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☆ U.K. Police Hunt Terror Suspect Who Escaped London Prison
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Mark Landler | More About Mark Landler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

There were reports on social media of long lines forming at airports in London, Manchester and Glasgow as police and border control officers checked the identification of passengers. The BBC reported that Mr. Khalife may have fled the prison by strapping himself to the underside of a food delivery van. It said that he was reported to have been working in the prison kitchens and that he may have been dressed in a chef’s uniform. Wandsworth is classified as a Category B prison, one level below maximum security. (Category A prisons are typically used to house prisoners charged with terrorism or whose escape would pose extreme danger to public safety or national security.)

Persons: “, ”, Dominic Murphy, Murphy, Khalife, strapping Organizations: BBC Locations: Britain, London , Manchester, Glasgow, Wandsworth

☆ Airbnb listings in NYC to shrink as city cracks down on short-term rentals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Marnie Hunter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Travelers looking to rent an apartment for a few days in New York City will find slimmer pickings now that city officials have started enforcing new rules cracking down on short-term rentals. Airbnb has called the rules a “de facto ban” on short-term rentals (STRs) that will hurt hosts and the tourism economy. The requirements for approval are strict and follow laws that pre-date the new registration rules. Hanson said that long-term average hotel occupancy in New York City is between 80% and 85%, well above the national average between 62% and 67%. Thousands of listings across various booking sites will be affected as the new registration rules are enforced.

Persons: Airbnb, ”, Christian Klossner, Andrew Lichtenstein, ” Theo Yedinsky, Bjorn Hanson, Jonathan M, Hanson, ” Hanson, ” Airbnb Organizations: CNN, Travelers, NYC’s, Special, Expedia, New York, Tisch Center of Hospitality, New York University, isn’t, Marriott, Hilton, CNN Travel, Local Locations: New York, “, York, New York City, “ New York

☆ From holidays to mortgage waivers, UK homebuilders dish out freebies to revive sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Ajose Koilparambil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

If they have a 5% deposit, then deposit boost works well where we give an additional 5% so that they can secure a 90% loan-to-value mortgage," said a sales director with Persimmon. Some homebuyers are opting for exchange options, where the builder purchases the buyer's existing property and the payment helps fund the new-home purchase. "Mortgage holidays", offered by Persimmon and other builders, are also popular among homebuyers with builders contributing towards home-loan payment during a specific period. Reuters GraphicsKNOCK ON MARGINSThe incentives, while aimed at boosting demand, come at a cost for homebuilders struggling to keep costs low. Persimmon said last month sales incentives and marketing costs shaved off 2.1% from its half-year gross margins.

Persons: Toby Melville, Barratt, Persimmon, Aynsley Lammin, Peel Hunt, Sam Cullen, Cullen, Taylor, Aby Jose Koilparambil, Sweta Singh, Saumyadeb Organizations: REUTERS, British, Reuters Graphics, Bank of England, Reuters, Peel, Thomson Locations: Bristol, Britain, British, Bengaluru

☆ Picking the Right Wall Color Isn’t Easy. Here’s How the Pros Do It.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Tim Mckeough | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Assess the RoomStart by asking yourself some questions, Ms. Romanek suggested: “What is the feeling I want in this room? What do I want to do in this room?”Your answers should help inform your color choice. For a bedroom, a soothing off-white and beige may work best. Ms. Romanek decided to paint her bedroom, which was previously white, with a warm shade of tan. The paint color is going to do that for us.”

Persons: Romanek, ”

☆ Jackson Hole: Fed policy collides with reality in the most unequal county in America
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Central bank officials from across the world have descended upon Jackson Hole, Wyoming this week to discuss policy decisions that will shape the economy for years to come. That’s because Jackson Hole is the most economically unequal place in the United States, according to the Economic Policy Institute. What’s happening: The snow kissed peaks and verdant valleys of Jackson Hole, Wyoming — where Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is due to give a highly anticipated speech on Friday — aren’t just awe-inspiring. Among the top 1% in Teton County (where Jackson Hole is located), the average annual income is a jaw-dropping $22.5 million. The extreme wealth disparity in Jackson Hole is a perfect example of that dichotomy.

