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And it's little surprise the International Monetary Fund forecast Britain would be the only economy of the G7 to contract this year. But certainly the potential for improved trade relations with the UK's biggest trading partner is clear. Unicredit this month cited estimates that the UK economy would underperform by 5-7% over 10 years if it remains outside the EU single market and customs union. It may even have been a key spur to this week's breakthrough given the frayed geopolitical backdrop. President Joe Biden has long insisted there would be no progress on a U.S. deal with Britain until the Northern Irish conundrum was resolved.

☆ Prince Harry and Meghan to lose second home in UK -tabloid
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend a celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, U.S., July 18, 2022. REUTERS/Shannon StapletonLONDON, March 1 (Reuters) - The house used by Prince Harry and his wife Megan when they are in Britain has been offered by King Charles to the monarch's brother, Prince Andrew, although he has turned it down, the Sun newspaper reported on Tuesday. Charles's decision comes in the wake of the couple's damning revelations about Harry's father, his elder brother Prince William and other royals in his recent memoir, a Netflix documentary and a series of TV interviews, the tabloid said. Harry and Meghan moved to Frogmore Cottage within the grounds of the king's Windsor Castle estate to the west of London following their marriage in 2018. After stepping down from their royal duties in 2020, they moved to California to forge new lives and careers, but Frogmore Cottage remained their British base.

☆ Brexit deal could resurface Britain's 'healthy fundamentals' if EU relations strengthen, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Speaking at a news conference, Sunak described the new agreement — known as the Windsor Framework — as "the beginning of a new chapter" for the relationship between the U.K. and the EU. Dan Kitwood | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesLONDON — The new Brexit deal between the U.K. and the EU may help bring Britain's "healthy fundamentals" back to the fore, providing relations with Brussels continue to improve, analysts suggest. U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday announced the agreement of the Windsor Framework, which aims to fix the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol. The Protocol had been a long-standing bugbear for unionist pro-Brexit parties in Northern Ireland, and had brought the devolved Northern Ireland Assembly to a standstill over the past year, after the Democratic Unionist Party resigned in protest. "If this comes to an end, we expect the U.K.'s healthy fundamentals — well capitalised banks, cash flush households and firms, and well-regulated markets — to re-assert themselves."

☆ Prince Harry and Meghan have been asked to vacate UK home
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend a celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, U.S., July 18, 2022. Earlier, the Sun newspaper reported the house had been offered by the monarch to his brother, Prince Andrew. "We can confirm The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been requested to vacate their residence at Frogmore Cottage," a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan said. The paper reported that Andrew wants to stay in his current home nearby rather than move to Frogmore Cottage. Harry and Meghan moved to Frogmore Cottage within the grounds of the Windsor Castle estate to the west of London following their marriage in 2018.

The dollar index , which measures the currency against a basket of peers, was flat at 104.64, but was still set for a February gain of 2.6%, its first monthly increase since September. The next move in the dollar is really a function of how the February data starts to play out in March," Atrill said. U.S. Treasury yields have also moved higher with the inflation sensitive two-year yield back at three-and- a-half-month highs. [US/}The dollar on Tuesday gained particularly against the Japanese yen , climbing 0.44% to 136.84, its highest in over two months. ,Elsewhere, sterling built on its gains from the previous session against the dollar, rising 0.2% to $1.2082.

☆ Sterling holds gains after rising on UK trade deal with EU
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SINGAPORE, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The pound held steady on Tuesday, retaining gains overnight after Britain struck a new trade deal with the European Union, which brightened the outlook for the post-Brexit UK economy and signalled improved relations between London and the bloc. The dollar was mostly flat in early trade but was on track to end higher for the month, ending a four-month losing streak. The euro similarly got a lift and was last 0.05% higher at $1.0614, after rising 0.6% on Monday. The British parliament will now vote on the deal, with the opposition Labour Party saying it will vote in favour. "The real thing is, is this a springboard for a stronger, much improved removal of trade frictions more generally, between the UK and the EU?"

