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☆ Australia's Indigenous Voice referendum faces misinformation linked to COVID influencers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

Dozens of campaigners who built substantial audiences during the COVID era by opposing Australia's pandemic response have turned their focus to undermining the Oct. 14 referendum, analysis of social media posts by independent fact-checkers shows. The direct link between COVID agitators and misinformation about the Voice has not been previously reported in detail. Polls show support for the Voice has slumped from about two-thirds in April to less than 40% this month. Not one X post containing electoral misinformation was marked or taken down in the monitoring period, before or after being reported, Reset.Tech said. "Many of the accounts pushing electoral misinformation narratives turned to a style of anti-lockdown politics during the pandemic," said Reset.Tech Australia executive director Alice Dawkins.

Persons: William Bay, Hitler, Bay, Reset.Tech, Elon Musk, Alice Dawkins, Ella Woods, Joyce, Evan Ekin, Smyth, Donald Trump, Luke Howarth, Covid, David Heilpern, Graham Hood, Pauline Hanson, Tristan Van Rye, Hood, Hanson, Van Rye, Ed Coper, Rosita Diaz, Diaz, BILL Australia's, Michelle Rowland, we're, Elise Thomas, Byron Kaye, Praveen Menon, Daniel Flynn, David Crawshaw Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Facebook, COVID, Meta, Reset.Tech, U.S, Southern Cross University, Qantas, Aboriginal, Labor, Communications, Advance Australia, Institute for Strategic, Thomson Locations: Brisbane, Australia, BRISBANE, Brisbane's, Reset.Tech Australia, Northern Territory, Canada, U.S, New Zealand, Melbourne

☆ SMIC stock plunges as US calls for further sanctions of China's top chipmaker over Huawei smartphone
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —Shares in SMIC, China’s largest contract chipmaker, plunged on Thursday, after two US congressmen called on the White House to further restrict export sales to the company. The comments came after Huawei Technologies introduced the Mate 60 Pro, a Chinese smartphone powered by an advanced chip that is believed to have been made by SMIC. TechInsights, a research organization based in Canada specializing in semiconductors, revealed shortly after the launch that the smartphone contained a new 5G Kirin 9000s processor developed specifically for Huawei by SMIC. Gallagher was quoted as saying SMIC may have violated US sanctions, as this chip likely could not be produced without US technology. Hua Hong Semiconductor, China’s second largest chip foundry, tumbled 4.8%.

Persons: SMIC, ” Jefferies, Qilai Shen, Mike Gallagher, Gallagher, ”, Texas Republican Michael McCaul, “, Gina Raimondo, Raimondo, SMIC’s, Biden Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, House, Huawei Technologies, Kirin, Huawei, SMIC, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, Bloomberg, Getty, US Commerce Department, Reuters, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, Hua Hong Semiconductor, Texas Republican, Foreign Affairs Committee, US, US Commerce, Huahong Semiconductor, CNN, Jefferies Locations: China, Hong Kong, SMIC, China’s, Chinese, Shanghai, United States, Canada

☆ US prosecutors to seek Hunter Biden indictment by Sept. 29
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, departs federal court after a plea hearing on two misdemeanor charges of willfully failing to pay income taxes in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. July 26, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors said in a court filing on Wednesday they will seek an indictment of President Joe Biden's son, Hunter, by Sept. 29 in his tax and firearms case. "The government intends to seek the return of an indictment in this case before that date," Weiss wrote in a status report to U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika. In July, Noreika rejected a proposed plea deal that would have resolved the tax and gun charges, raising concerns over its legality and the scope of immunity it offered Hunter Biden. Republicans in Congress have raised the possibility of impeaching President Biden over his son's business dealings and accuse the Department of Justice of giving him a "sweetheart deal."

