Business Briefs – March 22, 2017

Trump’s SEC Pick, a Lawyer for Goldman, to Face Skepticism

WASHINGTON (AP) – Goldman Sachs may be about to get another friend in Washington. Jay Clayton, a well-connected Wall Street lawyer who is President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission, is sure to face sharp questions from Democrats in his Senate confirmation Thursday over his years of work for Goldman and other financial giants.

Labor Nominee Says He Won’t Let Politics Influence Hiring

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Labor Department says he won’t allow potential political pressure from the administration to influence his hiring decisions. Alexander Acosta tells a Senate committee he regrets that political tests played a role in employment practices used by a subordinate when Acosta headed the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division under President George W. Bush.

For Some Airline Passengers, New Warnings Bring New Hurdles

NEW YORK (AP) – As far as the indignities of modern air travel go, the latest ban on laptops and tablets on some international flights falls somewhere between taking off shoes at the security checkpoint and testing baby food and milk for bomb residue. It’s yet another impediment in the name of security for already weary travelers, especially those from or passing through the 10 mostly Middle Eastern and North African countries covered by new U.S. and British policies. While not quite as disruptive as an outright ban on smartphones — much less a travel ban based on nationality — the restrictions loom large for some.

AP Interview: Emirates Defends Security as Laptop Ban Looms

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – The president of Emirates, the Middle East’s biggest airline, defended security measures at the carrier’s Dubai hub on Wednesday and said the ban on personal electronics onboard U.S.-bound flights came without warning. Tim Clark told The Associated Press that he only learned of the new U.S. regulations the previous day, saying the carrier “had no prior knowledge whatsoever.”

Australia Pair Are First Foreigners To Own U.S. Radio Stations

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – An Australian couple with roots in Alaska has bought radio stations in three states, marking the first time federal regulators have allowed full foreign ownership of U.S. radio stations. The Federal Communications Commission approved Richard and Sharon Burns’ request through their company Frontier Media to increase their interest in 29 radio stations in Alaska, Texas and Arkansas to 100 percent. The Burnses are citizens of Australia but have lived in the U.S. on special visas since 2006.