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☆ Japan nominates ex-currency diplomat Kanda to head Asian Development Bank
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Masato Kanda, vice-minister of finance for international affairs at Japan's Ministry of Finance, during a press conference after the Group of 20 (G-20) finance ministers and central bank governors meeting. Japan will nominate Masato Kanda, the country's former top currency diplomat, as its candidate to become next head of the Asian Development Bank, Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said on Tuesday. Since the ADB was founded in 1966, its top post has always been filled by someone from Japan which, along with the United States, is the bank's biggest shareholder. That makes Kanda a strong candidate to take up the post. "(Kanda) is most appropriate to lead the ADB as he is well-versed in Asia-Pacific affairs and has built deep networks with executives from various countries and international institutions," Suzuki said at a regular press conference.

Persons: Masato Kanda, Shunichi Suzuki, Suzuki Organizations: Japan's Ministry of Finance, Asian Development Bank, Finance, ADB Locations: Japan, United States, Asia, Pacific

☆ UK Finance Minister Rachel Reeves pledges most 'pro-growth, pro-business' government the country has seen
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"I will work with business to make sure we're doing all we can to bring wealth creation, to bring business investment to the U.K. economy," she added. "This is going to be the most pro-growth, pro-business Treasury that this country has ever seen," Reeves told CNBC's Steve Sedgwick via remote interview. LONDON — U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves said Friday that the new Labour government would be the most pro-growth and pro-business the country has seen. We need to attract business investment to be able to do that." However, the chancellor has a fine balance to tread given pledges from her party to also boost national investment and public sector pay.

Persons: Reeves, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick, Rachel Reeves, I'm, Keir Starmer, Starmer Organizations: Treasury, CNBC, LONDON, Finance, Labour, Conservative Locations: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Britain

☆ Wealth of global top 1% grew by $42 trillion over past decade: Oxfam
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The last decade has been very lucrative for the world’s super-rich residents, fueling the drive by some advocates to tax them more. The top 1% has seen its wealth soar by $42 trillion over the past decade, according to a new analysis by Oxfam International, which is being released ahead of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors’ meeting in Brazil. “The richest one percent of humanity continues to fill their pockets while the rest are left to scrap for crumbs.”Oxfam regularly issues reports highlighting global inequality and pushes for changes to start evening the playing field. “Momentum to increase taxes on the super-rich is undeniable, and this week is the first real litmus test for G20 governments. Finance officials from the world’s biggest countries began talks earlier this year on introducing a global minimum tax on billionaires.

Persons: That’s, ”, Max Lawson, Gabriel Zucman, ” Lawson Organizations: CNN, Oxfam International, Oxfam International’s, Oxfam, EU, Observatory, Zucman, Finance Locations: Brazil

☆ Russia's war-driven economic growth is a mirage, and more sanctions are needed to keep pressure on, European finance ministers say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Sanctions are instead straining Russia, and could do more if the West is patient enough, a group of eight European finance ministers jointly argued in The Guardian. Large financial stimulus is the chief tailwind keeping Russia resistant, but the ministers noted that isn't an endless pillar of support. The eight ministers argued that these conditions make Western sanctions more important than ever, adding that pressure should be cranked up on Russia. They noted that if the West is patient enough, Russia's confidence will eventually slump as long-term damage takes hold.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Guardian, Business, Kremlin Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Netherlands, Soviet Union, Belarus, Asia

☆ Live Updates: U.S. to Sign 10-Year Pact With Ukraine as G7 Leaders Meet
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( David E. Sanger | Steven Erlanger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Mr. Biden and Mr. Zelensky will meet on Thursday and sign a security agreement, said Jake Sullivan, Mr. Biden’s national security adviser. Mr. Biden faces the hurdle of convincing his allies, starting with Mr. Zelensky, that the United States plans to stay in the fight with Ukraine, no matter what happens in November. Mr. Biden told Mr. Zelensky last week, in France, that “I apologize for the weeks of not knowing what was going to pass,” and put the onus on Republicans in Congress. During a trip to Normandy last week, Mr. Biden appeared to have persuaded France, one of the last holdouts, to support the deal. “The administration has been quick to get aid to Ukraine once Congress moved, and that’s to its credit,” he said.

