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☆ The Week in Business: A Trial With a Twist
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Marie Solis | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

In an unexpected twist in the courtroom on Tuesday — after jurors had been selected and opening statements delayed — Fox News agreed to a $787.5 million settlement. But even at less than half that amount, the settlement is still one of the largest ever in a defamation case. Caveats released in August said vehicles and plug-in hybrids assembled outside North America were not eligible for the $7,500 credit. The list of eligible vehicles is expected to grow as carmakers fine-tune their supply chains and catch up with demand. When the bank reports its quarterly earnings this week, analysts expect to see an enormous flight of deposits — that is, customers pulling their money from the bank — and losses.

☆ Tesla investors call for 'distracted' Elon Musk to be reined in as they worry he's 'overcommitted'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Grace Kay | Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tesla investors called for Elon Musk to be reined in an open letter, citing the CEO's many commitments. A group of Tesla investors is calling for Elon Musk to be reined in, saying the CEO has been distracted by commitments to his other companies like Twitter. "The Board allowed the CEO to be overcommitted at a time when the company faces critical challenges," the letter stated. Tesla and Musk didn't immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider ahead of publication. Gerber's name is not listed on the open letter.

☆ Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are melting rapidly and driving sea level rise, new satellite data finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Earth’s ice sheets lost enough ice over the last 30 years to create an ice cube 12 miles high, according to new research. They found that ice sheet melting has increased six-fold over the past 30 years, as record levels of planet-heating pollution push up global temperatures. The worst year for ice sheet loss was 2019, the report found, when the ice sheets lost around 675 billion tons of ice. Ice sheet melting now accounts for a quarter of all sea level rise – a fivefold increase since the 1990s. Otosaka expects the Greenland ice sheet to continue losing ice, but said it’s not yet clear what might happen to the Antarctic ice sheet.

☆ India monetary tightening cycle not over, inflation remains a concern -MPC minutes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Swati Bhat | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, April 20 (Reuters) - India's current rate tightening cycle may not be over as more hikes could be warranted to align inflation towards the central bank's medium term target of 4%, minutes of this month's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting showed on Thursday. "It is clear that the war against inflation has not yet been won, and it would be premature to declare an end to this tightening cycle," MPC member Jayant Varma wrote. Most members appeared more concerned about inflation than in their commentary after the previous policy meeting in February when the bank raised rates by 25 bps. The decision by OPEC+ to cut crude output and the possibility of weak monsoon rains could both push up inflation in India and necessitate a monetary policy response, Varma said. In the current situation of high inflation, monetary policy does not have the luxury of responding to these growth headwinds."

☆ Snapchat breaks down how creators can qualify to make money from ad-revenue sharing, as it expands access to the program
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Dan Whateley | Shriya Bhattacharya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Snapchat is widening its stories ad-revenue sharing program to more creators. The expansion comes as competitors YouTube and TikTok also test ad-revenue sharing with users. Snapchat is opening up ad-revenue sharing to more creators, the company announced during its partner summit on Wednesday. TikTok began testing an ad-revenue sharing program called Pulse for creators with at least 100,000 followers last year. Outside of its stories ad program, Snap pays creators via other initiatives like content challenges and a fund for its short-video feature Spotlight.

☆ The story behind North Korea's wacky homegrown version of the AK-74 rifle
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Travis Pike | Sandboxx News | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

North Korea's military uses the Type 88-2 assault rifle, which is based on a clone of the AK-74 series. But other features of the Type 88-2 rifle raise questions about what the designers were thinking. North Korean troops during an exercise in August 2017. North Korean helical magazines seem to be primarily aimed at the much longer rifle calibers and likely hold anywhere from 100 to 150 rounds. It seems only certain North Korean units carry these magazines, and this includes the bodyguards of Kim Jong Un.

☆ I've scoured Detroit's dumps, streets, and abandoned homes for wood and metal to make furniture. It's exciting to be part of a movement that redefines how society should use reclaimed materials.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

At first, I didn't even know that car design was an actual career or business. Woodward Throwbacks' Detroit showroom. It is a sustainable design studio that custom builds furniture and home goods with recycled materials found in the city. I was falling out of love with car design, and the possibility of being my own boss excited me. What Woodward Throwbacks is doing — redefining how society sees and uses reclaimed materials for everyday use — has never been done before.

☆ This Detroit couple bought a $6,500 house destined for the wrecking ball, then picked over old basketball courts, science labs, and churches to renovate it into a beauty. See inside.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Kyle Dubay and Bo Shepherd own Woodward Throwbacks, a store that recycles building materials. In 2019, they purchased a run-down home for $6,500 from the Detroit Land Bank Authority. See how the couple used salvaged materials to renovate and furnish the home. In 2019, Dubay and Shepherd purchased the North End home from the DBLA for $6,500. See how the couple transformed the old decaying home into a luxurious property by using recycled materials like old basketball court floorboards and science lab countertops.

