Saturday, February 28

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Trade rep Lighthizer warns Wall Street to be prepared
Business

Trade rep Lighthizer warns Wall Street to be prepared

Robert Lighthizer, former US trade representative, speaks during an event with former US President Donald Trump, not pictured, at Precision Components Group in York, Pennsylvania, US, on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. Graeme Sloan | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesDonald Trump's longtime trade adviser is apparently telling Wall Street money managers that if the Republican presidential nominee is reelected, he could start implementing his sweeping tariff proposals quickly after taking office, according to policy analysts at Piper Sandler."We've heard from a number of clients that Trump's former US Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, has been meeting with investor groups and telling them that Trump could announce 60% Chinese tariffs and 10% across-the-board tariffs shortly after taking office," wrote t...
Report uncovers human rights abuses at Rio Tinto gold mine in Bougainville, 35 years after closure
World News

Report uncovers human rights abuses at Rio Tinto gold mine in Bougainville, 35 years after closure

By Papua New Guinea correspondent Marian Faa for the ABC The Panguna mine in Bougainville. Photo: A large-scale study of social and environmental impacts from Rio Tinto's abandoned Panguna mine in Bougainville has found a plethora of actual and potential human rights violations, including risks to life. It is the first comprehensive assessment of issues stemming from the massive gold and copper mine at the centre of a devastating civil war that claimed up to 15,000 lives between 1988 and 1998. Despite being closed for more than three decades, masses of mine waste and decaying infrastructure continue to impact thousands of people in the area, the study found. At some sites, it revealed violations of indigenous people's rights to water, education and culture. Potential impacts to thei...
S&P 500 grinds higher to further record highs, finding little to fear in October
Business

S&P 500 grinds higher to further record highs, finding little to fear in October

Going looking for ghosts in October isn't a great way to see one, as it turns out. At least so far. The prevailing sense among investors and market handicappers entering the month was to expect choppy, irresolute action full of potential scares. As with most consensus beliefs, this one was plausible. This time of year typically tests nerves, more so when — as now — an election is onrushing and the S & P 500 was already up 20% for the year. Instead, the index has continued its dogged grind to new record highs, 45 of them for 2024, even after investors last week walked the dark hallways and opened closet doors labeled " Warmer CPI, " "Higher jobless claims," "Rising Bond Yields" and "Fewer Fed rate cuts." All without frightening results. The big-picture, keep-it-simple characteristics of...
Australian novelist Tim Winton on climate change: ‘We’re on the razor’s edge’
World News

Australian novelist Tim Winton on climate change: ‘We’re on the razor’s edge’

West Australian writer Tim Winton braves a barbaric and blistering future in his epic new novel 'Juice'. Photo: Supplied Global warming isn't futuristic, says Tim Winton - it's here already. The "terrifying feeling" of being under the sun at 50 degrees Celsius is something the Australian writer and climate activist knows from personal experience. "We're not built to live like that and we won't. I'm afraid most of us won't live like that." In his epic new novel Juice, the 64-year-old drops his readers into a dystopian desert culture where chaos reigns and life is cheap. "Let's just hold our noses and go into this world for a while and see how it feels and see if there's anything we might learn from it," he tells RNZ's Saturday Morning. For Winton, writing Juice was a way of synthesising...
`Disclaimer` web series review: An unsettling drama that holds you in thrall
Entertainment, Movies

`Disclaimer` web series review: An unsettling drama that holds you in thrall

Title: DisclaimerPlatform: Apple TVCast: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Lesley Manville, Louis Partridge, Leila George, Liv HillCreator/Director: Alfonso CuarónRating: 4/5Runtime: 7 Eps This new limited series, an erotic psychological thriller, ‘Disclaimer’ from director Alfonso Cuarón follows Catherine Ravenscroft (Cate Blanchett), a television documentary journalist whose work has been built on revealing the transgressions of long-respected institutions. Cuarón’s narrative set in 7 chapters pulls you into a web of reminisces and elusive truths. Adapted from Renée Knight’s novel, the series takes an unstinting look into the lives of its characters and the secrets they appear to hide. Its not long before the celebrated Catherine has to face up to her da...
Trump’s tax cuts could expire after 2025. How advisors are preparing
Business

