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☆ Columbia student protestors are demanding ‘divestment.’ Here’s what the university has divested from in the past
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Clare Duffy | Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Columbia University Apartheid Divest submitted a formal proposal to the committee for withdrawing investments related to Israel in December, which has yet to yield success. Students at Columbia College, the university’s undergraduate school, voted to support the divestment proposal last week. Heading a nationwide South Africa divestment movementCurrently, Columbia lists five areas where it refrains from investing: tobacco, private prison operations, thermal coal, Sudan and fossil fuels — all decisions that were made in the past decade. In April 1985, students led a three-week student demonstration against Columbia’s investments in South Africa, the New York Times reported at the time. Pete Seeger, right, speaks to the crowd at Columbia University as hundreds of students continued to protest the school's ties to South Africa, April 8, 1985.

Persons: ” Israel, Catherine Elias, Daniel Armstrong, “, ” Armstrong, Pete Seeger, Frankie Ziths, G4S, Karla Ann Cote, divests, ”, Savannah Pearson, Michael Cusack Organizations: New, New York CNN, Columbia University, Columbia University Apartheid, —, Columbia, Columbia College, CNN, Coalition, New York Times, American Express, Ford, Ivy League, University of California, Johns Hopkins University, University of North, Corrections Corporation of America, Library, “, Columbia’s, Trustees, Columbia’s Teachers College Locations: New York, Gaza, Palestine, Columbia, Vietnam, Upper Manhattan, Israel, South Africa, Sudan, Los Angeles, Chevron, Berkeley, University of North Carolina, Hill, South, United States

☆ Alan Ritchson married his high school sweetheart years after they first broke up. Meet the actor's wife and their three kids.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Eammon Jacobs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The actor and his future wife dated when they were teenagers, and reconnected as adults. AdvertisementAlan Ritchson is best known for playing former military investigator Jack Reacher in Amazon's TV show "Reacher." Ritchson briefly dated Catherine when they were teenagers but broke up after the summer. Alan Ritchson and Catherine Ritchson at the "Reacher" season one premiere in Los Angeles. Amy Sussman/Getty ImagesRitchson met his wife, Catherine, when they were teenagers at high school in Florida.

Persons: Alan Ritchson, —, Jack Reacher, Ritchson, he's, Lee Child, Guy Ritchie's, Anders Lassen, Catherine, Catherine Ritchson, Amy Sussman, Men's, I've, Instagram, Alan, Calem, Edan, Amory Organizations: Service, Ungentlemanly, Men's Health, University of Florida, Wall Street Journal Locations: Mountain, Danish, Los Angeles, Florida, Miami, Elam, Amory, Airbnbs

☆ Texas’ controversial immigration law has become a blueprint for other states
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

It’s likely to face legal challenges, which means its implementation could be delayed or even blocked in court, like the Texas law that inspired it has been so far. In addition to Iowa’s new law, Cid says several recent immigration proposals in the state failed to clear the legislature. This bill gives Iowa law enforcement the power to do what he is unwilling to do: enforce immigration laws already on the books. A similar trend unfolded after Arizona passed a controversial immigration law in 2010, says Anand Balakrishnan, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union’s Immigrant Rights Project. Estefania Mondragon, executive director of PODER of Idaho, hopes a proposed immigration law won't pass there.

Persons: CNN — Maria, “, Acosta, ”, ” Acosta, they’ve, Maria Acosta, It’s, Erica Johnson, Enya Cid doesn’t, Cid, she’s, wouldn’t, they’ve “, Enya Cid, Todd Bailey, who's, ” Cid, “ I’ve, “ We’re, ‘ Let’s, ’, Kim Reynolds, who’s, Joe, Biden, ” Reynolds, Iowa's, Donald Trump, Greg Abbott, Sergio Flores, Anand Balakrishnan, ” Balakrishnan, ‘, Estefania Mondragón, who’ve, PODER, Estefania Mondragon, Mondragón, ” Mondragón, what’s, Fabiola Schirrmeister, that’s, Charlie Neibergall, Johnson, I’m, CNN’s Devan Cole, Alisha Ebrahiji, Alexandra Ross Organizations: CNN, ”, Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, National Conference of State Legislatures, Iowa Migrant Movement, Grand View University, Iowa, View University, University of Iowa, Republican, Democratic, Iowa Gov, Republicans, GOP, Texas Gov, Bloomberg, Getty, American Civil Liberties, state’s Senate, The Associated Press Locations: Iowa, ” Iowa, Texas, Des Moines, Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho , Kansas , Louisiana , Missouri, South Carolina, Mississippi, West Virginia, Mission , Texas, United States, ’ In Idaho, PODER of Idaho, Idaho, state’s

