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☆ Democrats' dilemma: Which hard-right Republican should they side with?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Mike Johnson is almost certain to survive MTG's effort oust him due to the support of Democrats. But progressives are unsure how to handle the vote, with some citing Johnson's own hard-right views. AdvertisementNext week, Democrats will be siding with a Republican that they've derided as being slavishly loyal to Donald Trump, wedded to evangelical Christian nationalist beliefs, opposed to LGBTQ+ rights, and a danger to American democracy. Some of them haven't decided whether that person is Speaker Mike Johnson or Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. After all, House Democrats voted unanimously with Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to oust then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy in October.

Persons: Mike Johnson, —, they've, Donald Trump, haven't, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Johnson, — it's, Matt Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, Mark Pocan, I'm, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Minnesota, Greg Casar, Texas —, Mike Johnson shouldn't, doesn't, Greene, it's, Omar, Ro Khanna, Khanna Organizations: Service, Republican, Democratic, House, — Rep, Congressional Progressive Caucus, CPC, New, CNN, Republicans, Democrats Locations: Georgia, Florida, Wisconsin, Alexandria, Cortez of New York, Texas, Cortez, New York, California, Ukraine, Israel

☆ Ukraine targets more Russian oil refineries a day after reports said the US had warned them not to
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewUkraine attacked Russia's oil infrastructure after US officials advised them against targeting Russian oil refineries, Bloomberg reports. Russia's oil infrastructure took another hit as drones targeted refineries in the Samara region. The targeted refineries, both part of Rosneft PJSC's Samara region group, play a crucial role in Russia's oil production landscape. The strikes have targeted refineries, storage depots, and other key sites, exacerbating economic pain and raising fears of further escalation. Indeed, the refineries targeted in the Samara oblast last night are over 800 miles from Kyiv.

Persons: —, Dmitry Azarov, … Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, Business, US, Financial Times Locations: Ukraine, Samara, Russia, Rosneft, Russian

☆ Rep. Ritchie Torres quietly leaves Progressive Caucus amid tensions over Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York is no longer a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) after months of tensions with colleagues over the Israel-Hamas war. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. It's also unclear whether Torres left the caucus voluntarily, with one senior progressive caucus member telling Business Insider that the New York Democrat "never showed up" for meetings. One fellow progressive member told Business Insider that he only found out about it via social media. AdvertisementIt's also not the first time Torres has left a progressive caucus.

Persons: Ritchie Torres, Torres, Rashida, Tlaib, Lois Frankel, Florida —, xuMZTw7wSw — Ritchie Torres, Pramila Jayapal, It's, Alexandria Ocasio, Joe Crowley Organizations: Congressional Progressive Caucus, CPC, New York Democrat, Business, Jewish, Democratic Locations: New York, Israel, Michigan, Jewish State, New York City, Alexandria

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms' (META.O) paid no-ads subscription service, which it rolled out in Europe this month, breaches EU consumer laws, Europe's largest consumer group said on Thursday as it took its grievance to consumer protection authorities. Meta has said it launched the paid no-ads subscription service, which applies to Facebook and Instagram, to comply with EU rules requiring companies to give users a choice on whether their data can be collected and used for targeted ads. It also took issue with the "very high subscription fee for ad-free services" which could deter users. The ad-free service cost 9.99 euros ($10.96) monthly for Web users and 12.99 euros for iOS and Android users. Meta has said these prices are in line with Google's (GOOGL.O) YouTube and Spotify's (SPOT.N) premium services and with Netflix (NFLX.O).

Persons: Dado Ruvic, NOYB, Meta, BEUC, Ursula Pachl, Pachl, Foo Yun Chee, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Meta, REUTERS, Rights, European Consumer Organisation, CPC, Facebook, EU, YouTube, Netflix, Thomson Locations: Rights BRUSSELS, Europe, Austrian, Brussels

