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The text messages raise questions about Bradley’s credibility, and the degree to which Merchant appeared to rely on his claims that she was then unable to substantiate elsewhere. Wade and Willis have admitted to being romantically involved, but both have testified their relationship started after Willis appointed Wade lead prosecutor in the Trump case. Merchant had said that he would contradict testimony from Willis and Wade once he took the stand. “Why would you speculate when she was asking you a direct question about when the relationship started?” Sadow pushed. The additional text messages show Bradley calling Merchant his “friend,” offering unsolicited advice, and also bashing Willis and Wade, Bradley’s former law partner.

Persons: Fani Willis, Donald Trump, Terrence Bradley, Ashleigh Merchant, Trump’s, Bradley, Willis, Nathan Wade, Wade, Bradley’s, Merchant, Trump, ”, Steve Sadow, ” Sadow, ” Bradley, “, Merchant ., ” Merchant, ” “, Michael Moore, Scott McAfee, ” Moore Organizations: CNN, Trump, Merchant Locations: Georgia, Wade’s

☆ A breakaway region in Europe is asking Russia for protection. Here’s what to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Christian Edwards | Anna Chernova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

No country officially recognizes Transnistria, where Russia has kept a steadily dwindling military presence for decades, now standing at around 1,500 troops. Before Wednesday, the congress’ most recent meeting was in 2006, when it passed a referendum calling to join Russia. When Transnistrian politicians unexpectedly announced a new meeting, analysts suggested this could lead to fresh calls for unification with Russia. Russia’s war in Ukraine has had a profound effect on Transnistria’s economy. Minzarari said the dispute had created opportunities for Russian authorities to “fish in troubled waters.”Why is Russia interested in Moldova?

Persons: Vladimir Putin, ”, Daniel Voda, “, Maia Sandu, Dumitru Minzarari, ” Minzarari, Minzarari, Gen, Rustam Minnekaev, Lenin, Anton Polyakov, Putin, Vadim Kranoselsky, ” Ben Dubow Organizations: CNN —, European Union, Kremlin, Novosti, Moldova’s, Transnistria’s, Deputies, Russia, Moldovan, Russia’s, Ministry, CNN, EU, Carnegie Endowment, International, Baltic Defense College, Military Region, Institute for, RIA Novosti, Center for Locations: Moldova, Transnistria, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Moscow, Soviet, Moldovan, Russia, Tiraspol, Odesa, Maj, Kherson, Russian, US, Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kyiv, Transnistrian

☆ China’s Oppo unveils prototype augmented reality glasses with voice assistant as AI hype hits gadgets
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Since they are AR glasses, users can see digital content imposed over the real-world view they see in front of them. Oppo, a Chinese firm and one of the world's biggest smartphone makers, announced the Oppo Air Glass 3 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. BARCELONA – Oppo on Monday unveiled a prototype set of augmented reality (AR) glasses with a voice assistant, underscoring how electronics giants are trying to infuse artificial intelligence across their products to stand out. The Air Glass 3 needs to be tethered to an Oppo smartphone. Oppo said that its latest AR glasses are equipped with a voice assistant which is powered by the Chinese tech giant's own large language model (LLM) called AndesGPT.

Persons: Oppo, Alibaba — Organizations: Mobile, BARCELONA, Oppo, Baidu, Tech, Apple, IDC Locations: Barcelona, China

☆ Chinese tech firm Lenovo shows off a laptop with a see-through screen
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Arjun Kharpal | CNBCChinese tech giant Lenovo showed off a prototype laptop on Monday that has a see-through screen, underscoring how the world's largest PC maker is trying to innovate after a brutal couple of years for the market. Lenovo showed off some of its capabilities. In on demonstration, Lenovo showed how the laptop could identify an object behind the screen and display information about it. A side view of Lenovo's transparent laptop screen. Arjun Kharpal | CNBC

Persons: Arjun Kharpal Organizations: HK, CNBC, Lenovo, Gartner

☆ Appearing at CPAC, Trump’s V.P. Contenders Speak to an Audience of One
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Chris Cameron | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Influential Republicans vying to be Donald J. Trump’s vice-presidential running mate appeared at a conservative conference near Washington, auditioning for the spot at Mr. Trump’s side on the campaign trail with fire and flattery. Four people seen as contenders in the “Apprentice”-like spectacle made appearances on Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference, known as CPAC. Kristi Noem of South Dakota and Kari Lake, a Senate candidate in Arizona who rose to conservative prominence with a full-throated embrace of Mr. Trump’s stolen election lies. The conservative and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was scheduled to speak later in the evening. The contenders appeared to understand that they had an audience of one in Mr. Trump.