☆ Ellis Island Museum: An American landmark is getting a $100 million makeover
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Today about 40% of the US population can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island, according to the National Park Service. A group of recently arrived immigrants carry their belongings on Ellis Island in the early 1900s. Courtesy Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island FoundationAfter decades of disrepair, a new museum was bornThe brick building that currently houses the museum opened in 1900. After processing more than 12 million immigrants, Ellis Island closed its doors in 1954 and fell into disrepair for decades. “Right now, it can feel in places like a book on the walls, because it’s a 34-year-old museum,” Brackenbury says.

Persons: CNN — Ellis, ”, Jesse Brackenbury, –, ” Brackenbury, Ellis, Ellis Island's, Ronald Reagan, Lee Iacocca, Brackenbury Organizations: CNN, – Ellis Island Foundation, National Park Service, Records Discovery, Ellis, Chrysler, of Liberty, National, Service, United, National Museum of Immigration Locations: America, New York, Ellis, United States, of New York, Port of San Francisco, New Orleans, Liberty, of, American

☆ ‘Problemista’ actor Laith Nakli plays an immigration lawyer. In real life he’s fighting his own case
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Khalil, played by Laith Nakli, perks up and races to scribble on his notepad. And as he helps promote the film, he’s speaking out about a side of himself that few people have seen. Laith Nakli, actorThe crime could have led to his deportation. … That pressure is just completely unfair.”Actor Laith Nakli plays an earnest immigration lawyer in "Problemista." The cloud Nakli feels every day wasn’t literally depicted on-screen, but Nakli says he saw it clearly hovering over Alejandro’s every move.

Persons: CNN —, ”, tepidly, “, Julio Torres, Khalil, Torres ’ Alejandro, Alejandro, ” Alejandro, Laith Nakli, ” Khalil, Elizabeth Asencio, Tilda Swinton, Elizabeth, Jon, Torres, it’s, “ I’ve, I’ve, “ Problemista’s, Nakli, It’s, who’d, Mr, Nasim Awad, ” Nakli, he’d, Marvel, Obama, hasn’t, That’s, He’s, he’s, you’d, ” Torres, Critics, haven’t, Larry Owens, toymaker Alejandro's, Isabella Rosselini, Ramy Youssef, Nakli’s, Laith, ” Youssef, “ He’s, Uncle Naseem, Ramy Youseff, Craig Blankenhorn, who’s, Julie In, Hayley Wilson Organizations: CNN, Khalil Immigration, SNL, Customs, Craigslist, Justice, Globe, Service Locations: United States, Salvadoran, El Salvador, “, New York, Damascus, Syria, King Kong, Texas, —, Hulu, America, “ Problemista

☆ A myth about Irish immigrants who came to the US during the potato famine gets debunked in a new book
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +22 min

In part, that was because it was just impossible to trace Irish famine immigrants and find out what had happened to them. This is just inconceivable to anyone who had ever thought about the famine Irish given the obstacles that faced them. Biden is one of four US presidents who descended from Irish famine immigrants. The famine immigrants really were the ones who cemented the idea of the American Dream as we understand it today. At the time, the neighborhood was home to the more Irish immigrants than any other part of the city.

