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☆ Second-quarter U.S. earnings estimate still weak, but improving
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Caroline Valetkevitch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW YORK, July 28 (Reuters) - The forecast for second-quarter S&P 500 earnings is looking slightly improved from a week ago, although it remains weak with results in from more than half of the S&P 500 companies, Refinitiv data showed Friday. Second-quarter earnings for S&P 500 companies now are estimated to have fallen 6.4% year over year. The latest estimate is based on results from 254 of the S&P 500 (.SPX) companies and projections for the remaining components. The earnings forecast tends to improve with stronger-than-expected results. The S&P 500 registered its highest close Friday since April 2022.

Persons: you've, Tim Ghriskey, Ingalls & Snyder, Stocks, Caroline Valetkevitch, Aurora Ellis Organizations: YORK, Ingalls &, Federal, Thomson Locations: New York

☆ Backup driver in 2018 Uber self-driving crash pleads guilty
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Uber Technologies Inc FollowJuly 28 (Reuters) - The backup safety driver behind the wheel of a self-driving Uber Technologies (UBER.N) test vehicle that struck and killed a woman in Tempe, Arizona, in 2018 pleaded guilty on Friday and was sentenced to probation, prosecutors said. The first recorded death involving a self-driving vehicle prompted significant safety concerns about the nascent autonomous vehicle industry. Police said previously the crash was "entirely avoidable" and that Vasquez was streaming "The Voice" TV program at the time of the crash. In 2019, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) faulted Vasquez's inactions and Uber for inadequate attention to safety and decisions in the company's autonomous vehicle development. In 2020, Uber announced the sale of its autonomous driving unit to self-driving car startup Aurora for $4 billion.

Persons: Rafaela Vasquez, Uber, Vasquez, Elaine Herzberg, Rachel Mitchell, Vasquez's inactions, Herzberg, David Shepardson, Jonathan Oatis, Richard Chang Organizations: Uber Technologies, Technologies, Prosecutors, Police, National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB, Volvo, Aurora, Thomson Locations: Tempe , Arizona, Maricopa County, Tempe

July 27 (Reuters) - A lawsuit filed on Thursday by former Michigan State University athletes victimized by Larry Nassar alleges that its trustees voted in secret to withhold thousands of documents related to the disgraced team doctor in violation of state law. The lawsuit asked the Ingham County Circuit Court to require the board to vote publicly on whether to release the documents or keep them confidential. MSU, Nassar's former employer, previously agreed to a near $500 million settlement with the hundreds of women who were sexually abused by Nassar. USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, with whom Nassar also worked as a team doctor, reached a $380 million settlement. Earlier this month, Nassar was stabbed multiple times by another inmate in prison and was in stable condition.

Persons: Larry Nassar, Azzam, Elder, Nassar, Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, unflinchingly, Kanishka Singh, Frank McGruty, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Michigan State University, MSU, U.S, Olympic, Paralympic, Thomson Locations: Ingham, Washington

The administration asked the justices to halt a Texas-based federal judge’s nationwide ruling that invalidated a Justice Department restriction on the sale of ghost gun kits while the administration appeals to the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. The rule clarified that ghost guns qualify as “firearms” under the federal Gun Control Act, requiring serial numbers and manufacturers be licensed. Several plaintiffs, including two gun owners and two gun rights advocacy groups challenged the rule in federal court in Texas. U.S. Judge Reed O’Connor on July 5 issued a nationwide order blocking the rule, finding that the administration exceeded its authority in adopting it. Reporting by Andrew Chung in New York and John Kruzel; Editing by Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Sellers, Judge Reed O’Connor, Andrew Chung, John Kruzel, Aurora Ellis Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Circuit, Appeals, Department, federal Gun Control, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, White House, Thomson Locations: Texas, New Orleans, Texas . U.S, ”, New York

☆ U.S. food bank gives groceries to striking Hollywood actors, writers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Jorge Garcia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] People take groceries as World Harvest Food Bank founder, Glen Curado (not pictured) extends free groceries to Hollywood strikers, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., July 26, 2023. REUTERS/Jorge GarciaLOS ANGELES, July 27 (Reuters) - A Los Angeles food bank created to support low-income families is now coming to the aid of striking and struggling Hollywood actors and writers, some of whom show up for free groceries with tears in their eyes. We’re barely middle class as it is," SAG member Kristina Wong told Reuters at the food bank. Wong wanted to find ways to help her fellow union members, and that meant reaching out to the founder of the food bank, Glen Curado. This is particularly true for SAG members like Niketa Calame-Harris, who appreciates the "peace of mind" going to the food bank creates for her and her daughter.

