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WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is welcomed in the Indo-Pacific region and needs to update its approach to have stronger presence there to counter China's influence, said the top American diplomat to Tokyo. “The region wants all of America, not just part of America, economically, militarily, diplomatically, politically,” Emanuel said. “Because they know, an untethered China is a real risk to them, and they need America, all of America, its presence." In August, President Joe Biden formed a trilateral partnership with Japan and South Korea in Camp David over shared security challenges posed by North Korea and China. At the Asia Society Policy Institute, Emanuel called the partnership “a seismic shift in the plates in the Indo-Pacific".

Persons: Rahm Emanuel, ” Emanuel, Daniel Russel, Wang Yi, ” Wang, Joe Biden, Camp David, Emanuel, “, ”, Russel Organizations: WASHINGTON, Asia Society Policy, U.S, East China, Washington, China, North, Asia Society Policy Institute Locations: United States, American, Tokyo, New York, U.S, Japan, China, America, South, East, Taiwan, Beijing, South Korea, Qingdao, Camp, North Korea

☆ The ultra-rich are obsessed with their doomsday bunkers — but Sam Altman joked they won't really matter if there's an AI apocalypse
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

However, one of tech's buzziest bros, Sam Altman, says he has "structures" — but not a bunker. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementDoomsday predictions like nuclear war, climate change, or a zombie apocalypse have ratcheted up the ultra-rich's obsession with luxury bunkers. However, one Silicon Valley tech bro joked that these bunkers may not be useful in the case of an AI apocalypse. AdvertisementAdvertisement"I have like structures, but I wouldn't say a bunker," Altman added without clarifying what these structures were.

Persons: buzziest, Sam Altman, AGI, —, bro, Altman, Joanna Stern, Altman —, Yorker —, Clyde Scott, Douglas Rushkoff, Ivanka Trump, Tom Brady, Jeff Bezos, Rushkoff Organizations: Service, WSJ, Yorker, Google, Bloomberg, Federal Civil Defense Administration Locations: South Dakota, Poland, America

☆ Stock Market Today: Morgan Stanley, P&G Earnings in Spotlight
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Stock futures edged lower and oil prices rose as investors eyed more earnings from major companies and tracked the intensifying conflict in Gaza. Morgan Stanley 's stock fell premarket after it posted a drop in quarterly net income. Procter & Gamble reported a rise in quarterly profit , boosted by price increases. An explosion at a hospital in Gaza ratcheted up tensions, further spurring concerns of a wider regional conflict. Chinese stocks edged lower.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Gamble, Biden Organizations: Procter, Netflix, Treasury, Nasdaq, Dow, Brent Locations: Gaza, China, Israel, Shanghai

☆ Dow drops 332 points as oil jumps and Treasury yields hit fresh 16-year highs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Treasury yields also pressure equities, with the 10-year touching a fresh 16-year high. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementUS stocks tumbled Wednesday as oil prices jumped and Treasury yields swung up to highs not seen since 2007. If the conflict grows to involve other Middle Eastern states, oil prices are expected to rise, with one estimate forecasting Brent to go as high as $150 a barrel.

Persons: Stocks, Tesla, —, Brent, Treasurys, Quincy Krosby, Morgan Stanley Organizations: Netflix, Service, Treasury, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Global, LPL, Tesla, United Airlines Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iran

☆ Turkey's drones are a big hit in Ukraine, but they're also showing how they can pose a threat to the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 drone has been praised for its performance against Russia in Ukraine. A Bayraktar TB2 drone, purchased in a crowdfunding campaign, displayed at a Lithuanian air base in July 2022. ReutersThe US no doubt supports Turkish drone sales to Ukraine and welcomes the TB2's success against Russian forces. In 2021, the US took issue with Turkey's sale of TB2 armed drones to Ethiopia during the Tigray War. The US government frequently touts its efforts to rally international support for Ukraine, and it undoubtedly welcomes the addition of Turkish TB2s Kyiv's arsenal.

