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☆ Explainer-What Is the UK's Rwanda Migrant Deportation Plan?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

WHAT IS BRITAIN'S RWANDA PLAN? The law also gives ministers the discretion to ignore European Court of Human Rights injunctions. That made the policy unlawful under Britain's Human Rights Act, which incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into British law. Some in the government have strongly hinted Britain would consider leaving the European Convention on Human Rights if it thwarted the Rwanda scheme. The 27-nation EU is seeking to strike an agreement on how to share out the asylum seekers who arrived on its shores.

Persons: Michael Holden LONDON, Boris Johnson, Sunak, Suella Braverman, Michael Holden, Alex Richardson Organizations: European Union, Successive Conservative, Conservatives, RWANDA PLAN, European, of Human, London's, Appeal, Human Rights, Convention, Britain, EU, Commons Locations: British, Rwanda, Britain, Ukraine, Hong Kong, RWANDA, Europe, Australia, Denmark, EU

☆ Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Set for London Court Appearance
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON (Reuters) - Climate activist Greta Thunberg will appear at London's Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with a public order offence over an environmental protest in central London last month. Thunberg has become famous as the face of climate activism since she started staging weekly protests in Sweden in 2018, and she now travels around the world addressing crowds at marches and protests. She was charged by London police on Oct. 18 and released on bail, and if found guilty on Wednesday she could face a fine of up to a maximum of 2,500 pounds ($3,069). Before her arrest in Britain, she has this year been detained by police or removed from protests in Sweden, Norway and Germany. ($1 = 0.8145 pounds)(Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Alex Richardson)

Persons: Greta Thunberg, Thunberg, Sarah Young, Alex Richardson Organizations: London police Locations: Westminster, London, Sweden, Britain, Norway, Germany

☆ UK's Sunak to Learn Fate of His Rwanda Migrant Plan This Week
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Michael Holden and Sam TobinLONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Supreme Court will deliver its ruling on Wednesday on whether the government can go ahead with its plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, a decision which could have far-reaching ramifications for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Sunak hopes the Rwanda scheme will help stop the flow of migrants across the Channel from Europe in small boats, and so deliver one of his key policy pledges and energise his ailing premiership ahead of an election expected next year. PRESSING NEEDDuring three days of hearings, the judges heard from government lawyers who said there was a "serious and pressing need" for the Rwanda scheme. Rwanda has said it would offer migrants sent from Britain the opportunity to build a new, safe life. They also said asylum seekers faced inhuman or degrading treatment within Rwanda, and their argument has support from the United Nations' refugee agency.

Persons: Michael Holden, Sam Tobin LONDON, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Suella Braverman, Boris Johnson, Robert Reed, James, Alex Richardson Organizations: Conservative Party, European Convention of Human Rights, East, United Nations, of Human Rights Locations: Rwanda, East Africa, Europe, Britain, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Sudan

LONDON, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Britain's Supreme Court will deliver its ruling on Wednesday on whether the government can go ahead with its plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, a decision which could have far-reaching ramifications for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Sunak hopes the Rwanda scheme will help stop the flow of migrants across the Channel from Europe in small boats, and so deliver one of his key policy pledges and energise his ailing premiership ahead of an election expected next year. PRESSING NEEDDuring three days of hearings, the judges heard from government lawyers who said there was a "serious and pressing need" for the Rwanda scheme. Rwanda has said it would offer migrants sent from Britain the opportunity to build a new, safe life. They also said asylum seekers faced inhuman or degrading treatment within Rwanda, and their argument has support from the United Nations' refugee agency.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Suella Braverman, Boris Johnson, Robert Reed, James, Michael Holden, Alex Richardson Organizations: Conservative Party, European Convention of Human Rights, East, United Nations, of Human Rights, Thomson Locations: Rwanda, East Africa, Europe, Britain, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Sudan

☆ The Man Who Blazed a Trail for Dictatorship in the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Ben Hubbard | More About Ben Hubbard | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

And help he did. He sent arms, military experts and advice on how to talk to the West. He encouraged the officers to assure the United States, Britain and France that the coup posed no risk to their people or interests. His long reign is but one strand of Nasser’s disastrous legacy, according to “We Are Your Soldiers,” by the Lebanon-based journalist Alex Rowell. Rowell takes the reader on a historical tour of the Middle East to illuminate how Nasser contributed to the region’s “shared curse of political repression mixed with economic misery.”

