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☆ Supreme Court declined to block $6 billion student loan settlement. Here's who qualifies for forgiveness
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Supreme Court last week declined to block the settlement of a class-action lawsuit brought by student loan borrowers who say they've been defrauded by their schools. Now, the U.S. Department of Education will be able to continue delivering on the $6 billion loan forgiveness settlement. More than 150 schools, mostly for-profit institutions, were involved in the settlement. Three of those institutions — Lincoln Educational Services Corp., American National University and Everglades College Inc. — had petitioned the highest court. They've argued that they were denied due process with the settlement and that it harms their reputation.

☆ Employers say union is disrupting work at Southern California seaports
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Major shippers - including suppliers to retailers including Walmart Inc (WMT.N) and Home Depot Inc (HD.N) - have been diverting cargo from the West Coast to rival seaports on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico to avoid potential work stoppages. "These actions have slowed the start of operations throughout the Southern California port complex," PMA said. The disruption coincided with a routine monthly "stop work" meeting on April 6, Los Angeles Port Director Gene Seroka told reporters on a conference call on Wednesday. "The collective bargaining agreement between the union and the employers guarantees these monthly meetings, which are dedicated to addressing the union's proceedings," Seroka said. Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ These are the top 10 busiest airports in the world—5 of them are in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Airports Council International , the trade association of the world's airports, recently released its annual ranking of the busiest airports in the world. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) Denver International Airport (DEN) Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) Dubai International Airport (DXB) Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Istanbul Airport (IST) Heathrow Airport (LHR) Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson international airport topped the list as the world's busiest airport for the second year in a row. The only year that Atlanta hasn't been the busiest airport in the last four years was 2020 when ATL came in second behind Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in southern China. DFW is the second-largest airport by land area in the United States after Denver International Airport, according to the Department of Transportation. Denver International Airport has also been among the top 20 busiest airports in the world every year since 2000, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

[1/5] A woman works inside a cannabis shop, at Khaosan Road, one of the favourite tourist spots in Bangkok, Thailand, March 29, 2023. Thousands of cannabis shops and businesses have sprung up, especially in Bangkok and tourist spots, since Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to decriminalise the drug. A deluge of marijuana smuggled in from abroad has swamped Thailand, driving down wholesale prices and hurting growers, the industry members said. He did not comment on the scale of smuggled cannabis in the market or its impact on farmers. "A lot of cannabis that's coming in from the U.S. is going to dispensaries in Bangkok or Phuket or Pattaya," she said.

☆ Half of the 10 busiest airports in the world are in the US, with Atlanta topping the chart once again
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Bianca Giacobone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Atlanta's airport is the busiest hub in the world for 2022 with 93 million passengers. In third place, Denver is one of the only airports to have caught up with pre-pandemic levels. Five of the busiest airports in the world are in the US, with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport topping the list for the second year in a row. Last year, US airports accounted for eight of the 10 busiest airports. Take a closer look at the top 10 busiest airports in the world.

☆ U.S. lawmakers introduce bipartisan bill to help news media negotiate with Big Tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers reintroduced a bill to allow news organizations to join together to negotiate ad rates with tech giants such as Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Google. The measure would allow news broadcasters and publishers with fewer than 1,500 full-time workers to jointly negotiate ad rates -- many of which face financial struggles. The bill was introduced by Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee's antitrust subcommittee, along with Senator John Kennedy, a Republican. The News/Media Alliance, a media trade association, praised the bill it says will protect and sustain local journalism. Reporting by Diane Bartz; additional reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Why skinny soda cans are everywhere
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Drink manufacturers are aiming to distinguish their products on crowded shelves and save money on shipping and packaging with skinny cans, say analysts and drink makers. The can, presented at New York’s Fashion Week, had the tagline: “The New Skinny.” It was widely criticized as offensive and the National Eating Disorders Association said the company’s comments were both “thoughtless and irresponsible.”White Claw's skinny white cans have brought along copycats. Red Bull was one of the first brands to popularize slim cans, and White Claw saw success with its hard seltzer in thin white cans. skinny cans on store shelves, warehouse pallets and trucks than wider cans, said Dave Fedewa, a partner at McKinsey who consults for retail and consumer packaged goods companies. But the key, Fedewa said, is that skinny cans catch the eye: “It’s funny how much growth that can drive in retail.”

☆ 5 ways to cope with layoff anxiety and how to stop worrying you’re next
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Melody Wilding | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

With layoffs seemingly in every major industry, it's natural to feel some layoff anxiety. Layoff anxiety is high among workers. What to do when layoff anxiety is consuming your thoughts1. Ask yourself:What would I do if I'm laid off? Layoff anxiety can stop you in your tracks.

☆ Companies Face Another Packed Year of Sustainability Shareholder Votes
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Dieter Holger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

U.S. companies are facing fewer shareholder proposals on social issues this year but more calls for climate action. Proposals focused on social issues were again the most popular this year, mentioned in 338 of the filings, down more than 9% from 373 last year. Included in the grand total were 48 so-called anti-ESG proposals focused on the risk of ESG-promoting policies, up from 27 in the same period last year. These typically ask companies to audit or report on gender-and-racial pay differences. Companies will avoid votes when shareholders withdraw some current proposals, usually after they reach an agreement with the company on an issue.

