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☆ US Special Envoy on North Korea to Visit Tokyo, Seoul
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO (Reuters) - The U.S. special envoy on North Korean human rights issues, Julie Turner, will travel to Tokyo and Seoul from Monday, the State Department said. On the visit through Feb. 22, Turner will meet with government officials, activists and North Korean defectors, the department said in a news release on its website on Friday. "Special Envoy Turner's trip will underscore the U.S. commitment to promoting human rights in North Korea, increasing access to uncensored information within the closed country, and empowering survivor voices advocating for concrete change," the release said. President Joe Biden, however, had vowed on taking office that human rights would be at the centre of his foreign policy. (Reporting by Kevin Buckland in Tokyo; Editing by William Mallard and Tom Hogue)

Persons: Julie Turner, Turner, Joe Biden, Kevin Buckland, William Mallard, Tom Hogue Organizations: U.S, State Department, North Korean, State Department's Office, East, of Democracy, Human Rights, Labor Locations: TOKYO, North, Tokyo, Seoul, North Korea, United States, Pyongyang, East Asia

☆ Army Chief Congratulates Pakistan on 'Successful Conduct' of Elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's army chief congratulated the country on Saturday for the "successful conduct" of its national elections, saying the nation needed "stable hands" to move on from the politics of "anarchy and polarisation". The United States, Britain and the European Union on Friday each expressed concerns about Pakistan's electoral process in the wake of Thursday's vote, urging a probe into reported irregularities. The parties of former Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and the jailed Imran Khan, also a former premier, both claimed victory. (Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by William Mallard)

Persons: Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, Charlotte Greenfield, William Mallard Organizations: European Union Locations: ISLAMABAD, United States, Britain

☆ Exclusive-US-Backed Force in Syria: More Air Defence Needed After Deadly Drone Attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Maya Gebeily(Reuters) - A force that has been the backbone of the U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State said additional air defences should be deployed in northeast Syria after six of its fighters were killed in a drone attack it blamed on pro-Iran factions. Mazloum Abdi, commander of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, said his force considered it "a dangerous development when our camps are targeted in drone attacks by factions backed by Iran." On Feb. 4, the SDF said an explosive drone attack by Iran-backed armed groups in eastern Syria killed six of their fighters. Asked whether he had requested additional military backing to fend off such attacks, Abdi said his Kurdish-led force would "require technical capabilities and an increase in the aerial defensive systems" deployed in northeast Syria. It holds a quarter of Syria, including oil fields and areas where some 900 U.S. troops are deployed.

Persons: Maya Gebeily, Mazloum Abdi, Jan, Abdi, That's, Bashar al, Assad, Phil Stewart, William Maclean Organizations: Islamic State, Syrian Democratic Forces, U.S, Hamas, SDF, Reuters, Pentagon, State Department, White, Islamic Locations: U.S, Syria, Iran, State, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Jordan, Kurdish, Washington, Islamic State, Turkey

☆ Italy to Help Repair Roof of Ukraine's Odesa Cathedral
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

ROME (Reuters) - Italy will help with the rebuilding of a cathedral in the Ukrainian city of Odesa that was badly damaged by a missile strike last year, the Italian foreign ministry said on Thursday. Italy and UNESCO signed an agreement in Kyiv to provide 500 million euros ($539 million) towards the restoration of the roof of Odesa's Spaso-Preobrazhenskyi Cathedral, or Transfiguration Cathedral. "Italy is very committed, through its institutions and its industrial capacity, to the reconstruction of Ukraine," ambassador Pier Francesco Zazo said, noting Italy's expertise in the restoration of places of worship and monuments. Ukraine said the Orthodox cathedral was damaged when it was hit during a Russian missile attack on the southern port of Odesa last July. The Italian involvement follows through on a commitment made in the immediate aftermath of the attack by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to provide help with rebuilding.

Persons: Francesco Zazo, Giorgia Meloni, Keith Weir, William Maclean Organizations: UNESCO Locations: ROME, Italy, Ukrainian, Odesa, Kyiv, Preobrazhenskyi, Ukraine, Russian, Russia

☆ What King Charles’ diagnosis means for Prince William
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Lauren Said-Moorhouse | Max Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Editor’s Note: This is a version of CNN’s Royal News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on Britain’s royal family. It’s a particularly difficult moment for Prince William. Video Ad Feedback See Prince William's first public appearance since King Charles' cancer diagnosis 01:23 - Source: CNNThe demands of being the immediate heir saw William make a partial return to royal duties on Wednesday after a three-week absence. That will give William some flexibility as it means the prince appears not to be needed to pick up any constitutional business. The King’s diagnosis means William is now one of the most prominent faces of the clan - alongside Queen Camilla.