Persons: CNN — Tyler Anbinder didn’t, Anbinder, Martin Scorsese, ”, …, “ It’s, ” Anbinder, Richard Ljoenes, —, ’, Patrick’s, there’s, “, Michael Sullivan, they’re, Biden, Obama, Reagan, Kennedy, Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, He’s, Pope, I, ” Biden doesn’t, George Washington, There’s, you’ve, Alderman John Barry’s, Tyler, Tyler Anbinder, he'd, Chris Langford, can’t, United States —, John Carlin, saloonkeepers, Saint Louis Organizations: CNN, Emigrant Savings Bank, New York Public Library, Irish, George Washington University, St, they’re Catholic, London, Hulton, Murphys, Reuters, New York Tribune, George Washington Bridge, New York Central Railroad, York, New York Public Locations: New York, York, United States, America, Europe, Liverpool, Ireland, County Mayo, Rome, Irish, Manhattan, Yorkers, New, New York City, Chicago, California, Minnesota, Saint

☆ Searching for your Irish ancestry? Guinness’ archives could help you reconnect with your roots
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“It’s, unfortunately, one of the biggest barriers to Irish family history research,” says Crista Cowan, corporate genealogist for Ancestry. The 1.6 million records come from what might sound like a surprising source: the archives of Ireland’s famed Guinness brewery. The Guinness brewery has a storied pastResearchers combing through the newly released files might stumble upon some celebrity connections, too. Courtesy Guinness Archive, Diegeo IrelandArthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease on a Dublin brewery in 1759. Courtesy Guinness Archive, Diageo IrelandWorkers generally entered the Guinness workforce at age 14, according to a description of the records on the company’s website.

Persons: “ It’s, ”, Crista Cowan, they’ll, Patrick’s, Cowan, ” Cowan, “, who’s, John O’Brien, Liam Neeson, Graham Norton, Bono, Arthur Purcell, who's, Purcell, Arthur Guinness, “ Guinness, …, Eibhlin Colgan, ” Guinness, Guinness, ‘ Organizations: CNN, Public Records, Ireland’s, Guinness, Diegeo, Records, Brewery, Diageo, Diageo Ireland Workers Locations: Dublin, St, Ireland, Diegeo Ireland, United Kingdom, United States, Diageo Ireland, James’s, James's

☆ Why the Microsoft default font change from Calibri to Aptos upset some users
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The default font in her Word document was different, even though she hadn’t done anything to change it. Some die-hards even expressed their continued devotion to Times New Roman, the default font Calibri unseated in 2007. Is it arguably somewhat ridiculous to get worked up over a font change? pic.twitter.com/fV9thfdAr4 — Microsoft (@Microsoft) April 28, 2021The company has said the advent of higher resolution screens was a big factor behind their search for a successor. What’s going on?’”A graphic released by Microsoft detailing its new default font, Aptos.

Persons: Stef Luthin squinted, “, ” Luthin, Luthin, she’d, ’ ” Luthin, Calibri, —, — –, ”, she’s, “ I’ve, Thomas Phinney, Elle Cordova, ” Aptos, ” Calibri, ” Cordova, Steve Matteson, Cordova, Siri, Alexa, Aptos, “ We’ve, we’ve, Matteson, Carl Kasell, Stephen Colbert, Phinney, ” Phinney, he’s, What’s, Luthin’s TikTok, Joel Payne, Payne, who’s, Katherine Stockton, “ Aptos, it’s, There’s, they’ll, we’ll Organizations: CNN, Microsoft, Times, Aptos, YouTube, LinkedIn Locations: Chicago, ”, —, California, Colorado, Santa Cruz , California, Vancouver , British Columbia, Cambridge, England, Stockton, who’s

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A conservative group has told a Georgia judge that it doesn't have evidence to support its claims of illegal ballot stuffing during the the 2020 general election and a runoff two months later. In their written response, attorneys for True the Vote said the group had no names or other documentary evidence to share. The election board subpoenaed True the Vote to provide evidence that would assist it in investigating the group's ballot trafficking allegations. She and another member of the group were briefly jailed in 2022 for contempt for not complying with a court order to provide information in a defamation lawsuit. In addition to names, the judge ordered True the Vote to provide copies of any confidentiality agreements it had with sources.

