DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ About 1,000 Tourists Trapped in China's Xinjiang After Avalanches
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - Around 1,000 tourists remain stranded in a remote holiday village after avalanches hit China's northwestern Xinjiang region with metres-high snow and fickle weather impeding evacuation, state TV reported on Tuesday. Road access to Hemu village, a scenic destination near the borders of Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia where the tourists were trapped, has been cut off by avalanches for several days now. The village is situated in Xinjiang's Altay Prefecture where continuous snowfall in some areas has lasted 10 days, it said. Snow brought by the avalanches reach as high as seven metres in some parts and in many, was higher than snow clearing equipment, CCTV said. A military helicopter scheduled to send supplies - such as flour and fuel - to Hemu village was delayed on Tuesday morning, CCTV said.

Persons: Snow, Zhao Jinsheng, Zhao, Liz Lee, Qiaoyi Li, Raju Gopalakrishnan Locations: BEIJING, Xinjiang, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, Xinjiang's Altay Prefecture, Altay, Hemu

The document didn't disclose how Apple plans to remove the blood-oxygen sensor, although analysts have speculated the change could come through a software update. Masimo won a favorable ruling from the U.S. International Trade Commission in late October that prompted Apple to temporarily halt sales of the Apple Watch models with the blood-oxygen sensor just before Christmas. But Apple then filed an appeal of the ITC ruling that resulted in a order clearing the way for the two Apple Watch models to return to stores shortly after Christmas while the appeal is under review. If it does, the Series 9 and Ultra 2 can remain on sale with the blood-oxygen sensors intact. Apple declined to comment on the court filing disclosing its plans to remove the blood-oxygen sensor if the stay isn't extended.

Persons: Masimo, Apple Organizations: Apple, U.S . Customs, U.S . International Trade Commission, ITC, U.S, Apple Watch Locations: Southern California, Washington, Cupertino , California

☆ The Monumental Task of Clearing Debris From the Lahaina Fire
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Jim Carlton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

LAHAINA, Hawaii—Nearly six months after a wildfire incinerated Lahaina, cleanup crews this week are scheduled to begin clearing the charred rubble to make way for a near-total rebuild—a task that will be extraordinarily complicated due to the sensitive ecology and deep history of this former Hawaiian royal capital. Fire cleanups are often tricky, but prepping Lahaina for its next phase presents some extra challenges. It’s on a remote island with only one access highway. A temporary landfill had to be built to hold the debris. Everything from water and dump trucks to bins and dumpsters has had to be brought in from elsewhere.

Persons: It’s, dumpsters Locations: LAHAINA, Hawaii, Lahaina

☆ Fierce Fighting in Gaza as War Hits 100 Days
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The military also said its forces destroyed several rocket pits used by Hamas to fire missiles at Israel. We are seekers of freedom," he said, saying the attack was, in part, a response to the years-long Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, which Hamas has controlled since 2007. The military says, though, the next phase of the war will see more targeted operations against the movement's leaders and military positions. In Rafah in southern Gaza Strip, Nana, a 17-year-old high school student displaced from northern Gaza, said 100 days of war "turned our life upside down." (Additional reporting by Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem; Reporting and writing by Nidal Almughrabi in Doha, Fadi Shana in Gaza.

Persons: Nidal, Fadi Shana DOHA, Khan Younis, Al Maghazi, Ismail Haniyeh, Benjamin Netanyahu, Kfar Yuval, Ari Rabinovitch, Nidal Almughrabi, Fadi Shana, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Communications, Hamas Locations: GAZA, Gaza, Khan, Al, Israel, Istanbul, Lebanon, Iran, Kfar, Rafah, Jerusalem, Doha

Wholesale inflation fell by 0.1% in December, capping a year in which the rate of price increases dropped sharply, according to a report from the Labor Department released on Friday. The producer price index for all of 2023 came in at 1% compared to 6.4% in 2022. No indication of inflation at the wholesale level,” Kathy Jones, chief fixed income strategist at the Schwab Center for Financial Research, posted on social media. A lot will depend on how the economy performs this year after putting in a strong performance in 2023. Wages are increasing and now running higher than the level of inflation, giving support to consumer spending.

