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☆ John Fetterman says Gavin Newsom is lowkey running for president against Joe Biden but doesn't have 'the guts' to announce it and go all in
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Gavin Newsom doesn't want to admit that he's running for president. Fetterman talked about Newsom during an Iowa Democratic Party dinner on Saturday, per NBC News. Gavin Newsom of California doesn't have "the guts" to admit that he's running a shadow campaign for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination. "There are two additional Democrats running for Pennsylvania, excuse me, running for president right now," Fetterman said at an Iowa Democratic Party dinner on Saturday, per NBC News. "You may be termed out here, but does cleaning up the streets of California factor into a potential presidential run?"

Persons: Sen, John Fetterman, Gavin Newsom doesn't, Fetterman, Newsom, —, Gavin Newsom, Dean Phillips, Phillips, he'd, Biden, Xi Jinping, who's, Xi, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Sean Hannity, It's, Cecilia Vega, Vega Organizations: Iowa Democratic Party, NBC, Service, Democratic, Gov, South Carolina Democratic, Oval, Tribune, Politico, Florida Gov, Fox News Locations: California, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Austin, China, Florida

☆ Starfish bodies are really just heads, new research says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The heads of most animals are easily identifiable, but scientists haven’t been able to say the same for sea stars until now. But new genetic research suggests the opposite — that sea stars are largely heads that lack torsos or tails and likely lost those features evolutionarily over time. There, they go through a process that transforms a bilateral body into a star shape, or pentaradial body. But echinoderms also share a common ancestor with bilateral animals, which adds to the puzzle researchers are trying to solve. Specific molecular markers act like body plan blueprints, directing each cell to the body region where it belongs.

Persons: haven’t, It’s, ”, Laurent Formery, “ It’s, Christopher Lowe, Jeff Thompson, “, ” Lowe, Formery, Chan Zuckerberg, Dr, Priscilla Chan, Mark Zuckerberg, Laurent Formery “, ” Thompson, Daniel Rokhsar Organizations: CNN, Stanford University, University of California, University of Southampton, NASA, National Science Foundation, Leverhulme Trust Locations: Berkeley, San Francisco

☆ Singapore's river-cleaning robots are producing 80% less carbon emissions than the human-powered boats they replaced
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Sarah Sloat | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

There are barista robots, construction robots, surgeon robots, and eldercare robots. And now another group of robots using 5G technology has entered the scene: river-cleaning robots. Weston Robot, a Singaporean company that develops robotic solutions, designed and produced the robots. The 5G cleaning robots replaced gas-powered boatsBefore the robots, people operating gas-fueled boats cleaned the waterways around Marina Bay. The IMDA said the robots, which run on a battery charge, can reduce carbon emissions by about 80% compared to the boats.

Persons: —, they're, Singapore's, Yanliang Zhang, Weston Robot, Zhang, IMDA Organizations: Service, Weston Robot, Infocomm Media Development Authority, Singapore's Ministry of Communications, Information, Weston, National University of Singapore, LTE Locations: Singapore, Marina Bay, Marina

☆ 'It's not that Huawei is superior, it's that Apple is inferior': What the Chinese internet is saying about the iPhone 15
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

People in China just aren't that enamored with Apple's iPhone 15. Apple faces stiff local competition from Chinese rival Huawei, which launched its Mate 60 Pro smartphone weeks before the iPhone 15.launched its Mate 60 Pro smartphone weeks before the iPhone 15. As of press time, posts discussing the iPhone 15 have drawn over 100 million views on Weibo, China's version of X. If it were you, would you upgrade to the iPhone 15 just to get USB C charging?" Apple launched the iPhone 15 at its "Wonderlust" event in September.

Persons: — Organizations: Apple, Huawei, Weibo, Service, Bloomberg, Xiaomi Locations: China, Weibo, Hong Kong

☆ The US and China need to turn down the heat, says California governor Gavin Newsom: 'Divorce is not an option'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Gavin Newsom said the US and China need to turn down the heat on bilateral tensions, per CNN. "Divorce is not an option," Newsom told CNN's Christiane Amanpour in a Wednesday podcast. Newsom met Chinese leader Xi Jinping last Wednesday during a week-long trip to China. Gavin Newsom told CNN's Christiane Amanpour in a Wednesday podcast. The California governor's meeting with Xi followed a meeting between Xi and a group of US senators in early October.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Newsom, CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Xi Jinping, —, We've, Xi, Gavin Newsom's Organizations: CNN, Service, San, APEC, Eurasia Group, Economic Cooperation Locations: California, China, San Francisco, Asia

