DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

HONG KONG, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's efforts to revive its shrinking stock market are mere stopgap solutions, as analysts say a reversal in fortunes for Asia's premier financial hub would not be possible without a major improvement in China's economic prospects. With a market value of around $4.3 trillion, Hong Kong is home to one of the top-ranked stock markets globally just behind those in the United States, Japan, China and Europe. New share offerings in Hong Kong have fizzled. Local media reported that a record 47 of the 638 trading participants on the Hong Kong exchange shut shop last year. Chinese firms listed in Hong Kong, such as tech giants Tencent (0700.HK) and Alibaba (9988.HK), comprise the bulk of the turnover on the Hong Kong exchange, leaving Hong Kong hostage to China's fortunes.

Persons: Hong, John Lee, Dickie Wong, Rob Brewis, Aubrey, Eddie Tam, Alvin Cheung, Cheung, ”, Alex Wong, Alex KY, Wong, who'd, Summer Zhen, Xie Yu, Vidya Ranganathan Organizations: Nasdaq, Kingston Securities, Seng China Enterprises, HK, Aubrey Capital Management, Hong, Asset Investments, Prudential, Asset Management Company, Global, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, Hong Kong, United States, Japan, Europe, Shenzhen

☆ Exclusive: Vietnam eyes China model to seek index upgrade, boost investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Francesco Guarascio | Thomson Reuters | Francesco Leads A Team Of Reporters In Vietnam That Covers Top Financial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

An investor sits in front of screens showing stock board information at a securities company in Hanoi, Vietnam July 6, 2018. That prevents many funds, investors and family offices from investing in companies listed there. MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR PIEUnder the new plan, Vietnam would adopt a mechanism to settle payments on shares transactions that could meet the key requirement from FTSE for the upgrade. Active funds are estimated to have five times more investments in the FTSE emerging market, which could lead to far bigger gains for the HCMC market, which has currently a $179 billion capitalisation. Foreign investors need also to be consulted.

Persons: Le Thi Le Hang, Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, FTSE, Chi Minh City Stock Exchange, The bourse, State Securities Commission, Vietnam, Thomson Locations: Hanoi, Vietnam, China HANOI, China, Chi Minh, The, Indonesia, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Kenya

3 House Republican, dropped his bid only hours after securing the nomination. A social conservative, Mr. Johnson is a lawyer and the former chairman of the Republican Study Committee. This conference that you see, this House Republican majority, is united. Some on the right opposed to Mr. Emmer cited his vote in favor of codifying federal protections for same-sex couples. Mr. Emmer had attempted to mollify Mr. Trump by calling him over the weekend and praising him, according to the former president.

Persons: Tom Emmer, Mike Johnson, Emmer’s, Donald J, Trump, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, Mr, rouser, Trump’s, “, ”, Virginia Foxx, Mike Johnson of, We’re, Haiyun Jiang, McCarthy, Steve Womack, I’m, ” Mr, holdouts, Emmer, MAGA, Byron Donalds of, Hakeem Jeffries, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, Biden, that’s, Robert Jimison Organizations: Republicans, Republican, Committee, Education, Minnesota, Credit, The New York Times, Mr, “ Republican, Trump, Caucus, Freedom Caucus, Republican Party, America First Voters Locations: Louisiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Ukraine, Arkansas, American, Byron Donalds of Florida, New York, Ohio

