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☆ Alaska-Hawaiian merger faces a Justice Department that has been skeptical of airline deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

An Alaska Airlines aircraft flies past the U.S. Capitol before landing at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., January 24, 2022. It could be the latest in a string of challenges brought by President Joe Biden's Justice Department against airline deals it views as anticompetitive. Alaska Air Group 's executives spent months working on its plan to buy rival Hawaiian Airlines . The Alaska-Hawaiian and JetBlue-Spirit deals are different in approach, but the Alaska acquisition could still face hurdles with regulators. "We have very similar product offerings and we have very limited network overlap."

Persons: Joe Biden's, William Kovacic, Shane Tackett, Samuel Engel Organizations: Alaska Airlines, U.S, Capitol, Reagan National Airport, JetBlue, Joe Biden's Justice Department, Alaska Air Group, Hawaiian Airlines, Spirit, Virgin America, Airbus, Boeing, The, George Washington School of Law, Federal Trade Commission, CNBC, Boston University's Questrom School of Business, ICF Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, The Alaska, Hawaii, Southwest, Asia, Delta, United, Alaska, anticompetitive, Pacific

☆ African ambassador criticizes IMF, World Bank for not giving enough loans
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

John Wessels | Afp | Getty ImagesBEIJING — An ambassador of an African country to China has criticized the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank for restrictive lending policies. "The problem is that the ratings we are making for the African [countries] should be different," Ibrahima Sory Sylla, ambassador for the West African country of Senegal, said Thursday at an event at Peking University. The research claimed every 1% increase in Chinese loans resulted in an increase of 0.176% in African economic growth. Allan Joseph Chintedza, ambassador of Malawi to China, said the report should look also at the repayment period for Chinese loans. The East African country needs to provide a "sustainability letter" from the Chinese government in order to borrow more from the IMF, Chintedza added.

Persons: John Wessels, Sylla, Poor's, Senegal's Sylla, Fitch, Wu Peng, Jang Ping Thia, Thia, Vladimir Putin, Allan Joseph Chintedza, Chintedza Organizations: Afp, Getty, BEIJING —, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, West, Peking University, Fitch, IMF, Bank, United, Loans, Boston, Global, Policy Center, CNBC, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Initiative, Peking University's Institute, New Locations: Senegal's, Dakar, BEIJING, China, Senegal, West Africa, Africa, Beijing, Malawi

☆ Vaccine hesitancy is a problem for dogs too, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Hesitancy among dog owners means some pets are not being vaccinated, new research found. The study in the journal Vaccine highlighted the risks to both animal and human populations. AdvertisementAdvertisementA surprisingly high number of dog owners are concerned about getting their animals vaccinated, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Vaccine. "A slight majority of dog owners (53%) endorse at least one of these three positions," the researchers noted. The prevalence, politicization, and health policy consequences of canine vaccine hesitancy," found cross-over in disproved theories relating to human vaccination.

Persons: —, Matthew Motta Organizations: Service, Boston University's School of Public Health, Wall Street Journal, American Veterinary Medical Association

☆ Majority of US dog owners hesitant about canine vaccines, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Rollo Ross | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The study of Canine Vaccination Hesitancy (CVH) by Boston University's School of Public Health was released on Aug. 26. It found 37% of owners consider dog vaccines to be unsafe, 22% of dog owners view them as ineffective, and 30% deem them unnecessary. In all, 53% of dog owners held one of these three views, according to the study, which was conducted in partnership with the market research and data analytics company YouGov. However, veterinarians also try to persuade dog owners to get their pets vaccinated against other diseases. In California, vets recommend vaccines against parvovirus, canine hepatitis and distemper.

Persons: Mike Blake, Matt Motta, " Motta, Todd Calsyn, hesitancy, that's, it's, Calsyn, Patty Sosa, " Sosa, Sandra Stojanovic, Rollo Ross, Jorge Garcia, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Boston University's School of Public Health, Reuters, Laurel Pet Hospital, UNICEF, Thomson Locations: Encinitas , California, U.S, California, Laurel, West Hollywood, Laguna Beach, Los Angeles

☆ David Wainer — Columnist at The Wall Street Journal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( David Wainer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

David WainerDavid Wainer is a Heard on the Street columnist based in New York, where he writes about healthcare. David spent over a decade as a correspondent in Israel before moving to New York in 2018. He was awarded the Elizabeth Neuffer gold prize in 2019 for his coverage of China's effort to reshape the United Nations during the Donald Trump presidency. David was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. David has a bachelor's degree in finance from Boston University's Questrom School of Business.

