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☆ Erdogan says Turkey will ramp up diplomacy in Israeli-Palestinian conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan makes a speech at the Extraordinary Congress of his ruling AK Party in Ankara, Turkey October 7, 2023. "So long as this problem is not resolved in a fair way, our region will continue to live in longing of peace," Erdogan said. In this regard, as we have always underlined, the preservation of the two-state solution perspective is very important." "As justice is delayed, unfortunately the price of this is paid by Palestinians, Israelis, and our whole region," Erdogan said. The fighting comes as Ankara was working to repair ties with Israel after years of acrimony over the status of Jerusalem and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, Murat Cetinmuhurdar, Erdogan, Hakan Fidan, Toby Chopra, Ros Russell Organizations: AK Party, Turkish Presidential Press, REUTERS, Rights, Hamas, Qatari, Thomson Locations: Ankara, Turkey, Rights ANKARA, Israel, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Spanish, Saudi, Jordanian

☆ Germany increases protection of Israeli, Jewish institutions
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Oct 8 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned on Sunday against violence spreading like wildfire "with incalculable consequences for the whole region" following the biggest attack on Israel in years by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. "The security of Israel is Germany's reason of state and we will act accordingly," he said. Scholz said he had already spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and also aimed to speak with the Egyptian president about possible mediation efforts. He added that authorities had increased the protection of Israeli and Jewish institutions in Germany in view of the attack on Israel and condemned reported celebrations of the violence on German streets. Reporting by Andreas Rinke, Writing by Sarah Marsh; Editing by Toby Chopra and Ros RussellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Rishi Sunak, Scholz, Benjamin Netanyahu, Andreas Rinke, Sarah Marsh, Toby Chopra, Ros Russell Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, British, Israeli, Thomson Locations: Israel, Germany

GRANADA, Spain, Oct 5 (Reuters) - European leaders are expected to assure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of long-term support on Thursday after U.S. President Joe Biden voiced fears that Republican infighting in Congress could hurt American policy on continuing aid to Kyiv. Zelenskiy is expected to attend a summit in the Spanish city of Granada of the European Political Community - a forum to foster cooperation among more than 40 countries established last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In Slovakia, former prime minister Robert Fico's party came first in a general election at the weekend after pledging to halt military aid to Ukraine. In Poland, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said last month his country was no longer arming Ukraine and was focusing on rebuilding its own weapon stocks. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is expected to attend the summit and European officials said they were keen to find ways to help his government cope with the immediate humanitarian crisis and provide political and economic support.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Joe Biden, Zelenskiy, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Rishi Sunak, Democrat Biden, Biden, Robert Fico's, Mateusz Morawiecki, Scholz, Ilham Aliyev, Macron, Charles Michel, Nikol Pashinyan, Andrew Gray, Andreas Rinke, Grant McCool Organizations: Political, British, U.S, Republican, Democrat, Senate, European Union, NATO, Kyiv, European, EU, Baku, Thomson Locations: GRANADA, Spain, Kyiv, Zelenskiy, Spanish, Granada, Ukraine, Europe, U.S, Slovakia, Poland, BALKANS, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Serbia, Kosovo, Nagorno, Karabakh, Berlin

Not only in the EU but in all of Europe," Zelenskiy said on his arrival, warning of Russian "disinformation attacks". "It does worry me," Biden said on Wednesday, though he added that a majority of U.S. lawmakers continued to support funding Ukraine. In Slovakia, former prime minister Robert Fico's party came first in a parliamentary election on pledges of halting military aid to Ukraine, while Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said Warsaw was no longer arming Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday he was "very confident" that U.S. support for Ukraine would continue. Many EU leaders have condemned the Azerbaijani operation, which triggered an exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians.