Persons: It’s, Prince William, Catherine, Princess, Wales, Charles, William, Queen Elizabeth II –, William's, King Charles, ”, “, ” William, I’d, Daniel Leal, Prince Harry, Prince, He’s, Queen Camilla, Arthur Edwards, it’s, ramped, Charles ’, Princess Anne, William’s Organizations: CNN’s Royal, London CNN, CNN, Windsor Castle, London Air Ambulance, Air Ambulance, Sandringham, Commonwealth, Westminster Abbey, BBC Locations: London, Windsor, Buckingham, Wales, Westminster

☆ Six US-Backed Kurdish Fighters Killed in Drone Attack on US Base in Syria
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

AMMAN (Reuters) - U.S.-backed Kurdish-led forces said on Monday that six of their fighters had been killed in an explosive drone attack by Iran-backed armed groups that came from areas of Syria's Deir al Zor under the control of the Syrian government. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq - an umbrella group of several Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups - on Monday claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Al-Omar field, saying it launched the attack on Feb. 4. Washington blames the group for a drone attack on a U.S. outpost in Jordan earlier this month that killed three U.S. forces. The U.S. launched dozens of strikes over the weekend against Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria, killing about 40 people, the vast majority reported to be militants. Iran-backed groups declaring support for the Palestinians have entered the fray across the region as the war between Israel and the militant Hamas group has intensified.

Persons: Syria's Deir al, Farhad Shami, Omar, Suleiman Al, Khalidi, Timour, Gareth Jones, William Maclean Organizations: Syrian Democratic Forces, SDF, Commando, Washington, Hamas, Lebanese Locations: AMMAN, Kurdish, Iran, Syria's Deir, Syria's Deir al Zor, U.S, Al, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Israel, Gaza, Red

☆ Two Killed in Police Helicopter Crash in Southern Turkey -Minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

ANKARA (Reuters) - A police helicopter crashed in southern Turkey late on Saturday, killing 2 police officers and injuring one, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said in a post on social media platform X. The helicopter took off from Hatay airport and was heading to Gaziantep airport, Yerlikaya said, adding that it lost contact at 10:29 p.m. (1949 GMT). The helicopter crashed near Kartal village in Gaziantep's Nurdagi district, Yerlikaya said, without commenting on the cause of the crash. The injured personnel, a technician, is under treatment in hospital, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said in a statement. War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 Images(Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever; Editing by William Mallard)

Persons: Ali Yerlikaya, Yerlikaya, Fahrettin Koca, Huseyin Hayatsever, William Mallard Organizations: Health Locations: ANKARA, Turkey, Hatay, Gaziantep, Kartal, Gaziantep's Nurdagi, Israel, Gaza

☆ Australia Sweats Through Heatwave, Bushfire Risk Rated 'Extreme'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Large swaths of Australia on Sunday sweltered through a heatwave as authorities warned of elevated bushfire risk in an already high-risk fire season during an El Nino weather pattern. The nation's weather forecaster had heatwave alerts in place for Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory and Western Australia, warning temperatures in some parts of the country could hit the low 40s Celsius (over 104 degrees Fahrenheit). The high in the west of Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, was forecast at 39 C (102 F), almost 10 degrees above the February mean, forecaster data showed. Hot and dry conditions combined with gusty winds prompted the forecaster to issue "extreme fire danger" warnings for parts of Victoria and South Australia states. Sunday's hot weather - the latest in a string of heatwaves to scorch Australia - comes after the country's east was hit last month by damaging floods.

Persons: El, Sam McKeith, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Australian Capital, El Nino Locations: Australia, El Nino, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory, Western Australia, Sydney, Victoria, South Australia, scorch Australia

☆ India to Replace Troops in Maldives With Civilians by May
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The roughly 80 soldiers stationed in the Indian Ocean archipelago will be replaced by civilians, officials from both countries said. As global powers jostle for influence in the Indo-Pacific region, India and China have wooed the Maldives, which has traditionally been close to neighbour India. New Delhi's ties with Male have under strain since Mohamed Muizzu was elected president of the Maldives last year, pledging to end the country's "India First" policy. The Indian troops manage those operations. The next bilateral meeting will be in Male in the last week of February, the Maldives foreign ministry said.