Gavin Newsom is the latest to find out that plans for a confident jump shot can turn into a torrent of online potshots. On a trip to China, the two-term Democrat took a detour from his official meetings on climate change to join a group of Beijing schoolkids for a game of basketball. Video circulating online shows Newsom wearing slacks, an open-collared shirt and dress shoes while towering over schoolchildren on the court. The governor playfully twirls a basketball on a fingertip, then executes a spin move as he heads toward the basket. “Newsom destroys kid during basketball game in China,” celebrity website TMZ tweeted.

Persons: —, Gavin Newsom, Newsom, Boris Johnson, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry, ” George W, “, ”, “ Newsom, TMZ, Xi Jinping Organizations: ANGELES, Gov, pats, ” Fox News, America, Santa Clara University, Los Angeles Fox News Locations: China, Beijing, British, London, Japan, Scotland

☆ Taylor Swift has made Kansas City her new stomping ground — and local shops say business is booming
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Kansas City has been gripped by Taylor Swift mania amidst her relationship with Travis Kelce. Taylor Swift. They're not alone: Swiftmania has seized Kansas City, and the next great American dynasty — of a blockbuster football team and pop music superstar — is invigorating the Midwestern city. Indeed, Lonely Planet included Kansas City on its list of top destinations to visit in 2024 released on Thursday. While Swift is not single-handedly responsible for the Kansas City renaissance, her presence is currently being felt in the wallets and streets of Kansas City.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, —, Megan Folmsbee, Who's Travis, Swift, Westside Storey, Folmsbee, They're, Swiftmania, Ericka Hamilton, Misha Wilson, Randi Mahomes, Patrick Mahomes, Hamilton, Wilson, Randi, Travis Kelce's, ❤️, RsE3P5HKAd —, Sarah Fretwell, Erimish, Fretwell, Travis, Jason Kelce, hasn't, Taylor, We've, Xavier Ross, RAYGUN, It's, Ross, it's, Abby Meyer, Meyer, Dolce, Erin Brown, they've, Katlyn Howard, That's, Brown, Jack Stack, Kelce, Patrick Joyce, Joyce, could've Organizations: Kansas City, Swifties, Service, Westside Storey, Kansas City Chiefs, Westside, Chiefs, Kansas, RsE3P5HKAd — ESPN, Philadelphia Eagles, Arrowhead, University of Toronto, KC, . Kansas City's Union, Union, Bakery, Kansas City's, Lonely Planet Locations: Kansas, Arrowhead, Kansas City, Arkansas, . Kansas, Argentine

☆ As the market enters correction territory, don't blame the American consumer
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Tim Mullaney | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

Amazon.com Inc | ReutersThe initial third-quarter report on gross domestic product showed consumer spending zooming higher by 4% percent a year, after inflation, the best in almost two years. How is this possible with interest rates on everything from credit cards to cars and homes soaring? But they were below expectations at electric-vehicle leader Tesla , which blamed high interest rates, and at Ford . "And as interest rates rise, the proportion of that monthly payment that is interest increases." At American Express , which saw U.S. consumer spending rise 9%, the mild surprise was the company's disclosure that young consumers are adding Amex cards faster than any other group.

Persons: Bill Ackman, CFRA, Sam Stovall, Ryan Marshall, Wells, Jackie Benson, Tesla, Elon Musk, GM, Mary Barra, Paul Jacobson, John Lawler, Musk, Brian Moynihan, Jeremy Barnum, Sachin Mehra, Zers, Guess they're, Stovall, chargeoffs, John Greene, Morgan Stanley, Ravi Shanker, Spirit, Sundaram, Ethan Allen, they've, Marc Bitzer, Arun Sundaram, Amanda Agati, there's Organizations: Amazon.com Inc, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Coldwell, Ford, General Motors, GM, United Auto Workers, UAW, Cox Automotive, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Financial Services, JetBlue, Whirlpool, Amazon, PNC, Federal, Asset Management Locations: Shakopee , Minnesota, U.S, Covid, PulteGroup, Vermont

