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☆ Audi CEO: IRA subsidies make prospect of building U.S. plant "highly attractive"
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chief Executive Markus Duesmann said that a decision had not yet been made but that the IRA made it far more attractive to build electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States. Asked whether Audi would build a plant itself or do so together with other Volkswagen brands, Duesmann said: "Both are possible. But a growing number of firms are now announcing heightened investment in the United States over Europe in light of the IRA, worrying European officials. Volkswagen is also upgrading its Mexican plants in Puebla and Silao to starting building EVs, motors and related components by mid-decade. Volkswagen is due to lay out in March how it will rejig its production network worldwide to scale up EV production.

☆ Gold Fields sees lower 2023 production on Chile project delays
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A mine worker walks underground as South Africa's Gold Fields bets on solar to cut costs and carbon, at Gold Fields' South Deep mine, south-west of Johannesburg, South Africa October 12, 2022. Gold Fields said COVID-19 and severe weather were causing the delays at the project, which is expected to produce at least 450,000 ounces of gold per annum in the first seven years of operations. Gold Fields said it would continue to explore opportunities to expand production through acquisitions of both greenfield projects and producing assets, despite its failed bid to buy Canada's Yamana Gold (YRI.TO) late last year. A $202 million break fee payment from the failed bid drove Gold Fields' headline annual profit 19% higher, offsetting cost pressures. Gold Fields declared a final dividend of 4.45 rand ($0.2443) per share, bringing the total payout for 2022 to 7.45 rand.

Treasury said the government planned to take on 254 billion rand ($14 billion) of Eskom's 423 billion rand debt it said was at risk of default, to enable the utility to pay down the debt and interest obligations. South Africa has been struggling for years to overhaul Eskom, which is plagued by corruption and mismanagement and has received 263.4 billion rand in bailouts since 2008/09. Treasury said about 168 billion rand of Eskom’s debt relief will be in capital and 86 billion rand in interest payments over the next three years. Eskom's debt relief has strict conditions, Treasury said. A proposal to address the debt municipalities owe Eskom, at 56.3 billion rand as of end December 2022, was being finalised.

☆ China, Russia and the U.S. ‘Red Line’ on Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

President Biden’s visit to Kyiv on Monday was an important symbolic display of American support for Ukraine, and credit to him for traveling into a war zone. But the bigger Ukraine news in recent days may be the public alarms coming from U.S. officials that China could soon provide Russia with military aid. “The concern that we have now is, based on information we have, that they’re considering providing lethal support,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CBS News on Sunday. “And we’ve made very clear to them that that would cause a serious problem for us and in our relationship.” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield went further on CNN, saying Chinese military aid “would be a red line.”

☆ Thousands of trucks stuck at Afghan-Pakistan border crossing
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Jibran Ahmad | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Men sit near a queue of trucks loaded with supplies to leave for Afghanistan, after Taliban authorities have closed the main border crossing in Torkham, Pakistan February 21, 2023. REUTERS/Shahid ShinwariPESHAWAR, Feb 21 (Reuters) - A key border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan remained closed for a third day, with thousands of goods vehicles stuck and businesses facing losses as officials from both sides try to broker a solution. "The closure of the border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been causing losses to traders of the two countries. He added some trucks had been diverted to another, smaller border crossing, but traders were worried about the security of truck drivers travelling to that region. Residents had reported heavy gunfire on Monday morning near the Torkham border crossing, but the Taliban official had denied any clashes and said the situation was under control.

☆ US says UN Security Council silence on North Korea is dangerous
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 20 (Reuters) - The United States proposed on Monday that the U.N. Security Council condemn North Korea's ballistic missile launches and encourage Pyongyang to engage in diplomacy, warning that the 15-member body's failure to respond had become dangerous. China and Russia oppose any further action by the Security Council, arguing that putting further pressure on North Korea would not be constructive. The pair vetoed a U.S.-led push to impose more U.N. sanctions on North Korea in May last year. It is dangerous," she told the Security Council, proposing that it adopt a formal presidential statement - one step below a resolution - to condemn North Korea's action and urge diplomacy. After the Security Council meeting, two-thirds of the body's members and South Korea issued a joint statement - read by Thomas-Greenfield - condemning North Korea's missile launches.

