blog Archives - Moran Elkarif News https://moranelkarifnews.net/category/blog/ Moran Elkarif News | moranelkarifnews.net Sat, 19 Apr 2025 18:09:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8 https://moranelkarifnews.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cropped-WM-BG-2-32x32.png blog Archives - Moran Elkarif News https://moranelkarifnews.net/category/blog/ 32 32 MoranElkarifNews: Putin declares ‘Easter truce’, as Ukraine says he ‘cannot be trusted’ https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-putin-declares-easter-truce-as-ukraine-says-he-cannot-be-trusted/ Sat, 19 Apr 2025 18:09:58 +0000 https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-putin-declares-easter-truce-as-ukraine-says-he-cannot-be-trusted/ The Russian president says he ordered his forces to “stop all military activity” until the end of Sunday.  Putin declares ‘Easter truce’, as Ukraine says he ‘cannot be trusted’ 12 minutes ago Aoife Walsh BBC News Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin says he has ordered his forces to “stop all military activity” in Ukraine, […]

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The Russian president says he ordered his forces to “stop all military activity” until the end of Sunday. 

Putin declares ‘Easter truce’, as Ukraine says he ‘cannot be trusted’

12 minutes ago

Aoife Walsh

BBC News
Getty Images A Ukrainian law enforcement officer inspects a crater next to a destroyed building following a missile attack in KharkivGetty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he has ordered his forces to “stop all military activity” in Ukraine, as he declared an “Easter truce” until the end of Sunday.

He said the 30-hour truce would last until 22:00 BST on Sunday (00:00 Moscow time), adding that Russian forces should be prepared to respond to “any possible violations”.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Putin of attempting to “play with human lives” – but did not say whether Ukraine had agreed to the halt in fighting.

Zelensky said Russian drones were detected in Ukraine’s skies shortly before the truce was set to come into effect, which he said revealed Putin’s “true attitude toward Easter and toward human life”.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Ukraine had already agreed to a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, writing on X: “Putin has now made statements about his alleged readiness for a cease-fire. 30 hours instead of 30 days.”

“Unfortunately, we have had a long history of his statements not matching his actions. We know his words cannot be trusted and we will look at actions, not words,” he added.

Putin announced the temporary truce at a meeting with his chief of general staff, Valery Gerasimov.

“Based on humanitarian considerations… the Russian side announces an Easter truce. I order a stop to all military activities for this period,” Putin told Gerasimov.

“We assume that Ukraine will follow our example. At the same time, our troops should be prepared to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations by the enemy, any aggressive actions.”

The Russian defence ministry said its troops would adhere to the ceasefire provided it was “mutually respected” by Ukraine.

It is not the first time a pause in fighting has been suddenly announced – a previous attempt at a ceasefire during Orthodox Christmas in January 2023 fell apart after both sides failed to agree on a proposal.

Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Chief of the General Staff of Russian Armed Force in Moscow.Reuters

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, 2022. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people – the vast majority of them soldiers – have been killed or injured on all sides.

The US has been directly talking to Russia as part of its efforts to end the war, but has struggled to make major progress.

Last month, Moscow rejected a proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire that had been agreed by the US and Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump on Friday warned Washington would “take a pass” on brokering further talks on ending the war in Ukraine unless there was quick progress.

He was speaking after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was not “going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end”, as it had “other priorities to focus on”.

“We need to determine very quickly now – and I’m talking about a matter of days – whether or not this is doable,” he added.

“If it’s not going to happen, then we’re just going to move on.”

 

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]]> MoranElkarifNews: Pakistan expels tens of thousands of Afghans https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-pakistan-expels-tens-of-thousands-of-afghans/ Sat, 19 Apr 2025 18:09:58 +0000 https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-pakistan-expels-tens-of-thousands-of-afghans/ Pakistan has accelerated its drive to expel Afghans who are undocumented or had temporary permission to stay.  Pakistan expels tens of thousands of Afghans 3 hours ago Yama Bariz BBC World Service Reporting fromTorkham border crossing Getty Images Pakistan has deported more than 19,500 Afghans this month, among more than 80,000 who have left ahead […]

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Pakistan has accelerated its drive to expel Afghans who are undocumented or had temporary permission to stay. 

Pakistan expels tens of thousands of Afghans

3 hours ago

Yama Bariz

BBC World Service
Reporting fromTorkham border crossing
Getty Images A scene at the Torkham crossing showing men, women and children sitting on the floor. There are several vehicles in the background.Getty Images

Pakistan has deported more than 19,500 Afghans this month, among more than 80,000 who have left ahead of a 30 April deadline, according to the UN.

Pakistan has accelerated its drive to expel undocumented Afghans and those who had temporary permission to stay, saying it can no longer cope.