☆ South Africa hold off 14-man All Blacks to win record fourth World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | Thomson Reuters | Leads Coverage Of Sport Across The Asia-Pacific. Still Reports On The Full Panoply Of Sport. Many Olympics World Cups World Championships Grand Slams Grands Prix | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

No team had ever recovered from a halftime deficit to win a World Cup final and the Springboks came out flying in the second half looking to drive home their advantage. It was the first try South Africa had conceded in four World Cup finals but Mo'unga missed the conversion from wide-out and the Springboks held on to the lead. Kolisi had by now returned to the fray after his card was not upgraded and South Africa brought their famed "bomb squad" off the bench to relieve fatigued forwards. South Africa winger Cheslin Kolbe was the fourth player to be yellow-carded seven minutes from time but New Zealand's Jordie Barrett struck the subsequent 48-metre penalty attempt wide of the posts. New Zealand had also been hoping to win a fourth World Cup and coach Ian Foster thought the way the cards for Cane and Kolisi played out had been a decisive factor.

Persons: Denis, Webb Ellis, Cyril Ramaphosa REUTERS, Gonzalo Fuentes, Cane, Beauden Barrett, NZ Handre Pollard, Sam Cane, Pieter, Steph du Toit, Handre, Siya Kolisi, Black Richie McCaw, Kolisi, Shannon Frizell, Flyhalf Pollard, Richie Mo'unga, Pollard, Cane clattered, Jesse Kriel, Mo'unga, Ardie Savea, New Zealand scrumhalf Aaron Smith, Mark Telea, Cheslin Kolbe, Zealand's Jordie Barrett, Ian Foster, it's, Nick Mulvenney, Ed Osmond Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, Stade de France, Saint, South, NZ, Zealand, Blacks, Springboks, New Zealand, All Blacks, Thomson Locations: Zealand, South Africa, France, Africa, South Africa PARIS, New Zealand, New

Political Cartoons View All 1223 ImagesNow the agency is aiming to further reduce lead levels in drinking water and tighten a rule that failed to prevent recent drinking water crises in cities like Flint, Michigan and Newark, New Jersey. Bernstein said he is hopeful “that as we remove lead pipes, we’re going to see the numbers continue to fall. “CDC’s work was used in other cities with elevated water lead levels to dampen citizen concerns,” the congressional report said. Joe Cotruvo, a former director of the Drinking Water Standards Division at EPA, said the existing regulations work and should be credited with significantly reducing lead in drinking water, they just aren’t properly enforced. Lead pipes in both cities were rapidly removed and lead levels dropped.

Persons: Ronnie Levin, ” Levin, Joe Biden, ”, Levin, Flint, Aaron Bernstein, Bernstein, Mark Powell, Yanna Lambrinidou, “, Mary Jean Brown, Marc Edwards, wouldn't, Joe Cotruvo, Michael Schock, Schock, we’ve Organizations: Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Harvard, Centers for Disease Control, Washington , D.C, D.C, Virginia Tech, CDC, Agency, Associated Press, Walton Family Foundation, AP Locations: Flint , Michigan, Newark , New Jersey, U.S, Boston, WASHINGTON, Washington ,, Washington, The Washington, Flint, Benton Harbor , Michigan, Newark, Benton, Benton Harbor

☆ Gavin Newsom says ‘divorce is not an option’ for US and China after Xi Jinping meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —“Divorce is not an option” when it comes to the world’s two largest economies, California Governor Gavin Newsom told CNN on Wednesday following his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Newsom said his meeting with Xi in Beijing had revived hope that the United States and China were at a turning point in their relations. Newsom — the first US governor to meet with Xi in six years — is in China for a week-long visit to promote action on climate change. Xi also expressed the hope that the governor’s visit to China would help stabilize the broader relationship. If it were a country, California “would be the fifth largest economy in the world,” Newsom told CNN.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Gavin Newsom, Xi Jinping, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Newsom, Xi, “ We’ve, We’ve, ”, Newsom —, ” Newsom, “, that’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Xinhua, Global Times, BYD Locations: Hong Kong, California, Beijing, United States, China, decouple, Shenzhen

☆ 'They're running out of time': Ukraine's counteroffensive is gaining urgency as winter approaches
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