Persons: Donald J, J.D, Vance of Ohio, Elise Stefanik, Kristi Noem, Kari Lake, Trump’s, Vivek Ramaswamy, Trump, Stefanik, Biden, Hunter Organizations: Trump’s, Conservative Political, Conference, Gov, Republican Locations: Washington, New York, South Dakota, Arizona

☆ 2 startups posted big membership growth in the lucrative senior health plan business — after other young insurers failed
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Just a few years ago, a crop of venture-backed health insurance startups embarked on planting a flag in the crowded but lucrative health plan business for seniors. Bright Health, which has exited the insurance business entirely as of this year, sold its Medicare Advantage plans in December. However, there are signs that the Medicare Advantage business isn’t as much of a goldmine as it used to be. It takes an enormous amount of capital to grow big in the insurance business, Fidel said. Its Medicare Advantage membership totals about 4 million.

Persons: haven’t, Stephens, underscoring, Oscar Health, Clover, Cowen, Gary Taylor, didn’t, Scott Fidel, it’s, they’ll, Fidel, UnitedHealthcare Organizations: Alignment Healthcare, Medicare, Business, Bright, Oscar, Services, Humana, CVS Health, Aetna, CVS Locations: California, New Jersey

☆ Nvidia's Data Center business is booming, up more than 400% since last year to $18.4 billion in fourth-quarter sales
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Nvidia's Data Center business just logged $18.4 billion in fourth-quarter sales, underscoring how the computer chip giant continues to benefit from the current boom in artificial intelligence. Analysts were expecting Nvidia's data center unit to record $17.06 billion in sales for its fiscal fourth quarter. Investors are closely watching Nvidia's Data Center business, which includes the company's H100 graphics cards that are widely used to power generative AI apps such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. Nvidia's data center unit has blossomed, particularly over the past three quarters. Fiscal Q3 2023 – data center revenue was $3.83 billion, up 31% from the year prior.

Persons: OpenAI, Mark Zuckerberg Organizations: Data Center, Meta Locations: Nvidia's

☆ A Massachusetts high school wants to call in the National Guard to help quell a 'disturbing increase' in violent fights, drug abuse, and truancy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A high school committee in Massachusetts has asked the National Guard for help as it struggles to rein in student violence and drug abuse in its halls. "The National Guard does bring positivity, we use them to deploy COVID vaccinations." Rodrigues suggested that National Guard service members or staff be deployed as hall monitors and substitute teachers. "I know that the first thought that comes to mind when you hear 'National Guard' is uniform and arms," said Gomes. National Guard soldiers are not the answer," he said in a statement on Monday, per local station Boston 25 News.

Persons: Brockton, Maura Healey, Robert Sullivan, Healey, We're, Ana Oliver, Tony Rodrigues, Rodrigues, Claudio Gomes, Gomes, They're, Winthrop Farwell, Sullivan, Brockton's, Ana Reyes Organizations: National Guard, Business, ABC, Guard, Facebook, Boston, Brockton, PBS Locations: Massachusetts, Brockton, Boston, truancy, Commonwealth

☆ Where does Navalny’s reported death leave Russia and Putin?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Anton Troianovski | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The death of Aleksei A. Navalny, as reported by authorities in Moscow on Friday, ushers in a new turning point for President Vladimir V. Putin’s Russia, underscoring both the Kremlin’s power and the potential for instability that continues to threaten it. The announcement came just a month before Russia’s rubber-stamp presidential elections, when the Kremlin will look to portray Russians as united behind Mr. Putin and his bid for a fifth term. As the third year of the war nears, Mr. Putin’s control of domestic politics appears nearly total, with his most prominent surviving opponents either in jail or in exile. Street protests are immediately snuffed out, and thousands of Russians have been prosecuted for criticizing the war. The West’s far-reaching sanctions have not crippled Russia’s economy.

