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News reports from around the world.
US applications for jobless claims hold at healthy levels
( ) -q-20- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “most since November.”
U.S. applications for jobless benefits were unchanged last week.
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Time: 20s
Title: JOBLESS-CLAIMS-house-q-THUam
Out-cue: most since November]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting. Weekly unemployment claims are broadly viewed as representative of the number of U.S. layoffs in a given week.
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VERBATIM: The Labor Department says unemployment claims for the week ending March second were 217,000, matching the previous week’s revised level. In total, 1.9 million Americans were collecting jobless benefits during the week that ended February 24. That’s an increase of 8,000 from the previous week and the most since November.
Ex-Google engineer charged with stealing AI trade secrets
( ) -q-20- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “in artificial intelligence.”
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.
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Time: 20s
Title: GOOGLE-TRADE-SECRETS-house-q-THUam
Out-cue: in artificial intelligence]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting.
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VERBATIM: Linwei Ding was arrested in Newark, California, on four counts of federal trade secret theft. Attorney General Merrick Garland as well as other law enforcement leaders have repeatedly warned about the threat of Chinese economic espionage. They also took note of the national security concerns posed by advancements in artificial intelligence.
To revive sales, candy companies pitch gum as stress reliever
( ) -q-29- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “to calm herself.”
Gum makers are trying to figure out what will make Americans start chewing again.
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Time: 29s
Title: GUM-SALES-house-q-THUam
Out-cue: to calm herself]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting. Market research firm Circana says U.S. chewing gum sales rose less than 1% last year to 1.2 billion packages, which was still 32% fewer than in 2018.
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VERBATIM: Generational habits, health concerns and the coronavirus pandemic have gnawed away at gum sales. Some manufacturers are leaving the U.S. market altogether. But Mars, which owns the 133-year-old Wrigley brand, is trying to reposition gum as a stress reliever and a concentration aid as well as a breath freshener. A Mars executive says the “aha moment” came from a nurse in a hospital COVID-19 ward who chewed gum behind a mask to calm herself.
Apple is making big App Store changes in Europe over new rules
( ) -q-27- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “for in-app transactions.”
Apple is opening small cracks in the iPhone’s digital fortress as part of a regulatory clampdown in Europe that’s striving to give consumers more choices.
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Time: 27s
Title: APPLE-EUROPE-house-q-THUam
Out-cue: for in-app transactions]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting.
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VERBATIM: The opening is coming at the risk of creating new avenues for hackers to steal personal and financial information stored on the devices. The overhaul rolling out only in the Europe represents the biggest changes to the iPhone’s App Store since Apple introduced the concept in 2008. Among other things, people in Europe can download iPhone apps from stores that aren’t operated by Apple and are getting alternative ways to pay for in-app transactions.
OpenAI says Elon Musk agreed ChatGPT maker should become for profit
( ) -q-26- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “a for-profit entity.”
OpenAI has shot back at accusations from Elon Musk that the ChatGPT maker betrayed its founding goals of benefiting humanity and chose to pursue profits and vowed to get his lawsuit thrown out.
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Title: OPENAI-MUSK-house-q-WEDam
Out-cue: a for-profit entity]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting.
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VERBATIM: The company’s response has escalated the feud between the artificial intelligence company and the billionaire that bankrolled its creation years ago. Musk’s lawsuit said that when he invested in OpenAI, he secured an agreement that the company would remain a nonprofit developing technology for the benefit of the public. OpenAI said both the startup and Musk recognized the need for the company to become a for-profit entity.
Europe’s Digital Markets Act is forcing tech giants to make changes
( ) -q-20- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “picks up speed.”
Europeans scrolling their phones and computers this week will get new choices for default browsers and search engines, where to download iPhone apps and how their personal online data is used.
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Time: 20s
Title: DIGITAL-MARKETS-ACT-house-q-WEDam
Out-cue: picks up speed]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting. The affected companies include Amazon, Apple, Google parent Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft and TikTok owner ByteDance.
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VERBATIM: They’re part of changes required under the Digital Markets Act. It’s a set of European Union regulations that six tech companies classed as “gatekeepers” will have to start following. Europe has been a global leader in reining in tech giants. The rules are kicking in as a global effort to crack down on the tech industry picks up speed.
Bitcoin briefly hits an all-time high, less than two years after FTX scandal
( ) -q-22- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “ETF’s in January.”
Bitcoin has hit an all-time high less than two years after the collapse of the crypto exchange FTX severely damaged faith in digital currencies and sent prices plunging.
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Title: BITCOIN-house-q-WEDam
Out-cue: ETF’s in January]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting. Gains in recent months have been fueled by the anticipation and eventual U.S. approval of bitcoin exchange traded funds earlier this year, which provided access to a much broader class of investors.
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VERBATIM: The world’s largest cryptocurrency jumped 4% this week and briefly surpassed $68,800 on Tuesday. That’s according to CoinMarketCap. That price is just above bitcoin’s previous record set in November 2021. The price for bitcoin has surged about 60% since the approval of bitcoin ETFs in January.
