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☆ As Covid Emergency Ends, U.S. Response Shifts to ‘Peacetime’ Mode
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Sheryl Gay Stolberg | Noah Weiland | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On Thursday, three years and 100 days after the Trump administration declared the coronavirus a public health emergency, the Biden administration will allow the emergency declaration to expire, ushering in a new era when the government will treat Covid-19 like any other respiratory ailment. If the coronavirus pandemic was a war, the United States is about to officially enter peacetime. State health officials, tasked with tracking the coronavirus, are burned out, their departments understaffed. President Biden’s coronavirus response team will soon disband. But the officials say they are operating on a tight budget; Congress has refused to give the administration any new money for the pandemic response.

Our experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here's how). My partner was willing to carry most of our financial load — and I couldn't help but find it unfair. However, being able to prioritize my health has been a huge benefit to my wellbeing. Some people assume that people with chronic pain and fatigue can just "work through it" or distract themselves with work. When it comes down to it, I realize that I need to take care of my physical health first.

☆ A new law in Florida forces teachers who want to be in unions to pay dues through mail-in checks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Being in a teacher's union in Florida just got harder. Ron DeSantis of Florida signed a bill into law Tuesday that will require teachers who want to be in unions to mail in written checks every month. The system would replace the current arrangement, widely used in unions across the US, in which teacher union dues get automatically deducted from their paychecks. The change will make it harder for unions to exist and pile red tape onto teachers, Florida Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book said in a statement. On average, roughly 60% of teachers in Florida are paying dues toward their unions, shows a Florida Senate analysis.

☆ A new law in Florida forces teachers to pay union dues through mail-in checks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Being in a teacher's union in Florida just got harder. The system would replace the current arrangement, widely used in unions across the US, in which teacher union dues get automatically deducted from their paychecks. On average, roughly 60% of teachers in Florida are paying dues toward their unions, shows a Florida Senate analysis. The signings represent a win for DeSantis, who has battled teacher's unions since the COVID pandemic and first proposed the change to union dues in December 2022. Florida comes in at 48th in the nation for average teacher salaries, according to the National Education Association, the state's largest teacher's union.

☆ Florida just ranked as the top state for education, amid DeSantis battles on curriculum, books, and college leadership
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But on Tuesday, Florida came in first for education as part of the annual Best States rankings from US News & World Report. The Florida education model works." Students from the Miami-Dade County Public Schools School for Advanced Studies-Wolfson campus protest during a statewide walkout on April 21, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar panned the US News analysis as a "narrow view of education" and predicted curriculum restrictions and book removals would "impact student scores in the years ahead." Florida ranks 44th in the US for spending per student on public schools, according to the Florida Education Association, which is the state's teacher's union.

Governments were able to tailor their data reporting so it could be aggregated. Pulling the data closest to the outbreaks allowed us to publish nearly real-time information as the pandemic spread. Politicized rhetoric about vaccines also drove decisions in some parts of the country to end data reporting. As of this spring, only seven states continued to publish data on cases and deaths more than once a week. There is still much to do to fix the hodgepodge of antiquated, disconnected surveillance data systems that exist across governments.

☆ Australia's IPH reveals data breach originated from member firm's systems
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 17 (Reuters) - Australia's IPH Ltd (IPH.AX) said on Monday a forensic probe into the data breach last month revealed that a limited set of data, which originated from member firm Spruson & Ferguson (Australia), was downloaded by an unauthorised third-party. "Based on this analysis, IPH has determined to notify a small number of individuals whose personal information was in the dataset." The Sydney-based firm estimated A$2 million ($1.34 million) to A$2.5 million (pre-tax) to be incurred as non-underlying costs in its full-year 2023 accounts related to the incident. IPH joins a long list of Australian firms reporting cybersecurity breaches over the past few months, which experts have attributed to an understaffed cybersecurity industry in the country. read more($1 = 1.4923 Australian dollars)Reporting by Jaskiran Singh in Bengaluru; editing by Uttaresh VenkateshwaranOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ As New Wave of Violence Hits Sudan’s Capital, Civilians Feel the Strain
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Abdi Latif Dahir | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

NAIROBI, Kenya — As a new wave of violence swept the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, on Monday, millions of residents hiding in their homes felt the growing strain from the battles, and doctors and hospitals were struggling to cope with casualties and get the supplies and staff members that they needed. The forces of rival generals battling for control of Sudan clashed for a third day in Khartoum, threatening to worsen a humanitarian crisis in a nation already facing dire economic straits, growing hunger and widespread unemployment. Some were too afraid to venture out for food or other supplies. A doctors’ group said that hospitals remained understaffed and were running low on supplies as wounded people streamed in. And the World Health Organization said that the insecurity in the capital was impeding medical workers and ambulances from reaching those in need of critical care.