Persons: Aleksei A, Vladimir V, underscoring, Putin Organizations: Mr, Russian, Ukrainian Army, Kremlin Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — A measure of consumer sentiment ticked higher this month, after soaring in December and January, underscoring that Americans are starting to feel better about the economy after several years of gloom. The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index, released Friday, ticked up to 79.6 in February, from 79 in January. Still, consumer sentiment remains 6% below its long-run average after the worst spike in inflation in four decades pushed up the cost of groceries, rent, gas, and other necessities, frustrating many consumers. “Consumers continued to express confidence that the slowdown in inflation and strength in labor markets would continue.”Improving consumer confidence can often lead to greater spending, which can support economic growth. Since the pandemic, however, consumer spending has been mostly healthy even when measures of sentiment were quite low.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Joanne Hsu, “ Consumers Organizations: WASHINGTON, University of, “ Locations: underscoring

☆ Pro-Palestinian Groups File Legal Action Against German Politician Over Gaza War
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Riham AlkousaaBERLIN (Reuters) - Pro-Palestinian activists have filed criminal charges against a German politician for suspected incitement of hate and denial of war crimes in Israel's war in Gaza, they said on Friday. War in Israel and Gaza View All 209 ImagesThe charges against Volker Beck, a former member of parliament and the head of the German-Israeli Society, were brought by Palestinian solidarity groups Palestine Speaks and Jewish Voice for Just Peace in the Middle East. "This is the first step in holding public figures who publicly make genocidal statements legally accountable," the group wrote on its Instagram. "There is no genocide in Gaza and I do not advocate genocide," he told Reuters, adding that he had filed complaints against the groups for defamation. "These people have a disturbed relationship with the rule of law if they believe that many complaints lead to more investigations."

Persons: Alkousaa, Volker Beck, Beck, Riham Alkousaa, Rachel More, Nick Macfie Organizations: Israeli Society, Palestine, Jewish, Reuters, Court Locations: Alkousaa BERLIN, German, Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Germany, Berlin, South Africa

☆ More than 400 personnel take part in Ukraine aid oversight, US watchdog says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —More than 400 personnel take part in the oversight of Ukraine aid, according to a new report from a US government watchdog, underscoring the massive effort to manage billions of dollars in US assistance. In total, the report said there are more than 400 personnel working across the US, Germany, Ukraine and Europe to audit and evaluate US assistance to Ukraine. The report comes as some Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have demanded more oversight over Ukraine aid before they agree to any additional funding. The State Department watchdog has more than 100 staff members working on Ukraine oversight, three of whom are in Kyiv. The USAID watchdog has another 80 personnel working on Ukraine.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden, – Organizations: CNN, Defense Department, State Department, United States Agency for International, Representatives, Ukrainian, Operation Atlantic, NATO, The Defense Department Office, The State Department, USAID, Ukraine – Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Ukrainian, Germany, Russia, Crimea, Kyiv, Romania, North Korea, Iran

But appeals from Mr. Trump postponed that trial, initially scheduled for March 4. Paying hush money is not inherently illegal, but Mr. Trump is accused of falsifying records to hide a potential scandal from voters. Once Mr. Trump was elected, he reimbursed Mr. Cohen. Mr. Trump has accused Mr. Bragg of carrying out a witch hunt against him. In the Georgia case, Mr. Trump is accused of seeking to subvert the 2020 election results in that state.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Juan M, Trump’s, Merchan, —, Alvin L, Bragg, Mr, Jack Smith, Stormy Daniels, Michael D, Cohen, Daniels, Justice Merchan, Arthur F, general’s, Smith, Merchan’s Organizations: New, Republican, Democrat, Mr, White Locations: New York, Manhattan, American, Washington , Florida, Georgia, Washington, York, Florida

☆ Here's why Microsoft is going to let you play Xbox games on rival consoles
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Peter Kafka | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Big news for (some) video game players: Microsoft is going to stop making you use Microsoft devices to play (some) Microsoft games. AdvertisementVery short summary of the console video game business: It's common for video game hardware makers to also own or license games that are exclusively for their devices. The idea is that a single game (or several games) will be enough reason for a gamer to buy a specific device. Maybe, as Warren reports, Microsoft will also announce new hardware plans at the same time it makes the new software change. But it's hard to see how the games move alone is going to be anything more than Microsoft accepting reality.

