DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ An ex-US ambassador charged with being a longtime secret agent for Cuba bragged about it to undercover FBI officer, feds allege
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An ex-US diplomat has been federally charged over allegations he worked as a secret agent for Cuba. Feds allege that Rocha even bragged about his work for Cuba as "more than a grand slam." AdvertisementAttorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement that Rocha's arrest "exposes one of the highest-reaching and longest-lasting infiltrations of the United States government by a foreign agent." "Those who have the privilege of serving in the government of the United States are given an enormous amount of trust by the public we serve," said Garland. We did more than they thought," Rocha told the undercover fed, the court documents allege.

Persons: Victor Rocha, Rocha, —, Merrick Garland, Garland, Fidel Castro Organizations: Feds, Service, United, Department of Justice, State Department, National Security Council, Justice Department, Cuban, Directorate, Intelligence, Department of State, US Southern Command Locations: Cuba, United States, Bolivia, Miami , Florida, Colombia, Republic of Cuba

Federal prosecutors said on Monday that a retired State Department official worked for decades as a secret agent for Cuba, and told an undercover F.B.I. agent that the United States was “the enemy.”In a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Miami, the prosecutors said that the diplomat, Manuel Rocha, had secretly aided Cuba’s “clandestine intelligence-gathering mission against the United States” since 1981 as he rose undetected through the ranks of the diplomatic corps and the National Security Council. Mr. Rocha, 73, appeared to have met with handlers from Cuba’s premier spy agency as recently as 2017, prosecutors said, and boasted that his 40 years of spying on behalf of the communist government in Havana had “strengthened the revolution immensely.”For more than two decades, Mr. Rocha handled matters related to Latin America in a series of roles at the State Department under presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, including a stint as ambassador to Bolivia from 2000 to 2002. More recently, Mr. Rocha, a native of Colombia who grew up in New York, served as an adviser to the U.S. military command responsible for Cuba.

Persons: Manuel Rocha, Cuba’s, . Rocha, “, Rocha, Bill Clinton, George W, Bush Organizations: State Department, United, National Security Locations: Cuba, United States, Miami, Havana, America, Bolivia, Colombia, New York

☆ Former U.S. ambassador spied for Cuba for decades, Justice Department says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announces that Victor Manuel Rocha, the former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia, has been charged with acting illegally as a foreign agent for the government of Cuba, Dec. 4, 2023. Prosecutors say Victor Manuel Rocha, 73, spent more than 40 years spying for Cuba while he rose through the State Department, where he was U.S. ambassador to Bolivia during the Clinton administration. Rocha's case is "one of the highest-reaching and longest-lasting infiltrations of the United States government by a foreign agent," Attorney General Merrick Garland said Monday at a press conference. "To further that role, Rocha obtained and maintained employment in the United States government in positions that provided him: (1) access to nonpublic information, including classified information; and (2) the ability to affect United States foreign policy," wrote prosecutors. I have – have created the legend of a right-wing person," Rocha allegedly said, referring to the Cuban intelligence services.

Persons: General Merrick Garland, Victor Manuel Rocha, Clinton, Merrick Garland, Rocha, Rocha's Organizations: State Department, United, Southern, Southern District of, Foreign Government, DOJ, Undercover, Cuban Locations: Bolivia, Cuba, American, Miami, U.S, United States, Southern District, Southern District of Florida, Republic of Cuba, States, Cuban

He is expected to have dinner on Sunday with fellow leftist, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, before the consultations on Monday. Scholz was the first foreign leader to visit Lula in Brazil, just weeks after his inauguration. The German Chancellor has been on a quest since taking office in late 2021 to improve ties with the Global South. Scholz will be hoping to avoid a scenario like in January when his visit to Brazil was overshadowed by differences over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Lula last month said Israel was "committing terrorism" against Palestinians "by not taking into account that children are not at war, that women are not at war".