Persons: Turkey's, —, Petras Malukas, TB2, Jodi Eastham, Pat Ryder, Ryder, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Joe Biden, GABRIEL BOUYS, Donald Trump, Biden, Paul Iddon Organizations: Russia, Service, Russian, Ukraine, Reuters, ISIS, Syrian Democratic Forces, Kurdistan Workers ' Party, US Army, Staff, Pentagon, Turkish Foreign Ministry, US, NATO, Getty, Turkish, Government, Islamic Locations: Ukraine, Turkey, Turkish, Kyiv, Ankara, Washington, Russia, Lithuanian, Syria, TB2s, Azerbaijan, Nagorno, Karabakh, Ethiopia, Tigray, Kurdistan, Hasakah, United States, Madrid, AFP, Government of Turkey, Islamic State, Iraq, today's

☆ Will Temu kill Amazon? How the Chinese shopping app's rapid growth could crack Amazon's dominance
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | 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 EmailWill Temu kill Amazon? How the Chinese shopping app's rapid growth could crack Amazon's dominanceTemu appears unstoppable. In contrast, Amazon's downloads have dropped off a cliff, falling 40% in a year. Known for wild discounts and dirt-cheap prices that severely undercut Amazon's, Temu has ratcheted up its ad spend to infiltrate the American consumer, set to spend an estimate $2 billion in marketing in 2023. This week on Tech Check, we dive how Temu has hit Amazon's weak spots to take the country by storm.

Persons: Bernstein, Temu Organizations: Tech Locations: U.S, Amazon's

CNN —Booker Prize-winning Indian author Arundhati Roy could be prosecuted for allegedly seditious comments made over a decade ago, after a top official in Delhi said there was enough evidence to lay charges. Two of the accused, Kashmiri separatist leader Sayed Ali Shah Geelani and Delhi University lecturer Syed Abdul Rahman Geelani, have died since the initial complaint was filed. Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a former international law professor at the Central University of Kashmir, is still facing charges alongside Roy. In her 2010 speech, posted online, Roy spoke about Kashmiri efforts to seek justice, in part for the mass exodus of Hindus from Muslim-majority Kashmir in the early 1990s amid increasing violence. The decision, which Pakistan condemned as “illegal,” ratcheted up tensions between the two countries and over Kashmir.

Persons: CNN — Booker, Arundhati Roy, Roy, Booker, Narendra Modi, India’s, Modi’s, V, Saxena, Governor’s, Sayed Ali Shah Geelani, Syed Abdul Rahman Geelani, Sheikh Showkat Hussain, Roy ., Modi, ” Organizations: CNN, Indian, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Capitol, Police, Azadi, Delhi University, Central University of Kashmir, abetted Locations: Delhi, Kashmir, New Delhi, Mumbai, British, India, Muslim, Pakistan

☆ 'Fraught with uncertainty': IEA says oil markets to remain on tenterhooks as Israel-Hamas war persists
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The International Energy Agency on Thursday said that oil markets are likely to remain on edge as the Israel-Hamas war persists, with investors closely monitoring the potential for output disruption in the Middle East. "The Middle East conflict is fraught with uncertainty and events are fast developing," the IEA said in its report. "Against a backdrop of tightly balanced oil markets anticipated by the IEA for some time, the international community will remain laser focused on risks to the region's oil flows," the energy agency added. Noting a "sharp escalation in geopolitical risk," the IEA said it would continue to closely monitor oil markets and "stands ready to act if necessary to ensure markets remain adequately supplied." Israel is not a major oil producer and no major oil infrastructure runs close to the Gaza Strip.

Organizations: International Energy Agency, IEA Locations: Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, Israel, Gaza