Persons: Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr, Zelensky, Jake Sullivan, “, ” Mr, Sullivan, we’ll, ”, Vladimir Putin, Pope Francis, Donald J, Trump, Rishi Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, Biden’s, Vladimir V, Putin, Claudia Greco, John E . Herbst, Evelyn Farkas, Barack Obama, Ms, Farkas, ” Alan Rappeport Organizations: Ukraine, U.S, Kremlin, Group, Air Force, “, hobble, NATO, Mr, Reuters, European, World Bank, Eurasia Center, Atlantic Council, United, McCain Institute, Arizona State University Locations: Ukraine, United States, Italy, Israel, Russia, hobble Russia, Europe, France, Congress, Savelletri, Normandy, Belgium’s, U.S, Eurasia

☆ European Central Bank’s Knot says monetary policy to ease ‘gradually,' as markets brace for June rate cut
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Klaas Knot, president of De Nederlandsche Bank NV, on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G-20) finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Gandhinagar, India, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesLONDON — European Central Bank Governing Council member Klaas Knot said it would "soon" be time to ease monetary policy in the region, but cautioned that the process would need to be done slowly to keep inflation in check. "It can soon be appropriate to ease the currently restrictive monetary policy stance and gradually take our foot off the brake ... policy rates will slowly but gradually move into less restrictive levels," Knot, head of the central bank of the Netherlands, said at the Barclays-CEPR International Monetary Policy Forum in London Tuesday. In a Reuters poll of 82 economists this week, all said they expected a June cut. Knot, usually known for his more hawkish stance, said Tuesday there had been "clear disinflation" since the peak above 10% in late 2022, particularly in goods inflation.

Persons: Klaas Knot Organizations: De Nederlandsche Bank, Bloomberg, Getty, Central Bank Governing, Barclays, CEPR, Monetary, ECB, U.S . Federal Reserve, Bank of England, Reuters Locations: Gandhinagar, India, Netherlands, London

☆ Western countries are lining up to name and shame China for overproduction
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewWestern countries are lining up to call out China for its barrage of cheap exports that are flooding the world's markets. "We will continue to monitor the potential negative impacts of overcapacity and will consider taking steps to ensure a level playing field, in line with World Trade Organization (WTO) principles." China pushes back on criticism, industrial profits rose in AprilBeijing has consistently resisted the West's criticism that it is dumping cheap goods on the world market. Chinese authorities say the West's accusations are protectionist and aimed at containing China's economic growth. In April, profits at China's industrial companies rose 4% from a year ago, reversing a drop in March, according to official statistics released on Monday.

Persons: —, Janet Yellen, Olaf Scholz, Bruno Le Maire, Yu Weining, Joe Biden, Biden, Josh Lipsky, Lipsky Organizations: Service, Business, EU, Bloomberg, World Trade Organization, China's Commerce Ministry, European Commission, International Monetary Fund Locations: China, France, Stresa, Italy, Beijing, United States

☆ Yellen sees no 'showstoppers' on G7 Ukraine loan backed by Russian asset earnings
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen attends an interview with Reuters Editor in Chief Alessandra Galloni in Washington, U.S., April 25, 2024. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Friday that she does not see "any showstoppers" in her discussions with fellow G7 finance ministers about a larger loan to Ukraine backed by the income of frozen Russian sovereign assets. Yellen told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of a G7 finance leaders meeting that not all of the technical details of the loan proposal need to be worked out this weekend. G7 leaders are due to meet next month in Puglia, southern Italy. "I think there is a general view that we should express a common set of concerns to China," she said.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Alessandra Galloni, Yellen, I've Organizations: Treasury, Reuters, U.S . Treasury, Ukraine Locations: Washington , U.S, Ukraine, Stresa, U.S, Puglia, Italy, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, China