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Ueslei Marcelino, Lula, Jair Bolsonaro, Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Lukas Koehler, Israel, Andreas Rinke, Sarah Marsh, Toby Chopra Organizations: Central Bank, REUTERS, Rights, Global, European Union, Mercosur, Brazil, EU, Free Democrats, U.S, Latin America, German, Thomson Locations: Brasilia, Brazil, Berlin, America, Germany, China, South, Argentina, Scholz's, Ukraine, Israel

One of the people said the Justice Department case accuses Rocha of working to promote the Cuban government’s interests. The Justice Department declined to comment. It was not immediately clear if Rocha had a lawyer and a law firm where he previously worked said it was not representing him. Following his retirement from the State Department, Rocha began a second career in business, serving as the president of a gold mine in the Dominican Republic partly owned by Canada’s Barrick Gold. Foley & Lardner said Rocha left the law firm in August.

Persons: —, Manuel Rocha, Rocha, Fidel Castro’s, Evo Morales, “, ″ Rocha, Morales, Rocha’s, ” Rocha, Karla Wittkop Rocha, ”, Canada’s Barrick, he’s, Foley, Lardner, ” Dario Alvarez, ____ Tucker Organizations: MIAMI, Associated Press, Justice Department, AP, Democratic, Republican, Yale, Harvard, Georgetown, Bolivian, National Security Council, State Department, Canada’s, Clover Leaf, Llorente, Cuenca’s Locations: American, Bolivia, Miami, Cuban, America, Cuba, U.S, Colombia, New York City, Argentina, Washington, United States, Italy, Honduras, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Pennsylvania, Spanish, Cuenca, “, Investigative@ap.org

☆ 2023 Hurricane Season Ends, Marked by Storms That ‘Really Rapidly Intensified’
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( William B. Davis | Judson Jones | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +15 min

During the Atlantic hurricane season, 20 storms formed, seven of which reached hurricane strength, meaning sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour. Storms that experienced rapid intensification Rapid intensification Atlantic storms Extremely rapid intensification Lee 150 m.p.h. wind speed Hilary Lidia 100 50 0 4 0 6 8 2 10 12 14 16 Days since start of storm Atlantic storms Rapid intensification Extremely rapid intensification Lee 150 m.p.h. Despite its strength, the slightly cooler waters near Mexico’s Baja Peninsula would rapidly weaken Hilary to a tropical storm. The background graphic shows the storm moving from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane before making landfall on Oct. 25.

Persons: El Niño, ” James P, ”, Kossin, Otis, Hilary Lidia 100, Philip Klotzbach, Klotzbach, Hurricanes Lee, Idalia, Hilary, Hurricane Hilary, “, Eric Blake Organizations: Canada New York United States Houston, Canada New York United States, Houston, Canada New York United, Canada New York United States Los, PACIFIC, ATLANTIC, Eastern, OCEAN United, OCEAN United States Los, OCEAN United States Los Angeles Houston mexico Mexico City, Atlantic, University of Wisconsin, El, Pacific, National, Colorado State University, East, Hurricanes, Hurricane, U.S, National Hurricane Center Locations: Canada, Canada New York United States Houston Miami mexico Cuba Mexico, Houston Miami mexico Cuba Mexico, Canada New York United States, PACIFIC OCEAN, Miami mexico Cuba Mexico, Atlantic, Eastern Pacific, OCEAN United States, OCEAN United States Los Angeles Houston mexico Mexico, Eastern, North America, Pacific, Madison, Florida, United States, Florida’s Big Bend, Cuba, Caribbean, Cancun, Gulf, Mexico, Bend, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida , Georgia, North Carolina, California, Peninsula, Baja California, Southern California, Death, Acapulco

The Justice Department, during the Trump administration, closed an investigation into the realtors organization. The Biden administration re-opened it in 2021 so it could probe how broadly housing listings are available and what fees home sellers pay to the brokers who represent buyers. The government's concern focused on private listings of homes, which NAR banned but left some exceptions, and a rule that requires sellers to pay the buyer's broker. Because of concern about "pocket listings," or private listings not available to the public, the NAR adopted a "Clear Cooperation Policy" in 2019 that was supposed to ban pocket listings but has been criticized for allowing exceptions. The NAR's Participation Rule had required brokers who listed a house to offer compensation to the buyer's broker.

