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☆ Israelis are lining up to buy guns in 'unprecedented' numbers with one shop staying open on the Jewish Sabbath due to demand: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Paul Squire | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Israeli gun shops are seeing a surge in demand, according to the Financial Times. Long lines are keeping stores open late, with one doing business on the Jewish Sabbath. The country's right-wing national security minister loosened Israel's gun permit rules after Hamas' attacks. AdvertisementAdvertisementLast week, Israel's right-wing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir loosened Israel's previously tight restrictions on gun permits, allowing thousands more Israelis to purchase firearms in the aftermath of the attacks. The changes automatically qualify residents of Sderot, Israel, the city that was attacked by Hamas, to buy a firearm, Ben-Gvir said.

Persons: —, Mehul Srivastava, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Ben Organizations: Financial Times, Service, Hamas, United Nations, National Security, National Locations: Israel, Gaza, Holon, Sderot

[1/4] A formation of Israeli tanks is positioned near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 21, 2023. Iran, a longtime backer of Gaza's rulers Hamas, finds itself in a quandary as it tries to manage the spiralling crisis, according to nine Iranian officials with direct knowledge of the thinking within the clerical establishment. "We are in contact with our friends Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah," Vahid Jalalzadeh, the head of parliament's National Security Committee said on Wednesday, according to Iranian state media. Iran's foreign ministry didn't respond to a request for comment about the country's response to the unfolding crisis, while Israeli military authorities declined to comment. "Iran's nuanced position emphasizes the delicate balance it must maintain between regional interests and internal stability," said the former senior Iranian official.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, wouldn't, Avi Melamed, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Israel, Israel didn't, Khamenei, Joe Biden, Biden, John Kirby, Washington, Jon Alterman, Parisa Hafezi, Jonathan Saul, Jerusalem, Arshad Mohammed, Laila Bassam, Samia Nakhoul, Michael Georgy, Pravin Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Islamic, parliament's National Security, Israel, Wednesday, Hezbollah, U.S, Germany's Ramstein Air Base, House, State Department, CSIS, Swiss, Iran, Iranian, Thomson Locations: Israel's, Gaza, Israel, Rights DUBAI, Iran, Tehran, U.S, Lebanon, Yemen, United States, Islamic Republic, Iranian, Lebanese, Syria, Iraq, Washington, America, GAZA, LEBANON, China, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Beirut, Paritosh, New York

☆ Iran's Quandary: How to Stay Out of Israel's War on Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +9 min

Iran, a longtime backer of Gaza's rulers Hamas, finds itself in a quandary as it tries to manage the spiralling crisis, according to nine Iranian officials with direct knowledge of the thinking within the clerical establishment. "We are in contact with our friends Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah," Vahid Jalalzadeh, the head of parliament's National Security Committee said on Wednesday, according to Iranian state media. Iran's foreign ministry didn't respond to a request for comment about the country's response to the unfolding crisis, while Israeli military authorities declined to comment. Khamenei, the supreme leader, has denied Iran was involved in the attack, though he praised the damage inflicted on Israel. "Iran's nuanced position emphasizes the delicate balance it must maintain between regional interests and internal stability," said the former senior Iranian official.

Persons: Parisa Hafezi, Jonathan Saul, Arshad Mohammed DUBAI, wouldn't, Avi Melamed, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Israel, Israel didn't, Khamenei, Joe Biden, Biden, John Kirby, Washington, Jon Alterman, Jerusalem, Arshad Mohammed, Laila Bassam, Samia Nakhoul, Michael Georgy, Pravin Char Organizations: Reuters, Islamic, parliament's National Security, Israel, Wednesday, Hezbollah, U.S, Germany's Ramstein Air Base, House, State Department, CSIS, Swiss, Iran, Iranian Locations: Iran, Israel, Gaza, Tehran, U.S, Lebanon, Yemen, United States, Islamic Republic, Iranian, Lebanese, Syria, Iraq, Washington, America, GAZA, LEBANON, China, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Beirut, Paritosh, New York

Venezuelans were arrested 54,833 times by the Border Patrol after entering from Mexico in September, more than double from 22,090 arrests in August and well above the previous monthly high of 33,749 arrests in September 2022. Venezuela plunged into a political, economic and humanitarian crisis over the last decade, pushing more than 7 million people to leave. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesThe U.S. “surged resources and personnel” to the border in September, said Troy Miller, acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection. Mexicans were arrested 39,733 times crossing the border in September, well behind Venezuelans. Republicans seized on the latest numbers as its leading presidential candidates have tried to frame the border as a major issue in next year's elections.

