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☆ US FTC official withdraws case against Microsoft-Activision deal before internal agency judge
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, July 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission official on Thursday withdrew the agency's case before an in-house judge that sought to block Microsoft's (MSFT.O) $69 billion acquisition of game-maker Activision (ATVI.O). The agency has been pursuing a two-pronged attack against the proposed transaction. One was in district court, which refused last week to slap a preliminary injunction on the proposed transaction. The second was before an FTC administrative law judge, where the deal was set to go to trial on Aug. 2. It was this attack that the agency put on hold on Thursday, in an order made by FTC Secretary April Tabor.

Persons: Tabor, Diane Bartz, Stephen Coates Organizations: U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Thursday, Activision, Microsoft, Thomson

☆ Coinbase is a crypto conundrum, squared
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Anita Ramaswamy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Shares in Coinbase got a major boost after money management behemoth BlackRock (BLK.N) applied to launch a bitcoin-backed exchange-traded fund this month with Coinbase as its custodian. Coinbase shares are up nearly 54% in July, handily beating the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC), which rose 4%. Price targets range widely: analysts polled by Refinitiv think Coinbase is worth anywhere from $8 billion to nearly $50 billion. Coinbase investors would therefore be unwise to count on a judge delivering Coinbase a win. Given bitcoin’s current $584 billion market capitalization, that suggests $74 billion of ETFs would not be much of a stretch.

Persons: Brian Armstrong, Coinbase, behemoth BlackRock, –, Gary Gensler, there’s, Goldman Sachs, Cowen, Refinitiv, Armstrong, Sam Bankman, Larry Fink, Charles Schwab, doubters, Ripple, John Foley, Streisand Neto Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Securities and Exchange, Nasdaq, SEC, Citigroup, Commodity Futures, BlackRock, Bank, New York Mellon, Interactive, Securities and Exchange Commission, Thomson Locations: Washington, United States, U.S

☆ A Texas town is trying to solve the US physician shortage with 'homegrown' clinicians — a possible answer to the primary-care drought plaguing 100 million Americans
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Natalie Rahhal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

El Paso is among the 95% of Texas counties that have some shortage of primary-care physicians. The hope is they will stay and practice medicine in El Paso after medical school and residency. El Paso County, which includes the city of the same name, is among the 95% of Texas counties that have a shortage of primary-care physicians. The idea, he added, is that those participants will have a higher likelihood of staying after medical school and residency. Makena Piñon is one of five El Paso high school seniors accepted into MedFuture's first cohort.

Persons: Piñon, They're, Atul Grover, —, Grover, we've, hasn't, Dr, Richard Lange, Paul L, Lange, Makena, TTUHSC, Cynthia Perry Organizations: Healthcare, Morning, El Paso, National Center for Education Statistics —, Association of American Medical Colleges, Research, Action Institute, Office, University of Texas, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El, El, Foster School of Medicine, Association of American Medical, Texas Higher Locations: El Paso, Texas, El, Houston, El Paso County, —, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, TTUHSC El Paso, , Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana

☆ Thailand elections: Top court suspends prime minister hopeful Pita Limjaroenrat as a lawmaker over shareholding case
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Kocha Olarn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Pita has denied he broke election rules and previously accused the Election Commission of rushing the case to court. A group of opposition parties then formed a coalition aimed at forming a majority government and put forward Pita as a prime minister candidate. Pita, a 42-year-old Harvard alumni, called the coalition “the voice of hope and the voice of change” and said all parties had agreed to support him as the next prime minister of Thailand. In Thailand, a party or coalition needs to win a majority of 375 seats in both lower and upper houses of parliament – currently 749 seats – to elect a prime minister and form a government. Pita received just 324 votes out of the 376 needed for a majority and the kingdom is still without a prime minister as the political jostling continues.