"Our strike is working, but we’re not there yet," UAW President Shawn Fain said in a livestreamed update on negotiations with the three automakers. Threatening to strike against GM's Arlington, Texas, plant that makes cash-cow SUVs like the Cadillac Escalade spurred GM to agree that EV battery factories would become union plants with UAW contracts, Fain said. GM is building three Ultium joint-venture battery plants with South Korea's LG Energy Solution (373220.KS). GM is building a fourth U.S. battery plant with Samsung SDI (006400.KS) in Indiana. Fain also said on Friday that the UAW could still strike against highly profitable pickup truck plants if progress stalls.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, General Motors, we’re, Shawn Fain, GM's, Fain, Sam Fiorani, Ultium, Harley Shaiken, Jim Farley, Ford, Stellantis, Mark Stewart, Tesla, Elon, we've, walkouts, Joe White, David Shepardson, Abhirup Roy, Dan Burns, Ben Klayman, Abhijith, David Gaffen, Peter Henderson, Nick Zieminski, Matthew Lewis Organizations: United Auto Workers, General Motors Lansing Delta, Michigan U.S, REUTERS, Detroit Three, UAW GM, UAW, GM, Ford, Detroit, General, Ford Motor, Chrysler, EV, AutoForecast Solutions, Korea's LG Energy, Democratic U.S, Samsung SDI, University of California, LG, Samsung, American, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Thomson Locations: Delta Township, Michigan, DETROIT, GM's Arlington , Texas, U.S, Ohio, Indiana, Berkeley, Milan, Detroit, Washington

☆ If Rep. Jim Jordan wins the race for House speaker, it could be the death knell for US aid to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan is a top contender in the race for House speaker after Kevin McCarthy's ouster this week. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe race to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House is heating up — and US aid to Ukraine may be the biggest issue on the ballot. The top contenders for the spot are Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan and Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise. In April 2022, 10 House Republicans voted against a bill allowing the Biden administration to more easily lend military equipment to Ukraine. The following month, 57 House Republicans voted "no" on a nearly $40 billion aid package for Ukraine.

Persons: Jim Jordan, Kevin McCarthy's, Jordan, —, Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Jordan —, Caucus —, Biden, Kevin McCarthy of, McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Don Bacon, Politico Organizations: Russia, Service, Ohio, Louisiana Rep, Caucus, FOX, Republican, Kyiv, US, GOP, Republicans, GOP Rep, Kyiv ratcheted, Florida Rep, Politico Locations: Ukraine, Ohio, Kevin McCarthy of California, Kyiv, California, Russia

They can also rile up Trump's own party, which then incorporates the former president's vendettas and impulses into its own agenda. Though most in his party have stayed quiet, Trump's comments about Milley horrified some Republicans. On the debate stage last week, Trump’s rivals for the GOP nomination didn't address the former president's more incendiary rhetoric. Democrats, including Biden, have warned that Trump and supporters in his Make America Great Again movement are a threat to American democracy. At last week's California Republican Party convention in a hotel ballroom in Anaheim, Trump’s rhetoric reached yet another level.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, lowlifes, ”, Trump, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong, Ruth Ben, ” Ben, Ghiat, Rodrigo Duterte, Trump's, Jack Smith, Mark Milley, Milley, “, ” Milley, Mike Pence, John Kelly, Kelly, ” Trump, Steven Cheung, Biden, ” Alex Conant, Ron DeSantis, Conant, Paul Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi, San Francisco — how’s, Jonathan J, Cooper, Michael R Organizations: Republican, Democratic, White, NBC, New, North, New York University, Trump, U.S, Capitol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Republicans, GOP, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington's Georgetown University, The Associated Press, White House, CNN, Marine Corps, Florida Gov, California Republican Party, Associated Press Locations: United States, New York, Philippines, Mexico, U.S, China, Florida, ”, California, Anaheim, San Francisco, Anaheim , California

☆ A second war could easily erupt in Europe — while everyone's distracted by Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Violence erupted in northern Kosovo in September, and Belgrade responded with a military build-up on its border with its neighbor. Given the current political and security context, analysts say an outbreak of violence in northern Kosovo "should raise alarm bells." Open hostilityLong-simmering animosity between Serbia and Kosovo has broken into open hostility in northern Kosovo in recent months. Northern Kosovo, which borders Serbia, has an ethnic Serb majority whereas the country as a whole is around 93% ethnic Albanian. Mojsilovic stated that number of troops on the Kosovo border had been reduced to 4,500 from 8,350.

