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☆ Bank of America breaks down how to find the perfect ETFs for your portfolio in just 3 steps — and shares 15 top-rated funds with the best risk-adjusted returns
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are easy to love, but successfully navigating the space can be challenging — even for experienced investors. Like mutual funds, ETFs allow investors to own many stocks at once. For example, investors' returns can be meaningfully altered by relative moves of the US dollar. Within that group, just 15 ETFs had a Sortino ratio of over 1. The Sortino ratio evaluates a fund or ETF's returns on a risk-adjusted basis relative to its downside volatility, and any mark over 1 is seen as solid.

Persons: Jared Woodard, Woodard Organizations: Bank of America, BofA's Research Investment Locations: There's, foolproof, one's, Japan, India, Mexico

The sanctions imposed by Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control target third-party firms and people alleged to assist Moscow in procuring equipment needed on the battlefield, including suppliers and shippers. In addition, the State Department imposed diplomatic sanctions targeting Russian energy production and its metals and mining sector. Thursday's sanctions targets include Turkish national Berk Turken and his firms, which are alleged to have ties to Russian intelligence. The latest sanctions build on the thousands of financial penalties imposed on Russian infrastructure and its officials, banks and oligarchs. He accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russia’s demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees.

Persons: Berk Turken, Janet Yellen, Russia “, ”, SWIFT, Vladimir Putin Organizations: WASHINGTON, United Arab, Treasury Department's, Foreign, State Department, Treasury Department, United Arab Emirates, Financial Engineering, VTB Bank, Central Bank, NATO Locations: United States, Turkey, China, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Turkish, Russian, Russia, UAE, ARX, U.S, Moscow

The whales were buoyed by a strong birthing year in 2021, when 18 calves were born into the population, the consortium said. However, consortium members cautioned that the high mortality faced by the whales from collisions and entanglement remains an unsustainable burden. Scientists say one reason the whales are now in decline has to do with warming oceans and climate change. Numerous lobster fishermen have opposed proposed fishing restrictions they fear would put them out of business rather than help whales. The right whale consortium said sublethal injuries to whales from collisions and fishing gear are also a major concern for the remaining population.

Persons: ”, Philip Hamilton, they're, Dave Cousens, Katie Moore, Janet Coit, Coit Organizations: U.S ., Atlantic, Whale Consortium, Anderson Cabot Center, Ocean, New, Maine Lobstermen’s Association, International Fund for Animal Welfare, National Marine Fisheries Service Locations: PORTLAND, Maine, North Atlantic, U.S . East Coast, Florida, Georgia, New England, Canada

☆ UK-Led Coalition to Give Ukraine 100 Million Pound Mine-Clearing Support Package
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON (Reuters) - A British-led group of European countries will provide Ukraine with a 100 million pound ($122.70 million) package to support its armed forces including equipment to clear minefields. Britain's defence ministry on Wednesday said Ukraine was "now the most mined country on earth," which had become an obstacle in its counter-offensive this year, and that mine clearing capabilities were essential to help it push forward. The package will be provided using money from the International Fund for Ukraine - a group of countries including Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. Defence minister Grant Shapps will announce the package alongside allies and attend his first NATO-Ukraine Council, where he is expected to discuss the Israel-Gaza crisis and reported damage to undersea infrastructure between Finland and Estonia. ($1 = 0.8150 pounds)(Reporting by Farouq Suleiman; editing by William James)

Persons: Grant Shapps, Farouq Suleiman, William James Organizations: International Fund for, Defence, NATO, Ukraine Council Locations: British, Ukraine, International Fund for Ukraine, Britain, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Israel, Gaza, Finland, Estonia

☆ Herat, Afghanistan earthquake: Aid group warns devastation 'worse than we imagined'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck on Saturday 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Herat city in the western Herat province – the third largest in Afghanistan. The world must not look away now.”A badly destroyed house, one of thousands across Herat province in western Afghanistan. UNICEF teams on the ground are calling for more urgent action and aid for families devastated by the latest earthquake. UNICEF“We will make every effort to bring quick relief to those affected,” said Fran Equiza, its representative in Afghanistan. International aid groups have said their ability to respond to calls during major disasters was heavily hampered by the Taliban’s takeover and called for more urgent global aid but only a handful of countries have publicly offered support.

