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Anti-tax protesters storm Kenya's parliament, drawing police fire as president vows to quash unrest None - Thousands of protesters stormed Kenya’s parliament Tuesday to protest tax proposals, burning part of the building, sending lawmakers fleeing and drawing fire from police NAIROBI, Kenya -- Thousands of protesters stormed Kenya’s parliament Tuesday to protest tax proposals, burning part of the building, sending lawmakers fleeing and drawing fire from police in unrest that the president vowed to quash. Several people were killed. It was the most direct assault on the government in decades. Journalists saw at least three bodies outside the complex where police had opened fire, and medical workers reported five people killed. Clashes spread to other cities. There was no immediate word on arrests. “Today’s events mark a critical turning point on how we respond to threats to our national security,” President William Ruto said, calling the events “treasonous" and vowing to quash the unrest “at whatever cost.” Kenya's defense minister said the military had been deployed to support police during the “security emergency” and “breaching of critical infrastructure.” Protesters had demanded that legislators vote against a finance bill imposing new taxes on East Africa's economic hub, where frustrations over the high cost of living have simmered. Youth who had voted Ruto into power with cheers for his promises of economic relief have taken to the streets to object to the pain of reforms. Lawmakers managed to pass the bill before fleeing through a tunnel as protesters outmaneuvered police and poured in. The fire at the building was later put out. The Kenya Medical Association said in a statement that at least five people were fatally shot while trying to treat wounded people at the scene. It said more than 30 people were wounded, at least 13 with live bullets. Police fired live ammunition and threw tear gas canisters at protesters who sought treatment at a medical tent at a nearby church. Elsewhere in town, Kenyatta National Hospital said it received 45 casualties. One person shot dead was wrapped in a Kenyan flag and carried away. Another lay on the sidewalk, their head in the gutter. Internet service in the country noticeably slowed in what NetBlocks called a “major disruption," and at least one broadcaster issued a statement saying that “we have received threats from the authorities to shut us down." Ruto had been outside Nairobi attending an African Union retreat. He was expected to sign the finance bill into law this week. He has two weeks to act but faces calls from religious and other leaders to think again. The nearby office of the Nairobi governor, a member of the ruling party, also was briefly on fire Tuesday, smoke pouring from its white facade. Police water cannons were used to extinguish the fire. Protesters could be heard shouting, “We’re coming for every politician." The Kenya Human Rights Commission shared a video of officers shooting at protesters, and it urged Ruto to issue an immediate order to “stop the killings.” The president instead said the government had “mobilized all resources” to ensure order. On Sunday, Ruto tried to calm the rising public tensions, saying he was proud of the young Kenyans who came out to exercise their democratic duty in earlier protests. The politician who had promoted himself as a “hustler” from humble beginnings said he would engage them on their concerns. Youth had announced they were uniting to keep the government in check as prices for fuel, food and other necessities have soared. In Nairobi, a regional hub for expatriates and home to a United Nations complex, the inequality among Kenyans has sharpened along with long-held frustrations over state corruption. Opposition to the finance bill has united a large part of the country, with some explicitly rejecting the tribal divisions that have torn Kenya apart in the past. Some who had passionately supported Ruto felt betrayed. “I fell for his lies. Now I’m out here regretting why I voted for him,” youth Oscar Saina told The Associated Press last week As throngs of protesters rushed through the streets Tuesday, defiance emerged elsewhere in the country — including in the town where the president was, Naivasha, as protesters chanted “Ruto must go.” Protesters tried to storm the State House in the western city of Nakuru, a witness said. There were clashes in the western lakeside city of Kisumu. The governor of Mombasa, Kenya's second largest city, joined protesters outside his office and expressed his support for them. Protesters burned ruling party offices in Embu in central Kenya, the Nation newspaper reported. Citizen TV showed footage from Nyeri in central Kenya with police confronting protesters in the smoking streets. A national gathering of Catholic bishops urged police not to attack protesters and pleaded with the government to listen to citizens' pain over the “unwarranted” taxes, saying “the country is bleeding ... families are immensely suffering.” Two people died in similar protests last week, and civil society groups have raised the alarm about a crackdown. The Kenya Law Society President Faith Odhiambo said earlier Tuesday that 50 Kenyans, including her personal assistant, had been “abducted” by people believed to be police officers. Some had been vocal in the demonstrations and were taken from homes, workplaces and public spaces ahead of Tuesday's protests, according to civil society groups. A statement by diplomats from 13 Western countries including the United States said they were “shocked” by the scenes outside parliament and expressed concern about the violence and abductions of protesters. Police officials did not immediately return calls seeking comment. Parliament Speaker Moses Wetangula had directed the inspector general of police to provide information on the whereabouts of those missing. Also Tuesday, hundreds of Kenya’s police officers, long accused of abuses by human rights watchdogs and others, arrived in Haiti to lead a United Nations-backed multinational force against the powerful gangs who have the country in its grip. The deployment faces a legal challenge in Kenya but Ruto’s government has gone ahead, with the thanks of U.S. President Joe Biden. ___ AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
