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☆ Americans are about to feel the impact of soaring bond yields, Blackstone president says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Consumers are about to feel the impact of soaring bond yields, Blackstone president Johnathan Gray told the FT. Higher bond yields are raising borrowing costs all over the economy, from mortgages to personal loans. AdvertisementAdvertisementAmerican consumers are about to feel the sting of soaring bond yields, Blackstone president Johnathan Gray said. Bond yields, which impact borrowing costs for all kinds of loan products, moved higher this week as investors fretted over higher-for-longer interest rates. In some corners of the economy, rising yields and higher borrowing costs have already been acutely felt.

Persons: Blackstone, Johnathan Gray, —, Bond, Gray, Morgan Stanley Organizations: Treasury, Service, Financial Times, Mortgage, Federal, Federal Reserve, Consumers, San Francisco Fed

Van der Sloot, 36, was extradited to Alabama in June from a prison in Peru, where he has been serving a 28-year sentence for murdering another woman in Lima. Eyewitnesses said she was last seen leaving a bar in a car with van der Sloot on the night of her disappearance. Van der Sloot has reached a plea deal with U.S. prosecutors that require him to also truthfully disclose what happened to Natalee Holloway, according to John Q. Kelly, a lawyer for the Holloway family. A public defender representing van der Sloot and a spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's office did not respond to questions about a plea deal. In 2012, van der Sloot was convicted in Peru after he confessed to beating, strangling and suffocating Stephany Flores, a 21-year-old Peruvian business student, in May 2010.

Persons: Joran van der Sloot, Natalee Holloway, van der Sloot, Holloway, Van der Sloot, Beth Holloway, John Q, Kelly, van der, Stephany Flores, Jonathan Allen, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, FBI, Thomson Locations: Peru, U.S, Alabama, Lima, Birmingham, Aruba, Caribbean, New York

The shoes from the film were stolen in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum in the actress' hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and recovered in 2018 by the FBI. Political Cartoons View All 1209 ImagesGarland wore several pairs of ruby slippers during filming of the classic 1939 musical, but only four authentic pairs are known to remain. The plea agreement was “fulsomely negotiated” between DeKrey and federal prosecutor Matt Greenley and would lay out the “factual basis” for his client's guilty plea, DeKrey said. The ruby slippers were key props in the 1939 movie. The Judy Garland Museum, which opened in 1975 in the house where she lived, says it has the world’s largest collection of Garland and Wizard of Oz memorabilia.

Persons: Judy Garland, Oz ”, Terry Jon Martin, Martin, Dane DeKrey, Terry, ” DeKrey, Garland, “ fulsomely, Matt Greenley, DeKrey, Patrick Schiltz, Schiltz, Michael Shaw, Dorothy, Frances Gumm Organizations: Judy Garland Museum, FBI, District, Twin, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Smithsonian Museum of Locations: MINNEAPOLIS, Grand Rapids , Minnesota, Grand Rapids, Minneapolis, DeKrey, Minnesota, Duluth, Twin Cities, Hollywood, Arizona, Kansas, sequins, Los Angeles

☆ Social Security cost-of-living adjustment will be 3.2% in 2024, well below this year's record-setting increase
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Jozef Polc / 500Px | 500Px Plus | Getty ImagesSocial Security beneficiaries will see a 3.2% boost to their benefits in 2024, the Social Security Administration announced on Thursday. The annual cost-of-living adjustment for 2024 will affect more than 71 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries. Typically, Medicare Part B premium payments are deducted from Social Security checks. How the 2024 COLA comparesThe 2024 benefit increase is much lower than record 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment Social Security beneficiaries saw this year, the biggest boost in four decades in response to record high inflation. Older Americans 'still feeling the sting' of inflationThe 2024 adjustment comes as many retirees are still struggling with higher prices.

