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Ferrovial has been providing artificial intelligence services to its businesses and employees since April after two years of work on an AI solutions centre in Spain. Ferrovial is working with Microsoft AI products, but has its own, completely isolated version, and is building the framework for an AI service that will help its various businesses. The company is also using AI tools on its highways to detect cars going the wrong way, objects or people on the road, and is working on perfecting the sensors. In parallel, Ferrovial is working on ways to communicate directly with motorists using its U.S. toll roads and give them more information than just the rates. AI will also help it contact potential users to offer discounts and attract more traffic.

Persons: Ferrovial, Luis Carlos Pietro Fernandez, Fernandez, Corina Pons, Andrei Khalip, Conor Humphries Organizations: Heathrow, Reuters, Microsoft, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Spain, Highways, Madrid, Netherlands, United States, Heathrow, Britain's, New, JFK

☆ Puerto Rican bank sues NY Fed for suspending account in Venezuela-linked crackdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The bank asked the court to bar the New York Fed from terminating its master account, without which it said it "cannot effectively function as a depository institution." A spokesperson for the New York Fed declined to comment. Federal prosecutors dismissed a civil forfeiture complaint and returned $53 million in seized funds to the bank. The New York Fed in 2019 said it would stop approving master accounts for some Puerto Rican banks due to U.S. sanctions on Venezuela aimed at ousting socialist President Nicolas Maduro, Reuters reported at the time. The bank said its founder, Marcelino Bellosta, has lived in the United States and Europe for much of the last 25 years.

Persons: BSJI, Nicolas Maduro, Marcelino Bellosta, Luc Cohen, Grant McCool Organizations: Banco San Juan, Inc, New York Federal, Banco, Banco San Juan Internacional, New York, New York Fed, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Puerto Rican, U.S, Venezuela, Banco San, Manhattan, York, Puerto, Venezuelan, United States, Europe, New York

[1/3] A man called David checks his phone as he stands near a fan to cool off, during a heatwave across Italy, in Rome, July 14, 2023. A heat wave has hit southern Europe during the peak summer tourist season, breaking records - including in Rome - and bringing warnings about an increased risk of deaths. Spain is expected to endure higher-than-average temperatures this summer, with two heatwaves already baking the country in June and July. Amazon Business, where companies can order supplies, saw more than a 20% increase in portable air-conditioning unit sales across Spain, Italy, and France this month compared to July last year. Smaller devices, like hand-held fans and fans worn around the neck, were also selling in their thousands.

Persons: David, Guglielmo Mangiapane, Angela Lonardo, Leroy Merlin, Elisa Anzolin, Corina Rodriguez, Helen Reid, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, El, El Corte Inglés, Amazon Spain, Amazon, Thomson Locations: Italy, Rome, MADRID, MILAN, Southern Europe, Europe, United States, El Corte, Madrid, Spain, Seville, Sensibo, France, Corte, Milan, London

☆ Opinion | The Risks of Sanctions, the Tool America Loves to Use
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Nevertheless, this more modest policy, which supports a gradual return to democracy rather than abrupt regime change, is a better approach. The Biden administration should be more explicit about which sanctions in Venezuela would be lifted and when, especially those on the state-owned oil company. “The situation internally is really dire,” Mr. Reyna said. Many experts view sanctions as an important driver of migration from Venezuela because they worsen the economic conditions that push people to leave. In response, a group of Democratic lawmakers — including Representative Veronica Escobar of Texas, who co-chairs Mr. Biden’s re-election campaign — implored him to lift sanctions on Venezuela and Cuba.

Persons: Maduro hasn’t, Biden, Maduro, Feliciano Reyna, Acción, Mr, Reyna, Veronica Escobar, Biden’s, — Organizations: Mr, Democratic, Treasury Department Locations: Venezuela, U.S, Veronica Escobar of Texas, Cuba, United States

CARACAS, July 21 (Reuters) - Venezuelan expects to sign licenses by year-end for developing the nation's vast natural gas reserves, oil minister Pedro Tellechea said on Friday, even amid U.S. sanctions. Most of the South American country's gas reserves remain undeveloped after decades of insufficient investment, contract changes and - in recent years - U.S. sanctions to oust President Nicolas Maduro. But new officials running the oil ministry and PDVSA want to encourage new investment and unfreeze projects. Oil major Shell Plc (SHEL.L), which produces in Trinidad, could operate the Dragon gas field in Venezuela if Maduro's government extends it a license, Trinidad officials have said. Venezuela is producing 831,000 barrels of crude per day (bpd) this month and expects to increase to 1 million bpd by year-end.