Persons: ”, Thamindri de Silva, de Silva, ” “, ” de Silva, Mark Calder, “, MUHAMMAD BALABULUKI, Stéphane Dujarric, ” Dujarric, António Guterres, UNICEF “, Fran Equiza, Zabihullah Mujahid Organizations: CNN — International, World, CNN, Getty Images UN, UN, UNICEF, Sunday, Bank Locations: Afghanistan, Herat, Herat province –, Kabul, ”, AFP, Washington, Khost, Pakistan, Neighboring China

CNN —A series of powerful earthquakes struck western Afghanistan on Saturday killing at least 100 people and wounding more than 500 others, according to the UN’s humanitarian office, as the nation reels from another natural disaster at a time of deep economic crisis. The 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Herat city in the western Herat province – the third largest in Afghanistan. The initial quake was also felt in neighboring provinces of Badghis and Farah and was followed by multiple aftershocks. A deadly quake in March struck northeastern Afghanistan, sending residents fleeing from their homes as it brought down entire buildings and triggered devastating landslides. And a 5.6 magnitude earthquake on January 17, 2022 struck Badghis, another western province near Herat bordering Turkmenistan, killed more than 20 people and reduced hundreds of brick homes to rubble.

Persons: Farah, “, OCHA, Mohsen Karimi Organizations: CNN, UN Office, Humanitarian Affairs, UN, Getty, Bank Locations: Afghanistan, Herat, Herat province –, Badghis, Herat City, AFP, United States, freefall, New Delhi, Khost, Pakistan, Turkmenistan

Production of the chocolate-making ingredient is expanding outside of the main growing area in West Africa as farmers in places such Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia see potential profit in the crop. The rally in prices to the highest level in nearly 50 years is boosting that trend, which could alleviate the current supply tightness in the global cocoa market. The country was once the second only to Ivory Coast in cocoa production, but a devastating fungus in the 1980's known as Witches' Broom sharply reduced production. "I believe that the new profile of cocoa production will be large-scale," said Moises Schmidt, one of the owners. "If you plant cocoa trees there (Amazon region), it is considered reforestation," said Douglas.

Persons: Schmidt Agricola, Moises Almeida Schmidt, Handout, Moises Schmidt, Jeroen Douglas, Douglas, Jose Garcia, IFAD's, Alvaro Lario, Marcelo Teixeira, Maytaal Angel, Simon Webb, Anna Driver Organizations: REUTERS, International Cocoa Organization, Reuters Graphics, Ivory, UN's, Fund for Agricultural Development, Thomson Locations: Bahia, Brazil, West Africa, Ecuador, Colombia, Africa, South America, Ivory, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Asia, United States, Europe, Guayaquil, Para, Netherlands, Medicilandia, New York, London

☆ Exclusive: East Timor president says China military cooperation was 'never discussed'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The agreement also provided scope for funding from China including government and commercial loans to East Timor, he said. "It was never discussed in terms of military cooperation, never discussed, and the Chinese side also never raised this issue," Ramos-Horta said. East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, aims to join the Southeast Asian regional bloc ASEAN by 2025 as it seeks to reduce high poverty rates. Australia has appointed an envoy to speed up negotiations between East Timor and Woodside; Gusmao's government wants gas to be piped to East Timor and not Australia. Australia's relationship with East Timor is "stronger than at any time in the last decade", Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Persons: Jose Ramos, Caitlin Ochs, Horta, Xanana Gusmao, Xi Jinping, heightening, Ramos, Kirsty Needham, Lincoln Organizations: Sustainable, United Nations, REUTERS, Rights, East, Reuters, Southeast, ASEAN, Canberra, Woodside Energy, Greater Sunrise, Greater, Australia, UN's, Fund for Agricultural Development, Global Citizen, Pacific, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs, Thomson Locations: Horta, Timor, New York City , New York, U.S, East Timor, China, Australia, Indonesia, Canberra, Solomon Islands, 2,000km, Timor Leste, ASEAN, Singapore, Malaysia, East Timor's, Dili, Greater Sunrise, Southeast Asia, Woodside, New York