"Despite inflicting significant losses on Russian armed forces, Ukraine's four-and-a-half-month-old counteroffensive has not achieved major territorial gains nor managed to slice through Russia's 'land bridge' to Crimea," he added. "The hope is that they're far enough through the Russian defensive lines now ... to make some rapid progress. Russian forces had months to prepare layers of defenses including extensive networks of trenches; anti-tank obstacles such as ditches and "dragon's teeth"; and minefields. Russian forces are also receiving support from artillery, attack helicopters and other aircraft, again impeding Ukraine's forces. Minefields, in particular, have disrupted Ukraine's offensive momentum and rate of advance, according to analysts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Persons: Roman Pilipey, Tursa, Yevhen, they're, Michael Clarke, John Moore, they'll, Ukraine hasn't, Clarke, Orikhiv, They'll, that's, Seth Jones, Riley McCabe, Alexander Palmer, Ukraine's, Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Kevin Lamarque Organizations: AFP, Getty, Russian, L119, Armed Forces, Anadolu Agency, Royal United Services Institute, CNBC, Ukraine's Defense Ministry, Ukraine, Planet Labs PBC, Handout, Reuters, Center for Strategic, International Studies, CSIS, Ukrainian, 35th Marine Brigade, Hamas Locations: Kostyantynivka, Donetsk, East, Ukraine, Russian, Russia, Luhansk, Crimean, Kherson, Central, Eastern Europe, Crimea, Marinka, Krasnohorivka, British, Bakhmut, Dnipro, Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia, Tokmak, Melitopol, Sevastopol, Moscow, Kyiv, Ukrainian, U.S, Israel

☆ Why IPAs are about to get more expensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

New research predicts the yield of already high-demand aroma hops to drop between 4% and 18% by 2050. This is important for the beer industry because the ever-popular India Pale Ales (IPAs) and their related off-shoots depend on aroma hops for their unique scents and bitter taste. AdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, the high-quality hops needed for IPAs to achieve their desired bitterness and aromas are already more expensive, so these beers are typically more costly than traditional styles. As the climate changes, areas that were once home to hops production become less hospitable, but new areas could open up. The authors concluded by calling on "urgent adaptation measures to stabilize international market chains," noting that these changes "will affect the economics and prospects" for European hop production.

Persons: Untappd, Nicolas Jooris Organizations: Service, Change Research, Czech Academy of Sciences, Getty, Farmers Locations: Europe, India, microbreweries, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Yakima Valley, Washington, East Coast

How to Win the Restaurant Reservation Game Scoring a table in New York can seem impossible, but may be easier than you think. Meanwhile, with just three weeks to go, we’re still on the waiting list, which has grown to nearly 60 names. 3 DAYS OUT The Realist Andrew Harroz, 39, a lawyer in Oklahoma City, and his fiancée get a notification that a 5 p.m. reservation table is open. Let patience pay off Even if a restaurant is fully booked, ask to put your name on a waiting list. It’s not a great night for romance: A couple whose reservation for two included the note “Considering proposing” leave the restaurant.

Persons: Semma, seatings, Resy, Gracie de Souza, “, ”, Jatin Mallakunta, they’ll, Ash Hashmi, Santo Pesantez, we’re, Andrew Harroz, He’s, Pesantez, Roni Mazumdar, Vijay Kumar, Pandya, who’ve, Mindy Kaling, it’s, Nathan G, Christine, Nathan, he’s, ” Christine, Gillian Garcia, Hugo Rodriguez, Rodriguez, they’re, let’s, Trinity, Garcia, Arjun Kallapur, ’, Rouven Chopra, Jana Frauns, ” Mr, Chopra Organizations: Washington , D.C, American Express, YouTube Locations: New York, Semma, Indian, New York City, Greenwich Village, Resy, New Orleans, Washington ,, Manhattan, Santo, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Los Angeles, United States, Frankfurt, Germany

☆ New SAT Data Highlights the Deep Inequality at the Heart of American Education
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Claire Cain Miller | Francesca Paris | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +13 min

When we account for how few poor students take the test, by looking at all students, a new and greater disparity emerges. It’s a reflection of an inequality in American education that starts long before high school. New SAT Data Highlights the Deep Inequality at the Heart of American EducationNew data shows, for the first time at this level of detail, how much students’ standardized test scores rise with their parents' incomes — and how disparities start years before students sit for tests. And in the last five decades, as the country has become more unequal by income, the gap in children’s academic achievement, as measured by test scores throughout schooling, has widened. Parenting in places with less income inequality and more public investment in families is more playful and relaxed, research shows.

