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☆ A Pennsylvania County and the Political Tensions in America
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Philip Montgomery | Michael Sokolove | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Luzerne County is one of many counties in Pennsylvania — and across the country — that shifted to the right this year. Kevin Kraynak, a Luzerne County native, traveled from his home in California to try to get out the vote. Luzerne County became a hotbed of election denialism in 2020, and Pennsylvania is an open-carry state. Just over 152,000 total ballots were cast in Luzerne County — about the same as in 2020. In only one other Pennsylvania county were Trump’s gains greater.

Persons: Biden’s, Donald Trump, Dwayne McDavitt, Trump, Joe Biden, busloads, Democratic canvassers, Kevin Kraynak, “ I’m, ”, Jennifer Ziemba, “ We’re, MAGA, Philip Montgomery, ” Ziemba, “ I’d, Lee Ann McDermott, John, ” Constance Wynn, Wilkes, Wynn’s, Kim Pace, Harris, “, Dave Ragan, ” Pace, John McDermott, Lee Ann, McDermott, Hillary Clinton, “ He’s, ” Lee Ann, Jennifer Ziemba’s, Shelley Meuser, Dan Meuser, Terry Eckert, Adaíris Casado, —, ” Fredelina Paredes, Paredes, didn’t, Elizabeth Torrez, Torrez, Wadan Fernandez, Mr, ” Fernandez, ” Philip Montgomery Organizations: Trump, Amazon, Maxx, Democratic, Luzerne County Republican Party, Republican, The New York Times, “, Electoral, Luzerne County —, The New York, U.S . Army, Army Reserve, Iglesia, Hazleton Locations: Luzerne, Pennsylvania, Luzerne County, Wilkes, Barre, Scranton, Lackawanna County, California, Fort, Harveys Lake, state’s, Plains Township, Hazleton, Dominican Republic, United States

☆ Hong Kong leader announces measures to address housing crisis in annual policy address
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu delivers his annual policy address at the Legislative Council on Oct. 16, 2024, in Hong Kong. Hong Kong chief executive John Lee announced moves aimed at addressing the city's housing affordability crisis, calling it "an issue of great public concern" in an annual policy address on Wednesday. Under the plan, the Hong Kong Housing Authority will allocate an extra ballot number to applicants aged below 40 — a move that will increase their chances of being selected for the city's subsidized Home Ownership Scheme flats. He also said the government expects to complete about 9,500 new public housing units next year, moving toward a goal of completing about 30,000 units by 2027-2028. The current wait time for a public housing unit in Hong Kong is 5.5 years.

Persons: John Lee Ka, chiu, John Lee, Hong Kongers, Lee Organizations: Legislative, Hong, Hong Kong Housing Authority Locations: Hong Kong, Hong Kong . Hong Kong

☆ Iran's massive missile strike on Israel is just a fraction of what China could do
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-03 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Iran launched a massive ballistic missile strike on Israel this week, what appears to be the largest ever. The attack represents just a fraction of the scale, devastation, and capabilities a China missile strike could have, experts said. AdvertisementIran launched a major missile strike on Israel earlier this week likely intended to overwhelm the country's air defenses and inflict significant damage. The Iranian attack was massive, perhaps the largest ballistic missile strike in history, but it represents just a fraction of the scale and capabilities of what a Chinese missile attack could look like. AdvertisementA massive missile strikeIran previously launched a missile strike on Israel in April, using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

Persons: —, Bailee Ann Darbasie, Tom Karako, Amir Cohen, Hassan Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, wasn't, Cole, USS Bulkeley, Karako, Thomas Shugart, Liu Mingsong, Shugart, Xi Jingping's, GREG BAKER Organizations: Service, Department of Defense, Army's, Force, U.S . Air Force, Staff, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Missile Defense, Reuters, Air, US, Iranian, US Navy, Center, New, New American Security, Pentagon, Getty, Area Defense, Aegis, Pacific Command Locations: Iran, Israel, China, Taiwan, Chinese, Ukraine, New American, Xinhua, AFP, Japan

☆ Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a long-serving Democrat from Texas, has died at age 74
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-20 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewRep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a long-serving Democratic congresswoman from Texas, died at the age of 74, her family announced Friday. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. AdvertisementIn a statement last month, Lee announced in a post on social media that she had been fighting a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Representatives for Lee's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: —, Sheila Jackson Lee, Lee, Bebe, Jamie Raskin, New York Sen, Chuck Schumer, Schumer Organizations: Service, Democratic, Business, New Locations: Texas, United States of America, America, New York

