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☆ House GOP Seeks Biden Residence Visitor Logs as Classified-Document Saga Continues
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Daniella Cheslow | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Republicans want to see visitor logs from the home of President Biden, who was at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on Sunday. House Republicans are seeking two years of visitor logs from President Biden’s Delaware home as part of a push for more details about documents marked as classified that were found in Mr. Biden’s home and at a Washington office he used after his vice presidency. “Given the serious national security implications, the White House must provide the Wilmington residence’s visitor log,” House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R., Ky.) wrote in a Sunday letter to White House chief of staff Ron Klain .

☆ House Oversight chair calls for release of visitor logs from Biden’s Delaware home
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Julie-Tsirkin-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Julie Tsirkin | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

WASHINGTON — House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., on Sunday asked for the release of visitors logs from President Joe Biden’s home in Delaware in a letter to White House chief of staff Ron Klain. “Given the serious national security implications, the White House must provide the Wilmington residence’s visitor log,” Comer wrote in the letter to Klain. The former president’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida was searched by the FBI last year after multiple attempts to obtain classified documents. The president is cooperating with the Justice Department and National Archives amid the discovery of the classified documents, she said. "He showed no interest in investigating the far more serious situation with about 100 classified documents at Mar-a-Lago with evidence in the public domain of obstruction.

☆ Republicans want Biden home visitor logs - but not Trump's
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Doina Chiacu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Republicans have sought to compare the Biden documents case with that of former President Donald Trump, who faces a federal criminal probe of how he handled classified documents after he left the White House. Comer said he would not seek visitor logs for Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence, where more than 100 classified documents were found in an FBI search. There is no legal requirement that U.S. presidents disclose visitors at their home or at the White House. The Biden administration reinstated disclosures of official guests to the White House and released its first batch of records in May 2021. TRUMP VS. BIDEN DOCUMENT ISSUESRepublicans in the U.S. House of Representatives launched an investigation on Friday into the Justice Department's handling of improperly stored classified documents possessed by Biden.

☆ Air travel recovers in China amid COVID infection worries
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The industry needs to "fully understand the special nature, and complexity of the Spring Festival migration in 2023", Song said in a statement on Friday. It expects a Spring Festival boom in tourism. Cinema box office receipts are on track to generate revenue of as much as 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) during the Spring Festival period, a brokerage has forecast. According to Guosen Securities, box office revenues in 2022 totalled less than 30 billion yuan, down 36% from a year earlier. ($1=6.7010 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Tony Munroe and Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ U.S. National Parks, including Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, will be free on MLK Day—and 4 other days this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Nicolas Vega | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The US National Park Service will be offering no-cost admission to all of its parks, including Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Zion National Park on Monday, Jan. 16 as part of its 2023 "fee-free days." If you've been looking for an excuse to visit one of America's more than 400 national parks, now is your chance. The Colorado River wraps around Horseshoe Bend in the in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Page, Arizona. "National parks are really amazing places and we want everyone to experience them," NPS director Chuck Sams said in a statement announcing the free 2023 dates. "The entrance fee-free days encourage people to discover the beauty, history and inspiration awaiting them ... throughout the country."

☆ Pell wrote secret memo calling Francis' papacy 'catastrophe', journalist says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Commentators of every school, if for different reasons ... agree that this pontificate is a disaster in many or most respects; a catastrophe," the memo begins. The Vatican's political prestige is now at a low ebb." Pell appeared to like the more liberal-minded Francis personally, but not how he ran the Church. Francis supported Pell privately during the abuse saga and on the day of the acquittal offered Mass for all who suffer unjust sentences. "The political influence of Pope Francis and the Vatican is negligible.

☆ Hong Kong businesses cheer China reopening, but warn there’s a long way to go
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —Kiki Yang brought an empty green suitcase from Shenzhen to Hong Kong this week to load up on new purchases for her family and friends. On Sunday, residents of Hong Kong and mainland China were permitted to resume two-way, quarantine-free travel after three years, albeit in limited numbers. Sa Sa, which counts Hong Kong and Macao combined as its top market, has seen sales roughly halve since 2019. The move is the latest effort by Hong Kong to rebuild its status as a global business hub. Currently, as part of a gradual reopening, Hong Kong has a quota of 60,000 visitor arrivals from mainland China each day.

☆ Biden's classified records bumbling is a gift for Trump, and some high-profile figures say it closes the door on an indictment for the former president
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Biden aides have discovered two batches of classified documents from when he was vice president. "When is the FBI going to raid the many homes of Joe Biden, perhaps even the White House? Over in the US House Republicans have already launched an investigation. Trump is the only person to have announced a 2024 campaign for the White House, but his campaign has been off to a slow start. Some commentators even predicted that the perception of a double standard around the Biden documents investigation would derail a potential Trump indictment.

