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☆ Mission accomplished, India puts moon rover to 'sleep'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Arpan Chaturvedi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view of the moon as viewed by the Chandrayaan-3 lander during Lunar Orbit Insertion on August 5, 2023 in this screengrab from a video released August 6, 2023. ISRO/Handout via REUTERS /File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Sept 3 (Reuters) - India switched off its moon rover, the first craft to reach the lunar south poll, after it completed its two-week assignment conducting experiments, the country's space agency said. By landing on the moon, India joined the United States, China and the former Soviet Union. Pragyan travelled over 100 m (330 feet), confirming the presence of sulphur, iron, oxygen and other elements on the moon, ISRO said. "The satellite is healthy" and in earth orbit, ISRO said on Sunday, as it prepares for its 1.5 million-km (930,000-mile) journey.

Persons: Russia's Luna, Pragyan, Arpan Chaturvedi, William Mallard Organizations: ISRO, Handout, REUTERS, Indian Space Research Organisation, Soviet Union, Thomson Locations: DELHI, India, United States, China

☆ Russia will run out of all its best soldiers, says top Ukraine general
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukrainian forces in southeastern Ukraine have broken through Russia's first line of defense. Russia devoted 60% of its time and resources to the first line, the Ukrainian general told The Observer. "Sooner or later, the Russians will run out of all the best soldiers," he said. Ukraine's recent success in overcoming Russia's first defensive line comes after weeks of painstaking mine clearance. But sooner or later, the Russians will run out of all the best soldiers.

Persons: Russia's, Oleksandr Tarnavskiy, Tarnavskiy Organizations: Observer, Service, Infantry, Russian Defense Ministry, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, Wall, Silicon, Moscow, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson

The company's leaders put all their chips behind a new car they called the "Neue Klasse," or "new class." Now, BMW is at another crossroads, and is turning again to a "Neue Klasse" to drive a new strategic direction. Neue Klasse vehicles will be powered by 48-millimeter-diameter cylindrical batteries in different lengths. The Neue Klasse is targeting a 50% reduction in battery pack costs and 25% more range per kilowatt-hour, a measure of efficiency, executives said. Neue Klasse vehicles will have four "super brains," to control propulsion, driver assistance systems, infotainment and other functions, Weber said.

Persons: trailblazer Tesla, Adrian van Hooydonk, that’s, Frank Weber, Tesla, Oliver Zipse, Evangelos Simoudis, Weber, Mercedes, Stephan Durach, Durach, Joe White, Mark Potter Organizations: Neue, Reuters, BMW, REUTERS, Rights, trailblazer, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Benz, Neue Klasse, Munich, Klasse, chipmaker Qualcomm, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany, Detroit, Hungary, Silicon

☆ UK's Labour Party has 14-point lead over Conservatives, Opinium poll shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during the Prime Minister's Statements on the Nato Summit at the House of Commons in London, Britain, July 13, 2023. UK Parliament/Andy Bailey/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour Party has a 14-point lead over Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's ruling Conservatives, an opinion poll by market research company Opinium showed on Saturday as lawmakers prepare to return to parliament after the summer break. The Opinium poll, based on a survey of 2,055 British adults carried out between Aug. 30 and Sept. 1, showed support for Labour had risen to 42%, up 1 percentage point since the last poll in July, while support for the Conservative Party rose by 2 points to 28%. Lawmakers return to parliament on Monday, with a general election expected to be held next year. Reporting by Sarah Young Editing by Helen PopperOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Andy Bailey, Handout, Rishi Sunak's, Sarah Young, Helen Popper Our Organizations: British, Nato, REUTERS, Labour Party, Labour, Conservative Party, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ Why are all the cool Kit Kats only available internationally?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

They create buzz and urgency, which help decades-old brands like Kit Kat stay relevant. A few years later, Rowntree’s renamed the product Kit Kat Chocolate Crisp. Nigel Roddis/ReutersAfter manufacturing and distributing Kit Kat for decades, the British company entered into a deal with Hershey, giving it control over US Kit Kat distribution in 1970. Nostalgic candies, like traditional Kit Kat bars, exert a powerful hold over those who loved them in their childhood, she noted. When people reach for a Kit Kat, they’re reaching for a reliable jolt of sweetness and good feelings, she said.

