These Black-Owned Etsy Shops Have Exactly What You’re Looking For In A Gift

The Independent
Biden concert - live: Sophia Bush gives rousing speech as guests including Carole King and Will.i.am join pre-inaugural show
‘We The People’ concert is one in a series of events planned for Inauguration Week
4 minutes ago
GlobeNewswire
Keystone XL commits to become first pipeline to be fully powered by renewable energy
HOUSTON, Jan. 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Media Advisory - TC Energy Corporation (TSX, NYSE: TRP) (TC Energy or the company) today announced a new sustainable energy initiative for the Keystone XL Project. The company will achieve net zero emissions across the project operations when it is placed into service in 2023 and has committed the operations will be fully powered by renewable energy sources no later than 2030. This announcement comes after an extensive period of study and analysis, and as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, thoughtfully finding innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while providing communities with reliable energy needed today. “Since it was initially proposed more than 10 years ago, the Keystone XL project has evolved with the needs of North America, our communities and the environment,” said Richard Prior, President of Keystone XL. “We are confident that Keystone XL is not only the safest and most reliable method to transport oil to markets, but the initiatives announced today also ensures it will have the lowest environmental impact of an oil pipeline in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Canada and the United States are among the most environmentally responsible countries in the world with some of the strictest standards for fossil fuel production.” Following the successful implementation of this initiative, TC Energy expects to be among the top 10 corporate renewable sponsors in North America. Additionally, this is expected to eliminate more than three million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emitted every year in GHG emissions – the equivalent of approximately 650,000 cars taken off the road. As part of this announcement, TC Energy is expected to spur an investment of over US$1.7 billion in communities along the Keystone XL footprint creating approximately 1.6 gigawatts of renewable electric capacity, and thousands of construction jobs in rural and Indigenous communities. As part of its continued commitment to working with union labor in the U.S. and Canada, Keystone XL has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) to work together on the construction of TC Energy owned or sourced renewable energy projects. “With our continued commitment to safety, creating family-sustaining, middle class jobs, NABTU is pleased to announce our agreement with TC Energy to ensure building trades labor constructs renewable energy projects along the entire Keystone XL route,” said NABTU President Sean McGarvey. “This will help to meet KXL’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2023, create the power capacity required to operate the pipeline from renewable energy sources and create thousands of jobs between now and 2030 – jobs for the highly skilled women and men of the building trades.” By implementing this initiative, Keystone XL will eliminate the impact of GHG emissions from the project’s operations. Additionally, Keystone XL will allow responsibly produced Canadian oil to be safely transported into the United States from many producers who have set their own net zero emissions goals. Canadian Oil Sands producers have cut emissions intensity by 21 percent in recent years and they are expected to fall another 27 percent by 2030. Net zero emissions will be achieved when the pipeline is placed into service by purchasing renewable energy from electricity providers; if not available, Keystone XL will instead purchase renewable energy credits (REC) or carbon offsets. The company is committing that additional renewable sources along the pipeline’s route will be developed to power Keystone XL’s operations by 2030, phasing out any potential REC or carbon offsets and meeting power demand with new renewable electricity generation. “At TC Energy, we are firmly committed to being part of the transition to the next generation of energy sources. Climate change is a serious issue and we have an important role to play in managing GHG emissions while balancing the need for safe, reliable and economic energy,” said François Poirier, President and Chief Executive Officer of TC Energy. “Today’s announcement is directly in line with our goal of doing what’s right for our communities and signifies Keystone XL’s commitment to strengthen efforts to create a sustainable future for all.” Investment spurred in renewable power resources is expected to add to the more than $100 million of property taxes Keystone XL will generate annually for local governments along its route, supporting critical economic recovery and growth. Keystone XL has changed considerably since it was originally conceived, and this project will serve as the gold standard for responsible and sustainable energy infrastructure development. In addition to its green initiatives, Keystone XL announced the signing of Indigenous communities as equity owners, and that the project will be constructed under a Project Labor Agreement, ensuring 100 percent of construction is done through union labor. For information on Keystone XL and its green commitment, visit KeystoneXL.com. In addition, you can review TC Energy’s 2020 Report on Sustainability. Additional Statements from Notable Organizations Regarding Today’s Announcement Canadian Building Trades Executive Director Sean Strickland: “At a time of economic uncertainty, this will create thousands of jobs on both sides of the border; creating opportunities for underrepresented groups, including Indigenous peoples all along the KXL route. At the Building Trades, we continue to