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CNN —Concerns over Kenya’s human rights record have cast a shadow over a UN decision that gave Kenya the go ahead to lead an armed multinational force to Haiti amid brutal gang violence in the Caribbean country. For a year, the multinational force, comprising 1,000 Kenya police personnel is expected to combat criminal gangs responsible for a wave of killings, kidnappings and rape in Haiti. But human rights groups argue that Kenya’s history of human rights abuses must be evaluated. On Tuesday, Amnesty International Kenya urged UN member states, human rights organizations and citizens to thoroughly examine the “human rights and humanitarian implications” of deploying an armed multinational force to Haiti. What stake does Kenya have to be able to take those chances in a terrain that is foreign and dangerous?

Persons: Alfred Mutua, William Ruto, Ruto, “, ”, ” Ruto, Herman Manyora, Ruto’s, ” Manyora, Manyora Organizations: CNN, UN, Kenya, Amnesty International Kenya, Kenya National Civil Society Center, Kenya Police Service, Citizen Digital, Kenyan, UNSC, United Nations General Assembly, Union, Biden, US, University of Nairobi Locations: Kenya, Haiti, Caribbean, East, ”, African, Nairobi

☆ UN approves Haiti security mission to fight gangs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 3 (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council on Monday authorized a foreign security mission to Haiti, a year after the Caribbean country asked for help to fight violent gangs that have largely overrun its capital Port-au-Prince. The Security Council also expanded a U.N. arms embargo to include all gangs - a measure China wanted. The response to Haiti's request for help was delayed due to a struggle to find a country willing to lead a security assistance mission. The Security Council stressed an "urgent need" for Haiti to make progress toward "transparent, inclusive, and credible electoral processes and free and fair elections." The security assistance mission, while approved by the U.N. Security Council, is not a United Nations operation.

Persons: Jean Victor Geneus, Jeffrey DeLaurentis, Zhang Jun, Alfred Mutua, William Ruto, Ruto, Ariel Henry, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Jean, Bertrand Aristide, Michelle Nichols, Sarah Morland, George Obulutsa, Cynthia Osterman, Andrew Heavens, Alison Williams Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United Nations Security, Security, Foreign Affairs, Kenyan, U.S, Security Council, . Security, United, Peacekeeping, Monday, Thomson Locations: Haiti, Caribbean, Port, United States, Ecuador, China, Russia, U.S, Kenya, Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua, Barbuda, East, United Nations, Caracas, Nairobi

Another source identified Trump Organization employee Yuscil Taveras as the unnamed computer specialist whose fees prosecutors said were paid by Trump's political group. Trump's legal spokesperson Alina Habba, who is also general counsel at Save America, did not respond to detailed questions on the payments. In July, after Save America reported its legal expenses to the Federal Election Commission, Cheung said Save America was helping people who had worked for Trump avoid "financial ruin." Asked how legal spending would affect his campaign, Trump told a SiriusXM podcast earlier this month: "Fortunately, I have a lot more money." Save America and the Trump campaign have not responded to requests for comment on the legal fee estimates.

Persons: Donald Trump, Scott Morgan, Donald Trump's, Brand Woodward, Greenberg Traurig, Trump, Jason Osborne, Trump's, Osborne, Stanley Woodward, Jason Miller, Margo Martin, Dan Scavino, Matt Calamari Jr, Yuscil Taveras, Miller, Martin, Calamari Jr, Walt Nauta, Carlos De Oliveira, Michael Roman, Boris Epshteyn, Taylor Budowich, William Russell, Kash Patel, Brian Jack, Roman, Dhillon, Epshteyn, Jack, Patel, De Oliveira, Russell, Alina Habba, Steven Cheung, Cheung, Stephen Gillers, Jason Lange, Andrew Goudsward, Nathan Layne, Sarah N, Lynch, Karen Freifeld, Ted Hesson, Scott Malone, Deepa Babington Organizations: U.S, Republican, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Trump, Save, Federal, Commission, Make, Inc, MAGA Inc, Republican Party, America, Save America, Trump Organization, Scavino, New York University, Thomson Locations: Dubuque , Iowa, U.S, Save America, America's, Georgia, Budowich

