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☆ 7 tips to help you get a job in government contracting, according to recruiters
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

While lower pay in government jobs is sometimes viewed as a drawback of the sector, contracting companies tend to pay better than the federal government, and opportunities in this field are also increasing. Business Insider talked to three recruiters in the field to learn the best practices for getting a job in the industry. Make sure your clearances are up to dateMany government contracting roles require clearances, which can vary depending on the role and may also expire over time. Reach out to recruiters directlySince many government contracting opportunities have specific requirements, it can make a big difference to speak with a recruiter directly to find out what you need to do for that specific job. The site allows users to browse through thousands of open roles, many of which have contact info for recruiters.

Persons: —, Matt Grussendorf, Grussendorf, Lauren Irizarry, you've, Irizarry, it's, Quadesha Bynum, Bynum Organizations: Service, Business, Judge, —, Recruiting, Group, D.C, Employers Locations: Seattle, Southern California , Alabama, Denver

☆ 7 tips for looking for a job in government contracting, according to recruiters
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Business Insider talked to three recruiters in the field to learn the best practices for getting a job in the industry. Make sure your clearances are up to dateMany government contracting roles require clearances, which can vary depending on the role and may also expire over time. Reach out to recruiters directlySince many government contracting opportunities have specific requirements, it can make a big difference to speak with a recruiter directly to find out what you need to do for that specific job. The site allows users to browse through thousands of open roles, many of which have contact info for recruiters. Grussendorf recommends reaching out to recruiters, talent acquisition at staffing agencies, or direct employers and telling them the job and salary range you're looking for to stay on their "candidate hot list."

☆ China's economy reveals pockets of softness. Here's what to watch ahead of Friday's data
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The National Bureau of Statistics is due to release data on retail sales, industrial production and fixed asset investment for April on Friday. Some of the weakness speaks to genuine sluggish demand in China at present. The firm expects this week's economic data releases to show a "softening in economic momentum," affirming its forecasts for the central bank to cut rates by the end of June. "Some of the weakness speaks to genuine sluggish demand in China at present," said Hui Shan, Goldman Sachs' China chief economist, in a note Sunday. Businesses' loan demand fallsNew bank loans to businesses and government organizations dropped sharply in April from March, as did new loans to households, according to official data accessed through Wind Information.

Persons: Hui Shan Goldman Sachs, Louise Loo, Goldman Sachs, Hui Shan, Goldman, RRR, Pan Gongsheng Organizations: Visual China, Getty, BEIJING, National Bureau, Statistics, Reuters, Finance, Oxford Economics, People's Bank of, Information, Clocktower, CNBC Locations: Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, China, —, Beijing, People's Bank of China

☆ Cisco reports better-than-expected results even as revenue suffers steepest drop in 15 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Cisco reported earnings and revenue for the fiscal third quarter that topped Wall Street's estimates, even with sales dropping from a year earlier. Net income fell 41% to $1.89 billion, or 46 cents per share, from $3.21 billion, or 78 cents per share, a year earlier. The deal lowered Cisco's adjusted earnings per share by a penny but provided $413 million in additional revenue. Cisco bumped up its fiscal 2024 revenue guidance to a range of $53.6 billion to $53.8 billion, from $51.5 billion to $52.5 billion in February. WATCH: Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins: $28 billion Splunk deal will be a significant financial growth driver

Persons: Chuck Robbins, Robbins, LSEG, Gary Steele, Jeff Sharritts Organizations: Cisco, Bloomberg, Economic, Networking Locations: Davos, Switzerland, U.S

☆ Citi upgrades India to 'overweight' citing stable earnings, economic growth
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Citigroup analysts upgraded India to "overweight" from "neutral" in their emerging markets allocation on Friday, citing strong earnings and economic growth momentum. It also attributed India's one-year forward price-to-earnings (P/E) of 20x, which is slightly higher than the long-term averages, to a stable earnings trajectory. The brokerage remains "overweight" on India's banks, insurers, public sector enterprises, autos and capital goods companies among others. Citi downgraded China to "neutral" from "overweight", saying the recent rally in its stock markets occurred despite weakening fundamentals. Citi reiterated its "overweight" rating on Taiwan and Korea, maintaining "underweight" on Latin American countries.