☆ Exclusive: Timor president says China military cooperation 'never discussed'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The agreement also provided scope for funding from China including government and commercial loans to East Timor, he said. Some Australian politicians expressed concern after China's state media reported on Saturday that Beijing's agreement with East Timor, around 700km (450 miles) north-west of Australia, also covered military exchanges. "It was never discussed in terms of military cooperation, never discussed, and the Chinese side also never raised this issue," Ramos-Horta said. East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, aims to join the Southeast Asian regional bloc ASEAN by 2025 as it seeks to reduce high poverty rates. Australia has appointed an envoy to speed up negotiations between East Timor and Woodside; Gusmao's government wants gas to be piped to East Timor and not Australia.

Persons: Jose Ramos, Caitlin Ochs, Horta, Xanana Gusmao, Xi Jinping, heightening, Ramos, Kirsty Needham, Lincoln, 私 Organizations: Sustainable, United Nations, REUTERS, Rights, East, Reuters, Southeast, ASEAN, Canberra, Woodside Energy, Greater Sunrise, Greater, Australia, UN's, Fund for Agricultural Development, Global Citizen, Pacific Locations: Horta, Timor, New York City , New York, U.S, East Timor, China, Australia, Indonesia, Canberra, Solomon Islands, 2,000km, Timor Leste, ASEAN, Singapore, Malaysia, East Timor's, Dili, Greater Sunrise, Southeast Asia, Woodside, United States, New York

☆ US dollar share of global currency reserves stays flat in second quarter, IMF says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Claims in U.S. dollars rose 0.8% to $6.576 trillion in the second quarter, but were down 1% from a year earlier. The euro's share edged up slightly to 19.9% in the second quarter, from 19.8% the previous three months. The dollar index was up 3.1% in the second quarter, recovering from a 0.9% fall in the first quarter. The IMF data also showed the Chinese renminbi's share of currency reserves slipped to 2.4% in the second quarter from about 2.6% in the first. IMF data also showed total global reserves rose to $12.055 trillion in the second quarter from $12.028 trillion in the first quarter.

Persons: Michael Langham, Langham, Gertrude Chavez, Dreyfuss, David Gregorio, Chris Reese Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Canadian, Global, IMF, Thomson Locations: U.S

☆ A 30 year old who built up a net worth of more than $1 million and quit his day job says he primarily invests in 2 types of funds — and explains why he diversifies with real estate instead of bonds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

He quit his day job in March 2022 to build his personal finance brand, Defining Wealth, and coaching business full-time. The 30 year old shared his investment strategy, including the types of funds he invests in and why he prefers buy-and-hold real estate. Most of his stock-market money is invested in two types of funds, he told Insider: a broad US fund and a broad international fund. He started investing in real estate in 2018 in Orlando, Florida, where he lived at the time. What Wright likes about investing in real estate is that "you're buying an asset that's producing income," he said.

Persons: Tyler Wright, I'd, Wright, I've, Tyler Wright Wright, I'm, he'd Organizations: University of Central, Vanguard, Fidelity, Index Fund, Facebook, Google, Apple Locations: University of Central Florida, cryptocurrency, Nashville, Orlando , Florida, Orlando, Tennessee

☆ UN Worried About Vietnam Arrest of Energy Expert After Biden's Visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Francesco GuarascioHANOI (Reuters) - The U.N. human rights office has expressed concern about the arrest of a Vietnamese green energy expert, who had collaborated with U.N. and U.S. agencies, just days after President Joe Biden signed business and human rights deals with Hanoi on a visit. Hanoi police on Sept. 15 detained Ngo Thi To Nhien, Executive Director of the Vietnam Initiative for Energy Transition (VIET), an independent think tank focused on green energy policy, Reuters reported last week citing a charity and a source. She "has participated in international and national events, including consultations organized by UNDP on the topic of energy transition," the UNDP in Vietnam confirmed in an email message to Reuters. Vietnam's government has not issued any public statement about Nhien's arrest, and did not reply to requests for comment. Phil Robertson, Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, said Manh had a strong alibi which was disregarded.

