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☆ As Insurers Around the U.S. Bleed Cash From Climate Shocks, Homeowners Lose
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Christopher Flavelle | Mira Rojanasakul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +28 min

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Persons: Dave Langston’s, Langston, ”, Dave, Linda Langston, Conn ., S.D, N.M, “, Dave Jones, Carolyn Kousky, “ It’s, Sridhar Manyem, Bill Montgomery, Kristin Heiges, Eldon Neighbor, That’s, Tom O’Meara, Kelsey Kremer, Reinsurers, Doug Ommen, Brandi Mace Storm, David Storm, Tim Kuehner’s, Brandi Mace Storm’s, haggling, Pekin, Mace Storm, Susan Crisler, Tim Kuehner, Tony J, Larson, Chesleigh Fowler, Kelley Erstine, Mr, Erstine, ” Kevin Walters, California Colorado Utah Washington Matt Child, Matthew Baker, Ariz, ” Mr, Baker, Amy Bach, United, Dave Langston, Ommen, Tim Zawacki, Lyndsey Layton, Douglas Alteen, Claire O'Neill, Matt McCann Organizations: IOWA MINNESOTA SOUTH, COLORADO ARKANSAS, NEBRASKA COLORADO, SOUTH, New York Times, Ark . Iowa Ariz, Minn, La . Iowa Iowa Neb, Neb . Texas Idaho Ga, ND Iowa, S.D . Miss, Wash . Ohio Utah Wis, University of California Berkeley, Treasury Department, Environmental Defense Fund, State, NOAA, Celina Insurance, Secura Insurance, Secura, Homeowners, Swiss, Des Moines Register, Associated, “, Iowa, Iowa Minnesota Wisconsin, Pekin Insurance, Pekin, Christensen Group Insurance, Travelers, Nationwide, Indiana Ohio Michigan Illinois, . Arkansas Kentucky Florida Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, ”, Washington, Wildfire, California Colorado, California Colorado Utah Washington, P Global Market Intelligence Locations: Iowa, IOWA MINNESOTA, IOWA MINNESOTA SOUTH DAKOTA NEBRASKA, COLORADO, COLORADO ARKANSAS KENTUCKY ILLINOIS, IOWA MINNESOTA SOUTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA COLORADO ARKANSAS, KENTUCKY ILLINOIS, SOUTH DAKOTA NEBRASKA, COLORADO ARKANSAS, Iowa , Minnesota, South Dakota , Nebraska , Colorado , Arkansas , Kentucky, Illinois, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids , Iowa, Marshalltown , Iowa, Florida , California, Louisiana, Iowa , Arkansas , Ohio, Utah, Washington, Colo, Mass, Colo . Calif, Calif, Colo . Ala, Colo ., Mont, Fla, Ark . Iowa, Colo . Ill, S.D, N.D, Conn, Del . Idaho Fla, Miss, Neb ., Ky, Ga, Hawaii Mont, N.M . Iowa Fla, Mont ., La . Iowa, Neb . Texas Idaho, ND, Md, Ill, Wyo, Ill . Idaho, . Ill, Minn, Ind, S.D . Vt, La . Texas Mont, Neb . NC, Neb . Mich, N.M, S.D ., Va . Ore . Ohio Mo . Texas, Tenn, Wash . Ohio Utah, Okla, Tenn . Utah, Wis, S.D . Va . Ore . Ohio Mo . Texas, California, American, U.S, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin, United States, Marshalltown, Iowa Minnesota, Iowa Minnesota Wisconsin South Dakota, Celina, Pekin, Des Moines, Minnesota, Illinois , Indiana , Ohio, Illinois , Indiana, Michigan, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, . Arkansas Kentucky Florida, Georgia , Kentucky, Mississippi, Washington State, California Colorado Utah, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Flagstaff, it’s, Gilbert, Seattle, Colorado, Florida’s, Central City , Iowa, Georgia

☆ Medical Debt Shows Up Less Often on Credit Reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Ann Carrns | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Rohit Chopra, the bureau’s director, said in a statement that “further reforms” were needed to scour medical debt from credit histories. The bureau is considering a rule to ban medical debt from consumer credit files. The bureau estimated in a 2022 report that well over half the debt that appeared on credit reports as being in collection was medical debt. People can incur medical bills unexpectedly, and many think that their health insurance will cover the costs. And the consumer bureau previously found that medical collection debt reported to the credit bureaus was “plagued by inaccuracies.”