Persons: Venezuelans, Biden, Nicolás, ”, Troy Miller, ” Miller, Alejandro, Mayorkas, Mark Green of Organizations: DIEGO, Border Patrol, U.S . Customs, Protection, Customs, Central Americans, Republicans, Homeland, House Homeland Security Locations: U.S, Mexico, Venezuela, America, United States, New York, Chicago, South America, Africa, Asia, Hondurans, Mark Green of Tennessee

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenyan lawmakers said Wednesday that parliamentary approval is required before the deployment of police to the Kenya-led peacekeeping mission in Haiti to combat gang violence that was approved by the U.N. Security Council this week. Opposition lawmaker Anthony Oluoch told a session of Parliament's lower house that the conditions for foreign deployment hadn't been met under the National Police Act. The Kenya-led mission would be the first time in almost 20 years that a force would be deployed to Haiti. The upcoming mission would be led by Kenya, with Jamaica, the Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda also pledging personnel. The non-U.N. mission would be reviewed after nine months and be funded by voluntary contributions, with the U.S. pledging up to $200 million.

Persons: Anthony Oluoch, hadn't, ”, Junet Mohamed, William Ruto, “, Joe Biden, Ruto, Nelson Koech, ” Koech, Kimani Ichung’wah, Alfred Mutua, Mutua Organizations: —, . Security, National Police, Kenyan, Security, Multinational Security, Kenyan Constitution, Associated Press, U.S, Kenyan Foreign Locations: NAIROBI, Kenya, Haiti, East Africa, Shabab, Jamaica, Bahamas, Antigua, Barbuda

A Union Jack flag flutters in front of the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, November 5, 2019. "Chinese recruitment schemes have tried to headhunt British and allied nationals in key positions and with sensitive knowledge and experience," the government said. The arrest of the young researcher, who denied being a spy, has led to calls by British members of parliament for a tougher stance. Sunak told parliament that he accepted the report and recognised that it identified areas where "we can do better". Last year, MI5 issued a rare security alert, warning members of parliament that a suspected Chinese spy was "involved in political interference activities" in Britain.

Persons: Hannah McKay, Sunak, Andrew MacAskill, Kylie MacLellan, Michael Holden, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, CAN, Intelligence, Security Committee, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, China, Beijing

☆ UK government says China attempting to headhunt Britons in sensitive positions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Union Jack flag flutters in front of the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, November 5, 2019. "The government recognises that Chinese recruitment schemes have tried to headhunt British and allied nationals in key positions and with sensitive knowledge and experience," the government said. The arrest of the young researcher, who denied being a spy, has led to calls by British members of parliament for a tougher stance on China. Chinese spying efforts in Britain were once focused on the hacking and stealing of intellectual property, according to lawmakers. But there has been a growth in human intelligence, targeting officials in senior positions, the lawmakers said.

Persons: Hannah McKay, Sunak, Andrew MacAskill, Kylie MacLellan, Michael Holden Organizations: REUTERS, Conservative Party, Intelligence, Security Committee, ISC, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, China, Beijing

☆ UK government under pressure to take tougher line on China amid spying allegations
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Sunak’s predecessor Liz Truss called for the government to formally designate China as a threat to the UK. Florence Lo/APUnder the radarBut back to the question at hand: should the events of the past few days affect the UK’s official policy? Despite the arrests, observers believe it is unlikely there will be a sea-change in the UK government’s policy on China. The allegations that China is spying on the UK, in the very heart of Britain’s democracy, is of course a very real concern. But it will not be a surprise to the government, which has baked it into British foreign policy.

Persons: Tom Tugendhat, Tugendhat, Rishi Sunak, Premier Li Qiang, ”, Sunak’s, Liz Truss, Iain Duncan Smith, UK’s, Oliver Dowden, James, Han Zheng, Florence Lo, —, Peter Ricketts, “, doesn’t, ” Ricketts, Christopher Furlong Organizations: London CNN, Sunday Times, Conservative, CNN, Premier, Embassy, Metropolitan Police, Conservative Party, of, People, parliament’s Intelligence, Security, British National Security, Getty, Russia, Diplomats Locations: China, Beijing, New Delhi, London, gossiping, Europe, Hong Kong, South China, Taiwan, Westminster

☆ Poland to send 2,000 troops to reinforce Belarus border
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A sign is seen near the Bug River at the Poland-Belarus border, near Kostomloty, Poland July 20, 2023. Poland has worried increasingly about the border area since hundreds of battle-hardened Wagner mercenaries arrived in Belarus last month at the invitation of President Alexander Lukashenko. Belarus started military exercises near the border this week, and Lukashenko said several times that he is restraining Wagner fighters who want to attack Poland. "This reinforcement will be not by 1,000, but by 2,000 soldiers," Maciej Wasik told PAP. Belarus started military exercises near the border this week.