☆ UN Security Council denounces Israel in statement after US showdown averted
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"The Security Council reiterates that continuing Israeli settlement activities are dangerously imperiling the viability of the two-State solution based on the 1967 lines," the council said in the statement. "The Security Council expresses deep concern and dismay with Israel's announcement on February 12." Resolutions need nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, Russia, China, France or Britain to be adopted. Netanyahu's office described the Security Council statement on Monday as "one-sided" and criticized the United States for supporting it, adding: "The statement should not have been made and the United States should not have joined it." Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council that the United States opposes Israel's Feb. 12 settlement plans.

☆ Main Afghan-Pakistani border crossing closed, residents report gunfire
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KABUL/PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Feb 20 (Reuters) - The main border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan was closed on Monday, officials from the two sides said, and residents in the area reported the sound of gunfire near the normally bustling border transit point. It was not immediately clear if Afghan or Pakistani authorities closed the Torkham border crossing, near the Khyber Pass, but it comes after relations between Afghanistan's ruling Taliban and Pakistan have deteriorated sharply. Media reported that the border was closed on Sunday evening but did not give a reason. Clashes between Afghan and Pakistani security forces have also at times closed the second most important crossing between the two countries, at Chaman to the south. A Taliban foreign ministry spokesperson said later Pakistan should raise issues in private and not at public forums.

☆ Dogs are attacking mail carriers at alarming rates, forcing the post office to avoid entire neighborhoods until things get better
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Florida mail carrier died after she was attacked by five dogs when her truck broke down in August. Mail delivery stops and residents have to pick up their mail at the post office. Residents in subsections of Des Moines, Iowa, Cleveland, Ohio, Greenfield, Indiana, Roanoke, Virginia, all temporarily lost mail service in the last year because the neighborhood was deemed unsafe by mail carriers. Mail carriers also receive training on how to assess and approach dogs and they are required to carry dog repellant. California Texas Ohio Pennsylvania Michigan New York Illinois Florida Washington KentuckyAre you a mail carrier or delivery driver with a story?

☆ Taliban plans to turn former foreign bases into special economic zones
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mohammad IsmailKABUL, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The Taliban administration will move ahead with plans to turn former foreign military bases into special economic zones for businesses, the acting deputy prime minister for economic affairs said in a statement on Sunday. "Following a thorough discussion, it was decided that the Ministry of Industry and Commerce should progressively take control of the remaining military bases of the foreign forces with the intention of converting them into special economic zones," Mullah Baradar said in the statement. He added a pilot plan would begin to convert bases in the capital Kabul and in northern Balkh province. Afghanistan's economy has struggled and aid agencies are warning of a severe humanitarian crisis since the Taliban took over in 2021 as foreign troops withdrew after 20 years of war. The Taliban have said they are focused on boosting economic self-sufficiency through trade and investment.

☆ Former bodyguard arrested over shooting of Afghan female ex-MP
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KABUL, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Afghan police have arrested the former bodyguard of a female member of parliament who was shot to death at her home in Kabul last month, the Taliban administration said on Friday. Gunmen killed Mursal Nabizada, a female lawmaker during the previous foreign-backed government, and her bodyguard in an attack on her home in mid-January. Police said they had arrested a former guard, who had confessed to the crime, but the motive was not clear. "Further investigations are underway to determine the factors and other aspects of the crime," Kabul police, who are run by the Taliban administration, said in a statement. Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar; Writing by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ UN to mark Russia invasion of Ukraine anniversary by urging 'just peace'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] The United Nations headquarters building is pictured with a UN logo in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 1, 2022. The 193-member General Assembly is likely to vote next Thursday after two days of speeches by dozens of states to mark the Feb. 24 anniversary of the start of the war. Russia was diplomatically isolated last year, when 141 states voted on March 2 to denounce its invasion and demand Moscow withdraw its troops. The United States and western allies have called the invasion an unprovoked land grab against a sovereign nation. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said last month.

