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Ex-Google engineer charged with stealing AI trade secrets while working with Chinese companies None - The Justice Department says a former software engineer at Google has been charged with stealing artificial intelligence technology from the company while secretly working with two companies based in China WASHINGTON -- A former software engineer at Google has been charged with stealing artificial intelligence trade secrets from the company while secretly working with two companies based in China, the Justice Department said Wednesday. Linwei Ding, a Chinese national, was arrested in Newark, California, on four counts of federal trade secret theft, each punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The case against Ding, 38, was announced at an American Bar Association conference in San Francisco by Attorney General Merrick Garland, who along with other law enforcement leaders has repeatedly warned about the threat of Chinese economic espionage and about the national security concerns posed by advancements in artificial intelligence and other developing technologies. “Today’s charges are the latest illustration of the lengths affiliates of companies based in the People’s Republic of China are willing to go to steal American innovation,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. “The theft of innovative technology and trade secrets from American companies can cost jobs and have devastating economic and national security consequences.” Google said it had determined that the employee had stolen “numerous documents” and referred the matter to law enforcement. “We have strict safeguards to prevent the theft of our confidential commercial information and trade secrets,” Google spokesman Jose Castaneda said in a statement. "After an investigation, we found that this employee stole numerous documents, and we quickly referred the case to law enforcement. We are grateful to the FBI for helping protect our information and will continue cooperating with them closely.” A lawyer listed as Ding’s defense attorney had no comment Wednesday evening. Artificial intelligence is the main battleground for competitors in the field of high technology, and the question of who dominates can have major commercial and security implications. Justice Department leaders in recent weeks have been sounding alarms about how foreign adversaries could harness AI technologies to negatively affect the United States. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a speech last month that the administration’s multi-agency Disruptive Technology Strike Force would place AI at the top of its enforcement priority list, and Wray told a conference last week that AI and other emerging technologies had made it easier for adversaries to try to interfere with the American political process. Garland echoed those concerns at the San Francisco event, saying Wednesday that, “As with all evolving technologies, (AI) has pluses and minuses, advantages and disadvantages, great promise and the risk of great harm.” The indictment unsealed Wednesday in the Northern District of California alleges that Ding, who was hired by Google in 2019 and had access to confidential information about the company's supercomputing data centers, began uploading hundreds of files into a personal Google Cloud account two years ago. Within weeks of the theft starting, prosecutors say, Ding was offered the position of chief technology officer at an early-stage technology company in China that touted its use of AI technology and that offered him a monthly salary of about $14,800, plus an annual bonus and company stock. The indictment says Ding traveled to China and participated in investor meetings at the company and sought to raise capital for it. He also separately founded and served as chief executive of a China-based startup company that aspired to train “large AI models powered by supercomputing chips,” the indictment said. Prosecutors say Ding did not disclose either affiliation to Google, which described him Wednesday as a junior employee. He resigned from Google last Dec. 26. Three days later, Google officials learned that he had presented as CEO of one of the Chinese companies at an investor conference in Beijing. Officials also reviewed surveillance footage showing that another employee had scanned Ding's access badge at the Google building in the U.S. where he worked to make it look like Ding was there during times when he was actually in China, the indictment says. Google suspended Ding's network access and locked his laptop, and discovered his unauthorized uploads while searching his network activity history. The FBI in January served a search warrant at Ding's home and seized his electronic devices, and later executed an additional warrant for the contents of his personal accounts containing more than 500 unique files of confidential information that authorities say he stole from Google.