Persons: Wagner, Alexander Lukashenko, Lukashenko, Maciej Wasik, Mariusz Blaszczak, Wasik, Alan Charlish, Peter Graff Organizations: REUTERS, Border Guard, Security, Defence, Thomson Locations: Poland, Belarus, Kostomloty, WARSAW, Belarusian, Warsaw

☆ Fact Check-Joe Biden was not impeached in June 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. President Joe Biden was not impeached in June 2023, despite a clip circulating online that suggests he was. The video shows Rep. Lauren Boebert, who introduced a resolution to the House of Representatives in June calling for Biden’s impeachment. Text printed across the video reads: “Biden is impeached!!! The video shows Congresswoman Boebert introducing the resolution to impeach Biden on June 22, as reported by Reuters (here), (here). The video shows Rep. Lauren Boebert proposing an impeachment resolution in June that was then referred to two committees.

Persons: Joe Biden, Lauren Boebert, “ Biden, Boebert, Biden, Read Organizations: Representatives, Reuters, Homeland Security, Republicans, House Homeland Locations: Mexico

☆ Poland to move soldiers to east of country due to Wagner risks-PAP
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

"Training or joint exercises of the Belarusian army and the Wagner Group is undoubtedly a provocation," Zbigniew Hoffmann told PAP. "The Committee analysed possible threats, such as the dislocation of Wagner Group units. Therefore, the Minister of National Defense, chairman of the Committee, Mariusz Blaszczak, decided to move our military formations from the west to the east of Poland." Defense Minister Blasczak said earlier this month that Poland began moving over 1,000 troops to the east of the country. Also at the beginning of July Poland said it would send 500 policeto shore up security at the border with Belarus.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Zbigniew Hoffmann, Mariusz Blaszczak, Russia's Wagner, Blasczak, Alan Charlish, Kim Coghill Organizations: WARSAW, NATO, Wagner Group, National Defense, Defense, Thomson Locations: Belarus, Ukraine, Africa, Belarusian, Poland, Poland's

☆ Putin tells Poland any aggression against Belarus is attack on Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MOSCOW, July 21 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin on Friday accused NATO member Poland of having territorial ambitions in the former Soviet Union, and said any aggression against Russia's neighbour and close ally Belarus would be considered an attack on Russia. Moscow would react to any aggression against Belarus, which forms a loose "Union State" with Russia, "with all the means at our disposal", Putin told a meeting of his Security Council in televised remarks. On Thursday, Belarus said Wagner mercenaries had started to train Belarusian special forces at a military range just a few miles from the border with Poland. "But as far as Belarus is concerned, it is part of the Union State (with Russia); unleashing aggression against Belarus will mean aggression against the Russian Federation," Putin said. Poland denies any territorial ambitions in Belarus.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Russian Wagner, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Kevin Liffey, Andrew Osborn Organizations: NATO, Soviet Union, Council, Warsaw's Security, Union State, Russian Federation, Reuters, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Moscow, Russian, Ukraine, Africa, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Lithuanian

☆ Secret Services ends White House cocaine investigation with no leads
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Kelly O'Donnell | Rebecca Shabad | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The Secret Service investigation has concluded with no usable forensic or video evidence to identify the individual responsible, three Secret Service officials familiar with the investigation tell NBC News. The Secret Service received results Wednesday from tests conducted by the FBI, "which did not develop latent fingerprints and insufficient DNA was present for investigative comparisons," according to an official statement from the Secret Service released Thursday. "The presence of illegal drugs in the White House is unacceptable and a shameful moment in the White House's history." White House officials noted the Biden family was not at the White House when the cocaine was discovered; the president and his family had left for Camp David for the holiday weekend Friday and did not return to the White House until Tuesday, July 4th, after the cocaine had been discovered. The individuals were notified they could not bring the marijuana to the White House campus, the officials said.

