Day: December 29, 2021

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بنك التنمية الجديد يعلن عن انضمام مصر لعضوية البنك في إطار سعى البنك لتوسيع عضويته

انضمام مصر إلى بنك التنمية الجديد يمثل شهادة ثقة من دول تجمع البريكس عن قوة الاقتصاد المصرى كونة اقتصاد ينمو بشكل متسارع واقتصاد رائد

شنغهاي,29 ديسمبر / كانون أول 2021/PRNewswire/ — وافق بنك التنمية الجديد (NDB) – الذي أنشأته مجموعة بريكس (البرازيل وروسيا والهند والصين وجنوب إفريقيا) في عام 2015 – على قبول مصر كعضو جديد بالبنك

وكان مجلس محافظي بنك التنمية الجديد قد قام بعقد مفاوضات رسمية مع الأعضاء المحتملين للانضمام الى البنك بدءا من نهاية عام 2020. وبعد جولة من المفاوضات الناجحة مع عدد من الدول المتقدمة لعضوية البنك بداء البنك في قوبل أعضاء جدد حيث تم قبول عضوية كل من بنجلادش والامرات العربية وأورجواي في سبتمبر 2021 ثم تم قبول طلب العضوية المقدم من حكومة جمهورية مصر العربية لتصبح العضو الرابع الجديد المنضم للبنك مؤخرا في إطار سعى البنك لتوسيع نطاق عملة وانتشاره جغرافيا.

وفي ترحيبه بمناسبة قبول عضوية مصر قال السيد ماركوس ترويخو، رئيس بنك التنمية الجديد:     ” يسعدنا أن نرحب بمصر في أسرة بنك التنمية الجديد حيث تعد مصر واحدة من أسرع دول العالم نمواً، وهي تتمتع باقتصاد رائد في القارة الإفريقية ومنطقة الشرق الأوسط بالإضافة إلى كونها لاعب رئيسي في مؤسسات التمويل التنموية الدولية. ونتطلع إلى مساندة وتلبية احتياجات جمهورية مصر العربية الاستثمارية في مجالات البنية التحتية والتنمية المستدامة”.

ومن جانبه اوضح السيد الدكتور محمد معيط وزير المالية المصري بان ” مصر من اهم المؤيدين والمناصرين لأهمية التعاون على المستوى متعدد الأطراف و الدولي،  وقد تم انشاء بنك التنمية الجديد كأحد أوائل بنوك التنمية متعددة الأطراف لخدمة احتياجات ومتطلبات الأسواق الناشئة والدول النامية. لذا فان مصر ترحب وبشدة بالانضمام إلى بنك التنمية الجديد وتتطلع إلى بناء شراكة قوية مع البنك خلال السنوات القادمة. كما أكد على أن الاقتصاد المصرى بدأ في جني ثمار الجهود المستمرة والمتسقة الهادفة الى تعزيز قوته ومرونته في التعامل مع الصدمات  والعمل على  تنويع مصادر التمويل المتاحة. كما ان إمكانيات القدرات التمويلية القوية لبنك التنمية الجديد والخبرات ذات الصلة لديه ستساعد مصر على تلبية احتياجاتها التمويلية وتعزيز جهودها لتحسين وتطوير قاعدة البنية التحتية لديها وبما يساعد على تحقيق الأهداف الطموحة لمصر في مجال لتنمية المستدامة الطموحة”.

ويعد بنك التنمية الجديد بمثابة منصة جديدة لمصر لتعزيز التعاون مع دول البريكس وغيرها من دول الاقتصادات الناشئة والبلدان النامية في مجال البنية التحتية والتنمية المستدامة. وستصبح العضوية في بنك التنمية الجديد سارية بمجرد استكمال الإجراءات الداخلية للتصديق على عملية الانضمام.

ومنذ تأسيسه قبل ست سنوات، وافق بنك التنمية الجديد على تمويل نحو 80 مشروع في جميع البلدان الأعضاء بالبنك، بإجمالي محفظة اقراض بلغت نحو 30 مليار دولار أمريكي. ويقوم البنك بتمويل المشروعات في مجالات النقل والمياه والصرف الصحي والطاقة النظيفة والبنية التحتية الرقمية والبنية التحتية الاجتماعية والتنمية الحضرية.