Between 700 and 800 families are being deported daily, Taliban officials say, with up to two million people expected to follow in the coming months.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar flew to Kabul on Saturday for talks with Taliban officials. His counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi expressed “deep concern” about deportations.

Some expelled Afghans at the border said they had been born in Pakistan after their families fled conflict.

More than 3.5 million Afghans have been living in Pakistan, according to the UN’s refugee agency, including around 700,000 people who came after the Taliban takeover in 2021. The UN estimates that half are undocumented.

Pakistan has taken in Afghans through decades of war, but the government says the high number of refugees now poses risks to national security and causes pressure on public services.

There has been a recent spike in border clashes between the security forces of both sides. Pakistan blames them on militants based in Afghanistan, which the Taliban deny.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said the two sides had “discussed all issues of mutual interest” in Saturday’s meeting in Kabul.

Pakistan had extended a deadline for undocumented Afghans to leave the country by a month, to 30 April.

On the Torkham border crossing, some expelled Afghans told the BBC they left Afghanistan decades ago – or had never lived there.

“I lived my whole life in Pakistan,” said Sayed Rahman, a second-generation refugee born and raised in Pakistan. “I got married there. What am I supposed to do now?”

Saleh, a father of three daughters, worried what life under Taliban rule will mean for them. His daughters attended school in Pakistan’s Punjab province, but in Afghanistan, girls over the age of 12 are barred from doing so.

“I want my children to study. I don’t want their years in school to go to waste,” he said. “Everyone has the right to an education.”

Another man told the BBC: “Our children have never seen Afghanistan and even I don’t know what it looks like anymore. It might take us a year or more to settle in and find work. We feel helpless.”

At the border, men and women pass through separate gates, under the watch of armed Pakistani and Afghan guards. Some of those returning were elderly – one man was carried across on a stretcher, another in a bed.

Military trucks shuttled families from the border to temporary shelters. Those originally from distant provinces stay there for several days, waiting for transport to their home regions.

Families clustered under canvases to escape the 30C degree heat, as swirling dust caught in the eyes and mouth. Resources are stretched and fierce arguments often break out over access to shelter.

Returnees receive between 4,000 and 10,000 Afghanis (£41 to £104) from the Kabul authorities, according to Hedayatullah Yad Shinwari, a member of the camp’s Taliban-appointed finance committee.

The mass deportation is placing significant pressure on Afghanistan’s fragile infrastructure, with an economy in crisis and a population nearing 45 million people.

“We have resolved most issues, but the arrival of people in such large numbers naturally brings difficulties,” said Bakht Jamal Gohar, the Taliban’s head of refugee affairs at the crossing. “These people left decades ago and left all their belongings behind. Some of their homes were destroyed during 20 years of war.”

Nearly every family told the BBC that Pakistani border guards restricted what they could bring – a complaint echoed by some human rights groups.

Chaudhry said in response that Pakistan did “not have any policy that prevents Afghan refugees from taking their household items with them”.

One man, sitting on the roadside in the blistering sun, said his children had begged to stay in Pakistan, the country where they were born. They had been given temporary residency, but that expired in March.

“Now we’ll never go back. Not after how we were treated,” he said.

Additional reporting by Daniel Wittenberg and Mallory Moench

Map of Pakistan

 

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]]> MoranElkarifNews: I’m a dietitian who practices ‘stress-free eating’: These are the foods I eat every week—’I try for a balanced plate’ https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-im-a-dietitian-who-practices-stress-free-eating-these-are-the-foods-i-eat-every-week-i-try-for-a-balanced-plate/ Sat, 19 Apr 2025 16:09:45 +0000 https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-im-a-dietitian-who-practices-stress-free-eating-these-are-the-foods-i-eat-every-week-i-try-for-a-balanced-plate/ Registered dietitian Kylie Sakaida practices stress-free eating by meal planning and not aiming for perfection in her diet. Here are the meals she has weekly.Registered dietitian Kylie Sakaida practices stress-free eating by meal planning and not aiming for perfection in her diet. Here are the meals she has weekly.   Your approach to eating should be […]

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Registered dietitian Kylie Sakaida practices stress-free eating by meal planning and not aiming for perfection in her diet. Here are the meals she has weekly.Registered dietitian Kylie Sakaida practices stress-free eating by meal planning and not aiming for perfection in her diet. Here are the meals she has weekly.  

Your approach to eating should be stress-free, says registered dietician and cookbook author Kylie Sakaida.

To practice stress-free eating, your goal should be “to make meal planning and cooking easy,” Sakaida says. It should also involve lowering our stress around “whether or not we’re making ‘the right food choices’ or what we perceive to be the right food choices.”

Stress-free eating can be as simple as increasing the fiber and water in your diet, or using canned and frozen foods to avoid spending hours prepping in the kitchen, she says. And to truly practice it, you should remember that perfection isn’t the goal.

