Author: Davide E

It’s no secret by now that corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts have become highly politicized. The latest example is a letter sent by the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee on July 30 to some 130 institutional investors, asking them to explain the rationale for their ESG goals. The letter, which suggests that participation in certain climate initiatives may violate U.S. antitrust laws, highlights the challenge facing businesses today of balancing sustainability goals and stakeholder demands with political rhetoric. Today, the news is full of ESG initiatives failing to gain significant support in proxy votes, a decline in…

When Joseph Loria was laid off in January 2023, he asked for a job where he wasn’t subject to the whims of his employer.”In the startup world, it’s not about being ‘too old,’ but about using your age and experience as an asset,” said Loria, 61.According to data from Gusto, a payroll service company for small businesses, nearly a quarter of new businesses founded in 2023 were in the professional services industry. Additionally, about 35% of businesses founded by people aged 55 or older in 2023 were in the professional services industry. To collect the data, Gusto surveyed 1,345 new…

Index falls from 87.0 to 86.6. 86.0 expected. Analyst: No recovery anytime soonBERLIN, Aug 26 (Reuters) – Morale at German business leaders fell for a third straight month in August, a survey released on Thursday showed, dampening hopes for an economic recovery in Europe’s largest economy.The Ifo Institute for Economic Research said its economic sentiment index fell to 86.6 in August from 87.0 in July, but beat the 86.0 forecast by analysts polled by Reuters.”The German economy is slipping deeper into crisis,” Ifo Chairman Clemens Fuest said.An Ifo survey of almost 9,000 business leaders found that businesses have become more…

* Acquisition includes allergy drugs Zyrtec and Xyzal. Transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter. UCB will focus on innovation and partnerships. PARIS/SINGAPORE, Aug 26 (Reuters) – Belgian biopharmaceutical company UCB (UCB.BR) said on Tuesday it was selling its China neurology and allergy business to Singapore asset management group CBC and Abu Dhabi sovereign investor Mubadala for $680 million.The deal includes UCB’s neurology portfolio, including medicines such as Keppra, Vinpat and Neupro, as well as anti-allergy drugs Zyrtec and Xyzal, which are often used to treat watery eyes and runny nose.The Brussels-listed company also plans to sell its…

According to a forthcoming book by New York Times reporters Kate Conger and Ryan Mack, Elon Musk asked a small group of friends and acquaintances with little or no experience running a social media company to determine the optimal price for Twitter Blue, ultimately settling on $8 a month, which Musk thought was what people typically pay for a cup of Starbucks coffee.The New York Times article, adapted from “Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter,” which chronicled the billionaire’s disorderly acquisition of Twitter in October 2022, details how Musk decided how to price Twitter Blue, a subscription service that…

Startup accelerator Y Combinator is backing its first weapons startup, which claims it can build missiles that are smaller and cheaper than its competitors.”Ares is developing a new class of anti-ship cruise missile that will deliver the capabilities the Department of Defense requires at one-tenth the size and one-tenth the cost,” Ares Industries co-founders Devan Plantamura and Alex Tseng said in a post on the YC website.The two worked at other defense startups before teaming up to found Elias Industries in May of this year.YC partner Jared Friedman said Ares Industries could play a key role if China were to…

The European Union said General Motors and Volkswagen’s Chinese partner, state-owned SAIC Motor, had not cooperated with EU authorities and had not submitted required documentation.Last week, the company had an additional 36.3% tariff slapped on its vehicles after the EU accused it of benefiting from “unfair subsidies” and hurting competition in Europe. SAIC also makes cars under the MG brand.That’s a revision from higher 37.6% tariffs that were challenged by Chinese EV makers after they were imposed in June. The additional tariffs are on top of the existing 10% tariffs that apply to all EVs imported from China.Compared with SAIC,…

You can try on new types of sneakers, Nikes and more. > KIXCON took place from 1 to 4 p.m. A popular Ridgeland restaurant is celebrating 44 years of serving catfish and delicious country food. The restaurant’s president and one of its owners says he’s working to restore its reputation after failing a health inspection in June and closing for 24 hours. Prysock reflects on his 44 years and how he’s operated the restaurant. Cock of the Walk celebrates its 40th anniversary Updated: August 25, 2024 11:07 PM CDT A Capital Area restaurant popular for its catfish and Southern cuisine…

In November 2022, shortly after Elon Musk had acquired Twitter and wanted to do away with the existing blue check system, Esther Crawford posted what she later described as a “cheeky” photo of herself sleeping at Twitter’s headquarters in San Francisco, California.”When our teams are working around the clock to meet a deadline, we sometimes #SleepWhereYouWork,” Crawford, who was director of product management at the time, wrote.The photo went viral and, for better or worse, became emblematic of the workplace culture and chaos that has swept across Twitter under its new president.”I love my family and am grateful that they…

This essay is based on a conversation with Sarra Bounouh, a product manager in Meta’s Seattle office. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified her work history.I grew up in Morocco and moved to France after graduating from high school.I studied Applied Mathematics in college and had a few career options.I decided to go into consulting because I wanted to explore different types of projects and problems, work in different industries, and discover what I was passionate about. I interned at Accenture and eventually moved into a full-time role.Working on artificial intelligence projects piqued my…