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The Swiss cabinet held an emergency meeting about the central bank's move on Thursday but gave no public statement after, with most politicians, including Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter, tight-lipped. Greens lawmaker Gerhard Andrey said managers should take responsibility and Switzerland should look at its regulations, with the Credit Suisse debacle putting the country "in a very difficult situation". That Credit Suisse has problems has been known for a long time," said Martin Staub speaking in central Zurich. The financial sector makes up about 9% of Swiss gross domestic product, according to Finance Swiss, and employs 5.5% of the workforce. "The Credit Suisse crisis is negative for Switzerland, but not enough to damage the reputation of Switzerland on its own.

☆ EPA cracks down on 'forever chemicals' in tap water: What PFAS are, where they are, and why they're harmful
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The US Environmental Protection Agency just released a proposal for enforceable standards for six PFAS compounds in drinking water. The new EPA proposal would set the threshold for those two substances at 4 nanograms per liter of drinking water. It also proposes a "hazard index" to set a limit on the combined quantity of four other PFAS in drinking water: PFNA, GenX, PFBS, and PFHxS. Communities across the US have especially high PFAS contamination in their drinking water, often due to a nearby industrial or military facility. "You can't just regulate in drinking water, without addressing the other side," Sunderland said, adding that you have to "turn off the source."

☆ The biggest problem with Russia's tanks in Ukraine is the way Moscow tried to use them
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Alex Hollings | Sandboxx News | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +21 min

By September, the tally of lost and captured Russian tanks reached 1,000 — more than all the tanks in the British, French, German, and Finnish militaries combined. The first time these British tanks found a fight, only 25 of the 49 of them actually moved when ordered to commence the attack. Nonetheless, before the conflict was over, Churchill himself would decide tanks had, once again, run their course, declaring, "we have too much armor — tanks are finished." And that is the real lesson we can glean from the performance of Russian tanks in Ukraine over the past year. Maxim Shemetov/ReutersThis point becomes evident when you look at Russian tank losses recorded by the Oryx Blog between February and April 2022, when Russian tank losses were at their absolute worst.

☆ What could Chinese artillery and ammunition mean for Putin's war in Ukraine?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Mithil Aggarwal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

China is considering sending Moscow ammunition and artillery, according to U.S. officials, which could be particularly crucial as the war grinds into a second year with the front lines likely to be dominated by brutal artillery duels. Beijing has accused the United States of "disinformation" over the claims and said Washington should stay out of its relationship with Moscow. But it may be well equipped to support Russia's military should it choose to do so, experts said. Russia was firing about 20,000 artillery rounds a day, a senior U.S. official told NBC News in November. Even Russia's own mercenary force, the Wagner Group, has accused Moscow of starving them of shells.

☆ British supermarkets confront their German discounting demons
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( James Davey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

And the discounters' supermarket sweep still has a long way to run, industry executives say, with Aldi UK CEO Giles Hurley pledging Britain's lowest prices "no matter what". "Over the Christmas period alone shoppers switched 58 million pounds ($70 million)(of purchases) to Lidl from Tesco and Sainsbury's," Lidl GB CEO Ryan McDonnell told Reuters. Tesco and Sainsbury's are now matching Aldi prices on hundreds of key items and using customer loyalty schemes, while they have accepted a profit hit to keep prices down. Sector executives, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the further rise of Aldi and Lidl is inexorable. "Nobody's going to take Tesco out but at some point somebody might take Sainsbury's out," the sector veteran said.

☆ I quit my job and biked around the world to find true happiness. Here are 5 truths I learned.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Christopher Boyce | The Conversation | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

He took a bike trip around the world and realized true contentment is more about the journey, not the destination. For those unfamiliar with Bhutan, it's a small Himalayan kingdom, famed for basing all its national policy decisions on happiness. Below are some of the important things I learned on a journey for happiness. Don't be misled by storiesThere are many stories about what a happy life entails, but they're not always backed up by reliable evidence. As an academic, I saw how important relationships were for happiness in the data.

☆ Nearly a year on from the supposed Russian exodus, most major companies have yet to withdraw
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

PATRIK STOLLARZ | AFP | Getty ImagesAfter Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022, companies across the G-7 major economies and the European Union announced plans to cease business operations in Russia. The report published earlier this month documented a total of 2,405 subsidiaries owned by 1,404 EU and G-7 companies that were active in Russia at the time of the first military incursion into Ukraine. Of the EU and G-7 companies remaining in Russia, the research found that 19.5% were German, 12.4% were American owned, and 7% were Japanese multinationals. Various companies told Barclays that there were a host of challenges to fully divest. "There have also been suggestions that the assets (including intellectual property) of companies that leave Russia will be nationalised."