Persons: Pedro Tellechea, Nicolas Maduro, Tellechea, Spain's, Maurel, Deisy Buitrago, Mayela Armas, Vivian Sequera, Marianna Parraga, Alison Williams Organizations: Eni, Shell, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, Caracas, United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Trinidad, China

☆ Venezuela's ex-spymaster pleads not guilty to US drug trafficking charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hugo Carvajal, 63, arrived in the United states on Wednesday after being extradited from Spain. "General Carvajal looks forward to fighting these outrageous charges in court before an unbiased American jury," Margulis-Ohnuma told reporters after the hearing. The drugs were ultimately bound for the United States, according to prosecutors. Dozens of Venezuelan military leaders, politicians and businessmen have been charged by the United States with corruption and drug trafficking. He was arrested in Spain on the U.S. drug charges later that year, but went into hiding after a court initially approved his extradition.

Persons: Hugo Carvajal, Judge Stewart Aaron, Zachary Margulis, Ohnuma, Carvajal, General Carvajal, Hugo Chavez's, El, Chavez, Nicolas Maduro, Maduro, Luc Cohen, Daniel Wallis Organizations: YORK, Department of Justice, U.S, American, U.S . State Department, Washington, Thomson Locations: United, Spain, Manhattan, Mexico, Venezuela, United States, Washington, Caracas, Aruba, Netherlands, Maduro, New York

A negotiating team representing the South American country has held settlement talks with some of those creditors and holders of defaulted PDVSA bonds. The U.S. has shielded Houston-based Citgo from creditors since the company in 2019 severed ties with its ultimate parent, Venezuela's state oil firm Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA.UL), which is controlled by President Nicolas Maduro. Horacio Medina, chief of the board that supervises Citgo, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. A sales process for Citgo shares that could begin as soon as September is under consideration by a U.S. judge in Delaware. Venezuela this month lost a separate appeal trying to block new creditors from attaching to the Delaware case.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Horacio Medina, Citgo, PDVSA's, PDVSA, Katherine Polk Failla, Marianna Parraga, Gary McWilliams, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S . Treasury Department, Treasury, Crystallex International, ConocoPhillips, Siemens Energy, Tree Investments, U.S, Huntington Ingalls Industries, ACL1 Investments, Rusoro, Koch Industries, New, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Petroleum, U.S, Houston, Petroleos, Delaware, New York, Manhattan

☆ Venezuela ex-spymaster arrives in US to face drug charges after extradition
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MADRID/NEW YORK, July 19 (Reuters) - The former head of Venezuela's military intelligence, Hugo Carvajal, arrived in the United States on Wednesday to face drug trafficking charge after being extradited from Spain, his lawyer said. Carvajal is expected to make an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court on Thursday morning, said his lawyer, Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma. Prosecutors say Carvajal in 2006 coordinated the shipment of 5,600 kg (1,235 pounds) of U.S.-bound cocaine to Mexico from Venezuela. Carvajal is also wanted in Venezuela on charges including treason and financing terrorism. "I hope the United States ... delivers to Venezuela a criminal like Hugo Carvajal," Jorge Rodriguez, the president of Venezuela's Maduro-aligned legislature, told reporters on Wednesday.

Persons: Hugo Carvajal, Carvajal, Zachary Margulis, El, Hugo Chavez's, Nicolas Maduro, Chavez, Maduro, Jorge Rodriguez, Venezuela's, Emma Pinedo, Luc Cohen, Deisy Buitrago, William Maclean, Mike Harrison, Daniel Wallis Organizations: MADRID, of Human, U.S, Washington, Thomson Locations: United States, Spain, Manhattan, Madrid, The U.S, Mexico, Venezuela, New York, Caracas

☆ European court denies effort by Venezuela ex-official to avoid US extradition
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CARACAS, July 13 (Reuters) - The European Court of Human Rights has denied an effort by a former director of Venezuelan military intelligence, wanted on drug trafficking charges by the United States, to avoid extradition from Spain. Carvajal was arrested in September 2021 at a Madrid apartment by Spanish police and is being held in Estremera, outside of the capital. He has denied supporting cocaine trafficking to the United States. "In any event, General Carvajal is looking forward to clearing his name in an American court," Margulis-Ohnuma added. Reporting by Luc Cohen and Vivian Sequera; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Conor Humphries and Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Hugo Carvajal, Hugo Chavez's, Nicolas Maduro, Carvajal, Mr Carvajal Barrios, Zachary Margulis, General Carvajal, Luc Cohen, Vivian Sequera, Julia Symmes Cobb, Conor Humphries, Sandra Maler Organizations: European, of Human Rights, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, United States, Spain, Madrid, Estremera, Aruba

