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☆ Macron Government Bypasses France’s National Assembly to Pass Pension Overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Noemie Bisserbe | Stacy Meichtry | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

PARIS—The government of French President Emmanuel Macron invoked a special provision of France’s constitution Thursday to bypass parliament and increase the country’s retirement age, an act of defiance that escalates the leader’s standoff with street protesters and opposition lawmakers. The use of Article 49 of the French constitution allows the Macron government to enact a contentious overhaul of France’s pension system after it struggled to cobble together enough votes in Parliament. But the maneuver comes at a high political price: Protesters and opposition parties that have painted Mr. Macron as an authoritarian now have more ammunition to mobilize the masses.

☆ Poland to Send Four MiG-29 Jet Fighters to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Thomas Grove | Karolina Jeznach | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Poland said it would send four MiG-29 jet fighters to Ukraine in coming days, making it the first Western nation to supply warplanes to Kyiv, which is preparing a counteroffensive against Russia’s invading forces. The move puts Poland once again at the center of European policy-making on Ukraine, following Warsaw’s successful efforts earlier this year to cobble together a coalition of countries willing to send German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv.

☆ Poland to Send Four MiG-29 Fighters to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Thomas Grove | Karolina Jeznach | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Poland said it would send four MiG-29 jet fighters to Ukraine in coming days—making it the first Western nation to supply warplanes to Kyiv, which is preparing a counteroffensive against Russia’s invading forces. The move puts Poland once again at the center of European policy-making on Ukraine, following Warsaw’s successful efforts earlier this year to cobble together a coalition of countries willing to send German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv.

☆ Police fire tear gas at spontaneous anti-pension bill protest in Paris
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, March 16 (Reuters) - Police fired tear gas at protesters on the Place de la Concorde in Paris, where some 7,000 people demonstrated against the government's pension changes in a spontaneous and unplanned rally. [1/3] A demonstrator holds a CGT labour union flag during a protest after French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne used the article 49.3, a special clause in the French Constitution, to push the pensions reform bill through the National Assembly without a vote by lawmakers, in Nantes, France, March 16, 2023. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe 1 2 3A Reuters reporter saw cobble stones being thrown at the police, who charged to break up groups of protesters. The demonstration was across the river Seine from parliament, where Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne earlier on Thursday announced her government would push through the reform using a special constitution clause, as her minority government could not get the necessary backing from the opposition conservative Les Republicains party. Reporting by Antony Paone, writing by GV De Clercq; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Big Tech's wipeout sends workers scrambling
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Matt Turner | Dave Smith | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Hi, I'm Matt Turner, the editor in chief of business at Insider. Up first: I just returned to New York after a few days in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum. It was intense and informative, packed with meetings with business leaders and government ministers from around the world. Davos, Switzerland Hanna Erasmus and EyeEm/Getty ImagesMore than 1,500 business leaders descended on Davos in the Swiss Alps last week. Saumya Khandelwal/Hindustan Times via Getty ImagesIt was a wipeout at Silicon Valley's tech giants this week.

☆ Democrats’ Push to Help DACA ‘Dreamers’ Faces Steep Odds in Lame-Duck Session
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Michelle Hackman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON—With weeks left until they lose control of the House, Democrats are scrambling to see whether they can cobble together enough support to reach a deal allowing the young immigrants known as Dreamers to stay legally in the U.S. But their plans face skepticism from Republicans, who say it would be imprudent to change any aspect of the immigration system without first taming record illegal crossings at the southern border. Concerns over those crossings have been heightened by an imminent court-ordered end to Title 42, the pandemic-era policy that has limited access to the border for asylum seekers for the stated purpose of reducing the spread of Covid-19. Government officials warn there could be an even larger border surge when the policy is lifted later this month.

☆ ‘Living in despair and hopelessness’: A lack of affordable housing can put people’s health at risk
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Renuka Rayasam Fred Clasen-Kelly Kaiser Health News | Renuka Rayasam | Fred Clasen-Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

She suspected the gray and brown splotches spreading through the apartment were mold and had caused her son’s illness. A nationwide affordable housing crisis has wreaked havoc on the lives of low-income families, like Joseph’s, who are close to the brink. Housing instability — such as having trouble paying rent, living in crowded conditions, or moving frequently — can have negative consequences on health, according to the federal Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. And there is no county in the country where a minimum-wage worker could afford a two-bedroom rental home, according to an August report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition. A few months after leaving the apartment, Joseph and her two children moved in with her sister in Orlando, Florida, with their remaining possessions — a car and some clothes.