A big boost for a climate solution: electricity made from the heat of the Earth None - One method of making electricity cleanly to address climate change has been quietly advancing and just hit a milestone A big boost for a climate solution: electricity made from the heat of the Earth One method of making electricity cleanly to address climate change has been quietly advancing and on Tuesday it hit a milestone. A California utility is backing the largest new geothermal power development in the U.S. — 400 megawatts of clean electricity from the Earth’s heat — enough for some 400,000 homes. Southern California Edison will purchase the electricity from Fervo Energy, a Houston-based geothermal company, Fervo announced. The company is drilling up to 125 wells in southwest Utah. Clean electricity like this reduces the need for traditional power plants that cause climate change. The boost could go a long way toward bringing down the cost of a new generation of geothermal energy, said Wilson Ricks, an energy systems researcher at Princeton University. “If these purchases help to get this technology off the ground, it could be massively impactful for global decarbonization,” he said. Decarbonization refers to switching out things that produce carbon dioxide and methane, which cause the climate to change, in favor of machines and methods that don't. Today the world still relies mainly on fossil fuels for round-the-clock power. This new deal shows that clean power can meet a growing demand for electricity, said Sarah Jewett, vice president of strategy at Fervo. “I think that’s why it’s so exciting. This isn’t a niche energy resource going to a niche use,” she said. “And that is something we have not had, you know, readily available" and able to be scaled up. The first generation of geothermal plants, for example, The Geysers in California, tapped into superheated reservoirs of steam or very hot water close to the Earth's surface. Such reservoirs are relatively rare. New geothermal companies are adapting drilling technology and practices taken from the oil and gas industry to create reservoirs from hot rock. That unlocks the potential for geothermal energy in many more places. Engineers have been working to advance the methods for years. The United States is one of the world leaders in using the Earth’s heat to make electricity, but geothermal still accounts for less than half a percent of the nation’s total large-scale electricity generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Fervo is pioneering horizontal drilling in geothermal reservoirs. It signed the world’s first corporate agreement with Google in 2021 to develop new geothermal power and drilled three wells in Nevada. That project began sending carbon-free electricity onto the Nevada grid in November to power data centers there. The Cape Station project, about 200 miles south of Salt Lake City, is expected to start delivering electricity to California as early as 2026. California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild said the state is committed to clean, zero-carbon electricity. He said geothermal complements wind and solar farms by providing steady power when it’s not windy or sunny, and that is key to ensuring reliability as the state cuts fossil fuels. ___ The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
China's premier slams trade tensions as EV exports are hit by tariffs None - China’s premier has defended open markets and the importance of green technologies for stabilizing global growth as he opened a forum with political and business elites in northeastern China TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Open markets and green technologies are vital for stabilizing global growth, China's premier said Tuesday, while criticizing trade tensions as he opened a conference in northeastern China. Premier Li Qiang told political and business leaders attending the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the “Summer Davos," that China is on track to attain Beijing's growth target this year of 5%. Countries should “work closely together, reject bloc confrontation, oppose decoupling and disconnection, maintain the stability and smoothness of industrial and supply chains, and promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation,” Li said in a speech to the conference. “We cannot slow down our pace in green transition in exchange for short-term economic growth nor practice protectionism in the name of green development or environmental protection,” he said. China is facing pushback over its electric vehicle exports, which some governments fear will flood markets and hurt domestic producers. The European Union and Canada among others are mulling surtaxes on Chinese EVs. China and the E.U. said over the weekend they are open to talks over the tentative tariffs after Beijing last week announced an anti-dumping probe into European pork, largely seen as retaliation for the EV duties. Polish President Andrzej Duda and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh joined the business leaders and economic and technology ministers attending the forum, held in the port city of Dalian. China's economy grew at a 5.3% annual pace in January-March, though it has slowed significantly in recent years. Shutdowns and other disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic worsened a longer-term weakening of growth as authorities cracked down on excess borrowing by property developers, tipping the industry into a downturn. Li compared China's economy post-COVID to a person recovering from a serious illness who needs to readjust gradually. Beijing is aiding the recovery with tools such as industrial upgrades and support for the “silver economy” – businesses aimed at the country’s ageing population – he said. ___ Associated Press video producer Caroline Chen in Beijing contributed to this report.