Persons: Glen Curado, Jorge Garcia, Kristina Wong, they’re, Wong, Curado, they're, he's, they've, It's, Niketa, Harris, Danielle Broadway, Mary Milliken, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Harvest Food Bank, REUTERS, Jorge Garcia LOS ANGELES, Hollywood, Screen Actors Guild, Writer's Guild of America, Reuters, SAG, WGA, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Los Angeles, Venice, United States, Glen

☆ U.S. Justice Department investigating Memphis police for civil rights violations
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Jonathan Allen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation into whether the Memphis Police Department has an unconstitutional "pattern or practice" of using excessive force and racial discrimination, department officials announced on Thursday. Earlier this year, the Justice Department agreed to join city officials and other agencies in a review of the Memphis Police Department after its officers fatally beat Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, in the Tennessee city in January. The federal investigation announced on Thursday is not tied to any specific incident, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said at a press conference, though she noted Nichols' "tragic death" in her remarks. "City and police department leaders recognize the need to scrutinize the police department's practices to prevent such incidents from ever happening again," Clarke said. Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tyre Nichols, Kristen Clarke, Nichols, Clarke, Jonathan Allen, Aurora Ellis Organizations: U.S . Department of Justice's Civil, Memphis Police Department, Justice Department, Thomson Locations: Tennessee, New York

The proposed deal would provide funds over a 13-year period to cities, towns and other public water systems to test and treat contamination of PFAS. They also said the deal could shift liability for future health concerns caused by PFAS from 3M onto the water systems themselves. That means the chemical maker could potentially seek compensation from the water systems in future litigation over things like PFAS-related cancer clusters, the states said. 3M, which is facing thousands of lawsuits over PFAS contamination, did not admit liability in the proposed settlement. It said in June that the money will help support remediation at public water systems that detect PFAS "at any level."

Persons: Scott Summy, “, Rob Bonta, Richard Gergel, Clark Mindock, Amy Stevens, Aurora Ellis, Diane Craft Organizations: 3M, District of Columbia, PFAS, U.S, District, New, U.S . Chamber, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Thomson Locations: U.S, California, Texas , New York, South Carolina, United States, New York State

The change drew the ire of several P&G investors. Its new forestry policy could put it at odds with a European Union deforestation law coming into effect in about 18 months banning certain goods linked to deforestation and forest degradation. "Our ongoing efforts to keep forests as forests while continuing to serve consumers with superior-performing products, all of those efforts remain unchanged." In its new forestry policy, P&G, which also makes Tide detergent and Dawn dish soap, consolidates existing guidelines for paper packaging and palm oil, used throughout its portfolio of products. The NRDC late last year filed a complaint with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to evaluate if P&G's claims that it prohibits forest degradation were materially misleading investors.

Persons: Leslie Samuelrich, Jack McAneny, McAneny, Elrod, Gaurav Madan, Madan, Shelley Vinyard, Vinyard, Peter van der, Jessica DiNapoli, Aurora Ellis Organizations: YORK, Procter, Gamble, Green, Funds, Reuters, Commodities, United, Food, Agriculture Organization, BNP, Asset Management, Natural Resources Defense, BlackRock, Street, UBS, Legal, General, Natural Resources Defense Council, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Thomson Locations: Cincinnati, Latin America, Europe, Canada, U.S, Robeco, New York

☆ 'My life stopped': local people say they lost all in Greece wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Fedja Grulovic | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Inside his destroyed business in the coastal village of Gennadi, stacks of plates are covered in ash and debris near a burned-down kitchen. For the residents of Rhodes, which like most Greek islands depends heavily on tourism for jobs and income, the scars run deep. [1/2]The destroyed restaurant of Dimitris Hajifotis is seen, as a wildfire burns on the island of Rhodes, Greece, July 26. Summer wildfires are common in Greece but a record temperatures in recent weeks have worsened conditions. A heatwave is forecast to persist this week with temperatures set to exceed 44 Celsius (111.2 Fahrenheit) in some areas.