Persons: CNN —, Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Prayut Chan, Establishment’s, – Organizations: CNN, Move Forward, Party, Harvard Locations: Thailand

☆ Fake GOP electors ditched their phones so their plot to overturn Michigan's 2020 results wouldn't be recorded, prosecutors say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Michigan's fake GOP electors surrendered their phones to avoid being recorded during a 2020 meeting. They face general forgery counts and election law forgery allegations. These 16 fake electors, charging documents say, took extra steps to keep their plot secret. The fake electors were told no recording equipment was allowed inside the building and they were asked to surrender their cell phones to safeguard against possible recording, prosecutors said. Some of the fake electors expressed frustration about how other fake electors were talking about the fake transmission of votes to Congress, according to charging documents.

Persons: Dana Nessel, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, Meshawn Maddock, Laura Cox, Kathleen Berden, John Haggard, Mashawn Maddock's, Berden, Haggard Organizations: Michigan, Service, Democratic, Republican, Michigan GOP, Michigan Republican Party, Trump, Republican National Committee, Facebook Locations: Wall, Silicon, Michigan, Lansing

Hundreds of protesters stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad early Thursday and set fire to parts of it ahead of a demonstration outside the Iraqi Embassy in Sweden, where recent Quran burnings have inflamed anger in the Muslim world. At the latest demonstration in Sweden on Thursday, Mr. Momika and another protester kicked around copies of the Quran and stomped on a replica of the Iraqi flag. In response, Iraq’s prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, expelled the Swedish ambassador and directed Iraq’s chargé d’affairs to withdraw from the Iraqi embassy in Sweden, a government spokesman said. The severing of diplomatic relations came “in response to the repeated permission of the Swedish government to burn the Noble Qur’an, insult Islamic sanctities and burn the Iraqi flag,” Mr. al-Sudani said in a tweet. The Iraqi government also suspended the operating license in the country of the Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson.

Persons: Salwan, Eid, Momika, Mohammed Shia, Iraq’s, d’affairs, Mr, Sudani Organizations: Iraqi Embassy, Ericsson Locations: Swedish, Baghdad, Iraqi, Sweden, Stockholm

☆ Trump criminal target letter in election probe cites laws on conspiracy, witness tampering
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Council Bluffs, Iowa, July 7, 2023. The target letter that special counsel Jack Smith recently sent lawyers for former President Donald Trump mentions three federal criminal statutes, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and witness tampering, NBC News reported Wednesday. The target letter also mentions a third criminal statute, deprivation of rights under color of law, according to NBC, which cited two attorneys with direct knowledge of the letter. Those efforts included the submission of false Electoral College slates, various legal challenges to state election results, testimony to state lawmakers and Trump's pressuring of Georgia's top election official to change the election results. Trump argued that Smith's probe is designed to harm his chances of winning the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and general election against Biden.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jack Smith, Smith, Trump, Joe Biden, Joe Biden's, Biden Organizations: U.S, Republican, NBC News, NBC, Department of Justice, Joe Biden's DOJ, Wall Street Locations: Bluffs , Iowa, United States, U.S

☆ AI startup Tractable raises $65 million in Series E round led by Japanese investment giant SoftBank
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Artificial intelligence startup Tractable has raised a $65 million Series E led by SoftBank. The startup deploys AI to visually assess damaged cars and properties for insurers. Artificial intelligence startup Tractable has raised $65 million in a round led by Japanese investment giant SoftBank. Tractable last raised funds in a $60 million Series D round when it was valued at over $1 billion. The company declined to comment on the valuation attached to its Series E round, which also included existing investors Insight Partners and Georgian.

