Financial Markets and Economy
Big Oil Firms Look to Save, While Smaller Upstarts Want to Spend (The Wall Street Journal)
Big oil companies and smaller U.S. upstarts are plotting sharply divergent paths as they plan spending for 2017 after a modest recovery in crude prices.
Europe’s Zombie Tax on Trading Kept Alive by Election Season (Bloomberg)
A European proposal for a tax on financial transactions is trapped in limbo: financial realities won’t let it come to life while political opportunism is preventing a quick death.
Weak Peso Means Strong Business for Payment Providers (The Wall Street Journal)
Cross-border payment providers are proving resilient despite increased trade tensions between the U.S. and Mexico.
Money transfers into Mexico from individuals outside the country surged after the U.S. election, highlighting the challenge that the Trump administration might face if it seeks to curb such money flows.
UK trade negotiator will earn more than PM (The Guardian)
The government will pay its top post-Brexit international trade negotiator, tasked with sealing deals from North America to New Zealand, more than the prime minister, according to a job vacancy advertised on an internal civil service website.`
Kuwait Extends World-Topping Rally as Traders Dismiss U.S. Ban (Bloomberg)
Kuwait stocks, the world’s best performers this year, extended a rally to an 18th day, the longest winning streak in over a decade, as the country moved a step closer to a debut sale of dollar bonds. Gulf markets showed no impact from a U.S. ban on immigration from seven mainly Muslim countries.
How Smart Money Can Survive the Trump Era, as Seen From Sweden (Bloomberg)
Michael Livijn, who as Nordea Bank AB’s chief investment strategist makes recommendations that guide about $100 billion, says don’t expect a bloodbath if elections in Europe this year unleash a populist wave like the one that propelled Donald Trump into the White House.
The tax could come in a broader tax reform bill and would be used to help pay for a border wall.
These are Not Normal Times (Calculated Risk)
These are not normal times, and I can't just post economic data and remain silent on other issues.
Mr. Trump's executive order is un-American, not Christian, and hopefully unconstitutional. This is a shameful act and no good person can remain silent.
Companies
Saudi Aramco Said to Weigh Up to $5 Billion Renewable Deals (Bloomberg)
Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, is considering as much as $5 billion of investments in renewable energy firms as part of plans to diversify from crude production, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
Technology
U.S. tech leaders sound alarm over Trump immigration order (Reuters)
The U.S. technology industry, a major employer of foreign workers, hit back on Saturday at President Donald Trump's sudden executive order on immigration, with some leaders calling it immoral and un-American.
Panasonic puts its robots to hard labor at Japanese airport (CNet)
The company's HOSPI robot is undergoing trials at Narita Airport in Chiba, Japan, where it's collecting used plates from restaurants and food courts in addition to serving drinks and providing directional information to customers.
Google Home's killer feature reminds you where you left your keys (CNet)
Naturally, you only ever misplace the most important things in your life — and usually when you need them the most.
Flexible LCD phone displays are coming soon to end your cracked screen woes (TNW)
We’ve been hearing about smartphones getting flexible displays for a long time now. Last year, we heard that Samsung had a program called Project Valley to create a phone with a foldable screen; LG showed off a rollable 18-inch display and Xiaomi reportedly came up with a bendy concept screen too.
Politics
Trump to honor refugee swap deal with Australia: source (Reuters)
President Donald Trump has confirmed that his administration will honor a refugee resettlement deal with Australia, a source close to the Australian government said on Sunday.
Protests against Trump's immigration order have erupted across the country — here's what they are like (Business Insider)
Protesters descended on airports across the country on Saturday, in the wake of President Donald Trump's executive order blocking travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US.
Chaos, anger as Trump order halts some Muslim immigrants (Reuters)
President Donald Trump's order to restrict people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States sparked confusion and anger on Saturday after immigrants and refugees were kept off flights and left stranded in airports.
Canada's Trudeau welcomes refugees; U.S.-bound passengers turned away (Reuters)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed those fleeing war and persecution on Saturday even as Canadian airlines said they would turn back U.S.-bound passengers to comply with an immigration ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries.
A City Built on Refugees Looks at Trump’s Plan With Fear (NY Times)
When Hawo Ahmed, her two sisters and their mother arrived here late Wednesday night, the Somali family could hardly believe their good fortune.
“It’s like a dream come true,” said Ms. Ahmed, 24.
In Canada, Justin Trudeau Says Refugees Are Welcome (NY Times)
As President Trump’s executive order on immigration stranded people around the world and provoked condemnation, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada took to social media to restate the country’s open-door policy.
Donald Trump’s Demolition Derby (Moyers & Company)
We’re a week into the Trump administration and it’s pretty obvious what he’s up to. First, Donald Trump is running a demolition derby: He wants to demolish everything he doesn’t like, and he doesn’t like a lot, especially when it comes to government.
Expect More Conflict Between Cities and States (The Pew Charitable Trusts)
With the federal government and most states controlled by conservative Republicans this year, Democrats are looking to Democratic cities and counties to stand up for progressive policy.
Life on the Home Planet
Children held in Iraq over suspected Isis links 'say they were tortured' (The Guardian)
Children detained by Iraq’s Kurdistan regional government on suspicion of connections to Islamic State say they were tortured, according to a report from an international human rights group.
Shooting at Tennessee armory leaves 10 wounded, three still hospitalized (Reuters)
A shooting left 10 people wounded in western Tennessee at a party held at a National Guard armory and three of the injured remained hospitalized on Saturday, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said.
Chemical weapons found in Mosul in Isis lab, say Iraqi forces (The Guardian)
Iraqi and US officials have repeatedly warned of efforts by Isis to develop chemical weapons. When Iraqi forces retook Mosul University this month, they found chemistry labs they believed had been converted into makeshift weapons labs.
How the brain stores memories (The Guardian)
Every week there is a new dementia study, raising hopes that we can find a way to halt memory loss. Interestingly, in any form of dementia our memories don’t vanish immediately but fade gradually – our memory systems have a property known as ‘graceful degradation’.