Persons: David Wainer David Wainer, David, Elizabeth Neuffer, Donald Trump Organizations: Bloomberg News, United Nations, Boston University's Questrom School of Business Locations: New York, Israel, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

☆ The story of inflation, as told through your child's backpack
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Back-to-school shopping hasn't been easy this year for Lauren Cyr. Total spending on school-related items for students in these grades is expected to climb to a new high of $41.5 billion. Instead, consumers have reported that purchases of more supplies and bigger-ticket items have contributed to higher spending this year. While inflation has broadly slowed, consumers may not feel any respite as prices of school supplies are still rising. "By being flexible in what you're purchasing, you can actually come away with both a happy child and a happy wallet."

Persons: Lauren Cyr, ", Cyr, Cyr isn't, Jay Zagorsky Organizations: National Retail Federation, Prosper, Boston University's Questrom School of Business Locations: Ruskin , Florida

☆ '4chan for economists' is melting down as racist, sexist anonymous posts are linked to Harvard, Yale, and other top institutions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Kate Taylor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

A new study links anonymous posts on "4chan for economists" to IP addresses at Harvard, Yale, and other top schools. Other snippets of posts with IP addresses at Harvard, Stanford, Yale, University of Chicago, and the National Bureau of Economic Research headquarters include: "Rapefugees Welcome!!!!! Other snippets of posts with IP addresses at Harvard, Stanford, Yale, University of Chicago, and the National Bureau of Economic Research headquarters include: "Rapefugees Welcome!!!!! Notre Dame IP addresses made up 3.4% of posts from a research-institution IP address. According to Ederer, it took just 15 minutes to figure out how to connect usernames with IP addresses.

Persons: Anya Samek, Samek, EJMR, Boston University's Florian Ederer, Yale's Paul Goldsmith, Pinkham, Kyle Jensen, Ederer, Christina Romer, Scott Cunningham, Rob Seamans, Merkel, bubba, Trevon Logan, that's, She's Organizations: Harvard, Yale, North American Economic Science Association Conference, University of Chicago, undergrad, National Bureau of Economic Research, American Economics Association, Baylor, Marvel, Stanford, University of Notre Dame, Columbia, Notre Dame, Ohio State University, UMass Amherst, University of California Locations: Tucson , Arizona, Cambridge , Massachusetts, Ederer, Erdogan's Turkey, troon, Samek, San Diego

☆ Barbie is all the buzz this summer — and retailers hope it will make cautious consumers spend
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Bloomingdale's is just one of the retailers and brands trying to tap into Barbie buzz. With a splash of hot pink, retailers hope to chase away the summer doldrums and inflation blues. About half of Aldo's Barbie collection sold out in the first week. So far, the Barbie merchandise is "selling incredibly well" and appealing to customers across generations, said Frank Berman, the department store's chief marketing officer. Gap has sold out of some of its popular Barbie items, including rectangular pink sunglasses.

Persons: Bloomingdale's, Barbie, Aldo, Brand, Daianara Grullon Amalfitano, Aldo's, Aldo Macy's, Frank Berman, Berman, it's, Ken, Circana, Margot Robbie's, Oliver Chen, Cowen, Chen, Susan Fournier, Barbie isn't, Fournier Organizations: Warner Bros, Mattel, Companies, NPD Group, IRI, Unit, Walmart, Target, Amazon Prime, Consumers, Adobe Analytics, Aqua Locations: Manhattan, Lexington Ave, U.S, Boston, New York City

☆ The rise of high-risk tourism
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe rise of high-risk tourismBoston University's Arun Upneja and WSJ's Allison Pohle join 'Power Lunch' to discuss the rise of high-risk tourism and more.

