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It was the firestorm that wildfire experts and residents on Maui had warned about for years — a blaze fueled by hurricane winds roaring through untamed grasses and into a 13,000-person coastal town with few ways in or out. Local officials had released plan after plan acknowledging that wildfire was all but certain. Cellphone sites were burned and lost power, leaving people unable to communicate or receive emergency alerts. And while fire departments and wildfire-preparedness groups have long urged people in fire-prone areas like West Maui to be ready and leave early, other advice from the authorities was far less concrete. The state of Hawaii’s own guide for how people should respond to hurricanes, tsunamis and other disasters does not include any direction on what to do in a wildfire.

Locations: Maui, Lahaina, West Maui

☆ Hawaii's emergency siren warning system was silent during Maui wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Ray Sanchez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

Hawaii residents have long been accustomed to the monthly tests of the outdoor siren warning system. “Maui County faced a challenging, rapidly changing situation, and I think they did everything possible to save lives. Period.’Video Ad Feedback Video shows family's terrifying escape from Maui wildfires 01:18 - Source: CNNThe fire spread with such speed that many people left their homes immediately with little notice from authorities, Maui County Fire Chief Brad Ventura said. Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources/AP Burnt boats sit in waters off of Lahaina, Hawaii, on Friday. Phonoxaylinkham, his wife, and their five children were caught in the Lahaina wildfires and survived by exiting their car and spending four hours in the ocean as the west Maui wildfires raged around them.

Persons: Cole Millington, ” Millington, ”, Millington, …, –, Adam Weintraub, ” Weintraub, Weintraub, “, Allen Vu, Vu, Anne Lopez, Jill Tokuda, Karl Kim, Brad Ventura, ” Ventura, John Pelletier, Josh Green, Clay Trauernicht, Wedelin, Lee, Matthew Thayer, Patrick Fallon, Justin Sullivan, Rick Bowmer, Mike Blake, Zoltan Balogh, Zeran Harris, Robert Gauthier, Mengshin Lin, Evelio Contreras, CNN Vixay Phonxaylinkham, Lana, Phonoxaylinkham, Marco Garcia, Claire Rush, Myrna Ah Hee, Sui, Ty O'Neil, Ku'u Kauanoe, ZUMA, Patrick T, Fallon, Dustin Johnson, Lane, ” Kim, Brock Long, ‘, Rachel Zimmerman Organizations: CNN, Lahaina, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, CNN Hawaii, National Disaster Preparedness Training Center, University of Hawaii, Maui County Fire, Maui County Police, Gov, Communication, National Weather Service, “, Maui Fire Department, Facebook, Firefighter, Fire Department, Maui News, AP Pacific Whale Foundation, Getty, Hawaii Department of Land, Natural Resources, Reuters, . Hawaii Department of Land, Los Angeles Times, AP, Washington Post, Kahului, Technologies, AP Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii National Guard, Reuters Residents, ZUMA Passengers, Federal Emergency Management Agency Locations: Lahaina . Millington, Maui, “, Hawaii, Lahaina, Millington, Maui County, Manoa, Honolulu, Olinda, Kula, Hanamu, Piʻiholo, Lahaina Bypass, Church, Lahaina Hongwanji, Lahaina , Hawaii, Maalaea, West Maui, AFP, Wailuku, Upcountry, Waiola, Kula , Hawaii, Kahului, California, Las Vegas, Kihei

☆ Opinion | A Bipartisan Plan to Limit Big Tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

To the Editor:Re “We Have a Way for Congress to Rein In Big Tech,” by Lindsey Graham and Elizabeth Warren (Opinion guest essay, July 27):The most heartening thing about the proposal for a Digital Consumer Protection Commission is its authorship. After years of zero-sum legislative gridlock, to see Senators Warren and Graham collaborating is a ray of hope that governing may someday return to the time when opposing parties were not enemies, when each party brought valid perspectives to the table and House-Senate conference committees forged legislation encompassing the best of both perspectives. David SadkinBradenton, Fla.To the Editor:Senators Lindsey Graham and Elizabeth Warren propose a new federal mega-regulator for the digital economy that threatens to undermine America’s global technology standing. A new “licensing and policing” authority would stall the continued growth of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence in America, leaving China and others to claw back crucial geopolitical strategic ground.