Persons: SoftBank, Masayoshi Son, Son, Alex Dalyac, Venkat Sathyamurthy, Mohan Mahadevan, Nahoko Hoshino, Dalyac Organizations: Insight Partners, Vision Fund, Adobe, SoftBank Investment Locations: London, New York, Japan

☆ New York City pension chief urges pay clawbacks at Bank of America
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Since the financial crisis of 2008, provisions to recover pay have been strengthened at top U.S. banks to limit risk-taking. Bank of America did not admit wrongdoing in its July 11 agreements with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Lander oversees public-employee pension funds with some $300 million worth of Bank of America (BAC.N) stock. It said Bank of America charged multiple fees to customers who did not have enough funds in their accounts from February 2018 until February 2022. The bank said it voluntarily reduced overdraft fees and eliminated all nonsufficient fund fees in 2022.

Persons: Brad Lander, Lander, Wells, Michael Garland, Ross Kerber, Matthew Lewis Organizations: New York, of America's, Bank of America, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Reuters, Bank of, Human, of America, Thomson Locations: New, Charlotte , North Carolina, Reuters , New York City, New York City, Boston

BRUSSELS, July 18 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday criticised EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager's decision to hire a U.S. economist over a European to help oversee Big Tech, adding her previous work could lead to conflicts of interest. Macron added he was "attached to reciprocity", and noted that the U.S. and China would not have appointed an overseas national in such a role. Scott Morton will advise the European Commission on its investigations into Big Tech and its enforcement of a series of landmark rules to rein in tech giants. Macron pointed to her previous work for "many companies" as something that could also result in conflicts of interest. She said previous chief economists at the Commission had also done consulting work without posing any issues.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Margrethe Vestager's, Vestager, Fiona Scott Morton, Barack Obama's, Macron, Scott Morton, Jean Tirole, Scott Morton's, Sudip Kar, Bernadette Baum, Sharon Singleton, Jan Harvey Organizations: Big Tech, U.S . Department of Justice, European Union, Commission, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Europe, China

☆ While the Russian invasion has shown the world the next generation of high-tech warfare, old-school tactics are decimating Ukrainian troops: land mines, booby traps, and tripwires
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Mines cause more wounds among troops than artillery, a Ukrainian medic told the NYT. At the same time, fiberglass rods are used instead of metal detectors to find electrically triggered mines, Insider previously reported. Wounds caused by plastic mines are particularly difficult to treat, as medics cannot locate where plastic shrapnel is embedded in the body using traditional methods like X-rays. Russian troops aren't the only ones deploying antipersonnel mines as they continue their invasion of Ukraine. Insider previously reported Human Rights Watch this month urged Ukrainian officials to investigate reports of butterfly mines being used against Russian soldiers.

Persons: Valery Zaluzhny, Maksym Prysyazhnyuk, Prysyazhnyuk, Mark Kimmitt Organizations: Service, Washington, Troops, Mines, New York Times, Times, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, of, Russian Federation, United States Department of Defense, United Nations Commission, Rights Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Wall, Silicon, Brig

☆ Czech billionaire Kretinsky closes in on Casino after 3F abandons bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Kretinsky has been vying to take control of Casino against the 3F Holding group, led by telecoms entrepreneur Xavier Niel, investment banker Matthieu Pigasse and businessman Moez-Alexandre Zouari. The group is saddled with net debt of 6.4 billion euros ($7.1 billion) and is teetering on the brink of default. "Today, after months of work, 3F has decided to not submit an offer," 3F said in a statement. Along with Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière’s Fimalac, he would inject 1.2 billion euros ($1.35 billion) in equity to take a 53% stake in France's sixth-largest retailer. The bidders would also convert 4.9 billion euros of debt into equity.

Persons: Daniel Kretinsky, Kretinsky, Xavier Niel, Matthieu Pigasse, Moez, Alexandre Zouari, 3F's, Marc Ladreit de, Fimalac, Casino, John Irish, David Holmes, Emelia Organizations: Casino, 3F, Attestor, Financial, Global Commerce, Financial Times, Thomson Locations: Czech, France's, Casino

☆ When El Niño exacerbates global warming: Record heat, record flooding, record wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Brown | Afp | Getty ImagesIf you feel like record-level extreme weather events are happening with alarming frequency, you're not alone. Global warming is making extreme weather events more severe, scientists said. But what is clear is that climate change makes it more likely that an extreme weather event will happen. "Higher temperatures from climate change are indisputable, and with each degree increase we're multiplying our changes of getting an extreme heat wave. Decreasing the greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels will help moderate the extreme weather trends.

