DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Pence must testify in Jan. 6 attack probe, judge rules -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 28 (Reuters) - A federal judge has ruled that former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence must testify to a grand jury about conversations he had with former President Donald Trump leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, a source familiar with the ruling said on Tuesday. In a ruling that remains under seal, the judge also said that Pence can still decline to answer questions related to Jan. 6, the source said, adding that Pence can still appeal the ruling. The appeal option is being evaluated, the source said. "I'm pleased that the court accepted our argument and recognized that the Constitution's provision about speech and debate does apply to the vice president," he said. In February, a source told Reuters Pence was preparing to resist a grand jury subpoena to secure his testimony.

☆ US House committee chair signs subpoena for State Dept Afghanistan documents
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Anna VoitenkoMarch 27 (Reuters) - The Republican chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday said he signed a subpoena to be delivered to Secretary of State Antony Blinken for documents related to the August 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Michael McCaul has launched an investigation into the messy withdrawal from Afghanistan under Democratic President Joe Biden and events in the country since. McCaul has given the State Department until Monday to produce the documents. "Unfortunately, Secretary Blinken has refused to provide the Dissent Cable and his response to the cable, forcing me to issue my first subpoena as chairman of this committee," McCaul said in a statement. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters on Monday evening.

[1/4] Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis leads a cabinet meeting at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, March 28, 2023. Mitsotakis's New Democracy Party has held a comfortable lead over opposition leftist Syriza since it came to power in 2019, opinion polls show, but a Feb. 28 rail disaster which killed 57 people has stirred public anger and seen that gap narrow. The rail disaster on the Athens-Thessaloniki route, Greece's deadliest on record, sparked mass protests over the safety shortcomings of an underfunded and poorly maintained network, the legacy of a decade-long financial crisis which ended in 2018. Mitsotakis said the 'painful and traumatic' experience of the rail disaster highlighted deficiencies the state still had. "On May 21, Greek citizens will choose if the country will continue to seek winning the bet of reforms".

☆ Jury convicts four far-right Oath Keeper associates in US Capitol attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Sarah N. Lynch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - Four associates of the far-right Oath Keepers group were found guilty on Monday for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, but the Washington jury remained deadlocked on some serious charges for two other defendants who did not enter the building during the chaos. Michael Greene and Bennie Parker, the two who did not enter the Capitol building, were acquitted on the most serious felonies charges, though the jury remained deadlocked on one outstanding felony count for each man. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta instructed the jury to go back and continue to deliberate on the two remaining counts. Greene and Bennie Parker were found guilty, however, on lesser misdemeanor charges of entering a restricted building or grounds. Then-president Trump, a Republican, fired up the crowd on Jan. 6 with false claims that his defeat was the result of widespread fraud.

WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday signed a bill that requires declassification of information related to the origins of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, the White House said. Biden said he shared Congress' goal of releasing as much information as possible about the origin of COVID-19. The bill sailed through the Senate and House of Representatives without opposition before being sent to the White House. The FBI has also assessed that the pandemic likely originated from a lab leak. China said claims that a laboratory leak likely caused the pandemic have no credibility.

☆ Biden tells Netanyahu he backs compromise on Israel judicial overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM, March 19 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that democratic values were a hallmark of U.S.-Israeli ties and said he supported finding a compromise over a highly-contested judicial overhaul. Netanyahu, according to his office, assured Biden that Israel's democracy was healthy. The plan has stirred concern for Israel's democratic health at home and abroad. Netanyahu's office said he told Biden "that Israel was, and will remain, a strong and vibrant democracy." Critics of the planned law changes say Netanyahu - on trial on graft charges that he denies - is pursuing steps that will hurt Israel's democratic checks and balances, enable corruption and bring diplomatic isolation.

How do I even begin to tackle this mountain of debt on a single income with minimal child support help? Costas is the vice president of EP Wealth Advisors and a certified divorce Financial Analyst. The snowball method is about using small financial achievements to fuel larger ones. The sense of victory you will feel from paying off that small debt will help you feel you've conquered a challenge, which will go a long way in helping you summit the $60,000 mountain of debt in your path. Ways to make your money go furtherKennedy also encouraged you to start saving money while you continue prioritizing paying down debt.

A source with knowledge of the matter said that Swiss regulators are encouraging UBS and Credit Suisse to merge, but that both banks do not want to do so. Credit Suisse shares jumped 9% in after-market trading following the FT report. Credit Suisse and UBS declined to comment on the report. "Credit Suisse is a very special case," said Frédérique Carrier, head of investment strategy at RBC Wealth Management. The supervisors were told deposits were stable across the euro zone and exposure to Credit Suisse was immaterial, a source familiar with the meeting's content told Reuters.

