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☆ EU executive says aid payments for Somalia 'temporarily suspended'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Ayenat Mersie//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsUNITED NATIONS, Sept 19 (Reuters) - The European Union's executive said on Tuesday that disbursements of humanitarian aid in Somalia were "temporarily suspended" after a U.N. probe found widespread theft and misuse of support meant to avert famine. Quoting senior EU officials, Reuters reported exclusively on Monday that the European Commission had temporarily suspended funding for the World Food Programme (WFP) in Somalia because of the U.N. findings. Donors boosted funding to Somalia last year as humanitarian officials warned of a looming famine due to the Horn of Africa's worst drought in decades. The U.N. humanitarian aid budget for Somalia is envisaged at 72 million euros ($77 million), of which 10 million euros ($10.68 million) are earmarked for the WFP. Three months ago the WFP and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) suspended food aid to neighboring Ethiopia in response to a widespread diversion of donations.

Persons: Ayenat, Balazs Ujvari, Gabriela Baczynska, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, European, Reuters, European Commission, Food Programme, WFP, U.S . Agency for International Development, USAID, Thomson Locations: Dollow, Somalia, Muri, Mogadishu, United States, Ethiopia

☆ Indonesian indigenous islanders are rallying against plans to build a Chinese funded factory on their homes
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —A plan to build a multi-billion dollar Chinese glass factory in Indonesia’s Riau Islands Archipelago has sparked fierce protests from indigenous islanders who are opposed to their villages being torn down. Riot police were deployed to the scene and fired tear gas and water cannons at protesters, CNN affiliate CNN Indonesia reported. On Rempang island, chaos broke out on September 7 when local authorities and developers showed up to conduct land surveys and take measurements. BP BatamIn a bid to soothe tensions, Indonesian government officials have promised improved relocation packages for residents on Rempang. Relocation and compensation only have economic value and cannot replace the villagers’ collective memory and identity as local indigenous people,” said Arifin Jaynal Ylbhi, spokesperson for the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI).

Persons: Joko Widodo, Xi Jinping, ”, “, Muhammad Rudi, Investment Bahlil Lahadalia, Arifin Jaynal Ylbhi, Hong Kong, Ansar Ahmad, Didit Wicaksono, Widodo, Nur, Sophie Grig, Bahlil Organizations: CNN, Badan, BP, Riot, CNN Indonesia, Government, Investment, Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, Ford, General Motors, Volkswagen, Greenpeace, Veteran National Development University of Jakarta, Survival, CNN Indonesia . Investment Locations: Riau, Indonesia, Southeast, Batam, Singapore, Rempang, Hong, Malay, ” Riau, Greenpeace Indonesia, West Papua, Jakarta, CNN Indonesia

☆ US, Norway to launch Africa agriculture fund, commit $70 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Daphne Psaledakis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The United States and Norway will pledge a total of $70 million on Monday to launch a fund, reported here for the first time, to help farmers and agricultural businesses in Africa, a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) spokesperson said. BY THE NUMBERSThe fund aims to reach a total of $200 million through additional contributions from donors and has the potential to benefit nearly 7.5 million people, the spokesperson said. USAID and Norway will each commit an initial $35 million. The fund has the potential to support 500 small- and medium-sized agricultural businesses, 1.5 million smallholder farmers and nearly 60,000 private sector jobs. The fund aims to spur hundreds of millions more dollars in commercial financing by reducing the risk of investing.

Persons: Mor Kabe, Zohra, Samantha Power, Power, Daphne Psaledakis, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Agency for International Development, USAID, of International, General Assembly, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Notto, Diama, Thies, Senegal, United States, Norway, Africa, Norwegian, Russia, China, Europe, West Africa

The second senior EU official confirmed that. A third source, also an EU official, said the Commission was "cooperating actively with WFP to resolve systemic defects" but said no aid was suspended at this stage. Last year, it contributed more than half of the $2.2 billion of funding that went to the humanitarian response there. The U.N. report did not attempt to quantify the amount of aid that was diverted but said its findings "suggest that post-delivery aid diversion in Somalia is widespread and systemic". In all, investigators collected data from 55 IDP sites in Somalia and found aid diversion in all of them, the report said.