Persons: Jozef Polc, Jo Ann Jenkins, Jenkins, Tracey Gronniger, Gronniger Organizations: Social, Social Security Administration, Social Security, Senior Citizens League, Consumer, Urban, Clerical Workers, AARP, Justice, COLA, Security

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of Social Security recipients will get a 3.2% increase in their benefits in 2024, far less than this year's historic boost and reflecting moderating consumer prices. About 71 million people — including retirees, disabled people and children — receive Social Security benefits. The maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll taxes will be $168,600 for 2024, up from $160,200 for 2023. There have been legislative proposals to shore up Social Security, but they have not made it past committee hearings. A March poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that most U.S. adults are opposed to proposals that would cut into Medicare or Social Security benefits, and 79% of people polled said they oppose reducing the size of Social Security benefits.

Persons: ”, Kilolo Kijakazi, —, Jo Ann Jenkins, “, Nancy Altman, Kevin McCarthy, Alfred Mason, Mason Organizations: WASHINGTON, Social, Social Security Administration, AARP, Social Security, Security, The Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research, Bureau of Labor Statistics ’, CPI Locations: Louisiana

☆ Nitin Sawhney unites different voices in new album celebrating identity
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Marie-Louise Gumuchian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Musician, producer and composer Nitin Sawhney poses for a photo in this undated handout picture obtained by Reuters on October 11, 2023. Warner Music/Ray Burmiston/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Nitin Sawhney celebrates identity in his new album, bringing together different voices from singers Joss Stone and Guy Garvey to Asian women asylum seekers and television host Gary Lineker. "I thought ... here's a safe space that you could actually express whatever you want to and he did," Sawhney said. The result is track "Illegal", which also features the voices of Asian women asylum seekers and concludes with Lineker saying "No one is illegal". Sawhney, whose previous album was called "Immigrants", is known for playing different instruments and working in various genres.

Persons: Nitin Sawhney, Ray Burmiston, Joss Stone, Guy Garvey, Gary Lineker, Paul McCartney, Sting, Sawhney, it's, Lineker, Ayanna Witter, Johnson, Marie, Louise Gumuchian, Christina Fincher Organizations: Reuters, Warner Music, REUTERS Acquire, BBC, Premier League, Thomson Locations: Handout, British, Britain, Caribbean

☆ The CEO of Airbnb says Barack Obama gave him one piece of advice about love and friendship after a breakup
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Brian Chesky says Barack Obama gave him some post-breakup advice, saying he didn't need another relationship. AdvertisementAdvertisementAirbnb CEO Brian Chesky says he received a piece of advice about love and friendship from the former president after a breakup in 2021. Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast on Monday, Chesky recounted how he sought advice from Obama in 2021. The two have known each other since at least 2015, when Obama named Chesky a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship. Chesky and Obama did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider, sent outside regular business hours.

Persons: Brian Chesky, Barack Obama, Chesky, —, Obama, podcaster Steven Bartlett, Airbnb, isn't, Vivek Murthy, Insider's Rebecca Ungarino Organizations: Service, Global Entrepreneurship, Obama, Bloomberg, Obama Foundation, Public Service, Psychological Locations: Cuba

Oct 9 (Reuters) - Fears of a widening conflict in the Middle East are threatening more volatility for investors after a painful stretch in U.S. markets. Investors were on guard for the potential of the conflict spreading to embroil other countries, including Iran, and a continued spike in oil prices. Prices for gold, a popular destination for investors during uncertain times, were up 1.2% at $1,854.10 per ounce. Among those is the potential of a rebound in oil prices that could weigh on U.S. economic growth and endanger the so-called soft landing narrative that has helped boost stocks this year. “The worst-case scenario from a geopolitical risk perspective would be a full-scale confrontation between Israel and Iran,” said Tina Fordham, geopolitical strategist and founder of Fordham Global Foresight.

Persons: Brent, ”, Mohit Kumar, Tina Fordham, Paul Nolte, Emmanuel Cau, Althea Spinozzi, Naomi Rovnick, Lewis Krauskopf, Dhara Ranasinghe, Davide Barbuscia, Noel Randewich, Marc Jones, Ira Iosebashvili, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Jefferies, Fordham Global Foresight, Federal Reserve, Murphy, Sylvest Wealth Management, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Treasury, Barclays, Mobileye, Intel, Solaredge Technologies, East, Saxo Bank, Thomson Locations: U.S, Gaza, Iran, Europe, London, Israel, United States, Germany