☆ Venezuela presidential opposition hopefuls call for unity, private investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The debate, the first between opposition hopefuls since 2011, was held as they await a ruling by the country's top court which could suspend the Oct. 22 nominating contest. Venezuela's often divided opposition is seeking to dislodge President Nicolas Maduro, who has ruled the country since 2013. Three of the most high-profile of the 14 opposition hopefuls, Maria Corina Machado, Henrique Capriles and Freddy Superlano, have already been barred from holding public office. "We need leadership who will take the fight to the end." The hopefuls said private investors must feel confident returning to Venezuela, whose economy contracted for eight consecutive years until 2022, when it showed incipient growth which is already waning.

Persons: Maria Corina Machado, Tamara Adrian, Andres Caleca, Cesar Perez Vivas, Carlos Prosperi, Read, Luis Ratti, Nicolas Maduro, Maduro, Henrique Capriles, Freddy Superlano, Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, Machado, Superlano, Capriles, Delsa Solorzano, Vivian Sequera, Mayela Armas, Deisy, Julia Symmes Cobb, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: la, Movimiento por Venezuela, Centro Democratico, Accion Democratica, Universidad Catolica, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, United States, Venezuela

HOUSTON/CARACAS, July 7 (Reuters) - Venezuela's opposition is crafting a proposal for the country to redirect about 200,000 barrels per day of its oil exports to a trustee to pay creditors with claims on the nation's foreign assets. A negotiation team representing Venezuela in late 2022 began formal talks with some creditors, including miner Crystallex and oil producer ConocoPhillips (COP.N), to avoid the loss of Citgo. A license by the U.S. Treasury Department would be required and Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA would not have access to cash flow from those exports, Medina said. One of the opposition's arguments is that PDVSA is currently forced by U.S. sanctions to sell its oil in Asia at deep discounts. Energy analysts estimate the U.S. Gulf Coast has more room for processing Venezuela's heavy sour crude grades.

Persons: Horacio Medina, Nicolas Maduro, Medina, PDVSA, refiners Citgo, Marianna Parraga, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: HOUSTON, Petroleum, ConocoPhillips, United Nations, Maduro, U.S . Treasury Department, Valero Energy, PBF Energy, Treasury Department, Chevron Corp, PDVSA, Chevron, . Energy, Gulf, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, Venezuela, Venezuelan, United States, China, Houston, Washington, American, Asia, Chevron, Caracas

☆ Top FARC dissident leader Ivan Marquez dead - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Luis Jaime Acosta | Thomson Reuters | Luis Jaime Has Worked At Reuters For More Than Years. While He Chiefly Covers Colombia'S Armed Conflict | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BOGOTA, July 6 (Reuters) - Ivan Marquez, the well-known leader of a faction of former FARC rebels who returned to arms after a peace deal with Colombia's government, has died in Venezuela, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday. The attack against Marquez, whose real name was Luciano Marín Arango, may have been led by Ivan Mordisco, leader of a rival FARC dissident group, according to security sources. Colombia's Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez told journalists there was still no official information on Marquez's death. Marquez later emerged as the leader of the so-called Segunda Marquetalia, a group of former FARC who took up arms anew. Petro reopened diplomatic and trade relations with Venezuela and Venezuela is a guarantor at Colombia's peace talks with the National Liberation Army rebels.

Persons: Ivan Marquez, Marquez, Luciano Marín Arango, Ivan Mordisco, Ivan Velasquez, Gustavo Petro, Miguel Botache Santillana, Gentil Duarte, Seuxis Hernandez, Hernan Dario Velasquez, Jesus Santrich, El Paisa, Nicolas Maduro, Petro, Luis Jaime Acosta, Vivian Sequera, Oliver Griffin, Julia Symmes Cobb, Michael Perry Organizations: Reuters, Revolutionary Armed Forces, Segunda, Colombia's, Venezuela's Ministry, Information, National Liberation Army, Thomson Locations: BOGOTA, Venezuela, Colombia, Caracas, Venezuela's, United States, Colombian