Persons: Francesco Guarascio HANOI, U.N, Joe Biden, Ngo Thi, Nhien, Le Van Manh, Phil Robertson, Manh, Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio, Michael Perry Organizations: Vietnam Initiative for Energy, Reuters, UN, Human Rights, World Bank, United Nations, USAID, LinkedIn, UNDP, European, Asia Locations: Hanoi, United States, Vietnam

FILE PHOTO-Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, attends the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland February 27, 2023. Hanoi police on Sept. 15 detained Ngo Thi To Nhien, Executive Director of the Vietnam Initiative for Energy Transition (VIET), an independent think tank focused on green energy policy, Reuters reported last week citing a charity and a source. Nhien had worked for the World Bank, with the United Nations Development Programme and the United States aid agency (USAID), according to her profile on LinkedIn. She "has participated in international and national events, including consultations organized by UNDP on the topic of energy transition," the UNDP in Vietnam confirmed in an email message to Reuters. Phil Robertson, Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, said Manh had a strong alibi which was disregarded.

Persons: Volker Turk, Denis Balibouse, U.N, Joe Biden, Ngo Thi, Nhien, Le Van Manh, Phil Robertson, Manh, Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio, Michael Perry Organizations: United Nations, Human Rights, REUTERS, Rights, Vietnam Initiative for Energy, Reuters, UN, World Bank, USAID, LinkedIn, UNDP, European, Asia, Thomson Locations: Geneva, Switzerland, Rights HANOI, Hanoi, United States, Vietnam

☆ France pledges $150 million to UN's IFAD fund for rural areas
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

French President Emmanuel Macron visits the construction site of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, which was damaged in a devastating fire, with his wife Brigitte Macron, Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla in Paris, on the second day of their State visit to France, September 21, 2023. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 24 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to invest $150 million in the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to fight poverty and climate change in rural areas. IFAD is a Rome-based United Nations agency working to address poverty and hunger in developing countries' rural areas. France also committed to give 40 million euros ($43 million) to the U.N.'s global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), during 2023-2026, French Secretary of State for Development and International Partnerships Chrysoula Zacharopoulou said. ($1 = 0.9388 euros)Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide and Camille Raynaud; Editing by Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Brigitte Macron, Britain's King Charles, Queen Camilla, Hannah McKay, Macron, IFAD, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Sybille de La Hamaide, Camille Raynaud, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Notre, Dame de Paris Cathedral, REUTERS, Rights, International Fund for Agricultural Development, Global Citizen, United Nations, State, Development, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, New York, Rome, French

☆ France Pledges $150 Million to U.N.'s IFAD Fund for Rural Areas
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to invest $150 million in the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to fight poverty and climate change in rural areas. France decided to host and organise the 13th replenishment of IFAD, and was now launching a call for contributions by making the commitment, Macron said in a video message broadcast during a charity concert organized in New York by non-profit group Global Citizen. IFAD is a Rome-based United Nations agency working to address poverty and hunger in developing countries' rural areas. France also committed to give 40 million euros ($43 million) to the U.N.'s global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), during 2023-2026, French Secretary of State for Development and International Partnerships Chrysoula Zacharopoulou said. ($1 = 0.9388 euros)(Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide and Camille Raynaud; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Macron, IFAD, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Sybille de La Hamaide, Camille Raynaud, Emelia Sithole Organizations: PARIS, International Fund for Agricultural Development, Global Citizen, United Nations, State, Development Locations: France, New York, Rome, French

WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is facing growing skepticism from some leading rich and developing nations as the residual impact of sanctions against Russia is deepening divisions among the Group of 20 countries. Russia and China, meanwhile, have declared a “no limits” partnership of their own. And the economic bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — known as BRICS — is trying to increase its use of local currencies instead of the U.S. dollar. Russia is hoping it can use its power over Ukraine’s Black Sea exports as a bargaining chip to reduce Western sanctions. That may be difficult as G20 nations increasingly gravitate into blocs and with some leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, opting to skip the summit.