☆ G7 Finance Ministers Close Ranks as Tensions with Russia and China Fester
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-25 | by ( Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Top finance officials from the world’s advanced economies moved toward an agreement on Saturday over how to use Russia’s frozen central bank assets to aid Ukraine and warned against China’s dumping of cheap exports into their markets, aiming to marshal their economic might to tackle twin crises. The embrace of more ambitious sanctions and protectionism came as finance ministers from the Group of 7 nations gathered for three days of meetings in Stresa, Italy. The proposals under consideration could deepen the divide between the alliance of wealthy Western economies and Russia, China and their allies, worsening a global fragmentation that has worried economists. Efforts by the Group of 7 to influence the two powerful adversaries have had limited success in recent years, but rich countries are making a renewed push to test the limits of their combined economic power. In a joint statement, or communiqué, released on Saturday, policymakers said they would stay united on both fronts as geopolitical crises and trade tensions have emerged as the biggest threats to the global economy.

Organizations: Group Locations: Ukraine, Stresa, Italy, Western, Russia, China

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russia cannot swallow the West whole, Orban says; G7 finance chiefs meet with Ukraine on agenda
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Governor of the Bank of Italy Fabio Panetta (L), Italy's Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti (R) and President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde pose on the sidelines of the G7 Finance Ministers meeting in Stresa on May 24, 2024. Earlier this week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Sky News she saw the "possibility" that G7 nations could assist Ukraine with as much as $50 billion in loans linked to frozen Russian assets. "The Russian assets are not earning interest anymore, but they are generating returns for Euroclear. That alone could be given to Ukraine that would be repaid over several years by that flow of interest," Yellen added. It remains to be seen whether G7 nations can strike consensus on such a loan and what final sum will be extended to support Kyiv's military effort.

Persons: Bank of Italy Fabio Panetta, Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti, European Central Bank Christine Lagarde, Janet Yellen, Yellen Organizations: Bank of Italy, Italy's, Economy, Finance, European Central Bank, Ukraine, Treasury, Sky News, Euroclear Locations: Stresa, Italy, Ukraine

☆ Chinese policies disruptive to the rest of the world: U.S.' Shambaugh
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailChinese policies disruptive to the rest of the world: U.S.' ShambaughJay Shambaugh, under secretary of the U.S Treasury for International Affairs, joins CNBC's Charlotte Reed from the G7 Finance Ministers Meeting in Stresa to discuss U.S.-China trade issues.

Persons: Jay Shambaugh, Charlotte Reed Organizations: U.S Treasury, International Affairs, U.S Locations: Stresa, China

☆ Welcome to anti-office Fridays and quiet vacationing
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In today's big story, we're looking at the push for WFH Fridays and how that plays into the "quiet vacationing" phenomenon . The big storyAnti-office FridaysHector Roquet Rivero/Getty Images; Jenny Chang-Rodriguez/BIWith all due respect to summer Fridays, we've found a year-round replacement: WFH Fridays. But WFH Fridays' staying power remains to be seen. Which brings us back to WFH Fridays. The end result could be employers saying abuse of WFH Fridays means they need you back in the office… for good.

Persons: —, Hector Roquet Rivero, Jenny Chang, Rodriguez, we've, Insider's Juliana Kaplan, Noah Sheidlower, It's, Taiyou Nomachi, millennials, they've, BI's Kelsey Vlamis, haven't, it's, Momo Takahashi, Goldman Sachs, SEB Research, That's, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Isabel Fernandez, OpenAI, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Altman, Y Combinator, Tyler Le, Mark Cuban, Vivek Ramaswamy, Burger King, Dan DeFrancesco, Hallam Bullock, George Glover, Grace Lett, Laine Napoli Organizations: Service, Business, Workers, Companies, RBC Capital, Pujol, BI, Microsoft, Google, Bloomberg, Finance Ministers, Central Bank Governors Locations: Dublin, Germany, Meta, BuzzFeed, New York, London, Chicago

☆ The West is tapping Russian money to arm Ukraine. Much more could follow
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

London CNN —Money generated by Russian financial assets frozen in Europe will soon start flowing to Ukraine, giving Kyiv a boost as it struggles to counter an advance by Moscow’s troops. The plan “would essentially bring forward that flow of interest proceeds from the assets… (through a loan) given to Ukraine,” Yellen told broadcaster Sky News in an interview this week. “Ukraine has substantial needs, and being able to marshal significant resources to help Ukraine is important,” she said. Most of the frozen Russian money is held in Europe, and the euro is the world’s second-most important currency after the US dollar. This would give Kyiv access to a much larger amount of money than using future or current windfall profits from Russian assets.