☆ House speaker: One of the most important jobs in American politics has turned into a nightmare
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Winning a majority party’s nomination for speaker of the House of Representatives usually elevates a lawmaker into the pantheon of American political leaders. But this is about more than the plight of a Republican Party that often looks like it’s tearing itself apart. If the dysfunctional House GOP majority cannot get its act together, the US government could run out of funding before Thanksgiving week – and millions of Americans could pay the price. As former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, himself a notoriously polarizing figure, said on Fox News this weekend: “They got big decisions coming down the road. We don’t have someone who is the speaker of the House to negotiate with the White House, with Senate Democrats who are in the majority.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Vern Buchanan, ” Buchanan, Byron Donalds, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, Donald Trump, “, ” Trump, Christ, Jesus, ‘, ’, Tom Emmer, Scalise, Joe Biden, There’s, –, there’s, Newt Gingrich, Brett Guthrie, Larry Bucshon, CNN’s Brianna Keilar Organizations: CNN, GOP, Republican Party, Florida, Sunshine, Republican, Caucus, Black Republicans, Democratic, White, Fox News, Democratic Senate, Republicans, ”, The Indiana Republican, Democrats Locations: Washington, New Hampshire, Florida, There’s, Brett Guthrie of Kentucky, Israel, Ukraine

☆ Who is Tom Emmer, the latest Republican nominee for speaker?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Catie Edmondson | More About Catie Edmondson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

House Republicans on Tuesday elected Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the No. 3 in the party, as their speaker nominee after five rounds of ballots that pointed to a precarious path forward. Mr. Emmer, 62, has served since January as the party’s whip, responsible for counting and securing the votes to pass the speaker’s agenda. He was the highest-ranking Republican in the race, and has been endorsed by the ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Several hard-right conservatives, including a handful who voted to oust Mr. McCarthy, have signaled their support for the Minnesota Republican.

Persons: Tom Emmer, Jim Jordan of, Emmer, Kevin McCarthy, Biden’s, Mr, McCarthy Organizations: Republican, Minnesota Republican Locations: Minnesota, Jim Jordan of Ohio

CNN —As the House enters its third week without a speaker, nearly a dozen Republicans are vying to earn the support of their conference to wield the gavel, throwing the chamber into even more uncertainty. The chamber has been without a speaker since House Republicans ousted Rep. Kevin McCarthy earlier this month. Nine House Republicans are running for the position, announced House GOP conference chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, including GOP Whip Tom Emmer, who is endorsed by McCarthy. Emmer has moved to lock in support across the ideological and geographic spectrum in the conference, giving him what many House Republicans believe is an advantage, according to GOP sources. Mike Johnson of Louisiana, the vice chairman for the House Republican conference.

Persons: Jim Jordan, Kevin McCarthy, Elise Stefanik, Tom Emmer, McCarthy, Emmer, Donald Trump, Jack Bergman of, Byron Donalds of, Kevin Hern of, Mike Johnson of, Dan Meuser, Gary Palmer of, Austin Scott of Georgia, Jordan, Pete Sessions, Joe Biden, McCarthy’s, Steve Scalise’s speakership Organizations: CNN, Republicans, Nine, GOP, US Marines, Republican, Committee, House Republican, Texas Republican, Trump, White, Senate, Hamas Locations: Jack Bergman of Michigan, Byron Donalds of Florida, Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Gary Palmer of Alabama, Ukraine, Israel

☆ Opinion | The People Who Broke the House
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Michelle Cottle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

On Oct. 2, Mr. Gaetz filed the motion to vacate the speaker’s chair against Mr. McCarthy, just two days after Mr. McCarthy worked with Democrats to pass a stopgap bill to keep the government running through mid-November. A relatively moderate Republican representing a relatively moderate district in South Carolina, she was the striking outlier among the anti-McCarthy eight. She says Kev broke his word. “I made deals with Kevin McCarthy, with the speaker, that he has not kept to help women in this country. And we have done nothing for them,” she told reporters after the vote.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, McCarthy, Nancy Mace, Kev, Kevin McCarthy, ”, Mace, Ms, Scalise, Donald Trump Organizations: Republican Locations: Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana

☆ White House announces 31 tech hubs to focus on AI, clean energy and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Megan Lebowitz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON — The White House on Monday announced it is designating 31 technology hubs in an effort to improve American competitiveness in the technology sector. The hubs will be able to compete for $40 million to $75 million each in grants, the White House said. The move was authorized under the CHIPS and Science Act, the White House said, which President Joe Biden frequently touts as a highlight of his economic agenda. It also authorized $10 billion to invest in technology hubs nationwide, according to the administration. The hubs focus on a wide range of technological areas, including quantum computing, artificial intelligence, clean energy, medicine and biotechnology.

