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☆ Evergrande’s Hong Kong court ruling is big reprieve
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, Dec 4 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A Hong Kong court on Monday adjourned to next month a hearing over a petition for the liquidation of China Evergrande (3333.HK). It lobs the ball back to Beijing: the judge told Evergrande to hold direct discussion with “relevant authorities” on the revamped terms. Options are limited following the detention of the company’s Chair Hui Ka Yan in September on suspicion of unspecified crimes. It also defers a high-profile test on whether Hong Kong liquidation rulings over mainland companies would be implemented across the border more efficiently following the introduction of a limited mutual recognition pact in 2021. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Evergrande, Hui Ka Yan, Chan Ka, Neiman Marcus, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Hong, HK, X, Saks, Barclays, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, China, Beijing

☆ Imagine a better climate pact than COP
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

It’s possible to imagine an alternative, better way to fight climate change. The snag is that China or the United States – which were responsible for 25% and 11% of greenhouse gases, respectively, in 2021 – would have to take the lead. All countries agreed to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times and to aim for 1.5 degrees. That’s the thinking behind the Just Energy Transition Partnerships that the United States and its allies have cut with Indonesia, Vietnam and South Africa. For example, Donald Trump, who as president pulled the United States out of the Paris Agreement, may return to the White House after next year’s elections.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, Peter Thal Larsen, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, of, UN, United, Rio Earth Summit, European, Reuters Graphics Reuters, China, African, Initiative, World Bank, Thomson Locations: Nations, Dubai, China, United States, Paris, U.S, Washington, Beijing, European Union, Japan, Canada, South Korea, United Kingdom, Russia, Russian, Xi Jinping . Washington, India, Brazil, Indonesia, African Union, Vietnam, South Africa

☆ Fiscal rules revamp may threaten calm in euro zone's fragile bond markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Stefano Rebaudo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Analysts believe Germany's budget crisis will mean tougher fiscal policy in the largest euro zone economy in 2024, which could add to pressure on less wealthy members of the bloc to keep a tighter grip on their finances. Italian 10-year bonds currently yield around 173 basis points more than German debt , 38 bps less than a year ago, while the gap between Portuguese and German yields has narrowed by 34 basis points. French bonds meanwhile yield 58 bps more than German, 5 bps more than a year ago. Analysts argued the German public may be unwilling to accept a tightening of domestic fiscal policy without a blanket approach across Europe - meaning a tougher scenario for the periphery. Bondholders are meanwhile banking on the European Central Bank cutting interest rates in a few months, which should support euro zone peripheral debt.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Olaf Scholz, Fabrizio Bensch, Ruben Segura, BofA's Segura, Cayuela, Felix Hubner, Massimiliano Maxia, Stefano Rebaudo, Catherine Evans Organizations: Italian, REUTERS, Germany, Union, Northern, European Commission, UBS, Analysts, European Central Bank, JPMorgan, ECB, Allianz Global Investors, bps, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Italy, Cayuela, European, Greece, Spain, Europe

☆ Thomas Randele makes deathbed confession: He was 1969 bank robber Ted Conrad
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

More than 50 years earlier, when he was 20 years old, he’d robbed an Ohio bank of $215,000. A day or so after her father’s shocking revelation, Ashley told CNN she pulled her mother Kathy aside and told her. Theodore "Ted" Conrad was an unassuming bank teller when he strolled out of an Ohio bank with more than $200,000. And I also wanted to learn about Ted Conrad, the bank robber, and Tom Randele, my dad,” she told CNN. Someone had sent his obituary to a crime reporter in Ohio with a note saying the deceased man was likely Conrad, Ashley Randele said.