Persons: Gamal Abdel Nasser, Alex Rowell, King Idris I, Muammar el, el, ” Nasser, “, Colonel el, Qaddafi, brutalizing, kook, Rowell, Nasser, ” Organizations: Libyan Army, United Nations General Assembly Locations: Egypt, United States, Britain, France, Libya, Lebanon

☆ Brazil's Dani Alves to stand trial for sexual assault in Spain
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BARCELONA, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Former Barcelona and Brazil defender Dani Alves will face trial in Spain on charges of sexual assault of a woman in a Barcelona nightclub last December, a Spanish court said on Tuesday. Alves was arrested on Jan. 20 and has been held in a prison outside Barcelona. 15 in Barcelona, which is yet to set a date for the proceedings to begin, said there were sufficient grounds for Alves to stand trial, following requests by the public prosecutor and the woman's lawyer. In August, judges formally indicted Alves after finding evidence of wrongdoing by the 40-year-old player. Reporting by Joan Faus, Editing by Andrei Khalip and Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dani Alves, Alves, Joan Faus, Andrei Khalip, Alex Richardson Organizations: Thomson Locations: BARCELONA, Barcelona, Brazil, Spain

☆ Hit by floods and drought, quarter of Somali people at risk of 'crisis-level' hunger - WFP
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

GENEVA, Nov 14 (Reuters) - A quarter of Somalia's population is forecast to face "crisis-level hunger or worse" this year due to drought and floods caused by climate change, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday. "Livelihoods and lives are at risk, 4.3 million people – a quarter of the population – are forecast to face crisis-level hunger or worse by the end of this year," said Petroc Wilton, WFP spokesperson for Somalia. "This bombardment of climate shocks, from drought to floods, will prolong the hunger crisis in Somalia. In Somalia's Dolow district, homes are abandoned and roads have turned into rivers. Farxhan Ali Abdulle, a shop owner in the town of Dolow on the border with Ethiopia, said no supplies were coming in.

Persons: Petroc Wilton, Farxhan Ali Abdulle, Feisal Omar, Timaade Hussein Abdi, Wilton, Muhidin Abdullahi, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Bhargav, Nick Macfie, Alex Richardson Organizations: Food Programme, United Nations, REUTERS, Humanitarian Affairs, Reuters, Thomson Locations: GENEVA, Somalia, East Africa, Dolow, Ethiopia, Juba, Gedo, Jubaland State, Luuq

The London Stock Exchange Group offices are seen in the City of London, Britain, December 29, 2017. Following the data, yields on short-term UK Gilts, reflecting near-term interest rate expectations, slid, aiding a 7.0% surge in rate sensitive real estate investment trusts (.FTNMX351020). "It may well be due to potential sentiment coming ahead of tomorrow's UK CPI data, with the hope that it comes in lower as well," said Christopher Peters, trading floor manager at Accendo Markets. UK October CPI data, due on Wednesday, could throw further light on the outlook for domestic monetary policy. Reporting by Khushi Singh and Johan M Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Toby Melville, Christopher Peters, Jefferies, Tim Clark, Khushi Singh, Johan M Cherian, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Alex Richardson Organizations: London Stock Exchange Group, City of, REUTERS, Vodafone, Federal, tomorrow's, Accendo Markets, Investors, Entain, Royce, Emirates, Thomson Locations: City, City of London, Britain, Teck, U.S, Italy, Bengaluru

☆ Israel's museums enact war protocol to protect most precious treasures
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

These and other treasures were quickly taken off display and brought to special bunkers to ensure they are not damaged during the war. But this is a different situation so we have to act accordingly," said Hagit Maoz, curator of the Shrine of the Book at Jerusalem's Israel Museum. The last time the museum removed the display, Maoz said, was during the 1991 Gulf War when Iraq fired missiles at Israel. The Tel Aviv Museum of Art took similar precautions. "These works of art have experienced war, some of them survived World War Two," said museum director Tania Coen-Uzzielli.