Persons: ” Kathy Jones, ”, Jeffrey Roach, ” “, Jared Cohen, Goldman Sachs, Ian Bremmer, Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase, Dimon, ” Dimon Organizations: Labor Department, PPI, Schwab Center, Financial Research, Federal, LPL Financial, BCA Research, Fed, U.S, Global Affairs, Goldman, Eurasia Group, GZERO Media, JPMorgan Locations: Red, Iranian, Asia, U.S, Ukraine

☆ From transparent TVs to ChatGPT-powered pet companions, here’s some of the buzziest tech of CES 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Here’s a look at some of the buzziest products announced this week:Loona companion robot is the world's first consumer robot equipped with ChatGPT AI technology. From Beijing KEYi Technology Co. Ltd.AI companionsAI companions are one of the biggest trends to emerge from the show this year. Samsung’s buzzy Ballie robot, which was first shown off at CES in 2020, received a refresh. BaracodaAI task robotsBeyond companions, AI has made its way into nearly every appliance and gadget you could think of this year. LG was one of the first leaders in transparent TVs; one of its earlier prototypes impressed the show floor back in 2020.

Persons: it’s, Loona, Rosie, Samsung’s, Dipanjan Chatterjee, ”, Volkwagen, Mercedes Benz, Chatterjee, ” Honda, VinFast, “ There’s, Jon Erensen, EssilorLuxottica, Francesco Milleri, Evie, Steve Jobs, Cook, Christoph Dernbach, “, Jitesh Ubrani, ” Ubrani, CNN’s Peter Valdes, Dapena Organizations: CNN — Tech, Consumer Electronics, Beijing KEYi Technology, ., LG, CES, Forrester Research, Walmart, Nvidia, AMD, Honda, VinFast, Fiat, Samsung, Gartner, Media, Apple Vision, Steve, Apple, IDC, Sony, Qualcomm Locations: Las Vegas, Beijing, USA, Cupertino, Cupertino ., Apple's, United States

☆ Sarah Jessica Parker’s ‘Sex and the City’ tutu sells for $52,000
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The iconic tulle tutu worn by Sarah Jessica Parker in the opening credits of “Sex and the City” proved a star lot in an auction of “iconic” fashion pieces from film, TV and celebrity wardrobes on Thursday, selling for $52,000, more than four times its high estimate. The oyster-white, three-tier tutu skirt was expected to sell for $8,000-12,000, but drew 24 bids during a sale by Julien’s Auctions in California. The tutu “became a pop culture symbol,” according to the auction house, after Parker wore it in her role as Carrie Bradshaw in the smash-hit HBO TV series. The tutu also made an appearance in the 2008 “Sex and the City” movie, in a scene in which Carrie is clearing out her closet and deciding whether to keep certain outfits. The piece was sold with a certificate of authenticity signed by Field.

Persons: tutu, Sarah Jessica Parker, tutu “, Parker, Carrie Bradshaw, Patricia Field, Pat, Carrie, ”, Sarah Jessica, ” “, Samantha, Charlotte, Miranda, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, ’, Kim Kardashian, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Catherine Walker, Princess Diana, Cher, Elle Woods Organizations: CNN, Julien’s, HBO, Warner Bros ., Vogue, City, Field Locations: California, City, throwaways, chihuahua

☆ Celebrities are having full-blown golf complexes built in their gardens. Here’s how they’re doing it
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

From putting greens and par-three holes to full-blown course replicas, the sport is increasingly taking up residence in gardens and backyards as golf enthusiasts of all levels look to shorten their travel time to the tee. California in particular is especially prone to drought, with state officials encouraging its citizens to cut their water usage. Yet “the number one” factor that can hike prices for larger greens, Nappi explains, is — ironically — drainage. Though they don’t require watering, greens sculpted in areas susceptible to heavy rain — such as Florida or Georgia — invite the threat of standing water, which can lead to mold and ruin the playing experience. “You can make it look pretty and beautiful and they love it, but it better play right,” Nappi said.