Half of US states join GOP lawsuits challenging new EPA rule on deadly soot pollution None - WASHINGTON -- A new Biden administration rule that sets tougher standards for deadly soot pollution faced a barrage of legal challenges Wednesday, as 25 Republican-led states and a host of business groups filed lawsuits seeking to block the rule in court. Twenty-four states, led by attorneys general from Kentucky and West Virginia, filed a joint challenge stating that new Environmental Protection Agency rule would raise costs for manufacturers, utilities and families and could block new manufacturing plants and infrastructure such as roads and bridges. Texas filed a separate suit, as did business groups led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers. “The EPA’s new rule has more to do with advancing President (Joe) Biden’s radical green agenda than protecting Kentuckians’ health or the environment, said Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, who is leading the joint lawsuit along with West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. The EPA rule “will drive jobs and investment out of Kentucky and overseas, leaving employers and hardworking families to pay the price,” Coleman said. The soot rule is one of several EPA dictates under attack from industry groups and Republican-led states. The Supreme Court heard arguments last month on a GOP challenge to the agency's “good neighbor rule,” which restricts smokestack emissions from power plants and other industrial sources that burden downwind areas. Three energy-producing states — Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia — challenged the rule, along with the steel industry and other groups, calling it costly and ineffective. The rule is on hold in a dozen states because of the court challenges. In opposing the soot rule, Republicans and industry groups say the United States already has some of the strictest air quality standards in the world — tougher than the European Union or major polluters such as China and India. Tightening U.S. standards "wouldn't improve public health, but it would put as many as 30% of all U.S. counties out of compliance under federal law, leading to aggressive new permitting requirements that could effectively block new economic activity,'' Coleman said. The EPA rule sets maximum levels of fine particle pollution — more commonly known as soot — at 9 micrograms per cubic meter of air, down from 12 micrograms established a decade ago under the Obama administration. Environmental and public health groups hailed the rule as a major step to improve the health of Americans, including future generations. EPA scientists have estimated exposure at previous limits contributed to thousands of early deaths from heart disease and lung cancer, along with other health problems. EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the new soot rule, finalized last month, would create $46 billion in net health benefits by 2032, including prevention of up to 800,000 asthma attacks and 4,500 premature deaths. The rule will especially benefit children, older adults and those with heart and lung conditions, Regan said, as well as people in low-income and minority communities adversely affected by decades of industrial pollution. "We do not have to sacrifice people to have a prosperous and booming economy,″ Regan said. Biden is seeking reelection, and some fellow Democrats have warned that a tough new soot standard could harm his chances in key industrial states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. The EPA and White House officials brushed aside those concerns, saying the industry has developed technical improvements to meet previous soot standards and can adapt to meet the new ones. Soot pollution has declined by 42% since 2000, even as the U.S. gross domestic product has increased by 52%, Regan said. The new rule does not impose pollution controls on specific industries. Instead, it lowers the annual standard for fine particulate matter for overall air quality. The EPA will use air sampling to identify counties and other areas that do not meet the new standard. States would then have 18 months to develop compliance plans for those areas. States that do not meet the new standard by 2032 could face penalties, although EPA said it expects that 99% of U.S. counties will be able to meet the revised annual standard by 2032. Industry groups and Republican officials dispute that and say a lower soot limit could put hundreds of U.S. counties out of compliance. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce warned the White House in January that 43% of total particulate emissions come from wildfires, and called the pollution standard "the wrong tool to address this problem.'' The EPA said it will work with states, counties and tribes to account for and respond to wildfires, an increasing source of soot pollution, especially in the West, where climate change has led to longer wildfire seasons, with more frequent and intense fires. The agency allows states and air agencies to request exemptions from air-quality standards due to “exceptional events," including wildfires and prescribed fires. Besides Kentucky, West Virginia and Texas, other states challenging the EPA rule include: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Wyoming. All three cases were filed before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
European regulators want to question Apple after it blocks Epic Games app store None - European Union regulators want to question Apple over accusations that it blocked video game company Epic Games from setting up its own app store LONDON -- European Union regulators said they want to question Apple over accusations that it blocked video game company Epic Games from setting up its own app store, in a possible violation of digital rules that took effect in the 27-nation bloc Thursday. It's a fresh escalation of the high-stakes battle between the two companies. Epic, maker of the popular game Fortnite, has spent years fighting Apple’s exclusive control over the distribution of iPhone apps. Epic asserted Wednesday that Apple thwarted its attempt to set up its own iOS app marketplace to compete with Apple's App Store, calling it a breach of the EU's new Digital Markets Act. The sweeping set of rules, designed to stop big tech companies from cornering digital markets, have forced Apple to allow people in Europe to download iPhone apps from stores not operated by the U.S. tech giant — a move it's long resisted. The European Commission, the EU's top antitrust watchdog, said in a statement Thursday that it has “requested further explanations on this from Apple under the DMA.” The rules threaten penalties that could reach into the billions for violations. Apple has already been hit this week with a $2 billion EU antitrust fine for thwarting music streaming competition. The commission said it's “also evaluating whether Apple’s actions raise doubts on their compliance” with other EU regulations including the Digital Services Act, a second set of regulations in the bloc's digital rulebook that prohibit tech companies from ”arbitrary application" of their terms and conditions. Epic contended that Apple was brazenly violating the DMA by rejecting an alternative iPhone app store that it planned to set up in Sweden to serve European Union users. It accused Apple of retaliating for scathing critiques posted by CEO Tim Sweeney, who spearheaded a mostly unsuccessful antitrust case against the iPhone App Store in the U.S. Apple said its action was justified because of Epic's previous unlawful actions and litigation that resulted in the U.S. court decision in 2021. Apple ousted Epic from its App Store after it tried to get around restrictions that Apple says protect the security and privacy of iPhone users, while also helping recoup some of the investment that powers one of the world’s most ubiquitous devices. “Epic’s egregious breach of its contractual obligations to Apple led courts to determine that Apple has the right to terminate ‘any or all of Epic Games’ wholly owned subsidiaries, affiliates, and/or other entities under Epic Games’ control at any time and at Apple’s sole discretion,'" Apple said in a statement. "In light of Epic’s past and ongoing behavior, Apple chose to exercise that right.”
