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☆ 'I don't want to die:' How 14 youth advocates in Hawaii are fighting climate change by taking the state to court
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Yoonji Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Hawaiian youth advocates sued the state's transportation department over greenhouse-gas emissions. Amid the escalating climate crisis, Nishida and 13 other Hawaiian youth advocates sued the Hawaii Department of Transportation in 2022 over transportation-related greenhouse-gas emissions. The lawsuit, Navahine F. v. Hawaii Department of Transportation, is scheduled to go to trial next summer. Transportation emissions made up the largest share of energy-sector emissions in Hawaii in 2017, according to a 2021 report by the Hawaii Department of Health. Youth plaintiffs gather before the start of the Navahine F. v. the Hawaii Department of Transportation hearing at the First Circuit Environmental Court in Honolulu on January 26.

Persons: Taliya Nishida, Nishida, Navahine, Andrea Rodgers, Rodgers, KawahineʻIlikea, Taliya, Mesina, Kalā, Rylee, Elyse Butler Organizations: Service, Hawaii Department of Transportation, . Hawaii Department of Transportation, Transportation, Hawaii Department of Health, Trust, cocounsel, Court, Department of Transportation Locations: Hawaii, Maui, Montana, Honolulu, Waimea, United States

☆ The UK is delaying the switch to electric cars. Automakers are furious
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A relaxation of 2030 would undermine all three,” Ford (F) UK chair Lisa Brankin said in a statement. “We and the whole automotive industry [need] clarity on the [EV] topic,” the German carmaker said in a statement shared with CNN. ‘Confusion’ will delay switch to EVsThe UK auto industry has been clawing its way back from rock bottom after car manufacturing hit a 66-year low in 2022. Reducing emissions from road transport “is the only way that you will achieve net zero,” Hawes told the BBC. The government’s own independent adviser on climate policy, the Climate Change Committee shares that view.

Persons: carmakers, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, “, ”, Sunak’s, ” Ford, Lisa Brankin, Brankin, carmaker, Mike Hawes, ” Hawes, Jobs, Sadiq Khan, ” Sunak, “ We’re, Alok Sharma, Simon Clarke, EVs, — Gemma Blundell, Doyle, Anna Cooban, Laura Paddison, Rob Picheta Organizations: London CNN, BMW, Oxford, Swindon, CNN, Fiat, Peugeot, Fiat Chrysler, France’s, India’s Tata Group, Society of Motor Manufacturers, Traders, BBC, Conservative Party, Labour Party’s London, Conservative Locations: Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Canada, Sweden, Ellesmere Port, Liverpool, Britain, London, Glasgow

☆ Disney drops part of its lawsuit against DeSantis to focus on free speech claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has amended its lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his hand-picked oversight board, dropping all of its claims except one. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, now focuses solely on the claim that DeSantis and his allies allegedly weaponized their political power to retaliate against the company for exercising its First Amendment right to free speech. The amended lawsuit claims that DeSantis has illegally punished the company since it spoke out. In May, the oversight board voted to file its own lawsuit against Disney to maintain its control of the district. The amended lawsuit comes less than one month after DeSantis encouraged Disney to drop its lawsuit in an interview with CNBC.

Persons: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, —, Governor DeSantis, Ron DeSantis, Sergio FLORES, SERGIO FLORES, Sergio Flores, DeSantis, Disney “, Disney’s, Disney, ”, “ They’re Organizations: CNN, Walt Disney Parks, Resorts, Florida Governor, Republican Party of, Iowa, AFP, Getty, Disney, DeSantis, ” Disney, Walt Disney World, CNBC Locations: Des Moines , Iowa, AFP, Florida