Persons: Milan Radoicic, Majda Ruge, Stringer, Milos Vucevic, Staff Milan Mojsilovic, Mojsilovic, Aleksandar Vučić, Vučić, Ian Bremmer, Bremmer, Ruge, Aleksandar Vucic, Krusha, Armend Nimani, Slobodan Milošević, Serbian, Albin Kurti, Andrius, Tursa, Serbia's Slobodan Milosevic Organizations: Kosovo Police, Kosovo Serb, Milan, Anadolu Agency, Getty, European Council, Foreign Relations, Albanian, Kosovo, Afp, NATO, Serbian, Staff, Financial Times, EU, Eurasia Group, Yugoslavia, Yugoslav, Yugoslav Ministry of Defense, Federal, Nato, Kosovo Albanians Locations: Banjska, Jarinje, Serbia, Zvecan, Kosovo, Ukraine, Europe, Belgrade, destabilising Kosovo, Northern Kosovo, Serbian, Serbs, Yugoslavia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno, Karabakh, Russia, Mitrovica, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Balkans, Kosovo Albanian, Krusha, Madhe, Albanian, Yugoslav, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Central, Eastern Europe, Stagovo

☆ Iran's Khamenei says normalising Israel ties is a losing bet - state media
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with commanders and a group of members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Tehran, Iran August 17, 2023. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that countries seeking to normalise relations with Israel "are betting on a losing horse", state media reported on Tuesday. Khamenei did not identify the countries, but expectations that Israel might normalize ties with Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia, the home of Islam's two holiest shrines, have been ratcheted up this month. "The definite position of the Islamic Republic is that countries that make the gamble of normalisation with Israel will lose. Four Arab states have formalised ties with Israel in pacts known as the Abraham Accords -- the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.

Persons: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Khamenei, Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran hasn't, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Israel, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Abraham, Alex Richardson, William Maclean Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iranian, West Asia News Agency, REUTERS, Rights, Iran's, Israel's, Abraham Accords, Saudi, MbS, U.S, United Arab, Dubai Newsroom, Thomson Locations: Tehran, Iran, Rights DUBAI, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Islamic Republic, Israeli, Saudi, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco

☆ Serbian president says reports about troop build up on the Kosovo border ‘not fully accurate’
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Sugam Pokharel Claire Calzonetti Duarte Mendonca Sana Noor Haq | Sugam Pokharel | Claire Calzonetti | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Soldiers with the NATO-led international peacekeeping force, the Kosovo Force, in the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica, in northern Kosovo, on September 28. A top Kosovo Serb politician, Milan Radoicic said this weekend that he took part in the gun battle, Reuters reported. The confrontation comes months after ethnic Serbs attacked dozens of NATO peacekeepers in the town of Zvecan, in northern Kosovo, in May. The violence has ratcheted tensions in the Balkan region as the EU and US mediators attempt to finalize yearslong talks to normalize ties between Serbia and Kosovo. Following his first-round victory against American Aleksandar Kovacevic, Djokovic wrote “Kosovo is the [heart] of Serbia.

Persons: Aleksandar Vučić, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Vučić, “, ” Vučić, Stringer, Vjosa Osmani, Milan Radoicic, Radoicic, “ I’m, yearslong, Novak Djokovic, Djokovic, American Aleksandar Kovacevic Organizations: CNN, Serbian, NSC, National Security Council, NATO, ”, Kosovo Force, Getty, Kosovar, Kosovo Serb, Reuters, European, EU, American, “ Locations: Serbian, Kosovo, United States, Mitrovica, AFP, Serbia, Banjska, Belgrade, European Union, Brussels, Pristina, Zvecan, “ Kosovo

The legal filings marked an escalation in the battle between the entertainment giant and DeSantis, a candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. Disney has sued DeSantis in federal court, claiming the governor violated its free speech rights by punishing it for expressing opposition to the law. Meanwhile, the governing district now controlled by DeSantis appointees has sued Disney in state court. Disney filed counterclaims that include asking a state court to declare the agreements valid and enforceable. The DeSantis allies are arguing that one of the reasons the agreements should be invalidated is they weren't properly publicized.