Persons: Surendra Goyal Organizations: Hong, Citigroup, Citi, Jefferies, Asia Locations: India, China, Asia Pacific, Japan, Taiwan, Korea

☆ Treasury launches ‘Project Fortress,’ an alliance with banks against hackers
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The new public-private partnership, dubbed Project Fortress, underscores the real danger US officials and bank executives believe cyberattacks pose to the economy. But Project Fortress is not just about playing defense. Project Fortress has been in the works for several months, with Treasury rolling out various parts of the alliance in pieces, the source said. One of the key elements of Project Fortress is the cyber hygiene tool run by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The federal government has recently flexed its offensive capabilities, including ones that are part of Project Fortress.

Persons: Wally Adeyemo, Janet Yellen, Adeyemo, Jamie Dimon, Brian Moynihan, Jane Fraser, Robin Vince, ” Vince, Vince, Jerome Powell, ” Adeyemo, Sean Lyngaas Organizations: New, New York CNN, Treasury, CNN, Bank Policy, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, BNY, Washington, Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, Infrastructure Security Agency, JPMorgan Locations: New York, Washington

One of the architects of that plan for a Trump second term said as much in a video last year for the Heritage Foundation. Reissuing Schedule F is part of a roadmap, known as Project 2025, drafted for a second Trump term by scores of conservative groups and published by the Heritage Foundation. The new rules would not fully block reclassifying workers in a second Trump term. Greene said she worries for federal workers who might face the same choice in a second Trump term. The project includes a personnel database for potential hires in a second Trump administration.

Persons: Donald Trump, it’s, —, Trump, Joe Biden, Donald Moynihan, Georgetown University's, ” Donald Moynihan, ” Moynihan, “ It’s, ”, Russell Vought, “, you’re, Doreen Greenwald, Moynihan, Kenneth Baer, Barack Obama, ” Kenneth Baer, Peter Orszag, Pete Souza, Robert Shea, Eva Shea, George W, Bush, Laura Bush, Tina Hager, ” Biden, Baer, George Frey, ” Trump, Max Stier, Verna Daniels, ” Daniels, Catherine Greene, ” Greene, Tom Bewick, NIFA, ” Bewick, we’ll, Greene, Biden, “ We’ve, He’s, Hillary Clinton, he’d, James Comey, Bill Barr, Barr, Jeffrey Clark, Clark, Mark Meadows, Stephen Miller, Peter Navarro, he’ll Organizations: CNN, United, Republican, Democratic, Trump, ”, Georgetown, Georgetown University's McCourt School, Public, Georgetown University, Heritage Foundation, Management, Budget, of Justice, FBI, Environmental Protection Agency, Vought, National Treasury Employees Union, OMB, White, Personnel Management, Land Management, Department of Agriculture, Kansas City, Partnership for Public Service, Government, Office, GAO, Economic Research Service, National Institute of Food, Agriculture, USDA, National Institute for Food, NIFA, Applied Economics Association, BLM, Getty, Department of Justice, Justice Department, Univision, Justice, Department, U.S . Justice, Center, Washington Post, National Security and Intelligence, of Homeland Security, of Education and Commerce, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission Locations: United States, Washington, Georgetown, , Colorado, DC, Kansas, Colorado, Virginia, America, Grand Junction, Washington ,, New York City, New York, Georgia

☆ Ecuadorians head to polls for referendum as Noboa seeks backing for war on crime
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Abel Alvarado | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The referendum will ask 11 questions, five that will modify the Constitution if approved and six that are advisory. More than 13 million of Ecuador’s population of nearly 18 million are eligible to vote – and in Ecuador, voting is obligatory. “We require urgent reforms that allow us to protect our security,” Noboa told a military event in March. In response to the escape, the government deployed more than 3,000 police officers and members of the armed forces to find Fito. The referendum has met opposition among some groups who claim the matters can be dealt with in the National Assembly.

Persons: Daniel Noboa, ”, he’s, ” Noboa, John Moore, Guillermo Lasso, Fernando Villavicencio, Adolfo Macias, Noboa, “, CNN’s Christiana Amanpour, Jorge Glas, Glas, Karen Toro Organizations: CNN, National Police, Armed Forces, Ecuadorian National Police, United Nations, Reuters, National Assembly Locations: Quito, Ecuadorian, Ecuador, Ecuadorians, Guayaquil, ”, Peru, Colombia, United States, Europe, Mexico, Mexican

☆ The world of government contract jobs is incredibly complex. Here are the basics.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

This lets the government tackle specific jobs and projects quickly without all the steps of regular government hiring and bureaucratic obstacles. Thomson ReutersThere are a wide range of large government contracting companies that the government regularly makes deals with. John Breth, 40, worked in government contracting roles for 12 years before starting his own contracting company. If awarded the contract, you have to meet specific requirements set by the government, which may involve getting clearances or certifications. Once you understand the landscape better, you'll be able to recognize which jobs you qualify for and define your path forward.