Persons: RHODES, Dimitris Hajifotis, Nicolas Economou, Hadjifotis, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Laoudikos, Karolina Tagaris, Aurora Ellis Organizations: ERT, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Greece, Rhodes, Gennadi, Kiotari

☆ Wildfire in Spain's Gran Canaria island menaces villages
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Borja Suarez | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TEJEDA, Spain, July 25 (Reuters) - A rapidly-spreading wildfire that broke out at the centre of the Spanish island of Gran Canaria on Tuesday forced the authorities to remove several hundred villagers from their homes, shut three roads and deploy helicopters to contain the blaze. However, Spanish airports operator AENA told Reuters, however, the Gran Canaria airport on the eastern coast was operating normally. Antonio Morales, head of the Island Council of Gran Canaria, told reporters about 100 firefighters and nine aircraft were working to put out the blaze that has so far burned through 200 hectares of forest but no buildings have been harmed. "They told me they were already there trying to put the fire out but two hours later it broke out of control," he said. Reporting by Borja Suarez in Gran Canaria island, with additional reporting of Corina Pons in Tenerife island.

Persons: Federico Grillo, Antonio Morales, Cuevas Blancas, Jose Ramon Henriquez, Borja Suarez, Corina Pons, Andrei Khalip, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Gran Canaria, Reuters, AENA, Radio Canarias, Island, Thomson Locations: Spain, Spanish, Gran, Gran Canaria, Tenerife

☆ Apple faces $1 bln UK lawsuit by apps developers over app store fees
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, July 25 (Reuters) - Apple (AAPL.O) on Tuesday found itself the target of a 785-million-pound ($1 billion) class action lawsuit brought by more than 1,500 apps developers in the UK over its App Store fees. Apple's services business, which includes the App Store, has seen revenues grow at a rapid pace in the last few years and now hovers around $20 billion per quarter. Apple has previously said that 85% of developers on the App Store do not pay any commission and that it helps European developers to access markets and customers in 175 countries around the world through the App Store. "Apple's charges to app developers are excessive, and only possible due to its monopoly on the distribution of apps onto iPhones and iPads," Ennis said in a statement. They harm app developers and also app buyers."

Persons: Sean Ennis, Ennis, Foo Yun Chee, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Apple, Competition, Centre for, University of East, OECD, Geradin Partners, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, University of East Anglia

☆ Pfizer says supply of some drugs may be disrupted after NC tornado
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW YORK, July 24 (Reuters) - Drugmaker Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) said over 30 drugs, including injections of painkiller fentanyl and anesthetic lidocaine, may see supply disruption after a tornado destroyed a warehouse at its Rocky Mount, North Carolina, plant last week. The company sent a letter late last week to its hospital customers saying it had identified around 64 different formulations or dosages of those more than 30 drugs produced at the plant that may experience continued or new supply disruptions. The company has placed limits on how much supply of those drugs its customers can buy. It said the list was "based on Pfizer market share and inventory levels of less than 3 months across our Pfizer distribution centers and the wholesale chain." The Rocky Mount plant is one of the largest factories for sterile injectable medicines in the world.

Persons: Albert Bourla, Michael Ganio, Michael Erman, Aurora Ellis Organizations: YORK, Drugmaker Pfizer Inc, Pfizer, American Society of Health, System, Thomson Locations: North Carolina

[1/3] People embrace as they stand near damage to a road, after the heaviest rain to hit the Atlantic Canadian province of Nova Scotia in more than 50 years triggered floods, in Ellershouse, West Hants Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada July 23, 2023. REUTERS/John Morris/File PhotoOTTAWA, July 24 (Reuters) - Two of the four people missing after floods ripped through the Canadian Atlantic province of Nova Scotia over the weekend are dead, Premier Tim Houston said on Monday. The floods washed away roads, swamped buildings and damaged bridges and a Canadian National Railway (CNR.TO) track connecting with Halifax, Canada's fourth-largest port. Canadian National has already restored much of the damaged infrastructure, but some repairs will be delayed until the flood waters recede, company spokesman Scott Brown said. "With supply chains the reality is the longer the disruption lasts, the more severe the impact is," he said by phone.