☆ DeSantis said he's 'basically moved on' from the Disney feud — and now wants Bob Iger to drop the lawsuit against Florida that legal experts say the company could win
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ron DeSantis told CNBC he and his allies would like to move on from the Disney feud. DeSantis said he would tell Disney CEO Bob Iger to drop the lawsuit, and that they can't win it. I'm totally fine with that," DeSantis told CNBC. When asked what he would tell Disney CEO Bob Iger today, DeSantis said he would tell him to "drop the lawsuit." The Walt Disney Company and DeSantis's office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Bob Iger, Disney —, They're, Sindhu Sundar, that's, David Schultz, it's Organizations: Florida Gov, CNBC, Disney, Service, Gov, Florida, University of Minnesota, Walt Disney Company Locations: Florida, Wall, Silicon

The European Banking Authority (EBA) said the test covered 70 banks, 20 more than in 2021 with 57 from the euro zone whose test was overseen by the European Central Bank, representing about 75% of banking assets in the EU. Of the 14 German banks tested, 8 were below the EU average for CET1 and leverage ratio, while 6 were above. The European Banking Federation, an industry body, said the results reaffirmed the resilience of the EU banking sector. The watchdog said that in year three of the test, 37 banks fell below capital levels that trigger curbs on payouts. Deutsche Kreditwirtschaft, an umbrella association representing the German financial industry, said the results proved that German banks were "resilient" but it criticized the ECB's approach.

Persons: Goldman, Banks, markups, Tom Sims, John O'Donnell, Mathieu Rosemain, Mark Potter Organizations: European Union, European Banking Authority, European Central Bank, EU, JPMorgan, Volkswagen Bank, La Banque Postale, European Banking Federation, Deutsche, ECB, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Europe, United States, France, Frankfurt, Paris

☆ Johnson & Johnson effort to resolve talc cancer lawsuits in bankruptcy fails a second time
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

In this photo illustration, a container of Johnson and Johnson baby powder is displayed on April 05, 2023 in San Anselmo, California. A federal bankruptcy judge on Friday rejected Johnson & Johnson 's second attempt to resolve tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging the company's talc baby powder and other talc-based products caused cancer. J&J in 2021 offloaded those talc liabilities into a new subsidiary, LTL Management, and immediately filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections. "LTL commenced its bankruptcy case in good faith and in strict compliance with the Bankruptcy Code," J&J said in a statement. J&J contends that research and clinical evidence demonstrates that its talc products remain safe.

Persons: Johnson, Michael Kaplan, LTL, J's, J, Erik Haas Organizations: LTL Management Locations: San Anselmo , California, Trenton , New Jersey

☆ Russia and Ukraine just turned much of the Black Sea into a dangerous no man's land
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged threats this week to ships sailing through the Black Sea. The Kremlin then went much further, warning it may attack any vessels it believes are bound for Ukraine, effectively turning the Black Sea into a no man's land. They added that Moscow even published a video claiming to have detected and detonated an alleged Ukrainian sea mine. "Our information indicates that Russia laid additional sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports. Turkish-flagged bulker TQ Samsun, carrying grain under UN's Black Sea Grain Initiative, transits Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey July 18, 2023.

Persons: Biden, Adam Hodge, António Guterres, —, Matthew Miller, Lasalle, Mark Duncan, Washington didn't Organizations: Service, United Nations, AP, White, Security, REUTERS, Black Sea Initiative, UN, US State, US Naval Institute Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Wall, Silicon, Kremlin, Odesa, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Crimea, Azov, Samsun, Istanbul, Turkey, Iran, Persian, Iraq, Hormuz, Kuwait, Soviet, Iraqi, American

☆ Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the rare lone dissenter in a union strike ruling that involved drivers walking off the job with trucks full of wet concrete
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Lauren Steussy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Supreme Court struck down a ruling over what union members can reasonably do during a strike. A local teamsters union in Washington walked off the job in 2017 with trucks full of wet concrete. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the only dissenter, saying the decision jeopardizes union rights. The solo dissent was a first for the outspoken Biden-appointed justice, who wrote that the ruling would "erode the right to strike." "Workers are not indentured servants, bound to continue laboring until any planned work stoppage would be as painless as possible for their master," Jackson wrote.