Persons: Lindsey Graham, Elizabeth Warren, Warren, Graham, David Sadkin Organizations: Rein In Big Tech, Consumer Protection Commission Locations: Fla, America, China

Da Ponte denied a Bloomberg report that the payments processor paused development of its stablecoin in February. But da Ponte argues this troubled backdrop is exactly why PayPal is poised to succeed. Then there's the hypothetical digital dollar that would be the Fed's take on a central bank digital currency, or CBDC. "We have a large base of consumers; we have a large base of merchants," da Ponte said of PayPal's "two-sided network." Da Ponte sees PayPal's more than 20-year tenure in the payments space as one of the company's chief advantages in the stablecoin market.

Persons: Jose Fernandez da Ponte, PayPal's, Da Ponte, Paxos, it's, Ponte, stablecoins, Nic Carter, Stablecoins, Carter, Andy Bromberg, Andreessen Horowitz, Bromberg, PYUSD, Jeremy Allaire, Allaire, Patrick McHenry, McHenry Organizations: PayPal, CNBC, Bloomberg, SEC, New, Regulators, Valley Bank, U.S ., U.S, Castle, Ventures, Companies, Eco, Coinbase Ventures, Paypal, Facebook, Financial Services, America Locations: U.S, New York, Bromberg, web3, United States, R, DexTools

☆ Uber’s Grand Plan to Go All-Electric in London Ran Into Gridlock
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Sam Schechner | Preetika Rana | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/ubers-grand-plan-to-go-all-electric-in-london-ran-into-gridlock-a51edcb1

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ America's housing market has a unique advantage that makes it more stable than other countries', Morgan Stanley says — and names its 3 favorite stock picks for the recovery
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The US housing market is entering a recovery phase, according to a Morgan Stanley note. Like the economy, the housing market goes through boom and bust cycles, including expansion, hyper-supply, recession, and recovery. Investors and homeowners can thank one key feature: the 30-year fixed mortgage rate. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate as of Friday was 6.66%, up from about 5.3% a year ago and 2.8% two years prior. Below are three US-listed stocks that Morgan Stanley sees upside in for this theme.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Michelle Weaver, Weaver Organizations: Investors, Federal Reserve

☆ Class Is in Session. The Teacher? Mark Morris.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Alastair Macaulay | More About Alastair Macaulay | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

I teach above all to prevent injury and to help everyone work with music.”And is there a Morris style, as there are Graham and Cunningham and Taylor styles? Yes, Morris said: “Everything in my work derives from music. While teaching, Morris walks around the room, giving advice and corrections. In an interview at the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn in July, he recalled how he used to stretch his arms too straight upward in certain positions. Morris would say, “You only have three joints in your arm.

Persons: Morris, ”, Vaganova, Balanchine, Graham, Cunningham, Taylor, Olive Oyl, Aaron Loux, “, “ Mark, Sam Black, Joyce, Mark Morris Organizations: Mark Morris Dance Center Locations: New York, Seattle, Brooklyn

☆ Rail freight from Canada to U.S. continues to drop after ports strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Last week, total rail volume from Canada to the U.S. was down 12%, according to The Association of American Railroad's latest rail traffic report for the week ending July 22. This was an improvement given the first full week of the strike saw a 46% decrease in rail trade from Canada, and the second week suffered a 36% decrease. Rail traffic from Canada into the U.S. had a third-straight weekly drop as a result of the on-again, off-again strike at the West Coast Canadian ports. When the first strike ended on its thirteenth day, delays for rail containers were estimated at 39 to 66 days. Adding another day with the on-again, off-again strike last week, brings the congestion removal tally up to 42-70 days.

Persons: Port of Prince Rupert, Doug Macdonald, Rupert, Blaine Davidson, Terri Shimensky, Shimensky, Eric Byer, Byer, NACD Organizations: The Association of American, West Coast, Railway Association of Canada, CNBC, The Railway Association of Canada, Port, National Association of Chemical Distributors, CN, U.S ., Railroads, Canada, Association of American Railroads Locations: Canada, Port of Vancouver, Port of, Vancouver, Ohio, of Long, U.S . West Coast, U.S, Chicago, West

If the Black Sea is closed, the Danube is one of the main routes which we will need to use," he told Reuters by phone. Police said Danube grain warehouses had been hit on Monday in a drone attack along with tanks for storing other cargo. Since Monday's air strikes, the Danube channel has seen shipping disruptions, although it was unclear why there was a slowdown of vessel traffic. INSURANCE RATES RISEInsurance sources have said war risk cover for Ukraine's ports that was part of the defunct Black Sea grain deal had been suspended with some insurance providers reviewing provisions for Danube ports. The attack on the Danube infrastructure followed a week of Russian strikes that hit grain-related infrastructure at Odesa's main ports.