Persons: John Morris, Tim Houston, Houston, Scott Brown, Lane Farguson, Farguson, David Ljunggren, Nia Williams, Aurora Ellis, Grant McCool Organizations: Atlantic, Ellershouse , West, Ellershouse , West Hants Regional, REUTERS, OTTAWA, Canadian, Monday, Police, Canadian National Railway, Canada's, Canadian National, U.S . Midwest, Thomson Locations: Atlantic Canadian, of Nova Scotia, Ellershouse ,, Ellershouse , West Hants, Ellershouse , West Hants Regional Municipality , Nova Scotia, Canada, Canadian Atlantic, Halifax, Europe, Asia, Ottawa, British Columbia

At thrift stores, vintage Barbie dolls have become a treasured find, prices in the collectibles market have soared, and antiques appraisers have been flooded by calls from new collectors. Not all longtime collectors of the iconic doll are as delighted as Keith by the recent interest in Barbie collecting. "I've largely stopped collecting dolls themselves and invest in clothing and accessories instead," wrote one user. Florida-based veteran Barbie doll dealer Marl Davidson said prices have climbed about 25% in recent months. "Barbie appraisals don't normally come the way they've been coming," she said.

Persons: Matthew Keith, Barbie, Keith, I've, Marl Davidson, It's, Davidson, Lori Verderame, they've, Verderame, Julia Harte, Rachel Nostrant, Paul Thomasch, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Retailers, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles, Florida

July 20 (Reuters) - Alabama's Republican-controlled legislature on Friday passed a new congressional map that increased the number of Black voters in one of the state's districts, but Democrats said the plan defied a U.S. Supreme Court ruling intended to protect minority voters' rights. More than one-quarter of Alabama's residents are Black, but under a Republican-drawn map approved in 2021, only one of the state's seven congressional districts, the 7th, is majority Black. Senator Bobby Singleton, a Black Democrat, accused fellow lawmakers of playing a "game" with Black voters. But Republicans said they were confident the 2nd district's new lines provided a meaningful opportunity for Black voters. Last week, a New York state appeals court ordered lawmakers to redraw the state's congressional map.

Persons: Scott Douglas, Terri Sewell, Bobby Singleton, Singleton, Michael Li, New York University's, Josephine Walker, Joseph Ax, Scott Malone, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Republican, U.S, Supreme, Greater Birmingham Ministries, Democratic U.S, Republicans, U.S . House, Representatives, Black, New York, Center for Justice, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Alabama, Black, U.S, New, New York, Washington

☆ Alabama lawmakers clash over Black voters as redistricting deadline looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Joseph Ax | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case have already vowed to challenge either map in court, saying both would still violate the law. In 2022, a three-judge panel in a federal district court invalidated the current map as unlawful. Black Democratic lawmakers have called the maps a slap in the face to Black voters - and to the courts. "It is an embarrassment," said Juandalynn Givan, a Jefferson County legislator, adding that the Republican plan amounted to dropping "an F-bomb on the United States Supreme Court." "There certainly are places in the country where a 42% Black district would elect a Black-preferred candidate," Li said.

Persons: Scott Douglas, Terri Sewell, Juandalynn Givan, Michael Li, New York University's, Li, Joseph Ax, Josephine Walker, Scott Malone, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Republican, U.S, Supreme, Republicans, U.S . House, Senate, Greater Birmingham Ministries, Democratic U.S ., Lawmakers, Black Democratic, United States Supreme, New York, Center for Justice, Black, Democratic, Thomson Locations: U.S, Alabama's, Alabama, Black, Jefferson County, New, New York

☆ New York to pay $13 million to protesters arrested during George Floyd protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Rachel Nostrant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Protesters march following the verdict in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, found guilty of the death of George Floyd, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S., April 20, 2021. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File PhotoNEW YORK, July 20 (Reuters) - The city of New York has agreed to pay $13 million to hundreds of people arrested during the 2020 George Floyd demonstrations, according to attorneys for the plaintiffs, who said it was the largest class action settlement ever paid to protesters in the United States. The city agreed Wednesday to pay $9,950 to each of the more than 1,300 protesters arrested by New York police officers during various protests between May 28 and June 4, 2020, according to a release by the attorneys for the plaintiffs. "The City and NYPD remain committed to ensuring the public is safe and people’s right to peaceful expression is protected," it said. In a separate settlement in March, New York agreed to pay an estimated $7 million to more than 300 people arrested during a June 4, 2020, demonstration in New York's Bronx borough.