وتهدف استراتيجية البنك في الوقت الراهن الى توسيع نطاقه عملة جغرافيا ليصبح المؤسسة التنموية الأولى لخدمة اقتصادات الدول الناشئة والبلدان النامية.

معلومات أساسية عن البنك:

تم إنشاء بنك التنمية الجديد من قبل البرازيل وروسيا والهند والصين وجنوب إفريقيا لتعبئة الموارد لتمويل مشروعات البنية التحتية والتنمية المستدامة في دول البريكس وغيرها من الاقتصادات الناشئة والبلدان النامية، وليعمل على تكامل الجهود القائمة من قبل المؤسسات المالية متعددة الأطراف والإقليمية من أجل دعم التنمية عالمياً. يبلغ رأس المال المصرح به لبنك التنمية الجديد 100 مليار دولار أمريكي، وهو مفتوح للاكتتاب من قبل أعضاء الأمم المتحدة.

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NDB admits Egypt as new member

Development bank established by BRICS further expands membership

SHANGHAI, Dec. 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The New Development Bank (NDB) – established by BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in 2015 – has admitted Egypt as a new member.

NDB’s Board of Governors authorized the Bank to conduct formal negotiations with prospective members in late 2020. After a round of successful negotiations, NDB started expanding its membership in September 2021 with the admission of Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Uruguay. Egypt is the fourth new member admitted into NDB, further expanding the Bank’s global outreach.

“We are delighted to welcome Egypt into NDB’s family. Egypt is one of the world’s fastest growing countries, a major economy in the African continent and the Middle East region as well as a key player in development finance institutions. We look forward to supporting its investment needs in infrastructure and sustainable development”, said Mr. Marcos Troyjo, President of NDB.

“Egypt is a firm believer and supporter of multilateralism. The NDB has established itself as one of the premier Multilateral Development Banks for Emerging Markets and Developing countries. Egypt fully embraces the decision to join the NDB family and looks forward to building a strong partnership and engagement with the Bank over the coming years. Egypt is reaping the fruits of its consistent efforts to enhance its economy’s resilience and to diversify its funding sources. NDB’s strong financing capabilities and relevant expertise would help Egypt meet its financing needs and enhance its efforts to upgrade its infrastructure base while also meeting its ambitious SDG goals.” said Dr. Mohamed Maait, Minister of Finance of Egypt.

Egypt will have in NDB a new platform to foster cooperation in infrastructure and sustainable development with BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries. Membership to NDB becomes effective once the admitted country completes its domestic processes and deposits the instrument of accession.

Since its establishment six years ago, NDB has approved about 80 projects in all of its member countries, totaling a portfolio of US$ 30 billion. Projects in areas such as transport, water and sanitation, clean energy, digital infrastructure, social infrastructure and urban development are within the scope of the Bank.

NDB’s membership expansion is in line with the Bank’s strategy to become the premier development institution for emerging economies and developing countries.

Background information

NDB was established by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries, complementing the existing efforts of multilateral and regional financial institutions for global growth and development. NDB has an authorized capital of US$ 100 billion, which is open for subscription by members of the United Nations.

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الجامعة التكنولوجية الماليزية ترعى روّاد الأعمال التكنولوجية عبر نظام تسويق بيئي إستراتيجي

جوهور بارو، ماليزيا، 29 ديسمبر 2021 /PRNewswire/ — أنشأت الجامعة التكنولوجية الماليزية (UTM) 45 شركة تكنولوجية منبثقة، وذلك اتساقًا مع شعارها «الابتكار وريادة الأعمال والعالمية». وتوفر الجامعة الدعم اللازم لأقسام البحث والتطوير التابعة لها (مثل أقسام المواد الجديدة، واستدامة الموارد، والحلول الهندسية المبتكرة، والصحة والعافية، والمجتمعات الرقمية الذكية) بهدف إنشاء المزيد من الشركات المنبثقة ورعايتها في المستقبل.