☆ Oceans are absorbing heat equal to 5 Hiroshima bombs every second and that's helping power massive storms
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

That was the tweet from Dustin Mulvaney, a resident of Santa Cruz, California. Then a series of atmospheric rivers inundated the region with heavy rainfall that poured down the Santa Cruz Mountains and overflowed rivers. The pattern has the fingerprints of the climate crisis all over it. In the last two years, Santa Cruz experienced prolonged drought and a major wildfire in 2020 that burned tens of thousands of acres. At least 17 people have died, including one in Santa Cruz, Gov.

☆ Fact Check-Amoxicillin capsules do not contain graphene oxide as claimed in video
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

In the video (here), the man shows a red and beige capsule of amoxicillin 500mg, an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections (here). The man says the material is graphene oxide. The EMC entry does show that the capsule contains iron oxide, which has magnetic properties. As explained in a previous fact check where a similar experiment was carried out on flucloxacillin, iron oxide is often used in foods, cosmetics and in the pharmaceutical industry, and its quantity is regulated (here). The capsules do contain magnetic material, but this is iron oxide, not graphene oxide.

☆ Kate Middleton turns 41 today — here's a complete timeline of her relationship with Prince William
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Caroline Praderio | Erin Mcdowell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

2001: Prince William and Kate Middleton met as students at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Prince William and Kate Middleton in university. Middleton Family/Clarence House/Getty ImagesIn their first interview together with The Telegraph after their engagement in 2010, Kate said she "went bright red" and "scuttled off, feeling very shy" when she met the young prince for the first time. While William didn't join in many of the university's first-week festivities, known as Freshers' Week, the two eventually became good friends. "William wasn't there for quite a bit of the time initially, he wasn't there from Freshers' Week, so it did take a bit of time for us to get to know each other, but we did become very close friends from quite early on," she said.

Persons: Prince William, Kate Middleton, Clarence House, Kate, William didn't, William wasn't Organizations: University of St, Middleton, Telegraph Locations: University of St Andrews, Scotland

☆ Worried about a gap in your resume? This small tweak could result in more job callbacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Jennifer Liu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Worried about a career gap in your resume? Turns out, there's a pretty easy workaround that's been scientifically proven to lead to more job callbacks. Previous research has shown that hiring managers discriminate against candidates who have a break in their resume. Researchers were focused on seeing the impact for working mothers and tested resumes with no career break, resumes with an unexplained career break, and resumes with a break and brief explanation that they left the labor force to care for children. The new tenure format "draws attention to the applicants' job experience while also obfuscating employment gaps by omission."

☆ Dr Pepper forced to give $100K prize to BOTH contestants after boos erupt following odd tie-breaker at SEC championship halftime contest
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Dr Pepper drew scorn for its handling of a college tuition giveaway during halftime of the SEC championship game. "Well, you all saw the unprecedented double tie of the Dr Pepper halftime tuition giveaway," Dell said. "We 've just been told by Dr Pepper that they're going to award both finalists $100,000. Congratulations, ladies, and great job by Dr Pepper there." Keurig Dr Pepper, the brand's parent company, has held the contest since 2008 and given away a total of $13 million in college tuition.

☆ Facing a wave of public anger, Iran’s regime could be in a fight for long-term survival, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Dan De Luce | Dan De Luce Is A Reporter For The Nbc News Investigative Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

From anti-government graffiti to students heckling government officials, to women walking in the street without headscarves to workers putting down their tools, Iran’s regime looks increasingly bewildered by events. “It’s like a war, the Islamic Republic versus the Iranian people,” said the woman from Tehran. She and other Iranians say the helmeted police flooding the streets resemble an occupying force, unsure of their position and unable to trust the local population. The Norway-based group Iran Human Rights and the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said Friday more than 250 protesters have been killed in the six weeks since protests began. “We all know that this time we will overthrow the regime,” said the woman in Tehran.

☆ Clashes in Chile mark third anniversary of riots
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Dave Lucas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Hundreds of students at the University of St Andrews put down their books and took part in a mass foam fight, a tradition to welcome new students called "Raisin Weekend".

☆ French unions stage nationwide strike amid soaring inflation
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Jeremy Schultz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Hundreds of students at the University of St Andrews put down their books and took part in a mass foam fight, a tradition to welcome new students called "Raisin Weekend".

