
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>The war between Israel and Hamas has continued for more than a month, laying waste to the Gaza Strip, killing thousands and displacing many more in the region as the conflict appears likely to continue for some time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p><strong>1.5 million:&nbsp;</strong>That’s how many people in Gaza have been internally displaced, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-flash-update-32#:~:text=Displacement%20(Gaza%20Strip),the%20remainder%20with%20host%20families." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United Nations</a>, which reported 557,000 people are sheltering in facilities unable to bring in new arrivals, prompting concerns of overcrowding.</p>



<p><strong>More than 11,000:</strong>&nbsp;The number of people&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-officials-say-hospitals-come-under-new-israeli-attacks-2023-11-10/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">killed</a>&nbsp;in Gaza during the conflict, according to Reuters.</p>



<p><strong>Around 1,200:</strong>&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-revises-death-toll-oct-7-hamas-attack-around-1200-2023-11-10/#:~:text=JERUSALEM%2C%20Nov%2010%20(Reuters),previous%20government%20estimate%20of%201%2C400." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">revised death toll</a>&nbsp;of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in southern Israel, Reuters reported, which cited a spokesperson for Israel&#8217;s foreign ministry.</p>



<p><strong>More than 400:</strong>&nbsp;The number of U.S. citizens and residents who have left the Gaza Strip, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/more-than-400-us-citizens-residents-have-left-gaza-spokesperson-2023-11-07/#:~:text=More%20than%20400%20US%20citizens,Reuters" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reuters</a>, citing the State Department, which noted some U.S. citizens still remain in the war-torn region this week.</p>



<p><strong>About 240:&nbsp;</strong>That’s how many hostages Israeli officials believe Hamas and other groups are holding, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/israel-hostages-hamas-explained.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York Times</a>, a matter that has become the<a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/israel-hamas-hostage-deal-critical-juncture-gaza/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;crux of negotiations</a>&nbsp;between Israel and Hamas.</p>



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<p><strong>756:&nbsp;</strong>The total count of humanitarian aid trucks that have crossed into Gaza from Egypt since such trucks were first allowed to do so on Oct. 21, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/israel-hamas-war-gaza-strip-2023-11-08/card/more-than-100-aid-trucks-reach-gaza-in-largest-single-day-convoy-YsfsqJaxyKLQifBui5sg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wall Street Journal</a>&nbsp;reported, citing Egyptian officials and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, which said none of the trucks contained fuel.</p>



<p><strong>18:</strong>&nbsp;World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus indicated in an emergency meeting that this was the share of Gaza’s 36 hospitals that were not operating in the region (home to about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/gaza-strip" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2.1 million people</a>), according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna124563/rcrd25458?canonicalCard=true" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBC News</a>, adding facilities are operating beyond capacities and that two-thirds of Gaza’s primary health care centers are not functioning.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



<p>Israel agreed Thursday to put four-hour daily humanitarian pauses in place for its military operations in Gaza each day, according to the White House. The pauses have helped hostage talks, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/israel-hamas-hostage-deal-critical-juncture-gaza/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Politico</a>, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/09/politics/israel-pauses-gaza-white-house/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insisted</a>&nbsp;that “no cease-fire” would be achieved without the release of Hamas-held hostages. Politico reported any hostage agreement is likely to be interim and limited in scope.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The Israel-Hamas conflict has gone on for more than a month now, after Israel declared war following Hamas’ invasion of southern Israel on Oct. 7. The U.S. has stood firm in its support of Israel, a longtime ally. President Joe Biden asked Netanyahu during a Monday call for a three-day pause to allow for hostage negotiations, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-humanitarian-pauses-b8fc613ffd8b9351c0dc37b90b6e10dd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Associated Press</a>&nbsp;reported, adding that the president said it took “a little longer” than he hoped for Israel to agree to the current hours-long humanitarian pauses. Despite pushing for humanitarian aid, the White House has been careful to not call for a definitive cease-fire, citing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-at-a-press-availability-41/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">concerns</a>&nbsp;it would allow Hamas to recover and re-tool. Biden has also publicly doubted the death toll coming out of Gaza, saying late last month he had &#8220;no confidence in the number that the Palestinians are using,” according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/despite-bidens-doubts-humanitarian-agencies-consider-gaza-toll-reliable-2023-10-27/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reuters</a>. Calls for a cease-fire have been supported by a majority of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/27/united-nations-votes-overwhelmingly-in-favour-of-humanitarian-truce-in-gaza" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United Nations</a>&nbsp;in addition to tens of thousands of Americans who have participated in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/11/04/thousands-descend-on-washington-for-gaza-cease-fire-rally-photos/?sh=6a381a4a1df7">cease-fire rallies</a>&nbsp;in recent weeks.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/10/14/israel-hamas-conflict-the-grim-statistics-after-a-week-of-war/?sh=3d27aea84407">Israel-Hamas Conflict: The Grim Statistics After A Week Of War</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-revises-death-toll-oct-7-hamas-attack-around-1200-2023-11-10/#:~:text=JERUSALEM%2C%20Nov%2010%20(Reuters),previous%20government%20estimate%20of%201%2C400." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Israel revises Hamas attack death toll to &#8216;around 1,200&#8217;</a>&nbsp;(Reuters)</p>


Israel’s Response To Hamas Attack Complicated By Hostages And Concerns Over Gaza Campaign

Israel-Hamas Conflict: The Bleak Numbers After 36 Days Of Fighting


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Greenpeace is facing a major new legal threat in the form of a $2.1 million lawsuit from oil giant Shell,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/shell-sues-greenpeace-21-million-after-boarding-oil-vessel-2023-11-09/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multiple outlets</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/09/shell-sues-greenpeace-over-fossil-fuel-protest-in-north-sea" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>&nbsp;Thursday, after the environmental advocacy group’s protestors occupied a floating oil platform in January in what one spokesperson called an “unlawful and extremely dangerous” stunt.</p>



<p>Greenpeace activist Yeb Saño holds aloft a flag on a rib after attempting to board a Shell oil&nbsp;&#8230; [+]<small>GETTY IMAGES</small></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>U.K.-based Shell filed a claim against Greenpeace UK and Greenpeace International in London&#8217;s High Court alleging the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/31/greenpeace-protesters-board-shell-platform-bound-for-shetland" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">occupation</a>&nbsp;of a floating oil production vessel by protesters earlier this year cost the company money in shipping delays and forced it to hire extra security,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/shell-sues-greenpeace-21-million-after-boarding-oil-vessel-2023-11-09/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reuters</a>&nbsp;reported.</p>



<p>Shell has asked the court to stop any future protests on the company’s infrastructure at sea or in port, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/09/shell-sues-greenpeace-over-fossil-fuel-protest-in-north-sea" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Guardian</em></a>, and threatened to file further claims on behalf of contractors that could be worth as much as $8.6 million.</p>



<p>Greenpeace has accused Shell of trying to silence any legitimate protests of its fossil fuel operations, but Shell has said the lawsuit is focused only on protests at sea and is designed partly to protect the safety of protesters.</p>



<p>A spokesperson for Shell said in an email to&nbsp;<em>Forbes</em>&nbsp;that the protest was &#8220;unlawful and extremely dangerous.&#8221;</p>



<p>In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.greenpeace.org/international/press-release/63522/shell-hits-greenpeace-with-intimidation-lawsuit-threatening-8-6m-damages-claim-and-protest-ban-to-silence-climate-demands/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">statement</a>&nbsp;posted to its website Thursday, Greenpeace called the lawsuit an attempt “to silence growing dissent over moves by Shell’s chief executive” and said Shell has offered to settle for $1.4 million if Greenpeace vows to never again stage a protest “at its infrastructure” at sea or in port.</p>