Persons: Brad Raffensperger, “, Mike Hassinger, ”, Dinesh D’Souza, John Doe, David Oles, Michael Wynne, Catherine Engelbrecht, didn't, Vic Reynolds, “ TTV Organizations: Atlanta ”, Court, The Atlanta, Associated Press, Georgia Bureau Locations: SAVANNAH, Ga, Georgia, Texas, Fulton, Atlanta, China

☆ Esther Howland was the ‘mother of the American valentine’ who ‘would have killed it on Etsy’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

She would have killed it on Etsy,” says Vanessa Bumpus, exhibit coordinator at the Worcester Historical Museum in Massachusetts. Ornate lace designs were a trademark of Esther Howland's valentines. Courtesy Collection of Worcester Historical MuseumBrightly colored paper placed beneath the lace accentuates the design. Courtesy Collection of Worcester Historical Museum“She’s fresh out of school, launching her own business. The room where the City Council meets is even named after Howland, Bumpus says.

Persons: Esther Howland isn’t, who’ve, Martha Stewart, ”, Vanessa Bumpus, Howland, valentine, ” Howland didn’t, she’s, Nancy Rosin, ” Rosin, Esther Howland's valentines, Rosin, it’s, ‘, ” Bumpus, “, Henry Ford, They’ve, Bumpus, who’s, didn’t, Edward Taft, George C, Whitney Company —, “ Esther, valentines Organizations: CNN, Worcester Historical Museum, National Valentine Collectors Association, Congress, Worcester Historical, Huntington Library, Mount, England Valentine Company, Whitney Company, Worcester —, City Council, New England Patriots Locations: Massachusetts, Worcester, United States, America, Los Angeles, Mount Holyoke, England, Rosin

☆ What the border security bill would and wouldn’t do
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The border bill also comes with a big budget – including large amounts of funding for enforcement. New emergency border restrictionsWhat’s proposed: Once illegal border crossings reach a certain threshold, the Department of Homeland Security would be required to exercise a new emergency authority that bars migrants, except unaccompanied minors, from crossing the border between ports of entry. Those who lose their asylum cases in immigration court can appeal to judges on the Board of Immigration Appeals. Video Ad Feedback GOP lawmaker on border bill: This is all gamesmanship 03:56 - Source: CNNGiven the growing chorus of criticism on both sides of the aisle weighing in just a day after its release, this latest border bill may very well be as “dead on arrival” as some lawmakers have claimed. But the bill has picked up some high-profile support from the National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents Border Patrol agents and has endorsed Trump in the past.

Persons: they’ve, That’s, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, —, ”, Muzaffar Chishti, Greg Chen, Chishti, “, Guillermo Arias, What’s, ” Amy Fischer, John Moore, it’s, Biden, Obama, Andrea Flores, ” Ben Johnson, CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, Lauren Fox, Morgan Rimmer, Ted Barrett, Clare Foran Organizations: CNN, White, Republican, Institute, American Immigration Lawyers Association, DHS, Department of Homeland Security, Federation for American Immigration Reform, Border Patrol, Getty, Citizenship, Immigration Services, Immigration, Amnesty International, Congress, National Border Patrol Council, Trump, American Locations: Ukraine, Israel, harm’s, Mexico, Jacumba , California, U.S, Rio, El Paso , Texas, Kabul, United States, DACA

☆ Anne Edwards, Best-Selling ‘Queen of Biography,’ Dies at 96
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Sam Roberts | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Anne Edwards, a prodigious and peripatetic author who published best-selling books about the actresses Vivien Leigh and Katharine Hepburn as well as 14 other celebrity biographies, eight novels, three children’s books, two memoirs and one autobiography, died on Jan. 20 in Beverly Hills, Calif. She was 96. Her daughter, Catherine Edwards Sadler, said she died of lung cancer at a senior living facility. A child performer on radio and the stage, Ms. Edwards sold her first screenplay in 1949, when she was 22 (the movie “Quantez,” a western starring Fred MacMurray, was released in 1957); her first novel (the mystery “The Survivors”) in 1968; and her first biography (of Judy Garland) in 1975. Her “Vivien Leigh: A Biography” (1977) spent 19 weeks on The New York Times’s hardcover best-seller list. Reviewing that book for The Times, Richard R. Lingeman wrote that Ms. Edwards “has, with tact, sympathy and intelligence, given us an admirable portrait of Vivien Leigh that is a portrait of an admirable lady.”