Persons: Russia's, Denys Marchuk, Carlos Mera, Mera, Marchuk, Danilov, Olena Harmash, Sybille de La, Tom Balmforth, William Maclean Organizations: Ukrainian Agrarian, Reuters, Police, EU, Romania, Agri Commodities Markets Research, Rabobank, Insurance, Kyiv, Russia, CMA CGM, National Security, Defence Council, Thomson Locations: KYIV, Moscow, Odesa, Reni, NATO, Russia, Izmail, Ukraine, China, Chornomorsk, Ukrainian, Italy, Kyiv, Western, Paris

The euro slipped 0.25% against the dollar, government bond yields across the bloc edged lower while European stock markets dipped, with Spain's benchmark index down 0.65% in a clear underperformance. Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures , rose 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively, pointing to a positive open for Wall Street. With the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of Japan meeting this week, a note of caution underpinned the mood across global markets. The benchmarks continued their fourth straight of week of gains last week, as supply is expected to tighten following OPEC+ cuts. HOST OF EARNINGSOn top of central bank meetings and economic data, investors also braced for a slew of earnings from both sides of the Atlantic.

Persons: Kai Pfaffenbach, Bruno Schneller, Schneller, Eddie Cheng, Allspring's Cheng, SPAIN UNDERPERFORMS, Fiona Cincotta, Nell Mackenzie, Dhara, Wayne Cole, Amanda Cooper, Peter Graff Organizations: REUTERS, Nasdaq, Fed, ECB London, Wall, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of Japan, ECB, INVICO Asset Management, Bank of Japan, Japan's Nikkei, Allspring Global Investments, Brent, . West Texas, Intel, Microsoft, GE, Boeing, Exxon Mobil, Coca Cola, Ford, GM, U.S, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Spain, U.S, Spain's, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Ukraine, Russia, China, SPAIN, SPAIN UNDERPERFORMS Spain, Sunday's, Basque, Catalan, Coca, London, SYDNEY

☆ Spain vote stalemate requires winner to drop out
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 24 (Reuters Breakingviews) - After Sunday’s election, neither the conservative People’s Party nor the governing Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party are likely to have enough support to rule. But he could shorten the pain by declining to form a government, paving the way for another poll in the autumn. The snap election called by left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in May failed to deliver either bloc the 176 parliamentary seats needed to govern. Since Sánchez is also unlikely to muster enough support, that would give Spaniards another chance to choose a leader in cooler conditions. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Pedro Sánchez, King Felipe VI’s, Mariano Rajoy, Francesco Guerrera, George Hay, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, People’s Party, Spanish Socialist Workers ’ Party, El, Vox, PSOE, Spanish, Twitter, Thomson Locations: “ El Gobierno, el aire, El Pais

The results from Sunday's vote left neither the left nor right bloc with an easy path to form a government. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez' Socialists have more options but face potentially unpalatable demands from Catalan separatist parties. Those could include insistence on an independence referendum, triggering the kind of political chaos seen in 2017 when Catalonia last tried to break from Spain. Sanchez could win over left-wing separatist party Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC), as he did to form a minority government in 2019. The Socialists, which oppose independence and any vote on the issue, may have a hard time accepting such a demand.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Begona Gomez, applauds, gridlock, Ignacio Jurado, Vox, Sumar, Sanchez, Esquerra, Junts, Miriam Nogueras, Carles Puigdemont, Ignacio Torreblanca, Charlie Devereux, Belen Carreno, Joan Faus, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Socialist, REUTERS, Carlos III University, People's Party, Socialists, PSOE, ERC, Congress, Spanish, European Council, Foreign Relations, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Catalan, MADRID, Catalonia, Belgium, Basque, Barcelona

That would cost the EU its figurehead in international climate negotiations and the politician who drove through Europe's toughest measures yet to cut planet-warming emissions. The move was at odds with the U.S., and faced ire from some EU countries who felt it gave too much away. Ribera's role at the helm of Spain's green agenda is on the line after a snap election on Sunday ended with gridlock. The EU wants to pass at least two more green policies before EU elections next year - the nature law and electricity market reforms. Spain - whose current government typically backs ambitious EU climate policies - holds the EU's rotating presidency, and will chair EU countries' negotiations on all new laws until 2024.