invest in training for our members to work on new forms of renewable technologies, that create jobs while continuing to meet our energy needs. Our brothers and sisters in Alberta, Saskatchewan and throughout the US where KXL passes through will see positive benefits from this project.” About TC Energy We are a vital part of everyday life — delivering the energy millions of people rely on to power their lives in a sustainable way. Thanks to a safe, reliable network of natural gas and crude oil pipelines, along with power generation and storage facilities, wherever life happens — we’re there. Guided by our core values of safety, responsibility, collaboration and integrity, our more than 7,500 people make a positive difference in the communities where we operate across Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. TC Energy’s common shares trade on the Toronto (TSX) and New York (NYSE) stock exchanges under the symbol TRP. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This news release contains certain information that is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties (such statements are usually accompanied by words such as "anticipate", "expect", "believe", "may", "will", "should", "estimate", "intend" or other similar words). Forward-looking statements in this news release are intended to provide TC Energy security holders and potential investors with information regarding TC Energy and its subsidiaries, including management's assessment of TC Energy's and its subsidiaries' future plans and financial outlook. All forward-looking statements reflect TC Energy's beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements were made and as such are not guarantees of future performance. As actual results could vary significantly from the forward-looking information, you should not put undue reliance on forward-looking information and should not use future-oriented information or financial outlooks for anything other than their intended purpose. We do not update our forward-looking information due to new information or future events, unless we are required to by law. For additional information on the assumptions made, and the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the anticipated results, refer to the most recent Quarterly Report to Shareholders and Annual Report filed under TC Energy’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. Media Inquiries:Terry Cunha / Robynn Tysver403-920-7859 or 800-608-7859 Investor & Analyst Inquiries:David Moneta / Hunter Mau403-920-7911 or 800-361-6522 PDF available: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/2a3ca38d-95d4-46d4-9af1-afac058e5d03
6 minutes ago
Miami Herald
UF freshman, Palmetto grad dies when car involved in crash careens onto sidewalk, into her
Just a few months ago, Sophia Lambert, a Miami Palmetto High graduate, trekked to Gainesville where she would attend her dream school: the University of Florida.
8 minutes ago
Bloomberg
Stocks Slip With U.S. Futures, Dollar Advances: Markets Wrap
(Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks dipped along with U.S. equity futures as investors greeted the week with a lack of risk appetite and traders looked ahead to data on the progress in China’s economic recovery. The dollar edged up.South Korea and Taiwan shares saw losses as sentiment toward chip component makers took a hit on news that the Trump administration will restrict licenses to several Huawei Technologies Co. suppliers. S&P 500 futures were also lower with European equity contracts. Crude oil retreated.There is no trading of cash Treasuries due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, though U.S. bond futures advanced. The weakness in equities prevailed for a second session after American shares on Friday declined and support for Treasuries pushed the yield on 10-year notes down to around 1.08%.Global shares slipped last week after optimism about the $1.9 trillion U.S. aid package, and the so-called reflation trade, faltered. China’s recovery probably powered ahead in the fourth quarter, with GDP set to post the fastest expansion in two years, according to expectations ahead of Monday’s release.“Markets needed a breather or even a pull back to justify reflationary expectations,” said Ben Emons, managing director of global macro strategy at Medley Global Advisors.The U.S. government notified several Huawei suppliers that it’s revoking their licenses to work with the Chinese firm and rejecting other applications in the last days of Donald Trump’s presidency, Reuters reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter.Meanwhile, global coronavirus cases approached the 95 million mark, while the U.S. death toll from Covid-19 neared 400,000.These are some key events coming up in the week ahead:U.S. equity and bond markets are shut Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.Earnings come from companies including Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Procter & Gamble, Intel, and Netflix.Joe Biden takes office as U.S. president on Wednesday.Policy decisions are due Wednesday from central banks in Brazil, Malaysia and Canada. The Bank of Japan and the ECB deliver decisions Thursday.Here are the main moves in markets:StocksS&P 500 futures slid 0.3% as of 10:37 a.m. in Tokyo. The index fell 0.7% on Friday.Japan’s Topix index declined 0.5%.Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.5%.South Korea’s Kospi lost 0.9%.Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index declined 0.8%.Euro Stoxx 50 futures lost 0.3%.CurrenciesThe yen was at 103.73 per dollar, up 0.1%.The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rose 0.1%.The euro bought $1.2076, down 0.1%.The offshore yuan traded at 6.4858 per dollar.BondsThe yield on 10-year Treasuries ended last week at 1.08%.CommoditiesWest Texas Intermediate crude slid 1.1% to $51.80 a barrel.Gold fell 0.2% to $1,824 an ounce.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2021 Bloomberg L.P.