☆ South Africa chase down record T20 target to beat Windies
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Opener Quinton de Kock hit a first T20 century as South Africa scored 259-4 after being set an imposing target of 13 runs per over to win the match. Johnson Charles had led the West Indies to 258-5, a new record T20 total at the Pretoria test venue, after they had been put into bat and amassed a formidable total. South Africa began at blistering pace in reply and by scoring 150 without loss off the first 10 overs set another T20 record. I've been looking for a T20 century for a while and to do it at my home ground was something special," said De Kock. South Africa tied the three-match T20 series with the final game at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

☆ Miramax launched a film development team to resurrect its blockbuster-rich heyday. But a string of key departures has hobbled the vision and frustrated some Hollywood creatives.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Miramax built out a film development team early in the pandemic to bring in new projects and filmmakers. "He's the perfect leader to take the Miramax film team into this next chapter." Hammer's credits as a production executive include "Last Vegas" and "Inside Llewyn Davis." The first source said the film development team had worked to turn the company's reputation around by emphasizing relationships with respected filmmakers. But this person and an independent producer familiar with the Hollywood landscape, agreed that Miramax is no longer a top player in film development.

☆ Price hikes are double whammy for pet owners who are crushed by inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Minneapolis CNN —As head of PAWS Atlanta, Joe Labriola can get a good sense of the region’s economic well-being from the day-to-day activity of the city’s oldest no-kill animal shelter. And the shelves at PAWS Atlanta’s Pet Food Pantry quickly go bare. She said her pet food costs for Lola, her Australian Shepherd mix, and for Phoebe, her Golden Retriever, have doubled to $250 per month. Josh Fiala, Animal Rescue League of Iowa's Pet Support Services Manager, helps load pet food into a vehicle during a Pet Food Pantry in January 2022. Courtesy Animal Rescue League of IowaARL gave out about 40,000 pounds of pet food in both 2020 and 2021.

☆ French bulldog claims title of top US purebred, dethroning Labrador retriever
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Rich Mckay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

2 spot the previous year, according to the club, which maintains the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the country. They're great companions, cute and show great affection," said breeder Johnny Danley Jr., of Atlanta. But we sell to blue-collar, 9-to-5 people who want to spend a little for a great companion," Danley said. The breed's rising popularity - and price tag - has led to a surge in French bulldog thefts in recent years, according to the club. The former top dog, the even-tempered Labrador retriever, still has plenty of fans, as it slipped a notch to the No.

The Wall Street bank also wants Staley to repay all compensation from 2006 to 2013. Staley has acknowledged having been friendly with Epstein, but expressed regret for their relationship and denied knowing about the financier's alleged crimes. Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Staley resigned as Barclays' chief executive in November 2021 amid a dispute with British financial regulators examining his ties to Epstein. The cases are JPMorgan Chase Bank NA v Staley, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

☆ Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin sued over allegations the rocket company discriminates against older workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A spokesperson for Blue Origin did not respond to a request for comment. It's not the first time that Blue Origin has faced criticism from a former employee. In 2021, Alexandra Abrams, the former head of Blue Origin employee communications, published an open letter alongside a group describing itself as 21 former and current Blue Origin employees. At the time, a Blue Origin representative told Insider the company doesn't tolerate harassment and would investigate the claims. Do you work for Blue Origin or have insight to share?

☆ Australian officials warn of bushfire threat as heatwave grips Sydney
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A total of 33 fires are burning across New South Wales (NSW), Australia's most populous state of which Sydney is the capital, with 12 not contained yet. Five public schools have been shut amid a total fire ban across large parts of the state. Two bushfires have been downgraded from emergency warning levels overnight, but officials said they could flare up again. Since late 2020, Australia's weather has been dominated by La Nina, which brings more rain and floods. Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney, Editing by Himani SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Another smartphone supports satellite connectivity, as mobile space race heats up
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

British smartphone firm Bullitt on Friday launched a new phone capable of sending text messages via space, joining a crowded race to commercialize satellite-enabled devices. They will have to have Bullitt Messenger — the firm's proprietary satellite messaging app — installed in order to reply. Satellite phones have been in the works for decades, but have not yet entered mainstream usage. Bullitt is also launching a Bluetooth accessory, the Motorola Defy Satellite Link, that lets any Android or iOS device connect to its Bullitt Satellite Messenger app, effectively enabling any phone to become a satellite phone. "The company is a trailblazer for satellite messaging but competition is snapping at its heels," Wood told CNBC.

