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☆ How Rising Profits Could Prevent the Economy From Faltering
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Justin Lahart | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Cyclical industries such as manufacturing often drive profit cycles. That makes a comedown for the U.S. economy seem less likely. The Commerce Department on Wednesday reported that before-tax corporate profits rose 1.1% from a year earlier in the third quarter. This compares with a decline of 6% in the second quarter. Exclude the Fed, and corporate profits rose by 6.7% in the third quarter compared with a gain of 1.6% in the second.

Persons: Brian Kaiser Organizations: Bloomberg, Commerce Department, Federal Locations: U.S

☆ Why Biden Touts Jobs When Americans Care About Prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Annie Linskey | Amara Omeokwe | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

President Biden has built the case for a second term by saying his policies have strengthened the labor market. Photo: andrew caballero-reynolds/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesWASHINGTON—President Biden likes to talk about “jobs, jobs, jobs” when touting his economic record. The problem is that voters are far more worried about prices, prices, prices. The disconnect is one reason why his Bidenomics re-election pitch is landing flat despite a broadly resilient U.S. economy that has defied expectations. Prices have gone up by 19% since the start of the pandemic, a hard-to-forget leap that has left voters in search of someone to blame.

Persons: Biden, andrew caballero, reynolds Organizations: Agence France, Getty, WASHINGTON —

JOHANNESBURG—Wealthy nations are sending tens of billions of dollars to poorer ones for clean energy, the linchpin of a global strategy to cut greenhouse-gas emissions in the developing world. But two of the most ambitious efforts yet—in South Africa and Indonesia—are now at risk of unraveling, sowing doubts about the rich world’s ability to push developing countries away from coal and other fossil fuels.

Organizations: JOHANNESBURG — Locations: JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Indonesia

☆ Britain's maritime agency reports possible Red Sea blast
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

RIYADH, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Britain's Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) on Sunday said that it has received reports of drone activity and a possible explosion in the Red Sea's Bab al-Mandab strait. UKMTO said the drone activity originated from Yemen, and called on vessels in the vicinity to exercise caution. An Israeli-linked cargo ship was seized last month by the Houthi group, an ally of Iran which controls Yemen's Red Sea coast. The group had previously fired ballistic missiles and armed drones at Israel, and vowed to target more Israeli vessels. Reporting by Ahmed Elimam Writing by Aziz El Yaakoubi Editing by David Goodman and Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bab, UKMTO, Reuters wasn't, Ahmed Elimam, Aziz El, David Goodman, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Maritime Trade Operations, Reuters, Palestinian, Hamas, U.S . Navy, Thomson Locations: RIYADH, Yemen, Israel, Israeli, Iran, U.S, Gulf, Aden

MANILA, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The Philippines lifted a tsunami alert early on Sunday as waves receded from a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the south of the country, triggering coastal evacuations and some waves in there and in Japan. More than 500 aftershocks were recorded, and the Philippines' Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) urged caution as people resumed normal activities. "The tsunami threat associated with this earthquake has now largely passed the Philippines," Phivolcs said in a statement but advised people in threatened communities to heed the instructions from local authorities. [1/4]People gather at an evacuation center, in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, Philippines December 2, 2023. Japan's Hachijojima island, some 290 km (180 miles) south of Tokyo, recorded waves of 40 cm (1.3 feet), the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Persons: Phivolcs, Bicap, Hinatuan, Philvolcs, James Soria, Cosme Calejesan, Karen Lema, Neil Jerome Morales, William Mallard Organizations: Institute of, Philippine Coast Guard, Reuters, REUTERS Acquire, Centre . Earthquakes, Japan Meteorological Agency, U.S ., Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippines, Japan, Mindanao, Surigao Del Sur, Davao Oriental, Bislig, Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, Handout, Centre, Hinatuan province, Tokyo, U.S, Surigao City, Manila

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — With Planet Earth running a fever, U.N. climate talks focused Sunday on the contagious effects on human health. “Climate change doesn’t need to be on a death certificate for us to be confident that climate change is causing deaths,” Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, WHO’s head of climate and health, said. Dubai, the largest city in oil-rich United Arab Emirates, often faces higher levels of air pollution than other places on Earth due to its location — and haze is common. The Dubai government, on its web site devoted to the environment, listed its Air Quality Index level mostly at “good” on Sunday. Switzerland-based IQAir, a technology company that sells air-quality monitoring products, listed Dubai as the city with the 18th-worst air quality in the world with “moderate” air quality levels as of noon local time on Sunday.

