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☆ Why Faulty Streetlights Are Turning Cities Purple — and Why It's Worrisome
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

LED streetlights are supposed to shine for the better part of a decade. Every city with purple lights that responded to my queries or has public records on the matter bought its LED lights from Acuity. The blue LED, with its narrow wavelength, enabled all sorts of modern tech, from the compact disc to flat-screen monitors. Acuity and the purple cities haven't been entirely transparent on that matter. "The purple streetlights are a result of the phosphor coating delaminating from the LEDs," says Fiona Hughes, a representative for the city of Vancouver.

☆ Canada to invest C$1.6 bln in first national climate adaptation strategy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Nia Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

near Fintry, Canada, August 24, 2021. REUTERS/Artur Gajda/File PhotoNov 24 (Reuters) - Canada published its first ever national climate adaptation strategy on Thursday, including C$1.6 billion ($1.2 billion) in new federal funding commitments to help protect communities against the increasing impacts of global warming. The goal of the adaptation strategy is to help reduce those losses with federal policy and investment. "The fight against climate change has reached our doorstep. Ottawa has so far earmarked C$8 billion in federal funding for adaptation and disaster resilience, the statement said.

☆ Kindle’s 15-year anniversary is a reminder simplicity is king
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

It’s like holding nothing but the words.”Amazon (AMZN) launched the original Kindle on November 19 2007, pushing the publishing industry to further embrace digital books and also kickstarting the e-commerce giant’s hardware efforts. Amazon can keep Kindle prices relatively low because the business model is all about selling books, not selling hardware, McQueen said. Likewise, the original Kindle had access to 90,000 books in the Kindle Store compared to 13 million books now in the Kindle Store. Amazon’s current lineup of hardware devices includes the Fire tablet, the Firestick media streaming gadget and the Echo smart speaker. “The more interesting question is will Kindle be broadly considered retro tech like vinyl record players or arcade cabinets of today?”

☆ Historic Artemis I mission is just beginning its lunar journey
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The Artemis I mission launched on its journey to the moon Wednesday. NASAHours after the launch of Artemis I, the Orion spacecraft began to share its impressive views from space. The Artemis I mission is speeding along on a 25.5-day journey that will loop around the moon and return to Earth on December 11. Across the universeA newborn star is at the heart of a new James Webb Space Telescope image that looks like an hourglass. NASA/ESA/CSA/STScIAn awe-inspiring new image from the James Webb Space Telescope shows the gas and dust released by a chaotic newborn star.

☆ Chimpanzees could share another behavior trait with humans
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The closest cousin of humans, this species of great ape has effective ways of communicating what it needs. Show-and-tellFiona had been engaged in what researchers call “leaf grooming,” a common behavior in which a chimpanzee will stroke and manipulate a leaf. Slocombe and her team always maintain a 23-foot (7-meter) distance when observing the chimpanzees in the wild, so as to not disturb them. This standard practice rules out the possibility that the behavior was learned from humans. She hopes it will encourage those who work with chimpanzees, in the wild or in captivity, to look out for more examples.

☆ U.S. retailers take a knock after Target's sales warning
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Medha Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

But shares in Target's larger competitor Walmart (WMT.N) edged up 1.1%, a day after lifting its annual sales and profit forecast as demand for groceries held up despite higher prices. With annual inflation running at 7.7% in October and high interest rates, shoppers are reining in discretionary spending, bad news for retailers that rely on year-end shopping to boost annual sales. U.S. Commerce Department data showed U.S. retail sales improved more than expected after no growth in September. Bucking the retail trend, home improvement chain Lowe's Cos Inc (LOW.N) added more than 4% after raising its annual profit forecast, while discount store operator TJX Cos Inc (TJX.N) bumped up annual same-store sales forecast, rising almost 1%. Walmart, Target shares recover as CPI peaksReporting by Medha Singh in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Bansari Mayur KamdarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Sterling ticks up as UK inflation hits 41-year high
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 16 Reuters) - Sterling rose against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday following UK inflation data that topped expectations and raised the chances of yet more interest rate hikes by the Bank of England (BoE). Despite sterling ticking up, the currency had traded flat in the hours after the inflation data was published, suggesting a muted reaction from traders. Earlier this week, data showed Britain's unemployment rate rose to 3.6% in the three months to September, above expectations for 3.5%. Quarterly GDP figures last week showed Britain's economy shrank by a less severe than-expected 0.2% in the three months to September. October retail sales data due on Friday will give further insight into consumer spending, which is a major pillar of the UK economy.