Persons: —, TransUnion —, Rohit Chopra Organizations: Consumer Financial

☆ We're entering advertising's new era
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . In today's big story, we're looking at the biggest topic at this year's TV upfronts , and how it's a sign of advertising's new era. What's on deck:Markets: Morgan Stanley's new wealth boss outlines the bank's playbook for hitting $10 trillion in client assets. Andy Kiersz/Business InsiderYou might be wondering what retail data has to do with television advertising.

Persons: —, Morgan, Don Draper's, Burton, Jenny Chang, Rodriguez, Business Insider's Lara O'Reilly, Lucia Moses, Andy Kiersz, Andy Jassy, hasn't, Finn, Morgan Stanley, Michael M, Tyler Le, Jed Finn, Andy Saperstein, there's, Joseph Stiglitz, Jerome Powell, Justin Sullivan, Wells Fargo, Kevin Scott, Satya Nadella, Bill Gates, Pablo Declan, Shari Redstone's, tanked, BI's Peter Kafka, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, George Glover Organizations: Business, Service, Tech, Wall, Getty, Google, Amazon, Disney, Kroger, Walmart, Big Tech, US Department of Labor, Apple, Department, Paramount, Trump Media Locations: China, OpenAI, New York, London

☆ Costco members can save $1,000 or more on an EV from GM, Volvo, or Polestar this summer
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

This summer, the wholesale club is swinging big with $1,000 or more off EVs from four brands. There is one catch though: the deal is only available to people who were Costco members as of April 30. AdvertisementOne of the under-appreciated perks of a Costco membership is big savings on new cars. This summer, Costco is swinging big with $1,000 or more off EVs from four brands. From now until July 31, Costco members can take $1,000 off the price of a Cadillac Lyriq, Chevy Equinox EV, Chevy Blazer EV, Volvo C40 Recharge, or Volvo XC40 Recharge.

Persons: — Organizations: Costco, Service, haggling, EV, Blazer EV, Volvo

☆ A flurry of new rules from the Biden administration attempt to ban noncompetes, boost overtime pay, and increase refunds for delayed flights
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewThe Biden administration this week pushed out a slate of rules it says are meant to boost competitiveness and put more money into workers' pockets. There are already challenges to at least one of the rules — but together they could land overtime pay for millions more workers, ban noncompetes that prevent workers from moving into jobs in similar industries, and help people get automatic refunds for delayed or canceled flights. More workers eligible for overtime payUnder the Department of Labor's new rule, many workers who make under $43,888 will be eligible for overtime pay effective July 1. A ban on noncompetes that keep workers from taking new jobsPerhaps the most sweeping action for workers came from the Federal Trade Commission, which finalized a rule to ban noncompetes in most cases. Will a ban on noncompetes, new overtime thresholds, or airline refunds affect your life?

Persons: —, Biden, Lael Brainard, That's, it's, Judy Conti, Pete Buttigieg, Brainard, Aaron, Ryan, John Smith, Suzanne Clark, Jeremy Merkelson, Davis Wright Tremaine, Merkelson, Elizabeth Wilkins, Wilkins Organizations: Service, Business, National Economic Council, Department of, National Employment Law, of Transportation, Federal Trade Commission, . Upjohn Institute, Employment Research, of Commerce, Texas Association of Business, Federal Trade, Chamber of Commerce, FTC

☆ New federal rules on airline refunds require cash instead of vouchers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Gregory Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New federal rules say travelers deserve cash refunds when inconvenienced by their airline – not vouchers or travel credits. The rules require the fees to be automatic and prompt: Within seven days for a credit card refund and 20 days for other forms of payment. Surge in complaints in 2022The Biden Administration proposed its change to the refund rules in 2022 after a surge in complaints about refunds when the coronavirus brought air travel to a standstill. More than half of the complaints involved flight disruptions or refunds. A federal law allows Congress to unravel recently implemented executive branch rules.