☆ Currency experts are turning bullish on the euro as Europe looks to hold off a recession
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A euro currency symbol sits on display in the visitor centre at the European Central Bank (ECB) building in Frankfurt, Germany. As markets head into a year of uncertainty against a backdrop of shifting economic data and monetary policy, analysts are turning positive on the outlook for the euro . Central to the euro's weakness last year was aggressive monetary policy tightening from the U.S. Federal Reserve while the European Central Bank was much later out of the blocks in hiking interest rates to contain runaway inflation. The economic threat posed by sky-high energy prices in the euro zone has also faded amid an unseasonably mild winter in much of northern Europe. "Both euro area core inflation and economic surprises have continued to strengthen, making it easier for the European Central Bank to maintain a hawkish tone.

☆ Virginia school district where 6-year-old allegedly shot teacher has had three school-related shootings in 17 months
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Mirna-Alsharif-Byline-Jm.Jpg | Mirna Alsharif | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

The Virginia school district where a 6-year-old allegedly intentionally shot a teacher on Friday has had three instances of gun violence on district property in the past 17 months. Newport News Public Schools consists of 26,500 students, and includes three early childhood centers, 24 elementary schools, seven middle schools and five high schools, according to the district's website. Newport News Public Schools Superintendent George Parker III did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Hanan Daoud, who also has children within the school district, agrees. Daoud told NBC News she recalled feeling "paralyzed" after hearing that there had been a shooting in the school district on Friday.

☆ Hong Kong retail sales fall in November, outlook challenging
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

November retail sales fell 4.2% from a year earlier in value terms to stand at HK$29.5 billion ($3.77 billion). Hong Kong is also working to resume quarantine-free travel with mainland China by as early as Jan. 8. For the first eleven months, the total retail sales value eased 1.1% compared with the same period a year earlier. Online retail sales in November rose 9.4% year-on-year in value terms, compared with a revised 35.1% growth in October. ($1 = 7.8180 Hong Kong dollars)Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Cuban influx forces U.S. Park Service to close Florida islands
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Daniel Trotta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. National Park Service closed Dry Tortugas National Park off the Florida Keys for several days starting on Monday after 300 immigrants had arrived on the islands in recent days, overwhelming first responders. "Like elsewhere in the Florida Keys, the park has recently seen an increase in people arriving by boat from Cuba and landing on the islands of Dry Tortugas National Park," the Park Service said in a statement announcing the closure to the public. Cuba is experiencing a historic exodus of people fleeing the Communist-governed island nation amid extended economic hardship. The Park Service said the closure would last several days. In the meantime, ferry and seaplane services taking tourists to the islands were canceled, and all other visitor services were suspended, the Park Service said.

Jailed for graft in 2018 - the year right-wing former President Jair Bolsonaro was elected - Lula's convictions were overturned in 2019, allowing him to oust Bolsonaro in October's election. The more ideological Lula who emerged from jail in 2019 should not be a cause for concern, friends and allies said. Lula's spokesman Jose Chrispiniano said the president supported fiscal responsibility and believes that strengthening the economy is the best way to combat poverty. "Good morning, President Lula," his devotees would chant as the day began, followed by "Good night, President Lula," as he went to bed. From his 15-square-meter cell on the third floor of the Federal Police headquarters in Curitiba, Lula set about reorganizing the PT and managing his legal defense.

☆ The gourmet food scene in the UAE is taking on the likes of Paris, New York and London
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Emma Procter | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — While the economic outlook for much of the world is predicted to be rocky over 2023, in the Gulf there's a buoyant mood. This is especially true for the United Arab Emirates, with the country's economy growing by more than 6% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. For a few nights only, well-heeled guests sampled creations such as pan-fried squid with black garlic, Paris mushrooms and rocket. Michelin chiefs agree, saying that the UAE is now on par with the big global gourmet destinations such as Paris, New York, Singapore, and London. "We would say the restaurants in the Michelin Guide selection in the UAE are equal to the big cities."

[1/5] People wearing face masks walk under neon lights near casinos during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Macau, China, December 29, 2022. REUTERS/Tyrone SiuMACAU, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Three years of COVID-19 forced Becky Zhang’s specialty food business in Macau to near collapse. However, Macau has been closed off to the rest of the world, including neighbouring financial hub Hong Kong, for the past three years. Since reopening, Macau has grappled with a widespread COVID-19 wave, impacting the number of workers across the city. Some tourists who managed to travel to Macau from the mainland for Christmas said they were happy about the lack of crowds.

☆ Why three robot sisters could be the friendly face of AI
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Nadia Leigh-Hewitson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The key to winning over a skeptical public could be a family of robot “sisters.”Sophia, Grace and Desdemona are humanoid robots, each programmed with sophisticated AI. However, their AI “brains” were engineered by Ben Goertzel, former chief scientist at the company, and now CEO of blockchain-based AI company SingularityNET. The robot will never get bored with it.”Are we already living in a robot future? Giving people the opportunity to interact with relatable robots could help humanize AI, and go some way to improving its image. This is one of the reasons that people respond so well to humanoid robots.”

Airlines are drawing up plans to expand their services but ordinary Chinese and travel agencies suggest that a return to anything like normal will take some time. But an immediate surge in international travel is not widely expected. According to VariFlight data, international flights to and from China are at 8% of pre-pandemic levels. Weighing on many people's travel plans is the wave of COVID-19 infections now sweeping China, Liu said. One of the fastest bouncebacks is expected to be in international business travel.