Persons: —, Lockheed Martin, Lauren Irizarry, John Breth, Kevin Jennings, Jennings, you'll Organizations: Service, Department of Labor, Business, Raytheon, Thomson Reuters, Defense, Lockheed, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Judge, US Small Business Administration Locations: Woburn, sba.gov

☆ Student debt is haunting Americans from graduation to retirement
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“I’ve had to just put all of my dreams aside and focus on surviving day to day,” Jes Evans, 35, told CNN. Many who responded said they were nearing retirement age but couldn’t imagine being able to stop working, saying they would take their debt to their grave. The White House has forgiven a staggering $153 billion in federal student loan debt, giving a financial lifeline to millions of borrowers. Davis graduated from chiropractic college in 1986, with about $30,000 in debt from federal student loans. He isn’t bitter about it, and he’s not counting on a magic wand to come and zap his debt away.

Persons: —, “ I’ve, ” Jes Evans, Evans, ” Evans, ”, Courtney Brown, they’re, ” Brown, Brown, “, Gallup, Josh, He’d, ” Josh, he’s, Amy Coody, she’s, that’s, I’m, Ralph Davis, Davis, ’, ” Davis Organizations: New, New York CNN, Gallup Lumina, CNN, United States, Lumina Foundation, Biden, Department of Education, Public Locations: New York, Pittsburgh, United, Oregon, Wetumpka , Alabama, Savannah , Georgia

☆ Student-loan forgiveness through Biden's new repayment plan faces another lawsuit from 7 GOP states
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewAnother lawsuit to block President Joe Biden's new student-loan repayment plan has arrived. On Tuesday, Missouri's Attorney General Andrew Bailey led six other GOP states in filing a lawsuit to block the new SAVE income-driven repayment plan. It's a similar argument to the lawsuit Biden v. Nebraska, which the Supreme Court ruled had standing to strike down Biden's first broad debt relief plan. It said that due to the generosity of the SAVE plan, fewer borrowers will enroll in PSLF, thus undermining states' recruitment efforts into the public sector. This lawsuit follows Biden's release of new details for his broader student-loan forgiveness plan, which is set to benefit over 30 million borrowers.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Andrew Bailey, Biden's, It’s, E67qx1RMsP —, It's, Biden, MOHELA, Bailey Organizations: Service, Missouri's, Business, Education Department, else’s Ivy League, GOP, An Education Department, US Department of Education, MOHELA, . Nebraska, SAVE, of, Public Locations: Missouri, ., of Missouri, PSLF

☆ The AI Apocalypse: Computer Algorithms Are Already in Control
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Ed Zitron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

But increasingly, the algorithms that undergird our digital lives are making questionable decisions that enrich the powerful and wreck the lives of average people. There's no reason to be scared of AI making decisions for you in the future — computers have already been doing so for quite some time. As human control diminished, the real-world consequences of these algorithms have piled up: Instagram's algorithm has been linked to a mental-health crisis in teenage girls. AdvertisementAcross the public and private sectors, we've handed the keys to a spiderweb of algorithms built with little public insight into how they make their decisions. While generative AI is just the newest extension of the algorithm, it poses a unique threat.

Persons: who's, They've, Matthew Gray, Sergey Brin, Larry Page, It's, Elon Musk, Cambridge Analytica, algorithmically, ProPublica, Quora, OpenAI's ChatGPT, you've, they'll, superintelligence, — simulacrums Organizations: Knight Capital, Companies, Yahoo, Stanford, Google, Spotify, Netflix, Revenue, Facebook, Twitter, Elon, European Union, Associated Press, Black, Microsoft, Eating Disorders Association Locations: Cambridge

☆ Government jobs are hot right now for 2 key reasons
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementBrandon Tamayo considered leaving his current job for a role in the private sector on his way to work one morning. "My friends in the private sector told me 'You could double your pay.'" AdvertisementHe could likely make six figures in the private sector — and he remains intrigued by the option. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median years of tenure for public sector jobs in 2022 was 6.8 years, about 2.7 years higher than private sector jobs. For Tamayo, this is the largest reason he stays in the public sector.