☆ China's Xi visits financial hub Shanghai
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the Leaders Retreat at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, California, U.S., November 17, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Nov 29 (Reuters) - China President Xi Jinping visited Shanghai, where he went to several venues and learned about the city's efforts to strengthen its competitiveness as an international financial centre, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday. Xi made the trip on Tuesday and Wednesday and he inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations and a government-subsidized rental housing community, the report said. Vice Premier He Lifeng, Shanghai's Communist party secretary Chen Jining and Mayor Gong Zheng also accompanied his visit. It was his first visit to the city since November 2020 and comes a year after historic street protests against China's zero-COVID policy broke out in Shanghai.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Xi, Cai Qi, Chen Jining, Gong Zheng, Xi's, Premier Li Qiang, Brenda Goh, Bernard Orr, Ella Cao, Ethan Wang, Mark Potter, Louise Heavens, Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Porter Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, Shanghai Futures Exchange, Communist Party of China Central Committee, CPC, Communist, Shanghai Free, Trade, Disney, L'Oreal, Premier, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, China, Shanghai, Xinhua, Minhang

☆ Japan's Kishida sends letter to China's Xi - NHK
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a summit discussion on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, at the Stanford, California, U.S., November 17, 2023. REUTERS/Brittany Hosea-Small/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 23 (Reuters) - A Beijing delegation of Komeito, the junior coalition partner of Japan's ruling party, handed a letter from Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for Chinese President Xi Jinping in a meeting with China's top leadership team on Wednesday, NHK reported. The broadcaster did not say what was in the letter. Komeito representatives and Kishida's office were not available to comment on Thursday, a public holiday in Japan. Yamaguchi and Cai also agreed to work toward a resumption of dialogue between the CPC and the coalition of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito, NHK reported.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Brittany Hosea, Xi Jinping, Natsuo Yamaguchi, Cai Qi, Yamaguchi, Cai, Makiko Yamazaki, Stephen Coates Organizations: Japan's, Economic Cooperation, Stanford, REUTERS, Rights, Komeito, Wednesday, NHK, Communist Party of China, CPC, Central Committee, Liberal Democratic Party, Thomson Locations: Asia, California, U.S, Beijing, Japan, Taiwan

☆ Ohio just legalized cannabis. Now comes the hard part
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Ohio voters’ approval of a legalization measure on Tuesday comes just months after cannabis saw some of its most significant movements at the federal level. “I honestly think it will have massive reverberating effects on what Congress has to do about this.”More than two-thirds of US states have legalized cannabis in some capacity: 38 states have approved comprehensive medical cannabis programs, and Ohio brings the recreational total to 24 states. Joshua A. Bickel/APExisting medical cannabis dispensaries will have the opportunity to be grandfathered in and have first crack at licenses, but municipalities can decide whether to allow sales. “In 2018, Michigan fully legalized cannabis, set a relatively low tax rate and my perception is it’s been a fairly successful industry there.”Michigan’s cannabis sales hit a record $276 million in July, a time when industry members there and beyond have struggled. Marijuana buds ready for harvest rest on a plant at AT-CPC of Ohio, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, in Akron, Ohio.

Persons: Andrew Freedman, ”, “ It’s, ” Freedman, “, pollster Gallup, ‘, Nick Lachey, Joshua A . Bickel, Mike DeWine, Freedman, Douglas Berman, ” Berman, It’s, Irina Dashevsky, Marder, Tony Dejak, Dashevsky, we’ve, hasn’t, Ariane Kirkpatrick, Amonica Davis, ” Kirkpatrick Organizations: Minneapolis CNN, Buckeye, US Department of Health, Human Services, Forbes Tate, Coalition for Cannabis Policy, CNN, Republican, Drug Enforcement, Center, The Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, Industry, Buckeyes, CPC, Ohio, AP Companies, Enforcement Locations: Minneapolis, Minneapolis CNN — Ohio, Ohio, As Ohio, Missouri, Cincinnati, Michigan, Akron , Ohio, United States

☆ Li Keqiang: Death of China’s former premier offers glimpse into discontent with Xi Jinping
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Cnn Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —The sudden death of China’s former Premier Li Keqiang has spurred an outpouring of grief and mourning across the country. But for many, it also appears to offer a rare opening to air pent-up discontent with top leader Xi Jinping and the direction he has taken the country. His death, just months after his retirement, shocked the Chinese public. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang review a guard of honor prior to a meeting at the Chancellery on July 9, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits a hospital in Wuhan on January 27, 2020, days after the city was placed under a complete lockdown to curb the raging Covid-19 outbreak.

