Hard Numbers: Canada probes diplomat’s “billionaire” digs, Bread price-fixing charges prove costly, US passport power tumbles, Sofa sex hoax spreads

July 25, 2024

Billionaire's Row, a collection of super-tall residences for the uber-rich mostly on West 57th Street in New York City.

Richard B. Levine via Reuters

9 million: Canada’s consul general in New York is in the hot seat amid an inquiry into the government’s recent purchase of the $9 million dollar Manhattan condo where he lives. Tom Clark, who has served in the post since last February, is one of several witnesses who will be called before parliament in a scandal that could also involve Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly. The pricy three-bedroom apartment is located on the stretch of West 57th Street known as “Billionaire’s Row.”

500 million: Food retail giant Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and its parent company George Weston Ltd. have reportedly agreed to pay $500 million over allegations of bread price fixing. A class-action suit was brought against the two companies and several other retailers, alleging that the firms were part of a 14-year price-fixing conspiracy that artificially hiked bread prices.

8: The global power of the US is clearly in decline … at least when it comes to the country’s passport. The little blue book has slid to eighth place in the annual Henley Passport Index, which counts the visa-free travel destinations open to citizens of every country. A US passport holder can currently show up without a visa in 186 of the world’s 225 countries. In first place is Singapore with 195. It wasn’t always this way: A decade ago, the US shared the top spot with the UK.

0: Despite a deluge of internet memes claiming the contrary, there is zero evidence that Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance ever had sex with a couch. A fake scan of several pages from the Ohio Senator’s 2016 bestseller “Hillbilly Elegy,” a memoir about his Appalachian upbringing, seemed to show he’d confessed to having had the curious congress with his cushions as an adolescent. But the entire thing was fake. That didn’t stop it from being shared hundreds of thousands of times. Whatever your politics, be careful out there on the internet: Hilarious hoaxes abound.

Will the US let Ukraine use long-range missiles against Russia?

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink as he prepares to depart the train station in Kyiv, Ukraine, September 11, 2024.

Mark Schiefelbein/Pool via REUTERS

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy suggested during a visit to Kyiv on Wednesday that their governments might reconsider prohibitions on letting Ukraine use Western weapons to hit targets inside Russia.

Harris won the debate, but will it matter on Election Day?

Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff visit a watch party after Harris participated in a presidential debate with Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., September 10, 2024.

REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

The presidential debate marks the unofficial point of the race when the majority of Americans start paying attention.

Viewpoint: Kishida makes way for fresh face as his party's fortunes fade in Japan

Japanese Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, a front-runner in the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race.

Yoshio Tsunoda/AFLO via Reuters

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced last month that he would not seek a new three-year term as head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Today, the LDP kicks off a leadership campaign that will culminate on Sept. 27, with the winner replacing Kishida as prime minister.

On the “Energized: The Future of Energy” podcast, expert Daniel Yergin unpacks the interplay of energy security and geopolitics

Enbridge

"I think there is a huge perspective gap. You can't project the values of a wealthy Western society on a developing society, which is at a very different stage of economic development. And that's one of the challenges of talking about energy security," explains Daniel Yergin, Pulitzer-Prize winning author and vice chairman of S&P Global. "It's estimated that in 25 years, one quarter of the world's people will live in Africa where they need economic development, and they need energy to do that." Yergin spoke with host JJ Ramberg and Enbridge CEO Greg Ebel on the new podcast series “Energized: The Future of Energy,” presented by GZERO Media's Blue Circle Studios and Enbridge. In the inaugural episode, Yergin whose most recent book is entitled "The New Map: Energy, Climate & the Clash of Nations", highlights the essential connection between energy security and a successful energy transition, stating, "Without energy security, you really don't have a very successful energy transition because energy security means reliable, affordable energy." Listen to this episode at gzeromedia.com/energized, or on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hard Numbers: Canada probes diplomat’s “billionaire” digs, Bread price-fixing charges prove costly, US passport power tumbles, Sofa sex hoax spreads

GZEROMEDIA

More from GZERO Media

Will the US let Ukraine use long-range missiles against Russia?

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy suggested during a visit to Kyiv on Wednesday that their governments might reconsider prohibitions on letting Ukraine use Western weapons to hit targets inside Russia.

Will Mexico’s court overhaul hamper its economy?

Mexico’s senate voted 86-41 on Wednesday to approve a controversial judicial overhaul that will require the nation’s judges to stand for election in order to keep their jobs.

US House speaker pulls bill that would avoid a government shutdown

Too clever by half, Mike. With a US government shutdown looming on Oct. 1, and the election to follow in November, US House Speaker Mike Johnson had a plan.

Hard Numbers: Kosovo indicts terrorists, Huawei tries to fold up Apple, Afghan women hold summit, Malaysia rescues hundreds of abused kids, Black enrollment at Harvard falls, The Swift effect

Harris won the debate, but will it matter on Election Day?

The presidential debate marks the unofficial point of the race when the majority of Americans start paying attention.

GZEROMEDIA

Viewpoint: Kishida makes way for fresh face as his party's fortunes fade in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced last month that he would not seek a new three-year term as head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Today, the LDP kicks off a leadership campaign that will culminate on Sept. 27, with the winner replacing Kishida as prime minister.

Macron has put France’s fate in Le Pen’s hands

President Emmanuel Macron’s appointment of Michel Barnier as France’s new prime minister on Sept. 5 has put an end to two months of political deadlock and disarray triggered by the Jul. 7 parliamentary election result.

Can the US stay ahead of Russia & China in the space race?

Should the United States be concerned about Chinese and Russian military activity in space? And is the US prepared for space warfare? Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) joined Ian Bremmer on GZERO World to talk about the future of US space policy and the 21st-century space race with Russia and China.

Consumer checkpoint: Gen Z and millennials

The strength in the younger generations' labor market, including wages and salaries growth, has allowed a majority to navigate the challenges of higher costs and declining discretionary spending. Explore and subscribe to Bank of America Institute to learn more about trends in consumer spending.

On the “Energized: The Future of Energy” podcast, expert Daniel Yergin unpacks the interplay of energy security and geopolitics

Hard Numbers: Canada probes diplomat’s “billionaire” digs, Bread price-fixing charges prove costly, US passport power tumbles, Sofa sex hoax spreads

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

More from GZERO Media

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy suggested during a visit to Kyiv on Wednesday that their governments might reconsider prohibitions on letting Ukraine use Western weapons to hit targets inside Russia.

Mexico’s senate voted 86-41 on Wednesday to approve a controversial judicial overhaul that will require the nation’s judges to stand for election in order to keep their jobs.

Too clever by half, Mike. With a US government shutdown looming on Oct. 1, and the election to follow in November, US House Speaker Mike Johnson had a plan.

The presidential debate marks the unofficial point of the race when the majority of Americans start paying attention.

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced last month that he would not seek a new three-year term as head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Today, the LDP kicks off a leadership campaign that will culminate on Sept. 27, with the winner replacing Kishida as prime minister.

President Emmanuel Macron’s appointment of Michel Barnier as France’s new prime minister on Sept. 5 has put an end to two months of political deadlock and disarray triggered by the Jul. 7 parliamentary election result.

Should the United States be concerned about Chinese and Russian military activity in space? And is the US prepared for space warfare? Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) joined Ian Bremmer on GZERO World to talk about the future of US space policy and the 21st-century space race with Russia and China.

The strength in the younger generations' labor market, including wages and salaries growth, has allowed a majority to navigate the challenges of higher costs and declining discretionary spending. Explore and subscribe to Bank of America Institute to learn more about trends in consumer spending.