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☆ Man charged in alleged plot by Indian government official to assassinate U.S. citizen
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

(Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)Federal prosecutors on Wednesday announced murder-for-hire charges against a man related to an alleged plot by an Indian government official to assassinate a U.S. citizen in New York City. Nikhil Gupta, a 52-year-old Indian national, is charged in federal court in Manhattan with two criminal counts related to the ultimately foiled murder plot, a newly unsealed court filing shows. The Indian government official who allegedly directed the murder plot has called himself a "Senior Field Officer" with responsibilities in "Security Management" and "Intelligence," according to the DOJ. Gupta allegedly then helped broker a deal for the Indian government official to pay the purported hitman $100,000 for the assassination. The government official fed personal information about the victim to Gupta and asked for regular updates about the progress of the murder plot.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Biden's, Biden, Kevin Dietsch, Nikhil Gupta, Gupta, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Justin Trudeau, Nijjar, William Burns, National Intelligence Avril Haines Organizations: U.S . Department of Justice, The Justice Department, ., Department of Justice, New York City ., New York Times, Washington Post, Justice, DOJ, Indian, Intelligence, U.S, Sikh, New, Canadian, CIA, National Intelligence, Indian Embassy Locations: WASHINGTON, DC, Washington ,, U.S, New York City, Manhattan, Czech Republic, Punjab, India, British Columbia, Canada, New Delhi

☆ Indian gov't official directed Sikh separatist's assassination plot in US, DOJ says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, Nov 29 (Reuters) - An Indian government official directed an unsuccessful plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist on U.S. soil, the U.S. Justice Department said on Wednesday, in announcing charges against a man accused of orchestrating the attempted murder. Prosecutors did not name the Indian official or the target. According to prosecutors, the official recruited Gupta in May 2023 to orchestrate the assassination. The Indian government has complained about the presence of Sikh separatist groups outside India, including in Canada and the United States. The groups have kept alive the movement for Khalistan, or the demand for an independent Sikh state to be carved out of India.

Persons: Nikhil Gupta, Gupta, Damian Williams, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Nijjar, Luc Cohen, Doina Chiacu, Susan Heavey, Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Porter, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Indian, U.S . Justice, New York City, Prosecutors, Biden, Administration, Air, Air India Boeing, Thomson Locations: U.S, Manhattan, New York, India, Czech, New York City, Washington, United States, New Delhi, Canada, India's Punjab, Vancouver, Air India

Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who was detained and accused of espionage, stands inside a defendants' cage during his verdict hearing in Moscow, Russia June 15, 2020. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan was attacked by another inmate in a Russian prison while serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges, Russia's prison service said on Wednesday, after Whelan's brother publicised the incident. The Mordovia regional prison service confirmed to the Interfax news agency that the attack on Whelan had happened. There was surveillance TV footage of the incident and the prison service was looking into it further before submitting a report to the police, Interfax reported. Arrested in 2018 in Russia, Paul Whelan was convicted of espionage in 2020 and handed a 16-year sentence.

Persons: U.S . Marine Paul Whelan, Maxim Shemetov, Former U.S . Marine Paul Whelan, Whelan, Dave Whelan, Paul, Vladimir Putin, Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Andrew Osborn, Susan Heavey, Guy Faulconbridge, Timothy Organizations: U.S . Marine, REUTERS, Former U.S . Marine, Embassy, State Department, U.S . State Department, U.S, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Former, U.S, Russia's Mordovia, American, Mordovia, Turkey, Washington

☆ Can U.S.-China Student Exchanges Survive Geopolitics?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Vivian Wang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On a cool Saturday morning, in a hotel basement in Beijing, throngs of young Chinese gathered to do what millions had done before them: dream of an American education. At a college fair organized by the United States Embassy, the students and their parents hovered over rows of booths advertising American universities. Did America still want Chinese students? And were Chinese students sure they wanted to go to America? He had read the frequent headlines about gun violence, anti-Asian discrimination and, of course, tensions between the United States and China, at one of their highest levels in decades.

