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☆ Speaker Mike Johnson faces critical decision on Ukraine aid as international pressure grows to act
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Melanie Zanona | Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Speaker Mike Johnson is facing international criticism over his lack of swift action on Ukraine aid, which is ratcheting up pressure to make a critical decision that will not only have massive implications for his rookie speakership but also for Ukraine’s ongoing war effort against Russia. “If there is a Mike Johnson plan, there aren’t any House Republicans that are aware of its existence.”The pressure cooker Johnson is facing has exposed some frustration over how he has approached his speakership. At a time when House Republicans are looking to their leader to make a decisive choice, the speaker has instead elevated members to bring forward their own ideas without articulating his own preferences. “Ukraine is in desperate need of the US aid, passed by an overwhelming bipartisan vote on the floor of the United States Senate. “We’re looking at a number of options on our leadership team.”Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has repeatedly hammered Johnson over his inaction.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, –, Alexei Navalny, Kevin McCarthy, Donald Trump, Sen, J.D, Vance, Johnson —, Warren Davidson, ” Davidson, Virginia Sen, Mark Warner, ”, Ben Cardin, “, ” Cardin, It’s, Brian Fitzpatrick, someone’s, Mitch McConnell, Vladimir Putin, ” Johnson, Steve Scalise, Trump, ” Scalise, Joe Biden, ” Biden, NATO … I’ve, Biden, Chuck Schumer, Putin “, Vladimir Putin’s, ” Schumer, it’s, There’s, Mike Turner, ” CNN’s Alex Marquardt Organizations: CNN, Russia, Democratic, Congress, Global, Security, Republicans, Republican, NATO, GOP, Caucus, languishes, Senate Intelligence, United, United States Senate, Senate, NATO …, New, New York Democrat, House Intelligence, Ohio Republican, Press, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Warren Davidson of Ohio, “, Munich, United States, Russia, Pennsylvania, Baltic, Florida, New York, Washington

☆ Kim Jong Un has broken with decades of North Korean policy – does it mean he’s planning for war?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

The two sides have been cut off from each other since 1953, when an armistice ended the Korean War, and remain technically at war. Yoon and Biden have sharpened their countries’ deterrence plans and coordination in the face of North Korea’s threats and weapons development. If anything, some analysts believe, North Korea’s public statements signal that North Korea is abandoning its reunification policy in pursuit of peace on the peninsula. Vladimir Smirnov/AFP/Getty ImagesAn ‘emboldened’ KimThe North Korean leader may also feel more confident about his arsenal and his options as he watches a shifting global landscape. “Kim Jong Un is wary of a full-scale provocation by the South Korean military disguised as a military exercise and has vowed to occupy South Korean territory without hesitation,” said Lim in Changwon.

Persons: Kim Jong, South Korea –, ” Kim, ”, Kim, ’, Robert Carlin, Siegfred Heckler, Chul Lim, “, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Edward Howell, Yoon Suk Yeol, Ayse, ” He’s, Yoon, Biden, Seoul . Kim, Trump, Lim, “ That’s, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Vladimir Smirnov, ’ Kim, “ Kim Jong, …, Rachel Minyoung Lee, Howell, “ Kim Jong Un, Lee, Japan – Organizations: CNN, South, Korean Central News Agency, Reuters, North Korea Research Center, University’s Institute, Far Eastern, University of Oxford, Japan, Ewha Womans University, US, North, Russia's Vostochny, Getty, Stimson, –, White, United Nations Security Council, West, South Korean Defense Ministry, ”, Trump, North Korean Locations: Ukraine, Gaza, North Korea, South Korea, Korea, Republic of Korea, Kim, Washington, Seoul, Tokyo, United States, Korea’s, Changwon, Pyongyang, Russia, United Kingdom, Japan, Guam, Gon, Seoul ., Russian, Russia's, China, Iran, denuclearization, Western, North, Moscow, Beijing, Oxford, Jeju, South, “

