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☆ Companies like Microsoft can help manage migration: incoming UN migration chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Emma Farge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SummarySummary Companies 9th American Amy Pope set to lead UN migration agencySays Western asylum systems are 'completely overwhelmed'Mediterranean deaths are symptom of broader trendGENEVA, June 1 (Reuters) - The incoming head of the U.N. migration agency said on Thursday that she has talked to companies like Microsoft (MSFT.O) to see how they can build partnerships to manage migration. "I want to go to the private sector being a major part of how we deliver around the world," Pope told Reuters in an interview. Pope, who formally takes office as Director-General in October, cited talks with Microsoft about projects in Africa as an example of increased private sector investment in migration work. At present only about $15 million of IOM's total budget of $2.5 billion comes from the private sector, she said. Another priority of her mandate is to create more "climate sustainable solutions" for migration, Pope said.

Persons: Amy Pope, Antonio Vitorino, Pope, It's, Joe Biden, Biden, Ted Hesson, Jane Merriman Organizations: Microsoft, Organization for Migration, Reuters, U.S, Biden, IOM, Thomson Locations: GENEVA, Geneva, Portuguese, Africa, U.S, Mexico, North Africa, Europe, Washington

☆ Sudanese army suspends ceasefire talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The RSF said in a statement late on Tuesday it was committed to the ceasefire "despite repeated violations" by the army. CHALLENGING NEGOTIATIONSCommenting on the Sudanese army's withdrawal from the Jeddah talks, Mohamed El Hacen Lebatt, African Union spokesperson on the crisis in Sudan, said: "It is not surprising. We hope the mediator will succeed to bring both parties for working on an expected ceasefire." Before the ceasefire deal was renewed, an army source said the army had demanded the RSF withdraw from civilian homes and hospitals as a condition for an extension. After the five-day extension was agreed, talks continued on the truce terms.

Persons: Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah, Hemedti's, Dagalo, Mohamed El Hacen, Hemedti, Omar al, Bashir, Khalid Abdelaziz, Nafisa Eltahir, Dawit, Michael Georgy, Edmund Blair, Mark Heinrich, Grant McCool Organizations: Rapid Support Forces, Nations, REUTERS, Union, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Khartoum, KHARTOUM, Saudi, Jeddah, Khartoum's Mogran, Omdurman, Bahri, Sudan, au, Saudi Arabia, United States, Darfur, Sudan's, Port Sudan, Dubai, Nafisa, Cairo, Addis Ababa

☆ China says it will make efforts for political solution to Ukraine crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, May 27 (Reuters) - China will make concrete efforts for a political solution to the Ukraine crisis, the Chinese foreign ministry quoted special envoy Li Hui as saying on Saturday. China has always adhered to an objective and fair position on Ukraine, argued for peace and promoted talks, Li was quoted as telling Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Li's visit to Russia was the final stop in a multi-country tour that Beijing said was aimed at discussing a "political settlement" to the Ukraine crisis. Li said China will strengthen exchanges and dialogues with all parties, including Russia, according to the readout from the foreign ministry. Reporting by Ella Cao and Bernard Orr; Editing by Kim Coghill and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Nicaragua accuses Catholic Church of money laundering, freezes accounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 27 (Reuters) - Nicaraguan police said on Saturday they are investigating several dioceses of the Catholic Church for money laundering, a day after local media reported that the bank accounts of parishes in the Central American country had been frozen. Investigations "confirmed the unlawful removal of resources from bank accounts that had been ordered by law to be frozen," the police said in a statement. Ortega's government has intensified attacks against the Catholic Church in the wake of 2018 anti-government protests in which some 360 people died after what human rights groups call police repression. The police statement said the bank accounts were linked to religious figures convicted of treason and other crimes, and that the investigations confirmed the funds entered the country irregularly. "People have their bank accounts here, this is how they carried out their work," Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes said in an article posted on news website despacho505.com.

☆ Lab-grown breast milk startup Biomilq aims to change infant nutrition — if it can release a product
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Biomilq, the company behind the breakthrough, had been working for nearly a decade to replicate the process of making human milk — but outside of the body. While the crisis has highlighted the importance of a resilient formula supply, human milk experts, milk bank advocates and Biomilq all stress the same message: Breast milk is best. The startup will likely take a "gradual approach" to introducing its science via "an early-life nutrition product in partnership with one of these bigger companies," Strickland explained. Breast milk is woefully understudied — to the point that it's difficult "to even say what human milk is from a nutritional standpoint," Perrin explained. The company is researching which aspects of human milk its system is best suited to produce.