Persons: Biden, Jake Sullivan, Karine Jean, Pierre, Jean, James Comer, Kimberly Cheatle, Comer, Camp David, Pierre said, it's Organizations: Service Police, Lafayette, Service, NBC, White, FBI, NBC News, Homeland, Capitol, West, Wing, West Wing, District of Columbia Fire Department, Department of Homeland, Camp, Secret Services, Washington , D.C, White House Locations: Washington ,, Ky, Fort Detrick , Maryland

The PGA Tour on Tuesday defended its controversial deal with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league before senators, as scrutiny of the agreement intensifies. Representatives from LIV Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund wasn't present at the hearing because CEO Greg Norman is out of the country, according to a spokesperson. PGA Tour operating chief Ron Price and policy board independent director Jimmy Dunne testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee's subcomittee on investigations. Dunne and Price said they believed the PGA Tour would benefit the most from the proposed deal. The PGA Tour would manage competitions, and has said it is leading the negotiations to reach a finalized deal.

Persons: LIV, Greg Norman, Ron Price, Jimmy Dunne, Dunne, Price, Yasir Al, Rumayyan, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Conn, It's, Blumenthal, Norman, Ron Johnson, Johnson, CNBC's Organizations: LIV Golf, LIV Tour, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, PGA Tour, Senate Homeland Security, Comcast, Paramount Global, Disney, Warner Bros, Capitol, PIF Locations: Saudi, American, Yemen

☆ PGA Tour defends LIV Golf deal ahead of Senate hearing
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Streeter Lecka | Getty ImagesThe PGA Tour has begun its public defense of its deal with Saudi-backed LIV Golf ahead of a key Senate hearing slated for this week. "Given the well-chronicled legal disputes that have existed between the PGA Tour and PIF, we understand the fair and valid questions raised by PGA Tour members, Tour partners, media, fans and now Congress," Price said in the op-ed. Stephenson stepped down as lawmakers appeared likely to start a broad probe into the merger between the PGA Tour and LIV, beginning with Tuesday's Senate hearing. Defending the dealLast month, the PGA Tour and PIF's LIV Golf, as well as Europe's DP World Tour, agreed to merge. The majority of the board that leads the PGA Tour Enterprises will be appointed by the tour and run by Monahan.

Persons: Streeter Lecka, LIV Golf, Ron Price, Price, Randall Stephenson, Stephenson, LIV, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Ron Johnson, Jay Monahan, Jimmy Dunne, Monahan, Richard Heathcote, Rory McIlroy — Organizations: THE, Sawgrass, Saudi, Athletic, Monday, PGA, PGA Tour, AT, Senate, Senate Homeland Security, Investigations, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Getty, Saudi Arabia Public Investment, PIF Locations: Ponte Vedra Beach , Florida, Saudi, United States, Monday's

☆ Republicans Are Divided on Impeaching Biden as Panel Begins New Inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Karoun Demirjian | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Republicans are deeply divided over impeaching President Biden, with newly energized lawmakers on the far right applying pressure to do so and leaders and rank-and-file members concerned they have undertaken a politically risky battle that they cannot win. over moving forward and complicating a separate monthslong drive by the panel to prepare an impeachment case against Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, for the same offenses. Neither pursuit appears to have the votes to proceed, and many Republicans are worried that without a stronger case against the president, even trying the move could be disastrous for their party. Several rank-and-file Republicans from politically competitive districts had balked at the idea of impeaching Mr. Mayorkas, even after Mr. McCarthy endorsed that push. Few believe that the new investigation of Mr. Biden — a hastily arranged effort designed to halt a right-wing attempt to impeach the president outright with no investigation — will yield anything that could persuade them to oust him.

Persons: Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Alejandro N, Mr, Mayorkas, McCarthy, Biden — Organizations: impeaching, Mr, Homeland

U.N. investigators in 2012 concluded there were reasonable grounds to believe shabbiha militias committed crimes against humanity, including murder and torture, and war crimes such as arbitrary arrest and detention, sexual violence and pillaging. PAPER TRAILSome human rights scholars who have studied the role of the shabbiha in the Syrian war say the Assad regime initially used the groups to distance itself from violence on the ground. CIJA is a nonprofit founded by a veteran war crimes investigator and staffed by international criminal lawyers who have worked in Bosnia, Rwanda and Cambodia. While there is no international war crimes court with jurisdiction over Syria's conflict, there are a number of so-called universal jurisdiction cases in countries like the Netherlands, Sweden, France and Germany which have laws allowing them to prosecute war crimes even if they are committed elsewhere. Ghany said the documents were "necessary" pieces of evidence linking the shabbiha to the state in international justice cases.