☆ Australia's Latitude Group opposed to paying ransom to cyber attack criminals
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 11 (Reuters) - Australian consumer finance firm Latitude Group Holdings Ltd (LFS.AX) will not pay a ransom to those behind a cyber attack last month, saying it will be detrimental to customers and cause harm to the broader community by encouraging further attacks. "We will not reward criminal behaviour, nor do we believe that paying a ransom will result in the return or destruction of the information that was stolen," Latitude said in a statement on Tuesday. Latitude, which provides consumer finance services to retailers Harvey Norman (HVN.AX) and JB Hi-Fi (JBH.AX), had also taken its platforms offline. Several Australian firms have reported cyber attacks over the past few months, which experts attribute to an understaffed cyber security industry. Reporting by Jaskiran Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Subhranshu SahuOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ How Russia’s Offensive Ran Aground
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Josh Holder | Marco Hernandez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +15 min

But within months of the invasion, Russia’s rapid advances ran out of steam, even as it narrowed its ambitions and focused on eastern Ukraine. No Russian gains No Russian gains No Russian gainsIn September 2022 Grid of cities taken by Russia in the Donbas in September 2022. No Russian gains No Russian gains No Russian gainsIn October 2022 Grid of cities taken by Russia in the Donbas in October 2022. Russia captured the small salt-mining town. Kurdiumivka Soledar Kurdiumivka Soledar Russia captured the small salt-mining town.

☆ The IRS is planning to hire as many accountants and attorneys as it takes to crack down on rich people 'that are not paying the taxes they owe'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The IRS released its strategic plan for using Biden's $80 billion investment in the agency. Her latter point on cracking down on high earners is key in the IRS' plan. That's why $41.7 billion of the $80 billion investment is dedicated to stricter enforcement actions for high earners and large corporations. Werfel noted that since 2010, the IRS workforce has shrunk 20% to about 80,000 employees, leaving it significantly understaffed as the US population grew. Still, Republican lawmakers have blasted the investment, with some claiming that it would target small businesses.

☆ Think it's too late to switch jobs? Tell that to 'Asia's best female chef'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Goh Chiew Tong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Johanne Siy is head chef at one of Singapore's premier dining destinations, Lolla — where Asian-inspired modern European flavors dominate the menu. Ten years on, Siy is now head chef at one of Singapore's premier dining destinations, Lolla — where Asian-inspired modern European flavors dominate the menu. Just last week, she was named "Asia's Best Female Chef" at Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2023 — the first Singapore-based chef to win. Johanne Siy Chef, Lolla"I was just so excited to be in the kitchen. She then built up an impressive resume with stints in New York, Sweden and Denmark before stepping into the role of head chef at Lolla.

☆ Australia's Latitude Group says 7.9 million driver licence numbers stolen in data theft
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 27 (Reuters) - Digital payments and lending firm Latitude Holdings (LFS.AX) said on Monday it has determined that 7.9 million Australian and New Zealand driver licence numbers were stolen in a large-scale information theft on March 16. Apart from the 7.9 million driver licence numbers stolen, the Australian fintech firm also identified about 53,000 passport numbers were stolen and less than 100 customers had a monthly financial statement stolen. A further 6.1 million records dating back to at least 2005 were also stolen. Customers who choose to replace their stolen ID document will be reimbursed, the company said in a statement. Reporting by Navya Mittal in Bengaluru; Editing by Tom Hogue, Muralikumar Anantharaman and Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Australia's IPH switches to new network infrastructure after cyberattack
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 24 (Reuters) - Intellectual property services provider IPH Ltd (IPH.AX) said on Friday it has established new network infrastructure and restored key system functionality, a week after reporting a data breach that affected a portion of its IT systems. IPH said on Friday new systems were now in use by the two affected member firms, Spruson & Ferguson (Australia) and Griffith Hack. Sydney-based IPH said it has enhanced network security, adding that it was continuing to work with external cybersecurity and forensic IT advisors on the investigation related to the cyber breach. Fintech firm Latitude Group Holdings (LFS.AX), which also reported a cyberattack last week, had to take its platforms offline after the attack remained active. IPH and Latitude were the latest to join a host of Australian firms which have reported cybersecurity breaches over the past few months.

SummarySummary Companies Latitude marks worst intraday dropLatitude among latest in slew of corporate cyberattacks in AustraliaMarch 22 (Reuters) - Shares of Latitude Group Holdings (LFS.AX) slumped to their all-time low on Wednesday after the fintech firm unearthed further evidence of large-scale information theft affecting former and current customers across Australia and New Zealand. Latitude said it was attempting to identify the number of customers affected and the type of personal information stolen by the hacker. Latitude had said last week that personal information of around 328,000 customers, including copies of drivers' licences, was stolen. It took its platforms offline on Monday and said the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Cyber Security Centre were looking into the attack. Latitude GroupReporting by Upasana Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Australia's Latitude takes systems offline, Federal Police investigate cyberattack
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 20 (Reuters) - Australian fintech firm Latitude Group Holdings Ltd (LFS.AX) said on Monday it had taken its platforms offline as the cyberattack detected last week remained active, adding the Federal Police was investigating the incident. Last week, the firm said personal information, mostly drivers' licence copies or licence numbers, of about 330,000 customers and applicants was stolen. Latitude said the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Cyber Security Centre were looking into the attack. Latitude shares have not traded since March 15, a day before the company first disclosed the cyberattack. Reporting by Harshita Swaminathan and Himanshi Akhand in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu SahuOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Obama wants companies to strip degree requirements from more six-figure jobs to address the labor shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Jason Lalljee | Ethan Dodd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Former President Barack Obama said more states should drop degree requirements for government jobs. It's an example of "a smart policy that gets rid of unnecessary college degree requirements and reduces barriers to good paying jobs," Obama said on Twitter. In recent years, states have eliminated four-year degree requirements to shore up their understaffed governments, and Republican governors have led the way. Arizona and Oregon have temporarily loosened degree requirements to address a teacher shortage. Georgia and Alaska are considering dropping degree requirements to fill government vacancies as well.