Persons: Anne Edwards, Vivien Leigh, Katharine Hepburn, Catherine Edwards Sadler, Edwards, Fred MacMurray, Judy Garland, Richard R, Lingeman, Edwards “, ” Organizations: York, The Times Locations: Beverly Hills, Calif, ”

☆ Indian Navy Rescues Crew After Attack on Ship off Coast of Yemen
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The Houthi movement said its missiles had made a "direct hit" on the bulk carrier. U.S. officials said the move was aimed at cutting off funding and weapons the movement has used to attack or hijack ships. On Monday, Houthi forces had struck the U.S.-owned and operated dry bulk ship Gibraltar Eagle with an anti-ship ballistic missile. The alternative shipping route around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope can add 10-14 days to a journey compared to passage via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Freight rates have more than doubled since early December, according to maritime consultancy Drewry's world container index, while insurance sources say war risk premiums for shipments through the Red Sea are also rising.

Persons: Krishn Kaushik, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart NEW, Yemen's, Houthi, Denmark's, Shivam Patel, Simon Lewis, Pavel Polityuk, James Davey, Terje Solsvik, Keith Weir, Catherine Evans Organizations: Indian Navy, U.S, U.S . Navy, Shipping, Genco, Wednesday, Pepco, Denmark's Maersk, Maersk Locations: Phil Stewart NEW DELHI, WASHINGTON, U.S, Gulf, Aden, Genco Picardy, Iran, Asia, Europe, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, India, Picardy, States, Yemen, South Africa's, Suez, Ukraine, Africa

LONDON (AP) — The Princess of Wales has been hospitalized after undergoing planned abdominal surgery and will remain at The London Clinic for up to two weeks, Kensington Palace said Wednesday. The former Kate Middleton is expected to return to public duties after Easter, the palace said. “The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate,'' the palace said. The palace said that Kate, the wife of Prince William, wished to apologize for postponing her upcoming engagements. “She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible,” the palace said.

Persons: Kate Middleton, Easter, “, Wales, Kate, Prince William, —, Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, Pippa, James, Princess Diana, King Charles III, Prince Harry, Prince, Princess Organizations: London Clinic, Marlborough College, University of St, Sandringham Locations: Wales, Kensington, Reading, England, Berkshire, London, Jordan, Andrews, Scotland, California

☆ Qatar Pauses Red Sea Tankers After Western Strikes on Houthis
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

In the latest shift by a major firm, state-owned QatarEnergy has held at least four LNG tankers back from the Red Sea, a senior source said, adding that production continues. On Monday, carmaker Suzuki said production would halt at its Esztergom plant in Hungary from Jan. 15-21 as the Red Sea attacks had delayed the arrival of Japanese-made engines. U.S. ally Britain said it had no desire to be involved in a Red Sea conflict but was committed to protecting the right of free navigation. The Al Rekayyat, which was sailing back to Qatar, stopped along its route on Jan. 13 in the Red Sea. "It is a pause to get security advice, if passing (through the) Red Sea remains unsafe we will go via the Cape," the source told Reuters on Monday about QatarEnergy.