Persons: Ayenat, Balazs Ujvari, Antonio Guterres, Devex, Jessica Jennings, gatekeepers, Gabriela Baczynska, Michelle Nichols, Aaron Ross, Emma Farge, Daphne Psaledakis, Joe Bavier, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, European Union, Food Programme, Reuters, European Commission, EU, WFP, U.N, U.S . Agency for International Development, USAID, European, Somali Disaster Management Office, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Dollow, Somalia, NAIROBI, GENEVA, Ethiopia, United States, Nairobi, Geneva

☆ China to formulate 'special' measures to widen Taiwan's access to Fujian
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Chinese warship fires during a military drill off the Chinese coast near Fuzhou, Fujian Province, across from the Taiwan-controlled Matsu Islands, China, April 11, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 14 (Reuters) - China will take a number of "special" policy measures to improve access for Taiwanese enterprises to Fujian province across the Taiwan Strait, the Chinese state planner said on Thursday, under a long-term cross-strait integrated development plan. The steps are part of a plan announced by China on Tuesday to turn coastal Fujian province into a zone for integrated development with Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory. He added that Beijing also supports new energy cooperation between Taiwan, which it regards as a Chinese province, and Ningde, a Fujian city north of Xiamen. Strait Innovation Internet Co (300300.SZ) and Zhongfu Straits Pingtan Development Co (000592.SZ), both based in Pingtan, rose 8% and 5%, respectively.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Liang, Ryan Woo, Ethan Wang, Jason Xue, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, National Development, Reform Commission, Innovation Internet, Pingtan Development, Thomson Locations: Fuzhou, Fujian Province, Taiwan, Matsu Islands, China, Rights BEIJING, Fujian, Taiwan Strait, Xiamen, Kinmen, Beijing, Pingtan, China's, Zhongfu

☆ China to Formulate 'Special' Measures to Widen Taiwan's Access to Fujian
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING (Reuters) -China will take a number of "special" policy measures to improve access for Taiwanese enterprises to Fujian province across the Taiwan Strait, the Chinese state planner said on Thursday, under a long-term cross-strait integrated development plan. The steps are part of a plan announced by China on Tuesday to turn coastal Fujian province into a zone for integrated development with Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory. He added that Beijing also supports new energy cooperation between Taiwan, which it regards as a Chinese province, and Ningde, a Fujian city north of Xiamen. Opening up of an experimental development zone in Pingtan, China's closest point to the main Taiwan island across the strait, will be expedited, Cong added. Strait Innovation Internet Co and Zhongfu Straits Pingtan Development Co, both based in Pingtan, rose 8% and 5%, respectively.

Persons: Liang, Ryan Woo, Ethan Wang, Jason Xue, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: National Development, Reform Commission, Innovation, Pingtan Locations: BEIJING, China, Fujian, Taiwan Strait, Xiamen, Taiwan, Kinmen, Beijing, Pingtan, China's, Zhongfu

☆ This pizza chain's revamped rewards program could be good news for its stock, BTIG says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Domino's updated loyalty program offers another reason to be optimistic about the stock, BTIG said. Analyst Peter Saleh reiterated his buy rating and top pick call for the pizza chain. "As expected, Domino's announced changes to its loyalty program this morning in conjunction with the start of the fall season and 4Q23," he said in a note to clients Tuesday. Domino's updated loyalty program includes new tiers and rewards that Saleh said should appeal to more costumers as it has faster redemption and more options. The update should build on other improvements in the business such as menu innovations and an upcoming launch with Uber Eats, Saleh said.

Persons: BTIG, Peter Saleh, Domino's, Saleh, Uber, — CNBC's Michael Bloom

☆ Modi uses 'Bharat' for G20 nameplate, not India, amid name-change row
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Tanvi Mehta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A giant screen displays India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the International Media Centre, as he sits behind the country tag that reads "Bharat", while delivering the opening speech during the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, September 9, 2023. India is also called Bharat, Bharata, Hindustan - its pre-colonial names - in Indian languages and these are used interchangeably by the public and officially. As Modi declared the summit in New Delhi open on Saturday, he sat behind a table nameplate that read "Bharat", while the G20 logo had both names - "Bharat" written in Hindi and "India" in English. Speaking in Hindi, the language spoken by a majority of the population, Modi said "Bharat welcomes the delegates as the President of the G20". While some supporters of the name Bharat say "India" was given by British colonisers, historians say the name predates colonial rule by centuries.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Anushree, Narendra Modi's, Bharat, Droupadi Murmu, Modi, Tanvi Mehta, YP Rajesh, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: International Media Centre, REUTERS, South, Bharat, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Bhartiya Janata Party, BJP, Developmental Inclusive Alliance, YP, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Bharata, Hindustan, British, INDIA