8 minutes ago
The Independent
Biden inauguration announces virtual ‘We the People’ concert featuring Carole King, James Taylor, Fall Out Boy, and more
Happening on Sunday, 17 January at 8 PM ET, the live-streamed fundraiser will be hosted by Keegan-Michael Key and Debra Messing
9 minutes ago
Bloomberg
Biden May Cancel Keystone Pipeline Permit on First Day: CBC
(Bloomberg) -- President-elect Joe Biden may fulfill a pledge to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline permit via executive action on his first day in office, CBC News reported, citing people it didn’t identify.The words “Rescind Keystone XL pipeline permit” appeared on a transition briefing note for Jan. 20 -- Inauguration Day -- circulated by Biden’s transition team over the weekend, according to the Canadian report.Biden’s transition team declined to comment.Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said in a tweet and a lengthy statement that he was “deeply concerned” about the report that Biden may repeal the permit, although such a move had been widely expected if Biden was elected.“Doing so would kill jobs on both sides of the border, weaken the critically important Canada-U.S. relationship, and undermine U.S. national security,” Kenney said.In May, Biden campaign policy adviser Stef Feldman said in a statement that the candidate had strongly opposed the pipeline during the Obama administration “and will proudly stand in the Roosevelt Room again as president and stop it for good by rescinding the Keystone XL pipeline permit.”The main question was how Biden might do that -- whether by yanking the presidential permit authorized by the Trump administration or through a new environmental impact statement examining its effects on climate. Rescinding the permit is the quicker option; it can be done through an executive order right after the president-elect is sworn in.Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., said in a statement that “not only has the project itself changed significantly since it was first proposed, but Canada’s oil sands production has also changed significantly.”Read more on the long-running pipeline disputeThe Keystone XL pipeline has been controversial since it was first proposed more than a decade ago. The 1,179-mile (1,897 kilometer) segment is designed to move oil from Alberta through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska, then connect with an existing network feeding crude to the Gulf Coast. The line would carry as much as 830,000 barrels of oil a day.Opponents argue it will stimulate oil sands development, contributing to climate change. Canada’s oil industry argues the project is needed to supply heavy crude to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries, who need the oil to replace declining volumes from Latin America.In her statement, Hillman said that per-barrel oil sands greenhouse gas emissions “have dropped 31% since 2000, and innovation will continue to drive progress.”President Donald Trump approved the project in 2017 after his predecessor, President Barack Obama, rejected a permit in 2015 after years of angry debate and court challenges.(Updates with Canadian ambassador from eighth paragraph.)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2021 Bloomberg L.P.
9 minutes ago
The Independent
Biden-Harris team releases 46-song inauguration playlist featuring Bruce Springsteen and Kendrick Lamar
Featuring a mix of current hits and classics, the playlist 'represents the diversity of our nation, and our strength and resilience as we look forward to new leadership and a new era in America’
9 minutes ago
Bloomberg
Biden Taps Gensler as SEC Chairman, Chopra as CFPB Director
(Bloomberg) -- President-elect Joe Biden has picked a pair of veteran regulators strongly backed by progressive Democrats to lead two key Wall Street watchdogs, signaling that his administration is planning tough oversight after four years of light-touch GOP rule.Former Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Gary Gensler will be nominated to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission and Federal Trade Commission member Rohit Chopra is being tapped to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, according to people familiar with the decision.The selections follow weeks of intra-party wrangling over the financial regulation posts between moderate Democrats and those on the party’s left wing who want to see a sharp departure from business friendly policies advanced during the Trump administration. They are bad news for the banking industry, which has been bracing for the prospect of stiffer rules since Biden was elected in November.Gensler, 63, is a former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. partner who gained a reputation was a Wall Street scourge when he engaged in bruising battles while advancing derivatives regulation at the CFTC during the Obama administration. Chopra, 38, is an acolyte of Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren who helped her set up the CFPB before she ran for office.Both nominees will be subject to Senate confirmation, and the SEC and CFPB are likely to be under interim leaders until that process is completed.If confirmed, Gensler would take charge of an agency that some Democrats say has grown too cozy with the banking industry. He would immediately need to address market disruptions stemming from the coronavirus pandemic and the escalating U.S. feud with China over public company audits.At CFPB, Chopra faces pressure to make good on Biden’s promise to have the agency crack down on private lenders that mislead student borrowers. He’ll also be expected to fulfill campaign pledges to address discriminatory lending policies .(Updates with Senate confirmation required in third paragraph)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2021 Bloomberg L.P.
