DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ U.S. sees 'conflicting' views in Russia on fresh Ukraine offensive
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - There are conflicting views in Russia on whether or not to launch a renewed offensive in Ukraine, a senior U.S. State Department official said on Tuesday, reiterating Washington would keep backing Kyiv regardless of which scenario plays out. The 10-month-old conflict prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine has spiraled into the largest in Europe since World War Two, and has killed tens of thousands of people, driven millions from their homes and reduced cities to ruins. But Russia's invasion has faltered badly since the summer with a string of losses to a Ukrainian counter-offensive that retook swathes of occupied territory and forced Moscow into a partial mobilisation of 300,000 more troops. "Certainly there are some (within Russia) who I think would want to pursue (new) offensives in Ukraine. There are others who have real questions about the capacity for Russia to actually do that," the State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told reporters in Washington.

☆ Biden blacklists China's YMTC, crackdowns on AI chip sector
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Alexandra Alper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Thursday added Chinese memory chipmaker YMTC and 21 "major" Chinese players in the artificial intelligence chip industry to a trade blacklist, broadening its crackdown on China's chip industry. It also comes as Congress prepares to finalize legislation to bar the U.S. government from buying products that contain semiconductors made by YMTC, Chinese memory chipmaker CXMT or China's top chip manufacturer SMIC. The Commerce Department on Thursday also targeted nine Chinese entities for allegedly seeking to support China's military modernization, including Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment Group Co Ltd (SMEE), China's only lithography company. Two of the Chinese companies removed from the unverified list - YMTC and SMEE- were added to the entity list. Being added to the unverified list forces U.S. suppliers to perform greater due diligence before shipping to the targeted companies.

☆ Shooting at Pennsylvania medical clinic leaves two wounded, suspect dead
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] View shows the scene of a shooting at a medical facility in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, U.S., December 15, 2022. REUTERS/Hannah BeierDec 15 (Reuters) - A gunman wounded two people, including a woman with whom he had a "relationship," in the parking lot of a Pennsylvania medical clinic on Thursday before killing himself, local police said. The suspect came to the medical office in the town of Wyomissing to confront the woman, shooting her in either the neck or face, Police Chief John Phillips told reporters. The chief declined to identify the suspect but said police had "contact" with him in the past, without specifying the nature of the contact. Neither the police chief nor the hospital would comment on the conditions of the victims.

☆ U.S. sanctions Russian oligarch Potanin and Rosbank -Treasury Dept. website
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The United States imposed sanctions on one of Russia's richest men, Vladimir Potanin, and Russian commercia bank Rosbank, according to the Treasury Department website. Rosbank was purchased earlier this year by Interros, an investment holding company Potanin controls. Reporting by Doina Chiacu;Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. special counsel subpoenas officials in Georgia, Nevada -W.Post
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith has issued a subpoena to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and authorities in Clark County, Nevada, according to The Washington Post, bringing the number of U.S. states to have officials summoned to six. The Post, citing a copy of the summons, said those subpoenaed were asked to appear before a grand jury. Smith previously summoned state or local officials in Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin seeking their communications with Republican former President Donald Trump, his campaign, aides and allies. Nevada's Clark County acknowledged receiving the subpoena for its elections division's custodian of records, the Post said. The subpoena for Raffensperger is dated Dec. 9, and the one for Clark County, Nevada, Nov. 22 the Post reported.

☆ U.S. welcomes EU draft decision on data privacy -Commerce Secretary
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo speaks about semiconductor chips subsidies during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., September 6, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - The United States welcomed the European Union's draft decision on data privacy as a critical next step, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on Wednesday, as the two parties try to seal a data transfer pact. The draft decision, Raimondo said, "represents a critical next step to fully address" the concerns of the Court of Justice of the European Union, which in 2020 struck down the previous EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework as a valid data transfer mechanism under EU law. "We are closely reviewing the draft decision," Raimondo said in a statement. The European Commission's justice chief Didier Reynders said the draft adequacy decision shows that U.S. safeguards offer the same level of data protection to EU citizens as that under European law.

