by Kalyeena Makortoff Banking correspondent on (#6THCC)
The online lender has thrived as it helped extend $400m in loans with its biggest individual investor, Don HankeyAs the dust started to settle after the deadly 6 January Capitol attack in 2021, Donald Trump found himself losing corporate allies.Shocked by the rampage that followed efforts to overturn the US presidential election, companies at home and abroad were suspending political donations and reviewing their ties with the outgoing leader. Even Deutsche Bank - which had propped up the Trump Organization for two decades - decided it would no longer do business with the disgraced politician. Continue reading...
His easing of regulations could leave many unprotected from financial manipulation, misconduct and bursting bubblesAs the United States prepares for Donald Trump's inauguration on 20 January, all eyes are on the cryptocurrency markets. After Bitcoin's price reached $100,000 (81,917) for the first time in history in December 2024, the cryptocurrency community is eagerly anticipating Trump's fulfilment of his campaign promise to make the US the crypto capital of the planet". Some analysts predict that Bitcoin's price could range between $78,000 and $250,000 in 2025.Blockchain technology has numerous applications beyond crypto payments - for example, in supply chain and logistics. But it is the price surges of Bitcoin, Ethereum and meme coins" that capture the majority of public attention. Speculative demand and the potential for abnormal returns, which are rarely found in other financial markets, remain key drivers of their prices.Larisa Yarovaya is an associate professor of finance and director of the Centre for Digital Finance at Southampton Business School
We'd like to hear about the disaster's financial impact on people who have lost their home, business, or community - their mortgages, lost possessions, rents, insurances and investmentsCalifornia homeowners and business owners who lost everything in the devastating Los Angeles-area fires now have to tackle their insurance companies to recover the value of their homeowners' policies - if they are lucky enough to have insurance at all.With estimates of the economic damage from the fires now reaching $52bn-$57bn, we'd like to hear what financial consequences people face due to the fires. Continue reading...
Wildfires fuelled by intense Santa Ana winds are still burning across Los Angeles county despite some progress at containing them. At least 24 people have died and more than 100,000 are under evacuation orders, while at least 12,000 structures have been incinerated
Incoming vice-president makes comments on Fox News, but later says pardons still remain a possibility for some peopleDonald Trump supporters who carried out violence during the US Capitol attack in early January 2021 should not be pardoned by him after he begins his second presidency, JD Vance said Sunday.The incoming vice-president's remarks on Fox News Sunday with host Shannon Bream slightly deviated from a prior promise by Trump to consider pardoning even those who acknowledged assaulting police officers, saying a very corrupt system" left them with no choice". Continue reading...
by John Brewin , Daniel Harris, Jonathan Howcroft and on (#6TH68)
The Australian was beaten by the Scot as the 10-time champion dropped a set on his way through to the second roundAnother multi-deuce service game for Coco Gauff, but this time it goes Sofia Kenin's way. We're back on serve on RLA in a match already averaging seven minutes per game. Gauff has served five aces and four double faults in an erratic opening. Kenin is just keeping the ball in play and showing that resilience from the baseline that became her trademark five years ago.20-year-old American Alex Michelsen has taken the first set off 12th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, breaking the Greek's serve in the 12th game. It would be no surprise if the 2023 finalist became the first major casualty of the tournament. Continue reading...
From Washington to Connecticut, pharmacists and healthcare workers pioneer efforts to limit abortion barriersDemocratic states across the country are embarking on a pioneering effort to increase access to abortion by teaching people who are not doctors to offer and perform the procedure.In Washington state, a first-of-its-kind pilot program called the Pharmacist Abortion Access Project announced this week that it trained 10 pharmacists to prescribe abortion pills; so far, they have prescribed abortions to 43 people. Continue reading...
The former speaker, a close ally, says the president-elect should learn from his new PBS film on great migrantsNewt Gingrich has been a force on the right of the Republican party for close to 50 years. Elected to Congress in Georgia in 1979, he became House speaker in 1995, then spent four years pursuing all-out war against Democrats, including the impeachment of Bill Clinton.Undeterred, he ran for the presidential nomination in 2012 and remains influential: a prolific author, forcefully pro-Trump and an adviser during the attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Continue reading...