Persons: CNN — Thomas Randele, he’d, Thomas Randele, Theodore Conrad, Ashley Randele, “ I’m, Ted Conrad, ’ ”, Thomas, “, ‘, they’re, Ashley, Kathy, ” Ashley Randele, Kathy Randele, ”, Steve McQueen, D.B, Cooper, Conrad, —, Theodore, Ted, Ross Anthony Willis, spotlighted, Thomas Crown, Pierce Brosnan, He’d, didn’t, ” Randele, Carl B, Ken Blaze, she’d, Tom Randele, Randele, Pete Elliott, Elliott, John Elliott, Robin Hood Organizations: CNN, National Bank, Fairfax Media, Stokes, Courthouse, Randele Locations: Boston, Ohio, ’, Lynnfield , Massachusetts, Cleveland, Pacific Northwest, Washington ,, Los Angeles, California, Hawaii , Texas, Oregon, Massachusetts, France, United States, Lynnfield

MOUNTAIN VIEW, California (AP) — From underwater drones to electronic warfare, the U.S. is expanding its high-tech military cooperation with Australia and the United Kingdom as part of a broader effort to counter China’s rapidly growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with defense chiefs from Australia and the United Kingdom at the U.S. military’s defense technology hub in Silicon Valley on Friday to forge a new agreement to increase technology cooperation and information sharing. The three nations have laid out plans for the so-called AUKUS partnership to help equip Australia with a fleet of eight nuclear-powered submarines. AUKUS is an acronym for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. He added that as an island nation, Australia has a need for improved maritime drones and precision strike capabilities.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, ” Austin, Richard Marles, Grant Shapps, Austin, Marles, Shapps, we’ve, aren’t, Adam Bry, Alex Horn, Horn Organizations: Pacific . Defense, Australian Defense, Defense Innovation Unit, Britain, U.S, Australian Navy, Solomon Islands, warfighters, Air Force, Morris Air National Guard Base Locations: California, U.S, Australia, United Kingdom, Silicon Valley, United States, Virginia, Adelaide, China, Pacific, South China, Beijing, Solomon, Taiwan, DIU, Arizona

THITU ISLAND, South China Sea (AP) — The Philippine coast guard inaugurated a new monitoring base Friday on a remote island occupied by Filipino forces in the disputed South China Sea as Manila ramps up efforts to counter China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the strategic waterway. It’s pure bullying,” Ano told reporters after the ceremony, describing the actions of Chinese ships as flouting international law. Surrounded by white beaches, the tadpole-shaped Thitu Island is called Pag-asa — Tagalog for hope — by about 250 Filipino villagers. It’s one of nine islands, islets and atolls that have been occupied by Philippine forces since the 1970s in the South China Sea’s Spratlys archipelago. Speaking in Honolulu, where he met U.S. military leaders about two weeks ago, Marcos said the situation in the South China Sea “has become more dire” with China showing interest in atolls and shoals that are “closer and closer” to the Philippine coast.

Persons: Thomas Shoal, it’s, Eduardo Ano, ” Ano, Ano, ”, Daisy Cojamco, asa —, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Rodrigo Duterte, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Duterte, Marcos, ” Marcos Organizations: National, Philippine, Associated Press, Washington, South China Locations: THITU, South China, Philippine, China, Manila, United States, Philippines, Asia, Thitu, Pag, Palawan, Vietnam, Australia, Beijing, U.S, Japan, Honolulu, South, asia

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

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

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

The assessment could become politically divisive as it sets the stage for the next few years of global action in cutting planet-warming emissions. Based on the results, countries may be pressed to set more ambitious climate policies or to contribute more financing to help developing countries adopt clean energy. In September, the United Nations offered an early stocktake assessment that revealed countries were far behind in meeting climate goals. HOW WILL THE STOCKTAKE DRIVE CLIMATE ACTION? What then needs to be decided... what do we then do from here," Dan Jorgensen, Denmark's Global Climate Policy Minister, told Reuters.