☆ U.S. ready to help China on COVID-19 surge if Beijing asks - White House
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - The United States is prepared to help China deal with a surge of COVID-19 infections if Beijing requests assistance, the White House said on Wednesday. John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, told reporters that China has not requested help at this stage. "We have made that point that we are prepared to help in any way they might find acceptable. China began shifting away from the "zero COVID" policy just this month, after protests against the economically-damaging curbs that had been championed by President Xi Jinping. The change has spurred concerns about a surge in COVID cases.

Sinema herself, however, said she would not caucus with the Republican Party, according to an interview Politico published on Friday. It will be up to Senate Democrats to foil Republican initiatives. Sinema and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin have kept Washington in suspense over the last two years as they repeatedly withheld needed votes for legislation sought by Biden. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) walks from her hideaway office to the Senate floor at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. August 2, 2022. Just this week, Sinema and Republican Senator Thom Tillis unveiled an immigration reform plan that is getting bipartisan attention in the Senate.

☆ Russia trying to get ballistic missiles from Iran, says Britain
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Russia is attempting to obtain more weapons from Iran, including hundreds of ballistic missiles, and offering Tehran an unprecedented level of military and technical support in return, Britain's U.N. "Russia is now attempting to obtain more weapons, including hundreds of ballistic missiles," Woodward told reporters. We're concerned that Russia intends to provide Iran with more advanced military components, which will allow Iran to strengthen their weapons capability," she said. Iran has promised to provide Russia with surface-to-surface missiles, in addition to more drones, two senior Iranian officials and two Iranian diplomats told Reuters in October. The United States said on Wednesday that it has seen the continued provision of Iranian drones to Russia, but that Washington had not seen evidence that Iran has transferred ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine.

WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said he is convinced the United States will be able to call Sweden and Finland NATO allies soon and said Turkey's concerns about the two nations joining the alliance are being addressed. And it's not going to turn into one," Blinken said, adding that Finland and Sweden have had a productive process working with Turkey to address concerns and concrete steps have been taken. NATO makes its decisions by consensus, meaning that the two Nordic nations require the approval of all 30 alliance member states. Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said Finland hoped to finalize the process of NATO membership soon. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said the NATO accession process was "progressing well."

☆ Paul Whelan's continued detention in Russia a 'catastrophe,' family says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan stands inside a defendants' cage during his verdict hearing in Moscow, Russia June 15, 2020. And while we have not yet succeeded in securing Paul's release, we are not giving up. Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, is serving 16 years in the Russian region of Mordovia on charges of espionage, which he denies. "So a basketball star is released, we can celebrate, but what about Paul Whelan? "We'll keep negotiating in good faith for Paul's release.

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool//File PhotoWASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner has been released in a prisoner swap with Russia and is on her way back to the United States, President Joe Biden said on Thursday, ending what he called months of "hell." The Russian foreign ministry said it traded Griner for Russian citizen Viktor Bout, a former arms dealer. The swap took place at the Abu Dhabi airport in the United Arab Emirates, Russian news agencies said. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone with Griner from the Oval Office, along with Griner's wife, Cherelle. For experts on the Russian security services, Moscow's lasting interest in Bout hint strongly at Russian intelligence ties.

☆ Georgia runoff: Democratic U.S. Senator Warnock beats Trump-backed rival
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

With 99% of the estimated vote counted, he led Walker by 50.8% to 49.2%, according to Edison Research. The result cements Georgia as a battleground state certain to play a prominent role in the 2024 presidential election. Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) speaks during an election night party after a projected win in the U.S. midterm runoff election between Warnock and his Republican challenger Herschel Walker in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., December 6, 2022. It is his second runoff victory in two years, after he won the seat in January 2021. Venkayla Haynes, 28, said Warnock's win was especially meaningful after months of organizing get-out-the-vote efforts for both the general election and then the runoff.