Persons: Tom Warren, Mario Kart, I've, It's, Warren Organizations: Service, Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Business, PlayStation, Mario, Xbox, Activision, Netflix, Apple, Samsung

WASHINGTON (AP) — A longshot bid to temporarily double a $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions for most married couples went down to defeat Wednesday in the House. Republicans limited the deduction to help pay for other tax cuts in the 2017 package. They also cast the vote as an “election ploy to help New York Republicans win the next election.”“They created this problem that they now want to put a band-aid on,” Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., said of House Republicans. Nearly half of taxpayers in his district claimed the state and local tax deduction before the law was changed during the Trump administration. After the vote, Lawler said New York Republicans fought for their districts and the state, and “New York Democrats helped tanked the bill.” He said Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries urged colleagues to vote against the procedural rule.

Persons: Donald Trump's, It's, Joe Biden, Tom Suozzi, George Santos, Biden, ”, Anthony D'Esposito, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Mike Lawler, Lawler, Trump, ” Lawler, Hakeem Jeffries Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, New, Republican Rep, Republicans, New York Republicans, ”, House Republicans, “ New, “ New York Democrats, Democrats Locations: New York , New Jersey , California, New York, “ New York, New York , New Jersey

☆ Special counsel urges Supreme Court to deny Trump’s request for delay in immunity case
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( John Fritze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Special counsel Jack Smith pressed the Supreme Court on Wednesday to let stand a lower court ruling that denied former President Donald Trump immunity from prosecution, urging the justices to allow the trial in his election subversion case to begin quickly. “The charged crimes strike at the heart of our democracy,” Smith told the Supreme Court. Smith asked that if the court orders a delay that it consider the request an appeal and set the case for expedited briefing and argument. Trump on Monday asked the Supreme Court to temporarily block that decision so he could appeal it. Earlier Tuesday, Chief Justice John Roberts gave Smith until February 20 to respond to Trump’s emergency request.

Persons: Jack Smith, Donald Trump, ” Smith, Trump, Smith, “, John Roberts Organizations: CNN, Supreme, DC Circuit, Monday, Trump, Republican

☆ Live updates: The latest on the Israel-Hamas news
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Chris Lau | Andrew Raine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

A woman and children sit outside tents sheltering displaced Palestinians in Rafah, Gaza, on February 8. Satellite images showed this week how a tent city has swelled in size in just a few weeks. Also, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised concerns about the expansion into Rafah during meetings with Netanyahu and other Israeli officials this week, two Israeli officials told CNN on Wednesday. Non-governmental organizations issue warnings: Several non-governmental organizations have warned about the humanitarian consequences of Israeli operations in Rafah. Half of UNRWA requests to deliver aid in Gaza denied: The UN's main relief agency in Gaza said Friday that half of its aid mission requests to deliver aid in Gaza since the beginning of the year have been denied.

Persons: Mohammed Abed, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Vedant Patel, Antony Blinken, Netanyahu, won’t, Philippe Lazzarini Organizations: Getty, United Nations, Israel Defense Forces, CNN, Wednesday, Norwegian Refugee Council, Hamas, The United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees Locations: Rafah, Gaza, AFP, ”, Israel, United States, Egypt

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Antifascist activists gathered in Hungary's capital on Saturday to oppose an annual commemoration held by far-right groups, underscoring diplomatic tensions between Budapest and Rome over the detention of an Italian citizen in a Hungarian jail. Hundreds of activists marched through central Budapest alongside a heavy police presence, and called for “freedom for every antifascist." The demonstration came as an Italian antifascist activist is being held in a Hungarian jail for allegedly being involved in assaults against suspected participants in the Day of Honor commemoration in Budapest last year. Images of the activist, Ilaria Salis, chained and shackled at a Budapest court hearing sparked official protests by the Italian government. The case is delicate for the far-right-led government of Meloni, who has forged friendly ties with the nationalist Orbán.

Persons: —, ”, Ilaria Salis, Luca Kruczynski, “, Salis, ’, Giorgia Meloni, Viktor Orbán, Salis ’, Antonio Tajani, Carlo Nordio, Nordio, Tajani, Elly Schlein, Giorgia Meloni’s, Schlein, Colleen Barry Organizations: Nazi, Prosecutors, Hungarian, Meloni, Italy's, Democratic Party, Associated Press Locations: BUDAPEST, Hungary, Budapest, Rome, Hungarian, Italian, Berlin, Europe, Milan, Salis, Italy, Hungary’s, Salis ’ Hungarian

(AP) — Montana Republicans gathered in a hotel ballroom this weekend aiming to unite ahead of the 2024 election and defeat three-term incumbent Democrat U.S. Sen. Jon Tester. Rosendale's move laid bare deep fissures within the Montana GOP at a time when Republicans can ill afford it. Outside observers and even some Republicans say an intraparty skirmish leading up to Montana's June primary could undermine those hopes. Rosendale’s entry into the Senate contest capped months of speculation that the hard-right lawmaker wanted a rematch six years after losing to Tester in 2018. Those Democrats are egging on the division in the GOP Senate race, hopeful it will drain Republican funds and alienate independent voters before the general election.

