Latest news with #Chinn
The National
5 days ago
- Business
- The National
Foreign Office met with pro-Israel lobbyist to discuss arms sales
The meeting between British multi-millionaire Trevor Chinn and Christian Turner, the political director at the Foreign Office, took place in October last year. Chinn made his money in the motor industry and has donated to Keir Starmer and David Lammy. The purpose of the meeting, first reported by Declassified UK, was initially described by the Foreign Office as being 'to discuss geopolitics with businessman'. But disclosures to the investigative outlet under Freedom of Information laws showed that Chinn was given the chance to discuss Britain's arms trade with Israel with the Government. READ MORE: Labour MPs visit Israel on lobbying trip in middle of Gaza genocide Emails showed that the conversation focused on 'the 2 September IHL decision', referring to Labour's decision on that date to suspend some arms sales. A significant carve out was given in the form of an exemption for parts of F-35 bomber planes, which have been instrumental in Israel's devastation of Palestine. Chinn offered 'recommendations' on the issue of weapon sales, while the Foreign Office official asked whether other British diplomats might also try 'reaching out' to him and 'hearing' his views. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'It is the political director's job to engage with a range of voices across multiple issues to ensure informed policy making'. Declassified UK said that the Foreign Office refused to release any more details on the meeting, claiming it would harm 'the effective conduct of our bilateral relationship with Israel' which 'depends upon maintaining trust and confidence between governments'. The National has contacted the Foreign Office for further comment. READ MORE: Keir Starmer confronted over UK claim 'no genocide in Gaza' Chinn failed to respond to comment when approached by Declassified. He is a long-running funder of both Labour Friends of Israel and Conservative Friends of Israel and has also been involved with the Britain-Israel Communications and Research Centre, a leading lobbying group. In declassified files from the early 1990s, Chinn was described by one Foreign Office official as being 'by no means a dove' in terms of his support for Israel. 'My own feeling is that he is not very subtly tuned into the Israeli political scene, although he meets a number of leaders through his fund-raising activities', the diplomat continued.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What soaring uncertainty means for the U.S. economy
President Donald Trump's tariff agenda has thrown the financial world for a loop for much of the past month. The on-again, off-again trade escalation with other nations — most notably China — has upended markets with investors fleeing U.S. stocks in search of more stable ground. And as experts and business leaders say the lack of clarity around the tariffs is every bit a challenge as the levies themselves, data shows economic uncertainty is the highest it has been in years. Economists have a way of quantifying economic chaos, as multiple measures show just how uncertain the market and the economy in general are. One measure, the Economic Policy Uncertainty index from researchers at Stanford and Northwestern universities, uses an analysis of news reports, tax code data and economic forecast disagreement. According to the EPU index, uncertainty spiked in March to levels last seen during the Covid pandemic. Kevin L. Kliesen, an economist at the St. Louis Federal Reserve, noted that the change in uncertainty from last spring to this spring is the sharpest such increase in almost 40 years. 'It's a historically unprecedented increase,' Kliesen said. The instability makes it harder for companies and consumers alike to make decisions, and it can be a scene-setter for recessions. 'Firms will delay investment in response to higher uncertainty,' Kliesen said. 'Consumers facing higher uncertainty about job prospects, they might cut back on spending.' Menzie Chinn, a professor of public affairs and economics at the University of Wisconsin, said, 'People are maximally confused.' To show how uncertainty plays out, Chinn gave an example of potential homebuyers: Lowering interest rates might entice them, but worries about a big drop in home prices over the next year — the kind that might arise from a recession — might scare them away. 'It's better news, but washed out by this bad uncertainty,' Chinn said. The uncertainty extends into the bond market: Government bonds are being sold more than they're being bought — even as stocks sour, flouting historical trends. Traditionally seen as a safe harbor, bonds tend to be purchased by investors when markets are on edge. That's not the case today, with 10-year Treasury yields surging above 4.5%. As overall stability is eroding, any news — even if it's inaccurate or positive — has the potential to send things haywire. U.S. stocks soared briefly on April 7 when an errant headline on X said Trump was considering a pause, only to sink when the White House said the claim was false. And while the market took off after Trump dialed down most tariffs Thursday, stocks faltered the next day. Prominent business leaders have warned about the uncertainty in recent weeks, with both JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink saying the lack of clarity is pushing the economy closer to recession. 'We have the strongest economy in the world. It would be good not to add to the uncertainty out there,' Dimon said Wednesday on Fox Business, adding that a recession is now a 'likely outcome.' This article was originally published on
USA Today
13-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Raiders new DBs with visions of new Legion of Boom in Las Vegas