Persons: Li Keqiang, Xi Jinping, Li, Xi –, ”, Alfred Wu, Lee, “, Xi, Angela Merkel, Sean Gallup, Zhang Lun, Mao Zedong, Zhang, “ I’ve, Wu, Li Tao, Zhou Enlai, Mao, Hu Yaobang, Fish Leong, ” Zhang Organizations: CNN, Communist, Lee Kuan Yew, of Public Policy, Getty, Studies, University of Cergy, Peking University, Li, AP Party, Communist Party, Xinhua, CPC, Party Locations: Shanghai, China, Singapore, German, Berlin, Germany, Pontoise, France, Communist China, Wuhan, AFP, Yunnan province, Weibo, Malaysian, Hefei, Anhui, Zhengzhou, Henan, Beijing

☆ China to cremate 'outstanding' leader Li Keqiang on Thursday
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Newspapers with the obituary of late former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on the front page are displayed, at a newsstand in Beijing, China October 28, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 31 (Reuters) - China will cremate the remains of former Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday, when flags will fly at half mast across the country in mourning for an "outstanding" leader, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Li, a former economist and pro-reform leader who served as the premier for 10 years before retiring in March, died of a heart attack on Friday. Li's death was a huge loss to the Communist Party and the nation, according to an official obituary posted by Xinhua last week. But Li, once viewed as a Communist Party leadership contender, was sidelined in recent years, analysts and diplomats said, as President Xi Jinping tightened his grip on economic policymaking.

Persons: Li Keqiang, Tingshu Wang, Li, Xi Jinping, Ryan Woo, Ethan Wang, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Xinhua, CPC, Party, Chinese Communist Party, of, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Shanghai

☆ Fire at refinery near major port Novorossiisk put out - Russian authorities
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 29 (Reuters) - A fire that broke out in early hours of Sunday at the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region was promptly extinguished, the region's emergency security authorities said after social media reports of powerful blasts shaking the refinery. Earlier, Russia's defence ministry, without providing much detail, said that its air defence systems destroyed 36 Ukraine-launched drones over the Black Sea and the northwestern part of the Crimean Peninsula. The Afipsky plant, which was last attacked in May, can process around 6 million tonnes (44 million barrels) of oil each year. The port of Novorossiisk, together with the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal, bring about 1.5% of global oil to market. Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by William Mallard and Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lidia Kelly, William Mallard, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Reuters, Caspian Pipeline Consortium, Thomson Locations: Russia's Krasnodar, Krasnodar, Novorossiisk, Ukraine, Crimean, Kyiv, Crimea, Moscow, Russia, Melbourne

☆ Fire at Refinery Near Major Port Novorossiisk Put Out, Russian Authorities Say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - A fire that broke out in early hours of Sunday at the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region was promptly extinguished, the region's emergency security authorities said after social media reports of powerful blasts shaking the refinery. Baza and Shot, two Russian news outlets with good security sources, said that the fire at the refinery, which lies 50 miles (80 km) east of the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk, one of Russia's most important oil export gateways, was caused by a drone attack. Earlier, Russia's defence ministry, without providing much detail, said that its air defence systems destroyed 36 Ukraine-launched drones over the Black Sea and the northwestern part of the Crimean Peninsula. The Afipsky plant, which was last attacked in May, can process around 6 million tonnes (44 million barrels) of oil each year. The port of Novorossiisk, together with the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal, bring about 1.5% of global oil to market.

Persons: Lidia Kelly, William Mallard, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Reuters, Caspian Pipeline Consortium Locations: Russia's Krasnodar, Krasnodar, Novorossiisk, Ukraine, Crimean, Kyiv, Crimea, Moscow, Russia, Melbourne

The world's top importing region saw arrivals of 24.95 million barrels per day (bpd) in September, down from August's 25.22 million bpd, according to data complied by LSEG. September's imports were also almost 3 million bpd weaker than the 27.92 million bpd seen in July, which was the highest monthly total so far in 2023. China imported 11.53 million bpd in September, down from August's 12.49 million bpd, according to LSEG data. Russia was China's top supplier in September, providing 1.81 million bpd, eclipsing the 1.44 million bpd from Saudi Arabia. The main question for Asia's oil demand in the fourth quarter is just how hard the recent price rally will bite demand.

