Tuesday, May 09, 2023

Sen. Dianne Feinstein Set to Return to Senate After Extended Medical Absence

Sen. Dianne Feinstein Set to Return to Senate After Extended Medical Absence

California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein is expected to return to the Senate this week after a nearly three-month absence due to shingles, an illness that has kept her away since February. The 87-year-old senator's prolonged absence had led several House Democrats to call for her resignation, citing delays in advancing and confirming judicial nominees.

U.S. Authorities Disable Russian Malware Used for Espionage on NATO-Allied Governments

U.S. Authorities Disable Russian Malware Used for Espionage on NATO-Allied Governments

U.S. authorities have successfully disabled a piece of malware, known as "Snake," allegedly used by Russia's intelligence agency for two decades to steal documents from NATO-allied governments and others. The FBI identified the group of hackers as "Turla" and obtained court approval to issue commands to the malware, permanently disabling it on infected computers.

Biden and Congressional Leaders to Discuss Debt Ceiling as Deadline Looms

Biden and Congressional Leaders to Discuss Debt Ceiling as Deadline Looms

This week, President Joe Biden is set to meet with congressional leaders from both parties in an attempt to reach an agreement on the debt ceiling before a critical deadline of June 1. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that there are "no good options" for the United States in avoiding an economic calamity if the Treasury Department runs out of "extraordinary measures" it has been using to operate under the debt cap.

Melania Trump Expresses Support for Husband's Potential 2024 Presidential Bid

Former First Lady Melania Trump has endorsed her husband, former President Donald Trump, in his potential bid for reelection in the 2024 presidential race. In a recent interview, Mrs. Trump stated that it would be a privilege to serve as first lady again and emphasized her commitment to initiatives prioritizing children.

Wendy's Tests AI-Powered Chatbot for Drive-Thru Orders

Wendy's Tests AI-Powered Chatbot for Drive-Thru Orders

Wendy's Inc. is piloting an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot designed to handle drive-thru orders at one of its Columbus, Ohio locations starting this June. The system, powered by Google Cloud’s AI software, aims to provide a natural and conversational ordering experience similar to interacting with a human employee.

Fox Corp. Reports Q3 Revenue Increase Despite Dominion Settlement

Fox Corp. Reports Q3 Revenue Increase Despite Dominion Settlement

Fox Corp. has reported an 18% increase in revenue for the fiscal third quarter, totaling $4.08 billion, despite settling allegations that its network broadcasts defamed Dominion Voting Systems after the 2020 presidential election. Sales were lifted by a substantial 43% jump in advertising revenue.

IIROC Trading Halt Suspends Trading of Publicly-Listed Company Security

IIROC Trading Halt Suspends Trading of Publicly-Listed Company Security

The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) has temporarily halted the trading of a security belonging to a publicly-listed company, due to various concerns surrounding debt and equity marketplaces in the country. The suspension is set to ensure that a fair and orderly market is maintained during this period.

President Biden to Meet with Congressional Leaders on Raising Debt Ceiling

President Biden to Meet with Congressional Leaders on Raising Debt Ceiling

President Joe Biden is set to meet with top congressional leaders, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, at the White House on Tuesday in an effort to avoid a default if the government fails to raise the debt ceiling. Both sides have shown little willingness to compromise, leading to concerns that the Treasury Department may be unable to pay its bills and cause the U.S. defaults on its debts for the first time in history.

Gallup Survey Reveals Low Confidence in US Economic Leaders

Gallup Survey Reveals Low Confidence in US Economic Leaders

A recent Gallup survey, released on Tuesday, has shown that American confidence in the nation's economic leaders is dwindling. President Joe Biden, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, and Treasury Department officials are all facing decreased trust with regard to their ability to manage the economy.

UK House Prices Fall for the First Time This Year as Mortgage Rates Rise

UK House Prices Fall for the First Time This Year as Mortgage Rates Rise

UK house prices fell for the first time this year, according to a measure released by Halifax, underlining the headwinds the market is facing as mortgage rates rise. The mortgage lender said its index of average prices fell 0.3% in April after small gains in each of the first three months of the year.