☆ Premarket stocks: Silicon Valley Bank left a void that won't easily be filled
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

There’s no doubt that the failure of Silicon Valley Bank left a large void in tech. To find out, Before the Bell spoke with Ahmad Thomas, president and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. Before the Bell: What’s the feeling on the ground with tech and VC leadership in Silicon Valley? Ahmad Thomas: Silicon Valley Bank has been a key part of our fabric here for four decades. FDIC sells most of failed Signature Bank to FlagstarFrom CNN’s David GoldmanA week after Signature Bank failed, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation said it has sold most of its deposits to Flagstar Bank, a subsidiary of New York Community Bank.

"Not only are these big banks not sitting around and waiting for the phone to ring, they are also being proactive." Amid the nation's most troubling turmoil in banking since the global financial crisis nearly 15 years ago, the big banks are flexing their collective muscle. The 2008 financial crisis humbled the banking behemoths; the 2023 crisis of regional banks has now only cemented their power. For an increasingly stretched financial system, the big banks provide a needed stability. The flight to safety that is benefiting the big banks will have a cost, however.

☆ Why retailers like Home Depot, CVS and Walgreens are spending billions on anti-theft technology
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Jade Tungul | Tala Hadavi | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhy retailers like Home Depot, CVS and Walgreens are spending billions on anti-theft technologyAccording to the NRF, retail shrink, which refers to inventory loss due to theft, unknown loss and administrative error, reached $94.5 billion in 2021, a 4% increase from the year prior. While retailers and trade associations depict a "shoplifting epidemic," criminologists and civil rights advocates worry the story is more nuanced. They point out, among other things, that retail shrink is difficult to track, and of the data available, the methodology is inconsistent.

☆ China says its official bilateral loans are less than 5% of Ghana debt
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 2 (Reuters) - China's official bilateral loans involving Ghana account for less than 5% of the West African country's total debt, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday. Multilateral and commercial debt account for the vast majority of Ghana's external debt, ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing. Germany's finance minister recently singled out China during a visit to Ghana, as he called on countries that have lent to the embattled nation to form a creditor committee quickly to help it restructure its debt. China has been consistent in criticising multilateral lenders for not taking haircuts on loans extended to debtor countries while Beijing is being asked to do so on credit it has extended bilaterally. Ghana owes China $1.7 billion, according to the International Institute of Finance, a financial services trade association focused on emerging markets.

☆ China willing to play constructive role in debt talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, March 1 (Reuters) - China is willing to "constructively" participate in solving the debt problems of relevant countries under a multilateral framework, its Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday. China, the world's largest bilateral creditor, has criticised multilateral lenders for not accepting losses, or haircuts, on loans to low-income countries while Beijing is being asked to do so on credit it has extended on its own. In a phone call with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, Li said that solving the debt problems of low-income countries requires the participation of all creditors, according to a China State Department statement. China is a major lender to high-debt countries, such as Ghana and Zambia. Reporting by Meg Shen and Ryan Woo Ediing by Tomasz JanowskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Why it’s impossible to find an open squat rack at the gym
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

You’ll have much better luck finding an open elliptical machine than a bench press, squat rack or 30-pound dumbbells. The pandemic led more people to take up weight training, gym owners and industry experts say. Post-pandemic, the surge in the popularity of weight training has helped the gym industry recover. Paul/Fairfax Media/Getty ImagesThe arrival of Nautilus and Universal strength training equipment in the 1970s and 1980s made weightlifting more attractive to a broader range of people. Genesis clubs have added more squat and dumbbell racks to keep up with demand for strength training and downsized cardio areas.

☆ China calls for 'joint action' in debt settlements at G20
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Joe Cash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING, Feb 24 (Reuters) - China, the world's largest bilateral creditor, urged G20 nations on Friday to conduct a fair, objective and in-depth analysis of the causes of global debt issues and to "resolve the problem in a comprehensive and effective manner." The United States has repeatedly criticised China over what it considers to be "foot-dragging" on debt relief for dozens of low-and middle-income countries. According to a statement released by his ministry, Liu said that international financial institutions and commercial creditors should follow the principle of "joint action, fair burden" in debt settlements. Officials from the IMF, the World Bank and G7 nations will meet on Saturday on the sidelines of the G20 meeting for the first in-person discussions of the new IMF Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable. China's role in the G20 Common Framework, however, is expected to feature in Saturday's talks.

"I think that we have a very good candidate for the World Bank," French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said of Banga during a news conference at the G20 finance leaders meeting in India. The comments marked a turnabout from Tuesday, when Germany's international development minister, Svenja Schulze, who represents a different party in Germany's coalition government, said the next World Bank chief should be a woman. The G20 ministers meeting is being held on the outskirts of the Indian tech hub city of Bengaluru. 'UNIQUE SET OF SKILLS'The United States, the lender's dominant shareholder, has chosen every World Bank president since the founding of the institution at the end of World War Two. World Bank staff are bracing for Banga to make some management changes at the bank, emboldened by Yellen's repeated calls for "bolder and more imaginative" action by the bank, two bank sources told Reuters.