☆ Brexit deal hailed as 'turning point' for Northern Ireland, but could still face opposition in Belfast
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

WINDSOR, U.K., Feb. 27, 2023: Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (L) and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced a landmark post-Brexit trading arrangement seeking to rectify problems with the Northern Ireland Protocol. Dan Kitwood/AFP via Getty ImagesLONDON — The new Brexit deal signed by the U.K. and the European Union on Monday was heralded as a "turning point" for Northern Ireland, but must still pass muster in Belfast. The sticking point could come from across the Irish Sea in Stormont, near Belfast, where the devolved Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended for a year after the pro-Brexit Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) resigned in protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol. "There can be no disguising the fact that, in some sectors of our economy, EU law remains applicable in Northern Ireland." BELFAST, U.K., Feb. 17, 2023: DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson speaks to reporters outside the Culloden Hotel in Belfast after Northern Irish leaders held talks with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

☆ Brexit slammed the UK economy. The Northern Ireland deal gives it hope
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

It delivers “long-lasting solutions” that will work for the people and businesses of Northern Ireland, she added. It also allows the UK government to determine sales tax rates for businesses in Northern Ireland and gives the Northern Ireland government emergency powers to oppose new EU rules on some goods. A boost to BritainBeyond its importance to Northern Ireland, the deal eases the uncertainty Brexit created for Britain. The new Northern Ireland deal opens the door to closer UK-EU cooperation on financial services, energy, immigration and scientific research, according to experts. “You need to address the Protocol before you do anything else,” said Anna Jerzewska, the founder of international trade consultancy Trade & Borders.

☆ Dollar edges higher, headed for 1st monthly gain since September
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"The market has repriced the Fed and it now sees a higher terminal rate and low scope for cuts for the rest of the year. And that's what the dollar strength reflects," said Vassili Serebriakov, FX strategist, at UBS. The dollar index, which measures the currency against a basket of peers, was 0.29% higher at 104.98, and is set for a February gain of 2.4%, its first monthly increase since September. We think some of the dollar strength is exaggerated. So we are cautiously fading dollar strength," UBS' Serebriakov said.

☆ U.K., EU Reach Deal to Resolve Northern Ireland Trade Issue
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Max Colchester | Laurence Norman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Windsor, England, on Monday. WINDSOR, England—The U.K. and European Union agreed Monday on a new trading arrangement for Northern Ireland, a move aimed at ending years of friction caused by Brexit and allowing greater cooperation between both sides at a time of mounting geopolitical risk to Europe from Russia’s war in Ukraine. U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met in Windsor, near the royal castle there, to shake hands on a compromise that proposes to reduce trade issues between the British mainland and the province of Northern Ireland, which in practice remains in the EU single market for goods following Brexit.

☆ U.K., EU Reach Deal in Bid to Resolve Northern Ireland Trade Issue
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Max Colchester | Laurence Norman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WINDSOR, England—The U.K. and European Union agreed Monday on a new trading arrangement for Northern Ireland, a move aimed at ending years of friction caused by Brexit and allowing greater cooperation between both sides at a time of mounting geopolitical risk to Europe from Russia’s war in Ukraine. U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met in Windsor, near the royal castle there, to shake hands on a compromise that proposes to reduce trade issues between the British mainland and the province of Northern Ireland, which in practice remains in the EU single market for goods following Brexit.

☆ UK begins long and uncertain road back from Brexit
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Neil Unmack | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Britain is beginning the long and uncertain road back from Brexit. Changes to the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol were inevitable. There’s still scope to improve Johnson’s trade deal, struck in 2019. The route back is uncertain, but the symbolic importance of the Northern Ireland deal is not. The agreement marks a “new chapter” in relations between the UK and European Union, Sunak said in a press conference.

☆ A risk taken, UK's Sunak announces the Windsor Framework
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Elizabeth Piper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

But it was secrecy that fostered suspicion among two big hitters in the years-long Brexit debate - the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Northern Ireland's biggest unionist party, and the pro-Brexit Conservative European Research Group (ERG). "I am pleased to report that we have now made a decisive breakthrough, together we have changed the original protocol and are today announcing the new Windsor framework," Sunak told a news conference. Then both former leaders had threatened to rip up the Northern Ireland protocol with legislation in parliament and their administrations had regularly criticised the EU for being overly legalistic and inflexible. Pressing pause on the Northern Ireland Protocol bill which would all but rip up the earlier agreement, he saw solving the Northern Ireland standoff as a concrete "win" for his administration which has struggled to establish itself. But Sunak still has to win over not only some of his lawmakers in the ERG, but more importantly the DUP.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak looks on outside Number 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain, January 25, 2023. LONDON — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday signed a new trade deal with the European Union designed to remedy problems caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen added that the framework "respects and protects our respective markets and our respective legitimate interests. Sterling hit a session high of $1.2051, up 0.9%, shortly after the announcement. He said lawmakers would get to vote on the new agreement "at the appropriate time," adding that vote will be "respected."