China’s manufacturing activity contracts for 5th straight month
( ) -q-28- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “50.7 in January.”
An official survey of factory managers shows manufacturing in China contracted for a fifth consecutive month in February.
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Title: CHINA-MANUFACTURING-house-q-FRIam
Out-cue: 50.7 in January]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting.
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VERBATIM: It’s a reflection of persistent weakness in China’s economy ahead of annual legislative meetings where officials are expected to boost policy support. The official purchasing managers index fell to 49.1 in February from 49.2 the month before. Meanwhile, the non-manufacturing PMI, which measures activity in sectors such as services and construction, rose to 51.4 from 50.7 in January.
Health care tech company hack leads to billing delays, security concerns
( ) -q-25- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “are using workarounds.”
A massive U.S. health care technology company says it was attacked by the ransomware group ALPHV, also known as Blackcat.
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Time: 25s
Title: CHANGE-HEALTH-HACK-house-q-FRIam
Out-cue: are using workarounds]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting.
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VERBATIM: Change Healthcare first acknowledged the attack last week. It is affecting health care providers across the country. Mostly it is threatening the security of patients’ information and paychecks for medical workers, and also may disrupt discharging patients from the hospital. The American Hospital Association says the attack is affecting patients’ ability to get the medications they need, though pharmacies are using workarounds.
European inflation eases to 2.6% as energy prices and food inflation drop
( ) -q-31- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “is taking time.”
Inflation just keeps dropping in Europe.
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Time: 31s
Title: EUROPE-INFLATION-house-q-FRIam
Out-cue: is taking time]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting. Food inflation eased to 4% from 5.6%, offering some relief to people on modest incomes who spend more of their pay on necessities than the well-off. Another factor was energy prices, which fell by 3.7%
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VERBATIM: The consumer price index for Europe fell to 2.6 in February from 2.8% the month before. Falling oil and gas prices played a role, and food inflation isn’t as bad as it was. Inflation is now far below its peak of 10.6% in October 2022, which it hit after Russia cut off most supplies of natural gas and sent energy prices through the roof. But the return of inflation to 2%, the goal set by the European Central Bank, is taking time.
US applications for jobless benefits rise but remain historically low despite recent layoffs
( ) -q-28- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “most since November.”
More Americans applied for jobless benefits last week.
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Time: 28s
Title: JOBLESS-CLAIMS-house-q-THUam
Out-cue: most since November]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting.
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VERBATIM: The Labor Department says applications for unemployment benefits rose by 13,000 to 215,000 for the week ending February 24th. Despite the increase, layoffs remain historically low even as more high-profile companies have announced job cuts this year. In total, 1.9 million Americans were collecting jobless benefits during the week that ended February 17, up 45,000 from the previous week and the most since November.
Better protecting Americans’ personal data is the goal of an executive ordered signed by President Biden
( ) -q-27- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “Americans’ sensitive data.”
President Biden has signed an executive order aiming to better protect Americans’ personal data.
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Time: 27s
Title: BIDEN-PERSONAL-DATA-house-q-THUam
Out-cue: Americans’ sensitive data]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting. The goal is to make sure the safeguards do not limit legitimate commerce around data.
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VERBATIM: That data includes everything from biometrics and health records to finances and geolocation from foreign adversaries like China and Russia. The order seeks to authorize the attorney general and other federal agencies to prevent the large-scale transfer of Americans’ personal data to what the White House calls “countries of concern.” It also erects safeguards around other activities that can give those countries access to Americans’ sensitive data.
NYC’s plan to ease gridlock and pump billions into mass transit? A $15 toll for Manhattan drivers
( ) -q-24- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “congestion parking schemes.”
New York city officials are hoping to get people out of their cars and onto mass transit.
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Time: 24s
Title: NYC-MASS-TRANSIT-house-q-THUam
Out-cue: congestion parking schemes]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting. Those international cities include London, Stockholm, Milan and Singapore.
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VERBATIM: Between bridge and tunnel tolls and parking fees, it can already cost a lot to drive a car into Manhattan. The Big Apple is close to implementing a plan that would use license-plate readers to turn all of Manhattan south of Central Park into one giant toll zone. If the plan is finalized, New York would become the first U.S. city to join a handful of others globally with similar congestion pricing schemes.
Biden administration to investigate national security risks posed by Chinese-made ‘smart cars’
( ) -q-26- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “to national security.”
The Biden administration will investigate potential national security risks posed by Chinese-made “smart cars” that can gather sensitive information about Americans driving them.
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Time: 26s
Title: BIDEN-CHINA-SMART-CARS-house-q-THUam
Out-cue: to national security]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting.
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VERBATIM: The probe could lead to new regulations aimed at preventing China from using sophisticated technology in electric cars and other so-called connected vehicles to track drivers and their personal information. While the action stops short of a ban on Chinese imports, President Biden said he is taking unprecedented steps to safeguard Americans’ data. He said Chinese cars could flood the U.S. market, posing risks to national security.
Starbucks and Workers United, long at odds, say they’ll restart labor talks
( ) -q-21- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “with the company.”