Persons: —, Brandon Tamayo, Tomayo, Tamayo, he's, Christine Cruzvergara, Cruzvergara, Raven Blanchard, she's, Blanchard, hasn't, Joe Biden, they've, Symoné Berry, Alexxus Harris, Harris, it's Organizations: Service, Indiana State University, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, ISC, EAP Locations: Illinois, Virginia, Germany, Asia

☆ 3 ways Russia's war-time economy is set to weaken after a surprisingly strong 2023
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewRussia's economy is set to weaken this year, according to researchers from Finland's central bank. Russia won't be able to maintain the surprisingly strong growth it saw, the Bank of Finland's Institute for Emerging Economies said in a recent report. That's a stark contrast from what Russia saw last year, with its economy growing 3.6%, according to Russia's federal statistics service. Russia's long-term potential growth rate, in particular, has been reduced by the shift to a wartime economy," the report said. AdvertisementThe report pointed to three areas of the Russian economy that could take a hit.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Bank of Finland's Institute, Emerging Economies, Business, Russia, Ukraine, United Nations, Russian Academy of Science's Institute of Economics Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Moscow

☆ I got a job at Deloitte after quitting teaching. Here's the path I took to pivot my career in 8 months.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Ella Hopkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

After that, they offered me a job teaching high schoolers biology for two years at a public school in Baltimore. They helped me highlight my transferable skills on my résumé, such as my leadership skills, public speaking and using tools such as PowerPoint and my initiative. I landed an interview for a job working as a government contractor. In preparation, I copied out my résumé and highlighted transferable skills for the role. I worked in the contractor role for eight months until I saw a job I wanted at Deloitte.

Persons: —, Amina Ahmed, I'd Organizations: Service, Business, Big, Deloitte Locations: Virginia, Baltimore, Washington , DC

☆ Why weight-loss drugs like Ozempic are a game-changer for the global economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Capital Economics said weight-loss drugs could be game-changers for the world economy. Eventually, AI could supercharge the healthcare sector, so weight-loss drugs could be just the beginning. Capital Economics noted that share prices fell in 2023 for many fast-food companies as weight-loss drugs gained popularity, though some of those losses have since been pared. Weight-loss drugs and AIGLP-1 drugs' emergence, meanwhile, has happened alongside the explosion of artificial intelligence technology and hype. If so, the economic gains heralded by weight-loss drugs might be just the beginning."

Persons: —, Goldman Sachs, Eli Lilly Organizations: Service, Capital Economics, Nordisk, Organization, Economic Cooperation, Development Locations: Mexico, America, Denmark, Korea

☆ I visited the ExploreAI summit in Singapore. Here's how AI is helping businesses solve real-world problems.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Sponsor Post | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I attended the ExploreAI summit on January 29, which marked the successful conclusion of the AI Trailblazers initiative. Minister Josephine revealed AI Trailblazers 2.0 to advance Singapore's National AI Strategy 2.0 and deepen AI use across Singapore. The event marked the successful conclusion of the AI Trailblazers initiative — an effort to help Singapore-based organizations develop 100 generative AI (GenAI) solutions over 100 days. Minister Teo announced plans to build on the success of the first AI Trailblazers program with AI Trailblazers 2.0. This collaboration between AI Trailblazers and Google exemplifies Singapore's dedication to using AI for the betterment of everyone, from residents to businesses.

Persons: Josephine, Kris LeBoutillier, he's, I'm, Mark Micallef, John Ang, Temus, Ang, Tan, Keow, —, Long Yin, What's, Josephine Teo, Teo Organizations: Google Asia Pacific, Singapore's Ministry of Communications, Information, MCI, Digital Industry Singapore, Smart Nation Group, Enterprise Singapore, Google, Southeast, of Information Technology, Nanyang Polytechnic, People's Association, AI, Ministry of Communications, Insider Studios, Singapore Economic Development Board Locations: Singapore, Asia, ExploreAI, Southeast Asia, Temus

☆ A look at the true nature of the Chinese cyber threat inside the nation's biggest ports
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

But the Biden administration, lawmakers and ports management continue to differ in their views of the true nature of the threat. Kurt Fredrickson, a Coast Guard spokesman, told CNBC via email that even if the software is not Chinese, all software has vulnerabilities, regardless of origin. "Software is everywhere," Gene Seroka, executive director of the LA port, told CNBC in a recent interview at the TPM conference. They warn the crane software concerns are part of a much larger societal risk. He added that regardless of the origin of the crane software and the origin of a crane's manufacturing, there are ways to mitigate cyber risk.