☆ UK inflation tops 11% to hit its highest level since 1981 as food and energy prices soar
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

UK inflation jumped to a fresh four-decade high of 11.1% in October, from 10.1% the month before. The Bank of England has hiked interest rates to their highest since 2008 to try to cool inflation. Consumer prices were up 11.1% on the level a year ago — the highest rate of inflation since October 1981, the Office of National Statistics said Wednesday. The UK central bank has now raised rates eight times since February to reach 3%, the highest level since the 2008 financial crisis. Read more: Bank of England hikes interest rates by an outsized 75 basis points for the first time in over 30 years

☆ The US dollar has fallen to a 3-month low after easing inflation in October dampened expectations for more big rate hikes
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Carla Mozée | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US Dollar Index dropped to a three-month low on Tuesday, dipping below 106. The Fed will likely slow rate hikes in December but a full-on Fed pivot remains elusive. The US Dollar Index fell by as much as 1.2% to 105.34, the lowest print since August 11. This builds on expectations that the Fed will slow the pace of rate hikes," Fiona Cincotta, senior financial markets analyst at City Index, wrote in a note. "I would instead look at these readings as a reason for the overall pace of US interest rate hikes to slow because inflation expectations are still at a sustained high level."

☆ White House requests $37.7 billion in new Ukraine funding, $10 billion for Covid relief
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The White House is requesting nearly $40 billion in new funding from Congress to support Ukraine and an additional $10 billion for pandemic relief. Other House Republicans like Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said at the beginning of the month "not another penny will go to Ukraine" under Republican leadership. The formal funding request also includes $9.25 billion for Covid-19 relief and $750 million to address other infectious diseases. The White House is requesting $2.5 billion for Covid-19 vaccine access and replenishing the Strategic National Stockpile, $5 billion for further vaccine development, $750 million for long Covid research and $1 billion to international aid combatting the virus. The White House also requested an unspecified amount for natural disaster relief to help Florida and Puerto Rico rebuild from Hurricanes Ian and Fiona.

LONDON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The moment of truth is almost here for Britain's new prime minister Rishi Sunak and finance minister Jeremy Hunt. British markets have regained some poise after the carnage triggered by September's fiscal statement, but as the UK slips into recession, the outlook is far from rosy. Here's a look at some of the likely winners and losers from Thursday's budget. "Domestic UK equities are being treated with caution by investors both domestically and internationally," he said. snapshotA CRUDE TARGETEnergy companies have reported bumper profits this year, thanks to soaring crude oil and gas prices.

European stock markets were lower (.STOXX), U.S. equity futures , were mixed and Asian shares (.MIAPJ0000PUS) edged up as the U.S. midterm election results rolled in. This all left MSCI's World Stock Index (.MIWD00000PUS) stuck just below Tuesday's seven-week peak. "U.S. stock futures are pushing higher on the idea of political gridlock being favourable for stocks, as it has been historically." Stuart Cole, head macro economist at Equiti Capital said potential political gridlock in Washington likely meant the end of tax rises on corporations and the well-off proposed by President Joe Biden. Reuters GraphicsIn Asia, Japan's blue-chip Nikkei stock index (.N225) retreated from a two-month high as poor results from videogame maker Nintendo weighed.