US applications for jobless claims hold at healthy levels None - U.S. applications for jobless benefits were unchanged last week, settling at a healthy level as the labor market continues to show strength amid elevated interest rates U.S. applications for jobless benefits were unchanged last week, settling at a healthy level as the labor market continues to show strength in the face of elevated interest rates. Unemployment claims for the week ending March 2 were 217,000, matching the previous week's revised level, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The four-week average of claims, a less volatile measure, fell by 750 from the previous week to 212,250. Weekly unemployment claims are broadly viewed as representative of the number of U.S. layoffs in a given week. They have remained at historically low levels since the pandemic purge of millions of jobs in the spring of 2020. In total, 1.9 million Americans were collecting jobless benefits during the week that ended Feb. 24, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week and the most since November. The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark borrowing rate 11 times beginning in March of 2022 in an effort to bring down the four-decade high inflation that took hold after the economy roared back from the COVID-19 recession of 2020. Part of the Fed’s goal was to loosen the labor market and cool wage growth, which it believes contributed to persistently high inflation. Many economists thought the rapid rate hikes could potentially tip the country into recession, but that hasn’t happened. Jobs have remained plentiful and the economy has held up better than expected thanks to strong consumer spending. U.S. employers delivered a stunning burst of hiring to begin 2024, adding 353,000 jobs in January in the latest sign of the economy’s continuing ability to shrug off the highest interest rates in two decades. The unemployment rate is 3.7%, and has been below 4% for 24 straight months, the longest such streak since the 1960s. The Labor Department issues its February jobs report on Friday. Though layoffs remain at low levels, there has been an uptick in job cuts recently, mostly across technology and media. Google parent company Alphabet, eBay, TikTok, Snap, and Cisco Systems and the Los Angeles Times have all recently announced layoffs. Outside of tech and media, UPS, Macy’s and Levi’s also recently cut jobs.
Power lines ignited the largest wildfire in Texas history, officials say None - Officials in Texas say power lines ignited massive wildfires across the state’s Panhandle region that destroyed homes and killed thousands of livestock last week Power lines ignited massive wildfires across the Texas Panhandle that destroyed homes and killed thousands of livestock, officials said Thursday, including the largest blaze in state history that the utility provider Xcel Energy said its equipment appeared to have sparked. The Texas A & M Forest Service said its investigators have concluded that power lines ignited both the historic Smokehouse Creek fire, has burned nearly 1,700 square miles (4,400 square kilometers) and spilled into neighboring Oklahoma, and the nearby Windy Deuce fire, which has burned about 225 square miles (582 square kilometers). The statement did not elaborate on what led to the power lines igniting the blazes. “Based on currently available information, Xcel Energy acknowledges that its facilities appear to have been involved in an ignition of the Smokehouse Creek fire,” the utility provider stated. The wildfires that ignited last week in the windswept rural area prompted evacuations in a handful of small communities, destroyed as many as 500 structures and killed at least two people. Containment levels have been increasing — the Smokehouse Creek fire was 74% contained Thursday while the Windy Deuce fire was 89%. But the Forest Service warned that high winds were expected to be moving across the dry landscape, increasing fire danger. Downed power lines and other utility equipment have led to other major wildfires, including the deadly blaze in Maui last year and a massive California wildfire in 2019. A lawsuit filed last week in Hemphill County alleged that a downed power line near the town of Stinnett on Feb. 26 sparked the Smokehouse Creek fire. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of a Stinnett homeowner against Xcel Energy and two other utilities, alleged the blaze started “when a wooden pole defendants failed to properly inspect, maintain and replace, splintered and snapped off at its base.” While Xcel Energy said in its Thursday news release that its equipment appeared to have played a role in igniting the Smokehouse Creek fire, it disputed claims of negligence in maintaining and operating infrastructure. The Minnesota-based company also noted in the statement that it did not believe its equipment caused the ignition of the Windy Deuce fire, nor was it aware of any allegations that it had. Two women were confirmed killed by the wildfires last week, one who was overtaken by flames after getting out of her truck and another whose remains were found in her burned home. On Tuesday, the fire chief in one of the hardest hit towns died while responding to a house fire. An official said that while the blaze wasn’t caused by a wildfire, Fritch Fire Chief Zeb Smith had been tirelessly fighting wildfires for over a week when he died. An autopsy will determine Smith’s cause of death. The Associated Press has requested the full reports from the Forest Service on the causes of the Smokehouse Creek and Windy Deuce fires. Dale Smith, who operates a large cattle ranch east of Stinnett, worked last week to tally up the number of cattle he’d lost as the wildfires raged. He said then that he believed a faulty power line was likely to blame, and that he’d been concerned about their maintenance. “These fires are becoming a regular occurrence,” he said. “Lives are being lost. Livestock are being lost. Livelihoods are being lost. It’s a sad story that repeats itself again and again.” ___ Associated Press journalist Sean Murphy contributed to this report from Oklahoma City.