Persons: Rai Rogers, Frederic J, Brown, Michael Mann, Brandon Bell, Phil Scott, Paul Ullrich, Mann, Ullrich, Justin Trudeau, El Niño, Timothy Canty, Canty, they're Organizations: Afp, Getty, University of Pennsylvania, CNBC, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, National Weather Service, Prediction, EMT, Emergency, Washington Post, The Washington Post, Anadolu Agency, University of California, Global, Wildfire, Bloomberg, University of Maryland, Government, Montreal Locations: Las Vegas , Nevada, California, Texas, Florida, United States, Northern, West Coast, Phoenix , Arizona, Nevada, Arizona, Montpelier , Vermont, Vermont, Canada, New York City, Anadolu, Davis, Lytton , British Columbia, El, Americas, Gulf, Pacific Northwest, Ohio, Northeastern, Ankara, Turkiye, Montreal

☆ BlackRock has a 'responsibility to democratize investing,' including in crypto, Larry Fink says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Jesse Pound | In Jesse-Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Andrew Ross Sorkin speaks with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink during the New York Times DealBook Summit in the Appel Room at the Jazz At Lincoln Center on November 30, 2022 in New York City. BlackRock 's move into crypto fits into the asset management giant's broader mission of creating products that are easy to use and cheap for investors, CEO Larry Fink said Friday. Fink had previously been critical of crypto, saying in 2017 that the popularity of digital currencies was do in large part to money laundering. However, interest from clients and the high cost of transactions motivated BlackRock to take a closer look at entering the space, Fink said. BlackRock reported its second-quarter results on Friday, earning $9.28 in adjusted earnings per share on $4.46 billion in revenue.

Persons: Andrew Ross Sorkin, Larry Fink, We've, Fink, BlackRock Organizations: BlackRock, New York Times DealBook, Jazz At Lincoln Center, Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC Locations: New York City, cryptocurrencies

Unlike other candidates who have employed online gimmicks to secure 40,000 donors, Mr. Pence has invested little in seeking out contributors on the internet. The super PAC supporting Mr. Pence, Committed to America, had raised an additional $2.7 million during the fund-raising reporting period that ended June 30, an aide said. Other Republican presidential candidates have announced far larger fund-raising sums from the three-month reporting period; some of them, unlike Mr. Pence, were in the race for the entire quarter. Mr. Trump said his campaign and his joint fund-raising committee had raised $35 million in the second quarter. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina said his campaign had raised $6.1 million.

Persons: Pence, Vivek Ramaswamy, Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott of Organizations: Facebook, Google, PAC, Republican, Gov, South, United Nations Locations: America, Florida, South Carolina, Tim Scott of South Carolina

The amorphous lag explains the cat-and-mouse game between the Fed and markets that has played out since the central bank began its tightening cycle last year. For their part, markets have long expected the Fed to quickly pivot to a pretty aggressive series of rate cuts, largely to counter the accumulated lag effects of the tightening cycle. Taken at its most literal level, the 500 basis points of tightening since March 2022 - 17 months ago - have still not registered at all. There is a growing body of opinion that the lags have shortened considerably since Friedman shared his 'long and variable' theory. Reuters ImageData on Wednesday showed that consumer prices rose at an annual rate of 3.0% in June, down from 4.0% in May.