☆ Remote Employees Are More Likely to Get Laid Off; WFH Is Risky
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Emily Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Executives at the online furniture retailer Wayfair told its staff in January that remote workers were likelier to be hit in its latest round of job cuts. Add in long-term trends, like the decline in loyalty between employers and employees , and it's no wonder remote workers feel anxious about cuts. “It’s not too surprising,” Peter Cappelli, a management professor at the Wharton School who has never been a big fan of remote work, said. “That is something remote workers should be thinking about as they’re engaging with supervisors,” she said. Remote workers aren’t doomed to the unemployment line, but they may want to try a little extra to get noticed.

Persons: Wayfair, ”, Dell, Goldman Sachs, “ It’s, ” Peter Cappelli, “, Nick Bloom, ” Bloom, Emily Dickens, ” Prithwiraj Choudhury, ” Joseph Fuller, pang, Emily Stewart Organizations: IBM, Reuters, Google, Wharton School, Stanford, Society for Human Resource Management, Harvard Business School, Employers, Workers, “ Workers, Staff, Business

CNN —President Joe Biden would veto a proposed standalone aid package for Israel, the White House said Monday, as House Republicans look to tank a long-awaited bipartisan Senate border deal that would include aid to US allies. “Instead of working in good faith to address the most pressing national security challenges, this bill is another cynical political maneuver.”“The security of Israel should be sacred, not a political game,” the statement continued. CNN previously reported that Johnson was planning to move a $17.6 billion Israel bill with no offsets, upping pressure on Democrats to support it, but it has run into some headwinds on the right and the left. And the idea that Joe Biden would suggest that he would not send a clean funding measure to assist them is just outrageous. Johnson last week called on the Senate to swiftly take up the Israel bill, ratcheting up pressure on senators to abandon their efforts to keep Israel aid linked with other issues.

Persons: Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, Johnson, CNN’s Manu Raju Monday, Israel, –, Vladimir, ” CNN’s Morgan Rimmer, Clare Foran, Lauren Fox, Ted Barrett, Priscilla Alvarez, Kristin Wilson Organizations: CNN, Republicans, White, House Republicans, Senate Locations: Israel, Ukraine

Fewer than 24 hours after a long-awaited, bipartisan border deal and foreign aid package was unveiled in the Senate, opposition is rapidly mounting in the chamber – making it increasingly possible the bill will not survive a key vote expected this week. The grim odds facing the bill in the Senate come as former President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson have continued to attack the deal, ratcheting up pressure on Senate Republicans to oppose it or risk facing a conservative backlash. So far, 18 Republican senators have publicly criticized the bill, including Montana Sen. Steve Daines, a member of Senate GOP leadership. For all of these reasons I will vote no when the bill is brought to the Senate floor this week,” he said. It’s unclear, however, whether a foreign aid package would be able to pass on its own as many Senate Republicans have demanded tighter border security in exchange for aid to those allies.

Persons: Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Johnson, hasn’t, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy of, Sen, Kyrsten, James Lankford of, Montana Sen, Steve Daines, Texas Sen, John Cornyn, ”, New Jersey Sen, Bob Menendez, California Sen, Alex Padilla, Menendez, ” Padilla, Bernie Sanders, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Lankford, CNN’s Kristin Wilson Organizations: Republicans, Israel, West Bank, Democratic, GOP, Republican, National Republican Senatorial, House Republicans, California, Trump, ICE, Border Patrol Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Gaza, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Arizona, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Montana, Texas, New Jersey, America, Vermont, United States, Israel

The border deal has placed one of the most vexing political issues at the center of President Joe Biden’s foreign policy agenda and forced him to take a tougher stance on an issue that has been a liability ahead of November. But former President Donald Trump and Johnson have attacked the border deal as too weak, and their opposition threatens to derail the legislation. “Let me be clear: The Senate Border Bill will NOT receive a vote in the House,” the Louisiana Republican wrote on X. Johnson announced Saturday that the House will vote this week on a standalone bill providing aid for Israel. It’s unclear whether a foreign aid package would be able to pass on its own as many Senate Republicans have demanded tighter border security in exchange for aid to those allies.