Persons: Alex Flores, Claudia Morales, Dan Jorgensen, Kate Abnett, Katy Daigle, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, United Nations, European Union, Policy, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Lake Titicaca, Bolivia, Rights DUBAI, Dubai, Paris

☆ North Korea's Kim calls for military readiness against any 'provocation'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Soo-Hyang Choi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits Korean People's Army Air Force headquarters on the occasion of Aviation Day in North Korea, in this picture released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on December 1, 2023. On Thursday, the United States targeted North Korea with fresh sanctions over the satellite launch, designating foreign-based agents it accused of facilitating sanctions evasion. Local media reported that North Korean soldiers at the Joint Security Area (JSA) inside the DMZ had started carrying firearms again after the North withdrew from the inter-Korean military deal. The DMZ tours had restarted last week; they had been halted after a U.S. soldier's unauthorised crossing into North Korea while on a tour in July. Private Travis King was later handed back by the North and returned to the United States, where he faces charges.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Kim Jong, Kim, KCNA, Travis King, Soo, hyang Choi, Richard Chang, Ed Davies, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Korean People's Army Air Force, Aviation, North, Korean Central News Agency, KCNA, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, United Nations, United, Local, Joint Security Area, Korean, Thomson Locations: North Korea, Rights SEOUL, Pyongyang, Seoul, United States, Korea, South Korea, U.S

☆ Henry Kissinger, American diplomat and Nobel winner, dead at 100
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger speaks at the International Economic Forum of the Americas/Conference of Montreal in 2008. U.S. President Richard Nixon and National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger stand on Air Force One during their voyage to China February 20, 1972. U.S. President Gerald Ford meets with Secretary Kissinger at Camp David, U.S., July 5, 1975. In 1973, in addition to his role as national security adviser, Kissinger was named secretary of state - giving him unchallenged authority in foreign affairs. But Ford did replace him as national security adviser in an effort to hear more voices on foreign policy.

Persons: Henry Kissinger, Shaun Best, Kissinger, Richard Nixon, Xi Jinping, Nixon's, Gerald Ford, Duc Tho, Gerald R, Ford, Henry, Heinz Alfred Kissinger, Anglicizing, Lyndon Johnson's, Nixon, Nelson A . Rockefeller, Henry A, Roosevelt, Premier Zhou Enlai, Mao Zedong, China Winston Lord, Leonid Brezhnev, Brezhnev, Gromyko, Dobrynin, Salvador Allende, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George W, Bush, Ann Fleischer, Nancy Maginnes, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, Abinaya, Sandra Maler Organizations: U.S, International Economic, Americas, Conference of, REUTERS, Kissinger Associates, New York City . U.S, National Security, Air Force, Richard Nixon Presidential, REUTERS Acquire, House, Republican, Paris Peace, Camp David, Ford Library, HARVARD, Nazi, Army, Harvard University, State Department, Office, White, Communist, Premier, Former U.S, Reuters, Ford, Soviet, CIA, Democrat, New York Governor, Thomson Locations: Conference of Montreal, Connecticut, New York City ., China, North Korea, Beijing, U.S, Israel, Paris, North Vietnam, America, North, Cambodia . U.S, Camp, Washington and New York, Voluble, Furth, Germany, United States, Europe, Vietnam, South Vietnam, Washington DC, Cambodia, Jerusalem, Damascus, Syria, Golan, Vladivostok, Soviet Union, Russian, Russia, Egypt, Sinai, India, Pakistan, Washington, New York, Bengaluru

☆ Ford reinstates 2023 guidance, says UAW deal to cost $8.8 billion over life of the contract
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The guidance calls for $10 billion to $10.5 billion in adjusted earnings before interest and taxes, or EBIT, and adjusted free cash flow of between $5 billion and $5.5 billion. That compares to its previously announced guidance of adjusted-EBIT of between $11 billion and $12 billion and adjusted free cash flow of $6.5 billion to $7 billion. Ford said the new UAW labor agreement is expected to cost $8.8 billion over the life of the contract, which expires in April 2028. Ford further confirmed on Thursday that the UAW deal is expected to add about $900 in costs per assembled vehicle by 2028. GM's forecast called for net income attributable to stockholders of $9.1 billion to $9.7 billion; adjusted EBIT of $11.7 billion to $12.7 billion; and adjusted earnings per share of roughly $7.20 to $7.70.