Persons: Jackson, Jerome Powell, aren’t, They’re, ”, Kenan Fikri, “, they’re, Powell, ” Jackson, That’s, Allison Morrow, Krystal Hur, it’s, Anna Bahney, Black Knight, Knight, Andy Walden Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Economic, Institute, Census Bureau, Economic Innovation, Nvidia, Revenue, Wall, Federal Reserve, Black Locations: New York, Jackson Hole , Wyoming, United States, Teton County, Wyoming, Jackson, Teton, Santa Clara , California

☆ Simon Rogan, Michelin-starred chef, fights toxic kitchen culture
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Maggie Wong | Maggie Hiufu Wong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

We’re gonna push you.’”Chef Simon Rogan thinks a change in kitchen culture is overdue. Meanwhile, reality TV shows glorifying intense and even toxic kitchen culture, such as “Hell’s Kitchen,” have been captivating audiences for years. Rogan, seen here on his farm in Cartmel, England, claims there has never been a better time to join the restaurant industry. A commis chef (novice chef) in our rural location makes about £30,000 [per annum] ($38,155),” says Rogan. Most of their restaurants offer a five-day work week and a 10-hour work shift, as opposed to the six-day work week followed by many of the region’s eateries.

Persons: Simon Rogan, ” Rogan, squinting, You’ve, Maggie Hiufu Wong, Barbara Lynch, Lynch, Copenhagen’s Noma, René Redzepi, Noma, Michel Roux Jr, Le Gavroche, Rogan, ”, wasn’t, “, Rogan's, Simon Rogan “, you’ve, “ We’ll, L’Enclume, ‘, Caleb Ng, Joshua Ng, Ng, ” Ng Organizations: CNN, CNN Travel, Financial Times, Financial, Le, ”, Michelin, Twins, Shanghai – Locations: New York, Boston, Menton, Copenhagen, London, “, Cartmel, England, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, American, Singapore, Shanghai

Humble beginningsPutin and Prigozhin share relatively humble beginnings, and the Wagner chief grew up in the tougher neighborhoods of St. Petersburg, which is also the president’s hometown. Prigozhin founded Wagner that year as a mercenary outfit that fought both in Ukraine and, increasingly, for Russian-backed causes around the world. In recent months, Prigozhin has created a dilemma for Putin by becoming an outspoken critic of Russia’s military leaders. The Wagner mutiny began when Prigozhin unleashed a fresh tirade against the Russian military and then marched his troops into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. Prigozhin responded on Telegram saying that Putin was “deeply mistaken.”“We are patriots of our Motherland, we fought and are fighting,” the Wagner chief said.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, Putin, ”, Humble, George Bush, Jacques Chirac of France, ” Prigozhin, Defense Yunus, Bek Yevkurov, Wagner –, –, Mark Hertling, Misha Japaridze, Sergei Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov, “, Don Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, Russian, Moscow Times, Defense, Reuters CNN, Central African, Internet Research Agency, US Treasury Department, United, Russian Defense Locations: Moscow, Ukraine, Russian, Belarus, St . Petersburg, Africa, Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, Mozambique, Mali, Syria, Soledar, Prigozhin's, Russia, Bakhmut, Rostov

☆ High food prices put populism on India’s table
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Shritama Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Prices of tomatoes, onions, potatoes, pulses and spices – all the basic ingredients - are soaring as the world’s most populous country heads towards key state polls later this year and national ones soon after. It increases the temptation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to indulge in some fiscal populism. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsA surge in food prices drove annual retail inflation to 7.44% in July, the most in 15 months. Elections will be held this year in five of India’s 28 states, including heavyweight constituencies Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. India banned the export of non-basmati rice on July 20 to clamp down on rising domestic prices of the grain.

Persons: Narendra Modi’s, Modi, Nirmala Sitharaman, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Bharatiya Janata Party, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Madhya, Bloomberg, India’s, IDBI, India’s Ministry of Finance, Reserve Bank, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, Nepal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, New Delhi, India

☆ Chick-fil-A to release new riff on its iconic chicken sandwich with pimento cheese, jalapenos
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Chick-fil-A is adding a new spin on its iconic chicken sandwich to menus for a limited time. Starting Aug. 28, customers can buy the Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich at the chicken chain's restaurants nationwide, while supplies last. But the limited release of the Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich shows how the chain is shifting its menu strategy as it expands nationwide. The Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich was a project five years in the making, according to Stuart Tracy, Chick-fil-A's principal culinary lead. The chain tested the Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich in 2020 in Asheville, North Carolina, and upstate South Carolina.

