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☆ Artist Àsìkò explores Yoruba culture through mythology
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Lamide Akintobi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Lagos, Nigeria CNN —Appreciating cultural heritage and using it to imagine a better future: that’s one of the goals of self-taught photographer and visual artist Ade Okelarin. Drawing on aspects of traditional Yoruba culture has been an important aspect of his creative journey. In this work, Okelarin reimagines Olokun, the Yoruba goddess of the oceans, seas and wealth. Okelarin also uses digital rendering, layering the photographs with aspects of his cultural heritage, such as fabric and textures. “Living in the diaspora, now more than ever, my cultural heritage is a big part of my identity and who I am.

Persons: Ade Okelarin, ”, Okelarin, ” Okelarin, Thor, Okelarin reimagines Olokun, “, ’, – Okelarin, didn’t, – Organizations: Nigeria CNN, Sun Locations: Lagos, Nigeria, ”, West Africa, Caribbean, South America, UK

[1/2] Climate activists Greta Thunberg, Helena Gualinga and Luisa Neubauer take part in a protest on the last day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland January 20, 2023. International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told the Davos audience that what had improved was the potential for China to boost growth and that the IMF now forecast Chinese growth of 4.4% for 2023. Wall Street executives in Davos said pessimism had eased as economies in the U.S. and Europe stayed resilient and China loosened its COVID-19 policies. For daily Davos updates in your inbox sign up for the Reuters Daily Briefing here. Reporting by Mark John in Davos; Editing by Alexander SmithOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ From green subsidies to chips, Davos debates reflect a world in flux
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Julia Horowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Davos, Switzerland CNN —The World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alps is typically a venue for politicians and business leaders to deliver sermons about the benefits of globalization and cross-border cooperation. European leaders used Davos to amplify complaints about the law’s tax breaks for American companies that make parts for green energy projects, which they claim will disadvantage European firms. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addresses the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday. Representatives from Asia’s third largest economy showed up in force at Davos to meet with international investors. “We’re looking at a less efficient world,” US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said.

☆ 'Discriminatory' measures in U.S. Inflation Reduction Act still need addressing, top EU minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The European Union still believes President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act discriminates against companies in the bloc, its top trade minister said Thursday. However, Valdis Dombrovskis told CNBC that the EU was engaged in ongoing negotiations with U.S. officials that had allayed only some of its concerns so far. He noted he met with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai two days ago, a meeting at which the pair pledged to increase engagement on key issues including electric vehicle subsidies. "Our concerns are the discriminatory measures in [the] U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, which is discriminating against EU companies," he said in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "We think we should be addressing the climate change and green transition jointly, building transatlantic value chains, not breaking them apart."

☆ The threat of a transatlantic trade war is dominating Davos
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Trade tensions between the EU and the US are dominating the talk in Davos. Transatlantic trade tensions are dominating conversations at the World Economic Forum this week. On the one hand, European officials are saying they will come up with more financial support for European firms. On the other hand, the business community is excited about green subsidies stateside and argue the EU needs to match what the U.S. administration is doing. At the same time we have to support our competitiveness," European Commissioner for Economics, Paolo Gentiloni, told CNBC in Davos.

☆ Air fares will have to rise to clean up aviation
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

He said that financiers and energy suppliers should invest in SAF production, including in emerging markets. The wealthy people in this room and wealthy nations should be funding the energy transition in aviation to help support developing countries,” he added. Holland-Kaye said that companies can play a major role accelerating the adoption of SAF because business travel accounts for about 30% of fuel used in aviation. In 2021, the industry pledged to replaced 10% of global jet fuel supply with SAF by 2030. Clean energy investments need a major boost if the world is to meet its climate goals, according to Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency.

FAA officials said a preliminary review traced the outage to a damaged database file, but added there was no evidence of a cyberattack and the investigation was continuing. FAA officials said they were working to "further pinpoint the causes" so the problem can be avoided in the future. One issue airlines are facing is trying to get planes in and out of crowded gates, which is causing further delays. He described confusion as airline employees and many passengers were initially unaware of the FAA's moves and flight delays. The U.S. Travel Association, which represents the travel industry including airlines, called the FAA system failure "catastrophic."

☆ I flew on a private jet to Miami and on Spirit Airlines back to New York. Here's how my $92 flight compared to a Bombardier Global 7500 which can cost $20,000 an hour to charter.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

At the end of the day, obviously flying private would be a preferred method of travel. But, most people are happy earning status on their favorite mainline airline or flying as cheaply as they can on a low-cost carrier. My preferred airlines are United and Delta for status, reliability, and comfort. On The Run Photo/ShutterstockI flew on Delta's Boeing 767 from Sweden to New York in economy and it was the best transatlantic flight I've taken in a long time

☆ Former NATO boss urges countries to show China consequences if it attacks Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen speaks to the media at a press event in Taipei, Taiwan, January 5, 2023. REUTERS/Ann WangTAIPEI, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Democratic countries should make it clear the "severe economic consequences" China would face should it move against self-governed Taiwan, the former NATO secretary-general said during a visit to the island on Thursday. China, which claims Taiwan as its own despite strong objections of the democratic island, has been ramping up pressure on Taiwan to assert its sovereignty claims, including almost daily Chinese air force missions near the island over the past three years. China reserves the right to use force to bring Taiwan under its control if necessary. "All those who believe in a democratic Taiwan and rule- based international order must work to ensure Ukraine prevails.