Persons: “, Pete Buttigieg, CNN’s John Berman, ” Buttigieg, you’re, “ That’s, ”, There’s Organizations: CNN — Airline, ”, Transportation Department, Airlines for, Biden Administration Locations: –, Airlines for America, ” “ U.S, Washington, November’s

☆ Biden issues new rules for airlines to require automatic cash refunds, prohibit surprise fees
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The first rule requires airlines to be more transparent about extra fees. The second rule requires airlines to issue cash refunds automatically, rather than in response to customer requests. It will require that airlines list and explain all extra fees "clearly, conspicuously, and accurately" on their web platforms or when they provide fare prices offline. The new airline rules are the latest action in President Joe Biden's broader battle against what the White House calls "corporate rip-offs." "There are tens of billions of dollars in other junk fees across the economy, and I've directed my administration to reduce or eliminate them," Biden said in 2022.

Persons: Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Buttigieg, Joe Biden's, I've Organizations: Department of Transportation, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, United, White House Locations: Southwest

☆ The 4-day workweek could be here sooner than you think
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

AdvertisementThe much-coveted four-day workweek is back in the news this month after Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced new legislation and held a congressional hearing calling for a 32-hour national workweek. The buzz around a shorter workweek became a certified boom with the COVID-19 pandemic. AdvertisementThe four-day workweek has, in many ways, become shorthand for any shorter workweek, encompassing a wide variety of flexible schedules. Attracting top-tier employees is just one reason Dimitri Cavathas, CEO of Lower Shore Clinic, started considering a four-day workweek for his company. Lawmakers in several states have introduced legislation posing four-day workweek trials or research programs, including California, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Hawaii, though none have passed yet.

Persons: workweek, —, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Richard Nixon, Alex Soojung, Kim Pang, haven't, Pang, You've, Phil McParlane, McParlane, Getty, nix, Dimitri Cavathas, Cavathas, Paul Sancya Organizations: Service, Global, Panasonic, Lower Shore Clinic, United Auto Workers, AP, Fortune Locations: Scotland, Maryland, Greece, The Maryland, California , Massachusetts, Hawaii, US

WASHINGTON — The Senate voted 74-24 early Saturday morning to pass a sweeping $1.2 trillion government funding bill after heated last-minute negotiations caused senators to breach the midnight deadline to avert a shutdown. The legislation, which passed the House on Friday morning by a vote of 268-134, now goes to President Joe Biden, who has said he'll sign it into law. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said it was "typical" and "juvenile" for the Senate to wait until the 11th hour to act on the bill. And at nearly six months into the fiscal year, it's unusually late in the game to be haggling over the funding measures. The latest bill was released Thursday and passed by the House on Friday morning, leaving little time for the Senate to act.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, Joe Biden, Biden, Sen, Chris Murphy, Conn, Murphy, John Kennedy, Chuck Schumer, It's, Schumer, it's Organizations: U.S . Capitol, WASHINGTON, White, NBC News, State , Defense, Labor, Health, Human Services, Homeland Security, Senate Locations: Washington , DC, Congress

The other five funding bills were effectively settled by the end of last week, with only the Homeland Security bill presenting deep divisions Republicans and Democrats were unable to settle. The deal is being negotiated by Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the White House and top appropriators in both chambers. Republicans rejected additional funding for ICE in a bipartisan border deal agreed to by senators and the White House, demanding additional policy changes. But they, too, have demands in the funding bill. The White House has also sought increased flexibility to aid border operations, sources with knowledge of the discussion said.

