Latest news with #LauraCooper
CNBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
German stocks are on a tear. Is it time to cash out?
German stocks have massively outperformed their peers in Europe and the US this year. Silvia breaks down what's driving that boom - and whether it's time to cash out - with Nuveen's Laura Cooper.
CNBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
How Germany's DAX outperformed its peers to become the new market darling
German stocks have particularly an impressive run so far this year span across a range of sectors, from banking to defence stocks. Laura Cooper, Head of Macro Credit and Global Investment Strategist at Nuveen, explains what's driving the German index's strong performance.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pentagon may downgrade Ukraine-focused office amid policy restructure, media reports
The Pentagon may soon downgrade the office responsible for overseeing U.S. military policy toward Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia, three former U.S. defense officials and two European officials told Defense News. As part of a broader policy realignment, this office would be merged into the Pentagon's Europe and NATO office, reducing its prominence despite its critical role since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While no staff cuts are currently planned, the restructuring would mark a demotion for an office that helped coordinate the delivery of over $130 billion in security aid to Ukraine, roughly half of which came from the United States. Under former director Laura Cooper, the office also played a key role in organizing a coalition of 50 countries that has met 27 times to support Ukraine. Cooper left her role in December, and the office is now led by an acting official. The office and its Europe and NATO counterpart both report to the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, a role currently held by an acting official as nominee Daniel Zimmerman awaits Senate confirmation. Sources say the decision is not final, but multiple former officials view the shift as part of a larger pivot away from Ukraine under President Trump's second term. Current Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby has advocated for reducing U.S. military assistance to Ukraine to prioritize deterrence efforts in Asia. During a February visit to NATO headquarters, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that European allies should take on greater responsibility for continental security, including Ukraine. "Leaders of our European allies should take primary responsibility for defense of the continent," Hegseth said. Former U.S. officials have raised concerns that combining the offices would create an unmanageable workload for the director. David Baker, who now leads the Europe and NATO office, is reportedly fielding high interest from European governments seeking clarity ahead of the June NATO summit. "It will be very hard for a single DASD to handle that many important [and] high maintenance countries," one former official told Defense News. Meanwhile, although intelligence sharing and previously scheduled aid to Ukraine continue, new funding has stalled. The Pentagon still has under $4 billion in authority to ship weapons to Kyiv but no funds to replenish its own stockpiles. We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pentagon Ukraine hub could see downgrade in policy office reshuffle
The Pentagon is likely to downgrade a policy office instrumental in the military's response to the war in Ukraine, according to three former U.S. defense officials and two European officials. As part of a larger reshuffle of the Pentagon's policy apparatus, the office dedicated to Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia affairs would be shifted under a separate office that handles Europe and NATO issues, the sources said. Doing so wouldn't stop its work or necessarily involve firing employees. Still, the shift would demote an office that until earlier this year had become one of the most important in the Pentagon. Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the once relatively obscure office has helped shape U.S. policy toward the war and manage the vast sum of military aid sent to help support its self-defense. Laura Cooper, its previous director, helped convene a group of 50 countries that has since met 27 times to raise and coordinate more than $130 billion in security assistance to Kyiv, with around half of that coming from the United States. A Defense Department spokesperson didn't confirm the potential change, explain the rationale behind it or say whether any positions may be cut. Cooper departed in December, and a career civil servant now leads the office in an acting capacity. Both offices report to the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, which currently lacks a fully confirmed director. Daniel Zimmerman, the nominee to lead it, is awaiting a full Senate vote. Multiple sources stressed that the decision is not yet final, and that any changes would be part of a larger reorganization. It's not unusual for new policy chiefs to shift around their offices, one former official said, but multiple other sources saw the potential change as a sign of the Pentagon's overall lower-priority approach to Ukraine under the second Trump administration. Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's policy chief, has long argued that America should reduce its military support for Ukraine and shift resources toward Asia to deter China from invading Taiwan. When visiting NATO headquarters in February, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argued that Europe needs to take control of its own security, including for Ukraine. 'Leaders of our European allies should take primary responsibility for defense of the continent,' Hegseth said. As a practical matter, two former U.S. officials raised the concern that combining the offices would overwhelm the person in charge. The Trump administration is considering drastic changes to U.S. security policy toward Europe, arguing countries on the continent should spend far more on their defense as America refocuses elsewhere. Meetings with David Baker, the official now leading the Europe and NATO office, have been in high demand as European countries try to understand the coming changes and prepare for the June NATO summit. 'It will be very hard for a single DASD to handle that many important [and] high maintenance countries,' a former U.S. defense official said, referring to a deputy assistant secretary of defense, or mid-level Pentagon official. After a weeklong pause in March, the U.S. is still sharing intelligence with Ukraine and shipping previously scheduled aid. But Congress hasn't passed any more money to continue the effort, and the Pentagon hasn't asked for any. The Defense Department has a little under $4 billion left in authority to ship weapons to Ukraine, but no money left to replace anything it sends.
Wall Street Journal
05-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
What's News in Earnings: Consumer Shakiness Worries Food and Drink Companies - What's News
Bonus Episode for May 5. Consumers are in belt-tightening mode. Many are buying less, reconsidering their purchases and feeling rattled by volatile markets and the Trump administration's shape-shifting tariff policies. For soda makers like Pepsi and restaurant chains like McDonald's, those are worrisome developments. So how are they responding? WSJ reporter Laura Cooper discusses w hat companies are saying in earnings reports and analyst calls. Chip Cutter hosts this special bonus episode of What's News in Earnings looking at what's going on under the hood of the American economy. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter.