Persons: Krishn Kaushik, Mohamed Junayd NEW, Mohamed Muizzu, Mohamed Junayd, William Mallard Organizations: May, Maldivian Foreign Ministry, Dornier Locations: Mohamed Junayd NEW DELHI, India, Maldives, China, New Delhi, Delhi

☆ French Minister Heads to Mideast With Post-War Gaza Plans in Mind
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By John IrishPARIS (Reuters) - France's foreign minister travels to the Middle East on Saturday to test ideas about reviving an Israeli-Palestinian political process after the Gaza war as Europe tries to play a role in a conflict that has deeply divided the European Union. He was referring to Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne's trip to Egypt, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Lebanon, where he will also continue French efforts to defuse tensions between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. European Union member states are divided on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and their response has mostly been to try to ease the humanitarian situation in the enclave. The Gaza war was triggered by fighters from the Hamas militant group who stormed across the border fence into Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and capturing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza say more than 27,000 Palestinians have been confirmed killed, thousands more wounded, the enclave left in ruins and many more displaced.

Persons: John Irish PARIS, Christophe Lemoine, Stephane Sejourne's, Israel, Josep Borrell, John Irish, William Maclean Organizations: European Union, Union, EU Locations: Gaza, Europe, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Iran, EU, Paris

☆ UK's Cameron Says He Raised Palestinian State With Netanyahu
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BEIRUT (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "start talking about the things a Palestinian state can be rather than the things it can't be", reiterating British support for a two-state solution. In an interview with Lebanese broadcaster LBCI aired on Friday, Cameron said part of British policy is to say there will be a time when Britain would look to recognise a Palestinian state, including at the United Nations. Netanyahu has voiced opposition to Palestinian sovereignty, saying he will not compromise on full Israeli security control west of Jordan and that this stands contrary to a Palestinian state. "My message to him was start talking about the things that a Palestinian state could be rather than the things it can't be. Cameron last month said Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip must be given "the political perspective of a credible route to a Palestinian state and a new future" and this should be irreversible.

Persons: David Cameron, Benjamin Netanyahu, LBCI, Cameron, Netanyahu, Tom Perry, William Maclean Organizations: British, Israeli, United Nations, West Bank, Lebanese Locations: BEIRUT, Palestinian, Gaza, United States, Britain, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, U.S, Egypt, Qatar

☆ Greece Promises Extra Aid for Grieving Farmers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament that the measure would cost the state 82 million euros ($89.31 million) in 2024 and announced more steps to appease the protesters. Farmers have been setting up blockades in central and northern Greece, echoing grievances from farmers across Europe, who have staged hundreds of tractors blockades in France and Brussels where EU leaders met on Thursday. A group of them lined up their tractors in the northern city of Thessaloniki on Thursday, surrounding the Agrotica trade fair venue. PPC, Greece's biggest power utility, will also offer an extra 10% rebate on electricity for farmers from May to September, Mitsotakis, who met protesting farmers in central Greece this week, said. Mitsotakis said that the state will spend in total 3.3 billion euros over the coming years to repair damage in Thessaly.

Persons: Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Mitsotakis, Lefteris Papadimas, Angeliki Koutantou, Renee Maltezou, William Maclean Organizations: Farmers, EU Locations: ATHENS, Greece, Europe, France, Brussels, Thessaloniki, Thessaly

☆ Gaza Ceasefire Plan for Hostage Release Awaits Hamas Response
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

"We don't know and we cannot predict what Hamas' response will be," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar's prime minister, said on Monday. Hamas told Reuters in a statement on Tuesday the proposal would involve three stages, including the release of hostages held by the group and Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. "After that, the Hamas leadership will meet to discuss the paper and express its final opinion on it," the statement said. More than 100 Israeli hostages are still held, following the release of a similar number in an earlier truce in November that involved the release of scores of Palestinian prisoners. The Hamas statement said the second phase would also involve the release of male military recruits.