Persons: Kit, Kit Kat, Kat, Kats, Behrouz Mehri, Nestlé, Lynn Dornblaser, Dornblaser, “, Kit Kat wasn’t, Chocolate Crisp, Rowntree’s, Kat Chocolate Crisp, Rowntree's Kit Kat, Nigel Roddis, Hershey, Kit Kats, Rowntree Mackintosh, Milo Kit Kat, Chris O’Donnell, ”, O’Donnell, it’s, Milo, Kit Kat Japan, Kat Churro, Justin Kukura, Marcia Mogelonsky, they’re Organizations: New, New York CNN, Target, Walmart, Hershey, Getty, Mintel Consulting, Reuters, Nestlé, Lotus, Hershey Company Locations: New York, United States, Japan, AFP, British, Hershey , Pennsylvania, ., Australia, Hershey

☆ Rain and mud leave Burning Man revelers stranded in Nevada desert
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A satellite view shows the center camp during the 2023 Burning Man festival, in Black Rock Desert, Nevada, U.S., August 28, 2023. Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 2 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of revelers attending the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert have been asked to shelter in place and conserve food and water on Saturday after a rainstorm turned the site into mud. Access to and from Black Rock City, the event's site, was closed "for the remainder of the event," organizers said in a statement on social media. "Rain over the last 24 hours has created a situation that required a full stop of vehicle movement on the playa. The festival gets its name from its culminating event, the burning of a large wooden structure called the Man on the penultimate night.

Persons: revelers, Maria Caspani, Diane Craft Organizations: Maxar Technologies, REUTERS, Black, Black Rock City, U.S . Bureau of Land Management, Thomson Locations: , Nevada, U.S, Nevada, Black Rock, San Francisco

ESA & NASA/Solar Orbiter/EUI team/Handout via REUTERS File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBENGALURU, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Following quickly on the success of India's moon landing, the country's space agency launched a rocket on Saturday to study the sun in its first solar mission. The rocket left a trail of smoke and fire as scientists clapped, a live broadcast on the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) website showed. While Russia had a more powerful rocket, India's Chandrayaan-3 out-endured the Luna-25 to execute a textbook landing. Prime Minister Modi is pushing for India's space missions to play a larger role on a world stage dominated by the United States and China. Satellites in low earth orbit are the main focus of global private players, which makes the Aditya-L1 mission a very important project," he said.

Persons: clapped, Luna, Modi, Sankar Subramanian, Somak Raychaudhury, Rama Rao Nidamanuri, Nivedita, Jayshree, William Mallard Organizations: Solar Orbiter, ESA, NASA, Solar, Rights, Indian Space Research, Elon, SpaceX, Indian Institute of Space Science, Technology, ISRO, Thomson Locations: India, Russia, United States, China, Bengaluru

☆ Gabon reopens borders three days after military coup
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Gabonese military appear on television as they announce that they have seized power following President Ali Bongo Ondimba's re-election, in this screengrab obtained by Reuters on August 30, 2023. Gabon 1ere/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDAKAR, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Gabon reopened its borders on Saturday, an army spokesman said, three days after closing them during a military coup in which President Ali Bongo was ousted. Military officers led by General Brice Oligui Nguema seized power on Wednesday, placed Bongo under house arrest and installed Nguema as head of state, ending the Bongo family's 56-year hold on power. Coup leaders have come under international pressure to restore civilian government but said last night that they would not rush to hold elections. Bongo was elected in 2009, taking over from his late father Omar, who came to power in 1967.

Persons: Ali Bongo Ondimba's, Ali Bongo, General Brice Oligui Nguema, Bongo, Omar, Jyoti Narayan, Cooper, Edward McAllister, Tomasz Janowski, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, Military, Thomson Locations: Gabonese, Gabon, Handout, West, Central Africa, Guinea, Chad, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Bengaluru, Dakar

☆ Russia is massively expanding its arsenal of drones, and Moscow's unmanned attacks on Ukraine are likely to only get bigger
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Experts say Moscow could use its expanded arsenal for bigger drone attacks against Ukraine in the coming months. The Russian drones seen in Ukraine have come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and with varying missions. We can see greater pressure on Ukrainian air defenses and electronic warfare defenses." Larger drone attacks could also be explained by a shift in how Russia carries out its high-volume strikes. And that could, in turn, up the pressure on Ukraine's air defenses.