Egypt floats its currency and agrees with the IMF to increase a bailout loan to $8 billion None - Egypt has floated its currency and announced a deal with the International Monetary Fund to increase its bailout loan to $8 billion Egypt floats its currency and agrees with the IMF to increase a bailout loan to $8 billion CAIRO -- Egypt on Wednesday floated its currency and announced a deal with the International Monetary Fund to increase its bailout loan from $3 billion to $8 billion, moving to shore up an economy hit by a staggering shortage of foreign currency and soaring inflation. The flotation of the Egyptian pound, combined with a sharp raise of the main interest rate, is meant to combat inflationary waves and attract foreign investment. The measures, announced by the Central Bank of Egypt early Wednesday, were among the key demands of the IMF to increase its $3 billion bailout loan that both parties agreed to in 2022. The central bank, known as CBE, increased the key interest rate by 600 basis points to 27.75%. Following the announcement, the pound began floating and within hours lost more than 60% of its value against the dollar. By the end of the day, commercial banks were trading the U.S. currency at more than 50 pounds for $1, up from about 31 pounds. The value of a floating currency is determined each day by traders in global markets, rather than by government policies. In that way, a floating currency imposes discipline: Investors tend to buy the currency of a nation with prudent economic policies, driving up its value. Conversely, the market typically shuns the currencies of poorly managed economies, keeping their value low. It often punishes countries that run up huge deficits or that recklessly print money and stoke inflation. Black markets emerge when a government fixes the value of its currency above what the market thinks it's worth, which is what happened in Egypt. The Egyptian economy has been hit hard by years of government austerity, the coronavirus pandemic, the fallout from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and most recently, the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The Houthi attacks on shipping routes in the Red Sea have slashed Suez Canal revenues, which is a major source for foreign currency. The attacks forced traffic away from the canal and around the tip of Africa. The war in Ukraine, which rattled the global economy, hit cash-strapped Egypt where it is financially vulnerable — the most populous Arab country is the world’s biggest importer of wheat and needs to buy a majority of its food from other countries to help feed its population of more than 104 million people. The CBE said that its measures Wednesday would help end the black market in currencies and slow inflation, which reached unprecedented levels in recent months. The annual inflation rate was more than 31% in January, according to official figures. “The CBE will continue to target inflation as its nominal anchor, allowing the exchange rate to be determined by market forces,” the central bank said. The authorities also said the CBE has managed to “secure funds” for market needs — an indication they expected the exchange rate to stabilize. “We have sufficient foreign currency to cover our obligations, particularly after the unification of the exchange rate,” central bank Gov. Hassan Abdalla told a news conference. He said the CBE will focus on slowing down two-digit inflation. "We will not hesitate to take any measures to fight inflation," he said. Analysts believe the source of the funds was a multibillion dollar deal last week with an Emirati consortium to jointly develop the Mediterranean city of Ras el-Hekma, 350 kilometers (about 220 miles) northwest of Cairo. Egypt will get $35 billion from that deal. The rising cost of basic goods has deepened the hardships faced by middle-class and poor Egyptians. They have suffered from price hikes since the government embarked on an ambitious reform program in 2016 to overhaul the battered economy. Nearly 30% of Egyptians live in poverty, according to official figures. The new devaluation and interest rate hike will inflict further pain on Egyptians already struggling with soaring prices, said Hamish Kinnear, senior analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft. The central bank measures paved the way for an agreement with the IMF to increase a bailout loan to $8 billion, up from $3 billion after marathon negotiations. The agreement, announced late Wednesday afternoon, still needs the approval of the IMF executive board, which is expected to meet this month. “The authorities are showing strong commitment to act promptly on all critical aspects of their economic reform program," said Ivanna Vladkova Hollar, IMF mission chief for Egypt, adding that the main reforms include a free-floating exchange rate and a slowdown in infrastructure spending to reduce inflation. Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly said the new deal would enable the government to receive loans from other financial institutions, including the World Bank. ___ AP Economics Writer Paul Wiseman in Washington contributed to this report.
