Bloomberg California Governor Gavin Newsom said that his state has a record $97.5 billion operating surplus, as high tax rates on its wealthiest residents mean he has more cash to fund liberal priorities such as education and health care. The surplus is bigger than the entire 2020 spending of any other state except New York and Texas. Of that windfall, ...
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EU trims its euro area GDP forecast for 2022
Bloomberg The European Union (EU) cut its prediction for 2022 euro-area growth and almost doubled its estimate for inflation, according to new draft projections. In the first forecast since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the European Commission says gross domestic product will expand 2.7% in 2022 and 2.3% in 2023, according to a draft seen by Bloomberg. That’s down ...
Read More »Musk to explore possible investments in Indonesia
Bloomberg Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, is considering a visit to Indonesia to explore investment opportunities in the resource-rich Southeast Asia country. The chief executive officer of Tesla Inc. and SpaceX met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the rocket manufacturer’s site in Boca Chica, Texas, on Saturday, during which Widodo extended an invite. “Hopefully in November, thank ...
Read More »Dutch tech firms warn they’ll lose out if expat tax break goes
Bloomberg Technology companies including ASML Holding NV and Adyen NV called on the Dutch government to maintain a tax break that seeks to attract expatriates to the Netherlands. Ingrid Thijssen, head of the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers, said the government for budget reasons is considering shrinking or scrapping a rule that exempts 30% of an expat’s salary ...
Read More »Bill Gates sells $940mn of CN rail stock
Bloomberg Bill Gates sold about $940 million of Canadian National Railway Co. shares, trimming one of the largest holdings of the investment firm that controls his $117 billion personal fortune. Cascade Investment unloaded roughly 12% of its shares in the Montreal-based company from April 27 to May 12, leaving it with a stake of about 9% or $6.8 billion, ...
Read More »Allianz warns of car ship pain after 4,000 vehicles lost at sea
Bloomberg Allianz SE says car-shipping incidents are now a major cause of loss for the insurance industry after a cargo ship with about 4,000 Volkswagen AG vehicles caught fire and sank in the Atlantic two months ago. Fires on board car carriers have become a loss driver over the past decade, according to a report published by Allianz Global ...
Read More »Apple is testing a switch to USB-C for future iPhones
Bloomberg Apple Inc is testing future iPhone models that replace the current Lightning charging port with the more prevalent USB-C connector, according to people with knowledge of the situation, a move that could help the company conform with looming European regulations. In addition to testing models with a USB-C port in recent months, Apple is working on an adapter that ...
Read More »â€˜Ambient computing’ is future goal, says Google devices chief
Bloomberg Google is staking its vision for the future on what it’s calling “ambient computing,†according to Rick Osterloh, Google’s hardware chief. “Computers should be able to help you with whatever you need seamlessly, and be all around you,†Osterloh said in a Bloomberg Television interview. At its annual I/O conference, Alphabet Inc’s Google introduced a fleet of product ...
Read More »Microsoft has $1.3bn at stake as US tests combat goggles
Bloomberg Microsoft Corp has an initial $1.3 billion at stake in a test beginning later this month on whether its HaloLens augmented-reality goggles can be turned into an effective combat system for the US Army. The month-long test from May 23 to June 17 will be evaluated by the Pentagon’s testing office to determine whether the headset is ready ...
Read More »Rivian reaffirms 25,000 EV target
Bloomberg Rivian Automotive Inc reaffirmed guidance to deliver 25,000 battery-electric vehicles this year, despite ongoing supply chain snarls hampering its ramp in production. The Irvine, California-based carmaker has built about 5,000 vehicles since production started in September, it said. That includes 2,553 units built in the first quarter against a backdrop of assembly line pauses due to parts shortages. The ...
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