Persons: Mike Johnson, he'll, Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Bob Good, Chip Roy, Joe Biden's, they're Organizations: WASHINGTON, Congressional, Department of Homeland Security, State , Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health, Human Services, Republicans, Democrats, DHS, White, Congress, Immigration, Customs, ICE Locations: Texas

☆ Kyrsten Sinema’s exit puts the spotlight on the Senate’s shrinking pool of dealmakers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Lauren Fox | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

For months, the two of them had worked tirelessly alongside Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma to craft a bipartisan deal on immigration. “The base of each party wants individuals who will fight, but not individuals who will reach across the aisle to get things done,” Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah said. “I’ve seen a shift towards basically really not wanting to do anything,” West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said. Last cycle alone saw the retirement of Ohio Republican Sen. Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt, another GOP pragmatist, retired after the 2022 election, replaced by Sen. Eric Schmitt.

Persons: Sen, Kyrsten, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy, Republican Sen, James Lankford of, Sinema, Murphy, ” Murphy, “, ” Sinema, Donald Trump, Mitt Romney, Joe Manchin, he’d, Romney, Trump, ” Romney, I’ve, ” West Virginia Republican Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, Ohio Republican Sen, Rob Portman, J.D, Vance, Trump . Missouri Republican Sen, Roy Blunt, GOP pragmatist, Eric Schmitt, appropriator Sen, Richard Shelby of, Richard Burr of, Bob Corker, Marsha Blackburn, Anna Moneymaker, we’ve, Lamar Alexander, ”, Tim Kaine, “ We’re, Kari Lake, –, Mark Kelly, ” Corker, Kaine, Todd Young, Thom Tillis, It’s, Brian Schatz, ” Sen, Mark Warner, Nathan Howard, Manchin, John Cornyn of, John Thune of, isn’t Organizations: Democratic, Connecticut, Republican, CNN, Senate, ” West Virginia Republican, Ohio Republican, GOP, Trump . Missouri Republican, Intelligence, Senate Foreign Relations, 118th, Democrat, North Carolina Republican, Getty, America Locations: Arizona, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, Ohio, Richard Shelby of Alabama, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Tennessee, Indiana, Hawaii, Washington , DC, John Cornyn of Texas, John Thune of South Dakota, America

☆ The 'special relationship' under pressure: Are Biden and Netanyahu on a collision course over Gaza?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

US President Joe Biden (L) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meet in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 18, 2023. "The relationship [between Biden and Netanyahu] is absolutely terrible." A report by Politico in early February cited unnamed Biden administration officials describing the president calling Netanyahu a "bad f—ng guy." Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz (L) meets US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, at the US Capitol on March 05, 2024. Gantz reportedly faced a barrage of harsh questions and critiques from the administration over Israel's handling of the Gaza war.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Israel's, Yasser Qudih, Netanyahu, Hussein Ibish, Benny Gantz, Chuck Schumer, Roberto Schmidt, Axios, Gantz, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Mostafa Bassim, Nimrod Novik, Novik, Ashraf Amra, I've, Ibish, Yonatan Freeman, Israel, Freeman Organizations: GPO, Getty Images, Anadolu Agency, Getty, White, Israeli, Biden, Palestinian, United Nations, Israel, Anadolu, West Bank, U.S, Gulf States Institute, CNBC, Politico, Capitol, AFP, Prime, Islamic Center of Detroit, Defense, Israel Policy Forum, Bank, Israel's Hebrew University, Christian Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Anadolu, Gaza, Rafah, Gaza's, Washington, New York, Michigan, United States, Palestinian, Gaza City, Jerusalem, U.S, Saudi Arabia

☆ Opinion | A Better Way to Negotiate at the W.T.O.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Farah Stockman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

That’s why so many of the headlines out of the big World Trade Organization conference this week in the United Arab Emirates — “Meeting Seeks Modest Outcomes”; “Slim Hopes for Breakthrough” — convey low expectations. Nevertheless, there is something important to celebrate: For over a year now, the diplomats responsible for reforming the W.T.O. have been trying out a new way of doing business, with remarkable results. Then they came up with creative ways to achieve those goals and wrote a new set of proposed rules together. It may sound a lot like common sense, but in the rigid world of international trade, it amounted to a radical change.