☆ Factbox: Then and now: How Arab states changed course on Syria
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

May 19 (Reuters) - President Bashar al-Assad's attendance at an Arab Summit in Saudi Arabia on Friday is the result of big policy shifts by Arab states that once backed his opponents in Syria's civil war. The support was a point of rivalry with another Gulf Arab state, Qatar, which backed Islamist groups espousing ideologies viewed with suspicion by Riyadh. It also worked with the United States in a programme to support rebels deemed moderate by Washington. As some Arab states changed course on Assad, notably the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia showed no sign of bringing him in from the cold. Like other Arab states, Saudi Arabia is also expecting Assad to curb the trade in narcotics smuggled out of Syria.

☆ Fanatics' first big sports-betting acquisition could reignite M&A in the sector, as rumors fly and buyers 'smell blood in the water'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Ashley Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Fanatics' first big sports-betting acquisition could be the spark that reignites M&A in the sector. Industry insiders speculate on what deals could come next. It's go time for M&A in sports betting as newcomer Fanatics makes its first big acquisition in the sector and rumors fly about who will be snapped up next. On Sunday, Australia's PointsBet announced it had agreed to sell its US operations to Fanatics' betting and gaming division for about $150 million in cash. "I think Fanatics smells blood in the water," said one industry consultant who had been following Fanatics closely.

☆ Russia's invasion of Ukraine is bringing Japan closer to NATO, in yet another own goal for Putin
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Its foreign minister said this was sparked by Russia's Ukraine invasion making a "more unstable" world. Hayashi said the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine was the catalyst. Putin partly justified his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 by saying he wanted to stop NATO's expansion. Japan moving closer to NATO is not just significant for Japan, but also for the Asia-Pacific region's relationship with NATO. The four countries are known as NATO "Partners," who work with NATO in some areas but are not alliance members.

☆ Temple University now offers a porn-studies course. In the class, students talk about things they 'don't even discuss with their closest friends.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Annalise Mabe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Temple University started its first porn-studies course this semester. Pollitt hopes the course will help students understand sex and sexuality better. Professor Jennifer Pollitt, the assistant director of gender, sexuality, and women's studies at Temple University, teaches the class, which garnered a lot of attention from students. The class often has deep discussions about sensitive material that students "sometimes don't even discuss with their closest friends," Pollitt said. Evelyn Andromeda, a third-year undergraduate student at Temple University, said she went into this class not really knowing what to expect.

India has made it easier for lessors to take back planes if airlines default on payments after joining an international treaty known as the Cape Town Convention. But lack of a proper legislation to enforce the treaty means India's bankruptcy law will supersede lessors' repossession requests, lawyers said. Go First's lessors include major global names such as Jackson Square Aviation, SMBC Aviation Capital and CDB Aviation's GY Aviation Leasing. Bigger rivals IndiGo (INGL.NS) and Tata Group's Air India are charting major expansion plans with hundreds of new planes on order as domestic air travel in India surpasses pre-pandemic levels. Air India did not immediately respond.

☆ ThredUp to list on alternative stock exchange: 'We're here to make a difference,' CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

ThredUp , the clothing-consignment company, announced Tuesday that it's dual listing its stock on the Long Term Stock Exchange, or LTSE, a national securities exchange designed to promote sustainable principles and a long-term focus among investors and businesses. Reinhart says he first read about the market a few years ago and started talks to list on the exchange over the past two years. The new stock exchange wants to "reverse the epidemic of short-term thinking," Ries told CNBC. There are more than a dozen stock exchanges in the U.S., but the majority of all trading occurs on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market, making it difficult for alternatives to gain traction. One other company, the communication platform Twilio , did list on LTSE but it delisted in 2022, citing cost concerns.

The dollar remained relatively weaker against most of its major peers, even as the dollar index rose 0.059% and the euro fell 0.15% to $1.1002. Friday's robust U.S. payrolls report prompted investors to dial back their expectations for the timing and size of the Fed's first interest rate cut. The two-year Treasury yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations, rose a touch above 4.0%. The dollar rose 0.18% against the yen. Bullion regained ground after a sharp retreat in the previous session, ahead of the inflation data that could shed light on the outlook for U.S. interest rates.

☆ Check out the 18-page pitch deck that AI startup Papercup used to raise $20 million and help media and entertainment companies reach new global audiences
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Papercup is a UK-based startup that's helping media and entertainment companies find global audiences. Read the pitch deck Papercup used to raise its $20 million Series A round. Digital media and streaming companies are increasingly looking overseas for growth as the US market for subscribers gets saturated. Its most recent round was its $20 million Series A last year led by Octopus Ventures; other investors included Local Globe, Sands Capital, and Sky and Guardian Media Ventures. Check out the deck that helped Papercup raise its $20 million Series A round.