Persons: Derek Chauvin, George Floyd, Floyd, Black, Remy Green, Colleen McMahon, Savitri Durkee, Rachel Nostrant, Aurora Ellis Organizations: REUTERS, New York, City, NYPD, New York Police Department . People, U.S, Protesters, Barclay's, Thomson Locations: Minneapolis, Brooklyn , New York City , New York, U.S, New York, United States, New York City, City, Brooklyn, , New York, New York's Bronx

[1/3] Asylum-seekers arrive at the Roosevelt Hotel where migrants are currently being housed in New York City, U.S., May 19, 2023. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/File PhotoWASHINGTON, July 19 (Reuters) - New York City will distribute flyers at the U.S.-Mexico border telling newly arrived migrants to "consider another city" and limit shelter stays for adult asylum seekers to 60 days as the city's Democratic mayor says it is straining to house them. New York City says that it has provided services to 90,000 migrants since last spring and that nearly 55,000 remain in its care. Thousands of those migrants arrived on buses sent by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican who has tried to shift the burden of receiving them to Democratic strongholds. "Please consider another city as you make your decision about where to settle in the U.S.," it reads in English and Spanish.

Persons: David, Dee, Delgado, Eric Adams, Greg Abbott, Adams, Joe Biden, Ted Hesson, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Roosevelt, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Democratic, Texas, Republican, New York, Legal Aid Society, Coalition, Homeless, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Mexico, York City, New York, Washington

☆ FTC, U.S. regulators crack down on illegal robocalls, telemarketing
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 18 (Reuters) - U.S. regulators on Tuesday announced a nationwide crackdown to stop companies from inundating people with billions of unwanted and illegal robocalls and telemarketing calls. "We don't know too many people out there who enjoy getting scam calls," Samuel Levine, director of the FTC consumer protection bureau, told reporters. In addition to targeting telemarketers, the crackdown targets Voice over Internet Protocol providers that facilitate robocalls, which often come from outside the country. In a statement, the company said it shared the FTC's concerns about robocall technology, and is confident its telemarketing consent practices are legal. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Aurora Ellis and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Samuel Levine, Dave Yost, Jonathan Stempel, Aurora Ellis, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S . Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Authorities, Republican, Thomson Locations: U.S, Washington, New York, Ohio

☆ UK grocery inflation continues downward trajectory -Kantar
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( James Davey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Market researcher Kantar said annual grocery inflation was 14.9% in the four weeks to July 9, falling 1.6 percentage points from the 16.5% in its June data set. The Conservative government's key pledge to halve inflation in 2023 ahead of a probable election in 2024 has been undermined by stubbornly high food inflation. The Kantar data going into July provides the most up to date snapshot of UK grocery inflation. Official data for overall UK inflation in June will be published on Wednesday. The researcher said UK grocery sales rose 10.4% over the four week period year-on-year on a value basis.

Persons: Kantar, Fraser McKevitt, James Davey, Aurora Ellis Organizations: LONDON, Conservative, Bank of England, Tesco, Iceland Foods, Aldi, Lidl, Thomson

Here are some of the notable weather phenomena striking the United States on Wednesday:HEATWAVE BREAKS ARIZONA RECORDA massive heat dome parked over the southern and western United States is keeping tens of millions of Americans under extreme heat advisories. Central Texas, an area stretching from San Antonio north to Dallas, is forecast to reach 105 degrees or higher over the next two days. The all-time high for Death Valley is 134 degrees, which is also the hottest temperature ever recorded on the Earth's surface. "If you have the right kind of weather pattern, you can get this transport of the smoke," Benjamin said. TROPICAL STORMS AND FLOODSHawaii's Big Island was under a tropical storm warning early Tuesday morning as it braced for Tropical Storm Calvin, expected to bring as much as 8 inches of rain and wind gusts of 40 mph, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.