“Understand that one meal won’t make or break your progress, and that we don’t have to stress about eating perfect all the time,” Sakaida says. (And be sure to consult a medical professional with questions about your specific diet.)

Sakaida’s recently released cookbook “So Easy So Good,” offers up recipes for balanced eating. Here’s how she structures her own meals.

“My diet definitely varies. I try to include a mix of both animal and plant-based proteins. I, of course, try to aim for a balanced plate as much as I can,” Sakaida says.

Her idea of a balanced plate is: half a plate of produce, a fourth plate of protein and a fourth plate of starch.

“Of course, this isn’t always the case for all of my meals, just because I know that would be unrealistic for me,” she says. “I try to make sure that breakfast and lunch are as convenient as possible.”

Here’s what a typical breakfast, lunch and dinner looks like for Sakaida:

  • Breakfast: Savory oatmeal or a smoothie, usually pre-made
  • Lunch: Mason-jar noodles, salads or wraps
  • Snacks: Fiber and healthy fats like popcorn and roasted chickpeas, carrots and cottage cheese dip or apples and peanut butter
  • Dinner: Tofu, chicken, beef or fish with white rice or brown rice and vegetables

Sakaida plans her meals ahead of time to make her decisions around eating more seamless. She finds that many people get overwhelmed when they have to think about what to make on the spot.

“I tell people to gather recipes, and then write all the ingredients down as you would if you’re gonna go shopping,” she says.

“Also, swap out ingredients that are similar to each other. If you’re doing a recipe that has both spinach and kale, and another recipe just uses kale, you can definitely just buy the kale if you want to save money or try to use all your ingredients.”

Want a new career that’s higher-paying, more flexible or fulfilling? Take CNBC’s new online course How to Change Careers and Be Happier at Work. Expert instructors will teach you strategies to network successfully, revamp your resume and confidently transition into your dream career. Start today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $67 (+taxes and fees) through May 13, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.

 

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]]> MoranElkarifNews: This fund is designed to help investors withstand wild market swings https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-this-fund-is-designed-to-help-investors-withstand-wild-market-swings/ Sat, 19 Apr 2025 16:09:44 +0000 https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-this-fund-is-designed-to-help-investors-withstand-wild-market-swings/ Katie Stockton manages the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF, which can allocate and reallocate resources during volatility rather than being tied to an index.Katie Stockton manages the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF, which can allocate and reallocate resources during volatility rather than being tied to an index.   In this article TACK .VIX GLDM SPTL SPTS TSLA Follow […]

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Katie Stockton manages the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF, which can allocate and reallocate resources during volatility rather than being tied to an index.Katie Stockton manages the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF, which can allocate and reallocate resources during volatility rather than being tied to an index.  

In this article

Katie Stockton thinks she has a viable option for investors trying to withstand wild market swings.

She manages the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF (TACK)

“What we try to do is help investors leverage the upside through sector rotation, but also minimize drawdowns,” the Fairlead Strategies founder told CNBC’s “ETF Edge” this week. “That’s obviously a big advantage longer term when you can just go into a less deep hole to climb out of.”

According to Stockton, her ETF is particularly nimble in this environment because it uses multiple strategies — not just one. Since President Donald Trump announced his “reciprocal” tariffs on April 2, the ETF has fallen just over 4%, while the S&P 500

Stockton’s ETF rotates monthly between all 11 S&P 500 sectors.

“We don’t own technology

As of April 16, the fund’s top sector holdings included consumer staplesutilitiesreal estate

As of Thursday’s close, the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF is down 4% so far this year.

Meanwhile, ETFs that are centered around specific sectors or strategies are largely under pressure. For example, the Invesco Top QQQ Trust (QBIG), which tracks the top 45% of companies in the Nasdaq-100

The GraniteShares YieldBoost TSLA ETF (TSYY) is off 48% since the beginning of the year.

BTIG’s Troy Donohue, the firm’s head of Americas portfolio trading, thinks Stockton’s ETF employs a sound strategy – particularly during the recent “dramatic pullback.”

“TACK is a great example of how you can be nimble during these market times,” Donohue said. “It’s great to see it in an ETF product that has performed really well during this recent drawdown.”

Disclaimer

 

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]]> MoranElkarifNews: Look inside: We spent $64 million turning an old Virginia prison into an apartment complex— ‘it’s important to preserve history’ https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-look-inside-we-spent-64-million-turning-an-old-virginia-prison-into-an-apartment-complex-its-important-to-preserve-history/ Sat, 19 Apr 2025 15:10:05 +0000 https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-look-inside-we-spent-64-million-turning-an-old-virginia-prison-into-an-apartment-complex-its-important-to-preserve-history/ The Lorton Reformatory was built in 1910 and shut down in 2001. Now the 2,400-acre property houses apartments, a preschool, restaurants and more.The Lorton Reformatory was built in 1910 and shut down in 2001. Now the 2,400-acre property houses apartments, a preschool, restaurants and more.   From 1910 to 2001, the Liberty Crest Apartments were known […]

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The Lorton Reformatory was built in 1910 and shut down in 2001. Now the 2,400-acre property houses apartments, a preschool, restaurants and more.The Lorton Reformatory was built in 1910 and shut down in 2001. Now the 2,400-acre property houses apartments, a preschool, restaurants and more.  