Persons: Janet Yellen, —, Joe Biden, Yellen, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Rachel Ziemba, ”, Xi Jinping, Josh Lipsky, Lipsky, Xi, Mark Sobel, ” Sobel, Ziemba Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, U.S ., West, Center, New, New American Security, Treasury Department, International Fund for Agricultural Development, GeoEconomics, Fund, Center for Strategic, International Studies, U.S, New Development Bank, Monetary Fund, World Bank, ”, European Union Locations: Russia, India, U.S, Moscow, Ukraine, United States, China, Brazil, South Africa, New Delhi, New American, Argentina, Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey

☆ Clean Energy Projects Are Booming Everywhere. Except in Poor Nations.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Max Bearak | More About Max Bearak | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The world is racing ahead with enormous investments in renewable energy, for the first time this year plowing more money into solar power than oil. But the world’s poorest countries, mostly in Africa, are effectively priced out of the action by a global lending system that considers them too risky for investment. Only 2 percent of global investment in renewable energy has been in Africa, where nearly a billion people have little or no access to electricity. Clean energy projects would help stabilize their countries and economies, they say, reducing the very risk that investors say they fear. It’s an issue that looms large this week at a climate summit in Kenya, as it will at climate talks sponsored by the United Nations later this year in Dubai.

Persons: Archip Lobo Organizations: United Nations Locations: Africa, Kenya, Dubai, Congo

☆ 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

☆ BRICS summit: China's Xi visits South Africa in second trip abroad this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

For Xi, the first in-person summit of the BRICS grouping since the pandemic presents another opportunity to advance that vision. The bloc’s members – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – account for more than 40 percent of the global population. “Xi is going to be the center of the BRICS summit, given that Vladimir Putin is not attending in person,” he said. His last journey to the continent – also for the BRICS summit in South Africa – in 2018 includes a whirlwind of visits to Senegal, Rwanda and Mauritius, spanning almost every corner of Sub-Saharan Africa. Instead, the Chinese leader will co-chair the China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue with his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, China’s Foreign Ministry said.

Persons: Xi Jinping, ” Vladimir Putin, strongmen, –, “ Xi Jinping, ”, Steve Tsang, Tsang, South Africa Chen Xiaodong, BRICS, ” Chen, Joe Biden, Camp Davis, China’s, Paul Nantulya, Xi, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Nantulya, CNN Yun Sun, ” Nantulya, Cyril Ramaphosa Organizations: CNN, South Africa, US, SOAS China Institute, University of London, Africa Center, Strategic Studies, ”, Stimson, Initiative, Institutes, South Africa –, ’ Locations: South, United States, Moscow, – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Japan, South Korea, Camp, Asia, South China, Beijing, Ukraine, Washington, Africa, Senegal, Rwanda, Mauritius, Saharan Africa

☆ A fashion designer who retired at 36 after investing in stocks shares the 3 funds she holds and the 4th she's now aggressively buying that's up by over 580% since inception.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Rachel Covert aggressively invested for seven years to build a retirement portfolio. Her large salary and aggressive budgeting allowed her to build an almost half-a-million-dollar retirement portfolio, according to financial statements viewed by Insider. For this reason, the majority of her retirement portfolio sits in the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX). This was the best choice for an aggressive growth fund. Her goal was to increase her exposure to more volatile technology growth stocks.

Persons: Rachel Covert, Roth, Covert, I'm, Investopedia Organizations: Vanguard, Market Locations: New York, Portugal, QQQ

The day is “full of honor and pride for Afghans,” Taliban deputy spokesperson Bilal Karimi told CNN. “Afghanistan was freed from occupation, Afghans were able to regain their country, freedom, government and will. “There is no such thing as women’s freedom anymore,” said Mahbouba Seraj, an Afghan women’s rights activist and 2023 Nobel Peace Prize nominee. “The women in Afghanistan are being slowly erased from society, from life, from everything – their opinions, their voices, what they think, where they are.”Video Ad Feedback 'They can't go to school? “The only reason why I’m in Afghanistan and I’m staying here is to be next to my sisters and try to help them,” said Seraj, the women’s rights activists.