<p>Greenpeace said it would only comply with the request if Shell &#8220;agreed to stop wrecking the climate&#8221; and comply with a Dutch court order to reduce its emissions by 45% by 2030.</p>



<p>Greenpeace activists hold a billboard during a protest outside Shell headquarters amid the companies&nbsp;&#8230; [+]<small>CHRIS J RATCLIFFE FOR GREENPEACE VIA GETTY IMAGES</small></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



<p>“The right to protest is fundamental and we respect it absolutely. But it must be done safely and lawfully,” Shell’s statement reads. “Shell and its contractors are entitled to recover the significant costs of responding to Greenpeace’s dangerous actions.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Climate activists used ropes to hoist themselves onto a floating production storage and offloading vessel from inflatable boats they used to chase the Shell ship. The protestors boarded the vessel just north of the Canary Islands and rode it for 13 days,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.greenpeace.org/international/press-release/63522/shell-hits-greenpeace-with-intimidation-lawsuit-threatening-8-6m-damages-claim-and-protest-ban-to-silence-climate-demands/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to Greenpeace</a>. No arrests were made. The vessel was bound for the not-yet-operational Penguins oil and gas field in the North Sea, and protestors were imploring the company to stop drilling for new oil and gas and &#8220;instead take responsibility for causing climate breakdown.” The Penguins platform is the first new northern North Sea project for Shell in 30 years and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shell.com/about-us/major-projects/penguins.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">is expected</a>&nbsp;to yield 45,000 barrels of oil per day.</p>



<p>Greenpeace activists hang a banner on July 24, 2014 in front of a Shell gas station in Santiago,&nbsp;&#8230; [+]<small>AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES</small></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>$39.9 billion. That&#8217;s how much money&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/02/shell-earnings-oil-giant-reports-record-annual-profits.html#:~:text=Shell%20reported%20adjusted%20earnings%20of,2021%20profit%20of%20%2419.29%20billion." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shell reported in adjusted earnings&nbsp;</a>in 2022, more than double its 2021 profit of $19.29 billion.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



<p>This isn’t the first time Shell and Greenpeace have butted heads. The two famously faced off back in 1995 when the oil company, known at the time as Royal Dutch Shell, proposed it would get rid of its decommissioned rig called the Brent Spar <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org/international/story/47744/brent-spar-the-sea-is-not-a-dustbin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">by sinking it</a> in the North Atlantic Ocean. Greenpeace activists occupied the tanker for three weeks and organized a boycott of service stations worldwide while claiming the vessel Shell was trying to sink had 5,500 tons of oil on board. The estimate was vastly higher than what Shell claimed and what later proved to be true—Greenpeace ultimately issued an apology. Shell withdrew its plan to sink the Brent Spar. Greenpeace later successfully protested Shell&#8217;s <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org/international/story/7022/you-did-it-shell-abandons-arctic-drilling/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2006 plan</a> to drill for oil in the Arctic. Two years ago, Greenpeace was involved in a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/shell-wins-court-case-start-seismic-surveys-offshore-south-africa-2021-12-03/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">failed attempt</a> to stop the company from looking for oil in humpback whale breeding grounds on South Africa&#8217;s coast.</p>


Shell Posts Quarterly Profits

Shell Sues Greenpeace For $2 Million After Protest On Moving Oil Platform — The Latest Clash Between The Two


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Adidas is considering writing off its remaining inventory of Yeezy merchandise, valued at $320 million by the company, chief executive Bjorn Gulden said Wednesday—as the German footwear firm separates from the brand designed by Kanye West, who lost his partnership with Adidas following a string of antisemitic remarks.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Gulden said Wednesday that a scenario in which the company writes off its Yeezy inventory is “financially the worst case,” according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adidas-ye-kanye-west-antisemitism-df2df5a6489beba1a23ffefa6acc98c3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Associated Press</a>.</p>



<p>The company has sold hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of leftover Yeezy shoes, and Gulden reportedly said “we of course hope we can do more drops next year and we can get more value out of it and donate the proceeds,” but no decision has been made.</p>



<p>Gulden also said the company had stored its Yeezy inventory in several locations and declined to say what the company would do if the inventory remained unsold.</p>



<p>Adidas included a possible write-off of the Yeezy inventory in its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.adidas-group.com/en/media/news-archive/press-releases/2023/adidas-reports-revenue-increase-in-the-third-quarter-underlying-b/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">outlook</a>&nbsp;Wednesday for its earnings this year, suggesting in its full-year guidance that it expects about $106 million in operating losses this year after a previous prediction of a $481 million loss.</p>



<p>Shares for&nbsp;<a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/ADDYY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Adidas</a>&nbsp;fell slightly (2%) to $90.46 after the company released its third-quarter earnings&nbsp;<a href="https://www.adidas-group.com/en/media/news-archive/press-releases/2023/adidas-reports-revenue-increase-in-the-third-quarter-underlying-b/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>.</p>



<p>Adidas reported a 6% increase in footwear revenue year-over-year and a 6% decline in apparel sales, while the company’s revenue declined 6% to $6.4 billion.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>$374.7 million. That’s how much revenue Adidas generated from Yeezy sales through the third quarter. Yeezy merchandise generated about <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/08/03/adidas-sold-437-million-worth-of-yeezys-in-second-quarter-of-2023/?sh=36ab3bd526f4">$437 million</a> in revenue in the second quarter, which Adidas said was in line with Yeezy sales during the same quarter last year. The company generated $1.28 billion from Yeezy sales through all of last year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Adidas ended its partnership with West last year after the rapper made a series of antisemitic comments on social media. The company announced earlier this year it would start selling some of its remaining Yeezy inventory—valued then at $1.28 billion—and donate a “significant amount” of sales to organizations combating racism and antisemitism. Adidas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/08/03/adidas-sold-437-million-worth-of-yeezys-in-second-quarter-of-2023/?sh=1f97832526f4">previously</a>&nbsp;explored a write-off of its remaining Yeezy inventory in August, which the sportswear firm estimated the write-off would cost the company an additional $437 million. Adidas similarly estimated its “discontinuation of the regular Yeezy business” cost the company about $437 million in the first half of 2023. A write-off would reduce the value of the brand in Adidas’s financial statements.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/10/17/adidas-cuts-projected-losses-by-over-300-million-after-selling-yeezy-shoes/?sh=1e34b8baab0a">Adidas Cuts Projected Losses By Over $300 Million After Selling Yeezy Shoes</a>&nbsp;(<em>Forbes</em>)</p>


Street Style – Paris Fashion Week – Menswear Spring/Summer 2024 : Day Six

Adidas Could Write Off Value Of Unsold Yeezy Inventory—Worth $320 Million


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Nike this week added New Balance and Skechers to the list of athletic wear companies it says has stolen the &#8220;game-changing&#8221; patented Flyknit technology that Nike claims it spent more than a decade developing in order to cut down on waste while making lightweight yet supportive running shoes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>In two separate federal lawsuits filed in Massachusetts and California, respectively, Nike claims New Balance and Skechers are infringing on the company’s patents and producing shoes using Flyknit, a specific knitted fiber used to make the &#8220;upper&#8221; of shoes, or the part above the sole surrounding the foot.</p>



<p>Nike claims New Balance stole the technology for use in its Tekela, FuelCell, Fresh Foam and Furon lines, and that Skechers is using it to make its Slip-Ins, Ultra Flex and Glide Step shoes, among others.</p>



<p>Nike asserts it told New Balance it was illegally using patented materials and that the company &#8220;refused&#8221; to stop using Flyknit and claims New Balance &#8220;only escalated the scope of its infringing activities” — and Nike also claims this isn’t the first time Skehers has stolen its technology.</p>



<p>Nike has asked a judge to block the sales of New Balance and Skechers it says utilize the patented technology and is seeking an unspecified &#8220;award of damages.&#8221;</p>