Persons: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, ”, —, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, John Kerry, ” Kerry, Vanessa, Tedros, Diarmid Campbell, ” Diarmid Campbell, Jon Gambrell, Peter Prengaman Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Health Organization, Conference, WHO, United, Associated Press, AP Locations: DUBAI, United Arab, Dubai, U.N, —, U.S, United Arab Emirates, Persian, Switzerland

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A powerful earthquake that shook the southern Philippines killed at least one villager and injured several others as thousands scrambled out of their homes in panic and jammed roads to higher grounds after a tsunami warning was issued, officials said Sunday. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said it expected tsunami waves to hit the southern Philippines and parts of Indonesia, Palau and Malaysia, but later dropped its tsunami warning. In Japan, authorities issued evacuation orders late Saturday in various parts of Okinawa prefecture, including for the entire coastal area, affecting thousands of people. My perfume bottles fell off a table, pictures on my wall swung and I heard people screaming outside: 'Get out, get out, earthquake, earthquake!”’ Isidoro said. Thousands of residents stayed outside their homes for hours in many towns due to the earthquake and tsunami scare, including in some that were drenched by an overnight downpour, officials said.

Persons: Shieldon Isidoro, Isidoro, ’ Isidoro, Gilberto Teodoro Jr, Teresito Bacolcol, Mari Yamaguchi Organizations: Geological Survey, Tsunami Warning, Associated Press, Defense, Philippine Institute of Locations: MANILA, Philippines, U.S, Indonesia, Palau, Malaysia, Japan, Okinawa, Tagum, Davao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Surigao del Sur province

☆ Lula in Berlin for First Brazil-Germany Talks in Eight Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Dec. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

He is expected to have dinner on Sunday with fellow leftist, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, before the consultations on Monday. Scholz was the first foreign leader to visit Lula in Brazil, just weeks after his inauguration. The German Chancellor has been on a quest since taking office in late 2021 to improve ties with the Global South. Scholz will be hoping to avoid a scenario like in January when his visit to Brazil was overshadowed by differences over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Lula last month said Israel was "committing terrorism" against Palestinians "by not taking into account that children are not at war, that women are not at war".

Persons: Andreas Rinke, Sarah Marsh BERLIN, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Lula, Jair Bolsonaro, Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Lukas Koehler, Israel, Sarah Marsh, Toby Chopra Organizations: Global, European Union, Mercosur, Brazil, EU, Free Democrats, U.S, Latin America, German Locations: Berlin, America, Brazil, Germany, China, South, Argentina, Scholz's, Ukraine, Israel

[1/2] Members of the International Federation of Medical Students Associations hold placards during a protest demanding an end to fossil fuels at COP28 World Climate Summit, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 3, 2023. Climate-related impacts "have become one of the greatest threats to human health in the 21st century", COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber said in a statement. The World Bank on Sunday launched a new Climate and Health program to explore possible interventions and public health solutions for developing countries. "We have new tools at the lab level that decimate mosquito populations," said Gates, whose foundation supports public health research and projects for the developing world. Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also spoke on Sunday at COP28, urging reform to the world's insurance system as another key requirement to keep people safe.

Persons: Amr Alfiky, Sultan Ahmed Al, Jaber, COP28, Joseph Vipond, Storm Daniel, Bill Gates, Gates, Hillary Clinton, Clinton, Gloria Dickie, Elizabeth Piper, Alexander Cornwell, Simon Jessop, Kate Abnett, William James, Katy Daigle, Jan Harvey Organizations: International Federation of Medical, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Rights, Physicians, World Health Organization, Bank, Sunday, Health, World Bank, Microsoft, Former U.S, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Dubai, United Arab, Alberta, Canada, Western, Libya, Pakistan, COP28

Both children received help through telehealth therapy, a service that schools around the country are offering in response to soaring mental health struggles among American youth. The growth reflects a booming new business born from America’s youth mental health crisis, which has proven so lucrative that venture capitalists are funding a new crop of school teletherapy companies. For rural schools and lower-income students in particular, it has made therapy easier to access. Schools let students connect with online counselors during the school day or after hours from home. It now employs more than 300 clinicians providing teletherapy in over 150 school districts in 15 states.