Persons: ”, Zhuang Tao Organizations: United States Embassy Locations: Beijing, America, United States, Australia, Britain, China

CNN —The president of Sierra Leone has described a foiled assault on a military barracks in the capital Freetown as an “attack on democracy.”In a video statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, late Sunday, President Maada Bio said most of the ringleaders had been arrested and calm restored. The news sparked fears of another potential coup attempt in West Africa. A nationwide curfew was imposed following an attack in the early hours of Sunday on the military barracks, leading to widespread flight disruption. Authorities revised the indefinite curfew, saying it would now run from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily local time, starting Monday. A divisive electionPresident Bio described the incident as an “attack on democracy,” but did not state outright that it was a coup attempt.

Persons: Maada Bio, ”, “, ” Sierra, Bio, Bio’s, Oluwole, ” Ojewale Organizations: CNN, West African, ECOWAS, ” ECOWAS, Institute for Security Studies, ” Locations: Sierra Leone, Freetown, West Africa, Sierra Leone’s, ” Sierra Leone, West African, ” West Africa, Guinea

WASHINGTON (AP) — Argentina's right-wing President-elect Javier Milei will meet with President Joe Biden's national security adviser on Tuesday in Washington, according to the White House. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday that Milei will meet with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and other administration officials. The Treasury Department said in a statement that Milei's economic policy advisers will also meet with senior Treasury Officials on Tuesday. That meeting is expected to focus on the incoming Milei administration's economic policy priorities. Argentina’s president-elect has said he wants to move Argentina’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, emulating a move made by Trump.

Persons: —, Javier Milei, Joe Biden's, John Kirby, Milei, Jake Sullivan, Biden, Rosalynn Carter, ” Kirby, Donald Trump, Trump, ” Milei, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Schneerson, he’s, hasn’t, “, Israel, ” ___ Politi, Fatima Hussein, Chris Megerian Organizations: WASHINGTON, House . National Security, White House, Milei, Treasury Department, International Monetary Fund, Lubavitch, Catholic, Israel, Trump, Associated Press Locations: Washington, Georgia, Colorado, Argentina, United States, New York City, Kirby, New York, Queens, Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Buenos Aires

☆ Israel-Hamas War Israel Faces Decision on What to Do After End of Truce
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Hamas released a second group of 13 Israeli hostages on Saturday as part of a cease-fire deal, a day after it released another 13. (Read about the Israeli hostages who have already been released here.) “I want to start walking to where the decisions are made.”Sharon Avigdori, 52; Noam Avigdori, 12Image Sharon and Noam Avigdori Credit... Maya Regev, 21Image Maya Regev Credit... Regev Family, via Associated PressMaya Regev was at the Tribe of Nova music festival on Oct. 7 when Hamas attackers infiltrated Israel and massacred hundreds of young festivalgoers. Their mother, Yonat, was one of dozens killed in Kibbutz Be’eri.

Persons: —, Shoshan Haran, Rachel Gur, Associated Press Shoshan Haran, Avshalom Haran, Lilach, Evyatar Kipnis, Paul Castelvi, Haran’s, Adi Shoham, Shoshan, Naveh, Yahel, Tal Shoham, Shoham, Yuval Haran, Adi Shoham’s, “ I’m, ”, “, ” Sharon Avigdori, Noam Avigdori, Sharon, Sharon Avigdori, Avshalom, Hen Avigdori, Omer, Avigdori, Emily Hand, Yael Shahrur Noah, Associated Press Emily Hand, Natalie Hand, Emily, Thomas Hand, ” Ireland’s, Maya Regev, Regev, festivalgoers, Ilan Regev Derby, Omer Shem Tov, Mirit, Alma, Noam, Dror, Hila Rotem Shoshani, Hila Rotem, Rotem Shoshani, Raaya, texted, Noga, Shiri Weiss, Reuters Shiri Weiss, Noga Weiss, Kibbutz Be’eri, Oren Rubinstein, Rubinstein, Ilan Weiss, Shiri’s, Gil —, Jeffrey Gettleman Organizations: Associated Press, Associated, Noam, Israel’s, Embassy, The, Shiri, Reuters, YouTube, IDF, U.S . Special Forces, Be’eri Locations: Tel Aviv, Gaza, Be’eri, Israel, Jerusalem, Hod Hasharon, Irish, Kibbutz Be’eri, London, ”, Hila Rotem Shoshani, San Francisco, WhatsApp