Persons: Zelenskiy, Spain Zelenskiy, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Joe Biden, U.N, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Rishi Sunak, Democrat Biden, Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, Robert Fico's, Mateusz Morawiecki, Pedro Sanchez, Ilham Aliyev, Belen Carreno, Andreas Rinke, Anna Pruchnicka, Gareth Jones Organizations: Political, EU, British, U.S, Republican, Democrat, European Commission, Kyiv, Polish, European Union, NATO, Spanish, Thomson Locations: Spain, Europe, Balkans, Caucasus, Granada, GRANADA, Kyiv, Spanish, Ukraine, Norway, Albania, Russia, Poland, Brussels, U.S, Slovakia, Warsaw, EU, East, Africa, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Serbia, Kosovo, Nagorno, Karabakh, Baku, Berlin

Dearica Hamby filed a gender discrimination complaint last week against the WNBA and the Las Vegas Aces, saying her former team and its coach, Becky Hammon, retaliated against her after she informed them she was pregnant. Hamby filed the complaint with the Nevada Equal Rights Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday. That came after Hamby told the team she was pregnant with her second child. In May, Hammon refuted Hamby’s claims and said the Aces traded the two-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year because it was best for the team. Any team can trade any player for any reason or no reason at all.

Persons: Dearica Hamby, Becky Hammon, Hamby, Hammon, “, ”, Hamby’s, ” Hammon Organizations: WNBA, Las Vegas Aces, Nevada Equal Rights Commission, Opportunity, The Associated Press, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Post, Aces, Sparks, “, Players, Union Locations: New York

He suggested the more immediate reason for the unrest was less long-time grievances related to the Palestinian national cause and more Gaza's economic misery. "The protests are about money," said the Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the topic's sensitivity. FRAGILE CEASEFIREA recent International Monetary Fund report said that for any stable long-term economic recovery in Gaza, "lifting of the blockade and easing of the Israeli-imposed restrictions are essential". With an official unemployment rate in Gaza of over 46%, Hamas itself has faced rumbling discontent over its economic management although for its part, the movement blames the Israeli blockade for the enclave's economic woes. Last month, Israel imposed a brief blockade on exports from Gaza after inspectors said they uncovered an attempt to smuggle explosives into the West Bank.

Persons: Gaza's, Al, Bassem Naim, Bilal Al, Najar, Bashir Al, Nidal al, James Mackenzie, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Hamas, West Bank, Monetary Fund, Unipal Company, Thomson Locations: Israel, GAZA, Gaza, Al Aqsa, Egypt, Jerusalem, Lod, Gaza's

☆ Biden Thanks Qatar's Emir for Mediation in Freeing Americans From Iran -Amiri Diwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

CAIRO (Reuters) - Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received a phone call from U.S. President Joe Biden in which the latter thanked Qatar for mediation that resulted in the release of a number of Americans from Iran, the Amiri Diwan said on Tuesday.

Persons: Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Thani, Joe Biden, Amiri Diwan Locations: CAIRO, Qatar, Iran

☆ Supervisors at Chile's Escondida mine preparing to strike, union says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

File Photo: A view of the BHP Billiton's Escondida, the world's biggest copper mine, in northern Chile, in Antofagasta, Chile March 31, 2008. Though the sprawling Escondida mine could continue to operate even if supervisors walked off the job, a strike could lead to production bottlenecks or slowdowns. "I have no doubt that the strike will win," union head Alexis Barrera said in an interview, adding that nearly all members have already cast their votes. The union accuses BHP of looking to reduce benefits and production bonuses while extending working hours. Chile's powerful Union 1 workers' union said it would stand in solidarity with the Escondida supervisors and ensure that no "illegal replacements" came on the job in the event of a work stoppage.