Persons: Tania Coen, Friederike Maria Beer, Gustav Klimt, Hagit Maoz, Maoz, Gustav Kimt's, Friedericke Maria Beer, Ari Rabinovitch, Rami Amichay, Alex Richardson Organizations: Uzzielli, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Hamas, Jerusalem's Israel Museum, British Museum, The Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Thomson Locations: JERUSALEM, TEL AVIV, Israel, Austrian, Iraq, Gaza, Nurith Goshen, Jerusalem, Goshen, The

Out of the 29 cabinet roles, at least 16 backed remaining in the EU, compared with 10 who supported leaving. Sunak's party still languishes around 20 points behind the opposition Labour Party before an election that must happen by January 2025. But as he was talking, he asked a former cabinet minister to the right of the party for her thoughts. With few Conservatives believing they can win the next election, others might follow her in preparing for a new job. For the Conservatives to stand a chance, they need to change that perception, and it's hard to imagine how bringing David Cameron back does that," he said.

Persons: David Cameron's, Rishi Sunak, Suella Braverman, Sunak, Liz Truss's, Braverman, Cameron, Boris Johnson, Johnson, Dehenna Davison, Keiran, David Cameron, Kylie MacLellan, Elizabeth Piper, Kate Holton, Alex Richardson Organizations: British, European Union, EU, Conservative, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, Labour, Conservatives, Thomson Locations: England

☆ Factbox-Seven Turbulent Years: British Ministerial Churn Since the Brexit Vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

PRIME MINISTERCameron served as prime minister until July 13, 2016, three weeks after the Brexit vote on June 23. She holds the record for Britain's shortest-serving prime minister after she quit after 49 days, having triggered a financial market meltdown. Philip Hammond was foreign secretary from July 2014 until three weeks after the Brexit vote in 2016. INTERIOR MINISTERBritain's interior ministry has changed leadership eight times since the Brexit vote, including Cleverly who stepped into the role on Monday. There have been 13 housing ministers since the Brexit vote, including six since Feb. 8, 2022.

Persons: Sarah Young, Rishi Sunak, David Cameron, Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Sunak, James, Dominic Raab, Jeremy Hunt, Johnson, Philip Hammond, Suella Braverman, Grant Shapps, Truss, Hunt, Kwarteng, Victoria Atkins, Monday, Steve Barclay, Gillian Keegan, Kate Holton, Alex Richardson Organizations: Sarah Young LONDON, British, European Union, Conservative Party, FINANCE, National Health Service Locations: Westminster, Britain, European, Truss, Crete, Kabul, Cameron

"David Cameron was a disastrous PM. Britain's former Prime Minister and newly appointed Foreign Secretary David Cameron walks outside 10 Downing Street in London, Britain November 13, 2023. "David Cameron was at the heart of the biggest lobbying scandal of recent times," said the Liberal Democrat party's foreign affairs spokesperson Layla Moran. "I understand there's a lot of baggage that comes with David Cameron," Conservative lawmaker Tobias Ellwood told Times Radio. Theresa May, who replaced Cameron as prime minister before being ousted herself amid a party rebellion over Brexit three years later, said his experience would be invaluable.

Persons: David Cameron, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Cameron, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Steve Tsang, David Lammy, Suzanne Plunkett, Layla Moran, Akshata Murthy, Tobias Ellwood, Dehenna Davidson, Theresa May, Martin Pollard, Alex Richardson Organizations: Downing, European Union, Conservative Party, China Institute, SOAS University of London, Reuters, Labour Party, REUTERS, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Eton College, Times Radio, Thomson Locations: European, Britain, China, Beijing, London, Downing

☆ Risk of volcanic eruption in Iceland remains high
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

COPENHAGEN, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Seismic activity in southwestern Iceland decreased in size and intensity on Monday, but the risk of a volcanic eruption remained significant, authorities said, after earthquakes and evidence of magma spreading underground in recent weeks. Thorvaldur Thordarson, professor in vulcanology at the University of Iceland, said most recent data indicated a smaller risk of an eruption in the area around the town of Grindavik. [1/5]A view of cracks, emerged on a road due to volcanic activity, near Grindavik, Iceland November 13, 2023. Volcanic activity in the area continued for six months that year, prompting thousands of Icelanders and tourists to visit the scene. In August 2022, a three-week eruption happened in the same area, followed by another in July of this year.