Sharon Avigdori, a sister of Avshalom Haran and a drama therapist, was visiting her family in Be’eri with her daughter, Noam Avigdori, when they were seized. Her family initially believed she had been killed in the attack, but was later informed that she was kidnapped. Her older sister, Natalie Hand, told Israel’s Channel 12 that the family had cried for Emily when it was informed she had been killed. Maya Regev, 21Image Maya Regev Credit... Regev Family, via Associated PressMaya Regev was at the Tribe of Nova music festival on Oct. 7 when Hamas attackers infiltrated Israel and massacred hundreds of young festivalgoers. We will not stop until Itay and all the hostages get back home.”

Persons: Sharon Avigdori, Avshalom, Noam Avigdori, Hen Avigdori, Omer, Avigdori, “, ”, Emily Hand, Yael Shahrur Noah, Associated Press Emily Hand, Natalie Hand, Emily, Thomas Hand, “ I’m, ” Ireland’s, Maya Regev, Regev, festivalgoers, Ilan Regev Derby, Omer Shem Tov, Mirit Organizations: Associated Press, Israel’s, Embassy Locations: Be’eri, Hod Hasharon, Israel, Jerusalem, Irish, Kibbutz Be’eri, London, Gaza, ”

☆ Iran says it facilitated Friday's release of 10 Thai hostages
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BANGKOK, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Iran facilitated Friday's release of 10 Thai hostages from Gaza, providing a list of names to Palestinian group Hamas after a request to do so by Thailand's Foreign Ministry and parliamentary speaker, Iran's embassy in Thailand said on social media on Saturday. A Thai foreign ministry spokesperson told Reuters that: "we have provided lists since the beginning to everyone," including Qatar, Egypt, Israel and Iran. A group of Thai Muslim politicians had travelled to Tehran and met senior Hamas officials in October. Thailand's Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara also held talks with senior officials in Cairo and Doha over the release of Thai hostages. About 30,000 Thai nationals work in Israel, forming one of its largest groups of migrant workers, many in agriculture.

Persons: Parnpree Bahiddha, nukara, Thailand's, Chayut Setboonsarng, Poppy Mcpherson, Mark Potter Organizations: Hamas, Thailand's Foreign Ministry, Reuters, Thailand's, Thomson Locations: BANGKOK, Iran, Gaza, Thailand, Qatar, Egypt, Israel, Thai, Tehran, Cairo, Doha

☆ A Singaporean couple built 500 homes on the Ukrainian frontlines as the war raged around them. Here's how they did it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Lam Baoyan and Rudy Taslim are a Singaporean couple who built 500 emergency homes in Ukraine. Lam Baoyan and Rudy Taslim. A team of Ukrainian aid workers helps them identify people who need homes the most and coordinate delivery. Rudy Taslim and Lam Baoyan. Lam Baoyan and Rudy Taslim.

