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☆ Hundreds Leave Dominican Republic Ahead of Haiti Border Shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Paul MathiasenSANTO DOMINGO/OUANAMINTHE, Haiti (Reuters) -Hundreds of Haitians returned from the Dominican Republic on Thursday after the Dominican president announced an imminent total border shutdown amid a conflict over the construction of a water channel from a shared river. Harold Estimable, director of the national migration office in Ouanaminthe, said some 250 to 300 Haitians had been arriving daily from the Dominican Republic in "very bad shape." The Dominican Republic, which threatened to shut the border last week, argues construction works off the River Massacre violate a 1929 treaty. Later on Thursday, Haiti's government said that it has the sovereign right to exploit its natural resources, as does the Dominican Republic, in line with the 1929 treaty. The U.S. Embassy, which has called on its citizens to leave Haiti, said on its website that those planning to leave for the Dominican Republic would need to make other arrangements.

Persons: Paul Mathiasen SANTO, Harold Estimable, ", Luis Abinader, Santo Domingo, Abinader, Haiti's, Paul Mathiasen, Octavio Jones, Harold Isaac, Aida Peleaz, Sarah Morland, Leslie Adler, Stephen Coates, Diane Craft Organizations: Dominican, United, United Nations, Local airline Sunrise Airways, U.S . Embassy Locations: Paul Mathiasen SANTO DOMINGO, OUANAMINTHE, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Ouanaminthe, Caribbean, Dominican, Haitian, Santo, U.S, Santo Domingo, Port, Fernandez, Mexico City

☆ New Zealand's National Party looks to cement lead 30 days out from election
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Christopher Luxon, Leader of the National Party, attends the New Zealand National Party’s election campaign launch in Auckland, New Zealand, September 3, 2023. REUTERS/David Rowland/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Thirty days out from New Zealand’s general election, recent polls show the opposition party National cementing its lead, as both parties are on the campaign trail trying to win over voters with proposed tax cuts and funding for infrastructure. A 1News Verian poll released late on Wednesday saw support for centre-right National up 2 percentage point to 39%, while the ruling Labour Party saw support fall 1 percentage point to 28%. The poll gives National and likely partner ACT a majority in parliament following the Oct. 14 election. “When farmers are strong, New Zealand is strong, and national understands that and that's why we back farmers so strongly,” National leader Christopher Luxon said at the launch of the policy.

Persons: Christopher Luxon, David Rowland, Chris Hipkins, ”, Luxon, Lucy Craymer, Stephen Coates Organizations: National Party, New Zealand National, REUTERS, Rights, National, Labour Party, ACT, Labour, Zealand, Thomson Locations: Auckland , New Zealand, New, New Zealand

☆ Hundreds leave Dominican Republic ahead of Haiti border shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Paul Mathiasen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Members of the National Army guard the bridge between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, after the shared border was closed when Haiti's President Jovenel Moise was shot dead by gunmen at his private home in Port-au-Prince, in Dajabon, Dominican Republic July 8, 2021. REUTERS/Ricardo Rojas Acquire Licensing RightsSANTO DOMINGO/OUANAMINTHE, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Haitians returned from the Dominican Republic on Thursday after the Dominican president announced an imminent total border shutdown amid a conflict over the construction of a water channel from a shared river. Harold Estimable, director of the national migration office in Ouanaminthe, said some 250 to 300 Haitians had been arriving daily from the Dominican Republic in "very bad shape." The Dominican Republic, which threatened to shut the border last week, argues construction works off the River Massacre violate a 1929 treaty. The U.S. Embassy, which has called on its citizens to leave Haiti, said on its website that those planning to leave for the Dominican Republic would need to make other arrangements.

