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☆ China's energy security push drives up fossil fuel approvals - research
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( David Stanway | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"China's government has put energy security and energy transition at odds with one another," said Greenpeace's Gao Yuhe, who led the research published on Thursday. "Beijing has clearly stated that coal power will still grow at a 'reasonable pace' into 2030," she said. China's National Energy Administration (NEA) did not immediately reply to a fax sent requesting a comment on the coal plants and their power generation policies. The increase in China's coal usage reflects a worldwide pattern. The International Energy Agency said last week that global coal consumption reached a record 8.3 billion tons in 2022, with strong growth in Asia offsetting declines elsewhere.

Persons: David Gray, Gao Yuhe, Xi Jinping, Gao, Jorrit Gosens, David Stanway, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Mongolia Autonomous, REUTERS, Companies Greenpeace, Greenpeace, National Energy Administration, International Energy Agency, National Development, Reform Commission, European, Global Energy Monitor, Australian National University, NEA, Thomson Locations: Baotou, China's, Mongolia, Mongolia Autonomous Region, SINGAPORE, China, Beijing, Asia, European Union

☆ Greek wildfires die down after burning for nearly two weeks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Alexandros AvramidisATHENS, July 28 (Reuters) - Wildfires in Greece abated on Friday after burning for nearly two weeks but emergency services worked to prevent new flare-ups in the central part of the country, where people had fled massive explosions at an ammunition depot the day before. In the hard-hit area of Magnesia, wildfires reached an air force ammunition depot close to the coastal town of Nea Aghialos on Thursday. Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said on Friday he had ordered an investigation into the incident. The labour ministry urged employers in an industrial zone of Volos to suspend operations for a second day on Friday. But teams operated at several sites for an 11th day in an effort to fully tame all the fronts.

Persons: Alexandros Avramidis ATHENS, Dina Angeli, Nikos Dendias, Firefighters, Ioannis Artopoios, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Angeliki Koutantou, Alexandros Avramidis, Stamos Prousalis, Angeliki, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: REUTERS, Fighter, Reuters, Greek Defence, Thomson Locations: Volos, Greece, Magnesia, Nea Aghialos, Aghialos, Rhodes

☆ Why college is getting more expensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

After adjusting for currency inflation, college tuition has increased 747.8% since 1963, the Education Data Initiative found. But the net price of college — that’s the amount that students and their families are actually shelling out — has been decreasing. The average student at a private four-year college paid $32,800 for tuition and room and board last year. When adjusted for inflation, the actual price paid for private college has dropped by 11% over the past five years, according to College Board data. In a 6-3 decision the Supreme Court struck down the Biden administration's student debt forgiveness program in Biden v. Nebraska.

Persons: Brian Snyder, ”, Megan Brenan, Catharine Hill, “, —, couldn’t, ’ ”, they’ve, Kevin Dietsch, Joe Biden’s, Biden Organizations: New, New York CNN, College, US News, Harvard University, Harvard, Reuters, Education Data Initiative, Georgetown University Center, Education, Gallup, Vassar College, “, ”, National Education Association, Foreign Relations, Economic, Institute, luxe, ” Colleges, American, of Trustees, NEA, College Board, U.S, Supreme, Biden, . Nebraska Locations: New York, Cambridge , Massachusetts, United States, “, Washington , DC, .

☆ American, JetBlue to end sales of each others' tickets next week after judge orders breakup
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The judge ordered the airlines to end their more than two-year partnership, which allowed them to share passengers and revenue, and to coordinate schedules in the northeastern U.S. American and JetBlue will stop selling seats on each other's flights next Friday, two months after a federal judge ruled that the airlines' partnership in the Northeast violated antitrust laws . American, however, said it still plans to appeal the ruling on the Northeast Alliance. "We will continue to work with the JetBlue team to ensure customers who have existing codeshare bookings can travel seamlessly without disruption to their travel plans." Thursday is also the last day that customers can use American AAdvantage frequent flyer miles to book flights on JetBlue.