Court rejects bid to block Chicago ballot measure that would tax real estate for homeless services None - Chicago voters will get the chance this month to decide on a ballot measure that would levy a one-time tax hike on luxury properties to pay for services for homeless people, according to a panel of Illinois appeals court judges CHICAGO -- Chicago voters will get the chance this month to decide on a ballot measure that would levy a one-time tax hike on luxury properties to pay for services for homeless people, a panel of appeals court judges ruled Wednesday. The decision by Illinois' First District Appellate Court allowing the measure to be decided in the March 19 election overturned a Cook County judge's Feb. 23 rejection of the measure in response to objections from real estate and business groups. Early voting has already begun, so the measure remained on ballots amid the legal fight. The city's Board of Elections said all votes cast for and against the measure will count. If approved, the measure would raise the city's real estate transfer tax on properties valued at more than $1 million and lower it on properties valued under that. Supporters of the so-called Bring Chicago Home measure estimate that it would generate $100 million annually for homeless services, including mental health care and job training. Maxica Williams, board president of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, applauded the appellate judges' decision. “We look forward to keeping up our efforts to reach hundreds of thousands of voters about their opportunity to vote yes for a fair and sustainable plan to fund housing, care for the homeless, and ask wealthy real estate corporations to pay their fair share,” Williams said in a statement. Mayor Brandon Johnson has championed the measure and told reporters at an unrelated news conference that “the people of Chicago should determine how we address the unhoused crisis in Chicago.” “I made a commitment as not just a candidate, but as mayor of the city of Chicago, that I would do everything in my power to move us closer towards housing for all," Johnson said. Opponents, largely real estate groups, have argued that the measure unfairly targets commercial properties at a time when the city’s downtown is still trying to recover from the downturn caused by the pandemic. Farzin Parang is the executive director of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago, one of the groups that is challenging the measure. He called Wednesday's decision disappointing and said the groups “have already ramped up our efforts to educate the public" about the proposal. “This massive tax increase would hurt homeowners, renters, union workers, and businesses throughout the neighborhoods,” Parang said in a statement. “Even worse, a yes vote on this referendum is a vote to deliver huge blank checks to the City with no plan for how millions will be accountably spent.” ___ Associated Press reporter Sophia Tareen contributed to this report.
These viral $2.99 Trader Joe’s tote bags are being resold for as much as $500 on eBay None - New York CNN — A Trader Joe’s canvas mini tote bag that costs about the same as a pack of gum is being resold online for nearly 200 times its retail price. The Trader Joe’s bags, available in blue, red, green and yellow, have taken social media by storm in the past week, garnering more than 11 million views on Tik Tok. Although some stores have reportedly been placing limits on the amount people are able to buy at one time, customers have been flocking to stores across the country and snatching up as many of the $2.99 bags as they can, according to store employees. The viral Trader Joe's mini canvas tote bag. From Trader Joe's Some have been reselling the bags on e-commerce platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace. As of Sunday afternoon, hundreds of mini tote bags have been posted on eBay with prices ranging from $5 to $500. “As a seller, it just came naturally that I thought these would sell,” said one eBay user who is selling four tote bags in all available colors for $145 or best offer. They have already sold eight, and have one left in their store, according to their page. “I believe these were limited production,” the seller added. According to the page of another seller, who is offering a set of four bags for $499.99 or best offer, one set has been sold and two more remain. It’s unclear whether these bags have actually been sold at their advertised price point, since eBay users can bid below the starting offer. One Iowa-based store employee told CNN the bags were only available for a week before they sold out, with the next shipment not expected until September. Another employee at a New Jersey location said the customer craze started about two weeks ago, and that some holiday-minded shoppers are buying them ahead of time. “Customers love it. They’re buying a lot,” she said. “Easter is coming up and they make great baskets for kids.” The viral scenes at Trader Joe’s stores are reminiscent of the Stanley cup chaos last year: In December, Target introduced a limited-edition Valentine’s Day collection of Stanley tumblers. Shoppers jumped on the items, in some cases quite literally. The proof was documented in TikTok videos that showed people lining up outside Target stores waiting to rush in to grab the items. Stanley has since reworked its product launches to make them less chaotic.
Actors union president Fran Drescher on SAG-AFTRA's victory None - Actors union president Fran Drescher on SAG-AFTRA's victory Last year, actors and writers walked off the job after contract talks with film and TV producers broke down. Fran Drescher, president of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, spearheaded the negotiations that ended up winning huge concessions from corporations in Hollywood. Drescher talks with correspondent Tracy Smith about what studio bosses learned about her over the course of the strike – and what she learned about herself.