☆ Uber partners with California taxi operators to boost supply
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Uber is seen in the Alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland, January 20, 2023. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 26 (Reuters) - Uber Technologies (UBER.N) is partnering with Los Angeles Yellow Cab and its affiliates to increase the supply of taxis on the ride-hailing giant's platform, the company said on Tuesday. Under the new partnership, taxis associated with LA Yellow Cab and its five partner fleets will get bookings through the Uber app. The six taxi companies - which include San Diego Yellow Cab, California Yellow Cab, Long Beach Yellow Cab, Fiesta Taxi Cooperative and United Checker Cab - will add up to 1,200 cabs to the Uber platform. "We anticipate that this partnership will have a positive impact for our driver-owners as the pandemic recovery continues," said William Rouse, CEO of Los Angeles Yellow Cab.

Persons: Arnd, Uber, Lyft, William Rouse, Arsheeya, Devika Organizations: REUTERS, Technologies, Los Angeles Yellow Cab, San Diego Yellow Cab, Fiesta Taxi Cooperative, United Checker, Thomson Locations: Davos, Switzerland, Europe, Asia, San, California, Bengaluru

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — If you listen to the African leaders addressing the U.N. General Assembly this year, the message is emphatic and unanimous: The continent is done being a victim of a post-World War II order. It is a global power in itself and must be partnered with — not sidelined. There’s also a new boldness that comes with the African Union’s G20 seat. With the largest bloc of countries at the United Nations, it is understandable that African leaders increasingly demand a bigger voice in multilateral institutions, said Murithi Mutiga, program director for Africa at the Crisis Group. As African leaders spoke glowingly about the continent as a force on the global stage, some at home said the leaders must begin by delivering the dividends of democracy to their people.

Persons: —, There’s, William Ruto, Nana Akufo, Addo, Africa’s, Cyril Ramaphosa of, ”, Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Murithi Mutiga, Rashid Abdi, Horn of, ” Abdi, Felix, Antoine Tshisekedi, Filipe Nyusi, Nyusi, Ibrahim Mayaki, Mayaki, Grace Agbu, Mamadi Doumbouya Organizations: General Assembly, Kenyan, United Nations, Crisis, African Development Bank, Gulf, Slave Trade, SEAT, Economic Cooperation, Development, Democratic, Africa Center, ” Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Africa, Russia, Ukraine, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Horn of Africa, Nairobi, Europe, United States, Paris, Democratic Republic of, Congo, New York, Nigeria’s, Abuja, “, ”

Speaking at a meeting in New York to address the security situation in Haiti, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the mission, led by Kenya, could deploy "within months." Haiti last year asked for help to combat violent gangs that have largely overrun the capital Port-au-Prince. The council could vote as soon as next week, diplomats said, on a U.S.-drafted resolution supporting a multinational police deployment. While not providing any troops, Blinken said the Biden administration will work with the U.S. Congress to provide $100 million to back the multinational mission with logistical and financial assistance. Washington supports Kenya's vision for a three-part security mission that includes helping Haitian police, ensuring security for static installations and thoroughfares and strengthening law enforcement in the long term, Blinken said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Ariel Henry, Diaspora Affairs Alfred Nganga Mutua, Blinken, Biden, William Ruto, Henry, Antonio Guterres, Humeyra Pamuk, Michelle Nichols, Howard Goller, Grant McCool Organizations: Haitian, Kenyan, Foreign, Diaspora Affairs, . Security Council, U.S, Congress, Washington, General, Security, Thomson Locations: Haiti, United States, Caribbean, New York, U.S, Kenya, Haitian