Persons: Jovenel Moise, Ricardo Rojas, Rights SANTO, OUANAMINTHE, Harold Estimable, ", Luis Abinader, Santo Domingo, Abinader, Paul Mathiasen, Octavio Jones, Harold Isaac, Aida Peleaz, Sarah Morland, Leslie Adler, Stephen Coates Organizations: National Army, REUTERS, Rights, Dominican, United, United Nations, Local airline Sunrise Airways, U.S . Embassy, Thomson Locations: Dominican Republic, Haiti, Port, Dajabon, Ouanaminthe, Caribbean, Dominican, Haitian, Santo, U.S, Santo Domingo, Fernandez, Mexico City

☆ Taiwan blasts Elon Musk over latest China comments
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Their (Beijing's) policy has been to reunite Taiwan with China. Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, in a post on X late Wednesday, responded that he hoped Musk could ask China to "open @X to its people". China blocks X, along with other major Western social media like Facebook. This is not the first time Musk, whose Tesla had a large factory in Shanghai, has riled Taiwan. Last October, he suggested that tensions between China and Taiwan could be resolved by handing over some control of Taiwan to Beijing, drawing a similarly strong reprimand from Taiwan.

Persons: Elon Musk, waded, Joseph Wu, Ukraine's, Wu, Taiwan's, Tesla, Ben Blanchard, Stephen Coates Organizations: YouTube, U.S . Pacific Fleet, Taiwan, Facebook, Russia, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Beijing, Taipei, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Sevastopol, People's Republic of China, Shanghai

☆ Danilo Cavalcante: Escaped Pennsylvania killer has been captured. Here's what happens next
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Nouran Salahieh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —The convicted murderer who escaped a Pennsylvania prison late last month is once again behind bars, now facing additional charges, after a nearly two-week manhunt that captured national attention and put the surrounding community on edge. Officers escort Danilo Cavalcante from a Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Avondale on Wednesday. “He said the law enforcement presence where he was, was immense and he felt that he needed to leave,” Clark said. “Three times, he described that law enforcement officials almost stepped on him within 7 or 8 yards,” Clark said. Prosecutors say Cavalcante stabbed Brandão 38 times in front of her two young children in Pennsylvania in April 2021.

Persons: Danilo Cavalcante, Cavalcante, George Bivens, Cavalcante’s, Danilo, hunkering, Matt Rourke, – Cavalcante, Bivens, ” Bivens, ” Cavalcante’s, David Sassa, Sassa, CNN’s Laura Coates, “, ” Sassa, Robert Clark, ” Clark, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Clark, –, CNN Cavalcante, ”, Service Philadelphia Cavalcante, isn’t, ” Josh Maxwell, Maxwell, “ There’s, ” Cavalcante, Deb Ryan, Ryan, Deborah Brandão, Brandão, ” Ryan, Sarah Brandão, Sarah Organizations: CNN, Pennsylvania, Police, Correctional Institution, Pennsylvania State Police, South Coventry Township –, Philadelphia Eagles, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, FBI, Wednesday US, Service Philadelphia, Prosecutors Locations: Pennsylvania, South Coventry Township, Cavalcante, Montgomery County, Chester, Philadelphia, Avondale, South Coventry, Chester County, Canada, Pennsylvania’s

☆ Ukrainian forces press on in east, inflict casualties in south, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had repelled eight attacks in the east in hotly contested areas south of Bakhmut. Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister, Hanna Maliar, said Kyiv's forces were making gains around three villages south of Bakhmut - including Andriivka. Russian forces captured Bakhmut in May after months of battles left the city in ruins. Ukrainian forces have since been chipping away at Russian positions, notably south of Bakhmut. The drive southward is intended to split a land bridge created by Russian forces between the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014, and areas they hold in the east, expanded by their full-scale invasion launched in February 2022.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Hanna Maliar, Maliar, Andriivka, Bakhmut, Oleksander Shtupun, Ron Popeski, Nick Starkov, Stephen Coates Organizations: Infantry Brigade, Armed Forces, Russia's Defence Ministry, Ukraine's, Defence, Russian, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Russian, Bakhmut, Azov, Moscow