Persons: Jonathan Landay, Maya Gebeily, Andrew Mills, Nidal, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, David Barnea, Sheikh Mohammed, Jordan, Ismail Haniyeh, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Islamic Jihad, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Dan Williams, Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Michael Georgy, William Maclean Organizations: Reuters, Palestinian, U.S, Paris, Islamic, Hamas, Washington's Atlantic Council, Israeli Defense Forces Locations: Mughrabi WASHINGTON, BEIRUT, DOHA, Gaza, Israel, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Paris, Qatar, Egypt, U.S, France, Cairo

☆ Taiwan Air Force Shows off Its Sub Hunting, Early Warning Prowess
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Fabian HamacherPINGTUNG, Taiwan (Reuters) - Taiwan's air force showed off its armed-to-the-teeth submarine hunters and early warning and control aircraft on Tuesday, demonstrating how it keeps watch on the skies and waters around the Chinese-claimed island. Taiwan's air force, dwarfed by China's but well-armed with mostly U.S. equipment, has been at the front lines of responding to these missions and regularly scrambles to shadow and warn away Chinese aircraft and ships. On a defence ministry-organised media visit to the Pingtung air base in southern Taiwan, the air force displayed its Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion anti-submarine aircraft and Northrop Grumman-built E-2K Hawkeye early warning and control aircraft. The air force also conducted flybys with one of their E-2K Hawkeye aircraft. Taiwan has reported Chinese warships and warplanes frequently passing through the Bashi Channel.

Persons: Fabian Hamacher PINGTUNG, Lockheed Martin, Crews, Tsai Tsung, Fabian Hamacher, Ben Blanchard, William Maclean Organizations: Lockheed, Northrop Grumman, U.S . Navy, Hawkeye Locations: Taiwan, China, Taipei, Philippines, Pacific . Taiwan

Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., a key progressive and former Black Lives Matter organizer, is being investigated by the Justice Department for her campaign's spending on security services, she confirmed in a statement Tuesday. As a rank-and-file member of Congress I am not entitled to personal protection by the House, and instead have used campaign funds as permissible to retain security services," Bush continued in her statement. "I have not used any federal tax dollars for personal security services. Any reporting that I have used federal funds for personal security is simply false." Asked about Bush at a leadership news conference, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., said Tuesday he had no comment and called it "something for the Justice Department."

Persons: Cori Bush, Bush, Louis, Lacy Clay, Cortney Merritts, Susan Cole, William McFarland, I, Cole, Pete Aguilar, Aguilar Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Justice Department, House, DOJ, PunchBowl News, Democratic, Louis Post, Dispatch, Conservative, Federal, Commission, U.S . Department of Justice, Republican, House Democratic Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ Baked by Melissa, who invented the viral Green Goddess salad, shares 6 new dietitian-approved crunchy, veggie-packed salads
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Kim Schewitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Read previewMelissa Ben-Ishay, the creator of the viral Green Goddess salad , believes that meals should be both nutrient-dense and delicious. Dilly Chicken Salad on ToastDilly Chicken Salad on toast. Make the dressing: Whisk together the lemon juice, mayonnaise, mustard, pickle juice, garlic, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Scoop the chicken salad onto the bread with the lettuce and tomato and serve open-faced. Coffee Shop Sesame Chicken SaladCoffee Shop Sesame Chicken Salad.

Persons: —, Melissa Ben, Ishay, Sweets, Melissa, Ben, Ludlam, Raine, William Morrow, Ashley Sears, dill, Cook, Ashley Sears Ludlam, Shallot Vinaigrette, bok choy, bok, Ashley Sears Ben Organizations: Service, Business, HarperCollins Publishers, B12 Locations: New York City, tangier, Dijon, Fresh, dill, Kalamata

☆ Jam Master Jay murder jury views graphic crime scene photos in death of Run-DMC DJ
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Laura Italiano | Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"He died instantly," prosecutor Miranda Gonzalez told jurors, shot in the head at such close range, his hair was singed. Then, "as quickly as they came, they fled," she told jurors. AdvertisementMizell "had a tremendous amount of blood already pooled on the floor," the detective told jurors. "It was an ambush, an execution, motivated by greed and revenge," Gonzalez told jurors. AdvertisementProsecutors allege that before Mizell's death, Mizell told Washington that Washington would not be involved in the drug distribution in Maryland, which led the suspects to plot to kill Mizell.