He wants to seize the Panama Canal, Canada and Greenland. And now wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of AmericaDonald Trump's silly season has already caused irreparable damage to United States national security. Despite not yet holding office for a minute, Trump has made it plain that in his second term the U.S. will be an unreliable partner swayed by his personal whim, that he has no respect for historic alliances and that he has contempt for the rule-based international order that the U.S. has led since the end of World War II to prevent the reemergence of catastrophic great power collisions.Beginning with his Merry Christmas to all" tweet that he wanted to seize the Panama Canal, Canada and Greenland, Trump has not relented in his absurd claims, extended to renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. His disdain for the sovereignty of independent nations-two of them NATO allies and Panama a fellow member of the Organization of American States-has undermined the credibility of opposition to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's ambition to grab Taiwan. The soft power of the U.S., ultimately based on its democratic example and respect for international order, has been tossed away by Trump's fantasy Manifest Destiny that is simply the latest wrinkle in his isolationism. Hardly the Rough Rider, if Trump were acting as Putin's or Xi's agent he could not have kowtowed more for their benefit.Sidney Blumenthal, former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, has published three books of a projected five-volume political life of Abraham Lincoln: A Self-Made Man, Wrestling With His Angel and All the Powers of Earth
The quarterbacks are the NFL's puppet masters, manipulating defenses in a way that is borderline unprecedentedThree AFC playoff games. Three blowouts. It's a good job the league dropped the Super" part from their Wildcard Weekend sales pitch.But within those blowouts was something magical, the appetizer to what should be the tastiest main course of the season: Lamar Jackson and the Ravens against Josh Allen's Bills in a win-or-go-home, be-crowned-or-memed, MVP-off in the divisional round this coming weekend. Continue reading...
An unusual name can have a detrimental impact on your life and finances - but in my experience, it also has advantagesGrowing up, there was a wearying and familiar pattern for me on the first day of school, or whenever a substitute teacher took the register.Blake."Xaymaca Awoyungbo is a freelance football writer and film director Continue reading...
Rightwing leaders such as Meloni and Orban set themselves up as Trump whisperers - but they only want to preserve their own interestsA far-right wind is blowing across the Atlantic. While the rise of the populist right in Europe predated Donald Trump's re-election, far-right parties, leaders and governments across Europe are being bolstered by his imminent return to power, and by Elon Musk's rising political star. There is some hope that Trump's presidency could have a unifying effect on Europe - and on issues such as defence policy, I believe it might.Trump's apparent disregard for international law, sovereign borders and the US's Nato allies with his ludicrous threat, even before his second term begins, to annex Greenland by force, drew a swift and unified reaction from France, Germany and Spain, whose leaders made it clear that they are, as you would expect, appalled and standing with Denmark. Germany's chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said Trump's remarks had triggered incomprehension" among European leaders.Nathalie Tocci is a Guardian Europe columnist Continue reading...
by Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington on (#6TH3P)
Appointment of progressive Robert McElroy comes as rightwing Catholics wield significant influence in US capitalWhen the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, sought to shut down a Catholic charity that was was providing shelter and aid to undocumented migrants at the border, the San Diego cardinal, Robert McElroy, took a robust public stand against the attempt.The state of Texas is using governmental pressure to curtail the work of the Church in one of its most fundamental obligations: to feed the hungry, to shelter the homeless, and to provide drink to the thirsty," McElroy said in a statement at the time. No government can morally tell us to abandon or limit this mission." Continue reading...
by Kate Mishkin in Brentwood, California on (#6TH3V)
As wildfires burn through 40,000 acres, people return home for some belongings as they brace for new dangerWhen Aaron McNeil moved from Maryland to Los Angeles three years ago, his biggest worry was earthquakes.I had heard of a fire here and there in this area, but it wasn't anything to be really concerned about," McNeil saidon Sunday. Continue reading...
Almost two years into the war, Sudan is facing anarchy, famine, genocide - and ambivalence from the rest of the worldSudan's war, which began in April 2023, is closing in on its second year. No one expects or becomes accustomed to war, but it is striking that the most common sentiment I hear among Sudanese people - and even some outside observers - is that they still can't believe this is happening.Since the calamitous falling out between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a militia that was previously the army's partner in power, the speed at which the country has unravelled, and the overlapping crises that the war has caused, have been hard to fathom. Millions are displaced, both within and outside the country. Famine is blighting hundreds of thousands. Sexual violence is taking place on a staggering" scale, according to the United Nations. In areas where RSF soldiers are reportedly raping women and girls, some victims have taken their own lives and potential victims contemplate taking them pre-emptively. In a part of Gezira state, a young woman told me that when they heard that the RSF was approaching, she and her female relatives forged a suicide pact.Nesrine Malik is a Guardian columnistDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
by Kate Lamb (now) Richard Luscombe , Yohannes Lowe a on (#6TGJZ)
This blog has now closed but you can find all our coverage of the wildfires in California here.A video shows a fire tornado spotted in the Palisades blaze:As is noted in our news report on the California wildfires, at least 20 arrests have been made for looting. Officials have imposed a mandatory curfew in evacuation zones as well as in the city of Santa Monica, which is next to Pacific Palisades. Continue reading...
