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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California lawmakers were scheduled to vote Thursday on whether to give Democratic Gov. Five companies paid roughly $750 million last year to lease areas off the California coast to build wind turbines. The bill before lawmakers Thursday would let the state buy the power. Consumers would not pay it until the wind projects are up and running, likely several years from now. The bill lawmakers approved on Wednesday also includes provisions to fast-track new electric transmission projects.

Persons: Gavin Newsom's, Alex Jackson, ”, Sen, Brian Dahle, ” Scott Wetch, Newsom, Henry Stern, Alice Reynolds, ” Reynolds Organizations: Democratic Gov, American Clean Power Association, Republican, of Water Resources, Democratic, California Public Utilities Commission Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California

☆ Taylor Swift's movie is a go amid the Hollywood actors' strike after she agreed to meet their demands — something major studios still haven't done
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour movie was approved for an interim agreement through SAG-AFTRA. It also has the union stamp of approval: Swift was able to strike an interim agreement with SAG-AFTRA, the actors' union of which she's a member. "And so she fulfilled all the same criteria as anybody else and has an interim agreement for that production." AdvertisementAdvertisementRepresentatives for Swift and SAG-AFTRA did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on Swift's interim agreement. With her interim agreement in place, Swift will be able to promote the film without crossing any picket lines.

Persons: Taylor, Taylor Swift, Swift, that's, Duncan Crabtree, IndieWire, AFTRA, Crabtree, Jessica Chastain, Chastain, Jason Guerrasio Organizations: SAG, Service, Toronto, Alliance, Television Producers, AMC Theatres Locations: Wall, Silicon, Crabtree, Ireland

☆ How much are retailers losing to shrink and theft? In many cases, it's not the main drag on profits
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

During second-quarter earnings reports in August and September, nearly two dozen retailers said shrink has continued to weigh on profits. During its second quarter earnings call with analysts, the company said shrink was in line with the year-ago period. Over the last few quarters, more and more retailers have called out shrink as a drain on profits and blamed theft for those losses. Others that loosely blame shrink and theft for plummeting profits without providing much more explanation may be trying to obfuscate internal issues, said Lapinsky. Contrary to other retailers, shrink was the largest drag on Ulta's earnings during fiscal 2022, according to a securities filing.

Persons: Lindsey Nicholson, Dick's, Ulta, Sonia Lapinsky, AlixPartners, that's what's, Macy's, CNBC's Courtney Reagan, Jeff Gennette, Gennette, TJX, John Klinger Organizations: Walgreens, Universal, Getty, CNBC, Target, Dick's Sporting Goods, Walmart, Lowe's Locations: Queens , New York

The red king crab fishery was closed; the snow crab fishery cut to a tenth of the previous year's take. After another bad survey last year, the red king crab fishery closed again and the snow crab fishery closed for the first time ever. Kevin Abena, who runs a fishing business with his father, also relies on tendering to stay afloat in the wake of the crab fishery closure. Researchers this year brought samples of crab back to Kodiak for further analysis, exploring how snow crab respond to stress in their environment, including rising heat. It will help determine what crab fisheries might open this winter and decisions on each kind of crab are expected some time in early October.

Persons: — Gabriel Prout, ”, Prout, he's, Kevin Abena, Mike Litzow, ” Litzow, “, Mark Stichert, you’re, ” Abena, ” Prout, “ It'd, Joshua A . Bickel Organizations: Kodiak, Alliance Cooperative, Kodiak Fisheries Science Center, ”, Alaska Department of Fish, National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Fishery Management, Bristol Bay, Bristol Bay Red King, U.S . Department of Commerce, Twitter, AP Locations: KODIAK, Alaska, Bering, Bristol Bay, Kodiak, Alaska Bering, Bristol Bay Red, ___

☆ How today's data centers marry clean tech with reliability
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Schneider Electric | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Last summer, two data centers in London experienced heatwave-linked failures, with the incident affecting clinical IT systems at a number of hospitals. Data centers have become "a very important aspect of running entire business models, and even our day-to-day lives. Losing the information processed by data centers would be detrimental not only to companies and individuals, but also governments and society as a whole. This puts the firms that develop and operate data centers in a tricky position, not least because today's facilities are resource hungry. Companies can deploy a range of innovations to put these metrics at the core of tomorrow's data centers.