Persons: —, Jason William Mizell —, Jay —, Miranda Gonzalez, Karl ", Jordan Jr, Ronald, Tinard, James Lusk, Lusk, Tony Rincon, Mizell, Gonzalez, Mizell's, Artie McConnell, Jay Bryant, Jason Mizell, Seth D, DuCharme, Washington, Jordan, he'd, John Diaz, Ezra Spilke Organizations: Service, Business, Queens, of, Jordan, EMS, Eastern, Prosecutors, Associated Press . Locations: New York, Washington, of New York, Jordan, Jamaica, Queens, Rincon, Maryland, Associated Press . Washington

☆ Hungary Far-Right Would Lay Claim to Neighbouring Region, if Ukraine Loses War
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary's far-right Our Homeland party would lay claim to a western region of Ukraine that is home to about 150,000 ethnic Hungarians if Ukraine loses its statehood due to Russia's invasion, the party's leader said late on Saturday. "Regarding the war in Ukraine, our message is very simple: immediate ceasefire, peace and a resolution through talks," Toroczkai said in a video posted on his party's website, calling for autonomy for ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine. "If this war ends up with Ukraine losing its statehood, because this is also on the cards, then as the only Hungarian party taking this position, let me signal that we lay claim to Transcarpathia," he said, drawing applause from the crowd. Budapest has clashed with Kyiv over what it says are curbs on the rights of roughly 150,000 ethnic Hungarians to use their native tongue. Last month all European Union states except Hungary, which is also a member of NATO, agreed to start EU accession talks with Ukraine.

Persons: Laszlo Toroczkai, Toroczkai, Viktor Orban, Zoltan Kovacs, Peter Szijjarto, Dmytro Kuleba, Denys Shmyhal, Boldizsar Gyori, William Maclean Organizations: Homeland, Dutch Forum for Democracy, Ukraine, Hungarian Foreign Ministry, Hungarian, Union, NATO Locations: BUDAPEST, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Budapest, Hungarian, Hungary

☆ Uganda Says Judge's Dissent From World Court Ruling on Israel Does Not Reflect Its Position
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda has distanced itself from an opinion written by a Ugandan judge on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) dissenting from the panel's ruling in South Africa's genocide case against Israel, and said the remarks do not reflect Uganda's position. "The position taken by Judge Sebutinde is her own individual and independent opinion, and does not in any way reflect the position of the government of the republic of Uganda," the government said in a statement issued late on Saturday. It added that the east African country supported the position of the Non-Aligned Movement on the conflict that was adopted at its summit in the Ugandan capital this month. The movement was formed officially in 1961 by countries opposed to joining either of the two major Cold War-era military and political blocs. Sebutinde was one of only two judges who issued dissenting judgements while 15 voted for the emergency measures which covered most of what South Africa had asked for in the case.

Persons: Julia Sebutinde, Israel, Judge Sebutinde, Sebutinde, Elias Biryabarema, William Maclean Organizations: International Court of Justice, Israel Locations: KAMPALA, Uganda, South, Gaza, Africa

☆ Iran Simultaneously Launches Three Satellites - State Media
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran simultaneously launched three satellites for the first time on Sunday using the Simorgh (Phoenix) satellite carrier rocket developed by the Ministry of Defence, state media reported. The larger satellite, named "Mahda" and built by Iran's Space Agency, is meant to test the accuracy of the Simorgh rocket in delivering multiple cargoes to space. Iran launched its Sorayya satellite into orbit this month with a rocket built by the elite military Revolutionary Guards, raising concerns among European powers that the space launch vehicle's technology could be used for the development of long-range ballistic missile systems. Iran on Saturday dismissed European countries’ condemnation of its launch of the Sorayya satellite, saying peaceful technological advancement in the aerospace field was the country’s legitimate right. (Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by William Mallard)

Persons: William Mallard Organizations: Reuters, Ministry of Defence, Iran's Space Agency, Revolutionary Guards, Saturday, Dubai Newsroom Locations: DUBAI, Iran

☆ Britain, Italy and Finland Pause Funding for UN Refugee Agency in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain, Italy and Finland on Saturday became the latest countries to pause funding for the United Nations' refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA), following allegations its staff were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. It helps about two thirds of Gaza's 2.3 million population and has played a pivotal aid role during the current war. The United States, Australia and Canada had already paused funding to the aid agency after Israel said 12 UNRWA employees were involved in the cross-border attack. "We call on countries that announced the cessation of their support for UNRWA to immediately reverse their decision," he said on X. (Reporting by James Davey in London and Gavin Jones in Rome, Editing by William Maclean and Andrew Cawthorne)