Synergistic interactions between UTM researcher and students

وقد حققت بعض الشركات البحثية المنبثقة من جامعة UTM إيرادات سنوية تُقدّر بالملايين، كما حققت عوائد مرتفعة للجامعة؛ ومن بين هذه الشركات: Gates IT Solutions Sdn. Bhd.، وDF Automation Sdn. Bhd.، وBiopro Cosmeceutical Sdn.  Bhd..

ومنذ اعتمادها رسميًا كجامعة بحثية في عام 2010؛ عملت UTM على تسخير جهودها في مجال البحث والتطوير لتلبية الاحتياجات السوقية والمجتمعية؛ فبدأت تنفيذ أنشطة مركّزة للتسويق لأعمال البحث والتطوير الخاصّة بها من خلال تطوير نظام تسويق بيئي إستراتيجي يركّز على رعاية الباحثين والطلاب عبر مجموعة متنوّعة من البرامج.

دور مركز التبادل التكنولوجي

وفي إطار دعمها لجهود البحث والتطوير، أنشأت الجامعة مركز الابتكار والتسويق (ICC)، وهو مركز معني بنقل التكنولوجيا ويهدف إلى مساعدة الباحثين والطلاب على تسويق منتجاتهم البحثية وتأسيس شركات منبثقة وناشئة عبر برنامج إستراتيجي يتألف من ثلاث مراحل.  وقد تمكّن مركز ICC -من خلال تعاونه مع مركز ابتكار الطلاب وريادة الأعمال التكنولوجية، ومركز UTM المهني، ونوادي ريادة الأعمال الطلابية- من تطوير هذا البرنامج الإستراتيجي بمراحله الثلاثة: “مرحلة المبتدئين” و”مرحلة المؤهلين” و”مرحلة المتقدّمين”. يتم تزويد المشاركين في هذا البرنامج بالأدوات والمعرفة الفنّية اللازمة ليتمكّنوا من ريادة الأعمال التكنولوجية؛ وذلك عبر عمليات التبادل المعرفي، وتوفير المرافق والتمويل اللازم، وإقامة علاقات مع الجهات الفاعلة في القطاع التكنولوجي.

مرحلة المبتدئين

خلال هذه المرحلة الأولية، يتم إرشاد الباحثين والطلاب عبر رحلة تبدأ من توليد الأفكار وإنشاء النماذج الأولية لمشروعاتهم مرورًا بتنفيذ التجارب وعمليات إثبات المفاهيم وانتهاءً بحصول ابتكاراتهم على حقوق حماية الملكية الفكرية. لتوليد أفكار مبتكرة، ينبغي للباحثين والطلاب العمل على مشروعات قابلة للتطوير؛ لذا، تُصمّم مشروعات التخرّج بحيث تكون ملائمة لهذا الغرض، كما تسهم مسابقات الأفكار التجارية وفعاليات المبرمجين (الهاكاثون) في إثراء وتعزيز هذه المشروعات بدرجة كبيرة.

مرحلتا المؤهلين والمتقدّمين

خلال هاتين المرحلتين، يتم تسريع عملية التسويق. لذا أنتجت UTM برنامجًا فريدًا لرعاية البحوث أطلقت عليه اسم «ICCubeX» بغرض دعم الباحثين في تطوير ابتكاراتهم وتنفيذها وتسويقها.

ويتألف ICCubeX من برنامج إرشادي يضم مجموعات عديدة من روّاد الأعمال التكنولوجية والباحثين، وبرنامج تكافلي لطلاب الدراسات العليا والطلاب الجامعيين، وهذا الأخير يركّز على دمج التكنولوجيات المحتملة التي تعمل الجامعات ومراكز البحوث على تطويرها.

علاوة على ذلك، تُموّل الابتكارات من صندوق تطوير النماذج الأولية وصندوق تنفيذ التكنولوجيا وصندوق تسويق المنتجات؛ وذلك شريطة اجتيازها تقييمات دقيقة في مرحلة الفرز.

وخلال هاتين المرحلتين النهائيتين، توفر جامعة UTM للشركات المنبثقة والناشئة احتياجاتها من المرافق (كالمكاتب والمختبرات ومساحات التصنيع وغير ذلك) في متنزه الابتكار التكنولوجي (Technovation Park) التابع للجامعة؛ وهو ما يعكس التزام الجامعة بالدعم الشامل للباحثين والطلاب.

