed, TASS reported on Sunday, with a list including President Vladimir Putin, who is expected to win, and three politicians who all support Moscow's war in Ukraine. The Kremlin has said it does not see him as a serious rival to Putin. Photos You Should See View All 21 ImagesNadezhdin said on Thursday he would challenge the CEC's decision in Russia's Supreme Court. The war, which the Kremlin calls a "special military operation", is nearing the end of its second year. It has killed thousands on both sides, displaced millions of Ukrainians, and turned scores of cities and villages into rubble.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Boris Nadezhdin, Vladislav Davankov, Leonid Slutsky, Nikolai Kharitonov, Putin, Nadezhdin, Elaine Monaghan, Lidia Kelly, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Reuters, Commission, CEC, Russian Duma, New People, Kremlin, Liberal Democratic Party, Communist Party, United Russia, Putin Locations: Ukraine, Russian

☆ US Won't Restart UNRWA Aid Until Investigation Completed -Officials
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Andrea ShalalWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration plans to wait for an internal investigation of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees to conclude before resuming aid to the organization, U.S. officials told Arab-American community leaders in Michigan. UNRWA officials say they expect the U.N. oversight office's preliminary investigation report to take several weeks. "They did tell us in that meeting that they ... expect that the president will be shifting his language," Alawieh said. ... We're looking for action from President Biden that saves lives." Israel began its military offensive after militants from Hamas-ruled Gaza killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostages on Oct. 7.

Persons: Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON, Biden, Samantha Power, Joe Biden's, Ali Dagher, Abbas Alawieh, Alawieh, Israel, Andrea Shalal, Heather Timmons, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: United Nations, Michigan . U.S . Agency for International, Reuters, Israel Locations: American, Michigan ., Michigan, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Lebanese, Dearborn, Arab, Detroit

☆ Ukraine Aid Bill Inches Forward in US Senate
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By David MorganWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Friday edged closer to passing a bill that includes $95.34 billion in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, but faces an uncertain path to becoming law due to Republican opposition in both chambers of Congress. War in Israel and Gaza View All 206 ImagesIn Friday's vote, the bill cleared a simple majority threshold with 14 Republicans supporting the measure. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 ImagesMany Republicans want to make a deal with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, to allow amendments to the legislation in exchange for quicker action. Republicans had insisted that Ukraine aid be accompanied by provisions to secure the U.S.-Mexico border, only to reject a bipartisan border agreement once former President Donald Trump, the party's presidential frontrunner, came out against the deal. Johnson spoke a day after the House rejected a stand-alone aid bill for Israel.

Persons: David Morgan WASHINGTON, Chuck Schumer, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Johnson, I've, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Senate, Republicans, Democrat, Republican, Representatives Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Gaza, Mexico, United States

☆ Officials Report Drone Attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine's Second City
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

(Reuters) -Drones attacked civilian infrastructure late on Friday in and near Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, and officials reported explosions in the city. Regional governor Oleh Synehubov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said drones had damaged civilian infrastructure in the city's Nemyshlianskyi district. Reporters from Suspilne public television observed the glow of a fire over the city. Synehubov said a cafe had been hit in Velykyi Burluk, a town east of Kharkiv. Kharkiv has been under attack regularly since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and has been a frequent target of Russian assaults in recent weeks.

Persons: Oleh Synehubov, Synehubov, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Chris Reese, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Reuters, Drones Locations: Kharkiv, Ukraine's, Nemyshlianskyi, Velykyi Burluk, Ukraine

☆ Who Is Robert Hur, Special Counsel on Biden Classified Document Probe?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Kanishka SinghWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Robert Hur, the special counsel appointed to investigate whether President Joe Biden improperly handled sensitive government documents, is a former high-ranking Justice Department official with experience in prosecuting sensitive leak investigations. On Thursday, he concluded that probe and found that Biden retained classified materials about Afghanistan after leaving the vice presidency in 2017 but said he will not be criminally charged. Hur was appointed by Donald Trump in 2018 as the chief federal law enforcement officer in Maryland and left that position in early 2021. Under Hur, the Maryland U.S. attorney's office prosecuted the case of former National Security Agency contractor Harold Martin, who stole huge amounts of classified material from U.S. intelligence agencies. A graduate of Stanford Law School and Harvard College, Hur served as top aide to then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein before his appointment as the U.S. attorney in Maryland.

Persons: Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, Robert Hur, Joe Biden, Biden, General Merrick Garland, Hur, Trump, Gibson, Dunn, Garland, Washington . Hur, Donald Trump, Harold Martin, Martin, Rod Rosenstein, William Rehnquist, Christopher Wray, Kanishka Singh, Gram Slattery, Heather Timmons, Jonathan Oatis, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: U.S, Maryland U.S, National Security Agency, Stanford Law School, Harvard College, Supreme, Justice Department, FBI Locations: Afghanistan, U.S, Maryland, Delaware, Washington

☆ Factbox-Biden Administration, Texas Battling Over Border Policies on Multiple Fronts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Those cases could ultimately determine how much power, if any, states possess to police international borders when they disagree with federal immigration policies. The Biden administration has sued to strike down the law, claiming it interferes with the federal government's exclusive powers to police the border and enforce immigration laws. In defending the law, Texas will have to contend with a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down key provisions of an Arizona immigration law. Texas in its lawsuit claims that by destroying the wire, federal agents are violating the state's property rights. Days after four migrants drowned in the river last July, the state installed the string of buoys, prompting a lawsuit by the Biden administration.