12 minutes ago
Associated Press
Kevin Na has a big finish and wins the Sony Open
Three shots behind with six holes to play, Kevin Na birdied three straight holes and finished with an up-and-down birdie from behind the 18th green for a 5-under 65 and a one-shot victory in the Sony Open. Na won for the fifth time in his PGA Tour career, and this one looked unlikely when he three-putted for bogey on the 12th hole at a time where there was no room for mistakes. Na finished one shot ahead of Joaquin Niemann and Chris Kirk, and only one of them got a consolation prize.
12 minutes ago
The Independent
‘We’re filled with hope’: Bidens open inauguration events with message of positivity after Capitol violence
‘To those who have experienced loss over the last year, know that Joe and I carry you in our thoughts and prayers each day,’ said Dr Biden
13 minutes ago
The Canadian Press
After losing Mahomes, Chiefs and Henne hold off Browns 22-17
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs had lost Patrick Mahomes to a concussion and were in danger of losing the game. Then their defence and Chad Henne — their defence and Chad Henne?! — along with a gutsy call by Andy Reid kept their hopes of a Super Bowl repeat alive, holding off the Cleveland Browns 22-17 on Sunday to advance to their third straight AFC championship game. With their star quarterback reduced to a spectator, the oft-forgotten bunch opposite Mahomes' high-powered offence forced the Browns to punt in the waning minutes. Then, his 35-year-old backup showed some moxie with a long third-down scramble and audacious fourth-down completion to Tyreek Hill — when go-for-broke Reid decided to go for it — that gave the Chiefs a first down with just over a minute left and allowed them to run out the clock. “That’s why we love Big Red. He’s always on time,” Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu said. “He’s like our spirit warrior out here behind the scenes. He’s always trying stuff. We always knew he has one play on the table.” Or, as Mahomes wrote on Twitter after the win: “#HenneThingIsPossible.” “We go through all those Saturday night with the quarterbacks, those situations: ‘Fourth-and-1 to win the game, what do you want?’” said Reid, who never once thought about punting on fourth down. “My coaches were on board, they all did a great job with the spot, with the calls, everything — they were spot-on. It was a great job.” Mahomes hadn’t played in 21 days, since the Chiefs clinched the AFC’s top seed in Week 16, but he hardly missed a beat before leaving midway through the third quarter. He finished 21 of 30 for 255 yards and a TD, and ran for another score. Harrison Butker added three field goals for the Chiefs, who nearly blew a 19-3 lead but survived to become the first AFC team to host three consecutive conference title games. They'll face the Buffalo Bills next Sunday. “It stings,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. "We came here to win and didn’t get the job done. There is a finality to that.” Baker Mayfield threw for 204 yards with a touchdown and a pick for the Browns, who were coming off their first playoff win since the 1994 season. But their inability to drive for the winning touchdown — they punted with 4:23 left in the game — and defensive letdown kept them from winning two playoff games in a season for the first time since 1950. “It came down to us on defence and we let it slip,” Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett said. "We had two opportunities. We didn’t make it happen. It was right in front of us and we just — this time we didn’t get it done.” Mahomes completed 11 of his first 12 passes and led the Chiefs to back-to-back touchdowns to start the game. He ran for the first and let Travis Kelce turn a dump-off into a 20-yard catch for the other, making him the first player since the 49ers' Steve Young in 1995 with three straight playoff games with TDs on the ground and through the air. In fact, Mahomes was so sharp passing in the first half that he even completed a celebratory heave to a lucky fan in the far reaches of Arrowhead Stadium's upper deck following his touchdown jaunt. After the teams swapped field goals, with Butker breaking the Chiefs playoff record with a 50-yarder into the wind, the Browns marched for what could have been a momentum-swinging score heading into halftime. But just when Rashard Higgins tried to stretch over the goal line, the Chiefs' Daniel Sorensen arrived to deliver a hit, popping the ball into the end zone for a touchback — the call stood after a video review. The entire complexion of the game changed early in the third quarter, though. First, the Browns held the Chiefs when Mayfield threw an interception and Butker missed a field goal. Then, Mayfield led them briskly the other way, capping a 77-yard drive with a TD throw to Jarvis Landry. And finally, roughly 17,000 fans allowed in the stadium due to pandemic were left sitting in stunned silence when Mahomes was tackled around the head with 7:27 left in the quarter