☆ Arab nations set to rehabilitate Syria’s pariah president in defiance of US
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Officials and analysts have said that Syria’s re-admission into the Arab League, while symbolic, comes with the hope that it could pave the way for President Bashar Al Assad’s rehabilitation internationally, and potentially the removal of crippling sanctions against his regime. Arab states have argued that the status quo in Syria is untenable and has caused them a headache at home. Syria has over the past decade turned into a narco-state, exporting highly addictive amphetamines across the border to Jordan and to Saudi Arabia. It’s unclear if the US will stand in the way of Arab states’ efforts to bring Syria back into the regional fold. “The US will not impose a veto on their allies when it comes to normalization with Assad,” said Hellyer.

☆ House Debt Ceiling Bill Cuts Deficits by $4.8 Trillion Over 10 Years, CBO Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( David Harrison | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Speaker Kevin McCarthy unveiled a debt-ceiling bill last week. Photo: will oliver/EPA/ShutterstockWASHINGTON—House Republicans’ debt-ceiling bill would cut government deficits by $4.8 trillion over 10 years, according to Congress’s nonpartisan scorekeeper, as party leaders moved to gather enough support for a vote this week. The bill is designed to unify Republicans around a position as they prepare for expected talks with the White House and congressional Democrats over spending cuts, ahead of a projected summer deadline to raise the country’s borrowing limit. Unless Congress raises the ceiling, the U.S. could default on payments to borrowers and other obligations.

KUALA LUMPUR/SINGAPORE, April 16 (Reuters) - Malaysia plans to introduce a second 5G network from next year, four sources told Reuters, in the latest policy shake-up aimed at dismantling monopolies and promoting competition by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's six-month-old administration. A recommendation by major carriers for a second 5G provider was rejected by the previous government in March last year. Fahmi also said last week 5G network coverage had reached 55% in populated areas. It was not clear how the proposal for a second 5G network would affect DNB's existing agreements with its development partner Swedish telecoms giant Ericsson (ERICb.ST), and other mobile operators. U Mobile later joined other telco firms in signing up to access DNB's 5G network.

☆ World Bank steering committee, Yellen urge more reforms at lender this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"They expect the Board of Executive Directors and World Bank Group management to finalize a work plan with detailed actions to be taken," the committee's chair said in a statement. Members underscored their commitment to "ensuring that the World Bank Group has adequate financial capacity to respond to development challenges and support its expanded mission." Yellen said upcoming events could be leveraged to keep momentum strong for the evolution of the World Bank. Malpass told the committee he felt the bank had responded with "vigor and speed" to Yellen's call for reforms. Development Committee members thanked Malpass for his leadership of the WBG during a historically challenging period, including an unprecedented surge in financing in response to multiple crises.

☆ Yellen pushes for 'bold action,' more reforms at World Bank this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, April 12 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday called for the World Bank to implement further reforms this year to expand its ability to help developing countries meet global challenges such as climate change. Yellen said the changes already approved had sharpened the mission of the World Bank to ensure it was striving to end extreme poverty, boost shared prosperity and build resilience, but more progress and "bold action" was needed. Yellen said the changes were aimed at enhancing the bank’s work so it could better meet 21st century challenges like climate change, fragility and pandemics. Yellen gave no specifics, but said upcoming events could be leveraged to keep momentum strong for the evolution of the World Bank. Outgoing World Bank President David Malpass, who will leave his post on June 1, said the bank had responded with "vigor and speed" to Yellen's call for reforms.

☆ Houthi official says Saudi Arabia freed 13 detainees
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Mohammed Alghobari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aden, April 8 (Reuters) - An official of Yemen's Houthi movement said on Saturday the group had received 13 detainees released by Saudi Arabia in exchange for a Saudi detainee freed earlier, ahead of a wider prisoner exchange agreed by the warring sides. Houthi official Abdul Qader al-Mortada said on Twitter the 13 detainees had arrived in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, which is held by the Iranian -aligned Houthi group that has been battling a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia since 2015. At talks in Switzerland last month attended by the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, Yemen's Saudi-backed government and the Houthis agreed to free 887 detainees. A visit by Saudi officials would indicate progress in Oman-mediated talks between Riyadh and the Houthis, which run in parallel to U.N. peace efforts, as well as a reduction in tensions after Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore relations. The Yemen conflict is widely seen as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

[1/2] A military helicopter, operated by the Houthis, flies over Sanaa, Yemen September 21, 2022 for the first time since the Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen and controlled the country's airspace in 2015. The move signals that regional rifts are easing after rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore relations last month following years of hostility and backing opposite sides in Middle Eastern conflicts, including Yemen. Oman, which shares borders with Yemen, has been trying for years to bridge differences between Yemen's warring parties, and more broadly between Iran and Saudi Arabia and the United States. Saudi Arabia restarted its direct talks with the Houthi group last summer after both sides failed to renew a United Nations-brokered truce deal. Following years of a bitter rivalry and armed conflicts between Saudi Arabia and Iran, their biggest trade partner China recently stepped in to work with both sides and improve relations.