Persons: Zahra, ”, “, ” Zahra, Bilal Karimi, Zahra –, Mahbouba Seraj, CNN “, I’m, who’ve, ” Zabiullah Mujahid, haven’t, Heather Barr, Seraj, Mahbouba, “ They’re, they’re, Barr, what’s Organizations: CNN, “, Nations, United Nations, CNN “ I’m, UN, Taliban, Human Rights Locations: Afghanistan, Kabul, States, “ Afghanistan, Zahra, Afghan, United

☆ Hedge fund performance in July was muted. But Citadel distanced itself from Point72, Millennium, and other competitors.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Alex Morrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Top multi-strategy hedge funds trailed the stock market in July. Citadel led the pack, gaining 1.3% last month and pushing its 2023 tally to 8.6%. Verition bested most of its peers, gaining 1.2% in July. The world's largest hedge funds, meanwhile, posted more muted gains. Among its multi-strategy hedge fund peers, Ken Griffin's $59 billion Citadel remains second to none, gaining 1.3% in July in its flagship Wellington fund.

Persons: Verition, Ken Griffin's, It's, Marshall Wace Eureka Organizations: Citadel, Citadel Wellington, Hudson, International, Representatives Locations: Wellington

Beijing/Hong Kong CNN —US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urged China on Saturday to combat the “existential threat” of climate change by supporting international funds intended to help developing countries confront the crisis. On the second full day of her visit to Beijing, Yellen said the United States and China should work together to tackle global challenges despite differences over a range of issues. Yellen said China’s support for existing multilateral climate institutions like the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Climate Investment Funds, alongside the United States and other partners, could improve their impact. The GCF is the main climate financing mechanism of the United Nations and helps developing countries to tackle climate change. Kerry would be the third Cabinet official from the Biden administration to travel to China, after Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who visited in June.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Yellen, —, ”, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi’s, China Nicholas Burns, John Kerry, Kerry, Biden, Antony Blinken Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Climate, United Nations, Amazon Fund, US, Yellen Locations: Beijing, Hong Kong, China, United States, Taiwan

☆ This international stock picker is outpacing peers with differentiated, long-term bets
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

In 2019, it launched its International Fund. Today, the investor manages the Diamond Hill International Fund (DHIAX) , rated five stars by Morningstar. Mohanraj expects that's because of the fund's emphasis on differentiated bets. The Diamond Hill fund, which is benchmarked against the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index, has roughly $65 million in assets, a 1.150% expense ratio, and . "And it's that idea of a highly curated portfolio, of what I want to own in international, that's the mindset."

Persons: Krishna Mohanraj, Sanford C, Bernstein, that's, Mohanraj, Morningstar, DHIAX, What's, Dino, they've, Mario, V, Prem Watsa who's, Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett's Organizations: Diamond Hill Capital Management, Diamond Hill, International Fund, i2 Technologies, Sanford, Dino Polska SA, Polska, Dino Polska, Nintendo, Mario Bros, Office, Fairfax Financial Locations: Diamond, South India, U.S, Warsaw, Poland, Japanese, Fairfax, Canadian, Canada, Berkshire

☆ Lazard, facing a dealmaking drought, is on a mission to boost its money management business. It won't be easy.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Rebecca Ungarino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The group extends guidance on geopolitical matters to clients as well as colleagues, like the asset management arm's sprawling salesforce. The firm is making a series of changes to ramp up its asset management business. Lazard has had an asset management business for decades, but it's a business that's finding new relevance on Wall Street. Incoming Lazard CEO Peter Orszag, pictured here in May, has made improving the asset management business a priority. "When it comes to the asset management business, the picture is probably more blurry," said Richard Bruyère, managing partner of the Paris-based asset management advisory firm Indefi.

Persons: Lazard, Evan Russo, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Peter Orszag, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, it's, Russo, Orszag, Ray McGuire, Jennifer Ryan, Goldman Sachs, Brennan Hawken, Richard Bruyère, Bruyère, Ryan, Hartley, Morgan Stanley, Janus Henderson, Ashmore, Devin Ryan, AllianceBernstein, Larry Cohen, " Russo, Peter Organizations: Lazard, BlackRock, Citi, New York, North, Incoming Lazard, REUTERS, UBS, Investors, Firms, Virtus, Liontrust, Bank's JMP Securities Locations: Russia, New York, Washington, North America, Paris, Taft, Asia

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