and left crumpled on the turf near midfield. Mahomes, already hobbled by a foot injury, stumbled as he tried to get to his feet. He was eventually helped to the blue tent on the sideline, then ran to the locker room, where he was evaluated for a concussion. “It kind of knocked the wind out of him and everything else," Reid said after the game. "He's doing great right now, which is a real positive as we look at this. He passed all the deals he needed to pass and we'll see where it goes from here.” The momentum finally turned, the Browns began to lean heavily on their vaunted run game, which had produced just 18 yards in the first half. Nick Chubb converted on fourth down with a hard run, then Hunt followed another fourth-down conversion on the same drive by hitting the end zone against his former team to make it 22-17 with 11:07 to go. It remained with Cleveland when Karl Joseph picked off Henne in the end zone a few minutes later, but the Chiefs stuffed Chubb on first down, forced an incompletion and ultimately made Cleveland punt. Henne's gutsy scramble and Reid's equally daring fourth-down call kept the Browns from having another chance. “It's a little different when your quarterback goes down, someone so important to your offence and your team,” Kelce said, “but you have to throw it all into the same bucket of, ‘When adversity hits, what are you going to do? Where does your mind go? Where do we go from here as a team?’ We rallied around Chad, gave him some confidence, knowing we were out there making plays every single snap, just like if Pat was out there.” BACK ON THE FIELD Stefanski made his playoff head coaching debut after missing last week's game in Pittsburgh because of COVID-19. Pro Bowl OL Joel Bitonio and CBs Denzel Ward and Kevin Johnson also were back from their illnesses. INJURIES Browns: LT Jedrick Wills Jr. left with an ankle injury on their first offensive play. His backup, Kendall Lamm, left with an elbow injury, forcing Blake Hance to make his second NFL appearance. Chiefs: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle) was inactive after returning to practice this week for the first time since mid-December. CB Bashaud Breeland left in the fourth quarter with a concussion. UP NEXT The Chiefs begin preparing for the Bills next Sunday. They beat them 26-17 in Buffalo in Week 6. ___ More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL Dave Skretta, The Associated Press
15 minutes ago
ANI
Chhattisgarh announces formation of Telghani Board to boost employment in rural areas
Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], January 18 (ANI): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday announced that the Telghani Board will be formed in the state to provide employment opportunities to the people of rural areas.
15 minutes ago
Reuters
China reports 109 new COVID-19 cases as infections persist in northeast
China reported more than 100 new COVID-19 cases for the sixth consecutive day, with rising infections in the northeast fuelling concerns of another national wave ahead of a major holiday season. The National Health Commission said in a statement on Monday that a total of 109 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Jan. 17, unchanged from a day earlier. Of the 93 local infections, 54 were reported in Hebei province that surround Beijing.
15 minutes ago
The Canadian Press
Transition documents suggest Biden plans Day 1 order rescinding Keystone XL permit
WASHINGTON — One of Joe Biden's first actions once he becomes U.S. president Wednesday will be to slam the door yet again on Canada's politically fraught Keystone XL pipeline expansion, transition documents suggest. The documents, seen by The Canadian Press, feature a to-do list for inauguration day that includes signing an executive order to rescind the Keystone XL construction permit granted in 2019 by predecessor Donald Trump. They also suggest that despite its best efforts, Canada has failed to convince the incoming administration of the virtues of importing fossil-fuel energy from a friendly ally and trading partner with similar climate change goals. "Roll back Trump enviro actions via EO (including rescind Keystone XL pipeline permit)," the document reads. Other entries under the "Climate" heading include, "Rejoin the Paris Agreement" and "Announce date for U.S.