Persons: Mike Johnson, hasn’t, Joe Biden’s, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy of, Sen, Kyrsten, James Lankford of, Donald Trump, Johnson, ” Johnson, Steve Scalise, Bill, Biden, Trump, Marsha Blackburn of, Mike Lee of, Mitch McConnell, Lankford “, Chuck Schumer, McConnell, John Thune, “, ” Thune, CNN’s Manu Raju, Thune, “ It’s, ”, doesn’t, Greg Abbott, ” Abbott, What’s, Sinema, Lankford, Morgan Rimmer, Melanie Zanona, Sara Smart, Rosa Flores, Sara Weisfeldt Organizations: CNN, Senators, Israel, West Bank, Democratic, Senate Republicans, Louisiana Republican, Senate, Republicans, New, New York Democrat, GOP, Texas Gov, Texas, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, CBS, Trump Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Russia, Gaza, Mexico, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Arizona, James Lankford of Oklahoma, ”, Louisiana, Taiwan, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Mike Lee of Utah, New York, United States, Eagle

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Messenger, an ambitious online news site that billed itself as a nonpartisan digital outlet and spent some $50 million ratcheting up its business effort, abruptly shut down Wednesday after only eight months in operation. In his email, Finkelstein said he hadn't shared the news with employees earlier because he had been trying desperately to raise enough funds to become profitable “literally until earlier today." “We exhausted every option available,” Finkelstein wrote, saying he was “personally devastated.”The Messenger website carried only its name and an email address Wednesday night. Planned cuts also have sparked walkouts by employees at other venues, including the New York Daily News and Forbes magazine. The Messenger was launched last May and spent heavily — some would say excessively, given the current media climate — in hopes of becoming a media heavyweight.

Persons: Jimmy Finkelstein, Finkelstein, hadn't, ” Finkelstein, “, ambitiously, Critics, Jonah Peretti, he'd, ” Organizations: The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Sports Illustrated, Business, New York Daily News, Forbes, Associated Press, Washington D.C Locations: BEACH, Fla, New York, Washington, Florida

☆ Amazon is poised to boost its revenue by billions with the flip of a switch
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewAmazon is about to shake up the TV ad marketplace as it prepares to show ads to Prime Video viewers starting Monday. The e-commerce giant's entrance into the streaming ad wars is its latest move to grow its $38 billion ads business. Discovery, as well as YouTube, with its big connected TV ad business. An Amazon spokesperson said the company has had a "strong response from agencies" wanting their clients to be first on Prime Video. AdvertisementAnd the launch comes as most TV ad dollars have already been spoken for.

Persons: —, Morgan Stanley, it's, execs, Jon Morgenstern, Nielsen, We've, Greg Peters, Dave Campanelli Organizations: Service, Business, Comcast, Warner Bros, Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Intelligence, Amazon Prime, New, Research, Prime, Amazon Channels, streaming's, Horizon, CTV

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An effort to modernize state oversight of a thriving petroleum industry in the nation's No. 2 state for oil production advanced past its first committee vetting Thursday at the New Mexico Legislature. The bill also would give regulators greater authority over applications to transfer ownership of wells that often change hands when oil and natural gas output declines. The Democratic-led Legislature and governor are being sued over alleged failures to meet constitutional provisions for protecting against oil and gas pollution, as fed-up residents living near oil wells and environmental groups turn to the judiciary for relief. Voting against the bill, Republican state Rep. Larry Scott of Hobbs, said the initiative represents an existential threat to small-scale oil and natural gas producers, echoing concerns raised by several businesses.

