FIRST ON FOX – A group of Republican senators is urging Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to ensure that any sale of Russian energy giant Lukoil’s foreign assets results in permanent divestment from Moscow, warning against what they describe as potential “shell game” proposals that could return control to Russia. 

In a letter Monday, Sens. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., Steve Daines, R-Mont., and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., voiced support for President Donald Trump’s sanctions strategy targeting Russia’s energy sector, but raised concerns that some proposed deals may undermine the administration’s foreign policy goals.

The senators said certain proposals under consideration could amount to temporary “caretaker or custodial arrangements” designed to revert ownership back to Lukoil if U.S. sanctions are lifted or tensions between Washington and Moscow ease.

They also warned that other potential transactions could involve a “buy-and-flip” approach that might place strategic oil and gas assets into the hands of U.S. adversaries, including China, potentially jeopardizing American national security and global energy stability.

INSIDE THE SEA WAR TO CONTAIN ‘DARK FLEET’ VESSELS — AND WHAT THE US SEIZURE SIGNALS TO RUSSIA

Steve Daines, John Barrasso, and Tim Sheehy are urging Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to ensure that any sale of Russian energy giant Lukoil’s foreign assets results in permanent divestment from Moscow. (Pete Marovich-Pool/Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images; Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images / Getty Images)

The letter follows the Treasury Department’s October 2025 sanctions on Lukoil and the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s requirement that the company divest its non-Russian holdings to non-blocked entities. 

It also comes amid ongoing divestment talks, including Lukoil’s Jan. 29 announcement of a conditional, non-exclusive agreement to sell its subsidiary Lukoil International GmbH, which holds its international assets, to the Carlyle Group, a U.S. investment firm.

The transaction would not include assets in Kazakhstan, according to the company.

LINDSEY GRAHAM SAYS TRUMP BACKS RUSSIA SANCTIONS BILL

Tanker trucks are seen near the PJSC Lukoil Oil Company tank storage in Neder-Over-Heembeek on Nov. 15, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium. (Thierry Monasse / Getty Images)

Lukoil International GmbH maintains operations and minority interests in oil and gas fields in Iraq, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Egypt and the Republic of the Congo, among other countries.

It also has stakes in several pipelines and owns refineries and thousands of retail stations across nearly 20 European countries.

‘THEY WERE SPYING’: SULLIVAN SOUNDS ALARM ON JOINT RUSSIA-CHINA MOVES IN US ARCTIC ZONE

A worker oversees the loading of oil supplies into freight wagons at the Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez oil refinery in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on Dec. 4, 2014. (Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

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The senators described the portfolio as strategically significant to global energy markets and warned that any sale must ensure the assets remain permanently outside Russian control.

“We cannot allow U.S. adversaries to regain control over these valuable assets that have funded so much of Russia’s aggression and must prioritize bids from firms that seek to invest in and build these assets to further American national interests,” Sheehy, Daines and Barrasso wrote.

The Cabinet approved visa measures to boost tourism and Thailand’s economy, including special exemptions, a Destination Thailand Visa, and plans for e-Visas, with emphasis on security and eligibility revisions.

Key Points

• Cabinet Acknowledgment and Short-Term Measures:
  • The Cabinet endorsed visa measures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to boost tourism and the economy as of May 28, 2024.
  • Short-term actions include a visa exemption for 93 countries, allowing 60-day stays, and an initial Visa on Arrival (VOA) list of 31 nations.
• Medium and Long-Term Strategies:
  • Medium-term plans involve reducing non-immigrant visa categories from 17 to 7 by August 31, 2025, and expanding the e-Visa system to all Thai embassies by January 1, 2025.
  • Long-term initiatives include a digital pre-travel authorization system with the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) introduced from May 1, 2025.
• Ongoing Assessments and Security Considerations:
  • Ongoing measures also involve expanding VOA eligibility to eight more countries and updating retirement visa criteria.
  • The Ministry raised concerns regarding national security related to misuse of visa exemptions, and a re-appointed visa policy committee will review these measures promptly.

The Cabinet has acknowledged visa measures and guidelines proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote tourism and stimulate Thailand’s economy, in line with the Cabinet resolution of May 28, 2024.

The measures are organized into short-, medium-, and long-term frameworks. The Department of Consular Affairs has summarized progress as follows.

​Implemented short-term measures include designating 93 countries and territories eligible for a special visa exemption, allowing stays of up to 60 days for tourism, short-term work, or business. Thailand has also approved an initial list of 31 countries and territories eligible for Visa on Arrival (VOA).

Thailand has also introduced the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) to attract high-quality visitors, digital nomads, and participants in cultural activities such as Muay Thai, traditional Thai massage, Thai cooking, and other soft-power initiatives.

The Cabinet approved the ED Plus non-immigrant visa for foreigners entering Thailand for study or for study combined with work.

A visa policy committee has been reappointed, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hold additional meetings.

​Medium-term measures include reducing the number of non-immigrant visa codes from 17 to 7, effective August 31, 2025, and expanding the e-Visa system to all 94 Thai embassies and consulates worldwide, effective January 1, 2025.