Persons: Maria Ishoo’s, Valerie Aguirre’s, ”, Ishoo, “, ” Ishoo, Trish Wilson, that’s, Wilson, Doreen Hogans, Kevin Dahill, Hazel, Josh Golomb, Prince George’s, Golomb, ” Golomb, Ashwin Vasan, ” Vasan, Fern Yoshida, Valerie Aguirre's, Aguirre, teletherapy, ” Aguirre, ’, Sharon Lurye Organizations: Associated Press, Schools, Hazel Health, Hazel, Los, Clark County, Dade, Press, Carnegie Corporation of New, AP Locations: California, Hawaii, Lancaster , California, Lancaster, Prince George’s County , Maryland, San Francisco, Los Angeles County, Clark, Las Vegas, Miami, Houston, New York City, New York, Maui, Carnegie Corporation of New York

☆ Detroit Casino Council ratify contract with MGM, Penn
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A view of MGM Grand hotel and casino signage, after MGM Resorts shut down some computer systems due to a cyber attack in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., September 13, 2023. REUTERS/Bridget Bennett/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 2 (Reuters) - Unions representing casino workers in Detroit have voted to ratify a new contract with MGM Grand Detroit operated by MGM Resorts (MGM.N), Hollywood Casino at Greektown operated by Penn Entertainment (PENN.O) and MotorCity Casino, Unite Here union said on Saturday. The unions will end the 47-day strike immediately, Unite Here union said in a statement. Reporting by Jose Joseph in Bengaluru; Editing by Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bridget Bennett, Jose Joseph, Daniel Wallis Organizations: MGM, MGM Resorts, REUTERS, Unions, MGM Grand Detroit, Hollywood, Penn Entertainment, Thomson Locations: Las Vegas , Nevada, U.S, Detroit, Greektown, Bengaluru

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An iconic chief of the Cherokee Nation, Wilma Mankiller, inspired countless Native American children as a powerful but humble leader who expanded early education and rural healthcare. A public ceremony honoring Mankiller’s legacy is set for Tuesday in Tahlequah in northeast Oklahoma, where the Cherokee Nation is headquartered. The rollout of the Barbie doll featuring Mankiller wearing a ribbon skirt, black shoes and carrying a woven basket has been met with conflicting reactions. I didn't know it was coming.”Olaya also wonders how her mother would feel about being honored with a Barbie doll. “I have a warm feeling about the thought of my granddaughters playing with a Wilma Mankiller Barbie,” she said.

Persons: Wilma Mankiller, Mankiller’s, Mankiller, —, ”, Chuck Hoskin, Mattel, ” Hoskin, “ Wilma Mankiller, ” Mankiller, Bessie Coleman, Black, Angelou, Ida B, Wells, Jane Goodall, Madam C.J, Walker, Wilma Barbie, ” Stacy Leeds, Regina Thompson, doesn't, “, ” Thompson, Wilma, ” Mattel, Devin Tucker, Charlie Soap, Kristina Kiehl, Kiehl, “ Regrettably, Felicia Olaya, Olaya, ” Olaya, ‘ I’m, Diana, “ I’m, Wilma Mankiller Barbie Organizations: OKLAHOMA CITY, Cherokee, Cherokee Nation, Indian, Mattel, Arizona State University, Associated Press, AP, Cherokees Locations: toymaker, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Mankiller, American

☆ Trump calls on supporters to 'guard the vote' in Democratic-run US cities
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Speaking at a campaign event in Iowa, Trump said it was important to scrutinize the vote in the battleground states likely to determine the general election. "So the most important part of what's coming up is to guard the vote. Trump did not specify who he was asking to "go into" the battleground-state cities. In a second Iowa event on Saturday in Cedar Rapids, Trump reiterated plans to reform the Affordable Care Act, known informally as Obamacare, calling the healthcare insurance program "a disaster." Reporting by Nathan Layne in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Gram Slattery in Washington Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Donald Trump, Carlos Barria, Trump, Joe Biden, Timothy Naftali, Naftali, Biden, Nathan Layne, Gram Slattery, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S, Republican, REUTERS, Democratic, Trump, Republican National Committee, Republicans, Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, Capitol, Affordable, Thomson Locations: Ankeny , Iowa, U.S, RAPIDS , Iowa, Philadelphia, Iowa, Michigan , Pennsylvania, Georgia, what's, Detroit, Atlanta, Ankeny, Des Moines, Nazi Germany, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids , Iowa, Washington

☆ China has more space to cut reserve ratio instead of interest rates, says ex-official
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Paramilitary police officers stand guard in front of the headquarters of the People's Bank of China, the central bank (PBOC), in Beijing, China September 30, 2022. With interest rates and loan prime rates at low levels, there is more space to cut banks' reserve requirement ratio (RRR) than to cut interest rates, Sheng said. The central bank lowered the RRR in September for the second time this year to boost liquidity and support economic recovery. The weighted average RRR for financial institutions was around 7.4% after the cut. China is prudent in cutting interest rates as its monetary policy needs to consider internal and external balance, Sheng said.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Sheng Songcheng, Sheng, Mei Mei Chu, Christopher Cushing Organizations: People's Bank of China, REUTERS, Rights, People's Bank of, Shanghai Securities, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, People's Bank of China, U.S