☆ CRISPR pioneer Feng Zhang plans to 'break open the barrier' facing gene editing after raising $193 million for his secretive new startup
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Andrew Dunn | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Feng Zhang, Aera's founder and a CRISPR pioneer, spoke with Insider about his vision for the firm. Aera wants to "break open the barrier" of tech through methods like gene editing, Zhang said. The CRISPR pioneer Feng Zhang spoke with Insider about Aera Therapeutics, his Boston-based biotech. "The goal is to break open the barrier that's facing genetic medicine," Zhang told Insider in his first interview about the company. In starting another company, Zhang said he felt it was important to have a dedicated team focused on delivery.

☆ Tech Layoffs Hit H1B Visa Workers Hard
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Te-Ping Chen | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

When she lost her job at Google last month, Jingjing Tan started worrying about her dog, an energetic, 75-pound German shepherd. As a foreign worker living in the U.S. on a temporary work visa, if she couldn’t find a job within 60 days, she feared she might have to return to her home country, China. In big Chinese cities, where tech jobs are, keeping large dogs as pets often isn’t allowed.

☆ VP Harris: Young people will 'leapfrog' this generation in climate change work because they won't face the question: 'Is this real?'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks about the administrations investments and actions to combat the climate crisis, at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, on February 8, 2023. "Because, you know, especially for our younger leaders, the benefit that you have is you're not burdened by any question about, 'Is this real?'" Another 2021 survey showed that 59% of young people aged 16 to 25 years old around the globe are "very or extremely worried" about climate change and 84% are at least "moderately worried." Among other topics, Vice President Harris also spoke about electric vehicle and electric school bus use, water scarcity policy, and how climate change disproportionally impacts the most vulnerable in society. That migration, forced by climate change, may lead to conflict, she said.

☆ Biden to Push Economic Message After Rowdy State of the Union Speech
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Tarini Parti | Andrew Restuccia | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

President Biden will head to Wisconsin on Wednesday, taking the economic pitch he delivered during the State of the Union on the road as some GOP lawmakers face criticism—including from their own party—for heckling him during the prime-time speech. Mr. Biden sought to explain to the public in his address how they stand to benefit from the trillions of dollars in spending he helped shepherd through Congress, arguing that his policies have helped the U.S. economy recover from the Covid-19 pandemic with the unemployment rate now at a 53-year low. Republicans say he has spent far too much federal money and been an unsteady steward of the economy.

☆ Biden to Tout Economic Message After Rowdy State of the Union Speech
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Tarini Parti | Andrew Restuccia | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

President Biden headed to Wisconsin on Wednesday, taking the economic pitch he delivered during the State of the Union on the road, and ramping up his criticism of a Republican proposal on entitlements that led to lawmakers heckling him during the prime-time speech. Mr. Biden sought to explain to the public in his address on Tuesday how they stand to benefit from the trillions of dollars in spending he helped shepherd through Congress, arguing that his policies have helped the U.S. economy recover from the Covid-19 pandemic with the unemployment rate now at a 53-year low. Republicans say he has spent far too much federal money and has been an unsteady steward of the economy.

☆ The 50 fashion, beauty, and lifestyle companies set to take off and become the next great direct-to-consumer brands, according to The Lead
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Danni Santana | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

HydrowWhat it is: indoor rowing machineTotal capital raised: $255 million22. ipsaWhat it is: fine frozen dinners made to be heated on stove tops or in ovensTotal capital raised: Undisclosed23. MadhappyWhat it is: fashion and lifestyle brand focused on creating conversation around mental healthTotal capital raised: $1.8 million28. MugsyWhat it is: online retailer best known for its jeansTotal capital raised: None32 .Oliver CabellWhat it is: luxury footwear minus the markupsTotal capital raised: None33. The Normal BrandWhat it is: lifestyle brand that sells rugged clothing for men and women inspired by the MidwestTotal capital raised: None46. Win Brands GroupWhat it is: holding company with brands selling outerwear, home goods, and candlesTotal capital raised: $90 million50.

[1/10] A Boeing E-4B "Doomsday Plane" military aircraft takes off at Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland, U.S., May 11, 2022. But it was in the seemingly endless rows at the back of the new jumbo that the 747 transformed travel. "This was THE airplane that introduced flying for the middle class in the U.S.," said Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith. "Prior to the 747 your average family couldn't fly from the U.S. to Europe affordably," Smith told Reuters. Now, two previously delivered 747s are being fitted to replace U.S. presidential jets known globally as Air Force One.

☆ A laid-off Googler says colleagues should 'find perspective' about the recent layoffs: 'No one died. Seriously'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A laid-off Googler said colleagues should 'find perspective' about the recent layoffs. In a LinkedIn post, Mallika Iyer said of the cuts: "No one died. Iyer said there was "always a silver lining," adding: "Now let's quit whining and get to work." A Googler who survived the cuts told Insider that some others who kept their jobs cried during meetings the day the layoffs were announced. Iyer said in the LinkedIn post, published on January 20, that it was a "privilege" to work at Google, adding: "Google rocks, it always will, it's one of my happy places and has the best co-workers."

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