Persons: Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, Jonathan Ernst, Joe Biden's, Hunter, David Weiss, General Merrick Garland, Weiss, Maryellen Noreika, Noreika, Hunter Biden's, Abbe Lowell, Biden, Lowell, ”, Garland, Donald Trump, Trump, Kanishka Singh, Eric Beech, Tom Hals, Jeff Mason, Rami Ayyub, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, District, Mr, Congress, of Justice, Attorney, District of, Republican, Thomson Locations: Wilmington , Delaware, U.S, District of Delaware

☆ Silicon Valley billionaires want to build a new city in rural California, but locals are skeptical of the project: 'Their secrecy has caused a lot of problems'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Janie Har | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Silicon Valley billionaires revealed plans to build a new city after buying $800 million in land. The land was quietly purchased in Solano County, a rural area near San Francisco and Sacramento. Most of the land purchased is in the southeastern portion of the county, with parcels stretching from Fairfield to Rio Vista. Billionaires want to build a new city in rural California, but they're encountering wavering support from locals and lawmakers. Solano County homes are among the most affordable in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a median sales price of $600,000 last month.

Persons: Jan Sramek, Goldman Sachs, Flannery, Laurene Powell Jobs, Reid Hoffman, Marc Andreessen, Marc Andreeseen, Lauren Powell Jobs, Michael Moritz, Paul Chinn, Countess, Michael Kovac, Sramek, Mike Thompson, Terry Chea, Princess Washington, Thompson, they're, he's, John Garamendi, Hoffman, Andreessen, Ron Kott, Kott Organizations: Service, FRANCISCO, Flannery Associates, Silicon, LinkedIn, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Getty, Fair, Solano, US Air Force, FBI, of Treasury, AP, San Francisco Bay Area, Travis Air Force Base, US Locations: Solano County, San Francisco, Sacramento, Wall, Silicon, Northern California, Solano, Silicon Valley, California, Fairfield, Rio Vista, U.S, United Kingdom, Ireland, walkable, Terry Chea California, California's, San Francisco Bay, Princess, Suisun City, Travis

☆ A North Carolina gerrymandering effort could oust a Democratic lawmaker who wrote a bill to make it illegal for lawmakers to gerrymander
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

US Rep. Jeff Jackson, a Democrat, predicted he would be targeted by gerrymandering Republicans. Jackson earlier filed a bill to curtail gerrymandering when he was a North Carolina state lawmaker. First-term US Rep. Jeff Jackson, a Democrat from North Carolina, issued a warning to his constituents in a video last week, saying the redistricting process would be "brutal." In 2015, when he was a member of the state's senate, Jackson filed a bill to establish an independent redistricting commission in North Carolina to draw voting districts instead of the state's lawmakers. Reached for comment via email, the leader of the North Carolina General Assembly's Republican caucus, Rep. Jason Saine, only said that Jackson should "elaborate" on his claims.

Persons: Jeff Jackson, Jackson, he'd, hasn't, Jason Saine Organizations: Republicans, GOP, Service, Democrats, Brennan Center for Justice, Michigan —, Black, North, North Carolina General, Republican Locations: North Carolina, Wall, Silicon, Arizona, California , Colorado, Michigan, Alabama

☆ SEC's Gary Gensler is waging war against crypto. Here's a look at how his views on the industry have evolved over the years
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Joseph Wilkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The SEC has waged war against the cryptocurrency industry this year with a string of lawsuits. At the heart of it is SEC chief Gary Gensler – who has railed against crypto since taking office. Amid his regulatory battle against crypto, Insider maps the evolution of his views on the sector. AdvertisementAdvertisementAs 2023 progresses, Gensler has become more hardline on crypto – waging lawsuits not just against FTX, but also the Binance and Ripple platforms. Lawsuit fatigueAfter almost six months of attrition warfare, Gary Gensler had crypto on the ropes.