Persons: Ford, John Lawler, Lawler, We've Organizations: United Auto Workers, UAW, Crosstown, General Motors, Barclays, GM, Chrysler, U.S

The French bank also did not comment on plans to end its research partnership with Morningstar after more than four years. The expansion of the equities business by BNP comes as its Wall Street peers have reduced investment banking headcount this year amid sluggish trading and dealmaking activities. In Asia, BNP competes with large Western banks including Morgan Stanley (MS.N), Goldman Sachs (GS.N), JPMorgan (JPM.N) and UBS (UBSG.S), as well as a host of local investment banks in the cash equities business. One of the sources said BNP could boost its Asia equities headcount by as much as 20 over the next year. The bulk of BNP's in-house equities research team, mainly in Hong Kong and Singapore, departed as a result of that deal.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Morningstar, Jean, Laurent Bonnafe, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Jason Yates, BNP's, William Bratton, Exane, Bratton, " Yates, Selena Li, Sumeet Chatterjee, Jamie Freed Organizations: BNP, Bank, REUTERS, Morningstar, Deutsche, JPMorgan, UBS, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Asia, Asia Pacific, Europe, U.S, Russia, Ukraine, Pacific, BNP's, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, South Korea, India

WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Henry Kissinger, the most powerful U.S. diplomat of the Cold War era, who helped Washington open up to China, forge arms control deals with the Soviet Union and end the Vietnam War, but who was reviled by critics over human rights, has died aged 100. While many hailed Kissinger for his brilliance and statesmanship, others branded him a war criminal for his support for anti-communist dictatorships, especially in Latin America. Kissinger won the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize for ending U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, but it was one of the most controversial ever. When Nixon's pledge to end the Vietnam War helped him win the 1968 presidential election, he brought in Kissinger as national security adviser. And in the India-Pakistan War of 1971, Nixon and Kissinger drew heavy criticism for tilting toward Pakistan.

Persons: Henry Kissinger, Kissinger, Richard Nixon, Nixon's, Gerald Ford, Joe Biden's, John Kirby, Biden, Le Duc Tho, Vladimir Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Abdul Momen, Kissinger's, Momen, Ford, Henry, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Heinz Alfred Kissinger, Egon Bahr, Fabrizio Bensch, Lyndon, Nixon, Premier Zhou Enlai, Mao Zedong, China Winston Lord, Leonid Brezhnev, Salvador Allende, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George W, Bush, Xi Jinping, Ann Fleischer, Nancy Maginnes, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, Steve Holland, Arshad Mohammed, Dan Whitcomb, Don Durfee, Kanishka Singh, David Brunnstrom, Trevor Hunnicutt, Jarrett Renshaw, Bill Trott, Diane Craft, Rosalba O'Brien, Tomasz Janowski, Frances Kerry, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Jewish, Kissinger Associates, Arlington National, Republican, Paris Peace, Democratic, U.S, HARVARD, Nazi, Social Democratic, Mary's, REUTERS, Army, Harvard University, State Department, Paris Peace Accords, Communist, Premier, Former U.S, Ford, CIA, Democrat, House, New York Governor, Thomson Locations: U.S, Washington, China, Soviet Union, Vietnam, German, Connecticut, New York, Arlington, Israel, Paris, North Vietnam, America, Cambodia, North Vietnamese, Beijing, Russian, statesmanship, West, East Pakistan, Bangladesh, Fuerth, Germany, United States, St, Berlin, Europe, Jerusalem, Damascus, Syria, Golan, Vladivostok, Egypt, Sinai, India, Pakistan, Saint Paul , Minnesota, Long Beach , California

☆ Tiger Woods Is Back—and Teeing Off on the PGA Tour’s Secretive Saudi Deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Andrew Beaton | Louise Radnofsky | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

When Tiger Woods addressed his long-anticipated comeback from ankle surgery that has sidelined him since April, he delivered something even juicier than updates about his own future: his insight into the uncertain future of professional golf. Woods, who’s set to tee off Thursday at the Hero World Challenge that he hosts in the Bahamas, said his ankle is now pain free and that he hopes to play as much as once a month next year. But from his powerful perch inside the negotiations, the 1,328th ranked golfer in the world also provided some of the most revelatory remarks about the status of the stunning pact between the PGA Tour and its Saudi-backed rival.

