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☆ Search suspended for US sailors last seen in northwest Mexico, Coast Guard says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] A view of the marina where three American sailors left earlier this month to San Diego, U.S. before went missing, as authorities suspended their search, in Mazatlan, Mexico April 20, 2023. REUTERS/Eduardo ResendizMEXICO CITY, April 20 (Reuters) - The search for three American sailors last seen in northwest Mexico has been suspended by the Mexican Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard, a Coast Guard spokesperson told Reuters on Thursday. The three sailors, identified as Kerry O'Brien, Frank O'Brien and William Gross, were last seen on April 4 in the northwestern state of Sinaloa, the Coast Guard said last week. Los Angeles-based Coast Guard spokesman Richard Uranga told Reuters that after the Mexican Navy had suspended their search, the U.S. Coast Guard had followed suit. Uranga said he did not have further information on why the search was called off.

☆ Search Halted for 3 Americans Missing Off the Mexican Coast
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Johnny Diaz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The search for three Americans who were reported missing two weeks ago, after sailing off the coast of Mexico to California, has been called off, the authorities in both countries said. The missing people, a woman and two men identified as Kerry O’Brien, Frank O’Brien and William Gross, were sailing aboard the Ocean Bound, a 44-foot La Fitte sailboat. They were last heard from on April 4, when they were near Mazatlán, Mexico, the Coast Guard said in a news release. The Coast Guard did not specify their ages on Thursday. The three travelers had left Mazatlán on their way to San Diego, and they were scheduled to stop in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on April 6 to resupply with provisions, according to the Coast Guard.

☆ Mexico and U.S. search for three American sailors last seen in Sinaloa
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, April 15 (Reuters) - Mexico's Navy and the United States are searching for three American sailors who were last seen on April 4 in the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The three sailors reportedly left the port city of Mazatlan en route to San Diego and were due to stop in Cabo San Lucas on April 6 for provisions and to report in, but they never made it. "There was no record of them arriving in Cabo San Lucas or a report in of their location," the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement published late on Friday. "Urgent marine information broadcasts have been issued over VHF radio requesting all mariners to keep a lookout for the missing persons and vessel," the U.S. Coast Guard said. The disappearance of the sailors comes about a month after the high-profile kidnapping of a group of Americans in the border town of Matamoros.

☆ Massachusetts investigator launches investigation into First Republic bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMassachusetts investigator launches investigation into First Republic bankMassachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss his concerns with First Republic bank, what happens if something arises from the state's investigation, and more.

☆ Exclusive: Massachusetts regulator probes First Republic insiders' stock sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

He is seeking details about the firm's insider trading policies and how officers handled their stock sales from January 1. A spokesperson for First Republic declined to confirm the firm received a subpoena or comment on the stock sales. Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank were seized by regulators days later amid liquidity crises, actions that sapped investor confidence in the sector. SHARE SALESSeveral First Republic executives have sold shares this year, including founder and Executive Chairman James Herbert. Herbert and Roffler did not respond to requests for comment on their stock sales or the subpoena.

Diverse hiring helps life insurance companies connect with underserved communities. Life insurance companies are focusing on community and product development. Many of the largest insurance companies have historically denied Black applicants, given them lower-value life insurance than white applicants who paid the same amount, and engaged in other discriminatory activity. Research from William G. Gale, a Brookings Institution economics expert and co-author of "Racial Discrimination in Life Insurance," found that while Black families were 3% more likely than their white counterparts to have a life insurance policy, the differences in inheritances (often including life insurance payouts) accounted for 10-20% of the wealth gap. Aside from eliminating blatantly discriminatory underwriting, Guardian Life has opened the door to life insurance for people with HIV.