تعزيز التعاون بين الباحثين والطلاب 

ستضيف الجامعة قيمة مضافة إلى نظام تسويقها البيئي من خلال تعزيز التعاون المباشر بين الباحثين والطلاب عبر منصتها الإستراتيجية للشركات الناشئة؛ وذلك وفقًا لما ذكرته الأستاذة المشاركة الدكتورة نور أزوراتي صالح، رئيسة مركز ICC التابع لجامعة UTM.

وقالت الدكتورة أزوراتي: «إنّ جامعة UTM تسعى إلى دعم ورعاية طلابها الجامعيين وطلاب الدراسات العليا بها بشكل أفضل عن طريق التوجيه والتفاعل المباشر مع الباحثين المشاركين في البرامج والأنشطة التي يتضمّنها نظامنا التسويقي البيئي.»

وأضافت د. أزوراتي «إنّ هذه المبادرة ستساعد على إنشاء الطلاب للمزيد من الشركات التكنولوجية الناشئة والشركات المنبثقة المتميّزة؛ وهو ما يسهم بشكل مباشر في زيادة معدّلات توظيف خريجي الجامعة في المستقبل.»

لا تقتصر جهود جامعة UTM -من خلال نظامها التسويقي البيئي- على دعم روّاد الأعمال، لكنّها تدعم أيضًا التكنولوجيا والابتكارات التي يمكن أن تزيد من تكوين الثروات ورفاهية المجتمعات.

عن الجامعة التكنولوجية الماليزية ( UTM )

جامعة UTM هي جامعة بحثية رائدة تهدف إلى تخريج أجيال من روّاد الأعمال والمبتكرين في مجالات الهندسة والعلوم والتكنولوجيا، وتقع مقرّاتها في كوالالمبور وجوهور بارو وباغو في ماليزيا.  وتشتهر الجامعة بتقدّمها في المعارف والخبرات الهندسية والتكنولوجية.  تعمل جامعة UTM وفقًا لمجموعة من المبادئ الأساسية وهي النزاهة والتعاون والتميّز والاستدامة، وتتقيّد ممارسات مجتمع UTM بهذه القيم؛ وتُعدّ هذه القيم جزءًا لا يتجزأ من توجهاتها الإستراتيجية التي تدفع الجامعة نحو التميّز. لمزيد من المعلومات عن مركز ICC وجامعة UTM، يُرجى زيارة https://icc.utm.my و utm.my.

 رابط الصورة المرفقة: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1716624/image1.jpg

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NEW KITCHEN DUO FROM LG FEATURING THINQ RECIPE SERVICE UPGRADES THE COOKING EXPERIENCE

LG’s 2022 Complete Kitchen Solution Delivers Advanced Cooking Technologies and Seamless Access to Smart Recipes

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — LG Electronics (LG) is about to make life in the kitchen easier than ever with the introduction of its latest cooking appliances, LG InstaView® Double Oven Range and Over-the-Range Microwave Oven. Featuring the company’s core cooking technologies, these premium appliances are the first to offer seamless integration with the new LG ThinQ™ Recipe service.[1] Double Oven Range features LG InstaView technology that lets users see inside an appliance by simply knocking twice on the glass, illuminating the interior without having to open the door and letting hot air escape. A complete cooking solution for today’s homes, both products are making their debut at CES 2022 next week.

LG InstaView® Double Oven Range and Over-the-Range Microwave Oven

The new oven range leverages LG’s ProBake® Convection technology for quick and thorough cooking without preheating to deliver delicious, evenly-cooked meals every time. With its precise temperature and airflow control, ProBake provides shorter cooking times and is also the key ingredient in the oven’s Air Fry and Air Sous Vide modes. Air Fry allows cooks to create delectable, crispy fried treats using far less oil than deep frying while Air Sous Vide ensures tender, juicy dishes that will keep diners wanting more. And delicious doesn’t mean having to wait longer, thanks to LG’s UltraHeat™ Power Burner technology.