Persons: shabbiha, Assad, CIJA, Bashar al, Ugur Ungor, Fadel Abdul Ghany, Nerma Jelacic, Ghany, Stephanie Van Den Berg, Maya Gebeily, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: UN, Reuters, Commission, International Justice, Committees, Assad's Baath, Popular Committees, Crisis Management, Dutch NIOD Institute for, Studies, Syrian Network for Human Rights, National Defence Force, Thomson Locations: HAGUE, BEIRUT, U.S, CIJA, Bosnia, Rwanda, Cambodia, Syria, Germany, France, Sweden, Netherlands, Karm, Homs, al, Adawiya

☆ 'Planned in plain sight': Senate report finds intel agencies failed in the lead-up to Jan. 6
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Ryan Nobles | Ryan J. Reilly | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON — Federal law enforcement agencies failed to correctly analyze a wide range of intelligence showing the potential for violence on Jan. 6, 2021, Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security Committee concluded in a report released Tuesday. That post was one of many alluding to the potential for violence leading up to Jan. 6. "What was shocking is that this attack was essentially planned in plain sight in social media," Peters said in an interview, "And yet it seemed as if our intelligence agencies completely dropped the ball." According to the report, similar streams of intelligence continued to flood federal agencies tasked with keeping watch for violent activity. "On the contrary, these threats were made openly, often in publicly available social media posts, and FBI and I&A were aware of them."

Persons: Sen, Gary Peters, Parler, …, Peters Organizations: Senate Homeland Security, FBI, Department of Homeland Security's, of Intelligence, Capitol, U.S . Capitol Police, Washington Metropolitan Police, Washington Field Office, DHS National Operations Center Locations: WASHINGTON, Washington

“As Secretary Mayorkas has said, the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, was a violent assault on our democracy,” the spokesperson said. In a statement to CNN, the FBI said it worked with law enforcement agencies to share information before and during the Capitol attack. And yet it seemed as if our intelligence agencies completely dropped the ball,” Sen. Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat who chairs the committee, told reporters on Monday while previewing the report’s findings. Over 1,000 people have been charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack, nearly a third of whom have been charged with assaulting police that day, according to the Justice Department. These findings undercut a key criticism from Republicans who, in seeking to whitewash the Capitol attack, have often claimed law enforcement targeted conservatives in their open-source searches surrounding the insurrection.

Persons: ”, Donald Trump “, Trump, Trump’s, ’, “, Mayorkas, ” Sen, Gary Peters, Biden, Jan, Peters, ” Peters, “ We’re, Jack Smith, Jennifer Moore, “ yep Organizations: CNN, Capitol, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Senate Homeland Security, DHS, of Intelligence, Trump, “, DC, U.S, Michigan Democrat, Justice Department, Senate, Republican, Washington Field Office

☆ Senate Report Details Jan. 6 Intelligence and Law Enforcement Failures
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Luke Broadwater | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday released a scathing report that detailed how the F.B.I., the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies repeatedly ignored, downplayed or failed to share warnings of violence before the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Aides said Senate staff obtained thousands of additional documents from federal law enforcement agencies, including the Justice Department, before drafting the report. It includes multiple calls for armed violence, calls to occupy federal buildings including the Capitol and some of the clearest threats the F.B.I. “Our intelligence agencies completely dropped the ball,” said Senator Gary Peters, Democrat of Michigan and the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. He added: “Despite a multitude of tips and other intelligence warnings of violence on Jan. 6, the report showed that these agencies repeatedly — repeatedly — downplayed the threat level and failed to share the intelligence they had with law enforcement partners.”

Persons: ”, Gary Peters, — Organizations: Senate Homeland Security, Department of Homeland Security, Capitol, Justice Department, Democrat, Homeland Security Locations: Washington, Michigan

☆ Here's how a merger between PGA Tour and LIV Golf would be structured
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In a five-page agreement obtained by CNBC, the parties — the PGA Tour, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund and Europe's DP World Tour — agreed to create a for-profit subsidiary of the PGA Tour. The new entity will manage commercial assets for all of the tours, while the PGA Tour will manage competitions. The tentative merger agreement was signed by PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley and PIF's Yasir al-Rumayyan. The lawsuits came after multiple high-profile players including Phil Mickelson left the PGA Tour for LIV. The PGA Tour has said its executives would testify at the hearing, although it is unclear if Monahan will be present.