Persons: Bill cosponsor Rep, Matthew McQueen, Galisteo, we’re, ”, “ We’ve, We’re, Gail Evans, Nathan Small, —, Ahtza Chavez, Lujan Grisham, “ They’ve, Chavez, Larry Scott, Hobbs, Scott Organizations: SANTA FE, New, New Mexico Legislature, Gas, Occidental Petroleum, EOG Resources, Land Office, Democratic, Center for Biological Diversity, Pueblo Action Alliance, Youth United, Las, Gov, Republican Locations: SANTA, New Mexico, Las Cruces, Albuquerque

☆ Exclusive-One-Month Gaza Truce Focus of Intensive Talks, Sources Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +8 min

Asked about the negotiations, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters on Monday the organization was open to discussing ideas but that no deal was yet in place. One offer by Israel is to end the war if Hamas removes six senior leaders from Gaza, said a seventh source, a senior Hamas official. Five of the sources said Israel had refused to discuss any end to the war that did not include Hamas being dismantled. Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy said at a press conference on Tuesday that efforts were ongoing to secure the hostages' release. The official briefed on the talks said Hamas had since softened that demand, which would likely be vehemently opposed by Israel.

Persons: Andrew Mills, Nidal, Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Dan Williams, Brett McGurk, Sami Abu Zuhri, Abu Zuhri, Yahya Sinwar, Mohamed al, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Netanyahu, NETANYAHU, Israel, Eylon Levy, Antony Blinken, Khan Younis, Mohamed Ahmed Hassan, Michael Georgy, Maayan Lubell, Jonathan Landay, Simon Lewis, Frank Jack Daniel, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Hamas, Tuesday U.S . Middle East, U.S . State Department, White, Service, Reuters, Palestinian Locations: Dan Williams DOHA, CAIRO, JERUSALEM, Israel, Gaza, Qatar, Washington, Egypt, U.S, United States, Khan, Doha, Cairo, Jerusalem

☆ These charts show how much traffic has plunged in the Suez and Panama canals — and the potential impact on inflation
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Aruni Soni | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThe number of vessels passing through the Suez Canal and Panama Canal have dropped 50% from normal levels, according to Apollo Management's top economist. AdvertisementSuez Canal slowdownAbout 12% of global trade passes through the Suez Canal, according to an estimate from the US Naval Institute. Related stories"Normally, 200 ships travel through the Suez Canal from south to north over a week, but that number has recently declined to 100," Sløk wrote. Suez Canal traffic is down 50% APThe trouble in the Suez Canal has been ratcheting up as Yemen-based Houthi rebels have been launching attacks against ships in the Red Sea, forcing some ships to take longer — and costlier — detours. And although goods inflation has been tumbling, higher shipping costs could send that back up again if they continue to follow recent trends.

Persons: —, Torsten Sløk, Sløk, Thierry Wizman Organizations: Service, Business, US Naval Institute, Apollo, Container, Shipping, Apollo Management, Macquarie Locations: Suez, Panama, Yemen, Red, Shanghai, Rotterdam, Drewry

☆ New Hampshire primary: What to expect from Trump, Haley and DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Polls indicate New Hampshire offers Haley her best chance for a win, while DeSantis, polling a distant third, is already looking ahead to South Carolina. While Tuesday's primary result is expected to be narrower, the latest polls of likely New Hampshire GOP primary voters show Trump leading Haley by double digits. They have been joined in recent days by a growing number of Trump's one time Republican primary rivals — Nebraska Gov. In New Hampshire, Haley is right: She and Trump are the top two candidates by far in the polls, with DeSantis a distant third. Days away from the New Hampshire primary, DeSantis' campaign is already shifting resources to South Carolina, while still holding some events in New Hampshire.