Persons: Mark Wahlberg, Cindy Crawford, DJ Khaled, Josh Allen, ”, Dominic Nappi, Tim Venturi, Ken Venturi, Nappi, ” Nappi, “, Wahlberg, Los Angeles Times — Nappi, Tim Jackson —, Jackson Kahn, I’ve, “ There’s, Crawford, Rande Gerber, Allen, Jim Nantz’s, Courtney Richards, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter, Tony Romo —, Dave Pelz’s, SYNLawn, Augusta National’s, Gareth Bale’s, —, Tiger Woods, ‘ Organizations: CNN, Back Nine Greens, Business, Nine Greens, Greens, British, Nine Greens Star, Hollywood, Los Angeles Times, Malibu, Bills, Wall Street, NASA, Welsh, Real Madrid, Tiger Locations: Southern California, Palm, California, backyards, Florida, Georgia, Beverly, Scottsdale, Buffalo, Miami Beach, American, Austin , Texas, Glamorgan, South Wales, Island, South Dakota

☆ Boeing's latest 737 Max failure narrowly avoided tragedy — but it won't avoid scrutiny
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-07 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The 737 Max 9 flown by Alaska Airlines on Friday was delivered less than three months ago. United Airlines and Alaska Airlines, the largest operators of the 737 Max 9, on Saturday said they suspended flights with those planes, forcing the carriers to cancel more than 400 flights. Boeing's leadership has spent roughly five years regrouping after the 2018 and 2019 fatal crashes of its smaller and more popular Boeing 737 Max 8, which prompted a worldwide grounding of both the Max 8 and Max 9, the two types flying commercially. According to Jefferies, the 737 Max 9 represents just 2% of Boeing's backlog of more than 4,500 Max planes. Richard Aboulafia, managing director at aviation consulting firm Aerodynamic Advisory, said the problem on the Alaska Airlines plane appears to be a manufacturing defect, not an inherent design flaw.

Persons: Jason Redmond, Max, Jim Hall, I've, we've, Dave Calhoun, Calhoun, he's, Jennifer Homendy, Aerosystems, John Goglia, Jefferies, Richard Aboulafia Organizations: Reuters Boeing, Alaska Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, National Transportation Safety Board, Boeing, United Airlines, Regulators, Airbus, hasn't, Wall Street, NTSB Locations: Renton , Washington, Portland , Oregon, Ontario , California, Portland, United, Alaska

☆ UC Berkeley is using a wall of shipping containers to block activists from the new site of its student housing complex
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-05 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

UC Berkeley is trying to build a new $312 million housing complex on the iconic People's Park. AdvertisementThe makeshift wall is around "15 to 16 feet high," UC Berkeley spokesperson Kyle Gibson told The Associated Press. People's Park on a night that UC Berkeley and other authorities prepare to cordon off People's Park on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 in Berkeley, CA. In August, people in a mass protest pushed down a fence that UC Berkeley tried to use to cordon off the area. The empty shipping containers around People's Park echo the hundreds of containers set up to fill gaps on the Arizona-Mexico border in 2022.

Persons: —, UC Berkeley's, Kyle Gibson, Jason Armond Organizations: UC Berkeley, Service, UC, Associated Press, UC Berkeley's, Los Angeles Times, Getty, Berkeley, Guardian Locations: Berkeley , California, People's, Berkeley , CA, Park, California, Berkeley, Arizona, Mexico

☆ Getting hot new weight-loss drugs like Wegovy will still be a struggle in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-04 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

AdvertisementIf you were hoping that powerhouse weight-loss drugs like Wegovy would be easier to get in 2024, you may be disappointed. Don't expect Medicare coverage any time soonMedicare could play a major role in expanding coverage of weight-loss drugs . Americans' hunger for weight-loss drugs, and the shockwaves it's likely to send through the culture and economy, are only just beginning. He oversees the state employee health plan, which saw costs skyrocket as thousands of workers suddenly started taking weight-loss drugs. People who are already getting weight-loss drugs will be able to keep taking them.

Persons: —, Renee Rayburg, Mercer, Eli Lilly's, Jose Luis Pelaez, there's, Wegovy, Bill Coyle, ZS, Eli Lilly, David Risinger, Lilly, Risinger, Morgan Stanley, Mounjaro, They're, That's, Patrik Jonsson, Lilly USA, Coyle, Dale Folwell, Folwell Organizations: Service, Pharmaceutical, Group, Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, Mayo Clinic, University of Texas, Hennepin Healthcare, Medicare, Capital Alpha Partners, Vanderbilt University, Nordisk's Wegovy, Novo Nordisk, pharma, Nordisk's, FDA, Pharma, UBS BioPharma Conference, Walmart, Jefferies, Nordisk Locations: Mounjaro, Government, Minnesota, Minneapolis, Hennepin, ZS, U.S, Carolina, North Carolina