Oil rigs are seen at Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas drilling, in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, Argentina January 21, 2019. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 13 (Reuters) - Oil rose on Wednesday, firming its ground near a 10-month peak reached during trading a day earlier, as the market balanced supply concerns over Libya output and OPEC+ cuts with global macroeconomic headwinds. But U.S. crude oil, distillate and gasoline stockpiles rose last week, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute (API) figures on Wednesday. Crude stocks rose by about 1.2 million barrels in the week ended Sept. 8, against analysts estimate of a draw of about 1.9 million barrels. Gasoline inventories rose by about 4.2 million barrels, while distillate inventories rose by about 2.6 million barrels.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, Satoru Yoshida, Yoshida, Izvestia, Nikolai Shulginov, Brent, Yuka Obayashi, Muyu Xu, Stephen Coates, Jamie Freed, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, U.S, West Texas, OPEC, U.S . Energy, Rakuten Securities, Libya, of, Petroleum, Energy, American Petroleum Institute, Federal Reserves, Thomson Locations: Vaca, Patagonian, Neuquen, Argentina, Libya, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, OPEC

☆ Car insurance rates just had their biggest annual jump in 47 years. This is why
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

While that insurance is for a 2022 Porsche Taycan, even friends of his who drive lower-end models are paying more for car insurance, he told CNN. Yet he's seen his car insurance rates increase from $140 a month in 2020 to his current rate of $278 a month. Car insurance rates are increasing for a variety of reasonsTwo months ago, Nationwide notified Darnell Coates-Clark, 55, an EMT based in Baltimore, that he would be hit with a 33% increase in his car insurance. He acknowledged he doesn’t have “stellar credit,” which is known to impact car insurance rates. Darnell Coates-Clark saw his monthly car insurance rates double over the past two years.

Persons: Kyle Barone, Barone, didn’t, USAA, He’s, “, ”, hasn't, he's, haven’t, Darnell Coates, Clark, Coates, ’ ” Coates, hasn’t, Ryan Ankrom, Clark USAA, Andrew Femath, Stephen Crewdson, Hurricane Ian, Robert Passmore, Crewdson, ” Crewdson, Betsy Stella, Insurify, what’s, “ I’ve, “ I’m, I’ve Organizations: New, New York CNN, Volvo, CNN, Porsche Taycan, Norwegian Cruise Line, Kyle Barone Drivers, Sunshine State, Nationwide, P Global Market Intelligence, Casualty Insurance Association, National, Traffic Safety Administration Locations: New York, United States, Florida, Jacksonville , Florida, Tampa, Norwegian, Sunshine, Southwest Florida, Baltimore, Maryland, Hurricane

☆ South Korea Rail Workers Launch First Strike in Four Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The Korean Railway Workers' Union demands improved pay and working conditions and an expansion of the KTX bullet train services to include lucrative routes such as in southern Seoul. Company chief Han Moon-hee criticised the strike as "illegitimate" and urged the workers to return to work. Labor Minister Lee Jeong-sik on Wednesday also called for the union to cancel the planned strike, citing an economic impact and public inconvenience. According to the Korea Cement Association, rail accounts for 40% of cement transportation, and if the strike lengthens, the reduced ability to deliver could affect firms' profitability during the fall's peak building season. If the strike lengthens, we will have to convert to land transportation, which will drive up costs and hit profitability," the official said.

Persons: Hyonhee Shin, Joyce Lee SEOUL, KORAIL, Han, Lee Jeong, sik, it's, Stephen Coates Organizations: Korean Railway Workers, Union, Korea Railroad Corp, Company, Labor, Korea Cement Association Locations: Seoul

☆ Japan's new cabinet reflects PM's focus on gender, defence
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Sakura Murakami | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during the leaders talk of the ASEAN-Indo Pacific Forum (AIPF) in Jakarta, Indonesia September 6, 2023. Top government spokesperson Hirokazu Matsuno said the role of defence minister went to Minoru Kihara, a pro-Taiwan politician who has visited the island in the past and belongs to a Japan-Taiwan interparliamentary group. Kihara will also oversee the bolstering of Japan's military as part of a plan to double defence spending over five years by 2027. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and will be sensitive to any shift in Japan's stance on the democratically governed island. "Even if the foreign and defence minister posts change, there won't be any change or impact on Japan's diplomatic policy."