Cillian Murphy: Being in 'Oppenheimer' was an absolute gift None - Swing state voter: Rather have Biden with 81 years than Trump with 91 counts
‘Spectacle’: Ron Klain says Biden will debate Trump if Trump can follow basic rules None - ‘Spectacle’: Ron Klain says Biden will debate Trump if Trump can follow basic rules Former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain joins The Weekend to discuss how Mitch McConnell and other Republicans are bending the knee to Donald Trump. March 10, 2024
Fmr. Trump White House counsel: 'The facts are terrible' None - IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.
‘He’s got it backwards’: Sen. Graham slams Biden for criticism of Israel None - In an exclusive interview with Meet the Press, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) responds to President Biden’s comments on MSNBC saying Prime Minister Netanyahu is “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” for its actions contributing to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.March 10, 2024
Federal judge in Texas blocks US labor board rule that would make it easier for workers to unionize None - A federal judge in Texas has blocked a new rule by the National Labor Relations Board that would have made it easier for millions of workers to form unions at big companies Federal judge in Texas blocks US labor board rule that would make it easier for workers to unionize A federal judge in Texas has blocked a new rule by the National Labor Relations Board that would have made it easier for millions of workers to form unions at big companies. The rule, which was due to go into effect Monday, would have set new standards for determining when two companies should be considered “joint employers” in labor negotiations. Under the current NLRB rule, which was passed by a Republican-dominated board in 2020, a company like McDonald’s isn’t considered a joint employer of most of its workers since they are directly employed by franchisees. The new rule would have expanded that definition to say companies may be considered joint employers if they have the ability to control — directly or indirectly — at least one condition of employment. Conditions include wages and benefits, hours and scheduling, the assignment of duties, work rules and hiring. The NLRB argued a change is necessary because the current rule makes it too easy for companies to avoid their legal responsibility to bargain with workers. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups — including the American Hotel and Lodging Association, the International Franchise Association and the National Retail Federation — sued the NLRB in federal court in the Eastern District of Texas in November to block the rule. They argued that the new rule would upend years of precedent and could make companies liable for workers they don’t employ at workplaces they don’t own. In his decision Friday granting the plaintiffs' motion for a summary judgement, U.S. District Court Judge J. Campbell Barker concluded that the NLRB’s new rule would be “contrary to law” and that it was “arbitrary and capricious” in regard to how it would change the existing rule. Barker found that by establishing an array of new conditions to be used to determine whether a company meets the standard of a joint employer, the NRLB's new rule exceeds “the bounds of the common law.” The NRLB is reviewing the court's decision and considering its next steps in the case, the agency said in a statement Saturday. “The District Court’s decision to vacate the Board’s rule is a disappointing setback, but is not the last word on our efforts to return our joint-employer standard to the common law principles that have been endorsed by other courts,” said Lauren McFerran, the NLRB’s chairman.
34 bodies removed from English funeral home; 2 arrested for fraud,preventing burial None - Police in northern England say they have removed 34 bodies from a funeral home and arrested a man and woman on suspicion of fraud and preventing lawful burials LONDON -- Nearly three dozen bodies were removed from a funeral home in northern England, and a man and woman were arrested Sunday on suspicion of fraud and preventing a lawful burial, police said. Humberside Police announced the developments after five days of investigation at three branches of Legacy Funeral Directors in Hull and East Yorkshire. Assistant Chief Constable Thom McLoughlin said 34 bodies had been taken to a mortuary in Hull for identification. A 46-year-old man and 23-year-old woman, whose identifies weren't disclosed by authorities, were arrested on suspicion of preventing a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position. No other details were available about the nature of the suspected crimes. In the U.S. there have been several sensational cases of funeral home operators being arrested after dozens of bodies and cremated remains were found on their properties. Nearly 200 decaying bodies were discovered piled up last year in a bug and maggot infested funeral home in Colorado and the owners face hundreds of charges, including abuse of a corpse. Prosecutors said some relatives had received fake ashes instead of the cremated remains of their loved ones. Humberside police said 350 people had contacted them since Friday after they asked families who had lost loved ones to contact investigators if they had concerns. “Please be reassured that my staff and officers are working around the clock to deal with the unprecedented inquiries generated as a result of this incident," McLoughlin said. “Families affected continue to be supported by family liaison officers at what we appreciate is an extremely distressing time for all involved." A website for the business said it was family run and had been established in 2010 and then expanded. The last news update on the website — from 2021 — said that despite uncertainty with COVID-19 services could continue and it was planning to open a fourth branch. “As an independent funeral director, we are able to create a unique farewell for loved ones, with more flexibility and less constraint than our competitors,” the website said. “With such breadth of experience, you and your family are assured the best service and care available.” An email sent to the funeral home by The Associated Press seeking comment wasn't immediately returned and a phone listed for the business rang unanswered.