☆ Cruises bookings for under $60 a day are all the rage, but sometimes you get what you pay for. Here's what you need to know before booking.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

There are almost 420 cruises sailing in 2023 for $60 a day or less. What you pay for is what you get: Some of these cheap cruise itineraries aren't necessarily glamorous. Cruise Sheet saw record bookings for 2022 itineraries from spring into early summer, Smith told Insider in July. But just because the brand is recognizable doesn't mean the cheap cruise ship will be as flashy as Royal Caribbean's new Wonder of the Seas. Similarly, in 2022, hospitality giant Margaritaville's converted a 30-year-old cruise ship into its first cruise vessel, the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise.

This year brought a fascinating and eclectic number of books by Latino authors to store shelves and online selections, spanning different genres and earning high praise from readers and reviewers alike. Below is our list of 10 very distinctive works by U.S. Latino authors. The compelling novel has been recognized as one of the top 10 books of 2022 by The New York Times and The Washington Post and as one of the best books of 2022 by Time, NPR, Vogue, Oprah Daily and others. Although Villanueva's life took a different turn, many of his followers and their children, known as "Inca Jews," are still in Israel. She writes about how an abortion saved her life and candidly details her experiences dealing with suicidal thoughts and depression.

☆ Russia's invasion of Ukraine was a 'geopolitical earthquake' that defined 2022 and has transformed the world for years to come
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

An unthinkable, nightmare scenario was now a reality — the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II had begun. The war, which is still raging on, will continue to shape the world in the year to come and likely long after. "Russia's invasion of Ukraine represented a geopolitical earthquake, scrambling the entire chessboard of global politics," Ivo Daalder, a former US ambassador to NATO, told Insider. Some experts have warned that the nuclear dangers posed by the Ukraine war after are "far worse" than the Cuban missile crisis, which occurred 60 years ago this past October. Indeed, the global dimensions of the Ukraine war could make it an era-defining fight.

WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will visit Washington on Wednesday for talks with U.S. President Joe Biden and to address Congress in his first known trip abroad since Russia invaded his country in late February. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement that Biden invited Zelenskiy to Washington "to underscore the United States’ enduring commitment to Ukraine." Biden will not use the talks to push Zelenskiy toward the negotiating table with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the official said. Planning for the Zelenskiy visit has been conducted in secrecy as U.S. and Ukrainian officials sought to get him safely out of his country and to the United States. Biden has wanted to visit Ukraine but security concerns have forced him to rule it out for now.

[1/2] The Wall Street entrance to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is seen in New York City, U.S., November 15, 2022. U.S. stocks edged higher in early trading, indicating a cautious start on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) rose 0.55%, the S&P 500 (.SPX) gained 0.27%, and the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC) added 0.07%. The U.S. consumer price index for November is due on Tuesday, when a slowdown in core annual inflation is anticipated. Two-year yields, which typically move in step with interest rate expectations, rose just 1.4 basis points to 4.342%.

☆ Stellantis to indefinitely idle Jeep plant, lay off workers to cut costs for EVs
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

DETROIT – Stellantis said Friday that it plans to indefinitely idle a Jeep plant in Illinois, starting early next year, to cut costs as it invests in electric vehicles. The transatlantic automaker, formerly known as Fiat Chrysler, said the plant will cease production as of Feb. 28. The more than 1,200 workers at the facility, which produces Jeep Cherokee SUVs, will be placed on indefinite layoffs, the company said. In late-2018, ahead of the 2019 UAW negotiations with the Detroit automakers, General Motors announced plans to potentially close several facilities. Only one of the major assembly plants – Lordstown Assembly in Ohio – for the automaker actually ended up closing following the negotiations.

You can use British Airways Avios points for much more than just flights on British Airways. EQRoy/Shutterstock.comBritish Airways Avios is the rewards currency of British Airways, the UK's flag carrier. British Airways Avios points are extremely easy to collect, with an impressive seven transfer partners. $95 Apply now On Wells Fargo's website Apply now On Citi's website Apply now On Chase's websiteThankfully, British Airways now gives you the option to pay dramatically less in fuel surcharges — but there's a catch. British Airways introduces 'Reward Flight Saver' option for all flightsBefore this change, it wouldn't be uncommon to find round-trip transatlantic award flights on British Airways with between $550 and $1,900 in taxes and fees attached (depending on the cabin).