CHANNELVIEW, Texas — For nearly 20 years, Texas environmental regulators have kept a disturbing secret. AdvertisementTexas Community Health News; Texas Commission on Environmental Quality"Any exposure to a carcinogen increases your risk of developing cancer. AdvertisementTim Doty, a former TCEQ mobile air monitoring expert, at the industrial edge of River Terrace Park in Channelview, Texas. In fact, the agency rarely fines companies that violate Texas air pollution laws. Mark FelixHoneycutt's toxicology division soon took an even more dramatic step to weaken Texas' benzene guidelines.

Persons: Loren Hopkins, Hopkins, Mark Felix, TCEQ, AirToxScreen, AirToxScreen Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, Menefee, Tim Doty, Doty, Solv, He'd, Glenn Shankle, Kelly Keel, Todd Riddle, Riddle, Lopez, Joe Lopez, Dora, Joel Lopez, Randy Lopez, It's, Joel, Felix Benzene, wildcatters, Houston —, Forbes, Lorenzo de Zavala, Alison Cohen, Cohen, Tim Doty's, Houston Mayor Bill White, Shankle, Michael Honeycutt, Valerie Meyers, Meyers, Mark Felix Meyers, Richard Hyde, John Sadlier, Ryder, Hyde, hadn't, Russell Allen, Matt Baker, Jacintoport, Cloelle Danforth, Public Health Watch —, Danforth, Mark Felix Honeycutt's, Eric Schaeffer, Schaeffer, Honeycutt, Jim Tarr, polluters, upended, Mark Felix Fracking, Barnett, Glenn Shankle —, —, Rick Perry, Perry, Sadlier, David Bower, misstep, Baker, Bower, Michael Burgess, Greg Abbott, Abbott, Mark Felix Meanwhile, Randy, That's, Carolyn Stone, Stone, Carolyn Stone's, Mark Felix The, Cynthia Benson, Benson, Mark Felix Tim Doty, Mark Felix K, Jordan Gass Organizations: Public Health Watch, Texas Commission, Environmental, American Petroleum Institute, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, U.S . Navy, Geospatial - Intelligence Agency, General, Health, Public Health, Rice University, Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Community Health, AirToxScreen Harris County Attorney, polluters, Mark Felix Public Health, TCEQ, Solv, Mark Felix Public Health Watch, myelodysplasia, Houston, Oil, Gas Watch, Texas, Houston Ship, University of California, Houston Mayor, ., . Texas Community Health, NASA, Exxon Mobil, Public, Watch, Environmental Defense Fund, Management, Civil, Air Alliance Houston, Republican, Fort, United, Texas toxicologist, EPA, Texas Tribune, Google, Land Office, . Geological Survey, National Oceanic, Firefighters, U.S . Occupational Safety, Health Administration, Channelview, Improvement Coalition, Health Watch, San Jacinto, K, Texas Legislature, Solv Group, Services Locations: , Texas, Texas, Houston, Channelview's Jacintoport, San Jacinto, California, Jacintoport, Channelview , Texas, AirToxScreen Harris County, Channelview, Harris County, United States, North Channelview, Gulf, Terrace, Joel's, Houston , Texas, Spindletop, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Port of Houston, San Francisco, . Texas, That's, polluters, lacquers, Dallas, Fort Worth, Fort Worth City, Austin, Round, Minnesota, Galveston, U.S

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal regulators are investigating ExxonMobil's $60 billion deal to acquire a Texas oil company in what would be one the largest mergers in the energy industry in two decades, according to securities filings. The Federal Trade Commission, which enforces federal antitrust law, has asked for additional information from the companies about Exxon’s proposed acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources. Exxon reported $9.1 billion in profits in the quarter that ended Sept. 30, while Chevron reported $6.5 billion in profits. Exxon has said the proposed deal with Texas-based Pioneer Resources would enhance U.S. energy security and benefit the American economy and consumers. Chevron said its proposed deal with New York-based Hess would strengthen long-term performance while “delivering higher returns and lower carbon” dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Schumer, Hess, Exxon, Alex Witt, Witt Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Federal Trade Commission, Natural Resources, FTC, Exxon, Pioneer, Hess Corporation, Chevron, Justice Department, Resources, Climate, Center for American Progress Action Fund, League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club Locations: Texas, Chevron, Ukraine, New York

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Tommy Tuberville announced on Tuesday that he's ending his blockade of hundreds of military promotions, following heavy criticism from many of his colleagues in the Senate and clearing the way for hundreds to be approved soon. Tuberville’s blockade of military promotions was over a dispute about a Pentagon abortion policy. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said a vote on the nominations could come quickly, possibly even in the afternoon. There were 451 military officers affected by the holds as of Nov. 27. It’s a stance that has left key national security positions unfilled and military families with an uncertain path forward.

