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

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

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

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

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

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

☆ The top 10 people in artificial-intelligence hardware
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-25 | by ( Hugh Langley | Rosalie Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Jack Hidary, SandboxAQJack Hidary, the CEO of SandboxAQ. SandboxAQThe intersection of AI and quantum technology isn't talked about as much as buzzy chatbots right now — but it's a future Hidary is trying to prepare us for. His company, SandboxAQ, began life in Alphabet as a research unit nestled in the company's X building, exploring how to run quantum workloads using the same chips as those that power AI. Hidary spun the unit out in early 2022 with a nine-figure round of investment that included the former Alphabet executive chair Eric Schmidt and Marc Benioff, the CEO of Salesforce. See the full list of 100 people who make AI intelligent here.

Persons: Jack Hidary, isn't, Hidary, Eric Schmidt, Marc Benioff

☆ OpenAI CEO Sam Altman went on an 18-month, $85 million real-estate shopping spree — including a previously unknown Hawaii estate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Katherine Long | Hugh Langley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

AdvertisementYears before the recent drama at OpenAI turned CEO Sam Altman into a household name, the former Y Combinator president went on an extraordinary 18-month, $85 million real-estate shopping spree, according to records reviewed by Business Insider — including a previously unreported $43 million Hawaii estate on land that locals describe as historically significant. AdvertisementSam Altman's Hawaii estate is immediately adjacent to the reconstruction of the royal temple of King Kamehameha I. Maxar TechnologiesA $43 million estate in HawaiiIn July 2021, Altman bought a twelve-bedroom estate in Kailua-Kona, on the big island of Hawaii, for $43 million. Altman's purchase of the Hawaii property has not been previously reported. AdvertisementAnnie had been unaware that her oldest brother owned property in Hawaii until Business Insider asked her about it, she said. A $27 million San Francisco homeAltman's weekday residence is a home on San Francisco's Russian Hill that was once described — inaccurately — as the most expensive home in San Francisco.

Persons: Sam Altman, Altman, —, OpenAI, he's, He's, Sam Altman's, King Kamehameha I, King Kamehameha, Jennifer Serralta, Serralta, Jack, Max, — Sam Altman, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison, Marc Benioff, Jeff Bezos, Peter Thiel, Annie Altman, Annie, Sam's, Napa Altman, Cade Metz, Bob Dickinson Organizations: Service, Business, Bloomberg Tech Summit, Wall Street Journal, YouTube, Altman, LinkedIn, Apollo, Opportunity Fund, Silicon Valley, Business Insider, San, SEC, 9Point Ventures, Uncommon Ventures, New York Times, Capital Management, San Francisco Chronicle, New Yorker, Israeli Defense Force, Tesla Locations: San Francisco, Napa, Hawaii, Napa , California, Sam Altman's Hawaii, Kailua, Kona, wakesurfing, Kauai, Lanai, San, Russian, California, Hollywood, Big Sur

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

☆ 'Morale is at an all-time low': Ex-Googler writes scathing letter slamming layoffs and 'eroded' culture
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Hugh Langley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

He also accused CEO Sundar Pichai of lacking "visionary leadership." AdvertisementAn ex-Google employee has published a highly critical letter attacking the firm's "eroded" culture and accusing CEO Sundar Pichai of lacking "visionary leadership." AdvertisementHickson is unusually candid, however, especially in his remarks on CEO Sundar Pichai. AdvertisementHickson says these layoffs have "insidious" effects on the culture that can cause employees to "dramatically dial back any risk-taking." AdvertisementAs for whether Google's culture can be salvaged, Hickson thinks it can, but says the "clock is ticking."

Persons: Googler, Sundar Pichai, —, Ian Hickson, Hickson, Larry Page, Sergey Brin Organizations: Google, Service, Business, BI

☆ OpenAI is in a deadlock. The coming hours will determine its fate.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Hugh Langley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Most OpenAI employees have signed a letter saying they will leave if Altman is not reinstated. Extremely late Sunday, Microsoft CEO Nadella announced that Altman and OpenAI cofounder Greg Brockman would join Microsoft to lead a new AI research team. Let's say Microsoft ends up hiring the OpenAI employees threatening to walk, to the tune of almost 800 staff. Nadella has made clear he thinks OpenAI's board needs to change, and he's the man writing $13 billion checks. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has already offered to hire OpenAI employees who leave and match their compensation.