How major US stock indexes fared Tuesday, 3/5/2024 None - Big Tech stocks pulled Wall Street down to its worst day in three weeks How major US stock indexes fared Tuesday, 3/5/2024 The Associated Press By The Associated Press Big Tech stocks pulled Wall Street down to its worst day in three weeks. The S & P 500 fell 1% Tuesday, its second straight drop after closing last week at an all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also lost 1%, and the Nasdaq composite gave back 1.7%. Apple was one of the heaviest weights on the market. It’s been struggling on worries about sluggish iPhone sales in China. Microsoft, Tesla and other influential stocks also sank. Treasury yields fell after U.S. economic data was weaker than expected. Bitcoin touched a record high before tumbling. On Tuesday: The S & P 500 fell 52.30 points, or 1%, to 5,078.65. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 404.64 points, or 1%, to 38,585.19. The Nasdaq composite fell 267.92 points, or 1.7%, to 15,939.59. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 20.60 points, or 1%, to 2,053.71. For the week: The S & P 500 is down 58.43 points, or 1.1%. The Dow is down 502.19 points, or 1.3%. The Nasdaq is down 335.35 points, or 2.1%. The Russell 2000 is down 22.69 points, or 1.1%. For the year: The S & P 500 is up 308.82 points, or 6.5%. The Dow is up 895.65 points, or 2.4%. The Nasdaq is up 928.24 points, or 6.2%. The Russell 2000 is up 26.63 points, or 1.3%.
Thousands of flights and trains will be canceled again this week in Germany with new strikes None - Thousands of flights and trains are expected to be canceled again this week in Germany after two unions called for more strikes over wages and working conditions Thousands of flights and trains will be canceled again this week in Germany with new strikes BERLIN -- Thousands of flights and trains are expected to be canceled again this week in Germany after two unions on Monday called for more strikes over wages and working conditions. Negotiations continue for ground staff of German airline Lufthansa and German rail operator's Deutsche Bahn train drivers. German train drivers’ union GDL and Ver.di called for the strikes Thursday and Friday. Around 200,000 air passengers will be affected by the two-day strike, according to an initial estimate by the Lufthansa Group, meaning that around 1,000 flights per day will be canceled as during previous strikes, German news agency dpa reported. The strike on long-distance and regional train services begins at 2.00 a.m. (0100GMT) on Thursday and will affect millions of travelers. According to GDL, the strike is set to last until 1 p.m. Friday. In freight transport, the strike will begin on Wednesday at 6 p.m. (1700GMT) and is scheduled to last until 5 a.m. Friday. In addition to pay raises, GDL has been calling for working hours to be reduced from 38 to 35 per week without a pay cut, which Deutsche Bahn has refused. The Ver.di union seeks a 12.5% pay raise, or at least 500 euros ($542) more per month, in negotiations for nearly 25,000 Lufthansa ground workers including check-in, aircraft handling, maintenance and freight staff. Coinciding contract negotiations have resulted in several recent walkouts in the rail, air and local transport sectors in Germany.
Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Threads logins restored after widespread outage None - A technical issue had caused widespread login issues for more than an hour across Meta’s Facebook, Instagram, Threads and Messenger platforms on Tuesday A technical issue caused widespread login issues for a few hours across Meta's , Instagram, Threads and Messenger platforms Tuesday. Andy Stone, Meta’s head communications, acknowledged the issues on X, formerly known as , and said the company “resolved the issue as quickly as possible for everyone who was impacted, and we apologize for any inconvenience.” Users reported being locked out of their Facebook accounts and feeds on the platform as well as Threads and Instagram were not refreshing. WhatsApp, which is also owned by Meta, appeared unaffected. A senior official with the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency told reporters Tuesday that the agency was “not aware of any specific election nexus nor any specific malicious cyberactivity nexus to the outage.” The outage comes just ahead of Thursday's deadline for Big Tech companies to comply with the European Union’s new Digital Markets Act. To comply, Meta is making changes, like allowing users to separate their Facebook and Instagram accounts so personal information can’t be combined to target them with online ads. It’s not clear whether the outage is connected to any preparations Meta might be carrying out for the DMA. In 2021, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp were down for hours, an outage the company said was a result of faulty changes on routers that coordinate network traffic between its data centers. The next year, WhatsApp had another brief outage.