Persons: Lam Baoyan, Rudy Taslim, they've, —, Lam, Lam's, Taslim, Rudy Taslim Lam, who'd, she'd, it's, couldn't, hadn't, Moshchun —, We've, Yulia, Andrii Lupaniek, Lupaniek, Lyman Organizations: Service, Business, Genesis Architects, Labor, BI, Cross Singapore, Singapore Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russian, Singapore, TKTK, Bad Blankenburg, Germany, Russia's, Poland, Lviv, Maldives, Taiwan, New Zealand, Lam, Lyman, Irpin, Moshchun, Ternopil, Kyiv

☆ Brazil signs on to global climate deal to triple renewable energy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A spokesperson for Brazil's Foreign Ministry confirmed the country has decided to join the pact. Brazil is already a major player in renewable energy. While Brazil supports tripling renewables globally, mathematically it is not possible domestically, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. "Brazil won't be able to triple its own renewable energy because it's already very high, but Brazil is once again reinforcing its support for renewables," he said. The draft renewable energy pledge, reviewed by Reuters, commits to "the phase down of unabated coal power," including ending financing for new coal-fired power plants.

Persons: Bruno Kelly, Valerie Volcovici, Jake Spring, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Foreign, European Union, United, Reuters, United Arab Emirates ' Foreign Ministry, Renewables, Energy, Brazil's Foreign Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Thomson Locations: Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, South America's, Dubai, Brazil's, Abu Dhabi

☆ BREAKING: 25 hostages have been released by Hamas, the first since a four-day truce was called
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( William Edwards | Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

25 hostages were released to Eygpt, the first release since a 4-day cease-fire was called. The released hostages include 12 Thai citizens and 13 other women and children. AdvertisementTwenty-five hostages were released by Hamas on Friday, the latest sign that the conflict between Israel and the militant group is cooling. The deal for the 12 Thai hostages was brokered by the Egyptian government, the country's media office said on Friday. According to the Israeli government's press office, 12 Thai hostages are in Israel now.

Persons: —, Srettha Thavisin Organizations: Service, Thailand's Locations: Israel, Assaf

☆ Vietnam's plan for spending $15.5 billion for its clean energy transition to be announced at COP28
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A plan for how Vietnam will spend $15.5 billion to transition to cleaner energy has been finalized and will be announced at the COP28 climate conference, which begins in Dubai next week. George gave no details of the plan. The United Kingdom is co-chair of a group of nine, rich industrialized nations that have agreed to provide the $15.5 billion to help Vietnam end its reliance on dirty coal power and more quickly switch to renewable energy as a part of a Just Energy Transition Partnership, or JETP. Earlier this year, Vietnam released a national energy plan that aimed to more than double the maximum power Vietnam can generate to some 150 gigawatts by 2030. It called for a drastic shift away from heavily polluting coal and pledges that no new coal-fired plants will be built after 2030.

Persons: Mark George, George, Tang Organizations: British, Economic, Trade, Britain, Energy, Sustainable Development Locations: Vietnam, Dubai, Hanoi, United Kingdom, Asia, Pacific, Japan

☆ Chinese court rejects Canadian pop star Kris Wu's appeal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Nov 24 (Reuters) - A court in China's capital Beijing on Friday denied the appeal of Canadian pop star Kris Wu, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison for crimes including rape, it said in a statement. Wu's close relatives and officials from the Canadian embassy in China attended the verdict announcement. Reuters did not have access to his relatives or his legal representatives for comment, while the Canadian embassy did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The Canadian government said in July that its diplomats were denied access to the start of Wu's appeal trial. Beijing said it notified the embassy of the appeal trial in advance, but it was not open to the public to protect the privacy of the victims.

Persons: Kris Wu, Wu, Kris, Wu's, Xander Cage, Louis Vuitton, Ella Cao, Ryan Woo, Jamie Freed Organizations: Friday, People's, Canadian, Hollywood, Porsche, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China's, Beijing, China, Canadian, Lancome

☆ Afghan embassy in India shuts down citing lack of support, Taliban pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People are seen outside the Afghanistan embassy in New Delhi, India, September 29, 2023. An embassy statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday said that period in limbo was over, and the embassy was shutting and the keys had been given to the host government. "Given the constant pressure from both the Taliban and the Indian government to relinquish control, the embassy faced a difficult choice," the statement added. Afghan diplomats in India appointed by Ghani's government have reached third countries and there are none remaining in India, the embassy statement said. "The only individuals present in India are diplomats affiliated with the Taliban, visibly attending their regular online meetings," the statement said.