<p>New Balance did not respond to&nbsp;<em>Forbes’&nbsp;</em>request for comment Tuesday but said in a statement to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nike-new-balance-skechers-lawsuit-flyknit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CBS News</a>&nbsp;that “Nike does not own the exclusive right to design and produce footwear by traditional manufacturing methods that have been used in the industry for decades.&#8221;</p>



<p>A representative for Skechers said the company does not comment on pending litigation.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



<p>Nike has also sued Adidas, Puma and Lululemon for allegedly stealing the same technology.&nbsp;<a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nike-adidas-settle-two-separate-164108630.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Adidas settled</a>&nbsp;its series of patent disputes in 2022, as did&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2018/10/10/judge-denies-pumas-motion-to-dismiss-nike-lawsuit.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Puma</a>&nbsp;in 2020. Nike&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/qai/2023/02/06/nike-is-suing-lululemon-over-patent-infringementagain-heres-what-investors-need-to-know-about-the-war-between-these-athletic-apparel-giants/">sued Lululemon</a>&nbsp;earlier this year, claiming the textile knitting process used in making Lulu’s Chargefeel Mid, Chargefeel Low, Blissfeel and Strongfeel shoes was also stolen from Flyknit patents. That case is ongoing.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>New York University&#8217;s Center for Sustainable Business in 2016 used Nike&#8217;s Flyknit technology for a case study on sustainability.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stern.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/assets/documents/Nike_Carly_04.2017%20-%20Copy.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The study</a>&nbsp;called Flyknit a &#8220;fundamental breakthrough in sustainable innovation&#8221; that met the athletic demands of a comfortable, high-performing sneaker while also reducing manufacturing waste. After more than 10 years and 200 prototypes, Nike developed its patented method to use one continuous woven thread to make a shoe instead of gluing and stitching multiple pieces of material together. By cutting down on wasted scraps and reducing the number of materials used, the company was able to save 3.5 million pounds of waste and cut its manufacturing waste by 80%, according to NYU.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>182 million. That&#8217;s how many plastic bottles New York University says have been diverted from landfills by Nike since they started using recycled polyester in Flyknit shoes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



<p>&#8220;Nike’s Flyknit shoe is the most groundbreaking sneaker innovation in over 40 years,&#8221; NYU&#8217;s study said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forbes-valuation">FORBES VALUATION</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/phil-knight/?list=rtb/&amp;sh=6279b1041dcb">Phil Knight</a>, the co-founder of Nike, has a $43.1 billion estimated net worth. He retired as chairman of Nike in June 2016 after 52 years at the company. The founder and former CEO of Lululemon,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/chip-wilson/?list=rtb/&amp;sh=7529dc547068">Chip Wilson,</a>&nbsp;is worth an estimated $6.1 billion and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/jim-davis/?list=rtb/&amp;sh=6ea9ff9b5fab">Jim Davis</a>, chairman and owner of New Balance, is worth an estimated $5 billion.</p>


Melbourne Fashion Festival: Streetstyle

Nike Claims New Balance And Skechers Stole Technology For Sustainable Shoes In New Lawsuit

Psychology therapy session

Forget ‘Crushing It,’ Startup Founders Open Up About Mental Health Problems


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>The woman who won the Nobel Peace Prize for her gender advocacy in Iran has started a hunger strike in prison,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-mohammadi-nobel-laureate-hunger-strike-d34da0d7bbe473c21cdf6ae930487cac" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multiple outlets</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/nobel-prize-laureate-narges-mohammadi-goes-on-hunger-strike-in-iran-prison-101699269185351.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>&nbsp;Monday, after she and other female inmates were blocked from receiving medical care over their refusal to wear a headscarf.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Narges Mohammadi was refused a transfer from Evin prison last week after a doctor diagnosed her with two severe vein blockages and high lung pressure, and ordered she undergo an off-site coronary angiogram and lung scan, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67299512" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BBC reported</a>..</p>



<p>The prison&#8217;s warden refused to send her out of the prison without a headscarf, her family told the BBC, and Mohammadi said she would not wear the &#8220;forced hijab&#8221; even for medical treatment.</p>



<p>Mohammadi&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-mohammadi-nobel-laureate-hunger-strike-d34da0d7bbe473c21cdf6ae930487cac" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">began a hunger strike</a>&nbsp;on Monday to protest the restriction and that of jailed attorney and activist Nasrin Sotoudeh, among other women who refuse to wear a headscarf under Iranian law.</p>



<p>PROMOTED</p>



<p>Inmates protested in the prison yard for two days and nights to send Mohammadi to the heart hospital, her family told the BBC, but were told the transfer would not happen unless Mohammadi agreed to wear the hijab.</p>



<p>Mohammadi’s daughter&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/jailed-iranian-womens-activist-smuggles-out-letter-thanks-nobel-peace-prize-2023-10-31/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">last week</a>&nbsp;read a message her mother had smuggled out of jail, the first official reaction to her winning of the Nobel Peace Prize on October 6, in which she called the laws forcing women to wear a hijab &#8220;a means of control and repression&#8221; by the &#8220;authoritarian religious regime&#8221; of Iran, French newspaper&nbsp;<em>Le Monde</em>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/11/01/peace-prize-winner-narges-mohammadi-s-message-from-behind-bars_6219457_4.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The Nobel Foundation last month&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2023/press-release/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">awarded</a>&nbsp;the Nobel Peace Prize to Mohammadi, who is serving several prison sentences totalling 31 years in jail, and she also faces 154 lashes of a whip. Mohammadi has been an advocate for equality and women&#8217;s rights since her days as a student in the 1990s and has been involved with the Defenders of Human Rights Center in Tehran, founded by a fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate, since 2003. She has been arrested more than a dozen times in the last decade for her women&#8217;s advocacy work and has continued her work as an inmate, which has been met with harsh conditions like a ban on phone calls and visitors, the foundation&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2023/press-release/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>. Mohammadi has spoken against the forced wearing of headscarves in Iran, use of the death penalty, the use of torture and sexual violence against political prisoners and the government&#8217;s policies of discrimination targeting women. Mohammadi’s advocacy has kept her from seeing her husband for 15 years and her children (twin daughters who are 16) for seven years, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/jailed-iranian-womens-activist-smuggles-out-letter-thanks-nobel-peace-prize-2023-10-31/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reuters</a>. They&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/06/world/who-is-narges-mohammadi-nobel-peace.html#:~:text=Victory%20is%20near.%E2%80%9D-,Ms.,her%20children%20in%20eight%20years." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">live in exile</a>&nbsp;in France.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



<p>&#8220;Woman, Life, Freedom.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/jailed-iranian-womens-activist-smuggles-out-letter-thanks-nobel-peace-prize-2023-10-31/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mohammadi said</a>&nbsp;news of her winning the Nobel was met with cheers from her cell mates of her movement’s three-word slogan.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



<p>Cries against Iran&#8217;s strict Islamic dress code that, sets out several rules to punish women who do not wear the hijab properly, have intensified in the last month following the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2023/10/22/iranian-teenager-armita-geravand-is-brain-dead-after-alleged-assault-by-police-over-hijab/?sh=6a0f2091679a">apparent beating</a>&nbsp;of a 16-year-old girl. Armita Geravand fell into a coma after she was reportedly beaten by government &#8220;morality&#8221; agents in Iran on October 1 for not wearing a headscarf on the subway. Iranian state media weeks ago reported she was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2023/10/22/iranian-teenager-armita-geravand-is-brain-dead-after-alleged-assault-by-police-over-hijab/?sh=6a0f2091679a">pronounced brain dead</a>&nbsp;a month after the incident.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67188151" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CCTV footage shows</a>&nbsp;Geravand entering a train with her hair uncovered and being carried off moments later while unconscious, but no footage from inside the train has been released. Hengaw, an activist group, said Gerevand instead suffered a “severe physical assault” by government agents in Tehran but authorities<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67188151" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;have insisted</a>&nbsp;she fainted and said her death was due to pre-existing medical conditions. Sotoudeh, the jailed lawyer who was denied medical treatment alongside Mohammadi, was arrested for attending Geravand’s funeral while not wearing a hijab, the Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-mohammadi-nobel-laureate-hunger-strike-d34da0d7bbe473c21cdf6ae930487cac" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">SURPRISING FACT</h2>