☆ Italy probes Meta over abuse of position in music rights case
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MILAN, April 5 (Reuters) - Italy's antitrust authority said on Wednesday it would investigate Meta Platform (META.O) over the possible abuse of its position in talks over the rights to music posted on Meta's platforms and potentially hurting competition in the sector. According to the antitrust regulator, Mark Zuckerberg's company may have "unduly interrupted the negotiations for the stipulation of the licence for the use on its platforms" of SIAE's music rights, it said in a statement. Last month, Meta, which owns Facebook, Whatsapp and Instagram, failed to reach a deal with SIAE to renew the copyright license. Protecting the copyrights of songwriters and artists is an important priority for us," a spokesperson for Meta said on Wednesday. The investigation involves Meta Platforms Inc, Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Meta Platforms Technologies UK Limited and Facebook Italy S.r.l.

☆ Ryanair says price still key to new Boeing jet deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, March 29 (Reuters) - The boss of European budget carrier Ryanair (RYA.I) said on Wednesday attractive discounts remained the key to securing a new plane deal with Boeing <BA.N after the two sides resumed talks following an 18-month hiatus over jet prices. Chief Executive Michael O'Leary told Reuters that Ryanair was looking at two models: the roughly 200-seat 737 MAX 8200, which is already "performing well," and the larger 737 MAX 10, which is still in development and awaiting certification. Talks resumed after Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun and Stan Deal, head of its commercial division, approached Ryanair two months ago offering to get negotiations started again, O'Leary said. "They are back talking to us; I think it takes maybe six, nine months to get a deal done," O'Leary said. In September 2021, it said it had halted talks for an order of the 737 MAX 10 because of a pricing dispute.

☆ Ryanair's O'Leary says talks restarted with Boeing for new aircraft order - FT
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 23 (Reuters) - Ryanair Holdings Plc (RYA.I) is optimistic on striking a major new aircraft order after the Irish airline restarted talks with Boeing Co (BA.N), its top boss said in an interview with the Financial Times on Thursday. Chief Executive Officer Michael O'Leary said there was a 'deal to be done' with negotiations between the Irish airline and Boeing in "the early stages" for a new order of Boeing 737 jets, according to the newspaper. I think there is a deal to be done," the report quoted O'Leary as saying. He added that the new multibillion-dollar order could be for the 737 Max 10 or for the smaller Max 8200, according to the report. Boeing declined to comment, while Ryanair did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

☆ Fact Check-Clip of Musk on reinstating Andrew Tate’s Twitter account is altered
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A clip purporting to show Twitter CEO Elon Musk talking about social media personality Andrew Tate’s reinstatement on Twitter has been altered from 2022 footage of Musk discussing a different topic. The clip circulating online seemingly shows Musk saying: “People ask me why I unblocked Andrew Tate from Twitter. Reuters also did not find any credible media reporting that Musk discussed Andrew Tate at the 2022 TED Talk (archive.is/wip/8I6Iw). A close comparison between frames of the altered clip online and this segment of the TED Talk can be seen (04s on altered clip compared to 13.08s on TED Talk ibb.co/3MrH71t) and (14s on altered clip compared to 13.15s: ibb.co/B3n7VKZ). The original video shows Musk discussing his intention to open-source the Twitter algorithm, not reinstating Andrew Tate’s Twitter account.

☆ Volkswagen to invest $193 billion over 5 years to hit EV target
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Victoria Waldersee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] The logo of carmaker Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is pictured at the IAA Transportation fair, which opened its doors to the public on September 20, 2022, in Hanover, Germany, September 19, 2022. The investments come as Volkswagen, Europe's top carmaker, tries to close a gap with electric vehicle (EV) pioneer Tesla (TSLA.O) by expanding its slice of the growing market for battery-powered cars. In the latest investment plan, up to 15 billion euros is ringfenced for battery plants and raw materials. VW outperforms EU rivalsThe investment decisions are targeted towards fulfilling a 10-point plan developed by Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume after he took the helm in September. The most likely actual stock market candidate is battery unit PowerCo.

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