Persons: Pankaj Sharma, Schneider, we're, it's, Sharma Organizations: Facebook, Secure, Ofcom, US, McKinsey, EU, International Energy Agency, Pact, European Commission . Companies, Amazon Web Services, Google, IBM, Companies, Schneider Electric, Insider Studios Locations: London, Paris, Europe

☆ Brexit: The UK economy still can't cope with the consequences of leaving the EU
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Tuesday’s announcement also highlights long-running concerns that border checks on food imports from the EU — which supplies 28% of the food consumed in Britain — could choke off supplies. Physical inspections have been pushed back to the end of April, with the final controls on EU imports — safety and security declarations — postponed to October 2024. Some UK industry groups welcomed the latest delays to border checks, which, they said, will add costs and friction to supply chains. The UK inflation rate is the highest in the G7, with consumer prices rising 6.8% in July compared with a year ago. Beyond inflation, food supply disruptions remain a lingering concern in the UK, which imports just under half of all the food it consumes.

Persons: Brexit, ”, Shane Brennan, ” Brennan, Andrew Opie, Rishi Sunak, Olesya Dmitracova Organizations: London CNN, European Union, London School of Economics, EU, Chain Federation, British Retail Consortium, Britain, and Drink Federation Locations: Britain, United Kingdom, EU

☆ Head of powerful real estate trade group resigns amid sexual harassment allegations
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington, DC CNN —The National Association of Realtors, the 1.5 million-member trade association that dominates the real estate industry, announced on Monday that its president, Kenny Parcell, has resigned amid sexual harassment allegations. In the Times article, Parcell denied the accusations. Parcell, a real estate agent in Utah, moved up through the nonprofit membership organization over many years serving in state, regional and, ultimately, national leadership positions, according to NAR. “We are committed to taking real action toward rebuilding trust with staff and addressing the concerns we heard,” he said in a staff memo following the meeting. NAR says it is committed to providing a safe, productive and welcoming environment for staff and association members free from discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

Persons: Kenny Parcell, Parcell’s, Parcell, Tracy Kasper, Kasper, “, what’s, ” Kasper, Bob Goldberg, ” Organizations: DC CNN, National Association of Realtors, New York Times, NAR, CNN, Times, Parcell Locations: Washington, Utah, Chicago

☆ The Fed is ‘flying blind’ on the economy. Will this week’s jobs data help?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The Bureau of Labor Statistics kicks things off on Tuesday with the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey report for July. But the pace of job creation and demand by employers for flexible labor, temporary, contract and full time jobs, while still strong, has definitely slowed. Tell me about the ASA Staffing Index, which tracks weekly changes in temporary and contract employment. The ASA Staffing Index is a real-time snapshot of employment. So I think we may have seen a trough in terms of temporary employment and we could be seeing now the beginning of the upturn.

Persons: Bell, Richard Wahlquist, Jackson, Jerome Powell, Powell’s Jackson, we’ve, We’ve, they’ve, upticks, Alicia Wallace, ”, Janelle Griffith, Marsh, Brian Fung Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Labor Statistics, Labor, ADP, Reserve, American Staffing Association, Fed, ASA, Panama Canal Authority, Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Companies Locations: New York, Jackson Hole , Wyoming, Panama, North American

The suits allege that downed power lines operated by the company contributed to the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. The wildfire risk posed by aboveground power lines is well documented. Lives lost, billions in damagesThe Maui fires have killed at least 115 people with hundreds still missing. But Mitchell said insulating aboveground power lines with a protective covering is also an effective solution that is cheaper and can be rolled out more quickly. There is also technology coming to market that can de-energize power lines automatically when there's a problem, he said.

Persons: Mike Blake, Fitch, Berkshire Hathaway's, Paul Starita, They're, Singleton Schreiber, Alexandra von Meier, von Meier, Marshall, Michael Dougherty, Bob Frenzel, Xcel, Berkshire Hathaway, PacifiCorp, aboveground, Scott Aaronson, Aaronson, Joseph Mitchell, Mitchell Organizations: Reuters Electric, Hawaiian Electric, National Weather Service, Hawaii Electric, . Pacific Gas & Electric, PG, Xcel Energy, U.S . Forest Service, University of California, Moody's, Fitch, Electric, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, Xcel, Marshall Fire, Marshall, Boulder, Labor, Fire, American Society of Civil Engineers, ASCE, The Edison Electric Institute, California Public Utilities Commission Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, Maui County, Hurricane, California, Berkshire, Berkshire Hathaway's PacifiCorp, Oregon, Colorado, Berkeley, Minnesota, Boulder County, Paradise, Golden