Persons: Gary Gensler –, Gary Gensler, messier, Gensler, Satoshi's, Bitcoin, Sam Bankman, Ritchie Torres, Fortune Crypto Organizations: SEC, Service, Securities and Exchange Commission, Investments, CoinDesk, Goldman, Bloomberg TV Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ A Saudi-Israel deal could dramatically reshape the Middle East — but don't expect it anytime soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Saudi Arabia doesn't recognize Israel as a state and has refused to do so since the latter's independence in 1948. A deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia could dramatically reshape the geopolitics of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia wants military promisesAnother big challenge is what Saudi Arabia is demanding of Washington. But even if a security guarantee and more advanced weapons access demands are met, U.S. backing for a Saudi nuclear program is likely more challenging. Any deal on this is also complicated by the fact that Saudi Arabia has its own natural supplies of uranium and intends to mine them itself.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Louiza Vradi, Israel –, Saudi Arabia doesn't, Mahmoud Abbas, Benjamin Netanyahu, Amir Cohen, Biden, Sanam Vakil, Netanyahu, Mustafa Hassona, Hussein Ibish, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Vakil, Mohammed bin Salman, Fayez Nureldine, Ryan Bohl, Rane Organizations: Wall Street Journal, Palestinian Authority, Biden, Palmachim Air Force Base, Reuters, Saudi, Chatham House, CNBC, Bloomberg, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Gulf States Institute, United Nations, Saudi Crown, Nurphoto, Republicans, Artillery, Defense, Afp, U.S, government's, United Arab Emirates, Middle East Locations: Saudi, Athens, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Riyadh, Rishon Lezion, U.S, East, North Africa, Palestine, Mecca, Medina, Gaza City, West Bank, Nablus, Gaza, Washington, Beit Lahia, Yemen

Pipelines run to Enbridge Inc.'s crude oil storage tanks at their tank farm in Cushing, Oklahoma. Cushing crude inventories have declined in five of the most recent six weeks by a total of 9 million barrels (-24%) since July 14. The drawdown in U.S. crude inventories has coincided with additional production cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia totalling around 75 million barrels during July and August. U.S. NET CRUDE IMPORTSU.S. net crude oil imports remain subdued despite the depletion of inventories with exports continuing to run at a relatively fast rate while imports stay low. Related columns:- Oil market to tighten modestly in late 2023 (August 17, 2023)- Crude oil and fuels draw funds as sentiment shifts (August 7, 2023)- U.S. oil and gas production begins to flatten (August 4, 2023)- Saudi output cut removes downside risk from oil market (July 12, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

Persons: Nick Oxford, CUSHING, Cushing, Biden, John Kemp, David Evans Organizations: Enbridge Inc, REUTERS, U.S . Energy Information Administration, refiners, Traders, NET, U.S . Department of Energy, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Cushing , Oklahoma, Chartbook, Cushing, Oklahoma, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Russia, United States, Asia, Europe, Asia . U.S, Ukraine, Saudi

That's because the Federal Reserve has been hiking interest rates since March 2022 in an effort to cool inflation. So the question remains: When will we finally see interest rates start to come down? CNBC Select asked three experts to give their take on what lies ahead for interest rates. What we'll coverWhen will interest rates come back down? Existing loans with a variable rate may also start charging less interest as the Fed lowers interest rates.

Persons: Amy Hubble, hasn't, Preston Caldwell, Caldwell, Hubble, Elliot Eisenberg, you'll, it's Organizations: Federal Reserve, CNBC, Federal, Market, Morningstar Research Services, Ally Bank, Navy Federal Credit Union, Jumbo, Navy Federal Credit, PNC Bank, PNC Bank Mortgage, Savings, Axos Bank, FDIC, CNBC Select's, Facebook, Twitter Locations: U.S

☆ The 15 cheapest cities in the US to buy a home in right now — including 3 where prices are expected to appreciate at least 22% by 2026 — according to Scholaroo
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

It's not an easy time to buy a home with prices and mortgage rates elevated. Scholaroo recently ranked cities by affordability, looking at prices, taxes, and incomes. Supply remains tight, and 30-year fixed mortgage rates have again risen over 7%. In a recent report, Scholaroo published an analysis of 152 cities that looked at their median home prices, median property taxes, mortgage payment-to-income ratio, and average monthly household incomes. Using this data, the firm created in an index to determine the cheapest places to buy a home in the US.

Persons: It's, it's, Scholaroo

☆ Vivek Ramaswamy doubles down on comparing US Rep. Ayanna Pressley to 'modern grand wizard' of the KKK
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy refused to back down from a rather surprising opinion. Ramaswamy compared Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley and author Ibram X. Kendi to KKK grand wizards. "But can you have an intellectually honest conversation when you accuse her of being a grand wizard of the KKK?" "These are the words of the modern grand wizards of the modern KKK," Ramaswamy said at the Iowa campaign stop, NBC reported. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe controversial businessman and presidential candidate has decried "woke" culture, making it a center point of his campaign.