Video Why Nvidia's stock price has dropped None - Why Nvidia's stock price has dropped After becoming the world's largest company, Nvidia lost more than $500 billion in value.
‘Very embarrassing’: Supreme Court inadvertently posts document on pending Idaho abortion case None - Dahlia Lithwick, Senior Editor at Slate, Mini Timmaraju, President of Reproductive Freedom for All and Dr. Kavita Patel, MSNBC Medical Contributor join Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House with reaction to yet another mistake made by the Supreme Court when it comes to releasing decisions on abortion related cases, this time with a potentially leaked decision involving emergency care to people who are pregnant and what the document which has now been removed from the Supreme Court website could mean for future reproductive healthcare decisions and law. NBC News has not independently verified the document.June 26, 2024
Don’t expect ‘fireworks’ at Thursday’s Biden-Trump debate: Chuck Todd None - President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will go head-to-head on the debate stage Thursday – the first presidential debate of the 2024 election. NBC News Chief Political Analyst Chuck Todd and USA Today Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page join Andrea Mitchell to explain why Biden and Trump may play it safe and avoid confrontation.June 26, 2024
Supreme Court accidentally posts what appears to be draft of Idaho abortion decision None - Supreme Court accidentally posts what appears to be draft of Idaho abortion decision The Supreme Court acknowledged that it inadvertently posted a document online related to a case deciding whether emergency room doctors in Idaho could perform abortions. The court has not officially rendered its decision. NBC News’ Yamiche Alcindor reports on the latest.June 26, 2024
A mechanic for a Boeing subcontractor says he was fired after complaining about poor repair work None - A mechanic for a Boeing subcontractor claims he was fired after complaining about poor repair work on planes in a Boeing factory near Seattle A mechanic for a Boeing subcontractor says he was fired after complaining about poor repair work SEATTLE -- A mechanic for a Boeing subcontractor claims he was fired after complaining about poor repair work on planes in a Boeing factory near Seattle. Boeing says the man’s concerns did not raise safety issues. Lawyers for the mechanic said Wednesday that the man saw “substandard manufacturing and maintenance processes” during work on several Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The work included drilling holes to attach fasteners and use of sealant on a part that is designed to keep planes pressurized. The mechanic, Richard Cuevas, worked for a firm that was hired by Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems to repair Boeing planes and was fired in March after raising concerns with both Spirit and Boeing, according to his lawyers. The lawyers, Debra Katz and Lisa Banks, accused Spirit of “routinely cutting corners" on the work on pressure bulkheads and accused Boeing of allowing “shoddy work" to continue. Boeing said it “thoroughly investigated” the claims. “Engineering analysis determined that the issues raised did not present a safety concern and were addressed,” Boeing said in a statement. The company said it is reviewing documents the man filed with federal agencies “and will thoroughly investigate any new claim. We are not involved in personnel decisions of subcontractors.” Spirit AeroSystems management “is aware of the allegations and looking into the matter. We encourage all Spirit employees with concerns to come forward, safe in knowing they will be protected," company spokesperson Joe Buccino said. The mechanic's lawyers said he filed whistleblower complaints with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Labor Department.