☆ Putin gave Biden a $12,000 writing set in 2021. It was among the unusual presents world leaders offered the US president that year.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

These are 7 of the most unusual, unique, or noteworthy presents gifted to President Joe Biden that year. These are 7 of the most unusual presents gifted to President Joe Biden in 2021. Putin gave Biden a $12,000 desk setLess than a year before Vladimir Putin launched his unprompted war in Ukraine, the Russian president gifted Biden a Kholuy Lacquer miniature workshop desk writing set and pen valued at $12,000, according to the State Department. Queen Elizabeth gave the president a photo of herselfThe late Queen Elizabeth gave the gift of herself during the 2021 G7 summit in England. President Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office of the White House, Sept. 1, 2021, in Washington.

Stellantis said it had achieved cash synergies of 7.1 billion euros last year, far exceeding the 5 billion euros by 2024 target it had set at the time of the merger. Stellantis's adjusted second-half earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) grew 17% to 10.95 billion euros, topping a consensus estimate of 9.63 billion euros in a Reuters poll of analysts. The margin on adjusted EBIT was 12% in the second half, down from 14.1% in the first six months of the year. It reiterated the same margin target for 2023, as well as one for positive cash flows. ($1 = 0.9393 euros)Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari; Editing Jan Harvey, Mark Potter and Alexander SmithOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Bumper merger savings help Stellantis profit top forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Giulio Piovaccari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

It will also pay a dividend of 4.2 billion euros on 2022 results, or 1.34 euros per share. Adjusted earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) came in at 10.95 billion euros for July-December, topping analysts' consensus estimate in a Reuters poll of 9.63 billion euros. It reiterated the same margin target for 2023, as well as one for positive cash flows. Increased industrial costs had an overall impact on the group's results last year of over 9 billion euros. "Challenges continue in securing capacity for (vehicle) outbound transportation: initially it was from plants to compounds and from compounds to dealers.

☆ A Fight Over Wine Sales Highlights Push in U.S. to Expand Access to Alcohol
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Jimmy Vielkind | Photographs Christopher Capozziello For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

EAST WINDSOR, Conn.—The front line of Connecticut’s latest alcohol policy debate is a strip mall just off the interstate here, where shoppers entering Geissler’s Supermarket and nearby Kaman’s Fine Wine and Liquors are greeted by signs urging them to take sides. On one end of the fight, grocers such as Geissler’s have launched a campaign this year to allow the sale of wine in grocery stores, a practice that is already legal in most states. They argue putting wine alongside the beer already on their shelves will make things more convenient for customers who can grab a bottle along with their groceries. It will also boost sales in a low-margin business.

☆ Tuesday Morning says it wants to close 265 stores as part of its bankruptcy filing. See if your local store is on the list.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +30 min

Camarillo: Camarillo Village Square, 2450 Las Posas Road, Ste HCamarillo Village Square, 2450 Las Posas Road, Ste H Roseville: Fairway Commons Shopping Center, 5771A Five Star Blvd. San Diego: Pacific Plaza Shopping Center, 1772‐D Garnet AvenuePacific Plaza Shopping Center, 1772‐D Garnet Avenue Woodland Hills: Pride Shopping Center, 22950 Victory Blvd. Winston-Salem: Whitaker Square Shopping Center, 1947 North Pease Haven Road, Space #1947Whitaker Square Shopping Center, 1947 North Pease Haven Road, Space #1947 Matthews: Windsor Square Shopping Center, 9945 E. Independence Blvd. ; Westhill Village Shopping Center, 7525 WestheimerWeslayan Plaza West Shopping Center, 5442‐A Weslayan Street; Westheimer Commons, 12568 Westheimer Rd. ; Westhill Village Shopping Center, 7525 Westheimer El Paso: West Towne Marketplace, 6450 N. Desert Blvd., Ste.