☆ Sheila Jackson Lee, long-serving Democratic congresswoman and advocate for Black Americans, dies at 74
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Michelle Shen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Sheila Jackson Lee, a longtime Democratic congresswoman from Texas who was an outspoken advocate for Black Americans for decades, has died. Jackson Lee announced in June that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty ImagesDuring her congressional tenure, Jackson Lee was an outspoken advocate for progressive interests and Black Americans. “Congresswoman Jackson Lee was a patriot and a fighter to the very end. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her,” Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford and members of the Congressional Black Caucus said in a statement following her death.

Persons: Sheila Jackson Lee, ”, Jackson Lee, ’, Elwyn Lees, Brett Coomer, Donald Trump, Trump, George Floyd’s, “, ” Jackson Lee, Steven Horsford, Jackson Lee’s, –, Lee, Nancy Pelosi, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Lina Hidalgo, Sen, John Whitmire, Amanda Edwards, Hakeem Jeffries, Houston “, ” Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, Jamie Raskin, “ Laura Coates, Al Green, Bebe Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Black, “, United States, Congressional, of, Yale University, Texas, Congressional District, Houston, Getty, House Democrats, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Black, Enron, The New York Times, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Houston City, Democrats, Congressional Black Caucus and House Democratic Caucus, Texas Rep, State of, Huffington Locations: Texas, of Texas, Queens , New York, Houston, Iraq, House, Washington, Harris, America, State

☆ Hong Kong stock markets will continue trading during typhoons, starting Sept. 23
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG, CHINA - OCTOBER 13: A taxi crosses an empty intersection in the Central business district during a No. 8 Storm signal raised for Typhoon Kompasu, the 18th typhoon of this year, on October 13, 2021 in Hong Kong, China. Hong Kong's financial markets will continue trading even during typhoons and extreme weather starting from Sept. 23, Chief Executive John Lee announced Tuesday. "Hong Kong is an international financial center and there is no reason for us not to align with international financial standards," Lee said. He noted that in consultations conducted by the Hong Kong Exchange, over 90% of brokerage firms and securities firms supported the proposal.

Persons: Kompasu, John Lee, Lee Organizations: Hong Kong Exchange Locations: HONG KONG, CHINA, Central, Hong Kong, China, Hong

☆ Singapore's new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will take office on May 15
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore's new prime minister Lawrence Wong will be sworn in on May 15, 2024. SINGAPORE — Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will step down on May 15 and hand over the power to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, the Prime Minister's Office said on Monday. Wong, who will be sworn in at 8 p.m. local time that day, will be Singapore's fourth prime minister since its independence in 1965. Lee has served as prime minister since 2004. Wong, who is 51, entered politics after being elected a member of parliament during the 2011 General Election.

Persons: Lawrence Wong, Lee Hsien Loong, Wong, Lee Organizations: SINGAPORE — Singapore's, Minister's, Action Party, Finance, Monetary Authority of Locations: SINGAPORE, Monetary Authority of Singapore

☆ Bruce Lehrmann: Accused rapist loses defamation case against TV network after judge finds truth to story
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

After meticulously studying the video, Lee concluded that Higgins had consumed 11 drinks, and was seen on camera to have stumbled. Lee said Lehrmann “knew she was drinking excessively.”Lee also accepted the evidence of a colleague who saw Lehrmann and Higgins engage in a passionate kiss at the bar, though both Lehrmann and Higgins had denied kissing. Higgins left Parliament House alone after a couple of hours and didn’t immediately file a case with police. Videos posted by journalists online Monday showed Lehrmann leaving court and declining to answer multiple questions shouted at him by reporters. Outside the court, Network Ten journalist Wilkinson told reporters she sincerely hoped the judgment “gives strength to women around the country.”