Persons: Ivan Alvarado, Alexis Barrera, Barrera, Escondida, Fabian Cambero, Kylie Madry, Rami Ayyub Organizations: BHP, Escondida, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Chile, Antofagasta

☆ Exclusive: Kosovo's president blames Serbia for shootout, says Kosovo 'under attack'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Fatos Bytyci | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"The (armed) group simply exercised the intentions and the motives of Serbia as a country and Vucic as the leader." Serbia, which has not recognized its former province's independence, blames Kosovo for precipitating violence by mistreating ethnic Serb residents, a charge Kosovo denies. "What I would say to President Vucic is stop messing with Kosovo. [1/4]Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani talks to Reuters after a deadly shootout in the northern part of the country, in Pristina, Kosovo September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Laura Hasani Acquire Licensing RightsRussia seized and annexed Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014, and Kosovo authorities fear Serbia could carve away the northern part of Kosovo.

Persons: Vjosa Osmani, Aleksandar Vucic, Osmani, Vucic, Laura Hasani, We've, Albin Kurti, Fatos, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Kosovar, Reuters, Kosovo, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, EU, Sunday, Yugoslav, Kosovo's, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: PRISTINA, Serbia, Kosovo, Banjska, Serbian, NATO, Crimea, Kosovo's, Belgrade, Pristina, Republic of Kosovo, Rights Russia, Ukraine's Crimea

[1/5] Palestinian workers enter the reopened Erez crossing to Israel, after Israeli ends a ban on workers from Gaza, in Gaza City September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa Acquire Licensing RightsGAZA, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Israel reopened crossing points with Gaza on Thursday, allowing thousands of Palestinian workers to get to their jobs in Israel and the West Bank, after nearly two weeks of closure prompted by violent protests along the border. Cogat, the Israeli Defence Ministry agency that coordinates with the Palestinians, said security assessments would determine whether the border remained open. Israel blocks many goods from entering Gaza with Egyptian backing, citing security concerns, and also reserves the right to restrict exports. According to IMF figures, per capita income in Gaza is only a quarter of that of Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Persons: Abu Mustafa, Israel, Khaled Zurub, Cogat, Hazem, Nidal Organizations: REUTERS, West Bank, United, Reuters, Israeli Defence Ministry, Hamas, Bank, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Gaza City, Egypt, United Nations

☆ CEO admits her airline 'let you down in many ways' and asks customers for patience to 'earn your trust back'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

New Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson apologized for the series of scandals involving the Australian airline. Hudson said regaining trust would "take time and I ask for your patience." "We have let you down in many ways and for that I am sorry," Vanessa Hudson said in a video posted to the company's social media accounts. "We understand we need to earn your trust back, not with what we say but what we do and how we behave. AdvertisementAdvertisementA message to customers from Qantas CEO, Vanessa Hudson.

Persons: Vanessa Hudson, Hudson, Alan Joyce, pSjMjXnybY, Joyce Organizations: Qantas, Service, Competition, Consumer Commission, Transport Workers, Union, Guardian Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ UAW strikes could make 2023 the biggest year for labor activity in nearly four decades
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Employees who withhold their labor can face a number of consequences, including losing their job and health insurance, experts said. And employees "can never be sure their strike will be found to be an unfair labor practice strike," he cautioned. Pay and health insurance is 'a real problem'Workers who go on strike generally lose their wages, Dau-Schmidt said. Kenneth Dau-Schmidt law professor at Indiana University BloomingtonEconomic strikers typically also get their other workplace benefits, including health insurance, nixed. But, he said, "sometimes employers won't kick employees off of the health insurance right away because it escalates the conflict and almost ensures an unhappy ending."

Persons: Johnnie Kallas, Kallas, Sharon, Block, Kenneth Dau, Schmidt, Dau Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Labor, United Auto Workers, Employees, Harvard Law School, Center for Labor, CNBC, National Labor Relations, Indiana University Bloomington, Railway Labor Act, Workers, Railway Labor, U.S, UPS, Strikers, Indiana University Bloomington Economic

Qatar, a wealthy Gulf Arab state with diplomatic ambitions, is pressing both sides to engage in more talks and reach "understandings," sources told Reuters earlier. The diplomat described the New York meetings as "talks for talks," saying the idea was to lay the ground for future indirect discussions to achieve an "understanding" on the nuclear issue. Washington suspects Iran's nuclear program may be aimed at developing nuclear arms, a charge Iran denies. The United States also says Iran has provided one-way attack drones for Russia to strike Ukraine and wants Tehran to stop. The Biden administration's efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal have failed and many diplomats now regard it as beyond resurrection because of Iran's nuclear advances.