Credit Suisse declined to comment on the banks' actions. MARKET TROUBLES LINGERBanking stocks globally have been battered since Silicon Valley Bank collapsed, raising questions about other weaknesses in the wider financial system. A view of the Park Avenue location of the First Republic Bank, in New York City, U.S., March 10, 2023. The supervisors were told deposits were stable across the euro zone and exposure to Credit Suisse was immaterial, a source familiar with the meeting's content told Reuters. "Japan's financial system remains stable as a whole," Kishida told a news briefing.

"No one is above the law," Biden said in the statement, "and strengthening accountability is an important deterrent to prevent mismanagement in the future." The current law "limits the administration’s authority to hold executives responsible," he said. Specifically, Biden is asking Congress to give the Federal Depository Insurance Corp greater authority to claw back compensation, "including gains from stock sales – from executives at failed banks like Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank," the White House said in a second statement. "The President urges Congress to expand the FDIC’s authorities to expressly cover cases like this" the White House statement said, citing Becker's stock sales. The president is also asking Congress to give the FDIC more authority to ban bank executives from the industry when their banks go into receivership, and to fine bank managers whose banks fail.

☆ Biden says failed banks' executives should be fined, banned, stripped of compensation
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

"No one is above the law," Biden said in the statement, "and strengthening accountability is an important deterrent to prevent mismanagement in the future." The current law "limits the administration’s authority to hold executives responsible," he said. Specifically, Biden is asking Congress to give the Federal Depository Insurance Corp. greater authority to claw back compensation, "including gains from stock sales – from executives at failed banks like Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank," the White House said in a second statement. The president is also asking Congress to give the FDIC more authority to ban bank executives from the industry when their banks go into receivership, and fine bank managers whose banks fail. Reporting by Jeff Mason and Costas Pitas; writing by Susan Heavey and Heather Timmons; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Surging Chinese Oil Demand Pushes Shipping Costs Sharply Higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Costas Paris | Joe Wallace | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Very Large Crude Carriers can each transport two million barrels of oil. China is on an oil-supertanker hiring spree, a sign energy demand has sped up after the world’s second-largest economy limped out of its Covid-19 lockdowns. Traders carry crude to China, the world’s biggest oil importer, in Eiffel Tower-size tankers called Very Large Crude Carriers that each lug two million barrels of oil. The cost of chartering the most coveted type of these tankers, featuring modern exhaust systems, has shot up to nearly $100,000 a day, ship brokers say. That is double the rate from a month ago.

☆ UN says it is doing everything possible to continue Ukraine grain deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

UNITED NATIONS, March 17 (Reuters) - The United Nations is "doing everything possible" to make sure a deal allowing the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports continues, U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on Friday, a day before the pact is due to expire. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said that Moscow had notified Turkey and Ukraine on Monday that it would extend the Black Sea export deal for 60 days, until May 18. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told the Security Council. Ukraine has so far exported nearly 25 million tonnes of mainly corn and wheat under the deal, according to the United Nations. Russia and Ukraine are leading suppliers of food commodities and Russia is also a top exporter of fertilizer.

☆ US urges Turkey to quickly ratify Sweden's NATO bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, March 17 (Reuters) - The United States welcomed Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's announcement on Friday that the country's parliament will begin ratifying Finland's NATO bid, and encouraged Turkey to quickly ratify Sweden's accession into the military alliance as well. "Sweden and Finland are both strong, capable partners that share NATO’s values and will strengthen the Alliance and contribute to European security. The United States believes that both countries should become members of NATO as soon as possible," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement. Reporting by Costas Pitas and Rami Ayyub; editing by Paul GrantOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. warns Honduras that China makes many unfulfilled promises
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

March 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department on Wednesday said China makes many promises that are unfulfilled after Honduras announced it would seek official relations with Beijing and cut them with Taiwan. "The Honduran Government should be aware that the PRC (People's Republic of China) makes many promises that are unfulfilled," a State Department spokesperson said. "We will continue to monitor next steps closely." Reporting by Costas Pitas in Los Angeles; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. Republicans seek answers from regulators over SVB's collapse - Thune
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