Oct 9 (Reuters) - Fears of a widening conflict in the Middle East are threatening more volatility for investors after a painful stretch in U.S. markets. Investors were on guard for the potential of the conflict spreading to embroil other countries, including Iran, and a continued spike in oil prices. Prices for gold, a popular destination for investors during uncertain times, were up 0.9% at $1,849.40 per ounce. Among those is a potential rebound in oil prices that could weigh on U.S. economic growth and endanger the so-called soft landing narrative that has helped boost stocks this year. “The worst-case scenario from a geopolitical risk perspective would be a full-scale confrontation between Israel and Iran,” said Tina Fordham, geopolitical strategist and founder of Fordham Global Foresight.

Persons: Brent, ”, Mohit Kumar, Tina Fordham, Paul Nolte, Murphy, Emmanuel Cau, Althea Spinozzi, Naomi Rovnick, Lewis Krauskopf, Dhara Ranasinghe, Davide Barbuscia, Marc Jones, Ira Iosebashvili, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Jefferies, Fordham Global Foresight, Federal Reserve, Sylvest Wealth Management, Treasury, Barclays, Mobileye, Intel, Solaredge Technologies, East, Saxo Bank, Thomson Locations: U.S, Gaza, Iran, Europe, London, Israel, United States, Germany

☆ Biryani on plate and boundary length on mind for Pakistan's Babar
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Amlan Chakraborty | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Babar's men were accorded a warm welcome in Hyderabad in what is their first tour of India since the T20 World Cup in 2016. Babar and his team mates were surprised by the support they received since landing in Hyderabad, where they played both their warm-up matches. They will launch their bid for a second 50-overs World Cup title at the same southern Indian city against the Netherlands on Friday. Babar's concerns are understandable considering Pakistan's bowling lost considerable sting after speedster Naseem Shah was ruled out of the World Cup with a shoulder injury. "It's more or less the same team playing the last three years together, and I think bowling remains our strength," added Babar.

Persons: Babar Azam's, Babar, It's, Hyderabad's, Shadab Khan, gorging, biryani, speedster Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Amlan Chakraborty, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Thomson Locations: AHMEDABAD, India, Hyderabad, Pakistan, Indian, Netherlands, Ahmedabad

Bezos founded Amazon but it is unconnected to the Post, which Bezos bought with his own funds and in Baron’s telling, seems to genuinely relish owning. Baron, executive editor of the Post from 2013-2021, clearly has researched extensively and thought deeply about how to cover the unprecedented presidency of Donald Trump. Baron writes that he “needed to get myself ready for his brand of presidency” and cites the books he read on authoritarianism and the manipulation of public opinion. To any who think the news media march to the same cadences, Baron writes “newsrooms often are a wellsprings of conflict, dissent and grievance.”Often, though, from spirited arguments, great journalism arises. Baron writes that the Committee to Protect Journalists, which typically monitors threats to press freedom in other countries, began to focus on Trump as a threat within U.S. borders.

Persons: Martin Baron's, Jeff Bezos, Donald Trump, Bezos, Trump, Baron, ”, ” Baron, “, Roy Moore, “ newsrooms, Michael Flynn, David Ignatius, Ignatius, CPJ Organizations: Trump, Washington, The Washington Post, Alabama Republican, Veritas, Post, Protect Journalists Locations: The, United States, U.S

☆ Ryder Cup: Europe conjure late magic to prevent US from winning a single match and take dominant day one lead
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Rome turned blue as Europe stunned the United States in a Ryder Cup opening battle for the ages at Marco Simone Golf Club on Friday. The five-point advantage for captain Luke Donald’s side marks the joint-highest lead following the opening round in Ryder Cup history, equalling the records set by Europe and the US in 2004 and 1975 respectively. Team USA, without a victory on European soil in 30 years, will need a roaring response if they are to bring an end to the streak come Sunday. Not the start we wanted but fortunately for us we’ve got a lot of golf left,” Thomas said. “We’ll just go get some sleep, regroup and go try to win as many points as possible tomorrow.”