Persons: Australia CNN —, Brittany Higgins, Bruce Lehrmann, “ Mr Lehrmann, Miss Higgins, ”, Michael Lee, Higgins, Lehrmann, Lisa Wilkinson, Wilkinson, Lee, “ I’m, “, Mr Lehrmann, Don Arnold, ” Lee, Lehrmann “, Lehmann, Lee didn’t, Lee’s Organizations: Australia CNN, YouTube, Federal Court, CNN, Getty, House, Network Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Sydney, Lehrmann’s, Canberra

☆ A woman was charged $1,000 for a Subway sandwich. She says she's not been refunded and has struggled to afford groceries.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewA woman was charged over $1,000 for a Subway sandwich, leaving her strapped for cash and struggling to feed her family, according to reports. For context, this far exceeds the typical costs of a footlong sandwich at Subway, which tends to cost between $6.50 and $12. Bishop told ABC 6 that the charge left her feeling "stressed, overwhelmed," and, at one point, she couldn't even afford groceries because her "account was negative." She told ABC 6 she tried this multiple times but to no avail. "I'm just trying to make ends meet at this point in time," Bishop told ABC 6.

Persons: —, Letitia Bishop, WSYC, Bishop, couldn't, I'm, Lee Anne Lanigan, Lanigan Organizations: Service, Subway, Oil, WSYC ABC, Business, ABC, Better Business Bureau Locations: Columbus , Ohio, Ohio

HONG KONG, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's efforts to revive its shrinking stock market are mere stopgap solutions, as analysts say a reversal in fortunes for Asia's premier financial hub would not be possible without a major improvement in China's economic prospects. With a market value of around $4.3 trillion, Hong Kong is home to one of the top-ranked stock markets globally just behind those in the United States, Japan, China and Europe. New share offerings in Hong Kong have fizzled. Local media reported that a record 47 of the 638 trading participants on the Hong Kong exchange shut shop last year. Chinese firms listed in Hong Kong, such as tech giants Tencent (0700.HK) and Alibaba (9988.HK), comprise the bulk of the turnover on the Hong Kong exchange, leaving Hong Kong hostage to China's fortunes.

Persons: Hong, John Lee, Dickie Wong, Rob Brewis, Aubrey, Eddie Tam, Alvin Cheung, Cheung, ”, Alex Wong, Alex KY, Wong, who'd, Summer Zhen, Xie Yu, Vidya Ranganathan Organizations: Nasdaq, Kingston Securities, Seng China Enterprises, HK, Aubrey Capital Management, Hong, Asset Investments, Prudential, Asset Management Company, Global, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, Hong Kong, United States, Japan, Europe, Shenzhen

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Beth Holloway was after one thing for 18 years: answers about what happened to her missing daughter. Van der Sloot said the teen was already unconscious, or even dead, when he picked up a nearby cinderblock and brought it down on her face. “I smash her head in with it completely," van der Sloot said, according to an Oct. 3 transcript of the meeting. She stood her ground.”Dave Holloway, Natalee’s father, called van der Sloot “evil personified" in a statement issued after the sentencing hearing. Peru agreed to temporarily extradite van der Sloot to the U.S. to face proceedings on the extortion charge.

Persons: — Beth Holloway, Joran van der Sloot, Natalee Holloway, Van der Sloot, Beth Holloway, van der Sloot, “, van der, Natalee, “ It’s, van, ‘ That’s, ’, Dave Holloway, Natalee’s, Sloot, Natalee Ann Holloway, ” Beth Holloway, ”, Holloway, ” Mark White, Ann Angela, Van der Sloot’s Organizations: Associated Press, Prosecutors, Aruba — Locations: BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Aruba, Dutch, Peru

Image The Pioneer Inn in Lahaina, Hawaii, last year. Image Shops and dining destinations along the sidewalks and streets in Lahaina, Maui. Mr. Hedani said the fabled beach areas on Oahu that Hawaii is best known for held nothing on Lahaina. “The sunset looks fake every time I see it.”Image Sunset in Lahaina, Hawaii. “What happens when you take away the most important street on Maui?” he said.

Persons: George Alan Freeland, Freeland’s, ”, Theo Morrison, Daejas, Baldwin, Ephraim Spaulding, Dwight Baldwin, Morrison, Mark Twain, “, —, Kiha Kaina, Patrick T, Kaina, Lee Anne Wong, Wong, Tony Novak, Clifford, Ronald Williams, Williams, it’s, Jared Hedani, Tommy Bahama, Hedani, “ You’re, Jim Wilson, Kamehameha the, Kaniela Ing, Ing, “ I’d, Amy Qin, David W, Chen, Mitch Smith Organizations: Lahaina Restoration Foundation, The New York Times, East Coast, ., Fallon, Agence France, French Culinary Institute, Hawaii State Archives, New York Times, Green New Deal Network Locations: Lahaina, British, Maui, Hawaii, “, United States, Lahaina , Hawaii, Massachusetts, East, Berkeley, Calif, ”, Papa’aina, New York City, Maui . Credit, Mexico City, Shaw, Paradise, Oahu, Waikiki