Persons: Vivek Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy, Ayanna Pressley, Ibram, Kendi, Pressley, Dana Bash, Ayanna, week's Organizations: Democratic, Service, Massachusetts Democratic, NBC, Politico Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ibram, Iowa, Congress

☆ JPMorgan: The world's food supplies face a bleak future. These are the 3 biggest threats, and the companies best-positioned to tackle food insecurity.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Mark Reeth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Investors need to know exactly where the threats to the world's food supply are coming from, what themes are beginning to emerge in this new reality, and how they should be investing. New threats to the world's food supplyIn her report, Chang highlighted the ongoing problems affecting the world's food supply: war, weather, and the weaponization of food. One of the most devastating recently implemented restrictions on food supply is India's decision to ban the exportation of non-Basmati white rice. The combination of war, weather, and the weaponization of food has taken a toll on the world's food availability. And within food innovation, JPMorgan analysts like Philippine food and beverage maker Monde Nissin (MONDE PM) and Thailand-based seafood producer Thai Union (TU TB).

Persons: UNICEF — that's, Global Research Joyce Chang, Chang, El, Hilary, CJ Cheiljedang, Mengniu Dairy, Kubota, Jeronimo Martins SGPS Organizations: JPMorgan, Hurricanes, UNICEF —, Global Research, Grain Initiative, Food Policy Research, Food, Agriculture Commodities, ASEAN, Mahindra, LG, Thai Union, TU, Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA, Tesco PLC, J Sainsbury PLC, Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize, Carrefour SA, Yara International ASA, OCI, OCI NA, Bayer AG, PepsiCo Locations: Ukraine, California, Canada, East Coast, Russia, Africa, Asia, India, El, South Korean, HK, South Korea, Philippine, Thailand, Europe

☆ An Arizona man planned to build his retirement home on a plot of land he bought 20 years ago. The problem: It was sold for $200,000 without him knowing.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

"I noticed the last four digits of the social security number were not mine and the address was wrong — the mail shouldn't have even gotten to me," Gordon told Insider. Gordon, 65, bought the undeveloped, 3 1/3-acre property in 1999 for $76,500, Pima County property records show. AdvertisementAdvertisementGordon spoke with Title Security Agency, the Arizona company that handled Gordon's title work when he purchased the property in 1999. He told Insider that in this instance, the seller was found out to be fraudulent soon after the deal closed. He told Insider he spoke with a broker that had four fraudulent incidents in one day.

Persons: William Gordon, Gordon, He's, —, Penny Davis, Gabriella Cázares, Kelly, it's, we've, Eric Gibbs, I'm, Gibbs, Jeff Murtaugh, he's, who's, Murtaugh, ORNTIC Organizations: Service, Security Agency, First American, Pima Recorder's, Title Security Agency, Realty ONE, Realty Executives, Old, Title Insurance, Insurance, News Locations: Tucson, Wall, Silicon, Tucson , Arizona, Pima County, Phoenix, Arizona, Pima, Texas, Bexar, —, Real, Realty Executives Arizona, Old Republic

☆ Opinion: Who the drone attacks on Russia are really aimed at
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Sheena Mckenzie | Opinion Jade Mcglynn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Jade McGlyn Jade McGlynIt is the latest in more than 140 suspected Ukrainian drone attacks directed against Russia and its occupying forces on Ukrainian territory this year, according to the BBC. Does that mean the drone attacks are strategically pointless? Investigators work near a damaged roof following a reported Ukrainian drone shot down in Moscow, Russia, on Friday, August 18. Unlike in Russia, Ukraine’s population is not passive or depoliticised, as shown by its heroic fight for its sovereignty. The drone attacks probably won’t turn Russians against the war.

Persons: Jade McGlynn, “, Read, McGlyn, Volodymyr Zelensky, arrogate, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s, Igor Girkin, Shamil Zhumatov, pacifying, Vladimir Kara Murza, ”, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov Organizations: Center for Strategic, International Studies, CNN, Russia, BBC, Malaysia Airlines Flight, Kremlin, of Defence, Armed Forces, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Putin’s Russia, Russia, Ukrainian, Moscow, Ukraine, Russian

Loeffler fears a land grab on Maui would mean the loss of Hawaiian culture. Affordable housing advocates such as Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA) are calling for a moratorium on foreclosures. At stake is the survival of Hawaiian culture, said Kaliko Baker, an associate professor at the University of Hawaii. "If people buy land and build their own Lahaina does that include Hawaiian language schools?" Loeffler plans to rebuild her plantation-style family home with insurance money so Lahaina can again "look like Lahaina."