Persons: ”, Sean Reardon, Reardon, “, —, John N, Friedman, Brown, Raj Chetty, David J . Deming, Deming, Ann Owens, Owens, Rich, Chetty, “ It’s, Nate G, Hilger, Drew Angerer, Robert Putnam, “ ‘, you’re, “ They’ve, they’ve, Jesse Rothstein Organizations: ACT, of American Education, Opportunity, Harvard, Stanford Graduate School of Education, Chetty, University of Southern, Research, The New York Times, University of California Locations: University of Southern California, Berkeley

☆ California just legalized affordable housing in church parking lots and coastal cities — and it could help solve the state's crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Many housing advocates are also disappointed that Newsom vetoed a bill — AB 309 — to create "social housing" on government-owned land. Resnikoff, whose organization endorsed the effort, noted that the state's current fiscal conditions make it very hard to pass housing policy that requires funding. Advocates are quick to point out that California housing policy has impacts far beyond its borders. How effectively California deals with its housing affordability issues also directly impacts other states' housing markets. The migration of California residents to places from Texas to Oregon has put additional pressure on those states to provide even more housing.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, —, Ned Resnikoff, Chris Elmendorf, State Sen, Scott Wiener, Elmendorf, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Breed, that's, Resnikoff, Brittany Murray, Newsom, Alex Lee, Lee, Eric Adams Organizations: Service, California, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, State, San Francisco Mayor London, Bloomberg, UC Berkeley's Terner, Housing Innovation, Habitat, Getty, New York City Locations: California, Francisco, San Francisco, Washington, Long, Greater Los Angeles, Vienna, Austria, Singapore, Central, Southeast Asia, New, Texas, Oregon

“The border has never been a money issue,” said Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas. It also suggests $1.4 billion to add 375 immigration judges and their teams in addition to money for 1,300 new border patrol agents. “But it’s got to be designed to secure the border, not to facilitate travel through the border,” he said. “No more money should be spent simply to facilitate current border policy.”It's unclear if compromise is possible on the issue. The border is not about money; there’s some money that needs to be spent on certain things, but it is way more about policy.

Persons: Joe Biden, It's, ”, Dan Crenshaw, Biden, “, Colleen Putzel, there's, Eric Adams, Alex Gough, J.B . Pritzker, Maura Healey, Kevin McCarthy, Sen, Kevin Cramer, he’d, it’s, Texas Republican Sen, John Cornyn, Chris Murphy, ” Murphy, ” Crenshaw, Mary Clare Jalonick, Kevin Freking, Claire Savage, Mike Casey, Patrick Whittle, Lisa Rathke, Holly Ramer Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, White, Democratic, Homeland Security, Migration Policy Institute, Central America, New York, ”, O’Hare, Illinois Gov, GOP, Texas Republican, Connecticut Democrat, Department of Homeland Security, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Mexico, Israel, Texas, U.S, South, Central, York City, New, implore, New York City, Chicago, ” Massachusetts, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington, Boston, Portland , Maine, Montpelier , Vt, Concord, N.H

☆ Bezos' Blue Origin sees third executive departure amid restructuring
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Joey Roulette | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Eilola's departure follows plans announced last month by Bezos to replace Smith, who has been Blue Origin's CEO since 2017, with longtime Amazon executive Dave Limp by the end of the year. Blue Origin did not respond to a request for comment. Bezos founded Blue Origin in 2000 with the vision of having millions of people living and working in space. In the past several months, Blue Origin's corporate structure has changed substantially as its leadership gets a revamp. Blue Origin this year also spun its moon lander program into a new independent business unit.

Persons: Jeff Bezos's, Ivan Pierre Aguirre, Origin's, Jeff Bezos, Bob Smith, Mike Eilola, Bezos, Smith, Dave Limp, Brent Sherwood, Shepard, Limp, Joey Roulette, Will Dunham Organizations: Shepard, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Elon, SpaceX, Blue, Amazon, Honeywell Aerospace, Glenn, NASA, Space Systems, Thomson Locations: Van Horn , Texas, U.S, United States

☆ New York sues crypto firms for alleged $1 billion fraud, cites SBF hedge fund bet
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Crypto firms Digital Currency Group and Gemini defrauded more than 230,000 investors out of a collective $1.1 billion, New York state prosecutors said in a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Thursday. They cited a series of missteps, including failure to adequately manage the risk associated with exposure to Sam Bankman-Fried's bankrupt and allegedly fraudulent crypto trading firm. For a time, it was very lucrative, until crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital defaulted on its loans and sent much of the crypto world into tumult. Gemini would then give Genesis that customer crypto for further lending, collecting a slice of Genesis' interest. By extension, prosecutors say, that meant that Gemini also had exposure to Alameda — and allegedly knew they did.