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Adek Berry, Yoko Kamikawa, Hirokazu Matsuno, Minoru Kihara, Kihara, Takashi Kawakami, Shigenobu Tamura, Tim Kelly, Yoshifumi, Sakura Murakami, Chang, Ran Kim, Kantaro, Clarence Fernandez, Stephen Coates Organizations: ASEAN, Pacific, Rights, Liberal Democratic Party, Takushoku University, LDP, NHK, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, Tokyo, China, East Asia, United States

France's own hefty nuclear power sector - which generates over 60% of the country's electricity - is clearly a key beneficiary of the allowances made by lawmakers as part of the deal which aggressively lifts EU renewable energy usage targets. But all of Europe's nuclear power producers may get a lift from the new deal, which allows for certain non-emitting nuclear facilities to bypass rules relating to hydrogen production. In addition, the EU's apparent acceptance that nuclear power is a key source of low-carbon energy will likely further shore up support for nuclear power. Beyond France, several European countries rely on nuclear power to generate a substantial share of electricity, including Sweden, Spain, Switzerland, Finland, Belgium and Bulgaria. The nuclear sector still has plenty of opponents, who point to decades-long construction times and multi-billion dollar price tags as key reasons why cheaper and quicker-to-build renewable sources may be a better fit for Europe's energy needs.

Persons: Regis, France's, Gavin Maguire, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, Beyond, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Agen, Toulouse, France, LITTLETON , Colorado, Europe, Ukraine, Beyond France, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland, Finland, Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, Germany

☆ US judge freezes New Mexico governor's gun ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Andrew Hay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Governor of New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks at a Democratic Party of New Mexico campaign rally featuring U.S. President Joe Biden at the Gallegos Community Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S., November 3, 2022. Her order outraged gun-rights advocates and drew backlash from fellow Democrats and law enforcement officials who labeled it unconstitutional. "Governor Grisham's tyranny is temporarily in check today," said Dudley Brown, president of a Colorado gun group that sued the governor. In the days after the gun ban, Albuquerque's mayor and Bernalillo County's sheriff both called for a special session of the state's legislature to deal with gun crime. Around 500 people die by guns each year in New Mexico, which ranks sixth among U.S. states for gun deaths per capita, according to gun violence prevention group Everytown for Gun Safety.

Persons: New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham, Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Michelle Lujan Grisham, David Urias, Urias, Lujan Grisham's, I've, Lujan Grisham, Grisham's, Dudley Brown, Gun, Bernalillo, Tim Keller, Keller, Andrew Hay, Nate Raymond, Jarrett Renshaw, Stephen Coates, Diane Craft Organizations: Democratic Party of New, U.S, Gallegos Community Center, REUTERS, Supreme, Democratic, Santa Fe's, Gun Safety, Thomson Locations: New Mexico, Democratic Party of New Mexico, Albuquerque , New Mexico, U.S, Mexico's, Albuquerque, Colorado, Santa

A man walks past a logo of Alibaba Group at its office building in Beijing, China August 9, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Sept 12 (Reuters) - New Alibaba Group CEO Eddie Wu has told staff the tech giant's two main strategic focuses going forward will be "user first" and "AI-driven", according to an internal letter reviewed by Reuters. The new CEO, one of Alibaba Group's founders and long-time lieutenant of former chief Jack Ma, is laying out his strategic priorities at a key moment for Alibaba, which is undergoing the biggest organisational restructure of its 24-year history. Late on Sunday Alibaba also announced that Wu would concurrently serve as CEO of its cloud computing unit, replacing Daniel Zhang. The cloud unit is Alibaba's second-biggest revenue source after domestic e-commerce and houses the group's generative artificial intelligence model, Tongyi Qianwen.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Eddie Wu, Wu, Alibaba, Jack Ma, Daniel Zhang, Zhang, ByteDance's Douyin, Casey Hall, Gerry Doyle, Stephen Coates Organizations: Alibaba Group, REUTERS, Rights, Alibaba, Reuters, Cloud Intelligence Group, PDD Holdings, Huawei Technologies, Tencent Holdings, HK, Baidu, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China

