U.S. and European media

April 14, 2023

Reuters: Sudan's Bashir Hails Obama's Overture to Islamic World. Sudan's leader welcomed on Monday "positive signs" sent by U.S. President Barack Obama to the Islamic world, striking a more conciliatory tone toward Washington, seen as an enemy of Khartoum in the past. "Our hands remain held out to those who call for peace and justice in accordance with the standards of fairness and dignity," he added, echoing a phrase used by Obama in his inauguration address. Washington has had tense relations with the Islamist government of Bashir, who came to power in Africa's largest country in a 1989 coup. The United States imposed economic sanctions on Sudan in 1997 and labeled it a "state sponsor of terrorism." Ties were strained further by the conflict in Darfur, which both Obama and his predecessor George W. Bush have called genocide, a description Sudan's government rejects. Bashir also used his speech Monday to defend a decision to expel 13 foreign aid agencies from Darfur last month after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes in Sudan's western region.

Bloomberg: Group: Vanguard misled on investing. Vanguard Group Inc., the largest US manager of stock and bond mutual funds, has been accused by an advocacy group of misleading investors with its policy aimed at curbing human rights abuses. Investors Against Genocide, a Boston group that pressures mutual fund firms to make socially responsible investments, said Vanguard increased its holdings in Beijing-based PetroChina Co. in the three months ended Jan. 31. Vanguard said March 11 that it had begun a policy in the previous six months to identify companies linked to rights abuses. "Ordinary investors would be misled into thinking Vanguard was taking appropriate action," Investors Against Genocide chairman Eric Cohen said in an interview yesterday. Cohen singled out investment in PetroChina by the $6.41 billion Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index fund. It increased its stake in PetroChina to 155.7 million shares as of Jan. 31 from 149.6 million on Oct. 31, according to the latest data filed with regulators. PetroChina explores for oil in Sudan, whose government has been accused of orchestrating genocide in its Darfur region.

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