Persons: Crypto, Sam Bankman, Genesis, Barry Silbert's, DCG, 3AC, Cameron, Tyler Winklevoss, Gemini Organizations: Digital Currency Group, Gemini, Genesis Global Capital, Arrows Capital, New, Genesis's, Alameda Research, Alameda — Locations: New York, Manhattan, Alameda

☆ X social media to test $1 annual subscription for basic features
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of social media platform X, formerly Twitter, is seen alongside the former logo in this illustration taken, July 24, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 17 (Reuters) - Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, said on Tuesday it will test a new subscription model under which it will charge $1 annual fee for basic features. The purpose of introducing the new subscription model is to combat bots and spammers, X said, adding that the fee will vary from country to country based on the exchange rate. X said the new method will be first available for users in New Zealand and Philippines. In July, X had introduced a limit on viewing tweets, "to ensure the authenticity" of its user base.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, X, Elon Musk, Linda Yaccarino, Shubhendu Deshmukh, Subhranshu Sahu, Rashmi Organizations: REUTERS, Twitter, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Philippines, Bengaluru

Reuters reported in July that Indian refiners began using yuan to pay for some oil from Russian sellers, while continuing to use dollars and dirhams to settle most of their Russian oil purchases. Indian refiners buy most of their Russian oil from traders, while making some direct purchases from Russian entities. State-run Indian Oil Corp (IOC.NS), the country's top refiner, has used yuan and other currencies to pay for Russian oil, Reuters reported previously. Private Indian refiners have continued to pay in yuan and other currencies for Russian oil imports, sources said, with most Indian purchases of Russian oil paid in dirham. Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL and the country's oil and finance ministries did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comments.

Persons: Tatiana Meel, Nidhi Verma, Tony Munroe, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, Reuters, Gazprom Neft, Indian Oil Corp, Bharat Petroleum Corp, Hindustan Petroleum, Thomson Locations: Nakhodka Bay, Nakhodka, Russia, DELHI, India, Moscow, Ukraine, United States, dirhams, Gazprom, dirham, Hong Kong, China

☆ NFL roundup: Browns ruin 49ers' perfect season thanks to late FG
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had 280 yards passing -- including 131 to A.J. The Panthers (0-6) remain the only winless team in the NFL despite going to the second quarter with a 14-0 lead. Commanders 24, Falcons 16Behind Sam Howell's three touchdown passes and key interceptions by Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste, visiting Washington earned a win over Atlanta. Christian Kirk and Brenton Strange caught touchdown passes as Jacksonville (4-2) moved into first place in the AFC South. The Lions' top rusher, David Montgomery, suffered a rib injury in the second quarter and did not return.