Persons: Matthew James Roberts, Thorvaldur Thordarson, Grindavik, Hans Vera, Vera, It's, Louise Rasmussen, Tom Little, Jacob Gronholt, Pedersen, Johannes Birkebaek, Ilze, Essi, Alex Richardson Organizations: Icelandic Meteorological, University of, Administration, Facebook, REUTERS Acquire, Thomson Locations: COPENHAGEN, Iceland, Reykjavik, vulcanology, University of Iceland, Grindavik, Belgian, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki

Just holding the deal together through a full four-year parliamentary term will be a tough challenge, many predict. "The next legislative term will be very tough for the PSOE, it is likely it won't finish the whole term," said Catalan political analyst Joan Esculies. Spaniards have also been called to show their ire in town square demonstrations across the country on Sunday. For Andoni Ortuzar, the Basque Nationalist Party leader who also struck a deal with the Socialists on Friday, whether the government could hold would be a test of Spain's plurality. "We are different - we consider ourselves a different nation - and the question is whether we can live together comfortably," he said.

Persons: Sanchez, Pedro Sanchez, Francisco Franco, Junts, Carles Puigdemont, Joan Esculies, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, Andoni Ortuzar, Susana Vera, Emiliano Garcia, Puigdemont, Lluis Orriols, Ortuzar, Belen Carreno, Joan Faus, Emma Pinedo, Aislinn Laing, Alex Richardson Organizations: Deal, Spain's Socialists, Socialist, PSOE, People's Party, Socialists, Basque Nationalist Party, REUTERS, Catalan Socialist, Carlos III University, Thomson Locations: MADRID, BARCELONA, Catalan, Belgium, Catalonia, Spain, Madrid, Castilla, La Mancha, Spanish, Catalunya

☆ UK court rejects appeal over where critically ill baby's treatment ends
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Kylie Maclellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Eight-month-old Indi Gregory suffers from a rare mitochondrial disease which means that her cells do not produce enough energy and has been on full life support since early September. Her doctors say she suffers from significant pain and distress and there is no point in continuing treatment. On Wednesday, a judge ruled her life support should be removed, either in hospital or at a hospice. The UK Court of Appeal dismissed their challenge in a remote hearing on Friday. Earlier this week the Italian government granted her citizenship in a further move aimed at preventing doctors from taking her off life support and allowing her to be moved to Italy.

Persons: Indi Gregory, Gregory, Peter Jackson, Jackson, Claire, Dean Gregory, Gregory's, Kylie MacLellan, Sachin Ravikumar, Alex Richardson, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, of Appeal, Christian Concern, Thomson Locations: Nottingham, Britain, Rome, Italy

☆ Qatar's emir holds talks in Egypt on ending Gaza violence
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Mohamed Wali | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani attends the Arab League Summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 19, 2023. Qatar said "joint efforts to stop the aggression against Gaza, reduce escalation and bring in urgent humanitarian aid" were discussed. Since then Israel has launched an unrelenting bombardment and an armoured invasion of Hamas-ruled Gaza, where more than 10,000 people have been killed, according to Palestinian officials. Evacuations through Rafah restarted on Thursday following a pause after the Red Cross said one of its convoys escorting evacuees was targeted inside Gaza. The United Nations said 65 aid trucks entered Gaza from Egypt on Thursday, well below the number needed to address a deepening humanitarian crisis.

Persons: Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Thani, Abdel Fattah al, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Cross, Israel, Mohamed Wali, Nayera Abdallah, Nadine Awadalla, Aidan Lewis, Nick Macfie, Alex Richardson Organizations: Arab League Summit, Saudi Royal Court, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, Hamas, United Nations, United, Thomson Locations: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Bandar, Rights CAIRO, Qatar, Egypt, Cairo, Gaza, Qatari, Doha, Israel, Hamas, Rafah, United States

LONDON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Scientists have rediscovered a long-lost species of mammal described as having the spines of a hedgehog, the snout of an anteater and the feet of a mole, in Indonesia's Cyclops Mountains more than 60 years after it was last recorded. The species has only been scientifically recorded once before, by a Dutch botanist in 1961. A different echidna species is found throughout Australia and lowland New Guinea. Kempton's team survived an earthquake, malaria and even a leech attached to an eyeball during their trip. They worked with the local village Yongsu Sapari to navigate and explore the remote terrain of northeastern Papua.