☆ Explainer: What to expect as Malaysia's split election leaves scramble to form govt
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Mei Mei Chu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] The logo of Malaysia's election commission is pictured at its headquarters in Putrajaya, Malaysia, October 20, 2022. REUTERS/Hasnoor HussainKUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Malaysia's political leaders were scrambling to form a coalition government on Sunday after an election produced an unprecedented hung parliament, with no group able to claim a majority. Longtime opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin each said they could form a government with support from other parties, whom they did not identify. It made inroads in strongholds of Barisan, whose United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) - long Malaysia's dominant political force - made its worst showing ever. KING'S ROLEKing Al-Sultan Abdullah could potentially pick the next prime minister.

☆ Malaysia votes in general election, Anwar expected to lead tight race
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( A. Ananthalakshmi | Rozanna Latiff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Malaysians queue to cast their vote for the country's general election at Permatang Pauh, Penang, Malaysia November 19, 2022. Without a clear winner, political uncertainty could persist as Malaysia faces slowing economic growth and rising inflation. “I don’t think it is possible for any coalition to win on their own,” said Sivamurugan Pandian, political analyst at Malaysia Science University. Anwar was the top choice for prime minister at 33%, followed by Muhyiddin at 26% and Ismail at 17%. Sheila Supramaniam, 30, said she will vote for Anwar as his coalition stood firmly against corruption and discrimination.

☆ In the midst of Amazon's record layoffs, corporate employees of the company float a forbidden word: Union
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Katherine Long | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A small group of corporate Amazon staff is discussing unionizing, according to messages seen by Insider. There, a small group of corporate employees have been openly discussing the pros and cons of labor activism, including organizing into a union. Though only one warehouse has successfully voted to unionize, organizing efforts are active in at least seven Amazon locations. And now, with about 10,000 corporate jobs on the line, union activism is picking up here, too. Members of the Discord group have brought up the Alphabet Workers Union, a minority union representing roughly 1,000 Alphabet employees and affiliated with the Communications Workers of America, as a possible model.

☆ Malaysia's upcoming election is poised to be a battleground of uncertainty
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Su-Lin Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Four years ago, opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan swept Barisan Nasional — the ruling coalition at that time — out of power for the first time in 60 years. Then chairman and second-time prime minister Mahathir Mohamad resigned after 22 months in office and the coalition fell apart. Malaysia's political crisis has paved the way for a smorgasbord of parties and coalitions contesting the general election on Nov. 19. Perikatan gained notoriety after it was formed in 2020 following the defection of members from Pakatan Harapan. Anwar Ibrahim is looking to become prime minister after being denied the leadership for over two decades.

☆ Read the memo Amazon's Alexa and devices chief Dave Limp sent to notify his division of layoffs: 'I know this news is tough to digest'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Katherine Long | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Amazon employees have complained of a communications vacuum from leadership. Devices chief Dave Limp emailed his division Wednesday morning to notify them of the layoffs. As colleagues were called into meetings and notified they were being laid off, some Amazon employees complained that a communication vacuum from leadership was adding to the sense of anxiety pervading the company. Wednesday morning, Dave Limp, Amazon's senior vice president for devices and services, which houses Alexa, emailed employees to explain the rationale behind the cuts. Thank you for the support and empathy that I know our team will show each other during this time.

☆ U.S. is probing Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing, Israel's defense minister says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Abu Akleh’s supporters accuse Israel of intentionally killing the 51-year-old and have urged Washington to open a full investigation. Gantz, who is set to leave his post following elections earlier this month that vaulted Israel’s former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu back to power, was defense minister when Abu Akleh was killed. In September, Israel acknowledged for the first time that Israeli fire probably killed Abu Akleh. Human rights groups have long accused the Israeli military of failing to properly investigate wrongdoing by its own troops and seldom holding forces accountable. Abu Akleh was shot while reporting on an Israeli military raid in the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank, long a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

☆ Israel’s Netanyahu given chance to form far-right government
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

He will formally present Netanyahu with the task on Sunday and give him a month to cobble together a governing coalition with a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Netanyahu had governed Israel for 12 successive years before being being ousted by a broad but fragile coalition in 2021. Those recommending Netanyahu included Ben Gvir’s Jewish Power party, the ultranationalist Religious Zionist party, the openly homophobic Noam faction, and other ultra-Orthodox parties. Like its previous repeated elections, Israel’s Nov. 1 vote was largely centered on Netanyahu’s fitness to rule. Critics see him as a crook who threatens Israel’s democratic institutions by placing his legal woes above the national interest.

☆ How Hurricane Sandy transformed the Jersey Shore into 'a playground for the rich'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Zoe Rosenberg | Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

Jersey Shore residents battled through a patchwork of programs to rebuild after Hurricane Sandy. Even 10 years after Hurricane Sandy, Barbara is still reminded daily of the mental and financial toll it took on her. Courtesy of BarbaraThe bureaucratic red tape around flood insurance and rebuild programs linked to Hurricane Sandy deepened the divide between the haves and have-nots of the Jersey Shore. Milliman, an actuarial company that works with FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program, found that about 47% of coastal dwellers had flood insurance, The Inquirer reported. "After Sandy, there was a lot more money coming in," Mery, who has built Jersey Shore homes for 15 years, told Insider.