Persons: Janet Yellen, ” Yellen, Gabriel Bouys, Joe Biden, ” Lee Buccheit, Trade Valdis Dombrovskis, Yellen, there’s, —, Buchheit, Putin, ” Organizations: London CNN, Union, Sky News, “, US, Getty, University of Edinburgh Law School, CNN, EU, Trade, Reuters, Russia, Ukraine, World Bank Locations: Europe, Ukraine, West, Italy, Russia, Ukraine’s, Kharkiv, Frankfurt, Germany, “ Ukraine, Stresa, AFP, EU, Belgium, Kyiv

☆ U.S. Seeks to Join Forces With Europe to Combat Excess Chinese Goods
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Alan Rappeport | Liz Alderman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said on Tuesday that the United States and Europe needed to work together to push back against China’s excess industrial capacity, warning that a wave of cheap Chinese exports represents a grave threat to the global economy. Ms. Yellen’s remarks, delivered during a speech in Germany, highlighted what is expected to be a central topic of discussion when the Group of 7 finance ministers meet in Italy this week. “China’s industrial policy may seem remote as we sit here in this room, but if we do not respond strategically and in a united way, the viability of businesses in both our countries and around the world could be at risk,” Ms. Yellen said at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, where she received an honorary doctoral degree. China’s excessive production of green energy technology has become a pressing trans-Atlantic concern in recent months. Officials in President Biden’s administration have grown increasingly worried that his efforts to finance domestic manufacturing of clean energy and other next-generation technologies will be undercut by China, which is churning out steel, electric cars and solar panels at a rapid clip.

Persons: Janet L, Yellen, Yellen’s, Ms, Biden’s Organizations: Frankfurt School of Finance, Management Locations: United States, Europe, Germany, Italy, China

☆ U.S. and Europe Move Closer to Using Russian Assets to Help Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The United States and Europe are coalescing around a plan to use interest earned on frozen Russian central bank assets to provide Ukraine with a loan to be used for military and economic assistance, potentially providing the country with a multibillion-dollar lifeline as Russia’s war effort intensifies. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said in an interview on Sunday that several options for using $300 billion in immobilized Russian assets remained on the table. But she said the most promising idea was for Group of 7 nations to issue a loan to Ukraine that would be backed by profits and interest income that is being earned on Russian assets held in Europe. The urgency to find a way to deliver more financial support to Ukraine has been mounting as the country’s efforts to fend off Russia have shown signs of faltering. “It would generate a significant up-front amount that would help meet needs we anticipate Ukraine is going to have both militarily and through reconstruction.”

Persons: Janet L, Yellen, “, Ms, ” Organizations: Finance Locations: States, Europe, Ukraine, Italy, Russia, Germany

☆ Biden administration set to revamp Trump’s tariff program after multi-year review, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Kayla Tausche | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —The Biden administration is set to unveil a sweeping restructuring of former President Donald Trump’s trademark tariffs on Chinese imports, according to sources familiar with the matter. “The Biden administration has neutralized China as a campaign issue,” said Hodge, now a managing director at Bully Pulpit International. Tariffs are essentially a tax on US businesses and consumers, adding to the cost of imported goods. More than half of the duties have been collected during the Biden administration. The Biden administration had planned to release the results of the review in advance of the Pittsburgh speech, the sources familiar with the matter said, but ended up delaying the release.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Biden, Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden refines, Trump, Adam Hodge, “, ”, Hodge, –, ” Biden, Janet Yellen, Antony Blinken, Clete Willems, Akin Gump, Willems Organizations: Washington CNN, US Trade Representative, Biden’s National Security Council, US Trade, Treasury, Commerce, Trump, US Customs, “ Steel, Seven, European Union, National Economic Council, EU, European Commission, Treasury Department Locations: China, Pittsburgh, Italy, Puglia

☆ Japan's finance minister says yen intervention may be necessary when there are 'excessive' moves
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Matt Clinch | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki speaks during the presidency press conference at the G7 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors, at Toki Messe in Niigata, Japan, Saturday, May 13, 2023. "When there is an excessive movement, it may be necessary to smooth it out," he told CNBC's Dan Murphy, according to a translation. Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki on Friday backed currency interventions by his country's policymakers if the yen moved in sharp directions that started to impact households and companies. The finance minister declined to comment when asked whether current levels for the yen were appropriate. In the last few decades, while other global central banks have tightened their policies, Japan had maintained its ultra-loose strategy.