Persons: Sarah Silbiger, Trump, Biden, Judge Florence Pan, Frederick Liu, Chris Michel, Diane Bartz, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Justice Department and National Association of Realtors, The Justice Department, realtors, U.S ., Appeals, Circuit, NAR, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Lawyer Isabel Lazo’s jobs are being systematically canceled by Nicaragua’s increasingly repressive government. Lazo worked at a university before the government of President Daniel Ortega closed it. The couple lives in the northern city of Somoto, where Isabel Lazo now works for a European-backed NGO. Lazo said Thursday she is worried that it's only a matter of time for the group where she now works. She has wanted to emigrate for some time, but she helps her family by giving them some of what little money she earns.

Persons: Isabel Lazo’s, Nicaragua’s, Lazo, Daniel Ortega, Elizabeth Zechmeister, Guillermo Lazo, Ortega, Isabel Lazo, ”, ” Lazo, Rosemary Miranda, Miranda, ” Miranda Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Democracy, University of Northern, Roman Catholic, Nicaraguan, Cross, Jesuit, University of Central Locations: MEXICO, “, Americas, University of Northern Nicaragua, Somoto, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nicaraguan, University of Central America, Managua

In the 2019 agreement, Facebook, which became Meta in 2021, was required to pay $5 billion for violating an earlier agreement. The company filed a separate appeal against Judge Timothy Kelly's ruling this week that it should be an FTC judge, not a district judge, who decides that case. This new lawsuit, filed late on Wednesday, argues that it is unconstitutional for the FTC to unilaterally tighten an existing consent agreement. The Meta complaints focus on the agency's dual role of prosecuting a matter before an FTC judge. Once the FTC judge makes a decision it is the commission which votes on whether to accept it.

Persons: Yuri Gripas, Judge Timothy Kelly's, Lina Khan, Rebecca Slaughter, Alvaro Bedoya, Meta, Diane Bartz, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Facebook Inc, Headquarters, REUTERS, Rights, Facebook, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Meta, FTC, Big Tech, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ Henry Kissinger, the towering American diplomat, dies at age 100
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Marty Steinberg | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +25 min

President Gerald Ford (left) and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger talk together in the Oval Office, February 19, 1975. In his 2001 book "The Trial of Henry Kissinger," social critic Christopher Hitchens called him a war criminal. North Vietnam's Le Duc Tho (left) and US National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger at the Paris peace talks, January 1973. Chairman Zedong of the People's Republic of China meets U. S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on Nov. 12, 1973. On a helicopter during the period of shuttle diplomacy in the Middle East, Henry Kissinger talks to his wife, Nancy.