Persons: — Sen, Tommy Tuberville, he’s “, ”, Chuck Schumer, Tuberville, Joe Biden’s, Pat Ryder, “, Critics, Sen, Dan Sullivan, overreach, ” Tuberville, We've, Lolita C, Baldor Organizations: WASHINGTON, Alabama Republican, Pentagon, Biden, GOP, Associated Locations: Alaska

On Nov. 18, China’s Ministry of Public Security announced that authorities in northern Myanmar had handed over some 31,000 suspects. The Kokang Self-Administered Zone and the Wa Self-Administered Division both share a border with China and are heavily influenced by their bigger neighbor. The Ming family are not the only powerful Kokang families caught up in the drive. Wa police handed 194 Chinese nationals to Chinese authorities on Nov. 28, according to Wa's state media, Voice of Wa State. Others say that China is showing it won't tolerate the scams anymore, regardless of how powerful are the people behind them.

Persons: ”, Lu Jiantang, Jason Tower, Ming, Hu Xijin, ” Hu, Wei Qingtao, they’ll, ” Wei, Liu Zhengqi, Ming Xuechang, Kokang, Yin Masan, MNDAA, cyberscammers, Richard Horsey, “, Bai Suocheng, Li Kyar Wen, It’s, Wanqing Chen Organizations: China’s Ministry of Public Security, U.S . Congress, United States Institute of Peace, Communist Party, China’s Communist Party, CCTV, Global Times, of Public Security, Fully, Wa Construction Ministry, Wa Communist Party, Brotherhood Alliance, Arakan Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, National Liberation Army, International Crisis Locations: BANGKOK, China, Myanmar, “, Wa, Kokang, Yunnan, Wa State, Shan, Arakan, cyberscams, Beijing

MOSCOW (AP) — Heavy snowfall has hit the Russian capital, disrupting traffic on roads and flights in and out of three Moscow airports, officials and media reported on Monday. The snowfall that began Sunday and continued overnight has brought an additional 23 centimeters (nine inches) to already high levels of snow in Moscow, according to deputy mayor Pyotr Biryukov. A total of 53 flights were delayed and five more were canceled on Monday morning in three out of four Moscow airports, Russian business daily Vedomosti reported. At the Zhukovsky airport southeast of the city, flights were departing from Moscow on schedule, according to Vedomosti. Heavy snow, as well as temperatures below -50 C (-58 F), were also reported in the Siberian region of Yakutia.

Persons: Pyotr Biryukov Organizations: MOSCOW Locations: Moscow, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky, Siberian, Yakutia, Magadan

☆ 10 Works and Performances That Helped Me Make Sense of 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Salamishah Tillet | More About Salamishah Tillet | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

I was staving off my own mourning as my family prepared for the 10th anniversary of my brother Shaka’s death from cancer. That, coupled with political crises and global despair, pushed me to find film, television and performances that helped me make sense of my grief and, hopefully, find a release for it. I can’t think of three more heart-wrenching performances of parental loss than Shiv (Sarah Snook), her voice breaking as she pleads, “Daddy? A man without a company, it is a fate that, for him, is far worse than death. (Read our review of the “Succession” finale.)

Persons: ” Juicy, Shakespeare’s, Z, Marcel Spears, Juicy, Ham, ’, Logan Roy, Brian Cox, Jesse Armstrong, that’s, Sarah Snook, “, Don’t, Kieran Culkin, Kendall, Jeremy Strong Organizations: Broadway Locations: Ham

☆ Clearing expansion is 'a game changer' across asset classes, says Euronext CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailClearing expansion is 'a game changer' across asset classes, says Euronext CEOStéphane Boujnah, CEO of Euronext, discusses the completion of the stock exchange's clearing house expansion, and explains why Euronext's single liquidity pool is supporting the Capital Markets Union in Europe.