☆ I was scared to lose my 6-figure tech job after long COVID put me in excruciating pain. Instead, I built a schedule and salary around my illness.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Fiona Lowenstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But other than that, I felt OK, and even those symptoms started to improve in June of 2020. It took me about three months to figure out that it was long COVID. In December 2020, I was improving, so I went back to work part-time, receiving a percentage of my full-time salary. I'm now on long-term disability through my company, which makes up a percentage of the rest of my salary I don't receive for my part-time work. I joined a patient-led long COVID support group that was really helpful.

☆ Putin's time in the KGB taught him 'how to lie' and to think like a terrorist, ex-spies say
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Putin's time in the KGB helps explain his worldview and brutal approach to warfare, ex-spies say. A former KGB agent told Insider the biggest thing Putin learned from the Soviet spy agency was "how to lie." But ex-spies and Russia experts told Insider that Putin's time in the KGB — the Soviet Union's primary and much-feared security agency — played an instrumental role in shaping his mindset. "Putin's KGB background tells us a lot about how he thinks and how he sees the war. He is a creation of the KGB, and the KGB was a terrorist organization," John Sipher, a former CIA officer who served in Russia, told Insider.

☆ Factbox: Highlights from Canada government's fall economic statement
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

OTTAWA, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Below are some of the key proposals and takeaways from the annual fall economic statement unveiled by Canada's Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Thursday. LOWER CREDIT CARD TRANSACTION FEES FOR SMALL BUSINESSTo lower credit card transaction fees for small businesses by negotiating with payment card networks, financial institutions, payment processors, and businesses. To introduce legislation in 2023 to regulate credit card transaction fees if an agreement is not reached with the industry. SUPPORT FOR LOW-EARNERSTo provide C$4 billion over six years starting 2022-23 tolow-income earners by way of advance payment. SUPPORT FOR HURRICANE FIONA-IMPACTED PROVINCESTo set aside C$1 billion in 2022-23 to help provinces hit by Hurricane Fiona under the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements.

☆ Russia stole from a Ukrainian crypt the bones of Catherine the Great's lover, the conqueror who annexed Crimea and inspired Putin
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The bones of Potemkin were removed from Kherson and taken deeper into Russian-occupied territory. Potemkin was Catherine the Great's lover and played a key role in the annexation of Crimea in 1783. Potemkin's remains were removed from St. Catherine's Cathedral and taken deeper into Russian-occupied territory as Ukrainian forces move to retake Kherson. Sebag Montefiore, a historian and author of "Catherine the Great and Potemkin," said in tweets that Potemkin would've "loathed" Putin's "primitive" and "cruel nationalism." An attempt to quickly seize the Ukrainian capital fell apart, forcing Russia to concentrate its efforts on the east, where grinding artillery battles took their toll on both sides.

☆ Russian billionaire behind mercenary army in Ukraine confronted Putin about botching the war, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian tycoon Yevgeniy Prigozhin met with Putin in private this month, The Washington Post said. It said Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner Group, criticized the handling of the Ukraine war. In a statement to The Post, Prigozhin denied that he spoke to Putin and said he has no right to criticize Russia's army. "I did not criticize the management of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation during the conflict in Ukraine. Prighozin is not the only Putin loyalist to voice criticism of the Russian military amid the ongoing conflict.

☆ Five years after Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico's power grid is still costly and unreliable
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Fred Imbert | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The state of Puerto Rico's power grid has been a sore spot for many island businesses and residents, leading to backlash against Luma Energy — the company brought in to operate and improve the grid after Hurricane Maria. Many businesses were forced to shut down for weeks after Hurricane Fiona hit. Luma Energy officially took over control of the island's power grid in June 2021 for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, or PREPA. In July, about two months before Hurricane Fiona hit Puerto Rico, hundreds of residents marched to Gov. The company also said Oct. 10 that power had been restored to 99% of clients affected by Hurricane Fiona.

A Reuters tally of Conservative lawmakers who have made public declarations of support put Sunak on 70 backers, Johnson on 37 and Mordaunt on 20. 1/6 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson makes a statement at Downing Street in London, Britain, July 7, 2022. Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said leaving the European Union had brought instability to Britain. Opposition parties, some newspapers and even a few Conservative lawmakers have called for a general election to be held. Some Conservative lawmakers have urged colleagues to coalesce around one candidate to avoid a bruising battle.