Persons: David Attenborough, James Kempton, Kempton, Kempton's, Yongsu, William James, Alex Richardson Organizations: Oxford University, Thomson Locations: British, Dutch, Australia, New Guinea, Papua

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex looks on outside the Rolls Building of the High Court in London, Britain June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Prince Harry, singer Elton John and five other high-profile British figures can have their lawsuit against the publisher of the Daily Mail newspaper alleging widespread unlawful behaviour heard at trial, the High Court in London ruled on Friday. Publisher Associated Newspapers (ANL) had sought at hearings in March to have the case thrown out, saying the claims that were brought in October 2022 were outside a six-year time limit for legal action. Harry, the younger son of King Charles, along with Elton John, and the other five claimants accuse ANL, which publishes the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday, of phone-hacking and other serious privacy breaches dating back 30 years. Reporting by Michael Holden and Sam Tobin; Editing by Kate Holton and Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Toby Melville, Prince Harry, Elton John, Harry, King Charles, ANL, Matthew Nicklin, Nicklin, Hamlins, John, David, Liz Hurley, Sadie Frost, Doreen Lawrence, Simon Hughes, David Sherborne, Murdoch, NGN, Michael Holden, Sam Tobin, Kate Holton, Alex Richardson Organizations: Court, REUTERS, Daily Mail, Associated Newspapers, Mail, Sunday, Rupert Murdoch's News Group, Group, Mirror Group, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, British

☆ Spanish Socialists and Catalan Junts reach deal for government support, amnesty
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A law granting amnesty to those prosecuted over Catalonia's attempt to secede from Spain was included in the deal, political leaders said and the deal text showed. The agreement included Junts lending its votes in parliament to support legislation for a full four-year term, he said. But Junts, which seeks another independence referendum, said supporting each law would depend on progress in talks involving Catalonia's political conflict. As a deal between Junts and the Socialists edged nearer in the past week, the mood in the country has become increasingly febrile, with protesters clashing with police outside the Socialists' headquarters in Madrid. An amnesty could exculpate as many as 1,400 activists and politicians involved in the attempt to separate Catalonia from Spain.

Persons: Junts, Feijoo, Puigdemont, Pedro Sanchez, Santos Cerdan, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, Sanchez, Carles Puigdemont, Jaume Clotet, Belen Carreno, Joan Faus, Graham Keeley, Aislinn Laing, Charlie Devereux, Alison Williams, Toby Chopra, Bernadette Baum, Sharon Singleton, Alex Richardson Organizations: Companies Spain's Socialists, Conservative, Socialist Party, PSOE, Socialist, Socialists, Police, People's Party, Spanish Socialist Workers ' Party, Basque Nationalist Party, Thomson Locations: Catalan, Madrid, MADRID, Spain, Brussels, Junts, Catalonia, Belgium, Waterloo

☆ Israel strikes Syria after drone hits southern Eilat city - Israeli military
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

JERUSALEM, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Israel's military said an organisation in Syria launched a drone that hit a school in the southern Israeli city of Eilat on Thursday and that it struck the group in response. The military did not say what organisation in Syria had launched the drone toward Eilat, on the Red Sea approximately 400 kms (250 miles) from the nearest point in Syrian territory. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement has launched repeated missile and drone attacks on Israel since Oct. 7, all of which were either shot down or fell short. Israel has boosted its naval presence in the Red Sea to better protect its southern shores, while the United States also has a significant amount of naval power in the region. Eilat is the Israel's main commercial gateway through the Red Sea.

Persons: Daniel Mueller, Mueller, Emily Rose, Jonathan Saul, Maytaal Angel, Rami Ayyub, Crispian Balmer, Alex Richardson, Daniel Wallis, Michael Perry Organizations: Patriot, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Syria, Eilat, Yemen's Iran, Israel, Yemen, Negev, United States, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ambrey, Ashdod

The top appeals court, or Yargitay, took the unprecedented step of making a criminal complaint against Constitutional Court judges on Wednesday, arguing that their ruling last month in favour of releasing Atalay was unconstitutional. "The Court of Cassation (Yargitay) has committed a crime by not recognising the Constitutional Court decision. He called for compliance with the Constitutional Court ruling and said the Yargitay appeals court judges should be put under investigation. The Istanbul Bar Association said on Thursday it had filed a criminal complaint against the Yargitay judges involved in the case on the grounds of misconduct and "depriving a person of liberty". Rule of law, predictability and trust are fundamental for investors and Turkey’s record in this front was and still is miserable."