☆ At UN, Kenya's President Asks World Not to Leave Haiti Behind
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Michelle NicholsUNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Kenyan President William Ruto urged the United Nations Security Council on Thursday to formally back a security support mission to Haiti, which Kenya has shown a willingness to lead, saying the Caribbean country "deserves better from the world." The council could vote as soon as next week, diplomats said, on a U.S.-drafted resolution supporting a multinational police deployment. Haiti last year asked for help to combat violent gangs that have largely overrun the capital Port-au-Prince. "As we mobilize to show up for Ukraine, and countries that have experienced the devastating impact of climate shocks including Libya, Morocco and Hawaii, we must not leave Haiti behind," Ruto said. U.N. peacekeepers were deployed to Haiti in 2004 after a rebellion led to the ouster and exile of then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Persons: Michelle Nichols UNITED, William Ruto, Ruto, U.N, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Ariel Henry, Jean, Bertrand Aristide, Michelle Nichols, Grant McCool Organizations: Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, Reuters, Kenyan, United Nations Security, General, Peacekeeping Locations: Haiti, Kenya, Caribbean, U.S, Ukraine, Libya, Morocco, Hawaii, Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua, Barbuda, Americas

Girls and young women want to be homeowners by the time they're 30 — a higher priority even than getting married or earning a lot of money. About half, 52%, of young women ages 7 to 21 want a house by 30, the most of any goal, according to Girlguiding's Girls' Attitude Survey 2023 . To compare, 48% want to be married by age 30, and 39% said it's a goal to earn a lot of money. The organization polled 2,614 girls and young women in the U.K. between the ages of 7 and 21 earlier this year. Lenders look at your debt-to-income ratio to figure out how much mortgage debt you can take on.

Persons: Fannie Mae, it's, Melissa Cohn, William Raveis, Kamila Elliott, Cohn, Jessica Lautz, Elliott, Roth, Lazetta Rainey Braxton, Braxton Organizations: Fannie, William Raveis Mortgage, Federal Reserve, Wealth Partners, National Association of Realtors, CNBC, Partners, IRA, CNBC FA Council, CNBC FA Locations: New York, Atlanta

☆ At UN, Kenya's president asks world not to leave Haiti behind
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Kenya's President William Samoei Ruto addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 21, 2023. The council could vote as soon as next week, diplomats said, on a U.S.-drafted resolution supporting a multinational police deployment. Haiti last year asked for help to combat violent gangs that have largely overrun the capital Port-au-Prince. "As we mobilize to show up for Ukraine, and countries that have experienced the devastating impact of climate shocks including Libya, Morocco and Hawaii, we must not leave Haiti behind," Ruto said. U.N. peacekeepers were deployed to Haiti in 2004 after a rebellion led to the ouster and exile of then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Persons: William Samoei Ruto, Brendan McDermid, William Ruto, Ruto, U.N, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Ariel Henry, Jean, Bertrand Aristide, Michelle Nichols, Grant McCool Organizations: General Assembly, REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, Kenyan, United Nations Security, General, Peacekeeping, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Haiti, Kenya, Caribbean, Ukraine, Libya, Morocco, Hawaii, Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua, Barbuda, Americas

"The move from fossil fuels to renewables is happening – but we are decades behind," Guterres said at the start of the one-day summit. "We must make up time lost to foot-dragging, arm-twisting and the naked greed of entrenched interests raking in billions from fossil fuels." Those not invited to speak were the world's two top polluters - the United States and China – though U.S. Special Envoy on Climate Change John Kerry was in the audience. "This climate crisis is a fossil fuel crisis," he said, drawing applause from the heads of state and others in the room. "Climate change is a top priority for my administration," Thavisin told the gathering, his country having recently created a climate change ministry.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Mike Segar, Guterres, John Kerry, China's U.N, William Ruto, Ruto, Gavin Newsom, Srettha Thavisin, Thavisin, Sultan Ahmed al, Jaber, COP28, Mia Mottley, Ursula von der Leyen, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Valerie Volcovici, Katy Daigle, Howard Goller Organizations: United Nations, General Assembly, REUTERS, Companies Allianz, General, United Arab Emirates, Thailand's, FINANCE, Security Council, Allianz, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Fund, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, COP28, Dubai, Brazil, Canada, Pakistan, South Africa, Tuvalu, United States, China, California, UAE, Barbados, Ukraine