☆ Trade group argues U.S. SEC case unfairly labels crypto as securities
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Hannah Lang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Cryptocurrency trade association Chamber of Digital Commerce is urging a federal court to dismiss a case brought by the U.S. securities regulator against ex-Coinbase (COIN.O) employees accused of insider trading, arguing that the case unfairly labeled several crypto assets as securities. The Blockchain Association also filed an amicus brief in the case earlier this month. The crypto industry has previously criticized the SEC for bringing enforcement cases against digital asset companies, arguing that the regulator should instead engage in formal rulemaking specific to cryptocurrency. The SEC has maintained that pre-existing securities laws also apply to digital assets, and that many crypto tokens meet the definition of a security. The move would also likely hurt the value of those tokens, which could harm retail investors, the group said.

☆ Mortgage rates will drop to 5.2% this year despite the uptick this month, said a top economist
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Mortgage Bankers Association forecasts mortgage rates will fall to 5.2% from above 6% in 2023. The prediction rests on a drop in the 10-year Treasury-bond yield, which influences mortgage rates. For a few weeks, it looked like mortgage rates were well on their way to sub-6% levels. Despite the whipsawing rates, the Mortgage Bankers Association is sticking to its forecasts, Kan said. "A lot of people that bought or refinanced in 2020 and 2021 have 3% mortgage rates.

☆ Digital trust will put Singapore in a favorable position, says trade association
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | 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 EmailDigital trust will put Singapore in a favorable position, says trade associationWong Wai Meng, chairman of SGTech, says trust is the "basic hygiene" that Singapore needs to tackle as the country's digital economy continues to grow.

☆ The US, China spy balloon tensions are drifting into politics of the supply chain
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The suspected Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, U.S. February 4, 2023. The tensions between the U.S. and China over alleged spy balloons shot down over North America have some of the top trade associations representing companies reliant on Chinese manufacturing to urge their members to diversify their supply chains. "The ongoing tensions with the U.S.-China trade relationship continue to highlight the need for supply chain diversification," said Jon Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs policy of the National Retail Federation. Mark Baxa, president and CEO of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, told CNBC that the trade group's members have been pursuing redundancies in their supply chain since the start of tariffs as a way to offset the risk of ongoing trade policy tensions. "Supply chain leaders are seeking lower risk and a better means to serve the U.S. by looking and moving to Canada and Mexico.

☆ EU lawmakers' body agrees on safeguards against illegal data transfers
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Feb 9 (Reuters) - A key committee at the European Parliament on Thursday agreed to stringent safeguards to prevent non-EU governments from gaining illegal access to EU data, drawing criticism from a tech lobbying group. EU concerns about data transfers have grown since former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden in 2013 revealed mass U.S. surveillance. The committee introduced safeguards against unlawful international data transfer by cloud service providers and set stricter conditions on business-to-government data requests. Tech trade association ITI said lawmakers may be going too far with provisions restricting transfers of non-personal data that exceed those set out under EU privacy rules for personal data. "Data flows are the backbone of the digital economy and allow companies to reach consumers and access new markets.

☆ There's a buzz about green hydrogen. But pink, produced using nuclear, may have a huge role to play too
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Anmar Frangoul | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

In this article EDF-FRNG.-GBTSLA Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTBoth pink and blue have been used to differentiate between different methods of hydrogen production. Indeed, according to a Sept. 2022 tracking report from the International Energy Agency, low-emission hydrogen production in 2021 accounted for less than 1% of global hydrogen production. These include green hydrogen, which refers to hydrogen produced using renewables and electrolysis, with an electric current splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen. "But splitting water takes energy, so what pink hydrogen is about is splitting water using energy that has come from nuclear." This needed "supportive policies which encourage investment in early hydrogen production projects and encourage users to switch from fossil fuels to low carbon hydrogen."

☆ What to do when your term life insurance is ending
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Chris Taylor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Almost 20 years ago, the 64-year-old Westfield, New Jersey, resident took out a term life insurance policy, to help cover his family in case the worst happened. Remember there are different types of life insurance on the market, and those with "permanent" versions do not face this conundrum. PURCHASE A NEW TERM POLICYIf your first term policy is winding up, and you are still in excellent health, shop around for a new term policy. "Can you convert the term life policy to a permanent policy?" "If you can obtain long-term care benefits as a rider through another life policy, that may the way to go."

☆ Winter heating costs likely won't be as high as feared
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Heating your home this winter likely won’t burn quite as big a hole in your wallet as initially forecast. Still, costs are up across the board compared to last winter — nearly 26% and 14.5% for heating oil and natural gas, respectively, and 10.5% and nearly 9% for electricity and propane, respectively. “You’re still paying more, but not as much more,” said Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. Applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program are projected to reach their highest level in more a decade, Wolfe said. To help its residents cope with the high heating costs, Maine started sending $450 energy relief payments on Monday.

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