☆ Moroccan man finds childhood home destroyed by quake
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Alexander Cornwell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Hannah McKay Acquire Licensing RightsTINMEL, Morocco, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Said Hartattouch was at work in Marrakech when the 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck. "Man, it is something that I cannot explain,” Hartattouch said, who is among many across the High Atlas Mountains who have lost their loved ones and their homes. With nowhere to go, the villagers have slept out in the open since the earthquake struck on Friday. “The problem for Atlas Mountains is that it is big,” he said. “It’s not possible to help everyone.”Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Said Hartattouch, Hannah McKay, ”, ” Hartattouch, Hartattouch, “ It’s, Alexander Cornwell, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Marrakech, Tinmel, Morocco, Hartattouch

☆ Wealthy families pile into bonds, private equity while shedding stocks - Citi
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Tatiana Bautzer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Wealthy families loaded up on bonds and private equity investments in the first half of the year while slashing their stock exposure, according to a survey by Citigroup's (C.N) private bank. More than half of the 268 family offices polled, accounting for a combined net worth of $565 billion, increased their allocations in fixed income, while 38% boosted their private equity holdings. Investors sought out private equity investments in the first half while the market for initial public offerings (IPOs) stayed sluggish. But the private equity investments are more conservative now than in previous years. The family offices surveyed had an average portfolio allocations that included 22% in both public and private equities respectively, 16% fixed income and 12% cash.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Hannes Hofmann, Ida Liu, Tatiana Bautzer, Lananh Nguyen, Stephen Coates Organizations: Citigroup Inc, Citi, REUTERS, Citigroup, Treasury, Citi Private Bank, Citi's Private Bank, Thomson Locations: Toronto , Ontario, Canada, U.S, China

☆ AI chip startup Enfabrica raises $125 mln, with backing from Nvidia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Stephen Nellis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AI (Artificial Intelligence) letters are placed on computer motherboard in this illustration taken June 23, 2023. Chips from Nvidia (NVDA.O), the world's most valuable semiconductor firm, are at the heart of that transition. Enfabrica has designed a network chip that aims to connect the different pieces of a data center together in new ways to solve that problem. The Enfabrica chip creates a network that looks like a hub and spokes, allowing the Nvidia GPUs doing the data crunching to draw data from multiple different places without hitting speed bumps. Enfabrica added new backers that included IAG Capital Partners, Liberty Global Ventures, Valor Equity Partners, Infinitum Partners and Alumni Ventures.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Enfabrica, Rochan Sankar, Sankar, Gavin Baker, Stephen Nellis, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Nvidia, Broadcom, Google, Atreides Management, Fidelity Investments, IAG Capital Partners, Liberty Global Ventures, Valor Equity Partners, Ventures, Hill Ventures, Thomson Locations: San Francisco

☆ McCarthy faces threat as US House speaker despite impeachment move
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) calls for an impeachment inquiry into U.S. President Joe Biden while delivering a statement on allegations surrounding President Biden and his son Hunter Biden, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 12, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy will confront a fractured caucus on Wednesday, with his role as the top Republican in Congress under threat from the far right, despite giving hardline conservatives the impeachment inquiry they wanted. McCarthy conceded to weeks of pressure from hardliners and allies of former President Donald Trump by launching a formal probe of Democratic President Joe Biden. "We cannot use impeachment as a political weapon against every president," Republican Representative Don Bacon, a Nebraska centrist, said in a statement. '," Republican Representative Bob Good said at a news conference.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, Biden, Hunter Biden, Elizabeth Frantz, McCarthy, Donald Trump, Don Bacon, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Chip Roy, Roy, Texas Republican shrugged, Clay Higgins, Higgins, Bob Good, Ralph Norman, David Morgan, Makini Brice, Scott Malone, Stephen Coates Organizations: Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, ., Republican, Democratic, Republicans, Texas Republican, House Democrats, Caucus, America, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Nebraska, Texas, Mexico