Persons: Altman, —, OpenAI, Sam Altman, Nadella, Greg Brockman, Brockman, Anna Makanju, everyone's, Ilya Sutskever, Emmett Shear, Kali Hays, Sutskever, Google's, Marc Benioff Organizations: Service, Friday's, Microsoft, Bloomberg, Employees, Meta, Rivals

☆ Israel says Houthis seize ship in Red Sea, no Israelis among owners or crew
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JERUSALEM, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Israel said on Sunday that Yemen's Houthis had seized a British-owned and Japanese-operated cargo ship in the southern Red Sea, describing the incident as an "Iranian act of terrorism" with consequences for international maritime security. Last week, the Houthi leader said his forces would make further attacks on Israel and they could target Israeli ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said a ship - which it did not name - had been seized, and stressed that Israel was not involved in its ownership, operation or the make-up of its international crew. The Israeli military said in an earlier statement the ship seizure took place in the Red Sea. Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Jane Merriman and Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Israel, Yemen's Houthis, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Dan Williams, Jane Merriman, Hugh Lawson Organizations: U.S . Defense, Thomson Locations: British, Tehran, Israel, Gaza, Mandeb, belligerence, Red

☆ France test-fires long-range ballistic missile in bid to boost nuclear deterrence
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, Nov 19 (Reuters) - France has successfully test-fired an M51.3 long-range ballistic missile, boosting the credibility of France's nuclear deterrence capabilities, the defence ministry said on Sunday. It added that maintaining operational credibility of France's nuclear weapons is required given the international environment. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned the West that he would be ready to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia. The M51.3 missile is an upgraded version of the M51, a three-stage sea-land strategic ballistic missile designed to be launched from French Navy submarines. The new M51.3 missile, which is expected to enter service around 2025, is developed by aerospace firm ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus (AIR.PA) and French defence group Safran (SAF.PA).

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Safran, Geert De Clercq, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Russia, French Navy, Airbus, Ballistic, Thomson Locations: France, Ukraine

☆ Palestinian Red Crescent, UN agencies evacuate Al Shifa premature babies
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

GAZA, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Ambulance crews of the Palestinian Red Crescent evacuated 31 premature babies from Shifa Hospital on Sunday in coordination with the World Health Organization and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the group said in a post on its Facebook page. [1/7]Premature babies which were evacuated from an incubator in Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City receive treatment at an hospital in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, November 19, 2023. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled Acquire Licensing RightsThe babies were transferred to the south of Gaza "in preparation for their transfer to the Emirates Hospital in Rafah" the group added. Later in the day Ashraf Al-Qidra, spokesperson for the Health Ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza, told a news conference that the babies had been moved to Tal Alsultan Hospital in Rafah and will be sent to Egyptian hospitals with their families tomorrow. Reporting by Ali Sawafta and Ahmed Tolba, writing by Omar Abdel-Razek; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Hatem Khaled, Ashraf Al, Ali Sawafta, Ahmed Tolba, Omar Abdel, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Ambulance, Palestinian, Crescent, Shifa Hospital, World Health Organization, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, REUTERS, Emirates Hospital, Health Ministry, Hamas, Tal Alsultan, Thomson Locations: GAZA, Al Shifa, Gaza City, Rafah, Gaza, Tal

Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani attends a joint press conference with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna (not pictured) at the Amiri Diwan, in Doha, Qatar November 5, 2023. It followed a report in the Washington Post published on Saturday that said a deal for the release of 50 hostages had been agreed. "The challenges facing the agreement are just practical and logistical," Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said at a joint press conference with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Doha. "The deal is going through ups and downs from time to time throughout the last few weeks. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said no deal had been reached yet.