Persons: Anushree, Farid Mamundzay, Mamundzay, Shivam Patel, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, Taliban, Thomson Locations: Afghanistan, New Delhi, India, DELHI, Europe, U.S, Mumbai

☆ Russia vows retaliation over Moldova decision to join EU sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The state flag of Moldova (L) flies outside the country's embassy in central Moscow, Russia December 18, 2017. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Russia views Moldova's decision to join EU sanctions against it as a hostile step aimed at destroying ties with Moscow and will retaliate, the Russian foreign ministry said on Friday. Among its provisions are regulations concerning action to be taken against individuals and institutions subject to sanctions imposed on Russia in connection with the Kremlin's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Sandu has denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine and accused Moscow of trying to oust her in a coup. Moscow denies the allegations and says Sandu is infusing anti-Russian sentiment in the country lying between Ukraine and Romania.

Persons: Maxim, Maia Sandu's, Sandu, Alexander Tanas, Maxim Rodionov, Andrew Osborn, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, EU, European Union, Moldovan, Maia Sandu's Party of Action, Solidarity, Socialist Party, of Europe, European Commission, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Moldova, Moscow, Russia, Russian, Moldovan, Chisinau, Ukraine, Venice, Romania

Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara wrote online that he was “overjoyed.”He had traveled more than three weeks ago to Egypt and Qatar to seek their help in obtaining the hostages’ freedom. “It is our deep hope that all remaining hostages will be taken care of, and will be safely released at the earliest opportunity,” the Thai Foreign Ministry said. The spokesman for the Qatari foreign ministry, Majed al-Ansari, posted on X that the number was 10. Prof. Hagai Levine, head of the medical team at the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum, said that getting medical information about the Thai hostages' pre-existing conditions has been trickier than with released Israelis. According to Thailand's foreign ministry, 39 were killed in the Oct. 7 attacks, and 26 abducted.

Persons: Parnpree Bahiddha, Nukara, ”, Thais, Srettha Thavisin, Majed al, Ansari, farmhands, Hagai Levine, Ratana, “, Parnpree Organizations: Thai, International Committee, Thai Foreign Ministry, Qatari, Shamir, Center, Facebook, Hamas, Government, Trade, Labor Ministry Locations: Egypt, Qatar, Thailand, Israel, Iran, Malaysia, Thai, Udon Thani, Tehran, Persia

☆ EU human rights envoy in Cuba to discuss aftermath of 2021 protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

European Union's Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, speaks during a meeting with Cuban authorities in Havana, Cuba, November 24, 2023. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, on a visit to Cuba earlier this year, announced Gilmore`s visit but told reporters the EU would not "impose" demands on the island`s government. Rights groups say around 1,000 Cubans were jailed for their political beliefs following the demonstrations and several subsequent protests. "No one is convicted for their political opinions," Cuba`s foreign ministry said prior to Gilmore`s visit on social media. "We call on the Cuban government to respect the human rights of everyone, including the rights of political prisoners and those unjustly detained."

Persons: Eamon Gilmore, Alexandre Meneghini, Gilmore, Josep Borrell, Fidel Castro's, Luis Barrios Díaz, la Torre, Barrios Diaz `, Dave Sherwood, Alien Fernandez Organizations: Human Rights, Cuban, REUTERS, Rights, EU, European Union, U.S, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Havana, Cuba, Rights HAVANA, United States, EU, Cuban

