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☆ Ukraine’s Zelensky Urges Faster Weapons Deliveries Amid Russian Push
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Isabel Coles | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for speedier weapons deliveries from the West as Russian forces increase pressure on the country’s defenders. Russian forces have battered Ukrainian positions in the country’s east in recent weeks, pushing for a breakthrough before tanks pledged by Kyiv’s partners begin to arrive on the battlefield. In the eastern Donetsk region, Ukrainian troops are coming under constant attack from Russian forces, Mr. Zelensky said in his nightly address, describing the situation as “very tough.”

BRUSSELS, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Producers of clean technologies like renewable hydrogen and batteries could receive faster permits under European Union plans to support industries facing U.S. and Chinese competition, a draft document showed on Monday. Specific projects considered important to developing clean technology supply chains could also receive speedier permits, said the draft, which could still change before it is published. Potential options include batteries, carbon capture and storage, renewable energy, renewable hydrogen, energy storage, and low-carbon construction technologies, although the EU will assess which projects to make eligible, the draft said. The EU would also set goals to expand these industries by 2030, to ensure they keep up with Europe's growing needs for clean energy and products. Brussels is looking to create more EU-wide standards for clean technologies - potentially by defining requirements for net-zero emissions products, which could then guide national governments' public procurement of such goods, the draft said.

☆ How to figure out the best time to file your tax return: Don't 'race to the finish line,' say tax pros
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

ozgurcankayaAs tax season begins, you may be eager to file your tax return for a faster refund and to check the annual task off of your list. Most tax forms arrive by late January to mid-February, but others may be later. Avoid tax identity theft by 'filing ahead of fraudsters'That said, there's no reason to wait once you have all your necessary forms. Tax-related identity theft happens when someone uses your Social Security number to file a return and claim a fraudulent refund. You may find out through a rejected tax return or IRS letter, among other warning signs, according to the IRS.

☆ Self-made millionaire: Here are 8 things rich people do differently that make them 'ultra wealthy'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Grant Cardone | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

But I wish I had known sooner how ultra wealthy people think about money. Instead, cash-flow real estate is the place to protect and grow money. On the flip side, cash-flow real estate — commercial real estate where you are making a monthly profit off of rent after your mortgage payments, property taxes and maintenance — is a great way to grow your money. This can apply to a business — the rich may contract to buy bulk supplies or equipment — or to you personal life. And most of the real estate I own today was purchased from sellers who picked me over other qualified buyers because we had existing relationships, and they had confidence in my ability to close.

☆ The DOJ's antitrust case against Google is ambitious but risky
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

But alongside the possibility of great reward comes significant risk in seeking to push the boundaries of antitrust law. "All antitrust cases are an uphill battle for plaintiffs, thanks to 40 years of case law," said Rebecca Haw Allensworth, an antitrust professor at Vanderbilt Law School. But, Allensworth added, the government's challenges may be different than those in many other antitrust cases. Like all antitrust cases, this one is unlikely to be concluded anytime soon. "This is clearly the blockbuster case so far from the DOJ antitrust division," Francis said.

Power giant Orsted aims to build a huge offshore windfarm to help the country meet renewable goals. Last year the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), which regulates offshore energy activity, concluded that large crossovers between such ventures were unfeasible with current technology. This largely unreported clash risks undermining Britain's drive to meet its climate goals, according to the companies involved and a North Sea green transition expert. The BP-Orsted showdown could also presage similar disputes elsewhere in an increasingly crowded North Sea, the experts told Reuters. There is hope on the horizon for wind and CCS projects that share ground, say regulators and industry experts.

☆ Amazon's drone delivery unit hit with layoffs just as 10-year-old project finally launches
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Annie Palmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

Two employees said Carbon, who replaced Prime Air co-founder Gur Kimchi, was hired to turn Prime Air into a real business with a sensible budget. Sources with knowledge of Prime Air said cuts in the drone delivery business were expected considering the division's many struggles. Monica Williams, a College Station resident, poses with a Prime Air drone at a community event in July. College Station residents also expressed concern about the prospect of drones harming the deer, foxes and birds that are native to the area. "As we continue to expand, we will update you when drone delivery is available for your household."

In the south, Russian mortar and artillery fire hit several towns, including the regional capital, Kherson, which Russian forces abandoned in November. Russian troops are active at night - we are in great need of night vision equipment." Western countries have produced a steady supply of weapons to Ukraine since Russian forces invaded last Feb. 24 but Zelenskiy and his government are insisting they need tanks. The OSCE is the world's largest regional security organisation, consisting of 57 states, such as the United States, all European states, including Russia and all states of the former Soviet Union. The U.S. State Department estimated last year that between 900,000 and 1.6 million Ukrainian citizens, including 260,000 children, have been forcibly deported into Russian territory.