☆ U.S. lawmakers criticize Biden administration Puerto Rico fuel waiver
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 21 (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of House of Representatives lawmakers criticized the Biden administration decision on Friday to waive U.S. shipping rules in September for the delivery of fuel to Puerto Rico. The Sept. 28 Jones Act waiver allowed for the delivery of diesel sourced from the mainland United States by British Petroleum (BP.L) Products North America. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chair Peter DeFazio, a Democrat, and top committee Republican Sam Graves expressed "concerns and disappointment" over the waiver. DHS issued a waiver of the Jones Act, a century-old law that requires goods moved between U.S. ports to be carried by U.S.-flagged ships. Last month, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi asked the White House for a waiver to increase the availability of fuel after the storm.

☆ Elon Musk complimented a top Putin official for trolling Liz Truss, and got invited to Moscow
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk praised a Putin ally for trolling the UK's prime minister over her resignation. On Thursday, Dmitry Medvedev trolled UK Prime Minister Liz Truss for resigning after only 44 days in office, and alluded to a running joke in UK tabloid The Daily Star about whether she'd last longer than a lettuce. Musk was criticised for the jokey interaction with Medvedev, who has previously served as prime minister and president of Russia, and now leads its security council. Musk, the world's richest man, has recently made a series of outspoken pronouncements on the Ukraine war and tensions between Taiwan and China. Fiona Hill, a former White House Russia expert, said Putin was likely manipulating Musk.

☆ European inflation less worrying than in U.S., says asset manager
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | 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 EmailEuropean inflation less worrying than in U.S., says asset managerFiona Frick, chief executive of asset management firm Unigestion, says European companies are priced well, but investors have little visibility on earnings, making cash an attractive short-term solution.

☆ Amazon appears to be polling Americans on how they think it treats warehouse workers amid labor uprisings
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Katherine Long | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A poll to Americans asked about their perception of pay, safety, and benefits at Amazon warehouses. The bulk of the poll focuses on how respondents perceive Amazon's efforts to improve conditions for its warehouse employees. Market research company Survey 160, a consulting firm co-founded by Obama digital strategy alum Nate Lubin, is conducting the survey, according to a text message to a survey participant seen by Insider. Since then, Amazon has expanded a new workplace safety program, raised wages, and boosted upskilling opportunities for frontline workers. Warehouse activists have in the past two years stepped up complaints over Amazon's grueling productivity expectations, safety risks, and attitude toward organized labor.

☆ Insurer Travelers profit falls on hurricane costs, lower investment returns
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A U.S. flag is seen in a flooded rural area after Hurricane Ian caused widespread destruction in Arcadia, Florida, U.S., October 4, 2022. REUTERS/Marco BelloOct 19 (Reuters) - Property and casualty insurer Travelers Companies Inc (TRV.N) reported a 20% fall in quarterly profit on Wednesday, hurt by hurricane-related claims and lower returns on its investments. Insurers are bracing for a hit of up to $57 billion from Hurricane Ian in Florida and South Carolina, risk modeling firm Verisk said earlier this month. The insurance industry also faces hefty claims from the Ukraine crisis and greater uncertainty brought on by higher claims costs from inflation. Pretax net investment income dropped 23% to $593 million, Travelers said.

☆ Trump boasted of getting on with strongmen like Putin and Erdogan better 'the tougher and meaner they are' in new audio
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In one clip, Trump said he likes leaders better "the tougher and meaner they are." In one excerpt, Trump described his admiration for authoritarian strongmen including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Erdoğan, and North Korean President Kim Jong Un. I campaigned on getting along with Russia, China and everyone else," Trump said in a January 2020 interview. Trump noted in the interviews that he had better relationships with leaders "the tougher and meaner they are." "It's funny, the relationships I have, the tougher and meaner they are, the better I get along with them.

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