Persons: Hossein Amir, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Majid Asgaripour, spokespeople, Donald Trump, Iran's, Biden, Antony Blinken, We'll, we're, Parisa Hafezi, Jonathan Landay, Arshad Mohammed, Humeyra Pamuk, John Irish, Howard Goller Organizations: Iran's, West Asia News Agency, UNITED NATIONS, Qatari, Reuters, General Assembly, New, U.S, United, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Tehran, Iran, WASHINGTON, Qatar, United States, Russia, Doha, U.S, Gulf Arab, New York, Ukraine, Washington, European, Oman, Saint Paul , Minnesota, Paris

Known as a hard-liner, Raisi seemingly sought to strike a diplomatic tone. Raisi acknowledged that Iran and Russia have long had strong ties, including defense cooperation. But he denied sending weapons to Moscow since the war began. “If they have a document that Iran gave weapons or drones to the Russians after the war," he said, then they should produce it. Raisi has sought, without evidence, to portray the popular nationwide demonstrations as a Western plot.

Persons: —, Ebrahim Raisi, Joe Biden, Raisi, “, ” Raisi, Bashar Assad, Israel, Mahsa, ” Organizations: Monday, General Assembly, United, United Arab Emirates Locations: Russia, Ukraine, United States, Iran, Qatar, Moscow, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, Persian, Tehran, Yemen

☆ Feinstein Battle Over Her Late Husband’s Fortune Heads to Mediation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Tim Arango | More About Tim Arango | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A judge in San Francisco on Monday ordered the two factions of Senator Dianne Feinstein’s family fighting over the estate of her late husband, the wealthy financier Richard C. Blum, to try to settle the case through mediation. The order, which both sides agreed to, came as the lawyers in the case appeared in a courtroom for the first time after trading hostile accusations in legal filings over the summer. On one side is Senator Feinstein, who at 90 is in declining health and has faced questions about her ability to carry out the duties of her job, and her daughter, Katherine Feinstein, a former San Francisco judge. On the other side are the three daughters of Mr. Blum from a previous marriage, and his former business partners who are the trustees of his estate. In three separate lawsuits, Senator Feinstein, with her daughter serving as her legal representative, is fighting to sell a multimillion-dollar vacation home in Stinson Beach, north of San Francisco; seeking proceeds from the estate, including from Mr. Blum’s life insurance policy, to pay for her medical expenses; and asking the court to allow her to appoint Katherine Feinstein as a trustee of the estate.

Persons: Dianne Feinstein’s, Richard C, Blum, Feinstein, Katherine Feinstein, Mr Organizations: Monday Locations: San Francisco, Stinson Beach

[1/2] Indigenous Sami activists set up a lavvo, a Sami tent, outside the Norwegian parliament in protest against two wind farms built on Sami reindeer pastures, in Oslo, Norway September 11, 2023. REUTERS/Gwladys Fouche Acquire Licensing RightsOSLO, Sept 11 (Reuters) - An Indigenous Sami activist set up camp outside the Norwegian parliament on Monday to protest against wind turbines built on land traditionally used by Sami reindeer herders, saying he will stay there as long as the turbines remain in place. Norway's supreme court in October 2021 ruled that two wind farms built at Fosen in central Norway, part of Europe's largest onshore wind farm, violated Sami rights under international conventions. "I believe that there is only one solution and that is to tear down the wind turbines at Fosen." About Monday's protest, Aasland said "the right to free expression is a founding democratic right I have great respect for".

