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With the way cable news talking heads describe debt ceiling negotiations, one might think America is headed for an extinction-level event. Left-wing pundits argue that anything but a "clean raise" in the debt ceiling – extending America's credit card limit with no conditions – will bring about an economic apocalypse. As the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee with jurisdiction over the debt ceiling, Social Security, and Medicare, no debt ceiling legislation that passes through my committee will include cuts to these vital programs. Debt ceiling negotiations are something Democrats – and even then-Senator Biden – have agreed to multiple times in our nation's history. For Washington Democrats to engage in politics as usual is manifesting the very crisis they claim they want to avoid.

☆ Washington state moves forward with program to charge companies for greenhouse gas emissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Emma Newburger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Washington state is holding its first carbon-allowance auction on Tuesday, marking a key step forward in a statewide program that will impose a limit on greenhouse gas emissions and make it more expensive for companies to emit carbon pollution. The program imposes a statewide limit, or cap, on greenhouse gas emissions. The new law requires businesses that emit more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually to buy emissions allowances at the Washington Department of Ecology's auction. Washington joins 14 other states that have imposed some form of a program that imposes caps on company emissions. Washington has set a goal to curb carbon emissions by 95% below 1990 levels by 2050 — an even more aggressive target than California's plan to achieve an 85% reduction in emissions by 2045.

☆ The US military created an illusion of success in Afghanistan by handling tasks it was supposed to train Afghan troops to do, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A new watchdog report details how Afghanistan's security forces collapsed in August 2021. It said the US handled tasks that it was supposed to be training Afghan troops how to do. Washington lacked the political will and effort to actually develop an Afghan security force in a "war-torn and impoverished country," which is a monumental task. Additionally, the report placed blame on the Afghan government, which it said was riddled with corruption that trickled down into the military. "However, nothing affected morale more than the realization in February 2021 that US military forces were leaving."

☆ Open-source software braces for trade war
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Pete Sweeney | Thomson Reuters | Asia Economics Editor Pete Sweeney Joined Reuters Breakingviews In Hong Kong In September Previously He Served As Reuters' Chief Correspondent For China Economy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

HONG KONG, Feb 27 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The open-source software movement has been an unprecedented driver of global innovation and productivity growth. As with most Chinese handset makers, founder Ren Zhengfei relied on Android’s open-source code to run his company’s smartphones. Beijing has reciprocated, per a Nikkei report, by instructing its own tech companies not to incorporate ChatGPT into their platforms - a rare example of a mutual firewall. Dividing the world into competing open-source camps would mark another reverse for free trade. Follow @petesweeneypro on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSRegulators have told major Chinese tech companies not to offer ChatGPT services, the Nikkei news service reported on Feb. 22 citing sources with direct knowledge, causing shares in Chinese companies building chatbots to fall.

☆ NBA roundup: Damian Lillard erupts for 71 in Blazers' win
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Jerami Grant added 13 points and Nassir Little scored 11 for Portland, which connected on 54.5 percent of its field goal attempts and was 20 of 39 from 3-point range. Doncic scored 26 points with nine rebounds, while Irving had 21 points and 11 assists. Ayton also grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds and blocked three shots. Nikola Vucevic added 16 points and 13 rebounds for his 39th double-double of the season, third most in the NBA. Jakob Poeltl added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Raptors, who were coming off a win over the host Detroit Pistons on Saturday.

☆ Harris warns against Chinese support for Russia in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MUNICH, Feb 18 (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday warned that Chinese support for Russia in its war in Ukraine would reward aggression, as the two powers traded barbs at a prominent security conference in Germany. "Any steps by China to provide lethal support to Russia would only reward aggression, continue the killing, and further undermine a rules-based order," she said. China and Russia announced a "no limits" partnership shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago. Washington warned Beijing not to provide material support for the war effort or to help Moscow sidestep Western sanctions. Harris, meanwhile, said Putin's invasion of Ukraine could strengthen efforts by other "authoritarian" countries, a characterization the Biden administration often uses to describe China's political system.

☆ China sanctions Lockheed Martin, Raytheon for selling weapons to Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

China on Thursday imposed trade and investment sanctions on Lockheed Martin and a unit of Raytheon for supplying weapons to Taiwan, stepping up efforts to isolate the island democracy claimed by the ruling Communist Party as part of its territory. Lockheed Martin Corp. and Raytheon Technologies Corp.'s Raytheon Missiles and Defense are barred from importing goods into China or making new investments in the country, the Ministry of Commerce announced. The United States bars most sales of weapons-related technology to China, but some military contractors also have civilian businesses in aerospace and other markets. The United States has no official relations with Taiwan but maintains extensive commercial and informal contacts. In China, Lockheed Martin has sold air traffic control equipment for civilian airports and helicopters for commercial use.