☆ EU leaders to push for defence investment programme at December summit -draft
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Nov 30 (Reuters) - European Union leaders are pushing to quickly establish an investment programme to ramp up production in the bloc's defence industry in light of the war in Ukraine, according to a draft of conclusions for a Dec. 15-16 summit. "The European Council ... calls on the Commission to rapidly present a proposal for a European Defence Investment Programme to reinforce the capacity and resilience of the European defence technology and industrial sector, including small and medium enterprises," said the draft, seen by Reuters on Wednesday. EU leaders will also push the bloc's executive commission and the European Defence Agency to intensify efforts to identify military gaps and coordinate joint defence procurement, in particular to replenish their stocks of materiel, which have been depleted in support of Ukraine. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said this month that the EU and its member states have provided arms and military equipment worth at least 8 billion euros to Ukraine so far. At their summit in Brussels, EU leaders will also call for speedier implementation of infrastructure work meant to facilitate swift military movement across Europe, according to the draft document.

New York CNN Business —From retailers and computer chip makers to the oil-and-gas industry, businesses are scrambling to find workarounds where possible for a potentially devastating freight rail strike. Retailers, which rely on rail to move cargo from ports to warehouses, are considering shifting the timing of orders and shipments. Critically, the rail strike could disrupt the supply of chlorine and other critical chemicals used to keep drinking water safe. The oil-and-gas industry, for instance, warns a rail shutdown would spark fuel supply crunches and price spikes. “Congress appears likely to intervene in the coming days to avert a rail strike,” economists at Goldman Sachs wrote in a note to clients on Tuesday.

☆ I tested six-figure electric cars from Porsche and Mercedes. I'd buy one for its stunning quickness and the other for its opulent interior.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The $209,000 Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo Porsche lent me is the highest-performance Taycan available and the hatchback edition. Tim Levin/InsiderThe Mercedes smacks you right in the face with a plush, spacious interior filled with leather and high-end materials. Tim Levin/InsiderThe Porsche also has a long list of luxurious options, but it gives off a sportier vibe. VerdictThe 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo. Tim Levin/InsiderThe Taycan Turbo S blew me away with its ridiculous quickness and fantastic handling.

☆ Amazon Sweetens Prime Offerings as Growth Stalls
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Sebastian Herrera | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Amazon.com Inc.’s move to vastly expand its music catalog to Prime members aims to give the popular subscription program a boost just as rivals such as Walmart Inc. have achieved speedier delivery times and added new features to subscriptions. The tech giant revealed this past week that it is expanding the free tier of its music-streaming service, Amazon Music, to include tens of millions more songs, ad-free, for Prime subscribers.

The drop is not just because industrial companies are turning down thermostats, they are also shutting down plants that may never reopen. And while lower energy use helps Europe weather the crisis sparked by Russia's war in Ukraine and Moscow's supply cuts, executives, economists and industry groups warn its industrial base may end up severely weakened if high energy costs persist. Reuters GraphicsThe International Energy Agency estimates European industrial gas demand fell by 25% in the third quarter from a year earlier. "We are doing all we can to prevent a reduction in industrial activity," an European Commission spokesperson said in an email. "From Jan. 1, we will be able to switch to oil," company executive Wolfgang Ott said, as the company seeks government help to cushion energy costs.

☆ Rule to Speed Student-Loan Forgiveness for Defrauded Borrowers to Take Effect in July
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Gabriel T. Rubin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Biden administration will make it easier for students defrauded by for-profit schools to get federal student loan forgiveness under new rules set to go into effect on July 1, setting up a speedier path for debt relief for potentially hundreds of thousands of borrowers. Students who have been misled by schools about job prospects or are victims of other types of fraudulent behavior and aggressive recruiting will be able to have their federal debt discharged in full by the Education Department. The new regulations, known as Borrower Defense to Repayment, complete a reversal of a Trump administration rule that slowed discharges and provided partial relief to borrowers whose claims were approved.

☆ SpaceX's Starlink launches internet service for planes to finally fix crappy in-flight WiFi
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Starlink Aviation will be available next year for $12,500-$25,000 per month. Starlink Aviation promises to bring impressive speeds, up to 350 megabytes-per-second, to the skies starting in 2023. Starlink Aviation positions itself as a superior alternative to notoriously subpar in-flight internet. Today planes get internet service from cell towers they fly over or from satellite-based services like Viasat. Cruise giant Royal Caribbean in August tapped Starlink to add internet service to its fleet.