Persons: Deborah Loeffler, Liliana Salgado, Loeffler, Josh Green, Marlena, Sterling Higa, Andrew Rumbach, Kaliko Baker, Baker, Sam, Andrew Hay, Rachel Nostrant, Daniel Trotta, Jonathan Allen, Donna Bryson, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Hawaii Alliance, Progressive, Consumer, Reuters, Housing, Urban Institute, University of Hawaii, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Kaanapali, Hawaii, U.S, Maui, Paradise , California, New Mexico, Maui County, Oklahoma City, Florida, Honolulu, Washington, Loeffler, Taos , New Mexico

☆ Parmigiano-Reggiano makers are putting edible microchips the size of a grain of sand into their 90-pound cheese wheels to combat counterfeiters
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Makers of Parmigiano-Reggiano in Italy are adding microchips to their cheese wheels. That's because makers of Parmigiano-Reggiano are implanting microchips into the casings of their 90-pound cheese wheels as the latest move to ward off counterfeiters, The Wall Street Journal reported. That's because it's the original parmesan cheese officially protected by the European Union, meaning the name can only be used for the authentic product. They are being placed on the casein label, a food-safe label commonly used in cheese production, which is placed on the cheese wheel. Other industries are also considering or planning to use the chips, including makers of drugs and car parts.

Persons: they've, Alberto Pecorari Organizations: Service, Street Journal, European Union, The Locations: Reggiano, Italy, Wall, Silicon, counterfeiters, Italy's Emilia Romagna, Champagne, France, Feta, Greece

☆ How Oliver Anthony’s ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ became a chart-topping conservative anthem
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —In a matter of days, Oliver Anthony’s working-class anthem, “Rich Men North of Richmond,” has gone from viral sensation to legitimate country hit. “Rich Men North of Richmond” touches upon Anthony’s time as a factory worker in Western North Carolina, he said in the video shared before the song was posted online. Conservative media personality Jason Howerton said he has offered to pay to produce Anthony’s record and that Rich had agreed to produce it. (A representative for Rich told CNN on Wednesday that there “isn’t much to report on” about Anthony and Rich working together. Anthony's song has been compared to Aldean's for their rural perspectives and embrace by conservatives.

Persons: Oliver Anthony’s, “ Rich, ”, dethroning Luke Combs, Jason Aldean, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Walsh, Anthony, he’s, “, …, ” Anthony, That’s what’s, Oliver Anthony, Richmond ”, Christopher Anthony Lunsford, Jeffrey Epstein, Epstein, RadioWV, it’s, Kari Lake, Lauren Boebert, ” It’s, Travis Tritt, John Rich of, Jason Howerton, Rich, Jason Aldean's, parlayed, “ Don’t, “ Oliver Anthony’s, Phil, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Anthony’s, Uncle Sam’s, Merle Haggard’s “, Guy Drake’s “, Cadillac ”, ain’t Organizations: CNN, North, Apple, iTunes, US Rep, YouTube, Richmond, Virgin Islands, Arizona, John Rich of Big, Rich, Conservative, Records, Facebook Locations: Richmond, ”, Virginia, Appalachia, Western North Carolina, Washington , DC, Virgin, Currituck , North Carolina, America

☆ VinFast stock skyrockets 270% on Nasdaq, EV maker worth more than Ford after going public
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

That’s more than Volkswagen (VLKAF) or Ford (F), which are valued at 63.9 billion euros ($69.7 billion) and $48 billion, respectively, according to Refinitiv. VinFast is still 99% owned by Vietnam’s richest man, Pham Nhat Vuong, through shares held by his other company Vingroup and other business entities, according to a regulatory filing. VinFast was founded in 2017 as a subsidiary of Vingroup, one of Vietnam’s largest conglomerates. Its performance Tuesday makes VinFast the largest US-listed Vietnamese company by market cap, it said. VinFast electric vehicles parked in Los Angeles on March 1 Lisa Baertlein/ReutersSeveral headlines have been particularly blunt, with one by industry outlet Road & Track calling the vehicle “simply unacceptable.” Another by MotorTrend read: “Return to sender.”Other reviews were more forgiving.