March 15 (Reuters) - Most Republican members want answers from regulators as to why they were "asleep at the switch" over the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SIVB.O) and it is premature to discuss legislative solutions to banking problems, the U.S. Senate's No. 2 Republican John Thune said on Wednesday. Reporting by Richard Cowan in Washington; writing by Costas PitasOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Manhunt for ex Maryland governor's former top aide after court no-show
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Roy McGrath, the former top aide to an ex Maryland Governor, is seen in this U.S. Marshals Service wanted poster released on March 14, 2023 after McGrath failed to appear in court where he is charged with wire fraud and falsification. March 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. on Tuesday said it issued an arrest warrant and began a manhunt for Roy McGrath, the former top aide to an ex Maryland governor, for not appearing in court to face charges of wire fraud and falsification of records. In June 2020, McGrath was appointed Chief of Staff to former Republican Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, who served from 2015 to 2023. Reporting by Costas Pitas in Los Angeles; Editing by Caitlin Webber and Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Further U.S. involvement in Ukraine is not vital national interest, says DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 13 (Reuters) - Becoming "further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia" is not a vital U.S. national interest, said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is eying running for president, in comments released on Monday. Public opinion polls show DeSantis as the strongest threat to former President Donald Trump for their party's nomination for the 2024 presidential contest. "While the U.S. has many vital national interests ... becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them," DeSantis said in his reply. Trump, when asked whether the United States should support regime change in Russia, wrote: “No. We should support regime change in the United States, that's far more important.

WASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell was released from a hospital and will continue receiving treatment at a rehabilitation facility, his office said on Monday after one of Washington's most powerful figures suffered a fall last week. His continued treatment means McConnell will not be present when the Senate returns to Washington on Tuesday. A senior Senate Republican aide suggested McConnell could be in rehab for up to two weeks. As Senate minority leader, McConnell has taken a back seat to Biden and Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on the debt ceiling issue. McConnell served as Senate majority leader from 2015 to 2021 and as Senate minority leader since then.

☆ Norfolk Southern CEO to Pledge Change at Senate Hearing on Ohio Train Derailment
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Costas Paris | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Norfolk Southern Corp. will spend more than $20 million to reimburse residents and clean up a small town in Ohio where one of its trains derailed and spilled toxic chemicals last month, the chief executive of the company plans to tell a Senate committee on Thursday. “I am deeply sorry for the impact this derailment has had on the people of East Palestine and surrounding communities, and I am determined to make it right,” Norfolk Southern Chief Alan Shaw said in prepared remarks to the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee.

☆ Norfolk Southern’s Ohio Train Derailment Puts Railroad Equipment Sensors in Spotlight
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Jemal R. Brinson | Costas Paris | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The derailment of a Norfolk Southern Corp. train in a small Ohio town last month is putting renewed attention on the role of sensors that railroads use in a bid to prevent such accidents. The railroad, in response, announced new safety initiatives, including adding 200 temperature detectors to parts of its tracks where existing sensors are at least 15 miles apart, starting near the derailment site in East Palestine.

☆ NTSB to Probe Norfolk Southern Safety Culture After Derailments, Accidents
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Costas Paris | Dean Seal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The cleanup continued at the site of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment last month in East Palestine, Ohio. Federal transportation safety investigators have opened a special investigation into Norfolk Southern Corp’s safety culture in connection with recent derailments and fatal accidents in the railroad’s operations. The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday it was taking the step “given the number and significance” of accidents and called for Norfolk Southern to immediately review and assess its safety practices. The agency said it has launched investigations into five significant accidents involving Norfolk Southern since December 2021.

☆ Norfolk Southern to Add 200 Temperature Sensors After Ohio Derailment
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Costas Paris | Colin Kellaher | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Norfolk Southern Corp. said it plans to add about 200 temperature detectors along its tracks in the aftermath of a derailment of a train carrying hazardous chemicals in Ohio. The railroad said it would add the hot-bearing sensors to parts of its track where existing sensors are at least 15 miles apart, starting with the track west of East Palestine, Ohio. It said temperature sensors are on average 13.9 miles apart on its network.

☆ Norfolk Southern to Add 200 Temperature Sensors After Ohio Train Derailment
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Costas Paris | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Norfolk Southern Corp. said it plans to add about 200 temperature detectors along its tracks in the aftermath of a derailment of a train carrying hazardous chemicals in Ohio. The railroad said it would add the hot-bearing sensors to parts of its track where existing sensors are at least 15 miles apart, starting with the track west of East Palestine, Ohio. It said it currently has about 1,000 temperature sensors that are on average 13.9 miles apart on its network.

☆ Ukraine vows not to give up on Bakhmut amid constant Russian attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Oleksandr Kozhukhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

After Russian gains in recent weeks, at the culmination of a winter offensive, Ukrainian troops have been reinforcing positions west of Bakhmut in apparent preparation for a possible retreat. "I told the commander in chief to find the appropriate forces to help our guys in Bakhmut." "If everyone is coordinated, without ambition, screw-ups and tantrums, and carries out this work, then we will block the armed forces of Ukraine. [1/7] A Ukrainian serviceman carries a shell for a 2S5 Giatsint-S self-propelled howitzer before firing towards Russian troops outside the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine March 5, 2023. Ukraine and the West describe Russia's actions as an unprovoked war of aggression aimed at expanding territory.

Search resuls for: "Costas"

25 mentions found