Persons: Shaheds, George Barros, —, Vladimir Putin's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Samuel Bendett, Oleksii, Bendett, Barros, It's, ISW Organizations: Service, Ukraine, Institute for, National Police, REUTERS, Research, Russian Federation, Center for Naval, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Getty, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense Drones, Russia Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Washington, Iran, Russian, Kyiv region, Kyiv, Iranian, Zaporizhzhia

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy says troops 'moving forward', rebuffs critics
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy meets with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, August 21, 2023. Theodore Manolopoulos/Greek Presidency Press Office/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 2 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Kyiv's troops were "moving forward" in their counteroffensive against Russian forces, rebuffing Western officials who say that Ukraine is gaining ground too slowly. The White House said there had been "notable success" by Ukraine in the area, although Maliar warned that Kyiv's troops had reached even more heavily fortified positions on the other side after breaking through. It reported 45 combat clashes on the frontlines in the past 24 hours and said fighting raged in the east where Ukrainian troops had repelled multiple Russian attacks. Russia has already described the Ukrainian counteroffensive as a failure.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Theodore Manolopoulos, Zelenskiy, Hanna Maliar, Maliar, Olena, Tom Balmforth, Ros Russell Organizations: Press, REUTERS, Rights, Russian, Thomson Locations: Athens, Greece, Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Melitopol, Russian, Zaporizhzhia, Russia

CNN —Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has praised the country’s women’s soccer team – and Spanish society itself – for taking a critical stance against Luis Rubiales for his unwanted kiss of World Cup winner Jennifer Hermoso. Speaking at an event in the city of Malaga in southern Spain on Saturday, Sanchez said he did not believe the scandal had damaged the Spanish brand abroad thanks to the Spanish women’s team. Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez with the women's team during a reception at Moncloa Palace. Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images‘Tip of the iceberg’Joining the debate was Vero Boquete, who captained Spain’s women’s national team at the 2015 Women’s World Cup. The soccer world has rallied behind Hermoso.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales –, –, Sanchez, “, ‘, ” Sanchez, …, Pablo Blazquez Dominguez, Vero Boquete, Spain’s, TAD, Rubiales, Sport Miquel Iceta, Hermoso, ” Hermoso, ”, Béjar Organizations: CNN, Spanish, Royal Spanish Football Federation, England, soccer team, Twitter, Moncloa, Getty, Spain’s women’s, Reuters, FIFA, of Culture, Sport, Anadolu Agency, Hermoso, Rubiales Locations: Spain, Malaga, Spain’s, Madrid

[1/3] Ukrainian business tycoon and one of Ukraine's most prominent billionaires Ihor Kolomoisky speaks with Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Prosecutor General's Office officers at an unknown location, in this picture released on September 2, 2023. Security Service of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Ukraine's main security agency accused tycoon Ihor Kolomoisky of fraud and money laundering on Saturday, naming one of the country's most prominent businessmen a suspect in a criminal investigation. "It was established that during 2013-2020, Ihor Kolomoisky legalized more than half a billion hryvnias ($14 million) by withdrawing them abroad and using the infrastructure of banks under (his) control," the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said in a statement. CRACKDOWN ON CORRUPTIONDuring the war, Zelenskiy has been keen to stress Ukraine's crackdown on corruption as Kyiv has applied to join the European Union. U.S. authorities have also alleged Kolomoisky and a business partner laundered stolen funds through the United States.

Persons: Ihor Kolomoisky, Ihor, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Kolomoisky, Zelenskiy, Yaroslav Zheleznyak, Iryna Gerashchenko, laundered, Olena, Tomasz Janowski, Frances Kerry Organizations: Service of Ukraine, General's, Security Service, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Kolomoisky, Security Service of Ukraine, European Union, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Handout, Kyiv, Soviet Union, United States

REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn endorsed a new cabinet, including real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin as the country’s new prime minister and finance minister, according to a Royal gazette published on Saturday, months after the May elections. Srettha's Pheu Thai party, backed by the billionaire Shinawatra family, will oversee defence, transport, commerce, health and the foreign ministry portfolios. The second-place Pheu Thai broke off an alliance with Move Forward and brought on rival parties aligned with army generals that ousted Shinawatra-linked parties in 2006 and 2014 coups. Thaksin and the Pheu Thai party say that is not the case. The new cabinet has Pheu Thai controlling ministries overseeing the economy ministries, which will be crucial in implementing its policies, including a 10,000 baht ($285.63)handout in the form of digital currency.