Persons: Henry Kissinger, —, Richard Nixon's, Kissinger, Richard Nixon, Richard Corkery, Duc Tho, Gerald Ford, Benjamin E, Ford, Warren Burger, Kissinger's, Paula, Gene, Forte, Seymour M, Hersh bashed Kissinger, Walter Isaacson's, Christopher Hitchens, Greg Grandin, Niall Ferguson, Kant, Clausewitz, Bismarck, Barry Gewen, Gewen, Elizabeth Holmes, Nixon, George Shultz, Holmes, Heinz Alfred Kissinger, Louis, Walter, Hitler, Kissingers, Fritz Kraemer, William Yandell Elliott, Spengler, Toynbee, Metternich, Castlereagh, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Mike Wallace, Wallace, Kennedy, Johnson, Republican Nelson Rockefeller, George Romney, Hubert Humphrey, Democratic Sen, George McGovern, McGovern, Nguyen Van Thieu, Reg Lancaster, Tho, Thieu, Mao, Gen, Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan, Nicolae Ceausescu, Zhou Enlai, Leonid Brezhnev, Andrei Gromyko, Dirck, Sen, Henry Jackson, Charles Vanik, Brezhnev, Spiro Agnew, Archibald Cox, Cox, Robert Bork, White, Alexander Haig, Anwar Sadat, David Hume Kennerly, Marxist Salvador Allende Gossens, Fidel Castro's, Martin Bernetti, Allende, Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, Pinochet, Ann Fleischer, Elizabeth, David, Nancy Maginnes, Rockefeller, Jill St, John, Candice Bergen, Shirley MacLaine, Liv Ullman, Diane Sawyer, , Napoleon, Nancy, David Rubinger, Maginnes, Moshe Dayan, Robert Dallek, Nixon's, Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein, Paula Kissinger, Brooks Kraft Organizations: Gould, Kissinger Associates, National Security, Waldorf, Astoria, Richard Corkery | New York Daily, Forte, Soviets, State, Chief, New York, Theranos Inc, Economic, Nuremberg, George Washington High School, City College of New, Army, 84th Infantry Division, U.S ., Hesse . Harvard, Harvard, Confluence, Foreign, Eisenhower, Republican, Republican National Convention, Rockefeller and Michigan Gov, Democratic, District of Columbia, US National Security, Getty, Paris Peace, North, Nationalist, China, Bettmann, East Pakistan, of, U.S, Soviet Union ., Ballistic, Soviet, Washington, Egyptian Third Army, Department, West, Marxist, Museum, AFP, CIA, Israeli, Southern California Quaker, White, Partners, Power Locations: New York City, U.S, Connecticut, Richard Corkery | New, United States, Vietnam, Saigon, Viet, Soviet Union, Communist China, Israel, Egypt, Syria, Chile, Pakistan, Theranos, Ukraine, Russia, Davos, Switzerland, Fuerth, Germany, Bavarian, American, Nazi Germany, London, New York, City College of New York, Ahlem, Hanover, German, Krefeld, Hesse, Cambodia, Massachusetts, Haiphong, Paris, North, China, Washington, Taiwan, People's Republic of China, Beijing, Moscow, India, East, Bangladesh, Shanghai, USSR, Soviet, Kremlin, Dirck Halstead, Ohio, Saudi, Japan, Sinai, Alexandria, Cairo, Suez, Americas, Santiago, Cuba, Chilean, America, Europe, Virginia, Southern California

☆ Cuban family business produces flour from coconut and yucca amid shortages
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Alien Fernandez | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Entrepreneur Gabriel Perez, 38, poses for a photo as he checks slices of banana put to dry in his farmland in the rural outskirts of Havana, Cuba, November 22, 2023. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini Acquire Licensing RightsHAVANA, Nov 28 (Reuters) - On a small farm outside Havana, a Cuban family-run business produces gluten-free flour from banana, coconut and yucca, preferring locally-sourced ingredients to pricey imports as Cubans seek innovative solutions to a growing food crisis. His business, Bacoretto, dries and mills yucca, rice, banana and coconut into organic flour preferred by gluten-intolerant consumers, who have only recently been able to find food products tailored to their dietary needs in Cuba. Byproducts of their processes are used to make coconut oil, coconut-fiber rope, vinegar and fermented products and sweets, Perez told Reuters. It produces 6 to 8 kilograms (13.2 to 17.6 pounds) of flour a week, Perez said, in small batches, in addition to byproducts, with a staff of eight people.

Persons: Gabriel Perez, Alexandre Meneghini, Perez, Fidel Castro's, Alien Fernandez, Nelson Acosta, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Havana, Cuba, Rights HAVANA, Caribbean

☆ A teacher who lived in Dubai and Qatar for 10 years to save money shares what it was like — and why moving back to Ireland was a relief
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Ella Hopkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

She moved to Qatar for a higher salaryCoyle told BI that a lot of people she knew viewed the Gulf states as "scary," particularly for women. Coyle told BI that, in her second year, she was given a rent allowance of 9,000 riyals. Coyle told BI the students would often ask about life in Western countries, such as how people met their spouses and why people drank alcohol. She moved to Dubai insteadCoyle applied for a job at a school in Dubai, in the UAE. She told BI Dubai was more "hectic" than Doha.