-hosted Leaders' Climate Summit." Campaign officials promised in May that if elected, Biden would cancel the $8-billion cross-border project, but neither the timeline nor the extent of Biden's own commitment to the promise was clear until now. The controversial, on-again, off-again pipeline expansion, owned by Calgary-based TC Energy, would ferry up to 830,000 additional barrels a day of diluted bitumen from Alberta's oilsands to refineries along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Government officials quietly refused to rule out the possibility that there might still be time to change the Biden administration's mind. Kirsten Hillman, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., has argued for months that the project is not the same one President Barack Obama rejected in 2015 — an argument she reiterated in a statement Sunday. "Not only has the project itself changed significantly since it was first proposed, but Canada’s oilsands production has also changed significantly," Hillman said. "Per-barrel oilsands GHG emissions have dropped 31 per cent since 2000, and innovation will continue to drive progress." The federal Liberal government has also beefed up its climate plan in an effort to exceed the current target for cutting greenhouse gases by 2030, and to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, she added. Ever since May, Canadian officials have been advocating for a cross-border discussion on climate and energy that would make room for both building the project and reducing emissions at the same time. "Keystone XL fits within Canada’s climate plan," Hillman said, adding that it promises good union jobs in both countries "at a time when our economic recovery is a top priority." "Underpinned by a crucial and long-standing trade and security partnership, there is no better partner for the U.S. on climate action than Canada as we work together for green transition." Where Ottawa was clinging to hope, however, Alberta appeared to be girding for a fight. "We renew our call on the incoming administration to show respect for Canada as the United States' most important trading partner and strategic ally," Premier Jason Kenney said in a statement. Cancelling the project would "kill jobs" in both countries, "weaken" cross-border ties and "undermine U.S. national security" by making the country more dependent than ever on oil imports from OPEC countries, he said. "Should the incoming U.S. administration abrogate the Keystone XL permit, Alberta will work with TC Energy to use all legal avenues available to protect its interest in the project." TC Energy officials did not immediately respond to media queries Sunday, nor did Biden campaign officials. However, a Wall Street Journal report late Sunday said the company plans to spend $1.7 billion US on a solar, wind and battery-powered operating system for the pipeline, hire a union-only workforce and establish zero-emissions operations by 2030, all with an eye towards securing Biden's approval. Federal Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole echoed Kenney's concerns, describing the decision as counter to economic recovery efforts and urging Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to sit down at the earliest opportunity. "I call on the prime minister to immediately reach out to the incoming U.S. administration to stop this from happening and stand up for working Canadians across Canada," O'Toole said. "I also call upon the incoming U.S. administration to meet with our prime minister and affected workers prior to making this decision." Some 200 kilometres of pipe have already been installed for the expansion, including across the Canada-U. S. border, and construction has begun on pump stations in Alberta and several U.S. states. Biden was vice-president in 2015 when Obama initially rejected Keystone XL for fear it would worsen climate change. Trump approved it again in 2019. The Biden campaign team appeared to slam the door on the expansion in May with an unequivocal statement committing the president-elect to "proudly" sign an order that would "stop it for good." But observers and experts alike continued to hold out hope, even after Biden named John Kerry — the climate hawk who as secretary of state recommended that Obama reject the permit — as a special presidential envoy on climate change. This report from The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 17, 2021. James McCarten, The Canadian Press
16 minutes ago
Reuters
Dollar pokes higher as U.S. soft data sours mood; China GDP in focus
The dollar held late-week gains on Monday as softening U.S. economic data and rising coronavirus cases turned investors cautious. The euro eased slightly to touch a six-week low of $1.2066 and the risk-sensitive Australian dollar slipped 0.3% to a one-week low of $0.7679. Trade was choppy and moves modest ahead of of a raft of Chinese economic data, including GDP numbers due mid-morning, with fourth quarter GDP expected to show a further pickup in growth to 6.1% year-on-year.
16 minutes ago
Reuters
Colombia police seize arms shipment, investigate if destined for Venezuela
Colombian police are investigating whether a shipment of guns and magazines originating from the United States that was seized by authorities late on Saturday was destined for Venezuela, a person familiar with the matter said. Colombia's tax and customs police (POLFA) said in a statement they seized six Anderson AM-15 rifles and seven magazines of 5.56 caliber ammunition after a truck was stopped at a police checkpoint in Magdalena province, which lies on the Caribbean coast. The arms were found at the back of the truck's container, hidden among used and dirty clothing, POLFA said.