Persons: Gwladys, Mihkkal Haetta, Greta Thunberg, Terje Aasland, Aasland, Gwladys Fouche, Hugh Lawson Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, and Energy, Thomson Locations: Oslo, Norway, Rights OSLO, Sami, Fosen, Norwegian

☆ Iran, US on Verge of Prisoner Swap Under Qatar-Mediated Deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +9 min

"Iran initially wanted direct access to the funds but in the end agreed to having access via Qatar," said a senior diplomat. Reuters pieced together this account of previously unreported details about the extent of Qatari mediation of the secret talks, how the deal unfolded and the expediency that motivated both parties to clinch the prisoner swap deal. Ties between the U.S. and Iran have been at boiling point since Donald Trump quit a nuclear deal with Iran as U.S. president in 2018. Reaching another nuclear deal has gained little traction since then, as President Joe Biden prepares for the 2024 U.S. election. Then president Trump in 2018 reimposed the sanctions when he pulled Washington out of a deal under which Iran had restricted its nuclear program.

Persons: Parisa Hafezi, Andrew Mills, Antony Blinken, Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, hasn’t, Jin, Washington, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Blinken, Iran’s, Trump, Iran Robert Malley, Abram Paley, Ali Bagheri Kani, Mehdi Safari, Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al, Khulaifi, Malley, Paley, Kani, Al Khulaifi, Laila Bassam, Samia Nakhoul, William Maclean Organizations: Reuters, U.S, British, Islamic, Washington, Doha, Iranian, State Department, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The State Department, Democrat, Qatari, TRANSIT QATAR, Iran, The Central Bank of, U.S ., State, Foreign Ministry Locations: Andrew Mills DUBAI, DOHA, Qatar, Iran, U.S, Tehran’s, Emad Sharqi, Islamic Republic, Western, Gulf, South Korea, Washington, Switzerland, Tehran, Seoul, Doha, Iranian, The Central Bank of Iran, Beirut

☆ Iran, US on verge of prisoner swap under Qatar-mediated deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Reuters pieced together this account of previously unreported details about the extent of Qatari mediation of the secret talks, how the deal unfolded and the expediency that motivated both parties to clinch the prisoner swap deal. 'You can build trust'The U.S. administration has not commented on the timing of the funds transfer. Ties between the U.S. and Iran have been at boiling point since Donald Trump quit a nuclear deal with Iran as U.S. president in 2018. Reaching another nuclear deal has gained little traction since then, as President Joe Biden prepares for the 2024 U.S. election. Then president Trump in 2018 reimposed the sanctions when he pulled Washington out of a deal under which Iran had restricted its nuclear program.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, hasn't, Jin, Washington, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Blinken, Trump, Iran Robert Malley, Abram Paley, Ali Bagheri Kani, Mehdi Safari, Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al, Khulaifi, Malley, Paley, Kani, Al Khulaifi Organizations: Capitol, Iranian, National, Washington D.C, U.S, Reuters, British, Islamic, Washington, Doha, State Department, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The State Department, Democrat, Qatari, Iran, The Central Bank of, U.S ., State, Foreign Ministry Locations: Iranian, Washington, United States, Qatar, Iran, U.S, Tehran's, Emad Sharqi, Islamic Republic, Western, Gulf, South Korea, Switzerland, Tehran, Seoul, Doha, The Central Bank of Iran

Persons: Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, Iran Dr, Ali Bagheri, Antony Blinken, Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, hasn’t, Jin, Washington, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Blinken, Iran’s, Trump, Iran Robert Malley, Abram Paley, Ali Bagheri Kani, Mehdi Safari, Foreign Ministry Mohammed Al, Khulaifi, Malley, Paley, Kani, Al Khulaifi, Laila Bassam, Samia Nakhoul, William Maclean Organizations: Regional Affairs, Political Affairs, Qatar News Agency, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Qatar, Qatar DUBAI, U.S, Reuters, British, Islamic, Washington, Doha, Iranian, State Department, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The State Department, Democrat, Qatari, TRANSIT QATAR, Iran, The Central Bank of, U.S ., State, Foreign Ministry, Thomson Locations: Islamic Republic, Iran, Tehran, Qatar Gulf, DOHA, Qatar, U.S, Tehran’s, Emad Sharqi, Western, Gulf, South Korea, Washington, Switzerland, Seoul, Doha, Iranian, The Central Bank of Iran, Beirut