From 1910 to 2001, the Liberty Crest Apartments were known as the Lorton Reformatory, a prison in Lorton, Virginia that housed inmates from Washington, D.C.

It is more widely known as the site where many suffragists were held after the Silent Sentinels pickets at the White House in 1917. And according to the Library of Congress, November 14, 1917 is known as the “Night of Terror” because of how the suffragist prisoners were mistreated at the prison.

The Lorton Reformatory was built in 1910 and shut down in 2001.

Afro Newspaper/gado | Archive Photos | Getty Images

The 2,324-acre property, which included a farm, shut down in 2001. The following year, Fairfax County bought the site for $4.2 million. Under the county’s ownership, the old prison and grounds became a park, a golf course, three schools, and an arts center.

In 2008, the county started working with the Alexander Company, a Wisconsin developer with a history of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. The developer set out to convert the campus into 165 apartments.

“The Lorton Reformatory was a good set of buildings to be converted into residential because it was a reform-era prison,” David Vos, a development project manager with the Alexander Company, tells CNBC Make It.

“So, unlike most prisons that tend to be large footprint dark buildings without very many windows, these actually had an abundance of light and had quite a bit of character to them, so they laid out very nicely for apartments.”

Rent at the Liberty Crest Apartments ranges from $1,372 to $2,700.

Matthew Ritenour for CNBC Make It

The Liberty Crest Apartments have 165 units — 44 of which are designated affordable, low-income housing. There are 84 one-bedroom and 81 two-bedroom apartments and monthly rent ranges from $1,372 to $2,700. Each apartment is equipped with an in-unit washer and dryer.

Renovations took almost two years and roughly $64 million to complete.

A majority of the project’s funding came from historic tax credits, bond financing, and low-income housing tax credits. Virginia Housing provided the first mortgage for the project and payments are about $125,000 a month.

The apartments opened in June 2017 and Vos says all the available units were leased in just a matter of months. The complex has been at full occupancy ever since.

“The reaction from the community varied quite a bit. A lot of people really felt it was important to preserve that history. However, there were people that really focused on the later years of the prison when prisoners were mistreated,” he says.

“But from our standpoint, we really felt that it’s important to preserve history so you can learn from the past so that you don’t make those mistakes again in the future.”

“There’s a number of reminders as you walk around the campus that remind you of the fact that this used to be a reformatory or prison,” Vos says.

Matthew Ritenour for CNBC Make It

Some remnants of the old prison include signs telling visitors and inmates how to behave on the property.

“There’s a number of reminders as you walk around the campus that remind you of the fact that this used to be a reformatory or prison,” Vos says.

The name Liberty Crest Apartments is an homage to the property’s history: “The reason we chose Liberty for the name was we really felt that we were liberating these buildings from its more recent dark past.”

The old prison’s cafeteria was converted into a community space for residents. Other amenities include a yoga studio, gym, community pool, and two playgrounds.

The name Liberty Crest Apartments is an homage to the property’s history: “The reason we chose Liberty for the name was we really felt that we were liberating these buildings from its more recent dark past.”

Matthew Ritenour for CNBC Make It

There is also a field on campus with the original grandstand that was made by the prisoners themselves from bricks. Today, the space is used as an all-purpose area for the residents.

The Liberty Crest property also has a preschool, dental office, restaurants, and retail shops.

The apartments have been open for almost nine years now and construction on the property is mostly complete. Vos and the Alexander Company are currently focused on converting a power plant that sits on the site into 10 additional apartments. There are plans to transforming the former guard quarters, too.

Amenities at the Liberty Crest Apartments include a yoga studio, gym, community pool, and two playgrounds.

Alexander Company

“The community has very warmly embraced the Liberty project. Everyone’s very proud of what we did here and were very pleased with the results,” Vos says.

Want a new career that’s higher-paying, more flexible or fulfilling? Take CNBC’s new online course How to Change Careers and Be Happier at Work. Expert instructors will teach you strategies to network successfully, revamp your resume and confidently transition into your dream career. Start today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $67 (+taxes and fees) through May 13, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.