☆ Biden's climate plan strains trade ties with Europe
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The European Union and United States — together responsible for one third of global trade — have been at loggerheads in recent weeks over US President Joe Biden’s landmark $370 billion climate plan. While a trade war is unlikely, the plan is testing the transatlantic alliance and pushing Europe to consider mobilizing its own package of subsidies. The IRA is now law, and there is little appetite to bring it back to Congress to make substantive changes, he told CNN Business. The European Union has a couple of options at its disposal, analysts told CNN Business. On Monday, Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said that the bloc should create its own “European IRA plan,” according to a Reuters report.

☆ I take a week of 'vacation' every month to travel the world without telling my boss — and I'll keep doing it even if I get caught
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Fortesa Latifi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Insider recently spoke to a 38-year-old who travels for a week each month without telling their job. "But I've found a way to make my love for travel and my job work together." Since May 2021, I've been taking vacations for at least one week every month without telling my employer. I used to only travel once or twice per year because I was so constrained by my limited vacation days. But now, I've found a way to make my love for travel and my job work together.

They issued a joint statement after the third ministerial-level of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) vowed to work constructively to resolve it. EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis on Monday called the $430 billion U.S. Inflation Reduction Act discriminatory and urged steps be taken before year's end to modify the law. It offers consumers tax credits of $7,500 for new purchases of Tesla (TSLA.O), Ford (F.N) and other North American-made EVs that the EU fears will significantly hurt European. Other participants included U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager. During a state visit to Washington last week, French President Emmanuel Macron told broadcaster CBS it was a "job killer" for Europe.

☆ Tax credits for EU electric vehicles to dominate U.S. trade talks
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. Secretary of State Blinken attends the Freedom of Expression Roundtable, in New York, U.S., September 19, 2022. The European Union's top trade official on Monday called for urgent steps before the end of the year to modify a U.S. climate law that would cut off the bloc's electric vehicles from U.S. tax credits, calling the measure discriminatory. EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, speaking to Deutsche Welle before a meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) said the law threatened to undermine progress made by the year-old transatlantic forum. Dombrovskis said the EU was looking at how to make its own subsidies "more efficient" and potential increases in joint U.S.-EU financing. Participants include U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and European Commission Executive Vice Presidents Valdis Dombrovskis and Margrethe Vestager.

☆ Monday's EU-US trade talks overshadowed by tax concerns on climate measure
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

COLLEGE PARK, Md., Dec 5 (Reuters) - Top European Union officials intend to complain loudly to their U.S. counterparts at a trade meeting on Monday about the bloc's electric vehicles being cut off from tax credits in U.S. President Joe Biden's signature climate law. "The Inflation Reduction Act will be part of the range of discussions on trade," a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said in a statement. The U.S. side was "committed to continuing to understand EU concerns" through a newly established task force, the spokesperson added. European and South Korean officials criticized the Inflation Act at the G20 Summit in Indonesia last month. French officials say they are hopeful an executive order from the White House could give European nations a break, without the need for seeking revisions from Congress - a move the White House wants to avoid.

☆ Germany's Scholz: We must avoid dividing world into Cold War-style blocs
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Dec 5 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned against creating a new Cold War by dividing the world into blocs and called for every effort to be made to build new partnerships, writing in an opinion piece for Foreign Affairs magazine published online on Monday. The West must stand up for democratic values and protect open societies, "but we must also avoid the temptation to once again divide the world into blocs," wrote Scholz in the piece. "This means making every effort to build new partnerships, pragmatically and without ideological blinders," he added. Scholz singled out China and Russia in particular as two countries that pose a threat to a multipolar world, which requires stronger European and transatlantic unity to overcome. "Germans are intent on becoming the guarantor of European security that our allies expect us to be, a bridge builder within the European Union and an advocate for multilateral solutions to global problems," wrote Scholz.

☆ The U.S. wants the EU to be strict with China. But Europe can't afford it
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The United States has stepped up its heavy rhetoric against China, and wants Europe to follow suit. Reports suggested that American officials had told European counterparts to consider using export control restrictions on China. "While the U.S. is trying to pull the EU into its direction to distance itself from China, the EU is keen to maintain economic ties to China. This comes at a time when the relationship between the EU and U.S. is turning a little sour. The EU said this challenges international trade rules and is a threat to European companies.

The United States and European Union established the council in June last year as a forum for discussing new technology and trade. “With the Inflation Reduction Act being informally discussed only over a 45-minute lunch, the commissioner has decided not to participate,” the aide added. The Inflation Reduction Act has become an acute source of tension between the allies. The European Union and United States share the biggest “bilateral trade and investment relationship” in the world, according to the European Commission’s website. Transatlantic trade hit a record €1.2 trillion ($1.26 trillion) in 2021, the Commission said.

☆ An often overlooked Swedish fighter may be the jet Ukraine needs to take on Russia now, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet has earned high marks for its capabilities and affordability. But buyers have often passed on the Gripen in favor of other jets, including the US-made F-35. A Saab JAS 39C Gripen jet during an air show in June 2011. US Air Force F-16s with Swedish air force JAS 39 Gripens over the Baltic Sea during an exercise in June 2018. A new Brazilian Air Force F-39E Gripen at an air base in Brasilia in October 2020.

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