☆ Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Zulu prince who roiled South African politics, dead at 95
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

South Africa's leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) Mangosuthu Buthelezi speaks to supporters ahead of the national elections, in Richards Bay, north of Durban, in South Africa, April 19, 2009. REUTERS/Rogan Ward Acquire Licensing RightsSept 9 (Reuters) - Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a veteran South African politician, Zulu prince and controversial figure during the apartheid liberation struggle, has died, the presidency said on Saturday. South Africa's main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party described Buthelezi as a "great leader". "Prince Buthelezi was a giant on South Africa's political landscape," DA leader John Steenhuisen said. Critics dubbed Buthelezi a war lord but to his legion of followers in the rural Zulu heartland, he was a visionary.

Persons: Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Rogan Ward, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Prince, KwaPhindangene, Cyril Ramaphosa, Buthelezi, Nelson Mandela, Prince Buthelezi, John Steenhuisen, ANC Buthelezi, Critics, Inkatha, Thabo Mbeki, King Cetshwayo, Henry Kissinger, Peter Carrington, Ashpenaz Nathan Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi, Matoli Buthelezi, Princess Constance Magago Dinuzulu, Irene Mzila, Bhargav Acharya, Nelson, Angus MacSwan, Frances Kerry Organizations: Freedom Party, IFP, REUTERS, South, Home Affairs, African National Congress, Zulu Monarch, ANC, Nelson, Nelson Mandela Foundation, Mandela's, Democratic Alliance, Reuters, British, Black University of Fort, ANC Youth League, U.S, Thomson Locations: Richards Bay, Durban, South Africa, KwaZulu, Natal, Zulu, Johannesburg, Black University of Fort Hare, Lesotho, Mahlabathini

☆ Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Zulu Prince Who Roiled South African Politics, Dead at 95
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

(Reuters) -Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a veteran South African politician, Zulu prince and controversial figure during the apartheid liberation struggle, has died, the presidency said on Saturday. Critics dubbed Buthelezi a war lord but to his legion of followers in the rural Zulu heartland, he was a visionary. A Zulu chief, Buthelezi became KwaZulu's chief minister in the 1970s, where he tried a delicate balancing act: refusing outright independence and criticising Pretoria's racial policies while still playing a role in the homeland farce. Ashpenaz Nathan Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi was born on Aug. 27, 1928, in Mahlabathini, the son and heir of Chief Matoli Buthelezi and Princess Constance Magago Dinuzulu. In 1953 he was installed as acting chief of the prominent Buthelezi clan and four years later was confirmed as chief.

Persons: Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Prince, KwaPhindangene, Cyril Ramaphosa, Buthelezi, Nelson Mandela, Critics, Inkatha, Thabo Mbeki, King Cetshwayo, Henry Kissinger, Peter Carrington, Ashpenaz Nathan Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi, Matoli Buthelezi, Princess Constance Magago Dinuzulu, Irene Mzila, Bhargav Acharya, Nelson BanyaEditing, Angus MacSwan, Frances Kerry Organizations: Reuters, South, Freedom Party, Home Affairs, African National Congress, Zulu Monarch, IFP, ANC, British, Black University of Fort, ANC Youth League, U.S Locations: KwaZulu, Natal, South Africa, Zulu, Johannesburg, Black University of Fort Hare, Lesotho, Mahlabathini

A general view of Chevron's Wheatstone LNG facility in Pilbara coast, Western Australia, as seen in this undated handout image obtained by Reuters on September 8, 2023. If there is still no deal by then, the unions will completely stop work for two weeks. Australia was the world's largest LNG exporter last year, shipping out 80.9 million metric tons of the fuel in 2022 versus 79 million tons in 2021, according to the International Gas Union. A prolonged strike could disrupt exports and raise prices of LNG, which is used for electricity generation. The same union alliance also secured agreements last year with Shell (SHEL.L) and Inpex (1605.T) at their LNG facilities in Western Australia.

