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☆ Part of the secret to Austin's thriving clean-tech startup scene: mentorship
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Tim Paradis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Austin, Texas, is home to a number of clean-tech startups. Austin's clean-tech scene isn't only composed of household names. But why do so many clean tech companies call Austin home? That's poised to help clean-tech companies, according to recruiters, venture capitalists, and those who have shifted to working for green companies. Taylor, who's lived in Austin for 38 years, has been part of the Austin startup scene since 1991.

Persons: —, Rebecca Taylor, Taylor, Austin, HolonIQ, Teague Egan, Larry Fink, Egan, Elon Musk, There's, who's, It's Organizations: Service, Austin Technology, ATI, University of Texas, Motors, EV, Blackrock, Giga, Southwest Festival, Computing, Dell, Apple, Microsoft Locations: Austin, Texas, Washington, Tesla, California, Giga Texas, Round, Taylor

☆ U.S. and China trade barbs at top security summit as Taiwan Strait tensions simmer
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

On Saturday, when Austin took to the stage at the summit where global defense leaders gathered, he called out China for refusing to engage in military dialogue. China believes that a major country should behave like one," Li said Sunday in a translation provided by summit organizers. China claims self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory and regards any foreign presence near the island as a form of interference in its domestic affairs. China's Minister for National Defense, General Li Shangfu, delivers his plenary session Sunday at the 20th Asia Security Summit in Singapore, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue. Calls for dialogueYet, even as the U.S. and China defense chiefs talked past each other, so-called middle powers such as Australia urged the two feuding powers to reestablish dialogue.

Persons: Li Shangfu, Lloyd Austin, Austin, China's Li, Li, Defense Lloyd Austin, Roslan Rahman, Philippines —, General Li Shangfu, Anthony Albanese Organizations: American, Defense, China's Defense, Afp, Getty, Pacific Command, Delegates, China's, National Defense, 20th Asia Security Summit, Australian Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, Beijing, China, U.S, Taiwan, People's Republic of China, South China, Asia, Pacific, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Estonia, Sweden, Germany, Australia, Japan, South Korea, India, France

☆ Brazenly defending a Chinese warship buzzing an American destroyer in the Taiwan Strait, China's new defense minister tells the US: 'Mind your own business'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( David Rising | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

A Chinese warship overtook an American destroyer and sailed across its bow on Saturday. China's defense minister Gen. Li Shangfu said, "In China we always say, 'Mind your own business.'" Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu delivers his speech on the last day of the 20th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's annual defense and security forum, in Singapore, Sunday, June 4, 2023. He accused the US and others of "meddling in China's internal affairs" by providing Taiwan with defense support and training, and conducting high-level diplomatic visits. The sanctions, which broadly prevent Li from doing business in the United States, do not prevent him from holding official talks, American defense officials have said.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Li Shangfu, —, Vincent Thian Li, Li, Austin, Roslan Rahman, Li scoffed, Vincent Thian Organizations: US, Service, Privacy Policy SINGAPORE, Washington, Pacific Command, US Air Force, Chinese Defense, 20th International, for Strategic Studies, AP, Getty, Russia, US Defense Department Locations: American, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Taiwan Strait, South, Canadian, Beijing, Chinese, South China, Austin, East, Ukraine, Moscow, United States, — China

☆ A conflict with China over Taiwan would impact the global economy 'in ways that we cannot imagine,' US Defense Secretary warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Joe Ciolli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had some harsh words for his Chinese counterparts on Saturday. At Asia's top security summit, Austin said a possible US-China conflict over Taiwan could "affect the global economy in ways that we cannot imagine." It was part of a broader address that rebuked China for not being willing to meet at the summit. "The whole world has a stake in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, the whole world," said Austin. The comments were part of a broader address that saw Austin rebuke China for not engaging in military talks.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, —, National Defense Li Shangfu —, Shangfu, Matthew Pottinger, Trump, Tesla, Elon Musk Organizations: Defense, Service, Bloomberg, —, National Defense, Reuters, CNBC Locations: China, Taiwan, Singapore, Taiwan Strait, Austin, Canadian