Persons: Vietnam's, China doesn't, Asia's, Jamie Freed Organizations: LSEG, Imports, Reliance Industries, SK Energy's Ulsan, Taiwan's CPC, Brent, U.S, world's, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, August's, Jamnagar, India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Asia, CHINA, China, Russia, Iran

☆ Xi's economic policies are leaving many China watchers perplexed and confused
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Michelle Caruso-Cabrera | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Why is a nation with ambitions to become the dominant economic power in the world doing so many things to blunt that potential? Xi vs. the CCPMost, though not all, China watchers point to Xi himself as the instigator of those recent changes. "China's private sector, previously the growth engine of the Chinese economy, is paying the consequences," he told CNBC. In addition, he said "in recent months, China's National Development and Reform Commission has set up a bureau especially for private sector development." They cite external factors for weakness in the Chinese economy, including U.S. tariffs, trade restrictions, sanctions, and the sluggish post-pandemic global economy.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Lintao Zhang, Orville Schell, Schell, Jinping, Yasheng Huang, Xi, Ryan Hass, Kevin Rudd, Rudd, Anne Stevenson, Yang, Stevenson, Jack Ma, Mikhail Gorbachev, Liu Pengu, Yang Fan, Zhang Xinyu, Liza Tobin, Eric Schmidt Organizations: Political, CPC Central Committee, of People, Getty, Center, U.S, China Relations, The Asia Society, CNBC, Chinese Communist Party, Communist, MIT Sloan School, CCP, China Center, Brookings, Foreign Policy, Oxford University, J Capital Research, Communist Party, Party, U.S ., Soviet Union, National, Reform, Marxist Locations: Beijing, China, New York, U.S, Australia, United States, U.S . Congress, USSR, Soviet Union

"We've certainly seen Australia's reputation being affected as some existing buyers expressed interest in diversifying their suppliers for long-term supply," said Ryhana Rasidi, LNG analyst at analytics firm Kpler. "Australia is the closest gas supplier we can get. By far, Australia, U.S. and Qatar are the three pillars in LNG supply chain. As well as its political stability, its proximity to Asia might be Australia's saving grace, industry analysts say. "Ties are very strong between North Asia and Australia as a legacy supplier, so many participants are keen to continue the relationship," said Kaushal Ramesh, LNG analyst at Rystad Energy.

Persons: Inpex, Resources Madeleine King, We've, Ryhana, Jane Liao, Kaushal Ramesh, Emily Chow, Yuka Obayashi, Muyu Xu, Andrew Hayley, Joyce Lee, Lewis Jackson, Florence Tan Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS, Rights, Workers, Japan's Kyushu Electric Power, Chevron's, Woodside Energy, West Shelf, South, Resources, Taiwan, Tohoku Electric Power, Kyushu Electric Power, Osaka Gas, Rystad Energy, Thomson Locations: Chevron, Barrow Island, Australia, Rights SINGAPORE, TOKYO, Qatar, United States, Western Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, Oman, U.S, Asia, Singapore, Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Sydney

☆ Over 95% chance of El Nino conditions from January to March 2024, US forecaster says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 13 (Reuters) - There is a more than 95% chance that the El Niño weather pattern will continue through the Northern Hemisphere winter from January - March 2024, a U.S. government forecaster said on Thursday, bringing more extreme conditions. "In August, sea surface temperatures were above average across the equatorial Pacific ocean, with strengthening in the central and east-central Pacific," the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) said. El Nino is a warming of ocean surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific, and can provoke extreme weather phenomena from wildfires to tropical cyclones and prolonged droughts. On Tuesday, Australia's weather bureau said that El Nino indicators had strengthened and the weather event would likely develop between September and November, bringing hotter and drier conditions to Australia. "Despite nearly the same ensemble mean amplitude as last month, the shorter forecast horizon means that the odds of at least a 'strong' El Niño have increased to 71%," CPC said.