He added that a government committee was looking into adding secular subjects to madrasas alongside religious study, a development that hasn't been previously reported. Other students and teachers said Islamic education played an important role in their lives, though they hoped to be able to study secular subjects too. He didn't elaborate on the government's plans for religious schools. Reuters was unable to determine the current number of madrasas, and Taliban authorities have not provided figures. "There's deep-seated mistrust of the formal education sector, despite the fact that it too incorporates Islamic education."

☆ Netflix Sunsets ‘Surprise Me’ Shuffle-Play Button
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Katie Deighton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +3 min

Netflix Inc. has removed its “Surprise Me” button, a feature introduced in 2021 to alleviate the modern burden of choosing something to watch from thousands of titles. Netflix in the past year has increased its emphasis on making money from its users instead of focusing only on adding them, Mr. Verna said. “Netflix tries a lot of things, iterates quickly, and kills things that aren’t working,” Mr. Greenfield said. The feature instantly started playing a television show or movie without making users scroll through Netflix’s library to find something to watch. Netflix shares last month rose to their highest since last April after the streaming company announced that it had added 7.7 million subscribers in the final quarter of 2022, topping its own projections.

☆ U.S. urges U.N. vote to approve more aid access to Syria via Turkey
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Since 2014 the U.N. has been able to deliver aid to millions of people in need in the northwest part of war-torn Syria through Turkey under a Security Council mandate. 'FAILED'On the 15-member Security Council, Brazil and Switzerland take the lead on negotiating any action related to the Syria humanitarian aid access issue. The death toll from the earthquake last week in Turkey and Syria passed 33,000 on Sunday. The ambassadors of Brazil and Switzerland said on Friday they wanted Griffiths to brief the Security Council before any action was discussed. "We have so far failed the people in northwest Syria," Griffiths said in a post on Twitter.

☆ Pakistan, IMF agree on more talks, delaying bailout
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Ariba Shahid | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KARACHI, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund have agreed to continue talks on a deal, delaying the disbursement of $1.1 billion in funding critical to keeping the South Asian economy afloat. "Virtual discussions will continue in the coming days," IMF Pakistan Mission Chief Nathan Porter said in a statement, adding that considerable progress had been made. To release the funds, the IMF needs to reach a staff-level agreement with Pakistan, which then needs to be approved by the IMF's head office in Washington. The money is necessary to prevent Pakistan from defaulting on external payment obligations, and an IMF deal paves the way for other organisations and governments to provide funds, analysts say. In addition to the stalled tranche, $1.4 billion remain of the $6.5 billion bailout programme, which is due to end in June.

[1/3] The signage at the main gate of The Walt Disney Co. is pictured in Burbank, California, May 7, 2012. This is a win for all shareholders," a spokesperson for Peltz's Trian Fund Management said on Thursday. The decision, first reported by CNBC, came only hours after Disney reported earnings that topped Wall Street expectations and Iger outlined a corporate restructuring that addresses many of Peltz' criticisms. Disney's stock price climbed 3.6% in Thursday trading. "Bob Iger has a long, strong track record which provides confidence he will manage this transition for Disney."

☆ Pakistani PM approves IMF deal, Geo reports, without giving details
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Ariba Shahid | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Faisal MahmoodKARACHI, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has approved a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and all matters related to the bailout programme are settled, broadcaster Geo said on Thursday, citing sources. To release the funds, the IMF needed to reach a staff level agreement with Pakistan. Analysts say the money is necessary to prevent Pakistan from defaulting on external payment obligations, and an IMF deal also paves the way for other organisations and governments to provide funds. The IMF mission arrived in Pakistan late last week for talks aimed at releasing an overdue tranche of $1.1 billion from the bailout programme, leaving $1.4 billion remaining. The fiscal adjustments demanded by any deal, however, are likely to fuel record high inflation, which hit 27.5% year-on-year in January, analysts say.