Persons: Pepper, Truett, Honey Pepper, Stuart Tracy, Chick, Tracy, Tracy didn't, crumbles Organizations: Atlanta - Locations: U.S, Atlanta, Asheville , North Carolina, South Carolina, Salt Lake City

☆ 8 US states offer free lunch for students. Here's how they pay for it, from a 4% millionaire's tax to a $0.03 property tax rate increase.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Massachusetts is the latest state to expand free school lunch since a COVID-era program ended. Here's how eight states pay for free lunch for public school students. And Vermont's free meals program, which was allowed through in June 2023 by Gov. And while only a few US states now offer free lunch, some say the momentum for future programs across the nation is growing. "The availability of universal free meals during the pandemic absolutely changed that momentum."

Persons: Maura Healey, Erin McAleer, Joe Biden's, Phil Scott, Susan Caswell, WPBN, There's, Erika Edwards, EducationWeek Organizations: Service, Gov, CBS News, Massachusetts, Associated Press, Portland Press Herald, AP, MPR, Comstock Elementary School, Jefferson County Locations: Massachusetts, Wall, Silicon, California , Colorado , Maine , Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Vermont, Colorado, California, . Maine, Mexico, Michigan, Southwest Michigan, Jefferson

India's annual retail inflation (INCPIY=ECI) rose sharply to 7.44% in July from 4.87% the previous month. Reuters Graphics"The spurt in CPI inflation in July 2023 was on expected lines, however, 7.44% retail inflation was totally unexpected," said Devendra Pant, economist at India Ratings. Food inflation, which accounts for nearly half of the overall consumer price basket, hit a staggering 11.51% in June as compared with 4.49% in June. Retail food inflation was at its highest since January 2020. Even a moderate rise in food inflation tends to anger voters and Dhiraj Nim, economist at ANZ Research, said further measures may be required from the government.

Persons: Devendra Pant, Research's Gaura Sen Gupta, Pant, Narendra Modi's, Dhiraj Nim, Nikunj Ohri, Chizu Nomiyama, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, DELHI, Reuters, Reserve Bank of India, ANZ Research, Thomson Locations: Kolkata, India

☆ Three ways Covid changed the restaurant industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Now, over three years later, the restaurant industry is back. In the early days of the pandemic, people got used to eating their restaurant food at home. Too many jobs, too few workersEarly in the pandemic, many restaurant workers got laid off. Now, over three years since the pandemic hit the US, some restaurant jobs remain unfilled. But many of these have at the same time vehemently opposed proposed legislation that could raise the minimum wage for fast food workers.

Persons: Anderson Cooper, Bobby Flay, Esther Choi’s, we’re, ” Choi, Mŏkbar, ”, Choi, Esther Choi, Masaharu Morimoto, Roy Rochlin, Joe Pawlak, Carbone, Covid, Chris Kempczinski, Taco, Spencer Platt, “, Uber, Doordash, Bonnie Morales, Leah Nash, Israel Morales, Flay, ” Donna, ” Pawlak Organizations: CNN, New, New York CNN, National Arts Club, Getty, National Restaurant Association, Washington Post, Bonnie Locations: New York, Manhattan, New York City, Israel, Kachka, Portland , Oregon, Portland

☆ Luxury NYC buildings woo residents with coworking spaces as remote work lingers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Valida Pau | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The latest must-have amenity in luxury New York City apartment buildings: a designated coworking space for remote workers. Apartment developers are building out private offices, conference rooms and even podcasting booths to capitalize on a lingering work-from-home trend. "A coworking space was actually the top of my list when I was touring," said Lauren Wells, a fashion designer and a resident at 420 Kent in Williamsburg. "When I need to meet with a customer for work, I can just bring up some of my work create a little space up there." Rent at each of the luxury rental buildings can run up to $7,950 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, while a studio for sale can cost nearly $1 million.

Persons: Matthew Villetto, Douglas, Lauren Wells Organizations: Pew Research Center, Development, Financial District Locations: New York City, Kent, Williamsburg, East Harlem, Washington, Tribeca

☆ Burger King's next challenge: Getting people in the door
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

In the second quarter ending on June 30, sales at Burger King’s US restaurants open at least 13 months jumped 8.3% year over year. Globally, including in the US, sales at Burger King restaurants open at least a year grew 10.2%. One part of the plan has hinged on getting people to try a Whopper, Burger King’s signature hamburger, again. More kiosks, newer restaurantsIn order for customers to walk through the door, Burger King locations need to look modern, according to executives. For Burger King, one way to update restaurants is by focusing on restaurant tech, like ordering kiosks.

