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☆ Right-wing Quran burning in Sweden enrages Turkey and throws a new wrench in Nordics’ NATO bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Rasmus Paludan holds a burning Koran outside of the Turkish embassy on January 21, 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden. Jonas Gratzer | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesOn Saturday, far-right demonstrators burned a Quran and chanted anti-Muslim slogans in front of Turkey's embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Several media outlets and independent journalist gather to see Rasmus Paludan stage a Koran burning outside the Turkish embassy on January 21, 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson reportedly denounced the protest as an act of "sabotage" against the country's NATO membership bid. Nonetheless, he expressed confidence that Turkey would approve his country's NATO bid.

☆ George Santos appears to have claimed he acted in 'Hannah Montana' and with Uma Thurman in a movie she wasn't actually in
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Wikipedia user called Anthony Devolder made elaborate claims about his acting experience. The name is a known alias of GOP Rep. George Santos, who has made false claims about his past. No "Anthony Devolder" — or George Santos — was listed in the cast on IMDb. He has also at various times listed his full name as George Anthony Devolder Santos. He also went by the name George Devolder in social media posts in 2020, CNN reported.

Airfares from China are now 160% higher than before the pandemic, data from travel firm ForwardKeys shows, due to limited supply. Since Jan. 4, Air China (601111.SS), Hainan Airlines (600221.SS) and China Southern Airlines (600029.SS) have filed schedules with the U.S. Department of Transportation proposing to increase flights to as much as daily on some routes. Foreign carriers seeking to add flights to China require approvals from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, which did not respond to a request for comment. However, other flights were paused as it assessed market demand and government regulations. Many Western airlines parked large planes when international traffic plunged and production of new twin-aisle jets has been limited.

☆ Video shows George Santos calling himself Anthony Devolder at a 2019 event, raising questions about his name
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. George Santos introduced himself as Anthony Devolder in a recently surfaced video from 2019. Videos and social media posts reveal Santos previously used the names George Devolder and Anthony Devolder. The New York congressman has admitted to lying about his college and work history and has previously listed his full name as George Anthony Devolder Santos. Other resurfaced clips and social media posts reveal that Santos had gone by the names Anthony Devolder and George Devolder until as recently as 2020. CNN also uncovered social media posts from 2020 in which Santos goes by the name George Devolder.

☆ Purdue’s 1st Asian American president takes office weeks after school official mocks Asian languages onstage
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Kimmy Yam | Kimmy Yam Is A Reporter For Nbc Asian America. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Chiang’s tenure comes shortly after Thomas L. Keon, chancellor of PNW mocked Asian languages during a winter commencement. A post published by nonprofit Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, written by writer Emil Guillermo, said that action from Chiang could send a strong message. The first Asian American president fires the racist chancellor who told a bad Asian joke.”Keon did not respond to a request for comment. “The Board has therefore issued a formal reprimand to Dr. Keon.”Thomas L. Keon, chancellor of Purdue University Northwest in Indiana. Instead, he said, it’s reflective of larger problems that Asian and Asian American students often faced.

☆ Canadian dollar to rebound in 2023 if economic uncertainty clears
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Fergal Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The loonie will edge 0.6% higher to 1.35 per U.S. dollar, or 74.07 U.S. cents, in three months, according to the median forecast of currency analysts. The Bank of Canada, along with the Federal Reserve and most other major central banks, has raised interest rates at a rapid pace to tackle soaring inflation. Another potential tailwind for the loonie would be the end of the U.S. dollar's in global currency markets since 2021. A "weaker dollar story" could emerge if the Fed moves to end quantitative tightening (QT), said Bipan Rai, global head of FX strategy at CIBC Capital Markets. QT is a process central banks use to shrink the size of their balance sheets.

☆ eBike Batteries Keep Exploding. What’s the Solution?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

E41Rivian’s Factory Reveals Why EV Fleet Contracts Are Crucial for Auto Makers WSJ’s George Downs breaks down how much of a lifeline fleet electrification contracts can be for auto makers and what other EV companies in particular are fighting for them. Illustration: George Downs

☆ Tesla Aims to Make Its EV Chargers the U.S. Standard. Here’s How.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( George Downs | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ C$ posts weekly decline as U.S. jobs data rattles investors
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Fergal Smith | Asif Shahzad | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The loonie was trading 0.4% lower at 1.3485 to the greenback, or 74.16 U.S. cents, after trading in a range of 1.3421 to 1.3520. U.S. stock indexes fell as the U.S. jobs data reignited investor concerns about the Federal Reserve continuing on its path of aggressive monetary policy tightening. Canada added 10,100 jobs in November, broadly in line with the forecast gain of 5,000, while the jobless rate fell to 5.1%. The 2-year dipped nearly one basis point to 3.786%, while the 10-year was down 3.8 basis points at 2.796%. Reporting by Fergal Smith; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Deepa BabingtonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Companies U.S. Virgin Islands FollowNEW YORK, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Jeffrey Epstein's estate has reached a nine-figure settlement with the U.S. Virgin Islands to settle claims the disgraced late financier used the territory as a base for his decades-long sex-trafficking operation. George also said Epstein bought the nearby Great St. James in 2016 to keep people from monitoring him and victims from escaping there. Epstein had also been accused of sexual abuse at his homes in Manhattan, New Mexico and Palm Beach, Florida. His former associate Ghislaine Maxwell is appealing her conviction and 20-year prison sentence for enabling Epstein's abuse of girls. The government's share of Little St. James sale proceeds will go toward counseling and other services for sexual abuse victims.