Persons: Keen, Milton Friedman, Friedman, Christopher Waller, Phil Suttle, Jamie McGeever, Paul Simao Organizations: Fed, Kansas City Fed, Reuters, Thomson Locations: ORLANDO, Florida, U.S

☆ Essence Magazine was meant to be a place for 'Black girl magic.' Internally, some employees say it was more like 'Black girl tragic.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Yoonji Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +34 min

"Essence is the most deceptive Black media company in America. Essence Magazine was first published in 1970 at a time when Black business and civil rights leaders called for greater self-determination and empowerment. The magazine was the brainchild of a group of four Black businessmen who identified a lack of publications for Black women in America. "And that is to serve Black women deeply, to serve women of color in a way that no one else has thought about." Essence CEO Michelle Ebanks, Richelieu Dennis, and Essence chief content & creative officer Moana Luu at the 2020 13th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood luncheon.

Persons: Richelieu Dennis, Dennis, Susan Taylor, Taylor, —, Jason Kempin, wasn't, Essence Communications Michelle Ebanks, Rich Dennis, Arturo Holmes, Margarita Corporan, Forbes, let's, Black, didn't, Sandra Okerulu, Michelle Ebanks, Luu, Moana, Rich Polk, Wears, Danielle Young, Julee Wilson, Candace Montgomery, Wilson, Montgomery, Martha, Martha Dennis, Rechelle, Sophia, Richelyna, Alan Lescht, bristled, Ebanks, Joy Collins Profet, Readers, Essence's, Collins Profet, Caroline Wanga, — it's, Wanga, unappreciated, Travis Montaque, cofounders, Lionel Hahn, Yesha Callahan, Rich, That's what's, Yoonji Han Organizations: Black, Essence Magazine, Time Inc, Vogue, Sports, Essence Communications, Entertainment, New York Times, Meredith Corporation, Brands, Ventures, Upfronts, Babson College, The, Depot, PepsiCo, Accenture, Unilever, Inc, Magazine, Magazine's, Penske Media, Getty, Essence Ventures, Afropunk, Vice Media, Black Entertainment Television, Digital, Sports Illustrated, Media, Fortress Investment, NASDAQ, Trace Media, texturism, Hamptons, Readers, Employees, Staff, BET, Culture, Democracy, Inkwell, Essence Locations: America, Black, Liberia, Queens, shea, Moana Luu, Martinique, France, Paris, Philippines, Hollywood, Industry City, Brooklyn, Cannes

☆ Opinion | The Future of Online Speech Shouldn’t Belong to One Trump-Appointed Judge in Louisiana
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Kate Klonick | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

On Monday, Judge Doughty refused a stay on his injunction, putting it into immediate effect. Other examples include laws passed in Florida and Texas that prohibit larger social media platforms from removing posts because of the opinions they express and the ban on TikTok that Montana has passed. How do you regulate a public right like freedom of expression when that right is intermediated by private companies? Those questions lie at the heart of the case before Judge Doughty. I agree with Judge Doughty that the apparent pressure that the Biden administration placed on the platforms is questionable.

Persons: Doughty, Leah Litman, Steve Vladeck, Judge Doughty, Donald Trump, Biden Organizations: Democratic, Monroe Division, Western, U.S ., Appeals, Fifth Circuit Locations: Covid, Florida, Texas, Montana, Louisiana, Monroe, Western District

☆ Former Essence Magazine employees say they witnessed a 'hellish' and 'dehumanizing' culture at the leading publication for Black women in America
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Yoonji Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +34 min

On June 28, 2020, a group of women using the name Black Females Anonymous published a damning public letter that shook Essence magazine, the leading publication for Black women in America, to the core. Essence magazine was launched in 1970 at a time when Black business and civil-rights leaders called for greater self-determination and empowerment. The magazine was the brainchild of a group of four Black businessmen who identified a lack of publications for Black women in America. "And that is to serve Black women deeply, to serve women of color in a way that no one else has thought about." Essence CEO Michelle Ebanks, Dennis, and Essence chief content and creative officer, Moana Luu, at the 2020 13th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood luncheon.