Persons: Pheu, Thailand's, Athit, Maha Vajiralongkorn, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha's, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Bhumjaithai, Srettha, Chayut Setboonsarng, Miral Fahmy, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Pheu, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK

☆ Taiwan hopes Pope's China engagement helps 'worsening' religious freedom
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pope Francis attends a welcome ceremony at the bishop's house during his Apostolic Journey, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia September 1, 2023. China's foreign ministry said the pope's blessing reflected friendship and goodwill, noting China and the Vatican had maintained communication in recent years. "We hope that Vatican-China exchanges will help improve China's worsening religious freedom and human rights issues," it added. China's constitution guarantees religious freedom, but in recent years the government has tightened restrictions on religions seen as a challenge to the authority of the ruling Communist Party. Taiwan puts no restrictions on freedom of faith and has a thriving religious community that includes Christians, Buddhists and Muslims.

Persons: Pope Francis, Pope Francis messaged, Xi Jinping, Francis, Xi, Ben Blanchard, William Mallard Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Catholic Church, Communist Party, Taiwan, Thomson Locations: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Rights TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Taipei, Beijing, China's

☆ Ukraine names powerful businessman Kolomoisky suspect in fraud probe - SBU
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Ukrainian business tycoon and one of Ukraine's most prominent billionaires Ihor Kolomoisky speaks with Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Prosecutor General's Office officers at an unknown location, in this picture released on September 2, 2023. Security Service of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Ukrainian state security officials named powerful businessman Ihor Kolomoisky as a suspect in a fraud and money laundering case, the SBU security service said on Saturday. The security service published pictures of a group of detectives at the door of his home, with Kolomoisky receiving and signing documents. The United States sanctioned Kolomoisky in 2021 "due to his involvement in significant corruption". U.S. authorities have also alleged Kolomoiskiy and a business partner laundered stolen funds through the United States.

Persons: Ihor Kolomoisky, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Kolomoisky, laundered, Kolomoiskiy, Olena, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Service of Ukraine, General's, Security Service, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Russia's, United, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Handout, United States

☆ Charter planes are descending on the Nevada desert — and the pop-up Black Rock City airport — as tech bros and billionaires gather for Burning Man
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Grace Kay | Taylor Rains | Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Hundreds of flights have landed in Black Rock City for Burning Man — tech bros' favorite party. AdvertisementAdvertisementOver 880 flights descended on Black Rock Desert's pop-up airport this week as the playa opened shop for Burning Man. Jettly CEO Justin Crabbe told Insider in 2019 that the roundtrip flight from New York to Black Rock City cost $55,000. A Burning Man spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment ahead of publication. According to Burner Express' website, other air carriers can fly into Black Rock City, but those who wish to must email and register with the company in advance.

Persons: Elon Musk, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Ray Dalio, doesn't, Justin Crabbe, Alex Sgarlata, Sgarlata, Kathleen Bangs Organizations: Black Rock City, Rock City, wasn't, Black, Tahoe, Rock City Airport, Burner, ATC, Oakland, SF, Man, Pilatus, Cessna, Maxar Technologies, REUTERS Locations: Black Rock, Nevada, San Francisco, playa, San Francisco and New York, New York, Southern California, Reno, Rock

Reviving Thailand's economy will be one of the biggest tasks for political newcomer Srettha, who became prime minister last month following prolonged uncertainty after a May election. On the day of the vote, Pheu Thai figurehead Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Thailand in a dramatic homecoming after living abroad for 15 years in self-exile to avoid an 8-year prison sentence. Srettha's rapid ascent to power, Thaksin's smooth return and a coalition between Pheu Thai and former rivals fuelled speculation about an agreement between Thaksin and his foes among the country's powerful conservative and royalist army. Thaksin and the Pheu Thai party say that is not the case. The Pheu Thai will control key economic ministries, which will be crucial in implementing its policies, including a 10,000 baht ($285.63)handout in the form of digital currency.