Persons: Ketanji Brown Jackson, —, Biden, Jackson, Amy Coney Barrett, Barrett, Clarence Thomas, Harlan Crow, Samuel Alito, haven't shied, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, Andy Warhol, Kagan Organizations: teamsters, Service, Washington Supreme, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Teamsters, Workers, GOP Locations: Washington, Northwest

☆ The judge assigned to hear Disney's lawsuit against Ron DeSantis just disqualified himself from the case because a 'third-degree' relative owns stock in the company. A Trump appointee will replace him
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Obama-nominated Judge Mark Walker recused himself from the Disney lawsuit. The case will now go before Judge Allen Winsor, a nominee of President Donald Trump — who is challenging DeSantis for the 2024 nomination for president. Walker denied that specific request, calling it "meritless" and accusing DeSantis of "rank judge-shopping," but he still disqualified himself from hearing Disney's lawsuit over the ethical conflict. Walt Disney Co., the parent company of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, is headquartered in Burbank, California, but the company holds powerful sway in Florida through Walt Disney World, which has roughly 70,000 employees and is the state's biggest tourist attraction. Neither a representative for the board, the governor's office, nor Disney immediately responded to a request for comment from Insider.

Persons: Obama, Mark Walker, Judge Allen Winsor, —, Ron DeSantis, Walker, Allen Winsor, Donald Trump —, Winsor, Pam Bondi, DeSantis, Barack Obama, Disney, Governor DeSantis Organizations: Disney, Trump, Service, Walt Disney Parks, Resorts, Florida Gov, Walt Disney Co, British, Court, Northern, Northern District of, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Walt Disney, Circuit Locations: Florida, Northern District, Northern District of Florida, Burbank , California, Central Florida

☆ The Greatest Wealth Transfer in History Is Here, With Familiar (Rich) Winners
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Talmon Joseph Smith | Karl Russell | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Pearl has two young adult sons with trust funds in the “seven figures.” He is also the chair of the Patriotic Millionaires, a nonprofit group of well-heeled Americans pushing for the wealthy to pay much more in taxes. “I have right now in my stock portfolio, some stock that my wife’s father, who died a long time ago, bought in the 1970s — that investment has gone from a few thousand dollars to many hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Mr. Pearl noted. “You just loan yourself money,” he explained, and in many if not most cases, the portfolio’s rate of return exceeds the rate of interest on the loan. Mr. Pearl doesn’t think the U.S. government “needs more money from rich people” to fund itself. Rather, his support for reforming the tax system arises from his belief that the rich have begun to monopolize resources and opportunity in a way that jeopardizes social stability and economic growth.

☆ Rubio warned politicians against going after companies for 'political purposes' after Disney sued DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Marco Rubio said lawmakers should avoid looking like they are going after companies for "political purposes." Disney has sued Florida Republican Gov. Fox host Brian Kilmeade asked Rubio about comments by some Republicans, who criticized DeSantis for targeting the company. Disney sued DeSantis, who is widely expected to run for president, on Wednesday, saying that the governor was trying to "weaponize government power" by targeting the company. But when it comes to Disney, Rubio said he doesn't think the company is going to leave Florida.

☆ DeSantis dismisses Disney lawsuit over loss of self-governance as 'political'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Summer Concepcion | Gabe Gutierrez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Ron DeSantis on Thursday brushed off a lawsuit by the Walt Disney Co. over the revocation of its Orlando-area theme park's self-governing privileges as politically motivated. The lawsuit escalates the feud between Disney and DeSantis that has led to his push to strip Walt Disney World's self-governing privileges. DeSantis argued that Disney's self-governing privileges go against being "pro-business." Lawyers for the Walt Disney Co. did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment. "The people of Florida, they understood that this was an issue," he said, referring to Walt Disney World's self-governing privileges.