Persons: Josh Kobza, Burger, Tim Hortons, Justin Sullivan, ” Tom Curtis, Kobza, “, ”, “ We’re, ” Kobza, “ We’ve, ” Burger Organizations: New, New York CNN, Burger, Burger King, Restaurant Brands, Burger King North, CNN Locations: New York, Burger, Burger King, Burger King North America

☆ MrBeast sabotaged his own burger brand, his restaurant partner claims in a new lawsuit. The YouTube star recently sued the ghost kitchen operator, accusing it of making 'terrible quality' food.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Last week, YouTube star MrBeast sued the restaurant firm behind his namesake burger brand. YouTube star Jimmy Donaldson used his fame to "torpedo" the burger brand, the VDC suit says. The lawsuit comes a week after Beast Investments sued Virtual Dining Concepts alleging that VDC had ignored the MrBeast Burger Brand. MrBeast Burger debuted in 2020 and is sold in hundreds of restaurants seeking to use excess kitchen space to earn additional revenue. The reality is that the overwhelming majority of customers were highly satisfied, and the product was excellent," the VDC suit said.

Persons: MrBeast, Jimmy Donaldson, Donaldson, Burger, MrBeast Burger, Donaldson's, Travis Kalanick's CloudKitchens, Dorothy Calba Organizations: Concepts, YouTube, Service, Beast Investments, Dining, Twitter, Burger, Kitchen United, Euromonitor Locations: Wall, Silicon, New York, MrBeast, Florida, Washington

☆ The genius plan that could bring down skyrocketing home prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

Not only did this help to slow down skyrocketing housing costs, it inspired a bipartisan, nationwide expansion of the policy. Home prices in Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city, doubled between 2009 and 2016 and prices across the rest of the country followed close behind. "A typical New Zealand city looks a lot like a typical US city," Gray said. There are three models of housing construction in US cities right now, Gray said. "In terms of an overall objective, I think bringing down house prices to construction costs is an ultimate sign of housing abundance."

Persons: Upzoning, Jenny Schuetz, Matthew Maltman, who's, Ryan Greenaway, Guo Lei, Maltman, There's, Auckland's upzoning, Vicki Been, Bill de Blasio, Schuetz, Nolan Gray, Gray, let's, Brett Coomer, that's, Allison Zaucha, Freemark, we're, Emily Hamilton, Eliza Relman Organizations: Brookings Institute, Auckland, Economic, University of Auckland, New, National Party, Housing, Economic Development, New Zealand, California YIMBY, Urban Institute, Houston, Montana Republicans, George Mason University Locations: New Zealand, Auckland, Australian, Zealand, Auckland , New, New Zealand's, New York, Europe, California, Zealanders, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta, Denver, Seattle, Washington, Portland , Oregon, Montana, California . Utah, Minneapolis, New York City

☆ How Cooking Videos Took Over the World
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Priya Krishna | Umi Syam | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Cooking videos have never been more persuasive, more inescapable, more addictive, more entertaining. How Cooking Videos Took Over The WorldVideos on TikTok with the #foodtok hashtag have been viewed more than 64 billion times. But cooking videos are not only an unavoidable part of being online — they’ve also infiltrated physical spaces. That is what makes these videos so engaging.”Today, there isn’t just one way to make a successful cooking video. But the evolution of cooking videos represents a broader shift: Algorithms and artificial intelligence increasingly drive everyday behaviors and can stifle creativity.

Persons: they’ve, Julia Child, Joyce Chen, ”, Ashley Rose Young, —, John Gara, … TikTok, Covid, Sunny Xun Liu, “, Bennett, Hetal Vasavada, soothingly, Althea Brown, Frankenfood, Gara, Bacon, Ahmad Alzahabi, Liu, Vasavada, that’s, they’re Organizations: Department of Motor Vehicles, Smithsonian Institution, Food Network, “ East, YouTube, Facebook, Stanford Social Media, “ Locations: New York City, United States, TikTok, Denver

☆ The robots are coming — and the companies building them are looking for workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Kate Rogers | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

But as companies adopt robots on manufacturing floors, in kitchens and on delivery routes, workers have a growing opportunity to join the ranks in helping to build and implement the technology. On the other hand, 60% of companies operating in information and technology services expect jobs to be created due to robots in the next five years. Jose A. Iglesias | Tribune News Service | Getty ImagesRobotics company Zipline is among the companies looking for employees, as it aims to add at least 100 workers. The use of automation at companies large and small has two advantages, the Association for Advancing Automation argues. It reduces challenges for workers in taking away monotonous or dangerous tasks in their day-to-day roles and it keeps companies competitive and speedy in the production process.