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's top security summit, Austin said that open lines of communication between U.S. and Chinese defence and military leaders were essential to avoid conflict and bolster stability in the Asia-Pacific. "The more that we talk, the more that we can avoid the misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to crisis or conflict." China's Minister of National Defence Li Shangfu had this week declined an invitation to meet Austin at the security summit. On Friday, the two shook hands on the sidelines of the conference but did not hold detailed talks, the Pentagon said. "(AUKUS) promotes greater stability and security," Austin said.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Caroline Chia, Austin, Austin Austin, National Defence Li Shangfu, Antony Blinken, Liu Pengyu, General, Lei, Zhao Xiaozhuo, Zhao, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xinghui Kok, Joe Brock, Chen Lin, Gerry Doyle, Kanupriya Kapoor, Greg Torode, Ryan Woo, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Yew, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Defense, REUTERS, United, People's, National Defence, Austin, Pentagon, Academy of Military Sciences, Global Times, U.S, China's Academy of Military Sciences, Australia, Thomson Locations: Singapore, China, Taiwan, Asia, Pacific SINGAPORE, United States, South China, People's Republic of China, U.S, Washington, TAIWAN, Beijing, Ukraine, Pacific, Australia, Japan, India, Philippines

☆ U.S.-China ties weigh on security summit as defense chiefs meet in Singapore
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Regional concerns were underscored recently with the Pentagon saying that a Chinese fighter jet made an "unnecessarily aggressive maneuver" against an American reconnaissance plane in the South China Sea late last week. Under President Xi Jinping's leadership, China has grown more hawkish on the global stage, particularly in its historic claims over Taiwan and the South China Sea. "What you are seeing is the emergence of a regional security architecture," said Thompson of the LKY School. "The region is really coming together with a common interest in regional security and stability." Singapore is Austin's second stop on a whirlwind tour that will also take him to Japan, India and France.

Persons: Li, Xi Jinping's, We're, Chin, Hao Huang, Wang Wenbin, Huang, What's, Anthony Albanese, Thompson, Li —, Donald Trump, Austin, Joe Biden Organizations: Yale, NUS College, CNBC, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Australian, LKY, Pentagon, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Observers Locations: Austin, American, South, China, Taiwan, South China, Asia, Pacific, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, Beijing, Korea, France, U.S

☆ A Nevada Air Force base planned a drag show to celebrate Pride Month. Pentagon leaders said no.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Pentagon canceled a drag show scheduled for the first day of Pride Month at a Nevada Air Force base. Defense Department officials told the Air Force base their Thursday show couldn't take place, NBC News first reported, citing two defense officials and a US official. Representatives for Nellis Air Force Base and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. "Drag queen story hours is not something that the department funds," Austin told the committee at the time, NBC News reported. "Consistent with Secretary Austin's congressional testimony, the Air Force will not host drag events at its installations or facilities.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Mark Milley, Austin, —, Milley, Lawanda Jackson, CoCo Montrese, Carnie, Carnie Asada, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz Organizations: Pentagon, Nevada Air Force, NBC, Service, Privacy, Nellis Air Force Base, Pride, . Defense Department, Air Force, NBC News, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Austin, Nellis, Representatives, Facebook, Florida Rep, Armed Services Committee, Nellis Air Force, Twitter Locations: Nevada, Vegas, Austin

☆ People of color and low-income residents bear the brunt of extreme weather. To fight it, America's fastest-growing city is investing in cleaner air and affordable housing.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Indeed, these residents have borne the brunt of Austin's extreme weather events, from heat waves to cold snaps, over the past 10 years. Certain communities are affected the most by extreme heat, flooding, and freezesMore often than not, extreme heat and flooding wreak the most havoc on marginalized communities in Austin. Then there's the extreme heat: Swaths of this area are paved and lacking in green space, which makes them even hotter than the rest of the city, Llanes said. With a goal to build 135,000 new housing units — nearly half within the affordable range — by 2027, the Austin Housing Finance Corporation has already funded "several thousand" of that total, according to the tracker. "The reality is that plans tend to be repositories in the city of Austin for complaints and suggestions and then we sit on them."

☆ Advocates want to spend $11 billion to fix Austin's crappy public-transit system. But many critics say the price tag is too high for a system hardly anyone will use.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Officials say an $11 billion public-transit plan could make Austin safer, greener, and more affordable. Austinites voted to approve Project Connect in 2020 when its total price tag was $7.1 billion. However, nearly 50% of the riders of MetroRail — the city's current rail system — earn more than $60,000 a year. Public-transit advocates say the plan is worth the costSupporters of Project Connect are open to lowering its price tag. But on a larger scale, Project Connect supporters say that public transportation provides better access to healthcare, education, employment, and affordable housing.