☆ Britain's charity stores are going upmarket
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Britain's charity shops are transforming as they try to appeal to Gen Z customers. The managers told Insider their retro and vintage stores were largely in urban areas with large student populations. Grace Dean/InsiderE-commerce for charity shops is completely different than e-commerce for retailers that sell large batches of new products. Nonessential retail stores had to shut their doors for months during the pandemic, which the Charity Retail Association estimated cost UK charity shops about £28 million, or $32 million, a month. But, as the aisles of charity shops across the UK show, a lot of people do choose to donate them.

☆ A 29-year-old part-time remote worker living abroad and making $4,000 a month explains how she finds work and affords her lifestyle
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-25 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

She is among a growing number of digital nomads, or remote workers who travel for weeks, months, or — in Checchi's case — "for the foreseeable future." Driving this trend is the growing flexibility of remote work, a longing to see the world, and the desire to cut costs. As of June, over 25 countries had introduced digital-nomad visa programs aimed at luring remote workers and their wallets. The challenges of a nomadic lifeWhen she's not traveling, Checchi has a home base in Tel Aviv, which she chose in part for its accessibility to both Europe and Asia. While Tel Aviv can be quite an expensive place to live, Checchi pays $871 per month to rent an apartment with a couple.

☆ These photos show the many ways Christmas is celebrated around the world
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Natalie Tham | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

In a yearly series, CNBC Travel highlights diverse Christmas celebrations around the world. The Gavle goat is moving to a new location this year for the first time in 56 years, according to Visit Gavle, the city's visitor's guide. "He means a lot for us in Gavle, and he's a big part of the Christmas spirit," she said. Teachers, students and parents hold Christmas lanterns made from recycled materials during a campaign for sustainable Christmas celebrations at an elementary school in Quezon City, Philippines. "If I'm in Brazil during Christmas, I take my nephew and niece to a Christmas parade, and we have a blast!

Share this -Link copied'It's too much for me': Zelenskyy begins speech by thanking U.S. Zelenskyy began his remarks before a joint meeting of Congress at 7:40 p.m. "I think we share the exact same vision, that of a free, independent and prosperous Ukraine," Biden said. The Ukrainian president added that the soldier told him that "many (of) his brothers, this system saved." President Joe Biden holds a medal presented to him by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. Share this -Link copiedPhoto: Zelenskyy shakes hands with Biden as he arrives President Joe Biden welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House.

☆ Zelenskyy says Ukraine is 'alive and kicking' as he appeals to Congress for continued support
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Alex-Seitz-Wald-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Alex Seitz-Wald | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Ukrainia Slava!” — “glory to Ukraine" — as Zelenskyy and Pelosi exchanged their national flags. Zelenskyy has not left Ukraine since the Russian invasion began, and it's no accident that he chose Washington as the destination for this risky trip. Zelenskyy met earlier with President Joe Biden, who pledged "unequivocal and unbending support" for "as long as it takes." Both Zelenskyy and Biden said at the White House that they are confident the bipartisan support for U.S. aid to Ukraine would continue after the new Congress convenes in early January. McCarthy has said Republicans will continue to support Ukraine, but has said there will be no "blank check" for Kyiv.

☆ Macau to drop COVID tests for arriving passengers
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG, Dec 22 (Reuters) - International arrivals to Macau, including from Hong Kong and Taiwan, will no longer need to undergo a nucleic acid test after landing and will be able to move freely, the government said on Thursday, the biggest steps yet to relax stringent COVID measures. However, travellers from overseas will still be required to present a negative nucleic acid test certificate for entry, the government said. Earlier this week, Macau cancelled its regulations on risk zones in mainland China. Visitor arrivals to the world's biggest gambling hub dropped by 36.8% on the month and 54.3% year-on-year to 366,511 in November, according to the Macau Statistics Bureau. Reporting by Twinnie Siu, Meg Shen and Farah Master; Editing by Toby Chopra, Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

A Culture in theCross Hairs Russia’s invasion has systematically destroyed Ukrainian cultural sites. It has also dealt a grievous blow to Ukrainian culture: to its museums and monuments, its grand universities and rural libraries, its historic churches and contemporary mosaics. This is how empires always work.” The war in Ukraine is a culture war, and the extent of the destruction is becoming clearer. Kyiv Sviatohirsk UKRAINE Damaged or destroyed religious sites Areas controlled by Russia at any time since invasion. Kyiv Sviatohirsk UKRAINE Damaged or destroyed religious sites Areas controlled by Russia at any time since invasion.

☆ Casinos in Macau, the Vegas of the East, have managed to renew crucial gaming licenses. But there's a hefty catch — they need to pump in $15 billion into non-gaming sectors.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Macau's six casino operators pledged to invest nearly $15 billion in non-gaming sectors. In return for the investments, Macau's government has renewed their gaming licenses. Gaming licenses for the six major casino operators had expired back in June, throwing into question Macau's future as a gambling hub. The new 10-year gaming licenses come into effect on January 1, 2023. Among the six gaming companies, Sands China has committed to spending the most in non-gaming projects — about 27.8 billion patacas, or $3.5 billion.

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