☆ Top FARC dissident leader Ivan Marquez dead, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Luis Jaime Acosta | Thomson Reuters | Luis Jaime Has Worked At Reuters For More Than Years. While He Chiefly Covers Colombia'S Armed Conflict | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The attack against Marquez, whose real name was Luciano Marín Arango, may have been led by Ivan Mordisco, leader of a rival FARC dissident group, according to security sources. Colombia's Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez told journalists there was still no official information on Marquez's death. Marquez later emerged as the leader of the so-called Segunda Marquetalia, a group of former FARC who took up arms anew. Marquez died in Venezuela the two people familiar with the matter told Reuters, which also included an intelligence source. Petro reopened diplomatic and trade relations with Venezuela and Venezuela is a guarantor at Colombia's peace talks with the National Liberation Army rebels.

CARACAS, June 30 (Reuters) - Ex-lawmaker Maria Corina Machado, a favorite to win the Venezuelan opposition's nomination for president in an October primary, is barred from holding public office for 15 years, the controller general said in a letter to a lawmaker. Machado, a 55-year-old industrial engineer, is leading polling for the 13-candidate primary, convened to select a unity candidate to face President Nicolas Maduro in a 2024 election. A previous ban placed on her has been extended because Machado supported sanctions by the United States on the Maduro government and backed former opposition leader Juan Guaido, the letter said. Machado's fellow primary candidate Henrique Capriles, who has twice run for president for the opposition, was barred from public office for 15 years in 2017. Reporting by Mayela Armas and Vivian Sequera; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Maria Corina Machado, Machado, Nicolas Maduro, Juan Guaido, Jose Brito, Maria Corina Machado Parisca, Brito, Henrique Capriles, Mayela Armas, Vivian Sequera, Julia Symmes Cobb, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Venezuelan, U.S, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, United States, Venezuela, American

Machado, a 55-year-old industrial engineer and former lawmaker, is leading polling for the 13-candidate primary, convened to select a unity candidate to face socialist President Nicolas Maduro in a 2024 election. A previous ban placed on her has been expanded because Machado supported sanctions by the United States on the Maduro government and backed former opposition leader Juan Guaido, the letter said. The ban does not affect Machado's ability to run in the primary because the opposition is holding it without state support. The opposition has said for years that bans are used by the ruling party to prevent political change. Machado's fellow primary candidate Henrique Capriles, who has twice run for president for the opposition, was barred from public office for 15 years in 2017.

Persons: Maria Corina Machado, Machado, Nicolas Maduro, Juan Guaido, Jose Brito, Maria Corina Machado Parisca, Brito, Henrique Capriles, Mayela Armas, Vivian Sequera, Julia Symmes Cobb, Daniel Wallis, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Venezuelan, American States, U.S, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, United States, Venezuela, Washington

It was unclear what proportion of the $70 million raised by Americans for Prosperity Action, the Koch network super PAC, will go directly to tackling Trump. News of the $70 million raised was first reported by the New York Times on Thursday. The Koch-backed network of political organizations was founded by Charles and his brother David Koch, who died in 2019. The Koch network has yet to back a candidate, but has joined other big Republican donors in scrambling to try to defeat Trump. The Koch network intends to make an endorsement before the Iowa caucus in early 2024, the AFP official said.

Persons: Charles Koch, Donald Trump, Koch, Joe Biden, Trump's, The Koch, Charles, David Koch, Ron DeSantis, Trump, Biden, DeSantis, Steven Cheung, Alexandra Ulmer, Ross Colvin, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Republican, Koch Industries, Prosperity, Koch, Trump, New York Times, AFP, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Florida, Iowa

Now the Trump campaign is advocating for modifications in half a dozen additional states, his co-campaign manager told Reuters. LaCivita confirmed that Nevada - an early primary state with a Trump-friendly state Republican leadership - was one of the campaign's targets. A source close to the Nevada Republican Party told Reuters - prior to the lawsuit - that Trump's campaign was lobbying for a caucus. A source close to the Republican state party in Idaho told Reuters that Trump allies had been lobbying to hold a nominating contest before May. There are an estimated 2,467 delegates up for grabs in the 2024 Republican state-by-state nominating battle.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Chris LaCivita, LaCivita, Joe Biden's shakeup, Biden, Jason Roe, Roe, DESANTIS, Ron DeSantis, You've, DeSantis, Tim Reid, Colleen Jenkins, Alistair Bell Organizations: Reuters, Republican, Trump, Nevada Republican Party, . Idaho Republicans, Democratic National Committee, Black, Republicans, Democratic Party, Republican National Committee, RNC, Florida, Thomson Locations: Michigan, Nevada, Idaho, Carolina, Georgia, Iowa, Virginia, Idaho , Nevada, Alabama, Missouri