☆ An exclusive look at how AI startup Coactive scored $10.4 million in funding from Andreessen Horowitz and Bessemer to analyze unstructured visual content
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Stephanie Palazzolo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Coactive helps companies glean insights from unstructured visual content like photos and videos. Media and consumer retail customers can flag inappropriate content or search through visual data. On a Thursday afternoon, Cody Coleman told me that he was looking forward to a rare weekend vacation to Hawaii with an unexpected guest — his high school trigonometry teacher. With the rise of e-Commerce and creator platforms, visual content has exploded, and with the increasing usage of generative AI, it'll only become easier for consumers to create their own video and image content, Coleman told Insider. The startup largely serves media and consumer retail companies through its closed beta, Coleman told Insider.

☆ Fighter jets are 'worthless' over Ukraine, and it's a sign of what US pilots and troops may face in future battles
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

As a result, neither side is able to provide close air support to its troops on the front line. US pilots and ground troops may face a similar situation in future wars, US Air Force leaders say. They're not doing a whole lot because they can't go over and do close air support," Hecker said. "Close air support in a contested environment, that's not what we do, no matter who you are," Brown added. William GreerSince taking over as the top Air Force officer in August 2020, Brown has stressed that future battlefields will be more complex and deadly for the Air Force.

☆ Republicans want to replace federal taxes with a flat sales tax. It'll either add trillions to the national deficit or you'll have to pay a lot more for everything.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Some Republicans want to abolish the IRS and replace most federal taxes with a flat sales tax. However, a report from Brookings finds that the sales tax at the currently proposed rate would add to the deficit. Buddy Carter, who introduced the legislation, said the US "doesn't have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem." "Our country doesn't have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. This is on top of the $3 trillion that Republicans want to add to the debt with tax giveaways to wealthy tax cheats, Big Pharma, big corporations, and other special interests.

Bill Gates, the cofounder of Microsoft, is thought to have a net worth of about $106 billion. Gates' own father was a high-powered attorney who became a name partner at the law firm K&L Gates. He's cultivated his brand of philanthropy with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, his endeavor with Melinda French Gates, now his ex-wife. (Brock Adams, who went on to become the transportation secretary in the Carter administration, is said to have introduced Gates' parents.) Bill Gates' mother, Mary Gates, came from a line of successful bankers and sat on the boards of important financial and social institutions including the nonprofit United Way.

☆ Black couples pay a higher tax penalty for marriage than White couples. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

A recent study by the Tax Policy Center, for example, found that Black couples on average face higher tax costs associated with marriage than White couples. “We find that Black couples are more likely than White couples to experience an income tax penalty from marriage and to face higher penalties. Differences in dollars and centsResearchers found that among couples hit with a marriage penalty, Black couples paid less in dollars ($1,804 versus $2,091) but more as a share of their income than White couples (1.8% versus 1.4%). Only 33% of Black couples got a marriage bonus compared to 44% of Whites, and those bonuses were roughly $170 smaller on average. “Taken together, Black couples in this income group paid, on average, a net penalty of $358.

☆ Biden's State of the Union may not help potential 2024 election bid against Trump, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

President Joe Biden's second State of the Union address played well with viewers, and may have helped him tee up a bid for reelection in 2024 — but it might not make a lasting impact on his hopes for a second term, experts said. And the latest poll showed that fewer respondents had a "very positive" reaction to this year's address when compared with a survey taken right after Biden's previous State of the Union speech. "He delivered his speech forcefully if not flawlessly, adding no new fuel to questions about his fitness to serve a second term," Galston said. His opponent from the 2020 election, former President Donald Trump, has technically been on the 2024 campaign trail for months, though he has done little in-person campaigning. Former President Barack Obama, under whom Biden served as vice president, had launched his own reelection bid in April 2011, less than three months after his second State of the Union address.

☆ The Paradox of Prosecuting Domestic Terrorism
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( James Verini | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +52 min

The preventive approach to domestic terrorism goes back even further than the 1990s and it begins with the basic police work and surveillance of the joint terrorism task forces. In fact, there is no section of the U.S. Criminal Code that criminalizes domestic terrorism as such. The absence of clear law around domestic terrorism, and the imperatives of prevention, mean that investigators and prosecutors who work domestic terrorism cases must focus on more common charges: weapons violations, illegal drug possession, burglary, aiding and abetting and so forth. But this was not enough to overrule the fear of domestic terrorism that was gripping the nation and that hung in the courtroom. It reflected the legal paradoxes of the case and domestic terrorism law in general or, maybe more accurately, the absence of it.

