February, 2023

• 20 February

  Sunak’s margin for UK tax cuts set to narrow with deficit jump

  

  Bloomberg The UK Treasury is expected to post the largest budget deficit for any January in at least 25 years, tying the hands of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt as he faces calls to cut taxes and boost public-sector pay. In normal times, January delivers a bumper surplus as workers and companies settle their tax bills. But this year, spending is being ...

  Read More »
• 19 February

  SpaceX faces FAA fine for breach of launch rules

  

    Bloomberg SpaceX is facing a $175,000 fine from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for failing to provide proper advance data about an August 2022 Starlink launch and its potential for collision with debris in orbit. “SpaceX was required to submit the data to the agency at least seven days prior to an attempted launch,” the FAA said in a ...

  Read More »
• 19 February

  Renault’s Alpine seeks women drivers for its Formula 1 team

    Bloomberg Renault SA’s Alpine is once again in the run for a Formula 1 championship this season but with a much bigger prize in mind than just gaining a few podiums. It’s seeking women drivers. The brand, which finished fourth last year in the constructors championship, is boosting investments to develop female talent in professional racing, a male-only realm ...

  Read More »
• 19 February

  Musk’s Tesla mulling bid for battery metals miner Sigma

  

  Bloomberg Tesla Inc has been weighing a takeover of battery-metals miner Sigma Lithium Corp, people with knowledge of the matter said, amid rampant demand for the metal used in electric vehicle batteries. The EV maker run by Elon Musk has been speaking with potential advisers about a bid, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential information. ...

  Read More »
• 19 February

  Formula 1 will never go electric: CEO

    Bloomberg Formula 1 “will never switch to electric,” Stefano Domenicali, president and chief executive officer of the motor sport group, said in an interview published by Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore. To help lower emissions, F1 is developing a zero-emission petrol that “could be used by planes and vessels” as well, Domenicali said. The successor of Bernie Ecclestone ...

  Read More »
• 19 February

  Abbott faces second FTC probe over baby formula shortage

  

    Bloomberg Abbott Laboratories is facing another probe into its role in last year’s baby formula shortage that left millions of American families scrambling for vital nutrition products. Last month, Abbott received a civil investigative demand from the US Federal Trade Commission seeking information in connection with its probe of companies that participate in bids for formula contracts, according to ...

  Read More »
• 19 February

  US, South Korea, Japan hold drills after North Korea’s ICBM launch

  

  Bloomberg The US held aerial drills with South Korea and Japan in a show of force a day after North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, as tit-for-tat military moves added to simmering tensions in the region. South Korea and the US flew B-1B bombers escorted by their fighter jets on Sunday in the joint air drill, the Joint Chiefs ...

  Read More »
• 19 February

  Beijing wants to meet EU leaders as US ties fray: Official

  

    Bloomberg China and the European Union (EU) should prepare for a meeting of their leaders, Beijing’s top foreign policy official said, a sign of the Asian nation’s efforts to court Europe amid worsening ties with the US. In a meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Wang Yi urged EU counterpart Josep Borrell to help “bring bilateral ...

  Read More »
• 19 February

  Blinken rebukes China’s top diplomat on balloon, Ukraine

  

  Bloomberg US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China’s top diplomat against providing lethal aid to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and rebuked him over an alleged Chinese spy balloon that heightened tensions between the world’s largest economies. Blinken told Chinese State Councilor Wang Yi in Munich that the US had information China was considering whether to give Russia assistance, possibly ...

  Read More »
• 19 February

  Macron’s popularity hits 3-year low

  

  Bloomberg French President Emmanuel Macron’s popularity fell to its lowest level in three years, as opposition to his plan to reform the nation’s pension system remains steady. Only 32% of French people say they’re happy with the president, down 2 points from a month ago, according to the Ifop poll published by French newspaper Journal du Dimanche. The last time ...

  Read More »