Starbucks and the union organizing its U.S. workers say they have agreed to begin talks with the aim of reaching labor agreements.
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Time: 21s
Title: STARBUCKS-WORKERS-house-q-WEDam
Out-cue: with the company]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting. In separate statements, Starbucks and Workers United said they have a shared commitment to establishing a positive relationship with their workers.
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VERBATIM: The announcement was a breakthrough for the two sides, which have been at odds since Workers United first organized baristas at a Starbucks store in Buffalo, New York, in late 2021. Workers have voted to unionize at more than 370 company-owned Starbucks stores in the U.S. However, none of those stores has reached a labor agreement with the company.
US and UK hit Iranian deputy commander and Houthi member with sanctions
( ) -q-20- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “business with Americans.”
The U.S. and United Kingdom have sanctioned a deputy commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and a Houthi militant member.
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Time: 20s
Title: US-UK-IRAN-SANCTIONS-house-q-WEDam
Out-cue: business with Americans]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting.
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VERBATIM: The U.S. has also sanctioned firms registered in Hong Kong and the Marshall Islands, along with two ships. One of those ships transported $100 million in Iranian commodities to China. The sanctions block access to U.S. property and bank accounts and prevent the targeted people and companies from doing business with Americans.
EPA awards $1 billion to clean up toxic waste in third cash infusion for Superfund program
( ) -q-28- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “Greenville, South Carolina.”
The Environmental Protection Agency says 25 toxic waste sites in 15 states will be cleaned up as part of a $1 billion infusion to the federal Superfund program.
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Time: 28s
Title: EPA-TOXIC-WASTE-house-q-WEDam
Out-cue: Greenville, South Carolina]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting.
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VERBATIM: The money is the third and last installment in $3.5 billion allocated under the 2021 infrastructure law signed by President Biden. It will help clear a backlog of hazardous sites such as old landfills, mines and manufacturing facilities targeted by the 44-year-old Superfund program. Sites slated for cleanup include a former smelting plant in East Helena, Montana and an old textile mill in Greenville, South Carolina.
California utility will pay $80M to settle claims its equipment sparked devastating 2017 wildfire
( ) -q-21- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “two canyon locations.”
Southern California Edison will pay $80 million to settle claims on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service.
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Time: 21s
Title: CAL-WILDFIRE-house-q-TUEam
Out-cue: two canyon locations]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting. The Thomas fire burned across 439 square miles in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. State officials say it is the seventh largest blaze in California history.
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VERBATIM: The claims are connected to a massive wildfire that destroyed more than a thousand homes and other structures in 2017. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says the utility agreed to the settlement without admitting wrongdoing or fault in connection with the Thomas fire. Investigations found utility equipment sparked the fire in two canyon locations.
Jacob Rothschild, financier from a family banking dynasty, dies at 87
( ) -q-25- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “a keen environmentalist.”
Jacob Rothschild, the financier and philanthropist from the Rothschild banking dynasty, has died at 87.
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Time: 25s
Title: ROTHSCHILD-OBIT-house-q-TUEam
Out-cue: a keen environmentalist]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting. Rothschild’s family announced his death in a statement without giving details. He was chairman of the board of trustees at London’s National Gallery and chair of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
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VERBATIM: Rothschild began his career at NM Rothschild & Sons in 1963, before he broke away from the family bank to start businesses and charitable organizations. He was chairman of Rothschild Investment Trust, now RIT Capital Partners, until 2019. His family described him as a passionate supporter of charitable Jewish causes and a keen environmentalist.
Norfolk Southern urges shareholders to reject activist investor’s takeover plan at the railroad
( ) -q-27- UNDATED (Correspondent Jeremy House) “major freight railroads.”
Norfolk Southern wants its shareholders to back its current management team and strategy and reject a bid from a group of investors to take control of the railroad.
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Time: 27s
Title: NORFOLK-SOUTHERN-ANCORA-house-q-TUEam
Out-cue: major freight railroads]
TAG: Correspondent Jeremy House reporting. Ancora wants to hire former UPS executive Jim Barber and former CSX chief operating officer Jamie Boychuk to run the the railroad.
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VERBATIM: Norfolk Southern has urged shareholders to reject Ancora Holdings’ eight board nominees. The railroad also nominated two new board members of its own — a former Amtrak CEO and a former U.S. Senator — to offer fresh perspective without derailing its current plan. Ancora argues that Norfolk Southern hasn’t done nearly enough to improve its efficiency because its profits and operations continue to lag those of other major freight railroads.
High Court Hears Arguments On Ways States Regulate User Content Guidelines On Social Platforms
The Supreme Court is taking up challenges to state laws that could affect how social media platforms regulate content posted by their users. The court is hearing arguments over laws adopted by Republican-dominated legislatures and signed by Republican governors in Florida and Texas in 2021. While the details vary, both laws aimed to address conservative complaints that the social media companies tilt to the left and censor users based on their viewpoints, especially on the political right. The cases are among several the justices have grappled with over the past year involving social media platforms, such as X, Facebook and TikTok
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