Persons: Joe Biden, WASHINGTON —, Gina Raimondo, Biden Organizations: U.S . House, Senate, White, WASHINGTON, . Economic Development Administration, U.S . Economic Development Administration Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Puerto Rico

☆ Ten-year U.S. Treasury yield hits 5%
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 23 (Reuters) - The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose above 5.0% on Monday, hitting the July 2007 milestone that it briefly attempted to scale last week. The run-up in yields on the 10-year Treasury bond, seen as a safe-haven in times of economic uncertainty and a benchmark for borrowing costs around the world, has been driven by investors pricing in stronger U.S. growth as well as fiscal slippage. The 10-year yield touched 5.004% on Monday, up around 8 basis points (bps) on the day. Treasury borrowing costs have climbed, and a divided Congress has bickered over next year's spending bills while using stopgap measures to avert a shutdown of government operations. The yield on the two-year U.S. Treasury was last up 4 bps at 5.125%.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Jerome Powell, Joe Biden, Kyle Rodda, Vidya Ranganathan, Harry Robertson, Kevin Buckland, Neil Fullick, Alun John Organizations: REUTERS, Treasury, U.S, Thomson Locations: U.S, Ukraine, Israel

☆ Republicans: House circus embarrasses senior party leaders as the country and the world wait for a speaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The uprising that began nearly three weeks ago with the toppling of Speaker Kevin McCarthy has now weakened three of the most powerful figures in the House GOP. Twisting colored squares together in the right order seems simple by comparison with attempts to unite a House Republican conference unable to comprehend how clownish it looks. “We need (a speaker) because the House can’t do anything without a speaker,” Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday. “This is probably one of the most embarrassing things I’ve seen because if we don’t have a speaker of the House, we can’t govern. “This is embarrassing for the Republican Party.

Persons: shutdowns, Jim Jordan, Steve Scalise, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Scalise, Jordan, “, Mike Turner, Mitch McConnell, procrastinate, Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, It’s, Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, ”, Trump, Michael McCaul, ” McCarthy, Tom Emmer, Emmer, Kevin Hern of, Jack Bergman of, Austin Scott of Georgia, Byron Donalds of, Mike Johnson of, Pete Sessions, Dan Meuser, Gary Palmer of, Newt Gingrich –, GOP –, ” Gingrich Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, Republican Party, ”, Intelligence, Republican, Kentucky, CBS, Biden, GOP, The, Democratic, White, California Republican, Republicans, Trump, Florida, Foreign, Texas Republican, ABC, Press, Caucus, Marine, Jordan, Black Republicans, Pete Sessions of Texas, Committee, Fox News, firebrand Georgia Republican Locations: Washington, Israel, “ State, Ukraine, Kyiv, California, Texas, Minnesota, Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Jack Bergman of Michigan, Byron Donalds of Florida, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Gary Palmer of Alabama

“The border has never been a money issue,” said Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas. It also suggests $1.4 billion to add 375 immigration judges and their teams in addition to money for 1,300 new border patrol agents. “But it’s got to be designed to secure the border, not to facilitate travel through the border,” he said. “No more money should be spent simply to facilitate current border policy.”It's unclear if compromise is possible on the issue. The border is not about money; there’s some money that needs to be spent on certain things, but it is way more about policy.

