A dockworkers strike could shut down East and Gulf ports. Will it affect holiday shopping?
NEW YORK (AP) -- U.S. ports from Maine to Texas could shut down if a union representing 45,000 dockworkers carries through with a threatened strike early Tuesday. The International Longshoremen's Association is demanding higher wages and a total ban on the automation of cranes, gates and trucks that are used in the loading or unloading of freight at 36 U.S. ports. Those ports handle roughly half of the nations' cargo from ships. A lengthy shutdown could raise prices on goods around the country and potentially cause shortages and price increases at retailers as the holiday shopping season -- along with a tight presidential election -- approach.
DirecTV will buy rival Dish to create massive pay-TV company after yearslong pursuit
DirecTV is buying Dish and Sling as the company, a deal it has sought to complete for years as seeks to better compete against streaming services that have become dominant. DirecTV said Monday that it will acquire Dish TV and Sling TV from its owner EchoStar in a debt exchange transaction that includes a payment of $1, plus an assumption of debt. The prospect of a DirecTV-Dish combo has long been rumored, with headlines about reported talks popping up over the years. And the two almost merged more than two decades ago -- but the Federal Communications Commission blocked their owners' then-$18.5 billion deal, citing antitrust concerns.
As big supermarkets pursue profits, new research shows growing exploitation of shrimp farmers
BANGKOK (AP) -- An investigation focused on three of the world's largest shrimp producers claims that as big Western supermarkets make windfall profits, their aggressive pursuit of ever-lower wholesale prices is causing misery for people on the bottom end of the supply chain. The regional analysis of the industry in Vietnam, Indonesia and India found a 20%-60% drop in earnings from pre-pandemic levels as producers struggle to meet pricing demands by cutting labor costs. In many places this has meant unpaid and underpaid work. Vietnam, Indonesia and India provide about half the shrimp in the world's top four markets.
Takeaways from AP's report on how shrimp farmers are exploited as supermarkets push for low prices
BANGKOK (AP) -- An investigation focused on three of the world's largest shrimp producers claims that as big Western supermarkets make windfall profits, their aggressive pursuit of ever-lower wholesale prices is causing misery for people on the bottom end of the supply chain. The regional analysis of the industry in Vietnam, Indonesia and India -- the three countries that provide about half the shrimp in the world's top four markets -- found a 20%-60% drop in earnings from pre-pandemic levels as producers struggle to meet pricing demands by cutting labor costs. In many places this has meant unpaid and underpaid work.
Global markets get bumpy ride, as Japan's stocks slump while Chinese markets soar
HONG KONG (AP) -- Global markets have had a wild start to the week, with Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index tumbling nearly 5% while Chinese markets soared on news of fresh stimulus for the faltering economy. European markets opened lower. The Japanese yen rose against the U.S. dollar as the country prepared for a new prime minister and exporters' shares plunged. Chinese markets surged after the central bank announced that it would direct banks to cut mortgage rates for existing home loans. On Friday, the S&P 500 edged 0.1% below an all-time high and the Dow gained 0.3% to 42,313.00, setting its own record. The Nasdaq composite slipped 0.4%.
California governor vetoes bill to create first-in-nation AI safety measures
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed a landmark bill aimed at establishing first-in-the-nation safety measures for large artificial intelligence models. The decision Sunday is a major blow to efforts in the U.S. attempting to rein in the homegrown industry that is rapidly evolving with little oversight. The bill would have required companies to test their models and publicly disclose their safety protocols to reduce possible risks created by AI. Newsom said the bill could hinder AI innovation in California. Supporters say it would have set much-needed safety ground rules for large-scale AI models in the U.S. The country is already behind Europe in regulating AI to limit risks.
Missing a beat, streaming service Spotify is back after a temporary outage
NEW YORK (AP) -- The music streaming service Spotify was down temporarily on Sunday. More than 40,000 people reported outages with the music platform on downdetector.com, which allows users to report problems with popular apps and services. Spotify wrote on X that the company was aware of issues and was checking them out. About an hour later the streaming service said everything was looking better. Spotify users complained about the outage disrupting workout routines and plans to stream a playlist at a child's birthday party. Millions of people use Spotify, which was the largest streaming service in 2023.
Over 90,000 Georgia residents sheltering a day after chemical plant fire sends chlorine into the air
CONYERS, Ga. (AP) -- More than 90,000 residents in a county east of Atlanta have been told to keep sheltering in place a day after a chemical plant fire sent a massive plume of dark smoke high into the sky that could been seen from miles away. Authorities say chlorine has been detected in the air from the fire at the BioLabe plant in Conyers. Fire Chief Marian McDaniel says a sprinkler head malfunctioned around 5 a.m. Sunday at the plant. Water then mixed with a water-reactive chemical, releasing a plume of chemicals. People in the northern part of the county were ordered to evacuate. There are no immediate reports of injuries.
Humanitarians enlist entertainers and creators to reach impassioned youth during United Nations week
NEW YORK (AP) -- Humanitarians are enlisting entertainers and creators to reach impassioned youth during climate week events that coincide with the United Nations General Assembly's high-level meetings. Established organizations are trying to reach the younger, more environmentally conscious generations who they routinely acknowledge are tasked with reversing years of climate inaction. World Food Program USA and the Clinton Foundation are among the many groups leveraging star power in attempt to boost their message with young people. Young online environmental activists say the strategy may very well work. But they emphasize that organizations must avoid tokenizing Generation Z and treat them as collaborators.
A tiny tribe is getting pushback for betting big on a $600M casino in California's wine country
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A Northern California tribe's chances of owning a Las Vegas-style casino seemed like a dream as unlikely as hitting the jackpot. Now the Koi Nation has teamed up with the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and moved a step closer to building a $600 million casino in the heart of California's wine country. But the tribe of 96 members is facing mounting opposition from other tribes as it waits for the U.S. Department of Interior to decide whether the tribe of Southeastern Pomo people can open a casino in Sonoma County.