Persons: Israel, Antonio Tajani, Hussein al, James Davey, Gavin Jones, William Maclean, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Saturday, United Nations, West Bank, UNRWA, Foreign Office, Palestine Liberation Organization, PLO Locations: Britain, Italy, Finland, Israel, Israel's, Gaza, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, United States, Australia, Canada, Palestinian, London, Rome

☆ From an Arctic Prison, Navalny Says Putin's Russia Will One Day Crumble
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Guy FaulconbridgeMOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's most famous opposition politician, Alexei Navalny, said on Wednesday that President Vladimir Putin's state would one day crumble along with the post-Soviet elite which he cast as venal, power-hungry and duplicitous. Putin's state is not viable. Navalny, who has been sentenced to stay in jail until he is 74, has repeatedly warned that Putin's Russia is a state run by "thieves and criminals" and that one day there will be seismic change via revolt. Navalny is in jail, his movement is outlawed and most of his key supporters have fled abroad. Russia denies Navalny's claims that Russia's secret police poisoned him with Novichok.

Persons: Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW, Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Putin's, lampooning, Navalny, Putin, Navalny's, Novichok, Guy Faulconbridge, William Maclean Organizations: CPSU, Communist Party of, U.S, CIA Locations: Soviet Union, Russia, Navalny, Germany, Siberia

☆ Britain's Cyber Spies Mark 80th Anniversary of Secret Code-Breaking Computer
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's GCHQ spy agency celebrated the 80th anniversary of Colossus on Thursday, putting the spotlight on a code-breaking computer which helped defeat Hitler's Germany and was so significant it was kept secret for decades. Colossus, which was still being used by the spy agency in the early 1960s, was developed by Tommy Flowers. The new images released on Thursday include a blueprint of Colossus and a photograph of Women's Royal Naval Service workers operating it. The first Colossus was delivered to Bletchley Park, then the home of the top secret Government Code and Cypher School, on Jan. 18 1944. The unit was renamed in 1946 as the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), a Cheltenham-based agency that eavesdrops on the world to protect British security.

Persons: Hitler's, Hitler, Colossus, Anne Keast, Butler, Tommy Flowers, Alan Turing's, Sarah Young, William Maclean Organizations: Allied, Royal Naval Service, Cypher, Government Communications Headquarters Locations: Hitler's Germany, Bletchley, Cheltenham

☆ Video Shows Chaos of Aid Delivery on Gaza Beach
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Israel ordered all Gaza City residents to leave in October, though many stayed despite the warfare, and others have returned since the military pulled some troops from there last month, while saying civilians should still keep away. Inside Gaza, hunger is not evenly spread. On Friday the U.N. humanitarian office said Israeli authorities were systematically denying it access to northern Gaza, where Gaza City is located, to deliver aid, significantly hindering its operations there. On the Gaza City beach, a few white U.N. cars with the organisation's blue flag drove along the sand. Some people were visible in the posted video struggling under the weight of heavy sacks.

Persons: Angus McDowall, William Maclean Organizations: Reuters, Hamas Locations: Gaza, Gaza City, Israel, Rafah, Egypt

☆ Rare postage 'gem' featuring the world's first adhesive stamp to be auctioned for up to $2.5 million in New York
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The oldest piece of mail to use a pre-paid Penny Black stamp is set to be auctioned in New York. The British Penny Black was the first-ever adhesive postage stamp. The letter cover has a sale estimate of $1.5 million to $2.5 million, per Sotheby's. AdvertisementThe oldest surviving piece of mail to use a pre-paid postage stamp is set to be auctioned at Sotheby's in New York. The document, known as "The Genesis of Philately," is one of the earliest known examples of the Penny Black stamp.

Persons: Penny, British Penny Black, —, William H, Penny Black, William Mulready, Allen Kane, Sotheby's, William Blenkinsop Jr, Blenkinsop, Blenkinsop —, Richard Austin Organizations: Service, British Penny, Gross, Smithsonian National Postal Museum, CNN Locations: New York, British, Irish, Northumberland, England, London, Dalston , Carlisle

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