The other half of the exceptional kitchen duo, LG Over-the-Range Microwave Oven, employs proprietary Steam Cook technology to prepare foods that are juicier, healthier and tastier. The Slide-out ExtendaVent™ in this premium microwave is effective in reducing the presence of smoke and lingering odors in the kitchen. And with its EasyClean interior, the oven is a breeze to keep clean thanks to the advanced coating that prevents food and grease from sticking and allows easy cleanup with only a damp cloth.[2] LG’s minimalist design language is perfectly exemplified in the stainless steel and tempered glass of LG WideView™ Window.

LG ThinQ Recipe

New for 2022, LG ThinQ Recipe service delivers a more complete and convenient user experience by making all smart kitchen services and content from LG and its partners available in one place. Accessed via the ThinQ app, LG ThinQ Recipe offers a seamless journey that allows anyone to search, plan, purchase and cook, following hundreds of easy-to-follow recipes including mouth-watering options from talented creators and LG Originals Series, the latter prepared by LG’s own chefs showcasing how to best use features of LG cooking appliances.[1] Powered by SideChef, ThinQ Recipe also offers over 10,000 one-click shoppable recipes for the ultimate home cooking experiences, turning a single recipe or a weekly meal plan into a grocery shopping orderable directly from the app via Walmart or Amazon Fresh.[3]

In partnership with Boston-based AI start-up Foodspace Technology, ThinQ Recipe also integrates LG’s time-saving Scan to Cook feature, for scan-and-send cooking directions for select frozen meals.

Proactive Customer Care, LG’s AI customer service solution, can be accessed from the intuitive ThinQ app as well. Using artificial intelligence and deep learning technology to analyze product performance data, Proactive Customer Care can send users helpful alerts and maintenance tips to keep their LG ovens running optimally year after year.[4]

The 2022 LG InstaView Range with ThinQ Recipe will be on display in LG’s virtual exhibition booth at CES 2022 starting January 5.

[1] LG ThinQ Recipe app is applicable for models featuring Scan to Cook. Services and features may vary depending on model or region.
[2] EasyClean available only on gas models.
[3] Services and features may vary depending on model or region.
[4] Availability of Proactive Customer Care may vary depending on model or region.

About LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company

The LG Home Appliance & Air Solution Company is a global leader in home appliances, smart home solutions, air solutions as well as visionary products featuring LG ThinQ AI. The company is creating various solutions with its industry leading core technologies and is committed to making life better and healthier for consumers by developing thoughtfully designed kitchen appliances, living appliances, HVAC and air purification solutions. Together, these products deliver enhanced convenience, superb performance, efficient operation and compelling health benefits. For more news on LG, visit www.LGnewsroom.com.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1716995/Lupin2_DoubleOven_Gas_with_OTR_Scarlett2_Lifestyle.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1716996/ThinQ_Recipe_Air_Fry_Chicken_Wings_ThinQ_App1_revised.jpg

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Novak Djokovic withdraws from ATP Cup

Manama, World number one Novak Djokovic will not compete at the upcoming ATP Cup in Sydney which adds to speculation whether he will be at the Australian Open in Melbourne.

ATP Cup organisers announced on Wednesday that Djokovic “has withdrawn” from the team tournament that starts on Saturday, reports dpa international.

No reason was given but Djokovic has never talked out his coronavirus vaccination status, saying it is a private matter.

The Serb was on the Australian Open entry list as of Wednesday but only vaccinated players are allowed to compete at the Melbourne grand slam.

Should Djokovic play the Australian Open which start on January 17 he could also have some tune-up matches in the week of January 10 at events in Adelaide or Sydney.

Djokovic is a nine-time Australian Open champion and tied on a record 20 grand slam titles with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Federer will not be in Melbourne owing to injury while Nadal could be doubtful after recently contracting the coronavirus.

The Djokovic announcement was part of an ATP Cup roster update with France replacing Austria after withdrawals of former US Open champion Dominic Thiem and Dennis Novak.

Dusan Lajovic will replace Djokovic for Serbia while Russia led by world number two Daniil Medvedev will aim to defend their title despite three withdrawals including Andrey Rublev who has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Source: Voice of America

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Biden Urged to Appoint North Korea Human Rights Envoy

Human rights groups are calling on U.S. President Joe Biden to appoint a special envoy for North Korean human rights, a position that has been vacant since January 2017.