New Delhi CNN —When Indian prime minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Group of 20 (G20) leaders’ summit on Saturday, he sat behind a country name placard that piqued the interest of many. “PM Modi uses placard Bharat for G20 inaugural address,” ran a headline in the Times of India, one of the country’s largest English-language outlets, moments after. Both India and Bharat are used officially in the nation of 1.4 billion people, which has more than 20 official languages. Bharat is also the Hindi word for India and is used interchangeably – both feature on Indian passports for example. But the use of “Bharat” on the G20 invites has raised eyebrows among opposition leaders.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Bharat, Modi, ”, “ Bharat, “, –, ’, ” Harnath Singh Yadav, Virender Sehwag, Bharat ”, ” Shashi Tharoor, Raghav Chadha, Jaishankar Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, “, Bharat, Group, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Cricket, Developmental, INDIA, Aam Aadmi Locations: New Delhi, ’, India, Times of India, Britain, British, Indian, INDIA

☆ Modi Uses 'Bharat' for G20 Nameplate, Not India, Amid Name-Change Row
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

India is also called Bharat, Bharata, Hindustan - its pre-colonial names - in Indian languages and these are used interchangeably by the public and officially. As Modi declared the summit in New Delhi open on Saturday, he sat behind a table nameplate that read "Bharat", while the G20 logo had both names - "Bharat" written in Hindi and "India" in English. Such placards have used "India" in the past. Speaking in Hindi, the language spoken by a majority of the population, Modi said "Bharat welcomes the delegates as the President of the G20". While some supporters of the name Bharat say "India" was given by British colonisers, historians say the name predates colonial rule by centuries.

Persons: Tanvi Mehta, Narendra Modi's, Bharat, Droupadi Murmu, Modi, YP Rajesh, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: South, Bharat, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Bhartiya Janata Party, BJP, Developmental Inclusive Alliance, YP Locations: DELHI, India, Bharata, Hindustan, New Delhi, British, INDIA

☆ Africa’s Vast Solar and Mineral Resources at Risk of Being Left Untapped, IEA Warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Will Horner | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Energy investment in Africa needs to more than double by the end of the decade if the continent is to meet its energy and climate goals. “Energy investment on our continent has fallen short,” wrote William Ruto, president of Kenya, in the report’s foreword. Photo: Lucien Kahozi/Bloomberg NewsAll of these are pushing up the cost of capital which makes many African energy projects financially unviable despite ample local resources and proven technologies such as wind or solar power, the report said. PREVIEWCurrently, 600 million people across Africa lack access to electricity and almost one billion have no access to clean cooking fuels. African nations are seeking redress for the effects of climate change they experience despite contributing little to carbon emissions, the main driver of global warming.

Persons: ”, Fatih Birol, simon maina, William Ruto, Lucien Kahozi, Will Horner, william.horner@wsj.com Organizations: International Energy Agency, African Development Bank, IEA, Agence France, West, “ Energy, Democratic, Bloomberg, Sustainable Business, Africa Climate Locations: Africa, Paris, ” Africa, China, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ukraine, Nairobi

Both India and Bharat are used officially in the nation of 1.4 billion people, which has more than 20 official languages. “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States,” the country’s constitution states. Bharat is also the Hindi word for India and is used interchangeably – both feature on Indian passports for example. “The word ‘India’ is an abuse given to us by the British, whereas the word ‘Bharat’ is a symbol of our culture,” Harnath Singh Yadav, a BJP politician, told Indian broadcaster ANI. Some opposition politicians said the government’s use of Bharat was a response to the formation of the INDIA alliance.