 

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]]> MoranElkarifNews: Hopes for Iran nuclear talks tempered by threats and mixed messages https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-hopes-for-iran-nuclear-talks-tempered-by-threats-and-mixed-messages/ Sat, 19 Apr 2025 15:10:00 +0000 https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-hopes-for-iran-nuclear-talks-tempered-by-threats-and-mixed-messages/ Iranian and US officials agree to continue with a third round of high-stakes talks on a new nuclear deal.  Hopes for Iran nuclear talks tempered by threats and mixed messages 31 minutes ago Parham Ghobadi BBC Persian EPA Iran and the US have held a second round of high-stakes nuclear talks in Rome – and […]

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Iranian and US officials agree to continue with a third round of high-stakes talks on a new nuclear deal. 

Hopes for Iran nuclear talks tempered by threats and mixed messages

31 minutes ago

Parham Ghobadi

BBC Persian
EPA US President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks to reporters in the Oval Office, at the White House, Washington DC (17 April 2025)EPA

Iran and the US have held a second round of high-stakes nuclear talks in Rome – and agreed to meet again next week – even as hopes for de-escalation are tempered by mounting military threats and mixed messages.

US President Donald Trump reminds Tehran nearly every day of its options: a deal or war.

He has previously said Israel would lead a military response if the talks failed.

On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that Trump had “waved off” an Israeli plan to strike Iranian nuclear sites as early as next month.

“I wouldn’t say waved off. I’m not in a rush to do it,” Trump told reporters in response to the article on Thursday, adding that he preferred to give diplomacy a chance.

“I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death… That’s my first option. If there’s a second option, I think it would be very bad for Iran.”

After both sides described the first round of talks in Oman last weekend as constructive, Trump had said he would be “making a decision on Iran very quickly”.

Why Iran returned to the table

In 2018, Trump pulled the US out of a 2015 agreement which saw Iran limit its nuclear activities and allow inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in return for sanctions relief.

He said it did too little to stop Iran’s potential pathway to a nuclear weapon and reinstated US sanctions as part of a “maximum pressure” campaign to compel Iran to negotiate a new deal.

However, Iran refused and increasingly breached restrictions in retaliation. It has now stockpiled enough highly-enriched uranium to make several bombs if it chose to do so – something it says it would never do.

EPA A handout photo from the Iranian presidency shows President Masoud Pezeshkian (2nd R) being shown uranium enrichment centrifuges by the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Mohammad Eslami (R), on Iran's Atomic Technology Day in Tehran, Iran (9 April 2025)EPA

The threat of military action appears to have played a role in bringing Iran back to the negotiating table. Yet it insists that is not the reason.

The website of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Iran had agreed to talks only because the US limited its demands strictly to nuclear issues – not out of fear of US and Israeli strikes.

Even so, reaching a deal remains far from certain.

Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, who is leading the US negotiating team, posted on X on Tuesday: “Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East – meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization programme.”

It came just a day after he had suggested in an interview with Fox News that Iran would be allowed to continue enriching uranium.

AFP Composite image showing US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff (L) and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi (R)AFP

“They do not need to enrich past 3.67%,” he said, referring to the limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal.

“This is going to be much about verification on the enrichment programme and then ultimately verification on weaponization.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the head of the Iranian delegation, responded by noting Witkoff’s “contradictory statements” and stressing that “real positions will be made clear at the negotiating table”.

“We are ready to build trust regarding possible concerns over Iran’s enrichment, but the principle of enrichment is not negotiable,” he said.

Diplomatic flurry

Saturday’s talks in Rome come amid a flurry of diplomatic activity.

Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, visited Tehran on Thursday, delivering a personal message from his father King Salman to Ayatollah Khamenei. He also met Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian.

Iran has warned that any US military action would be met with retaliation against American bases in the region – many of them hosted by Iran’s Arab neighbours.

EPA A handout photo made available by the Iranian Supreme Leader's Office shows Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R) listening to Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Tehran, Iran (17 April 2025)EPA

At the same time, Araghchi visited Moscow and handed a letter from Khamenei to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Iran and Russia have strengthened their military ties since the start of the war in Ukraine, with Tehran accused of supplying drones to support Moscow’s war effort.

The Russian parliament ratified a 20-year strategic partnership between Iran and Russia 10 days ago. However, the deal does not include a mutual defence clause.

Meanwhile, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi completed a two-day visit to Tehran this week, meeting Iranian nuclear officials and the foreign minister in a bid to ease tensions and restore inspection protocols.

Atmosphere of distrust

Since Trump returned to office this year, Ayatollah Khamenei has consistently denounced negotiations with Washington.

“Negotiating with this administration is not logical, not wise, nor honourable,” he said in a February speech, just two months before agreeing to the current round of talks.

The supreme leader’s distrust stems from Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal, the “maximum pressure” campaign that followed, and the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani in a US strike in Iraq in 2020.

Ayatollah Khamenei expressed satisfaction with the first round of talks, saying it was “implemented well”.

But he cautioned that he was “neither overly optimistic nor overly pessimistic”.