Persons: Ron DeSantis ratcheted, DeSantis, Walt Disney, Disney, —, Mike Schneider Organizations: Disney, Central, Governor Locations: ORLANDO, Fla, Florida, Central Florida, “, U.S, DeSantis

[1/2]Striking United Auto Workers (UAW) union workers picket outside the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, U.S., September 23, 2023. Workers went on strike on Sept. 15 at one plant each from GM, Ford and Stellantis. The union escalated on Sept. 22, when workers walked off the job at GM and Stellantis distribution facilities in 20 states nationwide. UAW workers also are threatening to walk off the job at heavy truck maker Mack Trucks on Sunday, and at three Detroit casinos. A UAW strike has shut down a plant that builds axles for Mercedes-Benz's Alabama vehicle factory.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Fain, Stellantis, Mary Barra, Jim Farley, Farley, Joe Biden, Barra, Sam Fiorani, Ford, Nalio Chery, Arthur Wheaton, Mack Trucks, David Shepardson, Joseph White, Ben Klayman, Abhirup Roy, Bianca Flowers, Shivansh, Abhijith G, Peter Henderson, Nick Zieminski, David Gregorio, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: UAW, Lansing , Michigan Ford, GM, Ford, United Auto Workers, Detroit, Chrysler, Mack Trucks, AutoForecast Solutions, Ford Michigan Assembly Plant, REUTERS, Workers, Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, Traverse, Buick, Marshall, Cornell University, Mercedes, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Chicago, Lansing , Michigan, DETROIT, Barra, Detroit, Wayne , Michigan, U.S, Dieu, Lansing, Michigan, Marshall , Michigan, Alabama

“I don’t know why Jim Farley is lying about the state of negotiations," Fain said in a statement responding to the Ford CEO. The UAW wants those workers represented by the union and paid the highest-tier wages. Workers went on strike on Sept. 15 at one plant each from GM, Ford and Stellantis. UAW workers are threatening to walk off the job at heavy truck maker Mack Trucks on Sunday, and at three Detroit casinos. A UAW strike has shut down a plant that builds axles for Mercedes-Benz's Alabama vehicle factory.

Persons: Jim Farley, Shawn Fain, Stellantis, Fain, Sam Fiorani, Joe Biden, Ford, Farley, Arthur Wheaton, Mack Trucks, Silverados, David Shepardson, Joseph White, Ben Klayman, Abhirup Roy, Bianca Flowers, Shivansh, Abhijith G, Peter Henderson, Nick Zieminski, David Gregorio, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: UAW, Lansing , Michigan Ford, Ford, United Auto Workers, Detroit, Chrysler, Mack Trucks, AutoForecast Solutions, Workers, Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, Traverse, Buick, Marshall, General Motors, GM, Cornell University, Mercedes, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Chicago, Lansing , Michigan, DETROIT, U.S, Detroit, Lansing, Michigan, Marshall , Michigan, Alabama

☆ South China Sea tensions are flaring between the Philippines and China. Here's why it matters for the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Over the past two decades, China has occupied a number of obscure reefs and atolls far from its shoreline across the South China Sea, building up military installations, including runways and ports. Video Ad Feedback Why it matters who owns the seas (April 2021) 03:48 - Source: CNNWhy does the South China Sea matter? The South China Sea is home to hundreds of largely uninhabited islands and coral atolls and diverse wildlife at risk from climate change and marine pollution. The US is not a claimant to the South China Sea, but says the waters are crucial to its national interest of guaranteeing freedom of the seas worldwide. Marcos has strengthened US relations that had frayed under his predecessor, with the two allies touting potential future joint patrols in the South China Sea.

Persons: It’s, China’s, Defense Lindsey Ford, ”, Stringer, Ferdinand “ Bongbong ” Marcos Jr, Jay Batongbacal, “, Marcos Jr, Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos, Gregory Poling Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Navy, CNN, US Energy Information Agency, Communist Party, United, US Navy, Defense, Asia, Washington -, Strategic, International Studies, Ford, Spratly Islands, University of the, Philippine Coast Guard, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Transparency, Philippines Mutual Defense Locations: Hong Kong, South China, China, Beijing, Philippines, United States, South, The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, The Hague, Manila, Scarborough, Spratly, People’s Republic of China, Washington, Philippine, University of the Philippines, Asia

☆ Armenia warns of 'ethnic cleansing' as thousands flee the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Armenian police officers walks near refugees as they queue in vehicles near the border town of Kornidzor, arriving from Nagorno-Karabakh, on September 26, 2023. Thousands of ethnic Armenians on Tuesday fled their homes in the breakaway enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, as Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan publicly blamed Russia for failing to ensure the country's security. The U.S. has called for Azerbaijan to maintain a ceasefire and "take concrete steps" to protect the rights of civilians in Nagorno-Karabakh. The landlocked territory of Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence from Azerbaijan in 1991 and, with the support of Armenia, has fought two wars with Azerbaijan in the space of 30 years. As of Tuesday morning, at least 13,350 people were estimated to have entered Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh, according to the Armenian government.