Persons: Dave Fintzen Organizations: Justice Department, District of Columbia, Delta, JetBlue, Northeast Alliance, NEA, Spirit Airlines, Northeast Alliance . Locations: U.S, New York City, Boston

☆ JetBlue says it will end American Airlines partnership after losing DOJ case, will focus on Spirit
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

JetBlue Airways said Wednesday that it will terminate its partnership in the northeast U.S. with American Airlines after a federal judge ruled to block the agreement, as the New York airline focuses on its acquisition of Spirit Airlines . American said last month that it would challenge the ruling against the JetBlue partnership, but New York-based JetBlue said Wednesday it would not appeal the decision. JetBlue's deal to buy Spirit came together after JetBlue and American launched a partnership in the Northeast. American Airlines said Wednesday that it will still appeal the ruling. A spokesman for the airline did not immediately say how American could salvage the deal if JetBlue plans to begin unwinding it.

Persons: 2023Flights, Trump Organizations: LAX, Jan, FAA, JetBlue Airways, American Airlines, New, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, NEA, American, Alliance Locations: Los Angeles, CaliforniaJan, New York, Northeast

☆ The Supreme Court ruled against affirmative action in college admissions—what students should know
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Jennifer Liu | In Jljenniferliu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that affirmative action admission policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina are unconstitutional. The decision means universities can no longer consider race in addition to other factors when admitting students, ending 40-plus years of affirmative action policies intended to achieve greater racial diversity at top-tier colleges. In response to the Court's decision, students, alumni and educators have spoken up about the need for more work to make universities more accessible to students who come from historically disadvantaged communities. Colleges and universities have been preparing for what an end to race-conscious admissions could mean for their admissions processes, beginning with students applying to schools this fall. Here's how the college admissions process could change in the coming months and years.

Persons: Becky Pringle, Pringle Organizations: Harvard University, University of North, National Education Association, Fair, Harvard, UNC, NEA, of Education, Department, Justice Locations: University of North Carolina

☆ Mitsotakis to be sworn in as Greek PM after landslide victory
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Karolina Tagaris | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ATHENS, June 26 (Reuters) - Greece's New Democracy party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis will be sworn in as prime minister on Monday after a resounding victory in a repeat election on Sunday gave him a second four-year term. But I assure you that I will stay true to my national duty," Mitsotakis said. Greek newspapers hailed the result a "historic win," with Ta Nea writing on its front page "Mitsotakis's absolute dominance, with no opponent." Sunday's vote was a heavy defeat for Alexis Tsipras's Syriza party, which lost more than 30 lawmakers. It also saw three fringe right-wing and nationalist parties - including the anti-immigrant 'Spartans', enter parliament with a combined 35 seats.

Persons: Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Mitsotakis, Ta, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Alexis Tsipras's Syriza, Tsipras, Karolina Tagaris, Lincoln Organizations: Democracy, Sunday, European Union, Spartans, Thomson Locations: ATHENS

[1/2] American airlines jets sit at gates at Washington's Reagan National airport in Washington, U.S. April 29, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin LamarqueWASHINGTON, June 12 (Reuters) - U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin on Monday delayed the effective date of a permanent injunction after ruling American Airlines (AAL.O) and JetBlue Airways (JBLU.O) must end their Northeast Alliance (NEA) they used to coordinate flights and pool revenue. On Friday, the airlines asked Sorokin to allow them to continue mutual frequent flyer recognition and codeshare arrangements. The Justice Department said Sorokin should reject the airlines' "invitation to craft a new 'NEA Lite' on the fly." Separately, the Justice Department filed suit in March aimed at stopping JetBlue from buying discount rival Spirit Airlines (SAVE.N).