Persons: Sorcha Coyle, Coyle, she'd, there's, would've, expats, wasn't, haven't Organizations: Business, United Arab, Qatari, Gaelic football team, Qatar, BI Dubai Locations: England, Ireland, Qatar, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Doha, Cuba, China, Israel, London, California

☆ Rosalynn Carter: President Biden and former president Jimmy Carter to gather to honor former first lady
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Zoe Sottile | Christina Maxouris | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The Carter family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Carter Center Mental Health Program or the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers. Members of the public pay their respects to former first lady Rosalynn Carter as she lies in repose at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta on Monday, November 27. Austin Steele/CNN Members of the Carter family watch as Rosalynn's casket arrives at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library on Monday. On the left, wearing the necklace, is Amy Carter, the daughter of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. Rosalynn Carter also devoted her time to the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, which she founded at Georgia Southwestern State University’s campus.

Persons: Rosalynn Carter, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Melania Trump, Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn, Kamala Harris, Brian Kemp, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Carter, Brynn Anderson, Shannon Boone, Boone, Will Lanzoni, Vincent Wimbush, Wimbush, Vickye Terry, Terry, Austin Steele, Dora Moore, Mike Stewart, Amy Carter, Jimmy, Jack, Jeff, Jason Sheedy, Sheedy, John Lewis, John Bazemore, Phoebe Sumter, Alex Brandon, ”, Georgia’s, “ Rosalynn, “ Organizations: CNN, Georgia Southwestern State University, Jimmy Carter Presidential, Carter, Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church, Emory University, Georgia Gov, Atlanta Mayor, Humanity, Maranatha Baptist Church, White House, Mental Health, Plains High School, Carter Presidential Center, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, Atlanta, Morehouse College, Carter Center, CNN Atlanta, CNN Chicago, John Lewis Freedom, Carter Health, Human Services, Secret Service, Phoebe Sumter Medical, Georgia Southwestern State University’s Locations: Atlanta, Georgia, Plains, mater, California, Americus , Georgia, Americus, United States, Cuba, Sudan, North Korea, Guinea

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — In New York, migrants at a city-run shelter grumble that relatives who settled before them refuse to offer a bed. In South Florida, some immigrants complain that people who came later get work permits that are out of reach for them. Across the country, mayors, governors and others have been forceful advocates for newly arrived migrants seeking shelter and work permits. The administration said in September that it would work to reduce wait times for work permits to 30 days for those using the new pathways. The Washington rally reflected an effort by advocates to push for work permits for all, regardless of when they came.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, “ Chuy ” Garcia, José Guerrero, ” Guerrero, “, Angel Hernandez, Hernandez, Adriana Trino, “ We're, Diego Torres, Santiago Marquez, hasn't, –, They’ve, ” Lawrence Benito, ___ Tareen, J, Elliot Spagat, Erik Verduzco Organizations: U.S, Rep, Chicago Democrat, . Citizenship, Immigration Services, Biden, Latin American Coalition, American Association, Washington, Illinois Coalition, Immigrant, Refugee Rights, Chicago, Associated Press, Rico Locations: Fla, New York, Chicago, South Florida, Washington, Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Homestead , Florida, Miami, Denver, Los Angeles, Houston, U.S, Venezuelan, Panama’s, Darien, Colombia, United States, Midtown Manhattan, Charlotte , North Carolina, In Atlanta, Homestead, Atlanta