Persons: Erkan, Sera Kadigil, Ahmet Sik, Umit, Osman, Tayyip Erdogan, Ozgur Urfa, Erdogan, Mehmet Ucum, Mehmet Simsek, Central Bank Governor Hafize Gaye Erkan, Wolfango Piccoli, Daren Butler, Alex Richardson Organizations: Workers ' Party of Turkey, Turkish, REUTERS, Rights, Constitutional, Cassation, Twitter, Istanbul Bar Association, Central Bank Governor, Ece, Thomson Locations: Ankara, Turkey, Rights ANKARA, Istanbul

☆ Poll Shows Most Portuguese Want Snap Election, President Readies Decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

LISBON (Reuters) - Nearly 70% of Portuguese voters want an early election following the abrupt resignation of the Socialist prime minister, a survey showed on Thursday, as President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was due to announce his decision on the matter later in the day. His office said he would address the nation after meeting his consultative body, the Council of State. PS President Carlos Cesar said on Wednesday that if the president decided to call an election, March would be the best timing. The budget includes lower income tax rates for the middle class, higher wages and social benefits. (Reporting by Catarina Demony, Patricia Rua, Sergio Goncalves, editing by Andrei Khalip and Alex Richardson)

Persons: Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Antonio Costa, illegalities, Costa, Correio, Rebelo de Sousa, Joao Duque, Carlos Cesar, Diogo Lacerda Machado, Catarina Demony, Patricia Rua, Sergio Goncalves, Andrei Khalip, Alex Richardson Organizations: Socialist, Prosecutors, Socialist Party, of State, Jornal de Negocios, Analysts, Lisbon School of Economics, Management Locations: LISBON, Lisbon

☆ Israeli military says unidentified drone hits southern city of Eilat
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JERUSALEM, Nov 9 (Reuters) - An unidentified drone hit a civilian building in the southern Israeli port city of Eilat, the Israeli military said on Thursday, causing only light damage and no injuries. In recent weeks, the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen has launched repeated missile and drone attacks on Israel, but all were either shot down or fell short. Such premiums have soared 10-fold in recent weeks, adding tens of thousands of dollars to every voyage, industry sources say. The southern Mediterranean port of Ashkelon, which is closest to Gaza, has closed in recent weeks with at least one oil tanker diverted to Eilat. "This would be the first confirmed damage within the city of Eilat since the October 7 hostilities commenced.

Persons: Daniel Mueller, Ambrey, Emily Rose, Jonathan Saul, Maytaal Angel, Crispian Balmer, Alex Richardson, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Hezbollah, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Eilat, Iran, Yemen, Israel, United States, Ashkelon, Gaza, U.S, Ashdod

☆ Andreessen Horowitz is in the midst of a reshuffle to sharpen its focus on AI, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Ben Bergman | Melia Russell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Andreessen Horowitz is reshuffling parts of its investment organization to sharpen its focus on artificial intelligence, according to people with knowledge of the situation. The changes will center the venture capital firm on two main themes: AI applications and AI infrastructure, the people said. The AI applications group is being headed by general partner Alex Rampell, according to the sources. General partner Martin Casado, who focuses on enterprise deals, will oversee another group investing in AI infrastructure, the people said. Do you have information about A16z or another venture firm?

Persons: Andreessen Horowitz, Alex Rampell, Rampell, Martin Casado, Margit Wennmachers, Casado, Jeff Jordan, Databricks, A16z, Pretzels, Vinod Khosla, Khosla, Ben Bergman, Melia Russell, mrussell@insider.com Organizations: US, A16z, VMware Locations: Silicon Valley, Airbnb, bbergman@insider.com

☆ Some Ukraine drone pilots fear early advantage over Russia now lost
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] A FPV-drone sits on a ground before launching, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at an undisclosed location in Donetsk region, Ukraine, November 7, 2023. ARMS RACERussia has ramped up production of FPV drones this year. The pilots of the 80th Brigade say this is still the case, although the state is now supplying some FPV drones. Ukrainian Digital Minister Mykhailo Fedorov told Reuters in September that Ukraine had boosted its overall aerial drone production by more than 100 times in 2023. Another minister said in October Ukraine would be making “dozens of thousands” of drones a month by the end of this year.

Persons: Alina Smutko, Komrad, Samuel Bendett, Mykhailo Fedorov, Yizhak, Max Hunder, Tom Balmforth, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, 80th Airborne Assault Brigade, Ukraine, Center, New, Brigade, Ukrainian Digital, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Donetsk region, DONETSK, Moscow, Russia, Donetsk, Bakhmut, Russian, New American

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