☆ Walmart's mission to offer accessible healthcare has been slow going. But as competition heats up from Amazon, it has developed these 5 strategies to disrupt the lucrative industry.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The company has made several big moves on telehealth, clinics healthcare research, and more. The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer announced in October the launch of the "Walmart Healthcare Research Institute," an institute geared toward helping underserved communities participate in clinical research. But Walmart has still faced significant challenges, from major leadership departures to a slower than expected rollout of healthcare clinics. Rolling out healthcare clinics nationwideA Walmart Health center. Launching a research institute for clinical trial participationWalmart is seeking to bolster clinical trial participation with its new healthcare research institute.

read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterLast month, the first General Motors and LG Energy Solution (373220.KS) joint venture Ultium battery plant began production in Lordstown, Ohio. GM previously expressed support for efforts by the UAW to organize Ultium's battery plants, but did not endorse "card check. In May, President Joe Biden, in a trip to South Korea, expressed support for workers seeking to unionize joint venture battery plants. Detroit's Big Three automakers all have battery plants in the works with Korean partners. Last month, GM and LG Energy said they were considering a site in New Carlisle, Indiana, for a fourth U.S. battery plant.

☆ Here's Bret Taylor's first big technical move at Salesforce since becoming co-CEO last year
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ten months after his promotion to co-CEO of Salesforce, serving alongside famed founder Marc Benioff, Bret Taylor is gearing up to take the stage at the annual Dreamforce conference for the first time under his new title. It's called Genie, and it's designed to update Salesforce's dominant sales database software with modern technology that gives salespeople real-time information at their fingertips. Taylor and Benioff will deliver their keynote on Tuesday, starting at 10 a.m. Pacific Time in San Francisco. The 23-year-old company's original data storage software functions with a transactional database from Oracle, where Benioff spent 13 years before starting Salesforce. Taylor said that, over time, Genie will be integrated into Salesforce's other key products — its clouds for sales, service and commerce.

Below, CNBC Select rounded up four of the best personal loan lenders that still accept applicants who have credit scores of 580 or lower. According to Upstart's website, applicants with a credit history should apply with a minimum credit score of 300 (though, Upstart also accepts applicants with no credit history). Sometimes, a potential borrower may have a low credit score because they have extremely limited credit activity. Other times, a lack of credit history may result in them having no credit score at all. OneMain Financial generally accepts applicants with at least a poor or fair credit score (the exact credit score minimum is not disclosed but for reference, a poor credit score is considered to be between 300 and 579 and a fair credit score is considered to be between 580 and 669).

OneMain Financial generally accepts applicants with at least a poor or fair credit score (the exact credit score minimum is not disclosed but for reference, a poor credit score is between 300 and 579 and a fair credit score is between 580 and 669). That's because the lender lets you apply for a personal loan that can be used for business purposes, something most personal loan lenders prohibit. Standout benefits: Universal Credit offers credit monitoring tools to help you monitor any changes to your credit score. More on our picks for best personal loan lenders that accept 580 credit scores or lowerUpstart Personal LoansUpstart is an AI-driven online lending platform that connects borrowers with lenders. Most personal loan lenders consider good to excellent credit scores, which means a FICO score of at least 670.

Persons: Will, it's, loans.Loan, you've, you'll, It's Organizations: Debt, OneMain, Loan, Universal, Universal Credit, OneMain Financial, Universal Credit Universal Credit, CNBC, CNBC Select's, Facebook, Twitter

☆ How to build a habit in 5 steps, according to science
▼ + stars: | 2021-11-29 | by ( Katy Milkman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

But science points to a different answer: What we mistake for willpower is often a hallmark of habit. Set a specific goalThe way you define the goal you hope to turn into a habit does matter. You’ll still want to have a first best plan — maybe an 8 a.m. meditation session if you’re trying to kick-start a mindfulness habit. Successful habit building relies on frequently repeating a behavior, and if your routine becomes too brittle, you’ll follow through less often. It’s more motivating to set a tough goal for yourself — meditating every day, for instance — than an easy one, according to research.

Persons: you’ll, I’ll, —, Foster, you’re, isn’t, We’re Organizations: CNN

If your credit score isn't great, you can still get approved as Avant looks at both your credit score and income. When determining eligibility for a loan, LendingPoint considers credit score, loan term, credit usage, loan amount and other factors. Personal loans are a form of installment credit, which affect both your credit report and your credit score. Student loans, personal loans and credit cards are all example of unsecured loans. Our methodologyTo determine which personal loans are the best for consumers with bad credit, Select analyzed dozens of U.S. personal loans offered by both online and brick-and-mortar banks, including large credit unions.

If your credit score isn't great, you can still get approved as Avant looks at both your credit score and income. When determining eligibility for a loan, LendingPoint considers credit score, loan term, credit usage, loan amount and other factors. Personal loans are a form of installment credit, which affect both your credit report and your credit score. Student loans, personal loans and credit cards are all examples of unsecured loans. Our methodologyTo determine which personal loans are best for bad credit, CNBC Select analyzed dozens of U.S. personal loans offered by both online and brick-and-mortar banks, including large credit unions.

Persons: Will, it's, you'll, You'll, OneMain Financial's, LendingPoint, prequalify Organizations: CNBC, OneMain, AK, AR, DC, Social, CNBC Select's, Facebook, Twitter Locations: Alabama, California, Georgia, Ohio, Virginia, Carolina, Nevada, West Virginia

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