Persons: Shunichi Suzuki, CNBC's Dan Murphy, they've, Nicholas Smith Organizations: Toki, Japanese Finance, CNBC Locations: Niigata, Japan, Tbilisi , Georgia, propping

For the first time in the history of the United States, billionaires had a lower effective tax rate than working-class Americans. Opinion Guest Essay Make Billionaires Pay (Their Taxes)Until recently, it was hard to know just how good the superrich are at avoiding taxes. Let’s agree that billionaires should pay income taxes equivalent to a small portion — say, 2 percent — of their wealth each year. Billionaires who already pay the baseline amount of income tax would have no extra tax to pay. The idea that billionaires should pay a minimum amount of income tax is not a radical idea.

Persons: Emmanuel Saez, Gabriel Zucman, we’ve, Demetrio Guzzardi, Jeff Bezos, Bezos, Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett, Elon Musk, Bernard Arnault, Arnault’s, Arnault, Reagan, Critics, haven’t, Biden Organizations: Government, Social Security, European Economic Association, Institut des Politiques, Economic, Amazon, Elon, Twitter, Shepard, Getty, Trump, Internal, Abaca, New York, Facebook Locations: United States, Netherlands, States Netherlands Italy France, Italy, France, Tesla, LVMH, America, Europe, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, U.S, Brazil, South Africa, Spain

☆ Japan FX tsar Kanda says speculation behind weak yen, ready to take action
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Masato Kanda, vice-minister of finance for international affairs at Japan's Ministry of Finance, during a press conference after the Group of 20 (G-20) finance ministers and central bank governors meeting. "Looking at currencies, the dollar/yen pair has gone through big fluctuations of 4% over only the past two weeks," Kanda told reporters. Kanda described the recent yen moves as "speculative." He said he wouldn't rule out any measures but stands ready to respond appropriately to the currency's move. He added he has been closely watching currency moves with a sense of urgency, even when he was travelling overseas over the weekend.

Persons: Masato Kanda, Kanda Organizations: Japan's Ministry of Finance

☆ Biden’s 'billionaire tax' takes aim at the super-rich — but can a wealth tax work in reality?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

This is about the wealthy contributing more ... the extremely wealthy contributing more and being proud to do that. "This is about the wealthy contributing more to the society, the extremely wealthy contributing more and being proud to do that," Phil White, retired business owner and Patriotic Millionaires co-signatory, told CNBC. But experts are divided over the effectiveness of a wealth tax, and its how achievable it is in reality. Data suggests that wealth tax accounts for only a very small proportion of total tax revenues in the countries where it has been applied. Data suggests that a wealth tax accounts for only a very small proportion of total tax revenues in the countries where it has been applied.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Phil White, Abigail Disney, Brian Cox, Arun Advani, Advani, Christine Cairns, PwC, Tord Kolstad, Kolstad, Kolstad Eiendom Organizations: Patriotic, Patriotic Millionaires, CNBC, Scottish, University of Warwick Locations: Brazil, Europe, Switzerland, Norway, Spain, Colombia

☆ Ukraine needs the West to do more than seize Russian assets, Janet Yellen says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Seizing Russian assets won't make up for the failure to send aid to Ukraine, Janet Yellen warned. Republicans have blocked a plan to send aid to Ukraine in a bid to force Joe Biden to take action on immigration. AdvertisementUkraine needs the West to do much more than just seize frozen Russian assets, according to Janet Yellen. AdvertisementG7 finance ministers met in Brazil last week to discuss what to do with frozen Russian assets worth about $300 billion. "I want to be very clear: we currently have no legal basis for the seizure of Russian assets," he said on the sidelines of the Brazil summit.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Joe Biden, —, São, Yellen, Bruno Le Maire, Biden Organizations: Republicans, Service, São Paulo, Kyiv, Bloomberg, European Union, US Locations: Ukraine, Japan, Brazil, Italy, Mexico