It will not work,” said Martin Garcia, chairman of the DeSantis-picked Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board of supervisors. Wednesday’s moves are the latest escalation in the fight between DeSantis and Disney as DeSantis moves toward a 2024 presidential bid. Disney responded by suing DeSantis, the board and Florida Department of Economic Opportunity acting secretary Meredith Ivey, seeking to block the board’s moves. But the special district also freed Disney from bureaucratic red tape and made it cheaper to borrow to finance infrastructure projects around its theme parks, among other significant advantages. DeSantis then targeted Disney’s special governing powers.

Disney alleges that DeSantis tried to "weaponize government power" over the company. It alleges that DeSantis' continued action against Disney "threatens Disney's business operations." Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, alleging that he tried to "weaponize government power" over the company. As retaliation to the Disney executives' pledges, DeSantis took aim at a decades-long provision that gives Disney special self-governing privileges in Florida. Unlike rival parks Universal Studios and Sea World, Disney doesn't have to run their plans by zoning commissions or building-inspection departments.

WASHINGTON, April 24(Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a challenge by computer scientist Stephen Thaler to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's refusal to issue patents for inventions his artificial intelligence system created. According to Thaler, his DABUS system, short for Device for the Autonomous Bootstrapping of Unified Sentience, created unique prototypes for a beverage holder and emergency light beacon entirely on its own. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and a federal judge in Virginia rejected his patent applications for the inventions on the grounds that DABUS is not a person. Thaler has also applied for DABUS patents in other countries including the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia and Saudi Arabia with limited success. The UK's Supreme Court heard Thaler's appeal of his loss there in March.

☆ Disney and DeSantis have been in a yearlong feud that began after the company spoke out against a controversial bill. Here's a timeline of the events.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Lloyd Lee | Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

After a yearlong feud, Disney sued DeSantis on Wednesday, alleging that the Florida governor tried to "weaponize government power" over the company. The state Board of Education voted on Wednesday to expand that law to cover grades four to 12. Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, our state has seen record growth in jobs, GDP, and net domestic in-migration. It was the first time the board met since the revelation of the agreement between the prior district board members and Disney. On April 19, the state board approved a ban on classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity for all grades, including grades four through 12.

☆ U.S. appeals court allows abortion pill mifepristone to stay on the market but blocks mail delivery
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A federal appeals court has allowed the abortion pill mifepristone to remain on the U.S. market for now, but it imposed major restrictions on the medication that will significantly limit access. The order bars mail delivery of the abortion pill. "If allowed to stand, the consequences of this decision will be catastrophic not just for medication abortion access, but the entire drug approval system." The Alliance Defending Freedom, the anti-abortion group that sued the FDA, said the appeals court decision restores critical safeguards while the litigation proceeds. The order does not impact misoprostol, which is commonly used as a standalone abortion medication in other parts of the world.

☆ Texas judge's ruling suspends FDA approval of abortion pill mifepristone, jeopardizing availability nationwide
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Michelle Mark | Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Texas Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk issued a ruling Friday that jeopardizes the availability of a key abortion drug. An antiabortion legal group had sought to revoke or suspend the FDA's approval of the drug mifepristone. In the ruling, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, imposed a stay on the Food & Drug Administration's approval of the drug, arguing that it was unlawful. Revoking the FDA's approval of mifepristone could immediately upend abortion access for countless women across the country. The medication mifepristone typically works as part of a two-medication regimen to terminate pregnancies.

☆ Donald Trump's arraignment: key takeaways include 2 warnings from the judge that he behave himself
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Laura Italiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Takeaways from Tuesday's arraignment include two separate times the judge warned Trump to behave. The judge also nixed Trump's hope of just staying home on his next court date, December 4. Prosecutors had just handed the judge a thick packet of examples of what Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy called Trump's "threatening rhetoric." "May we ask that President Trump, his presence be waived just for that date?" The defense and prosecution are hoping to reach an agreement on the protective order, Trump attorney Susan Necheles said.