Persons: Daniel Wiessner, Greg Abbott, Joe Biden, Abbott, Biden, Alexia Garamfalvi, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Republican Texas, Democrat, Supreme, Biden, U.S . Customs, Border, . Border Patrol, U.S, Circuit Locations: Mexico, Texas, U.S, Arizona, Rio Grande, Eagle, , Texas, Mexico . Texas, New Orleans, Rio, Albany , New York

☆ US Senate to Vote on $95 Billion Ukraine, Israel Aid Bill After Failed Border Deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Patricia ZengerleWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate was due to vote on Thursday on a $95.34 billion bill that includes aid for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific, after Republicans blocked compromise legislation that also included a long-sought overhaul of immigration policy. The security aid bill includes $61 billion for Ukraine as it battles a Russian invasion, $14 billion for Israel in its war against Hamas and $4.83 billion to support partners in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan, and deter aggression by China. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on social media that Republican senators should be ashamed for blocking the Ukraine aid package, saying former President Ronald Reagan would be "turning in his grave." Senator Chris Murphy, one of the three negotiators on the border deal, told Reuters the biggest potential risk to the Ukraine bill would be opposition by Trump. "Once he got loud on the immigration bill, the thing fell apart ... if he turns his flamethrower on Ukraine, I wonder how it survives," Murphy said in an interview on Wednesday.

Persons: Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, Volodymyr Zelenskiy's, Vladimir Putin, Donald Tusk, Ronald Reagan, Putin, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Trump, Joe Biden, Chris Murphy, Murphy, Patricia Zengerle, Richard Cowan, Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Senate, Republicans, Democratic, Israel, Hamas, House Republicans, Polish, Republican, Democratic U.S, Reuters, Trump Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, China, Gaza, Washington, Russia, United States

☆ Slovakia Approves Criminal Law Reforms That Sparked Protests
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The government said the changes modernise the criminal code by lowering long prison terms and preferring alternative punishments. President Zuzana Caputova immediately signalled she would try to stop the changes, possibly through a veto or a court challenge. The law was a "monstrous amnesty" for that circle, said deputy Michal Sipos from the opposition Slovensko party. An EU official said on Thursday the commission's concerns remained, which could possibly lead to legal action and budgetary consequences. (Reporting by Jan Lopatka in Prague; additional reporting by Gabriela Baczynska in Brussels; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

Persons: Robert Fico, SMER, Tibor Gaspar, Zuzana Caputova, Michal Sipos, Jan Lopatka, Gabriela Baczynska, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Reuters, European Commission, European, Slovak, EU Locations: Poland, Hungary, Prague, Brussels

☆ US Marine Helicopter With Five Aboard Goes Missing in California
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Rescue crews in California were searching for a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter with five crew members aboard that went missing overnight, military officials said on Wednesday, after days of torrential rains in Southern California. The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter was reported overdue when it failed to reach the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, California, near San Diego, after departing Creech Air Force Base in Nevada about 40 miles (60 km) northwest of Las Vegas on Tuesday night, the Marine Corps said in a statement. The sheriff's helicopter was not able to reach the area due to rough weather, ABC reported. The sheriff's department said it also sent all-terrain vehicles to search the area. Firefighters also responded but crews were unable to locate the Marine helicopter, Cal Fire officials told ABC News.

Persons: Brendan O'Brien, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Reuters, U.S . Marine Corps, Stallion, Marine Corps Air, Creech Air Force Base, Marine Corps, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, San, San Diego County Sheriff's Department, Civil Air Patrol, Marines, ABC News, ABC, Firefighters, Marine, Cal Fire Locations: California, Southern California, Miramar , California, San Diego, Nevada, Las Vegas, San Diego County, Chicago

☆ US, Russia Clash at UN Over North Korea, Patriot Missiles in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood traded the accusations at a U.N. Security Council meeting on Ukraine, requested by Moscow. "To date, Russia has launched DPRK-supplied ballistic missiles against Ukraine on at least nine occasions," Wood told the 15-member Security Council, using the North Korea's formal name: the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). "Russia and the DPRK must be held accountable for their actions, which undermine long-standing obligations under UN Security Council resolutions," he said. Russian investigators said last week that they had evidence showing that Ukraine's military shot down the military transport plane with U.S.-made Patriot surface-to-air missiles. Senior Ukrainian U.N. diplomat Serhii Dvornyk accused Russia of misusing the Security Council "for disseminating fakes."

Persons: Michelle Nichols UNITED, Russia's U.N, Vassily Nebenzia, Robert Wood, Wood, Nebenzia, Serhii Dvornyk, Michelle Nichols, Ronald Popeski, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, Reuters, United, U.S, Security, Democratic People's, UN, North, ., Russian Air Force, Security Council, Senior Ukrainian Locations: United States, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Washington, Russian, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK, Pyongyang, North Korea, Iran, U.S

☆ U.S. Carrying Out New Strikes in Yemen, US Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Phil Stewart and Idrees AliWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States launched a series of strikes against Iran-linked targets in Yemen on Saturday, three U.S. officials told Reuters, in what appeared to be a second day of retaliatory operations following a deadly attack on American troops last weekend. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not provide further details on the locations being struck, but two of them said there were dozens of targets. War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 ImagesThe Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, say their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel strikes Gaza. The United States has previously carried out more than 10 strikes against Houthi targets in the past several weeks, but they have failed to stop attacks by the group. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

Persons: Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali WASHINGTON, Idrees Ali, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: United, Reuters, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, U.S Locations: United States, Iran, Yemen, Al, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Yemen's Iran, Red, Israel, Gaza

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