The North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 directs the U.S. president to name a person for the role, subject to Senate confirmation. The position, however, remains unfilled, even though Biden has elevated the issue of human rights globally.

His predecessor, Donald Trump, downplayed the issue of North Korea’s human rights violations after his first Singapore summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June 2018.

VOA’s Korean Service has asked the State Department about the appointment several times, including earlier this month.

“I don’t have any administrative announcement or updates at this time,” a State Department spokesperson said via email. “We remain concerned about the human rights situation in the DPRK and the United States is committed to placing human rights at the center of our foreign policy.” North Korea is officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia Division, said, “For an administration that claims to care greatly about promoting human rights and democracy in the world,” it is critical that it “immediately act to nominate a person well versed in human rights issues in North Korea to take on this important position.”

The Biden administration should also prioritize the appointment of a U.S. ambassador to South Korea, a position that also remains vacant, said Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director at the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea.

“A strong alliance and bilateral relationship with South Korea is the prerequisite of success on all fronts, including North Korean human rights,” Scarlatoiu said.

“It is past time for action from the Biden administration to match their words of wanting to support human rights,” said U.S. Representative Young Kim, a California Republican. “I cannot see Kim Jong Un — as well as our allies like South Korea and Japan — taking our word seriously” when the “vital” human rights position remains unfilled.

US actions so far

On international Human Rights Day, December 10, the Biden administration placed its first sanctions designations on North Korea-related entities and individuals for rights violations.

The Biden administration made a series of statements this year promising to fill the rights position while expressing concern about North Korea’s human rights abuses.

In February, the State Department said the position would be filled as part of Biden’s North Korea policy review. The administration announced that review had been completed in April, but it did not mention any nomination or appointment.

In March, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the House Foreign Affairs Committee he felt “strongly” about the need to appoint a rights envoy. Blinken repeated the administration’s determination to fill the position to the committee in June.

Roberta Cohen, who was the deputy assistant secretary of state for human rights during the Carter administration, said “there’s no doubt” that the administration will fill the position.

“But the whole process of nominating and confirming ambassadors and envoys and officials within the government that require confirmation — this has been very slow,” she said.

Cohen isn’t the only one who suspects a bureaucratic backlog.

“The real problem is the delay in the Senate in terms of reacting, responding and approving nominees that have been made by the Biden administration for a number of ambassadorial appointments,” said Robert King, who served as the special envoy for North Korean human rights issues under the Obama administration.

“While simple bureaucratic neglect may play a role, there is no disguising the fact that this delay shows a lack of political priority being given to North Korean human rights issues,” added Robertson of Human Rights Watch.

At the same time, Scarlatoiu of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea said, the delay is reasonable as “the Biden administration has been dealing with multiple other priorities and emergencies.”

Pressure on North Korea

Some experts think appointing a human rights envoy for North Korea will add pressure on North Korea as the Biden administration remains open to talks with the regime, which have been deadlocked since October 2019.

“Naming a human rights envoy … would signify a return to a much-needed toughening of policy from the post-Singapore summit relaxation during the Trump administration,” said Bruce Klingner, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

Harry Kazianis, senior director of Korean studies at the Center for the National Interest, said, “I do think team Biden realizes a North Korean human rights special envoy, while a good idea, could provide [North Korea] an excuse to lash out.”

Source: Voice of America

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Biden Vows Diplomacy Ahead of Call With Putin Over Ukraine Tensions

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden will speak by phone Thursday with his Russian counterpart, a senior administration official said Wednesday, adding the American leader will seek a diplomatic solution to escalating tension along Russia’s border with Ukraine.

“We are prepared for diplomacy and for a diplomatic path forward,” the official told reporters Wednesday. “But we are also prepared to respond if Russia advances with a further invasion of Ukraine.”

The call, requested by Russian President Vladimir Putin, comes ahead of highly anticipated high-level talks in Geneva on January 10. Neither president is expected to participate in those talks, the official said.

This marks the second call this month between the two men, who also spoke in early December over what were then some 70,000 troops gathered on the Russian side of the border, according to intelligence estimates from satellite images. But U.S. intelligence analysts predict that Putin plans to mass as many as 175,000 troops.