Persons: Read, Stan Benjamin, Benjamin, Tropical Storm Calvin, Brendan O'Brien, Julia Harte, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Phoenix, Texas ., Yosemite National, Cooperative Institute for Research, Environmental Sciences, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Tropical, National Weather Service, NWS, Thomson Locations: Phoenix , Arizona, U.S, United States, Hawaii, China, ARIZONA, Texas, Texas . Central Texas, San Antonio, Dallas, , California, Death, Yosemite, California, Conway , New Hampshire, Smoky, Tennessee, Vermont, Montpelier

☆ Aurora Innovation plans $600 mln private placement, shares fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Aurora Innovation Inc FollowJuly 18 (Reuters) - Self-driving technology firm Aurora Innovation (AUR.O) said on Tuesday it plans to sell $600 million worth of class A common stock in a private placement, sending the company's shares down more than 10% in after-market trading. The company also commenced an underwritten public offering of up to $200 million of its Class A common stock. Aurora said in a regulatory filing it expects to report that it had $785 million of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, exclusive of restricted cash, as of June 30. Aurora on Tuesday forecast quarterly cash use of $175 million to $185 million, on average, from the third quarter of 2023 through its planned commercial launch. The company plans to launch its self-driving Aurora Driver platform at the end of 2024.

Persons: Aurora, Savyata Mishra Organizations: Aurora Innovation, Aurora, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ UN Security Council meets for first time on AI risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] The U.N. Security Council holds a meeting on Artificial intelligence at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., July 18, 2023. "Both military and non-military applications of AI could have very serious consequences for global peace and security," Guterres said. Ambassador Zhang Jun described AI as a "double-edged sword" and said Beijing supports a central coordinating role of the U.N. on establishing guiding principles for AI. "No member states should use AI to censor, constrain, repress or disempower people," he told the council. Russia questioned whether the council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, should be discussing AI.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, James, Britain's, Antonio Guterres, Jack Clark, Zeng Yi, Guterres, U.N, Zhang Jun, Zhang, Jeffrey DeLaurentis, Dmitry Polyanskiy, Michelle Nichols, Aurora Ellis Organizations: . Security, REUTERS, Brendan McDermid UNITED NATIONS, United Nations Security Council, Britain's, U.N, China -, Research Center, AI, International Atomic Energy Agency, International Civil Aviation Organization, U.S, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, China, United States, Beijing, Russia

Tesla CEO Elon Musk pledged in 2014 not to "initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology." The company says the legal action comes in response to a lawsuit that Cap-XX originally filed against Tesla subsidiary Maxwell Technologies in 2019 for patent infringement. Like Cap-XX, Maxwell makes capacitors for electric vehicles that increase their energy-storage capabilities. The patents that Cap-XX allegedly infringed relate to electrodes used in supercapacitors, which Tesla called the "primary source of the device's power capabilities." Tesla said the electrodes used in Cap-XX's supercapacitors work in the same way as Maxwell's patented technology.

Persons: Elon Musk, Maxwell, Tesla, Blake Brittain, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Australian, Tesla, Maxwell Technologies, Eastern, Eastern District of Texas, Thomson Locations: Texas, U.S, Eastern District, supercapacitors, Delaware, Washington

☆ Minneapolis police agree to court-enforced reforms 3 years after George Floyd protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Rachel Nostrant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] A pedestrian walks past a mural near the closed Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct on the third anniversary of the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., May 25, 2023. The agreement approved July 13 by Hennepin County District Court Judge Karen Janisch provides for an independent community commission to oversee the Minneapolis Police Department and mandates policing reforms. "No, I don’t think it’s going to be enough.”Under the July 13 agreement, Minneapolis city and police officials have 60 days to put together implementation teams. Her department had conducted its own investigation into Minneapolis police after last year announcing it had found probable cause to believe that the Minnesota Human Rights Act had been violated. It worked with the city and its police department on the agreement approved by Judge Janisch.

Persons: George Floyd, Leah Millis, Karen Janisch, Derek Chauvin, Floyd, Toussaint Morrison, Rebecca Lucero, Judge Janisch, Rachel Nostrant, Donna Bryson, Aurora Ellis Organizations: REUTERS, Hennepin, Minneapolis Police Department, Minneapolis police, Department's Civil Rights, Minnesota Department of Human Rights, Minnesota Department of Human, Minnesota Human, Thomson Locations: Minneapolis, Minneapolis , Minnesota, U.S, Minnesota, Hennepin County

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