American Company Developing Vaccine That Targets New Omicron COVID-19 Variant

An American biotechnology company is devloping a version of its COVID-19 vaccine that specifically targets the newly identified variant of the virus – Omicron. Maryland-based Novavax has already started developing the version, with plans to start testing it next month. The updated formulation revolves around a new spike protein, which triggers a response from the … Read more

DOI Pushes for Higher Fees for Oil and Gas Companies

The Biden’s adminstration’s Department of the Interior (DOI) is calling for higher fees to be imnplemented for both onshore and offshore oil and gas companies. A new DOI report on oil and gas leasing in federal lands and waters advises the DOI’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to raise royalties, rental rates, and other fees … Read more

Retailers Under Mounting Pressure as ‘Organized Looting’ Eats Into Profits

A rapidly growing number of U.S. retailers are raising the alarm on organized looting that is eating into the profits of many major urban markets across the country. Consumer electronics retail giant Best Buy is reporting decent third-quarter earnings (pdf), topping market estimates. The company found more Americans upgraded their home technologies and kitchen appliances. … Read more

Amazon Employees Planning Global Black Friday Protests, Release Set of Demands for Company

On this year’s Black Friday, November 26, Amazon employees around the world will be holding a strike against the company to demand fair pay for workers, among other things. Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping days of the year and will surely hit the company hard. A coalition of over 200 million workers and … Read more

South Korea to Allow Operation of Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft From Nov. 22

SEOUL—South Korea’s transport ministry said on Friday it will allow the operation of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft starting Nov. 22 after two deadly crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia led to the plane’s grounding in March 2019. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport said in a statement that it had decided to allow the resumption … Read more

Tesla, Electric SUVs Get Poor Scores From Consumer Reports

Vehicles from Tesla Inc. and electric sport utilities from rival brands are among the least reliable models sold in the United States, a reflection of the risks of new technology, Consumer Reports said on Thursday. Consumer Reports, a nonprofit organization that evaluates products and services, said Tesla, the world’s most valuable automaker, ranked 27th out … Read more

WSJ Editorial Board Says Choice for Federal Reserve Chief Is Between 'Tweedledum and Tweedledee'

The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board said Wednesday that the choice between the next chair of the Federal Reserve is a choice between “Tweedledum and Tweedledee.” President Joe Biden last week met with the two leading candidates, current Chairman Jerome Powell and governor Lael Brainard, ahead of his decision to appoint one of them to … Read more

UK Government Accused of ‘Betraying’ the North Over Revised HS2 Rail Plan

The UK Government has been accused of a “betrayal of trust” as it set out its long-awaited revised plans for Northern England and the Midlands. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the £96 billion Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) would slash journey times across the region with 110 miles of new high-speed line. But Labour said the … Read more

Andrew Cuomo's Book Deal Revoked by New York Ethics Board

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo had his book deal revoked by the state’s ethics board on Tuesday. New York’s Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) approved a resolution (pdf) 12–1 to rescind its decision that approved Cuomo to write “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic” while he was governor during the coronavirus … Read more