☆ Alabama asks US Supreme Court to halt ruling blocking Republican-drawn voting map
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( John Kruzel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington, U.S., June 29, 2023. That map was devised after the Supreme Court in June blocked a previous version, also for weakening the voting power of Black Alabamians. Voting rights litigation that could result in new maps of congressional districts is playing out in several states. Conservative litigants had succeeded in persuading the Supreme Court to limit the Voting Rights Act's scope in some important previous rulings. In a 2021 ruling endorsing Republican-backed Arizona voting restrictions, the justices made it harder to prove violations under a provision of the Voting Rights Act aimed at countering racially biased voting measures.

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, Joe Biden's, John Roberts, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Brett Kavanaugh, John Kruzel, Sandra Maler, Stephen Coates Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Rights, Monday, Republican, Black, Republicans, U.S . House, Democratic, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Alabama, Birmingham, U.S, Black, Constitution's, Arizona

[1/3] North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, accompanied by government officials, departs Pyongyang, North Korea, to visit Russia, September 10, 2023, in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on September 12, 2023. Kim left on Sunday in a trip that will include meetings with President Vladimir Putin, state news agency KCNA said. American officials, who first reported that the visit was imminent, say the discussions are likely to include a possible deal for North Korea to provide Russia with weapons for the war in Ukraine. Kim was accompanied by top government officials including military personnel, KCNA said. "The presence of Jo Chun Ryong indicates that North Korea and Russia will conclude some type of agreement for munitions purchases," said Michael Madden, a North Korea leadership expert at the Washington-based Stimson Center.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Kim, Vladimir Putin, KCNA, Jo Chun Ryong, Michael Madden, Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Hyunsu Yim, Josh Smith, Grant McCool, Stephen Coates Organizations: North, Korean Central News Agency, KCNA, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Munitions Industry, Stimson, Thomson Locations: Pyongyang, North Korea, Russia, Rights SEOUL, Ukraine, Korea, Washington, Moscow

☆ Brazil thrash Bolivia 5-1 in Neymar's record-breaking appearance
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BELEM, Brazil, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Brazil lived up to expectations by smashing Bolivia 5-1 at home in their 2026 World Cup qualifiers opener on Friday, with Neymar surpassing the late great Pele as the country's top scorer. "Congratulations Neymar for surpassing the King in goals for Brazil. Bolivia got their consolation goal through Victor Abrego's powerful shot in the 78th minute. Brazil will look to continue their good form when they visit Peru on Tuesday in the second round of CONMEBOL qualifiers. Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; Editing by Stephen Coates and Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pele, Rodrygo, Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes, Antony, Victor Abrego's, Marcelo Bielsa, Janina Nuno Rios, Stephen Coates, Michael Perry Organizations: Neymar, Saudi, Brazil, Twitter, Newcastle, TV Globo, CONMEBOL, Chile, Leeds United, Thomson Locations: BELEM, Brazil, Bolivia, Al, Hilal, Brazilian, Peru, Uruguay, Mexico City

☆ Imitation is flattery, says Shelton, after Djokovic copies phone celebration
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The veteran Djokovic held off a late-match surge from the 20-year-old to reach his 10th U.S. Open final before he mimed answering the phone - and hanging up - to subvert the viral post-win gesture that Shelton has used in New York. "I just love Ben's celebration," Djokovic told reporters with a grin. "I think if you win the match, you deserve to do whatever you want," said Shelton. "It's kind of like I'm saying I'm dialed in," Shelton explained earlier in the tournament, when asked about the celebration. A lot of positives to take away for the rest of the year and going into next year," said Shelton.