A constitutional court ruling on Nov. 15 against a budget manoeuvre to get around Germany's "debt brake" threw the financial plans of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition into disarray. "As I have long been saying, we must fear that the debt brake becomes ever more a brake on the future," said Berlin mayor Kai Wegner on social media platform X. "The debt brake was implemented when Europe had a debt sustainability issue and Germany wanted to lead by example," he said. "With the debt brake as it is, we have voluntarily tied our hands behind our backs and are going into a boxing match," he said. The Greens' campaign programme ahead of the last election included debt brake reform to allow for greater investments.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Robert Habeck, Christian Lindner, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's, Reiner Haseloff, Haseloff, Kai Wegner, Friedrich Merz, Carsten Brzeski, Roderich Kiesewetter, Stefan Marschall, Andreas Rinke, Sarah Marsh, Matthias Williams, Holger Hansen, Nick Macfie Organizations: Climate, Finance, BERLIN, U.S, Intel, Reuters, AAA, Christian Democratic Union, CDU, Christian Social Union, CSU, Berlin, Free Democrats, Social Democrats, Greens, ING, SPD, University of Duesseldorf, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Europe's, Ukraine, Saxony, Anhalt, United States, Bavarian, Federal, Germany, Europe, France, Italy, Spain, China

☆ Some Migrants Are Swapping Their American Dream for a Mexican One
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

So when Banegas fled gang threats in Honduras once more in 2021, he set his sights not on the United States, but Mexico. He gets along with his Mexican coworkers, he said, and he's proud his six-month-old son, David, is a Mexican citizen. The vast majority of migrants who enter Mexico continue north toward the U.S., posing challenges for the Biden administration. U.S., Mexican and U.N. officials have called for regional cooperation to help migrants resettle in places such as Mexico, Costa Rica and Colombia, aiming to reduce illegal migration to the U.S. (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City and Laura Gottesdiener in Saltillo; Editing by Christian Plumb and Suzanne Goldenberg)

Persons: Laura Gottesdiener, Beth Solomon, Walter Banegas, Banegas, Long, he's, David, Biden, Giovanni Lepri, Arturo Rocha, Jose Medina Mora, Fernando Hernandez, Kaitlyn, Hernandez, Daina Beth Solomon, Christian Plumb, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: United, Pace Industries, UNHCR, U.S, ASK Locations: Beth Solomon SALTILLO, Mexico, Mexican, Saltillo, Honduran, Honduras, United States, United Nations, Michigan, U.S, Haiti, Venezuela, El Salvador, Cuba, Costa Rica, Colombia, Texas, Monterrey, Chang's, Mexico City

More than 10 intelligence and police officials in five European countries including Britain, Germany and France told Reuters they are increasing surveillance of Islamist militants. A British security official said the war in Gaza was likely to become the biggest recruiter for Islamist militants since the Iraq war in 2003, and that calls for attacks on Jewish and Western targets had risen in Europe. Two Islamist militant attacks in France and Belgium last month killed three people, and these two countries, Austria, Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina have raised their terrorism threat alert levels. LONE WOLVESSecurity officials say the main danger for Europe is probably from attacks by "lone wolves" — assailants who are radicalised, often online, but have no formal links to more established groups. Although a truce has come into effect in Gaza, both sides have said the war is far from over.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, radicalised, Mark Rowley, al, Jochen Kopelke, It's, Kopelke, Israel, Peter Knoope, Knoope, Iman Atta, Germany's Kopelke, influencers, Europol, Thomas Renard, Juliette Jabkhiro, Angelo Amante, Johan Ahlander, Phil Blenkinsop, Timothy Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, London, British, Islamic State, Islamic, WOLVES Security, Hamas, Dutch National, International Centre for, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, BERLIN, Israel, Britain, Germany, Russia, China, Iran, Gaza, Iraq, Europe, Belgium, Austria, Slovenia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Italy, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Qaeda, Afghanistan, Syria, United States, British, al, West

So when Banegas fled gang threats in Honduras once more in 2021, he set his sights not on the United States, but Mexico. He gets along with his Mexican coworkers, he said, and he's proud his six-month-old son, David, is a Mexican citizen. 'VERY SOLID OPTION'A decade ago, a few hundred people annually received asylum in Mexico. The vast majority of migrants who enter Mexico continue north toward the U.S., posing challenges for the Biden administration. U.S., Mexican and U.N. officials have called for regional cooperation to help migrants resettle in places such as Mexico, Costa Rica and Colombia, aiming to reduce illegal migration to the U.S.