☆ Charles's coronation emblem revealed, showing British king's love of nature
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] The official emblem in English language of the coronation of Britain's King Charles created by designer Jony Ive is unveiled by Buckingham Palace, London, Britain February 10, 2023 in this handout image. The emblem features flora from all the four nations that make up the United Kingdom - the rose of England, thistle of Scotland, daffodil of Wales and shamrock of Northern Ireland, which was a tribute to Charles's love of nature, Buckingham Palace said. "The design was inspired by King Charles’ love of the planet, nature, and his deep concern for the natural world," said the designer Jony Ive. "The emblem speaks to the happy optimism of spring and celebrates the beginning of this new Carolean era for the United Kingdom." Accompanying the service, there will celebrations including traditional processions, a music concert at Windsor Castle, street parties, light shows and community volunteering, Buckingham Palace has said.

☆ Microsoft's $10 billion bet on ChatGPT's maker gives it a powerful new weapon in the cloud wars with Amazon and Google
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Cloud, increasingly important to Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, is slowing down in the short term. But the company has a longer-term strategic weapon that could help it win the cloud wars: its once-in-a-generation bet on OpenAI. Any hint of a slowdown in growth for Microsoft's Azure, Amazon's AWS, and Google Cloud tends to provoke analyst angst. Even if there are immediate challenges for cloud growth, Microsoft sees its OpenAI bet, reported to be worth $10 billion, as a bigger strategic move. Microsoft Cloud, which also includes revenue from Office 365 and other products as well as Azure, represented around 50% of the company's overall revenue.

☆ Twitter faces lawsuits over unpaid rent for U.S. HQ, U.K. office
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Twitter is facing a lawsuit over allegations it failed to pay rent for its head office, according to California court documents. The owner of its premises in central London, meanwhile, said it’s taking the company to court over rental debt. Twitter has already been taken to court this month for falling behind on rent at another San Francisco office. The company, Sri Nine Market Square LLC, said Twitter “breached the Lease by failing to pay monthly rent and additional rent” for January amounting to $3.4 million. After using those funds, the landlord says Twitter still owes $3.16 million in unpaid rent and is seeking late fees and interest plus attorneys’ fees.

☆ Three days of events planned for the coronation of King Charles
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON — Buckingham Palace plans a weekend of community events and voluntarism to mark the coronation of King Charles III, looking to highlight the monarchy’s links to the nation when Britain crowns a new sovereign for the first time in 70 years. The plans were revealed Saturday when the palace released the schedule for the three-day coronation weekend, which will begin with the crowning of Charles and Camilla, the queen consort, on Saturday, May 6. The next day, the palace is inviting people around the country to take part in ’’The Big Help Out,” encouraging them to volunteer in their own communities. “The Big Help Out will encourage people to try volunteering for themselves and join the work being undertaken to support their local areas,” the palace said in a statement. “The aim of The Big Help Out is to use volunteering to bring communities together and create a lasting volunteering legacy from the coronation weekend.’’

☆ Britain urges parties, volunteering to accompany 3-day coronation of King Charles III
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Buckingham Palace plans a weekend of community events and voluntarism to mark the coronation of King Charles III, looking to highlight the monarchy's links to the nation when Britain crowns a new sovereign for the first time in 70 years. The plans were revealed Saturday when the palace released the schedule for the three-day coronation weekend, which will begin with the crowning of Charles and Camilla, the queen consort, on Saturday, May 6. The ceremony at Westminster Abbey will be preceded by a procession from Buckingham Palace to the abbey. The palace is asking neighborhoods around the nation to take part in the "Coronation Big Lunch'' on Sunday, May 7 — the latest incarnation of the block parties that have become a staple of big royal celebrations. "The aim of The Big Help Out is to use volunteering to bring communities together and create a lasting volunteering legacy from the coronation weekend.''

☆ Google's big fear is AI running wild. After ChatGPT, it's too late.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

It's in Google's financial interest to present itself as a responsible custodian of AI. On Monday, some of Google's most senior executives, including CEO Sundar Pichai, senior vice president James Manyika, and the chief executive of its AI research unit DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, published an explainer on their approach to AI research, titled "Why we focus on AI (and to what end)." This is a "thinly veiled swipe at OpenAI and ChatGPT", according to a research note from Richard Windsor of Radio Free Mobile. In other words: If ChatGPT and its successors cause widespread havoc, it'll ruin AI adoption for everyone, including Google. There'll be more ChatGPT momentsThere is a flood of money pouring into generative AI startups promising real-world applications.

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