Persons: CNN — Rome, Marco Simone Golf, Jon Rahm, Nicolai Højgaard, Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns, Viktor Hovland, halve, Tyrrell Hatton, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Hovland, Gregorio Borgia, Matt Fitzpatrick, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Max Homa, Wyndham Clark, Justin Rose, Robert MacIntyre, Zach Johnson, Rose, Luke Donald’s, McIlroy, Fitzpatrick, Alberto Pizzoli, Rahm, Thomas ’, Scheffler, Andreas Solaro, Rahm’s, ” Rahm, “, I’ve, Nicolai, Thomas, we’ve, ” Thomas, “ We’ll Organizations: CNN, Marco Simone Golf Club, USA, Team USA, Ryder, Getty, PGA Locations: Europe, United States, AFP, Whistling Straits

TOKYO (AP) — Shares in Asia were mostly higher on Wednesday, shrugging off a sharp decline on Wall Street that took benchmarks back to where they were in June. That pushed the Fed last week to say it will likely cut interest rates by less next year than earlier expected. Besides high interest rates, a long list of other worries is also tugging at Wall Street. On Wall Street, the vast majority of stocks fell Tuesday under such pressures, including 90% of those within the S&P 500. Big Tech stocks tend to be among the hardest hit by high rates, and they were the heaviest weights on the index.

Persons: shrugging, Hui Ka Yan, Australia's, ” Stephen Innes, Brent Organizations: TOKYO, Tokyo's Nikkei, Hang Seng, Bloomberg, Garden Holdings, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Fed, U.S, Management, Big Tech, Apple, Microsoft, Federal Trade Commission Locations: Asia, Hong Kong, Shanghai, China, Seoul, Maryland, Carolinas

☆ Video shows Ukraine's 'hornet' drones following Russia's tanks and plopping grenades on top of them
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine published a video showing its drones dropping grenades on Russian tanks on open roads. The drones followed the vehicles for a short distance, before dropping the explosives on the tanks. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine's military released a video on Wednesday of its drones harassing Russian tanks with grenades. The drones, which a video caption called the "Hornets of Dovbush," were seen dropping the grenades on the Russian armor after tailing the vehicles on an open road. The Ukraine war has increasingly seen the use of drones on the battlefield, including small commercial drones taped with artillery shells.

Persons: —, Oleksy Dovbush, Robin Hood, Dovbush Organizations: Service, Hornets, Armed Forces Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Dovbush, Russia

☆ Americans Finally Start to Feel the Sting From the Fed’s Rate Hikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Rachel Louise Ensign | Photographs Yasmin Yassin For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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Persons: Dow Jones

Asian shares were mixed on Friday after another slump on Wall Street driven by expectations that U.S. interest rates will stay high well into next year. Political Cartoons View All 1173 ImagesTokyo's Nikkei 225 fell 0.2% to 32,501.59. Why chance their big swings when Treasurys are paying higher interest. That in turn could give the Fed more reason to keep rates higher for longer. Manufacturing and the housing industry have felt the sting of higher interest rates in particular and have struggled more than the broad job market.

Persons: Hang Seng, Sensex, Australia's, Telsa, Splunk Organizations: Bank of Japan, Federal Reserve, Fed, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Big Tech, Nvidia, Cisco Systems, Cisco, Wall Street, FedEx, Treasury, Manufacturing, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S Locations: Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney, Hong, Wall, U.S

Whether she was advocating for equal pay and racial justice or just scoring a rare goal off a corner kick, Megan Rapinoe was always unabashedly authentic during her soccer career. Rapinoe sobbed following the U.S. loss to Sweden at this summer's Women's World Cup, knowing it would be her final tournament with the national team. "I’ve just loved every moment of my career,” she said through tears at the World Cup last month in Australia. At the 2019 World Cup in France, Rapinoe scored six goals, including a penalty in the final against the Netherlands. Rapinoe led her team's long fight for equal pay with their men's national team, which started with an EEOC complaint back in 2016.