Persons: Walter Banegas, Daniel Becerril, Banegas, Long, he's, David, Biden, Giovanni Lepri, Arturo Rocha, Jose Medina Mora, Fernando Hernandez, Kaitlyn, Hernandez, Daina Beth Solomon, Laura Gottesdiener, Christian Plumb, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: Pace, REUTERS, Rights, United, Pace Industries, UNHCR, U.S, ASK, Thomson Locations: Honduras, Mexico, Saltillo , Mexico, Rights SALTILLO, Mexican, Saltillo, Honduran, United States, United Nations, Michigan, U.S, Haiti, Venezuela, El Salvador, Cuba, Costa Rica, Colombia, Texas, Monterrey, Chang's, Mexico City

☆ EU human rights envoy in Cuba to discuss aftermath of 2021 protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

European Union's Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, speaks during a meeting with Cuban authorities in Havana, Cuba, November 24, 2023. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, on a visit to Cuba earlier this year, announced Gilmore`s visit but told reporters the EU would not "impose" demands on the island`s government. Rights groups say around 1,000 Cubans were jailed for their political beliefs following the demonstrations and several subsequent protests. "No one is convicted for their political opinions," Cuba`s foreign ministry said prior to Gilmore`s visit on social media. "We call on the Cuban government to respect the human rights of everyone, including the rights of political prisoners and those unjustly detained."

Persons: Eamon Gilmore, Alexandre Meneghini, Gilmore, Josep Borrell, Fidel Castro's, Luis Barrios Díaz, la Torre, Barrios Diaz `, Dave Sherwood, Alien Fernandez Organizations: Human Rights, Cuban, REUTERS, Rights, EU, European Union, U.S, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Havana, Cuba, Rights HAVANA, United States, EU, Cuban

☆ The top 7 media people in AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Kali Hays | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Camille Carlton, Center for Humane TechnologyCamille Carlton, Center for Human Technology Center for Human TechnologyCarlton describes her path to working on AI policy as "nonlinear." After seeing how divided her family became around the 2016 election, largely due to information they saw on sites like Facebook, Carlton was inspired to study technology and society. She now works at the Center for Humane Technology, advising policymakers on laws and regulations for AI. "I'm most scared about how these systems will further entrench deep power asymmetries and socioeconomic inequality," Carlton said. "We're seeing a few large companies run by a handful of people shaping everything.

Persons: Camille Carlton, Center for Humane Technology Camille Carlton, Human Technology Carlton, Carlton Organizations: Center for Humane Technology, Center, Human Technology, Facebook Locations: Cuba

☆ Cuba stages pro-Palestine march past US embassy in Havana
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Nelson Acosta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] People shout slogans during a march in support of Palestinians, calling for a ceasefire and for charging Israel with committing “genocide” in Gaza, in Havana, Cuba, November 23, 2023. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini Acquire Licensing RightsHAVANA, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Cubans on Thursday marched in front of the U.S. embassy in Havana charging Israel was committing “genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza. Communist-run Cuba has been a strong backer of the Palestinian cause for decades and has trained more than 200 Palestinian doctors. "We are here and it is no coincidence that we have marched in front of the United States embassy," Anet Rodríguez, a university professor, said. Since then, some 14,800 Gazans have been killed by Israeli bombardment, around 40% of them children, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Persons: Alexandre Meneghini, Israel, Miguel Diaz, Fidel Castro, Marc Frank, Anet Rios, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, United, State, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Havana, Cuba, Rights HAVANA, Cuban, Palestine, Israel, Communist, United States

☆ U.S. to Restrict Visas of Charter Operators Flying Migrants to Nicaragua
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Juan Montes | José De Córdoba | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Haitians were waiting to board a flight from Port-au-Prince to Nicaragua in late October as the Haitian government banned all charter flights to the Central American nation. Photo: Odelyn Joseph/Associated PressThe U.S. government said Tuesday it would impose visa restrictions on individuals running charter flights into Nicaragua, flooding the Central American country with tens of thousands of U.S.-bound migrants, mostly from Haiti, Cuba and Africa. The authoritarian government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega , which has strained ties with the U.S., has in recent months allowed several little-known charter airlines and travel agencies to operate flights from Haiti, Cuba and other Caribbean airports to Nicaragua, according to Haitian and Nicaraguan civil aviation data.