Amazon crosses $2 trillion in stock market value for the first time None - Amazon has joined the exclusive $2 trillion club after Wall Street investors pushed the value of the e-commerce giant’s stock past that threshold Amazon crosses $2 trillion in stock market value for the first time NEW YORK -- Amazon joined the exclusive $2 trillion club Wednesday after Wall Street investors pushed the value of the e-commerce giant's stock past that threshold. Shares in Amazon.com Inc. finished the day up almost 4%, giving the Seattle-based company a stock market valuation of $2.01 trillion. Its stock has gained 52% in the past 12 months, partly driven by enthusiasm for the company's investments in artificial intelligence. Amazon now joins Google's parent Alphabet, software behemoth Microsoft, iPhone maker Apple and chip maker Nvidia among companies with valuations of at least $2 trillion. Last week, Nvidia hit $3 trillion and briefly became the most valuable company on Wall Street. Nvidia's chips are used to power many AI applications and its valuation has soared as a result. Amazon has also been making big investments in AI as global interest has grown in the technology. Most of the focus has been on business-focused products, including AI models and a chatbot called Q, which Amazon makes available to businesses that use its cloud computing unit AWS. “A big part of the valuation boost has been cloud and AI,” said Wedbush tech analyst Dan Ives. “Amazon is going to be a major player in the AI revolution.” In April, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said that AI capabilities have reaccelerated AWS’ growth and that it was on pace for $100 billion in annual revenue. The unit's growth slowed last year as companies cut down on costs amid high inflation. Amazon has also invested $4 billion in the San Francisco-based AI company Anthropic to develop so-called foundation models that underpin generative AI systems. In addition, Amazon makes and designs its own AI chips. Outside of its cloud business, Amazon has cut costs significantly since late 2022, laying off more than 27,000 corporate employees across several divisions. It reported revenue and profits for the first quarter of the year, aiding by growth in AWS as well as its core retail business and advertising. All those things are boosting investor sentiments, said Neil Saunders, the managing director at GlobalData Retail. “Certainly, there are downsides, but these are mostly external — such as the threat from the FTC,” Saunders said, alluding to the federal agency's antitrust lawsuit against the company. But, he said, “investors see these clouds as a long way off so they are not dampening the current valuation.”
Why NASA astronauts are delayed at the space station after Boeing Starliner launch None - Two astronauts are spending extra time at the International Space Station as NASA and Boeing troubleshoot capsule problems that popped up on the way there NEW YORK -- When two veteran NASA astronauts blasted off on a test drive of Boeing's new capsule, they expected to head home from the International Space Station in a week or so. It's now three weeks and counting for Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams as NASA and Boeing troubleshoot equipment problems that popped up on the way there. Three potential landing dates were called off and their flight home is now on hold. This week, Boeing said the Starliner capsule's problems aren’t a concern for the return trip and "the astronauts are not stranded.” The long-delayed test flight is the first with astronauts aboard. Boeing will eventually join SpaceX in ferrying crews to and from the space station for NASA. A look at what's behind the extended stay: NASA wants more time to analyze problems in the spacecraft's propulsion system, which is used to maneuver in flight. The propulsion system is attached to the capsule, but it doesn’t come back to Earth for inspection. It is ditched during reentry and burns up. “We’re just taking a little more extra time to review all the data and also learn as much as we can while we have this service module in orbit," Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, said at a news conference last week before the latest postponement. The space agency also said it didn't want the departure to conflict with spacewalks. This week's spacewalk was called off after water leaked from an astronaut’s spacesuit while she was still inside the orbiting lab. Tuesday's spacewalk was still on the schedule. Five of the capsule’s 28 thrusters went down during docking, as the capsule closed in on the space station. All but one thruster was restarted, and they worked during a later test firing, NASA said. Officials suspect that heat from all the thruster action at docking caused the shutdown. The one faulty thruster has been turned off and is not an issue for the return trip, Boeing said. The capsule launched June 5 with one small helium leak, but four more leaks sprung up by the time it reached the space station. Helium is used to pressurize fuel for the thrusters, and a faulty rubber seal was suspected in the initial leak. Officials say there's an amply supply of helium, and Boeing says the leaks are stable and not a concern. “So far, we don’t see any scenario where Starliner is not going to be able to bring Butch and Suni home,” Stich said last week. Boeing and NASA say they'll consider landing dates once the spacewalks are over. The capsule can remain at the space station for 45 days or longer if needed, Boeing said. In the meantime, mission managers continue to analyze the thruster trouble and helium leaks so they can resolve the problems before the next flight. Wilmore and Williams have been pitching in with chores and research at the space station, along with their duties checking out systems on the Boeing capsule. NASA said there is no rush for them to leave, and there are plenty of supplies for the pair and the seven residents at the space station. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