The U.S. repeatedly has assured Ukraine of its support, and provided tens of millions of dollars in security assistance. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. In a statement, Blinken said he “reiterated the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s borders.”

The White House has said, repeatedly, that there will be “significant consequences” if Russia invades. Those include harsh economic sanctions and increased security support for Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Zelenskiy tweeted: “I was assured of full [U.S.] support for [Ukraine] in countering Russian aggression.” He used flag emojis to indicate the countries.

Blinken also spoke with the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany on “coordination to deter any further Russian aggression against Ukraine,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

The Western foreign ministers “affirmed the consensus among allies and partners to impose massive consequences and severe costs on Russia for such actions,” Price said in a statement.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the call set for Thursday, adding it would take place in the evening Russian time. On Wednesday Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin called the heads of state in key neighbors Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus.

A spokesperson from the National Security Council told VOA the U.S. is relying on its alliances in the region to reach a diplomatic solution.

“We are unified as an alliance on the consequences Russia would face if it moves on Ukraine,” said the spokesperson, who asked to speak on background when discussing current U.S. policy. “But we are also unified in our willingness to engage in principled diplomacy with Russia. … We will adhere to the principle of ‘nothing about our Allies and partners without our Allies and partners, including Ukraine.'”

Administration officials have declined to respond publicly to Moscow’s demands, which include that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and that the security alliance reduces its deployments in Central and Eastern Europe.

On Wednesday, the senior administration official said: “Our view is that we can make most progress, actually at the negotiating table sitting across from one another behind closed doors and in close consultation with our allies and partners. So we don’t have any current plans to go publish a document or a draft agreement the way that the Russian side has done.”

Meanwhile, some analysts say they doubt Putin’s moves will actually culminate in an invasion. National University of Kyiv Professor Taras Kuzio is one of several analysts who believes that an actual invasion would be costly, lengthy and bloody – and therefore, unlikely.

“If Putin attempts to crush Ukraine with overwhelming military force, he could end up losing the country forever, while also sparking anti-government unrest inside Russia with the potential to threaten the survival of his entire regime,” he wrote. “For a man who has already lived through the collapse of one empire, this might be a risk he is not prepared to take.”

Source: Voice of America

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US home prices surge 18.4% in October

Washington, U.S. home prices surged again in October as the housing market continues to boom in the wake of last year’s coronavirus recession.

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city home price index, out Tuesday, climbed 18.4% in October from a year earlier. The gain marked a slight deceleration from a 19.1% year-over-year increase in September but was about in line with what economists had been expecting, The Associated Press (AP) reported.

All 20 cities posted double-digit annual gains. The hottest markets were Phoenix (up 32.3%), Tampa (28.1%) and Miami (25.7%). Minneapolis and Chicago posted the smallest increases, 11.5% each.

The housing market has been strong thanks to rock-bottom mortgage rates, a limited supply of homes on the market, and pent-up demand from consumers locked in last year by the pandemic. Many Americans, tired of being cooped up at home during the pandemic, are looking to trade up from apartments to homes or to bigger houses.

“Home price growth will slow further in the year ahead, but continue to go up,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. “As housing costs eat up a larger share of home purchaser’s paychecks, buyers will get creative. Many will take advantage of ongoing workplace flexibility to move to the suburbs where despite home price gains, many can still find a lower price per square foot than nearby cities.”

It remains unclear if that shift is permanent or an aberration, said Craig Lazzara, managing director at S&P Dow Jones Indices.

“We have previously suggested that the strength in the U.S. housing market is being driven in part by a change in locational preferences as households react to the COVID pandemic,” Lazzara said. “More data will be required to understand whether this demand surge represents an acceleration of purchases that would have occurred over the next several years, or reflects a more permanent secular change.”

Last week, mortgage rates fell — to 3.05% for the benchmark 30-year, fixed-rate and 2.66% for the 15-year fixed-rate home loan. The persistently low rates signal that credit markets appear more concerned about the omicron variant depressing economic growth than about the highest inflation rates in nearly 40 years.

The National Association of Realtors reported last week that sales of previously occupied homes rose for the third straight month in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.46 million.

Source: Bahrain News Agency