Persons: Timothy A, Clary, Donald Trump, Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Haley, Chris Galdieri, State David M, Scanlan, Biden, —, Elise Stefanik, Sen, Ted Cruz, Sean Hannity, Doug Burgum, Vivek Ramaswamy, Tim Scott of, Faith Ninivaggi, Reuters Haley, Galdieri, Haley's, Chris Sununu, Scala, Matt McClain, DeSantis, Joe Biden, Nathan Howard Organizations: Getty, New, New Hampshire voters, Republican, Granite State, Florida Gov, United, New Hampshire, West Wing, Saint Anselm College, State, Democratic, Trump, GOP, New Hampshire GOP, Republicans, New York, Fox News, — Nebraska Gov, Tim Scott of South Carolina —, U.S, Omni, Washington Hotel, Resort, Reuters, The, New Hampshire Gov, CNBC, Florida, LaBelle, Washington Post, DeSantis, NBC News, Biden, Community Center Locations: Concord , New Hampshire, New Hampshire, Iowa, United Nations, South Carolina, Portsmouth , New Hampshire, Monday's Iowa, Granite State, New, Texas, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Bretton Woods , New Hampshire, U.S, Florida, The Granite, Granite, Palmetto, Derry, NH, Raleigh , North Carolina

“Consumer views were supported by confidence that inflation has turned a corner and strengthening income expectations,” Hsu added. “Like December, there was a broad consensus of improved sentiment across age, income, education, and geography,” Hsu said. There may, however, be some relief in 2024 as mortgage rates fall in line with reduced interest rates from the Federal Reserve. “Mortgage rates will continue to remain a wild card for home shoppers,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. "Mortgage rates are meaningfully lower compared to just two months ago, and more inventory is expected to appear on the market in upcoming months."

Persons: Joanne Hsu, ” Hsu, ”, Danielle Hale, Lawrence Yun Organizations: University of Michigan, Republicans, Federal Reserve, National Association of Realtors, “, Realtor.com, National Association of Home Builders, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Federal Reserve Bank, Atlanta’s Locations: “, Federal Reserve Bank of New York

☆ Ukraine piling pressure on China but Beijing’s peace plans are focused on Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Hong Kong CNN —As Ukraine scrambles to keep international support with Russia’s invasion grinding into a third year, its leader has made clear one country he would like to see join his push for peace: China. There, Zelensky told reporters he would “very much like China to be involved” in Ukraine’s peace plan. “China thinks it is already playing an important role in moving toward peace. There is even less reason for China to ‘advance a fair peace as advocated by the West and Ukraine,’” she said. But when it comes to how Beijing may maneuver toward brokering peace in Gaza, China likely doesn’t see itself as yet having captured the opportunity “to present itself as a conflict mediator,” according to Sun.

Persons: Ukraine scrambles, –, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Li Qiang, Zelensky –, It’s, ”, Yun Sun, Xi Jinping, ’ ”, Li, Wang Yi, Wang, Xi, Alex Gabeuv, Israel, “, Svitlana Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Economic, Stimson, Kyiv, Sun, West, CNN, Arab League, Palestine, Global, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, China’s, Ministry Locations: Hong Kong, Ukraine, China, Beijing, Switzerland’s Davos, Interfax, Russia, Washington, Moscow, Davos, Gaza, Russia’s, CNN China, Cairo, Africa, Israel, Palestine, United States, that’s, Berlin, Global, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, counterbalancing, Kyiv, London

☆ Red Sea crisis: Why escalating violence in the Middle East isn’t pushing up gas prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The prices of a barrel of Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, and West Texas Intermediate, the US oil benchmark, have barely moved. Now, however, analysts say economic factors — weaker demand in countries such as China and Germany, ample oil and gas supply — are superseding concerns about violence in the Middle East. Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesGlobal oil demand growth is expected to almost halve this year, the International Energy Agency said in a report Thursday. At the same time, global oil supply is forecast to hit an all-time high, driven by record output from countries including the United States and Canada, the IEA said. Nan said relatively modest demand was also helping to prevent spikes in gas prices.