California lawmakers abandon attempt to repeal law requiring voter approval for some public housing None - California lawmakers have abandoned their attempt to repeal the nation's only law requiring voter approval for publicly funded affordable housing projects SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California lawmakers on Monday abandoned their attempt to repeal the nation's only law requiring voter approval for publicly funded affordable housing projects, a provision added to the state Constitution more than half a century ago that aimed to keep people of color out of white neighborhoods. Most everyone in the state Capitol agrees the law needs to go, and no organized opposition has emerged to repealing it. But the measure is one of more than a dozen that have qualified for the November election, and supporters worry about raising the millions of dollars it will take to campaign for its passage. That's one reason why lawmakers voted to withdraw the measure on Monday just three days before the secretary of state must certify the ballot for the November election. “While (the repeal) was one of many efforts to help address the housing crisis, the November ballot will be very crowded and reaching voters will be difficult and expensive,” said Democratic state Sen. Ben Allen, who authored the bill to remove the measure from the ballot. California has a robust initiative process that lets the public bypass the state Legislature to propose and pass laws via a statewide election. Each election, there are sometimes more than a dozen measures crowding the ballot competing for voters' attention. This year, initiatives have qualified that would raise the minimum wage to $18 per hour, increase penalties for certain drug and theft crimes and require high-school students to take a personal finance course before they can graduate. Some ballot measures have been removed. The California Supreme Court last week removed a measure that would have made it harder to raise taxes. Business groups and legislative leaders reached a compromise last week to withdraw a measure that would have repealed a state law that allows workers to sue their employers for labor violations. The ballot measures that are left will require expensive campaigns to advocate for or against them — campaigns that can cost as much as $20 million or more because California has some of the country's most expensive media markets. Going to the ballot is more than just expensive — it's risky. Once a campaign fails, it can take years for supporters to try again. Voters have rejected attempts to either repeal or change California's housing law three times before, in 1974, 1980 and 1993. The housing law dates to 1949, when the federal Housing Act banned racial discrimination in public housing projects. A year later, voters passed a constitutional amendment requiring the government to get voter approval before using public money to build affordable housing. Decades later, California is the only state that has a law like this, and it only applies to public funding for affordable housing, which is disproportionately used by people of color. Over the years, lawmakers have found ways around the law. They changed the definition of “low-rent housing project” to mean any development where more than 49% of the units are set aside for people with low incomes. Anything less than that doesn’t require an election. And last year, lawmakers passed and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law that exempted housing developments that received funding from various state programs.
Judge puts $30 billion Visa, Mastercard settlement on hold; likely sign of rejection None - A federal judge said she’s not likely to approve the $30 billion settlement between the payment processing giants Visa and Mastercard and the merchants who say they’ve overpaid on swipe fees NEW YORK -- A federal judge said she's not likely to approve the $30 billion settlement between the payment processing giants Visa and Mastercard and the merchants who say they've overpaid on swipe fees. Visa and Mastercard reached a settlement with a group of small businesses and merchants back in March. The deal would lower and cap the fees charged by Visa and Mastercard and allow small businesses to collectively bargain for rates with the payment processors in a similar way that the large merchants do on their own now. But the settlement was not universally accepted. The National Retail Federation, the largest U.S. retail trade group, said it was likely to oppose the settlement, saying the relief was only temporary and that payment processing fees remain too high. The settlement would have capped swipe fees for five years, which merchants opposed to the settlement said was insufficient. In a brief order, Judge Margo Brodie of the Eastern District of New York said she was unlikely to grant final approval to the settlement. The decision means that, absence a settlement, the case could go to trial. The settlement stems from a 2005 lawsuit that alleged merchants paid excessive fees to accept Visa and Mastercard credit cards, and that Visa, Mastercard and their member banks acted in violation of antitrust laws. Visa and Mastercard collect a fee from every transaction that runs on their network. The fee varies depending on the size of the merchant as well as the industry they operate in, but generally it's between 1% and 3% of a transaction's value. In 2018 Visa and Mastercard agreed to pay $6.2 billion as part of the long-running suit filed by a group of 19 merchants. But the lawsuit then had two pieces that needed to be resolved: a dispute over the rules Visa and Mastercard impose to accept their cards, and the merchants who chose not to participate in the settlement.