Roszarubezhneft's five joint ventures now must rely on PDVSA-designated intermediaries that take a large share of the revenues for their services, the people said. The joint ventures are owed about $3.2 billion from sales handled by PDVSA, one of the people said. Roszarubezhneft, Russia's oil ministry, PDVSA and Venezuela's oil and foreign affairs ministries did not reply to requests for comment. It also could help PDVSA make progress toward its goal of raising Venezuela's oil output by 40% this year. Oil production at the five joint ventures has dwindled as U.S. sanctions have hampered investment and maintenance work, and deterred many buyers of Venezuelan crude.

Persons: PDVSA's Jose Antonio, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, PDVSA, Rosneft, Nicolas Maduro's, Roszarubezhneft, Alexandra Ulmer, Marianna Parraga, Vivian Sequera, Daniel Flynn Organizations: REUTERS, Chevron, PDVSA, Reuters, Washington, U.S . Treasury, National Security, State Department, Nicolas Maduro's United Socialist Party, Assembly, Thomson Locations: PDVSA's, Anzoategui, Caracas, Moscow, Venezuela, U.S, Russia, Ukraine, Roszarubezhneft, Venezuela's, Rosneft

☆ Opinion: It wasn’t like this in Moscow in 1991
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The short-lived rebellion prompted a furious reaction from his patron, Russian President Vladimir Putin, the usually cool modern-day czar. Long day covering a coup in Moscow on 1991, with @wolfblitzer and the legendary reporters Dick Blystone and Tom Mintier, with photographer Phil Turner. Our CNN Moscow bureau was teeming with action. In a famous image from August 1991, Russian President Boris Yeltsin rallies demonstrators against the coup plot against Mikhail Gorbachev. But even many of his opponents rejected the notion of a military coup.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Vladimir Putin, Putin, ”, Isn’t Putin, Wolf Blitzer, Mikhail Gorbachev, Gorbachev, Dick Blystone, Tom Mintier, Phil Turner, that’s, Crews, Boris Yeltsin, Yeltsin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, “, Erdogan, Hugo Chavez, Chavez, Nicolas Maduro, –, Prigozhin’s, Don —, Prigozhin, Russia’s, Facebook Prigozhin, I’ve Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Wagner Group, Frida Ghitis CNN, AFP, Getty, Protesters, Putin, Twitter, Facebook, NATO Locations: Russia, Moscow, Russian, Soviet Union, Crimea, Long, CNN Moscow, Ukraine, Ankara, Turkish, Venezuelan, Venezuela, Rostov

☆ US hostage envoy Roger Carstens quietly traveled to Venezuela this week
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —US Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens quietly traveled to Venezuela this week, a State Department spokesperson confirmed to CNN Wednesday. Carstens traveled to the capital city of Caracas for “discussions about the welfare and safety of US nationals wrongfully detained in Venezuela,” the spokesperson said. “We continue to advocate for the immediate and unconditional release of all wrongfully detained US nationals in Venezuela at every opportunity,” they said. ‘Signing his death warrant’The family members of the detained Americans, all of whom have been detained more than a year, are increasingly worried about their loved ones. Tillery told CNN that the US is “signing his death warrant” by not securing Kenemore’s release.

Persons: Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, Carstens, ”, “, Eyvin Hernandez, Jerrel Kenemore, Luke Denman, Airan Berry, Nicolas Maduro, Jeana, Tillery, Gustavo Cárdenas –, Jorge Alberto Fernandez, – Jose Pereira, Jorge Toledo, Tomeu, Alirio Zambrano, Jose Luis Zambrano, Matthew Heath, Osman Khan –, Biden Organizations: CNN, Hostage Affairs, State Department, United Locations: Venezuela, Caracas, United States, Venezuelan

The SEC also sued Binance.US' operating company, BAM Trading, alleging that it misled investors about "non-existent trading" controls over its platform. A day later, the SEC asked a federal court to freeze Binance.US' assets, including more than $2.2 billion held in crypto and some $377 million in U.S. dollar bank accounts. 'ROUND OF LAYOFFS'Two Binance.US employees said on LinkedIn on Wednesday they were leaving the company, with one citing a "round of layoffs." Binance.US had avoided layoffs over the past year, Shroder wrote in the message. In a court filing on Monday, Binance.US' operator, BAM Trading, said the SEC's asset freeze request would "effectively put BAM out of business."