Persons: Chevron, Wheatstone, Baden Moore, NAB's Moore, Emily Chow, Lewis Jackson, Florence Tan, Tony Munroe, Miral Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, NEXT, Unions, International Gas Union, National Australia Bank, NAB, Woodside Energy Group, WHAT'S, Woodside, North West Shelf, Shell, Thomson Locations: Wheatstone, Western Australia, Rights SINGAPORE, SYDNEY, Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Asia, Europe, Ukraine, Inpex, Woodside

☆ De Beers 'confident' talks will avert strike at S.Africa's Venetia mine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

De Beers delivers first production from underground operations at its Venetia Mine in South Africa in this undated handout picture. On Tuesday, NUM, South Africa's biggest mineworkers' union, said it was planning a strike at Venetia, as De Beers could only offer a 6% pay increase against demands for a 9% hike. The strike by NUM's 1,500 workers would impact operations at Venetia's new $2.3 billion underground operations, which started production in July. De Beers stopped its 30-year open pit operations at Venetia in December 2022. "We are confident that through continued engagement with the union and our employees we will reach a sustainable settlement with the NUM," De Beers said.

Persons: De Beers, NUM, Nelson Banya, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers, Commission, Conciliation, Thomson Locations: Venetia, South Africa, NUM

☆ Here’s why Biden can’t do much to prevent an auto strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —President Joe Biden may hope the United Auto Workers union will not strike the nation’s three unionized automakers. Biden doesn’t have the legal authority he would have if a freight railroad or airline was threatening to strike. Joe Biden speaks at the United Auto Workers union hall in Warren, Michigan, during the 2020 presidential campaign. And UAW President Shawn Fain vows the union is ready to strike all three if there aren’t agreements by the 11:59 pm ET contract expiration on September 14. President Joe Biden after touring the General Motors' electric vehicle assembly plant in Detroit in November 2021.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden doesn’t, Jim Watson, Shawn Fain, Biden Fain, Biden, Jonathan Ernst, ”, Fain, Joe Biden’s, ” Biden, “, ” Fain, Biden’s, Gene Sperling, Julie Su, — Organizations: New, New York CNN, United Auto Workers, UAW, General Motors, Ford, Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, UPS, Anderson Economic Consulting, GM, Getty, EV, Reuters, SK, White, ICE, Labor, CNN, AFL, CNBC, Teamsters, Congress Locations: New York, West Coast, Michigan, Warren , Michigan, AFP, Southern, Detroit

☆ Chevron Australia LNG workers to begin strikes on Friday
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Australia is the world's biggest LNG exporter, and the ongoing dispute over wages and conditions had stoked volatility in gas prices. "Despite the Offshore Alliance giving Chevron plenty of opportunity to sort out (bargaining agreements) ... they will finally be facing their day of reckoning," the union alliance said in a Facebook post. Work stoppages that could reach up to 11 hours will begin from 1 p.m. Perth time (0500 GMT) on Friday and last through Sept. 14. The strike action had been scheduled to begin on Thursday morning but was delayed due to mediation talks hosted by the Fair Work Commission, Australia's industrial umpire. When strike actions begin, the LNG plant will have to be shut down "if there are not competent personnel to undertake handovers during work stoppages," the union said.

Persons: Marco Bello, Renju Jose, Leslie Adler, Jamie Freed Organizations: Chevron, REUTERS, Rights, Offshore Alliance, Perth, Fair, Reuters, South, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Australia, Europe, British, Asia, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Sydney

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