Persons: LIV, —, Muhammed bin Salman, Jay Monahan, Keith Pelley, PIF's Yasir al, LIV Golf, Phil Mickelson, " Monahan, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Ron Johnson, Monahan Organizations: PGA Tour, CNBC, Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Tour, Public Investment Fund, PGA, Senate Homeland Security Locations: Saudi, United States

☆ Chinese authorities focus on fire hazards following restaurant blast
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Casey Hall | Thomson Reuters | Casey Has Reported On China'S Consumer Culture Her Base In Shanghai For More Than A Decade | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI, June 23 (Reuters) - China's State Council Security Committee and municipal and provincial governments have held emergency video conferences and issued warnings about fire hazards and safety in the wake of a blast in China's northwest that killed 31 on Wednesday. Wednesday's explosion at a BBQ restaurant prompted President Xi Jinping to order a safety overhaul across China, calling on all regions to rectify safety risks. Following a hastily convened video conference on Thursday, Beijing mayor Yin Yong stressed that close attention should be paid to investigating and rectifying fire hazards. Beijing's municipal government, as well as the provincial governments of Sichuan, Guizhou and Hainan have all called attention to fire dangers and the safe handling of liquefied gas. Sichuan's Governor Huang Qiang said his province would immediately carry out an investigation and treatment of gas safety hazards.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Yin Yong, Huang Qiang, Casey Hall, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Security, China's Ministry of Culture, Tourism, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, China, Beijing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hainan

PGA Tour logo during the third round of the Travelers Championship on June 24, 2017, at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. Key lawmakers on Wednesday invited the officials behind the proposed deal between the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed rival LIV Golf to testify at a Senate subcommittee hearing. Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Johnson, R-Wisc., requested testimony from the tour's commissioner, Jay Monahan, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman and Yasir al-Rumayyan of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. "Fans, the players, and concerned citizens have many questions about the planned agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf," Johnson said in a release. Blumenthal has expressed a particular interest in whether the PGA Tour deserves to keep its tax exempt nonprofit status as a business association that benefits its members.

Persons: LIV Golf, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Ron Johnson, Blumenthal, Conn, Johnson, Jay Monahan, LIV, Greg Norman, Yasir al, Monahan, PIF didn't, Norman Organizations: Wednesday, PGA Tour, Senate Homeland Security, Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, LIV Golf, PGA, CBS Locations: Cromwell , Connecticut, Saudi, United States

☆ Poland's Kaczynski rejoins government ahead of tough election
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WARSAW, June 21 (Reuters) - Poland's ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski returned to the cabinet as deputy prime minister on Wednesday, taking up a more prominent role ahead of a closely fought election expected in October or November. The other deputy prime ministers resigned and will continue as ministers. Kaczynski previously served as deputy prime minister from October 2020 till June 2022, and also headed Poland's security committee. Although PiS is ahead in most opinion polls, a question mark remains over whether it can secure a parliamentary majority. Divisons in the ruling coalition have also re-emerged over Poland's relations with Brussels, after the EU withheld funding over rule of law concerns.

Persons: Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Kaczynski, Andrzej Duda, PiS, Pawel Florkiewicz, Karol Badohal, Alan Charlish, Gareth Jones, Emma Rumney Organizations: WARSAW, Law, Justice, European Union, PiS, Thomson Locations: Republic, Warsaw, Brussels

☆ US House Speaker McCarthy threatens to block funding for Chile waiver program
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, June 16 (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Friday threatened to use congressional appropriations to block funding for a U.S. visa waiver program for Chile, blaming rising criminal activity in the United States on the program. McCarthy, a California Republican said the appropriations will not allow Mayorkas "to use money when it comes to Chile for the visa waiver program until this issue is solved." McCarthy said people entering the United States through the program have joined organized crime organizations that he said have carried out raids on homes and businesses in California and elsewhere. "I am concerned that some citizens of Chile are abusing the visa waiver program to commit burglaries throughout the United States, including in my district in Orange County," Correa said in a statement on Thursday. Reporting by David Morgan; additional reporting by Ted Hesson; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Alejandro Mayorkas, Mayorkas, Lou Correa, Antony Blinken, Correa, David Morgan, Ted Hesson, Leslie Adler Organizations: . House, U.S . Homeland, California Republican, Republicans, Democrats, Democrat, House Homeland Security, Thomson Locations: Chile, United States, Santa Ana , California, U.S, California, Orange County

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