☆ China's EV slowdown drags down Nvidia's 'next billion-dollar business'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Nvidia automotive segment primarily sells chip systems for assisted driving. Colette Kress Nvidia's Chief Financial OfficerThe $253 million segment revenue was also well below the $309.3 million forecast by a FactSet analyst poll. Although still a fraction of the chipmaker's business, automotive revenue has grown rapidly from just over $100 million a quarter two years ago. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesCounterpoint's Wang pointed out that Nvidia's products are concentrated in the high-end automotive segment. Analog Devices on Wednesday reported automotive revenue of $747.6 million for the three months ended July 29, down by 5% from the prior quarter.

Persons: Jensen Huang, Alex Wong, Huang didn't, Colette Kress, Brady Wang, Xpeng, Xpeng's, Xinzhou Wu, Xiaopeng, Huang, Counterpoint's Wang, David Wong Organizations: Nvidia, Getty, Local, Counterpoint Research, Nvidia Nio, Bloomberg, NVIDIA, Robotics, Nomura, Qualcomm, China Passenger Car Association Locations: BEIJING, China, Xpeng, Santa Clara , California

☆ Weight loss drugs boost sales at retail pharmacies, but they may not help profits much
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

George Frey | ReutersDrugmakers aren't the only ones feeling the impact of the weight loss industry gold rush. Retailers with pharmacy businesses, such as Walmart , Kroger and Rite Aid , said increased demand for prescription weight loss drugs helped boost sales for the second quarter. Are weight loss drugs profitable? A selection of injector pens for the Saxenda weight loss drug are shown in this photo illustration in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., March 31, 2023. For one, branded drugs don't directly compete with other medications because they have patent protections.

Persons: George Frey, Reuters Drugmakers, Arun Sundaram, it's, Elon Musk, Eli Lilly, Doug McMillon, Matthew Schroeder, Schroeder, Rodney McMullen, CFRA Research's Sundaram, Michael Lasser, Jim Vondruska, USC's Schaeffer Organizations: KR NOVO.B, Novo Nordisk, Pharmacy, Reuters, Walmart, Kroger, Rite, CFRA Research, CNBC, Nordisk, Elon, Pfizer, UBS, USC's, USC's Schaeffer Center for Health, Association Locations: Provo , Utah, U.S, GLP, Chicago , Illinois

The International Labour Organization (ILO), of which Cambodia is a member, permits prison labour provided it is not forced. The companies, which Sopheak confirmed were W Dexing Garment (Cambodia), IGTM (Cambodia) and Chia Ho (Cambodia) Garment Industrial, did not respond to requests for comment. It said it learned in February that Cambodia was investigating and that the prison workshops had been suspended. Centric told Reuters in an email in June that it had "placed on hold" imports from a factory in Cambodia and would "immediately terminate" any supplier found to be using prison labour. CAMBODIA INVESTIGATESPrison labour at CC2 potentially puts Cambodia at odds with the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, which grants duty-free benefits to eligible developing nations.

Persons: Keo Chhea, Sopheak, Chia Ho, AAFA's, Ken Loo, Aun, Loo, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, amfori, Klot Dara, Stephen Lamar, Nate Herman, Clare Baldwin, Katherine Masters, Siddharth Cavale, John Shiffman, Kristina Cooke, David Crawshaw, Kay Johnson Organizations: Correctional, Google, REUTERS Acquire, Walmart, Centric Brands, Reuters, American Apparel and Footwear Association, International Labour Organization, ILO, Cambodian Ministry of Commerce, State, European Union, Japan, Garment, Human Rights, Textile, Apparel, Footwear, Travel Goods Association, IZOD, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, U.S, Travelway, Centric, Better Factories, BFC, amfori's Business, Authentic Brands, U.S . Trade, CC2, Cambodia's Ministry of Interior, General Department of Prisons, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Phnom Penh, Cambodia, PHNOM PENH, U.S, Washington, AAFA, IGTM, Canada, Better Factories Cambodia, CC2, CAMBODIA, Cambodia's U.S, New York, Los Angeles

☆ Electric cars are breaking sales records, but here’s why they’re not replacing gas cars anytime soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Christopher Hickey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

More shoppers are choosing electric vehicles so far this year than ever, according to vehicle sales data from Cox Automotive. While EV sales have been growing healthily for the past couple of years, that trend has accelerated this year. The electric vehicle market is entering into a transition period, she said. The average electric vehicle price in July was $53,469, according to Kelley Blue Book, versus an average price of $48,334 across all vehicles. But the number of charging stations still lags behind what is needed to support a wider-scale adoption of electric vehicles.