<p>Wearing a hijab has been required by women in public spaces in Iran since shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/21/middleeast/iran-hijab-law-parliament-jail-intl-hnk/index.html#:~:text=Those%20who%20collude%20with%20foreign,two%20years%2C%20the%20bill%20says." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A new law</a> was passed by parliament in September dubbed the “hijab bill,” which punishes women who do not wear the hijab properly and men who wear &#8220;revealing clothing.&#8221; Women in Iran can face up to 10 years in prison for &#8220;inappropriate dress.&#8221;</p>


Narges Mohammadi, Human Rights Activist

A Nobel Peace Prize Winner Was Refused Medical Care In Prison Because She Wouldn’t Wear A Headscarf. Now, She’s On A Hunger Strike.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was convicted of multiple fraud and conspiracy charges Thursday, bringing an end to a month-long trial in which prosecutors accused Bankman-Fried of stealing and using billions of dollars from his own customers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Bankman-Fried, 31, was found guilty of seven counts of fraud and conspiracy and faces a maximum possible sentence of up to 110 years in prison.</p>



<p>Jurors in Manhattan federal court returned the verdict after less than five hours of deliberation.</p>



<p>Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Roos said in his closing argument there was “no serious dispute” that $10 billion worth of customers’ money went missing from FTX’s crypto exchange, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/02/sam-bankman-fried-found-guilty-on-all-seven-criminal-fraud-counts.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBC News</a>, adding that the main issue was whether Bankman-Fried acted with criminal intent.</p>



<p>Bankman-Fried’s defense attorney, Mark Cohen, said Wednesday the prosecution was trying to paint his client as a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/02/sbf-ftx-trial-closing-arguments-defense" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">movie villain</a>&nbsp;and argued that Bankman-Fried’s business collapsed through no fault of his own.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chief-critic">CHIEF CRITIC</h2>



<p>“We respect the jury’s decision. But we are very disappointed with the result,” Cohen said in a statement. “Mr. Bankman Fried maintains his innocence and will continue to vigorously fight the charges against him.&#8221;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Bankman-Fried, who pleaded not guilty to all of his charges, was first charged in late 2022 with money laundering and multiple fraud counts. The charges revolved around allegations that Bankman-Fried was putting customers’ money into FTX’s sister trading firm, Alameda Research. The disgraced cryptocurrency executive resigned from FTX about a month before he was hit with the charges. At the same time, FTX filed for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/11/23453164/ftx-bankruptcy-filing-sam-bankman-fried-resigns" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chapter 11 bankruptcy</a>&nbsp;while attempting to pay back investors, customers and creditors—a decision the exchange took after experiencing a liquidity crisis caused by a selloff of its own tokens.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2023/11/02/sam-bankman-frieds-final-hours-in-court/?sh=6e810e3337f1">Sam Bankman-Fried’s Final Hours In Court</a>&nbsp;(<em>Forbes</em>)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2023/10/27/sam-bankman-fried-testifies-a-lot-of-people-got-hurt-by-ftx-as-he-denies-defrauding-customers/?sh=64b1b675720d">Sam Bankman-Fried Testifies: ‘A Lot Of People Got Hurt’ By FTX As He Denies Defrauding Customers</a> (<em>Forbes</em>)<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/"></a></p>


Key Speakers At The Bloomberg Crypto Summit

Sam Bankman-Fried Found Guilty Of Fraud And Conspiracy


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Disney’s sports broadcasting network ESPN could be valued at about $24 billion, according to a Bank of America analyst note, which said potential investment suitors like Amazon, Apple and Verizon could help manage Disney’s push to transition from linear TV toward streaming.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Disney intends to keep ESPN and has reportedly been on the hunt to find partners for a full streaming service of the sports network, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/amazon-in-talks-with-disney-about-espn-streaming-partnership" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multiple</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/10/disney-wants-sports-leagues-as-espn-partners-but-its-not-clear-they-want-espn.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sources</a>, as marquee products like Monday Night Football are not aired on the existing ESPN+ streaming platform.</p>



<p>Disney—which owns 80% of ESPN, while Hearst holds the remaining 20%—could sell stake in the company to new investors assuming it intends to maintain majority ownership, according to the note.</p>



<p>The note added a partnership deal between Disney and another company could help Disney bridge the gap to a streaming version of ESPN, bring a capital infusion that could bolster ESPN’s offerings and give Disney a chance to spin off ESPN in the future.</p>



<p>On top of potential tech company suitors, Bank of America added leagues like the National Football League and National Basketball Association could be potential investment partners, in addition to distribution firms like Verizon.</p>



<p>The note said ESPN needs to transition to a direct-to-consumer model to compensate for an environment in which linear TV subscribers are declining.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>$2.9 billion. That’s how much profit ESPN generated for Disney&#8217;s fiscal year 2022, almost $1 billion more than the profit raked in by Disney&#8217;s entertainment business in that same window,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/19/disney-reveals-espn-business-size-first-time" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Axios</a>&nbsp;reported.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>A potential ESPN streaming service would come as tech giants like Google and Amazon push into sports broadcasting. Amazon spends about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/18/nfl-media-rights-deal-2023-2033-amazon-gets-exclusive-thursday-night.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$1 billion a year</a>&nbsp;to maintain an 11-year media rights deal with the NFL to air Thursday Night Football on its streaming service—while YouTube, which is owned by Google, agreed to a seven-year contract with the NFL last year worth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-sunday-ticket-youtube-6253c4eee5c2f8c9b0f9fe191217e543" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more than $2 billion</a>&nbsp;per season for the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket, which gives subscribers access to all out-of-market broadcasts. As sports rights deals have become more prevalent, so too have cord-cutting tendencies among consumers. Television providers experienced record subscriber losses in the first quarter of this year, losing 2.3 million customers, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/cord-cutting-all-time-high-q1-2023-pay-tv-losses-1235610939/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Variety</em></a>, citing MoffettNathanson research. The total pay-TV penetration of occupied households in the U.S. also dropped to 58.5% during the period, a figure not seen since 1992,&nbsp;<em>Variety&nbsp;</em>added.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/05/15/nfl-adding-peacock-only-playoff-game-in-first-of-its-kind-streaming-deal/?sh=8f38ffd4cad6">NFL Adding Peacock-Only Playoff Game In First-Of-Its-Kind Streaming Deal</a>&nbsp;(<em>Forbes</em>)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/amazon-in-talks-with-disney-about-espn-streaming-partnership" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amazon in Talks With Disney About ESPN Streaming Partnership</a> (The Information)</p>


New York Yankees v Baltimore Orioles

ESPN Could Be Worth $24 Billion And Attract Investments From Tech Giants, Report Says


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>The Israel Defense Forces admitted to striking the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza—an attack that Hamas said killed dozens and injured hundreds—and said it killed a senior Hamas commander in the attack.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>A spokesperson for Israel said the IDF killed a Hamas commander who oversaw fighting in northern Gaza, and that Israeli forces killed&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1719424225751027715" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">around 50 Hamas fighters</a>&nbsp;and damaged a Hamas command center.</p>



<p>Hamas has denied that any leadership was at the refugee camp at the time of the attack, NBC News&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna122919#rcrd23975" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>.</p>