☆ IMF, World Bank to decide Monday on October meetings in earthquake-hit Morocco
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Questions have swirled over whether the IMF and World Bank would still hold their annual meetings in Morocco's tourist hub of Marrakech since a devastating, 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck in the High Atlas Mountains, killing more than 2,900 people. Marrakech, 45 miles (72 km) from the quake's epicenter, suffered some damage in its ancient Medina quarter, but Moroccan officials have pressed the IMF and World Bank to proceed with the gathering, which would bring some 10,000-15,000 to the city. "The Moroccan authorities are fully committed to the meetings," Georgieva said in her first public comments on the matter since the disaster. In describing discussions with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, Georgieva expressed concern that the IMF and World Bank "don't want to be a burden" to the country as it deals with recovery efforts. Morocco also has access to a $5 billion flexible creditline from the IMF, approved in April, that is aimed at strengthening the countries' crisis prevention capabilities.

Persons: Kristalina Georgieva, William Ruto, Emmanuel Macron, Janet Yellen, Ajay Banga, Georgieva, Aziz Akhannouch, Andrea Shalal, David Lawder, Chris Reese, Diane Craft Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Treasury, World Bank, New Global Financial, Monetary Fund, Bank, Reuters, IMF, Sustainability Trust, Moroccan, World, IMF's, Thomson Locations: Kenya, U.S, Paris, WASHINGTON, Morocco, Marrakech, Medina

MIAMI (AP) — A city of Miami commissioner accused of bribery and money laundering was arrested Thursday on multiple corruption charges, officials said. Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla and a co-defendant, Miami attorney William Riley Jr., were both booked into the Miami-Dade county jail and were expected to make their first court appearances on Friday, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Diaz de La Portilla, 58, and Riley, 48, have each been charged with one count of money laundering, three counts of unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior, one count of bribery and one count of criminal conspiracy. Political Cartoons View All 1160 ImagesDiaz de la Portilla was being held on a $72,000 bond, and Riley was being held on a $46,000 bond. Attorneys for Diaz de la Portilla and Riley didn't immediately respond to messages seeking comment from The Associated Press.

Persons: Alex Diaz de la, William Riley Jr, Diaz de la Portilla, Riley, Diaz de la, Diaz, la, Diaz de La, Diaz de, Riley didn't Organizations: MIAMI, Miami, Miami - Dade, Florida Department of Law, Dade, Broward State Attorney’s, Associated Press Locations: Miami, Dade County, Delaware

William Null, twin brother Michael Null and Eric Molitor are the last of 14 men to face charges in state or federal court. They were not among the main group of six people charged with a kidnapping conspiracy in federal court. Molitor, 39, and William Null, 41, acknowledged the road trips but told jurors they didn't really understand the purpose. William Null said he was regularly exposed to “crazy talk" by pot-puffing plot leaders Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. and didn't think it was too serious until conversations turned to explosives. But during tense cross-examination, prosecutor William Rollstin reminded him of his anti-government views on social media and disgust for Whitmer, especially her COVID-19 restrictions.

Persons: Michigan's, William Null, Michael Null, Eric Molitor, they're, Adam Fox, Barry Croft Jr, William Rollstin, Whitmer, ” Rollstin, Null, Dan Chappel, Donald Trump, Trump, Ed White Organizations: FBI, Army Locations: Antrim County, Molitor, Bellaire , Michigan, Detroit, Dublin , Ohio

☆ Africa Climate Summit: Billions pledged to green projects but leaders warn of need ‘to act with urgency’
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The inaugural Africa Climate Summit drew to a close on Wednesday, with the host, Kenya’s president William Ruto, saying that a total of $23 billion had been pledged to green projects by governments, investors, development banks and philanthropists. Among the most eye-catching finance announcements, the United Arab Emirates pledged $4.5 billion to clean energy initiatives in Africa. “It is our ambition that this will launch a new transformative partnership to jumpstart a pipeline of bankable clean energy projects in this important continent,” Al-Jaber said, adding that the investment could lead to the generation of 15 gigawatts of clean energy by 2030. At the Africa Climate Summit, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres noted that the continent was responsible for less than four per cent of global carbon emissions. LUIS TATO/AFP/AFP via Getty ImagesGermany announced 450 million euros (about $481 million) of climate finance pledges, and and the US pledged $30 million to support climate resilient food security efforts across Africa.