Persons: gridlock, Frans Timmermans, Michael Bloss, Timmermans, Teresa Ribera, Linda Kalcher, Ribera's, She's, Kalcher, Ribera, Emmanuel Macron, Pablo Simon, Carlos, Kate Abnett, Pietro Lombardi, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: EU, European, UN, Green, U.S, SECOND, gridlock, People's Party, Carlos III University, Thomson Locations: Spain, lurch BRUSSELS, Dutch, Santiago, Chile, Ribera, Europe, Italy

☆ New Jersey sues over New York City’s congestion pricing plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —New Jersey is suing to stop New York City’s landmark congestion price plan to charge drivers entering downtown Manhattan. New Jersey filed a lawsuit in federal court Friday against the US Department of Transportation, which gave final approval for New York City’s plan. New York City’s plan could toll drivers entering Manhattan below 60th street up to $23 and is set to begin as soon as spring 2024. New York City’s congestion price plan, which would toll drivers electronically, aims to reduce the number of vehicles entering the congestion zone by at least 10% every day. While no other US city has implemented congestion pricing, Stockholm, London and Singapore have had it for years.

Persons: It’s, Kathy Hochul Organizations: New, New York CNN —, US Department of Transportation, Environmental, Department of Transportation, Downtown, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, MTA, ” New York Gov Locations: New York, New York CNN — New Jersey, Manhattan . New Jersey, Manhattan, United States, New Jersey, Jersey, “ New Jersey, Downtown Manhattan, United States . New York, New York City, Stockholm, London, Singapore

☆ Manchin’s New Hampshire trip will leave Democrats shivering
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The West Virginia Democrat’s model has served him well with repeated statewide wins in one of the most conservative pro-Trump states in the nation. For now, Manchin’s noncommittal answers are worrying some of his Democratic colleagues. Polls show that both Biden and Trump, the front-runner for the GOP nomination, are unpopular. It argues, therefore, that 79 electoral votes are potentially at risk for Biden from the involvement of a third-party challenger. Such a challenger would also need to win states where Biden won big, and at least some conservative bastions.

Persons: West Virginia Sen, Joe Manchin, Donald Trump, Manchin, who’s, Joe Biden, roil Biden’s, CNN’s Manu Raju, –, “ I’ve, Biden, Manchin’s, Arizona Sen, Mark Kelly, ” Kelly, “ I’m, West, Vermont Sen, Bernie Sanders, Biden –, Georgia –, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Trump, “, Robert Kennedy Jr, ’, Kennedy, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Jake Tapper, ”, Jon Huntsman, Ryan Clancy, CNN’s Michael Smerconish, we’ve, Jill Stein, Ralph Nader, Gary Johnson –, Nader, Stein, siphoning, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, CNN’s Harry Enten, don’t, Chris Christie, Trump’s, ” Christie Organizations: CNN, West, Democratic, West Virginia Democrat’s, Trump, Senate, Manchin, Harvard, Green, GOP, Biden, Florida Gov, Democratic National Committee, Republican Gov, Saint Anselm College in, Republican, Democrats, Green Party, Libertarian Party, Trump Republicans, Quinnipiac University, Former New Jersey Gov, ABC Locations: West Virginia, New Hampshire, Granite, Arizona, “ State, Vermont, Georgia, Covid, South Carolina, Florida, Saint Anselm College in Manchester, United States, Washington, Former

Thailand inched closer to political gridlock on Thursday as politicians gathered in Parliament to vote for the next prime minister with no clear victor in sight. The leading candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, a charismatic young progressive, was dealt a major setback on the eve of the vote when Thailand’s Election Commission asked the Constitutional Court to suspend him from Parliament. Mr. Pita, who scored a major political victory over the ruling military junta and its royalist allies during the general election in May, has been under investigation for allegedly owning undeclared shares in a media company. On Wednesday, the Court also said that it had accepted a complaint against Mr. Pita over his calls to amend a law that harshly penalizes criticism of the Thai monarchy. Neither blow stopped Move Forward, Mr. Pita’s party, and other coalition members from nominating him for prime minister on Thursday morning.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita Locations: Thailand, Thai

☆ United gives 30,000 frequent flyer miles to travelers hit by flight delays, CEO says schedule cuts needed
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The carrier gave 30,000 frequent flyer miles to customers who were most affected by the chaos. He said that the airline needs more gates at Newark Liberty International Airport because of frequent aircraft backups there. He said that extensively delayed departures, which piled up at its hub at Newark since last weekend, hurt its operation. United sent the 30,000 miles to customers who were delayed overnight or didn't get to their destination at all, a spokeswoman said. United fared worse than competitors with about half of its mainline schedule arriving late and almost a fifth canceled over that period, FlightAware data show.