Persons: Brent, “, Homayoun, “ It’s, ”, Hope, Al Drago, That’s, Falakshahi, Xi Nan, Kpler, Wood Mackenzie, Nan Organizations: London CNN, Hamas, West Texas Intermediate, AAA, CNN, National Bureau of Statistics, Bloomberg, Getty, International Energy Agency, Organization of, Petroleum, Rystad Energy, Gas Infrastructure, LNG “ Locations: Red, Iran, Pakistan, Gaza, Ukraine, China, Germany, South Africa, Washington , DC, United States, Canada, Russia, OPEC, Europe, wean, Gas Infrastructure Europe, Africa, Qatar, United Kingdom

☆ Mike Johnson seeks to avoid McCarthy's fate as he navigates shutdown and immigration
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Sahil Kapur | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

US House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, during a news conference at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. Under pressure from right-wing members, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., faces stark challenges in keeping the government funded and responding to a potential Senate deal that would toughen immigration laws while providing funding for Ukraine. But passing the spending deal could make it politically more difficult for Johnson to support an emerging bipartisan Senate immigration deal that the right wing of the GOP is turning against. 2 is his position, but he was careful not to reveal specifics of what the House would accept if a Senate immigration deal came together, the sources said. Johnson's allies believe GOP opponents of the spending deal may vote against it but doubt they'll come for his job.

Persons: Mike Johnson, He's, Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Chip Roy, Steve Deace, Schumer, Brian Fitzpatrick, We've, it's, Doug Heye, Heye, Sen, James Lankford of, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, It's, Kevin McCarthy, Johnson's, they'll, Jodey Arrington Organizations: Republican, Ukraine, White, Congress, Republicans, GOP, Fox News, Democrats, United States Congress Locations: Louisiana, Washington , DC, Iowa, Texas, Ukraine, Russia, James Lankford of Oklahoma

☆ Oil slips; investors eye Mideast developments
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Brent crude futures fell 31 cents, or 0.4%, to $77.98 a barrel by 0124 GMT after settling up 1.1% on Friday. The U.S. later said it shot down a missile fired at one of its ships from Houthi militant areas of Yemen. "As the Middle East conflict is currently not affecting oil production, the geopolitical risk premium priced in oil prices now appears modest based on the implied volatility of options," Goldman Sachs analysts said in a note. "While unlikely to materialize in our view, we estimate that oil prices would rise 20% in the first month of a Strait of Hormuz interruption, and may temporarily double in a less likely extended disruption." In Libya, people protesting against perceived corruption threatened to shut down two more oil and gas facilities after shutting the 300,000 barrel-per-day Sharara field on Jan. 7.

Persons: Joe Biden, Goldman Sachs, Martin Luther King Organizations: U.S, . West Texas, British Locations: Yemen, Red, Iran, Gaza, United States, Strait, Hormuz, Libya, U.S

☆ Tempers Flare as Guatemala’s Presidential Inauguration Is Delayed
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Simon Romero | Jody García | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Opponents of the anticorruption crusader Bernardo Arévalo delayed his inauguration as president of Guatemala on Sunday, ratcheting political tensions higher in Central America’s most populous country. Confusion around the transition of power emerged shortly after Guatemala’s highest court on Sunday allowed conservative members of Congress opposed to Mr. Arévalo to maintain their leadership of the chamber. After that ruling, arguments among lawmakers flared in the chamber around midday when Congress was expected to officially name Mr. Arévalo as president. Some congressional members went behind closed doors; as they remained deliberating, other lawmakers contended they were trying to derail the transfer of power, fueling bewilderment and frustration around the country. “These are the latest strategies that corrupt elites are using to prevent a democratically elected government from coming to power,” said José Ochoa, 64, a small-business owner who was among the hundreds who streamed into the streets of Guatemala City’s old center to show support for Mr. Arévalo on Sunday.