Two planeloads of more than 70 firefighters, along with their equipment, landed at Los Angeles International Airport where they were greeted by California governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom expressed gratitude for Mexico's support, emphasising the importance of international cooperation and friendship. Continue reading...
Ukrainian president says 150 firefighters are ready to be deployed, days after Donald Trump Jr accused LA's fire department of donating supplies to UkraineVolodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine is ready to assist those affected by the devastating wildfires in California, with 150 Ukrainian firefighters ready to go.The offer by the Ukrainian president comes three days after Donald Trump Jr, son of US president-elect Donald Trump, responded to the Los Angeles wildfires by appearing to blame Ukraine on social media. Oh look of course the LA fire department donated a bunch of their supplies to Ukraine," Trump Jr said in a post on X on 8 January. Continue reading...
Former top UK official believes intensifying economic pressure on Tehran would erode internal support for regimeThe UK should back Donald Trump's expected maximum economic sanctions against Iran as part of an effort to encourage nationals to end their support for the current regime in Tehran, Mark Sedwill, the former cabinet secretary, argues in a report published on Monday.He writes: It is not for the west, let alone the UK, to determine who rules Iran. That is for the Iranian people. But we can make clear that the right choice will bring benefits just as the wrong one will bring more of the same." Continue reading...
Governor calls for a version of Marshall Plan as investigators speculate power lines may have sparked dry vegetationGavin Newsom is scheduled to ease building restrictions for victims of the Los Angeles wildfires - part of a reconstruction effort that he said on Sunday would need a California version of the Marshall Plan, the US-led effort to rebuild western Europe after the second world war.The California governor ordered the state's tough environmental laws and permitting requirements to be suspended to help wildfire victims rebuild their homes and businesses, with costs so far placed at $135bn to $150bn over 10 years, according to AccuWeather. Continue reading...
Side-by-side footage of the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles shows the extent of the destruction caused by the Palisades wildfire. The original video shows homes and businesses in the affluent Los Angeles neighbourhood and was filmed by a couple who create travel content for social media. Reporters then retraced their steps after the wildfire destroyed large swathes of the area, showing a devastating scene of homes reduced to rubble and burnt-out cars Continue reading...
Los Angeles sheriff Robert Luna said during a briefing that 16 people had been reported missing amid the deadly wildfires which are ravaging the southern California city. At least 16 people have been killed in the blazes and thousands of firefighters are battling the flames being swept across vast swathes of the city by the strong winds
The vast majority of countries have outlawed the death penalty. Yet the annual toll is growing - and Donald Trump wants to increase its useThe good news: Zimbabwe has just banned the death penalty. While it should remove an exemption clause, which might allow for capital punishment's return were a state of emergency to be declared, the decision is another welcome step in the global journey towards abolition: 113 states have now banned executions.The bad news is that fewer countries have been killing more people in the last few years. Last May, Amnesty International recorded 1,153 executions in 2023, a 31% increase from the previous year and the highest level for almost a decade. (The figure is an underestimate since countries including China, believed to be the world's largest executioner, do not publish data on the death penalty.) There was no letup in 2024. Iran reportedly executed more than 900people. Saudi Arabia is believed to have killed another 330, compared with 172 in 2023. Continue reading...
Ex-Trump adviser denounces tech CEO's embrace of some forms of immigration and vows to take this guy down'In an escalation of discontent among the highest-profile far-right followers of Donald Trump, his former adviser Steve Bannon has called Trump's newest favorite, Elon Musk, racist" and a truly evil guy", pledging to take this guy down" and kick him out of the Maga movement.In an interview with the Corriere della Sera newspaper in Italy, excerpts of which were published this weekend by Breitbart, Bannon criticised Musk's embrace of some forms of immigration and vowed to ensure that Musk does not have top-level access to the White House. Continue reading...