Arkansas sues 2 pharmacy benefit managers, accusing them of fueling opioid epidemic in state None - Arkansas has sued two pharmacy benefit managers, accusing them of enabling the opioid crisis in the state LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Arkansas on Monday sued two pharmacy benefit managers that oversee coverage for insurers, employers and other large clients, accusing them of fueling the opioid crisis in the state. Attorney General Tim Griffin filed the lawsuit against Express Scripts Inc. and Optum Inc., and their subsidiaries, in state court. Pharmacy benefit managers run prescription drug coverage for big clients that include health insurers and employers that provide coverage. They help decide which drugs make a plan’s formulary, or list of covered medications. They also can determine where patients go to fill their prescriptions. Griffin's lawsuit said the companies benefitted from the opioid crisis "by negotiating favorable deals with opioid manufacturers and by not taking sufficient action to curb excessive opioid prescriptions." “For at least the last two decades, defendants had a central role in facilitating the oversupply of opioids,” the lawsuit said. “Defendants ignored the necessary safeguards in order to ensure increased opioid prescriptions and sales.” In a statement, Optum said it has taken steps to fight the opioid epidemic and would defend itself against Arkansas' suit. “Optum did not cause the opioid crisis or make it worse, and we will defend ourselves in this litigation,” the company said in a statement. “Optum takes the opioid epidemic seriously and has taken a comprehensive approach to fight this issue, including the Opioid Risk Management Program available to all Optum Rx clients, to address opioid abuse and promote patient health.” Express Scripts did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to the lawsuit, opioids were the most commonly prescribed class of controlled substances in Arkansas in 2022, and Arkansas had the second-highest opioid prescribing rate in the nation that year. State and local governments have filed thousands of lawsuits over the toll of the opioid crisis. The claims have included asserting that drugmakers, wholesalers, pharmacy chains and other businesses engaged in deceptive marketing and failed to stop the flow of the powerful prescription painkillers to the black market. Many of the major cases have been settled, with proposed and finalized agreements to provide more than $50 billion –- with most of it to be used to fight the opioid crisis. A federal judge who is overseeing federal lawsuits over opioids is lining up cases involving pharmacy benefit managers for trials, possibly a precursor to settlements. In recent years, opioid overdoses have been linked to about 80,000 deaths annually in the U.S. The majority of those lately have involved fentanyl and other potent drugs produced illicitly in labs and often used to lace other illegal drugs. ___ Associated Press Writer Geoff Mulvihill contributed to this report.