Trump’s tax cuts could expire after 2025. How advisors are preparing

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump attends a rally at the site of the July assassination attempt against him, in Butler, Pennsylvania, Oct. 5, 2024.Brian Snyder | ReutersMore from FA 100:Here's a look at more coverage of CNBC's FA 100 list of top financial advisory firms for 2024:It's unclear which TCJA provisions, if any, could be extended by Congress, particularly with uncertain control of the Senate, House and the White House. In the meantime, some financial advisors have started tax planning for clients who could be affected. Here are some of their key strategies.Estate planning is a 'large focus'Currently, there's a significantly higher estate and gift tax exemption under the TCJA, which allows tax-free transfers from wealthy Americans to the next generation...
Former Scottish leader Alex Salmond dies, aged 69
World News

Former Scottish leader Alex Salmond dies, aged 69

Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond. Photo: AFP Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has died at 69, according to statements from Scotland's main political parties and UK media reports. Salmond was taken ill while in North Macedonia, collapsing after delivering a speech on Saturday, according to British media reports. "I will never be able to thank Alex for all his lessons, advice, guidance, mentorship, love and friendship and for everything he did for Scotland. For many years he was the father of the nation and for several years he has been a father-like figure to me. "All of our thoughts are with all of the family and everyone across Scotland who are in mourning," the general secretary of Alex Salmond's Alba Party Chris McEleny said on Saturday. British Prime Minister K...
As Florida reels, focus turns to restoring power, assisting victims in Hurricane Milton’s wake
Business

As Florida reels, focus turns to restoring power, assisting victims in Hurricane Milton’s wake

Water begins to recede from flooded streets in Tampa, Florida, due to Hurricane Milton on October 10, 2024.Bryan R. Smith | AFP | Getty ImagesRestoring power, clearing debris and distributing fuel are now the top priorities in Florida as the state continues to reel in the wake Hurricane Milton. More than 1.5 million are without power and at least 17 fatalities have been confirmed as recovery efforts continue into the weekend.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday that efforts are still underway to assist residents and provide resources to hard-hit areas across the state. Parts of western and central Florida continue to face the risk of significant flooding in creeks and rivers continue to rise.DeSantis said the state is working to address the need for fuel in heavily impacted areas. He sa...
Kremlin confirms Trump sent Russia Covid-19 tests
World News

Kremlin confirms Trump sent Russia Covid-19 tests

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Photo: AFP / Sergey Guneev / Sputnik Russia has confirmed that Donald Trump sent the Kremlin sample Covid-19 tests in the early days of the pandemic, after revelations in veteran journalist Bob Woodward's new book raised further questions about the former US president's relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The Trump administration "sent us several samples of test kits," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday, broadly supporting Woodward's claim. His intervention comes after Trump denied the claims, telling ABC News they were "false". Legendary reporter Woodward wrote in War that Trump "secretly sent Putin a bunch of Abbott Point of Care Covid test machines for his personal use". "Please don't tell anybody you sent these...
Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has died at age 69
Business

Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has died at age 69

Jeff J Mitchell, Getty ImagesScottish former First Minister Alex Salmond, who helped change the course of Scottish politics and pushed Scotland to the verge of independence from the United Kingdom, died on Saturday. He was 69.Salmond, who headed the devolved Scottish government for seven years from 2007, is credited with helping boost support for Scottish independence during a 2014 referendum in which Scots voted 55%-45% in favor of staying in the United Kingdom.The BBC said Salmond had collapsed after giving a speech in North Macedonia.Leaders from across the political divide paid tributes to Salmond, a formidable debater who led the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 1990 to 2000 and from 2004 to 2014."For more than 30 years, Alex Salmond was a monumental figure of Scottish and UK politi...