Persons: Biden, Jay Vann, Robert Murray, it's, Kurt Fredrickson, Murray, Carlos Gimenez, Melanie Stambaugh, Greg Ehrie, Doug Vogt, Vogt, Mario Cordero, Noel Hacegaba, Cordero, Gene Seroka, Lucian Niemeyer, Trump, Niemeyer Organizations: CNBC, ABB, Germany's Siemens, Counterterrorism, Law, Intelligence, Homeland Security, U.S . Coast Guard Cyber Command, Biden Administration, People's, Capitol, National Association of Waterfront Employers, Coast Guard, Transportation, Maritime Security, of South Carolina, Northwest Seaport Alliance, USCG, American Association of Port Authorities, New Jersey Port Authority, Siemens, New, Port, Biden, North Carolina Ports, ZPMC, NC, United States Coast Guard, Samsung, U.S . Department of Homeland Security, DHS, U.S . Coast Guard, Security, Defense for Energy, National Security, Management, Maritime Transportation, Joint Force, MTS, Readiness Locations: China, Swiss, People's Republic of China, U.S, of South, China . Port of Long Beach, Tacoma, Seattle, York, New Jersey, New York, Port of New Orleans, of Long Beach, Port of Long, Port of Los Angeles, Port, Oakland, Georgia, Finland, Japan, Taiwan, Europe, Shanghai

☆ 8 federal government jobs that can pay over $200K
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

64 federal job categories pay upwards of $200,000, with some reaching $400,000. AdvertisementMany people enter federal roles for job security, not for the money. Data from the US Office of Personnel Management indicates 64 federal job categories have positions that pay over $200,000 — and some pay as much as much as $400,000. AdvertisementThere are currently 55 open positions in this category, with the highest role listed with a starting salary of $180,564. According to OPM, there are currently 319 federal employees in this job category who make over $200,000.

Persons: —, usajobs.gov Organizations: Service, Management, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Department of, IT Management, NASA, FDA, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, General Engineering, Marshall Space Flight, HR Management, National Science Foundation

☆ Joe Biden's pre-election spending spree created an 'economy on speed,' economist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewThe economy is being artificially boosted by debt-fueled government spending and is heading for trouble bound, a veteran economist warned. The concentration of employment growth in those sectors shows the wider economy is "terribly dependent on government borrowing," Morici said. AdvertisementPoor competitionMorici also downplayed President Biden's declaration during his recent State of the Union speech that the US economy was the "envy of the world." It's widely assumed the Biden administration won't curtail its spending with an election in November, meaning more government jobs are likely to be created in the coming months.

Persons: —, You've, Peter Morici, Morici, he's, it's, Biden's, Biden Organizations: Service, University of Maryland, Fox Business, Business Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza

☆ The breathtaking scope of Sam Altman's future AI empire
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Darius Rafieyan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

If Sam Altman is to achieve his dream of artificial general intelligence in his lifetime, that number will need to double or triple every year for the foreseeable future. These wide-ranging plans for global transformation go far beyond Altman's role as the CEO of generative AI behemoth OpenAI, developer of ChatGPT. EnergyThe first pillar of Altman's grand unified theory of the future rests on energy. Headlining the event was company chairman and investor Sam Altman, who appeared via video call projected on a towered cineplex. And Altman's AGI empire extends beyond just the energy and raw material required to build AGI.

Persons: Sam Altman, he's, Altman, it's, Max, Jack, Sam himself, Sam, David Kirtley, Helion, He's, Joe Betts Lacroix, Lacroix, where's, Joe Biden, Tade Oyerinde, Oyerinde, Ali Ghodsi, Ghodsi Organizations: Nvidia, Business, Elon, Altman, OpenAI, Energy, Bloomberg, Concorde, Wall Street, Retro Biosciences, Capitol, PAC Locations: Silicon Valley, OpenAI, Davos, New York, Redmond , Washington, Washington

☆ U.K. to Cut Taxes Again as Election Nears
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Eshe Nelson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Amid lackluster prospects for economic growth, the British government announced it would cut taxes for workers ahead of a general election this year. It would take the rate for about 27 million employees down to 8 percent, and follows a two percentage point cut announced less than four months ago. Together, the cuts would save the average employee about 900 pounds ($1,145) a year, Mr. Hunt said. The rate was also cut for self-employed workers. “We can now help families not just with temporary cost-of-living support but with permanent cuts in taxation,” Mr. Hunt, the chancellor of the Exchequer, said in Parliament.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Hunt, Mr Organizations: National Insurance Locations: British, “