[1/5] Members of the Philippine Coast Guard remove a fallen tree from a road following the onslaught of Typhoon Doksuri in Buguey, Cagayan province, Philippines, July 26, 2023. As of 10:15 a.m. (0215 GMT) Typhoon Doksuri, categorised at the second-strongest typhoon level by Taiwan's weather bureau, headed towards the southern Taiwan Strait with maximum winds of 191 km (118 miles) per hour. All domestic flights and ferry lines were suspended in Taiwan while more than 100 international flights were cancelled or delayed. Railway services between southern and eastern Taiwan were shut. "Typhoon Doksuri should not be underestimated," Kaohsiung city mayor Chen Chi-mai said in a Facebook post late on Wednesday.

Persons: Doksuri, Chen Chi, Han Kuang, Yimou Lee, Ann Wang, Michael Perry Organizations: Philippine Coast Guard, REUTERS, Railway, Thomson Locations: Buguey, Cagayan province, Philippines, REUTERS TAIPEI, Southern Taiwan, China, Taiwan Strait, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Taipei Port, Taiwan's

☆ In the Kitchen, a Soulful Serving of Heritage and Tradition
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Marcus Samuelsson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

I’ve been blessed to travel the world chasing flavors, wandering through markets, dining at fancy restaurants and eating at mom-and-pop food trucks. It makes me think of a woman who inspires me like no other: the great Creole chef Leah Chase. “In my dining room, we changed the course of America over a bowl of gumbo and some fried chicken,” she once said. I turned to her legacy for inspiration, motivated by how her restaurant helped shape the civil rights movement and sustained the community. To me, this is the spirit of true American food, which is more democratic than ever.

Persons: I’ve, Leah Chase, Barack Obama, Dooky, “, Derrick Adams, Thelma Golden, Erick, Lee Anne Wong’s, —, Marcus Samuelsson Locations: Senegal, Spain, New Orleans, America, Chelsea, United States, Savannah, Chicago, Hawaii

[1/6] A view shows Cardinal III UAV on display as Taiwan's Defence Ministry showcases its domestically developed drones to the press in Taichung, Taiwan March 14, 2023. The war in Ukraine has lent new urgency to Taiwan military's efforts to bolster defence including a push to develop drones. NCSIST head Art Chang said the war in Ukraine had focused attention on drones, and his institution had teamed up with Taiwan companies to build a "national team" to develop military drones. President Tsai Ing-wen has championed the idea of "asymmetric warfare" to make Taiwan's forces more mobile and harder to attack. China has sent its drones to areas close to Taiwan to test its responses, the island's defence ministry has said.

☆ Hong Kong Lifts Citywide Mask Mandate After Almost Three Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Selina Cheng | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Masks will no longer be required whether indoors, outdoors or on public transport in Hong Kong. HONG KONG—After almost three years, Hong Kong said it will scrap its mask mandate starting March 1, removing one of the longest-running pandemic restrictions worldwide as the city tries to rebuild its image as an international financial center. The city’s Chief Executive John Lee announced the move Tuesday, lifting a ban that had been criticized by some health experts for requiring people to wear masks in public places at all times, except during exercise and in country parks, even as most other Covid-19 restrictions had been gradually dismantled in recent months.

☆ Hong Kong is giving away 500,000 flights this year—here’s what to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

If you're looking for a fun trip and a free flight, it might be time to turn your eye to Hong Kong. On Thursday, the city's leader John Lee announced Hong Kong is giving away 500,000 plane tickets this year to encourage tourism. In 2020, the Airport Authority spent $2 billion to buy tickets from airlines, including HK Express, Cathay Pacific Airways, and Hong Kong Airlines. Hong Kong will also give away 80,000 flights to city residents this summer, and another to 80,000 residents of the Greater Bay Area in the U.S., Lam said. The city's "Hello Hong Kong" campaign will include events like the Rugby Sevens tournament and a city marathon.