Persons: Andrew Mills, Maha, Maha El Dahan, QatarEnergy, carmaker Suzuki, Britain, Grant Shapps, Qatar's Al Ghariya, Al Huwaila, Al, Ras Laffan, Al Rekayyat, Maha El, Emily Chow, Sachin Ravikumar, Chandni Shah, Andrew Cawthorne, Catherine Evans Organizations: Houthi, Reuters, Qatari Locations: Maha El, Maha El Dahan DOHA, WASHINGTON, Yemen, Gaza, Saudi, Israel, The U.S, U.S, Esztergom, Hungary, Ras, Suez, Oman, Jan, Qatar, Red, Europe, Asia, Aden, Djibouti, Davos, Singapore, Doha, London, Bengaluru

☆ In the Dream Orchestra, many musicians never played an instrument before joining
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +24 min

I think they thought I was crazy.”Many of the Dream Orchestra’s members had never played an instrument before they joined. Ron Davis Álvarez, Dream Orchestra founder and artistic directorThe small ensemble rehearsed on Fridays and Saturdays. He'd never played an instrument before joining the Dream Orchestra. Mushtaq Khorsand asked to join the Dream Orchestra after seeing how joyful his friends were during a performance. So if I wasn’t part of Dream Orchestra and (hadn’t) met Ron, I don’t where I would be,” he says.

Persons: Ron Davis Álvarez, He’d, ” Álvarez, hadn’t, they’d, Álvarez, Venezuela’s, he’d, It’s, Gustavo Bandres, “, Mostafa, ” Kazemi, Kazemi, —, –, Mostafa Kazemi, He'd, ”, Ron, Mushtaq Khorsand, ” Khorsand, Khorsand, He's, Rey, He’s, he’s, Carlos Medrano y Ritmos Ciganos Carlos Garcia, isn’t, it’s, Johan Nilsson, Tymofii Slakva, Tim, Slakva, ” Slakva, Azra Avci, Andrea Spehar, Anna Svanberg, they’ve, ‘, hasn’t, Scheherazade, Richard Meyer Organizations: CNN, Volunteers, El, El Sistema, Sistema, Orchestra, Dream Orchestra, Dream, Gothenburg Symphony, Training, YouTube, University of Gothenburg, ” Locations: Stockholm, Venezuelan, Sweden, Syria, Afghanistan, El Sistema Sweden, Gothenburg, It’s, El, Caracas, Eritrea, Albania, Malmo, Swedish, Ukraine, France, Álvarez, United Kingdom, Lebanon

☆ ECB's Schnabel defends smaller balance sheet as debate heats up
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Balazs Koranyi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

She said her "demand-driven" approach fitted the euro zone, whose 20 countries vary in economic strength and have separate banking systems. "A demand-driven system is well-suited for a heterogeneous currency union that may be prone to fragmentation," Schnabel said in an interview. "Such a system also likely limits the size of the central bank balance sheet." She conceded, however, that "it could make sense to have a mix of different tools", suggesting policymakers may be looking for a compromise in this complex yet crucial debate for the euro zone financial system. Loans to banks or a structural bond portfolio would come on top of this.

Persons: Isabel Schnabel, Ralph Orlowski, Schnabel, Philip Lane, Schnabel's counterargument, Francesco Canepa, Catherine Evans Organizations: Frankfurt, Banking Congress, Old Opera, REUTERS, European Central Bank, ECB, Reuters, Federal Reserve, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, FRANKFURT

☆ ECB hawk Schnabel scraps more rate hikes after 'remarkable' inflation drop
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Euro zone inflation tumbled to 2.4% last month from above 10% a year earlier after a record string of rate hikes. Schnabel, who had insisted just a month ago that rate hikes must remain an option because the "last mile" of the inflation fight may be the toughest, said she had shifted stance after three unexpectedly benign inflation readings in a row. "The most recent inflation number has made a further rate increase rather unlikely." "The recent inflation print has given me more confidence that we will be able to come back to 2% no later than 2025." Schnabel said weak growth as a result of the ECB's rate hikes is helping the inflation fight but that a deep or prolonged recession is unlikely, with recent survey data supporting expectations for a recovery.