Persons: Kevin Lamarque WASHINGTON, Leo Sorokin, Sorokin, David Shepardson, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Reagan, REUTERS, District, American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Northeast Alliance, NEA, JetBlue, Justice Department, American, JetBlue Boston, U.S, Department, Spirit Airlines, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, New York, Boston, Washington, York, JFK, LaGuardia, Newark

WASHINGTON, June 9 (Reuters) - American Airlines (AAL.O) and JetBlue Airways (JBLU.O) asked a U.S. judge late Friday to allow them to continue mutual frequent flyer recognition and codeshare arrangements. Codeshares allow multiple airlines to sell seats for the same flight. The Justice Department said Sorokin should reject the airlines "invitation to craft a new 'NEA Lite' on the fly." American is the largest U.S. airline by fleet size and low-cost carrier. Separately, the Justice Department filed suit in March aimed at stopping JetBlue from buying discount rival Spirit Airlines (SAVE.N).

Persons: Leo Sorokin, Sorokin, David Shepardson, Diane Craft Organizations: American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, District, Northeast Alliance, NEA, Justice Department, American, JetBlue Boston, U.S, JetBlue, Department, Spirit Airlines, Thomson Locations: New York, Boston, Washington, York, JFK, LaGuardia, Newark

☆ Singapore's love affair with air conditioning shows a Catch 22 of climate change
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Thankfully, Chee said, his home has five air conditioners – one in each bedroom and a larger unit in the living room. “I drank plenty of water, took cold showers and kept the air conditioning on for the entire weekend. Indeed, in this city, air conditioning has become almost a way of life. But Singapore’s love affair with air conditioning has an enormous cost. Here are some possible solutions 02:39 - Source: CNNBreaking the loopStill, experts say there are ways to break the air conditioning doom-loop.

Persons: Chee Kuan Chew, ” Chee, “, Mo Kio, Chee, Lee Kuan Yew, Edgar Su, Suhaimi Abdullah, Matthias Roth, Roth, Radhika Khosla, ” Khosla, Heng Chye Kiang, Smart, Heng Organizations: CNN, Reuters, Economic, International Energy Agency, Urban, United States Environmental Protection Agency, National University of Singapore, United Nations, Montreal Protocol, Oxford University’s Smith School of Enterprise, Environment, Bloomberg, Getty, Singapore’s National Environment Agency, NEA, ”, National University of Singapore’s School of Design Locations: Singapore, New York City, Japan, United States, ”, Kigali, Montreal, Orchard

☆ CVS and NEA just sank $166 million into a startup building a new care model for kidney disease. Here's the pitch deck that convinced CapitalG to back Strive Health's Series B.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Lydia Ramsey Pflanzer | Megan Hernbroth | Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Strive Health just raised $166 million in May from investors like NEA and CVS Health Ventures. See the presentation that got Strive Health a $140 million Series B in March 2021. In May, Strive Health announced it raised $166 million in Series C funding led by healthcare venture firm NEA. The round included CVS Health Ventures, CapitalG, Echo Health Ventures, Town Hall Ventures, Ascension Ventures, and Redpoint. The Series C is Strive Health's latest raise since its $140 million Series B in March 2021.

Persons: Chris Riopelle, Riopelle Organizations: NEA, CVS Health Ventures, Health, Echo Health Ventures, Hall Ventures, Ascension Ventures, CapitalG, Google

☆ Here's an exclusive look at the pitch deck that Kira Learning, a startup that provides AI-powered software to help teach computer science to K-12 students, raise $15 million from investors like NEA
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Madeline Renbarger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Edtech startup Kira Learning uses AI-powered software to help K-12 students learn computer science. The idea was to help students become familiar with computer science before they get into college. Teachers in these schools had never taught computer science before, and many were new to learning coding skills themselves. The partnership will make Kira Learning's computer science courses available to all public middle and high schools in the state, at no cost to schools, Pasinetti said. Check out the 16-slide pitch deck that Kira Learning used to raise $15 million in Series A funding from NEA and the AI Fund:

Persons: Andrea Pasinetti, Andrew Ng, Pasinetti, Ng, Kira, Jagriti Agrawal, Kira Learning's, Kira Learning Organizations: Stanford University, Stanford, NASA, NEA, AI, AI Fund, Innovation Network Locations: Tennessee

☆ Welcome to the final phase of software eating the world. SaaS companies beware, you're on the menu this time.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Stephanie Palazzolo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

This could disrupt the way software is created, distributed, and used, VCs and startup founders say. This outcome would flip the traditional software industry on its head, calling into question the value of SaaS companies in a world where everyday people can build software themselves. "This is the final chapter of software eating the world, where a bunch of people can create enterprise software within the enterprise." A 'healthy pressure' for traditional SaaS providersTo be sure, the death of the traditional software company still seems a long way off. However, even skeptics admit that the threat of generative AI to traditional SaaS will push established software companies to prove their worth.