Hong Kong CNN —China will fully reopen borders with its special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao next week, in what is expected to be a major boost for the economies of the two cities. From Monday, travelers entering mainland China from Hong Kong or Macao will no longer need to provide proof of negative Covid tests, as long as they have not traveled abroad in the previous week, the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said in a Friday statement. Hong Kong is a major international financial center, and, before the pandemic, Macao was the world’s casino capital. Over the past three years, limited cross-border travel to mainland China has been listed as the top concern for businesses across the city, according to industry groups. Businesses began seeing some relief last month, when residents of Hong Kong and mainland China were permitted to resume two-way, quarantine-free travel.

At Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), a set of tire chains and a taxidermy rat landed in lost-and-found. The aptly named Lost and Found Software serves many U.S. and international airports as well as public transportation systems. Despite their differences, each provider promises to help customer service workers not only connect more lost items with their owners but to speed up returns as well. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines and others use NetTracer, which has been operating since 2004. Boomerang recently landed two airport customers: Savannah/Hilton Head (SAV) and New York’s Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR).

Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of disgraced biotech firm Theranos, bought a one-way ticket to Mexico shortly after she was convicted of fraud last January, a court filing submitted Thursday alleges. Holmes was found guilty on four counts of lying to investors on Jan. 3, 2022. Shortly thereafter, federal prosecutors allege in the filing, Holmes bought a flight to Mexico departing Jan. 26, 2022 without a scheduled return trip. "Only after the government raised this unauthorized flight with defense counsel was the trip canceled," prosecutors say. U.S. District Court Judge Edward Davila ordered Holmes to surrender herself into custody by April 27.

☆ Asia-Pacific stocks climb as Hong Kong scraps Covid restrictions for incoming travelers
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Pedestrians cross a road in front of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), operated by Japan Exchange Group Inc. (JPX), in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020. Asia-Pacific shares opened in positive territory as investors look ahead to a highly anticipated Federal Reserve meeting and U.S. CPI data reading. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was up 0.67% after Chief Executive John Lee announced further easing of Covid restrictions. The Nikkei 225 in Japan added 0.40% to close at 27,954.85, while the Topix inched up 0.43% to 1,965.68. The MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan climbed 0.29%.

Broadway actor Quentin Lee passed away from colon cancer on Tuesday morning. Lee is most known for his portrayal of the phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. "The Phantom family is saddened to hear of the passing of Quentin Oliver Lee," the broadway production captioned a picture of Lee on Instagram. Lee announced that he had stage 4 colon cancer on his Instagram account in June. In addition to his wife, Lee is survived by his daughter, Samantha.

☆ Olympic Gymnastics Champion Suni Lee Is Leaving Auburn for a Run at the 2024 Games
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Louise Radnofsky | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Sunisa Lee left Tokyo as the Olympic all-around champion with an ambitious plan: capitalize on her new fame at the same time as she kept her commitment to attend Auburn University and compete in college gymnastics. To pull it off, she had to defer other things—including training for international competition and a decision on whether she would make a second Olympic run for the 2024 Games in Paris. One year in, she’s addressed that tension. In a carefully recorded video posted on social media this week, Lee announced that she won’t compete for Auburn past her sophomore season, in order to resume preparation for elite events. The 19-year-old Lee couldn’t do it all—or at least, not all at the same time.

HONG KONG — After mass unrest in 2019, a pandemic that left it isolated from the world and the imposition of a national security law that has crushed dissent, Hong Kong is ready to turn the page. According to government statistics, about 319,000 people arrived in Hong Kong last month, down 97% from 10.8 million in October 2019. According to one report last month, Hong Kong has lost its status as Asia’s top financial center to Singapore. While it may not be realistic to expect businesses to turn away from China’s huge market, global business leaders “need to recognize that there’s a new situation in Hong Kong, there’s a new reality,” said Brian Kern, the lead researcher for a report on doing business in Hong Kong that was published last month by the Hong Kong Democracy Council, a nonprofit group based in Washington. Lee also pointed to a report in September in which Hong Kong topped Singapore as the world’s freest economy.

☆ Read the 12-page pitch deck that content studio Jubilee used to raise $1.1 million to expand beyond YouTube and TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Jubilee is a media company best known for its YouTube videos about empathy. See the pitch deck that persuaded investors to bet on Jubilee and its new venture. In September, the media company Jubilee announced a $1.1 million seed-plus round, led by Strong Ventures and with the support of several angel investors. "We were really strategic to actually look for angel investors who had tech experience," Lee said. Read through 12 pages of the pitch deck Jubilee used to raise its $1.1 million seed-plus round:Note: Four slides containing confidential information were removed at Jubilee's request.

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