☆ Cuba stages pro-Palestine march past US embassy in Havana
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Nelson Acosta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] People shout slogans during a march in support of Palestinians, calling for a ceasefire and for charging Israel with committing “genocide” in Gaza, in Havana, Cuba, November 23, 2023. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini Acquire Licensing RightsHAVANA, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Cubans on Thursday marched in front of the U.S. embassy in Havana charging Israel was committing “genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza. Communist-run Cuba has been a strong backer of the Palestinian cause for decades and has trained more than 200 Palestinian doctors. "We are here and it is no coincidence that we have marched in front of the United States embassy," Anet Rodríguez, a university professor, said. Since then, some 14,800 Gazans have been killed by Israeli bombardment, around 40% of them children, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Persons: Alexandre Meneghini, Israel, Miguel Diaz, Fidel Castro, Marc Frank, Anet Rios, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, United, State, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Havana, Cuba, Rights HAVANA, Cuban, Palestine, Israel, Communist, United States

☆ With crises brewing around the world, the US's diplomatic 'special agents' are sharpening old skills and learning some new ones
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The State Department relies on its Diplomatic Security Service to protect diplomats around the world. To protect those diplomats, the State Department relies on a little-known but highly capable agency — the Diplomatic Security Service. US State DepartmentAs the State Department's law-enforcement and security arm, the Diplomatic Security Service has been protecting US diplomats at home and abroad since 1916. "Through the council, the State Department can exchange information in real-time with hundreds of private businesses, faith-based organizations, and other US entities," a State Department spokesperson told Insider. Diplomatic Security ServiceFollowing a string of high-profile cyberattacks against government agencies and private businesses, US national-security officials are increasingly focused on cybersecurity.

Persons: —, Anatolii Organizations: Diplomatic Security Service, DSS, Service, UN, Assembly, US State Department As, State, State Department, Mobile Security, Mobile, Foreign Affairs Security Training Center, US Department of State Regional, US, Overseas Security Advisory Council, Publishing, Getty, Operations Command, Foreign Affairs Counter, APEC, Diplomatic Security, State Department's, Department of Homeland Security, Management, Budget Locations: Ukraine, China, Taiwan, State, Virginia, Kyiv, Russia, San Francisco

☆ Fiji PM: China likely to collaborate on key port, shipyard project
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Lincoln Feast/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka told parliament on Wednesday the Pacific Islands nation was likely to collaborate with China on a key port modernisation and shipyard project, after discussing it in a meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping. Fiji previously sought Australia's involvement to build a modern ship-building facility at Lautoka, officials and a consultant to Rabuka on the project told Reuters. Rabuka told Fiji's parliament on Wednesday his government was focused on upgrading infrastructure, "particularly the modernisation of port facilities and shipyards". An Australian-based ship design company said Rabuka had earlier sought the involvement of Australia, Fiji's largest aid donor, in the shipyard project. China has been pushing for greater security and trade ties with Pacific Islands countries.

Persons: Sitiveni Rabuka, Xi Jinping, Rabuka, Xi, Stuart Ballantyne, Ballantyne, Vajira Piyasena, Kirsty Needham, Lincoln, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, Lincoln, Rights, Fiji Prime, Wednesday, Reuters, APEC, Wednesday Fiji, Fiji Ports, Fiji Ships, Heavy Industry, Pacific, Thomson Locations: Fiji, Suva, China, Lautoka, Australia, San Francisco, Australian, tradespeople, Pacific, Solomon Islands, United States, Papua New Guinea

☆ U.S. thwarts plot to kill Sikh separatist, issues warning to India - FT
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Nov 22 (Reuters) - U.S. authorities thwarted a plot to kill a Sikh separatist in the United States and issued a warning to India over concerns the government in New Delhi was involved, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources. The Financial Times said that the sources did not say if the protest to India resulted in the plot being abandoned by the plotters, or if it was foiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Apart from the diplomatic warning to India, U.S. federal prosecutors have also filed a sealed indictment against at least one suspect in a New York district court, the FT report said. Pannun, like Nijjar, is a proponent of a decades-long, but now a fringe demand to carve out an independent Sikh homeland from India named Khalistan. The Financial Times report mentioned that the U.S. shared details of the thwarted plot with a wider group of allies after Canada's public accusation.