Persons: Bharat, ”, Droupadi Murmu, Narendra Modi, Modi, –, ’, ” Harnath Singh Yadav, Virender Sehwag, Bharat ’, Bharat ”, ” Shashi Tharoor, “, it’s, Raghav Chadha, Jaishankar Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, Indian, of States, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Cricket, Developmental, INDIA, Aam Aadmi Locations: New Delhi, India, Delhi, Britain, British, Kingsway, Nicobar, INDIA

☆ India or Bharat? President's G20 dinner invitation sparks name-change row
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Rupam Jain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Murmu is hosting a reception for G20 leaders during the group's summit on Saturday and invitations were sent from her office. India is also called Bharat, Bharata, Hindustan - its pre-colonial names - in Indian languages and these are used interchangeably by the public and officially. High offices in the country have typically stuck to titles such as President of India, Prime Minister of India and Chief Justice of India while communicating in English. Supporters of the name change in the invitation said British colonial rulers had coined the name India to overshadow Bharat and forge a British legacy. Hindu groups linked to BJP said the G20 summit provided the best opportunity to shed India's colonial baggage.

Persons: Adnan Abidi, Droupadi, Bharat, Narendra Modi's, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Mamata Banerjee, Shashi Tharoor, Rupam Jain, YP Rajesh, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: REUTERS, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Bharat, INDIA, Developmental, Alliance, Reuters, YP, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Bharata, Hindustan, British, INDIA

☆ Hun Sen's son aims to make Cambodia high-income country by 2050
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Kate Lamb | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet attends an event to meet with garment workers on his first public appearance since taking office, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, August 29, 2023. The 45-year-old last month took over power from his father Hun Sen after a lopsided general election that all opposition parties were barred from contesting. In a country once riven by decades of war, Cambodia has now evolved to a lower-middle income nation with economic growth rates of 7%, he said. Cambodia's parliament approved Hun Manet as prime minister in August. Hun Sen, one of the world's longest ruling leaders, has said he expects his son to continue his leadership style and will himself remain in politics.

Persons: Hun Manet, Cindy Liu, Monday, Hun Sen, Kate Lamb, Kanupriya Kapoor, Nick Macfie Organizations: Cambodia’s, REUTERS, Rights, Cambodian, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Rights JAKARTA, Cambodia's

☆ J&J, India's Lupin cut prices for tuberculosis drug in lower-income countries
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO-The Johnson & Johnson logo is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., May 29, 2019. The drug will be available at the lower prices through the Stop TB Partnership's Global Drug Facility, which is the largest procurer of TB treatments. J&J, which sells bedaquiline under the brand name Sirturo, reached an agreement with the Stop TB Partnership in July to allow the coalition to supply generic versions of the drug through the Global Drug Facility. J&J has said it is false to suggest its patents prevent access to the drug. But J&J could further increase access to the drug by withdrawing its secondary patents on bedaquiline in all high-burden countries, said Christophe Perrin, TB advocacy pharmacist with MSF's Access Campaign.

Persons: Johnson, Brendan McDermid, bedaquiline, Atul Gawande, John Green, Médecins, Christophe Perrin, Manas Mishra, Devika Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Johnson, United Nations, TB, United States Agency, International Development's Global Health Bureau, Drug Facility, Global Drug, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Exclusive: China's Xiaomi wins state planner nod to make EVs amid glut in autos
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Julie Zhu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A man walks past a logo of Xiaomi, a Chinese manufacturer of consumer electronics, outside a shop in Mumbai, India, May 11, 2022. Xiaomi, which owns the world's third largest smartphone brand by shipments, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Xiaomi plans to produce about 100,000 EVs next year, said one of the sources. But Xiaomi, which reported an 18.9% drop in its latest quarterly revenue in May, has its own compulsions for foraying into EVs. Xiaomi plans to use the thousands of stores it has as showrooms for its electric cars, Reuters previously reported.

Persons: Francis Mascarenhas, HONG KONG, Xiaomi, Tesla, NDRC, MIIT, Lei Jun, Julie Zhu, Muralikumar Organizations: REUTERS, Xiaomi Corp, HK, National Development, Reform Commission, EV, Ministry of Industry, Reuters, Lucid, Beijing Daily, China Passenger Car Association, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India, HONG, Beijing, Shanghai, Reuters U.S, China, China ., EVs

☆ Australia to set up Pacific Championship in rugby league diplomacy play
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Australia said it would commit A$7 million for a Pacific rugby league championship, in a "football diplomacy" move seen as boosting Australia's soft power amid competition for influence with China. Women's and men's teams from seven countries will compete in the Pacific Rugby League Championships, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday. About half of players in Australia's National Rugby League competition are of Pasifika heritage, said Pat Conroy, the minister for international development and the Pacific. The Australian government has funded a PNG team in the Queensland state rugby competition, and a Fijian team in the NSW state competition, he said. Albanese said that the Pacific Championship will showcase women's rugby league, and that the Matildas had shown how women's sport can inspire nations.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, " Albanese, Albanese, Pat Conroy, Conroy, Mary Fowler, Kirsty Needham, Gerry Doyle Organizations: SYDNEY, Pacific, Pacific Rugby League, Pacific Islands Forum, New, Australia's National Rugby League, rugby, Fijian, league, Thomson Locations: Australia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, New South Wales, Queensland, Pacific, NSW