☆ ‘Young people are going to teach us to die better’: How ‘human composting,' already legal in 6 states, could help the planet
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The 31-year-old is a client of Return Home, a Seattle-area human composting facility. The first five people to sign up for Return Home's pre-planning services were under age 35, according to CEO Micah Truman. Human composting is legal in six states and countingOn a rapidly warming planet, the somewhat fringe concept is inching toward the mainstream. Human composting, also called "natural organic reduction," is now legal in six states and counting. Detractors are increasingly voicing their concernsNina Schoen first learned about Recompose in 2017, two years before human composting was even legal in Washington.

☆ Buffett TSMC's U-turn spotlights chips' siren call
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, Feb 16 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A lot can change in three months, especially in the world of semiconductor investing. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRKa.N) inexplicably sold most of its $4.1 billion holding in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (2330.TW), a position only disclosed in November. For TSMC, Berkshire probably pocketed a 9% return, Reuters reported citing analyst estimates, having held the stake for roughly three months. He may be right about TSMC, which boasts a monopoly in advanced chipmaking and superior profitability - the "moats" Buffett prizes so highly. Moat or no moat, the outlook for chips is getting dicey.

☆ 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.

☆ China's Xi calls for early resolution of Iran nuclear issue
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/7] Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcoming ceremony in Beijing, China, February 14, 2023. Iran's President Website/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERSBEIJING, Feb 14 (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for the early and proper resolution of the Iran nuclear issue while expressing his support for the Islamic Republic in safeguarding its rights and interests, according to Chinese state media. China will continue to "participate constructively" in talks to resume negotiations on implementing the Iran nuclear agreement, Xi told Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi in talks in Beijing. In September, the United States imposed new sanctions on companies involved in Iran oil exports, including five based in China. Washington said it would continue enforcing sanctions on Iran's oil and petrochemical sales so long as Tehran continues to accelerate its nuclear program.

"There is no, again, no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity with these recent takedowns," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. "We have not yet been able to definitively assess what these most recent objects are," White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said at a news briefing. At Friday's White House briefing, Kirby said: "There is no U.S. surveillance aircraft in Chinese airspace. I'm not aware of any other craft that we're flying over into Chinese airspace." "This is the latest example of China scrambling to do damage control," Adrienne Watson, another White House national security spokesperson, said in a statement.

☆ NBA roundup: Kings spoil Mavs' Luka Doncic-Kyrie Irving debut
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Kevin Huerter scored all 15 of his points in the second half, Trey Lyles added 14 points and Harrison Barnes had 13 for the Kings. Mikal Bridges scored 23 points in his Nets debut after being obtained from the Phoenix Suns on Thursday for Kevin Durant. The Hornets' losing streak reached seven games despite LaMelo Ball coming within a rebound of a triple-double. Jokic, who pulled in seven offensive rebounds, scored 40 points in a mid-December home victory against the Hornets. DeMar DeRozan followed with 16 points, and Nikola Vucevic notched a double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds.

☆ NHL roundup: Adrian Kempe, Kings pound Penguins
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

Mika Zibanejad scored his 27th goal, Kaapo Kakko also found the net and Vincent Trocheck and Jimmy Vesey each added two assists. Carolina's Sebastian Aho saw his six-game goal streak end. Blues 6, Coyotes 5 (OT)Ryan O'Reilly scored the winning goal 1:02 into overtime to lift St. Louis past visiting Arizona. Scott Wedgewood made 28 saves in his first appearance since blanking the Los Angeles Kings 4-0 on Jan. 19. Jonatan Berggren scored two goals, Filip Hronek scored a goal, and Ben Chiarot had two assists for the Red Wings.

☆ Where Are Layoffs Declining the Most? States Near the Nation’s Capital
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Bryan Mena | Anthony Debarros | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Short supplies of labor have caused many employers to become more reluctant to lay off workers in the past year, especially in the states surrounding the nation’s capital. Total new applications for unemployment benefits, a proxy for layoffs, declined 85% in Virginia in 2022 from the prior year, the largest drop of any state in the country, according to an analysis of Labor Department data. Washington, D.C., Maryland and nearby Delaware all saw first-time claims fall by more than 70% during the same period, the data showed.

☆ Hydrogen is elemental to U.S.-EU green compromise
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Rebecca Christie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BRUSSELS, Feb 10 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Heated trade tensions could cool if the United States and the European Union make concessions on hydrogen. Right now, 99% of the near 100 million tonnes of annual commercial hydrogen output comes from old-fashioned fossil fuel energy sources. By 2030, the International Energy Agency envisages over 175 million tonnes of global production, with 35% coming from green hydrogen. Both Europe and the United States understand the role green hydrogen can play in decarbonising tricky areas like heavy industry and steelmaking. Yet Europe needs to import the same amount again as the 10 million tonnes it aims to produce domestically by 2030.

☆ GOP Gov. Chris Sununu jokes that Marjorie Taylor Greene's 'fur thing' at the State of the Union made her look like 'she belonged on the top of Mt. Washington'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Chris Sununu joked about Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's State of the Union wardrobe choice. He described her white coat with fluffy fur trim as a "fur thing." "She looked like she belonged on the top of Mount Washington," he said. Chris Sununu said he's not sure what was happening with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's State of the Union wardrobe selection, describing her $495 Peruvian alpaca wool coat as a "fur thing." She looked like she belonged on the top of Mount Washington."