<p>The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/31/dozens-killed-in-israeli-air-attack-on-gaza-refugee-camp-medical-official" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a>&nbsp;Al Jazeera that more than 50 people were killed and many others were hurt in the strike, and the director of Gaza’s Indonesian hospital, Dr. Atef al-Kahlout,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-10-31-23/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a>&nbsp;CNN that “hundreds” of people came in dead or injured and said there were still people in the rubble.</p>



<p>Photos of the aftermath of the attack show massive holes in the ground, and eyewitnesses said there were “body parts all over the place,” CNN&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/31/middleeast/jabalya-blast-gaza-intl/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>.</p>



<p>The Jabalia refugee camp, the area hit by the Israeli strike, is the largest of the eight refugee camps in Gaza and has held refugees since the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>116,011. That’s how many Palestinian refugees were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/gaza-strip/jabalia-camp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">registered</a>&nbsp;with the United Nations and living in the camp, though the total population of the camp was likely higher. Many refugees in the camp were living in “substandard conditions,” according to the UN, which said the camp is characterized by “overcrowding and a lack of living space.”</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chief-critic">CHIEF CRITIC</h2>



<p>A statement&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/pmofa/status/1719372014211768685" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">posted</a>&nbsp;to the X, formerly known as Twitter, account of the Gaza Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said it “strongly condemns the recent massacre committed by the occupation against our people in the #Jabalia camp just a while ago. This resulted in the destruction of an entire densely populated residential area, over their heads.” The post estimated that 400 people were killed or wounded.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The strike came as Israel is facing calls for a ceasefire to allow for humanitarian aid, though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there won’t be a ceasefire. He has said calls for a ceasefire are calls “to surrender to terrorism,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/30/world/middleeast/netanyahu-israel-hamas-cease-fire.html#:~:text=Calls%20for%20a%20cease%2Dfire%20are%20calls%20for%20Israel%20to,Israel's%20fight%20is%20your%20fight." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according</a>&nbsp;to the&nbsp;<em>New York Times</em>, and has continued to vow to destroy Hamas. Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the UN Relief and Works Agency, said Monday that “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire has become a matter of life and death for millions,” CNN&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/31/middleeast/israel-gaza-hamas-war-tuesday-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>. Since the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, the Hamas-run Healthy Ministry in Gaza&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-gaza-war-news-10-31-2023-54ab6bd7f6861be86266770c245827e1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">estimates</a>&nbsp;that more than 8,000 Palestinians have been killed, adding that most have been children or minors. The Israeli death toll is around 1,400, almost entirely from the initial attack, while hundreds of hostages were taken from Israel to the Gaza Strip, the Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-gaza-war-news-10-31-2023-54ab6bd7f6861be86266770c245827e1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>.</p>


Israeli attack on residential square in Jabalia refugee camp

Israel Admits Striking Refugee Camp—Says It Targeted And Killed Hamas Commander


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Social media company X internally valued itself at $19 billion as of Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://fortune.com/2023/10/30/x-formerly-twitter-valued-19-billion-employee-stock-plan/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multiple</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/30/technology/x-twitter-19-billion-dollars.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">news</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-30/musk-s-x-valued-at-less-than-half-of-price-he-paid-for-twitter?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_content=business&amp;sref=xuVirdpv" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">organizations</a>&nbsp;reported, a 55% drop from what Elon Musk paid for the company last October—following a year of sweeping change and revenue struggles at the company formerly known as Twitter.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>The company handed out stock grants to employees that showed X was worth about $19 billion, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/30/technology/x-twitter-19-billion-dollars.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>New York Times</em></a>, citing internal documents.</p>



<p>Musk purchased the majority of Twitter in October 2022 in a deal valued at $44 billion.</p>



<p>Employees were offered equity in the social media company at $45 a share in the form of restricted stock units, but they will still receive $54.20 for any outstanding shares granted to them before Musk took over the company, according to the&nbsp;<em>Times.</em></p>



<p>Musk paid $54.20 a share to take the company private in 2022.</p>



<p>This latest valuation is somewhat higher than the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/10/27/year-of-musk-x-faces-slashed-valuation-and-fewer-advertisers-one-year-after-twitter-takeover/?sh=517715b65510">$16.9 billion</a>&nbsp;that Fidelity—which has a small stake in X—valued the company at in late August.</p>



<p><em>Forbes</em>&nbsp;has reached out to X for comment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Since he purchased the social media platform, Musk has repeatedly said he overpaid for it. Even before the acquisition was finalized, Musk&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/10/20/tesla-shares-drop-in-pre-market-after-missed-q3-earnings/?sh=4edbdddc6064">said</a>&nbsp;in an October 2022 Tesla earnings call (Musk is also CEO of the electric carmaker) he was “obviously overpaying for Twitter right now,” though he believed the company’s long term potential was “an order of magnitude greater than its current value.” The billionaire&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/07/08/elon-musk-terminating-deal-to-buy-twitter-platform-plans-legal-action/?sh=411843c52e21">tried to call off</a>&nbsp;an agreement to buy Twitter at $54.20 a share last year, citing concerns about the number of fake accounts, but Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2022/07/12/twitter-sues-elon-musk-for-trying-to-cancel-acquisition-deal/?sh=6aa832513d38">sued him</a>&nbsp;and asked a judge to force him to follow through, and he eventually closed the deal in October 2022. In April, during an interview with conservative media personality Tucker Carlson, he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/04/17/musk-admits-twitter-purchase-wasnt-financially-smart-and-he-paid-twice-what-its-worth/?sh=5767b0c265c6">admitted</a>&nbsp;the purchase was not currently “financially smart” and said the company was worth about half of what he paid for it. In a March internal memo that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/mar/26/elon-musk-twitter-value-leaked-memo-less-than-half-paid#:~:text=Twitter%20is%20worth%20less%20than,at%20less%20than%20%2420bn." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">was leaked</a>&nbsp;to the press, Musk suggested the company was worth less than $20 billion.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forbes-valuation">FORBES VALUATION</h2>



<p>We estimate Musk’s net worth at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/real-time-billionaires/#6631d4d33d78">$214.8 billion</a>, making him the wealthiest person on earth, mostly due to his stakes in Tesla and SpaceX.</p>



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<p>By signing up, you accept and agree to our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/terms-and-conditions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Terms of Service</a>&nbsp;(including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions), and you acknowledge our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/privacy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Privacy Statement</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