Persons: Isabel Schnabel, Jim Urquhart, Schnabel, John Maynard Keynes, Christine Lagarde, Francois Villeroy de, Yannis Stournaras, Joachim Nagel, Balazs Koranyi, Catherine Evans Organizations: European Central Bank, Teton, Jackson, REUTERS, Rights, ECB, Reuters, Bank of Greece, Thomson Locations: Jackson , Wyoming, U.S, French, Francois Villeroy de Galhau

☆ Fiscal rules revamp may threaten calm in euro zone's fragile bond markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Stefano Rebaudo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Analysts believe Germany's budget crisis will mean tougher fiscal policy in the largest euro zone economy in 2024, which could add to pressure on less wealthy members of the bloc to keep a tighter grip on their finances. Italian 10-year bonds currently yield around 173 basis points more than German debt , 38 bps less than a year ago, while the gap between Portuguese and German yields has narrowed by 34 basis points. French bonds meanwhile yield 58 bps more than German, 5 bps more than a year ago. Analysts argued the German public may be unwilling to accept a tightening of domestic fiscal policy without a blanket approach across Europe - meaning a tougher scenario for the periphery. Bondholders are meanwhile banking on the European Central Bank cutting interest rates in a few months, which should support euro zone peripheral debt.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Olaf Scholz, Fabrizio Bensch, Ruben Segura, BofA's Segura, Cayuela, Felix Hubner, Massimiliano Maxia, Stefano Rebaudo, Catherine Evans Organizations: Italian, REUTERS, Germany, Union, Northern, European Commission, UBS, Analysts, European Central Bank, JPMorgan, ECB, Allianz Global Investors, bps, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Italy, Cayuela, European, Greece, Spain, Europe

For much of this year central banks have successfully pushed back against rate cut bets. "I believe the Fed will act rationally and begin to cut rates by the end of next year, but we can't rule out the scenario that the Fed is not going to cut rates and just let the ramifications of recession do what they do." Reuters GraphicsSHIFT NEARINGMarkets now fully price in a 25 basis point U.S. rate cut in May, having seen a 65% chance earlier this week. "There are now committee members in all three (banks) willing to talk about rate cuts next year," said Chris Jeffery, head of rates and inflation strategy at LGIM. "The ECB should begin to ease policy as soon as April 2024, with risks that a more sinister downturn in growth could warrant a rate cut as soon as March," he said.

Persons: Jonathan Ernst, ramping, It's, Nate Thooft, Goldman, Christopher Waller, Huw Pill, Yannis Stournaras, Chris Jeffery, we'd, Dario Perkins, Simon Harvey, Yoruk, Naomi Rovnick, Harry Roberston, Davide Barbuscia, Ira Iosebasvili, Saqib Iqbal Ahmed, Dhara Ranasinghe, Catherine Evans Organizations: . Federal, REUTERS, ECB, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Manulife Investment Management, Treasury, Graphics, Bank of England, Deutsche, Lombard, Traders, Yoruk Bahceli, Thomson Locations: Washington, United States, Europe, Goldman Sachs, Greek, Amsterdam, London

☆ Euro zone inflation tumble pits ECB against markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Balazs Koranyi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Inflation has dropped quickly towards the ECB's 2% target from levels above 10% just a year ago but policymakers have cautioned against excessive optimism. The rapid inflation slowdown puts the euro zone central bank and investors on a collision course as the two appear to see greatly different paths ahead, both for consumer prices and ECB interest rates. "And if the recent trends in inflation and growth continue then 2024 will be the year when the ECB implements a pirouette in monetary policy." "The market is therefore right to start looking at rate cuts for 2024. Some economists argue that modelling current inflation is exceptionally difficult because corporate profits are the main driver, not wages as in normal bouts of rapid inflation.

Persons: Sarah Meyssonnier, Kamil Kovar, Yannis Stournaras, Fabio Panetta, Panetta, Christine Lagarde's, Bert Colijn, Balazs Koranyi, Catherine Evans Organizations: REUTERS, ECB, Moody's, Bank of Italy, ING, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, FRANKFURT

A view of the sign of Signa Holding on their headquarters in Vienna, Austria, November 6, 2023. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsVIENNA/FRANKFURT, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Property and retail giant Signa declared insolvency on Wednesday after last-ditch attempts to secure fresh funding failed, the biggest casualty so far of Europe's property crash. Signa blamed its problems on external factors affecting its property business and pressure on high-street shopping. Fuelled by low interest rates, billions were funneled into property, which was viewed as stable and safe. Weakness in commercial real estate in the United States as offices remain empty after the pandemic and the struggles of major property developers in China have focused global attention on the sector.