☆ Gabon Joins Blue Bond Wave With $500 Million Debt Refinancing
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Will Horner | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Gabon completed mainland Africa’s first-ever “debt-for-nature swap” Tuesday, refinancing $500 million of its debt and earmarking $163 million in savings for marine conservation, the latest in a burgeoning list of “blue bond” deals. In their place, Gabon issued a $500 million blue bond which matures in 2038. The coupon on the new blue bond was priced at 6.097%, lower than the coupons on the repaid bonds which were between 6.625%-7%. TNC says its blue bond deals have provided $400 million toward conservation efforts. Bank of America, which served as sole initial purchaser, structuring agent and bookrunner on the Gabon deal, declined to reveal its transaction fees.

Persons: Gabon’s, Bond, ”, Ali Bongo Ondimba, TNC wasn’t, Scott Nathan, TNC, Will Horner Organizations: —, Sustainable Business, Moody’s Investors Service, U.S . International Development Finance Corporation, Conservancy, Greenpeace, Bank of America Locations: Gabon, Africa, U.S, Belize, Seychelles, Barbados, Ecuador, Galápagos, william.horner

☆ Zelenskyy fires recruitment officials for accepting $10,000 bribes. Almost all Ukrainians think the country has a problem with corruption, survey suggests.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In a poll, 77.6% of Ukrainians said Zelenskyy was responsible for government corruption. It came out as Zelenskyy fired all the heads of Ukraine's regional military committees. The poll came out as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy launched an investigation into bribery related to military recruitment. Zelenskyy: Recruitment bribes at a time of war is 'high treason'On Friday, Zelenskyy said he dismissed the heads of Ukraine's regional military committees as investigations into corruption in Ukraine continued, particularly in its armed-forces recruitment. "We are dismissing all regional military commissars," a statement on Zelenskyy's official Telegram channel said.

Persons: Zelenskyy, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Petro Burkovskyi, Burkovskyi, Joe Biden Organizations: Service, Russia, Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, US Agency for International, Ilko, Democratic, Foundation, commissars, BBC News, National Agency on Corruption Prevention, Newsweek Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Spain

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Aug 10 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden asked Congress to approve about $40 billion in additional spending on Thursday, including $24 billion for Ukraine and other international needs, $4 billion related to border security and $12 billion for disaster relief. Trump, the front-runner in the race to be the Republican presidential nominee in 2024, has been sharply critical of U.S. support for Ukraine in the war. FIRST UKRAINE REQUEST SINCE REPUBLICANS TOOK HOUSERepublicans narrowly control the House, where Speaker Kevin McCarthy signaled in June that any request for more assistance for Ukraine would face an uphill path through Congress. The House and Senate last approved aid for the Kyiv government - $48 billion - in December, before Republicans took control of the House. The request includes $13.1 billion for the Department of Defense, including $9.5 billion for equipment for Ukraine and replenishment of U.S. equipment stocks already sent to Kyiv.

Persons: Joe Biden, George E, Jonathan Ernst, Donald Trump, pare, Chuck Schumer, Biden, America’s, Vladimir Putin, Schumer, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Shalanda Young, Russia's Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Andrea Shalal, Patricia Zengerle, David Shepardson, Doina Chiacu, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: George, Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical, REUTERS, White, Washington, Trump, Republican, Ukraine, Democratic, FIRST, HOUSE, Kyiv, Republicans, World Bank, Department of Defense, Department of State, U.S . Agency for International Development, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, Thomson Locations: Salt Lake City , Utah, U.S, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russian, United States, Russia, China, FIRST UKRAINE, Niger

A participant stands near a logo of World Bank at the International Monetary Fund - World Bank Annual Meeting 2018 in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, October 12, 2018. "Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act fundamentally contradicts the World Bank Group's values. World Bank President Ajay Banga, who took office in June after the Ugandan law was enacted, has come under pressure to respond to the Ugandan law. The existing portfolio will continue to disburse funds, even as new lending is put on hold, a World Bank source said. It said the IFC and MIGA would also implement additional measures to "ensure inclusion and non-discrimination as needed."