Persons: Cox, That’s, ”, Stephanie Valdez, Streaty, Chevrolet Bolt, Rivian, BEV, “ We’ve, ” Valdez, Price, Kelley, “ Organizations: Cox Automotive, EV, Streaty, CNN, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Tesla, Volkswagen, Valdez, US Energy, Ford, EV considerers, US Department of Energy, Alliance, Automotive, Quarterly, California Energy Commission, AAI, District of Columbia, California Air Resources Board Locations: Valdez, California

☆ Biden administration asks Supreme Court to hear cases on state social media laws
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington, DC CNN —The Biden administration urged the Supreme Court on Monday to take up multiple cases involving state laws that restrict social media companies’ moderation of their own platforms, arguing the laws violate the First Amendment rights of companies such as Meta and Twitter. Should the court agree to hear the cases involving laws passed by Texas and Florida, the outcome could reshape what Americans nationwide can see on digital social platforms. Monday’s filing comes after the Supreme Court in January had asked the US Solicitor General to weigh in on the matter, postponing a decision on whether the cases would be heard. They also require tech platforms to explain their individualized content moderation decisions to users. That divergence, known as a circuit split, is further reason for the Supreme Court to issue the final say, the Biden administration said, calling on the court to uphold the Eleventh Circuit’s view.

Persons: Biden Organizations: DC CNN, Meta, Twitter, US, Tech, Appeals, Fifth Circuit, Circuit Locations: Washington, Texas, Florida

☆ A Ukrainian arms dealer accused of corruption is now one of the country's top weapons suppliers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukrainian Armored Technology has emerged as a top weapons supplier for Kyiv. Before the war, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy described Pashinsky as a "criminal." Ukrainian Armored Technology has since February 2022 helped secure scores of bombs and bullets across Europe for use by the country's armed forces, according to the Times. Ukrainian Armored Technology experienced a windfall. The Times noted that Pashinsky and Ukrainian Armored Technology are once again the subject of an anti-corruption investigation.

Persons: Serhiy Pashinsky, Volodymr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Pashinsky Organizations: Ukrainian, Technology, Kyiv, Service, Ukrainian Armored Technology, The New York Times, Times Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Europe, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Soviet, Russia, Poland

☆ Retailers are shaping a wave of laws to crack down on organized theft — here's how they do it
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

Since 2022, at least nine states – six so far this year – have passed laws to impose harsher penalties for organized retail crime offenses. The new and proposed laws aim to deter brazen retail crime and go after the so-called kingpins who lead organized theft groups. But critics say the measures may not actually reduce organized retail crime, and could disproportionately harm marginalized groups. Plus, dozens of states already have organized theft laws on the books and the crime is still increasing, according to trade associations. Retailers and lawmakers say the misdemeanor charges have emboldened theft groups and allowed organized retail crime to spread.

Persons: Scott Olson, Doug McMillon, shoplifters aren't, Adrian Hemond, It's, they're, Chuck Grassley, Catherine Cortez Masto, CORCA, Cortez Masto, Cortez, Grassley, Sen, Anna Moneymaker, David Johnston, Jake Horowitz, Horowitz, criminologists, JC Hendrickson, Hendrickson, it's, cleaver, Manhattan, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, Barry Williams Organizations: CNBC, National Retail Federation, Walmart, U.S . Senate, Grassroots, eBay, Target, Coordination Center, Nevada Democrats, Cheyenne High School, Pew Charitable Trust, Justice Action Network, Walgreens, Manhattan DA, New York Daily, Getty Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, Iowa, North Las Vegas , Nevada, Florida, Manhattan , New York, New

☆ Retailers are blaming organized theft for lower profits — but it's hard to tell if it's really rising
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Lindsey Nicholson | Universal Images Group | Getty ImagesRetailers have zeroed in on organized retail theft as a top priority, as more and more companies blame crime for lower profits. Those mentions could flare up again as a flurry of retail companies will report financial results starting next week. Many of them described organized theft as an industrywide problem that's largely out of their control. While organized theft is a real concern, it is nearly impossible to verify the claims retailers make about it. Target has repeatedly said organized retail theft is fueling its inventory losses.

