The Portuguese government’s chief official in charge of transportation has resigned

The Portuguese government’s chief official in charge of transportation has resigned

VERBATIM:

Infrastructure and Housing Minister Pedro Nuno Santos quit amid an outcry over a 532-thousand dollar compensation payment made to a board member of state-owned flag carrier TAP Air Portugal. Meanwhile, many other people are facing hardship due to a cost-of-living crisis. The junior minister for infrastructure also quit, making a total of 10 government officials who have left their job since the Socialist Party won a general election in a landslide last January and bringing accusations from opposition parties that the administration is unsteady…JH reporting.

Biden facing new political landscape as Congress convenes

President Biden to face a Republican-controlled House as the new Congress convenes. In his Christmas address, the president appealed for less partisanship. He also has pledged to work with Republicans, who now control the U-S House. But GOP lawmakers have plans to launch investigations into the Biden administration and his family. There’s particular interest in reviewing the chaotic U-S military withdrawal from Afghanistan and probing the overseas business dealings of the president’s son, Hunter Biden.

Tesla Sales Grow In 2022, But Fall Short of Target

Tesla says it sold a record 1.3 million electric vehicles last year. The figure topped the prior record of 936,000 vehicles delivered in 2021. But it was shy of the 1.4 million needed to reach the company’s 50% growth target.

House GOP Will Curb Environmental Spending

A House majority gives Republicans a chance to take on ESG investing. Details from House Correspondent Bernie Bennett.

Republicans are expected to crack down on environmental and socially conscious investing, known as ESG, when they retake the House next year.

ESG, which stands for environmental, social and governance investing, is a broad term for attempts to invest ethically, and can include actions by the government, investment firms and banks or individuals.

Proponents of ESG see it as a way to invest in companies seen as having a positive impact, or that meet a set of environmental and social standards.

Republicans have also raised concerns that money managers who take these factors into account may do so at the expense of profits for their clients.

Bernie Bennett in Washington.

Spain has announced a new series of measures including scrapping Value Added Tax on staple food

Spain has announced a new series of measures including scrapping Value Added Tax on staple food

VERBATIM:

The country has also extended rent and eviction controls to help ease the economic crisis caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine. It is the third aid package since the start of the war in February and was said to be worth 11-billion dollars. The government said it would cut the value added tax on cooking oil and pasta from 10% to 5%.

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