Persons: —, “, ” Bruce Hirsh Organizations: World Trade Organization, United, United Arab Emirates, U.S, Mission Locations: United Arab

☆ Parties to Cease-Fire Talks Offer Mixed Signals
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Vivian Yee | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

The prediction matched that of President Biden, who said that a deal could come as soon as next week. In public, however, Hamas and Israel are sticking with their longstanding positions and not signaling any breakthrough. The two sides have not met face to face, instead negotiating through mediators in Doha, Cairo and Paris. Qatar’s foreign ministry said this week that talks were ongoing and it was too early to speculate about a resolution. Mr. Haniyeh met on Monday with the emir of Qatar and accused Israel of dragging its feet in the talks, according to a Hamas statement.

Persons: Israel, ”, Ismail Haniyeh, Abdel Fattah el, “ God, Biden, Haniyeh, Basem Naim, —, Rawan Sheikh Ahmad, Nada Rashwan, Adam Sella Organizations: West Bank, West Bank Palestinians, New York Times Locations: Gaza, Egypt, Israel, Qatar, United States, Doha, Cairo, Paris, Jerusalem, Islam

☆ Speaker Mike Johnson once again stuck in the middle as funding deadline looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Lauren Fox | Melanie Zanona | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“Now, we are in a fully Johnson-run House, and he’s got to own all the decision making in the 12 appropriations bills. Probably not best for public policy either,” Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said. Johnson is facing pressure from members of the House Freedom Caucus to include dozens of policy riders that would never pass in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Just a week later, funding for the rest of the government will also lapse. I think we will see another omnibus appropriation bill.”Asked if that causes a problem for Johnson, Bishop argued, “The speaker didn’t create those problems.”

Persons: Mike Johnson, Senate appropriators, Johnson, he’s, That’s, Patrick McHenry of, “, imploring, Alejandro Mayorkas’s, they’ll, can’t, Chuck Schumer, –, Kevin McCarthy, ” Rep, Don Bacon, “ It’s, Mayorkas, Warren Davidson, ’ ”, Davidson, Andy Biggs, “ We’ve, ” Biggs, Dan Bishop, ”, Bishop Organizations: Republicans, Senate, ” Republican, Financial Services, Caucus, Democratic, Homeland, FBI, HFC, Department of Agriculture, Veteran’s Affairs, Transportation, Housing, Energy, Water, CNN, Congress, ”, Republican, Defense Department, Foreign Intelligence, GOP, “ Locations: Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, Florida, Nebraska, Ukraine, Ohio, North Carolina

Home prices declined slightly in November while posting yearly gains, suggesting the housing sector has cooled somewhat heading into 2024. The house price decline came at a time where mortgage rates peaked, with the average Freddie Mac 30-year fixed rate mortgage nearing 8%, according to Federal Reserve data. But as more inventory comes on the market and mortgage rates remain elevated, sale prices may be beginning to wilt. That has led some analysts to say that the market could bounce back as the traditional spring buying season begins. The index tracks a three-month period when mortgage rates were zig-zagging and ended on a down note, said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com.

Persons: ”, Brian Luke, San Francisco, Cleveland –, Luke, “, Freddie Mac, Selma Hepp, Danielle Hale Organizations: Dow Jones, Seattle, Cleveland, Midwest, Federal Reserve Locations: “, San, Miami, Tampa, Atlanta, Charlotte , New York

WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan Senate deal to pair border enforcement measures and Ukraine aid faced potential collapse on Thursday as Senate Republicans grew increasingly wary of an election-year compromise that Donald Trump, the likely Republican presidential nominee, seems likely to oppose. At stake is a plan that both President Joe Biden and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell have worked for months to broker in hopes of cajoling Congress to approve wartime aid for Ukraine. “We’re at a critical moment, and we’ve got to drive hard to get this done," said South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the second-ranked Senate Republican. With Republicans continuously raise the issue on the campaign trail, the border will likely remain central to elections this year. They have argued that presidents already have enough authority to implement hardline border measures and Trump should have his say.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, “ We're, ” McConnell, Ukraine's, McConnell's, Oklahoma Sen, James Lankford, he’s, ” Lankford, “ That’s, haggling, Olivia Dalton, Biden, ” Dalton, “, we’ve, Dakota Sen, John Thune, we’ll, Trump, Connecticut Sen, Chris Murphy, didn’t, ” Murphy, ”, Sen, John Cornyn, Rick Scott, ” Sen, J.D, Vance, unquote ‘ MAGA, unquote ‘ MAGA Republicans ’, Mike Rounds, Kevin Freking, Seung Min Kim Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republicans, Republican, Trump, Senate, White, Air Force, Democratic, Senate Republicans, Texas Republican, Florida Republican, Ohio Republican, unquote ‘ MAGA Republicans, South Dakota Republican, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, U.S, Mexico, The U.S, Israel, Oklahoma, Dakota, Europe, Congress, Connecticut, Trump, Texas, Florida, Ohio

☆ With Border Deal Near, Parole and Money Take Center Stage in Senate Talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Karoun Demirjian | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Much of the recent haggling over the emerging agreement — and a point of contention for its critics — has been about how to limit the number of people who are granted parole, a status that allows migrants without visas to live and work in the United States temporarily. considers parole a dangerous loophole that fuels illegal immigration and must be tightly closed. To many Democrats, it is a crucial tool that allows the administration to treat desperate migrants humanely, which must be preserved, particularly for vulnerable populations fleeing failing states and war. Bridging the gap will likely hinge on the two sides agreeing on how much federal money to spend to try to decrease net immigration numbers, and persuading Republicans that the deal’s measures will be effective. On Monday, Senate leaders warned that getting a final deal depended on resolving those remaining differences.

Persons: — Organizations: Republicans Locations: United States, Mexico, Ukraine

Such is the scene at the annual COP conference, this year being held Nov. 30-Dec. 12 in the Emirati city of Dubai. Here's how the climate summit unfolds on the ground. THE OPENING CEREMONYThe UAE has spent the last year laying the diplomatic groundwork for this year's summit. But it officially takes on the COP presidency only at the opening ceremony, which features welcome speeches and opportunities to bang the gavel. THE SCENEDuring the first few days, national leaders jet in for what is called the "High-Level Segment" involving back-to-back speeches in the venue's main plenary hall.

Persons: William James, Katy Daigle, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: UAE, Thomson Locations: Emirati, Dubai, UAE, COP26

Persons: William James, Katy Daigle, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: UAE, Thomson Locations: Emirati, Dubai, UAE, COP26

For much of the past year, OpenAI’s board of directors has been criticized as too small and too divided to effectively govern one of the fastest-growing start-ups in Silicon Valley history. On Friday, the board’s dysfunction spilled into public view when four of its members fired Sam Altman, OpenAI’s popular and powerful chief executive. Mr. Altman, 38, returned to the company on Tuesday night, after days of haggling over his job and over the makeup of the board. The board and Mr. Altman’s allies discussed more than a half dozen options for its future. The departing board wanted to be sure the replacements would be independent thinkers and experienced enough to stand up to Mr. Altman.

Persons: Sam Altman, OpenAI’s, Altman, Altman’s, Laurene Powell Jobs, Steve Jobs, Brian Chesky Organizations: Emerson Locations: Silicon Valley

☆ How Buying a New Home Could Save You Money
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Aly J. Yale | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

As the median payment on a new mortgage creeps toward $2,200, most buyers are desperate to save cash wherever they can. They’re offering lower mortgage ratesIf slashed prices aren’t enough to get a mortgage payment in your budget, builders have another offer: A lower mortgage rate. (Essentially, the builder prepays the lender the interest for the years the mortgage rate is reduced). NAHB’s data shows that 29% of builders offered mortgage rate buydowns in October. “Many builders are using sales incentives—including mortgage rate buydowns—as a method of addressing housing affordability headwinds,” says Robert Dietz, chief economist at NAHB.

