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☆ Republicans went after BlackRock and sustainable investing in 2022. Meet 12 officials crusading against 'woke capitalism.'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Rebecca Ungarino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

A group of vocal conservative officials are criticizing aspects of ESG investing. Players in the ESG ecosystem, like S&P Global and BlackRock, the world's largest money manager and an influential proponent of ESG investing, are often the subject of their critiques. Instead, officials often paint large financial firms' ESG strategies as functions of left-leaning agendas. Here are key GOP players who are taking aim at ESG investing. Abbott, who is seeking reelection in November, was early to denouncing ESG investing.

☆ The Year in Pictures 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +57 min

Every year, starting in early fall, photo editors at The New York Times begin sifting through the year’s work in an effort to pick out the most startling, most moving, most memorable pictures. But 2022 undoubtedly belongs to the war in Ukraine, a conflict now settling into a worryingly predictable rhythm. Erin Schaff/The New York Times “When you’re standing on the ground, you can’t visualize the scope of the destruction. Jim Huylebroek for The New York Times Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 25. We see the same images over and over, and it’s really hard to make anything different.” Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb 26.

☆ TikTok might be too big to ban, no matter what lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“I would lose most of my sales.”For much of the past two years, talk of an outright TikTok ban seemed to recede. But suddenly, the future of TikTok in the United States appears more uncertain than at any point since July 2020. Two years later, she said a TikTok ban would cause her to "lose most of my sales." The tremendous reach of TikTok may only make it harder to ban the service outright, some national security experts say. Hootie Hurley, 23, a Los Angeles-based full-time creator with more than 1.3 million followers on TikTok, told CNN that he now makes most of his income through his TikTok following.

REUTERS/Tom BrennerWASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Over 200 advocates from around the United States converged on Capitol Hill this week with an 11th-hour mission: persuade lawmakers to provide citizenship to "Dreamer" immigrants who illegally entered the United States as children. Addinelly Moreno Soto, a 31-year-old communications aide who came to the United States from Mexico at age 3, trekked to the Capitol from San Antonio with her husband hoping to meet with her state's U.S. Senator John Cornyn, an influential Republican whose support could help advance a deal that has eluded Congress for more than a decade. The end-of-year push comes as a window is closing for Congress to find a compromise to protect "Dreamers", many of whom speak English and have jobs, families and children in the United States but lack permanent status. Tillis himself has been skeptical about whether Congress will have time to pass the legislation before the year’s end.

☆ Here's how the Federal Reserve confused the markets
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Patti Domm | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Markets had flip flopped Wednesday afternoon, after the Federal Reserve released its policy statement and new interest rate and economic forecasts. Swonk noted there is agreement among Fed officials to drive rates higher, and most officials forecast an end point for rates above 5% in 2023. Fed funds futures Thursday showed a high rate of 4.89% by next May, still below the Fed's target. Every month that goes by means there's somebody's debt that matures that's going to be needed to be refinanced at a higher rate." With the economy weakening, I think the inflation rate is going to fall faster than most economists do."

☆ Meet 12 Republican officials crusading against BlackRock and ESG investing
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Rebecca Ungarino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

☆ Photos show a plane after it crashed into live power lines in Maryland, leaving two passengers stuck for seven hours
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A small plane crashed into live power lines in Maryland on Sunday evening, authorities said. In this photo provided by Montgomery County Fire and Rescue, a small plane rests on live power lines after crashing, Sunday, November 27, 2022. He identified hypothermia and "orthopedic and trauma injuries," but did not say if those were affecting both passengers. He added that the plane had crashed into the power lines first, before getting caught up in the tower. A small plane caught on live power lines after crashing, Sunday, November 27, 2022.

☆ With Philippines visit VP Harris seeks to reset relations
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

REBUILDING TIESThe visit by Harris will be the highest-level trip to the Philippines by an administration official and marks a sharp turnaround in relations. With Marcos in office, the Biden administration is attempting a reset. China claims 90% of the South China Sea as its sovereign territory, but is opposed by five Southeast Asian states and Taiwan. Arsenio Andolong, a Philippine defense department spokesman, told Reuters there is no reason for China to fear Harris' visit. A senior Biden administration official offered a different summary.

☆ U.S. says Russia's war in Ukraine offers preview to potential global tyranny
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 19 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said failure to help Ukraine secure its own future could lead to a "world of tyranny and turmoil," in a speech on Saturday that sought to lay out the stakes in the war for the international community. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks during a news briefing after participating a virtual Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., November 16, 2022. REUTERS/Tom BrennerAustin's remarks, delivered at a security forum in Canada, were some of his most powerful to date on Russia's nearly nine-month-old invasion. And they could well conclude that getting nuclear weapons would give them a hunting license of their own. And that could drive a dangerous spiral of nuclear proliferation," Austin said.