Persons: Binance, Changpeng Zhao, Binance.US, Brian Shroder, Shroder, Angus Berwick, Tom Wilson, Elisa Martinuzzi, Richard Chang, Louise Heavens Organizations: U.S, Reuters, SEC, BAM, Management, LinkedIn, Thomson

WASHINGTON, June 15 (Reuters) - Miami Mayor Francis Suarez announced on Thursday he is running for president, joining a host of Republican candidates vying for the 2024 nomination days after front-runner Donald Trump faced federal charges in his city. Suarez, 45, released a campaign video titled "I'm Running," which showed him jogging around the south Florida city. "Being the only Hispanic candidate from either party allows me to connect with a growing segment of our population," Suarez said. Suarez has had thorny relationships with both Trump and DeSantis. He did not support Trump in his 2020 re-election bid and was critical of some of DeSantis' COVID pandemic-era policies.

Persons: Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Donald Trump, Suarez, Reagan, Trump, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Suarez demurred, Katharine Jackson, Alexandra Ulmer, James Oliphant, Doina Chiacu, Alistair Bell Organizations: Miami Mayor, Republican, Reuters, Florida, Trump, Thomson Locations: Suarez, Florida, hypotheticals, Miami

Employees in Binance.US' legal, compliance and risk departments were among those dismissed, the people told Reuters, requesting anonymity because the matter is private. The SEC also sued Binance.US' operating company, BAM Trading, alleging that it misled investors about "non-existent trading" controls over its platform. A day later, the SEC asked a federal court to freeze Binance.US' assets, including more than $2.2 billion held in crypto and some $377 million in U.S. dollar bank accounts. Two Binance.US employees said on LinkedIn on Wednesday they were leaving the company, with one citing a "round of layoffs." Reporting by Angus Berwick and Tom Wilson; edited by Elisa Martinuzzi and Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Binance, Changpeng Zhao, Binance.US, Angus Berwick, Tom Wilson, Elisa Martinuzzi, Richard Chang Organizations: U.S, Reuters, SEC, BAM, LinkedIn, Thomson

☆ Clooney Foundation sues Venezuela over alleged human rights abuses
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Nicolás Misculin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BUENOS AIRES, June 14 (Reuters) - The Clooney Foundation for Justice has accused Venezuelan security forces of crimes against humanity against government opponents since 2014 in a lawsuit filed in Argentina on Wednesday. "We are talking about arbitrary detentions, torture, extrajudicial executions," said Ignacio Jovtis, a lawyer for the Clooney Foundation. The Clooney Foundation for Justice was founded by actor George Clooney and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney. The International Criminal Court in The Hague is investigating alleged Venezuelan human rights violations. The Argentine justice system has previously agreed to investigate alleged crimes against humanity carried out in Spain and Myanmar in the past, which prompted the Clooney Foundation to file the complaint in Buenos Aires.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Ignacio Jovtis, George Clooney, Amal Clooney, Jovtis, Clooney, Nicolas Misculin, Steven Grattan, Howard Goller Organizations: Clooney Foundation, Justice, Wednesday, Foundation, Criminal, United Nations, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Venezuelan, Argentina, Venezuela, The Hague, Argentine, Spain, Myanmar, Buenos Aires

The video does not disclose any potential AI use and the DeSantis campaign did not respond to a question about whether the images were fake or whether AI was used to create them. A person with knowledge of the DeSantis campaign operation said the Trump side had been "continuously posting fake images and false talking points to smear the governor." The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Drexel professor Stamm's forensics analysis tool suggests the images were made using an AI model called a diffusion model, which underpin popular AI image generation products like DALL-E and Stability AI. "At some point the AI systems will be outputting images that have no differences from real images," said James O'Brien, a professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley.

Persons: Donald Trump, Russell Cheyne, Anthony Fauci, Trump, Fauci, Ron DeSantis, Matthew Stamm, Hany Farid, DeSantis, Drexel, Biden, James O'Brien, Alexandra Ulmer, Anna Tong, Seana Davis, Rosalba O'Brien, Stephen Coates Organizations: U.S, Republican, Aberdeen International Airport, REUTERS, FRANCISCO, Republican White, Twitter, Trump, Drexel University, University of California, Republican National Committee, RNC, Thomson Locations: Aberdeen, Scotland, Britain, Florida, Berkeley, U.S, China, Taiwan, San Francisco

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