Persons: Jose A, Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, Rinaudo Cliffton, Jeff Burnstein, Avocados Organizations: Jobs, Iglesias, Tribune, Service, Getty, Robotics, Walmart, GNC, Toyota, Association for, Automation, Vebu Labs Locations: Miami, San Francisco , California, Rwanda, China

Yeah, you’re going to need one of those fancy pizza ovens to replicate this in your home. I think right now, every media company in the world is trying to figure out what replaces Twitter. And they say, you’re going to about to make the easiest money you’ve ever made in your entire life. You’re going to have more people beating a path down your door than you thought was possible. We now have Ubers that are so — I don’t know if you’ve looked at your Uber receipts recently.

Persons: kevin roose I’m, casey newton, kevin roose, casey newton They’re, kevin roose Gang, casey newton Oh, let’s, Kevin Roose, ” casey newton, Casey Newton, —, Casey, casey newton Mhmm, it’s, kevin roose I’d, you’re, you’ve, — casey newton, Sam Altman, casey newton Isn’t, that’s, Silly Putty, I’m, casey newton Well, Kevin, what’s, kevin roose Totally, casey newton I’ll, Unobtainium, James Cameron, You’ve, Meissner, we’re, There’s, they’re, casey newton Here’s, Twitch, kevin roose There’s, Iris_IGB, she’s, there’s, casey newton There’s, Russia she’s, I’ve, They’ve, hasn’t, ChatGPT, Claude, They’re, hydroxychloroquine, Joe Rogan, Bravo, “ Fortnite, casey newton That’s, we’ve, casey newton Kevin, India Venom, Lydia Tár, we’ll, don’t, casey newton Sure, ”, Joe Biden, casey newton I’m, casey newton Mike Masnick, he’s, Mike, — casey newton Look, who’d, It’s, HatGPT, kevin roose —, casey newton We’re, Rupert Murdaugh, Beast, James Donaldson, Jimmy Donaldson, a.k.a, Beast — casey newton James, Uber, Beast Burger, Burger, We’re, Meta, Abraham Lincoln, Facebook — Abraham Lincoln, casey newton It’s, kevin roose Oh, Abraham —, roose, casey newton Greg Rutkowski, Greg Rutkowski, Greg Rutkowski’s, Greg, You’re, casey newton Wow, Elon Musk, San Francisco NIMBYs, Don’t, kevin roose It’s, you’re Uber Organizations: Mmm, casey newton Mmm, The New York Times, Quantum Energy Research Center, collider, Twitter, Capitol, Federal Trade Commission, Netflix, Heritage Foundation, Republican, Democrats, Republicans, California, Tax, Facebook, YouTube, HatGPT, BBC, WordPress, Health Department, Financial Times, Ford Theater, ” Workers, San, Wall Street Locations: Seoul, Russian, Russia, India, KOSA, SESTA, The, Kashmir, tooting, Washington, San Francisco, Ha, Canada

☆ U.S. fast-food chains add automation to boost speed
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Kailyn Rhone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

With mass shortages of low-cost labor due to the pandemic, chains shifted to technology investments in their kitchens to fill the gap. The addition of automation tools in restaurant chains could cut down on wait times, driving higher consumer engagement and increasing sales for the rest of the year, restaurant executives say. Thirty-six percent of 1,000 U.S. people told HungerRush in a survey in May that they believed major restaurant chains don’t have enough staff to take orders, prepare food, and handle deliveries. Last year, Domino's Pizza Enterprises announced an automated pizza prep device in partnership with Picnic Works, a Seattle-based food-automation startup. "Anytime there's new automation, it creates new kinds of jobs," said Gaurav Kachhawa, chief product officer at Gupshup, a conversational messaging platform.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, Rachel Ruggeri, HungerRush, Aaron Nilsson, Chipotle, Brian Niccol, Domino's, Gaurav Kachhawa, It's, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Siren, Starbucks, National Restaurant Association, Society, Pizza Enterprises, Picnic, Kailyn, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Michigan, Colorado, Houston, Seattle, Indiana, Indiana , Illinois, Wisconsin

☆ A $500,000 Remodel Took Their Kitchen From ‘Fine’ to Sky-High
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Laura Hine | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Condos overlooking Manhattan’s Central Park in the spate of high-rise buildings nicknamed Billionaires’ Row typically come with what most homeowners would consider a more-than-adequate kitchen. When designer Mick De Giulio’s clients, who had worked with him on two previous kitchens in Chicago and the Hamptons, purchased a 2,800-square-foot, two bedroom in a newly finished supertall in 2017, the standard kitchen wasn’t cutting it. “The unit had white lacquer cabinets and white countertops,” says de Giulio, who has been creating custom kitchens for over 45 years as founder of his eponymous Chicago-based firm. “As far as serviceability it was fine, but these clients wanted something that represented their personal style and worked for their lifestyle.”