Persons: Pheu, Thailand's, Athit, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Bhumjaithai, Chayut Setboonsarng, Miral Fahmy, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Pheu, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK

☆ South African police say 18 suspected robbers killed in shootout
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view shows a crime scene after at least 18 cash-in-transit robbers were shot and killed during a shootout with a specialised airborne police unit in Makhado, Limpopo, South Africa September 1, 2023. South African Police Service/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsJOHANNESBURG, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Eighteen suspected robbers were shot and killed during a shootout with South African police in the Limpopo province, the police said on Friday. "We do believe this syndicate has been involved in a number of CITs in this province, Mpumalanga and Gauteng," Masemola said. One police officer was injured in the shootout, which lasted about 90 minutes, he added. Reporting by Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Alexander WinningOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Fannie Masemola, Masemola, Bhargav Acharya, Alexander Winning Organizations: South African Police Service, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, South, Thomson Locations: Makhado, Limpopo, South Africa, Rights JOHANNESBURG, South Africa's, Mpumalanga, Gauteng

☆ Ohio police release video of fatal shooting of pregnant Black woman
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Brendan O'Brien | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Video of the incident in Blendon Township on Aug. 24 followed demands by the family of the 21-year-old woman, Ta'Kiya Young, for the officer who fired the fatal shot to be held accountable. "A theft suspect drove her car into one of my officers and the officer fired a single shot through the windshield," Blendon Police Chief John Belford said in a statement accompanying the release. Video made public on Friday shows an officer standing next to Young's vehicle as he repeatedly orders her to get out. A second officer comes around the front of vehicle and points a gun at the windshield, demanding that she exits. Young can be seen turning the wheels to the right, away from the officer, before the vehicle begins moving toward him.

Persons: Ta'Kiya Young, John Belford, Sean Walton, Walton, Young, Belford, Brendan O'Brien, Mark Potter Organizations: Blendon Township Police Department, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, An, Blendon Police, Police, Facebook, Ohio, Investigation, Thomson Locations: Blendon Township , Ohio, U.S, Blendon Township, An Ohio, United States, Blendon, Columbus, Chicago

☆ Liverpool handed favourable draw in Europa League group stage
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Soccer Football - Europa League - Group Stage Draw - Monaco, Monaco - September 1, 2023 General view of the completed draw Valerio Pennicino/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSept 1 (Reuters) - Liverpool will take on LASK, Union Saint-Gilloise and Toulouse in the Europa League group stage while debutants Brighton & Hove Albion will face Ajax Amsterdam and Olympique de Marseille following the draw on Friday. Liverpool, who have lifted the trophy on three occasions, will be hot favourites to qualify top from Group E.Brighton face a tough task in their bid to progress past the group stage on their debut in European competition. Europa Conference League champions West Ham United were drawn with Olympiacos, Freiburg and TSC Backa Topola in Group A. Third-placed teams in the Europa League groups will drop to the third-tier Europa Conference League where they will play the group runners-up from that competition in the knockout round playoffs. The Europa League final will take place at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on May 22 next year.

Persons: Valerio Pennicino, Brighton's, Aadi Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Soccer, Europa League, Monaco, REUTERS Acquire, Brighton & Hove Albion, Ajax Amsterdam, Olympique de Marseille, Liverpool, E, Brighton, Ajax, Marseille, AEK Athens, Europa Conference League, West Ham United, Olympiacos, TSC Backa, AS Roma, Slavia Prague, Sheriff Tiraspol, Servette, Bayer Leverkusen, Germany, Qarabag, Molde FK, BK Hacken, League, Dublin's Aviva, Thomson Locations: Monaco, Handout, Liverpool, LASK, Union, Toulouse, Freiburg, Bengaluru

☆ Syrians rally in south against Assad, economic decline
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

shouted a large crowd in the southern Druze city of Sweida. Home province of most of Syria's Druze community, Sweida remained in government hands throughout the war and was largely spared the violence seen elsewhere. Open criticism of the government remained rare in the areas it controls but as the economic situation grew worse, the discontent has gone public. Some Druze sheikhs have criticized protesters' calls for Assad to step down and say that any improvement to the socioeconomic situation must come through dialogue. They carried the three-star flag emblematic of Syria's uprising, as well as signs criticising the role of Iran, a key Assad ally.