Persons: Lindsey Nicholson, Foot, Raphael Duguay, Duguay, Mark Cohen, Cohen, Bradlees Organizations: Universal, Getty, Retailers, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Yale University School of Management, Columbia Business School, Sears Canada, Lazarus Department, National Retail Federation, Walgreens, Ucg, . Census, FBI, CNBC, Target Locations: Queens , New York

☆ Insurers face long road, high cost to cover obesity drugs after promising Wegovy heart health data
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

There is likely a long way to go before the U.S. sees increased insurance coverage for obesity drugs. While the trial results demonstrate that obesity drugs may have significant health benefits beyond shedding unwanted pounds, organizations representing U.S. insurers emphasized that the data is still preliminary. "Health insurance providers will continue to analyze new evidence as it becomes available," he added. Ceci Connolly, CEO of the Alliance of Community Health Plans, acknowledged the promise of the data but said "outrageous prices should give everyone pause." The organization represents regional, community-based health plans that cover more than 18 million Americans across the U.S.

Persons: Jim Vondruska, Wegovy, Eli Lilly, David Allen, Ceci Connolly, Jared Holz, It's, Debra Tyler's, Joe Buglewicz, Eduardo Grunvald, George Frey, UCSD's Gunvald, Eli, Ethan Lazarus, Lazarus Organizations: Reuters Novo Nordisk, Novo Nordisk, America's Health, Alliance of Community Health, U.S, Drugs, Pfizer, Medicare, CVS, Aetna, CNBC, Washington Post, Getty, UCSD Health's Center, International Foundation of Employee, University of Texas System, UTS, Novo, Reuters, Obesity Medicine Association, New England, of Medicine Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, Mizuho, Killingworth, Conn, Texas

☆ Why orange juice futures are spiking
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Orange juice futures are hitting record highs because of bad weather and a nasty citrus disease. “Record-high orange juice prices in 2023 are a consequence of a very tight market, with smaller-than-expected production and low inventories,” he added. Spiking futures prices could mean higher prices at the grocery store, he said. On Walmart’s website, a 52-ounce bottle of Tropicana Original orange juice currently goes for about $4. Shoppers may not tolerate prices getting any higher, especially when they don’t see orange juice as a staple.

Persons: ”, Billy Roberts, Hurricanes Ian, Nicole, Chandan Khanna, Citrus, Mathew Joyner, Roberts, “, Andrés Padilla, Jack Scoville Organizations: New, New York CNN, OJ, Hurricanes, Getty, US Department of Agriculture, Citrus Mutual, Rabobank, Price Futures Group, Bureau of Labor Statistics Locations: New York, Florida, America, Brazil, Mexico, United States

☆ Champagne sales are booming. But its taste could soon change forever — thanks to climate change
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Hannah Ward-Glenton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

More than 325 million bottles of champagne were shipped from Champagne in 2022, according to Comité Champagne. More than 325 million bottles of champagne were shipped from Champagne in 2022, surpassing 6 billion euros ($6.6 billion) in sales for the first time, according to champagne trade association Comité Champagne. International brands are aware of the huge impact climate change can have on their businesses. A bar tender pours a bottle of Taittinger Champagne. Matt Hodson Founder of English wine retailer Grape Britannia

Persons: Comité Champagne, Dave Kotinsky, Sandrine Sommer, Moët Hennessy, Matt Hodgson, Francois Nascimbeni, Hodgson, Sommer, Champagne, Claire Sarazin, Tom Hewson Champagne, Sarazin, Tom Hewson, Susy Atkins, who've, Atkins, Taittinger, Pommery, Carlo Paloni, Matt Hodson Organizations: Getty, CNBC, Afp, Bafta Locations: Champagne, United States, Britain, Japan, Ville, Reims, France, Montgueux

☆ US tech groups back TikTok in challenge to Montana state ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mike Blake/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Two tech groups on Monday backed TikTok in its lawsuit seeking to block enforcement of a Montana state ban on use of the short video sharing app before it takes effect on Jan. 1. TikTok, which is owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, filed a suit in May seeking to block the first-of-its-kind U.S. state ban, arguing it violates the First Amendment free speech rights of the company and users. TikTok says it "has not shared, and would not share, U.S. user data with the Chinese government, and has taken substantial measures to protect the privacy and security of TikTok users." The law does not impose penalties on individual TikTok users. TikTok estimates 380,000 people in Montana use the video service, or more than a third of the state's 1.1 million people.