Persons: Nikol Pashinyan Organizations: Tuesday, Armenia's Locations: Kornidzor, Nagorno, Karabakh, Russia, Azerbaijan, Caucasus, Europe, Asia, The U.S, Armenia

The central bank's quest for a "soft landing" of more slowly rising prices and continued economic growth looks increasingly probable. In fact, the U.S. may hit a sweet spot just as the 2024 presidential election campaign crescendos next year. Rather than cheering, though, after years of economic turbulence since the coronavirus pandemic erupted in 2020, Americans grumble, at least if you ask them about the economy. With fast rising prices and the end of an array of pandemic-era government benefit programs, inflation-adjusted household income fell last year, and the poverty rate increased. A Biden adviser said the White House understands that the economy and inflation are a critical issue, and the campaign has a big media push planned on "Bidenomics."

Persons: Sarah Silbiger, Jerome Powell, crescendos, grumble, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Jimmy Carter's, Ronald Reagan, George H, Bush, Democrat Bill Clinton, Clinton, Biden, They've, that's, Robert Shiller, stupidly, Shiller, Powell, Howard Schneider, Trevor Hunnicutt, Heather Timmons, Paul Simao Organizations: El Progreso Market, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Rights, . Federal, Reuters, Republican, Biden, Democrat, U.S . Consumer, Yale University, McKinsey & Company, McKinsey, Thomson Locations: Mount Pleasant, Washington ,, U.S

The video posted on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, caught the attention of Jonathan Riley, a liberal activist in Durham, North Carolina, who posted Sunday that it showed “Missouri Republicans at a literal book burning," though he'd later walk that statement back to a “metaphorical” book burning. “It fit a narrative that they wanted to put out there,” Freedom Fest organizer Debbie McFarland said about claims that Eigel burned books. Experts who study political extremism said images involving fire or bonfires have long been associated with extremist groups. Eigel’s critics quickly posted online images involving the Ku Klux Klan and Nazi book burnings before World War II. Talking about book burning enough can plant the idea in people's minds so that ”people think it’s actually a righteous thing to do."

Persons: Louis, Sen, Bill Eigel, ” Eigel, Eigel, ”, Kurt Braddock, Jonathan Riley, he'd, Debbie McFarland, Mike Parson, State Jay Ashcroft, Mike Kehoe, Ashcroft, Gregg Keller, Eigel’s, “, Eric Greitens, Flamethowers, Donald Trump, Kristi Noem’s, Evan Perkoski, it's, ” “, Javed Ali, Braddock, ” Eigel's, Ali, he’s, ___ Hanna, ___, John Hanna Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, Associated Press, ”, American University, Republicans, Twitter, Missouri Republicans, Gov, State, AP, GOP, Ku, Navy, Senate, Name, torching, Ku Klux Klan, University of Connecticut, University of Michigan Locations: Mo, St, Missouri, Washington, Defiance , Missouri, Durham , North Carolina, Jefferson City, U.S, Arizona, Alabama, South Dakota, Topeka , Kansas

☆ Counting the cost of contagion fears from Africa coups
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Libgeorge Marc Jones | Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Gabon coup leader General Brice Oligui Nguema is sworn in as interim president during his swearing-in ceremony, in Libreville, Gabon, September 4, 2023. The putsch not only sent Gabon's bonds tumbling 10%, but also hit those issued by a number of other countries including neighbouring Cameroon, as jittery investors scanned for who might be next. The apparent coup trend is adding to other major concerns deterring many investors from Africa - a wave of debt crises, tense geopolitics and an extreme vulnerability to climate change. "Nearly all markets in that region are paying some price in terms of rising cost of debt," said Sergey Dergachev, portfolio manager at Union Investment. There have been scores of coups and attempted coups in recent decades including in Thailand, Ecuador, Egypt and Turkey.