☆ Read about the moment a judge warned Trump not to 'incite violence,' 'create civil unrest,' 'or jeopardize the safety or well-being of any individuals'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Prosecutors brought up Trump's social media posts, saying he "threatening" statements in them. Judge Juan Merchan said he would not issue a gag order but expected compliance from Trump. During his arraignment in Manhattan on Tuesday, Judge Juan Merchan warned Trump not to "incite violence or civil unrest," per a copy of the court hearing transcript obtained by Insider. "Please refrain from making comments or engaging in conduct that has the potential to incite violence, create civil unrest, or jeopardize the safety or well-being of any individuals," Merchan said. Merchan's comments came after prosecutor Chris Conroy mentioned Trump's social media posts in court after outlining the 34 felony charges against Trump.

March 28 (Reuters) - A federal judge in Texas on Tuesday refused to transfer to another court a lawsuit by Republican states challenging a Biden administration rule allowing socially conscious investing by retirement plans, rejecting claims of "judge shopping." U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, said the Biden administration had provided no evidence that the litigation did not belong in his court or that plaintiffs were attempting to manipulate the process. His courthouse has become a favored destination for Republicans seeking to challenge aspects of Democratic President Joe Biden's agenda. The Labor Department argues the rule is valid because it still requires retirement plans to consider traditional financial factors when choosing investments. Congress in early March voted to repeal the ESG rule, but Biden vetoed that bill.

☆ U.S. House Speaker McCarthy says he told Biden lack of debt talks jeopardizes economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

McCarthy, the top Republican in the House of Representatives, first met with Biden on Feb. 1. But a standoff has since ensued between Republicans who want to use the debt ceiling to exact spending cuts from the White House, and Biden, who wants the debt ceiling raised without strings attached. "I just saw the president again on St. Patrick's Day, Friday," McCarthy told reporters in Orlando, Florida, where House Republicans are holding a retreat this week. Biden has called on McCarthy and House Republicans to produce a fiscal 2024 budget before negotiating on spending. "I said: look, we're not going to raise taxes and we're not going to pass a clean debt ceiling.

☆ Fox executives should be fired for ‘proven misconduct’ exposed in Dominion lawsuit, renowned Yale professor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —The Fox Corporation board has a huge mess on its hands — and it needs to work quickly to clean it up. That’s according to Jeffrey A Sonnenfeld, the renowned professor and senior associate dean for leadership studies at the Yale School of Management. The former House speaker said that Fox News should “move on from Donald Trump” and “stop spouting election lies.”But Sonnenfeld said Ryan’s actions were not enough. In fact, he said Ryan’s “quiet dissent” was “cowardly, ineffective, and immoral,” and pointed out that board members have certain responsibilities under corporate governance law in Delaware, where Fox is incorporated. Fox News has previously said it was “proud” of its 2020 election coverage, which is a statement that only grows more remarkable by the day.

☆ Ark Invest's chief futurist on how AI race threatens Google's 'fragile' business model
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( Kevin Schmidt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"I think Google is fundamentally impaired by this transition to AI," Brett Winton, the chief futurist at Cathie Wood's Ark Investment Management, told Melissa Lee on CNBC's ' Fast Money ' recently. "Their entire business model is built around taking people and delivering them to the next byte, and these AI systems actually deliver answers to the end users" he said. 'Fragile' model Moving forward, Winton doesn't see head-to-head competition between search engines necessarily leading to a winning AI strategy. "I think Google's model is fragile, and it doesn't necessarily accrue to Microsoft's benefit," he said. "It's much clearer that there will be a lot of money spent on AI investment," Winton said, adding that the key for either tech giant to be well-positioned is by providing AI capabilities in their software."

☆ Small businesses are saving the economy from a recession, for now
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Data shows a boom in small businesses likely to employ workers, suggesting job growth could keep going well into the future. Small businesses have seen their openings soar, compared to larger businesses, from where they stood before the pandemic. While openings for small businesses are not as high as they were in spring 2022, there still are more openings in these kinds of businesses than big ones. Yet Swonk remains optimistic that small businesses will prevail. "Although small businesses fail at a much higher rate than any other businesses out there, I have some hope in the traction that they've already gained," she said.

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