Persons: Bernardo Arévalo, Arévalo, ”, José Ochoa Locations: Guatemala, Central America’s

☆ Biden: US Delivered Private Message to Iran About Houthi Attacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Steve Holland and Nandita BoseWASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden said on Saturday the United States had delivered a private message to Iran about Iran-backed Houthis responsible for attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea. "We delivered it privately and we're confident we're well-prepared," Biden told reporters at the White House before departing to the Camp David presidential retreat for the weekend. The Houthi movement threatened a "strong and effective response" after the United States carried out another strike in Yemen overnight, further ratcheting up tensions as Washington vows to protect shipping from attacks by the Iran-aligned group. The latest strike, which the U.S. said hit a radar site, came a day after dozens of American and British strikes on Houthi facilities in Yemen. Biden, whose administration removed the Houthis from a State Department list of "foreign terrorist organizations" in 2021, was asked by reporters on Friday whether he felt the term "terrorist" described the movement now.

Persons: Steve Holland, Nandita Bose WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Biden, Camp David, John Kirby, Washington, Daniel Wallis Organizations: United, White, Camp, State Department Locations: United States, Iran, Red, Yemen

☆ These Middle East flashpoints could trigger regional conflict that impacts oil prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-03 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

There are several key flashpoints where the Israel-Hamas war could escalate into a regional conflict that has a material impact on oil, according to the firm. Those flashpoints are the Red Sea, Lebanon and Iraq, analyst Helima Croft wrote in a note to clients this week. Crude prices fell Tuesday despite renewed attacks by Houthi militants in the Red Sea over the weekend. Maersk stopped shipping through the Red Sea again and is rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Some 12% of global trade and about 3 million barrels of crude oil pass through the Red Sea per day, according to RBC Capital Markets.

Persons: Helima Croft, Croft, Adi Imsirovic, Imsirovic, Steven Schoenfeld, Schoenfeld, Goldman Sachs, Tehran's Houthi, Donald Trump ratcheted, Biden, Benny Gantz, Israel, Saleh al, Joe Biden, Trump, Qasem Soleimani Organizations: RBC Capital Markets, Maersk, West Texas Intermediate, CNBC, Tuesday, Traders, Investors, Center for Strategic, International Studies, U.S, Prosperity, U.S . Navy, U.S . Central Command, JPMorgan, Israel Defense Forces, Three U.S, Washington Locations: Israel, Sea, Lebanon, Iraq, Red, Danish, Libya, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, U.S, Yemen, The U.S, Mandeb, Aden, Britain, Hangzhou, South Africa, Suez, Asia, Europe, Hormuz, Islamic Republic, Tehran, Beirut, Croft, Erbil, Three

☆ Venezuela Ramps Up Threat to Annex Part of Guyana
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Kejal Vyas | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

People in Caracas, Venezuela, waited to vote in a referendum on Essequibo, a disputed territory with neighboring Guyana, on Sunday. Photo: miguel gutierrez/ShutterstockTUSCHEN, Guyana—Venezuela is ratcheting up its claims to a swath of Guyana, its oil-rich neighbor, which has recently become one of the world’s hottest energy frontiers. The growing dispute between Venezuela’s authoritarian regime and Guyana involves a vast area facing Tuschen village called Essequibo, and comes as an Exxon Mobil -led consortium has made a series of offshore oil discoveries and Guyana pushes for more hydrocarbons exploration in areas that Venezuela claims as its own.

Persons: miguel gutierrez, Shutterstock TUSCHEN Organizations: Exxon Mobil Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Essequibo, Guyana, Guyana — Venezuela

☆ A sales practice at American Express is under scrutiny. Here's what we know about the investigation.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Dakin Campbell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

It's not clear how much scrutiny the company is under for management's role in developing and training employees to sell the product. Subpoenas are issued to compel parties such as company executives and employees, or former employees, to appear for interviews or turn over documents. In July, the OCC assessed a $15 million civil penalty against American Express National Bank. The IRS is also involvedBrooklyn attorneys are coordinating their criminal investigation alongside the IRS's criminal-investigation unit, the people BI spoke with said. Sinking morale among some sales employeesThe investigations are taking a toll on Amex's results-driven culture, current and former sales employees told BI, because compliance staff have gotten more involved in the sales process.