Persons: Adnan Abidi, El Nino, Chris Hyde, Brijesh Patel, Seher Dareen, Rahul Paswan, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Prediction Center, El, El Nino, CPC, World Meteorological Organization, India, Thomson Locations: Ballia District, Uttar Pradesh, India, U.S, Pacific, South Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, Brazil, Asia, Africa, Bengaluru

☆ Ahead of Biden visit, US watchdog says Vietnam backsliding on religious freedoms
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

However, a "recent crackdown on civil society, increased pressure on independent religious communities, alarming reports of forced renunciations of faith, and other growing religious freedom violations add up to a clear reversal in that once-positive trajectory," it said. Vietnam's requirement for religious groups to register contrasted with Hanoi's obligation to provide religious freedom to all its people, it said. "Government authorities continue to closely monitor all religious activity, often harassing, detaining, or otherwise preventing unregistered faith communities from exercising their fundamental right to religious freedom," the report said. Last year, the U.S. State Department added Vietnam to its Special Watch List for violations of religious freedom under the 1998 U.S. Religious Freedom Act, a lesser designation than that of a CPC, but its first since 2006.

Persons: Joe Biden, Frederick Davie, Eric Ueland, Biden, David Brunnstrom, Leslie Adler Organizations: U.S . Commission, USCIRF, Government, U.S . State Department, CPC, Thomson Locations: Vietnam, U.S, backsliding, Washington, Hanoi, China

LONDON, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Crude oil prices have stalled as the wave of hedge fund buying that helped lift them throughout July and the first part of August has been replaced by gentle selling. Hedge funds and other money managers sold the equivalent of 30 million barrels in the six most important petroleum futures and options contracts over the seven days ending on Aug. 22. Nearly all the sales were in crude (-29 million barrels) with sales of NYMEX and ICE WTI (-16 million barrels) and Brent (-13 million barrels), according to position records filed with regulators and exchanges. There was a mix of profit-taking after the previous rally by liquidating existing bullish long positions (-18 million barrels) and speculative short sales (+11 million barrels) in anticipation of future price falls. There are also increasing indications the United States is relaxing sanctions on crude exports from Iran and Venezuela in exchange for diplomatic objectives and to keep a lid on oil prices.

Persons: Brent, John Kemp, Barbara Lewis Organizations: ICE, Henry, U.S . National Oceanic, Prediction Center, CPC, U.S, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Saudi Arabia, Russia, COVID, States, Iran, Venezuela, NYMEX, United States, Pacific, North America

☆ Exclusive: Insurers raise premiums for Black Sea tankers as tensions mount - traders
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A general view shows the Novorossiysk Fuel Oil Terminal (NMT) in the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk, Russia May 30, 2018. Military actions in the Black Sea area of Russian and Ukrainian Black Sea ports have escalated since the grain export deal fell apart in mid-July. Most recently Russia reported several attacks at its Black Sea ports. So far, oil loadings from Russia's Black Sea ports have not been affected by the attacks, but risks are mounting, traders said. Oil product exports from Russia's Black Sea ports is about 4 million tonnes per year.

Persons: Natalya Chumakova, David Evans Organizations: Oil, REUTERS, Rights, Insurance, Traders, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Black, Novorossiisk, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, Ukrainian, India

☆ U.S. forecaster sees 95% chance of El Nino prevailing through winter
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Earlier in the day, Japan's weather bureau forecast the chances of an El Nino through the northern hemisphere winter at 90%. The World Meterological Organization had in May warned that the weather pattern could contribute to rising global temperatures. "In July, El Niño continued as indicated by above-average sea surface temperatures across the equatorial Pacific Ocean," the CPC said. Given recent developments, forecasters are more confident in a "strong" El Nino event, with roughly two in three odds of temperatures rising by about 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) or more in November-January, it added. It was also expected to bring drier weather across West Africa, South-East Asia and northern South America, and wetter conditions to southern South America in the second half of the year.

Persons: Feisal Omar, El Niño, El Nino, Brijesh Patel, Anjana Anil, Seher Dareen, Bernadette Baum, Mark Potter Organizations: El Nino, REUTERS, Meterological Organization, CPC, El, India, Thomson Locations: Marodijeex, Hargeysa, Somalia's, Somaliland, U.S, Pacific, El, El Nino, Asia, Africa, West Africa, South, East Asia, South America, Bengaluru

☆ Google and Meta are creating so much new ad inventory, it's causing big price drops. Here's how much ads cost across the Big Tech giants.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Lauren Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ad prices declined in the second quarter as new formats like Reels and Shorts rolled out. After some rough quarters, Google's and Meta's ad businesses are on the rebound , and they're creating so much short-form video ad inventory that the surge in supply is driving ad prices down. "Anytime you've got an influx of newer ad inventory, typically that inventory does come with lower ad pricing," he said. And Instagram Reels ad inventory is both plentiful and 39% cheaper than Instagram Feed ads, according to Tinuiti. Meta also added more ads to its Marketplace on Facebook, which dropped Facebook ad prices by 25%, Taylor said.