Persons: Aly J, ”, Nick Bailey, Max, Robert Dietz, buydowns —, Lennar, what’s, Angel Conlin, Pat Howard Organizations: Yale, Builders, National Association of Home Builders, “, NAHB, Kin Insurance Locations: Denver, Chicago, “, Policygenius

☆ Pedro Sánchez Secures New Term to Lead a Divided Spain
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Jason Horowitz | More About Jason Horowitz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish progressive leader, secured a second term as prime minister on Thursday after a polarizing agreement granting amnesty to Catalan separatists gave him enough support in Parliament to govern with a fragile coalition over an increasingly divided nation. With 179 votes, barely more than the 176 usually required to govern, Mr. Sánchez, who has been prime minister since 2018, won a chance to extend the progressive agenda, often successful economic policies and pro-European Union posture of his Socialist Party. The outcome was the result of months of haggling since an inconclusive July election in which neither the conservative Popular Party, which came in first, or the Socialist Party, which came in second, secured enough support to govern alone. But the fractures in Spain were less about left versus right and more about the country’s very geographic integrity and identity. Mr. Sánchez’s proposed amnesties have breathed new life into a secession issue that last emerged in 2017, when separatists held an illegal referendum over independence in the prosperous northeastern region of Catalonia.

Persons: Pedro Sánchez, Sánchez, Sánchez’s Organizations: Socialist Party, Popular Party Locations: Spanish, European, Spain, Catalonia

☆ Payments-app war drags banks into discomfort zone
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( John Foley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NEW YORK, Nov 14 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Banks tend to have a consistent message for customers who unwittingly make payments to scammers: tough break. Rapid growth in digital payments has brought out a softer side in lenders such as JPMorgan (JPM.N) and Bank of America (BAC.N). If the con artist was posing as the victim’s bank, a government agency or a legitimate company – say, a utility – the sender’s bank will return the funds if other criteria are met and recoup them from the recipient’s bank. From next year its banks will have to reimburse victims of online payment deceit. Moreover, convenience and trust are powerful weapons: Bank of America customers now use Zelle twice as often as their checkbooks.

Persons: Banks, Taylor Swift, Zelle, Wells, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, JPMorgan, Bank of America, TSB, SVB, Warning Services, Services, PNC Financial, US Bancorp, Truist, Thomson Locations: Zelle, Britain, Wells Fargo

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is one of three sprawling but sparsely populated nations that have U.S. ties governed by so-called Compacts of Free Association (COFAs), under which Washington is responsible for their defense and provides economic assistance, while gaining exclusive military access to strategic swathes of ocean. Yun said he signed the agreement with RMI Foreign Minister Jack Ading in Honolulu, Hawaii, at a ceremony also attended by Marshallese President David Kabua. Analysts and former officials had blamed a delay in finalizing the Marshall Islands COFA on U.S. State Department lawyers wanting to control how new funds were spent and objecting to their being earmarked to address the nuclear legacy, fearing this could lay the U.S. open to more claims. A person familiar with the deal said all current federal programs, including education programs and the U.S. Reporting by David Brunnstrom and Michael Martina; Editing by Sandra Maler and Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Louis Mapou, Hu'akavemeiliku Siaosi, Surangel Whipps, Kausea Natano, Joseph Yun, Biden, Yun, Jack Ading, David Kabua, David Brunnstrom, Michael Martina, Sandra Maler, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: U.S ., Country, New, Tonga's, Tuvalu's, United, Marshall, Reuters, The, Free Association, Washington, Northern, RMI, RMI Foreign, U.S, Congress, . State Department, U.S . Postal Service, U.S . Congress, Thomson Locations: U.S, Federated States, Micronesia's, WASHINGTON, United States, The Republic, China, Northern Pacific, Palau, Micronesia, Washington, Honolulu , Hawaii, Marshall, Kwajalein

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