New aerial footage shows the wildfires in California spreading as firefighters struggle to contain the deadly blazes encroaching on Los Angeles. The Palisades and the Eaton fires continued to advance as winds picked up, making it difficult for teams to contain the flames destroying homes and businesses and forcing thousands to flee. At least 16 people have been killed, many of them older residents who refused to abandon their homes. The state governor, Gavin Newsom, welcomed firefighters from Mexico, who arrived to reinforce the teams on the ground that have been battling the blazes around the clock
This year marks the first time in nearly 20 years that both an American man and woman are seeded in the top four of a majorAnalyzing a grand slam draw before the tournament begins is a fraught exercise. Very rarely does a draw play to form as upsets and injuries can disrupt the seemingly logical progression of the 128-player field. And how a player is performing heading into the event is often a better indicator of their chances than their ranking or seeding would indicate. Further, no major is as difficult to forecast as the Australian Open, which is already under way in Melbourne; being that it's the first big tournament after the sport's off-season" (if one can call six weeks a legitimate off-season), it's very tough to gauge the level of the top players.Having said that, things do look promising for the top American man and woman at the Australian Open, as Taylor Fritz and Coco Gauff are playing stellar tennis. The duo teamed up to lead the United States to victory in the United Cup team event this past week in Brisbane and are looking in top form. This also marks the first time in nearly 20 years (2006) that both an American man (Fritz, No 4) and woman (Gauff, No 3) are seeded in the top four of a major. Continue reading...
The kindness of strangers allowed two men to escape the deadly Palisade fire, while businesses and non-profits gear up to assist evacueesMany things went wrong for Aaron Samson on Tuesday morning. But a few lucky breaks - and the kindness of two strangers - allowed him and his 83-year-old father-in-law, Ron, to escape the deadly Palisades fire as it swiftly closed in around them.After getting an alert about the impending wildfire on his phone, Samson sprang into action at Ron's home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, where the retired cardiologist had lived for nearly 50 years. Samson grabbed clothes and medication for his father-in-law, who has Parkinson's disease and was recovering from a recent surgery, and texted his own wife and kids, who were back home in Berkeley. Continue reading...
US planemaker may have delivered 340 aircraft compared with 766 of European group, analysis suggestsBoeing is expected to confirm it made less than half of the aircraft of its rival Airbus in 2024, with analysts questioning whether the troubled US planemaker will be able to increase its rate of production as planned.The company is expected to report that it delivered only 340 aircraft to customers, when it publishes numbers on Tuesday, according to forecasts by Flight Plan. That is far below the 766 delivered by Airbus, Europe's planemaking champion. Continue reading...
Availability of manuals and instructions on less moderated apps and forums is making extremist content accessibleA spate of recent vigilante and extremist attacks in the US have highlighted how the booming availability of internet resources is a growing national security concern.Experts and world governments have been sounding the alarm on digital radicalization as accessibility to materials such as assassination manuals, files for 3D printed guns, or something as simple as ChatGPT grows. Continue reading...
Program kicked off after years of roadblocks, but some worry government won't come through on transit promisesNew York City concluded its first week with its congestion pricing program, which aims to reduce traffic in Manhattan and increase funding for the city's public transit, after years of roadblocks and concerns about a public backlash.Some New York City residents said they worry the government won't come through on their transit promises and instead will just make driving more expensive for workers who can't afford the additional costs. Continue reading...
Amid deepening debt and an onslaught by the president-elect, Labour must calm the markets, then think big economicallyIt's certainly not 2008, nor even Truss 2022, but the men and women who move the financial markets are suddenly darkly pessimistic. Some of the private emails and WhatsApp messages circulating last week matched any efforts by Cassandra. The mood has turned against Britain.It is not one single thing, but a toxic mix. There is the prospect of a long period of stagflation, the consequence, as even the markets recognise, of 14 years of epic misgovernment. The problem now is partly that Labour does not have a plausible growth story, partly that the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is painted as having an economic tin ear that douses capitalist animal spirits, and partly because Trump's arrival has exposed just how dependent an indebted, economically wounded Britain is on the kindness of strangers. It's not yet a crisis - the stock market has held up - but without some skilful economic and political statecraft, and a measure of luck, it may become one. Continue reading...
Suspension of executive order until 18 June gives courts time to review steelmakers' legal challengeThe Biden administration has delayed until June an order for Nippon Steel to abandon its $14.9bn bid for US Steel, potentially giving the companies some time to revive the politically contentious deal.Joe Biden blocked the acquisition on national security grounds on 3 January and the treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, said this week the proposed deal had received a thorough analysis" by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Continue reading...
California governor calls president-elect's claim that water is being withheld from southern California delusional'Gavin Newsom, California's Democratic governor, appeared briefly to put his long-running feud with Donald Trump to one side on Friday, when he invited the president-elect to Los Angeles to survey devastation from the wildfires and meet with first responders, firefighters and the Americans" affected.In the spirit of this great country, we must not politicize human tragedy or spread disinformation from the sidelines," Newsom wrote in a letter to Trump on Friday. Hundreds of thousands of Americans - displaced from their homes and fearful for the future - deserve to see all of us working in their best interests to ensure a fast recovery and rebuild." Continue reading...
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