16 minutes ago
Bloomberg
Stock Analysts Are Most Bullish on Chinese Companies in a Decade
(Bloomberg) -- Equity analysts just keep getting more bullish on Asian companies, especially in China, where the proportion of buy equivalent ratings in local stocks has now surpassed South Korea to the highest since 2011.About 86% of the more than 5,600 total stock recommendations in the benchmark CSI 300 Index are now a buy equivalent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg as of Jan. 14. That’s an increase of five percentage points from a year ago, and has seen China overtake long-time leader Korea as the major market that analysts are the most upbeat about in the Asia Pacific region, the data show.Analysts are growing increasingly sanguine as vaccine rollouts boost bets of a rebound in economies, especially export-focused ones like China and South Korea, as well as corporate earnings. Asia Pacific stocks have started 2021 on a roll after a solid finish to 2020 as investors look to a post-pandemic recovery. The relentless rally, however, is spurring concerns about speculative excess, with valuations rich across several sectors.“Within Asia -- and China in particular -- there is a strong retail investor and momentum bias to the market,” said Louise Dudley, a global equities portfolio manager at the international business of Federated Hermes. “For companies where there have been recent positive revisions, this seems to be sentiment driven, with little change to the fundamentals.”READ: Analysts Now Bullish on 70% of Equities in Asia: Taking StockWhile China is leading the pack, key indexes in South Korea, Hong Kong and India too have seen bullish ratings surge to at least three-quarters of overall recommendations.‘Overly Optimistic’China’s stock market, where historically sell ratings are rare, has seen its proportion of bullish ratings rise steadily from around 67% at the start of 2016, according to Bloomberg-compiled data going back to at least 2006. That’s raised questions over whether the market is starting to look stretched. The CSI 300 hit a 13-year high on Jan. 12 before pulling back.“I’m not too concerned that sentiment, judging from this one particular metric, is striking as overly optimistic,” said Raymond Cheng, head of Asia equity strategy with JPMorgan Private Bank in Hong Kong. “The big catalyst to watch is upcoming earnings by Chinese companies and whether those numbers live up to sell-side expectations, and continued containment of the outbreak.”Australia, JapanMeanwhile, two developed economies are trailing on this metric. Buy equivalents make up just over half of ratings in Japan’s Topix index and less than 50% of recommendations in Australia’s S&P/ASX 200, the data show.Both countries have struggled to control the spread of Covid-19 from time to time, with Japan most recently expanding its state of emergency. Australia also faces a deteriorating diplomatic row with China.Japan’s outlook is a bit mixed, said JPMorgan’s Cheng. Exceptional balance sheets and subdued valuations provide opportunities in areas like banks, but that’s offset by a strengthening yen that will constrain exports, he said. Still, he is relatively more positive on Japan than Australia.The Topix and S&P/ASX 200 have both lagged the MSCI Asia Pacific Index so far this year.According to Eleanor Creagh, Sydney-based strategist at Saxo Capital Markets, the year ahead should “bring plenty of opportunity for catch up” in Australia. “With a vaccine rollout ahead, earnings rebound in play and the prospect of regional travel bubbles in the pipeline, investors have something to look forward to,” Creagh said.READ: Australian Shares May Play Catch-Up to Peers on Miners, ConsumerThomas Poullaouec, head of multi-asset solutions Asia Pacific with T. Rowe Price, said investors should be careful not to draw too many conclusions on the market trend based on individual ratings.“What is more important is the trend of analyst earning revisions,” he said. “Over the last month, analysts have become more bullish on Australia and Japan than on China,” he said, citing an analysis by Bank of America. T. Rowe Price is overweight both Australian and Japanese stocks.(Adds strategist comment in the 12th paragraph.)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2021 Bloomberg L.P.
17 minutes ago
The Canadian Press
A chronological history of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project
A timeline of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project: July 2008: TC Energy Corp. (TSX: TRP) — then called TransCanada Corp. — and ConocoPhillips, joint owners of the Keystone Pipeline, propose a major extension to the network. The expansion, dubbed Keystone XL, would carry hundreds of thousands of barrels of oilsands bitumen from Alberta to Texas. 2009: As the U.S. State Department wades through comments based on an environmental assessment of the project, TransCanada starts visiting landowners potentially affected by the pipeline. Opposition emerges in Nebraska. June 2009: TransCanada announces it will buy ConocoPhillips's stake in Keystone. March 2010: The National Energy Board approves TransCanada’s application for Keystone XL, though the OK comes with 22 conditions regarding safety, environmental protection and landowner rights. April 2010: The U.S. State Department releases a draft environmental impact statement saying Keystone XL would have a limited effect on the environment. June-July 2010: Opposition to Keystone XL begins mounting in the United States. Legislators write to then-secretary of state Hillary Clinton calling for greater environmental oversight; scientists begin speaking out against the project; and the Environmental Protection Agency