☆ UK government to deliver crucial pre-election budget announcements with economy in recession
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Economists expect Hunt to use a small modest windfall to deliver tax cuts as he looks to woo the electorate, with the main opposition Labour Party leading by more than 20 points across all national polls. Yet the chancellor is navigating the constraints of fragile public finances and a stagnant economy that entered a shallow technical recession at the end of 2023. Inflation has fallen faster than anticipated and market expectations for interest rates are well below where they were prior to Hunt's Autumn Statement in November, but many British households are still feeling the cost of living squeeze, while public services remain extremely stretched. The Treasury pre-announced plans over the weekend to deliver up to £1.8 billion ($2.3 billion) worth of benefits by boosting public sector productivity, including releasing police time for more frontline work. Hunt is under pressure from within his own party to deliver tax cuts, a move the International Monetary Fund warned against in January, given the country's spending needs on public services.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Hunt Organizations: LONDON, Finance, Budget, Conservative Party, Labour Party, National Insurance, Treasury, International Monetary Fund Locations: London

☆ UK Budget: Jeremy Hunt set to cut taxes for workers as election looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

A cut to national insurance — a levy paid by people who work — costing around £10 billion ($12.7 billion) is likely, according to multiple UK media reports. But soaring government debt, crumbling public services and a lackluster economy leave the chancellor with very little room for further substantial giveaways. Christopher Furlong/Getty ImagesOther so-called “unprotected” areas of the national budget, such as social care and the police force, are also at risk. “That seems unlikely when public services are creaking,” they added. OBR chair Richard Hughes said in January that the government had provided no detailed breakdown of departmental spending plans beyond March next year, giving only headline figures.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Rishi Sunak’s, Hunt, ”, Laura Kuenssberg, Jeff, Christopher Furlong, “, Richard Hughes, ” Hughes Organizations: London CNN —, Bank of England, Treasury, “ Conservatives, ” Hunt’s Conservative Party, Labour Party, Reuters, Office, National Statistics, Local Government Association, House, National Health Service, Capital Economics, ” Locations: Ukraine, Birmingham, England

☆ Inside a prison healthcare company's ownership shell game
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Dakin Campbell | Nicole Einbinder | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

Sen. Elizabeth Warren has criticized Corizon successor company YesCare for its opaque corporate structure. Yet Geneva's track record is scant; it only incorporated in November 2021, six months before it got the YesCare contract. AdvertisementOnly one agency with a YesCare contract told BI it was aware of the extent to which YesCare had outsourced its operations. AdvertisementAn October 2022 YesCare bid document, submitted to the Alabama Department of Corrections, says PharmaCorr will dispense all prescription medications for YesCare. AdvertisementThe agreement between Geneva and prison healthcare provider YesCare requires YesCare to pay at least $500,000 a month to Geneva.

Persons: Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Corizon, YesCare, —, Dick Durbin, Raphael Prober, Prober's nonanswer, Warren, Christopher M, Lopez, Robert Green, Corizon —, Green, Lori Mayer, Aaron Kaufman, Chris Atkinson, Joel Landau, Tehum, Martin Horn, Alabama Department of Corrections YesCare, Thomas Mailey, Bryan Baker, Isaac Lefkowitz, Perigrove, — Lefkowitz, Lefkowitz, David Gefner, Gefner, Storm Harper, PharmaCorr, Jeff Sholey, Steven Weiss, Atkinson, Sara Tirschwell, Zalman Shapiro, Tirschwell, Michael Farrier, Jeffrey Sholey, Judge Lopez Organizations: Service, Corizon Health, Business, Getty, YesCare Holdings, Justice Department, Tehum Care Services, Geneva Consulting, Genesis Healthcare, BI, Geneva, American Correctional Association, . Maryland Department of Public Safety, Correctional, CHS, PharmaCorr, University of West, of Health, Allure, New York State Department of Health, Public, New York City Department of Correction, Alabama Department of Corrections, Alabama, New York State Department of Corrections, Community Supervision, Doña, Okaloosa, LinkedIn, YesCare, YesCare . Alabama Department of Corrections, Gefner, Court, Western, of, Corizon's, Florida's, Florida's Hillsborough County Sheriff's, Tehum's Locations: Missouri, Houston, Texas, Geneva, Florida, Alabama, New Jersey, YesCare, University of West Florida, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Riker's, Doña Ana County, New Mexico, Okaloosa County , Florida, Wyoming, Maryland, Colorado , Florida, North Carolina, Suffern , New York, YesCare's Alabama, of Missouri, Florida's Hillsborough County

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