☆ Russia’s evacuation of civilians in southern Ukraine betrays Kremlin concern
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Yuliya-Talmazan-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Yuliya Talmazan | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

But the Kremlin still doesn’t seem confident that its military can hold back a Ukrainian counteroffensive ahead of winter. The head of the Moscow-appointed regional administration, Vladimir Saldo, without using the word “evacuation,” asked Moscow Thursday to welcome families from the Kherson region that want “to protect themselves” from what he described as constant Ukrainian shelling. The Kremlin promptly agreed to support such efforts, with officials in the southern Russian region of Rostov saying the first arrivals were expected Friday, the state news agency Tass reported. Kyiv has been striking Russian military sites and installations in the region for several months, according to its defense officials, as it prepared for its long-touted counteroffensive there. “If Kherson falls, there will be a moment in which potentially there may be further breakthroughs by Ukraine,” Mevin said.

☆ Watch a tiny electric race car smash the world acceleration record with a 1.46-second run to 62 mph
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

German students built the world's fastest-accelerating electric vehicle. The carbon-fiber race car zipped to 62 mph in 1.461 seconds late last month. The pint-sized, home-built racer became the fastest-accelerating electric car on Earth last month (certified by Guinness) when it rocketed from a standstill to 62 mph in a blistering 1.461 seconds. "The University of Stuttgart is proud that the GreenTeam has succeeded in setting a new record for the acceleration of e-vehicles. The carbon-fiber car weighs around 320 pounds and makes 241 horsepower, giving a power-to-weight ratio of 1,750 horsepower per ton.

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s army on Friday hinted that it was prepared to deepen its crackdown on protests triggered by the death of a young woman who had been detained by the morality police. In one video uploaded on Twitter, a group of demonstrators in the city of Pakdasht shout, "Death to the dictator." While in New York, Raisi was scheduled to be interviewed by CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour. Anna Moneymaker / Getty ImagesAmanpour, CNN’s chief international anchor, said she planned to ask Raisi about the protests that have swept across Iran. On Thursday, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Iran's morality police, accusing it of abusing Iranian women and holding the unit responsible for Amini's death.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s renewed nuclear threats has raised fears that his plans for escalation in Ukraine may not be limited to mobilizing more troops. Desperate for a victory, the Russian leader allied his nuclear threats and call-up of reservists to a plan to annex occupied territory in Ukraine’s east and south. “Creating more ‘Russian’ territory is an attempt to scare the West because Russian nuclear doctrine has always maintained that nuclear weapons would only be used in defense of Russia directly. In fact, when Ukraine launched attacks on annexed Crimea this summer, a territory Moscow considers Russian, Putin did not reach for the nuclear button, O’Brien noted. And that victory, Putin hopes, could come through eroding Ukraine’s international support,” Giles said.

☆ Hazardous 'forever chemicals' are in our water, food, and air. Here are 6 simple ways to reduce exposure at home.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-17 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Hazardous "forever chemicals" called PFAS are contaminating drinking water, food, and air. It may be impossible to completely avoid PFAS, but there are a few simple ways to reduce your exposure. Even if you can't completely dodge PFAS, there are a few easy ways to reduce exposure in your daily life. A 2019 study found that people had lower PFAS levels in their blood after eating at home, and higher levels after eating fast food or at restaurants. A few types of water filters can diminish PFAS levels, though they may not completely remove the chemicals from the water.

☆ Rainwater is no longer safe to drink anywhere on Earth due to 'forever chemicals' linked to cancer, study suggests
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-13 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Rainwater around the world contains levels of "forever chemicals" unsafe to drink, a study suggests. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are linked to cancer and pervade homes and environments. That's because rainwater across the planet now contains hazardous chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. Both substances' levels in rainwater "often greatly exceed" EPA limits, the study authors concluded. "Although in the industrial world we don't often drink rainwater [directly], many people around the world expect it to be safe to drink, and it supplies many of our drinking water sources," Cousins added.

☆ Meet 11 people leading the aviation industry's push to slash emissions and ditch fossil fuels
▼ + stars: | 2022-05-31 | by ( Maia Anderson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Experts have estimated that aviation is responsible for nearly 2% of global greenhouse-gas emissions and 2.5% of carbon-dioxide emissions. Some aviation giants, like United, are signing purchase agreements to buy electric aircraft. Today he serves as CEO and chairman of the company, which aims to be a pioneer in electric aircraft. In 2000 he founded Aviation Technology Group, which developed the ATG Javelin very light jet before ceasing operations in 2007. He is also a founding member of the Nordic Network for Electric Aviation.

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