Circuit Court of Appeals that two jurors had lied about whether they discussed the case on social media before being seated for his 2015 trial, an argument the U.S. Supreme Court did not address when it reinstated Tsarnaev's death sentence last year. Circuit Judge O. Rogeriee Thompson said it was "hard to understand" how the facts did not raise a potential claim of juror misconduct, and U.S. Circuit Judge William Kayatta questioned why the judge did not probe further. The Justice Department is defending Tsarnaev's death sentence despite President Joe Biden's opposition to capital punishment and a moratorium on federal executions issued by Attorney General Merrick Garland in July 2021. The case then returned to the 1st Circuit to address other grounds for appeal that neither court had yet to resolve.

☆ Prince Harry's new book alleges physical attack by brother William
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (L), and Prince William, then the Duke of Cambridge (R), attend the unveiling of a statue of their mother, Princess Diana, on July 1, 2021. LONDON — Prince Harry's upcoming autobiography details an alleged fight in which his older brother, the future British king Prince William, pushed him to the floor, according to a report in The Guardian newspaper on Thursday. In "Spare," Harry will claim that during a 2019 fight at his home in London, William called Meghan "difficult," "rude" and "abrasive," according to the Guardian report. Harry also alleges William grabbed him by the collar, ripping his necklace, and knocked him to the floor. Kensington Palace, representing the Prince of Wales, and Buckingham Palace, representing King Charles III, have declined to comment on the allegations.

☆ Factbox: Highlights from Prince Harry's memoir 'Spare'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

MADRID, Jan 5 (Reuters) - A Spanish-language version of "Spare", the much-awaited memoir of Britain's Prince Harry, went on sale in book stores in Spain on Thursday, days ahead of its official launch date. The book reveals details about Harry's relationship with his father, King Charles, his elder brother, Prince William, and other members of the British royal family that have never previously been published. As is usual for the royal family, spokespeople for Charles and William have declined to comment. William called Meghan "difficult", "rude" and "abrasive", Harry writes. CAMILLAHarry says that he and Prince William had asked their father not to marry Camilla Parker-Bowles, who is now Britain's queen consort.

☆ 10 Fascinating Facts About Lego—From World Records to David Beckham’s Obsession
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( William Goodman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

IF YOU BUILD IT, they will come—that’s always been true for baseball fields and it is starting to feel like an apt motto for Lego A/S, which celebrated its 90th birthday on Aug. 10. Based in Billund, Denmark, the company remains the largest toy manufacturer in the world. But it now also produces videogames, television shows, movies, apparel and even theme parks.

☆ No food in 9 days for 19 Nevada prisoners on hunger strike
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

About a dozen people had gathered to show support for the Ely prisoners on the ninth day of their hunger strike. According to the Department of Corrections, two dozen people were participating in the hunger strike as of Friday morning. Marcus Kelley hugs Nina Fernandez, mother of one of the prisoners participating in the Ely State Prison hunger strike, during a rally in Las Vegas, on Dec. 9, 2022. In a statement released hours after the Las Vegas protest, William Gittere, acting director of the Nevada prison system, announced a policy change to “administrative sanctions” in light of the hunger strike. Prior to the hunger strike, prisoners could be punished with “concurrent” sanctions, meaning multiple privileges might be taken from a prisoner at the same time, the statement said.