☆ NBA roundup: Kyrie Irving leads Dallas to win in Mavs' debut
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

He added 11 assists and 10 rebounds. LaMelo Ball collected 16 points and six rebounds and Gordon Hayward added 15 points for the Hornets, who have lost five in a row. Fox (31 points, 11 assists) scored the final seven points for the Kings, who trailed 128-123 with 1:17 left. Martin added 15 points -- all in the first half -- and Jae'Sean Tate added 16 for the Rockets, who committed 13 of their 19 turnovers in the second half. Bojan Bogdanovic, Detroit's most prominent trade chip ahead of Thursday's deadline, led the Pistons with 15 points.

Damascus has long said aid to the rebel enclave in the north should go via Syria not across the Turkish border. Jordan and the UAE, which once backed Syria's opposition but have normalised ties with Assad in recent years, have sent aid to Damascus, Syrian state media has reported. WRANGLE OVER RESOURCESMoscow has long argued that delivering aid to northwest Syria from Turkey violates Syrian sovereignty. But he said aid flows must be coordinated with the government and delivered through Syria not across the Turkish border. The Damascus-based Syrian Red Crescent called for lifting of sanctions, which Syria's government has long blamed for mounting economic hardship.

☆ A close read of Beijing's official statement shows it doesn't think the US violated international law by shooting down its balloon, says a legal expert who studies China
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

China didn't accuse the US of violating international law when the Pentagon shot down its balloon. China has aggressively accused the US of breaking international law many times in the past. In the past, Beijing has accused the US of breaking international law even for actions like imposing visa restrictions on Chinese officials. "It contravenes international law and basic norms governing international relations and grossly interferes in China's internal affairs. In July, Wang similarly said that Hague Tribunal rulings in support of Philippine claims over the South China Sea "seriously" violated international law.

☆ Factbox: Facts about Pakistan's late former President Pervez Musharraf
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 5 (Reuters) - Here are some facts about the life and career of Pakistan's former President Pervez Musharraf, who died on Sunday:*Born in Delhi, India, on August 11, 1943, in his family's ancestral home, Nehar Wali Haveli. *Musharraf joined Pakistan's Military Academy in 1961. He was chosen by then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the brother of Pakistan's current prime minister, as the army chief in 1998. *In 2002, Musharraf was appointed president, a title he held in addition to army chief, after winning more than 90% of the vote in a controversial national referendum. *In 2007, Musharraf stepped down from his post as army chief, but said he would remain president for another five-year term.

☆ China says political trust with Russia has deepened after envoy's visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SHANGHAI, Feb 4 (Reuters) - China said on Saturday that mutual political trust with Russia has continued to deepen after Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu visited the country this week and met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. China is willing to work with Russia to implement their strategic partnership and promote further progress in their relationship, the foreign ministry also said in its statement. Ma also met with Russia's Deputy Foreign Ministers Andrey Rudenko and Sergey Vershinin during his Feb. 2-3 visit, the statement said. The statement comes on the heels of heightened tension between China and the United States after the flight of a Chinese balloon over U.S. airspace. The foreign ministry statement about Ma's visit did not mention Ukraine, where Russia has waged a military operation for nearly a year.

☆ China ban would slow, not halt, Western solar push
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Lisa Jucca | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Beijing may ban the export of technology used to make solar panels, an industry which China dominates by controlling at least 75% of its global supply chain. The ban would not, however, extend to China’s solar panels themselves, protecting an export market worth $40 billion in the first 10 months of 2022, sector data shows. Losing access to Chinese solar technology, such as furnaces for melting silicon, would not be an insurmountable problem for the West. A ban would nonetheless hurt a Western push to boost domestic solar panel manufacturing. Export restrictions would include technologies used to produce large-size solar panel silicon wafers, black silicon and ultra-efficient silicon ingots, according to Chinese media reports.

☆ India, U.S. discuss Narendra Modi White House visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - The Biden administration is in talks with Indian officials over a possible White House visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this year, according to a U.S. official aware of the discussions and another person briefed on the matter. The White House and the Indian Embassy in Washington declined to comment. Discussions about a possible White House visit intensified this week as Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met with his U.S. counterpart, Jake Sullivan, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington. During the visit, the United States and India launched a partnership to deepen ties on military equipment, semiconductors and artificial intelligence. He was first invited to the White House after he became prime minister in 2014 by Barack Obama.

☆ The US is bad at recycling. Making businesses pay could boost the rate to 75% in some states, a study found.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Recycling rates in US states could hit 75% if companies bear the costs, a study found. Recycling rates are high there, and taxpayers don't cover the bill, unlike in the US. The Recycling Partnership said it examined these states because they had the best available data. In most cases, recycling rates could get as high as 75%, de Thomas said. At least 11 others have either introduced legislation or plan to, according to a tally by The Recycling Partnership.

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