Persons: Scott Kirby, Kirby, United Organizations: Newark International Airport, Newark , New Jersey . United Airlines, CNBC, Newark Liberty International, Teterboro, East Coast, United, JetBlue Airways, " Airlines, Aircraft, FAA Locations: Newark, Newark , New Jersey, East, U.S

☆ Congestion pricing is coming to New York City, officials announce
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —New York City has been cleared to implement congestion pricing, a practice that allows the city to charge drivers entering Lower Manhattan, New York Gov. The plan would also mark the culmination of more than a half-century of efforts to implement congestion pricing in New York City. Ultimately, it was the need to improve New York City’s public transit that became the rallying cry for congestion pricing. The stakes of New York City’s program are high, and leaders in other cities are watching the results closely. “It’s good to see New York City’s program is moving forward,” said the Los Angeles Times Editorial Board last month.

Persons: Kathy Hochul, ”, Michael Bloomberg, Andrew Cuomo —, Kate Slevin, Sam Schwartz, Hochul, “, US Sen, Bob Menendez, Josh Gottheimer, Bill Pascrell, Jr, Washington, CNN’s Gregory Wallace, Rob Frehse Organizations: CNN, New, Lower Manhattan , New York Gov, Federal, Administration, Central Business District, Federal Highway Administration, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, ” New York Gov, United, United States Each, MTA, Regional Plan Association, “, Democratic New, US, London, Drivers, Los Angeles Times Locations: New York City, Lower Manhattan ,, Manhattan, United States, New York, Lower Manhattan, New Jersey, Democratic New Jersey, Holland, Lincoln, Jersey, That’s, Stockholm, London, Singapore, York, Los Angeles

☆ Ukraine’s counteroffensive has been brutal and slow. But Kyiv has many cards left to play
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Nick Paton Walsh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

And this is likely why we are seeing a slow – and at times incremental – start to this first phase of open operations. It has also been grueling, with Ukrainian losses reported around Mala Tokmachka, and now intense fighting near Pyatykhatky. Some estimates suggest only a quarter of Ukraine’s fresh units, bolstered by NATO training and supplies, are now in the fight. Ukrainian forces firing an S60 anti-aircraft canon placed on a truck on Juune 19, 2023. Kyiv needs to cement a change in the frontlines to validate the huge investment in its forces made by NATO.

Persons: –, Wojciech Grzedzinski, Rykove, recalibrations, Vladimir Putin, Velyka, Blahodatne, Brigade perilously, Igor Strelkov, Melitopol –, Kreminna, Ukraine’s, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Zalyuzhnyi, gridlock Organizations: CNN, 73rd Naval Special Operations Center, NATO, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Moscow, Kyiv, Brigade, Donetsk People’s Republic Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Rykove, Kherson, Bakhmut, Crimea, Russia, Kyiv, Moscow, Volnovakha, Mariupol, Zaporizhzhia, Orikhiv, Mala Tokmachka, Pyatykhatky, Donetsk, Zherebyanki, Kamyanske, Dnipro, Melitopol, Azov, Kupyansk, Kharkiv, Russian

☆ Kuwait forms cabinet with new oil minister, finance minister re-appointed
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, June 18 (Reuters) - Kuwait formed a new government on Sunday naming Saad Al Barrak as oil minister to replace Bader Al-Mulla and reappointing Finance Minister Manaf Abdulaziz Al Hajri. Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who was re-appointed as prime minister last week, formed the new cabinet announced in a decree carried by the state news agency KUNA. The Gulf Arab state also named a new defence minister, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah. The outgoing government had resigned following parliamentary elections held earlier this month in the Gulf OPEC oil producer. Reporting By Andrew Mills and Ahmed Tolba; Writing by Andrew Mills; Editing by Andrew Heavens and David EvansOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Saad Al Barrak, Bader Al, Mulla, Manaf Abdulaziz Al Hajri, Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al, Ahmad Al, Sheikh Ahmad Al, Fahad Al, Ahmed Al, Andrew Mills, Ahmed Tolba, Andrew Heavens, David Evans Organizations: reappointing Finance, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Kuwait, Sabah, Gulf OPEC

