A storm’s never destroyed a grid like Maria ruined Puerto Rico’s

Bloomberg You don’t even have to leave the airport to see that Hurricane Maria has laid waste to Puerto Rico’s power grid. The San Juan airport was abandoned. No electricity meant no air conditioning, and no air conditioning meant hot and muggy air wafting through the terminals. Ceilings were leaking. Floors were wet. Only the military, relying on its own ...

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Chicago is more popular with tourists than ever

Bloomberg Chicago, described by President Trump and others as a hellish, dystopian crime scene akin to a “war-torn nation” and “worse than Afghanistan” is about to shatter all of its tourism records, including the one it set last year. An abundance of creative energy is driving this renaissance: The growing skyline is getting filled with increasingly stylish hotels, and a ...

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Trump’s welcome flirtation with the UN

When you discount the rhetorical overkill, the most surprising thing about Donald Trump’s address to the United Nations on Tuesday was how conventional it was. He supported human rights and democracy; he opposed rogue regimes; he espoused a global community of strong, sovereign nations. Pretty shocking stuff. Because he’s Trump, the zingers got the headlines: He repeated his childish, snarky ...

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The next crisis to hit Silicon Valley

It has been 10 years since the last financial crisis, and some have already started to predict that the next one is near. But when it comes, it will likely have its roots in Silicon Valley, not Wall Street. The world of finance looks very different today than it did 10 years ago. In 2007, our biggest concern was “too ...

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Maybe the recruiters are keeping people out of work

Now should be among the best of times to find a job. So why are so many Americans still not working? The answer might have something to do with the way employers hire. Demand for workers looks as strong as it has ever been. The US job openings rate stood at 4 percent in July, matching the highest point on ...

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What Germany wants is far from what Europe needs

If polls are correct, Angela Merkel is on track to win a record fourth term as German chancellor on September 24. The temptation, after such a long run of electoral success, is to keep the formula unchanged and carry on giving the voters what they want. The trouble is, what makes sense for Germany and its people isn’t quite what’s ...

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Take last-ditch obamacare repeal effort seriously

The Republicans are making yet another run at repealing Obamacare, this time with a bill sponsored by Republican senators Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, and Bill Cassidy, of Louisiana. While this legislation doesn’t seem workable in its current form, as the old saying about Richard Wagner’s music goes, the bill is in some respects “better than it sounds.” Think of ...

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Zombie firms threaten financial stability

Whether you think of subprime mortgages or auto loans, there is little doubt that consumers were the symbol of the 2008 financial crisis. Since then, households have gone through a painful process of deleveraging, as central banks kept interest rates at rock bottom to help them pay back their debts. The same isn’t true for companies. As monetary authorities edge ...

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The IMF should stop torturing Greece and its banks

“Beware of Greeks bearing gifts,” wrote the ancient Roman poet Virgil. In the 21st century, it’s the Greeks who should have been more careful about accepting offerings—specifically from the International Monetary Fund, which is now torturing the country in a misguided effort to get its money back. Greek officials have worked hard to shore up their economy and finances. From ...

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Electric cars ‘next disrupter’ since iPhone

Bloomberg It’s been 10 years since Apple Inc. unleashed a surge of innovation that upended the mobile phone industry. Electric cars, with a little help from ride-hailing and self-driving technology, could be about to pull the same trick on Big Oil. The rise of Tesla Inc. and its rivals could be turbo charged by complementary services from Uber Technologies Inc. ...

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