Persons: Amex, hadn't, salespeople, It's, Adam Isserlis, Isserlis, John Marzulli, Brian Morris, Hiral Mehta, Morris, Boies, Boies Schiller Flexner, Seth DuCharme, Charles Blazer, he's, Mehta, Hiral, Brian Organizations: American Express, Business, Justice, New York State Department of Financial Services, BI, Brooklyn, Eastern, of, OCC, American Express National Bank, Consumer Financial, Justice Department, Department of Financial Services, Department of Justice, IRS, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, FDIC's, Government, Costco, Securities, Eastern District, Department of Homeland Security, Boies Schiller, FIFA, Taco Bell Locations: Brooklyn , New York, of New York, Eastern, Brooklyn

LONDON (AP) — Britain's Conservative government will try to win favor with voters by cutting taxes but avoiding worsening inflation in a budget statement Wednesday, coming ahead of a likely national election next year that opinion polls suggest it will lose. Sunak said Monday that his government would “cut tax and reward hard work” but would “avoid doing anything that puts at risk our progress in controlling inflation." Political Cartoons View All 1262 Images“Now that inflation is halved and our growth is stronger — meaning revenues are higher — we can begin the next phase and turn our attention to cutting tax,” he said. The election must be held by January 2025, with speculation focusing on May or sometime next fall. Arguably, cutting personal taxes will make that “journey” more difficult because it would likely raise consumer spending, thereby ratcheting up price pressures.

Persons: —, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Jeremy Hunt's, ”, “, ” Sunak, Liz Truss, Hunt, There's, hasn't, “ Hunt, Kallum Pickering, Andrew Bailey Organizations: Conservative, Conservative Party, Labour Party, Bank of, Bank of England Locations: Ukraine, Berenberg

☆ Labor Group Plans Board Fight at Starbucks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Lauren Thomas | Cara Lombardo | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Protesters among a coalition of unions and Starbucks workers rally outside a New York Starbucks coffee store earlier this month. Photo: Bebeto Matthews/Associated PressA labor group is seeking representation on the Starbucks board, ratcheting up pressure in a battle between the coffee giant and its workers over pay and working conditions. The Strategic Organizing Center—a coalition of labor unions including the Service Employees International Union that owns a small Starbucks stake—is seeking to address what it views as a failure by the board to oversee the company’s treatment of its workers.

Persons: Bebeto Matthews Organizations: Associated Press, Starbucks, Service Employees International Union Locations: New York

☆ One game from immortality. A nation expects as India take on Australia in a final like no other
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —For host nation India, this Cricket World Cup has been laden with layers of expectation, pressure and history from the very start. And their tournament will come full circle on Sunday when it faces Australia in the final, 45 days after they played each other in the tournament’s opening game. Rohit Sharma and India are unbeaten so far in this tournament. (India) have been the best in the tournament so far,” Australia’s Mitchell Starc said ahead of the final, according to Reuters. Fans in India will be able to watch on Star Sports Network while those in Australia can tune in to Fox Sports and Kayo.

Persons: Rohit Sharma, Robert Cianflone, ” Australia’s Mitchell Starc, Narendra Modi, Pat Cummins, “ You’ve, ”, Rahul Dravid, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar’s, Glenn Maxwell’s Organizations: CNN, Reuters, ” Cricket, ”, ICC, New Zealand, ESPN, Star Sports Network, Fox Sports Locations: India, Australia, South Africa, Indian, Ahmedabad, ” Australia, Afghanistan, USA

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