Persons: Bashar al, Assad, Bashar, Sweida, Maya Gebeily, Nick Macfie Organizations: Sky News Arabia, REUTERS, Rights, Ba'ath, Thomson Locations: Damascus, Syria, Syrian, Rights BEIRUT, Sweida, Home, Daraa, Iran, Tartus

☆ Pope Francis lands in Mongolia, home to tiny Catholic flock
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/10] Pope Francis tastes dried yoghurt as part of a welcome tradition as he arrives at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport during his Apostolic Journey in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia September 1, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsULAANBAATAR, Mongolia, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Pope Francis arrived in Mongolia on Friday to greet its tiny Catholic contingent, having earlier sent a blessing of "unity and peace" from his plane to China, with which the Vatican has had difficult relations. As is customary, Francis issued greetings to every country he flew over on his way to Mongolia including China, with which the Vatican has had difficult relations. "I send greetings of good wishes to your excellency and the People of China," the Pope said in the telegram addressed to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Mongolia was part of China until 1921 and has political and economic ties with Beijing.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Pope, Xi Jinping, China’s, Philip Pullella, John Geddie, Christian Schmollinger, Robert Birsel Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, ITA Airways, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, ULAANBAATAR, China, Western Europe, of China, Taiwan, Beijing

Thermal coal insurance rates rose more than 20% last year, it said, above the 7.3% rise in the benchmark Marsh Global Insurance Market Index. Insurance companies can be active in both primary insurance and reinsurance and have differing commitments on ESG for different parts of their business. "Establishing a mutual fund for the coal industry is a matter for the coal industry," a spokesperson for the Australian Department of Treasury said. "I'm talking about going beyond your normal UK-based markets and looking into Asia for funders and insurance cover," she added. Coal prices hit record highs in September last year as European countries scrambled to replace Russian gas, sending coal miners' profits soaring.

Persons: Philip Mostert, Seriti, Doug Gain, Gain, Ben Davis, Willis Towers Watson, Thungela, China's, Russia's, Switzerland's Chubb, Chubb, Russia's SOGAZ, Peter Bosshard, Nombasa Tsengwa, Tsengwa, Exxaro, Clara Denina, Sarah McFarlane, Nelson Banya, Elaine Hardcastle, Daniel Flynn Organizations: REUTERS, Seriti, Thungela Resources, International Energy Agency, Reuters, Marsh Global Insurance, Whitehaven Coal, Whitehaven, Allianz, Swiss, Germany's Allianz, Insuramore, Australian Department of Treasury, South, Thomson Locations: American, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, South, Ukraine, Whitehaven, Munich, Australia, Asia, Europe

☆ Biden says he's 'forever grateful' to forces in Afghanistan on two-year anniversary of exit
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Amanda Macias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"We also remember the hundreds of service members from allied and partner countries who lost their lives during this 20-year war. The conflict, which spanned over four administrations, claimed the lives of nearly 2,500 U.S. service members and more than 100,000 Afghan troops, police personnel and civilians. In April 2021, Biden ordered the full withdrawal of approximately 3,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11 of that year. Taliban forces stand guard in front of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, September 2, 2021. Evacuees crowd the interior of a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft, carrying some 640 Afghans to Qatar from Kabul, Afghanistan August 15, 2021.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, Biden, Defense Lloyd Austin, servicemembers, Austin, George W, Bush, Hamid Karzai, Stringer, Ashraf Ghani, Antony Blinken Organizations: Forward Operating Base, Department of Defense, WASHINGTON, Taliban, NATO, Defense, World Trade, Pentagon, Bagram Air Base, U.S, Afghan National Security and Defense Force, Reuters, Western, U.S . Air Force, Handout Locations: Forward Operating Base Salerno, Khost province, Afghanistan, U.S, Kabul's, New York City, Bagram, Kabul, Doha, Qatar, United States

☆ After Chandrayaan-3: India's upcoming and past space missions
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Here are highlights of Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) upcoming and past missions:ADITYA-L1Slated for launch on Sept. 2, the Aditya L1 (Aditya is a name for the sun in the Hindi language) is the first Indian space mission to study the sun. PAST MISSIONS:* Chandrayaan-3 - On August 23, India became the first country to safely land a craft in the moon's south pole region. * Chandrayaan-2 - In 2019, ISRO launched its second moon mission, its first attempt to study the lunar south pole. * Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) - In 2013, ISRO became the fourth space agency to put a spacecraft in the Mars orbit. * Chandrayaan-1 - India's first mission to the Moon was launched successfully in 2008.

Persons: GAGANYAAN, Vikram, Jitendra Singh, Nivedita, Gerry Doyle, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: ISRO, Handout, REUTERS, Rights, Indian Space Research, Centre, NASA, Mars Orbiter, Thomson Locations: India, Bengaluru

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