Persons: Joe Biden, It's, ”, Dan Crenshaw, Biden, “, Colleen Putzel, there's, Eric Adams, Alex Gough, J.B . Pritzker, Maura Healey, Kevin McCarthy, Sen, Kevin Cramer, he’d, it’s, Texas Republican Sen, John Cornyn, Chris Murphy, ” Murphy, ” Crenshaw, Mary Clare Jalonick, Kevin Freking, Claire Savage, Mike Casey, Patrick Whittle, Lisa Rathke, Holly Ramer Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, White, Democratic, Homeland Security, Migration Policy Institute, Central America, New York, ”, O’Hare, Illinois Gov, GOP, Texas Republican, Connecticut Democrat, Department of Homeland Security, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Mexico, Israel, Texas, U.S, South, Central, York City, New, implore, New York City, Chicago, ” Massachusetts, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington, Boston, Portland , Maine, Montpelier , Vt, Concord, N.H

☆ Israel's getting tens of thousands of artillery shells intended for Ukraine, report says, as 2 wars pull at a stockpile already under stress
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US has agreed to give Israel tens of thousands of artillery rounds initially slated for Ukraine, Axios reported. The Pentagon plans to send Israel the supply of 155 millimeter artillery shells in the coming weeks, the report said. The chair of NATO's Military Committee previously warned that allied ammo supplies are nearing the "bottom of the barrel." AdvertisementAdvertisementThe US Department of Defense referred to Ryder's remarks when asked for comment on the Axios report on Friday. AdvertisementAdvertisementMeanwhile, President Joe Biden is asking Congress for tens of billions of dollars in aid for both Israel and Ukraine.

Persons: Axios, —, Pat Ryder, Ryder's, Russia —, Ryder, Joe Biden, Bradley, Biden Organizations: US, Pentagon, Service, Air Force, US Department of Defense, Russia, Attack Munitions, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Israel Locations: Ukraine, Israel, States, Gaza, Russia

☆ US aid to Israel and Ukraine: Here’s what’s in the $105 billion national security package Biden requested
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Biden administration on Friday laid out the details of a $105 billion national security package that includes military and humanitarian assistance for the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel. House Republicans are still struggling to unite behind a speaker to lead their conference, and until one is elected, the national security package will remain in limbo. The Biden administration’s prior request for $24 billion in Ukraine aid was not included in a stopgap government funding measure Congress approved in late September. Here’s what’s in the package, according to the White House:$61.4 billion in aid for Ukraine$30 billion for the Defense Department for equipment for Ukraine and the replenishment of US stocks. $10 billion for humanitarian assistance$9.15 billion for aid for Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and other humanitarian needs.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, Here’s Organizations: CNN, House Republicans, Ukraine, White, Defense Department, National Nuclear Security Administration, Israel, Iron, State Department, West Bank, Treasury Department, World Bank Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Mexico, Taiwan, Congress, Europe, assertiveness, China

Rep. Jim Jordan became the latest speaker nominee to bow to the unruly House Republican conference after a week of division and disagreement about how to move the chamber forward. After two failed speaker ballots, the Ohio Republican is not expected to pursue another vote on Thursday, instead backing a proposal to empower Rep. Patrick McHenry as temporary speaker, likely until the end of the year. Without a speaker, the House has been unable to approve a resolution supporting Israel or consider aid to the country. The Week in Cartoons Oct. 16-20 View All 6 ImagesThe move is expected to go to a House vote with a resolution introduced by moderate Republicans. It's outrageous.”Greene expressed disappointment in Jordan backing the resolution to empower McHenry as “some sort of a short term speaker,” saying “we voted for him to be our speaker nominee.”

Persons: Jim Jordan, Patrick McHenry, Jordan, Kevin McCarthy, Lawmakers, Hakeem Jeffries, ”, McHenry, McCarthy, McCarthy’s, Marjorie Taylor Greene, ” Greene, “ Organizations: Republican, Ohio Republican, Republicans, North Carolina Republican, White, ” Locations: Ohio, Israel, McHenry, Jordan

☆ US House Republican opponents of Jordan's speaker bid cite government shutdown worries
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Moira Warburton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