<p>Since acquiring and taking control of Twitter, Musk has made a series of polarizing decisions including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/07/23/elon-musk-directs-xcom-to-twitter-plans-to-ditch-twitter-bird/?sh=22703c4f4542">renaming</a>&nbsp;the platform to X, loosening the site’s content moderation rules,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/11/01/twitter-will-sell-coveted-blue-checkmark-for-8-a-month-musk-says-but-benefits-still-unclear/?sh=6fa15be85ac2">charging users</a>&nbsp;to get verification check marks and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2023/07/01/elon-musk-announces-temporary-reading-limit-for-unverified-twitter-accounts-amid-outage/?sh=23b1f90475fa">temporarily limiting</a>&nbsp;the amount of posts a user can view or the amount of direct messages a user can send. In September, Musk&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/willskipworth/2023/09/04/musk-blames-anti-defamation-league-for-xs-poor-ad-sales-threatens-lawsuit/?sh=1b06f746a00e">revealed</a>&nbsp;that ad revenue was down 60% since his acquisition. Additionally, nonprofits like the Anti-Defamation League have reported a rise in hate speech, racism and harassment on the platform. Musk responded by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/willskipworth/2023/09/04/musk-blames-anti-defamation-league-for-xs-poor-ad-sales-threatens-lawsuit/?sh=1b06f746a00e">threatening</a>&nbsp;to sue the organization. The company has also been embroiled in a number of legal challenges under Musk, both as plaintiff and defendant. X has faced lawsuits over allegations it has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/willskipworth/2023/07/12/twitter-and-elon-musk-face-500-million-lawsuit-for-allegedly-reusing-severance-for-fired-employees/?sh=256d21d31d91">refused to pay</a>&nbsp;its employees promised severance, that it’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/07/03/twitter-faces-lawsuit-over-unpaid-office-fees-again/?sh=10cee9462613">refused to pay</a>&nbsp;its rent and office fees and that it&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nhd.60380/gov.uscourts.nhd.60380.1.0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">breached a contract</a>&nbsp;it made with a regional jet company. As a plaintiff, X has sued the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate, claiming that the organization violated X’s terms of service by collecting data for an analysis it did into hate speech on X.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/10/27/year-of-musk-x-faces-slashed-valuation-and-fewer-advertisers-one-year-after-twitter-takeover/?sh=492ed0f55105">Year Of Musk: X Faces Slashed Valuation And Fewer Advertisers One Year After Twitter Takeover</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/04/17/musk-admits-twitter-purchase-wasnt-financially-smart-and-he-paid-twice-what-its-worth/?sh=5767b0c265c6">Musk Admits Twitter Purchase Wasn’t ‘Financially Smart’—And He Paid Twice What It&#8217;s Worth</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/willskipworth/2023/09/04/musk-blames-anti-defamation-league-for-xs-poor-ad-sales-threatens-lawsuit/?sh=1b06f746a00e">Musk Blames Anti-Defamation League For X’s Poor Ad Sales, Threatens Lawsuit</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/30/technology/x-twitter-19-billion-dollars.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">X Says It Is Worth $19 Billion, Down From $44 Billion Last Year</a>&nbsp;(New York Times)</p>



<p><a href="https://fortune.com/2023/10/30/x-formerly-twitter-valued-19-billion-employee-stock-plan/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">X, formerly Twitter, valued at $19 billion in new employee stock plan</a>&nbsp;(Fortune)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-30/musk-s-x-valued-at-less-than-half-of-price-he-paid-for-twitter?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_content=business&amp;sref=xuVirdpv" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk’s X Is Worth Less Than Half of Price He Paid for Twitter</a> (Bloomberg)</p>


Twitter logo

X Says It’s Worth Less Than Half What Elon Musk Paid


<p><strong>Unmuting, raising your hand, chiming in—interruptions are simply awkward on Zoom. Here’s how to effectively—and politely—interrupt someone in a virtual meeting, according to experts.</strong></p>



<p>Allison Shapira doesn’t shy away from using her voice: A self-proclaimed extrovert, the founder of a public speaking training firm and a former opera singer, she’s rarely had trouble knowing how to speak up. But even Shapira makes mistakes when it comes to that nuanced yet high-stakes act of virtual etiquette: Interrupting someone else on a Zoom call.</p>



<p>“It’s inherently rude [to interrupt], and yet sometimes it’s necessary to protect the conversation—or because the internet is spotty,” says Shapira, who recently had to be reminded to use the “raise hand” button when a colleague said she was interrupting too much. In a virtual setting where people are distracted, she says, technology delays reactions and in-person cues are missing. “It’s a human psychology issue,” she says, not just a tech one.</p>



<p>Interrupting co-workers in a meeting has long been a manners minefield, one increasingly laden not only with longstanding office politics and professional ambition but with concerns about gender bias concerns and “that-could-have-been-an-email” meeting glut.</p>



<p>Zoom made this complex act of corporate culture, well, weirder. Chiming in on a conference conversation became toggling between browser windows to find the unmute button. It’s much harder to read a co-worker’s body language across the table. And when “can you hear me?” or “your screen seems to have frozen” are said repeatedly, no one wants to pause meetings more for interruptions.</p>



<p>“You wait a minute to be polite and jump in, but they’re not actually done talking yet,” Shapira says, recalling a call last week where she and a client constantly interrupted each other due to frozen screens.</p>



<p>For introverts, it can be even harder to inject themselves in a Zoom discussion than one that takes place in the office. While the pivot to remote work can be easier for introverted employees—interactions are scheduled, and virtual meetings are easier to digest for introverts—speaking up in a Zoom meeting proves harder, says Carey Yazeed, a consultant and behavioral scientist who studies equity in the workplace, because they have to decipher the best time to interrupt.</p>



<p>“Extroverts have big personalities and are very good at inserting themselves,” says Yazeed. “An introvert is someone whose personality is more calculated. For them to speak up in a meeting, it’s something they have to think about in advance, write down and rehearse.”</p>



<p>Whether you’re the silent type, an extrovert, an intern or an executive, there are passable ways to interrupt on Zoom. Because after all, “no one should politely endure a monologue,” GitLab cofounder Sid Sijbrandij said in an email; he recently shared the remote-based company’s own Zoom&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7101938264122556416/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tips on LinkedIn</a>. Here are five ways to interrupt effectively in a virtual meeting. (And yes, it will still feel awkward.)</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-insert-yourself-in-the-beginning">1. Insert yourself in the beginning</h2>



<p>The longer you sit and wait to speak up, the more likely it is you’ll refrain from speaking.</p>



<p>For introverts in particular, bringing up your talking points and questions toward the start of the meeting can be helpful, says Yazeed. Why? “There’s still that structure, that agenda,” she says. “People haven’t really gotten loose and started veering off topic yet.” You will be most heard at the start of the meeting.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-wait-for-a-pause"><strong>2. Wait for a pause</strong></h2>



<p>When is the best time to interrupt? The answer proves even more difficult if the meeting host never pauses for air.</p>



<p>In that case, Shapira says the best time to interrupt is right before the meeting’s leader moves on to the next topic. Often, a speaker will take a breath or pause to ask if anyone has questions. Utilizing icons such as “raise hand” can help you take advantage of those pauses.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-use-emojis-to-raise-your-hand"><strong>3. Use emojis to “raise your hand”</strong></h2>



<p>Don’t be like Shapira. Remember to use the “raise hand” feature that virtual meeting softwares like Zoom and Google Meet offer. Alternatively, send a message in the chat or unmute your microphone and wait.</p>



<p>If a participant’s raised hand goes unnoticed, don’t be afraid to advocate for those who are more introverted and are indicating they want to speak, Sijbrandij said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7101938264122556416/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LinkedIn post</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-use-a-filler-word"><strong>4. Use a filler word</strong></h2>



<p>If those actions don’t capture attention, it may be time to speak up. (Interjecting the Zoom call with a filler word such as “so” or “actually” will often do the trick.)</p>



<p>Be sure, however, to use stronger words with emphasis that will signal you’re going to speak. Opt for “actually” or “great” rather than “um,” for example. Use a word that won’t go unheard or dismissed.</p>



<p>A perfect interruption equation, says Shapira, goes something like this: wait for the speaker to take a breath, use a filler word, compliment what they’re saying, then say your piece. “That’s a way—especially if you’re interrupting someone who’s either a peer or more senior to you—to show deference and show respect.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-use-a-facilitator"><strong>5. Use a facilitator</strong></h2>



<p>Most meetings don’t have a strong moderator that helps the conversation flow well. And it’s even more pronounced on Zoom, Yazeed says, when people are talking over each other, unmuting at inconvenient times and confusing meeting participants on who’s in charge.</p>



<p>An effective facilitator will pay attention to the chat and, when hand emojis are raised, include everyone in the conversation. If you’re running meetings or in charge of a team, make sure you use one, especially in virtual meetings.</p>



<p>Of course, if the virtual meeting ends and you didn’t get your point across or your “um” doesn’t give you a chance to speak, remember a follow-up email will almost always suffice. After years of back-to-back Zoom meetings in the pandemic, an email—rather than a meeting—is probably what most people wanted anyways.</p>


Caption: A university teacher prepares to join an online tutorial using Zoom, June 2021.