Persons: ’, Mick De, ”, de Giulio Organizations: Hamptons Locations: Chicago

☆ Chick-fil-A wants to send your drive-thru chicken on a conveyor belt and down a chute
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Customers can either order ahead via the Chick-fil-A app and then receive their meals at one of two lanes dedicated for mobile orders or order as usual through a regular drive-thru lane. The pick-up location is just that: Customers order ahead and then walk into the store to pick up their orders. Speedy service is key for fast food restaurants, especially at the drive-thru, where a long line or a bad experience can scare off customers. Taco Bell has also been testing out drive-thru locations with second-story kitchens, delivering tacos to drive-thru customers via a “vertical lift.”Chick-fil-A tends to earn top marks for its drive-thru, and for its service in general. In a drive-thru survey last year in which Chick-fil-A, along with Carl’s Jr., earned the top spot for satisfaction with service, the chicken chain failed to make the top five for order accuracy.

Persons: New York CNN —, It’s, Chick, Taco Bell, Carl’s Jr Organizations: New, New York CNN, Inc Locations: New York, Atlanta, New York City

☆ High Interest Rates and Low Savings Could Put Renovations on Hold
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Michael Kolomatsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The U.S. housing stock is aging, which means lots of bathrooms and kitchens need remodeling. Moving to a newer home that’s in better shape is out of reach for many people, because a new mortgage will usually come at a much higher interest rate. Eighty percent of interest rates on existing mortgages are below 5 percent, while the average rate for new mortgages was about 7 percent on July 20, according to Freddie Mac. But staying put and paying for a renovation may not be any easier. And faced with recent inflation, it’s no surprise that people are saving less.

Persons: Freddie Mac Organizations: & Bath Association, The New York Times

☆ Bonaire: Why so many visitors want to move to this secret island
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Danielle Braff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Sometimes it only takes one visit to convince visitors to pack up their belongings and move to Bonaire permanently. “I fell in love with Bonaire,” Davis, now in her mid-60s, says of her initial visit. Bonaire, pronounced “Bone-air,” is located just off the coast of Venezuela, and it’s one of the three ABC islands: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. Bonaire is known for its scuba diving, but unless you’re Dutch or an avid diver, you probably haven’t given the island much thought. johnandersonphoto/iStockphoto/Getty ImagesThen, in 1999, the Bonaire government purchased Klein Bonaire (an uninhabited island a half mile offshore) from the private sector for $4.6 million with the agreement that it would remain a naturally preserved island.

Persons: Susan Davis, Davis, “, ” Davis, ” She’s, ”, Rolando Marin, that’s, Greg Balfour Evans, Boy ” Herrera, Annette Emerenciana, Harry Schoffelen, who’s, Kiki Multem Organizations: CNN, Bonaire, Statistics Netherlands, CBS, Tourism Corporation, ABC, Klein Bonaire, US State Department, “ Bonaire, “ Locations: Bonaire, Chicago, Dutch, Netherlands, Tourism Corporation Bonaire, Venezuela, Aruba, Curaçao, Kingdom of, Miami, Kralendijk, Blue Bonaire, Washington, johnandersonphoto, Development, “, United States, Europe

☆ McDonald's workers in Italy declared a strike after being forced to work in sweltering kitchens in 104-degree temperatures with no AC
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

McDonald's workers in Italy called a strike over having to work in intense heat with faltering AC. Italy has been hit by dangerously high temperatures, with officials telling people to stay indoors. Workers at two branches in the city of Bari said they were being forced to work in boiling temperatures alongside intensely hot kitchen equipment, according to local outlet Bari Today. CGIL has long raised the alarm over a lack of air conditioning for restaurant workers, Calabria 7 reported. It also said that temperatures in the neighboring region of Basilicata were putting factory workers at risk, The Guardian reported.

Persons: Domenico Ficco, McDonald's, CGIL Organizations: Service, Workers, CGIL, New York Times, Guardian Locations: Italy, Wall, Silicon, Bari, Calabria, McDonald's Italy, Basilicata

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