Getty Images File photo showing a B-2 Stealth Bomber flying over Pasadena, US (1 January 2025)Getty Images

He has also previously warned that Iran would ​retaliate in the event of strikes on its nuclear programme.

Some officials, including his adviser Ali Larijani, have even said that Iran might be “forced” to acquire a nuclear weapon if attacked.

“We are not pursuing weapons, and we have no problem with IAEA oversight – even indefinitely. But if you resort to bombing, Iran will have no choice but to reconsider. That is not in your interest,” Larijani told state TV earlier this month.

Direct or indirect?

Each side is pushing its own narrative about how the talks are being conducted.

The US says they are direct. Iran says they indirect, and that Oman is mediating by exchanging written notes.

After the first round in Muscat, Araghchi acknowledged he had a brief exchange with Witkoff “out of diplomatic courtesy” after crossing paths.

US news website Axios, citing sources, reported the two chief negotiators spoke for up to 45 minutes.

Tehran prefers secrecy. Washington seeks publicity.

After both sides put out positive statements about the first round, Iran’s currency surged by 20%.

Iran’s leadership is well aware of public discontent over the country’s harsh economic conditions – and the potential for protests it may trigger.

For the Islamic Republic, the fear is not just over bombs – it’s protests too.

 

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]]> MoranElkarifNews: Myanmar’s capital Nay Pyi Taw to be redrawn following earthquake https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-myanmars-capital-nay-pyi-taw-to-be-redrawn-following-earthquake/ Sat, 19 Apr 2025 14:10:08 +0000 https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-myanmars-capital-nay-pyi-taw-to-be-redrawn-following-earthquake/ The BBC has seen evidence indicating about 70% of government buildings were damaged by the quake in the capital.  Myanmar’s capital Nay Pyi Taw to be redrawn following earthquake Just now Jamie Whitehead BBC News BBC Burmese CINCDS The layout of Myanmar’s capital city Nay Pyi Taw will be redrawn after the devastating earthquake last […]

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The BBC has seen evidence indicating about 70% of government buildings were damaged by the quake in the capital. 

Myanmar’s capital Nay Pyi Taw to be redrawn following earthquake

Just now

Jamie Whitehead

BBC News
BBC Burmese

CINCDS Government building in Myanmar damaged by earthquake.CINCDS

The layout of Myanmar’s capital city Nay Pyi Taw will be redrawn after the devastating earthquake last month, the country’s military ruler has said.

During a government meeting, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said that buildings which collapsed during the earthquake were so badly affected because they were built on soft soil.

Office buildings will be rebuilt and must be resistant to future earthquakes, he said, with tests on soil also being conducted before any rebuilding is done.

The BBC has seen evidence indicating about 70% of government buildings were damaged by the quake in the capital, and some offices have reportedly been moved to Yangon.

Myanmar was devastated by a huge earthquake which hit the country on 28 March. The 7.7 magnitude quake was so strong it was felt in Thailand and south-west China.

According to state media, over 3,500 people were killed and 5,012 were injured in Myanmar as a result of the quake.

The city of Nay Pyi Taw covers at least four times the area of London, but with only a fraction of the people. Its history is short: it has only existed since 2005, raised out of the flatlands by the then military rulers of Myanmar, which was previously known as Burma.

Myanmar Military Council Several Myanmar military council staff look on at cracked roads in the capital after the massive earthquake. There are several cars in the background.Myanmar Military Council

The name Nay Pyi Taw means “seat of the king”. The reasons for moving the capital some 370km inland from the largest city, Yangon, have never been entirely clear.

The city bears all the hallmarks of a planned capital: the road leading from parliament to the presidential palace is 20 lanes wide, but carries hardly any traffic. Shiny shopping malls and empty luxury hotels line the boulevards. There’s a safari park, a zoo, and at least three stadiums.

Since 2021, Myanmar has been plagued by civil war between the junta, which seized power in a military coup, and ethnic militias and resistance forces across the country.

A 20-day ceasefire was declared by the military council on 2 April, following the announcement of a pause in hostilities by an alliance made up of three rebel groups.

The ceasefires were announced to help relief efforts, but the military has reportedly continued to attack rebel-held areas.

The military council’s photo archives show that several government buildings, including the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Planning and the Court of the Union were severely damaged in the earthquake.

Most of the buildings are still in ruins as repair work on them has not yet started.

Map showing the locations of Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon in Myanmar. A full globe in the corner shows Mynamr's location in Asia.

The removal of important government documents has reportedly been ordered, along with equipment and other moveable items.

Reconstruction of the buildings could take years, and as a result, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism have reportedly moved their offices to the former capital Yangon – 366km (228m) away.

Other departments are relocating their offices to open air halls called “hotai” in Nay Pyi Taw, which are built with steel frames.