Persons: Shawndu Stackhouse, Tom Williams, Andy Taylor, Pacvue, Taylor, Tinuiti's Taylor, Mike Ryan, Meta, TikTok TikTok Organizations: Inc, Getty, Tinuiti, Brands, Google, Anadolu Agency, Meta, Facebook, CPM Locations: Google's, Northeast Washington, lockstep

☆ Terra Firma founder Guy Hands steps down from company's helm
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"When I founded Terra Firma over 20 years ago, I vowed that I would retire from the firm 'when I'm 64', as per the eponymous Beatles song. Terra Firma will be led by Guy's son and managing director Richard Hands and its chief operating officer Paul Hatter, the company said in a statement. Guy Hands founded Terra Firma in 2002 through the spin-out of Japanese bank Nomura's Principal Finance Group (PFG), which he used to lead. Terra Firma is now invested in 39 companies with an aggregate enterprise value of 51 billion euros ($56.7 billion), according to the company's website. Other business backed by Terra Firma include Australian cattle company CPC.

Persons: Guy Hands, Guy's, Richard Hands, Paul Hatter, Terra, Hands, Julia, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Iain Withers, Louise Heavens, David Holmes Organizations: Terra Firma Capital Partners, EMI, Terra Firma, Reuters, Sky News, Nomura's, Finance Group, Citigroup, CPC, Thomson

☆ I used AI to double my income in one year. It wasn't hard to do and didn't cost me anything.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Kristen Walters | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

She used AI to help create faceless YouTube videos, affiliate content, and digital products like ebooks. So I thought I'd share some of the ways that I'm currently using AI to make money in 2023. But combined, they add up to a substantial monthly income from both YouTube Adsense and affiliate products. Digital productsI've been creating simple digital products like ebooks, workbooks, audiobooks for over a decade now.Man, I'm getting old. Of course, you don't have to use ConvertKit.I've also sold digital products using Teachable, Etsy, Gumroad, and my own website(s).

Persons: Kristen Walters, I've, it's, Jasper, ConvertKit.I've, people's, snoop, It's Organizations: YouTube, Adsense, Jasper, Management, PAS, Amazon Associates, AIDA, Publishing, KDP Locations: Jasper, Park

Over the same period, however, working gas inventories increased by 454 billion cubic feet compared with a prior 10-year average increase of 401 billion cubic feet. No progress was made eliminating excess inventories during the spring quarter. Freeport LNG's re-opened export terminal did not make a significant difference in depleting the excess inventories accumulated during the winter of 2022/23. Unless the summer is unusually hot, boosting gas consumption by electricity generators, excess inventories look set to persist for several more months. As a result, hedge funds and other money managers have been cautious about turning bullish on gas prices.

Persons: John Kemp, Paul Simao Organizations: Climate Prediction Center, CPC, Freeport LNG's, Thomson, Reuters Locations: United States, U.S, Ukraine

Bill Clark | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images"Speaker McCarthy should pull this bad bill down. Roy and Bishop weren't the only far-right conservatives who implicitly threatened to unseat McCarthy as House speaker if the debt limit bill passed. Under new rules this year, a single Republican lawmaker can bring a no-confidence vote on McCarthy to the floor. But progressive leaders in the House stopped short of urging their like-minded members to oppose the bill. The message from the White House was similarly low-key, with an emphasis on the GOP asks that were not in the bill.

☆ Why some Democrats think Biden shouldn't worry about legal challenges that would come from getting rid of the debt ceiling forever
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A US default could be days away, and Congress still doesn't have a debt ceiling deal. Some Democrats think Biden should use the 14th Amendment to address the crisis. On Monday evening, McCarthy and Biden met once again to attempt to reach an agreement on raising the debt ceiling and avoiding an unprecedented default. Experts and lawmakers have said that this clause makes a default, and therefore the debt ceiling, unconstitutional, getting rid of the issue forever. Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesWhy Biden shouldn't worry about legal challengesNo president has ever invoked the 14th Amendment to address the debt ceiling.

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