Persons: Pham Nhat Vuong, VinFast, Vuong, Thuy Le, Lisa Baertlein, MotorTrend, ”, Le, — Peter Valdes, Dapena Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Vietnam’s, Volkswagen, Ford, Spade, Nasdaq, Bloomberg, Reuters Locations: Hong Kong, New York, Vingroup, Vietnam, North America, United States, Los Angeles, North Carolina, Europe

☆ A former campaign staffer for Rep. George Santos who impersonated Kevin McCarthy's chief of staff for donations was just indicted for wire fraud and identity theft
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A New York grand jury indicted a former fundraiser for Rep. George Santos' 2020 and 2022 campaigns. The indictment alleges that Sam Miele impersonated someone without their permission in order to solicit more than a dozen donations. The indictment does not say who Miele impersonated, but previous reporting notes the stolen identity was of Dan Meyer, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's former chief of staff. While the indictment does not say who, exactly, Miele impersonated, previous reporting from The Washington Times and CNBC notes that Miele took on the identity of Dan Meyer, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's former chief of staff. Miele's indictment comes three months after federal prosecutors unsealed a thirteen-count indictment against Santos that included charges of theft of public funds, wire fraud, and money laundering.

Persons: George Santos, Sam Miele, Dan Meyer, Kevin McCarthy's, Santos, Miele, Meyer, Goldman Sachs Organizations: Service, GOP Rep, New, Prosecutors, The Washington Times, CNBC, Washington Times, Citigroup, Catholic, Baruch College, New York University Locations: York, Wall, Silicon, New York, Miele

☆ A Ukrainian soldier captured by Russian forces says they played with him 'the way a cat plays with a mouse,' torturing him for fun instead of for information
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Ukrainian soldier captured by Wagner says they tortured him "the way a cat plays with a mouse." The soldier told The Washington Post about being a prisoner of war during the battle of Bakhmut. While captive, Mykhalchuk told The Post he noticed he wasn't being interrogated for battlefield information or intelligence like higher-ranking prisoners — instead, he was being tortured psychologically. "They tried to make us believe that we couldn't trust each other, and that it was a kill-or-be-killed situation," Mykhalchuk told The Post. "They were just playing with us, the way a cat plays with a mouse — when he catches it before he kills it."

Persons: Wagner, Wagner sloppily, —, Ilia Mykhalchuk, Mykhalchuk, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Washington Post, Service, 67th Mechanized Brigade, Wagner, Russian, Russian Federation Locations: Ukrainian, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine

☆ 5 major companies explain how they've designed their hybrid-work policies
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Based on five companies' responses, hybrid work is thriving right now. The spokesperson noted that the company believes both hybrid work and flexibility aren't going anywhere. EYOutside of the tech sector, companies are also prioritizing hybrid work. Still, Giampietro noted the challenge of hybrid work for meeting with clients, as some of "those clients may not be in as frequently or may not want us in as frequently." Reach out to this reporter at mhoff@insider.com to share your story and how you feel about your company's current remote, hybrid, or in-person work policy.

Persons: Yahoo Finance's Daniel Howley, We've, Ryan Lamont, Lamont, we're, Fiona Cicconi, Chris Schmidt, Schmidt, Frank Giampietro, EY, Giampietro, McKinsey & Company Katy George, George Organizations: Microsoft, Service, Gallup, IBM, Google, Microsoft Microsoft, Yahoo, Google Google, Street, Alphabet Workers, Alphabet Workers Union, CWA, McKinsey & Company, McKinsey Locations: Wall, Silicon, New York City, Americas

Futures prices for ultra-low sulphur diesel delivered in New York Harbor in September climbed to $135 per barrel on Aug. 9, up from $95 on May 31. Prices for diesel and other distillate fuel oils have been rising much faster than for crude petroleum, widening margins for refiners. Diesel prices are rising as traders anticipate that shortages will quickly re-emerge if the economy avoids falling into a recession later in 2023. The rapid escalation in diesel prices and hedge fund position building is a warning that capacity constraints and upward pressure on goods prices are likely to re-emerge relatively quickly later in 2023 and in 2024. Depleted diesel inventories are a sign that if the economy achieves a mid-cycle soft-landing the second phase of the current expansion could prove short and inflationary.