But unless you have 217 votes to get behind that idea, it’s not a winning idea," LaLota said in an interview. D'Esposito said he was not sure that Jordan would support a stopgap measure known as a continuing resolution, an outcome becoming increasingly likely, adding: "none of us have crystal balls, but it's pretty clear where we're headed." CONTEXT* The prior Republican speaker, Kevin McCarthy, was ousted after passing the current stopgap funding measure on Sept. 30 with Democratic support, angering hardline Republicans. * Jordan was an architect of the 2013 shutdown over funding former President Barack Obama's Medicare reforms, and he supported the 2018 shutdown over funding for former President Donald Trump's border wall. Reporting by Moira Warburton in Washington; editing by Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jim Jordan, Kevin McCarthy, Jordan, Jim Jordan's, Nick LaLota, Anthony D'Esposito, LaLota, That's, it’s, D'Esposito, Barack, Donald Trump's, Moira Warburton, Grant McCool Organizations: Rep, U.S, Capitol, U.S . House, New, Prevent Government, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, U.S, New York City, Ohio, Washington

The House is due to hold a second vote to fill the vacant speaker's chair when it convenes at 11 a.m. It is not clear whether Jordan, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, will fare better in a second vote. At least one Republican who voted against him on Tuesday, Representative Doug LaMalfa, said he would vote for Jordan on the second ballot. "He's the only viable candidate we have," Republican Representative Thomas Massie told reporters. Democrats, meanwhile, are pressing for a bipartisan compromise that could result in more powers for Republican Representative Patrick McHenry, who is acting as temporary speaker.

Persons: Jim Jordan, Jordan, Kevin McCarthy, Donald Trump, Doug LaMalfa, Ken Buck, Jordan's, Thomas Massie, Patrick McHenry, Hakeem Jeffries, John Boehner, Joe Biden's, David Morgan, Moira Warburton, Katharine Jackson, Makini Brice, Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone, Grant McCool Organizations: U.S . House, Republican, Republicans, New Republican, U.S . Rep, U.S, Capitol, Democratic, Caucus, Committee, Biden, White, Thomson Locations: U.S, East, Ukraine, Washington

House Republicans appear to be warming to a novel proposal that would empower the speaker pro tempore, given their inability to elect a leader. The idea appears particularly popular among Republicans who opposed Jordan on the initial ballot. But the move would require the backing of a majority of the chamber, likely necessitating the support of Democrats. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has made clear that Democrats are open to a bipartisan path forward. “I have respect for Patrick McHenry, I think he is respected on our side of the aisle,” Jeffries said when asked about the possibility of empowering the North Carolina Republican.

Persons: Jim Jordan, Patrick McHenry, Jordan, Lori Chavez, Biden, Pro Tempore McHenry, Carlos Gimenez, Newt Gingrich, McHenry, John Boehner, chimed, “, Hakeem Jeffries, ” Jeffries, ” Organizations: Republicans, Republican, Republican Conference, Pro Tempore, ”, Florida Republican, North Carolina Republican Locations: Oregon, Florida

☆ Jim Jordan should step aside from speaker race, Chris Christie says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Rep. Jim Jordan should get ready to move on, according to fellow Republican Chris Christie. "My own party looks childish," Christie said on "Squawk on the Street," regarding the disarray among House Republicans. Christie predicted that Jordan would fail to convert enough of the 20 House Republicans who voted against him in the first ballot Tuesday. Jordan in that initial vote won just 200 of the 217 votes he needed to become speaker. You know, we have Israel aid, Ukraine aid, aid to Taiwan, border security and a budget all to get done.

Persons: Jim Jordan, Chris Christie, Jordan, gavel, Christie, who's, He's, Steve Scalise, Patrick McHenry, Kevin McCarthy, Donald Trump, Trump, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy Organizations: CNBC, Ohio Republican, Republicans, Republican, Florida Gov Locations: Ohio, Ukraine, Taiwan, R

☆ What really happens when you threaten to leave your job and why it rarely ends in your favor, according to former Microsoft VP of HR
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Chris Williams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementIf the threat to leave comes as a surprise, it's not a reflection on the company or your manager. If you threaten to leave with another job in hand, what's a manager to do? If you're seen as already gone and are now resorting to threats, your manager will often recognize the futility of any effort to rescue you. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe threat feels like blackmailIn any of these cases, your threat to leave feels like blackmail — do this "or else." In almost every case, when you make the threat, you've already lost.