Persons: Tiger Woods, who’s Organizations: PGA Tour Locations: Bahamas, Saudi

☆ With geopolitical tensions mounting, Bernstein expects 3 defense stocks to soar 20%
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Amala Balakrishner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"The rising geopolitical threats in APAC has been a driver of military spending for the Western nations. In addition, APAC countries have become more important for their own military expenditures, which present some opportunities for Western defense contractors through either exports or partnerships," they added. Quoting research from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute , Bernstein said that global defense spending reached a record high of $2.2 trillion last year. Why is defense spending on the rise? For instance, South Korea's defense spending is high given its longstanding tensions with neighbor North Korea.

Persons: AllianceBernstein, Bernstein, Northrop Grumman, CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Asia, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Boeing Co, Dassault Aviation, U.S Locations: Asia, Pacific, U.S, APAC, Stockholm, China, North Korea, North America, Europe, Russia, Japan, Australia, United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Soviet, Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei

☆ GM says union labor deals will increase costs by $9.3 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

General Motors expects new labor contracts with the United Auto Workers and Canadian union Unifor to increase its costs by $9.3 billion and add approximately $575 in costs per vehicle during the terms of the deals. GM disclosed the expected labor deal impact as part of a business update Wednesday in which it initiated a $10 billion accelerated stock buyback program, increased its dividend and reinstated its full-year 2023 guidance. GM said the $9.3 billion in labor cost increases are expected to occur as follows: $1.5 billion in 2024; $1.8 billion in 2025; $2.1 billion in 2026; $2.5 billion in 2027; and $1.1 billion from January-April 2028. GM's expected vehicle cost increase includes $500 per vehicle in 2024. Chrysler parent Stellantis , which was the second of the so-called Big 3 U.S. automakers to reach a deal with the UAW, has not disclosed expected costs of its labor pact with the union.

Persons: —, Mary Barra, John Lawler Organizations: Motors, United Auto Workers, Canadian, UAW, GM, Detroit, Ford Motor, Ford, Chrysler, CNBC PRO Locations: —, U.S

☆ How the U.S. courted the Philippines to thwart China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +14 min

What followed was two trips to the United States in less than a year for Marcos, and visits to the Philippines by high-ranking Biden administration officials. Marcos’ predecessor, the populist firebrand Rodrigo Duterte, was openly hostile to the United States and attempted to bring his country closer to communist China during his six-year term. For the United States, cementing alliances in the Asia-Pacific region is likewise crucial to keeping China in check. China’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement to Reuters, characterized China and the Philippines as “close neighbors across the sea” with a common interest in friendship. At the time, he said the cancellation of his visa was the latest in a list of “gripes and disrespect” by the United States.