Long-term measures focus on developing online pre-travel authorization systems. Immigration authorities introduced the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which has been in use since May 1, 2025.

Ongoing measures include a second-phase expansion of VOA eligibility to 8 additional countries and revised long-stay visa criteria for elderly foreigners seeking retirement in Thailand.

The Ministry noted observations regarding potential impacts on national security and Thailand’s image, as some foreign nationals have misused visa exemptions for unauthorized work or illegal activities. The newly appointed visa policy committee will review these measures at the earliest opportunity.

Source : Cabinet Acknowledges Visa Measures to Boost Thailand’s Tourism and Economy

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Operator

Good afternoon. This is the Chorus Call Conference operator. Welcome, and thank you for joining the Banca Generali Full Year 2025 Results Conference Call. [Operator Instructions]

At this time, I would like to turn the conference over to Mr. Gian Maria Mossa, CEO and General Manager of Banca Generali. Please go ahead, sir.

Gian Mossa
GM, CEO & Executive Director

So good afternoon, and thank you for attending our full year results conference call. Before we get into our results, I want to quickly comment the market reaction to the recent announcement of a U.S. initiative called the Altruist. That is basically a tool, an artificial intelligence tool for the automated tax planning that in Italy is largely relevant just because for any investment related taxation, the tax situation is handled directly by the withholding agents. So basically the banks or the financial intermediary and not by the client.

So the volatility on our stock today comes from this U.S.-centric situation. That simply doesn’t fit with the Italian wealth management context and even less with Banca Generali also because we are not a brokerage platform. So as you know, and we said it several times, Italy has a unique economic and social environment where the wealth is still mostly invested in liquid assets, think of real estate kind of companies, not listed equity. And it remains very much sort of, say, family affair.

So in this context, our clients look for discretion, human guidance and not automatic

Operator

Thank you for standing by, and welcome to ReNew’s Third Quarter FY ’26 Earnings Report. [Operator Instructions]

I would now like to hand the conference over for opening remarks. Please go ahead.

Anunay Shahi
Head of Investor Relations

Thank you. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today. We have put out a press release announcing results for our fiscal 2026 third quarter ended December 31, 2025. A copy of the press release and the earnings presentation are available on the Investor Relations section of our website at www.renew.com.

With me today are Sumant Sinha, our Founder, Chairman and CEO; Kailash Vaswani, our CFO; and Vaishali Nigam Sinha, our Co-Founder and Chairperson, Sustainability. After the prepared remarks, which we expect will take about 30 minutes, we will open the call for questions.

Please note that our safe harbor statements are contained within our press release, presentation materials and materials available on our website. These statements are important and integral to all our remarks. There are risks and uncertainties that could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. So we encourage you to review the press release and the presentation on our website for a more complete description.

Also contained in our press release, presentation materials and annual report are certain non-IFRS measures that we reconcile to the

Home retail giant bought by US investment giant Carlyle last year

Home shopping giant the Very Group has announced a new long-term funding deal under its new owners in a move bosses say positions the company for growth. The Liverpool-based group has extended and renewed its key debt facilities to give it long-term funding to 2029 and beyond.

Very was taken over by American investment group Carlyle last year after 20 years under the ownership of the Barclay family. Very has now completed the refinancing and says the move “leaves the business well positioned for the next stage of its growth”.

All note classes within the group’s UK securitisation facility have been extended, with maturities extended to February 1, 2029. The group says that move secures its funding for the next three financial years.

Very’s £1.77bn securitisation facility has now been operating for over two decades. It says Fitch has confirmed ratings of “AAA” and “A” for the A notes and “BBB” for the B notes, while fellow credit rating agency DBRS uprated the notes “AAA” and “AA” respectively.

Meanwhile Very’s £150m super senior revolving credit facility has been renewed and its maturity extended to February 2030. As the group has met deleveraging conditions set out in the terms of its senior secured notes, their coupon rate has been lowered from 13.5% to 9.75% while maturity has been extended from August 2027 to August 2030.

The company added: “The group’s overall debt has been reduced by £150m with Carlyle’s capital support, which is expected to be positively acknowledged by rating agencies.”

Edward Fry, chief financial officer at The Very Group, said: “Securing this long-term funding reflects the confidence of our lenders in the strength of our business. The combination of extended maturities, improved margins and further deleveraging provides a stable platform for continued investment in our digital and customer proposition, while maintaining a disciplined approach to balance sheet management.

“The £150m capital support from Carlyle is a reflection of their strong and ongoing support for the business. This leaves us in a robust financial position and well placed to support future growth.”

Carlyle confirmed its takeover of Very in November. Announcing the deal, Very Group CEO Robbie Feather said: “This marks an important milestone for The Very Group as we move into an exciting new phase of growth.

“We are delighted to continue to partner with Carlyle and IMI. Their continued backing provides us with a stronger foundation to execute on our strategy, increase investment in technology and the customer experience, and to build on the momentum across the business.”

Very Group has its distribution hub at Skygate in the East Midlands, as well as bases in London, Bolton, Wrexham and Dublin.