Persons: Arun Upneja, WSJ's Allison Pohle Locations: Boston

☆ World Bank's new chief asks staff to 'double down' on development, climate efforts
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] World Bank President Ajay Banga arrives for his first day of work at World Bank headquarters in Washington, U.S. June 2, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstWASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - The World Bank's new president Ajay Banga on Friday asked the lender's 16,000 staff to "double down" on development and climate efforts as he seeks to accelerate the bank's evolution to tackle the most pressing global problems. The World Bank Group is being asked to lead the way, to double down on development and climate efforts and to deliver even more impact and results," he said. He added this would require "all shoulders to the wheel," and all of the World Bank's divisions working together to deliver solutions needed by the world. Banga, 63, was elected to a five-year term as World Bank president by the lender's board of governors in May.

Persons: Ajay Banga, Jonathan Ernst WASHINGTON, Banga, Janet Yellen, Yellen, Joe Biden, David Malpass, Kevin Gallagher, There's, David Lawder, David Holmes, Hugh Lawson Organizations: World Bank, REUTERS, Friday, Mastercard, Reuters, Thursday, U.S, Treasury, Boston, Global, Policy, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Banga, Paris

☆ Who does inflation hit hardest? Experts weigh in on how higher prices impact households
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Fizkes | Istock | Getty ImagesStubborn inflation has driven households near the breaking point, but the pain of high prices has not been shared equally. The lowest-paid workers spend more of their income on necessities such as food, rent and gas, categories that also experienced higher-than-average inflation spikes. Because higher-income households spend relatively more on services, which notched smaller price increases compared with goods, they came out ahead. Middle-income households see slower wage growthBy other measures, Americans in the middle class are getting especially squeezed. watch nowEconomists' definitions of middle class vary.

Persons: Laurence Kotlikoff, Tomas Philipson, Brian Albrecht, Albrecht, Philipson, Aron Levine, Boston University's Organizations: Istock, Getty, Boston University ., White House Council, Economic, University of Pennsylvania's Wharton, Finance, International Center for Law, Economics, Congressional, Office, Pew Research Center, Bank of America Institute, Bank of, Boston, Consumer Financial, Bureau

NEW YORK/LONDON, June 1 (Reuters) - A bill backed by debt justice campaigners and civil society groups advocating on behalf of economically distressed countries could alter past and future sovereign debt restructurings covered by New York state law - and Wall Street is watching. Senate Bill S4747, the NY Taxpayer and International Debt Crises Protection Act, "relates to New York state's support of international debt relief initiatives for certain developing countries." The initiative has so far failed to accelerate debt relief talks, while private creditors are not even formally included in this initiative. It would "bring badly needed improvements to the framework for resolving unsustainable sovereign debt burdens," according to Nobel Prize-winning U.S. economist Joseph Stiglitz. If this bill passes, "I would recommend issuers not go through New York law, (but) through London or any other jurisdiction," said Rodrigo Olivares-Caminal, professor of banking and finance law at Queen Mary University of London.

Persons: Bill S4747, Alexander Flood, Patricia Fahy, Kathy Hochul, Joseph Stiglitz, Rishikesh Ram Bhandary, THE BILL, Rodrigo Olivares, Caminal, Rodrigo Campos, Jorgelina, Karin Strohecker, Aurora Ellis Organizations: NY Taxpayer, Senate, Institute of International Finance, Paris Club, China, WHO, Economic, Initiative, Boston, Global, Policy, THE, Queen Mary University of London, Thomson Locations: New York, United States, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Rishikesh, London, Paris, Brazil, Argentina, Rosario

☆ Venture Capital Investors Are Trying to Take Over Pandemic Response
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

Private capital has been eyeing public health for years. Several founders and investors told me that the failure of Kleiner's fund made Silicon Valley wary of investing in pandemic preparedness. Venture investors love that kind of thing. Public health and private industryWhen COVID hit, Charity Dean was the assistant director of the California Department of Public Health. In the end, almost every pandemic-related product created by Silicon Valley will ultimately require the government as a primary customer.