☆ Philippines deploys vessels to monitor 'illegal' presence of Chinese boats in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A Philippine Coast Guard personnel looks through a binocular while conducting a resupply mission for Filipino troops stationed at a grounded warship in the South China Sea, October 4, 2023. The West Philippine Sea is Manila's term for waters in the South China Sea that fall within its 200-nautical mile EEZ. An international tribunal invalidated China's claim to 90% of the South China Sea in 2016, but Beijing does not recognise the ruling. The Philippines is ramping up efforts to counter what it describes as China's "aggressive activities" in the South China Sea, which has also become a naval flashpoint for Chinese and U.S. tension. China has accused the Philippines of enlisting "foreign forces" to patrol the South China Sea and stirring up trouble.

Persons: Adrian Portugal, Julian Felipe Reef, Karen Lema, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Philippine Coast Guard, REUTERS, Rights, South China, Embassy, Thomson Locations: South China, Rights MANILA, South, Manila, Philippines, West Philippine, Philippine, Beijing, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, United States, Australia, The Philippines

☆ AstraZeneca, AI biologics firm Absci tie up on cancer drug - FT
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The AstraZeneca logo is pictured outside the AstraZeneca office building in Brussels as part of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination campaign, Belgium, January 28, 2021. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Absci Corp FollowAstraZeneca PLC FollowDec 3 (Reuters) - Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca (AZN.L) has signed a deal worth up to $247 million with U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) biologics firm Absci (ABSI.O) to design an antibody to fight cancer, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. The collaboration aims to harness Absci's AI technology for large-scale protein analysis to find a viable oncology therapy, a leading focus of AstraZeneca, the report said. Absci and AstraZeneca did not immediately respond to a Reuters requests for comment. Absci applies generative artificial intelligence to design optimal drug candidates based on target affinity, safety, manufacturability and other traits.

Persons: Johanna Geron, Sean McClain, Absci’s, Shivani Tanna, William Mallard Organizations: AstraZeneca, REUTERS, U.S, Financial Times, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Swedish, Bengaluru

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivers remarks during the unveiling of her portrait, at the State Department in Washington, U.S., September 26, 2023. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Sunday for reform of the insurance sector, where companies are increasingly withdrawing assistance against climate shocks. Lower-income countries and workers in nations most affected by climate change are struggling to access insurance to help protect them from economic shocks. "We need to rethink the insurance industry," Clinton said during a panel on women and climate resiliency. "People in the United States, Europe, they're going to wake up and say, 'What do you mean, I can't get insurance?'"

Persons: Hillary Rodham Clinton, Ken Cedeno, Hillary Clinton, Clinton, it's, Valerie Volcovici, Elizabeth Piper, Katy Daigle, Jan Harvey Organizations: U.S, State Department, REUTERS, Rights, Former U.S, Insurance, Foundation Resilience, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Former, India, U.S, United States, Europe

☆ COP28: What sea level rise will look like in the cities that have hosted global climate summits
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Rachel Ramirez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

And scientists say the steady climb of global sea level will continue for many decades as temperatures crank higher. A photo illustration of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, if we sharply cut carbon pollution (1.5°C global warming). Climate Central A photo illustration of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, if we keep our current carbon path (3°C global warming). Climate Central Photo illustrations from Climate Central What sea-level rise could look like at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A photograph of the Fortaleza del Real Felipe in Lima, Peru, if we sharply cut carbon pollution (1.5°C global warming).

Persons: Sabelle, ”, Benjamin Strauss, ” Strauss, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu, Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Organizations: CNN, Climate Central, UN, United Arab Emirates, Fortaleza del Real Felipe, Climate, Durban City Hall, U.S . Navy, NGA, World Meteorological Organization Locations: Dubai, Burj Khalifa, United Arab Emirates, United Arab, Fortaleza, Lima , Peru, Earth’s, Climate Central, COP21, Paris, Durban, South Africa, Mumbai, India, Chhatrapati, Antarctica, Copenhagen, Denmark, Christiansborg, COP28

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Ueslei Marcelino, Lula, Jair Bolsonaro, Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Lukas Koehler, Israel, Andreas Rinke, Sarah Marsh, Toby Chopra Organizations: Central Bank, REUTERS, Rights, Global, European Union, Mercosur, Brazil, EU, Free Democrats, U.S, Latin America, German, Thomson Locations: Brasilia, Brazil, Berlin, America, Germany, China, South, Argentina, Scholz's, Ukraine, Israel