☆ Prince William gave a $1.2 million Earthshot prize to a startup that makes edible packaging from seaweed
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Stephanie Stacey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Prince William awarded five Earthshot Prizes of $1.2 million on Friday to fund climate innovation. The prestigious Earthshot Prizes were awarded on Friday in Boston. Each winner will receive £1 million ($1.2 million) to develop their climate innovations. The star-studded ceremony, hosted by Prince William and Kate Middleton, had various celebrities in attendance including Billie Eilish, Ellie Goulding, Annie Lennox, Rami Malek, Catherine O'Hara, and David Beckham. The Earthshot Prizes were launched in 2020 by Prince William and Sir David Attenborough.

BOSTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Prince William greeted U.S. President Joe Biden at the waterfront in Boston on Friday, part of a three-day visit by British royals trying to focus attention on tackling environmental issues. On Friday afternoon, William smiled as he met Biden outdoors in cold weather along Boston's waterfront. [1/5] U.S. President Joe Biden meets Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. December 2, 2022. Kate and William last visited the United States in 2014, when they were guests of then-President Barack Obama at the White House. In contrast, William and Kate are usually portrayed in the British media as dutiful and earnest, reflecting the style of the late queen.

This year, hospitals are being overwhelmed with a combination of Covid, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the flu. This “tripledemic” of flu, Covid and RSV is a reminder that even as the pandemic ends, the threat of seasonal respiratory viruses remains. When and where respiratory viruses are surging, mask mandates should be reinstated. A recent study found that Boston school districts that had lifted mandates averaged 45 more Covid cases per 1,000 students and staff than those with mandates. This means that RSV — for which a vaccine is still being developed — can be mitigated through both mask-wearing and hand-washing.

☆ How a TikTok partnership became a hit station for SiriusXM, as satellite radio courts a younger audience
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"We're really thrilled with the response the station has had," Steve Blatter, the senior vice president and general manager of music programming at SiriusXM, told Insider. "We did go through a very hefty host-selection process," said William Gruger, who works on global music programming at TikTok. Branching out to a younger audienceSiriusXM views TikTok Radio as a path to attracting the next generation of subscribers. "Our first reaction to who might be listening to TikTok Radio is a younger audience, which I think it definitely is," Steinbock said. For the TikTok Radio hosts themselves, preparing for a SiriusXM recording session often just means bingeing on TikTok like a typical user.

☆ Inside TikTok's radio station, where creators are hosts and memes reach parents and Uber drivers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"We're really thrilled with the response the station has had," Steve Blatter, the senior vice president and general manager of music programming at SiriusXM, told Insider. In between tracks, the channel's hosts, who are TikTok creators themselves, often explain how a song went viral on the app. "We did go through a very hefty host-selection process," said William Gruger, who works on global music programming at TikTok. Branching out to a younger audienceSiriusXM views TikTok Radio as a path to attracting the next generation of subscribers. For the TikTok Radio hosts themselves, preparing for a SiriusXM recording session often just means bingeing on TikTok like a typical user.

☆ Tom Brady makes history as Tampa Bay Buccaneers win first-ever regular season game in Germany
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Tom Brady has become well-accustomed at making history over his long and illustrious NFL career. Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Seattle Seahawks 21-16 at the Allianz Arena in Germany, the NFL’s first regular season game in the country. With the victory, Brady became the first quarterback to win an NFL game in three different countries outside of the US. And now, he can add Germany to the list as the NFL’s most decorated player adds another accolade to his ever-expanding collection. “It felt like a pretty hyped up game when we came out for warm-ups.

☆ Judge rejects Walmart's request for new trial after firing of employee with Down syndrome
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Melissa Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Marlo Spaeth (left) was fired from Walmart in July 2015, after working there for nearly 16 years. A federal judge has rejected Walmart's request for a new trial after a jury found the retailer discriminated against a longtime employee with Down syndrome by refusing to adjust her schedule and firing her. In a court filing on Monday, the judge stood by the July 2021 ruling. Spaeth's firing permanently shook up their lives and took away her sister's sense of purpose, Stevenson said. Among its arguments, Walmart said the federal agency did not prove the retailer knew Spaeth's scheduling challenges were related to her Down syndrome.

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