☆ Rivian’s Factory Reveals Why EV Fleet Contracts Are Crucial for Auto Makers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( George Downs | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

E38Ford’s $1 Billion Inflation Expense Helps Explain Why Car Prices Are Going Up Supply chain woes, parts shortages and inflation is making it costlier for auto makers like Ford to manufacture vehicles. Is this trend here to stay, and does this mean that cars are going to be more expensive? WSJ’s George Downs explains. Illustration: George Downs

☆ Rivian’s Factory Reveals Why EV Fleet Contracts Are Crucial for Automakers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( George Downs | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

E51In an Era of EVs, Can the Combustion Engine Be Saved? The EU has granted eFuels an exemption in its 2035 ban on sales of new combustion engines. WSJ’s George Downs visits synthetic fuel startup Zero to understand how efuels are made and how they could impact autos. Photo Composite: George Downs

☆ Fed's George calls for 'more measured' pace of rate hikes
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Ann Saphir | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 10 (Reuters) - Kansas City Federal Reserve President Esther George on Thursday reiterated her support for a slower pace of U.S. interest rate increases, calling for a "more measured" approach that allows the central bank time to judge how the rises in borrowing costs are affecting the economy. "I continue to see several advantages for a steady and deliberate approach to raising the policy rate," George said in remarks prepared for delivery to an energy conference co-hosted by her regional bank and the Dallas Fed. The goal has been to slow the economy and bring down inflation that's running far higher than the Fed's 2% goal. George dissented in June when the Fed pushed through the first of its extra-large rate hikes, and though she has not done so since, she has repeatedly called for a slower, steadier pace of increases than what the central bank has delivered. "A more measured approached to rate increases may be particularly useful as policymakers judge the economy's response to higher rates," she said.

☆ A long-shot Democratic candidate raised more than $15.6 million to defeat Marjorie Taylor Greene. He lost by 31 points.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Marjorie Taylor Greene's Democratic opponent, Marcus Flowers, raised $15.6 million for his campaign. "Tomorrow, with your help, we could make history by defeating Marjorie Taylor Greene," Flowers wrote in a fundraising email sent on November 7, the night before the election. But let me make my case: We're building the most extensive Democratic campaign this district has EVER seen — and MTG is terrified." AP Photo/Ben GrayThe sum that Flowers raised is gargantuan for a congressional campaign, far outpacing the amounts raised by the party's most vulnerable members. Compare that to Democratic candidates in more competitive races, who have tended to raise between $3 and $10 million this year.

☆ Canadian dollar slides as crypto selloff spooks investors
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Fergal Smith | Rocky Swift | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The loonie weakened 0.7% to 1.3520 per greenback, or 73.96 U.S. cents, after trading in a range of 1.3412 to 1.3541. Investors fretted about the financial health of major cryptocurrency exchange FTX, with some questioning whether a rescue deal from bigger rival Binance would materialize. Investors were shifting focus to U.S. inflation data on Thursday for clues on the path of future interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. Its governor, Tiff Macklem, is due on Thursday to give a speech on the evolution of the Canadian labour market. Canadian government bond yields eased across a flatter curve, with the 10-year down 5.8 basis points at 3.421%.

A Washington state man who called Buffalo, New York, grocery stores threatening to shoot Black people a month after a racist mass shooting pleaded guilty to a hate crime Monday, prosecutors said. George called multiple grocery stores on June 19, June 20 and June 21 and threatened to shoot Black customers, the U.S. attorney’s office for Western Washington said in a statement. George pleaded guilty Monday to a count of interstate threats and a count of interference with a federally protected activity, which is a hate crime, prosecutors said. In the calls to the Buffalo stores, George said he was nearby and had assault rifles, and he threatened to shoot Black people, according to a plea agreement. In one of the calls, George said he could "pick people off" from a parking lot.

Republican George Devolder-Santos is running against Democrat Robert Zimmerman in New York's 3rd Congressional District. This will be the first time in US history that two openly gay congressional candidates are running against each other in a general election. Republican George Devolder-Santos faces off against Democrat Robert Zimmerman in New York's 3rd Congressional District. 2022 General EmbedsNew York's 3rd Congressional District candidatesDevolder-Santos is a Wall Street financier and investor. Voting history for New York's 3rd Congressional DistrictNew York's 3rd Congressional District is located in Nassau County on Long Island.