Disney issued a statement applauding Peltz's decision to end a board challenge which it called a "distraction. 'FIRST PHASE' IN DISNEY'S TRANSFORMATIONFor Peltz's Trian Fund Management the board challenge appears to have paid off with an estimated 20% gain on his investment. Analysts said Peltz made a reasonable request for one board seat and to join the 12-member board himself. Peltz appeared on CNBC on Thursday to announce his proxy fight with Disney was over. "Bob Iger has a long, strong track record which provides confidence he will manage this transition for Disney."

☆ Disney CEO Bob Iger has 'very little room for maneuver' as he tackles layoffs, budget cuts, a company reorg, and questions over the future of Hulu and ESPN
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Disney chief Bob Iger will speak Wednesday on his first quarterly earnings call since returning as CEO. Wall Street wants to see how Disney plans to boost profitability this year and whether it will trade ESPN or Hulu. Aside from a quick visit to Disney World in January, Bob Iger has been lying very low. Media investor Ross Gerber told Insider that Iger would get back to focusing on content rather than on the distribution mechanism. Iger tweeted a photo of himself at Disney World, dressed in a relaxed green cardigan and gray slacks as he posed with cast members on January 19.

☆ Factbox: Facts about Pakistan's late former President Pervez Musharraf
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 5 (Reuters) - Here are some facts about the life and career of Pakistan's former President Pervez Musharraf, who died on Sunday:*Born in Delhi, India, on August 11, 1943, in his family's ancestral home, Nehar Wali Haveli. *Musharraf joined Pakistan's Military Academy in 1961. He was chosen by then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the brother of Pakistan's current prime minister, as the army chief in 1998. *In 2002, Musharraf was appointed president, a title he held in addition to army chief, after winning more than 90% of the vote in a controversial national referendum. *In 2007, Musharraf stepped down from his post as army chief, but said he would remain president for another five-year term.

☆ Reactions to Pakistan ex-President Musharraf's death
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 5 (Reuters) - Pakistani former President Pervez Musharraf died on Sunday following a prolonged illness at a hospital in Dubai, after years in self-imposed exile. SHASHI THAROOR, INDIAN POLITICIAN, SAID ON TWITTER"Once an implacable foe of India, he became a real force for peace 2002-2007. I met him annually in those days at the UN & found him smart, engaging & clear in his strategic thinking. RIP"MOSHARRAF ZAIDI, CEO OF TABADLAD, AN ISLAMABAD-BASED THINK TANK"The most important legacy Gen. Musharraf leaves behind predates his time as president. The 1999 Kargil War permanently altered ...

☆ How the end of Netflix password sharing will change the way families watch, especially the ones with college-age children
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Tim Mullaney | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Back in 2014, allowing people to share passwords was a "terrific marketing vehicle for the next generation of viewers," Plepler once told BuzzFeed. And yes, it looks like the crackdown may include families who share passwords with kids who are away at college. Even two analysts who follow Netflix acknowledged that their college-aged children are piggybacking on the family Netflix account for now. The company's terms of use require people to live at the same location to share a password. The company's terms of use already require customers to agree to Netflix tracking this information in order to deliver the service.

[1/3] Sister of Amrullah, a child who died due to cold, stands at her home in Kabul, Afghanistan, January 30, 2023. They took baby Amrullah to hospital around two weeks ago for coughing and congested lungs. "The night that I lost my baby it was terribly cold, I was trying to… warm my baby boy, but I couldn't succeed," she said. "I am ... always thinking of my baby boy and my two other small children, they are also sick, I don't want to lose them as well," she said. "May God spare other mothers the pain of losing their children," Shamila said, by the rock marking his grave.

☆ Meta's focus on TikTok rival Reels is working, says Lightshed's Rich Greenfield
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMeta's focus on TikTok rival Reels is working, says Lightshed's Rich GreenfieldRich Greenfield, Lighteshed Partners partner, joins 'Halftime Report' to share his call of the day a buy for Meta, and detail the reasons behind his action.

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