UK must stop ‘walking on eggshells’ over post-Brexit deal, says BCC chief None - The UK’s current trade deal with the EU is not working and the country must stop “walking on eggshells” around the issue of building closer ties with its biggest trading partner, the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is expected to say. At the annual BCC global conference in London on Thursday, Shevaun Haviland will say that the UK must forge closer ties with the EU and the next government should focus on improving trading relations to grow the economy. “We must stop walking on eggshells and start saying it how it is,” Haviland will say. “The current plan isn’t working for our members. But better trade terms are possible if the UK government and the EU reach agreement in areas of mutual benefit for business on both sides. A better deal is best for everyone.” The intervention comes amid an election campaign where the two main political parties have largely stayed clear of the Brexit debate. Labour and the Conservatives have been criticised for their reluctance to discuss how successful Brexit has been and future policies towards the EU. In an interview earlier this month, Keir Starmer had to deny that he was scared of talking about the issue, instead saying he was determined to build a “closer, better” relationship with the EU and improve Boris Johnson’s “botched deal”. Businesses have criticised the additional red tape and increased costs that Brexit has heaped on to firms importing and exporting goods to and from the continent. Importers of food and plants have been hit by charges associated with new Brexit border checks brought in at the end of April, with some logistics companies saying the changes have added up to 60% to transport costs. Other businesses have complained that the increasing divergence on standards, such as those around construction products, has made it more expensive for UK companies to get their products certified for sale on the continent. The comments from Haviland come as the BCC makes improving relations with the EU one of its key requests for the next government, saying the step would reduce costs for businesses. The trade body is made up of 53 regional chambers of commerce affiliated to a central body and says it represents 50,000 businesses in the UK, which collectively employ six million people. Its requests cover several specific policies, including securing a supplementary deal with the EU to remove the complexity of exporting food for small and medium-sized enterprises, and ensuring there are no new trade barriers created by linking the UK and EU emissions trading schemes. skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to Business Today Free daily newsletter Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning Enter your email address Sign up Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy . We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion It is also lobbying for a new deal that would allow UK companies to travel and work in Europe for longer. The Labour party has said it will not return to the single market, the customs union or freedom of movement, but wants to deepen ties with Europe. This includes negotiating a veterinary agreement to prevent border checks, help touring artists secure visas, while also promising to an agreement on professional qualifications to help open up markets for UK service exporters. The Conservative manifesto says that the party would aim to build on the UK’s trade and cooperation agreement with the EU, but would not agree to anything that would “infringe the country’s sovereignty or involve submission to the court of justice of the European Union”. It also said it wanted to further the benefits of Brexit by signing more trade deals, speeding up infrastructure developments, cutting red tape for business and creating new fishing opportunities. Haviland will also use her speech to call for a long-term economic growth plan with a vision of up to 20 yearsand warn that action is needed to fix the UK’s growing skills shortages.
Donald Trump set to leave his right wing bubble and face serious questions for first time in years None - Donald Trump set to leave his right wing bubble and face serious questions for first time in years Greg Bluestein, Political Reporter for Atlanta Journal Constitution and Vaughn Hillyard, NBC News Correspondent join Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House to discuss the stakes of tonight's debate and how Donald Trump is set to face serious questions for the first time in years outside his right wing echo chamber. June 27, 2024
'Provoke the real Donald Trump': Biden will try to show the ‘more chaotic’ side of Trump None - President Biden and former President Trump are set to face off tonight in the first debate of the 2024 race. MSNBC's Symone Sanders-Townsend, Politico White House bureau chief Jonathan Lemire and Bulwark writer-at-large Tim Miller join Chris Jansing to weigh in on what will be talked about and both candidates' strategies.June 27, 2024
'Real battle' to win over voters in Georgia: Biden and Trump debate in the swing state tonight None - 'Real battle' to win over voters in Georgia: Biden and Trump debate in the swing state tonight President Biden and former President Trump are debating in Georgia tonight and recent polling shows Trump doing better in this battleground state than Biden. Republican strategist Brian Robinson and democratic strategist Tharon Johnson join Chris Jansing to dig into how both candidates are trying to appeal to undecided voters.June 27, 2024
Biden needs to go after Trump on everything, says George Conway None - 'It's not going to be boring': Biden and Trump set to face off in Atlanta 11:49
Walgreens, International Paper fall; McCormick, Apogee rise Thursday, 6/27/2024 None - Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes on Thursday: Walgreens, International Paper fall; McCormick, Apogee rise The Associated Press By The Associated Press NEW YORK -- Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes on Thursday: Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., down $3.47 to $12.19. The drugstore chain cut its earnings forecast for the year. McCormick & Co., up $2.93 to $70.60. The spices and seasonings company beat analysts’ fiscal second-quarter earnings forecasts. International Paper Co., down $3.36 to $43.25. Pulp and paper company Suzano said it will end its pursuit to buy the global paper and packaging company SM Energy Co., down $5.07 to $43.35. The oil and gas company is buying the Uinta Basin oil and gas assets from XCL Resources for about $2.55 billion. Apogee Enterprises Inc., up $4.81 to $64.06. The glass products company raised its fiscal year earnings forecast. Levi Strauss & Co., down $3.56 to $19.56. The jeans maker’s earnings forecast for its fiscal year is below of analysts’ expectations. BlackBerry Ltd., up 24 cents to $2.45. The cybersecurity software and services beat analysts' fiscal first-quarter earnings forecasts. RH, up $20.11 to $239.30. CEO Gary Friedman’s bought $10 million of the furniture and housewares company's stock.