Persons: Guan, John Kemp, David Evans Organizations: Kinder, Phillips, Los, Los Angeles Refinery, REUTERS, U.S . Energy Information Administration, ICE Futures, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, U.S, diesel, Diesel, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Los Angeles, Carson , California, U.S, United, New York Harbor, Europe, Singapore

☆ Hawaii wildfires raze resort city on Maui island, killing dozens
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Marco Garcia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke said late on Wednesday that officials were still assessing the damage. The cause of the Maui wildfires had yet to be determined, but the National Weather Service said a mix of dry vegetation, strong winds, and low humidity fueled the fast-moving conflagration. THREE SEPARATE BLAZESFirefighters were battling three separate blazes on the island, officials said late on Wednesday night, without providing further details. An aerial view shows damage along the coast of Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, U.S. August 9, 2023 this screen grab obtained from social media video. More than 11,000 travelers were evacuated from Maui, Ed Sniffen of the Hawaii Department of Transportation said late on Wednesday.

Persons: Dustin Kaleiopu, Kaleiopu, Sylvia Luke, Thomas Smith, Richard Bissen, Richard Olsten, Kamehameha III's, flyovers, Julius Limbaga, Limbaga, Ed Sniffen, Rich McKay, Brendan O'Brien, Frank McGurty, Angus MacSwan, Alex Richardson, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Hawaiian Kingdom, NBC, National Weather Service, London School of Economics, Political, Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics Maui, Air Maui Helicopters, REUTERS, Honolulu Star, U.S . Civil Air Patrol, Maui Fire Department, Coast Guard, U.S . Coast Guard, Hawaii Department of Transportation, Kahului, Thomson Locations: Maui, Europe, Canada, Hawaii, Lahaina, Hawaiian, U.S, Lahaina ., Kula, South Maui, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Hurricane Dora, Oahu, West Maui, Atlanta, Chicago

☆ US reports big interest in $52 billion semiconductor chips funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Semiconductor chips are seen on a printed circuit board in this illustration picture taken February 17, 2023. The chips law also includes a 25% investment tax credit for building chip plants, estimated to be worth $24 billion. The Commerce Department spent the last year building a team of more than 140 people and writing rules for accepting and assessing applications. The law also dedicates $11 billion for advanced semiconductor manufacturing research and development. The focal point will be the National Semiconductor Technology Center.

Persons: Florence Lo WASHINGTON, Joe Biden's, Biden, We're, Gina Raimondo, Pat Gelsinger, Raimondo, David Shepardson, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Commerce Department, Commerce Department, Intel, National Semiconductor Technology Center . Commerce, Commerce, Defense, Energy, National Science Foundation, Thomson Locations: Florence, America, U.S, China

☆ Yankees hope to get bats going against White Sox
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Field Level Media | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

August 8 - Andrew Vaughn's summary of the Chicago White Sox's third straight victory sounded simple amid high drama surrounding the team. Long out of American League postseason contention, the White Sox have won three straight for the first time since a five-game tear from June 2-8. "Players are allowed to get better, and I believe that he's one of those guys," White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. Toussaint is 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA in two career appearances against the Yankees, including one start. The right-hander lost to the White Sox on June 6 at Yankee Stadium after allowing three runs and six hits in six innings.

Persons: Andrew Vaughn's, Long, Gerrit Cole, Aaron Boone, Vaughn, Luis Robert Jr, Tim Anderson, Anderson, Touki Toussaint, Toussaint, Pedro Grifol, He's, Clarke Schmidt, Seby Zavala, Schmidt Organizations: Chicago White, Chicago, New York Yankees, American League, White Sox, Yankees, New York, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland, Arizona Diamondbacks, Sox, Yankee, Houston, Thomson Locations: Chicago, New, New York, Texas

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