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Evelyn Hockstein, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Pannun, Shivam Patel, Krishn Kaushik, Andrew Heavens, Alex Richardson Organizations: India's, White, REUTERS, Financial Times, U.S, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Indian, Khalistan, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, DELHI, United States, India, New Delhi, Canada, Vancouver suburb, U.S, New York, Canadian

☆ An ex-Qatar Airways flight attendant says he was fired and deported after police found he was wearing tinted moisturizer and then accused him of being a sex worker
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The police found he was wearing tinted moisturizer and accused him of being a sex worker, he added. The I reported that Qatar Airways took the flight attendant's passport and drove him to the border. AdvertisementA former Qatar Airways flight attendant told the British newspaper the I that he was fired and deported after the police accused him of being a sex worker amid a crackdown on LGBTQ+ people. On the following day, the newspaper reported, Qatar Airways held Ignatius' passport and told him he was grounded. This month, Qatar Airways appointed a new CEO to take over from the outspoken Akbar Al Baker, who once said a woman couldn't do his job.

Persons: Gilbert Ignatius, —, Ignatius, Akbar Al Baker Organizations: Qatar Airways, Service, British, Qatari, Criminal, Business Locations: Doha, Qatar, Indonesia, Indonesian Embassy, Bangkok, Saudi Arabia

☆ Cricket World Cup 2023: Polluted air the common opponent
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Vijdan Mohammad Kawoosa | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

Air quality during 2023 Cricket World Cup matchesChart categorises the 2023 cricket World Cup matches held in 10 Indian cities by the air quality observed during the matches they hosted. Twenty matches were held in ‘unhealthy’ air quality, 11 in air that was ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, 12 in ‘moderate’ air quality and only two in ‘good’ air quality. Average 24-hour PM 2.5 levels on all cricket World Cup match days between 1983 and 2019Chart shows average PM 2.5 concentration on match days at places that hosted a cricket World Cup match between 1983 and 2019. Of all the regions that have ever hosted a cricket World Cup match, the Indian subcontinent has seen the most polluted air. Map shows average annual PM 2.5 levels in 2019 across the world and locations that have ever hosted a cricket World Cup match.

Persons: Delhi’s Arun, Arun Jaitley, ITO, Chandika Hathurusinghe, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Suranga Lakmal, Mohammad Shami vomited Organizations: Sri Lankan, teams, Arun, ITO, Labs Inc, . Environmental Protection Agency, Delhi, United States Environment Protection Agency, U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, World Health Organization, Indian, Matches, Daily, International Cricket Council, Endurance Locations: New Delhi, Delhi, Lahore, Pakistan, Australia, Netherlands, India, ITO, Sri Lanka, England, Indian, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Sri Lankan, U.S, Canberra, United States, China, Bangladesh

France's minister of state for development Chrysoula Zacharopoulou told the Indian government about the plan, called the "New Coal Exclusion Policy", for private financial institutions and insurance companies, two Indian officials said. The plan to stop private financing for coal-fired power plants has not been previously reported. They are concerned private international financing continues to support large additions to coal capacity in developing nations, according to the plan shared by France with India. "And countries need to stop digging a deeper hole by building new unabated coal power plants, because unfortunately, there's still some 500 gigawatts of new coal-fired power plants in the pipeline globally, and the IPCC and the International Energy Agency have both been quite clear that that needed to stop already." Member countries are divided on emissions abatement technologies that are yet to evolve to commercial scale for use in developing countries, one of the Indian officials said.

Persons: Rula, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Zacharopoulou, Emmanuel Macron, Rick Duke, Duke, there's, Sarita Chaganti Singh, Valerie Volcovici, Kate Abnett, Benjamin Mallet, Sonali Paul Organizations: Abu Dhabi Sustainability, REUTERS, OECD, French, Organisation for Economic Co, Development, U.S, International Energy Agency, Thomson Locations: UAE, Abu Dhabi, DELHI, BRUSSELS, WASHINGTON, France, United States, India, Europe, Dubai, China, New Delhi, U.S, Union, Canada, COP28, Washington, Brussels, Paris

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