☆ U.S. says Russia's Ukraine invasion offered preview to potential global tyranny
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Phil Stewart | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Nov 19 (Reuters) - Russia's invasion of Ukraine has offered a preview of "a possible world of tyranny and turmoil," U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday in a speech to a security forum in Canada. Moscow hopes to exhaust Ukraine's missile defenses, and buy time to reset its forces, Pentagon officials say. The United States and its allies have helped provide arms, intelligence and training to Ukrainian forces, while stopping short of directly intervening in a war against nuclear-armed Russia. And they could well conclude that getting nuclear weapons would give them a hunting license of their own," Austin said. Austin said the United States was drawing on the lessons of Ukraine to "bolster the self-defense capabilities of our Indo-Pacific partners."

☆ Bill protecting same-sex marriage clears first procedural hurdle in U.S. Senate; voting continues
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

FILE PHOTO: Birds fly near the U.S. Capitol at sunrise, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., February 8, 2022. REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File PhotoWASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bill ensuring federal recognition of same-sex marriages received enough votes to clear the first procedural hurdle in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, after months of bipartisan negotiations and delays. Voting on the bill continues.

[1/3] U.S. Joint Chiefs Chair Army General Mark Milley speaks during a news briefing after participating a virtual Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., November 16, 2022. REUTERS/Tom BrennerWASHINGTON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The top U.S. general on Wednesday said Ukraine's chances of any near-term, outright military victory were not high, cautioning that Russia still had significant combat power inside Ukraine despite suffering battlefield setbacks since its invasion in February. Ukraine has vowed to keep the pressure on Russian forces until it reclaims control of all occupied territory. "The probability of a Ukrainian military victory - defined as kicking the Russians out of all of Ukraine to include what they claim as Crimea - the probability of that happening anytime soon is not high, militarily," Milley told a news conference at the Pentagon. Ukraine is not going to back down," Milley said, adding that Ukraine was free, "and they want to remain free."

[1/11] The sun rises over the U.S. Capitol, as control of Congress remained unclear following the 2022 U.S. midterm elections in Washington, U.S., November 9, 2022. The fate of the Senate, meanwhile, rests with a trio of fiercely contested states. (Live election results from around the country are here)Though Republicans remained favored to take over the House, their performance on Tuesday was seen as underwhelming. A Republican Senate would hold sway over Biden's judicial appointments, including any potential Supreme Court vacancies. VOTE-COUNTING CHUGGING ALONGAs ballots were tallied, Democrats expressed cautious optimism about both the Nevada and Arizona Senate races.

[1/11] The sun rises over the U.S. Capitol, as control of Congress remained unclear following the 2022 U.S. midterm elections in Washington, U.S., November 9, 2022. Either party can win a majority by sweeping the races in Nevada and Arizona, where counting late-arriving ballots is expected to last several more days. (Live election results from around the country are here)Though Republicans remained favored to take over the House, their performance on Tuesday was seen as underwhelming. A Republican Senate would hold sway over Biden's judicial appointments, including any potential Supreme Court vacancies. VOTE-COUNTING CHUGGING ALONGAs ballots were tallied, Democrats expressed cautious optimism about both the Nevada and Arizona Senate races.

[1/11] The sun rises over the U.S. Capitol, as control of Congress remained unclear following the 2022 U.S. midterm elections in Washington, U.S., November 9, 2022. "Women in America made their voices heard, man," President Joe Biden said at a political event in Washington. At the political event, Biden noted that many so-called "election deniers" had accepted their own losses. A White House official said Biden spoke by phone with Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy, who announced on Wednesday his intention to run for speaker of the House if Republicans control the chamber. Republicans are expected to demand spending cuts in exchange for raising the nation's borrowing limit next year, a showdown that could spook financial markets.

☆ U.S. Senate up for grabs as Republicans move toward House majority
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Joseph Ax | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

(Live election results from around the country are here.) But Democrats were able to avoid the major defeat that Republicans had anticipated and were holding on in the close Senate battles in Nevada and Arizona. Even a slim House majority would allow Republicans to shape the rest of Biden's term, blocking priorities such as abortion rights and launching investigations into his administration and family. A White House official said Biden spoke by phone with Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy, who announced earlier in the day his intention to run for speaker of the House if Republicans control the chamber. Control of the Senate, meanwhile, would give Republicans the power to block Biden's nominees for judicial and administrative posts.

☆ Thousands at Meta, Twitter, Salesforce lost jobs this week—the shock could ripple through the economy for months
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Jennifer Liu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Tens of thousands of tech workers have been laid off within days, as tech giants including Meta, Twitter, Salesforce and others shed headcount going into the final stretch of the year. At least 20,300 U.S. tech workers were let go from their jobs in November, and more than 100,000 since the beginning of the year, according to Layoffs.fyi, which tracks layoffs in the field. The latest economic volatility disproportionately affects tech and could impact other downstream industries, Pollak adds. How tech layoffs could impact the economyTech sector cuts will have a ripple effect: Fewer companies prepare to go public, so investment banks take a hit. Hiring is still strong despite economic headwinds, according to the Labor Department's latest jobs report, and Pollak says employers are adding 60% more jobs each month than prior to Covid.