Persons: Dustin Hopkins, Wyatt Teller, Hopkins, Ken Blaze, Jake Moody, Jordan Mason, Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brock Purdy, P.J . Walker, Deshaun Watson, Tony Adams, Breece Hall, Zach Wilson, Randall Cobb, Wilson, Jalen, Brown, Greg Zuerlein, Tua Tagovailoa, Raheem Mostert, Tyreek Hill, Bryce Young, Chuba Hubbard, Adam Thielen, Justin Tucker, Tucker, Nick, Lamar Jackson, Ryan Tannehill, Sam Howell's, Kendall Fuller, Benjamin St, Juste, Atlanta . Howell, Fuller, Terry McLaurin, Brian Robinson, Antonio Gibson, Desmond Ridder, Jordan Hicks, Kirk Cousins, Jordan Addison, Justin Fields, Tyson Bagent, Joe Burrow, Geno Smith, Burrow, Smith, Kenneth Walker III, Andrei Iosivas, C.J, Stroud, Dalton Schultz, Robert Woods, Derek Carr, Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne Jr, Lawrence, Christian Kirk, Brenton Strange, Gardner Minshew, Anthony Richardson, Zack Moss, Jimmy Garoppolo, Daniel Carlson, Garoppolo, Brian Hoyer, Mac Jones, Bill Belichick, Don Shula, George Halas, Jared Goff, Goff, Ra St, Jameson Williams, David Montgomery, Baker Mayfield, Chris Godwin, Cooper Kupp, Christian Rozeboom, Josh Dobbs, Kyren Williams, Williams, Dobbs Organizations: Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, 49ers, Cleveland, Browns, Jets, Eagles, New, Philadelphia, Dolphins, Panthers, Miami, Carolina, The Dolphins, NFL, Ravens, Titans, Baltimore, Nick Folk, Tennessee, Falcons, Washington, Atlanta ., St, Vikings, Bears, Minnesota, Chicago, Bengals, Seahawks, Cincinnati, Seattle, The Bengals, Texans, Saints, Stroud, Jaguars, Colts, Jacksonville, Indianapolis, AFC, Raiders, Patriots, Las Vegas, New England, Lions, Buccaneers, Detroit, Tampa Bay, NFC, Bucs, Rams, Cardinals, Los Angeles, Thomson Locations: Cleveland , Ohio, USA, San Francisco, New York, East Rutherford, N.J, Philadelphia, Miami Gardens, Fla, Tennessee, London, Baltimore, Atlanta, Minnesota, Houston, New Orleans, Jacksonville, New, New England, Detroit, Green, Amon, Arizona, Inglewood , Calif, Los Angeles

☆ A California hedge fund's noncompetes drew outcry from employees. Now, it's doing away with the practice for former staffers.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Alex Morrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

California quantitative hedge fund The Voleon Group is abandoning its controversial practice of demanding that ex-employees recuse themselves from the industry for two years without pay. The $5 billion fund, based in Berkeley, California, has long imposed one of the industry's harshest noncompetition agreements despite California lawmakers' efforts to eliminate the practice. Insider last week reported on Voleon's noncompete policies, which the company has at times tried to enforce using intimidation and legal threats, ex-employees told Insider. "I don't know anyone who hasn't signed," a former employee previously told Insider, adding that Voleon managers encouraged employees to sign the agreement. A Voleon spokesman previously told Insider: "Like most hedge funds, in order to protect its most sensitive intellectual property, Voleon requests that select employees sign noncompetition agreements."

Persons: they'd, Lee Koffler, hasn't, Voleon, that's, — Organizations: Company, Voleon, Labor Locations: California, Berkeley , California, York

☆ C.J. Stroud, Texans' defense stomp out Saints
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Field Level Media | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Stroud threw two touchdown passes and the Houston defense held the New Orleans Saints without a touchdown after the first quarter in the host Texans' 20-13 victory Sunday afternoon. The Texans reached the New Orleans 1-yard line midway through the third quarter before settling for Ka'imi Fairbairn's 22-yard field goal and a 20-10 lead. Blake Grupe answered with a 45-yard field goal that got the Saints within 20-13 at the end of the third quarter. Six players later, Stroud threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Schultz for a 7-0 lead. Stroud added a 6-yard touchdown pass to Woods to increase the lead to 17-7 with 2:56 before halftime.

Persons: Stroud, Dalton Schultz, Robert Woods, Derek Carr, Blake Grupe, Grupe, Carr's, Alvin Kamara, Carr, Steven Nelson, Zack Baun, Baun, Schultz, Rashid Shaheed, Fairbairn, Woods Organizations: New, New Orleans Saints, Texans, Stroud, Saints, Houston, NFL, Thomson Locations: Houston, New Orleans

☆ Missed penalty will hurt Sexton, says O'Driscoll
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"It's tough when you don't get that fairytale ending you were hoping for," O'Driscoll said on ITV. In the final minutes, Ireland hammered away at the All Blacks line, but New Zealand held out. You can always looked back at missed opportunities, but they gave everything they had and they were repelled," O'Driscoll said. "The really frustrating thing, and talking about Johnny Sexton looking back we have to say it, there was a missed penalty after 58 minutes that gets it to within drop goal range. You never blame kickers but knowing him, it will be one that will really hurt him."

Persons: Brian O'Driscoll, Johnny Sexton, O'Driscoll, Sexton, Johnny, Trevor Stynes, Ed Osmond Organizations: Ireland, Rugby, New Zealand, Wales, ITV, Blacks, Thomson Locations: New, Ireland

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