☆ Justice Department wins lawsuit to undo JetBlue, American Airlines partnership in the Northeast
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An American Airlines plane takes off near a parked JetBlue plane at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on July 16, 2020 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A federal judge on Friday ordered American Airlines and JetBlue Airways to end their partnership in the Northeast, a win for the Justice Department after it sued to undo the alliance arguing it was anti-competitive. The lawsuit, filed in September 2021, alleged that the airlines' alliance was effectively a merger that would hurt consumers by driving up fares. Fort Worth, Texas-based American Airlines and New York-based JetBlue Airways argued they needed the so-called Northeast Alliance to better compete with other large carriers Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in congested airports in the region. Undoing the partnership would be difficult, especially during the peak summer travel season, which airlines have already sold tickets for.

☆ Justice Department wins lawsuit to end JetBlue and American Airlines alliance
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —American Airlines and JetBlue Airways have to break up their alliance on Northeast US flight routes, a US District Court judge ordered Friday. US District Judge Leo Sorokin ruled in favor of the the Justice Department, giving the Biden administration a victory in its years-long lawsuit against the airlines’ collaboration. The airlines have 30 days to end their partnership, Sorokin ruled – just as the busy summer travel season kicks off. The Justice Department also alleged the two airlines shared revenues earned at these airports, eliminating their incentives to compete with one another. CNN has reached out to American Airlines, JetBlue and the Justice Department for comment.

☆ A federal judge just told American and JetBlue to undo the Northeast Alliance in 30 days
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US Department of Justice has won its antitrust lawsuit against JetBlue Airways and American Airlines. Judge Leo Sorokin ruled the pair has 30 days to undo their powerful Northeast Alliance. It looks like the controversial partial union of JetBlue Airways and American Airlines may be over. According to Judge Sorokin, JetBlue and American have 30 days to undo their alliance, meaning they cannot work together to coordinate their fares or routes. Both airlines have already sold tickets, and the unraveling could cause a headache for JetBlue, American, and their customers.

☆ China's carbon emissions to hit new record in 2023 on economic rebound. But they could peak soon, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s carbon emissions will likely hit a new record in 2023 on the back of an economic rebound, but a rapid expansion in green energy will enable its emissions to peak soon, a global energy think tank said on Friday. However, the emissions could peak soon, as China has accelerated its clean energy push and installed record amounts of solar and wind power capacity, the analysts pointed out. Coal production surged 11% in 2022 from 2021, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. This will lead to a sharp increase in bank lending and investment, particularly for manufacturing, transportation and energy production, they added. “When low-carbon power growth matches — and then exceeds — the annual increase in electricity demand, the sector’s CO2 emissions will peak,” they said.

☆ Exclusive: NEA and Pear VC just led a $4.5 million seed investment in Orby, the AI that has thoughts about your job performance
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Darius Rafieyan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Stealth AI startup Orby recently closed a $4.5 million seed round led by NEA and Pear VC. The scramble into AI startups continues apace as NEA and Pear VC lead a $4.5 million seed investment into stealth startup Orby, which seeks to leverage the power of surveillance to automate away life's most tedious tasks. It identifies wasted energy and inefficiencies, repetitive tasks that can be automated and handed off to the computer. They say Orby can identify this repetition and write code to automate it. Eventually, they say, Orby may start to know your job better than you do, and find solutions you never thought of.