Persons: Stéphane Boujnah Organizations: Capital Markets Union Locations: Europe

☆ Central banks of India, England resolve trade settlement stand-off
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] FILE PHOTO: A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) logo is seen inside its headquarters in Mumbai, India, April 6, 2023. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas//o/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMUMBAI, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The central banks of India and England on Friday signed an agreement on information exchange for settlement of bond trades, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said. In India, bonds are settled through the Clearing Corporation of India (CCIL). The two central banks have also established a framework for the BoE to rely on the Indian central bank's regulatory and supervisory activities, while safeguarding the United Kingdom's financial stability, the RBI said. This meant that European banks had to settle their India-based trades through banks based in other jurisdictions.

Persons: Francis Mascarenhas, BoE, CCIL, Siddhi Nayak, Jayshree, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Sohini Organizations: Bank of India, REUTERS, Rights, Reserve Bank of India, Clearing Corporation of India, Bank of England, United, European Securities and Markets Authority, Siddhi, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India, England

☆ IMF says Sri Lanka debt deal could help board clear first bailout review
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. The deal comes about a month after Sri Lanka's agreement with the Export-Import Bank of China covering about $4.2 billion of outstanding debt, while clearing the IMF review could trigger a second tranche of about $334 million in funds. "These understandings pave the way for the IMF Executive Board to consider completion of the first review of Sri Lanka's four-year Extended Fund Facility Arrangement," Peter Breuer, IMF's mission chief for Sri Lanka, said in a statement. "We look forward to the Executive Board taking up this review by mid-December and the continuation of our productive collaboration with Sri Lanka in the period ahead." Sri Lanka plunged into its worst financial crisis in seven decades last year after its foreign exchange reserves dwindled to record lows.

Persons: Yuri Gripas, Lanka's, Peter Breuer, IMF's, Nandalal Weerasinghe, Uditha Jayasinghe, Sudipto Ganguly, Clarence Fernandez, Steohen Coates Organizations: Monetary Fund, REUTERS, Rights, International Monetary Fund, Sri, Export, Import Bank of, IMF, Asian Development Bank, World Bank, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Import Bank of China, Sri Lanka's, Sri Lanka

☆ Nepal registers its first same-sex marriage
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters —Local authorities in a village in Nepal registered the Himalayan nation’s first same-sex marriage on Wednesday, officials and activists said, five months after the Supreme Court issued an interim order clearing the way for such marriages in the largely conservative country. “We have issued the marriage registration certificate to the couple in consideration of the Supreme Court order and instructions from relevant government authorities,” said Hem Raj Kafle, chief administrative officer of the Dordi rural municipality. In June, the country’s Supreme Court issued an interim order allowing same-sex couples to register their marriages pending a final verdict. “It will open the door for them to jointly open bank accounts, own and transfer property like just any other couples.”Taiwan is the only other place to legalize same-sex marriage in Asia, where societies remain largely conservative. Hindu-majority Nepal has become increasingly progressive since a decade-long Maoist insurgency ended in 2006.

Persons: Ram Bahadur, Gurung, Surendra Pandey, ” Pandey, ”, Hem Raj Kafle, Sunil Babu Pant, Nepal’s, Pant Organizations: Reuters, Local, Blue Diamond Society, Maoists, Nepali Congress Locations: Nepal, Lumjung, Kathmandu, South Asia, Taiwan, Asia

For the company's enterprise and carrier business, inventory clearing has dampened prospects of new orders for chip makers like Marvell. For the current quarter, Marvell expects revenue of $1.42 billion plus or minus 5%, compared with estimates of $1.46 billion. However, Marvell beat Wall Street estimates for third-quarter revenue and profit, as the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) buoyed demand for its chips. Marvell posted net revenue of $1.42 billion for the quarter ended Oct. 28, compared with analysts' estimates of $1.40 billion, according to LSEG data. Excluding items, the company posted a profit of 41 cents per share, marginally beating estimates of 40 cents per share.