Persons: Mike Blake, TikTok, Donald Trump, David Shepardson, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: U.S, Culver City , California, Montana

☆ Airlines take aim at Italy's plans to bring down sky-high prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An Airbus A380 of German air carrier Lufthansa is seen at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, February 12, 2019. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File PhotoROME, Aug 7 (Reuters) - A group of airlines operating in Italy on Monday criticised government plans to curb ticket prices at the height of the summer season, saying they could breach European Union free market rules. Ticket prices to Italy's two main islands have soared in recent weeks. Companies including Lufthansa (LHAG.DE), EasyJet (EZJ.L), American Airlines (AAL.O) and Delta (DAL.N) are members of the IBAR, the association's website shows. Measures in a decree law take effect immediately, but parliament has to ratify them within two months, otherwise they lapse.

Persons: Kai Pfaffenbach, Giorgia Meloni's, Angelo Amante, Alvise Organizations: Airbus, Lufthansa, REUTERS, Monday, Union, Italian, of Airlines Representatives, Companies, American Airlines, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, EU

☆ Bad Real Estate Agents Are Costing Homebuyers Millions, Making Housing Market Worse
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

But lately, he's been having trouble squaring that passion with a growing problem: a glut of underqualified real-estate agents. "The general public deserves so much better than what the majority of real-estate agents provide." A threat to the industryThe vast majority of real-estate agents are independent contractors who rely on commissions. But despite the ease with which home shoppers can now browse homes online, buyers and sellers still see themselves as dependent on real-estate agents. And if those people don't have the ability to become a real-estate agent or a Realtor, then they lose their access to representation."

Persons: Bret Weinstein, he's, Weinstein, they're incentivized, It's, appraisers, they're, they'd, Lawrence Yun, Stephen Brobeck, Brobeck, Inman, that's, There's, Jessica Reinhardt, Reinhardt, bristled, who's, Reinhard, James Rodriguez Organizations: Realtors, Consumer Federation of America, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Consumers, CFA, Denver Metro Association of Realtors Locations: Denver, Texas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania

The region produces roughly a third of both the world’s polysilicon and its metallurgical-grade silicon, the material from which polysilicon is made. As a result, many firms have promised to scrutinize their supply chains, and several have set up factories in the United States or Southeast Asia to supply Western markets. The Solar Energy Industries Association, the industry’s biggest trade association, has been calling on companies to shift their supply chains and cut ties with Xinjiang. More than 340 companies have signed a pledge to keep their supply chains free of forced labor. Some Chinese companies, like LONGi Solar and JA Solar, have clear ties to suppliers operating in Xinjiang, the report said.

Persons: China —, Murphy Organizations: Solar Energy Industries Association Locations: Xinjiang, United States, Southeast Asia, China, Europe

☆ Employees Are Secretly Using ChatGPT to Get Ahead at Work
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Aki Ito | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

And he's kept right on using Bing to do his job even after his company issued a policy barring the staff from using AI. Those secretly using AI on the job — experts call it "shadow IT" — appear to be legion. Luke doesn't know whether his employer is OK with him using ChatGPT, since it hasn't issued an official policy, and he's not about to ask. Even when employers block access to AI tools at work, employees are pulling up apps like ChatGPT on their personal devices. By failing to create clear guidance on AI, companies are effectively empowering the covert users at the expense of everyone else.

Persons: Blake doesn't, Blake, Bing, hasn't, he's, ChatGPT, Blake —, Bard, Fishbowl, Ethan Mollick, they've, Gartner, Eser Rizaoglu, Alex Alonso, We're, Roberto, I'm, Roberto hasn't, Luke, —, Luke doesn't, He's, Jaap Arriens, they're, GPT, Wharton, Roberto aren't, they'll, Aki Ito Organizations: Wharton School, Gartner, Employers, Employees, Bing Locations: America

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