Persons: Leonhard Foeger, Rene Benko, Signa, Switzerland's Julius Baer, Hannes Moesenbacher, Matthias Inverardi, Rachel More, Madeline Chambers, Catherine Evans Organizations: Signa, REUTERS, Rights, Chrysler, Austria's Raiffeisen Bank, Thomson Locations: Vienna, Austria, FRANKFURT, Germany, Switzerland, Hamburg, Bavaria, Hesse, Europe's, United States, China

☆ Global growth to slow but avoid a hard landing -OECD
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Leigh Thomas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Growth in advanced economies that make up the OECD's 38 members was seen headed for a soft landing, with the United States holding up better than expected so far. "Our central projections are for a soft landing, but that cannot be taken for granted," OECD chief economist Clare Lombardelli told a news conference. "Monetary policy needs careful calibration to bring inflation to targets while minimising the impact on growth. The OECD forecast U.S. growth would slow from 2.4% this year to 1.5% next year, revising up its estimates from September when it predicted U.S. growth of 2.2% in 2023 and 1.3% in 2024. Its growth was seen easing from 5.2% this year to 4.7% in 2024 - both marginally higher than expected in September - before slowing further in 2025 to 4.2%, the OECD forecast.

Persons: Vincent Alban, Clare Lombardelli, Lombardelli, Leigh Thomas, Christina Fincher, Catherine Evans Organizations: Shoppers, REUTERS, Rights, Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Development, OECD, Thomson Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, Paris, United States, Germany, Japan

The full benefit for these Indian manufacturers will not be immediate, said Peter DeYoung, CEO of Piramal Pharma Solutions. Nimgaonkar said Indian CDMOs need to do more to ensure their reputation on quality standards matches Western and Chinese ones. The Indian CDMOs told Reuters that their facilities are routinely inspected by the FDA. Aragen counts seven of the 10 biggest pharma companies as clients, he said, declining to name them. "New biotechs are deciding to put eggs in both the Indian and China baskets from the start," Subramanian said.

Persons: Trump, Tommy Erdei, Ashish Nimgaonkar, Nimgaonkar, Sai, Peter DeYoung, Helen Chen, CDMOs, Piramal, DeYoung, Ramesh Subramanian, Subramanian, Maggie Fick, Andrew Silver, Michele Gershberg, Catherine Evans Organizations: Jefferies, Glyscend Therapeutics, Reuters, Sciences, Piramal Pharma, Sai Life Sciences, Western pharma, Piramal Pharma Solutions, L.E.K, Consulting, pharma, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, FDA, Thomson Locations: China, India, SHANGHAI, HYDERABAD, U.S, Shanghai, United States, London, Hyderabad

These include plans by ArcelorMittal , the world's second-largest steelmaker, to spend 2.5 billion euros to decarbonise its German steel mills, efforts that depend on now-uncertain government support. "What we're seeing here is devastating for Germany as a business location globally. Besides the 6 billion euros of steel investments, other sectors potentially affected by the court ruling include 4 billion euros in the area of microelectronics and 20 billion euros for battery cell production, according to an economy ministry paper seen by Reuters. Those have previously been estimated at 68 billion euros. "Important industries in Germany, such as chemicals or steel production, need economical energy prices," Oliver Blume, CEO of Europe's top carmaker Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Robert Habeck, Christian Lindner, Reiner Blaschek, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Stefan Rauber, Intel INTC.O, Taiwan's, Bernhard Osburg, Oliver Blume, Christoph Steitz, Tom Kaeckenhoff, Andreas Rinke, Catherine Evans Organizations: Climate, Finance, ArcelorMittal, SHS Stahl, Reuters, IMF, Intel, TW, Infineon, Steel, BASF, Wacker Chemie, Volkswagen, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, DUESSELDORF, Berlin, Germany, Asia, United States, U.S, USA, Steel Europe

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