Remote Work Image (1 of 1)

The Fine Art Of Interrupting People On Zoom


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Starlink internet satellites will be made accessible to aid organizations in Gaza, according to a Saturday <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1718224153474388433?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">post</a> from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, as the region continues to experience Israeli bombardments amid a <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/10/27/gaza-experiences-communications-blackout-as-israel-expands-ground-force-activity/?sh=507ea9da7774">communications blackout</a> that began Friday.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignleft size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="733" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GettyImages-1358883297.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-53654" style="aspect-ratio:1.3969986357435198;width:528px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GettyImages-1358883297.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GettyImages-1358883297-300x215.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GettyImages-1358883297-768x550.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for TIME)</figcaption></figure></div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Musk pledged Starlink connectivity support for “internationally recognized aid groups” and the United Nations in&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1718224153474388433?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">two</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1718225344568668417?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">posts</a>&nbsp;on X, formerly known as Twitter.</p>



<p>Musk initially responded to a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/DrLoupis/status/1717960271895883898?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">post</a>&nbsp;that called for Starlink support in Gaza, saying it&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1718206478283133105?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wasn’t clear</a>&nbsp;who had the authority for ground links in Gaza and that SpaceX had not received a request from any terminals in the region, which are required on the ground to receive the satellite internet service.</p>



<p>Musk has also faced calls to extend internet access to civilians and journalists documenting the situation in Gaza.</p>



<p>The posts come less than a day after the Gaza Strip was hit with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/10/27/gaza-experiences-communications-blackout-as-israel-expands-ground-force-activity/?sh=507ea9da7774">major communications disruptions</a>, causing multiple humanitarian agencies such as the Red Crescent, the World Health Organization and the United Nations International Children&#8217;s Emergency Fund to lose contact with their medical teams and workers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The communications collapse in Gaza occurred Friday, when telecommunications company Paltel told the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-airstrikes-region-e41b5b12e8cdf9db62395314d9a782b6?taid=653bf435d6113200015b4286&amp;utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&amp;utm_medium=AP&amp;utm_source=Twitter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Associated Press</a>&nbsp;that Israeli bombardments in Gaza caused “a complete disruption of all communication and internet services.” Amid the disruption, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israeli military, said on Friday that ground forces were expanding activity in Gaza, in a tweet translated by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/27/israel-hamas-war-updates-and-latest-news-on-gaza-conflict.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CNBC</a>. An Israeli ground invasion of Gaza has been widely anticipated in the three weeks since Hamas launched an attack on Israel, starting the ongoing war. Mark Regev, senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told MSNBC on Friday night that Hamas would “feel our wrath tonight,” a statement followed up by a constant bombardment at the Israel-Gaza border as the Israeli military forces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-airstrikes-region-e41b5b12e8cdf9db62395314d9a782b6?taid=653bf435d6113200015b4286&amp;utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&amp;utm_medium=AP&amp;utm_source=Twitter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ramped up ground operations</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>More than 8,000. That’s how many people have died on both sides of the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-death-toll-numbers-injured-5c9dc40bec95a8408c83f3c2fb759da0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Associated Press</a>. The Palestinian death toll streaked past 7,000 this week, according to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. Some 1,400 Israelis were reportedly killed in Hamas’ attack.</p>



<p>Forbes Daily: Get our best stories, exclusive reporting and essential analysis of the day’s news in your inbox every weekday.Sign Up</p>



<p>By signing up, you accept and agree to our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/terms-and-conditions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Terms of Service</a>&nbsp;(including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions), and you acknowledge our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/privacy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Privacy Statement</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/10/27/gaza-experiences-communications-blackout-as-israel-expands-ground-force-activity/?sh=6383a8ce7774">World Health Organization Loses Contact With Gaza Staff Amid Communications Blackout&nbsp;</a>(<em>Forbes</em>)</p>



<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-airstrikes-region-e41b5b12e8cdf9db62395314d9a782b6?taid=653bf435d6113200015b4286&amp;utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&amp;utm_medium=AP&amp;utm_source=Twitter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Israel steps up air and ground attacks in Gaza and cuts off the territory’s communications</a> (AP)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/"></a></p>


Israeli attacks continue on the 22nd day in Gaza

Elon Musk Says Starlink Will Support ‘Recognized’ Aid Groups In Gaza


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>The diabetes drug Mounjaro will be tested alongside an experimental treatment to study how to maintain muscle mass while losing weight, according to an announcement Thursday—after earlier studies suggested some other increasingly popular weight-loss drugs may cause people to lose lean muscle mass. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>BioAge Labs will co-administer its muscle loss drug azelaprag with Mounjaro to treat obesity as part of a clinical trial in partnership with Mounjaro maker Eli Lilly’s development arm, Chorus, the two companies said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231026896677/en/BioAge-Labs-Announces-Plans-for-Phase-2-Trial-of-First-in-Class-Apelin-Receptor-Agonist-BGE-105Azelaprag-Co-Administered-With-Tirzepatide-for-Treatment-of-Obesity-in-Collaboration-With-Lilly%E2%80%99s-Chorus-Organization" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">joint statement</a>&nbsp;Thursday.</p>



<p>Early preclinical studies showed administering both azelaprag and Mounjaro—known generically as tirzepatide—in obese mice increased the total weight loss from Mounjaro, and led to “normalized body composition” and decreased glucose levels without an “appreciable decrease” in calorie intake, both companies said.</p>



<p>Kristen Fortney, chief executive of California-based BioAge, said administering azelaprag with Mounjaro “may help promote healthier weight loss.”</p>



<p>The trial is expected to begin in mid-2024, BioAge said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Azelaprag is a drug that mimics the activity of apelin, a substance that is released through the body after exercise, according to BioAge. Apelin also helps to regulate metabolism and promote muscle regeneration. The drug could “significantly” prevent muscle atrophy among older adults, according to one&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221205005201/en/BioAge-Announces-Positive-Topline-Results-for-BGE-105-in-Phase-1b-Clinical-Trial-Evaluating-Muscle-Atrophy-in-Older-Volunteers-at-Bed-Rest" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clinical trial</a>&nbsp;by BioAge in December involving 227 people age 65 or older.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2023/01/31/diabetes-drug-mounjaro-expected-to-be-approved-for-weight-loss-soon-what-to-know-and-how-it-compares-to-similar-drugs/?sh=111cc0ea477a">Mounjaro</a>—manufactured by Eli Lilly—is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, or a drug used to treat diabetes and weight loss, similar to the popular drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. Mounjaro has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for weight loss, though&nbsp;<a href="https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2022/10/14/weight-loss-drugs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">some doctors</a>&nbsp;prescribe the drug for off-label use for weight loss in patients who don’t have type two diabetes, like Ozempic.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">SURPRISING FACT</h2>



<p>A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/suppl/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183/suppl_file/nejmoa2032183_appendix.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">clinical trial</a>&nbsp;of semaglitude—the active ingredient in weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy—indicated it could result in nearly as much loss of lean muscle as pounds of fat. Participants lost about 15 pounds of lean muscle on average, compared with 23 pounds of fat during a 68-week trial. The average age of participants was 52.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>41.9%. That’s the percentage of adults age 60 or older in the U.S. who are obese,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html#:~:text=Obesity%20affects%20some%20groups%20more%20than%20others&amp;text=The%20obesity%20prevalence%20was%2039.8,adults%20aged%2060%20and%20older." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according</a>&nbsp;to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2023/01/31/diabetes-drug-mounjaro-expected-to-be-approved-for-weight-loss-soon-what-to-know-and-how-it-compares-to-similar-drugs/?sh=111cc0ea477a">Diabetes Drug Mounjaro Expected To Be Approved For Weight Loss Soon: What To Know And How It Compares To Similar Drugs</a>&nbsp;(<em>Forbes</em>)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-26/shredding-fat-without-muscle-is-lilly-s-next-weight-loss-target?utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&amp;utm_content=business&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shedding Fat Without Losing Muscle Is Lilly’s Next Weight-Loss Target</a> (<em>Bloomberg</em>)<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/"></a></p>