Persons: Megan Rapinoe, Rapinoe, I’ve, ”, “ I’ll, Kelley O'Hara, There's, Christine Sinclair, “ I’ve, We’re, she’s, ” Sinclair, She’s, Ballon, Megan, Lynn Williams, Donald Trump’s, “ She’s, Jill Ellis, Colin Kaepernick, —, ” Rapinoe Organizations: Portland, Chicago's, Rapinoe, University of Portland, Pilots, Portland Pilots, FIFA, Ballon d'Or, national, U.S, Soccer, House, San Francisco 49ers, Sweden, soccer's Locations: Sweden, Australia, U.S, United States, South Africa, Seattle, Portland, Canada, France, Netherlands, New York City

☆ Full recap: Fed chief Powell's market-moving comments on interest rates, soft landing chances
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

While the Federal Reserve's latest release was more hawkish than expected, the main risk the the central bank faces is tarnishing its anti-inflation credibility, which warrants favoring their hawkish reaction, said Alexandra Wilson-Elizondo, deputy chief investment officer of multi-asset strategies at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. The recent rise in energy prices and resilient economic activity data likely drove the Fed's forecasts, she said. "We don't see a singular upcoming bearish catalyst, although strikes, the shutdown, and the resumption of student loan repayments collectively will sting and drive bumpiness in the data between now and their next decision," she said. "As a result, we believe that their next meeting will be live, but not a done deal." — Michelle Fox

Persons: Alexandra Wilson, Elizondo, — Michelle Fox Organizations: Federal, Goldman Sachs Asset Management

Louis Milione retired from the DEA a second time this summer amid reporting by The Associated Press on potential conflicts caused by his prior consulting for the pharmaceutical industry. Milione had spent four years at Guidepost prior to his return, leveraging his extensive experience and contacts from a 21-year DEA career. “Should we say Welcome Back?” Guidepost quipped in a social media post this week announcing Milione’s rehire as president of global investigations and regulatory compliance. His career stands out for two cycles through the revolving door between government and industry, raising questions about the potential impact on the DEA’s mission to police drug companies blamed for tens of thousands of American overdose deaths. Morris & Dickson is still challenging the ruling, which threatens to put the $4 billion a year company out of business.

Persons: Louis Milione, Milione, Anne Milgram’s, “, ” Guidepost, Milione’s rehire, they’re, ”, Jeff Hauser, Viktor Bout, rehire Milione, Milgram, Lou Milione, Morris, Dickson, ” Milgram Organizations: WASHINGTON, Enforcement, Purdue Pharma, Associated Press, Guidepost Solutions, Justice, DEA’s, Dickson Co, DEA, AP, Morris, Department of Justice Locations: New York, America, Shreveport , Louisiana, Investigative@ap.org

☆ The head quant strategist at a $194 billion firm shares 4 trades he sees delivering at least 6% returns over each of the next 5 years as a recession gets ready to hit the US economy next year
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Next, Swinkels likes developed market equities, which include stocks in countries like France, Germany, the UK, Australia, Japan, and more. The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) offers exposure to developed market stocks outside of the US and Canada. Exchange-traded funds like the Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF (SCHE) or the Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) are one way to invest in emerging market stocks. "The CAPE ratio of global real estate is currently 13.3, well below its average of 19.4 since 2000," Swinkels said. One way to invest in real estate without buying properties directly is through real-estate investment trusts, also known as REITs.

Persons: Laurens Swinkels, Peter van der, Swinkels, we've Organizations: Federal, iShares, Yield Corp, Exchange, Schwab, Equity, Vanguard FTSE, Markets, Simon Property Group Locations: France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Canada, China, Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia

Netflix has acquired Richard Linklater's “Hit Man,” starring Glen Powell, for $20 million. “Hit Man,” which Linklater and Powell co-wrote, stars the “Top Gun: Maverick” actor as a New Orleans psychology professor who also works undercover posing as a hit man for the police in sting operations to catch would-be murders. Netflix didn't announce release plans yet for “Hit Man,” which also played at the Venice Film Festival. But the “Hit Man” sale is the largest yet of the season. Netflix, which also distributed Linklater's previous movie, “Apollo 10 1/2,” earlier acquired Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, “Woman of the Hour,” following its premiere in Toronto.