Social media posts written by staff at the National Museum in Nay Pyi Taw say they have moved inscriptions and manuscripts and are trying to save as many as possible of the tens of thousands of books, along with literature and computers.

 

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]]> MoranElkarifNews: This is a ‘powerful predictor of long-term success,’ says expert—and parents who do 5 things give kids an edge https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-this-is-a-powerful-predictor-of-long-term-success-says-expert-and-parents-who-do-5-things-give-kids-an-edge/ Sat, 19 Apr 2025 13:09:45 +0000 https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-this-is-a-powerful-predictor-of-long-term-success-says-expert-and-parents-who-do-5-things-give-kids-an-edge/ Reading is “a powerful predictor of long-term success,” says literacy advocate Maya Payne Smart. Here are five steps parents can take to raise an avid reader.Reading is “a powerful predictor of long-term success,” says literacy advocate Maya Payne Smart. Here are five steps parents can take to raise an avid reader.  Reading is “a powerful predictor […]

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Reading is “a powerful predictor of long-term success,” says literacy advocate Maya Payne Smart. Here are five steps parents can take to raise an avid reader.Reading is “a powerful predictor of long-term success,” says literacy advocate Maya Payne Smart. Here are five steps parents can take to raise an avid reader.  Reading is “a powerful predictor of long-term success,” says literacy advocate Maya Payne Smart. Here are five steps parents can take to raise an avid reader. 

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]]> MoranElkarifNews: Elliott Management takes a stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise. How the firm may create value https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-elliott-management-takes-a-stake-in-hewlett-packard-enterprise-how-the-firm-may-create-value/ Sat, 19 Apr 2025 13:09:40 +0000 https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-elliott-management-takes-a-stake-in-hewlett-packard-enterprise-how-the-firm-may-create-value/ Activist Elliott Management could help spur a great opportunity for shareholders now that the firm has a stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise.Activist Elliott Management could help spur a great opportunity for shareholders now that the firm has a stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise.   In this article HPE Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT A general […]

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Activist Elliott Management could help spur a great opportunity for shareholders now that the firm has a stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise.Activist Elliott Management could help spur a great opportunity for shareholders now that the firm has a stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise.  

In this article

A general view of the Hewlett Packard Enterprise company offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 3, 2024.
AaronP | Bauer-Griffin | GC Images | Getty Images

Company: Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)

Business: Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Stock Market Value: $19.88B ($15.14 per share)

hide content
Hewlett Packard Enterprise shares in the past 12 months

Activist: Elliott Investment Management

Ownership: ~7.4%

Average Cost: n/a

Activist Commentary: Elliott is a very successful and astute activist investor. The firm’s team includes analysts from leading tech private equity firms, engineers, operating partners – former technology CEOs and COOs. When evaluating an investment, Elliott also hires specialty and general management consultants, expert cost analysts and industry specialists. The firm often watches companies for many years before investing and has an extensive stable of impressive board candidates. Elliott has historically focused on strategic activism in the technology sector and has been very successful with that strategy. However, over the past several years its activism group has grown, and the firm has been doing a lot more governance-oriented activism and creating value from a board level at a much larger breadth of companies.

What’s happening

Elliott has taken an approximately $1.5 billion position in Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

Behind the scenes

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) is a global edge-to-cloud company that delivers open and intelligent technology solutions as a service. The company was spun off from HP Inc in 2015. HPQ, the RemainCo, retained the PC, desktop and printer businesses, while HPE, the SpinCo, focuses on servers, storage and networking. The majority of HPE’s revenue (53.8%) is derived from its Server segment, which consists of general-purpose servers for multi-workload computing, workload-optimized servers, and integrated systems. Its Hybrid Cloud segment (17.88%) offers a range of cloud-native and hybrid solutions across storage, private cloud and the infrastructure software-as-a-service space. Its Intelligent Edge segment (15.04%) offers wired and wireless local area networks. The remainder of HPE’s revenue is derived from its financial services, investments and other activities. This comprehensive product portfolio sets HPE apart from peers like Dell or Cisco, which typically lack one or more of these pieces. Despite this unique marketing position the company is still undervalued to its peers. Currently, HPE trades at less than 5-times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, compared to its closest server peer Dell at over 7-times EBITDA, reflecting a 30% discount.

The primary driver of HPE’s undervaluation appears to be poor execution and a loss of credibility with the market. In Q1, HPE reported a net revenue decrease in its core Server business. The company attributed this loss to mispricing servers relative to inventory costs, which went unnoticed until late in the quarter. As a result, the stock sold off sharply in the days following the company’s earnings. Meanwhile, Dell reported beats on both revenue and margin for the same quarter. However, this is not an isolated incident, but rather the latest in a history of underperformance. Since Dell resumed trading on the NYSE at the end of 2018, it has outperformed HPE’s returns by over 200%.