Persons: William Ruto, Sultan Al, Jaber, ” Al, Yemi Osinbajo, ”, General Antonio Guterres, LUIS TATO, “, Osinbajo, greening Organizations: CNN, Africa Climate Summit, United Arab Emirates, COP28, Global Energy Alliance for People, UN, Getty Images Locations: Africa, Nairobi, Dubai, “, jumpstart, Nigeria, AFP, Copenhagen

☆ 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

Renewable energy is more reliable but its promise for the region still remains largely unmet. Most households have depended on gasoline generators for power, but recently the government removed a gasoline subsidy, prompting increased interest in solar power, according to dealers. The Nigerian government has not announced incentives to promote solar energy, such as reducing import taxes on solar equipment as demanded by dealers. “The problem was affordability, but now customers can pay installments over a period of 18 months,” said Tunde Oladipupo, an agent for Sun King, a solar power company. Another example of this shift is the Ford vehicle assembly plant in Silverton, Pretoria, which currently sources over 35% of its electricity from solar power.

Persons: Rashmi Shah, ”, William Ruto, Tunde Oladipupo, Sun King, Monsurat Qadri, ” Qadri, ” Mohammed Ettu, Shah, ” Shah, ___ Adebayo, Magome Organizations: Climate Summit, World Bank, CP Solar’s, Associated Press, Kenyan, Solutions, Ford, South, CP, Kenya Power, Lighting Company, Supersport, AP Locations: NAIROBI, Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisii County, Kenya, Africa, Nigeria, Oyo, Lagos, Saharan Africa, South Africa, Stillwater, American, Silverton , Pretoria, Mpumalanga, Kenya —, Abuja, Johannesburg

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Climate change is “relentlessly eating away” at Africa’s economic progress and it’s time to have a global conversation about a carbon tax on polluters, Kenya’s president declared Tuesday as the first Africa Climate Summit got underway. He and other leaders urged reforms to the global financial structures that have left African nations paying about five times more to borrow money than others, worsening the debt crisis for many. Africa has more than 30 of the world’s most indebted countries, Kenya’s Cabinet secretary for the environment, Soipan Tuya, said. Africa’s GDP should be revalued for its assets, which include the world's second-largest rainforest and biodiversity, African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina said. “It is an African story, and I daresay it’s a global story, too.”___Follow AP’s coverage of the climate at https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment and of Africa at https://apnews.com/hub/africa

Persons: William Ruto, Tuya, John Kerry, Kerry, Joe Biden, ” Ruto, ”, Ruto, “ It’s, Sahle, Zewde, Akinwumi Adesina, Adesina, Martha Lusweti, Antonio Guterres, Ursula Von der Leyen, lullabies, Sierra, Julius Maada Organizations: Africa Climate Summit, European Union, Kenyan, United, United Arab Emirates, Development Bank, ”, International Monetary Fund Locations: NAIROBI, Kenya, Africa, China, United States, U.S, United Arab, United Nations, Europe, U.N, Africa's, Nigeria's Niger Delta, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Congo, africa

☆ Africa Climate Summit: Electric motorcycle startup Spiro expands into Kenya
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Nell Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Spiro, a startup looking to eliminate fuel-guzzling motorbikes and scooters from the roads by trading them in for electric two-wheelers, is expanding to Kenya. Ahead of the first Africa Climate Summit, which kicked off in Kenya’s capital Nairobi today, the host government announced on Friday that the e-bike and battery-swapping startup would be entering the East African country with its biggest deployment yet: 1.2 million electric vehicles. In Kenya, they will be offered 50,000 Kenyan shillings (about $344) – around a third of the price of a new electric bike – to swap their existing bike for an electric one. Last week, US company Uber also launched an electric motorbike service in Kenya, promising to roll out 3,000 bikes within six months. “We’re surpassing the symbolic but significant milestone of one million electric bikes signed with a government,” says Samain.