Persons: Ben Shelton, Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Mike Segar, Novak Djokovic, Ben, American's, Djokovic, Shelton, Grant Holloway, I'm, Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe, Amy Tennery, Stephen Coates Organizations: Tennis, Serbia's Novak Djokovic REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, U.S, New York

☆ North Korea marks founding day with parade, diplomatic exchanges
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gestures as the civil defense military parade commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is held in Pyongyang, September 8, 2023. KCNA via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Sept 9 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un marked the country's founding anniversary with a parade of paramilitary groups and diplomatic exchanges in which he vowed to deepen ties with China and Russia. Kim observed the parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang and held talks with a visiting Chinese delegation, state media KCNA reported on Saturday. "Most stakeholders in the region want to avoid a new Cold War, but this looks increasingly difficult as Beijing and Moscow prop up Pyongyang and North Korea aligns itself with China and Russia's challenges to the international order." North Korea supplements its already large military with various paramilitary, reserve, and security groups such as the army-affiliated Worker-Peasant Red Guards (WPRG).

Persons: Kim Jong, Kim, Kim Il, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Xi, Leif, Eric Easley, China's Xi, Russia's Putin, Putin, Jihoon Lee, Josh Smith, Sandra Maler, Stephen Coates, Michael Perry Organizations: Democratic People's, KCNA, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Ewha University, Guards, Thomson Locations: Democratic People's Republic, Korea, Pyongyang, Rights SEOUL, China, Russia, Northeast Asia, North Korea, India, Seoul, Beijing, Moscow, New Delhi, Ukraine

☆ Alcaraz says he will not dwell long on US Open semi-final exit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The crowds did their part to try to propel their fan-favourite Alcaraz past Medvedev, imploring the 20-year-old Wimbledon champion to keep fighting on Arthur Ashe Stadium. "These kind of matches can happen even if I feel myself (as a) different player, more mature," Alcaraz told reporters. But while the semi-final exit was undoubtedly a bitter end to an otherwise terrific North American hardcourt stretch, Alcaraz said he could keep the defeat in perspective. "I don't think I'm gonna think about this loss for a long time. "You know, these kind of matches help you a lot to be better and grow up in these kind of situations."

Persons: Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, Russia's Daniil Medvedev, Mike Segar, Carlos Alcaraz, Russian Daniil Medvedev, Medvedev, Arthur Ashe, Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz, Amy Tennery, Stephen Coates Organizations: Tennis, Russia's, Russia's Daniil Medvedev REUTERS, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Russian, New York

☆ China's Huawei launches Mate 60 Pro+ smartphone for presale
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People walk past a Huawei store with advertisements for the Mate 60 series smartphones, at a shopping mall in Beijing, China August 30, 2023. REUTERS/Yelin Mo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 8 (Reuters) - China's Huawei Technologies on Friday started presales for its Mate 60 Pro+ smartphone, adding a new version to a series that has captured global attention for revealing the Chinese tech firm's success in beating back against U.S. sanctions. Specifications the company provided for the phone touted its capability to link-up to two satellites concurrently and larger internal storage versus the Mate 60 Pro. Speed tests shared by buyers on Chinese social media have suggested that the Mate 60 Pro is capable of download speeds exceeding those of top-line 5G phones. The company on Friday also launched the Huawei Mate X5, a new version of its foldable phone series.

Persons: Yelin, presales, TechInsights, Edmund Klamann, Stephen Coates Organizations: Huawei, REUTERS, Rights, Huawei Technologies, U.S, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, HK, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Kirin

☆ A Month After Deadly Maui Fire, 66 People Still Missing
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Only 60 of those victims had been identified as of Thursday, according to the Maui Police Department. Tim Laborte's stepfather, Joseph Lara, was killed in the fire, his body found a short drive from Lara's house in his native Lahaina. Hawaii's Department of Health, which issues death certificates in the state, did not respond to questions about how officials are certifying the fire's victims. "The people of Maui must have as much time as they need to heal and recover and will begin to rebuild only when they are ready," Green said. "I want to emphasize this again: The land in the Lahaina is reserved for its people as they return and rebuild."

Persons: Jonathan Allen, Josh Green, Tim Laborte's, Joseph Lara, Laborte, Green, Stephen Coates Organizations: Reuters, Maui Police Department, Officials, Hawaii's Department of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S . Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Emergency Management Agency Locations: Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina, U.S, Hawaiian, New York

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