Persons: Richard Linklater's “, Glen Powell, Linklater, Powell, Netflix didn't, Adria Arjona, Skip Hollandsworth, Gary Johnson, you’ve, ”, ‘, ’, It's, Anna Kendrick’s Organizations: Toronto, Netflix, Venice Film, WGA, “ Locations: New Orleans, Venice, Toronto, Hollywood

☆ TikTok Shop-ocalypse hits food sellers as the platform cracks down on homemade goods like freeze-dried candy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

TikTok added new language to its product policies earlier this month for its recently launched e-commerce platform TikTok Shop, boxing out merchants who sell homemade food items like candy. Linares garnered over 1,400 sales through TikTok Shop in the last month, per documentation viewed by Insider. Freeze-dried candies have become a massive category and a big business on TikTok Shop. Users have already purchased thousands of freeze-dried products through TikTok Shop, per sales tallies visible to users in the app. 'TikTok Shop can really giveth and they can really taketh away'This isn't the first time Wilkerson's store has been dinged by TikTok Shop.

Persons: TikTok, Chrystian Linares, Linares, reselling Skittles, that's, Influencers, Nathan Wilkerson, Wilkerson, influencers Organizations: TikTok Locations: Florida, Orlando, Tallahassee, Linares, Jolly, Portland , Oregon, China

☆ I was arrested for trying to buy cannabis 15 years ago. Now, I run a multi-million dollar business selling weed.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Yoonji Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Keshawn Warner is the cofounder of Dazed, a cannabis dispensary in Massachusetts and New York. AdvertisementAdvertisementThis is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Keshawn Warner, co-founder of the cannabis dispensary Dazed. Then, in 2008, at the height of the stop and frisk era, I was arrested for trying to buy cannabis. A Dazed cannabis dispensary. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhen we heard that New York had legalized cannabis and was opening up its cannabis industry, my ears perked up.

Persons: Keshawn Warner, Warner, Yoonji Han, Woodrow Wilson, There's, we'd, Andrew Lichtenstein, dink, I'd, Patrick Roberts, frisked Organizations: Warner, Morning, Getty Images, Norfolk State University, Yankees, York Locations: Massachusetts, New York, New York City, East Harlem, Puerto Rican, California, Breckenridge in Colorado . Denver, York, Manhattan

☆ Austrian prosecutors drop bribery investigation into ex-finance minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

VIENNA, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Austrian anti-corruption prosecutors said on Tuesday they had dropped a bribery investigation into former conservative Finance Minister Gernot Bluemel for lack of proof. A concrete donation by the gambling company to the party could not be proven," the Central Prosecutors' Office for Economic Crimes and Corruption (WKStA) said in a statement. Kurz led his conservatives to victory in a parliamentary election following the government's collapse in 2019 but was forced to resign as chancellor in 2021 when he was placed under investigation over corruption allegations. He is also under investigation for possible perjury in testimony to a parliamentary commission. Their party remains in government and leads a coalition with the Greens formed in 2020.

Persons: Gernot Bluemel, Christian Strache, Strache, Sebastian Kurz, Bluemel, Kurz, Francois Murphy, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Finance, Party, Heinz, Central Prosecutors, Economic, Greens, Thomson Locations: VIENNA, Austrian, Austria

☆ Solenopsis invicta: Red fire ants, an invasive species with a painful sting, have spread to Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The red fire ant, one of the world’s most invasive species, has been found in Europe for the first time, according to a new study. Institut de Biologia EvolutivaResearchers said they had identified 88 red fire ant nests spread over 5 hectaresnear the city of Syracuse in Sicily, Italy. While red fire ants had been discovered in imported products in Spain, Finland andthe Netherlands, a colony had never been confirmed before this study, theauthors said. The study suggested that wind could have transported flying queen ants fromthe northwest of Syracuse, where the commercial port is located. Genetic analysis of the ants revealed that they had most likely spread from the United States or China, where Solenopsis invicta is also an invasive species.

Persons: Evolutiva, “, alarmingly, ”, Mattia Menchetti, ” Menchetti, Paris — Organizations: CNN, invicta, Institut, of Evolutionary, Solenopsis invicta, Paris, United Locations: Europe, South America, United States, Mexico, Caribbean, China, Australia, Syracuse, Sicily, Italy, Spain, Finland, Netherlands, Barcelona, Rome, London, United Nations

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