Persons: CNN — Spiro, Jules Samain –, polluters, Samain, Spiro, CLEMENT, CLEMENT DI ROMA, ”, ” Spiro, William Ruto, Ampersand, Uber Organizations: CNN, Africa Climate, CLEMENT DI, AFP, Getty, FIA Foundation, Spiro, McKinsey Locations: Kenya, Africa, Kenya’s, Nairobi, West, Benin, Togo, Rwanda, Uganda, China, Mombasa, Saharan Africa, Swedish, Kenyan, East

☆ Hundreds of millions pledged for African carbon credits at inaugural climate summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Companies Climate FollowVitol SA FollowNAIROBI, Sept 4 (Reuters) - An initiative to boost Africa's carbon credit production 19-fold by 2030 drew hundreds of millions of dollars of pledges on Monday as Kenyan President William Ruto opened the continent's first climate summit. In one of the most anticipated deals, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) committed to buying $450 million of carbon credits from the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI). "There hasn't been any success for an African country in attracting climate finance," said Bogolo Kenewendo, a United Nations climate adviser and former trade minister in Botswana. Many African campaigners have opposed the summit's approach to climate finance, and about 500 people marched in downtown Nairobi on Monday to protest. They say carbon credits are a pretext for continued pollution by wealthier countries and corporations, who should instead pay their "climate debt" through direct compensation and debt relief.

Persons: William Ruto, Ruto, Bogolo Kenewendo, Bogolo, Kevin Kariuki, Patricia Scotland, Esa Alexander, we've, Hassan Ghazali, Britain, Sultan Al Jaber, COP28, Duncan Miriri, Simon Jessop, Jefferson Kahinju, Aaron Ross, Hereward Holland, Angus MacSwan, Susan Fenton Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Africa Carbon Markets, United, African Development Bank, Reuters, International Monetary Fund, REUTERS, Climate Asset Management, HSBC Asset Management, Debt, Green, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, UAE, Nairobi, Africa, United Nations, Botswana, Muloza, Mozambique, Blantyre, Malawi, Liberia, Tanzania, Germany, Kenya

☆ More unmarried couples are buying homes together. What to know before you do
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

'Housing affordability really is a struggle'Many young, unmarried couples live together, often for financial reasons. About 3 in 5 unmarried couples in the U.S. live with their partners, according to a report by the Thriving Center of Psychology. But unmarried couples should carefully approach making a commitment of this scale. To protect their investments in the property, unmarried couples ought to carefully consider how it is titled. Four factors unmarried homebuyers should considerHere are four things that certified financial planner Cathy Curtis, founder and CEO of Curtis Financial Planning, in Oakland, California, says unmarried couples should think about before buying property together: 1.

Persons: Gary Burchell, homebuyers, Jessica Lautz, Lautz, Melissa Cohn, William Raveis, they're, it's, Cohn, Cathy Curtis, millennials, Curtis, Roth Organizations: Getty, National Association of Realtors, D.C, NAR, William Raveis Mortgage, Curtis Financial, CNBC Financial Locations: Washington, U.S, New York, Oakland , California

HAVANA, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Representatives of 14 western creditor nations, grouped in the Paris Club, were in Cuba this week to salvage a debt agreement with the import dependent country which is expected to default on payments for a fourth consecutive year. William Roos, co-chairman of the Paris Club, had said on Wednesday that he proposed a plan which apparently was rejected. The 2015 Paris Club agreement forgave $8.5 billion of the $11.1 billion in sovereign debt Cuba defaulted on in 1986. Cuba, which last reported foreign debt of $19.7 billion for 2020, has restructured debt with Russia, China and some other creditors since then. The Cuba group of the 22-member Paris Club, which manages old sovereign debt, comprises Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Britain, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Persons: ”, William Roos, Ricardo Cabrisas, Cabrisas, Marc Frank, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Paris Club, Investment, Cooperation, Communist, Gross, Reuters, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Thomson Locations: HAVANA, Cuba, Paris, Russia, China, Caribbean, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Britain, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

☆ Factbox: Developing countries in the grip of debt problems
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

In June, it clinched a $6.3 billion debt rework deal with the "Paris Club" creditor nations and its other big bilateral lender China. Another part of the domestic debt plan has faced delays, though, with a key deadline on a Treasury bond exchange delayed three times and now set for Sept. 11. Failure to complete the domestic debt overhaul by then could result in delays both in terms of IMF disbursements and talks with creditors. The government recently agreed to tackle roughly $4 billion of its domestic debt via a pension fund debt swap operation and a dollar-denominated bonds exchange. Cairo has a $3 billion IMF programme and has devalued the pound by roughly 50% since February 2022.