☆ Exclusive: World Bank may loosen loan ratio to free up $4 billion a year
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 16 (Reuters) - The World Bank, under pressure to do more to help developing countries cope with climate change, may change its internal lending guidelines to free up $4 billion in lending capacity each year, World Bank President David Malpass told Reuters on Thursday. Lowering the equity-to-lending ratio would free up more resources at a time of mounting global challenges such as the Ukraine war, he said. The board was expected to decide on the issue by the April meetings of the bank and the International Monetary Fund. Malpass announced his resignation from the bank on Wednesday amid mounting pressure from the U.S. Treasury to move faster on reforming the bank. The World Bank had long argued against changing its capital adequacy rules, worried that doing so would undermine its AAA credit ratings, but two of the three main agencies last year said some changes were possible without tarnishing the ratings.

Much as he would have liked to significantly increase supplies, Biosca-Reig said he couldn't justify investing millions of euros in new production lines unless he was paid more for the generic drug to cover sharply rising costs. European generic drugmakers say the tender system and regulated prices have fuelled a race to the bottom, and European firms are being undercut by suppliers from Asia. BRUSSELS, WE HAVE A PROBLEMThe European Medicines Agency (EMA) and European Union lawmakers acknowledge there is a problem. Half the generic medicines sold in Spain are priced below 1.60 euros per box or bottle, the country's generics manufacturing association said. But companies with smaller market shares, such as Israel's Teva (TEVA.TA), which has 5% of the region's amoxicillin market according to Medicines for Europe, are constrained.

☆ Parental leave is the greatest benefit workers don't take
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Rebecca Knight | Shana Lebowitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The share of US workers who have access to family leave, including parental leave, is increasing. Like many women, Amanda Krupa took less parental leave than she was allowed in order to protect her career and income. The rate of women taking maternity leave hasn't changed since the '90sThe US is the only industrialized country that doesn't guarantee paid parental leave. Some employers offer short-term-disability insurance to help cover workers' parental leave, but it doesn't always replace all wages. Today, all employees there are eligible for 16 weeks of paid parental leave.

☆ A major hedge fund fears 'hyperinflation' in some developing nations. This is why it could still affect America.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

There are fears that some nations could be struck by hyperinflation, or uncontrolled price rises. The consequences could be disastrous for emerging economies — and have ramifications for the US. While hyperinflation is not about to strike the US, it could affect the American economy nonetheless. Another consequence of that policy was to send money out of emerging economies and back to the US. While Gallagher said hyperinflation wasn't happening yet, the frameworks in place to protect emerging economies from hyperinflation and a debt default were breaking down, leaving countries to fend for themselves.

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during the Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington, U.S., October 14, 2022. World Bank President David Malpass said at the meeting that the bank would use the "full suite" of its financing and guarantee instruments "to unlock larger volumes of private finance for quality, sustainable infrastructure." Opposition from Russia stalled new agreements from the G20 and the IMF and World Bank steering committees. WORLD BANK REFORMSThe World Bank's steering committee on Saturday backed the U.S. call for change, and asked World Bank leadership to deliver a roadmap for revamping the bank's institutional and operational framework by the end of the year. It also asked Malpass to develop a plan for implementing the recommendations of an independent panel that reviewed the bank's capital adequacy rules, in time for next spring's IMF and World Bank meetings in April.

A decade-old scandal at a Massachusetts crime lab — which led authorities to dismiss tens of thousands of drug convictions — may involve wrongdoing by more people than was previously known, according to a recent court order. At least one person was referred to the state attorney general’s office in 2015 for potential prosecution, Judge John T. Lu wrote last week. The ruling stokes lingering doubts about statements by the state inspector general’s office over the past eight years that Dookhan was the “sole bad actor” at the Hinton lab. Bizuayehu Tesfaye / APDookhan’s misconduct at the Hinton lab was exposed in 2012, after she had worked there for nearly a decade. A spokesman for the inspector general’s office declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.

☆ How to deal with work-from-home loneliness when you manage a remote team
▼ + stars: | 2022-05-10 | by ( Rebecca Knight | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Insider's latest work-advice column is about how managers can tackle remote work loneliness. I have weekly team and one-on-one meetings with colleagues, but apart from those and task-related messages, we don't interact much. I'm not sure how much my team members communicate with each other, but I imagine they have similar experiences. The good news is there are plenty of simple things you can do to help you and your team form social bonds and mitigate your collective feelings of loneliness. Noonan suggested setting aside a couple of hours each week where team members do their own work over video together.

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