Persons: Johannes P, Ajay Banga, Banga, Kanishka Singh, Andrea Shalal, Leslie Adler, Jonathan Oatis, Richard Chang Organizations: Bank, International Monetary Fund, REUTERS, United Nations, World Bank, International Development Association, International Finance Corporation, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, Reuters, IFC, Thomson Locations: Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, Uganda, Washington

☆ Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi returns to parliament after reinstatement
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Rahul Gandhi, a senior leader of India's main opposition Congress party, arrives at the parliament after he was reinstated as a lawmaker, in New Delhi, India, August 7, 2023. NEW DELHI, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Rahul Gandhi returned to India's parliament on Monday after a Supreme Court ruling, boosting the profile of his Congress party and its opposition allies ahead of a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. The Supreme Court last week suspended the conviction, allowing Gandhi to return to parliament and contest next year's elections. On Monday, Ghandhi entered the parliament building after showing respect to the statue of freedom movement leader Mahatma Gandhi in the complex. BJP has said the Supreme Court has only suspended Gandhi's conviction and had not overturned it.

Persons: Rahul Gandhi, India's, Stringer, Narendra Modi's, Gandhi, Modi, Ghandhi, Mahatma Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Nigam, Tanvi Mehta, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, NEW, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Congress, Lawmakers, Developmental, Alliance, YP Rajesh, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, NEW DELHI, Wayanad, Kerala

Paramilitary police officers stand guard in front of the headquarters of the People's Bank of China, the central bank (PBOC), in Beijing, China September 30, 2022. Investors in China's stock markets, however, were clearly underwhelmed, as Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (.HSI) dropped roughly 2% over the week, while the mainland's benchmark CSI 300 index (.CSI) eked out a 0.7% gain. But investors are becoming frustrated by the time the NDRC is taking to flesh out stimulus policies, or order measures like a cut in stamp duty - that could help China's ailing property sector, and please investors in stocks and bonds. Even in a best-case scenario, growth over the second half of this year looks set to be modest." Reporting by Joe Cash and Albee Zhang in Beijing; Editing by Himani Sarkar & Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, HSI, flexibly, Zou Lan, Xu Tianchen, Joe Cash, Albee Zhang, Himani Sarkar, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: People's Bank of China, REUTERS, National Development, Reform Commission, Communist Party's, UBS, Council, Economist Intelligence Unit, Weibo, Capital Economics, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING

After the Supreme Court's ruling, the lower house of parliament should now formally reinstate Gandhi. Lower courts and the high court in Gujarat, where the BJP holds power, had rejected appeals by Gandhi to suspend the conviction, prompting the appeal to the Supreme Court. Besides seeking suspension of the conviction, Gandhi has also sought to overturn it. That challenge has yet to be heard by the lower court in Gujarat. Gavai said the lower court had not given any reasons for handing down the maximum sentence of two years' jail which led to his disqualification from parliament.

Persons: Rahul Gandhi, Anushree, Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi's, Narendra Modi, Modi, B.R, Gavai, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Vadra, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Chowdhury, Purnesh Modi, YP Rajesh, Arpan Chaturvedi, Shivam Patel, Sakshi Dayal, Kim Coghill, Simon Cameron, Moore, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Supreme, Developmental, YP, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Gujarat, Manipur

☆ Chinese property stocks surge after central bank vows more support for private businesses
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Other attendees included diary giant Yili Group, aluminum products manufacturer China Hongqiao Group and electrical components manufacturer Chint Group . At the symposium, PBOC governor Pan Gongsheng said the central bank will promote the expansion of private business bond financing support instruments, and strengthen the financial market to support their development. This is the latest move by the central government to boost market confidence and vow support for private businesses and the real estate sector amid signs of slowing growth. watch nowAt the Politburo meeting on July 24, the top leadership promised to "adjust and optimize policies" to boost the beleaguered property sector, as well as introduce measures to promote private investment. Separately, China's state planner, the National Development and Reform Commission, also released a 17-point statement, and pledged to encourage more private capital into the construction of major national projects.

Persons: Qilai Shen, Pan Gongsheng Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, China Hongqiao Group, Chint, National Development, Reform Commission, Communist Party Locations: Beijing, China

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