☆ There have only been 2 Black elected governors in US history, but the 2022 midterm elections could usher in unparalleled change
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

There have only been two Black elected governors in US history, but that could change on Tuesday. With the victory, Wilder became the first Black elected governor in the United States, generations after P.B.S. He said people brag about him as the first Black governor elected in America. However, this year, Black gubernatorial candidates weren't overly reliant on the party leadership to help them land the nominations in their respective states. At the end of the day, if that's what I accomplished, that's not enough," Moore told Insider.

☆ Rishi Sunak is worth almost $850 million, making him Britain's richest prime minister. Here's why that could be a big problem.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Ryan Hogg | Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is worth about $850 million according to the Sunday Times Rich List. With wealth that rivals King Charles III, the former finance minister is the richest UK leader ever. The 42-year-old former chancellor (finance minister) has a net worth of £730 million ($847 million) according to the Sunday Times Rich List, and was ranked 222nd in May. Queen Elizabeth II was estimated to be worth about $440 million before her death, according to the Sunday Times. The ex-finance minister has a 19th century, Grade II-listed mansion in Yorkshire as well as a London home worth millions.

☆ Republican George Devolder-Santos faces off against Democrat Robert Zimmerman in New York's 3rd Congressional District election
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Hanna Kang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Republican George Devolder-Santos is running against Democrat Robert Zimmerman in New York's 3rd Congressional District. This will be the first time in US history that two openly gay congressional candidates are running against each other in a general election. New York's 3rd Congressional District candidatesDevolder-Santos is a Wall Street financier and investor. If elected, either contender would be the first openly gay person to serve the 3rd District. Voting history for New York's 3rd Congressional DistrictNew York's 3rd Congressional District is located in Nassau County on Long Island.

☆ Uber to Let Marketers Target Riders by Destination
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Patrick Coffee | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

Ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc. wants to help marketers target consumers with ads based on where they have been and where they are going. The ride-hailing ad business could grow far larger, Mr. Grether said, especially when self-driving cars become more common. “Cars will become our next living rooms,” Mr. Grether said. The rider can also conduct transactions, such as clicking the ad to buy a product without leaving the Uber app, said Mr. Grether. Users can opt out of targeted ads on the Uber app at any time, said Mr. Grether.

☆ Malta demonstrators mark five years since Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

People take part in a protest march on the fifth anniversary of the assassination of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, in Valletta, Malta October 16, 2022. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit LupiVALLETTA, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Demonstrators in Malta marked five years since the car bomb murder of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia on Sunday, two days after two brothers admitted to her killing and were each sentenced to 40 years in prison. Many of those present carried pictures of Caruana Galizia and Maltese flags. She said Caruana Galizia was: "A Woman of Steel, because she was a woman of principle, a woman who could tell right from wrong". No government representatives were present at the demonstration but Prime Minister Robert Abela said earlier that Caruana Galizia's death was a dark episode "that we must learn from".

☆ U.K.'s new finance chief warns of 'difficult decisions ahead' amid political and market turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( Leila Sackur | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

LONDON — The U.K.'s new finance minister warned of “difficult decisions ahead” on Saturday, the morning after he had replaced his predecessor who was only 38 days into the job. Warning of “difficult decisions ahead” Hunt told British broadcaster Sky News: “Some taxes will not be cut as quickly as people would want, some taxes will go up.” (Sky News is owned by Comcast, the parent company of NBC News.) Kwarteng became the second shortest-serving chancellor of the exchequer, as the British finance minister is known. Britain's Prime Minister Liz Truss at a news conference on Friday. Truss is Britain’s third prime minister in six years.

☆ Harvard expert: The Twitter deal could be bad for Elon Musk—and for the rest of us
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

(Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)Elon Musk's controversial bid to buy Twitter could be bad news — for both the world's richest person and the general public, a Harvard expert says. "Twitter is a distraction that could keep [Musk] from what's really important," George, who has studied leadership failures over the past two decades, tells CNBC Make It. From PayPal to Tesla and SpaceX, the tech billionaire had a hand in building some of the world's most influential and valuable companies. Musk has already spent the past six months "getting distracted" by the acrimonious Twitter takeover he first proposed in April, George says. In May, Musk tried to quell concerns about him getting distracted by the Twitter deal, saying "Tesla is on my mind 24/7" during an investor call.

☆ Ian Leaves Trail of Destruction in Florida, Cuts Power for Millions
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Why Driverless Cars Are Taking ‘Hyper-Realistic’ Virtual Driving LessonsNo matter how many real-world miles driverless cars experience, it’s unlikely they’ll come up against all of the rare and dangerous incidents they could encounter. So now, driverless car companies have turned to hyper-realistic virtual worlds to safely test their cars against some of the most extreme scenarios. Illustration: George Downs

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