Persons: HELENA, —, Sen, Jon Tester, Matt Rosendale, Rosendale's, Steve Daines, “ I’ve, boisterously, Greg Gianforte, Tim Sheehy, “, Donald Trump, Sheehy, ” Gianforte, Trump, Rosendale, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, ”, I’ve, irk, Theresa Manzella, George Nikolakakos, Nikolakakos, Steve Bullock Organizations: — Montana Republicans, Democrat U.S, U.S . Rep, Montana GOP, Republican, National Republican, Committee, U.S . Navy, Senate, Montana Gov, GOP, Montana Freedom Caucus, Rosendale, GOP Senate, Democratic Party, Trump, Biden, Republicans Locations: Mont, Montana, Montana , Ohio, West Virginia, U.S, Rosendale, Helena, Belgrade , Montana, Afghanistan, Washington, Great Falls, “, Rosendale . Montana, Daines

☆ Why the race for the House is the one to watch in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Simone Pathe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

CNN —It won’t suck up anywhere near the oxygen of the presidential election, but the race for the US House of Representatives may be the most exciting campaign to watch in 2024. But in the House, Republicans’ shrinking majority has underscored the importance of the balance of power in Washington. House Republicans currently control 219 seats to Democrats’ 212, with four vacancies. Santos was expelled from the House last year, but he’s not absent from the race. Seats Republicans are targetingThe House GOP campaign arm releases a similar target list, which includes 37 offensive seats this year.

Persons: they’re, Democratic Sen, Joe Manchin’s, –, George Santos ’, Santos, he’s, Joe Biden, Biden, ”, “, Cam Savage, Nathan L, Gonzales, Nick LaLota, Anthony D’Esposito, Mike Lawler, Marc Molinaro, Brandon Williams, John Duarte, David Valadao, Mike Garcia, Young Kim, Michelle Steel, David Schweikert, Juan Ciscomani, Don Bacon of Nebraska, Tom Kean of, Lori Chavez, Brian Fitzpatrick, Jen Kiggans, Tom Suozzi, Donald Trump, Mary Peltola of, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Jared Golden of, Matt Cartwright of, Marcy Kaptur, Kaptur, Elissa Slotkin –, Dan Kildee, Kildee –, don’t, Dale Kildee, Abigail Spanberger, Susan Wild, Emilia Sykes, Yadira, there’s, There’s, Ron DeSantis, Savage, Ron Brownstein, Trump, he’ll, Suozzi, Achim Bergmann, Bergmann, Gavin Newsom, Kathy Hochul, Eric Adams, Roe, Wade, Meredith Kelly Organizations: CNN, US, Democratic, House, Washington . House Republicans, ’, GOP, Santos, PAC, House Democratic, Republican, Congressional, Fund, Blue States Project, Republicans, Biden, New, Democratic Congressional, National Republican, Washington . Rep, –, Democrats, Rep, Independent, GOP Gov, Trump, Democrat, White, California Gov, New York Gov, New York City Locations: West Virginia, Washington, New York, Tuesday’s, York, California, “ California, Republican, Blue States, Michigan, New Mexico , Colorado, North Carolina, Arizona, Tom Kean of New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Iowa, Arizona , Colorado , Montana , Nebraska , Oregon , Texas, Arizona , California, Florida , Michigan, Wisconsin, Mary Peltola of Alaska, Jared Golden of Maine, Matt Cartwright of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan’s 8th, –, Texas, Alabama, It’s, Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina, Charleston, Biden, Long, New

The NumbersThe S&P 500 climbed 0.6 percent on Friday to close at 5,026.61. Tech giants, including Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon and Alphabet, have enormous sway over the index because of their size, and after they reported earnings last week, several of these stocks have soared. The rally hasn’t been limited to tech stocks: Disney, Ford and Chipotle, for instance, also reported earnings in the past week that beat analyst estimates and pushed their shares higher. Nearly 70 percent of the companies in the S&P 500 had reported earnings as of Friday, with three-quarters of those reports better than expected, according to FactSet. The gains in the S&P 500 have continued even after the Fed signaled that it wouldn’t move as quickly as investors had initially hoped.