☆ Democratic U.S. Senator Warnock wins Georgia runoff, Edison Research projects
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Senator Raphael Warnock won re-election in a hard-fought Georgia runoff on Tuesday, expanding his party's razor-thin majority as he turned back a challenge by Republican former football star Herschel Walker, Edison Research projected. With 97% of the expected vote counted and Warnock commanding a lead of 50.6% to 49.4%, Edison projected that Warnock had won reelection. Warnock's victory cements Georgia as a battleground state certain to play a prominent role in the 2024 presidential election. [1/17] Reverend Raphael Warnock, Democratic Senator for Georgia, delivers remarks during a visit at a campaign office during the midterm Senate runoff elections in Norcross, Georgia, U.S., December 6, 2022. It is the second runoff victory in two years for Warnock, who first won his seat in January 2021.

☆ Georgia runoff: Warnock and Walker neck and neck as results come in
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

With 72% of the estimated vote tallied, Warnock led Walker by 50.4% to 49.6%, according to Edison Research. The race was the most expensive of the 2022 U.S. midterm election season, with more than $400 million spent. [1/10] Reverend Raphael Warnock, Democratic Senator for Georgia, delivers remarks during a visit at a campaign office during the midterm Senate runoff elections in Norcross, Georgia, U.S., December 6, 2022. The truth is my opponent could still win this election," Warnock told a crowd in Norcross, Georgia, on Tuesday. This is the third Senate runoff in two years in the state - and the second for Warnock, who first won the seat in a runoff in January 2021.

☆ Democratic Senator Warnock faces challenge by Trump-backed Walker in Georgia
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

ATLANTA, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Polls closed on Tuesday in a hard-fought runoff election between Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican former football star Herschel Walker that will determine whether Democrats can expand their razor-thin Senate majority. With 10% of the estimated vote tallied, Warnock led Walker by 65% to 35%, according to Edison Research. [1/6] Local residents wait in line to cast their ballot during the runoff U.S. Senate election between Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger Herschel Walker in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., December 6, 2022. The truth is my opponent could still win this election," Warnock told a crowd in Norcross, Georgia, on Tuesday. "I feel that Herschel Walker is unsuitable for the job, to say the least," he said.

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy named Time's 2022 'Person of the Year'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 7 (Reuters) - Time magazine named Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy 2022's "Person of the Year" on Wednesday, saying he inspired Ukrainians and won global accolades for his courage in resisting Russia's devastating invasion. Refusing to leave Ukraine's capital of Kyiv at the outbreak of the war as Russian bombs rained down, the former comedian rallied his compatriots in broadcasts from the capital and traveled across his war-torn nation, the publication noted in bestowing its annual title. On Tuesday, Zelenskiy visited Ukrainian troops near the front lines in eastern Ukraine. Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk was named Time's "Person of the Year" in 2021, a year that saw his electric car company become the most valuable carmaker in the world. Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago; Editing by Susan Heavey and Doina ChiacuOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Trump legal team locates two more classified records, source says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - A team that Donald Trump hired to search for White House documents found at least two classified records at the former president's Florida home, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Prosecutors are also looking into whether Trump or his team obstructed justice when the FBI sent agents to search his home. Officials have said more classified documents may still be missing. Garland appointed Smith as special counsel to ensure the probe was independent of U.S. President Joe Biden, who may face Trump again in the 2024 election. Trump has faced a series of legal setbacks over the past week, including a Tuesday verdict that his company was guilty of tax fraud.

☆ Polls close as Senator Warnock seeks to hold off Walker in Georgia runoff
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

ATLANTA, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Polls closed on Tuesday in a hard-fought runoff election between Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican former football star Herschel Walker that will determine whether Democrats can expand their razor-thin Senate majority. [1/6] Local residents wait in line to cast their ballot during the runoff U.S. Senate election between Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger Herschel Walker in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., December 6, 2022. The truth is my opponent could still win this election," Warnock told a crowd in Norcross, Georgia, on Tuesday. This is the third Senate runoff in two years in the state - and the second for Warnock, who first won the seat in a runoff in January 2021. While Biden did not campaign for Warnock, former President Barack Obama rallied for him in Atlanta last week.