Persons: Ferdinand “ Bongbong ” Marcos Jr, Joe Biden, Marcos, Gregorio Maria Araneta III, “, ” Araneta, Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, Julio Amador III, Marcos ’, Rodrigo Duterte, China’s, Xi Jinping, ” Marcos ’, Ferdinand Marcos Sr, ”, Marcos family’s, Washington, Duterte, China “, Becca Wasser, Wasser, Barack Obama, Xi, “ I’ve, ” Duterte, Ronald “ Bato, dela Rosa, Dela Rosa, gripes, Toribio Adaci, hadn’t, Blake Herzinger, Herzinger Organizations: Reuters, U.S, Defense, ., Party, China, U.S . State Department, ” Reuters, Philippine, United, Foreign Ministry, ” ‘, People’s Liberation Army, Center, New, New American Security, CNAS, U.S . Department of Defense, U.S ., Initiative, Philippines National Economic Development Authority, United States, Philippine National Police, Washington, Forces, VFA, Mutual, China’s, U.S . Pacific Fleet, Cooperation Locations: Philippines, Philippine, Manila, United States, U.S, China, America, Asia, Taipei, Taiwan, Beijing, South, East Asia, Pacific, Washington, Hawaii, South China, It’s, American, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New American, Taiwan . U.S, Duterte, China’s, Guangdong

[1/2] The company logo for Choice Hotels is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., February 17, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 27 (Reuters) - Choice Hotels International (CHH.N) is preparing to nominate directors to the board of rival Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (WH.N), seeking to break a stalemate in an $8 billion takeover battle, people familiar with the matter said. This gives Choice the right to nominate directors to Wyndham's board come January. It is also preparing to launch a tender offer for Wyndham's shares that would show Wyndham's investors that there is a firm offer on the table, according to the sources. Rockville, Maryland-based Choice operates nearly 7,500 hotels in 46 countries, including brands such as Radisson, Country Inn & Suites, and Cambria Hotels.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Wyndham, Parsippany, Pat Pacious, Stephen Holmes, Anirban Sen, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Ramada, Wyndham, Cambria Hotels, Choice, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, United States, Parsippany , New Jersey, Rockville , Maryland, Radisson, Cambria

☆ North Korea deploys troops, weapons near border after military pact suspended -Yonhap
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Asia Pacific category · November 26, 2023New Zealand’s new right-of-centre government was sworn in on Monday, with parliament expected to sit next week and begin working on new policies including a new central bank mandate and lifting a ban on oil and gas exploration.

Locations: Asia

☆ North Korea Deploys Troops, Weapons Near Border After Military Pact Suspended -Yonhap
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

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Organizations: U.S . News, U.S News

"The released hostages are on their way to hospitals in Israel, where they will re-unite with their families," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement. Israel released 39 Palestinians - six women and 33 minors - from two prisons, the Palestinian news agency WAFA said. Saturday's swap follows the previous day's initial release of 13 Israeli hostages, including children and the elderly, by Hamas in return for the release of 39 Palestinian women and young people from Israeli prisons. On Friday Hamas also released a Philippine national and 10 Thai farm workers. Israel has said the ceasefire could be extended if Hamas continued to release at least 10 hostages a day.

Persons: Israel, WAFA, Srettha Thavisin, Thais, Thongkoon Onkaew, Natthaporn Onkaew, Joe Biden, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Osama Hamdan, Majed Al, Ansari, Maya Regev, Emily Hand, Hila Rotem, Emily, Raya Rotem, Shorouk Dwayyat, Emily Rose, Bassam Masoud, James Mackenzie, Maayan Lubell, Emma Farge, Aidan Lewis, Adam Makary, Nidal, Moaz Abd, Ali Sawafta, Sybille de La Hamaide, Jeff Mason, Humeyra Pamuk, Leslie Adler, Clarence Fernandez, William Mallard Organizations: Sunday, International Committee, Israel Defense Forces, West Bank, Hamas, Reuters, Brigades, IDF, United Nations, CNN, Al, Thomson Locations: Israel Egypt, Qatar, West Bank GAZA, JERUSALEM, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Palestinian, Rafah, Al, Bireh, Ramallah, Philippine, U.S, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Al Jazeera, Nantucket , Massachusetts

☆ Kremlin says NATO's desire for a 'military Schengen' zone in Europe ratchets up tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MOSCOW, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Friday that NATO's desire to have a military analogue of the Schengen Zone in Europe to allow the alliance's armed forces to move around freely to counter Russia had ratcheted up tensions and was a cause for concern. NATO is actively supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia and Kyiv hopes one day to join the alliance. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow would respond if 'the military Schengen' proposal became a reality. This (statement) is nothing more than about fuelling tensions in Europe which has consequences," Peskov told reporters. He said talk of building a 'military Schengen' showed once again that Europe was unwilling to listen to Moscow's legitimate concerns and was ready to boost its own security at Russia's expense.