Saudi oil giant Aramco announces $121 billion profit last year, down from 2022 record None - Saudi oil giant Aramco says it made $121 billion profit last year, down from its 2022 record due to lower energy prices DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Saudi oil giant Aramco on Sunday reported it made $121 billion in profit last year, down from its 2022 record due to lower energy prices. The results still marked the company's second highest ever result, Aramco said, as members of the OPEC+ alliance continue to cut their production to try to boost global energy prices. However, lower results also squeeze the kingdom as it embarks on a massive development project under its assertive crown prince to wean itself off oil revenues. Aramco had reported a $161 billion profit in 2022, likely the largest ever reported by a publicly traded company. “The decrease mainly reflects the impact of lower crude oil prices and lower volumes sold, and weakening refining and chemicals margins,” the company said in its filing to the Tadawul stock market. Despite being lower this year, Aramco boosted the dividends due to its stock holders to over $31 billion in the fourth quarter, according to filings. The energy giant had planned a conference call Monday to discuss its results. Aramco reported overall revenue of $440 billion last year, down from $535 billion in 2022. “Our resilience and agility contributed to healthy cash flows and high levels of profitability, despite a backdrop of economic headwinds,” said Aramco CEO Amin H. Nasser in a statement. Aramco, formally known as the Saudi Arabian Oil Co., put its output at 12.8 million barrels of oil a day. The company has been ordered by the Saudi government to keep its production there despite earlier plans to increase output. Saudi Arabia, a leader in the OPEC cartel, has allied with Russia and others outside of the group to try to keep production down to boost global oil prices. Benchmark Brent crude traded under $82 a barrel on Sunday. Aramco has a market value of $2 trillion, making it the world’s fourth most valuable firm, behind Apple, Microsoft and NVIDIA respectively. Aramco stock traded slightly up on the Tadawul at $8.64 a share Sunday. Saudi Arabia’s vast oil resources, located close to the surface of its desert expanse, make it one of the world’s least expensive places to produce crude. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hopes to use the oil wealth to pivot the kingdom off oil sales, such as with his planned $500 billion futuristic desert city, called Neom, and other projects. Meanwhile, activists criticized the profits amid global concerns about the burning of fossil fuels accelerating climate change. On Thursday, Prince Mohammed transferred another 8% of Aramco shares to the country’s prominent sovereign wealth fund, worth over $160 billion. The vast majority of the company remains held by the Al Saud royal family, with a sliver traded on the Tadawul stock market.
Mideast Starbucks franchisee firing 2,000 workers after being targeted in Israel-Hamas war boycott None - The Middle East franchisee of Starbucks has begun firing some 2,000 staff at its coffee shops across the region after the brand found itself targeted by activists during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- The Middle East franchisee of Starbucks said Tuesday it has begun firing around 2,000 workers at its coffee shops across the region after the brand found itself targeted by activists during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. The Kuwait-based Alshaya Group, a private family firm holding franchise rights for a variety of Western companies including The Cheesecake Factory, H & M and Shake Shack, issued a statement acknowledging the firings at its Middle Eastern and North African locations. “As a result of the continually challenging trading conditions over the last six months, we have taken the sad and very difficult decision to reduce the number of colleagues in our Starbucks MENA stores,” the statement read. Alshaya later confirmed it was firing about 2,000 employees, as first reported by Reuters. Many of its employees in the Gulf Arab states are foreign workers hailing from Asian nations. Alshaya runs about 1,900 Starbucks branches in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and United Arab Emirates. It had employed more than 19,000 staff, according to the Seattle-based company. The layoffs represent just over 10% of its staff. Since the beginning of the war on Oct. 7, Starbucks has found itself alongside other Western brands targeted by pro-Palestinian activists over the war. The company prominently has been trying to counter what it describes as “ongoing false and misleading information being shared about Starbucks” being spread online. “We have no political agenda,” Starbucks said. “We do not use our profits to fund any government or military operations anywhere — and never have.” In October, Starbucks sued Workers United, which has organized workers in at least 370 U.S. Starbucks stores. over a pro-Palestinian message posted on a union social media account. Starbucks said it was trying to get the union to stop using its name and likeness, as the post also drew protests from pro-Israel demonstrators. Boycotters also felt the company wasn’t adequately supporting Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Starbucks revenue rose 8% to a record $9.43 billion for the October-December period. But that was lower than the $9.6 billion analysts had forecast, likely in part because of activist boycotts. Starbucks isn't the only brand targeted by activists in the war. Others have called for a boycott of McDonald's after a local franchisee in Israel announced in October that it was providing free meals to Israeli soldiers.