☆ Trump-backed Walker challenges U.S. Senator Warnock in Georgia runoff
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/6] Local residents wait in line to cast their ballot during the runoff U.S. Senate election between Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger Herschel Walker in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., December 6, 2022. The truth is my opponent could still win this election," Warnock told a crowd in Norcross, Georgia, on Tuesday. At a diner in Marietta, Walker deflected questions about his character, which Warnock has made a centerpiece of his campaign. "Right now I put my character up against Raphael Warnock any day," Walker said on Tuesday. This is the third Senate runoff in two years in the divided state - and the second for Warnock, who first won the seat in a runoff in January 2021.

☆ Warnock-Walker runoff in Georgia key to Democrats in U.S. Senate, 2024
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/6] Local residents wait in line to cast their ballot during the runoff U.S. Senate election between Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger Herschel Walker in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., December 6, 2022. On a wider scale, a Warnock victory could solidify Georgia as more of a battleground for Democrats in presidential elections. Turnout was steady, with wait times averaging one minute across the state, said Gabe Sterling, a state election official. The truth is my opponent could still win this election," Warnock told a crowd in Norcross, Georgia, on Tuesday. This is the third Senate runoff in two years in the divided state - and the second for Warnock, who first won the seat in a runoff in January 2021.

☆ Georgia Senate runoff pits Democrat Warnock against Trump-backed Walker
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/6] Local residents wait in line to cast their ballot during the runoff U.S. Senate election between Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger Herschel Walker in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., December 6, 2022. "We had historic turnout during the early vote voting period. The truth is my opponent could still win this election," Warnock told a crowd in Norcross, Georgia on Tuesday. Guri Ben-Hashal, 60, who works in real estate, said his vote for Warnock was actually a vote against Walker. This is the third Senate runoff in two years in the closely divided state - and the second for Warnock, who first won the seat in a runoff in January 2021.

☆ White House to address rising anti-Semitism, attacks on Jews
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - The White House will address rising anti-Semitism in a roundtable event with Jewish leaders on Wednesday focused on attacks against Jews across the United States and how to combat hate. The White House did not say which leaders from the Jewish community would attend the event, hosted by second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, the first Jewish spouse of a president or a vice president. The move comes as reports of anti-Semitism have increased nationwide. The issue has drawn headlines in recent weeks after former Republican President Donald Trump hosted white supremacist Nick Fuentes and the musician formerly known as Kanye West at his private club in Florida. And instead of giving it a platform, our political leaders should be calling out and rejecting anti-Semitism wherever it hides.

☆ Canada freezes assets of three Haitian businessmen over gang links
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The sanctions target Gilbert Bigio, chairman of Haitian industrial conglomerate GB Group, as well as prominent business leaders Reynold Deeb and Sherif Abdallah, the government said. GB Group and the office of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on a current and a former Haitian senator, accusing the two politicians of engaging in drug trafficking activities. Policymakers in the United States and Canada have this year been increasingly vocal in discussing alleged links between gangs and economic elites. Two U.S. lawmakers in September said the United States should sanction Haitian gang leaders and the "warlords" who finance them.

☆ U.S. detainee Whelan phones family after week of silence in Russia -statement
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - American detainee Paul Whelan phoned his parents from Russia early on Friday, his brother said, the first contact since last week that occurred after the White House expressed deep concern. Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine detained in Russia since 2018 and convicted on espionage charges in 2020, had been transferred to the hospital prison, his brother, David Whelan, said in a statement. On Wednesdsay, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the United States was "deeply concerned" about why they had not been able to get information on Whelan's whereabouts or condition from Moscow. Kirby addressed the issue after Whelan's family said this week that they had not heard from Paul since Nov. 23, but had seen reports he had been moved to the prison hospital. Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Search resuls for: "Doina Chiacu"

25 mentions found