Mauritania goes to the polls with a regional security crisis and economic concerns among the issues None - Nearly 2 million people go to the polls on Saturday in Mauritania Mauritania goes to the polls with a regional security crisis and economic concerns among the issues NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania -- Nearly 2 million people go to the polls on Saturday in Mauritania, a vast desert nation in West Africa which positions itself as a strategic ally of the West in a region swept by coups and violence, but has been denounced for rights abuses. President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, widely expected to win a second term, is a former army chief who came to power in 2019 following the first democratic transition in the country’s history. He's also the current president of the African Union. Last year, his El Insaf party scored a crushing victory in the legislative election, taking 107 of the 176 seats in the National Assembly. Ghazouni faces seven opponents, among them Biram Dah Abeid, an anti-slavery activist who is a candidate for the third consecutive time, leaders of several opposition parties and a neurosurgeon. The vote is taking place in a particularly tense regional climate, with Mauritania’s neighboring countries shaken by military coups and jihadi violence. Mauritania, one of the most stable countries in the Sahel region, has been hailed as a key partner in curbing migration and fighting extremism, and hasn't suffered any attacks since 2011. Earlier this year, the European Union announced a 210 million-euro ($225 million) fund to help Mauritania crack down on people smugglers and deter migrant boats from taking off, as the number of people attempting the dangerous Atlantic Ocean crossing from West Africa to Europe rises sharply. It also announced an additional 22 million euros ($23.5 million) for a new anti-terrorism battalion in Mauritania that will patrol the border with restive Mali. Ghazouni used his electoral campaign to highlight Mauritania's security commitments, a message that experts believe is addressed first to the military juntas in neighboring countries and the Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group present in the region, but also to the jihadi groups, which have carried out incursions into Mauritanian villages. ″I advise against anyone, an internal or external party, from thinking of destabilizing Mauritania or its territorial integrity," he said during one of the campaign meetings. But the opposition candidates accused his government of corruption and clientelism. There was “a catastrophic management of the state" under Ghazouni's rule, said Biram Dah Abeid, an anti-slavery activist and Ghazouni's main rival in the quest for the presidency. Mauritania is rich in natural resources such as iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, gold, oil and natural gas. Yet almost 60% of the population lives in poverty, according to the United Nations, working as farmers or employed in the informal sector. There are few economic opportunities for young people, with many attempting to cross the Atlantic to get to Europe. “The Mauritanian regime has always lived on the pillage of wealth, the repression of populations and the use of forgery," Dah Abied told The Associated Press after a rally in Nouakchott, the country's capital, where he was greeted with slogans “Zero Ghazouani” and “Long live Biram.” Under Ghazoumi’s rule, he said, “corruption is in full swing alongside squandering of state money.” There is no real separation of powers either, Dah Abied said. “In reality, justice is not independent and there is no independent legislative power,” he said. The country has also been denounced for human rights abuses, with the continuous existence of slavery casting a long shadow over its history. For centuries, the country's economic and political elite of Arab and Amazigh people enslaved Black people from the northwest Sahara. Mauritania outlawed slavery in 1981, the last country in the world to do so. But the practice continues, human rights groups said, with around 149,000 people in modern slavery in this nation of less than 5 million, according to the 2023 Global Slavery Index. Dah Abied is a descendant of slaves, and made fighting the practice the cornerstone of his political career — and of his life. He founded the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement, an anti-slavery group, and has been arrested and imprisoned several times by Mauritanian authorities. “My father was freed from slavery when he was in his mother’s womb,” he told the AP. But then he married a woman in the situation of slavery, Dah Abied said, and he saw his children being sold. “My father was driven by the concern to fight against slavery, and he made it his legacy,” Dah Abied said. “I promised him that I would fight against slavery all my life, and that is what I am doing.”