☆ Austin's airport has been failing for years to keep up with its booming population, but officials are innovating everything from baggage handling to security screening to make the next expansion work
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Katherine Fan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Austin's airport is one of the newest and fastest-growing airports in the US. Despite efforts, the airport is rapidly outgrowing an infrastructure designed for a much smaller population. A 20-year expansion plan aims to build a model airport for growing cities, but forecasts predict it still won't be enough. The capital city of Texas has quadrupled its population since 2000, and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) serves as a gateway for transplants and visitors alike. But the airport has struggled to keep up with the city's booming population, leading to delays and other air-travel frustrations.

☆ US looking forward to Sweden becoming NATO member before July summit: Austin
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Swedish Minister for Defence Pal Jonson and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin hold a news conference at Musko Naval Base, Sweden April 19, 2023. Sweden's accession has been held up by Turkey and Hungary, who have yet to ratify Sweden as a member. "We look forward to soon welcoming Sweden as the 32nd (member of NATO). To be clear, we look forward to that to happen before the summit in July," Austin told a news conference. Austin was in Sweden to hold talks with Defence Minister Pal Jonson about the war in Ukraine and Sweden's NATO application.

☆ Bagnaia baffled after throwing away another 25 points
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AUSTIN, Texas, April 16 (Reuters) - MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia was baffled and angry after throwing away 25 points by crashing out of Sunday's Grand Prix of the Americas while leading from pole position. "For the second weekend in a row I don't know (how it happened)," Bagnaia, who won the Saturday sprint but is now 11 points behind Bezzecchi after three rounds, told BT Sport. I did many, many laps this weekend without having any issues, and then in the race just controlling, I crashed." Bagnaia said something different had happened on the bike compared to two weeks ago in Argentina, when he had pushed perhaps too hard and crashed out of second place. "It's true that our bike is so fast, so competitive, but then if you crash and you don't know why it doesn't help anything," he added.

☆ The 10 best US cities for job opportunities and earning potential in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

HR firm Checkr ranked the best US cities for job opportunities and earning potential. A new report from Checkr, a background check firm, looked at which cities job seekers should consider. Checkr analyzed BLS and other government labor data on the 100 largest US cities to determine which cities have the most job opportunities with the highest earning potential. The 10 best US cities for job opportunities and earning potential according to Checkr, are:1. The shift to remote work may encourage workers to move to cheaper, mid-sized cities, Korolevich said.

☆ A key air defense system wasn't working right when a drone killed an American in Syria, pushing the US to retaliate with force
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The main air defense system at a coalition airbase was "not fully operational" when the attack unfolded, The New York Times reported on Friday. One US official told the Times that the Avenger defense system could have been suffering from a maintenance problem. The drone, which the US intelligence community suspects is of Iranian origin, killed a US contractor and wounded five American service members and an additional contractor. The three injured service members and the contractor were transported to a coalition medical facility in Iraq, while the other two injured service members were treated on site. Austin said his thoughts are with the family and colleagues of the contractor who was killed and also with the wounded service members.

☆ Streamers are spending big on sports rights from soccer to MMA, and a surge in Spanish-language viewing has 'opened up a whole different market'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Fox scored 16.7 million viewers for the World Cup final in November; Peacock had 9 million for its Spanish-language coverage. Soccer's UEFA Champions League offers the next big Spanish-language rights opportunity. "The World Cup has opened up a whole different market for Spanish-language rights," said one sports exec. That gives Peacock Spanish-language streaming rights to this year's FIFA Women's World Cup along with the men's World Cup in 2026, which is being co-hosted in Canada, Mexico, and the US. "Spanish-language rights have been going up consistently," Irwin Raij, the co-chair of law firm Sidley Austin's entertainment, sports, and media group, told Insider.

☆ A 24-year-old Black tattoo artist explains why she and many others are fleeing Austin: 'The soul of the city has changed'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Imani Tatum is leaving Austin after living there for the past three years. "I wanted to create a place where specifically marginalized people could be tattooed, while being safe and enjoying themselves," Tatum told Insider. Tatum said she's done: she's closing Nana's Prayers, packing her bags and heading to a new city in May. But affordable housing remains scarce in the city, and that's driving out many minority residents, like Tatum. While price growth has slowed in Austin, the city's median home price still sits at a staggering $525,000, $140,000 above the US median sale price, according to real estate brokerage Redfin.