Persons: Chris Williams, Williams, —, I've, you've, it's, You've, Bill Murray, what's, they'll Organizations: Microsoft, Service

CNN —Conservative Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio is bringing the House back to the floor Tuesday to vote on whether he will succeed ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy and finally end the chamber’s prolonged paralysis amid deep GOP divisions. But it’s not clear whether Jordan can be the one who unifies the fractured House Republican conference, with some lawmakers still opposed. Jordan can now only lose three votes, instead of four, but this is a temporary drop until the Florida congressman returns. “We need to get a speaker tomorrow,” Jordan said Monday after leaving a closed-door GOP conference meeting. Several Republicans – including from districts won by President Joe Biden – declined to say Monday evening whether they would vote for Jordan on the floor.

Persons: Jim Jordan of, Kevin McCarthy, Jordan, Gus Bilirakis, Bilirakis, –, ” Jordan, “, ”, holdouts, Ann Wagner of Missouri, Nicole Malliotakis, Jordan doesn’t, McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Kevin, Steve, Don Bacon of Nebraska, That’s, Mario Diaz, Joe Biden –, Scott Perry of, Scalise, ” Perry, Jim didn’t, Jim Jordan Organizations: CNN — Conservative Republican, Ohio Republican, Republican, Capitol, CNN, GOP, House Republicans, Trump, ” Locations: Jim Jordan of Ohio, Ohio, Florida, Washington, New York, Israel, Jordan

☆ Women face a 'broken rung' early on in the corporate ladder and are missing out on their first big promotions
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Lean In's CEO said fixing the "broken rung" would mean more women representation in the work pipeline. The report found that "for every 100 men promoted from entry level to manager, 87 women were promoted." "While we have this laser focus typically on the glass ceiling, what we need is a laser focus on the broken rung," Alexis Krivkovich, a senior partner for McKinsey, told Insider. "While companies are increasing women's representation at the top, doing so without addressing the broken rung offers only a temporary stopgap," the report stated. The broken rung doesn't have to be a never-ending problem.

Persons: Lean, —, Alexis Krivkovich, Rachel Thomas, Krivkovich, Thomas, evaluators Organizations: McKinsey, Service, McKinsey & Company, Lean, Companies

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is one of three sprawling but sparsely populated nations that have U.S. ties governed by so-called Compacts of Free Association (COFAs), under which Washington is responsible for their defense and provides economic assistance, while gaining exclusive military access to strategic swathes of ocean. Yun told Reuters he planned to sign the COFA deal with RMI Foreign Minister Jack Adding in Honolulu, Hawaii, at 2 p.m. local time (0000 GMT Tuesday). Analysts and former officials had blamed a delay in finalizing the Marshall Islands COFA on U.S. State Department lawyers wanting to control how new funds were spent and objecting to their being earmarked to address the nuclear legacy, fearing this could lay the U.S. open to more claims. A person familiar with the deal said all current federal programs, including education programs and the U.S. Reporting by David Brunnstrom and Michael Martina; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Louis Mapou, Hu'akavemeiliku Siaosi, Surangel Whipps, Kausea Natano, Joseph Yun, Biden, Yun, Jack, David Kabua, David Brunnstrom, Michael Martina, Sandra Maler Organizations: U.S ., Country, New, Tonga's, Tuvalu's, United, Reuters, The, Marshall, Free Association, Washington, Northern, RMI, RMI Foreign, U.S . Congress, . State Department, U.S, U.S . Postal Service, Thomson Locations: U.S, Federated States, Micronesia's, WASHINGTON, United States, Marshall, Pacific, The Republic, China, Northern Pacific, Palau, Micronesia, Washington, Honolulu , Hawaii, Kwajalein