Persons: Russell, —, underscoring, Jerome H, Powell Organizations: Nasdaq, Technology, Tech, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Disney, Ford, Federal Reserve, Investors

☆ China e-commerce player Temu is about to run its second Super Bowl ad — and do $10 million in giveaways
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In addition to the commercial, Temu will be giving away $5 million in coupons and credits, an initiative already underway. On the day of the Super Bowl, Temu plans to do an additional $10 million in giveaways, the spokesperson said. It's rare for a Chinese firm to buy a Super Bowl ad spot, which costs millions of dollars . Temu, the e-commerce app run by Chinese company PDD Holdings , plans to run a Super Bowl ad on Sunday, a spokesperson told CNBC, as it looks to continue growing rapidly in the United States. Temu launched in September 2022 and shortly after aired its Super Bowl ad in 2023.

Persons: Temu, underscoring, PDD, Zappi, Temu's, Morgan Stanley Organizations: PDD Holdings, CNBC, Facebook, Temu's, Meta Locations: giveaways, United States, Temu's U.S, U.S, Temu

☆ The dollar is back. It’s not all good news
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —The greenback is strengthening again after a bumpy 2023, as Wall Street accepts that interest rate cuts are coming later than previously expected. The US Dollar Index, which tracks the dollar against the British pound, euro, Swiss franc, Japanese yen, Canadian dollar and Swedish krona, is up 2.8% for the year as of Friday morning. “All of a sudden the interest rate differential kicks in — if that is slower than the Fed or faster,” said Krosby. Higher interest rates tend to garner more international capital to flow into a country, raising demand for the currency and thus its value. Still, Todd Jones, chief investment officer at Gratus Capital, says he expects the dollar to trend lower eventually as the Fed gets closer to cutting rates.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Christine Lagarde, Quincy Krosby, ”, Neel Kashkari, Todd Jones, Jones, Anna Cooban, Richard Meade, Janet Yellen, Alicia Wallace, Yellen, ” Yellen Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Swiss, Canadian, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, LPL, Treasury, Minneapolis, Gratus, Fed, Hamas, Lloyds, CNN, Banking Committee Locations: New York, Swedish, Iran, Suez, Asia, Europe

Scholz arrived in Washington ready to amplify an argument Biden himself has been making for months now: A Russian win in Ukraine would imperil the West and its allies. He's also looking to highlight that Germany continues to provide robust funding for Ukraine despite budget constraints. Scholz is emphasizing the stakes of the debate for Europe and beyond as House Republicans have blocked new U.S. funding. Heather Conley, president of the German Marshall Fund in Washington, said that Scholz will be looking to hear from Biden on his “Plan B” if Congress remains at loggerheads over funding for Ukraine. U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that Biden would make clear to Scholz that despite the “dysfunction” in the House over Ukraine funding, there's broad bipartisan support to continue to back Kyiv.

Persons: Joe Biden, Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Biden, He's, “, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Heather Conley, ” Conley, John Kirby, ”, ” Kirby, ” Scholz, Tracy Brown, Moulson Organizations: WASHINGTON, Ukraine, Republicans, Israel, Union, German Marshall Fund, . National Security, Washington, NATO, AP Locations: Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Washington, Germany, United States, Kyiv, Russian, Israel, U.S, underscoring, House, Kyiv . U.S, Berlin

☆ Israel’s credit rating downgraded because of war with Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Israel’s prolonged war with Hamas is going to become a significant economic and political burden for the country over the long haul, Moody’s said Friday. So the agency downgraded Israel’s credit rating. Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Israel’s debt rating from A1 to A2 on Friday, underscoring the economic damage of the country’s war with Hamas, which has resulted in thousands of human casualties and stoked geopolitical tensions around the world. In mid-October, less than two weeks after Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on October 7, Moody’s warned that Israel’s credit rating was in danger of a downgrade. “Conflict with Hezbollah would pose a much bigger risk to Israel’s territory,” Moody’s said.

Persons: CNN —, Moody’s, ” Moody’s, Matt Egan Organizations: CNN, Moody’s, Hamas Locations: Israel, Gaza, “

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