Good Morning, Quartz Readers!
Get ready for some intriguing news and updates.
Ford Hits the Brakes on Battery Plant Construction
Ford has decided to temporarily pause the construction of its $3.5 billion battery plant. This move has put 2,500 jobs in limbo due to the ongoing United Auto Workers (UAW) strike.
Should You Continue Investing in Big Tech?
As you ponder this question, it’s worth noting that President Joe Biden is joining the UAW picket line in Michigan. This marks a historic moment, as it is possibly the first time a sitting US president actively participates in a strike.
Spotify’s Stance on AI-Generated Music
In a rare interview, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek clarified the platform’s stance on music created with artificial intelligence. While some AI applications are acceptable, impersonating individuals without their consent crosses the line.
Leadership Change at Blue Origin
Jeff Bezos’s rocket company, Blue Origin, is bringing aboard a new CEO. Amazon executive and veteran Dave Limp will take the helm on Dec. 4.
Breaking Records: The Longest Writers’ Strike
The Writers Guild of America West (WGA West) recently reached a tentative agreement with Hollywood studios, ending their 146-day strike. However, this strike has the potential to break the record for the longest strike in WGA West history, which currently stands at 153 days. The new contract awaits approval from both WGA boards, east, and west, and then must be voted on by the 11,500 WGAW members.
An Egyptian Meat Purchase and US Senator’s Involvement
A shocking influence scandal involving New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez recently surfaced. It is alleged that he interfered in Washington on behalf of the Egyptian government and intelligence services, particularly regarding weapons sales to the semi-autocratic regime led by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Among the scandalous charges is an intriguing story of an Egyptian immigrant named Wael Hana, Menendez’s wife Nadine, and an abundance of meat.
Egypt, being a predominantly Muslim country, requires meat to be halal certified. Thanks to Menendez’s involvement, Hana’s US-based company gained a monopoly on halal certification services and significantly raised its prices.
Here are some jaw-dropping figures related to this scandal:
- Price hike for certifying one container (27 metric tons) of beef in the US: $500 to $5,000
- Amount of Nadine’s mortgage shortfall covered by IS EG Halal: $23,000
- Amount paid to Nadine’s front company by IS EG Halal: $30,000
- Annual per capita income in Egypt: $3,600
- Price increase of beef in Egypt due to the monopoly: $0.73 per kilo ($0.33 per lb)
This shocking tale sheds light on how influence-peddling in the US can exacerbate the plight of an already impoverished population.
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3. Project Gutenberg has implemented one of the worst AI fears of striking actors
4. How the ex-Twitter founders of Pebble plan to compete with their old employer
5. Rupert Murdoch steps down from Fox and News Corp. with a screed against “elites”
6. UC Berkeley’s latest contribution to innovation is an innovative way to finance it
Surprising Discoveries
Here are some fascinating and unexpected findings:
- Technology is advancing in identifying and silencing different sounds in a room. If only we could do the same at family gatherings!
- Jellyfish can learn and modify their behavior, even without a brain. If only this could happen at family gatherings!
- A supercontinent expected to form in 250 million years could lead to mass extinction due to extreme heat caused by increased volcanic activity and carbon dioxide levels.
- Brian May from Queen contributed to a mission that collected a sample from the asteroid Bennu. Talk about “We Will Rock You” getting meta!
- New York City is testing subway robocops with the Knightscope K5 Autonomous Security Robot.
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