Persons: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Catherine Colonna, Amiri, Imad Creidi, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman, Thani, Josep Borrell, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sheikh Mohammed, Andrew Gray, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Emelia Sithole, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Qatar's, French, REUTERS, Rights DOHA, Hamas, Washington Post, White House, Reuters, Qatari, European Union, Washington, Thomson Locations: Doha, Qatar, Palestinian, Israel, United States, Gaza

☆ Police seize pistol from military officer at Spanish amnesty protest
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Susana Vera / File... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreMADRID, Nov 19 (Reuters) - A Spanish military officer was arrested with a pistol at a demonstration against an amnesty law which will benefit Catalan separatists involved in a failed 2017 bid for independence, police said on Sunday. About 1,500 people took part in the demonstration, the 16th consecutive protest outside the Socialists' headquarters. El Confidencial, a Spanish news site, reported on Sunday that the officer had a private weapon that was not a pistol used for military purposes. The independence referendum was declared illegal by the courts and resulted in Spain's worst political crisis for decades. Sanchez has defended the law saying an amnesty would help to defuse tensions in Catalonia.

Persons: Catalonia's, Susana Vera, Pedro Sanchez, Sanchez, Graham Keeley, Hugh Lawson Organizations: REUTERS, Zaragoza Military Academy, Socialist, Reuters, Socialists, Spain's Socialists, Spain's Socialist, Thomson Locations: Spanish, Madrid, Spain, MADRID, El, Catalan, Basque, Catalonia

☆ France Test-Fires Long-Range Ballistic Missile in Bid to Boost Nuclear Deterrence
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS (Reuters) - France has successfully test-fired an M51.3 long-range ballistic missile, boosting the credibility of France's nuclear deterrence capabilities, the defence ministry said on Sunday. It added that maintaining operational credibility of France's nuclear weapons is required given the international environment. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned the West that he would be ready to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia. The M51.3 missile is an upgraded version of the M51, a three-stage sea-land strategic ballistic missile designed to be launched from French Navy submarines. The new M51.3 missile, which is expected to enter service around 2025, is developed by aerospace firm ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus and French defence group Safran.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Safran, Geert De Clercq, Hugh Lawson Organizations: PARIS, Russia, French Navy, Airbus Locations: France, Ukraine

☆ France may sell real estate to cut deficit, review seniors' unemployment benefits
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Johanna Geron Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Nov 19 (Reuters) - France wants to reduce government spending on office space and may consider real estate sales in a bid to reduce the state deficit, the budget and finance ministers said in a media interview on Sunday. The government also plans to review unemployment benefits for seniors, they said. Budget Minister Thomas Cazenave told La Tribune that the government wants to reduce the amount of office space occupied by the administration by 25%. "We may also consider real estate sales," he added. ($1 = 0.9168 euros)Reporting by Geert De Clercq; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Digital Security Bruno Le Maire, Thomas Cazenave, Johanna Geron, Bruno Le Maire, Le Maire, Cazenave, Elisabeth Borne, Geert De Clercq, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Economy, Finance, Industry, Digital Security, French Junior, Public, REUTERS, Rights, Budget, La Tribune, Thomson Locations: Paris, France

☆ Murray withdraws from Britain's Davis Cup squad with injury
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Tennis - Davis Cup - Finals - Britain v Switzerland - AO Arena, Manchester, Britain - September 15, 2023 Britain's Andy Murray celebrates winning his match against Switzerland's Leandro Riedi Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff/ File photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 18 (Reuters) - Former world number one Andy Murray has withdrawn from Britain's Davis Cup squad ahead of the finals next week due to a shoulder injury, the Briton said on Saturday, effectively ending his season. Murray guided Britain to the finals after missing his grandmother's funeral to help his team beat Switzerland in September. "I've picked up a minor shoulder injury, which means I won't be able to take part in the Davis Cup," Murray said in a statement. "I'm gutted not to be a part of the squad, but my focus is now on rehab and getting ready for the new season." Murray, 36, split with long-time coach Ivan Lendl for a third time earlier this month.

Persons: Andy Murray, Switzerland's Leandro Riedi, Jason Cairnduff, Murray, I've, Ivan Lendl, Rohith Nair, Hugh Lawson Organizations: AO, Britain's Davis, Briton, Switzerland, Thomson Locations: Britain, Switzerland, Manchester, Serbia, Malaga, Bengaluru

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