Persons: Richelieu Dennis, Dennis, haven't, Susan Taylor, Taylor, —, Jason Kempin, wasn't, Michelle Ebanks, Rich Dennis, Arturo Holmes, Margarita Corporan, Forbes, let's, didn't, Sandra Okerulu, Ebanks, Luu, Moana, Rich Polk, Wears, Danielle Young, Julee Wilson, Candace Montgomery, Wilson, Montgomery, Martha, Martha Dennis, Rechelle, Sophia, Richelyna, Alan Lescht, bristled, Joy Collins Profet, Readers, Essence's, Collins Profet, Caroline Wanga, — it's, Wanga, unappreciated, Travis Montaque, cofounders, Lionel Hahn, Yesha Callahan, Rich, That's what's, Yoonji Han Organizations: Black, Time Inc, Vogue, Sports, Essence Communications, Entertainment, New York Times, Meredith Corporation, Essence, Inc, Brands, Ventures, Upfronts, Babson College, The, Depot, PepsiCo, Accenture, Unilever, Magazine, Magazine's, Penske Media, Getty, Essence Ventures, Afropunk, Vice Media, Black Entertainment Television, Digital, Sports Illustrated, Media, Fortress Investment, NASDAQ, Trace Media, texturism, Readers, Employees, Staff, BET, Culture, Democracy, Inkwell Locations: America, Black, Liberia, Queens, shea, Moana Luu, Martinique, France, Paris, Philippines, Hollywood, Industry City, Brooklyn, Cannes

☆ Millennial couple's 6 incomes streams bring in $420,000 a year: 'You only get as far as your efforts'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Two decades later, Nuñez and his wife Stefani Nicole Penaranda now have two children and six streams of income in Lucketts, Virginia. They own a snowplow business and seven real estate properties. Penaranda runs a day care and is a real estate agent, while Nuñez works in IT consulting and as a cybersecurity contractor. After high school, Nuñez began taking nursing classes at Northern Virginia Community College. "My idea to get to my goals faster was to have different streams of income and revenue," Nuñez says.

Persons: Eddie Nuñez, Nuñez, Stefani Nicole Penaranda, he's, Penaranda, didn't, Samantha Schutz Organizations: CNBC, Northern Virginia Community College, U.S . Border Patrol, University of Maryland Locations: Peru, Ashburn , Virginia, Lucketts , Virginia, Peruvian, U.S, Bolivian, Canada, Tacoma , Washington, Virginia, cybersecurity

CNN —Thailand’s parliament will vote for a new prime minister Thursday, a critical moment for the future of democracy in the country following nearly a decade of turbulent military-backed rule. Prayut was elected prime minister in 2019, a win largely credited to a military-drafted constitution that entrenched the military’s power in politics. On Tuesday, Prayut announced his retirement, adding he would remain as prime minister until the new government is formed. Monarchy looms over voteThat could be a major roadblock in Pita’s path to prime minister. Move Forward’s proposed structural changes target the heart of this establishment, with priorities to “demilitarize, demonopolize and decentralize” Thailand, Pita recently told CNN.

Persons: CNN —, Pita Limjaroenrat, Pita, Prayut Chan, Prayut, –, King, lese, Seri Suwannapanon, Kittisak Rattanawaraha, ” Organizations: CNN, Assembly, Move, Party, Harvard, Sunday, Twitter Locations: Thailand, Thursday’s, decentralize, Bangkok

☆ Canada Joins Nearly 20 Nations Calling for Halt to Deep-Sea Mining as Negotiators Meet to Agree Rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

This week, delegates of the International Seabed Authority—a United Nations observer organization that regulates deep-sea mining in international waters—are descending on ISA headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica to hash out the regulations around deep-sea mining over the next two weeks. PREVIEWCanada, Ireland and Switzerland have all recently joined calls—by nearly 20 countries—for a moratorium or at least a pause on deep-sea mining. Norway recently opened the door to deep-sea mining in its waters. Deep-sea mining in recent years has garnered attention because of the possibility of recovering battery metals such as manganese and nickel from the seafloor. Some other early supporters of seabed mining, including Maersk and Lockheed Martin, have been selling their deep-sea mining investments.