☆ A Black couple settled with the appraiser who valued their home almost $500,000 lower than when a white friend posed as the owner, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Black couple decided to "whitewash" their home and had a white friend pose as the owner. Their home was revalued at $1.48 million and they've now settled with the appraiser, per NBC News. That second appraisal valued the home at $1.48 million – a $487,500, or 49%, increase from Miller's appraisal just three weeks earlier, per the filing. This case isn't the first time discrepancies between Black and white homeownership have been discovered. And last year, the New York Times reported on a Black couple in Maryland who filed a lawsuit after their home was valued $278,000 higher when a white colleague pretended to own the home.

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☆ 7 things to do in Austin that will make your 'work trip' to SXSW unforgettable
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Elizabeth Wood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Austin is home to SXSW, the annual tech and culture conference that attracts thousands. If you're going for work, tack on a few days and enjoy some local fun. Many companies send their employees to SXSW on business. If you're one of them, why not take the opportunity to get out and see Austin when your work day is done? Here's a guide to some of Austin's hidden gems to help you unwind and turn your work trip into "workation."

☆ The next big prize in sports streaming will be Spanish-language rights to soccer and more — here's why NBCUniversal's Peacock has a running start
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders and up to two guests can access the space for free. The Sapphire Terrace isn't exactly a lounge — in fact, it's not at all part of the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club network. This isn't a short-term space; Chase says it will be a multiyear experience available at no charge to Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders and up to two guests. Hopefully, since it's only accessible to Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders, it will have a more elite feel. If you're not yet a Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholder, be sure to read our full Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card review for a close look at everything the card has to offer.

☆ Academic on U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's Middle East visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | 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 EmailLloyd Austin's Middle East visit: Deescalating West Bank tensions high on the agenda, says academicDalia Dassa Kaye of UCLA's Burkle Center for International Relations discusses U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's trip to the Middle East and says "the Russia angle and the China angle will be a bit of an uphill battle."

☆ High home prices, mortgage rates make it tough to be a first-time homebuyer now. Here's why location matters
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A new Bankrate ranking found the Austin, Texas, metro area is the best for first-time home purchasers. Prospective buyers looking to secure the purchase of their first home this spring will still face a difficult market. A new Bankrate ranking found the Austin, Texas, metro area is the best for first-time purchasers, while the worst is Washington, D.C. Austin's high ranking was "surprising," given that affordability dragged down its score, noted Jeff Ostrowski, analyst at Bankrate. "Affordability is a challenge in Austin, but it's not as challenging as in a lot of the California markets or in places where wages just haven't kept up with home prices," Ostrowski said.

☆ Mike Pence, possible Trump 2024 challenger, slams 'apologists for Putin' in the GOP
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Former Vice President Mike Pence, a possible 2024 Republican presidential candidate, denounced his own party's "apologists" for Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday while delivering a full-throated call for the U.S. to ramp up its support for Ukraine. "While some in my party have taken a somewhat different view, let me be clear: There can be no room in the leadership of the Republican Party for apologists for Putin," Pence said. Pence has openly said he's considering a run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, potentially pitting him directly against Trump. Pence has said Trump was "wrong" to believe he could have reversed the election outcome by rejecting key Electoral College votes for Biden. In a CNBC interview on Wednesday, Pence said he believes there will be "better choices" than Trump in 2024.

☆ A 27-year-old real-estate investor who rehabbed 7 Austin properties last year is now targeting San Antonio, where homes can cost less than $100,000. Here are 3 reasons it's the next big investor hot s
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Aj Latrace | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

San Antonio. You can buy homes for relatively cheap"A lot of people have overlooked San Antonio," Crenshaw said. January data from Redfin pegs the median home price in San Antonio at $255,000, which is less than half of Austin's $530,000. San Antonio — the fastest-growing large city in the nation between 2020 and 2021, gaining nearly 14,000 people, per census data — remains attractive to newcomers. Relocators get affordability in San Antonio, Crenshaw said, without sacrificing exciting nightlife and other big-city attractions such as museums and professional sports teams like the NBA's Spurs.

☆ Elon Musk plans to build hundreds of homes for workers in Texas on streets including Boring Boulevard
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Boring Company is working with a construction company to build housing near Austin, Texas. County documents show the subdivision has streets named Boring Boulevard, Cutterhead Crossing, Waterjet Way, and Porpoise Place. The land is owned by Gappes Bass LLC, a company affiliated with The Boring Company, according to online records. Adam Pashaian, a corporate controller for the Boring Company, is also registered as an agent for Gapped Bass. The Boring Company, Lennar, and Bastrop County didn't respond to requests for comment from Insider, made outside normal working hours.

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