Raiders Wire Among the moves the Raiders made in free agency, the Raiders signed a whopping four defensive backs. The commonality between them? They're big. First they re-signed 6-4 Isaiah Pola-Mao to a two-year deal. Next up, they brought on 6-3 safety Jeremy Chinn. Followed by 6-2 Lonnie Johnson Jr. And finally 6-1 cornerback Eric Stokes. That's some serious size in the secondary. And that's just the way Pete Carroll likes it. In each instance, Carroll personally spoke to these guys to tell them of his vision for them. And each came away excited about the possibilities. Thursday the three newcomers spoke to the media and in each instance, Carroll's legendary Legion of Boom defense came up. Jeremy Chinn has played a linebacker/safety hybrid role in his time in the league and is known for coming up and popping backs at the line or receivers coming over the middle. When thinking of the Legion of Boom, there is one guy who comes to mind who filled that role. And Chinn brought him up unprompted. 'When you look at his secondaries and the kind of guys that he's had," Chinn said of Carroll. "You think of Kam Chancellor and the Legion of Boom and guys like that. I'm just excited to be a part.' Chinn relishes his versatility as a DB, adding "It keeps me and the defense unpredictable." Lonnie Johnson Jr knows about playing various roles. He came into the league as a cornerback, but was moved to safety and in recent years has made his money on special teams. He too was excited by the possibilities of what Pete Carroll has planned for him. 'Man, the call I got from Pete was amazing, man. He's known for working with bigger DBs too," said Johnson. "You got guys like Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, you got guys like that, the LOB back in the day. He's known for working with guys with my physical attributes, my physical traits, Chinn's physical traits. Guys like us. We're excited to see what can he do to develop us and help us become better players. Obviously he's a gold jacket coach in waiting like I tell everybody. But what can he do to develop us and put us in the right plays.' Johnson added Richard Sherman to the conversation in part because Sherman played cornerback at 6-3 and the 6-2 Johnson has played cornerback, nickel back, and safety in the league. At 6-1, 195 Eric Stokes is on the larger side for a cornerback. While Sherman has him by two inches, they both come in at the same weight. Stokes has yet to show the same versatility as the others in his four-year career. The former first round pick played exclusively outside cornerback for the Packers. But Sherman did the same for Carroll and the Seahawks. Sherman excelled as a physical press-man, bump-and-run corner and that's Stokes's preferred style of play. Physicality is the name of the game for the Raiders defense. Something new linebacker Elandon Roberts is known for as well. Which he says is important in order to "send a message". While there may never be another Legion of Boom, Pete Carroll is prioritizing physicality in his defense and versatility in his secondary because those tenets were what led to that legendary defense a decade ago. These new, hungry players are game for trying to recreate that.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State agriculture director visits St. Joseph
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn visited St. Joseph on Wednesday to attend the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce's agri-business meeting. Chinn discussed her experience in the agriculture business, as well as updating attendees on the Missouri Department of Agriculture and its recent trade show in Taiwan. Chinn has been the director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture since 2017, serving under three different governors. She said that she enjoys visiting St. Joseph and appreciates what the city offers in terms of agriculture. "St. Joe really is one of the state's best hidden gems," Chinn said. "A lot of people don't realize how many agriculture companies are based right here in St. Joe and they help us when it comes to export markets, when it comes to feeding Missourians. And so this is a great opportunity to come up and highlight these businesses and just thank them for being a part of the Missouri agriculture community." The meeting, which was not open to the public, took place at BioZyme. The company's president and CEO, Lisa Norton, said she was happy to have Chinn speak on Wednesday morning. "We're really excited to have someone in that position that finds St. Joseph of importance and to come meet all of us and carry our message forward," Norton said.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Beckley broker discusses real estate bill
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — Senate Bill 3145 would require homebuyers to sign a buyer's agreement with any real estate agent before the agent takes the homebuyer to see a property. The agreement would lock the buyer into a time period of working exclusively with the real estate broker who holds the contract, and it would set up a payment agreement and confidentiality between the homebuyer and their agent. The National Association of REALTORS already requires members in West Virginia to have their buyers sign the agreement, which typically lays out the responsibility of the homebuyer to compensate the agent a percentage of the sales price, if the home seller does not agree to pay both the selling agent's and buying agent's commission. The agreement may also lay out an hourly rate the homebuyer will pay the agent and set a time period for the exclusive agent/buyer relationship. Previously, home buyers did not enter contracts to view homes, but NAR passed the policy as part of a lawsuit settlement. A REALTOR is an agent who belongs to NAR, but real estate salespersons in the state who do not belong to the organization are not bound by the NAR policy. WVDOH crews gearing up to repair slip along Prosperity Road A non-NAR real estate agent may decide to have a homebuyer sign a 'buyer's agreement' but may also show houses to a buyer without requiring a commitment. Supporters say the bill is better for consumers, because it lays out confidentiality and payment agreements between agent and buyer. David Chinn, a broker with Altruist Realty in Beckley, said on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, that he does not support the bill. 'It's not fair to the consumer to have to sign a buyer's agreement to go look at a house, and that's why we are against it, because they're trying to make it look like a consumer advantage, but it's definitely not,' said Chinn. Blood Worm Moon: Total Lunar Eclipse set to delight two Virginia's Thursday Night He said that under such contracts, an agent could 'snare' a homebuyer for a period of six months and that the homebuyer could not leave the brokerage if she was unhappy. Chinn said it is ideal for a seller to pay commission for both the selling and buying agent, so that the home sells more quickly and the homebuyer does not have an extra cost. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
