Federal agency sues Chipotle after a Kansas manager allegedly ripped off an employee’s hijab
A federal agency has sued the restaurant chain Chipotle, accusing it of religious harassment and retaliation after a manager at a Kansas location forcibly removed an employee’s hijab, a headscarf worn by some Muslim women.
Where German cars falter, e-bikes gain in power
MUNICH — Germany’s automakers are facing steep challenges as they convert to battery-powered lineups and confront rising competition from China. But business is booming in another corner of the German transport industry: e-bikes.
Hyundai and Kia recall nearly 3.4 million vehicles due to fire risk and urge owners to park outdoors
DETROIT — Hyundai and Kia are recalling nearly 3.4 million vehicles in the U.S. and telling owners to park them outside due to the risk of engine compartment fires.
Apple exec defends the decision to make Google its default search engine on iPhones and Macs
WASHINGTON — A top Apple executive defended the tech giant’s decision to make Google the default search engine on Apple iPhones and Macs, saying there was no “valid alternative.”
Biden urges striking auto workers to ‘stick with it’ in picket line visit unparalleled in history
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich. — President Joe Biden grabbed a bullhorn on the picket line Tuesday and urged striking auto workers to “stick with it” in an unparalleled show of support for organized labor by a modern president.
Toymaker Lego will stick to its quest to find sustainable materials despite failed recycle attempt
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Denmark’s Lego said on Monday that it remains committed to its quest to find sustainable materials to reduce carbon emissions, even after an experiment by the world’s largest toymaker to use recycled bottles did not work.
California bill to have human drivers ride in autonomous trucks is vetoed by governor
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill to require human drivers on board self-driving trucks, a measure that union leaders and truck drivers said would save hundreds of thousands of jobs in the state.
Governments and individuals debate: Are mandates needed to reach climate change targets?
MIDDLETOWN, N.J. — Governments, organizations and businesses have set ambitious goals to combat climate change. But it is far from clear that those goals can be met without forcing people to do — or not do — certain things.
Side hustles take center stage in paying bills for Hollywood workers on strike
NEW YORK — Lighting for the entertainment industry is Ryan Meyer’s lifeblood.
The threat of wildfires is rising. So are new artificial intelligence solutions to fight them
LONDON — Wildfires fueled by climate change have ravaged communities from Maui to the Mediterranean this summer, killing many people, exhausting firefighters and fueling demand for new solutions. Enter artificial intelligence.
Tech companies try to take AI image generators mainstream with better protections against misuse
Artificial intelligence tools that can conjure whimsical artwork or realistic-looking images from written commands started wowing the public last year. But most people don’t actually use them at work or home.
Fed keeps rates unchanged and signals optimism about a potential ‘soft landing’
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged Wednesday for the second time in its past three meetings, a sign that it’s moderating its fight against inflation as price pressures have eased.
Instacart’s IPO surges as the grocery delivery company goes from the supermarket to the stock market
Instacart delivered in its stock market debut.
Largest US newspaper chain is hiring Taylor Swift and Beyoncé reporters, drawing interest and ire
LOS ANGELES — Last week the United States’ biggest newspaper chain posted to its site two unusual job listings: a Taylor Swift reporter and a Beyoncé reporter.
New York employers must include pay rates in job ads under new state law
ALBANY, N.Y. — Help-wanted advertisements in New York will have to disclose proposed pay rates after a statewide salary transparency law goes into effect on Sunday, part of growing state and city efforts to give women and people of color a tool to advocate for equal pay for equal work.
Looking for a refill? McDonald’s is saying goodbye to self-serve soda in the coming years
NEW YORK (AP) — Say goodbye to refilling that Coke. McDonald’s is getting rid of self-served soda.
Johnson & Johnson is getting rid of its script logo after more than 130 years
Johnson & Johnson is signing off on a new logo.
Imagine making shadowy data brokers erase your personal info. Californians may soon live the dream
SAN FRANCISCO — You may not know it, but thousands of often shadowy companies routinely traffic in personal data you probably never agreed to share — everything from your real-time location information to private financial details. Even if you could identify these data brokers, there isn’t much you can do about their activities, even in California, which has some of the strongest digital privacy laws in the U.S.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he will sign climate-focused transparency laws for big business
NEW YORK (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Sunday that he plans to sign into law a pair of climate-focused bills intended to force major corporations to be more transparent about greenhouse gas emissions and the financial risks stemming from global warming.
Biden plan would overhaul 151-year-old mining law, make companies pay royalties for copper and gold
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is recommending changes to a 151-year-old law that governs mining for copper, gold and other hardrock minerals on U.S.-owned lands, including making companies for the first time pay royalties on what they extract.