☆ Factbox: Who could run in the 2024 U.S. presidential election?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Katharine Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

His potential candidacy was buoyed by better-than-expected results for his fellow Democrats in Tuesday's midterm elections, which White House officials deemed a vindication of his administration's policies. FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMPRepublican former President Donald Trump has hinted seemingly endlessly that he will launch a 2024 White House run soon, most recently pointing to next Tuesday as the date for a possible announcement. VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRISShould Biden decide not to run, Vice President Kamala Harris could step in. FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCERepublican former Vice President Mike Pence served as a loyal, prim No. The 63-year-old former Indiana governor is widely considered to be mulling a White House run.

☆ White House: Crypto needs oversight to avoid harming Americans
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during a daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 10, 2022. REUTERS/Tom BrennerWASHINGTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Cryptocurrencies risk harming everyday Americans without proper oversight and latest news involving crypto underscores these concerns, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Thursday. She said the White House will continue to monitor developments on cryptocurrencies. Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Steve Holland, Editing by Franklin PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Crypto needs oversight to avoid harming Americans, White House says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during a daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 10, 2022. REUTERS/Tom BrennerWASHINGTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Cryptocurrencies risk harming everyday Americans without proper oversight and the latest news involving crypto underscores these concerns, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Thursday. She said the White House will continue to monitor developments on cryptocurrencies. “The administration has consistently maintained that, without proper oversight of cryptocurrencies, they risk harming everyday Americans,” Jean-Pierre told reporters. The most recent news further underscores these concerns and highlights why prudent regulation of cryptocurrencies is indeed needed,” she said.

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy had hoped to celebrate a resounding victory that would propel him into the top job of speaker. But Republican hopes for a "red wave" of victories faded as Democrats showed surprising resilience in several key races. Pelosi said in a statement, "It is clear that House Democratic members and candidates are strongly outperforming expectations around the country." [1/9] Supporters cheer U.S. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) at a House Republicans' party held late on the night of the 2022 U.S. midterm elections in Washington, U.S., November 9, 2022. The Georgia Senate race could end up in a Dec. 6 runoff, possibly with Senate control at stake.

☆ Biden: Tuesday was a 'good day' for democracy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden discusses the 2022 U.S. midterm election results during a news conference in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., November 9, 2022. REUTERS/Tom BrennerWASHINGTON, Nov 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden, buoyed by midterm elections in which his fellow Democrats fared better than expected, said on Wednesday that Election Day on Tuesday was good for democracy but the results showed that Americans remained frustrated. "It was a good day, I think, for democracy," Biden told reporters at the White House. White House officials have expressed a sense of vindication that Democrats did better than expected after Biden focused his campaign pitch largely on preventing threats to U.S. democracy, securing abortion rights and extolling his economic policies. He said when he returns from a trip to Asia he would invite Democratic and Republican leaders to the White House to discuss priorities going forward.

After decades of decline, even into negative territory, term premium is rising again. chartchartchart"We are in a tectonic phase of monetary policy and you are getting asset dislocations across the board, including long bonds," said Solomon Tadesse, head of North American Quant Strategies at Societe Generale. A 30-year bond bought and held to maturity by a pension fund, for example, quickly becomes 'off the run,' so liquidity risk ends up lifting the term premium. In the week through Oct. 21 the 30-year bond's price fell for an eighth straight week, the longest selling streak since 2004. If the Fed is successful in driving down inflation or the economy goes into recession, more investors will flock to 30-year bonds.

☆ IBM salaries revealed: Engineers can earn nearly $200K. See how much analysts, managers, and others at the tech giant make.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Caroline Haskins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

IBM is among the oldest and largest computer companies in the world and has more than 350,000 employees. These offers must be equal to what US employees earn making them a great guide to employee salaries at the company. When Insider analyzed IBM salary data in 2021, the highest offer was to an engineering program director, earning $335,000. A technical team lead, for instance, earned $57,500 in Monroe, LA, and as much as $114,500 in Parsippany, NJ. Insider has also compiled a database of salaries across other big tech companies like Google, Apple, Tesla, Amazon, and more.

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☆ Amazon's moonshots lab recently shut down several secret projects, shocking members of the team. Here are the initiatives that got the chop, and the ones that survived.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Eugene Kim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Amazon's Grand Challenge division recently shut down three confidential projects, a cost-cutting move that shocked and disappointed members of the secretive moonshots lab, Insider has learned. Two healthcare projects survived the cull. The healthcare projects that survived are a new type of at-home fertility-monitoring device and a therapeutic treatment to protect against antibiotic resistance, these people said. The decision to keep two healthcare projects reflects CEO Andy Jassy's ambition in this field. Glow, a video-calling device that Amazon shut down earlier this month, was also part of the broader Grand Challenge team.

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