☆ Divisions Among Finance Ministers Flare Over Seizing Russian Assets
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Divisions among the world’s top economic officials over how to use Russia’s central bank assets to support Ukraine spilled into public view on Wednesday when Bruno LeMaire, France’s finance minister, said that seizing the frozen assets would be a violation of international law. The comments, made on the sidelines of the gathering of finance ministers of the Group of 20 nations in Brazil, came a day after Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said that seizing the assets was a possibility and suggested that there was a legal justification for doing so. Officials from the Group 7 advanced economies have been debating for months over whether they could legally seize more than $300 billion in Russian central bank assets stashed in Western nations and use those funds to aid Ukraine. Those discussions have taken on greater urgency amid waning political support in the United States and Europe to continue to provide Ukraine with economic and military support. Ms. Yellen, who initially had reservations about the viability of freezing or seizing Russia’s assets, offered her most explicit public support to date on Tuesday for the idea of unlocking “the value” of Russia’s immobilized assets.

Persons: Bruno LeMaire, Janet L, Yellen Locations: Ukraine, Brazil, Russian, United States, Europe

☆ Yellen Urges Israel to Restore Economic Ties to West Bank
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said on Tuesday that she had personally urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to increase commercial engagement with the West Bank, contending that doing so was important for the economic welfare of both Israelis and Palestinians. Ms. Yellen’s plea was outlined in a letter that she sent to Mr. Netanyahu on Sunday. It represented her most explicit public expression of concern about the economic consequences of the war between Israel and Hamas. In the letter, Ms. Yellen said, she warned about the consequences of the erosion of basic services in the West Bank and called for Israel to reinstate work permits for Palestinians and reduce barriers to commerce within the West Bank. “These actions are vital for the economic well-being of Palestinians and Israelis alike,” Ms. Yellen said at a news conference in Brazil ahead of a gathering of finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations.

Persons: Janet L, Yellen, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Yellen’s, Netanyahu, Ms Organizations: West Bank, Palestinian Authority, United Locations: Israel, Brazil, Gaza, Qatar, United State, Egypt

☆ BRICS: South Africa says countries are clamoring to join the China and Russia-backed group
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —Nearly three dozen countries are seeking entry into the China and Russia-backed BRICS economic group, member state South Africa said Wednesday, weeks after the body expanded its membership for the first time in more than a decade. Thirty-four countries have submitted an expression of interest in joining the bloc of major emerging economies, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor told reporters, without naming the nations. BRICS, which since 2011 had been made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, roughly positions itself as the Global South’s answer to the Group of Seven (G7) major developed economies. The group took shape as a summit-level gathering between Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2009 and expanded to include South Africa two years later. Six new BRICS countries were invited during the 2023 summit last August.

Persons: Naledi Pandor, Xi Jinping, Putin, Pandor Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, African Foreign, United Arab Emirates, United Nations Security Council, Finance Locations: China, Hong Kong, Russia, South Africa, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Ethiopia, Egypt, United States, Washington, Brazil, India, Beijing, Ukraine, Johannesburg, Russian, Kazan, Argentina

☆ Australia to End Daily Letter Delivery as Postal Service Pivots to Parcels
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Lewis JacksonSYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia Post will soon end daily letter deliveries as part of a series of postal reforms announced on Wednesday designed to modernise the government-owned postal service and help it turn a profit. Australia Post will also have an extra day to deliver regular mail. Australia Post delivered half a billion parcels last financial year, or roughly 20 per person. Losses in the letter business rose 50% to A$384 million. Australia Post has applied to the competition regulator to increase the basic letter postage rate to A$1.50 from A$1.20 from early near year.

Persons: Lewis Jackson SYDNEY, Paul Graham, eCommerce, Graham, Lewis Jackson, Jamie Freed Organizations: Australia Post, Australia Locations: Australia

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