☆ The live volcano sitting below Santorini
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Elinda Labropoulou | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Everywhere you look on Santorini, you’re reminded that you’re on a volcano. Few realize that beneath the hypnotic kaleidoscope of colors lies an active volcano. The East Mediterranean’s most active underwater, and potentially dangerous, volcano, Kolumbo, is five miles northeast of Santorini and part of the same volcanic system. They include a visit to the volcano of Nea Kameni: one of five islands that form the Santorini volcanic complex, and a national geological park in itself. A simmering volcanoTourists can take boat trips to Nea Kameni, home to an active volcano.

☆ 9 startups bringing AI tech to Netflix, Lucasfilm, Marvel, and more Hollywood studios — and attracting millions in VC funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

VCs and private equity have poured millions into startups bringing AI tech to film and TV production. AI startups disrupting Hollywood include MARZ and Wonder Dynamics, cofounded by "X Men" star Tye Sheridan. Investment in AI startups for entertainment is "blowing up right now," said Michael Blank, head of consumer investing at CAA. There are already AI tools that can write full scripts. Vendors and investors told Insider that over time, AI tools will change jobs, not replace them.

☆ These 8 startups are bringing AI technology to Netflix, Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, and more — and attracting millions in VC funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

VCs and private equity have poured millions into AI startups seeking to disrupt film and TV production. Startups making waves in Hollywood AI include MARZ and Deep Voodoo, founded by the creators of "South Park." Generative AI has spawned a raft of tools with real-life applications to Hollywood — and VCs are getting in on the action. There are already AI tools that can write full scripts. Vendors and investors told Insider that over time, AI tools will change jobs, not replace them.

☆ In the midst of the AI boom, investors are doubling down on diligence. Here are the five questions VCs are asking every generative AI startup during pitches.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Stephanie Palazzolo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Buzzy generative AI startups have so far avoided the troubles plaguing the rest of the tech world. Here are the five diligence questions investors are asking generative AI startups, according to VCs. But for generative AI startups, 2023 has been much of the same — and that hasn't been a bad thing. Insider spoke with eight of these VCs about the top five questions they're asking generative AI startups during diligence processes. One hallmark of generative AI startups are their eye-staggering round sizes.

☆ Exclusive: Buzzy generative AI-powered search engine Perplexity AI taps NEA to lead funding round at a $150 million valuation
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Stephanie Palazzolo | Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AI search engine startup Perplexity AI is raising a funding round led by NEA, Insider has learned. The deal aims to raise between $20 and $25 million at a $150 million post-money valuation, according to sources. The fundraise continues the trend of large rounds and valuations in the buzzy generative AI space. AI search engine startup Perplexity AI is in talks to raise a funding round led by NEA, according to three people with knowledge of the financing who were not authorized to speak publicly. Perplexity AI cofounder and CEO Aravind Srinivas declined to comment.

☆ Returns from top venture firms NEA, DCM, and Khosla have been dismal over the past 2 decades, according to filings from California's largest pension fund, CalPERS
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Ben Bergman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

CalPERS is the US's largest public pension plan, managing the retirement accounts of 1.5 million California employees and retirees. Unlike many other financial institutions, VC funds are not required to show their return on investment in startups. The CalPERS fund's $75 million bet in 2001 on a venture fund managed by the Carlyle Group lost money. A $25 million investment in DCM's 2000 fund had a 1.9% IRR. Its $260 million investment in two Khosla Ventures funds in 2009 yielded an IRR of 11.8% for the early-to-midstage fund and 6.9% for the seed-stage fund.

☆ ExodusPoint's 2022 struggles is a lesson for all of Wall Street: Play the hits
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I shudder to compare some of the greatest artists of our generation to a hedge fund, but I can't help but notice some similarities between their disdain for their biggest hits and ExodusPoint's difficult 2022. The hedge fund, which still holds the industry's largest launch in history, ended the year with fewer assets, employees, and PMs than it started with. The world's biggest hedge fund has a new co-CIO. Ken Griffin, the billionaire owner of hedge fund Citadel, is causing quite the stir over his suggestion that a historic home on a property he owns in Miami be relocated. The firm continues to cut back on the size of a venture-capital fund its raising, The Wall Street Journal reports, with a new goal of $5 billion.

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