While its Server business is the core business for HPE, much of the opportunity here revolves around the networking business. This is a higher multiple business that Dell does not have. HPE’s Intelligent Edge business accounts for one-third of the company’s profits, and networking peers like Cisco trade at 12-times EBITDA. If Intelligent Edge traded at that multiple it would be worth almost the entire enterprise value of HPE today. That leaves significant value from the company’s core Server business and its Cloud Storage business even if those businesses continued to trade at 5-times EBITDA. That value increases significantly with better management execution and efficiency, which should get those businesses to the 7-times multiple Dell trades at. Furthermore, while HPE’s differentiator is its high multiple networking business, Dell’s primary differentiator is a low-multiple PC and desktop business, so a case can be made that HPE’s analogous businesses should trade at a higher multiple than Dell.

There is also a major uncertainty that is hanging over HPE – its pending acquisition of Juniper Networks, a networking peer to HPE and Cisco. The $14 billion deal, originally announced in January 2024, has been stalled. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice sued to block the acquisition, saying it would eliminate competition. This uncertainty puts HPE at a crucial inflection point, something that markets inherently dislike – especially when management lacks a track record of savvy execution. The potential complications here are clear: If the deal is blocked, HPE would have over 25% of its market cap in net cash, prompting concerns that management may pursue a rushed and risky acquisition to compensate for this failed transaction. Conversely, if the deal goes through, given HPE’s recent executional missteps, investors may worry whether the company will be able to effectively integrate a business of Juniper’s size. So, even though acquiring Juniper would significantly improve HPE’s profitability mix to almost 50% attributed to the higher multiple networking business, many market participants may be looking at this as a lose-lose. But with the right oversight, it should be a win-win.

This is where Elliott comes in as a potential value creator for HPE. With sufficient shareholder representation on the board that restores confidence that the company will be keenly attuned to shareholder value, the uncertainty of Juniper could turn into a great opportunity for shareholders regardless of whether it closes or not. If the deal gets blocked and there is strong shareholder representation on the board, shareholders will have confidence that the large net cash position will be used wisely, whether through a diligent and disciplined value-creating acquisition or to buy back shares at these depressed values. If the deal does close, shareholders will have more confidence that a refreshed board will do a better job integrating Juniper. Elliott is one of the most prolific activist investors today with a history of effective and successful strategic activism in the technology sector. In the past 10 years, the firm has engaged 25 technology companies and has delivered an average return of 20.60% versus 8.56% for the Russell 2000 over the same periods. However, in the six of those 25 situations where Elliott received board representation, the firm returned an average of 45.53% versus 15.35% for the Russell 2000 over the same time periods. Importantly, Elliott has a deep familiarity with Juniper, having previously engaged the company from 2014-2015. In this engagement, Elliott called for a slew of capital allocation and strategic initiatives, ultimately settling for board seats for Gary Daichendt and Kevin DeNuccio. Notably, DeNuccio is still on Juniper’s board today.

While we believe Elliott’s activist campaign and the value at HPE is compelling over a full activist cycle on its own, given the economic climate today, we would be remiss not to mention something about tariffs. HPE is likely in a better position than Dell to face certain geopolitical headwinds. The majority of HPE’s servers comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and are manufactured in Mexico. In contrast, a significant portion of Dell’s PC products are manufactured in China and are therefore significantly more exposed to tariff risks.

Ken Squire is the founder and president of 13D Monitor, an institutional research service on shareholder activism, and the founder and portfolio manager of the 13D Activist Fund, a mutual fund that invests in a portfolio of activist 13D investments.

 

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]]> MoranElkarifNews: Robots race in Chinese half marathon https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-robots-race-in-chinese-half-marathon/ Sat, 19 Apr 2025 13:09:34 +0000 https://moranelkarifnews.net/moranelkarifnews-robots-race-in-chinese-half-marathon/ The Yizhuang half marathon is the first time robots have raced alongside humans over such a distance.  China races robots against humans in Beijing half marathon Robots ran alongside humans at the Yizhuang half-marathon in Beijing on Saturday. Twenty-one humanoid robots, designed by Chinese manufacturers, raced alongside thousands of runners completing the 21km (13-mile) course. […]

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The Yizhuang half marathon is the first time robots have raced alongside humans over such a distance. 

China races robots against humans in Beijing half marathon

Robots ran alongside humans at the Yizhuang half-marathon in Beijing on Saturday. Twenty-one humanoid robots, designed by Chinese manufacturers, raced alongside thousands of runners completing the 21km (13-mile) course.

The winner was Tiangong Ultra, which crossed the line in two hours, 40 minutes and 42 seconds.

Some robots completed the race, while others struggled from the beginning. One robot fell at the starting line and lay flat for several minutes before getting up and taking off.

While robots have made appearances at marathons in China in the past, this is the first time they have raced against humans over the course of a half-marathon.

Just now

 

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