☆ How charging drivers to go downtown would transform American cities
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York City is still clawing out of from the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The plan would also mark the culmination of more than a half-century of efforts to implement congestion pricing in New York City. Ultimately, it was the need to improve New York City’s public transit that became the rallying cry for congestion pricing. The stakes of New York City’s program are high, and leaders in other cities are watching the results closely. “It’s good to see New York City’s program is moving forward,” said the Los Angeles Times Editorial Board last month.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, ”, Kathy Hochul, Michael Bloomberg, Andrew Cuomo —, Yuki Iwamura, Kate Slevin, Sam Schwartz Organizations: New, New York CNN, Central Business District, Federal Highway Administration, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, ” New York Gov, MTA, Bloomberg, Getty, Regional Plan Association, London, Drivers, Los Angeles Times Locations: New York, New York City, Lower Manhattan, Manhattan, United States, Stockholm, London, Singapore, New Jersey, York, Los Angeles

☆ How to Fix New York’s Traffic Gridlock - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Charles Komanoff | Gernot Wagner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Those upgrades will reduce waiting times and onboard delays — and the precious time subway passengers lose as a result. Why, then, do many people seem anxious about, if not downright opposed to, congestion pricing? Many people don’t believe that the revenues — the $1 billion a year from drivers — will actually improve mass transit services. People are also unconvinced that congestion pricing will, in fact, cut congestion. Why should congestion pricing succeed where a century of other remedies — like widening roads to only then narrow them again — has failed?

Persons: Covid, — Organizations: Metropolitan Transportation Authority Locations: Manhattan, United States

☆ Opinion | This Is Not the Time for a Third Presidential Candidate
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( David Brooks | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

I’ve long been a fan of No Labels, the organization that works to reduce political polarization and Washington gridlock. That project is a $70 million effort to secure ballot access for a potential third presidential candidate in 2024. Today, they argue, the electorate is roughly evenly split among those who lean Democratic, those who lean Republican and the unaffiliated. Fifty-nine percent of voters surveyed in that No Labels analysis said if that happened, they would consider voting for a third moderate candidate. If the No Labels candidate won just 61 percent of this disaffected group and the remainder was split evenly between two other candidates, he or she would capture a plurality of the electorate and could win the presidency.

Persons: Washington gridlock, I’ve, Joe Biden, Donald Trump Organizations: Washington, Democrats, White Locations: America

☆ US solar power installations soar in Q1 on easing panel import gridlock
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mike Blake/File PhotoJune 8 (Reuters) - U.S. solar energy installations soared 47% in the first quarter, according to an industry report published on Thursday, as easing panel supplies alleviated industry gridlock and allowed many stalled big projects to be completed and connected to the grid. The solar industry had its best first quarter ever, installing 6.1 gigawatts (GW), an analysis by research firm Wood Mackenzie and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) trade group found. As a result of the strong quarter, SEIA raised its forecast for the year slightly to 29 GW from 28.4 GW. The report said 12 GW of solar modules were imported in the first quarter compared with 29 GW in all of 2022. The industry, however, is seeing a slowdown in many states due to economic uncertainty, SEIA said, and residential solar installations are only expected to rise 8% this year.

Persons: Mike Blake, Wood Mackenzie, SEIA, Joe Biden's, Nichola, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Hanover Olympic, REUTERS, Solar Energy Industries Association, Homeowners, Thomson Locations: Hanover, Los Angeles , California, U.S, Florida, California

KUWAIT, June 6 (Reuters) - Kuwait on Tuesday holds its second legislative election in nine months in a bid to resolve a grinding political crisis that has seen parliament repeatedly dissolved and reinstated, hindering economic reforms. Kuwait's last election was in September 2022, when opposition candidates made gains and which was called to replace the 2020 parliament which had been dissolved in a bid to end political bickering. The 2022 vote was nullified in March and parliament was reinstated under its 2020 composition. Frequent political deadlock in Kuwait, the Gulf region's oldest and most lively legislature, has for decades led to cabinet reshuffles and parliament dissolutions. "In terms of moving past this political impasse, political reform is often discussed, but there is little agreement about what type of reform would be best" Freer said.

Persons: state's, reshuffles, Courtney Freer, Freer, Lisa Barrington, Ahmed Hagagy, Bernadette Baum Organizations: National Assembly, Emory University, Monetary Fund, Debt, Thomson Locations: KUWAIT, Kuwait, dissolutions

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