Persons: Alexander Sollfrank, Joe Biden, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Andrew Osborn, Gareth Jones Organizations: Reuters, NATO, Soviet Union, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Soviet, Warsaw, Poland, Baltic

☆ Brazil signs on to global climate deal to triple renewable energy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A spokesperson for Brazil's Foreign Ministry confirmed the country has decided to join the pact. Brazil is already a major player in renewable energy. While Brazil supports tripling renewables globally, mathematically it is not possible domestically, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. "Brazil won't be able to triple its own renewable energy because it's already very high, but Brazil is once again reinforcing its support for renewables," he said. The draft renewable energy pledge, reviewed by Reuters, commits to "the phase down of unabated coal power," including ending financing for new coal-fired power plants.

Persons: Bruno Kelly, Valerie Volcovici, Jake Spring, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Foreign, European Union, United, Reuters, United Arab Emirates ' Foreign Ministry, Renewables, Energy, Brazil's Foreign Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Thomson Locations: Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, South America's, Dubai, Brazil's, Abu Dhabi

☆ Bahrain seeks to balance anger over Gaza with ties to Israel, US
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Alexander Cornwell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The deal to normalise ties with Israel, signed in 2020 by Bahrain when Donald Trump was president, brought few business benefits to Bahrain, unlike those it offered United Arab Emirates, a regional commercial hub which signed at the same time. Six sources familiar with the matter told Reuters Bahrain would not abandon its ties with Israel, even though parliament - a body that remains subservient to the monarchy - has made a strident statement suggesting Israel relations were in the freezer. Bahrain is trying to preserve the relationship with Israel while also managing public opinion, one of the sources said. "They can't abandon normalisation with Israel without endangering this whole strategic framework," said Kristin Smith Diwan, a researcher at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. The sources said the public confusion over relations with Israel appeared to have eased pressure on the government in its efforts to balance domestic outrage and ties with Israel.

Persons: Hamad I Mohammed, Donald Trump, Kristin Smith Diwan, Abraham, Israel, Mamdooh Al Saleh, Smith, Tobias Lindner, Alexander Cornwell, Maha El, Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams, Michael Georgy, William Maclean Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rare, U.S . Navy Fifth Fleet, United, Reuters, Gulf States Institute, Bahraini, Abraham, Islamic, Abraham Accords, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Muharraq, Bahrain, MANAMA, Gaza, Gulf, United States, Iran, Manama, United Arab Emirates, Reuters Bahrain, Washington, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahraini, Jerusalem, Bahrainis, Tehran, Islamic Republic, East, U.S, Kingdom of Bahrain, Maha El Dahan, Dubai

☆ NATO urges members to get their logistics homework done
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Sabine Siebold | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NATO's Joint Support and Enabling Command (JSEC) in the southern German town of Ulm started operating in 2021. "At the heyday of the war in Ukraine, Russia fired 50,000 artillery shells per day. As it is, NATO forces have to navigate a variety of national regulations, stretching from the advance-notice required before ammunition can be shipped to the permissible length of military convoys and disease prophylaxis. "We have a surplus of regulations, but the one thing we don't have is time," warned Admiral Rob Bauer, head of NATO's military committee. "Russia's war against Ukraine has proven to be a war of attrition – and a war of attrition is a battle of logistics."

Persons: Alexander Sollfrank, Sollfrank, Rob Bauer, Sabine Siebold, Christina Fincher Organizations: Europe NATO, NATO, Reuters, Command, Warsaw, EU, Thomson Locations: Europe, BRUSSELS, Russia, Ulm, Ukraine, Germany, Moscow

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