Persons: Matthew Murphy, you've, Murphy, It's, Marvell, Arsheeya, Max A, Shailesh Kuber, Sonali Paul Organizations: Marvell Technology, Reuters, Marvell, Wall, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru, Max, San Francisco

☆ Democrats have no Biden backup plan for 2024, despite age concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Jeff Mason | Thomson Reuters | Jeff Mason Is A White House Correspondent For Reuters. He Has Covered The Presidencies Of Barack Obama | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Despite weak poll numbers and questions, including from some Democrats, about his age, Biden has stuck to his plan to seek a second term after clearing the field of serious Democratic primary challengers when he announced in April that he was running again. Biden loyalists, citing his record in office, argue that the party does not need a backup plan to defeat probable Republican nominee Donald Trump, who Biden beat in the 2020 election. To the chagrin of the White House, Biden's age has become a defining part of the 2024 campaign. "If he continues to run, he will be the nominee of the Democratic Party. In 1972, then Senator George Eagleton withdrew as Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern's vice presidential running mate after revelations of his treatment for depression forced him out of the race.

Persons: Joe Biden, Eisenhower, Evelyn Hockstein, Biden, Donald Trump, Biden's, Kamala Harris, ” Biden, Daniel Wessel, Trump's, Trump, David Axelrod, Barack Obama's, Axelrod, Marianne Williamson, Dean Phillips, Harris, Gavin Newsom, Elaine Kamarck, George Eagleton, George McGovern's, Sargent Shriver, McGovern, Newsom, Ron DeSantis, Jeff Mason, Heather Timmons, Alistair Bell Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Democratic Party, Democratic, Biden, Republican, Democrat, Reuters, MAGA, Republicans, Trump, White, Twitter, U.S, Brookings Institution, Democratic National Committee, DNC, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Nevada, South Carolina, Georgia, California , Illinois, Michigan, Chicago, California, Washington, Florida

☆ Satellite photos show how the US Air Force is reclaiming a WWII-era airfield from the jungle to prepare to dodge Chinese missiles
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The US Air Force is developing more dispersed bases to counter the threat posed by China's missiles. US engineers quickly began building what became the biggest and busiest air base of the war. "Air Force engineers are scheduled to remove the vegetation that have penetrated through the cracks and joints of the old pavement surfaces," Peden added. Money is allotted for work at Tindal air base — including $93 million to build a parking apron for six B-52 bombers — and Darwin air base, both of which are in Australia's Northern Territory. The Air Force is working with the rest of the military to address those challenges, Thomas Lawhead, acting deputy chief of staff for Air Force Futures, said at an event this month.

Persons: —, Gen, Kenneth Wilsbach, Wilsbach, Lance Cpl, J, Gage, Capt, Gerald Peden, Peden, Jason Robertson, Cesar Basa, Michael S, Murphy, Frank Kendall, Kendall, Sgt, JT May III, Thomas Lawhead, Joseph P, Lawhead Organizations: US Air Force, China's, Service, Airport, US Pacific Air Forces, an Air and Space Forces Association, Field, International Airport, Commonwealth of, Marines, Air Force, Google, Air, Tinian's, US Marine Corps, KC, Pacific Air Forces, Tech, Northwest Field, Tindal, Pentagon, Air Force Futures, Army Locations: Tinian, SkyFi, Japan, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, West, Commonwealth, Northern Mariana Islands, Pacific, —, Guam, Northern Territory, Philippines, Manila, Philippine, China, North Korea, Northern Mariana

Traders work on the floor of the London Metal Exchange in London, Britain, September 27, 2018. Both explicitly allow for the cancellation of trades "in exceptional cases", which would be a fair description of last year's nickel market meltdown and the resulting threat of multiple member defaults. This is a case of "knowing one when you see one" or "the elephant test" in legal precedent, the judges said. Nor would it have affected Chamberlain's assessment that nickel trading had become irrational and disorderly on the morning of March 8. LME trading has been transformed by the crisis in the form of permanent caps on time-spreads and limits on intraday price movements.

Persons: Simon Dawson, Elliott, Jonathan Swift, Robert Bright, Matthew Chamberlain, Jane Street, Chamberlain, China's, Xiang Guangda, Oliver Wyman, Tsingshan, Barbara Lewis Organizations: London Metal Exchange, REUTERS, London High, Elliott Associates, Jane, Global Trading, Financial, Authority, China's Tsingshan, Reuters, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, U.S

Search resuls for: "Clearing"

25 mentions found