Drug “Wegovy

New Trial Will Test Whether Weight Loss Drugs Can Work Without Shedding Muscle Mass


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Google will require Android apps to let users report scammy or inappropriate AI-generated content if they want to stay on the Google Play Store, according to a <a href="https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/13985936?sjid=5601262939205888504-NA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">policy update</a>, amid fears that AI-based apps are being exploited by users to create <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2023/10/06/facebook-ai-stickers-bing-image-creator-jailbreak-guardrails/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NSFW</a> and <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/rashishrivastava/2023/05/11/reddit-ai-generated-porn/?sh=79d51c372e52">non-consensual</a> content.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Starting January 31, apps on the Google Play Store that allow users to create AI content will be required to have features so users can flag violative content to developers under the&nbsp;<a href="https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/13985936?sjid=5601262939205888504-NA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new policy</a>.</p>



<p>App developers will use the user reports to filter and moderate content on their apps themselves, the&nbsp;<a href="https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/13985936?sjid=5601262939205888504-NA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guideline&nbsp;</a>says.</p>



<p>Text-based generative AI chatbots and AI image generators are included within the policy, while apps that just host AI-generated content and don’t allow users to create new AI content aren’t able to create content using AI are free from the policy.</p>



<p>Some examples of violative AI-generated content determined by Google include non-consensual sexual deepfakes (or highly realistic fake AI images of real people), voice or video recordings of real people used to conduct scams and false or deceptive election-related content.</p>



<p>Google also announced last month it will soon require election advertisers to make “clear and conspicuous” <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/09/06/google-will-require-advertisers-to-add-disclosures-for-ai-generated-election-ads/?sh=2abb2ded4324">disclosures</a> for advertisements containing AI-generated content.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TANGENT</h2>



<p>Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google parent Alphabet,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2023/06/26/ai-will-make-2024-election-a-mess-billionaire-ex-google-chief-schmidt-says/?sh=7171898f6bca">warned</a>&nbsp;in June that the “2024 elections are going to be a mess because social media is not protecting us from false generative AI.” Schmidt noted cuts to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/13/23638823/microsoft-ethics-society-team-responsible-ai-layoffs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">content moderation roles</a>&nbsp;at companies like Meta and X, formerly known as Twitter, were a “big issue.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Google is one of the larger tech companies leading the push on stricter AI rules. Apple has yet to back its own&nbsp;<a href="https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">app store guidelines</a>&nbsp;with AI or chatbot policies despite the increasingly controversial use of generative AI.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/rashishrivastava/2023/05/11/reddit-ai-generated-porn/?sh=79d51c372e52">Non-consensual deep fakes</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2023/10/06/facebook-ai-stickers-bing-image-creator-jailbreak-guardrails/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">not-safe-for-work memes</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/sep/12/paedophiles-using-open-source-ai-to-create-child-sexual-abuse-content-says-watchdog" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">child sexual abuse material</a>&nbsp;have been produced by users on generative AI apps, sometimes through tricking or manipulating apps to get around bans on certain blocked content.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2023/06/26/ai-will-make-2024-election-a-mess-billionaire-ex-google-chief-schmidt-says/?sh=7171898f6bca">AI Will Make 2024 Election A ‘Mess,’ Billionaire Ex-Google Chief Schmidt Says</a>&nbsp;(<em>Forbes</em>)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/rashishrivastava/2023/05/11/reddit-ai-generated-porn/?sh=79d51c372e52">How Real People Are Caught Up In Reddit’s AI Porn Explosion</a>&nbsp;(<em>Forbes</em>)</p>


In this photo illustration, a woman holds a smartphone with

Google Will Clamp Down On AI Content In Android Apps With New Moderation Policy


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>The White House, which hosted a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug3DkX7VRy8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">discussion</a> about growing right to repair legislation across the country, announced Tuesday that Apple will make parts, tools and documentation needed for consumers and independent repair shops across the U.S. to repair Apple products themselves, signaling a shift in consumer rights that will allow customers to avoid costly repair processes for their devices.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Right to repair legislation at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theverge.com/23910066/right-to-repair-law-newsom-california-sb-244" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">state level</a>&nbsp;has aimed to help consumers affordably repair their devices with tools and parts provided by the original manufacturers of such devices, allowing them to avoid difficult and expensive repair processes for products like phones and computers.</p>



<p>Though the legislation has only been passed in three states so far—California, Minnesota and New York—Apple will make repair tools and parts nationally at “reasonable prices,” according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/Ug3DkX7VRy8?si=wYAtbvAp1YswE5XA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lael Brainard</a>, the director of the National Economic Council.</p>



<p>Apple, which has built a reputation for high&nbsp;<a href="https://medium.com/@verdehumberto11/why-is-apple-repair-cost-so-expensive-bb9033e8575f#:~:text=To%20ensure%20that%20their%20repairs,the%20overall%20cost%20of%20repairs." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">product repair costs</a>, will also pledge support to a federal right to repair bill.</p>



<p>In California, the Right to Repair Act covers electronics and appliances made and sold after July 1, 2021, and requires manufacturers to make repair parts available seven years after the initial production of devices priced above $100.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CONTRA</h2>



<p>Nathan Proctor, the senior director of the Campaign for the Right to Repair, told <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/apple-make-tools-parts-fix-phones-computers-available-nationwide-white-house-2023-10-24/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reuters</a> he had reservations about potential federal legislation, noting Apple once required repair shops to sign contracts preventing them from stockpiling spare parts for quick walk-in repairs, making the shops less appealing than Apple’s own repair services.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>30. That’s how many other states have introduced similar right to repair legislation passed in California, Minnesota and New York,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/apple-make-tools-parts-fix-phones-computers-available-nationwide-white-house-2023-10-24/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reuters</a>&nbsp;reported, citing Brainard.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Right to repair&nbsp;<a href="https://hbr.org/2023/01/research-the-unintended-consequences-of-right-to-repair-laws#:~:text=Repair%20advocates%20argue%20that%20such,buy%20new%20ones%20as%20quickly." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proponents</a>&nbsp;have said the legislation aims to make repairs more affordable and convenient for consumers with broken products, which at times have to be replaced entirely, turned back in to original manufacturers for pricey repairs or given to repair shops that use third party parts. Right to repair provisions also stand to benefit farmers, according to EPA Deputy Administrator&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/Ug3DkX7VRy8?si=-a50fHnu7PuKTmPG&amp;t=2288" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Janet McCabe</a>. Early this year, tractor maker John Deere pledged support for consumers to repair their own equipment, reaching a memorandum of understanding with the American Farm Bureau Federation and allowing farmers to branch away from company authorized parts and service facilities, opening up use of independent repair options, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64206913" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BBC News</a>. However, right to repair advocates have been reluctant to support the memorandum, with Walter Schweitzer, president of the Montana Farmers Union, telling&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/01/10/1147934682/john-deere-right-to-repair-farmers-tractors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NPR</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/apple-make-tools-parts-fix-phones-computers-available-nationwide-white-house-2023-10-24/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple to make tools and parts to fix phones available nationwide &#8211; White House</a>&nbsp;(Reuters)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/13/23871712/california-right-to-repair-act-sb-244" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">California passes right-to-repair act guaranteeing seven years of parts for your phone</a>&nbsp;(The Verge)</p>


Author: Forbes

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