☆ I was traumatized by a leaky roof in an old apartment, so when it happened in my home I was beyond relieved to have insurance that covered it
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Mandy Shunnarah | Read More | Read Less | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

When my partner and I finally moved, we found an amazing home — but the roof was 25 years old. It leaked within six months, but our homeowners insurance covered the bulk of the bill. It had been lovingly tended; the inspector even said he'd never seen a house this old in this good shape. It was a stressful month of waiting, but in the end, Farmers homeowners insurance saved our tails — and our sanity. Insider's Featured Homeowner Insurance Companies Lemonade Homeowners InsuranceAllstate Homeowners InsuranceNationwide Homeowners Insurance Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

☆ Looking for a ‘Real’ Two-Bedroom in Manhattan or Brooklyn. Which Borough Offered More for Their Money?
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Debra Kamin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Ms. Gaither, 31, who grew up in Akron, Ohio, and has lived in New York for over a decade, is a recruiter at Google. “I was team Brooklyn and he was team Manhattan,” Ms. Gaither said. Ms. Gaither, who prefers older buildings, was undeterred by the prospect of a small renovation, and was partial to several areas in Brooklyn. “We were elder millennials in Williamsburg, with warring rooftop DJs starting at 2 p.m. every Saturday,” Ms. Gaither said. The couple has a 3-year-old rescue dog, Sadie, and during the pandemic Ms. Gaither began fostering dogs, as well.

☆ Grocery deal could have European interloper
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON, Oct 20 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Good luck to Kroger and Albertsons (ACI.N) – U.S. lawmakers are already getting concerned about a deal. A European interloper could make deal plans even harder. If investors reckoned there was merit in a deal, Muller could also use equity to beef up the offer. So regulators wouldn’t have to worry about a larger Kroger shutting down competing Albertsons stores. Less overlap means fewer operational synergies, so a deal with Ahold might not look as lucrative.

☆ Battery startup salaries revealed: How much Redwood, QuantumScape, and more pay the engineers they're desperate to hire
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Alexa St. John | Alex Nicoll | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The EV battery space will need to fill 10 million jobs globally by 2030. Firms like Redwood Materials, QuantumScape, and more, are searching for hundreds of workers. Battery companies are desperate for talent to meet the demand they're seeing from electric vehicle automakers — and some are paying big bucks to attract workers. Battery companies are racing to get critical materials like lithium and nickel. This need means that firms innovating all aspects of the battery value chain — including battery chemistry, materials, battery health, repurposing and more — are competing with one another to fill what the World Economic Forum expects will be 10 million jobs globally by 2030.

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☆ 2 migrants flown to Martha's Vineyard by Gov. DeSantis have already left for NYC, says Massachusetts lawmaker
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Two of the migrants flown to Martha's Vineyard have left for NYC, a local politician told Insider. The lawmaker said he wouldn't be surprised if more of the migrants left for other parts of the US. Some of them, said Massachusetts State Sen. Julian Cyr, even want to return to Martha's Vineyard. Cyr, a Democrat, said that some of the migrants even want to return to Martha's Vineyard. "They loved Martha's Vineyard," the politician said of the migrants.

☆ ‘Quantum Leap’ reboot brings a rare Asian American lead to network television
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Max Gao | Max Gao Is A Freelance Journalist Based Out Of Toronto. He Has Written For The New York Times | Nbc News | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

When Raymond Lee first received an offer to star in “Quantum Leap,” a sequel to the beloved sci-fi series that aired from 1989 to 1993, he thought the show’s producers had made a mistake. “I got to play the lead in theater, [but] I didn’t know if the landscape was there for me to do it in television, let alone network television,” Lee told NBC Asian America. Raymond Lee as Dr. Ben Song in "Quantum Leap." “I’ve always considered the way I look and my background to be a superpower,” said Lee, who is Korean American. Caitlin Bassett as Addison and Raymond Lee as Ben in "Quantum Leap."

☆ This 27-year-old saved for years to rent her first apartment — a $1,850-a-month 'dream' loft in Yonkers
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-28 | by ( Cory Stieg | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Since college graduation, Denise Francis had been saving up to move out of the two-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn where she lived her whole life. "Now, at the age of 27, I was finally able to move into that dream apartment," Francis tells CNBC Make It. "Instead, I used all those years to continue saving," Francis says. By 2020, thanks to a salaried job and a recent promotion, Francis had saved $20,000, enough money to cover about a year's worth of rent. Typical monthly rent in Yonkers is $2,191 a month, according to data from Zillow shared with CNBC Make It.

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