Persons: General Brice Oligui Nguema, Stringer, Sergey Dergachev, Paul Biya, Macky Sall, Denis Sassou Nguesso, Eamon Aghdasi, Fitch, Moody's, Thailand's, Ravi Bhatia, Bongo, Simon Quijano, Evans, Libby George, Marc Jones, Karin Strohecker, Emelia Sithole Organizations: REUTERS, UNDP, Union Investment, Investors, Reuters, General Assembly, Burkina, P Global, Reuters Graphics, Monetary Fund, Central, CFA, Peace, Thomson Locations: Gabon, Libreville, Africa Mali, Guinea, Africa, Cameroon, Mali, Thailand, Ecuador, Egypt, Turkey, crackdowns, Senegal, Congo Republic, New York, Niger, Burkina Faso, Kenya

Stellantis provided a glimmer of hope for a breakthrough by giving the union a new contract proposal. It was not clear whether the Stellantis offer would satisfy union President Shawn Fain, who vows to announce new strike targets on Friday unless there is “serious progress” toward agreements with GM, Stellantis and Ford. So far UAW workers are striking at just three factories — one for each company, including a GM assembly plant near St. Louis. The workers are covered under a different contract than those that UAW is negotiating with the three big automakers. If ratified, it would cover more than 5,000 workers and provide a model for similar deals at GM and Stellantis operations in Canada.

Persons: Stellantis, Shawn Fain, Louis Organizations: Motors, Stellantis, United Auto Workers, GM, Ford, UAW, Chrysler, Dodge, Canadian Locations: St, Kansas, Louis, Ohio, Indiana, Toledo , Ohio, Alabama, Canada

☆ China's Foreign Ministry requests consulates in Hong Kong to give data of local staff
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Jessie Pang | Thomson Reuters | Jessie Pang Joined Reuters In After An Internship. She Covers Hong Kong With A Focus On Politics | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FLIE PHOTO: The Chinese national flag is seen in front of the financial district Central on the Chinese National Day in Hong Kong, China October 1, 2022. In a letter seen by Reuters, The Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry wrote that consulates must comply with the request by Oct 18th. The letter was sent to all consulates according to media outlets Hong Kong Free Press and local Ming Pao newspaper. China's Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong government did not immediately respond to request for comment. Additional reporting by Liz Lee in Beijing and Greg Torode in Hong Kong; writing by Farah Master; editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Liz Lee, Greg Torode, Farah, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Ministry, Reuters, China’s Foreign Ministry, British, Consular, European Union, Hong Kong Free Press, Ming Pao, Foreign Ministry, Hong, US, Thomson Locations: Central, Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG, Beijing, Vienna, British

House Republicans, trying to win support from the far-right wing of the party, have loaded up their government funding packages with spending cuts and conservative policy priorities. Political Cartoons View All 1163 ImagesThe Senate strategy is being led by the first female duo to hold the top leadership spots on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sens. But as the Senate grinds toward votes on their funding bills, they have won plaudits from leadership in both parties. A few GOP senators allied with conservatives in the House are working to slow the Senate’s work on appropriations bills. They have also loaded the House's appropriations bills with conservative policy wins, ensuring Democratic opposition.

Persons: Patty Murray, Susan Collins, “, ” Murray, Murray, Collins, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Collins “, ” Collins, Kevin McCarthy, you’ve, ” McCarthy, Kay Granger, Rosa DeLauro, Conn, McCarthy, gavel, Joe Biden, Biden, ”, Hakeem Jeffries, Republican appropriators, Tom Cole of, ” “ We’re, Don Bacon Organizations: WASHINGTON, Capitol, House Republicans, GOP, Democrats, Associated Press, Republicans, Republican, Caucus, American, Democratic, “, Department of, Social Security Locations: United States, Ukraine, Maine, Washington, Kentucky, Kay Granger of Texas, Texas, New York, Tom Cole of Oklahoma

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