Persons: —, Michael Lodge, Gerard Barron, Sandy Huffaker, GUSTAVO GRAF MALDONADO, Lockheed Martin, Yusuf Khan Organizations: United, Sustainable Business, ” Global Affairs Canada, ISA, Metals Co, Maersk, Press, Greenpeace, The Metals Co, REUTERS, Nauru wouldn’t, Lockheed Locations: Canada, United Nations, Kingston , Jamaica, Ireland, Switzerland, Norway, Nauru, yusuf.khan

☆ This millionaire is selling his private jet -- out of concern for the environment
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Amid these concerns, one private jet owner has decided to scale back. In line with Prince’s thoughts, the Institute for Policy Studies report advocates for higher taxes on both private jet sales and fuel. They also call for the federal jet fuel tax to be doubled from $0.219 per gallon to $0.438 per gallon for the most frequent private jet users. We should have very high taxes, [usage] taxes and fuel taxes that discourage private jet owners.”Collins adds that the construction of private aviation infrastructure should stop altogether, as this form of transportation should be phased out. In April, Schiphol airport in Amsterdam announced it is considering banning private jets from its grounds altogether.

Persons: What’s, Stephen Prince, “ I’ve, It’s, I’m, ”, Joan Valls, Shutterstock There’s, he’s, who’s, “, it’s, ” Prince, we’re, George Rose, Elon, ” Chuck Collins, ” Collins, That’s, Collins Organizations: CNN, US Institute for Policy Studies, Federal Aviation Administration, Patriotic, Cessna, Prince, TSA, Institute for Policy Studies, “ Locations: Nebraska, Boston, Europe, France, Ireland, Schiphol, Amsterdam

☆ After years of decline, norovirus outbreaks surge on cruise ships
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Giri Viswanathan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Whether from Miami, New York, Seattle or more, millions of Americans pack aboard cruise ships on vacation. That’s the highest number of norovirus outbreaks on cruises recorded since 2012, with almost half of the calendar year left to go. Still, to prevent the spread of norovirus, Schaffner recommends that cruise passengers take extra precautions and wash their hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. According to data from the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program, the number of norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships docking at U.S. ports had years of steady decline after 2015. Overall rates of acute gastroenteritis on cruise ships in the U.S. also decreased from 2006 to 2019.

Persons: it’s, ”, norovirus, William Schaffner, who’s, Schaffner, we’ve, Jeffrey Fisher, there’ve, we’re, Kathleen Conley, ” Schaffner, Fisher, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, “, “ They’re, they’re, “ Don’t Organizations: CNN, US Centers for Disease Control, Viking Cruises, Viking, CDC, Vanderbilt University, Central Michigan University, “, Sanitation, Royal Caribbean, Royal Caribbean International, CNN Health Locations: Miami , New York, Seattle, Iceland, New York City, norovirus, U.S

☆ Coronavirus Probably Spread Widely in Deer and Perhaps Back to People, U.S.D.A. Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Emily Anthes | More About Emily Anthes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Indeed, the new study confirms prior reports that some coronavirus variants, including Alpha and Gamma, continued to circulate in deer even after they became rare in people. They found multiple versions of the virus in deer, including the Alpha, Gamma, Delta and Omicron variants. Then, the scientists compared the viral samples isolated from deer with those from human patients and mapped the evolutionary relationships between them. They concluded that the virus moved from humans to deer at least 109 times and that deer-to-deer transmission often followed. Many questions remain, including precisely how people are passing the virus to deer, and the role that the animals might play in sustaining the virus in the wild.

Persons: APHIS Organizations: Alpha, Gamma, Plant Health, Service, D.C, Nature Communications, APHIS, Centers for Disease Control, University of Missouri Locations: ., Washington, North Carolina and Massachusetts

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