Persons: Adnan Abidi, Nandalal Weerasinghe, Kais Saied, Nayib Bukele, William Ruto's, Donald Trump, Libby George, Marc Jones, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, China, SRI, SRI LANKA Sri, Sri Lanka Development, Sri, Monetary Fund, IMF, UAE, Observers, European Union, SALVADOR, World Bank, African Development Bank, Presidential, Republican, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Delhi, ZAMBIA Zambia, SRI LANKA, SRI LANKA Sri Lanka, China, GHANA Ghana, Zambia, Ghana, PAKISTAN Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, TUNISIA, North, Tunisia, EGYPT Egypt, Cairo, Salvador, KENYA, Kenya, UKRAINE Ukraine, Ukraine, Russia, LEBANON Lebanon

☆ Uber rolls out electric bike fleet in Kenya, its first in Africa
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Uber boda boda riders prepare to ride the first fleet of the company's electric product during their launch in Nairobi, Kenya, August 31, 2023. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Uber Technologies Inc FollowNAIROBI, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Ride-hailing firm Uber (UBER.N) on Thursday launched an electric motorbike service in Kenya, its first in Africa, as the company seeks to make its global platform emissions free by 2040. Uber's new green product in Kenya, dubbed Electric Boda in a nod to the Swahili term for motorbike taxis, will comprise 3,000 bikes within six months, or just under a fifth of its fleet. The growth of the electric vehicles market in Africa has been slowed by a lack of adequate electric charging infrastructure and associated equipment. Motorbike transport is a big employer in Kenya, absorbing millions of people who are unable to secure formal jobs.

Persons: Monicah, Uber, Kagiso Khaole, Khaole, William Ruto, Duncan Miriri, Aaron Ross, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, Technologies, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, NAIROBI, Africa, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Saharan Africa

☆ US home prices rose in July after 5 months of declines
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington, DC CNN —US home buyers have a new challenge in addition to mortgage rates above 7%: Prices are rising again, reversing five months of year-over-year declines, according to a National Association of Realtors report released Tuesday. Prices rose in the Northeast, Midwest and South but were unchanged in the West in July, the NAR report found. Current homeowners are refusing to sell and are hunkering down with their ultra-low mortgage rates that are at least half the current rates. Sales of existing homes — which include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops — dropped below expectations and were down 2.2% from June to July. “Two factors are driving current sales activity — inventory availability and mortgage rates,” said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun.

Persons: —, ”, Lawrence Yun, Freddie Mac, Melissa Cohn Organizations: DC CNN, National Association of Realtors, NAR, ”, William, Mortgage Locations: Washington, Northeast, Midwest, West

☆ What mortgage rates over 7% mean for the housing market
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington, DC CNN —An already miserably unaffordable housing market is getting more expensive. As mortgage rates top 7% — the highest they’ve been in 21 years according to Freddie Mac — home buyers face ballooning costs. “The fact that we are seeing rates at these highs is having an impact on the housing market,” Freedman said. “That’s bad news for mortgage rates which correspondingly may rise to 8%,” he said. “We thought mortgage rates would be much lower by now,” she said.

Persons: Freddie Mac, “, ”, Bess Freedman, Brown Harris Stevens, Freedman, ” Freedman, Buyers, ” Lawrence Yun, Yun, Jessica Lautz, we’d, Melissa Cohn, Cohn, “ Banks, ” Cohn Organizations: DC CNN, Federal, National Association of Realtors, NAR, “, Fed, William, Mortgage, ” Fed, Treasury Locations: Washington

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