questions the need for the pipeline extension. July 2010: The State Department extends its review of Keystone, saying federal agencies need more time to weigh in before a final environmental impact assessment can be released. March 2011: The State Department announces a further delay in its environmental assessment. Aug. 26, 2011: The State Department releases its final environmental assessment, which reiterates that the pipeline would have a limited environmental impact. August-September 2011: Protesters stage a two-week campaign of civil disobedience at the White House to speak out against Keystone XL. Police arrest approximately 1,000 people, including actors Margot Kidder and Daryl Hannah as well as Canadian activist Naomi Klein. Sept. 26, 2011: At a demonstration on Parliament Hill, police arrest 117 of 400 protesters. Nov. 10, 2011: The State Department says TransCanada must reroute Keystone XL to avoid an ecologically sensitive region of Nebraska. Nov. 14, 2011: TransCanada agrees to reroute the line. December 2011: U.S. legislators pass a bill with a provision saying President Barack Obama must make a decision on the pipeline’s future in the next 60 days. Jan. 18, 2012: Obama rejects Keystone, saying the timeline imposed by the December bill did not leave enough time to review the new route. Obama said TransCanada was free to submit another application. Feb. 27, 2012: TransCanada says it will build the southern leg of Keystone XL, from Cushing, Okla., to the Gulf Coast, as a separate project with a price tag of $2.3 billion. This is not subject to presidential permission, since it did not cross an international border. April 18, 2012: TransCanada submits a new route to officials in Nebraska for approval. May 4, 2012: TransCanada files a new application with the State Department for the northern part of Keystone XL. Jan. 22, 2013: Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman approves TransCanada’s proposed new route for Keystone XL, sending the project back to the State Department for review. January 2013: Pipeline opponents file a lawsuit against the Nebraska government claiming the state law used to review the new route is unconstitutional. Jan. 31, 2014: The State Department says in a report that Keystone XL would produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than transporting oil to the Gulf of Mexico by rail. Feb. 19, 2014: A Nebraska judge rules that the law that allowed the governor to approve Keystone XL over the objections of landowners was unconstitutional. Nebraska said it would appeal. April 18, 2014: The State Department suspends the regulatory process indefinitely, citing uncertainty about the court case in Nebraska. Nov. 4, 2014: TransCanada says the costs of Keystone XL have grown to US$8 billion from US$5.4 billion. November-December 2014: Midterm elections turn control of the U.S. Congress over to Republicans, who say they’ll make acceptance of Keystone XL a top priority. But Obama adopts an increasingly negative tone. Jan. 9, 2015: At the Nebraska Supreme Court, by the narrowest of margins, a panel of seven judges strikes down the lower-court decision. Jan. 29, 2015: The U.S. Senate approves a bill to build Keystone XL, but the White House says Obama would veto it. Feb. 24, 2015: Obama vetoes the bill. June 30, 2015: TransCanada writes to then-secretary of state John Kerry and other U.S. officials saying the State Department should include recent climate change policy announcements by the Alberta and federal governments in its review of Keystone XL. Nov. 2, 2015: TransCanada asks the U.S. government to temporarily suspend its application. Nov. 4, 2015: The U.S. government rejects that request. Nov. 6, 2015: The Obama administration rejects TransCanada’s application to build the Keystone XL pipeline. TransCanada CEO Russ Girling says he is disappointed, but continues to believe the project is in the best interests of both Canada and the U.S. Jan. 6, 2016: TransCanada files notice to launch a claim under Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement, alleging the U.S. government breached its legal commitments under NAFTA. The company also files a lawsuit in U.S. Federal Court in Texas arguing that Obama exceeded his powers by denying construction of the project. May 26, 2016: Republican presidential contender Donald Trump says he would approve Keystone XL if elected, a pledge he repeats several times during the campaign. Nov. 8, 2016: Trump is elected president. Jan. 24, 2017: Trump signs an executive order that he says approves Keystone XL, but suggests the United States intends to renegotiate the terms of the project. He also signs an order requiring American pipelines to be built with U.S. steel. Nov. 9, 2018: A U.S. federal judge blocks the pipeline's construction to allow more time to study the potential environmental impact. March 29, 2019: Trump issues a new presidential permit in an effort to speed up development of the pipeline May 3, 2019: TransCanada changes its name to TC Energy. March 31, 2020: Alberta agrees to invest $1.5 billion in Keystone XL, followed by a $6 billion loan guarantee in 2021. April 7, 2020: Construction begins, despite calls from Indigenous groups and environmentalists to pause their efforts. May 18, 2020: Joe Biden, then the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, vows to scrap Keystone XL if elected, but doesn't set out a timeline for doing so. Nov. 3, 2020: Biden is elected president. Jan. 17, 2021: Transition documents show Biden plans to cancel Keystone XL on the first day of his presidency. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 17, 2021. The Canadian Press
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