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is one of three sprawling but sparsely populated nations that have U.S. ties governed by so-called Compacts of Free Association (COFAs), under which Washington is responsible for their defense and provides economic assistance, while gaining exclusive military access to strategic swathes of ocean. Yun said he signed the agreement with RMI Foreign Minister Jack Ading in Honolulu, Hawaii, at a ceremony also attended by Marshallese President David Kabua. Analysts and former officials had blamed a delay in finalizing the Marshall Islands COFA on U.S. State Department lawyers wanting to control how new funds were spent and objecting to their being earmarked to address the nuclear legacy, fearing this could lay the U.S. open to more claims. A person familiar with the deal said all current federal programs, including education programs and the U.S. Reporting by David Brunnstrom and Michael Martina; Editing by Sandra Maler and Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Louis Mapou, Hu'akavemeiliku Siaosi, Surangel Whipps, Kausea Natano, Joseph Yun, Biden, Yun, Jack Ading, David Kabua, David Brunnstrom, Michael Martina, Sandra Maler, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: U.S ., Country, New, Tonga's, Tuvalu's, United, Marshall, Reuters, The, Free Association, Washington, Northern, RMI, RMI Foreign, U.S, Congress, . State Department, U.S . Postal Service, U.S . Congress, Thomson Locations: U.S, Federated States, Micronesia's, WASHINGTON, United States, The Republic, China, Northern Pacific, Palau, Micronesia, Washington, Honolulu , Hawaii, Marshall, Kwajalein

☆ Donor fatigue has come for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukrainian officials say donor fatigue is now impacting their war effort. Ukraine officials say donor fatigue is a big part of the problem. "They would like to forget about the war, but the war is still ongoing, full-scale," Marchenko told Reuters on Saturday. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkrainian officials said they're also concerned that the war between Israel and Hamas could dilute future international support for Ukraine. Since Russia first launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, US lawmakers have approved about $113 billion in response.

Persons: —, Serhiy Marchenko, Reuters he's, Marchenko, they're, Pavlo Klimkin, Kyrylo Budanov, Budanov, Joe Biden, Biden, That'll Organizations: Service, Reuters, Ukraine, New York Times, Hamas, Republicans, Times Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russia

☆ Russia can gain from Middle East turmoil — but it could backfire if the war spirals out of control
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Putin likely wanted to show that Moscow is still important in the Middle East by visiting Iran, said John Drennan of the U.S. Institute of Peace. It could present an opportunity for them but also could present a very, very disastrous outcome for their influence in the Middle East too if the conflict spirals out of control," Ramani said. Analysts also believe Russia will use the war in Israel and Gaza to sow disinformation about Ukraine and discord among its allies. As such, the war between Israel and Hamas also provides Russia with an opportunity to flex its diplomatic muscles in the Middle East, after something of a hiatus from the global stage. So this shows that Russia is not isolated in the Middle East, and Russia still maintains the same array of diplomatic partnerships that it had before the war," he noted.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Ebrahim Raisi, Putin, John Drennan, Sergei Savostyanov, Samuel Ramani, Ramani, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Joe Biden, Jim Watson, Volodymy Zelenskyy, Sergei Karpukhin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Maxim Shemetov, They've, they've, Bashar al, Assad Organizations: Getty, Palestinian, Hamas, U.S . Institute of Peace, AFP, Royal United Services Institute, CNBC, Kremlin, Ukraine, Analysts, White, U.S, Congress, NATO, Afp, International Energy Agency, Russia, Israeli, Iraqi Locations: Sochi, Russia, Israel, Gaza, Moscow, Iran, Ukraine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, U.S, Europe, Washington ,, Brussels, Russian, OPEC, Turkey, Egypt, Tehran

Search resuls for: "stopgap"

25 mentions found