Saudi Aramco Reports 19% Drop in First-Quarter Profits Amid Global Recession Concerns

Saudi Aramco Reports 19% Drop in First-Quarter Profits Amid Global Recession Concerns

Saudi oil giant Aramco reported a first-quarter net profit of $31.88 billion on Tuesday, marking a nearly 20% decline from the same period last year due to concerns about global recession and lower crude oil prices. The company attributed the drop to fluctuating commodity prices and reassured investors that its low-cost upstream production strategy would help it withstand market volatility.

J.R. Moehringer Details Bond with Prince Harry in New Essay

J.R. Moehringer Details Bond with Prince Harry in New Essay

J.R. Moehringer, the ghostwriter of Prince Harry's memoir, has penned an essay for The New Yorker recounting his close relationship with the Duke of Sussex over a two-year period. In their collaboration on the book 'Spare,' they discussed an array of topics, including a brutal military exercise that took place during Harry's training in England and what Moehringer refers to as the "central tragedy" of Prince Harry's life.

Senate Judiciary Committee Investigates Gifts to Supreme Court Justices

Senate Judiciary Committee Investigates Gifts to Supreme Court Justices

The Senate Judiciary Committee has requested that Supreme Court justices provide an itemized list of gifts worth more than $415 made by billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow. The request also covers any other justice or family member, as well as a full list of lodging, transportation, real estate transactions and admission to private clubs provided by Crow.

Dollar Inches Higher as US Credit Conditions Show Less Gloom, Pound Nears One-Year Peak

Dollar Inches Higher as US Credit Conditions Show Less Gloom, Pound Nears One-Year Peak

The dollar inched higher on Tuesday after a loans survey revealed that credit conditions in the United States were less gloomy than expected, while the pound flirted with a one-year peak ahead of this week's Bank of England policy meeting. The Federal Reserve's quarterly Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey (SLOOS) showed that while credit conditions for U.S. business and households continued tightening at the start of the year, it was likely due to the impact of the Fed's aggressive rate hikes rather than severe banking sector stress.

Sam Bankman-Fried Seeks Dismissal of Charges in FTX Collapse Case

Sam Bankman-Fried Seeks Dismissal of Charges in FTX Collapse Case

Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the now-bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange, has filed a motion to dismiss 10 out of 13 criminal charges against him related to the collapse of his company. Federal prosecutors have accused Bankman-Fried, a former billionaire, of stealing billions of dollars in customer funds to cover losses at Alameda Research, purchase real estate properties and make political contributions through an illegal straw-donor scheme.

Goldman Sachs Settles $215 Million Discrimination Lawsuit Against Women

Goldman Sachs Settles $215 Million Discrimination Lawsuit Against Women

Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GSN) has agreed to pay $215 million to settle a long-running class-action lawsuit that accused the investment bank of widespread bias against women in pay and promotions. The plaintiffs alleged the bank systematically paid women less than men and gave women weaker performance reviews that impeded their career growth.

Bids Top $36,000 for Check Signed by Apple's Steve Jobs

Bids Top $36,000 for Check Signed by Apple's Steve Jobs

In a recent online auction event, collectors and enthusiasts alike were given the unique opportunity to bid on a piece of tech history: a check signed by Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs just months after the company was established. As bidding escalated rapidly, the final winning bid reached an astounding $36,000.

Prominent Interest-Rate Strategist Zoltan Pozsar Leaves Credit Suisse Group AG

Prominent Interest-Rate Strategist Zoltan Pozsar Leaves Credit Suisse Group AG

Prominent interest-rate strategist Zoltan Pozsar, known for accurately predicting a major upheaval in US repurchase agreement markets that occurred in 2019, has left his position at Credit Suisse Group AG, according to an individual familiar with the situation who requested anonymity due to the private nature of the information.

Union City Residents to Receive Checks in $141 Million TurboTax Settlement

Union City Residents to Receive Checks in $141 Million TurboTax Settlement

Union City, CA residents who used TurboTax to file their income taxes will soon receive checks under a $141 million class action lawsuit settlement with Intuit, the creator of the online tax preparation service. The company faced claims that it misled customers into paying for free tax services.