☆ UBS to expand presence in U.S. market - Swiss paper
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A UBS logo is seen next to Credit Suisse at the Bahnhofstrasse before a news conference of Swiss bank UBS in Zurich Switzerland, August 30, 2023. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 3 (Reuters) - Swiss bank UBS (UBSG.S) plans to expand its presence in the U.S. market as part of its strategy to hit $150 billion in net new money, or inflow of new funds, per year, an executive told Swiss newspaper NZZ Am Sonntag in an interview published on Sunday. The fourth-largest asset manager in the United States plans to invest heavily over the next three years, Iqbal Kahn, head of its asset management division, told the paper. Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Paul Arnold Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, NZZ, Iqbal Kahn, Victoria Waldersee, Paul Arnold, Bernadette Baum Organizations: UBS, Credit Suisse, Swiss, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Zurich Switzerland, Swiss, U.S, United States

☆ Israel-Hamas War Top U.S. Officials Urge Israel to Protect Gazans Amid Intensified Fighting
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Andrés R. Martínez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Yelena Trupanob, right, and her mother, Irena Tati, who were recently released from captivity in Gaza, appearing at a rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday. Ms. Trupanob’s son, Sasha, is still being held hostage in Gaza. “I came to say thank you,” Ms. Trupanob said. Ms. Trupanob, her son, Sasha, 28, and Ms. Tati were kidnapped from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7. “Now, we have to continue, to return my Sasha, and everyone,” Ms. Trupanob said at the demonstration.

Persons: Yelena Trupanob, Irena Tati, Trupanob’s, Sasha, “, Ms, Trupanob, ”, —, Tati, Nir Oz, Vitaly Trupanob, ” Ms, Michal Lebenthal, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Amit Shem Tov, Omer, Shem Tov, ” Mr Locations: Gaza, Tel Aviv, Russian, Israel, Jerusalem

☆ Why More Chinese Are Risking Danger in Southern Border Crossings to U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Li Yuan | More About Li Yuan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Gao Zhibin and his daughter left Beijing on Feb. 24 for a better life, a safer one. By the time they touched American soil in late March, Mr. Gao had lost 30 pounds. The most harrowing part of their journey was trekking through the brutal jungle in Panama known as the Darién Gap. Mr. Gao said he thought she might have drunk dirty water. Dragging themselves through the muddy, treacherous rainforests of the Darién Gap, they took a break every 10 minutes.

Persons: Gao Zhibin, Gao, ”, Xi, “ Organizations: Mr Locations: Beijing, Panama, China, U.S

☆ Digital Payments Are Having a Jolly Holiday
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Telis Demos | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Buy now, pay later point-of-sale lending offered by Afterpay and others generated 42.5% more online spending on Cyber Monday this year than last year. Photo: Richard B. Levine/Zuma PressThis year’s Black Friday might not have been marked by stories of mobs of shoppers like in past years, but it made up for that drama digitally. In-store U.S. retail sales on Black Friday rose 1.1% over last year, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse, and e-commerce sales were up 8.5%. That might help give a second wind to digital payments stocks whose shares have struggled at times in the postpandemic era.

Persons: Afterpay, Richard B, Levine Organizations: Mastercard SpendingPulse

☆ Mike Johnson Becomes Surprise Champion of More Ukraine Aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Lindsay Wise | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Speaker Mike Johnson has repeatedly called Ukraine aid a critical priority for the House. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesWASHINGTON—Less than one month before Mike Johnson ’s sudden ascent to the speakership, the Louisiana Republican, then a little-known member, joined with most GOP lawmakers to vote against $300 million in U.S. security assistance for Ukraine. Now, as speaker, Johnson has surprised many on Capitol Hill by publicly and repeatedly calling Ukraine aid a critical priority for the House.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Drew Angerer, Mike Johnson ’, Johnson Organizations: Getty, WASHINGTON, Louisiana Republican Locations: Ukraine, Louisiana

☆ Defense Stocks Benefit From War, Renewing ESG Debate for Everyday Investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Hannah Miao | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

When Shiva Chidambaram started putting money into his 401(k) a couple of years ago, he didn’t think much about his investments. Then the war in the Middle East began. Chidambaram came across a tweet about U.S. weapons manufacturers last month that prompted him to investigate the stocks in his retirement account. He discovered his 401(k) contributions were held in a target-date fund that owns shares of military contractors such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman .

Persons: Shiva Chidambaram, Chidambaram, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman Organizations: East, Lockheed

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