☆ Restaurants and hotels are driving US job economy. Here are thousands of open roles as the hospitality sector offsets steep staffing cuts in big tech.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Danni Santana | Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The leisure and hospitality sector continues to drive US job gains, the Labor Department said. Still, the US Travel Association estimates about 2 million open roles in leisure and hospitality. The leisure and hospitality sector encompasses restaurants, hotels, arts, entertainment such as theme parks, and other tourism-oriented businesses. Overall, the US Travel Association estimates about 2 million open roles remain unfilled in leisure and hospitality. Here's a look at who is hiring in restaurants and hospitality at large chains.

☆ Exclusive: Colombia's Amazon reserves suffer staffing delays, risking environmental damage
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Oliver Griffin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"We (permanent staff) are few," an official at one Amazon park, who asked not to be named, told Reuters. As of Friday morning, 22 contracts for personnel for working on the national parks agency's Amazon reserves had been published via Colombia's national contracting agency. Last year, at least 107 contractors had deals for work on Amazon reserves by January, data from the agency seen by Reuters showed. The government of leftist President Gustavo Petro, who took office seven months ago and has pledged to lower deforestation, plans to initially replace annual contracts for national parks workers with four-year. Five would-be park workers told Reuters the delays meant they had been forced to find other jobs.

He joins junior doctors across England who will go on strike on March 13 for three days, protesting over pay and burnout that risks driving staff out of the health service as it tackles record-high patient waiting lists. "We've reached a boiling point where we have had enough," said Wang - a council member of the British Medical Association (BMA), which represents doctors and medical students. Junior doctors are qualified physicians, often with several years of experience, who work under the guidance of senior doctors and represent a large part of the country's medical community. The BMA says junior doctors' take-home pay has been cut by more than a quarter over the last 15 years, when using the Retail Price Index (RPI) gauge of inflation. The walkouts by junior doctors will put more pressure on the state-funded National Health Service (NHS) which is experiencing waves of strike action by nurses, ambulance workers and other staff.

☆ The Justice Department investigated Jeffrey Epstein's death. Then it went silent.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +25 min

Jeffrey Epstein's death in a federal jail was seen as a shocking Justice Department failure. But more than three years later, the office still hasn't released its report into the circumstances of Epstein's death. "We all took it by surprise," Mark Epstein told Insider. Barr tasked the Justice Department's inspector general, Michael Horowitz, and the FBI with investigating "the circumstances of Mr. Epstein's death." Mark Epstein told Insider that he spoke to his brother about once a month in the years before his death.

☆ Why calls for rail reform and improved train safety are coming up against a big potential roadblock
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | 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 EmailWhy calls for rail reform and improved train safety are coming up against a big potential roadblockCNBC's Lori Ann LaRocco details how a major union that would be critical in implementing new safety measures to prevent another big train derailment is vastly understaffed to undertake those efforts.

A deeper look at the company's billing practices revealed what appeared to be Medicare fraud, Pérez Aybar said. Fraud flourishesThat's just one of thousands of examples of how Medicare fraud is flourishing — not only in south Florida, but across the country. Taxpayers are losing more than $100 billion a year to Medicare and Medicaid fraud, according to estimates from the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association. This convicted felon says Medicare and Medicaid fraud is "very easy" to get away with. The same pills could be sold and resold multiple times with different phony patients, billing Medicare each time.

☆ Why a millennial quit her $100,000-a-year job to join millions of Americans opting for part-time work
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A Bay Area millennial quit her full-time job in 2021 after experiencing what she describes as extreme burnout. She's among the growing number of Americans opting for part-time roles. While Kiki took a break from the workforce, she planned to find another job within six months — by May of 2022 — because her household needed the extra income. As of January, 22.1 million Americans were working part-time voluntarily, according to Labor Department data. After feeling disappointed by the quality of part-time options when scrolling through job sites, a friend referred her to the company she's working for now.

☆ London fintech Griffin lands UK banking license with restrictions after years-long process as it eyes fresh funding in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

British fintech startup Griffin has secured a banking license after a years-long process. The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has approved the startup, subject to restrictions. Banking-as-a-service startup Griffin has become the latest fintech to land a UK banking license with restrictions after a years-long process. Securing a UK banking license is no mean feat. Neobanks like Revolut, founded in 2015, haven't yet managed to get a UK banking license with stringent processes in place, with Jarvis suggesting that the application process isn't something "you can just throw money at."

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