Persons: Odelyn Joseph, Daniel Ortega Organizations: Central, Associated Press, Nicaraguan, U.S Locations: Port, Prince, Nicaragua, Central American, American, U.S, Haiti, Cuba, Africa

The other plaintiff, Kelsey Harbert, accused Gooding of groping her breast in June 2019 at the Magic Hour rooftop bar, also in midtown. Lawyers who have represented Gooding in civil and criminal litigation over his alleged sexual misconduct did not immediately respond to requests for comment. He pleaded guilty in April 2022 to a misdemeanor charge of forcibly touching Abbay, who was not identified by name at the time but revealed her identity in her lawsuit. The charge was downgraded six months later to harassment, to which Gooding pleaded guilty after complying with a plea agreement that required alcohol and behavior modification treatment and no further arrests. Accusations by Abbay, Harbert and a third woman were the basis for a six-count indictment against Gooding, which his guilty plea resolved.

Persons: Cuba Gooding, Mike Segar, Cuba Gooding Jr, Oscar, underlay, Jasmine Abbay, Jerry Maguire, Kelsey Harbert, Gooding, Gloria Allred, Russell Brand, Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstein, Donald Trump, Sean, Diddy, Combs, Axl Rose, Sheila Kennedy, Jonathan Stempel, Dawn Chmielewski, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Criminal, REUTERS, Cuba, Lawyers, U.S, Thomson Locations: New, New York, Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Los Angeles

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attends as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks during a news conference at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, February 3, 2023. With Scholz from the centre-left Social Democrats and Meloni from the rightist Brothers of Italy, the two leaders and their governments make for unlikely allies. These include the construction of a pipeline to transport gas and hydrogen between the two countries and approaches to tackle illegal migration. The German stance on illegal migration has converged more with the Italian one. In the plan, Berlin and Rome pledge to enhance regular dialogue - for example through meetings of their defence and foreign ministers - and coordinate more closely on key policies in general.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Giorgia Meloni, Christian Mang, Giorgia, Scholz, Meloni, India's, Angelo Amante, Andreas Rinke, Sarah Marsh, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Italian, Social Democrats, Meloni, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, BERLIN, Italy, Europe, Ukraine, Albania, Rome, France

☆ Cuban ministers reveal details of food, fuel shortages amid economic crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Minister after minister have delivered the bad news as the import-dependent Communist-run country weathers a fourth year of crisis, scraping by with a minimum of foreign exchange as output plummets. Food production, the supply of phamaceuticals and transportation are down by at least 50% since 2018, the top officials said, and continued to decline this year in large part due to chronic fuel shortages and power outages. "The ministers provided new information revealing just how serious the crisis is and that growth this year is very doubtful," Cuban economist Omar Everleny said. Public transportation, vital in a country where few have vehicles, has also been hobbled by fuel shortages and difficulties in obtaining spare parts. If before the collapse of former benefactor the Soviet Union "there were 2,500 buses operating in Havana ... today there are just 300 compared with 600 four years ago," Transportation Minister Eduardo Rodríguez Davila said.

Persons: weathers, Omar Everleny, Ydael Jesus Perez, Tania Margarita Cruz, Eduardo Rodríguez Davila, Marc Frank, Sandra Maler Organizations: Senior Cuban, Agriculture, Industry, Thomson Locations: Cuba, Caribbean, Cuban, Soviet Union, Havana .

Search resuls for: "Cuba"

25 mentions found