Blinken says will work on extending pauses in Israel to free more hostages
BRUSSELS, Nov 29 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that he would work with the Israelis during his trip to Israel in the coming days to see if a temporary ceasefire that has been in place and allowed hostages kidnapped by
Africa's economic growth to slow in 2023, AfDB says as it slashes forecasts
JOHANNESBURG, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Africa's economic growth will slow this year and only partially recover in 2024, the African Development Bank (AfDB) said on Wednesday as it slashed its GDP forecasts for the continent amid political instability, weak
Indian gov't official directed Sikh separatist's assassination plot in US, DOJ says
NEW YORK, Nov 29 (Reuters) - An Indian government official directed an unsuccessful plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist on U.S. soil, the U.S. Justice Department said on Wednesday, in announcing charges against a man accused of orchestrating the attempted
France aiming to complete security accord with Ukraine by start of 2024 - foreign ministry
PARIS, Nov 29 (Reuters) - France intends to complete a bilateral security guarantee accord with Ukraine by the start 2024, its foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday. G7 countries in June unveiled an international framework for the long-term security
Colombia proposed health reform could push costs up by $234 million next year
BOGOTA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Colombia's health sector could see costs grow by 929 billion pesos ($234.7 million) in 2024 if the government's proposed health reform is approved by Congress, the finance ministry said on Wednesday. Health sector expenses
US Congress vows to pass massive defense bill, culture wars loom
WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - U.S. congressional armed services committee leaders vowed on Wednesday that a must-pass $886 billion defense policy bill will be enacted this year, despite disputes over social issues dividing Republicans and Democrats.
US allows pork plants to keep operating at accelerated speeds
WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday said it will extend for up to 90 days a trial program that allows six U.S. pork plants to operate faster processing-line speeds while collecting data on how the speeds affect
'No sense of fatigue' when it comes to support for Ukraine, Blinken says
BRUSSELS, Nov 29 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that there was "no sense of fatigue" among NATO allies when it came to helping Ukraine. "We must and we will continue to support Ukraine," he said after a
'We aren't going anywhere': How Panama fishing boats brought First Quantum to its knees
PANAMA CITY/TORONTO, Nov 29 (Reuters) - For more than a month, a group of 16 fishing boats has been blocking a key port in Panama, choking off coal and essential supplies destined for First Quantum Minerals' (FM.TO) giant copper mine there, eventually
Peru constitutional court restores pardon of ex-President Fujimori
LIMA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Peru's constitutional court has restored the pardon of ex-President Alberto Fujimori, the court's top judge, Francisco Morales, said on Wednesday. "Alberto Fujimori must be released in accordance with the decision of the
WHO says Gaza's health system must be protected as disease spreads
GENEVA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday called for Gaza's vulnerable health infrastructure to be safeguarded as the war-torn enclave faces an increased risk of epidemics and challenges in detecting infectious diseases.
Mexican presidency race tightens slightly, Sheinbaum retains big lead -poll
MEXICO CITY, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The contest to win Mexico's presidential election on June 2, 2024, has tightened slightly, but ruling party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum still has a massive lead over her main rival, an opinion poll showed on Wednesday. The
France opens door to EU talks on Israeli settler sanctions
November 30, 2023 2:21 AM France said on
Return of bird flu brings test for French vaccination strategy
PARIS, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The first outbreak of bird flu this season on a farm in France has put the industry on watch to see if the country's strategy of vaccinating birds will prove effective, helping avoid a repeat of previous crises that killed
SocGen cuts Indian stocks to 'neutral' as elections loom
Nov 29 (Reuters) - Societe Generale on Wednesday downgraded Indian equities to "neutral" from "overweight" ahead of elections next year on expectations of "moderating" economic growth and improving risks for broader emerging
Nepal registers first same-sex marriage; 'historic', say activists
KATHMANDU, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Local authorities in a village in Nepal registered the Himalayan nation's first same-sex marriage on Wednesday, officials and activists said, five months after the Supreme Court issued an interim order clearing the way for
Bolivia gets green light for full Mercosur membership
SAO PAULO, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Bolivia is set to become a full member of the South American Mercosur trade bloc following a decision on Tuesday by the Brazilian Senate to approve the country's admission. The vote on the accession of Bolivia to Mercosur is
India launches first part of critical minerals auction worth $5.4 bln
Nov 29 (Reuters) - India on Wednesday launched the first part of its critical minerals auction worth an estimated 450 billion rupees ($5.40 billion), the country's mines minister said. Mines minister Pralhad Joshi said the auctions would be held in eight
Biden to target Republican Boebert as he talks wind energy in Colorado
DENVER, Nov 29 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden will tout his economic and clean energy policies on Wednesday in Colorado while taking on right-wing Republican U.S. lawmaker Lauren Boebert, a close ally of former President Donald Trump. Biden, who blamed Trump
UK regulator to review supermarket loyalty scheme prices
SummaryCompanies CMA to launch review of loyalty scheme prices in JanuaryTesco and Sainsbury's schemes have proved successfulCMA says competition effective in supply of most groceriesRegulator to further examine baby formula market LONDON, Nov 29
Germany's domestic spy agency warns war in Gaza stoking new anti-Semitic alliances
Nov 29 (Reuters) - Germany's domestic intelligence agency warned on Wednesday that the war between Israel and Hamas is creating new alliances among the country's anti-Semitic groups and raising the risk of attacks. "Anti-Semitism and hostility
