LNN

When the 3,280-feet-tall (1,000-meter-tall) Jeddah Tower, in Saudi Arabia, opens in 2020, it will knock Dubai's iconic Burj Khalifa off its throne as the tallest skyscraper in the world by 236 feet (72 meters). The most viable reasons for his detention are due to political and or economic problems. However, there is no clear answer to why? When will it resume? When will it end? To be continued?

Yes... Ford is axing thousands of jobs across Europe in a cost-cutting effort aimed at offsetting falling profits on the continent. It's also shutting down a factory in France, considering scrapping low-profit models, reviewing a Russian joint venture, and planning to consolidate its HQ in Britain. Why all the self-reflection? Tougher emissions rules and shrinking demand have weighed heavily on Ford in Europe, where it claims 6.4% of the new car market. From January to November, Ford sold 2.3% fewer cars in the European Union YoY. But auto problems span the globe: In the U.S., car sales have slowed as the promise of low-interest loans fades. In China, car sales tanked 19% in December for the steepest decline on record. In Europe, the Brexit deadline (and the higher auto tariffs it might bring) is coming up fast. Which means Ford isn't alone in its troubles. Also yesterday, Britain's Jaguar Land Rover announced plans to cut its global workforce by 4,500 due to "multiple geopolitical and regulatory disruptions."

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro probably didn't get a standing ovation yesterday following his inauguration to a second term—one already marked by severe political, economic, and humanitarian issues (many of which arose on his watch). Here's a small sampling of what he's dealing with: An annual inflation rate of 1,400,000%. Think that's bad? It's forecast to hit 10,000,000% by year-end. Venezuela owes international creditors about $150 billion. Venezuelans lost an average of 24 lbs in 2017 (with the government restricted from importing food or medicine) and suffer from a 90% poverty rate. Asking yourself how Maduro won a second term? So are a lot of people. His May re-election has been labeled both "illegitimate" and a "sham"—and many have accused his party of vote-rigging and strong-arming. The U.S. and 13 other countries in the Americas have said they will not recognize Maduro's presidency. Give us the bottom line, Axios: "While many nebulously blame 'socialism' for Venezuela's dire condition, the truth is that the country's problems are a result of corruption and wide-ranging economic incompetence from Maduro's government."

Beer has calories? LOL They must think that beer drinkers will actually care?

This is also helping her popularity

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. might now have a loss on its stake in Apple Inc., which fell Thursday after the iPhone maker lowered its fiscal first-quarter revenue forecast. This conclusion is based on the number of shares Berkshire has bought each quarter since its initial purchase three years ago and Apple’s average quarterly closing share price. Combining the two gives an estimated cost of $146.02 a share for the 5.4 percent holding, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Apple’s shares closed at $142.19 Thursday after tumbling 10 percent, its steepest drop since January 2013.

Cosmetics companies mount huge marketing campaigns to sell overpriced cosmetics to women. The man driving a ridiculous $75,000 money-pit of a pickup truck is a considered to be a regular old consumer. But a woman spending $50 on a bottle of shampoo is considered a victim of the white patriarchy. How about if we ALL sober up a little and stop laying the blame for all of our own human pride and weakness and folly on other people? Maybe we would all get along that way?